THE C. C. AND D. CO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2455, 3 April 1901, Page 7

THE C. C. AND D. CO.

The follo-wmg is the Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company's (Limited) market report, dated February 22 — Meat. — Trade, both in cattle and sheep, at the metropolitan markets on Monday was again very dull, cattle meeting a poor demand and veiy slow sale, but at no alteration in values, which, aie now, for all sorts, id per lb below rates current a year ago, and are hardly as good as they were earlier in the year. The weekly marketings have not been large, seldom attaining the numbers of last year, and often considerably below. Imports have not been excessive, either of cattle or of dressed beef. Weather, too, has generally been favourable, so that the want of life in the trade is hard to account for. Homebred sheep, too, on Monday were slow of sale, best wethers extremely so, and the market was not cleared. Even at the reduction of Jd per lb s-alesmen were glad to accept, values for these being lower than they have been for a month, and fully Jd per lb less than the same class brought a year ago ; old ewes were more inquired for, and maintained late values, which are now nearly id per lb dearer than last year. The paucity of Continental mutton at the Central Meat Market, and the high prices ruling at present for the usually cheaper sorts of mutton, doubtless enhanced the values of ewes, butchers finding they could use them to greater advantage. The very cold weather on Monday curtaared the demand for lambs, and there was but little trade, any sales made being at very low prices, much under late rates. The impression, very generally entertained, when imports of live cattle and sheep from South America were prohibited, fhat values would in consequence bo greatly enhanced has not this year been realised. The shortage of cattle from Argentina (15,820 head) has been more than made lip by increased imports from United States of 16,936 head, the total increase of cattle from all countries being 537 head m excess of the same period last year. The lower values ruling for homebred cattle cannot thus well bs ascribed to heavy imports. In live sheep, the lessened impoita from Argentina, of 67,614,

compared with last year, thcugh leduced to a total shortage of 49,219, by increased numbers from United States and Carrda, might reasonably hate been expected to raise values of homebreds, especially as thebe lessened numbsis have been accompanied with l educed receipts of frozen sheep and lambs of close on 200,000 and of 15,750qis of frozen beef. The exceptions to the generally smaller imports of moat are, increased quantities of chilled beef from United States of 19,457c\vt, reduced to a total suiplus of 3294cwt by Canada sending 10,146cwt less, Denmark 2924cwt, and the Continent 3033cv.t. Holland has augmented imports of mutton 35.44 per cent., from 30,302cwt last year to 46,934cwt tins, whilst pork from j United States has increased 56.63 per cent., ' gong from 29,799cwt the first seven weeks of > last year to 68 9Socwt this. The distribution of this meat has been fo improved that the much increased quantities have not, to any appreciable extent, affected the London market. Homebred porkers have been high-pricrd generally, ano 1 the States pork has been fairly steady m values, never falling to the extremely lorr ratc3 of a few years ago when first introduced in large amounts. Judgment was given in the Court of Appeal on Monday m the case Parsons v. the N.Z.S. Company (Limited), which was a claim for damages for non-delivery of lambs, and which was given m favour of the shipping company by Mr Justice Kennedy, on the grounds that the initial ftguie of the biands of the carcases shipped were erroneously described in bills of lading, but that the character and value of the meat were unaffected by the initial figure, the terminal figures representing weights alone I bamg of importance ; that m practice no at1 tempt is made to check shippers' marks and numbers ; the only tally made is as to numbers of carcases shipped, and that no other carcases were shipped of the brand purchased by the plaintiff, and that the carcases tendered to him by the shipping company were part of his consignment, but erroneously described in bill of lading. With this view the CouTt of Appeal concurred. Imports of Live f hekp and Cattle axd Fkesh Blei".

