COMMERCIAL

Southland Times, Issue 19173, 18 February 1924, Page 2

COMMERCIAL

BRAY BROS. Messrs Bray Bros., Ltd., report bride LftSb ness in fruit and choice quality sells readily at satisfactory prices. Consignments were disposed of as follows: —Apricots, practically finished, to 8/- case; peaches (freestone), 6/- to 8/- case, inferior to 5/-; nectarines, to lb, latter price for “crated” fruit. Plums, dessert, 5/6 to 7/6 case, jam from 4/- to 6/-; greengages, 4Ad to 5d lb; damson to 6/6 case; pears, exceptionally heavy supplies, 3/6 to 6/- case; cooking pears, 24d lb; apples, best “dessert” to 15/6 case; other quality, 7/6 to 12/6 case; cooking apples, 5/- to 7/6 case; tomatoes, large supplies, best quality to 4Jd lb, secondary quality down to 2d lb; cucumbers (hothouse), 5/- to 8/- dozen; cauliflower, 1/6 to 3/-; cabbage, 1/- to 2/-; beetroot to lid; carrots to 3/- dozen bundles ; turnips to 2/- dozen bundles; new potatoes, Id to lid lb. ; Grain and Produce. —Wheat, 20/- to 23/-. Oats to 18/-. Onions, 10/- to 15/-. Oatdust, 5/6. Pollard, 15/6 per 1501 b bag. Bran, 8/6 per 1001 b bag. Hay, 60/- to 80/- ton. Chaff—We are buyers of “prime” quality. Gigs from £7 10/-. Traps from £lO. Waggonette, £l2. De Dion motor car, £2O. “Ford” 5-seater motor car for sale; no reasonable offer refused. Furniture.—Our Showroom in Spey street have two nice pianos for sale. Both instruments are in excellent condition, and we are instructed to take any “reasonable” offer. Inspect our stocks of furniture, bedding, etc. ■ \ Property.—This is a good proposition, £5OO walk-in-walk-out for an up-to-date cordial manufacturing business complete with up-to-date plant and fresh stocks. Business taught the buyer. Bray Bros., Ltd. THE RIALTO. William Todd and Co., Ltd., report the following sales at their weekly market on Saturday, February 16: — Poultry.—Medium entry; prices low. Hens, 1/1 to 1/7; heavy fowls, 2/8; W.L. pullets, 5/6 to 7/-; ducks, 1/6 to 2/-; ■geese, 2/6 to 4/-. Pigs.—Demand very slack for small pigs. Small weaners, 3/- to 5/6; weaners, 7/to 12/-; small stores, 13/6 to 19/-; porkers, £1 2/6 to £1 13/6. Cows.—£l, £5 2/6. Horses.—Bay mare, £l6 10/-; pony, £10; spring-carters, £lO, £4. Produce.—Potatoes, 11/- per cwt for prime quality; onions, £9; chaff, £7 10/- to £8; hay, £5 5/-; straw (arriving), £5; wheat, 23/-; oats, 16/-; barley meal, 14/6; ryecorn meal, 15/6; sorrell, 5/6; oatdust, 4/6; rock salt, 9/- cwt. Miscellaneous.—Barb wire, 30/- to 32/cwt; No. 8 galvanised wire, 24/-; fencing posts, £7 10/- hundred; spring-cart harness, £ll 10/-; riding saddles, £4; horse-covers (new season’s green flax), 34/- to 38/6; tea, 2/6 lb; rabbit traps, 30/- dozen. D. W. McKAY, LTD. Messrs D. W. McKay, Ltd., Exchange Mart, Invercargill, report as follows: Bacon Pigs.—Market easy; supply equal to demand. Produce.—Table potatoes, market well supplied, prices normal Fowl wheat, scarce, 25/- per bag, 20/- for inferior quality; feed oats, 17/6 per bag; prime chaff wanted; pollard, 16/-; bran, 8/6; grass-seed, 15/- per sack; pressed oaten straw, 5/- per bale; prime onions, 9/- per cwt; oat dust, 5/- per bag; cocoanute, £1 per bag; walnuts, 1/- per lb. Fruit.—Another busy week in the fruit department, though the shortage of stone fruit is most noticeable. Crops are lighter than usual, and owing to the high price ruling in the northern markets there is little stone fruit reaching Southland, with the result prices are comparatively high, and supplies short. Plums of all varieties and peaches are in short supply, but tomatoes and pears are coming forward very freely, though it seems that the tomato season is now on the decline. Dessert apples are short of requirements, and any clean bright looking samples coming to hand are sold at satisfactory prices. Cooking apples are in good supply; lemons and oranges are due next week, and will arrive to a bare market. Current approximate prices ruling are: Tomatoes from Id to 5d per lb; peaches, 3d to 5d per lb; plums, 2d to 5d per lb; nectarines, 3d to 6d; black berries, 6d to 9d per lb; pineapples, 15/- to 20/-; dessert and bottling pears, 2d to 4d. Vegetables.—Supplies equal demand; cabbages, 2/- to 3/- per dozen; cauliflowers, 2/- to 3/- per dozen; carrots, Id to 2d. General.—Gal. iron tanks, £2 to £4; Exchange Tea, 12/6 per 51b box; special quotations to hotelkeepers, stations and storekeepers in bulk. Furniture.—Again satisfactory business to report this week. We have landed, ex Rotorua, a large quantity of linoleums which we are offering at 8/6 per yard.

