THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3276, 27 December 1916, Page 12

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Friday evening. Crops have suffered severely in the north of New South Wales from rust, and in the Goulburn Valley take-all is far too prevalent to be pleasant, while in many districts storms have beaten heavy crops to the ground, thus rendering the process of harvesting almost impossible. South Australia seems to bave escaped most of the adverse influences, and the prospects there are described as very good, fully 30,000,000 bushels being expected. New South Wales appears to be a heavy loser, both from fungus disease and storms, and reports from the affected areas are gloomy to a degree. In Victoria crops on the fallow land have withstood the unseasonable weather well, but those on the stubble are thin; while the Malice promises to give a record return. Suitable climatic conditions from now onwards would remedy some of the existing defects, but a reduction of the pro-harvest estimates seems probable. Without fine weather for the next month or so the distinction between temperate and northern wheat will be less marked than usual. Private cabled advices from Argentina report that torrential rains are doing considerable damage in the provinces of Rosario and Santa Fe, whence the early arrivals of wheat are received. When rain was badly wanted in those parts, the weather was abnormally dry, and now it appears as if it were likely to produce disastrous results.

The London market is very firm,_ and little is offering. For parcels just shipped from_ Australia 81s 6d is the ruling rate, and if more freight space were available a large business could be done. No finality has yet been reached in regard to the acquisition of Australia's surplus wheat by the British Government. Meanwhile, the activity of enemy submarines has led to an advance, both in rates of freight and of insurance, and wheat-growers must take these factors into account when discussing the question of price. If Great Britain cannot assure the transport of produce overseas, it is difficult to see how that problem is to be solved. The local wheat market is stagnant, the conferences now taking place between the Government and the millers and the farmers regarding prices for flour and wheat having held up buying in the meantime. During the week a small mixed line of velvet and Tuscan changed hands at 6s Id on trucks, Duncclin, and some inferior was secured at 5s 9d. Five hundred sacks of sound milling Australian wheat has just come to hand, and, after paying the Cus toms duty of 9d a cental, the price to the Dunedin miller works out at a shade under 6s a bushel. The Australian market has, however, been advanced 3d per bushel. Advices from Melbourne under date December 12 state that several changes have taken place in the fixed prices. " To-day's prices of wheat to millers are as follow: For export as Hour to the United Kingdom, India, and Egvpt, 6s 3d; for New Zealand, 5s 4J,d; for the East until the end of January. 6s; for local, 4s 9d. For wheat alone for New Zealand 5s 6d ex rail Melbourne is the board's price; cartage and other shipping charges would amount to about Id per bushel more. The board's terms arc cash with order, which arc very awkward terms for firms outside Australia, who would have to cable the money before delivery could be obtained." Oatmeal is quoted at £l6 a ton for 25's; pearl barley, £l9; pollard, £6; bran, £4. The current quotation for flour is £ls. Eight hundred sacks of Australian flour arrived on the market this week. There is a little better feeling n?. the local oat 3 market, the dry-weather conditions prevailing in North Otafro and Canterbury having firmed the position somewhat. In the south the crops promise well, but the area under oats is very much under the average. In the absence of any business of note, it is not worth while trying to quote values. . , Owing to bad weather, the lasmaman oat crop is expected to be below normal, and this has induced speculators in Melbourne to buy milling Algerians from January to June at 2s 4£d to 2s sd. On spot Melbourne, milling is quoted at 2s 4d, and best feed to 2s Id, ex rail or PRODUCE REPORT. Chaff is scarce, and all lots now meet witli a ready demand. There is very little wheaten or oaten straw on the market, and prices are nominal. , , , It is the between season for hay, and there is no new yet on the market, which is rather on the slow side. Melbourne advices under date December 8 state that the weather conditions have been so bad that there are no globe onions to ship at the present time. It is feared that, as far as the globe variety is concerned, th« crop has been spoilt. Brown Spanish, March-April delivery, are quoted, nominally, at £6 in bags, and £9 in cases. Eggs are in full supply. The supply of hams is not nearly equal to the demand, and merchants have had to turn down orders. Current wholesale prices are as follow: Chaff.—Prime oaten sheaf, to £4 15s ; medium to good, £3 to £3 15s (sacks extra). Straw.—Oaten. £2 15s to £3; wheaten, £2 10s. Melbourne Onions—Prime. £l4 to £l6. Hay. £4 10s to £5. anc ] stamped, to U 2d. Butter.—Milled bulk, Is 2d lb 5 dairy and separator, in lib packets. Is Id to Is 2d; separator (bulk). Is Id to Is 2d. pjn-R _-B"eoners. 7d per lb: porkers. 7d. Bacon. —Rolls (in quantities), local. Is; Christchureh. Is: sirlos, lid; hams. Is per lb; ham rolls. ]s Id. FRUIT REPORT. Agents have experienced a busy week. Suppließ of raspberries, strawberries, and

cherries have been about equal to the domaud. Present supplies of those fruits have, however, now been pretty well sold out by tho wholesale people. Supplies of California!! oranges are _in short compass. American navels are selling at 27s 6d.

