j Grocery Review J

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 456, 11 September 1928, Page 16

j Grocery Review J

The Sun Office, September 11. Business with the wholesale grocery merchants was very good last week, both town and country orders to hand showing improvement on previous months. OWING to the weak markets which have prevailed in several lines, retailers have not been keen to place their orders early, as a general firming in prices for most lines has , had the effect of stimulating sales for 1 all Christmas goods. With the exception of a reduction of ; a penny a lb. in the retail price of butfer, there are few local alterations j this week. The arrival of the Port i Napier to-morrow is of considerable interest to the trade, the uncertainty of the condition of the cargo causing merchants some anxiety. The Sussex due from the East this week will be a welcome arrival, as shipments of tapiocas, pineapples, pepper, spices, etc., which are aboard this vessel, are badly needed to replenish stocks. SALMON The arrival of the Aorangi yesterday with further supplies of new pack British Columbia salmon will relieve the local shortage in the Sockeye grades. The Niagara on her last trip brought vfery limited quantities of Laurel Wreath, and as wholesale stocks were then quite exhausted, the shipment went into immediate consumption. Although quotations for further supplies of Sockeye are withdrawn, the position m all other grades appears to be normal, the indent market remaining unaltered at opening rates. CREAM OF TARTAR Prices for English brands of cream of tartar continue to decline, but the. alteration just notified, 10s a ton, is likely to be followed by further reductions during- the next few months. PEANUTS Prices for old season’s Chinese peanuts in shell have been reduced by about £4 a ton, which brings them about on j a par with the new crop rates for No-vember-December shipment. The market for new season’s is slightly easier this week, a reduction of 10s a ton in the c.i.f.e. price being advised. . COCOA BEANS Latest cable advice from London shippers is to the effect that owing to the dissolution of a shippers’ combine, the market is very irregular and unsettled, with the indication that firm offers at slightly under ruling rates would probably be accepted. PEPPER. • Quotations remain fairly steady at present, but advice from Singapore states that lower prices are to be expected at the end of this month or early in October, consequently there is little business being placed meantime. SPICES Following the sudden and unexpected fall in prices for both nutmegs and mace, a sharp rise has now been .cabled, nutmegs having advanced over Id a lb and mace about 4d a lb. Slightly lower offers for cloves ex London stocks have resulted in a little business being placed, but all indications point to higher rates ruling for the new crop, which will be ready for shipment from Zanzibar next month. OIL OF LEMON The supply of oil of lemon for this year has evidently proved much smaller than was anticipated, as prices to-day are more than double those ruling at the beginning of the year. Local stocks are very low. It would appeal' that the new crop has been a partial failure and an early advance in prices seems likely. ALMONDS Quotations for both old and new crop Sicily almonds are again higher this week, an advance of £lO a ton bringing prices to a higher level than has been the case for some years. DATES Bookings of new season’s supplies for shipment by the S.S. Trelyon from Basra on October 14 have been disappointing, most buyers preferring to order for No-vember-December shipment from London at the reduced prices on offer. Good business has, however, been done in several grades of cartons for arrival in December. PRUNES As further evidence' of the firm market in San Francisco business sent up during the week for spread shipment was not accepted, sellers not being anxious to book ahead at present ruling prices. Orders for shipment in October 'and November have been confirmed, and it would appear that the market will see much higher prices before the end of the season. DRIED FRUITS Although higher prices were advised for most grades of American dried fruits, Thompson’s seedless raisins have again declined, prices being 9d a cwt below last week’s offers. Unbleached sultanas are also quoted on a lower level, but all descriptions of bleached raisins continue firm. JUTE GOODS The latest c.i.f. rates from Calcutta for hessian for shipment by the NovemberDecember steamer show firming tendencies, 72in, 10i ounce.' 14 1 ounce and 3 8 ounce being all approximately 3 per cent to 4 per cent, higher than prices for the previous steamer. Quotations for both corn sacks and wool packs for shipment by the next direct steamer also show fractional increases in all weights. RESIN Cables from shippers of American resin advise a decline in the market for both G and N grades, prices having been reduced approximately £1 a ton in each instance. TURPS A reduction of 2d a gallon in the price of pinetree turps for prompt shipment has just been received, but no indication is given as to the future position of the market. AMERICAN WHEAT YIELD (United P.A.. — By Telegraph—Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Reed 10.32 a.m. WASHINGTON, Mon. The United States winter wheat yield is estimated at 579,000,000 bushels, and spring wheat at 54,866,000 bushels. C. L. INNES, LTD. A successful year's working is recorded in the annual report of C. L. Innes and Company, Ltd., presented at the annual meeting of shareholders in Hamilton. The chairman of directors, Mr. A. A. Martin, presided. As recommended by the directors, the payment of a dividend of 8 per cent, on ordinary and preference shares was approved. The retiring directors, Mr. A. G. Lunn and Mr. H. G. Innes, were re-elected. AUCTION NOTES Richard Arthur, Ltd., will sell by auction at their rooms opposite the Town Hall at 1 o’clock on Thursday next, a large collection of high-grade tennis racquets and tennis gear. AUCTION NOTICES William A. Horne, Ltd., will offer by public auction to-morrow, Wednesday, at 10.30 a.m., all the furniture and effects of 14 rooms on the premises, situated 10 Rose Road. Ponsonby. For full list see last Saturday’s Sun. John Carla w, instructed by Mr. W. Freeman, will sell at his salerooms, 24 Wyndham Street, to-morrow, at 12 noon, a choice selection of plants, bulbs and tomato plants; also at 10.30 a.m., 60 oak and rimu bedsteads and a quantity of good bedding and lino.