New Zealand Proudce at Home.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11797, 3 December 1902, Page 7

New Zealand Proudce at Home.

(Correspondent Otago Daily Times)

WOOL. LONDON, Oct. 24.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company tells me that there is no fresh feature to report in regard to raw | wool since the close of the last sales. In | the home manufacturing centres, ■ top-mak-e: s and spinners of merino' wool complain i di. the difficulty of obtaining cony I mensurate with those paid for raw wool, any attempt to advance prices at once elhecking business. Crossbred produce meets a ready sale, medium qualities attractiii- special attention. The National Mortgage and Agency Company's report states that the demand foi" all kinds of wool in the various markets has been well up to the average. Merchants contend that values for merino yarns and tops are higher than the situation warrants, but dealers stand firm against any easing off in prices, as stocks are light, and, as eividenced by the late series of sales here, raw. wool shows no 1 signs of lower i?rices yet awhile. Pine and j medium quality crossbred iwoduce arei in great request, and it is probable that they will attract, more attention still if merchants are defeated in their attempt to geif, prices down for merino "wools. Coarse crossbred sells easily and steadily. Arrivals: to -date for the next series are [58,581 bales, 21,115 being from New Zealand, i , $EW ZEALAND MEAT. From ifofl -New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agenicy Company I hear that during the ,past three weeks the demand for all descriptions of frozen mutton has been slow;, owing chiefly tai tha exceptionally high nptioes, ruling. Stocks are in small compass, and advices for future delivery show a large falling off in supplies as compared with the same period of last year. Prime Canterbury mutton is. now worth from 3s 3d to 3s 4d; Dunedin and Southland, 3s 2d to 3s 3d ; North Island, 3s to 3s 3d per stone. .Values also rule extremely high for frozen, lamb, stocks being light and' holders firm- ;Primie Canterbury lamb is now worth frojm 3s 10d to 4s; Dunedin and Southland, 3s lOd (nominal) ; North Island, 3s 9d (nominal) per stone. The beef'trade remains stagnant, and although supplies both of New Zealand and Australian are light, no advance in values can be recorded. Prime New Zealand hind-quairters are to-day worth 3s 4d, and forequairters 2s 8d per stone (ex market). Messrs Weddel's report, made up to' last Friday, states that the realisation that supplies of Nesw Zealand mutton will be short in the nieas 1 future' has caused considerable" activity among wholesale buyers, who are anxious to cover their future reauirements, and, as holders, are very firm,' in place of the steady upward movement in "rices which was anticipated, the market •*m ed per Ib. The bulk of sales, however, cover goods in store, the retail trade \ remoining very slow, and Smithfield is comparatively bnre of supplies, for retailers are unwilling to follow the advance, and salesmen will not run the rick of having to sell cheaply at the close of the day through overstocking the market. There is considerable competition for parcels of New Zealand lamaib now lying in London stores. All weights and qualities meet with equally good inquiry, and there is ver ,little difference between the prices demanded for the various grades. DAIRY PRODUCE.

Messrs Weddel say there are now three vessels afloat between New Zealand and London with new season's butter on; board. The 'first of these, the s.s. Whaikatene, is. due early in November, but has on board only a small.lot of about 350 boxes. The 'Paparoa, due in London about the. 18th prpx., has about) 1700 boxes on board, and _tjie Aotea;. dug early in iDeceinber, carried some 8000 boxes. Messrs Weddel remark that as no vessel has yet left Australia' witli new season's butter, it is now positively certain that New Zealand Butter, for thfe first time since the Australian butter trade began, will be.on the market long before Australian. This will give New: Zealand an excellent lead, and create a : demand for New Zealand buffer'in many ! quarters where it has not been -before.-' Messrs Weddel note that the advantage of | haying New Zealand butter earlier, find lasting on the market longer than Australian, gives it <& commercial advantage of i over Is Rer cwt. compared*'with butter [ frim th 3 Commonwealth. New Zealand cheese, shipment November to April next, is felling at-65s to 55s 6d (c.i.f. London). THe top price for Danish butter is now 1 116s )to 119s per cwt., whereiasi 12..months 'ago it was 130sto 1325. Strictly choicest Danish butter is very scarce, and for the next two months will continue more or less iso, and during the last three weeks imports of butter from Denmark have decreased br about 55Q0owt m comparison with tli« previous three weeks., The New Zealand Loan arid^ ■' Mercantile Agency Cojnpany note thaifc the, cheese market is very strong, values having advanced all round within tbe laxt three weeks. Spot quotation for Canadian is 55s to 565.

