DUNEDIN MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3882, 7 August 1928, Page 22

DUNEDIN MARKETS.

WHEAT, OATS, ETC

Friday Evening. There is nothing fresh in the milling wheat market. Business has been very quiet for a long period, and until millers work down their present stocks it is not expected that there will be any improvement. A few lines have been on offer, and prices appear to be lower in Dunedin than in other places. Sales of Tuscan have been reported from the Oamaru district at 5s 9d, sacks extra, on trucks, country sidings, but in Dunedin those millers who are inclined to pick up small lots will not pay more than 5s 7d, sacks extra, on trucks. Hunter’s are quoted at 5s lOd to 6s. Velvet is very scarce, and few lines are on offer.

The demand for fowl wheat remains quiet, with few sales going through. Fairly large quantities are still being held in stores, and the highest price obtainable is 5s 9d per bushel, sacks extra, for the best quality.

Millers’ prices for flour, etc., are as follow: —

Flour: 2001 b, £l6 15s; 100’s, £l7 15s50’s, £18; 25’s, £lB 10s. Bran, £7 per ton. Pollard, £8 10s. Oatmeal: 25’s, £23; 200‘s, £22. There have been more inquiries for oats during the past few days. These have been received from merchants who are covering forward sales. Little demand, however, is being experienced for consumptive purposes, and owing to the anxiety of holders to quit the market shows no alteration, even with the abovementioned inquiries. A Gartons arc quoted at 3s lid, f.0.b., s.i., for August delivery, and B’s at 3s 7d. Stocks of oats held in stores are still very plentiful, and at present it is difficult to know where an outlet can be found. Millers have been buying odd lines, but they require heavy Gartons, and these are now in small compass. For oats of this description up to 3s 7d per bushel, sacks extra, ex store, has been obtained. For the small lots of farmers’ oats coming on the market 3s 3d on trucks is being offered for A’s and 2s lOd for B’s, sacks extra. »

Local prices for potatoes are being ruled to a great extent by those obtaining in Canterbury. The present quotation from Canterbury is £5 10s on trucks, which is equivalent to £6 5s per ton, sacks extra, delivered in Dunedin. This is now the market value here, and sales of any consignments coming in are being made at this figure. The shipping market is reported to be quiet, and a large quantity of potatoes that were delivered from Canterbury towards the end of July to the North Island have now been sent on to Auckland on consignment. This may have the effect of reducing the shipping quotations from Canterbury.

•The mild season has caused the tubers to sprout earlier than usual. This will mean that holders will be inclined to quit their holdings as quickly as possible. Consignments of chaff are arriving fairly freely, and owing to the small consumptive demand sales are hard to make at £5 10s per ton, sacks extra, for the best quality. Most of the consignments, hewever, are going into store, as holders ave hoping that the demand will improve. Quotations for Canterbury chaff are being received on a louver basis, and it is expected that these will hava a weakening effect on local values. Medium and peer quality chaff is also in over supply. The mild weather is affecting the demand for feed oats.

All the seed markets are firm, but quiet, there are indications that the sprint demand for seeds will commence earlier this season, and a good sowing out is expected

this season. Akaroa cocksfoot is r<rv firm, and Is 2d per lb, on trucks, Christchurch. is asked in the wholesale market. Crested dogstail is also firm. The quantity of ryegrass available is much smaller than has been the case for some years. This position is keeping the prices of ryegrass very firm.

' Produce lines are quoted wholesale as follow:—-

Chaff, to £5 10s per ton. ex truck, for best quality; medium and poor, £4 to £4 10s.

- Potatoes, to £6 5s per ton. Eggs: Stamped, Is sd; case, Is 4d. Dairy Butter: Milled bulk, Is 3d; pats, Is 3d. Supplies are very scarce. Bacon, Is Id per lb. FRUIT REPORT.

Apples are in full supply, but anything under choice has but little inquiry.' Sturmers are arriving from Nelson and Central Otago. The northern-grown fruit is of bettex- colour thaxx the Central Otago, and the latter, moreover, is, in some cases, affected by frost. Some fine Cleopatras have arrived from Ettrick. There are also a few lines of nicely-coloured Delicious and Dunn’s.

Pears are in good supply, but many of the lines are in bad condition. Low prices have to be accepted for these to quit.

The wholesale market is bare of bananas. A small shipment of Rarotongans is due to arrive early next week. These are coming by the mail boat, and will be transhipped at Wellington. The next shipment of Samoan bananas is due in about a fortnight. Oranges are in short supply, ami only American Valencias are offering at present. These are selling at low prices and shippers will show a heavy loss on their consignments. A line of Island oranges, ex Maunganui, should reach the local market on 'Tuesday next. Sevilles and Poormans are in short supply. A shipment of Sydney pines, lemons and mandarins is due by the Waikouaiti on Wednesday next.

