THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3017, 10 January 1912, Page 18

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Friday evening. Tlio Home wheat market at the present time is reported as being practically governed by the crop prospects in the Argentine, bat notwithstanding the fact that latest cable advices from London assert that bad weather has damaged the South American crops, and reduced the estimated returns from 6,000,000 tons to 5,000,000 tons, the prices at Mark lane do not show any appreciable fluctuation. During the week sales of Australian cargoes have been reported from Jxmdon at 365, 36s 9d, and a January shipment at 36s 3d, which represents about the range of prices for the past few weeks. Notwithstanding these adverse crop reports from Argentine, however, there is no question that the output this season will he far beyond that of last year. Our I.ondon cable of January i reports tliat the export that week from the Argentine totalled l,COo,oooqre, which represents a big increase on the previous week, and goes to prove that the Argentine crop, after all is said, is going to be a big one this year. The American visible supply east of the Roekj Mountains was estimated at the ond of December at 114,192,000 bushels, or an increase of 4,002,000 bushels since the previous week. At the corresponding date last year the estimated supply was 76,179.000 bushels. Referring to the enormous visible American supply, the Sydney Mail has this to say: —In spits of the increasing supply, the Home market has maintained its strength. The crops of the United Stales and Canada, with normal movement, do not warrant such a supply. Probably the explanation is that the cash is wanted by the growers to a greater extent than in previous years. and hence they arc hurry-, ing it to the distributing centres in advance of the usual time. Another reason advanced is die low grading of much of the wheat. To learn that prices are above what this heavy visible supply warrants we have only to consider the figures and the prices for some years back. On November 1 the world’s visible supply over a course of five years, and English prices, were:—

The world’s visible wheat supply on November 1 European. American. Total. English 1000 Qrs. 1000 Qrs. 1000 Qrs. Avr. Price

Wc see that although tho total visible supply on November 1 was almost equal io that on the came day of lost year, the price was 3s better, and with mucli lower visible supplies in 1909, 19C3, and 1907, it is not till wo reach the last year that tho English average price is greater than today. There must bo great faith in the mark'd.” Our Friday’s cable from the Common-

wealth (shows that the Sydney prices remain unchanged from the previous week, the quotation being 5s 6:jd to 5s while in Melbourne values have risen from 5s 7gd to 3s 7jd. The total shipments to Europe from all parts of tlio world since the beginning of August to the end of December, 1911, amounted to 23,679,000qr5, against 33.520,000qrs for the corresponding period las\ season and 28,630,000qrs two seasons ago. ills Australian Commonwealth crop is now expected to reach a total of about 70,000,000 bushels, which, with the oamryover of about 10 million bushels, makes a total supply of 80 million bushels. After providing tor Australian requirements, this would enable about 45 million bushels to be exported during the now season So far as the local wheat market is concerned there is no improvement in prices to report. Offerings, however, have in creased during tho week, and several thousand sacks from the Waimato and Ashburton districts could have been secured had local millers been desirous of doing business. Prices ranged from 3s 5d to 3s 6d, on trucks, in tho Ashburton districts, and 3s 6d in the vicinity of Studhoime. Tharo are no offerings, however, being received from tho south, and it is highly probable therefore that there is very little wheat lefi iu this latter district. With the now harvest ready at about the middle of February, and millers carrying fairly largo slocks, there does not appear any indication that there will be a shortage of old wheat this season. Local agents are asking from 5s 9d to 3s lOd for red sorts, ex truck Dunedin, and up to 3s lid for velvet. I.hero has not been any volume of business done during the week, one or two millers operating, however, to th© extent of a few hundred hags, and securing most of their supplies from South Canterbury agents. Best whole fowl wheat rules at 5s 7d to 3s Bd. The tariff of th© Flourmilicrs’ Association for flour and other lines is as follows; Flour—Sacks, £8 15s; 1001 b bags, £9; 591 b bags, £9 ss; 251 b bags, £9 10s. Bran, £4 15s per ton. Pollard, £5.

