OUR IMPORTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4898, 25 June 1887, Page 4

OUR IMPORTS.

The imports for 1880 exhibit some very rmna kable features, and they afford a very forcible illustration of the fallacy of Sir Julius Voxel's notable prophecy as to the progress of the colony by " leaps and bounds." A progressive colony should always import more than it oxports, since capital should always be floating in ; but New Zealand has at last got to the point of. exporting more than she imports, the balance last year showing an excess of exports of nearly £300,000. The falling off in imports, deducting a specie and public work plant, is no \o*s than £8G3,000 as compared with 1878, the highest of the late ten years, the difference is still more remarkable. The ltoss imports of that year were 8,7^5, GU3, the gross imports ol: last year were £0,759,013; and even allowing for the reduced amount foe public works' plant the difference is very striking. The only year which shows a smaller import in the past decade is the year 1880, when thb figures were £6,102,011 ; but that was preceded and followed by two years of very heavy imports. 1n,1882 the figures were £8,(509,270. Our population has greatly increased since 1878, thoßß who were then children have grown up to manhood ; and yet we have fallen back in trade. It is only fair, however, to make allowance for two causes which have affected the result. Undoubtedly prices have falleu greatly at Home and olse where in the last few years, and at the samo time our local manufactures have increased in volume. But if the latter has the effect often attributed to it of increasing the sum paid for wages it ought also have tho effect of increasing the demand by the wage-earner for many imported commodities. Making every allowance for contributing causes, we cannot regard the outlook as satisfactory. The first quarter's returns of the present year do not indicate either any improvement, for the imports to the 31st of March, 1887, were £1,7 15,258 as against £1,004,948 for the corresponding quarter of 1880. Tho exports, on the other hand, were £2,775,752 ; against £2,481,494 for the corresponding quarter of 1880. The Protectionists may rejoice ab what we cannot regard as progrebs bac«cwards, but a few years experience of one gided-trade, of sending more out of the Colony than we are bringing into it, will tell another tale. Surely this is "keeping the money in the country. " It is possible that the rapid communication by steam is tending to a revolution in our system of trade, and that smaller stocks are now kept because they can be replenished so readily ; but for all that our falling revenue from the Customs indicates smaller actual consumption of imported goods, and it remains to see if this state of things continue. Everything is cheap enough at present, but demand has fallen off, and one main cause must b« that the people have no money to buy, and that fewer houses are being built and furnished leas seed has been sown, and less is spent in every article of luxury. The evil may not be an unmixed one, but it ia certainly not to be cured by laying fresh burdens of taxation on the people.— Otago Daily Times.

Truth says that the colonials who dined at the St. Michael and St George dinner at St. James' Palace will not ba greatly impressed with Royal hospitality. The Knights and Companions of this " most noble order " were charged £2 each for their dinner, and an additional 5a each for putting the kitchen range in order, for this had to be clone so as to cook the dinner. This last charge was really monstrous. To make the guesta pay for their dinner was bad enough, bub to make them pay for mending the kitchen range would not have been done at a reBpectable restaurant. As there were 180 guests, and 5s per head would amount to £45, the kitchen range must have been very much out of order, or somebody's pocket must have required to be repaired with a golden lining. Several cases have occurred lately in which one or other of the Atlantic cables have been used by Americans on the Continent to consult their physicians. In the | last instance a consultation was actually held by submarine cable between an American doctor who was settled in Paris and one of the moat famous physicians in New York. A one-year old child strayed on to the line near Newcastle, New South Wales, the other day, and while crawling on the rails a passing train cut the poor little creatures hands oif. Post Card Proof. Salisbury, Term., April 4, 1883. Gents : — I was afflicted with serious Kidney and Urinary trouble for twelve years. Alter trying all the doctors and .patent medicines I could hear of, I used two bottles of Hop Bitters and am perfectly cured. B. F. BOOTH. Washington, 8.C., April 3, 1883. To the Hop Bitters Co. : Sirs :— I wrte this as a token of the great appreciation I have for your Bitters. 1 was afflicted with icflammatory Rheumatism 7 yeara, and no medicine seemed to do me any good until I tried three bottles of your Hop Bitters, and to my surprise I am us well today as ever I was. I hope you may have great success in this great and valuable medicine. Anyone wishing to know more about my cure can learn by addressing me. E. M WILLIAMS, 1103 16th St. Prosecute the Swindlers! If when you call for American Hop Bittora (see greeu twig- of Hops on the white label and Dr Souut'p name blown in tho bottle), the vendor hands out <• thiug but Ambrican Hop Hitters, refuse it a^ " "P iU that vendor as you would a viper ; and if h- - a . ,. un yonr money for anything else indict iit«- -<* llaa '• a " ie " and bue him for damages for the - ai for the frauu pay you liberally for the convl a wiudle, auwe Will jtion.