THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10309, 30 March 1894, Page 2

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

London, Jan. 29. BUTTER. Since my last notes upon this subject the arrivals of butter from the Antipodes have been fairly heavy. The Australia brought 12,445 packages, the Thermopylm 8019, the Coptic 8267, and the Oroya 31,414, which bring the total Australasian import to date this season up to 171,368 packages, or about 4290 tons. The total to the corresponding period last season was only 78,019 packages, equivalent to 1950 tons—-a marvellous increase truly. In the face of this tremendous increase it _is satisfactory to note that the price obtainable at present for finest colonial ia but two shillings per cwt below the rate ruling at the same time last year, and especially when it is considered that the quantity of finest this season ia greater in proportion to the total supply than was the case in 1892-93. The weather since my last remarks on dairy produce has been mild—exceptionally mild during the past week—and very changeable, but the arrivals have moved off satisfactorily at prices ranging from 110 s downward, with an occasional two shillings extra for special brands. The Coptic's consignment came to hand in good condition, but much of the stuff shows signs of exposure to high : temperature before shipment, and low prices have had to be taken for several parcels on this account. A portion of the cargo fell into feeble hands, and realised but poor prices in comparison to the same class of stuff consigned to well-known firms. The sale of fine butter at lower rates than those ruling in Tooley street naturally depresses prices all round to a certain extent. There was a fair quantity cf high-grade butter in the Coptic’s cargo, but the average was very poor —in fact, I should say that if tho prices of both vessels' consignments could be worked out and reduced to a mean rate the Australian arrivals per Oroya would show an average of 10s better than those per Coptic. The butter by this latter vessel was not nearly so good on the whole as that per Euapehu. The proportion of “finest” was much lower, and the quantity of absolutely inferior stuff much greater. The weather is still unfavourable, so that what stock is left in agents’ hands will probably have to be cleared at reduced rates. Quotations for the week are : Danish, Finest, 122 s per cwt, (last year, U4s); Fine, 116 s per cwt. Colonial. Choice factory, 110 sto 112 a per cwt (last year, 112 s); Fine, 106 a per cwt, (last year 108 s ); Medium 100 s, to 104 s per cwt (last year, 100 a); Fine dairy, 96s per cwt (last year, 104 s); Medium, 90s to 94s per cwt (last year, 90s). Some Euapehu and Coptic has been sold at S6s, and a bad lot was cleared yesterday at 765. CHEESE. Some of the cheese per Euapehu came to hand in perfect order, and has met.witli a ready sale at 56s per cwt for finest white, ■ whilst 55s has been obtained for coloured. Good to fine is realising 52a to 54a.- At these rates the New Zealand cheese ia. considered rather dear by, buyers when compared with Canadian, which has a quiet trade at 57a for finest white, a shilling below for coloured. There is no Australian on the market. I note that many consignors still omit to strengthen their packages with thin hoop iron, and the result is a good many burst cases. The handling at the docks is now as gentle as can be expected, but it requires only a modicum of roughness to burst a cheese case not strengthened by hoop iron. Surely the slight extra cost does not stand in the way of Mew Zealanders adopting this precaution? I can assure them that “ the game is well worth the candle/ Another thing I would like to draw tion to in connection with the Euapehu a. cheese, is that one of the old-established agents, who had none consigned direct to him, has now on his floor fully 200 packages. These have been turned over to * him by the real consignee, who found himself utterly unable to find buyers. Most cf this lot has been sold by the second agent within tho past two aays.

A NEW PROJECT. . Mr Henry Seynolds informs me tnat m coni unction with Mr Livingstone, uha manager of the Chilled Butter Company, of Melbourne, he is carrying ou negotiations with a view to forming an organisation to regulate tha sale of finest colonial butter on this side. Tho basis of the projec. m theestablishment of a refrigerator at Hay s Wharf. The proprietors of this place, through which quite three-fourths of the Antipodean import reaches the venous consignees, 'have announced themselves ready to erect a freezer of large capMitym tuaw for use next season, providing Mr Eeyno and Mr Livingstone can obtain s definite promise of a fair monthly rental from con* sigaees The idea of the promoters of this scheme is that consignees are to a great extent at the mercy °f the buyers in inild weather; but if they had a handy refrigerator in which they could put their butters, and feel that they were not deteriorating, their backs would be stiffened, and they would not let go their fine butters at less than value. More o£ this anon. '