GRAIN MARKET.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7872, 25 May 1891, Page 3

GRAIN MARKET.

Messrs H. Matson and Co. (associated with the National M. and A. Company of N.Z., Limited), report for the week ending May 25th :— Wheat—The market Is again a little firmer, owing to an improvement at Home caused by bad weather. Reports from Australia do not point to an immediate advance, as millers have secured full stocks, so that oar local market for the present is dependent on the London one as regards values. Quotations are:— Tuscan, 4s to 4s Id ; Pearl, 3s lid ; Hunter's, 3a 9d to 3s 10d.

Oats have a good enquiry, and prices are a shade firmer. Australian indications do not, however, exhibit signs of improvement in values, as the markets appeal well supplied, at prices almost equivalent to our quotations. Milling we quote at Is 9d; short feed, Is 7d to Iβ 8d; Duos, Is 7d; common feed, Is 6d. Barley—An improved demand has set ia during the week, but prices bo far have not benefited thereby. Prime is scarce, the bulk of offerings being but medium. Quotations:—Prime, 3s; medium, 2s 6d to 2a 9d; common, 2s to 2s 4d ; feed, Iβ 6d to 2a.

Potatoes — The market is simply paralysed, as growers will not accept prices offering, viz., 20a per ton at country stations.

Grass seeds are not in demand and pricee In the meantime are nominal. Peas—Blue Prussians 2s 9d co 39, demand slack; feed 2s 3d to 2s 6d.

Beans, 2s 7d. Quotations are f.0.b., sacks extra (potatoes excepted). Grain Auction—Saturday's auction was well represented by the trade and results were satisfactory. Wheat realised 2s 6d to 3»4d for fowls' wheat, milling was not offered at auction. The demand wu an Improvement on last week. Oatg were in better demand and sold from Is 6d to Is Bd. Barley—Nothing to suit the local trade was offered, buc malting lines were decidedly in better request during the week. Peas—A line of blues sold at 2s 9d. Potatoes—Demand extremely dull at 15s to 20a. A line of second-hand bags sold at 6d. Prices are ex-store.

Mr D. Thomas reports upon the Live Stock Market in the Ashburton district for the week ending May 20th, as follows, viz.:—At the Ashburcon Yards last Tuesday the usual weekly sale •( lire stock was held. The attendance of the public was fully up to the average: biddings were spirited, and a clearance was effected of all the sheep at values higher than those ruling; last week. The cheep offered were as a whole of a very much better class than, is usual to see at this time of the year in the ealeyards, and belug suitable for tmde requirements were all the more easily sold. The catalogues for the day weru again large, consisting of 6791 sheep, 15 head of cattle, and 33 pig», of which my entry comprised 2000 sheep, 7 head of cattle, and 34 pigs. My principal sales ia sheep were 449 tourtooth merino wethers, half fat, at 9s 4d and 147 four-tooth cull merino wethers 8a Id. Those sheep were sent in by Mr Herring, of the Alford Estate, and the prices realised will show how much their quality was appreciated by the public. Un account of Mr D. McKendry 213 fat-two-tooth crosebreds, 14s 7d; account Mr E. Thomas, 125 fat crossbred two-tooths at 14« I'M; account Mr Mahoney, 23 fat crossbred ewes 9s Id; account Mr W. F. Allen, 41 fat merino wethers 10s 6d; account Mr Bonnington, 71 merino ewes at 4s 3d; account Mr H. Smith, 396 crossbred ewes' in lamb 7s 10d, and 213 crosubred ewes in lamb 7e 9d; account Mr Hardwick 280 merino ewes in iamb, &c. Iα cattle I sold 3 head light w'igbt fat heifers at £4; 2 steers, £4 15s, &c. In pigs, I sold suckers at Is 6d each; baconera, 30a and 32s 6d each; porkers, 5 at 16s 6d. 10 at 18s, 3at 12s, and 1 at 20s. Taken all round, the sale was the most regular and satisfactory that has been held in the district for some weeks.

Last Friday I held my usual fortnightly sale of sheepskins, hides, fat and tallow. There was a good attendance of fellmongers, and a considerable rise in values took place. My catalogue consisted of 754 sheepskins, 2 bags fat, and 11 hides. Butchers' best crossbred skins made 4?, 4s Id, to 4s 8d; second quality, 2s 10d, 3s 3d, 3s 6d, to 3s lid each; best merino, 3s, 3s 3d, to 3s 9d; second quality, 2s to 2s lid; smaller skins, both crosabreds and merinos. Is 3d to Is 10d; pelts, 2d to 8d each; rough fat, l£d; hides, lid per lb.