COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18325, 15 February 1923, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

THE LONDON MARKETS. QUIET DEMAND FDR BUTTER. [BX TELEGRAPH.—OWN- COBBESFONDKNT.] ' WELLINGTON. Wednesday. l ; The Department of Agriculture has received the following cablegram, dated February 10, from the High Commissioner for New Zealand, London:— Meat.—Supplies generally are plentiful and trade is lair. . New Zealand arrivals up. to the present are very small. Australian prices are lower. There is a quiet demand for New Zealand lamb,- Chilled beef ia in heavy supply. There is no demand for New Zealand frozen beef. New Zealand mutton: North Island, under 641b. 9d; North Island, over 641b, 8d to 81d. New Zealand lamb: Best Quality • light-weight, Is Id; second* class quality. Is. New Zealand beef: Fores, Ud: hinds, 4Jd. Chilled beef: fores. 4*d; hinds. Did. Butter.—The market is quiet. New. Zealand: Salted, finest, February 10. 194s to 196s and up " to 198s per cwt: February 3, 196s to ISBs per cwt; Dnsalted, February 10, 198s to 200s per owt; other qualities, February 10, 192s per owt, Australian: Salted. February 10. 188s to 190s up to 192s per cwJ: January 27. 190s to 192s per cwt; unealted, February 10. 192b to 1948 per cwt; February 3, 192s to 196s per cwt; I other qualities, February 10. 170s to 188 a per cwx. Argentine: February 10. 170 ato 182b per owt; February 3, 168s to 184s per , cwt. Danish: February 10. 205s to 208b > ser owt; February 5, 204 s to 206s per owtj anuary 27, 206» per cwt. - Cheese.—The market is steady. English: Finest farmers'. February 10, 146s to 150s per cwt; January 27, 145s to 160s per owt; other qualities, February 10 V 140s to 145s cwt. Canadian: February 10, white and coloured, 126s to 132s per"cwt; February 3, coloured, 130s to 132s per cwt; white, 128s to 130s per cwt; January 27, white • and coloured. 126s to 128s per cwt. New Zealand: February 10, coloured, 126s to 128s per cwt;" white, 122s to 126s per cwt; February 5, white and coloured, 126s to 130s per cwt; January 27. coloured, 124s to 128 a per cwt; white, 124s to 12Qs jer owt. ; Shipments of New Zealand produce arrived this week by the Middlesex, Waiwera and I Matakana. , , .' Hemp.—The Manila market is irregular. I but was firmer towards the close and good ! business has been done. "Or"' grade, Feb- • ruary-April shipments, sold at £37 10s per ton; "J" grade sold up to £35 16s. There •is a better demand for New Zealand, and small business has been done in fair grado December-February . and January-March shipments at £51 10s per ton. Hicrhpoints are not wanted and are freely offered at , £33. —The sales have closed. The attendance has been good throughout and the ' competition from the Home and Am rican trades well maintained, but owing to the political situation* Continental competition fell off. though "there was a better tone last week. Good Merino closed at par to 6 per cent., fine crossbred 5 per cent., medium and coarse crossbred 10 per cent, above December rates. A few lots - of superior New Zealand halfbreds and crossbreds catalogued as offering. consisted chiefly of old season's wool. Based] on prices paid for new clips, closing rates were: Superior, 60 to 64's (Merino), nominally, 26d to 32d; ordinary, 60 to 64's (Merino), 20d to 26d; 56's (super halfbred), 22d to 25d; 60's (halfbred), 17d to 21d: 48*8 (fine crossbred). 14d to 17d; 44's to 48 (medium,, crossbred), 12d to 15d: 36's to 40's (coarse crossbred), 9d to lljd. The next series ' commences on MaTch 6*. ' *, ! Honey.The Remand is quiet. Official ' quotations are:—New Zealand. 4Kb to 86a, per cwt; Californian and Chilean, 36s to 60s per cwt; Jamaican, 35s to 65s per owt. White , Californian ' has been sold for 47s 6d to 60s 1 per cwt, o.i.f. | Eggs.—The supply exceeds the demand. ! Prices are lower. Irish, Dutch, French, English, Danish. 18s to 22s 6d; Styrian, Brittany, Italian, 15s 6d to 17s 6d; Egyptian, Moroccan, 9s to lis POTATO AND ONION CROPS.

