CHRISTCHURCH GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XVII, Issue 4193, 17 May 1897, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET.

The Press of Saturday, reporting on the local grain market aays :—• Locally there is very iittle wheat offering, and the bulk of the crop appears to have pawed into seoond hands. Those farmers who are in ft position to hold are looking forward to an improvement in values as the Reason advances, and are not anxious to sell at present. Millers are, however, apparently desirous of keeping up their stocks, and it in reported that several large purchases have been made from merchants in the South. Generally them is a firmer tone in tho market. In Dunedin there is also a brisk demand for prime samples at 4s 2d to 4a 3d for velvet, and 4a and 4s Id for Tuscan. Heavy oats are in brisk demand in Melbourne, up to 2s 5d ; and the Sydney market maintains its level of last week, New Zea- | land medium being worth 2s 4i, prime ieedir>g to 2a sd, and seed 2s 6d. There are practically no offerings in Christchurch of locally grown oats, and farmers who have not yet sold are holding in anticipation of a •till greatei scarcity in the winter. Southland oats are being purchased for seed, and were it not for the stocks held in the South, and the comparatively low rates ruling at present at handy country stations, local values of ' both seed and feed lines would probably be rruch beyond present quotations. The Dunedin market is easier than a week or two ago, prime bright samples being worth 2s 2s 2d, and discolored Is 10d to la lid. Maltsters are realising the scarcity o» prime samples of barley, and discolored parcels are therefore in better demand up to 3s Bd. In Dunedin prime samples are worth 4s to 4s 3d, and extra prime have reached 4s 4d. In Sydney there is a strong demand for chaff, and there seems to be a prospect of prices firming in that market, as there is a paucity of local offerings, and importations ar« comparatively light. The latest cable quotations are £4 to £4 10s for medium, and 454 15a to £5 5s for prime. Bright heavy lines of oatsheaf are worth 55s to 60s at country stations in Canterbury, but. at these figures'there are but few offerings. Dunedin quotations are £3 2s 6d to £3 lOd for bright samples. The following are current prices paid to farmers, f.o.b, Lyttelton, for direct Bhipment from country stations and free of commission, except where otherwise specified?—

Wheat—Good to prime quality pearl 3s lid to 4e, Tuscan 3s lOd to 3s lid, Hunter's 3a 9d to 3s 10£ d, second quality wheat about 2d lower. Oats—Prime milling 2s 6d, good stout feed 2s 4d, fair short feed 2s 3d to 2s 3|d, Dunn 2s 3d, Danish 2s Id to 2s 2d. Baeley — Prime malting 3a 8d to 4*, medium 3a 3d to 3a 6d, feed 2s to 2b 4d, Cape 2s sd.

The Mew Zealand Farmers' Co-opera-tive Association of Canterbury, Ltd., quote as follows on May 14: — WheatPrime milling Pearl 4s Id f.o.b. „ „ Tuscan 4a „ „ „ Hunter's 4s „ Seconds, clean ... 3s 3d ,» Oats— Tartars and duns .. 2s 4d „ Good stout feed ... 2s 5d „ Milling ... .. 2s 6d „ BarleyPrime malting ... 3s j&d to 4s „ Medium (dull) ... 3s to 3s 3d „ Beans ... ... 2a 8d „ J?eas~~ Prussian blues , 4 s „ Partridge ... .« 3b 3d „ Ryegraes—Farmers' lines 2s 6d. CocksfootGood bright seed ... 3§d „ Medium grades ... 3d „ haffGood oatßheaf ... 60s at country stations. Potatoes—Dements ... 37a 6d „