H.—l7.

Summary of Cargo shipped by Undermentioned Subsidised Steamers to South African Ports. — continued.

West-Coast-of-England Shipments. I am glad to report that the steamers trading between the colony and the west-coast ports of the United Kingdom under contract with the Government, are leaving the colony with large representative cargoes of New Zealand produce—in fact, the latest sailings have more than fulfilled the most sanguine expectations, the agents being in the happy position to inform me that they have regularly despatched full ships. Frozen-meat shippers 'particularly are using the service not only on account of saving rail and carriage charges by shipping via London, but because the meat arrives in so much better condition, having only a minimum amount of handling. I attach particulars of cargoes shipped during the last twelve months. It will be observed that the meat shipped in several boats averages about 90,000 carcases per first seven steamers on the list called at South African ports under Government subsidy. The large cargoes being carried have brought about competition in this service, and in June last the New Zealand Shipping Company and the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company advertised that they were initiating a service on joint account. They announced that they were despatching the " Waiwera " in June and the " Wakanui "in July, and other steamers at regular intervals. These facts show that the service is a complete success, and one which is proving very beneficial to producers and shippers. The manifest of the " Waiwera " is included in the schedule attached :—

Shipments by Direct Service to West Coast of England Ports.

* This column includes poultry, tinned meats, bran, pollard, grass-seed, hemp, tow, kauri-gum, and general merchandise. + These steamers called at South Africa, via Fremantle, under subsidy to New Zealand Government. I These steamers sailed direct for west coast of England ports. § Despatched by the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company (Limited). Trade with the East. As direct communication has been re-established between Australia and the East, I wish again to draw attention to the markets of Japan, China, and Manila. Eeference to the Shipping Gazette, in which authorised copies of Australian manifests are published, discloses the fact that heavy shipments of produce are being forwarded and carried by six different steamship lines to the East. Now that hostilities are ended, trade is increasing rapidly, and, in my opinion, an effort should be made to extend our trade relations in Asiatic countries. That a portion of the trade offering can be secured for New Zealand I have no doubt, and, further, I think it advisable to go into the matter of a direct service and try to include the main ports of Cochin- and Indo-China in the itinerary, the latter countries being large buyers of tinned produce, including meats, vegetables, and fruits. I believe the trade with China is capable of great expansion. Australia and New Zealand exported produce to the value of £72,166 10s. in 1904. Japan is now making great strides in the mercantile world, and to explain this I would point out that in 1903 the imports from Australia totalled £119,991 125., 2—H 17.

9

Steamer. ll +3 ll COCC ID >i a •go tecs to a as ■ oo fe to Moravshire Banffshire Nairnshiref .. Ayrshire Essex Haversham Grange Kent 5,043 5,893 6,900 12,566 3,382 1,119 1,689 65 3,404 151 22 '. i 580 100 640 Ill 37' 281 1,921 2! 4! 63 250 849 372 284 19 142 4^907 388 ' 3,405 1,127 io * " Sundriee" tThe s.8. "N ' includes linseed, gi fairnshire" took a e! •ass-seed, m aipment of ] Dlasses, p: L0.900 sups igs, veal, sides pork, oatmeal, pollard, and fish, irftcial feet timber for Durban.

Steamer. Carcases Carcases Crates Boxes Grain and Boxes Mutton. Larab. Rabbits. Beef. Flour. Butter. Cases Bales Super. Feet Sundry Cheese. Wool. Timber. Produce. * Morayshiref .. Banffshiref .. Nairnshiref • • Ayrstairef Essext .. .. Haversham Grange f .. Kentt Devon J Morayshire} SomersetJ Ayrshire} EssexJ Dorset; Dray Ion Grange J Fifeshirej: Oswestry Grange J Waiwera§ 732 1,337 4,722 4,253 4,630 10 4,698 7,249 15,139 29,012 23,122 20,749 12,576 5,782 47,526 24,730 26,581 3,984 3,350 210 450 1,500 74,294 84,882 99,550 84,579 49,840 38,578 20,106 9,034 66 15,724 15,154 8,755 9,165 2,484 8,651 200 801 816 553 2,063 1,897 640 632 4,146 3,304 3,459 7,939 7,170 5,692 4,670 1,900 3,949 8,899 580 6,536 7,970 10,898 400 150 9,547 8,660 12,611 9,312 626 4,786 447 3,130 11,432 11,056 4,660 3,457 2,194 2,723 1,483 223 2,077 386 792 397 2,346 4,261 1,380 374 1,611 2,446 1,365 976 315 165 ', 080 10,900 164,973 51,386 50,061 76,424 53,180 164,793 64,358 152,726 677 1,295 5,296 2,627 6,767 5,622 437 3,666 2,016 4,948 9,042 10,448 14,483 9,639 2,821 5,748 12,040 1,125 5,072 8,050 12,640 14',206