THE BREA

Otago Witness, Issue 3330, 9 January 1918, Page 13

THE BREA

Friday evening. PRODUCE REPORT. Current wholesale prices are as follow: — < Fowl Wheat.—Australian, 7s 6d a bushel; New Zealand-grown, unprocurable. Chaff.—Prime oaten sheaf, £6 to £6 10s; medium to good, £4 to £4- 15s (sacks extra). Straw. —Oaten, £3; wheaten, £2 10s. Eggs, Is 3d to Is 4d. Butter.—Milled bulk, Is Id to Is 2d per lb; second quality, Is; dairy separator, in lib packages, Is- to Is Id. Honey.—Bulk, 6d; 101 b fins, 5s 6d. Pigs.—Baconers, 7£d to 8d per lb; porkers, B£d to 9d. Bacon.—Rolls, local, Is 3d; Christchurch rolls, Is 3d; sides, Is 2d; hams, Is 2d; ham rolls, Is 3d. FRUIT REPORT. Business has been brisk in the fruit marts over the holidays. Stone fruit is coming in fairly plentifully from Otago Central, and prices have eased in consequence. Hothouse tomatoes continue to arrive from Christchurch. The holiday „ demand being now over, prices have gone back a bit. Amei-ican apples are being sold in the marts at prices a good deal below those ruling last week. The retail sale is on the slow side. « Cherries and strawberries are practically finished for a the season. New potatoes are plentiful, growers.being anxious to clear their ground in readiness for other crops. Wholesales values have dropped. Peas continue to meet a keen demand, and prices have gone in some instances up to 4d per lb, wholesale. Hothouse grapes are now coming in daily. A shipment of bananas has arrived from Fiji. These realised up to, 22s a case. Another parcel is now on the way down the coast. Current wholesale prices are, as follow: Apples.—American, 6d to 13s 9d; market weaker. Other kinds, 14s to 15s. Oranges.—Californian, 30s to 32s 6d. Lemons. —Adelaide, 21s to 255. Strawberries. —About done. Jam, 8d to 9d; dessert, Is 3d to Is 9d per pottle. Cherries, to 2s 3d per lb , for choice; medium, Is to Is 6d per lb. Cucumbers. —Local, 5s to 9s. . Green gooseberries, 2d to 2£d; inferior and small, Id. Plums.—Canterbury, 4d to sd; Central, to 4d per lb; cherry plums, 2d to 3d. Apricots. —Cases, 5d for best; for jam, 2J,-d to 3d; crates, to 6d. Peaches.—Cases, 2d to 2£d; crates, 2£d to s£d. Black currants, 3d to 4£d. Tomatoes. —Local, to Is; Christchurch, B£d to 9|d. Grapes, Is 9d to 2s. Green peas, 3d to 4d. New Potatoes. —Peninsula. l£d to l|d; Oamaru and Christchurch. Id. Cabbages. —Choice, up to 3s per dozen; inferior, Is to 2s per sack. Cauliflowers: Choice, to 9s per dozen ; medium, 2s 6d to 4s per dozen. Lettuce, Is 6d to 2s 6d per ease j choice, Is 6d per dozen. Parsnips, Is to Is 6d per dozen. Carrots: New. Is to Is 3d per dozen bunches. _ Spring onions. 4d to 6d per bundle. Radishes, 4d to 6d per dozen bunches.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. WELLINGTON, December 31. The following is the High Commissioner's market report, under date London, December 29 (Note: Quotations, unless otherwise specified, are the average market prices on spot) : Meat. —Home-killed mutton and beef is selling at maximum prices. For homekilled beef the maximum prico has been

advanced to 12£d, owing to the scarcity of all descriptions of moat. Small supplies of New Zealand lamb were released for the Christmas trade by order of the Government. Argentine beef: Small supplies ; chilled hindquarters, ll^d; forcquarters, 9J>d; Argentine frozen ox beef, first quality, fair supply;, hinds, Hid; fores, 9£d. The following maximum wholesale prices have been fixed for imported offal, beef livers, tongues, tails, hearts, kidneys, boneless beef: 9d, lid, lOd, Bid, Hid, and 12|d per lb respectively. Sheep kidneys, hearts, lamb hearts, Is 9d, 3s 9d, and 3s 3d per dozen. Butter. —There is no material change in the market,, and practically no supplies are available. The trade is awaiting a further Government distribution of butter and cheese, which is expected shortly.

