CORN EXCHANGE REPORT.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4281, 19 April 1879, Page 4

CORN EXCHANGE REPORT.

■"The following is the report of the Corn Exchange for the week ending April 18th :— The weather lhas been favorable for threshing operations, and the bulk of the grain has been safely secured for the market. The result of the threshing machine returns show the average in many casee varying as low as four bushels of wheat to tke acre, which is unparalleled in tbe history of grain growing in New Zealand. In South Australia the published statistics in instances do not reach an a°verage of four bushels to the acre. Very little business has been transaoted daring the week, on account of the holidays occupying a considerable portion of it. Wheat—The wheat market is slightly weaker, bat with several enquiries for shipping parcels. Best milling can only be quoted at 3s 4d to Sβ si; inferior to medium, 2s 10d to Sβ 2d. Oats. —There is no improvement to note. Sales of prime New Zealand oats have been made in Melbourne at 4a per bushel, duty paid, sacks given in. Maize is in good supply, and the crops are reported to be yielding largely. These facts point to lower rates ruling for a time, as the winter goes on, however, with the extreme scarcity of all descriptions of horse and cattle food, there is little doubt that prices will advance. Prices —Milling, 2s 9d to 2a 10d; feed, 2s 6d to 2a Bd. Barley.—Prime malting samples are still scarce, and any of that description coming to hand is eagerly bought up. Inferior to medium samples are more numerous, but theee do not command much attention. For the first mentioned 5s 6d to 6s is readily obtainable, while other qualities range from 3s €d to ss, according to quality. In Melbourne as high as 7s IOJd has been realised for prime malting samples. Potatoes. —The demand at Warnambool will be more than that market can supply. The farmers thero are waiting for rain preparatory to pitting, when deliveries will slacken considerably. 1400 tons of potatoes were shipped from that port during the first week of the month, and at the same time 790 ton 3 were being loaded for Adelaide and Sydney. These two ports are almost entirely dependent upon importations for supplies. The absence of rain in Victoria has been severely felt. In Melbourne the rainfall from the beginning of this year is recorded at 2.49 in., as against 9.60 in. for the same period last year, it is feared this prognosticates a dry boss on. Business here has as yet been very limited, there are several inquiries for export. This is but little disposition on the part of prodacers to accept present rates, the unquestionably ahert yield has determined farmers to pit their potatoes in pref«re»ce to accepting present rates. Quotations are the same as last week, £3 to £3 5s per ton. Grass Seed—No demand exists, and as the season is bow so far advanced there i* no prospect of any ' considerable inquiry till apriug , . Prices nominal. Cheese and Batter—Last -week's quotations are not altered. Cheese, 6d to CJd; butter, 10d to lid.