COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15826, 26 July 1913, Page 8

COMMERCIAL.

Daily Times Office, Friday eyoning.

The Home wheat market continues inactive, and only one sale of an Australian cargo—at 36s 6d—has been recorded during the week. The quantity of wheat afloat for the United Kingdom and Europe is 4,740,000 quarters, as against 5,018,000 quarters on July 13. The grand total shipped from all countries to Europe since the beginning of August is now 69,740,000 quarters, against 56,960,000 quarters for the corresponding period of tie 1911-12 and 72.845,000 quarters for the corresponding period in 1910-11.

The Melbourne market ha* been rather firmer in tone (says the Australasian of July 19). Although prices are abovo those ruling in Sydney, supplies continue to be offered sparingly. The firmness with which steamship owners arc holding out for 30s per ton for parcel freights continues also to restrict bu6iness. The favourable prospects for the Alctorian and New South Wales, 1913-14 season has resulted in the forward chartering of several steamers for Australian loading for the United Kingdom or Continent on the basis of 31s 3d per ton. Wheat on spot is quoted at 3s 8d ex store, and parcels alongside at & Sid to 3s with business for delivery during the first week of August at the latter figure. The local wheat market still lacks animation, millers only operating when suitable lines aro on oiler and prices are suitable. A fair quantity of wheat has been offered during the week, principally Tuscan, and a few hundred sacks of this sort have changed hands at 3s Bd, rail, Dunedin. It is difficult to get farmers to acoopt less than equivalent to 4s 2d, Dunedin, for velvet, but millers seem disinclined to give the money asked. Marshall's whito and velvet-car sorts are worth 3s 9d, ex trucks here. Good whole fowl wheat, 3s 4d to 3s 5d per bushel, sacks extra.

The tariff of the Flourmillers' Association for flour and on other lines is as follows: Flour-Sucks, £9 5s per ton; 1001b bags, £9 15s; 501b togs, £10; 251b bags, £10 ss. Bran, £4 15s per ton. Pollard, £6. Oatmeal, £13 10s. Pearl barley, £16 10s. . , Thero is nothing now to report m the oat market. A little better inquiry perhaps has boon evident tho last few days from the North Island, but prices remain unaltered. Northern merchants, though, aro not anxious to buy any quantity. Country offerings continue very short, only small lots coming over line. A sale of 600 sacks of A Garten's to a northern buyer is ' reported from Christchurch at 2a 6j<d, f.0.b., s.i. Values to-day may bo quoted at 2s fxl to 2s 6J*l for A Gartons and 2s 5d to 2s sjd for B's. Auckland reports under date July 21 state that A Gartons for September delivery aro quoted there at 2s 6jd, f.0.b., s.i., 'but that buyers' limits are 23 6d, Arrivals in Auckland to July 21 totalled about 15,000 sacks. PRODUCE REPORT. Deliveries of chaff have eased off somewhat during the week, but, as there are heavy stocks in store, prices remain unchanged. Tho demand is only for prime samples, medium and inferior quality being neglected. An agent's report from Auckland states that supplies of chaff thero aro still excessive, and that, as the local supply is in excess of requirements, the bulk of tho arrivals, has been stored. The report continues:—"Buyers here are all interested in Melbourne chaff, and they aro trying to arrange a bare market for its arrival, hence the reluctance to give further orders for southern chaff." Largo consignments of potatoes have come to hand during tho week, and' values showed a drop of 5s a ton. A lot of the tubers aro arriving in bad order, and some of the lines aro boing rejected. First-class samples, in fact, aro not too plentiful. It is reported that Timaru shippers are now quoting 70s, f.0.b., s.i.-a price with which local sellers cannot compete. Auckland advice, under dato July 21, roads:-"Tho potato market is barely supplied, and all shipments last week were immediately absorbed on arrival. Tho Wanaka and Victoria arrived on Sunday, and the manifest shows a total shipment of 5000 sacks. The f.o.b. value to-day is 75s Lyttelton, and 72s 6d Oamaru, but it is difficult to securo orders, buyers being of the opinion that it is to their advantage to hold off tho market."