The, C.C and D. Company think there should-be a good opening for New Zealand cheese, as -there is' an estimated shortage in stocks on .this si9e and in Canada of about 250,000 (2001b) boxes. • ' ' '-■• MISCELLANEOUS. The New Zealand Loan and' Mercantile Agency Company say that the' demand for New Zealand bean? and peas still continues at Ml rates, the (.former being quoted at ' 36s 6d-,,ti0«385, and.the latter at.,335;6d. to 58s per l so4lb. •' There «r still no New Zealand wheat op J&9.market, and/.for the1 email quantity" of Australian' remaining" very high prices are asked.- The market for cocksfoot is isfcrorsg, but supplies are scarce, particuja-rly of heavy seed. ; TJie further* advance" in values, anticipated tnree weeks ago has taken place, and 161b sedd ia now quoted at 60s per cwt. (ex warehouse), and 171b to 181b seed afc 63s to 66a per owt (c.i.f.)

Recently there was a good demand for Now Zealand flax ; and prices marked an advance of 25s to £1 per ton, but I am told by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company that during the last few days the market has given away in sympathy -wi£h Manila, and this advantage has been lost, jvith a dull feeling at the close. Quotations a^e: Spot. £34 15s; November B-L, £33 IDs; December, £33; January-March, £31 per ton (c.t.f.). The National Mortgage and Agency Company state that at the three late auctions of tallow 5515 casks have been offered, and 3183 sold. The demand has improved steadily, and prices have advanced all round, fine qualities are about Is per ewt. dearer, while medium an dlower qualities have appreciated to the extent of Is 6d. Beef has* sold fully ajti Is 6d per ewt. advance. At the close the market is firm. At this week's auuetions there was a moderate demand, the" portion sold bringing late rates to 3d per cwt. advance—one lot of fine mutton tallow marking an advance of M per cwt. Imports; for the three weeks have included only 28 casks from. New Zealand. Also from the Natdorat Mortgage and Agency Company I learn that all tfce basil skins offered at the la/* sales, 11,977 in number, were dipo|sed of at prices on a par with las* sales' *r*!v- r '«|o"rt«. amount

to 300 packages. There was a strong demand for leather at the late auctions, and an advancei oi id per lb waa registered. Out of 1417- sides 1150 were cleared. A firm market is still reported lor New Zealand pelt, with a more active demand from buyers in the United States. In view of the fact that supplies are- likely to be short for some time to come, there is thought to be no likelihood of any change in the near future. Quotations arc unaltered. At the side of rabbit skins, held early in the month, competition was strong throughout, as buyers' requirements were extensive. New. Zealand's contribution of 324 bales (of which 25 per cent, was withdrawn) went off readily at firm prices. Best skins were in small proportion. Silver grey and blacks, suitable for furriers, were not available.

With regaiid to frozen "rabbits, the National Mortgage ad Agency Company say that prices for prime specimens have gone up, bull Australian rabbits remain practically unuchanged, in price. The top quotation for -those from New Zealand. sdo'-t-?d. 31b -r-rd up. -'.'s now 9cl to 10d each; large S^lh and up, are quoted a'o Sd to 9d ; young. 21b and 2^lb, at 7d to 7^d each. Arrivals have included 28,084 crates from New Zealand.