GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11210, 6 March 1897, Page 4

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Business 'passing in wheat during the last day or two has been uneventful, and less has been offering. Most of the parcels coming to hand show signs of sweating, and in several cases where sales were made the bulk has been rejected as not being up to sample. The quantity of damaged grain in the country is now believed to form a large proportion of the crop. Really sound pa “cels of wheat appear to be scarce, and holders of this class are regaining their grain in the hope of a rise in price, I nme samples of, milling alime. recave millers do not appear anxious to secure ] even these whilst old stocks last.butsoH lines can scarcely command an offer at a . The present demand for this cereal purely a local one, and the market shows signs of still further weakening. W* Sydney market is fully supplied with Riverina and Californian wheat, and further shipments of the latter are on the water. Riverina is sokmg- at 4s 7vd to 4s Bd, and the American g.rain_ at 4s 4$ , whilst Now Zealand Tuscan is quoted at 4s old to 4s 6d, with very little inquiry. Amongst the local sales are' a tarn line of 3000 sacks of Hunters' this side of the Ashburton at equ<U ™ 3s lOod f.0.b., and small lines of gA O > sound, mixed Pearl and Hunter s and mixe Tuscan and Hunter’s at 3s Hid f.o.b Oats aro coming forward sparingly; and the market has a hardening tendency, especially for good milling sorts, which are very scarce. A lino of 2500 bushels of Sparrowbills has changed hands at equal to 2s f.0.b., and a parcel of 800 bushels of Duffs at Is lOd ex store, Christchurch, Sydney advices state that owing to the largo quantities of local oats coming info the market in surprisingly good condition, the market there is weak, New Zealand feed commanding 2s 2d to 2s 24J, Tasmanian 2s lid to 2s 2d, local Is lid to 2s Oid, and seed Tartarians 2s 3d_to 2s sd, the latter being scarce, and inquiries have been made here for this class for shipment. Really prime malting barley is scarce and wanted, but there is little demand for the medium grades, which form the bulk of the offerings. Cocksfoot has 1 been coming forward froely, but the bulk of the samples offered aro much discoloured, Good, bright seed commands attention for local sowing, and a considerable quantity has changed hands, but discoloured is hard to move. There is not likely to be much demand for the North Island this year, as the crop there is sufficient for present requirements,. and, in fact, samples have been sent down here for sale. The market closes slightly easier. Although there is plenty of ryegrass on the market there is no immediate demand, and very few sales have been made. Cowgrass is scarce and wanted. ’ Sydney advices as to the produce markets state that there is a complete stoppage of speculation, and that only a hand-to-mouth business is passing, most lines being cleared slowly at prices which must leave losses to importers. Kidney potatoes have come into the local market with such a rush that merchants have filled requirements; and although .£3 at Christchurch was ruling yesterday, it is not likely that they will command this price to-day. The main crop of Blue Derwents is offering in considerable quantities, and as there is little demand for , even interprovinoial export and no opening at present in Sydney, speculators are now only offering 40s at country stations for April and 35s for May delivery. As-was predicted last week, onions ’ have dropped 10s per ton here and also in the Sydney market, and a number of contracts were made yesterday at £3 10s at Christchurch, with every prospect of a further fall. Little business has been doing at Ashburton during the week. Farmers are reluctant to sell at present prices offering, and buyers are more inclined to recede than advance in price. A few sales have been made at 8s 9d for best Pearl. The wheat now being threshed is not in firstclass condition. There are still a few lots of grain not yet in stack. There will bo no great rush of wheat from this district this season, as most of the farmers intend holding their grain in stack for a few months. The following are current prices for new grain:— Wheat. —Pearl (prime milling) 3s lid, Tuscan 3s lOd, Hunter’s 3s lOd, good seconds, clean, 2s 9d to 3s. Oats. —Milling Canadians 2s Id, stout feed 2s, Duns and Danish Is lOd to Is lid. . Barley.— Malting 3s 6d to 4s, medium 3s to 3s 3d. Flour. —Millers quote roller Til 10s, stone £lO 10s, sharps £3 6s, bran £3 15s. Oatmeal. —£11 10s. Oatsheaf Chaff.—42s 6d to 45s at handy country stations for good samples. Potatoes. —Derwents 85s to 40s at country stations. Kidneys and Early Rose £3 at Christchurch,Onions. — £3 10s at Christchurch. Grass Seed, —Ryegrass, farmers’ lots, 2s 3d to 2s lOd; machine-dressed 3s 9d, heavy-weight 4s to 4s 3d. Cocksfoot, farmers’ lines 3d to 3fd, town machinedressed 4Jd to sd. Dairy Peoduce. Cheese 3d to 4d, loaf 3Jd to 4r*d. Butter —Fresh factory 9d, prime dairy 6d to Bd, salt (in boxes) 5d to 7d. Bacon and hams Old to 7-J.d. The above prices, except where otherwise stated, are those paid to farmers f.o.b. Lyttelton.