SERIOUS EFFECT OF BLIGHT. [BY telegraph.— corhjspondbnt.] CHRISTCHTJRCH. Wednesday. The' decidedly varied nature of thp weather during the past month .or so has had its effect upon the potato and onion crops in the Marshland district. Reports from other outlying districts also go to show that these root crops are in a serious state of infection. After thorough inspection of both potato and onion crops it is stated " that the prospects for the majority of Marshland farmers are anything; but bright. Marshland is noted as being the largest onion-producing; district in Canterbury and also one of the largest producers of potatoes. The blight made its appearance early in the New Year, up to which time the various crops .were apparently the best seen in the district for years, but those onion crops which it was thought would yield anything from 15 to 20 tons of onions to the acre, will now scarcely total from 7 to 10 tons, while in some cases it will take them all their time to go four or five tons to the acre. As in the case of the onions, potatoes in all classes of land are very severely infected. Many of the paddocks are absolutely black and crops in dry land are in just as bad a state as those in wet soil.' Even the early crops ', are as badly diseased as those put is later. ' STOCK SALES. AUCKLAND. Dalgety and Co.. Ltd., Auckland, report having held their sheep fairs at Westfield, Paparoa, and Tuakau during the past week. There was a keen demand for all classes and in each case practically a total clearance was effected, rams, wethers and lambs especially being keenly sought after. At' the Westfield sheep fair on February 9, there was a good yarding of owes and rams. Four, six and eight tooth sold to 30s, fine ewes £1 2s to £1 3s 3d: one shear English Leicester rams £6 6s; Southdown* to 12gna, Romneys £8 8s to £11 lis; one line of 26 good quality Bomneys Averaging 9jgng. At Paparoa sheep fair on February 9, a good yarding selling under spirited competition. Fat ewes £1 4s lOd to £1 6s 9d,-two-tooth wethers, good, £1 8s 6d to £1 9» 6d: medium two-tooth wethers. £l'ss to £1 7s; small two-tooth wethers, £1 4s: email four-tooth ewes, £1 6a: good two-tooth ewes, £1 88 3d: small two-tooth ewes. £1, 2a 6d: sound-mouthed ewes, £1 3s 4d to £1 6s: six-year ewes. 18b to £1; cull ewes, 10s 6a to 15s fid; fat lambs, £1 5s 9d: good store lambs, 19s: small store lambs, lis lOd; twoshear Southdown rams, £4 4b; one shear Romney rams. £4 4s to 7§gns;'fine Romney rams, liens to 3gn«. - At the Tuakau sheep fair on February 12. we ya»ded 6000 sheep. The whole yarding was sold with the exception of two pens, wethers and lambs ' selling exceptionally well. We quote: F.f. four tooth wethers. £} 10s to £1 13s 9d; two-tooth wethers, fair. £1 4s 9d to £1 5s 3d; small, £1 2a 6d to £I~3b 9d; two-tooth ewes, good. £1 16b to £1 16s 9d: two-tooth ewes, fair, £1 10s: four, six and eight-tooth ewes, £1 10s 7d; four and five-year ewes, good, £1 7s, 6d to £1 8s Gd; four and fivn-vear ewes, fair, £1 4s 9d to £1 6s; prime ewes in low condition. £1 Is to £1 3s: cull ewes, 13s to 18s 9d: rape lambs. £1 2s 9d; store lambs, good. 18s to £1 Is 6d; medium, 16s to 18s: cull lambs. 