SOUTHLAND GRAIN REPORT.

Mataura Ensign, Volume V, Issue 244, 6 April 1883, Page 2

SOUTHLAND GRAIN REPORT.

,-, The Southland Farmers' Co-operative Association reporti/or the week ending Priday, Apiil 6th, as foll<roaj:->- ■.' i . ' • ■ Since the last week's, report little has been done in the grain market; buyers are indeed very loth to operate 1 at present, except at rates that are very -wide of values placed upon grain, by the farmers. Thesamo disposition is universal in the intercolonial market* The ktate of the London market as to the future rates that are expected to rule for wheat causes the colonial buyers to, wait and act with great caution. While the .bqt Australian and, New Zealand wheat is by recent telegrams from' London quoted at 60s per. quarter ex' •ffarehouaei.yet 1 the market is reported as dull and prices , nominal. The present' dormant state of the grain market is attributable to the uncertainty of the I Home harvest, and to judge from privat* advice to hand the prospect or even an average one is far from encour" , aging. .It is feared that the English .harrert of 1883 will be the worst one ever known. The winter sown wheat ty,tae low-lying lands is reported to have rotted; and late in February a large area of the Continent of Europe and the river fiats of England were under water which would seriously militate against preparing the land for.wheat sowing. Since, February the news by oatolegrani as to the 'prospects of spring sowing is not . favorable. Taking these circumstances into csnsidera. tion it may be reasonably contended that notwithstanding the large surplus still available from American and other ports, the markets both of Great Britian and the Continent will be affected : and it is not at all improbable that the wheat trade will shortly assume a more lively aspect, and a firmer market may in iconsequence be reckoned upon. The Colonial grain markets are 'void of animation. The Adelaide wheat market has for the present lulled, and with respect to the apparent dormant state of that market the Adelaide Milling and Mercantile Company, Limited, under date 'the 17th ultimo, reports :—" Now that millers have Beoured sufficient wheat to keep their mills going for some months, and that the engagements of shippers have been nearly completed, a backward movement to 6a 6d has resulted. The quotation, • however, can only be regarded as nominal.. It has been succeeded by an almost total stagnation in the market; and as 70 per cent of the season's, yield is computed to have already passed into tne Lands of buyers, the belief prevails that higher rates will .have to be offered before the transference of the remainder is effected." The same report stated that' the total surplus of wheat available for export from South Australia, is estimated at 80,441 tons and that "as the whole of this does not exceed the milling capacity of the' colony it will not b« surprising if a scarcity of South Australian flour is experienced previous to the opening of next season. 1 ' Tho Melbourne 'wheat market is inactive, values are reported 'at 6a i4jd ; per bushel,' but .holders are 'at this -quotation not disposed to part with their stocks. The recent rains in Victoria have enabled farmers to com" inence ploughing, and the grain deliveries have considerably fallen off, which will have a tendency to pre- , vent stocks accumulating and in consequence a firmer 'market may be expected. In feeding grain the Ade. laide/ Bydneyi and Melbourne markets ate reported as very Black and While maize is only worth in Melbourne 3s fld per bushel there can be no immediate improvement either in price or demand for oatg. The Adelaide quotations' for oats are 2s lOd per bushel stored in Fort Adelaide. The Sydney quotations are 2s 3d to 2s | Bd, and in Melbourne from 3s to 3s Id for fair good feed i and for prime stout milling 3s 3d per bushel duty •paid.,.! .;.-,-.■: ,- ■ ' \ T^heat :, The, local buyers are not disposed to operate for, the present except at rates that are far below farmers' limits. Several large parcels of good conditioned wheat are under offer to outside buyers at 4s 4d per bushel f.0.b., sacks extra. At this rate a large wheat tra^le might be done, as i fanners are willing to sell at equal to 4s per bushel at wayside railway stations. , Oats : There is no inducement for buyera to operate {i£ihe absence of a visible^outlet. A few trifling sales are* reported at Is 7d per bushelfor feed oats, deliveiy at wayside' stations, which is equal to Is lOd per bushel f ,o.b. at the Bluff, sacks extra. At present there is not .miym prospect of any improvement in tho oat market and in consequence several producers are negotiating 'for! making shipments to London. Barley : Thore are enquiries for malting barley for export, but few samples aro in the market. Sales could be made at 4s 2d per bushel f .o.b. Grass Seed: The market is overstocked arid in tho absence of buyers prices are nominal.