AUCTIONEERS' REPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10425, 24 April 1897, Page 3

AUCTIONEERS' REPORTS.

Messrs. Esau and Arthur's Weekly Retort.—The holidays naturally interfered with the distribution of trade. Potatoes of really good quality, of which there are few, command good prices; other sorts, according to condition. A slight demand for cereals tor outside orders, can be reported. Fresh butter maintains recent quotations, but keg quality is so indifferent in quality, that Island orders are not being filled this trip. Orders for general produce, for Fiji, are principally supplied from New South Wales and Victoria. Eggs are scarce; also, hams and bacon. Fruit: Prices all round show au improvement. Apples are kept down in price, owing to the quantity of infected sorts coming to market. We quote as follows :— Local potatoes, £2 to £3 10*; kumaras, £4 to £3 10s; onions, £3 to £7; oats, 'li 6d; white carrots, 255; red, 30s; pumpkins, 30s to 455: citron melons, 30) to 40s. Fresh butter, 5d to 6Jd: cheese, 3d to 3^d; salt butter, 3Jd to 6Jd; eggs, Is 5d to Is 6Jd; bacon, 3W to 6d; hams, 5d to 6V:1; honey, 2d to 2Jd. Fowls, la to Is 6d; ducks, Is 4d to la Bd. Fruit: Best dessert apples. 4s to 7s; cooking, 3s to ss; others, 2s to 2s 6d; dessert pears, half cases, 44 to li; Napoleons, 2s 6d to 3s 3d, and Id to lid lb; hothouse grapes, 9d to 9^(1; outdoor, 2|d; persimmons, 9d; passion fruit, ljd ; tomatoes, Id to IJd; Cape gooseberries, 3ld to 4d; guavas, 2d; quinces, 2s 3d to 3s; medlars, is 3d to Is 9d; lemons, 4d to fid; small, 3d; figs, IJd to 2d. Mr. Alexander Aitken reports tho demand for produce, etc., during the week was. well maintained. Southern potatoes arrived to a good market. Onions also arrived in quantities from the South, values remain about the same for good samples. 1 quote : Southern table potatoes, ex-wharf, £4; ex store, £4 10s to £4 15s ; onious, £7 ; medium quality, £6; local grown potatoes are almost unsaleable, except for cattle feed, £1 ton ; for prime samples £3 is the outside value, not many coming to hand; pumpkins, £2 to £3; kumaras, red, £6 ss; white, £3 10s to £4; carrots, £1 5s to £1 10s; oats (short feed), 2s 9d; Danish, 2s 6d; maize, 2s lOd to 3s ; wheat, 3s 9d to .'is lid; bran, £3 13s; sharps, £4 for local; Southern £4 lOs; chaff, £2 las to £3; dairy produce, eggs, guaranteed, Is 3d to Is 7d; butter, factory rolls, lOd; bulk, 9d: dairy, prime, 6Jd to 7d; medium quality, 4Jd to 5Jd: pastry. 3d; keg, prime, 6d (slow of sale); hams and bacon, Southern hains in cloth, 9d; bare (old), 7Jd; new, Bid; bacon, Did to 6|d; honey, bulk, 2Jd to 2jd; cheese, loaf, 4rd to sd; large, 4Jd; farmers, 3d to 3Jd. Fruit; Apples free from moth, 5s 6d to 7s case for best dessert: medium dessert, 3s 6d to 4s; culinary, 3s 6d to 4s; poor and mothed, Is 9d to 2s 6d case; pears, best dessert, 2id to 3d; Napoleons, ljd to l^d; quinces, fd to Id; tomatoes, lsd to 2d lb and Is to 2s case; lemons, 4s to 6s case; grapes, hothouse, BJd; outdoor, ljd to 2}d: walnuts, BJd; chestnuts, 51d; watermelons, 3s 6d to 6s 6d dozen; Cape"gooseberries, 3M to 4d. Poultry : Roosters, large, Is 9d to 2s 3d ; medium, Is 3d to Is 8d; cocketels, 8d to Is 2d; liens, lOil to Is lid; geese, 2s to 2s 6d; turkeys, liens, 2s to 2s 9d; gobblers, 2s 9d to 5s 6d; ducks, good, Is lOd to 2s 2d; poor, Is 2d to Is 6d : pullets, Is 9d to 2s Id ; purebred fowls, 6s to 15s fid; crossbred, 2s 3d to 5s 6d ; chickens, -3d to 8d; pigeons, 6d to lOil; canaries, 2s to 3s 6d. Pigs, medium, 10s 6d to 14s; weancrs, 6s to 9s; suckers, 3s 6d to

