COMMERCIAL

Southland Times, Issue 20616, 15 October 1928, Page 2

COMMERCIAL

LOCAL MARKETS BRAY BROS., LTD. Messrs Bray Bros., Ltd., Spey street, report as follows, for week ending 13/10/28. Fruit and Vegetables.—Apples are still in heavy supply, and only choice lines are in demand, small and inferior grade being almost unsaleable. The market is wellsupplied with pears ex cool store, and sales are slow. Sydney oranges are now available. Exceptionally heavy supplies of lettuce arrived during the week, and owing to the cold weather, the market became over-supplied, and sales were difficult to effect. Cauliflowers were also in heavy supply, and low prices ruled. Hothouse cucumbers, asparagus and rhubarb are now coming forward in increasing quantities. Prices averaged as follows:—Apples, choice Sturmers, Delicious and Tasma 8/1 to 12/6; others 4/- to 6/- case, cookers, large to 7/6, small 4/- to 6/- case; pears, choice 2Ad lb, others 14d to 2d lb; lemons, New Zealand to 18/- case, American 55/- case; Island tomatoes' to s|d lb; grapes 25/keg; cabbage 2/- to 3/6 dozen; cauliflowers 2/- to 5/- dozen; lettuce 1/- to 3/6 dozen; spring onions 8d bundle; asparagus to 7/6 dozen; rhubarb 2Ad to 3Ad lb; radish 6d dozen; cucumbers 10/- to 14/- dozen; mutton-birds 8d to BAd per bird; honey, 51b 3/6, 101 b 6/-; posts, heart totara, sft 6in £6 5/-, 6ft £6 15/- per hundred. Business.—Well-established bakery business with delivery van. Low rent. Illhealth reason for selling. Furniture.—We have to report brisk business at our furniture department (upstairs), where our unique offer to furnish three rooms (including linoleum), for £33, is still a big draw. The popularity of this specialty enables us to give first quality material throughout. Clearance line of linoleum remnants at bargain prices. Several pianos in good order at extremely low rates. Inspection invited. D. W. McKAY, LTD. Messrs D. W. McKay, Ltd., Invercargill, reports as follows: Produce.—Potatoes are very scarce at present and the market is ruling high. New potatoes are due early next week from the north in small quantities. Main crop seed continues to have a steady sale. Onions have taken a sharp rise and supplies in small compass. Good feed chaff remains firm in price. Wheat straw is available. Oatdust, bran and pollard also wheat have had a good sale during the week. Current prices approximately as follows: Chaff, best quality to £6 per ton, ex store; hay £4 to £5 per ton; straw £3 to £3 10/- ton; pollard 17/6; wheat 22/6 to 25/-; oats 18/6; mutton birds 9d to lOd per bird, according to count. Fruit. —Market well supplied with Sydney oranges; lemons are getting in short compass, next supplies will be Californians; Californian grapes still continue plentiful, also Island tomatoes. Mandarins are practically finished for the season. Cauliflowers, lettuce, rhubarb and spring cabbage are coming forward in increased quantities. Canadian apples are due this week. New Zealand grown apples are getting in short supply and confined principally to Sturmers and Delicious. Current prices approximately as follows: Californian grapes to 30/- keg; oranges 18/- to 25/-; lemons 25/-; apples, dessert to 12/6 case, cookers to 8/6 case; pears t 2d to 3d per lb; cauliflowers 2/to 6/- dozen; cabbages 2/- to 5/- dozen; lettuce unsaleable; carrots to Id per lb; parsnips to Id lb. General.—Fair week, sales include galvanized cast iron from sft to 10ft, at prices varying according, to quality; tanks, we have had a particularly good week with galvanized corrugated tanks, our price being right for this particular line. Office desk, architects’ requisites, new lawnmowers, push-chairs, counters, honey, tea, square iron tanks; leather step treads (only 12 left), incubators, electric motor, tennis racquets, ice cream churns, sashes, doors, skylights, scales, etc. Furniture.