THE MARKETS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 83, 9 April 1910, Page 3

THE MARKETS.

BIG SUPPLIES OF FRUIT. The Allen-street market has had a large supply of fruit to handle during the week, shipments coming in as fast as other shipments were carted away. To-day a large quantity of Christchurch apples and pears is in the market. In the ca&o of somo of the Motueka fruit it is complained thnt some growers still display indifference to packing and grading, and low prices are tho natural result. Tho rough handling which is inevitable in nuch heavy cargoes as fruit tries tho packing to the utmost. Attention to "get-up' cannot be too much insisted upon, as, considering the state of the market, most reasonable prices .vere obtained during the week for showy, well-pack-ed, unbruised fruit. In the mart this morning the best appls3 ranged up to 63 a caso for dc^ sert varieties, and medium sorts brought *s to ss, with inferior 2s 6d to 3s. Cooking apples realised 3s 6d to 3s 9d for primest, and inferior and small Is Od to os. Pears wero in request, the very .best dessert, surh as Mario Louise, Winter Cole, and Winter Nelis bringing up to 6s a case, and small and inferior from 3s to 4s. Bcßt cookers were disposed "of at 4s to 4s 6d, with smnll sorts 2s to 3s 6d. Quinces were in short supply, and fetched 4s. For new season's walnuts, bright, dry nuts, there was a strong demand at 5d to 6d por lb. Australian (Adelaide) grapes sold at lls to 13s a case, while the locallygrown sold at from Od to Is 3d per lb, according to sample. Best tomatoes are now scarce, it being tho end of tho season, and were wanted at 5s to 6s per half-case. In tho week they brought from 3s to ss. Messina lemons realised 12s to 13s a case to-day. Cape gooseberries were sold at 3d per lb. A few lines of plums went for 3s per half-case. Poaches are practically done, choico dessert having brougnt 7s 6d per half-case this week. Pineapples aro scarce, and 14s to 15s a case has been ptiid. Passion fruit is strongly demanded at 8s to 9s a case. Local watermelon* offered at Is to 6s a dozen, according to size. Coming to vegetables, cucumbers brought 8s to_ 9a per case. Extra good cabbages sold" for from 5s to 6s a sack, and ordinary quality 2s to 3s a sack. Carrots wore 3s Gd to 4s 6d a sack ; parsnips, 5s 6d to 6s 6d a sack, and wanted ; pumpkins, 4s to 5s a bag ; and marrows, up to 2s 6d n sock, but were plentiful. The cauliflowers were not up to the mark, and realised 3s a sack. Lettuces brought Is 6d to 2s a case. Onions ran at about £4 a ton. Very good Oamaru potatoes were sold at £5 to £5 10s per ton, and infeiior £2 10s, with Blenheim and Nelson-grown at £4 per ton. There were but few or no North Islands offering.