COMMERCIAL NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 164, 24 April 1935, Page 7

COMMERCIAL NEWS

DOMINION PRODUCE. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. The Department of Agriculture has received the following cablegram dated April 18 from the High Commissioner for New Zealand, London : Tallow—Market quiet but steady at about last quotations. , Apples—The Tainui's shipment generally was in good condition, except Cox's Orange and Lord Wolseley, which are variable-pitted. The Opawa s shipment is practically clear. Market shows slight downward tendency Owing to prospective heavy arrivals. Current prices are: Cox's Orange 10s to 16s, with lower prices wasty: Dunn .s Favourite 8s 6d to 9s 6d, Ballarat, 8s 6d to 9s 6d, Cleopatra 9s 6d to lUs. Lord Wolseley, pitted, 6s to 9s Jonathan 8s to 13s, Alfriston 8s 6d to- lis 6d, Willie Sharp 7s to 9s, London Pippin 7s 6di to 9s. ,

DAIRY PRODUCTION. DECREASE IN OUTPUT. The dairy output in the Dominion for the eight months of the current season ended March shows a fall of 8.1 per cent, compared with the previous season. On the same basis the decline in butter-fat, calculated on export grading of produce, to the end of February, was 7.5 per cent., and to the end of January, 5.8 per cent. During March 11,050 tons of butter were graded for export, compared with 11,825 tons in March, 1934, and 7941 tons of cheese, against 9968 tons. The March output of butter was higher than in February, but the figures for cheese showed the usual seasonal decline. The weekly grading returns for butter showed comparative improvement toward the end of March, and in the last week of the month the return was actually above that of the corresponding week (last year. Grading* returns for export in the Dominion during the current season to the end of March compare with the previous season as follow:

DISPERSAL SALE. ABERDEEN ANGUS HERD. HASTINGS, April 23. Another of Hawke's Bay's old-estab-lished cattle studs ended its history when the Omarunui herd of Mr W. Kinross White was dispersed: by auction to-day, this making the third big dispersal in Hawke's Bay in the last few months. This Aberdeen Angus herd in the last 30 years has built up a name for itself, and buyers were present to-day from all parts of the North Island. The top price, 300 guineas, was obtained for the senior herd sire Actium of GwavaSj which was sold to. A. F. M. Symes, of Hastings, a younger bull, Oberon of Omarunui, selling at 100 guineas, and a prize cow, Norma of Omarunui, selling at 95 guineas. A total of 170 head was sold, the average price being about 20 guineas. The surprise of the sale was the manner in which some of the old cows sold, some 14 years of age making from 15 to 22 guineas, while a 17-year cow with calf at foot made 19 guineas. Purchases were well distributed throughout the island, several going to the Wairarapa,. Manawatu, Auckland and Poverty. Bay districts.

Butter. Tons. Tons. 1934-35. 1933-34 August 6,487 6,462 September 10,136 10,912 October 15,195 15,850 November . 23,125 23,166 December *.. 17,350 18,520 January .... 17,675 19,919 February .. 10,825 13,425 March 11,050 11,825 Total .. 111,843 120,079

Cheese. Tons. Tons. 1934-35. 1933-34 August 712 691 September 4,225 4,629 October 9,890 10,983 November . 16,530 17,493 December .. 13,319 14,199 January ,.., 13,665 15,385 February .. 8,957 11,083 March „ 7,941 9,968 Total ... 75,248 84,431