COMMERCIAL

Southland Times, Issue 21273, 19 December 1930, Page 2

COMMERCIAL

FINANCE AND TRADE’

Times Office, Friday Morning. Grain and Produce. Oats.—This market seems easier, especially for oats for forward delivery spread over next year. Stocks held in store _at the present time for prompt delivery are on the light side, and most merbhants are not inclined to sell under 3/6 to 3/7 per bushel for A’s, but buyers are not prepared to go beyond 3/5 per bushel. The market is very low'for spread delivery over several months next year, the highest offers not exceeding 2/11 per bushel, f.o.bs.i. This price, however, does not appeal to local merchants as it will only mean about 2/3 per bushel, on trucks, country stations, to farmers for A’s. At present there arc no offerings from farmers and there will probably be no delivery from the country until the new crop is harvested. Wheat.—This market is practically at a standstill, business being confined to sales for the poultry trade. Merchants’ stocks are practically exhausted, and there are no offerings from farmers. Chaff.—This market is fairly well supplied and the principal demand is the local one. The demand for shipment seems to have practically ceased in the meantime. In any case the price is very low, the latest sales having been effected at £5 ,12/6 per ton, f.o.b.s.i. At the present time merchants are not inclined to give more than £3 15/- per ton to farmers, on trucks, country stations.

