LONDON FROZEN MEAT TRADE

Temuka Leader, Issue 2785, 7 March 1895, Page 3

LONDON FROZEN MEAT TRADE

The following is the report of the Frozen Meat Trade (per A. Towers), for the month ending Jan. 25th, 1895 : The tendency of the market during the paat four weeks has been steady. Values having been forced up to a remunerative level they remain there, and with mutton, iu particular, there ia no prospect of much improvement in values. The stocks in London of ISew Zealand brands are still heavy. But for this fact the upward movement would have gone further. Canterbury brands have rather receded than otherwise during the pust few days, and there is a want of touo with all i|nalities of mutton. Australian mutton has depreciated from id to jd per lb during the past fourteen dnys, the supplies of River Plate mutton having beon greater. With mutton generally the outlook is not so favorable as in former years at this season. It is just as well that all interested in the tradu in New Zealand should know this. We have generally had a high range of values, fnm 3s to Us 4J about February, but this year there is no indication of mutton risiug to this point. The rise has taken placo in former years iu a jeuoral way

owing to bareness of supplies here, and it is a question if there have been such heavy stocks here at this season in any previous year. It is just possible that these stocks may not be sufficiently reduced before heavy arrivals again come forward, and should this turn out to be the case the outcome would be a congestion of stocks again and a repetition of the low values which were experienced in the autumn of the year just closed. Lambs—A few new season goods have arrived, but the quality is not Al. Beef—Quotations have advanced owing to a good demand early in the month, and the knowledge that the next arrivals will not come forward for two or three weeks. The visible supply here will scarcely hold out until then. At the same time, there is a diminution in the demand on account of the enhanced values, specially with fore quarters. The present quotations are ; Mutton—New Zealand, best North Canterbury, 2s 8d to 2s 9d; medium and good grades, 2s 4d to 2s 6d; Australian and Queensland sheep, 2s Id to 2s 2d; per 81b. Beef—Queensland, hind quarters, 2s 8d to 2a 9d; fore, 2s 5d to 2s 6d; per 81b.