GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11225, 24 March 1897, Page 4

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

A fair quantity of wheat has been on offer since last report, some lines showing very good quality. The market, however, continues to weaken, and transactions are, for the most part, confined to purchases by local millers, who, however, are now fairly stocked, and are holding off the market. It is satisfactory to note that inquiries for quotations and samples are being received from the north, which may lead to business. Very few samples of oats are offering, and growers are firm in holding. At the prices ruling hero it is difficult to find outside outlets, but the local demand is quite capable of absorbing present supplies. Forward buying of the main crop of potatoes has ceased, the prices asked checking operations. A fair business has been passing in' kidneys at 50s at country stations for table sorts, and for picked seed lots At 5s to 7s (id per ton extra. There is no alteration to report in ryegrass. A con-, siderahlo quantity of cocksfoot has been offering, but buyers are apathetic, except

for bright samples, which do not predominate. The grain market at Eangiora yesterday was exceedingly dull, the merchants not being anxious to buy in view of the doubtful condition of the grain, as proved by rejects. There was very little wheat sold and practically no oats. The following are current prices for new grain:— Wheat, Pearl (prime milling) and Velvet Chaff 3s lOd to 3s lid, Tuscan and Hunter’s 3s 8d to 3s 9d, good seconds, clean, 3s to 3s 4d. Oats. —Milling Canadians 2s Id, stout feed and Tartars 2s, Duns Is lOd to 2s. Danish Is lOd to Is lid. Barley.—Malting 3s 6d to 4s, medium 3s to 3s 3d. Flour. —Millers quote roller -fill 10s, stone .£lO 10s, sharps .£3 ss, bran £2 10s. Oatmeal. —.£ll 10s. OAtsheaf Chaff.—42s 6d to 45s at handy country stations for good samples. Beans.—2s 7d. Peas. —Blue Prussians 3s 6d to 3s 9d Partridge 3s. Potatoes. Derwents 85s to 37s 6d at country stations. Kidneys and Early Rose .£2los. Onions. —£3 5s at Christchurch. Grass Seed. —Ryegrass, farmers’ lots, 2s 3d to 2s lOd; machine-dressed 3s 9d, heavy-weight 4s to 4s fid. Cocksfoot, farmers’ lines, discoloured fid, bright seed 3£d to fifd, town machine-dressed 4}d to sd. Dairy Produce. Cheese 3d to 4d, loaf to 41 d. Butter—Fresh factory 9d, prime dairy 6d to Bd, salt (in boxes) 5d to 7d. Bacon and hams 6sd to 7£d. The above prices, except where otherwise stated, are those paid to farmers f.o.b. Lyttelton.