LIVE STOCK MARKET. SALE AT RIVERSDALE. The monthly sale at Riversdale on Friday drew a large attendance. The yarding comprised 4874 sheep and 53 head of cattle. The sale opened a little dull, but improved as it progressed. Fat wethers realised 30/3 and 34/-. There were no fat lambs offering, but a good many forward rape lambs were submitted, for which there was a keen demand. Sales were recorded at from 20/10 to 24/7. Other store lambs of fair quality realised from 17/- to 18/6, and culls down to 8/-. Good store wethers realised 24/- to 26/6, and mediums 18/3 to 21/3. There were not many breeding ewes on the market, and the offering comprised young and sound-mouth sorts. It is rather early for ewes, consequently there is little demand for them at present. Twotooths changed hands at 30/- and 32/9, and sound-mouths at from 24/9 to 26/4. A fair number of cattle were forward, and current market rates were maintained. A fat bullock made £8 and a fat cow £6. Springing dairy cows realised £3 to £6 10/-, heifers £1 14/- to £3 1/-, and cows and calves £1 5/-. Yearling mixed cattle changed hands at £1 4/-, two-year-olds at £2 7/-, and two and a-half to three-year-olds £3 7/-. THE OTAGO MARKETS. THRESHING GENERAL-OATS OPEN HIGH. DUNEDIN, December 16. Threshing has been general in Canterbury for the past fortnight. Any lines that have so far come to Dunedin show that the wheat is of exceptionally good quality, being very hard and fine in the skin. Northern millers are, however, very keen buyers owing to the short harvest, and are not letting wheat out of their district if it can be avoided. Threshing commenced on the Taieri Plain at the beginning of thia week, but was interrupted by the otherwise muchneeded rain. The crops there are very good, and the sample and the yield promise to be above the average. In other Otago districts, particularly around Palmerston and Central Otago, the weather has affected the cropa, which will be very tight. The official estimate of the wheat harvest is 4,200,000 bushels, compared with an actual yield of 5,688,157 bushels last year. In some quarters it is thought that this year’s estimate is on the light aide, for this cereal can stand a great deal of dry weather without the yield being affected. The season experienced is also favourable to good samples of plump grain. It is pretty safe to assume that practically all the crop will be suitable for milling, and that there will be very little fowl wheat. To make up whatever wheat shortage there will be for New Zealand requirements the Government intends to import Australian wheat. This will be delivered pro rata to millers throughout the Dominion. The prices fixed for the New Zealand wheat this season are 5/3 f.o.b. for Tuscan, 5/5 for Hunters, and 5/7 for velvet, these applying to deliveries up to the end of April, an extra id per bushel per month being added from May to October. Growers are not at all satisfied with thoe pricey

