Commercial.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 139, 10 December 1901, Page 2

Commercial.

TIMARU MARKETS. • A decided change for the better has to be noted this week on the Timaru markets, so far as wheat is concerned, this cereal being now in strong demand at from 2a 8d to 2s 9i per bushel. The former price is obtainable at country stations, while tbs latter is the f.o.b price. The market is very firm at the price, the supply being unequal to the demand. Other cereals remain unchanged. ' TIMARU WOOL SALES. The first wool sale for South Canterhury for the present season opened in Timaru on Friday morning, and was concluded at 4 p.m. There were thirteen buyers operating, nearly all being colonial buyers. There Was a large attendance »f farmers throughout the day, who noted with regret the low prices ruling. The associated brokers offered seven catalogues, comprising

tot'il of 3737 bales. Of this a large | iroportion was sold, and although prices 1 btained were disappointing to growers, I he sale was said to be better, on the ' vhole, than the Christchurch wool sale "■ices ranging from to $d per Ih bettor in many cases. The catalogue showed an increase of 1500 bales on that t w the corresponding sale of last year. The quality of the wool was not quite so good ns last year, dne no doubt to the dry and unfavourable season,- which caused the wool to he somewhat sandy. All bright, clean wool was keenly competed for, colonial factories being the chief buyers of this, while-the coarser lota were taken by speculators. The New Zealand Loan Company topped the market, both for half-bred and merino wool, with the Strathallan clip (LeCren Bros., of Fairlie), their half-bred bringing 7-ld and merino 7£d* Average prices obtained were:—For cross-bred 3Jd, half-bred sd, merino 6d. HORSE SALES. The Canterbury Farmers’ Co-operative A»s-iciati--n (per Mr J. Mnndell, auctioneer) report on the horse an-1 cattle market at- TattcraaM’s yards at Timarn for Saturdav as follows Our entrie" comprised 25 draught, light harness and hackney horso-,. Young draught and light harness sorts sold well, the supply being sho t of the d--m»nd. We quote values a* under : Droughts, youne, with trial, £32, £3-1, £35 10s, £37,‘to £4l; do light and aged, £l2, £l4, to £25; light barne-s sorts £lO, £ll, £l3, £ls to £l6; hackneys, £6 10s to £9.

The Thnaru Farmers’ Exchange Co, (per Mr Rutland, auctioneer) report on their Saturday sales ns follows : —Thera was a good attendance of buvers and a vf;ry fair sale. The en'ry of poultry was v-ry large, as ib generally is just prior to Chris 1 , mas, 42 pens in all coming forward. The following are quotations :—Hena, 2' to 3- 9d per pair : roostes, 2s fid, 2-i 9d, 3s, 3e 3d, 3s fid, 3 ' 9d, 4s to 4s 3d per pair ; ducks, 3s fid, 3s 9d, 4a, to 4s 3d per pair ; ducklings, 2s Gd, 3s, 4s, to 4s 3d per pair; young roosters, 3s per pair ; turkey gobblers, 9 s 6d. There was an entry of 22 young pig*, which sold at from 5o 6d, 7s, Gs, 9s 6 I to 10s, according to size and qii ilitv. The entry of produce was small. Furniture was cleared at satisfactory prices. Eggs sold at per dozen ; bacon, to 6d per lb.

CHRISTCHURCH GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Th n re is a fairly strong demand locally for wheat, chiefly of a speculative character, and to supply cargo for a vessel now lor,ring at Lyttelton for the United Kingdom. It is said that there is a fair quantity of wheat still available in the province, but holder th cliue to quote, and in order to fill .their requirements buyers have had to increase their limits. The principal turnover lately has beeu of wheat hold in second hands, as fanners are. not making any offers. There is nothing to report in the oniy business doing being in small feed lots. The Southland market is also retorted ns lifeless.

A correspondent asks what it costs per quarter, blending freight., insurance, and charges, to land oats in Souih Africa? Thai depends very much on the rate of freight, and also the kind of sacks used, and the conditions under which the cate are shipped. At. the beginning of the year the rate of freight wns equal to lid per bushel, and if the cost of corn sacks, and a reasonable amount for insurance, exchange, etc., is added, a fair idea of whet the total cost would be can be formed. The bulk of the oats were, however, sent to South Africa in 801 b bags, which the shippers had to find, added to which was the co.d ofrebngging from the sacks to the small bags, loss on the sacks, and handling, and storage of the grain while awaiting shipment. The cost of the small bags at the beginning of the year was equal to 2d to 2-Jd per bushel, so that the total cost of shipping cats to South Africa in small bags was not tar short of Is (id per bushel, or 12s per quarter. Freights have, however, since fallen, and in many cai.es at the. latter end of the season the oats were threshed direct into small bags, by wbi h a Considerable economy war, effected. la all probability therefore, the charges, under such conditions, and at the present rate cf freight, would not exceed Is per bushel, or 8s per quarter. There is so oe enquiry for Derwent potatoes for local consumption pending a more plentiful and cheaper supply cl the new crop, but there is no alteration in price.

The following are current prices paid to farmers, f.0.b., Lyttelton, and free of commissien, except whore otherwise specified : Wheat.—Hunter’s pearl and velvet 2s 8d to 2s 9d, and Tuscan 2* lOd to 2s lid, f.o.b.

Oafs (nominal)—2s 3d to 2s 4d, short feed 2s 3d to 2s 4d, Dung 2s 4d to 2s 6d, and Danish 2s 2d to 2s 3d, f o.b. Barley (nominal) — Malting 2s 3J to 2s 6d, secondary Is 8d to la 10J, at country stations.

Flour (millers’ quotations)—Roller £6 15 s,

Sharps, £4. Bran, £5 10s. Potatoes (nominal), £1 at country stations.

Hay, £2 10a to £2 15s delivered,

Dairy Produce—Cheese, factory, 4d to 4Jd; dairy, 4d; batter, fnctory, local, lid ; North Island, lOd ; dairy, 8d to 9d ; salt (in boxes), 8d; bacon, hams, to higher, f.o.b.—Press.