GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Press, Issue 11564, 22 April 1903, Page 9

GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

(by oca couuEßCiAx^cnrros.) Tuesday Evening. In almost all departments of grain and produce business is reported as being very ftuist. TWe is litis* grain offering, as irofders have confidence evidently in the future of the markets, and are declining to sail at th« prices offered. The millers are offering about 3s 8d to 3s 9d at country stations for wheat, but supplies cannot be procured ot these figures, ami the sale of a line of pear! at 3s IOJd at-a ntar station siiuwji that prices have not receded from tii* level of our quotations of Lite. Bran and pollard have been reduced £1 per ton, tin.- former now standing at £4 and this btux at £6i'hvie are pknty of enquiries for oate, but tlio puces offered arc not sufficient to enable to b_- done, it is repotted that an older for B grade for the North Island has been placed at Is Bd, f.0.b., Timaru. There has been an enquiry from Timaru for 2000 sacks of oats for shipment by the Norfolk to South Africa, to complete a contract, but we understand tho*. it met with no response. A good deal of interest is being manifested in the Southland oats crop, as the harvest is not yet completed. The "Otago Daily Tim**" says it is reported that scarcely a third ot the Southland oats are yet in stack, the balance being either in stook or .still growing, and it is feared that a good proportion of the crop will not bo harvested at all. Meanwhile it is said that tho Southland grain buyers have decided not to give more than Is 8d (f.0.b., Bluff, sacks in) for prime B grade this season, equal to Ls 6d to Is s£d on trucks, according to distance. The farmers are asking Is 6d to Is on trucks*, and no business is therefore resulting. Our Invercargill correspondent writes, however, that in the eastern and middle districts of Southland the bulk of the crop has been secured, but in the western district the work is much behindhand. Owing to the absence of wind at this time of year, the carting in has been considerably dalaved all through the district. A telegram received from Gore on Monday states that a snowstorm was prevailing over the whole of Southland, which would seriously interfere with the harvesting of the late crops. The "Otago Daily Times" reports that the first samples of this season's barley are to hand from the Lakes district. Tlie quality is not too good—it is thin, and a discoloured grain runs through it. The price asked by the holder is 3s Bd, which is considerably above buyers' ideas, and no Bales are reported. There is still a good enquiry for ryegrass, with very little offering, and prices oro firm. Cocksfoot remains without Change, heavy seed only being in demand. Early varieties of potatoes have advanced, and are now quoted at £2 15s to £3 per ton at handy stations. Tlie following are current prices paid to farmers, free of commission, except tvhere otherwise specified: — Wheat-Pearl 3a lOd to 3s lid, Tuscan 3s 9d to 3s lOd, Hunter's 3s 8d to 3s 9d, at country stations. Oat«—Heavy Canadians ls 7d to ls Bd, abort feed ls 6d to Is Bd, Duns Is 5d to Is 6d, and Danish ls 4d to ls 6d, at country stations, for early delivery. Barley—Primo malting 3s 3d to 3s 6d, secondary quality 3s to 3s 2d, at country stations. Peas—Blue Prussians ss, Partridge 3s 3d to 3s 6d, at country stations. Flour {millers' quotations)— Roller £10 per ton. Pollard—£6. Bran—£4. Oatmeal—£ll 10s. Ryegrass—Farmers' well-dressed parcels 2s 3d to 2s 6d, extra prime 2s 9d to 3s 3d, Italian 2s 9d to 3s. Cocksfoot (111b seed)—2id to 2|d, do (131'b seed) 3Jd to 34d, do (141b seed), 3M. Potatoes—Early varieties £2 15s to io, Derwente £2 ss, at country stations. Onions—£2 10s, at country stations. Dairy Produce—Cheese, factory, 5d to 6d; dairy, 6d to s±d; loaf cheese, 6d to 6Ad; butter, factory, local, lOJd; North Island lid, f-o-b. Wellington; fanners sepaTator, 9d to lOd; dairy, 8d to 9d for prime; salt (in boxes), 8d to 9d; hams and bacon, id higher, f.0.b.; eggs, It 4d per dozen.