✨ Commerce and Trade Statistics
Commerce.
The following comparative table will indicate the progress this group has made during the past year:—
| Article | 1865 | 1866 | 1867 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amount. Value. | Amount. Value. | Amount. Value. | |
| Cotton Kernel Oil | cwts. 2,400 | cwts. 5,389 | 7,536 £4,604 |
| Cotton Seed | tons. 500 | tons. 750 | 1,500 3,260 |
| Beche-de-Mer | lbs. 10,000 | lbs. 12,000 | 150 980 |
| Wool | lbs. 11,500 | lbs. 15,000 | 1,900 1,334 |
| Cocoa-nut Oil | galls. 1,200 | galls. 900 | 460 1,600 |
| Copra | tons. 1,750 | tons. 1,300 | 8,306 184 |
| Beche shell | lbs. 820 | 17,000 812 | |
| Tortoiseshell | lbs. 1,700 | 600 212 | |
| Bêche Fruit, &c | 250 150 | ||
| £24,176 | |||
| £19,970 | £30,060 |
In addition to the above return are cash remittances, the amount of which cannot be estimated.
The Imports do not exceed, so far as I can ascertain, the estimate formed for the year 1866.
However, during the past year, many of the immigrants from the adjoining Colonies are of a class possessing some means, and have imported a considerable amount of trade and barter on their own account:
The total value of Imports may approximate:
By Traders . . £26,000
By Settlers . . 3,000
£29,000
The satisfactory increase in the value of Exports is owing to the success attending the cultivation of cotton. It will be observed by referring to the foregoing table that considerable increase has occurred, and the principal export, has in quantity fallen short of what might have been expected. This, however, can be explained.
Cotton.
The expense in shipping cotton to the Colonies is excessive, and has a depressing effect upon the planter, which can only be removed by direct communication with England. This effected, I venture to predict that Fiji will rapidly rise to a position of commercial importance. At the present time, freight upon cotton to Sydney is from ¼d. to 1d. per lb, which is about the same rate charged from conveying thence to England.
The expenses on this article, for ginning, packing, freight, and brokerage, now consigned to England, via Sydney, amounts to 4¼d per lb.
The varieties of cotton cultivated in Fiji are three in number, viz., Kidney, Egyptian, and Sea Island, for the two former an average of 9d. and 10d. per lb. has been obtained at this port, and far the latter, 1s. per lb.
To the present time no definite report has been made by the cotton brokers regarding the quality of Fijian cotton.
Private advices speak highly of them, and place their value, according to variety, from 1s. 3d. to 3s. 6d. per lb.
Oil.
The value of exports has been greatly reduced, by the small amount of oil made, compared with former years. Two years ago, these islands suffered from a violent hurricane, the effects of which, the coconut trees have not recovered. Intelligent natives state, the trees require at least three years to regain their vigour after these severe storms.
Beche de Mer.
The Beche de Mer fisheries have been extended during the past year, particularly upon the Mathuata coast, situated upon the North side of Vanua Levu. The increase of value of export under this head has been large, and provided the exertions used to keep the petty chiefs from quarrelling are successful, will no doubt augment. The fish is sold here at per picul—140 lbs.—and at an average price of 36s. per picul. The market prices of this article fluctuates very much, being sometimes as high as 40s. per picul and as low as 24s. during consecutive months. It is shipped to Sydney and thence to China.
Wool.
This article is expected to become a staple product every year. Sheep farming has made progress.
Next Page →
Auckland Provincial Gazette 1868, No 23
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🌏 Fiji Islands Trade and Commerce Report
🌏 External Affairs & TerritoriesTrade, Commerce, Exports, Imports, Cotton, Oil, Wool, Fiji Islands