THE AGENT-GENERAL'S CABLEGRAM. WELLINGTON, June 19.

Otago Witness, Issue 2675, 21 June 1905, Page 24

THE AGENT-GENERAL'S CABLEGRAM. WELLINGTON, June 19.

The Department of Industries and Commerce has received the following cablegram from the Agent-general, dated London, 17th inst. : — "There is a better demand for mutton, of which there is a scarcity of prime quality. The average price for, Canterbury mutton today is 4|d per lb for light-weights, and 4d per lb for heavy-weights ; for North Island mutton, 4d per lb for light-weights and 3J per lb for heavy-weights; for Australian mutton, 3Jd per lb; and for River Plate mutton, B\&. The lamb market is quiet, but holders are firm. The market is over-supplied with heavy carcases of lamb. The price to-day for New Zealand lamb, Canterbury brand, is s|d per lb, and for New Zealand lamb of brands other tkaft Qsmtejrburj {£cl per lb; tegs, 5d per lb;

T River Plate, 4£d per lb. The butter market is firm. New Zealand offerings are very small, and the^u-erage price of choicest New Zealand , butter to-day is 98s per cwt. The cheese market is steady, there being good demand. I The a\erage price of finest new New Zealand I cheese to-day is 53s per cwt for white and 51s for coloured. The hemp market is lifeless, i and the stock is accumulating. The price of 1 New Zealand hemp, good fair Wellington 1 grade, on spot, to-day per ton i-s £26, and for I July and August shipments £27. The cocks1 foot seed market is steady, but buyers are not i keen to do business. The average price for i bright clean New Zealand cocksfoot seed, weighing 171 b per bushel, on spot, is 52s per cwt. There is a, good demand for all descriptions of wool, and the market is strong in tone owing to the business which has been done. Current Bradford quotations for topa are: 36's (low crossbreds), Is 4d per lb; 44's (medium crossbreds), Is Sid per lb; 50's (halfbreds), Is 8d per lb; 56's (quarterbreds), is lOd per lb; 60's (merinos), 2s 2d per lb. The hop market is firm, and prices continue to advance. The present selling price is £6. The English crop prospects are favourable. The importations of River Plate mutton, lamb, and butter into the United Kingdom for the month of May totalled 197,632 carcases of ! mutton, 22,560 carcases of lamb, and 7848cwt I butter respectively, distributed as follows: — Mutton— London 54,046 carcases, Liverpool 1 16,890, Hull 6382. Cardiff 17,381, Plymouth. 1533 Glasgow 5400; lamb— London 10,556 carcases, Liverpool 6156, Hull 2900, Cardiff 2850y Glasgow 1000 ; butter— 7B4Bcwt to _ Liverpool 1 and Southampton. New Zealand wheat: None in stock. New Zealand oats: Sparrowbills (short), ex granary, on spot, per quarter or 3841b, 235; New Zealand oats, Danish, «x I granary, on spot, per quarter of 3201b, 17s 6d. i The market is firm, but the demand only j moderate. New Zealand beans, f.a.q., old I crop, per 5041b, 30s 6d. The market is quiet; [ but firm. New Zealand peas, partridge, per j 5041b, 395 ; blue, per 5041b, 28s 6d. Stocks axe . firmely held.