GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12972, 27 November 1907, Page 8

GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

(BT OUB COMMERCIAL KDITOK.) Tueeday Evening. The "Sydney Mail" of the 20tJi iiu?t. 6a}-B that tlio crop prosjH'cts alt through tho Ea&t-eru States have improvexl on the week, and th© feeling oi etmined anxiety regarding the future has been allayed, 'ihe ligiit rains which have fallen during the. post two days will be of further benefit to some of the late districts, brightening the prospect of vory fair yields. The Victorian orop is reported to be showing up well over considerable areas, aad there now seem* a probability that South Australia wiU improve on the estimate of 14,000.000 bushels. The chief trouble now in New South Wales, and to some extera/t in Victoria, is tho grasshopper, but while still bad in some districts he is ecaroely so menacing as ho was a week ago. The tone of the looal wheat market is quieter, and prices evidently easier. Buyers ere holding off for the time being, as offers as low as 6s 7jd f.o.b. have- not been accepted. Holders in the country are still asking as high as 5s 9d at stations, but in tho abeenoe of any outside demand even 5e 6d would be an extreme price. . The oats market has weakened considerably, owing to the greater abundance of feed now available, and in sympathy with oate, oateheaf chaff has declined, and is now quoted at £5 16e per ton ait distant stations, supplies tiear at hand being now pretty well exhausted. Our Southland correspondent writing on Saturday, states that, the oate market is in a very quiet state. What oate ere in. farmers' hands is an uncertain quantity, while grain in second hands is not much, deducting what is sold for forward delivery Merchants, under the circumstances, are not inclined to quote for more thiun, they can command. The present position appeara to be that the demand from the North is slack and cautious, and, on the other hand, farmers , demands are on the up grade, and offerings from the country.few and far between. For ihe past week current quotations have ranged from 3s 3d to 3s 6d for B grade at wayside stations, and for export 3s lOd f.o.b. Large shipments of potatoes from the southern porta of the North Island bare relieved the market there of surplus stocks, and there is a> rather better tone locally, though there is no actual improvement in prices. ■ The undermentioned are the prices paid to. farmers at country stations; free of commission except where otherwise stated :—-..'■■, Wheat—Nominal at country stations. Gate—Nominal at country stations. Pens (nominal)— Partridge, 4s 3d at country stations. \ • , " 10s per torn. , Bran—£s 15s. . ' Pollard—£6 10b. - 1 Oatmeal—£lßi Oateheaf Chaff—Prime prompt, delivery, £5 18k at country station*. Potatoes—-Up-to-Dates and Derwenta £2 10s «*, country stations. •,-.■.. Dairy 'Produce—Cheese, . factory 6d, dairy 5Jd to 53d, loaf cheese 6}d. Butter, factory IPW,! farmers' separator 9d, dairy Bd. Bacon, sides BJd, rolls Od, 9dl Honey,; *xtrectea, 4d per lb; wax, Is 2d per Ib. Bgge, 10d per dozen. : . ;