THE AGENT-GENERALS REPORT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11871, 19 April 1904, Page 9

THE AGENT-GENERALS REPORT.

(rRESS ASSOCIATION* TEI.EUBAM.) WELLINGTON, April 18. The Department of Industries and Commerce, has received the following cablegram from the Agent-Ueneral. dated London, tin? 16tli inst. :—Stocka of Now Zealand mutton on hand are light, and firmly held in a. fvw liunds. The tone of the market' is much be'U-r this w< ek, but there is a scarcity of prime quality mutton. The awrage price to-day for Canterbury mutton is 4|d ; Dunedin, .Southland, andW.M.K. Company's brands, ; other hi and.* of North Island mutton, ; River l'lnt« mutton 4d. There is a better demand for lamb, and a jrreat improvement in the market-, which is linn at the advanced prices established. Th-e average price today for Now Zealand lamb, Canterbury brands, is s|d, other Canterbury brands sd. The beef market i< very dull, owing tii th-a absence of demand, and the large Kupplies of American chilled Ixvf. There is no change in ]>rices. Tho butter market is very uncertain, being overstocked and dojnvs+ed. Deliveries of New Zealand and Australiiiii butter, from January to March inclusive, amount to 344,322c\vt, as ajruinst 151.632cvvt for the same period hist year. The average price for choicestNew Ze.iln.nd butter to-day is 90s per cwt, Danish 97«. The chceso market is dull. The average price for finest- New Zealand cheese to-day is 48* per cwt. There is an improvmu'iit in the demand for hemp, tho price of New Zealand "nood fair Wellington" on Bjxit to-day being £31 10s. April to June shipments £32 ; fair current grado Manila livmp, on spot, to-day is quoted at £37. The cocksfoot seed market is firm, with an improved demand. The average price for bright, clean New Zealand cocksfoot seed, weighing 171b per bushel, on t-pot, to-day, is 52s per cwt.