, 1875-01-09

prospective, to induce the maker to aim at
low sugars. To produce them for ~reiners' pur-
poses brings the Australian mill owner directly
into competition with the sugars sent here from
the Straits and from China. The quality Of the
latter is very low generally they are a wet,
soggy mass, and not unusually a moving mass
of crawling insect life. But they can be land
ed at Queensland ports for between 49, and 20I.
per ton. They can be refined free of duty.
In reality, they regulate the price of all the
low sugars made in the colony that are below
the grade Of fair counters. The latter is the
average quality of the Queensland crop, as it
is that of New South Wales, and the makers
very properly consider that this decidedly supe-
rlor sugar is worth considerably more money
than the low, sticky, imported sorts. And so 1t
is while the supply keeps pace with the con-
sumption; but when the supply rises above
this, as it is doing at the present time, the price
falls rapidly, and fair yellow counters hover
around a price that is disagreeably near to re-
finers' quotations for the lower quality Of rein
ing sugar. This is the case at present, and
growers are looking somewhat anziously for o
larger outlet than the Queensland market af-
iord8 them. Beyond that, they have to meet
the customs duties of whichever neighbour is
tried, and between one charge and another,
find that their returns in the end are but little
over 20l. per ton. It is a very low figure for
the quality of the sugar but, according to
present appearances, there is little prospect Of
an increase unless the market can be extended
by the withdrawal of the Customs duties sufi-
GENTLY to allow Of a free Interchange Of coloni-
al products. Something might also be done
by combined action on the part of growers,
sufficiently to fix something like regular prices
for sugar. At present the necessities Of the
seller too often gauge the price, and we are
annoyed every day by hearing Of sales being
made with variations in price ranging between
21L. and 26L. per ton for almost identical sugars.
There il one other way out Of The difticulty-to
improve the quality close to the standard Of re-
fined sugars. The vacuum pan allows Of this
being done pro6tably. We have on several
occasions referred to tho quality of the Antigua
MARY River) sugar in this respect. During
last season this sugar kept from g. to 81. per
ton under the price of refined. It was selling
at 37t., while good yellows were fully lOt. per
ton less. Wherever tho two have come into
competition, this quality Of sugar has sold as
well as refined from China. The latter is in
reality a much inferior article, its colour alone
brings it a price but, in SO far as we have seen,
it will not stand the test for cleanliness. We
are now glad to find another high grade raw
sugar in the market. It comes from Mr..
Couldereys Ageston PlantatIon, Logan. luere
is q parcel before US from a considerable bulk.
1t is nearly white tho ordinary consumer weuld
consider it refined. But it is raw sugar, made
in an ordinary battery and vacuum pan from
good cane. The juice stood at l01 in the
clarifer, and it was afterwards treated with lime
in the usual way. The manager at Agoston
pays particular attention to subsiding, but uses
no special clarifying agent. He believes in lime
alone, aud no doctoring of any kind. The qua
very fno-decidedIy the best raw sugar we
have seen or heard of, and speaks volumes for
the skill brought to bear upon their pursuit by
Australian sugar makers.