GENERAL MERCHANDISE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18674, 24 April 1926, Page 12

GENERAL MERCHANDISE.

GROCERIES. Wholesale merchant* report business this week as iairly good. The retailer is, however, buying with caution, and the tendency to buy "to arrive" is not so much in evidence as wis the cue a few months ago. C. and B. essence of lemon ii lower in price than formerly, due to lower landing costs. The steamer Waihemo from Sin I'rancisco is expected in Lyttelton to-day. She will discharge a variety of cargo, including dried fruits of all descriptions, also canned fruits, etc. Storekeepers who wmt time ago purchased oil bleached raisins, prunes, and seeded rains "to arrive," will obtain delivery out of the Teasel. The sale for preserved gineer still continues good. Prices are considerably higher than last year, cue -to increased landed • oats. Sild, commonly called sardines, will be cheaper this season than formerly. Prices have declined in Europe during the past six months, and some good brands can now be imported, so as to permit a retail figure of 7d per quarter in the early future. The tea market still keeps its high level. Prices are as firm as ever, with a keen demand for all grades showing quality. The amalgamation of the London firms of Crosso and Blackwell and C. E. Morton, which was first made public through this journal several woeiks ago, is not eipected to cause any alteration in export prices. The primary reason for amalgamation is to lower operating costs, and thus make the trade more profitable for both concerns. It will be remembered that some years ago Crosse and Blackwell issued a balance-sheet showing that trading v?as then not satisfactory and a heavy lom was shown. Since then considerable improvement has been shown, and the amalgamation is apparently another move to increase the working efficiency of both concerns and enable them successfully to compete with foreigners on the world's markets. The hold-up in Lyttelton, if it lasta another week, will causa a shortage in sugar supplies. The Kurow arrived on Thursday night, and only landed live stock, after which she went south with her Auckland cargo including sugar, on board. She should be back again early next week, when an -endeavour will be made to get her cargo landed. If on return tha Kurow cannot land n«r sugar shipment, a shortage of sugar can be looked for on this market. If, on the other hand, she disnhsrgws, then matters will be satisfactory, as further shipments will be ordered in due course. • MENDIP HILLS CUP. RESULT OF 1925 COMPETITION. The competition a* the Canterbury A. and P. Association's Show. last year for the Mendip Hille ' Challenge Cup resulted in the Hayland Estate being placed first. The cup .was presonted by Mr Norman Rut-heirford, and is valued at 25 guineas. It is open to competitors in the Corriedate and halfbred competitions for the best average money value of raans entered for these competitions, and is to won three. times, not necessarily jn succession. The average wool and meat value of ths three Corriedale rami entefed by the Hayland Estate was £3 9s 7d, and that of ths three Corriedale rams of the mnner-up (Mr W. AY. Mr.Pine) was £3 5s lid. The winner in .1928 was. Mr Hugh Ensor, and in 1921 Mr Thomis Stevenson. NEW COMPANY. The "Mercantile Gaielte" records the registration of ths following'neiv company:— • Joseph Clarlceand Co., Ltd. ■ Regdi; as a private company April 15th, 1926. Offlce: Woolston Buildings, cornet Hereford : and Madras streets. Capital: £II.OOO, into 11,000 shares of £1 each. Subscribers: QbrUtehorch—-J. L. Clarke 10,000, L. M. Clsrks 1600. Objects: To acquire -and take o.ver the business of J. Clarke and Co., Christchurch, general merchants,, ete. I, | FRUIT MARKET. CHRISTCHUKCH. ; The market was well supplied with vegetables' this week. Cabbages and cauliflowers 'were particularly-' plentiful, and they were cheap.'