COMMERCIAL.

Evening Star, Issue 14003, 9 March 1909, Page 6

COMMERCIAL.

THE WHEAT SUPPLY. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, March 8. (Received March 9. at 9.20 a.m.) I The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 4,165.0Q0 | quarters, and for the Continent 2,990,000 quarters. The Atlantic shipments were 160,000 quarters, and the Pacific 15,000 quarters. BRITISH TRADE. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, March 8. (Received March 9, at 8 a.m.) The British imports for February decreased £1,960,000, the exports decreased £3,925,000, and the re-exports increased £976,000 aa compared with the previous February. SOUTHLAND MARKETS. [SrECIAL TO TTTK STAR.] —Grain and Produce.— Oats.—Farmers arc in the midst of harvesting operations, and so far they have been favored with splendid weather, the oats being in first-class order. Provided that the good weather lasts out while the grain is in stook. this year's samples should be very bright, and a- good quantity will be threshed direct from the stook. There is very little business doing at the present moment, but it is to be hoped that when the new oats are freely offering business will brighten. Present value is nominally Is 2d o.t.cs. Chaff.—There is very little inquiry for chaff, and farmers are too busy with the harvest to cut at the present time. Old chaff is worth about £2 5s to £2 7s 6d for tine quality. Wheat.—The wheat crop is reported to be in excellent condition, and as there is no old stock, indications point to about 4s o.t.cs. being obtainable. Barley.—This crop is also reported to be of good quality, and in the Lakes the barley crop is a. fairly large one of good color.

Grass Seed.—There is still a large quantity offering from day to day. but as the seed is light and of poor quality there is very little changing hands. Merchants do not aire to buy anything under about 221b, and prices run from Is to Is 9d 0.t.c.5., according to weight and quality of seed. There have been several inquiries from the North for 251b awl 261j seed, but there is very little of that weight available. —Stock.— Sheep.—Demand for sheep has been again quiet, and the yarding at the WalLacetown sale was in excess of requirements, with the result that prices became easier. The slackness of the market is hard to a<*ount for, because there is any amount of feed in Southland. Young ewes at 16s to 17s 6d are always saleable,"while rape lambs at lis to 12s also readily find buyers, bat all other lines are hard to dispose of. Fat la,mbs a.re in a state of "slump."' and the late freezing basis of 4-i-d is no longer obtainable. There were over 3,000 sheep yarded at Wallacetov.n. and consisted principally of ewes, which realjsed 9s 6d to Lis 6d lor best fats, while the stores realised 12s 6d to 15s 2d for f.m. ewes, and 17s to 17s 6d for 2-tooth. Fat wethers changed hands at 12s 6d to 15s 6d, and lambs at 12s 6d to 13s, while store lambs ranged between 7s 6d to lis lOd.

Cattle.—There was a good cattle entry at Wallacetown, and the ruling quotations for prune beef (2Ls to 23s 6d per 1001b) have shown some improvement. The fats at Wallacetown were of good quality, and best bullocks realised £8 to £9; medium. £6 to £7 5s : and cows and heifers, £5 to £6 ss. The store entry was 307.' but the demand was poor, and'the entry hard to quit. Two and three-year-old bullocks ranged between £2 ami £5 10* according to quality, while cows brought £3 12s 6d to £5 12s 6d, and yearlings 28s to 30s. Pigs.—There was as usual a good pi" entry at lnvercargill on Saturday, and there was fair competition in a market that has become gradually easier Slips composed the bulk of the "entry, and realised 20s to 255, while weaners brought 15s 6d to 16s 6d : suckers, 9s to 14s 6d • and a sow, £3 7s 6d.

Horses.—l nere was only a moderate entry of thirty at the saleyards on Saturday but owing to buyers being busily enpged in harvesting odp rat ions only about half the entry changed hands. There were some good horses in the entry, particularly a draught gelding, which realised uj !t ™ i «V lr:u, S ht fi!l >'' which changed hands at £36. Others were put under the hammer at from £l4 to £23 10s while a spring-carter brought £l9, and ordinary sorts £lO to £l4. J