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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4957, 10 February 1877, Page 2

A comparative statement of the value of the exports and imports of the colony for the Psars 1875 and 1876 is published in the azette. The value of imports during 1876 was £6,901,889, as against £8,029,172 during ■1875, the falling off thus being £1,124,283. There was a falling off at’all the principal ports, but at Lyttelton, very singular to relate, the falling off amounted but to £l. The following are the figures for Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dunedin : 1 1875. 1876. Decrease. Auckland .. £1,568.355 £1,232,881 £315,474 Wellington 1,201,648 1,151,740 49,908 Lyttelton .. 1,184,964 ■ 1,184,963 :,■ ; 1 Dunedin .. 2,747,586 , 2,080,356' 661,230 The exports for 1876 show a decline of £201,194. The figures for the principal ports are as follow ; ■ i 1875. 1870. Increase. Deers." Auckland £695,418 £674,003 Wellington 673,762 696,684 . 22,932 . Lyttelton 1,219,036 1,776,405 656,360 Dunedin .. 1,521,017 1,719,792 It will be seen that there has been a large increase at Lyttelton and a good increase at Wellington. Both Auckland and Dunedin show decreases, but not sufficient to account for the large decrease on the total. This is made up by decreases at Napier of nearly £120,000, at . Nelson jof £50,000, at Westport pf £90,000, at Greymouth of £170,000, at Hokitika of £60,000, &c. Some of the smaller ports show increases.: :

This is what the “Jurist,” the organ of his own profession, says of Mr, Travers. and the Constitutional questions:—“ Constitutional questions seem to have become epidemic in Wellington,: and to divide,, public attention with; the scarlet fever. The latest question under discussion refers to the validity of the prorogation of Parliament. It is contended that the Governor has no power to prorogue by commission, and that Parliament having been so prorogued at the close of last session, the prorogation was invalid ; consequently that the /Abolition of, ProvincesAct-ywhich, was to come into operation at a certain date after the prorogation—is not legally in force. The arguments in support of this contention are based/ chiefly on a technical construction of the Constitution Act,’ arid appear to be seriously urged by the various writers,, including Mr. Travers. Probably Mr. Travers has been mitigating the severity, of the. Iqng. .vacation by writing burlesqries of banco for the amusement of political lawyers.”

A RETURN of the number, tonnage, and crews pf vessels that entered inwards at the several ports of New,Zealand- shows that .during the quarter eided the 31st December, 1876, 226 vessels arrived from . the. United Kingdom,. British possessions," foreign 1 countries,’ arid whale fisheries, of a total tonnage of 93,862 tons, and manned by 3746 men, as compared with 252 vessels, of 116,144 tons, and 4513 men, for the corresponding period'of "last year. To these amounts Auckland contributed most in vessels, 46 having ; arrived; ,of 19,294 tons, manned by 787 persons ; but Dunedin added most as, regards, tonnage, 42 vessels, haying entered there, of 20,564 tons. Lytteltori stands next as regards t-hc .number of vessels, 36 kavirig entered ; but their tonnage only amounted to 13,507 tons; while the tonnage of 32 vessels tliat entered at Wellington reached 15,454 tons, . Tli&jnumber .of vessels which arrived in the'colony from the' United Kingdom, British {wssepsions, foreign countries, rind whale fisheries during the past year, 1876, was 875, of 392,518 tons, with crews numbering- 15,208 mem There were -926, yessels entered in 'the year 1875, of 416,727 tons, and manned by 16,275 men; 184 'vessels, of 73,7.79 tons, and .manned by 2864 men, cleared outwards for the United Kingdom, foreign ports, British possessions, Arid l vhale fisheries during the quarter ended December 31st, 1876. At Auckland 48 ‘ vessels were 'despatched/registering 19,042 tons, and carrying; 756 men as crews. Lyttelton sent away 31 vessels, of 11,958.t0n5," with crews numbering '357 men. There were 24 vessels cleared out of Wellington, of 12,012 tons, and 21 'from Dunedin, of 8528.t0n5. A comparative return for the past year' shows that’ 851 vessels cleared out, registering 390,289 tons, which shows a falling off, when compared with last year—9.4o vessels having cleared out in that period, of 417,820 tons. ■'