COMMERCIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 18619, 18 August 1919, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

THE LOCAL MARKETS. Southland Times Office, Saturday. GENERAL MERCHANDISE. Owing to the railway restrictions the Mataura paper mills are rinding it very difficult to carry on, consequently merchants are experiencing great difficulty in getting certain sizes of grocer’s bags and brown paper. Californian an dMildura sultanas are in very short supply and for the few available 10 id is being asked. Christchurch sheep tongues have advanced 3/- per dozen. Letters just received from C. &E. Morton, London, mention that it will be impossible to supply oils for some considerable time. The Matatua, which arrived at Auckland a week ago, has on board supplies of Moir’s Pastes, including salmon and shrimp for the local market. Stocks of desiccated cocoanut are very light, and the current quote is 1/3 per lb. Supplies of margarine will be available next week, and in view of the present butter shortage, should meet with a ready sale. Safety matches are in short supply. A further lot of Bell’s wax vestas is due within the next few days. McLeod Brothers have advanced the price of Electric candles Id per lb and paraffin candles 4d per lb. Eggs are now in plentiful supply. CURRENT PRICES. The following are the current prices for the commodities mentioned: — —Wholesale. — Eggs, 1/6; stamped 1/7. Bacon, 1/31. Ham, 1/31. Butter—Farm 1/4, separator 1/6, factory 1/61. Potatoes, 11/- to 12/- per cwt. Pollard, £8 10/- per ton. Bran, £6 10/- per ton. Flour, £ls to £l6 10/- per ton. Oatmeal, £2B to £3O. —Retail.— Eggs, 1/9; stamped, 1/10. Bacon, 1/6. Ham, 1/6. Butter —Farm 1/6, separator 1/8, factory 1/8. Potatoes, 14/6 cwt. Pollard, 10/6 per 100. Bran, 8/6 per 100. Flour—3s’s 4/9, 50’s 9/3, 100’s 17/9, 200’s 34/-. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. The fruit market has been barely supplied with local fruits during the week, practically no pears coming forward. Dessert apples have increased slightly in value. An assignment of Fiji bananas ex the Talune is due on Wednesday. Wholesale prices are: Apples, dessert, Stunners 4d to 5d per lb, Scarlet Nonpareils 3ld to sd, Munro’s Favourites 10/- to 12/- per case, Esopus 9/6 to 12/-, Cleopatras 9/- to 11/-; pears, Winter Coles 5Jd to 6}d per lb; oranges, American Valencia, 50/- to 57/6 per case, Island 27/- to 32/6, Poorman 20/- to 22/6.

Vegetables continue scarce. Prices ruled: Cauliflowers 6/9 per dozen; cabbage 2/- to 3/6 per dozen; carrots and parsnips 3/6 to 4/6 per bag. FISH. No boats have been reported out from Stewart Island during the week owing to rough weather. The result is that the fish market has been depleted of fresh supplies with the exception of a few flounders. A moderate quantity of crayfish arrived from Dunedin yesterday. HARDWARE. The Home markets are all uncertain. From latest advices to hand from America it appears that a rise in all wires may be expected in New Zealand within the next month or so due to the increase in American prices, the increase in the American conversion, and inability on the part of some of the largest American firms to quote. The latest advice from London regarding English roofing iron is to the effect that there has been a rise of close on £5 per ton, which means that there is a possibility of a New; Zealand advance. The local builders are having a bad time owing to the scarcity of cement. The latest advice is that only

a few tons can be allowed the merchants, and when this is distributed to the many enquirers it means very small individual allotments. The shortage has practically put a stop to all building operations. There is a scarcity of both rabbit and sheep netting wires. The following are the current retail prices for heavy goods :-Black wire

{No. 8) £32 10/- per ton, galvanised (No. 8) £35, barb wire £4O, rabbit netting 1/per yard, wire nails 56/- per cwt, bright staples 50/- per cwt, galvanised staples 56/per cwt, roofing iron £6O per ton. F. BOWDEN & CO.’S REPORT. Messrs F. Bowden and Co. report fruit short of requirements. Island oranges, owing to delay, arrived in very bad condition, more than half being valueless, and had to be thrown away. Green bananas are expected to arrive about Tuesday. We have advice of a line of pears for lj° n( fay. Vegetables of all kinds are short of requirements. The week closed with prices ruling:— l

