PRODUCE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 7, 15 February 1906, Page 13

PRODUCE.

Wellington, February 12.— The Department of Industries and Commerce has received the following cablegram from the High Commissioner, London, dated February 10 :— A better tone prevails the mutton market this week, but there is no change in prices The lamb market is weak ; for this season's shipment, the average price for New Zealand lamb, Canterbury brand, being s^d per lb (nominal). There is better demand for beef, the stocks of New Zealand beef 'on hand being light. Average price : Hindquarters, 3id per ft ; fores, 2|d per ft. The butter market is steady, and the demand getting better, the prospects therefore being rather more encouraging. Average price" Choicest New Zealand butter, to-day, 106s per cwt • Danish, Ills. The cheese market is dull, the present quote being 60s per cwt. The hemp market is quiet also, prices being slightly weaker. Quotes : New Zealand hemp, ' good, fair Wellington ' grade,' on spot today, £33 per ton ; January and March shipments, £32 10s per ton. 'The cocksfoot seed market is steady, but the demand only moderate, though prices are firm' The price for New Zealand cocksfoot seed, weighing 17ib per bushel on spot, is 54s per cwt.

Messrs. Donald Reid and Co. (Limited) report :— We held our weekly auction sale of grain and produce at our stores on Monday, when we submitted a small catalogue to the usual attendance of buyers Competition was slack, and many of the. lots not reaching valuations or owners' reserves, had to be passed in. Prices ruled as under :— Oats.— The past week has been one of the quietest of the season. The export trade is practically at a standstill, and only a limited quantity finds its way into local consumption. Under these circumstances it has been somewhat, difficult to deal with consignments coming forward, most of which have to go into store to await, an opportunity of being put on the market We quote : Prime milling, 2s to 2s Oid ; good to best feed, Is lid to 2s; medium, Is 9d to Is lOhd per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat.— Only prime quality is in favor with local millers, and a few lines of this class have been quitted at qyotations. Medium rtuality is almost neglected, and is in many cases being offered as fowl wheat for which there is strong demand, local stocks being low. We quote : Prime milling, 3s 5d to 3s Gd • medium to good, 3s 3£d to 3s 4d ; best whole fowl wheat, 3s 2d to 3s 3d ;"' broken and damaged 3s to 3s Id per bushel (sacks extra). ' Barley.— None of the new season's crop has yet come forward, although a few samples of Northerngrown grain have reached us. No business can yet be reported, as prices asked are considerably above buyers' idea of value. We have quitted several lines of last season's barley on the basis of late quotations. Potatoes.— The heavy supplies forward last week could only be worked off at reduced values. This has now been done, and consignments coming forward this week will have a better chance of being placed at more satisfactory value. We quote : Best freshly-dug lots, £«6 to £6 10s ;;} others,! £4 10s to £5 10s per ton (sacks and cases included). Chaff.— Cutters have been fairly busy lately, and considerable quantities have come forward during the past week. Only best quality has the attention of buyers, and even this class is only readily saleable at a slight reduction, while for medium and inferior lots there is practically no demand. We quote : Prime

oaten sheaf, £3 12s 6d to £3 15s ; choice to £3 in M ; medium to good, £3 to £3 10s per ton (bags extra). Straw.— We quote : Oaten, 40s to 45s ; v/iieaten, 32s 6d to 35s per ton (pressed). Messrs. Stronach, Morns, and Co. report :— Oats.— The market continues very quiet, and quotations are as follow : Prime milling, 2s to 2s Oid ; good to best feed, Is lid to 2s ; medium, is 9d to" Is 10id per bushel. Wheat.— Millers are only doing business in prime samples, medium being only saleable as fowl wheat for which there is a good inquiry. Quotations : -Prime milling, 3s 5d to 3s 6d ; medium to good, 3s 3^d to 3s 4d ; best whole fowl ■wheat, 3s 2d to 3s 3d ; broken and damaged, 3s to 3s Id per bushel. Potatoes.— Prices are somewhat easier in consequence of supplies being more plentiful. Quotations : Best freshly-dug lots, £6 to £6 10s ; others, £4 10s to £5 10s per ton. Chaff.— The market is well supplied, and prices have eased to the extent of about 2s (id per ton. The demand is confined pretty well to prime quality, there being little inquiry for medium or inferior. Prime oaten sheaf, £3 10s to £3 15s (choice, £3 17s Cd) , medium to good, £3 to £3 7s Cd per ton. Messrs, Nimmo and Blair report as follows :— Wheat.— The local market is quiet, millers continuing to purchase in small quantities only. Fowl wheat is scarce and in strong demand at quotations. We quote : Prime milling, 3s 5d to 3s 6d ; medium to good, 3s 3£d to 3s 4d ; whole fowl wheat, ,3s 2d to 3s 3d ; broken and damaged, 3s to 3s Id per bushel (sacks extra). Oats.— Little or no business is being done We quote : Prime milling, 2s to 2s Oid ; good to best feed, Is lid to 2s per bushel (sacks extra). Chaff.— The market is still considerably over-sup-plied, and for any lines other than prime oaten there is practically no sale. We quote : Prime oaton sheaf from £3 12s Gd to £3 15s ; choice, £3 17s fid per ton (sacks extra). Potatoes.— Owing to stocks in town being very much reduced, and only few consignments coming forward, the tone of the market fs much firmer. We quote : Prime Oamaru's from £5 15s to £(! ; shipable lines are worth up to £0 15s per ton. Eggs.— Fair demand at Is 3d per dozen. Pigs.— Baconers, 34 ; over- weights, 2d to 2i • Porkers, 3^d per It). Butter.— Dairy, 7W ; separator, Bkl ; milled 8d to Bid per Ib. Poultry .—liens, 2s Gd to 2s 9d ; roosters, 3s to 4sducks, 3s to 4s Gd per pair. '