Peaches and apricots have made their appearance on the market. The first arrivals of apricots have sold at sJ>d to 6id per lb; peaches from 4£d to Is. The latter price was received for an excellent sample of fruit grown in Central Otago. Christchurch and Nelson-grown plums have arrived on the market.

Supplies of strawberries during the week have not been equal to the demand, and a fair quantity was available for this morning's sale, and these brought from Is 2d to Is 6d per pottle. A good quantity should be available for the sales to-morrow morning (Saturday). Very choice samples of cherries from Otago Centi-al and Roxburgh were readily sold under the hammer at Is 2d to Is 7d per lb. A small line of locally-grown fetched Is 2d.

Tomatoes were plentiful on the market today, and prices dropped from Is 4d to Is 2d and Is 3d per lb. Local hothouse are beginning to arrive almost daily. _ Some choice lines of larjre ripe gooseberries arrived from Alexandra. and brought the high price of 6d per lb, one agent disposing of nine crates at auction this morning at that price. Green peas arc in rather short supply—a rather unusual thing at this time of the year. Prices ruled to-day at 2?d to 3id

per lb. During tho week new potatoes were in great demand, and a large quantity was sold at 3d per lb. As the time expired for getting orders away by the railway values began to ease, and the selling price to-day was 2d per lb. Tho following are the current wholesale prices: Apples.—Now short. Californian, 16s 6d for prime. Oranges.—American navels, 27s 6d per double case.

Peaches, 44d to Is per lb. Plums.—Black, to 4£d; cherry plums, 6s 3d per case. Lemons.—Californian doubles, 40s per double ease.

Bananas.—Market bare; Fiji, 22s 6d to 255: Raratongan. 20» Strawberries, Is 2d to Is 6d per pottle; short supply. Cherries.—ls 2d to Is 7d; inferior and damaged. 4d to Bd. Tomatoes.—Cbristchureh hothouse, Is to Is 3£d ; local hothouse. Is 4d to Is 6jd. Cucumbers. 7s 6d to 14s per dozen; green, lJkl to 2d; largo ripe. 6d. Cabbages. Is, 6d to 2s per dozen; Is to 3s 6d per sack. Cauliflowers, new spring, 4s 6d to 6s 6d per sack, 5s to 6s per dozen. Carrots, new season's. Is to Is fid per dozen bunches. Turnips. 6d to 8d per dozen. Rhubarb, Id to per lb for choice red; others. 6s to 7s per ewt. Lettuce, 4d to Is rier dozen. New Potatoes.—Local, l?d to 2d; Auckland. l?d. Croon Peas.—2j?d to 3Jd for choice; medium, l£d to 2-|d THE WOOL SALES. AGITATION IN THE TRADE. LONDON, December 18. At tho wool sales to-day there was good all-round competition. Prices for all merinos were _ well maintained, but crossbreds were occasionally slightly in buyers' favour. The following prices were realised for the fleece portions of tho New Zealand clips named: Hakarere, top 29J,d, average 26£d; Kewakewa, top 23J,d. average 232 d. The Bradford market was strong, sellers asking prohibitive prices. Conferences between the various sections of the trade and the War Office continue, and there is great anxiety in the trade as to future prospects. Some doubt whether the sales will be resumed after Christmas. An official announcement will be made on Tuesday. December 19. Tho wool isales have been adjourned from Wednesday till January 4, when further arrivals will be included in the catalogue. December 20. The list for the snles on January 4 will close on Friday. Probably about 60,000 bales will be available, chiefly merinos. At to-day's sales compotrion was keen and prices were firm at last week's rates. The following prices were realised for the fleece portions of the Now Zealand clips named: — f4ore, top 30d. average 26|d; Ngaio. top 23W, average 23d. December 23. For the Januarv sales 24.500 bales of wool have arrived. The total quantity available is 76,500 bales.

