The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JULY 18, 1891.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 8, 18 July 1891, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JULY 18, 1891.

Staple Exports A return puhlished by the Government, showing the value, year by year, for the last twenty years of the six principle articles of export, being the produce of this colony, gives some very interesting figures. In 1871 the export of wool was £1,606,144 gold £2,788,368 total £4,394,512. In 1890, wool £4,150,599, gold £751,360 total £4,901,959. These figures shoar that as the gold return.? diminished f.he wool returns increased in about the same ratio. Grain in 1871, was £164,087, but increased to £1,009,1 11 in 1891. The largest export of this item was made in 1583, when the enormous sum of £1,308,720 was reached. Flax is the next staple which has achieved success. In 1871 fibre to the value of £90,611 was exported and the trade was good for the two following years, when it fell away to £7,874 in 1879, but after that it seemed to gain new life each succeeding Beason until 1890 when it amounted to £381,789. Kauri gum also shows fluctuations. In 1871 the export was £167,958 which fell in 1874 to £79,986, but after that steadily advanced until 1890 when it was £378,563. Butter and cheese in 1871 were £16,449, but in the following year dropped to £8,841 and continued to fall until the 1875, £2,522, but in 1877 it jumped to £40,171, and as suddenly fell the following year to £21,479 and the year after that to £2,259. It seemed then to have got over the bad times because after tha£ vmtij. 1890 it steadily adI Traced uatfJ it to £207,?57. The returns for frozen meat only commence in 1882 with £19,339, yet in 1890 they reached £1,087,617. These figures are certainly the most encouraging evidence which could be given, of the splendid resources of this grand country, and the possibility their rapid development even under the most adverse circumstances of our miserable system of party Government. .

The following is a good example which might well be followed, sometimes, by people on our side of the range. Not long ago, says the Pahiatna Star, a bridge on the Mangaone Valley Road had collapsed. The settlers in the neighborhood being tired of waiting for the proper authorities to re-erect it, turned out themselves last week and devoted three days to the work. They haye a good bridge now

certainly, for which they are indebted to their own labor and without •' coming on the rates " where it was not absolutely necessary. We notice that Sir Robert Stout, when before the Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday last, complained that the photo-lithographs attached to the report of the Public Trust Commission were not what they purported to be, viz., Jac similies of the books in the office, but were copies of rough diaries kept by the officers for private guidance. In support of this view he produced some of the departmental books. This apology in the form of a complaint makes the matter worse, if anything can do so. If Sir Robert Stout had any experience of commercial conduct of business in regard to book-keeping, he would know that any clerks in a bank or mercantile house, who kept rough, or any other kind of diaries " for their private guidance" would be dismissed without a moment's notice.