CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 23

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

1 CHRISTCHURCH GRAIN AND PRODUCE REPORT. | (Press-, 29th ult.) During the lull in the wheat market several sales were made at the lowest prices recorded this eeason. Lines of 1400 bushels of Tuscan and 1200 bushels of Hunters and Tuscan were placed at 3a lid at country stations, and it ie reported that a line of Hunters was sold as low as 3s lOd The cable announcing a recovery in the London market has influenced matters locally, and growers are now holding firmly for 4s, and m some cases for more, but there is not a large quantity of wheat offering. Oats are ooming forward slowly, and prices are very firm. Few sales are -taking place, and the only ones of any consequence reported are of a line of feed Gartons at 2s Id and 1600 bushels of the same variety at 2s ljd at country stations. Supplies of chaff cannot be obtained at lees than £3 10s at country stations, and at the same time there is little outside inquiry. Grass seed is in good inquiry for autumn sowing m the North Island, the recent bush fires, followed by Tains in some of the affected districts, having intensified the demand. Potatoes are in limited demand, and onions ai-e dull of sale, and the price is inclined to be weaker. The undermentioned are the prices paid to farmers at country stations, free -of comvmission, except where otherwise stated: — Wheat. — New, 4s at country stations. Oats.— New, 2s to 2s 2d at country stations Barley. — Prime malting, 5s to 5s 3d; medium, -is to 4s S<l at country staticms. Ryegrass.— Perennial, 2& 6d to 3s 3d; extra prune eeed, 3s 6d; Italian, good grade 2s 63 to 3s 3d. Cocksfoot.— 151 b seed, s=d; 121b to 131b seed, 5d to s*d. Peas.— Partridge, 3s 6d; Prussian blues, 4s, at country stations. FZour, .£ll per ton. Bran, £5 5s per ton. Pollard, £6. Oatmeal, £14. Oatsheaf Chaff.— lmmediate delivery, £3 10a at country stations. Potatoes. — Earl} varieties, £5 at country stations. Onions. £S at country stations. Dairy Produce.— Cheese : Factory, sfd; dairy, sd; loaf cheese, 6Jd. Butter: Factory, 14Jd; farmers' separator. 12Jd; dairy, 10£ d. Bacon: Sides, Bfd; rolls, 9Jd; hams, 9d. Honey: Extracted, 4d per lb. Wax, Is 2d per lb. Eggs, 15d per dozen. RANGIORA. i The weather continues extremely dry, but favourable for the finish of harvesting operations. There is nothing special to report with regard to the market during the last week. As anticipated, wheat has met with a decline in price, and 4s is now the recognised rate that buyers are prepared to give. Oats also are weaker in value, owing to sellers in the southern markets being prepared to accept lower rates. Values here are nominally 2s to 2S2 S 2d. Chaff is in demand for immediate delivery at £3 5s per ton for ©atsheaf. Other sorts iave no inquiry. Potatoes also are in request, but as they are not ready for shipment in sacks, orders are passed. "Clovers are without change, but, in sympathy with the English market, colonial cowgrass is very firm from 8d to 9d. Malting barley not being grown to any extent in the North Canterbury district, thexe is no reliable quotation to be given, but Cape has been sold at 3s 6d per bushel. ASHBURTON. Our Ashburton correspondent writes: — Wheat : Owing to competition from Australia, millers have become somewhat nervous with rega-d to stocking up at the late rates, and dropped their offers 2d a bushel, and in isolated cases sales have been made at a still greater reduction. However, farmers seem fairly confident, and are not offering further lines at ruling quotations, and any buyers anxious to secure for immediate delivery have to increase their offers accordingly. The sale of a fairly large line in Timaru is reported as low as 3s lOJd on trucks, but for good prime mixed lines 4s is still available. Values are: Tuscan and pearl, 4s to 4s Id; Hunte**, 3s lid to 4s. — Oats: The quantity on offer has diminished during the past two weeks very greatly, and with increased inquiry from the north, and a poorer prospect of heavy supplies from the south, a rise of Id a bushel has taken place, and even offers of 2s Id on trucks have been refused for good, stout ' Gartons, quotations now being: Milling, 2s 2d to 2b 8d"; bright, stout feed, 2s Id to 2s 2d; Danish and lighter sorts, 2s. — Oatsheaf chaff: There is still great scarcity of supply. and £3 10s has been given for immediate delivery to supply local requirements, but this price does not indicate the wholesale market rate, which would not exceed £3 5s at present. TIMARU. Our Timaru correspondent writes: — The local markets are quiet, farmers generally , being indisposed to accept 3s 9d for prim* [ milling wheat, which is the price now offer- j

ing. One or two sales have been made during the week at this price, but the general tendency is to hold for higher prices. It is not considered that there will be moie than enough wheat in the Dominion for its own requirements this year, and some farmers believe that the prica will reach 5s before next harvest. The oats market is very quiet, practically all the business being done from the Bluff. To-day's quotations for good stout oats are Is lid to 2s (sacks extra). The potato market is slightly easier, £5 per ton f.o.b. being the present market value.