PRODUCE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 51, 19 December 1901, Page 13

PRODUCE.

London, December 11. — Eleven thousand five hundred quarters of Victorian wheat (iron sailer, January and February shipment) sold at 30s 3d. Napier, December 12. — Messrs. Nelson Bros. (Limited) received the following cable from the Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company (Limited), London, to-day : — ' Stocks of frozen meat of all kinds are very heavy. The demand is stagnant and there is a further fall in the values of mutton. To-day's quotations are : Best Canterbury mutton, 3f d per lb ; best Napier, Wellington, and North Island mutton, 2}d per lb ; lamb, first quality, 4^d per lb ; lamb, second quality, 4^d per lb. London, December 12. — The wheat markets are slightly easier owing to the decline of the American. Cargoes are quiet. Victorian (afloat) and South Australian and New South Wales (December- January shipment) are all quoted at 30s 6d. Butter is dull. Colonial, 104s to 106s ; occasional lots, 108s. Danish is steady ; unchanged. Wellington, December 13. — The largest shipment of dairy produce yet sent from the Colony goes by the Tongariro to-day — namely 48,187 packages of butter, equal to 970 tons; and 2586 packages of cheese, equal to 308 tons. The Dairy Commissioner testifies that the average quality of the butter is better than that of any previous large shipment. Taranaki is the largest contributor ; Wellington next. London, December 15. — Frozen meat — Mutton : Crossbred wethers, maiden ewes, Canterbury, 3Jd ; Dunedin and Southland, 3d ; North Island, 2 13-16 d. Lamb : Prime Canterbury, 4^d ; fair average (including Dunedin, Southland, Wellington, and secondary Canterbury), 4^d, River Plate crossbred or merino wethers, heavy and light both, 2 11-16 d. New Zealand beef, 1801 b to 220rb, fair average quality, ox fores, 2 11-16 d hinds, 3?d. Wellington, December 16.— The Agent-General's cablegram, dated London, December 14, reports : — A dull sale for all qualities of mutton ; stocks on hand heavy. Average price on spot for Canterbury mutton, 3-Jd ; Dunedin, Southland, and W.M.E. Company, 3d ; other North Island, 2?d ; River Plate, 2Jd. A better demand for lamb. The market is speculative. Canterbury brand, 4£d ; other brands, 4Jd ; Australian, 4j;d. Beef is quiet. New Zealand hinds, 3Jd ; fores, 2Jd A good demand for butter at 104s to 107s. Some holders arc forcing sales. Argentine, 110s. Cheese is firm at 48s.

Messrs. Donald Reid and Co. report as follows :—: — Oats.— Prime milling quality continue to meet with fair demand. Good feed lines, for which there has been little inquiry of late, are also in rather better demand. We quote : Prime milling, 2s 4d to 2s 4*d ; good to best feed, 2s 3d to 2s 3*d ; medium, 2s 2d to 2s 2 id per bushel (sacks extra).

Wheat. — Prime milling wheat of all sorts is in short supply, and finds ready buyers at improved rates. Medium quality is also in good demand. Fowl wheat is exceptionally scarce, and commands top prices of the season. We quote : Prime milling, 2s lid to 3s ; medium, 2s lOd to 2s lid ; whole fowl wheat, 2s 8d to 2s 9£d ; broken, etc., 2s 4d to 2s 7d per bushel (sacks in). Potatoes. — Moderate supplies of old Derwent*? nro coming forward. All in good, sound condition find buyers at — for best Derwents, £4 to £4 5s ; medium, £3 to £3 10s per ton (sacks in). Chaff. — Prime oaten sheaf is offering sparingly, and is readily taken at late quotations. Medium sorts have not the same attention. We quote : Prime oaten sheaf, £3 15s to £4 5s ; medium to good, £3 to £3 12s 6d per ton (bags extra). Mr. F. Meenan, King Street, reports : — Wholesale prices only — Oats : Feed, fair to good, 2s 3^d to 2s 4d ; milling 2<s 5d to 2s Bd. Wheat : milling, 2s 5d to 2s 6d. Whea^ : Milling, 2s 8d to 2s lOd ; fowls', Is lOd to 2s Bd. Potatoes : Market: Southern, £3 5s ; Oamaru, £3 15s (considerably improved). Chaff : Demand for prime up to £4 ; inferior, £3 5s ; medium, £3 15s. Straw : Pressed, 30s, market plentiful; loose, 32s 6d. Flour : Sacks, 2001 b, £7 5s ; 501 b, £8 ; 251 b, £8 ss. Oatmeal : 251T), £13. Butter : Dairy 6d to 8d ; factory, 9£d to lOd. Cheese : Dairy, 4^d ; factory, sd. Eggs, 9d. Onions : Melbourne, new, £5 10s.