IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 876, 12 September 1868, Page 1

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.

A late issue of the New Zealand Gazette iurnishes the commercial returns of the colony for the last quarter. The falling off in imports, as represented by a comparison with the corresponding quarter of j the previous year, is remarkable. The difference in totals amounts to no less than £308,523 on the quarter — or at the rate of upwards of £1,200,000 in a year. To make up for this deficiency in the imports, we have a slight increase in the exports, amounting to £18,531 on the quarter. • In the principal ports of New Zealand, the decrease in imports is very marked, with the exception of Dunedin. The figures stand thus, for the quarter :—

The extent of Auckland's sufferings in •the way of business is visible at a glance. A difference of £141,220 in the quarter indicates of course a state of extreme depression in that Province. The decrease in imports is almost entirely in our trade with the. United Kingdom ; with Victoria and New South Wales there is an increase in the -quarter, as compared with the previous year We imported from the United Kingdom to the value of £404,733 during the last quarter ; whereas we imported to the value of £664,845 in the corresponding quarter of 1867. From Victoria we imported to the value of £320,935 during the last quarter ; while in the corresponding quarter of 1867 we imported to the value of £305,41 9. From New South Wales, the total imports for the last quarter amounted to £116,932 ; for the corresponding quarter of the previous year, -they amounted to £100,152. From Tasmania, the total imports for the last quarter amounted to £12,147 ; for the corresponding quarter of 1867, to £34,894. "From South Australia, the total imports for the quarter amounted to £4 050 ; for the corresponding quarter of 1867, to £27,825. From Queensland and "Norfolk Island, we imported nothing during the last quarter; whereas in the corresponding quarter of the previous year, we imported from Queensland to the value of £11,074 ; and from Norfolk Island, to the value of £150. But while we imported^ nothing during the last mentioned period from Chili, China, France, and the Fiji Islands, it appears that we have imported from each of these countries during the last quarter : From Chili, to the value of £7,242 ; from China, to the value of £714 ; from France to the vsflua of £60 ; and from the Fijis, to the value of £170. From New Caledonia and the Friendly Islands, we imported nothing last quarter ; and from the South Sea Islands, we imported to the value of £447 only, O3 against £19,849 during^ the corresponding auarter of the previous year. Turning to the return of the value of Exports, we find the business of the principal ports thus stated :

The exports to the United Kingdom, the Australasian Colonies, and foreign countries, are thus stated for the quarters ending on the 30th of June in the last years : —

Trade with the Fiji Islands seems to be ■pretty well monopolised by Dunedin. -Out of the exports to those Islands valued at L 1302, Dunedin contributed to the value of L 1139 ; the balance of L 163 coming from Lyttelton. The exports from Dunedin to Victoria for the last quarter are estimated at L 69,240 ; to New South Wales, at L 1,49 2; to the United Kingdom, at L 304,337. The value of gold and wool exported during the corresponding quarters ending in June is as follows :—: —

From the five principal ports of the

colony, th.c exports of these articles were as follows :—

The return of the number, tonnage, and crews of vessels entered inwards and cleared outwards at the several ports of the colony concludes the statistical information in the Gazette. Both the entrances and the clearances show a decrease on the two quarters. As regards the entries, the totals stand thus :—: —

For the clearances, we have the following |

But it is worth noting that while the other ports of the colony show a decrease in the matter of shipping for the corresponding quarter, that of Dunedin shows an increase. The entries are thus stated : —

The clearances :—: —

The shipping trade of Auckland* has fallen away to a marked extent, up to the 30th of June last. The return gives the following information on the point, for the corresponding quarters. For the

en entries : — Vessels. Tons. Auckland, IMS .... 15 .... 3,104 „ 18G7 32 .... 9,048 For +<he clearances :—: — Auckland, 18G8 .... 35 .... 0,55« „ 18U7 .... 41 .... 14,612

i, 1868.... 1567 29 24 .... li.-ilO .... 10,394

Vessols. Tons. Dtmedin, 1868.... „ 18G7 26 .... 23 .... 9.377 9,027

igures :—: — Quarter 1808 „ 1867 Vessels. 212 230 Tons. 73,098 81,2:56

Juneain £300.401 £309,28. Auckland 68,581 210,08: Cyttelton 116,200 1«0,45i Wellington .... m/M 129,15Selson 84,753 105,71;

ISGS. 1867. >unedin £37fi,20S .. £3<lo,of>l .uckland 75,332 .. 83,957 .jttelton 184,056.. 148,1 <« iTellington 37,613.. 52.5,3 feteem 16 ' 659 • • 21 ' 970

IS6S. 18G7. United Kingdom £G27.2G7 ..£006.431 Victoria W>,±™ •• 2;14 > 572 New South Wales 227,482.. 407,413 South Australia 281 Tasmania MO2 .. 934 Queensland 2 •• 126 United States 510.. 965 Panama 1,215.. -1,113 Fijilalands 1,302 .. 1,316 South Sea Islands 3,149 . . 10,336

ISGB. 1867. •old £628,300 =£70.3,038 ITool 03;i,592 ....■*. 450,028 kuin (barley) .... 5,102 750 „ (oats) 17,1115 1.288 „ (wheat) 24,765 12,313

Gold. Wool. Grain, Dunedin .... £114,018 .. £219,483 .. £1,874 Auckland.... 23.G61 .. 3,749.. 4,495 Lyttelton .... 75 .. 141,615 .. S,BOS Wellington .., .. .. 33,674 .. .. Nelson 10,030 .. G.OOO ..

luarter 1868 „ 1«67 Vessels. 172 220 Tons. 56,213 70,265