THE MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 285, 2 December 1925, Page 4

THE MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

HEAVY COUNTEY DELIVERIES. KEW SEASON'S FRUITS LANDING. HIGH PEPPER MARKET. " Auckland Star" Office, Wednesday, December 2, 1025. The earn- arrival of seasonable (roods, combined with the increase In general trade that is to be expected at tills time, has stimulated wholesale darnand considerably, and when the llrral figures for W.-ml.er are t.lkeu out it is expected. tllilt lliey Will constitute a record. This mouth also comuieiii cd with heavy. DooK-ina-s ami tn<- amount or null that is still i-oming- in clearly indicates thai business for the month will be unusually heavy. In this connection the heaviest demands are from the country storekeepers', who are apparently storking: up early in anticipation or the demand that is bound to come during the next few weeks. Local sales are not quite so brisk now that most or the retailers have stocked up on seasonable, poods, and they are apparently leaving- the question or replenishing stocks till their own demand sets in during- the ne\t lew weeks. They should not overlook the ('act that, many of the lines brought down are only sufficient lor average requirements, and in some lines merchants are already having: to refuse business, owing to (roods being out ol stock. New season's dates are being landed this week, and buyers can rely on

i .nbutlon being made as quickly as possible. Smyrna llgs arc to band In all sizes, wllth the exception or x'Slb mats, which arc now due. c.aiil'ornian tigs landed early this year, and arc now nearly all distributed, so that further small supplies, which arc duo by the llauraki on the 3rd, should go quickly into consumption. A portion of the American Muscatel shipment is now at tlie wliarr, with rurther supplies expected in about one week's time. Spanish are also due, and buyers are eagerly waiting delivery. Both varieties have been well sold forward, and practically all supplies are now under reservation. Choice seeded and seedless are very short on tbe spot, and shipments now at tlie wharr will relieve the situation temporarily, but it will not be until further arrivals" come to hand In a week's time that all deliveries will be completed. Other varieties landing by tlie .same vessel are cartons and bulk oil dipped and soda bleached Thompson's raisins and seedless sultanas, Sunmald seeded and f ?edless cartons.

Jute Goods. Woolpacks are now offered for Torward delivery by .March April steamer at a proportionate Increase of 7d per pack. Corn sacks are moving- up in all sizes lor next steamer, with an average advance of 4Jd per dozen, but by the July-August boat the average advance in comparison to present rates is only fractional. Figs. The first or the Turban ng-s packed in London have arrived, and opened up in excellent condition. This Is a new departure in the marketing of figs, and gives the general public the advantage of an article packed in Great Britain under scrupulously clean conditions. It will also enable the public to obtain tigs all the year round lor dessert purposes, which has previously not been possible, and, with the knowledge that these goods have not been packed by Asiatics, they will undoubtedly have a l'ar greater appeal to the trade and the public generally. Linseed Oil. Revised English quotations on both raw and boiled linseed oil for spread Shipment next year from January tn \nr" -re scheduled at a reduction of 11 per gallon. Safety Matches. Suppliers of many of the old established brands or Swedish safety matches have for the past eighteen months been experiencing a considerable loss in trade, owing to the importation or various Continental brands to this market at very much lower rates. That the shippers have been fully alive to the situation is evinced by the advice rrom two of the largest companies, whose offices are in London, that they are transrerrlng the manuracture or many or tbe brands they are now making in Sweden to England, and anticipate commencing to make deliveries about the end or January next. Swedish safety matches are subject to a duty or 2/ per gross on arrival here, but those of English manufacture only have to pay one shilling per gross, which will allow sellers here to make a considerable reduction when stocks at the new costs land in Auckland. Packings will be tbe same as bel'ore, that is, ili'teen, twenty-five, and fifty gross cases, but with this difference, that as soon as shipments commence to be made rrom England the smaller packings will be invoiced at a proportionate increase or 3/ per twenty-five gross case, and i /o_ for the cases containing fifteen gross.

