MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 251, 23 October 1928, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

GOOD WHOLESALE TRADING. BUTTER BEANS AGAIN ADVANCED. GREASEPROOF PAPER VERY ; SCARCE. i "Auckland Star'* Office, 1 Tuesday, October 23, 1928. Merchants were fairly busy during the latter part of last week and are anticipating being very busy this week. They commenced their deliveries to the country on Friday last, instead of yesterday, as it is the usual procedure to advance the delivery date a few days when it falls on a holiday, as in the present instance. Town deliveries will not be altered and , will be commenced on Thursday next as , usual. Trade returns are unusually good. General. Generally speaking the forward markets are showing unusual firmness in many important lines and merchants forward offerings now listed on purchases made when the markets were more "favourable, are worthy of every retailers consideration. Spot lines of considerable interest to the trade just now in view of the strength of the markets are merchants' . offerings on Jordan almonds, crystallised and drained cherries, nuts and C'llifornian canned fruits. The arrival of new season's canned loganberries,. which were mentioned in our columns last week, was unfortunately partially over carded by the Niagara to Sydney, which was a grievous disappointment td merchants, as supplies were very short. This consignment has arrived in Auckland by the return trip Of this vessel and will be distributed to Hhe storekeepers during the week. Sicily almonds are now landing and as costs _on this arrival have worked out at a higher figure, a general firmness on local values is anticipated. A well-known packing of Canadian sardines has just lauded and as this consignment has come to hand at an advance on f .o.b. costs, a revision in present prices can be expected. Manufacturers of Creamoata, 20's, advise the trade of an advance on this line of 10/ per dosen. In jams South Afriaan are again short on •pot, practically alt the varieties previously offered from merchants' stocks now being sold, and retailers are advised to take advantage and purchase their requirements against a small transhipment • , which is due to arrive in December, as the next landing will not be available until the new season's pack arrives here in approximately March/April, 1929. Further arrivals of interest to the trade just now are fitst shipments of_ Christmas goods, such cosaques, stockings, chocolates, confectionery, etc. Merchants generally are offering a carefully-selected practical range of festive goods, which, ''I." nicely displayed, should create a real , buying atmosphere at this time. Further shipments of different varieties are still to come forward and are expected to land shortly, such as puddings, mincemeat, dried fruits, nuts, almonds, etc. As regard* beans, limns are in very short compass locally, supplies being practically unprocurable on spot. Greaseproof paper is still extremely short, the market being absolutely bare. Small supplies have been advised as lying in Sydney, but on investigation, prove to be actually ..in Melbourne, which will mean that it will be well into November before these supplies will arrive. ; Crushed Ptasapple. Crushed pineapple in both Hawaiian and Fijian are now in short compass, owing to local supplies being exhausted. ; In this respect considerable interest » ' being evinced in • the present forward • offerings now* being made on new sea* Iff son's Fijian crushed pine*,'as their quo* tation is much more favourable than the : Hawaiian off*r& BaHt and Carton ftalslns. Exceedingly low prices are now being offered on spot for both bulk and car* ton raisins, as cofitwred with recent f.o.b. values on this market. These reductions have been made in view of the closeness of new season's fruit, which has been bought on a much lower basis and it is anticipated that the present low offers will enable the trade to sell at popular prfcsa, which should increase business at this time. The last cables received by I agents from some of the large packers of seedless raisin advised an advance of 1/ per cwt oa cartons, but that bulk remained firm but um&anged. Although very little business has been transacted lately it is thought extremely probable that the recent increase in tbt price of the bulk unbleached will be maintained in CaKfornian markets and that the firmer tendency indicated in last cable reports will be responsible for further increases. Butter Banns. Following the very low opening rates which were first quoted on .lew season's supplies of Madagascar lima beans, the market commenced to advance very owing to the available supplies not Ming equal to the demand. Latest cable information received during the last few days advises fi further inarea*? in the market of £2 16/ per ton, in indent rates for prompt shipment, which make* present rates approximately £10 per ton higher than when opening rates were first named. . Sicily Almonds. A reduction of 2/ per cwt has been advised by cable and prices are now Hearing the quotations that were current in London about two moUin ago. Daring that period the market advanced approximately £15 per ton in indent rates and the slow but guadual fall that baa since taken place shows that the inareaMed prices were only of a very temporary nature. BratU Kerneh. New season's prices of Brazil kernels for delivery during April, May and June of next year show a substantial reduction on the prices now listed for current stocks, but as the seasonable demnnd for this line is only at its heaviest dur* ing the next few months it is anticipated that there will be very little inquiry when fthe new supplies are available, so that «'he present quotation is of practically no ini terest to buyers at present. Sultanas. 1 The offers recently cabled on oil bleached bulk sultanas at a slight discount on the rates recently ruling a few weeks (!>'•<: ago have been refused confirmation and :?5 it would appear from the present firm position of the market that quotations have definitely advanced. Some three weeks ago low prices were quoted on this j market for October shipment of,cleaned Smyrna sultanas direct from Smyrna and v at the revised quotation agents transacted a small amount of business, as most of the buying for this period had already been done. Considering the state of othar markets for this class of fruit this reduction in the market was rather difficult to understand, and; from the further cables that have since been exchanged it is apparent' that the. fiuctuaB tion was of a ver" temporary nature, as 4 the market has since advanced 4/ per sj cwt for October '"ini- "nt. y • ■ Breakfast Foods. ; Agents for one of the ■Sor mills 5 advise a r. luct". in .quotations for rolled oats of 6*l per dojtan in the fourpound ba;r. Is At the usual weekly sale held in Ceylou | on the 16th instant, 1,800,0001b was placed •«tojWW*se of K»,oofflb on I \ W <merioga of the previous week. Qual- . itjr Of the up-country sorts showed a

