The Meat Trade.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XIII, Issue 2384, 26 June 1895, Page 4

The Meat Trade.

Nelson Bros, report*.—As the Banffshire aid call at Las Palmas, the customary, almost compulsory, stopping place on the long voyage Home, her sheep had to be landed at Deptford, and sold at 7s to 10s "ahead less than would have been obtained at Islington. Their admirable condition on landing, the very superior quality of 200 New Zealand crossbreds a 3 see alive at Deptford, and in the carcases at the Central Meat Market, was a revelation, and made the great divergence in price obtained for these sheep landed alive in England, and what they would have brought if sold frozen, the more remarkable, in the one case 7d per pound, in the other 2Jd per pound would be the price, and difficult of sale at that. The half-bred merinos did not take so well, but sold at good prices, about sid per lb in the carcase or 88s each, the crossbreds making 48a a head. Ruinously low as prices seemed at the date of our last report they have reached a yet lower level, and insti id 2j|-d to 2$ a lb then quoted, 2d to 2£d ia now the recognised rate for North Island sheep, and to move numbers the lower price has to be accepted. Good Dunedin mutton has sold at 2£d per lb, fresh bright Southland at the same price, Canterburys, instead of to 3£d per lb ruling a month ago, receded to 3sd, 8d per lb, and salo3 have been made this week at 2§d to 2£d per lb. Bone taint has been found amongst several of the choicest brands of Canterburys, and this combined with the leggy, coarse North Island type of sheep sent Home, probably accounts for the low prices of Canterburys now obtained. New Zealand Lambs.—-The warm weather has given an impetus to trade, and with good demand large numbers are being moved. Some gcod parcels of Napier lambs have come to hand, but the Wellington consignments generally lack condition and finish. Prices have fallen ; the best now offered, and many are very prime, are selling at 4£d per lb, seconds at B|d to S£d per lb, poor and inferior about 3d per lb.