COMMERCIAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17367, 31 March 1928, Page 10

COMMERCIAL.

. CLOSE OF LONDON SALES. INCREASE IN PRICES. £ (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, March 29. 3 The wool sales have closed. .Of the Z 128,756 bales catalogued it is estimated that about 63,000 were sold to 't'the home trade, 42,000 to the Continent, 4000 to the United btates, and 20,000 were held. Merinos were all fully 5 per cent, advance on February closing rates, except superior >7O-80 grade, which were -y firm and unchanged. Finest cross■’jbreds were substantially appreciated. -Most of the fine hall'breds and come--backs advanced 74 to 10 per cent., --medium 7&, inferior grades 10„ scoureds generally 7* to 10, halfbreds being the most appreciated. Slipes met - with keenest demand at 7 4 to 10 per '“cent, increase.

Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report having received the following cablegram from their London House, dated 29th instant: Wool Sales. —The sales closed active with brisk competition. As compared with closing rates of last series greasy merino was par to Id higher; scoured merino, par to Id higher; greasy half-bred, Id to 14d higher; greasy crossbred, line, Id to li higher; greasy crossbred, medium and coarse lAd to 24d higher; scoured crossbred, 2d to 3d higher: stipe, 2d to 3d higher; greasy lambs, crossbred 2d to 2hd higher. 126,000 bales offered of which Continent have bought 60,000 bales, Home trade 45,000, America 4000, carried forward 20,000 of which 7000 not offered; total sold 109,500 bales. Merino, g>ood to super, 28id; merino, low to medium, 24 to 274 d, half-bred, 56/58 lbs good to super 29d to 31 id; low to medium, 24d to 28d; balfbred, 50/561bs, good to super, to 28id; low to medium, 22d to 2;>id, fine crossbred, 48/501b, good to super *>3id to 25Jd; low to medium, 19Jd to 22Ad; ditto, 46/481b, good to super, 9?id to 24id: low to medium 18id in 21id - crossbred, 44/4611), good to sur,er'2lid to 23d; low to medium IBd to <>oid; crossbred, 40/411b, good to super, 20id to 22d low to medium, 17id to 19 id\ coarse crossbred, 36/401b good to super, 18id to 19id; medium to good, 17d to 18d.

AUCKLAND MARKETS. THE LATEST QUOTATIONS. Egg S —The importation from Canada has taken away the recent advance on the local market, and in some quarter.-! the opinion is held that the advance was a little too sharp, so that the Canadian parcel has merely restored the price to its economic level. Wholesalers were quoting 2s 8d jesterdaj, and retail prices were very irregular. While some were asking 3s all round others quoted this price for Canadian and-another 3d for local. Others again Tpvere asking as high as 3s 5d for best

local. Duck eggs arc not yet plentiful, 1

and pullet eggs arc late in arriving in quantity. Potatoes.—Recent arrivals arc weakly held, and there seems to be a disposition to accept lower otlers. Two fairly large shipments nrc due to-day, and Vo r the future the market should be well supplied, for the first time for manv months. Next week the price will be about £9 10s to £lO, and forward offerings indicate the market will drop a little further. The quality has not been satisfactory so far, but each week shows a little improvement, and it is thought the bulk of the large croD in Canterbury will be dug in good condition. . . Onions. —Only normal business is passing and most of this is in southein. The market is becoming a little weaker there, and local merchants are asking 10s and 11s. This is a high price for this time of the year, and seems more likely to fall than to rise. The export demand has held up the price so far, in addition to which there is the undoubted fact that thousands of householders have this year a smaller supply of other vegetables in their own gardens. , Oats.—Very firm in the south, due to further export demand. Local merchants are asking about 4s 7d for B grade and 4s lid for A. Chaff. —Good business is being done in southern chaff, and the price is steady at £8 5s to £9 10s ex store. A shipment from Blenheim is due, and the larger buyers will be taking advantage of the lower charges for delivery direct from the wharf. Wheat. —The strong reresentations from official quarters are apparently having an effect upon holders, for they are slightly firmer, and are releasing only sufficient for requirements. A very heavy demand is being met locally, and the quotation remains at 7s 6d to 7s 9d. Maize. —This grain is still rather neglected in favour of wheat, and it seems likely that the next consignments from the coast will have to be placed at a few pence under recent rates.

Seeds. —The trade in grass seeds is not yet finished, further orders coming in every day. The weather has been eminently suitable for new sowings in most parts of the province, and farmers are taking full advantage of this to sow all their clearings. A pronounced feature this year is the growing preference for paspalum seed.

Fertilisers.—The local mills are well stocked with the main ’lines now required, and exceptionally heavy deliveries are taking place, chiefly in super. It is hoped the bulk of these will be despatched before the usual interruption during the holidays. Farmers have had a most useful experience in the benefit to be derived from heavily top-dressing, a policy which received a great impetus during the long period of low prices, and they booked ahead for autumn delivery. In .addition to all the locally manufactured lines, heavy business has been done in imported fertilisers, and the demand for basic slag has exceeded the supply This is partly due to the delay caused by a strike in Antwerp, and as the arrivals arc late each shipment is picked up in a keen demand as soon as it is alongside.

BUTTER AND CHEESE. Messrs Dalgety and Go., Lid., report having received the following cable-

gram from dheir London house, dated 29t.h instant:—

Butter.—The market slow. N.Z. finest salted, 168 sto 1725; Danish, 1945; Australian, llnest unsalted, 162 s to 1645; Australian, finest salted, 162 s to 1645; Australian, G.A.Q., 158 s M 160 s.