New Zealand Mutton. — Arrivals have been Buteshire, with 10,727, and Tokomaru, with 39,931 carcases, bringing- the total for the year to 134,614, compared with 314,874 to the same date last year, a decrease of 180,260; this deficit in two months, with the small stocks on hand at the commencement of the year, and the known light afloats should make the posi- , tion a strong one, and prevent the lowering ! of values which now seems imminent. With the exception of one good day, three weeks ago, when laxge quantities were moved, trade has ! been dull and dragging. The high rates deman- ! ded have curtailed output, and driven buyers on to less expensive meat. For 10 days or so theie has been a tendency to lower prices, and this week has seen a substantial diop. Good North Island mutton, just landed, has been offered on the market at 4d and 4Jd per lb — id to £d per lb less than ruling prices ; and as this mutton waa bought c.i.f. at 3|d per jb, a good profit will be shown at much lower rates than are obtainable at present. Canterbury mutton, of neat iandy weights, is very scarce, but is lower m price by Jtl to gd per lb, top value for selected carcases is 4|d per lb , more are sold at 4Jd per lb ; heavier carcases sell at 4|d to 4Jd per lb, heavy weights at 4|d to 4Jd per lb. Dunedms of nice size and weights arc worth 4>sd to 4J,d per lb. heavier about 4Jd per lb. Noith Islands, 521b to 611b, till this week, made a- film 4Jd per lb ; arc now offered at 4d to 4|d per lb. Heavy sheep, and some weighing 1001b to 1221b, have been received, and have made 4d to 4|d per lb, and at these prices have given handsome returns to shippers — e.g., a sheep weighing 1221b sold at 4Jd per lb, or 41s lid for the carcase — an exceptional price and seldom obtainable for this class of meat. New Zealand Lamb. — Buteshire brought 1779 and Tokomaru 4577, making a total since January 1 of 10,289, or 11,993 fewer than last year. The few new season's lambs that have, as yet, been available have nearly all been North Island, some of them nice selling carcases in capital condition, others hardly so well up, but saleable from size and freshness. Values have ranged from 6d to 6|d per lb, a few are said to have made 7d per lb. Australian Mutton — 155,565 carcases have been re-ceived, bringing totals since January 1 to 231,465, or 80,180 more than last year. Of these the Afric took 3196 to Liverpool. With such large numbers arriving, and a dull market, consignees have lowered prices to effect sales, and values are now SJd per lb, l-16d and id per lb less being often taken. Australian Lambs. — 106,652 have been received, Afric taking ] 4,909 to Liverpool, divided amongst seveial c.i.f. buyers, including River Plate companies who commented on the delay m discharge caused by numerous marks, so different to the speedy landing of their own cargoes. A. satisfactory trade has been clone, demand has kept up well, and numbers have gono into consumption till the wintry cold this week rather checked output. Quality, size, and condition have varied. Seme shipments of small, plain light have come to hand, and sold at an average of about 4^d per lb , others have been altogether too la-ige, ranging from 461b to GOlb, veiy fine meat, in capital condition, making from 4Jd to 'l^l per lb ; medium v/eights, when qnahU has Ijpcji good, have sold at 5d to sjd per lb ( Elver Plate. Mutton.— 92, icT carcases have been received— & total of 333^23Q since Juaiiact

1, 34,537 less than m the same poiioJ last year. There has been more go m this trade than in any other kind cf frozen meat. The high prices lulin^ for New Zealand mutton have throwa many buyers on to this rather lc=s cxpensno meat, vv' r \ n s condition has been uniformly good, its freshness and brightness seem to ha\c given satisfaction. Prices in London ha\e been 4Jd, 4d, and 3Jd per lb, acco-ding to size, til! this week, when values were lowered Jd per lb, sales last week not corning up to expected quantities. Imports or Frozen SHr.np and T ambs, Jan 1 to 1 i:b 22, 1900 ,v>n 190). N ZeaiaiV- 1 . i_A«str»li;_ R VW.e Totat, Sbeeo LVlislsihiep L'm's t>. and L. C'aVe-. ]9r0'3H874£29 r 0'3H874£2 28-2 iSl.^onS^t :W,757 mm 1,722 i901|134,6H10£:8' l 2l 2U 14b31 4b3 1!>2,:-85 3:;3,'.fc0 892,013 !180,C6'.HL99) B\ISO 40,90: 34 537 59,70!) ( 1/tr. Dec. Inc. I Inc. I>ec. Dec. Frozen Beef. — Arrivals have been — 3747 quaitcis New Zealand, 3160 Australian, and 13,600 quarters River Plate, making a total of 71,561 ouarters smco January 1, as compared with 87,321 quarters last year — a falling off of 15,760 ouarteis, Australia showing a big deficit of 31,091 quarters and New Zealand of 2142 , while River Plato imports have increased 17,476 quarter?, and yet, m all piobabihty, stocks on hand of River Plate beef are smaller than the others. The generally better quality and fresh, bright condition of the Plate beef makes it more selling, and it finds buyers when the plainer, ptaler Australian is unsaleable. Much of the New Ze->land beef, too, has come plain and unfinished, and included many plain small old cows, difficult to dispose of, even when hard beef is m demand and pretty well unsaleable jiow, with ox besf in small request. A good deal of the Australian beef still on hand 13 of only indifferent quality, and much of it also is "cow." Prices are the same as they have been for some weeks. New Zealand hindquarters 3Jd to 31d per lb and forequarters 3|d to 3Jd, very few making the higher figures ; Australian an' 1 . River Plate hinds 3£d to 32d, and fores 3|d to 31d per lb. The good prices generally obtained for American "chilled" beef have given an impetus to "defrosted," and increased quantities are now being marketed and realising satisfactory prices. Several parcels of New Zealand and Australian show beef have be«i exhibited, some parcels of New Zealand specially good, and fitted for the Home market; but others have been far too heavy and obese — too patchy and wasteful to suit Home requirements. Imroa-'s or Frozen Beef, Jan. 1 to Feb. 22, 19>0 and 1901. New Aus- River Zealand, tralia. Plate. Total 1900— Quarters and pi.ces ... 22/82 r,4,335 50.501 87,321 1901— Quartcri ond pieces . 20,340 ?,244 47,977 7J.561 2,142 31,094 J7.476 15,70) L'ec Dec In". Dec. Average Tpices Fealised for Chilled a>d Hard Bief for Thbee Weeks February IG. IKOI.

