A SLACK WEEK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 238, 5 October 1916, Page 8

A SLACK WEEK.

. ' "Auckland Star" Office, October 5, 1»16. Business with the general merchants has ■this week shown a little less-volume, owing to .the usual monthly bookings having been delivered last week. ■Retail grocery business is on the quiet side, but no doubt from the end of this month until Xmas business generally will be of a satisfactory nature. Country business ?s well maintained. The wharves hav,e been fairly busy over the past week end, and a fair amount of cargo has been distributed fraui the ship's side. 'Recent importations are showing higher costs, owing to the fact that the freights in most instances are the highest Jet reached. GENERAL GROCERIES. Salmon, especially the toest grades, will be dearer during the coming season, and probably supplies will be on the light side, ■but -medium reds an* pinks ■will be In good supplj-, aud the demand will, no doubt, be on these grades. American seedless raisins, both-bleached and unbleached, are at present almost unprocurable, and the new season's fruit is anxiously .awaited, and will probably arrive about the end of this month. iMlldura currants are the only reliable kind available. Small supplies of Mediterranean are in some cases held, but quality Is doubtful. This market is very flmi, and prices will most surely advance. <A small shipment of Mc,Connacnie"s herrings have arrived at the wharf, tut prices are very high and sales small. An advance has been recorded in Eno's fruit salts this week. | ■Honey.—White plover in tins is very scarce, and in come cases very high prices are being asketl. Colman's Ijlue is out of stock. . Tea.—Our latest tea report to hand is dated SOth August. 1016. Quality was very disappointing, especially in low-medium sorts, whilst high grown teas were very poor. TJiere was rather better bidding throughout, and most grades were a little dearer.'Commonest brokens, in particular, met with much stronger competition, and were two to three cents dearer. The quotations for high grown teas were abont the same as last report, T>ut medium grades advanced one to two cents. Dusts ami faunings were irregular and lower.

POTATOES. Store stocks of potatoes worked down considerably during the week, ana tne market will be bare toy the time the next lot comes to hand on Friday. The Tarawera brought a small lot on Monday, and heavier shipments are due to arrive by the Koromlko, .Monowni, and Warrimoo. The market remains steady at late figures. The Melbourne market is, if anything, a little easier this week, which should have a steadying effect on the New Zealand rates. Seed potatoes are still in good steady demand, but supplies at the moment are very short until further snlpments come to hand on Friday. Prices are Hrmer, especially for Up-to-Dates, vvhich are now in short eupply.

OXIOXS. Local store stocks of onions are now low, but further shipments are due to arrive by tbe Huddart-Parker steamer vya ■Sydney. The quality of the Victorian onions is not so good .is it was, and as all lines have now to be picked over, It means loss to merchants. As the market In Melbourne continues weak, there is.little probability of prices advancing. MAIZE. Prices for maize remain steady at last week's rates. Ample supplies are coming forward to meet local requirements. As the market for fowl. -wneat Is steady, prices for maize are uot likely to advance. WHEAT FIRMLY HEL-t>. Holders of milling wheat In Xew Zealand maintain a firm attitude, although there is now little danger of "any shortage occurring before next harvest. The firming of the Australian wheat market bas not been effect in this Dominion. Fowl wheat .is meeting.with better demand since warmer weather set in. OATS AGAIN ADVANCE.^ The Te Anau brought a shipment of oats since last report. Still, this market is not heavily stocked.-The Southern market Is reported very firm. The new crop from Canterbury should be ready lor market at the cud of January, and from present prospects tbe yield Is likely to be a good oue. Xo doubt the price for old oats will ease before the new crop is harvested. .Locally, the price of oats is a little firmer this week, the quotation now being 3/10 to 3/11 ex store.

Seed oats are in good demand, and ample stocks of Algerians are now held for all requirements. It is quite possible a fair quantity will be carried over. Farmers in the Auckland district are still busy planting the main crop of oats, and the weather lutterly has been very favourable for such operations. GRASS AXD CLOVER SEEDS. Merchants report good steady business in. gras? and clover seeds for spring sowing, but of course orders at this season of the year are only for small lines. Prices remain firm, and are not likely to recede until later In the year. •

t CHAFF. •Stocks of chaff bad worked right down, and-only-a* small shipment arrived nt Onehunga this week from Picton. A further shipment is due to-morrow. and will be mostly distributed ex wharf. Prices show no change.: A little curvif.is now offering from Canterbury. BKAN AND SHARPS. Both these llnes"an< In good demand. Sharps advanced five shillings per ten since last report. WHOLESALE CURRENT PRICES. Farm and Dairy Produce. —Factory butrer, 1/0 per- lb; : farmers'' batter, 1/ per lb: farmers".. liieese, s*d per lb; laetuiy cheese, yd to tfju per lb; hams, lid per lv; bacon, 10d per lb; eggs, • lid' per dozen. Flour, £13 15/ (less discount of 21 per cent.) per ton, In 2001b sacks; sharps, ti ii/U per ton net; bran, £4 15/; oatmeal (23'sj, sis) 10/ per ton. Grain.—Oate, 3/10 to 3/11 per bushel; Algerian seed oats, 4/9 to 5/: milling wheat. 5/3 f.o.b. southern ports; fowl ■wheat, 3/ti to 5/S ex store: maize. 8/10 (wholesale lines on the wbarfj; teed barley, 4/tl ex store. Chall". —Prime Southern, £7 15/ to £S ex store. Onions, 9/6 to 10/ per ewt, ex store, rota toes, £10 to £10 10/ per ton. MANURES. The Calcutta boat Is due next week with a lnrge shipment of bonedust. Small shipments arriving from Sydney have kept this market going. A good steady demand for manures Is reported as spring plauting is now in full swing. FLAX AND Gt'M. Supplies of llax keep up well, as prices in London aremaintained at the advance receutly reported. Shipments made from Auckland- latterly resulted in tie accumulations fn store" being considerably lessened. Kanri gum lias also been shipped away of late, but the business is pretty well restricted to the better grades, of which supplies have not been heavy. The higher freights now ruling are not calculated to encourage export. ON 'CHANGE. Business on the Stock Exchange continues quiet, but at the same time, bank and insurance shares have been in steady demand at good rates, and Union Steam shares firmed a little In price. Preference issue were sold at 21/ a, while for ordinary shares 43/6 was offered; but sellers_asked 45/. Inquiry set in this week' for Farmers' Co-operative shares at 102/6. but no seller quoted. N.Z. Insurance are now -wanted at 132/6. and South British at 105/. ißank of New Zealand old shares could be placed at-224/, while for fully-paid Issue 342/6 was offered. N.Z. ■Shipping shares firmed slightly this week, £10 7/<> beins offered without sellers 'quoting. In mmmi; shares Rising Suns sold at 3/, but beyond that little occurred worthy of note. • ,