THE STATISTICS OF THE COLONIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1461, 15 November 1879, Page 11

THE STATISTICS OF THE COLONIES.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, — In your issue of Ist November, under the head of " Agricultural and Pastoral Sfcatistlos of the OolonleB," while complimenting me for the artiole on " Sheepbreeding " in same, you refer to my remark in reference to Statistics published by the Registrar- General of New South Wales, and in doing so give a resume of the pastoral and agricultural portion of that return only, thereby showing the sunny Bide of the pioture as far as New Zealand is concerned. My remark was made inadvertently, and. should net have been introduced under the heading of "Station Management"; but, having dono so, I must Bhow oause. It was not, in one sense, in connection with the portion you have published that my remark was made, but to the return as a whole, for in it I conld see that on the 31ot of December, IS7B, New South Wales—the oldest of all the Colonies — stood, with an estimated population of 693.743— Taxation, of £1,309,717; j export, of £12,965.879 ; public debt, of £11,688,119; rate of Indebtedness perheid of population, £16 163 ll£d;— while New Zealand, not 40 years old, at same date stood —Population, 432,519; taxation, £1,533 393 ; export, £6,015,525 ; public debt, £22,608,311 ; rate of indebtedness per head of population, £52 5s sd. Those are the items that drew forth my remark, especially after reading the sunny side. It ia not, however, my intention to buttonhole your readers with the ideas of a man brought up in companionship with men who were in the habit of discussiDg the acts of such men as Wyndyor, Wentworth, Low, Plunket, E. Ds&a-Th.orapson, and others -of similar grit, who, aa the initiators of selfgovernment in the Australasian Culouiao, rude th& steed of State with an tiooiiu&jisin^ powur, well held and hands low d'jwu — no ! but rather from praotioal experience to show a silver lining to the present cloud, and

through your.oourtesy, under the head of " Station Management," point out ,a way to, in a very simple manner »nd by very moderate outlay, add from £7,000,000 to £8.000,000 par annum to the exporting of the Colony through its grand pastor*l e«iste. Some of your wool-broking friends will explain tho difference in v-ilue between a superior and inferior flaooo of wool. My remarks are moat thoroughly endorsed, as ii» ia on record how cne New Zealand breeder is able to grow wool valued iv Melbourne at la 43 and Is 51 per lb in the prease. Increase the value of the 13,069,338 fleeces; by Is each, with the addenda of l.ho export of fresh blood, as shown in my last, and you hava it.

My first glxit.es ab the return alluded to was but a cursory one. However, having guagad it moro carefully, I can only follow the example of Damiule Sampson, and oxclaim, "Prodigious !" In conclusion, thanking you for the flattering notice of my articles oa " Sheepfarming" — a flit be cy thai; my own vanity leads ma to hope is not of the Mrs M'Clac'kerty typ9, but that having stood yours they will also stand the severest test of the market of public opinion. — I am, &c, John Drew Atkin.