THE LONDON MARKETS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6130, 17 March 1898, Page 4

THE LONDON MARKETS.

♦ — r — * • ■•.'■' v [From Our Correspondent.! LONDON, Feb. 4. WOOL, 6 The first series of colonial wool sales for the year closed on Feb. 2. The quantity offered at the series was lo'/.SOO bales as against 234,473 bales at last year's first series; 19,509 bales were withdrawn or held over. The active American competition was a feature of the. aeries, and contributed greatly to the advance of Id to lisdperlb upon good merino wool. The competition, however, slackened towards the close of the series. The best half-breds and bright, strong cross-breds were at one period £d to Id per lb above December rates, but the coarser kinds afterwards lost this improvement. grain, &c. Wheat, both English and foreign, has advanced Is per quarter in the fortnight, a relapse, owing to weakness of the American markets, having been recovered, owing to purchases on Continental account. The Argentine production is generally considered to be below expectations. There is no change in New Zealand oats and beans. New Zealand hemp, Lyttelton, is quoted nominally at; £15 15s for good; the market is firm. FROZEN MEAT. Light sheep are very scarce, and have made enhanced values ; Canterbury 3Jd to 3sd and to 3§d for very prime parcels. Heavy sheep are difficult to move at 3d to 3&dj and for over-weights, above 701 b, 2§d to 2£d. Dunedin and Southland, small 2sd to 3d, large 2gd to 2sd. The market generally is dull, the weather continuing mild, with the exception of a few cold days. A few New Zealand (Wellington) lambs of good quality have averaged 6d, and be3t Australians 5d to s£d.