The Evening Star THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2111, 10 February 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1870.

Ix the New Zealand Gazette of the 29th ult., the Customs’ revenue return for the quarter ending 31st December, 1869, is published, and also a comparative return for the year as compared with 1868. The amount of Customs’ revenue is always looked upon by political economists as indicative of the social condition of the population of a country. It is not an infallible test, for a variety of circumstances tend to interfere with the consumption of par-

ticular articles. For instance, the duties received on imported beers are gradually and rapidly decreasing as the use of Colonial beer increases ; but causes of that description for reduced revenue must bo considered more in the light of a benefit than a theme for regret. They point to a time when our mode of raising a revenue must undergo revision \ but in the meantime wc may accept the Customs’return as an index by which to judge of our circumstances. Viewing it in that light, it is satisfactory to find that, notwithstanding the gloom and depression that have hung over commerce during the last year, there has been a slight increase of Customs revenue. .1 he total amount received in 1868 was £788,820, while in 1860 it reached £823,508, showing an increase of £34,679. On the quarter the difference was only £5,813, the return for 1869 being £215.654, Avhile in 1868 it reached £209,861. An analytic examination of the table of returns shows that great local changes have taken place, principally, we imagine, in the distribution of the population. The revenue of the North Island has much increased, as compared with 1868, while that of the Middle Island has fallen off. Thus, in 1868, the North Island contributed only £253,912 ; last year it gave £318,869. This increase is wholly attributable to the change that has taken place in Auckland consequent upon the development of its gold workings; for while in 1868 the Customs’ revenue of that port only reached £140,758, it rose to £204,374 in 1869—a difference of £63,616. Russell, Mongonui, Hokianga, New Plymouth, and Napier, also show an increase ; while the return for Wellington has fallen off about £6,000. In view!'of these altered circumstances we may fairly hope that at least the turning point has been reached, and that in future the prosperity of the North Island will he progressive and rapid. It has long been a dead weight upon the industry and resources of the Middle Island, and even now|will require much careful nurturing before its dependence can cease : but it is not so hopelessly helpless as it was. The jiroportion it contributes to the whole Customs revenue is altered from being as 3 to 5 to 2 to 3, and we trust that by prudent management the Natives may at last be brought to see that they can only hope to advance in comfort and civilisation, in proportion as they remove their stupid fanatical obstructions to the profitable occupation of the country. V e should have been better pleased to have bad evidence before us that the Middle Island was advancing equally with the North. It is always better if different districts in a country advance together, than that one should prosper at the expense of another. But while the aspect of the North has so much changed for the better, the revenue of the Middle Island has decreased on the year about £30,000. The falling off has been chiefly on the West Coast, which indicates pretty plainly that the prospects in Auckland have drawn away a number of miners, who have migrated thither. There has been a slight falling off in the revenue of Canterbury ; a larger reduction in that received in Southland, while each of the ports of import in Otago—Dunedin and Oamaru —shows an increase : that of Dunedin in 1868 being £207,583, and in 1869, £210,523 3 and of Oamaru in 1868, £9,051, and 1869, £9,254. Comparing Dunedin with the other ports of the Colony, it is still the most important, although Auckland is rapidly rising to its former equality ■with it. Instead of a difference of £66,000 as there was in 1868, there is now barely £6,000 between them. These changes cannot be effected without local disadvantages 3 and we ought to seek in Otago to foster that class of industry that is likely to bo progressive and enduring. Our quartz reefs, and pastoral, agricultural, and manufacturing industries especially, should bo cared for, that a foundation of permanent prosperity may be laid, not likely to be affected materially by those fitful migrations, that set the most careful calculations at defiance.