COMMERCIAL. GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17859, 3 August 1918, Page 11

COMMERCIAL.

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

CHRISTCHURCH.. August 2. The extreme quietness which had pervaded the market for some months as far as giain is ooncernod filill continues, and pending the next harvest there seems to bo little prospect of a chango. There have been no offerings of whoat for a. considerable time, ancS ni3rchants being convinced that there is practically no grain in growors' hands have ceased to look for samples. Practically no oats have been placed on oiler for (wine weeks, but it is expected that later in the season somo stacks which were net aside for chaff will be put through tho mill, mnd thi3 might bring small quantities on to the market. One factor that may bring 1 about this result ; a the slow sale of all classes of chaff except the primest quality. Quito a lot of oatan sheave 3 of indifferent quality were set aside for conversion into chaff, but as there appears small prospect of such chaff fir.dmg a ready sale, it scenw highly probable that many slacks will bo '.hreshedand ilia grain plaoed on the market. It is not expected, however, that tho quantity thus released will be other than small. As far as business in oats is concerned, what littlo is passing just tow is entirely for local consumption. No doubt business could be dono with the North Island were a sufficiency offering at pricos which would meet 'ho ideas of northern buyers, but as has been the caio for some time, the North Island business continues to go to the scu.h, whero the offerings are much more extonsivo and where the prices are lower than in this province. The offerings of potatoes are rather meagre, owing, no doubt, to the condition of the soil and <ho difficulties experienced in carting. There io a fairly free demand, and the current price is up to £G 15s on trucks .it country stations. Tho business in seed tubers, which was vory brisk beforj tho break in tho weather, has eacccl to some extent, and at the moment there are substantially fewer inquiries. Prices, however, remain nominally the same. Tho demand for onions, which are in short supply, continuos to increase, and there has boen another advance in price, to-day's quotation's beans' £2O to £2l per ton on trucks. It is reported that there is something in the nature of a distinct scarcity in Auckland, whero much higher pricos are current than in this province. Tho following are the prices paid to farmers at country stations free of commission, Backs extra: Wheat.—Milling wheat, Government price. South Island—July, 6s; Augußt, 6s OJd f.o.b. North Island—4d extra. Oats.—Seed Algerians 4s to 4s 3d, choice to 4s 6d; feed Algerians, 4s to 4s sd; milling Gartons, 4s 6d; feed Gartons, 4s 3d to 4s let; seed Duns, 4s 6d to 4s Odj lighter Duns, 4s to Is sd; Danish, good quality, 4s t)d. Barley.—Primo malting C 3 3d to 6s 6d; medium, 5s Gd to 6s. Flour.—£ls 10s per ton: 1001 b bags, £ls ss; 501 b bags, £l6 10s; 251 b bags, £l6 15s. Bran.—Shipping, £5 10s; local, £5 16s por ten. Pollard.—£7 10a per ton. Oatmeal.—2slb bags, £2S per ton; 71b bags, £32 por ton. Oatsheaf Chaff.—Bright heavy, £5 10s to £6 (nominal). , Cocksfoot.—Undressed, lOd to Is 3d per lb; machine dressed, Is 8d to Is 9d. Ryegrass.—Perennial, 4s to 4s 9d; Italian, 4s t Is 6d (nominal). Clover.—White, Is to Is 6d; red, la 4d to Is Gd. Peas.—Partridge,' 6s to 6s 6d; White Ivory, lis to 12s; Blue Prussian, 15s to 16s; Blue Imperial, 15s 6d <o 18s. Scotch Tares.—l2s 6d to 15s. Onions.—£2o to £2l. Linseed.—£2l per ton. Potatoes.—£6 5s to £6 15s per ton; wed potatoes, £4 10s to £9, according to variety.