MARKET REPORTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11555, 16 April 1898, Page 6

MARKET REPORTS.

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Owing to the Easter hoidays matters in the grain and produce markets have been almost at a standstill during the past week. Business, however, has now been resumed, but in a half-hearted sort of way. Millers are showing a little better disposition to purchase any prime lines of wheat, but are still endeavouring to keep down prices, and in doing so are constantly referring to the importation of wheat into Auckland from Sydney, stating that more consignments are to follow. As was stated before, the wheat which came to Auckland was from the northern coast of' Tasmania, and, so far as can be seen, there is little likelihood of wheat being sent from Sydney at anything like payable prices to the consignor, as local papers give the quotations for good samples as 4s on rail Sydney, so that, with the duty and freight, there is little fear of competition from that quarter. In spite of their prognostications, local millers have paid up to 4s 3d, delivered at mills, and there is every indication that they will continue to do so for some little time. Tn the Ashburton market business in this cereal has been decidedly quieter during the week, chiefly owing to the fact that southern buyers having purchased their immediate requirements, aro now holding off in hopes of buying at lower rates, the importation of grain to Auckland being freely used as an incentive to lower prices. Farmers, however, positively decline to accept any reduction, and as those now holding wheat have already their grain in store, they are not likely to give way. Several really prime lines have been sold, however, at late rates, a line of 4000 sacks bringing 4s 3d delivered at Ashburton, while another lot of 1500 sacks changed hands at 4s lid on trucks Tinwald, equal to a shade over 4s 2d Ashburton, but farmers in most cases are still holding for 4s 3d on trucks. Prices there are;—Tuscan and Pearl 4s 2d to 4s 3d, Hunter’s 4s Id to 4s 2d, seconds 3s 6d. Really prime samples of local oats are very scarce, and are eagerly taken at full rates. Southland oats are now offering freely, and several lines have changed hands at 2s 4d and 2s 5d on trucks at Addington. A fairsized line of superior B grade was yesterday taken by a local miller at 2s 4d at the same place. Good feed (lines are scarce, and command full values. Further consignments of southern oats have reached the Ashburton market and are being sold out at 2s 3d per bushel, thus keeping a check on local growers, who are rapidly selling out at this figure, and further lines will be needed from outside during the winter. Canadians (seed), Duns 2s 6d, feed Duns 2s 3d. Tartars and Danish for seed are daily inquired for, but are unprocurable in the district. Local maltsters are now on the look-out for any prime samples of barley suitable for their requirements, and several lines have changed hands at from 4s 3d to 4s 6d delivered at the malt-houses, and feed sorts are well looked after in consequence of the high price of oats. Beans aro very scarce, and are wanted for shipment. Blue Prussian peas are now coming to hand fairly freely, and any suitable lines are readily taken for shipment from 4s to 4s 4d f.o.b. Oatsheaf chaff is offering in larger quantities than was expected, and the market, shows a slightly weaker tendency. At Ashburton holders are “still asking £4, sacks extra, at which price small lots are selling, but whole-buyers seem undecided, and will not purchase at this figure in any quantity. However, a good demand is springing up, and nearly all the oatsheaf chaff in the district will ho required locally for feeding. Straw chaff is bringing as high as 45s per ton. Potatoes have advanced slightly in price, and yesterday 55s and 56s was paid for Blue Derwents at country stations for shipment. During the present week between 4000 and 5000 sacks will be shipped to Sydney, and local speculators declare that this will have a depressing effect upon tbe market there. As to whether this quantity is likely to have such an effect growers may judge from the following extract from a Tasmanian newspaper “ Tasmania will have very little, if any, surplus by the end of July. The result of digging seems to point pretty conclusively to an average of not more than.two tons per acre with the earlier crops, and probably considerably less with late crops. On the whole, we see no reason to fear any considerable fall in price, unless New Zealand growers are so illadvised as to ship heavily from what appears to be considerably below, their average crop. The position to us appears to be:—West Australia, South Australia and Queensland will import largely, New South Wales to a lesser extent, Victoria some little quantity for the next six weeks at least. In this colony there is probably not more than enough left to supply the first three right through, which would seem to indicate that the market would take 150,000 to 160,000 sacks from New Zealand without causing any very considerable fall in prices, if evenly distributed. It has been freely reported that heavy sales have been made from New Zealand for April and May shipments, at £3 a ton, bags in, free on board, but we can hardly credit that growers there have so little faith in the market. On this side an offer of £5 under similar circumstances would not result in business.” , Onions have risen in the local market to £4 15s per ton, and there is still a good inquiry for shipment to Sydney, where latest cable advices state that the New Zealand article is selling at £7. Owing to the continued dry weather there is not tbe usual demand for seeds for autumn sowing, though a few small parcels are going off, and until rain falls there is little prospect of the demand improving. Dairy produce has advanced in price, and all good brands of butter are Id dearer. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company of New Zealand held their usual monthly sale of grain and produce ; yesterday, when there was a good attendance of millers and corn chandlers. The catalogue included about 1150 sacks of grain, and sales effected were 255 sacks of wheat, 58 sacks of barley and 118 of oats. Millers showed a disinclination to give the prices asked for suitable lines for their business, which appeared to he about 4s 3d, and no business resulted in this class of grain. There was, however, a fair demand for seconds and broken for fowl feed. Peed barley also met a fair demand.

and the two or three parcels of really good feed oats were readily taken at full rates. Good fowl wheat brought from 3s to 3s 9d, broken sorts from. 2s 3d to 2s lOd, malthm barley 3s 3d to 4s Id, good Canadian oats 2s fid and 2s 7d, and Duns at 2s 3d, fair milling Hunter’s White wheat 4s to 4s Id.

