SOUTHLAND PRODUCE. AND STOCK -MARKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2661, 15 March 1905, Page 23

SOUTHLAND PRODUCE. AND STOCK - MARKET.

CFaoai Oira Owu Correspondent.) j INVEECARGILL, March 11. | There has been practically no business done i in oats here during the past week, either in j buying or selling. Though ther.e_are still some \ oats left in Bluft stores merchants are not j inclined to reduce their prices so as to allow j North Island markets to operate. Auckland merchants would no doubt still take some from J the Bluff if prices were reduced about 'Id per ! bushel, but owing to the very meagre offering j from the country and the large ideas farmers have as to the ftiture of the market merchants cannot get any stocks to work on. There has already been .done a little threshing out of stcok, and a few samples of new oats have been offering during the past few days, but holders will not let them go at anything under Is 6d, which is equivalent to Is 9Jd, f.0.b., s.i. ' According #0 .Canterbury reports these prices run about id to Id more than what new grain can be bought for in Christchurch. The Hawea loads at the Bluff during the present week, and will take about 4000 sacks. These are principally f.a.q., and should just about complete all sales made to Napier and Aiickland. If the present weather continues offer- . ings of new grain should be pretty free within the next week, but, of course, these oats will be threshed out of the stook, and unless merchants can make sales for immediate delivery they are not likely to take them, into store in any large quantity. The general opinion is that Southland grain wants three weeks in the stook before it is fit to put into Bluff stores for any lengthy period. Prices tc farmers can be quoted at Is 4td to Is 5d for B grade, and Is 3sd to Is 4d for C grade or f.a.q. It is not likely that the new season's grades will be fixed till early in April, as merchants like to see a fair quantity of stuff forward before deciding. The general opinion is that the grades will be a little higher than last year.

There has been a very small offering of chaff from the country during the week, and prices are very firm. Really good quality is selling locally at £3 10s to £3 12s 6d, ex stores, while medium quality can be quoted at about 5a to 7s 6d per ton less. Prices to farmers rule at from £2 17s 6d to £3 2s 6d on the trucks at wayside stations, bags supplied by buyers.

The offerings of ryegrass from the country % have been small, and last week's rates are well maintained. There has been a fair quantity of Italian about, but merchants are not at all inclined to stock up this class of seed, and on to-day's values perennial is bringing fully 3d per bushel more than is being offered for Italian. There is still a good deal of private buying being done in the country by representatives from northern firms, who seem to be very keen to get hold of any heavy lines of seed. The average price ruling on Saturday was 2s 4d to 2s 7d for perennial, and 2s 2d to 2s 6d for Italian, on the trucks at wayside stations.

There is a very strong inquiry for linseed, but practically all old seed has been cleared out. There are some very nice crops round about Drummond, but these will not be ready for fully five weeks. Parmeis -\}>ho have these for sale are already reckoning on very high prices, and with the Indian crop reported a failure no doubt their expectations will be fully realised.

A few samples of this season's wheat have already been offered, but no business is reported. The prices asked are 3s Id to 3s 4d, 0.1 trucks at country stations.

The sheep market still continues very lively, and there is no appeara-nce of prices going back. Good business has been done during the week, principally with northern buyers, a large number of lambs and young sheep having changed hands. The foJlowing can be regarded as present market values: — Store lambs, 13s to 14s 6d ; fat lambs, 15s 6d to 16s 6d; young ewes (two and Four-tooth), from 22s t.i 24s 6d ; full-mouthed and broken, from 15s 6£ t« 33a 6d. There is b strong demand far

butchers' sheep, and prices have, been ruling from ISs 6d to 20s, anil as high' as 21s 6d has been paid for a few lines of very nice wethers.

The cattle market is still very dull, and very little biisiness is going throtigh. At the last Invercargill sale prime fat bullocks were selling at from £8 to £9 10, medium sorts fiom £0 10s" to-. £B, fat cows and heifers from £5 to £6, and fat calves up to 255. Store cattle are a pel feet drug on tho market. Two-year-old steers and heifers can be quoted at from £2 10s to £3 10s, while well-grown steers are selli?ig as high as £5. A few dairy cows have been stiling at from £4 10s to £6.