Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 2652, 11 January 1905, Page 21

495. and finest 46s to' 4Bs, against 533 to 54s *id 50s to 51s respectively in 1903. ITEW ZEALAND MEAT. According "to the report of Messrs "W. JWeddel and Co., -arrivals of Kew Zealand mutton during T ihe .fortnight' iav'e been "moderate, amounting to "only 78,200 carcases.- The clearness of Home-gro,wn mutton and the shortage of Continental sheep at a time of year when importations are usually exceedingly lieavy have combined to improve the inquiry for tie best classes of frozen mutton. Prompt advantage was taken of this to .raise prices, which, are, now fully |d per Ib above the rates current two weeks ago, the market closing firm at'thfr-advance in view of the moderate quan-" tities of -"New! Zealand mutton available. Can- , terbury sheep- of beat weights now realise 4|d to 4|d per Ib, and -the heavier grades 'are less - at a discount, ' and sell at~4|jd to 42-d. Other qualities of mutton are particularly scarce; there are almost no Dunedin and Southland sheep to* lac obtained. Longbuin-. mutton is - snaking the same price as Canterbury— namely, 4|d to^gd,— N. and W.M.E. brand realises 4|d, these quotations being for the favourite brands. -Heavy sheep are quoted at 4Jd per lb. Ordinary North Island mutton now sells at 4|d to 4§d for small ca-rcases, and 41d |or heavies. The supply of - New> Zealand lambs is now comparatively small, and; as there is a- good , deal of competition to secure supplies among -those operatbrs_who use • lambs regularly all the year round, Messrs} We'ddel tell me that a further "advance- in prices has been secured. The "market is also helped by the -short supply • and dearness of home-fed mutton; 'indeed, the quotation of~6fd for Canterbury lambs at this time of the year establishes a fresh record j" in -the trade. • • Canterbury- lambs -under' 361b J may "be quoted at that figure, and the 361b i to -421b grade" at '"Bidy per lb. Tegs -have^ ; correspondingly advanced to sfd. Other quali- \ ties of New Zealand lamb's "are* scarce, and] 1 realise 53d to 6d\for best weights and s|d to j 6|d per Ib for tegs. Arrivals for the fortnights .have' included '11,000 carcases from New Zea- ! land. The combined "influences" of _ dearer > mutton an<3 lamb and a spell .of colder . weather have, not- as yet materially benefited the- -beef^lnarket. There has; however^" been 4 come in the inquiry, especially ' for forequafters, and, given a continuance of ; the present severe weather, the market ■ should . shortly occupy a more healthy position. The" I cheapness of chilled beef during the fortnight has 'to a considerable extent checked any upward movement in prices of frozen, ' beef; Current quotations for the" small quantities of ! New "Zealand .beef available are 2Jd- to 2|d | -per- lb 'for forequarters andj2§d to 2|d for : Hindquarters. Arrivals - have included 4000 ' quarfers from 'New Zealand during the past - t two weeks. As is not unusually the case,, the country markets have been somewhat • slow to '■ . follow the advance in prices of mutton established in London, although, rising quotations i tave caused more demand.,- - *j It is noted by- the C.C. and D. Company ! that their e have- been no arrivals of New Zealand mutton during the week, and that- stocks are now in very manageable compass, so that it has been foundppossibie to make a material advance in prices,, particularly for the" cheaper grades. Very few Canterbury sheep are on offer,'- and it is difficult"- to make more than 4|d per-lb. There are no J)unedin or 'Southland sheep' to be, .seen on' the market.- The bulk of- the mutton on -offer comes from the North Island. LigEt sheep selling at 4Jd per "lb, "and otiier.-"jwje_ights at 4Jd to 4|di. Prices have now reached a level at which buyers are -inquiring more readily for "North - Island 1 -sheep than, ior otfier. descriptions," butthe-, 'demand is naturally "somewhat ' restricted by-tfre 'advance." -Ewes are 'moving' steadily #* 3fd per lb. The stocks of New Zealand, lamb are now almost exhausted, 'and extreme prices are being -paid by" those traders who must -Have "them. The mimbeis sold, however, are so small that" quotations have Tittle value. ' Canterbury" lambs have changed hands at GJd.- and sales -of other branßs have been Toaxte at' 6d to 6|d' per lb. Very little New Zealand beef 'can be disposed of, but prices are' maintained at 2|d per lb for hindquarters and- 2Jd ior forequarters.