THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9000, 13 March 1888, Page 5

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.] Thames, Monday evening. Sharemarket.Cambria, 7s 6d; Manukau, buyers Is 4d ; Saxon, ss, 4s 10d, sellers ss, buyers 4s 9d; Marototo, 3s, buyers 2s lOd. No marked change occurred yesterday in mining operations, and prices generally are much tho same as were quoted at the end of last week. Business was done in Union Insurance Company shares at '23s 9d, while there were buyers for New Zealand Insurance at 435, Thames Gas shares at 365, New Zealand Timber at 70s, and New Zealand Loan and Mercantile at 70s. In mining scrip, Cambria changed hands at from 7s lOd to 8s 3d. Sales of Alburnias were made at 2s 2d to 2s 7d, and Paroquets 3s. Marototo were offered at 3s 6d, but buyers would not advance beyond 3s, at which figure Woodstocks could also be purchased. Saxon. —The mine manager reports : There is no important change in the mine since my last. A little gold is still showing in the hillward stopes, and in both winzes gold is seen, but more freely in No. 2 winze. Both batteries are at work now, and the amalgam on hand to date is 1950z sdwt. Plate amalgam not yet squeezed for past week. The following telegram was received yesterday from the mine manager : " 251b picked stone sixth stope seaward of rise, No. 4 level." PRICES OF WHEAT and FLOUR. * " A Grower " writes as follows on above subject:— newspaper can hardly be taken up without seeing articles urging the occupation of country lands for the purpose of farming; but as all those so doing are avowedly losing money, it is hardly to be wondered that the recommendation falls flat. The prices for years past have been under-paying, either for cattle or grain ; but this year, in grain, it never was so low, while the price of flour is out of all proportion, showing that in this, as in all other farm produce, it is the middleman who takes the whole profit; the farmer puts up with the loss, while the consumer is charged an exorbitant price. Mr. Firth and other millers are offering 3s Id per bushel for Auckland-grown wheat. Millers are selling fowl wheat at 3s, and this is the offal, which is not fit to make flour of, or only one penny less than they give for prime sample. For the best roller flour their price is £11 5s per ton (vide. Auckland Herald, March 9). The Adelaide price for best roller flour is £8 15s, and their price for wheat is 3s 3d; in other words, paying 2d per bushel more for wheat, the Adelaide millers are selling their flour for £2 10s less than the Auckland millers ! Iβ it any wonder that farming does not pay in Auckland ? How can it, when the miller takes all the profit ? With wheat at 3s Id, flour can be sold at an excellent profit at £8 ; the Auckland public are paying £3 5s a ton above its value. There was a great deal of gush in advising the farmers to grow wheat for Auckland consumption, and this is the miserable result Id per bushel. Adelaide wheat cannot be imported for less than 3s 7d, Canterbury for less than 3s 4d, and why Auckland wheat, which is admittedly 6d per bushel better than Canterbury, should be 3d nominally, and 9d really, less, can only be caused by a combination among the millers. The farmers are naturally very sore at this ; and some are proposing to mill their wheat, have it in suitable bags, and fill the stores and auction rooms; they would thus realise considerably better prices, besides opposing the combination. With the prospect next year of the Hessian fly, and not a fair price obtainable, there is likely to be a very small breadth of land in wheat, and then there will be the usual cry of wanb of enterprise among- farmers.