BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3870, 15 May 1928, Page 21

BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE.

Friday Evening. The milling wheat market shows a little firmer tendency, but prices remain about the same. Local millers are nbt operating to any extent. There is not a great deal coming forward, and tha quality is not alvrays of the best. It is expected that the wheat from the spring thrashings will be of much better quality. Tuscan is worth from 5s 7d to 5s 8d on trucks, sacks extra; Hunters about 6s, and Velvet, of which variety there is very little offering, 6s 6d to 6s 9d. There is quite sufficient fowl wheat to meet feeders' requirements. Millers’ prices for flour, etc., are as follows:—Flour: 2001 b, £l7 10s; 100’s, £lB 10s; 50’s. £lB 15s; 25’s, £l9 ss. , Bran, £7 per ton. Pollard, £9 10s. Oatmeal, 25’s, £2l; 200’s, £2O. I 1 orward sellers operated heavily in oats towards the end of last week, in order to cover their commitments. On Monday the market had reached its peak, sales of A Gartens taking place on that day at 4s 3d f.0.b., s.i. The high prices brought most of the actual holders of oats on to the market, and the quantity of offerings was such that by Wednesday values had receded to 4s 2d, R.t .which figure the market stands to-day. I his price is considerably over the ex« port value to the United Kingdom of 3s Hid f.0.b., s.i. , The quantity of oats in New Zealand this year is estimated to be considerably icss than last year, the area under crop being smaller, and as a consequence thera will not be more offering than the market in New Zealand can absorb before the next crop is to hand. That being so, \a.ucs are not likely to recede further m the meantime. B Grade oats have not advanced to the same extent as A’s, and to-day’s quotation is 3s 94d f.0.b., s.i. The prices to the farmer are 3s 5d sacks extra; country sidings, for A’s, and 3s for B’s. The chaff market has firmed a littl< in sympathy with the increased price* ° . oa ts. Fhe market is well supplied with lines from Canterbury and Otagc Central. Prime quality is‘worth about £o 10s ex truck. Medium and inferior quality is hard to place. I* air supplies of potatoes are reaching the market from the Taieri and Sterling districts. Small lots are also arriving from Canterbruy. The quality of the tubers is, taking them all round, quite good. ; The market for chewings’s fescue has I firmed during the past few weeks. It i is now estimated that the quantity shipi ped overseas is larger than was the case by this time last year. White clover is also m shorter supply, and values for this seed have hardened considerably. The white clover crop harvested this year is not large. Prices of English and Polish white clover remain at the same level as those ruling 12 months ago. Imported white clover has, according to the , new regulations, now to be stained and jso has Danish cocksfoot. The New Zealand crop of cocksfoot is an average one. According to advice from Christchurch it ls expected that the prices of cocksfoot ,will harden in the spring. Produce lines are quoted wholesale as follows Chaff: To £5 10s per ton, ex truck, for best quality; medium and poor, £4 to £4 i 10s. : Potatoes: £5 10s to £5 Lss per ton. I Eggs Stamped, 3s; case 2s lOd. | Dairy butter: Milled bulk. Is 3d; pats, Is 3d. Supplies are very scarce. Bacon, Is Id per lb. Hams, Is 4d per lb; boneless, Is sd. Onions: Canterbury onions, 7s to 8s per cwt. Supplies of eggs are increasing, and ; the market has a weakening tendenev-

