COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13544, 17 March 1906, Page 6

COMMERCIAL.

Daily Times Office, Friday evening. The amount of revenue collected at. the Duncdin Cuitjm House to-day on goods cleared for consumption was £1116.

BREADSTUFFS. There is no indication of animation in the London wheat market, which, according to last, advices, continues weak. Cargoes are neglected, although Australian afloat is offering at 30s 9d lo 31s per (j\uirter and New South Wales March-April shipment at as low as 30s 3d. The reason for this apathy, and also of Rie reported lifelossness of the London Hour market, is thus rommenlpd upon by " liporbohm" under date February 2:~-

Tlio trade has passed through a very quiet week; the shipments to Europe have been by no meaiis large, averaging less than 3.000,000 quarters per week for the tost six weeks, and supplies in the United Kingdom are relatively small, the port .stocks on February 1 having decreased to 2,100,00(1 quarters, against 2.350,000 quarters two months ago, and 2,G00,000 quarters on February! last year; but the shadow of the big Argentina supplies in the nest few months is being evidently east upon the market, and buyers are indisposed to operate except for their immediate requirements. Millers are the more inclined to the cautious side because of the extraordinaryone might almost say unreasonable—dulness in tho flour trade. Foreign flour has made its way into British ports during .Tamiary at fho rate of about ]f>o,ooo sacks per week, which represents about one-fifth of the total consumption of the United Kingdom, and London alone has been favoured with 60,000 sacks- per week of the foreign manufactured article, which has come at a time when, owing partly to the extraordinary mildness of the winter, the demand for consumption is abnormally slack for the season.

The Commonweallh market is stationary at last week's quotations—viz.. Sydney and Melbourne 3s 2d. and Adelaide 3s Id.

In the local wheat market a fair amount of new wheat is offering, tho _ average quality of the samples shown being very good; the grain for tho most, part being bright, clean, and hard. Sample trucks of some of tho first purchases of the season are, however, in some eases not turning out. too well. It has evidently been threshed from the stool;, in wet weather, with the result, that tho grain is as soft as butter. Of course rejection by tho buyer has ensued. Millers are not eager buyers at present rates, and are endeavouring to beat back the market. Holders arc asking 2j 10(1 to 2s lOJrl on trucks northern stations for red wheat, and 2s lid to 3s on trucks for velvet arid Tuscan; but. millers arn hoping to be able to replenish their stocks at at least Id below these prices. A few thousand sacks have changed hands during the \veek at quotations, but the season can scarcely bo said to have properly opened. It is said that many growers are putting their wheat into stack, with the idea of deferring threshing until the spring; and if this becomes general it will have the double advantage of steadying the market and of improving tho condition of the grain. Local supplies of chick wdieat are in small compass, and 3s 2d (ex store) is readily obtained for the little lots offering. Shippers are filling their orders at Timaru, whore good whole fowl wheat is offering at os (f.0.b., sacks in). There is no change in flour. The New Zealand Flour Millers' Association's tariff stands as follows:—Hanks, £9 per Ion; 100's, £9 10s; BO's. £9 15s: 2-s's. £10. The shipping price is £8 10s |ior ton (f.0.b.). The Sydney Town and Country Journal has the following in regard to the export of flour:—

The level o! prices for flour in England, Scotland,.and Ireland is too low to encourage shipments from Australia, but the export trade from Australia to' Manila, China, and Japan is steadily expanding. Tlie Australian flour has a particularly good name in the Philippine?. The quality of the flour now being dispatched from Sydney and other Australian centres to the East is first-class, and millers at this side are sanguine of a good .aggrpgato of repeat-orders. Private letters from Kobe, Yeddo, and Yokohama go to show that in Japan the Australian flour is much preferred to the American. New South Wales flour is. making great headway in Hongkong also. The superfine quality "of the current Australian wheat harvest is a big factor in life deVelopment of the Eastern breadstuff* tr?t!<(.

