TIMARU.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13378, 20 March 1909, Page 10

TIMARU.

Our Timaru correspondent writes:— Wheat is still coming on to tho market steadily, and a number of lines have been sold locally during the week, milleTs being the buyers. The prices now offering range from 3s 7d to 3s 103. 3s 7d to 8s 9d being paid for Tuscan and Red Chaff, and 3s 9£d to 3s lOd for Velvet, which is in short supply. These prices are for prim© lines of milling wheat, delivered Timaru. Millers are of opinion that when they have filled their requirements and cease buying, values will recede somewhat, and merchants say that farmers will bo wise to accept present values in oreference to shipping Home, or hol-ing on for 4s per bushel, as there is a good deal of wheat in the country, and prices aro as likely to go down as up. It is pointed out that New Zealand wheat is not worth more than 4s 6d per bushel at Home at present, and that after deducting 15s for freight (the freights are 25s just now) the farmer would not net more than 3s Bd, per bushel, f.0.b., s.i., while they are being offered a better price than this, sacks extra, delivered Timaru. A great many growers are holding their wheat in the belief that prices will so higher, _a-nd merchants say that the tightness of the money market is not having the effect of forcing the farmers on to the market with their grain. The -wheat is coming to hand in better condition than was anticipated, tho long spell,of dry weather, having hardened it up, though it is not in such good condition, generally speaking, as the wheat of the past two years.- •

Oats —This cereal is not coming on, to the market very freely, very few lines having been offered during the week. This is attributed to the fact that merchants are not prepared to give what growers are asking. Quotations are: —A grade Gartons Is 4d, B grade ls 3d, Duns and Danish ls 2|d, all delivered Timaru. Reports from Southland go to show that the harvest there has, been delayed by wet weather, and that Sparrowbills are selling; there at Is 2d, sacks extra, country stations.

The potato market is quiet, tlie only outsido demand comin_ from the North Island. Merchants are not prepared to give more than £2 7s 6d or £2 10s per ton, delivered Timaru, the tubers being plentiful this season.