COMMERCIAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2281, 17 November 1891, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

ENGLISH MARKETS. Messrs Henry S. Fitter & Sons, Meat Salesmen, London, report under date September 18th, 1891, as follows : Trade continues slow, but during the past few days the weather has become colder, and the demand has certainly improved. The supply of Home-killed meat is fairly good, and prices have at times shown a downward tendency. The price of American beef remains firm; a limited quantity has been put on the market. Unfortunately the stock of frozen beef is rather heavy just now r and competition in selling is keen, prices being somewhat weaker. The demand for New Zealand mutton is fair, but the anxiety of holders to sell forces the market, and prices dp not improve. The large quantity of partially damaged sheep, which of late have been offered on the market, has also had a very depressing effect. A great number of cutting butchers have sprung up in many districts, who sell this damaged or inferior frozen mutton at absurdly low prices, the result being that many of our regular customers, who formerly paid top prices, are now obliged to buy some cheaper mutton' to compete with their new opponents. The evil effects of the manner in which offers have been made to sheep farmers in New Zealand to take any quantity at certain weights at a fixed price, is now becoming apparent. It naturally gives the farmer the impression that all we want is quantity, and that anything with four legs of about the required weight will realise as much as the best quality. Australia and the River Plate can produce any quantity of inferior mutton, so the best chance for New Zealand is to breed what the others cannot—viz., prime quality mutton. To-day’s prices are as follow : Scotch sheep, per stone of 81b, 4s 8d to ss; English, 4s 4d to 4s 8d ; Continental, 4s to 4s 8d; ewes, 3s 8d to 4s ; Canterbury N.Z. Sheep, 2s 8d to2s!od; Wellington, 2s 4d to 2s 7d; Queensland sheep, Is 8d to Is lOd; Sydney sheep, Is 8d to Is lOd; Falkland Island sheep, Is lOd to 2s; River Plate, Is 4d to Is fid; New Zealand beef, hind quarters, 2s 8d to 2s lOd ; New Zealand beef, fore quarters, Is 9d to Is lOd; American beef, hind quarters, 3s fid to 4s 2d; American beef, fore quarters, 2s to 2s fid. London, Nov. 12. Consols, 95 ; New Zealand 4 per cent, inscribed stock, 101|; 3J per cent, ditto, 92f. Three months’ bills are discounted at 3J per cent. New Zealand long-berried wheat is active at 46s fid ; for off-coast cargoes sellers ask 435, while buyers are not inclined to give more than 425. Colonial barley, 31s fid. Oats, fine quality, 30s; common sorts, 28s fid. Beef shows a decline of Jdper lb. Other frozen meat quotations are unchanged. The New Zealand hemp market is depressed with a fall of £1 per ton. South Australian wheat is firm at 475. Victorian is also firm at 46s fid. At the Antwerp wool sales to-day 230 bales of Australian wool were sold.