CANTERBURY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3352, 14 April 1868, Page 2

CANTERBURY.

The commercial transactions of the past week have been more numerous, and our markets generally have displayed greater activity than for the previous four or five weeks. We attribute the improvement, in a great measure, to the circulation of large Bums of money now being paid for the purchase of grain, as also to the settlements which are usually made at the end of the wool season. We are now in the dead season between summer and winter, and can scarcely expect a great inorease to general business' ; consequently we look upon the present state of trade at very satisfactory. Credit continues sound, and, in the continued absence of failures, a general advancement in our trade and commerce must ensue. The rise in the price of grain has quite revived the drooping spirits of our farmen ; and we hope, with an improving wool market at home, the prospect of a better demand for ■took during th« ooming winter, and a continued steady healthy trade, that all classes of our community will shortly find their interests greatly improved. The purchases of grain have slackened during the past week, in consequence of the growers raising their prices beyond the views of the buyers ; prices hare consequently fluctuated, and are not quite so firm. Buyers of oats are giviDg Is lOd to 2s ; and for wheat, 5s 3d to 5s 6d. Holders are asking, for oats, 2s 3d to 2s 6d ; and for wheat, 5» 6d to 6s. This extreme difference completely checks operations. A large business has been done in cornsacks, which are now very scare*, and the price has risen within a few weeks from Ids 3d to 18s 6d, at which latter price they are not very plentiful. The only noticeable alteration in the grain market during the past week i* in wheat, which has displayed a slightly upward tendency. The ruling rates are now from 5s 6d to 63. A parcel of 10,000 bushels changed hands at the latter price, and another of 6,000 bushels at 6s Id is reported ; both purchases were for export;. Oats remain at from 2s to 2s 2d ; as also does barley at 3s 9d to 4s 6d ; flour at £17, £18, and £19 ; bran, £3 j sharps, £5 j peas, 3s 6d ; beans, 4s. The supplies to hand are of a fair average.— Canterbury Times, April 4.