COMMERCIAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 March 1935, Page 8

COMMERCIAL

GRAIN AND PRODUCE. [FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, March 15. The only incidents of note in a tjuiet week on the local grain and produce market is the‘firming in the values of partridge peas and onions. Peas have be.en bought at 6/- a bushel on trucks. The market has improved in England, but not to the extent to permit export on the price being paid locally, but there is the expectation that inquiries will set'in. The crop is very light this season, many farmers securing from 18 to 20 bushels an acre, compared with the normal yield of 30 to 35 bushels. Some growers have sold at the present price. Oats show little change, though the increase has caused more threshing and heavier offerings. The market is firm at up to 3/2 f.o.b.s.i. for A Gartons and to 2/10 for B’s, th© equivalent on truck price being 2/7 and 2/3. Algerians have been selling for autumn feeding, but good rain is required to develop this demand. Algerians are quoted at 2/6 on trucks for good quality. There is little change in the potato market. Prices remain firm, f.o.b.s.i. quotations for May-June whites being £5/10/-, with not' many available at that figure. Prices on trucks are £4 2/6. There has been a little inquiry for April delivery, and to £5/17/6 is reported to have been paid. Reports as to progress of the crops indicate that the yield will be variable with, perhaps, sufficient for requirements, but there is little likelihood of potatoes being thrown on the market in quantities such as destroyed the demand last season. A good rain is required to develop the crop before frosts set in.

Onions have advanced sharply during the week and are now quoted at £8 a ton on trucks. The main cause is the paucity of offerings rather than the increased inquiry. The crop is light this year. The small seeds market is unaltered. Cocksfoot is worth from to lljjd for Akaroa, and 10Jd for Plains. Ryegrass is worth 3/- a bushel on trucks and red clover lOd to 12d.

Fowl wheat shows no change, the Board wheat being quoted at 4/4 and free at 4/3 for prompt f.o.b.s.e.

MACETOWN DEVELOPMENTS. • Report for week ended March 9: — The trenching of the Marlborough portions of the Garibaldi and All Nations lodes is nearing completion/The lateral extent of the new shoot has not yet been determined, thus information will be available on March 15, when a prospecting tunnel will be laid out| to intersect the shoot 100 feet below the surface. A survey will be made of the whole of the mines, and a scheme of future operations designed according to the zones containing the various pay ore shoots. This will include the Garibadi main and subsidiary shoots, Maryborough shoots on the Garibaldi line and the All Nations lines, the Premier shoot at a lower horizon, the Lady-Fair shoot, and the Homeward Bound three main shoots, and subsidiary shoots, the whole of the mines will be connected to one main working level, and thence to a central mill. This work of surveying and designing the scheme will be completed by the end of March.

WOOL REALISATIONS. CHRISTCHURCH, March 15. The following particulars are supplied by the New Zealand Woolbrokers' Association of the sales at auction of (lie New Zealand clip up to February 28: Bales offered 336.5] 1 bales sold 295,119; lbs sold 10191$. 975; total realisation £2,781/151;

average prices per lb 6.549 d, and per bale £ 9/8/5.408d. STOCKS AND SHARES. WELLINGTON, March IG. Sales: Rural Bonds £lO3, Taringamutu Timber 6/6, Taupo Totara ord. 5/6. DUNEDIN, March 16. Sale reported: New Zealand Breweries 51/6. , RABBIT-SKINS SALE LONDON, March 15. At the rabbit skins sales, 447 New Zealand and 114 G Australian were offered, 143 New Zealand and 347 Australian being sold. Bucks were in good demand and advanced by five per cent compared with January. Hatters’ sorts (New Zealand) were occasionally easier, Australian sometimes slightly cl earci* ' LONDON WOOL SALES LONDON, March 15. At the wool sales 8934 bales were offered including 4655 New Zealand, 3128 Australian, and approximately 6495 New Zealand and Australian were sold. There was sustained Home and Continental competition, at steady rates. New Zealand greasy merinos branch top 131, average 12 5-8. Halfbred lamb slipe, Fairfield 121—11 5-8. BIG RIVER GOLD MINES. Report for week ending March 14: No. 4 north drive: Driving on reef cut in west crosscut. Stone now full width of drive. Stopings as usual. No. 4 south drive: Level face advanced live feet. Footwall leader still in face. Second stope commenced. Main shaft: No work has been done this week. Had to drain water from the winze in the No. 3 Level down shaft. Battery: Held up for repairs. GOLD AND EXCHANGE. LONDON, March 15. Gold 146/OJ, dollar 477 J, franc 72J.