COMMERCIAL.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 128, 12 March 1879, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

GEAIN AND PRODUCE MAEKKTS. The; Chrbtchurch ' Press ' of Saturday last reports : As is usual at t.Tjis season of the year, transac-dens in grain have been numerous during the week. Farmers sell with giv.-it freedom, as tiioy appear to think that tlu-iv- is little to bo gained by holding back. The Fr.giish maikcfc shows again l. slight improvement during t!.o week, which in: st be very pleasing to boih growers and shippers. We hope to be c\!ue to re -ord ,'i gradual rise weekly, but fern' suck is hardly likely. Locally, there is less spirit d:ovai by buyers, and those who have thin or shrivelled samples of wheat find great difficulty in placing them at more than 2s Od to 2s 10J. Ordinary quality is unchanged at 3s, whilst occasionally sales of prime lots are made up to 3s 3d. The following table shows the exports of grain Irom Lyttelton during the months of .February from 1574 to 1870, inclusive : "Wheat. Oats. Parle v Pdils. pshK Usids". February, 1874 ... 2,505 22,8/0 1.870 ~ " 1875 ... 0.138 58.823 'cm ~ 1878 ... 7,018 28,428 1.258 „ 1877 ... 8,709 10,531 ~ 1878 ... 30,501 12,083 4.752 „ 1870 ... 70.750 0,021 It '.ill at once be noticed that wheat has increased in a most marked manner, and that oats and barley have decreased a'most in tin- same proportion. Sydney advices to hand by the Wakaiipu advise that 'iiuiaru and Oa-maru s]ii;':iti'3 are oil'e.riiig wheat to the Sydney miheis at very low [nice-. From the same source we aho learn that maize lias deeloied further. OAs cn-dinue to be puroha;ed with hesitation, as the crop in the Souther, i districts is taming on! wed', and at the prices riding here it is quite impossible fur our merchants lo compek- villi those of the Smith. Kecdiug sort.-: are saleable at 2s Sd to 2s 0.1, and milling at 2s 10,1 to Bs. No great basiimss has. however, been domg as prodm-ows eanml grov (hem. at the price. Parley has been dead, in largely For re iiy choice lots of malting 5s .3d is obtainable, whilst lower qualities are most irregularly quoted at 4s 3d to ss. A good demand exists, but the feeling of buyers appears to be that very little would cause a sharp decline. Flour is offering with some freedom, last kdf'e dis;.o:doea is shown to operate, (OioOitinns remain at L 8 to L 8 ss, according 1o brand, and size of pared. Orsss se'o is exceedingly duii, and farmers find grrit difiienily in selling- at anything approaching ]ate rates. Peally clean samples bom (Oil pas! urus comma.nd -is 01 to ss, whdsi, f;..;- ordinary lots and seed oli'iuw ground 4s lo 4s 0:1 is only obtainable, in bulmr, there is no change to report ; sales < ontinue to be made at 10tl, and (hero r.jipears to b ; ample ohbring (o meet die demand. Cheese makers are holding !., ; ck their stocks, as they do not care to ac> apt iess than Gd, and their are very few buyers at over 5. : 0 We hear good pries are beoig n-iid for s r mal' I'db ' heese. in hams and ■:• eon ■::'■: .■■'■. V l ..