The following are quotations ; Wheat.— Old Pearl 4s 4d to 4s sd, Tuscan 4s 3d to 4s 4d, Hunter’s 4s Id to 4s 2d; new Pearl and Tuscan 4s to 4s 2d, Hunter’s 3s lid to 43 Id, at country stations. Oats. —Milling Canadians 2s sd, stout feed 2s 4d, Duns and Danish 2s 3d to 2s fid. Barley. — New prime malting 4s fid, good 4s, feed 2s 3d to 2s fid, scarce. Flour— Millers quote roller £ll, stone £lO, sharps £4 ss, bran. £3 10s.

Oatmeal. —£12. Oatsheaf Chaff.—6os to 65s at country stations for bright clean quality. Beans— Scarce, 2s 9d to 2s lOd. Peas. —Blue Prussian 4s to 4s fid. Partridge 3s 3d to 3s 4d. Potatoes. Derwents 55s to 5/s fid at country stations. Onions. —95s to 100 s.

Grass Seed.— Ryegrass, farmers’ lots, 2s 3d to 3s; machine-dressed, 3s 9d to 4s 3d, heavy-weight 4s fad. Cocksfoot, farmers’ lines, discoloured 24 d to 2|d, bright seed 3d to 34 d. Dairy Produce. —Cheese 3]d to 4d, loaf 4d to sd. Butter—Fresh factory Is, ditto in boxes lid, best dairy lOd, salt (in boxes 8d for prime. Bacon and hams—--6*toßd. . , , ~ The above prices, except where otherwise stated, are those paid to farmers f.o.b. Lyttelton.

INVERCARGILL GRAIN MARKET. [Per Press Association.! INVERCARGILL, April 15, Considerable quantities of oats have been offered by farmers during the past week, and parcels that could be delivered in time for shipment by the Poherua for Auckland to-day were eagerly competed for, and advanced prices were given. Values hence ranged from 2s to 2s Id f.o.b. Bluff, sacks in, for export. Canterbury demands from the Gore district have advanced values there, farmers being able to sell at Is lOd to Is lid, sacks extra ; on trucks at siding, equal to 2s Id to 2s 2d, sacks in, at the Bluff. Wheat, barley and ryegrass —Quotations are unchanged. ~~ HORSLEY DOWN SALE. “ On Thursday, Messrs Dalgety and Company held a sale of sheep at the Horsley Down Yards, when about eleven thousand came forward, nearly the whole of which were sold at prices which must he sidered satisfactory, considering the present dry weather and the scarcity of feed. There was a good attendance, and bidding throughout was fairly brisk, there being a number of buyers from Cheviot and the surrounding districts who were anxious to stock up. Fat wethers realised from 9s fid to 12s 3d, fat lambs up to 9s sd, fat ewes up to 8s sd, forward wethers up to 9s, do ewes up to 7s lOd, store lambs 4s to 5s fid, young breeding, ewes 5s to 6s, and boilers from Is 3d to 2s 4d. DARFIELD. At the usual fortnightly sale at the Darfield Yards yesterday, over 11,000 sheep formed the entry, the bulk of which were stores. The attendance of fanners and dealers was large, and a very good clearance was effected at prices comparing favourably with those ruling at the suburban markets. There was a very good demand for both cross-bred wethers and lambs for freezing. Freezing wethers brought from 12s to 13s fid, do mixed sexes 11s 6d 13s Bd, and freezing lambs from 7s fid to 10s Id, the latter price being obtained for a line sent in by Mr A. Beattie of Coalgate, and a line of 400 from the Racecourse Hill Estate bringing 9s fid; fat ewes ranged from 6s to 7s 7d, fat merinoes brought 4s. Forward turnip wethers realised from 9s to 10s 3d, a line of 300 going at from 10s Id to 10s 3d; backward wethers 6s to 7s ; mixed sexes, two-tooth turnipers from 6s to 8s lid, a line of 500 from the Snowdon Station realising the latter figure; good young breeding ewes 6s to 7s; 600 soundmouthed merino ewes from Snowdon 2s to 2s Id; store lambs from 3s to 6s according to quality and up to 6s lOd for an extra forward line; cross-bred boilers up to 2s 6d, and merino do from Is 3d to Is Bd. CLEARING SALE. Messrs H. Matson and Co. held a clearing sale on account of Mr George Burgess at Duusandel on Thursday. There was a large attendance of farmers and others, and the sale was a most successful one. Some of the principal sales were: —Draught mares £37 and £29 10s,• aged gelding £l4 10s, hack mare £B, trap £l2, drays and frames £9 and £7 10s, plough £B, roller and seed sower £lO 10s, mower £5 ss, hay rake £4 17s 6d, harrows £3 7s 6d, Dun oats 2s sgd per bushel, wheat 3s sd, pigs £2, waggons £7 15s and £l2s. A large quantity of sundries and furniture sold at very satisfactory prices.