Hay shows a decline in price of 10s per ton.

Eggs are plentiful, but prices remain unchanged. Supplies of onions are more than equal to the demand, with a slow inquiry. Dairy butter is in short supply, and all first-class lots find a ready sale. Values show an advance. _ • Pigs continuo in brisk demand. Current wholesale- prices are as follow: Chaff.—Prime heavy oaten sheaf, £4 ss; medium to good, £3 to £3 15s; inferior, £2 and upwards (sacks extra). Straw.—Oaten, to £2 ss;'wheaten, £2. Potatoes.—Prime tablo sorts, £4; medium, £3 per ton (bags in). Hay, £3; inferior, £2 and upwards. _ Onions—Prime Canterbury, £8; Victorians, £9. Eggs—Fresh, Is sd; stamped, Is od to ls6d Butter.—Dairy, lOjd per lb; milled, lid per lb; separator, in lib pats, Is. Pigs—Baconers, 6„ l d per lb; porkers,6Jd. Bacon.—Rolls (in quantities), 10^d; sides, 9ld; hams (under 201b), Is per lb. FRUIT REPORT. The market generally is baro of supplies of all kinds of fruit. The largo shipment of Rarotongan oranges and bananas which landed last Monday arrived in very,fair condition, and was quickly bought up. Oranges as landed ranged from 8s to 9s 6d per case, and repacks are now fetching 10s 6d to lis M. A small shipment of New South Wales fruit came to hand on Monday, and owing to the report that thorn would bo no direct boat this coming Monday from Sydney high prices were realised for mandarins, which are at prosent very short on the market. Lemons and apples are also scarce, and prices have risen Is and 2s per ease for both these fruits. Practically no consignments of Nelson apples came forward this week, and there were only a few small lots from tho Taieri and Canterbury.

Vegetables are in full supply, especially cauliflowers, some large lines of which were disposed of at auction this week. Prices, however, are well maintained. The following are the current wholesaleprices:— Oranges.—Rarotongan, 10s 6d to lis 6d for repacks; Poorman oranges, 10s 6d; prices firm. Bananas.—Ripe, 3Jd; green, 12s to 14s; very short supply. Apples,—Canterbury cookers, 7s 6d to 8s 6d per 401b ease; extra choico desert— Otago Central, 3d to 3^d; very few coloured dessert, offering. Hobart Scarlet Pcannnins, 12s 6d per case of 401b; stunners, 10s. Tomatoes.—Hot house, Is per lb. Pears.—Very few offering. Canterbury ohoice, to 10s; medium, 6s to 8s per bushel case; Tasmanian, 6s to 7s 6d per box. Mandarins.—From 13s to 17s per case; short supply. Lemons.—Mildura and Adelaide, 12s 6d to 14s; none offering. Passion fruit, 8s to 9s 6d per box. Pineapples, 9s 6d to 10s 6d. Honey.—New season's, in 101b tins, 4s per tin; bulk, V 2 d to 4d; jib packets. 3s to 3s 3d per do/on; bottles, 8s per dozen. Vegetables.—Plentiful. Cabbage, up to 3s 8d per dozen for large drumheads and Savoys; other sorts, 6d to Is 6d {er dozen: sacks', 6d' to 3s. Lettuce, 8d to Is per case. Cauliflowers, Is to 2s 3d per dozen for small; choice, 3s to 6s: extra large, 7s 6(1; sacks, 2s fxl to 5s lOd. Table carrots, 6d per dozen bunches; from 2s 6d to 3s 6d per cental bag. Turnips, 4d to 6d per dozen bunches; swedes, 2s 3d to 2s 6d per sack, Is 3d to Is 6d cental bag. Parsnips, 6d per dozen bunches, 2s 6d' to 3s 6d per bag. Celery, 4d to 9d per bundle. Artichokes, Id per lb. Bmssels i sprouts, la 6d to 2s per box of 61b. Radishes, 6cl to 9d per dozen.