FRUIT MARKET. Business has been quiet in the fruit J Jnarts during the week. * Choice apples have a better demand. , (Supplies from Nelson are easing off, but there is a considerable quantity in Otago Central-grown still to be marketed. The ( bulk of these apples, however, are small I and not well coloured. ' Pears are in over-supplj’ and prices are - Sow. The first shipment of the new season’s 1 Island oranges to reach Dunedin arrived on the Kurow yesterday. The oranges : came to a bare market, and realised 25s per case. These prices should prove satisfactory to consignors. American oranges also arrived by the 1 Kurow. The prices for these are high, and buyers prefer to secure the Island frown. As the Island oranges should boon be placed, retailers will no doubt Jater on have to take the American granges. The next shipment of Islands Will not be here until about a month from now. A small shipment of Rarotongan bananas were on the Kurow. These brought good prices. The Manuka brought a supply of Victorian grapes and Queensland oranges. lomatoes are still arriving in fair quantity, but the demand is easing off. Some of the tomatoes are of poor quality. Green sorts are selling at about lid per lb. Quinces are in fair supply. The vegetable market has been dull, and all kinds have been hard to quit. Second grade cauliflowers are unsaleable, and choice lots bring only Is to 2s per Back. Low prices have ruled for cauliflowers for the past two months, and market gardeners cannot have viewed the prices they have received with much satisfaction. Vegetable marrows have a better inquiry. Pumpkins are wanted. The quality of the lettuces coming forward is irregular. Good-hearted lettuces meet a fair demand. Inferior are practically unsaleable. Current wholesale prices are as follows: — Apples.—Delicious, 7s to 8s 6d per case; Cox’s orange pippins to 10s; Jonathans, 6s to 7s; cookers, 5s to 6s; small dessert apples, 3s to 4s per case. Grapes, Is to Is 4d per lb; Australian, 22s 6d per case of 281 b. Pears.—Dessert, lid to 21 d per lb; cookers, Id to IJd. ~ ’ Bananas. —Ripe, to 32s 6d per case. Oranges.—American, 50s per double case. Lemons.—Americans, 55s per double case. Christchurch tomatoes, 4d to 6d for firsts; Central Otago, 5d to 6d; seconds, l|d to 3d; local hothouse, 9d to Is. Quinces, IJd to 2Jd per lb. Pie Melons.—Australian, 10s to 12s per Cwt; New Zealand, 6s. Rhubarb, Id per lb. Beetroot, 9d per dozen bunches. Swedes, Is per case. Vegetable marrows. 6s to 7s per sack. Pumpkins, 8s per sack. Potatoes, 5s 6d to 6s 6d per cwt. Cauiflowers.—Best, 5s to 6s per sack; others, Is to 3s. Cabbage, Is per sack. Lettuce.- —Choice, 2s 6d to 3s per dozen; others, Is per dozen. Celery. 8d to Is per bundle. Leeks, 6d per bundle. Spinach, Is to Is 6d per dozen. MERCHANDISE MARKET. Saturday, Noon. The Ilurunui has a large number of merchandise lines for Dunedin merchants. These include Morton’s Epsom Balts, curry powder, and citric acid (loz packets), Jeyes’ fluid (all sizes), Huntsman sardines (quarters and halves), carton dates, Virol (all sizes), Virolox, etc. . The Port Dunedin is bringing Morton’s olive oil, twine, Lea and Perrin’s sauce, Bteedman’s soothing powder, seccotine, Wright’s coal tar soap, isinglass (loz fiackets), Symington’s soups, zoda 33in iquorice, zig-zag cigarette papers, Morton’s herrings in sauce, etc. A shipment of Indian lentils is due ex the Sussex. Reports from the East state that the lentil market has considerably firmed.

A small shipment of Bon Ami powder has reached the market, and will relieve the present shortage for the time being. The market for white pepper continues firm. The next sugar boat is the Wingatui, due on Thursday. O cedar mops, large, have been reduced in price. Keiffer pears, which are tinned in Nelson, are in limited supply only, the pack being on the short side. The wholesale market is not over supplied with cream of tartar, and stocks are getting into short compass. Supplies of Madeira plain sultanas are now reaching the market. These are of good quality' and meet a ready sale. Country' Life cigarettes have been reduced in price. They are now quoted wholesale at 48s per 1000. Kean’s curry and Keen’s spice show an advance in price. Supplies of Black Horse coarse salt and Liverpool fine and coarse, are on board the Norfolk, due early next month. A supply- of Wawn’s Wander Wool has just reached the market.