ANNUAL REVIEW of the HOME GRAIN MARKET.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1814, 21 February 1884, Page 4

ANNUAL REVIEW of the HOME GRAIN MARKET.

The agents of the Canterbury Fanners' Co-operative Association report under date London, Ist Jai.uary, 1834, as follows :— The year 1883 opened with abundant supplies of wheat, bo th in store and in prospect, ami a moderate range of prices ; red winter American selling at 45s pei 4961bs on the spot, and the average value of English being about 41s 6d p. qr. A prevalence of wet weather had seiiously interfered with the autumn sowing, not only in this ecu itry but also in Northern France and Germany, and the outlook for the new crop was not a favouiable one. This state of tiling? continued during January, and led to some speculation and an advance in price of 2s p qr. The position was aggravated by further hca\y lain? in Februaiy, when, with less thin two- thirds of the usual wheat acreage sown, and the land in an unworkable s'atv, tie apparent hopelessness of nuking up the aireais caused large transactions to be ont"iei into, chiefly for forward delivery, and jnothei rise of 2s p. q'\ wis established. Sup plies were attiacted from all quaiteis, and the inonti has pro\ed a \ery dis astious one to all wh > bought nt the high l ate--, fo. 1 Ihe marl c s, with some slight iuteimissio is, I ay c mled ttei'lily against them evci since. U^ld caste ly winds in March diied up the land and enabled Jaimeis to prepare for sprinp saw ng A decided puise oocumd ii the t.'.u'e and prices of wheat declined 2s per quarter. Apiil brought with it mild genial weather, and field work w. s pushed on vigorais'y under very favourable conditions, but owmj; to the latent ss of the season, iuulli of the acreage intended for wheat was sown with barley and oats. Prices further receded Is per quarter, but this was partly recovered towuds the end of the month, ■when colder wtathcr set in. The slight improvement was again lost in May, when all went well for the farmer. June was also favourable for the growing corn, and under the influence «>f large anivals, chiefly fioin India an I Russia, and a fall in American quotations, a decline ot Is to 2s per quarter took place. The publication of heavy stocks ot the beginning of July led to a fuithei fall of Is per quarter, which was trained, however, towards the end of the month, the pievalunce of rainy weather, causing anxiety to b3 felt for English, Fiem.li and Amenuan ciops. This continue I during the, fiist half of August, and the markets nilid firm at Is p. qr. advance. Dining the second half bright sunslvne nude its appcaiance, the harvest was gatheicd in in the Southern Counties under veiy favouiable conditions, and by the end of the month some excellent samples of new wheat were brought to market, and pi ices of foreign fell lrom "2s to 4-i p. qr. Ficquent heavy rains in September delayed the harvest and caused damage to the crops in the North, ,but the natuial effect ot this was moi c than countei balanced by the enormous ai rivals of foreign wheat, and instead of advancing, the maiket gave way a further Is to '2s per qr. With finer weather in October the luivest was bi ought to a clo&e ; tiade ruled veiy dull, yet prices weie faiily maintained for the finer deseiiptions of wheat No improvements took place during November and December, but all secondary qualities mled in buyers' favour, and wheie sales weie pies«ed lower rates had to hi submitted to. We close with the average pi ice of English ■wheat at 80s p. qr. ; Aineiican red winter at 4:5 a Gd ; and No. 2 Calcutta Club (which was worth 40s Gd in the middle of August) at about 34s per 4UGlbs. The weather has lemained exceedingly mild and open, and autumn sown wheat, of which the acieage is larger than iiaiinl, present* a veiy promising appeal ance. The late wheat crop was below an a\ eiage in this countiy, the estimated quantity for mill pm poses bem^ only about 8,500,000 (|iiai teis. The deficiane) is made upfoi, liowi'vei, by the large stocks of foii'ign, which aic computed at hilly 3,000,U)0 quaiteis in the chief poits, or moie than double what they were a ycai ago. Impoi talion-s fiom AmtJiui liavc but n only of model ate extent tlnoughout the year, while those horn India and Hus&'a have assumed Inge piopoitions. The quantity alloit, l.!WJ,000 qiiaitciv rompii-us' 2.U,500 led wheat, l, ( )0l-..