Australian Summary.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 187, 6 January 1896, Page 2

Australian Summary.

]Per Press Association] Stone sr, Jan. 4. A retrospect of the year reveals on the whole a satisfactory < condition of business with an upward tendency. Undoubtedly the drought has been a fly in the ointment, but those affected had some measure of compensation by the improved prices received for produce and stock. Tlio money market is steady, tending towards an easier position. Owing in a great measure to the shortness of the clip the quantity of wool offered was not proportionate to that of former years, but the percentage sold was heavier than for 10 years past. The produce trade saw active business and higher prices. The cheapness of maize had a depressing effect on oats, j although after the New Zealand shortness the cereal market became excited and prices rose steadily. Exclusive of gold, the imports show an increase of £930,000, and the exports an increase of £136,000. The gold imports show a decrease of £868,000, and the exports an increase of £779,000. In 1895 the wool exported amounted to 687,000 bales, while there was a large increase of frozen mutton, 766,000 carcases against 533,000 in the. previous year ; 66,000 pieces of beef were shipped compared with 9500 the previous year. Of butter, less than half the number of boxes were sent forward this season than nsual. Melbourne, Jan. 4. The New Year brings hopeful prospects and shareholders may take breath after the great sacrifices made and may even hope for a return of small dividends. Frozen meat has attracted more attention. It appears certain to become an important factor in the future. Butter and cheese still make satisfactory advances. During the year 23,887,000 lbs of butter were shipped, valued at £88,000, compared with 20,836,0001b5, valued at £78,000 the previous year ; while cheese totalled a million and a half pounds valued at £29,900, against 917,0001bs valued at £17,000. A tentative estimate of the gold yield of Australasia is 2,391,2700z5, an increase of 195,0000z5. The output of West Australia is only a third of that of Victoria. So that the sensational West pans oat badly in cold statistics. Adelaide, January 4. The leading merchants and traders interviewed by the local press bear testimony to the satisfactory commercial conditions now prevailing. Perth, January 4. A collection of nuggets obtained at the Devons Consuls mine, Black Flag, ib a fine exhibition. The largest named the Joker, weighs 803oz lOdwts. The next largest is 730z lSdwts.