COMMERCIAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 39, 9 October 1912, Page 8

COMMERCIAL.

The Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Limited and Deduced, under. da«e 29ch August, 1912, reports as follows from London: — Vvool.—Since the close of the sales on 2nd inst.,, 1 although trade in the country has, been somewhat affected ey Die holidays, there is a large turnover in the "manufacturing districts, and;prices for the raw material have a hardening tendency. American operators continue to purchase English wool as well as “eased” crossbred from Bradford, and with a moderate quantity likely to he available for tne fourth series fixed to commence on 21th September, there should then lie a good demand, probably with higher prices for- coarser sorts. , Sheep Skins.—At the auctions held from 31st .Inly to 2nd inst. the offering included about 8000 bales Austin I am m. (There was good competition, and as compared with the previous sales, June 13th and 14th, merino ruled at par to Rl dearer, whilst crossbred advanced Jd to id per lb., snort woolled sound pelted sorts of the latter often realising extreme prices.

New Zealand Hemp.—There lias been a good demand and'prices mark a further advance of £1 10s to £1 15s per ton. A fair amount of business uas recently been put through, owing co millers offering more freely at the higher rates now ruling. Wo quote: Good fair spot £27 10s, Octobcr-De-comber £27 10s, fair spot £23 Jos to £23, October-Decerabor £23 15s, and fair current Manila, Sep tern ber-No-voinber, £2O 15s per ton c.i.f. Tallow.—With the termination of the strike four auctions have been 'held during the month. There is still considerable difficulty in obtaining cleliveties, which lias served to keep the weekly offering moderate, and witlp a good demand from Russian and the Home trade, prices generally mark an advance of Is per cwt. Several sales have been made forward, good mixed realising 33s to 39s 6d, fine beef 31s Gd to 35s (id, and hard mutton up to 35s (id per cwt., c.i.f., but business is now checked by sellers asking more money. Stocks here are considerable, but shipments are likely to bo light, and though there may lie a slight reaction, the outlook appears healthy, and prices should he,about maintained. On, the spot we quote: Finest mutton 37s 6d to 38s, fair to good 30s to 37s (id, beef 30s to 375, and fair to good 31s (id to 35s (id per cwt. Frozen Meat.—While the strike at the Fort of London was settled in the early part of August, owing to the congestion of stocks in the dock

stores, complete deliveries cannot yet lie obtained of many of the earlier arrivals. For frozen mutton a good demand lias ruled, the falling off in supplies from the River Plate materially helping the market, with the result that recently prices, particularly for ewes and secondaries, have advanced. The very wet and celd weather experienced of late has had a most depressing effect on the lamb trade, the demand generally being very quiet, and values have declined id to t 1 d per lb. The market for chilled beef has been irregular, and while, for a time, with moderate supplies, hinds touched bgd per Hi. this week, witii heavy offerings, much lower prices have been accepted. A fair enquiry lias ruled for frozen sorts, but, in sympathy with chilled, prices have declined. AVe quote:—Scotch and English meat, 7d to Bpi; River Plate chilled beef, hinds. 3;fd to 4if<l, fores, 2!fd to 3d ; Canterbury sheep, -lid to I'd; North Island, Id to Rid; Australian, 3 7 d to lid; River Plate. 4d to ■I jjd; River Plate frozen beef.hinds 3-Jd to 4dfores 3d to3Jd ; New Zealand heat hinds 3 7 d to -Id. fores 3d to 3pl; New Zealand ewes 3pl to Id; Canterbury hi mb opl to (id; North Island lamb, •id to bpl; Australian beef, binds .‘P.d to 3id, fores 3d to 3J-d tier lb, off the hooks at Smithfield.