The Daily Dews. TUESDAY, JUNE 1. TARANAKI'S PROSPERITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 106, 1 June 1909, Page 2

The Daily Dews. TUESDAY, JUNE 1. TARANAKI'S PROSPERITY.

A very fair indication of the progress of a district may be gained from an examination of the Customs returns, and in this respect it is reassuring to find that, despite the financial stringency, New Plymouth showed a satisfactory increase over the previous year. The merit of this undoubted evidence ot Taranaki's undiminished purchasing power during the past year of so-called depression is that out of twenty ports in New Zealand at which Custom houses are located, New Plymouth is one out of live which in the amount of fees collected did not show a decrease in the

receipts below those of the previous year. While Wellington recorded a decline in Customs revenue for the year of £7:1,137, Auckland of £115,3;)'.), Christchiirch £21,872, Duncdin £45,444, Napier £0270, Invereargill £1)701), \\"anganui £51157, and other ports decreases in minor amounts, New Plymouth more than held its own, and the collections exceeded those of the previous year by £1221). The only other ports snowing increases were Hokitika (£1507), Gisborne | .ti1220), Oamarii I C 120), and Tauvanga ( .130). \ comparative statement of the returns of the various oll'icsn for the last two years will doubtless be

interesting:— 1907-8 1908-9 Wellington .. £841,898 £7(18,701 Auckland .. 707,173 055,534 Christchurch .. 450,070 424,204 Duncdin .. 452,540 497,102 Napier .. 107,705 !15,495 Invereargill .. 00,000 80,954 Wanganui .. 73,395 71,438 Gisborne .. 42,785 44,014 New Plymouth.. 38,794 38,028 Tiniaru ~ 41,701 38,715 Nelson .. 40,451 38,221 Gr <\v ~ 28.188 27,834 'Wcstport .. 15,274 14,020 Wairau .. 11,085 10,409 Hokitika .. 8,351 9,858 Oamaru .. 0,757 0 377 rilt «i .. 0,002 4^878 Ivaipara .. 1,173 092 Tauranga ~ 451 487 ricton .. 377 „J0