THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT-FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1877.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2533, 17 February 1877, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT-FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1877.

The returns of Imports and Exports for the quarter ending December 31st, 1876, and the comparative return for the corresponding quarter 1875, as well as the whole returns for those two years, are to hand, and some of the figures are interesting as affording a guide to the present condition of New Zealand, and a means of forming an opinion whether her course during the past year has been one of progression or retrogression.. Now we have always maintained that the prosperity of a country can best be gauged by the value of its exports as compared with its imports, and, therefore, it is with pleasure we note that the imports for the last quarter of 1876, as well as the imports of the whole year, are considerably less in value than those of 1875, and the corresponding quarter of that year. We are not saying that the excess of exports over imports is an infallible guide, more especially in the case of a young colony, which for some—it may be many years—has of necessity to import largely in order that it may hereafter be ahle to. export more largely. Still it must always be taken as a-good sign when the value of imports shows signs of decrease, as evidencing that the colony is more able to rely on itself for the supply of those things which in its earlier stages it was obliged to obtain from other parts. Hence then every fresh industry, whether it take the shape of furnishing engines for our steamers instead of having to send for them to England, or preserving our peaches instead of sending to Tasmania for jam, is a sign of progress, small in itself, perhaps, but which, nevertheless, marks a course in the onward direction. To give some few of the figures we are in possession of, New Zealand imported during the last quarter of 1876 from the United Kingdom alone goods to the value of £875,693, as against £1,165,130 imported in the last quarter of 1875, thus giving a decrease in favor of 1876 of £289,437. The total value of goods imported from all parts for the quarter ending Dec. 1876 was £1,645,464 against £1,883,656 imported in 1875, being a decrease on the entire quarter's imports of £238,192. It will be seen that the decrease in the value of goods imported from the United Kingdom more than accountsfor this decrease. The imports from Australia were about the same in each quarter; from the United States about £10,000 more during the last quarter of 1876 than for the last quarter of 1875; from the Continent an equal amount of increase ; and from India about half that sum. Prom China, on the other hand, imports of about £4000 less were received. These are the principal quarter's statistics, and taking the year as a whole imports amounting to £1,124,283 were imported in 1875 more than in 1876, a subject, as we said, for congratulation. Coming to the value of exports the returns are not so hopeful, for though we have imported less we have exported less also, though happily not to the same amount as in the case of imports; and there is this to be said further, that though the exports for the whole year are less than for the whole of 1875, yet for the last quarter of the former year we have exported to the amount of £220,705 in ex* cess of exports sent in the last quarter of the latter year to the United Kingdom alone, the figures being last quarter, 1876, £923,626 ; last quarter, 1875, £702,921 ; while the excess for the total exports for the quarter is £162,654, the increase being made up by the large quantity sent to the United Kingdom. There was a slight decrease in exports to the United States, and Australian exports continued about the same, and there were no exports to the Continent. Yet notwithstanding this successful last quarter, we exported goods valued at £202,294 less in 1876 than in 1875. So that taking the whole year we imported £1,124,283 less in '76 than in '75, but we exported £202,294 less, no that deducting one from the other, the decrease of exports from the decrease of imports, we are really gainers, according to our way of thinking, of £921,989, that is, we have, though we have received some £200,000 less, still saved £921,989 by not paying away that sum for imports.

We draw attention to the announcement that the adjourned meeting of the Parawai ratepayers will be held on Monday at the schoolhouse. The Works Committee of the Thames Borough Council met to-day in the-Coun-cil Chambers to consider the plans and specifications of the new bridge across the Karaka in Pollen street, furnished to them by the Foreman of Works. Both the plans and specifications were approved of, and the Town Clerk was instructed to advertise for tenders. We hear that Mr Graham has in his garden in Upper Albert street a pear tree which is now iv full blossom for the second time this summer. It blossomed

iast year at the usual time, but the blossoms came to nothing, and it now presents the same appearance as is usual for pear trees to assume in the spring of the year.

On Monday night at the Theatre Royal will appear the celebrated Mr J. K. Emmet, the famed delineator of Fritz. The numerous likenesses which are distributed throughout the town have aroused much curiosity to see a man who is so much spoken of, and not unjustly either considering the very favorable way in which hiß performances are criticised by the leading English and American journals. We anticipate extra large houses during Mr Emmet's stay here, as, we believe, no trouble or expense will be spared to produce the play in a worthy manner.

We notice from an announcement in another column that William Me Arthur, Alexander McArthur, Charles Cookman McMillan, and Frederick Larkins, have entered into partnership in the business of importers and warehousemen, and intend carrying on business under the name or style of William McArthur and Company.

In speaking of the principal bowler of Christchurch, who will not be able to play v. England, the name was telegraphed to the Auckland and Thames papers as Freeth; it should have been Frith.

We understand that Mr Maginn, manufacturer of lemonade, gingerbeer, and aerated waters, has bought the business, goodwill, plant, &c, belonging to Messrs Ballin Bros., who were in the same line of business.

" Eatepayeb " has written to us again, in the same strain as ho has .written before, impugning the competency of the Foreman of Works. We do not see that the slightest good to the public, or, in fact, to anyone, would result from the publication of the letter, and, therefore, refuse it insertion, as we do not think it necessary to throw open our columns to those who appear to have taken a " down " on some particular person. If " Batepayer " considers that the Foreman of Works bas exceeded, or fallen short of .his duties, he had better write to the Borough Council on the matter, as these, and not the proprietors of this paper, are the employers of Mr Eawdon. .

The statement made by our Waitekauri correspondent, that the application to construct a tramway to connect the Welcome mine with the Waitekauri Company's battery had been refused by the Warden, is incorrect. The application has not reached the Warden's office yet. As to the reason given, namely, that the company refused to reserve certain stamps for public crushings, that also is incorrect, for we are informed that in the original license granted to the Waitekauri Company it was stipulated that ten head of stamps should be open to public crushings at reasonable rates, and in the event of disagreement as to what would be reasonable rates, the Warden to be appealed to. On these conditions the whole of the water rights were granted to the Waitekauri Company.

We (Dunedin Saturday Advertiser) learn on good authority that the Masons of New Zealand holding under the English, Scotch, and Irish Constitutions, intend taking steps in a short time to establish a New Zealand Constitution, in order to get rid of the " red-tapeism" which characterises business transactions with the Grand Lodges of the old countries. '

We (Herald) have received information that within the last few days there has been a marked improvement in the health of Sir George Grey, who has been, for a considerable period, confined through illness to his residence at the Kawau.