COMMERCIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13545, 19 March 1906, Page 4

COMMERCIAL

Daily Times Office. Saturday evening.

IMPORT MARKET. Cable advice has been received from Calcutta quoting cornsneks C4V) for July ship inent at 6s 3Jd (e.i.F. and o.) and woolpaekf (Ill's) at 2s 7d. At these prices it is possible that business mav ensue.

The Colonial Oil Company has slijrhllj revised ils quotations, which now stand af follow:—While Hose kerosene. lOJd; Tea Rose. 8|fl; benzine. 10d: gasoline. 3s 8(1: naphtha, Is 2d; motor spirit. Is 2d, and lur pontine. 4s 6d. These cjuotations are fin wholesale distributing lots. Terms: F«> White Hose and Tea Rose, net- spot cash with Iho usual rebate; for other lines, nei cash in 14 days, and without rebate. Al Ihe above quotations are o\- warehouse Turpentine to arrive o\- Perthshire is quote* at 4s 4Jd (ex wharf). The next boat, will kerosene for the market- is ihe Brioz-Tftie! but her cargo will not be available unti towards the end of June.

After a record rise, sago and tapioca at length show of easing; but as slocks are small no appreciable fall is likely to take place for a while. The current, quotation is now 22s for sago and pearl tapioca. and 24s for flake.

Tho Grocer, under date London. January 27. reports concerning European and Japan ese sardines as follows:—

Efforls, we observe, are being made to enlarge ihe market for Japanese sardines. They are supposed to be some of the best caught anywhere, but hitherto the hulk of them baa only ljeen used for manure. The Japanese Department for Trade and Agriculture is exerting itself for the advancement of the country's sardine industry, and a company has been formed for Ibis purpose al Xagoya. which last year turned out 2.000,000 boxes of sardines. Meanwhile, the French sardine fishery remains, apparently, in a very parlous slate.' and notwithstanding thr exertions of various sections of the French fishing community to prevent a calamity befalling their trade, it is feared that the times are not very promising for French sardines. As is generally known by grocers, the fimp is not very remote when the French had practically a monopoly of this industry, their sardines more than holding their own throughout the world. At that time French sardines had no serious competition from other countries, and it is singular that when Spain and Portugal enlered the competitive arena the French industry began to decline, whilst that of the two countries in question has developed in a remarkable degree. In the hope of hitting upon some means of regaining lost ground—if not lost fish!—a congress of French sardine preservers has been held at Nantes, and from a report presented to this assembly it appears that hope is by no means abandoned of France being enabled to regain, at any rate, a portion of her lost sardine business. Suggestions have been mooted for—(1) the protection of the French commodity against fraud; (2i better organisation of maritime credit; and (S) the employment of revolving nets. We are also given to understand that a drait law is about to he laid before the French Chamber, having primarily as its object the prevention of fraud in regard to sardines. Remembering, a.s most of our readers do. the excellent sordines for which Brittany and La Yeiides were famous for so long, there are few grocers injhis conntry who would not be pleased to pee a fillip given to the French ssrdine industry.

Mail advices received by the Sydney agents ot the British Oil and Cak» Mills (Limited) stated that linked nil still held a high 'price comoarod with lust year's rates, and it looked as if those hifrl) rates had come to stay, al least for some time. The crop of seed in India would be very small. The supply from the Hirer Plat;! would run from 15 to 20 per cent, under the quantity received last year. Therefore, there was little reason to hope for any '0duction in the general average value, and they would not bp surprised to see the level even Id or 2d a gallon dearer. The mail Summary published with this issue contains reporls of the movements in thp import market for the past three weeks, together with lastest happenings and complete prices current,

