NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 18, 21 July 1898, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

[I'KOM OUIt Si-'V.CIM, COIUMSSPONDKNT.J ' London, 10th Juno. w ciul,. Although during the past week business in the manufacturing centres has conlmiieil ([iiiol, Messrs. (Jliarlc^ Maline A (-'<». tell mo :i more cheerlul tone has prevailed, owing to an opinion which appears to be ground that the recent depression which limm clouded tho uliimato niarkefn has now reached its limit. So far, the resiills of Unimproved feeling are negative iat her Ih.-m positive, and have merely led to Mock* being more firmly held than has recently been the caso. The position of coarse-haired wools is slill unsatisfactory. il. is thon^hl, ])ossible, howevtir, that tho brighter and coarser growths may derivo miiiii! benelit from the recent rise in values for Mohair, should this be based upon a, real and strong demand for actual consumption. NEW ZEALAND AT HAT. There have been no arrivals of New Zealand frozen mutton. Tho Toltomaru is <lischar^in^ steadily, but is much retarded by the number of marks and consignees. 1 learn from tho C.C. it l>. (/'ompaiiy that trade has been slow and prices with dilliculty maintained by t hose whoso object it is Io enhance values rather than lower Ihem. North Island mutton was steady in price at 2jd per lb for n.">lb to 051b, and _|d per lb lor heavier. This week some consignees, ea<, r er to clear, have sold at li,';d per lb for good North isl-ind mutton. Prime mutton continues very scarce, and limited numbers of really good sheep brini< high value-, those traders who have established trades in this class of meat experiencing great diUiciilty in getting their wants supplied. Tho best Canterbury sheep on oiler have made from .'Jiil per lb upward, a few having sold at 4d pcr 1 .!). Dunedin and Southland sheep are in short supply. For New Zealand lamb the demand continues good, but prices are weaker ; towards the end of last week, with a firm steady demand, prices rose, and a few sales of best Canterbury lambs were made at -i"_<li "_<l per lb. •l.\<l and 4i}d per lb being more common. This week a weak holder accepted Jd to .fd per lb loss money, and prices soon gave, sales having since been made at 4i'd per lb. which seems now top value. Dunodin lambs from a firm 4 Ad per lb have receded to -Lid and 4 id per lb. DAIRY PRODUCE. That question of the use of horacic acid in preserving "dairy produce has again cropped up, another Y/c-lsh grocer being prosecuted for selling food containing O'G Tier cent, of the acid. After a lengthened hearing, the case was dismissed expressly on the ground that the use of boracic acid in quantities not exceeding uti to 0"H per ceut. was not deleterious to health. Evidenco Avas given showing that the excessivo use of common salt or saltpetre for preservative purposes might be more injurious than that of boracic acid ; only, as these chemical salts wore called by a popular name and not by their proper designation — namely, chloride of sodium and nitrate of potash — people took it for granted that thpy were harmless, while the term boracic acid frightened people aud made them think it was injurious. h\ dismissing tho case tho Magistrate stated plainly that if similar evidence had been offered in a previous similar case, the decision of the Coiirt would have been quite different. The upshot, therefore, seems to be a tardy perception that preservatives of this class are in reality not pernicious provided thoy be not used in excess. MISCELLANEOUS. Messrs. Flack, Chandler & Co. inform me that the demand lor Australian and New Zealand tallow has ruled very firm throughout the past month, an improvement in prices being established at each successivesale. The advance is about Is per cwt. on mutton, and Is to is JJd on beef; while there is a very fair enquiry for shipments to arrive. Owing to the Spanish-American War, prices for canned moats have advanced, and the market rules very firm.