AUSTRALIAN MUTTON AND LAMB.

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 15

AUSTRALIAN MUTTON AND LAMB.

MELBOURNE, June 15. The.commonwealth Government has decided to allow 37,000 carcases of mutton to proceed, conditionally upon its being supplied to the British Government instead of to private firms. The Government has taken action to totally prohibit the export of mutton and lambs from Australia. • The Victorian Government has seized 12 trucks of meat being shipped to J oudon *>y the Angliss Company. It is alleged that the same firm has already shipped 57,000 carcases of mutton in defiance of the Government’s orders, June 20. Tire commission investigating the price of meat reports that owing to the scarcity of meat and stock present values are not expected to-ease for some months. It is impracticable to fix prices. There is no evidence that prices have been artificially raised by vendors. SYDNEY, June 20. A visiting New Zealand pastoralist agent Suggests a simple way of relieving the meat market. Get the Government to lift the import tax on sheep and thus give New- Zealand exporters an opportunity of Competing. New Zealand has more sheep than she wants. June 21. A meeting of the Master Butchers’ Association was pessimistic in tone. The

speakers declared that Sydney was faced with a serious meat famine. It was decided that in future retailers should not allow' credit. It was stated that in the past few weeks mutton had risen 100 per cent., and beef from 50 to 70 per cent. Many butchers had been forced to close. The Hon. Mr Flowers, when interviewed regarding the 300,000 carcases of mutton in cold storage, said he held it in trust for the Imperial authorities, and it Was impossible to touch it.

COMMERCIAL CABLEGRAMS. LONDON, June 16. Wheat: The American visible supplies total 37,192,000 bushels; Chicago, July, 102| cents; September, IOOf cents. The market is dull and declining. Wheat is lower, Indian suffering a further Is 6d decline. Linseed oil, £26. Turpentine, 35s 6d. At the tallow sales 2139 casks were offered and 1235 sold. Mutton: Fine, 35s 6d; medium, 365. Beef: Fine, 355; medium, 30s. June 17. The Bank of England returns show that the stock of gold coin and bullion is £55,368,000; reserve, £42,033,000 proportion of reserve to liabilities, 19.46; circulation, £32,947,000; Government deposits, £113,042,000; other deposits, £139,489,000. The securities are not given. Discount on short loans. If per cent.; three months’ bills, 2| per cent. Following are the prices for Government stocks as compared with those ruling a week ago :

* Early currency. _ t 1029-1043 currency. ’ j 1920-30 currency. Wheat is'quiet and unchanged. Flour continues to decline. Oats are quiet. Bahia Blanca JuneJuly shipment, 26s 4^d. Beans are dull. Peas are inactive. New Zealand blues, £3 to £4. Butter —firmer, dry weather checking European supplies. Choicest Australian, nominally 136 s to 140 s; secondary, 133 s to 1345; New Zealand, cleared. Cheese—dull. New Zealand, 945; exceptional, 965. Sugar is firm and unchanged. Bradford Wool Market.—Merinos and fine crossbreds are hardening on a good demand for present and future deliveries, but sellers are reluctant to accept more orders. Sixty-fours, 42d; super sixties, 41^d; common sixties, dOj-d; fifty-sixes, 35d ; fifties, 33d ; forty-sixes, 27-i-d ; forties, 25Jid. * June 18. Further Bank of England returns are: Government securities, £51,042,000 other securities, £139,489,000. State Loans. —New Zealand 4 per cents., £95 5 S Lead. —£25 15s to £26 10s. Imports, 31,232 tons (Australasian 9118 tons); exports, 4816 tons. Copper, £B2 to £B3. Electrolytic, £95 to £96. Tin—Spot, £l6B 10s to £169. Silver, 23id., June 19. Wheat is dull on lower official Indian quotations and good weather reports' from America and Canada. Chicago July options, 104£ to 106 i cents; September options, to 105 cents. Banish butter, 149 s to 1525. Jute: New crop, August delivery, £24 ss. Hemp, £32. Rubber: Para, 2s 6|d; plantation, 2s s£d; smoked, 2s sgd. Copra: June-July, £2l. Quicksilver, £l6 to £l6 ss. Cotton: June-July, 5.24 d. FROZEN MEAT MARKET. LONDON, June 19. The following are the latest quotations for all classes of meat, including ex-store sheep. In the case of those not quoted the • 1 1