—Fairly good week in this department, sales include carpets, lino, squares, Pabcolin squares, chesterfield suites from £24; flock beds, garden seats, sideboards, china cabinets, child’s high chair, etc. Very heavy demand for second-hand furniture, sales of linos., duchesses, wardrobes, tables, in keen demand, other lines were sold freely. THE RIALTO. Messrs William Todd and Co., Ltd., report the following sales at their weekly market on Saturday, October 13:— Pigs.—Small weaners 3/- to 5/-, medium 6/- to 7/-, well-grown 8/3 to 15/-; small stores 12/- to 15/-; stores 16/- to £1; sows and litters £2 10/-, £2 15/-; sow in pig £1 7/-. Poultry.—Small entry, good demand. Hens 2/11 to 3/3; second-year hens 3/6 to 4/1; White Leghorn pullets 4/- to 5/1; roosters 3/- to 6/5. Ducks 3/3 to 3/11; Black Orpingtons 4/6 to 5/10. Hens and chicks 13/- to 18/6. Calf, 9/-. Pony £4 5/-. Spring-cart £l4 10/-. Harness £B, £9 10/-. Saddle £5. Bacon Pigs.—We are cash buyers at top market rates and receive every day except Saturday. Produce. —Potatoes £l2 10/- ton, supplies about equal to demand; onions, Japanese 22/6 crate, Californian 30/- crate; chaff (firm), prime quality £5 10/- to £5 15/-; hay £4 10/- to £5; straw £3 15/-; oats 16/to 18/-; barley 22/6; barley pollard 16/-; pollard 11/-; bran 9/-; crushed oats 11/6; crushed peas 24/6; crushed wheat 17/6; oatdust 6/6; sucrosine 18/6; faterine 19/-; meat meal 12/6 100; wheat 24/6. Vegetables.—Cauliflower 2/- to 6/dozen; cabbage 3/-; rhubarb 2jd to 4d lb; carrots 6/- cwt; parsnips 8/- cwt; lettuce 3/- dozen. Miscellaneous. —Barb-wire 24/- to 26/cwt; No. 8 galvanized wire 19/- to 20/cwt; fowl netting 12/6; rabbit netting 20/-, 6-foot fowl netting 24/6; tanks £3 to £3 15/-; square iron tanks £3 5/- to £5 10/-; kauri tubs £2 15/-; baths £3 5/-; portable boilers £3 15/- to £4; riding saddles £4 10/-; horse covers 37/6; cow covers 17/6; mutton birds 9d. Grass Seeds: Good demand. Akaroa cocksfoot 8d to 1/2 lb; Cowgrass 1/2; Cowgrass and White Clover 1/-; White Clover lOd to 1/2; White Clover and Alsike lOd; Timothy 8d; Perennial Ryegrass, 7 bushel sacks, machine dressed 35/-; Italian Ryegrass 25/-; Crested Dogstail 9d lb; samples on application. F. BOWDEN AND CO. Messrs F. Bowden and Co. report an exceptionally busy week. Although prices for table potatoes are high, good sales have been made, and ample stocks are on hand to meet, any immediate demand. Good sales of produce have taken place, and there are good stocks of bran, pollard, oats, sucrosine, molasses, wheat, barley, crushed oats, prime chaff, straw and hay on hand. Spring onions, parsnips, carrots, beet, rhubarb, etc. are plentiful. Cauliflowers are in over supply and prices are weak. Spring cabbages have been scarce, but a few of these came to hand to-day. All varieties of fruit in season are available, small apples being in over supply. The first of the season’s Christchurch hothouse tomatoes came to hand on Wednesday, but prices were much below the opening market of other seasons. Although sales of seed potatoes are good heavy stocks are still on hand. The week closed with prices ruling: Mandarins 18/6 to 23/-; oranges, Island 20/to 23/-, Navels 22/6 to 26/-, Commons 19/to 20/-; apples, dessert 6/- to 11/-, cookers 6/- to 7/6; bananas, green 30/- to 37/-, ripe 37/6 to 40/-; lemons 10/- to 20/-; pines 28/- case; grapes 27/6 keg; pears 2Ad to 3d; tomatoes, Christchurch hothouse 1/5 to 2/7, Island 7d to lOd lb. Vegetables, Produce, Etc.: Rhubarb 2d to 3Ad; beet Id to l|d; eschalots l)d; parsnips Ijd; carrots Id lb; cabbage snd cauliflower plants 2/6 to 3/-; spring onions 1/3 to 1/6; lettuce 1/- to 1/6; cauliflowers 1/to 4/-; cabbage 2/- to 2/6 dozen; seed potatoes 7/- to 20/-: uotato manure 12/-

