COMMEECIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ITEMS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10060, 11 June 1898, Page 7

COMMEECIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ITEMS.

FROZEN MEAT FROM THE ARGENTINE. With regard to the prospects of the frozen meat trade, it is said in London that the New Zealand Shipping Company are going to start a " frigorifico" at Bahia Blanca, a port of the Argentine Republic, and to call there regularly for livo stock and frozen meat. The possibilities of the port are described as very great.

THE DRY-AIR PRESERVING PROCESS.

Several interesting experiments in fruitpreserving by means of the dry-air process have just been completed by Dr. Brown, bacteriologist to the Victorian Agricultural Department. Apples, grapes, pears and plums put in dry-air jars over two months ago were found to be in first-rate condition when opened, retaining their firmness and flavour in an exceptional degree. The same class of fruit kept in a cool chamber, and packed on green pea. shells, simultaneously with the other, was soft and tasteless, and another parcel, which was simply kept in a cool atmosphere without any special treatment, had absolutely decayed. The result of the dry-air experiment is regarded as most satisfactory. Farther trials of the system on a more extensive scale will be made.

GREAT BRITAIN'S SHIP-BUILDING

TRADE,

"Lloyd's Register" contains returns of shipping under construction in the United Kingdom on the 31st March last. Excluding warships, the total was 606 vessels, with a gross tonnage of 1,185,121 tons, as compared with 428 vessels and 828,481 tons in March, 1897. Of the total, 1,181,036 were steamers and 4085 tons sailing vessels, as against 810,439 tons and 18,042 tons respectively at the same date last year. Of the 1898 total, 92,076 tons were for British owners, and next on the list was 40,010 tons for Japan. Russia followed with 33,276 tons, and then Denmark 25,915 tons. With regard to the ship-building centres, Glasgow stood first, as usual, with 239,113 tons ; Newcastle, second, with 185,185 tons ; Sun-

derland, third, with 169,352 tons ; Greenockfourth, with 158,559 tons; and Belfast fifth, with 157,530 tons. As compared wit the United Kingdom, the largest foreig construction is very small, German yard standing first with 80,601 tons under con struction ; France, second, with 55,540 tons and Holland, third, with 20,734 tons.

JUTE GOODS.

With regard to the jute goods market, Messrs Hoare, Millar and Co. report as follows under date Calcutta, May 6th:— " The quiet but steady feeling that was prevailing in the market has been suddenly dissipated by the official announcement that Calcutta was infected by plague. Some twenty to twenty-five cases have occurred altogether, but the prompt measures taken seem to have stamped the disease out at once, as no more cases have come to light during the present week; in fact, it is doubted in some quarters whether true plague has indeed come here. Whether it is so or not, the natives have displayed the utmost distrust of the measures taken by Government for their protection. Urged by fears of compulsory inoculation and segregation, an exodus began from the city, and it is estimated to have reached the number of 150,000 people. Tim naturally npset all business, and it has been followed by labour troubles, strikes at the Mills, and very nearly rioting. The panic is now subsiding, and confidence ia being restored, but it will take some tims before our market recovers from the stoppage, and we fear May shipments will be delayed in some cases. Prices have advanced, especially for short deliveiy, and as a rule sellers are holding off the market until matters have settled down. Should it happily prove, as we confidently anticipate, that there is no further plague, the market will revert to'its former level for forward delivery, but this month is likely to be a trying one for all concerned. In the complete absence of business, quotations are at present purely nominal at 1 to 2 per cent, advance on last week's quotations. Prospects of the new jute crop are very poor at present, but with rain falling within a reasonable time, it is not yet too late, especially as there is an ample stock of old crop still to come forward.