GISBORNE’S TRADE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3436, 30 January 1912, Page 2

GISBORNE’S TRADE.

ANNUAL REPORT

At yesterday’s meting of the Harbor Board the annual statement showing the trade of the port for the past year, as compiled by Mr H. A. Barton, was tabled. \ The return shows that the year’s imports were as follows: Timber 6,958,757 super, feet, posts and house blocks 69,392, bricks 3200, lime 266 tons, cement 77 tons (casks) 2848 tons (bags), coal 15,154 tons, coke 267 tons, horses ancl cattle 384. sheep 8488. coastal wool 7163 bales and 435 pockets, grass seed 4245 sacks, potatoes 16,925 sacks, oats 24,293 sacks, chaff 43,210 sacks', wheat 969 sacks, malt 2558 sacks, bran and pollard 4080 sacks, flour 2007 tons, sugar 919 tons, salt 642 tons, kerosene and benzine 16,465 cases, fruit 678 tons (measurement), beer and stout--737 hogsheads, 85 kilderkins, 121 barrels. 1 keg, and 505 tons (measurement), wines 69 tons (measurement), spirits 344 tons (measurement), motor cars 28, wire 762 tons, shingle 270 tons, and miscellaneous 23.761 tons (measurement and weight). Exports: Butter 7500 boxes, mutton 232,478 carcases, lamb 109,446 carcases, beef 2409 tons, meat (sundries) 118 tons, preserved meats 2982 cases, pelts 567 tons, tallow 1240 tons, casings. 54 tons, hides 13.272 sheepskins 58,006. manure 640 tons, wool 35,401 bales and 790 pockets, sheep 9886, cattle and horses 1645, grass seed 875 sacks, maize 24,278 sacks, barley 3685 sacks, linseed 394 sacks, chaff 14 sacks, potatoes 37 sacks, honey 4 tons 11 cwt, fruit 67 tons (measurement), timber 207,742 super, feet, scrap iron 15 tons, bricks 2400, motor cars 7, cheese 33 tons (measurement), miscellaneous 6368 tons measurement and weight.) It is interesting to note that a comparison with the figures for the previous year, 1910, shows that the butter export for 1911 was about 200 boxes better than for 1910. The figures in connection with the frozen meat trade, however, show a decrease, probably on account of the lateness of the season and the opening of the works at Tokomaru Bay. In 1910 the export of mutton totalled 260,971 carcases, and last year dropped about 14,000 carcasses, and there was a corresponding decrease with the by products. The export of wool for 1910 totalled 50.391 bales, whilst that for 1911 despatched from Gisborne only amounted to 35,601 bales. The shipment to London direct from Tokomaru Bay probably accounts for about 10,000 bales that formerly came through Gisborne. This shows a decrease of about 4700 bales, which must he accounted for bv the season. The export for 1909 totalled 45,149 bales. The returns also show that there lias been an increase in the cattle exported, hut a corresponding decrease in respect to sheep. The export of maize last year jumped up about 15,000 sacks. The figures respecting the imports show that timber decreased about 400,000 super, feet, which may be accounted for by the starting of the local timber industry and the more extensive erection of buildings in brick. Cement, on the other hand, rose by 1231 tons. Coal stands about the same, whilst the import of stock was onlv slightly in excess of that imported in 1910. The coastal wool passing through the port, consequent upon the recent developments at Tokomaru Bay, also shows a decrease. The importation of oats diminished by about 6000 sacks, whilst chaff rose bv about 13.000 sacks. There was but little fluctuation with the quantity- of flour imported, but sugar rose about 60 tons for the 12 months and salt by 200 tons. Kerosene and benzine, consequent upon the growing popularity ofmotor cars, no doubt, increased by about 500 cases. Emit import rose by about 230 tons. The quantity of fencing wire imported last year rose by about 150 tons, and miscellaneous items by about 4000 tons, whilst there were about 100 tons more spirits imported last year than for 1910.