COMMERCIAL

Southland Times, Issue 19223, 19 April 1924, Page 2

COMMERCIAL

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. Sugar.—The ba Wanaka is expected to be loading at Auckland for the Bluff some time next week. Burmah Candles.—Prices have been withdrawn for forward shipment, and as there has been a further advance in wax higher prices may be looked for. C.M.C. Sheep Tongues have advanced a further 1/- per dozen. Kerosene.—A new line, “Pennant,** is being offered at 6d per case under the present ruling rates. Court 3d and 6d Nut Milk Tablets are unprocurable from the manufacturers meantime. Lever’s Comfort Bath and Monkey Brand Soaps are in abort supply just at present. Nutmegs and Peppers have now reached prohibitive prices and according to advices received from the Straits Settlements there does not seem to be any prospect of a decline for some time. Supplies are very scarce, and there is keen competition for quantities that are available. Pepper is dearer, and as the new crop will not be available for shipment for four or five months we will not be surprised if prices keep up. Ginger.—The first of the new season’s shipments of Cochin ginger has arrived. Cables received from India show that the market has advanced very considerably and that it would be impossible to land supplies at the equivalent of spot quotation. Japanese ginger is also dearer for forward delivery. Cloves.—Advices received from Zanzibar show that there is now only a very small quantity available for export. The next crop will not be available until NovemberDecember so that prices are likely to remain up for some time. Coffees.—Java Robusta coffee is slightly cheaper, but prices for Indians and Mochas have been maintained. Peanuts are selling freely and cables received from China this week show that the market remains firm. Seeds.—Prices for canary seed have again advanced, and as only very limited quantities of Argentine canary seed are available for shipment we do not see any prospect of improvement in the situation before the end of the year. Beans.—Haricot beans are now comparatively cheap, and are selfing well at list price. Bushes’ English Cream of Tartar has advanced £1 per ton. This is the second advance of £1 per ton since March 24, and indicates a firming market for this product. Deliveries.—As Anzac Day falls on April 25, merchants have arranged to deliver country orders on April 22, and town on April 24 for next months’ account F. BOWDEN & CO. F. Bowden & Co. report that growers evidently anticipated a good demand for apples and pears for the Easter holidays, or feared a railway strike, for we received extraordinary supplies during the week. Tomatoes reached a very high price for this time of the year, no doubt owing to the approach of the holidays and an anticipated shortage. Local grapes are available. Quinces are in, good supply. Bananas and oranges are due on Tuesday. Jam melons are on hand. Lemons are short of requirements. New season’s walnuts have started to come forward. Potatoes and wheat are plentiful. Supplies of vegetables are about equal to demand.

The week closed with prices rilling:— Tomatoes, local hothouse, 7d to 1/1J lb, Christchurch 3d to 9d lb; pears, dessert 2}d to 3d lb, cookers 2d lb; quinces, 2d to 2jd lb; walnuts, 1/- lb; apples, choice Jonathans 9/6, Delicious to 12/6 case, others cheaper, cookers 4/6 to 7/- case; grapes, 1/- to 1/4 lb; coconuts, 20/- sack.

Vegetables, Produce, Etc.—Potatoes, 8/to 9/- cwt; cauliflower, 1/6 to 5/3 dozen; fowl wheat, 16/- to 22/-, sacks in; jam melons, 2d lb; carrots, l|d lb; parsnips, Hd; beetroot, l|d lb; bran, 8/6; pollard, 12/6 bag; marrows, Ijjd lb. D, W. McKAY, LTD. Messrs D. W. McKay, Ltd., Exchange Mart, Invercargill, report as follows: Bacon pigs wanted. Sellers communicate with us immediately. Produce.—Potatoes continue to come forward freely, and prices all round easier. Chaff meets a steady demand, also fowl wheat, feed oats and straw. Potatoes, best tables, from £6 to £7 10/-, secondary quality £5. Chaff, £5- to £B. Wheat, 18/to 25/-. Oats, 15/- to 23/-. Oaten straw, 5/-. Oatdust, 5/-. Farro Food, 18/6. Bran, 12/6. Pollard, 18/6. Onions, 12/- cwt. Fruit.—Supplies of fruit are much lighter, and prices all round show an increase. The market is bare of cooking apples, and we recommend immediate, consignments. Good well-graded dessert apples realise satisfactory values, but anything of a secondary quality difficult to quit. Tomatoes are practically finished, only very small consignments arriving; good samples are realising high prices. Full supplies of pears are arriving, but prices remain steady. Bananas, oranges, and lemons, ex Maunganui, are due from Wellington this week. As they will arrive to a bare market good values should rule. Current prices:— Apples, dessert 7/- to 14/6, cookers ljd to 2d; pears, best dessert 3d to 4d, cookers lAd to 24d; quinces, 2d to 3d; tomatoes, locals 1/-, Christchurch and Otago Central to 7d; grapes, 6d to 1/4; cucumbers, 4/6 to 10/- per ton; jam melons, l£d to 2|d.

