DUNEDIN MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 4032, 23 June 1931, Page 19

DUNEDIN MARKETS.

WHEAT, OATS, ETC. Friday Evening. From the samples of wheat reaching the market it would seem that farmers who are now threshing were not satisfied early in the season with the quality of their grain, and put it into stack to see if its condition could be improved. Unfortunately they have not obtained the result expected. The grain is hard enouga, but in many cases it is showing the effects of rust, and, moreover, the berries are badly pinched. As a consequence this wheat is unsuitable for milling. It is now the exception to find good quality grain being offered from either the Central Otago or Southern districts. It is difficult to find buyers for this class of cereal, which is being placed in the stores, and will have to be sold as fowl wheat

The demand for fowl wheat is being seriously affected by the importation tithe North Island of barley and maize from Australia. Poultry keepers there are buying imported barley and maize in preference to fowl wheat, and the loc<d stocks of fowl wheat are far in excess of the requirements for the trade. In view of the unsatisactory position it is. almost impossible to get offers for fowl wheat from merchants. The nominal quotations is 4s 7d to 4s 9d per bustiei sacks extra, ex store, Dunedin. Millers are holding fairly heavy stocks of milling wheat, and are not anxious to buy further lines. Occasional lots are still being delivered, these having been purchased forward early in the season on a bisis of 5s lOd, f.0.b., for Tuscan, and 6s for Hunters. These values are still available for any other odd lines that may come on the market. Millers’ prices for flour, etc., are as follow: — Flour: 2001 b £l7 ss; 100’s, £lB ss; 50s, £lB 10s; 25’s, £l9. Bran, £5 10s per ton. Pollard. £6 per ton. Oatmeal: 2001 b. £2l; 25's, £23. The oat market has a downward tendency, but during the past day or tup there has been a buyer of Gartons for shipment to Auckland. Some of the Southland holders of oats have taken the opportunity of selling, and business was done on a basis of 2s 9d, f.0.b., s.i. for A’s. Local merchants, however, are not prepared to accept this figure, for delivery from this port, and are asking 2s lOld. f.0.b.. s.i., for A’s, with 3d less for B’s. No business is resulting at these quotations, and few lines are on offer from growers. Oats showing weight per bushel are saleable at 2s 2d. sacks extra, on trucks', countrj’ sidings. B’s are worth 2d per bushel less. Sales of chaff are still confined to small lots, ex store. For these lots up to £4 10 per ton, sacks extra, ex store. Dunedin, is obtainable, but the wholesale value for truck lots is £4 per. ton, sacks extra, ex truck, Dunedin. Owing to the small number of horses now being used in Dunedin it is quite the exception for the sale of a truck lot to be made. Consignments are coining in slowly, and these are quite sufficient to meet the demand. The consignments are arriving chiefly from Central Otago and from Canterbury. The potato market remains in an unsettled condition, and quotations are only nominal. The stores are holding heavy stocks, and, moreover, consignments are still arriving from Canterbury. The nominal quotation for these tubers, of best quality, is £3 10s per ton, sacks included. Even if the quality is exceptionally good sales are difficult to effect, and with the quality not up to standard it is practi cally impossible to find buyers. It is apparent from the advices being received from the growing centres that there will be ample supplies of potatoes to meet the demand this season.

Little business is passing in seeds, but this is the usual experience at this time of the year. There are no export inquiries, and any sales being made are confined to merchants who wish to secure lines to meet the retail demand. It is now evident that there will be a shortage of good quality lines Of white elover, dogstail, and cow grass. The dogstail prop

