COMMERCE OF NATAL. Under date of May 28, Consul-General Stowe writes from Cape Town: The revenue of Natal in 1897 was £2,213,074 ($10,769,925); expenditure, £1,624,998 ($7,908,033). The value of the imports was £5,983,589 ($29,119,136), against £5,437,862 ($26,463,355) in 1896. There was an increase during the year in imports of liquor, tobacco, etc., as follows: Ale and beer, 28,533 gallons; whisky, 4,000 gallons; manufactured tobacco, 25,600 pounds; cigars, 2,400 pounds. Imports from Australia decreased 50 per cent, chiefly in flour. tails of some of the imports for the past two years are: De The value of the goods sent in transit to other countries was: The decrease in the value of colonial products exported was due to the rinderpest, locusts, and drought. Wool alone shows a decrease in value of £116,000 ($564,514). IMPORTS OF NATAL. The following statistics of the import trade were transmitted by Mr. Stowe under date of May 23, 1898: The total railway receipts for 1897 were £1,051,359 ($5,116,439). Fifteen years ago the revenue was £163,842 ($797,337). The total expenditure for 1897 was £583,088 ($2,837,588). The number of passengers carried in 1897 was 1,030,171; in 1896, 898, 249. The tonnage in 1897 amounted to 686,030; in 1896, to 628,729. The principal increase in tonnage is shown in colonial produce from 86,628 tons in 1896 to 102,814 tons in 1897. PROPOSED TARIFF CHANGES IN CAPE COLONY. I submit a list of articles on which it is proposed to change the customs duties in Cape Colony. The resolution is before Parlia + Duty not changed on raw, and decreased on ground from 5s. (($1.21,6). Articles. Proposed rate. Present rate. Fodder (namely, chaff, hay, lucerne, oat hay, and fodder Oils, anthracite, brick, coal or gas tar, cocoanut, cotton Substitutes for tallow. Tea Tamarinds. .....per 100 pounds... 4 2 1.01,3 O 6 O O 2 .12, I 0 9 O 7 10 O O 90 Wine, exceeding 2 per cent, but not more than 50 per cent I submit herewith a publication from the government of the Cape of Good Hope, Africa, offering a series of prizes for the purpose of encouraging the cultivation of American vines. CAPE TOWN, June 9, 1898. J. G. STOWE, Consul-General. GOVERNMENT NOTICE-Prizes FOR AMERICAN VINE PLANTATIONS, 1898. With a view to encourage the cultivation of American vines, the undermentioned prizes are offered by the government for competition during the season of 1898, viz: CLASS A.-FOR UNGRAFTED OR MOTHER PLANTATIONS. (1) For plantations of not less than 1,000 vines: Two prizes, at £15 each........... Four prizes, at £10 each.... (2) For plantations of not less than 500 vines, six prizes, at £5 each.......... Conditions. Prizes will be awarded with special reference to the suitability and uniformity of the variety of American vine cultivated, and preference will be given to stocks of the following varieties, viz: Riparia Gloire de Montpellier, Rupestris Metallica, Rupestris Monticola, or any other recognized variety of Rupestris. Plantations must be more or less separated from the main vineyard, so that the situation may satisfy the judges that they have been laid out as bona fide mother plantations. The vines must be planted not less than 5 feet apart each way. Competition is restricted to vines that have been planted in the season previous to the season of competition. Entrance fee: 10s. in subdivision (1); 5s. in subdivision (2). CLASS B.-GRAFTED PLANTATIONS. (1) For plantations of not less than 6,000 grafts: Two prizes of £25 each....... Four prizes of £15 each........ (2) For plantations of not less than 4,000 grafts, six prizes of £10 each......... Conditions. The grafted vines must be planted not less than 4 feet apart each way. (1) Plantations field grafted the same season as entered, on stocks planted out either one or two seasons previously. (2) Vines grafted in the nursery, either on rooted or plain cuttings, the season previous to competition, and planted out in the field during the season of competition. (3) Vines grafted either on rooted or plain cuttings and planted out in the season of competition. Entrance fee: 10s. in subdivision (1); 10s. in subdivision (2); 5s. in subdivision (3). CLASS C.-GRAFTED VINES IN NURSERIES. (1) For nurseries of not less than 10,000 grafts, six prizes, at £20 each........... £120 (2) For nurseries of not less than 5,000 grafts: Four prizes, at £15 each....... 60 Two prizes, at £10 each. 20 80 Entrance fee: 10s. in subdivision (1); 5s. in subdivision (2). The above-mentioned prizes will be awarded according to the following scale of points, viz: Intending competitors must send in their names to the undersigned not later than December 19, 1898; and the examination of plantations and nurseries will take place about the middle of January, 1899. The judges will notify, where practicable, the date of their visit; but as it may not be possible in some cases for the examination to be carried out on the day specified, it is suggested that competitors who may have occasion to be absent from their farms about the period fixed on by the judges will be good enough to furnish those left in charge of the farm with the necessary particulars regarding the plantations and nurseries required by the judges. No competitor will be allowed to enter in more than one subdivision of each class. Cooperative nurseries will not be allowed to enter for prizes in these compe titions. CHARLES CURREY, Under Secretary for Agriculture. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CAPE TOWN, |