PRODUCE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 34, 25 August 1904, Page 13

PRODUCE.

New York, August 20.— There is intense excitement in the American wheat markets owing to further pessimistic reports. There have been eiiuunoub lidus*u,liuii&, in Chicago and New York, operators violently struggling to buy, and dealers panic-stricken. Speculation syndicates formed all over the country made enormous 'profits.

Wellington, August 23.— The Department of Industries and Coznmerce has received the following cablegram from the Agents-General, dated London, 22nd inst —Frozen meat : The mutton. market is steady but quiet. A\erage price to-day— Canterbury mutton, ljjd i>uinedlin, Wellington, and.W.M.E. Company brands, 4|d' other North Island brands, 4d , rtiver Plate mutton,' 33d. Lamb : The market is Jinn. The average price to-day, for New Zealand lamb is— Canterbury brands, s£d ; other than Canterbury, sfd. The beef market declined. Further supplies' of River Plate beef are heaiVy, also American and Canadian live cattle. The average price to-day for hindquarters of New Zealand beef is 4-§d , fores, 2-£ d. At the same time prices are irregular.

The butter market is firm, amd prices continue to advance. The average price of choice New Zealand butter to-day was 99/- per cwt, but rhe stock of choicest quality is \ery small. Danish butter, 114/-.

Jlhe cheeie market is steady. The average price for finest New Zealand cheese to-day was 12/- per cwt. The preseuit stock is almost exhausted.

Invercargill prices current.— Wholesale — • Butter farm, 7d ; separator, 9d ; butter, factory, pats, ll£d. Eggs, lOd per dozen. Cheese (factory), 6id. Hams, 9d. Potatoes, £2 per ton (bags weighed in). Barley. 2/- to 2/6. Chaff, £2 per ton. Flour, £10 to £10/10. Oatmeal, £9 to £9/10/-. Bran, £3/15/-. Pollard, £5. Retail— Farm butter, 9d ; separator, lid ; butter (factory), pats, 1/1. Eggs, \/~ per do/.e*i. Cheese, Bd. Bacon, lOd. Hams, lOd. Potatoes, 3/6 per cwt Flour . 2001 b ,22/- ; .Wlb, 6/3. Oatmeal . 50ft, tyi) , 251 b, 3/-. Pollard, 8/6 per bag. Bran, 4/C. Chaff, 1/6.

Mr. F. Meenan, King street, Dunedin, reports :— Wholesale prices only— Oats : Milling, l/ 6£ to 1/84 , feed, 1/- to 1/6. Wheat : Milling, 3/2 to 3/7 , fowl's, 2/8 to 3/1 Potatoes, £1 Iss , seed, £2 10s to £3 10s , chaff, £2 7s 6d to £3 5s , clover, hay, £2 IDs to £3. Straw : Pressed wheat, 35/ , oaten, £2, loose, £2. Flour: Sacks, £9/10/-, 1001 b, £10,, 501 b, £10/5/-, 25ft, £10/10-. Oatmeal, £<J. Pollard, £1. Bran, £3/5/Butter : Dairy, 8d to l>od , factory, lid. Cheese : Factory, 4|d ; dairy, 4^d. Eggs, aid. Onions : Melbourne, £4 103.

Messrs. Donald Reid and Co. (Limited) report :— -

We held our weekly auction -sale of grain and produce at our stores on Monday. There wa*s a good attendance of buyers, and, with the exception of potatoes, all lines on offer met with fair competition at quotations. Values, ruled as under .—. —

Oats.— The past week has been a quiet one for most classes of oat's. Prime bright Gartons have some inruiry for export, but shippers' conditions as to color are difficuh, to comply with. Medium- oats of this kind have not the same attontion. B g,rade have some inquiry at prices a shade below late quotations, but actjual sales have not been heavy. For lower grades we have had siome demand, and have quitted over 3000 sacks at satisfactory value. We quote : Prime nulling, 1/7 to 1/9 ; good to best feed, 1/5 to ]/6i ; medium to good, 1/2 to 1/1 per bushel (sacks extra)

Wheat. — The improvement latolv reported has become more marked, and for certain qualities of wheat the market is excited. Medium qualities \are not greatly in favor with millers, but if sound are not difficult to place. Fowl wheat is scarce and is in strong demand, both locally and for export We quote • Prime milling, 3/4 to 3/8"; medium, 3/- to 3/3, best whole fowl wheat, 2/9 to 2/11 ; broke© and damaged, 2/3 to 2/6 per bushel (sacks extras.

Potatoes.— Consignments coming; to haml are somewhat in excess of local requirements, and in the absence of export demiand are difficult to quit readily We quote . Best Derwents, 37/6 to 40/- ; medium,3o/to 35/- : seed lines, 40/- to 60/- per ton (sacks in).

Phaft. — Fair supplies of pood quality have come forward, and in most cases have been quitted at prices

barely equal t<o late quotations. There is some inquiry for shipment, but present values do not allow buyers to operate freely. We quote : Prime oaten sheaf, £2/17/0 to £3 , choice, to £3/2/6 , medium to good £2/10/- to £2/15/- ; light and inferior, £2 to £2/7/6 per ton (bags extra). Turnips.— We 'quote : Best swedes, 13/- per ton (loose, ex tiuek). Straw.— Market bare, and good inquiry for oaten at 32/6 lo 35/- , wheaten, 27/0 to 30/- per lon (pressed).

Messrs. Stronach, Morris, and Co. report :— Wheat.— 'Hi ere is a very good demand for a\ll scrts, but as owners are holding for higher prices, there is not. very much business passing. Fowl wheat is specially scarce and has risen considerably lately. Quotations : Prime milling, 3/4 to 3/8 ; medium, 3/- to 3/3; good whole fowl wheat, 2/9 to 2/11 ; broken and inferior, 2/- to 2/6.

Oat* —The market has been rather quieter lately, and quotations to-day are as follows : Prime milfing, 1/7 iw 1/!) , good to best feed, 1/5 \ to 1/6 i ; inferior and medium, 1/1 tp 1/1.

Potatoes —Prime Derwents, £1/15/- to £2; other sorts, £1/5/- to £1/12/6.

Chaff.— The supply has been larger during, the week, and in consequence late rates have not been maintained. Quotations are : Piime oaten sheaf, £2/17/6 to £3/2/6 ; extria prime, to £3/5/-, medium, £2/7/0 to £2/15/-, light and inferior, £1/17/6 to £2/5/-.