Island oranges 15/- to 21/-, repacks 26/- to 28/-; ripe bananas 32/- case; marmalade oranges 20/- to 23/6; apples, dessert 3 Ad to 6 Id lb, others 8/6 to 11/6 case, cookers 2d to lb; pears, Winter Cole 6d to 6id lb, others 3d to 5d lb. Vegetables—Table potatoes 12/6 to 13/cwt tor prime; heavy supplies to arrive. Swedes, 3/- bag; carrots and parsnips, 5/sugar bag; onions, 15/- cwt; seed potatoes, 14/- to 18/6 cwt, according to quality. THE RIALTO. Messrs William Todd and Co., Ltd., report the following sales on Saturday, August 16:— Poultry.—Keen' demand. Hens 2/11 to 3/9, purebred White Leghorns 4/9 to 5/9, roosters 3/- to 3/6, purebred White Leghorn roosters 3/- to 8/-, Black Orpington roosters 6/-. Ducks, 3/- to 4/-. Turkey gobbler 17/-, turkey hen 10/-. Pigs.—Suckers 10/- to 14/-, weaners 19/t.o 24/-, stores £1 9/6 to £1 16/-. Calves—4/-. Produce —Potatoes £l2 10/- per ton, seed potatoes, good demand. Oats 14/- to 21/-, wheat 24/6 to 27/-. Horse-covers—£2 5/-. McKAY BROS.’ REPORT. ! McKay Bros, report as follows: 1 Bacon Pigs—Fair supplies to hand, and 1 we invite correspondence from feeders and I offer top price on rails or delivered at mart. Poultry—Keen demand for all classes of | fowls; high prices ruling. { Produce—Potatoes, £l2 to £l3; onions, ' 17/- per cwt; se6d potatoes, good demand for early seed, prices vary according to variety. Pollard, 18/- per sack. Barley jneal 17/6 sack; oats, 18/- to 20/- per bag; fowl wheat, 26/- to 27/- per bag; dressed linseed, 29/6 per cwt. Fruit—Supplies still unequal to the demand; apples, 12/- to 16/- per case; ripe bananas, 27/6; marmalade oranges 22/6, Valencia oranges 50/-, due to arrive Tuesday. Meat—Large entry’ of mutton and beef, also sausages. Prices for mutton from 6d to 8d; beef 4>}d to 8d per lb. General —Exchange tea, first-class qual--1 ity 10/- per 51b box. Horse-covers, 47/6; cow-covers, 15/6. Galvanised iron tanks, £3 to £4 10/-; gent’s bikes, £ 10/-, £5 10/-, and £7; ladies’ bicycles, £5 10/-. Furniture—Exceptionally busy week. We have sold several of our special bedroom suites £9 17/6, and dining-room suites £lO to £l6. Special quotations for furnishing throughout. BRAY BROS.’ REPORT. Messrs Bray Bros, report as follows for week ending August 16: — We have received some very nice lines of table and seed potatoes. The enquiry for table potatoes has been good and supplies are readily sold at market quotation. We have further consignments of prime quality arriving early this week. Seed potatoes meet with a steady demand and we are

receiving regular consignments of the best varieties.

A steady demand exists for prime quality chaff. We have received several consignments and now have full stocks at prices corresponding with quality. Trussed straw and hay is meeting with a ready sale at market rates. We have received a large consignment of barley pollard, and can recommend it for use as a substitute for pollard which is not too plentiful. The quality of this barley pollard is particularly good.

