COMMERCIAL.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 14 March 1901, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

[by electric telegraph—copyright.]

(per press association.)

London, Masch 12.

The second of the series of wool sa'es opened briskly. Compared with the prices at the closing sales of last series merino remained unchanged, crossbreds show a five per cent decline-

An extensive seam of clay, believed to be eminently suitable for pottery work, has been discovered near Gisborne. A sample (24cwt) has been sent to Wellington to be tested.

One improvement effected on the Haupiri is the removal of her forward deck houses.

It is stated that about two-thirds of the pioneers of the Mauriceville settlement (Canterbury) are at present in receipt of old age pensions. There is at the present time, Recording to the Labour Department, plenty of work offering to those who desire it, in all parts of the colony.

A telegram received from Auckland states that the transport Abarenda lias sailed for Samoa. She takes 4000 tons of coal, 80,000 ft of lumber, cement, and powder for the naval works at Pago Pago,

Deaf mutes are on the increase in Germany, writes a Berlin correspondent. There are no fewer than 645 S persons in institutions where deaf mutes are specially instructed.

The American Naval Apprbproation Bi 1 for next year canies £15,400,000. being an increase of 2 200,000 over the appropriation for the present year. The Bill orders two battleships and two cruisers to be built.

Nurse Warmiugton, who has returned to Wanganui from South Africa, sa.ys the “Tommies” are splendid fellows and most admirable patients, bearing their ills, their wounds and their hardships uncomplainingly. It also fell to her duty to nurse a number of Boer patients, and for them, too, she has a word of praise. Miss Warmington paints a gloomy picture of the cemetary at Bloemfontein, which, she says, is literally packed. There were in all about twenty New Zealand nurses on servica in various parts of South Africa, but, as Miss Warmington says, it would have been much better if the nurses from New Zealand had been attached to the various contingents sent from the colony, as was the case with the nurses sent from Canada.

According to “ Winnower ” the agricultural contributor to the “ Hawera Star, ” there is ample evidence that land ts at a high figure in that district. Only a few weeks ago a farm near Mansia changed hands at £2O per acre, and last week for another property a short distance from Mansia over £2O per acre was asked. The price of cattle shows no sign of declining ; in fact the rates ruling before Christmas were rather lower than are at present heing obtained.