OUR AUSTRALIAN TRADE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 993, 13 March 1891, Page 20

OUR AUSTRALIAN TRADE.

Our trade with the Australian colonies during the year 1890 was of a satisfactory nature. In the previous year tho long drought prevalent in each of tho sister

colonies made them more dependent upon us for supplies, and for certain goods they were unusually large purchasers. For example, take grain. In 1889 wo exported to Victoria oats to the value of £218,582; oatmeal, £3I3S ; and wheat £9917. But in 1890, when that colony was blessed with more suitable weather for farmers, our exports of grain were—wheat, £405; oats, £46,237. On the other hand we sentbuttorto the value of £14,381 in 1890, and only £10,021 in 1889. The total value of our exports for tho year 1890 were as follows :

To Victoria £567,727 To New South Wales ... £885,737 To Queensland ... ... £59,091 To South Australia ... £40,627 To Western Australia ... £2,889

Total ...£1,586,074

Total for 18SD ... £2,086,117

It will thus be observed that our export trade to Australia during tho past year has fallen off to tho extent of half a million of money in value. The decreaso is principally in grain, potatoes, bacon, cheese, and other produce, consequent upon their more abundant supplies during IS9O. Our imports from Australia during 1890 show some improvement. In 1889 we imported 33,713 gallons of wine of the value of £13,937, but in 1890 tho import had risen to 37,696 gallons of tho value of £13,997. Tho duty paid on the wine in 1889 was £7997 3s 9d, and in 1890 £9598 9s lOd. Of fresli fruit we imported during 1890 in value £15,673, on which a duty of £3856 3s 2d was paid, at the same time wo imported to the value of £13,019, which camo in duty free.