Auckland's Prosperity.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 88, 7 February 1885, Page 6

Auckland's Prosperity.

Colonial statistics for the quarter which ended 31st December last show Auckland to be the most flourishing of colonial cities, and do so in a stronger light than on any previous occasion. Ordinarily there has been at least one item in which this city wa q surpassed by Dunedin, but these last reports show that Auckland surpasses her Southern rival in every respect. Thus the Post office revenue collected at Auckland during the quarter was £4,870 0s 2d, while at Dunedin it was £4,698 9s 7d ; and the telegraphic revenue at Auckland was £4,522 11s, against £3,777 6s 2d at Dunedin. Coming to money orders, we find that in Auckland there were 9,059 issued of the value of £28,211 lls Id, and 7,732 paid, the value being £24,654 13s 9d. The figures for Dunedin were:— Orders issued, 8,275, value £21,644 8s 2d ; paid, 13,020, value £28,778 5s Bd. The transactions at the Post-office Savings Banks in the principal centres of population show a closer approximation than usual. In Auckland the deposits were £46,850, and the withdrawals £47,956 ; at Christchurch, £65,493 were deposited and £61,160 withdrawn,' Dunedin, £53,074 deposited, and £47,9.32 withdrawn ; Wellington, £47,234 deposited, and £44,546 withdrawn. From these figures, Christchurch and Dunedin seem to be ahead of Auckland in the matter of savings by the industrial classes ; but when it is remembered that Auckland Savings Bank does a businses more than equal to the Post-office Bank in this city, and that such a flourishing private concern does not exist in any other city of the colony, it will be seen that Auckland far excels in this as in other matters, which indicate a high state of commercial and industrial prosperity.

The number of public-houses in New South Wales is being largely reduced through the operation of the new Licensing Act. In 1881 there were 3,436 ; at the end of 1884, only 3,175, being a decrease of 261. This reduction has been brought about principally on account of many of the houses not having accommodation required by the Act.