17

H.—l7

Kauri-gum. —The United Kingdom and American markets for kauri-gum have maintained a steady position throughout the year. This industry is claiming the attention of outside markets, and to further its interests I have forwarded the latest standard samples to the High Commissioner in London, and also to the British Consul at Chicago and to the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. The prices realised at the London monthly auction sales show that values have not fluctuated more than ss. per cwt. in all classes during the period under review. Fair to good pale and amber scraped grade has been quoted from £7 ss. to £7 per cwt., and the lowest class quoted— viz., " pickings, common to good " —has realised from £2 2s. to £2 7s. per cwt. Fungus. —lt is interesting to note that this export has inoreased by the sum of £1,905, the main export trade being with China. Samples of fungus were forwarded to the Liverpool and Irish Exhibitions, and the Press have commented on this unique exhibit. In one case it was classified under the name of " a novelty which the Chinese mix with soup-preparations." Gold. —The export of gold again shows a considerable increase, 26,072 oz., valued at £102,911, being the amount exported over and above the year 1906. Silver. —The increase of £22,337 is larger than usual, but is accounted for to a great extent by the calling-in of old and defaced coins which have been exported to the British Mint. Coal. —The export of New Zealand coal increased by the amount of £18,225. The Admiralty renewed their contract with New Zealand for a further period of twelve months. Minerals. —An increase of £12,288 discloses the fact that sundry mineral resources are being further developed. In Grain, Grass-seeds, Peas, Flour, Bran and Pollard, Hop/s, Potatoes, and Fodder a decrease is shown all round, with the exception of Barley, which has been inquired for principally from Australia; this shortage being due to large areas of land which formerly were under grain now being used for pastoral purposes. The small quantities of Wheat and Oats that have been sent to the United Kingdom have averaged satisfactory prices, and Beans and Peas have made a ready sale on British and foreign markets. The export of Potatoes has been greatly limited for the past two seasons, owing to blight which affected practically the whole of the crops in the country, and the consequent scarcity caused prices to reach a very high figure. The export trade in Flour is only a small one, owing to the fact that our near neighbour, Australia, has since the end of the drought been able to quote lower than New Zealand millers. A steady shipping trade is done in Bran and Pollard. The shipments of Cocksfoot that have gone forward to British markets have given general satisfaction, and reports indicate that the seed has been well cleaned. The market greatly depends on American supplies, which were erratic during the year now under consideration, and New Zealand cocksfoot consequently fluctuated in sympathy from £2 4s. to £2 18s. per hundredweight. Fish and Oysters. —Exporters of frozen fish and oysters depend greatly on Australia for their market, but the duty imposed by Australia—namely, Id. per pound on fish and 2s. per hundredweight on oysters —retards business. Export of Fresh Fruit. Last year a successful exhibit of New Zealand apples was made in London at the Royal Horticultural Society's show, and the reports received were highly commendatory. Trade papers referred to the New Zealand apple exhibit as being " particularly fine," and that some " beautiful specimens " were forwarded. Notwithstanding this advertisement of New Zealand fruit, it is regrettable to note that the value of the total exports for the year amounted to £115 only, and I am of the opinion that special methods should be adopted to cultivate this particular trade. Tasmania, for instance, ships apples via New Zealand to Monte Video, Rio Janeiro, and London at regular intervals, and* on the arrival of the carrying-vessel at Auckland, Wellington, or Lyttelton, as the case may be, the fruit is transhipped to the earliest steamer leaving from one of our main ports on her homeward voyage via South America. It may interest those concerned to note that, against the £115 value of all fresh fruit from New Zealand, our near neighbour, Tasmania, shipped last year : — T, , , Value. Bushels. „ Apples and pears 1,121,250 225,000 Fruit other than apples and pears ... ... 273,800 63,900 1,395,050 £288,900

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