COMMERCIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15911, 3 November 1913, Page 4

COMMERCIAL

Daily Times Officc, Saturday morning. Some 400 oases of the new season's 6almon, transhipped from the Marama, arrived here by tho Maitai.

Consequent on tho shortage of sugar, resulting Irom tho strike, whole Gale merchants havo advanced the price from £18 10s to £24 a ton—ah incrcaso of £5 life per ton. The probability is that there will be no Supplies from Auckland, within the nest fortnight, even if the strike should be settled within two or three days. Country merchants have been disappointed in cot being able to get their orders filled by local merchants, and have had to follow on tho procedure now being adopted by town grocers and reduoe their sales to not more than 121b of sugar to ono customer. It is understood that thcio is a parcel of Java sugar aboard tho Ulimaroa, but as this vessel was not allowed to discharge, cargo for Dunedin, the sugar will be either put off at Bluff or at Melbourne.

Advieo received from Smyrna under date September 30 states that heavy rains have inflicted considerable damage on the sultana crop. The estimated crop at the date mentioned stood at 40,000 to 45,000 tons, and of this total it was reckoned that 8000 to 10,000 tons had 'been damaged by rains, and probably from 3000 to 5000 tons stained by damp to a greater or less extent. About 50,000 tons ,is an average crop. The writer of the advioe says the tall of rain has been unprecedented 'within the past 30 or 40 years.

Whito Rose and Tea Rose kerosene, benzine, and motor spirit have been increased in price by 2d per case. Ihe prices of California fruits have made a considerable jump, all lines having been advanced by practically 8s per cwt. Quotatjoru by local merchants for the,now fruits are moro or less nominal in the meantime.

There has been a good demand for old figs lately, in view of the high cost of the now season's, which are duo to arrive about the middle of November.

A parcel of new season's Jordan almonds arrived by the Melbourne boat. They are quoted at 2s 3d per lb. Tho price of ship's lime juice has been advanced, quarts bow being sold at 9s 6d per dozen.

A parcel of Halley's sardines, sixteenths, arrived on the market by the last Melbourne boat.

Tho following lines are short on tho market at present in consequence of the waterside workers' strike:—Bell's Royal vestas, Gear Company's assorted meats, corned beef, pastes, and Capstan tobacco. Duryea's maizena, which was to arrive by tho Northern; is held up in Wellington. Prunes are completely out of the market. Tho hold-up at Wellington of tho Dorset has caused a shortage of standard iron and certain sizes of roofing iron. Another effect of the strike is to put up tho prices of fencing standards 'to £12 10s per ton.