The Revenue.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 37, 11 January 1884, Page 2

The Revenue.

The total Custom Revenue collected m New Zealand during the year 1883 (ending December 31) amounted to £1,414,183, a8 compared with £1,515,915 for 1882, £1,421,6.0.!* for 1881, and £1,258,382 for 1880. Con-., sequently 1883 shows a falling oflf 6f> "LI 11,000 as against the previous year, but differs only by L7ooo.irom 1881,. which was a good year for trade. The theory of the financial, authorities is this, that the exceptionally large returns of 1882 were due to a tenipornry undue inflation of trading and bverexportiug, and did not represent the legitimate national increase and steady development of trade. Accordingly they hold that the decreases not to be regretted, save from a revenue poiut. This, however, is sufficiently .serious. There is now not the slightest hope of the Customs deficit being made up or even apparently reduced by «he 81st March. Indeed, each of the three remaining, months will have to yield 20 per cent, more than December to save the deficiency from increasing. They, may very likely do this much, but not more, and hardly any hope* are now entertained that Customs will realise more than L 1,42,000/ t The property tax. has so far brought L 264,000, which is L 14,000 above the estimate. The New Loan. ■ ..-. v Latest London advices point to a fair probability that the new million loan will go off all right next week, but that there will not be such a rush for it as last time. Experience, however, shows that London finance authorities are very apt to be out m their calculations on these oocasions. - < Native Affairs, ..,, Mr Bryce gives a very satisfactory t and. encouraging aqcount; pf- native ''■ affair^ The surveys and, otneV arrangements are proceeding ; rapidly : ' also road making, and every despatch iff being used to facilitate (.he bringing of the King 1 Country under . the Courts and establishing a title on a definite and practicable baaiy. It is considered very desireable to strike while the iron is, hot, and carry :o-it ihe arrangement .with the: Kingite chiefs while their favourable humour lasts, so as to render any change of front impossible. At Kawhia all goes well. The natives and constabulary are on the best of terms; and all .the formejr sorene-s has quite passed away. > Most of the Natives now express their pleasure that the land is at last to be utilised; and several ex-obstructionists have freely admitted to the officers m the Armed Constabulary thac they have come to see the error of their ways, and to recognise that they have been " fools" and " children" all their lives hitherto to lock up the land and 1 exclude Europeans, together with roads, railways and settlement. From all 1 hear, I fanor the' Maoris are thoroughly waking up' at last to a perception that giteat benefits may be m store for them; if they 'are sensible enough'to take tho tide of its flood. All this means' still greater benefit to the colony and colonists.