COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15708, 10 March 1913, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Daily Times Office, Saturday evening. The Mildura Fruitgrowers' Association is now quoting as follows through the local merchants:—Sultanas, two crown, 10 boxes, 3Jd per lb; less, 3|d; three crown, 10 boxes, 4d per lb; less, 4£d. Mildura currants, 10 boxes. 3d per lb; less, 3Jd. It is understood these fruits will be Available for consumption some time in April. Owing to the ruling high freights local packers of salt have found it necessary to increase their prices as follows:—7lb bags, lOcwt or more, £5 10s per ton; lees than lOcwt, 63 per cwt. Sydney advice states that quotations there for canary seed are equal to from £27 to £28 in bond, and that higher prices are anticipated in consequence of the extreme scarcity of supplies. Juno and Old Gold tobaccos are now in full supply, parcels having just come to hand ex the Star of Ireland. Brown and Poison's maize cornflour is now quoted as follows:—Ten boxen, 2|d per lb; less quantity, 2?d; "Indian," 5d per lb; "Patent," 3d. An assortment of 10 box parcels is procurable. Clothes linos arc showing a small increaso in cost. Present quotations: 40ft, 2s 9d to 3s; 63ft, 3s 9d to 4s; 80ft, 5s 6d. As a result of 'the shortness of tho crop it is anticipated that cloves will rule very high in price this year. A biff advance has taken placo in tho price of feuding materials generally. Local

rates aro now given as follows:—Black wire, £9 15s to £10 5s per ton, according to quantity; galvanised fencing wire, £11 10s to £12; barbed wire, £13 10s to £14; standards, £12 5s to £12 15s. Rabbit netting line now reached the very high cost of £23 to £24 per mile. Indications, too, point in die direction of a further advance, seeing that Home values are still on the up grade.

LONDON MARKETS.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, March-8. (Received Mar. 9, at 5.5 p.m.) Silver is quoted at 26 15-1 M per oz. Copper: The American stocks amount to 122.302,0001b. Tho stock of kauri gum is 206 cases. Butter: New Zealand is firmer owing to the Cro on the Turakina. Choicest silted, 116s to 118s; unsaltcd, 118s to 120s. Tho rabbit market is quiet, and prices aro unchanged.

THE FROZEN MEAT MARKET.

Press AESociation-By Telegraph-Copyright. LONDON, March 8. (Received March 9, at 5.5 p.m.) _ The following are the latest quotations for all classes of meat. In tho case of those not quoted the price is unchanged:— Mar. 1. Mar. 8. d. d. Oanterbarr mutton, light ... — 4J *1 Canterbury mutton, medium i'i '= Canterbury mutton, heavy i\ *i Southland mutton • ~ ~ — — N.I. mutton, best brands 4 5-10 i\ N.I. mutton, ordinary ..; ... .- — 41 N.Z. ewes 3J 311-16 Australian mutton, light ... ... — . — Australian mutton, heavy ... ... — •— Australian ewes - 3g' — River Plate mutton, light ... ... — — Hirer Plato mutton, heavy ... ... 4 3 13-16 River Plate ewes — — Canterbury lamb, light 6} GJ Canterbury lamb, medium 6} 6JCanterbury lamb, heavy — — North Island lamb, selected ... Si GJ North Island lamb, ordinary ... 6 5JSomiland lamb, selected ... ... — — Australian lamb, best brands ... — 5 9-16 Australian iamb, fair quality ... — — Australian lamb, interior — — River Plate lamb, first quality ... — — Biver Plate lamb, second quality — — New* Zealand beef, lores — — New Zealand beef, hinds ... 313-16 — Australian beef, lores ... .„ „ — — Anstralian beef, hinds 3} 3i R: Plato beef, chilled form ... 3 3-16 31 R, Plate beef, chilled hinds 5 4| R. Plato beef, frozen fores — — R. Plate beef, frozen hind* ... ._ — . 3J * None ottering.

