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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4487, 6 August 1875, Page 2

The New Zealand Gazette contains, among other statistics, the trade returns for the last June quarter. From these we compile the following results:— Imports. Exports. June quarter, 1875 £1,733,300 .£1,383,149 June quarter, 1874 1,860,701 1,515,480 Thus, we find a total decrease on the quarter’s transactions, as compared with the corresponding period of 1874, of £255,730, or at the rate of more than one million per annum. There may bo exceptional causes for this state of things, but the official returns disclose the fact as we state it. The decrease on imports amounted to £122,395 on the quarter; the decrease on exports was rather greater, being £132,335. The total foreign trade of New Zealand, as represented by Customs returns of import and export, for the quarter ended June 30th, 1875, was £3,121,555, or at the rate of £12,486,620 yearly. We shall now refer more in detail to the tables before us, and select the principal ports of the colony for purposes of

It will bo seen from the foregoing figures that Wellington stands second on the list for imports, and third as an exporting place. Dunedin ranks first under both heads. We shall illustrate the relative position of the leading ports by a further comparision. Thus :

The decrease is most marked in the case of Auckland and Lyttelton ; Nelson and Invercargill show a slight increase on the import trade of the past quarter, and Dunedin a considerable falling off, whereas, in the case of Wellington, the increase noted on the June quarter was £125,000, or at the rate of 50 per cent. This fact speaks volumes for the rapid extension of the trade of Wellington. Coming to the export trade for the same period, we have these results :

Here again we have a proof of the rapid extension of the trade of Wellington. The increase on the past June quarter’s exports, as contrasted with those of the corresponding quarter of 1874, was £18,659, or 25 per cent. The total foreign trade of Wellington, for the last Juno quarter, was £562,648, showing an increase of £243,795, for the periods under review. Our readers will perceive that no other port of the colony exhibits anything like corresponding results. Should its trade extend in the same relative proportion during the remaining six months of 1875, Wellington would rank second only to Dunedin for commercial purposes. The prospect of accomplishing this is by no means uncertain, and therefore we submit to our civic rulers the propriety of adopting a more liberal tariff for the harbor, in the interest of commerce, than that now in force. Referring to the detailed particulars of exports from New Zealand, we find that during the last quarter there was a considerable falling off in gold shipments. Thus, in the quarter ending June 30, 1874, there was exported from the colony gold of the value of £366,327, whereas for the last June quarter the gold export represented £313,216. There was a decided increase in the export value of oats, but a large decrease is shown on wheat. The increased home demand for flour no doubt accounts, in a great measure, for the smaller quantity of wheat sent abroad from New Zealand during the last quarter, than during the corresponding period of 1874. The immigration policy enlarged the home demand very considerably. The export of preserved meats represents £1648 for the last June quarter, as against £39,314 in 1874. This, again, is accounted for by the fact that the home demand is so great as to render it unprofitable to slaughter beasts for export, in the shape of preserved meats. When the country becomes overstocked and prices fall below a certain point, the meatpreserving establishments will be again set to work. Meanwhile, the falling-off in this direction is no indication of want of general prosperity. New Zealand hemp, grass-seed, timber, and tallow severally exhibit a decrease, as does also wool. Of the latter staple, the export value for the June quarter of 1875 was £720,198, as against £776,847 in the corresponding period of 1874.

comparison:— JUNE QUARTER, 1875. Imports. Exports. Auckland .. £273,934 £117,073 Thames .. 0,370 135 New Plymouth 8.630 45 Wanganui .. 19,849 Wellington .. 309,488 193,160 Napier .. 30,092 20.506 Nelson .. 70,075 65,877 Westport .. 18,904 22,478 Greymouth .. 44,623 74,307 Hokitika .. 40,509 43,607 Lyttelton .. 208,603 300,045 Oamaru 10,205 8,470 Timaru .. 20,554 3,020 Dunedin .. 538,194 402,249 Invercargill .. 47,259 119,401 Riverton • .. 0,005 200

Auckland IMPORTS. Juno (jr., 1875. .. £273,034 Juno or., 1874. .. £302,247 Napier 36,002 41,002 Wellington .. 300,488 244,352 Nelson 70,075 74,407 Lyttelton.. .. 208,003 ... 390,018 Dunedin .. .. 538,104 562,005 Invercargill 47,259 44,370

EXTORTS. June qr. 1875. June qr. 1874. Auckland .. .. £117,673 .. £184,551 Napier .. 20,596 74,501 Wellington .. 193,160 .. 76,495 Nelson ., 65,877 5,040 Lyttelton .. .. 306,045 465,816 Dunedin .. .. 402,249 422,353 Invercargill .. 119,401 58,043