THE BREADSTUFFS AND PROPRODUCE MARKETS

Otago Witness, Issue 3364, 4 September 1918, Page 13

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PROPRODUCE MARKETS

Friday evening

The removal of the Australian surplus wheat overseas is reported to be as far off as ever. Tonnage shows no signs of improvement for commercial purposes, while an equally important factor is the home supply of wheat in the Allied importing countries. Crops in France, Italy, and the United Kingdom are promising, and in most instances the area under grain has been largely increased, with the result that importation this season may not be necessary, except into Great Britain on a reduced scale. Canada and the United. States can fill all demands, and Argentina holds large stocks awaiting shipment. Eastern demands for Australian flour have exceeded expectations. Orders are being received almost daily, and large quantities have been sold in that direction in the aggregate. In some quarters', shippers are unable to cope with the demand, as gristing on account of the Imperial Government is engaging most of their attention. Offerings of wheat to the local market continue light, only two or three small lines coming in from Central Otago. Millers have taken delivery of their allotments of Australian wheat, but they are • not too well pleased with its quality, and complaints are also general about the sacks. These are in very bad condition, being weatnered and torn, as might, however, only be expected, seeing the time they have stood) in stacks, more or less unprotected from the weather. As New Zealand merchants when shipping to Australia always use first-quality sacks, they naturally feel that Australian shippers should send a similar quality of sacks with their imports to the dominion. Fowl wheat is in good demand, and is realising up to 7s per bushel to consumers. Flour (200's) is quoted at £ls 10s -a ton. Oatmeal, £29 a ton for 25's. Pearl barley, £24. Bran, £6 10s (fixed by Government). Pollard, £8 10s (fixed by Government). Milling wheat, according to Government price. South Island —August, 6s OJd, f.o.b. (plus Id brokerage and Jd Government charge). Few oats are on offer, and with the exception of small lots coming in from Otago Central, no other sources of supply appear to be available in either Otago or Southland. There are still strong inquiries from millers and shippers for all lines offering, and sales are being made up to 5s 3d, sacks extra, ex store, for heavy Gartons. Stocks in store are now getting into small compass. The demand for seed lines is keen, and merchants find it difficult to secure suitable lines for • growers, to whom the price has now advanced to 5s 9d per bushel, sacks extra. In a number of districts, however, farmers have held stacks of oats, and are now supplying/their fellow farmers at prices a- little below those named. PRODUCE REPORT.

There has been a strong shipping demand for chaff for the past week, and sales have been reported at £lO, f.0.b., s.i. The local market, however, has not responded, there being plenty of chaff which may be unsuitable for shipping, but which is of good feed quality, and this has kept local feeders well supplied. . The local quotations for good quality are £7 10s to £7 15s per ton, sacks extra.

During the week two steamers from Melbourne have brought about 100 tons of Australian potatoes. The quality of these is not so good asy local-grown, but the arrivals have caused a weakening locally. Merchants who imported are prepared to sell at £lO a ton, and although this is' £2 per ton under the price being realised for sound locallygrown, it is reported that the imported tubers are not meeting with too ready a sale at the price quoted.- « The demand for both wheaten and oaten straw is quiet. Consignments of eggs are coming forward very freely, but sales are not difficult to effect, as some of the bakers are now preserving.

Parcels of brown Spanish onions grown in New Zealand, and about 500 to 600 bags of Melbourne grown have just come forward. As a result, the market has weakened.

Dairy and milled butter is in very short supply, and stocks in merchants' hands are practically exhausted. Those bakers who are not holding stocks' in the freezer are faced with the prospect of having to use factory butter.