General —Exchange Tea, 12/6 per 51b box; cow-covers, 12/6, 15/6; horse-covers, 34/- to 38/6; Sidebotham rabbit traps, 30/per dozen; barb wire, 34/- cwt. Furniture.—Special inducement for Easter buyers in this department. Bedroom and dining-room suites to suit ail tastes; also carpets and linoleums.

We held a most successful sale on Tuesday, April 15, on account of Mr James Anderson, at which there was a record attendance of buyers, and resulted in splendid prices ruling throughout WINTON SALE. GOOD SHEEP SALE. The fortnightly sale was held in the Winton yards on Thursday, when there was another big yarding of sheep. Sheep.—The fat sheep sale was a quiet one, and wethers ranged about 33/-, being on a par with rates at recent sales. The store sheep sale was a good one, and right throughout prices were well up to those obtained at the previous sale, in many eases being slightly in sellers’ favour. Some pens of ewe lambs were offered, and these were bought under keen competition at prices which were exceptionally good. The demand for old ewes showed a revival, and prices advanced as much as 2/- in some instances. The following prices were obtained at auction:—Fat wethers to 33/-; fat lambs, 25/3 to 28/-; store lambs, 15/(small) to 21/-; ewe lambs to 30/-; sum ewes, 26/- to 31/3; f. and f. ewes, 8/6 to 19/-; store wethers, 23/- to 29/-. Cattle.—There was little life in the cattie market, and only well-bred stock was sought after. A nice pen of fat bullocks sold at £lO, other fata ranging down to £B. A line of fat and forward 3 and 4-year-old steers was sold at £7 17/6; prices for other stores going to £3 19/-. There was a fair yarding of old cows which sold at “boiler” rates. RAM FAIR. There were about 350 rams penned, the bulk bong Border Leicesters. The quality was not very high, and the demand weak. Most of the yarding was passed at auction, but a fair number were sold privately. The best price was obtained by Mrs Blaikie, who sold some Border Leicesters at 5$ gns. The following prices were obtained at auction:—

Border Leicesters.—Good flock rams, 4$ to Signa; medium, Hgne to 2fgns; inferior, 5/3 to 15/9.

