COMMERCIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 208, 22 January 1913, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

LONDON MARKETS. By Cable—Press Association— Copyright. London, Janaury 20. At the wool sales a large section of crossbreds was offered. There was <r o od competition for shabbier sorts, which went, occasionally in the buyers* favour. Prices for merinos were hardening -Silver, 20 Mfid per oz. ° Professor Licht estimates that the production of licet sugar has increased 2,177.000 tons for the campaign, or a surplus of 2,104,000 tons.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Tuesday. _ The following is the High Commissioner's cable, under date London. January IS. (Note: Quotations, unless otherwise specified, are average market prices on spot):— Mutton.—The market is very firm. On account of the small supply, a continuance of the high prices is anticipated. Canterbury cannot be quoted; North Island 4%i1. Lamb.—The market is firm, with good demand, especially for best quality. New Zealand's new season's fi%d, last seaison's 5%d. There is a large supply of Australian, many carcases being of inferior quality. Australian 5 1 />d. River Plate ;>y 4 d.

Butter.—The market is dull on account of heavy arrivals, but prices are well maintained. The supply of margarine is large and is a serious competitor. The average price for the week for choicest New Zealand butter is 11 Ob, Danish 1275. Siberian 100s, Australian 110s. Argentine lias.

Cheese. —The market is steadv, with more demand, which is principally speculative. The average price for the week for finest Xew Zealand ohecfie was 00s. T-Temp.—The market is firm with a general and active demand. Good speculative business has been done. Reports from Manila indicate a strong market. Spot New Zealand good fair grade £33. New Zealand fair grade £3l 10s; fair current Manila £33; January-March shipments New Zealand good U\r gra.de £33 10s, fair grade £3l 10s; fair current Manila £35. The output from Manila for the week was 25.000 hales. The stock of New Zealand is 336 tons. Kauri Gum.—The market is firm, with an improved demand. Dark brown selected re-scraped 120s to 100s, dark brown three-quarter scraped 85s to 05s, dark brown chips drossv 35s to 45b, re-scrap-od liale amber £lO to £l2. three-quarter pale scraped £S to £O. diggers' chips good 00s to'7os; 174 cases were offered and all were sold. The stock at the end c.f December was 157 ton?. _ Wool.-The market shows signs of strength. Americans in the market are buying freely.

LONDON DATRY PRODUCE REPORT. E. Oriffiths and Co. are in receipt of the following market report from their London principals, Messrs Mills and Sparrow., dated London, December 13, IM2:- .. BUTTER. The "ood trade lias continued And a on all descriptions has been made. The wether continues changeable, hut on the whole is very mild for the time of the year. •' Danish: The quotation this week has advanced one kroner, and the market is vei-v firm for all best dairies. _ Siberian: About '2300 casks arrived this week and cleared promptly on landin" buvers being anxious to secure butter a few shillings per cwt. under the prices of colonial. There has also been a bif trade on stored «»ods. French: Supplies eontinue to decline, and in order to check the demand values have again advanced. Australian: Arrivals this week have been fairlv good, amounting to 35,000 boxes, per's.s. Orvieto. Waimana, Dorset and Palermo. There has been a strong demand, and sellers have been able to obtain an advance of 2s to 4s per cwt. on last week's prices: The quality of the butter now, with a few exceptions, is excellent, and it is being well distributed over the country; the demand should therefore rather tend to increase than otherwise, and it looks as if it will be more than sullicient to absorb the practically small supplies that are on the water. A brisk business has been done in stored butters this week, as with the advance in the new season's goods buyers nave had to iook for the cheaper sorts, and have eagerly bought ■up stored butters which a few weeks back they declined. Xew Zealand: The s.s. Arawa is now in dock, but at the prices now asking, namely. 1245-12fis, buyers are holding oft, but as the butter will not be landed before next week sellers do not seem very anxious to give way. There is no doubt that all this butter will be wanted and that the bulk of. it will be. sold next week. It is only now just a question of what the price is to be. A reduction of a shilling or so would soon bring on the demand. Argentine: A fairly good trade has been done this week at better prices than last.

CHEESE. As anticipated in our last report, tbings have improved, and we expect a good demand for the s.s. Arawa's shipment. The quality has heen particularly pood.