There was a medium yarding of pigs at Burnside on Wednesday. A keen demand was experienced,..and the yarding was cleared at prices equal to last week's rates. Best baconers made from lOd up to lOfd per lb, and best porkers from 9Jd up to 10|d per lb. Current wholesale prices % are as follow: Fowl Wheat.—New Zealand-grown, 6s 4d to 6s 6d; higher for special quality. Chaff.—Prime oaten sheaf, £7 10s to £7 15s (sacks extra); medium to good, £5 to £6 10s. Oaten straw, £2; wheaten, £1 15s. Potatoes, to £l2 per ton (sacks in), for nortuem-grown; southern-grown, none offering. Eggs. —Stamped, plain, Is 3d; stamped, Is 4d. Onions. —Canterbury, 30s. Butter. —Milled bulk, Is 2d to Is 4d per lb; second quality, Is Id; dairy separator, in lib packages, to Is 3d. Honey, 9d to lOd per lb. Pigs.—Baconers, -9id to 10£d per lb; porkers, 91d to IOJd. Bacon.—Rolls (local), Is Sd; Christchurch rolls, la 3d; sides, Is- 2d; haras. Is 3d; ham rolls, Is 4d. FRUIT REPORT. ' Business has been well maintained in the fruit marts during the week. Heavy supplies of fruit have come forward., between 400 and 500 cases of apples arriving from Nelson by the Oorinna. These met with a ready sale. A fair supply of cooking apples has aJso arrived from Canterbury cool stores, and met a good demand. Several small lots of pears have also come forward. Advice has been received from Hobart that first-class apples for export are unobtainable there. The vegetable market has been over-stocked with cauliflowers. Soma hundreds of sacks are arriving on the markets daily, but the consignments will soon be exhausted, as the vegetables have all reached maturity together. Housewives would therefore be well advised to take advantage of the present glut. Current wholesale values are as follow: Apples.—Dessert, Choice Delicious, to 16s; choice Stunners, to 12s 9d; best desserts, 10s to 10s 6d; others, 6s 6d to Bs. Cookers, 7s 6d to 9s 6d for best; medium, 5s 6d to 6s; inferior, 3s to 4s; Lord Wolseloy, 10s to 10s 6d. Pears.—Winter Coles, half-cases, to 6s; Winter Nelis, 3d to 3Jd; cooking, 2d to 2id per lb. Lemons. —Adelaides, to 20s 6d per case; Milduras, 17s 6d; 'Frisco, 455. Poorman oranges: To arrive early next week. Bananas.—Green, 15s to 17s 6d. Mandarins —Prime, to 21s 6d. Passions, 143 to 17s 6d per box. Pines, 15s to 21s 6d.

