The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-07
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Long Continued Drought and Disastrou
Consequences to the Farmers-sheeI
Dying In Th0usa nds-Tradc and Pro
Embellishments and Freight Rates.
BY mail from Africa we have our press files from
the Cape OF Good Hope, dated at Port Elizabeth OF
the 14th OF February. The journals supply the FOL
lowing summary Of news:-
GENERAL TRADE AND THE WOOL STAPLE.
me past fortnight, says the Eastern He5u!d, nas
not been marked by any event OF pubic lmpor-
lance. Trade continues brisk and there ID no ma
terial change in the produce market 10 report.
mary were not SO general as we then supposed,
and distressing accounts respecting TIE state VI
some OF the northern districts IN consequences o.
Richmond and Hope Town the drought Is very
severe, and sheep are dying by hundreds and thou.
sands One farmer we know lest 900 sheep, anu
his neighbors count their losses by hundreds Even
In the districts more to the nOrth-east-Colesberg
and Burghersdorp-dr0u prevails. In the divi-
sion OF Hope Town. 1t is said, there has been no
rain worth speaking OF since last February
nearly year: Indeed, as everybody knows, 1t
must be very dry indeed II sheep die in such num-
bers from the drought
STATE OF TRADE.
The trade returns for the colony, and for each
port, for the quarters and years ended 3lst Decem-
per. lS71-lS72, are published There is no denying
that the past year was one OF unparalleled pros
articles Of export were well maintained In the
home market, while It's import. trade with giant
strides far 0utstrpped the business OF any previous
year, and this, too, without any rash speculation
or disprOportionate increase OF stocks. IL Is sur
prising where all the imported goods find an out
let, especially as the attractions OF the diamond
fields have not to any great extent increased our
population. The total value Of imports for the
whole colony for the year ended December 81,
1872 was f4,3Ss 1913 against e. 1856, 1898 in the pre-
vious year. showing an increase OF 81, sos, 43O. To-
wards this increase the three Eastern Province
ports contribute not less than 81, 233.0s2, more
than two-thirds. Cape Town shows an increase OF
f5s3O97, and Mossel Bay, E34,619, while Sim0n's
Town and Port Beaufort show decrease.
EXPORTS, WITH DIAMONDS.
The export returns are Of gratifying charac-
ter, showing as they do large increase on the
year the total value 81 export. ssa rom
against E3 40S 635 In the previous year, showing
net increase OF f1,257436, upwards OF one third,
and this, too despite the fact that diamonds ex-
ported through the customs show decrease OF
nearly 100000. The value Of exports, including
diamonds, is therefore really much more than 1t
appears to be.
MARKETS OF THE MOMENT.
Trade has been brisk during the past fortnight,
ers have visited the town, and large indents have
been received from the diamond fields, Free State,
and the northern and northeastern districts.
There has been some speculation in coffee, the
price of which has advanced about ten per cent, in
consequence OF the falling OF OF the crops in the
Rio market. which is more particularly referred to
below. Flour, too, has advanced IN price and
holders are firm at current rates. The money
market remains unchanged. The rate of discount
for shOrt-dated paper and five per cent Tor
bills having three months to run and upwards.
Exchange on London is slightly more favorable to
the seller.
FREIGHTs.
There has been some nucIuatiOn in the freight
market during the past fortnight. The two steam
ers on the berth-Royal Mail steamship Roman and
steamship Lapland-began with engagements for
wool at Sd. to I'd. per To-, but as they filed up
rates stiffened and to-day Ad. per h. for fleece
washed wool and "a per h. for secured wool are
the current rates. Grease wool, mohair and skins
I'D. per h.; dead weight 3Os. per ton, with the
usual pr1mage of ten per cent. Rates by sailing
vessels nominal say I'D per ID.