STATISTICS AND RETURNS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 308, 30 December 1891, Page 8

STATISTICS AND RETURNS.

The revenue so far received under the property tax is considered very satisfactory by the Department. Tho amount collected at the post-offices throughout the colony up to the 10th inst., and in Wellington up to the 12th, is £195,858, and larger payments are nob due till the second instalment on bho 4th February next.

The arrivals in the colony in November wero 1,921, and the departure, 769. Of the arrivals 1,016 came from New South Wales, and 443 people went there ; 325 came from England, and 416 from Victoria. Te Kapo, which arrived at Wellington from Sydney on Dec. 11, brought 215 passengers for all oorts, among the number being Archbishop Redwood and Mr Whiteley King, Secretary of the New South Wale 3 PasLoralisbs , Union.

The Hon. Mr Ballance received the following information by wire from Wellington on Dec. 16 :—The total quality of butter produced in the colony in IS9O was 16,310,012 pounds of the estimated value of £607,270 including tho quantity exported, viz., 5 899,892 pounds, of tho value of £122,701. The tocal quality of cheese produced in tho colony was 6,975,698 ibs o£ the estimated value £109,170, .including the quantity exported 9,530,512 pounds of the value of £84,980. Tho total value of industrial producoaud manufacture; excluding butter and cheese from f;tcborios nmounbed to the value of £9,280,090, against £7,394,457 in 18SS

The censusreturns are published, showing there are 298 public libraries, mechanics' institutes, and other literary and scientific institutions in New Zealand, which have 14.48G members, and possess 030,7/O volumes of books. Auckland possesses 71, Canterbury 67. and Otago 73 of these institutions. There are 1,197 churches and chapels in the colony, an increase of 134 since 1886. Schoolhouees used for worship, "41 a decrease of 49 ; dwellings or public buildings used for worship 161, an increase of 15. These various edifice* have accommodation for 278,114 persons, and are actually attended by 177,055. Ab the last census the figures were 256,157 and 164,033. Tho Presbyterians have the greatest number of church-goers, namely, 40,785, the Church of England shows 37,252, the Romtin Catholics 30,525, and tho Wesloyans 27,106; Salvation Army claim 14,442. The two smallest denominations are : Ouakors, 40 ; and Christian Disciples, 30. There are 450 Jews ; 3.803 of r,o denomination, and 200 Freethinkers exactly. Auckland has 288 churches and chapels, Canterbury, 256 ; and Otago, 232.

The second series of wool sales of the season took placo on Dec. 16 at the saleyards of Messrs Buckland, Hunter and Nolan, _G. W liinney and the Loan and Mercantile. There was a .good attendance of buyers and trood prices were realised. The prices for all grades of wool ranged about the same as at the laet sales. Messrs Buckland report having sold 608 balee this morning, the ruling prices being -.—Merino, to 3d • "half-bred, 7d to 7|d ; cross-bred, 6J-d' to 7*d long wool, 6d to 6|d ; Romney Marsh, Id. Similar prices ruled at gales held subsequently.