COMMERCIAL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 926, 29 January 1917, Page 11

COMMERCIAL.

WHEAT. lit) Ca.hU. — Prrts Association. — Copyright. Australian a,id N.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK, January 26. Chicago May deliveries are quoted at 185 to ISO.S cents, and July at 154 to 151}. LONDON, January 27. Cargoes are not offering. The wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom totals 2,080,000 quarters, and for the Continent 3.300,000. Atlantic shipments total 111,000 quarters, and Pacific 21,000. The total from Europe is 1,020,000 quarters, India 43,000, the Argentine I*l,ooo, and Australasia (estimated) 200,000. FHOZF.N MEAT. Rabbits.—The market is very firm, supplies being moderate. New South Wales blues, ex store, are quoted at 34/-. Frozen Meat.—Australian mutton 9{d, New Zealand *.){ d. South American 1 lOd, New Zealand lamb 10* d, Australian 10<d, South American lljd. MISCELLANEOUS. Hemp.—The market is firm and at a high point. Fair January-March shipment £6O. Rubber. —Para 3/2J, plantation and smoked 2 'lo}. Copra.—December-February' shipment £4l 15,'- (nominal.!. CHRISTCHURCH GAS COMPANY, LTD. • Tlie directors of the Christchurch Gas,! Coal, and Coke Co., Ltd.. have issued the following report for the year ended Decern- i ber 31, l'.llfi:— "The Lake Coleridge electrical scheme, '; as was anticipated, has caused a great i amount of competition, but your directors are pleased to report that the consumption ' of gas generally, and especially for domes-1 tic heating and cooking purposes, has actu- ! ally Increased, and the reduction in output' caused by the termination of the contracts for city and borough lighting is being rapidly overtaken. The mileage of mains has been increased by over 4] miles, now making a total of 218] miles. We have 919 more consumers than at the end of 1915. Thirty-six members of our staff have en- . listed, and the half-pay granted them ' amounts to about £2OOO per annum. Owing to the large increase-in. the year's expenses,' notably for taxation, wages, coal, and other raw material, it was considered a wise precaution to declare an interim dividend of t per cent., instead of the usual 5 per cent. Your directors recommend the payment of a dividend of 4 per cent, on the capital paid up, in addition to the interim dividend already paid, and, after providing for reasonable additions to the reserve and renewal funds, to carry forward a balance of £4578 13/11. The retiring directors are! Sir George Clifford and Mr F. I. Cowlishaw, who offer themselves for re-election." The revenue account showed the following details:—Materials, £30,203 13/6; wages and salaries, £29,051 1/1; income tax, insurance, rent, etc., £13,976 2/5; half pay to enlisted: employees, £ls3f. 8/4; interest, £1482; bod debts, £l3l 2/11; total, £7ti,440 12/10. Re- j ceipts from sale of gas, coke, tar, etc., £101,036 4/-. Balance, £24,595 11/2. The profit and loss account shows that i this sum, together with £4625 10/9 brought forward from last year, was appropriated as follows: —Dividend at the rate of 8; per cent., £17,142 8/ ; renewal fund, £3750; reserve fund, £3750; balance to new account. ' £1578 13/11. The annual meeting is fixed for Thurs- : day afternoon at the company's office.

CHRISTCHURCH STOCK EXCHANGE

SALE HKI'OIlTId) N.Z. Refrigcrati ig Mea s. C21 10/-. TODAY'S QUOTATIONS. BANKS— Hi £ ye ■s. .1. Sellers. £ s. d. Nutionnl .. J 1 (i N.Z. (fully paiil) i: 0 n COAL— Wcstport 19 0 Stockton 0 1! 6 _ 1 FINANCIAL— National Mortgage — 4 10 INSURANCENew Zealand 7 2 G Standard .. .. 1 13 i) _ MEATS— Canterbury 8 15 0 SHIPPING— Northern (11 li pa id) 0 li >', Union 2 0 II MISCELLANEOUS - Auckland Trams — 116 D.I.C. t«'.; prof.) 1 0 0 .Mason, Stiiitluis ui paid) .. .. . « 1 2 ft N.Z. Farmers' Co »p. 2 7 li 2 8 0