TRADE OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20075, 12 October 1928, Page 11

TRADE OF THE WEEK.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.

QUIET PERIOD OF BUSINESS.

PRODUCE MERCHANTS' REVIEW. Business during the week has been : quiet both in wholesale and retail. The wholesale reports a pronounced tendency > oil the pari of buyers to wait until next i week, when travellers will commence to take largo orders lor late delivery on November account, Retailers have no de--1 fined explanation of the present slack- ■ ness, several causes combining to bring 1 it about. However, they are looking into 1 their stocks, showing that an Immense r amount of business will be passing during i the next couple of months. ! EGGS. Supplies aro arriving in .full quantities, and this fact prevents any rise in the nrice although packing for export lias already i commenced. Retailers are asking Is 2d loi i duck eggs and Is 3d for lien eggs. 1 TEA. At the Colombo sales on Tuesday the > ciuality offered was very .good, and a cabiei gram states the market advanced, by about , three to five cents.. The rise continues to be more pronounced in the high grades preferred in New Zealand. ALMONDS. I All prices in Europe have been advancing lately, influenced by the prospect of short production, and speculation . has . brought about remarkably high prices m some i varieties. Buyers have been taking un the Spanish crop at a decided advance. Sicily growers have been reluctant sellers, and this again has forced up prices, while much the same haß taken place over the crous in France and California. CHERRIES FOR CAKES. 1 An explanation comes from Italy regarding the abnormally lush price, of cherries . this year. It seems they ripened iust when weather conditions were at their worst, and many orchards were ruined. However, cherries keen Well when preserved by the various processes in use, and last season's fruit will continue to supply urgent needs, at a price. MEDITERRANEAN FRUITS. The season for Smyrna sultanas is a little late this year, but it is said the aualily 'will be good, as a normal rainfall has caused tho grapes to be well developed. However, even good Quality and low prices will not. induce much importation this year, Californian being so cheap. . Turkish figs are turning out well, and will probably be of better quality thnß last year. SLUMP IN R'AISINS. Growers in California are anxiously entering the new fruit season with the burden of 100,000 tons of Inst season's fruit still unsold, and an authority in fruit . has drawn a doleful picture of the loss sustained by another 200.000 tons of various kind 9 of fruit not being harvested at all Inst year. At the lowest estimate he maintains this would have lifted mortgages of £IOOO each from 2000 orchards, and yet the fruit was allowed to rot on the ground because a market was not in sight. The raisin growers of California are now making a determined attempt to improve prices by pooling their interests, and it, is iust possible they will decide to sacrifice the unsold balance of last season's crop, probably selling it for making wine. SAGO AND TAPIOCA. 1 ; avourable Quotations for forward shipment have been received lately, and importers have taken advantage of these for the next steamer. The market is now slightly firmer. VANCOUVER SALMON. The short catch recently noted is again being felt in the quotations available, for some brands have lately been withdrawn, and prices are firmer for all packs. American canning has also advanced for the same reason. SPICES. Pepper is dull, and importers are looking for lower quotations to come in before they need to order. Nutmegs also seem inclined to ease before the next steamer is loading. PAINT OILS. Linseed oil remains at a favourable, price and white lead is also low enough to induce a little more business. Sales were ouiet until recently, but the spring demand is now commencing. CASTOR OIL. Also quoted at a low enough mice to encourage heavier buying for the next direct steamer. POTATOES WEAKER AGAIN. Merchants have hud the usual experience of finding larger quantities ottered as soon as the price reached an abnormal figuro. -ind a decidedly easier feeling is now reported. Just at present local Blocks are light, and the price is holding at £l4 10s. but it is not difficult to obtain ample sudplies in tho South, and a vessel is now loading which will be here next week, bringing