TABLE OF PRECEDENCY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 377, 14 June 1856, Page 8

TABLE OF PRECEDENCY.

1. The Governor, or Lieutenant-Governor, or Officer administering the Government. 2. The Lieutenant-Governor (not administering the Government) or the senior ojneer in command of the troops, if he is to succeed to the administration of the Government, in case of the death or absence of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or the officer administering the Government. 3. The Bishop. 4. The Oiiief Justice. 5. The members of the Executive Council. (5. The President of the Legislative Council.7. The members of the Legislative Council. 8. The Speaker of the House of Assembly. 9. The Puisne Judges. 10. The members of the House of Assembly." 11. The Colonial Secretary (not being in the Executive Council.) 12. The Commissioners or Government agents of Provinces or districts. 13. The Attorney-General. 14. The Solicitor-General. 15. The senior officer in command of the troops, except in cases already provided for. 16. The Archdeacon. 17*. The Treasurer, Paymaster-General or Collector of Inte-nal Revenue. 18*. The Auditor-General or Inspector-Gene-ral of accounts 19*. The Commissioner of Crown Lands. 20*. The Collector of Customs. 21*. The Comptroller of Customs. 22*. The Surveyor-General. 23- Clerk of the Executive Council. 24- Clerk of the Legislative Council. 25. Clerk of the House of Assembly. &c, &c, &c.

Custom House, Akaroa, 28th day of April, 18S6. The building owned by James Bruce, Publican, and situated in the town of Akaroa immediately opposite Bruce's Hotel has been approved for the free warehousing and securing of goods under bond for the payment of Duties according to the Provisions of the Custom's Ordinance, No. 3, Session I, 1841. Roßt. Greaves, Sub. Col.

A Provincial Government Gazette published on Thursday last contains the Collector of Customs official returns of the Exports and Imports, and the Returns of shipping trading to the ports of this Province during the past year (1855). The different items will be found below. PORT VICTORIA. The total amount of Duties received at this port under colonial authority during the year, was £8,669, being an increase of £1,822 Bs. lid. on the preceding year of 1854. The Collector remarks that this increase is '" owing to the steadily increasinoprosperity of the Province, and to a more direct Import and Export Trade. The Duties for 1856 may be estimated at £11,000. It is believed that a large amount of duty on goods consumed in this Province has been paid into the Customs' Chest at Wellington, since the establishment of regular steam communication." * Not being moratiers of the Exucutiye Council.

The value of the Imports during the year is declared to be £95, 856 *los.^6d. being nearly £2.000 less than in 1854; while the value of goods Exported for the same period is given at £42,650 ss. This includes £10.000 worth of specie, exported on account, we believe, of the Union Bank of Australia. Tre Staple Articles, the produce of the Province, exported, were of the value of £31,764. 10s., which gives an increase over fhe preceding year of £18,595 10s. Wool, cheese, butter and grain, form the items of increase. A mistake appears to have crept into these returns, as we find that 50,000 feet of sawn timber is onljr valued at £200, while half the quantity was valued in 1854 at £250. We quote Mr. Hamilton's observations on these returns. He says, " The direct import trade from Great Britain continues steadily on theincrease." And "•The increase £18,595 10*. is attributable to increased production throughout the Province, and also to the circumstance that the greater portion of the principal export, Wool, leaves direct for ports beyond seas, instead of being kant coastwise to Wellington for final shipment; and appearing on the books of that Port as an export from thence."

" The wool clip for the summer of 1855,6, will amount as nearly as can be at present ascertained, to about 2,000 bales, valued at £30.000."

The Salaries for the past year amounted to £983 2s. 7d.. including £50 unpaid salary due in 1854. The amount, paid in the preceding year for salaries was £836 17s. lOd. This increase has been occasioned by additional cost for tidewaiters, " caused by the increase of shipping."

The number of vet-ssls entered inwards (not including those arrivals " via otlier other ports in New Zealand ") during the year was 27, contrasted with 10 for the year 1854: theaggregaie tonnage of these 27 vessels amounted to 7,8 )5 tons, the tonnage of the preceding year be'ng only 4,584 tons. Thirty-three vessels cebared out from this port during 1855, giving an aggregate of 9,252 tons. Of the vessels which arrived thus during the year, 4 came from England, 8 from N.S.W., 8 from Victoria, 5 from Tasmania, and 2 from Norfolk Island. The departures were, 14 to N.S.W., 8 for Victoria, 3 for Tasmania, 2 for Norfolk Island, 1 for S. Australia, 1 for China, 2 for Guam, and 2 for Chili. Remarks : <k The increase of vessels from Great Britain is owing to the revival of immigration this year. There has been considerable increase in the number of vessels frequenting Port Victoria (1855), but as many arrive via other Ports in New Zealand, they do not appear in this return."

Port op Akaroa.—Duties received in 1855, £234 17s. 7d., being less by £191 13. lid. than those of 1854. Salaries paid, £180. The returns of shipping for this port appears to be incomplete. The value of imports is given at £1,736 3s. 4d ; exports, £1,305. Comparing these with the preceding year, the imports decreased £6<lu 17s. Bd., while the \ exports have increased during the past year to the value of £655 over those of 1853.

In pursuance of an advertisement in the " Lyttelton Times " of last week, a Public Meeting was held at the Town < Hall, Lyttelton, on Wednesday evening, the llth inst., for the purpose of forming a Public Band. Mr. MCardell was called to the chair; and after some little friendly discussion the following gentlemen were elected as a provisional committee, Mr. M'Cardell : Mr. Charles Howard, and Mr. Allwright, senior, with power to add to their number. The person spresent appeared really in)earaest and considerable subscriptions have been already promised.— Communicated.