DUNEDIN MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 4057, 15 December 1931, Page 20

DUNEDIN MARKETS.

WHEAT, OATS, ETC. w Friday Evening. The chief topic in the grain and seed markets is the - weather conditions that are prevailing throughout the South Island. These conditions vary, but in some destricts a prolonged spell of dry weather is being experienced. Towards the'coast in the district south of Dunedin the ' rainfall has been heavier than in other places. North of Dunedin, however, the rainfall has been very light. Last week end there was a fall in North Otago and in South Canterbury. It greatly benefited the crops, but much more rain is badly wanted The local wheat market remains unchanged. Millers are not buying, and, as a matter of fact, there is practically no old season’s wheat of milling quality now available. The only business passing is in

fowl wheat, the price for which has firmed slightly. Sales of good whole have been made to the North Island on a basis of 5s Id, f.0.b., sacks extra, this price being equivalent to 4s 8d ex the store. Milling wheat is nominally worth, on a basis of 5s lOd for Tuscan, f.0.b., sacks extra. Nearly all the stocks available are held in store by the pool. This wheat is not of milling quality, the lines varying from poor to good whole fowl wheat.

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

Flour; 2001 b, £l7 2 fid; 100’s, £lB 2s 6d; 50's, £lB 7s Cd; 25 s. £lB 17s 6d.

Bran, £5 10s per ton. Pollard, £6 10s per ton. Oatmeal: 1001 b, £2O; 25’s, £22. The oat market for prompt delivery is quiet. Few inquiries are being received from the North Island—there is, indeed, an entire absence of shipping business Quotations are on a basis of 2s 8d to 2s 9d, f.0.b., s.L, A’s, and 2s 6d to 2s 7d for B’s. These values are equivalent to 2s Id, sacks extra, on trucks, country sidings, for As, and Is lid for B’s. There are, however, few oats now offering by farmers A few days ago there were sellers of A’s at 2s 8d 2 spread delivery, April to September, but to-day 2s lid. f.0.b., s.i.. is being asked, and some sales have been recorded at the latter figure North Island merchants are not showing any interest, and what business is passing is between Souih Island merchants, buyers being in Canterbury and sellers in the south. The chaff market is steady with little business passing. Stocks in the stores are sufficient to meet the demand, which is firm in sympathy with the northern markets. The current quotation is £4, sacks extra, for truck lots, and £4 10s, ex store, for smaller quantities. The weather conditions have caused a firming in the prices of most varieties of seeds. There is. however, little business passing, as the bulk of the retail orders in this district have now been executed. Merchants who have stocks are quite content to hold in anticipation of higher prices ruling next season for ryegrass, cocksfoot, etc. Produce lines are quoted wholesale as follow: — Chaff: Good quality, £4 10s per ton, ex store, Dunedin, sacks extra.'

Potatoes: Best quality, £2 per ton. Dairy butter: Nfilled bulk, 9d per lb; separator, 83d to 9d. Bacon, 103 d per lb. Ham: Ordinary, lid; boneless. Is per lb.

Onions: California, up to 25s per bag, according to quality: supplies are about finished: Melbourne. 16s per cwt. Eggs: Stamped, Is Id per dozen; case Is. FRUIT REPORT. Apples are still arriving from Canterbury cool stores, but the demand is now easing off. American apples are also hard to place. The Maui Poinare arrived yesterday with a shipment of Samoan bananas. Their condition was excellent, and the bulk of the fruit has been taken up by retailers at the fixed price of 21s 6d to 22s 6d per case. A good-sized shipment of Rarotongan will arrive towards the end of next week. This will be the last shipment before Christmas. The Waikouaiti. from Sydney, and the Wainui, from Melbourne, arrived dining the past few days with heavy supplies of citrus fruit. The market shows a drop of almost 50 per cent, on the prices ruling for the previous consignment. The few lines which were in poor condition sold at very low rates. Even the best quality fruit is being sold at prices below those ruling in Melbourne at the present time. Shippers were looking for good prices for this last shipment of the year, but the Otago-grown soft fruits now reaching the market have caused a slackening in the demand for oranges. Now that the prices for oranges have dropped again it is expected that the demand will improve. Australian-grown lemons are offering at low prioes.

