DUNEDIN MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3885, 28 August 1928, Page 22

DUNEDIN MARKETS.

WHEAT, OATS, ETC. Friday Evening. With the present fine spring weather the small quantities of wheat still held in stack are being thrashed and are coming on the market. There is no alteration in prices. Tuscan is worth 5s 6d to 5s 8d on trucks, country sidings, sacks extra, and Hunters 5s lOd to 6s. The demand for seed wheat continues poor, and the dragging position of the market has caused several growers in the Canterbury district to avail themselves of the offer made by millers early in the season to buy next year’s wheat at the prices fixed, namely, 5s lid, f.0.b., for Tuscan, 6s 2d for Hunters, and 6s 8d for Velvet. Well over 50,000 sacks of wheat have already been sold under this arrangement, and the transactions should have a distinct bearing on the attempt to form a wheat pool. It is difficult to see how the pool can be formed under the existing circumstances. Reports from Christchurch state that there has been a slight improvement in the fowl wheat market. Sales have been made there at 5s 6d, f.0.b., sacks extra. Local stocks have been worked down considerably, and up to 5s 9d, sacks extra, ex store, is still obtainable in Dunedin for good quality. Millers’ prices for flour, etc., are as follow:— Flour: 2001 b, £l6 15s; 100’s, £l7 15s; 50’s, £18; 25’s, £lB 10s. Bran, £7 per ton. Pollard, £8 10s. Oatmeal: 25’s, £23; 200’s, £22. The oat market continues dull, and there are few sales going through. The consumptive demand from the North Island is very quiet. Most of the Auckland merchants are buying their requirements from consignments that had been sent to that port by southern merchants. These are being secured at prices below the pre* sent f.o.b. parity, which is 3s lid, f.0.b., s.i., for A’s and 3s 5d for B’s. Stocks of oats held in the stores are still fairly heavy for this time of the year, and it is difficult to know' where an outlet can be found. Millers are prepared to buy any heavy lots, but these are now in short supply, the lines in the stores not being up to the standard required for milling. -So far as growers are concerned they have not many lines to offer. The present value on trucks, country sidings, is 3s 2d for A’s, sacks extra, and 2s 9d for B’s. The potato market has an easier tend* ency. Sales are difficult to effect, the consumptive demand being rather weak, The shipping market is also w’eak, and now that the season is wearing on it is difficult to see how the current prices can be maintained. A fair quantity of old potatoes is still to come on the market. Best quality is worth to-day £6 per ton, sacks included, ex truck. Although few consignments of chaff have been reaching the market, the stocks in the store are still plentiful. The demand is not very active, and prices are unchanged at round about £5 10s per ton, sacks extra, ex truck. The shipping market also remains dull. Bien* heim merchants have reduced their quo* tations to £5 5s per ton, f.0.b., s.i., for prompt shipment. Canterbury merchants are quoting the same price, but the busi* ness is going to Blenheim, as the freight charges are lower from that port. The seed markets remain firm. Cocks* foot and white clover aYe in short supply,and these have a good demand. Spring sowing is now going ahead, and a fair quantity of orders are being delivered to the country. There is no export de* mand in the meantime, and reports front Home state that the crops there are ex* pected to be good. • Produce lines are quoted wholesale ad follows:— Chaff, to £5 10s per ton, ex truck, fotf best quality; medium and poor £4 to £4 10s. Potatoes, to £6 per ton. Eggs: Stamped Is sd; case, Is 6d. Dairy Butter: Milled bulk Is 3d; patd Is 3d. The market is very firm. Bacon, Is Id per lb. Hams, Is 3d per lb; boneless. Is 4d. Japanese onions to arrive, 17s 6d 18s 6d,

Eggs advanced Id per. dozen during the week. FRUIT REPORT. The apple market remains weak, but there is a good demand for any lines of choice quality. Supplies are reaching, the markets from Otago Central, the Taieri, and Nelson. Inferior apples are plentiful, and prices are low. Choice pears are scarce, and prices have firmed considerably. A fair quantity of pears coming forward are of poor quality The market is quite bare of bananas, and there is no chance of any further supplies for at least a week. The next shipment will be Rarotongans, these being transhipped from the mail steamer at Wellington. This vessel will also bring supplies of Rarotongan oranges and a few lots of Island tomatoes. Poorman and Seville oranges are in better supply, and prices are a little easier. The Karetu is expected to arrive from Melbourne about the 29th. She will bring gcod supplies of South Australian oranges and lemons and a small quantity of Sydney fruit, which will be railed to the Victorian port. Mandarins are scarce, and prices are high. The vegetable market is a little brisker. Some fine lettuce have come in from the Peninsula. Supplies of cauliflowers are increasing, but prices remain firm. Rhubarb is still scarce. Taieri-grown rhubarb is expected on the market earlv next month. A small lot of locally-grown hothouse potatoes is expected on the market next week. . Supplies of narcissi, jonquils, and frcesias are arriving from Auckland and Wanganui, and are selling at very payable prices to the growers. Current wholesale prices are as follow:— Apples: Delicious, 10s to Ils per case for extra choice; choice, 7s 6d to 9s; others, 4s 6d to 7s; Sturmers, 7s to 8s 6d; Jonathans and Cleopatras, choice, 6s to 8s; others, 4s 6d to 5s 6d; small dessert apples, 2s to 4s per case; choice cookers, 5s to 7s; others, 3s 6d to ss. Pears: Choice dessert, 4d per lb: others, Id to 2d. Oranges: Islands, 24s per case; Sydney Valencias, 20s; Seville oranges, 12s to 14s; Poorman, 12s to 15s. Pines, 24s to 255. Sydney mandarins, 20s to 24s per case. Island tomatoes, 10s per case. Lemons: Australian to 25s per bushel ease; Californian, 60s per double case; New Zealand, 16s to 245. Rhubarb, Is to Is 2d per lb. Beetroot, 6d per dozen bunches. Swedes, Is to Is 6d per case. Cauliflowers,'choice, 10s per sack; other sorts, 5s to 8s; poor quality, 2s to 3s. Brussels sprouts, 3d to 5d per' lb. Cabbages, 2s to 3s 6d per sack. Lettuce: Choice, to 5s per dozen; others. Is to 2s per dozen. Leeks, 4d to 6d per bundle. Spinach, Is to Is 6d per dozen bunches. Saturday Morning. A shipment of Japanese onions is due to arrive by the Karetu this week. Quotations for the new season’s dates, bulk and cartons, are now to hand. A shipment is to be made from the Persian Gulf direct to Australia, and transhipments should arrive in Dunedin in November. A parcel of union and coarse salt is on board the Coptic. It is impossible at the present time to obtain crystallised ginger from China, fol* lowing on a difference of opinion between the manufacturers and the export houses. Crown macaroni and spaghetti show a Blight reduction in price. Karpol cleaner has been increased in price.. Oak and K Bartlett pears, 2jlb tins, are now quoted at 15s per dozen" Sago is getting into short compass in merchants’ hands. The direct steamer Sussex is bringing full supplies in about three or four weeks ’ time. In the meantime supplies are being obtained by transhipment from Australia. Premier egg preserver naste, a new line, is quoted at 14s and 23s per dozen bottles, according to size. . The Golden Forest, from San Francisco, brought supplies of seeded raisins, oil bleached sultanas, prunes, and American packed asparagus.