OUR COMMERCIAL LETTER. (From Our Own Correspondent.) London, April 2.

Otago Witness, Issue 2203, 21 May 1896, Page 7

OUR COMMERCIAL LETTER. (From Our Own Correspondent.) London, April 2.

For New Zealand mutton I regret to say trade continues bad; there is but a very 'limited demand even for the best sheep, which are now offered at 3Jd to 3}d per lb in small lo f s. Dunedin and Southland sheep huve brought 2|i to 3d per lb, but some are naw being offered at 2gd ; North Island sheep at 2Jd to 2Jd ; a large lot »f Wellington sold (ex ship) at 2jjd ; but I hear that buyera as a rule do not care to speculate beyond immediate requirements, from the uncertainty as to how low prices may be forced when several -large cargoes, now close at hand, arrive. Of New Zealand lambs sales have been fairly large, but at considerably reduced prices. The C.C. and D. Company pjint out that the marketing of numbers whose condition made prompt realisation necessary has had the effect of lowering rates, and the highest quotation is now 5d per lb for the very best ; mauy are being sold at 4Jd to 4Jd per lb." Litest Smithfteld prices for New Zealand frozen mutton arc 3d to 3Jd for best Canterbury ; 2Jd to 3Jd foi Wellington. I have ju<st received the following note from Me sm H. S Fitter and Sons :— " The prices for froz?n mutton co .tinue very unsatisfactory ; the very heavy stocks aud the near ai rival of fresh supplies tend to continue the depreßiion, and there ii very little hope of improvement in prices at present. The demand for New Zealand lamb is very fair, and as Easter is close upon us, should v ry materially increase, but veiy large quantities are expected to arrive next week, and with some fulks so anxious to soil it is a very difficult matter to nnintain prices. We believe, however, tbat Nt-w Zealand lamb is becoming much more p ipular, and that the demaud will be good throughout the season." There is nothing new to be receded as regards the butter market tbw week. The fall of 2i in prices which occurred last week h still maintained, and the demand is dull. I notice tbat " very choicest " is the latest designation adopted for the highest class of colonial butter ; "choicest meaning second grade, and " best meaning third class. The latest quotations are ' choicest, 94s to 100s ; " best," 883 co 92s ; and " secondary, 803 to 9'ls. New Zealand cheese is lower than ever ; white is quoted at 40s to 41s ; red at aba to 393. In preserved m*ats there is nothing doing owing to the holiday season, and there will be no business to speak of for another week to come. At last Wednesday's sale some good Wellington fUx was sold at £1$ 5s per ton, but the demand was very slow. Tallow has been dull in an almost unparalleled degiee during the last fortnight. At the latest auctions ouly 36 casks were Bold out of S'l offered, and there is practically nothing doing. Quotations are unchanged but prices are purely nominal. Thcrd has been somewhat more inquiry for hides but price 3 are unchanged. The Bame may be said of rabbitskins.

James Shannon, Leaskdalo, writes : " Foe many years my wife was troubled with chil« blains, and could get no relief, until about two years ago ; she was then no% able to walk, and thepain was then to excruciating that she could not sleep at night. Your agent whs then on his regular trip, and the asked him if he could cura her. He told her Canadian Healiug Oil was a *ur« cure. She tried it, and judge of her astonish* tnentwhen in a few days the pain was allayed, the foot restored to its natural condition. Id is also the best remedy for burns and bruises ft ever used."