Western Australia

Southland Times, Issue 13501, 18 July 1896, Page 2

Western Australia

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The fulfilment of my promise tonotify my friends in Southland of the impressions formed by me of this country, through the iqedium of the press, is my reason for penning these lines,which Iwillbepleasedif you will insert in your valuable paper. To begin with, we landed at Albany by the s.s. Britannia on Saturday the 6th June, and proceeded on our journey by the train leaving at 7 p.m.; arriving at Berth on Sunday morning at 11 o’clock, having travelled all night. The city of Perth is rapidly growing, an immense number of new buildings for business purposes being in course of erection in the town proper, as also in the suburbs for residences. Carpenters and bricklayers are in full work, earning wages from 7s to Ils per day. Those are the only classes of workers I would advise to come. Experienced miners are wanted on the goldfields ; wages, £4 per week. Living is high, board only £1 10s per week. Business firms are represented from all parts of the colonies,and there are many long tstabiished and wealthy merchan s. Competition is keen, and profits only moderate. I enclose yesterday’s prices current, which will no doubt prove of interest. The duty on oats is 4cl per bushel; chaff, £1 10s per ton; but’er, 2d per pound ; cheese, hams, and bacon, 3d per pound. Direct communication between New Zealand and Fremantle is much wanted to ensure speedy transit, the delay through transhipping in Melbourne being at times vexatious. There is a large aud increasing demand for New Zealand produce, which is rapidly gaining in favour. The difficulty with a stranger is to get a footing, which only time and money can procure. The goldfields appear to be steadily and surely opening up. An immense number of companies are in existence, and many more forming. The population is flowing in at about two thousand adults monthly. They seem to get absorbed on the fields. The brick yards are full of orders, as also the jarrah timber companies. Baltic timber is largely used. New Zealand timber is not much known.

Fremantle, the port of Perth, 12 miles distant,is a thriving busy town. The shipping is constantly increasing. About six coastal steamers are daily to be found berthed at the wharf, loading and un'oading, irrespective of English and other vessels in the roadstead. Large sums are now being expended in a breakwater. I atn of opinion that frozen meat would pay well to send here when freezing chambers are erected. Bu chcr meat sells at from 6d to 8d per lb,with short supplies, owing to the difficulty of obtaining same. Ihe mortality on board ship is so gteat that insurances are almost declined. Laud in Perth was sold last week at £2lO per foot for central position; other, £lOO per foot. Shop rents range, for small central, from £3 to £6 per week; for larger premises, £lO to £l5 per week. This is exclusive of bonus, which ranges from £4O to £3OO. Private houses to rent are difficult to obtain; 4-romned cottages from 15s to 30s per week; 6 to 8-roonied, 30s to 50s per week. Rural building sites are worth, on an average, £2OO to £3OO per acre. There is much speculation now on. Land syndicates are active. Vegetables are high. There is a good opening here for market gardeners with capi’al. Apples are prohibited from coming here. The press is well represented by two morning and one evening papers. There is a great demand for all tinned goods ; meats fish, fruit, &c. Preserved rabbits, mutton, and beef are very saleable. Wages,as a rule, are low, and altogether out of proportion to rents. Groceries and drapery are cheap ; there is no duty on either tea or sugar. I would not advise anyone to come here unless possessed of capital. Money makes money, and without money you are nowhere. There is intense excitement in the share market. Daily you heir of money being made and lost. lam of opinion that this vast country is rich in mineral wealtn. The great drawbacks are distances, heat, and scarcity of water. At present the outlook is very hopeful. To attain success in this colony you require to be made of the best material. Sound in mind, body, and estate, possessed of undaunted perseverance, and a fair share of this world’s treasure. With these qualifications, Western Australia possesses great potentialities for young men. The climate is generally delightful, and my own health is much improved.—Yours very faithfully, Wm. Todd. Perth, Western Australia, 21st June,lB96. The “ prices current” enclosed by our correspondent is too lengthy for insertion here — a column and a half of extract, but we append the prices of such of the commodities as are produced in Southland, and it will be seen that there is in most cases a good margin for the exporter. Provisions, &c., auction rates :—Bran, L 7 large supplies ; butter, local, Is 4d to Is 6d, imported, Is 3Jd, easier tone ; bacon, imported, lid, interior, Bdto 9d; chaff, livelier market, best local, L 8 ss, other, L 7 to L 8 ; cheese, Victorian 9LI, New Zealand 9d ; eggs, local, 2s to 2s 6d per dozen, imported, Is 9(1; flour, Ll2 15s to Ll 3 per ton ; lard, 8d; manger hay, L6;oats, 3s 6d, fair supplies and good sales; potatoes, market is glutted, but the tone is improving, imported, L 4 to L 5, local, L 6 to L 7; onions, best, Ll 3; short supplies; corn sacks, 5s 3d, nominal. Poultry—Fowls, best table, 7s, others 5s to 6s per pair ; ducks, 6s to 8s per pair ; geese, local 12s to 14s per pair; turkeys, 15s to 20s per pair.

Fruit and vegetables, auction rates Apples, eating, up to Is 6d per lb, green, lOd tils per lb, cooking, lOd; bananas, 20s per cis* ; citronelles, 4d per dozen ; lemons, Sydney’s, 12s per case ; oranges, best local up to Is 6(1 per dozen, good, Is to Is 3d, others 8d to lOd ; imported, 10s to 14s per case. Vegetables—Beetroot, 3s per dozen bunches ; cauliflowers, 4s to ,6s per dozen ; carrots, Is 6d to 2s per dozen; horse carrots, best, 5s per cwt; French beans, 3d per lb, marrows, 6s per cwt; pumpkins, bugles 8s others 6s to 8s; cabbages, 4s to 6s per cwt ; turnips, 4s to 5s per cwt; swede turnips, 3$ to 5s ger cwt,