MARKET REPORTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6668, 14 December 1899, Page 4

MARKET REPORTS.

$ [Per Pkkss Association.] DUNEDIN, Dec. 13. Fat. Cattle — 519 'Read, were yarded, of which 335 were stores. The bulk of the fat cattle comprised prime bullocks and heifers, a few pens being of splendid quality. Owing to the large supply, prices declined from 10s to 15s per head, in some cases even more. Extra prime weights £9 5s to £10 10s, ordinary £7 10s to £8, medium, £6 10s to £7 ss, light £5 to £6, best heifers £6 15s to £7 10s, medium £5 15s to £6 ss, light £4 10s to £5 ss. Fat Sheep— 2226 were penned. There was a very good demand, and prices were, on the whole, equal to those of last week. Best wethers iru wool 18s 6d to 19s 6d, medium 16s 6d U 17s 6d, best ewtis I 18s to 19s, medium 15s to 17s, best wethers (shorn) 15s to 16s 6d (only one pen at the latter price), medium 13s to 14s 6d, light I 11s 6d to, 12s 6d, best ewes (shorn) 14s to 15s, medium quality and old 12s 6d to 13s 9d, inferior 10s to 11s 6d. Lambs— s3s were penned, and all were taken by the trade. Prices were about equal to those of last week. Best 11s 6d to 12s 9d, good 10s to 11s, light and medium 8s to 9s. Pigs— 170 were yarded, the bulk being porkers and bacon pigs. Porkers met with good competition, but bacoosrs were dull of sale. Suckers 11s to 15s, slips 19s to 255, stores 26s to 28s, porkers 30s to 345, baconers 35s to 38s. THE LONDON MARKETS. The National Mortgage and Ag6ncy Company of New Zealand, Limited, has received the following report from its London office, dated Nov. 3: — WOOL. — The condition of this market continues very favourable. Reports from the manufacturing districts, both here and on the Continent are satisfactory, and during the past fortnight considerable sales of merino wool by private treaty have taken place. at full prices. Medium cross-breds have also changed hands at higher prices than those obtainable at the close of the fifth series, while the position of coarse cross-breds is more hopeful. Consumers now fully recognise the fact that fine haired wools will be in short supply next year. The decrease in Australia in some quarters is estimated at about 100,0001 b, while the war in South Africa will, no doubt, considerably interfere with the supply from the Orange Free State. The last .series of the current year begins on 28th inst. , and the first and second series of 1900 have been, fixed to commence on Jan. 16, and March 6 respectively. FROZEN MEAT.— Arrivals during the I ]?ast fortnight have been as under: — ■ Sheep. Lambs. Beef New Zealand « 30,526 275 2,578 Australia n , 26,475 4,916 29,087 57,001 5,191 31,665 Last week was. the worst trade experienced on Smithfield this year. Mild, muggy weather and heavy supplies of Continental mutton, pork, and American beef caused quite a glut, and in spite of the fact that such prices as 2^d per lb for pork and l£d per lb for American forequarters of beef were accepted the market was not cleared on Saturday, and a good deal of meat of one sorb and another went bad, and was condemned before a sale could be effected. Frozen mutton and lamb, which were very weak and tending downwards owing to the heavy arrivals from New Zealand, and heavier shipments afloat felt the full effects of this depression, and prices are lower all round. Canterbury sheep are in large, supply, and widely distributed amongst holders. Sales have been forced, and lines of best quality sheep have changed hands this week at 3d to 3£d per lb for 48-641 b weight. Dunedins land Southlands are offered at 2§d. to 3d, while North Islands range from 2|d to 3d according to quality. Heavy weights and inferior sheep meet a slow sale at 2£d to 2fd per lb. Australian sheep do not show much change, and may be quoted 2|d to 2|d per lb on Smithfield. River Plate range from 2£d to 2|d. Lambs are in very limited demand, and the quantity offering can only be cleared at low prices, say 3^d to 4d per lb, an average of 3|d for the best Canterbury being a top value. Australian lambs are beginning to come to hand, but there are few offering, 3^d being nominal value. Frozen beef has been almost unsaleable, but holders are very firm, and a better demand is looked for very soon. New Zealand beef may be quoted nominally 3d per lb fores, and 3£d per lb hinds. FROZEN RABBITS.— Heavy arrivals continue to come to hand, and although the demand is still good, there is a heavy supply of English rabbits just now, which somewhat interfere with the trade, and prices have a weaker tendency. .BUTTER.— The mild wet weather last week had a depressing effect on the trade, and prices were weak. Best new Australian factory is worth roundly about 108s, with' special brands of unsaited at about 110s per cwt. Prices range down to 90s for anything good enough for counter use, and there is a good demand for this description. Under this standard, however, butter can only be taken for pastry making, at 78s per cwt, * The arrivals from Australia and New Zealand havo so far been heavy this season, and up to Oct. 31, show an increase of ab,oufc 58,000 boxes, as compared with last year. CHEESE.— There is a good demand for A"ugust Canadians at 52s to 53s per cwt, but only a slow trade for tlie best September, made cheese at 57s per cwt. We hear of re-sales of some of the first bought New Zealand factories in this market at 4|d per lb f.o.b. New Zealand, and even vp 1 to 5d per lb is reported. These appear to be dangerous prices for the holders. TALLOW. — There was a fair demand for mutton this week, but beef was not in request. We quote fair to fine mutton 26s 6d to 28s 6d per cwt, and fine special brand has been sold at up to 29s 3d per cwt. Beef, fair to good 26s 6d to 27s 6d per cwt. PELTS. — A strong demand continues at extreme prices. The best North Island pelts are now worth from 25s to 28s per dozen for sheep, and lambs about 15s per dozen, ex store, London. CEREALS.— There has been a dull dragging trade at declining prices, and in the face of abundant supplies in all positions, values have fallen 2s to 3s on English, and about Is to Is 6d per quarter' on foi'eign wheat. English wheat is freely offered at 28s to 29s per 5041 bon the country markets. The average price last week of 28s Id per 4801 b compares with 27s 4d in the corresponding week of last year. Californian,. cargoes off coast are worth about 30s 6d per 5001 b, while an Australian cargo in this position has been sold at^ 30s 6d per 4801 b, for Birkenhead. The Blackadder, from Lyttelton, has been sold at 28s per 4801 b for Cork. On the spot New Zealand wheat has met a veiy slow trade now that English is more freely offered. Hunters and Pearl are quoted about 28s to 30s, and Tuscan 29s to 31s per 4961 b, ex store. Australian is held for 31s 6d per 4961 b, but sales are not possible at this price. OATS are rather deafer for Russians and American, bub New Zealand meet a slow trade at unchanged prices, ordinary Bluff 22s to 22s 6d, and heavy samples of good colour 22s 6d to 23s 6d per 3841 b, ex store. Duns 17s and 18s per 3361 b. BEANS from New Zealand 32s to 35s per 5041 b, ex store. CiOCKSFOOT is very quiet. Sales of good colour 181 b seed are reported at 43s per cwt ex store, and there are buyers of light seed 13-141 bat 35s per cwt. 1988