Canterbury Grain and Produce Markets.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 7499, 24 April 1899, Page 1

Canterbury Grain and Produce Markets.

(Lyttclton Timos),

Wheat: is now coming forward in largo parcels for shipment, but a good deal 1b still being rejectod at the ship's aide on account of its condition. Somo has boon threshed during wet weather, and somo before it had properly matured. Several parcels are so bad that had thoy boon shipped they would have boon utterly useless upon arrival at London. Local millers, too, complain of tho state of tho bulk of some of the parcels bought by them from samples, and" there will be a larger proportion of damaged grain this season than for many years past. Tho market haa shown a little moro activity during tho week, and millers have soared a few prime samples, but they are very particular indeed as to quality. A few sales of fairly largo lots have been made at 2s to 2s Id for mixed lines at country stations. Timre is very little inquiry for oats for feed purposes in the local markets, and as Sydney is fully supplied, while tho Southland crop is offering freely, very little business has been done. There aro no malting samples of barloy on offer, and with the low prices ruling for all sorts of feed grains it is not surprising lhat tho lower qualities are not wanted for food. As the Sydney and Auckland markets aro well supplied with Blue Prussian poas, and as these are tho only outlets for our products, there is no inquiry in tho looal market, and matters are extremely dull; but there is a little demand for Partridge sorts at 2s 8d to 2s 9d. Nothing whatover is doing in grass seeds, and it is unlikely that any further activity will bo experienced until spring sowing commenoßS. Although there is no improvement _ln prices in the potato market, 20s now boing tho ruling figure at country stations, thoso who have purchased consignments for shipment to Sydney find considerable difficulty in getting deliveries fulfilled on account of the scarcity of diggers, and two or three merchants liavo boon nnablo to fill the space taken by them in this week's boat. Latest advices from Sydney stato that tho market there is fully supplied, and that much less than usual will bo wanted from New Zealand this year, whllo the Auckland market is kept supplied with potatoes from tho Waikato, where thoro has been a very good crop. Holders of onions aro now more inclined to take tho prices offered, and fair quantities havo changed hands at 30a per ton. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantllo Agency Company hold its second saio of grain yesterday afternoon. Thoro was a good attendance of produce merchants, millers and others. A catalogue of over ISOO sacks was submitted, and a fair amount was sold. Most of tho whoab was in bad condition, tho bulk of tho oats sold were taken by local cabmon, but thoro was little demand for feed barloy. Tho only lino of oatsheaf chaff offored was withdrawn at 35s per ton, ex store. Tho prices obtained wore Primo milling Pearl equal to 2s 4d f.0.b., damaged sorts Is 9d ex store, damp Hunter's Is B£d ox store, Tuscan 2s Id do, whole fowl wheat Is 6d to Is 7£d do, damaged sorts Is 4d to Is 6id, Canadian oats Is 4d do, good short) feed"oats Is 3d to Is 4d, medium do Is Id to Is 2d, Duns la to Is 3d, feed barley la to 2s, according to quality. A largo line of Sparrowbill oats mixed with wheat was withdrawn at Is lid at Christchurcli. Following are quotations : Wheat(now). —Pearl and Tuscan, 2s 4d ; fair average quality, to 2s 3d ; prime milling Hunter's, 2s 2id, fair average 2s 2d Barley.—Prime "malting (nominal) 2s 6d to 2s 9d, secondary parcels 2s 3d to 2a 6 d delivered ; feed, 2s to 2s 2d. Oats.—Milling Canadians, Is 4dtols6d; short feed, Is 3d to Is 4d ; Duns, Is 2d to Is 3d ; Danish, Is 2d to Is 3d ; Tartarian, Is 4d

Flour. —Millers quote roller L 7, stone L 6, sharps L 3 10s, bran L2 15s. Oatmeal. —LlO. Oatsheaf Chaff.—(old) 55s at country stations for bright clean quality, (new, nominal) 30a to 32s 6d. Potatoes.— Derwents, 20s to 22s 6d at country stations. Beans, 2s 4d to 2s 6d Peas—Prussian Blues, 3s 3d to 3s 4d Onions, 30s, at country stations. Seeds. Ryegrass, farmers' dressed 1 lnes Is 3d to Is 9d for fair and up to 2s 6d for prime heavy farmers' seed. Cocksfoot, farmers' dressed lines, 2id to Cowgrass, 5d to 6d. Wlulu clover, sjd to 7d. Dairy Produce. —Cheese 3Jd to 4d, loaf 4d to sd, factory (large) 4d to 4Jd. Butter—Fresh factory 9d, ditto in boxes 7d to Bd, best dairy 6d to 7d, salt (in boxes) 6d to 6d for prime. Bacon and hams 7|d to B£d, factory id per lb higher. The above prices, except whore otherwise stated, aro those paid to farmora f.o.b. Lyttelton.