Victorian Produce, in Loudon. 453 



VICTORIAN PRODUCE IN LONDON. 



By A. G. Berry. 

 Butter. 



Since writing ou the IGtli ultimo, the R.M.S. "Himalaya" and 

 the R.M.S. " Orient" with small consignments, and the R.M.S. " India " 

 with 6,626 boxes, have arrived. 



The butter by all the above-uamed steamers has been delivered in 

 good condition. Some of it is new season's butter, the quality of 

 which is excellent. It is selling readily at 106s. to 108s. per cwt., 

 and the firms here connected with the trade are very hopeful, if the 

 quality of future supplies is maintained, that Victorian butter will 

 again reach the position in the trade that it held previous to the last 

 two seasons. Australian butter is practically on its trial again, and 

 the necessity of keeping up to the standard started cannot be too 

 strongly impressed upon the Victorian butter manufacturers and 

 shippers. If the good quality is maiutained throughout the season, 

 the difficulty of inducing shopkeepers and others to buy Australian 

 butter instead of other butters on the market next year will be greatly 

 diminished. Owing to short supplies from Australia during the last 

 two years, many original buyers of our butter have had to purchase 

 other kinds, and it is no easy matter to persuade them to again trade 

 in Australia unless the quality is good and the price moderate. 



As regards the old season's butter, of which large (piautities are 

 still in cold store here, I regret to say that sales are very slow. Prices 

 range from 86s. to l)2s. per cwt., at which prices buyers consider 

 Siberian better value !i,t present. However, shipments of the last 

 named are decreasing and becoming poorer in quality, io that there is 

 hope that a better market will be available for second rate Australian 

 butter shortly. There is little doubt that some of the stored butter 

 is very poor — in some cases quite rancid. 



Prices for the week are a,s follows : — Danish, 120s. to 122s. per 

 cwt.; Russian, 80s. to 94s.; Australian (new season's), 106s. to 108s., 

 and 110s. for very special ; stored, 86s. to 96s.; New Zealand and 

 Canadian, 100s. to 104s. 



Rabbits- 



In continuation of my memorandum of the 16tli ultimo on the 

 above subject, I have to report that I proceeded to Ijiverpool, as 

 instructed, to inspect the rabbits consigned to that port by the s.s. 

 ■'Persic." 



There was a good deal of delay in opening the chambers 

 containing the rabbits, as the vessel arriving in dock on Thursday 

 night, the consignees requested that delivery should not be made to 



