COMMONWEALTH'S EXTERNAL TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13672, 13 February 1908, Page 3

COMMONWEALTH'S EXTERNAL TRADE.

SEVEN YEARS' RETROSPECT. A return prepared at the Commonwealth Ministry for Customs gives the following data of the Commonwealth's external trade from 1901 to 1907;— ~',-■' In 1901 the imports were £42,454,011, and tho exports £49,699,172; or a total of £92,130,183. v • In 1902 the total trade fell to £84,501,057. In 1904 the trade rose to £94,506,757." " In 1907 it was £124,731,611, made up,of imports £51,878,171 and of exports £72,903,440, The amounts include gold imports, of which, in 1907, there were £1,464,756, and exports £10,897,027. ' IMPORTS. . * The imports showing the largest increase were in 190?:— 1907. Increase. £ £ Apparel and textiles ... 12,882,557 1,709,285 Agricultural implements 409,501 121,97/ Various kinds iron and _„ ■ steel 1,070,994 284^35 Plate and sheet iron(gal.) 1,353,809 234,506 Machines and machinery (not agricultural) ... 2,754,596 736,304 Metal manufactures ... 4,029,823 822,608 Tea 1,153,322 232,002 Timber ... ... ... 1,606,290 276,334 Unmanufactured tobacco 426,355 141,249 Tools of trade ... ... 481,035 139,788 The principal decrease was in sugar, the importations of whicit, in 1907, were £77,722, compared with £439,915 in 1906; or a drop of £362,194.

EXPORTS.

The exports showing tho largest increases for 1907 were : — 1907. Increase. £ £ Coal ... 1,302,205 403,205 Copper ... 3,457,226 459,151 Lead 1,551,962 712,156 Frozen beef 575,732 141,27/ Frozen mutton and lamb 1,377,502 282,38?. Silver (bar) 1,292,103 474,204 Sheepskins ...... 1,848,435 633,970 Tallow ... v < 1,037,195 103,496 Wool ... ... .- 28,891,830 6,246,067 Other {excluding gold) 1,504.513 5^6,826 The exports of butter were £2,590,531—0r a decrease of £349,532; wheat, £4,801,723— a decrease of £112,078; timber, £79,737— decrease of £214,709. . .. . An interesting compilation is attached, giving- the advance in trade from 1861 to 1907. In lc6l—not allowing for intercolonial transhipments— total was £34,962,616, us against £124,831,611 last year.

TB AWAMTJTU STOOK SALE.

The Mew Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., Hamilton, held thenmonthly sale at Te Awanmlu on Saturday. All Uia cattle pens were filled, and everything sold except one pen of calves in low condition. There was a large attendance or buyers, and bidding was brisk throughout. Eighteen-month steers made J9l 18s 6(1 to hi 6b; 18-month heifers, £1 16a to £1 17s Cd; strong calves. £1 to £1 2s; smaller sorts, 10b 6d to 12s; dairy cows, close to profit, £4 108 to £5 12s 6d; empty cows, £2 6s to £3 ss, according to condition. Knt P° B3 s ' 18s to £1; slips, 6s to 10s; % if™' Several useful pomes were quitted at hi to £4 2s 6d. Young fowls sold at 2s Id; ducks, 2s; and sundries at usual prices.

NORTHERN CATTLE SALES.

Messrs. Hunter and Wilson, report.:—At Tangiteroria cattle sale over the advertised number of cattle came forward. The demand, owing to the continued dry weather, was dull. Pat cows sold at £3 15s to £4 10s; springer*, £3 to £5; 24-year-old steers, £3 9fl to £4; 1 to IA-year do.,' £1 19s to £3 3s; 24-year-old heifers, £2 los; calves and yearlings, £1 2s to £1 8s each. At Whangarei monthly sale about 900 head of cattle and 500 sheep were yarded. The demand waß slack at auction, and a good deal of busiuesa had to bo done privately. Fat steers sold at £5 10s to £7 7s 6u; do. cows, £3 10s to £4 10s ; springers, £3 9s to £5; bulls. £3 lis to £6; /■ to 3-year-old steers', £3 to £4 17a; a hue ot 60 li to 2-year-old. steers, £5; 1 to 14-year steers, £2 to £2 17s 6d; store oosra and heifers, £1 16s to £3: strong calves and yearlings, 18s to 29s each; a line of 526 fat and forward-condi-tioned wethers, 17s 6d; cull lambs, 5s 3d each. Ah the clearing sale rn the estate of tho late F. R. Benecke'B live and dead stock there was a very largo attendance, and brisk competition ruled. Messrs. F. and W. Wakeliu report that at their Ksjik) cattle and sheep Bale, hold on February 6, more than the advertised number of stock came forward, and, notwithstanding the dry weather, nearly all were sold before leaving the yards. The beef pens wore well illled. Over 60 head of choice beef were yarded, and though bidding was very slack at the hammer all sold before ieaving the yards at satisfactory prices. Three to four-year-old steers, in fresh condition, made from £5 5s to £5 15s; three-year-old steers, £4 fis to £4 15s. A good pen of two-year-old Bteers made £4; others, £2 10s to £3 10s; yearling to la-month-old steet*, £2 12s 6d; nine-month-old steers, £2 each ; steer calves, from 17s to 355. Eighteen-month-oW heifers and dry cow* were dull of Bale, and made up to £2 10s. Dairy cows of a good stamp, and at profit, made up to £6 15s. Two hundred and fifty sheep were yarded, and all sold but a pen of rams. Two-tooth wethers made 13s 6d ; two-tooth ewee, 13s 6d; full-mouth ewes, 13s; aged ewes, 8s 3d; lambs, 9s. At the Maungakaramea sbeep and cattle rale, a good muster came forward, 800 sheep and over 40 head of cattle being yarded, the latter selling under the hammer at current prices, and 700 sheep changing hands at prices on a par with Kamo.

