AUCKLAND PRODUCE MARKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 110, 10 May 1902, Page 6

AUCKLAND PRODUCE MARKET.

The Auckland Fruit and Produce Auctioneers' Association report that the local produce markets have been fairly busy during the past week, and sales generally have been satisfactory. Potatoes, although heavy stocks have been cleared, have been much lower in prices, but values are more steady than last week. Onions are very scarce and dear, with a probable further advance in price. Vegetables generally are very scarce and dear. The butter market is dull, and buyers are not so keen as they were a fortnight ago. More dairy butter is coming in. The egg market is unsteady, although not over supplied, retailors only purchasing small lots, but a rise in price is more likely than a fall during tne next two weeks. Farmers' make of cheese is hard to sell, while factory make commands high prices, owing to retailers having become educated to the advantage of a regular and uniform article. The bacon market continues tirm, although a fair Quantity of second-ciass continues to come in. Poultry was in shorter supply, and prices were higher. Many country settlers are clearing out their fowls, on account of the increased cost of feed; and thjs_mu_t affect the value of both i'owis and eggs in the near future. The fruit market has at last shown an improvement. The supply of local apples has fallen off considerably, and prices have moved upwards. The Taviuni landed some 8000 bunches of bananas from Fiji his week, being about 2000 bunches in excess of requirements during cool weather, and prices dropped accordingly. Field Produce.—Potatoes: Local Hobarts, £3 5/ to £3 16/ ton; white, £2 10/ to £3 10/; Southern, £5 10/; seed kinds, £4 10/ to £7; poor samples, £2 to £3. Kumaras, 4/ to 4/6 cwt. Onions, local, seed, Id lb; Southern, 8/ to 9/6 cwt. Vegetables.—Cabbages, 2/ to 3/ dozen, 5/ to 6/ sack; cauliflowers, 9d to 5/ dozen. Dairy Produce.— Dairy butter, in prints or rolls, first quality, 9d to lOd lb; separately, 9d to lid; pastry, 7d to B_d; farmers' keg, firsts, Sd to 9d; seconds, Td; milled, 9_d to lOd; factory rolls, 1/. Eggs, fresh, 1/6 to 1/7 dozen; eggs, pickled, 1/2 to 1/3. Cheese, farmers', 3_d to *_ lb; factory, <l_d to 4_d; loaf, s_d to Gd. Bacon, farmers'. 6d lb; factory, 6_d. Hams, farmers', 6d lb; factory, r<d.

Fruit.—Quotations for standard cases and boxes only: Apples, local, dessert, 2/ to 4/ case; cooking, 2/6 to 4/; mothed lots, 1/9 to 2/; pears, dessert, 6/ to 11/; cooking, 3/ to 4/; grapes, hothouse, 6d to 1/1 lb; outdoor, 4d. Tomatoes, 2/ box. Quinces, 5/ case; passion fruit, 6/ to 8/ case; watermelons, 3/ dozen; walnuts, 5d to 6d lb; peanuts, lid to 2d; bananas, 2/ to 2/6 bunch, Hid lb; pines, 10/ to 15/ case; cocoamits, S/ sack. Poultry.—Hens, 9d to 1/8 each; table roosters, 1/8 to 3/; ducks, 1/ to 2/3; geese, 2/ to 2/9; chicks, 3d to 9d; turkeys, gobblers, 5/ to 8/; hens, 2/ to 4/. Miscellaneous.— Honey, bulk, 3d to 3_d lb. Young pigs, 6/ to 10/3 each; porkers, 12/ to 20/. Pork, 3d to 33d lb. Hares, 1/ to 1/6 each; rabbits, 6d to 9d each.