COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 63, 14 March 1918, Page 8

COMMERCIAL.

WHOLESALE TRADE GOOD. Auckland Star Office, Thursday, March. 14, 1918. Business iv the wholesale bouses has been fairly brisk during the past week. Salmon.—ln very fair supply just at present, but there Is likely to be difficulty In obtaining adequate 6Upplles in the future. All quotations remain very arm. Sardines remain very scarce, with halves almost unprocurable Herrings.—Stocks are low, and future supplies will be very restricted. New Zealand Fish. —Mullet is ruling higher, with lobster, whitebait and. oysters about old quotes. Fruits.—Currants are in fair request at 7J(I to Sid. Raisins. —Seeded are Iα good supply and demand steady. Seedless are worth a little more. Quotations for new season's currants expected, any day. •Sultanas. —Demand still good. Dates. —Market practically bare, even m cartons, and do morn are expected. Prunes remain firm. Evaporated Fruits. —In moderate demand. Nelson apples should be available In about a month's time. Ginger remains in short supply. Canned Fruits.—Stock remains light and values are ruling higher. Singapore pineapples are firmer and deliveries uncertain. Fencing Wire.—Owing to there being no proepect of any steamer trom America fol some time to come a serious shortage or wire is almost certain before long. All stocks are -flrmly b*ld. POTATOES. The local market for potatoes Is etlH dull. So for, shipping difficulties have prevented potatoes being sent in any quantity from the South, but at present local grown are keeping this market well supplied. During the past week rather doleful accounts have been received from Canterbury regarding the potato crop this season. Tbose who are considered -well qualified to apeak and who have examined the crops critically centage is seriously affected with the blight. This -will have the effect of making buyers very cautious, as potatoes affected by blight are eomewfoat risky to handle in quantity: therefore business is of a hand-to-mouth description at present. Locally potatoes are now worth £6 per ton ex store. Should the Canterbury crop prove to be seriously affected by blight, higher prices may fee expected to rule later in the year, because the keeping quality ivlil be poorer. ONIONS SCARCE. Supplies of local onions are now about done, and difficulty is experienced iv getting lots up from the South Island on aocount of the difficulty regarding shipping space. This market will soon be entirely dependent upon Canterbury for Its supply of onions, and reports regarding the yield therp. this year are not satisfactory. It would appear as if high prices must rule for onions unless Importations can <be made from abroad. In that connection shortage of »pa« on intercolonial steamers Is a factor to be considered.

OATS IN SHORT StfKPLT. The position with regard to oats Is becoming more and more difficult to understand. Latest advices from the South Indicate that the ■market down there— notwithstanding that the Southland crop Iβ now being harvested —Iβ likely to be a strong one, and present high rates will be fully maintained. The oats throughout Canterbury have now been threshed out, and It Is unquestionable that the area under this grain In -Southland ivas a long way under former averages, even If the yield proves a good one. A point that must not bo overlooked Is that Australian oats cannot ho Imported, even at the present high prices ruling In Xew Zealand, ■whereas last year It was only free drawing from the Commonwealth that kept this market flown. Shipments from Victoria and Tasmania arrived last year at ports from the Bluff right up to Auckland. The fact thnt statistical reports show a less quantity of oats In New Zealand this year, and that Importations cannot be made at present ratee from Australia, ensure high prices for this grain in New Zealand. At the present