COMMERCIAL NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 256, 10 August 1933, Page 7

COMMERCIAL NEWS

GRAIN AND PRODUCE. THE ASHBURTON MARKET. As most mercantile firms in Ashburton have been closed for two days this week, business has been somewhat disorganised. There is no quotable change in the values of commodities, as very few sales have been recorded. An overseas ship is at present loading part of the Wheat Purchase Board's sale of surplus wheat at Lyttelton and it is understood that further shipments will be made within the next few weeks. The following are quotations for the grain and seeds. With the exception of wheat, which is f.0.b., the prices are on trucks at country stations, sacks bxtra. Wheat —Tuscan, good milling 3s B£d, Hunters 3s 10Jd, Velvet 4s Okl, fowl wheat 2s lid, wheat seconds 2s. Oats—Algerian, Is 5d to Is tid; good heavy dark Duns Is 6d to Is Bd, heavy Gartons Is 6d to Is 8d; B grade Is 3d. Grass Seed —Perennial Is b'd, Wolths and Italian Is 3d to Is 6d; cocksfoot, 3*d to 4d a lb. Clover—Red 7d to 7£d a lb, white 9d to lOd a lb. Chaff—Good, bright, oatsheaf, £2 2s 6d a ton. Peas—No. 1 Partridge 4s, f.a.q. 3s per bushel. 2s Gd to 2s 9d a bushel. Potatoes —Dakota s and whites £4 a ton (nominal). SOUTH CANTERBURY MARKET. TIMARU, This Day. In continuation of an unusually quiet period, there has during the last week been very little activity in the South Canterbury grain, seed and produce markets. At present there is a fair amount of milling wheat held, and there is very little business passing. There has been a good deal of fowl wheat shipped from this port. Sales have been made at 3s 4Jd to 3s 5d a bushel f.0.b.5.e., but there should be a better inquiry this month. A Garton oats, which have been very slow of sale, are worth Is 9d a bushel on trucks, and B's Is 6d. Duns are quoted at Is 9d a bushel on trucks. No. 1 Partridge peas have been sold at 4s to 4s 3d a bushel on trucks. Chevalier barley and Cape barley are worth 2s 9d and 2s a bushel on trucks respectively. Chaff is quoted at £2 to £2 5s on trucks. Yesterday's price for potatoes was £4 a ton on trucks. An Auckland report states that the market in that centre is very depressed by recent heavy consignments which have been 'meeting with a poor demand. Quite a few lots remain on the wharf and these are very difficult to sell as against fresh consignments. Auckland merchants are receiving offers of potatoes from many parts of the province which usually did not market in that centre, while Rangitikei potatoes which are available, militate against a good market for the Canterbury shipments. There has been a little better demand for grass seed. Prices remain at Is 9d a bushel on trucks for ryegrass and Western Wolths. Other seeds quotations are: White clover Is a lb, oowgrass Bd, and Plains cocksfoot 4d.

BURNS!DE STOCK SALE. The market holiday at Addington, owing to Carnival Week in Christchurch, probably diverted several consignments, particularly of cattle, to Burnside for to-day's sale. About 267 fat cattle were yarded, mainly of plain quality. On such a full offering butchers could pick and choose and they left plain sorts to graziers, who bought any well - bred sorts. The opening prices were easier by 20s per head, although at times a temporary firming tendency was noticeable. Values generally settled down to this basis. The top price of £l2 17s 6d- was made by some choice well-bred bullocks from South Otago. Prime heavy bullocks made from £8 to £lO, medium £6 10s to £7 10s, light and unfinished £5 to £6. Best heifers made to £7 17s 6d, others £5 to £6. Medium heavy young cows made to £5 17s 6d and others £2 10s to £4.

The yarding of 2400 fat sheep contained more wethers and some primer ewes than usual, the general average being a distinct improvement on recent offerings. Country butchers and buyers from Canterbury caused keen competition and an excellent sale resulted. Wethers brought right up to last week's values but ewes of all descriptions showed an advance of 2s per head. Best prime heavy wethers sold to 25s 6d, prime 21s to 235, medium weight 19s to 20s, light 17s to 18s 6d. Extra prime heavy ewes made to 23s 6d, prime heavy 17s to 20s, medium 14s to 16s 6d, light and aged ewes 10s to 12s 6d. The few hoggets forward showed insufficient finish for butchers and consequently competition in this section was confined to graziers who bid freely at late rates. Several trucks of three-year-old steers were included in the yarding of store cattle and sold up to £5 10s, a rise of about £1 per head oh last sale's rates. Cows, which were firm at late values, realised from £2 12s 6d to £3 12s 6d. About 40 yealers were offered and these sold at from £1 2s 6d to £3 17s.

The pig yarding consisted of 150 fats and 98 stores. Bacon pigs were- a little cheaper than last week, selling from £2 16s to £3 3s. A smaller consignment of porkers than usual sold at advanced rates. This class brought from £\7s 6d to £2 2s 6d, about 10s per head more than the prices realised at the previous sale. SALE OF FARM. Messrs Evans and Bull, Land Agents, 63 Cathedral Square, Christchurch, report having sold on behalf of the Public Trustee, 161-J acres at Greenstreet together with all improvements thereon, to Mr B. £>. Hood.—(Adrfc.).