CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 23

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

CHRISTCHURCH GRAIN 1 AND PRODUCE REPORT. (Lyttelton Times, 11th inst.) Th« wheat market continues quiescent, and the transactions .reported during the week have been of a hand-to-mouth character. : Holders of last year's wheat show more disposition to accept lower prices than those ruling some time ago, "but there is still some difference of opinion as to values, and prices have not been reduced sufficiently to induce, merchants to do business. Many merchants at present feel more' disposed to reduce their stocks than to purchase, and ape consequently holding off in the expectation thai the new season's crop will soon be placed on the market. The reports from all parts, of the Dominion JLndicate that the coming wheat harvest will "hot be nearly so disappointing as might have been expected, considering the extremely small rainfall, and in some localities the crops are distinctly superior to last yeaafs. The demand for old season's oats is very -weak, and the few lines which have changed •hands since last report were on a basis of from 3s to* 3s Id at oountry stations. During the week a few hundred sacks of new season's oats have been placed on offer, tut growers' ideas of values have been beyond whet merdiants have been prepared, to give, with the result that little business has resulted. The samples taken as a whole have' not been of a high class, but there were exceptions, lines of nice plump grain being placed on offer, A parcel of duns from a field which averaged 70 bushels per acre wa-s of great excellence, and gave no- indication of the unfavourable climatic conditions during the growing period. Old season's potatoes are now practically out of the> market, but as yet the new season's crop is only being retailed in small quantities. At present the crop throughout Canterbury is looking well, and is free" from Wight. The weather conditions during the Siext few weeks, however, will determine whether the crop. will be prolific or otherwise. . /" ilyegrass threshing is now in full swing, find a fair quantity has been placed on offer. Heavy three to four-year seed finds ready buyers, but samples of lighter grades SKre neglected. Italian ryegrass ia also being offered, 'but the prices asked have been above merchants' ideas of values, with tbe result that little business " has been done. The present price of ryegrass eeed is from gs to 3s 3d. The following quotations- are for purchases from farmers, net cash, sacks extra, except Wiere otherwise specified: — Wheat (nominal). — Prime milling 5a at country stations. 014 season's oats (nominal). — Prime duns $c Id, Canadians, Bparrowbills, and Gartons Bs. Danish 3e, at country stations. „ Chaff. — Oatsheaf, prime bright £5 at country stations. - . J Peas.—Partridge and Prussian blue, nominal. O atmeaL — £ 17. Flour. — The New Zealand Flourmillers' Coteperative Association (Ltd.), quotes the following prices per ton, local or shipping: — g*cks SiX, 1001b bags £11 lOe, 501b bags #11 15s, 251b bags £12. Bran £4 15s, pollard £5 10s.' Seeds.—^Undressed farmers' lines red clover 7Jd-to Bd^ white clover nominal; ryegrass itbminal. ■ D»iry Produc*. — Cheese, dairy, large 6d, loaf 6Jd; factory, large 6id to 6Jd. Butter, fresh - local factory prints lid, bulk lOid, second grade W&; faxro separator 94d, fsum

dairy Bd. Hams BJd. Bacon, Tolled sides 9d, sides BJd. Fresh eggs lid per dozen. EANGIOEA. Tbe crops having Tapidly ripened, harvesting is going forward. Rain is needed for turnips, rape, and pastures. The samples of new oats are expected to show the effects of the weather experienced by the crops. No new gram is yet oftearing. Ryegrasa samples prove light, and from 16lb to 241b made the average in some of the crops. There is a fairly extensive crop, and the price is 3s 3d per bushel. The prices for new grain are not yet available. 1 ASHBURTON. The weather during the 1 Ist w&ek has not been at all encouraging at Ashburton. A very great heat has been experienced, and the crops have come in far too quickly, and the probability is that the grain will be pinched. Th© only inquiry for wheat at present is for old fowl-wheat, which is now bringing quite as nmch as holders could; obtain for best milling. Sales have been made at 4s 7d f.o.b , and slightly more has been offered, so difficult is it to obtain supplies. Farmers are busily employed in the country, and unable to deliver any grain they may have on hand. The price of milljng wheat is nominally 4s 6d per bushel on trucks; whole fowl- wheat, 4s 4d to 4a sd. Samples of the new season's oats have been on the market, and sales are reported oi a good seed line of dark, stout duns at 2s 3d. During the coming week it is exj pected that a fairly large quantity will I change hands, and prices, if anything, should I =»2%l»t!y- <ras<s. Oa.ish«f chaff is practically ! off th-e market, and new chafi is -expected very shortly. TIMARTT. (Herald, 11th inst.) Wheat. — Very little is being done in wheat in T-majru just now, and what has been sold this wes-k has realised 4p 6d (old wheat). One seller who refused 6s before the fall in >ri.ea was glad to quit at 4s 9d. Regarding the new crop some merchants think 3s 6d will be the opening price, others 3s 9d, and others 4s. A prominent merchant here ridicules the idea that purchases fox forward delivery have been made ad; anything" above 4s, as it ha-s been said, and he has Aot heard of any such sales. Oats. — Some samples of -the new season's oats have arrived in time, but as far as can be ascertained no sales have been effected. For on© line of Gartons showing a fairly good sample 2s 3d and 2s 4d have been offered by two buyers, but the owner declined. Other samples shown the HeiraJd reporter were very lean, having ripened before getting a chanceto fill out. But, although 2s 4d 'has been T«fused, it is no criterion as to what the maiket value is. The price may go up ot it may go down, for it is too early yet to make any forecasts. SKIN AND WOOL SAI.ES. The- fortnightly. -skin sales were held at Ashburton last week. The entry was only moderate, and prices weTe on a par with those- of late markets. Prices were as follow: — Skins — Crossbreds Is 8d to 4s 10d, r balf-breds Is 9d to 5s Bd, merinos Is 9d to 4a, lambs Is to Is 6d. pelts 6d to Is; by tbe lb, cross'breds, halfbreds, and meiinos i sfd -to -6Jd; wool, locks fd to 2Jd, pieces 2|d to 4Jd, fleece wool 6Jd to 7£d, hides 5s to 14a, oalf skins Is to 2s; fat, bag lid to lid,, tin ljd.