THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3014, 20 December 1911, Page 22

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Friday evening. The London market would appear to have become steadier, though there is no dogi movement iii prices. An Australian 6 has been sold at Home at 35s 7£cl, 13.000 quarters of Victorian and 6200 ot South Australian (December shipt) at 36s 3£d. The latter sale may be Classed as a purely speculative one, as the ifdieai will not be bn the Home market iiil about March next year. It indicates, idwever, that Mark Lane is recovering Com the recent depression. The firmness is irobably accounted for by adverse reports a to the crops in Argentina, and also \y the decreased quantity of wheat and our afloat this week for the United Kingorri and the Continent. The overseas exhorts are very small indeed, amounting to bnly 3,545,000 quarters, as against 4,200,000 Quarters the previous week. However, the requirements of importing countries are

smaller this year, the French crop having been a good one, and this may account for a decreased export in the meantime.

The firmness in the Home market is reflected in the Commonwealth, Sydney values having advanced from 3s 6£d —3s 7d to 3s 7d —3s 7f d, and Melbourne prices from 3s 6d — 3s 7id to 3s Bd, and Adelaide from 3s 7d to 3s 7id. The total shipments to Europe from all parts of the world since the beginning of August to December 9 amount to 20,464,000 quarters, against 29,460,000 quarters for the corresponding period last season, and 25,250,00$ quarters two seasons ago. " Beerbobm" reports as follows under date November 3. —" The importance of the Argentine as a source of supply during the first few months of the year, when that country has been favoured with a good crop, is shown by the following tabular statement: Argentine Exports to J*jhope During January to April for ;Jhe Past Five Years . (In Quarters). 1911. 1910. 1909. 1908. 1907. 5,1-18,000 3,961,000 7,982,000 J 0,102,000 6,490,000 The yields during the pasj five years were as follows:—17,500,000 charters in 1910, 16,500,000 quarters in 19??'. 20,150,000 quarters in 1903, 24,500,009 garters in 1907,

and 19,100,000 quarters in 1906. This year's crop, with favourable weather conditions in the next two months, is expected to exceed that of 1907 by 2,0O0;0Q0 to 3,000,000 quarters; i.i the four months of January to April, following the previous record crop of 1907, the weekly exports averaged about 575,000 quarters, whilst in the same period of 1910, following, the small crop of 1909, the average was only 230,000 quarters. It will be. seen by tho above figures how important the Argentine shipments are at a period when exports from most other countries are on a reduced scale, and this will in all probability be more than usually the case this season, when the exports so far have been only about equal to the current requirements. Stocks have only increased to a small extent, so that importing countries will be more in need of large supplies from the Argentine than during the past two years, when the enormous exports from Russia enabled good reserves to be formed for the winter months. The Australasian of December 9 says:— " Business in Melbourne has been on a mc derate scale, though the feeling has been steadier in sympathy with London. The quantity of new wheat offering, though not large, is gradually increasing, while the quality of wtreat that has so far reached town has "been generally good, the grain being

