OUR AMERICAN LETTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9423, 22 July 1889, Page 6

OUR AMERICAN LETTER.

[FROM Ou"R OWN CORRESFONOKNT.I San Francisco, June 29. The RM.s.s. Zealandia arrived from tho colonies on schedule time, aad her mails, together with those of the s.s. lonic, were forwarded so as to make quick connection at New York, and should arrive in England with the least possible delay. The Zealandia leaves hore with a full cargo and a good passenger list. MORE NKW ZEALAND APPLES. The s.s. Zealandia brought from Auckland on her present trip another small lot of New Zealand apples, twelve cases being consigned to Mr. Hugli Craig, of the New Zealand Insurance Company, and ten cases to Allison, Gray, and Co., fruit commission merchants. The reports of the two consignees upon their shipments vary considerably. Mr. Craig received two boxes aa a present, and these were almost eutirely sound. He states, however, that out of the ten boxes sent for sale there was only one box and a half of sound fruit upon their arrival in San Francisco. These realised 30s, or at tho rate of 20s per box, while the expenses amounted to £0 Gs, or at the rate of 12s 7d per box of fruit shipped. These figures were given to me by Mr. Craig himself. Messrs. Allison Gray and Co. told me that all the ten cases consigned to them might be considered sound, though of course there were some bad ones, and one or two varieties were worse than others and had better not be shipped. The lot sold at 12s per box, while the expenses were only 4s 2%d. or IO.Jd per box. There is a wide margin between receipts and expenditure in the two consignments. Mr. Craig made a better salesman with his box and a half this mouth than he did with the consignment he received by the Mariposa. But his expense account has become as extravagant as the income, in fact proportionally more so. Of the two, the figures given me by Allison Gray and Co. are the more reliable both as to receipts and expenses. The freight paid was higher by 30 cents per box than the rate now fixed by the Oceanic Company. Deducting this from the amount of costs per box, as given by Allison Gray and Co., and the total cost per box on the ten boxes would be just 75 cents, or 3 shillings. In my first letter on this subject, two months ago, I stated that the cost on a large shipment should not exceed 3s per box, and my estimates are proved correct. Messrs. Allison Gray and Co. say that in a consignment of 1000 boxes or more the expenses will be less than 3 shillings, including their commission of S per cent., Customhouse, drayage, freight, etc. The fruit, they say. must not be wrapped in newspapers. It was of good, even size, and fine quality, and, in their opinion, there would be no difficulty in disposing of 1500 cases by each steamer to arrive here in March, April and May. The fruit attracted much attention in the retail markets. I priced some of the apples that I saw in a fruit store opposite the Palace Hotel, and they were, stilling at (id each—two New Zealand apples for one shilling ! As a great favour I was given one very small apple for 5 cents. Speaking upon this subject, the San Francisco Evening Post says:—"lt may almost seem like 'carrying coals to Newcastle , to bring: Australian fruit to California, but it has been done, and successfully, too. The first importation was of apples, made upon the suggestion of the Post, and the experiment has verified the prediction made by us some months ago. The Australians have a decided advantage in seasons, being enabled to send fruits here at a time when they will have practically no competition, and consequently without working an injury to Californian growers. Of course, only apples and oranges can be brought over, as other fruits would not stand transportation. Trade will grow in this direction, to the benefit of tho colonial grower, the steamship company, and our own people, who will thereby enjoy this class of fruit all the year round." TRADE WITH AUSTRALIA. The trade of the Pacific Coast with Australia, exclusive of New Zealand, has been making mast gigantic strides. The exports from San Francisco to Australia during ISSB amounted in value to 1,830,100 dollars, us compared with 1,01)9,811 dollars in 1887. An increase of 80 per cent, in a single voar docs not often occur in any direction. That it is being maintained is shown by the fact that the exports from San Francisco to Australia during the first five months of the present year were 890,500 dollars, which was '250,(XX) dollars larger than up to May 31, ISSS, equal to an increase of 40 r-.sr cent, for the present year. These figures do not include the lumber trade from Puget Sound, which your corresdent has been to considerable trouble in compiling. During 18S8 no less than l'2.j cargoes of lumber left Puget Sound for Australia, one cargo bein" for Tasmania. This is at the rate of more than two cat-goes every week. Melbourne took 73 cargoes, Sydney, 44, Adelaide 3, Townsville 2, Brisbane "2, and Tasmania 1. The total quantity of lumber shipped was 86,131,78*2 feet, besides pickets, door stocks, laths, staves, doors, moulding, and lattice. The total value of these shipments was 1,221,933 dollars. In the previous year the total quantity of lumber exported, excluding pickets, door stocks, &c, was 37,507,509 feet, of the value of f>0.1,244 dollars, showing a gain last year of 50,000,000 feet, of the value of 7'20,000 dollars. Adding the exports from San Francisco to those of I uget Sound, the totals for the Pacific Coast trade with Australia are : for ISS7, value 1,510,855 dollars, and for 1888 a value of exports of 3.052.033 dollars, or an increase for the year of 1,530,000 dollars—over 109 per cent. California's wheat prospects.

