COMMERCIAL

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10607, 13 April 1912, Page 7

COMMERCIAL

LONDON WOOL SALES. Messrs Abraham and Williams, Ltd., report having received the undermentioned cable dated 11th iiist., from their London agents: — "Tho London wool sales opened with a large attendance of buyers. Americans are operating freely. The market is firm with good prospects. Merinos and fhio and coarse crossbreds are unchanged, medium crossbreds from par to 5 pea- cent, advance. THE WHEAT MARKET. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., have received the following cablegram from tiheir London house: — Wheat. —We sold an Australian cargo at 39s 4£d, c.i.f. The market is firm with an upward tendency. There is a fair demand, and the outlook is encouraging. We quote per quarter, c.i.f., New Zealand wheat, longberricd 37s 6d, and shortberried 375. J LONDON MARKETS.

.■ Messrs-James Macintosh and Co. have received the following report from their London agents:—

"Since our report of a month ago, the long-threatened coal strike has ta-ken place. Up to the very last moment it was hoped and expected that the negotiations would prove successful and the strike be averted, but even the intervention of the Government to arrive at a settlement also proved unavailing, and tie men ceased work on the 29th nit. Several meetings of the various leaders have since taken place, ibut so far no way out of the difficulty has been found, and it would now appear that the strike will at any rate continue for a further week at least.

"Wool.—la view of the strike above referred to, a meeting of importers was called, kind it was decided to postrpono indefinitely tho second series of auctions, which should have commenced on the sth inst. Shortly after the close of the January auctions, . the market generally became distinctly quiet, and it looked as if lower prices must be recorded Allien the March sales opened. Towards tho latter part of February, however, a decidedly 'better feeling came over the market and the weakness previously experienced entirely disappeared. Should the strike bo prolonged, it must undoubtedly ihava an adverse effect on prices, .but should it be concluded■•,withhi ithe next "weelf or so, we do not coii/sidei; position will be materially affected.' Reports from Bradford during ..tho past'weekj. indicate a good business passing''iii both mer hi o and crossbred -wools, whilst in the export yam trade more orders are being placed and tho outlook is brighter. Latest Bradford prices for tops are as follow :—Crossbred, fine, 56's, Is 7£d; 50's, Is 6d; medium, 46's, Is 2d; coarse, 40's, Is lid; 36's, Is OJd per lb.

'Tallow. —During the period under review five auctions have been held, at which 4980 oasks were offered and 3401 casks sold. Prices of the bettor description declined about 6d to Oil per cwt., in the early part of last month, and have regained steady thereat, whilst other kinds show but little or no change on average. Wo quote to-day's ruling prices as follows : Mutton, good to fine, 35s to 365, fair to good, 33s 6d to 355; beef, fine, 34s 6d, fair to good, 32s 6d to 33s 6d; mixed, good, 32s 6d to 335, dull to fair. 81s 6d to 32s 6d per cwt. Stocks in warehouse hare increased during the "month by 289 casks, the figures being 9107 casks landed, and 8818 casks de- j livered, .bringing•■■■stocks to 14,943 j on; the Ist inst., as compared J with 10,350 casks for the same period ! of 1911, and.8872 casks in 1910. Shipments from Australasia for February axe 5000 tons, against 6300 tons for the same period of 1911. On c.i.f. | terms, business has been somewhat restricted, owing to paucity of offers, prices being 30s 6d to 32s 3d for mixed, 32s to 33s 6d for beef, and 33s upwards for mutton. "Frozen meat.—During the past month trade on SmitMeld generally speaking has not been at all. good, values being distinctly in the buyers i favour, who, as a rule, could get served somewhere on the market at their own ; price., The demand for mutton is very rest rioted; and even with the . moderate - supplies " available j chiefly North Island, it lias been found necessary to reduce quotations. New Zealand lambs are being offered more freely, but saks are cxtreanely disappointing. It is very difficult to quote New Zealand beef, very little being marketed. We quote present, values on Smithfield nominally :—New Zealand mutton, best, 2s 6d to 2s 9d per stone, second, 2s Id to 2s 4d per stone; New Zealand lamibs, best, 3s 8d to 3s 9d, second, 3s 2d to 3s 6d; New Zealand beef, fores, Is lOd to 2s, binds, 2s »d to 2s 8d per stone. "Butter.—The strike has curtailed demand for this article, and' prices have fallen in consequence. Wo quote finest New Zealand 126s to 12Ss per cwt. "Cheese. —In this commodity the strike appears to have had the opposite effect, values having risen in place of falling. We quote best white, 73s to 74s per cwt, and coloured Is less.