THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3205, 18 August 1915, Page 15

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Friday evening. Millers report that business is in a rather unsatisfactory position. It is reported that some Timaru millers are now undercutting prices all round, quoting £ls, f.0.b., Christchurch and Dunedin, and as low as £l4 10s, f.0.b., Auckland. In order to hold their own the Dunedin millers have had further to reduce their prices. Even allowing that the price of wheat is lower than that ruling some time back, millers could not buy milling wheat to-day at 5s 9d a bushel, and yet tho Government price ' was fixed a few months ago at £l4 10s, 'f.o.b., with wheat at 5s 9d Millers in Timaru, however, are selling to Auckland at £l4 10s, f.0.b., while ved wheat is quoted at 6s 3d on trucks. Canterbury sidings, and velvet at 6s 6d. Though wheat is on offer at these latter prices, local miller's are not anxious to do business, they having fair stocks in hand. So far as offerings from tho south are concerned, those are practically confined to lines of fowlwheat, which is quoted at 6s 6d, ex store, Dunedin. There >s not a great local demand for flour, bakers in a number of instances having bought forward from Timaru—at the high prices then ruling—and having now to take delivery. With the drop in the price of flour, however, it is understood that bakers are getting a substantial rebate on the forward price at which their orders were booked. Flour has been reduced 10s a ton for sacks; pollard 10s a ton, and bran £1 a ton. The tariff of the New Zealand Flour and Produce Agency Company is as follows: Sacks. £ls 10s; 1001 b bags, £l6; 501 b bags. £l6 ss; 251 b bags, £l6 10s. Pollard, £8 10s. Bran, £7. Oatmeal is quoted at £23 a ton for 25’s. Pearl barley, £22 10s. The oat market continues in a stagnant condition, the only inquiry being for small coastal orders. On tho other hand there are few offerings from the country, though these_ are just about sufficient to meet the existing demand. Nominally, prices rule at about - 4s 3d, f.0.b., with B’s about Id per bushel less. PRODUCE REPORT. A fair demand exists ror prime samples of chaff, but any lots at all out of condition arc neglected. There is no change to record in tile prices ruling at the end of last week. There docs not seem to bo any difficulty in disposing of prime samples of potatoes, and as iiign as £7 a ton lias been realised for small lines. The following report from a Sydney firm, under date August 5, on the chart and potato markets makes interesting reading:—“• Chaff. —Evidence of some of the quality of chaff, as reported on by me in mine ‘ of the 13th ult., was given by tho disposal of rejected shipments, ex Physa, these realising from Is 4d to 3s 2d per cwt. The documents for this shipment wore accompanied by a Government grader’s certilicato that the chaff was of good sound quality, which it could not have been at tho time of shipment. Much trouble has been caused by non-shipment, and also rejections regarding quality. South Australia is now offering wheaten hay (straw?) chaff at £3 10s. Large supplies arc coming forward from our own country districts. . . . The quality of the imported Californian hay was very inferior. It cost about £ll per ton chaffed. Business with New Zealand now finished. Potatoes.—Many ex the Kauri realised only ‘£6, which loaves heavy losses to be faced. The low prices caused increased consumption, and, the wharves clearing tho stocks, the market firmed to £B. Sales made at £6, £6 ss, and £6 10s, August buyers not anxious at the latter price. Our market will not come back again. If New Zealand supplies shorten we will see high prices here for the next three months.” Fresh eggs show a further reduction in price, supplies having increased consequent on tho prevailing mild weather. Pigs have advanced in price. Current wholesale prices arc as follow: Chaff. —Prime oaten sheaf, to £7; medium to good, £5 10s to £6 10s (sacks extra). Potatoes. —Prime, £6 10s to £6 15s; medium to good, £4 10s to £6. Hay, £6 10s. Straw.—Oaten, £4 ss; wheaten, £3 ss. Eggs.—Fresh, Is; preserved, lid. Butter.—Dairy, Is 3d per lb; milled, to Is 4d per lb; separator, in lib packets, to Is 3^d. Pigs . —Eaconors, 6d per lb; porkers, s|d to 6gd per lb. Bacon.—Rolls (in quantities), lOd to lid; sides, 9gd to lOd; hams, 9j,d lo lOd per lb; boneless hams, 10fd per lb. FRUIT REPORT. Wholesale fruit agents report that business has been a little better during the week. Some nice consignments of apples came from Christchurch, Nelson, and Alexandra. The prices for both cooking and

