New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4574, 17 November 1875, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17.

The trade returns for the last September quarter present many features of public interest. As a general result, the figures are satisfactory. The total foreign trade of New Zealand for the three months ending September 30, 1865, was £2,809,128, being at the rate of £11,236,512 per annum. Considering the small settled population of the colony, this foreign trade is really surprisingly large, while those acquainted with the , interior trade of New Zealand will agree with us in the remark that it represents at least an equivalent to its foreign transactions. A few figures taken from the official papers before us will be found interesting. Thus;— Sept, qr., 1875. Sept, qr., 1874. Imports .. .. £2,041,237 .. £2,280,543 Exports .. .. 767,891 .. 668,788 There was a falling off in the value of imports for the quarter, as compared with the corresponding period of 1874, but on the other hand the exports showed a more than proportionate increase. We shall now contrast the commercial transactions of the leading ports of the colony, as illustrated by the trade returns. Thus ;

Coming to analyse the detailed table of exports, we find the following interesting facts, namely, that the money value of exports of New Zealand produce for the quarter under review, was £617,422, against £650,754 during the corresponding period of 1874 ; and that the value of exports of “other colonial, British, and “ foreign produce and manufactures” for last September quarter was £150,469, as against £18,034 for the same quarter last year. It is a remarkable fact also, that of this £150,469, no less than £122,043 was exported from Wellington, and £24,124 from Auckland. The reexports from other New Zealand ports were insignificant. The export of New Zealand produce from the leading ports was as under : Auckland .. .. .. ~ £151,439 Wellington •. 1.947 Napier 3,503 Picton 1.870 Nelson .. .. ~ .. .. 3,027 Westport 24,459 Greymouth .. 90,483 Hokitika 44,459 Lyttelton 136,673 Tim am .. 4,063 Oamara 1,685 Dunedin.. 134,714 , Invercargill 8,011

It is proper to remark at this stage that the larger figures in the foregoing list, with the exception of Lyttelton, principally represents gold. This will be better understood if we state in detail the gold export of the September quarter, 1875. Thus :

The exports from Lyttelton consisted chiefly of breadstuffs and wool. Of the latter, Canterbury exported 1,160,6481b5, valued at £85,923. We shall now group the provinces, for the purpose of comparison, treating the West Coast settlements of the Middle Island as one district, without reference to existing provincial boundaries. Thus:—

It will be apparent from these figures that the port and province of Wellington are coming well and steadily to the front, and we venture to predict that the close of the current year’s trade will place Wellington a good third, if not even second on the list of provinces. Taking the population basis, its trade unquestionably occupies a leading place in the colony. Comparing the two great natural divisions of the colony, we have the following results ■ for the last September quarter:— Imports. Exports. North Wand .. £911,041 ... £307,470 Middle Island .. 1,130,100 .. 400,421

In other words, the imports of the Middle Island exceeded those of the North Island by £219,155, and , its exports were in excess of the exports from the North Island by £152,951. These figures taken by themselves indicate pretty clearly that, having respect to the population of each island, the trade of the Northern one is on quite as sound a basis as that of the South., Politicians would do well to bear this fact in mind when discoursing so glibly on the injury that is done to the South by its financial connection with the North. It would save them from many ridiculous blunders which they not infrequently commit. We shall now briefly advert to a subject on which we touched a few days ago, namely, our intercolonial trade. On that occasion our remarks had reference to the probable interchange of produce with

Queensland. We did not then state what we now venture to do most unhesitatingly, that for commercial purposes Norfolk Island is of vastly greater value to New Zealand than Queensland has hitherto been, if we except the cattle it supplied to the meat contractors during the war, when beef could not be bought on such favorable terms elsewhere. In the returns before us, Queensland appears as a consumer of New Zealand produce to the extent of £24; but the transactions with the other Australian colonies and Tasmania have been large. The value of imports from Australia and Tasmania, with the exception of Queensland, from which we received nothing, was £003,616 during the last September quarter, and our exports to these colonies for the same period was £394,759, making a total exchange representing £998,375. Of this large sum the colony of Queensland stands credited with £24, as against £43 for the corresponding period of 1874. The Pacific Islands trade is becoming an important branch of the foreign trade of New Zealand. This appears to be concentrated at Auckland, on account of its geographical position. The imports from Islands in the Pacific, including Fiji, during the last September quarter, footed up a total of £13,868, the exports thence being £18,162 ;—or a total of £32,030. The Islands trade is rapidly extending, and we are pleased to observe that the Auckland Steam Packet Company, instead of spending its strength competing for freight on the New Zealand coast, is taking steps to extend and consolidate its connection with Fiji. We think we are justified in saying, in concluding this article, that the details of the foreign trade of New Zealand for the September quarter manifest great vitality and expansion. No exceptional causes have bean in operation to produce the results noted. On the contrary, they are brought about in the absence of purely speculative transactions. The trading operations of the September quarter were simply such as to satisfy ordinary requirements; and as such, they give promise of a steady and progressive development.

Sept, qr., 1875. Sept, qr., 1875, Imports. Exports. Auckland .. £482,207 £175,563 Taranaki 6,608 — "Wanganui 24,174 — Wellington .. 343.940 123,990 Kapier .. 46,342 3,824 Kelson .. .. 70,462 3,717 Westport 10,212 24,459 Greymouth 32,141 96,545 Hokitika 26,897 44,703 Lyttelton ■ 335,263 137,892 Timaru.. 22,531 4,078 Oamaru.. 10,321 1,685 Dunedin .. 553,618 137,447 Invercargill 43,940 8,020

Auckland.. COLD EXPORT. .. 26.5590Z3. £100,535 Picton 468 „ 1,870 Nelson .. 622 2,320 Westport.. .. 6,115 „ 24,459 Greymouth .. 23,193 ., 93,452 Hokitika .. .. 10,412,, 41,649 Dunedin .. .. 30,655,, 122,948 Invercargill .. 1,040 „ 4,197 Total .. .. 99,064 £391,426 Total for Sept, quarter, 1874 .. £349,494

September Quarter, 1875. Imports. Exports. Auckland £490,077 £179,650 Taranaki 6,508 Nil. Wellington Napier .. 368,114 123,990 46,342 3,824 Marlborough . 2,528 1,870 Nelson .. 70,462 3,717 West Coast district 69,250 165,712 Canterbury . 377,794 141,970 Otago .. , 6X0,102 147,152