ADELAIDE SERIES. ADELAIDE. December 21. At tho wool sales to-day 39.462 bales were catalogued, and to date 35,930 have been sold. There was a fair selection of merinos and crossbreds, and a further hardening' on opening - rates. All sorts were practically from 10 to 15 per cent, above November rates. Fancy prices were paid for greasy merino combings, which were scarce, and are urgently needed. Slipes were generally 3d above November prices. MELBOURNE SERIES. MELBOURNE, December 24. The first woo! sale under the Government scheme of acquisition of the clip will be held on January 3. Tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. is in receipt of tho following cablegram from its London office:—"Wool market strong. Compared 10th November, merino 5 per cent, to 10 per cent., crossbred about 10 per cent, dearer." WELLINGTON, December 18. The High Commissioner reports that tho London wool sales have opened with strong competition and a largo attendance of buyers. Owing to the Government purchase of next season's clip, there is great competition for all lots offering, and prices have advanced 2d per lb, manufacturers being anxious to secure supplies before the Govormrjent restrictions commence. There are 16,500 bales of New Zealand wool catalogued. Tho estimated values given by tho High Commissioner in his cablegram on tho last wool sales are as follow: —Fine crossbreds, all grades, Is lOd to 2s 2d; medium, Is 6d to Is 9id; coarse, Is Hd to Is Bd| superior merino, Is lid to 2s 3d; medium, is 7d to Is 10id; inferior, is 3d to Is 6i<L

COMMERCIAL CABLEGRAMS. LONDON, December 17. The quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 1,935,000 quarters? and for the Continent 3,205,000 quarters. During the week Atlantic shipments totalled 476.000 quarters; Pacific shipments, nil. The total shipments to Europe for tho week were 1,180,000 quarters, includ ing India 215,000 quarters, Argentine 189,000 quarters, Australasia 29,000 quarters. 29,000 quarters December 18. Copper: Spot, £142 15s; three months, £136 15s; electrolytic, £159 10s. Lead: Spot, £3O 10s; three months, £29 103. Spelter: Spot, £55; three months, £52. Tin: Spot, £lB3 2s 6d; three months, £lB5 10s. Silver, 36 13-16 d per oz. December 20. Tallow prices unchanged. At the sales today 1911 casks were offered. Copper: Spot, £142 15s; three months, £136 15s; electrolytic, £l5B. Lead: Spot, £3O 10s; three months, £29 10s. Spelter: Spot, £54 ss; three months, £sl ss. Tin: Spot, £lOl 2s. 6d; three months, £lB3 2s 6d. Silver, 36 13-16 d per ounce. LONDON, December 21. Bank of England returns: —Gold coin and bullion in stock, £52,853,000; reserve, £33.574,000; proportion of reserve to liabilities, 20.64 per cent.; notes in circulation, £39,224,000; Government deposits, £53,581,000'; other deposits, £109,007,000; Government securities, £42,188,000; other securities, £104,681,000. Discount on short loans, 5 per cent.; three months' bills, 5 9-16 per cent. . Consols, £55 53. War loans: 3£ per cent., £35 ss; 4 per cent., £96 15s. Following are the quotations for colonial stocks, as compared with those for the previous week:—

Butter: Strong-; little available. Danish, unchanged; Australian—salted 206 sto 208 s, unsalted 210 s to 2125, secondary 200 s to 2045; New Zealand—salted 210 s to 2145, unsalted 214 s to 2165, secondary 206 s to 208 s; Argentine, 206 s to 2125. Cheese : Very firm. Canadian, 130 sto 1345. The 'Government's price for Australian and New Zealand is still unsettled. Sugar: Unchanged. Wheat: Firm, unchanged. Flour: Steady. Australian, 59s to 59s 7d. Oats: Firm. La Plata not offering. Peas : Very strong; supplies short. New Zealand maples and partridge, nominally 95s to 100 s. Beans: Firm. No Now Zealand offering. Copper: Spot, £142 15s; three- months, £136 15s; electrolytic. £l4B 10s. Tin: Spot, £179 12s 6d; three months, £lßl 12s 6d. Lead: Spot, £3O 10s; three months, £29 10s. Spelter: Spot, £54 6s; three months, £sl ss. Silver, 36 13-16 d per oz. Bradford Wool: The market is quiet and unchanged. December 23. Wheat.—Quiet and unchanged. Frozen Meat.—New Zealand lambs, 9gd; other meats, unchanged. Frozen Rabbits. —Steady and unchanged. Hemp.—Firm and unchanged. Rubber. —Para, 3s 2jd; plantation, 2s lid; smoked, 2s lid. Copra.—October-Dec-ember shipments, £4l 10s. NEW YORK, December 19. Chicago wheat market: December options. 159 i, 153 cents; May options, 171|, 164 3-7 oents. December 20. Chicago Wheat.—The visible supply is 73,304,000 bushels.