as they contend higher values would rule ) on a free market because of the Dominion’s short crop. This, however, is doubtful in view of the surplus on outside markets, and the price at which importations could be landed here. Australian wheat has opened at a higher level than had been expected, and the f.o.b. quotation of 4/8 means that it could be landed here at about 5/6 c.i.f. Millers prefer this wheat to grown, because it gives a higher percentage of flour. Prices for fowl wheat are firm at 5/6, sacks extra, delivered in Dunedin. The lines available are last season’s carry-over, and there is very little available. Later on there is likely to be a shortage, necessitating importation from Australia. Already the North Island has sought permission to import, but the Government has withheld it until it is seen how this season’s crop turns out. NEW OATS OPEN HIGH. Last season’s stocks of oats are just about cleaned up, and until threshing becomes general there will not be enough to meet the demand, which is very strong in the North Island. The first two lines of oats were threshed on the Taieri at the beginning of the week, and the quality of the grain was very good, weighing 451 b to the bushel, and in one case the yield was ninety bushels to the acre. It is reported that these oats were sold at 4/3 per bushel, sacks extra, on trucks. The forward position is very firm with sellers asking 4/4 f.oi>., s.i., for spread delivery, April-September. But buyers are not keen, preferring to wait and see how the crop threshes out. There is a good deal of uncertainty as to the future. Oats are susceptible to dry weather, and if yields are light prices will remain firm throughout the season, with a probability of importations being necessary. The yield of ninety bushels to the acre on the Taieri was obtained from oats sown early. As most of the oat paddocks were sown late the crop, as a whole, may not thresh out well. A great deal depends on the weather from now on. CHAIT AND POTATOES. The local market for chaff is very firm, and up to £8 per ton, sacks extra, ex truck, has been obtained, consignments not arriving fast enough to satisfy the demand. A bare market is likely until new sefßon’s chaff comes to hand in about two months’ time. Growers are expecting high prices throughout the season. The North Island is endeavouring to buy chaff from Australia, and it is understood that a parcel has been already purchased. Recent quotations are £5 10/- f.0.b., sj., Geelong, which means about £2 a ton below the price at which South Island chaff can be landed at Auckland. If any large quantity can be purchased abroad it will probably weaken the South Island position. An unusually high market has been ruling for potatoes for this time of the season, due to growers planting later than usual. Consignments are now arriving more freely, and the market has eased, wholesale values now being £9 a ton, sacks included. Sales have been made for April-June delivery at £6 5/- f.0.b., s.i. Last year the yield showed a drop of one and a-half tons per acre because of blight, but this year’s yield promises better and should meet New Zealand requirements. CANTERBURY MARKETS. MERCHANTS BUYING FREELY. CHRISTCHURCH, February 15. Merchants have been buying freely in most classes of produce where growers will come to terms, but generally there is a quietness. Oats are the exception to the quietness. They have been see-sawing up in value quite remarkably. Sales have been made at up to 4/4%, f.o.b_, sa., equal to 3/104 at country stations, but oats for prompt delivery cannot be obtained at this figure. Up to 4/- on trucks has been paid. Farmers have been asking, and in cases, receiving up to 4/9 on trucks for Algerians. A Gartons are offering in almost negligible quantities, and on truck quotations vary. In some cases up to 4/5 has been paid. Altogether the oat market is extremely sensitive. Chaff is weaker, buyers having dwindled down. Little, however, can be bought under £7 17/6, f.0.b., s.i., or £6 5/- on trucks. Australian bagged chaff can be landed in Auckland at £9 a ton and “dumped” at £7 15/-, but latterly it is very unsatisfactory. Barley has been coming shyly into the market. Quotations have not been very easy to secure, but growers have been offered up to 5/- a bushel at country stations. Cocksfoot growers who axe accepting 12d per lb, are fewer than the number refusing it. Their optimism is probably justified as there is a very short field. The latest advices quote Danish cocksfoot at 112/-, cj.f., and advance