LONDON MARKETS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8434, 4 May 1907, Page 3

LONDON MARKETS.

(From Our London Correspondent.) LONDON, Marish 22. ' Messrs W. Weddel and Co. report aa followMutton—River Plato: Arrivals during the past two Weeks amount to 96,678 carcases. There has been no special development in this department. The demand has been fair, but insufficient to maintain recent values, and a decline in price has to be recorded. This result has been hastened by the marketing of a considerable quantity of damaged mutton at exceptionally low rates. Small sheep are quoted at 3sd to 3fd, while heavier carcases realise 3gd to 3£d. Lambs.—Arrivals during the fortnight amount to 119,437 carcases from Australia, 101,684 carcases from New Zealand, and 8,051 carcases from the River Plate. There is practically nothing fresh to report in connection with the lamb trade. Supplies arriving are far in excess of requirements at this time of the year, and prices all round are consequently weaker. With the easing off in values, the demand for New Zaaland lambs has increased slightly, | but not to the extent that holders would like to see. Buyers, however, do not show much inclination to operate to any extent in the face of the large shipments afloat; and many parcels are arriving which cost the owners considerably more than present values. What enquiry there is, is mainly for best quality lambs, anything at all secondary being very difficult to move. This is more particularly the case with New Zealand lambs, which have to compete with all classes of Australians, the latter bsing freely offered at anything from 3|d to 4|d. The good enquiry for heavy lambs that has existed for some time past is now falling off, bayers filling their requirements with light and medium weights. The market for New Zealartd lambs closes weak at the following quotations' Prime Canterburys 5d to s§d; best quality North Islands 4fd to 4|d; secondarys 4Jd to 4|d. Australians are selling at 4|d to 4§d for prime quality; 4dto4Jd'for medium; and 3|d to 3gd for secondarys. River Plate lambs may be quoted round about 4£d. Beef.—Frozen.—-Arrivals during the fortnight total 4,163 quarters from New Zealand and 40,975 quarters from the River Plate. (,The trade for frozen beef has been absolutely lifeless, and importers have found it extremely difficult to effect sales even at the much lower values that ara now being accepted.! A large proportion of the beef to hand from Naw Zealand is of only middling quality, and has been but indifferently graded, many quarters of poor quality and poorer condition being included amongst the best brands. Maw Zealand beef is selling at 2Jd to 2]d fores and 3Jd to 3§d hinds; River Piate beef at 2sd fores and 3d to 3Jd hinds.