TRADE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20563, 14 May 1930, Page 7

TRADE OF AUCKLAND.

.WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.

BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT.

PRODUCE MARKETS REVIEW.

Business has opened a littlo better this week in most departments. Retailers find that there aro more people in tho city than usual, and tho wholesale houses aro putting through a fair turnover. Those who aro interested in tho Island trade aro busy receiving consignments by tho Tofua, and also preparing tho long list of produce and general merchandise for shipment later in the week. Tho event of the week in tho wholesale trade is tho arrival of the direct steamer from the East, with an unusually largo assortment of Eastern produce. Most importers have been indenting rather sparingly beforo, so these consignments aro mostly wanted for immediate distribution, and large quantities will bo delivered during tho next few days. Hardware business is a little brighter, owing to tho farmers having sent in for more materials for use during tho quiet period of the dairy season. FENCING MATERIAL. Fencing wire has been moving off moro readily, portly for uso on the busli clearings burned off during tho autumn, but mainly for renewals and further subdivisions. English and Canadian mokes have been in request, both plain and barbed, but American is not imported much now. CORRUGATED IRON. A fair demand has been coming in, mostly for first quality English. TIN. Tho collapse of tlio market promises an enforced reduction of output on the part of those interests which wcro previously only considering the matter. Consumption largely depends on tho American demand for the manufacture of motor-cars, and also for making tinplates. All estimates agree that the former will bo considerably less than last year, but the latter may bo about normal. COrPER. Tho recent sharp fall in tho prico is not only on advantage, to all the consumers in ► the various countries who have to buy their supplies in tho United States, but the smaller payments will have their effect in assisting international exchango. It seems that America will not enjoy much longer a. virtual monopoly in this metal, for large deposits of copper oro have been located in Northern Rhodesia, in the vicinity of the southern frontier of tho Congo. Theso deposits ore estimated to contain about 400,000,000 tons of oro of high copper content. PAINT OILS. Demand for linseed oil is falling off with the advance in the season, but tho market is very firm, English quotations being up a few pence. Locally-made oil is receiving a very fair proportion of the trade offering. Turpentine, on tho other hand, is a few jienco lower. CASTOR OIL. A fair amount is celling, the general quotation being 5s Cd in half-cases and 6s in drum.3. BLUESTONE. Latest quotations aro down £1 per ton. This will favour horticulturists, as tho maximum demand for tlio season will commence very shortly PEARL BARLEY. Southern millers announce an ndvance of £'2 per ton This is hard to follow, as this year's crop was harvested in good condition. Tho main demand of tho year is now commencing COFFEE. Tho heavy fall in the Brazilian market is beginning to make itself felt here, eomo Ney Zealand packers having followed tho market by making a reduction in their proprietary blends. English essenco of coffee, on the other hand, has advanced a littlo lately. RAISINS. Demand is gradually increasing, and retailers have taken an early opportunity to secure their likely requirements in Australian sultanas. American seedless are in better demand, but lib. cartons are in rather short supply at present. POTATOES. After all tlio heavy supplies from Canterbury last week, some of which still remain unsold, thrca vessels are landing further shipment? this week, tho Kaponga, Wiugatui and Katoa. The quality is steadily becoming more satisfactory, and the price is fairly well stabilised at £7. A good many will bo required for tho Island steamer this week, as Auckland can supply on better terms than Sydney. ONIONS. Although large stocks aro still on hand there is great difficulty ip securing good samples, and the best are quoted at Ctt ex store. Others aro being pushed oil at prices varying according to condition. It seems likely that none will be required from Canterbury this year, as shippers liavo only been quoting for prompt delivery. Australian are offering at fairly low quotations on terms that seem likely to suit when the Auckland supplies are exhausted. Already Californian onions have been bought for September and October shipment, and importers aro now booking these to arrive, at 17s Od in crates and 10s Cd in bags. OATS. A quiet demand is coming in at firm rates, 4s lOd, ex store,' for small parcelo of B grade, and 4s lid for A grade. CHAFF. Market is weak, influenced by another shipment duo from Tasmnnia about tho end of the month, and also tho fact that while pastures aro in such excellent condition tho demand is very limited. Any small quantities aro moving off at £lO 10: i for best Southern. WHEAT. Fowl wheat is firm at 7s 3d ex store, or 7s 0d for delivery on tho. wharf, both theso quotations being sacks in. It should bo noted that Canterbury quotations aro always sacks extra. BRAN AND POLLARD. Brail is in full supply for nil requirements, the demand not being at all excessivo just now Pollard is becoming scarce, and seems likely to be short of requirements during tho winter. Local merchants have arranged for importations froli Australia, although the prico will bo a littlo higher than for the locally milled. MAIZE. Tho ex posted Java shipment has arrived by tlio Narbada, and opened up in priino condition, with no sign of weevil. It is a small, hard grain, partly white, but mostly yellow, and it is readily selling at lis fcid for delivery from tho wharf. FERTILISERS. Tho lino weather has prolonged tlio opportunities for farmers to get on with their autumn topdressing, and largo quantities aro being delivered The principal line is local super, followed by Belgian basic slag and North African phosphate. Farmers are promised excellent pastures in tho spring, as u result of copious topdressing. HIDES AND SKINS SALES. VALUES FOR TALLOW LOWER. A reduction in the values for fallow was shown at the fortnightly auction of hides and skins conducted at I lie Auckland Chamber of Commerce yestflrday. L'rices for hides wero slightly improved, the rates for skins remaining about the same. Following are tho prices:— Cow Hides. —Best grade, light. Old to SUI per lb; medium, Old to oid; heavy, 5d to s!d; cut, Jd to did; second tirade, 31d to 4:1; ox, best grade, light, 5d to 6Jd; medium, sf<l to s!d; heavy. SUI to M'd: cut, 4Ad to sd; second grade, did to djd: slippy. 3ld to 3Jd; kips, best grade, bid to old; second grade, 4id to od; yearlings, heavy, Gd; light, 71d; second grade, 45<1 to 51(1; calfskins, heavy, 7WI to : medium, 10UI; light, t)d to 9,d; small, bd to HJd; slippy, (id to Old; cut, 7Jd to & a d. Sheepskins.—-Dried, three-quarter to fullwoollcd, medium to fine crossbred, (>«d to 7UI per lb; coarse, Old to G-'d; faulty, o}d to s'Jd; damaged, 4ld to od; badly damaged, it id to 4d; quarter to half-wnolled, 7d to 7Ui; coarse, (J3d to 7Jd: faulty, 5d to s}d ; damaged, 4d totJd: bare to quarter-wool led. second-grade and faulty, 5d to old; lambskins. best grade. Old to 7d: faulty, 5Jd to (id; damaged, 4Jd to od; salted sheepskins, large. Is tr> 4s 8d each; medium, 3s 4d to 3s 9(1; faulty, 2s (Id to 2 s lOd; bare to quarter-woolled, large 3s to 3s 4d; light, 2s Od to 2s 9d; faulty, Is Gd to 2s; lambskins, large, its to 3s fid; medium, 2s 9d to 3s 2d: light. 2s to 2s (id: shorn. Is 4d to Is 10(1. Tallow.—Barrels, good mixed, 23s to 23s Od per cwt: second grade, 21s to 225; poor quality, 20s to 20s Cd; in tins, good mixed, 22s to 22s Od; second grade, 20s to 21s: horsehair, best tail. Is 7d to Is Sd per lb; mixed, Is 3d to ud; short and mane, i?d to lOd; bones, clean, dry, £5 10s r, ton.