THE TRADE OF NEW CALEDONIA.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9817, 28 August 1897, Page 7

THE TRADE OF NEW CALEDONIA.

The British consular report for 1896 on the trade of New Culedonia ia of much interest to Australian merchants. The imports of the island amounted to £367,704 and the exportsto £229,942, comparing with the following figures for 1895, viz. :—lmports, £295,181 : exports, £311,117. Consul Ilarford remarks that the adverse movements are " not a sign of prosperity, production having fallen off to the value of over £00,000, whilst the tribute paid to the Mother country and the Australian colonies has increased by nearly a similar amount." The exports of New Caledonia consist principally of nickel, chrome and cobalt ores. For nickel and chrome there is au increasing demand. Nearly all the copra produced is shipped to Australia. Regarding importation, the Consul states that owing to the prevalence of drought during the years 1895-96, and the great mortality arising therefrom, the cattle-breeders in New Caledonia were unable to supply the Government contractor with the stipulated number of animal 9, in consequence of which the Government was obliged to import cattle from the Australian colonies, principally from Queensland. The import duty on foreign cattle is 25f (£) per head. Since 1896, that is to say, by a decree of the Governor, dated March 20th, 1897, Western Australia and Queensland are proclaimed and gazetted as infeoted with the tick plague, and cattle from thosa colonies cannot enter New Caledonia and her dependencies. New Caledonia is largely dependent upon Sydney for frash produce, which can be landed at Noumes cheaper than the local farmers can bring it to town. There are no Customs duties on fresh produce. New Caledonia is a good market for flour, the quantity imported in 1896 being of the declared value of £46,564.