CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3003, 4 October 1911, Page 21

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

(LytfcßltK^';Tiroes,;.. .September 30.) Fractksally; nothing is hems' done in the graim and produce market, owing mf-iraly to the absence of'offeririgs from girowers. The wheat market is comparatively bare, and not infrequently days pass without a single line being-placed on offer- by farmers. A small amount of business is passing between merchants, chiefly to meet local requirements. Prices are very firm, the market still having an upwaird tendency, although no actual advance tn valuer has to be recorded. Whether ; ,or not growers still, hold wj appreciable /quantity is still a much-debated question, but -weekly the impression is gaining strength that the number of farmers who still bold lines of any dimensions, is very '.small, the bulk of last season's grain having ere now passed into the hands of merchants. A reference to the latest leaflet * issued, :by the Department of Agriculture- shows that for the'-first fortnight of the present month the exports of wheat for places beyond the boundaries of the Dominion amounted to 58;8S0 bushels, of a value of £10,551, the exports for the corresponding two wholes of last year having been 89,275 buahele, valued-at £14,583. : For the three months ended! June 30 last 725,200 bushels of wheat, valued at £125,467, were exported, compared with bushels, •valued at £63,299, for. the corresponding period of 1910. > , , ■ . The; oat; market-• remains very nrm, but the quantity available 's very limited; in fact, the lines that have been -placed on-offer by farmers during the last: couple of weeks have, been very "few. indeed. _lt is stated that -large, consignments of. Victorian oats have landed, and are in transit for North. Island ports, the total quantity being given aft 15,000 sacks. Importers calculate that "they will be able to land the Commonwealth article in J New Zealand at between' 2s Ed and 2s 9d, duty/pa.jd, price some pence below -what tlhey could land oats at the same ports. '"'" Recently, however, the exports from the south have not' baen heavy, the demand dowii 'here.being principally for local consumption, and so far the arrangements to get supplies from the Australian. States .have not pre judicially Influenced the market in the least. During the week prices uo to 3s on trucks have been paid for good "lines of duns and Cartons. All descriptions; however, are in exceedin<>j,y short supply, and any lines placed on the market are eagerly snapped up. Figures supplied by the Agricultural Department show that the exports for the' first two weeks of the current month were exceedingly light, having amounted to only 3740 bushels, valued at £514, compared with 20,311 bushels, valued at £2llO, for the corresponding fortnight of 1910. The exports for the three months ended June 30, too, show a 'heavy falling-off compared with last year. This year the shipments for places-outside the dominion totalled 20,748 bushels, valued at £2536, as agaiiist 68,217 bushels, valued at £7OOB, in April. May, and June, 1910. , ' . , a There is a moderate demand for chaff, fvvhich is obtainable ; in' (flair quantities. Prices range from £4 2s 6d to £4 10s, according to quality and the locality of the stations, these prices being on trucks, The potato market is still in a drooping condition the tendenocy being strongly downward. The majority of operators are very indifferent about making purchases, recognising that the buoyant portion of the trade can now be considered as having passed. Last week some growers 'refused to accept £2 per ton for their stocks, thinking that the market would improve, but since then there has been a further weakening, and to-day the same potatoes would not reilise more than £1 10s.. even if that figure could be obtained. faMy large quantity has been placed on offer, and the majority of growers appear prepared to accept current prices rather than hold any longer. . The following quotations are for purchases from farmers, net cash, sacks extra, except where otherwise specified: Wheat—Hunter's and Tuscan, 3s 5d to 3s 7d; pearl 3s 5d to 3s 6£'d, on trucks; fowl wheat 3s 3d to 3s 4d. Oats—Duns 2s 9d to 3s, Danislh 2s 9d to 3s, Gartons 2s 7d to 3s, Algerian 2s 8d to 3s. Barley (nominal)— Malting 4s 6d to *s 9d, according to quality. Chaff—Oatsheaf £4 2s 6d to £4 lCs at country stations. Potatoes—£l 10s to £i 15s. Peas-r-Partridge 3s 7d to 3s Bd. Oatmeal—-£ls per ton. Flour.—The New Zealand Flourmillers' Co-operative Association (Limited) quotes the following prices per ton, local or shipping:—Sacks £9. 1001 b bags £9 ss, 501 b bags £9 10a, 251 b bags £9 15s. . Braa £4 15s. pollard £6.

Seeds—Ryegrass, Italian 3s 3d, English 3s 6d, cocksfoot 121 b to. 131 b 7d to 7£d, cowgrass 7d,- white clover to Is. Dairy Produce —Cheese, dairy, large bjrd, loaf 6d; factory, large s£d to 6d. Butter, fresh local factory prints Is 2d, second grade factory butter Is Id, farm dairy 10d. Ham© 9d, sides 7|d, rolls B£d, shoulder roils and middles (equal numbers) B£d, shoulder rolls only 7£d, middles- 9£d, rolled hams 9£d. Lard, pats B£d Eggs 9d per dozen, RANGIORA. Recant transactions in wheat point to e steady market. Although the inquiry i. ; small, the offerings from farmers are light, hence the fact that millers requiring sort ing-up lines are prepared, to pay full rate for first-class quality. ' Sates have bes .made of Tuscan, Hunters, and Bordier u to 3s 7d. This price is in advance < values for Home shipment, and no dou will be well maintained until the barve? ing of next season's grain. Oats rama firm at late rates, and higher money expected owing to the fact that there not any held by lecal growers, and mai. have to buy to feed their horses whii ploughing. Potatoes -remain V-xceodingj inactive, 32s 6d for table Up-to-Dates am 35s for table Darwenits being highest Scad lines are not much inquired for, 3b being the prioa for seed Up-to-Dates. Othei lines are neglected'. Chaff is firm at £4 7t 6d per ton for best bright, clean, lots. ASHBURTON. . Wheat.—lnquiry is still good, and any lots of prime Wheat offering find purchasers at recent ;*\ tes, although in some causes buyers are inclined" %> the opinion that recent values should not be maintained, owing to the easier tone of the Australian market. Values remain :—Prime -velvet and pearl 3s 6d to 3s 7d, Hunters and Tuscan '3s 6d to 3s 6£d on trucks, country stations. Oats.: Offerings are still, very scarce, and prices asked by growers- can only be obtained for retail purposes; A large line of top quality local Cartons as reported to wave been sold this wesk at 2s lOd on trucks. Chaff.-.:. 80s to- 82s 6d on rail is ruling price/ for prime quality. - pr TIMARU. Wheat; Business on the week has been quiet. There .has not been much demand, and, on the other hand, there is no anxiety on the. part of holders to place wheat on the market. Wheat' now is' in ;yery few hands, and) firmly held, and for any quantity . required 4s f 0.b., sacks extra, would be necessary to bring business. Fowl wheat: Stocks in tlhis oo.rnmodity are getting very short. There is a good steady demand at 3s 8d; f.o:b., sacks included, to the various coastal ports. The present stocks cannot hold out much longer. Seconds: The market is baire, and a nominal quotation of" 3s 2d to 3» 3d, t.0.b., sacka included, could' be given. Oats: Stocks now aire at a very low ebb. No shipping business from this port, can be undertaken, and what little oats is left now -will all be required! .for local consumption. The equivalent;value is 3s 2d, f.0.b., sacfo included, for >B. Grade Cartons. Potatoes The- market is. in. a very weak condition.; Value, 455, f.01b., sacks included.