BRITISH STATISTICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9143, 27 August 1888, Page 3

BRITISH STATISTICS.

From the recently issued Trades and Navigation Returns for the five months up to the end of May, some interesting particulars may be culled respecting Great Britain's exports and imports of stock, meat, and provisions of various kinds, including butter, cheese, and eggs. Commencing with horses, it appears that during those five months there were exported upwards of 4000, compared with 2873 in the same period last year, and 2000 in 1886, the value having been £226,334, against £156,056 in 1887, and £115,797 in 1886. Of the horses exported, 752 were stallions, valued at £81,902; 14 went to Holland, 45 to Belgium, 16 to France, 410 to the United States, 117 to British North America, and 150 to other countries. There were 1732 mares exported, of the value of £87,570 ; 291 going to Holland, 273 to Belgium, '248 to France, 422 to the United States, 60 to British North America, and 438 to other countries, 1522 geldings were exported, of the value of £56,862 ; Holland took 399, Belgium 458, France 274, United States 112, British North America one, and other countries 278- Now for the imports of horee stock. During the five months there were imported 4538 horses (259 stallions, 542 mares, and 3737 geldings), against 4493 in 1887, the value having been £84,017, against £66,051. As regards the term " gelding," it is explained that this includes horses the gender of which was not particularised previous to the month of April, 1888. Of other animals exported the value was £60,103, against £43,629 in the same five months of 1887. Next may be taken the imports of cattle for the same period, the value for the live months having been £2,757,372, against £1,853,357 in the corresponding period last year, and £2,362,982 in 1886. Oxen and bulls showed an increase from £907,854 in 1887 to £1,805,665 in 1888; covva increased from £194,616 to £278,229 ; calves decreased from £58,204 to £46,655; sheep and lambs decreased from £685,097 *to £606,642; and swine increased from £7586 to £20,181. Compared with the cost last year, dead meat decreased from £6,089,372 to £5,970,038 ; the value of bacon having been £2,444,253, against £2,565,597 ; beef, salted, £159,970, against £159,663; beef, fresh, £771,124, against £604,411 ; hams, £807,185, against £992,522; meat, salted or fresh, £65,005, against £76,493; meat, preserved otherwise than by salting, £494,940, against £540,363 ; fresh mutton, £740,942, .against £672,107 ; salted pork, £159,931, against £206,448 ; and fresh pork, £96,081, against £167,546. Of corn, the value of the imports for the five months was £16,736,200, compared with £18,903,242 in 1887. Of butter, the value of the imports increased from £3,462, in 1887 to £3,804,548 in 1888 ; butterine decreased from £1,561,748 to £1,445,273, and cheese increased from £859,803 to £1,044,366. Eggs increased from £1,348,499 to £1,489,100; and poultry and game from £152,881 to £171,142. As will be noticed from these figures, the value of the imports of both butter and cheese had increased considerably, showing that there is still a large demand for these products in the old country. When the imports of butter for five months reached the large sum of £3,800,000, and cheese upwards of £1,000,000, there must be still an enormous opening for these articles, an opening of which this country should endeavour to take advantage jnore than has yet been done. While writing on statistics, it may be mentioned that last year there was paid for compensation to local authorities in Great Britain on account of diseases, the large sum of £66,746, as follows :—For diseased cattle, £21,456 ; for healthy cattle in contact, £22,913. On account of swine slaughtered owing to swine-fever the sums paid were £15,836 for diseased swine, and £6,541 for healthy swine in contact, making a total drain upon the country of the amount above specified.