SOUTHLAND PRODUCE AND STOCK MARKET. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2664, 5 April 1905, Page 22

SOUTHLAND PRODUCE AND STOCK MARKET. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

. INVERCAEGILL, April 1. .During the week only a very small amount of business has been passing in the local oat market, though large quantities of new oats have been offered' for sale. Several lines have changed hands at Is 5d on the trucks for B grade sparrowbills, and as high as Is sid has been paid for two or three hues of "bright Gartons, which would piobably go A grade. Farmers are not keen to sell at these prices, and all talk of holding for Is 6d on the trucks. A large quantity has been going down to the Bluff for storage, and, as far as.

can be judged), these are all in splendid condition, being hard and dry. There should be no trouble about their keeping. The only business that merchants have done is with, the North Island market at Is 9d lor B grade, Is B?.d for f.a.q., and Is 8d for C grade all f.0.b., s.i.. less a broker's commission. At these price 1 ? Is 5d on the tiuck is full value, aucii unless some outside demand sets in it is expected that prices will go back, especially if farmers make up their minds to sell at all freely. The total sales for test week would not exceed 1500 bags. There are still one or two inquiries for special business; but merchants are not inclined to take up any quantity under Is lOd for B grade ancl ?.d less for f.a.q. Nearly all the Southland grain is now in stook, and a, few more days of fine weather should see it all safely in. Nearly all the oats that have reached tho Bluff stores have been threshedi out of stook. There is a great scarcity of cornsacks again this year, and farmers who are threshing immediately are very keen to get their supplies. Merchants are charging 6s 6d pec dozen to farmers, plus railage fiom the Bluff. Already meichants' stocks are very low, and several" of the local people are buying supplies from Melbourne, which are costing them close on 6s 3d c.i.f., at Bluff. A large number of once-used oat bags have been bought, and farmers will have to take these as scon as the new oat sacks are sold out. Merchant* are paying 5d to farmers for their returned bags this year.

The chaff market is considerably weaker, no doubt on account of the likelihood of tha new stuff being shortly on the market. Prime quality last year's can be quoted 1 afs £2 12s 6d to £2 17s 6d on the trucks at wayside stations. Several farmeis are alieady offering new chaff for deliveiy iv a fortnight's time, but no bush- ess ha& been done, as merchants are not keen to buy till they see how the demand goes.

There is a strong inquiiy for barley, buu so far very little is offering from the Lakes district. One or two very nice lines have been on the market, but holders are indicating from 3s 9d to 4s, and it is not expected that there is eny chance o[ doing business ar these figures, though it i 3 fully anticipated! that prices will rule considerably higher than; last year.

Several lines of wheat have been offering during the week, and have changed hands at from 3s 3d to 3s 43. on trucks at wayside stations. Kot a great deal of the new season's grain has yet been threshed, and farmers are not at all keen to sell, as they, reckon that high prices will be ruling within the next few months. A few sales of fowl whert have been made at from 2s 7d to 2s 9ct on the trucks, and some of these lines have gone to the Xorth Island at 3s Id, f.0.b.. s.i.

Several of the Drummond farmers have started threshing their crop of linseed, but so far no sales have been made. Farmers are expecting very , nigh prices, and 7s 6d was asked for one line offered during the week. At this price merchants are not disposed to buy. as they value it at from 6s to 6s 6d. There is no change to report in the stock market. Prices for sheep are still high and not likely to come back, notwithstanding the slump in Canterbury, as our own farmers are waiting to stock up.