AUCKLAND.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17732, 7 April 1923, Page 12

AUCKLAND.

(SSIOAI TO "THE T&ZSS.") AUCKLAND, April 6. There was a plentiful supply of fruit at tho city markets to-day. It consisted principally of apples and pears, the latter, especially common varieties, being very cheapPeaches are now practically finianed, hut Cape Gooseberries and tigs are plentiful. Prices realised are as lollows; App-es, cooking varieties, I\o. 1 3s to 63, Xo. 2 3s Od t-o 4a, dessert, ordinary 4s to (ss, fliierior Ss to 4s, spies (well coloured) 5s to 9s, inferior 4s to ss, delicious No. 1 7s to 103, inferior 4s to ss; pears, cooking varieties, Ss to os a bushel; Cape gooseberries, from 4d to 6d per lb; ripe bananas 10s to 25s per case, according to quality, very inferior 5s to 10s; Tomatoes 4s to 6s 6d for choice and Is 6d to 3s for small and inferior; lemons, graded lines, 15s to 22e, rough inferior ,6s to 10s; Te Kauwhata'grapes, 10s to 12s per box; hothouse grapes la to Is Td per lb, others 9d to lOd, according to quality ; mandarins 14s per ca6e. BLENHEIM. (SPECIAL TC ''TBT PBESB.") BLENHEIM, April G. Chaff has declined lrom £5 10a p v r ton of three weeks ago, and is no .v nominally quoted at £4 10s to £5. Ono of tho principal factors in this change from activity to slackness is the extent to which the Canterbury oat growers have taken advantage of tho recent recovery in the chaff trade. Auckland seems to be liberaJly supplied at the moment, and very litt.ie fresh business is being, done here now, whatever movement there is consisting mainly of the lulfLm.nt o£ orders. The production in Marlborough on this occasion is not as great i s that of last season, end. it is expected that tho market will improve later on. The barley market is lifeless. No buyers are yet operating. Any lines of wheat not fit for milling have been selling .at- about 4s per bushel. The position with respect to milling wheat remains uncertain pending the outcome of the negotiations with the Government. Peas are very quiet in tho absence of an export demand, and very few Bales have been made. Tho threshing of red clover seed has commenced, and the product is now coming freely on to the market. The yield promises to be good and tho quality also seems to bo better than, that of lost yoar. The market opened at from 9d to 10Jd and the first lines available were in good demand at that i level. The requirements for seed for autumn sowing having been satisfied, ihow- ] ever, the market is now easier with a tendency to fall by a penny or ef. The lucerne seed is not yet to hand, i threshing not having started. Tie crop is likely to be small owing to so much second growth. TIMARU. The markets have taken, a turn for the easier thiß week. In regard to the -wheat purchase scheme, as scon as the Government undertakes to prohibit the importation of Australian wheat and flour, millers .will adhere to the fixed prices. The following prices are being paid lor good lines:—Velvet 4s 9d 'to 4s lOd, Hunter,s 4s 7d, Tuscan 4s 6d, en trucks, pounttry stations, isatfks extra. A large percentage of the stack-threshed wheat is shrivelled and not good enough to bo passed as milling. Even so, it is reaching the market in greatly-improved condition. Good ■Whole fowl wheat is worth 4s, under-grade 3s 9d to 3a lOd, seconds 3s 3d to 3s 6d, on trucks. Local quotations for oats ore:—A grade Gartons 123 lOd, B grade 2s 9d, Duns 2s tidi to 2s lOd, Algerians 3s, on trucks, country stations, sacks extra. The demand is not very strong. The/o is no inquiry for further quantities of chaff for forward delivery. Values are, at present, £i 5s per ton for good lines. Lower grades are practically unsaleable. South Canterbury chaff this season is of the lower grade, Old barley is difficult of sale, but neW barley is quoted at 4s 3d to 4s 6d for malting, on trucks. Good samples of linseed are coming to hand though the market is not as strong as it was. Last week's price of £ls per ton is, nevertheless, still obtainable. ■ Prices quoted for Partridge pei3 are: No. l's 5s 9d, f.a.q.'s 4s 9d, on trucks. No definite price can be quoted for lyegrass. Cocksfoot