NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE

Otago Witness, Issue 3278, 10 January 1917, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE

THE TERMS OF PURCHASE. AGREEMENT PRACTICALLY REACHED. (Feom Oor Own ConBESPONDENT.) WELLINGTON, January 3. A conference of New Zealand cheeseproducers, convened by the Minister of Commerce (Mr Mao Donald), was hold to-day to consider proposals from the imperial Government lor the purchase of New Zealand cheese. As tile cable news has already informed us, [lie Imperial Government came to a decision some days ago to requisition all New Zealand cheese on arrival in England, and the price was understood to be a fraction less than lOd per lb. Mr MacDonald has been in communication with Mr Massey on the matter, and as a result of Mr Massey's representations the Imperial Government now offers to buy New Zealand cheese in New Zealand at an f.O.b. price. It was this proposal that the conference had before it to-day. An agreement was reached tentatively on all points, but it has still to go before some half a dozen of the South Island representatives, who were unable to reach Wellington to be present at the conference to-day. Mr MacDonald was unwilling to divulge any information about the price offered or the terms of purchase until they had been definitely accepted by the conference. The terms of purchase, also, have to be ratified by the Imperial Government, and these have been cabled Home. Replying to a question, Mr MacDonald said that the offer made by the Imperial Government was "on the lines of" the cabled news that the English price was to be a little less than 10d per lb, and it was less than prices already rejected by factories this season. Previously it had always been reckoned that the New Zealand equivalent of the English price is about I£J less, this being the total cost per lb of shipping and marketing the cheese. This deduction, however, allows for the middleman's profits, and it is possible that under the new proposals the middleman will bo eliminated. Mr MacDonald would not say any more than this about the conditions of purchase; would not say, for instance, whether payment is to be made for cheese on shipment or at some stage prior to shipment. OFFER OF 9£d PER LB. WELLINGTON. January 4. The Hon. Mr MacDonald (Minister of Agriculture) stated to-night that, on behalf of the Imperial Government, the New Zealand Government had made the cheese producers an offer of 9od per lb, f.0.b., in the dominion. At a conference to-day the producers agreed to accept the offer, subject to certain terms, which have been cabled Home, and the reply is expected this week. "The proposal," said the Minister, "is to buy or. shipment up to a certain point at any rate, but the details are still being considered." Allotments for Lyttelton, Dunedin, and Bluff have been made. Lyttelton will secure space for 2700 boxes of butter and 2500 crates of cheese by one steamer; Dunedin. boxes of butter and 5000 crates of cheese by another: and; Bluff, two shipments totalling 6675 crates of cheese each by both steamers. One of the vessels is at Lyttelton at present, and is due in Dunedin about the 12th inst., with the other following shortly. THE WHEAT QUESTION. With regard to Mr MacDonald stated that ho did not expect to have the whole of the proposals completed before the end of the week. "Wo should have been saved a lot of trouble," he said, "if people had waited till our offer was made to the farmers and it was seen how they received it, instead of rushing at once into print and wasting a lot of ink and good white paper." THE WOOL CLTP. "So far as the main clip is concerned," the Minister added, "everything is now going well in regard to wool. The valuers are all at work, but we could do with more shipping space. We are going to take over hides, pelts, and skins, and I am to meet the fellmongers to-morrow to discuss the question of sheepskins and pelts." HIDES TO BE COMMANDEERED. AUCKLAND, January 4. The Hon. A. M. Myers, replying to a deputation, said it was true that the Imperial authorities had decided to commandeer all New Zealand hides. The matter was now engaging the attention of the Minister of Commerce and Industries. Arrangements would be mad'. 1 that sufficient hides were retained for local requirements and military purposes. If the price for commandeered hides was not fixed by the 12th in=t. he would consider extending the time for tenders, for the convenience of tanners giving prices to boot manufacturers. January 5. A genera! working arrangement was arrived at at a conference with representatives of fellmongers and wool scourers for dealing with skins and pelts and low-grade wools. THE WOOL SALES. LONDON SERIES. LONDON, January 5. The wool sales were resumed to-day, when 8580 were offered. It was a miscellaneous selection. There was a good attendance of buyers, and good competition. Prices for faulty cross*breds were in buyers' favour. Good merino combings were conspicuously absent. Faulty were slightly easier. Speculators' lots of free l scoured found a strong market. January 5. At the wool sales there was slicing eompot'fion. and abnormal prices were realised for new clip greasy combings, for which the trade has be: n starved, spinners, topmakers, and manufacturers, all competing eagerly. C 0 M W F. P- ?> J A !„ 0 A & IL E C R A MS. LONDON. January 2. The stock of tallow in hand is '10.587 casks; landed, 2073 casks; delivered, 2463 casks. Molybdenite, £lO5. Wolfram. £55. January 3. At the sheepskin sales to-day 4261 bales were offered and sold, at an average ad- | vanoo of 2d. Tin: Stock?. 21.085 tons; snot, 2740 tons; j afloat, 4507 tons: deliver.', s. tons. LONDON. January 4. Bank of England returns; Gold coin ! and bullion in stock, £53,535,000: reserve, !

