The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 895, 2 December 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1871.

The returns of the customs revenue for the month just ended show an increase upon that of the previous month of £283. On analysing tho figures for the two months, however, they do not exhibit such a rate of progress as a comparative glance at the totals would signify. The increase during the month just ended is due entirely to the arrival of Melbourne boats with large importations, raising the amount of customs duties; and although this is of itself encouraging, as denoting increased commercial activity, it cannot be accepted as so satisfactory a test as the export duty upon gold. "While the customs' duties, therefore, reached for November £1731 lis 9d, as against £1204 Gs 7d for October, last month's gold duty amounted only to £445 13s 4d against £6BB 9s lid for the previous month the falling off being in duty £243, representing in decreased shipments very nearly two thousand ounces of gold. But these figures cannot be accepted as absolutely indicating the productiveness of our mines. Owing ta an accidental circumstance, such as continued bad weather interrupting steam communication, bank shipments may become irregular, and it is, therefore, over a longer period than a mouth that calculations must extend in order to deduce a moderately correct inference as to tho yield of the goldfields. Adding together the shipments during October and November, and comparing the monthly average with that for the quarter ended September 30, the result is slightly favourable to the months of October and November. For these months the average yield per month as estimated by shipments was in round numbers 4,530 oz s !, as against 4,200 oza monthly for the September quarter. Compared with the previous year these figures still show a decline in the

goldfields' yield ; but, as stated, a few isues back, this state of things is abnormal, and will certainly give place to a vastly improved condition. The steady drain upon our gold producing population during the past iwelvomonths, caused by the attractions of the reefs in the Inangalma and Lyell districts, would sufficiently account for a larger decline in the yield of gold than has even taken place; since their labour on these new fields ha s not been hitherto productive. Nor has their room been filled by an influx of fresh population to the older alluvial workings of tha district. Yet, it is apparent from the customs' duties, which in the absence of local productions and manufactures, afford the means of estimating %he relative numbers of the population for the two years, that there is no considerable decrease in the population; and if allowance is made for the goods forwarded from G-reymouthto thelnangalma workings, it will, probably, be found that the mining population has increased. The operation of the Distillation Act has also contributed to a decline in the revenue; and the loss from this source promises to become ereater as the local production finds its way into more general consumption.