hard and bright. Parcels are quoted at 3s 7£d, botn for old and new wheat. Quotations for small farmers' lots in the country are on the basis of 3s 6jd to 3s 7^d." Millers are still refraining from purchasing, and the wheat market is very quiet. Farmers are offering a few lines at a decrease on the values recently riding, but are, as already stated, experiencing a difficulty in getting responses from millers, and there are no other operators in the market. In the absence of any volume of business, prices are only nominal, Tuscan and velvet ear being quoted at about 3s 9d, and velvet at 5s 9J.il to 3s lOch Fowl wheat, for which there is very little inquiry, 3s 8d to 3s 9d. The "tariff of the Flourmillers' Association for flour and other lines is as follows : Flour—Sacks, £8 15s; 1001 b bags, £9; 501 b bags,, £9 ss; 251 b bags. £9 10s. Oatmeal, £l3 10s per ton. Pearl barley, £l4 per ton. Bran, £4 15s per ion. Pollard, £5. The oat market continues in a stagnant condition, and prices seem a little easier. There is_ the usual average local demand, but apart from this there is little inquiry, a few lines only going north to fill coastal orders. The elections and the coming holidav season have further accentuated the dullness, and in addition a number of the local firms are preparing for their annual balance, and are not keen under the circumstances to push business. In fact, the uncertainty as to when the new crop will be on the market, with the consequent drop in values, is making merchants very chary about entering upon new business, and a number of them are already anxious to dispose of their few small remaining stocks. Prices (nominally) are about 3s 2d fo,r A grade Gartons, f.0.b., s.i., with B grade Gartons and A grade Sparrows at i<L less. PRODUCE REPORT. A good demand exists for chaff of prime quality, and prices remain firm. Medium and inferior lots, however, are difficult to quit. The • market is getting- bare of old potatoes, and with rather more inquiry prices have hardened. Values for onions have further increased, and these are very scarce at present in thfa local market. The Melbourne market is also firm, at up to £8 10s per ton. New Victorian Globe onion® arc due to arrive by Tuesday's boat. Supplies of eggs are not nearly equal to the demand, and prices have gone up from 2d to 3d pea - dozen. A brisk demand still continues for dairy a butter, but quotations remain unchanged. Consignments of pigs are not sufficient for the. demand, and as a result rolls, sides, and hams have increased from Id to lid per lb. - Current prices arc as follow: Chaff.—Prime heavy oaten sheaf, £4 5s to £4 7s 6d; choice black oat, £4 7s 6d to £4 10s; medium to good, £3 15s to £4; ini ferior, £3 and upwards. • Straw.—Oaten, £2 5a to £2 7s 6d; wneaten, £1 15s to £<2. Hay, £4 per ton. Potatoes.—Prime quality, £1 5s to £1 10s per ton. Onions.—Melbourne, £lO 10s per ton Eggs.—Fresh, Is Id to Is 2d per dozen; stamped. Is 2d to Is 3d. Butter—Dairy, B£d to 9d per lb; milled, 9d per lb; separator, in lib pats, 9^d Pigs—Racorior.s, s|d per lb; porkers, 5 id to sgd. 2 Bacon.—Rolls (in quantities), 9£d; boneless hams, lOd; sides, 6d to 6id; hams urder HOlb, 9£d per lb. FRUIT REPORT. Fruit merchants report having had a very busy time during the week owing to the arrival of large consignments of mut-from America, Fiji, and Rarotonga. On Monday portion, of a consignment of <spyj cases of American apples and about , tne same quantity of American oranges was landed, and the remainder of the shipment will come to hand-next Monday the consignment being short shipped at Wellington Thursday's northern boat Ugl !r<-,n S9o ° CaS '? 3 oi Fi J ; bananas and over HUQ eases from Rarotonga. The Amenc.n fruit arrived in splendid condition, especially being of verv ! fine quality As regards the banana con- | signments, die crates had evidently been l knoefced about in transit, and bore a rather damaged appearance. The greater trSe" fmitS had been * pld to Very good supplies of strawberries have been coming forward, principally from the Alexandra Roxburgh, and Waimate dis- : tncts. These have been realising <rood : prices, in spite of the continued wet weather. The weather has also retarded the growth of the local strawberries, but it is expected that these will be ripe in timo for the Christmas trade. . The Roxburgh, Alexandra, and Ashburton districts are forwarding fair quantities of cherries, but values do not rule so high as were current at this timo last year. Auckland-grown plums—the small red cooking variety—have made their appearance in the .local market, and are realising from 5s .3d to 5s 6d per box. Parcels of eating plums should be to hand by next week. Supplies of gooseberries have slackened off. Choice large are meeting with a good demand. There was a sharp rise in green peas, of good quality, at this morning's sale, prices increasing to 4d per lb, as compared" with the previous Thursday's quotation of 3d - Medium grade, 2£d to 3d per lb. Peninsula new potatoes are arriving in quantity, and values have receded to Id and per lb. Auckland-grown new tubers are in over supply, and merchants arc finding a difficulty in placing consignments at payable prices. This season's Oamaru potatoes are also coming forward freely, and are quoted at £7 to £7 10s per ton. | The following are the current prices : j Oranges.—Californian, 16s to 18s; Sydj ncy and Adelaide have little inquiry, 6s to Bs. j Plums.—Auckland, 5s 3d to 5s 6d; cherry plums, 6s to 7s. Lemons. —Italian, 16s 6d per half box. Apples.—American Winesaps, 15s to 16s. Pines. —Scarce. Rarotongan, 7s to 10s' I Bananas. —Rarotongan green, 10s to lis; j Suvan, 10s 6d to 13s 6d. Tomatoes.—Auckland, Od to Is; Christ- : church, Is to Is 2d; local hothouse, Is 6d I per lb. J Strawberries, from 6gd to per pottle • loose, from 6gd to lOd per lb. Cherries. —Melbourne, 16s od to 26s per crate; Alexandra, Roxburgh, and Ashburton, 6d to 8d; extra choice, up to 10d. Cucumbers.—Auckland, 6s 6d to 9s per dozen; Queensland, 6s to 10s per case. Asparagus.—Not so plentiful; 5s 6d per dozen bundles. ) New Potatoes. —Auckland rounds, hard to

