CANTERBURE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2913, 12 January 1910, Page 20

CANTERBURE MARKETS.

(Lyttelton Times, January 8). Since last report there has been no change in the grain market, and the volume of business continues restricted. The majority of farmers are now busy securing their early crops, and even if they had olid season’s grain on hand- they would not be in a. position to deliver, since harvesting operations will require their full attention (for some time to come. There is, however, an impression that farmers now hold comparatively little, and in the majority of cases the parcels of wheat and oats offered during the last few days have been of small dimension®. 'Miller® are still willing buyers, and during the week secured several parcels at prices ranging from 4s Id to 4s 3d, at country stations, and in one instance a small line of blighted wheat was taken at 4s at a country station. The tone of the Home market is distinctly encouraging, being at- present in favour of sellers, and since the last mail left prices have advanced by half a crown per quarter, indicating a fairly strong position at that end. One of the difficulties wihich buyers are likely to encounter will probably be to secure freight, as at present the greater part of the spade in vessels' to leave during the next few months ’Has been secured, for wool and meat. Reports from the country indicate that the wheat crops are maturing satisfactorily, and in a few cas.es the work of harvesting has already been commenced. There is some demand for fowl wheat, and small lines of this cereal are easily .placed at full rates.

In oats the business has been .reduced to a minimum, and the offerings from farmers have been practically nil. Already a few lines, of new season's oats have been placed on the market, but have not found buyers. In every case holders have held out for Is 6d per 'bushel at country stations, but thiis' figure is about twopence above bikers 1 ' limits. Since the change in, freights buyers have not displayed the same keenness as heretofore, feeling that they will, be able to do better business' later, when the bulk of the new season's crops is ava liable.

The following quotations are for purchases from farmers, net cash, sacks extra, except where otherwise specified: Wheat (ino-mrnal) —Tuscan and pearl 4s Id to 4s 2d, Hunters 4s id to 4s 2d, at country stations, chickwheat 3s 6d to 3s 9d. Oats—Duns Is 6d to Is -7di, Danish Is s£d to Is 6£d, Gartons A grade is 8d to lsi B£d, B grade la 6d to is 7d, sparrow-bills is 6£d, Canadians is 7Jsd, Algerians is 7d. Chaff—Oatsheaf £1 17s 6d to £2, at country stations. Beans—2s lOd to 3s. Potatoes—Derwents £3 15s to £4, Up-to-Dates £3 to £3 10s. Onions—£4. Oatmeal—£lo 10s.

Flour—The New Zealand Flora-millers' Co-operative Association, Limited, quotes the following prices per ton, local or shipping:—Sacks £lO 10s, 1001 b bags £ll, 501 b bags £ll ss. 251 b bags £ll 10s. Bran £3 ss, pollard £4-. Seeds.—Ryegrass Is 9d to 2s 3d, cocksfoot *sd to s|d, white clover (farmers' samples) 6£d to 7d, cowgrass 6d to 6^d. Dairy Produce. —Ohee.se, dairy, large l sd, loaf 6d ; factory, large, s|d to 6d. Butter, fresh local factory prints Is, second grade factory 10? d, farm dairy Bd. Hams 7£d, sidies 6|d, rolls 7£d, shouldier rolls ariid middles (equaj numbers) shoulder rolls only 6|d, middles Bgd. Lard, pate 6id, bulk 6d, bladders 6d. Fres'h eggs lid per dozen. ASHBUR.TON. Thero has been practically no b-usiness done for the past three weeks. Sales of wxieat a,re reported, Hmnters at 4e Id and a mixed }ine of Tuscan and Hunters at 4s 24d. to trucks at coraiitoy etationis. From this it may be taken that piilces are Xiiominally the same —Tuscan and pearl 4s 2d to 4e 3d, Hunters 4a to 4s Id. The

latest cable reports from the Home market; have given more encouragement to farmers who arc looking forward to the price for the growing crop. Farmers- are now cutting oat®, and in a few cases are already threshing out of stook. The. earlier oats will be of pooi quality and. ..very ligih-t. This more especially applies to duns whiioh. are bleached ar.d thin. There will be a considerable quantity of Algerian, oats which are turning out' of- terly good qual-itv, and eaem to have Withstood the hot dry winds better than. a.ny other description. In old oats business has pirae■bioally concluded. Offers for new oats have been'made on the basis of Is 6d on trucks at country stations for good B grade. Gartons for shipment, but no sake aae reported.