-' Tomatoes were also very plentiful, and were 'hard to quit, only the best lines', being wanted. Immediately, there is a hard frost supplies of tomatoes are likely to' fall off, and prices improve. .Large. quantities of apples are coming'forward to the market, and. they are selling slowly. Owing to the labour troubles at Lyttelton the Waipahi, with a shipment of Fiji bananas, will probably discharga at Timaru, . Following are' quotations:— Apples, Nelson, per case, 7s (id to 8s; apples, local, per ease, 8s to 10s; .apples, cooking, >6s to 7s; grapes, firsts, per. pound, up to 2s 3d; grapes, seconds, per pound, up to Is to Is 2d; oranges.' Cook Island, per cate, 20s) to 25s 6d; passions, Auckland, per case,. 8s to 6s; pears, cooking, per case, 4s to ss; pears, dessert, per pound, 2d to 2|d; peaches, dessert, per pound, up to 6d; strawberries, per pound, up to Is 8d; tomatoes, sauce, unsaleable; tomatoes, dessert, per pound, Id to l}d; walnuts, per pound, 8d to 0d; beans, French, Id per pound; beet, per doien bundles, up to' Is 6d; cabbages, per dozen, 2s; cauliflowers, per dosen, 6s 6d; carrots, per dozen, 2s 2d; cucumbers, outdoor, per case, Ss 6d to 6s; celery,.per bundle, up to 9|d; green'peas; per peek, . Is' tid; leeks, per bundle, 6id; lettuce; per dozen'. 2s 6d; narrows,' per dozen, 4s; potatoes, per sugarbsg, ; 8s 6d; onions, per ewt, 17s; parsnips, per dozen, 3s; potatoes, per sack, 12s 6d; radishes, per dozen, Is fid; spring onions, per doien, 2s 2d; turnips, per dozen, 2s; spinach, per dozen, 2s 6d; swedes, i per sugarbag, 2s. AUCKLAND. j (SMCUT. TO "IHB PJUSS.") AUCKLAND, April 28. | The fruit marts continue to be over-sup-plied with small and interior grades of apples, ; and theie are almost unsaleable. Better I sorts have sold as follows:—Delicious 3s to 6s per case, Ballarat Seedling 4a 6d to ' 5s 6d, Jonathans Ss to 6s, Qoldon Russets 3s to ss6d, Sharpe's Late Red 2s 6d to Bs, Northern Spy 8a 6d to 4s 6d. Good dessert pears ! are in -short- supply, but a lot of Keifers 1 have been arriving on the market in an overI ripe condition. Prices have been: Beurro Deil 4s to 4s 6d, Keifers 3s to ss, Coles 10s to lis. Hutt-grown tomatoes have been very plentiful. They have met with .keen demand, but at lower prices, 2a to 4s per case. Outdoor grapes are nearly done, 7s to 10s per ease; hothouse Is to 2s 3d per lb. Other prices: Tree tomatoes 4s to 7s per case, Cape gooseberries 7d to 8d per lb, bananas, ex Tofua, 19s per case, repacked 25s to 90s, repacked oranges 20s, lemons 8s to 15s. j DUNEDIN. (SPrCUL TO "TUB PMSS.") DUNEDIN', April 20. Choice dessert applea have a good enquiry. Cox's Orange Pippin are in ' short supply. Good samples of Jonathans have arrived from Kelson and Blenheim. Choice pears havo sound enquiry, and there is good demand for grapes. Current wholesale prices: —Apples: Cox's Orange 30s to 13s, Jonathans 7s to 9s for prime,- cookers 4s 6d to 6s; oranges; Italian 25s per half-rase, Island 27s 6d; lemons, Italian, 27s 6d; tomatoes Christchurch choice lid to 2id,- Central 3d to 4d, seconds- Id to lid, local hothouse fid to 8d; peaches, crates 4d to s<l per lb; grapes, local Is to 3s lid; pears, dessert 2d to 3d per lb, cooking lid to 2d. DALGETY AND CO. Dalgety and Company hara received advice | from their head office that an interim dividend of 7s per ahare has been declared, tig's being at ths rat* of 14 per cent, per annum. This interim dividend becomes due and payable on May 15th. CEREALS. LOKT»OK, April 23. Fiour—The market is firm. Australian, ex store, 44s 6d to 45s._ Oats'-—The market is firm. Peas and Beans—The market >s quiet. Sugar—GraaUlated. 28s Tid. .