COMMERCIAL NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 92, 28 January 1928, Page 7

COMMERCIAL NEWS

STOCK AND PRODUCE. THE ASHBURTON MARKET. The stock section of the Ashburton stock and produce market yesterday, was very quiet. Harvesting as a coun-ter-interest was largely responsible for the smallness both of the yarding and tilts attendance. Fruit, however, was in good demand and large quantities changed hands at firm prices. Prices were as follow: — Poultry—Hens, 2s 9d to 4s 4d; roosters, 3s to 5s 4d; ducks, 5s Id, air per pair. .Pigs—Weaners, 7s 6d to los. Produce and Fruit—Cauliflowers, 4d and 6d each ; apricots, 2-*d to 3^d; peas, Is 3d per peck; tomatoes, 6d to 8d: peaches, 2£d' to 4d; cherry plums, 2|d; bacon, lOd: rhubarb, 6d: cabbages, 4d and 6d; potatoes, Id; seconds of oats, 13s (4i bushels); raspberries, 8d and 9d. ASHBURTON HORSE FAIR. A horse bazaar was held by the National Mortgage and Agency Co., Ltd., in the Arcade yesterday afternoon. There was a good attendance, but the demand was largely for the younger draughts. Hacks, except for those of particularly good quality, were difficult to dispose of. and many were passed in. Some of the prices were: — Draught Geldings—Aged £25, 9 years £l9 10s, 6 years £43 10s. Draught Mares —Eight years, £3B 10s: aged, £4; aged, £l2. Hack Gelding —Aged, £9 10s; 4 years, £7. Pony—Four years, £5. PROPERTY AUCTION.

A four-roomed cottage with a quar-ter-acre of land in Oxford Street, East Ashburton, f* jt up for auction yesterday by Henry Stephenson in conjunction with Bullock and Qo., Ltd., was passed in at £350. GRAIN AND PRODUCE. CHRISTCHURCH MARKETS. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. New season’s produce is now beginning to come forward to the market. The first of the oats was received this week, and it is stated that some of the earliest wheat crops in the North Canterbury district will be threshed next week. The hot, sunny weather experienced during the past couple of weeks has caused the crops to ripen, rapidly, too rapidly, it would seem in cases, as some of the crops show a tendency to wither. However, the weather on the whole has been favourable to the ripening of crops, and Canterbury is now practically assured of a bountiful harvest.

Samples of Algerian and Gartons oats have been received this week. The oats generally are of good quality,* being bright . arid heavy, arid the yields are quite up to expectations. Some of the samples, however, are dirty, with a high proportion of wild oats. Sales of new season’s A grade GartonS have been made at 2s lOd to 2s lid a. bushel on trucks, while Algerians have, been sold at the same figures for the best quality. The dry weather, which is general nearly all over New Zealand, has bad the effect of improving the price of oats, as it is anticipated that there may be a better demand for them than usual for feed purposes. Growers are still offering to sell wheat freely, and, as expected, this is having the effect of forcing prices downwards. Sales of Tuscan wheat have been made at 5s- 7d a bushel on trucks this week, and it would now be difficult to get 6s on trucks for Hunters. Millers are not anxious to buy further supplies of wheat in the meantime. They have ample on hand to meet requirements for some time to come. Reports from the country indicate that the wheat crops generally promise well. Some of the crops are affected with “take-all,” but on the whole, the ravages of the disease do not appear to be extensive. It is almost certain that sufficient wheat will be produced to meet all requirements. There is no change to report with regard to the forward market for potatoes. Inquiries are still being received from .Auckland, more particularly for March and April delivery. For March delivery merchants are still offering £4 a ton on trucks at country stations, with the same lower quotations for later mouths. Growers do not seem to be very anxious to sell their potatoes forward. Quotations for new season’s onions have improved, and this week forward sales have been made at £5 a ton on trucks, delivery when ready. There has been a rather sharp rise in the price of onions in Sydney," and this has had its effect on the local market, as also has a report that sales of Auckland onions have been made to Vancouver. Last season the Vancouver trade went to Melbourne and Auckland growers were forced to find a market within the Dominion. This was one of the factors that operated towards the low price of Canterbury onions last year. The prospects this year are for considerably better prices, ar.d there is undoubtedly much room for improvement on the low figures that growers had to be content with last season. The barley crops generally are doing well. One or two of the earliest have been cut. Merchants are unable to name a price for barley. The contract price for this season was not fixed, the only stipulation being that it should not be less than 4s a bushel on trucks or more than ss. are that the price may he nearer 4s than ss. There is a record carry-over of old season’s barley, and brewers are well stocked up. The area under barley is less this year than last, but if the crops yield well, ' there will probably be more barley in the country than is required. Last year barley was exported to London, _ and there may be further export'business) this year; but probably local merchants will have to get the barley for considerably less than 4s a bushel on trucks in order to make business with London possible. The cutting of the ryegrass ciops is now general, and a start has a so been, made on cutting cocksfoot, lne

