CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2515, 28 May 1902, Page 18

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Christchurch grain and produce report (Lyttelton Times, 24th inst.) : —There is very little change to report in the local grai'i and produce markets during the week. Holders of wheat ara still asking more than either millers or purchasers are inclined to give, and as offerings are very small, only a little has changed hands (to fill coastwise orders. The Sonoma, which Bias arrived at Auckland with the Sau Francisco mail, brougnt a quantity of Cahfornian (wheat and flour, which should help to fill preBent requirements in that quarter. Very few ioats are coming on to the market, and although .they are wanted, prices asked are beyond the <limits of buyers, and only a few small lines for 'home conaumptio > and for export to Australia have changed hands at prices, slightly above quotations.' Blue peas are almo=t entirely out of the market, and are in great' demand. Partridge peas are. also sc,arce and wanted. Oatsheaf chaff and h?y have firmed slightly, owmg to a. quantity being required to fcupply the xcmounts which are now loading at Wellington and Auckland for South Africa. The latest cable messages from Sydney ars to the effect that ths market there :? fully supplied with both Tasmaninn snd New Zo.vlar.rt potatoes, R.nd that prices are easier. Aa no furthei ordeis have been received in Canterbury for Australia, anerchant3 are disinclined "to purchase even at 'lower prices. About 2000 bags have gone to Sydney this week, but these were in fulfilment of contracts made aoni2 time ago for forward delivery, and they will reach an already overFUfplicd market. Onions are decidedly weaker locally in sympathy with the Sydney market, *» vliere a sharp fal! is recorded as having Occurred. Dairy produce of all kinds continues firm, cheese being especially sought after. Timaru produce markets, for the v.-eck ended Priday last: — The markets have been quiet this week, and merchants report few sales. Old wheat is not quoted, the market being bare of supplies. For new wheat buyers are offering Bs 9d on trucks at country stations, but growers .•will'not accept this price. O-ats are quoted all in at 2s 4d on trucks at country stations, ar;d business has resulted at this figure ; discoloured ■being worth Id to 2d les«, according to condition and pample. lTeed btirley is quoted at 23 yd; malting is not quoted, as theic. is none offering. - A few sales of potatoes have been made at £3 per ton, sacks in, country stations; ,but the majority of growers expect a better tjorice, and ps this is not at present forthcoming, are putting their produce in the pit. Ashburton markets, for the week ended Fri<lay.last:—The fine weather has enabled many farmers to thresh Uicir gram at last," and these are now carting, arrd m most cpess havo sold their wheat at present rate 3. A few are, holding off for higher rates, and are (storing their grain in grana'.ie3 Millers are fniying up steadily all primo hues, but lcfu^e to touch anything above quotations, preferring to lose many good lines, which are being purchased by merchants. Several of the large growers are now threshing, but these in rno3t cases look for higher rates, and are storing. To-day's values are — Tuscan 3s 91d to 3s lOd, Pearland Hunter's 3s 9d to 3s 9Jd, at Ashburton or near stations. Very few oats are on offer, and beyond a few feed linc3 for local use, little business has been effected. Milling cat* WJiUauft xais «carA& ani, command fts

high as 2s 6d pe<- bushel. Feed lines are, however, not so much sought after, and price-3 sir? slightly easier. Quotations are — Canadians 2s 5i to 2s 6d, aparrowbills 2b 2d to 2s 3d, <itns and Danish 2s 2d. Very little oaten sheaf chaff is offering, and good quality is exceptionally scarce. Sales of small lines are repc rted at £3 7s 6d to £4.

At the Studholme market, on Friday last, there was an entry of between 11,000 and 12,000 sheep, including a consignment of 2500 wethers from Gore. There was a good attendance, of buyers, and the sale showed a healthy tone throughout, nearly the whole of the yarding changing hands. Prime heavy wethers 17s 9d to 18s Id, prime wethers, light-weights, 163 2d .to 16s sd, butchers' fat ewes 103 6d up to 13s, "feiward three-quarierbred wethers and maiden ewes 13s to 13s 6d, fair store and three-quarter-bred wethers lls 9d to 12s Id, backward wetheTS 103, forwarjl thiee-quarterbved lambs 7s to 7s. 6d, storo lambs 8s 6d. cull lambs 3s Cd to ss. There was a fair yarding of cattle, which sole' at late lates.

The exports of gram and produce from Lyttelton for lsibt week included the following lines — 3268 sp.cks wheat, 2G7 sacks. 1229 bags, and 7 boxes flour. 50Q3 sacks oats. 20S sacks meal, 1209 sacks barley, 2150 sacks bran., 301 sacks sharps, 355 sacks pollard, 246* sacks chaff, 241 sacks p"as, GVsacks beans, 9051 sacks potatoes, 237 sacks, 62 bags and 784 onions and 88 sacks, seed. Out of the above totals 3937 sacks oats, 570 sacks birley, 1162 rucks bran, 194 sacks peas, 15 sacks beans, 5359 sacks potatoes, 100 sacks and 223 gunnie3 onions and 50 .sacks seed were for Australia. The balance was for New Z2aland ports.