CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2565, 13 May 1903, Page 18

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Christcliurch grain and produce report (Lyt.;elton Times, 9th inst.):— The local markets remain ii; much the same .ondition as when last reported upon. Mil (era aie apparently able (to satisfy their immed : ate requirements at current quotations, although offerings are by no means plentiful. During tho week . leading merchant purchased in different lines 4000 "lacks, the prices being 3s BJd for Hunter's and ?Tuscan, andi 3s 9d for pearl at country stations. A line of 7000 bushels of fowl's wheat has changed handt in South Canterbury at 3s 5d per bushel at a country station. It is

intended for shipment, proljably to the North Island. A fair amount of oats continues to change hands at rates previously ruling, though farmers geuera.llj show no inclination to accept these figures as tho standard of value. A letter received in Christcliurch states that Australian buyers are disappointed at the quality of the Southland oats which up to the present have reached them, and. unless ■ further supplies can be obtained from the same source at a very low figure, Canterbury B grade will bo preferred. Though reports to "hand so far are conflicting, the consensus of opinion i appears to be that the Southland crop, as a j whole, will be good, provided what remains uncut is safely harvested during the next few days. Barley is unchanged', and during the week sales have been made at 3s 2d and 3s 4d per bushel *or prime malting at country stations. The potato market remains in a very ! unsatisfactory condition. The Australian demand is absent, a.nd requirements from other parts of the colony appear to ba considerably •' les3 than hitherto. Local merchants are unable to offer more thaii £2 10s per ton at country stations, and farmers are not inclined to accept thi3 price. Beans are commencing to come forward, and are at present worth about :3s per bushel. In seeds, cocksfoot remains unchanged, but there has been a good deal of speculation in ryegrass, which has been purchased freely from the south, and also in Canterbury, by local buyers, at current rates. In dairy produce eggs are daily becoming scarcer, and locally 2a is offered wholesale for fresh J eggs and Is 3d for preserved. In Wellington fresh eggs are being bought at 3a Gd per dozen ! wholesale and 13 7d .'or preserved eggs. i Ashburton grain markets for the week ended . Friday last: — Wheat: The market dmijig (he ; early part of the week showed signs of hard-en-1 ing. but towards the end it again lapsed, ar.'l at present time remains somewhat Jifeloss. Grain off the heavier lar:ds is especially dull. j The demand for hard grain for mixing still continues, although in lesser form. Prices are —Tuscan 3s Od, Pearl (scarce) 3s lOd to 3s 10* d, Hunter's 3s Bd. Oa-ta : A better feeling prevails, owing to merchants buying up to fill engagements pet steamers now due. The demand for Ijng feed is better, if anything, than for short oats. Values arc — Ca)iadiaus (milling) la 8d to Is 9d, Sparrowbill? Cohort feed) ! Is 7d to Is Bd, duns Is 5d to Is Gd. Danish Is ' sd. Oatsheaf Chaff: Tho demajid continues , far in excess of supplies. Offerings and prices ; have risen tc 50s for prime quality, and even ' at that figure orders are difficult to fill. I Timaru grain markets (Herald, !>th inst): — The wheat market remains 'cry quint. Millers [ are almost the only operators, and they are . buying just enough at late rates tc replenish , their stocks. Holders of large lines of prime ■ ate not at all disposed to seii, and several of them are carting into store, in the hope of getting higher .ates later on. Quotations are nominal— namely, red chaff 3s 8d to 3s Od, Tuscan 3s 8d to 3& 9d, velvet 3s 10 to 3s lid. the last-named price fo. very prime quality Fowl wheat is in demand at 3s 8d to 3s 9<l f.0.b., good whole commanding 3s lOd. The market for oats remains firm, the quotations being Is 5d to Is 6d for Danish, Is 6d to 13 7d for duns, Is 7d tc Is 7£d for Cartons, and Is B<l for Canadians. For feed barley 2s 8d to 2s 9d is being given; malting is not inquired for. Potatoes are worth £2 per ton at country stations, free of sacks, and a few sales arc reported on this basis. Timaru skin md wool sales (Herald. 7th inst.): — The weekly skin sulo3 were held yesterday, when there was a good aggregate of catalogues, and a. the skins are improving with the advance of the season, and there

was keener competition, prices advanced somewhat 0:1 the previous sales. The following are representative quotations: — Butchers' skins, 2s 4d, 2s 9d, 2s 10d, 2s lid. 3s, 3s 3d, 3s 4d. 3s sd, 3s loa ; do msrino, 2s 9d, 2s lid; halfbreas, 2s, 2s Bd, 3s, 3s sd, extra good, £3 10d; three-quarterbred, 3s, 3s 8d; crossbred, 2s 7d, 2s lid, 3s, 3s 9d, 3s iOd ; station crossbred, at pei lb, 32d, 46, 4Jd ; do merino, 6Jd ; hoggets, 2s lid ; pelts, Is 4d ; mixed farmers' lots, Is 3d, Is 6d, Is Bd, Is 9d, 2s 2d, 2s 3d, 3s 3d, 3s lid, 4s. Wool—Trimmings, 2id, 2Jd, 4Jd; pieces, 3id, 4}d; halfbred, 4«d, si<J, 6d; crossbred fleece, 4Jd ; mixed, 3d, 3£cl ; merino locks and pieces, 4d; do fleece, 7d ; do pieces and bellies, 3d. Fat, per cwt, ]3s 9d, 16s, 18s, 19s 6d, 19s H 20s, 20s 3d, 20s Dd, 21s, 225. The exports of grain and produce, from Lyttelton for last week included the following lines:— 4226 sacks wheat, 1970 sacks and 3551 bags flour, 25,077 sacks oats, 154 sacks meal, IS3 sack: barley, 113 sacks malt, 1871 sacks bran, 245 sacks sharps, 312 sacks po'.lard, SO9l sacks chaff, 1888 safcks peas, 227 sacks beans, 2259 sacks and 30 bags potatoes, 145 sacks, 114 bags and 683 gunnies onions, 482 sacks seed, 117 bales hay. and 1119 bales straw. The exports for Australia comprised in the foregoing included 4G38 sacks oats, 360 sacks bran, 134 sacks sharps, 3520 sacks chaff, 381 sacks peas, 392 sacks potatoes, 56 sacks seed, and 559 bales hay. For South Afrka were cleared 14,466 sacks oats, 1308 sacks bran, and 301 sacks peas. Three thousand three hundred* and four sacks oats, 1084' sacks peas, and 210 sacks beans were shipped for the United Kingdom, and 125 sacks and 30 bags potatoes for l?io. The balance wa-3 for New Zealand ports.