FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 23

FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

PROSPECTS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR,

LONDON, January 14

Weddel Company's annual report on the frozen meat trade states that there is no prospect of any increase in the supplies from the home herds and flocks, nor is there a likelihood of large increased supplies from Australia and New Zealand. Prices, therefore, can fail to be maintained in 1912, unless the Argentine floods the market with chilled meat. PRODUCE MARKET. WELLINGTON, January 10. The Commerce Division of the Department of Agriculture has received the following cable message from the High Commissioner, 'dated London, January 9. (Note.—Quotations, unless otherwise specified, are average'market price on spot.): Eggs. —Market firm, with good demand and a moderate supply. Per 120— Home,

14s to 17s; Dutch. 13s to 17s 6d; French 13s to 18s; Russian, 9s 6d to 12s; Danish, 12s 6d to 16s 6d; Aun&±«»an, 8s 6d to 12s j Italian, 12s 6d to 15s 6d. Poultry.—Market st'eadv ; demand only moderate. Chickens—Home, 8d to IOAd per lb; Russian. 8d to 9£d. DuoklinfiTß Home. 9d to lOd per Ibj Russian, 7d. Turkeys—French, 9d to 10« per lb; Continental, 8d to 9d.

Bacon.—The market is firm, with more inquiry. Sides—lrish, 51s to 59s per owt; Continental, 42s to 545; Canadian, 48s to 545.

Hams.—lrish. 80s to 112 s; English, 84s to 102 s; Canadian, 56s to 665; American, 50s to 58s. The market for hams is quiet, but steadv.

DUNEDIN MARKETS.

WHOLESALE TRODUCB REPORTS. T" nrd Or>lnn*h. street south, repprt under date the 16th inst. :

• • »■ .•"> pei 1/ ,-ln:i, T.est milling :>/. 0-4/0 Medium do ... 3/9 Fowls' ... 3/6—3/9 Milling oats 2/0-3/1 Feed oats ... 2/6— 2/10 Malt barley ... 4/9 Feed barky 3/I—3/6 Cane barley ... 4/0 ..'. ... 3/tf per ton. Flour, in 200*s ... 185/0 Flour, in 50'* ... 200/0 Pollard 1(0/ Bran ... ... 95/ Oatmeal, in 25*s £7O/6 Pearl barley .. 2-Sfi/i> ,

per ton Oaten .chaff Prime F5/o—9o/0 Medium 75/o—Bo/ Ryegrass and clover hay ... £O/0 Straw : Wheaten 37/0—42/6 Oaten... 45/0—47 16 Onion?, g00d240/0--SCO/0 Rolled bacou ... PJI Side bacon ... »d Smoked hams ... 101 Cheese ... 6H—7d Good salt butter ... 10d (iccordiug to quality)

Potatoes. —Market for old potatoes prao ticaljy over. New Oauiaru offering freely, £5 to £6 per ton. New potatoes in good demand, 83 to 103. THRU AND DAIRY PKODTJC*. Messrs Irvine and Stevenson. Georga street, report payini? for produce the weeic ending the 16th insi., as follows: Fresh fgw. Is Id <l> z I Separator butter, Salt biuitr : not buying I l>er lt» Fresh butter, eood ordinary (in lib and Jib prints), 9d to lid per lb. Pigs, 130 lb to 160ib, 5Jd. Honey, 3Jd. Fowls. 3s 1o 3s 6d (boiling). Potatoes, new, JE6 per ton.

THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CABLEGRAM.., WELLINGTON, January 15. Tho High Commissioner's cablegram, dated London, January 13, is as follows: — (Note. —Quotations, unless otherwise specified, are average market prices on spot):— Mutton. —The market has not much changed., tho tendency being slightly in favour of buyers. Canterbury, nominally, 4£cl per lb; North Island, 4|d. Lamb.—The market is very quiet as tho result of heavy arrivals. Australian, 4&d'; Argentine, 4£d. Nine thousand carcases of Now Zealand lamb have arrived, and are selling at s^d. Beef. —The beef market is very firm, affected by the uncertainty regarding fcha Argentine strike. Supplies are decreasing Ndw Zealand hinde, 3sd; fores, 3d. Butter. —The rra-rket is very firm. Tin demand for on the spot is good; also to arrive. Average price for the week foi choicest New Zealand butter, per cwt, 1355; Australian, 1325; Argentine, 131 s; Danish, 1395. The arrivals of butter during December were 5000 tons less than for December last year. The imports of butter into the United Kingdom during December, 1910, were 21,141 tons. Cheese. —The market is very firm, and with a general active demand.. The market shows signs of strength. Average price for the week: Choicest New Zealand cheese, per cwt, 73s 6d. The arrivals of cheese during December amounted to 3503 tons less than for December last. Tho imports of cheese into the United Kin*?-, dom duriijj December, 1910. were 10,319 tons.

Hemp.—The market remains firm, it having been favourably affected by the Mexican Government's sisal agreement. New Zealand good fair grade, on spot, £22 per ton; fair current grade, £2l; forward shipment Manila, on spot, £22; forward

shipment fair current Manila, £23. The output from Manila for the week was 27.000 bales. Wheat.—The market is quiet. New Zealand long-berried wheat, on spot, ex granary, per quarter of 496ib, 355; ehortborried wheat, 355. Oats.—There is a good demand for all descriptions, and the supply falle short of the demand. New Zealand oats, short Sparrowbillls, ex granary, spot, per quarter of 3841 b, 24s 6d; Danish, per quarter of 3201 b, 2Ce. Cocksfoot. —The seed market is very firm. Wool.—The market remains firm. Argentine Supplier. Mutton and Lamb.—River Plate shipments received during December, 1911: —

NEW ZEALAND LAMB. CIIRISTCHURCH, January 10. Although New Zealand lamb is quoted in the High Commissioner's cable this week, representatives of the meat companies here state that the season's lamb is not yet on the London market. A few seore of carcases were sent Home as Christinas presents, but the first commercial shipment, despatched by the Corinthic and Pakeha, cannot be on the London market before February 8. The quotations given are therefore unreliable. B.N.Z. MEAT AND PRODUCE COMPANY. CIIRISTCHURCH, January 10. The annual meeting of the British New Zealand Meat and Produce Company (Limited) was held this afternoon. The directors reported that for the year ended October 31, 1911, there was a balance at credit of profit and loss account of the sum of £3lOl 12s Bd. which they considered veiy satisfactory, and recommended that it be dealt with by the payment of an 8 per cent, dividend for the year, extinguish the debit standing against the defroster, and carry forward the balance—viz., £489 14s 4d. During tho year agencies were opened at Bristol and Cardiff, and business connections were now established at all tho chief centres throughout England and Scotland. The report and balance sheet wore adopted on the motion of the chairman, wlio gave a length}- review of the past season's operations. SOUTHLAND MARKETS. (Fbom Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, January 13. Oats.—Tho oat market is very quiet, and there are sellers of A grade Gartons at 3s, and even at this price business is not posiible. In the North Island buyers will not offer even 2s lOd, as they believe that, owing to the near approach of tho Canterbury crop, prices will go lower. Since prices have weakened more have been disclosed. especially in the Waimea

Plains, and parcels can be picked up very reasonably, but even at reasonable prices it is for the moment difficult to make sales. Tlie probability is, however, that for a month yet there will be nothing available from Canterbury, and it is possible that the main harvest there will not be available until towards the end of February or the beginning of March, local merchants are not at all anxious to buy at present, ana it is questionable whether any more than 2s 5d on trucks could be obtained for A grade Gartons to-day (sucks extra). Chaff. —There is a fair demand locally for chaff, but prices have eased somewhat, and any great quantity of chaff coming on to the market would soon cause a drop in price. Merchants are at present offerings £3 10s on trucks, but for near railages a trifle more would be given. At these prices merchants supply bags. Potatoes. —There lis nothing doing in potatoes, as there are very few locally grown potatoes offering, and supplies have to be drawn from Dunedin or Auckland. The season for old potatoes is just about over, and merchants are glad to get 30s per ton for them, ex. store, Invercargill.

