TRADE WITH SOUTH AFRICA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12427, 16 February 1901, Page 2

TRADE WITH SOUTH AFRICA.

A LINE OF STEAMERS ESTABLISHED, Several Christchurch merchants have lor some considerable time been endeavouring to, establish 'a. trade with South Africa, and althoiig'hi they have sent representatives there and ascertained 1 that there is a.very fair market for New’ Zealand produce; they, have found great difficulty in getting, freights direct from this colony. . The result has been' that the bulk.of the cargoes which have been sent have had to go Ly way of Melbourne,, being transhipped ■there. This,, oil' course, has militated against the development of the trade; partly owing' to .the- -uncertainty'• of --securing space at Melbourne, and also on account of the extra cost cf freights. ■ The Government was approached -on the matter, and advertised! for. tenders for’a line of steamers, but nothing' edme. of it, and it is now ■satisfactory ;to note that, the New Zealand and' Ishaw, Savilb and Albion .Companies and the Tyser line hdye'coinbined to establish a service, . by."sending' ■ boats by turn,.every.lsix weeks.’ •••It is in-; tended that the boats shall calLul' the various ports’in the colony to load, afterward* ■calling’"at Freemantle, then. gHng'jMi tor South African pcrte> ..and...afterwards' to London. It is anticipated thut-the-voTage to London will be lengthened by the change of route to the extent of from ten days to a fortnight. ■ • 7 T ■'■ The service will be initiated by the jNew. Zealand Shipping Company’s Otarama, which will leave New Zealand. ...bn March 9, and her ports of call-in South Africa will be Durban, Algoa Bay Aha Cape Town. A great many inquiries .are already being received for space, and it is more than likely that a cargo wilL be booked for South African ports. Tnq freights decided-upon at present are low, with, of course, ■ the usual prinragd-' Wheat, 455; carts, 'sss .per, 22401 b; ficur, ,455; bran and pollard 65s and oatmeal 50s per’2ooolb; case goods, 50s per ton meas-. urement; compressed hay 100 s per 22401 b r frozen meat—-Mutton per lb, lainb la* 16d per lb, and beef 5-8 d per lib. • As the line has been established at the request of the merchants and speculators, of t his colony, it is to be hoped that it .will be well patronised, and that sufficient in.ducement will be offered the companies not only to continue it., hut also at sqme; fu-' ; turc date to extend it. Before absolutely deciding to take this step the companies concerned communicated with the Hqn J. G Ward, and he expressed hit? approval of the project. Although the demand for our. New Zealand produce ■in South Africa is oillv ■ intermittent, at the present time,., as soon as the war is over there can he Tittle doubt that a. steady demand for New’ Zealand products will be experienced, and thus another outlet will bs added to thpse already existing. ,