TRADE AND COMMERCE.

Evening Star, Issue 2825, 8 March 1872, Page 2

TRADE AND COMMERCE.

The last number of the Xcw Zealand Gazette contains the usually (juarterly returns, an abstract of which is given by the Independent, as follows : Taking, in the first place the return of the value of exports from New Zealand during the December quarter of the last year, wo have L 1,008,201 as compared with L 874,120 during the corresponding quarter of 1870, being an increase sf H34.081. In New Zealand produce the income over the corresponding quarter in 1870 amounted to L 143,325, while in other Colonial, British, and foreign produce and manufactures, there was a decrease of L 9794. The largest increase was on the export of wool, the value of which was L 256,420 in the December quarter of 1871 as compared with L 125.364 in the corresponding quarter of 1870, being an increase of L 128,056, or, in other words, one of our principal exports had almost doubled itself in twelve months. In the value of gold exported the increase is equally remarkable. In the December quarter of last year. New Zealand exported L596,94G as compared with L 570,449 for the corresponding quarter of 1870, being an increase of L26,4!)7. In the item preserved meats the increase was from L 5590 to L19,2?5. So striking an increa-se as this in a new industry must afford deep satisfaction to all who have the real interests of the country at heart, especially as there is every prospect of a still larger increase. In flax, cordage, hides, dairy produce, and other articles there was a corresponding advance. The total exports from the port of Dunedin during the same period were L 150,279 as compared with L 223,308 for the corresponding quarter in 1870. The total value of the exports from New Zealand, during the year 1871, was L 5,282,084, against L 4.822,756 in 1870, being an increase of 1.459,328. The imports during the December quarter of 1871 were L 1,085,410, as compared with L 1,031,552 for the corresponding quarter in the preceding year, being an increase of L 53,855. The imports for the year 1871 were in value L 4,078,193, against L 4,680,015, showing a decrease of L 561,822. The imports at the port of Wellington show a considerable falling off as compared with 1870. Turning to the marine statistics, we find a slight increase in the aggregate tonnage of the vessels cleared out from New Zealand ports in 1871 as compared with 1870. The increase is more marked during the Decern-

ber gStfEgtepf while there was a deof vessels entered inyear 1871, against 1870, a-jjfight increase in the aggregate tonnage, buffer the December quarters of the vessels entered inwards numtfetert’l9l and 201 respectively, while there was also an increase in the aggregate tonnage.