THE WOOL SALES. SYDNEY, June 17

The wool sales show a steady improvement for better classes, which are from 5 to per cent, above last week’s rates. The week’s wool sales closed to-day. Best wools fetched from 5 to 10 per cent, above the last sales, while faulty were still neglected. Greasy sold to 14d and scoured to 20|d. June 21. At the wool sales to-day there was a strong demand for all better classes at full late rates, with an advancing tendency. Short burry sorts were out of favour. DUNEDIN MARKETS. FARM AND DAIRY PRODUCE. Messrs MTiroy Bros, (successors to Irvine and Stevenson), George street, report paying for produce during the week ending the 22nd inst., as follows : Fresh eggs. 1/7 uoz I Separator Butter, 1/1 lb bale butter; nrt buying 1 Honey (bulk), 3Jd lb WHOLESALE PRODUCE REPORTS. J. L'.idsay and Co., Princes street south, report under date, the 22nd inst.;

Wheat per bushel. ‘ Best milling ... 7/3 Fowls' <i/ 1 0 Milling oats ... 4/3 Feed oats.. ... 3/9 Malt barley ... 5/0 Feed barley ... 5/ti Cape barley ... 6/a Maize 6/0 per ton. Hour, in 200’g ... 35(7 ' Flour, in 5(/s ... Bti&/0 bollard 180/0 Uran 155/0 Oatmeal, in 25’s 400/0 i'earl barley .. 430/0 Kggs, fresh ... 1/9

Oaten cnaff Prime 14f/0 Good 130/0 Inferior (0/0-95/0 Ryegrass and clover hay 13 Y i Straw: Wheaten ... £5/0 Oaten tO/0 Rolled bacon ... lOd Side bacon ... 9d Smoked hams ... lOd Cheese Bd-9d Sait butter ' 9d— rod (according to quality/

Onions. —Canterbury, £5 per ton. Chaff.—This market is firm, and prices are good. We would be pleased to receive samples or have the offer of any you may have for sale. ' Prime, 140 s; medium, from 90s to 110 s per ton. Potatoes. —Best lots are saleable at up to £5 5s per ton. Straw Chaff. —Wheaten, 62s 6d; oaten, 70s. HIGH COMMISSIONER’S REPORT. WELLIGNTON, Juno 21. The High Commissioner cabled on June 19 (note that the quotations, unless otherwise specified, arc the average market prices on spot);— Mutton."—Market firm, and prices continue to advance. There is a fair demand, despite higher prices. Canterbury, for best quality light weight; heavy weights, 7d; North Island, for light weight; ordinary quality, 7d; ewes, 6|d. Lamb. —Market quiet. There is no alteration in prices for light weight. Second grade is quoted at 8 5-15 d. Beef. —A very limited supply of New Zealand beef is available. Nominal quotations: Hinds, 8d; fores, 7d; chilled hinds, 83d; fores, 7|d. Butter.—Market firm. Danish, 146 sto 1495; New Zealand, 140 s to 142 s and up to 1445; Australian, 136 s to 140 s; Siberian, 150 s to 1325; Irish creamery, 136 s to 138 s; Argentine, 156 s to 138 s. Cheese.—Market quiet. Prices have declined further for colonial and United States cheese. About the beginning of the week prices declined sharply, but the market closed firmer, and prices for New Zealand have advanced Is to 2s since the day before yesterday. Canadian (quiet)—white, 92s to 945; coloured, 90s to 925; Now Zealand (improved demand) —white, 92s to 945; coloured, 90s to 935; United States (in fair demand) —white, 90s to 925; coloured, 88s to 90s, according to quality and sizo.

Hemp.—Market, steady, hut demand only moderate. Now Zealand good fair grade, £32 10s; fair, £SO 10s; fair current Manila, £3B 10s. Forward shipment: New Zealand good fair, £3l 15s; fair, £29 10s; Manila, £3B. The output' from Manila for the week was 24,000 hales. It is impossible to forecast the prospects for hemp, but I anticipate little change in values for some time.