£33,sl2,oooproportion of reserve to liabilities, 19.76 per cent.; notes in circulation. £39,895,000; Government deposits, £53,147.000; other deposits, £116,318,000; Government securities, £63,188,000; other securities. £91,789,000. Discount on short loans, per cent.; three months’ bills, 5 9-16 per cent. The old war loan is active. Consols: £55 ss. War loan per cent.), £75 ss. hollowing- arc the quotations for colonial stocks, as compared with those for the previous week:—

* 1929-40 currency, t 1920-30 currency. Butter: Quiet; high prices checking demand. A slight downward tendency. Danish, about 2itis. New Zealand choicest, 206 s to 2035; unsalted, 210 sto 2125; Australian practically cleared. Nominal quotations : ISaltcd, 204 sto 2065; unsalted, 208 a to 210 s. Argentine salted, 204 sto 2065. Cheese: Very linn. Canadian, 1365. Wheat: l inn, but. inactive. Flour: Steady. Australian, 59s 6d to 60s, ex store. Oats; Firm. La Plata, none offering. Peas: Strong, advancing. New Zealand maples, 100 s to 110 s. Beans: Firm, unchai iged. Sugar: Standard granulated, 41s 7^d. Copper: Spot, £133 15s; three months, £129 15s Tin: Spot, £IEO 17s sd; three months, £lB2 12s 6d. Load: Spot, £3O 10s; three months, £29 10s. iSpeltcr: Spot, £SO 10s; throe months, £46 10s. Silver: per oz. January 6. Chicago wheat, to 179 J cents; July shipment, 150 s to 146| cents. Hemp: Firm; high point fair, JanuaryMarch shipment. £SB. Copra: Dcocmbor-February shipment. £54. Rubber; Para, 3s 3id; plantation, 3s smoked, 3s Ogd. Frozen rabbits: Very firm. Supplies restricted. The Government is taking many Australian supplies. Frozen mutton : All sorts, B|d. Lamb: Now Zealand and Australian, 9gd; South American, 9?d. CHICAGO, January 3. Wheat: The visible supply is 70.880,000 bushels.