Onions are rather slow of sale at current prices. Fruit consignments are light and prices in consequence are higri. We have a choice line of dessert and cooking apples on hand which will be sold by auction Monday next, 16th inst. Prices during the week were as follows; — Potatoes—Prime table, freshly picked, 12/6 to 13/- per cwt; seed varieties— Supreme to 16/- per cwt; British Queen, White Elephant and Robin Adair expected next week. Onions—l 6- to 17/- per cwt. Wheat—26/6 per sack. Oats—lß/- per sack. Chaff —Discoloured 1/9 to 3/6 per sack; prime to £7 10/- per ton. Hay Ryegrass £5 per ton; clover, £6 15/per ton. Meggitt’s Linseed Meal—lß/- per bag. Thomson’s Calf Meal —26/- per bag. Oatdust —7/6 per bag. Sorrel—s/6 to 6/6 per bag. Bran—B/6 per bag. Barley—Pollard—lßolbs for 22/6. Molasses—lo/- per cwt. Fruit—Sturmers 4d to 5d per lb; dessert pears 5d per lb; cookers, 2d to 3d per lb. Vegetables—Parsnips 4/6 per bag; carrots scarce; cabbage 5/- to 7/- per sack; swedes, 3/6 per bag. Poultry—Enquiries for table birds. Pigs—Enquiries for slips. S.F. Plough,. £18; spring-cart, £l7.

Furniture —This department in Spey street has had a particularly busy week. There is a keen demand for furnishings such as linoleum, bedding and carpet runners. We keep full stocks of all classes of furniture in red pine and solid oak and also have a nice toned overstrung piano for sale. BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. CAPITAL BEING INCREASED. (Per United Press Association). WELLINGTON, August 16. The authorities of the Bank of New Zealand state that the Minister of Finance has sanctioned the bank’n proposal to call up £3 6/8 per share of uncalled capital on 150,000 ordinary shares of the bank at present paid up to only £3 6/8 per share. It was agreed between the holders of ordinary shares and the Board in 1913 when the Bank made its last issue of additional capital that this uncalled amount should be called up within seven years and the present time, when banking institutions in all the leading countries in the world are all strengthening their capital, is considered a suitable juncture at which to make the call. The call will be made in January next and be payable in one amount of £3 6/8 per share on April 1, 1920. After payment has been made all ordinary shares of the Bank will be paid up to £6 13/4 per share.

COMPANY REGISTERED

The firm of Todd Bros., Ltd., was registered as a private Company on June 12, 1919, with the head office at Dunedin. The capital is £IOO,OOO made up of £1 shares. The following are the subscribers Todd Bros, and Co., Ltd., 50,000; Charles Todd, 13,000; Henry Hegarty, 12,500; Andrew Hegarty, 7500; C. P. Todd, 4000; D. H. Todd, 4000; Heriot—R. C. Hyde, 5000; R. F. Sim, 2000; and John Richards, 2000. The objects of the Company are to acquire and take over the plant, assets and liabilities of Todd Bros, and Co., Ltd., commission agents, auctioneers, and dealers in motor care, etc.

DUNEDIN MARKETS.

GRAIN AND PRODUCE,

DUNEDIN, August 16

Growers of oats continue to ask 4/- to 4/1 on trucks, sacks extra, at country sidings, but occasionally a weak holder will accept 3/10 per bushel. These last-named lines are taken up by local millers. The market remains firm, with little business passing, but North Island merchants are showing more interest. They are, however, not prepared to pay the prices asked—4/5, f.0.b., sacks in, for B’s, and 4/7 for A’s. A good demand exists for seed oats. Growers are not having any difficulty in securing their requirements. A keen demand exists for all lines of grass seed, owing to keen local and overseas inquiries. Prices are very firm. Consignments of chaff are still arriving in fair quantities from the country, and, owing to feeders being fully stocked, it is difficult to make sales. The full value for good quality is £7 per ton, sacks extra. Medium and poor chaff is in over supply, and as buyers are scarce lines of this quality have to be stored, and sold from store at prices ranging from £5 to £6 5/- per ton, sacks extra.

Supplies of potatoes from the south are practically exhausted, and the local market is securing its requirements from Canterbury, where there is_ also a good shipping demand. Good quality is to-day worth £lO to £lO 10/- per ton, sacks included. A number of consignments from the north have had to be' picked over, as they were showing signs of frost. Current wholesale prices are as follow: Potatoes, £lO to £lO 10/-, ex store, Dunedin, for prime quality. Chaff —Prime oaten sheaf, £7; medium and poor quality, £6 to £6 5/-.