FINANCE AND TRADE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4426, 5 August 1901, Page 6

FINANCE AND TRADE.

The Customs returns for Saturday amounted to £1960 Os 6d. The returns for the week totalled £9764 10s 7d; the beer duty received during the same P e * riod being £143 Is 6d.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency reports as follows: —At our usual fortnightly sale we offered a small catalogue of wool and sheepskins. Bidding was more animated than for some time past, but there is no quotable change in prices to report. The following is the range of prices received:—Clean crutchings, IJd to 2jd; crutchings, inferior. Id to pieces, Ijd; locks, id to Id; stragglers’ fleece to SJd. Sheepskins—Good sound pelted crossbred, 3d to 31 d ; lambs, from lid t D 2^-d; hoggets, 2d to 3d per lb; dead skins. Id to 2Jd. The quotations are all per pound.

Messrs Weddel and Co., in their market report, dated London, June 28th, say: wheat, etc.—Owing to the continued pressure to sell from America, the market here has been extremely quiet, and prices have given way further. A large number of vessels with white wheat are now arriving, and in the face of this operators are confining their purchases to the narrowest possible limits. The prospects of the American crops are very favourable, and this is the chief factor at present which buyers take into consideration. The fact that the French crop is not in a particularly satisfactory condition is hardly accorded a passing notice by operators. Should it become necessary for France to import wheat in any quantity, the aspect of the market would be quickly changed. The outlook generally, however, is not bright, although at the close there is a firmer tone and a shade more money might be_ obtained. The weether in the United Kingdom continues fine and gives promise of a fairly early harvest. Owing to the lack of rain the yield may be light and the straw short. Maize is dull and rather easier. Barley is quiet, while oats are in fair request at a slight advance on late rates.,

Messrs W. and R. Fletcher, frozen meat importers, of West Smithfield, report under date June 29th: —Business may be described as exceptionally quiet considering the time of year. Sunplies of both cattle and sheep are in excess of demand, 'while their quality is very much below the average, due to the drought which is now becoming a serious matter for Home agriculturists. With respect to values, anything very good in the way of beef or mutton still command high prices, but for secondary classes it is difficult to find a market. Choice lambs are scarce and dear. At the foreign cattle markets much heavier supplies have come to hand during past ten days™ chiefly from IJ.S. This, coupled with the depressed condition of the principal meat markets, has led to a decline in values of nearly 4d per stone compared with prices stated in last report. For best States bullocks the extreme top figure is 3s lid, and for fair to good, useful beasts, 3s 9d., Canadians 3s 8d to 3s lOd. the latter price being exceptional. A few consign, ments of American and Canadian sheep have experienced a dull sale at prices to equal 3a lOd to 4s 2d per stone (81b). Some good quality lambs make up to 4s dd and 4s 6d at Birkenhead. 1

COMMERCIAL CABLES. PRESS ASSOCIATION. LONDON, August 2. BANK OF ENGLAND RETURN. The Bank of England return issued for the week ending Wednesday, July 31st, is as under: ISSUE DEPARTMENT. Note Usu«.. £52,979,003 Gov. debt., £11,015,000 Other securities .. 6,700,000 Gold.. .. 35,201,000 £52.979,000 £52,979,000 Bambino Department, Proprietors' Got. scouricapital .. £11,563,000 ties .. £16,206,000 Public do- Other asposita .. 8,113,000 curitiea .. 37,090,000 Other de- Notes 22,232,000 posits .. 11,090,000 Ooiu.. .. 2,109,000 Best, 7-daj and other billl .. 3,580,000 £70,636,000 £70,636,000 The leading items of th 6 Bank of Eugland return afford the following oonii arisen:—■ This weak, List week. Last year Bullion .. .. 35.204,009 35,576,000 28,282,000 Reserve .. 21,311,000 25.271,000 17,942,003 Note circulation ~ 30,717,000 30,179 000 20,887,000 Deposits .. .. 62,603,000 19,872,000 50,513,000 Proportion reserve to liabilities .. 1627 Eo's3 85'39 GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. The following are the latest quotas tic,ns for Government securities, and a comparison with those ruling last week;

♦lntereil payable In May and November, tlnterest payable in Janaary and July. llnterest payable in April and October. MONEY MARKET. The market rate of discount for best three months’ bills is 1«16 higher at 2 9-16 per cent. The Bank of England, rate is 3 per cent., as against 3J- per cent, on the 13th June, and 4 per cent, on the 6th June, COLONIAL AND OTHER PRODUCE. Wheat—The markets are quiet.- Co*, tinental lower, American, irregular, owing to favourable weather reports. Car goes are steady. South Australian March and Victorian April shipments are quoted at 29s 3d per quarter, ci.f. Tallow—Stocks 15,698 casks, imports 6097 casks, deliveries 6475 casks. Sugar is quiet. German beet, 88deg., I’d lower, at 9s 3d pe r cwt; first mark, granulated, f.o.b Hamburg, unchanged at 11s per cwt. THE PRICES OF METALS. Copper—Quotations are nominal. Spot, 5s lower, at £67 10s per ton; three months’, 2« 6d lower, at £67 17s >6d per ton. The supplies for the past month totalled 22,943 tons, and the deliveries 22,010 tons. Stocks 27,395 tons, advised afloat 2200 tons. Tin—Spot, 80s lower, at £ll6 10s per ton; three months’, 35s lower at £ll3 10s per ton. Stocks total 18,850 tons, on spot 5231 tons, afloat 3527 tons, deliveries 1760 tons Pig iron—Glasgow warrants, No. 1 cash. Is higher at 54s’4Jd per ton f.o.b in Clyde. Lead, 5s lower, at £ll 16s 3d per tan. COAL EXPORTS. WESTPORT, August 4. The coal export last week was 7613 tons 12cwt., of which 7241 tons 3cwt. was from the Westport Coal Company’s mines and 272 tons 9cwt. from the Westport' Co-operative Company’s. GREYMOUTH, August 4. The coal exports for th e week were ; Blackball Company, 1291 tons 14cwt.; Brunner Company, 273 tons 18cwt.

- Price. Variation. 4 s. a, 2J % Imperial Console 92 X5 0 Unchanged 4 % New South Wales .. 118 0 0 Unchanged BJ % New South Wales 108 0 0 Unchanged 3 % New South Walea 4% Victorian 99 XU 6 0 0 0 Unchanged 20/- higher Bi% Victorian .. .. 1U6 0 0 IB/- higher 3 % Victorian 94 7 6 Unchanged 3J % South Australian 195 0 0 Unchanged B % South Australian 93 0 0 Unchanged 4 % Queensland 106 10 0 Unchanged % Queensland •• 102 0 c Unchanged i % New Zealand* .. 114 15 0 20/- higher BJ% Now Zealandt «. 108 0 0 Unchanged 8 % New Zealandt 99 5 0 Unchanged 8J % West Australian 100 10 0 Unchanged 6£ % Tasmanian ., 104 10 0 10/- higher