THE OAMARU MARKETS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17533, 27 January 1919, Page 4

THE OAMARU MARKETS.

(From Our Ows Cobkespokdkst.) O AMARU, January 25. The only business reported: in the grain market this week is the sale of a small line of Algerian oats, -which changed hands at 5s net, • delivered in Oamaru. But agents and merchants are looking forward to a busier time before long. The warm weather required to bring cereal crops forward to ripening has been experienced on several days, and the result has been very marked. A number.of fields of oats and at least one paddock of wheat have been cut, and a good number of further wheat crops will be ready for cutting in'the incoming week. On the other hand, some fields still remain green, and the present indications are that the harvest will be spread over a longer period than usual. The general opinion ia that tho yields of bothwheat and oats will be better than any recorded for several years, while the quality will elso bo good if the grain can be safely garnered.

There has been a little more business passing in the stock market, but there cannot bo said to have been a real return to activity. For. the most part the transactions were on a modest scale, but one line of 600 shorn two-tooth wethers is reported, the price being 275. Other sales for prompt delivery include the following:—Shorn full-mouthed ewes with lambs, 235, all counted; failing-mouthed ewes in the wool with lambs, 225, all counted; shorn failing-mouth ewes with lambs, 20s, all counted; shorn two-tooth ewes, from 34s to 37a 6d; mixed six and eight-tooth wethers, 30s _ 6d. Some business has been done in various classes for forward delivery, a line of 1000 ewes having been placed at 24s 6d; while mixed-sex lambs have changed hands at 225, sound-mouthed ewes at 80a, and mixed six and eight-tooth halfbred wethers at 28s.

. Very little business in cattle is reported, but sales were made of three-year-old steers at £11, and of mixed yearlings at £8.

SOUTHLAND MARKET REPORT. (FEOM OUB OWS COEBESPOSDEXT.)

INVERCAR&ILL, January 25. The oats market is decidedly firm, but also remarkably quiet. No business whatever is passing, and as 'stocks in merchants' hands are at such a low ebb, business is well nigh impossible, excepting to those who core to quote the new crop for forward delivery. This is generally very much in the nature of a gamble, and at a time like the present, with weather conditions entirely unsuitable, no one seems disposed to make any bid for forward business. The new crop looks better than anyone would expect who knows the trying season farmers have come through, and if anything like favourable weather were to ensue during the next couple of months it would have a very favourable effect on the crop. Unfortunately, up to the present there seems to be no possibility of a break in the weather, and if it continues, as at present the harvest will be under adverse conditions, and one of the latest on record. Nevertheless, the autumn is invariably the best part of the year in Southland, and farmers are hopeful of getting their harvest in under good conditions. Merchants are not now offering for any, line 3 of chaff which are available, as shipping business is quite over, and northern reports are such that much lower prices are looked for.- Good prime quality is worth not more than £5 10s on trucks.

There has been a fair demand for ryegrass during the last two or three weeks for 'ast season's seed. Merchants generally are rather indisposed to do business at buyers' ideas of value, 'but prices are continually hardening. The new crop will probably not be harvested before a month or six weeks, as only under rare instances has cutting been commenced. New season's seed, therefor*, will not be available for the northern autumn sowing.

There is no activity whatever in the hemp market. Prices are nominally on the basis of £34 per ton for low-fair, but neither buyers nor sellers are disposed to do business at this figure. In view of the decline in London, it rather seems as if sellers would bo w«ll advised-to sell at this price.

Busmwss in stock has been exceedingly limited during, the past week There is acme inquiry for well-grown forward' bullocks and cows, but tho shortage of feed ia having a Very depressing effect. If tho weather improves, and with it the feed prospects, there should bo an inquiry for young ewes, business in which has hitherto boon restricted owing to tho small provision of rapo and other early feeds. On© or two lines of forward heavy wothers have been sola, but lighter sorts are difficult to handle. Taken all over, tho prospects of the stock market are not very 'bright. A. good number of fat cattle have been offering, but prices have gono back. when, however, tho freezing works opon the quantity of stock in hand should be materially reduced, with, eorresiponding improvements in the market. Prices may bo quoted: — Fat Cattle. —Extra, primo bullocks, £19 to £20; prime, £17 to £18; modiunv £15 to £16 10a; lighter, £13 to £14; prime heifers, £12 to £13; prime cows, £11 10a to £13 10a; medium, £9 10s to £10 10s. Fat Sheep.—Extra primo woolly wethers, 4Ss to 50s; medium, 45s to 465; primo shorn, 35s to 365; medium, 32s to 33s 6d. Store Cattle.—Throe-year-old, in good condition, £12 to £14; medium, £10 to £11; IS months to two-yoar-olds, £6 10s to £8 10s; mixed boxc3, yearlings, £1 10s to £5 10s; smaller eorts, £3 to £3 10a; empty cows and heifers, £7 to £9 10s. Store Sheep.—Ewe hoggets, 28s 6d to 295; mixed sexes, 27s to 28s; wether hoggets, 25s to 26s 6d; four, six, and eight-tooth ewes, shorn, with lambs at foot, 183 6d to 20s; inferior, 12s to Ids; forward wethers, 32s to 335; primer sorts, up to 355.

