MARLBOROUGH CUSTOMS DUTIES.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 164, 20 March 1869, Page 4

MARLBOROUGH CUSTOMS DUTIES.

Ouk contemporary has very often intimated that Picton is sacrificed to the interests of the Wairau ; that she does not get justice, or a fair share of the revenue, and blames Mr. Eyes, or anything and everything in the Wairau for neglecting her, and allowing her to languish in the shade. These constant complainings naturally induce us to pay more attention to the statistics of the different districts than we otherwise should, in order to ascertain how far these querelous murmurings were based on truth and right. Recently we referred to the Land Revenue, and the Imports and Exports, shewing that Picton had received far beyond anything which could be considered a share of the revenue ; while in the matter of Import and Exports, no better a comparison could be made. This week we have examined the official returns relative to the amount contributed by each district towards the Customs Revenue for the last Quarter ending December 31st, 1868, which was as follows :

The inference from the above figures is very plain. While the last year has been

one of unprecedented depression of trade, ■which with other causes has been severely felt in the Wairau, the amount of duties paid was only £92 less than in 1867, and on the Quarter but £55. Further that Jive times as much is paid in the Waira'u as in Picton. The decrease in Picton is unusually great as compared with the previous year, being little more than half the amount, without taking into consideration the fact that in consequence of Havelock ceasing to Ibe a Port of Entry, the duties paid in Piciton would be largely augmented. The disparity is the more remarkable when the population of the two districts are taken mto account. Wairau, 2,208, and Picton, (Which extends to nearly the centre of the "V Plain, and but four miles from the t( wn of Blenheim,) 1729. Surely this disparity of amount contributed by an alm Dst equal number of population demands sc me attention.

Spirits ... Wairau. £ . 555 Pieton. £ 117 HavelUc £ Tobacco . 90 41 — Sheepwash . 85 5 — Wine ... . 34 — — Ale and Beer (bottle). 3 — — Tea . 99 5 — Coffee, cocoa, &o., . 8 — — Sugar and Molasses . . 102 — — Goods (measurement) 107 2 — Goods (weight) . 49 — '— Goods (ad valorem) . 2 2 — Other duties ... . 14 — — - —— ——■■ Totals . 1128 172 — Correa. Qr. 1867 . 1183 284 135 Totals for year 1868 4387 861 165 1867 4479 1511 619