NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11307, 28 December 1898, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

(From Ouk Own Cop.BESPO»rDENT.)

LONDON, November 19.

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It is pleasing to learn that the improvement in the tone of the woollen market which was lately npticeablo ha 3, continued, and, in? deed, somewhat- developed so far as merino wool and the finer grades of crossbred are •oncerned; My informants, howevor, say that there has been no expansion in actual busiI ness, which is still very much restricted. The | London market, has been exceedingly quiet. From the latest report I notice that tho gross arrivals for the coming auctions now amount to 96,351 bales, of which 77,948 are classed as Australasian." Of the total quantity about 5500 bales of New Zealand and Australian wool have been forwarded to manufacturing districts. As arranged, the list will be closed at 4 p.m. on the 21st inst. XBW ZEALAND HEAT. For New Zealand mutton "trade has been very slow, demand limited^ and the output considerably below the average. Fortunately stocks are light. Until the Indraghriri arid Rakaia arrived they were at a very low ebb, excepting Cantwburys, which have been in fair supply and very small demand. North' Island sheep have been scarce, and in values have equalled Southlands and Dunedins, and approached closely to Canterburys, and cerlainly been more selling. Canterbury mutton has sold, during the four weeks, at about 3id per lb for the most favoured brands, and 3 3-8 d per lb for other sorts. This , week prices are weaker, arid 3^d per lb obtained with difficulty, more selling at 3 7-16 d 'to 3 3-8 d per lb.. Lighter'sheep, 481b,t0 541b, usually the highest priced, are very uriselli ing, buyers preferring the heavier, 581b to ! 601b. Dunedin and Southlands have.sold ; nt ! 3 5-16 dto 3^d per lb, and many are very, good useful sheep. North Islands sold last week at 3 3-8 d per lb, but the competition of Southlands at 3^d has weakened them, and they cannot now be quoted above 3jd per lb, with tendency to lower prices. A line of plain small Wellingtons sold at 3d, and a parcel of Wairau at 2 7-8 d per lb." So runs this week's report of the C.C. and D. Company. • -Mes3rs Weddel report in much the same tone, and begin by noting: "No improvement can be reported in tho market. Trade in Canterbury mutton has been dull and disftppointinpf, and values are barely maintained. Best,weights (481b to 641b) are at the moment i being less inquired for.than the heavier I weights, and consequently there is very little , i difference in rates current for these two de- : fccriptions, the heavy sheep shov.'ing mort: 1 quality than those of liehter weight. Secondary New Zealand sheep continue in moderate supply'and, as the quality of those now '. on the market is excellent and compares j favourably with many Caiiterburys at pre- ' sent on offer, values remain very firm. Best ! weight Southlands and Dunedins are making I 3 3-8 d ncr lb, and heavy carcases may' be ' quoted at 3^d per lb. North Island sheep I have also been selling well, the lightness of stocks and general good quality of these enab ; ling holders to keep prices steady at 3id to 23-0 d for best weights and at 3id for heavies." In the opinion of MessraH. S. Fitter, and Sons, tho weather has depressed the frozen tuition tra-de very considerably. Without much apparent demand, the C.C. and D, Company say^that a fair number of New Zealand lambs are,sold'every week, and bo long as they keep.fairly bright and. fresh it is thought that sales will probably'continue iintil the stocks aro exhaustcd,and Australia's hew season's lambs como to hand; the weather also has been favourable and has stimulated demand. Prices have kept up for sizeable meat, 3*lb to 381b, at about 5d to sid per lb, heavier, 401b and upward,- at 4£d to 4-icl per lb, and a few 481b have made 3Jd. ' During tho fortnight, Messrs Weddel say, 3700 carcases of New Zealand lamb have arrived. " There has been a little more inquiry lately, and as stocks are moderate better I prices have been obtainable. Best Canterburys are soiling at 5d per lb, and secondaries at 4£d per lb. The Australian lambs nonbeing marketed are of very mixed quality." By the name firm I am told that 1912 quarters of frozen New Zealand beef have como to hand. "' Trade in the beef market has been by nt> means satisfactory since the date of our last issue. The weather has been damp and muggy, and has very adversely affected j trade generally." Tho C.C. and D. Company ! remark: '"This week, there has boan less demand than usual. Boof haa boon exposed day ' after day without finding .buyers., and ~the , market closes weak and,.with a downward 'tendency." .. , "... , ; .j v . : ;. "■. I■ . DAIRY PRODUCE, , ~,r iNo New Zealand butter'has* yet come to , hand, but butter from Australia is arriving in fairly largo quantities, and the C.C. and D. Company tell me .that " though : the first one or tv/o shipments mot with a fair demand, buyers, are. now chary in taking on tho butter at opening prices." During tho past fork I night the weather line been decidedly -against