Cheese. —The market is quiet. Australian, white and coloured, 96s to 975; New Zealand, white and coloured, 98s 'to 995; Canadian, white 108 s to 112 s, coloured, 104 s to 108 s.

FROZEN MEAT MARKETS. Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report having received the following cablegram from their London house, dated 29th instant: — New Zealand. Prime Canterbury lamb, 28/361b, 9 l-8d; prime North Island lamb, 28/361b, 8 3-8 d; prime Canterbury lamb, 36/421b, 9d; prime North Island lamb, 36/421b, 8Id; prime Canterbury lamb, second quality 8!d; prime North Island lamb, second’quality 8d; prime Canterbury lairfb 42/501b, 8 3-8 d; prime North .Island lamb, 42/501b, 8 l-Bd. The market for New Zealand lamb is weaker. The demand has not improved by change in prices. Mutton.—New Zealand: Prime Can-tertm-ry, 48/561b, 7d; prime North Island, 48/561b, 6 5-8 d; prime Canterbury, 56/641i>, 6 3-8 d; prime North Island, 56/641b, 5 7-8 d; Ppme Canterbury, 64/7211), sid; prime North Island, 64/72.1b, 4 7-Bd. The market for New Zealand mutton is weaker, the demand poor. Beef. —Argentine chilled, hind 5 7-Bd, fores 4d. R o/ioolb Pork. —English pork, 80/loom, lOd; N.Z. porkers, 80/100115, 6Jd, N.Z. porkers, 100/12011), 6jd.

JOHNSONVILLE SALE. Messrs Abraham and Williams, Ltd., and Wright, Stephenson and Co., lui “port on their Johnsonville sale. A good yarding of nice quality sheep and fambs came forward u 1 U entrv was short, most of the bullocks being unfinished. Bidding was keen throughout, . and prices, especially sheepf showed an increase on previous week’s quotations. We quote. Bui rocks £ll 2S 6d to £l3 2s 6d vealers £1 10s to £3 Us. light heifers £0 2S 6d to £6 ss, wethers 2<s to 3is 3d, maiden ewes 26s 9d to 30. ewes 22s 9d to 27s 6d, lambs 19s to 27s Id. THE TALLOW SALES. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., Hamilton, has received the following cablegram from its London house, under date March 28:— Tallow—We quote present c.i.f. and e. values for the following descriptions of tallow: —Fine mutton 38s 6d per cwt, good beef 40s, mixed 38s; market quiet.

Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report having received the following cablegram from their London house, dated 28th inst.:— “Tallow: Nominally 6d higher, except mutton, which is unchanged.”

SALE OF FRIESIAN CATTLE. BULL SOLD FOR 400 GUINEAS. Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Go. Ltd., report having held a very successful sale of Friesian cattle for the Bloomfield Farm Company, of Upper Hutt. Owing to the fact that the catalogue, which consisted entirely of young stock, included a son and twin daughters of the British Empire Buttcrl'at Champion cow, Aicartra Clot hi Me Pietje, which produced. in one year under Government test :114 51b butterfat, the attendance included a number of prominent breeders amongst whom was the President of the Friesian Association in South Australia, Mr W. Hawker, owner of the Anama Stud, Clare. Very keen interest was taken in the two-year-old bull, Bloomfield Alcartra Clothilde. who has been an outstanding winner at the leading shows in both Islands during- the past year. Contrary to expectations Bloomfield Alcartra Clothilde was purchased by a New Zealander, and when the hammer fell to the’final hid of 400gns, Mr W. Y. Dickie, of Fcrndale, Mataura, Southland, was warmly applauded for his enterprise in outbidding all opposition for the possession of this outstanding animal. The twin daughters of Alcartra Clothilde Pietje were then submitted to auction, but although 200 guineas was bid for the pick of them, this was refused. The dairy farmers present at the sale did not show particular interest in the yearlings and hulls, hut the heifer calves were very keenly competed for, and these sold up to 324 gns., . this price being paid for a three-months old heifer by the record priced bull. A bull calf 24 months old sire'd by the same hull and out of Bloomfield Galatea Countess, 7031 b butter-fat, also realised 30 guineas. For the older stock the top price paid was for the hull, Bloomfield Mercena Lad, a half-brother to the Waikato Champion cow of the past season. This bull was purchased by Mr Wm. Barton, of Fealherston, at 30 guineas. Comparatively prices for the older stock were on a much lower basis than those paid for the calves, 28 of the latter averaging 13 4 guineas. The principal buyers wore: —Messrs W. E. Ahearn, Wellington; 11. Pryce, Halcomhe; G. Burdan, Eastbourne; A. E. Hills, Tc Pahu, Frankton Junction; W. Y. Dickie, Mataura; G. Bruce, Johnsonville; A. it. Barnes, Taita; A. Scholcs’ Estate, Upper Hutt; W. A. Fuller, Wellington; K. P. Bargh, Nainai; A. B. Knutson, Carterton; H. C. Wilson, Kawhatau; ,T. P. Morrison, Halcombe; W. S. Hawker, Glare, South Australia; Wesley College, Paerata, Auckland; W. A. Saywell, Greytown; P. Hodder, Carterton; and N. W. Ballinger, Trentham.