GRAIN, SEED, AND PRODUCE REPORT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12564, 19 January 1903, Page 10 (Supplement)

GRAIN, SEED, AND PRODUCE REPORT.

Messrs William E. Reynolds, and Co., Dunedin, report for the month ending January 10 as follows; — In oui las* we reported the weathoi as having l)een very wet in Otago. Since then it has ■unfortunately been wet over by fai the greater portion of the colony, tmd this connot only l)e termed unseasonable, but is iikely to interfere with !be harvest. We do not consider it is too lute yet if the weather takee up, and in • Canterbury and the nortlrtho last week or so it has done so, but in Otago, where the crops aro specially far behind, it is still inclement,, and wo consider good weather is now essential or tho crop is iikely to be short of the average. ' Wheat.—This, market keeps very firm indeed, despite the fact that millers continue to buy sparingly, adopting tho hand to mouth policy, simply on account of high prices. Australian markets have eased somewhat, still it seems to have affected us very little. The, new crop being late, this year can hardly begin tc show forward boforo March, and, if (ho weather hoops fine from this on, the crop should be a good one, and we anticipate that prions will ease somewhat, if not considerably To-day's values are, nominally, For long-berried, 5s Gd; shortberried, Bs 3d to ss. 4d, fowl wheat, up to 4s 6tl ] per bushel of COl'o (sacks weighed in, f.0.b., net cash). .■ Oats.-Bnsiness in this grain is not at all brisk, At the same time stocks arc sufficiently low to prevent this having any depressing offset upon the market, ■ which keeps remarkably steady. The new crop will bo late this year, tlio first of it even cannot come on to tho irsarket much before March, and all old crop is bound to be cleared out ere thie. Australia continues to draw very moderate quantities, and as. tho demand from there is almost entirely for good oats, business is difficult to do, the bulk of what is still on hand being ordinary quality.. Tins new crop will, wo consider, bo a largo and a good oiu, if—and this is important—the weather improves. To-day's prices can Ij3 given at up to 3s for Canadians, 2s lid for A -grade', 2s 10d for B piade, and f.a.q. and Danish from 2s Ed to 2s 9d per bushel of 40lb (f.q.b,, sacks weighed in,'net cash), Barley.—This market is very linn indeed, and all bid stocks practically cleared out, No doubt the high pries of oats has induced the greater us 9of this for feed purposes, for this quality has be3a moving off very fast lately. The area ill this crop is small tins ycai, and does not promise too well, and all indications point to a firm market for this grain. To-day we can quota prirae/uialtiug, nominal, up to '4s; ordinary, up to 3s 8d; milling, 3s Cd; feed, 3s '4d per bushel of 601b (f.0.b., sacks weighed in,' net cash). Grass Seed.—At present we are in our off season, but, with tlio incoming crop certain to l>? lale, holders nro not inclined io reduce values at all. The area under crop is farily large, Trat it is impossible to.gaugo how it will yield; it is a risky crop to save. At the moment it does not look ae if values were- going to recede ranch, and, if they do recede at all, they can 'hardly do so for another two months yet. Heavy seod is specially scarce, and worth up to Js 3d-per bushel; 291b seed, up to 4r,; 07lb, up to 35.10(3; 2511), up to Sβ Cd per bushe! of SJ.'b (f.0.b., sacks extra). Cocksfoot is exceptionally scarce; in fact, there ia almost nqne left owing 'to. the-keen inquiry frem London. We can quote best quality seed up to Gd per lb, and it is .almost impossible that it can recede any before the arrival of the new crop, which prbWsee to be a. fairly good and heavy one. Some o: it may do available during February, but •we , do not expect it beff.ro March. Clovers,—Our now crop will not be available ioV Borne little time yrt. Mid there is little of interest to report. Prices, generally speaking, ■are higher all round, and how this new crop will open depends a good deal on the season Y/n will have. Chaff.—Prime -still continues scarce at £G ■pet ton (f.0.b., sacks in), at which prico there ie no chance of export business. Butter.—ln our recent wpjrts we have indicated that -this market was somewhat inflated, snd, as we supposed would h?. the case, London has eased somewhat, which has had a depressing .effoct on the. market here, especially aa Australian demand to-d»y is practically nil. Any advance in our market we think can only take place through an Australian or African demand, which is looked (or by many hi the 'trade a little later on. We quote: Prime factory, IOJd to lid per lb; lib pats, M more (i.0.b.; boxes in). Cheese.—Tho demand both from London and Australia up till tbe New Year was as keen as .we have ever knowii it to be, and everyone had difficulty in getting sufficient supplies io meet tbeir orders. Australian demand has eased very much lately, no doubt owing to tho mole favourable weather conditions prevailing there, and prices here to-day are consequently easier. There are, howevei, next to no stocks on hand, and with some fsctories making large size for London nc. accumulations are likelj to take place. This market shows a clear return of s|d (f.0.b.), and medium can be quoted at Gd to 6Jd, and loaf at GJd to Qid per lb (f.0.b., cases in). Bran,—A. few weeks age the demand fell away, and the price locally was reduced to £6, and baa not been raised again despite the increasing Jiiqniry from Australia, the reason being that there is none now available for export. Pollard.—The ejme remarks apply, and the local price still remains at £6 10s. Oatmeal.—Thew is no change to chronicle, and we quote bulk at £13 15s; 7's, £15 ss; 25's (short ton), £13 15s per ton (f.o.b). Flour.—ln our last wo repotted this market as likely to go higher, since which it has done so,.and to-day wo quote £13 for 2001b; £1310s for 1001b;. J33 16s for 50's per ton of 20001b <f.0.b., sacks in).