QUOTATIONS FOR GRAIN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2236, 25 September 1889, Page 2

QUOTATIONS FOR GRAIN.

It has been complained to us tbat the quotations given as to prices of grain m Chrißtchnrch m our columns are m excess of the real values, it being asserted that m the case of oats at anyrate the figures given are not realisable. It is pointed out that while m the Corn Exchange report pablished m Saturday's issue, wheat is quoted at — for Tuscan 8s 6d to 3s Bd, Pearl 3s Id to 8s 2<J, and Hunter's 3^ to 3s Id, the Christchurch " Press " of the same day's date quotes Tuscan 8s Id to 8s 2d, Pearl 3s, and Hunter's 2e lOd, a difference of 5d to 7d on Tnscan, Id to 2d on Pearl, and 2d to 3d on Hunter's white. Also, that while the Corn Exchange quotations for oats are milling 2s 8d to 2s 9J, good short feed 2s 7d, ordinary feed 2s 4d to 2s Od, tho values quoted by the Press are respectively 2s 3d, 28 2d, and 2s, a difference ranging from 4d to 6d per bughol. Also that as regards oats vendors here are unable to place them at the prices first mentioned. Now, tho explanation is certainly not that the quotations m thD one caßo »re ex warehouse and m the other free on board, for it is expressly stated at foot both of the Corn Exchange report and of the Grain and Produce report of the Press that the quotations given are f .o.b. prices, Nor is it simply a case of the Press quotations representing the offers of buyers, and those of the Corn Exchange the demands of sellers, for as regard oats, what must be taken to be the true test of value is supplied by Messrs H. Matson and Co's report of aotual transactions during the week 21st inst. which was published m Monday's issue. There we find oats quoted as follows viz , Rhort feed 2s 4d, to 2s 6d, milling 2s 7d, and at auction up to 2s 9d ; these being given as the rates at which this grain was actually sellling. As regards wheat it is not stated that any sales had actually transpired at quotations, but following are given as buyers' offers viz , Tuscan 3s 5d to 3s Bd, Pearl 3s, Hunter's white 2s lid. Their auction report also includes milling wheat (description and quality not stated) at 2s 9d to 3s. On the whole it WuUld appear that the quotations of the Corri Exchange, whose reports we believe are drawn up by a Committee representing both buyers ftud sellers, are generally borne out by the reoord of actual transactions. It is, however, evident that the market is at present very unsettled and when that is the case there arc always great discrepancies m prices.