Oranges.—lsland repacks, to 255; Sydney, 9s 6d to 18s, according to quality; Adelaide, Navels, 22s to 24s 6d. Walnuts, to Is 6d per lb for choice; others, Is 2d to Is 3d. Potatoes, in small lots, lis per cwt for choice. Cabbages.—Choice, up to 4s per dozen; 4s to 5s per sack; extra prime Canterburygrown, to 7s; good, 3s 6d to ss; inferior, Is 6d to 2s 6d per sack. Cauliflowers: Choice, up to 5s 6d per sack; good, 3s to 4s; medium Is 6d to 2s. Parsnips, 3s to 4s per. cental bag; sacks, to 7s. Carrots, 3s to 4s per cental bag. Brussels sprouts, 7a per box. Swedes. —Sacks, 3s; bags, Is 6d to 2s Bd. Celery.—Choice, to Is 8d per bunch} medium, to 6d. Spinach, 8d to Is per dozen. MERCHANDISE MARKET. Shipments of Laurel kerosene and Big Tree benzine have come forward during the week. A parcel of Havelock tobacco came to hand by the Westralia, and reached a very bare market. Holbrook's sauce is again on the market. tinned fruits are getting into small compass, and the new season's arrivals will have to bear a much increased cost. Local stocks are quoted at 17s to 18s per dozen. The British Empire Tobacco Company has advised distributors of a further increase of 5s per 1000 in the price of its cigarettes. Indian lentils show a sharp increase in price. A large shipment of Horlick's malted milk, which has just come to hand, shows an increased cost. To-day's wholesale quotation is 40s per dozen tins. > A shipment of Akaroa walnuts has just been landed. The price is Is 3d to Is 3Jd per lb. Tartaric acid is now quoted at 4s 8d to 4s 9d per lb, and citrio acid at ss. Both commodities are in rather short supply. Camphor is quoted at 8s per lb. A shipment of Carton dates has arrived, being transhipped at Syd/ney. It was stated recently that shipments of salmon from the United States this season were likely to be very limited, the Government keeping a very firm hand on the exportation of all foodstuffs required either for the armies of the Allies or for home consumption. As Australia will have to rely mainly on exports of this tinned fish from Canada (says the Melbourne Herald), the prices which have been issued by the British Columbia Packers' Association are of interest. These prices are: —Red Sockeye, lib flats 7ls sd, Jib fiats 76s"fid a case; Co-hoes-, lib tails 56s 6d, lib flats 58s 6d, Jib flats 63s 8d a case. Pinks, lib tails 4Ss 6d, lib flats 44s 7d, Jib flats 50s 9d a case; Chums, lib tails 86s, Jib flats 41s 2d a case. These prices, compared with those for last season, show an increase of from 3s 3d to 16s 8d a case. COMMERCIAL CABLEGRAMS. LONDON, August 29. Copper, £122 ss; Electrolytic, -£135. Lead: Spot, £29 10s; three months, £26 10s. Spelter: Spot, £54 ; three months, £SO. Tin, £361 10s. Silver, 49Jd per oz. August 30. Bank of England returns: Gold coin and bullion in hand, £68,886,000; reserve,' £30,382,000; proportion of reserve to liabilities, 17.76 per cent.; notes in circulation, £57,613,000; Government deposits, £34,918,000; other deposits, £136,110,000; Government securities, £59,454,000; other securities,' £99,253,000. Discount on short loans, 3£ per cent.; three months' bills, 8J per cent. Consols: £57. War loans: 3J per cent; £BB 15s; 4 per cent, £35. Quotations for colonial stocks, as compared with those for the previous week: Aug. 23. Aug. 30. Victorian 4's 98 98 Victorian 3i's 72J 723 Victorian 3J's * • BRJ 89 Victorian 3's ... ... ..-. G4| 64J New South Wales 4's ... 86J 86i New South Wales 3i's (ex div.) 99* 99i New South Wales Si's t 70J 70J Queensland 4's 93 93$ Queensland 3i's fill ' 94i Queensland 3's 64j} 64J New Zealand 4's 90 90J New Zealand 3J's 75| 75g New Zealand 3's 67 67J South Australian 3J's 74| 742 South Australian 3's 69 59| Tasmanian Bi's 74J 74£ Tasmanian 3's 66 66 West Australian 3£'s 77J '7B West Australian 3's 73J 73J • 1921-6 currency. t 1920-30 currency. Butter and cheese: Unchanged. Wheat: Quiet. A few sales of parcels of Australian on passage were made at 79s 6d. There is nothing doing in spot lots. Flour: Quiet. Small allocations were miode of oversea lots at late rates. Oats: Imported, unchanged. Peas and beans: Steadier, New Zealand and Tasmanian white peas, 60s to 60s. Sugar: Unchanged. September 1. Hemp is in fair request. Rubber: Para, 3s 9Jd; plantation, 2s s§d; smoked, 2s 4Jd. DT7WKDIN MAKrTETS. FASH AND DAIBT PRODUCT. Mr B. «J. M'Abthus (successor to Musrs M'llroy Bros), George street, reports psyins; for produc* during th* week ending U»« 3rd inst., as follows : St»r»ped t re*h Kgg» I Honey (J lb pst). 5/1/4 do* Honey (bulk), 9d lb Salt Butter, 1/2 lb | Honey (section), 7/6 do» Sep. Butter. 1/ 3lb 1 Honey (Csrtoai). lib, 6/Prime Sep. Butter | 21b, 16/- dos wanted, 1/ i lb j Beeiwsx, 2/. Bacon Pig?, Kid lb | Compressed yeast, 9d packet. > THE OAMARU MARKETS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) OAMARU, August 31. The grain market has narrowly escaped drawing a blank this week, and it is now evident that stocks of both wheat and oats have passed out of growers' hands. Only a few small lots of wheat have come forward, and of oats not a solitary offering has been made. A good deal of cowgrass seed has been coming forward, and a considerable quantity has passed into the hands of merchants. The quantity offering exceeds anything seen, for many years, and the quality is pronounced excellent, being taken as a whole the best ever produced here. Sales have been made at Is 6d and Is 7d net, at country stations. The potato market has hardened further during the week, but offerings from the country continue irregular and in small lots. Good table Up-to-Dates have been dealt in at £9 per ton, net, at country stations, and £9 10s, net, delivered in Oamaru. SOUTHLAND MARKETS. (Frou Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, August 3; The oat market continues decidedly Arm at 5s 6d per bushel, sacks in, for A grade Gartons, and various sales are reported at this figure and the equivalent thereof for lower

