LOCAL MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 125, 29 May 1925, Page 4

LOCAL MARKETS.

A GLUT OF BANANAS. SHIPMENT RUINED. fin Thursday morning of last week, the \avua was berthed alongside the Prince's wharf with a carjio of fruit, including bananas, from the Islands. Owing to weather conditions no unloading was done that day, and iory quickly the l.annnaa commenced to deteriorate, the warmth of the litmoflphi-rc being a contributing factor. All day Friday it rained, or threatened to rain. Again no unloading, and work wns commenced on Saturday, but the shipment was not available for sale until Monday morning, mil] l.y that tinm It wad estimated i hiit 7.") per cent of the cargo had been spoilt. .Moreover, the steamer which rurrit's supplies to Southern markets, had already departed, so the balance had to he" rushed through the local marts as rapidly as possible. Hence a temporary glut, and bananas have been cheaper than has been the case for many a day. Many of the shops have bron' placarding this fruit at 51bs for 1/, and one of the largest dealers cut his rates to Sill* for 1/. So as the old proverb says, "It's an ill wind, etc.", and while the unfortunate growers in the Islands will be poorer by thousands of pounds as the result of the delay at the wharf, the Auckland housewife has an ample smpply of cheap bananas. Tlie advantage, however, will be only shortlived, for the exhaustion of these limited stocks will be. followed by a pronounced scarcity until the next fruit steamer arrives. Apples have been in plentiful Eupply at the local auction marte during the past week, with Delicious still topping tho market. They brought from 7/ to 0/ per case for best, others from 5/ to 6/6 v Munros, 6/ to 6/6. Jonathans, 5/6 to 0/0 for best, others 3/ to 4/; Doherty's (best), 6/ to 0/6, others 3/ to 4/; Ballards, 6/6 to 7/6. Cooking pears realised from 5/6 to 6/: Winter Nelis and Coles, from 0/ to 10/ for best; small, 4/ to 5/. Tomatoes are becoming scarcer. Best locals brought up to 0/6 a case for best; others, 2/ to 0/. Hull (No. 1), 5/ to 6/6; (No. 2), 3/to 4/. Hothouse, 8d to 0d per lb. Tree tomotoee, 2/6 to 5/ per case. Sydney grapes were about the same as last week at 20/ to 21/ per case, but hothouse are scarcer, bringing from 2/ to 2/8 per lb. Passion Fruit, 4/ to 8/6 per case. Persimmons, 2/ to 3/. Lemons have been easier in price. Best up to 18/ per case; others 4/ to 10/. Oranges. Manaias, 8/ to 9/ per case; Earotonga, 8/ to 10/0. Vegetables. ' — The marts have been well supplied during the week. Potatoes are still I plentiful, Southern bringing from 7/ to 18/ per cwt, local from 5/ to 7/6. Onions are steadily rising, and have brought from 14/ to 16/ per cwt. Kumaras, 3/ to 4/ per sugar bag. Cabbages are still cheap, selling at from 2/ to 6/ per sack. Beans, 3/ to 11/ per sugar bag. Pumpkins, 1/ a sack to 6/ per cwt. Swedes, 3/ to 4/6 per cwt Lettuce, 1/ to 2/6 per case, cauliflowers, 6d to 1/6 each. Celery, 6d to 2/ per bundle. Rhubarb, 4/ to 5/6 per doz. Carrots, parsnips, beans and turnips, 6d to 1/ per doz. Bacon and Ham Advance. An advance has taken place in the wholesale price of bacon and hams since last report. Hams are Id per lb dearer and bacon id per lb. The retail price to-day is:— whole hams 1/2 to 1/3 per lb; rashers 1/8 to 1/8; bacon in cuts 0d to 1/4 per lb, in rashers 1/3 to 1/3. Hen eggs are still in short supply, but duclc eggs are now coming in more froely. Fresh hen eggs sell from 3/4 to 3/0 per doz, duck eggs from 2/9 to 3/. In Christchurch freeh eggs sold at auction on behalf of the Canterbury Egg Farmers' Association, realised from 2/7 to 2/9 per doz. Butter is unchanged in price, superj fine factory selling at 1/7 per lb, tiret grade 1/7, and second grade 1/6 Farmers make sells from 1/4 to 1/5 per lb retail. Cheese is still quoted at 1/2 to 1/4 per lb, and 1/6 for extra choice matured. Poultry. Entries in the poultry pena at to-day's auctions were smaller, .and prices rose in consequence. Heavy cockerels (B.O.) brought from 6/ to 7/6 each; light (W.L.). 3/ to 5/3; small, 2/0 to 4/; heavy hens, (fat B.O.), 3/0 to 5/0; light (W.L.), 3/ to 3/11; old ducks, 3/ to 4/0; young, 5/ to 6/; pullets (8.0. pure bred) 5/ to 7/; (W.L., P. 8.), 4/ to 6/3. A few geese realised from 5/ to 6/8, Turkey hens 6/ to 8/9, and gobblers 11/ to 15/.

NELSON CROPS. According to the Christchurch "Press" threshing operations in the Nelson district arc now drawing to a close, and on the whole farmers are well satisfied with their returns. Peas and clover seed, however, are more or less a failure. The former were badly allerted sris«j collar rot, and failed to mature properly, while the clover, though it flowered profusoly, did not yield any great quantity of" seed. SALE AT HORSHAM DOWNS. The Vanners' Co-operative Auction-eeri-ijr Company, Ltd., report holding a highly successful desiring pale on account of Mr. A. J. Dompsey at Horsham Downs on Tuesday, 2fith inst. Twenty-three cows and heifers realised an average of 41 J guinea?. The top price made was 92 guineas, which Mr. ■T. L. Clark, of Gordon, paid for the cow Waionui Kate. Mr. W. Campbell, of Leamington, purchased others at Gl', HO and 16 guineas respectively. Mr. S. S. Fanan (Hamilton) paid 54 guineas for Majesty's Swan Star, and 30 guineas for Omagh Ethel. Other Bales of females were:—E. Payton, Matamata, 31 and 19 guineas; A. C. Smith, Otorohanga, 60, •29, 29, 45. 23, and 36 guineas; R, K. Garland, Okauia, 43, 46, 42 and 15 spiineas; H. E. Watkins, Takanini, 40 and 30 guineas; W. Stokes, Bruntwood, 30 guineas; J. L. Clark, Gordon, 56 guineas; J. Malcolm, Te Rapa, 40 guineas. Bulls sold from 8 to 26 guineas. An excellent lot of grade Jerisey cows gold up to 29 guineas. Grade heifers made from £12 to £21,