10s to 15s 3d; one shear Romney rams, Gfgns to 7gns: one shear Southdowns, lOJgns-, two shear Southdowns, i 7*gn* to 9tKns; two. shear Bhrop9hires, sgns;. : prime Border Leicester r,ams. to Sgns. I Dalgety and Co., Ltd.. report having held their usual weekly sale of , fat stock, lit Westfield yesterday:— ■ ~.' | Beef.—A very heavy yarding, sellinff i steadily, but rjrices were easier for all classes, especially cow and heifer beef. Extra : prime ox to £1 s*; choice prime, £1 2s to £1 3«: plain beef. 18s to £1;. young cow | end heifer beef, choice, £1 Is; other, 15s to £1. ■ ■ ' "' ■'. ■■-■::■■ v""':;'. ■''-■- Calves. average yarding, prices were slightly easier. Runners, £4 10s: heavy vealers. £3 10s to £3 15s; light vealers, £1 5s to £2 15s. - Sheep.—A heavy yarding sold steadily, nrices on the whole > were slightly easier. No extfra heavy prime wethers yarded; henry prime wethers, £1 2s to £1 lis: medium nrime wethers. £1 10s to £1 725: plain and unfinished. £1 3s to £1 9s fid;, henvy prime ewe>« to 29s 6d: medium prime ewes. £1 5s to £1 8s: ■. others. £1 to £1 ss. Lambs.—A, fair yarding. Prices were about the samo as last week. Heavy prime lambs. £1 13s '6d : medium prime lambs, £1 Ps 6d; light prime. £1 3s; store, 140 to £l.ls . ■:■■■■■ X Pigs.--'good yarding sold at prices on a par with late quotations. Heavy baconere to £3 16s; medium baconers, £3 10s to £3 14s; porkers, £2 5b to £3 ss; choppers to £2 10s. - ■;■"•■ :-,:V,:'

Alfred Buckland and Sons, Ltd.. report:— At Westfield on Thursday, dairy and store cattle were penned in usual numbers and sold at ruling prices. Best dairy cows and heifers, ■ £12 10s to £17 6s,' second grade cows £7 to £11, heifers £6 10s to £8 10s, aged and inferior cows £2 10s to £5 10s, small heifers £3 to £6 10s. 5 to 4-year-old steers £3 15s to £5, empty cows £2 to £3 12s 6d, calves 12s to £1 16s- >>'.'■ We held- sheep and ram fairs at Westfield on Friday, and at Clevedon on .Tuesday. ; More. than the advertised numbers came, forward, and at each yard a total clearance was effected at recent improved values. Best 2, 4 and 6-tooth ewes, £1 12s to £1 16s (id; smaller sheep, £1 7s to £1 103; large-framed 4 and 5-year-old ewes, £1 6s to £1 8s fid; smaller framed. sheep. £1 3s to £1 5s 6d; failing mouth ewes, 17s to £1 2s; cull ewes, 13s to 16s fid; fat and forward wethers, £1 10s to £1 12s 9d; store wethers, £1 6s to £1 8s 9d; best lambs, £1 Is to £1 4s; good lambs. 18s to £1 0s 6d; smaller lambs, 14s to 17s; cull lambs. 9a to 12s 6d; best 2-tooth Romney rams. £8 83 to lllgns; others, £4 4s to £7 7s; Leicester rams. £5 6s to £8 8s; Southdown rams, £7 7s to 12Jgns: Shropshire rams, £4 4s to £8 8s: aged rams. 15s to £3 3s. ,'. r'* V.'/.' ~.■■■■■■...•■■:' Yesterday at our weekly Westfield fat stock market we had a record : yarding of beef. A total of 815 head came forward, comprising 660 steers, 142 oows and heifers,

