GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10042, 21 May 1898, Page 6

GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

(by our cqmmercul editob,) Fbipay Evenikg. The slightly easier tone displayed in the whpat market at Home daring the week has steadied the local market somewhat, hat the business transacted during the past few day? shows that prices are still very firm. The sale of wheat by auction at Ashburton on Thursday has been the chief item of interest during the week, and in addition to the lots that changed 'hands at the sale, it may be mentioned that between 4000 and 5000 sacks that were .passed in were disposed of privately on basis of value similar to that ruling at auction. There is little business nowtaking place betweee growers and buyers, as the former are firm in holding for a further improvement in prices. It is reported that a line of over 4000 sacks of wheat in second hands has been sold in town within the last few days, but the price has not transpired. 'Here is but a small turnover in oats, the only enquiry being for feed paroels for immediate ccasumjTtion. Th.-, hardening of lire market in th* south hat restricted the im*

portations for the present from that quarter. There is a little demand for feed barley. Enquiries are now coming ill from Europe for patent machine-dressed cocksfoot averaging from 171b to 181b per bushel, but very little so far has changed hands, as buyers' and sellers' ideas of prices are not yet coinciding. Local business in all lines of agricultural see"ds is, as usual, very quiet at this season of the year. During tiho past few days the potato market has been somewhat easier, and buyers have reduced their limit. Offerings are now being pretty freely made at £5 10s, but, while some "exporters are ready to give this figure, others are not willing to go beyond £5. The recent heavy arrivals in Sydney, and the shipments now going forward to «--at port and to Melbourne, appear likely to affect values in the New South Wales market, especially as that eclony has been supplying victoria. The cable advice on Wednesday announced a rise of £1 per ton in Sydney a-s compared with the previous week, but private information has since been received to the effect that the market has a downward tendency, and that only £6 to £6 ss, f.0.b., is being offered for July shipment. The following arc current prices paid to farmers, f.0.b., Lyttelton, for direct shipment from country stations and free of commission, except where otherwise specified :— New Wheat—Good to prime quality pearl 4s 9d to 4s lid, Tuscan 4s 8d to 4s 10d, Hunter's 4s 8d to 4s 9£d, second quality wheat about 3d lowei. Oats—Prims milling 2s 9d to 2s 10d, good stout feed 2s 7d to 2s 9d, fair short feed 23 6d to 2s Bd, Duns 2s 6d to 2i 7d, Danish 2s 5d to 2s 6d. Barley-^Prime malting 4s 6d to 5a (extra choice), feed 2s 6d, Cape 2s 9d. Bkans—ss 3d to 3s 6d (scarce). Pkas—Blue Prussians 4s to 4s 6t\, partridge or maple 3s to 3s 3d. Flour (millers' quotations) —Roller £13, stone £12. Sharps—£s. Bran—£4. Oatmkalt—.6l3. Oatsheaf Chaff—6ss at country stations. Potatoes— Derwents £5 to £5 10s, Kidneys £6, Early Roses £7, at country stations. Onioxs—£6 10s 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 4s 9d ; cocksfoot., bright 3d to ; discoloured to 2.Jd ; cowprass 6d to 7d ; white clover sjd to 6&d ; alayke, s£d to 6Jd. Dairy Produck—Old cheese 3d to 3&d, new cheese 3Jd to 4d, old loaf to 4d, new do 4d to 4id; butter, factory (local) Is 3d, (North Island) Is 2d, dairy Is Id, salt in bows 10d to Is; bacon 6Jd, do roll 6Jd to 7rl; hams Bd. The New Zealand Farmers' Co-opera-tive Association* of Canterbury, Ltd., quote as followa on May 20lh :— Wheat—Prime milling Pearl .. 4s 9d to 4s 10i f .o.li „ Tuscan (scarce) 4s9d to4slOd ~ '~ „ Hunter'e 4sßdto4s9d „ Oats—Tartars and Duns .. 2s 7d „ Good stout feed.. .. 2s7ci to2sßd „ Seed .. .. 239dt02510d „ Barley—Prime malting (delivered at malthouse) .. 4s 3d to 4s6d „ Extra choice samples .. 4s 9d „ J.ediuin (dull) .. .. 3a 6d to 3a 9d „ Feed .. «, ..3s to 3s 4d „ Beans—Old, scarce .. .. 3s2dto3s6d ~ Peas—Prussian Blues .. ..4s to 4s ta „ Partridge .. ..353dt0335d „ Ryegrass— Farmers'lines ~250dt033 „ Cocksfoot— Farmers' parcels, good bright seed .. 2£dto3id ~ Medium grades .. .. 2id ~ Dark 2dto22d Chaff—Good oatsheaf .. ~ 65s at counli'V stations rotataes-Tterwents .. .. 110s to 115 a Kidneys „ .. UOs (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) INVER'JARGILL, May 20. The only change in the produce markets this week is the hardening of wheat, of v/hich large sales have been made at 5s per bushel on trucks. The demand for oats continues strong under the large competition. On Saturday last fully 20,000 sacks were offered, and nearly all wore sold at 2s to 2s Id, sacks extra, at sidings. Specially clean sparrow bills, 2a 2d; milling Sutherlands to 2s 3d; barley, 5s 3d for malting ; potatoes, £6 10s.