COMMERCIAL

Southland Times, Issue 14516, 16 December 1899, Page 4

COMMERCIAL

Market Report.

Southland Times Office, Invercargill, 14th Deo, 1809. Oats—A strong demand for oats still continues for export to the Cape, and prices have advanced fully Id per bushel during the past week. The bulk ot the South African business seems to have been S' cured so far by Melbourne brokers and Christohurch grain merchants, but a fair share of the ordeys through Melbourne are being filled .wit h Southland oats. The s.s Spithead has fu-t completed her loading at Lyttelton for South Africa, and the S,s Lincolnshire riowltakes the berth for a destination. Wo understand negotiations are now being carried on by the N.Z Government for the chafer of a steamer to carry gome 40,000 sacks of oats from B utt and other New Zealand ports. If carried to a successful issue this shipment would materially reduce stocks and firm prices. Stocks In sight are not nearly so heavy as usual at this time of yeartand as ho new crop will be available in the colonies for some weeks yet, there need be little tear of values going back. Ihe only outlet however is, at Present, South Africa, the Australian colonies and North Island being apparently able to supply their local requirements at lower prices than are ruling here. The barque Alexa sailed from the Bluff last week with 6000 sacks oats and other produce for Durban, Natal, and wo believe Ganymede (which is about due at a South African port) has been already chartered to take another cargo from New Zealand as soon as she returns. This looks as if supplies are being ordered for some time ahead. Present values are IsBdtols9d, sacks 4d, at upcountry sidings. Other produce is unchanged. Ryegrass especially is hardly saleable.