The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-09-11 00:00:00

TRADE IN PERSIA.

Acting Consul-General Miles has sent to the
Foreign Office a report on the trade of the Persian
Gulf for 1855, in which he says: "The rainfall in
Southern Persia during the cultivatieg season of
1884-85 aas unprecedentedly large, amounting to 29
inches. After great hopes in the earlier months of a
large harvest, the excessive, rainfall caused a partial
failure of crops of wheat and barley by rust. Ex-
portation of grain was con,equently prohibited by
the Persian Government, and on this occasion very
properly. The price of bread rc,se to almost lamina
prices in Shiraz, and much distress prevailed there.
This was alleged, and is generally believed, to be
owing not so much to actual scarcity of grain as to
large quantities being stored up by influential officials
as a speculation. Some wheat was certainly im-
ported into Persia from India, but the quantity was
inconsiderable, and it was thought that, had the
stores referred to been freely sold, any importation
would have -been unnecessary. Distress in the
interior, from dearness of food, naturally
depreciated piece goods, &.c.; and importers
of Manchester goods sustained heavy losses, and
trade generally throughout South Persia has been
much injured and depressed. Whether it will recover
depends greatly on the harvest of 1886, the prospects
of which are at present more favourable. The opium
crop was fairly good, and at the opening season was
in fair demand, but, owing to a decline in China
market, the demand up country fell away, and the
remainder of the crop commands lower prices for
London market. The quantity of Persian opium of
1885 is somewhat inferior to that of 1884. Tobacco
was exported in fair quantities. The year 1885 was
-very unfavourable to importers in Southern Persia.
Coula they have foreseen the course of events, their
operations would have been greatly restricted, and
heavy losses avoided. As it was, the quantity of
_goods imported was as large as the precious year; for
at the beginning of the year there was a good de-
mand for Manchester goods, and Persian merchants
contracted freely with importing houses at Bushire for
forward delivery. Later in the year the rise in the
price of bread caused a corresponding fall in Man-
chester goods, and these have been selling at a loss to
importers. The market being thus overstocked,
there will probably be a great decrease in this
trade-in -1886. A good deal, however, depends on
the -result of the wheat harvest. Another source of
toes to the importers was the steady decline in the
value of silver; those who speculated on a rally of
the rupee -must have suffered. At present the .-E1
sterling equals 1;4 }trans, against 27 krans a few sears
back. The decliae ia the value of copper in the home
market induced many native dealers to speculate in
that article, which, however, fell in Persia also, and
has never been known to be cheaper than at present.
The once brisk trade with Java in sugar finally
ceased in 1885, being supplanted by Mauritius and
beet -sugar manufactured in Europe. The French
sugar was backed -by bounties, but is now suffering
from competition of German loaf-sugar, manufactured
chiefly in Itzhac, -in Holstein. This sugar is being
sold in Persia five per cent, or six per cent, cheaper
than French -sugar, whilst it is eaually valued.
Asbestos of fine quality have been found in consider-
able quantity in the neighbourhood of Kirrnan, but
the expense of carriage to tbe sea will probably pre-
vent the mines being profitably worked. There was a
decline ha the export of pearls."

Wu know more about our feelings than about any-
thing else, yet scarcely understand them at all.
A VERY' TTIOUGIITITL WOMAN,—A°man went hom,
the other night and found his house locked up. After
infinite trouble he managed to gain an entrance
through a back window, and then discovered on the
parlour table a note from his wife, reading—" I have
gone out. You will find the key on the side of the
step."
"Yes," mused old Mr. Bently, "I hold my years
well. This is my 71st birthday. If my parents were
living they would each be over 100 years old." "13
it possible ?" was the surprised response. "No wonder
you hold your years well, Mr. Bently, you come of
such a long-lived family."
THREE tailors established themselves in the same
street in Chicago. The first wrote on his sign, "The
best tailor in this town." The second adopted as his
motto, "The best tailor in the world.' But the
third, who was the smartest of the lot, got away with
them all by putting on his sign, "The best tailor in
this street?'

ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE.—Young Wife: "
always saying something stupid. Mrs. Giddigad was
here to-day, and when she went away she said, `Now
I've been here three times, and you haven't been to
see me once. I shan't come again until you have
called on me.' And I blundered out, 'Thank you!'
Wasn't it ridiculous?" Husband "Not a bit of it.
On the contrary, it was quite apropos."
A LAWYER, in a criminal case was advising his
client. "A full confession will alone save you—
entire frankne.ts is your last resort." "You don't
know what you're talking about," retorted the pri-
soner, "and how should you? You haven't been
through the police once yet, and I (with a selt-
satisfied smirk) have been sentenced 11 times. You
may have the theory all to rights, my boy, but I've
got the practice."
HAVING HER OWN WAY.—" SO you are going to
marry that small, wheezy, consumptive-looking specif
men of a man, are you?" said one girl to another.
" I really don't see what you can see in him to love."
"Mary," mid her friend, "Mary, your father is a
small man, isn't he ?" " Yes," we.s the reply, "but
what of that?" " Nothrng, except that if he wasn't
small it would be doubtful if your mother would be
the boss. I'm going to marry that small man because
I'm fond of having my own way, and won't accept
Day rioks."