COMMERCIAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10962, 3 May 1907, Page 1

COMMERCIAL.

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, last night. The Department- of Industries and Commerce has received tne following cablegram from tlie High Commissioner, dated London, Wednesday: — The wool sales, tiaye commenced, 1 he/re are a large number of buyers and active competition. Prices for merinos and fine crossbreds of ail grades are firm and prices for medium und coarse qrossbreds are slightly lower. Returns of the quantity and value of exports from New Zealand during the financial year ended on 31st Marou, are published m the Gazette. The exports of coal, gold, "silver, - and minerals are shown to lia-ve aggregated" £2,534,855, as compared with £2,379,104 m the year before. Fisheries show only £19,879, while a marked falling off is noticeable under the heading of; "fungus, kauri gum and timber," the values for 1907 being £83r,163" as compared with £880,431 for fche preceding twelve months. Under "frozen meats, wool, tallow, butter, cheese, hides, live stock, bacon and hams, etc."' the year recently dosed made a. marked improvement, the figures being £14,548,---171 for 1907 and £11,495,523 for 1906. A falling off is shown in -regard to "the cu e of tlie agricultural produce exported, this year having only £242,837 to, its credit as compared with £433,96g/ fg'r the year preceding. The principal falling off is m wheat. leather, phormium, woollens,- etc., total £1,164,932; and "miscellaneous" values are shown at £35,794. The total values of New Zealand produce and' manufactures exported are set down at £19,277,640, the figures for. the year ended March 31st, 1905, being £16,109,950. Specie was respmsio'e for a large increase (£96,930. againsV£2o, : 117). The import valv_es"foi'the year are given, at £14,628^005. '"■ ■