ss. Messhs. Cotterell and Turner's Weekly HEroKT.— to holidays last week and early part of this, jam manufacturers ceased buying, consequently apples of second and ihferior quality and quinces suffered much in price, the retail trade not being able to dispose of the quantity coming to hand. Clean and first quality fruit, however, maintained thoir full values, and have slightly advanced the last two days. Bolow is our highest and lowest price for the past ten days :— Holidays and pressure of business compelling us to omit our last week's report. Apples free of moth, and first-class quality 50 cases HobartScarlet Pearmainall soidat 8s 6(1 case, Cox Orange Pippin 5s to Bs, Adams' Pearmain 49 fid to 6s 6d, Ohinetnuri 4s 3d to 5s 9d, Syinomls' Winter 4s 9d to 7t M, Bismark 4s 6d to 5s 6d, Ban Davis 4s 6d to 6s, Gladucy's Red 4s 6d to 7«, Takapuna Russet 4s 9>l to 5s 9d, Stone Pippin 5s to 7s, Reinette ds Canada 3s 6d to ss, Northern .Spy 3s 6;! to :js 6d, Sturmer Pippin 08 fid to 6s 9d, Golden Russet 4s 6d to 7s, Five-comer Pippin 4s 3d to 6s 6d, Nickerjack 4a to ss, Romamte3s 6d to 5s fid, Alfriston 4s to 6s, Cleopatra 4s to 6> 3d, apples mixed and second quality or mothy sold at from Is 6d co 3s 6d case. Pears have fallen off very much in aupply, and end of this week prices considerably advanced; Beurre Diel, ljd to 2jd; Beurre de Amalis, '2£d to 3Jd; Marie Louise, 2Jd to 3Jd ; Larell, 'id : Beurre Ranee, ljd to 2Jd ; Ulont Morceau, 2Jd to 4jd; Vicar of Winkfield, Id to lfd; Chartnoncelle, ljil to 2d; Winter Nelis, lid to 2d: stewing pears, Id to l}d. Cape gooseberries, 4Jd lb; quinces, 2s to 3s box; medlars, Jd to Id lb: guavas, Ud to '2Jd; persimmons, 9d to Is fid dozen; grapes, outdoor l|d to 2jd, house grapes, 4d to Is; passion fruit. Id to lsd dozen; walnuts, 4Jd to 6d; lemons, over-large fruit dull of sale, 4d to 8d dozen, full size cases, as 6d to 7s; honey, 2d to 2}d lb, in bulk, 2s 6d to 4s dozen sections; tomatoes, to 2id lb. Oranges; pur firm received per s.s. Upolu, over 200 tons Island oranges, which are selling at 4s 6d to 6s box, 4d to 8d dozen, according to quality; also per 8.8. Richmond, very heavy cargo ot bananas, sold at 2s 6d to 3s bunch ex wharf, Id to lid lb ex store; peanuts, ljd to 2Jd lb; cocoanuts, 5s 9d to 8s sack; onions, £5 10s to £6 10s ton. Potatoes: Southern, £4 10s to £5 ton; local, £210s to £3 10s ton; pumpkins, £115s to £2 os tons. Mr. A. McDonald reports good business for the past week. Southern potatoes have not come to hand in sufficient quantities to meet requirements, and as the local are nearly done prices have firmed considerably. Onions are Blow of price at about previous quotations; poultry is plentiful, although anything good finds ready sale; fruit is much scarcer, and good stuff goes off quickly at prices in favour of sellers. The following prices were obtained during the week Potatoes, prime local. £2 to £210s; Southern, £415s to £5; medium local, 25s to 35s ton; prime onions, £5 5s to £6 ton. Sd to |d lb; poor lots, 3s to 4s ctvt; picklers, |d to Id; pumpkins, £1 10s to £3, according to kind; kumaras, 5s to 7s cwt; beans, 