TRADE OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19471, 29 October 1926, Page 9

TRADE OF THE WEEK.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.

HOLIDAY CAUSES RUSH. PRODUCE MARKETS REVIEW. The shortage of a day this week, through the holiday on Monday, has crowded something of a rush into the rest of the week. The actual amount of business for the month is likely to provo disappointing, according to most reports, although in the meantime the position is naturally obscured by Monday's interruption. Grocery houses havo had fairly good forward business in anticipation of Christmas, but if they did not get it now they never would, so an active trade is expected right up to Christmas. The general anxiety over business is undoubtedly due to tho uncertainty over the dairy industry, for upon this tho whole fabric of Auckland trade seems to depend. With tho expected arrival of the first large quantity of new season's butter in London the Control Board lias announced its intention to invite the assistance of distributors in regulating tho price in accordance with its previous decision, and this may help to remove a good deal of the opposition to New Zealand butter which has been apparent lately. TEA. This week's cable from Colombo states that the quality offering was poor, and tho market generally weaker, prices being down id to Id per lb. SINGAPORE PINEAPPLES. Prices have advanced for all popular packings of first grade. Notwithstanding the information circulated by packers to the _ effect that second . quality would not again be offered, a fairly large parcel is again quoted. Prices are, however, so high as to preclude the possibility of any heavy business being done in these lines at present. PEPPERS. The market for all grades of raw pepper is firmer, with indications of much higher --prices almost immediately. Last-named prices show increases of about id per lb. over the previous week's quotations. JUTE GOODS. Forward shipments are quoted at slightly higher rates in woolpacks. cornsacks, etc., than present ruling prices. Figures named for . March shipment, however, arc sTichtly easier than prices for November delivery. COTTON TWINES LOWER. Prices for many lines of cotton twines, mops, etc., have been reduced in sympathy with lower costs of raw materials. It is generally thought, however, that prices havo reached a lower level than present conditions warrant, and on account of this an advance is confidently expected in the near future. POTATOES. A diminishing demand is reported in old potatoes, but as the quality is good, and they can bo imported from the South to soli at £G 10s, it is expected that a limited demand will continue for another fortnight. New potatoes are not yet being handled by merchants to any extent, as they are waiting for an improvement in the quality, and a reduction in the price. Favourable weather should soon result in a larger supply, but in the meantime the price is about £l3 10s at Pukel.ohe. ONIONS. All tho merchants are well stocked in Canadian onions, for which they report a good demand at 20s a crate. Ample supplies are in sight, a good shipment being due next month, and this should last until the new local crop is ready. This is looking very well, the weather being very favourable lately for a quick growth. OATS. The local scarcity has been relieved, and there will .be no difficulty in # obtaining ample quantities from the South, as it is understood that fair ■ quantities are held in store, quite sufficient to last till next harvest. Demand is very quiet. CHAFF. Regular quantities are being drawn from Australia and Tasmania, -rod as the quality is good .and the price reasonable, merchants are just now almost confining their attention to the imported. Tho prico is £lO 10s to £ll ex store, against £l2 for 'Southern, another shipment is due early in November, with more to follow. WHEAT. Merchants seem inclined to allow their stocks to run low, as they car. replace at a lower cost. Present stocks are firm at 8s lOd to' 9s, but it is hoped to import next month at about threepence lower, in addition to which there will also be available a cheap line from Canada. FLOUR. The Australian markets are fluctuating in rather an erratic manner, but merchants are leaving this line alone, as the New Zealand mills are able to meet all requirements with tho help of a little importation. BRAN AND POLLARD. Local mills are also able to supply the demand for these lines, so that there will not bo much more imported. MAIZE. There is a shortage on the spot, due to tho late arrival of fairly large purchases in Gisborne, but these should be here next week. A shipment is also duo from South Africa about November 20. In the meantime the market is firmer c.t Gs 3d to 63 5d on the wharf. SEED MAIZE. A shortage has developed, quite an unusual feature for this time of the year, when a few nice lines of local maize are generally available for seod. Last year the local was very suitable, but this year most of the coastal maize is not properly matured. A large quantity will be available shortly from Motiti Island, but until this arrives the only supplies are a few Binall lines of Hickory King. The South African shipment due next month will finally dispose of any shortage, but that will be rather late, and will require to be put in at once. FODDER SEEDS. Farmers are taking largo quantities of turnips, mangels, millet, rape, and other fodder seeds, and the demand is also commencing for swedes. Dairy farmers are not disposed to accept the advice to extend winter dairying, the inclination being rather to ensure heavy production during the summer, by growing extra fodder crops to tide them over tho dry season. This enables them to carry on during a time when farming activities are much more favourable than in the winter, and there is not vet any evidence of a preference for the latter. However, if the cows are to be dried off during the winter, the farmers dare not risk losing also a part of the summer through dry weather, and each year there is an increasing tendency to make assurance doubly sure by supplementing grass with a fodder crop of some kind. Tt may not be wanted at all if rain is fairly regular through tho summer, but farmers are not now taking that risk. Hence the heavy orders lately received for seeds of proved varieties. PROPERTY SALES. Roberts and Company will offer at auction, at the Chamber of Commerce, Swanson Street, at 1 to-day, under instructions _ from the Public Trustee, two building sites in Morton Road. Point Chevalier, and a five-roomed house at Birkenhead; also, on behalf of another client, eight-roomed house at the corner of Orchard and Herbert Roads, Mount Eden. Samuel Vaile and Sons. Limited, will offer at auction, at their rooms, at 2 o'clock to-day, villa of five rooms and conveniences, on section 50ft. bv 180 ft., at No. G, Marama Avenue, Epsom; brick shop and four living rooms, on section of half an acre, at Paerata; section of one acre at Pirongia; and, at the request of tho mortgagee, farm property of 52 acres at Orua Bay, on Manukau Harbour. William A. Horne, Limited, will offer at auction at their rooms, Home's Buildings, corner High Street and Vulcan Lanfe, at one o'clock to-day. under conduct of the Registrar of the Supreme Court, house of four rooms, in Wolseley Street, off East Coast Road. Takapuna; also, bungalow of five rooms and kitchenette, sleeping porch, on section 50ft,. by 120 ft. approx., at 33, Francis Street. Grey Lynn.

C. F. Bennett will offer at auction at his rooms, New Zealand Insurance Buildings,, at 12 o'clock to-day: Property, situated at 45, Seaview Road, Remuera. and comprising residence of six roo ns and offices, on freehold section of nearly half-acre. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. Limited, acting under instructions from the district Public Trustee, will offer at auction at 2.30 to-day, property of 24 acres 3 rood 3 25 perches, with house of six rooms, and outbuildings, in Pleasaiii Road, Glen Eden; also, in the estate of a deceased person, property, with coitage, in Dalo Stre«t, Waterview, Avondale, bavin* a frontage of 264 ft. by 255 ft. T. Mandftno Jackson will sell the following properties at auction at their rooms, 9. Commerce Street, at 11 o'clock to-day:—-A subdivision block of 27} acres, with 386 ft, frontage to Queenstown Road, Hillsborough, together with a dwelling of six rooms and outbuildings. They will also offer 30 good volcanic building sections on Kohanga Estate, Mangere. Under conduct of the registrar of the Supreme Court, at tho request of the mortgagee, they will offer a dairy fnrm of about 4S acres (leasehold), two miles from Kopu railway Btation, with a sixroomed house and outbuildinga.