THE WEATHER

Otago Witness, Issue 3439, 10 February 1920, Page 16

THE WEATHER

"While on this subject I would point out that so much has been stated In press re-

HEAT WAVE IN OTAGO. Following on several exceedingly hot days, there was a further rise in the thermometer on Friday, which registered 88deg in the shade at noon. The day was the hottest experienced this season. Excessively hot weather has been experienced in other parts of the province, especially in Otago Central. A record high temperature was registered at Earnscleugh on Thursday, the thermometer rising to IGTdeg in the shade, while at Clyde lOldeg. was reached. The Balclutha Free Press states that Thursday was conceded to be one _ of the hottest days experienced locally this summer. The thermometer reached 80 in the shade, and 110 in the open, There was no wind, and the air was blisteringly hot. (From Our Own Correspondents.) QUEENSTOWN, February 6. Intense heat has been experienced here for the last three days, the thermometer registering between £5 and 90 in the shade in tb° afternoon. ALEXANDRA, February 6. The heat wive increased yesterday, the temperature registering 144 deg. in the sun, and to-day the heat is just a, s great. Thursday was the hottest day recorded in Invercargill for 12 years (states the Southland Times), the thermometer registering 88deg. in the shade at Mr Lonnie’s nursery, Waikiwi. The nearest approach to that temperature was in 1912, when, on January 29, 86dcg. were registered. ASHBURTON, February 6. To-day was the warmest experienced locally for ma/t.y years, the temperature in

the shade at 1 p.m. being 95deg. The previous highest record wag 99.5 deg. several years ago. EMBARGO ON HIDES. * FREE DEALING URGED. WELLINGTON, February 4. At a meeting of the Associated Freezing Companies of New Zealand in Wellington the vexed question of the continuation of the embargo on free dealing in hides was discussed. The conference decided "That no system will be satisfactory to the freezing companies which does not provide a free market for hides, unrestricted by any limitations on free sale." BUTTER AND CHEESE. IMPERIAL PURCHASE PROBABLE. WELLINGTON, February 3. Mr Mass-.y states that the Imperial authorities are making inquiries about the terms on which New Zealand butter and cheese might be purchased. He notified the representatives of the butter and cheese industries that the Imperial Government asked to know their wishes as to price and the conditions of purchase. The butter and cheese people would now confer and let him know their cpinions, and it would be his duty to convey them to the Imperial Government. He thought a meeting of representatives of the dairy industry would be held late in (his week or early next week. Referring to the proposal that a committeo representing the meat * producers in New Zealand should be sent Home to investigate conditions, Mr Massey said that he was quite prepared to send a committee Home if.the request were renewed. MR E. SHORT'S PARORANCI STUD ROMNEY SALE. Messrs Levin and Co. (Ltd.), Dalgety and Co. (Ltd.), and Murray, Roberts, and Co. (Ltd.), acting in conjunction, report having held the sale of Mr Ernest Short's stud Romney sheep in the Foilding A. and P. Association's newly-erected sale-ring, kindly lent for the auction on Tuesday and Wednesday, 27th and 28th January. There was a large and representative attendance from all parts of the Dominion, from Auckland to Invercargill, including many of the most noted breeders. Cornpetition was keen throughout the sale, and high averages were obtained. The sheep came forward in splendid condition, and their quality was greatly admired, Mr Ernest Short being congratulated on all sides upon the very able manner in which the sheep were drafted into their respective pens. This must be recorded as one of the most successful sales, of stud Romney sheep held in Australasia. As an indication of the keenness of buyers to operate, it may be mentioned that the sale on the first day terminated at 2 p.m., and on the second day at 2.45 p.m. The following are the results:

