NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2310, 9 June 1898, Page 15

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

* (From Our Own Cobrespondent.) London, April 22. WOOL The third series of public sales of woolled sheepskins was held on the 21st, the quantities catalogued comprising 3276 bales, of which 287 bales were from New Zealand. I learn that there was a fair attendacce of bnyers, bufc competition was somewhat uneven. Merino skins, particularly if full-woolied, held l«st year'a rates firmly, but the general run of crossbred skins barely maintain that rate, coarse-haired parcels showing signs of weakness, which, in the" casa of half-woolled and shorn descriptions, developed into a decline of 7-£ per cent.

As compared with tbe values current at the preceding pales held on the 3rd March, Messrs Charles Balme and Co. quota : Merino, threequarter and f ull-woolled, par ; merino, halfwoolled and shorn, par ; crossbred, fullwoolled (fine), par; crossbred, fnll-woolled (coarse), par to £d per Ib cheaper; crossbred, balf-woolled and short, per Ib cheaper. The growing uneasiness about the critical relations of Spain and America ha«, so I am informed, during the past week bad a somewhat depressing effect upon the woollen trade, manu-

factureTS and dealers being, in the present circumstances, exceedingly careful with regard to future dealings. Some indication of the position is afforded by the results of the Liverpool public sales cf River Plate wool on the 20th insfc., when out of an offering cf some 2600 bales about 1400 were withdrawn, price* ruling for merino aad fine crossbred wool being par to and for coarse crossbred to £d per Ib

below the rates obtained at the previons auc1 tions in that city which were held on the 11th - of March.

NEW ZEALANT) MEAT. For the past -fortnight arrivals of New Zealand sheep have, so Messrs Weddel say, been moderate, and, 'with holders continuing to keep firm, prices all round are ' steady ; " while for he&vy-weighJb Canterburys and secondary New Ze'alanda values show a slight improvement." They continue: "Trade has been good for almost any kind of New Zealand sheep, snd, although the quality of some of the Canterbury mutton leaves much to be desired, ths fact of the carcases bearing well-known Canterbury tabs is sufficient, in the present

scarcity of stocks, to enable holders to obtaiu firm .values. Prime small Canterbury sheep show no change in the matter of values since the issua of our last report. . . < There is a better demand for small-weight Dunedins and Southlands. The best of these have sold at 3-^d per Ib, in lines, little lots of specially prime carcases making up to 3|d per Ib. Medium and heavy-weight Dunedins have also been realising more money ; anything weighing between 601b and 701b has sold at 3d to 3£d per Ib. Wellington and North Island sheep generally, in sympathy with other secondary New Zealand sheep, have been realising better prices. Small, meaty carcases may be quoted at 3d to 3£d per Ib — a price which shows au improvement of £d per Ib during the fortnight. Values for heavy cheep run from 2|d-|d, according to size and quality." In New Zealand lamb Messrs Weddel and Co. write that the trade has generally been of a quiet order, though in the best New Zealand lamb no marked decrease has occurred, and the

meat has been in good request. Continuing, this firm says : " Tbe same cannot be said of ~ sacondary New Zealand lambs, '.which show a drop on the fortnight to the extent of per Ib. There is a considerable' number of plain, unfinished lambs among the secondary descriptions, and with «ome holders showing no inclination to atsist in holding .up pricei, but rather continuing to sell as freely as possible, }t is hardly surprising to find rates on the downward grade." Messrs Fitter write as follow* :—" Small, prime New Zealand sheep are still very shorb. EArcet sheep, however, are selling better;

prices are decidedly firmer. The Maori's 1 cargo his turned out in a most unsatisfactory condition, some of the carcases being mouldy, i and others misshapen. The longer this meat is kept in store ths worse it will become, consequently the market is being pre_ssod, and prices for lamb are weaker. The demand for lamb continues good, but there are so many half-fed lambs, and others slightly damaged, that the market is bfing spoiled by them." s

And the C C. and D: Company Bay : " There is a notable dearth of really prime sheep, none of the late shipments being up to the standard quality, and many lacking condition and finish. Perhaps some of the best received as regards breed, shape, end make, have been old evtes, but from their sex and age they are of small selling v&lus."