and 14 bulla: There was a steady demand throughout, but owing to the heavy entry values eased by about 12s 6d a head. Extra. ohoioe ox sold to £1 6s per 1001b, choice and prime ox £ l 2s to £ 1 is, ordinary and plain ox £1 to £1 Is 6dj ■.:: prime young cow and heifer, beef 18s to £ 1 Bs, ordinary pow beef 14s to 17s, rough beef 10s to 14a; extra heavy prime steers sold to 412 2s 6d, heavy prime steers £9 10s to ill, lighter prime steers £7 10s to £9 6s, light prime steers £6 10s to £7 6s, unfinished and small £4 to £6; extra heavy prime young cows and liters £7. to £8; heavy prime young oows and heifers ' £5 15s to £6 16s. lighter £4 10s to £5 10s, other cows £1 6s to* £4 6s. The highest average for steers was obtained by Mr. H.. Reed, of Waerenga. whose 13 steers made £10 14s. A draft of 36 Bteors < from Messrs. Perham, Larson and to., AkaAka Plains property, averaged £10 8s 9d. There was a heavy ; yarding of sheep and a keen demand. Fat sheep were slightly easier. ; other clauses unchanged. Heavy prime wethers £1 14s to £1 16s 6d (no extra .heavy prime wethers sold), medium to heavy prime wethers £1 12s to £1 Its, light prime wethers £1 9a to £1 lis 6d, unfinished £1 6s to £1 10s; extra heavy Prune young ewes £1 9s to £1 12s 3d, heavy fat ewes .-21 6s to £1 Bs, lighter fat ewes £1 8s to £1 4a fid, other ewes 18s to £1 2s. (2691 sold.) The 778 lambs which were penned found ready buyers at ruling values. Heavy prime £1 7s to £1 ,8s 9d, light prime £1 4s to £1 6s 6d, light prime £1 2s to £1 8s 6d, unfinished 18s to £1 Is, stores 14s to 17s. Calves were penned in large numbers. There was a steady demand, and values were about the same as last week. Runners made from £2 15s to £4 18a, heavy vealers -£2 8s to £8 10s, medium vealers £1 14s to £2 6s, light vealers 18s. to £1 12s fid, small and fresh dropped 6s to 16s. (178 Bold.) Fat pigs were again penned in large numbers. Competition was spirited throughout and prices were firm at last week's rates. Large store pigs sold well; weanera were lower. Choppers £1 to £3, heavy .baconers £3 8s to £8 17s, medium baconers £2 19b to £8 6a, heavy porkers to light baconers £2 lis to £2 18s, medium porkero £2 4s to £2 9s, light and unfinished porkers £1 Ms to £2 2s, large stores £1 9s to £1 17s. Blips 18s to £1 4s, good weaners 12b to 16s 6d, small weaners 5s to lis. , (078 sold). , ; At the Haymarket on Friday we had an average yarding of horses. The demand was fair,- and we quote last week's prices.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., .Ltd., report: • We held sales of dairy and store battle during \ the past week at Weßtfield, w arkworth, and Pukekohe. We report large yardingß, which have sold at late Quotations. Beßt dairy, cows and heifers £9 17a 6d to 415 12s 6d. others £6 to £9 15s; aged cows and inferior heifers £2 10s to £5 10b; bulls £3 to £5 10s; empty cows £1 12b 6d to £2 12b 6d; weaner calves, best £1 12s Gd to £2 10s, others 15s upwards; yearling to 18-months heifers. £2 to £8 sb; odd pen of Jersey heifers, £3 10s to £5 12s 6d; yearling to 18-months steers £1 17a 6d to £217 a 6d. 2-year to 21-year steer* £3 to £3 15s, 8 to 3J- year steers £3 17a 6& to £5, 4to 6-year steers £5 6a to £6 12s 6d. Beef at fully Westfleld prices. We also held sheep