63 four-tooth ewes maje from 3igs to 12gs, with an average of £6. 545 two-tooth ewes made from 3gs to 26gs, with an average of £B. 165 four-tooth maiden ewes made from 3£gs to 9gs, with an average of £6 4s. 145 six-tooth ewes made from 3gs to 16gs, with an average of £7 10s 3d. 320 four-year-old ewes made from 3gs to lOgs, with an average of £4 la. 261 ear-old ewes made from 2£gs to 6gs. with an average of £5 9s 6d. 45 aged ewes made from 2gs to 6gs, with an average of £3 19s 6d. 365 ewe lambs made from to s|gs, with an average of £3 15s 6d. 303 ram lambs made from 2gs to s|gs, with an of £4 15s. &2 rams, two-tooth to aged, made from 20gs to 340 gs. ' The average of 58 two-tooth rams was £75 IDs. The average of 20 mixed-aged rams was £6O 7s. The average of the 15 top-priced rams was £l6B. One five-year-old ram brought 220 gs. CANTERBURY GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS. CHRISTCH.TJKCH, February 6. There has lee.n a fair amount of business in new season's cats. The keen North Island ir.quiry for Algerian oats has slackened somewhat, sales having been recordted of good bright seed at ss, country stations. As immediate requirements have been filled in the north there is little likelihood of this figure being exceeded in future business as North Island merchants aro not disposed to trade vety extensively at the figure quoted. A fair amount of Gartons is coining in, and has been purchased on a basis of 4s 3d, to is 6d for a particularly fine sample at country stations. Merchants are not being rushed at a turnover price on their values, and purchases are largely speculative. Some growers are asking up to ss, at country stations, but there is no business .at this figure. Old chaff is in keen inquiry, and purchases have been made at £7 103 to £8 at country stations, but there is very little available. New chaff is worth £0 ss, at wayside stations. Barley is making its appearance in considerable quantities. There have been some excellent yields, in some oases over 70 bushels per acre has been recorded, and the sample is exceptionally good. Business, so far, has been between growers and brewers, with a fairly wide range, but 7s 6d' at country stations about represents current quotations. Cocksfoot has eased somewhat, although values are still up to Is Id for good, clean, undressed samples. Three shipments of Danish cocksfoot arrived in Auckland last week, and sold on a basis of Is 3£d per lb, which forecasts an easing of local values. Onions are coming to hand, and last week were worth, £ll at country stations. An increase in supplies is reducing values) and £9 per ton represents to-day's market. There are no new season's potatoes worth reporting on the market. Limited business has been done at JE7 5s to £7 10s, country stations, for March-April delivery. Following are current quotations: Wheat. —Milling (Government price): Tuscan, 7s 3d, f.0.b.; Hunters, 7s 6d • Pearl 7s 9d. Oats.—Gartons, good quality 4s 6d to 4a 9d; Duns, 4s 7d to 4s lOd; Algerians, 4s 9tf to 5s 3d. Barley.—7s 6d a bushel. Flcur.—£ls per ton; 1001 b bage, £ls 10s: 601 b bags, £l6; 251 b bags, £l6 ss. Oatmeal.—2slb sacks £33 per ton, 71b bage £37. Bran.—Shipping, £5 10s; local, £5 15s per ton. Pollard.—£7 10s per ton. Oatsheaf chaff.—Bright heavy ; £6 to £6 10s at country stations. Cocksfoot. —Undressed, lOd to Is 2d; machine dlressed, Is 6d to Is 8d Ryegrass.—Perennial, 4s 9d to 5s 6d; Italian, 4& lOd to 5s 6d. I Clover.—" White, Is 4d to Is 3d; red, Is 9d to Is lOd.

