COMMERCIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2717, 24 January 1910, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

PRODUCE SALES

Messrs. F. S. Malcolm and Co. report the following prices at their weekly produce sale on Saturday morning:— Dutjks Is Sd to 2s, fowls Is 3d to 2s 3d, guinea fowls 2s, turkeys 5s Gd, preserved eggs lOd, fresh Is 2d to Is 3d, butter 9d to lOd, apples Id to 3d per lb., plums Id to '2d, apricots lid and 2d, peaches 5s and 6s case, tomatoes lid and 2d, onions 2d, potatoes Id and lid, peas 9d per peck, rhubarb 4d per bundle, small vegetables as usual. A very large furniture sale followed. HORSE SALES. Messrs Williams and Kettle, Ltd., yarded 30 horses at their weekly sale on Saturday, but owing to the small attendance a poor sale resulted. The following were the prices realised: Hacks from £2 5s to £B, harness horses £5 to £ls. THE WOOL MARKET. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Lid., received the following cablegram on Saturday from their London office:—“Wool: Crossbreds fine have advanced id, crossbreds medium and coarse id.” THE GRAIN MARKET. ITkk Puess Association.l CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 22. Wet weather, which has prevailed during the past few days, has momentarily put a stop to harvest operations, but there is now every sign of the weather clearing, and during the coming week the harvest will be in full swing in all parts of Canterbury. So far the samples of wheat placed on offer have been few in number, and the quality shows great variation, according to the district in which it is grown. The old season’s grain still commands the former prices, but new season’s grain is selling at somewhat lower prices, the buyers being in many cases somewhat doubtful as to its condition. During the week sales have been .made on a basis of from 3s 9d to 3s 10:1 d. The latter price has been paid for prime quality Tuscan. A factor which prevents exporters operating is the difficulty of securing freight, little being obtainable for some time. There is a great shortage of corn sacks, and in many cases merchants have cleared the whole of their stocks. A full ■stock is expected to arrive in Lyttelton within "the next ten days, but it is doubtful whether this will suffice to meet the demand. Little of new season’s oats is yet forward. Indeed, supplies have been barely large enough to" meet the demands for shipment coastwise. Algerians are chiefly in evidence, other varieties being scarce. Last season’s stocks are now very low, and command \prices quite up to quotations, but for the new season’s cereal the general price at which sales have been made have been Is Gd to l.s 61a', on trucks at country stations, but in a few cases a price -1-d to Id higher has been asked and given for parcels of very prime. It is generally believed the barley croi> will be smaller than last year, mainly as the result of a severe storm on Christmas Day, which broke the straw, preventing -the grain maturing oroperlv. In consequence of this many" samples, although excellent in color, are thin and attenuated, with the result that there is e. very wide range of prices, superior samples realising 4s per bushel, while lines of poor grade range down to 2s 9d. As yet offerings are limited to perennial ryegrass, for which there is some inquiry from the North Island. There is a short supply, hut of Italian ryegrass a fair amount’is still on offer. .

OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND CROP PROSPECTS. IPuii Press Association. I DUNEDIN, Jan. 22. The “Daily Times’ ” estimates of the crop prospects in Otago and Southland is as -follows: —-Wheat: 80,000 acres were sown, as against 56,309 last season. The estimated yield is 2,960,000 bushels, but that is based -on the conditions .prior to December 10, since then the weather has not been favorable to large yields. Last year s yield was 1,783,097 bushels. The market is expected to open at 3s lid or 4s f.0.b., sacks extra for f.a.q. grade, equal to 3s 8d to 3s 9d on trucks at railway sidings. Oats: . The area sown was 173,000 acres, as against 184,832 last year. Last year’s yield was 9,716,628 bushels. This year’s estimated yield is 9,169,000 bushels, but this will not be realised. The average yield m the

Oamaru district is expected to he 35 bushels per acre, and in Otago and Southland 40 to 45 bushels per acre. The opening (prices will .probably rule about Is'Sd f.o.b. for B. grade, sparrowbills and B grade Cartons, and Is 9d for A grade and sparrowbills, and probably Is lOd for A grade Gartons. These are subject to an addition of 3d per bushel .on trucks at railway sidings. The area of turnips sown this year was 522, 550 acres, as against 430,636. last year. A good crop is now assured. The area sown in potatoes was 30,500 acres, as against 29,919 last year . The area sown in ryegrass was 50,126 acres, as against 50,120 last -yiear. The area- sown in barley this, year was 42,500 acres, as against 48,853 last year. FROZEN MEAT MARKET. United Punas Association —Copyright. (Received Jan. 23. 5 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 22. Southland sheep 3|d, North Island 33d, the rest unchanged. Lambs and beef unchanged. Australian sheep: Heavy 3 3-16 cl, light 3^d. Lambs: Best brands 33d, fair quality 3sd> inferior quality 3gd. Beef: Hindquarters 2fd.