NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON. (From Our Own Correspondent.) London, December 24.

Otago Witness, Issue 2241, 11 February 1897, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON. (From Our Own Correspondent.) London, December 24.

NEW ZEALAND MEAT. Since I laat wrote there h*s been a considerable improvement in the weather, and Messrs Fitter and Sons report that this na3 been a great advan1 tage to the meat trade generally. At tha begini ning of the week there was an immense quantity of meat on the market— in fact, the largest on re-

cord for any om- diy— viz , over 4000 ton?, j F&vouieil by cold weather and a busk demand j the bulk of this was sold the same day. But ] ' Me3srs- Fitter' toll rue that at this season of the i yaar mutton is always ftt a discount, and <sspe- j cially trozeu mutcou. At the same time, how- ! ever, there has been a f.iirly good demand for j prime sheep, but for middling and inferior quality there has been scarcely any ba'e. It is expected I that if the weather continue cold, there will be an improved demand soou after the beginning of the New Year. Some of the Australian crossbred j cheep aro turning out very well and compare favourably with maDy of the Biiial) New Zealand sheep. There are still a few New Z"iiland lambs ■ on the tnirket, but I am informed that they arc beginning to luok somewhat stale. Several inquiries have lately been made for the new seasou's Jambs. Canterbury sheep are now quoted at 3i* to 3?d per lb ; Wellington, SJil to 3d per lb ; Canterbury lamb", 3Jd to 4jd per lb. DAIRY PHODUCti M.'S'rs Dempster, lMteiwn, and Co., of Glasgow, writing last week, said: — "Our xua'ket f or colooial Initter wus somewhat quiet to-ilay nud prices a litite einier. New Zealand buttec was fiecly offered at 10(!3 to 108s and Victorian 1063 to 1103. The mild, slopny weather we have had recently has influenced the sale of butter, but should the colder weather which had set in to-day continue wa should have a brighter and better market here next week. Canadian cheese is firmly held and is in short compass from 50s to 54". So far no Inbw Zealand cheese has r.r-ived in this market." This week the report from tho sime firm runs as follows: — "Our market to-day wa3 weaker in consequence of the lower advices from Manchester and heavy arrivals of A'istr*lian butter. Choice brinds of Victorian and New Zealand foW at 10fa to lOSs to-day and second qualities 100s to 104s. Buyers are inclined to think that lower prices will rule immediately after the holidays, and are consequently only buying from hand to mouth." The C.G. and T). Company write to-day as follows regarding New Zealand butter: — "Baring the past week tbe New Zealand and Australian butter has gained prominence on the market with their somewhat larger and important arrivals, but the trade on the whole has not been so bri»k as wo could desire. The feeling existing amonz buyers is to get ordinary finest to choicest butter down for retail cutting at Is per lb, and it is quite evident that the colonial producer will have sooner er later to cater to a large extent for this popular demand. The retail trade have made this object their goal, and are fighting hard for this cad," They further say " the quality on the whole is an improvement on that of la>jt season. Still, there are mauy factories and some well-known brands 1 which have turned out decidedly fishy, a class of I butter which is fought shy of." There has been little change in the price of Now Zealand butter during the past few weeks. Choicest qualities have commanded good figures, and there has been much demand for "clean-favouied" butter from 96s to 100.1. So f *r arrivals of New Zealand cheeae have been light, bub the shipment by the Aotea was promptly sold On the whole the condition of the cheese was fairly good, but the CO. and D. Company report thf-t it was nothing as compared with the geueral quality of last season's make. But an improvement is looked for in latar consignments. It is anticipated that New Zealand cheese will have a good market this season, and will be in demand in cutting under the prices for Canadian and United States cheese. In all, the Aotea brought 423 crates from New Zealand. Quotations stand thus : New Zealand fnifst pale cheese, 47s to 49a ; finest coloured, 46s to 48a. MISCELLANEOUS. Writing last week with regard to «rum, Messrs S. Figgis and Co , Ihe well-ki'jwn brokers, said : " The market has been good, and private buyers at extreme rates, but the past week|a business has been very flat generally and there is a, great indisposition to operate before the New Year. At the auctions held on the 17th inst., as importers were firm, only a moderate quantity was sold." In all 2630 cases were offered, but culy about one-third found purchasers. Prices were firm for all kinds, and good pule rescraped sold well ; dull amber was rather neglected. While chips and sittings were extremely high, dark gum was a little easier from the previous exaggerated prices. The resul* of the sale was as follows :— Dial, 2 cases iold at £11 2s 6d ; rescraped, 60 cases sold at £5 to £8 15s. Three-quarter-scraped, 80 ca>;eß sold— good and fine, 97s to 100s ; middling, small, and dull, 925. Halfscrape!, 00 cases good sold to Css; mixfd and small, 60i. Nubbles, 75 cases sold at 50s to 725. Picking?, 60 Gases sold at 38s to 435. Chipe, 140 case? sold at 25s to 76*. Siftings and dust, 70 pkgs sold at 16s 6d to 37e. Bush, 45 cases sold at 43s to £3 17s 6d. Dark brown, 200 cases sold at 22s to 105s per cwt. Messrs Flack, Chandler, and Co. say that there has been an improvement in the market for preserved meats, and especially for beef. Prices for this meat have improved somewhat, quotations showing an increase of Is to Is 6d per dozen 61b tins. At the last s»les of rabbitskins competition was very keen, the result being the advance of ljd per lb for the best selections. The first sales for the coming year are to be held on the 29th January. The copra market is quiet. There has been small iuquiry and little business. There was a f *ir demand for horns at the last sales, but prices were irregular, and Rome showed a decline of Is per 100. Sixty tons of hoofs were offered and all sold, buj; there was no alteration in prices. I Denes have been firm, and particularly fine lots i have advanced 10s per ton, but dirty lots were 1 not in such good demand, and these showed a decline of 103 par ton. I For several weeks past, Messrs Flack, Chandler, ! nnd Co. report, There has not been much i demand for tallow, especially for best mutton, 1 and prices show a decline of Cd per cwt. For medium qualities there was a better inquiry, Lut in this case also a decline of about 6d per cwt is recorded. Bsef is in slightly better demand than it was several weeks ago, but there is no advance in prices to record. The total quantity offered at our auctions comprised 4008 casks, aud of this number 1918 were sold. 1 Hides" have not been much asked for, and the market is quiet. - Next sales are to be held oa ! January 14.