COMMERCIAL

Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10974, 14 March 1904, Page 4

COMMERCIAL

AGENT-GENERAL'S REPORT.

The Department of Industries and Commerce has received the following cablegram from the Agent-General, dated London the 6th inst:— "The mutton market is quiet ; there is a scarcity of prime quality mutton. Buyers are not inclined to make forward purchases of mutton at present prices. River Plate mutton is in short supply. Average price to-day for Canterbury brands is 4^£d per lb ; for Dunedin, Southland, and W.M.E. Co. 's brands, 4%d ; for other North Island brands, 4Jr£d, River Plate, 3%d. The lamb market is quiet; prices have slightly declined for all grades in anticipation of heavy arrivals. Average price to-day for New Zealand iamb, Canterbury brands is s%dperlb;for brands other than Canterbury s^d ; River Plate lamb is selling at 4^d to i%d. The beef market is steady ; stocks of New Zealand beef on hand are light. Average price to day for hindquarters, 3%d per lb ; fores, 3d per lb. The butter market is firm and active at the ad- . vanced price. Average price choicest' New Zealand butter to-day is 101 a per cwt; Danish, 116s; Argentine, 95a. The cheese market is steady, with an improved demand. Average price to day for finest New Zealand cheese is 48s per cwt. The hemp market is dull. Price of good fair Wellington grade on spot to-day is £31 per ton ; April to June shipments are selling at £30 10s. Stocks on hand at piesent are 1022 tons against 481 tons on hand at this date last year. The price of Manila hemp, fair current grade, on spot to-day, is £40 per ton ; April to June shipments are quoted at £36. The cocksfoot market is quiet, little doing, but good feeling prevails. The prospects of the hop market are favorable ; prices are firm at 140s per cwt." ' The following are the particulars of the importation of River Plate mutton, lamb and butter into the United Kingdom last month (February): — "Mutton, 151,545 carcases, of which 108,991 were landed at Liverpool, 19,772 at London, 7994 at Cardiff, 12,330 at Newcastle, 1208 at Southampton, 1300 at Plymouth, Lamb, 34,571 carcases, of which 29,169 were landed at Liverpool, 2252 at London, 3000 at Cardiff, 125 at Newcastle, 25 at Southampton ; 3537 cwt of butter were landed at Hull, Southampton and Liverpool."