DAIRY PRODUCE. Butter. — The principal feature of note on our market during the last week or two has been the inability of the Danes to rush up prices of their choicest, and to thus maintain the recent wide difference in value as compared with best- colonial. They hpve now actually been compelled to lower their prices, very considerably, until, at time of writing, there is a very small difference between choicest colonial and choicest Danish. These tactics, however, have had their effect on the colonial article, and prices are slightly lower The principal arrivals since February 1 have been the Omrah, Australasian, Victoria, md Ortona from Australia, and the Buteshire and Tokomaru from New Zealand. Australian. — Choicest Victorian factories have sold at 106s to 106s, finest at 102s to 104s ; New South Wales choicest "lo4s to 106s, finest 102s ; no Queensland has been arriving lately. New Zealand. — Choicest finds ready purchasers at 107s and 108s, finest 104s to 106s, milled 903 to 965, according to quality. Danish, as mentioned above, is lower in price, and to-day's quotation may be called 110s and 114s. CHEESE Canadian. — There is no alteration in price to record, and business moves along slowly at 51s to 54s for September-October make. Good under-priced is scarce and wanted. At Liverpool this week 11,500 boxes summer-made cheese were sold at about 465. New Zealand. — White is in good demand «t 52s to 545 ; coloured is slow and somewhat neglected at nominal quotations— sls to 535. The Taieri Advocate states that the result of the vote of the members of the Mosgiel Presbyterian Church with regard to the use of the individual communion cup was that 74- voted for it and 40 against it. Some 90 members did not vote The result will be forwarded to the Dunedin Presbytery to be dealt with. A littla girl named Maggie Seymour, who was badly burnt some time back at Te Awamutu, died in the Hamilton Hospital on Friday last. Several of her friends had contributed skin to allow of the skin-grafting operation to be performed, but in spite of groat attention on the part of Dr Douglas and the nurses, it has been found impossible to save her_lifo.

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„ Jan. 1 to Feb. Hi, 1901 , „ „ „ „ 17, 1900 „ BEEF-Week ended Feb. 16, 1801 .. Cwt „ Jau. 1 to Feb. 16, 1901 ... „ 17. 1100 ... „ Caitle— Week ended Feb. lfl, 1901. ..No. „ Jan. 1 to Feb. in, 1901 ... 17, lyeo SiiEEP-Week erded Feb. 16, 19)1.. No. | 53,904 I 378,125~ 19,457 Increase. 8,612 51 flOl 15,820 b5,025 15.520 1t',935 Derteaso. Increase. ?8?55 67,014 10,827 07,614 17,427 Decrease. Increase. Argent'na U. States, i 1,923 10,140 Dccrerse. ... i 3,4 19 3,993 514 Decrease. 483 967 j Increase. 1,38(5 929 Canada. 2,924 Decrease. 17,751 £0,678 4 625 Denmark 3,093 Dicrease. 9S 55,503 133 51,971 35 537~ Decrease. Increase. 101 58,6'30~ 523 398 325 12 Other Places. 3,294 Increase. P. 090 49,219 Decrease. 40,608 89 8::7 8,143 Total.

■n , American Da{e - Chilled. .£ g W h d. d. Zealand Hard. f m d. d. Iralian Hard. ■3 s d. d. W<ekendicg Feb. 2 ... 57L 427 Weekending l-'cb. 9 ... 565 413 Weekending Feb. 1G ... 557 4CO 3f6 345 385 342 368 342 3-ofi 32; 355 3"2S 351 325