NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2842, 2 September 1908, Page 25

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

•fFaoic Oxnt Own Cobbbspokdesi;) ' , ', LONBON, July 17. .

■WOOL.' -.5 This week has seen iber opening of the fourth series of colonial wool v sales of the present year; 13,S08\ bales were catalogued at the first sitting, New- Zealand heading the list with 4902- bales Messes Charles Balme and Co. write .that the ealeroom was well attended and competition was animated and general. The American section of the trade competed freely, ion the f aw lots of medium quality "greasy crossbreds which were offered in the catalogue^. . - Merino wool sold A in' average at an advance of 5 per, cent., tHe- improvement being most apparent' on average to good combing- greasifcs, while the prices made for short, faultyj and inferior scoured pieces and locks showed- little alteration from last series' ~ closing/ level. Fine as well as coarse- greasy ''crossbreds ruled" 5 per cent, dearer^ while- on the. 1 medium descriptions .the- rise amounted -to- 7£ 'per cenf, The' firier qualities' of .slipes realised. • -a>n . advance "-of -7£ per cent, and th.&. coarser _ jsorte;; & . per cent. " As regards. Soufchi 'African, wools,, combing greasies Were 2j per cent, dearer, values for short-staple 'lots being unchanged. Scoureds of all grades were somewhat difficult of sale at a decline of 2£ per cent. The total available supply for the series is about 271,500 bales, including old stock. Messrs Balme mention, however, that the sales have been arranged in accordance with the decision of importers 'hot to offer some 50,000. bales of the above total at these auetiohe. -

To-day Messrs Bahne write:— T " Since the- close of th© lifay auctions the j-trend of events in the. manufacturing districts bo far Ok raw wool and tops are concerned has been more favourable than for some time past, the tendency of values being toward a "higher level, Owing- to the confidence inspired by a slight improvement in business conditions in the United States, which during the past three weeks, has led to some free purchases of the medium qualities of English wools for shipment to America. Toe effects of the - demand were naturally more felt in Yorkshire than in the Continental centres of consumption, so that prices were firmer during the interval in the English districts- , than abroad; recently, however,, conditions in .both France and Germany have under- j gone a sympathetic improvement. In these circumstances, bidding in tne sale- j room is more animated and general than at th© March or May series, while Americans are free competitors for the medium to coarse qualities of greasy crossbreds; so far, v«ry few lots of grreasy merinos which would come within the scope of their demand have appeared in the catalogues. " Merinos in average well at an advance of 5 per cent., the best grades of Sydney and Queensland greasies do not show any very appreciable change, but on the ordinary run of greasy combing wools suitable for top-marking, prices are now quite 7£ per cent, dearer than at the close of last sales. Among scoureds the rise is also greatest on average to good, combing sorts, while faulty pieces and locks have similarly experienced a sharp improve- • ment. Crossbred greasies of all grades sell at from 5 to 7j per cent, above May prices, the demand for medium sorts in light condition suitable for the American market being especially keen. Scoureds and slipes are also from 5 to 7£ per cent, dearer."

' Messrs W. Weddel and Co. write : " Ths week preceding the opening of the sales had shown rather more activity in Bradford, and with the Americans purchasing freely of Home-grown wool at all the English fairs, which Are being held just now, a slight increase in prices was confidently expected on the opening day. As soon as the sales started it was evident that expeotations were going to be realised, and", with excellent competition from all quarters, prices for crossbreds generally showed^ ' an advance of 5 per .cent, over May closing ; rates, and even up to 7£ per cent, for ' better-conditioned medium and coarse . wools. The selection of crossbreds was i quite a good one, and was. bought princi- ! pally by the Home contingent, America • taking here and there any suitable lots. i Crossbred lambs sold well at a full „5 per | cent, advance, a fairly large quantity being i bought by France. Slipes were only mode- | rately represented, comprising chiefly short j wools from the" North Island, but they also «old readily at about 5 per cent, advance. The choice of merinos, was, for the openingi | night, good, and met with spirited competition- Greasies sold steadily at- 5 per cent. nior« money, though scourede, while »meetjpg "witß" a . good demand, hardly showed .the sa*3ft advance as greaaies, and are only now 1 and 3sgam dearer than last sales."., DAIST PBODCCE

Messrs state that the demand; for Australian butter is etill quiet; 1522 boxes lucre arrryed fronr Queensland " during the nr«elu~, Nothing has arrived from New Zeelaud> but the Turakina. is .nearly due with #€60., .boxes. P*ioeS- rem»in. -virtually unchanged-?' The afloat between tpali»j«jid. thi* jCountry 'is about 1150 boxes", jQid "bfetween - New- Zealand and England (inoludmg th^ Turakina) about 2*,000 boxes. The fiaftgket for both Canadian and New Zealand ** oneese is auiet, without anj quoteWe ohainge from ktat wctek'a figures.

