NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, May 12.

Otago Witness, Issue 2360, 18 May 1899, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, May 12.

Reporting to the Agricultural department, Mr H. C. Cameron states that undoubtedly there has been a very marked improvement all round in the conditions attaching to butter from New Zealand during the past year or two. This is unhesitatingly acknowledged in the old country by those

who are interested in the handling of it. The quality of the butter, the manner in which it is packed and got up, and the style and finish of the boxes all showed a decided improvement. Of course there are exceptions 1 but these are much more rare than formerly, and are chiefly found in connection with the " milled " lots. The stowing on board ship, together with the handling and expedition in discharge, show a distinct advance over the manner prevailing two seasons ago, while the handling and distribution throughout the old .country is certainly exteifding satisfactorily. M*r Cameron has been extremely pleased '^o note during tho past seusdn the numerou,s inquiries that have been made regarding certain individual brands of butter, the quality of which has so highly gratified the purchasers that they have been desirous oi communicating direct with the purchasers themselves in order to try and purchase the output of that particular factory season. Mr Cameron concluded by saying that he has always been glad to furnish any information, as he considers that those factories producing such especially fine butter as to cause interested inquiry and demand to be made are worthy of any assistance he can give them.

In his report to the Agricultural department, dated April 6, Mr H. C. Cameron, inspector of produce in London, says that the satisfactory figure of 50s per cwt ruled for cheese for three months- from the middle of December. n The rise he anticipated ißts, however, apparently now commenced, prices a fortnight before the date of the report reaching 51s and a week later ' than the report 52s per cwt for finest samples — of which, however, there were very few in the London market. As there were three steamers due from New Zealand within the next fortnight with 750 tons aboard, Mr Cameron was hopeful, as he believed that the rise would be firmly maintained , in the face of x the enormously increased supplies received from the British colonies during the butter season. During this butter ~ season, from September 1, 364,237cwt was received, against 295,966cwt for the same period in 1898. The prices received for butter Mr Cameron considers highly satisfactory. The average price for choicest samples has been about 98s throughout. This meant 10£ d per Ib, which would leave shippers a price equal to 9d per lb f.o.b. in New Zealand. As, however, this price was for choicest butter, and as many, in fact Mr Cameron believes the majority, of the lots of butter may have been sold for less money, he> has no doubt that, the good season notwithstanding, those who sold at 9d per lb f.o.b. in the colony, as it is understood many did, will be better off than those who shipped, on their own account, taking it all round.