FINANCE AND TRADE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4440, 21 August 1901, Page 6

FINANCE AND TRADE.

The Customs returns for yesterday amounted to £llß4 17s 2d. Messrs Freeman 11. Jackson and Co., in conjunction with Messrs Abraham and Williams, report on their Johnsonville sale as follows : A full supplv or beef, including some extra heavy bullocks, which met with a somewhat dragging sale. Cows sold freely. Extra weight bullocks brought 19s per lOUlb ; prime medium weight qo., 21s (Id to 22s Od; cows. 19s to 2Us. A small entry of prime sheep was well competed for. No lat pigs were entered. Quotations: .Aged workers, £lO 10s to £ll bs; prime medium weight bullocks. £8 to £8 17s 6d ; inferior da., £6 lbs to £7 10s; lair cows. £6 to £0 lbs; good wethers, lbs Cd to lbs 7d; prime ewes, lbs 4d; others, 12s 9d to 14s Id. Pigs (small slips), 7s.

. Messrs W. Weddcl and Co., London, in their report on Colonial Dairy Produce lor tuo week ended July b, state that the falling away of the export demand for butler in Canada has ,caused a decline in Canadian markets of Is to 2s for ‘'choicest” and ‘-fancy ’creameri, s. and, in British markets, Canadian creameries of "choicest’' quality have been sold at 9Ss to lOtis ; which is about the price 0.i.f., so that selle hero are losing slightly on Iran sac tic - The supply of Irish is just now at the lit h, and, as it is a butter whoso quality necessitates rapid consumption, it is selling at less than Canadian prices, and this fs kes]>ing the Canadian demand in somewhat narrow limits, although the imports week by week are steadily increasing—those for last week reached nearly 8000 cwts. There has been a nervous feeling amongst buyers this week owing to the fall in price since the arrival of rain, but at the ciose a steadier feeling is manifesting^itself. The Copenhagen official quotation remains unchanged for tho tenth week ill succession at 88 kroner, and is npw 4 kroner below tho corresponding week last year. In tho Northern markets Danish butter is not.in so great demand as last week, probably owing to the largo supply of Irish and Itussian, some of the best of which is made to do duty for Danish. The imports for last week of all kinds of butter were again large, and as they all po into consumption, although depressing prices, they give clear proof of the deficiency of tine home supply. Tho following figures showing tho imports for the four weeks ondinf Juno 29th from the principal sources of supply compared with tho same periodlast year aro very interesting:

Now Year Canada Zeal’d Dcnm’k Russia tons tons tens tons 1900 ... 8.840 12,800 127,618 20,077 1901 ... 21,310 1,077 141,631 44,333

“Wo liavo received from Mr Francis Bavcnscroft, manager of the Birkbeck Building Society, London, a copy of the society’s fiftieth annual report. The presentation of the fiftieth annual'Teport marks an epoch in tho existence this society, and the members, in unision with tho directors, doubtless feel that the occasion is one for mutual congratulation. Tho celebration of the jubilee of the Birkbeck Building Society affords the directors an opportunity of recording tho deep satisfaction they experience in a retrospect of its growth, from the small beginnings in 1861 to its present proportions in 1901. Tho receipts, from shareholders on completed and uncompleted shares during the last twelve months amounts to £294,150 2s 9d, and the amount repaid £277,496 10s Id; showing a balance now duo to investors of £963,912 4s 3d, being a net increase on tho year of £16,653 12s Bd. The deposits received during the year amount to £13,938,904 7s 4d, and tho sum repaid is £13,924,573 12s 7d; leaving a balance now due to depositors of £9,015,439 12s 3d, being an increase on the year of £14,330 14s 9d. The investments, including the cash at hankers, are £9,051,109 4s—the amount last year was £9,045,535 19s lid; showing an increase on the year of £5,573 4s Id. The cash balance at the close of tho year is £763,966 17s Bd, and tho amount at the close of the previous year was £707,691 9s Id; showing an increase of £56,275 8s 7d. Tho amount advanced on mortgage during the year is £120,410 11s Bd, and the amount repaid £99,772 19s 2d. showing an increase of £20,637 12s 6d; thus bringing up tho balance due by borrowers to £857,304 Is lOd. From 1851 to 1856 the deposits were £25,614 3s 7d, and they have gradually risen to £89,. 943,572 13s 2d in tho period 1896.1901.

Messrs Goldsb rough, Morfc and Co., of Melbourne, writing under date August Bth, report; —Wheat.—Though the tone of the market is steady, the demand for export, except for large parcels, is of a restricted nature. Owing to tho pre-vailing-dullness in the London marked the improvement reported from Home over a week ago is now fully lost. For local consumption there' is a moderate demand, but the millers show ho disposition to purchase beyoud present requirements, owing to the dull state of tho local Hour, trade. With tho continuance of dry weather in tho northern, districts, holders are not anxious to quit, and at the moment little business is passing. The demand at auction this day was steady on tho following basis, viz.; Prime milling, 2s 9d to 2s 9jd; fair to good, 2s 8d to 2s 8 id; inferior, to 2s 7ifl. Oats.—On tho week prices have seen a further rise of fully ltd per bushel; tho demand is chiefly for shipment. Wo now quote: Stout whites, prime, to 2s 4jd; ordinary feed 2s 2d to 2s 3d; Algerian, superior, to 2s 4d : fair to good teed, 2s 2d to 2s 3d, infer, ior, to 2s Ijd. Barley.—The market remains unaltered, and anything but prime malting is difficult to place satisfactorily ; feed lots have attracted more attention. Wo quote: Prime malting, to 3s 6d ; fair to good : 2s 8d to 3s; inferior to medium, to 2s 4d to 2s 6d; feed lots 2s 2jd to 2s 3id.

The tenth annual report of the Farmers’ Co-operative Fire and Marino Insurance Association of Canterbury, to he submitted at the mooting to-day (Wednesday) in tho society’s rooms, Cashel street. Christchurch, shows that the revenue, including balance carried forward from' 30lh June, 1900, was £15,836 15s 2d, and tho expenditure £8,433 4s 2d. leaving a balance of £7403 11s to he dealt with. After setting aside £1250 to re-insure current risks, a stun of £6153 11s remains for distribution, out of which the directors recommend the uavment of a dividend of 6 per cent, on paid up capital, a bonus of 10 per cent, to shareholders on fire business, the transfer of £ISOO to reserve fund, the balance (about £1200) being carried forward to the present year.