Messrs Weddel no>e that New Zealand oats are generally in better request ; price** have improved. The nominal quotation for Canadians-, Gartens, and Sparrowbills is* 24s 6d to 25a 6d per 3&41b; duns, 21s 6d to 22s 6d -per. 3561b; Danish, 16s 6d to 17s- 6d' per 3201 ft ** There is very little inquiry for New Zealand »nd Tasmanian maple peas, jand values remain without" change. The lonic brought 497 sacks of peas, and the Rakaia 176 sacks.

11.I 1 . • TALLOW. - y The. «ood demand for tallow mentioned by Messrs Weddel a fortnight ago has been well ' 'sustained, "anfi prices are dearer agaia -all along the line. At the publia auctions- here on the Bth and 15th rnst. there was" a gooft'demand, and out of '241* casks offered for sale 1775 changed hands at ■ increased values. Mutton tallow - improved '3d to 6d; 'white beef and mixed "eoffe" showed an : ''advance- of Is per pwt. Business has Wen on a- large scale both on th© spot and to arrive; so far the hi«-fc range of prices does not seem in Any way to- affect the demand. Good mixed- is very, scarce on spot, and is realising a high com<para£ive -figure;' very weak sorts are' the only description that hang fire at all. vFor\ forward • delivery a good business has been dose in Australian sorts; 43£deg good* colour mixed has 6old at from 30s to 30b 6d, and hard muttons at from 329 to 32s 6dt o.i.f. London. »' There are still b«yers at. th© higher figures' Beef tallow is'ecaroe, and* dull stuff has found * market at 3(te 6d pec cwt, 0.t.f., with a sustained inquiry. Thefollowing are. the -current. -snot -.quotations for New Zealand and Australian tallow: — Mutton: Good to finest, 32s 6d to 34s per cwt ; dull "to fair, 30s 6d to 31s 6d ; inferior. 28b to 29s 6rf. Beef: Good to finest, 30s 9d to 335 ; dull to fair, 29s 6d to 30s ; inferior. 279 6d to 28s 6d per cwt.'

NEW ZEALAND MEAT.

During th© past" fortnight only 25,200 carcases of mutton have arrived from Ne^ Zealand. Messrs Weddel >ay that a slow, and dragging tale has been experienced^: and, in spite of the moderate stocks avail-j able, there has been a * tendency towards lower prices, especially in the case of secondary qualities. Quotations for Can-i terbury sheep remain without change atf ♦id to 4id for 48-561b, 4*d to 4±d for. 56641b. and 3sd for 64-721b. Best North Island mutton still realises 32« to 4d for small carcases, and 3£d> to 33d for medium, and heavy weights, j Prices for second 1 quality mutton have only with difficulty, been maintained at 3£d to 3j|d per lb, according to size. For ewes of .small" and medium weight 3jd to 3fd is obtained, but for heavies the current price i« not more than 3d per lb. '.

Arrivals of lambs from New Zealand hay« totalled 150,000 carcases for the last two weeks, 29,000 carcases have come- from Australia and 4800 from the River Plate. MeSara Wed del write that -the number from New Zealand includes 87,000 carcases landed at West Coast ports ex Surrey* Th© lamb trad© has not been quite so brisk as during the previous fortnight, the inquiry for prime Canterbury lambs being particularly quiet, and consequently prices for that description are fractionally lower«

There is. however, a very good demand for light-weight secondary lambs, but, even »l though supplies- of these are exceptionally light, some" holders have reduced prices l-16d to Ad, as compared with those ruling during the earlier part of the fortnight. Consignments of Dutch cheep are now beginning to arrive, and these are having the effect of further reducing the rate of sale and pries of heavy lambs. Prime Canterburys are quoted at 5Jd to 5 11-16 d for under 361b, 5 9-16 d to s§d for- 36-421b, and sid for 42-501b. Secondary quality is now quoted ait s|d to 5 7-16 d. Southland and North Island lambs arc realising Sjd to s£d. according to size. The quality of Southland Jamb* this season has been very good, marking a distinct improvement on last year's shipment's. Demand for frozen beef is limited.

The O.C. and D. Company montion* that the only to stocks of New Zealand mutton this -week is the shipment of 17,181 carcases brought by the Rakaia. The demand continues to be very slow, and although the range of prices cannot be considered high, the absence of demand must to a certain extent be attributable to the present depression in trade generally. Canterbury mutton has dropped about id per lb, while North Island sheep are also weaker, and undoubtedly any pressure to seU would result in considerably lower prices having to be taken. Stocks of New Zealand lamb are reported to be light, and the C.C. and D. Company mentions that the demand continues satis factory. The high prices now Tuling have, however, a tendency to check sales, except for the primest quality. Canterbury, lambs are selling at s£d to sid, while those from the North Island are quoted up to ssd to sjd per lb. There have been received 3150 quarters of beef from New Zealand this week ; notwithstanding that stocks are comparatively light, prices have declined, and are aboat id per lb lower than last week.