SOUTHLAND GRAIN RBPOET.

Mataura Ensign, Volume V, Issue 224, 26 January 1883, Page 2

SOUTHLAND GRAIN REPORT.

The Southland (Farmers' Co-operative Association's reportffor.the week ending Friday, 26th January, is as follows:— ... „ , The reportslto hand from Soutlii Australia and Victoria with respect to the defective grain returns from the threshing, maohinea are confirmed. In the circular ißsuedjby the Blder^ Wool and Produce Company, Adelaide, of the 11th inst it is stated "The harvesj. returns in many districts are unsatisfactory, and it is quite possible that we: shall not have so much avail-able-for/export as /we had last season." Shipping parcels of wheat, at. Port Adelaide are worth 5s per bushel, but there is no disposition on thopart of holders to sell, leading brands of flour are quoted at up to £12 per ton. There is an over-abundant supply of tonnage offering at extremely low rates without finding employment. The! oat market is quoted at 3s 4d to 3s 6d per bushel'with a good supply. In Victoria the wheat market is in an abnormal state as the farmers are not willing to accept current rates and, in consequence, the up-country wheat is mostly finding its way to Melbpurne) and is there being stored in anticipation of higher rates. The aotion of farmers will in a great measure stop exportation and by this means keep the supplies in the colony and prevent a repetition of what took place last year. If the fanners are resolute there will be' jno' field for speculation, and even rates are almost certain to rule until next harvest which will be most beneficial to the consumers and the general trad, ing community. The Melbourne quotations for wheat f.o.b. are from 4s lOJd to 5s per bushel. The auction sales have been cleared at 4s 9d to 4s 10 Jd, but the millers are reported to operate very cautiously. The oat market has been, in the face of Victorian supply from the new crop, since the last report, good. Messrs R. Goldsbroughand Co., limited report on the 10th instant with respect to oats, "We submitted 3,400 bags," (of which 2,947 bags were a consignment from this Asaociation) " principally New Zealand ; and sold every lot at from 2s gd for very inferior to 4s duty paid for stout feed, the demand being brisk throughout. The marked difference in price is well worth the consideration of the farmers of Southland and should be indicative ,as to what their future course should be. The resultof the sale in question proves conclusively that remunerative returns for suitable kinds of oats may be with confidence , reckoned .upon during the present season. With respect to the prospects of the ' Home autumn sown wheat these are far from encouraging; this has, no doubt, with the short supply of wheat afloat from America, caused an advance .in the London wheat market. The crops in many parts of England are repoited as completely sodden through un-, favorable weather. It is reported that those of Lincolnshire have, in consequence, suffered considerably, ! and, taking into account that in an ordinary season that famed county produces lj-millions of quarters whioh is about a fifth more wheat than is produced in: all Scotland and Ireland, the fact of such a calamityWill haye 1 a tendency to maintain', the present price of wheat Jn London. The fanners in, New Zealand withj JSfiel^spi^^ of j 4tt much;earlierthap tot fyearj there isjcivery probability! of the : 'grSn;beirig in gobi -donation. .In Canterbury ,tjho;g^ata market has opened. <■. Sales; haye'ibeen freely made at 2s per bushel for bats and from 3s 3d to 3s 6d| i per bushel for. wheat. It will be interesting to the! farmers to learn that the potato market has opened at! Warnamboolat'the unusually high rate of £3 10s per: ton to the producers which is equal to £3 15s per^ton in-; eluding bags £o.b. - . . . ; Wheat : There ia no business doing. ; Oats : Sales of oats have been made at 2s 2i perj bushel for feed at wayside stations for local consumption in small parcels, but the demand is very limited, j Grass seed : There are several enquiries for grass seed both • from Sydney and Melbourne, with every prospeot of a good business being done. Butter : There is none offering. i