GRAIN AND PRODUCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 111, 23 February 1950, Page 7

GRAIN AND PRODUCE

COMMERCIAL

MARKET ACTIVE Brisk trading is reported on the local grain, seed and produce market during the last week. Heading of wheat is now in full swing in the -Methven district, and some heavy yields are reported. Millers are still keen buyers of all lines offering in satisfactory condition. The market for all oats remains quiet at recent quotations. Most lines of partridge peas have now been harvested, and a fair quantity was shipped last week to London. The market for peas is a shade quieter, and the demand for export at present is negligible. Most lupins have now been marketed, and the market remains quiet. A strong demand exists for all varieties of grass seed of high purity and germination, and some remunerative prices have been paid to growers, subject to satisfactory tests. Some of the tests received to date have shown a fair percentage of “blind seed” disease. , The market for oatsheaf chaff remains quiet. Other markets remain unaltered. 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 id a bushel insurance); Hilgendorf 9s 9d. Oats —“A” Gartons 5s a bushel, “B” grade 4s 9d (nominal), Algerians 4s to 4s 9d undergrade 4s 6d, Duns 5s 6d to 6s, according to quality. Barley—Chevalier 6s 7d, Gape 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 6d 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 3s lid plus 7Jd subsidy per dozen, and the retail price is 3s sd.

STOCKS'AND SHARES The following transactions were recorded on the Christchurch Stock Exchange yesterday:— Sales on ’Change—Stock, 1963-65, 3 per cent., £99 10s; E. S. and A. Bank, £6 2s Gd; Woohvorths (Syd.), 26s 6d; Austral (N.Z.), 7s 3d (2); Lane, Walker, Rudkin, 60s. Sales reported: Ballins Breweries (rights), Is (2); Mutual Benefit, £l9; Macduffs, 12s 2d; Woolworths (N.Z.), 25s 3d; Lane, Walker, Rudkin, 60s.

ADDINGTON MARKET BREEDING EWES SELL WELL (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 22. The entry of store sheep at Addington to-day was 34,303 including 13,964 lambs, 3023 two-toovh ewes, 16,937 aged ewes and 379 wethers, compared with 28,856 last week. The lamb entry was of indifferent quality. For best sorts the demand was particularly keen and prices were about Is up on last week. Medium and ordinary lambs were at the same- level as last week, and iii cases looked easier. Ewes made to 40s Gd, best wethers 30s to 37s lOd, good 25s to 295, and others down to 19s. The demand for two-tooths was exceptinally keen. Prices were about 2s 6d above last week and the lowest quality sheep appeared to he the dearest. Best made to 70s, good 47s to 565, medium 39s to 475, and small and backward 32s to 3Ss. A good selection of ewes from all arts of the province and Marlborough filled the adult sheep section. Quality was above the average. The better class fresh ewes were Is to 2s dearer while lower grades were fully firm. Best four-year ewes made 42s 6d to 50s, good 34s to 425, best sound mouth 32s to 495, good 25s to 31s, and others down to 12s. - The fat lamb entry was 1621 compared with 933 last week. The entry contained mainly light weights, but for all classes values were up 2s to 2s 6d. Best made 4959 to 63s 7d, good 42s to 48s, and medium and light 33s to 40s. '

Ashburton sales were: J. Prendergast (Dorie), 34 at ?7s 7d to 43s Id. The yarding' of fat sheep at 4000 was the smallest' for some time. Wethers -were up by 2s to 4s and ended on a very firm tone. Best ewes were about 2s dearer than a week ago, but other classes were unchanged. Extra prime heavy wethers made to 69s Id, prime heavy 45s to 525, medium 38s to 43s and ordinary and light 32s to 375. EX' tra prime ewes made to 42s Id, prime 30s to 345, medium 26s to 30s, and ordinary and light 17s to 245.

Estate S. Cross (Chertsoy) 20 ewes 31s 7cl to 34s 3d; estate McQuilkin (Ashburton) GO wethers 61s 7d to 65s Id; J. Prendergast (Dorie) 25 wethers 56s Id to 60s Id, 3 ewes 29s 7d to 30s, l hogget 455; G. L. C. Richards (Mount Hutt) 27 ewes 31s Id; F. W. and A. D. Ferguson (Lyndhurst) 1.15 ewes 23s Id to 31s Id, 2 hoggets 43s Id, 4 wethers 55s Id; W. Copland (Chertse.y) 68 wethers 50s Id to 64s Id.

The fat cattle entry was also very small at 448 compared with 662 last week, and 656 and 696 in the preceding weeks. Best beef was up by 25s to 40s, but medium and inferior cow showed no change. Best beef made to 80s, good 55s to 60s, medium to 52s 6d, best cow to 55s and secondary 36s 6d to 42s 6d per 1001 b. Extra prime steers made to ,£33 2s 6d, prime £24 to £29, medium £ls to £23, ordinary and light £9 to £l4. Extra prime heifers made to £23 12s Gd, prime £l2 to £l9 and ordinary and light £5 to £ll. Extra prime cows made to £2O 12s Gd, prime £8 30s to £l4 and ordinary and plain £5 to £B.

Ln the pig section pork was easier by 4s to 5s over the whole sale, and light-weight pork was 8s to 3,0 s down. Choppers were about on a par with last week at the opening of the sale hut as more stock arrived values declined by £l. to £2. Baconers met a good sale. Light porkers made £3 14s Gd to £4 14s Gd, medium £4: 17s Gd to £5 9s Gd, heavy £5 12s Gd to £6 Is 6d, choppers £5 8s 6d to £8 11s, light baconers £6 9s Gd to £6 18s Gd, medium £7 3s Gd to £7 9s Gd, heavy £7 14s Gd to £8 4s 6d (average price per lb lid to 12d).