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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 918, 16 February 1881, Page 4

The usual quarterly returns, for the December quarter 1880, and published in the Government Gazette, are to hand. We hardly know whether the Colony is to be congratulated on the business done by it during the past twelve months or not • but that our readers may know something about what has been taking place, we produce the following:— The value of imports for the December Qr. 1880, is put down at £1,688,000 as against £1,552,028, or plus £135,972 for the corresponding quarter of 1879. But for the whole year ending 31st December 1880 the imports show a falling off of no less a sum than £2,212,574 —the totals being for 1879 £8,374,585 ; and for 1880 £6,162,011.

The imports of Poverty Bay show a decrease of £lBOl, for the quarter ; the totals being for 1879, £3,926, for 1880, £2,025; and for the previous 12 months, a decrease of £4,691. In exports the figures appear sadly to the disadvantage of our port; the figures being for the December quarter 1879, £30,167 as against £471 only, for the same period 1880 ; and for the year 1879, £37,507 against £1,302 for 1880. This discrepancy is accounted for in three ways. First, the woolship left for London in the December quarter of 1879, taking nearly the whole season’s clip, besides other products ; Second, the misfortune to the Lochnagar, operated in such a way that she was not dispatched hence until January last, therefore, her exports will not appear until the March quarter’s returns are made up ; and Third, on account of that accident, a very large proportion of the bulk of our produce has gone to Napier, and some to Auckland and Wellington, for shipment, which ports will reap the benefit thereof, and be able to boast of an inflated revenue. The exports of the colony are—for 1879, £5,743,126 ; for 1880, £6,352,692, or the appreciable surplus of £609,466. The sums total accordingly stand thus : a decrease of colonial imports to the extent of £135,972, and an increase of exports amounting to £609,466. Now, if we could feel assured that the falling off of our import trade was due solely to an increase of home supply, it would be extremely satisfactory; but, when we consider that the Colony is still largely importing many of our home-producing articles, we are rather inclined to the belief that the falling statistics are due to the impoverished circumstances of pur commerce, and a severe cautiousness, on. the part of buyers, not to trade beyond their means, and the wants of their customers. Nevertheless, efen that weakness is a sign of coming strength, for we may, thereby, be taught to rely more and more upon our internal resources. The exports speak more forcibly for themselves, than we can do,

and convey a lesson which, it is to be hoped will be improved on year by year. We notice that out of 37 enumerated articles of export there are only 10 showing a decrease ; these are: timber, (logs and spars) bacon and hams, beef (salted), hides, meats (preserved), tallow, meal (oat), meal (wheat), and leather. Those indicating an increase are — coal, gold, minerals, fish, whale oil, seal skins, fungus, kauri gum, sawn timber, butter, cheese, live stock, rabbit skins, sheep skins, wool (£716,149), bran and sharps, flour, barley, malt, oats, potatoes, grass seed, ale and beer, biscuits, cordages, phormium, and soap.