CANTERBURY MARKETS

Otago Witness, Issue 3029, 3 April 1912, Page 20

CANTERBURY MARKETS

CIIRISTCHURCII GRAIN AND PRODUCE REPORT. (Lyttelton Times, March 30.) In the wheat market the difficulty, or rather impossibility, of securing freight, has to somo extent, affected trade, and the eonsequenco has been that the improvement in English values has not been reflected locally, while buyers assert that local values are quite on a par with those ruling in the Home market. During the week the offerings have showed a marked increase, and in few cases is the quality such as to lead to any trouble at Port, the percentage passing the- grader being relatively very high. Prices remain unchanged, the current prico being 3s 4d to 3s 5d on trucks at country stations, and at these figures a considerable amount has changed hands during the last couple of weeks. So far during the present season prices have remained exceptionally even, and there have been scarcely any variations since the opening of the season. The opinion is expressed in°some quarters that were freight obtainable prices would advance, while others hold that it would be impossible to export largely at the values now ruling in the Dominion. Oats are now offering more freely, but local supplies are meeting with more competition from the south, although up to the present this has not had the effect of producing prices locally. At the present moment tho market may be said to be remarkably firm, but there is no new business. For some days Algerians were in very keen demand, due, it is stated, to some shippers having sold short, and consequently being under the necessity of paying higher rates in order to secure early delivery. To a large extent this business has now been completed, and prices do not show the same buoyancy as they did a few days ago. During the early part of tho week prices for this variety ranged up to 2s 4d, and in a few instances to 2s 6d. Little business is being done in chaff, which is slack at 55s per ton on trucks at. convenient stations. Reports from various parts of the country go to show that the potato crop is turning out unsatisfactorily, and few sales have been made during the week under 60s on trucks, while in some instances an additional half-crown has been paid. The price of eggs and butter remains unchanged. The following quotations aro for purchases from farmers, net cash, sacks extra: Wheat. —New season's wheat, 3s 4d to 3s sd. Oats. —New season s Algerians 2s 4<l to 2s sd, Cartons Is 9d to Is lid, Canadians, Is 9d to 2s; seed torts to 2s 2d; duns, Is lOd to Is lid. Barley—Malting, 4s 6d to ss, per bushel, according to quality. ChafFt.— Oatsheaf £2 10s to £2 15s at country station*-

Potatoes.— £A to £3 2s 6d. Peas. —Partridge 3s 3d. Onions.—£6 per ton. Oatmeal —£l4- per ton. , New Zealand Flourrmllers Co-operativo Association (Limited) quo es tho following priee3 per ton. local or ship-ping:-Sacks £8 10s. 1001 b bags £8 l|s SOlb bags £9, 251 b bags £9 ss. Bran *A 8- 2d to 2s 6<l; cocksfoot to M. Dairy Produce.-Cheese, dairy large o|a. loaf.bd; factory, largo 5Jd to bd But*« fresh local S "EH trade pats Is Id, larm aany •>■"«• Id. sides BiM. rolls Wd, shoulder rolls and middles (equal numbers Bid. middles 9ad, rolled hams 9.' t d. Lard, pats 8 2 d. kggs, Is 2d per dozen. RANGIORA. Very little life appears in the wheat market. Local millers are buying sparingly, and merely securing the best lines offering. During the week some good lines of milling Tuscan and Hunters were offered, and bought at 3s 4*d and 3s sd, while a parcel of 1500 bushels of pearl was sold at 3s 6d. Tho North Island trade docs not leave a working margin at these figures 3s 4d for Hunters and Tusoan and 3s 5d for pearl being ton prices, at which merchants can afford to operate. Oats remain at the same values as last week, with the exception of Algerians, which are wanted for shipment, and up to 2s 4d and possibly a little more would be given in some cases. Ryegrass seed is inactive in the open market owing to the poor quality. Heavy seed is out of the question in this district, and the absence of body in the seed means a low germinating percentage. Linseed is freely offered. For clean f.a.q. lots £l3 15s is quoted, and for dirty lines from £ll. Oatshcaf chaff is r nquired for, and for best bright heavy samples 50s is top value, indifferent quality from 455. Oat straw chaff 255. Potatoes are inquired for, but growers show no disposition to sell. The crops round about this district are all more or less light, the heavy rains at Christmas having flooded a large area. TIMARU. Wheat. -Since last report a good deal of business has passed in both milling and fowl wheat. The quality all over showed a decided improvement this week, the original fault being that wheat was threshed too soon to be in good condition. The market shows a hardening tendency, and to-day's value for good milling mixed lines is 3s 9d f.0.b.. sacks extra. Fowl wheat ha 3 been sold freely coastwise at 3s 6d f.0.b., sacks included, and is firm at this pric?. Very little second grade has come on to the market. Tho value is 3s 3d to 3s 4d. f.0.b., sacks in, according to quality. Oats.—There has been no volume of business this week, and not a great many offerings from farmers. The market is steady at 2s 3d f.0.b., sacks in. for B Cartons, 2s 4d to 2s 5d for A grade Cartons, 2s 4d to 2s 5d for duns. Potatoes. —Very little is offering. Farmers are only commencing to dig. and th* indications point to considerable damage by blight. Today's value is 70s to 75s f.0.b., sacks in.