dessert sorts arc firm, and all lines meet with a ready sale. A shipment ot about 350 cases of fruit came from Sydney and met with a good demand Locally-grown tomatoes are now finished. A lew small consignments of the new season’s fruit just arrived from Auckland, but the quality was poor. The market is quite bare of bananas. Advice to hand states that a further supply of Fiji-grown will bo landed next Thursday. 'The following are the current wholesale prices: Apples.—Dessert are in good demand (short supply); Jonathans and Clcopatras, choice, 2|d to Sjd; Stunners, to 3gd; good to medium, to 2^d; cookers, 6s 6d to 8s 6d per bushel ; Greenings, choice, 2jid per lb. Supplies are badly wanted. Lemons. —In short (supply. Adelaides and Milduras, 15s 6d to 16s 6d; further supplies to arrive next week. Bananas.—None offering. Oranges.-—Rarotongan, repacks, 12s 6d; Poorman, 11s to 13s. Pears.—Very few offering; Easter Bourrc, 2d to 2gd per lb. Mandarins, 8s to 14s 6d per gin. Passions, 9s to 10s. Pineapples.—Green and poorly coloured, hard to sell; 4s 6d to 6s 6d; choice, up to 11s. Vegetables.—Cabbage, 6d to 2s 5d per dozen; sacks,. 6d to 3s. Cauliflowers: More plentiful; Is 6d to 5s per dozen; sacks, to 7s. Table carrots, 4d to 6d per dozen bunches; 2s 6d to 3s 9d per cental. Brussels sprouts. Is to Is 6d per box. Celery, 4d to 6d per bundle. Spinach, Is per dozen. Parsnips, 2s to 3s per cental bag; 4d to 8d per dozen. Leeks, Igd to 2£d per bunch. MERCHANDISE MARKET. Sulphur and saltpetre are in very short compass, Dunedin merchants are anxious!- awaiting the report from Auckland in connection with the damage received by the cargo for Dunedin which was on board the Waimate, the vessel encountering rough weather, and water making its way into the hold. Several lines of Glasgow 7 goods, which arc badly needed, are on hoard the Waimate. The Rotorua, which is due to arrive hero next week, has amongst her cargo Crosse and Blackwell’s essences and invalid jollies, both of which lines are required on the local market. The Hurunui is bringing a lino of whiting. The Tainui has brought, amongst other goods, sapon, Hudson’s extract of soap, and Bird’s custard and egg powder. COMMERCIAL CABLEGRAMS. LONDON, August 10. Copper.—Spot, £63 17s 6d, £o9 2s 6d; three montns, £7O 2s 6d; £7O 7s 6d; electrolytic, £B3, £34. Tin. —Spot, £lsl, £lsl 10s; three months, £153, £153 10s. Lead, £2l 15s, £22. Spelter, £72, £62. Silver, 22ijd per oz. Jute.—Market strong; August shipment, £24. Wheat.—Chicago September options, 105| to ,107 g cents; December options, 106| 10 103 g cents. Owing to heavy rains, though they have not damaged the crops beyond recovery, their condition is deplorable, and the scarcity of labour threatens further injury- . The Argentine shipments of mutton total 46,000 carcases; lamb, 15,000; frozen beef, 275; and chilled 7 , 65 sides. August 11. At the tallow sales 2271 casks wore offered and 1843 sold; mutton, fine 36s 9d, medium 33s 6d ; beef, fine 375, medium, 335. Wheat.—The market is steady, but quiet; Walla (shortly due), Js7s 7gd. Linseed oil, £24 10s. Turpentine. 33s 9d. 4ugust 12. Wheat.—Visible supplies, 13,691,000 quarters. The Bank of England stock of gold coin and bullion is £64,776,000; reserve, £51,725,000; proportion of reserve to liabilities, 22.71; notes in- circulation, £52,463,000 ; public deposits, £142,604.000 : other deposits, £85,076,000; Government securities, £45,915.000; other securities, £148,136,000. Short loans, 3| per cent. ; three months’ bills, 4| per cent. Following are the prices for Government stocks as compared with those ruling a week ago : Aug. 3. Aug. 12. Victorian Ts ... 051 Victorian UJ’s * Victorian 3j’s ... Victorian .'ifs t Victorian 3’s New South Wales 4’s 95J 951 New South Wales 3A’s 91 94 New South Wales 3J’s f 83j} 83J New South Wales 3’s 78 78 1-16 Queensland 4’s Queensland 3.ps —9l J Queensland 3’s 74J South Australian 3A’s South Australian 3’s New Zealand 4A’s New Zealand 4’s New Zealand 3A’s New Zealand 3's 76 Tasmanian 3ps Tasmanian 3’s West Australian 31’s West Australian 3's Other colonial stocks arc unchanged. * Early currency, t 1929-1940 currency. I 1920-30 currency. Butter. —Quiet; Australian and New Zealand, none offering. Cheese. —Slow, some New Zealand 74s and 755; a few Australian at 70s. Wheat. —The market was firm upon news of retarded threshings, also the damaged quality of the American winter crop owing to continuous rains. Oats. —Quiet; New Zealand, 375; Bahia Blanca, August and September shipment, 265. Peas. —Firm; New Zealand Maples, 625, 655. Beans. —Firm and unchanged. Flour. —Steady, and an improved inqnii’y for spot. Bradford Wool. —Inactive owing to the holidays; forty-sixes, lower. August 14. Cotton. —AugffSl - September delivery, 5.27 d. Jute. —August delivery, £24 ss. Hemp.—August-Octobor delivery, £3l 10s. Copra.—August-Septombcr delivery, £22 10s.

