COMMERCIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2159, 7 April 1908, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Press Association. WELLINGTON, April G. Tito Department of Industries and Commerce received the following cable dated London, April 4th. The mutton market is firm with a bel ter demand, but there is a scarcity of prime quality mutton. There is no change in the price of ltivor Plate mutton, which is ((noted at 3jd. The lamb market is firm with a hotter tone. Stocks on hand nro light, and the prospects for tho sale of New Zealand lambs this season is good. Canterbury lamb is quoted at sg cl, other than Canterbury 53d. There is a better demand for beef, hindquarters being quoted at 3Jd, and forequarters at 2Jd. Tho butter market is firm, with an improved demand, and supplies will bo modorato. Tho following nro current quotations: Choicest Now Zealand Ills, Danish Ills, Australian 107 s, Siberian 107 s, Argentine 108 s. Tho cheeso market is quiet, but steady, and thero is no chango in prices. Tho Department of Industries and Commerce received the following cable dated London, April 4th. Tho hemp market is steady, but with an improved demand, but. dependent on Manila reports. Tho following nro current quotations: Good fair grade on spot, £25 10s; fair grade on spot,£23 10s ; fair current Manila, £24 10s; April, Juno shipments, good fair grade, £25: fair grade, £25 10s; fair current Manila, £2l 10s. Tho stock of Now Zealand hemp held in London amounts to 384 tons. The cocksfoot market is firm, but thhro is less demand at SOs for bright clean Now Zealand seed, weighing 171bs per .bushel. In order to push sales of cocksfoot lower prices would have to bo accepted. Tho hop market is very dull, and becoming more depressed on account of largo shipments which arrived. Current quotations are: Best quality English, 60s; American, 40s. Tho following are shipments from River Plate during March: Mutton—London 38.366, Liverpool 81,076, Hull 8814, Newcastle 8225, Cardiff 1250, Plymouth 948. Lamb—London 2418, Liverpool 10.997, Hull 1077, Newcastle 1000, Cardiff nil, Plymouth 100. Butter —Liverpool and Southhampton 8796 cwt.

DAIRY PRODUCE. LONDON REPORT. Wo have received the following market report from Messrs. Weddell and Co., London, dated February 21. BUTTER. Tho temperature continues to bo of tho February typo of mildness, without the proverbial fill-dyke amount of rain. The unprecedentedly rapid and exceeding largo advances in the price of Colonial butter we have lately experienced reached their culmination at tho beginning of the present week.. The high retail prices, along with tho great efforts made by the large'multi-ple-shop concerns and others smaller firms to push margarine ,havc had the effect of checking the demand Impure butter, and tho butter market lias weakened to the extent of about four shillings per cwt. That the demand for butter lias fallen off to a very great extent is undeniable, but there is no cause for panic. Supplies continue short, and will remain so all through March, but the relative shortness will not be so great as in January and February. Compared with last year tho shortage of Australian and New Zealand butter in March will be 1200 tons, against 2897 tons shortage in February, and 3145 tons in January. Margarine will undoubtedly be a strong opponent of butter to the present high prices; but when the values como down to a more normal level margarine will resume its eld position. When human nature is deprived of any pleasure, is always returns as 60011 as it is able to do so, and so it will be with the blitter consumers now. Arrivals from Australia this week total 39,878 boxes, and from New Zealand 42,810 boxes. Shipments from Australia are the “Britannia,” with 20,000 boxes, .and tho “Wilcannia,” with 2.900 boxes. The arrivals next week will be the smallest since October, and consist of only 12,493 boxes, in the “Oruba,” and about 500 boxes in tho “Miltiades.” The Copenhagen Official Quotation has been raised by one kroner this week. During tho present crisis, the Danes have been caught, and have not reaped tho full benefit of the rise. Normally the Official Quotation averages from 5s to 6s below spot prices, but during tho past fortnight the quotation has been 12s'to 13s below. The markets on the Continent generally are weakening, and foreign butters hero are selling at about the same reduction as colonial. CHEESE. Tho cheese market for Canadian and for Now Zealand remains firm. There is an advance in price of about Is to 2s per cwt ~ on the week.

Mr. CL -H. Williams held a stock sale at Tolaga Bay on Saturday, when about 850 sheep were yarded. There was a slack demand. Ewes brought 10s 9d and lambs 7s. The cattle yarded were of poor quality and several lines were passed in. Cows in orofit brought £4 to £4 os. Store bullocks realised £4 17s 6d, and eight-month-old cattle 31s.