OAMARU MARKETS.

(Fbom Ode Own Correspondent.) OAMARU, March 8. A good amount of business lias been done in wneat during the week, buyers having been in the market from both north and south. Velvet has been the variety most sought.and in it the bulk of the business has been done. There was an apparent eagerness in the demand, and prices showed an advance, the top of the scale being, reached about the middle- of the week. The main spur to activity was a desiro to secure supplies to fill northern contracts. In the oarly part of the week purchases of velvet were made at k 7gcl net at country stations, but the bulk of the business was done at a halfpenny more money. In a few casc3 3s B|d and 3s Bid net were paid at country stations with short railage, whilo at lease one line realised 3s 9d net delivered from a carting distance. To-day there is an easier feeling in the market, millers' requirements having been satisfied for the time being, and 3s 8d is the extreme present quotation. Red varieties have not been in anything like an equal demand, and few transactions are recorded. Red .chaff has been sold at 3s 7d net at country stations, and red Tuscan at 3s Bd, less commission, delivered in Oamaru, and 3s net at country stations. A line of 60 sacks of Marshall's-white chaff was taken at 3s 6jd net at a country station. Some substantial lines of wheat have been included in the transactions of the week, the sales being a 6 at country stations. Included in the list was a lino of 2000 sacks of velvet, made up of 1200 sacks of last season's grain, and the balance of new season's at 3s 6d net. Sales of 1200 sacks of new velvet at 3s Bd, less commission, 1200 sacks of mixed velvet and Tuscan at 3s 7d not, 750 sacks of velvet at 3s B£d net, and 500 sacks of Tuscan and red chaff combined ac 3s 7d net were also recorded. A line of about 1000 sacks was taken at a country mill at equal to 3s 9d net.

Business in oats is still restricted owing to the intermit cent and small nature of the offerings. One line of 1000 sacks of A grade Gartons was secured at 2s net at a country station, and the same terms were given in respect to several other lots, ranging from 400 sacks downwards. B grade Gartons have changed hands in small lots at Is lid and Is Hid net at country stations, but for a line of 600 sacks 2s net was given at a handy station. A sale of making barley was made at 3s lOd net on trucks.

The volume of business in potatoes is small, but improving. A fair quantity i 6 being shipped coastwise by tho Corinna to-day, but the tubers are still rather on the green side for sliipment in quantities. Sales have been made during the week at £5 7s 6d and £5 10s net on trucks, but these prices wero above the level at which shipping business can bo done, and to-day's sales have been at from £5 to £5 ss.

A little more activity has been noticeable this week in the stock market, but business has been- done on a comparatively small scale. There is not much demand for sheep. A lino of 500 two-tooth ewes was sold at 20s, and some small lots of sound mouthed ewes were sold at 14s 6d, and of failing mouthed ewes, in fresh condition, ac 10s. Forward wethers, have changed hands at 16s. The chief business has been done in lambs, a fair number of fats having been sold at from 17s 6d to 18s, while a few thousand forward lambs have changed hands at from 12s 6d up to 14s 3d, according to size and condition. '

Buyers have been in the market from both north and south for young cattle, and Eorao hundreds havo been sold, mostly to go to Canterbury. The prices for mixed sexes have been:—Two-year-olds, from £4 to £4 10s; yearlings, from £2 to £2 10s; and calves, from 30s. to 355, according to size and condition.

SOUTHLAND MARKETS.

(From Odk Owx Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, March 8. Owing to the very cnangeabio weatner very lew sampies of new oats nave yet toond their way on to tho market. There is a considerable quantity ot gram in stook, but thero is still a lair proportoin to be cut. Ono very 'nice sample oi 601) sucks ot A grade Uartons was oriercd in town last week lrorn tho Soutn hiuend district, and for this Is 10? d on trucks was offered, but it was refused, Wie grower deciding to Jiold for 2s. It is expected that tliis will be tho attitude of a good many farmers this .season. At the same time it is difficult to'see where an outlet is going to be found if Australia is unlikely to draw on us this season, as stated by Sydney brokers.

