ENGLISH FLAX MARKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 95, 25 April 1891, Page 5

ENGLISH FLAX MARKET.

The following is Spurling'a New Zealand hemp market report, dated London, March 21st :—

Since the date of my last reporb (21st ulto.), our market for New Zealand hemp has bean generally flat and duil. Improving slightly shortly after the departure of the last San Frrnciaco Mail, and following subsequently the decline in Manila hemp, only a small business has transpired during tho month ; our market closing dull and flat at a decline of 10s to 20s on common, medium, and good qualities; whilst really good and line, which are still scarco, command nearly previoua rates. The arrivals which havo taken place since 21st ulto. have been smaller than usual. This coupled with still good deliveries from etock here, should prevent any further important decline in price. Whilst generally admitting the improvement exhibited in the preparation and cleaning of New Zealand houip—landed during the past three or four months—as regards tlio crop or crown, tho writer dooms ib right to direct tho attention of fchippers to a new and defective method of cleaning, shown in recent landed parcels. Several of these show that although the ahive and straw lmd boon rernoved°from tho crown or points, yeb the body of tho bomp has been detrimonted by too much beatling.. The result of this operation ia to diminish tho value of the fibre lor the ropomaker, whoee great desiderata aro cleanness and clearness of fibre, andnotßoft, pappy and bruised fibre, ac recently landed and now complained of. For textile fabrics the matter complained of might bo of comparatively little importance, but whilst the consumption of Now Zealand hero and abroad is limited mninly, if not entirely, to rope-making purposes, it is to bo hoped in the interest of shippers that this new system of dressing may be avoided. For arrival eomo 200 to 300 tons of Wellington, " guaranteed fuir average," aro reported to have been placed during the month, part at £i' 2, and part £2110s, c.f.i. Generally, however, our dealers prefer at present to hold aloof from the market, and prefer rather to buy pnrcels properly landed and seen, than to ri?k the quality and doubts of arbitration which might eusue on floating parcels.

Annexed uro particulars of mostofthelend in" marks sold, at and ox auctions, since 21st February, 1891 .-—Good Lo line: CB/H, £?A 10s: KB, £24 10s. Fair to good fair; P, £24 10s; M&B, £24 15e. Middling to barely fair : IXL., £24 10s ; IvfcCo., £23 10a to £23 ISs ; OUva,£23 10s ; FF in triangle C under, £23 ; Snow, £23 lOej Pahan, £23 10a-; O ii> diamond, £'23; Auckland/WB, £25. Common to middling: MEW, £22. Low and ordinary :P, £21.

Corr.parabive landings, deliveries, and stocks of New Zealand, Manila, and Sisal hemps in and afloat to London for the months ending 2Sth February, 1891, and 2Ptli February, 1890, respectively : —New Zealand—lo9l : 286 tons !;ui<)ed, 856 t.orisdoHvored, 1,902 tons stocks. 1890: 880 tons landed. 945 tons delivered, 871 tons stocks , . Manila—lß9l : 1,260 tons landed, 626 tons delivered, 1,884 tons stocks, 8,840 tons afloat. 1890: 1,451 tona landed. 374 tons delivered, 2,955 tons clocks, 2.93S tons afloat. Si^al— 1891 : 9 tons delivered, 14 tons atocks. 1CJ0: 10 tons delivered, 36 tons stocks.

Prices current:—Wellington: Fine to extra, £25 to £27 ; good, £24 to £24 10s ; good middling to fair, £23 10s to £23 15a ; common to middling , , £22 10.? to £23 ; low and ordinary, £20 to £21 (nominal). Auckland : Fine to extra, £25 to £26 ; good, £24 10« to £25 ; good middling to fair, £23 10s to £24; common to middling, £22 10s to £23 10h ; low and ordinary, £21 to £22 (nominal).