COMMERCIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1608, 16 September 1882, Page 15

COMMERCIAL.

CUSTOMS REVENUE. The following revenue was received at the Ountori; house, Ounedln, aurlng the week ending Wednesd;»\ Ust:— ' • & s. d Thursday 1485 16 3 Friday . 1312 7 C . Saturday .. .. . 323 6 9 * Monday .„ .. , 2209 4 7 Tuesday .* 1889 1 C Wednesday „ '1230 15 i "Total ' £8595 11 11 THE SOUTHLAND GRAIN MARKET. The Southland Farmers' Co-operative Association's eport for the week ending Friday, 15th September, ia ac follows :— There is nothing material to report in (he-«rain market during the week. The stock of wheat and oats at the Bluff will shortly be considerably reduced. The Grej-hou'nd and the Edith May are both under engagement to load produpo for Sydney. The foimer is chartered by*he -Association, and will take a ear"o wheat and flouivand will be a full ship by the end'of the week. The dennt.d for both wheat and flour for the Australian Colonies has not abated, and in Victoria serious , doubts are entertained as to the sufficiency of stocks to, meet requirements. Rich-.rd Goldsbrough and Co. (Limited), in their monthly grain report for last month, Btate that " supplies from the country have been en a fair scale, and have been readily absorbed by tho trade, who, as tule, are very short of stock," and that " the balance of the season's crop now remaining on hand is Held by one or two large holders, who, to a great extent, rule the market, and the uncertainly existing as to whether we have sufficient stock left on hand to carry us on till next harvest precludes the po'-sibili'y of any fall in price 3 for tin remainder of the season." The advices to hand from Sydney and Adelaide strongly indicate that higher prices both for wheat and flour are expected to rule. The present quotations, in the chief centres in the Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, are 7s per bushel for prime milling wheat. Such a fact is in itself a stiange coincidence to chronicle, and still more sowhentheto rate? are one Shilling per bushel higher than the Mark Lane quo-

tatiqns at the present time. New South Wales has received her first supply of breadstuffa by tho Bolivia, from California, which vessel arrived ea»ly this month with 200 tons of wheat, COO tons of flour, and 500 tons of bran. South Australia has not only had to augment her stocks of breadstuffs from California by the Tabor, which is now overdue, but' also from this Colony. New Zealand wheat is much in disfavour in Adelaide, and although oife-ed at low rates, yeli the millers in the main hfve such a prejudice against it that they decline to use it at almost any price The demand for oats in the other Colonies is a little easier, but as seveial months must elapse before tho new oat crop can be placed on the market, the general opinion is that high prices will be steady to the end of the season. Rain is much wanted in many parts of the \ rovinco of Canteroury, and rs the registered rainfall in ono of the chief centres, from the commencement of the year to the end of last month, is but 13.30 inches as against 18.42 inches 'or the same period of last year, the fact so far is indicativo of a dry season, and if the equinoctial sra3on passes over less boisterous than usual, ifc h highly probable that dry weather way follow. The present grain season has been a very peculiar on->, and the general circumstances thai have caused the favourable price to rule for all kinds of farmers' produce in the Colonies can only be looked upon as quite exceptional. It in highly probable that extreme prices such as have ruled since harvest will bring about a very different state of things nest year, and that the equidbrium of values may be so disturbed that the consumers will benefit at the cost of the producers. i Wheat — Values remain at last week's quotations — j viz , 4s 9d to 5s per bushel, f.o.b. at Bl»ff, for shipping parcc's. The Btoeks of wheat are in the hands of few ho'ders, who are expecting higher ratea before business can be done. Oats. — The sleeks at the Bluff are being reduced, and the market is firm a"; Sa 21 to 3s 4d per bushel f.0.b., for best samples. Seed oats, in clean condition, are in great demand, and are salable at from 3a 6d to 4s per bushel. i Grass Seedi. — There is a brisk demand for clean I famplcs, but for farmers' lots there ia little inquiry. To-.vn-dre?sed Fe^d is paleablo at 6s 3d to 5s 9d per bushel, while fanners' parcels range from 3s to 4a Gd per bushel, according to condition. Butter. — The local demand is good, but tho orders for export have fallen off, and_ lower rates are expected to rule Present quotations, Is to la 3d per lb for potted butter in good conditiou.