CASTERBUBT MARKETS

Otago Witness, Issue 2860, 6 January 1909, Page 21

CASTERBUBT MARKETS-

The Christmas awd New Year holidays nave naturally interfered considerably with business in <the grain and produce markets, and for all the trade that has been done in the former ' during the past couple of weeks the premises of gram merchants in Christohwrch might almost as well have been aosed. The wheat market remains- -unchanged, ithe busun«ss passing being within th<S earn* narrow lamite recorded in se\oral previous reports. baJcs ihave been) confined' to small parcels, mainly for immediate delivery. The offerings haye been restricted andl holders, generally speaking, show litfcle anxiety to part with their stocks, except at prices well over 4b per bushel. Prices remain on a basia of Vld to 4s 3d on trucks at country stations. „,,,, j Oats are exceedingly dull of sal«, and prices are far from satisfactory from a. gTowerV point of view, Is 6d on trucks Kb country etait.iome bei.n« tne current quotation. With a - bountiful harvest m view, it is difficult to s«e how even toi« price can bo maintaimed when the new season's grain, comes on to the market, unless an outlet is found' beyond the Dominion of which there is no sign at present. Witb oats at such a low price, of coarse, i* wall pay fanners to feed them to sheep, and it is expected that during the coming se^eon this course will be followed to a very much larger extent than heretofore. Grain growers should bear in mind that the new railway regulations limiting the weight of sacks of corn will come into operation o» February 1 and it they wwh to cave themselves trouble, annoyance, and j expense they will be careful that these a.re | not infringed. Sacks must not contain more ' rtham 2001b net, or 2031b gross, the penalty for overweight sacks being four times the ordinary rates. 'Chaff is in little request, and sales are difficult to make, the current pries being £2 12e 6d to £2 15s on trucks at country etaibions. -No inquiries are being received for supplies from outside. New potatoes e re coming on to the market freely, and prices vary considerably from day to day. Tba crops are very , •promising: and unless there 16 an epidemic j of blight, of which there is no sign at j present, the yield should be very satis- ; factory. The following quoba-tions are for purchases Irom farmers, net cash, sacks extra, except where otherwise specificd 1 : — Wiheat — 4s Id to 4s 3d, at country stations. Oaits— Duns Is 7d, Gartons, Sparrowbills, and Canadians Is 6d to Is 7d, at country stations. Barley— Extra prime 5s to 5s 3d, second quality 4s to ss. , Qhaff— Oateheaf £2 12s 6d to £2 15s at country stations. Oatmeal— £l2. Flours— The New Zealand Flouamillera' Co-operative Association, Limited, quotes the following prices per ton, local or shipping:—Sacks £10 lCs, 1001b bags £11, 501b bags £11 5?,' 251b bags £11 10s. Bran £415s. pollard £6. Seeds— Ryegracs, light 2s 6d to 2a Bd, heavy 3s to 3s 6d. cocksfoot 63d to Bd. Dairy Produce— Cheese, dairy, large 6ld, loaf 6(1; factory, large 51d to 6d. Butter, fresh local factory print* Is, farm separator 10£ d, farm dairy 9^d. Hams 9d. Bacon, rolled e : des 9id, sides BJd. Lard (packets) 9d. Fresh eg-srs Is per dozen.