THE BREADSTIJFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS. Frid*r •vening. In regard to wheat importing countries, supplies taken this season (states Broomhall of November 25) have been fairly liberal, and look like totalling 208,000,000 bushels for the four montlis August-November, or at the rat© of 624,000,000 bushels per annum. This is a relatively moderate quantity compared with tha 760,000,000 bushels which are theoretically needed, and it emphasises the fact that poverty-stricken Europe cannot buy all the food it needs. Taking one season with another, it can be said that importers buy onethird of their wheat requirements in the first four months of the season, and although thia season is abnormal in many respects it miay prove no exception to the rule with regard to wheat purchases. More foreign wheat than usual is wanted, but the money and goods to pay for it are wofully short. The extent to which the drought affected I the wheat yields of the principal producing i States of the commonwealth can be gauged I more closely when a comparison is made of ; the total out-turn with that of the past years I (says the Australasian). The yield of wheat from four States this season is approximately 28,000,000 bushels less than that for 1918-19, and is only a little more than a third of the 1917-18 production. Official estimates for the three seasons are given below in comparative form: | 1917-18. 1918-19. 1919-20. , Victoria 37,737,552 25,239,871 13,578,134 New South Wales 37,843,930 17,832,910 4,494,000 Scuth Australia 28.692,-594 21,302,459 15,250,760 Western Australia 9,303,787 8,845,387 12,456,571 Total 113,577,863 73,220,627 45,779,455 Exports of cereals from Argentina during the nine months ended September 30, as compiled by the Review of the River Plate, show an appreciable expansion when compared with the corresponding period of 1918. The wheat shipped amounted to 2,110,996 tons. LOCAL MARKETS. No transactions in milling wheat have been recorded during the week, and the supply of fowl wheat has also been small. Milling Wheat.—According to Government ! prices: South Island, 6s 9d, f.0.b., sacks extra I (plus lid brokerage and Government commission); i\orth Island, approximately equivalent | to 7s o£d (plus ljd brokerage and Government I commission). ! Prices of millers' lines are as follow: .Flour, £l6; bran, £6 10s; pollard, £8 lQs; I pearl barley, £2B; oatmeal, £3O. I The demand for prompt oats has been quiet, j and only small sales have been recorded at up to 5s 6d, f.o.b.s.i. Merchants are unable to quote much under this figure, as growers will not part with their holdings at reduced limits. Business in forward oats has been very ■ brisk, there being a sudden change in the j market caused through oversellers endeavourj ing to cover their sales. The outlook is j altered now that the south is experiencing I very dry weather, and also on account of growers in the north refusing to accept lower prices for new season's grain. Prices have advanced to 5s 4d, f.0.b.5.i., spread delivery, with no sellers and several keen buyers. PRODUCE REPORT. Consignments of chaff are still arriving freely, but the price remains unaltered, as several trucks have been purchased by sbip- ! pers who expect a steamer to load for AuckI land. Prices for best quality range from £7 10s to £7 12s 6d. sacks extra. Medium and j poor quality is difficult to sell at £5 to - £fi per ton, sacks extra.- | Arrivals of potatoes have been in excess) ■ of requirements, and owing to consumers being fully stocked prices have eased. NorthI ern-grown (in quantity) are selling at Id per I lb. | Eggs are slow of sale, the high price rei 6tricting the demand. I Dairy butter- is in very shorffsupply. i ' Pigs are in short, supply. Prices are irre- ' gular. I Current wholesale prices are as follow: j " Fowl wheat, 8s per bushel, sacks extra (very scarce). . - ! Chaff: Prime oaten sheaf, £7 10s to £7 12s 6d; - medium and poor quality, £5 to £6 (hard to quit). Onions, 15s per cwt. Eggs: Stamped, 2s 6d. Butter: Milled, bulk, best, Is 5d to Is s§d; separator pats, to Is sd. Margarine, Is 3Jd per lb. Pigs: Prices nominal; supplies very short. Bacon (nominal price): Local rolls, is B£d I per lb; hams, Is 2Jd; looal ham rolls, Is 4d to Is 4£d —supplies very short. FRUIT REPORT. ■ Business has been brisk in the fruit marts during the week. Large quantities of stone I fruit are coming forward, chiefly from Ceai tral Otago and Canterbury. Pears, apples, j and tomatoes are arriving from- Nelson. All I lines meet a sound demand. Very large supplies of apricots are arriving j from Central Otago. Peaches are not ea plentiful, and prices are firmer. Supplies of vegetables are not very plentiful, but this fact notwithstanding the demand! is poor. Current wholesale prices are as follow: Dessert Apples: American, 18s to 20s per case; cooking, 6s to 8s; Nelson dessert, 10a to 12s. Oranges: American, 45s to 48s per double case. Bananas: Ripe, 40s per case. Hothouse Tomatoes: Local, Is Id to Is S 3 per lb; Christchurch firsts, 7d to 9d; outsidegrown, 5d to 6d; Nelson-grown, 6s to 8s 6d; per case. Lemons: Californian, 60s per double case. Plums: Cooking, 3s to 4s per half-case; dessert, 2Jd to 3£d per lb; choice, 4d. Grapes: Local hothouse, 2s 9d per lb. Peaches: Crates, choice to Bd, prime 4d to 6d; cases, 2Jd to 4d per lb. Apricots: Small, ljd to 2d per lb; medium, 2Jd to 2|d; crates, to sd. Raspberries: Waimate, to 8d; local, to B£4 per lb. Loganberries, 9Jd per lb. Gooseberries: Green, l£d to 2d; ripe, 3d to 4d per lb. Carrots. Is per dozen bunches. Cabbage: Medium size, 2s to 3s per dozen; prime, 4s per dozen; sacks, to 6s for choice J second! grade, 4s to 5s per sack; inferior, la to 2s 6d. Cauliflowers: Medium, 2s to 3s per dozen; prime, 6s to'Bs per doezn. Lettuce: Choice, to 2s per dozen heads; medium, Is. White turnips, 6d to 9d per dozen bunches. Potatoes: New locals—Peninsula 2d to 2Jcl per lb., Forbury l|d to 2d; Auckland, ia bags, 12s to 14s; Taieri and Oamaru, l£d to l|d per lb. Cucumbers: Small, 63 to 7s per dozen;' large, to 12s; extra large, to 15s; outsidegrown, 4s to 6s per dozen.. Peas, 2Ad to 3Jd per lb. MERCHANDISE MARKET. Owing to tbo shortage of wax material is it very difficult to obtain supplies of wax matches. No vestas are obtainable from Australia and small quantities whiclji are available from the United Kingdoafl do not satisfy the demand. Safety matchest are also getting into short compass, but ai