Ryegrass.—Local stocks are now very light. The local demand for seed has been a good one, and with all that is still to go out should easily account for the balance of the stocks. Occasional orders for shipment are coming to hand and business can be done at from 6/9 to 7/- per bushel, f.o.b. It is reported that the new season’s crops are doing very well, and the area eown this season is much more extensive than last season. Potatoes. —The season is just about finished. There are no offerings from farmers, and most of the supplies for the local trade have been drawn from the north. It is difficult now to get supplies even from that quarter, so that requirements will have to be filled very soon from the new season’s tubers. Fruit and Vegetables. As was anticipated, supplies of New Zealand fruits increased during the week, and in spite of adverse weather conditions, the demand hits been very satisfactory. Tomatoes eased in value at the beginning of the week, but recovered and at the close were firm at augmented values. Bananas are now in plentiful supply and good stocks will be available for Christmas. The fruit opened up well and, coming to practically a bare market, met with a good demand. The Maheno landed a considerable quantity of Valencia oranges which opened in excellent condition. Italian and New Zealand lemons are available, and fair quantities of Canadian apples will be on hand for the Christmas and New Year trade. Cherries are in over-supply and values are on the low side for this season of the year. Strawberries are in full supply and of good quality this season, but values are not. as high as anticipated. New Potatoes and green peas have maintained their values and there is every prospect of an increase during the Christmas week as the northern markets are very firm. Carrots and turnips are available only in small lots, cabbage and lettuce are fair and cauliflowers are now unprocurable. It is anticipated that there will be sufficient supplies of green peas and new potatoes for Christmas week, and also cherries, but it is possible there will be a stringency regarding tomatoes and strawberries. Current prices for the week are approximately as follows:—Valencia oranges, 16/to. 20/-, according to counts; Canadian apples, 21/6 to 24/-; lemons, New Zealand, 19/- to 23/-; Californian, 60/-; tomatoes, 1/2 per lb, down to lid, with a rise to 1/4 per lb at the end of the week; cherries, best, 8d to lOd lb; others, down to 4d; bananas, ripe, 30/- to 35/-; green 24/- to 26/-; strawberries, prime, to 1/4 lb.; others 8d to 1/1; lettuce, 2/9 to 4/- dozen; spring onions, 1/-; carrots, 2/3 per dozen bundles; turnips, 1/- to 1/6; cucumbers, 5/- to 7/6; asparagus, 5/- to 6/-; green peas, 2ld to 34d; local new potatoes, 2?d to 34d. GENERAL MERCHANDISE. Current Prices. Wholesale. Eggs, 1/ . Bacon, 1/2. Pollard, £9 15/-. Butter, factory 1/1; separator Bd. Bran, £9 5/-. Flour, £l7 15/- to £l9 10/-. Oatmeal, £2B to £3O. Retail. Eggs, 1/3.' Bacon,-1/5. ■ • . Pollard, 12/6 per 100. Butter, factory 1/3; separator lOd. Bren, 11/6 per 100. THE MAHENO. The Union Company’s inter-colonial passenger steamer Maheno arrived at Lyttelton at 5 a.m. yesterday and was expected to get away for Wellington last evening. 1 The vessel clears Wellington to-morrow for I Bluff direct, arriving on Monday and sailing at 3 a.m. on Tuesday for Melbourne direct. WITHIN WIRELESS RANGE. The following vessels were within range of the undermentioned wireless stations yesterday:— Auckland: Aorangi, Tofua, Sierra, Ventura, Myrtlebank, Laurel, Brunswick, Maui Potnarc, H.M.S. Veronica, H.M.S. Laburnum, Rangitiki, G. C. Brovig, City of Delhi, Golden Coast, Soina, Tongariro, Port Huon. Wellington: Maori, Wahine, Tamahine, Matai, Rangitiki, Niagara, Kaponga, Tamaroa, Karamca, Waiotapu, Maheno, Canadian Victor, Port Hunter, Waikawa, Rotorua, Remuera, Benmohr. Awarua: Makura, Monowai, Discovery, Kalingo, Hinemoa, whalers. Chatham Islands: Nil. TELEGRAPHED REPORTS. COASTAL AND OVERSEAS. Auckland, December 18. Arrived:—Port Wellington 4.50 a.m. from Launceston. Sailed:—Port Huon 5.25 p.m. for Wellington. Wellington, December 18. Arrived: —Holmdale 4.20 a.m. from Maunganui; Orepuki 5.45 a.m. from Wanganui; Maori 7 a.m. from Lyttelton; Westmoreland 7.30 p.m. from Napier via Waikokopu. Sailed:—Pakura 4.10 a.m. for Napier; Waipiata 5.15 a.m. for Auckland; Komata 6.40 a.m. for Westport; Paua 8.15 a.m. for Dunedin; Storm 10 a.m. for Dunedin; Calm 10.20 a.m. for Lyttelton; Mawhera 2.5 p.m. for Greymouth.; Kaiapoi 3 p.m. for Wanganui; Inaha 4 p.m. for Wanganui; Holmdale 5.55 p.m. for Dunedin; Maori 7.50 p.m. for Lyttelton; Kaituna 9.15 p.m. for Greyniouth. Lyttelton, December 18. Arrived: —Maheno 4.33 a.m. from Dunedin; Wahine 7 a.m. from Wellington; John 8.10 a.m. from Timaru. Sailed: —John 3.15 p.m. for Wellington; Waimarino 3.20 p.m. for Dunedin; Maheno 8.35 p.m. for Wellington; Wahine 8.30 p.m. for Wellington. Dunedin, December 18. Arrived: —Sydic 2.20 p.m. from Bluff. Sailed: —Waikouaiti 2.45 p.m. for Lyttelton. Suva, December 17. Sailed: —Tofua for Auckland.