~<)0 quaitcis white (chiefly Cahfoi man) nnd II >m equivalent to IW.OOO quaitets a»a n-t a tutal ot 2,52G,000 quaifcei& at the same time last year. American holdei-. who have lefused to follow the downwaid couise of om maiket, iiecu pul.itcd the euoimous " visible supply "nt .').">, 500 000 busliclb, which is 15, 7( % 0,000 bushels nioic than at the end of 1S8"2, and hangs like a weight upon the tiade. Austialia has a good ciop, nnd will piobably be able to cxpoit 3,000,000 quaiters wliilethc New Zealand suipiuti i-> expected to be as laigu a& last jeai. The supplies in sight .nc consequently to compensate for any deficiency in the English, French, and German ciops, and unless something unfoiooen occuis, it is difficult to piediet anything but a low range of prices for the xcai 1884. Austialia with a small ciop of rather indifieient quality h<is occupied a less prominent position than usual with ie gard to the tiade dining the past year. Her wheat has, however, sold comparatively well, and teen subject to fewer fluctuations than other deseiiptions, owing to its scarcity. After opening in January at 4fls (id, it advanced in Febiuaiyto 52s Gd, and then declined steadly until 4.3s (id was reached in October. It has since lecovered ,1s to Is G'd per quaiter, the closing quotations being 5Gs Gd, 47s per 4i)G lbs, ex store. Off coast the pi ices obtained tor cargoes were geneially dis'ppointing ta shippers, and several of them had to he consigned. The new crop now being hai vested is well .spoken of both as regards quantity and quality, and we anticipate a irood trade in it during the coming months. Several caigoes were sold in November at 46s per 4801 bs c.i.f. terms for Decem-ber-Febiuary shipment to United Kingdom f.0.b., and a few more early in December at 455, but sellers have since withdraw n, and beyond a few sales of pa.icels to Loudon at 445, no business has transpired. New Zealand had a good crop, but unfortunately it was exposed to heavy rains during harvest time and much of it was damaged in the fields. The rise here in Febiuaiy caused pi ices to open high, and a number ol cat goes were sold for March, April, and May shipment* has as 46's, 47s and e\en 47s G'd per 480lbs, c. i,i. terms. Those which arrived off coast in good condition were mostly re-sold at a loss of 3s to 5s per quarter, while many became heated on passage and had to be consigned, probably involving a still greater loss to the owners. On the spot prices opened in January at 42s 6d to 44s 6d for round and 45s to 47s per 49(>lbs for long-berried ; advanced 5s per quarter by the third week in Februaiy, and then fell away until 40s to 43s was touched for good round, and 44s to 46s for longberried by the middle of September These prices have since been maintained. Choice parcels arp very scarce, fetching occasionally Gd to Is per quarter more. Unfortunately the greater portion of the arrivals at this port has consisted of heated aud inferior wheat, which sold at first at 35s to 40s, but as since been forced off at irregular pi ices, and ranges to-day from 28s to 34s per 3961bs according to quality. The reports of the new crop are so far satisfactorj', but the harvest is expected to be late. Flour— Superfine Australian has been scarce throughout the year, and commanded a relatively high price. It opened in January at 33s 6d, 34s 6d, advanced in February to 355, 38, which figure was maintained until Juno, when an arrival of 5 to 6000 bags led to a drop of 2s per sack. It has since given way farther Is, Is (Jd, and cannot be quoted; «t tfle close ajbpve 325, 32a Od'per' $Ql\H « etore, jpy >mv# $m WW !* 'l&L*.'- .&< '. -<■ isll^J.? *-- ' ' '_ * \ ,■

have bemmadeatSOsc.i.f. terms to London per iron ships, November- December bills of Indincj. New Zealand is woith 275, 20s. Bat lpy. — The English crop was reckoned a faiily pood one, though much of it was harvested late. It lias since been brought very freely to market, and prices have given way in consequence, except for the finest malting qualities \\ h i<*li aie scarce. We have had no importations from New Zealand. Oats were over an average yield in this country, and prices have ruled low. A f-iir quantity has been imported from New Zealand, but hardly any of choioe quality. Good sound oats weighing 471b naturally are in moderate request at 29s to 31s per 3841bs ex store.

