HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18969, 6 April 1927, Page 12

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.

The Department of Agriculture has received the following cablegram, dated April 2nd, from the High Commissioner for New Zealand, London:— BUTTER. The market is steady. Ofticial quotations are: — New Zealand: Finest Salted. April 2nd—ls2s to 154s per cwt (Is lid to Is 4Jd per lb). March 26th —150s to 154s per cwt (Is 4d to Is 4}d per lb). Unsalted. April 2nd—l6os to 164s per evt (Is od to Is aid per lb). March 26th—160s to 162s per cwt (Is od to Is 5Jd per lb). Other Qualities. April 2nd—l4os to 148s per cwt (Is 3d to Is 3ijd per lb). Australian: Salted. April 2nd—lsos to 154s per ewt (Is 4d to Is 4£d per lb). March 26th—150s to 154s per cirt (Is 4d to Is 41d per lb). Unsalted.

April 2nd —156s to 162s per cv.t (Is 4Jd to Is 5Jd per lb). March 26th—156s to 160s per cwt (Is 4Jd to Is 5d per lb). Other Qualities. April 2nd—l36s to 148s per ewt (Is 2}d to Is 3£d per lb). Argentine: Unsalted. April 2nd—ls2s to 156s per cwt (Is 4Jd to Is 4Jd per lb). March 26th —148s to 152s per civt (Is 3Jd to Is 4ld per lb). Other Qualities. April 2nd —144s to 150s per lb (Is 3Jd to Is 4d per lb). . Danish. April 2nd—lß2s to 184s per cwt (Is 7Jd to Is 7Jd per lb). March 26th—178s to 180s per cwt (Is 7d to Is 7sd per lb). CHEESE. The market i 3 steady. Official quotations are:— English: Finest Farmers'. (Stocks small.) April 2nd —120s to 124s per cwt (Is Id to Is lid per lb). March 26th—120s to 124s per cwt (Is Id to Is IJd per lb). Canadian: Finest Coloured and White. •April 2nd—923 to 94s per cwt (9!)<1 to lOd-per lb). March 26th—94s to 96s per cwt (lOd to 101 d per lb). New Zealand: Coloured. April 2nd —77s to 78s per cwt (Sid to BJd per lb). White. April 2nd—76s to 78s per cwt (Sid to Bid per lb). Other Qualities. . April 2nd—7ss per cwt (8d per lb). Estimated cheese stocks on April Ist at London, Liverpool, and Bristol: Canadian and American, 36,800 boxes: New Zealand and Australian. 144,250 crates, against 48,700 and 74,800 for the same time last year. TALLOW. The market is more active/and the demand is good at auction. Official quotations are:—

Mutton —Fine, 37s per cwt; fair to good, 35s to 36s 6d per cwt; dark to dull, 33s to 34s 6d per cwt. Beef —Sweet and/or mixed, 37s to 40s per cwt; fair to good, 34s 6d to 37s per cwt; dark to dull, 32s to 32s 6d per cwt. Mixed —Pair to good, 34s to 36s 6d per cwt; dark to dull, 32s to 33s 6d per cwt. Gut, etc., 30s to 32s 6d per cwt. EGGS. Supplies are checked by low prices, and the markets have a firmer tone. Present quotations are:—Danish, 13s 6d per long 100; Knglisli and Dutch, lis to 12s 6d per long 100; Belgian, 10s 6d to lis per long 100; Polish, 7s 6d to 8s 6d per long 100. OATS. The market is" quiet. Best English whito seeding is selling at 28s to 30s. There is a little more interest in Plate. Spot is quoted at 245, April shipments 35s 6d. The nominal value of "A" grade Now Zealand Gartons is 29s ex stores. PEAS. Maple: Supplies and stocks of Tasmanian and New Zealand are very small. Forward shipments are quiet. Trade business was reported early this week: New Zealand May shipments 735; nominal value Tasmanian March-April shipments 85s. Blues: The market for Japanese shows considerable decline during the month, owing to poor consumption demand and good supplies afloat. The latter sold this week down to £2l 15s, and March-April shipments £22 15s. In consequence, there aro no buyers of Colonial descriptions.BEANS.

