COMMERCIAL.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 137, 16 April 1879, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

GRAIN AND FLOUR MARKETS. Christchukch, Saturday. Business in wheat has been fairly active during the week, and some large parcels are reported to have changed hands. For choice seed parcels 3s Gd has been paid in some casss, and as high as 3s 5d for first-class milling samples; fair to ordinary quality ranges from 3s 4d to 3s Gd. The advice of a further decline in the London market has had a depressing effect, and buyers were offering a penny per bushel less than in the early part of the week. Flour has had a fair share of attention, although no improvement in price is likely, as the Southern millers are forcing their brands in the .Northern market. Quotations are £8 to £8 ss, according to brand and size of parcel. Oats are now almost unsaleable. Several large parcels have been offered during the week, but as the growers could not get more than 2s Gd, no business resulted. Several small lots are reported to have been sold at the above figure. It is very certain that the growers made a heavy loss at the price, as with the undoubtedly short yield in our own immediate neighborhood, it was impossible to grow them at a profit. Buyers' prices are 2s 5d to 2s 7d, and sellers' views generally ( onsiderably higher. In barley there is no change to note, all fair to good lots find ready buyers at 5s to 5s Gd, but inferior samples are difficult to place at 4s to 4s 6d. Grass seed shows no improvement. The quantity offering is considerable, and, failing better rates, fanners are accepting 3s 9d to 4s 6d, according to quality. A small business lias been done in potatoes, but so far sellers' views are altogether beyond what dealers are offering. We have heard of sales being made at-455, and we have also heard of sales at 555, so that it is difficult in the present state of the market to give a reliable quotation. Butter is without alteration, and is quoted at 9d to lOd. The export demand is imparted to be very light. Cheese has been sold pretty freely, a'th/vKgh prices have not improved much. We quote 6g to 6|d as the ruling rates. Curers report stocks of hams and bacon exhausted, which cannot but be considered a favorable state of affairs at the opening of another curing season. No .new curewill be ready for shipment before the first week in June. CORN EXCHANGE REPORT. The following is the report of the Corn Exchange at Ohristchurch for the week ending April 11th : There has been a limited business done in all kinds of produce during the week. The bulk of the wheat is going forward on producers'account, nevertheless. Some large lines have .changed hands for sliipment on merchants' account. Prices are firm, but transactions few. Wheat : Prime milling samples command 3s Gd ; inferior to medium, 2s lOd . to 3s 4d. Oats : The same feeling exists with regard to this cereal. Holders are, in most instances, looking for Id to 2d a bushel in advance of market value ; consumers are only operating from hand to mouth. The long drought has told its tale, feed being very short. In view of this holders anti° cipate prices will advance as the winter goes on. Prime milling mav be quoted- at 2s Scl to 2s lid ; feed, 2s Gd to 2s Bd. Barley : A good demand still exists for all kinds of malting samples, wl ile discolored, but well-grown, also meets with ready buyers at remunerative rates. South Australia is drawing, and is likely | to||depend on us for its supplies. This j fact, coupled with the high prices iu Mel-

bourne, give a firmer torn- to the market, and present rates are likely to be wellmaintained. Prime malting will command 5s 9d to 6s; seconil quality, 5s to 5s Gd ; feed sorts, 3s (3d to 3s 9d. Potatoes. —The reports from Auckland and Dunedin point to shoit local supplies, consequently it is fully expected that by the end of this month these to largely consuming port will have to draw their requirements from here. In our chief producing districts the digging returns continue to confirm the prediction so strongly and set forth in previous reports, and anticipated yields are now proved considorab y short of expectations. This, coupled with the high cost of lifting light crops, will necessarily compel the farmers to look for exceptionally high prices. A few sales have been made at current rates, but as a rule the producers seem resolved to wait for a considerable advance on present va'ues, and unless remunerative rates can be obtained the bulk of crops will in all probability be pitted. Present prices range from £3 to £3 5s per ton. Grass Seed.—Nothing has occurred to create any change in the demand. Prices nomiivd. For best quality, os Od to 6s ; inferior, 4s Gd to ss. Cheese and Butter.—6d to 6|d for the former, lOd to lid for the latter.