It is amusing to watch the political relations existing between Germany and Russia. One day we hear of the soveleigns of the two countries exchanging love messages of confidence and affection, and the ne\t we arc startled to learn that one or the other of them is making vc7 suspicious movements on the frontier, in the way of massing troops or erecting foitifications. The latest contribution to this contradictory sort of news is an article in the Journal de St. I'ctoisburg, upon the New- Year letter of the Km pel or of Germany to the authorities of Borlin, welcoming the Kaisci's assuianccs of peace, which it declares will inspire univeisnl confidence. Of couise, this is the Czar sjeaking, but then it is quite likely, at the same moment, he is up to some deviltry on the German frontier. Of Bishop Fitzgerald, of Killaloe, who died recently, a good story has been told. Dr Whately was holding a visitation of his clergy, and in the hours when clerical matters were not under discussion was impressing upon them the excellence of w atercresses. The Archbishop held that a little raw vegetable was hygicnicalh' an admit able accompaniment to a heavy bieakfast. Some days aftei wards, at a late breakfast of the clergy and then chief, every rector and curate present had watereresses on his plate. One young cleigyman did not scum to iclish them. Devoting himself to eggs and bacon, he left them untasted. "Flow comes it, Mr Fit/getald," said the pi elate, "that yon do not care for these w.itei ci essos, which all your b:ethien so much appteciatc?" 'Tour foiget, perhaps," said tin's vegetable nonconformist, " that I am not in your Grace's diocese." It appears that the Marquis Tseng can spcik pretty plainly on the Fiancoihineso imbioglio when he chooses to, notwithstanding the slowness with which his diplomitu: negotiations seem to pioceed with theFiendi Government. In the course of a lecent inteiview with the Paris cotiespondentof the Londou Times, he dfclaied that China could not acknowa Fiench right of making temtoiinl concessions in Tonkin. Because the Chinese move slowly, with pieoaution, and e.ven with appie'iension, it would be a mistake to think that they would draw bick. They are like livers you do not see them move, but they move all the same, and just so fiom the beginning of the negotiations, they have avoided precipitation, but they have not diawn back. They wish tor a compiomise, but will not nuke a submission. Still moie outspoken was the Chinese Ambassador at another point of the inteiview. The correspondent retnaiked that, although the Marquis's individual iclations with M. Ferry had become moie agtecable and less strained, he did not see that the position of the two nations had materially altered. " You aie light," answered the Chinese Minister, "our conversation consists in exchanging civilities, in saying agreeable things in passing each other delicate moisfh We are always afraid there is a little poison linking in them." It isn't often that a diplomat— especially a Chinese diplomat— u> as refie&hingly frank as tin--. Drill so his recent Austialasiau tour Loul liosebeiy made many lemaikable speeches Peilwips the most liitctcsling was that del iv end at Adelaide just piior to sailing for England. Heading between the lines we have the most checinig outlook that has been piesenh'd for many a day. The noble Loid snid "Austulia consisted of an aiea of H.SOO 000 square iniks, with a populilion, including New Zealand, of 3000,000, which has inneaped duiing the past 20 y ars fiom I.. "00,000 oi iiioie tlnn double the pjpulatinn lint that was not the least remat kable tact lleie there was none of those miseiablu beggars who disgiace England. Then this young Hercules impiessed him witli its commerce, which was now gi eater than that of Great Biitain at the time ot the Queen's accession. Thciisnow a mounted tot! 100, 000,000 while that of Britain in 1837 was only £90,000,000 w hile he had a national debt of 47,000,000,000, and that of Austiaha was now only i'JS. OOO,OOO. This was an impoitant fact, which', has impressed the stock exchange of the woild." A \»r"xo Jew of St. Petersburg, named Schisgal, has invented a watch that goes by clectucity. ilen Chovvlson.piofessor of pli}'aics at the Unh crsity of St. Pereisbuig, has wiitten an article on the subject in the Nowosti, in which he says : " In its rcmai kabU* simplicity this invention can only be compared with the Jabloehkoff system of el^ctiie lighting. The watches aie without any spiing, and consist solely of tw o wheeh. Brides being ti tie, they have the advantage of the second-hand moving in single momentary caps, as is usually the case only in very costly watches, and which is of the utmost utility for astionomical observations. These watches can also set in motion a certain number of watches on the same construction, &o that they all keep exact time. This indention has convinced me that watches can be used foi the purposes ot telegraphy." After naming several other advantages, Professor Chowlson describes the invention as a wonder which will cause an entire revolution in the manufacture of watches. Heir Schisgal is the son of a Jewish watchmaker in Berditschew. Tub Rev. A. R. Fitehefct, ,a clergyman of theClmrch of England inDunedin, has been taken to task because he has introduced one or two innovations into his church. In a letter to the Star he replies thus :—": — " Permit me a word or two respecting the matters in which, according to your correspondent, I my-self'out-Herod Herod.' It is true that I have introduced certain alterations into the sen ice at all Saints'. The choir now lecite the creed facing as the congeration faco. lam afraid that my motives for making this change were not of a very lofty king. Turning to the east at the Cieecl is the geneial English use ; hence, whenever a strange clergyman came to officiate or assist at All Saints' there was a risk of some ludicrous incident. On one occasion two clergymen recited the Creed back to back. Two others in a case known to me stood face to face, like the allies at the siege of Angiers— Fi oin north to south, Austria and France shout in each other's mouth. I cured these risks by adopting the customary English rule. In another matter I have also made a change The English Church serxicc assigns lengthly creeds, confessions, etc., to be repeated aloud by the people. Now, if the children in the public schools had to recite these or similar forms of words from day to day, they would spontaneously adopt a kind of song. In other words, simultaneous recitation is most naturally done in musical Inison. Hence at All Saints', as in most order churches, the service is now intoned. But, says your correspondent, " people's souls will never be saved by intoning." Very true. We do not intone with that object. The object sought is merely that of facilitating congregational worship by enabling the people to take their part in the service in a natural, seemly, and reverent way," Rats and Mice.— lf you wish to destroy them get.a packet of Hill'« Magic.Vkrmin Kit i.kr in packcti, 6d, Od, »nd Is, to ho obtained ofalUtorvkeepepiW %m\T? B/HiM^fey.-pnS '.-'(■'. - - J *