- Oatmeal is quoted at £l3 10s per ton, and pearl barley at £l4 per ton. As a result of most of the mills being closed down for the holidays, stocks of pollard have got very low, and the demand far exceeds the supply. As soon as the mills commence full work again, however, the scarcity should soon bo removed. In the absence of any business in the cat market, it is impossible to give any exact quotation. A Gartons arc worth about 3s Id, f.0.b., s.i. There is no doubt that the quantity of oats available is very small, but with the restricted demand the supply may be sufficient to carry on till the new Canterbury crop comes on the market, PRODUCE REPORT. Consignments of chaff are light, but, nevertheless, there is only a fair demand. The holidays have interfered considerably with business, and, in addition, buyers appear to have sufficient on hand for some time. A few old potatoes are still" coming to luind, but the demand has now practically ceased for the season. Oaten and wheaten straw is in very short supply, and consignments are ■wanted. Consignments of eggs arc coming forward in heavy supply, and prices have eased. The demand continues for all consignments of dairy butter. Pigs are also in keen demand; in fact, the supply is not equal to the inquiry. Current prices are as follow: Chaff. —Prime heavy oaten sheaf, £4 2s 6d to £4 ss; choice black oat. £4 7s 6d to £4 10s; medium to good, £3 15s to £4; in- ( ferior, £3 and upwards. iStraw. —Oaten, £2 5s to £2 7s 6d; wheaten, £2. Hay, £4 per ton. Potatoes. —Prime quality £1 per ton. Onions. —Melbourne, £l3 per ton. Eggs. —Fresh, Is per dozen; stamped, Is Id.

Butter.—Dairy, Sad to 9d per lb; milled, 9d per lb; separator, in 11b pats, 9id. Pigs—Baconers, s|d per lb; porkens, sid to Sjd. Bacon.—Rolls (in quantities), 9id : boneless hams, lOd; sides, 6d to 6id; hams urder 201 b, per lb. FRUIT REPORT. The market is now being fairly supplied with both locally and New Zealand grown fruit. Raspberries are commencing to come forward,- and it is anticipated that good supplies will bo to hand by next week. Present values range from 4£d to 5d per lb for 121 b buckets and 4id to sjd for lib pottles. Extra choice are worth a little more. Fair quantities of strawberries are still arriving. \ alucs rule as per quotations given below. Only small consignments of cherries came forward by Tuesday’s Melbourne boat. Prices for locally-grown cherries have consequently considerably improved, and sales were made at Miction this morning at as high as Is 4id per lb. The market is absolutely bare of apples. Supplies of American oranges are just about exhausted. It is expected, however, that a further consignment of American apples will arrive within the next few days.

Some 500 cases of Rarotongan bananas arrived during the week. The fruit arrived in very indifferent condition, and sales were made at from 5s up to 8s 6d per case, according to quality. A shipment of bananas from Suva is expected next week. It is reported, however, that the recent hurricane experienced in the Islands has seriously affected the crop, and as a result supplies are not expected to be so heavy as has been the case of late. Alexandra-grown peaches have made their appearance on the market, a small line being disposed of by auction at Friday morning’s sale, and cringing 7£d per lb. This consignment of fruit was specially packed in trays. Supplies arc expected to increase in quantity within the next week or 10 days. The holiday demand for tomatoes has slackened off, and, with increasing supplies, prices have receded. Christchurch tomatoes are now being sold under the hammer at 6id to Bjd per lb, Auckland fruit bringing a little less. Fair consignments of gooseberries are coming on the market, but a good proportion of the fruit, as a result of the recent wot weather, is in a soft condition, and inclined to rot. Green peas are plentiful, and prices have dropped id to Id per lb ;

