PRODUCE NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5737, 4 November 1905, Page 9

PRODUCE NOTES.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, September 30. BUTTER. Since my last report the market has been weaker, but during the last ten days a bettor feeling has prevailed, and prices have now more than recovered tho decline. Tho outlook for the next throe weeks is decidedly strong, and it is expected values will further rise. Tho Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency quote; Salt, Australian choicest, 10Ss to 110 s per cwt; snltlcss, Australian choicest, 112 sto 114 s per cwt. CHEESE. The tone of tho market is firm, and tho consumption demand is good. New Zealand cheese is not now receiving the same inquiry; the attitudes assumed by factories have not tended to promote business. FROZEN MEAT. Tho New Zealand mutton trade has been extremely slow, and values of Canterbury descriptions are )d per lb lower, North Islands being unchanged. Australian sheep, the quality of which marks an improvement over last sear an. so far have arrived in a bright condition, and meet a fair sale at slightly lower rates. River Plate sheep, which are plentiful, foci tho competition of Australian, and consequently prices arc easier to the extent of (d per lb. Supplies of lambs are much in excess of present requirements, and with holders pressing sales, values of Canterbury sorts for tho period under review mark a decrease of Id per lb. North Islands, which are in smaller supply, make very nearly the same prices. There are no Australian offering at tho moment. Shipments of chilled and frozen beef from the River Plate have been plentiful, and with a very slow trade low juices Lave been accepted, this week's quotations being 3d to 3!d and 21cl to 2!fd tor chilled hinds and force, 3d to 3Jd and 2RI to 2}d for frozen hinds and fores, cx market. There has been but little inquiry for New Zealand, and for tho few quarters -sold about late values have been obtained. The experiment of bringing 500 quarters of chilled beef by the Tokomaru from New Zealand lias proved a disastrous failure, tho whole of the cargo arriving in a bad condition and being condemned at ship’s side. Latest quotations:—Canterbury sheep, 3fd to 4J-d per lb; North Island, 3Jd to 4d; Australian, 31 d to 31 ; River Plato, 3fd to 3;j-d; owes. 3)d to 31d; Canterbur)' lamb, 4d to od (all weights); North Island, 4d 1 o 4Jd; Australian, none; New Zealand beef, hinds 3.|d to 3Jd, fores 2-Jd to 2j;d. GRAIN. A fair amount of business has been passing in wheat since my last advice, and towards tho close tho market has been very firm. Australian wheat must bo quoted fully 3d per quarter dearer, whilst New Zealand, to compete with English qualities, has been .wiling at from 28s 9d to 3is jier 4961 b, cx store. The English crop is estimated at sixty-two million bushels as compared with thirty-eight million last year. There is a fair demand in Australian for arrival, and prices tend in sellers’ favour. A handy cargo recently arrived per County,of Merioneth, has made 33s (Id per 4801 b, whilst 33s Cd and 33s 9d is asked for cargoes on passage, but nothing so far has been done in thenew crop. The oat market is firm, with a good demand for all qualities. Beans and peas are firmly held, with little offering. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile quote :—Australian wheat, 33s to 33s 3d per 49611); New Zealand wheat, long-berried, 29s to 29s 6d per 4961 b; New Zealand wheat, shortberried, 28s 6d to 29s per 4961 b; New Zealand barley, 25s to 30s per 4481 b; Now Zealand oats, Sparrowbills and Gartens, 19s 6d to 20. s Gel per 3841 b; New Zealand oats, Sparrowbills, finest, 21s 6d to 22s per 3341 b; New Zealand oats, Danish, 16s to 16s Gd per 3201 b; New Zealand beans, about f.a.q., 32s to 35s per 5041 b; New , Zealand peas, maple, 35s to 40s per 5041 b; Now Zealand peas, blue, 29s to 30s per 5041 b; Australian flour, 22s 9d to 23s per 2801 b. AVOOL. Tho fifth series of London sales, which opened on 19th inst., terminated on-the 27th inst. There was throughout a good attendance of buyers, while competition was general and active, with tho result that values for nearly all descriptions ruled in sellers’ favour. The advance was most marked on coarse crossbred, which, as compared with preceding sale’s closing rates, appreciated 5 to 7\ per cent., medium and fine grades and merino (except faulty sorts, which were unchanged) being about 5 per cent, dearer. Of the net available quantity of 75.000 bales, 72,000 bales were disposed of, of which some 35,000 (inclusive of 3000 purchased for America) were taken for export. Tho sales closed with a very firm tone, and there seems every reason to anticipate a maintenance of the present position in the near future. HEIAIP.

Consequent upon a firm tono in the Manila market, there has been a good demand for this fibre, and prices have advanced 20s to 25s per ton. A fair business has been passing, and although the offerings from the colony have been somewhat restricted, many parcels in second hands have been resold at the advance. At the close there is a good inquiry for October-Deoember shipment. Current quotations:—Good fair, spot, £3O to £3O ss: October-Deceraher, £3O 10s; Docsmber-February, £3O ss; fair, spot, £2B to £2B ss; October-December, £2B _los per ton, c.i.f. Fair current Manila, £3B 10s per ton, c.i.f. TALLOW. During the first fortnight of tho period under review the demand was very quiet, and hardly any business was transacted, excepting in edible mutton and beef.' for which there was a good inquiry at about 3d per cwt advance. At tho auctions held on 27th inst,, finest mutton again met a good market at a further 3d per cwt advance, but low and medium qualities fell 3d tq 6d per cwt, and there was a fair trade at the decline. In Australasian, for arrival, only a moderate business has been passing at 30s per cwt., c.i.f., for fine mutton near at hand; good beef at 26s 9d: whilst 25s per cwt, c.i.f., has been asked for good colour mixed 43 to 431 ‘ Titre.” The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile quote;—Finest mutton, 31s to 31s 6d: fair to good, 28s 6d to 30s; edible beef, 27s 6d to 28s 3d; fair to good, 26s 3d to 27a; mixed sorts, 23s 6d to 26s per cwt. COCKSFOOT. The market is quiet, with very little business passing, and prices have an easier tendency. Latest quotations:— 17lb medium 52s 6d to 535, 161 b medium 49s to 50s per cwt, c.i.f.