FINN(COM) DAILY RECORD: FRIDAY, 03 SEPTEMBER 2004
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
WOOL REPORT: for the week ending Friday 3rd September 2004
Auctions
“After a healthy start, the Australian market closed softer this week. The Wool Exchange’s Eastern Market Indicator slipped to a low for the new season of 775 cents per kg clean, 5% down compared with the end of the 2003/04 season nine weeks ago and 16% below a year ago.” WRWMR
The Australian Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) gained a cent to 779 A cents on Tuesday, added three cents on Wednesday and lost seven cents on Thursday. The EMI thus closed the week down three cents at 775 A cents. Pass-ins averaged 10.5%.
In New Zealand the Fine Indicator was quoted up 28 cents on the fortnight, to 1,068 NZ cents. The Medium Indicator was quoted down two cents on the week at 550 NZ cents. The Strong Indicator was up three cents to 417 NZ cents whilst the Lamb Indicator was not quoted. There was an 85% clearance.
The South African Overall Merino Indicator rose 1.35% on the fortnight, from 2,779 SA cents to 2,816 SA cents/kg clean.
Currencies
The Australian dollar was trading about two cents weaker at A$2.56/£. The New Zealand dollar was about three cents stronger at 2.73 NZ cents/£.
China
“ China appears to be operating very hand to mouth and it is possible that financial controls aimed at taking some of the heat out of the Chinese economy may be starting to have an impact on the wool sector….Chinese banks have tightened up on loans, without which the cashmere industry, listed as one of the sectors posing high credit risks, will have to limit raw-material purchases.” WRWMR
FWG Agency
Interesting speciality enquiries were received this week. Any additional supplies of wool would be much welcomed by our customers.
Many statements are en-route to farms. With Best Wishes Robert
NEW ROMAN CATHOLIC WEBSITE FOR THE SOUTH ATLANTIC
By J. Brock (SARTMA)
Though miles physically separate the Roman Catholic Churches in the South Atlantic, they can all be reached with the click of a mouse, now that Monsignor McPartland, the Prefect Apostolic for all the Parishes represented in the ocean, has launched a Church website. A website for the Catholic Churches in the South Atlantic will go live just in time for Monsignor McPartland to announce it at Mass on Sunday.
Located at: http://www.SouthAtlanticRCchurch.com, the site links St. Mary’s Parish in the Falkland Islands with St. Joseph’s on Tristan da Cunha, Sacred Heart on St. Helena and the Grotto of Our Lady on Ascension Island.
At the moment, there is basic information and some photos on all of the Parish websites - facts, history, photo section, map, etc. However, as time goes by there will be more information and photographs added to each site. Monsignor McPartland will be able to update the site himself, so that all of the content can be current and correct.
Website Design and Development at designed the site and administration section: http://www.wddonline.com.
INTERNET NEWS:
SPRING AHEAD:
It’s time to spring ahead at 0200 on Sunday, 05 September 2004. Ah, the signs of summer!
FIBS NEWS DIRECT: 03 SEPTEMBER 2004
DAVIS STREET:
Davis Street looked more like Niagra Falls this morning, when workmen accidentally fractured the 6-inch water pipe just to the East of Philomel Hill. That area was without water for two hours on Friday morning as repairs got underway. As a workman was talking to FIBS, a two-metre blow of water jetted out next to him. (Christian Berntsen)
CB: As we were doing a connection, the pipe fractured. As you see, it’s a bit damp at the moment. We hope to shut it off and hopefully put a new piece in.
SF: The Department apologised for the inconvenience caused by the water shut-down.
NEW MANAGER FOR CABLE&WIRELESS:
A new General Manager for Cable & Wireless will come to the Falklands. Brian Summers (BS), General Manager, will hand over the responsibility to a new Chief Executive, Rick Hall, who arrives in the Islands next week. Brian tells us more.
BS: Rick Hall arrives on Monday. He’s going to be taking over as the Chief Executive Officer or General Manager. He comes here from Vanuatu.