parcel of Thre-i Poodles is shortly due to arrive. The local agents report increases -n the prices of Meihuishs manufactures, which are as follow:—Worcester sauce quarts, 23 per dozen; tomato sauce, quarts, Is per dozen; Worcester' and tomato pints, Is; and pickles, Is. .Quotations for the coming season a output of pineapple are said to be the highest on record. The best value is for Queensland fruit, Singapore and Hawaiian prices being prohibitive. Merchants who ordered supplies from Queensland are anxiously awaiting delivery, which has been delayed owing to the engineers' strike.. The long-expected supply of dates ia on the market, bulk being quoted at 7d a lb and boxes at 10s a dozen. The selling price of pearl barley is quoted by merchants as 31s per cwt. Owing to the shortage of raw material all brands of colonial and imported starch are in short supply. Stocks ofrioe are getting rather low, and it is regarded as doubtful in some quarters if the quantity held will be sufficient to meet the demands during the next few months. No shipments are expected from Australia until about July or August. Ground rice is now quoted at BJd per lb, bulk, and 27s 6d per dozen boxes. There has been something of a run on disinfectants during the past week. J eyes Fluid and Kerol have been in short supply for some time, and the market is now practically bare of these two kinds. Pilchards which have been in short supply ore again available at the same price as formerly. An advance has taken place during the week in the price of Keep Smiling sand soap. A number of Lever's soaps are also showing an increased cost. Vermicelli and macaroni are in short supply owing to the non-arrival of parcels from Australia and the prices are a trifle firmer. Imitation parchment paper is now selling at Is per lb. The price of all kinds of benzine has been advanced Is per case. A slight increase has taken place in the price of K baking powder. A shipment of out drained peel, wbioh ar- \ rived from Australia, is.being sold at Is 6d per lb. .■•'.•■ . A. sino.ll parcel of American sardines, quarters, which is now on the market, is being sold at lis 6d per dozen. The stocks of pearl tapioca and sago in merchants' hands are considerably depleted and a shipment ex. the Waitomo is now being anxiously awaited. . HIGH COMMISIONER'S REPORT. "WELLINGTON, February 2. The Department of Agriculture has received the following cablegram, dated January 31, from the High Commissioner for New Zealand in' London: i—- • The wholesale price of imported beef will be reduced 2d per lb from February, with a corresponding reduction in the retail price. The following are the wholesale maximum fixed prices for beef, fores and hinds respectively:—English, Is l£d, Is 4£d; imported, Bid, lljd. Mutton.—Lamb, English, Is 3|d; imported, IOJd. Hemp.—The Manila market is strong, and large business has been done. The price has advanced for J grade. A shipment, to be mad©..in February, March, or April sold at the beginning of this week at £G6. The present selling prices are £7l to £7l 10s. The New Zealand market is .firm, but little is doing.. Sales during this week include fair spot, £55; high point, shipment to be made in. January, February, or March, £53 10s; fair, shipment to be.made in January, February, or March, £sl 10s. The present quotations are: Spot, high-point, £SB; fair, £55. Shipment to be made in January, February, or-. March, £53 10s and £51.103. . .: OAMARU MARKETS. (From Our Own correspondent.) OAMARU, February 7. ■ , There is still -very little doing in -Jhe local grain and produce market, but those concerned p.ie looking forward to the advent of the new season.' gram. The weather this Week has been warm —really hot on some days—and grain crops have been helped on tov.ejds ripening. A few Vts cf wheat have been cut,. but it will be some little time before operations upon that cereal are commenced in earnest Another week of ripening, weather should, however, "bring a considerable number of fields of wheat into reap- ' ing condition. The harvesting of oats, is much more forward, and a fair amount of cutting has been done. New season's Algerians have been on the market during the week. "The quality of some of the samples may be classed! as good, and the size of the offerings indicates that thrashing results have been highly satisfactory. No business has been effected, 'as growers ... are looking for prices that forbid. speculation, and no orders ore coming this way from the North Island. Some old season's Gartons have changed hands at country stations at 4s 7d and 4s 9d net for A grade. A little business has been done in seeds, good heavy-weight perennial ryegrass having been taken at country stations at 5a Gel net, while cocksfoot has been dealt in at acquired at 7d and 7£d net at country sta•tions. A fair quantity of rape seed will be produced here, and some lots have already been acquired at 7d and 7§d at country stations. SOUTHLAND MARKET REPORT. (Prom Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, February 7. The local position with regard to oats is that merchants' stocks have almost completely vanished, little more .being on hand than will be required for local consumption, with the exception of some small deliveries yet to be made on account of earlier sales. Oats were offering early in the week in Canterbury at 5s 2d, f.f.b., s.s., which, taking into consideration the present values of sacks, rail, etc., is equal to 4s 3d on trucks at country sidings, which price in the meantime is hardly likely to appeal to Southland growers, despite the fact that the outlook, as far as crops is concerned, is exceptionally good. It is well known, however, that the acreage in crop is considerably smaller than last year. If the present weather holds, the bulk of the Southland oats will be A grade. There is a decidedly strong demand for chaff for shipment, but, unfortunately, there is no apparent prospect of any of this business being taken up, shipping facilities between Bluff and northern ports being so few and far between. It is rarely that an opportunity is afforded more than once a month to ship to Auckland or East Coast ports, and the bulk of general cargo offering is so great that no space is available for chaff. Prime qriality chaff is worth up to £6 10s on trucks, depending on distance from the centre. Fair to good quality is worth £6 to £6 "ss.

