MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 18, 22 January 1929, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

TRADE CONTINUES BRISK.

TEA MARKET FIRM. rniTHKR ADVANCE ON LIMA BEANS. "Auckland Star" Office, Tuesday, January 22. Wholesale ftrocery merchants have maintained an unusually good volume of business during the past week, both town and country storekeepers ordering in good volume. Substantial trading is anticipated this week also, owing to booking for February account now being accepted. Deliveries for this booking will commence for rail to-day and in the town on Thursday next. General. A special concession ic< now offered on a very well-known line of dental cream, t.he retail trade being given one free with every dozen purchased. Another bonus offer is also being made on a well-known line of laundry soap by a special reduction of 2/ per case under a special rebate bonus scheme. A rather popular brand of toilet soap is also being offered to the public through a special bonus scheme. In this case coupons are sent direct to the householder, which the storekeeper will exchange for a cake of this particular soap, the manufacturers, in turn, paying the retailer the actual retail price of the soup in exchange for the coupons. Shelled walnuts, in halves and pieces, have just been landed, and as the market previously was in very short supply, the present shipment is expected to meet with a very keen demand. The advent of the present hot spell is causing a very keen demand for all types of jars for fruit preserving, etc. Unfortunately, the manufacturers have been unable to fully complete merchants' deliveries owing to the late arrival of jar tops, which are imported from Australia. Meichants have, therefore, had to disappoint many of their customers for the time being, but it is understood that moet hi' the deliveries in the quart and halfgallon sizes will be completed this week. Further advices received indicate that there is a shortage of the round pint jaiis, and the square are all that will be available for the remainder of the season. Two-pound tie over jam jars, made from white glass, ave now finished, with further supplies being unobtainable owing to the tank of white glass being used up. Further supplies of this size made from amber glass will be available shortly at the same quotation as previously advised. The last Sydney steamer brought supplies of Chinese peanuts, in shell, and also Java peanut kernels, so that ample supplies will be available for the time being. One firm of local meat canners has advanced pricea on 2*s of canned beef, and have ako advised the trade that they are unable to supply the market for the time being. A prominent line of bottled English malt vinegar has been in short supply for some tiine; agents now advise that the next shipment is due on the 25th inst. A line of American health food has been reduced in price 2/ per dozen. Latest advices in connection with the arrival of the direct steamer from Singapore is that this vessel is due in Auckland on the 26th inst. Drapery. Practically all the large drapery houses report they have experienced very good liusineM in all departments during the month, most departments showing im- - proved returned on the same period of last year. Bathing goods are in very heavy demand and owing to the extremely hot weather the shops are experiencing • great run on beach frosks, those selling at reasonable prices showing excellent value. The summer sales have now commenced, with 4 already reporting good business done, other houses are likely to follow between now and the early part of next month. It is anticipated that with, the continued spell of hot weather the sales for..light weight goods will continue' with unabated volume, the demand for this class of goods making a - busy period for the «a]es, Piece goods departments are ratUlr quiet, although any new lines in art silk or rayons are quickly snapped up. Pattern voiles are being sold at very low figures, the usual 2/11 quality being retailed as low as 1/6 per yard, in good designs. Ceylon Tea. At the usual weekly sale of Ceylon tea held at Colombo on January 15, 3,503,0001b was placed under offer. There was a much better demand on account of the general improvement in quality of the different grades, most of those liquored showing a much 'blighter colour. The only exception being those grades from the Uva districts, which are still poor, and therefore not in much demand. The market opened with a very strong tone, but commons and medium brokens closed rather irregular and slightly easip^than opening rates. The general alterations wW« as folldwsi—Commons advanced %d per lb, Price broken Orange Pekoes firm, plain 8.0.P.'s and first class.j broken advanced %d per lb, and finest 8.0.P.'s advanced %d per lb. Exchange was quoted at 1/6%. Lima Boans. Madagascar butter beans, which opened up obout £10 per ton higher than last year, have again advanced a further £3 10/ per ton, making a total increase of £13 10/ above last year's figures. A clrglit weakness has , now been, reported, late cables recdiVScT from* London notifying a reduction of £1 per ton, but as there i* an undoubted world shortaga of all classes of beans and lentils, this reduction must only be looked on as a very temporary one. Prices of all these commodities have registered higher this year than tfhejr have done prior to the year 1913. , _ Kapok. The market for "kapok, as advised by , late cables, continues to firm, Samarang shippers advising a further advance of Vi\ per lb on all grades, spread shipment from January to March. Java Peanut Kernels. Godd supplies of Java kernels landed by, the .Marama last week, and as this shipment came to a bare market, distribution of the bulk of the consignment was made immediately. Indent rates, exceedingly firm, but as suppliers'' advise that no further shipments can be made until some time .in February; the market is liable to be short again before the next shipment can arrive to this market.

