COMMERCIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 246, 7 March 1913, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

LOXDOX MARKETS. By Cubic—Press Association—Copyright. London. March 5. Ta110w.—742 casks offered. 472 casks sold. Mutton. line 3!)s. medium oos; beef, line :58s, medinm 345. Xew York. March 5. At the wool sales the good prices of yesterday were fully maintained. For coarse crossbreds there was keen demand at y 2 d advance. ' _ Rabbit skins opened quiet at late rates to a penny decline. LONDOX DAIRY TRODUCE REPORT. Messrs E. Griffiths and Co. are in receipt of the following market report from their London principals, Messrs Mills and Sparrow, dated January 24: BUTTER. The weather has been very changeable during the week, and there have been some eold spells, but the average temperature is much above the normal, and not at all favorable for improving tlie position of this market. Wc reported last week that the butters had cleared fairly well, but we find that we rather under-estimated the stocks held in some hands, and there has been an increased eagerness to sell, resulting in some lower prices having to be taken. There is no doubt at all that the consumption of butter in this country is not as heavy as last year, and in several quarters this week the views we expressed in our circular of the 10th inst. have been confirmed, retailers generally, agreeing that the consumption of margarine continues to increase, and that butter has decreased. Unsalted Australian is selling at prac- . tically the same price as salted, while the difference between best and secondary goods continues to widen. This usually comes about on slow markets, as buyers are able to pick and choose better.

New Zealand lias declined 4s on tlie week, as there are several weak sellers. The quality of the butter arriving' is very good, but the quantity carried over, combined with the large arrival per s.s. Rotovua, has been a little more than the market could carry. Arrivals of colonial this week consist of Australian, s.s. Osterley. 37,600 boxes; New Zealand, s.s. Ttotorua, 01,200 boxes. Danish, although selling to retailers who have the butter fifty-two weeks in the year, is 2s Gd lower on the week, whilst other descriptions of Continental are in very small supply. This time last season considerable quantities of butter were being shipped from London to neighboring Continental countries, whilst there is almost an entire absence of this trade this season.

CHEESE. There is a much better demand, and a little more tone to the general market, agents generally doing their best to prevent prices going any lower, and we think there is every prospect of our being able to quote a further Is improvement. White and colored aie now fetching tile same price. Canada have been holding on to their cheese for a long time, but are apparently tired, and considerable blocks have been sold during the week at 60s and 61s c.i.f., foi best fall-made goods, which is, of course, a serious competitor with Zealand when it comes at this price. It is generally agreed that the home supplies have gone into consumption well, and that the proportion of goods to be marketed during the next three ( months is not nearly as great as havf been offered during the past three. I months. This should ,n!l help to make a heavier trade for colonial cheese.