Wheat. —During the last week tire market has been inactive but is now somewhat steadier. Canadian April-June shipment,

51s per quarter; American July-August, 44s ; Argentine, not quoted. Oats. —Market quiet, and s' .iall business doing. Argentine Juno-July shipments, 26s per quarter.

Hops.—Market firmer, and increasing demand for better grades. . English, 90s to 115 s; Californian, 75s to 105 s. Wool. —-Market strong. Prices for fine wools advanced sharply. OAMARU MARKETS. (From Gun Own Correspondent.) O AMARU, June 19. Business in this district has been almost a blank this week in well-nigh every department. There is very little grain offering from the country, and the only sale of wheat reported is one of a small line of red chaff, which was taken at a country station at 7s net. In oats the solitary transaction at a country station was the sale of a modest line of medium quality Duns at 4s Id, less commission. A lino of A Grade Cartons changed hands at 4s f.o.b. Oamaru. Oaten sheaf chaff is really unprocurable at present, and prime heavy is worth from £6 10s to £7 net at country stations. Lighter descriptions would command proportionate prices. Straw chaff has been pretty well worked out. Potatoes have further advanced during the week, with few sellers. A few lots were obtained at £6 net on trucks, but those terms have been declined by growers, and £6 5s has been conceded in several instances for prime Up-to-dates. A good quantity of Gamekeepers was secured at from £4 to £4 5s net on tracks for seed purposes.

SOUTHLAND MARKETS. (From Odb Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, Juno 21

The oat market is quiet, but very firm, as growers, for the most part, refused to consider anything below 4s on trucks, at country sidings, sacks extra. Some purchases have been made on (ho basis ot 3s 9d for B grade Cartons, but no quantity is procurable at this figure. Despite the fact that large quantities of oats are going forward to Bluff, it is wonderful how many bags arc being exported for northern ports or to Australia. The export to Australia is in fulfilment of sales made to the commonwealth Defence Department. The chaff market is very firm, and £6 has been freely paid, whilst for forward delivery rather higher prices are obtainable. One great problem confronting merchants in regard to chaff is the shortage of storage accommodation at Bluff and the lack of shipping facilities. One merchant who had 10,000 sacks of straw chaff to ship this month thought himself lucky to get 3000 bags away. There is a good demand for both oaten and whpaten .straw chaff, and, £3 on trucks has been paid for oaten and £2 10s for wheaten. It is now difficult to get supplies, as many farmers consider it a short-sighted policy to sell their straw, and a largo number of sacks, not having been specially thatched or covered, have been damaged by rain. The potato market is very firm, and up to £5 has been paid, but growers arc not showing much disposition to sell at this price. Peed potates are also being inquired for, but, as already mentioned, the crop in Southland this season is not large, and the future is entirely in the hands of Canterbury farmers and merchants. There is nothing doing in undressed rye grass seed; in fact, there is none offering now. The hemp market