3d to 4d peck; vegetables in large supply, good cabbages selling well; carrots, 30s to 40s ton; Southern hams, 8d to BJd; bacon, 6J to 7d; local bams, 6d to 71d: bacon, sjd to 6Jd; prime dairy butter, 6d to 71d ; factory, lOd to lid ; eggs, Is 5d to Is 7d dozen; keg butter, 5d to 6d; cheese, factory, 4Jd to sd; farmers', 2d to 3Jd; rabbits, Is to Is 4d pair; prime apples, 4s 6d to 6s for 401b cases; mediums, 2s to 3s; pears, as to 6s fid for good; others, 2s 6d to 3s 6.1 case; lemons, about 5d to 8d dozen ; passion fruit, ljd to 2£d dozen; Cape gooseberries, 4d to 51 ib; grapes, hothouse, 9d to Is; outdoor, lid to 2|d lb; tomatoes, good, about Id to lb; quinces, Id to lid good table roosters; Is fid to 2s; ordinary; fowls. Is to lssd; cockrels and pullets, 9d to Is 2d ; ducks, Is 3d to Is 8d; geese, 2s 6d to 3b ; turkeys, gobblers, 4« 6d to 7s; bens, 2s to 3s 9d; pigeons, 6d to Is each; hens and broods, 3s to 4s 6d; pigs, small, 4s 6d to 6s ; medium size, 7s 6d to 10s 6d. Ma J. Jones's Weekly Report.—Poultry, a great improvement in prices. Fruit still arrives in good numbers, with very good prices realised for free apples. Figs in good demand. Butter and eggs at last quotations. Southern potatoes arriving in good quantities, thereby lowering the price of local potatoes. Poultry: Roosters, .Is 6d to 2s; poor, Is 4d to Is 6d; hens, Is 3d to Is sd; geese, 2s 6d to 3s; turkeys, gobblers, 5s to 6s 6d ; hens, 3s to 3s lid; ducks, Is 2d to Is 6d pigs, 6s 9d to 10s sd; others, 14s 3d each. Potatoes, Southern, £4 10s to £4 17s 6d; local, £2 15s to £3 ss; Southern kidney, £3 5s ; onions, 6s to 7s cwt; pumpkins, 2s 6d to 3scwt; kumaras,ssto6«3d; carrots,ls4d to Is 9d; citron melons, Is 6d to Is 9d; pie melons, Is 6d to Is 9d cwt; cheese, 3Jd to 4d Ib; bacon, first -class sides, 6d to 7d lb; second, 4Jd to 5Jd; inferior. 4d to 4M; hams, first, 7Jd to B£d; seconds, 6d to 6Jd; inferior, 5d to sjd lb; roll bacon, 5d to 5Jd Ib; shoulders,4dlb; pltfi cheeks, 2d to2id

lb; butter, first class, 7d to 8d lb; second class, 6d to 6Jd ; inferior, 5d to 51d lb; keg butter, ad to 6}d; factory, BJd to 9d lb; eggs, Is 5d to Is 7d dozen; honey, bulk, 21d to 2Jd lb; section, 3s 3d to 3s_6d; comb, 2id lb; apples, free from moth, 5s 3d to 6s 6d ; others, not quite clear from moth, 4s 3d; other classes, 2s 6d to 3s 9d case; pears, Id to 2§ lb; quinces, Id to ljd lb; passion fruit, lfd to 2Jd dozen; lemons, 6d to 8d dozen; grapes, hot-house, IOJd to Is ljlb; persimmons, 3d to 4Jd dozen : tomatoes, 2d to 2jd lb; wallnuts, 6Jd to 7d lb: outdoor grapes, IJd to 2d lb; bran, £3 5s to £3 10s; sharps, £4 5s to £4 10s; grass seed, rye, 4s to 4s 4d bushel; cocksfoot, 6s 6d to 7> bushel; maize, 2s lid to 3s bushel; wheat, 3s 9d to 4s 4d; barley, 2s lOd to 2s lid bushel; chaff, £3 5s to £3 10s ton; several pens of pure-bred poultry sold realising from 3s 6(1 to 4s each. Mr. Richard Arthur's Weekly Report. Business duriug the week has been brisk. Potatoes, prime sample, £3 to £4; poor aud ordinary, £1 10s to £2 10s; kumaras. £6 to £7; onions, £5 to £6 ton, and Jd to |d lb; pumpkins, £2 to £2 10s; red carrots, £1 10s to £2 ton. Southern bacon and hams, steady demand; local, good demand. Cheese, steady sale. Fresh butter, brisk demand. Corned butter, only first-class samples selling. Lard wanted. Eggs very scarce. Vegetables, good supply, high