NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2303, 21 April 1898, Page 14

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

(Fkom Otjb Own Cokkesfokbent.) London, March 12, WOOT.. Beyond the sale of a few hundred bales of South African wool in the giease I learn th&fc there have been no transactions of importance in the London wool market during the past week. In spifce of the disturbed political outlcolr, nevertheless the prospect for tbe coming auctions continues favourable, especially so far as merino wool is concerned, and it is generally expected fcbat some improvement in the values of this class of produce will be experienced. As nt present arranged the nsxfc series, which will open on the 15t.h in&t , will continue until the 4th April, the net quantity available for realisation amounting to 205,000 bales 'of New Zealand and Australian wool, as compared with 338.0C0 bales from the same places for the comsponding pei\o.i of 1897. On the 3rd insfc. the cecond series of publ'o aale3 o? woolled sheepskins was bel-.1, the total number of 44-20 bale 3 including 519 bales from New Zeal&nd. There was r. large attendance of buyers, who operated with great freedom, and I am tdd that the bulk of the quantities off* red were cleared at prices showing an average advat.ee oi' 11 { 2 P er tent, on the rates ruling at the prfvous auctions. Compared with tbe January sales (he values current at lb.o*p of last week were . Three-quarter ard full-woollcd merinos, j,<\ to §d pee !b dearer : short and shorn merinos, \d to |-1 per 1b dearer; fullwoolled crcssbrede,. -j.d to |d per lb dearer ; fhort and shosn crofisbreds, to jjrd per lb dearer; lamb 3, -^d per lb dearer. NEW ZEALAND HEAT. Messrs Fitter and Sons tell me that the demand for small New Zealand sheep is good, but that there are still ro many largo theep on the market which meet with a slow demand that they cpiititm to prevent prices improving, ks they urcl .übtpdly olnprwise would do. The C.C. ar.d D. Company write: "Trade h?s, to far, been much on the same lines as l»fit yefti — the same ,omplai;,t3 of qualify, the diminished cutptit, and low pries th&t sccompany the distribution of stale, long-stored m n at, — but tbe improvement has come a few wetfcs \ carder thin year; and, with lessened receipts, ' the disposal of dd fcboekt — esccpb a number of j heavy Canteiburys — and freshes, briauter weafc !

