OAMARU MARKETS. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 23

OAMARU MARKETS. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

OAMARU. February 22.

The wheat market continued fa.rly activs for the early part of the week, and something like 10.000 sacks appear to have changed! hands at prices somewhat on an equivalent v,ith those last reported, but later on the market eased, and sales cUuir.g the last few days have not been numercu3. Millers are not anxious to operate, and on the other hand) there is a good deal oSering. Early in tha week sales were recorded at the following figuies- — 750 sacks of velvet, Tuscan, and! red chaff at 4s 3d ; 500 sacks of velvet and 1 Tuscan at 4s 2UI , 130 D sacks, about half velvet, at 4s 3d (all less commission at country stations) Smaller parcels brought the same figure, but 4s 2^d net and 4s 2d net wer* also obtained S.nce then the market has weakened, and later sales have been on a reduced value. For 750 sacks, mostly Tuscan, 4s Id net was paid, and 1000 sacks of velvet and a number of smaller lots of mixed grain brought the saras figtire, the grain Io bs tiucked at country sidings. In one ease 4a 2d net, dciiveied in Oamaru. was a'lowed) for 300 sacks of Tuscan At least two parcels of velvet were sold at 4s net at country stations, and this is the price which niillera aie now offering, but farmers are not disposed to accept it. A fa»r amount of business has rlso been done in oats, the market being fairly steady, though the pi ice is a trifle lower than it was last week. Several parcels- of Gartons of more than 500 sacks have changed hands, the respective figures being 2s net, 2s les« commission, and 2a Id less commission, all' at country stations Smaller lots have brought similar figures. For lighter samples of feed Gartons and Danish down to Is lltJ net is quoted, though one sample of Danish, brought 2s Oid. lc=s commission, at a country 1 station. A fair amount of oats is beingshipped north this week, and the inquiry i 3 still fairly pood. There is nothing doing in barley, for which there is a good inquiry. Potatoes are selling pretty freely at £5 to £3 ss, less commission, for TJp-to-Dates For cocksfoot, farmers' dressed. 4d and 5d per lb net has been paid, delivered in Oamaru, but one superior lot biought a fi action more Another week of diving winds has had a depressing effect upon the market, and though there is still some- inquiiy for rape lambs, it is at a rather easier figure, 11s 6d being nowfull value Other linos aie neglected, and are likely to continue- so till the weather lrnpioves. One or two light showers have fallen diu-ing the week, but a great desl mere is lequiied to freshen up grass and green crops, which are now - showing tho effects cf the abssnee of rain.

The only sale of farm properties here th'a veek, apart from the Hskatararnea rurs. is that of the Oamaru Borough Council's icserve of 1368 acre-?, at Maercwhenua. which in tber pa%i was let on a long lease at 2s 7d and Is 9d per acre, and for which Ss -id vug obtained at auction to-day, the bu>er being Mr T Gee, juh , of Christshurch.