Romneys.—Good flocks, 3| to 4igns; medrazn, Iff to 2igns; inferior to fiA

LUMSDEN SALE. PRICES SOMEWHAT EASIER. There were between 8000 and 4000 sheep yarded at Lumsden on Wednesday, and competition was keen. Prices all round were a shade firmer, particularly for fullmouth ewes. The following were some of the sales:—so 2-tooth ewes 36/3, 240 2tooth wethers 30/11; 250 mixed-sex lambs 25/4; 90 do. 25/11; f.m. ewes 14/- to £l. RAM FAIR AT OTAUTAU. HELD TOO NEAR THE SALE. The seventeenth annual Ram and Ewe Fair, under the auspices of the Wallace A. & P. Association, was held on Saturday last, when there was a fair turnout of people. Although about 200 rams were entered, bidding was lifeless, not many being sold under the hammer, although fair business was reported privately. The holding of the Fair immediately after the stock sale does not seem to be very advantageous, a large number of farmers having stocked up the previous day. The following well-known breeders were represented:—Messrs J. T. Beck, W. Kennedy, E. K. Sim, J. Muirhead, J. and E. Deegan and Andrew Baird. The following were the principal sales:—Border Leicester stud ram, on account of W. Kennedy, 21 guineas; Border Leicester flock rams, 6 to 8 guineas, 3 at 6 guineas, 1 at 6 guineas; account E. K. Sim, 3 at 5 guineas, 1 at 7| guineas, 3 at 5A guineas; account J. and E. Deegan, 4 at 5 guineas, 2 at 5 guineas. In Romneys, J. T. Beck’s entries were cleared at 6 guineas, while sales made on account of E. K. Sim at to 7i guineas, and on account of W. Kennedy at 5i guineas. NEW ZEALAND PAPER MILLS. EFFECT OF DROUGHT CONDITIONS. The New Zealand Paper MiDs, Mataura, has issued the following statement to clients:— “We feel that we owe our customers an apology for our inability to keep pace wtih orders at the present time. It is generally known that this is entirely duo to the unprecedented drought which, is being experienced in Otago and Southland, and it is recognised that we are powerless to do more than we are doing in the circumstances. “ Apart from a few small details, the Mataura Mills are now complete and ready for a production that would cope with the needs of the Dominion, and we know that within 36 hours of rain falling the present output will be quadrupled, and we shall not be long in clearing outstanding orders on our books. The position in Southland today is without parallel, and to the papermaking industry is a source of great anxiety. “Our present difficulties are intensified by the curtailment of power in this city, where our Woodhaugh Mills are situated, but to date we are glad to announce that there is no pronounced shortage in any of the papers manufactured there, which comprise Caps mainly. Unfortunately, Krafts, of which the market is almost bare, are all made at the southern mills. “We would ask your kind forbearance at this juncture and your acceptance of our assurance that a break in the weather will mean the delivery of old orders at utmost speed.” DAIRY PRODUCE. THE LONDON MARKETS. Messrs Dalgety & Co., Ltd., report having received the following advice from their head office, London, under date of April 16: —‘The imports of butter into the United Kingdom for the month of March, 1924, were 455,000 cwte as compared to 438,000 cwta for the corresponding period of 1923. The butter market is steady at present prices. We quote: New Zealand 152/-, New Zealand exceptional brands 154/-; Danish, 170/-; finest Australian salted, 142/-. The cheese market is steady. We quote: New Zealand white and coloured, 82/- to 84/-. There is rather more enquiry for dairy produce.” SHEEPSKINS, USED FOR GAS METERS. The accuracy, imperviousness to temperature changes, and endurance of the gas meter depend upon the leather lungs of the two drums that alternately inhale and exhale gas, feeding it from the main into the house pipes and measuring it on the little dials above. These leather lungs, or diaphragms, are made from the skins of New Zealand sheep. It is only here that the perfect sheepskins can be raised. New Zealand sheepskins could not be imported during the war, and, as a result, makers of gas meters tried every available substitute., but discovered that there was nothing “just as good.” As soon as possible the importation was resumed, and the ever increasing number of meters in use has caused a growing demand. When gas was first manufactured and distributed there were no meters, and it was sold by the number of burners used. The first meter was ’invented in 1815, and some thirty years later a meter almost the same as that now in use made its appearance. FAT STOCK FOR EXPORT. RULING SMITHFIELD PRICES. The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board advises that the following prices were being offered on April 17, 1924: Auckland.—Wethers: 64 and under 6d; ewes, 64 and under 4sd; prime woolly lambs, 42 and under 9d; 43 and over Bsd; second quality lambs, B|d. Poverty Bay.—Wethers, 64 and under 6d; ewes, 64 and under 4*d; prime woolly lambs, 42 and under B£d. Hawke’s Bay.—Wethers, 64 and under 6|d; ewes, 64 and under sd; prime woolly lambs, 42 and under 9Jd; second quality iambs, Bsd; prime ox beef, 22/- per IOCHbs. Wellington.—Wethers, 64 and under 6|d; ewes, 64 and under prime woolly lambs, 42 and under 9fd; 43 and over 9id; second quality lambs, BJd; prime ox beef, 22/6 per lOOlbs. Canterbury.—Wethers, 64 and under 7d; ewes, 64 and under s|d; prime woolly lambs, 42 and under 10£d; 43 and over 9id; second quality lambs, 9id. BUTTER AND CHEESE. THE LONDON QUOTATIONS. LONDON, April 17. # Butter is in better demand, owing to Easter requirements, but closed very quiet. New Zealand choicest is quoted at 152/- to 154/-, unsalted 154/- to 158/-; Australian 138/- to 142/-, unsalted 144/- to 148/-. Danish is slow at from 169/- to 170/-. Cheese is quiet, but steady. New eZaland is quoted at 84/-; Australian 76/to 78/-. THE SHARE MARKET. THURSDAY’S TRANSACTIONS. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, April 17. Sales:—New Zealand Inscribed, 1927, £97 17/6; Taupiri Coal, 18/9; Kauri Timber, 29/6; Grand Junction, 3/8 and 3/9. CH RISTCH URCH, April 18. Sale reported:—Bank of New Zealand, 52/X CHILLED MEAT. NEW ZEALAND SHIPMENT UNSUCCESSFUL. (By Tdegraph-~Pre« Assn.-—Copyright.) LONDON, April 16. (Received April 18, 7.5 pjn.) In the House of Commons, replying to Viscount Canon, Mr J. Wheatley (lfin» ta of Heeiihj, stated that a eonßgimMnt

