LONDON MARKETS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8435, 6 May 1907, Page 3

LONDON MARKETS.

(From Our London Correspondent.) LONDON, March 22. The Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company, L d , under date March 16th report:—The quantity of meat passed through fcimithfield last week amounted to 8,844 to„s, which is the heaviest quantity for any week this year, but the demand was of the slowest, description and low prices had to he accepted to make a clearance. No improvement can be reported for the ciuren; week, and the supplies ave still onalibeial s.ale, with rather weaker prices. English and Scotch baef remains at nominally the same quotations, but with a tendency in favour of buyen. The best North?, American chilled hinds still command up to 5Jd per lb, but fores are a little cheaper at 31d to 3£d per lb. South American chilled hinds are also cheaper at 3|d to 4&d per lb and fores are offered at 3d per lb. Large quantities of cheap Dutch calves have been pitched on the provincial markets and sold at 2Jd to BJd per lb. These have greatly interfered with the demand for frozen meat. New Zealand Mutton.—The Aotea 1 brought 21,459 carcases. There has been a very slight improvement in the demand,'' but prices are again weaker and supplies are still distributed amongst far too many sellers. The best light Canterburys can be bought a,t 4|d per lb, and heavier weights down to 4d per lb. North. Islands range from 3jd to#d per lb, according to weight' The strike of slaughtermen in the colony continues,; asd it is,reported that many of the Works, particularly in the South Island, arei practically at a standstill. Unless a settlement is speedily arrived at, quotations on this market are pretty sure to harden. South American Mutton.—The Amirai Courbet, with 9,362 carcases, " and the Royston Grange, with 28,150 carcases, have arrived. The London market remains at a higher level than the provinces, but the bulk of supplies are in the latter and the demand , there is extremely quiet. Good light sheep in London are worth 3Jd per lb, and heaviest 3Jd per lb, but the average in thfe country is no more than the latter figure. Australian Mutton.—The Rippingham Grange is due to-day with about 14,000 carcases. Supplies appear to be going into consumption fairly readily, but prices are a little weaker,' ranging from 3Jd to 3gd , par lb. ' V'' New Zealand Lambs.—Stocks are heavy for the time of year. Values are again weaker and there are many sellers apparently anxious to force sales. The output is increasing but does not keep pace with arrivals. Canterburys can be bought at s£d per lb, and North Islands are quoted at 4gd to 5d per-lb. 'j Australian lambs.—Thlse are very plentiful, but are 4 selling so cheaply | that large numberstare going into con- ( sumption. Prices* again show a J marked decline, the top quotation [ , now being 4Jd per lb, while plain and r inferior grades can be bought at 3|d J per lb. Frozen Beef.—The arrivals during ]. the week have been moderate, but stocks.aie heavyi New Zealand beef is in, fair supply, but is moving 1 readily at abotft 3fd to 3Jd per lb for at 2Jd to 2§d per lb for ioros./ South American beef is not much'wanted at the quotations of about 3£d for hinds and 2£d per lb for fores in London, but fair quantities are being sold in the provinces at rather lower prices.

Messrs Dalgety and Company, .Ltd., Wellington, have received the following cable from Londno, dated ; the 2nd instant .'—Frozen MeatNew Zealand frozen-lamb, higher by Jd to Jd. Increasing demand for frozen mutton, light weights; heavy neglected. New Zealand beef, hinds 3Jd,.to 3§d. Australian lam)?, prime, 32-401bs, 4fd. Australian mutton, flight weights, 3j}cl. Butter—Market weak. The Copenhagen official quotation remains unchanged. The total imports of butter into the United Kingdom for the week 'ending the 27th April amounted to 88,000cwt, as compared with 72,000 cwt for the corresponding week of 1906. Tallow—Mutton tallow in general, prices are unchanged. Other descriptions are higher by 3d to 6d per cwt. 'Hides.] —Cable advice received from the company's. Melbourne branch states t<mt prices all round*are lower by id, 'excepting for stout heavies.