THE AGENT-GENERAL'S REPORT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 28

THE AGENT-GENERAL'S REPORT.

WELLINGTON, December 19.

The Department of Industries and Commerce has 'received the following cablegram from the Agent-general, dated London, Saturday: — '"Stocks of mutton on hand are light, and are firmly held in a few hands. The average price for Canterbury mutton is 4|d per 1b; Dunedin, Southland, and Wellington mutton, 4.? d; fhver Plate, 4d. The lamb market is steady. The average price to-day for New Zealand lamb, Canterbury brand, is 6Jd per lb; Australian, sjd. The" beef market h.as been greatly affected by reports of a strike in the Argentine, but the market is firm. The average pvice of New Zealand hinds is 3§d per Ib; fores, 3£d. There is a good demand for butter, but the market has declined as the result of heavy arrivals. The colonial arrivals of butter for last fortnight were 30,798 cwt in excess of -those for the same period of last year. The average price for choicest New Zealand butter to-day is 104s per cwt; Australian and Argentine, 102s ; Danish, 116s. The cheese market is steady, and there is a better demand. The Rimutaka's cargo arrived in good condition, and is considered much superior in "quality to the earl^ shipments of last year, the temperature maintained being more satisfactory. The price realised was 48s per cwl. Hemp is qu'let, with a tendency in favour of buyers. Good fair Wellington grade on spot to-day, £31 per ton; April to June shipments, £30 10s. The cocksfoot seed- market is dull. .The average price for bright, clean, New Zealand seed, w&lghing 171b per bushel, is 50s per cwt nominal.