of about 7/6 during the week, but imported seed could not arrive, if purchased, until a long time after the autumn sowing. White clover remains firm. Up to 1/7 and 1/8 per lb has been paid at wayside stations for exceptional samples. Ryegrass is scarcely so firm, due to the Southland offerings, which, though dark in colour, are weighing better. From 6/6 to 6/9 to farmers is quoted. Cowgrass is moving out steadily. Home advices record the sale of heavy quantities to America. Peas have been “sticky,” with an indication of firmness to-day. Improved yields on early anticipations are reported. Potatoes are meeting with a good inquiry, and March delivery is quoted at £4 15/- on trucks. The offerings, however, are small. Opinions vary about crops. Early-dug ones are showing a preponderance of under-sized tubers, with quite an amount of second growth. On the other hand, later sown crops are looking very well. DAIRY PRODUCE. XJNDON MARKET WEAK. Dalgety <fc Co., Invercargill, have received the following cable from London, dated February 15: —“Butter: The market is very dull and prices all lower. Imports into the United Kingdom for January, 425,000 cwts as compared with 501,000 cwts for the corresponding period of 1923. We quote: New Zealand at 196/ -; New Zealand exceptional brands at 200/-; Danich, at 216/-; finest Australian salted at 188/-; finest Australian unsalted at 186/-. “Cheese: The market is very quiet. We quote: New Zealand white at 96/-; New Zealand coloured at 96/-.” SHEEPSKINS. GENERAL ADVANCE RECORDED. Messrs .Murray Roberts and Co., Ltd., are in receipt of a cable from their London agents, dated 14th insL, reading as follows: At the sheepskin sales Merino combing advanced 10 per cent.; Merino clothing advanced 15 per cent.; crossbred fine and medium advanced 15 per cent.; and crossbred coarse advanced 20 per cent. Dalgety & Co.’s cable says: Some 3200 bales were offered and practically all sold. The following is the range of prices:— Merino $ to full-woolled, 19d to 23d; Merino I to 4-woolled, 14d to 20d; Merino short and shorn, 9jd to 12d; crossbred f to full-woolled fine, 16d to 24d; crossbred i to i-woolled fine, 12d to 17d; crossbred i to full-woolled medium and coarse, 12d to 16Jd; crossbred 1 to i-woolled medium and coarse, 9d to 13d; crossbred short and shorn, 8d to 12d; lambs, 15d to 18jd. BEEF AND PORK. AN INNOVATION APPRECIATED. The instructions recently issued by the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board reiat-. ing to the double-bagging of beef and pork have evidently met with the approval of the trade in London as one large meat firm (Messrs Gilbert Anderson <t Co., Ltd.), has written to the Board saying that they are very pleased to know that the Board has issued instructions for beef and pork to be bagged as well m wrapped in atoekingttte, as this is a step in the eight direction.

NEW ZEALAND MEAT. SMITHFIELD QUOTATIONS. WELLINGTON, February 1«. The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has received a cable from its London dated February 15, advising that the Smithfield delivered prices at that date were aa follows: New Zealand wethers and maidens, Canterbury quality: Selected brands, 561bs and under, 571bs to 641bs, 65 lbs to 72lbs, not quoted; other brands, 561bs and under BJd per lb, 57 lbs to 641bs Bd, 651bs to 721ba 7id. New Zealand ewes: 641bs and under 6}d» New Zealand new season’s lamb: Canterbury quality, 36lbs and under Hid, 371b® to 421bs 114 d; 431bs to 501bs, Hd; second® not quoted. Down cross lamb is selling at Hid per lb; selected brands, 361bs and under Hid, 371bs to 421bs Hid, other grades, Ist quality, 421bs and under 114 seconds 10id. New Zealand beef: Not quoted. Argentine chilled beef: Ox fores 4id pv lb, ox hinds 5Jd. Argentine frozen beef: Ox fores 4i<L ox hinds 4id. THE SHARE MARKET. SATURDAY’S TRANSACTIONS. DUNEDIN, February It. Sales: New Zealand Breweries, 23/-. AUCKLAND, February It. Sales: Farmers’ Co.-op. Auctioneering* 65/-; Wilson’s Cement, 31/3; Waihi, 31/10.