THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3006, 25 October 1911, Page 18

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Friday evening. Daily Times Office, Friday evening. I Gable advices received from London during the week indicate that the wheat market there is* firm, with speculators operating fairly freely for forward shipments. The latest recorded sale is of 10,000 quarters of Australian whoat, October shipment, at 36s 9d, while 14,500 quarters, October-November shipment, have been placed at 56s 6d, and 6700 tons of South Australian are now being-shipped,, the price paid for this latter quantity being 36s Speculators in Mark Lane have evidently faith in the future market, as these purchases will be only small ones compared to their operations in other exporting countries. ! The total shipments to Europe from j August 1 to October 5 show such a de- ! crease as compared with last year as would encourage one to believe that values must j improve (says Sydney Mail), but this fall- , ing off! in shipments is accounted for by | a study of the prices ruling now and 12 months ego. To-day prompt shipment wheat is bringing in England. 36s per quarter of 4801 b. A year a«o prompt shipment wheat was bringing 38s to 38s 3d, with an active inquiry. These prices tempted shipments from all over the world. Today prices offering do not draw such large ■ quantities. The shipments into Europe j from all exporting countries from August ; 1 to October 5, and for the same period I of the previous three years were:— j

The American visible supply as at October 18 is given as 82,633,000 bushels, as against 68,142,000 bushels on October 7 an increase of over 14,000,000 bushels. According to the Sydney Mail of October 11, shippers there were still offering 3s 2d for old wheat on trucks at country stationsequal to 3s 6gd ex trucks at Darling Island. Buyers of parcels will not more than 3s 7d ex store, and sellers will not go below 3s 7gd. Millers' prices are about the same. The Australasian of October 14 states that the Melbourne market has been fairly firm in tone, owing to some demand for parcels for early delivery, business in which has been done at 3s 7gd to 3s 7|d. Apart from these special requirements, however, the demand has been moderate, a number of tho leading buyers being unwilling to exceed 3s 7d. '" Quotations, for farmers' lots in the country are on the basis of 3s 6d. The local wheat market at the commencement of the week was dull, but within the last couple of days it has firmed in sympathy with the rise of Id cabled from Melbourne., and also probably as a result* of inquiries from Home for a fairly large quantity. There seems to' be a considerable conflict as regards the information in Australia, in that Sydney quoted wheat last week at 3s 7d to 3s 7sd', and this is its present cabled values, whereas the Mebourne market has advanced 1 from 3s 8d to 3s 9d, and Adelaide lias weakened from 3s 8d to 3s 7d to 3s 8d: However, the New Zealand market at present is practically a local one. It is questionable whether any large amount could be secured for shipment at the provailing prices, and, furthermore, it is doubtful whether there is now a sufficient quantity, of this season's wheat left to enable such an order to be executed. Some of the local millers have a sufficient quantity on hand for their requirements for some time to come, but are still operating when likely lines come along, and' a fairly large quantity has been secured by them during the past week. Prices, however, remain unchanged at 3s lOd for prime Tuscan and velvet car, and 4s for velvet, ex store, Dunedin. A line of a few hundred sacks of red sorts was purchased at Gore at "is 7£d, on trucks. A lot of wheat in merchants' stores in Dunedin has to be removed to allow of space for the incoming wool clip, and consequently is now coming on the market. Millers are the only buyers operating in Dunedin. but should soon absorb all the wheat offering. Fowl wheat is in short supply, and is now 3s Bd, and in some cases 3s 9d for extra prime. The tariff of the Flour Millers' Association for flour and other lines is as follows —Flour: Sacks, £9 ss; 1001 b bags £9 10s; 501 b bags, £9 15s; 251 b bags, £lO. Oatmeal, £l3 10* per ton. Pearl barley, £l4 per ton. Bran, £4 15s per ton. Pollard, £5 10s.

There has not been a great deal doing in the oat market during the week, and values for A Cartons have dropped to about 3s, f.0.b., sacks in, and £d less for B grade. A few hundred sacks have been sold for the North Island at these prices. Farmers are showing a disposition to release their stocks, and are now asking merchants to quote. ■ Merchants, however, are not inclined to do business at the present high values unless they already have orders in hand at a price which allow- a slight margin of profit. There is only a small inquiry from the North Island, and the demand from North Otago and South Canterbury has practically ceased in the meantime. Small lots are being offered in the Canterbury district, and these may be expected to meet the demand there at present, while a large southern farmer is now commencing •to thresh out his stacks, which it is said should produce something like 2000 sacks. When all is said, however, there does not appear to be any" great quantity of oats about —certainly most of the Dunedin merchants have practically disposed of their stocks for the season. Notwithstanding the easier tone, farmers are still asking about 2s Sd on trucks at country sidings, but merchants will not respond tV> these quotations. Reliable figures give the total number of sacks at present in Bluff stores as The cargo of Algerian oats, amounting to 17,000" sacks, has now been landed at Auckland ex the Ihumata, and is, of course, affecting the demand for the southern PRODUCE REPORT.

