FINANCE AND COMMERCE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16436, 1 February 1919, Page 7

FINANCE AND COMMERCE.

(B* Ottr Covoebrcial Editor.,

detail trade has been fairly busy during the week, in all branches. The wholesale hardware houses report conditions as dull, but if anything slightly brisker than tho previous week. In groceries, also, matters were somowhat quiet, partly because several large retailers were taking stock. The soft goods firms have just finished stock-taking, but report a continuance of good business, while the seasonal "sales*' have kept the retailers very busy. ' Firms interested in the tea trade are somewhat puzzled at the dullness of the market, which is all Oio more surprising in view of the comparatively small recent shipments from Ceylon, and the probability of a sharp advance in prices in the not very distant future. Importations of Java tea into Australia will probably cease very soon for Bome months, if they have not done so already, as importers wcro only allowed to bring in during the year ending next June, 50 per cent, of the quantity they received in 1913-14, and this has already reached Australia. The supplies of Java tea, which reached New Zealand via Australia no doubt affected temporarily the demand for the Ceylon article, especially as the range of prices was lower. The latest issue of the monthly "Abstract of Statistics" shows • that for tho eleven months of the year up to the end of November, the quantity of tea imported into Now Zealand was 9,286,7901b, against 8,979,7691b during the same period in 1917, an increase of 307,0211b, though the value of the imports decreased by slightly morertha# £10,000. This seems to dispose of the idea that heavy stocks are held in. the country, and are causing lessened buying. As matters stand, it is possible that retailers will awake some of these days to the fact that stocks of tea are running out, and that they will have to buy at tho prices then ruling, which may be higher than at present. The position of cargoes for New Zealand lying in Australian ports, ex-sailers from the united States, is no better than it has been for months back, and with the* outbreak of pneumonic influenza in tho Commonwealth, it threatens to become worse. Tho Kaiapoi and Mosraki brought a little on their last trips, but cabled advice received yesterday gives little hope of immediate shipment of the great bulk of goods waiting. As far as one.can soe, the ultimate result will be that New Zealand' importers will be forced ti> sell' these goods in Australia, end the New Zealand consumer will lose the benefits he might have had, ae much of this cargo was well bought. The inaction of the Government in this matter is not viewed at all kindly..by those concerned, A member of a leading mercantile firm stated yesterday that there were waiting transhipment to New Zealand 20,000 tons in Melbouriie, and 60,000 tons in Sydney. The Government Statistician's figures dealing with the exports from the various districts for November show that from Auckland they amounted to £350,629, from Wellington £219,627, from Timaru £78,881, from Wanganui £59,631, from Lyttelton £54,309, and from Dunedin £30,564. Gisborne, £13,357, was the onlv other port over £10,000. The total for the Dominion was £867,103. The following figures show the exports for the 12 months ending November 30th, 1918, from the chief ports, with those for the preceding • twelve months:— 12 mos. 12raos. to Nov. 30, to Nov. 30, 1918. 1917. £ £ Auckland .. 5,627,692 5.425,466 Wellington .. 5,005,857 6,995,262 Lyttelton .. 3,682,110 3,335,161 Napier .. 2,148,708 3,271,914 Wanganui .. 2,067,815 1,747,937 Dunedin .. 1,725,037 1,648,622 InvercargGl .. 1,262,843 1,883,698 Gisborne .. 1,204,304 1,537,599 New Plymouth 1,136,467 1,046,387 Patea .. 1,427,237 1,003,452 "Timaru led the ports under one million with £774,245 for 1918, and £969,464 for 191". Tho totals for the Dominion were £27,712,975 and £30,045,213, respectively. The value of the principal imports into New Zealand for the eleven months up to November 30th last, was £22,404,607, and for the corresponding period of the previous year £18,603,623. . " _ In a table showing the • annual average aggregate expenditure on groceries, dairy produce, meat, and "rent, in the twenty-five principal towns of the Dominion in the quarter ending last September, sixteen centres were more expensive than Christchurch, and eight less expensive. In coat ° £ Christchurch was lower than all but three other centres, in dairy