COMMERCIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2168, 28 February 1880, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

S. C. Times Oeeice, Saturday Evening. Although the harvest is progressing rapidly, and thrashing is going on, business generally continues very dull. Samples of new grain have been offered during the week, but, although the quality is fairly spoken of, there is a disinclination on the part of buyeis and sellers to operate. It is probable that a large quantity of wheat will be exported direct by the growers. The prices offered for oats and barley, particularly the former, arc considered ridiculous ; Is to Is Bd per bushel is something unprecedented, and, large as the, yield is, such a figure will leave little or no margin of profit after the bare expenses of tillage, harvesting, and conveyance to market are defrayed. This is eminently unsatisfactory to farmers as well as merchants, and it is suggested that a means of overcoming the difficulty by exporting this kind of grain to the United Kingdom will have to be adopted. The prices offered by merchants are as follows: —"Wheat, Bs to Bs (id; barley, 2s (id to Bs Bd; oats, Is to Is 3d. The live stock market is dull, but there have been a few largo transaction in store stock. Messrs Maclean and Stewart report having sold privately a line of 8000 crossbreds at 6s (id. Nelson, Feb 28. This year’s hops arc already finding their way into market. Mr Hurley sold 20 bales at 2s per lb, f.o.b. at this port, and as growers are receiving enquiries from Sydney, an active demand is anticipated. There have been transactions in barley at 4s; malt 8s (id and 9s. Wellington, Feb. 27. The Wellington “Prices Current,” issued to-day, states that Bank rates for deposits will be reduced early next month, and that in the open market the supply of money is rather less restricted, though still a good deal-short of the demand, and from 10 to 124 per cent is paid on mortgages of real estate. Dunedin, Feb. 27. Prime fat beef, 25s per lOOlbs ; mutton, IJd per lb. ; wheat 4 s Bd to 4s fid ; fowls’ wheat, Bs Bd to Bs 7d ; oats, Is fid to Is 9d; barley, os to Bs fid ; do feed, Bs to Bs (id ; potatoes, £B 10s to C.C I (old), according to quality ; round potatoes, £3 10s to £4 ; old hay, £4 ; new oaten hay, £B 5s ; chaff, £3 10s ; straw. £2 ;bran, £4 ; pollard, £5 ; flour, £ll to £lllos ; oatmeal, £ll ; pearl barley, £2O ; onions, 7s ; new cheese, 5d to fid ; bacon, rolled, lOd ; hams, Is. Mr ,T. B. Bradshaw reports : Bank of New Zealand shares, £l9 10s to £2O; National Bank, 62s ; Colonial Bank, 40s ; National Insurance, 20s fid ; Xew Zealand Insurance, £4 os; South I’.ritishlnsurance,42s; Union Insurance, 15s; Colonial Insurance, 7s; National mortgage and Agency Company, 20s ex div.; Colonial Investment and Agency Company, 20s ; Scottish and New Zealand Investment Company, 21s; Guthrie and Larnach’s Timber and Wood ware Factories, 50s. Melrourne, Feb 27. Calcutta telegrams advise cornsacks advanced 9s per bundle 1 . Wool-packs quoted 27Jd, market rising. Now Zealand oats depressed; 100 bags good feed were sold at 2a Id. Sydney, Feb. 27. Hennessy’s three star brandy, 45s ; do one star brandy, Bfis; diamond kerosene, Is 8d per gallon ; Devoc’s kerosene, Is 34 ; New Zealand oats, 2s to 2s fid per 401bs ; raven twist tobacco, Is 5d to Is Od per lb.