NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 23

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

(Fboii Otjb Own Corbespondent.) I LONDON, December 6. WOOL. In their report for to-day's mail Messrs Charles Balmo and Co. state that the general tendency of wool values has during the past week been in the direction of fuither weakness. At the auctions the tone of competition Iras varied with the composition of the catalogues, good ehafty merinos in light condition attracting keen, competition, while aihort-grown lots of doubtful yield, as well as burry and faulty parcels generally, meet with a rather indifferent reception from -the trade, and at times prove difficult of sale. In these circumstances, the prices now current for good wools must be quoted at 7£ per 'cent, and for all other grades in average 15 per cent, below the 'values ruling at the close of last series. In making the comparison, however, it must ba remembered that in September the rates paid for the limited supply_o.f merino wool available were quite exceptional, a certain section of the tirade being forced to buy, practically regardless of price, sufficient wool "to keep their machines running until the arrival in quantity of the new clip. Values for greasy crossbred produce have also given way during the. past week, Messrs Balme saying that the finer qualities are 10 per cent, and the medium and coarse sorts 10 to 15 per cent, lower than in September. On the other hand, the demand for slipes is well maintained, prices for these being, if anything, slightly better than at the ouset, a noticeable feature of the market for this class of produce being the relatively satisfactory results oibtainedl for short lim«y parcels. Offerings of South Afrioan wool have bean limited. They have, however, included some exceptionally heavy greasies, whioh have proved difficult of sale — a remark which also applies to the lower descriptions of coarse and coloured wool. DAIRY PRODUCE. 'According to the report of Messrs W. Weddel ~and Co., the demand for New Zealand and Australian butter has been somewhat slow this week, but prices have been maintained, largely owing to the short arrivals, th© total being only 23,596 boxes from Australia, and to-day, but too late for this week, about 21,000 boxes from New Zealand. Th« arrivals 1 due for next week are 25,000 boxes from Australia. TheTe will be none from Now Zealand. These quantities will be readily absorbed for tho Christmas ■ markets. The total arrivals in October, 1906, were 17,192cwt from Australia and lOlcwt from New Zealand, while this year there were 12,659cwt from Australia and 2264cwt from New Zealand. In November, 1906, arrivals from Australia were 45,460cwt ) and from New Zealand 5351cwt, while in November of this year there were 52,973cwt from Australia, and 9435 from New Zealand. In December, 1906, the-, receipts from, Australia were &s,l4ocwit, 'and 39,312cwt from 1 New Zealand. The quantity due from Australia, in the current month is 62,619cwt, and from New Zealand 35,500cwt. The tosal arrivals for the thcae mnmtlig — October^ jKa-_*

i member, and December, 1906 —from Australii and New Zealand were 202,556cwt. while thoa for the same months this year will be abou' 163,450cwt, showing a deficiency of 39,1060wt or nearly 2000 tons. This week choicest N&v Zealand- "butter is quoted at 116s to 120s and finest at 112s io 114s. Choicest Aus -tralian is quoted at 114s to 117s, and fines at 106s to 110s per owt. There is a fair trade passing in Canadiai cheese at unchanged prices, though the de nuund is increasing. Choicest New Zealanc make is quoted a>t 60s -to 61s, with choices' Canadian at 62s to 635, and finest at 60s t< 61s. NEW ZEALAND MEAT. The C.C. and D. Company reports th< Star of Scotland as being the only arriva during- the week with fresh supplies of Nev. Zealand meat. She broughit' 48,844 carcases of mutton and 246 carcases of lamb. Stock; of New Zealand mutton are in very moderate compass, but the demand has been quiet and is undoubtedly affected by the difference of id per lb in favour of River Plate sheep Any efforts to advance prices have been defeated by the maintenance of this margin Canterbury and North Island quotations are both unchanged, but ewes show a sligtii improvement to 3d per lib. For New Zealand lamb the demand ii now slackening, and buyers prefer the fresl Australians of good quality to the stale lamt of New Zealand. Quotations, however, ar« still maintained at a high level, and range from 5d to 5Jd per lb for the limited business- passing. As for New Zealand beef, the C.C. and D Company Teports tho arrival oi 6092 quarters. Last week frozen beef was quite neglected", but a few speculative inquiries this week have put more life into the trad*. Hindquartets are slightly weaker, but are selling, the quotation being 3£d pei lb. For&quarters are still in request at 2|d to 2|d per lb.