time stocks of oaU are very low in Auckland; ■consequently prices rule firm. Thte Is the more unfortunate as the shortage of benzine for motor traction may result In •more horses being required for carrying purposes, which means an increased demand for feed oats. A>gefljan sed oats are now being asked for in readiness for autumn sowing. Xo doubt Southern-grown Algerians will be largely used this season, as the sample Is good and there Will "be difficulty In getting over any from Melbourne. CHAFF. The market for eaok chaff is very bare in Auckland, 'but there is etill some Victorian baled iv store, which is going rapidly into consumption. There eeems every possibility that the present extraordinary high prices for chaff .will toe maintained throughout the year. An advance In price Iβ reported from Canterbury this week. The quotation for chaff to-day ex rail or -wharf is £11 to fl2 per ton. Trouble is experienced in getting space for a bulky Hue like chaff on steamers from the South. ITAIZE HARD TO GET. A tare market for maize is still reported, and there appears no Immediate prospect of any supplies coming forward from the coast, bnt small shipments ar* expected from Melbourne. The landed cost, however, will be too high to cause any drop in price on fhe local market. There are practically no stocks of maize in store at the present time. FOWL WHEAT. Supplies of fowl whent are very short ■but It is expected more grain will bo available next week, as shipments are expected from the South. GRASS AND CLOVER SEEDS. Owing to better weather, a steady demand has set in for grass and clover seeds Merchants have had difficulty in filling orders received, owing to late arrival of new cooksfoot seed from the South. «o far only a few small lots have reached this market This Is due to lack of shipping space. WHOLESALE CURRENT PRICES. Farm and Dairy Produce.—Fnctorv lmt. ter 1/G per lb; farmers' butter, lid p»r lb; farmers - cheese, 9Jd per lb- f-wtorv cheese, 10d to IOJd per lb; hams, l/\ to 1/2 per lb; bacon, 1/0} to 1/1 per lb; eg"s Vβ per dozen. ' Flour. £16 (less discount of 2J per cent) per ton. In 2001b sacks; sharps. £7 n/n (nominal) per ton; bran, £4 ia/6, less ij per cent (nominal); oatmeal (25's) f>4 per ton. Grain. —Oats. r>/ per bushel: fowl wueat 8/, ex store; maize, 8/ (wholesale lines on the wharf). •Chaff.—Prime, Southern, £11 to £12, ex store. Potatoes. —f6 per ton. Onions.—lo/ to 11/ per ewt. MANURES.

The Calcutta boat, with a cargo of bonedust, will reach this port modi 'later than was expected. In consequence or this high prices are ruling for any bonedust that Is available on the local market. All nitrogenone manures are reported scarce, and already a Btrong demand Is setting in for fertilisers for use In the autumn. Soperphoephates a-re meeting -with ready sale, but supplies appear to ibe equal to requirements, and prices have not advanced. ON 'CHANGE. The feature of the weeli on the Exchange has been the advance In price of Wilsons •Cement and the N.Z. Cement Company. Although so far nothing lias transpired as to the reason for this rise, the fact that both companies' shares Increased in price Is Higniifleant. Shares In Wilsons Cement are now In request at 28/6, and for New Zealand the price advanced from 7/6 to 10/. In coal snares buyers of Northerns advanced to 0/6, Tint no sales resulted. Auckland Gas contributing leeue sold yesterday et Wβ, and Northern Steam contributing Sliares <wero placed at 8/. wlille for paid up 15/8 was eteadlly offered. A line of Auckland Trams ordinary shares cUaneed hands nt 20/0, at which rate more shares ■were offered. Muddart Parker Steam are a-galn In request at 39/. Iα mining shares Grand Junctions changed hands at 15/ £SSS" y SiiSS 1 ' "rorajnurted *t 38/e.

