NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2413, 31 May 1900, Page 15

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

IFbom Our Own Correspondent.)

LONDON, April 12.

Since last week there has been little change in the position of the London market for New Zealand and Australian butter. Messrs "Weddel report that the demand is mostly from hand to mouth," although there aie several purchases made for cold storage purposes. The Aotea and Papanui are •due- in the middle of next week with butter from ' New Zealand. "Choicest" qualities remain firm at last week's prices, and 4i finest " brands are also virtually the same. A considerable quantity of New Zealand cheese is expected to arrive nest week by the two steamers Aotea and Papanui. The market for Canadian cheese is firmer, and prices are fully maintained.

During the last few weeks the Glasgow market for butter has been exceptionally quiet, with a lowering of prices. I hear from Messrs Mathie and M'Will'am, of that Scottish centre, "that owing to heavy 'stocks in all hands the pressure to sell has resulted in a low range of prices, but even at the reduced figures the demand has not increased, £>s was anticipated, and buyers in the meantime seem to favour the Continental butter, which is fresh and newlymade, and can now be obtained at prices which permit of their free sale at Is per lb in the retail shops. The 'shipments of butter from the colonies, although they are not now so large, still more than meet the requirements of ■the markets. Messrs Mathie and M'William quote choicest colonial butter at 92s to 935, finest 86s to 90s. The top quotation last week Tepr.esented the price obtained for choicest Danish butter — namely, 100s to 3025.

From the same firm I learn that, owing to the present high prices for cheese, the demand is somewhat curtailed. Buyers, while believing in the firmness of the market, prefer, however,' to pursue the hand-to-mouth policy, and take only what they actually require from "week to week to satisfy passing wants. Stocks in all hands are light, and prices are well maintained. Finest New Zealand cheese is quoted at 62s to 645, finest Canadian 63s to 61s.

NEW ZEALAND MEAT.

This week there have been no arrivals of l^ew Zealand mutton, and at I believe ihere are no vpssels discharging. The C. C. and D. Company state that trade has not been good, though- prices are" well maintained generally. So far it has not been found possible &g make any further advance, and until all the

old stocks are worked oft' no higher prices are looked for. Canterbury'imttton of neat rf handy weights, if fresh and bright, sells well up to 32d per lb, this price having been made for small 521b sheep, heavier Canterburys (551b to 641b) can hardly be quoted at 3Jd per lb, though a number are on offer at that figure and fail to find buyers. Heavier niutton, 651b to 70lb and upwards, is very uiiselling, especially when it lacks bloom, "" as the bulk of Canterbury mutton does." North Island mutton is making about 31d per lb ; attempts to niake 3Jd per lb so far have not proved successful for any numbers, though a few of the neatest weights make it.

In New Zealand lamb, the C. C. and D. Company this week reports a better tone. There is rather more desire to buy, and there is also a hardening tendency in values ; 4gd is more easily obtainable for medium-sized Canterbury lambs of 341b to 361b, and a number have been disposed of; heavier lambs, of 401b and upward, are at present tinselling at Jd to £d per lb less money, sad a large number of heavy lambs have already come to hand. Very little is doing in frozen beef. Chilled beef is so cheap just now that people prefer it io the frozen description. •