Produce Markets.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8154, 2 April 1906, Page 7

Produce Markets.

The National Mortgage and Agency Co.'s produce circular, dated London, February 23, contains the following information:— Wool.—Wool markets have displayed considerable strength since the first series of sales closed here on Ist inst. As supplies became more plentiful many users expected that prices would ease off, but so far this has not happcued. There has been a very good consumption of both fine and coarsehaired wools, but owing to the high prices ruling there has been little disposition on the part of spinners or manufacturers to lay in large stocks. As was the case a few years ago, the enhanced value of wool is leading to a free use of cotton for mixing purposes where possible, and this will lend to give a certain amount ot relief, but with many kinds of goods this is not j feasible, and consequently the position from the point of yiew of the manufaca diHicuit one, as the price of the finished article has not risen in anything like the same rate as the raw wool. Growers, however, would appear to have a good time in front of them, as prospects all point to a strong demand for months to come. Butter. —Contrary to most expectations the market since our last report fell a further 4s to 6s per cwt on Colonial butter. We attribute this to eomo extent to the marked falling off in quality of Australian, thero boing quito a largo proportion of secondary buttera on the market which have been most difficult of sale, Danish—No change in the quotation last week and there is now a firmer tone, in many quarters a slight rise is expected. French—Supplies still very short. Australian—There are heavy arrivals this week per s.s. "Sophocles," " Himalaya" arid "Persic," pnd'at the time of writing trade is very good indeed and seliera are trying hard to get an extra shilling or two. This will, probably, be possible on the few brands of ! really choice quality, but secondary grades aro still difficult of sale. New Zealand—-Buttor per s.s. 14 Rhirataka," have been practically cleared at 105s to 106s and buyers are now waiting for the s.B, "lonic" to land her goods, and it is expected the butters will sell readily at 2.06s to 108s, there being a good demand for choicest quality. American—There is quite a quantity of American butter now on the market at 90s to 96s ; this has; had a serious effect on secondary Colonial, as it is considerably lower in price. We quote : - Danish, 114s to 116s per cwt; French, 114s to 120s 1 ; Victorian, finest salted 1028; to 104s, fine salted 98s to 100s, unsalted fine to finest 106 ato 110s; New .South-" Walesi-'finesfcc'factories.loQ«- to, 102s, fine factories 96sto98s;Queenii* land,-, finest 100s to 102s, fine 96a to 98a.; New Zealand, finest salted. 106s to 107s, , good to fine ? 102f» -to; 104s, milled and dairy 90s to 90s; Argentine, 105 ato 106s. : -. v

Cheese.—Trade hasbeen slow, bat there is now a little better filing, jind it is expected prices will remain firm for the next few weeks. We quote:— Canadian, whito and coloured, Gls, 625, and 63s per cwt; New Zealand,'while and coloured, 60s and 61s per cwt. '•Meal • the • past three able. Cold, quickly succeeded by heavy snowstorms in many parte' of :'the giving place to a higher temperature ana | heavy downfalls of rain. Farm work is somewhat behind, as the land baa not been in a £it «tate to work, and dry weather is now much wanted for spring. adwing< lie porta from the lambing, pens continue to be fairly satisfactory in'lepite; of the bad weather, which makes dry fodder greatly in demtnd. A good lambing is mach wanted in this coutitiy j to replenish our dwindling flocks, and in i view ot the satisfactory prices ruling for 1 wool will greatly benefit farmers. The meat trade generally has: been inactive, but the position, has been father more satisfactory owing to the bolder "weather and shorter supplies of beef, which havo caused a steadier tone in all departments. Owing to the recentr severe' weather home-fed sheep haver been' marketed mow freely and prices have beam main* tamed with difficulty. Scotch sheep are this week selling at 6£d to 7id, and Bnglish at 6d to ?d per lb. There are no supplies of Continental mutton at present. English lambs are quoted 9.sd to lid per lb. The beef market has shewed consider able improvement as compared with the depression whioh existed at the date of our last issue. Supplies of chilled beef, both from the, States and the River Plate, have been pmaller, and the colder weather, has. stimulated the demands States chilled beef has ranged from 5d to 6d per.lbfor hinds, and from B|d to Bsd per lb for fores, while River Plato

has been soiling nfc 4|d to hi pet ]fa hinds, and 3}d per. lb fore*, Scotch and English be<jf is <joiod OJd lo 0d and s|d to 6jd per lb for «idoa respectively. The position of frozen moat remaino practice aUy unchanged The short supplies from ! New Zealand ar«j more than counterbalanced by the heavy arrivals from Australia and the River Plato, and probably the steadiness in the values of mutton and lamb ja mainlv owing to tbo higher prices ruling for beef, f i'vovan Mutton.--Arrivals from New Zealand bavo consisted of about M,7GO carcases only, and Blocks are in small coaipa-js. The shortage in this market I which, under ordinary circumstances, ! would have * caused a rapid advance in prices, has bren hardly felt owing to the plentiful supply of heavy Australian lambs which together with tbo piclc of the River Platoßheop have bce» largely used by buyers as a substitute for New Zealand aheep, Prices are about steady, but show no tendency, to advance afc present, Canterbury sheep under G4lbs are quoted 4£d to4|d per lb and 64/721bs 4d per lb. Best brands of North Island are selling at 4d per lb with heavier weights at 8/jd per lb.Ordinary North Island's rango from 8M to B|d per lb. ewes 3d to B.}d per lb. About 70,350 carcases have come to band from Austral ia. A large proportion of the shipments now arriving are of unsatisfactoryrgualitj; being too fat and wasteful for the trade, and these have to be sold at low prices ranging down to 2fd per lb; for better quality prices are a shade firmer at 3d to B£d per lb. » Arrivals from the liiver Plate have been about 114,000 carcases, of which 37,400 carcases have been landed in London. . Prices are rather firmer, and range from 3d to 3£d per lb according to quality. 'Frozen lamb.—Arrivals have been about 29,500 carcases from New Zealand, 183,200 carcases from Australia." and 6,950 carcases from the Eiver Plate. | Fair quantities at the low .prices current are going into consumption- Old season New Zealand lambs are selling at 4d to per lb., the few new season available realise 5d to sJ£d per lb. in retail quantities. Australian supplies are more than the trade can absorb, and stocks are very heavy, the* best quality lambs are selling at 4d to and inferior down to3%d per lb. Kiver Plate lambs meet with a poor enquiry at to 3%d per lb. Fro/on beef.—Arrivals have consisted of about GOO quarters from New Zealand 3,780 quarters from Australia, and 71,750 quarters from the Eiver Plate, The lighter supplies of chilled beef have helped the market, and sales are more easily made at our quotations.