Rubber.—Para, 2s 4gdplantation, 2s 4|d ; smoked. 2s 44d. Silver, 22 15-16d7 Wheat opened higher, under the influence of unfavourable harvest and thrashing weather in America, coupled with unsettled conditions in Britain, but finished weaker, following a sharp decline in American cables. Chicago September options, 110 to 107 cents; December options, 108 to 106 oonts. Wheat and flour afloat to the United Kingdom, 1,785.000 quarters; Continent, 640.000 quarters; Atlantic shipments, 175.000 quarters. _ Total for for Europe, 290.000 quarters, including India 83.000 quarters. The London Grain Importer slates that the world’s shipments are now misleading, as Canadian details are officially withheld. Au vast 15. Hides. —Quieter; Queensland, 10|d, 10/al, 9|d ; Now South Wales. 10|d, lOgd. 9 9-16 d. Leather.—A strong demand for best; heavy Australian at 18d to 22d. Basils.—A limited inquiry; Australian, 15d and 17d; New Zealand, 18gd to 19rid. Lead. —Imports. 14.920 tons ; Australian. 1059 tone; exports, 7073 tons. FROZEN MEAT MARKET. LONDON, August 14. The following are the latest quotations for all classes of meat, including ex-storo sheep. In the case of those not quoted the price is unchanged: — Aug. 7. Aug. 14. d. d. Canterbury mutton, light 7 7 Canterbury mutton, medium ... 6^ Canterbury mutton, heavy 6jf Southland mutton 6 Ki-16 cj N.I. mutton, best brands, 56-C4lb G 14-16 fi 13-13 N.I. mutton, ordinary, SG-Gflb ... GJ C 11-16 N.Z. ewes 6 Australian mutton, light Fi 6 Australian mutton, medium ... Australian mutton, heavy 6J 6 Australian ewes 5J ■ 5J River Plate mutton. Hgnt, 40-551 b 6.) River Plate mutton, heavy, SG-72ib 41 River Plate ewes 6 Canterbury lamb, light FJ 8 5-1 G Canterbury lamb, second quality 8J 8 Canterbury lamb, medium ... 8 i 7^ Canterbury lamb, heavy FJ 8 North Island lamb, selected ... 8 1-16 North Island lamb, ordinary ... 8 7J Southland lamb, selected Southland lamb, ordinary 8 7J Australian lamb, best brands ... Ji 73 Australian lamb, fair quality ... 7i Australian lamb, inferior Vt River Plate lamb, first quality ... Ji River Plate lamb, second quality 74 New Zealand beef, fores New Zealand beef, hinds Australian beef, fores Australian beef, binds B. Plate beef, chilled fores ... 7J * E. Plate beef, dulled binds ... FJt * B. Plate beef, frozen fores ... R. Plate beef, frozen hinds ... S. American sheep, light ... GjjS. American sheep, heavy ... 6£ S. American lambs, first quality —7) S. Ameiica.a lambs, second quality "i Other meats are unchanged. Rabbits.- —New'South Wales blues, 20s GJ. * None offering. LONDON SHEEPSKIN SALES. LONDON, August 12. At the sheepskin sales 5754 bales of Australian and 1406 of New Zealand were offered. There was a fair attendance, but competition was not brisk. Merinos declined id to |d, except for best combings, which were practically unchanged. Fine crossbred, a moderate supply, with prices unchanged ; others were id to Id lower. The next auctions have been fixed for September 30. Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co. have received the following cablegram dated August 12 from their London agents:— “Sheepskins; Merino, best combing, id lower; other descriptions. Id lower, and difficult of sale; crossbred, |d to Id lower.”