GRAIN.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2819, 5 October 1883, Page 2

GRAIN.

DUNKDIN. The weather for the last three weeks has been favorabje for seed sowing, and the farmers have made good progress whoreyer the ground has been dry enough to receive the seed, but even now some of our low-lying flats are suffering from excessive moistnre, and are not yet m fit condition to be worked to advantage. Wheat — The market has been very qniet throughout the month.but prices for good sound milling have not undergone any change since onr last report. Local millers are fairly well applied; they do not hesitate, however, to pay full rate 3 for sound parcels when obtainable. Soft and sprouted sorts do not move readily, henco stocks of such are increasing daily. Our present quotations are for primo volvet and Tuscan, Is 2d to 4s 3d ; red straw, •ts to is 2d ; medium, 3s 3d to is ; inferior, Is 9d to 2s lOd m store. Oats — Tho business done during the last month has not boen very considerable, although sufficient to reduce stocks m town to a minimum. Present values are about tho aarue as at the end of last month, viz. : — Stont bright milling, Is lid to 2s ; heavy short food, Is Ud to Is lOd ; medium, Is 8d ; mixed and discolored, Is 5d to Is 7d m storo. Tho demand just now is not by any means active, and to push sales lower rates would havo to bo submitted to. Barley— Suitablo for malting is m short supply, and only a few sales can be recorded. Thore is continued enquiry for this description which could bo readily placed at from 43 to 4s 3d. Very little demand for any other sort. CHRISTCHDRCH. Variable weather has been experienced throughonttho month. Heavy rains early m September flooded a large extent of country, but warm weather with drying winds canscd an early disappearance of moisture, and saved tho crops from damage. Tho sowing of barley and oat* is still being proceeded with, and an unusually largo aroa is being prepared for turnip sowing. Wheat — Tho voluma of business passing during the month shows no improvement on its predecessor. Farmers holding sound wheat, BeeiDg no prospect of a rally m the markot, have Decome anxious sellers at a reduction on former prices, but buyers look forward to yet lower rates ruling, and decline to operate Largo quantities of slightly damaged grain aro coming to hand for shipment to England, though prices at Mark Lane have receded to an exceptionally IoV point. Ai no other mar- 1