produce, than meat than seven,- , while in rent, she was ninth on the list of twenty-fivo. _ ■ As regards the Purchasing power jrf the sovereign, it required 29s m Sep tember quarts of last year to buy ™ Christchurch an amount of food which could have been nurchased for 203 on tho average of the four SIT 1909-1913.. This was the lowest figure in tho Dominion* ' Some curiosity is being as to the manner in which the Government will dispose of the enormous « war stores of all descriptions which. wiU be no longer needed for army .purpose*.. It IB said that the value of these stores w £500,000,000. They include clothing— cardigans, shirts, boots, underclothing, andovercoats (tunics will probably have to be wwoven), tera of thousands of coils of barbed wire great quantities of heavy timber used in making dug-outs, corrugated iron, pails, brooms, mops, brushes, shovels, crowbara, picks kitchen utensils, cutlery, crockery, it is alleged that syndicates and groups of speculators have b««n formed for the purpose of making fortunes out of the purchase and disposal of these stores, and it is urged that the Government should sell the goods by well-advertised public auction, in small lots ae will enable email tradeis to buy. In any ease there are bound to he some big bargains. The course of the markets still naturally causes much speculative discussion and no little anxiety. Every experienced business man will, of course, form his own opinion, aided by the advices of correspondents abroad It is of interest, however, to note whait Ait W. H. Douglas, of Messrs Arkell and Douglas, the big New York exporters, has to say of the post-war situation. "I believe," he remarks, "that importers who take goods ordered,' and indent. conservatively and regularly ao their requirements demand, thus keeping up', their stocks,' will decidedly benefit over those who cancel or refrain from ordering until their stocks are depleted. In many instances where parties have cancelled the orders placed some .time ago and a.t, 10 to 20 per cent, lower in some cases than present ruling prices, parties re-ordering even perhaps several months from now may not le able to replace at as low a basis as their original purchases." GENBRAL MERCHANDISE. j GROCERIES, Etc. The consignment of Fry's cocoa which was landed last week wa3 snapped up on arrival. There has been a fair demand for dedicated cocoanut during the week. Stocks appear to have boen short in other centre®, with the result that they drew on Christchurch. On to-day's cost, wholesale quotar tions axe from Sd to 81d per lb. The Moana brought a fair quantity of dried fruits, the balance of the shipments which should have arrived here before Christmas.

McConochie Bros.' have advised merchants that they will have only 500 cases of fresh herrings this year for the whole of New Zealand, which is just sufficient for one merchant's requirements. The herrings, which will be distributed pro rata, will in all likelihood be landed no cheaper than the present cost, and at the Tegulated price there will be very littlo profit on them. It is doubtful whether any herrings in tomato or kippers will be ehipped. Small shipments of Colman's mustard are now due and the cost shows no fall.

A large quantity of Hawaiian pineapple which was picked up by the Ventura was landed in Sydney, where it now lies. It is likely to stay there for some time. Mellin's Food has eased in prioe, and is now quoted at 23s 6d and 15s 6d. English coffee essence is quoted at 18s 6d, case lots.

Soda crystals have declined £2 per ton. Highlander unsweetened in ilk. is again on the market, after being off for some 18 months.

Australian macaroni and vermicelli - dhow an increased cost, being queried at 7§d per lb.

As noted last week, the high price of maize has caused an advance in Australian cornflour, which je now quoted at 5Jd net weight and 5Jd gross weights f.o.b. Sydney, these figures indicating a rise of a penny and ljd respectively over last quotations. Between wholesale houses, canned dessert frni'ts are offered at the following prices f.o.b. Wellington:—Apricots 12s 6i. peaches 13s 3d, and pears l€s per dozen. Norwegian silds, quarters at 7s 7Jd f.o.b. Sydney. Borrtl 13 availa-ble at 23s dozen for 2oz and 45s for 4oz at a North Island ports, but the price is too high to permit of bucineas being done. A wholesale firm has been quoted JE36 10s f.o.b. Brisbane for Queensland canary seed. The crop is said to be almost a failure, and the quantity available is limited.

DOMINION'S TRADE ~ AND MARKETS.?

