NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2293, 10 February 1898, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

(From Our Own Uohkksponoent.) London, Di.ceiuber 2'i. "WOOL.

Since ihe cio^e of the la >t wool sales a slight improvement has t*ken place, I learu, in the tor.c of business, h >ih in Yorltshire and ihe jS' rth of Fiauce. .So far, however, the movement Appears, in the judgKieac of experts, to bs due to tome reaction in '..piniou thaa to any considerable alteration in acbual tra.de conditioxid. Kcvcrslisl^es, it has rtsnl ed, I am informed, ia soiiie inquiry for wool in ths London maiket, wliieli, though of no gieat magnitude aud having Kd Xv but little businasf, is the more significant at a tini£ wh«3i the tra *c is gcner.illy occupied with stook-t?.kinjr. The arrivals to date fur the first ,ales of IS9S amon-it to 79,3*5 bales, including 57,937 bales from New Z^aljiua and Austra'ia, of which about 11,000 bales New Zealand aud Australian w>ol h*ve been loi'rrarded direct to the xtisnufacv.mng distric^a.

NEW ZEALAND MEAT.

Messrs "Weddel say that just now there is not much demind for any cla&a of mutton, nearly sll biueis vaiifcinsr beef at Christmas tinie, aud although f>i coarse Iheie is some trade for mutton, yet it is> invariably restricted to a small qinntity riming tbi; l<\sr two weeks of the year. "WiiHu the last fortuinht about 100,000 carcases vi mutton have ariived from New Zealand. But foe the above-named reason sales of mutton huve been on a very limited scale, and there is lutle likelihood, of tbe demand improving until after the New Year. Notwithstanding the little inquiry for mutton, small, bright sheep show a further advance on quotations of a fortnight ago ; in fact, sheep generally have hardened iv price, witk the exception of carcases weighing 7<2lb arid over. Bright Canterburys are comparatively scarce, and for these holders have beea making 34 j to 3£d par lb, thou^li vei'y few have rearhed the latter iiguro. Medium Canterbury sheep (601b) arc more pleuciful, but 3id per lb is the highest price which can be obtained for this class.

With the advent of colder weather there is leas demand for New Zealand lamb, and Canterbury's arfi nominally lower at 5d to SJJ per Ib. The frozea beef market has ruled firmer with upwaid prices, and the position is generally satisfacijpiy. There is a fair quantity in the cold store, but as the amvuls for the next two months are likely to be light, holders are very firm in their ideas of values. Just now, as might be expected, the demand chiefly runs on the better quality of moat, the beat of which has realised remunerative prices. Tho New Zealand beef now being ru.uketed is, so I learn f com Messrs Weddel, in every way excellent, and prices realise 3Jd to 3|d per 1b for the bulk of the hindquarters, and specially good oues> touching 4d per lb. Forequarters, although really good meat, have not been quite so high in proportion, 2fd to 2Jd being all they fetch. This price best Queensland forequarters are freely making.

MISCELLANEOUS,

There is no change to leport in the position of New Zealand oats, and values aTe unaltered. Trade in New Zealand beans v quite inactive, but prices temain the same.

Foi New Zealand fUx the demand waa slow afc the auctions held oil the ]sth inst , but priies were fully maintained. Out of 40 bales of New Zealand flax offered, only 20 bales of fair Wellington found bycr* at £U 10d per ton. Tbe following are current quotations :— Fine Auckland, £15 10k ; fair Wellington, JCJ4 35-i ; good Ly',telton, £\b ; con.mou, £14 lCs ; tow, £5 to £o -per ton. Notv/ithstand'ng th:s Christm*3 season of the year, there is fcCill a good demand for preser\ ed meats, and rates are flraa^r. Rabbits, however, are difficult of sale. >Jest quality boiled beef is quoted f*t 5s 6d to 6-> 3d per dozen for 21b tins ; Lolled mutton, 7s to 8a par dozen for Sib tins. 'I he tallow maik^t rules very tirni, and values bay-- bi>en fully maintained during the pa/st lurtcijrht. The la&t public auctions for tbe year were li^id on the 35th inst. by Measrs W. Weddel and Co , when out of 2173 casks offered 1872 were sold al from late vates to an occasional 31 per cwt advance The approach of the holiday season has ha<t the usual quieting effect, but the markets ia &11 centres aie firm with a hardening tendency, an-l the prospects generally are favourable, hellers aie holding out for higher prices, and it is thought they iviil be obfcaiued after tha holidays. The p^sutioe legiuding " forward " business is un*llwen. HellsTS will only operate at a considerable premium over rates ruling here, and ia fact aw: a&paieiuly quite indifferent about Belliog at, all at present. This I also learn from the sauif soiuce.

'Ahe;-e was a full attendance of buyers at tbe l.sc sheepskin sales held by Messrs Flack, Chandler, and Co., but the d*m*nd was luuch. quieter and less extensive, especially on besfc selections. As compared with October ratc3 c-o isbrf'l showed a reduction of Jd to id i erlb oa fuli-wc-olled skias, medium ami coarse being fully id per lb lower. Merino descriptions w«;re not largely r-preseoted, and sold slowly at id per Ib decline for all gradeg. Short *nd .=h>.ra parcels attracted le3S attention, and showed fhe full depreciation. This was the last periodical auction for trie year.

with regard to NewZaaland and Australi-a rabbit'kins, cf which 1475 were sold out of J584 offered, the same firm tails me that the bulk of thtt parcels was ve».y superior, absence of greasy and "iajQia^ed skins being rcuiked. There was. litih j-.ijp.vort from America, but the sale opened witu »■ fair trade fiom Honia and Continental buyers. New Zealand shipments were ia short supply— 2ss bales as against 975 hales the same time list jear. The collection was chiefly compiised of " £ood winter skim, thin and stout peLed, wbica met with slow sale at biddings representing id to Id decline on October values, a large proportion being unsold." The few medium and common qualities offering generally a.aiutained previous lates.

Gre*t regret is folt at Auckland at Sir Robort Stout's contemplated temporary rotiremenfc from political lifo.

Ab the annual meeting oic tbe Chamber of Commerce afc Auckland ob February 2, Mr E. Kent, the president, was in taa chair. The report read detailed the euccesKful operations of the year. The bslgnco sheet showed £104 to the good as againsh £34 la&t year. The question of colonial defences was oi-scrssed, and a resolution carried urging ihe Gi>7erainent to increase the local Permanent Force and afford more encouragement fco vohiu f ,ee? corps ; further, th«t asinlo supplies of arms and ammunition be f'irninlied.