grades. A fair quantity of oats has also been turned over for local consumption to large users, such as sawmillers, etc. Practically nothing is offering from the country, any lines that have been available being pioked up at about 4s 8d on trucks, depending! on quality. There is a fair inquiry for chaff from northern quarters, but as shipping cannot be obtained no business has resulted. The local demand is strong, and for prime quality • merchants are offering £6 5s on trucks As the eupply hardly equals the demand, and as farmers are busy with ploughing operations to get in their grain crops, this condition is likely to" hold for eome time. There is some demand for ryecorn, by calffood makers in particular, «.nd for extra good quality up to 5s 8d has been paid on trucks - ftt Invercargill. There is a strong looal demand for ryegrass for spring sowing, and as inquiries- are constantly coming forward from the North Island the market has a somewhat firming tendency. To northern merohants the prices work out on tho basis of Cs for 2Slb to 291 b seed), f.0.b., sacks extra. Owing to the lack of shipping facilities and tho downward trend of oricee for hemp ill the North Island, high fair to-day is woTth nominally only £34 on trucks, low fair 638. At theeo prices neither merchant*; nor millers Kre wi.lij'ng to operate. During the weok a space allotment has been made at BluS. This, however, does not exceed 8 per cent, of the quantity in Bluff stores. Owing to the little pusine*s doing recently millers are now offering fairly co)igid*ra>.lo quantities of tow, with the oomsequvsciso tltat there ie a downward tendenoy, and eocond grade is now worth only £5 10s on trucks, and third grade only 34 100. GRAIN AND PRODUCE SALES. Moesrs Donald Beid and Co. report: —Oats: Prinra milling and dean seed lines still com-

mand strong inquiry. Medium to good fe-ect lines are also in keen demand. Consignments are not coming forward freely, and all samples offering are readily dealt with at satisfactory prices. Prime milling, 5s 2d to 5s 3d; good to best feed, 4s lid to 5s Id; inferior to medium, 4s 6d to 4e lOd per bushel, sacks extra. Wheat: All sorts are scarce, and meet with ready sale. Potatoes: Consignments have not been coming forward so freely, and more attention has been given to lots jr. store. These are not generally of tho best quality, and in, some cases show signs o, growth. A shipment of Australian potatoes, arrived during tho week. The quality is no. equal to our best locally grown, but will have the effect of retarding the sale of our medium quality. Best table potatoes, £ll 10a to £l2; medium to good, £9 lCs to £11; others, £7 10s to £9 per ton, sacks included. Chaff: The market continues firm, with strong inquiry for prime oaten sheaf, both from local buyers and shippers. Fair supplies are corning forward, and iu the case of prime quality are being readily quitted ex truck. Medium quality, although not in such general demand, meets with fair inquiry. Best oaten sheaf, £7 5s to £7 10b; choice to £7 15s; medium to good, £6 10s to £7; light and discoloured, £5 10s to £6 per ton, bags extra. Messrs DRlgety and Co. report:—Oats: j-iio quantity offering of late has been small. There is a strong demand for all grades, and stocks in store are fast becoming. depleted. Millers are ready purchasers of suitable samples at prices above shippers' limits. Seed varieties have been in denuand during tho past week. Medium quality and light lines are more readily quitted for looal feed requirements. Prime milling, os 2d to 6s 8d; good t;> best feed, 4s lid to 5s Id; medium to good, 4s 9d to 4s lid per bushel, sacks extra. Wheat: Very little offering. All samples in milling condition are readily taken by millers at maximum Government rates. Fowl wheat is in very short supply, and ifl