The grass seed harvest is now in. full swing for the earlier varieties, and as the we*atla»r atill continues good, seed will probably be saved in the best possible condition. The average weight for ryegrass fiom the mill this season should be in the ncigrhb° llr " hood of 261 b, whereas last year tho ave± age

hardly exceeded 211 b. Old stocks are almost absolutely exhausted, so that the new crop will meet with a ready sale, even if the demand from the north for autumn sowing may be satisfied when the new crop comes on the market. All over Southland harvesters of both sexes can be seen busily at work collecting cocksfoot from the reserves and wayside area. The quantity from this source will evidently be much greater than in any preceding year. Although there is no actual business passing in the hemp market, it has a decidedly buoyant tone, and despite the rumour of an increase in freight, millers are hopeful that prices will soon become more in accord with their ideas and with the cost of production. RABBITSKIN MARKET REPORT. The Dunedin Woolbrokers' Association (Messrs Dalgety and Co., A. Moritzson and Co., National Mortgage and Agency Company, New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Otago Farmers' Co-operative Association, Donald Reid and Co., Stronach, Morris and Co., Wright, Stephenson, and Co., and Todd Bros.) report as follows: —Small catalogues were submitted by the various sailing' agents on the 2nd, the offering consisting of off season skins, with a sprinkling of outgoing winters. Competition was exceptionally keen, and prices showed a substantial advance on la3t sale. Spring and summer skins may be quoted 15d to 18d per lb higher. Quotations: —Outgoing winter docs, 220 d to 245 d; outgoing winter bucks, 160 d to 172 d; spring does, 95d to 115dl; spring bucks, IOOd to 121 d; summers, 65d to 82d; runners, 35d to 50d; milky, 50d to 60d; blacks, 75d to 140 d (according to season); fawn, to 90d; horsehair, to 24Jd. CLEARING SALE. Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co., in conjunction with the Otago Farmers' Co-opera-tive Association, report having held a most successful clearing sale at Messrs J. and P. Dow'3 farm at Allanton on Thursday. There was a very large attendance, buyers being present from Oamaru to Inveroargill. Under these conditions competition was* most animated. For some years past the Messrs Dow have been introducing into their herd the best -Friesian blood obtainable. The result of this was easily seen, from the splendid herd of pure-bred and grade Friesians which came under the hammer. To give an idea of the values ruling the following prices may be quoted cow £42, 1 £27 10s, 2 £25, 2 £23, 1 £2l 10s, and 1 £2O. Others ranged from £l4 to £l9. The whole herd .averaged £lB 7s. A line of two-year-old Friesian cross heifers realised £l7 5s each, three-year-old steers £l2 12s 6d, yearling.heifers £8 12s 6d. Considering the! majority of the oattle were only grade Friesians, this is a very satisfactory advertisement for the breed. The horses were a well-bred lot, and the following will give an idea of the prices obtained:—A two-year-old filly, by Baron Bold, 60 guineas; two two-year-old fillies, by Baron Bold, 44 gnineas and 39 guineas respectively; an aged Agitator mare, with foal at foot, by Baron Bold, 51 guineas; ordinary farm draughts, from £2B to £4O. The implements, harness, and sundries also sold at exceptionally good prices