NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2206, 11 June 1896, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

(From Oun Own Correspondent.) London, April 24. There is little fresh to record this week with regard to New Zealand produce and the London markets. As to wool, with the exception of a slight further fall in the quotation for merino " tops " in the Antwerp "terme" market, which has since been recovered, nothing has occurred since the last mail left to relieve the dulness which bad now prevailed for some weeks past. The lack of animation, however, which«»t present pervades the industrial centres, both foreign and domestic, is believed to be to some extent

attributable to the lull which usually precedes a series of public auctions. I learn that the programme for the coming wool Bales bas-now been issued, and, as at present arranged, expends from the 28th mat. to the 220 d of May, with a net ava'lable qnaulity, including old stock carried forward, of Eome 282,000 bales. A friend in the trade writes to me: — "The recent featureless character of the wool trade renders it extremely difficult to forecast the near future, but while the p»s»ut waut of tone in the manufacturing centres would appear to indicate tho possibility of some irregularity in the market for merino wool, it is to bo hoped that this may be to s great extent counteracted by the steadying influence of a prospective short supply for some timo to come.", There have been two heavy failures during the past week in the Bradford woollen manufacturing trade, and this has had a temporarily discouraging effect on the market ; nevertheless, it is hoped that next week's tales will show no fallisg off. Frozen meat has been very dull this week, only 3^fl per lb being obbained for best Canterbury, while some of these have been sold at 2|4 to 3d, Best Obsgo sheep have broaght about 2jd to 2Jd ; North Island sheep, about 2£d. The fact that the 972 carcases and 206 pieces broaght by the Tongiriro and 260 carcases and 151- pieces fx Tekoa were condemned by the sanitary officer, - especially following ai it did come unsatiffactory experiences in the Ruahine, has undoubtedly damaged, the market considerably, not only bringing prices dowD, but giving to the aieab generally a bad character by some of the damaged stuff roing into circulation. Lamb is bringing about 4d to 4^d per lb. Tho exceptionally early spring, which 13 fully three weska in advauceof last year, has brought forward the Home butter maiket so rapidly that the colonial season may be said to be virtually over. It ia probable that the highest clBs f e3 of colonial bu'tir next week will not realise more than 90s. This week prices are 90s to 963 for ehoicosfc, 80* to 86s " b.-s v ," 76s to 60s for " secondary."' 'St e-c in jio wijin v^ment in New Zt-aUnd cheese. There is still a good marke!; for the best quality of kauri gum, but inferior grades are dull of sale. Copra is somewhat weaker than in my last report. The Government surveyor of New Zealand tfairy produre iv London, in a recent repoit to tho Agricultural Department, supplies come interesting and valuable information ie'peoting the transit and mu-kobing of dairy produce. He points out that owing to the very low ternpQi'titure which has to be maintained daring the transit of butter and ch'es^ it is inadvisable to offer the chneee for sale, as tha qua'ify is held in suspense by the cold climate of England. He will learn whether tbis cheese will improve when a more genial temperature prevails. In view of it being a moot point whether butter should be subjected to na extremely low teraperatura, he can only desire shipowners to avoid extremes. His attention has been called to the large number of broken packages of both buttor and clweap, anil he is ssking "hi [..owners <o Bupn'y h'm wiMi th* marks of the packag s wl i'-'\ ) aw hien found too fragile for bundling Ill's return he w'-ll transmit to the department, so that thoEe factories which are not packing securely m ay remedy the dofect. There ti room for improvement, he believes, respecting the transit o? cheese, and in support of this contention cites an instance of the temperature in the cheese ro.un being down to 50deg nine days after the fchip left New Zealand. Another unsatisfactory f&ct, he states, is that cheere is sometimes stowed under tho cold air t.runks, the temperature in the vicinity of which was at times likely to be as low as 53deg ; also, when these trunks were used to conduct the return air from the chamber, condensation ensued, and the water dripped on the che2se below. He also complains that delays frequency occur in ths discharge of cargo st tb.B London docks, and states that dairy produce is sometimes allowed to remain for a considerable time at tbe docks. This is a serious matter, especially in the case of shipmeats of butter. The practice is becoming general, he states, for economical reasons, but these economies, in his opinion, are as noth'ug compared with the loss that may arise to the colony from the neglect of whab should be regarded as an essential principle in the conduct of the business of the receivers in London.—- j Oamaru Mail.