THE BREADSi IfFS A\D PRODUCK MARKETS. Friday evening. A review of the operations of the Australian Wheat Board was given in a statement made on December 20 by the Minister for Public Works (Mr Adamson), who is acting as the Victorian representative on the board during the absence, through illness, of the Minister of Agriculture (Mr llagolthoin). Mr Adamson said:— " The present sale, involving both the old and new crop, has raised the question, how are proceeds of the realisation of the 191516 and 1916-17 harvests to be distributed among the growers? This is a point which the board has not finally derided, but a proposal now before it appeal's to make for equity, simplicity, and economic administration. It is that there should be no division between the operation of the two pools—in other words, that the two harvests should be regarded as one continuous pool. The effect would be that growers in each State would, throughout that State, receive the same return per bushel for each year, that is, after making allowances for variations in rail freight and for dockages. "If this principle bo followed, and it is unlikely that any other principle that may be adopted will make for any material alteration, a return for each year of about 4s 9d a bushel may be expected. From this return, rail freight, handling charges, interest, and administration expenses must be deducted. The tiist item will be varying, but known to each grower, and indicated on his certificate. Ihe other charges will vary slightly in the different States, and may average about 4£d. What appears assured is that growers of i.a.q. wheat —except, perhaps, in districts far inland — should receive 4s a bushel net. The payments still to be made in this account may be taken as follows: —Balance on 1915-16 crop. £3,000,000; payments on 1916-17, £22,000,003; which will be the means of distributing a further sum of £30.000.000 among the growers of Australia. At this rate of 4s a bushel, payments to 1915-16 growers will have been £32.400.(XX): this may be contrasted with payments made to growers in other years. Ihe previous record year, 1913-14, will afford a useful comparison. Ihcn the value of the cop on an f.o.b. basis was £16,900,000. Deducting from this, say, £1,700.C00 for various charges, there is a net return of £15.200,000. The return for 1915-16 should exceed this by £17,200,000, or 113 per cent, "If a more extended comparison be dosha d. the figures for the decade 1904-5 to 1913-14, which excludes the drought year 1914-15. will serve the purpose. The average net value for that period may be taken as £11.000.000. The return for 1915-16 is better than this by £21.400.000. or oyer 190 per cent. Owing to the length of time required to realise the harvest, the present cost of handling and interest charges are much in excess of normal. The local wheat market continues in a stagnant condition, consequent on millers waiting to see whether the Government intends to take any action in regard to fixing prices for wheat. Millers are refraining from buying, and prices, therefore, aro purely nominal. A Timaru agent offered a small lino of Tuscan during the week, naming about 5s 3d, on trucks, at a countrv siding, as the price ho would accept, sacks Bd, and a much smaller line of velvet at the same figure. Prime fowl wheat is quoted at up to 5s lOd and 5s lid. ex store, Dunedin. Oatmeal is quoted at £l6 a ton for 25 s; pearl barley, £l9; pollard, £6; bran, £4. The current, quotation for Hour is £ls. _ The oats market is firmer, but there is very little business passing. Canterbury farmers are now cutting the crops, which

aro on tli" light side as ;i result of the dry weather which has 1) ien experienced. It is act expected that the southern crops will bo available ill any quuntity till March. These too, will be light, in consequence ot the drought conditions. In the absence of business, it is not worth while quoting prices. PRODUCE REPORT. There is little doing in the chaff and straw markets, business bomg mostly confined to fulfilling local orders. Onions aro very scarce. Supplies aro expected from Melbourne next week. There is little demand for hay. Supplies of eggs are quite equal to the demand. .. The same remark also applies to supplies of dairy butter. Though the holiday demand for hams has eased off to some extent, the supply continues unequal to tho demand. Current wholesale prices aro as follow: Chaff.—Prime oaten sheaf, to £4 15s; medium to good, £3 to £o 15s (sack 3 extra). Straw.—Oaten, £2 15s to £3; wheaten, £2 10s.

Hay, £4 10s. Melbourne Unions.—Prime, to £l6. Eggs.—Fresh and stamped, Is l|d to Is 2d. Butter.—Milled bulk, Is 2d per lb; dairy and separator, in lib packets, Is Id to Is 2d; separator (bulk), Is 2d to Is Z£d. Pigs—Baconcrs, 7d per lb; porkers, 7d. Bacon.—Rolls (in quantities), local, Is; Christchurch, Is; sides, lid; hams, Is per lb; ham rolls, Is Id. FRUIT REPORT. Agents report a busy time during the holidays, and business at present is very good. Large consignments of Otago Central stone fruits are now commencing to come forward. Owing to the very hot weather experienced in Otago Central during tho past three weeks, the fruit has come in with a rush. Prices have, however, been well sustained. On Thursday values for crated dessert peaches ranged from 3d to 6d per lb. A few cases of hailspotted and over-ripe peaches, in cases, were sold at as low as lid per lb, but tho bulk of tho cased lots brought from 2d to 3d per lb. The sale of poaches to-day was very seriously affected by an erroneous report that largo quantities of choice peaches had been sold at auction on Thursday at lid to 2d per lb. As a result, agents were faced with great difficulty in securing what they considered fair market values for prime lots. Some nieo samples of apricots aro now available, tho chief supplies arriving from Otago Central. Prime lots, in crates, brought on Thursday from 4d to sid per lb. On Friday prices ranged from 3id to sd, cased lines bringing from 2j{d to 3£d. Cherries and strawberries aro about finished. Tho few still coming to hand <:ealiso high prices. A sharp advance has taken place in tho price of tomatoes. Supplies from Canterbury have eased since the New Year. Tho ntarkct is now awaiting the arrival of out-side-grown. Advices state that outside tomatoes will be forward next week from Clyde and Alexandra.

