REVENUE OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4338, 13 February 1875, Page 2

REVENUE OF NEW ZEALAND.

The New Zealand Gazette contains a return of the Customs revenue for the December quarter of 1874. From the tables we compile tho following : Quarter. Ended December 31st. chief ports. 1874. 1873. Auckland .. .. £48,953 .. £49,361 Taranaki .. .. 2,076 .. 1,503 Wanganui .. .. 7,058 .. 6,319 Wellington .. .. 30,040 .. 25,224 Napier .. 11,48 S .. 10,541 Nelson.. .. .. 11,294 .. 12,032 Greymonth .. .. 12,180 .. 11,949 Hokitika 10,712 .. 9,736 Lyttelton .. .. 42,089 .. 39,903 Dunedin .. .. 83,169 .. 86,081 Invercargill .. .. 10,200 .. 7,843 The following figures show the gross totals for the quarter under review. Thus:— Deo., qr., 1873. Deo. qr.. 1874. Revenue ~ .. £280,743 £292,758 The increase for the last quarter of 1874, therefore, as compared with the corresponding quarter of 1873, is £12,010 —not by any means a large increase. However, the returns for the year show a much larger increase relatively. Tho figures are ; 1873. 1874. Customs revenue .. £965,800. £1,118,948 The total quantity of gold exported for the December quarter, 1874, was 89,480 ounces, valued at £354,171.

Contrasting the Customs Revenue for the December quarter of 1873 and 1874, we point out that the _ increase, during the last-mentioned period, was £12,010, or at the rate of £48,000 a year. The increase on the year, however, was much greater, being £223,148. But we prefer tho former comparison as by far tho fairer, inasmuch as the new Tariff was not in operation during the first half of 1873. It was, however, in force during the December quarter of 1873, and therefore the comparison of the last quarterly period of 1873 and 1874 is fair. A comparison of the years is apt to mislead, for the reason already stated by us. Wo are, therefore, prepared to accept the increase, at the rate of say £50,000 yearly, as fairly representing the contributions to the revenue by the new arrivals during 1874, and the extension of trade consequent thereon. Indeed, this is quite as much as we had a right to expect, as the vast majority of the immigrants added nothing to the common stock beyond their capacity for labor, and creating an enlarged demand for the common necessaries of life. As an investment, therefore, the immigrants have paid interest on the money spent in bringing them here ; and every year they will go on adding to the fixed wealth of the country, and swelling the revenue returns. Relatively, Wellington shows more satisfactory returns for the quarter under review than any other port. Thus (selecting the principal towns) : Increase. Decrease. Wellington £5722 .. £ .. Auckland .. 408 Dunedin ~ .. .. .. .. 2912 • Lyttelton 2150 Invercargill .. .. 2307 In other words, nearly half the increase on the last December quarter accrued at Wellington. Turning to the revenue receipts for the year, we have the following details :

Again, these figures speak for themselves, and attest the marked commercial progress Wellington is making. It needs but the completion of the railway to the rich valley of the Wairarapa, there tapping the country beyond, to double, within a comparatively short period, the revenue and trade of the port, and we trust that every effort will be made to push on that great colonial work.

Auckland .. 1874. .. £200,753 1873. . £193,709 Thames 9,307 .. 9,095 Russell 950 1,352 Mangonui .. .. 605 652 Hokiunga .. 1,150 1,335 Tauranga .. 471 145 Poverty Bay 5,585 4,056 New Plymouth 7,755 0.005 Wanganui.. .. 25,101 .. 21,781 Wellington .. 124,330 .. 88,560 Napier .. 42,860 .. 32,680 Wairau 5,411 5,007 Picton 1,721 1,582 Havelock .. .. 604 910 Kaikoura .. 838 754 Nelson .. 40,680 .. 40,730 Westport .. .. 18,971 .. 10,186 Greymonth .. 43,629 .. 39,011 Hokitika .. .. 37,423 .. 35,292 Okarita 029 1,019 Lyttelton and Christchurch .. 174,086 .. 120,373 Akaroa 150 2DD Timaru ,. 21,408 ., 14,678 Oamaru 10,200 9,072 Dunedin .. .. 357,543 .. 282.904 Invercargil and Bluff .. 31,902 .. 14,728 .. 25,251 Riverton .. .. 6,440 Total .. £1,188,948 .. £905,300