The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1883. Our Import and Export Trade

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 67, 8 November 1883, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1883. Our Import and Export Trade

In a rece«t issue, the Wellington Post, in comparing the imports and exports of New Zealand for the lasr quarter with those of the corresponding qmirter of 1882, stated: •* It wiU be found thnt a noteworthy change has taken place. Houj-hly spcokinjr, the imports have decreased by 20 per cent., and the exports have increas-d by about 3 per cent. In other words, the exports were larger by some £30 000 and (he imports are smaller by about half a million than for the September quarter of last year. Ihe result is that while the exports for the three mouths ended 30th September, 1882, were equal to about four-tent& of the imports, this year they were nearly six-te< ths. 'I he actual value of the New Zealand imports for the quarter ended :10th September, 18s3, was £1,757. 1 US, and ot the exports £1,109,141! Comparing the respective ports, wo find that iv imports Wellington and Auckland showed a small decrease, but that for Dunedin and Lyttelron the falling (iff was enormous, being equivalent to one-third of the whole amount. In exports Dunedin has also a falling off of no less than one-third ; Auckland and Lyt.tel'on show an increase of about 20 per cent., while Wellington has the gratifying increase of very nearly 100 per cent., our exports for the 1883 September quarter being $141,593, as against £74,9-12, or almost double. Glancing at the itens of export for the whole Colony, we notice that there is an improvement, in nearly all items except gold and preserved meats. The export of frozen meat has already ireblea." We are gratified to be abie to quote this, which is a confirmation of the opinion we have continued to express ot the internal powers of recuperation of this Colony. As to the falling of in the exports from Dunedin and Lyttelton, ie must be remembered that thy corresponding quarter last year was exceptionally large, and it is hardly fair to expect to form a sound judgment as to the r^al state of tra>le from such an uncertain bnsis. We have no doubt but that the qnarter now current will more than make up the deficiency now under consideration. Gold revenue and export must be expected to steadily decline year by year as the fields become exhausted A.t the present time there appears no likelihood of any new gold discoveries being made, while any hopes that were raised in the minds of tlie inexperienced of such being made in Wellington have now been most effectually «et at rest. Ihe singularly misdirected attempts to create a gold fever in that city have ended in a most miserable fizzle, and the whole province is to be congratulated on the result The Wellington - Manawatu Railway will prove far better than a gola mine to Wellington. The richest reefs in the world must ultimately be worke t out, but with this railway the yield can never cease while ihe grass grows The advance in general wealth and prosperity of the Kmpire City will be •me to the gradual and legitimate development of the luterual resources of the district, and her exports will not be measured by the ephemeral products ot a gold field.