COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17458, 30 April 1920, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

PROPERTY SALES.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.

THE PRODUCE MARKETS.

The wholesale houses report a busy ■week, while retailers have been getting all the benefit of the great crowds attracted to town by the Royal visit, to say nothing of the patronage of the men of the Renown. Further advances on the Stock Exchange during the present week also demonstrate the abundance of funds now in the Dominion. To what extent this condition will change when importations increase it is impossible to estimate, but it is generally known that heavy orders are out, and it is only the limitations of supplies available for export from Great .Britain that keep importers from having to negotiate financial engagements that they might otherwise find rather difficult. At present stocks in practically all departments are far beiow requirements, and any importations are turned into money at < once. 'l'nere aisc seems little livelihood ot .Home orders being executed in lull tor a long time. Man advices all indicate that manuiactui ers are booked up tor montns ahead, and are only shipping limited quantities in the meantime. importations are gradually showing a change in respect to their source, and there are clear indications that American and Japanese manufacturers are not going to supply such a large proportion of our requirements as they have in the past- This is partly owing to the increased ability on the part of British manufacturers to regain the connection they lost during the war, through now being able to devote their attention to the arts of peace; but this turn in the trade has been greatly facilitated by the rate of exchange making it more difficult to buy in America, and by the . quality of Japanese goods being such as to induce consumers to prefer British make. Potatoes a Little Firmer. Potatoes: The phenomenal rise reported in Wellington has not taken place here Apparently Wellington is still drawing potatoes from inland districts, and the interruption to the railway has found merchants short of supplies. In Auckland we have begun to • draw from Canterbury, md no interruption is anticipated, the only change being the abrupt stoppage of the limited quantities that were still coming occasionally from Wellington districts by rail. This has firmed the market a little, and quotation is now 13s 6d ex store, but further supplies are expected from the South as fast as the limited shipping service can convey them. Latest advices confirm the. great difficulty m securing sufficient shipping to move the immense quantities of produce lying at Canterbury ports, and Lytteltoa appears to be- hopelessly congested. Onions: If potatoes ana a little scarce, the very opposite is the case with anions. Importations from the South have been far beyond immediate requirements, and the market is still weak at 12s 6d, ex store. Oats: Demand is still very dull at 6s 7d to 6s 8d ex store for feed grades, but milling is scarce and readily commands full rates. Seed ; s also meeting a keen inquiry, practically the whole demand being for Algerians. Wheat: A heavy demand for fowl wheat continues, but no advance has taken place, as the price is limited by the Government to 9s 2d. sacks extra. At this price only indifferent quality is obtainable, anything good being snapped up at once. ' Maize: Price remains at 9s 3d on the wharf in wholesale lines, occasionally a fine sample realising 9s id. Hue Fiji maixe is practically all sold. Good Stocks of Chafl. Chaff: The railway interruption has come at a fortunate time, as far as chaff is concerned, as stocks aro very good at present, and there is no immediate necessity to look to the railway for supplies. Best Southern is worth £15 ex store, with the market firm,, both here and in the South. Imported Goods: Stocks continue light and the great problem is to distribute equitably the limited quantities arriving. Fertilisers are in exceptionally, short supply, and are probably the most serious and important item in this category. Kerosene and benzine are being distributed in exceedingly limited quantities, while the shortage of sugar is as noticeable as ever. Tobacco and cigarettes aro in a peculiar position. Wholesale .stocks are practically nil, as any little Quan ity to hand is distributed as fast as it tin be put through the Customs. _ War ve3ias are much in the same notation. but i few safeties are still available.

Samuel Vaile and Sous, Ltd., will hold an auction &ale at their rooms, 83, Queen Street, at 2 p.m. to-day, when the following properties will be ottered for sale: Two houses, Nos. 78 and 80, Khyber Pass; two houses, Trafalgar Street, Onehungi; house, No. 26, Milieus Street, Grey Lynn; 18 acres, at Mangers; house and -2 acres at Ho wick; leasehold house, Grafton Road; sections at Onehunga and Remuera. Messrs. T. Mandeno Jackson -will offer the following properties for sale by. public auction at their rooms. Customs Street East, at 11 o'clock this morning Residence of eight rooms and J-acre section, 94ft frontage to Clifton Road, Takapuna, by SoOft deep; freehold, 88jft frontage to King Edward Parade, Devonport, 'together with shops; by order of the mortgagee, dwelling of seven, rooms, on corner section, 133 ft frontage to York Avenue and 62ft to Kimberley Road, Epsom; and a cottage of five rooms, with pection 6-ift frontage to Essex Road, Mount Eden, by a, depth of 100 ft. A second mortgage of £2050 over a farm of 200 acres at Rua+aneata will be offered. Alfred Buckland and Sons, Ltd.. will offer for 'ale by public auction at the Haymarket to-day a farm of 78i ar.res, situated at Ti-ti Corner, on the main Pukekohe-Woiuku Road.