MARKET REPORTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIX, Issue 13122, 9 May 1903, Page 11

MARKET REPORTS.

GRAIN AND PRODUCE. The local markets remain in much the same condition as when Inst reported upon. Aliilers arc apparently able to satisfy their immediate requirements at current'quotations, although offerings are by no means plentiful. During the week a leading merchant purchased in different lines 4000 sacks, the prices being 3s &jd for Hunter’s and Tuscan, and 3s 9d for Peat! at country stations. A lino of 7000 bushels of fowl’s-, wheat has changed hands in South Canterbury at 3s scl per bushel at a country station. It is intended for shipment, probably to the North Island. A fair amount of oats continues to change hands at rater; previously ruling, though farmers generally show no inclination to accept these figures as the standard of value., A letter received in Christchurch states that Australian buyers arc disappointed at the quality of the Southland oats, ry-liicli, up to the present, have reached them, and, unless further supplies can be obtained from the same source at a very low figure, Canterbury B grade will be preferred. Though reports fo hand, so far, are conflicting, the consensus of opinion appears to bo that the Southland crop, as n whole, will bo good, provided what remains uncut is safely harvested! during the next few days. Barley is unchanged, and during the week sales have been made at 3s 2d and 3s 4d.per bushel for prime malting at conn-, try stations. The potato market remains in a very unsatisfactory condition. The Australian demand is absent, and requirements from other parts of the colony appear to be considerably less than hitherto. Local merchants are unable to offer more than £2 10s par ton at country stations, and farmers are not inclined to accept this price. Bean.; are commencing to come forward, snd ore at present worth about 3s per bushel. In seeds, cocksfoot remains unchanged, but there lias been a good deal of speculation in rvcgrnss, which has been purchased freely from tic south, and also in Canterbury', by local buyers, at current rates. In dairy produce eggs are daily becoming

scarcer, and locally 2s is offered wholesale for fresh eggs and Is 3d for preserved. In Wellington fresh eggs are being bought at 3s 6d per doz wholesale and Is 7d for preserved eggs. Following are local quotations : Wheat. —Hunter’s and Tuscan Sa 9d, Pearl 3s lOd, at. country stations. Oats.—Milling Canadians Is 9(1, Sparrowbills Is Bd, Duns Is 7d, Danish Is 6d, at country stations Barley.—Malting 3s to 3s 4d. Oatsheai Chaff.— £2 10s at country stations. Potatoes.—£2 IDS; early varieties £3, at country stations. Onions.—£2 ids, at country stations, in strings £1 extra. Flour. — Millers quotu rol-lsr £lO (sSlb bags £11), pollard £O, bran £l. Oatmeal—£ll 10s. Peas. —Partridgo 3s 6cl to 3s 9d, Blue Prussians os 6d to 5s 9d. Seeds. —llyegtaas, fanners' lines 3s to 2s 9d; Italian, ryegrass, farmers’ linos 3s to 8s 6d. Cocksfoot, iid to 3Jd, very light from 2jd. Dairy Produce.—Cheese, dairy 5d io Cd, factory Bpl to 61d, cased f.0.b., Lyttelton. Butter: Fresh local factory ICJd. best dairy 9d, salt (in boxes) Bid. Hams and bacon, factory 9d to Did, cased f.o.b. Fresh eggs 2s per dozen, preserved Is 3d. Tire exports of grain, and produce from Lyttelton for the week included the following lines: —4226 sacks whoat, 1970 sacks and 3551 bags flour, 25,077 sacks oats, 154 socks meal, 183 sacks barley, 113 sacks malt, 1871 sacks bran, 245 sacks sharps, 512 sacks pollard, 8091 sacks chaff, 1888 sacks peas, 227 sacks beans L 2259 sacks and 30 bags potatoes, 145 sacks, 114 bags and 683 gunnies onions, 482 sacks seed, 117 bales hay and 1119 bales straw. The exports for Australia,, comprised in the foregoing, included 4638 sacks oats, 360 sacks bran, 134 sacks sharps, 3520 sacks chaff, 331 sacks peas, 392 sacks potatoes, 56 sacks seed and 559 bales hay. For South Africa were cleared 14,466 sacks oats, 1308 sacks bran and 301 sacks peas. Three thousand three hundred and four sacks oats, 1084 sacks peas arid 210 sacks beans were shipped for the United Kingdom, and 125 sacks and 30 bags potatoes for Rid. The balance was for New Zealand ports. ASHBURTON. . Wheat—The market during the early part of the week showed signs of hardening, but towards the end it again lapsed, and at present remains somewhat lifeless. Grain off the heavier lands is especially dull. The demand for hard grain for mixing still continues, although in lesser form. Prices are—Tuscan 5s 9d, Pearl (scarce) 3s lOd to 3s 101-d, Hunter's 5s Bd. Oats. — A better feeling prevails, owing to merchants buying up to fill engagements per steamers now duo. The demand for long feed is better, if anything, than for short onts. . Values are-.—Canadians (milling) Is 8d to Is 9d, Sparrowbills (short feed) ls7d to Is Bd, Duns Is 5d to Is 6d, Danish Is sd. Oatsheaf chaff.—The demand continues far in excess of supplies. Offerings and prices have risen to 50s for prime quality, and even at that figure orders are difficult to fill. XIAIARU. Wheat—There is nothing fresh to report in the wheat market. Millers are buying, as usual, enough to keep up their stocks at late rates. Holders of large prime lines are still indisposed to sell; several of them are sending their wheat into store in the hopes of getting more money later on. Prices nominally are 3s 8d to 3s 9d for Red Chaff and Tuscan 3a lOd to 3s lid; for Velvet of very prime quality the latter price is given. Oats—The market remains firm at late rates, namely, Danish Is 5d to Is 6d, Garten’s Is 7d to Is 7£d, Duns Is 6d to Is 7d, sacks extra, all at country stations. Fowl wheat—3s 9d to 3s lOdfor good whole fowl wheat, is given. Ba.rley—2s 8d to 2s lOd is paid for feed barley, f.0.b., sacks extra. Potatoes are worth £2 at country stations, free of sacks A few sales have been made on this basis. DUNEDIN. [Per Press Association'.] Wheat.—There is a fair demand for prime milling. Best medium is negLcted and difficult to place, except at a reducL.on. Prime milling, 4s to 4s 2d; medium nominal, 3s 9d to 3s lOd; inferior and damp, 5s 3d to 3s 6d; fowl wheat, 3s 7d to 3s 9d, for small lots, sacks extra. Oats.— There is no change of consequence to note. The quantity coming forward is still small, and a good deal of it not in extra good condition. Prime milling Sutherland, Is 9d to Is 9,jd; best bright short feed,. Is to Is 9d; medium, Is 7d to Is 8d; inferior. Is 5d to Is 6d, sacks extra. Barley.—Very few samples of prime malting are offering. Prime, 3s 9d to 4s; medium, 3s 3d to 3s 6d, sacks extra. GARDEN PRODUCE. Vegetables are coming in freely,, cauliflowers bringing good prices. Tomatoes are scarcer, and have risen in price. Quotations are:—Tomatoes 3d to 5d per lb, sauce 1 jd to 2d, green 2s to 3s per case; vegetables—cauliflowers Is 6d to 4s per dozen, cabbages 6d to Is 6cl. marrows 2s. to 7s 6d a dozen; potatoes, Derwents and kidneys 5s 6d to 6s 6d per sack; onions, strings 3s 6d to 4s per cwt, loose 2s to 3s; pie melons, 6s per sack. FRUIT. The supply of stone fruits is almost exhausted. Apples are plentiful, but will shortly rise in price. Pears are getting scarcer. Oranges are fairly plentiful, and

