COMMERCIAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14041, 26 April 1920, Page 6

COMMERCIAL.

THE OAMAKJJ^MARKETS. Oamaru Mail Office, . Monday morning. The decline in the volume of wheat that came forward in the past week may be taken as an indication that the work of threshing is approaching a finish. The mills have met with little interruption since they commenced operations some two months ago. and it is difficult to. recall a season when all the harvest work was carried on under such" favorable conditions as have prevailed this season. As a natural result the grain has come upon the mar.ket in first-lass order, while the quality has in other respects been exceptionally good in the aggregate, all the wheat "being fit for milling purposes. No lines of any .great magniture came forward during the week, the largest having been so far as we have heard one of 800 sacks of mixed varieties, comprising Velvet, Redchaff, and Bordier, and this was supported by a line of 700 sacks of Redchaff. Then transactions declined from 600 sacks to 200 sacks, small lines being the more numerous. Of course all the wheat purchased has not gone into manufacture. A big quantity has been put into store, and what with wool, wheat, and oats the big stores present such an appearance of fulness as has not been seen.for many years. The threshing of oats, judging from the freedom with which samples have been submitted, has also reached a very advanced stage. The offerings on the market during the week were on- a liberal scale, but transactions were few owing to merchants being unable to find outlets, while storage facilities are about exhausted in the meantime, the previous accommodation in that respect .having been very materially affected by the destruction of the big' elevator store. Only a few unimportartt' lines of oats changed hands during the week, these being A grade Gartons, which were taken at 4s lid and 5s net-at country stations.

A -line of Chevalier malting barley found a buyer at 8s 9d at a country .station, the price to grower being reducible by brokerage. A small line of Cape barley was taken at a country station at 6s lid net. A little business in oatensheaf chaff is reported at £7 net on trucks. There is still nothing to report locally in regard to potatoes. " So far as sheep are concerned the market is exceedingly dull. There are plenty of sheep offering, but there are few buyers, and those prepared to buy confine" their operations to a. few descriptions. Transactions by private treaty during the week were generally in modest lines, the most noteworthy sale having been one of 600 two-tooth half bred wethers, for which 23s 6d was given. Other sales were as follows: — Two-tooth ewes, from 23s to 30s according to quality; mixed four and sixtooth ewes, 325; sound-mouthed ewes, 265; light-weight fat ewes ; 24s 6d; fat lambs, 27a 6d; fat and forward halfbred wethers, 27s 6d. The week witnessed little more business in cattle. Prime steer beef is in fair demand, and sales have been made up to £lB, while one line brought £l6 10s per head. Fat cows have been sold at £l2 10s. Store cattle changed hands at the following prices:—Three-year-old bullocks, £lO to £11; two-year-old steers, £6 to £7: 18-montbs-old steers, £3 to £3 10s; calves, from 20s to 30s. There is a good demand for dairy cows, and good cows have realised from £ls to £lB, and medium sorts £lO, while up to £2O has been given for cows of extra quality. Cows to calve in the spring have been sold at fronr-£lO to £l2. THE DUNEDIN MARKETS. (Otago Daily Times.) Very few lines of wheat are offering and millers are finding it difficult to secure sufficient southern wheat for their requirements. Fowl wheat is practically unprocurable, but it is reported that the Government is making arrangements to supply poultry keepers with a portion of their requirements. During the last few days prices for oats have further firmed, and sales- of good A Gartons have been made at 5s 2d per bushel, sacks extra, on trucks. The quantity offering is small for this time of the season, and even without shipping inquiries the demand from millers has been sufficient to improve the market. The present nominal quotations for shipment, are 5s lOd to 6s for A Gartons, and 5s 9d for B grade. Sparrowbills are in good demand, and sales have been effected at 6k 3d f.0.b., s.i., prompt shipment. Small consignments of-chaff are coming to hand, hut as the demand has lessened on account of several feeders having secured stocks, there is no change to report in prices. Good quality is selling at up to £8 10s per ton, sacks extra, ex truck. Medium is worth round about £7 10s. At the beginning of the week the market for potatoes declined to £7 10s per ton, sacks included, but owing to an improved demand and smaller consignments arriving there is a firmer tendency to-day. Up to £7 15s is now being asked for good quality. Current wholesale prices are as follow : Fowl wheat, 8s per bushel, sacks extra (very scarce). Chaff —Prime oaten sheaf, £8 to £8 10s; medium, £6 to £7. Potatoes, £7 15s; medium, £6 to £7. Onions, 12s 6d per cwt. ____ Eggs—Stamped, 3s Id; ordinary, 3s. Butter —Milled, bulk, "best, Is 5Jd to Is 6d; separator pats, to Is 5Jd. Margerine, Is 3Jd per lb. Pigs, lid per lb; supplies about equal to the demand. Bacon, Is 8d to Is 9d per lb.