MELBOURNE GRAIN MARKET.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1832, 3 April 1884, Page 2

MELBOURNE GRAIN MARKET.

Wk quote the following from Messis Goldsbrough and Co'* Annual Grain R"poit :—: — Thejjeasou 18S3 opened wi h fair piospeots of a good average yield, but, as lesults eventually showed, they weienofc realised, and fell far bhoit of the pieviou> season 'h production. An unfavourable wmtei and spring toM severely on the Whear crops ; so much so that m some of thenoithein ureas an alnioit total failure wns the result. Owing to keen competition at the opening, on the part of slnppci s and speculators, a very high range of pi ices was tjuen. and maintained for sevetal months throughout the season without wanaut, culminating eventually in heavy losses to pin chasers. The prices given at the opening of the season, in view of home prospects, appeared incomprehensible to all connected with the trade, except the most sanguine, and, as was foretold, left nothing but constantly j increasing loss to all concerned. Our surplus Wheat exported fell far shoit of the previous season, and, in addition to the poor return, proved of rather indiffeient quality, and consequently occupied a less prominent position than usual in the home market, where it still sold, however, comparatively well, and was subject to fewer fluctuations than other descriptions. We would again impress on the f aiming community the necessity of exercising more care in keeping all Wheat intendid iap{ export well cleaned and free from foreign Bubstances, such as Barley, Oats, Drake, &c. ; and also to be careful not to use any secondhand bagp, as through want of care in this respect serious losses accrue to shippers, who reserve to themselves tho right of rejecting secondhand and inferior bags. The piospects of the season now in full operation are so far very satisfactory, and our export trade remarkably bmk. The speculative element of previous seasons is notable by its absence, and as growers appear content to accept a iange of prices in unsion with those 1 tiling in the English market, wo arc hopeful of the greater portion of our surplus being exported pretty early in the season. We estimate the total quantity so available at about 200,000 tons, an excess nearly double that of any previous seasons in Victoria. The ready sale of our produce at highest market prices in Europe proves incontestably the favourable character of our soil and climate for the production of the best description of Wheat in the world. Wheat. — Passing now to the range of prices prevalent throughout the season, it will be noted how disastrous they must have proved in their operation. Opening rates in January were 4s 5d per bushel, improving towards the close of the month to 5s 2d. In February they ranged from 5s Id to 5s 5d. ; in March, from 5s 4d to ss. 3d., April and May showing little alteration. In June prices receded to ss. ; in July, to 4s lOd. In August and September, with 4s 5d to 4s 2d. At the latter figure some large parcels, held throughout the year for the rise, were sold at considerable loss to r holders. — Flour. — Our manufacturingpower being now largely in excess of our requirements necessitated millers looking for a market elsewhere, and it is satisfactory to note that our intercolonial and foreign -iradc in F lour shows a large and rapid increase. Our leading brands, being now bo w«di known in JSew South, .Wale* and,

Queensland, have enabled ua to compete freely with our neighbours in South Australia, who hitherto were able, from tho superior quality of their produce, to keep us, to a great extent, shut out from those markets, as well as from the Mauritius and the Cape of Good Hope. Tho prices of Flour throughout the season varied m sympathy with the value of Wheat. Opening at £11 early in January, they receded from £10 ICK to £10 5b towards the close. In February they impro\ed from £11 to £H 10-. ; in Maich, April, and May they remained pretty uniform from £10 17s (3d to £11 V. ; m June, July, August, and September tuey ranged fium £10 to £10 55., dropping dunng th-5 last three months of the season fioui £0 5s to £S 15s per ton. — The season just commenced will prove of the most satisfactory wo have to record, as leg.ud-. production, in .ill descriptions of agricultural produce ; though prices in consequence will rule comparatively low, fanners will bo compensated for low pi ices by the largely nici eased yields tho outcome placing the farming community in a more satisfactory position in all respects than it has occupied in any piovious period in his history of the colony. —The total exports of Grain and Flour from Victoria dining the year ISB3 amounted to 64,11)9 tons, equalling a money value of £041,090 sterling. — The total shipments from Ist Januaiy, ISB4, to date amount to 55.577 tons Wheat, and 10,410 tons Flour, while the vesr.elsloadingha\eacarryingcapacityof 52,000 tons thus making a total of about 121,000 tons supplied 124,000 tons shipped and engaged to date. - -Current quotations are ;_ Wheat, 3s lid to 3s llsd., f.o.b. ; Flour, £8 10s to £8 15. ; Oats, 2s 6d, for feed, up to 3s for seed and milling; Barley, 2t. Gd for feed, \ip to 4s Gd for milling samples.