COMMERCIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2556, 17 July 1909, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

NEW SOUTH W-a-uES SHEET 1 EXPORT. United Press Association—Copyright (Received July 17, 1.5 a.m.) SYDNEY,, Julv 16. In the year ended June 13th, Now South Wales exported 765,140 carcases of mutton and 446,700 lambs. Messrs W. Weddell and Co., London, report as follows* for the week ending Juno 4th: Butter. —The demand for Australian and New Zealand butter is slow, and the market dragging with a steady sagging in prices. Arrivals are difficult to move off, and will become more so during the next few weeks, when full grass butter, both Home and European varieties, will dominate the British markets. Although Australian and New Zealand blitters find a demand here all tho year round, they meet a very slow sale in June, July and August. There are no shipments to record tins week, but arrivals are fairly large for the time of year. Prices are fully 4s per owt. down on the week. Ihe Dominion of New (Zealand for the year ended 31st March, 1909, exported 13,799 tons of butter against 13,566 tons in ilo previous year, being an increase of or.Jy 233 tons. The feature in the frozen meat market is the sharp advance in the price of beef. Buyers simultaneously realiseed that stocks are moderate, and their scramble to secure supplies was promptly taken advantage of to run up .prices. It is expected that dear beef will give butchers still greater inducement to press sales of mutton and lamb, the consumption of which may quite naturally show further marked expansion in the near future. Mutton. —New Zealand. —Arrivals during the past two weeks amount to 100,173 carcases. A fair number of sales have been made during the fortnight, hut as stocks are still very heavy values of all descriptions arc -weak. Prime Canterbury sheep are not now quoted at over 3£d. per lb. for light and medium weights, the 56/641bs. grade selling at 3d to 3gd .per lb. Heavy caxcases sell quietly at 2jd to 2£d per lb. Best North Island brands are offered at 2 } 4 d to 2fd pe r lb. according to weight. Second quality sheep can bo bought at under 2d per Jb. for heavy the more saleable weights realising 2§d to per lb. Ewes are in plentiful supply and sales have been made at l;'fd to 2d per lb. Lamb.—Arrivals are considerably less than during the previous fortnght. consisting of 194,726 carcases from New Zealand, and 12,357 carcases from the River Plate., Canterbury lambs under 421bs go into consumption as rapidly as they become available from the carrying steamers, and yet it is impossible to arrest the downward course of prices. Canterburys under 361hs are now offered at per lb., and 36/421bs at 4J to 4§d. Notwithstanding dear home-killed mutton there is very little demand for tegs, and, in consequence of the considerable quantities available, the 42/50 lbs. grade realises onlv 3 11-16 d to 3{d. per lb. Prime Wellington lambs are scarce, and relatively steady in price at 4jd for small weights and 4Jd for medium we:glib'. Other North Island lambs are plentiful and weak at low prices. Almost any brand is obtainable at 3£d for under 4-21bs., or 4d. for under 361bs. alone; while secondary carcases cannot be quoted at more than 3|d to 3£d per lb. Even with such low prices for New Zealand lambs there is an increasing demand for Australian lambs at about 3]d to 31 d for small weights, and 3ld for 36/421bs. River Plate lambs are offered at 3d to ojd per lb. . . , . Beef. —Frozen. —During tbe past two weeks 2,288 quarters arrived from New Zealand, and 36,000 quarters froin the River Plato. Tlie enquiry tlirougfcut has been good, and with favorable weatheP and short supplies, values have gone considerablv dearer. DuiiOg the past week an advance of i* er &d per lb. was established, and closug cu ctations are firm.