LONDON MARKETS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8463, 13 June 1907, Page 3

LONDON MARKETS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, May 3. Under date April 26th, the Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company, Ltd., report:— The quantities of meat disponed of at Smithfield continue well up to the '' average, but trade has been of a more , dragging character for fresh meat, with rather lower values for many descriptions. . Home-bred supplies in particular have lost ground. English sides of beef have declined to 5Jd to - 6|cl per lb, but Scotch sides remain atßJd to s£d per lb. English and Scotch mutton is meeting a fair deWand, but prices are lower by about |d per lb. North American chilled beef has also moved slightly in favour of buyers. Hindquarters are quoted at 4|d to 5Jd per lb, and fores at 3Jd to 3Jd per lb, which represents a decline of fully |d per lb. South American chilled hinds have fully maintained their value at 4Jd to 4|d per lb, but forequarters are weaker at 2|d to 3d per lb. New Zealand Mutton.—Arrivals ■during .the week consist of Kumara 56,761 carcases, Rangatira 17,306, Marere 41,316 carcases. The low range of prices has led to an increased consumption of this mutton, with the result that the decline appears to have been checked, although no recovery has yet been •established. Supplies are quite adequate to requirements, and are in numerous hands. Canterburys do not sell so readily as other descriptions and range in value from 3|d to 4|d per lb, according to weight. North Islands are procurable from 3§d for heavy sheep up to 3|d per lb for good average carcases. Ewes are still plentiful and selling cheaply. South American Mutton.—Stocks have been increased by 28,631 carcases per Highland Laird, 3,302 carcases per Star of Victoria, 29,347 carcases per Star of England, and 20,485' carcases" per drouze. Values in London have weakened, and good light sheep can now be procu-ed at 3j|d per lb, while heavy carcases have sold as low as 3d per lb. No change has taken place on provincial markets, and 3jjd per lb is still being realised for light carcases, but heavies are difficult to dispose'of. Australian Mutton.—The only arrival, has been the Persic, with 25,797 carcases. The supplies still appear to be sufficient for the demand and 3|d is the top price obtainable for good light sheep. Other descriptions are realising down to 3d per lb, but the trade passing is not large.;' Frozen Lambs.—The vessels al-

ready named brought 110,244 carcases ' from New Zealand, 5,452 carcases from Australia, and 4,918 carcases from South America. Good business continues to be done in lamn, and, owing to moderate prices, the output has been maintained in spite of less favourable weather. liight carcases, are far , rriqre plentiful than any other grade; and command the? least money. Medium weight Canterburys are still worth up to 5Jd per lb, but the top value of light weights does not exceed s£d per lb. North Islands command 4|d and 5Jd per lb for light and heavy weights, respectively. Australian lambs are not much in'evidence, and are sold at 4Jd to 4!sd per lb. Frozen Beef. —Receipts consist of 3,118 quarters from New Zealand and 36,388 quarters from South America. A good demand has prevailed for f orequarters and the value of these has improved to 2|d to 3d for New - Zealand, and to 2gd to 2|d for South American.' Hinds show less improvement to 3§d to 3£d for New Zealand and 3Jd to 3|d for South American. Provincial markets are firm. Market Quotations.— English mutton, wethers, April 26th, 1907. per lb, 6£d, corresponding period, 1906, per lb, 6£d; Scotch mutton, wethers, 7d and 8d; New Zealand, Canterbury, 4Jd and 4jjd; New Zealand North Island, Sgdand 3£d; Australian, 3|d and none; South American, 3Jd and ' 3Jd; New Zealand lamb, sgd and 4|d; Australian lamb, New South Wales and Victoria, 4Jd and4d; Australian lamb, Adelaide, 4Jd and 4d. English beef, sides, April 26th, 1907, 6}d per lb, corresponding period. 1906, 5Jd per lb; Scotch bsef, sides, sfcl and 6d; North American beef, hinds, 5Jd and 5Jd; North American bsef, fores, 3J and 3fd; New Zealand beef, hinds, 3Jd and 3Jd; New Zealand beef, fores, 3d and 2£d; South American beef, hinds, 3id and 2ld; South American beef, fores, 3ld and 2|d.