TRADE OF TIIE COLONY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2761, 13 February 1907, Page 63

TRADE OF TIIE COLONY.

REMARKABLE INCREASE IN

EXPORTS,

INTERESTING STATISTICS.

WELLINGTON. February 2. The annual report of the Chamber of Commerce dealing with statistics concerning the trade of the colony, compiled for. the yearly periods ending September 30, states that in the year ended September! 30 last the exports of the colony made further substantial and most satisfactory advance in value, reaching a total far in excess of any previous 12 months. This improvement is largely, but not entirely, the result of better prices obtained for. our produce. A table in the report shows that the exports for 1906 were valued afc £17.734,798, or the remarkable increase of £2,060.662 on the previous year, of which!. £1,326.076 arises from wool and sheepskins^ Frozen meat, dairy produce, tallow, gold, hemp, and kauri gum all show increased) values. Further tables demonstrate that? the greater value is partly attributable to increased quantity in the case of wool, cheese, tallow, and kauri gum, and- wholly, so as regards frozen meat, while improved^ prices alone account for the enhanced totaß of butter and hemp. The average valua-< tions of our exports of wool show the following 1 remarkable expansion in the lastj five years : —l9ol-2, 4.84 d per lb; 1902-3,. 6. 01 d per lb; 1903-4, 7.37 d per lb; 1904-5,. 9.05 d per lb; 1905-6, 10.45 d per lb. The year 1905-6 shows thus an advance in this respect equal to about 116 per cent, upon 1901-2.

The colony's imports suffered a decrease of over half a million in the 12 months ending with the 30th of September. 1905, but- the volume again, expanded in tha succeeding year, the value of which showed a total, apart from specie (which amounted! to about one million) of £13.575,121— an increase upon 1904-5 of £1.187.808. The North Island accounts for an increase oE about £500,000, and the South Island of about £600,000. The value of exports from the centres for the last throo years was : —Auckland, £7,979.974 : Wellington, £9 177 560; Lyttelton, £7,407.338; Dum edin, £4.589.024. The value of imports for the same period wa«: -Auckland, £9,658,118; Wellington, £11.041.931; Lyttelton, £6,645,-632;! Dunedin, £6,290,366. , l'he Customs revenue for the same period was:— Auckland, £2,023.821; Wellington, £2,087,443; Lyttelton. £1,223,408; Dunedin, £1.280,644.

The Southland. Times states that th» Besses o' th' Barn Band were well satisfied with their visit to Southland. The takings at the concerts given aggregated nearly £1000. It is understood that the* band will pay a- farewell visit to New Zeal%ud. after touring Australia.