STOCK SALES. Altai Buckland and .Sons, Ltd., report: — 0" Tuesday -we held a clearing sale at on account oC Mr. It. Denton. buyers were present, and. most satisfactory £?mf ele reuilse <l- The coirs, which, were a,,» * Jerseys, and d, le to calve July, 55} la " caU heifers, £8 10/; calves, to £3 u/6; bull, £11 11/; lm.v gelding, cart %l n chUd ' s P°"y. £10: buggy, £29 10/; 12/G £o,w ' s . with, young, £2 10/ und £3 We held our monthly sale in the Turua larda on Friday, and bad a lull muster of cattle and 550 sheep. There was a large attendance, and we report a good sale. v.aives were not in keen demand, but other classes were required. Three to four-year-01a steens wade from £11 10/ to £13 5/; two to three-yoar-olds, £0 to £11; yearlings to ifaaoßth steers, «0 to £8 3/; Heifers, same age, £4 10/ to £0 10/; empty cows, £6 to k> 10/; cows with calves, £8 10/ to £13 10/; fat steers, £14 to £17 10/; fat cows and ielfers, £10 0/ to £15 17/6. There were 169 oeef penned, and a total clearance was made at fully Auckland values. The 550 ewes made £1 1/ each. At Clevedon on Honday we held our second ssheep fair In tuese yards. The advertised number came lorward, and with the exception of threo rams, everything changed owners at prices which were in advance of last mouth's ifalr. Two-tooth ewes sold to £1 11/; alx, eight, aud fullmouth ewes, £1 4/ to £1 11/; fuU-moutU ewes, 18/ to £1 3/; older ewes, 14/ to IS/; cull ewes, 8/« to 12/6; four and six-tooth wethers, £1 10/; Cwo-tooth wethers, £1 3/0 to £1 S/; woullj lambs, 11/ to 14/ for best, small 7/0 to 10/; shorn lambs, 0/6 to 11/0: rains, 10/ to £5 5/, according to age and quality. j At ■Westflold on Thursday dairy and store stock came forward lv full numbers. Calves were dull of sale, but all other classes sold freely. Beet dairy cowe and lieltL-ivs :il profit made from £15 to £17 10/; secondgrade, Ol to £11 10/; aged and Inferior, £5 6/ to £10 10/; empty cows, £4 15/ to £12 10/; yearling to two-year-old heifers, £4 15/ to £7 18/; good calves, £i 10/ to £3 15/; inferior, £1 7/C to £2. The Xew Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.. Ltd., reports:— At Westfleld store sale last Thursday, we held an average yarding. Quotations are on a par with late sales. Best dairy cows nnd heifere, £12 15/ to £17, others £9 to £12 10/; bulls, ±7 to £14 5/; empty cows and liflfexs, £6 10/ to £8 15/; weaners, £1 to £4 7/0. Ou Friday at Albert Yards, aud at I'apakura on Saturday, horses were yarded iv average numbers. At the latter place competition wus keen, and we report a good sale. Heavy draughts to £37, medium ditto £10 to £25, aged ditto £0 to £15; hacks, £8 to £10; light harness sorts, £10 10/ to £17; ponies, £4 to £8; weede, 10/ upwards. At Mauurewa, on Alonday, we held a clearing sale on account of Hon. K. Moles•worth. There was a large attendance, an* ive report a good sale. Dairy cows and Shelters, £9 to £17; horses, £6 to £15 10/; bull, £13 10/; calves. 11/ to £3 4/. On Friday, at Warkworth, we :Uad an average yarding of cattle, and a fufi yarding of nheep; store cows iwero dull of sale. Bulls were wanted, and sold up to £17 17/0 for a fat one from air. H. Astiton. Sheep were eagerly competed for, and Bold without exception. 'Wethers sold from 24/0 to 32/; ewes, 23/ to 80/; store lambs, !>/« to 12/; f.fjn. ewes, 18/6 to 22/0; calves, good quality, steers, £2 1.'./ to £4 5/, heifers £2 to £2 7/8, weedy in/ to 27/0. At Henderson on Monday mve had a very good muster, among the yarding being a largo number of Inferior calves, which were hard to quit. 'Dairy cowe and fat stock sold well. Grown steers cold at £15; dairy cows, £10 5/ to £13 7/15; fat bulls, £8 15/ to £ltf; heifers in calf. £7 7/0 to £12 10/; empty cows. £8 10/ to £8 17/6: good steer calves, to £4 15/; Jersey calves, mixed sexes, 7/0 to .•»/■ On Tuesday, at iPukekohe, we had an exceptionally large yarding, more especially of calves. The qaalltv was not up to that of previous sales. Late rates ruled. No grown steers yarded. Two to three-year steers, £9 to £12 10/; yearling to 18-months steers, £5 15/ to £8 10/; ditto heifers, £3 to £7 12/0; weaner calves, good quality, £3 10/ to £4 13/, others £2 to £3 7/«; Inferior calves, 10/ upwards; empty cows and heifers, £0 to £!» 