Brazil Nuts. Brazil nuts have shown considerable market strength, with a slight weakness following since last report. Present shjpquotations have shown an. increase i n while forward shipment lnwinass ma. •hown an - gasler tendency, o although ■" con fi«ently expected that much twoorSS ; |^f VaU withiM the uext n Mketvbi^n^^^'S"f tcd s j» the Sate i-I.e V* V \ ty <latc »' reduction' lowing a c 'lnpareif'lto .thesSEi Bratle > :.rd lMt year, whleh,- in I not Prove qints-MtUfactory guilty, from which it » apnafcSw ity a very small proportion of i , . o .ir ivincn to first ia expectoj wUl ? l« , uro; .fowrwk • . Mi f-jp ' If"."

Sicily Almonds. The Sicily almond position, while remaining extremely firm, has been forced down 1/ per cwt by weak holders in London. The crop position justifies the very high prices ruling to-day, and while tihere might be eome fluctuation, no material difference .in price is to be anticipated before new season's prices arc named, which will probably be abjut June next. Bulk Raisins. The (Jalifornian raisin market has shown a slight weakness, Thompson's seedless raisins, unbleached, being reduced 6d per cwt. Prunes. Latest cables advise a decided firmness on all the better grades of prunes, with, a slight weakness in evidence in a few of tihe smaller sizes. Castor Oil. Agents advise receipt of late cables from Calcutta advising that the quotation for Australian thirds castor oil, in cases, is s'howing an easing tendency, the present quotation being reduced %d per gallon for next shipment. Lentils. Lentil quotations made by cable lately indicate the present state of the market, which is an advancing one, the latest quotation showing an increase of £1 per I ton for best quality A split grade. Shipment is offered for March-April steamer from Calcutta. Pineapples. Last week's quotations on pineapples showed an unchanged level on second grade, with fractional advances on first quality cubes, tails and flats slices being listed without alteration. Twos, whole, also remained unaltered, 2Vfe's sliced show a reduction of Id. Latest mail reports in connection with the pineapple position in Singapore show that supplies of fresh fuuit have been very plentiful, although this is expected to show a falling off, but not sufficient to affect the output of t'he factories which, it is anticipated, will work firll time until March. • It is estimated that the total pack will be about 350,000 cases. A little while ago there was considerable fluctuation on thig market, which rose owing to the operations of speculators who had been caught «hort and 'had to cover. This movement, however, was of very short duration, and there now seems every prospect that the situation is back to normal again. Shipments in London and Liverpool have been unusually light, stocks at the former port being a good deal heavier than those of the corresponding period of the previous year. ** Haricot .Beans. Australian advices state that stocks of haricot beans are exhausted and further quantities will not be obtainable from the country of production until May-June next. This hts baen responsible for a very high market, the other varieties advancing -to «yjiipath>v * Wholesale Current Prices. Butter.—First grade factory butter, booked, 1/8 M per lb and 1/8 per lb for prompt cash. Second grade factory, booked, 1/6 V& per lb and 1/6 per lb for prompt cash. Farmers' separator, 1/3 per pound. v> Cheese. —Firttgrade factory, medium size miid, lOd to l(W4d per lb. Loaf, 1/0% net per lb. Chesdale, 61b bars, 1/3 per lb; 7oz packets, 9/6 per dozen. Crest, 4/6 per dozen. Bacon.T-Hams, 1/1 per lb; rolled hams, 1/3 per.lb/;baned hams, 1/4 per lb. Bacon: Sides, lftltts lld; ; per lb; rolled sides, 1/ to 1/1 per VS;- middles, 1/1 to 1/2 per lb; shoulders, 8d per lb; rolled shoulders, lOd per lb; lard, bulk, 9d per..lb; pats, lOd per lb. Flour.—Local: 2001b sacks, £18 per ton; 100's, £18 15/ per ton; 50's, £19 5/ per ton; 25's, £20 per ton; 12%'s, £20 17/6 per ton; 6^4's, £21 17/6 per ton. Southern: 2001b sacks, £18 per ton; 100's, £18 15/ per ton; 50' a, £19 per ton; 25's, £19 10/ per ton; 12%'s, £20 5/ per ton; 6%'s, £20 17/6 per ton, all less 2% per cent discount. Linseed.—Whole, 22/G per cwt; ground, 23/6 per 1001b. Malt. —Crushed 12/ per bushel; whole white, 12/ per bushel; whole black, 14/9 per bushel, Twines.—Seaming, 3/9 per lb; binder, 8d per lb. Peameal.—l3/ per 1001b. Linseed Oil Cake Nuts.—l 4/ par 1001b Linseed Meal.—l 6/ per 1001b. (Unprocurable meantime.) Bluestoue.—32/6 per cwt.