CANTERBURY MARKETS

Otago Witness, Issue 3019, 24 January 1912, Page 19

CANTERBURY MARKETS

(Lyttelton Times, January 20.) A lull in business in grain at this season, of the year is not unusual, and in this respect the current year differs little from previous years, although this season the slackness commenced very much earlier than customarily—indeed, the market has been quite unusually quiet for several months Millers deeming themselves to have sufficiently largo stocks on hand to carry them on till the new season’s grain is available are not anxious to make purchases at current quotations, and there being no outside demand, the market is inactive and prices nominal, but holders are indisposed to accept prices offered below full quotations. Offerings of wheat from growers have been reduced to a negligible quantity, and it is very clear that tho amount now held in first hand sis extremely t-mlall.

Little is being done in last season's oats, and buyers are holding off the market till they are able to form some estimation as to the likely yield of the new season’s crops, which, with the variable weather experienced lately, is very difficult to calculate. As a result of this caution very little business is passing in old oats, while it is, too early to do much in new season’s grain. Already, however, a few lots of oats havo been placed on offer, -principally Algerians, which have changed hands at prices rang-> ing from Is 9id to 2s, and Gartons Is lOd, on trucks at handy stations, but at present there is only a limited outlet. The cron outlook in all parts of the province—indeecn in all parts of the Dominion—is extremely bright, and, given favourable weather t<j enable the grain to mature, there appears 1 every chance that the returns will be extremely prolific.

Some inquiries for Irarlcy have been received from the Commonwealth, but so far this has not led to any business, although it is an encouraging sign that there is fli=kei*vt to ID an outside demand. A few' samples have already been placed on the market, but in almost every case sellers have asked, prices much in advance of buyers’ limits, the prices ranging from 5s to 5s 3d, while buyers are only prepared to do business on a basis of Is per bushel below this price. The following quotations are for purchases from farmers, net cash, sacks extra, except where otherwise specified: Wheat.—Hunters and Tuscan, 5s fd to Za pearl, 3s 5d to 3s bid, on trucks; fowl wheat 3s 6d to 3s 7d. Oats (nominal). —Duns, 2s 9d to 3s; Danish. 2s 9d to 3s; Gartons, 2s 7d to Zu ; Algerian. 2s 8d to 3s; new season’s Algerians, Is 9id to 2s; Gartons, Is lOd. Barley (nominal) —Malting, 4s 3d, according to quality. Chaff. —Oatsheaf £3 10s, at country stations.

Peas —Partridge 3s 3d. Oatmeal—£ls per ton. Flour.—The New Zealand Flourmillcrs’ Co-operative Association (Limited) quotes the following prices per ton, local or shin-' ping:—Sacks £8 10s, 1001 b hags £8 15s.' 501 b bags £9. 251 b bags £9 ss. Bran £4 15s. pollard £6. Seeds—Ryegrass, Italian 3s 3d, English 5s 6d, cocksfoot 121 b to 131 b 7d to cowgrass 7d, white clover to la. Dairy Produce—Cheese, dairy, Jarg© s!d, loaf 6d ; factory. largo ssd to 6d. Butter, fresh local factory prints lg Id, farm dairy 9d. Hams 9d, sides BJd, rolls 9W, shout-' dor rolls and middles (equal numbers) middles rolled hams 9|d. Lard, pata' 3J,d. Eggs, lOd per dozen. ASHBURTON. Wheat. —There is little or no business passing, millers generally having sufficient' stocks for the present; while on the other hand only odd lines are now being submitted by farmers. Value.g are:—Hunters and Tuscan 3s 5d to 3s 6d, pearl 3s 6d to 3s 7d, on trucks at stations. No new samples will bo ready for at least a month yetOats.—Prices recently obtainable for old oat-a have suffered a sharp decline, owing to the first samples of the, new crop being now available. A few samples of new have been threshed, and the quality of these is very good, although the wet weather has darkened them slightly. For these lines Is lid to 2s per bushel haa been obtained. A few lots of Cartons ar® now being threshed, and tho average quality of this variety will also be good. Yields are also expected to bo satisfactory, but a few weeks of _ suitable settled harvest weather ia required to enable tho grain (crops to bo harvested safely and in good condition.

Chaff.—A limited'trade for local use Is on the basis of 67a 61 to 70h per ton on trucks for prime old chaff. Now. chaff is offering, but buyers do not core to

' deal with it until it ha-s seasoned for three or four weeks yet.