CHRIST CHURCH GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12446, 1 September 1902, Page 4

CHRIST CHURCH GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET.

The Lyttelton Times reports:—Local millers aro now coining into competition with both northern and southern mills, and some fairsized lines of mixed have changed hands at 4s Id ex store Addington, while for picked linos Id more has been given. Most of the mills around Christchurch are only making flour for stock, and for the sake of the bran, which is very scarce, and in great demand. Even at the increased price of jRS per ton, millers do not care about booking orders. Very little wheat is offering, but the rise in values has brought on to tho market several lines of old wheat, some of which has suffered considerably by keeping. Matters in tho oat market are very brisk, and there is a very good demand for Sydney. Any prime lines of milling on offer are readily taken by local miliers at 2s 6d at country stations, and in some instances equal to 2s 7d has been given, but this class is exceedingly scarce. Feed lines are much wanted for local and coastwise demand, as well as for Sydney, and several fair-sized parcels have been sold in centals at quotations for Sydney. Fodder of all kinds is meeting a keen demand, and the Warrimoo, which left for Sydney yesterday, took away from Lyttelton 1100 tons of prodiice, including bran, chaff, hay, potatoes, mangels, etc. It is understood that an order has been placed in the Leeston district for several hundred tons of oatslieaf chaff, and this has caused a firmer tendency in the market. The large order for New Zealand Derwent potatoes for South Africa, has caused a sharp rise in the local market, and yesterday merchants were readily paying £3 15s per ton at handy stations, while even, as much as £4 has been given. The contractors for the 850 tons, which is Cantershare of the order, have now almost completed casing, and the Norfolk is expected to commence loading on Monday morning. It is daily becoming more evident that the Government statistics, which estimated that the potato crop in Canterbury would be much larger than last season, are by no means borne out by facts. It was estimated that there were about 300 acres more under crop, and that the yield would be about seven, tons to the acre. So far as can bo gathered, the yield will not be more than between) five and six tons per acre. If there are large stocks held, it is very difficult to say where they ate, and very few are offering. A decided improvement has taken place in the Sydney market-, as yesterday a cable message ; was received in Christchurch to the effect that , New Zealand Derwonts had been sold there at , £7 per ton. The supplies from .Tasmania have fallen off for the present, as farmers there are bitsy with ploughing and other fanning operations. It is expected that Tasmania can pretty well keep Sydney supplied until the end of next month, but after that supplies will have to be drawn from elsewhere, more especially as ; the early potato crtfp is said to be almost a failure. In view of a big demand at the- end of : next month, the Union Steam Ship Company has arranged to load the Nairnshire at New ' Zealand ports about tho middle of September, and it is understood that she will leave for Sydney with a full cargo of produce. Several shipments of mangels and swede turnips have been made to Sydney, and there are at present about 250 tons, mostly mangels, on the way to that port. Unfortunately, however, there is a duty of 40s per ton to be paid, and it is doubtful, under these circumstances, whether many more will be sent. There has been a. good deal of fodder shipped to Taranaki, as well as to West Coast ports, during the past week. The demand for grass seeds still continues.

INVESTMENT STOCKS. The Dunedin Stock Exchange reports the following quotations oa Saturday: — National Bank—Sellers £1 2s Gd. National Insurance —Buyers £1 Is Gd, sellers £1 Is 9d. New Zealand Insurance—Buyers £3 lGs Gd, sellers £3 18s Gd. South British Insurance—Buyers £3 ss. Standard Insurance—Buyers 18s 3d, sellers 18s 9d, Union. Steam Ship—Buvera £11 15s. Westport Coal—Buyers £i 18s. Commercial Property—Buyers 2s Gd, sellers 3s. Mosgiel Woollen—Buyers £3 lis. Oodward's Spiral Pin—Sellers 3s 3d. Donaghy's Rope and Twine—Buyers £11 10s. Port Chalmers Gas—Buyers £1 Bs. Barr, Leary, and Co., stock and shnrebrokers, Dunedin.—lnvestment shares and debentures a specialty. Communications invited re investments ror small or large sums. Investment sharps can he supplied at market quotations.— Adrt.