butter, but there is a prospect of price holding up to a reasonable figure of 93s to 102s for finest grades for some little time. Messrs Dempster, Peterson, and Co., of Glasgow, write this week that they anticipate a good demand for the first shipment of New Zealand butter which is being brought by'the GothicMISCELLANEOUS. As English oats are being offered cheap, it is difficult, Messrs 'Weddel report, to make progress with New Zealand oats. :Bluff oats aro being offered, but. they are very dull in colour. Fine heavy samples are quoted at 28s to 30s; fair ordinary, 26s to 27s per 3841b. There are no New Zealand beans on the; market. - .. ■ . . , . No New Zealand flax has been offered at the auctions, jbut the market is firm. Superior current Manila sold at £30, and 150 bales at. £31 to ■ £32 'ss. For shipment. I learn, from Messrs Weddel that the market is'-flati New Zealand fnir fiax near at hand has been sold at £21 10s c.i.f. terms, but distant arrivals are neglected. Quotations are nominal.. Prices for all brands of preserved beef and mutton aro firm, and there is a fairly good, demand for both" kinds of meat. ""'.•'. ". Some'tallow has been sold privately.,at. firm-' to slightly!"advanced rates, and .during the past fortnight a steady market has prevailed, while a fair amount of business has also been transacted at the public sales. At the auctions on the 16th inst.. Messrs Weddel report that out of 1526 casks offered, 921- were sold, and in some instances, particularly for medium and low sorts, an advance of 3d per cwt was obtained. The fine qualities of both beef and mutton tallow' are comparatively neglected, but it is Anticipated that these descriptions will benefit shortly in view of the generally improved tone of the market. Tho arrival market is good, especially for shipments toward the end of the year, but although buy.ers are prepared to pay a, premium on spot rates, Messrs Weddel say that shippers do not appear to be anxious to sell.forward ship-' monts. Some business has, however, taken place in goods afloat, and for November-De-cember shipments at i2ls 6d to 22s 5d c.i.f. for. mutton and 19s 9d to 21s 3d per cwt c.i.f. for beef and mixed. .. , Salted hides are still quiot, and the recent public sales resulted in a decline, I am informed, of Is 4d per lb all round for ualted. ox and cow. The long-expected mo-cement in English leather has not come about, and'as hides are comparatively dear, the tendency-of the market for the latter of all descriptions I and in all centres is to easier rates. . : i At the last auctions the demand for rabbitj skins was good, and the catalogues, ..which •contained only 925 bales, were practically cleared. Messrs Weddel say that there was, however, a reaction ■; against the high prices paid at the two preceding series of puldic sales, and on the whole .there was a-.decline of Id to 2d per lb, as compared with the September.: sales, best Now Zealand sorts show---J ing the :least reduction. The following are : the quotations for New Zealand descriptions: ! Good winter skins, 2s to 2s 2£d per lb; sum- ' mer and low skins, Is 6d to Is lid per lb; inferior and suckers, 7£d, Is 5d per lb: Mr Thomas Mackenzie in his circular report to the association' he represents, deals veiy fully with the matter of seed and manure tests, which is of such importance to agriculturists. Mr Mackenzie says: "The fact remains that high-priced manures have had to fight against others of much lower grade. Constantly I am reminded, by our New Zealand, friends of the difficulty they experience in .getting a slightly: better price for a vastly better manure. • Quantities of superphosphates are sent to Now Zealand .guaranteed 35 • per cent, of phosphates, while inferior sorts, containing only 26 per cent., are also shipped. It is well that farmers should know that every unit above 35 per cent, increases largely the cost, but the higher-the quality the loss waste substance is contained in tho manure, while the cost of labouif, bagging, shipping, and other charges is no higher for the best than for the inferior.' The soundest economy is reached with- the higher-priced quality, and the nearer 59 percent, of soluble phosphates the farmer reaches the better is his produce. A ton of 39 per eeut. of phosphates contains 10s worth of raw material above the 35 per cent, guarantee. Superphosphate, instead of being sold by the ton weight, should really be sold by the unit of soluble phosphates—| the method followed, on the Continent. It may be well to mention for- the gnidance of farmers that superphosphates are now being sold, containing a guaranteed percentage of phosphates, soluble and available. ' Farmers Should only buy phosphates soluble in water; Mie 'available' phosphates'in ordinary agricultural operations will not dissolve, and therefore remain unused." — A queer method of preserving beer is reported from Bengal, India. In that country thunderstorms are of continuous occurrence from March until October, and for months hardly a night passes without one more or less severe. It is found that the beer will never go sour if it is hermetically sealed by having oil poured upon the top. WHY SOME PEOPLE ABB TOOK., Bad management keeps more people in poor circumstances than any other one cause. To be successful one must look ahead and plan ahead; so that when a favourable opportunity presents itself he is ready to take advantage of.it. A little forethought will also save ■much expense arid valuable time. A prudent and careful man will keep a bottle of Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera, and Diarrhoea Remedy in the house, the shiftless fellow will wait until necessity compels it, and then ruin his best horse going for a doctor, and have a big doctor bill to pay, besides'; one pays out 25 cents, the other is out a hundred dollars, and then wonders why his neighbour is (jetting richer while he. is getting poorer. For' Bale by all leading chemist"