TRADE AND PROSPECTS IN NEW ZEALAND.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 2609, 1 April 1891, Page 4

TRADE AND PROSPECTS IN NEW ZEALAND.

Advices from Auckland, dated Ist Deer., report trade as having been dull all over the colony during the preceding month, industries having been injured by the late strike. Numbers of men were out of work, but the depression was regarded as only temporary, as the harvest prospects were promising, and the exports likely to exceed those of the previous year. Another good sign was that bankruptcies were fewer in number and smaller in amount. Land values were also improving and rents advancing, and gratifying results are reported from the gold fields at Puhipuhi, which are considered by some as likely to be of very great benefit to the colony. Qne discouraging feature, however, was that the population was decreasing, owing to many persons leaving for Australia. Their departures were exciting some uneasiness, as there was no apparent reason for this migration. Business was as good in New Zealand as either in New South Wales or Victoria, and living equally cheap. — Home Paper. A story is going the rounds of an amusing case of ihe biter bitten in Wanganui. On the occasion of the banquet to the Premier, : some of that gentleman's political opponents conceived the brilliant idea of getting 1 up a row at the table if they could. They therefore sought out an individual generally more familiar with hotel bars than with banqueting halls, and believed to be rowdily inclined when in his cups. This individual they provided with a guinea ticket, and epuipped in a dress suit lent by one of them, to do honour to the project. They were terribly disappointed in the result, however. There nominee behaved with the most scrupulous propriety, enjoyed a good dinner, and kept almost painfully sober. Next morning, however, he visited a pawnbroker, "popped" the dress ooat, and sending the ticket to the owner with his thanks, proceeded to indulge in a sufficient number of long beers to fully recompense him for the self-restraint exercised at the banquet table. Business Notices.