OUR COMMERCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 50, 1 March 1893, Page 2

OUR COMMERCE.

THE TRADE OF AUCKLAND

CUSTOMS RETURNS FOR 1892.

INCREASE IN TRADE,

The following valuable synopsis of tho Customs returns for the port of Auckland, for the year 1892, is supplied to us by Mr A. Rose, Collector of Customs in Auckland, who has courteously furnished ua with extracts from his official report:—

Tho Customs' returns for the port of Auckland for tho year ended 31st December, 1592, wore £360,652 4a 9d, as against; £348,901 0s 7d for the previous year, being an increase of £11,751 4s 2d, This increase of net Customs duties ia a satisfactory evidcnco that Auckland is steadily progres3ir.pj. The imports for 1892 amountod in value to £1,642,686. as against £1,595,036 for 1891, an increaso of £17,650. The increase in value of imports shows a greater spending power andiaevidor.ee of confidence in tho near future. The increase was muinly with the United Kingdom and British possessions, Tho values of exports for 1891 and 1892 ware as follows :—lß9l, £1,218,206: 1892, £1,217,143; decrea«o, £1,065. The export of British and foreign produce docreased £6,000, whilst New Zealand produce exported increased say £5,000.

The exports of New Zealand produce exported in 1892 apparently increased sensibly in quantity, bub tho market values ruling in Europe were somewhat low compared with 1891.

The shipping returns for tho port for the year 1892. show that 255 vessels (aggregating 229,338 tons, with crews of 8,649 men) ontorori inwards at the Customs, as against 208 vessels (of 181,999 tons aggregate, and carrying crews of 7,854 porsons) entered inwards in 1891. This give 3 a decrease of 13 vessels, but with an increase of 47,339 tons and 795 men. Tho clearances outwards wero : 1891, 275 vessels (163,181 torn., 7,216 men); 1892, 239 vessels (181,349 tons, 7,504 men). The decrease of vessels cleared outwards was 36, but there was an increase of 18,165 tons and 288 men. It will be seen from this that there were fewer vessels in 1892, but that there was a large increase in tonnage und numbers of crew. The revonue in regard to the marine branch of tho Customs was:—Light duos, 1892, £4,408 16s 2d; 1891, £3,725 3s 8d ; increase, £683 12s 6d.

The vessels registored as belonging to the port of Auckland in 1892 was 237, with an aggregate tonnage of 17,680, as against 2GI vessels of 19,202 tons in 1891, the decrease being 24 vessels and 1,522 tons. This decrease was owing to a rigorous purging of fcho Shipping Registry books of vessels which have been lost or sold for many years in the South Sea Islands, but concerning which evidence of an absolutely conclusive nature not being forthcoming they had been allowed to remain on the register. Thirty-seven vessels bad been written off and 13 new vessels added. In the coasting trade there are 179 Aucklandowned sailers and wteamerfl with an aggregate tonnage of 8547, and pavtlyin home and Foreign trade 20 sailing-vessols with an aggregate tonnage of 3,744. The loss by wreckb and founderings in 1892 was 26 vessels of 1,616 tons, as against 13 vessels ot 1,342 tons in 1891. This return however includes many vessels lost previous to 1892, chiefly in the South Sea Islands. The total receipts for the local Customs for the year 1892 were £388,457 14s 7d, as against £376,305 18s lid in 1891. A comparative statement of kauri gum, flax, etc., exported, showed that 8,703 tons of kauri gum was exported from Auckland in 1892. as against 8,377 tons in 1891 ; £183,654 worth of gold, as against £181,235 in 1891; 2,676 tons of flax, as against 3,776 tona in 1891; £163,712 worth of wool as agafnst £137,847 in 1891; and £11,576 worth of grain, as against £8,123 value in 1891. The increase in refined sugar, molasses and treacle exported from Auckland in 1892 waa 16,457 tons, as against 14,1fi6 tons in 1891, a clear increase of 2,291

tone. The results of the year 1892 may bo looked upon thus us satisfactory on the whole, but with a promise of increase in the value of trade in both imports and exports in 1893. The beer duty received it) Auckland during the year 1892 amouuted to £13,484 18s 4d ac against £12,697 7a 5d in 1891, there thus being an increase of £787 10s lid.

The excesa of immigration over emigration in 1892 shows ar. increase of popula tioa by 1,760 persons.