COMMERCIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 18835, 31 May 1920, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

THE LOCAL MARKETS. Times Office, Saturday. GENERAL MERCHANDISE. The proprietors of Lane’s Emulsion advise that owing to the scarcity of ingredients, they will be unable to supply for some time. The Scott’s Emulsion factory in Sydney has been burnt down, so supplies from this source will not be available for a few months. Split peas show a further substantial advance. Beeswax in cakes is quoted at 8/- per doz. Senior’s linoleum reviver has advanced and is now quoted at 15/- for case lots and 15/6 for lesser quantities. Duryea Maizena has advanced to Sid. Advices from Colombo regarding the tea market state that the abnormal weather conditions experienced for some time passed has resulted in greater production of tea, but with exceptionally bad quality. It was anticipated that the next two months larger supplies would be on the market, with worse quality, the larger proportion " of which would be very' common and most undesirable. Growers were being asked to allow only fine plucking of the best Leaf with the object of improving the quality. In view of the above storekeepers will be wise in closely scrutinising any lines offered below prices ruling recently, as good teas are not affected and still will command good prices in Colombo. HARDWARE. Some advances have taken plaoe in the local market, but they are not of interest to the general public although they may eventually affect the pockets of quite a large number. This refers to such lines as bar and shoeing iron, which have both shown substantial advances during the week. Steel plates and sheets have also advanced. One of the few lines showing a decrease is block tin. Roofing iron, cement, fencing wire and rabbit netting are quoted at the same prices given in last week’s report. Sheep netting is in short supply, but shipments are expected at any time. FISH. The fishing industry has been affected by the abnormal weather conditions; and during the week the local market has had to rely on frozen fish and sailed salmon for its supplies. At present oysters are unobtainable, but as soon as the weather clears plentiful supplies of all varieties should be obtainable. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES.

Pears and apples have been coming forward in sufficient quantities to meet market requirements, and values for choice hues have firmed considerably. A shipment of Fiji bananas is due by the Monowai about Tuesday, and a shipment of Sydney fruits comprising pines, passions, mandarins, /manges and pie-melons is due at Bluff by the Tr-rawera about June 6. The following are the approximate wholesale prices:— Dessert apples: Delicious 12/- to 15/-case Jonathans 7/- to 10/-, Stunners 8/- to 9/-, Scarlets 6/6 to 9/-, cookers 6/- to 8/6 case. Pears, dessert, Winter Nelis 2id to 3d, Coles 2d to 24d, cookers 5/6 to 8/casc ; tomatoes, local hothouse 1/- to 1/3, outdoor grown 8d to lOd. Grapes, 1/9 to 2/-. American lemons (double cases), £3 per case; Sydney lemons, 20/- case; bananas, 30/- to 38/-. Vegetables.—Supplies have been slightly short of the demand. Prices—Cabbages, 4/- to 6/- sack; cauliflowers, 9/- to 15/dozen; carrots, S/- sack; parsnips, 10/sack; vegetable marrows, 9/- cwc. THE RIALTO. Messrs William Todd and Co., Ltd., report the following sales on Saturday:— Poultry—Hens, 2/4 to 3/3; purebred Whit© Leghorns, 6/7; cockerels. 1/6 to 1/9; roosters, 2/- to 2/9; ducks, 2/6 to 4/3. Pigs.—Suckers, £1 10/- to £2; weaners, £2 'll- to £2 12/-; stores, £2 19/- to £3 16/-. Calf.—s/-. Potatoes, £8 ton; oat dust, 5/- bag; oats, £1 1/- to £1 7/- (bags in); onions, 12/cwt ; mutton-birds, 1/- each in kits. Tea—2/9 to 3/- lb (in chests). Horse-covers, £2 2/- to £2 12/6; cowcovers, £1 1/-; spring dray, £27; harness, £lO 10/-, £6; saddle and bridle, £5 15/-. F. BOWDEN & CO.’S REPORT. Messrs F. Bowden and Co. report business slow on account of the continued bad weather. Wo have received very heavy consignments of apples and pears from Nelson, Canterbury and Central Otago; they have moved off very slowly, and we have about 650 cases of very choice fruit on hand. Bananas, lemons, oranges, passion fruit and mandarins are advised and should be to hand on Wednesday or Thursday. The week closed with prices ruling:—Best coloured dessert apples from 7/- to 9/0 bushel case; others cheaper; cookers, 2d to 2LI lb; pears, 2d to 2jfl lb; inferior almost unsaleable; tomatoes, 2jd lb; grapes, 1/3 lb; quinces, 2:i'd lb; passion fruit, 7/6 to 10/- half case; lemons, American double cases, 57/0; S.A., 26/- case. Vegetables, Flowers, Etc.—Potatoes, 8/to S/G cwt; vegetable marrows, 10/ Cto i 12/6 cwt; pumpkins, Id lb; red cabbage, 10/6 cwt; onions, IIZ-f violets, 9d to lOd bunch; pickling onions, Id lb; rhubarb roots, 5/- dozen; thyme roots, 4/6 dozen. McKAY BROS.’ REPORT. Messrs McKay Bros, report as follows: Poultry—Hens, 1/S to 2/4; roosters, 4/-; ducks, 2/6.

