The Ashburton Guardian, COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & SPORTING RECORDER TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1880.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 65, 24 February 1880, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian, COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & SPORTING RECORDER TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1880.

In our issue of Saturday we made a hurried reference to “ Fanners and prices of wheat,” hut since writing that article we have'obtained information which enables us to revise our figures, and place them more accurately before our readers. To make clear the remarks which follow, we will first summarise the items of cost per bushel incurred in disposing of Ashburton wheac in London. They are as follows :—- Rail carriage, Ashbvrton to d. Lyttelton .. •• 3’47 Wharfage ... ... ... "6 Sampling and agency ... '25 Insurance at £1 per sack ... 'B2 Exchange, 90 days, at I per cent. ... ... ... '42

Loss on bags, bought pd., sold 4/<d 1-2 Freight, 50s. per ton of 2240 lbs., and primage 5 per cent. ... ... ... 16 *OB

Loss in weight, say per cent. ... ... ... I 'OS Granary charges ... ... 3‘ Brokerage and del. credere, 2 per cent., based upon selling price of S4S. per quarter ... ... ... 1‘62 Commission, 2 '/> per cent. Do. per cent. (Colonial) 1"j

32.23 Or about 2s. per bushel. From the above it will he seen that wheat realising 545. per quarter of 4961b5. in London, will give the shipper 3s. lOd. per bushel of GOlbs. iu Ashburton, or 4s. l£d. in Lyttelton. We arc well aware that farmers have occasionally paid something beyond our estimates of costs, but our figures are compiled from actual account sales issued by a first-class house, and shippers will do well to make the character of their agents a matter of consideration.

Independent holdershaving availed themselves of the different sources of information, will form their own views with regard to shipping prospects and act accordingly, but having carefully weighed the several conditions which influence the European markets, we must regard the purchase of wheat at 3s. 9d. in Lyttelton as a very propitious speculation. If such purchases reach a 50s. market they will yield a small profit, and there is at present every prospect of early shipments commanding a considerably higher figure. American supplies appear to bo in firm hands, and the English harvest is yet only a matter of conjecture ; the collapse of the former, and an unusually abundant return. from

the latter would of course exercise a lowering tendency on the world’s markets, but at present we have no grounds for anticipating either contingency, although the prudent farmer, unable himself to accept the risk, will do well to provide against both by disposing of his grain here, at a rate consistent with Home prospects. We cannot leave this subject without calling attention to a circular published in another column, which the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company have addressed to their clients. The suggestions it contains are of a thoroughly practical nature, and applicable to all shippers whether friends or not of that institution.