COMMERCIAL.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 632, 15 March 1870, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Westport, in common with all parts of the Colony except Auckland exhibits a decrease in the value of imports and exports during 1869, and during the last quarter of that year compared with the year previous. The value of its imports during 1868 was .£99,106, and during- 1869 it was .£92,961. The decline was especially noticeable in the last quarter of the year. In 1868 the value was £33,722. Last year it was only £17,019. The value of the yearly exports decreased from £518,463 to £344,045. Greymouth is among the very few ports "which show an increase in both particiilai-3, and at Hokitika the falling off in both is as noticeably great. Auckland is the only Province exhibiting a satisfactory increase. The imports of Auckland for the year increased by about 72 per cent., and her exports by about 85 per cent. Hawkes' Bay also shows a slight increase. Otago and Canterbury have not escaped the prevailing depression. The imports of Otago were less last year by £138,151 than in lS6S,but her exports increased by £'36,279. The falling off in imports to Canterbury was

£<i3,117, and ill exports £185,407. In the Province of Nelson as a whole the imports in round numbers fell off by 12 per cent., and exports by 23 per cent. And in Westlaud as a whole the falling off in imports \va3 about 20 per cunt., and of exports 11 per cent. Over the whole Colony, the imports are returned .£9622 less than for 1808, and, for the quarter, JEI 10,1 IS less than for the corresponding quarter of the year jy;gcediug. A greater falling off is exhibited in the exports, which for the year are shown to be £205,275 less, and, quarter, £101,102 less than for the corresponding periods of 18G8.