TRADE WITH NATAL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9739, 29 May 1897, Page 7

TRADE WITH NATAL.

Last week we quoted some remarks from the Argus on the trade between the Australasian colonies and Cape Town, and its possibilities. The same paper also treats upon the connection between the colonies and Natal. The Collector of Customs at Natal has supplied a return of the imports and exports for the. first nine months of 1896, as compared 'with the corresponding period of 1895. From the foUowihg figures it th _*£-£&$ .intercourse/ b*-lrea-y of some importance :-— . 1885 1896 <9"_ont_o). (9 Months). Imports from— £ £ South Australia _~ /«,967 61,287 Weateru Australia ■'_, — 22,950 Victoria .... 10,233 , 7,706 New Zealand _ ,_ — 4,606 Exports to— New South Watea _, — 1,091 South Australia -.16 202 . Victoria .. ■-">_■ 63 - '"'' 528 Western Australia _. M 751 NewZoaland „ — — 6 The Natal retnrns do not state countries of origin under the heading of each article. But the following particulars of the imports during the first nine months, of 1896 of articles producible in Australia are of interest: — Butter, 267,0471b j cheese, 377,8941b ; oats, 95,6670wt ; wheat, 7814 c wt* flour, bran, and pollard, 22,575 tons; jams, 444,0741b. There are other articles grouped under mixed headings. Of the butter and cheese a considerable proportion was forwarded to Johannesburg. Intercourse with the colonies is not infrequent, for no fewer than seventeen sailing vessel- and steamers arrived at Natal during the nine months from Melbourne, Adelaide, and Fremanfcle. The South African trade from Natal to Cape Town {says our contemporary) is one to be assiduously cultivated by Australia. As a matter of fact, the exports of Australian breadstuff, to South Africa have been very profitable in the past, and with *"he recurrence of good seasons will be equally so in the future. As regards dairy products, jams, and preserved fruits and vegetables, Australia ought to command the South African import trade, and.every opportunity should be improved to strengthen the connection.