of meat in the steamer Kent, which arrived in London from Auckland on March 31, was inspected on April 3 by members of the Departmental Committee on Preservatives in Food. Subsequently the Port Medical Officer satisfied himself that, apart fronj the presence of formaldehyde, the whole consignment was unfit for food, and with the consent of the consignee it was being destroyed. As regards Viscount Curzon’s suggestion that no further experimental shipments of foodstuffs treated with formaldehyde should be allowed in view of the Government Committee’s definite advice that food so preserved was unfit for human food and injurious to health, Mr Wheatley said he was unable to make any statement pending the issue of an interim report on the subject by the Departmental Committee. BURNS PHILP CO. A DIVIDEND DECLARED. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association). SUVA, April 17. The annual meeting of the Burns-Philp Shipping Co. was held to-day. The bal-ance-sheet showed a surplus, including the balance from the previous year of £51,127, out of which it was decided to pay a dividend of 1/- per share and increase the reserve fund by £5OOO and carry forward the balance, £8627. WALLACE COUNTY ' MEETING OF COUNCIL. (From our Correspondent). The monthly meeting of the above was held on Tuesday in the Council Chambers at Otautau, when the following Councillors were present: Crs. F. J. Linscott (chairman), L. Garden, T. A. Buckingham, W. J. A. McGregor, L. Cody, F. J. Dyer, W. T. James and 8 Fowle Leave of absence was granted to Or. H. Crawford, A. S. Whyte, Te Tua, drew attention, to the bad state of Arthur's Creek running in front of his house, damage having been done through overflowing of this on to his property. He asked that the position be remedied.—Left in hands of members and engineer to attend to. W. Pearce, Assistant Engineer Public Works Department advised, re Lake George outfall and Round Hill-Wakapatu Road, lie was not prepared to definitely promise to undertake the setting out of these works, but would do so if opportunity offered.— Received; member urged this matter be attended to. Chas. English, Orepuki, applied for a grant for gravelling Coutte-Waterhouse road next summer.—Application for grant to be made. 8. G, Gilson and Thomas Hinton, Tihaka, again urged Council to give them access to their properties by providing them with a crossing.—Engineer report to next meeting. Charlotte E. Noble, Invercargill, requested that Council complete the gravelling of the few chains which led past her property to Howell’s Point before winter sets in.— Engineer to report to next meeting. E. C. Williams and twelve others, Pourakino district, requested that the Pourakino road be graded and gravelled as far as section 58, block XIX, Jacob’s River Hundred, a distance of about one mile.— Member and engineer to inspect and rej>ort. District Engineer, New Zealand Railways, forwarded a report of the Inspector of Permanent Ways re bridge on Nightcaps branch, the water under which was blocked with weeds.—Received. John C. Ridder, Orawia, protested against any more gravel being taken out of pit on roadside at end of Sandford’s road. He had recently repaired fence, and would hold Council responsible for any further damage.—Member and engineer to look into matter. Wm. Scobie, Eastern Bush, inquired when work at the Marshburn was going to be done as promised.—Writer to be informed that matter will be attended to in due course.