Smyrna Sultanas. Indent markets ror Smyrna sultanas are firming up, and one of the larger packers now notifies an advance of 2/ per cwt. Peppers. Trading in spices continues very active, as the trade is realising that many lines, especially peppers, have not reached the peak in prices, and an acute shortage is likely to materialise berore the next crops are available. Local prices on white peppers have again advanced, although prices here are still below the cost or replacement. One of the Southern houses is unable to oiler ln the meantime, owing lo the exhaustion or their bulk stocks, and have withdrawn peppers from their lists until further supplies arrive. Another has been unable to offer wholesale for some time, and has now moved up their selling rates to conform with the last local advances. During the last fortnight stlfT advances have taken place, which will mean still rurther adjustments on selling rates here as soon as supplies at the new 5 hi. ' as 'V. pl - iccs -"-•c. Singapore . ~_i n i lVO '""eased id, blacks id, ?!_. at r°., wn , lte ' i IGtl - Shippers also sent the following cable to buyers: :• Supplies short, with the market strong and rising I-eel prices must go higher, owing to strong statistical position." The. latest revision m local rates is as rollows — small advanced on, medium 1/, large'"/ per dozen, and bulk .tl per lb. Coffee. The spot market ...r i-offec continues to be very firm, while replacement costs are considerably higher, rrom which it win be seen that there Is no possibility or any reduction on the advanced rates which came into force at the beginning or this year. Tea. At the weekly sale, held in Colombo on the 24 tb Inst., the large amount or two and one quarter million pounds was catalogued, which exceeded the previous week's quantity by 250,0001b weight. The result or the sale showed that Commons had firmed up on all parcels orrered, irrespective or grade, id per lb. Quality generally showed a slight decline, which was chiefly noticeable in up-country teas This was reflected in the auction, particularly where liquors were plain, thin and or a nondescript character, and prices realised Tor such sorts showed a drop on last- week's quotations. Where quality- was maintained, however, prices were firm Clean Commons remained steady. Price Broken Orange Pekoes were fractionally weaker, first Classic Broken Pekoes down id, Medium Broken Orange I'ekoes down Ad, anil Newera Eliyns down I }d per lb Exchange remained firm at 1/0 15-3?. Olive Oil. One or tho largest packers or bottled olive oil to this market advises a reduction or 9d per dozen iii first cost. Canary Seed. Shippers continue to olTcr quotations which are showing a certain amount of variation rrom those first listed. Prime Mazagen is now offered ror prompt shipment at an increase or £5 per ton on the last indent rates for Turkish. New season's Dutch Is also offered lor shipment by return at a reduction of £2 5/ per ton on Turkish quotations. Drained Cherries. A stronger rorward market has developed ror drained cherries, and French are now listed at an advance or Ad per lb. Whole Ginger. The rorward market on Cochin ginger lias shown considerable fluctuation duringthe last month. Indent rates advised a week ago were at a reduction or £2 per ton on the quotations issued'about a fortnlglit berore, and now later advices to hand schedule a rurther drop of another £i per ton. Unbleached lias also shown some weakness, the latest Indent rates being listed at a reduction of li 5/ per ton for shipment by tirst direct steamer, December-January. Sicilian Filberts. Un,T_. c „ vor . Uniited demand from oversea that .h„ ana the ,ack or foreign orders now liletea L iV y sn J.ment3 Have been comW%&^prTcWy 0 .? &?£_. ab ° Ut 1 After Chinese Peanuto. fe^ :; mak_?l 8 .„y le(; or an easier • 1 Picked TiPßn,.._ t ._ )n -Chinese i\'o I hnn'ri W^S£F£v_g __ taoiea up immediately

after the reduction already advised was conUrmed, but buyers who did not operate right away were unable to obtain confirmation, as shippers came back with an advance of £2 per ton. Prunes. Indicating: a firm market, Santa Clara prunes for prompt shipment have advanced a further shilling per cwt, and for later shipment 2/ per cwt. During the last few weeks spot stocks have been ln short compass, and supplies havo been eagerly sought after nt fancy prices. The arrival of tbe West Isllp during- the week-end will, however, afford temporary relief, although lt Is not anticipated that supplies will be sufficient for the heavy demand that Is bound to be experienced during tbe next few weeks. Forward bookings aro unlikely to be delivered before the end of the weeK, as the vessel has a considerable amount of case oil and timber to discharge, which will probably take a few days before the main .portion of the dried fruit and other lines can be handled. Slid. Advices now to hand aro to the effect that tho catch of Norwegian slid lias been practically a failure this season, and tbe immediate effect has been an increase tn indent values of 1/ per case oh sixteenths, with the prospect of further increases in the near future. Barcelona Nuts. Further price reductions have now been announced in oversea quotations for Barcelona*, the latest revision to indent rates showing a drop on previous prices of £7 per ton. Khedrawi Dates. Fair stocks of ordinary quality Khedrawi hulk dates arc due ln Auckland by the Whangape, and as the bulk of this shipment will be required for forward orders, the market, which is at present very short, will soon be well supplied. Lentils. Egj-ptian lentils continue in a Ilrm market, the price changes that have taken place during tbe last month amounting to an advance of £5 per ton in Indent value. Hardware. IS'ow that all the Ilrst of the month orders have been completed, the demand seems to have slackened olf slightly This Is more noticeable in the town and suburban districts, as country demands aro In better volume. Cash takings were not so good as was anticipated on tho last twentieth, and merchants are hoping that this week's payments will show better volume. Further supplies of small hardware are due by the city or Corinth this week. Slasher handles, adze eye bammer handles, sledge hammer handles,' 1 pick handles, crockery, teapots, wringers, l'rimus stoves, and flsh lines. Wholesale Current Price*. Dairy Produce. — Superfine quality creamery butter, booked 1/8J per lb prompt cash, Anchor i/7_ per lb, Opotiki 1/7} per lb; first grade factory, 1/7 A per lb booked and 1/7 per lb for prompt cash: second grade factory, booked i/6j i .r lb and 1/6 per lb ror prompt cash; farmers' separator, i/3 per lb. =i-_ h _ e A S ?_T Fl r_ t . ,-rade ractory, medium size. lo}d to 11 _d per lb; loaf, l/i per ID. Bacon.—Hams, 1/2 to 1/4 per lb; rolled, hams, 1/3 to t/5 per lb; boncfl dams, 1/3. to 1/5$ per lb; bacon sides, l/l to 1/-' per lb; rolled sides, 1/3 to 1/4 per lb; middles, i/.i per lb; shoulders, 10d to 1/ per lb; rolled shoulders, 1/ to 1/1 per '.; .M. ;. : Buik - m t0 1/ Per lb; pats, 1/ to l/l per lb. Flour—Local and Southern, 2001b sacks £10 10/ per ton, 100's £-20 10/ per ton, oO'Sjf.l per ton, 25's £21 15/ per ton. less a. per cent discount. Tinned Peppers.—Local, small 6/ per dozen, medium 11/o per dozen, large 22/ per dozen, bulk 1/9 per lb. Sharps and Bran.—Local sharps, £to 10/ per ton; bran, _9 10/ per ton. 25/ peT lOOllf h ° le ' ai/ Per ° Wt; frroUnd ' Bluestone.—-"32/6 per cwt.