Raspberries show a smart advance in price. Waimate-grown are severely suffering from tho dry weather, which is quite parching tho fruit. Most of the large growers in Waimato can now gather small crops only, and in one or two instances tho crop has been an absolute failure. Supplies from local growers are realising from 7d to 7id per lb, and small lots from Waimato 6Jjd to 7d. Some 1500 cases of Fiji bananas wero landed to-day. These realised from 16s to 19s per case under tho hammer. The following are tho current wholesale prices: Apples. —Otago Central, dessert, 6d to 6|d; cooking, 3d to 3|d. Oranges.—American navels, 27s 6d per double case. Peaches. —Inferior, spotted, and over-ripe. to 6d per lb. Plums. —Black, 3kl to 4|d; cherry plums, 2d to 4J>d per lb. Lemons. —Calif ornian doubles, 40s per double case. Bananas. —Market bare; Fiji, 16s to 19s per case. Market barely supplied. Strawberries, 9d to Is Id per pottle; about finished. Cherries, 9d to Is; nearly finished. Tomatoes. —Christcnurch hothouse, Is to Is 3^d; local hothouse. Is 2|d to Is 6d. Cucumbers, 7s 6d to 14s per dozen; green, ljd to 2d; largo ripe, 6d. Black currants, to on stalk; off stalk. 4d to 4£d. Red currants, to 6d. Raspberries, 7d to 7^d. 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 6d per dozen bunches. Turnips, 6d to 8d per dozen. Rhubarb, Id to lid per lb for choice red; others, 6s to 7s per cwt. Lettuce, 4d to la per dozen. Now Potatoes. —Local, lfd to 2d. Green peas. l£d to 2-icl for choice. M ERCHA N DISE MA RKET. The proprietors of Cold Pouch tobacco announce that they are now growing a cigarette tobacco, "'Three Diamonds. 7 ' This tobacco is quoted at the same price as the company's pipo tobacco. A shipment of Canadian herrings is on tho Waimarino, and should arrive here within the next week or so. Stocks of California!! figs are now practically off the local market. Dog's llead ale and stout have been again advanced in price. Advice has been received by cablegram from Ceylon that prices of cocoanut have been advanced. Both Canterbury companies announce a elight increase in the cost of tinned sheep tongues. Owing to the heavy demand for Hawaiian Eines, tho wholesale slocks have been exausted. A further parcel is expected to arrive within tho next three weeks. Tho Maitai, which was driven ashore at Rarotonga, was 'bringing stocka of seedless raisins and oil-bleached seedless raisins to tho local market. It is not yet known whether these goods have been salved. Both lines are badly wanted, stocks being low . Seedless raisins are quoted at 7Ad per lb for loose. Stocks of prunes, which commodity continues to rise in price, have got into very short compass. Nestle'a milk has been reduced to the same price as asked for Highlander. Nestle's unsweetened milk is, however, still quoted at tho old price _ Tho locally-packed bno, Linolustre, has been advanced in price consequent on the additional cost of tho raw material. • Camp and Symington essences of coffee show an advanced cost.

