NEW ZEALAND PRODUCTS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11859, 31 May 1901, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCTS.

THE HOME MARKET. Tbo London office of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, reports to the Napier branch, under date April 27th : Wool.—ln view of the neat approach of the third series of London wool sales, business in the raw material is practically at a standstill. So far as merino and tine crossbred is concerned, the position may be regarded as satisfactory, and while it remains to bo seen whether the anticipations expressed in some quarters that the sales will open at an advance of 5 per cent, are not over sanguine, a maintenance of Ma ch closing rates should appear to be fairly assured. As regards crossbred, the outlook for medium and coarse qualities is anything hut encouraging, and taking into account the heavy supplies and thb fact that fashion is “off” sitoh descriptions, it is by no means outside the range of probability that, low as present prices are, bottom has not yet been touched. Butter. —For the three weeks under review the enquiry for Australasian butter has shown some improvement, with the result that it has been practicable for holders to obtaiii slightly higher values. The Arcadia, which arrived on the J9th inst. with about 7300 boxes, completes the shipment from Australia for the season, but there are still several shipments to arrive between now and the end of May from New Zealand, aggregating in all some 58,000 boxes. Wb quote finest Australian 100s and 102s per cwt. (10*3 exceptionally), good to fine. Frozen Meat.—During the past throe weeks a poor demand has been experienced for all classes of mutton, and stocks having accumuloted considerably, a further drop in prices has to bo recorded. Large holders show considerable nervousness, and are offering at prices which mark a decline of from 3d to Id per lb. Prime Canterbury mutton is to-day worth from 2s Sd to 2s IGd. Dunedin and Southland 2s 6d to 2a 7d. North Island 2s 3d to 2s sd, and Australian Is Sd to Is lOd per stone. Arrivals of lambs during the period under review show a large decrease compared with the corresponding period last year, and values are well maintained in consequence. There are very few Australians on the market, and noe quality New Zealand's are in good demand at for prime Canterbury's from 3s Gd to 3s Bd. Dunedin and Southland 3s Id to 3.« Sd, North Islands 3a Id to 3g Cdporstono. Australian realise from 3s to 3s 4d pet stone. The beef trade has remained quiet, very little really good New Zealand or Australian beef heing available, and at the close a better tone prevailed, hut prices quoted must be considered almost nominal at for prime Now Zealand. Hinds 2s (id to 2s Bd, fores 2s Id to 2s 3d. Australian hinds 2s 4d to 2s (id, and fores 2s to 2s Id per atone. Special Tallow Report.—The market since the date of our last report continued fairly satisfactory, and in spite of the Easter holidays intervening a fair business was done in Easter week at the current rates for stuff near at hand and on the spot. The offerings at public auctions have been fairly heavy, but the bulkfound buyers under the hammer at about late rates to an occasional decline of 3d per cwt on beefs and beefy mixed. Wo quote fair to finest mutton 27s 3d to 28s (Id. and fair to fine beef tallow 25s 9d to 2Gs 9d per cwt. Australian to “ arrive ” is still very difficult to work, and quotations are very much as they were, viz.: 24a 3d to 25a Gd for mixed, 25s to 20s Cd for beef, and 26a 3d to 27s 3d for mutton, all on o.i.f. terms. In South American very little has been done; there are buyers of beef at 25s 3d to 25s Gd where 25s 9d is wanted for a pril-May shipments, and 26s Gd is wanted in the same position for mntton.