COMMERCIAL.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13856, 17 April 1917, Page 8

COMMERCIAL.

SOUTHLAND MAMET;bMrJ

INVERCABGILL,. April 14.

Since last report priebs' of oats re-. 1 ■maini unchanged/but' merchants "are not' at all keen'to buy from farmers., The" basis of purchases made during: the week are from 3s id to 3's 2d,' on trucks for A' grade Cartons, depending on'the distance from port/; and correspondingly lower values from Id to '3d per bushel for lower qualities.'''. .";■ ' In sympathy with oats, thero is a drop in chaff from £4 10a to roughly £4 to £4 ss, but in the latter cane.the price quoted i 9 only available when merchants are compelled to'% to replenish their depleted stocks, r ; The northorn demand for ryegrass still .holds good, and prices havo snotaltered to any material extent. Nice, bright,- clean- seed.at 271b to 281b from ■the 'mill' is "worlli up to 5s fid per bushel, lower weights in proportion. A limited quantity of inferior and damaged seed has been offering during tiio week, but without response from buyers, Very little has been doing in Italian, either in purchases from farmers or in the way of reselling to northern houses, and the prospects for this seed are rather poorer than they have been in the past; 4s fid a bushel is quite a good price for really nice, wellmarked lines, on .trucks at. eountry sidings, An odd line or two of nice Timothy lias been offering, and good busiuess has resulted at from 5M to 6d, on trucks at growers' sidings. A few lines of rye corn have come on the market during the last fortnight, and have been disposed of at from 4s Gd to 4s lOd per bushel, according to quality, on trucks at the various sidings.

In all classes of stock business continues highly satisfactory, the demand being very good indeed. Prices are every bit as firm as the good values ruling of late, with the exception of lambs. In fact, values for ewes and forward wethers are, if anything, firmer than of late, and, with the abundance of feed in view, it looks as if the market is going to hold all right. A number of graziers are afraid of the works closing down, but it seems, at anyratc for the present, and for some considerable time to come, there is plenty of available space, and farmers should have no immediate concern over any shortage. A few days ago it looked as if the dry weather prevailing jiorth would necessitate the sending down of large consignments of stock) but the last few days' welcome rain which have occurred will relieve the pressure to a certain, extent; Fat sheep operators are still buying keenly, and prepared to buy as much ns it is possible to get hold of. Values may be quoted:

Fat Cattle.—Ox beef, 45s to 40s Gd; heifer beef, 4,'ls to -13s Cd; cow beef, 41s to 425,

Fat Sheep—Extra heavy butchers wethers, 3Ss to -10s; prime,'3ss to 365; medium,. 32s to 33s Gd; extra prime ewes, 31s to 355; prime, 30s to 325; medium and unfinished, 2.6s to 275.

Store Cattle.-Three-year-old bullocks, £ll 10s to £l3 ss; two and a-half-year-old, £lO 10s to £ll 10s; two-year-old, best sorts, £9 5s to £lO ss; medium sorts, £S to £8 ss; eighteen months, £G 5s to £G 10s; yearlings, £5 to' £5 ss.

Store Sheep.—Two-tooth ewes, 31s Gd to 335; four-tooth, ,35s Gd to 3Gs; sixtooth, 32s to 3-ls; eight-tooth, 28s to 30s; fresh failing-mouthed ewes, 23s to 245; older ewes, down to 17s; mixedsex lambs, 22s Gd'to 23s 6d for >st sorts, 20s to 21s for medium sort 3; twotooth wethers, 28s Gd to 30s; four and six-tooth, 32s to 335.

\ DUNEDIN MARKET,

DUNEDIN, April 16,

Donald Reid and Co,, Ltd., report: We held our weekly auction 'sale of grain ami'produce at our stores this .morning, when values ruled as under:--

Oats—The market has been in a quieter state during the past week, and only prime 'to choice lines of milling ami seed oats have had any attention. Medium and inferior lines have not been in favour, and these' have been difficult to place at a reduction on late values. 'We quote: Prime milling 3s; 8d to 3s l>d, good to best feed Its U to 3s 7d, inferior to medium 3s 3d lo 3s:sdper bushel (sacks extra).. .'..■/ ..* Wheat—The quantity on ( offer is small. Prime milling lots are readily taken by millers at fulP ..Government valuation, and seed lines' are scarce. Fowl wheat is offering in moderate quantity, and sells at 5s Gd to 5s 8d per bushel for best whole'wheat. Potatoes.—Consignments are coming forward more freely. The general quality of the crop this season is exceptionally good, and few faulty lots have come on the market. Tho quantity on offer is gradually increasing, as digging proceeds, and values have slackened to some extent in consequence. We quote: Prime (able potatoes £5 to £5 ss, medium £4 ]os lo £4 15s per ton (sacks included), ex store.

Chaff—Heavier supplies are arriving. Many consignments are of only medium quality, for which the, demand is not strong, even at reduced prises. Prime eaten sheaf finds ready buyers,, and for this class values are veil main-

tainod. AVe quote: Best oaten sheaf £slos to £5 las, medium to good £5 to £5 ss, light and discoloured £'l to £4 las per ton (bags extra).