of good quality. The market is bare of bananas. Quotations arc —Apples, dessert 3s to ss, cooking 2s to 3s per case ; pears, 3s to Bs, according to quality ; poaches, Teviot to 4d, local 4 to 5d per lb ; passions, Now Zealand 4s to 5s per bos; quinces, 5s 6d to 5s per case ; oranges, 4s to 6s per case; lemons, Italian 24s to 255, 300's ; cocoa-nuts, 8s per sack ; peanuts, Japanese 2jd per lb; Caps gooseberries, first arrivals will sell well; grapes 9d to Is per lb. FISK. A very full and varied supply of fish was offered for sale at the market during this week, but as buyers were not ’numerous, some of the lines were quitted at very cheap rates. Sales were :—Warehou 9s to 10s 6d per dozen, groper 2s to 5s each, tarakihi 2s to 9s per dozen, rock cod Is to 3s 6d pier dozen? soles 2s to 14s 9d per dozen, flounders 2s 6cl to 10s per dozen, blue cod Is to 8s per dozen, ling Is to 3s 6d each, mold 9d to Is 9d each, klngfish Is 6d to 2s 9d each, barracouta 6s 3d to 9s per dozen, conger 6d to 2s each, herrings 4d to Is per dozen, perch Is per dozen, sprats 5s 34 to 3s 9d per tray, crayfish 17s to 21s per sack, kahaWai Is to Is 3d each. OXFORD. There was a good entry of all classes on Thursday, at the Oxford Yards. Bidding was brisk for fat and store sheep, and very few lots were-passed. Fat ewes made from 10s to 15s 3d, fat lambs to 13s 2d, forward store lambs 7s to 10s 7d, turnip wethers 12s 3d to 15s 2d. Cattle and pigs sold at full rates. STUDHOLME. At tba Studholmo stock sale yesterday 5000 sheep and a few cattle were offered. Four, eight and six-tooth ewes, f-bred, 13s to 14s; sound-mouthed ditto, 12s to 12s 6d; store," -4bred lambs, 9s to 9s 6d; fat 2-tooths, 13s 2d to 14s ; fat ewes, 9s'lod to 13s 4d ; 2-tooth wethers, 15s 6d to 14s 6d; ditto ewes, 13s Id; merino ewes, 8s 2d; store lambs, 9s ; 2, 4 and 6-tooth ewes in lamb, 13s sd; springing heifers, £7 to £8 10s ; cows in profit, £6 10s to £7 10s; steers, £5 7s 6d; yearlings, 26s to 395.