CUSTOMS RETURNS.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 36, 9 February 1884, Page 4

CUSTOMS RETURNS.

The falling off in the Customs revenue of tho colony, to which we have formerly referred, proves not so serious as had been feared ; still, a decrease of £100,000 for the past year, as compared with ISB2, is sufficiently marked to denote the pressure which has followed upon the excessive importations of the past few years. The total receipts for the colony for the year ISB3 are £1,414,182, while in the preceding year the amount received was £1,515,916. Tho defection seems pretty general over the colony — all the ports, with two trifling exceptions, thowing a decrease for last year. The position of the four principal ports is as follows ; —

From this it will be observed that twothirds of the falling-off has taken place at the ports of Dunedin and Christchurch, and as the other ports of the South Island all show a considerable decline, the general impression left by a study of the returns is that the southern portion of the colony has especially been passing through a period of severe depression. The returns for the December quarter, which have just been published, further bear out this conclusion, for the receipts at Auckland and Wellington show a satisfactory advance on those of the December quarter of 18S2, while a large falling-off is manifest at both Dunedin and Christchurch. The figures of the four chief ports for the quarter are :— .

The total decline for the December quarter is £24,610, and it is thus seen that the two leading ports of the South Island are debited with £15,000 of that amount. The increase in the Customs receipts at North Island ports proves our condition to be that of normal prosperity and progress, while the less fortunate Soutn I Island is still struggling in the slough of j industrial and commercial depression. It is hoped, however, that the crisis is now ! over, and that the inherent wealth and | vital energy of the colony will very speedily I make their power felt and bring a return iof good times to the rapidly increasing population in all parts of New Zealand.

The man found insensible as Nelson is identified as John Renowden, who was a few days since injured on the head by a stone. He remains unconscious. Chrietchurch Gas Company, with a paidup capital of £95,000, last year paid £12,666 in dividends.

'. . , ik» i- now in 64 foet. In the f.ur > - cs, t <ho 1010 is much split up. hut vifl iK'ulinif tlu-e unlavoimtMe <nruii •-. the quariz carries a little, w". on the roof is solid again the manner mum-ls stopinu;. A \erv oonbidc.ul>!e p^Klock of i»oi>il-loo:»in« ([unitz lias accumulated from the drive and from the winze. Colonist — The main reef on the surface top level ha* l»een worked out to the southward of the cro«-cut, ami a start has been made at opening up the northern block towards the Premier boundary. Only a few feet has been driven, imt the reef is already giving of an mere isn in size. The ij.uut/, 'eems to maintain ils i^rade, and a piu.ible erubhin^ should 1)2 the result of i ue present month's operations at the batteiy. Diamond Gully.— lt is expected that the cro^-cut now in progress aaill cut the IS'ew Find Xo. 2 reef. Waiouoxgomai. — Fair progress is being made with the sinking of the vrinze on the lode. Phiemx. — The junction has not yet been reached, but the leader dri\eu on, though small, seems to improve in qualit). .Some of the coarsest gold we have seen in the field has been obtained from recent tests.

Dec. fjr. 1883 Auckland . . *71,420 Wellington .. 52,562 Dunedin .. 88,229 Christchurch 48,685 Dec. qv. 1882 £66.457 51,618 97.538 51.408 2 Increase. £4,96 i 914 Decrease, 9,307 5,773

1883 Dunedin ..£39i,897 Auckland .. 312,203 Wellington . . 220,256 Christchurch 209,122 1882 £124,510 315,015 227,086 242,709 Decrease £32,613 2,752 0,830 33,537