7/6; balls, £6 to £15 10/; beef at fully Westneld prices. At Tuakau, on Thursday, ive licld our second slieep fair, wben scarcely the advertised numbers came forward. Competition was very keen, prices advancing ifor nil sorts, 2/ to 7/ per head. Very few young sheep peuned. F.fju. ewes, £1 to £1 9/6; f.m. to broken ejves, 14/ to 10/0; inferior ewes. 7/ to 13/; beet lambs. 13/ C to 17/0, others S/ to 12/9, Inferior fl/ to 7/0; ltomney rams, 3gns to 7gn«, Lincoln 2Jgns to 4gns. Messrs Dalgety nnd Company. Limited, report having lield their usual weekly sale nt Westfleld ou 'Wednesday, 18th llarch, as under:— Beef.—A good ynrding, which sold at a slight decrease on last week's rates. Extra prime ox sold at up to £2 12/ per 1001b. Ordinary quality, £2 3/ to £2 r>/; cow and heifer beef mane 40/ to 42/. Veal.—A moderate yardlnp, and prices were about the name. Extra heavy runners made up to £0 I.V: heavy suckers, £3 10/ to £4: small, 10/ to 25/; others, 8/ to 10/. Mutton.—A fair yimlinc, and prices were the same as Jost week. Extra heavy prime wethers sold at up to 30/0; medium weight, ualltv TO '' ,VC!i ' 31/ ' " 1 '' hl antl Ulodluul Lamb —A fair yardin ß . and prices were better for good sorts. Lambs made up to Pork sold at late rates. Choppers lniulo WESTFIKLD FAT STOCK MARKET. SSSi 1 *" autJ "ercantUe £19 15/. no heavy-weights yarded- "ow e end heifers sold at from lv 10/ to "'n si,,.!\, were penned in larger numbers"th'iiu Ssniif selling at late rates. Best Wethers £1 in to £1 10/, others £1 ty to £1 ii/'l) | )e st »%«> '« £1 1«/, others £ "a/ to in average "umbors, sold at late rates, best £1 1/ to £1 13/0, othera 17/ to "i OAI inferior 0/ to IU/C. Calves/in aVeraee numbers sold at late rates. Kunners ie to £8 C/; heavy vealers, £4 5/ to £5 10/ medium ditto £2 7/ to £4 1/, ll s h7 ditto, £1 8/ to £._! I)/; small aud fresh droiineii calves, 3/ to £1 7/. Pigs: I'rlces about the same as last week. Choppers and heavy ba-coners £5 5/ to £C IS/; large porkers £3 0/ to £3 18/, medium porkers £.2 10/ to £3 4/, small 34/ to £2 11/; slips. £1 :j/0 t<, 3-!/-weaners, 9/0 to 17/0. '

Messrs Alfred Buckland aud Sous report: Yesterday at our weekly Westfleld fat btock murket we penned fat cattle to the number of 885 head, comprUlng VJ7 steer"? Ids cows and heifers, five bulls. There coutlnues to be a keen demand, and values reraajn firm. Choice ox sold to £2 12/; .prime ?oSf Hz?' tO £2 "I rough, £2 to £2 6/; cows and helfere, £2 2/ to £•> ft/steers ranged in price from £13 10/ to **•> 12/0; cows and heifers, £a to £17 5/ The from CS Mr" T w aSe v fOr Bteers l ve "* : -A truck bridge, £20 10/S: P IC from V rl'eo T Hull, Otautt Wuiuku, £20 5/3; 8 from Mr Win. Wright. Otaua. Wniuku. £10 13/- 1(J from Mr Jus. StcNledl. Te Aroha, £18 18/1-----li from Mr C. 3. Storey, Woodstock T<? .Awttiuutu, £18 12/; 3 trades from Walkato £18 n/8: 2 from Mr Abe Hulf, Waiuku £18 7/0; 5 cows from same vendor, £13 l/G-----9 from Mr Goo. lllddell's Marakopa property £17 5/10; 15 cows and heifers from same place, £12 7/3; 7 cows from St. I-Iclier's" Bay Estate, £13 19/7; 8 from Mr J. B. Teasdale To Awamutu, £17 2/9; 20 from Mr A Muir' sen.. Mangere, £17 1/8; 8 from Mr L. B. Harris, Huntly, £10 7/0; 16 from Mr W. .7. Ralph's Awaroa property, £16 2/0. A line of 24 cows and heifers averaged £13 7/8, and another consignment of 17, ex coast, £13 11/9. There wns a heavy yarding of sheep and, In consequence, values were easier, although there was little difference

