Grocery Review

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 656, 7 May 1929, Page 10

Grocery Review

The Sun Office, May 7, 1929. j Trade with the wholesale merchants has been fairly steady during the past week, a pleasing feature being the improvement in town and suburban business, which had been somewhat quiet for some time. The news that the Sussex, en route from the East, had caught fire and considerable damage had been done to cargo, has caused merchants some anxiety, as many of the lines the vessel is carrying are rather urgently required. 17 A ID, stocks of pineapples are held, •*- but supplies of sago, tapioca, pepper, spices, etc,, are getting - short, and it would appeaar probable that further quantities of these lines will have to be ordered for transhipment via Sydney. A well-known packer of tomato soups in tins advises a reduction in all sizes, small tins now being 9d a dozen lower, and large tins 2s 3d lower. CREAM OF TARTAR The higher prices which were asked by London shippers of a well-known brand of 99 per cent. English cream of tartar last week have now been followed by a reduction of £2 a ton. As spread delivery can be given at the lower rates, a fair amount of business has been transacted. COFFEE With the coming- of colder weather a much keener demand has set in for all coffees, both ground and essence. Merchants are rather concerned regarding the position of stocks, as at present these are very low and on appearance will not last until the arrival of new crop s\ipPlies, which are advised as having been shipped on the Sussex. As this vessel had to put back to discharge damaged cargo, this will mean a. further delay and as it is not yet known if the coffee has been damaged the question of cabling for replacement stocks lias to be held over meantime. Coffees generally, both Indian and Javan, are now quoted for prompt shipment at easier rates, both grades being approximately a halfpenny a pound cheaper. ALMONDS The market for a’l grades of almonds continues on a very firm basis, with a tendency for higher prices. Sicily, Jordan and soft shell varieties have all advanced during the last few weeks, the latest alteration being an advance of £2 a ton for new season's Jordan almonds for shipment from Spain in September. M USCATELS Although supplies will not be ready for shipment until next October, quotations for new season’s Spanish muscatels were announced last week. Prices are about on a pat' with la.st year's rates, and as the quality of the Malasra fruit is usually much superior to the Californian article, bookings are expected to be fairly heavy. FIGS Prices for the new crop of Smyrna figs for September shipment have just been named, and generally speaking these are slightly lower than last season. Cables from London advise that the report on the new crop is unfavourable, the adverse weather during the past two months no doubt being responsible for this. As. prices are quoted subject to a fall clause, it is anticipated that most of the business offering will be booked without delay. COCOA Reports from Colombo state that the offerings of cocoa continue very small, while the demand has also fallen off. Top grades have been fairly steady, while the lower qualities show a decline, but the scarcity of supplies is likely to counteract any heavy downward movement In prices. CANNED FRUITS Although it has been reported that some of the Australian packers have withdrawn prices for canned peaches, due no doubt to the present firm position in California, other well-known packei-s have not notified their agents of any withdrawals or alterations. Business can still be booked at opening prices, subject of course to cabled confirmation from the suppliers as usual. DRIED FRUITS

Latest cables from the Australian Control Board advise alterations in both currants and sultanas for forward shipment A rise of Is a cwt is now listed for all grades for shipment in July/August, present values remaining only for May/June shipment. The board also includes the information that forward bookings are strictly without commitment and that the crown sultanas are now in limited supply. As regards Californian raisins, there have been several price alterations during the week, unbleached sultanas and Thompson's seedless raisins in hulk both having advanced Is 3d a cwt. One of the largest packers of Golden bleached raisins advises that for forward delivery, prices of this grade of fruit must be advanced by Is 3d a cwt. PRU N ES

Supplies of most sizes of prunes are evidently getting short in California, for, after advancing prices by about 2s Gd a cwt, most shippers are prepared to offer only for prompt delivery and forward shipment, business being refused except at an advance of Is a cwt. Most of the Santa Clara quality have now been sold and some packers only have very limited quantities of Californian grades still available. The information that the ci'ops had been so seriously affected by frosts will have the effect of hardening prices for the new season’s fruit, which is usually shipped in October, and the opening quotations are expected to be on a fairly high level. PINEAPP'

In spite of there being rather heavy stocks of Singapore canned pineapples held locally, keen interest has been displayed in the prospects of damage caused by fire on the Sussex, which was en route to the Dominion with fairly heavy shipments. As nothing definite is known, however, a certain amount of business has already been done for transhipment via Australia, merchants not being prepared to risk a shortage of stocks in this line. PEPPER

Cables from Singapore advise that the major portion of pepper on the Sussex has been destroyed or unloaded at Samarang. This will mean that supplies on which buyers were relying will not. come to hand and as the market at present is very bare, further business has been booked for immediate, shipment via Australia. Latest information is to the effect that the market is steady. COMMONWEALTH STOCKS (Australian and N.Z. Press Association J Reed. 9.1-1 a.m. NEW YORK, Monday. Commonwealth 5 per cents., 1950, £95£95 7s 6d: 41 per cents., £B6 12s bn. New Soutli Wales, 5 per cents 1957 £92 ss: 1958, £92 15s. Queensland, 6 per cents., £104; 7 per cents., £llO 2s 6d. CHICAGO WHEAT MARKET (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 3.5 a.m. CHICAGO, Monday. Wheat.—May. 1 dollar Si cents a bushelT u n r ’ I,~do-11?r 1 ,~ do - 11 ? r 12 7 " s cents; September, 1 dollar- 16 o-S cents. MINING NEWS ALBURN I A.—The manager reports: '•Tne drive north on the main Orlando lode, from the crosscut at the winze, has been extended 6 feet, a total of 118 feet. The reef here is still a strong bodv of stone o feet wide, carrying mineral blend, antimony and silica. Strong colours and dabs of gold are still being seen in the “re. The cleaning out of Whau level from the rise on the Sons of Freedom reef has been finished and the line laid to the

'■rosscut east. There is still a lot. of the level to clean up. but another week should put ns in to the leader if there is not too much of the level down.’

PUKEKOHE PRODUCE MARKET

(From Our Own Correspondent) PUKEKOHE, Monday. Pukekohe-grown potatoes are quoted to-day at 5s 6d and 6s a cwt, f.o.r. Pukekohe, and onions at Ss 6d and 9s. The price of onions is stated to be inclined to ease, while the quotations for potatoes have also eased during the past fortnight. MATIERE CATTLE FAIR Dalgcty and Co., Ltd., report having held its annual bullock and steer sale at Matiere, when about 800 head of cattle came forward to a good attendance of the public. Buyers were present from Taihape, Taumarunui, Te Kuiti and as far North as Hamilton. The bulk of the yarding changed hands under the hammer, but a few vendors were not prepared to meet the market. The quality of the cattle yarded was particularly good as far as tlie grown bullocks were concerned, but the younger cattle were of somewhat indifferent quality. Prime bullocks made to £l3; just killable 4J-year bullocks £lO lls to £ll 15s; very forward condition \\-year steers, £lO to £lO 7s 6; very forward condition 31-year steers, £9 10s to £9 17s Gd; other S.H. 3i-year steers, £S 11s to £9; 21year S.TT. steers* £S 7s to £S 11s; mixed colour 2 2,-year S.H. steers, £6 16s; 18 months S.H. steers, £5 7s Gd to £7 Is; mixed sex P.A. calves, £4 5s to £4 15s; S.H. steer calves, £3 Is to £3 15s; S.H. heifer ca.ves, £2 14s to £2 17s; empty cows (fat), to £9; other store cows, £4 4s to £5 4s; run S.H. cows, r.w.b.. £4 8s to £G 10s; potter bulls, £3 to £5 7s 6d.