Trade Prospects.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 276, 21 March 1889, Page 4

Trade Prospects.

Ar ths quarterly meeting of the Chriatehurch Chamber of Commerce, the President (Mr Kaye) gave an address, in which he said :— “ The nest quarter has been marked by those signs of returning prosperity that have been ■o often brought under our notice during the post few months. In connection with pastoral intersets, the lambing season was a good one. On the plains very high percentages were secured, and the merino flocks on the hillagave a fair average marking. The wool dip was large, and generally of superior quality and condition. The local Bales passed off with great spirit, the quantity dealt with up to the end of January being larger than usual, and the prices obtained more satisfactory to growers, oomparing most favourably with the values current in London at the November and December series. The unfortunate deadlock which arose over ths buyer’s demand for farthing blds at the recent awltas cawed alargo number of bales to be withdrawn for shipment, and abruptly ter. mtaatad the salsa for the season. But for tidi sontrrfMipa the volume of wool dealt with locally would, probably, have exceeded *ha»of any previous season. Tallow, after roachtag very rctiriaotory price., suffered a mddn oollapM, values recoding In a few W* P* o *® 4 - .Flax has boon in strong demand at homo, duo to the Influence of AmoriM competition, and prices have been ruling higher than over before attained, flvga a groat spur to the industry in this colony, It u well to note, however, that those acquainted with the trade anticipate, whan the new season opens, a heavy fall, possibly to the extent of £lO per ton. Valow of mutton are improving slightly in England, with hopeful prospects. Trade generallyhaa shown some improvement since the middle of December. This change for the better would have been more perceptible b st for the inconvenience and confusion ariaing from change of tariff here, and the inet*«ed freights in Loudon. Importeracompiaiathat tbe rise in the tariff has been ag“■ahtnoreUaoting, and, to Sf** ‘"‘•rprttauon on Cb***" 4 O' « l dsbatahle (Mats. Tbt Odvaace el la the fee lor

bond license has also been found to press heavily on importers, and is considered by them to be practically a class tax. Financial engagements have been unusually well met, and insolvencies are becoming pleasingly less frequent. The outlook is all that could be desired. ’Tia many years since our fanners have been favoured with such magnificent weather as has been experienced during the past month, enabling the ingathering of prolific grain crops under the best of conditions. The total yields throughout Canterbury will probably be about the average, but some crops on heavy lands have threshed out extraordinary returns—over 100 bushels oats and 60 to 70 bushels wheat per acre having rewarded some of the farmers for their labors. In connection with this productiveness, it is interesting to gather from figures which have been published by Australian statists of this season’s (1883-89) yields, that the white crops grown on the whole continent of Australia will not be so large as those of New Zealand, assuming that last year’s returns will be reached this year in this colony, of which there is little resonable doubt, proving conclusively that though our area under cultivation is comparatively small, the soil under favorable climatic conditions does produce splendid results as compared with other countries. We cannot wonder, then, that the outturns of our harvests has . become an important factor to our Australians friends in their calculations of probable needs and supplies. In this, our year of opportunity, tco great stress cannot be Lid on the absolute necessity of shipping none bnt thoroughly matured grain, and so recover fully the prestige for excellent quality that New Zealand at one time enjoyed. During the past quarter prices for all cereals have dropped considerably from the abnormally high values previously ruling, bnt prospects continue good that remunerative rates will be obtained for both onr grain and wheat crops. The break up of the brought in Australia has been thorough and effectual, say, within 800 miles of the seaboard, the far inland districts only being now seriously in distress through absence of moisture; but some bad effects remain, and doubtless there will be quite the usual large outlets for our products. At the same time it is well to anticipate the possibility of duties on our breadstuff. being levied in New South Wales, as the late elections give only too certainly the growing feeling in favour of protection, in which ease oats would likely suffer most, as the consumption would seriously be curtailed in favor of their own locally-grown maize. It io very pleasing to observe that Victorian capitalists an turning their attention to New Zealand investments, and that our colony is looked upon by outsiders generally as having bottomed depression, and rising fast on a returning tide nf prosperity, feelings we should by all means endeavour to cultivate and strengthen by having full faith In our. selves and adopted country.