Commercial.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3078, 9 May 1881, Page 2

Commercial.

Messrs P. Cunningham and Co., of Christchurch report as follows in the produce market for the month of April:—With a fair supply of tonnage at Lyttelton during the month, the export, has been quite up to the average. Eleven ships have cleared for the United Kingdom with grain, representing a total of 480,000 bushels, and several are now on the birth partially loaded. The pressure for storage at the early part of the season has now in a measure been removed, although at the present moment every available Btore is full, yet the deliveries from the country are easing off, and the ships loading are able to take all brought forward. Ships continue to command high rates, and there is great difficulty in effecting charters. The Californian market seems to draw nearly all the vessels that way. We quote 50s as the rate for May and June loading. Some charters have been closed at less than this, but they are exceptions to the rule. We have fixed five vessels during the month to load from Lyttelton and Timaru. There has been a considerable business done for wheat c.f.i., during the month. Several cargoes have been placed at 45s for United Kingdom orders, but at the time of writing, the English market has receded, and from cable advice just to hand, prices are easier and tending downwards. Milling wheat is in good demand for local requirements, and seed wheat finds ready buyers at 4s for pearl and 4s 3d for Tuscan and purple straw, per bushel f .o.b. Oats continue in good demand, and prices are very firm; buyprs are numerous, but farmers show a disinclination to sell, and anticipate higher prices by holding, which we think will be realized, as the crop this year will not be anything like an average. Barley is much depressed and sales are difficult to make at over 2s 6d to 3s per bushel for feed duality. The potato orop this year has turned out short, the natural consequence of the dry season, hut the quality is very good. Prices to-day, f.o b., bags included, is 65s per ton. Growers do not care to sell at present market rates, aiui in most cases only dispose of part of their crops, anticipating that the demand will improve later on, and that prices will consequently increase. The following ships are now on the Berth :—Centurion, Sydenham, Gareloch, Weathersfield, GuyMa'nnering, Inch Murrin, Ispahan, Mataura, France Cherie, Glenrosa. The following ships are chatered to load at Lyttelton, &c. : —Corby, Crownthorpe, Pareora, Selim, Formosa, Oxford, Adamant, Portland, Dinaphore, Cumbria, Cubana, Midlothian, Andes. The following ships have cleared with season's grain:—City of Tanjore, Walmate, West Riding, Pleiades, Otaki, Wigtonshire, Casma, Candidate, Palala, A.C. de Frietas, "Flizabeth Graham, Lady Jocelyn, Glamis, Orari, Min-y-don, Cynosure, Grecian, West.fa, Romeo, Malhorough, Mennock, Firfch of Lome, British, Ambassador, Margaret Galbraith (at Timaru), Euterpe (at Timaru.)