readily quitted on arrival at full rates. Potatoes: Only moderate supplies have been coming to hand of late from Canterbury and northern districts. The market is somewhat steadier, due to the arrival of a quantity of Australian tubers, which are being 1 sold at lower values than New Zealand grown. Choice quality are in most demand, and for .these late x-atos are maintained. Choice well-graded lines of seed, tree from disease, have more inquiry. Best tables, £ll 10s to £l2; medium to good), £lO to £ll per ton, sacks in. Chaff: Consignments of late have not been heavy, nd all good brig]it heavy oaten sheaf is cadily placed on arrival at quotations, there being a good shipping demand for lines of this description, in addition to local feeders' requirements. Medium quality and lower grades have been moving off more freely. Choice quality, to £7 15s; good oaten sheaf,

£7 6s to £7 10s; medium to good, £6 10s to £7 per ton, sacks extra. EABBITSKIN SALE.. The New Zealand Loan Company, Stronach, Morris, and Co., Wright, Stephenson, and Co., National Mortgage and Agency Company, Dalgety and Co., Otago Farmers' Cooperative Association, and Donald Reidl and Co. repoit having held their usual "sale on the 26th, when large catalogues were submitted to a representative gathering of buyers. Competition was less keen than at the previous sale, prices showing an all-round drop of 8d per lb. The following are the top prices secured in their respective classes:—Babbitskins : "Winter does, 66Jd; first winter bucks, 45Jd; second winter docs, 48fd; second! winter bucks, 41d; winter, 40d; oiitgoing, 35*d; incoming, 38£d; autumn, 37Jd; E. autumn, 34|d; racks, 271 d; light racks, 25d; runners and suckers, 15d ; broken, 21Jd; milky, 15|d ; ■ spring, 31Jd; first winter black, 79d; second winter black, 71d; incoming black, GOd; outgoing black, 47d; fawn, 44d. Hareskins, 16d; horsehair, 143 d; gutted, 24d; catskins, 19Jd; ferrets, 2s Bd. EABBITSKIN MARKET. Messrs Younghusband, Bow, and! Co., Melbourne, report under date August 15 on the prices of rabbitskins. The priced items of interest to Dunedin firms are as follow: Picked winters (no heads). Sod to S6d per lb; first winters (no heads), 22d to 25d; first incoming (no heads), 19d to 21d; seconcj incoming (no heads), 14d to 16d; racks (no heads), 8d to 9d; does-, lOd to lid; kittens, 6d to 6d. OTAGO FARMERS' HORSE BAZAAR. The Otago Farmers' Co-operative Association reports:—"We held our horse sale on Saturday. The entry was rather small, only 80 horses coming forward, comprising 10 use-

ful geldings, young and sound, and! the balance light-weight plough sorts and spring carters. The former met with fair competition, the highest price realised being for a good class gelding- from Waimea Plains, £33. The balance of this consignment went at corresponding values. Spring-carters were not in much demand, ai» old and done horses, either light or heavy,, wore almost unsaleable except at a price which may probably show a small margin of profit _to regenerate for export purposes. Our spring sale will bo held on Friday, September 6. Quotations: —Young, sound, sharp, clifty geldings, £25 to £3O; extra heavy horses, £26 to £35; seven-year-old and over mares and geldings, £l3 to £2O; and what is usuallytermed aged, £lO to £l2; vanners and Bpringcarters, £l4 to £2O; light sorts of harness horses, at fluctuating prices. •PROPERTY SALE. Messrs Park, Reynolds (Ltd.) offered at auction on the 231 h parts of allotments 52 and 651 b, Sunnyside, Roslyn, with -buildings thereon. There was a large attendance. Bidding was spirited, commencing at £SOO and) rising rapidly to £BOO, at which price the property was sold to Mr William Taylor.