is quiet, but there is a good market for consumption in New Zealand, and probably £25 could be obtained for good fair, on trucks, and £24 for high point fair. There is not a great deal doing in wheat, and milling red straw has been bought at up to 6s Sid, on trucks, and fowl wheat at from 5s to 6s 3d, according to quality. Flour remains unchanged, the local wholesale price being £l7 10s, on trucks, at Invercargill. GRAIN AND PRODUCE SALES. Messrs Dalgcty and Co. report, as follows:—Oats: Although the quantity offering of late has not been heavy, there s no alteration in values. Any good lines of bright heavy oats are taken for local consumption at late values. Shippers are not operating freely. Prime milling, 4s 2d to 4s 3d; good to best feed, 4s to 4s Id; inferior and damaged, 3s 9d to 3s lid per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat: There has boon more inquiry of late for lines in good milling condition, more particularly velvet, of which there is not a largo quantity offering. Fowl wheat is in good supply,' and meets a fair demand at quotations. Prime milling velvet, 7s to 7s 3d; Tuscan and red wheats, 6s 9d to 6s lid; best whole fowl wheat,. 6s 6d to 6s 8d per bushel (sacks extra). Potatoes: Of late shippers have been operating freely at increased values. Owing to the risk of importation being stopped exporters are not so keen pending further developments. There is a good demand locally for choice, well graded samples, which are readily cleared at quotations on arrival. Choice lots, to £7 ss; good to best tables. £6 10s to £7; medium to good, £6 to £6 5s per ton (sacks in). Chaff: During the past week there has been a good demand for all bright, heavy oaten sheaf, which is readily placed on arrival. There has been a good demand for shipment in addition to a good local inquiry, with the result that values are firm. Straw chaff: There has also been a demand for both wheaten and oaten, and shippers have been operating freely. Best oaten sheaf, £6 15s to £7 ss; good, £6 10s to £6 15s; medium, £6 to £6 7s 6d per ton (sack's extra). Messrs Donald Reid and Co. report:—We held our weekly sale of grain and produce on Monday, when values ruled as under : Oats: During the past week the inquiry for export lines has not been so keen. Offerings have been light, and business consequently restricted. Quotations, however, are practically unchanged, and we do net anticipate any immediate decline in values. Prime milling, 4s 2d to 4s 3d; good to best feed, 4s to 4s 2d; inferior to medium, 3s 9d to 3s lid per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat: Millers’ immediate requirements are not heavy, and they are therefore not buying freely, their operations being confined chiefly to choice lots. Medium quality is not in request except as fowl wheat, which meets with fair demand at late values. Prime milling velvet, 7s to 7s 2d; Tuscan, etc., 6s lOd to 6s lid; best whole fowl wheat, 6s 6d to 6s 8d; medium, 6s to 6s 4d per bushel (sacks extra). Potatoes: Tire market early last week had a very firm tone, and several buyers wore keen purchasers at prices then ruling. The New Zealand Prime Minister’s utterance as to the probability of restricting the export of potatoes had the effect of retarding business, but at present late quotations are