MISCELLANEOUS,

Arrivals of New Zealand oats have been heavy, but with an active demand prices have advanced 6d to Is par quarter. Fine heavy samples are quoted at 253 6d to 275, Sue ordiuary at 23s 6d to 24-s 6d. Holders of New Zealand beans are firm, and quotations are unchanged.

Very little business is doing iii the flax trade, and holders of all descriptions are firm. Manila is diarer, and there is very little New Zt aland flax being offered on spot.

For preserved beef and mutton the demand has been quieter, but prices are steadily maintained. ,

The tallow market is dull, there being' a lack of. desire on the part>.of buyers to purchase, and they { appear .to be .quite uninfluenced by the strong statistical situation,^ while ..sellers, are equally iodsfferept ' to ' make ' progress, being atrongly'oonvinced that there is no necessity to give wiy in -prices, and that buyers must .ultimately accept the position and pay the rates asked. In continuation, Messrs . Weddel remark tix&b the gloomy political outlook has had, if anything, a depressing effect on the market, and the public sales of last Wednesday p&ssed off flatly, only 208 catks finding buyers oub of 978 casks catalogued. Mutton tallow was unchanged, but beef tallow. was 3d per cwt. lower.

For New Zealand cheese -there is a fair demand, and the Rakaia's cargo is moving off, but prices show no improvement. i '— | KATIOSiX DAIBY ASSOCIATION. [ The annual meeting of the National Dwry Association of Now Zealand was held in the I Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. Mr James Milne (of Wyndham), president of the as'socia- | tion, occupied the chair, and there were also j present : Messrs J. Angus, P. P&tfcu'lo, H. j M'Coll (Seaward Dowus), J. Cashnie (Waimn- j tuku), T. Seoullar (Edeudale), Jamee Smith (Stirling), John Gray (Mataura), A. Dickie (Mataura), — Dickie (Mat-aura), P. Cunningham (Seaward Downs), J. M'Lauchlan (Wynd* ham); J. Stevenson (Oranley), John Spratfc (Island Dairy Factorj), D. Dickie (^parima), W. J. "Winter (Wyndham), .-- Hart (German Bay Dairy Factory), Pettigrew (Barry's Bay Dairy Factory), W. C. ' Dixon ■ (La Bon's Bay Factory), C W. Sorenaon, J. T.—Lrdj, , »ud A. A. Thornton (Government graders), t-.nd 1 B. E. Dutttie (secretary);. ANJSUAL KEPOJRT. | The annual report of the executive was »ub- , mi b ted aa follows :—: — 5 Executiva meetings hays been held in July, } September, October, and .February, at which 1 several matters affecting the dairying interests were considered and discusssd, and it was oaly on the matters of expense that more meetings were ' not held during ths year. The question of regis- ' tration was a matter that required a large amount , of consideration, and we regret that the different j factories did not give us scjj&e definite vupport. The articles of the association aa prtpared by j Brandon and Hislop, solicitors, Wellington, were , approved of by the executive, and' a copy sub- | mitted to all the factories for ibeir support and j consideration. > Unfortunately several of the fac- \ ton"BS did not send any reply, and others took the | matter up in such a lukewarm manner that after j due consideration we decided to delay the whole j "question until our annual meeting, wben it can be discussed, and, we hope, finally settled. As regards obtaining a concession of the charges for freight on dairy produce, we bave been unable to obtain from the shipping companies any concession. The only complains we have received from damage by transit is in the conveyance of cheese in open trucks, and we are pleased to report that on our representing the matter to the railway traffic manager