MELBOURNE GRAIN MARKET

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2104, 10 April 1889, Page 3

MELBOURNE GRAIN MARKET

The following Is from the report of the National Mortgage and Agenoy Company under date March 30 : —

The Improvement mentioned towards Ihe end of February, has steadily increased and the month just ended has seen an all round inorease In the values of grain and agricultural produce of ail descriptions, and, with the publication of the Agrloul* total itatfitlos and confirmation of the general fean of short orops (wbloh appear on the carefully oomplled tables of the Government returns as likely to turn out •yen worse than anticipated), we do not expect to see much if any fall from the present values ; Indeed higher prices oan be looked for In wheat, flour, and local feeding grains. Imported oats oan hardly be ixpeoted to hold at present rates, bearing In mind the fine yield In New Zealand, unless it Is found that a demand foe our up country district* seta m (and this Ii by no means improbable), and that the northern oolonlea' demands prove extra heavy.

Tbe impression that we are to have a fttf tight winter In financial matters la gaining ground, and already this la having iti effect on the grain and produce trade, although we do not fear any thing serious; Indeed it may have a beneficial effeot, and oheok undue speculation* New Zealand exporters will have noted the result of our elections, which have given us a parliament from whom they need not fear any fhorease of groin duties. Wheat 1 1 very good property, and although after falling to 5b 7d ftom 5s 101 and 6s, to which It Immediately rose on publication of the statistics, we may ezpeot to ice these higher figures again very soon. Considerable speculation has been done at is Bd, and as there appears to be only just enough In Victoria for her own uses, • drop Is very Improbable* Importations are out of tbe question with a handicap of li lOd pec bushel, duty, freight, eto. Xhdre have beep many Inquiries for New £ealanct' "wheat; but the iibove impost, coupled with the firmness of the growers |li that' colony has prevented any buslnets. We bear to-day of a shipment of 20,000 bags from San Frauclnco to Sydney at 4i 2d, o M. Oats— are almost ldentlcaly tbe same figures as last reported, after having rlßsn and fallen agttn 3d per bushel during tbe month. Country arrlyala have almost ceased, and it will not be surprising to see large demand! during the winter for up country, In which oase no serious fall m the present value may be looked for, particularly when It is borne In mind that New Zealand farmer*, from where the bulk of supplies are drawn, are this season In ft muoh better poiilic n, and knowing that Australia generally, will require very large shipments, they are inclined to hold firmly, m which they are likely to be sup* ported by the financial institutions. t BißLSY— Very l(ttle demittd, and prices »bb«t on a level with bui last quotations, §«w£ttUn4 U offering fiealy \% illghtly

reduoed figures, bat the awy and othe oharges keep It out. Prime malting, 5 7 Ho 6» 93 ; Cape lower than any other f .f.-^ing grain, and procurable at 3s 4d to 3s sd.

Ua I ess otherwise stated all prloes are m Melbourne (datv p»H), baga In.