The San Francisco Produce Kxchange lias issued a statement of the stocks of flour and wheat on hand in tiie whole State of California on June Ist. These were 100,5(>5 barrels of Hour, and 3,437,383 bushels of wheat. This is a smaller quantity than was on hand a year previously. The new cereal year commences on July Ist, and allowing for the consumption during the present month, and the quantity required to load the engaged tonnage, there will only be a carryover .stock of about 060,000 bushels into the new cereal year. The wheat crop of last year exceeded <XX),000 tons, or 30,000,000 bushels, while the exportable surplus of the new season's crop will amount to 35,090,000 bushels, or more. There is enquiry for wheat from Cape Town and Montevideo, ami one cargo has been cleared for Rio de Janeiro. Shipping is somewhat scarce, there being less than •i">,000 tons disengaged, and the quantity known to be on the way will by no means be equal to the requirements for carrying the exportable wheat surplus. Freights, therefore, are very firm, and advancing. The s.s. Zealandia carries for Sydney about 750 tons of flour, and 100 tons of bran, beaides a large quantity of onions.

FLAX CULTUKK AND MACHINERY. Now that the cultivation of flax has received an impetus in New Zealand it will be of interest to learn that the Department of Agriculture of the United States is interested in the same subject. The secretary of the department recently published three reports respecting the existence of a machine that will take the flax fibre from the stalk without wetting. A manufacturer, who has invested 100,000 dollars in the business of flax manufacturing, states that he has made two trips to Ireland and Belgium, and lias seen the operations of the machine referred to, which does all that is claimed for it. He believes further that the country is on the verge of a revolution in the production and manufacture of flax. There is considerable interest shown in the correspondence on account of the difficulties and burdens forced upon farmers in the north-west by the Twine Trust. The price of twine has been increased by the trust till it costs the farmer a bushel of oats for a pound of twine, and the farmers are clamouring for relief. In Michigan the Legislature appointed a committee to report upon the expediency of manufacturing twine in the prisons as a means of relief, but their investigations showed that the corner of the trust extended to the raw material itself. The Department of Agriculture is now considering, in connection with the flax question, the whole subject of the growth of fibrous plants, especially ramie, hemp, and jute. LUCKY NEW ZEALANDERS. Judge Coffey lias just made a decree of distribution and final account in the matter of the estate of Jane Carrington, who died in San Francisco in November, 18S7, leaving KO.OOO dollars to be divided among the heirs-at-law, if any were to be found. There was a brother tine! a nephew, John and Robert Lowry, in this city, and some more relatives were heard of in New Zealand and other parts of the world. The Court appointed Attorney Plunket to represent and discover the absent heirs, but for a time nothing was heard of them. By following slight clues, however, eight persons were located in Scotland, New Zealand, New Jersey, and Wisconsin. From New Jersey came a Methodist parson, and from the lumber regions of Wisconsin a country merchant. Neither of them had ever known the deceased, but each established his claims and was admitted as an hair. The heirs in Scotland and New Zealand were discovered after much trouble, the information concerning their whereabouts being obtained by extensive advertising. It is said that 20,000 dollars of the money left by Mrs. Carrington was spent in, finding them. The rest will be distributed. , CONGRESS OF AMERICAN NATIONS. ! Commencing pa petober 4th, there will be* held at Washington a congress of represten-> tatives from,the. [United States, and from allj the South and Central American Republics., The following will be represented ■—Argentine Republic, Bolivia, Brazil, Chili, Colombia, Costa Rica,; Ecuador, Guatemala, Hon-j duras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Paraguay, and San Salvador. The population of these

Republics amounts to nearly 50,000,000 people, and the principal object of the Congress will be to facilitate intercourse and trade between the United States and her American neighbours. Each Republics may send as many delegates as it chooses, and all will be the guests of the United States, but each Republic shall have only one vote at the Congress. The visitors will be taken to the principal cities in the Union. The main object of the conference will be to endeavour to arrange an exchange of tariff concessions whereby trade may be increased between the United States and its Southern neighbours. Among other points suggested is that the duty on wools produced in Chili and the Argentine Republic should bo decreased or removed provided some of the manufactures of the United States can be sent free of duty to those countries. At present almost the whole of the South American trade is with European countries. The holding of the Conference shows a new disposition on the part of the United States in commercial matters, and the result of its sessions will no doubt be of special interest to the Australian colonies and New Zealand.