at Uunedin he at once advised us that he would give the matter his attention. The resolutions passed at our last annual meeting to obtain from the Agricultural department information as to the state of the Homo market has been given effect, and copies of the cablegratns have been forwaided to the members for their information. The question of shipping dairy produce at Ihe Bluff bas not been lost eight of by the executive, but every effoit was made to arrange for shipment to bo made at that port. When the Banffshire was loading at the latter port, the, agents of that boat wero written to on this subject, when we pointed out the many advantages the southern • factories would receive if the cheese could be loaded 'at the Bluff; but we wero 'met with a" "blank refusal, as it would be inconvenient for the Banffshira to load cheese at that port. The matter was 'again brought up when another company was interested, who threatened to withdraw a vessel i 'which bad been arranged to receive 'cargo at Port j Chalmers if we consented to allow any shipment to be made at the Bluff. This, we think, proves that we have used "every legitimate .attempt to arrange shipments at the Bluff, but without success. As regards tbe amount of membership fees charged to members we found ib absolutely necessary to charge the original fee, as otherwise it would be impossible for us to carry on. Butter i on a general average has retained its value, but we ] regret to state that unfortunately cheese values j have not been maintained. The question of obtaining a more "regular shipping service has been fully discussed, but unfortunately for the trade no satisfactory arrangements have been made with ' the shipping companies, and on tbe 9th February '' both the New Zealand Shipping Company and the j Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company were written "to pointing out the unsatisfactory shipping arrangements, and asking that the dairy produce should receive better attention , and asking the companies to arrange for a fortnightly service for 'the remainder of the season. So far no satisfactory replies have been received from those companies, and on the 27th April a copy of the following letter was sent to the managers of the New Zealand Shipping and Shaw, Savill, and Albion Companies, and also Messrs Turnbull. Martin, and Co. :- " I am instructed by the executive of tbe National Dairy Association to ascertain if you areprepared to enter into a contract for the carriage of next season's output of butter and cheese. My executive point out that so far only five shipments have been forwarded this season, whereas we had 1 11 during the season 1896 and 1897, and in arranging for next season they require you to quote for a fortnightly service. .It would not be absolutely necessary that the total amount of cheese and butter exported should be loaded at Port Chalmers, but you must be prepared to pay coastal freight should it tuit your convenience to load at any other port in the colony." Mr J. R. Scott having resigned the position of Dear Sib,— Please inform your readers that I have been cured of Debility by a simple and ml expensive remedy, and will be pleased to send the means of cure to all sufferers. I do this entirely out of gratitude and make no charge whatever. Send stamped addressed envelope to Mr WILBER' KELLOGG, Box 341 Melbourne. Victoria."

secretary, Mr E. F. Duthie was appointed to the position in October.

{ We append herewith a statement showing the total shipments of cheese and butter exported from Lyfctelfcon and Port Chalmers during this season :— i ! I i I ! j j ! j ! I j • j ' • f ' ( I i ' I I i ; -

