N.Z. PRODUCE IN LONDON.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 23, 28 January 1899, Page 2

N.Z. PRODUCE IN LONDON.

[feom our special correspondent.] London, 17th December, 1898. NEW ZEALAND MEAT. Always at this season of the year t> ere is much less demand for meat of any kind, and this year is no exception to the rule. The market for frozen meat is reported by Messrs. Weddel as extremely dull, though prices fortunately show little, if any, change. There is practically no differende at the present time betAveen the values of medium and heavy weight Canterbury sheep, owing to the small stocks of the latter, the general price being about 3id per lb. Although a few carcases make 3|d per lb. they must be of very prime quality to touch this figure. On the other hand, Messrs. Weddel and Co. say, plain Canterbury sheep are selling ai 3gd per lb. Trade in secondary New Zealand sheep ha? been quiet, but there is practically no change in values. Bestweight Southland and Dunedin mutton may be quoted at 3Jd per lb, and heavies at 3^d per lb. In North Island sheep there has been little doing, but as sales are not now being forced values are slightly firmer, according to size and quality. Old sheep and ewes are difficult to move, even at 2|d per lb. There is very little to report with regard to the frozen lamb trade. Messrs. Wedde 1 announce the arrival of 443 lambs from New Zealand, and of 23,700 from Australia. The demand is quiet, but small lots of lambs continue to go into consumption from time to time. For New Zealand lamb 4|d to 5d per lb is being realised, according to quality. For best Aus,t«alian lambs 4£d per lb can be made, but for inferior quality about 3d per lb is the price. Frozen beef has been very slow of sale, and in order to make any progress holder, 1 have been obliged further to reduce prices more especially in view of the considerable quantities of frozen beef due to arrive at the end of the present month. Fore-quarters of New Zealand beef have been selling slowly at about 2|d per lb, and hindquarters at 3£d to 3^d per lb. 1400 quarters have arrived from the colony within th» last two weeks.