COMMERCIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1927, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

LOCAL MARKETS. WATER MELONS AND JAM MELONS. HIGH PRICES FOR EGGS. Local market prices this week were as follows (spot cash):

Fruit supplies are now limited almost entirely to pip fruits, peaches being practically over. Good supplies of cooking apples and the best known dessert are arriving in fairly good quantities and are meeting with a ready sale at prices in favour of buyers. Quinces have been very short, but fair quantities have arrived over t'he week-end. Jam melons are now coming in and the supply of these should be good for next month. Water melons came to hand in exceptionally large quantities over the week-end but, with prices reasonable, they soon changed hands. Another big shipment will be available to-day.

Tomatoes continue to come forward from the Hutt Valley in cases of both sizes. The quality so far is exceptionally good and the demand is still fairly firm; it will continue so until the very cold weather sets in. Local grapes will only last a week or so longer. They continue to meet good competition and the quality is particularly fine. Cucumbers are in their last week, and there should be an improvement in the price.

Pears are coming in good quantities and in consequence of lowering prices they continue to change hands freely. Green Vegetables of all descriptions are finding their way on to the local markets, and are meeting a ready sale. It is doubtful whether any green peas will be available over Easter this year. Locitl potatoes are just about finished. Tho early south crop is already available, and this will bo the mainstay throughout the winter months. Pumpkins, kumeras and onions are arriving each week in sufficient quantities to meet the local demand. The lastnamed are particularly reasonable in price and of good quality. Fresh eggs are quoted at buying 2s lOd, selling 3s 2d. They are in extra keen demand and prices are exceptionally high. At auction last week they brought 3s a dozen. Good heavy live poultry is selling well, but ordinary, lighter and laying birds are not easy to dispose of at prices satisfactory to the breeders. Forward pullets are in exceptional demand an<F the supply is limited. The range of prices at auction In New Plymouth last week was as follows: Hens, Is 8d to 3s 4d; cockerels, Is 9d to 3s; ducks, 2s 2d to 4s; pullets, 4s to 8s; geese, 4s to 4s 3d; bantams, 6d to 9d. LONDON WHEAT MARKET. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received April 7, 5.5 p.m. London, April 6. Wheat cargoes are steadier, following a good inquiry for Australians and La Platas. Prices were occasionally advanced 3d. Parcels were in moderate demand with an upward tendency. Liverpool futures: May, 10s 4Jd per cental; July, 10s 27-8 d; October, 9s Hid. THE SHAREMARKETS. By Telegraph—Press Association.. Christchurch, April 7. Sales on Exchange.—Bank of New South Wales, £'so ss; Goldsborough Mort, and Co., 60s 2d; National Bank of Australasia (rights, £5 paid), 32s 9d; Huddart, Parker and Co., 47s Cd; British Tobacco Co., 525. LONDON PRODUCE MARKET. The New Zealand Dairy Produce Board reports as follows: — Butter.—Now Zealand, salted, April 1,152 s to 154 s per cwt; March 25, 150 s to 152 s per cwt; unsalted, April 1,160 s to 164 s per ewt; March 25, 160 s to 162 s per cwt. Market finishing quietly steady. Week’s quota well sold up. Australian salted, April 1,150 s to 154 s per cwt; March 25, 150 s to 152 s per ewt; unsalted, 156 s to 162 s per ewt; March 25, 156 s to IGOs per cwt; Argentine, finest, April 1,152 s to 156 s per cwt; March 25, 148 s to 152 s per cwt; Dutch, unsalted, April' 1,176 s to 178 s per cwt; March 25, 176 s to 178 s per cwt; Danish, April 1,182 s to 184 s per ewt; March 25, 178 s. Retail prices unchanged. Continental markets continue quiet. Cheese. —New Zealand coloured, April 1,77 s to 78s per cwt; March 25, 78s to 80s per cwt; white, April 1,76 s to 78s per cwt; market steady but quiet. Canadian white and coloured, April 1,92 s to 94s per ewt; March 25, 94s to 96s per cwt; market steady. English finest farmers’, April 1,120 s to 124 s per ewt; stocks small; retail price reduced to lOd. Sales. —For the period from March 18 to 26 (inclusive) the following quantities of dairy produce under the control of the board have been sold in Great Britain:—Creamery butter, 101,604 boxes at 148 s per cwt; cheese, 58,296 crates at 76s per cwt; whey butter (March 15 to 26), 2378 boxes at 137 s 5d per ewt. Tho fixed weekly quota for the week ending April 2 has been sold at an average price of about 150 s for butter and 76s for cheese, but details will be given in the next sales circular. For the guidance of factories the following is the general position:— Second Butter Pool.—Gradings up to approximately first week in December have been Sold at an average price of 158 s per cwt on the London market, equivalent to approximately la 3d per lb f.o.b.

