The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MAY 9, 1902. DROUGHT IN AUSTRALIA.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 411, 9 May 1902, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MAY 9, 1902. DROUGHT IN AUSTRALIA.

Householders in New Zealand nave

lately been feeling the effects of increased prices of foodstuffs. Every article of consumption has l-ecn increasing in price, and the rise has meant a considerable addition to the cost of living. Hut the experience in this colony is mild compared to the condition of things in Australia,, owing to the drought, and in some degree to the Eeaeral tariff. The leading Sydney morning journal states that meat has greatly increased in

price. Prime bullocks are fetching an average price of Ail2 ; but, as a prominent stock agent put it, a much higher figure will be realised before the winter is over. lie went on to say that the cattle were m a generally low condition, and it was only in iso-

lated cases where fairly good beef could be procured. .The majority of bullocks was dangerously poor, and in many instances stock was dying in great numbers. In the present visitation there have been but few reserves to fall back upon, and the utmost difficulty has been experienced by. stockowners in saving valuable breeding stoqk. “In that connection,” said a gentleman well qualified to express an opinion, “ as much as £3llOO per week has been spent upon a single station owing to the high price of fodder. A

number of stations expended over £2OOO per week, and on ail hands big efforts were being made to save the breeding stock-”- The same remarks apply to sheep, .which on all hands show a terrible want of condition, but owners desirous of getting a cash return sent them to the market in so low a condition as to be only suitable for boiling down or preserving. The Sydney journal states that with meat high there should be some compensation in other directions, but at the present time it js not so. High prices rule generally, and intensify the position. Turn to bread, the staple of life, and it is found that the price of flour has risen aur ng the past 12 months from £5 15s- to £8 15s or £9 10s per ton, and during the last mouth .there has been a rise of £1 per ton. Wheat, which during the last year was selling at 2s M .to 2s 7d per bushel, is

now fetching Is 3d to Is od per bushel —having almost doubled in price. Bread is generally being sold at 3d per 21b loaf, but with a steady increase in the price of dour, a corresponding advance in tne price of bread must follow. Potatoes, which in 1901 could be purchased i i Sydney at from £2 17s fid to 413 per ton, at the present time cost £5 His per ton wholesale. With regard to onions, a large increase in price is also noticeable, the present price being £8 lbs, a ton as against £6 15s a ton last year. Other lines have likewise been on the rise in Sydney' The wholesale price of butter is now Is -id per lb, as against 9d and lid per lb last year, the result of an unusually dry season. Tne present price is, however, lower than it was quite recently when the large sum of Is od was demanded for butter of varied and doubtful quality but no sooner was that known to holders of butler in other States than large quantities found their way into the market. Bacon, wliicn in April last year was selling at 7d per lb, is now realising 9d per in, and there is an increased price demanded for hams. Eggs are slightly dearer, while cheese is fetching 8d and ;Jd per lb, as against 5d and (id last year. Poultry now stands at much the same figure as ruled during IDUI. Milk has oeen steadily increasing in price owing to tho rise in the price of fodder, and is now sold at 5d per quart, with a tendency to a further advance during the winter months. Turning then to the quotations for fodder, we find Hie following under date April 28 : —Maize, which in 1901 sold at 2s Od to 2s 7d per bushel, now sells at 4s lUd per bushel. Pollard lias risen during the past twelve months from 8-id to Js 4id per bushel, and bran has risen 2id per bushel. Hay (oaten), which could be purchased in 1901 for about £4 per ton, is now quoted at £0 15s to £7 7s Od per ton, and lucerne 12 months ago realised £2 7s Od per ton, whereas to-day it is selling at £7 per ton, This colony of course gains some advantage. from the increased price of articles that can he exported to Australia. and Hie demand for maize lias certainly been an advantage to this district, which lias sent a tremendous quantity of maize to Australia.