BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3853, 17 January 1928, Page 21

BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE.

Friday Afternoon. WHEAT, OATS, ETC.

Business in the grain and seed markets has not yet settled down after the holidays, and few transactions aro going through. Both millers and merchants are waiting for the returns from the new season’s wheat crops to bo more clearly known before operating. The Canterbury harvest will be later than usual, and it is not now expected that the new season’s wheat will be available before the end of February. As previously reported, the crops are look-

ing exceptionally well, and provided nothing unforeseen happens good yields are assured.

In tho meantime the only wheat changing hands, prompt delivery, is for poultry purposes. Most of the local, stocks are depleted, as holders are anxious to quit their supplies, it being considered that prices for the new wheat will be lower than those now ruling. The current value of good whole fowl wheat is 6s lOd per bushel, sacks extra, delivered Dunedin. There is not much locally wheat, however, available at this price, and if wheat has to be drawn from Canterbury the market will improve, as 6s lOd, sacks extra, on trucks, is being asked by Canterbury merchants for the small quantity available there. Millers’ prices for flour, etc., are now as follows: —

Flour, 2001 b, £l7 10s; 100's, £lB 10s; 50’s, £lB 15s; 25’s, £l9 ss. Bran, £6 per ton. Pollard, £B. Oatmeal, 25’s, £l9; 200's, £lB. Several inquiries have been received for oats, prompt delivery, but as few stocks are held in Dunedin, buyers are finding it difficult to secure their requirements. Although the market is firm, there has not yet been any advance in price. The chief inquiry is for B’s, which are worth 5s 3d, f.0.b., s.i., with A grade at 3s 6d. .There have been some inquiries from the North Island for seeds for autumn sowing, but the volume of business going through is on the small side. Fair-sized stocks of all lines are held by merchants, and there is an anxiety to place these to clear the boards before the new season’s seeds come on the market. Produce lines are quoted wholesale as follows, — Chaff, £5 5s per ton, ex truck, for best quality. Eggs: Stamped, Is 6d; case; Is sd. .Dairy butter: Milled bulk, Is; pats, lid. The market remains weak. Australian onions, 12s 6d per cwt. Bacon,' Is per lb. Hams, Is 2d per lb; boneless, Is 3d. FRUIT REPORT. Advice has been received from the Heathcote Valley that there will not be many outside-grown tomatoes from that locality before the end of February. Supplies of Christchurch hothouse-grown have eased a little, and prices are inclined to firm. Locally-grown hothouse are in fair supply. Light supplies of apricots and peaches are now coming in from Central Otago. Fair supplies of early plums are still coming forward from Canterbury. Supplies of : strawberries aro now getting on tne light side, and the season is drawing to a close. The chief source of supply is Waimate. Raspberries are arriving from the Waimate district, also loganberries. The loganberries especially arc a very fine sample. Tho wholesale marts are quite bare of lemons. A supply should reach the market about Thursday next. Supplies of Fiji bananas will not reach the Dunedin market for another fortnight. A line of Rarotongan bananas, however, is due to reach Wellington on Monday by the Makura. Transhipments should reach Dunedin about Thursdav next.

Some nice lines of cherries are coming to hand from Central Otago. Apples are in short supply. The market is now practically dependent on Canadians.

Black and red currants, nearly all from local gardens, aro more plentiful. The market could, however, do with a further supply. Gooseberries are in fair supply. New potatoes are now plentiful, . and prices have dropped a little. Supplies are coining in from Dunedin growers and also from Outram, Willowbridge, and Oaniaru. Peas are in good supply, and prices have eased.

The market could do with larger supplies of cucumbers. Choice cauliflowers only have a market. The same condition also applies to cabbages. Lettuce are in olentiful supply. Current wholesale prices are as follow : Apples: American, 22s fid per case. Bananas: Ripe, 35s to 40s per case; green, arriving next week. Strawberries, Is 3d to 2s. Cherries: Extra choice, to Is 6d per lb; prime, Is; others, fid to Sd. Apricots, 4d to 6d per lb. Peaches, 4d to fid per lb. Plums, 3d to 4d per lb. Black currants, 4d to 4id per lb. Red currants, 4d to 5d per lb. Gooseberries: Choice, 2d to 2£d; ethers, l|d per lb. Rhubarb, Ijd to 2d per lb. Christchurch tomatoes: Hothouse. lOd to Is; seconds, 7d to 9d; local, to Is 2d. Oranges: Navels 42s 6d per case. American grapefruit, 27s 6d to 30s per double case.

Carrots, Is to Is fid per dozen bundles; sugar bags, 5s to 6s. New potatoes: Lqcally-grown, Ijd to 2d per lb; Canterbury, l£d to ljd. Cucumbers, 8s to 12s per dozen. Peas ? to 2d per lb. Cauliflowers: Choice, 6s per sack of 18; others, 2s to 3s. Cabbage: Choice, 2s fid per sack; others, Is per sack. Lettuce: Choice, Is to Is 6d per dozen; other sorts unsaleable.

Spring onions, 3d to 4d per bundle of six bunches.

White turnips, fid 'to Is per dozen bunches.

MERCHANDISE MARKET

The Waihemo brought from Singapore on Friday, consignments of sago, tapioca and pineapples. A small quantity of Java sugar, chiefly for confectioners’ requirements, came also.

The Huntingdon, from the West of England, brought a consignment of whisky, caustic soda and other lines.

The Kurow will bring sugar from Auckland about Wednesday or Thursday.