CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2997, 23 August 1911, Page 23

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

(Lyttelton Times, August 19.) The wheat market still continues to improve, and, although 'the amount changing hands (owing mainly to restricted offerings) is comparatively small, the demand is markedly keen. A small amount is being sent to Great Britain, the lower freights now ruling being the principal inducement ■to ship, although the margin between the prices ruling m the Dominion and in the Old World is not sufficient to induce shippers to operate except on a small scale. Millers, too, are now coming on to the market again, and are free buyers of any lots suitable for their requirements. During the week parcels of first-class quality have 'changed hands on a basis of 2s to 3s 9d, f.0.b., sacks extra, equivalent to 3s 6d to 3s on trucks at country stations. The oat market also shows an improvement, owing to recognition on the part of all concerned that stocks are small. ' Recently a few parcels have been placed on offer by farmers, the bulk of the' past season's crop having already passed out of growers' hands. Algerians and Duns ax© practically unprocurable, while all other descriptions are in short supply. A Gartons'are quoted at 2s 5 L d, B Gartens 2s sd', and Danish 2s Id to 2s 4£d, all on trucks at country stations. Only a small business is being done in chaff, prices being 60s on trucks, with a weak demand. The potato market shows no change, and ' the prices ruling at the beginning of the week —namely, 47s 6d to 52s 6d, on trucks at country stations, still rule. A fair number have been placed on the market, and moderate quantities have been shipped to the North Island, but the trade is much .more quiet than it usually is at this time of the year. i The following quotations are for purchases from farmers, net cash, sacks extra, except where otherwise specified: Wheat.—Hunter's and Tuscan, 3s 4d to 3s 6d; pearl, 3s 5d to 3s 6£d; on trucks'; fowl wheat 3s.' Oats.—Duns 2s '6d to 2s 9d, Danish 2s W to 2s 4id, Gartons 2s 5d to 2s s£d, sparrowbills 2s 4d to 2s sd, Algerian 2s 6d to 2s Bd. Barley (nominal) —Malting 4s 6d to 4s 9d, according to quality. Chaff. —Oatsheaf up to £4 at country Potatoes—£2 7s 6d to £2 12s 6d per ton. Onions—£3 5s to £3 10s per ton. Peas—Partridge ?s 7d to 3s Bd. Oatmeal—£l4 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 £6. Seeds. —Rvegrass. Italian 3s 3d, English 3s 6d; cocksfoot, 121 b to 131 b, 7d to 7id; cowgrass. 7d; white clover, to Is. Dairy Produce —Cheese, dairy, large sjd. loaf 6d: factory, large sfd to 6d. Butter, fresh local factory prints Is sd, second grade factory butter Is 4d. farm dairv Is. Hams 9d, boneiesn bams 9d, sides 7id, rolls 7d, shoulder roils and middles (equal numbers) ! 71>d, shoulder rolls only 6|d, middles 6i<l, i rolled hams 9£d. Lard, pats Bid, bulk 7>M, bladders 6gd. Eggs, Is per dozen. RANGIORA. During the early part of the week a decided advance took place in the value of wheat, but it was merely a spurt, and the market settled do'wn to normal. The English market is not strong, and "the rise in Australia is not regarded as a criterion i for Home shipments, but inter-State specu- j lation. Best quality milling Tuscan was bought at 3s 6d for two or three j lots, while others sold at 3s sd, but the bulk of buyers could not see a profit over 3s 4d. Hunter's commanded 3s 5d for two small 'parcels. At the moment 3s 4d is the nominal price for Tuscan and Hunter's, and 3s 5d for pearl. Oats remain firm . There are none offering from local growers, j The demand for seed is brisk, and supplies arc brought from South Canterbury. Values are regulated by quality. Potatoes: The market continues dull. There is very little inquiry from the North Island. The consignment trade from Bluff and other southern ports has simply glutted the northern centres, making it very risky for merchants when buying. Table Up-to-Dates are worth 50>, Feed quality 555, table Derwents 52s 6d, seed Red Beauties /unci Early Rose £6. White Beauties £5. Northern Stars £5 5s to £5 10s. _ • Oatsheaf chaff is inquired for, but the price offered by merchants is below farmers' ideas. Best quality heavy, bright, and clean is worth £4 to' £4 2s 6d, inferior 755. catetraw chaff 355, wheatstraw chaff 27s 6d, ASHBURTON. Wheat. —Tho advance reported in _ last week's report has been well maintained, and the market closes firm. There has not been a large volume of passing, as there is not a great quantity of wheat offering, and holders are in a number of cases waiting for still higher prices. The bulk of the sales being made are to merchants, chiefly for export purposes, the millers in most oases mot buyimg freely. Quotations are: —Best milling pearl and velvet 3s 4d to 3s sd. be?*t milling Hunter's and Tuscan 3s 4d to 3s on rail, stations. Oats: Business is confined to the of seed and feed lines to consumers. Chaff: There, is still very little •being done in this article for shipment, prices ruling being just outside merchants' roach. For prime quality 77s 6d to 80s per ton is obtainable. TIMARU. Wheat: The firmness in the market has •been clearly demonstrated this past week in a further hardening of prices. For some days in the earlier part of the week a coirsiderable > quantity of wheat changed hands, but it is now difficult to obtain offers, holders anticipating higher prices. Values

are 3s 9d to 3s lOcl, f.o.'b., sacks extra, for ■mixed milling. Velvet alone is practically unprocurable. Good whole fowlwheat: Following the lead of milling wheat, fowlwheat has advanced Id per bushel, and is selling- now at 3s 6d, f.0.b., sacks in. Seconds: The market seems to be cleared practically of all broken wheat; a nominal value only of 3s 3d, f.0.b., sacks in, can be given. Oats: There has been a further hardening in this cereal also, and prices, in sympathy with the higher prices ruling at Bluff, have advanced quite Id per bushel. A grade Gartens 2s 9d, B grade Gartens 2s 7id, C grade Danish 2s 7Ad, duns and Algerians (almost unobtainable) 3s, f.0.b., sacks in. Potatoes: The market is regaining a healthier tone, and sales have been made this week at 70s ; f.0.b., sacks in, though not for any considerable quantity