Tho local chaff market is lully supplied, and as tlicro has been a good deal oitermg —and some ot the samples 'are very goodmerchants are not anx'.ous to buy at present, and about £3 on trucks at country sidings,is the bost price obtainable. Several samples ot rye grass were on offer last week, and they wore all of exceedingly' good quality, ranging from 251b to 291b from the mill. For this 6oed 2s 3d on trucks was offered, but the general run of prices is from Is 9d to 2s on trucks, according to quality. Most of the samples that have been submitted this year are very free from weods, and will dress well.

The.ro is very little doing in potatoes, the main crop not being ripe yet, and it is very difficult to make extensive sales. The early varieties are now down to £6 per ton, and, in fact, oven lower prices have been mentioned. At £6 tho potatoes have-to be delivered into lnvcrcargill, and tho price is subject to merchants' commission. The hemp market continues easier, but there is not a great deal on offer, as millers have mostly sold forward and will not be making any fresh contracts until April or May. In any ease, most of the dealers in hemp are prepared to give over London parity to (ill sales that they have made earlier in the season, and to supply tho Australasian twine makers. ' Thero have not been any eamples of new wheat offering so far, but thero is still a little old fowl wheat about which merchants are buying at 2s 9d to 3s on trucks at country stations. During this last week business in the stock lino has been vcrv good, especially for all classes of sheep. All classes of breeding ewes are selling well, one noticeable fact at our public sales being the absence of tho good, big-framed, lusty breeding ewes that Southland was famed for a few years ago. This season a good many farmers have decided to keep the pick of their owe' lambs to bring back their stocks to the old standard. The feed, on the whole, is lasting out fairly well, particularly the rape. Tho turnip crops everywhere <ito looking well, and will no doubt induce many farmers to speculate. The Dipton stock sale was hold on Monday last, tho yarding being about '1300 all counted, mostly 6mall lambs and old ewes. Prices on tho wholo were good, and everything being turned out wm sold

The Winton sale, one of our regular stock sales, was hold on Thursday, the total yarding being about 50C0 ; and prices good all round. Rupe lambs made from !& 3d to 13s 9(1. one extra nice lino of Roumcy bringing 14 s 3d, smaller 12s to. 13s, four and six-tooth breeding ewes 17s bd to 19s, sound-mouthed paddock owc6 15s to 16s, failing-mouthed 14s to 14s 6d, lowconditioned broken-mouthed 9s to 10s, forward wethers 16s to 16s 6d. smaller 15s.

Bus : jio=k in 6tore cattle is inclined to be quiet. Coed big, well-conditioned cattle are practically the only sort there is any inquiry for, young still dragging. Threc-yoar-old steers for turnips are making from £8 5s to £8 10s, light ones £7 5s to £7 10s, two-year-olds £5 to £5 10s. 18-months £3 10s to £4. Calves, dairy fed, 25s to 30s. Prices for fat cattle are practically the samo as last week. The yarding at Wallacetown was equal to tiio demand, consonuently no outside, buying is being done. Good prime bullock beef is 'worth from 30s to 31s, unfinished 28s to 295, cow beef 21s to 235, heifer 23s to 255. The most of the business in fat sheep is confined to tho yards, very little private business doing. Prime heavy butchers' wethers are worth from 20s to 20s 6d, lighter 19s to 19s 6d; fat ewrs. good 17s to 17s 6d. unfinished 15s to 15s 6d. ■

OTAGO FARMERS' HORSE BAZAAR.

