MB. FREEMAN R. JACKSON'S LONDON AGENTS' REPORT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 26, 10 July 1880, Page 2

MB. FREEMAN R. JACKSON'S LONDON AGENTS' REPORT.

Via San Francisco. 18, Finsbury Circus, London, 20th May, 1880.

Our latest dates from Wellington and Christchurch are to 27th March, received via San Francisco on the 11th May, while from Sydney they extend to 3rd April, received per John Elder, steamer, on 19th May. Wool.— Tho fears expressed in our last circular, that prices could not be maintained at the then high, level throughout tho series, have been fully verified, a relapse in nearly all sorts having taken place. Croßß-breds fell the most, but have become a little firmer during the past week. On tho whole, competition is good for fair even parcels of combing wools, whether merino or cross-bred, but there is considerable difficulty in finding buyers for small irregular lots, many of which have been obliged to be passed in the catalogues. We are of opinion that by the eagerness of importers to get their wools into the early catalogues of the series, the market has considerably suffered ; it being a physical impossibility for buyers to properly inspect wool at the rate of 12,000 bales a day. The remaining catalogues of the series, we trust, will be of a moderate description, and thus a more even market value may be established. For the future of the year, we still think fair prices may be anticipated, the deficiency in English wools being more and more confirmed, and the later sales of colonial wools will probably be of smaller quantities than the enormous stock which is available for current series.

Tallow. — At last this article is improving in value, the whole of last week's catalogues having been cleared at advanced prices, and we are now able to quote highest' value of mutton 35s 3d, and beef 328 6d per cwt. The Home melt is now showing signs of diminution, and a still stronger demand for tallow will probably soon be apparent. Hides and Leather. — The value of hides was fairly maintained at the sale of 6th May, good heavies selling up to s£d, and lights and cows up to s£d per lb ; for leather the demand was only moderate, at prices ranging from lOd to 11 Jd, while basils sold fairly well at BJd to 9 jd per lb, according to quality, the highest price being obtained for Melbourne strained basils, averaging lOJd to I3f d bis per dozen. Kauri Gum is again perhaps a shade lower. Quotations now range from 20s for dnet, to 210s for the very best pale selected.

Wheat. — The fall from the highest price has reached as much as 10s per quari o \ Australian being now quoted at 52s to 535, and New Zealand at 49s to 51s per 496 lbs, both ex-store, while cargoes afloat would only bo saleable at very much lower figures. A steadier tone has, however, pervaded during the past week, and the tendency is rather to harden than otherwise.

The weather of the past four weeks has been ■characterised by an almost uninterrupted east wind, with brilliant sunshine on some days, but with very cold nights. Johnson & Allsdf.