NEW ZEALAND TRADE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1993, 18 May 1885, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND TRADE.

Nothing strikes the attention of th e student of New Zealand statistics mor e forcibly than the buoyancy of our trade, writes the Hawera Star, The exports of New Zealand produce were valued at L6,851,0Q0 for the year ending 31st Maroh, 1884, and at L 6,8.-9,000 for the year ending 31st March, 1885; and the casual observer would naturally suppose that these figures showed that we were pursuing the even tenor of our way with but little change, in the nature or/value of our trade, but rather losing ground than gaining hv fjßut if he examined a little closer he would find that the value

of the exports of grain had fallen during the twelve months fiem LI, 123,000 to 1/734,166, or by L 389.000, besides a further falling off of L 22.000 in the exports of flour; and he would doubtless be surprised to find how little such a serious falling off—no less than L 410,000 in our income from exports—had affectal the year's total. The fall had, in'facojpeen chiefly counteracted by an increase in the value of wool exported, amounting to L 150,000, and' in the value of frozen meats of L 171,000, of which the totals were as follows: , r> < .:.•■ '• Year ending' / Mar. 31,1884. Mar. 31, 'BS. w , .1. lbs. 73,869,959 80,322,614 . J Value £3,065,239 3.215,323 Frozen Meat £183,223 ', 355,091 These two items alone covering £322,000 of the above noted, deficiency" In grain, c--values. A rise of a penny pfir.'lb! in the 9L value of wool in the London wool market ™ would consequently represent nearly L 335.000 additional income to New Zealand : so that such a rise is a much to be desired contingency. The value of cheese exports also rose considerably, i.e., from L9BOO to L 28,744, and butter from L 64.000 to L 67.000, thus showing that the dairy factories are beginning to make their presence felt. Gold, for the first time for a number of years, if we reinem* ber rightly, showed an increase in its oxports of L 32,000. These worthy of notice,, and we ildnljpilly support the view we have taken that the buoyancy of Few Zealand trade is its most striking:;and mo3t hopeful' featureThere was a falling off in the value of nine different classes of exports: sent away during the twelve months ending March 31st last, which altogether amounted to L 502,000. This decrease was---almost counterbalanced by increases in value of twelve other classes of exports, amounting in all to 1479,000. If, therefore, New Zealand grain growers receive a , knock-down blow, by'the fall in the •[ price of wheat, they and their farmers are evidently striving, tooth ar#' nail, to recover lost ground by sending., away more wool, meat, cheese, ■ butter potatoes, grass seed, and livestock, in all; of which classes there is a notable increase.