kot presents itself, however, this is tho only alternative available. Prime milling (of which supplies nro very contracted) commands 4s f.0.b. ; medium to good, 3a 3d to 3s 9d; inferior, 2s Gd to 3s ; chick feed and seconds, Is Gd to -2s 3d. Oats— A limited bnsines3 haa beon passing throughout the month at 2s to 2s Id, f.o.b. for bright milling ; Is Kid to Is lid for short food, and Is 7d to Is 9d for inferior and discolored. Barley — Thoro is uo improvement to report m the aspect of this market. Fine malting is I offering at 3a 3d to 3s Gd, withont meeting ■with mnch response, whilst feed qualities remain unsaleable. INVERCARGILL. Wheat— Since- writing our last report, there has been very littlo doing m wheat, but quotations are still tho same- as last month. Prime milling samples can ho readily disposed of, bnt arcs not easily obtained. On tho other hand, there is little or no enquiry for medium or inferior parcels. Oats— There is an increased demand for this cereal, but buyers will not advance on last month's quotations. Wo expect a moro plentifnl supply as Boon as farmers havo finished sowing, and wo aro looking forward to a steady business m oats up till November. Barley— Wo still havo inqniries for good malting and seed samples, bnt both continue exceedingly scarco ; m 3d to 4s 9d, according to quality, are the prices asked by holders. AUCKLAND. Wheat— Milling is out of tho market, but onr local millers aro supplied. Fowl feed is worth about 3s per bushel. Oats— Primo milling, 2s 5d to 2s 8d ; bright feed, 2s 4d to 2s Gd ; inferior, 2a 2d to 2s 5d per bushel. Barley — Malting is nominal, maltatcrs being well stocked. Maize— 23 8d to 2s lOd per bushel, for 561 b. Flour— L9 to LlO 10s for southern brands. A considerable quantity of flour from sproutod wheat is being offered, which depresses the market. TIMARCT. Wheat— Tho business dono during tho past month has been small. A considerable quantity of second class wheat is still held m tho district, notwithstanding that shipmontfi, foreign, intercolonial and coastwiso, havo beon largo. Wo quitted a few parcels lately at price 3 ranging from 3s to 3s 6d on trucks and ex store, Timaru. Oat3 — A fair demand now oiista for oats, and sovoral parcels have changed hands during the past week at fair prices. Wo have placed 4000 to 5000 sacks at from Is 5.U1 to 13 19d f.o.b. formedinm to good samples of feed oats. Barley— No demand for barley. Stocks hold are light. OAMAKU. Wheat— Business locally has been dull during 1 tho past month. Millers are, however, anxions bnyor-s of primo lots, but damagod and inferior grain ia entirely neglected, excopt at fowl feed prices. About 5000 sacks have been shipped for tho Home market por s.s. Fenstanton, consisting chiefly of parcols which have beon graded specially for shipment. Tho young crops are looking well, and, should tho weather continuo propitious, there is every prospect of an abundant harvest. Oats— There is still a fair demand for good heavy bright feed oats, and we havo placed several parcels at a slight advance on former rates. Good samples of milling are scarce, and m demand. Barley — There havo been no transactions of really prime samples. Nono are offering. BLENHEIM. Wheat — There aro no transactions to report. Quotations are, therefore, nominal at 4s 3d to 4s 4d for good milling, and 3s 3d to 3s Gd for chick feed. Oats — The demand continues dull. Exports have been at a standstill for some time. Wo quote 2s to 2s 3d for bright feed. Inferior sorts are not saleable. Barley— As anticipated m our last report, enquiry 13 now being made for good malting samples, and wo hear of sales at 43 to 4s 3d. We placed a lino of good quality at 4a 3d f.o.b. Snperior samples would find buyers at improved prices. NAPIER. Oats — Thero have beon some enquiries durinsr tho month, and priaoa rule a littlo firmer. 3s per bnshel is now being obtained for lots of 50 bags or so. WANOANUI. Wheat — No enquiries. Stocks heavy. FROZEN MEAT. The impetus given to this trade by tho satisfactory returns received from London ia exemplified by the support accordod to tho several companies promoted throughout tho colony. Wherever thero is an opening, steps have been taken to establish refrigerating works with a degree of success which is almost unparalleled m tho history of novel industries. DUNEDIN. Tho s.s. Fenstanton, after a weok'a stay, has just cleared out with S!KJB carcases mutton, m addition to a largo quantity of grain, wool and tallow. The ship Dunedin is fast filling up, she has now 5000 carcases on board, and will tako about 3000 moro to comElete her cargo. Tho work 3at Burnsido are nay preparing the British Queen's cargo, so that tnero will bo no delay m despatching her on arrival. CHBISTCHURCH. The local works at Belfast have been fully occupied during tho past threo weeks providing cargo for tho s.s. Doric and Fenstanton from Wellington and Dunodin respectively, now m Lyttelton completing their loading for London. Tho former will carry m all about 9200 carcases, and tho latter 8000, of which tho Lyttelton contribution will bo nearly 6000 carcases. Account sulos of shipments per British Queen, display the satisfactory average of 6Jdto7id per lb obtained m London, with a net result of 23s to 27s per head for eaoh carcase, including tho price realised for offal. This must be considered eminently satisfactory, and should iuduco greatly extended operations both m breeding and fattening. In evidence of the thoroughness with which the business is being prosecuted here, we may mention that tho local company havo already arranged freight contracts for the conveyance of over 100,000 carcaso3 between this and tho end of 1884. TIMARtJ. A Frozen Meat Company has just beon started m this district; capital, L 25.000, m 5000 shares. Tho first issue is limited to 300(1 shares, and against this, applications aro m at present for 3240. The Company ia now being Jegistored, and so soon a3 tho question of tho sito has been settled tho necessary machinery will bo ordered by cablegram from England. Within twelve montha from this time wo may, therefore, hopo to bo exporting our own frozen meats from this port. Wo understand the machinery to be omployed is tho Haslaui patent. BLENHEIM. We aro pleased to be able to record the first shipment from Marlborongh. On the 13th instant we forwarded 140 dressed carcases of merino and crossbred mutton, which havo sinco been frozen by tho Wellington Meat Export Company and shipped per a.s. Doric. ! Tho crossbred sheep averaged 75Jlbs, when dressed, and should realise a good price m tho London market. Applications for space ia tho charters effected by tho local company aro now pouring m, and so great is the desire to ship, that shareholders can readily soil their apace from Is to Is 6d per sheep.