COMMERCIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2736, 15 February 1910, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

MOTU STOCK SALE

The Motu stock sale was held on Saturday last. The stock entered all came forward, but unfortunately there was a scarcity or buyers, resulting in little stock changing hands. Messrs llunciman and Pilmer represented the auctioneering firms. The chief sales were: 285 good 2-tooth ewes 10s Gd, 90 2-tooth ewes 8s Gd, 80 2-tooth wethers 7s 7d.

LONDON MAPKETS. Messrs W. AYeddel and Co., London, report as follows, under date. December 31st: Wool.—The market has ruled very firm during the past fortnight, and the amount of business put through at various centres of the trade lias been in excess of that usually experienced at this time of the year. Merinos have been in good demand, and considering the quantities of direct importations arriving just now, values have shown great steadiness, but there is not the activity in these fine wools that there has been in the coarser grades of crossbreds. There has been great eagerness displayed by Bradford people to get hold of any lots of these lower qualities, and from the manner in which some houses have been operating,..it is evident that stocks must have been getting very low indeed. Arrivals to date for the first series of sales for 1910, which commence here on 18th January, amount to 83,800 bales, of which 3,800 are from New Zealand, 68.100 from Australia, and the balance from South Africa.

Frozen Moat. —General Market.--Supplies at Smithfield have been plentiful, the “Christmas”' market opening strongly hut gradually declined, especially tor beef, as a result of cheap offerings of poultry and the mild unseasonable weather of the past two weeks. Scotch mutton is quoted at 5/d to Gd. per lb., and English at 5d and old. per lb. Continental supplies, as usual at this time of the year, are falling off, and good carcases are now worth 41 d to 5/d per lb. States’ beef sells at 5d to spi. per lb. for sides, and Canadian at 4d to sd. per lb. States’ cattle are quoted at £l4 to £22 10s per head, and Canadian at £l4 to £2O 10s. Frozen mutton, atlhough net a last sale, has maintained last quotations, heavy New Zealand sheep, in fact, shewing a slight advance. Lambs are selling steadily at unchanged prices. Frozen and chilled beef meets a most disappointing sale, and low prices continue to rule.

Mutton.—There has been only one small arrival of New Zealand mutton since our last issue, 11,628 carcases. Supplies on hand are light, and with a good enquiry values have been easily maintained. Canterbury sheen in particular are scarce, and the few on offer find ready buyers. Carcases under 48 lbs. are quoted at 3:[d., and the 48/64 lbs. grade at 4»d to 4/d., heavier weights realising 3/d to 4d. Best North Island and Southland sheep are in request at 3f[d to 4d., with secondary brands selling at about 3§d to 3!d. Ewes sell slowly at 3 5-lGd to 3yd per lb. Australian.—-During the past fortnight 129,285 carcases have come to hand, the bulk of which arrived a day or two before Christinas. Prior to that the market was almost bare of this description, as well as of Argentine sheep, and with the demand still fairly active these large arrivals are being placed without interfering with prices. (Small carcases are selling at <3 5-iGd to 3yd., and the heavier weights at 3RI to 3 5-IGd oer lb.

Lamb. —Arrivals during the past two weeks amount to 10,181 carcases from New Zealand, 244.604 carcases from' Australia, 11,060 carcases from River Plate, and 3,410 carcases from Uruguaya. Notwithstanding the very heavy arrivals from Australia the market lias remained steady throughout this period, the inquiries for frozen lambs, considering the time of the year, being very fair. Stocks of old season’s New Zealand lambs are dwindling rapidly, and for the few Canterbury lambs available it is possible to obtain -Jd to -Id per lb. more than was quoted in our last report. Owing to mutton being in short supply, many buyers are using heavy Australian lambs in no steacl, and consequently carcases oi 42/50 lb. grade realise as much as those of lighter weight. There is also an excellent enquiry for very light weight lambs. Speaking generally, the quality of Australian lambs this season is an improvement upon last season’s standard, but a good many very inferior carcases arc arriving, while some are a shade too fat and wasteful for Smithfield requirements. We quote to day old season’s New Zealands at 4d to 4/-d. for under 361 b. carcases; to 4d. for 36/42 and 42/50 lbs. Prime

Melbourne lambs realise 3/d for under 361b5., 3RI for 36/421b5., and 3fd to 3i[d (up to 4d. per lb. for Cliamjpion brand) for 42/501bs. Sydney and Adelaide lambs are selling at 3gd., and secondary carcases at-3jjd to 3Ad. River Plate lambs may be quoted at same prices as Australians.

