Islands Produce

THE following quotations were obtained In Sydney in mid-September:—

Coffee

Robusta, fa q , imported from Java on firm conversion of exchange, c.i.f., prompt shipment.

Sydney: Quote No. 1: 33/-* stg. per cwt. (prompt shipment; quote No. 2: 18/3, per cwt.

Kenya, f.a.q., Immediate shipment, c.i.f., Syd ney, per cwt. Quote No. 1: Grade “B”, 63/-* (prompt shipment). Quote No. 2:f Grade “B'% 55/-; grade “C”, 51/-.

Mysore, f.a.q., c.i.f., Sydney, per cwt., No. 1 quotations; No supplies available until January- February, 1940.

Arabian (Aden) Hodeidah, f.a.q.. c.i.f., Sydney -No. 1 quotation, 77/-* stg. per cwt. No. 2 quotation, 76/- per cwt.t *Does not include War Risk. tPurely nominal, as sterling rates of ex change have been fluctuating widely.

Note: Importers of coffee from Java, etc., pay me louowaig acuationai charges: Excnange, duty i4d. lb.), primage (10 per cent.), landing costs (1/- per cwt.). Coffee from Papua and New Guinea escapes most of these charges.

Kapok

Based on Arm conversion of exchange (8 Guilders to £), the c.i.f. prices for kapok in mid-September were: Average Java, 5-5/16d. per lb., and Prime Japara, 5%d. per lb.

Cotton

London c.i.f. cotton prices during the month were:—August 18, 4.47 d. lb., September ship ment; August. 25, 4.97 d. lb., September ship ment; September 1,4.99 d. lb., October shipment; September 8, —.

Ivory Nuts

No 1 quotation: £7 per ton, f.o.b.

No. 2 quotation: £7 per ton, f.0.b., Sydney.

Quotations nominal.

Cocoa

Quote No. 1: New Guinea cocoa £2B-30 per ton.

Quote No. 2: Accra, good fermented, last quote several weeks ago, £22/10/- stg. per ton, c.i.f., Sydney.

Quote No. 3: £2B per ton (nominal).

Rice

Rangoon rice, packed in 100 lb. bags and 200 lb. sacks. Market nominal, no quotes.

Australian table rice, packed in 56 lb. bags, £2O per ton.

Mother of Pearl Shell

At the last Mother of Pearl Shell sales in London in July a smaller supply was brought forward. The demand was limited. Of 415 packages of Torres Strait shell, 125 were sold at prices ranging from 110/- per cwt. B Stout medium to 15/- per cwt. for EE rejections.

Nearly 50 packages of Black Edged Tahiti shell put up were later withdrawn. Eight packages of Black Edged Fiji fetched 20/- for small to bold and 5/- for defective and broken.

Trochus Shell

Owing to Japan’s restrictions on overseas credits, there have been no sales for some time.

The following are nominal quotations from three Sydney sources:—

Green Snail Shell

Green snail shell, quoted nominally by Sydney buyers:—Quote No. 1: £4O; No. 2: £52-£54.

Hon. O. F. Nelson, M.L.C., was unable to attend the August meeting of the Legis lative Council of Western Samoa, owing to indisposition, and leave of absence was granted accordingly.

Ven. Archdeacon A. J. Thompson, rector of Samarai, who has been spending leave in Melbourne, will return to Eastem Papua this month.

Mr. H. C. Monckton, Adviser on Native Affairs in Fiji, returned to Suva from leave by the “Monowai” in August. He was accompanied by his wife.

£ £ £ No. 1 grade .. .. 73 75 80 No. 2 grade ... 62 63 68 No. 3 grade . . .. 49 50 56'/ 2 All quotes are f.o.b., and on the Australian £

The proposed Fiji tour by Tongan foot ballers has been postponed until 1940.