FROZEN MEAT REPORT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1936, 2 April 1891, Page 19

FROZEN MEAT REPORT.

We make the following extracts from Nelson Broß.' report for January: — The chief events requiring notice since the issue of our report dated 28th December, but prepared before Christmas, are the sudden drop on 21th December of lfd per lb in the value of American baef owing to fog-belated supplies coming to hand the day before the holidays, and the arrival at Deptford, on 18th met., of 492 live sheep from tbe Biver Plate whioh realised 4s to 4s 4d per 81b (including offal) as compared with 5s to 5s 2d for best Dutch wethers, and 5s lOd for beat downs. r ; he consignment was considered as good a lot cf Plate cheep as had ever been placed ou this market either alive or dead, and the satisfactory tale w.is made without the source whence the flock came being known. New Zealand mutton became «hort in supply at the end of 1890, and prices remained very fl>m although no advance iv value could be established. Latterly, fresh arrivals caused competition in selling, and a decidedly easier tone is now manifest, say at Id per stone decline. Australian mutton was off the market until the arrival of a nioe parcel of Queensland sheep per Balmoral Castle, followed by about 7000 Sydneys per s.s. Oeeana. The latter consignment contains a large proportion of useful 60lb sheep, consequently we hope that satisfactory returns will be realised. Frozen beef waa temporarily affected by the before-mentioned sudden deoliue in value of American refrigerated, but good hindquarters are now sought after at about 2s lid per 81b. On reviewing the trade in frozen mutton during the year 1890, we have clear evidence of remarkable progress, thus tbe arrivals have been : — Carcasses. Carcasses. From New Zealand... 1.53/2,833 agsfc 1,080,564 in 1889. „ Australia ... 2^B 294 „ 95,920 „ „ „ River Plate ... 1,198,731 „ 972,650 „ „ And although the average price obtained during 1890 is a little below that of 1889. the fact that the market was bare of stocKat end of 1890 clearly shows that the largely increased supplies hive found buyers. As regards frozen beef, no doubt shipper* will have been somewhat disheartened by the 1 >w values current during the last six months of 1890 ; they must remember, however, that this has been mainly due to the excessive supplies of American beef. Our opinion is that ultimate benefit, will result from late eacrifiaes, and we can a-eert tba 1 . tho demand for frozen beef has received a great push through a low selling value baviog caused it to be better known and appreciated.