Beef. —Frozen, —The arrivals during the fortnight amount to 4,000 quarters from Australia, 778 quarters from New Zealand, 69,960 quarters from River Plate, and- 2718 quarters from Urugaya. For this time of the year the demand has been very disappointing, and with stocks accumulating prices of both fore and hind quarters have become weaker. Chilled beef from South America, selling at exceedingly low rates, has also had the effect of cheeking sales of frozen beef.

DANNEVIRKE RAM FAIR. [Per Press Association.] DANNEVIRKE, Feb. It. At the first ram fair, held on Saturday, 2GOO rams, were offered, this number being rather above the capacity of the district to absorb. There was a good demand for Romneys and Lincolns, but Border Leiccsters and other'mutton classes were 'neglected. The highest price was for a stud Romney ram, bred b.v Mr. Buick, of Masterton. which sold to Mr. L. McKenzie, Palmerston North, for 20gns. Other stud rams made fair values.

HIGH COMMISSIONER’S CABLE. WELLINGTON, Feb. 14. The High Commissioner’s cabled market report, dated 12th February, states : The mutton market is steady. There is less demand in the market for speculative stock. The New Zealand mutton on hand consists entirely of North Island, which has been widely distributed and pushed for sale. The average price of North Island mutton is Bgd. The lamb market is quiet-, but firm, with a better demand. The average price of New Zealand lamb other than Canterbury is s}d per lb. The beef market is firm, but there are no advances. New Zealand hindquarters average 3.[d 'per lb, forequarters 2/d. The butter market remains firm, although buyers are holding hack, expecting prices to go lower. The pr.ee of choicest New Zealand butter is 120 s, Australian 118 s, Argentine 118 s, Danish 1275, (Siberian 117 s. The cheese market is firm, with a hardening tendency, the finest New Zealand white cheese averaging 59s Gd, and colored 58s Gd.

The hemp market is lilcless. Prices arc as follows: On snot, New Zealand good to fair grade £27, fair £26; Manila, fair current, £26 ,1.0 s; forward shipment, good fair, £26 10s: fair, £25 10s;'Manila, £25 10s. The output of New Zealand hemp for the week was 20.000 bales. The cocksfoot market, for seed cn spot, is steady, and prices are well maintained. The price cf bright, clean 171 b New Zealand seed on spot is 74s for the now crqp. The forward shipment market i.s dull, and prices are irregular.

The wool market remains firm

The lion market remains firm, with a hardening tendency. There is a great demand in the market.

The grain market in general is quiet, with little doing, but a good ieeling prevails. Arrivals of River Plate mutton and lamb at ports in the United Kingdom during January are as follows: London 27.268 carcases mutton and 8891 carcases of lamb; Liverpool 81,191 and 6079, Hull 7223 and 17 s Newcastle 5000 and nil, Southampton 9547 and 2308, Cardiff 2115 and and 596. Plvmouth 1002 and 230, Ireland 1260 and 25.

LONDON MEAT MARKET

CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 12

The British New Zealand Company has received the following message from London; “The lamb market is firm, with a good demand. The price of Canterbury is 54d, North Island 5/d for weights up to 361bs. Have a good opinion of the near future of the market.”

HOME MARKETS. United Press Association —Copyright LONDON, Feb. 12. On the Bradford wool market a cheerful tone prevails. Forties sold at 15d, 46’s 17id, common 60’s 25j{d, super 26;]d, 64's 27yd. There is no quotation for futures. The butter market is quiet and easier, owing to the weakness of the northern markets. Colonial has declined about 2s all round. Danish is unchanged. The. wheat markets are very dull. The American market is weak. The Argentine i.s offering freely, but buyers are not disposed to operate. There iwas father better inquiry to-day, and two Australian cargoes sold at 38s 60 and 39s 6d respectively, holders asking .‘/8 s IOAd for steamer parcels JamiaryFebruary shipment. There is Tittle business doing in flour. Best Australian patents on passage are quoted at 28s 6d to 28s del c.i.f.

Barley is' neglected. Australian malting is quoted at 25s to 33s in store. f In oats there i s a fair trade, New Zealand Gartens selling at 19s 3d to 225, and Sparrowbills at 18s 9d to 20s 6d. La Plata being quiet.

Money market: Short loans 11 uer cent., three months’ bills London 2/ per cent., Paris 2/ nor cent., Berlin 21 per cent.' Sheep and beef quotations are all unchanged. Lamb: North Island 4|d, selected 5/d. Australian best brands 4d, fair quality 3|d, inferior 31d, River Plate 3gd. Cheese: New Zealand white 59s to 60s, colored 58s to 595.

The hemp market is quiet. A Janu-ary-March shipment brought £26 .10s. Wheat: 26,0(1)0' quarters of Australian January-February shipment sold at 395.