T. George and four others, Wairio, requested that contract for the WairioBirchwood road be completed immediately. —Advised the work is being gone on with. Samuel Blight and sixteen others in the township of Ohai requested Council to provide them with box crossings into their sections.—Crossings to be supplied without prejudice to any other applications. Manager Black Diamond Coal Co. asked that contract for gravelling Tinker’s road be pushed on.—To be informed the work is being pushed on with. Secretary Electric Power Board wrote re the suggested damage that had been done on the cutting on Mount Linton road and to the bridge in the same locality. He notified that the engineers and contractors had been (instructed to carry out operations so as to cause a minimum of damage and inconvenience.—Received, the Board to pay cost of repairing damage done to road and bridge. J. Cockburn, Mararoa Station, Lumsden, wrote re Mararoa Stream bridge approaches, and the agreement with J. Cockbum, regarding same. He also stated that according to arrangement his share would only amount to £l9/10/-. He asked Council to state what Government moneys were available for and expended on the job.— Received.

Chairman Main Highways Board forwarded a circular letter re the carrying out of maintenance on behalf of the Board, and asked whether Council was prepared to contribute to maintenance on the basis of its present expenditure, leaving any further sum required to be made up by the Main Highways Board.—Matter attended to. J. Smith, Wairakei, applied for tramway crossing.—Granted under usual conditions.

W. J. A. McGregor wrote re the Ohai railway construction on the Birchwood main road. This work was started without conferring with the local authority, as provided for by section 61 (sub-section 2) of “The Local Railways Act,” as to the doing or alteration such work might entail on the road. The chairman, engineers and members of the Ohai Railway Board met the County Engineer and the member of the Riding on the ground on Ist inst., and were told by the Board they could go where they liked on the road, and would not deviate from their proposed line to a little more on the side of the road to lessen risk, as was pointed out. The Board agrees to take the risk, to fence the line on each ride, to put in crossings, cattle stops, culverts and water-tables where necessary, and further to form and gravel a road and footpath on the north side of this line along such length of roadline as the Board’s line entails and to the xatisfaction of the Wallace County Council— Approved. Cr. W. J. A. McGregor gave notice of motion that the sum of £5O be voted for repairs to the Linton cutting and Morley bridge; this amount to be charged to the Power Board and adjusted in their account with the Council and the Power Board to be notified accordingly. Cr. Cody moved that the engineer prepare plans and specifications of work done from January 1, 1924, on Main Highways and application for one-third cost of same be made. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

Since last meeting the weather has'still continued exceptionally good and the bulk of the contracts let this and last season

The bridge gang has completed willow protective work at Josephville and has completed various odd jobs including cartage of bridge timber to Birchwood, concrete pipes to Wray’s Bush, and is now engaged carting and laying large pipes on the hillburn road. After Easter a start will be made, with repairs to Mclntosh’s stockbridge. In connection with Mr A. S. Gardner’s inquiry re money still available for gravelling upper Lfflburn road, the Public Works engineer informs me there is still a ram of £lOO £1 for £1 available. The report was adopted. Amounts amounting to £3427 18a Id were peand for pepoMnA

Councillor Buckingham moved that the following amounts be voted for expenditure in Pourakino Riding: Brown and Sheridan Road, gravelling, £3O; Blackmore's Road, forming and gravelling, to which Mr Blackmore is subscribing £5, £2O; total £5O.

Councillor James moved that the following amount be voted for expenditure in Aparima Riding: Waikouro Road, maintenance (additional) £25.

Councillor Fowle moved that the following amount be voted for expenditure in Waiau Riding: Lillburn Road, maintenance, £5O.