CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3239, 12 April 1916, Page 12

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

GRAIN AND PRODUCE REPORTS

(Lyttelton Times, April 8.)

The quietness which has now pervaded the gram and produce market for several weeks shows no signs of changing for something more satisfactory from a trade point of view, and at present business has in consequence been reduced to a minimum. Wheat still continues to come forward in fair quantities, although the volume of offerings is much smaller than is usual at this season of the year, the pnees which merchants and millers are offering being too low to make growers anxious to sell unless under pressure. During the last few weeks merchants have to a very large extent held severely aloof, and the wheat that has changed hands has been largely secured by millers, who at the moment are practically the oniy buyers. Pearl wheat is being offered very spar-ngly—indeed, it is only on rare occasions tiiat lines of other than of mediocre proportions are placed on the market, and.for th.s variety millers are prepared to pay up to 4s 7d for very prime samples. Hunters, too, are not offering freely, the bulk of the grain placed before buyers being Tuscan, lor which the current price is 4s 2d to 4s 3d on trucks at country stations. Hunters are worth about Id more.

As in the case of wheat, so it is with oats: the market is dull to a degree, and on the part of buyers there is a distinct disinclination to do business, and the market is, consequently, very dull, with prices nominally unchanged. During the week a line of 2000 bushels changed hands on trucks at a country station at 2s per bushel. The chaff market is very quiet, and few parcels are changing hands. Prices are nominally unchanged. The shortage of shipping has had the effect of making buyers rather reluctant to purchase potatoes except on a limited scale, and the consequence has been that several of those who under different circumstances would be free buyers are for the nonce off the market. During the week a fair number of tubers changed hands at prices ranging from £4 15s to £5; but since then several buyers have reduced their limits to £4 10s, without, however, leading to business.

Supplies of eggs are becoming short, and the price has advanced to 2s per dozen. The following ouotations arc for purchases from farmers, net cash, sacks extra, delivered at country stations. (Note. —An asterisk indicates thai the price is nominal, there being little or no demand): —Wheat, 4s 2d to 4s 6d; oats —Cartons 2s to 2s 3d, Algerians 2s 6d, Duns 2s 6d to 2s Bd, Danish (none offering); barley, 5s to 5s 4d; Partridge peas, ss; Blue Prussians, *7s; bran, £4; chaff, £3 15s; pollard, £6; oatmeal, £l7; flour, £l3; potatoes, £4 15s to £5; onions, £2 ss; seeds —ryegrass, 5s 6d ; cocksfoot (131 b) 7£d to lid; white clover (farm dressed) Is to Is 2d, cowgrass 7d to 8d; dairy factory cheese, lid; local factory butter (first grade), Is 6d; farm separator butter, Is 4d; farm dairy butter, Is 2d; hams, Is Id; sides, lid; rolls, Is 2d; rolled hams Is 4d; lard pats Is Id ; eggs, 2s. Note. —The prices quoted for butter are less discount.

TIMARU MARKETS. (Chnstchurch Press, April 8.)

There is very little alteration in the values of the different varieties of wheat this week as compared with last week. A considerable quantity has been offered during the week, and a good many sales have been made. Tuscan is quoted now at 4s 4d, Red Chaff 4s 7d to 4s 8d : and Velvet 5s to 5s Id, all delivered Timaru. Tuscan has declined owing to over-supply of this variety. Other lines are keenly competed for at the rates mentioned above. The inquiry is mostly for local millers, but tho speculative eloi/iont is also showing. Southern millers are supplying their wants from tho Taieri; but the condition of many of the lines offering there at present is not all that could be desired, growers being too anxious to get their wheat into bags. The Taieri crops are yielding well, and a considerable quantity is being stored on owners' account in Dunedin stores. Tho varieties there aro mostly Velvet and solid straw Tuscan. A few sales of fowl wheat are passing at 4s 6d, f.0.b., South Island, but tho general quotation is 4s sd. The oats market is in a somewhat peculiar position. Last Monday a firmness was reported in the southern market, and this was reflected to some extent in Canterbury. Trices may be said to have firmed Id per