The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2747, 6 December 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1871.

In looking over the statistical tables published by the Chamber.of Commerce, with a view to arriving at the causes of increase or decrease of importation of certain articles, there are only here and there such decided indications as justify conclusions. In most instances the variations seem what may be termed accidents of commerce ; in some they appear to have been caused by speculative orders or consignments ; while in others they evidently bear directly upon our industrial position. Examining first the list of articles of which the import has increased, and neglecting those in which the increase seems to be merely accidental, we judge that since the value of blasting poAvder has increased from .-£4,183 to £5,711-, or fully one-third, the character of our mining has changed from surface digging to sluicing or quartz reeling. This is confirmed by reference to the value of quartz-crushing machinery imported, which iu the twelve months ending 30th September, 1870, was £12,251, while up to the 30th September of this year it reached the sum of £20,986. We consider this a decided index of increased attention to the more permanent branches of gold mining, and of following it as a regular pursuit. Amongst other articles of increase stands that of coal, which shews nearly £I,OOO more than last year ; the two amounts being £36,144 against £32,225. With such excellent coalfields as abound iu Otago, this seems a standing disgrace to us. It is plain that there is some fault in our industrial organisation : either there is a want of enterprise or want of skill amongst our capitalists, when coals to that amount are brought across the sea to supply our needs, instead of the coalfields of Otago supplying markets beyond the Colony. It is time this was looked to. In Melbourne tens of thousands have been spent in trying to work unpayable coal measures, while we, who have good coal lying in places on the very surface, arc too careless to contrive means to transport it cheaply to a shipping port. If one-fiftieth part of the attention given to squabbling about settling agricultural laborers on starvation patches of land, had been intelligently given to working out the means of developing our mineral wealth, Otago would have been richer and more populous by one half than it now is. In rice there is a small increase in the value of the imports. This we are justified in concluding is the consequence of legitimate demand through the increase iu our Chinese population. Amongst other items of increase we notice that miscellaneous machinery has risen from £5,937 to £6,715. This, coupled with the known activity of our own machinists, leads to the conclusion that many articles will henceforth be produced here for which heretofore we have been dependent upon other countries. Turning to the table of decrease there are some notable differences. The value of agricultural implements imported has fallen from £B,BIO to £4:,730, and of agricultural machinery from £11,113 to £9,163, It cannot be supposed that this decrease is an indication that wo are reverting back to more primitive modes of culture, and we think, therefore, wo may fairly conclude that many implements formerly imported arc now made more cheaply in the country. Whether this remark applies to bags and sacks or not wo cannot say. In them the falling off is remarkable, their value in 1870 being £36,08 1, and in 1871 but £22,496. Of boots and shoes there can be no doubt that a de cided preference is now shown for Colonial manufacture, and this has hud a marked influence upon the imports. In 1870 the declared value of those brought into Dunedin was £100,060, Avhile iu 1871 it was only £73,371. Colonial industryhas also materially affected the value of bottled beer imported, which in 1870 amounted to J213,498 ; but in- IS7I only reached £8,371. Beer in bulk has not shewn the same proportionate decrease ; but the amount is very insignificant compared with the known consumption, being only £3,204, some £7OO less than the previous year. In candles the deficiency is somewhat extraordinary—more than £IO,OOO : the value in 1870 being £18,344, while in ISTI it was only £8,156. On the other hand there was an iucrerse on kero*

sene from £12,702 ( o £17,057. There may be some connexion between the two j but we should suppose the consumption of candles for domestic purposes is very trilling, and that they are mainly used in mining or other industrial processes. I n articles of consumption not produced in the Colony, the differences are not greater than might be easily accounted for by the accidental detention or arrival of a vessel before or after the 30th September, the date at winch the accounts were made up. There are, however, some articles that appear to have been sent very much in excess of the demand, such as china and parian ware, which in 1870 reached the value of £6,671, and 1871 only £OO2 ; and fancy goods, which in 1870, amounted to £17,374, and in 1871 but £3,404': so also in glassware,* in 1870 the imports reached £11,133, but in 1871 only £2,529. Reverting to evidences of the extension of Colonial industry, we find the import of malt decreased from £10,529 to £6,923, and of timber £33,152 to £15,482. We do not consider that we should bo justified in coming to decided conclusions without having opportunity of comparing longer periods than twelve months. Yet on the face of the returns, the causes of the differences seem to show themselves. One thing must be evident, that as Colonial industry advances, customs duties must decrease, excepting on articles not produced here. The tables of imports therefore afford no such index of the social condition of the population as in England, but may, on the contrary, in proportion to their meagreness, point to an improvement in our industrial position.

Princess Theatre. — The Minstrels still continue to draw good houses at the gheatre. Last night the programme was excellent, and several novelties were intro dueed. “ Put me in my little bed,” was given by Mr Clarke with great taste. An attractive bill is tillered for this evening. A Good Score.—ln a match between the No. 2 I’ nginecr Company, Christchurch, and the City Guards, Sapper Allison, of the former, m ale the splendid score of 54 out of a possible GO. the ranges being 300. 400, and 500 yards, 5 shuts at each. His scores were as follows 300 yards, 18 ; 400 yards. 17 ; 500 yards, 10; lie having made 10 bull’s-eyes out of the 15 shots. Port Chalmers, One of the heaviest hail showers that has visited Burt Chalmers for several years, fell in that place at noon co-day. The shower, which lasted only about a quarter of an hour, was unaccompanied with much wind, but was preceded by a few admonitory flashes of lightning, and in two or three minutes after it commenced the streets were overflowing with water, the ordinary water channels being insufficient to carry it oil’, it however was of short duration, and was succeeded by fine mild weather, followed in the afternoon by a south west gale. The attention of officers and members of Volunteer corps is directed to an advertisement which appears in another column. The quarterly meeting of the Otago Yacht Club will be held at the lower hall of the Athena?am this evening at 8 o’clock. A meeting of the Rowing Club lately formed in connection with the Otago Yacht Chili will be held at I) o’clock, when intending members arc invited to attend.