ADDINGTON STOCK SALES. . [BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.]

CHEISTCITURCH.-Wednesday. • At the Addington Jive stock market to-day there was a fairly good yarding of all classes of stock. The entry of fat cattle was just slightly better than last week, though the quality was not up to the usual standard, onlv two or three extra prime lines being offered. The total yarding was 290, and the prices ranged as follows:—Steers, £6 10a to £9.155; heifers, £5 7s to £7; cows, £4 5s 6d, equal to 19s to 22s for prime, and 14s to 19s for inferior per 1001b. There was a larger entry of fat lambs than last week, but they were of indifferent quality. There were only a. few pens containing lambs of good quality, the prices realised being 15s 6d to 16s lid; freezers, 13a to 15s; lighter sorts, 10s to 12s 6d. There was a fair yarding of fat sheep of good quality., and prices were:— wethers, 17s fid to £1; lighter, 14s 9d to 17s; prime ewes, 15s id to 18s 6d; medium, 13s to 14s 6d; aged and light, S3 od to las. Store sheep were entered in fairly largo numbers, and the demand was good for sound-mouth ewes and forward condition lambs. Soundmouthed breeding ewes made from 13s 6d to 159, and young ewes, 15s to 17s 3d. The yarding of pigs was small, but the market was fairly brisk. Bacouera made 45s to 503 for small, and 54s to 60s for larger. Porkers brought 34s to 44s for medium, and up to 50s for heavy weights, equal to from 5d to 5Jd per lb. Stores inado from 12s to 16s for small, and 35s to 43s for larger, while weaners brought 10s to 12s.

DtTNEDIN GRAIN MARKET. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUHEDIK, Wednesday. Oats: There is an improved inquiry for shipment and milling stocks of old oats in store are light, very little new seasons crops coming to hand. Prime milling are quoted at 2s 3d; good to beat feed, 2s Id to 2s 2Jd; medium. 2s to 2s Id. . Samples of new wheat offering from the North may be quoted at 4s 5d to 4s 6d for milling delivered at Dunedin. Old wheat finds ready sale for fowl feed at prices above that obtained for milling. Prime milling (old) is quoted at 4s 6d to 4s'7d; new, 4s 5d to 4s 6d; fowl wheat. 4s 6d to 4s 7d. BUKNSIDB STOCK SALE. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PP.ESS A33OCIATIOK.] DUKEDijr, Wednesday. At tlie Burusido stock market to-day 1200 sheep were penned. This small yarding was composed principally of medium-class wethers, with a few peas of extra good wethers and ewea. In consequenec of Hie email entry prices showed !in advance of 1b to Is 6d per head. Quotations — Best wethers. ISs to 203 (extra up to 245); good, from 168 to 17a; medium, 14s to 15s 6d. Best ewes, from 16a to 18s (extra to 22s 9d);. medium aud interior, 9s to 12s. Lambs: 1342 were penned, being a good entry, but prices were a shade easier than last weelr. Freezing buyers were operating freely. Quotations— lambs, 15s to 17s 9d; medium, 123 to 14s; unfinished sorts, 10s to 12*. Pigs: 150 were yarded, being a good entry, but a decline of 2s to 4-s per head was noticeable. Suckers realised 133 to 15s fed; slips, 17s to 18s &d; stores, 20s fid to 255; porkers, 33s to 38s; light baconers, 43s to 465; heavy do., 48s to 64*. Cattle: 144 were yarded, which was a small entry. They were of indifferent quality, but the prices obtained showed an advance of from 10s to 15b p«r head. Best bullocks realised up to £10 35»; medium to good. £8 10s to £9 15s; small. £6 10s to 57 15*. Best cows and heifers, up to £6 TO*.