cwt; mutton birds 8d each; honey 6d lb; bran 9/-; pollard 140’s 16/6, 200’s 22/-; swedes 2/6; oats 17/6; oatdust 7/6; wheat 25/-; sucrosine 18/6; barley 20/- sack; straw £4; hay £4 5/- to £5 5/-; prime chaff £6 5/-; table potatoes £l2 to £l3 10/ton. Pigs.—Weaners 5/6 ter 7/-. We are cash buyers of bacon pigs at market rates. Dairy Cows. —Two at £l3, £l2, 4 at £ll 10/-, £ll, 2 at £lO, 2 at £9; heifers £9, £8 10/-. £B, £6 10/-; milk cans 6/-; covers 12/6 to 18/6. Homes.—A keen demand has existed through the week for good draughts, prices realized are £32, £3l, 2 at £2B, £27, £25 10/-, £24, £2O, £11; aged £3; saddle and breeching £9; winkers 16/6; covers 25/to 38/6. Flowering Shrubs.— A large quantity were offered and realized satisfactory prices. Timber.—Good stocks of sawn timber and totara posts are on hand, prices being realized are, sawn timber 12/- to 14/-; totara posts £7 to £7 10/-; stakes 25/- to 45/-; droppers 7/- to 12/6 100; strainers 6/- to 10/- each. General. —Wheelbarrows 35/-; barrels and oil drums 6/-; step ladders 12/6; lawnmowers 15/-, 27/6; roofing iron, barb wire, Nos. 8 and 10 galvanized and wire netting at lowest market rates; tea 2/6 lb. DAIRY PRODUCE BOARD. GIFTS OF BUTTER. The board’s arrangement in connection with gifts of butter from residents in New Zealand to friends in Great Britain is still being carried on. The price of four pounds of butter is 9/-. All that is necessary is to send 9/- to The New Zealand Dairy Produce Board, P.O. Box 866, Wellington, together with the full name and address of any resident in Great Britain, and four pounds of New Zealand “finest” butter carefully packed in cartons, will be forwarded by the board’s London Office free of any cost to the recipient. Each pound of butter is put up in a carton and the four pounds enclosed in a larger carton. Opportunity will be taken to advertise New Zealand dairy produce on the cartons and by literature enclosed in the package. A card will be sent in each package indicating the name and address of the sender. Cash must accompany the order and full particulars given of the name and postal address of the recipient. These gifts of butter can be made at any time during the year, although it is probable that a great number will take advantage of this arrangement for the Christmas season. LONDON MARKETS. The Department of Agriculture has received the following cablegram dated 6th instant, from the High Commissioner for New Zealand, London: — Tallow.—Market firm and strong demand at auction at higher prices. Present spot quotations are:—Mutton, fine 44/6 per cwt: fair to good 43/- to 44/-; dark to dull 40/6 to 41/6. Beef: Sweet and/or mixed 44/- to 47/9; fair to good 41/6 to 44/-; dark to dull 39/- to 41/-. Mixed: Fair to good 41/- to 43/-; dark to dull 39/- to 40/3. Gut, etc.: 38/- to 41/-. Wool—Sales closed Thursday. Good representative attendance throughout, but competition hesitating and withdrawals heavy. Little more support from Continent during this week for Merino and fine crossbred. On account of comparative scarcity halfbreds showed least decline. Compared with closing rates of last series Merino generally 10 per cent, to 15 per cent., inferior 15 per cent, to 20 per cent., crossbred, fine, 7A per cent, to 10 per cent., other crossbreds and slipe 10 per cent, to fully 15 per cent, lower. Average closing rates: —60/64’s (nominal) 2/- to 2/2 per lb, (average) 1/5 to 1/8; 56/58’s 1/11 to 2/2; 50/56’s 1/8 to 1/10; 48/50’s 1/6 to 1/8; 44/46’s 1/5 to 1/6; 36/40’s 1/3A to 1/4A. Of total offerings of 140,445 bales 92,000 sold, Continent taking 55,500 bales, trade 35,500, and America 1000. Next series commence November 20. Oats. —Foreign quiet, but more interest shown recently. Plate December-January shipments offered 24/3, Chilean FebruaryMarch shipments sold 24/-, and American white clipped for early October shipment 23/IA. English freely offered, best making 29/6 for feed and 33/- for seed. Nominal value: New Zealand A grade Gartons for October shipment 31/-. Peas.