THE CHRISTCHURCH MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2668, 3 May 1905, Page 23

THE CHRISTCHURCH MARKETS.

CHRISTCHURCH, April 28.

The local grain markets have not yet recovered, from the break caused by the Easter .holidays, and very" little business is doing.. There. fs s a fair ; quantity of both wheat and oats on offer, but buyers;, of wheat are only operating where -the price asked is within their limits, and, if anything, the market is & easier, -except for v 'really prime lines.' -It is ;' reported- that a quantity of wheat bought pearlier in the season and -shipped to Auckland has been rejected- ..The only sale of, any size -reported to have' taken place this week is-- of 4000 bushels of weathered Hunters at "29 6d at a 3d station. Smaller lots of milling 'wheat have been "bought at 2s 7d to 2s 8d at country stations.- The New Zealand Flourmillers' Association has reduced the price of flour to £8 10s per ton, there being a strong outside' demand, bran being wanted for South Africa.

Oats .are very dull of sale, as buyers who Tequire'-any quantity are turning their attention to * Southland, where oats of excellent quality can be procured on better terms than *in Canterbury. There- is N practically no local demand, • except prime lines. - These are difficult to 'get at the prices offered. A considerable • quantity of Southland oats is going northwards, the Manuka a few days ago taking 10,000 sacks, most of which are for Auckland. The quotation in Southland- is Is sd, at -wayside "stations, sacks extra. ~ •• ' ■

The prohibition against the importation of New Zealand potatoes into New South -Wales will affect the export 'of early varieties of seed, of which 'a considerable quantity was being sent over. It is considered by those engaged^, in the potato trade that supplies of sound - potatoes will be much larger than were anticipated, - and that the disease has affected, crops inuchrless than was at one time feared. On the driefc^land - the crops of Derwents are turning\.out very well, -and it is -'only ,on the colder ' and " wet lands that the disease has- done harm. The" present price" is no"mirially"r£4; at country stations, with- very little doing.