Caustic soda, in- bulk. is offered *£ per ton. ■ HARDWARE. The announcement of the further redaction in freights from the Uwted Kmgdom *. viewed with satisfaction in hardware circies, but it is not felt that the reduction will have any marked effect on prices. As an indication of the position TOg+Lrding galvanised iron, it is noteworthy that a large parcel or corrugated changed hands during the week at £85, ■while fiats have bought as high as £125 for finer gauges- 1- 06 same time before any cheaper iron is probably June, and even then the price will be in the neighbourhood of £60. Roofing felt is slow at 13b 6d per roll. Although lafge ehipm«rrta of pipe are on the water ptjoes are fairly firm, a fair amount of galvanised being cold at list pica 30 per cent, to arrive. White lead is steady, mostly Amenoan in stock, 60s per drum of 1001b. Red lead is scarce, and a recent (shipment is selling at £36 per ton. Turps are worth 60s per caaes and linseed oil 10s per gallon in cases. Small shipments of wire nails have been landed, but prices for noils «md staples remain at about £62 basit. Fowl DeUmg, 3it, is being offered to arrive ox Amira.l Cecillo at 2os per roll. Plain galvanised wire No. 8 is slow at £50 per ton, black is in little demand. Stocks of barbed are- light, and tboro is not much enquiry. . Screws are firm, recent cabled adTioee anr nouncing a further advance, and the same remarks apply to files. It appears that the shipping position lft getting better, as a large number of steamers and sailers are on their way to the Dominion. Some of them axe carrying cargo, advices of whioh have been received. N.Z. WOOL FOR UNITED STATES. MR W. I. CARNEY TO REPRESENT AMERICA. Mr W. L Carney, of Messrs Armour and Co., Christchuich, has received cable advioe from Mr Baker, United States Secretary for War, stating that his appointment to represent the United States in connexion with the purchase of New Zealand wool, has been confirmed. This refers to the purchase by the United States Government of 100,000 bales of New Zealand wool from the Imperial Government. The shipping is being arranged by the American Government, and four steamers have already left with part of the purchase. The wool has been selected by the Government valuers, and will be representative of the different qualities of which the New Zealand clip is composed. AUCKLAND FRUIT MARKET. The local fruit market is well supplied *« present, but the difficulties of distribution to outside centres are so great that in certain lines a great deal is going to waste . (says Wednesday's Auckland "Herald"). This applies particularly to .Burbonk plums, the quantity of which on the market is far beyond local consumption. An outlet for the surplus cannot be obtained, because even where brown rot is not present, the fruit •would be unfit for consumption by the time it reached Southern centres. For instance, this perishable fruit cannot be sent even to Wanganui, for four or five days would be taken to convey it there, and by that time it would be rotten. Brown rot is still prevalent in stone fruits, and those in the industry fear that the present weather will increase it. Plums, other than Burbanks, .are in fair demand. The season for early peaches is now aver, , and : the later varieties are beginning to appear.on thl market. There is a large supply of tomatoes on the market, and prices havo decreased, the wholesale value being now about BJd ft lb, or about 4s 6d a case. The apples ex the Makura have been disposed of quickly, and local supplies are meeting with a good demand. The apples now coming forward are in muoh better condition than was the case a few weeks ago. Many of the former consignments were immature. FRUIT TREE SALES. ' POSITION OF NURSERYMEN. - "The opposition. of the sales agreement with the Fruitgrowers' Federation has not been any better during 1918' than it was id 1917," stated the report of the Sales Committee of the New Zealand Association of Nurserymen, presented to the annual conference of the Association at Wellington tnis week. "There is little or no trade througs the Federation, though the fruit tree nureerymen have placed their stocks at the disposal of. the Federation. . In