—Maple: English crop good quality and fair supply offering cheap. Imported inactive. New Zealand No. 1 Partridge sold for September-October shipment at 61/-; Tasmanian new crop for FebruaryMarch shipment offered at 73/6. Blues: Demand is chiefly for Dutch and English of which yield abundant. Nominal value New Zealand £lB to £l9, and Tasmanian £l9 to £l9 10/-, c.i.f., London. Beans. —English, demand is moderate and supply small. Threshing delayed. Choice winter making 45/- to 46/-. Chinese horse firm and October-November shipments sold £lO. REFRIGERATING ENGINEERS. IMPORTANT CONFERENCE HELD. A very important conference of refrigerating engineers, convened by the New Zealand Meat. Producers’ Board, was held in the Dominion Farmers’ Institute on Thursday, October 4, and was attended by representatives from practically every freezing company in the Dominion. The chairman of the meeting, Mr Adam Hamilton, M.P., in welcoming the representatives emphasized the importance of the co-operation of freezing companies in such important matters and the large attendance of representatives showed the united desire of freezing companies to uphold the good name of the Dominion in our frozen meat trade by doing everything possible to ensure that our meat is placed on the British market to the best possible advantage. Mr Hamilton, in referring to the season just closed, stated that the board had received various reports from London advising that there had been a marked improvement in respect to the bloom and colour of the lambs shipped from this Dominion. Mr John Fraser, general-manager of the board, placed before the conference the results of some experiments recently carried out by the Meat Board in connection with the freezing, storing and carriage of meat, and it was arranged that further tests should be carried out by the Meat Board, both in the Dominion and at the Cambridge Low Temperature Station, England. In referring to the handling of our frozen meat in transit, Mr Fraser mentioned that as we are now shipping double the quantity of lambs which we did in pre-war days, in the handling of such a perishable article the greatest of care must be exercised in the various links in the chain of transit from the freezing works until the meat is finally deposited on Smithfield. Mr Lynde, chief mechanical engineer of the railways, and his chemist, Mr Gardner, gave most interesting information in respect to experiments which they had recently carried out in regard to the insulation of railway waggons which proved very interesting to the engineers present. The general discussion on various matters pertaining to the freezing, storing and handling of meat which followed should prove of great value to the frozen meat trade. The science of chemistry was well represented and figured in the discussions on the scientific aspects of the various problems placed before the meeting. The importance of these conferences was referred to by various speakers and a hearty vote of thanks was extended t-o the board for calling the representatives together, and it was unanimously agreed to ask the Meat Board to hold another conference in September of next year. CHICAGO WHEAT. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) New York, October 13. Chicago Wheat: December 115 J cents; March 120 g; May 123{. —Australian Press Association.

LONDON MARKETS. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, October 13. Cotton: November 10.15 d per pound. Rubber: Para lOJd; Plantation smoked 9d. Jute: September-October £3l 19/6 per ton. Copra: October-November £24 10/- per ton. Linseed Oil: £3O per ton. Turpentine: 42/- per cwt. Sheep: Canterbury light 7{d; medium 7d; North Island, medium ewes ssd; Australian, first and second ewes sjd; Argentine light 6d, medium 5 Id, heavy sid. Lambs: New Zealand seconds 91d; North Island firsts 9 : ]d; seconds 9Jd; Argentine new season’s first, light 9 Id, seconds B|d. Frozen Beef: Australian, hinds nominal 4?d; Argentine, chilled fores 4|d, hinds 6id. Other meats unchanged. THE SHAREMARKET. SATURDAY’S TRANSACTIONS. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, October 14. Sale on ’Change: Hill and Plummer 22/6. Wellington, October 14. Sale rejwrted: 51 per cent. Government Stock (1933), at £lOl 2/6. Dunedin, October 14. Sale on ’Change: Commercial Bank 30/2. Sale reported: Standard Insurance 65/-.