Hemp. —The hemp market continues firm, and there are numerous inquiries from London, but so far the beet price offering has been £2O 10s for fair, and £2l 5s for good fair, c.i.f. and e., London. It is expected that if merchants were in a position to supply anv hemp, even higher prices than these could be obtained. There has been a fair demand from twine manufacturers throughout the Dominion for making the new season's output of twine high. Good to fair has been sold at as high as £l9 on trucks. Tow: There is also a very good demand for tow, but very little tow is offering, as the number of mills working | is very small. If prices took a futher turn for the better for hemp it is supposed that a good many more mills would start very shortly, and merchants would then be able to supply their tow orders. j Fowl Wheat.—The Auckland market for : fowl wheat is easier, and supplies here are very moderate, and sellers are difficult to find. Merchants here are open to buy good, whole fowl wheat at from 2s 2d to 3s 3d on trucks, sacks extra. _ i Ryegrass. —There is very little eloing in ryegrass as farmers have now completed their sowing for the season, and. owing to the near approach of the new season's har- ; vest. North Island buyers arc hanging off in the hope that prices may go lower.

OAMARU MARKETS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) OAMARU, January 13. Wheat has been freely inquired for during the week, but there js very little offering. The quantity remaining in growers hands is comparatively small, and holders are still disinclined to sell, believing that better terms will be obtainable before new grain comes on tho market, and in that view they are fortified by the certainty that tho harvest will be two or three weeks late. The market has hardened a shade. At the beginning of the week a small line of red chaff was secured at 3s 6d, less commission, at a country station, but since then a penny more was given „ for 400 sacks of tho same variety. A modest parcel of Tuscan changed hands, ex store, at, 3s Btl. The present value of all varieties «Jt crime milling wheat is given as 3s 6d

net, at country stations. For fowl wheat 3s 10J f.o. b.,s.i. has been given, but 3s 9gd has since been quoted. A small lot of feed Garton oats was taken at 2s 8d net at a country station. Some samples of early Algerians have been submitted, but no transactions are recorded. GRAIN AND PRODUCE SALES. Messrs Donald Reid and Co. report: — We held our weekly auction 6ale of- grain and produce at our stores on Monday, when values ruled as under:—Oats: We offered a small catalogue of medium to prime quality. There was very little competition, and the bulk of the offering was passed in. Buyers are not inclined to purchase except for actual orders, and the demand is therefore quiet. Prime milling, 2s lOJkl; good to best feed 2s 9di to 2s lOd; inferior to medium, 2s 6d to 2s 8d per bushels (eacks extra). Wheat: Only small lots of prime milling quality are offering, and these are being gradually taken up by millers. Medium milling is being sold chiefly for fowl feed in the absence of other qualities offering for this purpose. Primo milling velvet, 3s lid;* Tuscan, etc.", 3s to 3s lOd ; medium, 3« 9d; best whole fowl \vh-?at, 3s 8d to 3s 8 id; medium, 3s 5d to 3s 7d; broken and damaged, 2s lOd to 3s 2d p-r bushel (sacks extra}. Potatoes: We off'red a few old potatoes in good conditio i. which realised 36s per ton (sacks inch':':'.!) Chaff: Fair supplies are coming for'.'••«rd. and these meet only moderate dema] :1. Prime quality alone is readily saleable Best oaten sheaf, £4 2s 6d to £4 s*: choice, to £4 7s 6d; medium to Rood, £3 15s to £4; old and discoloured, £3 to £3 10s per ton (sacks extra)!

