THE COAL TRADE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4506, 30 August 1875, Page 2

THE COAL TRADE.

A return, showing the quantities and value of coal imported into New Zealand, for two years ended June 30th, 1875, is a valuable paper. The following are the totals for the period stated :

It will be observed that the west coast of the Middle Island does hot figure as a coal-importing district. Auckland and the Thames, although large manufacturing centres, range very low on the return. This is accounted for by the consumption of Bay of Islands coal, and the completion of the Waikato railway to the Taupari mines will largely increase the use of New Zealand coal in the Northern settlements, by bringing it into the local markets. The Thames is chiefly supplied from the Bay of Islands, and the fact that only 736 tons were imported by it from New South Wales last year, as against 1969 tons in 1873, strengthens our opinion that in the Northern province the produce of local coal mines is driving out sea-borne coal. Dunedin is likewise in the fortunate position of having a large aid to its manufacturing industries in the coal deposits in its vicinity. The extent to which the brown coal of Otago has gone into consumption is not generally understood. A mere return of imports and exports does not suffice to illustrate the extent to which the country is self-dependent for its fuel. A return of the output of the various coal mines of the colony might be obtained without difficulty, and this would suffice to show, with the information before us, the extent to which the country now supplies its wants in the matter of fuel. We trust some jtnember of the Legislature will supplement these returns, by obtaining the information we have indicated. The following figures show the export of coal from New Zealand, for five years ending June 30th, 1875 :

THE TRADE OF THE COLONY. 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 £1,738,303 £1,333,149 June quarter, 1374 1,830,701 1,519,480 Thus, we find a total decrease on the quarter's' transactions, as compared wich the corresponding period 'of 1874, of £255,730, or at the rate of more than one million per annum. There may be 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, forthe quarter ended June 30th, 1875, was £3,121,555, or at the rate of £12,486,620 yearly. "We shall now refer more in detau to the tables before us, and select the principal ports of the colony for purposes of comparison:— mKTI niTiTtTER. 1875.

It will be 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 comparison. Thus : IMPORTS.

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 June 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, bhould 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 accomplish-

ing 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 tho value "of £366,327, whereas for tho last June quarter the gold export represented £313,216. There was a decided increase in the export value of oats, but a largo 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 couresponding period of 1874.

Ancklai id ... .. 31,444 tons £49,358 Thames 2,705 „ 4,987 mi 130 „ 100 Wellington JTspier ., 70,110 „ 6.427 „ 122,906 14,646 Nelson 7,730 „ 14,988 Lytteltc >n .. .. 66,904 „ 125,361 Timaru 7,302 „• 19,234 Oaniaru 4,441 ,, 12,103 Dunedii 11 .. .. 54,004 „ 71,750 Inverca: rgill 3,006 „ 5,553 Tot al .. .. 254,359 tons £440,995

Auckland .. .. 353 tons £503 Kussell 401 „ 401 Wellington .. .. 150 „ 300 Nelson i >■ J Westport ... .. 17, .. 20 Greyiouth .. -. 5620* „ 4806 Total .. ■• 0542. tons £0121

U JUHiS ' iOitl. Imports. Exports. Auckland ..£273,934 £117,073 Thames 6,370 135 New Plymouth 8.C3S 45 Wangaaui .. 10,849 Wellington .. .. 309,488 193.1G0 Napier Nelson .. 30,092 20,590 .. 70,075 05,877 Westport .. 18,904 22,478 Greymouth .. 44,523 74,307 Hokitika .. 40,509 43,007 Lyttelton .. 208,003 306,045 Oamaru ... 10.205 8,470 Timaru .. 20,554 3,026 Dunedin .. 538,194 402,249 Invercargill .. .. 47,259 119,401 ■Rivftrtnn - 6.005 200

June qr., 1875. June qr., 1874 Auckland .. £273,934 ,. £362,247 Napier 30,092 41,082 Wellington .. 369,488 244,352 Nelson 78,075 74,487 Lyttelton .. .. 20S,e03 390,018 Dunedin .. .. 53S.194 552,905 Invercarffill 47,259 44,379

EXrORTS. Juno qr. 1875. Ju me fir. 1874 Auckland .. .. £117,073 £184,551 Napier .. 20,5f)8 74,501 Wellington .. 193,100 70,495 Nelson .. 05,877 5,040 Lyttelton .. .. 300,045 405,810 Dunedin .. .. 402,249 422,353 Invercargill .. 119,401 .„ 58,043