COMMERCIAL

Otago Witness, Issue 2200, 30 April 1896, Page 26

COMMERCIAL

In spite of the severity of last winter, which so geriously affected some stations, the increase in stock on some properties in Southland has enabled us to fill many gaps in the fhicks further north, large supplies having in the last few months been drawn from these parts. An interesting feature during rece- 1 years has been the gradual adoption of cro3nbrefll flocks where hitherto it was believed nothing but merinos could flourish. This has been accomplished by the introduction of the Cheviot strain from the "astlerock flock of that breed. A year or two ago one statiqn in Otago was stocked entii ely ' Vith Cheviots and tb is year th« New Zealand Loan Company have Srnt to northern clients some 300 Cheviot rams to one station and ' also sold to another property over 1500 nbeviot ewes, the price being, it 1b understood, 10s per head. Wherever Cheviots have been tried the result has been quite up to expectations, and it looks as if in a few years the pure merino breed will be quite an exception in New Zealand.— Southland Times. A good line of wheat was recently disposed of At 3s 5d on trucks at Outram. This is almost 2d per bushel higher than averago samples are obtaining iv the Canterbury district.— Taieri Advocate.

the Mosgiel Woollen Factory Company (Limited) pay m- >nr»rim dividend at the rate of 8 per cent, per »n> -int. 'The directors of the N tionnl Fire and Mar'ne Insurance Company bavc declared a dividend of Pd per share for tbe half-year ended March 31. The directors of the Wellington Woollen Company- have declared a dividend at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum. Tbe Tapanui Courier learns that the returns for tbe cheese »ent to London by the Tapflnui Dairy Fuctory ara unsatisfactory. The price for the first shipment was 41a for three cratea, «nd •uly S9a for 81, givia* a rough average of 4Jd per

lb. At these prices cheepe-making will not pay milk suppliers, and the local men are getting dishe<rttned. Tha price quoted is about 3s below last year.

Th^s animal b.Uauce sheet of the Invercargill Saleyards C"tnpany shows a profit for the year of £U0 6s 8-1, the revenue having been £482 9a lOd and the expenditure £372 3s 2d. The directors' report, which was adopted ab the meuting of shareholder? held on the 25th inst., recnininonded a dividend of 5 per cent, on the fully paid-up shares.