MARKET REPORTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15920, 4 May 1912, Page 2

MARKET REPORTS.

GRAIN AND PRODUCE. Just .at present the wheat market is rather unsettled, but, prices are firm, and farmers being firm holders comparatively little business is being done considering that the season is'iiow well advanced-, and that already a number of threshing machines have ' completed their work. At the beginning of the week the market showed considerable firmness at Home, where prices had an upward tendency owing to the partial blockade of the Dardanelles dislocating trade, but the removal of the embargo has had an easing effect. At present tho ruling rate for of New Zealand wheat is 3Ss (5d c.i.f., which, being below the pricos recently current, has induced an easier feeling in the local market. Prices remain nominally unaltered, the ruling prices being 3s 7d to 3s 7Jd, on trucks, at country stations. Practically this range covers all transactions, but in a few instances prices as high as 3s Bd, on trucks, have, been paid for lines of Pearl at close stations. It must be noted, however, that bulk of the wher.t which is now coming forward is from fairly distant stations, and consequently this latter price cannot be taken as indicative or the orices which are generally paid. With "few exceptions the quality of the wheat which is being placed on the market is satisfactory, but recently a few samples have been placed on offer in which there was a fairly heavy Eercentage of tares, and for this class uyers refuse to pay prices above those ruling for fowl wneat. For oats inquiries from the Commonwealth tend to keep values, firm, but at the present -Juncture the volume of actual business is very restricted, and with increased deliveries buyers are not as keen as they were some time ago to secure supplies. At present the demand from the North Island is comparatively slack, and the consignments which have gone in that direction have been comparatively small. Prices range from Is ild to 2s 2d, samples of excellent Duns companding up ,to 2s 3d. Very few oats have changed hands recently below 2s per bushel, on trucks, the market at present being very firm with holders indifferent about selling. The potato market remains firm, still having an upward tendency. The current price is £4 10s per ton on trucks, but in a few instances prices 5s per ton in advance of this quotation have been paid for lmes_ for immediate delivery. The digging is now in full swing' in nearly all parts of the province, and,' speaking generally, the" reports are fairly unanimous that the returns are unsatisfactory. With regard to the opening of the Commonwealth- for the dominion's surplus, there is a strong feeling in commercial circles that the representations which are being made to the Australian, authorities are not likely to result in 'bringing about the relaxation of the restrictions at present in force regarding the importation of tubers from countries or districts where: blight is known to exist, and little hope is held out that . the 'Commonwealth ports will be opened. The Com-' monwealth Minister is given a lot of. discretionary power in ,the: .matter, of permitting importations to be made but in the face of the strong protec- j tionist policy in force, and the fact that no district in the dominion can be certified as clean as regards blight it would be a mistake to look for any . large exnortations in that direction: \ Besides, "it must be borne in mind that the-inroads of disease have been bo virulent that the dominion's stock-will not, it is generallyanticipated.-be more than sufficient for the requirements of the people of New Zealand. ..... The chaff market is quiet, and!only,a limited amount of business is being done on a basis of 55s to 60s per ton.. A fair number of onions have been placed on offer during the last few weeks, and prices up to £7 10s have been obtained for good lines, on trucks, at country stations. -'-■» With the approach of tho winter, season and the resultant curtailment of supplies, the price of fresh eggs Is mnvins upward, and at present the current price paid by storekeepers to farmers is Is 9d per 'dozen. . Peas are quiet, the ruling price beine 3s to 3s Id. on trucks. ■ The following quotations are for, purchases from farmers, net cash. .sac-£S extra, delivery at country... stations : Whenl— *• 6d to 3s 7|d, Pearl to Ss BJL* . Oats.—Algerians 23 4d to 2s6d,_ Gartons 2s to 2s Id; Canadians, 2s; Duns 2s 2d to 2s 3d; Danish, Is lid to 2s, ~ ' *■ Barley—Malting 4s Gd to 4s 9d per bushel, according to quality. Chaff—Of.tshoa? £2 15s to £3 Potatoes— £i 10s to £i 15s. I Peps.—Partridgo 3s to Ss Id. [ Onionß—£7 10s per ton.

