COMMERCIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16664, 8 April 1916, Page 6

COMMERCIAL

Daily Times Office) Friday ■ evening. Latest London cablegrams state that the wheat market is firm andi quiet. Chicago options are very . Argentina is netting about 4s 3d f.o.b. for her grain. In Australia parity is considered about 5s 5d (says the Australasian), but this high figure can only be arrived at on the • assumption that past advantages will bo continued in tfee future, which ia a dangerous assumption. It is better to net 4s 3d, or , even less, than miss the market and bo faced with such a debacle as Vould succeed a declaration of peace with Turkey. _ The London Grain Soed and Oil Reporter of February 4 sums up the wheat situation in the following terms: —"As is, of course, well known to all engaged in the' wheat trade, there is much more than 'sufficient wheat available in exporting countries for all the wants of importing countries for a very long time to come,' but the level of values at which. the_ wheat will be obtained' will, no doubt, mainly depend on the moveir nt of rates in the freight market. With the present rates so very high it ia natural for consumers to expect a reduction in the same; and_, that being so, they will in all probability act with great caution; and confine their' purchases to tho satisfying of actual requirements." ' The local wheat market remains unaltered. A fair amount of wheat is on offer, but many farmers are storing their crops rather than accept current prices. Odd lots being, placed at late rates —namely: Velvet. 69 to 5s Id ex .store Dunedin; Tuscan, 43|6d , , volvet-ear and red chaff, 4s 7d. ' Tho canse for tho difference in values between the volvet and red wheats ia that velvet is soarco this season. Velvet wheat js not what may bo termed a good cropper, and- farmers have consequently been ■'so win# better yielding sorts of wheat.

Reports from' Oamaru under date April 3 state that some good' rains havp fallen in the district, which is beginning to respond to the moisture. The sudden chango in tho appearance of the grass lands is marvellous. Paddocks where tne grass roots seemed dead are now showing quit© a green award. If frosts keep away it ia anticipated that winter feed yet be available. Barley, ryecorn, and Algerian and Dun oats that were sown, beforo the rain are doing very well, and the farmers generally are in much bettor spirits. They are now able to get on with the work. Ground that was unploughable before the rain ia now in good condition to work, and a better job is made with less wear and tear on plough shares and horses. Thero lias been more autumn -sowing of grass seed and clover than has ever been tho case previously. Flour is quoted .09 follows:—Sacks, £12; 1001b bags, £12 10s; 501b bagSi, £12 15s; 251b bags, £13. Pollard, £6 10s. Bran, £3 10s. Oatmeal, £16 a tin for 25's. Pearl barley, £19. Flour has been reduced by 10s a ton, as from April 1. Oatmeal has been reduced by £1 a ton. Oats are rather firmer since last week, and holders are now asking 2a 2d for A Gartons and 2s Id' for B's, on trucks country sidings. Dunedin merchants _aro naming 2s 8d f.0.b., s."i., as their prico for A Gartons, and 2s 7di for B's. Tho stronger tono is due to a demand from' Canterbury. During tho week a lino of 5000 Sacks was secured in Dunedin for Christchurch at 2s 2d, and another line of 8000 sacks for tho sjftne locality changed hands at 2s Id. PRODUCE REPORT. Undier tho influence of heavy supplies of chaif the market shows a sharp reduction. The demand is pretty well confined to prime samples. Potatoes are not in such heavy supply, and prices remain unchanged. A quantity of the Oamaru tubers is suffering from disease. Eggs are scarce, and prices rule high. Tho nigh prices, however, aro restricting consumption, and the market is a slow one. Plenty of onions are now availablo. There is a scarcity of dairy butter, and the diemand is far beyond the supply. A difficulty is being experienced in getting supplies of bacon, curers being unable to execute orders' in full. There is an increased demand for hams consequent on the impending Easter holidays. Current wholesale prices are as follow :— Chaff.—Prime oaten sheaf, £4; medium to good, £3 (sacksi extra); new-season's, £3' 10s Hay, J36 10s. Straw. —Oaten, to £2 15s; wheaten, to £2 10s. Potatoes. —Taieri, £6 10s to £7 per ton; medium lot 3, £5; Oamaru, £4 15s. Onions, £4 10s to £5. * Eggs.—Fresh, Is 9d; Is lOd for stamped. Butter. —Milled, Is 2d per lb; dairy, in llbtkpackets, Is Id to ?s 2d; separator (bulk), Is 3d. Pigs. : —Baconers, 6fd per lb; porkers, tyd. Bacon.—Rolls (in quantities), Is Id; sides, Is; hams, Is Id per lb; boneless hams, Is 2di. FRUIT REPORT. . The bulk of the bananas which arrived on Monday ; came to hand in poor condition. The shipment, nevertheless, was promptly sold, and realised good prices. Consignments 'of tomatoes have commenced to ease .off, and the quality also is beginning to depreciate. ' The demand for apples and pears is improving, supplies not being so heavy. Choice dessert sorts are wanted of both apples and pears; the prices for these have improved during the past wefek. Peaches are still arriving in fair quantities from Ofcago Central. Prices ranged from Id to 3ilb per lb, according to quality. The market is quite bare of lemons and oranges. A shipment of American lemons is expected to arrive shortly. The following are the current wholesale prices:— Apples are in short supply. Dessert are wanted. Central and Christchurch, lid to 3id; cookers, 2s 6d to 4a 6d per bushel; Nelson Cox's Orange, 8s; Alexandra, 10s to lis 3d. Lemons.—None offering. Bananas.—Fresh arrivals realised 10s to 17s. 6d. _ ' Oranges.—None offering; Peaches.—Jam, Id to 2d; dessert, to 3£d. Nearly finished.' Pears. —From Id to 2d per lb. Tomatoes.—Supplies are falling off. Local hothouse, 4Ad; Christchurch, lj(d to 2d; Alexandra, the same. Plums.—Practically finished. A few Coe's late Red, Id to l^d. Green peas, l£d to 2id. Grapes.—Local, 9d to Is; inferior, 4W to 6|d. , Blackberries, 6d per lb. Cucumbers.—Outside, 3s to 4s per box;, hothouse, 2s to 3s 6d per dozen, small. Vegetables.—Poor supply. Cabbage: Good, Is to 2s per dozen ; sacks, 3s to 4s. Tablo carrots, 5d to 9d per dozen; 2s 6d to 4s per bag., (Rhubarb, 3s 6d per cwt. Swedes, 2s 3d per, cental. Cauliflowers: Scarce, 2s to 2s 6d per .dozen for small; large, 4s to 5s per dozen. French beans, Id to l£d; broad beans, Is per bag.

