GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7526, 16 April 1890, Page 7

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

At the date ot our last summary the conntry was suffering severely from a protracted spell of dry weather. Shortly afterwards, however, rain set in, much to the relief of graziere, but unfortunately too late to remedy the ill effects of the drought on root crops. No decided change has taken place in wheat, the values of which continue to be governed by Mark Lane and Home freights. Several cargoes have sailed or are on the point of sailing for U.K. orders, bat, as noted in our last, the bulk of what has been shipped so far goes to London direct on growers' account. At the time of writing the local market shows an improved tone in sympathy with more encouraging advices from Europe. Towards the latter part of last month and the beginning of this, considerable damage was caused to the maize crops in many districts of Australia by heavy floods and the oac market here immediately assumed a firmer front Apparently the extent of the damage has been exaggerated, as the demand from Sydney fell away as rapidly as it came and prices nere receded to tneir old leveL The price of barley has dropped persistently since the opening it the market and none but the primest of samples command attention, unless at very unremunerative rates. Ryegrass has ruled firm throughoat the season and stocks are now in i narrow compass. In cocksfoot business has only been moderate and very few transactions have been reported of late. Speculation !is now rife as to how the potato market will open and several forward sales are reported at the quotations given below. The general impression is that the crop will be unusually light, but that everything depends upon the extent of the enquiry from Sydney. There has been very little doing in either peas or beans, as holders are not disposed to sell freely at present prices. The dairy produce market calls for no special comment, being practically unaltered.

The following are the quotations of the day:Taec*n 2s 10d to 2e lid Pearl .. .. .. 2s9dto2»lod Huntert - .. .. 2sßdtoSs9d Chickwheat .. .. 2s toia3d O*tt-Mffling .. .. l»7a Do Stout short feed .. lesdtolfl6d Do—lnferior ordinary feed Is id to Is &d Barley—Fair m*lting .. 3e D«.—Medium malting .. 2s9d B«ana 2sGdtofe9d Pew—Blue Prussian .. 3e ~ Do—Feed 2s6dto2»9d Kyegras3 (machine-dressed) 4a6dto4»sd Do.—(fwmere , parcels) .. 2»9dto3*9d Coekrfbot .. - .. 2Jdtold?Flour. la sacks (roller) .. £8103,, Floor (Stone) .. ~. £8 Oatmeal .. .. .. £1010t Pearl barley .. .. £19 f Bran .. .. .- £3 * Pollard .. „ .- «310»t0£4 Potatoes, at country sta- : ■■ tions .. .. .. 409 to 45s Butter, Factory made, fresh SJd / Do.-sait) „ .. .. 6i t»ra Chew* S&tWld •; Hams aad baeon—ln cloth 8d '~ Prioeo for the above are tab. at Lyitelton.

Raphael—On April 3rd, at her late residence, 135 Madras street, Christchurcb, New Zealand, Mary Ann Raphael, wife of the late A. J. Raphael, aged 51. Moody.—On April sth, at bis residence, 162 Salisbury street West, William Henry Moody, 8.N., after a long and painful illness, aged 54. Deeply regretted. Richmond (Surrey) papers please copy. Hamilton.—On April 6th, at his son's residence. Upper Riccarton, James William Hamilton, in his 79th year. "Willis—On April 7th, very suddenly, at Sheffield, George Willis, aged 80 years. Mallikson—On the 7th inst., at the residence of B. J. Roberts, Oak Cottage. Durham street, Sydenham, David, third son of Richard Thomas and Frances Ann Mallinson, of Quarry Bank, Handfprth, Cheshire, aged 26. CfVt at.t.aKßn—Oα -the Bth insfc., at Mrs Rome's boarding house, James O'Hallaren, aged 34 years, after a short and painful illness. . His end was peace. Not dead, but gone to see our blessed King. Fosxon—At the Christchnrch Hospital, from typhoid fever, Chas. Foaton, late of Normanby by Spilal, Lincolnshire, England, aged 45. Deeply regretted by a large circle of friends. McDonald—At Richmond, Christchurcb Anna, third daughter of the late Mr "William McDonald, of Tyrone, Ireland. Deeply regretted. Somerset. —On April 11th, at his* residence, 140 Victoria street, after a long and painfnl illness, Hugh Somerset, aged sixty-three, deeply regretted. Flemtns— On April 12th, at Port Levy, Emily, the beloved daughter of Robert George and Mary Ann Fleming of Sheffield, aged twenty-one years. ' Gbk—On April 13th, at Gloucester street, Linwood, suddenly, Lucy Madeline, the infant daughter of Alfred and Elizabeth Gee, aged seven months.