GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 9992, 23 March 1898, Page 4

GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

(RY OTTR COHMBRCIAT. EDITOR.) The level to which the price of wheat has reached, as compared with the values ruling in the outside markets, is evidently causing attention to be paid to the question of importing supplies. lb i 3 reported that enquiries are being sent from Auckland to San Francisco regarding the cost of importing wheat from that quarter, and it is also rumoured that Hobarfc is turning its attention to Auckland as a probable outlet for surplus wheat. Orders, it is stated, are likely to be sent from Dunedin to Melbourne for a.trial shipment of about 3000 sacks of wheat if it can be got at 3s lOd, f.o.b. The freight would be about 2?fd per bushel and the New Zealand duty is s|d per bushel, and, as the sacks would be included, the cost landed in Dunedin would be about 4s 6d per bushel. Prime milling wheat was quoted in Dunedin last week at 4s 7d to 4s Bd. During the last few days there has not been much business passing locally in wheat, as millers, who are now stocked with two to three months' supplies, are not buying very freely. There are bub few oats offering, and the small lots that have changed hands have made 2s 2£d at country stations. A nice, bright line of Southland feed oats, grown this season, has been placed at 2s 4d at Addington, the quality being much superior to the average of Canterbury grown oats. There i 3 a good enquiry for barley for shipment coastwise, and. several sale 3 have been made at As 4d-to 4s od f.0.b., according to quality. A considerable quantity of good malting barley could be placed at the lower figure to outside buyers, who do not care to go beyond this limit. Derwent potatoes are firmer, and 45s is now being given for forward As much as 47a 6d has been given for crops close to town, and 50s for immediate deli-, very, but 46s is the ruling price at handy country stations. There is a good all-round demand for onions, and the prices has advanced to £4 at country stations. The following are carrent prices paidto fanners, f.0.b., Lyttelton, for direct shipment from country stations and free of commission, except where otherwise specified :— Old Wheat—Good to prime quality pearl 4s 3d to 4s 4d, Tuscan 4a 2d to 4s 3d, Hunter's 4s to 4s Id/ second quality wheat about 3d lower. New Wheat—4s Id to 4s 3d. Oats—Prims willing 2s 5d to 2s 6d, good stout feed 2s| 2d to 2s 3d, fair short feed 2s Id to 2s 2d, Duns 2s 3d to 2s 4d, Danish 2s. to 2s 2d. BARLEY—Erim. malting, new 4b 6d to 43 2d, extra choice 5s delivered, feed 2s 6d, Cape 2s 9d. 9d. . Peas--Bine Prussians 3s 9d. Flour (millers* quotations)— Roller £11, stone £10. Sharps---85s. Bran—6ss. Oatmeal—£l2.. Oatsh-ap Chast—6os '.o 65s at country stations. Potatoes—Dements <iss for forward delivery, Kidneys 555, Early Roses 655, at country stations. Onions—Bos at country stations. Grass Seed —Ryegrass, farmers' lots 2s 6d to 3s, machine dressed 4s to 4s 6d, and extra heavy shotty seed up to 4s9d ; cocksfoot, bright 3d to 3jd ; discoloured 2£d to „|d; cowgrass 6d to 7d; white clover s_d to 6_d ; alsyke, s_d to 6_d. Dairt"Produce—Old cheese 3d to 3_d, new cheese 3_d to 4d, old loaf 3_d to 4d, new do 4d to 4_d; butter, factory lOd, do ia boxes 9d, dairy 7d to 9d, salt 'n bo-scs 6d to 7d j bacon "6_-d, do roll 6__ to7d; haras Bd. The New Zealand Farmers' Co-opera-tive Association of Canterbury, Ltd., ■i quote as follows on March 22nd :— Wheat—Prime milling Pearl .. 4s 4Jd to 4s 5d f.o.b ~ ~ T_*~an(sc_rce)4a4dto4ssd „ „ „ Hunter's 4a 2d to 4a 3d „ New Wheat 4s to 4s lidon tracks at country . stations lor prime luilliDS* Seconds',clean.. .. Si 2d to 3s 4d „ Oa~---"_-rl-*_s-ndl>a-*' .. 2s4d Good Stout feed.. : .. ?ssd ~ ICffinjt .. •• 2s6d „ Barley—Prime malting (delivered at malthousia> .. 4s 3d to 4s 6d „ Extra-choicesamples .. 4s 9d „ Kedium (dull) .. .. 3s fid to 33 9d „ Feed .. _, . .. S-4d .. Bmws-OW,scarce .. . .. 2s 9a to & 104. „ Pew-Prussian Blues ... .. 4s to 4s 6d. .. Pr_Sid-e .. "^?_*°| s4d " Ryegrass—Ftwtacrs' lines .. 2s6dto_s „ Cocksfoot — Farmers' par- • eels, good brichtße_fi .. 22dto3_d ~ Medium grades .. .. 2*4' Jjark .. .» ..2dto2Jd „ C__S-.*_ood oatsheat .. .. 60?. to 65s at country """•■ stations Potatoes--s«wen_ _. ■' .. *_ to *?s -Kidnfeya .. .. »k to 3|s Early Roses .. 65s to 75s