Islands Produce

”j“HE following quotations were obtained in ' * Sydney in mid-February;—-

Coffee

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

Sydney: Quote No. 1: 19/3f per cwt. Quote No. 2 (based on 12 guilders to £); 21/6* per cwt.

Kenya, f.a.q., immediate shipment, c.i.f., Sydney, per cwt. Quote No. 1; Grade “A”, 65/-*; grade “B”, 63/-*; grade “C”, 57/-*; Triage, 52/6*. Quote No. 2: Grade “B”, 64/-t; grade “C”, 52/-f.

Mysore, f.a.q., c.i.f., Sydney, per cwt., No. 1 quotations: Grade “A”, 76/-f; grade “B”, 74/-; Triage, 67/-. No. 2 quotations: Jan.-Mar. ship ment, Grade "A”, 73/-*; grade “B”, 66/-*; grade “C”, 62/6*; Triage, 61/-*.

Arabian (Aden) Hodeidah, f.a.q., c.i.f., Sydney. —No. 1 quotation, 79/-* stg. per cwt. No. 2 quotation, 78/- per cwt.f tPurely nominal, as sterling rates of exchange have been fluctuating. *Extra freight and war risk for buyer’s account.

Note: Importers of coffee from Java, etc., pay the following additional charges: Exchange, duty (4d. lb.), primage (10 per cent.), landing costs (1/- per cwt.). Coffee from Papua and New Guinea escapes most of these charges.

Kapok

Based on firm conversion of exchange, the c.i.f. prices for kapok in mid-February were:— Average Java, 5 3/16d. per lb., and Prime Japara, 5 15/32d. per lb.

Ivory Nut-s

No. 1 quotation; £7 per ton, f.o.b.

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

Qutations nominal.

Cocoa

New Guinea Cocoa; Quote No. 1: £4O per ton.

Quote No. 2: £39 per ton.

Accra, good fermented: £3l stg.

Rice

Rangoon rice, packed in 100 lb. bags, £l6 per ton; 200 lb. sacks, £l5/15/- per ton.

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

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:—

Mother of Pearl Shell

Sydney agents report that since the outbreak of war, no public sales of Mother of Pearl shell have been held in London. Last ruling prices were:—Torres Strait shell, from 110/- per cwt.

B Stout medium to 15/- per cwt. for EE rejec tions; Black Edged Tahiti, no market; Black Edged Fiji, 20/- for small to bold and 5/- for defective and broken.

Green Snail Shell

Green snail shell, quoted nominally by Sydney buyers:—Quote No. 1: £4O; No. 2: £5O.

Miss J. Flint arrived in Western Samoa from New Zealand in January to take over the duties of Matron at the Apia Government Hospital, replacing Miss A.

M. Becker, whose term of service has ex pired. Miss B. Lindop has also joined the nursing staff, taking the place of Miss V. L. Brown, who returned to N.Z. by the January “Maui Pomare”.

£ £ £ No. 1 grade 76 77 80 No. 2 grade 65 66y 2 70 No. 3 grade 52 52 56 All quotes are f.o.b., and on the Australian £.