HANDLING OF BUTTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3117, 10 December 1913, Page 23

HANDLING OF BUTTER.

A(I R NTSC ENER AL ’ S INQUIRY. LONDON, December 3. The Agents-Gencral are making exhaustive inquiries into every branch of butter handling from business and shipping firms, the Port of London Authority, the railways, in Tooley-street, and from the president of the Wholesale Grocers’ Association. The views are widely divergent, and the

different suggestions bewildering *to the committee, which, however, has obtained a mass of information that will be beneficial to butter exporters. The committee expects to finish its inquiry in a fortnight. So far it has not elicited any direct evidence that a ring is controlling prices, which are mounting. DUN*DIN MARKET#. ]P£BH AJTO DAJBT PBODUCS. Messrs MTlroy Bros, and Ogiivio (saooef* bots to Irvins and Stevenson), George street, report paying for produce during the week ending the 9th inst., as follows: Fresh eggs. lUd dor I Separator butter, 10J4 Salt butter : uot buying | per lb Fresh butter, good ordinary (in Ub and |lb prints), 9d to lOd per lb. Pigs, ISOlb to :601b, sid. Honey, id. Fowls, 3o to Ss 6d (boiling), wholxsxlx raoancß xbpoxts. Lindsay and Co.. Princes street south, re* port under date the 9th inst.;

Wheat per bushel. Best millinjr 4/o—4/i Medium do 3/8 - 3/10 Fowls' ... 3/9—3/10 Milling oats 2/3—tf/4 Feed oats ... 1/10—2/0 Malt barley ... 4/6 Feed barley 2/6—3/0 Cape barley ... 2/tJ klaize 4/0 per ton. .Hour, in 200'« ... 186/0 Flour, in 50'a ... l«6Ai P«llard I^o/ Hran tbl Oatmeal, in 25'i St'o/0 Pearl biiiley ... £&V,V llRS". fresh ... 1/0

Oaten chaff l'rinie 82/ff—92/8 (iood 80/0 Medium 55/o—6o/0 Inferior 30/0-45/0 Ryegrass and clover hay 65/B—7o/P Straw : Wheaten ... 35/0 Oaten 40/0 Rolled bacou ... lOjd Side bacon ... J'Jd J Smoked haias ... Ixd I Uuceso €d—7d Salt butter 9d—ltd (according to quuHtyJ

Potatoes.—Dull inquiry; shippers are not operating. Prime lots, £1 10s, medium and inferior neglected £1 10s to £l. ChaS.—Prime bright lots meet with ready sales, but medium and inferior are neglected. Prime, £1 to £4- 10s; medium to good, £3 os to £3 15s; light and discoloured, 00a. Onions.—Melbourne, £l3; J apaaese, extr# prime, £l6.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CABLE- - GRAM. WELLINGTON, December 8. The High Commissioner cabled oji December o (the quotations, unless otherwise specified, are the average market prices on spot) : Mutton.—Slightly advanced in all grades on account of the very limited supply. North Island, sd; ewes, 4Ad. Lamb.—Good demand for all lambs. Tho stock on hand is light. Canterbury twos, 5/Jd; heavy-weight, tours, sad; other than Canterbury, s£d for light-weight. Beef.—Market very firm, owing to short supply of chilled beef in consequence of large shipments to America. Now Zealand hinds, 4id; fores, 4d ; chilled hinds, sd; fores, 4(1. Butter.—Market firm at an advance in prices. New Zealand choicest is in great, demand owing to short supply. Danish, 129 s to 1525; New Zealand, 128 s to 130 s( Australian, 118 s to 1245; Argentine, 113 s to 1225; Siberian. 108 s to 112 s. Cheese.—Market lirmcr, with fair demand. English Cheddar, 80s to 84s; Canadian white, 65s to 675; coloured, 66s to 68s; New Zealand white, 65s to 66-; coloured, 66s to 675; Australian, 62s to 655; Dutch, 61s to 63;. The estimated Canadian cheese stocks at London, Liverpool, and Bristol on December 1 were 309,000 boxes, against 365,000 last year. The New Zealand and Australian stock for thsame dates at London and Bristol was 5700 crates, against 8000. Hemp.—The Manila market has been very depressed during the week. Selling prices have declined. Tho market, is somewhat steadier. Fair current Manila, £29; forward shipment, £23 ss. The output from Manila for tho week was 26,000 bales. Tho New Zealand market declined hi sympathy with Manila, hut good business has been clone at the lower prices. Buyers’ values to-day are:—New Zealand good fair, £27; fair, £24. Forward shipment: Good fair, £26 12s 6d to £26 15s;'fair, £24 15s. Tho sisal market is weaker, with a tendency downward. Reliable quotations are difficult oji account of exchange fluctuating. Tho approximate value is £27, c.i.f.. Europe. W 001. Market steady. Prices about the same. EXPORTS' FROM NEW ZEALAND. WELLINGTON, December 3. The total value of exports of New Zealand produce during November was £517.197. compared with £1,148.094 in the corresponding month of last year. For the 12 months ended November 30, 1913, the value of exports amounted to £22,280.135, compared with £19.659,918 in the previous 12 months. Tho values of the principal items for November, 1913. were as follow (the figures for 1912 being given in parentheses);— Butter, £242.907 (£266,646); cheese, £110,336 (£132.123); frozen mutton, £l7 (£32,010; frozen lamb, £B6O (£2078); hemp. £7659 (£30,258); rabbits and hares. £9529 (£4”56) ; kauri gum, £763 (£17,147); hides and skins,