Mr G A. Lewin was again our representative ax Lyttelton, and discharged his duties very satisfactorily ; but we regret to cay that the association did not receive the support in that .district that it deserves, and unless tbe factories recognise it better in future Mr Lewin's "services vviU have to be dispensed with. Jr. submitting the annual balance sheet of the association, which shows a credit balance of £13 4s 9d, we" wtAild point out that it would have been in a better financial position but for jE2B 12s lid which had to be paid for half charge of registration. Duiing the year £182 8s 6d has been received in subscriptions from 35 f&ctories and £50 subsidies from the Government, and as detailed in the balance sheet, £18115s 2d has bsen paid in ■wages, £51 8s in travelling expenses, <tc, for meetings and conference at Wellington, £23 lls 8d in general expenses, £13 Us in prinlir.g and stationery. Th*} Chaikman, in moving ths adoption' o f the report and balance sheet, regretted to ety that the year's working had been most unsatis- ; factory. A great deal of disagreeable work : had buen done with vary little result. Shortly j after tb.e executive got into working trim it waa arranged that a deputation consisting of Mr J. I R. Srotfcand himself should go to Welling on afid iiave^he MswibtJon regiatercd, and io kv'cw the shipping companies iv Wellington when ./hey woo Id have the North Island people wi:,h them. The result, however, had been ! most unsatisfactory. Tbe executiva had deoicied to take no steps in the direct:on of rogistraiion until tho question should come before tha annaal lxweling. in connection with the shipping anangfijnsmts, the dspjtatioa i-fcev-v'en-ed bhe Gc-vsrnmeat;, ivho gf-ve them this encouragement, this if they combined with tie N;rth I>lat.d the Government, would taka in hand the shipping arrangements. The North Island people ume to CLristchurch with them, »nd faey had an interview therj with the head office of the shipping cooipankji, but were ia-fi-rmed that nothing could be done for them iv consequence c£ the lowering of the freights on I wool. The companies 'promised, however,' to I communicate with them, but the negotiations j had all ended in ?moke. He had no doubt' that the publication ot the fortnightly market cables during' the aeasou had been of great benefit to the companies. The balance sheet would have shown a debit balance but for the good nature of the secretary, who had forgone £20 of his anlary. In reply to Mr Hart, the Secretary said thafc »übscription» to the amount of £144- 17b 6d' had been received from 35 factories. Tho Chairman remarked, in- regard to the ! subscriptions, that the old system had to be reverted to so as to make'it the saxne as the system in the north. Mr Angus said that last year they had got a bonus of £500 from the shipping companies and ! £50 From the Government, half of which they had to pay to the North Island. This year there would be no bonuses, and they would »ot be able to carry on unless tile- factories paid £5 as their subscriptions. The report" was then adopfcad. ELECTION OP OFFICERS. The Chaibman said that of the retiring members of committee Mr Stevens declined to stand again, while Mr Brydone was away Home and would be absent for 12 months. Tho following committee was then elected — v;z : Messrs John Gray.(Matiaura), John Spratt (Island Factory), and Smith (Stirling). The Chairman said that it would then be better to adjourn till 2 o'clock and continue the business at thab hour. Ib was stated that ib was usual to elect the chairman first of all. The Chairman said they could take that matter up the firsb thing when they resumed. Mr Spbatt moved, and ib was unanimously agreed, tbat Mr Milne be re-elected as chairman for the ensuing year*, Mr Milne briefly acknowledged the honour conferred on him. The meeting tben adjourned. THE NORTH ISLAND ASSOCIATION. Mr Angus moved—" That the South laland branch of the National Dairy Association do not consider it advisable at present to join with the North Island Association and register themselves as a corporate body." In doing so he said that, in obedience to instructions from the last annual meeting, steps were taken to have the association registered, and the executive put themselves iv communication with the North Island executive, who had arranged with Messrs Brandon and Hisiop to draw up articles of association. These were considered by the executive here, and- returned- after certain alterations had been suggested,- and they were sent to each factory, and, so far us he knew, no reply had yet been received from any factory approving or disapproving b'f the articles to consenting to enrol or take part in the association. The articles of association provided for nine directors, five of whom should be in the North Island, ao thab the preponderance of voting power would be held there. The speaker failed to see that any benefit at all would be derived from joining the North Island Association. So far as he could hear the North Island people were not arranging for freightßj which were taiojg arranged outside the HBBociation, and h«

thought that it was only in the matter of freights that they could have done any good by joining the North Island Association.

Mr Spratt seconded the motion.

Mr Stevenson pointed out that the association had paid over £20 for half the ccsbof registration, and asked whether they would reap any bacefit from that. If they were not to gain any advantage from tho expenditure he suggested that they should get the amount refunded.

