THE New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1876.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4418, 11 January 1876, Page 2

THE New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1876.

It will be seen by a telegram in the usual column that the Customs revenue for the quarter ended 31st December, was £275,345, as follows :— £ s. d. £ a. d. Anckland ... 53,225 3 7 Thames - - - 2,514 Ull Russell - - - 242 12 8 Hokianga - - - ' 423 IS 6 56,406 6 8 New Plymouth- - 1,93119 5 Wanganul ... 0,326 IS 10 ■Wellington - - 39,201 17 2 — 46,53S 16 0 Wairoa ... 1,542 10 4 Ficton - - - 272 11 7 Havelock - 320 16 30 2,135 18 9 Nelson ... 9,067 1 0 HoMtika ... 6,693 0 0 Lyttelton . - - 43,430 6 6 Timara ... 6,101 14 6 49,632 11 0 Dnnedin - , - 91,730 S 6 Invercargi'l - - 9,450 10 3 Riverton ... I.SOS 17 2 102,959 5 11

275,345 4 9 The amount for Sept. quarter was - 312,472 0 0 shewing a total for the half-year of £587,817 4s 9d. Judging by the Customs returns for several years past appended to the Treasurer's statement last session, we may calculate on at least the same amount for the next two quarters, which have always in previous years yielded rather more than the September and December quarters. In that case, we shall have about £1,175,000 for the year. The Treasurer's estimate was £1,346,750, which may therefore prove to be £160,000 to £170,000 in excess of the amount actually received. The revenue for 1874-5, was the largest yet received in New Zealand. The following are the figures :— 1574-5. 1875-a. September Quarter - - 311,631 312.472 December Quarter - - 292,753 275,349 March Quarter ... 320,523 Juna Quarter - 1 - 293.364 £1,223,276 Major Atkinson was not however content with this large revenue, which shewed an increase of £115,000 over 1873-4 and £370,000 over that for 18723, but calculated on a further increase of £103,000. If, instead of this, there be a decrease, the financial statement of the Abolition Bill will certainly require the reconstruction we considered it ought to have had at the time. The total expected increase on which Major Atkinson based his statement and his munificent endowments to Road' Boards and Municipalities was £165,000, namely:— •'- Customs- - - - "'.- - £103,000 Stamps '- ..■-■-• - ■ - - • 14.500' Postal - . - - - - 19,000' Trfesraphic - - - - - 6,500 Incidentals, Registration of Deeds, &C ... ... £53,000 It is to be hoped that this £165,000 will be realised, but there seems no prospect of it at present if the Customs returns of the period are to be accepted a3 a criterion. It is satisfactory to know that Auckland— so much abused by other provinces—has contributed to the revenue for 1875, the very handsome sum of £243,610 17s Id.; The revenue raised from all the other

provinces' together- for the' same period, being only £960,000, or less than four times her tontribution.

The proceedings of the.nomination for the Waitemata district, which are reported in another column, are more than usually interesting. Two gentlemen of great local reputation and influence were placed in direct antagonism, and felt constrained to. urge their claims upon the constituency by a reference' to personal antecedents. The result of the show of hands was in favour of Dr. Lee. At Franklin the nomination was held yesterday, when six candidates were proposed. Mr. Buckland, however, retired as soon as he had delivered a speech, in which he explained his transactions with the Government. Three of the candidates were favourable to Sir George Grey's party, and two—Messrs. May and Goodf ello w—were not. Although no questions were allowed, the proceedings were very protracted. The speeches were able, and tho audience listened with patience and interest to the whole of them. Each of the candidates obtained an impartial hearing. The show of hands was in favour of Messrs. Lusk and Hamlin, but the other candidates had also a fair share of support. The meeting did not terminate until nearly five o'clock.