Cheese. —Stocks aro fair. For Dutch there is a moderate supply coming forward ; others extremely scarce, and all at Government prices. ■ • i Hemp.—ln Manila and New Zealand there is very little doing this week on account of the holidays. There is no chango to report.

Wheat. —Market quiet, at official quota tions.

Oats. —The market is steady, with a mode rate inquiry.

January 3

The High Commissioner's market report cablegram, dated London, December 29, has been repeated, it .being found necessary to make the following correction: —

Moat. —Home-killed mutton snel beef is selling at maximum prices. Home-killed beef: The maximum price has been advanced to 12gd owing to scarcity of all descriptions of meat. Small supplies of New Zealand lamb have been released for the Christmas trade by order of the Government. Argentine beef: Small supplies; chilled hindquarters, ll|d ; forequartcrs, 9|d ; Argentine- frozen ox beef, first quality, fair supply; hinds, lOjd,; fores, 9£d. The following maximum wholesale prices have been fixed for imported offal: —Beef: Livers, tongues, tails, hearts, kidneys, boneless beef, 9d, lid, lOd, Bid, Hid, and 12§d per lb. Sheep: Kidneys, hearts, lamb hearts, Is 9d, 3s 9d, and 3s 3d per dozen. Sheeps' tongues, lamb,, sweetbreads, lOd, lid, Isd per lb. January 7. The following is the High C~- ~umci''B market report, under date January 5. (Note: The quotations, unless otherwise specified, are the average market prices on spot.): Meat. —The demand is in excess of_ supplies for all descriptions of meat, which is selling at the maximum prices. Owing to continued' small supplies of home-killed mutton and beef, the Food Ministry has placed a quantity of Australian mutton and New Zealand lamb on the market to be sold in the poorer districts, the wholesale price in each case being Hid. Argentine boef, small supplies and nominal quotations. Argentine chilled beef —hinds, llgd; fores, 9id. Butter. —No supplies are available of any description and no quotations. By order of the Government the importation is prohibited of Irish creamery except under a license. Cheese. —Cheese is very scarce, with the exception ,of »good supplies of Dutch. All cheese is selling at Government prices. Hemp.—For Manila and New Zealand the markets are firm, and there is little doing. The Manila output for the two weeks ended December 29 was 59,000 bales. The wheat and oats market is quiet and steady. DUNEDIN MARKETS. FABM AHD DAIBT PBODUCX. Mi B. J. M'Abthub (successor to Messrs M'llroy Bros.), George street, reports paying for produce during the week ending the Bth inst., as follows:—* Stamped rresh liegs Honey (J lb pat), 3/6 1/5 doz Honey (bulk), £J.i lb Salt Butter. 1/1 lb Honey (section), 7/6 doa Sep. Butter, 1/1 lb I Honey (Cartons), lib, 6/I 2lb, 15/- dos I Beeswax, 1/8. Compressed yeast, 8d packet. CANTERBURY PRODUCE REPORT. CHRISTCHURCH, January 3. A small shipment of Australian-wheat arrived recently, but it will not suffice *>iv more than a fortnight's supply, and will not go far towards relieving the acute shortage of bran and pollard. So far there is no great scarcity of flour. No further supply of Australian wheat is expected in Canterbury for a few weeks, and it is even doubtful if it may arrive then. Some new season's wheat is expected to be available in a fortnight's time, but owing to the late wet weather it is doubtful if it will bo fit for milling for a few weeks. Applications have been sent in by local brokers for the right to handle the new season's wheat crop on behalf of the Government, but no appointments have yet been made. The late rains have prevented the threshing out of the stooks from being carried on, ■ though there is a fair quantity of oats waiting to be dealt with. A few sales of new oats have been made. Algerians have been mostly on offer, as a large area was sown In this variety for green feed, and, not being required for that purpose, was kept for harvesting. It is therefore likely that Algerians will be moro plentiful this season in Canterbury than white oats. Light Algerians have been bought at 2* 9d, heavier at 3s, and good B grade Gartons at 3s, at country stations. There is still a little business doing in old oatsheaf chaff at £5. at country stations. Now oatsheaf chaff has been bought at £4 to £4 2s 6d, for immediate delivery, and £3 10s at country stations, for forward delivery. There is a fair amount of forward purchasing of cocksfoot seed being done at 9id to lOd, and one line was purchased at Hid. A few samples of ryegrass seed have been offered, but no sales are yet reported. It

is reporter! that Italian ryegrass seed will bo fairly plentiful. The wet weather on the Banks Peninsula Iras delayed the cockafoot harvest.

OAMARU MARKETS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) OAMARU, January 5.