OAMARU 3BAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET. (FaoH Otrp Own CoRnF.fIi'OKDr.NT.) OAMARTJ. March 18. The volume of busiuess in wheat is still restricted 'owing to the differences between millers' and growers' estimates of values. The

msrkct, if anything, in easier, and at'titio end of the week it was difficult to obtain 3s for samples that ■ would have probably been saleable at that a few days' earlier. Except for anything prime millers will not now give the figure n-Anied. Some sales have been 'made of both old and new wheat during the week, mostly in comparatively small parcels. For one line of fair old Tuscan' 8s ex store was accepted. In new wheat the chief transaction was the sale of 1500 sacks of velvet of prime quality at 3s at a country siding, while a parcel of COO sacks of red chaff brought 2s l|)d. Mixed lines of velvet and Tuscan sold at 3s, and in several instances at 2s lid at sidings, less commission, or equal thereto, while in other eaes 2s lid, delivered in Oaniaru, net, was accepted. Oats are in inquiry from both north and south, but the quantity offering is limited. Cartons have been sold at Is CJd and is 7d, and for one specially good sample Is 7£d was obtained. Dims are at Is ad, and Danish at Is Gd, Ihe latter descriptions being said to be in short supply. Potatoes have again fluctuated with the Dunetlin market. Sales were made locally in the early part of the week at £8 10s for coastal shipment, but prices have followed Dimedin in the latest decline-.

SYDNEY WOOL SALES. SYDNEY, March 17. The wool sales were spirited at full rates for all descriptions,

SOUTHLAND PRODUCE AND STOCK MARKET. CFnou Oiib Own- Coe-RESpondext.)

INVERCAKGILL, March 17. There is no change to report iii the local oat market, and'as'Canterbury f.o.b. prices are about id to a Id under what Southland merchants are quoting, it is. supposed that any business that is being done is supplied

by the Canterbury market. Some small lines are still being shipped to Western Australia at Is lid f.0.b., s.i., for B grade. The North Island seems to be completely closed at present so far as anything from the Bluff is concerned. There have been several inquiries from Sydney for A grade. But in these cases also tho business is supposed to have gone to Canterbury. Stocks at the Bluff are in very small comparison, and the bulk of them arc held on account of farmers who aro not keen to sell at merchants' present values, which arc Is 7d, on trucks at country stations, for B grade. Owing to the fine weather experienced during the past week cutting has goee ahead all over Southland, and there is already a good quantity in stook. There is no doubt that although Southland will have a fairly good average yield, it will not be quite up to last year's. If the present fine weather continues the bulk of the crop will he cut and in stook within the next 15 days or a fortnight, although there arc some crops round the Wairio and Xightcaps districts which cannot possibly be in until early in April It is generally thought that prices will open on a par with what is ruling in Canterbury, and as Southland farmers reckon that anything over Is Gd js payable, no doubt many will sell immediately they have threshed.

There is no difference in the chaff market, and .prices remain at about £2 10s !)fl, on trucks at country stations, for prime quality, which price farmers are not inclined to accept. I understand that several lines have been sold, on trucks, at Edendale during the past fortnight at equivalent to £S to Diinedin buyers.

Wheat cutting is not yet general, hut some paddocks have keen cut in the Dipton district. There are some very fine crops of this corral in Southland this year, and farmers Rre expecting prices to he nt about equivalent to IBs 3d, on trucks at country stations. Potatoes are in gocd demand, and prices have been ruling at & 10s to £1 during tho week in Invcrcargill. There is n fair inquiry from Dnnedin. and any lines that are at present coming forward are going to that market. IVrwMils will not be available in any quantity for at least another month. The sorts at present offering are chiefly Up-to-Dates and other early varieties.