Baccn Bigs.—Supplies fairly plentiful; but we can sti.l take any quantity and offer high prices on rails or delivered at the mart.

Produce. —Potatoes, £8; onions, 12/- cwt; bran out of stocks; pollard, very scarce, 18/6; prime chaff, £8 10/-, s.e.; pickling onions, 2d per lb; cabbages, 7/- sack. Fruit.—Market is well supplied with apples and pears, values being slightly easier than for some time. A consignment of Island oranges arrived in fair condition, also American lemons. Bananas arc due next week, but owing to the fact that very few cases are coming forward, prices will rule high if the fruit arrives in good order. Approximate prices for the week: Dessert apples, 8/- to 12/- case, cooking apples 6/to 8/-; pears, ripe, 31d per lb, cooking pears 2ld lb; Island oranges, 25/- per case; lemons, CO/-; pie melons, 2jd per lb; marrows, - cwt; ;>eanuts, 10-Jd per lb. General.—The cold weather has caused keen demand for horse and cow-covers, and we sold a considerable quantity during the week. Our prices are 47/6; horsecovers; lined cow-covers, 21/-. Tea, 12/6 and 17/6.

Furniture. —Good demand for all classes of household furniture, and in some lines supplies are not equal to the demand. Wire mattresses being particularly scarce. We have opened up several lines of dining and pbedtoom suites during the week also wardrobes, duchesse chests and bedding. Inspection invited. BRAY BROS.’ REPORT. Messrs Bray Bros., Ltd., auctioneers, etc., Dee street, Invercargill, report as follows for the week ending May 29; Produce business has been very brisk during the week. We have handled large quantities of potatoes, onions, chaff, and oats. There has been a keen demand for straw, and early in the week our supplies were exhausted, but we now have received further stocks. Fruit consignments have been heavy, and prices varied considerably according to quality. The week closed with prices ruling as follow: — Potatoes. —£8 per ton. Onions—l 3- per cwt. Wheat—ln short supply. • Chaff—Prime quality to £S 10/- per ton. Oaten Straw—To £5 10/- per ton. Oats—s/6 to 5/9 per bushel. MeggjU’s Linseed Meal—2s/- per bag. Oatdust-r—s/- per bag. Bran—lo/- per bag. Wheat Pollard —12/6 per 1001b bag.

Barley Pollard—22/6 per 2001b bag. Fruit.—Apples (dessert), 2d to 3d per lb, (cooking) 2d to 2Jd per lb. Pears, 2d to 3d per lb. Quinces, 3d per lb. Vegetables.—Cabbages 4/- per dozen; carrots, 4/- bag; parsnips, 5/- bag. Poultry .-—Hens, 2/- each; roosters, 2/6 each. Lepp Salt Lick—2/3 per brick. Cow-covers—Lined 21/6, unlined 19/-. Horse-covers —£2 15/- to £3 each. Sundries—Mutton-birds, 1/- per bird (in kite containing 24 to 40 birds). Honey, in 101b tins 10/-. Men’s working boots, 35/-. Furniture—Our furniture showrooms in Spey street report brisk business in first grade kapok bedding. We have some very nice dining suites in leather and tapestry, and an assortment of seagrass arm chairs of latest pattern. Inspection invited. A sale of timber, stands, rope, etc., used by the Invercargill Corporation for Prince of Wales’ visit resulted in every line being cold at satisfactory prices.

