GRAIN AND PRODUCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 105, 16 February 1950, Page 7

GRAIN AND PRODUCE

COMMERCIAL

! ACTIVE WEEK | REPORTED An active week on . the local grain, seed and produce markets is reported. Milling wheat continues to come forward, and some lines are slightly off condition, having been headed too soon after the recent rain. Odd lines of Garton oats are also being offered, but millers appear to have ample for their requirements. Algerians and Duns of good quality are also saleable at recent quotations. Barley is still being harvested, and a certain amount of discolouration and sprouting has taken place over the last few days. Partridge peas are being harvested, and some shippers have been caught short of their requirements for present loading to London. Consequently some attractive prices have been offered growers to fill orders, but prices paid are above London parity, and represent a loss to the shippers. A strong demand exists for all varieties of grass seeds ,and some high

Range of Prices The range of prices is as follows, all on trucks at country stations, sacks extra unless otherwise stated:—Wheat—Tuscan 8s 9d a bushel, Hunters, 8s lid, Velvet 9s Id, Marquis 9s 3d, all f.o.b. (less Jd a bushel insurance); Hilgendorf 9s 9d. Oats—“A” Gartons 5s a bushel, “B” grade 4s 9d (nominal), Algerians 4s to 4s 9d undergrade 4s Gd, Duns 5s 6d to 6s, according to quality. Barley—Chevalier 6s 7d, Cape and research 6s 4d a bushel. Linseed—F.a.q. £32 a ton, contract. Peas —Partridge 10s a bushel- contract (No. l’s), Prussian blues 11s Gd per bushel contract (No. l’s). Lupins—lls to 12s a bushel. Chaff—G.B.O.S. £7 a ton. Egg Prices Buying price for eggs this week is 2s Oid plus 7id subsidy per dozen, and the retail price is 2s 3Jd.

ADDINGTON MARKET STORE SHEEP HAVE EXCELLENT SALE (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 15. The entry of store sheep at Addington to-day totalled 25,565, comprising 15,435 lambs, 1544 two-tooth ewes, 11,489 aged ewes and 397 wethers. The yarding last week was 30,004. For all classes the sale was again very good, with buyers from between Waitaki and Ashburton strongly in the market. Class sheep and lambs showed little change, hut medium sorts were distinctly dearer. In the lamb section the sale began with prices only slightly above those of last week, but later there was a rise of fully Is, particularly for medium sorts. The best of the ewe lambs made to 41s. Best wether lambs made to 37s Gd, good 25s to 29s 6d, and others down to 19s. The two-tooth included a number of excellent lines. Values were erratic, but the sale was a good one, with prices on an average 3s up on last week. Best made up to 66s 6d, good 44s to 535, and others 32s to 425. The quality was only fair in the adult sheep section. Better sheep sold no better than last week, and some of the lines looked a shade cheaper, but for useful ewes with good mouths the demand was keen at prices 2s to 3s above last week for fresh ewes and 2s up for older sorts. The outstanding sale of the day was of a line of four and six-tooth Marlborough halfbreds which made 625, the highest ever paid at Addington for store sheep of that ago. Best four-year ewes made 40s 6d to 465, good 32s to 40s, befct sound mouth 28s to 395, medium 23s to 27s 6r, and others down to 10s.

There was a small yarding of 933 compared with 2786 last week in the fat lamb section. The bulk of the yaring was of a light type, but with the small entry it sold well to regain the drop of Is to 2s registered last week. The few good lambs sold at Is above recent rates. Best made 47s to 57s 7d, good 41s to 465, others 30s to 40s. - v Ashburton sales were: D. McKie (Done), 18 at 43s Id to 465; D. C. Dolan (Doric), 19 at 34s Id to 39s Id. The fat sheep entry was 6500 against 7000 last week. The quality was only fair for ewes, while there was a better selection of wethers. Ewes were maintainly firm with lighter weights selling slightly better. Wethers showed a slight rise but then declined again toward the end of the sale. Extra prime wethers made 61s Id, prime heavy 40s 6d to 47s Gd, prime medium 35s to 40s, and ordinary and light 31s to 345. Extra prime ewes sold to 43s Id, prime 29s to 325, medium 25s to 28s, and ordinary and light 17s to 245.

P. Brick (Rakaia), 31 ewes at 22s 7d to 27s 7d; T. H. Hooper (Barrhill), 66 ewes at 25s 10c! to 30s 7d; V. W. Boag (Lauriston), 70 ewes at 25s Id to 28s Id; E. S. Johnson (Methven), 62 wethers at 45s Id to 53s Id; J. C. Guinness (Ealing), 129 ewes at 24s Id to 28s Id; F. W. Morris (Rakaia), 77 ewes at 26s Id to 29s Id; A. A. ButMer (Dorie), 67 ewes at 21s lcl to 29s Id; D. C. Dolan (Rakaia), 13 ewes at 23s Id; W. H. Wilkinson (Chertsey), 140 hoggets at 43s Id to 46s Id; R. H. Maidens (Lauriston), 69 hoggets at 50s Id to 52s Id; E. S. Johnston (Methven), 62 wethers at 47s Id to 57s Id.

Following two large yardings, the entry of 662 in the fat cattle section represented an over-supply. The quality was not of a high standard and there were sharp all round drops in prices. Good steers and heifers were 20s to 25s cheaper, while lighter sorts were up to 40s cheaper. Best cows were down 30s to 40s, and other types of cows were hard to sell. Best beef made 70s to 75s per 1001 b, good 42s 6d to 57s 6d, medium to 50s, best cow to 52s 6d and secondary cow 36s 6d to 42s 6d. Extra prime steers made to £32 7s 6d, prime £23 to £2B, medium £l4 to £22 and ordinary and light £9 to £l3. Extra prime heifers sold to £23 2s 6d, prime £ll to £l7 10s, ordinary and light £5 to £lO. Extra prime cows sold to £2O 12s 6d, prime £7 10s to £l2 10s and ordinary and plain £5 to £S. R. Haskett. (Methven), 1 heifer at £2l 2s 6d; estate H. E. A. Lock (Methven), 1 heifer at £l4 2s Od, 5 cows at £lO 7s 6d to £l4 7s 6(1.

In the fat pig section porkers were dearer by Is to 2s. Croppers showed little change and baconebs advanced prices have been offered growers, subject to their lines testing 98-90. Occasional offerings of lupins are still being madq and all lines are ac-

ceptable at current rates. Other markets remain unaltered. , in value by 3s to 4s. Light porkers made £4 2s Gd to £4 14s 6d, medium £4 19s Gd to £5 12s 6d, heavy £5 17s 6d to £6 4s Gd (average price per lb Is to Is 3d), choppers £5 8s 6d to £9 8s 6d, light baconers £6 9s 6d to £6 19s Gd, medium £7 7s Gd to £7 14s 6d, heavy £7 17s Gd to £8 9s 6d (average price per lb lid to 12d).

STOCKS AND SHARES The following transactions were recorded on the Christchurch Stock Exchange yesterday: Salek on ’Change—Stock, 1956-59, 3 per cent., £IOO ss; Ballins Breweries (rights), Is (4); Colonial Sugar, £6O 10s. Sales reported: G. J. Coles, 225; Taramakau, 5s