CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18680, 1 May 1926, Page 12

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

SLACK POTATO DEMAND. (BT OUB COMMERCIAL EDITOH.) Friday evening. The Kawatiri's cargo of potatoes is reported to have arrived in Sydney in good condition, considering the early stage of the season. A proportion was spotted, but it was smaller than was feared. It is reported that the potatoes are selling at from £ll to £l2 a ton.

The market at the moment is weaker, but the present rain will delay digging for a time, and prices may firm. The rain, however, will benefit the potatoes otherwise. Quotations at the moment axe from £5 2s 6d to £5 5s on trucks. Enquiries are freer from the north, but all the business is for immediate needs. _ Offers are £6 15s f.0.b., s.i. The Kauri sails for Auckland next mid-week, and a fair quantity will go by her if the rain does not interfere with deliveries. A good few of the tubers going by this boat were bought on a basis of £7 to £7 ss. Hie increase in northern enquiries points to the Pukekohe crop being about exhausted. The confidence of growers hero in the future stability of the "market will operate against heavy quantities being sent north on consignment, and so compel traders there to come on th-» market.

The mid-week cable from Sydney relating to the market for potatoes is generally interpreted heije as an attempt to "bear" the position. Heavy quantities have been booked for MayJune shipment, and it would no doubt bo very much to interests to have some of these potatoes diverted or in the alternative further purchases restrioted. Yields so far, are turning out somewhat better than anticipated. The appearahce of _ crops _ throughout the heavier-producing districts supports' this belief. It certainly does not ap-. pear as if there; is going to be any shortage. With the high prices ruling for onions, consumption has substantially decreased. Quotations are from. £l2 to £l3 on trucks. Oats and Seeds. The oat market is lifeless, and 3s 6d on trucks for A Gartons and 3s 4d for B's'covers values. Offerings of oats are light, and the number of stacks to be seen in the country points to most farmers waiting to see what •the wintor will do to the chaff market. Largo quantities of white clover''-are offering, mostly of good sample. From 9d to lOd on trucks is all that mer - chants will offer. . A little of the briskness worn off the pea market._ Most of the flieas are in soft conditio# and need time them fo T j exporc. Sales on trucSswere madfiS' (faring the "squeeze" latup to 9d a busnel, and 8s is i reported in one or two cases, f.0.b.,/ s.i. I Shippers arc losing money ,on these prices. •

Wheat Being Bought. This afternoon it was authoritatively reported that merchants were buying wheat at 7s a bushel, two of- the caseß mentioned being on trucks. The quantities are understood to have ;been ■heavy. As far as can be ascertained, .purchases to date for milling and! fowl fifed and the reservation for §eed wheat (h'alf 'a million bushels) represent about three, million bushels, which would leave close on two million bnshels still in farmers' and merchants' handß. Quotations. The following arc nominal quotations, free of commission, on trficks at wayside stations, sacks extra, except ■whero otherwise stated: — Whpat (new .soason) —Millers' offers, 6s Sd, 6s lOd, a,nd 7a f.0.b., sacks extra; fowl wheat 7s. Oats —Gartons 3s "6d for A's, and 3s 3d to 3s 4d for B's ; Algerians 3b 6d; Duns 3s 9d to 4s for good quality, Chaff—Good bright £5 ss. Whito Clover (new season) —9d to lOd. Barley—os. Cowgrads —8d to 9d. Italian Ryegrass—2s 9d to 3s. Perenuial Ryegrass—3s 6d to 3s 9d. Cocksfoot (nominal) —7d to 7Jd. Partridge Peas—To 6s 6d. Onions—£l2 to £l3. Potatoes —£5 2s 6d to £5. Flour—£lß a ton f.0.b., nearest port; smaller packing, 1001b, £l9; 50's, £l9 12s Gd; 25's, £2O. Pollard —£9 f.o.b. nearost port, 10s extra for smaller packing. Bran—£B per ton f.o.b. nearest port, 10s extra for smaller packing.

ASHBURTON MARKET. t Since'last week's sudden drpp in oats, the prices have remained at-about the eaiflo level as mentioned in. our previous report, but at. the same time there is not: a great deal of business passing. It will probably be eorao time before the stocks of Canadian oats are worked off in the North Island, but when this is done, it ia hoped that- business from this source wiir brighten up. Some good lines of wheat have been offering during the past few days, and while a few extra quality lots have changed hands at figures slightly in excess of the fixed prices, the majority of millers are etill holding' to the old rates. Up to the present time the northerners have been securing all their supplies of fowl wheat from outside the Dominion. Owing to the recent shipping trouble at Lyttelton, the. potato market was affected by a Blight reduction in prices. So far as this district is concerned, the majority of. crops are not yet ready to dig, but this should be general next month. Forward sellers of peas were very keen buyers during the last few days, and the price has gone lip still further. However, it is very difficult to procure peas fit to pass No. 1 grade, owing to a great many lines offering being badly out of condition. At present, chaff ia in fairly good demand, but the price is not quite so go6d as it was a few weeks ago. There is a quantity of Australian chaff being imported and the price .of tie local product had to come down to compete with The following prices are quoted on truoks, country stations, sacks extra unless otherwise stated; Milling wheat, Tuscan 6s Bd, Hunter* 6s lOd, Pearl 7s, all f.o.b. Oats, A grade Gartons, 3s 6d, B's 3s 3d, nndergrades 3s, Algerians 3s 6d for good quality, feed 3s, good, dark, heavy Duns Ss 9d, medium 8s 6d, feed 8s to 3s Bd. Linseed, £l2 10s to £l3 per ton for f.a.q. Perennial ryegrass, 4s for the best quality, 3s for Western Wolths and Italian. Cocksfoot, 8d to 7d per lb, for good samples. Partridge peas, up to Es per bushel for r«o. I. Barley, 5s per bushel for good quality, 4* for feed. Potatoes, f.a.q. Whites and f.a.q. Dakota*, *5 5s per ton. Chiff, £5 per ton for g.b.o.s. SHEEP FOR UNITED STATES. ***• Tahiti, which left Wellington on n •£! eTn opa. Messrs Murray, Roberts ana Co. shipped for San Francisco a valu* able consignment of Komney sheep, comprising two stud rams and ten stud ewes. These sheep were carefully selected from the Hawke s Bay and Wairarapa districts, and are extremely forward for one-shear animals. There has been a fair amount of enquiry from the Faciflc Coast for this class of dualpurpose sheep, and this is interpreted as indicating that American breeders are anxious to improve their flocks by selecting the best animals that can be procured. The Tahiti s consignment went forward in specially constructed pens, and are expected to arrive in first-class condition. metals. (Received April 30th, 9.53 p.m.) LONDON, April 29. Copper—£s7 16s Sd per ton. Lead-Spot £2S per ton, forward £2B 12«6d. Spelter—Spot £32 6s 3d per ton, forward £33 lis Bd. Tin—Spot £275 7g 8d per ton, forward £268. Silwr—Standard 2»Jd per oi., fine 82H.