The Chairman was afraid that the money having gone, they would not get it back again. Mr Cushwie supposed it would be open for the association to fall in with the proposal for registration at a future time, if it was thought advisable, without further expenditure. Mr Stevenson remarked that the North Island association had registered uader the name of that association. The motion was then put and carried. TRANSPORT OF NEXT SEASON'S OUTPUT.

Mr Stevenson moved — "That the National Dairy Association sgiin communicate with the various shipping companies asking them for a tender for the carriage of nexb season's output of dairy produce ; tender to specify for a service ex Port Chalmers, Lytfelton, or Bluff, and in the event ot the produce not being loaded at either of these port«, coastal freight to be paid by the shipping companies ; failing a satisfactory reply, that the executive receive power to tsko any steps tbey consider advisable to secure astisfactory shipping «»rraagemeuts."

■ Mr Angus, in seconding the motion, said that when the, shipping companies were this year first asked for a service it was for a fortnightly' service, this being because the executive had heard that a. fortnightly service had been arranged for from Taranaki, but a reply was not received from any of the shipping' companies. He thought now that the association should ask for a service and see wha| the companies would give them, and if it was workable they could dose with them. » Mr Fattullo thought the association should aim at a tbree-weekly service, with coastal freight paid in the event of the vessel being unable to load at the, Bluff or at Port Chalmers, a<i <he case might be.

The mnlion.waß carried cnariimously.

Mr Gray moved, and Mr Cushnie seconded — "That in event of efttisfactory arrangements not being arrived at with the shipping companies, the Government be approached with a view to their assisting the association."

Mr Afgus thought the association was safe in counting on the help of the Department of Agriculture when they requ ; red i'j. They were not> losing sight oi the fact that Mr Ritchie (Secretary of Agriculture) had promised them his iiFhislauce.

ifr Pattullo suggested tbafc, *.« Mi Ritchie was in town, a deputation might wait upon him on the subject.

The Chairman said he had b&on in communication with Mr Eitchis for some time, and he pressed him that morning for c definite answer as to what th»s department intended fro do, Mr Ritchie then ssid that owing to the action of the Taranaki people he did not eeo that the department could bind itself to assist the association at tho present time, bat when a little fresh legislation had b*en obtained it nrght; be able to assist them. The morion ws-s cari"?.*d. UNIFORM CHEESE SOX.

Mr Winter moved — ' That steps be taken for the purpose of having a uniform cheese box brought into use, with a view to obtaining a reduction in fright 6*h the gross tonrisgs to £d per Ib."

Mr Stevenson acc:nded the motion.

Mr Lang stated hia experience in the matter of shipping cheese by the Gobbic. They were told thab the tteamer's chamber -TuuK* hold 120 lons, «sd there were some 150 c* 160 tons of cheese to go into it. The shipping compauy said it was impossible to ge!; that quantity in, and yet when the chamber was filled it held some 30 tons over and above the quantity the sihip ping company said the steamer could take. He attributed that" fact to tho more compact •packing ami to the batter style of package that was used. He thought the association was enticed to point oat to the shipping companies that they were enabled now to. carry a greater quantity of cheese than they could take before. *•- - The Chairman observed that tbe shipping companies, when interviewed at Christchurch, laid great stress on the irregular size of the cheosa packages, and urged the association to do what it cauld to get a uniform b^x adopted. Mr Lano added that there was, only one factory in the South Island which last season shipped three cheeses in a case, all the others shippiag two in a case. ' *

Mr'M'LAtrcHLAN thought the difficulty as to the size of packages might be got over by the shipping companies themselves by charging a higher freight on the gross tonnage to those factories that did not fall into line in the matter of a uniform box. The motion was carried unanimously. OTAQO WINTER SHOW.