Cheese Pool. —Cheese has been sold up to approximately middle December gradings at an average price of Sts 9d on the London market. Whey Butter Pool.—Fourteen thousand four hundred and nine boxes have been sold out of 15,420 boxes arrived in tho United Kingdom to date, at an average price of 146 s on London market, or equivalent to Is l|d per lb £.0.1)., covering gradings to approximately middle of December. At present whey butter is selling at equivalent to Is OJd per lb f.o.b.

Directors will, of course, bear in mind that any subsequent sales at a lower price than the averages shown will reduce the general average of the pool.

BURNSIDE STOCK SALE.

SHEEP IMPROVE A SHILLING. Dunedin, April 6. At Burnside to-day heavy sheep and best ewes were Is dearer than last week’s, and butchers' lambs and those suitable for freezing sold at from par to Is advance. Opening rates for prime light fat cattie were up some shillings, but fat cattle prices declined towards the finish, and sold at equal to last week’s rates. Fat Cattle.—A yarding of 325 of all qualities, compared with 281 last week. The proportion of prime heavy cows and heifers was large, and some nice consignments of finished bullocks were forward. The demand opened at par to 10s advance for light prime sorts, with heavies unchanged, but owing to t'sa size of the yarding prices declined on the opening rates at the close. Extra prime heavy bullocks made £l6 10s; prime heavy, £l3 5s to £l4 ss; prime light, £lO 15s to £l2 10s; best heifers, £7 5s to £8 10s; best cows, £7 10s to £8 15s. Extra prime ox beef sold at equal to 30s per 1001 b; light ox beef, to 28s; heifer beef, to 255; and cows and light heifers, 18s to 22s 6d. Fat Sheep.—A penning of 2081. compared with 3309 last week. The proportion of ewes was large, though many were of indifferent quality. The number of prime wethers was moderate, and .medium weight sheep were of average supply. The opening demand was fair. Heavy sorts and best ewes improved Is per head, but rates for the balance of the entry were unchanged. The sale finished with best sheep selling fairly well. Prime heavy wethers made 28s to 31s 6d; medium weight prime, 26s to 27s 3d; light, 24s to 25s Gd; best, ewes, 20s 3d to 245; medium, 15s to 17s; light, Ils to 13s Gd. On a per pound basis, prime heavy wether mutton sold at 41d; prime light wether at sjd; extra heavy ewes, 3Jd; and prime light ewes, 4d. Lambs.—-A small entry of medium quality. Some prime heavies were included, but there was a fairly big sprinkling of unfinished sorts. Butchers' lambs and those suitable for freezing met with good inquiry at from par to Is advance; other sorts were unchanged. Heavy lambs made 27s 9d to 295; prime medium, 23s to 24s Gel; unfinished, 15s Gd to 18s. Store Cattle.—A big entry of fully 350, made up for the chief part of wellconditioned cows and heifers, but featuring some 50 very forward two- and three-year-old steers. The usual buyera were operating, and the demand and prices were much on a par with last week’s. The steers realised from £6 5s to £8 9s. Pigs.—A penning of II fats and 76 stores. Porkers were dearer by about 5s a bead, and baconers were a shade firmer. Small sorts mostly comprised the store entry, and in general store pigs were a few shillings cheaper. ADDINGTON MARKET. HEAVY YARDING OF FAT CATTLE. Christchurch, April 6. There was another heavy yarding of store sheep at Addington market today, good entries of fat sheep and lambs, and an exceptionally large entry of fat cattle, the total of 656 being next to the record number. Pigs were also in heavy supply. There was a free sale of forward store lambs, and other sorts met with a good demand from South Cnaterbury buyers. For locallybred- ewes the demand was fairly good, while the best of two-tooth North Island ewes were wanted. Other sorts showed a further decline of Is to 2s per head on last week’s rates. Fat cattle were down £1 to £1 5s per head, but the supply was well absorbed by butchers, and there were very few passings. Fat sheep and fat lambs showed little or no change in values. Fat pigs sold well up to late rates, but stores, espeedally weaners, were much easier.

Store Sheep.—The entry of store sheep included more lambs than for some weeks past, and with tha exception of odd pens of really good lambs the average quality was poor. The West Coast was well represented at the offerings. Forward lambs sold well at firmer rates, and competition from South Canterbury buyers maintained the market for other classes. Ewe lambs were not in much demand. North Island ewes made up a largo proportion of the offerings of grown sheep. Thera Was a fair demand for locally-bred ewes, and the best of the North Island two-tooths and the older ewes from that quarter met with competition from South Canterbury buyers, but this class, as well as the inferior two-tooths, were easier by Is to 2s per head on last week’s prices. The range of prices was as follows: Beet forward lambs, to 17s; forward lambs, 14s to 15s 8d; medium lambs, Ils 6d to 13s 6d; small and inferior lambs, 8s to 10s 9d; cull lambs, 5s 6d to 7s fid; good halfbred ewe lambs, to 24s 4d; ordinary halfbred ewe lambs, 18s fid to 21s; threequarterbred ewe lambs, 16s to 19s 6d; best North Island two-toothed ewes, 27s 6d to 29s 3d; ordinary North Island r.wo-toothed ewes, 24s 6d to 26s Gd; low-conditioned two-toothed Romney ewes, 20s to 23s fid; two-toothed halfbred ewes, 28s Id; inferior two-toothed halfbred ewes, 22s to 255; sound-mouth-ed halfbred ewes, 22s to 255; soundmouthed halfbred ewes, 24s to 26s 6d; inferior sound-mouthed halfbred ewes, 18s fid to 22s Sd; failing mouthed halfbred ewes, 12s (kl to 16s 9d; forward two and four-toothed wethers, 18s; fourtoothed crossbred wethers, 12s 6d to 13s Id; six and eight-toothed crossbred wethers, 16s; six and eight-toothed halfbred wethers, 16s 6d. Fat Lambs.—-The yarding of fat lambs totalled 3000, and was of mixed quality, ranging from small and unfinished lambs to heavy butchers’ lots. For the la'tter the market was again firm, and freezing weights sold without appreciable change. The range of prices was: Extra prime lambs, to 30s Id; prime lambs, 25s tc 27s 3d; medium lambs, 22s to 24s 6d; light and unfinished, 18s to 21s 6<l.