this season was practically a failure in Southland on account of frosts, but the stocks carried over from the previous season should be sufficient to meet all requirements.. Both white clover and cow grass are in short supply, consequent on the fanners in Canterbury being unable to saye the seed, the north-west winds experienced there during the season affecting the early growth. Produce lines are quoted wholesale as follow:— Chaff: Good quality, £4 10s per ton, ex store, Dunedin, sacks extra. Potatoes: Best quality, £3 10s per ton. Dairy butter: Milled bulk, lid to Is per lb; separator pats, lOd to lid. Bacon, lid per lb. Hams: Ordinary, UJd; boneless, Is Old per lb. Onions: Canterbury, Ils per cwt; Melbourne, to arrive, £8 10s per ton. Eggs: Stamped, Is 8d; case, Is 7d. Butter advanced Id per lb the week. Eggs weakened in price during the week. FRUIT REPORT. Apples are still in good supply and prices remain unchanged. The Samoan bananas which arrived last week have ripened up satisfactorily. Further consignments are expected in about three weeks’ time. A shipment of Rarotongan-grown bananas and Island manges is due to arrive on June 25, these .’liv transferred from the mail steamer at Wellington. lhe Wainui is due on Tuesday next from Melbourne. She will bring consignments of navels, mandarins, grape fruit, and lemons. A much smaller shipment of navels is expected than was lauded in the previous shipment. It is reported that following continuous rain in Victoria the growers are unable to gather the fruit, as they cannot get on to their orchards owing to the mud. Ilie growers are not very satisfied with the prices being obtained in Dunedin,.the only factor which is encouraging them to continue shipments being the exchange, which is in their favour. Lemons have eased -fin price. Pears are still in over supply, and only choice lots are saleable. Outside-grown tomatoes are practically finished, only odd lots of outside-grown coming on the market. Small lots of hothouse-grown are still available.

The quinces now on offer are not of the best quality. A shipment of citrus fruit was landed from Sydney, ex the Waikouaiti. during the week. The fruit was quickly sold at the wholesale marts. Cauliflowers are not so plentiful, and prices are firmer. Marrows are in short supply, and better prices are being obtained." Other vegetables are in good supply, with prices at a low range. Wholesale prices are as follow:— Apples: Delicious. 6s 6d to 8s 6d per case: Jonathans, 6s to 7s 6d; Cleopatras, 5s 6d to 7s; cookers, 4s 6d to 5s 6d. Bananas: Ripe. 20s. Oranges: Island, I2s to 14s; navels, 12s to 15s. Lemons: Australian, 15s to 18s case. Pears: Winter Coles, Is to 2s per half•case; small, unsaleable; cookers, 2s. Tomatoes: Choice well coloured, 4<l to 6d: local hothouse. 8d to IOJd per lb. Quinces. 5s to 6s per bushel ease. Pines. 18s to 20s per case. Mandarins, 12s 6d to 16s. Passions: North Island, 5s to 6s per case. - • Pie melons: Australian, 12s to 14s per cwt. Cauliflowers: Choice, 6s to 8s 6d per sack; otheis, Is to 2s. Celery: Choice, >6d per bead; others, 6d per bundle. Marrows, fte per cwt. Cabbages, 2s to 3s per sack of 18. Lettuce: Choice, to ,2s per dozen. Potatoes, 4s per cwt. Rhubarb, to 4s per dozen bunches. Swedes, 2s per cental bag. Carrots, 2s to 2s 6d per sugar bag. Parsnips. 2s Gd per sugar bag.

MERCHANDISE MARKET. Saturday Morning. The Waimarino has just landed a cargo of sugar at Dunedin. The Waipiata is due to arrive with another cargo on June 24, followed by the Wingatui on June 30. The Huntingdon, now at Port Chalmers, has brought several lines of merchandise from west of England ports. She is also landing a considerable quantity of spirits. A small parcel of walnut meat, halves, was landed ex the Waikouaiti from Sydney during the week. The Port Dunedin, dug in a week’s time, will land. Morton’s castor off and curry powder and capers, citt'ate of magnesia, tartaric acid, lentils, carton dates, Oakey’s knife polish, isinglass, Symington’s soups, Glauber salts, Seidlitz powders. Benger’s food (large and small), and Marshall’s lysol.

ainn ?> which is due to arrive on Tuesday,is bringing a shipment of preserved ginger, transhipped at Melbourne. She will also land a considerable quantity of tea. New Zealand Kraft paper has been slnrhtly reduced in price. Bournyille and Fry’s breakfast cocoas, all packings, show a considerable reduction in cost. Bickmore gall cure has been advanced hi price. Paterson’s Perfection chick food, meat meal, and other poultry lines have been considerably reduced in price. Advice has been received from Melbourne that consequent on the Fruit Board’s announcement that delivery has been extended to September sales of dried fruits may now be made for spread delivery up till October.