Railly's "CenAral Produce Mart," Ltd., report good business during the week, largo consignments coming forward. "Wo aro landing 150 casee of " Mission" Brand lemons on Tuesday; also 500 cases of apples ex tho Mokura. These apples will bo solcT on Thursday. Consignments of plums, nectarines, peaches, tomatoes, and apricots ore coming forward .from Nelson. Canterbury fruits are meeting a keen demand. Tomatoes are roalisng high prices. Otago Central fruits are eagerly inquired for, and high prices obtainable for all dessert apricots, peaches, and plums. Loganberries are short of requirements, and raspberries have keen inquiry. Potatoes have been coming to hand freely, and the town is well supplied. Onions find a ready market at good values. Bacon pigs are short of requirements. Calf meals iand summer spraying materials have met a good demand. The wheat landed from Sydney met a good demand. Wo received and sold:—Apples: Christchurch Sturmers, 18s; Rome Beauiys, 14s 6d; Nelson Gravenateins, 16s; Otago Central apples; cookers, 4d; desserts, 7£d; Californians to land Thursday. Lemons: Landing Thursday. Bananas: Landing Thursday. Strawberries: Waimate, 1b to Is sd; locals, 1b 6d to ls.Sd. Cherries: Oamoru, 7£d to Is; Central, is 6d; Kentish, prime, 5Jd; overripe, 2s. Gooseberries: Bottling, 2id, 2Jdjam, l»d, ljd; ripe, 3d to frd. Currants: Black, 4d to sd; i-ed, 2£d to PeachesChoice, 5d to 6-id; jam, 3id to 46L Nectarines, 7d. Apricots: Choice, 7d to 8d; jam, 4d to sd. Cherry plums: 4id to 6Jd; cooking plums, 2d to 3d. Cauliflower: To 9a. Cabbage: To 7s 6d. Cucumbers: 7s 6d to 14s per dozen. Tomatoes: Christchurch, Is 2d to Is 6Jd; locals, Is &Jd to Is 7£d. Mushrooms: 6id. Green peaslgd, 2d. Rhubarb: 2d. New potatoes! Prune, l£d to 2d; Oamaru, ljd, ljd. Onions: la 18s. Bacon: Golden Bay rolls, Is 3id; sides, la 2Jd; hams, Is 3d. Pigs: Baconers prune, 9Jd. Butter: Bulk, Is 2d; separator •pats, 1b 2d to Is 3d; special, Is 4d. Eg°s: Stamped and guaranteed, Is 6d, Is *7d" Honey: Bulk, B|d, 3d; 101b tins, 7s 6d ; sections, 10s 6d per dozen. Tea: Extra prime quality Broken Orange Pekoe, 2s Bran: 7s per 1001b bags. Linseed Meal and Calf Foods: (Special quality), 10s per 1001b. Meat Meal: -'Gross Keys," 18s per lOOlb. Molasses: 7s 6d per cwt, in caskscases, 4s. Cape Barley: 7s Sd. Oat Sheaf Oliafi: £8 15s. Oaten Dust: 6s 6d per sack, wheat: 63 9d to 7s for prime. Wheaten Pollard: 14s per 'lgolbs. Lime Sulphur: iS 3d per gallon.in barrels; 4-gallon tins 3s per gallon. Black Leaf 40": 63 per lb' Beeswax: Is lOd to 2s per lb. Egg Crates-' 14s 6d. Rabbitskins: 21d to 31d. Tallow--223, 22s 6d, 245, 255, 28s 3d. Poultry: Hens' 18 at 2s 6d, 14 at 2s sd, 28 at 2s 3d, 44 at 2s Id, 45 at 2s, 158 at Is lid, 94 at la lOd, 169 at Is 9d, 24 at to 8d each; 39 at ss, 2 at 4s 6d each; pigeons, 21 at lOd each. E. OSWALD BETLLY, Managing Director.

Fraser and Co., produce merchants, auctioneers, and commission agents, 146 Crawford street, Dunedin, report:—Eggs: Market steady; fresh, Is 4Jd; stamped, Is 6d. Butter: Separator, lib pats, market firm; supplies wanted- urgently; good quality, Is 2id: milled bulk, Is 2Jd to Is 3d. Honey! Market steady; good quality, in 561b tins, 7d per lb; inferior, 4d to 4Jd; sections, 9d to lOd Beeswax: Is 9d .per lb. Horsehair: Is 3d. Tallow: 23s to 38s .per <nrt. Oyster grit: 7s per 1001b. Southern Cross meatmeal, guaranteed 50 per cent protein, 20s per 1001b. Onions: Canterbury, 15s per owt. ■ Potatoes: Oa-nmrus, 10s 6d to 12s per cwt; market weak. Poultry: "We held our usual auction sale on Wednesday, at 1.30. Prices were somewhat easier, and all lines were showing signs of moult The following prices were realised: Hens, 38 at Is Sd, 350 at Is 9d, 100 at Is lOd, 70 at la lid 150 at 2s, 50 at 2s 3d; cockerels, 16 at 2s' ,15 at 2s, 7 at 3s, 21 at 3a 6d; ducks,' 7 at 4s 24 at 4s 3d, 5 at 4s sd, 5 at 4s 6d, 24 at 4s 9d; geese 6 at 4s sd, all at per head; • ft' g ° bbleis 11<J > hens 10d P«r It, live