The Daily News. TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1903. SOUTH AFRICAN TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 182, 4 August 1903, Page 2

The Daily News. TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1903. SOUTH AFRICAN TRADE.

Despite the prognostications of failure, is is satisfactory to know that tbe export trade with South Africa is assuming larger proportions. Every s'eamer is now leavicg wi'.h a full cirgo, arid, in the words of the agents, " Crammed in every p<rt." T.is is in striking contrast lo (he first few trips that were run, when the vessels had to rail a ao Australian port to to.upi te their Lad ing, and even take goods to A ustralia to help to make up a cargo, but, as was pointed out at the tims, this was largely owing to the foot that owing to ex;ep tionally small stocks bald in theco'ony, cbe bulk of our products were at infkted prices. Now that pric?s areasumng a more normal level we may expect a further expansion.in the trade.; Of course in total value the oats hitherto sent to South Africi hive exo eded all other lines pu-, together, beis g valu ;d at £512,279 in 1902, £716,049 i., 1901, and £317,475 in 1900, the fjl-ing-off last year being due to the fact 'that the orders were largely for general trade, whereas the previous year the shipments were chiefly f >r the require merits of the British forces. Omitting oils, which, as we have seen, a> e liable to violent fluctuation as regatds demand, there is a steady advance in the trade in ordinary goods, the value io 1902 being £241,642, against the in significant value of £108,822 in 1901, and £87,944 in 1900. Prom the way in which the trade has been conducted during the first six months of this year, we may with confidence expect a still larger increase when tbe figures for 1903 are avail&b'e. Ihe trade is now so large that the Ess°x, which discharged at Sydney, is to return for another cargo, and will call at Auckland to load. On the measure of support given will largely depend the frequercy or otherwise of vessels for South Africa calling there. Shipments of poultry and o her produce will be mide, and also a substantial quantity of butter. It may interest those in the trade to know that the value of butter exported to that marker in 1902, amounted to increase on the value for tbe two previous years, viz., £19,118 and £8353 respectively. Arrangements are also being made for a trial shipment of timber, consisting of various sizes of kahikiteal and also a quantity of kauri, chiefly in pUnke. Tae opening up tf this trade in timber will be watched wi;h special interest.