CUSTOMS REVENUE RETURNS. Wellington, March 4.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 92, 7 March 1885, Page 3

CUSTOMS REVENUE RETURNS. Wellington, March 4.

The Customs revenue collected in the colony last month amounted to £99,406, as against £124,495 for the corresponding month of last year. The amounts collected at the principal centres last month were :—: — Auckland, £13,312; Wellington, £17,529; Lyttelton • and Christchurch, £13,182 ; Dunedin, £27,524. At all ports last month there was a slight decrease as compared with the corresponding month of 18S4, except at Kaipara, Tauranga, Picton, Greymouth, and Oamaru. For the eleven months of the financial year, the Customs revenue of the colony has amounted to £1,176,635, which shows a surplus of £16,219 over the Colonial Treasurer's estimate for that period. The beer duty revenue last month wag £4,857, while for the same month last year it was £5,112. Last month the amount collected at Auckland was £1,089, Wellington £409, Christchurch £977, Dunedin £1,046. As with the Customs, there was a decrease on the amount collected as compared with February , 18S4. The only districts which show an increase of duty collected are Auckland, New Plymouth, Nelson, Weßtport, Greymouth, and Invercargill. The total amount for eleven months of tho year is £50,794, which is a surplus of £377 over the Colonial Treasurer's estimate. The annual meetings of the Equitable Insurance Association and of the Standard Insurance Company were held at Dunedin on Monday. The Equitable Company declared a dividend at the rate of 8 per cent. The balance available for distribution was £6,948 0s Sd, of which the dividend absorbed £1,167 12s lid, and £400 was put to reserve. The Standard Company declared a dividend at the rate of 7^ per cent. The amount available for distribution for the year was £10,013 16s 6d, of which the dividend absorbed £5625, and the balance was carried forward.