MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 232, 1 October 1929, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

PROMISING COUNTRY BUSINESS.

DRIED FRUIT MARKETS CONTINUE FIRM. NUTMEGS AND MACE AT VERTi vLOW LEVEL. "Auckland Star" Office, Tuesday, October 1. The definite advent of spring, abundan" green feed, and a firm market for al varieties of produce presents, to-day, f most promising outlook for the farmer which will naturally be quickly refiectec by brighter business generally. Wholeeal< houses report excellent volume during th< past week, particularly as regards countrj districts. Town business is also showing a decidedly brighter tendency, although the fact that (replenishments may be ob tained daily if necessary causes business in the city to be conducted on somewhat different line;; from that in the outer dis tracts. General. The dried fruit market, which has beer so often commented on, still remain* exceedingly firm, the various contributing causes having been particularly definite with far-reaching effects. Most sizes ol prunes are unusually short just now, anc as replacements are being bought on 8 rising market merchants' coets on new landings will be very much higher than at present. A email shipment is due this week, which will be quickly disposed of ; and the trade will then have to wait foi the mext arrivals, due shortly before Christmas- A shipment of Canadian wrapped sardines is arriving about the end of this week and should be quickly disposed of, as supplies have been out for some time. Previous advices were that lie supplies were expected before January next, and this email unexpected consignment will therefore be all the more welcome. Supplies of cigarette papers, which "have been, so short lately, are due in a few days and will 'be very welcome. Recent arrivals of Sair dates to the trade 'have proved of excellent quality, being almost equal to loose pack, and there is no doubt that these will be quickly absorbed. The improvement in the weather is causing more interest to be taken in euch lines as cordials, fruit essences and jellies, and in this connection eome of the local packers already have substantial business +o be got ready for delivery during the next few months •■ against the c«mmg; seasonable demand. A rather attractive pack _ of English cut drained peel is now being offered from a recent shipment. Bulk cases are each twenty-eight pounds for bakers' trade, and eight-ounce packets for storekeepers. As the quality is excellent, this line should prove a. good seller. The shortage of dried fruits' is daily becoming more acute, dried peaches at present being particularly short. A small shipment of King Oscar sardines just landed has already gone into distribution during the week, the demand being very brisk on account of the previous shortage on this line. Most of the cheaper grades of bulk cocoa have now been withdrawn for eome itame with, the result (that only medium quality is available with prices firm and likely to go higher. A small consignment of walnut arrived last week and was immediately delivered on account of contracts previously made, there 'being no carryover. The bonus previously advised on purchases of Weet Bis was withdrawn yesterday. For a limited period every purchaser of an O'Cedar mop will be given free one O'Cedar 'hand duster, valued at 2/9 each. Ae thie is the time for spring . cleaning by the householder this offer is expected to have a distinct appeal. An offer of Sair pitted dates for arrival about the end of this month, now being made by merchante, should (have a distinct appeal to the storekeeper, as these dates are arriving packed with greaseproof between each layer, which ehould ensure their arrival at their destination in perfect Iconditioir. Kapok. During the ipaet few weeks there iiare ibeen a number of inquirers from America who 'have been buying certain grades of kapok, but the demand from European buyers 'has been dull, and. in the opinion o£ reliable people iu Java, after the_ present American demand has been satisfied prices may "be expected. to. ease again. There is certainly no indication at this * juncture that the American demand will prove great enough to keep- the market permanently firm. ' Cocoa Beans. Weet Indian prices on cocoa heanaa-re again easier, the new season's quotations mow coming to hand indicating that first shipment prices are more favourable to buyers. Ceylon beans, on the contrary, still remain fkm_, with the possibility _of (higher prie-s owing to the slowness with .whach. supplies of the new crop are being made available to. the trade. • Brazil Kernels. The market for Brazil kernele is showing a. slight weakness, the latest quota*tions received showing a. decline of Vl& per H> in ci.f. rates for prompt shipment from London. Ceylon Tea. At the weekly sale held on the 24th instant a- total--quantity of 2,250,0001b was placed under • offer. Quality showed a general falling off in most grades, but particularly front the Uva districts' Low mediums proved 'brighter and rather, useful. The result of the sale showed a good demand, prices being somewhat irregular, falling to lower, rates with the exception of commons and medium 'brok'en Pekoes, which remain unchanged. Commons are remaining firm, Price broken Orange Pekooes advanced %d lb, plain 8.0.P.'5, first classic (broken Pekoes -and fine broken Orange Pekoes all declining 'Yzd per lb. Exchange puled at 1/6 &-32 d. The mail report, dated early August, las jusrt come to 'hand and etates that a 'large quantity was offered during the previous month, the total being nearly 2,000,0001b in excess of the same period of the previous year. The average of the total offerings showed a drop of 5% cents, compared with July, 1928, the main reason for this being the very dull market for commons, mediums and all plain nondescript liquoring teas. High gra-de teas met with strong competition, and full rates were paid for anything of sband-out quality. Teas from the Uva. sido eicadily improved in quality from the beginning of the month, and by the second ibalf _©£ the month some really attractive invoices come on to the market. Newara, •BAiya, and high grown Dlmbula. teas also saowed jnuch. improvement in quality and eome nice invoices were offered. Buyers fow/ reat Origination, Quality being Cl °? ely ' which in a 82 aJftK ° £ ?rices. between common Pekoes continued ZhJ Or t anee With regard to the S t w^u bh ' at the-end of. July eW an tn, laCrOp c 12,000 0001b compared wrth period last year, and •■•Hi* • e for July aWe t ae %• lnc Y<*»"» pound,- These figUM f „.%,s££ an d wath the larger crops from CeyS al id Java *£« **>«» Fleets for anything but good iqjwnng teas ere vS* poor. Imports of Ceylon from, the fceghf. -w of tke year nip to J,,w 17 iJ^tl

