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Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 25

Waimate has gradually grown'’from a bush township into a country town of soma size and importance, and the. latest sign of its growth is the action of the Borough Council in prohibiting cows in a certain area of the town. This a-rea comprises the most thickly-populated section of thq borough. x

CANTERBURY CRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET. CHRISTCHURCH, March 4. Some sales of wheat have taken place during the week at 5s 4d on trucks for Hunters and 2d and 5s 3d for Tuscan, but these prices are not available in any quantity, if at all to-day. As a matter of fact some sales are reported at ss. Some of the North Island mills have come into the market at this price. Fowl wheat has also slipped in price, and 5s fid, f.o.b, for April —June has been operating. ■ A Garton oats are worth to-day for prompt 2s 3d a bushel, and for B’s 2s to 2b Id on trucks. Algerians are spoken of at 2s on trucks. Chaff was bought to-day at £3 2s fid on trucks. . A few samples of white clover have been offered. The crop,' due to the long spell of dry weather, is likely to be light. From 9d to lOd on trucks is quoted. The cocksfoot harvest has been a heavy one in spite of the small average. From 5d to s£d a lb. is offering farmers for 131 b seed. Peas, which provided the one standby in the matter of good prices, have also eased, and to-day’s price is 6s 3d on trucks, a -shilling a bushel less than a fortnight ago, due to the influence of the week-end rain.. Potatoes are scarcely so firm. Northern buyers are offering- back , at £4 7s 6d, and local quotations are £4 ss, f.0.b., s.i Orders for onions are very meagre for this time of the. year, aaad £2 15s a ton on trucks is about the limit of offers. Old onions from abroad are still on hand in the south.

EASTERN DISTRICT SALES. SALE AT M‘NAB. I GORE, March 4. The fortnightly sale held at M‘Nab on Tuesday drew a large attendance of farmers. Fat Sheep.—There was an entry of 71, and ewes- made 14s 6d, while wethers changed hands at 24s 6d. Store Sheep.—ln the store pens 2952 were yarded, and the sale -was a good one, particularly for young sheep. There was a keen demand for ewe lambs, practically the wliole yarding being cleared at auction. The top price was 24s Id for a line of over 100 good sorts, sold by the National Mortgage on behalf of Mr W. L. Milne, Otikcrama, to Mr W. Orr, Balfour. Other lines sold at from 19s to 23s 4d. Wether lambs changed hands at from 18s to 21s, and mixed sexes were quitted at from 16s lOd to 20s 3d. A couple of lines of two-tooth ewes were forward, one lot being sold at 34s Id. A good many old ewes were ori offer, and sales were made at-from 1-ls 5d to 14s. Fat Cattle.—There was -an entry of 14 head, but there was little or no demand, the butchers not operating. Fat cows and heifers realised from £3 5s to £5 7s 6d. Store Cattle. —An entry of 37 head was forward, but business was hard to effect and most of the entry was passed in. Store cows realised £2 -10 s, and young Steers and heifers £2 14s. BALFOUR SALE. /The first sale held at Eab'c-ur for some time took place on Wednesday, there being

a large attendance of farmers. Fat Sheep.—Only 22 were penned, and r •'thers made 255, ■ while ewes realised 15s 6d. Store Sheep.—Some 2000 were penned, and the sale was quite up to other sales in the district. Store wethers made up to 22s Id. There was a fair number of 1 .ibs which made good competition, and sales weer made at from 17s to 21s. A good many breeding ewes were on offer, and sound-mouths made 28s 9d, while old ewes were quitted at from Us Id to 14s 6d. MATAURA SALE. The monthly sale held at Mataura on Thursday attracted a large crowd of farmers from all parts of the district, and the yarding was the largest for some time, races and makeshift pens hav : to be utilised to cope with the entry. Fat Sheep.—There was only a small entry of fats, and the demand was fairly good, wethers realising up to 235, ewes to 12s 9d, and lambs up to 22s 6d. Store Sheep.—The entry comprised 4400, and there was a large number of lambs and breeding included in the yarding. The sale was a good one, there being good demand throughout for all classes. Store wethers changed hands at from 20s to 23s 6d. Ewe lambs made good competition, and prices ranged from 20s to 23s 6d, while wether lambs realised from 18s to 20s 8d and mixed sexes from 18s 5d to 20s 9d. A iew pens of two-tooth ewes were forward, and there was good competition for them, prices running up to 30s. Sound-mouth ewes made from 19s to 24s 6d, the latter price being obtained for the annual draft from “Banvie,” Mataura. A very large number of old ewes >.’as included in the yarding, and there was good demand for them throughI out. Good-conditioned and fresh-looking sorts made from 10s to 14s 3d and poorer sorts 7s 6d to 9s.

Fat Cattle.—There was an entry of about 20 head for which the demand was fair at lues about equal to recent sales. Fat cows and heifers realised from £3 5s to. £6 and a light bullock £B. Store Cattle. —Some 68 head were penned, and a fairly good sale resulted. Store cows arid heifers changed hands at from £2 15s to £6 75.6 d, springing cows realised up to £4 15s, two-year-old steers to £5, and bulls from £3 2s 6d to £4 10s.