During the week there lias been very little ryegrass on the market, and prices remain as quoted last week. Heavy seed, which is verv scarce, is being much sought after, and prices run as high as 3s 3c], on trucks at country stations, for fairly clean seed weighing from 231b _ upward. Light seed, though not offering in any great quantity, is nol'selling well, as merchants prefer fo handle heavy seed when it is possible to get it. In sympathy with ryegrass. Italian has advanced, and today several lines changed hands at 2s Bd, on trucks at country stations. This was for really nice seed, weighing 21lb to 221b lo the bushel. There lias been a fairly good demand for Italian during the week, though I understand that not a great deal has changed hands. Fescue has been selling very freely at about 2d, on trucks at Mossburn, this being the district from which most of the fescue comes. There does not seem to be much of the seed about, but there is plenty demand, especially from the. liorlh, for heavy seed. There is a good deal of last year's fescue to he had, but buyers are not inclined to operate in any but this season's seed. The stock ma.rket is without change, though what sheep are offering are being readily placed at late values. Thcie are not, however, a great many offerings, as neither buyers nor sellers are disposed tc do much till it is seen how the turnip crops are going to pan out. There are not manv northern buvers about a! present, but I understand that those who were operating a fortnight ago purchased a fair quantity and railed them north. Young ewes (tvo-'ooth) are in most dcmairfl at from IC~ to 17s. Most oi the business during the past week has. been in this class of sheep, Fat iambs sre still selling at 13s to 13s Gd, and a. good ninny are at present going into, the local work--. Store lambs arc selling at from 9s Cd to ](Ji 3d.

In cattle only forward-conditioned sorts are felling, -ind these are feteliiup (rom £G to S6W- for steers, and about £1 less for speyed heifers. Any lines offering 1 are readily placed at tlie«e prices. The reports of turnip crops have l>»nii more favourable of late, and, though they will not lie up to the average, will not he so poor as was anticipated.

SALE OF RACE PRIVILEGES Messrs K. L. Jfacasscy and Co. offered on Saturday the privileges in connection with the Forbury Racing Club's autumn meeting, when the following prices were realised:—Programmes, £.?—Mr R. La-ngley: tea. rooms, £5— Mr- Thomson; stabling—Mr D. Stewart; fruit stall—Mr» Thomson. The booths were passed in. and can be purchased privately.

OTAfiO FARMERS' HORSE BAZAAR. The Olago Farmers' Co-operative Association of c,"ew Zealand (Limited) report:—Wo held our usual weekly horse sale at our bazaar, adjoining wool and <rrniu stores. Crawford and Vogel streets, on Saturday, ]7tli insf. There was a fair attendance of town carriers and traders, hut only a limited number of farmers, the latter no doubt being busily engaged with harvest operations. We had an entrv of SO draught, van, plough, spring-cart, light harness, nnd hackney horses. We had a few useful draughts from the west, all of which changed hands at good values except one four-year-old gelding and a four-year-old filly, which were withdrawn, as prices offered were not up to owners' idea of values. Mediumweight and aped cart horses were difficult to place. Nevertheless, a few of this class changed hands at good prices. Wo had Iwo or three buyers for van geldings, young and sound, but, unfortunately, the class offering were not quite what was wanted, and the buyers are still in the market. A few springcarters were wanted. We have buyers for t)nec or four quiet, active sorts. In the course of six weeks we anticipate a good demand for plough mares and geldings, suitable for fourhorse leanis. We have buyers for 10 or "'2 buggy geldings, quiet and sound, good movers, about. ]5 to hands, and a pair of good harness cobs about 155 hands. We also have an inquiry for a- couple of pedigree Clydesdale fillies. Quotations: Heavy cart mitres and geldings, £50 to £55; van horses, £40 to £50; lorry geldings and mares. £42 to MS; plough mares and geldings suitable for four-horse teams, £38 to £45; spring-carters, £25 to £10; order-carters, £"20 to £27; buggy geldings, quiet and sound, £18 to £10; buggy pairs, £50 to £60; carriage pairs, £85 to £100.

DUXEDIN. HOHSE SALEYARpS. Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. report as follows:—The entries for Saturday's sale were not numerous, and they consisted for the most part ot a .very ordinary class of horses, both dr.iught and light; but there were one or two exceptions in both classes. The attendance of the public at the sale was not great, due no doubt in part to the harvest being in full swing, and in part to the fact that there had been no public intimation of any special consignments from' the country to 1« disposed of. Notwithstanding these drawhacks, a fair amount of business was transacted. Sound young horses of any class, if (resh from the country, are selling very well in Dunedin at the present time, mid we would specially recommend consignments of draught and spring-carters. We' quote:—Superior youpg draught geldings, at fropi £60 to £55; extra good do (prize horses), £5G to £65; superior yonns draught mares, £60 to £73; medium draught mares and geldings, .£3O to £15; aged do, £17 to £30; upstanding carriage horses, £25 to £35; well-matched carriage pairs, £S0 to £100; strong spring-van horses, £25.t0 £35; milk-cart and butchers' order-eart horses. £20 to £-28; light hacks, £10 to £18; extra good hacks, £20 to £30; weedy and aged lucks and harness horses, £S,fo'JES.

