Grocery Review

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 622, 26 March 1929, Page 14

Grocery Review

The Sun Office. March 26, 1929. ‘Trade with the wholesale grocery houses was much better last week, the orders for April account being well up to the average. The majority of the wholesale and retail traders are in the middle of stocktaking this week, and this has restricted buying to a certain extent. Favourable prices have just been named for new season’s canned asparagus and as these are slightly lower than last year's rates and the output is usually short, this line should meet a ready demand.

The list of goods arriving during the week includes further shipments of California rice, tinned soups, carb. soda, bovril and evaporated apricots. The first of the new crop of Australian currants and sultanas, also further quantities of canned peaches, are expected to arrive from Melbourne this week, and the Raranga from South African ports is bringing considerable quantities of S.A. jams, canned apricots and dried fruits. SICILY ALMONDS

Following on the sharp decline in P.G. Sicily almonds, as advised last week, prices have again receded and lower offers have been made almost daily, until at the present time prices are over £ls a ton below the opening rates of a few weeks ago. Quotations for supplies of the present crop have also declined these being quoted at about £7 a ton below the rate previously ruling for April shipment. JORDAN ALMONDS

In sympathy with Sicily almonds, net* season’s Jordan almonds are now being quoted at reduced prices, to-day’s quotations being about £8 a ton below the opening rates for August-September shipment. As most of the business has already been placed at the opening rates, the lower prices in the meantime will not affect this market to any great extent. CHERRIES Prices have just been named for new season’s French crystallised cherries for shipment from France in September, and in comparison with offers ruling for present crop, these represent a decline of 3d a lb. Last season the chqttry crop was a partial failure, consequently quotations were about 6d a lb above those of the previous year. Until definite information regarding the crop prospects is to hand little interest is being shown by the local buyers at present. PEPPER This week has seen considerable reductions in the pepper market, and cables received from Singapore state that the market is much weaker, and advise buyers to order only sufficient for their immediate requirements. For the past 12 months it has been a significant feature of this market for prices to fluctuate at a very high level during the interval between the sailings of the direct steamers, but in almost every instance prices have declined just before these sailings. As it is still some weeks before the direct steamer will sail from Singapore, further reductions in prices are fully expected.. SPICES

There has been quite a heavy demand for supplies* of shrivelled nutmegs from the United States, and this grade shows a slight advance in price this -week. Quotations for mace have also been advanced, the latest lists being Id a lb above previous offers. Cloves and pimento continue firm, with lower prices not to be expected for some months yet. TAPIOCAS

Prices for both seed and pearl tapiocas still remain on a fairly high basis, with little interest being shown in either grade at present. PIN EAPPLES

There seems to be no bottom to the market for canned pineapples in Singapore, and although prices are lower than has been the case for some years, each week sees a reduction in some grade. Latest prices listed show a reduction of 5d per dozen in lilb sliced tall tins, for shipment by the April or August steamers. DATES

Quotations for all packings of dates have all been advanced this week, Ivhadrawi bulk (best quality) being 2s 6d a cwt. higher for prompt shipment and loosepack Is 6d a cwt higher. Best quality Sair dates have advanced 9d a cwt, and loose pack are now 6d a cwt above previous rates. All indications point to higher prices ruling until the end of the present season, as stocks in London of good quality dates are getting low r . CANARY SEED

The market for Argentine canary seed has been ruling very high for some time and this week has seen a further advance of £2 a ton. Supplies are reported to be scarce and as the new crop will not be available until June-July it would appear that lower prices cannot be expected for some time. One wellknown London shipper has cabled that prices of all grades of canary seed are advancing rapidly, and quotations for Turkish, Dutch and Argentine have all been temporarily withdrawn. OIL OF LEMON

Contrary to expectations, the market for oil of lemon has continued very firm and present prices show an increase on the opening quotations of about 3s to 4s a lb. It would appear that stocks will be very short for some time, as most buyers have covered only for quantities sufficient for their bare requirements. FIGS

The 1928 crop of Turkish figs was not a heavy one, and only limited quantities were sent to London. Cables just to hand notify an advance of Is 6d a cwt. in quotations for 2Slb bags of genuine natural cooking figs, and state that supplies are almost exhausted. Prices for the new crop for shipment in September have not yet been named. CLOTHES PEGS

Owing to the increased demand throughout the world for Canadian clothes pegs, shipments to this Dominion have been somewhat delayed, and it would appear that the local market will be short of supplies before long. The higher C.D. value in Canada has had the effect of an increase in the duty payable here, consequently shipments just to hand have landed at a slightly increased cost. COPPER

Prices of copper continue to be abnormally high, ard a further advance of £7 a ton has been cabled this week. TURPENTINE

There has been a slight easing in the price of pinetree turps, quotations for prompt shipment having been reduced by 2d a gallon. MINING NEWS Alburnia. —The manager reports: ‘ The drive north on the foot wall branch of the Orlando reef from the crosscut at the winze has been extended 4ft; a total of SSft. The reef here averages sft wide and is still a strong body of stone carrying nice mineral blend and silica. Strong colours and dabs of gold are seen in the ore. There is a small leader in the footwall Gin wide with a horse of mullock oft wide between the leader and main reef. This leader when broken down also showed colours of gold. The rise on the hangingwall branch of Sons of Freedom reef from the 70ft level has been risen 18ft, a total of SSft. This branch averages Sin wide and carries mineral blend and silica.”

LUCKY SHOT.—The manager reports: “The rise on the main reef above the intermediate level north of No. 1 winze is now up 32 feet. The reef is 2ft wide and is very heavily mineralised, strong dabs of gold having been seen in the ore during the week. The work of timbering and cleaning up the level north of No. 2 winze has been finished and we will be starting on the dropper on Monday.”