EVENTFUL VOYAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1930, Page 16

EVENTFUL VOYAGE

THROUGH A DUSTSTORM. TERRIBLE HEAT IN RED SEA. To have been swept by a duststorm while passing through the Red Sea and then to have met a fierce gale in the Indian Ocean was the experience of the Aberdeen and Commonwealth freighter Mamilius, which was on her way to Sydney. The vessel was bringing some of the last of the steel for the Sydney harbour bridge. During the passage through the Red Sea the crew was subjected to exceptionally hot weather. Coming off the shore, a heavy duststorm swept the ship, coating everything with a layer of sand. The heat which followed was so intense that tiie firemen were compelled to work short shifts. At night the crew was forced to sleep on deck to obtain some relief* As soon as the Mamilius entered the Indian Ocean she faced reverse conditions. In the storm which flooded one of the holds of the Royal Mail steamer Naldera and hampered shipping on the Western Australian coast, she was buffeted and tossed for several days. ' At the height of the storm a wireless message was picked up from the steamer Theseus, reporting that the latter was hove-to in a howling gale, which had caused considerable damage. As no. further messages were received the Mamilius continued on her way.

LONDON MARKETS. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. . The Department of Agriculture has received tiie following cablegram dated August 9, from the High Commissioner for New Zealand, London:— Tallow. —Market quiet on account of holiday. Prices remain flrm. Eggs.—Market quiet. English, National mark, Ils fid to 19s 6d per long hundred; English, ordinary pack, 14s fid to 17s fid; Irish, Ils to 18s; Swedish, Danish, Belgium and Dutch, 12s 3d to 14s 9d; French, Ils fid to 15s; Polish, fis fid to 8s 9d. / Fruit.—English apples now in the market. Present quotations ‘ for New Zealand are: Stunners, 8s to 10s per case; old stock, 4s to 8s; Statesman, 8s to Ils; Dougherty and Delicious, 9s to Ils. Hemp. —Manila market dull. “K” grade August-September shipment sold £22; September-November shipment £22 ss. Sisal: Market easier. First grade fair average quality alloat sold £23 ss. Sep-tember-November shipment quoted £24; second grade 15s less. Good marks held for 10s more. Mexican unchanged. New Zealand market very quiet. Highfair spot sold at second hand £22 10s to £23. No inquiry for forward shipments. No first hand sales reported. Wool.—Bradford market quiet, with fairly good tone. Quotations nominally unchanged. OPOSSUM SKINS. ’ FIRST WELLINGTON SALE. The first opossum skins sale of the season in Wellington was held on Friday, a small catalogue of all colours being offered to a good attendance of buyers. The skins were drawn chiefly from the Stratford, Taranaki, Rotorua and West Coast districts. As the season for the Wellington district is not over till September 2, only a few consignments were available for the sale. The quality and the condition of the offering was medium, very few supers and firsts being submitted. The opossum skin market at Home is .in a very depressed ‘State and prices in London to-day are quite 10 per cent, lower than the April sales. It is expected that the October London sales will show a further decline of 20 per cent, to 25 per cent., and in view of this, buyers at to-day’s sale were very cautious, and prices were fully GO per cent, lower than last season’s rates. If America comes in the market, we ean look for better prices, especially for super, blues and greys. At Friday’s sale blacks and browns were in the best demand, and were quitted at fair prices. The better class of greys and blues also sold fairly well. Trappers would be well advised to forward their catches to auction at the first opportunity, as the future of the market is very uncertain. The following is the range of prices: Blacks, 3s to 7s Id each. Browns, 2s 9d to 6s lid each. Greys, 2s lOd to fis 6d each. Reds, 2s fid to 3 s 7d each. Moles, 3s 3d to 4s each. Inferior, Cd to Is 6d. Smalls, rumpers, kittens and damaged skins sold at very low rates, and in some cases did not realise the royalty of Is per skin;