COUNTRY SALES. ' 1| essrs Donald Heid and Co. (Limited) report haying held a salo of freehold land and a clearing sale of stock and implements at Round Hill on Thursday, the 15th .iust. There was r. grand turn-out of farmers, dealers, and speculators interested in the day's proceedings. The freehold, an improved farm comprising 319 acres, with buildings, «tc-, was first submitted, but bidding no,t being xip to

the reserve it was passed in, but Eold immediately afterwards at a price satisfactory to all parties, Mr Thomas Crozier being the purchaser. Immediately afterwards the sale of the stock and implements commenced, and, under very Fatisfactory competition, everything was cleared. A grand line of heavy draught mares and geldings were submitted, which secured brisk bidding, and all sold at up to &ii. Wethers sold at 15s 9(1; ewes, twotooth, at 17s 6d; lambs, hill, at 3s 2d, paddock, at 18s: four, sis, and eight-tooth ewes, to 15s lOd;, cull ewes, Is 3d; fat ewes, aged, at 9s 3d; rams, at 2Jgs; harness, drays, and sundries, at full values.

SALE OF FARM STOCK, ETC. Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. report as follows'.— Under instructions from Mrs J. A. Pugh (executrix of the late Mr Thomas Pu»h), we sold on Friday last by auction, on the premises, the desirable farm of Orange Grove, near Middlemarch, with the lira and dead stock thereon. The auction being held to wind-up the trust estate, everything was for unreserved sale; and, as a consequence, competition was keen and prices good. The weather was all that could be desired, and there was a large attendance of the neighbouring farmers. Included in the gathering were a few buyers from n distance attracted mainly by the land sale. After an excellent lunch (provided by Mr W. S. Williams, of Middlemarch), a start was made with the land, which was offered in four lots. Lot 1, being section IG, block V, Strath-Taieri district, containing 52a 2r lop, freehold, was secured by Mr Thomas Pugh for £400; lot 2 being section IS, of the same block, and containing S2a 2r 24p, freehold, fell to the bid of the same buyer for £410; lots 3 and 4 consisted of leasehold property, held under leases from the Crown, expiring 30th June, 1914, lot 3 being sections 17 and 20 of the above block, and containing 93a Qr 4p, was bought ny Mr John O'Connell, flock and Pillar, for £330, and this buyer also secured lot 4, being sections 23 and 24, of the same block, and containing 101 a and ]6p for £020. The horses were mostly aged, and brought full value. The dairy cows were a well-bred lot, and, though in rather low condition, they sold well at current prices. Implements, household furniture, and sundries sold exceedingly well.

Saturday's TTmarn Herald reports:-A few sales in new wheat were made during the week at 2ft lid and 2s Hid on trucks, Tnnaru, of Tuscan and velvet; 2s- lOd for red chaff, and "s 7d for second?. Oats: Cartons Is 7d, Danish, Is M, duns up to Is 8d on trucks at country stations. Barley: There are inquiries for first-class malting, but nono is offering. Potatoes: Inquiries are coming in for Derwenfs. and other sorts, hut none offering on the market yef. The Shire liner Pakeha, which is expected at Oamaru from Timaru to-day, will there load 10,000 carcases of [cozen meat for the west coast of England. An offer of 17s lid was received by si South Canterbury farmer to-day (says Saturday's Oamaru M«l) for a, line of .1000 fat sheep which had been treated at the Timaru Freezing Works. The carcases averaged GQlb. and none over 721b were to he accepted. This was declined, the owner asking 18s for the whole, without restriction as to weight. The buyer offered 2d per lb for carcases over 721b.