Mr Cushnie moved — "That the Ofcago.A. and P. Society be again urged to provide that all cheese for competition should be in the hands of the society at least two months prior to tbe winter show, and also that it should consider the advisability of extending more liberality in prize money in the dairy produce section." He represented that it would be fairer to the factories, and that the exhibit would have a greater educational value if the cheese were sent in two months before exhibition, as ib would then bs seen in the show in the condition it would have been in if it had been shipped to London.

Mr Winter seconded the motion.

Mr Stevenson remarked that the representative of one factory took tbe award ticket off a lot of cheese immediately after it had been judged in the show on the previous day.

Mr Duthib said he had communicated with the owner of that ticket, asking his reasons for his action.

Mr Pattullo, aa n member of the A. and P. Society, thought; the society would always be ready to recognise a recommendation coming from that bod/, but it was not easy to please everybody. He pointed out that there would ba considerable difficulty in storing cheese for two months, both on account of the difficulty of obtaining storage and of the expense that would be involved. The society had consulted a number of people on the subject, among them being Mr J. B. MacEwan, who considered that ib was best that the cheese should be judged here in the condition it was in when it left here. Another small matter was that an exhibit would not look so well after it had been stored for two months as it looked now. Moreover, ths conditions of competition for M 'Nairn and Co.'is Cup could not be altered without, at any rate, the consent of holders of the cup, and what had blocked any alteration last year was that Mr Brydone, as representative of the Edendale Factory, had objected to the conditions of the competition being altered — not because that factory was the holder, but on account of the difficulties he had pointed out. The difficulty might be got over by haviag another class for cheese that had been stored for two months. He ouite agreed, if the society could flee its

way to do it, that the money prizes in the dairy produce classes should be increased.

Mr M'Lauchlan asked if the consent of th& Waikouititi Factory had besn obtained to the alteration in the conditions whereby the competition for the Challenge Cup was made open to white a« well as to coloured cheese.

Mr Pattullo said the Waikouaiti Factory never objected.

' Mr M'Coll urgeoV that what was necessary was that they should get cheese of a uniform age, so that they might see how it compared then. *-' Mr Lang said that last year he was under the impresiion that it would be better that the chscse should be stored for two months before being exhibited, but when he came to look for storage for such a large quantity of cbce«« he saw that that was out of the .question. He had suggested when the Agricultural Hall was being built thai; a room should be set aside- as a cheese room, and he considered that until such a room was got ib would be impossible to store cheese for exhibition. Storage in cool chambers would not be eucoesaful, because ventilation was necessary, and the cool chambers were not properly ventilated. He thought it would be better to shelve the question until there was a proper store room, where cheese could be properly stored and- looked after for two months.

At the request of Mr Cushnie his motion was di Tided into two, and while the -first portioD, affirming the desirability of cheese for competition being etored for two months, wan negatived, . the second ." portion, bespeaking greater liberality in the matter of prizas, was carried.

OFFICIAL VISITS OF EXPERTS.

Mr Gray moved — " That it is desirable that exports, when paying official visits to factories, make a report to the directors as to the condition *nd arrangement of work being carried on."

Mr Sorenson said that for the last two seasons reports had always been sent out by the experts. If there had been any omiwion ib had been by an oversight, which, he dared say, would be rectified on application tp the expert. The motion was carried.

INSPECTION OF DAIBT FARMS.

Mr M'Cor-r, said they had heard * great deal of the inspection of factories, but nothing of the inspection of stockyards and cows.— (Hear, hear.) He thought that one of the most important things in. connection with the dairy industry" was that the producer should use every endeavour to produce the milk in the best state possible. He moved — '• That the Department of Agriculture be requested to' have regular visits of inspection paid to stockyards and cattle."

Mr Angus asked if the Dairy Act did net provld* for that already ? The Chairman : Not fully, I think. ,

Mr PattCllo seconded the motion.

Mr M'Coll 'remarked that one man in a whole lot of producers might spoil an entire v&b of cheese.

