COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12759, 4 September 1903, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Daily Times Office, Thursday evening. The amount of revenue collected at tho Dunodiu Custom House to-day on Roods cleared for consumption was £ 1018 lis Id. At a special meeting of the Taratu-Kai-tangata Railway and Coal Company (Limited), held in the company's boardroom last evening, the analysis of tho coal from tho lower scam oii their property was discussed, and, being so satisfactory, tho shareholders unanimously roEolved that the shaft to tap the lower scum bo immediately proceeded with.

Mr D. Hyde, tho Government poultry expert, states that there is an unprecedented demand at the present time for New Zealand poultry to supply the South African markets. One firm lately received an order for 224,000 liead, and* other inquiries for large quantities are. being made. The National Mortgag?. and Agency Company report as follows:—We held our usual fortnightly hide sale on Thursday, 3rd inst., when we submitted a fairly largo catalogue, composed chiefly of country hides. There was a full attendance of buyers, and a keen demand for all lots offered. Compared with la3t sale prices show an advance of Jd to Id per lb. A few of our sales were as follow:—Ox hides: Three, 7:21b, Ggd; one, 711b, Gi|d, three, G3lb, GJd; one, GOlb, GJd; four, 021b, Gd; one, 70lb, Gd; two, 571b, GJd; ihree, 531b, 5Jd; one, GOlb, s„d; four, Colb, 5Jd. Cow hides: Two, 571b, GJd; one, 571b, sitd; two, 501b, 5Jd; one, 571b, sd; two. Glib, 4i,'d; one, 501b, 4Jd; three, 4 fib, 4*d per lb; yearlings, 2s Gd to 4s lOd; calfskins, Is lid to 2s Cd cach.

THE WHEAT AND FLOUR MARKET.

Many rumours were eurront yesterday with respect to a movement in the wheat and flour market, and there was some talk of a " corner," but nothing transpired locally to support this theory; in fact, a lino of flour in 501b bags was sold to a well-known retail firm at a price understood to be below ruling quotation?. Communicating with our Christclmrch correspondent on the subject, lie telegraphed as follows last evening:— "The sharp rise in wheat within the past week hero has been l due to extensive operations on the part of a South Canterbury firm of merchants. From what I can learn, however, it is not go much an attempt to create a 'corner' as to boom prices. The firm in question is saitl to bo largely interested in Argentine wheat due in Melbourne and Sydney at present, and it as believed that it has bought to harden the market here and remove any danger of Australian millers coming to New Zealand for supplies. The cabled intelligence that New Zealand wheat had hardened threepence a bushel, and >vas being firmly held, would have its effect 011 the Australian market and assist profitable sales. At all events, that is the explanation given here. On the other hand; whilo these operations have created an artificial riso in prices, the market is likely io be srstained. Not a great deal of reliance is placed on the Government figures, and supplies are believed to bo short. However, millers are being forced into the market in a number of cases, and farmers are sanguine tho movement on the market is the strongest for some time, and I feel inclined to predict that it will not go back."

Tho Invercargill correspondent of tho Lyttolton Times says:—"There is every prospect now of an early settlement between tho millers and the Millers' Association. I havo it on the best authority that only 0110 firm (a Dunedin mill) is now hanging back, and all the others are willing to join again. If an amalgamation comes off, it will be safe to anticipate a sharp rise in all mill produce."

COMMERCIAL CABLEGRAMS.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, September 2. Copper.—Spot, £59 7s Gd; three months, £38 12s 6d. Supplies 19,652 tons, deliveries 18,389 tons, stock 15,712 tons, advised 3125 tons. Tin,—Spot, £123 15s; three months, £121155. Stock, 17,538 tons, spot 5991 tons, afloat 4415 tons, deliveries 3191 tons. Lead, £11 4s GJd. Tho tallow stock is 14,541 casks, imports 3GGO casks, deliveries 6129 casks. At the weekly 'sales 1123 casks were offered and 925 sold. Mutton: Fine 29s 3d, medium 27s Gd, Beef: Fine, 31s, medium Sis Gd. The American visible supply of wheat is 21,658,000 bushels.

