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Southland Times, Issue 1572, 3 May 1872, Page 2

The statistics with which His Honor, in the absence of Government measures, found it convenient to fill up his address, appear to be of a very satisfactory character, assuming the correctness of the figures, both in the first instance, and as reproduced in the telegram.- It is always pleasant to be able to point to indications of progress ; and if the advancement has not been so great as to be startling, at least it has nA been " spasmodic," which everyone will be glad to learn, as that adjective does not sound like anything very good. The progress of settlement had been steady, 647 agricultural holdings having been taken up. The increase of population, based on a balance of arrivals and departures, but exclusive of the increase arising from the preponderance of births over deaths, was 2554 persons, bringing the population of the united province up to more than 72,000. The exports of provincial produce amounted, in round numbers, to nearly £2,000,000 sterling — a rate per head, it is stated, double that of Victoria. An export trade to the United Stateß might be said to have been fairly inaugurated, exports to that country having been made to the figure of £147,000. The gold escort returns were within a few ouncea of last year, a fact which, considering the unprecedentedly dry season, may be looked on as equivalent in some respects to an actual increase. The revenue had been £280,000; the expenditure only £245,000. One sincerely hopes there may be no mistake here, and that the surplus of £41,000 may turn out to be a tangible reality. The public will be most agreeably surprised it' it does. In a few days, no doubt, we shall have the Treasurer's explanations. The good-j traffic had trebled, and the passenger traffic had nearly doubled, on the Bluff and Winton Railway. Altogether things look very pleasant ; and after such a series of agreeable statements, the transition is an easy one to the idea that in some way or other, not very clearly explained, the Provincial Government are at the bottom of all this prosperity.