New potatoes are now coming :n very freely, both from local growers and also from the Oamaru district. Prices as a result, have cased very considerably. The following are the current prices:— Oranges.—Californian, 17s to 18s Plums. —Auckland, 2s 6d to 4s per box; cherry piums, 5s 6d to ss. lemons.—ltalian. 16s per half box. Apples.—None offering, market bare. Pines. —Scarce Bananas. —Rarotongan, green, 7s to 8s; iii poor condition, 3s to ss. Tomatoes. —Auckland, 6d to . 7d ; Christchurch, 6£d to B^d. Strawberries. —From 6d to 8d per pot Co for medium quality; choice, 8d to Is; loose, from to lOd per lb. Cherries.—Alexandra and other New Zealand grown, lOd to Is 4id. Poaches. —Alexandra, in trays, 6d to Bd. Cucumbers. —Auckland, 5s to 7s 5d per dozen: local, 7s to 9s pcir dozen New Potatoes. —Oamaru, 7s 6d to 9s 4d per cwt: Peninsula. Id to lid per lb. Gooseberries. —Small hardly saleable; choice large, 2d to 3d. Green peas, lid to lid. Vegetables.—Cabbages, Is 6d to 2s -'per dozen: sacks, 2s to 3s 6d. Lettuce. 8d to Is 6d per case of two dozen. Cauliflowers. 5s to 6s per sack; Is 3d to' 4s 6d per dozen. Beetroot, 6d to 8d per dozen. IMPORT MARKETS. The Matatua. which arrived this week.

brought consignments of Three Castles cigarettes and loz and 2oz Three Castles tobacco, Morton’s cream of tartar, tartaric acid, and other lines which wore in short supply on the local market. Keillor and Son have notified distributer’s of an advance in the price of marmalade of 3d a dozen in 11b tins and 6d a dozen in 21b tins.

Evaporated apples are practically unprocurable in Dunedin at present, and dried apricots arc also about out of the market. Sicily almonds continue in short supply. Latest quotations are Is 3d to Is 4d per lb. The folio-wing prices are being charged for spa all quantities of the following spices: Allspice or piment—whole (por lb) lOd, ground Is; cassia Is 4d, whole ICd; oarraways—whole Bd, ground Is 3d; celery seed Is 6d; chillies Is 3d; cayenne Is 9d; coriander Is; cinnamon—whole 2s, ground la 9d; cloves —wliole Is 3d, ground Is -Id; ginger (bleached Cochin) —whole lOd, ground Is; mace —whole 3s, ground 3s 6d ; nutmegs —whole Is 3d, ground Is 9d ; pickling spice (loz) Is 6d; tumeric Is; mixed spioe—loos© or tins, Is. Glucose has again advanced in price, the present quotation being £l2 5s per ton. Oorniiour has also made a proportionate advance.

A Colombo tea firm advises its Dunedin agents as follows, under date December 9: “ It is difficult to know what to do about teas, for prices are rising higher and higher oaoh month. The moderate supplies being brought forward result in very keen competition for all kinds, and prices are likely to remain very firm.” This week’s cablegram says: —“ Market strong, and advancing for all kinds.” Homo cablegrams received this week advise that almost all hardware and ironmongery lines are advancing from 5 to 10 per cent, in price. Business in these commodities at Homo is stated to be exceptionally brisk at present, manufaoturci's now being called upon to make up for the setback caused by the recent strikes. Local stocks of imported cement have been augmented by shipments which came to hand per the Tongariro and Matatua. White lead is now quoted at fren) 29s to 31s p° r cwt, according to quantity. A reduction of Id per gallon has been made in the price of linseed oil. Quota- ! tions now rule at 4s lOd to 5s per gallon, ! according to quantity. ! As a result of the continued high value of lead, lead piping has been, advanced j 2s per cwt. | A shipment of White Rose kerosene is due to arrive, ox the s.s. Falls of Orohy, in the middle of next month. The quota- : tion for 25-oaso lots and over is lOd per gallon, net cash with order. “ Shell ” kerosene, to arrive bv the- s.s. Terrier about February 10, is also quoted at lOd per gallon, net cash with order.

inn 0,890 11,450 21,540 33/4 mio .. 12,685 8,020 21,605 30/4 moo .. 7,605 6,800 14,4X5 31/10 1008 .. 7,875 0,085 16.060 30/8 1007 .. 8,000 8,250 16,540 36/3