OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2199, 23 April 1896, Page 6

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

(Fhgm Our Special Corbespoxdent.) Bradford, February 21. AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE AT MANCHESTER.

From a most excellent source I learn that various small difficulties have occurred in the arrangements connected with the opening up of the Australian-Manchester trade, chief of which is a serious complication »s to tbe through rate of 15s per ton for wool from ship to Bradford, which rate was extensively advertised by tha Manohester Ship C<vnal in it J. circulars. This rate was to include oanal tolls, dock charges, and conveyanca by railway, and there is no doubt that both shipper; and importers of wool have been led to operate at Manchester by the through rate of 15s per ton from the Manchester docks to the W(.ol centres of Yorkshire by quick railway despatch. Mr Marshall Stevens now- writes to Bradford wcol importer! re their nhipmenti by the s.s. Gulf of Siam, oalmly announcing. th»t the cunal company, having been unable to arrange with the railways, proposes to eend the wool by the slow process of canal bagging. It appears that if the goods go by rail the oanal will levy a rate of 20s 2d per ton, ' an advance of 33 per oent. upon the canal company's own proposals. If all the company's published rates are . treated in this way, shippers and consignees will not know where they stand. Without doubt, this seriously prejudices the prospects of the new trade.

The frozen mutton by that ship was mostly sold forward at 2f d to 2Jd per lb, and as the Sansinen* Company have been marketing their sheep at 2d and a little more, the chances of profit to buyers appear to be remote. The mutton, especially that from AdeUide, is spoken of as scrupulously clean and in the pi ok of condition. The butter bad a^so bean sold in advanoe of arrival at 104s to 112*. The goods, which came from the well-kqown Melbourne butter factory, were in excellent condition, and as the Sansinena Company does not export butter, the Australian article had to such unscrupulous competition to encounter as has blocked the mutton. The frozen rabbits were sold at 9£d each, they being in good order. Tha preserve d meats bj the ship are expected to realise fully 6d per case above London prices, and the superior quality of the colonial preserved meat to the American article will tell. Australian canned goods have till now -been kept oat of the northern markets, and their introduction .to Manchester ought to open up a new era for this important department of produce. , The 500 Riverina sheep from the Victorian Government have been distributed through the chancels of the charitable societies. Oldham and neighbouring cities also clamoured for a share.

So, on the whole, we may take iMpr granted that a good start has been made with the Manchester movement. One thing is apparent — that the canal company is not entering upon the practical work of the Australian trade with the enthusiasm which marked its advocacy of the same when it was in the discussion stage. General talk in Manchester is to the effect that the pres?nt> company is discouraged to some extent from carryingforward with the briskness that might bo desired the development of the shipping trade by the ever pressing weight of its colossM capital. However this may be, it is hoped th»t all difficulties may be smoothed over that lie in the path of Australia finding a good mart for her goods in the City of Cotton. FROZEN MEAT. Owing to a continuance of close, unseasonable weather, the demand for all descriptions of froz?n meat continues extremely dull. To-day's prices at Smithfield are as follows :•— Mutton 1 - b. d. a. d. Scotch, prime .„ ... 3 Bto 4 4 per 81b English, prime 3 4to 4 0 „ South American, prime ..• 3 oto 3 4 „ New Zealand, prime ... 26t0 2 8 „ New Zealand, secondary ... 2 2to 2 4 New South Wa'e3, prime... 1 6to 1 8 Melbourne, prime ... ... 1 Bto 2 0 Queensland, prime... ... 1 6 — ! Kiver Plate, prime .18 — Lamb— New Zealand, prims N ... 310 to 4 0 „ Australian, prime 2 4to 2 8 BeefI Queensland, hinds- 1 7to 1 iV Queensland, fores 1 4to 1 6 New South Wales, hinds... 17 — " Nevf South Wile, fores ... 1 4to 1 6 American (chilled), hinds 210 to 3 4 American (chilled), foros... 110 to Z 2 v

The following grades and weights of sheep find mo3fc favour with the buyers :— * lb. lb. Merino wethers ... ... 45 to 65 and 45 to 65 Merino maiden ewes ■ ... — 40 to 50 Crossbred wethers ... ... 56 to 70 aud 60 to 70 Crossbred lambs — 32 to 40 WOOL MAKKET BETTER. In contrast with the recent less favourable situationin wool and textile industrial lines there comes « somewhat improving state throughout the trade. . Interest seems to some to be fast focussing in the future, publ-c sentiment is growing, impressions are being fixed, and opinions consolidated that in the coming months we shall see a good trade doing, and all values for wool higher before lower. The fact that this belief appearo to be well grounded, and promises to be a success from the point of view that it will be fully realised, naturally creates a better feeling in the trade and opens what seemed to be closed chancels. The professional eUraents— i.e., the well-kuown big buyers — have shown more disposition to b:auch out during the last 10 dajs, and, no doubb to the surprise as well as delight of the trade, are beginning to manifest speculative interest once again. Hence it can be said that the whole market occupies a trifle stronger position than at any time during this month. Tharo is a wide apprrciation of the value of good stock, and its palpabl.e tendoucy to enhancement is very suggestive, for holders in no sense manifest an extreme desire to quit, and only when a halfpenny over recent rates can be obtained are they disposed to eel!. One is inclined ta think that there is now a larger volume of business being done than a mere superficial glance at the market reveals. The past week has witnegsed extreme pressure from merchants upon manufaoturtrs to delirer past orders of wool staffs and worsted*, and although there may not have been many new orders for textiles stirring, yet it; has been productive of several changes in the market which pre3age a freer ordering in the Hear future. It is noteworthy that mericos are again coming to the front. They appear to-day to hold the Itrongtst position, this no doubt being augmented by the recent heavy demand for worsted coatings. For orossbreds there is more doing, but values have not risen, no doubt the knowledge that the New Zealand clip will be available in less than s month and the Home clip shortly helping ro keep values where they are. English and Irish wools, together with South American of the down grade, have been giving way a little, and are sluggish in dm nd, prices now being on a par with colonial crossbreds. Mihiir is quite lively, having advanced 3d during the week. Yarn spinners are generally Well employed, bub find Dew orders not plentiful, while manufacturers keep busy. . /