£3O 563 (£86,605); tallow, £4237 (£22,047); timber, £18,593 (£30.741); xvool, £29.192 (£312,161); gold, £14.776 (£105,659). TRADE WITH BRISTOL. WELLINGTON, December 3. • The Wellington office of the Bristol and Dominions Producers’ Association was advised by cablegram from Bristol to-day that the first shipment of butter sent by the Ruapehu, via London, realised 127 s 9d )>er cwt. The message further advises that the market for meat is steady, and for butter and cheese firm. i ARGENTINE MEAT EXPORTS. WELLINGTON. December 6. i The Department of Agriculture has re- j aeivod the following cablegram from Buenos Aires, dated December 4 : Shipment of produce despatched from Argentine to the United Kingdom during November, 1913, compared with November, i 1912: — 1913. 1912. Frozen beef, quarters 76,000 145,00!) 1 Chilled beef, quarters 276,0g0 186,000 Frozen mutton, carcases 114,000 208,000 Frozen lamb, carcases - 41,000 05,000 . Butter, cwts 4,575 14,:ioo SOUTHLAND MARKETS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, December 5. The oat market continues quiet, and there is nothing doing. About 10,000 sacks were shipped from Bluff for Auckland by the Waitomo, but most of this was in fulfilment of sales made some considerable . time ago. At present A Grade Cartons can be sold at 2s 2£d to 2s 3d, f.0.b., Bluff, | and B grade at 2s 2d to 2s 2jd, but there ; are not many offering at this figure. Prices to farmers remain the same as previously—viz., Is Bjd on trucks, at country stations for A grade Cartons, sacks extra. There is a fair demand- for prime chaff, and farmers can readily obtain £3 5s on trucks for this quality. The demand for local potatoes is purely local, as new potatoes are very plentiful in the North Island. It is expected that the demand for old potatoes will be practically over by next xveek, as the Wanaka is bringing considerable supplies of new potatoes from Auckland. There is very little doing in ryegrass, either Italian or perennial, although there has been a little more inquiry during the past week or txvo. probably for autumn Bowing in the North Island. The fibre market continues quiet, in fact the price has declined 10s to 15s in London. Freights also have advanced 10s per ton bo that outside values at present xvould bo £lB 15s on trucks per ton fair, £l9 15s for high fair, and £2O 10s for good fair, net, to millers. OAMARU MARKETS. (From Ocb Own Correspondent.) OAMARU, December 6. Facilities for shipment, which were interrupted for weeks by the strike, having been reatored, a strong inquiry for wheat has set in from northern centres, and a fiillip has been given to business in this market, but the quantity of wheat available here, or at any rate offering from the coun- .