Messrs Dalgety and Co. report as follows:—We held our weekly auction sale of grain and produce at our stores on Monday, when we offered a varied catalogue to the usual attendance of buyers. Bidding was slack throughout, and the bulk of the offerings were passed. Oats: Owing to fcho absence of shipping demand the market has gradually receded, and it is very difficult to effect sales at even a reduction in present prices. Prime, milling. 2s lOd; good to best feed. 2s 7d to 2s 9d; inferior to medium, 2s scl to 2s 6d per bushel (bags extroa). Wheat: Owing to the favourable reports in London there is a better tone in the market. There is, however, very little offering, and prices may be quoted firm at late rates. Prime velvet. 3* lOd to 3s lid ; velvet-ear and Tuscan,. 3s 9d to 3s lOd ; best whole fowl feed, 3s 8d to 3s 9d ; inferior, 3s 5d to 3s 6d per bushel (bags extra). Potatoes: We had none on offer at to-day's sale. Chaff: In sympathy with oats, the chaff market is slightly easier. There is no shipment taking place, and the demand :6 more than equal to last week's supply. Best black oat chaff, £4 5s to £4 7s 6d; best white- oat chaff, £4 to £4 ss: medium to good. £3 5s to £3 17s 6rl; inferior, £2 10s to £3 per ton (bags extra). HIDE SALES. MELBOURNE. January 11. At the hide sales to-day there were largo supplies. Competition was excellent, and prices were very firm. OTAGO FARMERS' HORSE BAZAAR. The. Ote.go Farmers' Co-operative Association of New Zealand (Lid.) report:

Wo held our usual weekly horse sale ab the Bazaar, Crawford street, on Saturday, when we had entry of 40 spring-cart, lightharness horses and hackneys. Draught mares and geldings were scarce, and we could have placed several had they been on offer. Th© attendance was good, contractors and town carriers and the fanning community being well represented. Consignments came from Milton, Middlemaroh, and outlying districts, and although bidding was a little slow at the commencement, it improved as the sale proceeded, and in consequence a good proportion of tho entry found new stables. Wo quote: Extra good Clydesdale mares and fillies, suitable for stud purposes, 50gs to 75gs; good youug draught mares, £35 to £45; superior young draught weldings, suitable for shaft or lorry work, £35 to £45; extra, to £55; ordinary draught mares and geldings, at from £25 to £32; aged draughts, at from £8 to, £2O; strong upstaniiig vanners, at from £lB to £3O; lieavy springcarters, at from £lB to £25; ordinary spring-carters, at from £l4 to £25; upstanding buggy horses, at from £l6 to £22: hackneys" and cob ponies, «t from £3 to £l2. STATION PROPERTY SALES. The National Mortgage and Agency Company reports the sale, on account of Mr George Rutherford, of his " Dale- j thorpe " property, of 17,770 acres, at j Springfield, together with the whole of i the station flock of merino and halfbrrd sheep, to Messrs Bowron and Smith. The flock is noted as one of the best in the Canterbury prorinoe. The property has been in the hands of the present owner for 39 years, he having acquired the freehold from the Government, and it is the first change of ownership during the lengthy period. The sale was effected through the agency of Messrs W. J. Hopkins and Co. : Tho same firm also reports the sale of the Kaipara Estate. Auckland, comprising 1,5,000 acres, with stock and plant, on account of Messrs Bowron Bros.. Christchurch, to Messrs Hutchison and Maddison, Canterbury, farmers. PROPERTY SALE. At their rooms in Alanee street on Mon day afternoon Messrs Park, Reynolds and Co. submitted for sale a number of sections at Karitano (Puketeraki), but the attendance was poor, and the bidding anything but brisk. One section (No. 25 on the plan) was knocked down at £3O to Henry Glanville, all the others offered being passed in at sums ranging from £l3 to £3O. Section 16 was disposed of privately after the sale, the price being £2O.

Mutton. Lamb Carcases. Carcaec At London ... 59,481 42,fE8 At Liverpool ... 186,883 82,819 At Hull ... 66,000 338 At Newcastle ... 18,397 2,700 At Southampton 7,567 32C At Cardiff 6,553 — Totals ... 344,881 128,465