COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17711, 23 August 1919, Page 8

COMMERCIAL.

Daily Times Office, Friday eveniug. Reports of the French wheat crops at about tho end of May wore that fin© and warm, weather continued to iruprova the outlook, and vegetation had made 6uch good progress that growth waa nearly up to normal Tho chief complaint is an excess of weeds, duo to the long wet period! and scarcity of labour. Autu mn-so wn grain had a favourable appearance, and spring sowing looked well, though a little rain would benefit late-planted seed. Stocks of r.a'tive wheat are fast being exhausted, but imported wheat and flour wero plentiful. Information from Germany, though not very reliable, was to tho effect that grain crops are up to the average as regards condition, and in some districts the outlook was good. Tho winter wheat area is very small, but a good stretch of spring wheat is believed to have bepn planted. In Greece, the crop outlook was very unfavourable, and it is reported that large purchases of Canadian wheat have been made on behalf of the country. Millers have substantial stocks of wheat, and are therefore unable to certify that any wheat now offering by growers is wanted for immediate gristing. Fowl wheat is in good demand at Gs per bushel, sacks extra, ox store. New Milling "Wheat.—According to Government prices: South Island, 6s Bd7 f.0.b., sacks extra (plus lid brokerage and Government commission); North Island,. approximately equivalent to 7s (plus' lid brokerage and Government commission). Prices of millers' lines are as follow: — Flour, £14 10s; bran, £G 10s; pollard, £8 10s; pearl barley, £25; oatmeal, £26. More inquiries for oats are being received, and! offers from the North Island of 4s sd, f 0.b., sacks in, for B Gartons have been declined by local merchants. Stocks hold in stores are light, but growers are in possession of a fair quantity for this time of the season, and tliey are not inclined to accept the present price of 3s lOd per bushel, sacks extra, on trucks.

A local agent reports that he has received an inquiry for a fair-sized parcel of oats for shipment to Australia, but that, owing to lack of spaoe, business could not be transacted. On tho other hand, cable advice from Sydney states that merchants there can buy cheaper in Tasmania than, in New Zealand. PRODUCE RE'PORT. The recent heavy rains have prevented cutting, and, as a consequence, no supplies of chaff have been arriving. The market, however, remains unchangd, as feeders have ample stocks, and 1 £7 per ton, sacks extra, ex store, is the top price for good quality. There has boon an accumulation of medium and inferior chaff, which is practically unsaleable, although prices have been reduced to £5 and £6 per ton, sacks extra, ex store Tho potato market is firmer, with few consignments coming to hand. Local supplies are exhausted. Canterbury are realising £10 to £11 per ton, sacks included, ex truck. Some }ines are showing signs of frost, and these have to be picked over before a market can be found. The egg market is weak. Current wholesale prices ore an follow: Fowl wheat, Gs per bushed (socks extra). Potatoes, £10 to £11, ex store, Dunedin for prime quality. Chaff. -Prim© oaten sheaf, £7; medium and poor quality, £5 to £6. Onions, to 18s per cwt Oaten straw, £i; wheaten, £3 10s. ESS 3* Stamped, Is sd; ordlinary, Is 4d Butter.—Milled, bulk, best, Is 5d to' Is 5Jd; separator pats, to Is 6d. Margarine, Is 2d per lb. Pigs.—Baconers, 3d per lb; porkers, 9d rolh - 13 3 i d per lb; hams, Is 2 a d; local ham rolls, Is 4d to Is 4Jd. FRUIT REPORT. The feature of the week has been the delivery by rail £rom Lyttelton of Island bananas. The bananas were brought from Auckland by the To Anau. Tho first lot left Ijyttelton about last Friday (August 15), aid tho laat lot oame to hand yesterday (Thursday). Ino delay m transportation is having a serious effect on the fruit, and shipin Auckland will no doubt seriously consider whether they will risk sending any further shipments south in the meantime, A few Island oranges arrived durinc tho week, and mot a fairly good market A quantity of Poor man oranges aJso oame. to hand A further shipment of Poormans is due ea,rly next week. A slightly bettor demand exists for apples Heavy supplies of cauliflowers have arrived during the week, and prices have recoc7d* .F? 13 * class cabbages are very ecaroe and anything prime realises high prioes. ' Rhubaib is a little more plentiful,' but prices _ are well maintained. During tho week MrDyke (fruit inspector) received a sample of five large, beautifully shaped lemons grown at Polorus Sound It is stated that lemons can be grown in this locality to bo available practically all tho yew round If lemons of this quality ca.° be grown at Pelorus Sound there reason why such large quantities should hav o to be imported annually from outeide sourL Oalifornian lemons are at present bringin" high prices in the dominion. ° Current wholesale prices are as follow- — l o° t ?,i lge9 - _PoOrm '? r,s for marmalade, 17s to 18s 6d per case; American Valencia to 60s per double, case; Islands, 30a to 35s Bananas, 24s to 27s per case, ripe; <rrcen best, -Os to 225; others, relative rates ' Cabbages, 4s to 8s per dozen, sacks, beet, to 93, others, 2s to ss. Cauliflowers: Medium, 4s to Gs per d<jzen; prime, 6s to 8s per Back! i? L t' 18 Gd P° r dozen bunches; email bags, to 3a Gd per bag; sacks, £7 to ±« 10s per ton Swedes, 2s Gdj to 4s per bag j sacks, 4s Gd to ss.

