Untitled

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 464, 19 April 1890, Page 5

The Government Statist of Victoria has ust published some particulars of the population, and birth and death rates for the whole metropolitan area known as Greater Melbourne, covering a radius of 10 miles, containing 163,942 acres, exclusive of water. During last year the population increased by 20,685, or 4'73 per cent., the excessof birthsoverdeaths accounting for 6521. Comparing Melbourne with the other Australian capitals, Mr Hay ter shows that the birth-rate is higher in Melbourne than in Sydney, Adelaide,. Hobart, or Wellington ; and" lower than Brisbane or Perth. In Melbourne the death-rate last year was higher than any of the other cities, and the proportion of excess of births over deaths was lower than in any, except Hobart. The development of the coal trade at Westport, New Zealand, is, says the “Sydney Morning Herald,” indicated by an item in to-day's cable news. Our London correspondent mentions that the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand has had a steamer launched at Dumbarton, and named the Rotokino. This vessel has been specially built with a view to carrying Westport coal. Like all harbours on the West Coast of New Zealand, Westport, in the Middle Island, is a bar harbour; vessels of a light draught are the most suitable for such ports, and in order to meet the requirements of the place the Union Company has had the Rotokino so designed. She is to carry 3000 tons of Westport coal (a large cargo), but will be able to leave Westport without risk of striking the bar. It is reported that the trade of the new steamer will be largely between Westport and Port Pirio. Westport coal long ago was favourably reported on for its superior qualities for use on board steamers. As a steam coal it is considered by many engineers to be superior to the best quality of Welsh coal and the premier coal in these colonies. The Union Company, recognising its merit, see in it the substance of a large export trade, and accordingly build a steamer to carry it. •