CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 29, 4 February 1928, Page 4

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

OATS ON THE MOVE.

SLACKENING WHEAT OFFERS* POTATOES FIRMED DURING WEEK. (By Telegraph— Press Association.) CHRISTCHUKCH, Friday. While there is a general quietness in the market there has been an increase in the demand for oats. The reasons are varied, but principal among them is the fact that for the first time for some years the new season's oats are coming forward without any carry-over from the preceding year to compete with them. A second reason is the substantially reduced area in crop this year, and a third is the prospect of export. These factors are combining to invest the market with a good deal of firmness. During the week new season's Algerians have been sold at 3/2 a bushel on trucks, and Gartons have been sold at 3/lVz. F. 0.8. sales of the latter variety have taken place at 3/7 The crops promise to thresh out a very bright sample, as they have ripened and have been cut, and stacked with practically no rain. A preponderance of the white oats is certain to grade milling quality, which no doubt will reduce the spread existing during the last few weeks between A and B Gartons.

There is a slackening of wheat offers by farmers, clue principally to harvest being now in full swing. This situation is welcome to the milling trade, most of the members of which are holding a fair quantity of forward bought wheat round about 5/10 to 6/, and are not wanting to see the market, through a glut of offerings, come down below the 5/8 to 5/9 at present ruling. The first wheat threshing of the season is reported from the Waikare district, and the wheat was sold for immediate dispatch North. The price is stated to have been 6/ on truck for the Tuscan and 6/4 for the Hunters. The wheat from north of the Weka Pass is the best quality grown in the province, from the nonmoisture point of view, and ite superiority in this respect and its early delivery give it a premium over other wheats.

Potatoes have firmed during the week. Farmers are busy with other work and offers have decreased. However, there is good inquiry from the Xorth Island, and £4 17,6, and in one case, £o, f.0.b., s.i., has been paid for April delivery. The equivalent on truck price of this is £3 10/ to £4. For March delivery, £4 5/ on trucks has been paid. A shipment of potatoes is going to Auckland by this week's boat. There is just a shade of uncertainty as to how the prolonged spell of dry hot weather will affect the yield. Chaff has been bought at £3 7/6 and £3 10/ a "ton on trucks.

The .pea market has changed very little, but there is a slightly stronger tone. About 6/6 a bushel is quoted for AprilJune, with another penny for earlier. HUNTERVILLE STOCK SALE. Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd.. report that at their Hunterville sale, held on Thursday, they had a good yarding of sheep and a fair entry of cattle. Despite continued dry weather, the stock was in good condition, and there was a good attendance of buyers. Competition foxsheep was keen, and the auctioneers were successful in disposing of all lines. Quotations: Five-year ewes, 17/7; bull ewes, 12/ to 13/9; ewe lambs, 17/; wether lambs, 13/10; m.s. lambs, small, 11/1; small b.f. lambs, 13/6. MATAMATA STOCK SALE. There was a good attendance of buyers at the Matamata saleyards when Dalgety and Co., Ltd., offered a fair yarding of cattle, pigs, and sheep. Although practically every lot offered found a purchaser the bidding was very varied. All the sheep yarded were disposed of, fat wethers realising £14/ and cull ewes from 4/ to 5/9. Cattle. —Fat cows, £5 12/6 to £64/; others, £4 15/ to £5 10/; fresh-conditioned cows, £3 12/ to £4 5/; potter bulls, £3 to £7.

Pigs.—Large stores, £1 6/ to £1 13/; slips, 13/ to 18/; best weaners, 8/ to 11/.

TAIHAPE STOCK SALES. TAIHAPE, Friday

At the fortnightly stock sale held in Taihape by the Associated Auctioneers, there was an exceptionally good yarding of sheep and cattle. The attendance of buyers was good and bidding brisk, quotations being well up to market values. Sheep and lambs realised very good prices, and very few lines were passed in. Quotations:—

New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., report as follows: Cull Romney m.s. lambs, 9/; m.a. cull wethers, 16/2, m.a. store wethers, 20/ to 20/3; bullocks, £6 10/; forward cows, £4 to £5 2/; 18-months Polled Angus steers, £5 19/ to £7 14/; 3%-year Polled Angus steers, £6 11/; poor conditioned Polled Angus steers, £4 19/; fat bullocks, £10 6/; forward bullocks, £7 2/6. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report as follows: Empty heifers, £3 12/; fat cows, £4 16/ to £6; empty cows, poor condition, £2 2/; springing heifers, £5 10/; forward bullocks, £9 6/; ..steers, £5 10/; forward empty heifers, £47/; poor heifers, empty, £22/ to £2 8/6; one bull. £5 5/; Romney rams, £4 4/; black-faced lambs. 12/6; m.a. ewes, 16/; medium wethers, 19/6: fat wethers, 24/9; fat lambs, 18/6 to £1; black-faced lambs, 10/6. FAT STOCK PRICES. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd.. report:—At the Te Awamutu sale on Thursday last, we submitted a good entry of beef, with store cattle, sheep, and pigs in moderate numbers. There was steady competition for all classes, and we effected a total clearance. We quote:— Fat steers, medium weights, £9 5/ to £10 5/; light steers, £7 12/6 to £8 6/; good fat cows and heifers, £6 11/ to £7 6/; lighter, £5 16/ to £6 5/; plain fat cows, £5 5/ to £5 12/; large framed fleshy cows, £4 .2/ to £4 19/; others, £2 10/ to £3 16/; 3%-year-old steers. £6 10/ to £7; bulls. £3 to £4 10/; dairy cows, £7 to £7 10/; heifers, £5 15/ to £6 10/; weaner Jersey cross heifers, £1 15/; b.f. woolly lambs, 13/3 to 14/3; shorn store lambs, 8/11 to 9/3. Store pigs sold at improved rates. We quote: Store porkers, £1 1/ to £1 4/; slips, 15/ to 16/; weaners, 6/ to 11/.