Fat Sheep.—There was a heavier yarding of fat sheep than the previous week, some fourteen pens being occupied. There was a fair percentage of prime wethers, including handy weight fine-woolled races and some heavy crossbreds. Ewes, however, formed the bulk of the yarding, the quality being mixed. There was a good steady sale throughout at about the same rates as last week for both butchers’ and exporters’ lines. The range of prices was as follows: Extra prime wethers, to 32s lOd; prime wethers, 27s to 30s; medium wethers, 25s to 26s G<l.; liglit wethers, 20s 6d to 24s 6d; extra prime ewes, to 26s Id; prime ewes, ISs Gd to 235: medium ewes, J4s 6d to 18s; light ewes, 12s 9d to 14s.

Fat Cattle.—The firmer tone of the beef market last week had the effect of bringing forward an exceptionally heavy yarding, totalling 686 head —the second

largest entry that has ever been made in the yards. The market was down about £1 to £1 5s ou the average, but the demand kept up well to the end. Extra prime beef sold up to 36s per 1001 b, prime quality steers and heifers 30s to 335; medium, 2‘ss to 295; and rough cow beef as low as 20s per 1001'b. The range gf prices was: Extra prime heavy steers, to £l6 2s 6d; prime medium weight steers, £l2 to £l4; medium quality steers, £8 5s to £ll 10s; light and unfinished steers, £5 12s 6d to £8; extra prime heifers, to £l3 12s 6dj prime heifers, £7 15s to £9; light heifers, £4 to £7 10s; extra prime, cows, to £ll 12s Gd; ordinary cows, £4; prime cows, £6 to £8; rough cows, £3 7s 6d to £5 ss.

Vealers.—The vealer pens w r ere well filled, a good percentage being well finished sorts, and included among them were several pens of prime Hereford cross runners. The range of prices was as follows: Large sorts, to £6 10s; best vealers, £5 to £5 ss; medium vealers, £2 to £4 15s; small and inferior calves, 10s to 30s.

Store Cattle. —There was a fairly large mixed yarding of store cattle, ranging from calves to old cows, and including a few small lots of big steers and a number of bulls. Sales were made at the following rates: Four and five-year-old steers, £8 12s 6d; two-year steers, £3 13s Gd; yearling steers, £2 10s to £3 7s 6d; best cows, £2 to £3 2s; aged and inferior, 21s to 355; Jersey calves, 10s; bulls, £3 Is to £7 10s. Dairy Cattle.—-The entry of dairy cows totalled 79 head, and inferior sorts were more plentiful than at late sales. Good sorts sold w-ell. Best second, third and fourth calvers made £9 10s to £l4 ss; medium sorts, £6 10s to £9; inferior sorts, £4 to £6; springing heifers, £4 10s to £9 10s.

Fat Pigs.—There was a good entry of fat pigs, there being again a large proportion of the offering sent in from the West Coast. There was a good demand for porkers. Sales were made at the following rates: Choppers, £3 to £7 9s 6d; extra heavy baconers, to £4 10s; heavy baconers, £4 to £4 ss; lighter, £3 10s to £3 15s (equal to 5Jd to 6jd per lb); large porkers, £2 15s to £3 6s; light porkers, £2 5s to £2 12s (equal to 7d to 8d per lb).

Store Pigs.—There was a large yarding of store pigs, and a fair attendance of buyers. The market was easier, and weaners especially were dull of sale at lower prices. The range of values was: Weaners, 12s Gd to 16s; slips, 17S to 245; medium stores, 26s to 31s; large stores, 32s to 38s Gd; extra large stores, to £2 8s: sows in pig, £2 12s to £3 ss: ten-months-old boars, to £2 12s 6d.

Hams , Buying. Selling. 1 2 BaCon (rolls) 1 2 Bacon (sides) 1 0 Butter (creamery) pats 1 S Butter (best separator), pats 1 0 1 2 Butter (separator) lump 11 I 1 Eggs 2 10 3 2