CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2505, 26 March 1902, Page 16

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Chnstcburch gram and produce reports (Lyttelton Times, 22nd inst.) —The grain markets have been quiet during the week, and there are no great alterations in, prices to leport. Wheat is ne-ither offering nor selling freely, the millers bemg practically the only buyers, and declining to go above 3s Id to 3s 2d. This price the farmers are not generally willing to accept, although some sa'es have been effected at 3s 2d. Oats are easier, and local holders are unwilling to sell. There are no outside buyers. Oats are offering in fairly large quantities from the south, which no doubt accounts in part for the diop m prices. The Germanicus is at present lading oats at Timaru, and will probably arrive at Lyttelton on Monday. Potatoes remain in much the same condition as during the last few weeks, merchants not caring to go beyond 30s per ton for Derwents. Some lines of early Rose and Beauty of Hebron have made r<3 per ton. Onions are selling freely, and there is a good supply, but the price remains weak at £-2 5s per ton* delivered. The barley market is quiet, few sales being effected. Cocksfojt also is not greatly m demand, and prices are unchanged. Blue Piussian peas, are still inquired for, and puces have hardened slightly. Partridge peas are a trine weaker. There are no changes in the dairy produce market Timaru markets for the week ended Friday last —Owing to the continual wet weather the new crop is not coming to hand nearly bo soon as it was expected, and during the week very few sales have been made. The demand for oats has slackened, owing to South African orders being now nearly filled. Yesterday Timaru buyers were prepared to give 2s per bushel, all round, for oats and 3s 3d for wheat. Of the latter there is none offering. Potatoes are worth from £1 15 ato £1 per ton for Juno delivery. Ashburton markets for the week ended Fuday last — The wet weathei is keeping farmer-, from getting their wheat threshed, and there n a large quantity damaged, which will only be fit for fowl wheat. Good milling is worth 33 2d to 3s 3d on trucks at country stations. Very few prime samples have been seen co far. About 2s 8d at country stations is being offered for soft wheat. The market for oats has eased somewhat, and quotations are 2s on trucks at country stations in 80lb bags and 2a on trucks at Timaru in sacks. Owing to a, large quantity of oats being damage^ however, prices

for anything got in before being wet will be maintained. The standard for South Africa will have to be lower than last year if buyers expect to fill orders at present rates, for holders of good lines will not sell. There are no good samples of barley offering. Feed is being sold at up to 2s 4d f.0.b., and inquiries are being made for malting. In potatoes there have been a few sales at 40s on trucks at country stations (bags found by the purchaser), but prices are likely to recede to 355. The annual ram and ewe fair, held under the auspices of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association, opened on the association's ground at Waimataitai on Thursday last. Therft was a good attendance of farmers and otheis interested, South Canterbury being well represented. The fair began shortly after r.oon, and was not concluded till well on in the afternoon. The entries this year were not quite so large as those of last year, owing, possibly, to the fsct that Ashburton. representatives were not present. The entries totalled 834, as against 879 last year. Although the numbers wero not so large on this occasion, the quality was quite equal to that of last year. That this was the case will be at once conceded when it is mentioned that such wellknown breeders as Messrs D. M'Laren, W. Grant, W. Hay, F. H. Smith. E. Kellend, W. Cunningham, D. Grant, and R. Kelland weie represented. In addition to stud rams, there were also some' unregistered ewes submitted for sale. The rams, generally speaking, were m good co.adition, though not so goad as they were last ycr.i, and the cold, bleak Jay did r.ot tend to improve their appearance. Tho infeuor condition of the sheep, as compared with last year, was attributed to the unfavoiu--ab'e spring of this year and the excess of moisture later on. Of course, the English and Border Leicesters came in for the largest sharo of notice, and all goes! soit3 of these breeds met with bpmted competition, while the sale otherwise was rather a dragging one, buyers showing an inclination to hold back and buy privately. As usual, Mr D. M'Laren, of Storcrcft, b-oiiyht foiward some excellent types ol the Border Leicester, and it may be pretty safely said that in this class the Kingsdown representatives topped the market, so far as quality wa« concerned. Mr M'Laren disposed of 17 of his sheep before the sale, Mr Albe-t Smith taking 10 at 2Ags and Mr Dugfeld Bluj seven at the same price — Timaru Post. The Ashburton lam and e\ve fair was held on Thursday last at the Tinwald Yards, and 30!) rams and 13.000 ewes were entered. Tho sale was far from brisk, and ewes fell in price very much rs compared with last year, but the demand for good, young sheep w«3 fair. Most of the best rams were sold privately, so that there was little business done under the hammer. Shropshire rams were most popular, and several belonging to Mr J. W. Rogers fetched sgs at auction, and the same breeder topped the market with a line of eight-toot h-i at 7ga. English and Border Leicester were, as usual, very popular rums, but Lincolns were out of'fashion. Messrs Friedlander sold crossbred ewes from 10s to 10s Id, and up to 10s 9d, Lincoln ewes at 9s 6d ; Mr D. Thomai sold crossbred ewes fioin 10s lOcl up to 133 2d, and merino ewes at 23 2d to 3s 2d ; the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Company sod 800 halfbied ewes at 14s 9d. The following were the grrain and produce shipments from Lyttelton for the week endrd Friday last —For" the United Kingdom— 2oo sacks oats, 100 sacks potatoes. For Australia—73s sacks oats, 550 sacks b~an, 820 sack* potatoes. For the Inlands— s2 sacks and 4 boxes potatoes. 90 sacks sharps. Coastwise — 3578 sacks and 329 bags wheat, 5766 sacks oats, 72 sacks barley, 972 sacks bran, 794 sacks, 1243 ba^s, and 202 cases flour, 598 sacks and 161 ba^s potatoes, 395 sacks sharps. Total shipment—3s7B *a,cks and 329 b?gs wheat, 6701 sacks oats, 72 sacks barley. 1522 sacks bran 794 sacks, 1219 bags, and 202 capes flour, U7O sacks, 161 bags, and 4 boxes p O4^ 0 -". 485 Ea " k:J sharps.