practically maintained. Best table potatoes, £6 15s to £7; choice, to £7 ss; medium, £5 to £6 ICs per ton (sacks included). Cnaff: There is ready sale for prime quality at prices fully equal to late quotations. Medium lines arc not so saleable, but straw chaff, both oaten and wheaten, meets with strong demand at record prices. Best oaten sheaf, £6 15s to £7; choice, to £7 ss; medium to good, £6 to £6 10s. Straw chaff—oaten, £5 5s to £3 15s; wheaten, £3 to £3 ICs per ton (bags extra).

HIDE SALES. MELBOURNE, Juno 17. At the hide sales to-day there was good competition for all classes. Good-conditioned heavy-weights, specially selected, were id to |d dearer.

The Dunedin Woolbrokers’ Association (Messrs Dalgety and Co., A. Moritzson and Co., National Mortgage and Agency Company, New Zealand Loan and Mercantile .Agency Co., Otago Farmers’ Co-operative Association, Donald Reid and Co., fStrouach, Morris and Co., and Wright, Stephenson, and Co.) reports as follows ; —Medium-sized catalogues wore offered at the sale on Thursday, when competition was exceedingly keen, prices showing a decided improvement on those of the previous sale. The advance in prices may be quoted at from £d to Id per lb on ox hides of all weights, while cow hides showed a rise of to fa per lb. Quotations: —Ox hides: Extra stout, 12d to 12gd; stout, to medium to good, 10|d to lid; light lOfd to IGgd. Cow hides: stout, 9gd to lOd; medium and heavy, to 9Jd; light, B|d to 9gd. Damaged and inferior ox and cow hides sold at from id to Id per lb below these prices, according to condition. Yearlings, B|d to B£d; calfskins, best, 10|d to 10|d; medium to good, 9|d to lO^d; inferior, 5d to 7d per lb. Messrs Waters, Ritchie, and Co. report as follows : —We held our fortnightly sale of hides yesterday afternoon. There was the usual attendance of buyers, and competition was again very active, shippers keenly competing with local tanners for all descriptions of well-flayed lines. The market showed an advance of £d to id per lb on cows, and from id to id per lb on ox. We had some particularly good bides in our catalogue, and for these splendid prices wore obtained. In two instances over la per lb was paid. Our catalogue consisted of 398 hides and 230 yearling and calfskins —a total of 628. The following wore some of our best prices: —Ox: One 721 b, 12^d; one 651 b, 12id; two 701 b, ll|d; one 661 b, lid; 59 651 b, 10-Jd; one 631 b, 10|d; 15 551 b, I0|d; three 641 b, 10|d; one 781 b, 10|d; four 511 b, 10|d; 33 54ib, 10|d; three 501 b. 10-Rl Cows; Four 631 b, 9|d; 23 451 b, 9|d; seven 371 b. 9|d: 12 471 b, 9id; 17 391 b, 9id; 61 501 b, 9id; 34 491 b, 9id; one 621 b, 9gd; one 641 b, 9gd; three 491 b, 8d; one 421 b. 9d; 12 381 b, 9d; 12 301 b, 9d; and four 351 bat 9d per lb. We quote;— Ox: Extra, lid to 12|d; stout heavy, 10|fl to lOSd; heavy. 10id to 10J,d ; medium, 9?d to 10|d; light, 9d to Sid. Cow; Extra stout, to 9id; heavy and medium, B|d to 9^d; light, Bid to 9|d; damaged and bad-conditioncd ox and cow, from 6d to Bid; bull and stag, 6d to Old; calfskins, 10|d to IOSd for best; medium, 9|-d to lOd; damaged and inferior, 3£d to 8d per lb. RABBITSKIN SALES. The Dunedin Woolbrokers’ Association (Messrs Dalgety and Co., A. Moritzson and Co., National Mortgage and Agency Company, New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Otago Fanners’ Co-opera-tive Association, Donald Reid and Co.. Stronach, Morris, and Co., and Wright, Stephenson, and Co.) report as follows;—■ The fortnightly sales of rabbitskins were held on Monday, and fair-'catalogues wore offered to the usual attendance of buyers. Competition was good, and prices were fully up to those ruling at the test sale. Quotations; Prime winter do~s, I2d to 16d; early winters, lOd to 12 1 1 ; autumn and incoming, 9|d to lid; racks, 6.1 d to 7Jsd; runners and suckers, 3j.d to 4d; prime winter blacks. 24d to 30d; autumn blacks, 12d to 38d; fawns, to 12d. Horsehair, 17d to 21d per lb. Catskins, Id to 6d each. CLEARING SALES. Messrs Dalgety and Co. report having held a clearing sale at Macraes Flat on behalf of the Public Trustee, in the estate of the late Mr James Griffiths, sen., deceased. Owing to the inclement weather there was not a big attendance, but a most satisfactory sale resulted. The _ first lot to be put up .was the farm, comprising about 209 acres, and this, after spirited bidding, was sold at £5 7s per acre. Stock was well competed for, and sold as follows; —Two-tooth ewes, 20s 6d; mixod-sex lambs, 13s 6d; fullmouthed crossbred owes, in lamb, 14s Id; calves and yearling cattle, from £2 3s to £5, Implements and sundries brought satisfactory prices.