Mr Cushnie thought that the Dairy Act" provided already for what was wanted. In the ■outh, some of the experts had been round inspecting the farms. 'He (Mr Cushnie) had himself had a visit from one. He would only like to know the day on which the experts were coming. — (Laughter). ' Mr Steyekson thought that the inspection of farms had been carried out to a certain exteut in his district.

Mr Sobenson said the whole root of the matter lay in the condition ef the milk when ib came to the factories. What was wanted was that the managers of factories would only exercise their tight of refusing bad milk when id came, and that the directors would uphold the managers in refusing bad milk. — (Hear, hear.) The motion was carried unanimously. COMPLIMENTARY.

Votes of thanks were passed to the executive tor th« past year and to the chairman. THE GOVERNMENT AND SHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS.

Mr J. 1?. Ritcbie, Secretary of .Agriculture, having entered the room just before the meeting closed, the executive, with some otber members, met him as a deputation, requesting him to state the -position of the department with reference to the proposed control of it and the arrangements in connection with the shipping of dairy produce. f Mr Ritchie sad the question had been before the Government on several occasions, but, principally from the want of legislation, they had been unable to do anything. Lasb year a bill on the subject was drafted, but, like many other useful bills, it went by the board. This year the bill was again ready, and in all probability something would be done to give the Government some power. The question was as to how far they could go. In the North Island the Taraaaki people had entered iuto a contract with the Shaw, Savill- Albion Company, and he thought ib would have been better if they had allowed that to stand ovar until after that meeting, and then the South. Island factories might all have got a share. Whether the South lel And association could arrange on the same terms as the Taranaki people he did not know. He thought it would be better for the industry as a whole that the department should have some control of the shipping, as the graders were always available. Hs supposed, however, that it would ba necessary to appoint someone with a thorough" acquaintance with shipping, and he would arrange' for shipments from each port as the information came in from the factories. Seeing that the Government had control pretty well of the whole of the output stores, they would know fairly well what was awaiting shipment each month. He would do what be could to bring thai about ; but, as he had told Mr Milne that morning, ha did not think anything could ba done this ssason. The graders would, however, do all they could to further the shipping if the association would make its own arrangements.

Several questions were put to and answered by Mr Ritch'e, who was thanked for the information afforded by him.

Butter. !otal shipments 1897-8 " ... 4690 cwt 1896-7 ... 4378 cwt Cheese. 35"27 cwt U79 cwt Increase ... ... 3l2cwfc Decrease 952 cwt

Date. Ship. Butter. Cheese. iB?r. . , * - April 29 Ttuahine — , 2,375 cases May 1 itaDgatira — 1,114 M»y 15 , Mataura — 578 Nov. 2 Nairnshire 502 plrgs. — Nov. 25 Mataura ■ 1373 1.-100 Dec 30 Gothic 2995 3,044 1898. Jan. 27 Banffshire 3077 3,772 I'eb. 2i . Rakaia 863 ' 3,777 March 17 Perthshire ' — 2,571 8810 pkgs. 18,931 cases

Pout Chalmers.

1897-8 1896-7 Decreasa ... Decrease ... Cheese. ... 22,821 cwt ... 28,679 cwt ... 5.558 cwt Butter. 4G90 cwt 5882 cwt 1182 cwt

Date. 1897. April 30 &lay 13 A.u S . 39 Oct. 7 Nov. 1 Nov. 16 Nov. 20 Dec. 14 Dec. 20 Dec. 24 1898. Tan. 22 Feb 1 Feb. 8 Feb. 10 March 5 March 12 Ship. Rangatira Rirnutaka Gothic Aotea lonic Rimutaka Mamari Kaikoura Matatv& Gothic Otarama Maori Tongariro Rak'ua Aotea liuahine Butter. 90 pkgs 66 161 1198 975 453 2251 ■ 166 961 1570 80 692 690 632 48 9343 pkgs. Cheese. 347 cases 189 330 632 310 514 38 2549 cuses

Lyttelton.