SOUTHLAND PRODUCE AND STOCK MARKETS.

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

SOUTHLAND PRODUCE AND STOCK MARKETS.

• i.~ (F&Otf QUB'OWN-COBBJSSPONIffiJfT.) - j _„" -INVERCARGILL, April 29.- J During the past week a large quantity! of oats hasi ,been offering from, the country, and for anything, equal to B grade Is 5Jd , on trucks "h l as_been.*Jihe common price, though in some cases as- high as Is 6d has been-paid for oats with" handy railage to the Bluff. A Jew nice lines ofWavexleys — Newmarket^ 'and Gartons — have changed- hands at Is 6d on trucks at Edendale. The greater part of .these has been set" apart for seed purposes, or, perhaps, to- go go "'to London in a few months' time. There is no export busineß3 being done, though a i few lines are selling to the North Island at la ! 9d for B grade,' and Is 81d for O grade. North Island buyers generaVy, however, are not inclined to pay anything like Is 9d (f.o.b). Though very .few sales are being made, a good deal of- speculative buying is being done, as it is expected that cheap freighits to London, probably 15s; will be ruling within the next month- or two. If the freight' does not come j down" to this figure the gr&ater 'part of the ! oats now in store will be shipped Home, j .Western. ' Australian merchants have been .making -inquiries, but so fa.r no business is j reported, .though merchants quoted on the j basis of 18^93 for B grade. A large quantity of oats is odmihgto the Bluff, and many of ! ,our farmers are' storing in the expectation of higher prices in the spring. In view of the ! speculation going on, it ' is not expected that j prices will go back," nor is it supposed that J there is any expectation of their going higher ; for seme months to come. > j The'^haff market is a good deal easier, and new crop is selling* at £2 5s to £2 7s 6d (on trucks at country stations). There is a good demand for Auckland, und it is expected that the next. ste'amer- for that market, which, loads-, at "the Bluff this wwek^will'take a- large quan- , .tity. _._-,-" '•. ' ! '" The'wheat v markei-has_taken a sudden drop, and. the prices during, the week have ranged ! .from. 2s'Sd -^o 2s'lod.on the trucks at' wayside 'stations.'' This4s.» drop^f-quite-ad per bushel I eqmp'sjred. tc> last week, "and is -due -to >a big ! "dr,op .in flour, which is" now- quoted at per | "ton. . Farmers who. ostme- into town on Satur- I day" .with • wheat ,td sell were not inclined to j 'quit at the above prices, and will hold for a while to ac» if the market improves. Fowl . wheat can be quoted at 2s 4d to 2s 6d on the ! trucks. < \ , Very little -linseed is offering, and merchants are not inclined to offer more than 6s (on trucks at country Bidings), while the farmers want 7s and even 7s 6d. | Owing to the holidays very little has been .doing in 'tho stock markets, but all classes of sheap continue to hold up in price. There is ■ a number of buyers about for fat lambs, and sales are reported at as high as 17s for the best. Two largo lines, totalling about 2500 young and store lambs, changed hands during 1 -the week' at 15s 9d. The cattle market remains unchanged, no business of any description being done.