BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3854, 24 January 1928, Page 22

BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE.

Friday Afternoon. WHEAT, OATS, ETC. Not much business-is passing in old season s wheat, for the simple r reason that most of the farmers have now placed their stocks. - According to the statistic published at the end of November, there was then a fair quantity available, but this must now be in millers’ hands, as merchants are holding small lots only. Interest is chiefly centred -in. the coming season’s crop, and sales of mixed lines .for early delivery have been received from Canterbury at 6s on trucks, sacks ,extra. Tuscan alone has been sold at 5s 8d and 5s 9d, sacks extra, Canterbury sidings. On the other hand, millers are not keen to operate for deliveries later in the season. Velvet is the only variety ’ inquired for for later delivery, as it is anticipated that supplies will be short. There is a tendency on. the part of Canterbury merchants to sell fowl wheat forward, and quotations have been made as low as 5s lOd, f.0.b., -sacks extra/ March delivery arid onwards. Some lines have’ been placed with North Island merchants at this figure. Millers’,- prices for flour, etc., are now as follows:— Flour, 2001 b, £l7 10s; 100’8, Jr 18 10s; 50 s, £lB 15s; 25’s. £l9 ss. Bran, £6 per ton.

Pollard, £B. Oatmeal, 25’s, £l9; 200’s, £lB. ' A fair inquiry exists for oats, but with tnc small stocks available practically no business is passing. Despite the better demand, prices have not improved locally, as North Island merchant have been able apparently to fill their requirements from other ports. A*s are worth to-day 3s 6d, f.0.b., s.i., and B s 3s 3d, these prices being equivalent to 2s lOd and 2s 7d respectively sacks extra, on trucks, country sidings hellers are offering oats at the above prices for spread delivery, April-September, and several parcels have changed hands, there is not, however, the same amount of speculative business in oats this -season, consequent on the uncertainty regarding the wants of Australia. It is not yet clea? whether Australian merchants will require to draw to any extent on New Zealand ior oats.

. lhe local consumptive demand for chaff is very limited, but only small consignments are coming to the market. Prices lemam steady, and the value of best quality is maintained at £5 5s per ton sacks extra, ex truck. Th e small supplies required in the local market are heavy mostly drawn from Canterbury y ’ Following on bush fires in’ the North frln? d tb ther f haS n b ? ?n J a better in quiry h n £ f?r kinds of see <is- Merchants hold ample stocks, and are takimr thei^ P ho’ld !n ' ty t° f endeav °ur to dean up their holdings before the new seeds come in. The first line of the new season s ryegrass-a line from Canterbury -has already reached the Dunedin marke? fis L"‘ not be long now before offermgs arc general. folkfi?- lineS are q ’ ,oted wholesale as

quaHtf’ £5 5S Per tOn ’ eX trUek ’ for Eggs: Stamped, Is 6d; case, Is sd. Dairy butter;..Milled bulk, l s; pats Hd Australian onions, 13s per cwt ’ ■ Bacon, Is per lb. Hanis, Is 2d per lb; boneless, Is 3d. FRUIT REPORT. The fruit marts have had a busy time during the past week. Stone fruits have ntT/c ni ? g > ln /‘ n 1 quantities from Otago Central. Cold weather at nights is being experienced in the Central and as a consequence the fruit remains firm for shipment to the north

Apricots and the early peaches are being sent to market as far north as Auckland and a good outlet is thus being provided for the growers. It is fortunate that the outlet has been’ obtained for the earlv peaches, as the local market was oversupplied, and the prices realised will not leave a great margin of profit to the growers. '

The early peaches are now about finished and it is expected that the prices for the later crop will be more remunerative to growers. :

Plums have been in heavy supply, large consignments coming from Christchurch. Cherry plums have a good inquiry. Some new season’s apples—Beauty of Barth—arrived during the week from Alexandra. They realised up to 8d per pound wholesale. American apples are about finished. They have a poor demand now that the new apples are available.

Cherries are almost finished for the season. Owing to the large variety and other fruits on the market the demand is poor.

Gooseberries and black currants are almost finished for the season. Supplies of logon berries and raspberries are plentiful in the meantime. 'The demand, how•ever, is keen. The output of raspberries is likely to bp affected, as the borer has done considerable -damage to the canes in the gardens in and about Dunedin.

Alost of the hot' house -tomatoes for the local market are coming from Christchurch, where the growers have now picked the greater part of their crops. Supplies are also being received from local hothouses, and there should be sufficient tp keep the market going till the: outside grown tomatoes are available. It is not expected that outside grown from Christchurch and the Otago Central will be on the market for at least another month. The season for outside grown is about two months later than usual following on the cold wet weather experienced towards the end of last year.

A shipment of Rarotongan bananas arrived by the Corinna yesterday. These came to a bare market, and were readily placed. A small shipment of lemons -was also on the Corinna, but not nearly sufficient to meet the demand. Prices are very high. The only oranges now being sold in the marts are American navels. Prices rule high. There is a poor demand only for grape fruit.

Vegetables are in plentiful supply’, with a moderate demand. Peas of poor quality are hard to quit, but a good demand continues for sound lots.

Potatoes are plentiful, and prices are likely to ease.

Cabbages and cauliflowers have a fair inquiry only. New: season’s swedes realise up to 2s per case.. Current wholesale prices are as follow: Apples: American, 22s 6d pel' ease; Otago Central Beauty of Bath, 5d to 8d per lb for choice. Bananas: Ripe, 35s per case. Strawberries,’ Is’ 3d to Is 9d.

Cherries: Extra choice, Is to Is 4d per lb. Apricots: Choice, 4d to 6d per lb; cases, 3s 6d to 6s 6d. ‘

Peaches: Choice, 3d to 4d per lb; cases, 2s 6d to 4s 6d. ’

Plums: Dessert, 2d to 3d; cooking, 14d to 2d. ,

Lemons, 67s 6d per double case. Loganberries, 9s to 10s per bucket. Raspberries', 9s to Ils per bucket. Black currants, 4d to 4Ad per lb. Red currants, 4rl to 5d per lb. Gooseberries: Ripe, 2d to 3d; others, lAd per lb.

Rhubarb, Id to 2d per lb. Christchurch tomatoes: 'Hotlionse, Is to Is 2d; seconds, lOd to Is; local, Is to. Is 3d; Nelson, 12s to 14s per-case. Oranges: Navels. 42s 6d per double case. American grapefruit, 27s 6d to 30s per double case. - 1

Carrots, Is per dozen bundles; sugar bags,.ss to 6s. ’ '■ ■

New potatoes: Locally-grown, lid per lb; Canterbury. Ijd to lid. Cucumbers, 8s *to 12s per dozen. Peas. Jld to 2d per lb. Cauliflowers: Choice, 6s per sack of 18; others, 2s to 3s.

Cabbage: Choice, 3s 6d per sack; others, Is per sack.

Lettuce! Choice, to 2s per dozen; other sorts unsaleable. Spring onions, 3d to 4d per bundle of six bunches. White turnips, 6d to 9d per dozen bundles.

MERCHANDISE AIARKET. There has been very little activity ii* merchandise during the past week. There is a shortage of sugar owing to the late start of the jam season. . A' limited quantity of sugar came to hand by the Kurow on Saturday, and the next consignment is due by the Waipiata on February 1 or 2.