soil at from 4s to 6s per cental: Peninsula, Id to lid. j Gooseberries. —Small hardly saleable; | chrice large, 2j>d. Green peas, 3J>d to 4d per lb. Vegetables. —Cabbages, Is to 2s 6d : per dozen; sacks, 3s 6d to ss. Lettuce, 8d to Is 6d per case of two dozen. Cauliflower, 7a 6d to 10s per sack, 6s 6d to 1.2 s 6d per dozen; inferior, 3s to 4s per sack. Celery, very little offering. Carrots, 3s 6d to 4s 6d per sack, 6d to 9d per dozen bunches. Parsnips, 3s 6d to 5s per sack, 8d to 9d per dozen bunches. Beetroot, 6d to 8d per dozen. IMPORT MARKET. Local merchandise merchants have been exceedingly busy during the past week, as a result of retailers laying in large stocks of goods in anticipation of the usual increase of business at this time of the year. It is asserted in one or two quarters, however, that the volume of business transacted is not on such a large scale as has been recorded at this time in some previous years. Seeded raisins are completely out of the market, owing to the delay at Auckland in transhipping the cargo from the San Francisco steamer Strathardlc. This steamer arrived at Auckland last Thursday week, but owing to the elections and the fact that the southern cargo was placed below that for northern ports. D'unedin consignments have not yet come to hand. It is thought that the Wimmera, which arrives to-morrow, may bring on the local orders, but if they do not come to hand, then - there will hardly be a sufficient interval before Christmas to allow of the raisins being disposed of in time to meet the I special demand which exists at this parj ticular time of the year. Meantime many ! grocers oannot get their orders for raisins , tilled. ; The market is also bare of last season's seedless raisins, but the new season's fruit is not expected to arrive until some time after the .New Year. i Cream of* tartar is now almost unpro- : curable. I Sicily almonds are in short supply, and the price has been advanced to Is 4d per lb, an increase on last week's quotations of Id per ib. j Crystallised cherries are in good demand, values ruling at Is 6d per lb. The Tongariro brought several lines which were being eagerly awaited by merchants. Included in the were Peck's pastes—salmon and shrimp, ham and chicken, salmon and anchovy, and bloater, in vases and tureens. Parcels of Juno tobacco also came to hand by this steamer. , A parcel of Malaga muscatels arrived j by last Tuesday's Melbourne boat, and met with a ready demand. Jordan almonds also came forward by <he same steamer. | Tho Opawa brought supplies of fine salt, ] which commodity had got into very small ! compass. | A parcel of new season's salmon is ex- | pected to arrive on Tuesday, being transhipped at Melbourne from the Kisb. The salmon will come on to a very bare market. The Home prices of currants have advanced, and the prospect is that they will further increase in values. So far, the enhanced values have not been reflected in the local market. Quite an exceptional demand exists for figs, at present, which is rather in strange contrast to the condition of things prevailing at this time last year. The extra demand is accounted for by the fact that the ngs are being more used for confectionary purposes. Cement has been reduced 6d per cask, and iG now quoted at 13s. BUTTER AND CHEESE EXPORTS. t i Mr J J^ 11 - Scotfc > secretary of the South Island Dairy Association, reports that the Remuera, took from New Zealand 53,775 boxes of butter and 10,207 cases of cheese. lhe balance of the f.:rtnightly shipment oi cheese—about 16,000 crates—will be taken by the Kaikoura, sailing on the 19th. A comparison .with the corresponmg fortnight's shipments last year shows a shortage of some 10,000 boxes of butter and an increase of about 7000 crates of cheese.