The Otago Farmers' Co-operative Association of New Zealand (Ltd.) report:— Wo held our weekly horse Bale on Saturday last in our bazaar, when wo offered at auction 50 draught and light horses. Tho attendance of town contractors and farmers was good, and although bidding, except for a- few of tho lightar classes, was duller than it has been for some weeks, we disposed of a fair number of both draughts and light horses at satisfactory prices. Consignments for Saturday's sale came from Palmerston, Rangiora, Milton, Mihiwalca, Outram, and tho Peninsula. Wo quote: Good young draught mares, at from £38 to £45; extra good Clydesdale mares, suitable for stud purposes , £45 to 80gs; superior young draught geldings, fit for shaft and lorry work, £38 to £48; extra, to £55; ordinary draught mares and geldings, at from £28 to £38; aged draughts, at from £10 to £20; good strong upstandings vanners, at from £26 to £33; heavy spring-carters, at from £20 to £27 10s; ordinary spring-carters,. at from £15 to £20; upstanding buggy mares and geldings, from £16 to £25; hackneys and cob ponies, from £8 to £15.

EVANSDALE STOCK SALE.

Messrs Stronach, Morris, and Co. repdrt having held their usual monthly- salo at their yards, Evansdale, on Tuesday, the 4th March. The yarding was only a medium one, but prices wero good, and every lot put under the hammer was disposed of. The sales were as follow: — Dry cows, from £5 to £4 10s; dairy cows, to £5; bulls, to £6 7s 6d; yearlings, from 19s 6d to £1 16s.

CLEARING SALES.

Messrs Stronach, Morris, and Co. report having held a mosc successful sale of stock on account of the executors of tho Into Mr J. Finlayson, at Locbindorb Station, on Wednesday, tho sth itret. There was a very large attendance of' buyers, and every lot offered was keenly competed for, the result being Very satisfactory to the sellers, The total offerings, were 5187 sheep and 15 cattle. The following are the prices realised for.the different lines:— 293 four and 6ix-tooth ewes, IBs; 501 fullmouthed ewes, 16s 2d; 310 two-tooth ewes, 15s lOd; 14 failing-mouthed owes, 13s; 133 failing-mouthed ewes, 13s; 6?4 four and 6ix-tooth wethers, 17s 6d: 376 four and six-tooth wethers, 16s; 200 four and sixtooth wethers, 16s Id; 879 two-tooth wethers, to 14s lOd; 73 four and six-tooth wethers, Us lid; 200 ewe lambs, 14s; 183 ewe lambs, 13s 3d; 338 wether lambs, lis; 684 wethers lambs, 10s; 192 cull lambs, 8s 6d; 8 cow 6, 5s 6d; 7 steers and heifers to £4 12s.

Messrs Stronach, Morris, and Co. report having held a successful clearing 6ale on account of Mr L. G. Fenwick, Waitati. There was tho usual attendance of buyers, and all the live and dead stock offered was competed for up to the full value. The sheep, cattle, and horses were in good condition, consequently there were several buyers anxious to secure them.' Tho following are a few of the prices obtained:— Four and six-tooth ewes, 17s 7d; aged cwc6. 15s 3d and 12s Id; forward lambs, 15s 4d; rams, to 3|gs: cows, to £10 ss: spring-cart marcs, to 516 10s; spring-cart gelding, £12. The harness, implements, and sundries also realised fair values.

SALE OF LAGHMOR ESTATE.

(Pee United Pbess Association.) ASHBURTON, March 8. Over 700 faimors and dealers attended the sale at the Theatre Royal this afternoon of the balance of the well-known Laghmor Estate, owned by Mr G. A. M. Buckley. The estate originally comprised 30,000 acrt6, but has been reduced by subdivision sales at intervals of about three, years since 1900 to 6061 acres in 1910, awl to-day .this residuo was disposed of in 23 lota. The sale was almost onthusiastio one, the bidding 1 being, very spirited, and in an hour and a-half's time the 23 lots had been disposed of to 15 purchasers at an aggregate price of £73,000 odd. The property is from six to nino miles from Ashburton. and l is well road«l. It contains all varieties of land, and the prices ranged from £4 5s to £57 10s per aero for the different sec(ions,i the average being over £12 per acre.