fairs at Westfl<»ld and Warkworth, penning more than the advertised numbers, with practically everything sold at late high values. Wo quote: 2-tooth ewes, beat £1 14s to £1 16s, others £1 6s to £1 12b; 4 and 6-tooth ewes £1 9s to £1 18s; F.E.M. ewes £1 4s to £1 9s 3d. F.M. to failing 15s to £1 8s 6d: store wethers £% 6s to £1 9b Od; rape lambs 18s to £1 Is 6d; store lambs lis to 17s 6d. Rams were penned in about average numbers, being mostly Romney and Shropshires. These two breeds were keenly competed for, prices being far in advance of last year's prices. Romneys, 1 shear, 6gns to 9gns; Romneyg, older, 2gns to 4i gns; Shropshires Signs to 9gXM. At Papakura on Monday we held a special horse "sale, yarding horses in about- average numbers, which sold at late quotations. Heavy draughts £28 to £37 10s, medium draughts £20 to £26 10s; aged and partworn draughts £9 to £17; light harness sorts and hacks £9 to £15 10s; ponies £4 to £8 10s; weeds 15s to £3. . At Westfield fat stock market on Wednesday beef was penned in large numbers, and although in places last week's were maintained, generally prices were easier, especially . for cow beef. We quote i—Extra choice oxen to 26s per 1001b., choice and prime oxen 20s to 25s per 1001b., rough and plain oxen 16s to 18s per 1001b.: young cow and heifer beef 18s to 21s per 1001b.; other cow beef 12s to 16s per 1001b. No extra heavy prime steers were penned. Heavy prime steers £9 to £10 16s, medium prime steers £7 12s 6d to £8 17s fid, light prime steers £6 10b to £7 10s, small and unfinished steers £4 15b. to £6 ss; heavy prime cows and heifers £5 to £6 15b, medium cowb and heifers £4 7s 6d to £4 17s 6d. light cows and heifers £3 12s 6d to £4 6b, interiorly fatted cows and heifers £2 10b to £3 10s. Calves were penned in less than' average numbers, prices being easier. Runners £2 10b to £3 10b, heavy vealers £2 8s to £8 7s, medium £1 15s to £2 ss, light 18s to £1 12s, smaller 10s to 16s, small, and freshdropped 6s to 9s. Sheep were penned in large numbers, and as with beef, prices generally were slightly easier, although in places last week's values were obtained. Extra heavy prime wethers £1 18s to £2, heavy prime wethers £1 15b to £1 17s 9d, medium prime wethers £1 12s to £1 14s 9d, light prime wethers £1 9b 6d to £1 lis 9d, unfinished wethers £1 6a to £1 9s 3d. No extra heavy prime ewes were penned. Heavy prime ewes £1 8a 6d to £1 10s 6d, medium and light prime ewes £1 6s to £1 8s Bd, inferior and smaller ewes 16s to £1 4b 6d. Pigs were penned in large numbers, and sold at late quotations. Choppers £2 to £2 10s, heavy and medium baconers £3 5s to £3 18s, light baconers and heavy porkers £2 10s to £3 ss, medium and light porkers £2 ta £2 10b. Store pigs in large numbers were easier in values. Large stores £1 0b to £1 17s, slips 17s to £1 ss, wenuers 6b to 16s according to quality. Lambs were penned in average numbers ,and sold at late quotations. Heavy prime lambs £1 8s 6d to £1 10s 6d. medium prime lambs £1 6s to £1 8s 8d; light prime lambs £1 8s to £1 5s 6d, rape lambs 18s 8d to £1 Is, store lambs 14s to 18s. ft .■■■,-■. *-x-.