try, hag fallen short of the demand, and possibilities of business have consequently been restricted. A few good lines have, however, changed hands, these Including one of 1000 sacks of velvet at 4s Ojd net, 550 sacks of velvet at 4s lid (less commission), 600 sacks of solid straw Tuscan at 3s 8d net, and 340 sacks of red chaff at 5s 9jd npt, all on trucks at country stations. Other smaller transactions at country stations have included velvet at 4s Ojd, solid straw Tuscan at 3s 7jd and 3s 8d net, and Marshall’s white at 3s A proportion of this wheat lias been drawn from South Canterbury, whence comes a report of the sale of 15,000 sacks in one line at Waihao Downs.at 4s Id for the velvet, 3s lOd for the red chaff, and 3s &d for 1 1 io Marshall’s white, the prices being reducible to the grower by brokerage. Fowl wheat is wanted, and is exceedingly scarce Hero. Sex oral parcels have been sold here for shipment at 5s Hid and 4s f.0.b., sacks in. the higher money having been given for whole wheat. Very little business has been done in oats, and the market lacks strength. Some A grade Cartons have been sold at 2s less commission and Is lid net at country stations. For a fair-sized line of super B grade Cartons Is lid net was given at a country station. A small parcel of Algerians changed hands at a country station at Is 8d net^ Oatensheaf chaff is hard to get. and £3 12s 6d at a country station was given for a small lot during the week. BALCLUTHA SALE. At the usual fortnightly stock sale, held at Balelutlia on the 28th ult.. a moderate yarding of sheep came forward, made up chiefly of wethers and ewes of good quality, for which there was a ready sale at late rates. Fat wethers (in woo!) realised 26s to 28s bd ; extra do. to 335; medium wethers (in wool), 22s 6d to 245; f;it ewes (in wool). 22s to 24s 9d; medium do, 13s 6d to 20s; fat wethei-s (shorn), 22s to 245; medium do, 20s 6d to 21s 6d; fat ewes (shorn), 18s 6d to 20. s 6d ; light do. 15s 6d to 17s. The demand for store sheep was not keen, but prices realised were* highly satisfactory. Fat and forward wethers made up to 245. F. and f.m. ewes with lambs sold at 12s scl to 13s all counted for best sorts; medium do, 9s 6d to 10s 3d all counted. A good yarding of cattle also came forward. The demand for fats was good, and a highly satisfactory sale resulted. Best bullocks brought £l2 to £l3 ss; medium do, £lO to £ll ss; best cows and heifers, £8 to £9 10s; medium do. £7 10s to £8; light do, £6 to £7. The demand for store cattle was inactive, and a largo proportion of the yarding were turned out unsold. A small yarding of pigs met with a ready sale at highly satisfactory prices. Best weanors sold at from 18s to 225; medium do, 15s to 17s. CRAIN AND PRODUCE SALES. Messrs Donald Reid and Co. report:— We held our weekly sale of grain and produce on Monday, when values ruled as under:—Oats: The market is practically unchanged. Prime milling. 2s to 2s Id; good feed. Is lOd to Is lid; inferior to jpedium. Is 6d to Is lOd. Wheat: There is good demand for all milling wheat. Whole foxvl wheat in prime condition is scarce, and moots with ready sale. Prime milling