Potatoes.—lxic.il, 11a per owt. Rhubarb, 6s to 8s 6d per dozen bundles. Celery, Is 6d to la 8d per bundle for beat; nHvliuiTL, 0d to Is. Brussels sprouts, 7s to 9s Cd per box. X'iiTsnips, to 3s per case; 3a 6d to Ea per bag; 14s to 15a per Back. I/ON DON METAL MAKOZCS. SILVER A RECORD PRICE. Pres3 Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LON DON, August 21. (Received August 22, at 11.15 p.m.) Copper: £110 17s 6d; three months, £101 17s Cd. Electrolytic, £115. Lead: £21 17s Gd; three months, £25 10s. Spelter: £40; three months, £.]l. .. Tin: £273 15s; three montlis, £200 5s Silver, GOJd, a rocord.—A. and N.Z. Ooblo. MELBOURNE MAIUvETS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. lirEl/BOUR.N'E, August 22. Barley: English mt;.lting, 5s 9i, 6s; Cape, 4s 6d, 4a 9d. Oats: Algerians milling, 5s 3d, .&3 lid; feed, ss, 5s 3d. Potatoes, £11 10s, , £13 10b. Oaions, £1-1, £15. HIDES SALES. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. 'OUl{ N August 22. . market is firming, and good conditioned hides aro por lb better. THE. HEMP MARKET. (Per Uxitkd I'ukss association*.") August 22. Tho High Commissioner reported as follows on August 17: — Hemp.—The Manila maricot is easier. J grade, shipment in July, August, or September, has been sold at £60. Tho Mexican Government has lowered the price of sisal hemp to 10 cents per lb, equal to £51 por ton on spot, c.i.f., Now York. Tho July prico was 15 cents. This affects tho demand for Manila.. The New Zealand market is dull and depressed. High point, in dock, £51; fair, £19 to £49 10s CHRISTCHURCH MARKETS. (Pjbk Dsitku Phkss Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, August 22. The markets generally are still very quiet. With tho fine spring weather being experienced there is but a limited demand for oats, and sales are now more difficult to effect. At the same time there is little grain offering by farmers, and there aro no quotable changes in pxioea. Oatsheaf chaff i& dull of sale, and tho prioe has cased, 10s to ;£6 now being paid £tt country stations according to quantity. There is a further hardening in the potato market, and prices aro now quoted at £8 15s to £9 at country stations. Tho offerings from growers aro not very large at present. , bulk of the onion crop hos now changed hand 3, only small lots coming forward. Sales have been made during the week at £12 10b to £13 to growers. Thero are no changes to note in seeds, and clovers are still very firm.

CANNED SALMON. Private cable messages from America advise that quotations for new season's salmon are la higher than for the last pack This increase is (says the Melbourne Argue) little better than nominal, however, as it is understood that the Packers' Association's quotations will show a greater rise than tie shilling. lu-om reports, it is doubtful whether any American salmon will be available for the Australian markets, as it is stated that Lrroat Britain has arranged to absorb the surplus above United States requirements, btocfcs of best grades are negligible, but fair quantities ot medium are held.

Scott Bros., produce merchants and centmission agents, report:—Eggs: Quiet; Is 4d to is 5d per dozen. Butter: Pats, scarce, Is 7, ' !?, ' nulljc], Is 7d; separator, Is 7d per V'- Honey: Prime clover, bulk, 7£d per lb: 101b tins, 8s each; sections, 6d. Beeswax, -a per lb. Poultry: Wantod; cockerels, 7s; hens, 6s per pair; ducks, 8s; geeee, 8s per pair; gobblers Is Sd ££ io. .fig 3; Prime baconers, &Jd pea- lb • porkers, 9*d; over-weights, 4d to 7d per lb. Hams, Is 3d peir lb. Raocm, Is ad. Potatoes: Firm; £10 to £11 per ton. Onions: Canterbury, £18 per ton. Chaff: Quietprime oaten sheaf, £7 per ton- medium Oats. Quiet; Gartons, 4s 2d! to 4s 3d per bushel; best feed, 4s Id per bushel, ex store saxiks extra. Fowl wheat, 6s 6d per eov store, eades extra Stmw: Pressed wheaten, £3 10s; oaton, £3 15s per ton