There is not a great deal of prime quality chaff coming forward, and all first class stuff meets with a ready demand. A considerable quantity has been, going forward to the North Island, principally to Auckland, and there is also a good local inquiry. Fairly large stocks are held in Dunedin, however, and. values remain unchanged. Latest advice from Auckland wtatc-s that the market has eased somewhat.

A sharp rise has taken place in potatoes during the week owing to light consignments of prime sorts and a brisk demand from Auckland, where the market is bare of Eiupjplies. Merchants have found trade brisk from ,the north, and an advance of 5s per ton is recorded. The present rise should bring forward stocks in farmers' hands, but, contrary to recent advices, it is not thought a great quantity of first "class tubers is being held in the Oamaru district, seeing that an agent there has been executing his orders from Dunedin. It is generally considered, however, that the keen demand from the North Island is only temporary, as the Waitemata is taking a large cargo of potatoes from the Bluff next week for Auckland, and the placing of these on the northern market should immediately affect values. In addition, there are the Auckland new season s potatoes to be taken into consideration, but it will be well into November before these can be at a sufficiently low level to affect the demand for the old season's tubers. There is a brisk sale for onions. The Ulimaroa brought 882 bags to New Zealand from Melbourne on October 7. The supplies of eggs are keeping up well. Prices remain unchanged. Consignments of dairy butter are increasing daily, and values have eased. Pigs are in short supply, and consignments are wanted.

Current prices are as follow: Chaff.—Prime heavy oaten . sheaf, £4 10s to £4 12s 6d; choice black oat. £4 12s 6d to £4 15s; medium to good, £4 to £4 7s 6d; inferior, £3 and upwards. Straw.—Oaten, £2 5s to £2 7s 6d; wheaten, £1 10s to £1 15s per ton. Hay, £4 per ton. «•» % Potatoes.—Prime quality, £2 lEe to £3 per ton; medium to good, £2 7s 6d to £2 12s 6d; inferior potatoes, £1 to £1 10s. Onions.—Melbourne, £6 5s to £6 10s per ton for prime. Eggs.—Fresh, lOd per dozen; stamped, 10i-d. ' • ... , Butter.—Dairy, lOd per lb; milled. 10£d to Hd per lb; separator, in lib pats, lid to lljd. Figs.—Baconers, s£d per lb; pcrkers, od to 6d. . . , _ n , Bacon.—Rolls (in quantities), 8d; boneless hams, 8d to Bkt: sides. 6d to 6£d; hams under 203 b, 8d to per lb. FRUIT REPORT. A shipment of oranges, pines, and mandarine is expected to arrive to-day by the Sydney boat. Owing to the holiday on Monday these will be disposed of at auction this afternoon. The market is at present very bare of oranges. Tuesday's Melbourne boat brought only 500 cases of oranges and apples, all told, th© forme* coming from South Australia and the latter from Hobart. The next shipment of Island oranges is due to arrive in Dunedin about Thursday. As the Talune is only expected to reach Auckland to-day no idea can as yet be given of the shipment she has on board. The 900 cases of American apples which were landed on Monday arrived in splendid condition, and are said to be one of the finest samples of fruit ever landed here from that quarter. Thev met with a ready sale, realising from 14s to 15s 6d per case. One hundred oases of psars were also landed from America, coming to hand in excellent order. They wore readily sold at 8s to 8s 6d per case of 201 b. The kinds forwarded were Winter Nelis and Beurre die Clairegeau. • Only 1300 cases of bananas from Fiji and about 1100 cases from Rarotonga were landed on Monday. The shipment came to hand in fine condition, and realised top prices, Fijianß selling at 14s to 15s 9d per case and Rarotongans at 9s 6d to lis.

Several boxes of new potatoes grown on the Peninsula were disposed of yesterday, bringing 5d to sid per lb. A small parcel of green pens grown in the same locality fetched 6id per lb. Vegetables are- meeting with ready sale, ancl supplies are now getting a little more plentiful. The following are the current prices: Oranges.—Market is barely supplied. Sydnev, 8s to 10s; South Australian, 12s; Navels,- 14s to 15s. Passion fruit, in quarter cases. Very few offering, nominally 10s to 12s per half gin. Lemons.'—Mildura. 8s to 9s Cd; Adelaide, 10s to 10s 6d'. Apples. —Market barely supplied. F.C., lis to 12s; S.T.P., 12s to 13s; S.P.M., 12s to 13s 6d; American, 14s to 15s 6d per case. Pears. —American, 8s to 8s 6d per case of 201 b.

Pines. —Scarce. Roughs from 10s to 12s; Queens, 10s to 13a. Mandarins. —In short supply. Bananas.—Ripe, 3d; greem, 14s to 15a 9d per case.

