GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11502, 7 February 1903, Page 9

GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

(BY OUR COMM-EBC-A-. EDITOB.) Friday Evening. Russian grain exporters are said to be in danger of losing some of their trade with Western Europe owing to the serious adulteration of cereals exported from Odessa and other cities. In ©no case, foreign substances were found in a grain cargo to the extent of 25 per cent., omd the matter has been token up in Germany and England. The Melbourne "Leader," reporting upon the Australian wheat markets, says that "the Marechad Davout arrived in Sydney with the second cargo of San Francisco wheat, totalling 107,823 bushels, and she was followed in quick succession by the Vimeira, with 134,823 bushels. Other vessels due are the Celtic Chief, 93,&47 bushe-s, and Ciaverdon, 109,155 bushels. In addition, the steamer Ansg__*, from New York, with 5000 tons of wheat and flour for Australia, is overdue and considered lost. If these vessels arrive in anything like a short period, tlie scarcity in Sydney amd Queensland may be temporarily, removed, and Adelaide would then have to rely on Melbourne demands only to maintain its firmness. But thero is rather a long break between the first and second batch of dearances from Pat-fic coast ports, and unless the expected arrivals are largely supplem-iited from the Atlantic ports of North America and from Buenos Ayres, there is no probability of a collapse in quotations, though extreme values may not be maintained. Regarding reshipments of San Francisco grain from Sydney to Melbourne or other Vi-torion ports, the oust is likely to be ratherhigh, for a large amount of rebagging will have to bo done, or the loss in transit wil? be oonsidterable. Private cables advise that a couple of thousand tons of Argentine Barlettu wheat 'have beea. bought for Australia, February shipment. The Argentine, Pacific Coast and New York markets ore all firm, according to private news."

Tlie recent fine weather and! improved prospects for the harvesting of the wheat crop has caused holders of old wheat to accept lower figures than have been Jately ruling locally. One line of 1000 bushels was sold at 5s delivered, and since then a line of 2000 bushels changed hands at 4s lOd f. o.b. It is 'also reported that the seller of the lost-mentioned line has cleared out tlie balance of his stock at the same figure. The best offer for old wheat is now 4s 9d at country stations. The offerings of oats ere now on a fairly largo scale, audi a considerable amount of business has been done during the week on the basis of present quotations. One line of 1000 bushels of Sparrowbills was sold at 2s l£d on trucks at Eakaia, but the price paid was above what buyers will now give, as these oats were wanted for shipment to Sydney next week. Duns are being offered freely, and) buyers will only give Is lOd for them. Tine oats now being purchased are chiefly for shipment to Australia, anal it is reported that the Sydney market is rather easier.

A few lines of barley have changed hands during tho week, one line of malting, comprising 1400 bushels, having been sold at 3s 6d f.o-b., equal to 3s 4_d at a country station. Some samples of Blenheim barky of excellent quality have been submitted, the prices asked being 4s to 4s 6d, which, is much beyond what local buyers will give. Ryegrass is coming forward very freely, but there are general co-oplaimbs that the quality is very irregular, and heavy dressing will be required to make the seed marketable. The following are the current prices paid to farmers, free of commission, except where otherwise specified.: — Wheat (nominal)— Hunter's, Tuscan and Pearl, 4s 9d at country stations. Oats (new)— Milling, 2s; Short Feed, Is lid; Duns, Is lOd; Danish, Is 9d, at country stations, for February delivery. Barley—Prime Malting, 3s 3d to 3» 4d; Cape, 2s 6d, at country stations. Flour (milleis' quotations)— Roller, £12 per ton. Pollard—£6 10s. Bran—£6. Oatmeal—£l4 10s. Ryegrass—Weil dressed farmers' parcels, 2s and 2s 6d, Italian ryegrass 3s to 3s 3d, delivered. Dairy Produce—Cheese, factory, od to 6d, dairy sd; butter, factory, locai, 10_d; North Island, Hd, f.o-b., Wellington; farmers' separator. 9d; dairy, 8d to 9d for prime; salt (in boxes), 7d to 8d; bams and bacon. 9d to lOd; factory hams and bacon, _d higher, f.o-b.