COST OF LIVING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1670, 10 February 1913, Page 4

COST OF LIVING.

INTERESTING COMPARISONS. (From Our Special Correspondent,) Auckland, February 7. Some interesting comparisons between the; cost of living in Auckland now and in IS4G have been compiled by tho "Star." Tobacco was then Is. Cd. per lb., ns against about ■ 3s. -Cd.' now. Flour was 'il2 to .£l4 per ton, tho wholosale rate to-day boing £lh less discounts. Bread was sold for 3Jd. jper 21b. loaf, but soon afterwards was raised'to ijd- Beef and mutton were each Gd. per'lb., but pork sold at 3d. Cheese was quoted at !)d„ and butter Is. Bd. Flax was selling for £10 to £U per ton, whereas.to-day the quotation is £%i to jC2B, and the averngo price for kauri gum in those far-off times was £M per ton, against which tho ruling quotations now seem fabulous. Evidently, farming was not much in vogue, for in' 184G wheat was quoted at Bs. per bushel, barley ss. Gd., oats 2s. Gd., and maizo Is. 6d The low price of the last-named grain is'explained-by. the fact that the Maoris grew large quantifies of it, as their lowlving plantations just suited the renmremen** of maize. Horses were worth JI3O to X4O each, cows .£8 to JIIO. and sheep lGs. to 18s., while fowls could be bought jit Is. 6(1 per l'arir. There was, however, ono great compensation, brandy, was only Us. per gallon, mm lis., and gin 9s, Gd,, added to- which Prohibition was not in vogue, ■ '