THE MEAT MARKET.

(Pub United Press Association.) NAPIER, September 3. The Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company (Limited), London, cabled to-day: —

" To-day frozen meat market quotations are:— Mutton: Canterbury, 4Jd per lb; Napier, Wellington, and North Island, 4d. Lamb 1 First quality, 4Jd; second do, 4Jd. .Beef: Hindquarters, 4d; fores, 2id."

THE AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. Prtss Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SIDNEY, September 3. At the Homsbush sales sheep were slightly easier. Best wethers realised 18s Gil; extra, 225, good, 17s to 17s Cd; best ewo.s, 18s; extra, 50s; good, 10s 6d to 17s. Cattle were in good demand, but values were unchanged. Best beef realised 29s lo 30s par 1001b.

AIELBOURNE, September 3. Tho demand for tallow is moderate, _ Prices are 10s per ton lower. There is no business in New Zealand at this end owing to the absence ot shipping inquiry. Hides: The supply offering is very large, and tho demand dull. Quotations are unchanged.

HIDE SAI.ES,

Messrs Donald Heid and Co. (Limited) repert'as follows:—We held our fortnightly sale at our stores, Vogel street, on Thursday, when wo submitted a fairly largo catalogue, comprising 201 hides, to a large muster of tho trade. Our catalogue, taken as a whole, was a very gc.od one, though only a few hides were heavv-weights. Most of them were well flayed, and all were in tip-top condition. Competition iro|n start to finish was very keen, and for several lines of both ox and cow wo obtained very high prices. For heavy-v/eights there was a decided improvement m tho demand, and several lots sold at an advance of' Jd to yd per lb compared wjlh the valuej ruling at oui last sales. Our to]) price was G;jd per lb,' which wa& taken for two !ots..of ox, ai:<l for cow. A few of our sales wero as follows;—Ox hides:, One, COlb, 6£d; two, Mil), G£d; one, COlb, GJd; two, 551b, CJd, two, 501b, Gd; three, 541b, 5Jd; one, GGIb, 6Jd; one, 501b, ujd; one, 541b, sjd; one, 521b, sijd; one, 541b, s^d; two, GOlb, 5Jd; one, G2lb, s}d; one, 611b, 5Jd; one, 4811), 6£d; one, 551b, s£d; two, 521b, si;d, two, 501b, s£d. Cowhides: One, GSlb. 5Jd; one, s'2lb, 5Jd; 10, 521b, 5Jd; seven, 5411), s\d; one, 551b, 5Jd; one. sSlb, 5Jd; three, 511b, s£d; one, 491b, GJd. We quote: Prime, heavy stout ox, Cd to GJd; good, SJd to 51d; medium, 4Jd to sd; light, 4d tu 4Jd, best stout cow, to good, to sd; medium, 4id to 4td; light, 3jd to <ld; lull hides, 2Jd to 3Jd pei lb, yearlings, 2s to ss, ai>d calfskins, Is to 23 3d each.

Messrs Dalgcty and Co. (Limited) report having held tliei. fortnightly sale of hides at their stores on Thursday, when they offered a catalogue of 204 hides, consisting of 45 ox hides, 151 cow hides, and 8 calfskins. There was a full attendance of buyers, and competition was good for all descriptions. Prices obtained at last miction sales wero leadily obtainable, aud for good lines of cow hides and the heavier class of ox hides values showed an advance of Jd to jd pel lb. Their catalogue consisted almost entirely of country hides, a few ot which were above (he average in quality. Their principal sales were:-—Ox hides. One, 7411), G£d; four, G3lb, CJil; live, 571b, 3d, one, Glib, lid; oneTllb, sjd; four, 5711), 5Jd; one, ullb, Sid; one, G3lb, sd; four, 571b, s£<l; one, 541b, s£d. Cowhides: Two, (571b, 5Jd; three, 021b, Cd; three, 5511), 4Jd; three, 511b, 4}d; two, 6151b, 'Ijd: four, 59:!), 4Jd; 20, 491h, 45d; eight, 551b, tjd; 23, 471b, ijd; 20, 5511), <!sd. Quotations: Entra prime ox, CJd to CJd; do good, 5M to sjd; light do, 4d lo 4Jd; best cows, 5d to CJd; good do. -lf.d lo 4jd; light do, BJd to -id per lb; yearlings, 2s 9d to 3s Cd, mid calfskins, Is Cd to 2s each.

