FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Evening Star, Issue 19197, 13 March 1926, Page 2

FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Messrs Bray Bros., Ltd., report as follows for the week ended to-day;— Supplies of chaff are coming forward more freely, and the market is fairly well stocked. Good quality is selling round about £6 10s per ton (sacks extra), ex truck. Second quality and inferior quality are unsaleable, and are offering round about £4 10s per ton. Growers are looking forward to a demand being made from the north, but Auckland merchants are buying from Adelaide. The oats market is quiet. There is no outside demand, as North Island buyers have filled their immediate requirements with Canadian oats, round about 4s Del, duty paid, landed in the North Island ports. At present farmers in the south are asking prices that are unable to compete against Canadian oats. The present prices being offered to farmers for A grade Gartens us 3s lOd on trucks, and B’s 3s 6d. The wheat market is firm, and if the weather holds up crops in the south will be threshed, and samples ought' to he coming forward. Fowl wheat supplies are being drawn from the north. These consist of lines that are too soft for milling, and are offered round about 6s lOd to 7s on trucks. The North Island is drawing its supplies from Australia, the importations being free of duty. Millers’ prices are ns follow:—Flour, £lB 10s; pollard, £9 10s: bran, £8 10s; oatmeal, £24. The potato market eased in the early part of the week, and prices fell to round about £7 (ex truck) for good quality, but the market has firmed up, and best lines are worth £8 to £8 10s. A fair amount of business lias been done with Australia from Canterbury, and thus lias hardened the market; Forward sales have been made for shipments to Australia at £8 10s, f.0.b., s.i., for April and May delivery. The onion market is also firm. Australia, being buyers of New Zealandgrown, most of the Auckland onions have boon shipped to Sydney. Everything points to the market remaining firm. Business in the fruit marts has been brisk during the week. Supplies of stone fruit are still short. Bon Chretien pears are coming forward in larger quantities, and heavier supplies of plums are now coming to hand, and meeting with a good demand. Tomatoes from Central Otago and Christchurch are now in full supply, and prices are low. Dessert and cooking apples are also offering more freely. Bananas and oranges are in short supply. Vegetables are offering more freely, and the market is easy. Eggs are firm in price, and all lines coming forward are readily cleared. New season's honey is now offering, and best lines are selling at 5Jd per lb. Beeswax is Is 3d per lb. There is a good inquiry for dairy pat butter. Hams and bacon are in good supply, and there is a good inquiry for tasty cheese. The following prices were realised during the week : Chaff.—Prime oaten, £6 10s. Straw.—Oaten, £4 to £4 los; wheaten, £4.

Wheat.—Fowl, 8s bushel. Honey.—Bulk, JOih tins, Cs; £lb pats, 4s fid. Cheese, lOd to lid. Bacon.—Hitchon’s, Is 3d. Hams, ] s 3d. Butter.—Factory, Is separator pats, ]s to .Is 3d. Apples.—Dessert. Ids io ]3s; Sturniers (choice), ]2s: cookers, G.s 6d to Bb. Pears.—Bon Chretiens, 2?,d to 3}d. Tomatoes.—Local, 3d to fid; Christchurch dessert, ]£d to 3id. Pines, 255. Italian oranges, 22s fid. Passions, 255. Potatoes, fis. Peaches.—Dessert, od io 5d lb. Nectarines, 2pl io 4d. Grapes, Is to Is 2d. Grapes.—Local, la 3d to Ls -id. Marrows, 8s bag. Garlic, Is 3d lb. Walnuts, 9d to P'id. Parsnips, 8s Od cwt. Cabbages, 2s io 3s dozen. Cauliflowers.—Firsts, 4s to 7s fid dozen. Green peas, l.Jd to 2|d. Cucumbers.—Local, 5s to 7s fid. Lettuce, 2s. Beeswax, Is 3d. Apricots, 3d to ojd. Beans.—French, 3Jdj broad, 2d. Pigs.—Best porkers, fed; baconers, 7jd; overweight, od. Eggs.—Stamped, 2s 3d; cased, 2s Id.