THE FIRE AT SJEATTUS. Following close upon the frightful disaster at Johnstown was one nearer to San Francisco—the complete destruction by lire of the business , portion of Seattle, which is the largest city in Washington territory. Every bank, hotel, place of amusement, newspaper offices, mills railroad depots, steamboat wharves, coal bunkers, freight warehouses, and telegraph otliccs were all burned. The fire began at 2.30 p.m., and by midnight everything had been swept away down to the water front. The city w»a literally wiped out, except the residence portion on the ground. The water supply gave out within two hours. The ocean steamers wore hauled out into the bay, and narrowly escaped destruction, and aid was procured within an hour from Tacoma, which is 42 miles distant. The value of the property destroyed exceeded 25,000,000 dollars, and the Insurance was more than 8,000,000 dollars. The first necessity was to supply provisions to the starving inhabitants, and this was promptly done. San Francisco sent 10,000 dollars at once to their relief. The second great danger after the fire was from thieves and robbers, so the city remains in tho hands of the militia. It is at once being rebuilt, and entirely of brick. Tho burned area covered 128 acres. As far as known there were not more than 2o persons burned in the fire. Seattle has a population of 25,000 persons. It is the centre of an immense coal trade, and is surrounded by a very rich agricultural and lumber district. It is also becoming an important railway centre, and had large manufacturing industries. Eighty-seven steamers are engaged in trading to and from the port.

ODDS AND KSDS. Tho American Consul at Venezuela writes to Washington that there had been no rain there for fifteen months. The cost of living had increased enormously, in some cases by four hundred per cent. Water required by a small family for drinking purposes cost eighty cents per day, besides thirty cents for delivering it. The. poorer classes were com-jH-lled to drink brackish water from the lake. Yellow fever had extended into the mountains, and at Trujillo in the Andes it was decimating the population. Some ;?O0,(XX) bags of coffee were tied up awaiting shipment till the rivets rose. Postmaster-General Wanamaker docs not believe in Sunday work. He is a good Christian himself and desired that all in his department should be the same, or at least nave the opportunity of becoming so. " Pious John,' as he is frequently called in the Hast, runs over troni Washington to bin home in Philadelphia every Sunday for the purpose of teaching his class in Sunday school. He has now issued circulars to a hundred of the largest post offices in the country asking for information that will show the importance of mails on Sunday as compared with week days. The information required covers the sale of stamps, wrappers, the number of callers, mails despatched and received, number of letter-carrier collections with the amount of matter collected, and the number of employees on duty on each Sunday in June, as compared with week days in the same mouth. On September 2, ISSB, Mr. Barnard, of the Lick Observatory, discovered a comet which is now in the morning sky. On June 3, 188!), ho noticed that the normal tail of the comet, which should be directed away from the sun, had disappeared. An anomalous one, a degree long, was visible directed towards the sun in the position of an angle of 'JO degrees. This is a rare phenomenon, and is explained by the fact that the comet is now so far past its perihelion that the sun is no more able to exert a force on the body sufficient to cause the formation of a tail of the usual type. The comet is also probably breaking up, and leaving behind it fragments of its original mass that will form a stream of meteors.

In Chicago a licen.se has been granted to the American Execution Company, the object of which is to undertake the execution of all condemned criminals in tho United States.

The British Imperial authorities seem to be pushing on the erection of a system of land fortifications at Ksquimalt Harbour, Vancouver Island. It is stated that one hundred men have left England for Esquimalt via the Canadian-Pacitic line to man the forts and batteries, and that they will be supplemented by a corps of trained submarine engineers. The armaments are also reported to bo en route, and can be promptly placed in position. Instead of expensive fortifications there will be merely holes in the ground, the guns being lowered into the excavation for loading and raised to the top of theground for discharge. The Pacilicsquauron in assembled in northern waters, and the biscuit factories of Victoria are running day and night to fill the Admiral's orders. The capacity and facility of tlie.se factories have been reported upon to the Admiralty. There has been considerable comment among passengers by the Zcalandia because Captain Van Otereudorp was not present at dinner in the saloon on the occasion of the Queen's Birthday. There was an excellent dinner provided, but no captain. As most of the passengers were English, and the .steamer carries English mails, being subsidised by English colonies., his action is peculiar. The laying of a cabin between Honolulu and San Francisco is being actively agitated, and will receive substantial support from the Hawaiian Government.

Mr; 8. N. Haynes, chief engineer of the R.M.S.s. Zealaiulia, lias taken unto himself a wife during his present sojourn in San Francisco. Mr. llaynes is one of the most popular officers in the Oceanic fleet, and his colonial friends will join in wishing him good luck and prosperity. Mrs. Haynea accompanies her husband on the present trip. Mr. T. It. James, the new steward of the Zealandia, seems to have taken the travelling public by storm. Not only did he receive testimonials from the Honolulu and Sydney contingents of passengers on his last trip to the colonies, but on his return to .San Francisco the whole of the cabin and steerage passengers, 216 in all, gave him an ovation, and presented him with a handsome testimonial after arriving at the wharf. The oldest travellers say that they had never experienced such a well-kept table combined with such attention and civility. While the maintenance of the San Francisco Mail Service to the colonies is being agitated at Washington during the next session of Congress, as it assuredly will be most vigorously, it would seem to he an opportune time for the colonics to open negotiations for some concession in tarill' matters. There is a new adminstration supported by a majority of its jjarty in Congress, and consequently able to" carry whatever measures it may recommend. 'J , he feeling 01 friendliness towards the colonies is grow ing in the United States, and your correspondent is inclined to think that, if your views were properly represented to the administration, they would be favourably received to your mutual advantage. This is the more important now as concessions in duties on South American wools will be agitated.