the autumn the question of a joint circular was discussed, but this was held over till May, when the fruitgrowers' annual conference was held. Shortly after this the president of the Federation wrote, suggesting that a newi agreement be made, and a sole agency for the Association's fruit tree trade be given to the Federation, this to operate immediately. It was decided that owing to the lateness of the season and the shortage of labour the matter must be: held over till spring. The epidemic then interfered with the meeting, which was held on December 20th, in Wellington. We advise the conference to leave this matter as it is unless the Federation' ngain apnroacli the nurserymen in the matter. Meantime an '-effort should be made to stimulate sales by every means possible, and to this end we' suggest a careful consideration of the methods being adopted in other lands, and by other bodies in this . country." The report waß adopted. P. AND O. COMPANY. The report of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company for the. year ended September 30th, to be presented at the 73th annual meeting on December 11th. stated that delays in communication with the East and Australia had' made it impossible to close all voyage accounts. In several case# estimates hud to be made, but care was taken to calculate the probable results on a eonsrvative basis. Several unclosed' transactions extending over some years, for whkh provision had been made, bad been finally adjusted during the 12 months, and this circumstance, together with the Tesult of the year s working, had ;enabled' the directors to add £50,000. to the provident good fund, bringing it.np to £250,000, and £50,000 to the contingent fund. After making this provision ihere was a crcdil balance on the year's accounts, including £92,712 brought forwatl, of '£819,428. ' The directors recommended a dividend of 12 per cent., and a bonus of 6 per cent, on the deferred stock, free of tax (of which dividend 6 per cent, was paid as interim dividend in May last), leaving £91,727 to be carried forward. The whole- of the fleet not retained on Admiralty charter remained under requisition by the Ministry of Shipping at Blue Book rates, the earning being for account of the Government. The agreed value of lost ships had been recovered, arrl the amount placed in "National Wi»r Bonds, but unless the cost of shipbuilding fell very materially it would be impossible to replace the vessels which had been lost for anything like thd amounts recovered. No progress had been made with the large mail steamer of 36,000 tons referred to in the last report, nor Jjad any advance, been made with the -work of construction of two ships of the Ballarat class contracted for with Meesxs Caird. In the previous year's report it was stated that the company had purchased the long lease of the property in. Coc-kspur street previously occupied by the Hamburg-America Company. Th© freehold of this pronerty was since acquired. A TIMBER COMPANY. (SPECIAL TO "TOT FBttS.") WELLINGTON, January 31. It has just leaded - out that at the annual meeting of shareholders of the TaringsmutaTotara Sawmill Co. there was eomething in the nature of a surprise for the directors. The company's dividends -were at one time very large, and the shares eold. resdily up to as high as 47s 6d for the pound paid up. Recently, however, the dividends have dropped to 71 per cent, and this has made the shareholders look into matters. At the la*t meeting almost a new board of directors was elected. It is likely that there will be drastic changes in the business policy of the company, and perhaps timber merchants will havo to pay a higher price for totara. The grass earnings for the year ended October 31st last were £14,187 0s 7d. and the expenditure under all heads, including £3334 6a 4d paid in income tax, amounted to £9464 13s 3d, the niett profit being £4722 7s 4d. AMERICAN WHEAT. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.a. Cable Association.) NEW YORK, January 29. * The Washington correspondent of the "New Y-iik Ximea" »jb that the Food Adnunie-

