GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5689, 7 October 1896, Page 3

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

The improved feeling in the local wheat market has become more apparent, and a large quantity of this cereal has changed hands during the past few days at quotations. Amongst the sales one is reported of a line of 1800 bushels of Pearl and Tuscan at 3s 6£d, f.0.b., sacks extra, and net cash for shipment. Although prices locally are very much above the level upon which shipments to the United Kingdom could be resumed, yet the improved tone in the Home market, and the fact of the cables indicating a shortage in India, have inspired buyers and speculators "with more confidence, and the market closes firm at quotations. Whilst the transactions in oats remain unimportant, owing to., the withdrawal of several lines which were on offer, a better feeling is apparent. Beans continue to meet inquiry for Home shipment, and prices are firm at quotations. In oatsheaf chaff there is but little doing, and buyers confine their attention to prime lines only. The potato market has been sluggish, export orders having been light. Advices by mail yesterday from Sydney indicate that, owing to the withdrawal of the weekly Tasinanian boats, the market about, this time may be somewhat irregu ar; and that it is difficult to forecast prices or the probable demand for the New Zealand article. The seed market has been quiet, sowing being now practically finished ; but a better feeling is apparent in clovers, on account of the improvement in the prices in the English markets. Superfine white clover commands full values, and good samples are very scarce, but medium grades are plentiful, and a large quantity of this class will be held over for autumn sowing. Fine large purple cowgrass seed is scarce, and meets high prices where it can be had. The London orders for cocksfoot having been filled, values have weakened slightly, but local . 'stocks are now small, and firmly held at quotations. Colonial Alsike is scarce and stocks are bare. Owing to the small requirements for spring sowing, stocks of ryegrass a.re plentiful, and sales of locally-grown are difficult to make against southern quotations. The following are current prices : — "Wheat.— Pearl (prime milling), 39 6d to 3s 6£d ; Tuscan, 3s 6d ; Hunter's, 3s sd; good seconds, 2s 9d to 2s lOd. Oats. — Canadians, Is lid ; short feed, Is lOd ; Tartars, Is lOd ; Duns and Danish, Is 9d. . Barlet. — Malting, prime, nominal, 3s 6d to 3s 9d ; medium do, 2s 9d to 3s 4d 5 feed, 2s 3d. Beans (nominal). — Well-saved, 2s 7d. Peas.— Blue Prussians, seed Gs ; others, 3s 3d to 3s 6d. '' . .., Flour.— Millers quote roller .£lO, stone £9 10s, sharps .£3 15s, bran .£3. Oatmeal.— J>ll. „ Oatsheaf Chaff. — 40s at handy country stations for prime samples. Potatoes. — Derwents 47s 6d to 50s at country stations. Grass Seed. — Ryegrass. farmers' lots, 2s 4d to 2s lOd ; machine-dressed to 3s 9d, heavy-weight 4s to 4s 3d. Cocksfoot, farmers' lines (131 b to 15lhseed) 3d to 3£d, town machine-dressed (161 b seed) 4^d, 171 b seed sd. Cowgrass, farmers' lines 3d to 6d. White clover 6d to B£d. Alsike 5d to6d. Dairy Produce. — Cheese 3d to 4d, loaf 3£-d to 4£d. Butter— Fresh factory 9d to lOd, prime dairy 6d to Bd, salt (in boxes) 6d to 7d. Bacon and hams 6d.