SHEEP RETURNS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1656, 25 November 1903, Page 29

SHEEP RETURNS.

GENERAL DECLINE

According to a Parliamentary return, submitted on Friday, the n umber of sheep in tho colony are, distributed as follows:

Tho sheep rate paid in 1993 was £28,954, against £20,332 last year.

PHOOyOE NOTES

(From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, October 17. YvOOL.

The fifth series of sales terminated on ?Dth September, with a firm tone, values '"or all descriptions, save wasty and faulty merino-, as compared w.-tli July closing rates, ruling in sellers’ favour. For crossbred keen competition was throughout displayed by the homo trade, while both German and French operators purchased freely, and che appreciation in the case of coarse grades reached fully 15 per cent., medium and fine qualities marking an advance of 10 per cent, and 5 per cent respectively. New Zealand slipe, which was in large supply, met a good demand both on home and expert account, and closely participated in the advance established upon the corresponding qualities in the grease. As regards merino, while the bulk was taken for the Continent, considerable support was enlisted from the home trade and for tho better qualities values, which at tho opening showed little or no change, subsequently advanced 5 per cent, the improvement being most pronounced on scc-urcd sorts and Now Zealand greasy. Faulty and wasty descriptions, however, were throughout irregular and generally easier. Lambs, supplies of which were restricted, realised firm rates to 5 per cent, advance. Of the quantity offered—ls7,ooo bales — 71,000 bales (inclusive of 1000 bales purchased i'er America) were taken “for export,” while 7000 bales were hold over for future disposal.

FROZEN M FAT

Tho market for mutton has been extremely depressed since the date of my last report, and with a reduction of -4cl per lb in the price of River Plate last week values for ail descriptions, particularly for secondary grades and owes, arv easier. Notwithstanding that the demand for lambs has continued to decline tho ’falling off in supplies has enabled holders to obtain rather more money. There is but little demand for New Zealand beef, supplies of River Plato chilled having continued plentiful, and 1 ery low prices have been accepted to effect a clearance of the latter, -the N.Z. L. and M. quote: —Canterbury sheep, 2s ßd to 2s lOd; North Island sheep, 2s Gd 10 2s 8d ; ewes, 2s od; Canterbury lamb, 3s 3d to 3s 5d ; North Island lamb, 3o 2d; New Zealand beef binds, 2s 3d (nominal) ; fores, Is 3d to Is 9d (nominal) per stone. BETTER. The improvement in the demand listed in my last report lias been well maintained, and values for all descriptions are firmer. New Zealand is selling at from 102 s to 104 s per cwt. CHEESE.

Prices of New Zealand cheese for the coming season nun to about oGs to o/s per cwt., in the shipment from the beginning of tiie season to the end of April, Ibut there is not much business doing at these figures. Canayhan has been declining m value for the last fortnight, and buyers are not anxious to purchase so far forward as next April, although when they buy New Zealand cheese tor shipment during the next six niont 1 >-■>, there is no charge for “carrying ’ The same as when Canadian is bought for use later cn. in the latter ease, storage, insurance, loss in weight, and interest on money has to be added ~o the purchase price, whereas m the case r>New Zealand, the" cheese has only to be paid for when ic arrives in Loni in; Therefore for forward nurpusoe,

Zealand cheese at 2s higher than Canadian is’really cheaper. FROZEN RABBITS, ETC.,

This is the best season for colonial rabbits, bivc prices remain at a very moderate level, best young ones making from 14s 6d to 17s per crate. This is directly opposed to the rumours largely circulated in the summer that we were going to have much harder prices this autumn. English rabbits have been very prolific this year, and unnsuahy large supplies will be forthcoming when shooting really begins. English hares arc scarce, and this allows of a good price being made of colonials, which are now quoted at 2s 3d, although one can hardly expect this to hold. KAURI GUAI. The auctions on October 9 brought forward 2575 packages, of which 390 rc id- The demand was slow, and t-ha sales passed off quietly. Dial and selected qualities, however, sold well, and rescraped kinds were steady. Pale threequarter scraped was quiet, and chiefly bought in. Pale part coated steady. Dark gums met a slow demand, except common and medium quality, which sold fairly well. Bush chiefly sold at late prices. Pale chips firm. Dark chips steady. Dust slow. Fine selected dial, 'ill4 10s to FIG 2s Gd; pale selectecl part dial FIG to FIG lUs; good amber, £5 to F 9 15s; good hard rather dark, F 7 15s to £8 10s; East Coast gum, £7* 5s to F 7 10s; three-quarter scraped No. 1, FG 15s to F 7 ; pale part coated No. 2, F 5 to F 5 7s Gd ; fair to good pale coated, 72s to 87s; fine hard dark, F 5 15s to £0 ss; good hard dark, 92s 6d to £5; medium hard dark, GOs to 90s; common dark, 49s to 58s; fine bush £8; good bush, 95s to FG 12s; fair bush, 68s to 755; fair bush pickings, 33s to 465; line pale chips, £-5 ; fair to good pale chips, 50s to 89s; good dark chips, 51s; fair dark chips, 35s to GGs Gd; good pal© dust, 355; fair dark dust, 14s; pale pickings, 45s to 58s; dark pickings, 3Gs to 525; dark seed, 24s to 255. TALLOW. The weak tone mentioned in last advices continues, and prices generally are about Is per cwt. lower. Ido not look •for any marked decline in values in the near future, although in order to stimulate business holders may have to make some further concessions. Australian for arrival is very quiet, only tho near at hand parcels attracting any attention. The Loan and Mercantile quote: Good to finest mutton, 28s 6d to 29s 3d; fair, 28s; fair to good beef, 27s 3d to 28s per cwt. GRAIN. Notwithstanding liberal supplies, the wheat market continues firm, with a fair trade passing, although the want of reliable information as to the growing crop in the Argentine serves to somewhat restrict business. To-day’s quotations are :—N.Z. longberried, 31s Gd to 325; shortberried, 30s Gd to 31s per 496 lb, ex store, but in the absence of supplies these figures are nominal. Beans are quoted nominally at 35s to 37s per 5041 b, ex store, but there are none on offer to test the market. The demand for oats is very quiet, as large supplies cf the English crop are offering at low prices. Latest quotations: —Gortons, 22s to 23s per 334ib ; Duns, 18s to 19s per 3361 b; Danish, 16s to 16s Gd per 3201 b. ex store. COCKSFOOT.

There is no change to report in this market since my last advice. V* ith & very slow demand little business is passing, but prices remain firm. The Loan and Mercantile quote: 181 b bright seed, 51s 6d ; 171 b bright, 49s to 50s per cwt e.i.f. HEMP. Only a moderate business lias been passing during the period under review, tho demand being chiefly for distant and prices generally are firm. Current quotations : Spot, £33; October, £3l los to £32; Octoher-December, £3l los; Janu-ary-March, £3l per ton e.i.f.

1902. 1903. Auckland 879,852 784,043 Hawke’s Bay ... ... 4,631,151 4,419,419 V\ c 1 1 i n gton - West Coast ... ... 4,775,343 4,230,309 I*. T ;i rl ho i-ougli-Ne 1 sen 955,574 927,483 C a n t e r b ury - Kaikonva ... ... 5,135.465 4.930,4-74 Otago ... 3,965,342 3,632,765 Totals ... 20,342,727 18,954,553