THE LOCAL MARKETS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVII, Issue 16447, 19 January 1918, Page 5

THE LOCAL MARKETS.

Merchants are now in receipt of advice from the Board of Trade of their | appointment as' Government' : wheat brokers under the commandeering 'aut so far they have had little...or. .no scope for operations. Cutting has commenced in several parts of-the district, but it is not by any means general. The weather is stiil very unsuitable for the ripening of, wheat. although week by week there is a noticeable change in the colour of the_ crops. Although there are some very good crops there are' also some very poor ones, and in all probability many growers who, had anticipated heavy yields will'be greatly disappointed. Soine. crops which promised well up to a month or six "weeks ago. are now worthless, and the owners intend to" burn tliem as soon as the straw is dry enough. These crops have gone down with the rain, turned black, and are in such a hopeless state of tangle that- it would be impossible to cut them. The gazetted price for fair average quality milling wheat is os KM per bushel f.o. r o., sacks extra, whilstthe .maximum price that can be paid for other than good milling, is 5s Sd f.0.b., sacks extra. Qf the latter a fair quality is expected, and it is pos-| sible that the maximum price, as a basis of value, may not be maintained after the first requirements are' filled. Those South Canterbury millers who are short of supplies of milling wheat are likely to have their stocks replenished at an early date. Tlie weather has been against the threshing of oats, with the result thatvery little has found its way on to the market- so far. _ A line of medium quality seed Algerians was offered in town yesterday, from the Temuka district, and found a buyer at slightly over 3s Id (the actual price was not (Ssclosed). -. _ j Two lines of feed Algerians were sold nt 2s 9d on trucks at a handy station. The seed line above referred to was probably wanted for a special purpose. Values are quoted to-day at 2s 9d for feed and 3s for seed Algerians, Duns and Gartonp for prompt delivery 3s 3d, on trucks, country stations, sacks extra. Old oatsheaf chaff is off the market, though there is a good inquirv for it owing to the sappy, condition of the new crop, winch is quoted at £4 per Very ryegrass is being placed before merchants, and most of the parcels submitted have been on the solt side. Buyers are afraid of the keeping qualities of such lines, and are not keen to take them. Pareunia' is worth 2s to 3s 3d on trucks, counftry stations. Cocksfoot is worth Is per lb. There are reports of blight in a fairly bad form in the potato crops. Should j it <?prcad over the whole crop it" would i spell ruin to the tubers for this season. The Dunedin market value is about £6 per ton with a dragging sale, and | about ;G4 JOs to £5 on trucks, country I stations, may be quoted as the nominal I value in the absence of any business being reported.