DUNEDIN STOCK EXCHANGE. [BY TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Dpsedis - , Wednesday. The following Stock Exchange Bales have been reported:—Alexandra Lead, 3d; Sailor's Bend, 14s; Milburtt Lime, 27s and 26b 9d. AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE MARKETS. By Telegraph—Press Association Copyright. BYD.\-F.sr, February 12. Wheat, 43 4d to 4« Scl : chick, from 4.5. Flour, £10 10a. Oats, Algerian, milling, 3s 4d ; white, 3s 2d to 3a 3d. Barley, Cape, 4s 3d. Maize, 4s lCd. Bran, 13d. Bollard, 15;. d. Potatoes £6 103 to £7 10s. Onions, £7 10<*.* Butter, 110s to 113s. Bacon, 3d. Cheese, Vd. Melbourke, February 1-. Wheat, 4r 2d to 43 3d. Flour, £10." Oats, Algerian, feeding, 2s 10d to 2s lid; milling, 3s. Barley, prime Cape. 4s. Maize, 4s 3d. Bran and pollard, I'd. Potatoes, £3. Onions, £6. Adbiaiph, . February 13. Wheat, 4a 2d. Flour, £9 10s'to' £9 15b. Bran and pollard, 14d. ...

LONDON. .-: .Telegraph.—Press Association,— Loscdos, February 1L METALS. Silver, 2s 23-1 M per ounce. Tin; On spot, £127 15s; at three months, £123, Lead, £14 2s 6d. NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON. [FROM OUR OWX COKP.ErfPOBTIKJfr.] . bo-silos'. January 3. "'-'•■ WOOL. Messrs. W. Weddcl and Co. remark that the close of ths year did not bring to, light any fresh feature m the.. situation as regards wool, and the market, 'continues to present the same hesitating tone and - general want of confidence. which \-v3o to noticeable .throughout the recent series of sales in- Lyndon The depressing influences of the financial troubles which originated :n America have been felt throughout trade generally,' and it. seeing now clear- that even with an easier money market a complete, recovery will not come about all in a moment. -As far as this country is concerned there still continues to be » very fair consumption going on, but cancellations of orders are not unknown, and the outlook is not all that could be desired. Abroad business ha* been extremely difficult, and the large purchases which were made at the highest point of She Australian markets ojo weighing heavily on the minds of their owners, who, as matters stand at present, arc faced with heavy losses. Without any important sales tee to go on Messrs. Weddel add that the tendency of merinos has been toward a lower level, and price* of 60's tops now stand at 25$ d. against 26J,d three weeks ago. The Continental future market has also fhown a decline. There has been nothing either in Australasian croaabreds, but quotations for the coarser finalities have all been marked down Id per lb, and at the sale of River Plate wool, which was held in Liverpool on the 20th ult., the market showed considerable weakness, and rates were practically a good 5 per cent, below those ruling at the November sales bete. TALLOW. Measrs. Weddel and Co. report that the demand for tallow was very quiet at the auctions on the 18th ult., the last «ales of the year, only 190 casks being sold out of 441 offered, and prices were 6d per ewt lower on all grades. I>itriug the past 10 days, however, there Imp been a. better inquiry, and, in spite of the intervention of the Christmas holidays, good sales have been made at steady prices, both on the spot and to arrive. Edible sorts remain dull of sale and command only a small premium over the. ordinary soap-making qualities. On c.i.i. terms a good business has been done in South American sorts, hut Australian is singularly difficult to deal with for the few offers that come through from first hands are fully 6d per owfc too dear. The standard quality, 'm per cent, good colour mixed, is quoted at 31s, and no colour at 50s per ewt c if. by buvers, but sellers are difficult to find even at a little more, money. ■ NEW ZEALAND MEAT. As usual at this time of year, the demand for mutton has been very dragging, but in consequence of only light importations from New Zealand, and as stocks in afore are moderate. sales have Dot been pressed and values remain without change. Realisations of the bulk of present offerings are prejudiced by the mora or less stale condition of the carcases through long storage, mid freshly-arrived parcels enjoy a decided preference. • The Christmas demand for beef, poultry, etc., checked the output of lambs, but. subsequently then-, has beeu some revival in the inquiry both for New Zealand and Australian iamhs." There- is a lbnited demand for Canterbury lambs from those buyers who always use a few of that description, and prices are firm' in view of the diminishing stocks in store, while supplies will not be replenished until the beginning of February. The higher prices demanded for fresh-killed mutton have created a slightly better inquiry for the heavier grades of lamb, but not sufficiently to affect prices. There was little or no incpttry for frozen beef prior to Christmas, but subsequently there has been some demand for forequarters, assisted by the present spell of cold weather. The sale of hindquarters has been difficult throughout, and the tendency of prices is easier. Statistics of importations into the United Kingdom during 1907 reveal increases in arrivals in every description of frozen meat as compared with 1906. Messrs. Weddel say the increases were especially large in the case of mutton and lambs from New Zealand and Australia. Receipts of frozen meat from the River Plate only just exceeded those of 1306 and there was an actual reduction of 27,571 quarters of chilled beef from South America..

The Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company mention that the only steamers arriving with New Zealand mutton have been the Arawa and the Devon with 7324 carcases. Frozen mutton has naturally been somewhat neglected, and a weaker tone prevails. Quotations are nominally unchanged, but it is generally recognised that the present premium over South American mutton cannot be maintained if the existing limited output.. is to he increased. The record number of over 2,800.000 lambs received in 1907 has now nearly all gone into consumption, and the year opens with a fair prospect for the new season's arrivals.