Thorp is a belter feeling in the offal market, both for bran ami pollard. Bran is inquired for for export at. up to 57s 6d per ton (f.0.b.), and sales of a decent lino are reported at that figure.' Pollard is in good demand for local orders. The tariff Is unaltered at £5 per ton for pollard, both for local order? and for shipment. Bran is'quoted at £3 10s per ton for local orders and-£3 per lon for shipment. There are no new oats offering locally, but a few samples have been received from the • north. These, are offering at from Is 7d to Is 3d (on trucks) according to distance and variety. Merchants, however. . aro bns> with "grass-seed orders, and oats are for the moment neglected, For the few old dats offering, . from Is lOd to Is lid is asked for good R (trade. Oatmeal is dull of sale at £10 per ton, and pearl barley is quoted at £12 10s. ' PRODUCE MARKET. The bareness of the market at the begin, ning of the week induced a further advance in potatoes, and prime Oamani kidnoys wero selling at, up' to £9 10s per ton. The arrival of more ample supplies has, however, modified prices, and £9 is now the top price obtainable, with sellers at £8 ISs. Indications arc for a further easbg of the

market in view of the snoplies coming forward. A few Donvonts aro also offering, but being unripe arc not regarded with favour: they are quoted at £8 10s to £8 15s per ton. There is no alteration in the butter market. Farmers' cats, 7d to I{i ; farmer-?' separator, at 9d. First-grade factory, IOJd in bulk, prints at ll{d for spot cash and 113 d for booked. .Milled butter: First grade, 9|d; second grade, 8J<1; and third grade, T<l. The cheese market is oniet, and local cheese is worth from s£d to 5Jd. Eggs havte firmed up to Is 4d, with good inquiry. Current quotations for poultry are as follow:-Hens, Is 6d to 2s 6(1; roostersold 2g to 2s 6:1. young 4s to 4s 6d; ducke, 3s to 3s 6d; ducklings. 2s 6d to 4s; geese, 4s to ss; turkeys, scarce—lien?, 5d to 6;1 per lb, gobblers 7d to M. Pig 6 aro in good demand, baconers celling at 3£d ovorivoighrs. -aitcl - iindorwoi«l)ts it 3d. Ham? arc quoted at 7d to Till, and bacon at bid to 7d. Tlic market continues plentifully supplied with chaff. £3 10s-to £3 15s is the top' price for prime oaten sheaf: medium to good, £2 10s to £3. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. The arrivals for the week include 2700 cases from Suva, which arrived in had order (1000 cafes of bananas being condemned), 2200 cases from the north and Nelson; 130 cases lemons, 20 cases plums, rid 20 cases pears from and fair supplies of Cbristehureh and Tcviot fruit. J'ricrs remain at abut the same level as last weak. Current quotations arc as follow: — Orangos.-'Friseo repacks, ITs per case. Tomran repacks. 6s ner 6in case. Lemons.—Csliforniaii, 12s 6d. Mossinas— double cases, 30;; half-cases, 12s 6d. liananas.—Suvas, 2s to 15s per ease. Pines.—Svdnoys. 7s to 9s. Applos-Auckland-growu, coloured deseert, helf-ca-cs 2s 6d to 3n 6(1. cases 7s i<> 8s 6d; Chrislcliuroh coloured dessert, 5s 6d to 7s 6d. Cookers: Christchurch, 3s 6d to 6': Auckland. 2s to 2s 6:1 per box; local (small), 2s: Nelson. 4s per case. Raspberries,—Finished for the season. reaches—Small, 2d; choice, 3d to 4id. Apricot*', 3Jd to scl. Nectarines, 4d.

Pears—Choice Victorian. 10s 6d, to 123 6d: Oamaru. Teviot, and Christchurch, lid to 3d; northern, 3? 6:1 to 5s per rjuarlorease: Hobart, lion Cretien, half-eases, 8:-. Plums—Black diamond and other jam varieties, 13d to 2Jd: Bnrbanks, choice, 3id to 4d; inferior (for jam). Id to Vjl Tomatoes.—Auckland hothouse, 3d to 4-d: Chrhtchurch. 4d to 4£d: local, to 6d; outside grown—Christchurch 2<l to 3d, Auckland h 6d to 4s per box, Nelson 5a to 6s per half-case. Clover Honey.—New season's: Northern, 4d; southern, 4d tin balk). Walnuts, 7<] to 7id per lb. Peanuts.-Small Fijian, 2Jd to 3d. Cucumbers,—Local, 5s to 65 per dozen; Auck'and, 2s to 2s 6d per half-case: Chrislchurch (outside grown), 3s to 3s 6tl per half-case. Vegetables.—Cauliflowers and cabbages, 2s 6d to 3s 6d. Rhubarb. 5s to 6s per cwt. Green peas. to 2d. Marrows, 7s to 85. Beans. 3d to 3Jd. Onions.—£9 to £10. We are requested (0 stale that the above quotations for produce, fruit, and vegetables are current wholesale prices between agents and distributor?.

