THE MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 4, 6 January 1922, Page 6

THE MARKETS.

GOOD NEW TEAR BUSINESS. PEACHES, PLUMS AND TOMATOES PLENTIFUL. The markets are well-stocked in Auckland with fruit, vegetables and produce of all descriptions and the number of buyers present to-day at the markets, combined with steady business, augurs well for the new year. It ie a sign that public demand is also keen. Plums, peaches and tomatoes are a strong feature of the display of fruit being sold. Owing to the usual big supply and demand for stone fruits at this time of the year, imported fruits, with the exception, perhaps, of Canadian apples, are not reaching Auckland in any quantity. The only shipments to hand this Week have been one of bananas from Fiji and of cherries from Sydney. The bananas by the Tofua have already been cleared right up, so there is apparently keen demand. The Australian cherries are Tather unsatisfactory owing to their bad condition.

Restricted quantities of oranges are coming to hand and they are being offered only in small lots. No imported lemoi— are on hand and there is an appreciable demand for locally grown lemons, which are in good demand.

The season has been generally a really good one for strawberries, but it ie expected that they will finish market supply within a week. The quantities submitted to-day represented a diminished supply of 75 per cent. There is an exceedingly heavy supply of good tomatoes, and, the demand being keen, they are being quitted at moderate rates. Peaches are beginning to come in in big quantities, but apricots will soon be finished, the quantities available to-day indicating a marked curtailment of the supply. Loganberries are also going off the market. PRODUCE AND VEGETABLES. There are plenty of good potatoes on the market, and the best are selling at Id per pound. Onions are also in liberal supply, and are realising up to jd per pound. A few swedes are being disposed of at 5/ per cwt. The new season's pumpkins, Warren's, have been fetching up to %/', none of the ordinary iron-bark variety being yet to hand. Marrows are bringing up to 3/6 per dozen. Cucumbers are plentiful, and range from 3/6 to 3/ per dozen. Lettuces from 1/ to 2/ and cabbages from 2/6 to 5/ per -dozen are finding a ready market. Carrots and beetroot are about 6d per dozen. The price of good rhubarb is approximately 2/ to 3/ per dozen. EGGS AND BUTTER. I Prices were not quite as firm as last week for butter, and the demand was fairly brisk. Duck eggs sold at 1/10 to 1/11J, and hen eggs averaged about .2/. Good farmers' butter w_a freely auctioned at 1/ and 1/1 per pound, tihe bidding commencing at lid. Section honey averaged about 8d or 9d. i , POULTRY, i There was a mucb improved supply of poultry to-day, and bidding waa fairly brisk. Poultry for killing was in very short supply. Pullets were in good demand, and they realised from 6/ to 10/9. cockerels there was good sale for the heavy breeds, n_ich brought from 5/6 up to 8/3. White leghorns, however, are not sought after.

Old ducks were not in much demand, and the prices were from. 2/ to 3/9 with young ducks from 3/6 to 5/3.

Turkey gobblers sold at from 13/6 to 15/ while the hens brought from 7/ to 8/3.