CANTERBURY.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 52, 7 March 1864, Page 2

CANTERBURY.

! The LytUUnn Times of the Ist inst., reports as follows: -The improvement which lms taken place in the weather has enabled the farmers to get iv a good portion of their crops. It is expected that thrashing operations will be commenced almost immediately. Fanners are looking for an advance in | the price of grain, as stocks are short, and very I little wheat has been imported. Those circumstances, combined with the damage done to the wheat crop by gales and blight, and the consequent loss, lead them to this opinion. Our farmers were expecting the opening price of wheat to Be 7s. On Saturday last, in a few transactions, 6s 6d to 7s was obtained for small lots : ,-'i>. n r some fluctuations, the market closed at 6s 6d for the best wheat. The heavier crops being laid have in most instances escaped damage. There was but a small supply of oats ; they may be quoted at 3s to 3s Cd per bushel, it of good qualitty. It is reported that barley is scarce ; great failures have taken place in many of the late crops, whilst the early ones were so much damaged by wind and caterpillars. We can hardly quote any price, as the supply has been .so limited. As regards hay, consumers appear inclined to act i with caution, and are only purchasing sufficient j quantities to supply their immediate requirements. Hay, delivered in Christchurch, realised about from Lo to L 4 per ton. ; Grais Market. — Wheat, white, 6s fid per bushel; wheat, red, Cs per bushel ; oats, 4s per bushel ; barley, 6s per bushel : potatoes, ih per ton. Timber Market. — New Zealand boards and scantling, 25s per 100 feet ; tongued and grooved, 35s ; wide, 40s ; American, wide (planed), 35s ; tongued and grooved, 37s 6d ; V.D.L. scantling, (full cut), 23s ;' do 4 x 2 (running), 20s ; do 3 x 2 (do), los; V.D.L. palings, 6ft, 35s per 100 ; sft, 30s per 100 ; shingles, 35s per 1000 ; posts and rails, LC per 100 ; firewood, L 3 per cord ; coals, L 4 per ton ; bricks, L 4 10s per 1000 ; slates, countess, LI 6 ; duchess, L 22 10s per 1000. Live Stock Market. — Mr D. Barnard's sale was more numerously attended than usual, but fewer horses were entered. Saddle and light harness horses predominated. Prices showed an advance on former quotations. First-class heavy draught stock, none offering ; medium draught horses from LSO to L 65 ; cart colts and fillies, two and three year olds, from L 25 toL3S ; first-class hack and light harness horses, none offering; medium do, from L 25 to L4O ;- inferior hacks, Lls to ; L 23 .. Rattle. £- About 12 head of one and two year old heifers averaged L7. per bead. . Mr Ladbrook . reports as follows :— First-class draught ! horses. — : Good prices were offered for- them, but the owners preferred holding over until Saturday ; a few only were offered for sale. The follovving prices were quoted, first-class horses, £60^0 L7O, second ditto, from,L4o to L 45; light harness, from L3O to L4O ,- hacks ; and heavyweight carrying colta, from L2O to L 25 ; unbroken stock from L2O to 25.