THE CHRISTCHURCH MARKETS. (Per United Prksss Association.) CHItISTCUUIiCH, March IG. Tliere is not a large quantity 01" wheal offering, as growers ate generally holding out for about Id more than buyers will give. In view of the low price of flour in Australia local millers do not fool warranted in increasing their limits, whiah would mean an advance in the price of flour to a, point that would probably enable shipments to he'made from Australia. Jfost of the sales of good conditioned wheat that have taken place were at 2s- lid for Hunters and 3s for pearl and Tuscan at country stations, but a large lino of Tuscan and Hunters at 2s 10:1. 70!> bushels of Tuscan, and 600 bushels of Hunters a'- 2s 10(1 ?.l handy country stations are among the business lately Uai'.sacted.

The offerings of oats are not as large as might be expected at this stage of the harvest giowcra evidently preparing to hold in the hope of an improvement in prices. The business doing is theieforc not largo. Among the sales reported are IUW) bushels of Cartons at Is 7d, -150J bushels of duns at Is 7(1, and 6030 bushels of Danish at Is Gd.

Cocksfoot is rather easier, as the offerings are fairly large. Prices are. ruled more gene-r----ally by colour than weight, and light bnglit seed is realising as much.as heavy olLcolour seed.

Potatoes are, firmer in consequence of short supplies. Thoy ore turning out much in tho same condition ns last, year in regard to injury by the hlialit. The late crops arc expected to have benefited by the warm diving weather dining the earlier pari of the week. Onions have declined in price owing to the arrival at Duuedin of 2SO gunnies (about 20 Ions) from Melbourne by the Jtonowai.

PROPERTY SALES. Tho Perpetual Trustees, Estate, and Agency Co. sold by auction at their rooms yesterday section 52 block XXIII. Duuedin, having frontage to Ca3tlo street, together with dwel-ling-house thereon. This property changed hands at £750, tin- purchaser being Mr William Justice. Sections -18 and 49 township of Hsveiisbmirne, containing * acre, together with building thereon, known as the Ravensboume Hotel, was sold to lira Neilson for £1550. Section 7. block I, Ravensboume Extension, fronting District road, with foiirrooined cottage thereon to Mr Harold for £75. Section 1, township o! Helensburgh, containing 34 poles, having frontages to Luso road and Clyde terrace, was sold to Mrs Ncilson for £12" 30s. The above properties were sold under instruction of the executors in the estate of the late John Harold, Ravensboume. There was a good attendance, and for the hotel property the bidding was brisk. Messrs James Samson and Co. held a very successful sale by auction at their rooms yesterday. There wan a very large' attendance of mining men and property buyers, and bidding was keen throughout. The first lot offered was the Unity Gold Dredging Company's (in liquidation) steam dredge, with two boats, tools, and all appliances as she now lies on tho company's claim, Molyneux River, Clyde. Bidding started at £200. and after keen competition advanced by £-0 bids to £'44fi, at which figure Mr James Sligo became the purchaser. For lot 2Mr James A. Wright's property, Crown street, Cilcnroy. North-East Valley, section 40 >: 100. with square dwelling of four rooms etc., bidding started at. £200, and advanced to £-207 10s, at which figure Mr Brugh (as agent) became the purchaser. For lot I), a comfortable up-to-date verandah dwelling of four'rooms,, with bathroom and every convenience, erected on section 37, block 111, Crown street, Olenrov . North-East Valley, the property of Mr Harold King, bidding started at £270. and after reaching "£,355 Mrs Elizabeth Elmore became the purch'aser. In the estate of Peter Dawson (deceased), all that parcel of land, containing lr 38 p, -leing sections 6 and 7, township of Woodeud.' with dwelling thereon was sold to Michael Coleman at, a ratisfactory figure.

CLEARING SALE "AT COLINSWOOD. The Otago Farmers' Co-operative Association of New Zealand report: AVe held an important sale of dairy cows .and heifers at Colinswood, North-East Harbour, on account of Mr Fred. Hillyer and Mr James Macendrew, who joined forces in order to put together a larger number of stock ,to be offered, and which would naturally have the effect of bringing together a large number of buyers. This was the case, and a capital sale resulted. The whole of the cattle, numbering 40 head, were in splendid condition. and, all being closo to calving, met with spirited competition prices for Mr Hillyer's SI head, which were a splendid lot of young cows and heifers, ranging from £5 10s to £10 fis, averaging .-£6 5s per head. Mr Macandrew's 20 head were a very nice lot of heifers in fine condition. Tliey also met a good sale at prices ranging from £5 os to £7 ss, the average lwing £S 12s Gd. Both lines we're a credit to their owners, and mot it ready sale at above prices.