KING COUNTRY. Dalgety and Company, Ltd., Te Euiti, report having held their usual sales at Kopaki, To Kuiti, and Matiere during the past week At Kopaki a full yarding of sheep and cF.ttio came forward, all lots submitted meeting with good competition, and making a ready sale at late rates. ; At Te Kuiti there was a full yarding of sheep and an exceptionally heavy yarding of oattle. There was a good demand for all classes of sheep, prices being on a par with late rates, and we Quitted practically all those submitted. The market for oattie was not so brisk as it has been of late, the yarding being in excess of requirements. There was a good yarding of plain and prii ..e beef, and though practi- ■ ■ jty everything was disposed or,' the inquiry for. this class was not so brisk as it has been. We penned just on 400 head of cattle, of which a/1 except 60 changed hands. > At Matiere wi yarded 1500 sheep and 355 head of cattle. We have to report a very good sale for all classes. We quitted the whole of the yarding except a email line of cull ewes and a few bulls; The market for oattie and particularly young steers was very keen, and all lots sold under the hammer at rates fully up to and in some cases in advance of late ruling value. Quotations were:— '■=•;■- At Kopaki.Cull ewes, 16s 6d: good f.m. ewes, 16s 6d; woolly fat lambs, 355, 28s 9d, t0,29s 9d; store lambs, 16s 6d; rape lambs, 18a 6d to 19s: light fat bullocks, £6 10s; forward bullooks, £5, £6 Is, £6 2s, £5 ss, to £5 7s; fat cows, £3 19s, £4 10s, £4 12s fid, to £4 15s to £5 6s; store cows, to £3; 21-year steers, to £4 ss; 18-tnontlis steers, £2 10s to £8 158; yearling heifers,* £2, £2 10s, to £8 6s. • At Te Kuiti.—Fat wethers, 82s 6d, 83s, to 84s; store wethers, -25s 8d to 26s 6d; 2-tooth ewes, 28s 6d to 28s 9d; f.m. ewes, £1 to £1 Gs 6d: fat lambs, 23s 9d.' 245, 255, to 26; rape lambs, 26s' (id; rape lambs, 17a Bd, 19s Cd, to 20s 6d; store iambs, small lis 6d, 13s, to 18s 9d: rough lambs, 16s 6d to 18s; fat bullc is, £6 10s. £7, £7 IBs, £8, to £8 10s; forward bullocks, £5 10s to £5 16s, £6 Is to £6 8s; fat cows, £8 15s, £3 17s 6d, £4 6s, to £4 7s Cd; store bullocks, £4 12s, £4 15s, £6, £5 12s; rough sorts, £4. £4 2s, £4 10s; 21-year steers, £4 3s, £4 6s, £4 8s; 18-month ditto, .£8 .78, 6d, £8 13s, £3 19s; store cows, £3, £8 2s;6d; rough cows and calves, £3 ss; rough young steers. £1 15s; rough quality heifers, £1 15s, £l 178; Komney .'.-..rams,' Cjgns to Bgns. At Matiere.—P.m. ewes, 245, 25s 9d; good breeding ewes, 27e; light fat wethers, 255; good ditto, 87s 6d: small lambs, lis; stoie lambs, 168, 16s 6d • rape lambs. lGs, 17s, to 18s 6d; fat ana forward bullocks, £5 7s, £5 10s, £6 15s, £5 16o; store bullocks, £4 14s, £5, £5 ss; 21-year steers, £4 7s, £4 lis, £4 12s; 18-months steers, £3 10s, :r £3 16s, £3 18s; ditto, £4 7s; -fat cows, £3 15s, £4, £4 10s to £5 ss; store cows, to £3 2s 6d; cows and calves, £3 6s; dairy heifers. £4 12s 6d to £6 IDs; calves, £1 19s to £2 4s. / " i MANAWATU.. : / Dalgety and Company, Ltd.. Palmerston North, report:—At the Feilding sale on Friday * there was a very fair yarding of sheep and a good entry of cattle, the majority of which changed hands. 1 There were only half-a-dozen pens of fat sheep offered, and prices realised do not form any criterion of the market, as the quality was not good. Fat ewes. 26s 6d; light fat wethers, 82s; cull lambs 12s lOd. small black-face Jambs. llis 4d; medium . w.f. lambs, 16s to 17t| 2d; small w.f. woolly lambs, 18s fid; w.f. wether lambs, 21s sd; b.f. rape lambs, 22si small 2-tooth wethers. is 3d; failing-mouth ewes, 19s Id; 2-tooth ewes, 82s lOd; four and fiveyear ewes, good condition, 275, 27s lOd, to 28a 7d; yearling steers, small, £2 6s; 2} and three-year P.A. steers, £6 14s; rough three and four-year bullocks, £6 4s 6d; Jersey springing heifers, to £10; 16-months Hereford heifers, £3 ; 10s'; extra prime fat heifers, £8 to £8 7s 6d; rough fat cows, £4 10s to £5; Jersey • wearier heifers, £5 7s to £5 9s. We consider prices realised for these were from 15s to £1 above their real market value, , -