is arriving in the from Denmark, consequently the prices -of local seed have been affected. Cowgrass is plentiful, and it is expected thot the market will open at about 9d to lOd per lb. The potato market has eased, the quotations are:—Whites £3 15s, reds £3 10b, on trucks, country stations, sacka extra. It is not yet known whether tho additional area in tubers this season, compared with last, will compensate for loss through, blight. Until the position can be more accurately guaped, it will be difficult to ascertain whether there will be a surplus or not. The unpleasant experience of Auckland merchants last year has caused them to adopt a cautious buying policy. FRUIT MARKETS. CHRISTCHURCH During the week the market was well supplied with vegetables. The , demand was good and prices remained firm, more especially for cabbages and cauliflowers. There was a, plentiful supply of apples and pears and, as there was not much enquuy lor mem, prices were sgain low.' Ine suppiy oi touuaioes suowed a uecreaee, ana prices nrmea up ill consequence. A lew iiue freestone peaclies were ayuuabie tms week, and tiie-y commanded, gooa puces, a snipmeut ol island oranges and bananas arrived in (Jhristcnurcli 'yesterday. There was a good enquiry lor bocn lines, but more especially lor ine bananaSj, wmcn were in snort supply. Quotations <ire as follow: Appjes, nelson, per case, is to 7s; apples, locai, per case, up to Vs tkl; -app.es, cooking, pec case, 4s to 6s; Delicious, up to los; bananas, Ccok Island, per case, up to ius; grapes, firsts, per lb, up to 2a 4U; grapes, seconds, per lb, Is to Is 3d; oranges, Cook island, per case, up to 18s; passions, Auckland, per case, up to 8s; pears, cooking, per case, '2a tid to 3s; dessert, per lb id to 2d; peaches, cooking, per jb, lid to 2d; peaches, dessert, per lb, up to ba; tomatous, suaco, pel' lb, tjd to Id; tomatoes, dessert, per ib, Jd- to Mid.; walnuts, per ib, up to beans, French, 2d to 3d per lb; beet, per dozen bundles, (id; cabbages, per dozen, up to 7s; cauliflowers, per dozen, up to 16s 3d; carrots, per dozen, up to Is 4d; cucumbeis, hot-house, per ]b, 6u to 8d; cucumbers, outdoor, per case, up to 4s; celery, per bundle, up to 6Jd; green peas, per peck, 2s lOd; leeks, per bundle, 3d; lettuce, per dozen, up to 3s; marrows, per dozen, 2s to 4s; potatoes, per sugar bag, 2s (kl to 2s 9d; onions, local, per sugar bag, 3s Gd; onion?, per cwt, 8s; parsnips, per dozen, up to Is Gd; potatoes, per sack, up to lis Gd; spring onions, per dozen, 2s 7d; turnips, per dozen, up to Is 6d; spinach, per dozen, Is 6d to 2s; swedes, per sugar bag, 2s. RAKAIA STOCK SALE. At the Kakaia stock sale yesterday there was ail exceptionally large entry of 2000 fat lambs, 900 fat ewes, and 400 fat wethers. Fat lambs made from 25s to 30s, extra prime 31s to 33a Cdi; fat wethers 2€a to 30s, fat ewio ware very dull of sale; price® ranged from 13s to 22s 6d, according to weight end quality. Practically all fats were s^ld. Store Shoe!)— Owing to the ravages of the blight on the rape and the cry, hot weather during the past month, feed ""d considerably diminished, an* there wag r.o local demand for rape ewes, wethers, or breeding ewes. There was a large yarding of breeding ewes, which were nearly ail passed in at auction, vendors' ideas of values being higher than buyers were prepared to go. Hape ewes, which were selling freely a month ago at 16s to 17s, were Bold at from 10s to lis. A poor yftrding o" v.'etliere met with a poor demand. Pigs—Weaners, 12s 6d to 16a. POULTRY AND EGGS. Th 9 market was again well supplied with poultry, and there was a good demand for prime quality birds. The Tange of quotations per pair is a3 follow:—Table cfilckens 5s 6d to 13s 3d, hens (heavy) 4s to 8s 6d, hens (light) 2s to 3s 9d, ducks 4s to 11a 6d, geese os.to 7s, .pullets 5s 6d to 16a, turkeys 8s 6d to 33s 6d. At present the supply of eggs is much in excess of what it was this time last This fact, < opibined with the falling off of orders since Easter, has caused prices to decline. Canterbury Co-op. Poultry Producers' prices per are:—First. gTado hen eggs la 9d, second. grade hen | eggs Is 7d. duck eee* la aa.