N.Z. PRODUCE IN LONDON.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 52, 30 August 1900, Page 5

N.Z. PRODUCE IN LONDON.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) LOiNDON, 28th July. The enquiry for New Zealand wheat has been very limited, and values, Messrs \veddel state, are Is per quarter down. Tuscan is quoted at 60s 6d to 31s 6d, Hunter's and Pearl 29s to 30s 6d per 4bb.bs. Supplies of .New Zealand oats are restricted, and for the binall quantity offering Is to 2s per quarter more money is asked. Messrs. Weddel quote good Canteibury Canadians at 27s to 28s, ordinary Bluff 25s to 265, and Sparrow bills 23s to 23s 6d per 3841b5. Duns are quoted at 19s to 20s per 336.b5, and Danish 19s per i>2olbs. New Zealand beans are in small supply and firmly held at late rates. Regarding cocksfoot, the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company tells me that reports concerning the Continent and the American crop continue to be of a somewhat conflicting character, but that recent cable advices point to the yield there being less than last year. It is anticipated that at the prices now ruling for JSlew Zealand America will not compete this year in Europe, and the demand therefore ior New Zealand cocksfoot should be more brisk than was the case last season. At the same time it does not appear that there is much room for hope of any substantial advance taking place in values. The I\ew Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's report notes that the tallow maiket has been steadier during the past fortnight, such changes as have occurred having been in sellers' favour. To arrive, business has been confined to parcels close at hand, the offers from the colony for more distant shipment having been above buyers' ideas of value. On the spot the chief demand has been for dark descriptions suitable for export and for these relatively high prices are obtainable. At the most recent auctions held on the 25th inst., however, such qualities were not so eagerly competed for, but on the other hand, tallow of good colour, whether mutton or mixed, mets with a better demand. Present quotations are 27s to 28s for fair to finest mutton, 26s to 27s for fair to finest beef (only edible sorts realising the higher figure). With regard to the iuture prospects of the market it seems to be on a very sound basis, and provided shipments continue to be of moderate extent and that the market in' America keeps fairly firm, the N.Z. L. and M.A. Co. thinks that toward autumn prices may possibly improve. The fact that Brazil is reported to have purchased 500 tons from New York should tend to keep the market steady there*, and possibly the only adveise element that must be taken into account is that a great many holders are keeping off the market in anticipation of an advance in the autumn. As to the New Zealand flax trade, the National Mortgage and Agency Company tell toe that the market has remained without animation, and when pressed for sale a further decline in prices has taken place. Manila, although £1 per ton lower* is steadier here with a firmer tone in the Philippines. The sales of New Zealand flax amount to about 75 tons, chiefly dock parcels, at £21 10s to £21 15s per ton c.f. and i. For arrival Jierc has been some enquiry, and business is reported at £21 per ton c.f. and i. July-September shipment. Business in the market for salted New Zealand pelts has been very quiet, and the tendency of prices is downward. Prime heavy freezing sheep are in fair demand at about late rates, and some sales have been made of prime freezing lambs at good prices. On the whole, prices are irregular with a., downward tendency. Quotations, per doz. for New Zealand * pells are :— (Jiossbreds, heavy, lsts, 18s to 26a; do. do., 2nds, 12s to 163; do., medium substance, lsts, 15s to 17s; do. do., 2nds, 10s to 13s; Merinos, lsts, 9s to 13s ; do. 2nds, 7s to 10s ; New Zealand lambs, lsts, 12s to 16s ; 2nds, 8s to lls. Sales of basil skins are to be held today,, when about 12,000 skins will be offered. Private trade in leather has been very quiet, and prices have ruled weak, but at the close there is a slightly better tone. Sales of rabbit-skins were held on the 13th inst., when out of 1145 bales offered, 1105 were sold. This very fair supply comprises chiefly quite inferior selections, the Mortgage and Agency Company states, and the low prices established in May attracted a steady demand from all sections of the trade. New Zealand (170 bales) winter skins were scarce, and commanded attention at late rales to nn occastoua! advance ; off season qualities brought full values, but summer, stale and out of condition skins were cleared at £d to Id per lb decline. Suckers again sold cheaply. Furriers' black were not available in quantity. Quotations for New Zealand rabbit skins are : — Good to prime winter skins, thin and medium, Is 4d to 1< A%d per lb ; do. ao., stout pelted, Is L'd to Is 3d per lb ; fair ordinary to good, 10£ dto Is l£d per lb ; common ana low season, 4d to b^d per lb ; small and suckers, 4£d to 6^d per lb ; black, silver grey (furriers'), Is to 2s 2d per lb ; lawn and dove, Is to 1" 5d per lb. Supplies of preserved beef and mutton are scarce, 'ard prices arc nominal; preserved rabbits meet with a fair dc-m;uid at 6s 9d for 21b flat tins, and 6s 6d fov 21b tall tins, per doz. Importations 1 into London during the past four weeks have totalled 10,486 cases, including 1731 from New Zealand. Heavy shipments of frozen rabbits continue to arrive, and. unfortunately in the case of Australian, the National Mortgage "and Agoncy Company has to report a large proportion of more or less damaged parcels. Ihcse are being sold at about 2d under the nominal quotation for sound goods. New Zealand rabbits are being held over in the meantime, and no reliable quotation can bo given. I hear that the demand for New Zealano. cheese is at present very slow, and some difficulty is experienced in clearing parcels on at 52s to 55s per cwt.