COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 262, 2 November 1907, Page 7

COMMERCIAL.

FRUIT AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Auctioneers report that business on the local fruit and produce markets has been fairly brisk during the past week, and in all grain and produce lines prices have advariced considerably on last -week's rates. In old potatoes, although plentiful supplies came to hand, the increased value has greatly restricted consumption. The supplies of onions were entirely ■.rom \ lctoria, and were more thaa sufficient for immediate requirements; but the greatly increased cost, the same as for potatoes, curtailed the demand considerably. Chaff, grain and other fodder were only in moderate supply to a strong demand at an advance on late quotations. The principal business done during the week was in fruit, including the handling of large cargoes from Cook Islands by the Hauroto, Mokoia from Sydney, and Yeddo from San Francisco. Consignments from Sydney were generally in" very prime condition, and prices were in advance of last "week. The Yeddo landed a large consignment c£ Anierlcau apples from San Francisco, all being, somewhat unexpectedly, in splendid order. In addition to the consignments for NewZealand, a large quantity for Sydney were landed at Auckland, and all met a ready sale at good valnes. The local supplies consisted of a few small lines of hothouse tomatoes, which sold at high rates, and lemons. Tb.e latter, however, were not saieable at payable prices to tha growers. In dairy produce very little farmers' butter was sent into the auction sales, and" on the average prices were lighter. There was a temporary increase at the auctions in the supply of fresh eggs, which realised higher prices than !a3t week, and a further advance is anticipated. There was very little cheese ottered, without alteration in values, wliilst bacon and hams were firmer at increased prices. Poultry showed a considerable increase in supply, principally consisting of ordinary and poor class birds. The increased supply is no doubt due to the excessive value of teed and the warmer weather having the effect of stopping the birds laying. The bnlg of the hens and ducks sent having just ceased laying, were not in the best of condition, but notwithstanding this fact prices throughout ruled high. Very few turkeys were sent in and they were also generally ia poor condition. Only a limited number of young pigs were offered, and sold under keen bidding. The following were the ruling prices at the auction sales yesterday:—

Field Produce. —Potatoes: Local, new superior, 2}d to 2jd lb; do., fair, 2U to 2id; do., poor, l!d; do., Southern, table, S/ to 8/6 cwt (nominal). Sumaras: Island, a/ to IU/ cwt. Onions: Victorian, 16/ cwt. Chaff: Local, prime, £8 per ten; do., fair, £7; do., poor, £5; do.; Southern, prime, £8 to ±.s 10/.

Dairy Produce.—Fanners' and separator butter, Sd to lid lb; do., milled, in bulk, for export, 9*d; do., pastry, SJd; do., farmers', keg, Bsd." Eggs: Fresh, lid to lljd dozen. Cheese: Factory, large, 7d lb; do., loaf, 7Jd. Bacon: Fanners', 7d; do., factory, Bd. Hams: Farmers', 7d: do., factory, 9d.

Fruit.—Apples: Local, dessert, 11/ to 15/ case; do., American, 15/ to 17/6. Tomatoes: Hothouse, Od to UJd lb. Oranges: i-iocal, dessert, 4/ case; do.. Poor Man's, 5/; do., island, 10/ to 12/; do., Sydney, 4/ to 7/. Mandarins: Sydney, choice, 8/6 to IS/3; do., poor, 2/ to 5/. Lemons: Local prime, 3/ to 4/: do., rough and coarse, 1/6 to 2/; do., Sydney, 3/ to 4/. Passion-fruit: Sydney, 8/ to 10/6. Bananas: 4/ to 5/ bunch; do., repacked, 2cl lb. Pines: Queensland, 9/6 to 12/u case; do., Island, 7/ to 10/6.

Poultry.—Hens, 1/11 to 2/ each; table roosters, 3/ to 4/3; ducks, 1/3 to 1/S; chicks, 6d to Sd; ducklings, 6d to Bd. Turkeys, gobblers. 5/ to 11/6; Co., Lens, 3/ to 6/3. Miscellaneous. —I'ouug pigs, 12/ to 15/3 each.

LONDON CABLE.

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, November 1. The Bank of England returns -for the week are as follows: Gold coin, etc., £45,----871,000; reserve, £20,834,000; proportion of reserve to liabilities, 39.91 per cent; notes in circulation, £29,346,000; public deposits, £7,286,000; other deposits, £44,852,000; Government securities, £14,336,000; other securities, £34.846,000. Three months' bills are discounted at 5 7-ltJ per ceut. Bauk rate, 55 per cent. Consols, £82 5/. Victorian 4 per cents, £103. Xew Zenland 4 per cents, £106- Jβ per cents, £100; 3 per cents, £85 10/. ' The financial depression in America and the consequent wild in the price of wheat are causing uneasiness in the European markets; but it is not regarded as serious, owing to the statistical strength of the position. A few cargoes are offering; 43/6 is asked for VictoWau Sep-tember-August shipments. The American visible supnly of wheat is 61,755,000 bushels. ' Flour is dull, and business is principally at a standstill. Australian is quoted nominally at 30/6. Metals.—Tin, on spot £i 47, at three months £14S. Lead, 5/. Iron 51/11 sugar.—German 9/3, first marks 11/1 The Bradford -wool market is very Quiet. Common sixties 273 d, super 2S a d Butter is very firm. The price of Danish is unchanged. New Australian brands are all cleared. Choicest salted 120/ to 124/ per cwt, unsalted 124/, stored unchanged.

SIR. J. JONES' KBFOKT.

Mr.' J. Jones reports the foUowing sales: \Ve quote rooster, 2/3 to 2/5; nens, 1/7 to k %' l/3 io -MV< "tiirkey goiiblers, i/6 to 12/; Bens, 3/6 to 5/a; pigs, 9/-to'iW-potatoes, ablej £8 to £3, seea np-to-aates,

7/ toS/; onions, 13/9 to 14/; batter, keg and £7 to £S; onions, 13/9 to 14/«;- eggs, to ll^d.; cheesa, s|d. to SJ<L; t>acon sides, 7d. to' 7Jd., nams 7d. to Sd.; lemons, ; 4/ to 5/; apples, 14/ to 16/9; maize, 5/3; wheat, 6/S; oats, 4/3; shares, 7/10; bran, byiO: chaff, £S to £S/5.