Commercial.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXII, Issue 3681, 30 March 1904, Page 4

Commercial.

London, March 28, Mutton, — Canterbury, light, unchanged ; medium, 4|d; heavy, 4|d ; Dunedin and Southland, unchanged; North Island, ordinary, 4|d ; lambs, Canterbury, 6|d ; Dunedin and Southland, unchanged; North Island, 4 13-16 d. Beef is unchanged. Bayer Plate mutton, light and heavy,’3|d. Lamb, 4|d; Beef unchanged. Sydney, Mai'ch 28. At the Homebush sales sheep were present in small supply, though prices were higher. Only one lot of wethers was sold at 28s 6d, ewes 20s 6d to 21s Bd. Cattle were unchanged. The best bullocks brought £l.l ss, extra good £l2 5s to £l4, good £lO ss, best cows £8 10s to £9 15s, good £8 ; beef made 25s 6d to 26s per 1001 b.

AGENT-GENERAL’S [REPORT. Wellington, March 28. The Department of Industries and Commerce have received the following cablegram from the AgentGeneral, dated London, March 26 th :

The mutton market is very dull on account of the absence of demand. Stocks on hand are yery light, but any increase in supplies would lower prices. The average price to-day of Canterbury mutton is 4LI, Dunedin, Southland and W.M.E. Company’s brands 4i[cl, other North Island brands 4jd, River Plate mutton 8-cl. The lamb market is verv weak. T .. quantity going into c-nsurnp-th.n is disappointing, being much h-ss than the usual Easter demand. Shipments of lamb now arriving are verv heavy, and there is an inclination on the part of consignees to force the sale of lamb. The aver-

age price 'to-day of New Zealand iamb, Canterbury brand, is brands other than Can tei bury 4|d, Australian lamb 4£d, River Plate 4|d. The beef market is depressed Supplies are moderate, but sufficient to meet all requirements. Argentine chilled hindquarters are selling at 3£d per lb. The average price to-day of hindquarters of New Zealand beef is 3d, fores 2|d. Quotations of New Zealand beef are nominal. , Some holders of New Zeal and butter are forcing sales. This is very seriously affecting the market buyers expecting prices to go lower and bolding back. There are very heavy supplies of butter on land, and the market generally is ver depressed. The average price t choicest New Zealand butter to-day is 94s per cwt, Australian 925, Argentine 925, Danish 106 s.

The cheese market is firm, and the market prospects are favourable. There is general confidence in the maintenance of present prices. The average price of finest New Zealand cheese is 50s per cwt, Canadian 51s.

The offerings of hemp are very small and likely to remain so for some time. The price of New Zealand hemp, good fair Wellington grade on spot, to-day is £3l 10s per ton, April to June shipments £3O 10s. The price of Manila hemp fair current grade, on spot to-day, is £39 per ton, April to June shipments £35.

The demand for cocksfoot seed is improving, butprices are unchanged. I am of opinion that the demand will further increase on the arrival of supplies. The average price of bright clean New Zealand cocksfoot seed, weighing 171 b per bushel, ob spot to-day, is 52s per cwt. The fruit pulp market is very unsettled. Large supplies are coming forward, and little business is doing. Prices are weak, and quotations nominal. Raspberry pulp £3B per ton.