beiug obtainable, the last three weeks have seen a better tone in the market — at first a rather brisker demand, and more meat going into consumption, without any increase in values, until this week, when there has been an appreciable advance of £d to per lb for all sorts, except stale and heavy axu'Ai-v, whichisasunsellingas everandooinmftEdseyWinelow prices only. The best CauteU'-UTy sheep of 55!b to 601b, when at all fresb and bright, have sold freely at 3|d per lb, and more could be placed at the same price, or probably per lb more. Sheep of the same weights and quality, but slightly off-colour, have s.'<J(3 at 3^d per Jb. Heavier sheep, 6Slb lb and upwarde, when 'airly bright, have made 2|d per lb ; staler sheep of this class are only saleable at 2 9 16d to 2|d per lb, and there are large numbers still to be, disposed of, buyers not caring for them, preferring North Island mutton of the same weights, but fresher, at £d per lb more money. There are co DunediDS cr Southlands available, but good sizeable Marlborough mutton is selling at 2£d." For the past fortnight trade in frozen lambs has baen quiet. The cold weather still checks sales, and, wilb a slow demand, Messrs Weddel and Co. tell me that, values have had a sharp drop from s£d and 5Jd per lb, the top quotation now being 5d per lb ;* and a good number of Canterbury lambs haTe been selling at 4-Jd to 4^d per lb. Secondary grades have also experienced a similar fall, the average being about -|d psr lb. Generally speaking the quality of the- lambs that have Arrived to date cannot be said to be good throughout. There have been a few piime lots, but, taljen as a whole, they ere not up the average of former years, so write Messrs Weddel to-day. Messrs Fitter also tell me that lambs have fallen in price, owing to the cold weather, and they add, ''Many of the lambs are coming rather fchin and ptsia in the legs." There is very lifcile New Zealand beef 3et't ia cold store, and the best hinds bave been making from 3Jd to 3|d per lb, fores about 3 1 per lb. . The demand, 1 learu, continues to run chiefly in forequarfers, and as there are not in London bo many forequarters as hindquarters, holders have been able to strengthen prices for the former. GAIRS PSODDCE. From Messrs W. Weddel %ud Co. I am informed that the market for Australian and New Zealand batter of "choicest" quality has been slew owing to the prs vailing highprice3, but for butter about'SOs to 93«, which retails at la per lb, there has been a bti&k demand, and for a tenpenny refca.il trade r.n article that in ordinary time? wciiid fee classed as "pssuy" butter is be'T>g sought fcr as a counter butter. Price? for cboicfcst are vktustUv unchanged, 104-s to lC6s feeing the top figures, rery little indeed exceeding tbis pricf. The C.C. and D. Company say (feat New Z°rlsnd and Australian butter- has b?*»i in great demand, and considerably Jr'gher price* have been realised. Shipncentts hsvc bsc-n rsadily cleared op ariival, though the pr'ca is new rather above the popular rRDge. The price for ordinary finest varie3 from 100s to 1053, but some pet brands have brought as much as 108 a to 1103. On account of tbe hot weather in the colony and the numerous bivih fires there, it is expected that smaller shipments of butter will bearrmng. " Everything lends to show that the 1897-8 season will end up in a much more satisfactory manner than might have been f.r.tic ; pitecT, and tbat ths beginning of the 1E93-9 season will not be hampered with lsrge stork* of cold-stored butter which must be e'esred." New Zealand cheese has btea little asked for in London, but good prices have bsen m&ds — 38s to 40*. Cdoured is worth 6d to Is mere tb?u white. The quality is good, ar.d ec scarce well with that of ]?,stsM»un. The C.C. a v lf! I). Guß'paijy say that the ehfci demand for New Zealand cheese has been in Scotland, where just now it is most popular and where large s*le3 have been made. Wrifi; g to me from Glasgow this week, Msssxs Dempster, Peterson, and Co. say : " Since our last report we tave experienced in all owr markets a good consumptive demindfor colonial batter, ana all arrivals have been <• aiily cleared at improved prices. With ihe strong upward movement in Danish batter which took place some three weeks ago, colonial butter came into more prominence, and holders of secondary qualities were enabled to dispose of these qualities quickly and to advantage. Oar markets at the present time are entirely bare of colonial butter, and an active inquiry for it is experienced all round. '• The first; two arrivals to Glasgow of Queeniland butter took place on the 12th and 26th of February ex s.s's. Gulf of Taranto and the Duke of Wefctminster, which stearcers dorked in London on the 10th and 21sh Ftbruary. The butter from both steamers arrived in good order, and proving specially pale in colour, was easily sold. The fUvcurs of some of the brands were bright aud clean, while in others the adverse influence of heab was clearly detected. The butter was liked in our northern markets, and with more care in the manuffefure, avoiding such conspicuous faults as streakinfss in colour and case in spotting, we see no reason why Queensland butter should not atJain a specially prominent position in all cur markets. The colour of the Queoi'slatid butter approaches nearer to that; of Danish butter than those found in either Victorian or New Zealand. This week's prices are : Choicest, Danish, 1123 to 115 i: choicest New Zealand, 10*3 to 1063 ; choicest "Victorian, 104s to 106 i. MIS C ELLANEOUS . For New Zsslacd oats the market is inactive and prices stationary, so there is nothing fresh to report The supply of New Zealand be*un is rather short, and orices havß improved, being quoted at 32s> 6d to 34-s per 504-lb. At last Wednesday^ auctions Messrs Weddel teli me that there was a good demand for New Zealand flax, and prices for most descriptions were sre&dy. Owing to a "corner" in sisal in America, a parcel ot 50 tons of New Zealand flax which arrived has been sold at £18 psr ton (c.i.f.). Floating parcels are offered afc £16 10s 3d (c.i.F.). Quotations are nominal. In London the dtmaud coutinues fa'r'y brisk for both roast and boiled beef ard rnutbon, and tbe market is firai. Compressed coined beef is filso in stronger drmand at rather better prices fur well-known brands. A large business baa been done in rabbits, both in flat and tall tins, at about recent rates. Boiled beef (21b tins) is quoted at 5s 6i to 63 3d per dozea ; mutton (same eize tins), 7s to 8s per dcz«n ; New Zealand boi'ed rabbits (flit 21b tics), 5s 6i to Si 8d per dozen. In Glasgow there has beea an antive demand for tinned bc;:t and mutton 3'jriug the past ruonth, and p.b BuppUt/r on the spot and to arrive are light bold* n jave h'-en able, to m*ke a further advauce ia vriee. Tbe demand for lunch tongue? has also bsca in excess of the anivals, and prices are occasionally 3i per d<zen higher. Messrs Dempster, Peterson, and Co. look for continued firm markets for all kinds of tinned meats for several months.

The tallow markeb has bfen ao-ive, with a specially good demand for beef tallow, the I>ricts of which have improved about 9d per cv/fc in the fortnight, whilst mutton has maintained late quotations. At last Weanouday's sales 1431 emus were offered, and SH sold a 6

improved prices. The competition for beef wae specially keen as offerings were Ftn&ll as compared with mutton. The following are quotations : — Mutton : Good to finasb, 21s 6d to 23s per cwt ; dull to fair, 203 3d to 20a 6d ; inferior, 19s to 193 6d. JBeef : Good » to finesb, 20s bo 20j 6d per cwb ; dull bo fair, 19s 3d to 19« 9d ; inferior, 18s 6d to 193. For salted hides there was a fair demand, bub an average decline of £d per lb was experienced. Rabbibskins are nominally unchaDged, and there is nothing fresh to report^ as no sales have been held. The c'vpra mavkeb, in the absence of «upp!iep, remains urio Tith very lifctle business passing, so Mi tars Fiv-ck, Ch&ndier, and Co, tell me to-dsy.