CANTERBURY MARKETS

Otago Witness, Issue 2669, 10 May 1905, Page 22

CANTERBURY MARKETS

Chris tchurch grain and produce report (Lyttelton Times, 6th inst.) • — There is no improvement in millets' demand for wheat, but with cheap freight in near view there lias been, some buying for shipment to the United Kingdom, and this has checked a. further downward movement. Practically all the- wheat offering in this market is more or less sprouted, lines m perfect condition being so scarce as to be unquotable ; 2s 9d at country stations for mixed linos being nominally quotable, Tuscan alone being unobtainable. Very slightly weathered lines, thoroughly dry, have changed hands at from 2s 7d for short -berried to 2s 6d, with a fair proportion of Tuscan, for export. Sprouted but thoroughly dry parcels and slightly sprouted indifferently-conditioned, lines have been sold at 2s 6d, aecon'ds at 2s 2d to 2a 6d, and damaged at all sorts of prices, there Ik ing few buyers. Oats sell in small quantities at quotations, the larger orders being at present monopolised by the Southland merchants', wlic* can buy B grade of good quality and colour at Is 5d to Is sid on tracks, enabling sales to ba made at Is 9d to Is 9£d (f.0.b., sacks in, Bluff). The local market, however, is firm. Potatoes are selling at £4 per ton off forks, for shipment north, but there is no business for winter or spring delivery. Many rejections are being made ait Lyttelton, the slightest suspicion of disease being taken as sufficient ground. Oniona are firmer at £6 5s per ton, in sympathy with) Austialian markets. Eggs have advanced ta Is 8d per dozen for fresh.

Ashburton grain markets, for the week endeofc Friday last: — Wheat: The market remains ia the same stagnant condition, and mxllers are still holding ofi. Farmers seera nioie mclinscl

to meet buyers' with regard to prioes, but except for extra prime quality buyers will not make any offers. Sales have, therefore, been iev and far between. The only lines quoted are prime milling, mixed sorts, ftt 2s 8d on trucks. Fowl wheat is in fair demand at 2s to 2s 3d. Quotations are — Tuscan 2s 9d, pearl 2s Bd, Hunters 2s 7d. Oats: Oats continue to meet with fair demand, at slightly easier rates. The bulk now offering is slightly disco'outed, but merchants are ready buyers at quotations, which are — Gfartons, Canadians, and duns, Is 6d to Is 7d; Danish, Is 4d to Is 4£d; eparrowbills and Roseberrys, Is 5d to Is 5Jd. Oatoheaf Chaff: There is slightly better demand for prime quality a-t 52s 6d to 53s on trucks.

Timaru grain markets (Herald, 6th inst.): — In wheat the market this week has remained in a very stagnant condition, and only comparatively sniull quantities have changed hands at the following prices: — Tuscan 2s lOd, velvet Ss 9d, led chaff up to 2s 9d (all f.0.b., sacks extra). Oats: The market is easier. Values to-day are Is 6d for Gartons, Is 5d for ' Danish, Is 7d fox duns, a* country stations. The deirani for oats is limited. Prime table Deorwent potatoes, free of disease, are at £5 per ton (f.0.b.. sacks in).

Ashburton Skin and Wool Sales.— There was en exceptionally large entry of skin and fat at tlie Ashburton yards last week, tha entry of wool being limited. The attendance of buyers -wa-s representative, and keen competition ensued. As a. result there' was a decided rise

in prices, compared with' those ruling at last sals. .-vThe "folio-wing were prices: — Skins: Merino Is 7d to 5s .sd,- hoggets 2s 2d to 3s

10d, lambs Is 7d.to 3s Id, black akin 2s Id,

crossbreds Is lid to 8s 9d, halfbreds Is 6d to .Ss Id, pelts 5d- to Is 3d. Fait : Hough Ifd to . ljd par lb,,xettdered Id to ljd. Wool : Crutchiigs SJtTto s|d for baled lines, all at per lb; dead wool 6£d to 7d per Ib, pieces 3gd"to s|d per lb, fleece wool and pieces (mixed) 6£d per lb. Hides: 6s to 18s. Horse hair; S^d per lfc.

Grain and Produce -Shipments. — The exports

of grain and produce from Lyttelton for last week included the following lines : : — 2448 sacks wheat, 930 sacks and 2524 bags flour, 2039 sacks oats, 143 sacks meal, 619 sacks barley, 53 sacks malt, 153 sacks bran, 30 «acks sharps, 90 sacks pollard, 6917 sacks chaff, 164 sacks peas, 5428 sacks and 112 bags potatoes, 546 sacks and 232 sonnies onions, 338 sacks seed, and €6- bales hay. The exports to Australia (included in the foregoing) were 81 sacks peas, 333, sacks and 30 gunnies onions, and 94 sacks seed. The balance was for New Zealand ports.