Some fine samples of Ettersburgh strawberries are on offer. Growers report that the season for strawberries will hardly last till the new year. Reports from Waimate state that the raspberry crop has suffered severely from frosts, and that only a small crop will be gathered in the district. On the other hand. Pine Hill growers report that heavy crops will be available from their district early in the new year. Gooseberries are in heavy supply, and prices are low.

Cherries have been offering at prices which cannot pay the growers. The quality is improving, and better prices were obtained towards the end of the week for really good lines. The quality should be of the best by the time the Christmas demand sets in.

Californian grapes arc in good supply. The tomato market remains firm, and some fine samples are offering from Canterbury and Dunedin hothouses.

Best quality green peas have a good demand, but poor lines are hard to place. Cucumbers are offering at low rates. A large shipment of Australian was landed ex the Waikouaiti.

Cabbages are plentiful. Cauliflowers are offering in small lots and fair prices are ruling. Lettuce are practically unsaleable unless of good quality. Young carrots have a good demand. Locally-grown potatoes have been offering in increased quantity, and prices have eased. North Island-grown are in heavy supply and are meeting with only a small demand.

Wholesale prices are as follow:— Apples: Delicious, choice, 7s to 9s per case; others, 4s to ss; Sturmers. choice, to 9s; others, 4s to ss; Lord Wolseleys, to 7s. Bananas: Ripe, to 255. Oranges: Australian navels, choice, 12s to 16s; Valencias, 10s to 14s; inferior. 7s to 9s. Strawberries: Choice. lOd to Is 2d per pottle; others. 6d to Bd. Cherries: Choice, 4d to 6d; extra choice, fid to 9d per lb; others, 3d. Passions, to 18s Cd per case. Californian grapes, 25s to 30s per barrel. Lemons: Australian, 15s to 18s per case. Hothouse tomatoes, 10d to Is; seconds, 8d to 9d per lb; small and rough, 6<l to 7d. Gooseberries, Id to 2d per lb. Cauliflowers: Choice, 5s to 7s. fid per sack. Cucumbers: Australian, 15s per case; local hothouse, 6s to 7s 6d per dozen.

Green peas, IJd to 33d per lb. Cabbages, Is to 2s per dozen; others, Is per bag. Lettuce: Choice, to Is per dozen. Carrots, Is 3d to Is fid per dozen bunches. Parsnips, to 4s fid per cental bag. Spinach, to Is 3d per dozen bunches. North Island potatoes, Id to l?<d per lb; Peninsula-grown, 2d to 2Jd.

MERCHANDISE MARKET. Saturday Mornin". , The merchandise houses will close from Thursday (December 24) to the morning of Monday (January 4). Merchants are still short of supplies of new season’s shelled walnuts. Imported crystallised and drained cherries are getting into short supply in the wholesale houses.

Recent landings of the better grades of Ceylon tea show a marked increase in cost as compared with previous shipments. A line of Holbrook’s vinegar (made up in Sydney) has just reached the market. Practically all merchants have sold out their supplies of Mildura currants. The only lines available to take their place are Thompson's unbleached and Golden Shred raisins new season’s supplies of which are now in merchants’ hands. New season’s bulk and packet dates have just been landed. They were in splendid condition.

South African evaporated apricots and peaches are getting short in merchants’ hands. Further supplies are not expected until about the end of January. These will have to bear a heavy extra cost

The Waipiata has brought further supplies of sugar to the local market. The next sugar boat is the Wingatui. due on December 19

The Rotorua, due here from London to-morrow, is bringing supplies of Mor ton's lines. Fowler’s treacle, Lyle’s syrup. Condy’s fluid, parchment paper, carraway seeds. Clarence and Craven A cigarettes, escoffier pastes. Zig-zag cigarette papers Kirby’s aspirins, Adams’s furniture polish, Oakey’s knife polish, Egyptian lentils, Dinneford’s magnesia. Berger’s food (large and small), etc. The Cumberland will also land a quantity of merchandise.

Sloan’s liniment (an American packing) has increased in price, following on the exchange. Ice cream cones are now quoted at 2s 2d per box for 12 box lots, and 2s 4d for less quantities. Glaxo, large, has been reduced in price. Certo is npw quoted at 21s per dozen.