The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1866.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 78, 5 June 1866, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1866.

We are indebted to the courtesy of the officers of 11. M. Customs for complete returns of the entire trade of this port during the quarter ending 31st March last. In that period the total amouut of the imports was valued at £140,937, aud the exports at £79,201. Dealing first with the imports, they were from the United Kingdom £33,389 ; from New South Wales, £36,289; Yictoria, £2*1,674 ; other Australian ports, £2,95*5 ; and from New Zealand ports, £43,530. During the same period the exports were to the United Kingdom £7,868 ; to the Australian colonies, £10,577 ; aud to New Zealand ports, £60,756. About one-third of the trade with New Zealand ports is in New Zealand produce. Comparing these figures with those given during the corresponding period of last year, we find that there has been several fallings off, the principal being in our imports of New Zealand produce, which stood in the March quarter of 1865 at £96,667, against £43,630 in the past three months ; also iu the exports to the colouies, which stood at £50,646 against £10,577 this year. The imports from Great Britain have fallen from £44,489 in 1865 to £33,359 in 1866. Our imports from New South Wales show a slight decrease, but frcm Victoria they have advanced from £13,084 in the quarter ending 31st March, 1865, to £24,674 in the correspondihg quarter this year. It is, however, by comparing our trade for some few years back that we can best understand the various modifications it has been undergoing since the advent of such frequent steam communication with Australian and New Zealand ports. Some few years ago we had just as rapid, and almost as frequent communication with England by sailing vessels, and also as regular steam commun ; cation with Sydney, and we find our trade has not very largely increased with either of these places. Thus in the quarter ending 31st March. 1862, our imports from England were £22,512, and the increase in four years has been about 50 per cent.; also in the March quarter of that year our imports from New South Wales were £28,590, and in four years they have only increased about 28 per cent., while our imports from Victoria have advanced from £2,920 for the March quarter of 1862, to over £24,000 for the March quarter this year ; at the same time our imports of British and foreign goods from other New Zealand ports have only advanced from £21,000 iu 1862, to £30,000 in the first quarter of 1866. We give below an abstract of the Imports and Exports of British and foreign produce during the quarter ending Slst March, 1866.

These figures show that our principal trade is with the West Coast ports. The Wairau

comes next. It will therefore be readily understood how much the large trade we do with these ports, is, in consequence of an exceedingly useful fleet of small steamers being owned by Nelson proprietors.

IMPORTS. EXPORTS. Wairau £526 ... £6,716 Collingwood ... 110 ... 4,320 Hokitika and Grey 486 ... 24,53S Pieton 172 ... 797 Havelock 356 ... 1,320 Taranaki 86 ... 1,235 Manukau, Specie 20,000 „ Merchandise 1,258 ... 275 Wellington ... 1,950 ... 415 Lyttelton ...' 829 Dunedin 4,522 ... 245 Wauganui ... ... 15 £30,295 £40,585