velvet, 4s 2d to 4s 3d; velvet ear, 3s 10d to 4s; Tuscan, 3s 9d to 3s lOd; best whole fowl wheat, 3s 6d to 3s 8d; medium, 3s 2d to 3s 4d; broken and damaged, 2s 6d to 3s. Potatoes; The market is at present over-supplied with old potatoes, and it is difficult to effect sales of any sort except ■freshly-picked prime tables. Prime table potatoes, 20s to 255; other sorts, 15s to 20s. Chaff: There is still a scarcity of prime, oaten chaff, and any lots coming to hand ar? eagerly sought after. Medium, however. is dull of saie. Choice black oat, £4 10s; best oaten sheaf. £4 5s to £4 7s 6d ; medium to good, £3 10s to £3 jss; discoloured, £3 to £3 ss. Messrs Dalgety and Co. report as follows: We .held our weekly sale of grain and produce on Monday, when values ruled as under:—Oats: There is nothing fresh to report, Offerings are light and the demand is very slack. Good heavy Cartons suitable Tor milling are .saleable at quotations. Prime heavy Cartons, to 2s Id; good to best food. Is lid to 2s; medium, Is Bcl to Is lOd ; inferior, from Is 6d per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat: There is a good demand from millers for any lines of wheat in good milling condition. Very little is offering, and any lines available meet a ready sale at quotations. Fowl wheat is in short supply, and meets an excellent demand. Prime milling velvet, to 4s 3d ; velvet ear and red chaff, 3s lOd to 3s lid; prime milling Tuscan. 3s 9d to 3s lOd; best whole fowl wheat, 3s -6d to 3s 8d ; medium, 3s 3d to 3s sd; damaged, 2s 9d to 3s per bushel (sacks extra). Potatoes: Consignments of old potatoes continue to come to hand, hut are meeting with a very slack demand. In fact, only choice, freshly.picked lots in firm condition are saleable, medium and poor quality being unsaleable. Choice, freshly-picked tables, 20s to 25s per ton (sacks in); others unsaleable. Chaff; Consignments of late have been light, mid any prime heavy oaten sheaf coining forward meets a ready sale at quotations. Stocks in store arc now lighter. Medium and discoloured are not meeting with the same demand and are difficult to place. Choice black oaten sheaf, to £4 10s; best white oaten sehaf, £4 2s 6d to £4 7s 6d ; medium to good, £3 15s to £4 per ton (sacks extra). HIDE SALES. MELBOURNE. December 4. At the hide sales there were average supplies and fair competition. Prices were i d to |d lower. SHEEPSKIN SALES. The Dunedin Wool brokers’ Association (Messrs Dalgety anil Co., A. Moritzson and Co.. National Mortgage and Agency Company, New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Otago Farmers. Cooperative Association. Donald Reid and Co., Stronach, Morris, and Co., and W right, Stephenson, and Co.) report as follows;Tho fortnightly sales were held on the 2nd inst., when fair-sized catalogues were offered to the usual gathering of buyers. Bidding at the beginning of the sales was rather dull, but towards tho end it improved. All catalogues were cleared, but prices were !d to ad lb lower than values ruling at ast sales. Quotations: Best full-woollcd hnlfbreds, to 9cl ; medium, BJd to Br<l ; halfwoolled, to B|d; inferior, 73d to 8d; best

full-woolled fine crossbreds, Pd to 8 pi; medium,.,74<i to 8d ; best crossbreds, to 8d; medium. 73d to 7£d; inferior, 7d to 7jd; ha.lf-woolled, Jpl to 7£d ; short, 63d to 7pi; beet merino, to 7pl; medium, 63d to 7d; dead, to 6d ; crossbred dead, 6d to 6sd ; hoggets dead 6id to 6pl; best pelts, to s|d; medium, 43d to 'spl. RABBIT .SKIN SALES. The Dunedin Woolbrokers’ <. Association (Messrs Dalgety and Co., A. Moritzson and Co., National Mortgage and Agency Co., Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Otago Farmers’ Co-operative Association, Donald Reid and Co., Stronach, Morris, and Co., and Wright, Stephenson, and Co.) reports as follows: —Tho rabbitskin sale was held yesterday, when small catalogues wore submitted all round, prices as a whole being on the level of last sale. Quotations: —First winter does, to 26d; second <jp, to 203 d; first winter bucks, to 20d; second do, to J8pl; outgoing winters, to 17pl; racks, to lOjd; winter blacks, to 27c1; fawns, to ISpl; springs, to 13^1; hareskhis. to B?pl; horsehair, to 18j>d; catskins, to 9i,d. OTAGO FARMERS’ HORSE BAZAAR. The Otago Farmers’ Co-oporat.ve Association of New Zealand (Ltd.) reports: —We held our usual weekly horse sale in our bazaar on .Saturday, when we offered to a full attendance of buyers an entry comprising 35 horses of all classes. Consignments were forward from South Canterbury, Blueskin, Port Chamlers, Otago Peninsula, and the Taieri districts, and although bidding was perluqai a little duller than usual a big proportion of the entry changed hands at satisfactory prices. There is still a good demand for useful mares and geldings for farm and town carriers’ work. We quote: Good young draught marcs, at from £3B to £45; extra good Clydesdale marcs, suitable for stud purposes, £45 to £0 guineas; superior young draught geldings, fit for shaft and lorry work, £3B to £4B; extra, to £55; ordinary draught mares and geldings, at from £2B to £SB; aged draughts, at from £lO to £2O; good strong upstanding vanners, at from £25 to £33; heavy spring carters, at from £2O to £27 10s; ordinary spring-carters, at from £ls to £2O; upstanding buggy mares and geldings, from £l6 to £25; hacknovs and cob ponies, from £8 to £ls.