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRO. DUCE MARKETS. Friday Evening. Although threshing is now genera], right throughout the South Island, there is not much business passing. Millers had secured a fair quantity of wheat for immediate requirements, and have now reduced their prices, which growers are disinclined to accept. A heavy crop is anticipated this year, and, that being so, millers are not keen to stock up at the present time. Some sales have been going through on a basis of 5s 7d for Tuscan and 5s 9d for red chaff, oa trucks, country sidings, sacks extra. The first, lines of the Taieri wheat have been threshed, and the quality of this is up to standard., There will, however, be some poor quality wheat later/on when the crops which were laid, by the wet weather are

threshed. The ears in these lots failed to fill well. . The fowl wheat market has been kept supplied with milling wheat from Canterbury, but the demand is slow, buyers preferring to wait until the bulk of the wheat is on the market before operating to any extent. The price in Dunedin is round about 6s per bushel, sacks extra, ex truck. Millers’ prices for flour are as follows:— 2001 b, £l6 15s : 100’s, £l7 10s; 50’s, £l7 15s; 25’s, £lB ss. Bran, £6 10s per ton. Pollard, £8 10s. Oatmeal: 25’s, £l9; 200’s, £lB. The oat market continues in a lifeless condition, with practically no business passing . Tho first of the new oats are now coming on the market, and for heavy lines up to 2s 3d per bushel, sacks extra, ex .trucks, has been paid. Buyers are not anxious to operate at this figure, as there is no inquiry from the North Island. Any demand from the North Island is being met by Canterbury merchants, who have recently sold A Gartons at 2s 10jd f.0.b., s.i.. and B’s at 2s The quality of the oats in the Otago district does not appear to be up to that of last season. Tho oats are not so heavy, and, in addition, the yields are lighter. The chaff market is still purely local. Consignments are in excess of the demand, arid sales are difficult to effect. Only the best quality is inquired for at up to £4 5s per ton, sacks extra. Medium and poor quality chaff is very slow of sale, and this is going ijjto store in the meantime.

The demand for chaff from the North Island is still being supplied from Canterbury, where good bright oaten sheaf is being sold at £4 15s, f.0.b., s.i. This price is equivalent to about £3 10s per ton on truck, sacks extra. Growers of potatoes continue to show anxiety about the condition of their crops, and are digging freely—too freelv in fact, for the consumptive demand. The result is that the weakness of the market continues. The position of the potato market is quite unusual for this time of the year. Tho price of potatoes has reached the lowest point for March delivery for a good many years now. A considerable quantity of the tubers coming forward is still affected with blight, and these have to be sold as quickly as possible. Samples of ryegrass seed are now reaching the market, but there is not much business passing. Merchants’ ideas of value arc below those of farmers, but sales have been made at up to 3s per bushel, sacks extra, on trucks. This price is for heavyweight ryegrass. Other lines have changed hands down tq, 2s 6d. Htavy offerings of dogstail are still on the market, but here again merchants are not keen to operate, as they are awaiting the trend of tho market. Produce lines arc quoted wholesale as follows:— Chaff; £4 5s to £4 10s per ton for best quality. Potatoes, ton lots. £4 for best qualitvA Eggs, stamped. 2s 3d; case, 2s Id to 2s 2d. Dairy butter, milled bulk, Is, according to quality; pats, lid to Is. Bacon, Is 2d per lb. Ham, Is 2d per* lb; boneless. Is 3d. Canterbury- onions, 6s to 7s per cwt, according to quality. s I Eggs have advanced 3d per dozen during 1 the -week. ... .

FRUIT REPORT.

A fair quantity of both dessert and cooking apples is coming ,to the marts. The Canterbury and Nelson districts are tho chief suppliers. Dessert pears have firmed slightly in price, and ?.ny lots coming forward are readily placed. Peaches and plums have a good inquiry. Some nice samples of plums of the Wixon variety have arrived, from the Central. Freestone peaches are now available. Supplies of tomatoes have been on the small side, and high prices are ruling. Apparently prices,will not be lower this season for tomatoes.

Bananas are in short supply. A small qu.antity of repacks'is due to arrive by the Wingatui to-morrow (Sunday). Vegetables have a fair inquiry. Peas and French beans are most in demand. Current wholesale prices are as follows: — Apples.—Gravenstein, choice, 10s to 12s per case; Worcester Permains, 7s fid to 8s fid per case; Cox’s Orange Pippings, 10s to 12s ■ per case; cookers, 5s 6d to 6s 6d per case. Californian navels 50s per double case. Lemons. —Californian, 35s to 40s per double case.

