NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON. LONDON, April 29.

Otago Witness, Issue 2673, 7 June 1905, Page 24

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON. LONDON, April 29.

According to the latest report issued by Messrs W. Weddel and Co., the buying of New Zealand and Australian bvitter has been on the hand-to-mouth principle this week, everyone expecting lower values after Easter, •and putting off their purchases until aftet the holidays. As stocks in both retailers' and distributors' hands aie small, it looks as if there must be a strong demand and a brisk market rest week. Prices have receded 2s per cwt sinoe last week, mainly owing to a few nervotis holders. " Choicest " New Zealand is making 96s to 100s per cwt; in secondary butters the fali in value is greater than in oest quality. There has been some speculative buying in the cheese market ihia week in anticipation! of an expected rise next week.

From the same firm I hear that the demand fov New Zealand mutton has been well main- ' tamed, aad, owing to a general scarcity of small sheep, it „ has foaeii possible to move some of the heavier grades a trifle more freely. The shortness of the lighter weights is increasingly felt as the lamb season gets more into swing, and the high quotation fox these nmst again be regaTded as almost nominnl. I Tbe quality of the meat now arriving is good, and some show mutton from Auckland mar- - kr+ed this week was without doubt distinctly better than has bean shipped from that dis-

tiict before. Canterbury sheep under 56:6 can. be nominally quoted at 4Jd to s£d per lb; larger Canterbury's are selling rI 4Jd to 4sd per lb. Best brands of North Island mutton aeil at 33d to 4£d per lb ; others- at from 31d to 4Jd; ewes realise from 3d to 3id per lb. Mp&st3 Weddel further note that the demand for lambs is steadily expanding, and, as import steamers are discharging somewhat leisurely, there is no serious accumulation of stocks. Some importers; apparently fearing a material drop in prices, have rather forced sales at times during the fortnight, causing an clement of weakness; but at the cose lambs-

arc being handled more firmly, anil values- Baye 1 ,

; again recovered lost ground-. The relatively ; amali supply of carcases of 'ight weight is , becoming more pronounced week by week, and ! there isn at strong tendency fox th^. existing

f margin between quotations for ckreases under | S&lb, and lambs of 361b to 421b, to widen, fur- . tker. Canterbury lambs under 361b realiso

; 52d psr lb; the 361b to 421b grade aeHs at s£d psr Ib, carcase? under 421b being quoted at s£d ; tegi, axe sold at 5Jd per Ib. Small Diinedin and Southland lamb 3 are in request up to 51d per lb, ruediuin-weiglit lambs realising|s|d to ssd. Xorth Island brands of good weights are offered at 5Jd to sfd per lb.