COMMERCIAL

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13601, 22 May 1908, Page 4

COMMERCIAL

Lilt'. MEAT MARKETS. The Colonial Consignment and Distu bating Company report nnder dtne London iOtfa April, as follows: -"New Zealand Mac ton. rbetv i* a further falling off in receipt* anil the » ports for the, year, amounting to carcases., shoff a deficiency of 143.0au carcases on the figures to th* same date in 1907. Advice from the Colony mtli cate that this shortage h not likely to o* recovered m t«be immediate future. ul " though later shipments will be normal. Holders have therefore been ye*?-W" and quotations have strengthened m »p«« of a very disappointing demand, Ibe en " qtrirr ia practically confined tqt, small sheep ot fair quality, and heavy carcase* are verv difficult to sell. Canterburyare" by no means plentiful, and the quotation remains at about. 4|d p»-r lb. A cvv Southland she«p am in evidence and command SJd to 4id per lb according to weiffht. Light North Islands sell readth up to 4Jd per lb. which is a httte below the top point touched, but heavy weights aw at *** ,b " "* quoted at Sid to s£d per lb. , " AusCraHan Mutiton.-Shipments have fallen off considerably and the total arrival*, amounting to 192.414 are short of last year * receipts by 215.00y carcases. Stocks are very nearly exhausted and consequently the quotation of Sid to 3|d per lb. is tittle more than nominal, but it is worthy of note tihat a small parcel of light ewe* by a recent arrival changed hand's at these prices. "New Zealand Lambs. —Although sup plies are 104.534 carcase* less than last year, the market is now fully supplied and the shipments afloat will restore thebalance. The weather, although br»ght. been rather cool for the lamb trade, and under existing conditions the demand must be regarded as satisfactory. Prices* hate declined about jd per lb. during vhe month hut are firm at present quotations. The Best Canterbury brands mafct* up to std per lb. and move- fairly readily and North Islands can be quoted at to 5Jd per lb. The medium and heavy weights will attract the rr.mst attention and command the most money, but prices are too high to- leave- much profit for tne retailer. Quotations tor forward shipments have advanced. " Australian Lambs.—Stocks have- been reduced at a remarkable rate, stnd th« reduction has been accompanied /by improved prices for medium and inferior lambs. Recent arrivals are light and supplies are now in very limited cnmp33?. A few carcases make up to 4Jd per lb but the bulk of available etocks sell at to 4§d per lb., and very inferior carcases down to 3|ii per lb."