Islands Produce

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

Coffee

Java: Robusta, f.a.q., imported on firm conversion of exchange, c.i.f.. prompt shipment, Sydney (Sterling): Quote No. 1: 43/-. Quote No. 2: 41/6.

Boengie (a good quality Java coffee), c.i.f., Sydney, 52/-.

Kenya, f.a.q., immediate shipment, c.i.f., Sydney, per cwt. (Stg.): Quote No. 1: Grade “B”, 68/-; “C”, 65/-.

East Africa: Robusta, f.a.q., c.i.f., Sydney, 43/6. Mocha (Standard Billy), f.a.q., c.i.f., Sydney, 54/-.

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

No. 1 quotation: 82/-.

NG and Papua: Quote No. 1: B%d. per lb. (delivered store, Sydney), medium quality.

Quote No. 2: 8%d.-9%d. per lb. (delivered store, Sydney). Quote No. 3: 8 3 / 4 d.-9d. per lb., c.i.f., Sydney. Quote No. 4: Sales in June at 9 5 / B d. per lb., c.i.f., Sydney.

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 July.—Quote No. 1 (in store, Sydney): Arabica, from 10 7 / s d. to liy 2 d. per lb.; Robusta, 33/- per cwt. (3-15/28d. per lb.). Quote No. 2 (c.i.f. & e., Sydnev): Robusta 4d. per lb.; Arabica, Bd. 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, £56-£6O per ton; Robusta, £34-£4O per ton.

Quote No. 5 (c.i.f., Sydney): Robusta, £37 per ton. As all French colonies in the Pacific now have been brought into the sterling bloc.

New Caledonian coffee has been removed from the licensing list.

New Hebrides (c.i.f., Svdnev): Quote No 1- £36 per ton. Quote No. 2: £37 per ton. Quote No. 3: £3O-£33 a ton (f.a.q.), c.i.f. and e Sydney. (Note: Importers of all coffees—except NG ind Papuan—pay additional charges, including jxchange, duty (4.4 d. lb.), primage (11 per ;ent.), landing costs (1/- per cwt.), war duty (10 per cent.)]

Vanilla Beans

Tahiti: Quote No. 1 (c. & f., Sydney): Approxi mate market price, white label, 24/- a lb.; green label, 17/- a lb. Quote No. 2 (c.i.f., Sydney): White label and yellow label (July or August shipment); 25/- a lb. Quote No. 3 (c.i.f. & e., Sydney): White and yellow label, 25/6 a lb.

Kapok

Quote No. 1: Average Java 6 13-16 d. per lb., c.i.f.; Prime Japara, SVid. per lb., c.i.f. Quote No. 2: Average Java, 7d., c.i.f. (Stg.); Prime Japara, 7-5/16d., c.i.f. (Stg.) Subject to ex change 25V2%, duty 2d. per lb., 10% primage, 10% war duty, wharfage.

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 months ago, indicated that a nominal rate was in the vicinity of £7 per ton.

Cotton

New Caledonian, c.i.f., Sydney. Quote No. 1; 9d. per lb. Quote No. 2: 10-lld. per lb. Quote No. 3 (delivered store, Sydney); 9d. per lb.

Cocoa

New Guinea cocoa: Quote No. 1: £44-£45 per ton. Quote No. 2: £43-£45 per ton.

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

New Hebrides cocoa (delivered store, Sydney): Quote No. 1: £45 per ton. Quote No. 2; £4O - per ton. Quote No. 3: Ist Grade, £42 per ton, c.i.f., Sydney. Quote No. 4: £4O-£43 per ton. Quote No. 5: End of last crop, £4O a ton, c.i.f., Sydney.

Western Samoan cocoa: No supplies available until new crop in September. Last quote for old crop, some months ago; £4B/10/- a ton c.i f Sydney.

Rice

Sydney agents state that owing to freight difficulties, etc., latest supplies of Rangoon rice are not yet available, and consequently they are unable to supply quotations. Last quotes, some weeks ago, were:—loo lb. bags, £2O/10/per ton; 200 lb. sacks, £2O per ton.

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

Trochus Shell

Two agents report sales at the end of June and early July at the following prices:—Grade “A”, £5l/10/-; Grade “B”. £42/10/-; Grade “C”, £32/10/-.

Other nominal quotations were: Quote No. 3!

Grade “A”. £5O. Quote No. 4; Grade “A” £6Ol Grade “B”, £5O; Grade “C”, £4O.

Green Snail Shell

Sales of green snail shell are reported by t Sydney agent at the following prices:—Is; grade, £62 a ton; mixed parcel. £5B/10/- a ton Another agent reported sales of a good qualit’ shell early in July at £64 a ton. Quote No 3; £6O. Quote No. 4: £5O-£55. Quote No ! (N. Hebrides. Solomon Is., N. Caledonian shell) £65 a ton, f.o.b. (export steamer), Sydney Quote No. 6; Good graded BSI shell approx £55-£6O a ton, f.0.b., Sydney. This agent state; that markets and freights are fluctuating rapidly Quote No. 7: £6O a ton.

Mother Of Pearl Shell

Thursday Is. MOP, c.i.f., Sydney. Grade “AA” £173 per ton; Grade “A”, £173; Grade "B” £157; Grade “C”, £173; Grade “DD", £l2B Grade “D”. £117; Grade “E”. £7B.

Torres Strait Shell.—A new bed of Mother-of Pearl shell has been discovered by the Torre Strait pearling fleet, says our Thursday Islam correspondent. Large catches are being brough to TI, and there is a steady demand for thi, shell at a good price.

Peanuts

New Guinea peanuts: Unshelled, 2 8 / 4 d. 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, when it is used in the manufacture of varnishes, etc. is quoted by a Sydney agent at £27 per ton.