CANTERBURY MARKETS

Otago Witness, Issue 2660, 8 March 1905, Page 30

CANTERBURY MARKETS

Christchurch grain and produce leport (Lyttelton Times, 4th mat.)-— - Offerings of grain have not been on a liberal scale, tho | wet weather of the early part of the week having given holders of olci and well-saved new grain extravagant ideas of value. For new Tuscan, a very nice sarnp^ ceitainly, 3= 6d at a distant station was asked 1 , and 3s 3d J for mixed parcels is the usua.l demand. Some | holders have had more moderate ideas, and a fair quantity of new wheat has charged ha.uds at 3s to 3s 2d, at country stations, • according to description and distance. The market is certainly firm. The demand for oats has slackened, while, on the olher hand, farmers are asking an advance upon the prices at which business has recently been done, so that, at the moment, transactions are few. Probably sales could be made at quotations. There is a ready sale for malting barley of all grades, at firm values. Cornsacks are very scarce, which will influence many farmers to put their grain into stack. Grass seeds are hardening in value, although an actual advance cannot be quoted. The rain has given holders of well-saved cocksfoot very exalted ideas of value, and the appealed quotations represent buyers' rather than sellers' prices. There is a ready sale for both ryegrass and cocksfoot : No one will commit himself to transactions in potatoes, j in the uncertain position regarding disease. There is for the first time, 3 definite market ! for honey, the New Zealand Farmers' Cooperative Association having opened a trade in the article at prices which afford a profit j to beekeepers. J

Ashburton grain markets, for the week ended Friday last: — Wheat: The unfavourable weather has very nearly had a disastrous effect on the wheat crop, and but for the fact that the rain was accompanied by a cool, drying wind, the grain would have sprouted. Reports, however, go to show that the bulk of the -wheat crop has not been damaged, although, In some instances, where the crop was short and thick, the stcoks have become so wet and heated that sprouts have shown themselves. G-iven a fine week with drying winds, ii is hoped to have the buik of the grain safely in stack. Meanwhile, millers have been anxiously awaiting developments, and many became alarmed with the wet weather, giving- way in price's to meet holders' dt>manda, and several sales have been recorded at advanced rates. This has just about disposed of the whole of the old wheat in store or in holders' hands, and there is scarcely any awaiting sale. Prices' realised for prime old grain have been — Tuscan 3s 4cl to 3s 4id, Hunters/3s 3d, pearl 3s 3d to 3s dd. Oats: There has oeen little or no business done during the week. Several farmers having grain threshed, took the opportunity of bringing their samples to the market, and sales were made as follows — Gartons and Roseberys (bright) Is 7Jd, slightly discoloured Is 7d to Is 7-Jd; duns (eood colour and heavy) Is 7Jd, medium Is 7S; lighter sorts and Danish Is 6d to Is 6Jd. Oat sheaf chaff : The old crop is now about exhausted. Several growers have been tempted to cut new chaff, but results have not been at all favourable. Crops have baen too soft, and chaff has been inclined to become heated".

Timaru grain markets: — Wheat : A few large lines of old wheat have be<=n sold during the week, the demand being due to the wet weather experienced. Old stocks are practically cleared now. and old Tuscan is keenly inquired for, being very short. New wheat is beginning to come on the market. Values— 3s 3d for Tuscan and velvet, and 3s Id to 3s 2d for Hunters, at country stations, sacks extra. Oats : Ol " stocks of oats are now cleared up. A few 2ine3 of new oats are being offered. Values on business done are — G-artons Is 7Sd, duns Is 74d, Danish Is 6d, country stations, bags extra. Potatoes : A fair quantity of Derwents has been sold for delivery in April, but numerous crops are blighted, and the yield will be considerably curtsiled.

Grain and "produce shipments: — The exports of grain a<nd produce from Lyttelton for" week includes the following I : nes: — 6665 sacks wheat, 598 sacks and 1099 bags flour. 1566 sacks oats. 183 sr.cks and 10 bags meal, 1207 sacks barley. 341 sacks tnalt, 17 sacks bran, 16 sacks sharps. 20 sacks pollard, 848 sacks chaff. 6 .f sacks peas, 3D packs potatoes. 2 sacks, 54 bags, and 199 gunnies onions. 2370 sacks seed, and 48 bales hay. Twenty sacks of oats, 168 gunnies onions, and 844--' sacks seed were for Australia, and all the rest for New Zealand ports.