Lemons are scare in the meantime. The market is relying at present mostly on New Zealand-grown. Some of these lemons are of excellent quality, but others again are inferior. ■ '

Cauliflowers have firmed a little in price during the week. With the advent of spring weather heavy supplies are expected. Cabbages have a little better inquiry. Swedes, carrots, and parsnips are in good supply.

Current wholesale prices are as follow : —

Apples: Delicious, to 10s per case for extra choice; choice, 7s 6d to 9s; others 5s to 7s; Stunners, 7s to 8s; Jonathans and Cleopatras, choice, 6s to 7s; others 4s 6d to 5s 6d; small dessert apples, 3s to 4s per case; choice cookers, 5s to 6sothers, 3s 6d to ss.

Pears: Dessert, 2d to 21d per lb: others lid to 2d.

Bananas: Fiji, ripe, 30s per case. Oranges: Islands, arriving Tuesday, 18s per case; American Valencias, to 30s per double ease; Sydney Sevilles, 15s to 16s Pines, 25s to 28s 6d.

Sydney mandarins, 18s to 20s per case. Lemons: Australian, to 27s per bushel case; Californian, 60s per double caseNew Zealand, 16s to 20s. Rhubarb, 8d to lOd per lb. Beetroot, 9d per dozen bunches. Swedes, Is per case. Vegetable marrows, 9s to 10s per cwt. Potatoes, to 7s 6d per cwt. Cauliflowers: Best, to 8s to 9s 6d per sack; others, 4s to 6s.

Cabbages, 2s 6d to 3s 6d per sack. Lettuce: Choice, 3s to 4s per dozen; others, Is per dozen. Celery, 9d to Is per bundle of 3 to 4 heads. Leeks, 4d to 6d per bundle.

Saturday morning. A second reduction of 10s per ton has been made by the Colonial Sugar Company. Retailers have now reduced the prices of sugar to 16s per bag, or 3d per lb.

The Katoa arrived from Auckland with a cargo of sugar last week. . The Wingatui, due about Thursday, is the next sugar boat.

The Waikouaiti, from Melbourne. Newcastle, Sydney, and Bluff, is bringing transhipments of Eastern goods.' "She is due in Dunedin on Wednesday. Cable advice has been received that the Sussex is due at Penang on August 6, from Calcutta, and at Singapore on August 8. This vessel calls at the four New Zealand ports, and is due in Dunedin in five to six weeks’, time. She is bringing jute, coarse castor oil, cornsacks woolsacks, and Indian tea from Calcutta’ and tapiocas, nutmegs, and pineapples from Singapore.

The reduction in freights from Canada, following on the freight war between the private shipping lines and the Canadian Government Line, is expected to have a corresponding reduction in the cost of some New Zealand goods. The Ruapehu, due on August 10, is bringing supplies of English saltpetre, Foster Clark’s custard powder (all sizes). Morton’s herrings in sauce, castor oil, Symington’s soups, Horlick’s malted milk, Morton’s carbonate of magnesia and citric acid, Egyptian lentils, etc. Fraser and Co., selling agents for the Otago and Oamaru Egg Circles, report as under:—Eggs, Is 4d to Is sd. Butter: Separator pats, Is Id to Is 2d. Tallow: Market steady at 18s to 22s for best quality. -Pigs: Good bacon weights, 6d, porkers 61d, overweights 3d to 5d per lb. Potatoes, £6 to £6 10s per ton. Chaff: Prime oaten sheaf, £5 10s to £5 15s per ton, sacks extra. Whole fowl wheat, 6s 3d to 6s 6d per bushel. Onions: Canterbury, £lO to £ll per ton. Bulk honey, 4d to 5d per lb; 101 b tins. ss. Poultry: We had a full yarding on Wednesday, when prices were firm. White Leghorn hens, 4s 6d to 5s 6d; heavy breeds, 5s 6d to 6s 6d; cockerels, 5s to 10s; ducks, 3s to ss; ducklings, 5s to 7s 6d, all per pair. Turkeys: Hens, lOd to lid; gobblers, Is Id to Is lid per lb, live weight. We stock Star P Chick Food, Crosskey’s meat meal, poultry meal, oats, maize, wheat, bran, and pollard. Champion egg crates 18s 6d each. .... .

Consignors please note that pigs and poultry must arrive not later than Wednesday morning of each week. We have a stock of poultry crates on hand for the use of Our clients