THE ORIGIN OF THE CORRIEDALE. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l am a little surprised to see your reference to the origin of Border Leicesters from the pens of Mr John Usher and Mr John Wood, both respected Scotsmen now deceased. I think about 35 years ago the Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland ofPered premiums for the l best essay on the "Origin of Border Leicester and Cheviot Sheen." and both these premiun%i4vere won by Mr David Archibald. Overshiols,,Cheviot. Each essay was published in the Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society. I am not quite certain of the year, but if you applied to Mr Archibald he would no doubt supply you with the particulars. "I need hardly add that the republishing of the successful _ essay upon the "Origin of the Border Leicester" would be of great interest to your numerous readers; and that interest would be enhanced when It is cons ; d"red that tr& history is supplied by our friend who has bred Border Leicester sheep for years in tho Dominion with considerable success. At any rate. T nm certain that our breeders would rend the reproduction of the winning essay with much more interpst and approval than the extracts you publish from essays that have every chance to have unsuccessfully competed for the Highland and Agricultural premiums referred to. —I am, etc., WIIXIAM T/TTTtE. Annandale, Argyll TC.Tst, Hawke's B«ay. THE ETTERBBURG STRAWBERRY. Strawberry-growers have been paying a good deul of attention to tho Ettersburg variety, which has been realising such good prices in Dunedin during tho past tow weeks. One day last week (says the Mount Bender Mail) we had the privilege of visiting the strawberry grounds at Sunnyvale Orchard, Beaumont, where this particular variety grows to perfection on the sheltered banka of tiro Molyneux. Much had been said about the prolific yield of the Ettersburg, which some were led to believe grew on bushes, and a stroll

through the patch at Sunnyvale confirms tho statement that it is a good cropper and •a money-producer. Although not exactly a bush, the Ettersburg plant grows robustly, throwing off strong,_ healthy foliage, and when full-grown rises to a height of 18in or more above the ground. The plants in the orchard mentioned are at present carrying nn exceedingly heavy crop, and the fruit hangs in great bunches well clear of the ground, thus obviating tho necessity of putting down straw to keep them clean. A noticeable feature of the variety is that the fruit when ripe is red all ctter and the flesh is red to tho core, with _ the consequence that when opened up in tho city shops its attractive appearance at once arrests the eye, and this no doubt accounts to a great extent for_ the demand that has set in for this variety. The fruit is also very firm, and can stand a good deal more handling than the ordinary varieties, while tho flavour is delicious. It is stated that the Ettesburg, imported from America, was obtained after 80 experiments. It has tho colour and rich sharp flavour of the raspberry, from which the variety has no doubt been obtained. DUNEDIN MARKETS. WHOLESALE PRODUCE REPORTS. J. O'Kane (late J. Lindsay and Co.), Princes street south, reports under date the 23rd inst.: Whoa; per bushel, f Oaten chn.fl Best milliuß ... 7/0 Prime 85/o—llo/0 Fowls' 6/3 Good 100/) Millimroaw ... 3/6 Inferior 60/0-80/0 Feed oats.. ... 3/6 Ryescras.s and clover Malt barley ... 6/0 hay ... 100/0-110/J Feed barley ... 5/0 Cane barley • ... 6/ti Strnw; Maize 6/0 Wheaten 40/o—sß/0 per ton. Oaten 60/0—65/0 Klour, in 200's ... £BO/0 Rolled bacon ... 1/0 Flour, in 50" s ~.275/0 Side bacon ... !>rt Pollard 1:0/0 Smoked hams ... l/> brat 80/0 Cheese lid Oatmeal, in 25's 420/0 bait butter 9d—l/0 Pearl barley ... 4110/0 (according to quality) EC**, fresh ... 1/J Onions.—Melbourne, £l2 10s. Potatoes.— £9. Straw Chaff. —"Wheaten, 50s; oaten, 80s.