The National Mortgage and Agency Co. and Messrs Quin and Rodger report having hold a sale at “Horsburgh " on the 11th or: account of Mr Jas. Davidson. I’lie day was beaut.fully fine, and a very largo attendance was attracted, buyer's being present from Waimate, Roxburgh, Clinton, Orawia (Western District), Gore, and Waikaka. ror some years Mr Davidson has devoted ms timer to building up a good Romney stud, and has at the' various shows and annual ram fairs established a reputation for his stock. It was unfortunate that the dispersal of such an important flock should bo forced at tins season of year, and more especially when feed is in limited quantity. Notwithstanc.- ' ing this, there was keen competition througnout, and fair prices realised. The following *re the sales: —Sheep: Stud ram (Ellrani), to Mr E. K. Sim, 14gs; 2 do, to Mr C. Hill, at 7£gs and 4gs; 11 two and three-shear ewes, to Mr Geo. Howat, at to Mr E. K. Sim, at Hill, at 2gs; 20 f.m. ewes, to Mr £. K. Sim, Iggs; 18 do, to Mr J. F. Herbert, Ugs; 13 two-tooth ewes, to Mr A. M‘lntyre, 2|gs; 48 do, to Mr Hill, l|gs; 30 ewe hoggets, to Mr W. Ayson, 2gs; 56 do, to Mr Hill, at 14gs; 62 ram hoggets, to Mr W. Daley, Ign; pen fat wethers at 30s, pen do at 245, pen fat ewes at 22s 6d, 42 crossbred hoggets, at 15s 6d. Cattle: 6 steers, £5 5s to £lO4 heifer's, £6 to £8 10s; milk cows, £8; calves, 255. Horses: Bay gelding, 6yrs, £3O; mare, syrs, £36; black gelding, 4yrs, £44; gelding, 3yrs, £4l; mare, 3yre, £4O; filly, 2£yrs, £25 10s; aged gelding, £3 10s; pony, £7 10s. OTAGO FARMERS’ HORSE BAZAAR. Th© Otago Farmers’ Co-operative Association of New Zealand (Ltd.) reports: We held our weekly horse sale in cut bazaar on Saturday, when we had an entry of 52 horses all told. There was a good attendance of town carriers and contractors, but owing perhaps to the roughness of the day the farming community, was not in evidence. The entry comprised several good useful town and farm mares and geldings, but owing to the high price of feed town men are not keeping any spare horses, and speculators are not operating. Bidding throughout the auction was dull, but we managed to quit a fair proportion of the entry at Satisfactory prices. We quote : Good young fraught mares, £2B to £35; superior young draught geldings, fit for shaft or lorry work, £3O to £3B; ordinary draught mares and geldings, £2O to £25; aged draughts, to £ls; good upstanding vanners, at from £lB fco £25; ordinary spring-carters, at from £ls lo £2O; upstanding buggy mares and geldings, £ll to £2O; hacks and ponies, £5 to £l2.

Victorian 4’s June 10. 07 June 17. 06i Victorian 34’s * — — Victorian 34’s — 91J Victorian 34’s f ... 76J 78 i Victorian 3’s June 3. June 10. 834 New South Wales 4's ... June 10. June 17. 954 New South Wales Si's 87J 87| New South Wales 34’sJ • 834 S3i New South Wales 3’s 78i 78| Queensland 4’s 97 95J Queensland 34’s ' Oli — Queensland 3’s 743 - 76i South Australian Si’s — 85i South Australian 3's — 70 New Zealand 4A’s — — New Zealand 4’s Ooh 4New Zealand Si’s SH — New Zealand 3’s 7 GJ — Tasmanian BJ’s — 85J Tasmanian 3’s — 7GA West Australian Si’s 87* 874 West Australian 3’s 82 82

price is unchanged: — •Tune 12. June ID. d. d. Canterbury mutton, light ... ~ 7 7i Canterbury mutton, medium .« 7 n Canterbury mutton, heavy ... _ 6-{ 7 Southland mutton — — N.I. mutton, best brands, 66-841b 7 7* N.I. mutton, ordinary, 68-64ib 6} 7 N.Z. ewes' Qh 6# Australian mutton, light ... „ G 7-18 6 1-18 Australian mutton, medium — — Australian mutton, heavy ... 6$ — Australian ewes 6i — Eiver Plate mutton, light, 40-S6Lb 6} River Plate mutton, heavy, 6G-731b G i River Plate ewes Canterbury lamb, light — Canterbury lamb, second quality — Canterbury lamb, medium .„ Cauterbury lamb, heavy — ... North Island iamb, selected 8] North island lamb, ordinary ... 8 5-10 Southland Iamb, selected ... ... ■ Southland lamb, ordinary ... ... — Australian Iamb, best brand# 8J — Australian lamb, fair quality 8 Australian Iamb, inferior ... ... 7 7 - River Plate lamb, first quality... 7 River Plate iamb, second quality New Zealand beel, fores — _ New Zealand beef, hind# ... Australian beef, fores ... „. Australian beef, hind# — - B. Plate beef, chilled fore# .„ 7§ 7$ 8 J E. Plate beel, ohilled hind# 8J K Plate beef, frozen fore# R. Plat* beel, frozen hind# ... S. American lambs, first quality — S. American lambs, second quality Rabbits are quiet, but firm. Other meats two unchanged.