THE GROWTH OF OUR EXPORTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4869, 14 June 1890, Page 3

THE GROWTH OF OUR EXPORTS.

Some very interesting statistics showing the growth of our exports during the lust ten years have been compiled by tho Registrar-General. In looking over tho list thero is seen tho rapid advance made m some items and a steady decrease m others. Some of our exports at one timo assumed goodly proportions, such as seal skins and wlialo oil, but now they have dfeindlod down to a more nothing. In other goods there has been a steady advance year aftor year, while ag«in others havo gone ahead with extraordinary rapidity, The comparison between the exports of 1880 and 1889 shows tho great progress tho Colony has made m that decennial period. Take coal an the first item. In 188S the export was 7020 tons j m 1889, 70,400. But m gold there is a falling off, the returns being— lßßo. 3o3,?,lsoz ; 1889, 197,492 oz. Stiver has increased, but slightly, thus — 1880, 20,00502 j 1889, 21,105uz. Our fisheries have gone up with a rare spurt m the past 10 yearß. Tho export m 1880 waß only 17i cut, and m 1889 10,103cwt. This year owing to largo nhipmoulß to Australia, these figures will bo made larger. The oyetor trade, too, has developod at a rapid rate. In 1880 thoro wa9 none exported. In 1881 we sent away 900 dozen, and, m 1889 1,389,243 dozen. The wlialc fisheries are getting smaller by degrees and beautifully loss. Of whaloboho itself m 18S0 wo of ported 35851 b. In 1884 thero was a sudden jump to 20,4121 b, but m 1889 it had fallen to 17921 b. Of whale oil, both sperm and black, out trade is nearly a.l wiped out. Of tho two oils ;wo oxported m 1880 27,830 gallons, but m 1889 all wo l.ould rnuetor was a paltry 134 gallons, of block £,ud not a vestige of sperm. Of the products of the fovc«fc, fjrst comes the great Chinese dolicaoy, fungus. In 1880 wo sent to China 38320wt, and m 1889,;98540nt. In kauri gum 'Iho export m 1880 was 4725 tons, l( 2d m 1889 7619 tons. Bucon and hams haro finili from 67owt m 1880 to 'JOSHowt m 1889 t eallad beef and pork, m MlO same period, from 169 if to 81,'220wt j buttor from 2717 to 37,955ewt, and cjjoojo from 717 to 20,6580wt. The destruction of tlio 'rabbit pest is jjrogMßjing, a r 3 seen by tho export of skins. In the pint ton yoars tho total number of skjng exported amounted m round numbors to nearly JQO rnjjlions, rising from doyen millions m 1880 to Qve* eloypn mf tljqn» j n 1 1889. The wool trade him mudn rapid strides frpm, m round numbers, 7.0 million pounds }n 1880 to oysr 102 million. pounds m 1889. The flour export m 18S0 wo I *' BGB and In 1888 10,163 tons. Oats have nearly doubled, and wheat has decreased m tho B&mo period. Our

breweries are earning a better name abroad for the excellence of their wares. Wo sent away m 1880 1076 gallons of ale and beer, and by 1899 the export had run to 19,184 gallons. Tho New Zealand hemp export m 1880 was 894, and m 18S9, 17,084 tons. In the returns of tho valuo of our exports, tho following figures show tho expansion of our trade : — Total value of exports (colonial and foreign), m 1830, £6,352,692 ; m 1889, £9,339,205. I