RETURN OF IMPORTS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9860, 9 March 1896, Page 5

RETURN OF IMPORTS.

In reply to a request from Mr Chambarlain, figures have been prep-red showing the amount ot imports into the colony from the British possessions and foreign countries for the years 1884, 1889 and 1894. The totals from all sources during those years were respectively £7,665.833, £6,297,097 and £6,788,020. Of these amount 3 the British possessions supplied £7,009,541, £5,729,479 aud £6,183,630. America and Germany were the principal foreign sources. In 1884 the amount drawn from the hitter was only £6547. which by 1834 had increased to £68,163.

ESTIMATED WHEAT YIELD.

A Wellington Press Association telegram says:—The total area of land down in wheat this season in Now Zealand is returned at 242,956 acres, and it is expected that the yield will be 5,911,929 bushels. The quantity on hand is stated as 607,775 bushels. The quantity required in the colony is 4,930,500 bushels, which leaves about a million and a half bushels available for export. The Agricultural Department is now engaged in taking the threshing returns, but the records of the actual yield will not be available till ths cud of the month.

THE POMAHAKA SETTLEMENT.

Tbe Pomahaka correspondent of the Clutka Free Press states that the settlers on the Pomahaka estace have received a compendious but significant reminder from the Lands Office, intimating that the wherewithal is overdue, and immediately required, or reasons given >vhy they should not. quit their Pomahaka homes ; and judging by the general exodus from the Downs, it would seem that the latter alternative is preferred, which clearly shows that the estate is and was greatly overrated, taking into consideration the tact that much of the estate has never been applied for, and nearly half of tho original settlers have voluntarily surrendered their holdings. Of the crops on tho estate the correspondent of the Clatha Leader writes:—"A succession of fierce westerly galea since the new year have swept over the Downs, retarding growth and doiug a lot of mischief. One or two heavy hail sqoalls threshed the oat crcpa considerably. A loss of live bushels to tbo acre will be a low estimate of the damage. Taking one crop with another. I am certain thirty-five bushels will be the average for tbe whole estate—a very disappointing rejolt, you

will admlf, for new ground. Independent of the yield tiia sample will be very poor, as on one square yard tne oats are dead ripe, and on tne next they are quite green—in fact I never saw such pitchy crops. lam glad to see the settlers who are left are made of the right stuff. Improvements are being made to several of the bouse 3 in the shape of brick chimneys. New houses are being built, stables, sheds, and so forth."