THE ENGLISH MARKETS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3559, 10 May 1901, Page 2

THE ENGLISH MARKETS.

The New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative [Association of Christchnrch, the Canterbury fanners' Co-operative Association of Timara, the Hawke's Bay Fanners' Cc-opera-tirß Association of Napier, and the Far 7 Biers' Co-operative Fire and Marine Insurance Association of Canterbury colonial produce report dated London, April 6th, 2902, is as follows: WOOL.—The second -series of colonial .wool sales for the current year which commenced on the 19th ulfc. closed on the 27th, 'baring' occupied 11 selling days -with an average daily offering of 12,046 bales as compared with 10,233 bales at the corresponding sales lasc year. About 66,000 bales were taken for export, including 4000 far ' America. The attendance was good throughout, all classes of the trade being ■well represented, including America. Values at the opening for merino wool showed no change from the January l«rd, while fine crosshreds were 5 per cent, and coarse descriptions 7£ per. cent, lower, Yorkshire buyers operating freely, but Continental bouses sparingly. The latter were evidently hoping to get in at a lower level and held aloof for a week, but finding no further depreciation in values, they gradually increased their demand until it equalled that of the English buyers, and with some American purchases, merinos improved up to 5 to 10 per cent, above last sales' rates. Of erossbreds the selection was large and generally of good growth, but duriig the progress of the sales the different grades fluctuated to some extent j the finest qualities gradually recovering their position and uMmately ruled a little dearer than in the month of February. Medium growths of good style amd condition were freely taken for America and appreciated to a moderate extent, but all other grades of coarse wools were disappointing, and fell short of last sales' level by s x to 7£ per cent At the close of the sales, prices for well got-trp and good conditioned parcels of merino ruled .very firm, at the highest level of the series, while Yorkshire houses paid full rates for the finer crossbred selections. WOOLLED SHEEPSKINS. There have been no public sales since our last, and the next will be held on the 18th inst. The private enquiries have been small, and only a few lots of merino and fine crossbred have changed hands. Present quotations are: Merino, full-woolled, 5d to 6id; merino, half and three-quarter woolled, 4fd to merino, short and shorn, 3fd to 4§d; crossbred, full-woolled, fine, 5d to sfd; crossbred, full-woolled, coarse, 4d to sd; crossbreed, half to -three-quarter woolled, fine, 4£d to sd; crossbred, half to three-quarter woolled, coarse, 3d to 3fd; crossbred, short and shorn, 2£d to 3f<L WHEAT. Business at Mark Lane has been somewhat restricted, but owing to the strained relations between. England and Russia in the East, there was some speculative buying which raised values 6d per quarter. With heavy supplies, however, and weaker prices from America, the market closes flat. English wheat continues in diminished supply, and some of the county markets are becoming bare causing millers to turn to imported descriptions for their immediate requirements. The average price is now 25s 8d against 25s lid in the corresponding week of last year. Of New Zealand cargoes, the Macduff, from Lyttelton, with 8366 quarters, has been ordered to Hull, and the Hermiane, from Oamaru, with 7156 quarters, is still off coast. For shipment, a cargo of 9000 quarters is reported sold for March-April at about 28s 3d, c.Lf. to United Kingdom f.o. On spot, values are 6d dearer, owing to the scarcity of English, and we now quote long-berried at 29s 6d to 30s, and short-berried at 28s 6d to 29s per 4961b5., ex store. OATS.—Are steady and about 3d dearer. New Zealand ordinary bluff and sparrow bills are worth 23s 6d to 245, and fine Canadians 27s to 28s per 3841b5., ex store. Duns are quoted at 18s 6d per 3361b5., ex store. BARLEY.—For malting there are a few enquiries, but the trade is not active, while grinding sorts are neglected. The stocks of New Zealand here are now being worked off slowly at 25s to 28s per 4481b5.. ex store, but the qualities vary considerablv.

TALLOW.—There lias been a somewhat better demand, but prices have been irregular and are noir about 6d lower, the increased shipments from the colonies tending to weaken values. On the 20th ult., only 363 casks found buyers out of 1117 casks catalogued, while on the 27th, 1219 casks were offered and 393 sold, and on the 3rd inst., 1778 casks were put up, of which 1359 were cleared with animated demand at 6d advance. Finest mutton is now worth 26s 9d to 27s 3d, and fair to fine beef tallow 25s 6d to 26s 9d. this latter description being 6d dearer.

SALTED SHEEP PELTS. These are still in good request, supplies being moderate. Present quotations are—Xew Zealand large 18s to 275, medium 14s to 17s, and small and defective 8s to 12s. FROZEN MEAT.—There has been but little alteration on the meat market during the past three weeks, supplies have been liberal and trade slow, with a tendency to weakness in prices. Canterbury sheep being

still scarce, hare firmly maintained their value, small prime carcases being worth Id per stone more money, present quotations, being 2s lOd to 3s Id per stone ex market; heavy sheep bringing the lower price. Second quality New Zealand may be quoted at 2a 7d to 2s 8d per stone. Lambs have been in good request and are greatly appreciated by consumers here, but the late high rates have not been fully maintained, present quotations for prime Canterburys being 3s 6d to 3s lid per stone ex market, while Australians are making 2s lOd to 3s 4d per stone. The late severe weather, it is stated, i caused great mortality among the English lambs.