There is very little interest. English winter is quoted at 415,t0 425. | COCKSFOOT. Danish is extremely quiet. Offers for the 1926 crop are difficult to obtain, but the price of 90 per cent, to 95 per cent, would be about 71s. HEMP. The manila market is dull and easier. "J" grade April-June shipments sold £4l, close sellers that figure. The sisal market is dull, with small demand for afloat. Values: No. 1 April-June shipments £36 10s, and No. 2 £33 15s. The New Zealand market is quiet, with a downward tendency. Nominal values afloat are: £35 to £35 10s for highpoints, A]>rilJune shipments £34 10s, and fair £33 10s. "WOOL. The sales closed yesterday. The attendance was large and fully representative throughout. Competition was sustained. Merino maintained its initial advance, crossbred also until the third week, when some irregularity developed. ■ At the close, fine crossbred was from par to 5 per cent:, and others 5 per cent, above closing rates of the last series. Sales: Colonial were 124,500 bales of which 66,000 were for export, including 4000 for U.S.A. Average closing values are: 64'b (merino), super 2s to 2s 3d per lb, I average Is 6d to Is 10$ d per lb; 56's (super | halfbred), Is 9Jd to 2s per lb; 50's, Is 7d to IB 9d per lb; 48 to 50's (fine crossbred), Is 4id to Is 6Jd per lb; 44 to 46's (medium crossbred), Is 3d to Is 4d per lb; 36 to 40's (coarse crossbred), Is 2d to Is 3d per lb. Next sales will take place on May 3rd. .

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES.

(BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (AtTSTBALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.

LONDON, April 4. The exchange rales on London are as iollows;

Par. Mar. 31. Apl. 4. Paris, fr. to £1 .. 21.22J 124.00 124.00 Brussels, belgas to £1 5 34.95 34.94 Oslo, kr. to £1 .. 18.159 18.66 18.69 Copenhagen, kr. to £1 18.159 18.21 18.00 Stockholm, kr. to £1 18.159 18.13 18.12 Berlin, Eeichmarken to £1 .. Montreal, dol. to £1 4.86J 4.85;j 4.59 New York, dol to £1 4.86J 4.85J 4.85 3-16 Yokohama, at. to yen 24.5 241 24} Borne, lire to £1 .. 25.225 1051 101.7 Calcutta, st to rpe. 16 to gold £ 17 15-16 17 15-16 Hong Kong, st. to dol. * 24 5-16 243 Amsterdam, fl. .. 12.107 12.13J 12.141: Batavia .. .. - 12.13 12.13 i •Governed by price of bilver. RUBBER STOCKS.

(Received April sth, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April .4. Rubber stocks are 62,634 centals. METALS. I (Received April sth, 9 p.m.) LONDON, April 4. Copper—Spot, £55 lis 3d a ton; forward, £56 3s 9d. Lead —Spot, £27 3s 9d a ton; forward, £27 16s 3d. Spelter—Spot, £29 17s 6d a ton; forward, £3O 8s 9d. Tin—Spot, .€3ll 7a 6d a ton; forward, £3Ol 2s 6d. Silver—Standard, 26 3-16 d per oz.; fine, 28Jd. SYDNEY WOOL SALES. (Received April otA. 10.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 5. _ At the wool sales there was good competition, all top-making sorts selling at late rates, while the better classes of staple were in good request at prices five per cent, below the level of last series. Comebacks and crossbreds sold freely at from par to 5 per cent, above late rates. Greasy merino sold to 31 Jd. BRADFORD TOPS. LONDON, April 4. The Bradford tops market is quiet, topmakers making small concessions for actuai business. SHARES, (Received April sth, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 4. P. and O. Shares are quoted at £267.