CLEARING SALE AT MABEL BUSH. Messrs Henderson and Co., Ltd., report having held a clearing sale at Mr John Bridgman’s farm, Mabel Bush, on Thursday. Mr Bridgman has disposed of his property to Mr A. Findlay, late of Tokonui, and, considering the inclemency of the weather, it was a tribute to the respect in which Mr Bridgman, who is a resident of the district of very many years’ standing, was held, that so many faced the elements in order to attend his clearing sale. As a result of the good number present, and the spirited competition the sale on the whole was an excellent one, and an excellent luncheon was provided by Mrs Bridgman. The following were some of the prioes obtained;— Horses £3B, 2 at £3O 10/-, hack £7 10/-. Cows—£2o, £lO, £l9, £l7 5/-, £l7, £ll, £lO, with older ones at reduced rates, and 4 dairy heifers at from £u) to £l4, while 12 calves brought £1 14/- each. Sheep—--69 lambs at 22/7, 59 ewes at £l. Implements —Drill £2B, ridger £2B, binder £B, discs; £l2, harrows £7 2/6, mower £lO, plough £l2, separator £7 15/-, with numerous smaller implements and sundries at full market rates. WINTON HORSE SALE. Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd., report having held a very successful sale of horses at their Winton horse yards on Friday last. There was an excellent attendance and everything sold brought full market values. The following are the sales; — Account W. H. Muir, Winton, 1 bay filly 3yrs by Young McKinney—Bellman mare at 21igns to Alex. McDonald, Oreti; 1 black filly 3yrs by Young McKinney— AVildess at 23gns to C. E. Buchanan, South Hillend; 1 harness gelding, syrs, by Marven AVilkes—Belfry at 17 Agns to John McKenzie, Dipton; account G. S. Smith, Lochiel, 1 bay mare 7yrs by Bellman— Brooklyn mare at £l6 to Robert Stewart, Ctapiri; 1 chestnut filly 3yrs by Coldstream Bells—King Harold mare at £ll to D. W. Thomson, Lochicl; “Papeete,” aged, by Sir Hector at £l4 to H. Sparks, Dipton; also bay mare 2yrs at £l7; bay gelding, aged at £s\lo/-; bay gelding 4yrs at £4l; pony 3yrs at £3O; bay mare 7yrs at £23; harness mare. Byrs, at £ll 10/-; bay gelding syrs at £3O; hay mare 7yrs at £l7 10/-; bay mare 7yrs at £35; chestnut gelding 9yrs at £29; bay mare 4yrs, £34; waggon, £2O; d.f. plough, £l3; horse, gig and harness at £49; gig, £34 10/-.

DUMEDIN MARKETS. DUNEDIN, May 29. It is difficult to trace any lines of milling wheat held by glowers, and it is therefore considered that practically all local milling lines have been marketed. Millers are holding small supplies, and will now have to depend on Canterbury or Australia for their requirements. The local Government fixed prices for May are as follow:—Velvet or pearl, 7/11; Hunters, 7/8; Tuscan, 7/s—all f.0.b., sacks extra (the prices include lid per bushel brokerage). ( Millers’ prices are as follow:—Flour, £l6 10/- to £l7 per ton; 100’s, £lB to £lB 10/-; 50’s, £lB 10/- to £l9; 25’s, £l9 10/- to £2O. Bran, £8 per ton. Pollard, £lO. Pearl barley, £35. Oatmeal, £3l per ton. The North Island demand for oats has quietened, but several inquiries have been received from Australia, and buyers there have secured lines at 6/-, f.0.b.5.i., for A Cartons, and 5/10 for Ji grade. ’Phis outside demand is expected to firm up the local market, and merchants are now asking 5/1. f.0.b.5.i., for B Cartons. This quotation is equivalent to the growers’ reserves on lines held in the country.