NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2862, 20 January 1909, Page 38

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

(Fboic Oub Own Correspondent.) LONDON, December 11. BUTTER. Messrs W. Weddel record a decided improvement in the butter market cturing the week. The low values ruling towards the end of last week and the colder weather then experienced had the desired effect of stimulating the demand, and more business has been done. Buyers aae now filling their requirements for the Christmas trade, and prices all round are_somewhat firmer. On New Zealand butber, ex Turakina, an advance of fully 4s was made on last week's prices, sales being made at 112s per cwt in the early part of this week; but with the increased demand values soon became firmer, and the quotation now stands at 114s for "choicest" qualities. The New Zealand Lean and Mercantile Agency Company announces the arrival of 21,250 boxes of N-ew Zealand butter ex Turakina. There has been decidedly more inquiry for Australian, and prices have advanced from Is to 2e per cwt, according to quality. New Zealand butter is fully 2s to 4s per cwt dearer, but rhe advanced price has militated against a ready sale. CHEESE. It is mentioned by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company that the market for cheese has been most disappointing, and prices for New Zealand makes (white and coloured) to->day are from 58s to 60s per f\vt. Canadian cheese is quoted at 60s to 625. Messrs Dalgety and Co. write that NewZealand cheese is freely offered at 57s to 595. end arrivals this season amount to 4524 crates (1338 lonic. 3186 Turakina), as compared with 8883 crates for the corresponding- period last rear — a decrease of 4359 crates. WOOL. During the week the wool sales have continued to be well attended, and competition has been animated, although the bidding from the American section of the trade has been hardly feo keen as during the earlier da-vs of the series*. Mosars Balm© say this -slight reduction in frlie volume of American demand has brought about some wcaJbies.3 in values for medium descriptions of greasy merinos, -which pre\iouslv realised very extreme rates. The position, of medium fecoirrcd-s. selling at from Is 4d to Is 8d jht Ib. ha-s al=o been sympathetically affected. Quotations lor merinos An a\crage, however. rna> still bs quoted quit? 7£ par cent, above Last sales* closing level. Greasy crossbreds continue in ifood request from all sections of the trade. The fine and medium sorts are, if anything, rather dearer than at the outset ; on the other h-snd, prices for the coarser descriptions have lately ghown some signs of weakness. Scoureds and slipe^ are eajrerlv sought after by the Home trade, the values current for the latter hay- ( ing slightly hardened during the last few ; pitting*. I Giunc. I Messrs Gordon, Woodroffe, and Co. stato that stocks of oats are very heavy, and sluoments continue from Russia, both north and south, in large quantities. New Zealand sparrowbills afloat hiave teen ©old at 19=; v&r 3201b"5, c.i.f. : further offers only produced a bid of iSe. which was refused. This firm understands that the remainder are to be landed here, but it is not expected that any higher .prices will be obtained owing to the lai-ge sujaplies froxa

othar quarters. Germans ara held higfi, and R-iver Plate descriptions are only coming alcn-g very slowly. The market for cocksfoot is firm and advancing. New Zealand offered a small quantity early last month for immediate shipment at moderate prices. This was soon disposed of, and f'c Dominion then advanced its price to 90s per ewt, c.i.f. ; 171b 1907 crop is Quoted at 82s 6d to 85s per civt ex warehouse, and 1908 crop at 85s 6d to 87s. SALTED PELTS. In the latest report issued by Messrs Gordon, Wood'roffe, and Co., it. is mentioned that demand for sheep pelts has been well maintained, and prices of desirable stock have kept very firm, the ten■dency of the market bemg against buyers. Goods arriving at this time are. of course, late reason's pelts, and therefore, intrinsically, poorer pelts than these shipped earlier m~th-e year. This has to be kept m mmdi whsn comparing- prices. It is still rather difficult to sell mfe.nio>r grades, but even, these are more saleable than they have been. Some impesrtain't sales have been made of lamb pelts during- the fouir weeks oovereel by tbe report, at prices a. &hada lower Jiau these made two months ago, and stccks of borh sheep and lamb pelts are now in very small compass. Arrivals are falling off rapidly, and the season may be re gar-died as practical^ over. It seems reasonable to suppose that prices af New Zealand pelts will keep firm for some time to come, especially i.n view of the fact that supplies must be small until the newseason's pelts begin to .arrive. K.Z. MEAT. During the Last four weeks only 88,759 carcases of New Zealand mutton have arri\ed, and the C.C. and D. Company states .that the total importation for the year of 1.653.587 carcases is kes than tiist to the same date 'ast year by 300,940 carcases. This mutton has perhaps shared in the general depresion to a extant than any other. This is due not to amy better torie in the demand, but tc the fact tha-t stocks are in such mana.geable compass tha.t importers have preferred to maintain prices with a restricted output rather than push; sales. Canterbury sheep have been more in evidence than for some time past, but' they do not move freely at any substantial premium over prices for North Island sheep. Quotations, nominally, rule from 3£d to 4id per lb, but good medium- weight' sheep have changed n-aiwds at the former figure. North Island sheep have been very steady throughout the month, and quotations show no change. Moderate stocks of New Zealand lambs are stil in store, and fail to attract buyers even at reduced prices. The C.C. and IX. Company writes that small Gante>rburj lambs can be placed up to 51d per lb, but other weights and d-ei^criptions are practically unsaleable. North Island lambs are> now being offered down to 4sd par lb, but move extremely slowly- The additions to stocks only amounrt te 109,660 carcases from all sources dmring the four weeks, and. the year's reeetpte show a dedime of 179,731 carcases, buit in spite of these figures importers are not in a comfontable position. The market for frozen beef is in a most unsatisfactory state, and traueie has T>een. completely dominated by 'the supplies of cheap chilled' beef. All descriptions of frozein beef, including bha.t from New Zealand, are making, practically the same price, say. about 3^d per lb for hiodefuartecs and 3gd for forequarters, but the amount off •business parsing is insignificant, and is not likely to increase until tihe offerings of chilled beef are more readily absorbed.