COMMERCIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5022, 1 June 1889, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

CUSTOMS RETURNS. The following are the Customs returns for Timarn for the month ended May 31st, 1889 :

TIMARU MARKETS. WHEAT. Quotations are Prime Tuscan and velvet 3s 3d to 3s 6d, red chaff 3s to 3s 3d, whole fowl wheat 2s lOd to Ba, broken do 2s 4d to 2s 6d. OATS. Prices have suffered a slight decline, owing mainly to competition from southern ports. Prime milling 2s to 2a 7id, short feed 2a s|d to 2a C£d, bright heavy Danish 2a 4d to 2a sd, fair average 2a 2d to 2a 4d. BARLEY. •There is a good demand for export, but the difficulty in obtaining freight hampers operations. We quote prime malting 3a 3d to 3s 6d. CHRISTCHURCH CORN EXCHANGE. The following is tho Christchurch Corn Exchange report for the week ending Friday, May 31st, 1889 •

I The grain deliveries from the country are I showing a decided falling off, but potatoes are now being delivered in large quantities. I Sydney continues to be our chief and all available space is eagerly taken up. Prices, i however, have not been so good. The Sydney . market has been several times glutted during the past month, and after each glut the values have hardly come hack to their previous figures. The Home market for wheat has had a downward tendency for some time past, but it is worthy of notice that the shipments afloat to the United Kingdom are gradually getting smaller. A few lines of pearl wheat are being risked Home when exceptionally low freights are offered. The week’s transactions in oats has not been large, but the market has closed with rather a better feeling. No doubt this is owing to the firmness in Melbourne. At present, however, Christchurch is not doing much business; our southern neighbours are cutting ns out as regards prices. Barley has a fair enquiry for prime shipping parcels ; medium is dull and hard. Potatoes are offering freely, but buyers are shy in giving over late quotations, and Tasmania is still playing a conspicuous part with_ the tuber in Sydney; Cocksfoot has an occasional enquiry, but ryegrass is dull. _ Dairy produce shows no sign of improving, in spite of_ the advancement of the season. Our quotations are as follows : WHEAT. Prime Tuscan 3s 8d to 3s fid, Pearl and Hunter’s 3s 4d to 3s 6d, second, quality Ss, chicken wheat 2s 6d to 3a. OATS. Milling 2s 10d, short stout feed 2s Bd, ordinary 2s Id to 2s fid. BARLEY. Prime malting 3s fid to 3a lOd, medium 3s to 3s fid. BEANS. Beans 3s 2d to 3a 3d. PEAS. Prussian blues 3s fid to 3s Bd, feed 3s to 3a Id. GRASS SEED. Machine dressed 3s fid to 3s lOd, fanners’ parcels 2s fid to 3s 3d. Cocksfoot (prime) 3d, farmers’ dressed 2d to 2£d. POTATOES. Potatoes 50s to 52s fid at country stations. DAIRY PRODUCE. Butter fid to fid for prime. Cheese 3|d to 4d. The above prices are those paid to farmers for delivery f.o.b. at Lyttelton, sacks extra.

Spirits £. s. ... 557 6 d. 0 Cigars ... 12 1 6 Tobacco ... 264 8 6 Wines ... 76 5 2 Beer (bottled) ... 27 0 0 Sugar ... 7 5 4 Goods by weight ... 3 6 9 ,, ad valorem... ... 340 13 7 Other duties ... 32 10 0 Primage ... ■ ... 41 6 7 N.Z. Beer duty ... ... 33 9 7 Light Dues ... 12 13 10 Shipping Fees 1 15 0 Total .£1410 1 10