LONDON MARKETS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8553, 11 October 1907, Page 3

LONDON MARKETS.

(From Our London Correspondent.),

LONDON, August 27. Messrs W. Weddel and Co. report •as follows, under date August 23rd — Wool. — With considerably more than is generally experienced during August, this market has been active during the past fortnight, and sales at very full current rates of •both merino and crossbred parcels have been effected. In other centres, there has been more doing than .usual. Bradford in particular has j, been putting through some good •* weights of English wool to United -States houses, arid with other good • export orders for yarns, quotations have been raised against the buyer for all fine and coarse qualities, the better class of 40's tops being quoted *a good £d per lb dearer than last week. Trade on the Continent continues satisfactory. Tallow.—The following are current spot quotations for Australian and New Zealand sorts, viz.:—Mutton — Good to finest, 36s 3d to 37s 3d per cwt.; dull to fair, 35s 3d to 35s 9d per cwt.; inferior, 33s 6d to 34s 3d per cwt. Beef —Good to finest, 34s 9d to 37s per cwt.; dull to fair, 34s -■-3d-taJ34s 6d; inferior, 33s to 34s per cwt. Frozen Meat.—With so many people out of London trade at Smithfier is still quiet, but business in the Provincial markets is fairly active. Home mutton is still scares, .and is realising 7Jd to 8d per lb for Scotch, and 7d to 7Jd per lb for English. Dutch sheep are quoted at 6£d to 7£d per lb. Fair quantities of Home lambs are now being offered at 7Jd to 8d per lb. Only moderate quantities of chilled beef have been received both from North America and the River Plate, and prices have consequently been maintained _in spite of the slow demand. At Smithfield sides of States beef are quoted at s§d to s§d. and Canadians at sid to s£d. At Deptford States cattle now realise £2O to £2l 10s per head, and Canadians £l9 10s to £2L. In the frozen meat market there has been comparatively little demand for either mutton or beef, but lambs sell well in the Country where small carcases are specially in demand. Mutton.— New Zealand—Arrivals during the past two weeks amount to 122,206 carcases. Although these represent twice as many carcases as were received during the previous two weeks, the market has held up firmly for nearly all classes of New Zealand mutton, the demand having . been fairly well maintained, especially for Canterbury sheep, which are selling at a substantial premium •over other brands. Canterbury sheep *- under 641b are realising 4jjd to 4Jd = per lb. Heavier weights are making from 4d to 4£d per lb.; W.M.E.'s and Longburns are quoted at 3£d to 4Jd per lb, while ordinary North Islands are selling at 3§d to 4d per lb. .Ewes have sold at 2id to 3|d per lb, . according to weight. Australian.—Receipts during the fortnight amount to 26,414 carcases. These arrivals are heavier than have ■ come to hand for some time past. Trade has been exceptionally dull, the only demand experienced being for New Zealand sheep, River Plate . and Australian being in little or no request. Small weight sheep have . sold at 3d to 3Jd per lb, the latter price being only obtainable for selected sheep, and the heavier car- • cases realise from 2gd to 3d per lb. 'River Plate.—Arrivals during the past two weeks amount to 85/803 carcases. The trade has been very slow during the period, and no improvement in values has taken place. This is all the more surprising, inasmuch as New Zealand sheep are selling at prices showing a much greater premium over River Plate -sheep than is usually the case. A fair number, however, are going into ccn- . sumption at the low prices ruling. Small sheep are selling at 3Jd to 3|d per lb, while heavier carcases are realising 2gd to 3d per lb. Lambs.- Arrivals during the fortnight amount to 5,015 carcases from * Australia, 105,286 carcases from New Zealand, [and 2,559 carcases from River Plate. These arrivals / again show a decrease. Although considerable dulness characterised the meat trade generally during the period under review, the deir.and experienced for lambs may be considered very satisfactory. The Provinces have taken a good quantity, mainly light-weight carcases, which -are in rather short supply and firmly held. Medium and heavy weights are more difficult to move, and a slight -easing off in values for same has taken place. Secondary light weight lambs are relatively scarce, and command prices within a small fraction of those asked for the corresponding weight of prime quality. Prime Canterbury lambs, 23 to 361b, are selling at 5 5-16 d to sgd, 36 to 421b ■at s£d to I 3-16 d per lb, and heavier carcases at 5d to per lb. Prime North Island and secondary lambs of light weight in very short supply are selling at prices closely approximating to Canterbury values. Australian and River Plate lambs are nominally unquotable, the few being sold realising 4£d to 5d per ',b. Beef.—Frozen Arrivals during the fortnight amount to 11,537 quarters from New Zealand, 13,876 quarters from Australia, and 39,508 quarters from River Plate. There is a falling off in the supply as against the previous two weeks, but owing to the beef being held in several hands, lower offerings have been made, and the market closes decidedly weaker than before. Fores, more especially, are a slow sale, and prices iu-o fully id to Id per lb lower.