CANTERBURY GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2993, 26 July 1911, Page 22

CANTERBURY GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET.

(Lyttelton. Times, July 22.) The grain and produce market at the present juncture is characterised by extreme quietness, and business is being conducted on even a lower scale than during the last couple of months —a period which had been almost unprecedentedly quiet. A few lines of wheat continue to be placed on offer, but in neatly all oases holders are unprepared to sell at current prices, and as merchants refuse to extend their limits, it can easily be understood that the business that has passed has been of exceedingly small volume. The market may be described as firm, with a few transactions. Oats, like wheat, are in limited supply, but prices show no disposition to ease, being very firm at quotations, with the market comparatively bare of supplies. The majority of the transactions that have taken place during the last few weeks have been between merchants, the number of lines received from growers haying been insignificant. The potato market is very slack, and at present there is no indication of an improvement or a reversion to the prices which ruled six weeks ago. North Island buyers profess to have sufficient on hand to last for some weeks, and at present they _ are not on the market, except for small lines. Shipments still continue to be made for that quarter from the south, while North Canterbury sales have been limited to local requirements, and consequently have been of a hand-to-mouth character. With the approach of the sowing season there is more inquiry for ryegrass seeds, but no change iin values has to be recorded. Dairy produce remains without any alteration. The following quotations are for purchases from farmers, net cash, sacks extra, except where otherwise specified Wheat —3s 3d to 3s sd, on trucks; fowl wheat 3s. Oats—Duns 2s 5d to 2s 9d. Danish 2s 2d, 2s 3d, Gartons 2s 3d to 2s 4di, Sparrowbills 2s 3d' to 2s 4d, Algerian 2s 5d to 2s Bd. Barley (nominal) —Malting 4s 6d to 4s 9d, according to quality. Chaff. —Oatsheaf up to £4 at country stations. Potatoes —£210 s per ton. Onions —£2 15 s per tor. Peas —Partridge 7s 7d to 3s Bd. Oatmeal —£14 per ton. Flour —The New Zealand Flourmillers’ Co operative Association (Ltd.) quotes the following prices per ton. local or shipping! Sacks £9, 1001 b bags £9 10s. 501 b bags £9 15s, 251 b bags £lO. Bran £4 15s, pollard £5. Seeds.—Ryegrass. Italian 3s Sd. English 3s 6d ; cocksfoot, _ 121 b to 131 b, 7d to 7id; cowgrass, 7d ; white clover, to Is. Dairy Produce —Cheese, dairy, largo s£d. loaf 6cl: factory, large sid to 6d. Butter, fresh local factory prints Is sd, second grade factory butter Is 4d, farm dairv Is. Hama 9d, bone?css_ bams 9d. sides 7gd, rolls 7d, shoulder rods and middles (equal numbers) 7)d. shoulder rolls only 6|d, middies 6id. rolled hams 9id. Lard, pats Bid, bulk bladders 6id. Eggs, Is 2d per dozen. RANGIORA. The outlet for milling wheat is conspicuous by its absence. Th© trade done during the week may be summed up in very few words. Growers submitted a" few lines, and buyers offered 3s 3d for Tuscan and Hunters, but higher money was required. Oats are firm. The demand for seed Gar tans, aind Algerians is strong, and good clean lines have sold at 2s 9d to 2s lid respectively. Feed duality Gartons 2s Bd. duns 2s 9d. Peas show no alteration in either sort. Clover; Farmers’ Sots are nearly exhausted. Early sellers got the best of the market. Present values are 6id to 7d for cowgrass, Is for white clover. Potatoes: Very low quotations have been made from Otago and Southland to secure the trade from North Island centres: consequently values hero are down to 45s for best table sorts, seed Un-to-Dates £2 10s, seed Beauty of Hebron £6, Northern Stars £5 5s to £5 10s. The glut in potatoes is likely to remain for some time, as hn-o-o nnantities of table sorts are lying in Wellington and Auckland in agents’ hands for sale on consignment. Under these circum-

stances it is impossible to expect an im provement for several weeks. Chart is dull. Australian quality evidently suits North Island trade, as large contracts have been made up to November. Best clean bright, heavy lots, 80s;' medium quality, 755; oat straw, 355; wheat straw, <2ss. ASHBURTON. Wheat.—Sales are not numerous, and business that has transpired has been on the basis of last week’s quotations. The lowering of the grain freight has not had an appreciable effect on the prices obtainable, further than keeping the market firm, as there is little margin for shippers on the London equivalent. Values are: Milling pearl and velvet, 3s 3d to 3s 4d; Tuscan, 3s 2id Hunters, 3s 2d to 3s on trucks, stations. Oats: Offerings continue scarce, and sales continue to be made of odd lines in a retail way. Chaff: Inquiry is not general, and recent quotations are being barely mentioned. TIMARU. Wheat.—Without any change in price the week’s business has not been resultant of any considerable operations. The late inquiry bv the mills has been temporarily filled chiefly from merchants’ stocks. The market is firm at 3s f.o.b., sacks extra, for mixed lines of good milling. For seconds and good whole fowl wheat there is a good demand, seconds at from 2s 9d to 3s 3d; good whole fowl wheat at 3s 5d f.0.b., sacks included. Oats; Stocks aro_ getting very low in South Canterbury. and apart from an odd small order along the coast business done is for local requirements. B grade Cartons 2s oid, f.0.b., sacks included; A grade Cartons, 2s 7d: duns, 2s 9d to 3s, f.0.b.. sacks included. Potatoes: The market is quiet at 70s f.o.b. sacks included, but at this price farmers are not inclined to sell.