SUPPLIES OF FLOUR.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 685, 6 November 1852, Page 2

SUPPLIES OF FLOUR.

(To the Editor of the " Aigm.") Sir, — Under the above heading there is a paragraph in your newspapei of to-day, in which I think there is a little maccuiacy. You state that supplies of flour may be expoited from South Australia from the growing crops during the month of December. Ag the wheat must be thoroughly ripe before it caa be safely taken oft" by Ridley's machines, it is generally the middle of December before the reaping with the machine commences, and about the Ist of Januaiy the now flour comes into the market. Ag to the quickness that supplies of wheat and Hour can come to this market, much will depend on the supply of labour at the harveat time ; at present the farmers in that colony are very deficient in their number of servants and labourers. I think it of vast importance to this colony that some idea should bo formed of the supply of the staff o( life during the next four months. If this should bo (as some poisons calculate on) n deficient supply, it is much better to bo known at once, as it will promote frugality and economy in the use of flour, and prevent that which any one would dread — a famine in the land, should it only be for a tow weeks. Having made some inquiries on the subject, 1 give jou my " facts and figuies," hoping that some of your correspondent* (if I have erred) wi 1 correct my statements or data on which the calculations are made. Tons of FJcur, Population of the Colony at this date, say 180,000 To supply this populition until tho Ist November, at lib of flour each por dsiy, requires . . . 1890 ifjom the Ist November to the Ist • December, with say 20,000 additional that may artive during November, requires . . . 3000 From Ist Decomber to Ist Januaiy (with say 20,000 additional that may arrive in December) or in all 220,000, requires . . . 3800 Tons . . 8190 To supply this, I suppose there is at present in Melbourne, say . 1000 At the Diggings, and in other parts of the Colony, iv wheat and flour, say 2000 Imports from Adelaide until Ist of December, say .... 1000 Imports from Van Diemen's Land until Ist December, say . . 1000 6000 Deficiency . . 3190 No supply can bo got from Sydney, as the merchants there Lave been purchasing in Lnunceston and Adelaide wheat and flour for shipment to Sydney, as they are afrnid of a deficiency. There may arrive, perhaps, a cargo or two from America, but this, in my opinion, is not probable until February, as the price of flour lias ruled very high i» California for some mouths, and it is stated iv the Sydney Morning Herald, of the Ist of October, that a vessel had arrived from the Sandwich Islands for provisions, the people nearly suffering famine from deficiency in their usual supplies, S. Melbourne, October 9th, 1852.