SOUTHLAND GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2665, 12 April 1905, Page 23

SOUTHLAND GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET.

(Fkom Our Own Coheespondext.) I^VERCABGILL. April S. A large quantity of new cats has been offering during the week, and prices are, if anyihing, a little easier. Merchants have found out that there is practically only the Auckland and Western Australian trade to look to, an-3 these markets are not j.repared to pay anything over 'ls 9d (f.0.b., sacks in). At this price merchants cannot afford to pay farmers more than Is 5d on trucks, sacks extra, and unless some rutside crders ccme along it is expected that there will be a. further drop in prices as scon as the rush of oats sets in. It is safe to reckon thai, 3000 to 10,000 sacks changed hands during the week at Is 5d to Is old, on tiucks st wayside stations. There are still several fairly inquiries about, but Is Bid to Is 9d seems io be the very outside that buyers are inclined to pay. The oats offering are very gcod in. colour, especially those coming from the Eastern district. Two or three lines of milling oats, principally Sutherlands ancl Hamiltons, have changed hands at as high as Is fid on the trucks, but these were exceptionally geed lines. The greater part of the Southland crop is now m stack, ancl, 1 hough what is left in stock is bound to turn, cut a little darker in colour,the rough weather? we are having at present will not materially p.ifeet it I'nless hot weather sets in immediately pfterwArds. The average yields have turne'di out somewhat better than was expected. Rounsl about Drummond 65 to 70 bushels an acr» in common, and even about Nightcaps, "Waino. and Wreys Bush the yields run from-85 to 45 bushels. About Gore the crops are very much better, -running from 50 to 70 bushels, and ai there arc some exceptional crops, ace settler having taken 95 bushels per a-cre off a paddock of 70 acres, and another a little over 30 bushels pere acre off 100 acres.

The chaff market is a little easier, and mer--hants have dropped their prices to farmers, which can now be quoted at £2 12s 6d to I£3

15? fcc\eral faimcis r.cor '.own aie a':f.idv offerirg to driver i>ew c'.'aff into al I. - vcicorgill at £2 lo<- This c-likTi" is if e..c"ptionally good quo i*y and has b^u cut qu.te fcix weeks.

A few lines of Unseed ha\o b?<?ii ciTonrs durirtr the week, but farmei^' expectations ,ue too high to allow ot business being done On" oi two growers have been asking liom 6^ G^t to 7s, but merchants sue not piepuod to j,ay more than G-s, though the samples offering are exceptionally good

Prices tor wheat during ihe week have been slightly less than tliuing the preceding- week. Xo doubt this is on account of the easier fee!ms- m the Timaru and Oamaru market", where merchants were offering 3s 2d to 3^ 3d on the tmcks round about their districts. L-ocal merchants have been paj'ing about 3s Is on tiucks. and, though formers are not keen to sell at tlieee prices, about 2000 sacks h*ve changed hands.

Very little ryegxass has been offering, and prices lemam unchanged. The northern demand s-eems <o have gone clean off. but it is not exps-cted there will be any fall m price. ?s ihe bulk of the Southland cfoxa has now been pold. The slock markets remain unchanged.