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Otago Witness, Issue 2516, 4 June 1902, Page 18

H bears out the other reports received concerning the 'Frisco flour. The oat market is also excited, but {whether in anticipation of the suspension tof the Federal duty or on account of Australian orders it is difficult to say. Prime milling oats were sold at 2s Bj<d, and a line jof B grade fetched 2s 7d, both pales being mn advance on rates- previously ruling. jOne large holder, who this morning was (willing to sell at 2s ?id, this afternoon withdrew his samples from the market pending v Advices from Southland' state that the ouantity of oats railed this seiison is about 650,000 sacks, and* the coastwise and intercolonial shipments during the month were Vbout 11,500 f-acks. Some idea of the rate at which .oats are going a.way to South B.friea^may bo gathered from the- fact that Hie Tottenham has arrived at the Bluff from Melbourne to load 80,000 to 90,000 fcClb bags for South Africa, and the WorkReid, from Newcastle, is loading at the same port for the same destination. The Oamaru Mail remarks: "Some comfrnent has lately been made upon the quality of the oats now being shipped from the colony to South Africa. The experience in . Oamaru. in .connection with the shipment - K-ade by the Poit Victoria certainly doesnot justify the adver?e comments that lme lieen . 'made. We have seen some samples of oats, that .were rejected by the Government examiner, and most people, even those jtvho 4»avei a knowledge of the subject, agree that the.-c are of a quality that might have -been expected to pas?.'*

Friday. The probable suspension of the Federal tariff is the one topio of conversation, and In the event of Aiistralian ports being thrown open for New Zealand produce the effect upon prices is being vigorously dispussed. The opinion is held that suoh suspension of the duties wou 1 pretty well clear this market of all surplus stocks of potatoes, fodder, and oats, in which case record prices uould likely be reached before the end of the season. At the same time, there is so much uncertainty in the situation that are slow to operate, and a spirit jpf caution prevails. " « There is considerable inquiry from Australia for oats, and cable quotations have Kone across, but so fnr 110 business i 3 reported. It is probable -that these inquiries «re prompted by the tariff uncertainty. It Xs felt -that Australia must draw supplies from New Zealand sooner or later, and the probability of this market hardening in the event of a suspension of duties is likely to hasten operations. The only alteration in their tariff made by the Flounnillers' Association at their meeting in Timaru last night wa3 in the price of fcran, which was reduced 10s. The price of flour remains as before — viz : £11 10s . per -ton for sacks. £12 for 100's, £12 5s for 50's, >nd £12 10s for 25's. Bran £4 10s, and pollard £5 10s.. Sydney advices state that Manitoba flour lias advanced, Pillsbury's being no longer quoted owing to the high prices a-sked in Canada. "■ The laid down cost of Manitoba flour in Sydney is now about £12 12s 6d. Allowing for the lower duty, this means that Manitoba flour could not be landed in New Zealand^ under £11 2s 6d. The following interesting comparison of the pricee current for breadstufEs to-day

with those ruling for the past 10 years is taken from the Sydney Morning Herald : — Wheat. Flout. ' Per Bushel. Per ton. scl * s 1832 .. .... * 9 „ 11 10 1833 ..' .. .. 3 6 „ 0 0 1894 .. ..,.29.. 715 1895 3 0.. 715 j 1896 4 1 „ 10 10 , 1897 ....... 4 7 .. 12 6 1808 ..- .... 4 7 .. 12 0 1899 2 10 6 15 1900 .. ..' ..2 8.. Cl 5 1901 2 7.. 6 0 1902 .. " 4 G .. 9 6 Satmday. The annoicir ement that thp Premiers of New South Wales; and Queon.-land strongly advocate th" 'immediate suspension of th" Federal t.ciff <>h New Zealand produce is likely t<> .'ffect prices at Monday's sales. The pro <•;>..• ct of the removal of tho Commonwea't'i duty of £1 per ton on rhaff and potatoes is sure to be taken jnto calculation, and both tlie^o lines may see an advance. The price of imported chaff in .Sydney at the present time ranges fiom £4 15s to £5 10s per ton.There is no report able alteration in the wheat market. Aahburton quotations still range from 3s 10jd on trucks, whilst Tiinaru .holders staud out for 4-. There is such ■a. difference, however, in the quality of the samples offering that bare quotation^ can scarcely be considered a reliable guide. Millers are complaining, too, of the flour I yield of the now wheat as being considerably lower than last season's crop. With regard to the much-debated question of the quality of the 'Frisco flour now in the colony, the Auckland Herald has the following: — "As regard? the quality, it io all a questiou of brands ; the first grade? are reported to be be giving every satis faction, but it is expected that there will be trouble in disposing of some of the brands, as they are considerably under local and southern in quality. It is more than likely that there will be disappointment when it is found that the third-grade brands are not equal to the Manitoban flour that has given such a name to the imported. As a San Francisco correspondent observes concerning some of the brands being shipped: 'We do not envy the receivers, for mof-t likely the flour has been sold a« '' bc=t Californias." ' " We understand that some 16 ton=; of this 'Frisco flour is now on its way to Dunedin, J so that Dunedin bakers will shortly have . an opportunity of testing it for themselves. The recent War Office contracts filled here he.ye come to us via Melbourne. It is, therefore, of interest to note that Melbourne ' reports dated 21st May state that A T ew Zealand oats are firm, with more War Office business pending. The Melbourne Age !b responsible for the statement that "New Zealand hulled oats have been admitted at a duty of Is 6d per cental , into Sydney to millers, but it_ is anticipated that this practice will be immediately altered, and the duty on grain ' prepared '--viz.. 2s 6d per cental — will be charged." If this statement be correct, it may affect the orders for hulle* oat.- for July shipment, now coming forward. The following were the grain and produce shipments from Lyttelton for the week ended Fiiday:— For South Africa— 76,s4l bajj-j oats. For Australia— 2l* ?a<.ks oau.

112 do barley, 299 do bran, 2340 do potatoes. Coastwise — 2796 sacks wheat, 734- do oats, 165 do barley, 181 do bran, 145 do and 436 bags flour, 3653 sacks potatoes, 158 do sharps. Total shipments — 2796 sacks wheat, 948 do and 76,541 bags oats, 277 sacks barley, 480 do bran, 145 do and 436 bags flour, 5993 sacks potatoes, 158 do sharps. Total shipments for five weeks— 2s,B7B sacks wheat, 15,660 do and 125,457 bags oats, 1470 Backs barley, 3442 do bran, 4503 do, 7048 bags, and 7 boxes flour, 25,202 sacks potatoes, 1871 do 6harps.