COMMERCIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2362, 1 December 1908, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

There is very little doing in the. produce market at present, most attention being turned towards the improved price in wool. The first wool sale in Gisborne for the season will be held on Friday next., and as there has been a substantial rise in the London market brisk bidding is anticipated. The wheat and flour market, a-; is usual before the harvesting season, is quiet, though wheat is firm iii tiie Auckland and Southern markets. The potatoes market is very bare of supplies, few new crops coming to hand,and the stocks of old potatoes are running short. So far very litt-lo has been heard of blight, and farmers who have sown large areas in the better varieties, are looking forward to a profitable season. The following are the wholesale prices for produce at Gisborne:— Potatoes: Old seasons £8 per ton, with supplies scarce; new potatoes I’d to 3d per lb., Canterbury £7 per ton. Flour: Sacks £l2 10s; 501 b. bags £l3.

Wheat 5s 2d to os 4d per bushel. Butter .bL_jai_l^_3d; hams lOd ; bacon 9 d;l 1o li ey." i to od: cheese 7d to Sd ; eggs Is to Is Id.

NEW ZEALAND'S PRODUCE. NEW MARKET SUGGESTED. A correspondent at Punta Arenas writes to a member of Parliament, at Dunedin, pointing out the possibilities of trade between New Zealand and Tierra del Fuego. He says produce commands enormous prices there. Butter brings 2s 7d per lb, potatoes 18s per 2001 b, flour IGs 3el per 1001 b bag, bacon Is 9d per lb. corned beef Is per tin, dried apples Is per lb, onions £1 os per 1001 b, rolled oats 6d per lb. and other kinds of produce, in proportion. Horses are fed on dried lucerne hay and maize, and oats and chaff cannot be obtained for love or money, while fruit, especially apples, commands Is per lb. There is a big opening for coal, as the English article brings £6 per ton. In addition there is an opening for dredging machinery. The correspondent points out that Punta Arenas, which is the distributing centre for that part of America, is a free port, no duties of any kind being collected, and he sug-<>-ests that shipping companies might be induced to send tlieir vessels through the Straits of Magellan, which are only 14 days’ sail from Welling'on.

THE HIGH COMMISSIONER’S CABLE.

[Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, Nov. 30. The High Commissioners cable, dated London, Noi'cmber 29, states: The mutton market, is somewhat steadier on account of reduced suppi v Quotations are: Canterbury o;sd. North Island 34d, River Plate is no alteration in the lamb market since last week. The beef market is quiet and rather steadier, with no change in prices. The butter market remains very depressed. There is only a small demand, transactions being very limited on account of the fine Aveather. There is a large supply of English. Continent af butter is also in large supply. Quotations: Noav Zealand 112 s, Australian 110 s, Danish 120 s, Siberian IOSs. . The cheese market is quiet. Holders are firm on account of reduced supply. It is reported that Canadian supplies will be short. Quotations: Ncav Zealand 595, Canadian 61s. The henip. ma rket is slightly weaker. Avith less demand. Business is dull. Quotations: Noav Zealand, good fair grade, on spot. £25 10s; fair grade, on spot. £23 10s; fair current Manila, £24 10s; January to March shipments,, good fair grad©, £24 10s; fair grade £22 10s. Last Aveek the Manila output amounted to 2i,QOQ hales.