cocksfoot crops promise very well. The opening price of cocksfoot will probably be from 6d to 6-|d per pound on trucks for undressed seed. New seasons perennial ryegrass is quoted at 2s 9cl to 3s a bushel on trucks, and Italian at Is 6d to 2s. There is a big carryover of Italian ryegrass, and it-does not look as if prices will be any better than -they were last year. It is too early for clovers, but the prospects are for good crops of both red and white. , New season’s chaff is worth £3 los a, ton on trucks for March-April delivery. No price is being quoted for linseed. This”is. one of the later crops. The minimum contract price for linseed is the same as last year, namely £l3 a ton on trucks.

The dry weather that is being ex-, perienced in most parts of the country has caused a. considerable increase in the demand for both bran and pollard. These lines have been slow of sale for some time. The usual shipment of new sacks arrived in Christchurch from Calcutta recently. The shipment was not a particularly large one, and, with the prospect of a bountiful harvest, there is a. chance that there will be a shortage of sacks. Already there is a good inouiry for new and second-hand sacks. The' price of sacks this season is Id less than last. New forty-eights are worth Is 4d each. The following are quotations for produce, to be paid to farmers, sacks extra except where otherwise stated: — VvTieat —Tuscan, os 7d to os 8d per bushel; Hunters. 5s lOd to 5s lid. Oats—Gartons, 2s 7d to 2s lid per bushel: Algerians,. 2s 8d to 2s lid ; Duns, 2s 6d to 3s. Chaff —£3 15s per ton. Potatoes.—£4 per ton, March delivery; £3 7s 6d to £3 10s, Anril-May-June delivery.. Onions —£4 10s to £4 15s per ton, delivery when ready. Red Clover—Bd to lOd per pound White Clover—7d to lOd per pound. Partridge Peas —New season’s os 9l per bushel, delivery when ready. Perennial Ryegrass —2s 9d to 3s per bushel. Italian Ryegrass —Is 6d to 2s per bushel. Cocksfoot—6d to Qi per pound. Linseed—£l3 per ton (nominal). Bran. —£5 10s per ton f.o.b. southern ports; 10s extra for smaller packings. Pollard.—£7 10s per ton f.o.b. southern ports; 10s extra for smaller packings. , . Flour. —Local wholesale price £l< 10s per ton for 2001 b sacks, with increments for smaller packings. Price for shipment, £l7 10s per ton, freight paid to main New Zealand ports.

DUNEDIN. DUNEDIN, January 27. Increased interest is being shown in wheat now that the Canterbury crop is nearing the threshing stage. According to reports from the northern province, a considerable quantity has been sold for forward delivery, but the latest indications point to an easing market. Farmers are being paid 5s Bd, sacks extra, on trucks. The Wheat Committee in tJanterbury is doing its best to hold the market by advising growers to avoid an over-supply. Although a large number of sales have been made there is still a large quantity of wheat to come oil the market, and the ci ltical stage, so far as growers are concerned, will not be reached for about six weeks or two months. Millers in this district are not at all keen to operate, but some sales have been effected on forward delivery at '3s per bushel on trucks for Tuscan and red chaff velvet has been sold at up to 6s 6d, but very little of this variety? is available at present. Ihe prevailing spell of dry weather is helping otn the crops, but threshing will not be general in this district until late m March. . „ Th© oats market remains him witn several enquiries, but only small supplies are available to meet the demand. However, this demand is insufficient to raise prices and it would appear that buyers are drawing sufficient supplies to meet their requirements from other ports. There are buyers for A’s forward delivery April-Septeaiber, but merchants are not prepared to operate until the harvest. . Fair supplies of chaff are coming forward, but these are quite sufficient for the poor local demand. Best quality stuff is selling at £5 5s per ton, sacks extra. Most of tde requirements arc drawn from Canterbury Dry weather in the North Island has caused several bush burns, thus creating a demand for sowing out. Several safes of seeds to the North Island have taken place and l merchants have availed themselves of the opportunity to sell out some of last season’s stocks. Samples of new season’s ryegrass are appearing on the market from Canterbury. Growers are asking 3s a pound but merchants are not keen as the samples have not beeni of the best quality. DAIRY. PRODUCE IN LONDON. LONDON, January 26. Butter—The demand is improving slightly. Choicest New Zealand 153 s to 1545, Australian 148 s to 150 s, unsalted New Zealand 158 s, Australian 152 s to 1545, Danish 172 s per cwt. Cheese—The market is quiet. New Zealand 89s, Australian 88s.