COMMERCIAL.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 207, 30 March 1868, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Westpobt Times Office, Saturday Evening. The total amount of import duty paid at the Customs of this port during the week, was .£SBO 12s 2d ; and the total export duty on gold, £196 7s sd. Little or no business lias been transacted during the week, and the principal excitement has been the news relative to the attempted assassination of H.R.H. the Dnke of Edinburgh. By the latest advices flour and wheat are exhibiting a slightly downward tendency) »"J i'A"<- long it is to be hoped speculation in these articles will be abated. The news from the various diggings in the neighborhood is not as good as could bo wished, but the bad weather is the main cause of this absence of news. Shipments of cattle not 1 aving been so nnmerous lately, has led to greater demand, and higher rates are consequently asked. There is a considerable falling off in the tota 1 value of imports introduced in the Colony during 1867, as compared with that of 1866, the amount being somewhat over half a million, or 10 per cent, of a decrease on the value of the importations of 1566. The exports, however, show a slight increase in 1867, the whole of which, and much more, is due to the production of Nelson province, which, as compared with 1867, shows an increase in the value amounting to £522.772, which is more than four times the increase over the entire Colony. To the figures entered for Nelson have to be added one half those entered for Greymouth, and these make the gross exports of Nelson province reach the sum of £843,381