NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11659, 16 February 1900, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

. (Fbom 6ub Own Cokbesponeent.)■■ "';'■'' ;'■ ■:'■ '■..■ v; :■■■■'■ -ft': LONDON, January; 5.. ' Rom the; C.C. and.D. Company t learri'this, afternoon, that' the Kumara arrived ; ;.on, Tuesdayj and brought, a: cargo of 61,613 carcases'of New Zealand'mutton. Tho total receipts-for last, year are 2,007,571 carcases; . This week there has been no improvement either :iu demand or ;yalue3. . In the early part of the week there was, a slight spurt, and more than the1 usual numbers! of late went into consumption ;;' but there wa3 no increase in prioe.: Since then trade has relapsed into its old listless1 groove,and comparatively little business has been,dorie. Values keep about the same, but, if anything, North Island mutton seems weaker, and pjiccs tend more to 2Jd than 2Jd per lb. Many Can-, torbury sheep are offering, but they are "generally of indifferent quality. Some which are slightly better in quality make about 3d per! lb, while a few touch 3Jd per lb. -,'>;, V ■

By the Kuniara a email shipment; of -Jamba came to hand. Total imports for': 1893 ! were 1,242,266. A very few of, the beat brands havebeen sold at 4Jd per lb; other sorts'at 4d to 'ljcl per lb; the numbers required being still very limited, the C.C. and D. Company say. : . ixiy Messrs W. Weddel and Co. I am informed this afternoon that there has been considerable difficulty this week in getting possession of the New Zealand and Australian butter, on board the three vessels now discharging at the docks." This delay has somewhat checked business,.the only palliation being that it was unavoidable. The report goes on to state that there has been a fall in value of about 4s per cwt this week on "choicest" butter, and Is to 2s per cwt on " finest" grades. This position is attributed mainly to the fact that some agents have been pressing sales, buyers at the same time doing, their utmost to force values down to the popular retail price of Is per lb, in order that •'butter, may be given to the public at the expense of the producer." For this purpose there has been a large.demand for butter selling at 92s to 98s,' but very little can be found below 965. The market, Messrs Weddel go on to say, is notstrong, and it is probable that another fall of 2a to 4s per cwt may come before long. The result of this, however, will undoubtedly cause a rise again, as the demand will be too greatfor the supply. Notwithstanding the'large supplies of New Zealand and Australian butter,the. total arrival of all classes for the'last four! weelts is less than it was last year for the aamo period. Messrs Weddel note that the shippers of butter in New South Wales are loud in. their complaints against the two mail lines o£steamers because they are unable to take raich more than half the butter which is ready ior shipment. .

Messrs Weddel go on to say that the Copenhagen official quotation has this week been lowered by 3 kroner, and it now stand at 101. kroner against 100 last year v although landed prices are fully 5 kroner higher- than in' the first week of January, 1899. ; Then the differ-; ence in'value between Danish' and Australian butter was 10s per cwt; now it is 20s, which is ■an absurd state of things.". , It has been largely brought about by several agents of Australian butter refusing to raise, their price's,although values might have been advanced 6s to 8s per cwt without at all interfering with consumption. As soon as a weakness prevail! Australian butter has fallen as much ai Danish."

For New Zealand cheese Messrs ,Weddel report a very great inquiry at 56s to 58s. The demand for Canadian cheese is very strong, and prices have advanced fully Is per cwt. Stocks of cheese in the United Kingdom are reported' to be much smaller than they were last year,