TIMARU.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11478, 10 January 1903, Page 9

TIMARU.

Our Timaru correspondent reports as follows:—Wheat bas now touched the phenomenal figure of 5s 6d per bushel for prime velvet; thai is to say, there are buyers prepared to give this price if wheat were obtainable in any quantity, but stocks are now very low, and millers ami other buyers are anxiously awaiting the new season's crop, which is expected to be on the market within a couple of months from date. When the new crop does come ■to hand, excellent prices are sure to obtain, for _ tune at all events, till millers' demands are satisfied, and later the export trade to Australia is confidently expected to prevent wheat falling back to less than 4s per bushel or thereabouts. Canterbury -has grown a great deal rf grain this year, and though the yields promise to be heavy, it is feared that a lot of ttts grain will be of second-class quality, owing to the damage done by wind and rain. Oats are still in brisk demand, but business is confined chiefly to coastal orders, as the cereal cannot be obtained in sufficiently large quantities to allow of the acceptance of any large outside orders. Values range from 2s 6d to 2s 8d per bushel for prime, damaged 3d per bushel less. Bailey is being used as a subtl_r_te for wheat for fowl feed, but it also is very scarce, _od is difficult to procure at 3s per bushel. Flour is worth £15 per ten. bran £6, pollard £6 10s, and oatmeal £14.