THE PROGRESS OF THE COLONY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 100, 7 June 1900, Page 4

THE PROGRESS OF THE COLONY.

SOME INTERESTING FIGURES. The Registrar-General (Mr. Von Dadelzen) has just issued a very interesting circular containing statistical comparisons of New Zealand, showing the progress of the colony from 1890 to 1900. This shows great expansion and extraordinary progress in all branches of industry, production, and investment. Thus, while the population of the colony (754,545) has increased during the decennial period by nearly 21 per cent., the principal exports (including 17001, frozen meat, tallow, sheep skins, and pelts, butter, cheese, and i kauri gum) grew by 43.14 in quantity and 4.19 in value in the case of wool. The increase in the quantity of butter exported was 290.87 in quantity, and 366.01 in value. Frozen meat exports increased in value by 92,6; tallow, 91.82; sheepskins and pelts, 118.45; cheese, 66.87. The total imports, including specie (£8,613,656), increased by 45.28; exports (£11,923,422), excluding specie 24.60. The satisfactory feature in these figures is the large increase of products and exports as compared with the growth of population. The Customs revenue (,£2,042,002) increased by 32.48; excise duties (£82,715) 39.12. The output of coal was 975,234 tons, valued at £487,617, an increase in the ten years of 53 per cent, in quantity and value. The output of gold entered for duty for exportation (389,570 ounces, value £1,513,180) showed an increase of 101.65 per cent, in quantity, and 95.64 in value.

The occupied holdings (62,485) increased in the same period by 63.67, but regarding this the Registrar notes : " This comparison is not quite a lair one, as in 1899 holdings of exactly oi,e acre in extent and certain holdings occupied by Moaris hare been included by the Department of Agriculture, which was not done in 1890." The land in cultivation (including sown grasses, but excluding gardens, orchards, plantations, and native grass (12,474,511 acres), increased by 4,459,085 acres, equal to 55.63 percent. Sheep increased from 16,116,113 to 19,348,506; cattle, 813,831 to 1,210,439; horses, 211,040 to 266,931. There was also a large increase in shipping inwards and •utwards. The gross receipts of the Government railways Bhowed the very satisfactory increase of 44.77 per cent. The miles of telegraph line (6,910) increased 36.56, and the messages (1,623,891 in number) 76,92. As regards banks of issue, the amount on deposit (average amount) increased from £12,368,610 to £14,591,223, equal to 17.97. Savings banks (amount to credit or depositors at post offices) increased in the ten years from £2,441,876 to £5,320,371, equal to the enormous percentage of 117.88; while the deposits in private savings banks increased only by 16.27 per cent., or from £694,992 to £808,082. It may be argued that the large increase in deposits remaining in the banks is an indication of restricted investment in trade and industry, but this is at once disproved by a glance at the figures showing the large increase in products and exports. In live stock, holdings, and land under cultivation the proportion should be reversed. It is the large increase in the wealth derived from these sources, and the consequent general welfare of the working classes, that have caused the augmentation of the savings bank deposits. In times of slackness of work and falling off in production there are heavy withdrawals from tiie savings be ks. It may be added, aa another indication of sound progress, that the number of policies in force in the Government Life Insurance increased in the decennial period from 28,102 to 39,366, and in value from £7,544,030 to £10,341,702, equal to 40.08 in number and 37.08 in value.

The value of land and improvements in counties increased by 25.37, and in boroughs by 23.23. The unimproved value of land increased by 11.79, and [of improvements increased from I £35,640,335 in 1886 to £54,190,103 lin 1898, or 52.05; while the value of land with improvements grew from £111,137,714 in 1888 to £138,591,347 in 1898, or a percentage of 24.70. Finally, the total private wealth, which was estimated at £142,631,461 in 1890, had increased to £217,587,481 i in 1899, or £74,956,020, equal to 52.55 (more than double). The increase in the amount per head waa from £228 to £2BB.

He would be a bold man who, in the face of these figures, would deny that the last ten years have been a period of all-round prosperity and progress, | Some of the above figures have been

already quoted in speeches delivered by the Premier and the Hon. J, G. Ward, but they are now given for the first time in a complete form. —Dunedin Star.