"Easy Monday" laundry help, for washing clothes, and a Melbourne-manufactured Cheddar cheese, in tins, are two new agency lines to make their appearance on tho market. Reliable information is just to hand per R.3VI.S. Makura describing the actual position obtaining in both British Columbia and .Alaska in regard to canned salmon stocks and new season's supplies. There is practically no carry-over from the 1916 pack, and nothing remains in first hands. All grades have boon entirely cleaned up during tho .'as* two months, realising excessive values This state of affairs has never existed in former years. In consequence of no supplies of the 1916 pack being available, merchants will need to anticipate their requirements very early in the season for supplies from the 1917 pack (shipment September, October, November, and December next year); otherwise they will find it difficult to obtain anything like their normal requirements, notwithstanding that next year will be the big run, when a maximum pack is always expected, together with lower values. Both English and [French buyers have already operated very freely, one sale to England having been put through amounting to 150.000 cases Sockcye halves at a price equivalent lo 46s c.i.f., Auckland France has also secured 100.000 cases of lower grades ones, fiats, and tails; and packers have been offered as high as 30s for pink halves. It is quite evident that there will be a serious shortage of lib flats and tails in lower # grades, as packers are paying more attention to the packing of half-pound cans

DUNEDIN MARKETS. WIIOLESAI,E PRODUCE REPORTS. O’Kana (late J. Lindsay and Co.), Princes street south, reports under dato the 9th inst.:

Oniong.—Melbourne, £l2 10a. i\ T ow Potatoes.—2d. Straw Chaff. —Wheaten, 50s; oaten, 80a. FARM AND DAIRY PRODUCE. Mr B. J. M ‘Arthur (successor to Messrs M'llroy Bros.), George street, reports paying for produce during the week ending the Otli inst., as follows; Stamped fresh Eggs I Honey (bulk), 5Jd lb 1/1 doz Honey (section), 5/il doz Salt Butter, 1/1 lb | Honey (Cartons),*7- doz. Sep. Butter, 1/1 lb | Beeswax, 1/2.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. WELLINGTON, January 4. Tho High Commissioner reported as follows on December 29 (Note. —liie quotations unless otherwise specified are the average market prices on spot) : Meat.—All descriptions of frozen meat aro in aotive demand owing to short supplies of Home-killed mutton and beef, as the result of railway communication being interrupted. Homo-killed mutton, Is 2d per lb; homekilled beef, Is Id; New Zealand mutton, B^d; ewo mutton, 8d; Argentine mutton, heavy weight, Bgd; light weight, 9d; Now Zealand lambs, S^d; Australian lamb, 9^d; Argentine lamb, New Zealand beef: No supplies are available. Argentine chilled beef: Hinds, 10id ; fores, B*d. American pork, weighing 801 b to 1001 b, # lOd. Butter. —Tho market is quiet. Danish, 218 s to 220 s per cwt; Dutch, 210 s; unsaltcd, 2125; Australian, 206 s to 208 s; unsaltcd, 208 s to 2125; New Zealand, 210 s to 2145; unsaltcd, 212 sto 211 s; Argentine, 204 sto 2065; unsaltcd, 210 sto 2125; American creamery, 192 s to 1945. Cheese. —Tlio market continues firm; but thero is little business doing. Canadian white and coloured. 132 s to 134 s per cwt; English cheddar, 136 s to 140 s; Dutch Cheddar, 128 sto 1325. All tho cheese ex Turakina has been commandeered by the Imperial Government. Hemp. —Tho market is very quiet, and there is nothing doing on account of the holidays. Prices are well maintained. Wheat.—The market remains firm, and the offerings are very small. Oats. —There is a firm market, with n good demand. Wool. —I cannot give quotations during the present condition of tho market. January 8. The following is the High Commissioner's market report, under date London, January 6 (Note: Quotations unless otherwise specified are average market quotations on the spot) : Meat. —All descriptions of frozen meat continue in good demand. Thero are decreasing supplies of home-killed mutton and beef. together with small supplies of New Zealand mutton and lamb available for the general public. New Zealand mutton per lb, Bgd; ewo mutton and Argentine mutton, 8«d to 9dj New Zealand lamb, 9£d; Australian iamb, 9id; Argentine lamb, 9|d. There are no supplies of New Zealand beef available. Argentine, 101 d ; fores, 9d. C.i.f. sales have been mado at the following prices:—American frozen ox beef —hinds 9d, fores 7d. Butter. —The market has a downward tendency, and prices are easier. Danish (per cwt). 216 sto 2205; Dutch, 2Cos to 210 s; Australian salted, 202 s to 208 s; unsaltcd, 205 s to 210 s. The New Zealand market is a shade weaker, 206 s to 210 s; unsifted, 210 s to 2145. Argentine salted. 200 sto 2025; unsaltcd, 204 s to 208 s; American creamery, to 1945. Cheese Tho market continues firm. Canadian white (per cwt), 133 sto 1365; coloured. 136 s to 138 s; English Cheddar, 140 sto 1445; United States flats, lc4s to 146 s In New Zealand there is no business doing. It is estimated that the Canad.an .and United States cheese stocks at London. Liverpool, and Bristol amount to 172.000 boxes against 191.C00 at the same time last year. It is estimated that tho New Zealand cheese stocks at London and Bristol are to 10-00 crates, against 14.000 "■