FROZEN MEAT MARKET. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, April 6. The Argentine shipments of mutton total 77,000- carcases, and of lamb 43,000; frozen beef, 313,000 quarters; chilled, 92,000. New flat freight rates have been fixed to South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and New Zealand —ordinary weight, 80s; measurement, 100s, except.to New Zealand, which will be 102s 6d

MELBOURNE. MARKETS. Presß Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, April 7. Bran, £4 15s. Pollard, £5 ss. Barley: Chevalier, 4s 9d, to 6s 6d; Duckbill, 4s 2d to 4s sd; Cape, 3s to 3s 2d; feed, Is lid to 2s Id. Potatoes, £5 to £5 10s. Onions, £4 to £4 ss. PROPERTY SALE. Messrs A. Harris and Co. yesterday sold on account of Mr J. A. Knowles his cottage and section in Bay View road to Mr C. Stewart for £240

CHRISTCHURCH MARKETS.' (Peb United Piiess Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 7. Tho wheat market shows little chango, but tho tendency is rather towards firmness, especially for Hunters and' pearl. Thero is still a fair quantity of wheat offering. Tuscan is not in keen demand. Oats are dull of sale, and thero is no chango in prices. Oat sheaf chaff is in limited demand at £3 10s to £3 15s, HIDE SALE. The Dunedin Woolbrokers' Association (Messrs Dalgcty and Co., A. Moritzson and Co., National Mortgage and Agency Company, Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Otago Fanners' Cooperative Association, Donald Reid and Co., Stronach, Morris, and Co., and Wright, Stephenson, and Co.) report as follows: — Tho fortnightly hide sales were held on Thursday, medium-sized catalogues being offered. There was a full attendance of tho trade, and bidding was very spirited, prices showing an advance of yd to |d per lb on late rilling values. Calfskins appreciated to tho extont of Id per lb, and realised up to 12jd per lb for the best skins. There were no stout heavy ox hides on offer, holders not being willing to accept the prices recently offered. The top price paid for medium ox hides was IOAd per lb. and for cows lOd. Quotations: Stout heavy ox, none catalogued; medium, lOid to 10^d; light, 9jd to 9|<l; stout heavy cows, to lOd; medium, 9Jd to 91d; light, 9£d to 9Jd; beet calfskins, ll|d to 12Jtd; medium, 9id to lid; horse hides to 12s 6d each; bulls, 6d to 7d per lb.