COMMERCIAL.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 53, 1 May 1895, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Mr Towers,, of Smithfield, Colonial Meat Agent, reports as follows of the frozen meat market, under date of 22nd March, 1895 : Mutton The present state of the Frozen Mutton Trade is most depressed, with no promising feature whatever in the ilium diate future. The attempt to reduce stocks, referred to in my circular four weeks ago, has been continued, only to a greater legree. Thousands of carcases have been sold without any apparent reference to their value or cost. When good New Zealand mutton is sold at 2-£ d per pound, it is well known there must be some heavy losses going on somewhere. This feature in the trade has brought about a feeling of uneasiness and uncertainty regarding the future, and there is a general tendency to “hold off” buying forward until the market becomes settled. Both at home and in the colonies everyone will be compelled to compare this season with those we liavo previously experienced. Hitherto the spring season has been alike satisfactory to the consignor and the consignee. The finer grades of New Zealand mutton have on the whole remained steady, but at the time of writing t'he holders are rather weaker than they have been, and we see a tendency to droop in value. Australian mutton is lower, and supplies fairly heavy. Lamb This has been moderately abundant and prices have been gradually receding. This movement has been assisted by the larger arrivals of Austra lian, but the quality of these is not equal to the requirements of the trade gener ally. Beef—The market is almost bare of supplies, and the present quotations are quite nominal. The “Buteshire” will not arrive for about a week, and as soon as her cargo is available we shall see a depreciation xu values, The present quotations are:

Mutton— Per 8lbs. New Zealand, Best North Canterbury 2/5-2/6 New Zealand medium and good grades 1/8—2/3 Australian and Queensland sheep 1/6 —1/7 La jibs— Best North Canterbury 3/5 —3/(i Australian 2/4 Beef— Queensland, hind quarters .. 3/0 ,, fore quartbrs .. 2/0