EGGS BRING GOOD PRICES; ARE SCARCE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17878, 21 June 1926, Page 9

EGGS BRING GOOD PRICES; ARE SCARCE

BOARDING-HOUSE TABLES LACK THE DELICACIES. Eggs have not been figuring on the menus at boarding houses recently, and it is now some weeks since those whose lots fall in these places have seen the sight of a poached egg for breakfast. The reason is to be found in the state of the market. First grade eggs are being sold over the counter for 3s 3d and second grades are. selling at 3s Id. Supplies have been short and the demand has been heavy, both.locally and from the North Island. There are not many consignments to hand for this week’s sales, and as a result it is expected that the prices will be maintained. MEAT STEADY. There has been no change in the re-tail-prices for meat during'last week. The wholesale market has been fairly well stocked and fair prices have been realised. : A consignment of North Island cattle of good quality realised from £ls to £lB a head, which is well up to average. The usual seasonal rise in the 'price’of all meat lines will take place in the. near future. The heavy frosts for the past week or two have destroyed most of the feed and as a result there will be a slackening off in the supplies in the course of a few weeks. OYSTERS ARRIVE TO-MORROW. There have been no oysters on the market since Thursday last, the bad weather which has prevailed at Bluff preventing the trawling fleet from leaving port. , Advice has been received, however, that supplies will be to hand to-morrow. A new variety of fish as far as Christchurch is concerned appeared on the to-day. This is garfish, which is well known on the Australian coast as piper. In appearance it is like a miniature swordfish, and it has the reputation of being tasty. It is being retailed at eight for a shilling There are* fair supplies of the usual varieties, including groper at Is to Is 3d per lb, ling Bd, terakihi Bd, gurnet sd, whiting three and four a shilling and soles and flounders at Is per lb. Crayfish are selling at 6d to 2s each. Fair supplies of smoked fish are on the market. BUTTER STEADY. It was expected that the price of butter -would be raised one . penny per pound this morning, but the rise did not eventuate. It is now being sold at a penny per pound under the usual rates for this time of the year. There is a good supply of sugar on the market at present, and there is no indication of a change in the prices. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. Cauliflowers are going up in price and are now ranging from 4d to Sd each. Cabbages are making 3d to 4d each and marrows and pumpkins are selling at 2d per lb. Tomatoes are 6d and artichokes three pounds a shilling. • Glasshouse cucumbers are selling at 2s per lb. There are several varieties of apples on the market and these are realising from 3d to 6d per lb. Pears are selling at 6d. Island . oranges are selling at five and six a shillings and navels at three and four a shilling. Mandarins are six a shilling and Italian lemons five a shilling. There is still a good supply of bananas and are selling at from eight to a shilling. Pineapples, are scarce and., arc making 2s 6d each.