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Otago Witness, Issue 3383, 15 January 1919, Page 14

MERCHANDISE MARKET. Various lines of tobacco are still scarce> in consequence of steamers being held up in Australia. A new shipment of Harlequin has, however, come to hand, and is meeting a ready sale. Case lots are quoted at 3s 9d, boxes 3s lOd, less 3s lid, in bond. The ehortage of shipping from Australia has also caused a scarcity in supplies of cornflour, ■vermicelli, and maraconi, arrowroot, groats, and barley, and tinned cheese. A parcel of capers hag arrived, and shows a much enhanced cost. The quotation is given at 10s Gd per dozen. A parcel of flat salmon, second quality, is due to arrive shortly, and is quoted at 17s 6d per dozen. The Christchurch Meat Company advises that it has resumed packing extract; of meat in 2oz jars. The price is 18a per dozen. Sago an 3 tapioca are showing a firming tendency. This also applies to rice. Highlander and Nes tie's milks have been advanced in price by Gd per case. Merchants are experiencing great inconvenience in getting delivery of bre-wer's

f crystals. Other sugars are in fair supply ' only. Coutts's acetic acid is practically off the market. A small shipment of Flag pickles came to • hand during the week, and was quickly j bought up, the market having been bare of i supplies. | Advices from Home state that Colman's j mustard has been advanced 3d per lb. Local : prices remain unaltered in the meantime. i Merchants and others are interested to learn that the two well-known firms—Cadbtiry's and Fry's—have entered into an arrangement which practically means an amalgamation of their businesses. Further stocks of Californian dried fruits , have arrived, but the importers find that | the sale is not so brisi aa formerly, tho I holiday season being past. Morton's curry and Seidlitzs powders-, C. > and B. curry and anchovy sauce, and Nelson's gelatine have just come to hand. Each | commodity shows a high landed cost. j Wax vestas continue in short Bupply. ' The manufacturers of Edmond's baking

powder, etc., anmrance tliat they are now m a position to execute ordinary demands. "Whole peas are practically unprocurable. Stocks of Bisto are available at 17a 9d per dozen for large, and 9s 9d for email. Packet dates a,re in "very short supply. Hennessy's brandy shows a further advance in price. Advices from Home, under date December 21, state that the position of the rum trade was '" 10 months worse" than it was, as> regards some time previously. Importation into Brifain was r.ot allowed, consequently available stocks of rums had decreased so much that there was not enough to meet the home demand. -What the position is now, with the cessation of hostilities, cannot yet be ascertained. SCARCITY OF FRUIT. NO SHIPMENT BY THE TALUNE. AUCKLAND, January 7. The Talune, which arrived this morning, brought no fruit from the islands. The

havoc caused by the influenza epidemic over the whole of the islands has interfered seriously with the work of obtaining fruit. At th? time of the departure of the Talune from Suva there were thrse vessels waiting to load fruit, but labour was unprocurable. The Talune was forced to depart without her usual cargo. BLIGHTS IN AUCKLAND DISTRICT. (Fbou Oue Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, Janiiwy 7. Supplies of all varieties of fruit on the Auckland market, with the exception of strawberries, which are mora plentiful than is usual at this period of the season, are very small—in fact, the total supply practically consists of a few bananas,, plums, peaches, and green apples. This great dearth of fruit ia duo to the prevalence of black spot and rat or brown sp'ot, and the presence of the blights is attributable to the unsettled weather which has prevailed during the past two months. Both pests have rendered useless largo quantities of fruit, and it is stated that had extra precautionary spraying measures been taken a considerable percentage of tho < lossos would have been saved. Rat spot is particularly in evidence this season, plums and peach as being the chief sufferers. If it attacks fruit in cases its destructive powers are very rapid, as it can go through a whole oaso in about 24 hours. In orchards, however, itd progress in not so easy, for it attacks tho fruit only and not tho foliage. Black spot has been moro prevalent this year th.in for many seasons past, and apples and pears havo been seriously affected. This is because tho disease attacks not only fruit. ,biit also tho foliage. However, should the present fino weather continue it is anticipated that tho effect; of tho blight will bo greatly minimised.