Islands Produce

THE following quotations were obtained in Sydney in mid-April:—

Coffee

Robusta, f.a.q., imported from Java on firm conversion of exchange, c.i.f., prompt shipment, Sydney (Sterling): Quote No. 1: 40/9. Quote No. 2: 38/6.

Kenya, f.a.q., immediate shipment, c.i.f., Sydney, per cwt. (Stg.); Balance of crop sold to USA, no further supplies available. Last quotes were; Grade “B”, 65/-; “C”, 62/-.

Mysore, f.a.q., c.i.f., Sydney, per cwt. Quote No. 1: Ships’ assortment, Government pool formed, Grade “A”, 82/-; Grade “B”, 76/-; Grade “C”, 69/-. (It has been reported in Sydney, however, that parcels have been bought at prices lower than the above official quo tations.) Quote No. 2 (c.i.f., Sydney): Grade “A”, 73/-; Grade “B”, 66/-; Triage, 60/-.

Arabian (Aden) Hodeidah, f.a.q., c.i.f., Sydney.

No. 1 quotation: 80/-.

NG and Papua: New season’s crop not yet available, last quoted at prices ranging from Bd. to 9d. per lb.

New Caledonian: Some Sydney agents report that as there is no Government grading system in the Colony, New Caledonian coffee coming into Australia varies considerably in quality, making it difficult to give general quotations on either the Arabica or Robusta grades. Each parcel, it is stated, must be treated on its merits. The following are quotations obtained from several different sources in April:—Quote No. 1 (in store, Sydney): Arabica, from 10 7 / B d. to llVzd. per lb.; Robusta, B%d. per lb. Quote No. 2 (c.i.f., Sydney): Robusta, 4d. per lb. Quote No. 3 (c.i.f., Sydney): Arabica, Bd. per lb.; Robusta, 4d. per lb. Quote No. 4 (c.i.f., Sydney): Arabica, £5B-£6O per ton (6-3/14 to 6-6/14d. per lb.); Robusta, £36-£4O per ton (3-23/36 to 4-2/7d. per lb.).

New Hebrides: £3O per ton, f.0.b., New Hebrides ports (3-3/14d. per lb.). [Note; Importers of all coffees —except NG and Papuan—pay additional charges, including exchange, duty (4.4 d. lb.), primage (11 per cent.), landing costs (1/- per cwt.), war duty (10 per cent.)]

Kapok

Quote No. 1: Average Java 6 13-16 d. per lb., c.i.f.; Prime Japara, per lb., c.i.f. Quote No. 2: Average Java, 6%d., c.i.f. (Stg.l; Prime Japara, 7 l-16d. c.i.f. (Stg.). Subject to exchange 25%%, duty 2d. per lb., 10% primage, 10% war duty, wharfage, etc.

Kapok may now come into Australia only from sterling sources (including Netherlands East Indies and India).

Ivory Nuts

Owing to war conditions, Sydney agents are not quoting for ivory nuts. The last quo tations, some time ago, indicated that a nominal rate was in the vicinity of £7 per ton.

Cocoa

New Guinea cocoa: Quote No. 1: £4l-£45 per ton. Quote No. 2: £42-£43.

Accra, good fermented, £33/10/- per ton (Sterling).

New Hebrides cocoa (delivered store, Sydney): Quote No. 1: £42 per ton. Quote No. 2: £4O - per ton. Quote No. 3: £37-£39 per ton, c.i.f., Sydney.

Rice

Rangoon rice, packed in 100 lb. bags, £l9/10/per ton; 200 lb. sacks, £l9 per ton.

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

Trochus Shell

Quote No. 1: Grade “A”, £57/10/-: Grade “B”, £4B/5/-; Grade “C”, £37/10/-; “Chicken”, £37/10/-.

Another agent states that nominal prices are as follows: —Grade “A”, £6O; Grade “B”, £5O; Grade "C”, £4O.

Green Snail Shell

Green snail shell was sold by a Sydney agent in April at £5B/10/- a ton. Other quotes were: No. 1: £5O-£55. No. 2: £56-£5B/10/-.

Peanuts

New Guinea peanuts; Unshelled, 2 3 Ad. per lb.; shelled, 4y 2 d. per lb.

Gum Herol

Gum Herol, which is gathered in certain dis tricts of Papua and exported to Australia, where it is used in the manufacture of varnishes, etc., is quoted by a Sydney agent at £27 per ton.

Mr. Charles Berwick, of Levuka, Fiji, died suddenly on March 5.