N.Z. PRODUCE IN LONDON.

Otago Witness, Issue 3016, 3 January 1912, Page 23

N.Z. PRODUCE IN LONDON.

WOOL STEADY. (Faou Oua Owa Correspondent.) LONDON, November 24. At Bradford just now a firmer tone prevails, particularly for merino wool, and ; the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile | Agency Company mention that quotations j have recently been slightly advanced, while there has not been much doing in. crossbifed produce, values are steady. Consumption here is Still maintained, and while the position of the industry on the Continent is leas satisfactory, than hero, some improvement has lately ben manifest. There has been seme American inquiry in this market, and a few parcels have been taken for that quarter. The total supply of wool available for the coming sales is 128,500 bales. CHARGES ON WOOL AND SHEEPSKINS. This same firm writes that the new tariffs of charges for landing, etc., have been arranged, and apply to ail shipments arriving on or after November 21 (last Tuesday). The consolidated rates only have been raised, other charges for shippers’ account remaining as bclore. GRAIN. It is noted by the Loan and Mercantile Agency Company tha|t the market for wheat has been quiet during the past month, consequent upon good weather reports from the Argentine, but towards the close, with less favourable news from that country there is a. firm'er feeling. As it appears likely that the principal .source of supply for the first few months of the New Year will be from the River Plate district, the market will be verv sensitive to weather and crop reports tram that quarter for some time to come. There has not been much business passing in Australasian for arrival, the last transactions being a cargo of South Australian per Empirt transport. A fair trade has been done in oats, and at the close prices tend in favour of sellers. New Zealand sparrowbills are quoted at 21s to 22s per 3201 b. There are no Danish offering. Beans are in small supply, and are firmly held, Now Zealand descriptions being quoted at 34a 6d to 35s 6d per 5041 b. At the moment the market for cocksfoot is very qufct, but it is .anticipated that the demand for the spring sowing will begin early next month, and higher prices are anticipated. It appears Likely that the trade will this season satisfy all their requirements from the Continent and America without recourse at all to New Zealand, and should Continental growers produce still larger quantitifas next season and the Dominion have an average crop, the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company think that prices will rude on a much lower level. Danish seed is quoted at 74s to 75a per cwt, ex warehouse TALLOW. The optimistic anticipations of last month have unfortunately' not been fulfilled, and following a somewhat serious drop in copra, palm, and cotton oils, values have fallen fully Is per cwt. Stocks are within small compass, _ and it appears likely that, a further decline will stimulate the demand. Indeed, just at the close* sales are reported of several parcels which were bought in at yesterday’s auctions. In Australasian for arrival little business has been done. South American being in large supply and pressed for sale. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company do not think that there would bo buyers for 43Weg good colour mixed at over 33s per cwt., c.i.f. Spot quotations are: Fine mutton 37s to 38s, fair to good 35s 6d to 36s 6d, edible beef 35s 6d to 365, fair to good beef 34s 6d to 35s per cwt. FLAX The volume of business has been small, and the market is quiet. There is some demand for fair quality on the spot, and prices for this position have been maintained, but otherwise values have declined 5s to 10s per ton. The Loan and Mercantile Company send the following quotations: —Good fair spot, £2O, Novem-bor-January £2O, fair spot £l9 5s to £l9 10s, Novernber-January £l9 to £l9 5«; fair current Manila £2O 10s per ton, c.i.f. Tow continues in good demand, No. 2 quality being quoted at £l3 to £l3 10s per ton, c.i.f. N.Z MEAT.—A MONTH’S REVIEW.

Generally speaking, writes the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. a slow trade has been experienced for all descriptions' of frozen mutton, but with stocks in moderate compass and in firm hands it has boon possible to obtain more money. New Zealand, Australian, and River Plato sheep marking increases of id to id, id to id, and id to |d p-er lb respectively. Canterbury mutton is quoted at 4j,d to 4|d per lb., and North Island at 3Jd to 4,kl per lb. Ewes range from 3gd to per lb. ... Recently some improvement m the inquiry for frozen lamb has been manifest, and at the close values have slightly recovered. Canterbury lamb is quoted at 4id to sid per lb, North Island at 4id to 42 d. ' Frozen beef has met with more inquiry, and prices generally, have ruled in favour of sellers, hindquarters and forequarters marking an advance of id to id per lb. New Zealand hindquarters arc quoted at 3id to 3id per lb, and forequarters at 2|d to 2id. C.C. AND D. REPORT. There has ben no arrival of mutton from New Zealand during the week, and the supplies now in store have got to cover requirements for the next five weeks. Therefore quotations are very firm, but the tendency to speculate is checked by uncertainty as to the course of prices for South American mutton. Canterbury sheep are very scarce, and are worth to 4|d per lb. North Island sheep are firmly held for prices ranging from to 4ad P or lb, the average being close to 4d per lb. Lambs are selling very .slowly. but stocks from New Zealand are light and are making a slightly better average, although the top quotations are unohangted. New Zealand beef is difficult to find, hut other sorts are in ample supply. _ There was a decided improvement in the inquiry toward the end of last w’eek, and as this has boon maintained, prices are firmer.

mip.v PRODUCE. A good demand has been experienced

1 this week for Australian butter, and on the whole prices show an advance from last week. Messrs Weddel report the quality as finding favour generally, although there is not the same high proportion of first grade as there is in the New Zealand butter. The market is clear of New Zealand descrintions. The- total butfior imported from British dominions from July 1 this year to November 24 is 47,515 cwt more than in 1910; _ but Canada alone accounts for an increase of 48,0220wt f so that from Australia and New Zealand together there is the small deficiency of 507 cwt. Th© import of j Canadian since July 1 to date is 2300 tons lin excess of the total imports for the j previous year. Now, however, very little more butter will be shipped from Canada until next May, unless prices here rise to an extravagant height, as navigation on the St. Lawrence closes this week. For cheese the market keeps firm, with a .steady demand for Canadian, with prices tending upward, the values here now being 69s to 71s per cvt Th© Turakina (it is noted by Messrs ".Teddol) is on her way from New Zealand with 26.800 cwt of New "Zealand cheese, against the Ruahine’s 18,220 cwt last year.