HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 106, 1 November 1909, Page 8

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.

The Commerce and Tourists Division has received the following cablo message from tho High Commissioner, dated London 30th October, 1909:— Tho mutton market is very quiet, and speculative buying has apparently ended. Buyers are not inclined to ruako forward purchases at present prices, but stocks of mutton on hand are light, and are fhmly held in a few hands. The average iprice to-day for Canterbury mutton is 4-gd per lb, aud North Island 4|d. Mutton has only reached present prices on one- occasion sineo February, 1907. Tho lamb market is quiet, dnd there is a dull fcalo for all lamb. The average price to-day for Canterbury brands is 4Jd per lb, and North Island 4^d per lb. The beef market is steady. Tho averageprice to-day for New Zealand hinds is 3gd per lb, and fores 3d per lb. Tho butter market is firm for best quality, but the high prico restricts the demand. Buyers of butter are holding back expecting prices to go lower. Priou of choicest Now Zealand butter, to-day is 117s> per cwt. ; Argentine, 116s ; Australian, 115s; Danish, 127b-; and Siberian, 106*. Tho cheese market is dull, and there is only a small demand. Average price of finest; New Zealand cheese to-day is 56s per cwt. Tho hemp market is quiet but steady. New Zealand good fair on spot per ton, £27 10s ; New Zealand fair grade on tpot, per ton £26 10s : fair current Manila on spot, per ton £26. January-March shipment. New Zealand good fair, per .ton £27 ; New Zealand fair grade, per ton £26 ; fair current Manila, per ton £25 10n. Manila output, 33,000 bales. Tile cocksfoot seed market is firm, and there are light stocks on hand. Tho average prico for bright clean New Zealand cocksfoot seed weighing 171b per bushel on epofc is 70s pur cwt. The hop market is firm, and prices continue to advance. The kauri gum market is firm, with more enquiry. Stock, 362 tons. Ordinary to fair throe-quarter scraped, 170s : fair half-scraped, 105s ; brown fair half to three-quarter scraped, 90s ; brown pickings common to good, 42s 6d ; bush fair to good pale and amber scraped^ 150s. River Plato shipments received during September:— Mutton. Lamb. London 68,583 10,210 Liverpool 108,175 5,059 Hull 6,950 1,000 Southampton ... 7,766 1,850 Cardiff 5,335 500 Ireland 1,500 —