slight falling off, although, the lowcountry and medium sorts proved very useful. The result of the'eale showed^less general demand, with London buyers taking practically no interest in the market. Commons and price broken orange Pekoes remained finn, but other grades showed a decline. Plain broken orange Pekoes were reduced %d. First classic broken Pekoes and finest broken orange Pekoes a Yzd per lb. Exchange was quoted at 1/6 5-16. Peanuts. Latest cables advise more firmness in Chinese No. 1 hand picked, while Java kernels have shown a further iacrease. The last cables received advised an advance of 10/ per ton for prompt shipment. Pilchards. The sale of this line is showing a steady increase, in comparison with the tendency of other types, particularly of English pack, toward reduction. The lib $ize in oil have proved most popular, although the introduction of pilchards iu tomato sauce some time ago proved quite a good seller for a while. The comparatively low-selling price of the best quality !iindpicked pilchards, as against firstgrade salmon, is such as to make particular appeal to a great portion of the consuming public. Stocks, ex the last arrival a'bout a fortnight ago, were put into distribution and (further consignments due from Vancouver in aibout a further three weeks will be very welcome. Corned Beef. One of the large southern packers has just advised their agents of an increase in the price of 1/6 per dozen on 2/ corned beef. Supplies of this band have been short for some time and it is anticipated that it will be some weeks yet before supplies are again available. Hardware. Hardware merchants advise extremely brisk business in all departments. The displays of new lines suitable for Christmas requirements drawing considerable attention. ■ The various indents which were booked early in the year are also coming to hand, and their delivery, which is now being made, is assisting to increase the general amount Of business being done. Further arrivals comprise primus stoves, hedge shears, electric light tennis presses, crockery, glassware, fly catchers, voltmeters, clothes pegs, etc. Wholesale Current Prices. Butter.—First grade factory, booked, 1/6% per lb, and 1/6 per lb for prompt cash. Second grade factory, booked, 1/4 M per lb, and 1/4 per lb for prompt cash. Farmers' separator, 1/1. per lb. Cheese.—-First grade factory, medium size, mild, 10% d to ll'/id per lb. Loaf, 1/1 net per lb. Cheedale, 6lb bars, 1/3 per lb;' 7oz packets, 9/6 per doaen. Crest, 4/6 per dosen. Bacon.—Hams: 1/1 per lb; rolled hams, 1/3 per lb; boned hams, 1/4 per lb. Bacon: Side*, 10V4d per lb; rolled sides, 1/0% per lb; middles, 1/1 to 1/2 per lb. Shoulders, 8d per lb. Boiled shoulders, lOd per lb. Lard, bulk, lOd per lb; pats, lid per lb. Flour.—Local: 2001b sacks, £18 per ton; 100's, £18 15/ per ton; AO's, £19 5/ per ton; 25V £20 per ton; £20 17/6 per ton; 6^4's, £2117/6 per ton. Southern: 2001b sacks, £18 per ton; 100'e, £18 15/ per ton; Ws, £19 per ton'; 25's, £19 10/ per ton; 12Ve, £20 5/ per ton; 6^4's, £20 17/6 per ton, all lees 2% per cent discount.

Linseed.—Whole, 22/6 per cwt; gronnd, 23/6 per 1001b. Malt.—Crushed, 11/6 per bushel; whole white, 11/3 per bushel; whole black, 14/9 per bushel. Twines.—-Seaming, 3/9 per fb; binder, 8d per lb. > Peameal.—-13/ per 1001b. Linseed Oil Cake Nute.—l4/perlo<Hb. Linseed Meat.—lo/ per 1001b. Bluest one.—32/6 per