Commercial.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 14, Issue 1123, 1 February 1870, Page 2

Commercial.

The amount of revenue collected at H.M. Customs for the years ending 3lst December, 1867 8 9, was as follow* :— 18i»7. 186 S. 1860. £24,097 12 9 £20,683 3 10 £26,352 9 8 This Bhows a falling off in revenue of £3409 Ba. 11« I. iv 1868 from that of 1867, and tho great increase of £5674 ss. lOd. is shown in 18U9 over that of 1868. The articles of con sumption that affect the revenue principally are spirits, tobacco, wine, tea, aud sugar. The following tuble will show the relative proportion of demand for the three years : —

From the above table it will be seen that in each year the consumption of spirits is greater in proportion than any other article, beiug over half the revenue for 1867, and about 6-10ths of the revenue for 1868, although the revenue fov that year was considerably less than the preceding one. Again, the proportion in 1869 was over 7-lOths, showing undoubtedly the great demand for spirits. Nor is it a conclusion jumped at by otic quarter's return, but by the returns of three years, each year showing a greater consumption — a consumption really out of all ordinary proportion. The same increase will be observed in tho other items, with the exception of wines and beer. The great falling off in beer is attributable to the home-browed driving the English beer out of the market. This is a marked advancement, and no doubt as our brewers improve, English beer will be out of the market entirely. Our local brewers must greatly improve before they can supersede some of tho imported colonial beer, especially that which comes consigned to Messru. Uoutledge. Kennedy, and Co., brewed by Marshall aud Copoland, of Dunedin, which arrives in no inconsiderable quantity. Another great desideratum ia substituting the wholesome colonial wines in place of those from England. The distinction between them is not drawn, owing to the duty being the same, but a good proportion is for Australian, which seems to bo greatly sought for. There are muny brands, the best of which arts — Cawarra, Hermitage (white and red j, Reisling Hock, and red and white Muscat. It would bo difficult to say which is the best of these, as it is really a matter of taate, though the Muscat sells more readily, being a sweet wine. There is no doubt that, at the next meeting of Parliament, the duty will be reduced, so that these delicious and acceptable wines will come greatly into use, to the exclusion of the harder wines. The total vnlue of imports for the years ending 1868 and 1869 stands thus — 18G8. iB6O. £77,145 0 0 £80.237 0 0 It will be seen by this return that there is an inorunstf in 1869 over thut of 1868, which shows we are progressing. It must bo bornf in mind that the above ia not the value of all (roods arriving. For instance, all goods coming duty ptii.l and free, and all goods ex warehouse from another port, show no vnlue, k> that rotiUy the above figures do not denoty probably more than half tho value of goods coming imo the province This must ueceßsariiy t»how that, on the who'e, our community is prospering and advancing, more especially ho if we consider that ihero wus a proportionate increase in all preceding years. Our exports for the same yuars were —

Thia return, again, shows a slight increase of 1869 over that of 1868 ; still this is not a fair return, for it does not give the whole of the wool, &c, grown in this province. For instance, vessels are in the habit of coming to the coast of this province and taking cargoes of wool away to the province of Wellington, and sometimes to Auckland, without appearing on record in this province ; and wool is also shipped coastwise to other provinces, so showing an increase at the province of its final shipment against the province where it is grown. The above does not chow the quantity that was lost in the Ida Zeigler in February last, which was considerable, and mostly covered by insurance. The exports for 1870 will far exceed preceding years, owing to more vessels being taken up for direct shipment.

1867. Spirits ... 21,561 20-160 galls. ...£12,936 18 8 Tobacco ... 22,9*1 lbs. ... 2 867 12 6 Wino ... 0,040 galls. ... 1,2u8 0 1 Tea ... 41,928 8-16 lbs. ... 1,048 4 3 Sugar ... 467,118 lbs. ... 1,946 6 0 Beer (bottled) 15,018 jfalls. ... 938 12 6 Beer (bulk) ... 2,990 galia. ... 117 0 0 £21,002 14 6 1868. Spirits ... 19,130 65-160 galls. ... £11,478 11 1 Tobacco ... 20,337 lbs. ... 2,542 2 6 Wine ... 5,042 179-240 galls, ... 1,008 11 9 Tea ... 30,235 lbs. ... 91)5 17 0 Migar ... 313,650 i lbs. ... 1,306 17 7 Beer (bottled) 10,024 sails. ... 626 10 0 Beer (bulk) ... 950 galls. ... 47 10 0 £17,916 0 5 1869. Spirits ... 24,055 24-160 galls. ... £14,433 19 8 Tobacco ... 25,240 lbs. ... 3,155 O 0 Wive ... 6,013 79-100 galls. ... 1,322 13 10 Tea ... 51,9674 lbs. ... 1,299 3 9 Sugar ... 465,143 lbs. ... 1,238 14 6 Beer (bottled) 13,326 Kails. ... 832 17 6 Beer (bulk) ... 950 galls. ... 47 10 0 £23,029 19 2

, , 1808. 1809. Hides ... — £<i 9 0 0 Oil ... — 270 Q o Tallow ... £1,743 10 0 ... 253 0 0 Tobacco ... — 85 0 0 Wool ... 45,029 0 0 ... 47.101 4 0 Otherkinds... — 03 10 0 £10,777 10 0 £47,791 14 0 I