PRODUCE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 3, 17 January 1901, Page 13

PRODUCE.

(For week ending January 16.)

A oable message reoeived from London on last Saturday says • — Weddel's annual review of the meat trade says : ' The imports of mutton were 573,976 carcases below that of 1899. The oonsumption appears temporarily to have overtaken the production. The quality, both of New Zealand and Australian, generally was excellent, and enabled the Australians to hold their own against River Plate.' The oiroular advises that the bulk of the lamb should arrive in April, May, and June. The imports of River Plate beef exceeded both Australian and New Zealand. As River Plate has greatly improved in quality it becomes a formidable rival. The circular anticipates that fairly high values will be maintained for •11 meats for some months. London, January 9.— The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom ia 2,493,000 quarters, and for the Continent 730,000 quarters. Nine thousand quarters of Victorian wheat, January and February shipment, and 12,000 quarters South Australian, January shipment, sold at 30-* 6d. London, January 9. — Wheat at Mark Lane is quoted 6d dearer on the week. London, January 13. — New Zealand meat is unchanged. Heavy Hirer Plate has advanced l-16d. Hemp is irregular. New Zealand, on spot, L2l. Hides— There is poor competition, and the bulk of them have been withdrawn. Wellington, January 9.— The monthly circular issued by the Department of Agriculture, Wellington, shows that the exports from the Colony of frozen meat and dairy produce for the month of December were as follows .—Butter, 33,6500wt, valued at L 133.622 ; cheese, 7873cwt, valued at L 18.19 5; beef, 16..>76cwt, valued at L 18.997; mutton, 53,158cwt, valued at L 59.298 ; lamb, 2225cwt, Talued at L 3529. Except in butter these figures show a considerable shortage on the exports for the corresponding month of 189!), the value of which was as follows : Butter, L 122,349 : cheese, L 22.664 ; beef, L 27,879 ; carcase mutton, L 104.059 ; legs and pieces, L 213 2; lamb, LBOI4. In the total export for the nine months, from March 31, however, there is still an improvement on last year's figures for the same period except in mutton, which shows a decrease of L 210.891.

Mb. F. Mbknan, King street, reportß : — Wholesale prioes only— Ofttl : Fair to good feed Is 4d to Is 6d ; milling, Is 6d to Is 7d. Wheat : milling, 2s 5d to 2s 6d ; fowls', Is 9d to 2s Id. Potatoes : New, local, L 8 to LlO ; imported. L 8 10s. Inferior, 30s to 40s ; good to prime, 47s 6d to 50s. Straw : pressed 27s ; loobo, 28s. Flour : Sacks, L 6 10s ; 501bs, L 7 ; 251bs, L 7, quiet. Oatmeal • 251bs, L» 10s. Butter : Dairy, 6d to 8d ; factory, 9Jd to lOJd. Cheese : Dairy, 5d ; faotory, s£d. Eggs, Bd. Onions : Melbourne, L 7 10s.

Messrs. Donald Keid and Co., Ltd., report having held their weekly sale of grain and produce at their stores on Monday, when prioea ruled as follows :—: — Oats — There was good competition for all good feed lots, but inferior sorts were not in request. We quote : Prime milling, Is 6Jd to lfl 7d ; good to best feed, Is 5d to Is 6^d ; medium, Is 3d to It 4Jd per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat — Prime milling quality is in moderate demand at late Talues, while medium sorts are negleoted. Good fowl wheat commands ready sale at 2s to 2s Id per bushel ; prime milling, 2s 5d to 2i.6}d ; medium, Ua 3d to 2s 4d per bushel (sacks in). Potatoes— The market is barely supplied. Good kidneys sold to-day »t L 9 10 to LlO per ton (sacks in).

Chaff— Prime oaten sheaf meets with ready sale at quotation*, but medium and inferior sorts are not in request. We quote • Best oaten sheaf, L 2 10s to L 2 los ; good, L 2 5s to L 2 7s 6d ; medium, LI 15s to L 2 2s 6d per ton (bags extra). «*"•»«,