Clippings.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 131, 21 November 1901, Page 4

Clippings.

DEPRESSION IN THE CARGO TRADE. The obtaining of cargo from Netf Zealand for the Home market—or any other market, for that matter—* is a more difficult undertaking at the present time than it 'has been for years. Quite a fleet of cargo tramps are laid up or are “ nosing” about the various ports of the colony without any’ prospect of ultimately departing full ships, and as freignts are cut to a very fine margin some of the large carrying companies must have suffered severely this winter. In Welling* ton, three ocean-going steamers—the Otarama, Mamari, and Ranga* tira—are at anchor waiting, like Micawber, for something to turn up; the Tokomaru, Maori, and Kumara are in the south at anchor; che Paparoa left Wellington for Home on Thursday after a long stay ; more than one vessel hag had to pay a speculative visit to Aus* tralia for something to put into the holds, and several others are on the way out. Of course, the coming summer season will ease the tightness, but when the new White Star steamers enter into the competition freights will possibly bo further trimmed, the struggle will be renewed, and the exporter will profit at the expense of the shipping companies-—Dunedin Star.

BRITISH CASUALITIES.

A return by the War Office, published in London on October 7 gave an official list of British casualties in the war from and including the opening battle at Elands Laagte on October 20,1899 down to the end of September* The total number of casualties ia 75,562. Included in this total, however, are over 67,000 officers and men sent home as invalids, the great majority of whom have recovered and rejoined their regiments for duty. The actual reduction of the military forces through the war is 22,289, distributed as follows:—Killed in action, 4757 * died of wounds, 1623; prisoners who have died in captivity, 97 • died of disease, 10,550; accidental deaths, 145; invalids sent home who have died, 423 ; missing and prisoners, 620; invalids sent home who have left the service as unfit 3774 ; total, 22,289, of which 887 were officers and 21,452 were noncommissioned officers and men. The 620 “ missing and prisoners ” includes a number of men reported “missing” who subsequently rejoined, but whose return has not yet been notified. From the commencement of the war 19 561 officers and men have been wounded in battle, and the deaths from disease have been more than double the deaths in action. The actual deaths number 17,896.