prices realised. Poultry, heavy supply, prices fair. Table roosters selling high, 2s each; others, 8d to Is sd; ordinary fowls, 8d to Is 8d each; ducks, Is 4d to 2s 2d each; fresh eggs, Is 4d to Is fid dozen: fresh butter, 7d to B.M lb; corned butter, 5d to 6d, and 3d to 4d second quality; cheese, 3d to 4d; Southern bacon, 6d to 7d; hams, B}d to 9d; local bacon, 5Jd to 6d; hams, 7d to 7Jd lb. Fruit Dessert apples, 4s to 6s case, prime quality; others, 2s to 3s 6d case; cookers, 2s to 3s 6d case; quinces, |d to Id lb; pears, 2d to 25d lb; poor and aott, any price; tomatoes, id to jd lb, and at per case; hot-house grapes, 8d to 10Jd lb; Cape gooseberries, 4d tood lb. Grain: Wheat, 4s; maize, 3s; oats, 2s 6d to 2s 7d; bran, 4s; sharps, 4s to 4s fid bushel. Messrs. Arthur Tooman and Co. report a very large amount ot business done_ in the produce line aud several alterations in values. In the fruit department values advanced, not on account of any falling off in supplies, but on account of the much improved quality throughout. Ex s.s. Richmond we sold 2640 bunches bauanas at 2s 6d to 3s bunch. Poultry sold at greatly increased prices owing to shipping demand. Pigs were very plentiful at late values. The produce market was fully supplied. Southern potatoes: Our consignments realised £415s to £5, only on account of bare market and supplies being under immediate requirements. Locals bear such a bad name that only 20s to 45s was obtained, with a few private sales up to 4s 6d cwt. Onions, prime realised up to £3 13s, while poor were unsaleable. Local i grown are not keeping, aud require quick sate. Southern are offering freely at £5 to £5 10a. Pumpkins promise to become a drug, and sold at 30s to 50s. Carrots and other soft feed are dull and low in price on accouht of flush of feed. Kumaras are unusually plentiful and low iu value, viz., £3 to £5 ton. Grain is firm. Butter at present values is good, and where quality is A 1 sales are easily made; but poor and mixed small lots are not asked for, the closing of creameries this month will no doubt have the effect of glutting the market with dairy-made during May. Eggs have become very good property, and advanced 6d per dozen iu value. Cheese plentiful, and hard to sell on account of the very poor quality, due to the unfavourable season for making. We quote; Carrots, £1 to £110s ; Southern potatoes, £415s to £5 local, £1 to £410s; pumpkins, £110s to £210s; maize, 2s lOd to 3s; oats, 2s 6d; wheat, 4s to 4s 3d; kumaras, £210s to £510s; onions, £510s to £5155; butter, prime fresh dairy 7d to 8(1, factory rolls lOd; cheese, poor ljd to 3d, prime 3Jd to 4Jd; eggs, la 7d to Is lOd; bacon, 4Jd to 7d ; hams, Bsd : honey, 2d to 3d; apples, good cooking 3s 6d to 6s 6(1, choice dessert 4s to 6s 9d, poor Is 6d to 2s 6d; quinces, Is 6d to 4s 6d case, 3s to 5s cwt in sacks; lemons, 4s 6d to 7s 3d; pears, good desert 2d to 2Jd, poor and cooking, Id to IJd, Beurre Clarique 3d to 4}d; peaches, 6d; walnuts. 4d to ad; grapes, outdoor 2d to 3d, indoor 9M to Is 3d: tomatoes, Id to IJd, and 6d to 2s 6d case. Poultry: Good roosters, Is 8d to 2s 4d; small and hens, Is 4d to Is 8d ; pure and well bred fowls, to 7s 6d each; turkey gobblers, 4s to 6s 3d: hens, poor, Is 6d to 3s 3d; ducks, Is 5d to 2s; geese, 2s to 2s 3d; pigs, young 5s to 10s 3d; heavy, 15s to 18s; pork, 3d to 3}d.