The Weather Man

Levin Daily Chronicle, 27 January 1917, Page 3

The Weather Man

(By WALT MASON.)

The weather forecast predicts a froe>;>: "To-morrow 'twill be snowing; ami forty kinds of Arctic breeze like Mibx-n will be blowing." To-morrow I had planned to go to visit sundry lviwcs, but this punk prop'-ocv <>f -snow Ji.ii) knocked my, plans to pieces. day; will probably be fine and balmy and i'eguiiiiig, soft winds will blmv, the sun will shine, all Nature will He «niling. I lack the nerve to laucli to scorn the Government forecast"'*; I will not set forth in the morn, for fear I meet disaster. Experience has shown me that the weather seer is batty; he issues forecasts through his hat, and most of them are ratty. A canvas seer, with sawdust stuffed would prophesy, all round him. yet I confess he has me bluffed, with his old majps, confound him! So I stay home all day and mope—my headpiece being leather—because the tinhorn prophet's dope is threatening bad weather. A million men are buffaloed, just like the locoed writer; they venture not from their abode because of this old blighter, wh'o threatens storms that do not start why don't the peelers pinch him?—who springs his crusty map and chart when wo go up to lynch him.

COMMERCIAL. * \.Z. FARMERS CO-OPERATIVE DISTRIBUTING COMPANY, LIMITED. WEEKLY REPORT. Wellington, Jan. 26. Potatoes have been arriving in increasing quantities (luring the past week, and as the demand is limited prices have- declined. Pair -business is doing in wheat and prices have a hardening tendency l . Maize is dull of sale. Oats are stationary. Pollard and bran are in fair supply and prices show no change. Dressed pork is in limited supply and recent prices have been maintained. Eggs are scarce and remain firm in price at late rates. Poultry is in good demand and realizing fair prices. Linseed oil caJie meal for stock feeding is being used in increasing quantities with excellent results. Green peas continue to he in good demand and prices have risen. French beans are eagerly bought up. Cabbage is in poor demand and prices low. Only a few good lines of cauliflower are offering and these .meet with keen competition. There is an excellent demand for first-class 1 lettuce. Turnips, carrots and parsnips are selling readily. Swedes are dull. Cooking apples are in fair demand and early dessert are realizing excellent prices. Large shipments of stone fruits are arriving from Nelson and Hawke's Bay districts and prices are easier for plums, peaches and nectarines. Apricots a>re coming to hand in good condition and meet with excellent demand at fair prices. Greengages are in short supply. Tomatoes continue to realize good prices. Grapes are in excellent demand. Prime new potatoes. Special 10per cwt; others 3s to 4s cwt. Cabbage.—3s to 4s sack; medium Is 6d per sack. Cauliflower.—Bs to 10s, medium 6s per sack. Carrots..—Best 6s. Onions.—£lo per ton. Lettuce.—ss to 6s 6d per case. Beetroot.—6s per sack. Spring onions—7d per bunch. Hutt green peas.—ls 8d per sack. Hutt hothouse tomatoes—9d per lb. Nelson tomatoes.—Bs to 10s per half case. Parsnips.—9s per sack. Peaches.—4s to 6s 6d. Black currants— 7s 6d per half case. Burbank plums.—is to 5s per half case ; others 2s to 3s. Nectarines.—ss per half case. Apricots.—7s 6d to 8s 6d half case. Grapes.—ls Id per lb. Eggs.—Fresh Is 6d per dozen.