trttion has submitted to Congr«as < a Bill appropriating 1,250,000,000 dollars, in to assure that farmers -will reoeive the QO~ vernioent'e guaranteed wheat pnee of oeats per basbeL MELBOTJBNE' MARKETS. MELBOURNE, January 31. Barfsy-aifflish malting, Ss 6d to 6s 10d; Cape, 4s 3d to 4s 4d. Oate—Algerian milling, Ss; feed. 4s 9d to 4a lOd. i?" to«e—£l2 to £13 10s. Onions—£lo 10s to £11 10s. CHBISTCHUBCH STOCK EXCHANGE. LATEST QUOTATIONS. Buyers. Sellers, £ a. d. £ •. d. BANKSCommercial of Aost^t^li* (4 per ccnt. cum 6 10 0 — Union of Australia (ex. div.) . • .. 60 10 0 INSURANCE— New Zealand (cum div.) 11 5 0 LOAN AJ.U AGEXCY— Dalpetv and Co. .. 10 0 0 10 10 SHIPPING— Hud dart-Parker -• - 1 19 6 P. and O. Deferred Stock ~ - - 400 0 0 COAL— Westport -- —< fII 6 GAS—ChriMchnreh (cum div.) 6 4 0 BREWERIES— Ward .. 415 0 — MISCELLANEOUS— British Tobacco (Aus.) 118 0 — British Tobacco (6 per cent, cum pref.) .. 10 0 — Colonial Sugar .. 23 15 0 — Colonial Sugar (Fiji end JT.Z. 6 per cernt. pref.) 00 IS 0 — Mason, Strutters (£1 pd.) 14 0 — Mason, Strnthers ll4s pd.) 0 16 0 — Sharlaad and Co. 1 10 0 — Shsrland and Co. prof.) 1 10 0 —■ MIKING — Talisman — — — 0 10 3 CANTEKBUKY MARKETS. Friday evening. The rain, after continuing more or iess intcmiitteully «■"''! yesterday, has now cleared up, and the weather is i beautifully tine, and harvest work can again bo reeumoa. Beyond causing a little discolouration of bfixley that may be still out, tho rain has done no hum to grain crops, bue on the whole has done a considerable amount of good. A few salee of oats, principally Algerian*, continuo to be made, and tho prices have eased A little. Parocla hava changed hands at 4s 4d to 4s 6d, and an odd lino of better quality at 4s 8d at country stations. There axe very few whit© oats yet available. There are enquiries for Duns and Algerians for seed, but last season's are preferred on ao* oount of their better germination as compared with the early threshed new season's grain. More Italian ryegrass is now offering, and sales are being made at 4s 6d to 6s at country stations, according to weight antt markings. For perennial 4s to Ss, according to quality, is being offered. Odd lots of cocksfoot are being marketed at Is per lb, but Banks Peninsula seed is not yet being offered. White clover is now coming fuiimxd, and for samples containing more or leas sorrel lOd to Is 2d is being paid, and for an extra good sample Is 7d has been given at a oountry station. . The oatsheof chaff market is quiet at present, as the Northern markets are being ■ ied locally. , The potato market has not yet opened, though occasional offers have been made. The North Island is not expected to want supplies as early as usual, as the crops there are reported to be good. .... The following are tho prices paid to farmers at country stations, free or commission, sacks extra, except where otherwise stated: Old milling wheat according to Government price, South Wand, 6s Old, f.0.b.; North Island,'4d additional. . Oate —Algerians, feed 4s 4d to 4s 6d, seed 4s 8d to 4s 3d. Barley—Prime malting 6« 9d to 7s. Flour—£ls 10s per ton; 1001b hags, £10 ss: 50lb bags, £16 10s; 251b bags, £16 15a. Bran—Shipping £5 10s, looal £5 15s per tonPollard—£7 10« per ton. Oatmeal—2slb bags £Sf per ton, 71b bags £34 10s per toR. Old Oatsheaf Ch aft—(Nominal) heavy, bright, £6 to £7, medium £5 to £5 Ife; inferior, £4 to £4 10s. Now Oatsheaf Chaff—£6 for February do-, livery; £6 10s for March delivery. Italian Ryegrass—ls 6d to ss. Perennial Ryegrass—ls to ss. Onions—Autftmn *sown £8, main crop £* for March delivery. DAISY PRODUCE. There are no changes to note in any linej of dairy produce. j The wholesale prices are:— Butter—Factory Is 6d net, farmers' separator Is 2d, dairy Is Id. Cheese—Factory lid to llja, dairy 1W to 10 Bacon—Sides Is 2d, rolls Is 4d, hams Is 3d. . Honey—Extracted 6Jd per lb, sections 7« per dozton. ' Eggs—Hen eggs Is 3d per dozen. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. Vegetables aro on short supply, and,prices are *"E h - iSe wot weather snecved the picking ox peas and "digging of potatoes, and prices rose in consequence. Tho colder weather slackened off the demand -for tomv toes, but \nlii the return to warmth the market firmed again. Fair quantities of peacQej, apricots, and tomatoes are coming from the .North and are selling ireely. The majority of the plums arriving from Auckland are in bad order owing to the irregularity of the steamers, and consequently a number of lots sold at very low prices. A shipment of Sydney fruit is expected early next week, and a shipment of Fiji bananas in about a week's time. The average wholesale prices were:— \ Fruit: ix'ew season's dessert apples 8s to 10s per case, oooking 7s to 7s Cd, Sydney oranges 30s to 355, 'Frisco lemons SOs, Valencia oranges 47s 6d, passions 15s to 21s, pineapples 26s to 30s, peas 4s 6d to 7s 6d, Nelson peaches 5s to Cs, Nelson plums 8s to ss, local peaches in crates 8d to 9d per lb, in cases 4£d to ohd per lb, raspberries Is ad to Is sd, tomatoes 9d to. lid, Nelson tomatoes 6s to 8s per case, walnuts Is per lb, coco ami ts lCs per sack. Vegetables: Kidney beans 3d to 3}d per lb, broad beans 2s 6d per sugar bag, beet Is 3d to Is 5d per dozen bundles, carrots Is 4d to Is 7d, leeks 6d to Bd, parsnips Is 4d to Is Bd, radishes 6d to Bd, turnips Is 4d to Is 6d, cabbages 4s 6d to 8s per dozen, large cauliflowers 8s to 10« Gd, small 2a. to 16s, lettude Is 3d to Is 4d; marrows 4s 6d to 5s 6d, cucumbers 10d to lid per lb, green peas Is lOd to Is lid per peck, new potatoes, local to-ljd per lb, northern Jd to Id, onions, local 10s 6d to 12s per cwt, Victorian 14s, string onions 4a per 10. A3HBURTOK. Tho wet weather which set in on Monday put a complete stop to harvesting and thresiiing operations for thn whole week, and it will be some days before the stocks will be dry enough for threshing. A good area of oats is cut (mostly Algerians), and the reaping of Gartons will become general from now on. A few lines of Algerians are coming on the market, and for these opening prices havo been pa:rl which range from 4s 63 to 4s 9d on trucks, according to quality. A few paddocks of wheat towards the coast have bean cut, but the reaping of wheat will not be general for mother ■week to ten days. The area of grass cut for seed ibis year is very smell, and from appearances it is one of the smallest crops that has been saved for some years. Cocksfoot is a good crop in quantity, rr.d the quality of the sample should be better than last year. TIMARU. (SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") TIHARTT, Januarr 31. Although the market cannot be said to have opened properly yot, values of oats are 9ot down as under:—Algerians from 4s fid to 4s 9d, according to quality and suitability for 6eed purposes; Dune, of prime heavy quality, ss; Gartons, 4s 9d; all on I trucks at country stations, sacks extra. On I all sides reports indicate that tho oat crop | in South Canterbury this season will bo much better than it has been for many • years. It is estimated that tho average yield will bo about 45 bushels. Ryegrass has not been saved in any quantity. A small line changed hands at 4s 9d thus week at a handy railage. A few lines I of old ryegrass have been sold reoently at prices varying from 4s to ss. J There is nothing yet except in ?. small i way in potatoes. There are many enquiries I for forward delivery, but local merchants i are not disposed to quote in view of the i decreased acreage. The crops show cod- , 1 eidersble promise and are -so far free- from I blight. \ The chaff market is dull, and reports do t not hold out much possibility of chaff being ] required from South Canterbury for ship-' < meSt to the North Island, where abundant ] supplies aro said to exist. Blenheim also ; has a much better crop than usual, and ■ will probably take the place of Canterbury < in supplying the North Island ihis season. ; 1 There are masx fields pf while dorer and