Marmalade oranges.—None offering. i Asparagus, 3s 6d to 5s 9d per dozen bundles. - New Potatoes. —Auckland.. 2£& to 3d; local, 5d to 54-d Vegetables are in better supply. Cabbages, inferior, Is to 2s 6d per dozen. More offering. Lettuce, Is to 2« per case of two dozen. Cauliflower, 7s 6d to 10s per sack, 6s to 7s per dozen; medium, 5s to I 7s per sack; inferior, 3s to 4s per sack. Celery, 6d to Is per bunch of six sticks — j scarce. Carrots. 3r to 3s 9d per sack. 1 Parsnips, 3s 6d to 5s per sack, 8d to 9d j per dozen bunches. Beetroot, 6d to 8d i per dozen. Rhubarb is selling at from Id to lid per lb. - j THE CHEESE MARKET.

The South Island Dairy Association notifies that buyers liaye in the meantime cancelled all shipments of cheese to the West of England. This has been brought about by the fact that the Ayrshire, which was to have taken the West of England shipment, intends to call in at Australian ports after leaving • New Zealand.. This delay in getting their cheese on the West of England l market did not suit buyers, and the shipment will now be taken to London instead of its original destination. IMPORT MARKET. The most important item of news to record this week in the local merchandiso trade is an increase in the price of rice, which has advanced 25s per ton. V * Dessicated cocoanut shows a further advance in price, half chests are now quoted at 6d per lb, and chests ait ofd. Merchants are experiencing considerable difficulty In securing supplies. Cream of tartar is. in very short supply. It is now quoted at 'lOgd per lb.

Bulk dates are practically out of the market at present. Cable advice received from California thislmorning records a sharp advance in the .price of prunes. This fruit is quoted to arrive at the end of this month or beginning of November at 60/70's, 4sd; 80/90's, 4id per lb. "

North Island factories are now quoting bacon at 9d per lb, the increase being brought about by the present shortage c£ pigs- v ...'•' A cable has been received advising "a further advance in the price of new season's sultanas of 3s 6d per cwt. The old seaeon's fruit is now practically off the market,, all lots changing hands bringing 6j;d per lb. The Sytnra shipment of new friut is due here about the end of November. The ruling value of glucose is now £l3 7s 6d per ton, o.i.f. and o, which represents an increase of 7s 6d per ton on recent values.

Buffalo cornflour is now quoted at -£l3, o.i.f* and c. If our commercial cable of yesterday giving the price of fencing wire as £8 17s od be correct,: it means that the present cost at Home is relatively higher the local quotation —viz., £9 10s, and that a big advance has taken place in Home values. Local values will probably be shortly advanced' for lead in sympathy with the recent rise at Home. The increase will also affect the price of white lead.

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. A meeting of farmers was held in the Berwick Public Hall on Monday, 16th inst., to consider the best methods of coping with the rabbit pest during the summer months. Mr A. J. Wither was voted to the chair, and called for suggestions. After a good deal of discussion and a few suggestions from Mr M'Leod (inspector), it was moved by Mr M'Lennan and seconded by Mr R. Wilson, that a systematic poisoning with pollard poison be undertaken. The motion was carried unanimously, all farmers to commence poisoning on Tuesday, October 24. It was moved that six days be allowed for all ground to be carefully gone oyer. It ■ is said that the yearly cost to the Govermment of keeping down the rabbit pest is. £30,000. . • Of a consignment of 66 little owls despatched from England to the .order of the Waimate County Council, at a cost of £SO ' only 44 were received on September 26 ' On September 29 two of these died, and on Wednesday a third. The County Council mad© prompt arrangements _ for the pairing and liberation of the birds. In addition to being fierce enemies of the sparrow, the binds appear to be cannibals, as one was seen - to devour the carcase of a dead cage mate. The small birds' nuisance is even more acufo this season ■than before. . Several sales of wheat and pats have lately been made en the Taieri (says the Advocate), and the district is pretty well cleaned out of farm produce. The good prices ruling, coupled with the fact that farmers require their barns for shearing puiposes, have no 'doubt Induced farmers to sell. Lamomg has been fairly good, and although the shortage of winter feed means less sheep, those left look in splendid condition. The annual parade of entire horses under the patronage of the Tuapeka Agricultural Society and Waitahuna Farmers' Club took place at Mr John Thomson's. saleyards on Thursday afternoon. The weather was cold and stormy, but despite this there was a Su-src attendance of farmers from all the surT<mdmg districts. Four representatives of

the Clydesdale and two light horses were present—namely, Darnley (Marshal KeithPrimrose II), The Captain (Captain Stew-art —Flora II), Marmont (Marion—Queen Royal), Jubilee King (Young EnglandKate), General May (General Iracey— Jenny Traoey), Sfcruam (by Mambrino Mac'. A total of 375 animals were imported into the Dominion durbg the past year, says the Minister of Agriculture in his annual report. These were made up as under:—-15/ head of cattle, 118 sheep, 40 pigs, 65 dogs, and 15 deer. In the preceding year 115 head were imported, of which 49 were dogs, and 10 head of deer. The mpst striking difference is in cattle, only nine head (all bulls; being imported during 1909-10. By for the greater proportion of stock introduced during the past year were dairy cattle.

Quarters. 1911 11,505,000 1910 ...- ... 15,775,000 1909 11,765,000 1908 11,260,000