DUNEDIN MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3994, 30 September 1930, Page 18

DUNEDIN MARKETS.

WHEAT, OATS, ETC. Friday Evening. The milling wheat market remains un-. altered, with very little business passing. This, however, is the usual position, so far as business is concerned, at this time of the year. Despite violent fluctuations in tile outside markets, prices have been steady in the Dominion throughout the season, consequent on the sliding scale of duties on imported wheat and the operations of the “ pool.” Apart from the inquiry for Tuscan—which is difficult to secure—there is not much interest being displayed in old season’s wheat. Some millers are still short of Tuscan, and they will have to secure lines before the new crop is available. The only source from which a supply can be obtained is from the “ pool,” which is still holding wheat in the Canterbury district. Prices remain unchanged for Tuscan on a basis of 6s 6Jd, f.0.b., sacks extra. Ihe value to the grower is according to the cost of transport to the port of delivery'. The demand for fowl wheat is still very quiet. Distributors complain that there is not nearly the same quantity of fowl wheat being sold as in previous years. The weak demand, however, is not affecting the price to any extent, chiefly because the offerings are small, being just about equal to the demand. Good whole fowl wheat is saleable at 6s 3d per bushel, sacks extra, ex truck, Dunedin.

There are some sellers of fowl wheat for delivery next season, and quotations have appeared on the market down to 5s 7d, f.0.b.. sacks extra—equal to about 5s 4d per bushel, ex store. Forward sales of milling wheat have been recorded on a basis of 5s lOd for Tuscan, 6s for Hunters, and 6s 2d for Velvet f.0.b., sacks extra. Most of the “ free ” wheat has already been sold forward in the Gtago district at the above figures, and also a fair quantity of “pool” wheat. Millers’ prices for flour, etc., are as follow:—

Flour: 2001 b, £l7 ss; 100’s, £lB ss; 50’s, £lB 10s; 25’s, £l9. Bran, £7 per ton. Pollard, £7 5s per ton. Oatmeal: 2001 b, £24 10s; 25’s, £25 10s. Bran and pollard were each reduced 10s per ton during the week. The oat market continues in a pec 11liar position, as. although it is firm in • some parts there is a distinct weakness in other centres. Supplies are difficult to secure and sales of A’s have been made in Dunedin up to as high as 3s lOd, f.0.b., s.i. This price shows a firming on last week’s rates, but, on the other hand, quotations from the Bluff have now dropped to 3s 6Jd, f.0.b., s.i., with little interest being displayed by northern operators. The position is explained by the fact that oats in Southland were purchased by northern merchants earlier in the season and that they are now anxious to quit their stocks at low prices. Southland merchants, however, are not inclined to sei] their holdings at the above-named figure and are not offering their oats.

Few deliveries of'oats are now coining in from the country. On the local shipping values A Gartons are worth 3s 2d, f.ob., s.i., on trucks, country sidings, and B’s 3s.

Consignments of chaff are arriving in excess of the demand, and sales are difficult to make at the rates which were ruling earlier in the month. Occasionally a ..truck of choice quality is placed at £5 10s per ton, sacks extra, ex truck, Dunedin, but the genera] market value cannot be quoted at above _ £5 5s per ton, sacks extra. The demand is confined to local feeders, but these do not require very much to keep them going. The Dunedin shipping market is quite dead. Quotations from Canterbury to the North Island have been reduced to £6 12s 6d, f.0.b.. s.i. Tasmanian chaff is still coming into the North Island, and this has caused the reduction in the quotations from ‘Canterbury. The potato market showed a firming tendency in Canterbury towards the end of last week, following on some buyers finding it difficult to secure suppliers to fill their orders. The firmness was, however. only temporary, and once more little interest is being shown in the market. Quotations of Canterbury potatoes are available at a price equivalent to £4 5s per ton. sacks included, ex truck. Dunedin. This price is only for freshly dug lines. Other quality is practically unsaleable.

The shipping market from Canterbury is quiet, with prices ruling from about £4 ss. f.0.b., s.i. The season is now wearing on, however, and northern merchants are only buying from hand to mouth. Reports from Auckland state that Pukekohe grown potatoes will be available in fair- quantity by about the middle of October.

