TRADE AND OTHER RETURNS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 72, 26 March 1891, Page 5

TRADE AND OTHER RETURNS.

The Hon. Mr Seddon has forwarded to the Wellington "Post" a table showing the rapid strides the colony is making in its production of meat for export. It shows that in 1889 frozen meat was sent away to tho extent of 898,865cwt, valued at £1,087,577—an increase over the previous year's total of 242,043cwt. valued at £304,203. New South Wales exported in 1889 (tho latest date for which statistics are available) 57,863cwt, valued at £33,426, and Victoria's return is "nil." In preserved and potted % meat New Zealand exported last year 59,846cwt, valued at £136,182—an increase of 12,300 cwt and £29,410 over 1889. The value of last year's export of tallow was £162,471, an increase of £3,011 as compared with the previous year. There was last year a falling ofif of £2,672 in the value of salt pork exported, and £5,859 in the export of salt beef. To show that, despite the enormous output of mutton, the flocks of the colony are still capable of keeping up the supply, there wero last year 16,116,113 sheep in New Zoaland, this being an increase over those of 1889 of 692,785.

A statement on the vital statistics of tho colony prepared by the RegistrarGeneral appears in the " Gazette." It shows that in the last six yeara there has been not only a great reduction in the proportion of births to the number of the population, but a considerable decrease in the total number of births in the four chief boroughs. Comparing the results in 1890 with those in 1885 in Auckland the births have decreased at the rate of nearly 37 per cent., Dunedin 25 per cent., Christchurch nearly 17 per cent., and Wellington nearly 2 per cent. It has been stated as regards Dunedin and Christshurch that there is a tendency for the younger married persons to take up their residence in outside boroughs. The death rates are lighter in the four boroughs than in 1885.

The customs duty for February produced the largest amount taken in one month for some years. The total wae £146,428 which brings the revenue for the eleven months up to £1,403,632, leaving only £7,600 to be collected nextmonth to realise the estimate. This, of course,means a handsome surplus, f probably £50,000. In this item of revenue Auckland contributed £36,769, Wellington, £26,883, Christchurch, £23,789, Dunedin, £36,210. The beer duty for the month was £4627 and the estimate for the year was £54,000 of which £52,572 has already been received.

Despite some falling off on the HurunuiBluff lines since January as compared with last year, due to the absence of tho Exhibition traffic, the Commissioners anticipate that the not profit of £400,000 will just about be realised, although there was some falling off in traffic during the strike to be made up. The alterations promised by the Commissioners to a deputation of employees have been largely brought into effect. They have involved the engagement of a larger number of men, and the extra expense of the scheme «° "* or seven thousand per year.

The following are the railway returns for the four weeks ended 31st January : — NORTH ISLAND.

Receipts. Expenditure. £ s. A. £ s. dKawakawa „ 373 12 11 227 14 5 "Whangarei .. 576 3 5 1S9 1* 3 Auckland.. .. 8,604 5 2 6,139 12 11 Napier . .. 6.302 11 ?. 3.285 16 10 Wellington .. 7,236 8 5 3,794 IS 4 Wanganui .. 7,378 6 10 4,417 19 3 Totals.. ..30,271 7 11 18,95b 13 0 MIDDLE ISLAND. Keccipts. Expenditure £ s. d. & s. d. Hurunui-Bluff .. 55,650 16 10 33,5-12 13 4 C4reyinouth .. 2,293 5 8 1,272 17 10 "Weslport .. .. 2,501 10 0 963 7 9 Nelson .. .. 697 2 7 S64 7 5 Piclon .. 587 2 1 678 12 8 Totals.. ..61,729 17~ 2 37,321 19 0 Grand totals.. 72,001 5 1 55,377 12 0