Messrs Wright, Slephcnsnu, ar.d Co. report as follows:—We held our i'-' -'iViiily hide salo oil Thursday, 3rd Septemb 'hen we offered a fairly large catalogue of to a very re)>re3enative gathering of the trade. Our tola] offering was £61 hides, comprising 101 ox, 12) cow, 1G calfskins, and 32 yearlings. "We had very few really prime lots of hides forward, the bulk of our catalogue being made up of light and medium hide?. Bidding was very keen, more especially for light and medium sorts of both classca and heavy cows, which shoved an advance of from Jd to Jd per lb cn prices ruling at our last sale. Hcavv and extra stout ox were on a pat with lute values. It may be of interest to quote a few of our individual sales:—Ox: Four, G9lb, GJd; two, 711b, GJd; six, 02lb, Gd; six, 011b, Od; two, G2lb, Gd; five, 571b, lijd; one, 5811), sijd; four, 541b, 5Jd; six, ESlb. GJd; cue. sGlb, 5Jd; six. 5411), 52d. Cow: Five, G5I1), , r ijd; two, 59!b, 51(1; two G7lb, 5Jd; eight, Glib, 5.Jd; four, 5011), sijd; two, sGlb, lijtl. Wo quote: Extra stout heavy ox, 5Jd to Gld; heavy do, to £3cl; medium do, 4Jd to 5Jd; light do, 4d to JJd: stout heavy cow, 53d to 5Jd; medium do, 4Jd to sjjd; light do, 4d to 4Jd per lb; calfskins, Is Id to 3s 4d cacli; yearlings, 2j;d to ."Jd per lb-

Stronnch, Morris, and Co. report as follows: — We held our fortnightly salo of hides at our stores, Crawford street, on Thursday, 3rd inst., when wo submitted to an average attendance of buyers a catalogue comprising 342 hides, made up as follows:—ls3 o>: hides. 181 cow hides, 4 yearlings, and 1 pigskin. Wo are pleased to report that prices were again most satisfactory, tho high values ruling at our salo o. fortnight ago being full'/ maintained and in heavy cow hides exceeded. Tho highest price obtained by us for ox hides was GJtl. at which price we sold a very prime heavy hide weighing 841b. Wo also sold one 791b at Ggd; 1G weighing from Gslb to 801b at GJd; 10 from G2lb to 781b at GJd; and eight from G2lb to Glib at Gd. In cow hides we sold two averaging 741b at tho very satisfactory price of sjd; Beven from 63!b to G7lb at s§d; 12 from G3lb to 821b at 51d; 18 from CClb to GBlb at sgd; and many lots at sid and sd. The following are actual prices paid at our sale:—Prime ox hides, Gd to Gld; medium to good do, 5d to 55d: light and inferior do, 3d to 4jd; prime cow hides, 5d to GJd; medium to good do, 4Jd to 4Jd; light and inferior do, 3}d to 4gd per lb; yearlings, 3s to 5s 3d each) pigskin, 2s; calfskins, none forward.

INVESTMENT STOCKS,

The Dunedin Stock Exchange reports tho following quotations yesterday:— National Bank—Buyers£4 10s Cd sellers ft 12s 3d. Bank of New Zealand—Buyers £4, sellers ft Is Cd. Nat ional Insurance—Sellers £1 Is Gd. New Zealand Insurance—Sellers. £4 5s Gd. - Standard Insurance—Sellers 18s 6d. Westport Coal—Buyers £0 lGs. New Zealand Drug (£2 paid)—Biivers £2 7s 3d. M'Leod's Soap—Sellers fit 14s.