Commercial.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 149, 7 January 1902, Page 2

Commercial.

f THE TIMARU MARKETS. The holidays cannot be said to have interfered very much with the produce markets, as in the first week of the new year the dullness which marked the close of the year still prevails. It is a period, too, when in every season things are generally quiet; but we may expect a change in a few weeks, for with a spell of fine warm weather the new crops will be gathered in: Tne sales locally duiing the past fortnight have been very few, and the all round quotation for wheat is still 23 lid fob. Most of the holders of wheat ask for 3s, but some have lowered their limit to 2s lid, at which price business is likely to result. There is no fowl wheat in the market, but there is a good demand at 2s 8d to 2s 9d, and this demand is being satisfied to some extent by the sale of good wheat, the broken wheat being the cheapest. Oats show no change, namely 2* 2d to 2s 3d on trucks, Timaru. Barley is nominally quoted at 2s 3d to 2» 4d for prime malting aud 1h £d to 2s for feed, but there are no sellers at these prices.

GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS. CiiRiSTCHUF.cn, January 3. The Engiidh autumn-sown wheat, according to " Dornbusch" of November loth, has bern developing well, a fine appearance b'dng represented by the ewrly fields. In France to'.-re was a general agreement of opinion as to the siiliefactory appearance of the newlysown cereals. The weather in Germany, bein" mild and wet, was beneficial to the aprioul:un.l situation. Hungarian adv'ces stated that the autumn eoveils presented a satisfactory appearance in till provinces. Repo' is fmm Russia stated that cash was required in central and southern govemnit-nts to give the az'ma and rye fields * good atari, while snow and frost were reported in the northern, eastern, and we-tern districts. The flow of wheat to the ports w:is checked some what by Government purchase. 1 } for the famine-stricken di-.tricb, but exports were well maintained, the total shipments of liusdhn wheat from Aug st to November 9 h bsinc; 24,856,000 bushels, against 25.206,000 bushels for the corresponding period of last year. With regard to tha United Ht.ntos, the 'Cinoinna'i Price Current,' of November 141.-h, stated that there was no material change in the growing grain crops, and the condition was generally pood, but more general rams were needed before the period of hard freezing The reports from the Argentine republic in October wee unsatisfictory, but on November 14th it was cabled that advices from the agricultural districts were mora encour-ging. The growing crops were described as backward, but h. alttiy, and whero they hid previously suffered f<om drought they had generally made a further recovery. Business c;in hardly be said to have yet been resumed i-ivice the holidays, and, therefore, th*<re is lit'le to report in connection with the local market. Millers are requiring wheat, but the low price of flour does not warrant them in giving the price asked by holders. The Flour Millers' Association ate, we understand, finding a difficulty in getting supplies of flour at pre>ent quotations, and it is probable a further rise will take place shortly. There is nothing doing in oats, and buyers will, no doubt, await the placing of the new crop on the market befoie leaking further offers. The following ara current prices paid to farmers, f.o.b. Lyttelton, and free of commission, except where otherwise specified : Wheat—Hunter's pearl a>id velvet 2s 9d, and Tuscan wheat 2s lOd to 2s lid, f.b b.

O-its (nominal)— 23 3d 'o 2s 4d, feed 2-i 3.1 to 2s 4d, Du-s 2s 41 to 2s sd, and Danish 2a 2d to 2s 3d, f.o.b Barlf-y (nominnl) —Malting 2s 3d to 2s Od, ,scoo'dary Is 8d to Is lOd, at country »• ations.

Flour (Millers' quotations)—Roller Flour £7.

SWp*—£4. Bran—£3 10s. 0-i.lmeal—£l3, f.o b. Hay—£2 10.. to £2 15\ delivered. Grass Soed— Ryejra«s, prime heavy town-dressed 3s to 3s 6d, cocksfoot to 2§l, town machine-dressad 161 b to 17U. old seed3-idto3gd,f.o.b.,cowj:ra3B6d to 6fd, extra choice 7d, wnite clover 61 to Bd, delivered. Dairy Produce—Cheese, factory 4d to 4£d, dairy 4d ; butter, factory, local, lid, North Tslan,d lOd, dairy 8d to 9d, salt (in boxes) 8d ; bacon, hams 5.J,d to 6J !; factory bacon and hatna £d higher, f.o.b. —Press.