time last year Hemp.—New Zealand : It is reported that little or none is being offered. The market is firm owing to reduced supplies. Quotations nominal are as follows :—Good, ''air New Zealr.nd hemp (per ton) £SO; fair, £53; January-March shipment, good, fair NewZealand, £59; fair, £57. Government graded fair Manila, £6O; coarse, £57 10s. The output of hemp from Manila for the week ending last Saturday was 20,000 bales. Wheat.—The market is firm, with a good

demand. Australian, afloat, &3s; New Zca land, 80s-. Oats.—The. market remains firm. New Zealand, 50s.

oama.ru markets. (From Odb Own- Corkespcndbnt.) OAMARU, January 6. The. past week has been an exceedingly quiet ono in all branches of this market. So far as grain is concerned, there is absolutely nothing doing, and even when the intentions of tho Government as to the prices of wheat and flour are disclosed there can bo little business in grain until new wheat is ready for tho market. On present appearances tho harvest will he about a month earlier than usual, tho continued hot, dry weather having brought crops forward rapidly and prematurely. Unless rain and clouds "supervene to arrest the progress of ripening, cutting will commence, this month, and grain will bo small in the berry. Some oats has already been threshed, and samples will probably be forward next week. Business in the stock market has been almost brought to a standstill by doubtful feed prospects, and business has been limited to a few lines at tho following prices:—Shorn full-mouthed ewes, with lambs, Pis (all counted); shorn haKbrod station wethers, 18s 6d; fat and forward lambs, 225. Operations were commenced at Pukeuri Refrigerating "Works on Thursday, and the works have been rushed with the first drafts of lambs, owners being anxious to get them away, as there is a strong tendency to lose condition owing to ewes going dry because o-f absence of succulent feed.

SOUTHLAND MARKETS. (Feom Ouh Own Cohp.esiOndent.) INVERCARGILL, January 6. Business in produce during the week has been practically at a standstill, and will not resume till next week, so that any report would not bo very reliable. The stock market has also been at a standstill during the week, no sales whatever having been held, so that there is also nothing reliable to report in this section. All time is being taken up by mercantile firms with the valuations of wool clips, and stock business will resume with the Wallacctown sale on Tuesday next.