Tho holidays have curtailed the j time devoted to business this week. So far as the grain and produce market is concerned this has been of no moment, for there is nothing left to handle. The position is, however, likely to be changed within a shorfc time, for the harvest bids fair to be earlier than usual. A fair area of early oats has already been cut, and pome stacking has been done, but so far thoTnills have nob commenced thrashing. Wheat is also coming On fast, and with a continuance of bright warm, weather, such as has been experienced during the past two days, ripening will soon be perfected and cutting will be commenced before the month is much older. As to the prospects so far as wheat* and early sown oats are concerned, they yields will be good all round, with soma really excellent, but late sown oata have not done well, and unless late rains produce a change they will thrash but poorly, if they should reach the thrashing mill.

SOUTHLAND MARKETS. (From Our Own Correspondent.! INVERCARGILL, January 5. A vessel will leave Bluff for. Auckland and northern ports during the coming week with tho biggest cargo of oats that have gone north for some time. A considerable portion of tho shipment is in execution of an order" booked some time back, but a. considerable quantity is new business. Northern merchants nevertheless do nob seem disposed to do business at currenb rates, preferring to wait .the arrival of tho new crop. The recent spell of bad weather throughout the whole of Southland haa affected harvest prospects, and the harvest will be somewhat delayed on . that account as a good deal of the crop has been laid by bad weather. There is, however, a disparity between the ideas of merchants as to values, but the consensus of opinion is that "A" grade Ga'rtons are still worth 4s Id f.0.b.5.i., and other grades in proportion. The small quantity of chaff offering is sufficient for local requirements, prices paid by merchants being up to £6 5s on trucks at handy stations for prime quality, sacks supplied by buyers. A few lines of surplus seeds have been offered by farmers during the week, bufc have not met with a ready response from merchants, who are all of the opinion thab the advent of the new crop will see prices materially reduced. Until the position in regard 'to the increase in cost of freight is better defined than at present merchants are not willing to do business in fibre, and a surcharge of approximately £6 15s per ton will apparently be charged against 'the producer. Merchants holding fibre in store are not disposed to do any further business pending some arrangement with the Imperial authorities, with whom negotiations ar« proceeding for carriage of any fibre in. store at 1917 rates. GRAIN AND PRODUCE SALES. Donald Reid and Co. report: We held our weekly auction sale of grain and produce at our stores yesterday, when value* ruled as under:—Oats: Business cannot be said to have been fairly resumed yet, andi on this account few sales are passing; and quotations are nominal. Local stocks are not heavy, and now that storago has been secured for lines which it was imperative to remove from wool stores, vendors are not so anxious to accept the prices;- offered by shippers; and other buyers. Prime Gartons and sparrowbilla have most inquiry, lower grades having little attention. We quote: Prime milling, 3a 9d to 3s lOd; good to best feed. 3s 7d to 3s 9d; inferior to medium, 3s to 3s 6d. per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat: None offering. Potatoes:. Stocks of old potatoes are now exhausted. Chaff: No consignments of any importance have been coming forward lately, and stocks on .hand aro light. Good to prime chaff meets with ready sale, choice quality being" in most favour. We can confidently recommend, consignments of this class. Wo quote: Best oaten sheaf, £6 12s 6d to £6 15s: ■choice, to £7; medium to good, £6- to £6 10s ; light ancl discoloured, £5 to £5 15s per ton (bags extra). ■ Messrs Dalgety and Co. (Ltd.) report as follows:—Oats: Very little business' has been passing since our last report. Stocks in store are not heavy, and offerings from tha country have been on a small scale. Stout, heavy, short oats, suitable for fowl feed, are meeting with good inquiry, and are readily quitted at quotations. We quote: Prim* milling, 3s 9d to 3s 10d; good to best feed, 3s 7d to 3s 8d; medium to good, 33 3d to 3s 6d per bushel (sacks extra!. Wheat t Practically no wheat has been offering of late. . The few odd lines availablo have been readily taken up at full Government - ■ 'j

rates on arrival. Potatoes: The season is practically over for old season's tubers, and remaining lines in storo are almost unsaleable, oven at low rates. New season s are jaow offering more freely and meeting ready Bale. Chaff: Light consignments have been coming forward of late, and all recent arrivals have met ready sale at quotation. Bright heavy oaten sheaf is in most demand and not over plentiful. We quote: Choice quality lines, to £7; good oaten sheaf, £6 10s to £6 15s; medium to good, £5 10s to £6 5s per ton (sacks extra).