LATE COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18998, 20 October 1923, Page 13

LATE COMMERCIAL.

SHA BLAND AND CO. (LTD.). The directors of Sharland and Co. (Ltd.) state in their annual report that, after providing for all bad and 'doubtful debts and lull depreciation of premises and plant, and after taking stock at saleable values’ and Government War Stock under market price, as well a® after payment of interim dividend, remains a balance of £10,378 to be dealt with, inclusive of £4955 brought forward from last yfcar’s account. Appropriation is recommended of £5625 in payment of dividend, making a distribution of 7 per cent, for the year, and leaving £4753 to carry forward to the next year’s account, providing for income tax. CANTERBURY PRODUCE MARKET. (Pkb United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, October 19. Business is quiet in all lines at present and the prospects are that it will remain so until after Carnival Week. The potato markee is in a bud way, orders being few and far between. It appears that, tempted by iat© prices, merchants sent to the north' more than the market could absorb, the result being that no further supplies are likely to be required for some time. A Christchurch merchant wired his agent to sell at (he best price he could from off the wharf at Auckland, and received the discouraging reply that the agent was unable to sell at any figure. Another merchant states, however, that a line of Dakotas was sold to-day on a basis of £8 15s f.o.b. s.i., while some f a q’s were disposed of at £8 under similar conditions. Generally speaking, the speculative business- is now a thing of the past, as vierchants are getting from fanners what small lots they require to meet order*, Fowl wheat is, it anything, a little easier, and is being offered at 5s 3td f.0.b,, with sacks extra, la Id. A lot of spring threshing is now being done of white and red clover, and a fair amount is being offered by farmers. The bulk of the red clover is of poor quality, being very full of discoloured seed, which ia due to rain, being therefore of no great value. Choice red clover is worth up to 9Jd and white clover (free from suckling seed) is realising up to Is 3d. As regards cocksfoot, there ia practically no business being done, but prices are firm at late rates, in view of the advance in Danish need at, Home, equivalent to 97s 6d per cwt. lauded in the dominion.

Cabled advices received to-day report business for next year on a basis of 70s per quarter, c.i.f., London, for Partridge peas.