Dominion, showed a decline for the present year of 183,1631b, but t«he exports of Indian tea to Australia and New Zealand for the same period showed a gain of 78,3741b. Java, on the contrary, showed a decline of 474,1441bPepper. Cables received from Singapore shippers last "week advised .that the market for both white and black pepper, after showing a "weakening tendency for some weeks, h.l<s again reacted and prices now listed show Vid per lb advance. It is considered questionable whether the present firmness on this market will be maintained in view of the fact that reports previously received from Singapore go to show that stocks are fairly well held. Nutmegs and Mace. Both nutmegs and mace show a tendency for further declines, and the prices named last week are at.the lowest level. These commodities have been at par for a considerable number of years. Singapore Pineapples. All grades and packings on Singapore pines remain steady, with no change to report. Little or no interest is being taken by wholesalers on account of present stocks being fairly well held, and the next sailing for these ports not scheduled to leave until late November or early December. Sago and Tapioca. Both Penang and Singapore grades of eago arid tapioca continue with a firm market. Prices advised last week ehow an increase of 10/ per ton. Linseed Oil. Cablee received on account of English shippers advise a very strong market on linseed oil—both raw and boiled showing a<n advance of l%d per gallon. Raisins. Following the very high basis for new season's Californian raisins and a market almost completely bare of stock, the latest cables to hand advise that prices have declined slightly- It is very difficult to account for this weakness, as reports previously received indicated a very strong position in California, but it may be that the growers have decided to realise on part of their coming season's output, instead of waiting for the very high values which 'have been so confidently predicted. Prunes. Packers' quotations for mew season's prunes continue to advance, and recent offers im-ade by cable at slightly lower prices have not been accepted, which is a, very good indication of the strength of the market. Sicily Almonds. Late quotations for new season's Sicily almonds for direct shipment from Sicily ehow a reduction of about £4 per ton. Prices are, however, elightly higher than, the lowest point reached for earlier purchases made for the same'shipment, so the local market is not likely to be affected by the reduction. . Wholesale Current Prices. Butter.—First grade factory, booked, 1/7% per it),'and 1/7 for prompt cash. Second grade factory, booked, 1/5% per Jb and 1/5 per lb for prompt caah. Farmers' separator, 1/2 per lb. Owing to the small percentage of second grade butter now being manufactured by one of the large distributors, they are only able to supply a maximum of one-half of the total of each order in this quality. Cheese.—First grade factory, medium size, mild, 9%d to 10& d per lb net; loaf, U&d per lb net. Chesdale, 61b bars, 1/3 per pound; 7oz packets, 9/6 per dozen. Bscon.—Hams, 1/1 per lb; rolled hame, 1/3 per lb; boned hams, 1/4 per lb. Bacon: Sides, 1/ to 1/1 lb; rolled sides, 1/2 lb; middles, 1/3 per lb; shoulders, 9d per lb. Lard, bulk, 9d per lb; pats, 10d per lb. Flour.—Local, 2001b sacks, £18 pot ton; lOO's, £18 15/ per ton; 50'e, £19 5/ per ton; 25's, £20 per ton; 12%'s, £20 17/6 per ton; 6%'s, £21 17/6 per ton. Southern: 2001b sacks, £18 per ton; 100's, £18 15/ per ton; 50's, £19 per ton; 25'e, £19 10/ per ton; VLWs, £20 5/ per ton; &&% £20 17/6 per ton, all less 2% per cent discount. : Linseed —Whole, 22/ per cwt; ground, 23/ per 100lb. Malt.—Crushed, 12/ per bushel; whole white, 12/ per bushel; whole black, 14/9 per bushel. Twines.—Seaming, 3/9 per lb; binder, B<2 per lb. Peamea!.—l2/ jver 1001b. Lineeed Oil Cake Nuts.—ls/ per 1001b. Linseed Meat.—l 7/ per 1001b. Blueetone.—3B/ per cwt. Supplies very Short.