SF: How long is his contract in the Falklands for?
BS: He’ll be here for two years.
SF: What will be your new responsibilities and role within Cable & Wireless when he arrives?
BS: I am going to be taking over responsibility for traffic management for the three South Atlantic Islands. That really involves negotiating rates and things with the other carriers, that’s British Telecom and Cable & Wireless.
SF: Should people be worried this may affect the service in any way?
BS: It won’t affect anything at all. Rick is coming down to head up the team. Everybody else that is currently here will remain in their current positions.
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK MARATHON:
Standard Chartered Bank is thinking of launching a full Falklands Marathon to be held next year. The Bank already sponsors annual marathons in Hong Kong, Singapore, Nairobi, Bombay and Dubai. I asked Bank Manager, Nick Hutton (NH), why the bank is so interested in Marathons.
NH: The bank started its interest in marathons in Hong Kong in 1997, when it sponsored the Hong Kong Marathon. Interest has grown since then and they now sponsor marathons in Singapore, Bombay, Nairobi and, in December, we are going to sponsor in Dubai. Just recently the bank at group level launched an initiative trying to tie these marathons together. From that initiative, I started to think that we could have an annual marathon here in the Falkland Islands. It certainly would put the Falkland Islands on the map in terms of the rest of the Standard Chartered Bank Group because we could boast the most Southerly Marathon within the Standard Chartered Group. But Also, I thought it would be interesting for the Falkland Islands. It might be an interesting event in the Falkland Islands Calendar.
SG: You are doing this with the Stanley Running Club. Would this be instead of the half marathon?
NH: The intention would be to run the Cape Pembroke Half Marathon some time in February, which would be a good practice run for anyone who was seriously considering the full marathon, run in March.
SG: Have you got a route in mind?
NH: One of the key elements of this was that we ran the whole route on Tarmac because that would be safer. And, we’ve worked out a rough route, starting at the bank and you run as far as the Beaver Hanger and turn around to run as far as FIPASS and then to the airport. Then, turn around and go back on the Bypass Road as far as the cattle grid at the base of Sapper Hill - that’s roughly half way. Then you re-count your steps back to the airport and back down through Stanley as far as the Beaver Hanger, back to the bank. And, that is 26 miles. Obviously, we would have to measure the course accurately between now and race day.
STREET NAMES:
Stanley’s newest streets are set to be named after historic Falklands figures. The Stanley Lands Committee met yesterday to chose names for the road on the BFFI site and the sheltered housing off Villiers Street. The recommendation’s going to EXCO that the BFFI site be called Haskard Rise and the Sheltered Housing takes the name of Yates’ Place. Haskard Rise would be in tribute to Sir Cosmo and Lady Haskard. Sir Cosmo, who was Governor from 1964 to 1970 is credited with guiding the Falkland Islands through political crisis in the late 1960s. The Committee thought the name was particularly appropriate for the BFFI site because it overlooks Government House and is next to the plantation of trees established by the Haskards during their time here. Yates’ Place will be named for Private Yates, who was in the Royal Sappers and Miners and arrived in the Islands with Governor Moody in 1842. He built Lois Cottage, which is next to the Sheltered Housing, in 1857. Yates and his wife, Margaret arrived with three children and had six in the Falklands but lost 6 of their children in the Typhus epidemic in 1855. The Committee also recalled that the lane through the Infant/Junior School, which joins John Street, and Ross Road had never been named. It was agreed that the school would be asked for suggestions so the pupils can have some input.
UK SCHOOL YEAR:
College students will be arriving back in the UK today to continue their further education. The two colleges the students have enrolled in are Peter Symonds College in Winchester and Chichester College. There will be 8 students arriving in Peter Symonds and 5 to Chichester. To continue their second year of college. Next week will see the arrival of 11 new students at Peter Symonds, while Chichester will receive 4 new Falkland Islands Students.
(100X Transcription Service)
