GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8476, 6 May 1893, Page 8

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

A very quiet tone continues to pervade this market, and no quotable change in values can be reported, while so far as the future is concerned uo indication or symptom of any near revival of activity is discernible. Rain has continued to fall with little intermission since we last wrote, and the clover crops that were caught in it have been completely spoiled. Beyond retarding digging and delivering, potatoes have not suffered greatly, still a spell of dry weather is what is wanted at the moment. Wheat —The cables during the week reporting that 5,092,500 quarters of wheat were aflo_t for the United Kingdom uud Continent have caused considerable surprise, as this quan'ity is unparalleled in the history of the grain trade. The only hope that cau be entertained is that American stocks are being thoroughly cleared out in anticipation of the ne»v crop. Very few samples were offered during the week, and, so far us we can learn, the business done was of a meagre and insignificant character. Quotations, therefore, are almost nomiual, both buyers and sellers manifesting uo disposition to trade at the present rates. Oats are again a little easier, but there is no absolute change in prices, as good samples are now none too plentiful. Barley—The enquiry for malting parcels is we'l maintained, aud sales can be easily effected at to-day's quotations, Potatoes are steady and buyers are meeting sellers in a more amiable spirit than they have for some years past, so that fair transactions result. The quality of tho new crop is very good, which should incline Sydney buyers to look more favourably on our shipments. Grass Skbds —Business in ryegrass and cocksfoot has dwindled down to very narrow proportions, and cannot be expected to revive until the enquiry for spring sowing sees in. As already noted, the late rains have done considerable damage to the clover seed crops. Dairy Produce—Factory butter is growing scarcer aud prices are a shade better. Cheese has only a moderate enquiry. The following are the quotations of the day:—

Wheat—Tuscan (now) .. 2s 7d to 2s 81 Pearl „ .. 2i o*l to lis 7.1 Hunter's „ .. 55s 6d to 2s Oa Chiokwnea t (Whole) .. Is Sd to 2s Do. (broken) .. ls (id to ls 101 Oabs—Milling .. .. ls 81 to ls 10J. uo.—Stout short feed .. ls 7d ls 9d Do.—lnf drier ordinary teed ls Oil to In 71 Do.—L>uus.. .. .. Ii 7d to ls ill Bariey—Prime molting .. 3i 61 to 4i Medium .. 3ito:taikt Feed .. .. I*9l to 2Boans .. .. .. *4<t lid Feos—Blue l'russiaus .. 3s 3d Feed .. .. _. tv it Od Potatoos tar. country atatlona)-- Blue derwonts .. 3_s Gd to 3oj Seeds—ltyegrass ni>tuidne dressed, heavy .. 4s to 41 3d Ryegrass, Italian .. 4s to 4. 3d Cocksfoot— .Bust bright heavy 3d to 3JI Inferior aud disco loured .. niminal Flour, in sacks (roller) .. £8 Flour (stout?) .. > .. £7 10j Oatmeal .. .. ' .. «. Los Pearl barley .. .. £16 Bran .. .. .. tf'-lOj Pollard .. „ .. *3 Uutcor—Prime fre3h .. 7d to 8d Cheese .. .. 3d to 4.1 Hams and bacon—B*re .. 7£d In cloth 7} 1 Prices for tho above are f.o._. at Lyttelton