NORTH OTAGO PRODUCE AND STOCK MARKET.

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

NORTH OTAGO PRODUCE AND STOCK MARKET.

(From Ottb Own Corbespondent.) O AMARU, March 12. The letuni of fine weather lips peimitteJ. farmers to proe'eeci. with harvesting operations which had l>een interrupted for about 10 days Few farmers have eon? equently been in town during the last few clays, and samples of neugrain have not been effeung veiy iree'y. Threshing is going on in all parts of the country, and the results are generally announced highly satisfactory, the yie'd in many oases having largely exceeded anticipation*. Very little is known as to yields, but on the M-aerewhemua, Es+ate and Tables from 45 to 50 brashefe have been by no means rare. A fair sunovint of business was done in wheat early in the week, and several fair-sized lines have been placed' at 3s 3d and 3s 4d (less commission, on trucks at country .stations). This last figure was obtained for new velvet of good quality. Tuscan has not yet been offered. Sales "of old velvet have been made at 3s scl (less commission at handy country stations). I/ccal millers are operating sparingly, th« buuk of the purchases having been for the south. Samples of oats are not yet offering in any number, but new Gartons have beotr placed at xip tc* Is 3d at country stations, this being the top price for a really good sample. Some dealers are quoting as low as Is 6d for good Gartons so that ideas of values vary. Dun cats are quoted at Is 7d to Is Sd, and Danish at Is od to Is Cd, but there are no transactions. The yield for this cereal is also rather above expectations, between SO and 90 bushels having been obtained in at least one case. Potatoes were <3old early in the week at .-66 per ton on tiueks for both Up-to-date-s and Berwents, the latter being a trifle unripe. In the middle^of the week growers raised their estimates to*£7 105,.-and one sale of Up-to-date 3 was made at £8 (f.0.b., Oamaru), the consignment being bound for "Wellington. The news that prices had receded in Dunedin to-day, in consequence of the market being well supplied, caused prices to recede to £6 for Derwents and £5 for white sorts (both immediate delivery). I am informed that Dunedin dealers who bought Derw-ents for March delivery some time ago are pressing for immediate delivery. The only result of this will be that unripe potatoes will be delivered, with a chance ot rejection to follow. Inquiries for Derwents for deliveiy at all dates up to September havo failed to bring about business, dealers being reluctant to operate in the present state ot the market. It is likely that many Derwents will be lifted in an unripe state io escape the ravage? of the disease. The stock ma-rket continues active. Sheep r.re very film, and prices have advanced 2s per head for breeding ewes. At a clearing sale just .across the Waitaki River on Thursday 980 six-tooth three-quarterbrpd owes of good quality sold at 30s to 365, and fat and forward lambs at 16s 6d. During the week two-tooth ewes have been sold ai 28s ; full-mouthed at 23s 6d ; and full and failing-mouthed at 20s 10d. Mutton and lamb have both advanced in price, and are now quoted at 4£cl for mutton, all sunk, and sJci for lamb, all sxralr. Large linos of two and fovii-tooth -wethers are on their way north just now, owners asking 18s. There is a strong demand for store lambs at up to 16s for mixed sexes, and 17s for ewe lambs. There is no change in cattle.