PRESENT COST OF LIVING.

Evening Star, Issue 3652, 5 November 1874, Page 3

PRESENT COST OF LIVING.

The ( Tribune ’ lias a very sensible article on the increased cost of living in New Zealand. It points out that the enhanced value of provisions and the scarcity of house accommodation should be put plainly before the intending emigrant. Since Mr Yogel’s celebrated Hand-book was published, the increase has been so great that the statistics it contains relating to prices are valueless. Speaking of the Province of Wellington, and the prices quoted, it says ;—Fresh butter was put down at Tidin the Colonial table—fid to Is in the Provincial. It was not very long ago 2s 3d, and has only lately been reduced to 2s and Is fid per lb. Salt butter, fid in the Colonial table—fid to Is in the Provincial, was very recently 2s—only lately reduced to Is fid and Is 4d. Cheese, 6Jd and 8d to Is in the two tables respectively, is Is, Flour, mai’ked 1 and 2d, has been as high as 3d a lb. retail in shops away from the centre of the City • but this we presume was an exceptional case. Now let us come to the important article of meat. The following are the three scales compared:— Descrip- Colonial Provincial Actual, Oct. tion, table. table. J874 Beef ... 2U l-l to 4d 5d to 8d Mutton... 3d 3d to 4d 4d to 6d f, orl s ••• 6Ad 6d 7d Veal ... Mb menT 1. „r tion 6d 7d -Lamb ... No men- 3s to 4s per tion quarter. Potatoes, that were quoted from 4s to 6s per cwt., have been selling at 14s, and other articles of food pro rata. House-room is almost impossible to be obtained, unless a man happens to be convicted for a criminal offence, when lie is provided for gratuitously; or should he have connections and succeed in getting a four-roomed cottage for 15s a week rental, he tells his neighbors and friends of his good fortune.