Flour, 25’s 6/-, 50’s 11/9; lOC’s 21/9; 200’s 3j/6. Oatmeal, 25’s 8/6, 50’s 17/-. Onions, 31b 1/-. THE SHAREMARKET. YESTERDAY’S TRANSACTIONS. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, December 18. Sales on ’Change:—lnscribed Stock, 1937, per cent., £96; Takapuna Borough, 1945, 6 per cent., £101; Mount Eden Borough, 1964, 5j per cent., £92; Tamaki West Road Board, 1960, 5 J per cent., £99 10/-; Bank of Australasia £9 5/-; Commercial Bank of 'Australia 16/24; Bank of New Zealand 50/- (2); New Zealand Insurance 41/-; New Zealand Refrigerating (cont.) lid. Wellington, December 18. Sales reported:—Bank of New South Wales £2B 15/-; Staples and Co. £1 17/9; British Tobacco £1 10/- and £1 10/1. Christchurch, December 18. Sales on ’Change: Commercial Bank of Australia 16/1, 16/2 (2), 16/2 (3); Dalgety and Co., £6 7/6, £6 7/-; Goldsbrough Mort 18/9; New Zealand Refrigerating (10/- paid), 1/1, 1/3; New Zealand Breweries 39/9, 39/6; New Zealand Drug Co. (odd lot) 51/-. Sales reported: Mt. Lyell Mining 18/1, 18/2; New Zealand Brewery 39/6; New Zealand Refrigerating (10/- paid), 1/44. NATIONAL MUTUAL LIFE ASSOCIATION, SUCCESSFUL YEAR REPORTED. New policies written by the National Mutual Life Association for the year ended September 30, 1930, numbered 21,052, assuring £9,201,023. The total income for the year was '£4,983,877, which included £3,244,476 for premiums and £1,739,401 (after deduction of rates and taxes amounting to £155,843) for interest. The total amount paid to policy-holders or their representatives during the year was £2,559,111. The total assurances in force at the end of the year amounted to £85,102,725, and the assurance fund amounted to £33,521,387. Bonus certificates showing reversionary bonuses allotted to policies for the policy year current at September 30, 1930, will be issued in March, 1931. LONDON WOOL SALES. The Department of Agriculture has received the following cablegram, dated 16th instant, from the High Commissioner for New Zealand, London: — The wool sales closet! on Saturday. Competition was active throughout, sellers meeting the market freely. As the sales progressed a keen demand developed for crossbred, greasy and slipe, which show some recovery on the opening rates, the sales finishing firm at the highest point. Finest Merino showed little change; ordinary sorts weakened somewhat. Compared with the closing rates of last series Merino superior par, other Merinos 10 per cent, lower, crossbred fine 74 per cent., medium and coarse crossbred 10 per cent., slipe 5 per cent., lower. Average closing values 64’s super lld-1/1 (nominal) ; average Bd-94d; 56/ 5825, 9d-104d; 50/56’s, Bd-9'd; 46/50’s, 7d9d; 40/46’s, 64d-7.?d; 36/40’s, 6Jd-74d. A total of 121,000 bales of colonial wool was catalogued and 105,000 sold, of which 55,000 went to the Continent and the balance to Yorkshire. Sixty-six thousand bales were carried forward, including 57,000 not offered. The next series commence-on January 20. BUTTER AND CHEESE, Messrs Henderson and Co., Ltd., have received the following cable dated the 18th instant from their London principals, Messrs Trengrouse and Nathan, Ltd.: — Butter: 112/-. White cheese 62/-, coloured 60/-. Both markets quiet. Mr G. Blaxall has received advice front Messrs Lovell and Christmas, Ltd., under date of the 16th instant as follows:— Butter: Quiet, 113/- to 114/-; exceptionally 116/-. Cheese: Quiet, white 62/- to 63/-; coloured 60/- to 61/-. SYDNEY PRODUCE MARKET. (Rec. 9.0 p.m.) Sydney, December IS. Wheat: Ex trucks Sydney 2/5; country stations 1/10. Flour: £B. Bran: £4. Pollard: £4 15/Onions: Globes £1 10/-. Potatoes: Tasmanian £10; others £7 10/-. Oats; white 3/6; Algerian 4/3. Maize: 4/2. ADELAIDE QUOTATIONS. (Rec. 9.0 p.m.) Adelaide, December 18. Wheat: 2/41. Flour: £7 15/-. Bran: £3 15/-. Pollard: £4 5/-. Oats: 1/6 and 1/7.