There is still some inquiry for dogstail, fescue and brown top for export. Stocks of fescue and brown top are about cleaned up. but there is still a fair quantity of dogstai] in New Zealand. The market for these seeds remains firm, and the ryegrass market—stocks of which arc are also, on the light side—is likewise firm. Little business is passing with the North Island at the present time. The bulk of the business is confined to deliveries to South Island farmers, who are taking the opportunity to sow while the weather is favourable. Produce lines are quoted wholesale as follow:— Chaff: Prime quality. £5 5s per ton, ex truck; medium, £4 to £4 10s per ton, sacks extra. Potatoes: Choice, to £4 5s per ton. Eggs: Stamped, Is 2d; case. Is to Is Id. - Dairy butter: Milled bulk, Is Id perlb: pats. Is. Bacon, Is 3d per lb. Hams: Ordinary, Is 3d; boneless, Is 4d per lbOnions: Californian, 22s per bag. The egg market continues irregular and weak. Honey. 5s 9d to 6s per ]olb tins; 3s to 3s 6d for 51b tins; and 5Jd per lb for bulk. FRUIT REPORT. There is a good demand for choico Delicious apples, and choice, well coloured Stunners also have a better inquiry. Inferior quality apples are in over supply,

and these are selling at low rates. Best quality cookers have a sound demand. The wholesale market is bare of bananas. Further supplies are not expected until about 10 days. The next shipment will be Rarotongan grown. The Maheno arrived last Tuesday with a large supply of navel oranges and also a fair quantity of mandarins. Those navels which were in good condition were readily taken up. The poor quality, however, are hard to sell. The bulk of the mandarins were in poor condition, and these were sold at low rates.

The Karepo arrived yesterday with transhipments of Sydney fruit, ex the Maunganui. Practically all the oranges she brought were Valencias. These will be sold at the marts this morning. The Kareno also brought pines, passions and mandarins.

American grapes are in short supply. Further supplies are expected next week. A few cases of lemons arrived by the Maheno.

Further supplies of Island-grown tomatoes are expected in about a week’s time.

Cauliflowers have been in very heavy supply during the week. The supplies have come in mostly from the Taieri and Peninsula districts. The quality of most of the cauliflowers is very good, and in face of the large supplies the prices to growers must be considered satisfactory. Spring cabbage have a very keen demand. Only limited supplies are reaching the market. Carrots and parsnips have a fair demand. Swedes are in over-supply. Rhubarb is more plentiful and prices have eased. Wholesale prices are as follow:— Apples: Delicious, choice 8s 6d to 13s 6d, others 4s 6d to 7s Gd; Democrats, 7s 6d to 8s 6d; Sturmers, choice to 10s, others 5s to 7s; cookers, choice to Bs, Others to 5s 6d. Bananas: Ripe, to 32s 6d per case. Oranges: Australian navels, 18s 6d to 20s per case: Valencias, 15s to 18s; Poorman. 8s to 9s. Lemons: Australian, 16s to 20s per case. Mandarins, 12s to 16s per case. American grapes, 27s 6d to 30s per keg. Passions. 18s to 22s 6d per case. Pineapples, 18s to 22s 6d per case. Cauliflowers: Choice. 3s to 5s 6d per sack of 18; others, 2s to 3s per sack. Swedes, 2s 6d per cental bag; sacks, 4s to ss. Spring cabbages, 5s 6d per case of two dozen. Savoys, 2s 6d to 4s 6d per sack. Lettuce.' 2s to 5s per dozen. Potatoes, 5s to 6s per. cwt. Carrots, Is per dozen bunches. Leeks, 4d per bunch. Parsnips, 6s 6d to 7s per cental bag. Rhubarb, 3s to 4s per dozen bunches. MERCHANDISE MARKET. Saturday Morning. Some merchants are sold out of Mellor’s sauce. This line is now going off the market, owing to the manufacturing company having gone into liquidation. Some merchants are short of stocks of Chinese shelled walnuts. Further supplies are due in New Zealand in December. The Wingatui is due on October 1 with a cargo of sugar. A parcel of Siam rice is due to arrive next week. Mildura sultanas and currants have a good demand. A line of lexia raisins is due from Melbourne about October 14. Prices for New Zealand canned peas, for delivery early in December, are now available.

Capstan medium tobacco is again short in wholesale hands. Further supplies are not expected until some time next month. Varsity cigarettes, twenties, are off the market. Tens and fifties are, however, still available.

The retail price of Kolynos has been fixed at Is 6d per tube. The Ruahine, now unloading at Port Chalmers, is bringing Horliek’s malted milk. Egyptian lentils, Coutts’s acetic avid, Antelope powder, etc.