AUSTRALASIAN PRODUCE MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 64, 16 March 1900, Page 8

AUSTRALASIAN PRODUCE MARKETS.

(From Our Special Correspondent.') LONDON, February 0. Wool.—There is no material change to report in the raw material, but some little business has been passing by private treaty at an advance upon the best bids made under the hammer. Tallow.—A rapid iall in prices in America induced some nervous holders here to make sales at a decline of Gd to Oil upon late rates, which had the effect for a time of depressing' the market. This state of affairs, however, did not for long prevail, and, with a good general enquiry, as well as an unexpected deniaiM for II io Janiero — consequent upon the stoppage of shipments thither from tlie River Plate owing to the outbreak of bubonic plague there—the decline has been more than recovered. Having1 regard to the statistical position of the article there would appear to be no reason wliy the present level of prices should not be maintained at least for some little time to come. We quote good to finest Australasian mutton 30/ to 30/6, fair to fine beei'2B/6 to 29/3 per cwt. New Zealand Hemp.—The reported opening of several ports in the Philippines caused prices, toward the end of last month, to give way, but a better feeling- has supervened, and values I now show but little change from our I last report; the market, however, except for spot ancknear at hand parcels, being inactive. We quote spot £137 .10/ per ton; October-December £30 10/; December-January, nominal, £35; December-February £33; JanuaryMarch, £3 per ton, c.f.f. Frozen Meat. —During the past fortnight there has been practically no change in the state of this market. Only small quantities of new season's lambs have so far been marketed, and these are making from 3d to s.}d. The usual quantity of old season's ,which are offered as new goods on account of their recent arrival, is making from 3;/d to 4M. The position of Australian meat is somewhat •weaker in consequence of second quality brands being forced on the market, and because of further lowering in the price of Argentine meat. Butter. — Since last report some 53.000 boxes of Australasian gutter have come to hand. There has been a good demand for colonial, and sellers have been able to advance prices 2/ per cwt., and it is noteworthy that while Danish has been falling each 'week Australasian has improved in price. Finest realised 98/ to 100/ per cwt; good to fine 90/ to 96/ per cwt.