HIDE SALE. ■ Messrs. A. UoritzEon and Co. report as follows:— We held our usual forl v ,?htly sale oi hides at our stores, • corner L.awford and Cumberland streets, on . Thursday, when ;we offered a catalogue of 200 hides. The usual attendance of buyers was presenf, and competion was good, and prices as compared with the previous sale wero firmer, with the exception of cut and damaged hides, which 'showed a slight decline. Wo passed a few lines of light hidee, and disposed.of same from \i to Jd above prices offered at the sale. Out top prices were as follows:—Ona ox, averaging 701b, GJd; one ox, averaging GSlb,. Gjd; 32 cows, averaging 381b, SJd; 13 cows, averaging 491b. Sid; 11 cows, averaging 431b, 5Jd. We quote: Extra prime ox (stout) 6Jd to- 7d, extra heavy (good) to &}d, medium 5Jd to std, light old to ojd. extra heavy cows a'd to ojd, light S|d to. 5Jd, yearlings 4|d to 5d per lb, calfskins (good) 3s 9d to 4s 6d, small 2s 4<l to 3s 3d, horßehides 7s fid to 9a..

• The Road to Health, paved with, good digestion. Bragg's Vegetable Charcoal, invaluable for indigestion, diarrhoea, fevers, etc. Powder, 2s, 4s, 6s; Biscuits, Is, 2s, 4s; all chemists. Bragg, Wigmare street, -London* England. There is an increasing "demand for ALBA. TROSS GUANO by fanners, whose experience give it the first place among f;anos for giving huge crops" of /Turnips, rice, £t 12s 6d toiu-NIMMO Si BLAIB.

OTEKAIKE SHEEP SALE. (FEOM OUR QVfK CORRESPONDENT,) OAMARU, March IG. The Oteknike sale, to-day Attracted a large attendance, Canterbury dealers being strongly in evidence and becoming the owners of over half the sheep offered. Generally, tile sheep submitted were a fair lot, the cwea particuJorly having rather less condition (lian last year. Considering the condition ot the sheep apd the size of the. frames, the prices were better than at Wailaki Plains on the previous day. The. wethers were only fair-steed sheep, but brought good prices. For lambs prices' wero if anything- in favour of buyers, with the exception of the fat and forward lambs, for which 13s 4d was obtained, the price in this case being good. Two-tooth halfbred and crossbred ewes sold at- from 18s 9d< to 20s Id, fo'ur-too(i) ewes at 203 Id, lighl two-tooth ewes at lGs fid to His 7d, full-mouthed ov,-cs, 18s Id to IBs 7d. and from lis Id to IKs lOcl; others, 5s to 83 .Id; six mid eight-tooth wethers, 15s lOd; foty and six-loolli wethers, Ms Gd io 15s 2d; two-tooth wethers, 10s lid io 12s Gd. Halfbred wether lambs Bold fit in? 4d for fat and very forwaid, and 7s to 8s 3d for halfbred wether store lambs. Thrce-quarterbred lamb?, mixed pexes, brought 8s Id to 10s Id, and ewe lambs were foM at S? Gd.

SALE OP THOROUGHBRED STALLIONS.

Messrs Wright, Stephenson, mid Co. report:—We have sold at . satisfactory prices on Recount of Mr John Ellis (YViiigalui) the following two thoroughbred stallions to Mr .T. K. Mackenzie (Pomaiialca) for export Io Australia: Black horso Blackstone, Cirafton (imp.)—ConaUlencp. Blackstone is a big stylish hor=e, standing well over 1G bunds. He has been a, successful performer on (he turf, having won numerous races, and. besides, has run Ihird in the C.J.C. Winter Cup and fourth in the New Zealand Cup, on both these occasions having a number of good horses behind him. It would be hard to find a rnoro fashionably-bred horse than Blackstone. His breeding alone is sufficient to recommend him as n most desirable sire, and his influence at the stud can hardly fail to produco racehorses.—Bay horse Inniper, Occident—Bay Bell. Inniper is a horse of the low, thick-sot type, and ho has repeatedly proved his ability lo enrry big weights successfully on tho racecourse. Among his wins are included some of the best races in Otago and Southland, and in nearly every instance his successes have been achieved under heavy burdens. He is a typical stallion to get weight-carrying hacks and hunters, and ho is certain to give a good account of himself on the other side.