potatoes at a lower cost, than previous shipments. Merchants will therefore be able to Eell with confidence at a lower price, as further quotations are coming forward very freely at lower rates, and some shippers are even inviting offers. Seed potatoes maintain the advance established but the demand is falling off. and it is now so late that merchants have discontinued importing from the South. Local stocks are low. ONIONS ADVANCED. Another sharp advance in onions has taken place, and importers are now asking 3,is in bags or cases for Canadian by the Niagara, or Californian by the Haurnki. with a prospect of the price going still higher. A fair proportion was sold to arrive, so there will noL be many to carry on until next arrival. OATS. Tito market has been very dull lately, partly owing to. the usual spring clearance of store stocks in the South to make room for the coming wool clip. These cheaper lots are now sold, and holders are asking firmer rates, making -the local price a littlo higher at Is 7d for B Cartons. CHAFF. There is lio change in the position, best Southern selling to a limited demand at £9 as WHEAT. Another sharp advance in fowl wheat has taken place during the past two or three davs, and Southern shippers have now established the prico at about fivepence above the rate ruling at the beginning of Inst week. Local merchants have not been importing largo quantities, and the ndvanco comes when stocks are so low that the alteration'has taken effect almost at once. Quotation is now firm at 7s 9d ex store, and tho next arrival will probably sell at Bs. MAIZE. It is becoming increasingly difficult to do much direct business between the Bay of Plenty and inland centres served by rail, owing to the reluctance of most holders to sell at present rates. They expect an advance, and the rise in wheat is giving them more confidence. A fair amount of, business is doing in Gisborno maize for forward delivery, and present stocks are working off to a good demand at Gs Gd ex Auckland store. FERTILISERS. The decision of the manufacturers to book no .more super for February delivery at the reduction of 7s Gd a ton recently announced is explained by their having already booked their probable output for that month. However, many farmers are taking advantage of the lower quotations for December and January delivery to hook for those months, and others are taking their purchases at once, in order to -ret tho benefit of tbo in creased spring growth. PROPERTY SALES. William A. Home, Limited, will o(Ter at auction, at. their rooms. Home's Buildings, at one o'clock to-day, by order of the first mortgagee, bungalow of 5 rooms in Ivanhoo Road, off Point Chevalier Road; also villa of 5 rooms, in Seymour Street, Ellerslie. . C. I*. Bennett, Limited, will offer at auction, at their rooms. New Zealand Insurance Buildings, at I'2 o'clock to-day, house of five rooms, on freehold section -10 ft. by 100 ft., at 40. Norman's Hill Rond. Oner.imga, and instructed by the Registrar of the Supremo Court, house of four rooms, on freehold section, in Tawhiri Road. One- , hunga. Samuol Vnile nnd Sons, Limited, offer at auction at titeir rooms at 2 o'clock to-day. glasshouse and orchard holding, comprising '1 ncres 130 polub, at tho corner of Kosebank Road and Avenue Hond, Avondalo Flats, in the estate of tho late Eli Coutanche: at the request of the mortgagees, bungalow and bach in Bella Vista Terrace. Point Chevalier; bungalow of 4 rooms, Hawca Road, Point Chevalier; bungalow of 7 rooms in TCnrcre Koiicl. Taknpuua; house of 4 rooms in Golf Rond. New Lynn; house of 5 rooms, in Brandon Itoad. Glen Eden: bungalow of '1 rooms in Merani Street,. Narrow Neck; bungalow of 1 rooms in Wal-. mer Road. Point Chevalier: and house of 5 rooms with nearly 3-aero of lnnd. in Ascot Avenue. Kenuiera. n . Pnlotiiovno and Parkes will offer at their rooms. Winstono Buildings, nt 11.30 to-day. fnnnlot. of '22 acres at Rotorua, and 4-roomecl. bungalow in Trafalgar Koad, 1 akaDuna. T Miinde.no Jackson will offer at auction, at their rooms. 0 Commerce Street, on behalf of the Public Works Department,. Auckland. three sections, allotments 191 192 and 193 fronting Gladstone Road, Mount, Albert and containing 32.22 lurches, 1 rood. 18.74. perches, and 1 rood 31.21 perches reapeo Ranfurly Smith will offer at auction at his rooms, corner of Queen and Swanson Streets, at noon to-day. seven-loomed house at 17, Bayfield Road. Herno Bay.