FARM AND DAIRY PRODUCE. Mr B. J. M'Aethur (successor to Messrs M'llroy Bros.), George street, reports paying for produco during the week ending the 23rd inst., as follows: Stumped Iresh lfiggs I Honey (bulk), si<i lb 1/J uoz Honey (section), 5/L> doz Salt Butter, 1/i lb | Honey (Cartons),«/■ doa. yep. Butter, 1/J lb | Beeswax, 1/2. SOUTHLAND MARKETS. (From Oua Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, December 22. In the entire absence of business from the north and of the impossibility of shipment until well on in January, merchants are unwilling to offer for any hues of oats brought in by farmers. The offerings are, however, practically nil so that business is at a standstill to all intents and purposes. Some merchants and growers are of the opinion that owing to the drought in Canterbury prospects are not so dubious as thuy were a month ago. Still, on the other hand, as a good deal of business has been done in Canterbury for forward delivery at decidedly under local values, and as the country responds quickly after rain, those who are of the belief that prices will still recede may, perhaps, be more correct than the pessimistic merchant. "A " grade Cartons are at present nominally worth 2s 6d per bushel, on trucks, at country sidings, but it is doubtful if any merchant would consider business at over 2s 4d. Chaff is still in the same position as at last advice, rather more being offered by growers than there is a market for locally. This is owing to the vast amount of space required this season by brokers for the wool clip. The demand for seeds is still particularly brisk. In fact, the last fortnight has been the busiest experienced by seedsmen for many years. There is certainly no available surplus. The wholesale trade holds good, merchants being at their wits' end to supply retail demands. OAMARU MARKETS. (From Oub Own Correspondent.) OAMARU, December 23. The wheat market remains inanimate, suffering from paralysis induced by uncertainty as to the future. iSome holders are ready to sell, but, with the advent of the holidays and sufficient stocks of wheat or flour to carry on for a time, millers prefer to await the final decision of the Government in regard to the prices of wheat, flour, and bread, which is expected to be made known early in the new year. MELBOURNE HIDE SALES. MELBOURNE, December 21. At the hide sales to-day there was a moderate attendance. Seven hundred and thirty-four hides were sold.

CLEARING SALE. Messrs Donald Reid and Co. report having held a clearing sale on account of Mr James Smaill, who has disposed of his property, on Tuesday, when there was a representative gathering of buyers from Pino Hill, Taieri, Milton, and Ovvaka, besides the various Clutha districts. The sale was a most satisfactory one. The stock submitted were well bred, and wero also in splendid condition. The two-tooth ewes wero a particularly fine line, and made the satisfactory price of 30s Id. The cattle were strongly competed for by butchers and graziers. Bidding for tho horses was somewhat dragging, and the prices realised wero only fair. Tho following were the principal sales:—Two-tooth ewes, 30s Id; twotooth wethers, 265. 6d; fat wethers, 31s Id; fat ewes. 25s 6d; forward wethers, 27s 3d; ewes and lambs, 20s 6d (all counted); twoyear fat bullocks,_ £l6 7s 6d; fat cows, £l2 12s 6d to £l6; eighteen-month steers, £l2; eighteen-month heifers, £ll 2s 6d; yearlings, mixed sexes, £7 12s 6d ; draught mares and geldings, £ll to £24; yearling colt, £l3 10s; buggy mare, £l3 10s. Implements and sundries all realised full clearing sale rates. PROPERTY AUCTION. Great interest was taken in tho sale of tho freehold property, Dowling street, known as tho Zealandia Chambers, offered at auction on the 18th by Messrs Park, Reynolds. on account of tho trustees in tho estato of the late Mr T. W. Kempthorne. Good bidding resulted, but tho highest offer did not reach tho trustees' reserve price, and was passed in. Negotiations are now being carried out. The vacant land behind the railway was passed in, as was the freehold property in tho estate of the iate Henrietta M'Gloshrv

Dec. 14. Dec. 21 Victorian 4's 92J 925 Victorian 3§'s : 813 82 Victorian 3|'s * 70S 702 Victorian 3's 6lf 62 New South Wale3 4's 811 82 New South Wales 3i's 96 96 Now South "Wales Si's t 70 }, 70J New South Wales 3's m 70 Queensland 4's 86J B6j Queensland 3J's 84 84i Queensland 3's 62 62J South Australian 3£'s 71j 71J South Australian 3's ... 68 57J New Zealand 4'g 81g ' 848 New Zealand 3J's 711 72 New Zealand 3's 634 631 Tasmanian 3J's 705 70jj Tasmanian 3's ... 65 65J West Australian 3J's ..» 75 75 West Australian 3'e 70 70 * 1929-40 currency. t 1920-30 currency.