ENGLISH PRODUCE NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 12418, 3 February 1905, Page 2

ENGLISH PRODUCE NOTES

Our London correspondent, writing on December 30, supplies the following; — Wool.—Since the close of the November auctions no ■ material alteration has taken place, the tone of the. market- being very firm. Advices from the manufacturing districts at home and abroad report a satisfactory demand both for fine and' coarse grades, with prices tending in sellers’ favor, particularly for the latter, the mills in Dewsbury, Batley, and Sowerby Bridge districts {as well as in some parts of Scotland) being still busily employed in the execution of orders for army serges and blankets for the Fax East. The fresh arrivals to date for the first series of 1905, to commence on the 17th January, aggregate some 75,000 bales. Grain.—During the past three weeks the market for wheat has been very dull, and towards the dose large offers of the new crop from the Argentine at cheap prices have depressed the trade still further, with the result that prices tend in buyers’ favor. A moderate business has been passing in Australian for arrival, and 32s 3d to 52s 6d per 4801b, c.Lf., has been accepted for cargoes off coast,” whilst new crop for shipment is being offered at 32s 9d per 4801b, ei.f., but without meeting any response. There is only a moderate demand for oats at late rates. Beans and peas ere in small request, but prices remain fairly steady. Current quotations; Australian wheat, 54s to 54s 6d per 4961b; New Zealand wheat (long-berried). 35s 6d to 345; short-berried, 52s 6d to 335; barley, 22s to 35s per 4481b; oats (sparrowbills and Cartons), 20s 6d to 21s 6d per 3841b; do finest, 21s 6d to 22s 6d; Danish, 17e 6d to ISs 6d per 3201b; beans ■ (about f.a.q.), 29s to 31s per 5041b; peas (partridge), ols t ; i 38s; blue, 26a to 335; Australian flour, 25: i to 25s 6d per 280ih. • Tallow.—During the period 1 under review only one public auction has taken place. The demand generally has remained very quiet at about lato rates, but there is a good inquiry for fine mutton, and a fair quantity could be readily placed were it available. In Australian for arrival a fair amount of business has been passing in good color mixed at 24s 9d to 25s per cwt, ci.f., December-Janitary shipment, and'there axe further offers in this position at the same rates, but little response. Several parcels of South American havo changed bands at 26s per owt, c.i.f., for beef, and 26s 3d per cwt, c.i.f., for mutton, but holders are now asking rather more for beef without attracting buyers. The N.2. L. and M. quote on tho spot:—Finest mutton, 29e to 29s 9d; fair to good, 26s 6d to 28s; fair to good beef, 26s to 275; low aorta of mixed, etc., 24s 6d to 25s 6d per cwt.

Frozen Meat.—There lias been but little business taking place in mutton and lamb, hut with moderate supplies late rates havp been well maintained;. During the earlierpart of the period under review, although the demand was far from brisk, a strike at several of the freezing works in Argentina caused a- sharp advance in all descriptions of beef. During Christmas week, and since, however, with largo supplies of poultry offering at cheap rates, the demand has hern extremely restricted, and at the dose prices aro more or leas nominal Latest quotations are as follow :—Canterbury sheep, 4£d to. 5d per lb; lamb, 6d to 6£d; North Inland sheep, 4-id to 4|d ; lamb, 6d (none); owes, to 3|d; Australian lamb, 6§d to 6d; Australian sheep, 3|d to 4di; beef hinds, 3id to 3£d (nominal); River Plato sheep, 4d to 4id; Australian beef fores, 2;|d (nominal); New Zealand beef -hinds (nominal), 3gd to 3jd; foree, 3d to 5-|d (nominal).

Butter.—The demand for finest descriptions has been slow, and owing to the large arrivals of Australian and New Zealand since my last report values have declined 4s to 6s per owt. Finest Now Zealand is only worth 102u and Australian 98s to 100b per cwt.

Cheese. —The position is practically unchanged, the demand continuing quiet for Home Dunlops, Cheddars, and Canadians at 46s to 525, 52a to 565, and 60s per cwt respectively. New Zealand meets a slow sale at 49s to 51s per cwt. New Zealand Hemp.—A fair amount of business passing, but the demand has only been moderate, and prices have given way wto 10s per ton. Tho market is quiet at the close, with little offering. The N.Z. L. and M. quote>Good, fair spot and October-Decemher, £3l to £3l ss; Janu-ary-Maroh, £3l; Aprd-June, £3O; fair spot and Junuary-March, £23 10s; AprilJune, £2B per ton, c.i.f. Cocksfoot.—There is very little inquiry, and the transactions reported have only been of a retail character. To-day 171b bright seed is worth 50s, 161b medium, seed 49b to 50s per owt, ex warehouse. Rabbits are in poor demand at 15s large, _ 12s young. The supplies are gottmg light, and no quantity can arrive "till next March. The Surrey, Waked, ami Per* sio do not bring 3,000 crates between them. As usual in Christmas week, the rabbit trade was very elow, and but little lias been done since, there being too much cheap poultry about. Tho colonial hare trade was again, a complete failure at Christmas; although English hares made 4s, no quantity of frozen ones could bo sold even at half that price.