FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Evening Star, Issue 18093, 7 October 1922, Page 12

FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Messrs Bray Bros. (of. Dunedin), Ltd 1 ., report as follows for the week;

Small consignments of chaff have been coming forward during the week, and the market has firmed a little for prime quality, selling from ££. 10s up to £4_ 17s 6d _ a item There are still fair supplies of discolored and light chaff held 1 in stores, which as difficult to sell at £2 10s to £3 10s a ton (sacks extra). The oat market continues firm, and B grades hare sold ■from the Bluff up to 2s 9d f.0.b., a „ and 3s for As, grades. There are very few grade oats now held In Dunedin. Most of the North Island) merchants are confining their attention to under-grado oats, and prices are ruling to farmers about 2s 5d for A grades on trucks, and. for under-grade about Is 9d per bushel (seeks extra) ex store. The demand for fowl wheat has eased off. Up to 4s per bushel is being asked f.o.b. (sacks extra). There are several inquiries at under these prices, but local merchants are unable to sell. Growers are not inclined to part with their holdings at current values, and are hoping that the wheat may get into better condition by being held, and perhaps passed, for milling quality. Some of the lines from the south have improved through being kept in tho stack. Dunedin millers’ prices are as follow; —Flour, £lB to £2O; bran, £5 10s; pollard, £9; and oatmeal, £lB, The potato market has firmed up during tho week, and. good lines are difficult to secure; £8 per ton on trucks, country siding, is freely offered for good l lines. Few consignments are coming forward, and it is expected' the market will remain firm. Tho onion market is well supplied with American-grown. These aro offering at 21s per 1001 b crate, and the quality is good. Melbourne onions arc expected forward early next week, when quotations will be lower than what is asked for American. Business has been fair in the fruit marts during the week. Small consignments of Australian fruit have come forward from tho North, and realised satisfactory prices. Lemons have been in over-supply. A consignment of American grapes came to hand. These were shipped in barrels, and arrived, in first-class condition, which makes it difficult to understand why New Zealand cannot secure regular supplies from Australia to land in the same condition. The first shipment of Barotongan tomatoes arrived in good condition, and'-realiscd' high prices. All the Island fruit arrived in very good condition. American apples are also offering. This will ease the demand for localgrown. Some good' lines of Stunners are still coming forward from Central Otago, but buyers aro giving their attention to American. Rhubarb is offering freely, and the price has fallen to IJid per lb. This is easing tho demand for cooking apples. Cauliflowers, parsnips, carrots aro offering freely, and prices aro moderate. New season’s lettuce is also coming forward, and fair prices are ruling. Asparagus is 'starting to como forward, and sold up to 18s per dozen. Several small consignments of Auckland new potatoes came forward, and sold up to 8d lb. Honey, beeswax, hams, bacon, and cheese aro in good supply, and prices are easy. The egg market has been fully supplied, and prices have dropped. Id this week, case selling it Is and stamped from Is to Is 2d. The following prices were realised during the week:—

Oats.—SparrowblU, 2s 6d; Cartons, 2s 3d to 2s 6d Chaff.—Prime oaten, £4 15s to £5, Fowl wheat, 4s to 4s 6d. Straw.—Wheaten, £2 10s; oaten, £3. Beeswax, Is 7d to Is 9d. Honey.—Sections, 12s dozen; bulk, 6£d to 7d.

Butter.—Creamery pats, Is 9d; bulk, Is dairy and separator, Is 4d. Cheese.—Mild, 8£d); matured, 9d to lOd. HitchonV bacon, ll£d. • Hams, Is. Apples.—Stumers, 10s to 12s; Cleopatras, 12s to 14s ■ cookers, 9s to 10s. Pears, —Winter Coles, 5-^d 1 . Bananas. — 345. Adelaide navel oranges, 20s to 255, Adelaide kimjns, 18s 6d. Pines, 26s to 28s. Passions, 265. Potatoes, £8 10s to £9 10s, Sprouts, 6r 6d case. Kumaras. 18s case. Asparagus, 14s to 18s dozen lb. Rhubarb, l|d to 2d bundles. Carrots, 5s cwt. Turnips, 2s 6d cwt; slow sale. Cabbage, 6s sack. Cauliflowers, 6s to 12s dozen. < Vegetable marrows, 18s sack. Lettuce, 3s 6d to 5s dozen. Melbourne onions, 21s cw^ Pigs.—Best porkers, 7d; bnconers, 7Jd ; overweight, S^d 1 . Engs. —Stamped, Is Id; cased, Is. Poultry.—Hens, 3s 6cl to 4s pair; ducks, 7s pair; turkeys, Is lb (live weight).