Bananas, ripe, 30s to 35s per case. Raspberries, 7s fid to 9s ner bucket. Blackberries, 8s 6d to 10s per bucket. Dessert plums, choice, 5d to 6d; others, 3d to 4d; cookers, ljd to 2id. Nectarines 7s to 8s 6d per half case. Christchurch tomatoes, firsts, 6d to 8d per lb; seconds, to 4d ; local hothouse, 9d to Is per lb; Nelson, 6s to 7s per case of 201 b. Pears. —Bon Chretien, 4s 6d to 5s per half case; cooking, 3s 6d to 4s. Cucumbers. —Hothouse, 2s 6d to 3s 6d per dozen; outside grown, to 6s per banana case. Greengages, 5d to 6d per lb. Grapes, Is 3d to Is 4d per lb. Peaches, 6s to 7s per half-case; crates, 4d to 6d per lb. , , . Califlowers, 8s to 10s per sack (choice only); others, 3s to 4s. Green peas, 2d to 3jd.» Swede turnips, 3s per cwt. Potatoes, 4s per cwt. Cabbage.—Choice, 5s to 6s per sack of two dozen; others. Is to 3s. Spring onions, up to 4d per bundle. Lettuce.—Choice to 2s per dozen; others unsaleable. Broad beans, Id to l{d per lb. French and runner beaus, 4d to 5d per lb.

Vegetable marrows, large cases to ss; small cases to 3s. Carrots, 8s per cwt. Parsnips, 10s per cwt. MERCHANDISE MARKET.

Tho new prices for Mildura dried fruits are the same as those ruling last year. There is a strong upward movement in the market for cream of tartar and tartaric acid. The Moeraki, due from Melbourne towards the end of next week, is bringing transhipments ex Eastern steamers. New season’s pearl barley is quoted at 21s per cwt. Weet Bix, a new agency line of granose biscuits, made in Australia, is now on the market. The Katoa discharged a cargo of sugar during the week. The Wingatui, now at the wharf, has brought a further cargo. All brands of wax candles show a slight reduction in price. Advices from Australia state supplies of dried fruit are so short in some cases that holders have withdrawn their quotations. The Australasian of February 26. reports, however, that growers are expecting a record crop of sultanas, and that merchants hope for easier prices for this season’s produce.

The Kiwi Polish Company advises that it is now . permitted to market its polishes in Now Zealand under the “Kiwi” brand. The company also proposes to retain its present “Mirror” brand. The interest of Melbourne butter merchants was aroused last week by the arrival of a shipment of 3000 cases of New Zealand butter on the steamer Moeraki (says the Australasian of February 26). There was much speculation as to the date on which the sale had been effected and the price paid in New Zealand. It was generally thought that this butter was a portion of the large order placed in New Zealand in December, when drought conditions in New South Wales and Queensland indicated a serious shortage of butter in Australia. It is understood that tho previous purchases were made about Is 4jd a lb, which would make the landed cost about Is 7d a lb. If the shipment referred to was brought forward on this basis the Melbourne purchasers will have a very small margin on which to operate. Merchants do not think that this shipment is the forerunner of heavy arrivals from New Zealand, as the seeking of supplies from outside sources does not appear to-be warranted under present conditions when large surplus stocks of Australian butter are available in New South Wales and Queensland. In a report on the sugar position, written in London on January 11, C. Czarnikow (Ltd.), state that the Cuban sugar mills began operations very quickly this season, and 148 were at work within one week, ending on January 11. The firm points out that although such a rapid beginning of production might induce temporary low prices it could not affect world’s markets, as unless crushing is hastened in Cuba the position of near supplies might become acute. A shortage is only possible because of the disappointing results of Continental beet sugar crops, and production in Europe is expected to bo greatly restricted this season. Cuba, therefore, will be the main supplier of raw sugar, and owing to the crop having been restricted by an edict of the president to 4,500,C00 tons, the quantity''- available in the open market will be limited. -Exports from Cuba for the week were estimated by Czarnikow (Ltd.), at -24,848 tons, while stocks amounted to 46,251 tons. Quotations for sugar in London have shown very little change since the beginning of the year, and the market was steady. Organisations such as the Victorian Egg Producers’ Federation last year just covered the cost of purchase and exnort by sales overseas, while the Sydney pool conducted by the Producers’ Distributing Company incurred a loss by paying Is 6d a dozen for eggs throughout the season. The average price realised over a period of years for eggs exported to Great Britain is. more than 21s for 120 eggs, and although prices last pear averaged less than 18s a long 100, there is little reason • to expect th-it such an unsatisfactory market will be found again. The cost of export and marketing eggs is-'roughly-7|d a dozen, so that on the contract price for eggs this season it will

bo necessary for the producers’ organisations to realise in England 2s Id a dozen or more to make a profit on the transaction. Australia has only recently become a factor worthy of consideration in the overseas egg markets, and last year, when well over 190,000 cases of eggs were shipped, was the first occasion on which exports assumed a large volume. Then a large proportion of the eggs exported were below the 2oz standard, and these small eggs were graded separately, and realised about 2d to 3d a dozen less than the eggs for which export certificates were granted by the Government of Victoria. The lesser price realised for the small eggs should, in itself, be enough inducement to poultry farmers to improve their flocks. Australian eecrs have always sold well in the British market, and the reputation which has been built up is founded on even grading, careful packing, and sound quality. The small egg has always been present in the export pack, and it has always met with a ready esale, and has not caused complaints from buyers. *

Herbert S. Fenwick ) Members Stock Harman Reeves ) Exchange.