COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 65, 24 February 1880, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

The following circular has been issued from the office of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, and the subject is of sufficient importance to warrant its publication in full : Christchurch, Feb. 19, 1880.

Wheat shipments to United Kingdom. —The observance by shippers of the following hints concerning the export of corn will atonce so facilitate its treatment at the port of shipment, and ensure for it so much more speedy and satisfactory a turnover on arrival in London, that wo feel confident you will in your own interest endeavor to bring the suggestion into effect.

1. Branding of sacks. —The subject of indistinct marking has frequently been brought under our notice by our London office during the past season, with a view to the remedy of the defect in future, and we would accordingly urge upon our clients the necessity of clearly star iping upon each sack a distinctive brand, in addition to the figures impressed by the railway officials, merely for the convenience of their own department. While the employment of one or two letters is manifestly better than no brand at all, I am of opinion that the adoption of the name of the farm or of the owner would be preferable, being at once original and distinctive.

2. Forwarding by rail to Lyttelton.—ln order that unnecessary delay at the port of shipment and its attendant expenses may be avoided, we trust that you will promptly advise us of the despatch of your produce. The wheat should be consigned to the “New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, Lyttelton, for direct shipment,” and although we cannot guarantee immediate shipment, having no means of controlling the railway traffic and preventing blocks, wc are sanguine that the careful preparations we have mad« will enable us to ensure its reception on board ship as it comes to hand. You should also bear in mind the necessity of obtaining from the station-master at your end a railway receipt for each parcel of produce delivered, which please post to this office by first opportunity, and thereby enable us immediately to fix the responsibility of short delivery or damage upon the proper parties 3. Condition of wheat and importance of its thorough dryness.—The practice of thrashing out of stock grain intended for shipment instead of first stacking it for a period, is so calculated to produce sweatting that we take occasion to warn growers against the adoption of the system. 4. Tonnage errangements. —, Having fixed our freight arrangements for the season with the New Zealand Shipping Company, we can contldentally refer our friends to that Company's vessels specially chartered for wheat carrying. They are all, as be will observed, first-class iron ships, and every possible care will be exercised to reduce to a minimum the chances of sea damage.