GRAIN AND PRODUCE SALES. Messrs Dalgety and Co. (Ltd.) report as follows:—Oats: "Stocks in store are practically exhausted, and very few samples are offering. There is a good inquiry for bright.' heavy lines, which can be placed at quotations. ' Wo quote: Prime milling, 2s lid to 3s; good to best feed, 2s 9d to 23 10dj damaged and inferior, 2s 3d to 2s 6d per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat: There is practically no business passing in milling lines, and the nominal value of prime milling simples is 6s per buehol. Fowl wheat is in b iort supply, and meets with a ready sale at from 5s 8d to 5s lOd for best quality ; medium. 5s 3d to 5s 6d per bushel (sacks extra). ' Potatoes: The season is now over for old season's tubers, and consignments of new season's aro meeting with a ready sale. Chaff: Consignments of lato have been light and unequal to the demand, with the, result that all lots coming forward meet with a ready sale at advanced values. We quote: Best oaten sheaf.'£s; medium to good. £4 lCs to £4 15s per ton (sacks extra). Donald Roid and Co. (Ltd.) report:—We held our weekly auction sale of grain and produce at our stores to-day, when values ruled Os under:—Oats: Owing to tho holidays thero has very little business transacted, and prices a.ro nominally as follows : —Prima milling. 2s lid +o 3s; good to best feed, 2s 9d to 2s lOd; inferior to medium, 2s 6d to 2s 8d per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat: The market is in an undecided condition. The Government has not yet fixed the price of wheat, and millers are not keen buyers. We have to report a few sales of prime milling qualities recently at 6s per bushel, ex store. Best whole fowl wheat is in good demand, and meets with ready sale tit 5s 8d to 5s lOd per bushel (sicks extra). Chaff: At present there is a pood demand for prime chaff. Tho market is poorly supplied, and anv lots ol same coming lo h<:nd meet with ready sale. We quote: Good oaten sheaf, £4 12s 6d to £4 15s; choice, to £5; medium. £4 5s to £4 10s per ion (bags extra).

OTAGO FARMERS' HORSE BAZAAR. Tho Otago Fanners' Co-operative Association of New Zealand (Ltd.) report having held their weekly sale in their bazaar on Saturday la&t, when they offered at auction an entry of 25 horses. Tho entry comprised several good young useful farm horses, together with a fair number _of light horses and aged draughts and spring vanners. There was a fair attendance of tho public, but very few were in search of horses, the result being that the sale was dull and dragging, only a few horses being sold. Quotations: Good young draught mares and geldings, £27 to £3O; extra good geldings, lit for shaft and lorry work, £3l to £35"; ordinary draught mares r.nd geldings. £2O to £2s;' aged draughts, up to £l4; good vanners, £lB to £25; spring-carters. £l4 to £18; good upstanding harness horses, £lO to £ls; hacks and ponies, £4 to £B.

Dec. 28. Jan. 4. Victorian 4’s 023 92J Victorian 3.J’s ... 822 82S Victorian 3i’s * ... 71 70J Victorian 3’s ... 62 G2 New South Wales 4’s ... 82 83 New South Wales 3>’s UR 96 New South Wales Si’s f ... 70J 70J New South Wales 3’a ... 70 70J Queensland 4’s ... 86J 97i Queensland Si’s ... 843 84i Queensland 3’s ... G2,V 63 i South Australian Si's ... ... 71A 71. \ South Australian 3’s 577. • r >7J New Zealand 4’a •" So New Zealand Si’s 72 i New Zealand 3’s !" fiiii 6S| Tasmanian Si’s 70S 71 Tasmanian 3’a ... 6r>i 65 West Australian 3Vs ... 75 751 West Australian 3’s ... 70 70 i

Wheat ps r bushel. Oaten chaff Best milling ... 6/0 Prime 85/1) —110/0 Fowls' ... ... 67 (food 100/0 Milling oats ... 3 1'o Inferior fi0/0—SO/0 Feed oats.. ... 3/3 Ryegrass and clover Malt barley ... 0/0 hay ... 100/0-110/0 Feed barley ... 5/0 Cape barley ... 6/0 Straw Maize ... ... ,0/11 Wheateu 40/0—55/0 per ton. Oaten GO/0 — 05/0 Flour, in 200’s ... 260/0 Rolled bacon 1/0 Flour, in 50's ... 276/0 Side bacon ... 0d Bollard ... 1-0/0 Smoked hams ... 1/0 Bran ... 80/0 Cheese ... ... lid Oatmeal, in 25’ 3 420/0 Salt butter Od —1/0 Pearl barley ... 430/0 (according to quality) Egg*, fresh ... 1/3