NEW ZEALAND HEMP REPORT.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 74, 30 March 1891, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND HEMP REPORT.

The New Zealand Loan acd Mercantile Agency Company report, under date of London, 2lst February -.—Since our last issue, the market has continued firm, with a hardening tendenoy, and there are indications of an inclination on the part of bnyers to enter into contracts for forward shipments on o.i.f. terms. About 7873 bales have been offered in public auction, of which €400 were readily sold at and after the Baku. On the 28th of February, fair, medium, and all the better qualities were in satisfactory demand, and maintained their previous level of value; lower qualities, however, were but little enquired for, nnd sold at about 10s per ton less than at the preceding auctions. There was an improved "tone on the 4th inst , and prices of all descriptions were 10s per ton dearer. On the. 11th inst. a further improvement took olace, amounting on average to folly £1 per ton all round The sales advertised foe the 18th idem were postponed to the following day on account of fog, when the demand was less active than in the preceding- week, and some parcels were Bold at lower prices, but quotations were on the whole unchanged. With regard to ci.f. bußineßß it is alleged by buyers that serious losses have been suffered by them in the past, notwithstanding allowances having bean made, owinsr to the fibre shipped being of an inferior quality to that specified in the contracts. If business is to be resumed on this basis with any hope of a oontlnuanoe it is absolutely essential that every care be taken to see that only hemp which is fully up to the standard specified is shipped in fulfilment of contracts. Manila opened weak at £35 per ton o i.f. for fair ourrent to arrive, receded to £34 10s per ton, but has sinoe improved, and ie now quiet at .£36 10s per ton. The Bpot price £40 per ton. Sisal has been dull throughout, the present quotation being £28 per ton, ex quay, Liverpool. We quote— Superior soft, bright hemp, £26 to £27 10s per ton ; good medium, well dressed, £25 10s per ton ; fair to medium, £21 to £25 per ton; do. slightly strawy, £23 to £23 10s ; common, ooarse and strawy, £21 10 ato £22 10a : hackled tow, £17 to £20 per ton ; tow, £7 to £8 per ton. We annex a comparative statement of stocks, landings, and deliveries to 31st ultimo, and to a corresponding date in 1890 I— Stocks on 31st January, 1891 2524 tons; ditto, Jannary, 1890, 906 tons! Landed during January, 1891, 260 tons ; ditto, January, 1890, 730 tons. Delivered, January, 1891, 859 tons; ditto, January. 1890, 714 tons. j