GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10215, 10 December 1898, Page 6

GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

-•— (BY OUR COMMERCIAL EDITOR.} Friday Evening. The "Australasian' of the 3rd inst. says: —"The firmness in the London wheat market last week has enabled some business to be done in new crop Australian wheat for shipment. A cargo of 7000 quarters new South Australian wheat/for DecemberJanuary shipment, has been sold at 30s 3d per 4801b cost, freight, and insurance. It is also, understood that another cargo of similar dimensions, in addition to a parcel by steamer, has also been sold. The question of what price shippers can give in the colonies depends on the rate of freight, and 2s lOd appears to be the highest they can afford to pay at present. But besides getting their own money back again, they very reasonably want a little profit for themselves to compensate for the risks run and expenses incurred. About ten vessels have, so far, been chartered to load wheat cargoes, and most of them have the usual option of loading either in South Australia or in Victoria." There has been a little more life in the local market-during the week, but millers 'are only buying to meet present requirements, which are very heavy. Tuscan is a little harder in value than pearl, while Hunter's continues to be more or less of a drug. A line of 400 sacks of. Tuscan has been placed at 3s 6d delivered at the mill, and another fair sized fine at a similar figure, while small lobs of pearl and Tuscan have been sold at 3s 4d to 3s sd;at<.the mills. A line of Hunter's was taken at equal to 3s 2d f.0.b., but another sale is reported ? as low as 2s 9d f.0.b., for good quality wheat, of the same variety. There has been rather more enquiry for feed oats, but business can only be done on a lower basis of values than those'ruling of late. Southland B grade have been offered at 2s Id at Addington, but buyers would only give 2s, which was declined. The following are current prices paid to farmers, f.0.b., Lyttelton, for direct shipment from country stations and free of commission, except where otherwise fpecified:— Wheat to prime quality pearl 3s 5d to 3s 6d, Tuscan 3s 6d to 3s 7d, Hunter's 3s 2d to". 3s 3d, second quality wheat about 3d lower. Oats—Good stout feed 2s 2d, fair short feed 2s to 2s Id. . Barley (nominal). Beans—3s 6d to 3s 9d (scarce). Peas-—Blue Prussians 4s to 4s 6d, partridge or maple 3s 3d to 3s 6d. Flour (miners' quotations, nominal)— Roller £10, stone £9. Sharps—-£4. Bran—£3. Oatmeal—£l3. Oatsheaf Chaff (nominal) —55s to 60s at country stations. Grass Seed—Ryegrass, farmers' lots 2a 6d to 3s, machine dressed 4s to 4s 6d; cocksfoot, bright 3£d, discoloured 3d; cowgrass s£d to 6d j white clover s£d to 7d; alsyke 6jd to 7d. Dairy Produce—Cheese 3£d to 4d, factory 4d to 4£d, loaf 4d to sd; butter, factory (local) 9d, dairy 6d to 7d, salt (in boxes) 5d to 6d; bacon 7d, do roll 7d to 7£d; hams 8d; factory bacon and ham id higher. (PRESS -ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) INVERCARGILL, December 9. The oat market is still depressed, and prices eased a little during the week. Holders are anxious to clear, the Australian harvest being at hand.