Oatmeal—£l< per ten. Flour.—The Nctt Zealand Flonrmillers Oc-.-"PtratiTe A>»ooiatioa. Liinitsd, qiuotey th» followinir pricu'per ton. iooai ot «nippir.gr : :— 9acki> £8 10a, lOolh br.ji f.S It!, sqlb-b»«»fJ, lElb t*«e £9 6s. Bran M lfiij po lard £6. • Beads!—EysffraAs, Italian and Perennial .2s Sd to 2« 6d; ccoksfoot to Sd. • - Dairy Produo4.-ChM»«. dairy >??• Hi, lo,.! fid; factory, lsr E e Kid to &v Sutt.r, fresh local factory printr Is 2d. second Erocii pats Is Id, farm dairy lOd Hams 9£dj sides 9d rolls OJd, polled hams 9,?d. Dard, pats PJ.-1. E?gs to Is 9d per dozen.

RANGIORA. The wet weather during the week has materially affected business in all kinds of grain. "Wheat remains about the same value Tuscan 3s' 7d. Hunters and Bordear '3s G*d.-Pearl 3s 7}d tp 3s ,3d. Oats are slightly firmer—A grade-2s Id, B grade 2s, Duns about the same as Gartons. Danish is I.od to Is lid Algerians 2s 4d to 2s6dj Sparrowbill Is lid to 2s. Linseed is weaker; orders from Australia have fallen eff considerably, as supplies can bo obtained much cheaper from Calcutta. Nominal value £l3 to £l3 12s 6d. • Chaff—The local material is not sufficiently reliable for North Island trade. Blenheim is doing the bulk of the business, and even if orders could be. secured it would be impossible to secure space in steamers while grain is offering so frcelv. , . x ~ Potutbes-Only a hand-to-mouth trade is being done. Oamaru and other southern "centres are selling freely at £5 -ss, f.0.b,, sacks in. Local values are £4 12s 6d for best table sorts The restrictions enforced by the Commonwealth' Agricultural Department against the importation of j\ew Zealand potatoes makes it absolutely impossible to ship potatoes to any Commonwealth port.

TIYARTJ. Wheat—The market, in sympathy with advances in Australia, has firmed up considerably, and a fairly, large quantity has changed hands at 3s lOid f.0.b., 'sacks extra, for prompt delivery. There is a good demand, and 16 is asked for any distant shipment. In fowlwheat the market is bare, and only quotable at from 3s 9d to 3s 10c f.o.'b. sacks in. Seconds up to 3s ba f.0.b., sacks in. ■ . Oats —The Wairuna is taking . a largo shipment of oats to Sydney, j Prices for all descriptions have hard- , enod, and to-day's values f.0.b., sacks in, aro: A Gartons 2s sd, B ditto 2s 4d, Duns 2s od to 2s (3d. ! Potatoes. —There are not many crops offering from farmers, most of whom are pitting their crops in preference to' taking present value of £5 10s f.0.b., s'lcks in. B"rloy.—Malting -is to 4s 6d, according to 'quality, and Cape Barley 3s (3d f.oTb. Good demand for latter. graln SALE. \ The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, held its first grain sale of the season on Thursday at its South Belt and Durham Street warehouses. There was an excellent attendance of buVers, and the bidding was sainted from start to finish. * The whole of the catalogue was cleared with the exception of three or four lots. The total offerings comprised about 1100 sacks, and would have been considerably larger but for

the difficulty in getting trucks for siding lots: . ' The range of prices was:—Milling wheat 3s 9°. whole fowl wheat 3s 4d to q<s Sd 'seconds 3s 2d to 3s 4d, Gartons 9s 4d to 2s 6d, Duns 2s 4d to 2s 6d, Danish 2s to 2s 3d. Potatoes (sacks jn) —Breezes £4 7s 6d,> Snowdrops £5 2s 6d, Magnums £5 7s 6d, Dates £5 10s.

RANGIORA HORSE.FAIR, , There was an exceptionally large entry at the Rangiora horse fair yesterday, fully 250 head being offered. Good young broken-in draughts were in strong demand, and_ sales were made at very satisfactory prices—Best broken-in draughts, 3 to 7 years old, ranged from £35 to £4B; others, of medium quality, £25 to £34; older horses £lO to £2O; light harness horses £7 to £22; unbroken three-year-old draughts £25 to £34; medium quality £ls to £23; and unbroken hacks £4 to £l3.