" a lesser number of red, but close inspection wvooia that thov are not seeding at A" *£ weh. **«« 2E BLENHEIM. £«; (.SPECIAL TO "THB PBISS.") ' . January 31. ;»*? The local chaff market is quiot. -Thu pries VjSt paid to farmers remains at £6 per ton in stfu tho sUck. The demand has been lagging. Sj£ It rejects the influences reported from the fer south—tho reserves of old stocks and the SJJJ plenteous offering of new chair as a result Si&j of the favourable season experienced in various districts. W The barley market has not yet A few crops have been threshed, and they 35 have yielded first-class quality. There is a j*j!' icduced acroago this year, but the harvest Q& promises to be a highly Buooaasful oz.e, and a supply of splendid malting 1 barler is in safe sight. gj - Tho wheat crops are looking veil, but it in not yet ccrtain whothefr thvy vttrv aiteeted **• to any extent by the frost. ££| — ss SOUTHLAfTD. (SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") gffJanuary 31. 3* Oats—The market is firm, although there is very little business doing. There »ro 33 •till considerable enquiries for forward a«v fr*** livery, but owing to tho lateness and un- $«r certainty of the season merchants do not *** care to quote. The crop is certainly look- JjJ ing better than it once promised to do, and 3* if some fine weather should ensue too yield ?$■ per acre may yet be up fo the average. Chaff—Owing to the quietness of the -North- :Hf". era markets the local market is aot ictive. Merchants are not keen on paying mors Mp than £6 to £6 5s on trucks, at country sta- ** tions. j*£ Hemp—Tho Briton is to load IS.OOO bales K* from the Bluff, and this will be ft great JJ? help to merchants, although thero ivill still Vtfbe over fire thousand bales left in the vpiiour stores. _ Kyegrassi—The present spell of wet weather '*•'** is seriously damaging the prospects of » ST°od crop. In consequence iiie maTket la * finning tip very considerably for old seed, -yjf and kee» eellers of a roopth ago are now i»inclined to hold. ** Potatoes—Digging of tie main nop riTl not commence until Msrcb or April, rhd in tho meantime only u hand-to-mouth bnsiness is being done in (ho earlier varieliea. "«? AUCKLAND. (spnent, to "the press.") January 31. Very few alterations in tho pnoes of jjo- 1 »«* due® reported during: the week, but larger quantities aio coming to hand, And v.» tho market tendency is downward in » **" number of lines. Good supplies of pota- ■ toes are still arriving, so that the small •••■»■ shipment that went to Sydney lias niada vwy little impression on the stocks in bond, although it has slightly improved the tonu of the market. Best quality aie mill vwjrtU ' .'J about £9 per ton. ■ * The onion crop has turned out eery •well in both quantity and quality, «o tLat pro- «j» ducciu and consumers aio both satisfied. -'T l .: The market is weak ut £11 ex store, as thero T*J, appears to be very little prospect of any outlet. Coniplcto returns are uol yot in, but it will probably be found that tlia crop u* is much larger than usual, growars being no doubt induced to plant an extra quan*»'; ? j? tity last winter owing to tho high price* ruling. _ v. A few small shipments of oats are ing from the south, but stocks are stilt m rather low and the pric« is firm at 7s ea, £•• store, fcr best feed. The demand is veo'X quiet at present. Australian fowl wheat is being booked rather heavily at Bs, but Southern is scarce, and it is probable that vcxy little will be available until tho sew crop ready. Chaff supplies are srabh more plentiful, but the demand ka fallen off oansddetrably. j» This is partly owing to the abundant supplies* of hay this year. Old season's South- Stem chaff is in good supply at £14 er elaiA, and largn quantities of ne» oeasan's kwail p chaff are offering for early delivery. The main market continues weak, and fho hot wrsather is causing buyers to bold off as much as seeing that full supplies of wheat will be available in 4k ftsv days. KLBWBB SALE. ' - At the Kirwee sale held yesterday titer®., was an entry of 1450 sheep, about . 400 ci> which were' fats. There was a L good * for prime fat lambs, but. for store sheep*, owing to farmers being busy with": harvest-', ing, bidding was slack. Tlie principal ' saleS ' wore—; Fat lambs? " 'H. FeutSj 101 at SSa. lid; G. Eobertson,''47" at 29b; W.'Ti J Street,- , 92 at 265; client,. 38-at. 235.: • Store sbebp: ; 90 two-tooth wetherß-23s 4d,. i 20,.at 26a 110 -aged ' owes 19s 93, BLB. lambs 19s 9'd, .4.4 Downi cross l»mb<:. 1 16s 4d. . •• : THE PROPEBTTT tsmxkeit. * x At Leeston yestonfcy 'MessrßvPypi'iabA'.Co, sold by auction five' acres of,- : aijd oottage, * iti th® estate • of, the late Mr 4 Johl* Fabling, to kMt D. .Heneberjy■; at ~£EHPi '