HEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2287, 30 December 1897, Page 14

HEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

(From Our Own Cobhespondent.) London, November 12, WOOL.

During the past week but little inquiry has been experienced in London for raw wool, and the transactions which have resulted have been -quite unimportant. I am informed that the position in the manufacturing centres at Home »nd on the Continent continues unsitisfac'ory, «nd that prices, in spite of small stock} of the raw material and prospective lighter supplies for the remainder of the year, have a drooping tendency. Myiuformant adds that thedulness of trade is especially noticeable iv the Bradford district, where the effect of the engineers' strike is having a prejudicial influence on a market, already rendered peculiarly sensitive by the contraction of American demand for goods which has taken place since Ihe present United States tariff came into force in July last.

NEW ZEALAND MEAT.

Meesrs Weddel. report to me this week that -the trade in New Zealand mutton continues qukt, " without any hopeful signs of prices xuling higher." They say tbab supplies are plentiful bo far as heavy sheep are concerned, but there is no great quantity of small medium sheep about. At present besb Canterburys are not realising more than 3^d per lb at Smitbfield, a price that is d fficult to obtain for a large quantity. Heavy carcases are, so Messrs Wt ddel further say, becoming more and more difficult to move off, and in only a few instances . can 3d per lb be obtained for large Canterbury -.iheep, the general price being 2|d per lb. North Island sheep are making less, money, carcases cf about 601b averaging i!|d per lb, 701b and over from 2|d to 2}d per lb. Meters H. S Fitter, too, say that the mutton trade is istill very depressed, and prices weaker th»n they were a fortnight ago. A large number of fat sheep now on offer are unsaleable. - From the authorities in the meat trade I hear that the lamb season is now practically over, and trade is quiet", what sales are effected being on a very limited scale. Those that are now selling *re some that have been held over, and j Messrs Fitter attribute the present sales to be clue to the small number of carcases of lamb that were held over, for they say that had the number been large it would have been imposBible to realise present quotations, which stand thus : Canteibury (N.Z.) lambs, 3£d to 4d per lb. The demand for frozen beef is better, though prices continue abcut the same, New Zealand bindquprte»s being quoted at 2£d to 2Jd perlb, forequarters 2^d to 2-^d pc-rlb. DAIRY PRODUCK. Although the demand tor New Zealand and Auetralian butter has not yet become very general, well-known brands are in very good inquiry, and general gat>sfaction is expressed at fcbe excellent quality of tte cjw season's butter. In their report this week Messrs W. Weddel and Do. make mention of the fact that the S.S.A. Company despatched the s.b, lonic from WdSngton five days sooner than her deaparture date in order that the might reach London in time for the Christmas market, as she brings •with her '500 t.ns of New Zealand butter. •' This enterprise," says the well-known firm, " deserves the thanks of the New Zealand producer, and will receive the warm approval of the agents and coosigaees in thi3 country." li»st year about 1000 tons of Australian butter. arrived in Loudon between Cnristmas and New Year's Day, and consequently was too late for the Christmas market. In 1896 the quantity of butter, which arrived from New .Zealand and Australia before Christmas Day was 54,357cwf, of which 8651ewb came from New Zealand, and the remainder—4s.7o6owt—frtm Australia.. This -year it is estimated -that the total quantity Which will arrive within the fame period will be 52.316cwr, of which 13,378cwt will be from New Zjslaud and 38,938cwt from Australia. These figures show -that Australia is sending 6768cwb less than last season, and New Zealand is shipping 4727cwb more, the toUl quantity being 2041cwt less than last year. But it is pointed oat that it would be a mistake to imagine tlist the supply of bvitter from New Zealand and Australia will be less than it was last year, as it merely indicates a late commencement of the te&son.

MISCELLANEOUS.

ftabbitskiiis. — At; Messrs Flack, Chandler, and Co.'s periodical auctions, which were held i»n the 29th ult., there was a good inquiry for all classes, the result being a further advance on September's enhanced rates. The trade was well represented, buying on American account being very marked, while Continental and Home purchases were freely made. New Zealand skin*, which were in fair supply, were mostly of good quality, and prime thin and stout pelted were well competed for at fully l£d per lb advance, while fair to good showed a similar -appreciation. Medium grades and the common light qualities mostly advanced £d to Id per lb higher. The next sales will be held on December 10.

.The demand for horsehair at the lasb sales by the same firm was rather o'.ow, especially for mixed descriptions, and I am informed that prices realiied for all classes of horsehair Bbowed a decline of about Id per lb. Gowhair was in better request and fully maintained late rates. lam also informed that the copra market has ruled fairly steady with a good inquiry.

Supplies, of English wheat are, for the time dF the year, heavy, and Messra'Weddel write that prices rale firm, and in some cases they are Bd to Is per quarter dearer. In London up to 383 has been paid for best red. The average price is Is lld^per quarter higher than at the same time last year. There is, however, no New Zealand wheat on the market. For New Zealand oats there has been a fair inquiry during the past fortnight at fully late rates. Quotations : Fine heavy samples, 25s 6d to 26s 6d ; fair ordinary, 24s to 25$ per 3841b.

In New Zealand beans trade i« very slow, aud prices are nominally unchanged. New Zealand fLx, too, is in little demand, and only a small business was done at Messrs Weddel's public auctions of Wedn'sday last. A PtnaU quantity of " fair Wellington" re&lised £14 10$. Quotations are norxnnn.l. Values for preserved mutton and beef are unaltered, but there is a steady, distributive demand. Messrs Weddel siy that it seems impossible to move them out of the rut in which they have remained so long. Compressed beef continues in good demand, and holders are firm. Advices from America indicate a comparative scarcity of suitable canning cattle. A good decaaud has been experienced in the tallow market, and prices generally have been higher. The firm tone is accounted for -to come extent by the reduction in London stocks (which are less than at the end of September by 4837 casks), and also by the smaller shipments reported from the colonies for October. S'-ocks at present in London amount to aboub 37,000 caeks. For the 10 months of 1897 400 tons more than for the whole of 1896 have been received.