m the value of really prime mutton. Heavy j prime wethers £1 lu/O to £1 Its/1) (no extra neavy prime penned), medium to heavy ■prime. £1 13/ to iil 15/0, unflnislied aim light £1 7/0 to £1 U/U; best heavj prime ewea £1 12/6 to £1 10/0, good £1 a/ to £1 11/, others 10/6 to IS/. (1:071 sold.) The 4U9 lambs which came forward wore ol' similar iiuality to last week's entry, i'rlme lambs sold well. Uest heavy prime, £1 U/ to £1 12/«; a lew odd extra neavy made £ L good. £373/6 to £1 0/; lighter, £1 0/0 u> d-1 3/; unfinished, 1-1/0 to 11/; stores, S/i> to 14/. We liad a full market of tat and young calves, the majority being unliuisUed, and prices lor those were slightly easier. Huuuers made from £5 to £ti 0/; heavy vealers £3 10/ to £4 13/, medium, £2 12/ ii to £3 10/, light £1 10/ to £2 10/; small and fresh-dropped, 2/ to £1 a/. (i>2 sold.) There was an exceptionally heavy yarding ot pigs, and prices were linn at late values. Suckers and weaners were In strong demand. Choppers and heavy baconers made from £4 15/ to £7 15/, others £3 17/8 to £4 12/; \ large porkers £3 5/ to £:s 13/, medium t'i 12/0 to £3 «/. small £1 15/ to £2 10/; slips, £1 5/ to £1 ]2/; weaners and suckers, 10/0 to £1 3/. (402 sold.) KING COUNTRY SALES. Mr. Newton King reports:— At Ohura on Thursday, 7th March, there was v full yarding and attendance, and a good sale resulted. Two-tooth ewes made 28/0 aud 2(1/3, 4-tooth ewes 20/, 6-tootu ewes 23/3, 2, 4, aud O-tooth ewes, 23/ to 27/, 4 and 5-yr. ewes 17/3 to 20/, Cm. ewes l-'/O to 10/7, cull ewes 3/0 to JO/, rams 2gs to Ogs, i and O-tooth wethers 2S/ to 30/0, 2-tooth wethers 27/8 to 20/, lambs 11 /It to 14/, small 7/ to 11/: bulls £0 to £7, IS-inontb empty heifers £4 10/ to £5, 31-year bullocks £12 10/, 2J-year steers £!t 0/ to £11 5/, IS-month steers £7 10/ to £8 iy, small £1! to £0 12/, fnt cows up to £11 2/0, forwaifl cows up to £0 17/0, store cows £6 12/0 to £S 5/. ADDINGTON. (By Telegrnph—Press Association.) CHRISTCIIURCH. Wednesday. At the Addlngton live stock market them were larger entries of stock in almost nil departments, but the attendance was not quite so numerous as last week. There was a firm sale for all useful classes of store sheep, but the deman.*. -svas not keen foi backward sorts. Th ft ynrding included drafts from the North island and Marlborough. Pat lambs were vcyy tlrra, exporters' prices averagiug 8»d prr ll> over all. There waR also n good sale for fnt sheep, exporters operating freely. A more even sale for fat cattle ruled, and prices were gt'tmrnlly above tnj; export level, only a few head being secured by the freezing companies , buyers. There was n good gale for the moderate claSs of store cattle offered. Fat pigs sold well, but stores were ensler on account or the large entry. Prices:— Store Sheep.—Two-tooth ewes, 30/ to 40/9; two and four-tooth ewes, to 31/0; four and six-tooth ewes. 34/R; si* anil eight-tooth ewes, 24/0 to 3t/; so'indninulli ewes, 33/: two and fmir-tootli wethers. 80/fl: ewe lambs. 20/ to 26/5; mixed sex limbs, 13/ to 24/7: wether lambs, 10/?. to 20/0. Fat Lambs.—Extra prime, to S3/3; prime, 27/ to 80,/G; medium, 24/G to 2C/(i; lighter, 22/1 to 24/. Fat Sheep..—Extra prime wethers to 48/8; prime wethers, 3T>/(i to 39/: lighter wethers, 27/6 to 35/; Merino wethers, 22/ to 20/4; extra prime ewes, to 38/10; prime ewes, 33/10 to 37/3; medium ewes, 20/0 to 32/0; lighter ewee, 23/10 to 20/. Fat Cattle.—Extra prime steers, to £21 10/; prlme_stcers. £17 to £10 10/: ordinary (rteera, £12 a/ to £16 13/; prime heifers. £11 5/ to £17 5/; ordinary heifers. £1) 2/0, to £11; prime cows, £12 7/0 to £10 15/: ordinary £10 to £11 17/6. Store Cattle.—Calves, £3 10/: three or three and a-half-yenr steers, £12 17/0; flry cows, £7 to £!) 18/; dakry cows, £18 10/. Pigs.—Choppers, £3 to" £7: extra heavy baconors, £0 12/: heavy bacouers. £."> 10/ to £0; lighter baconers, £4 10/ to £5 .1/, equal to 7Jd to 8d per lb; heavy porkers, £3 15/ to £4; lighter porkers, £2. 17/ to £5 10/, equal to o*d to IOJd per lh; large stores. £2 15/ to £3; medium stores, £2 8/ to £2 12/; smaller, 27/ to :Ci/;" weaners, 16/0 to 25/.