FINANCE AND TRADE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4074, 12 June 1900, Page 6

FINANCE AND TRADE.

The Customs returns for yesterday amounted to £1826 11s 3d.

British Customs’ reports to the end of April, anticipating the Board of Trade returns, show that imports of live cattle increased 4797 head over last year, Baited States being the only exporting country that sent fewer bullocks than to same date last year. Argentina showed an excess of 2382 head, notwithstanding heavy losses at sea, and Canada 5119. In sheep there was a heavy decrease oi 37,224, Argentina alone exceeding last year’s output by 4953. United States fell away 30,057, and other countries 11,155. In dressed beef the imports were 78,276 cwts in excess of last _ year, Canada going from 856cwts in 1899 to 14,683cwts this year, Denmark’s exports were 46,402cwts as against 34,433cwts last year, while United States were 59,289cwts in excess, alone very much more than compensating for the oecrease in live cattle and sheep from all exporting countries.

The Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company, in its report dated London, the 4th May, says:—'There has been another outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Norfolk in the neighbourhood of the former attack, amongst cattle belonging to a farmer whose cattle were affected before. About 200 head had been in contact, or were diseased, and immediate slaughter of the whole parcel was promptly ordered by the Board of Agriculture as the most effectual means of stamping out. Vessels from the River Plate continue to arrive both at Liverpool and London with cargoes more or less affected with ‘•foot-and-mouth.” Losses must have been very heavy, to judge from the great difference between arrivals in April this year and last. In 1899 there were received 13,044 head of cattle and 62,298 sheep; this year cattle were 7446 and sheep 36,829. In one steamer the whole ■ cargo, 261 head, died, in another 164. In others losses have been almost. as heavy, the number of deaths testifying to the very virulent character of the disease. In former outbreaks in the United Kingdom cases seldom had a fatal termination, unless aggravated by bad management and want of attention. At Deptford every precaution is taken to prevent spread of the disease. All animals from Argentina are isolated. A very high close-boarded fence has been erected from the lairs round the slaughter-houses, preventing all access and communication ; compulsory slaughter within 36 hours of all animals from Argentina, all offal being disinfected and taken out beyond the None and thrown overboard, nothing but the carcases being allowed to be sold. Cattle and sheep from United States and Canada have to be slaughtered in five days after landing. All very necessary and prudent restrictions, but tending to disturb and upset the regular course of trade for the time. The time allowed for importations from Argentina, expired on Monday, but a few days’grace will doubtless be given by the Government to enable vessels to arrive that were either at sea, or on the point of sailing when the order was issued. Several are known to be still on the way, and to those perhaps may be added others that calculated on finding Antwerp an open port. One or two vessels that wont from London to Antwerp had cargoes slaughtered and sent to England, but this is now stopped, for in the “Moniteur Beige” of 26th April there is a notice “interdicting, until further orders, the entry and transit of animals of the bovine and ovine species coming from the-Argentine Republic,” tho prohibition to take effect on 29th ulto. A very harsh and stringent measure, to be imposed by a country which has not been free from foot-and-mouth disease for years, compared with the milder and more considerate action of the British Government.

COMMERCIAL CABLES. PKEBB ASSOCIATION. LONDON, June 10. FROZEN MEAT. The following are the official quotations of the Frozen Meat Trade Association for mutton and lamb in lots of 100 carcases of fair average quality: Mutton. —New Zealand crossbred wethers and .maiden ewes—Canterbury, unchanged, at 5d per lb; Dunedin and Southland,-unchanged, at 43d per lb; North Island, unchanged, at 41 d. River Plato crossbred or merino wethers—Heavy, unchanged, at 4Jd; light, unchanged, at 4-J-d. Lamb.—Prime Canterbury, £d lower at 6|d per lb; fair average (including Dunedin, Southland, Wellington and secondary Canterbury), Unchanged, at New Zealand beef.—Fair average quality, 180j.j to 2201 b, ox fores, 1.16 d higher, at 3jd ; hinds, Jd higher, at 4jd. WHEAT. Two South Australian cargoes of 13,000 and 8000 quarters respectively, May-June shipments, have been sold at 29s 3d-per quarter, c.i.f. The cargo per Emperor Alexander has been sold at 29s per quarter. CONSOLS. Imperial Consols, 2-J per cent. (Goschen’s) are quoted at £lOl 11s 3d, as against £lOl 15s on Thursday last. BRITISH TRADE. The imports into the United Kingdom for the past month increased by £l,299,000, and the exports by £1,685,000, as eompared with the figures for May of last year.