The Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1876.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2614, 10 August 1876, Page 2

The Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1876.

A eetxtbn of the value of the Colony's Imports and Exports during tho year 1875, lately presented to the House, contains some highly instructive information. For instance, it appears that during that year 147,750 tons of coal, valued at £246,536 or £1 13 a4d per ton were imported, and 3665 tons of the same article valued at £3639, or 19s lOd per ton were exported, leaving a balance against the Colony of £242,897. Supposing that 19s, lOd per ton represented the cost of raising coal in the Colony, and delivering at the port of shipment, it would appear that the loss consequent upon having to bring coal from over seas is at the rate of 13s 6d per ton. There have been large expectations held out that as soon as the Greymouth and Ngakawhau coalfields are open, and the mines in working order, an enormous saving will be effected, and this is no doubt true so far as the retention within the Colony of the sum now sent abroad for coal is concerned. But that there will be any immediate saving from this source to 'the consumers in Canterbury seems open to question. The article will still have to be brought hither in ships, and it is doubtful if the freight for this voyage will be lower than 13s 6d, at all events until the West Coast harbours have been very greatly improved. Unless, therefore, coal can be raised upon the Coast at a rate low enough to undersell that imported, the great trade to which the people of those parts look forward will prove a delusion, at least for a long time to come. Pure patriotism, and the desire to foster local industry will not induce eonBurners to purchase New Zealand coal ; at a higher price than they would give for the imported article. The same return supplies the following figures in relation to imported wines, spirits, <foe, during 1875. Of spirits, other than those used for chemical and medicinal purposes, the declared value was £241,681 ; of wine, £94,071 ; of beer, £88,231; giving a total of £423,983. If to this is added the value of malt and hops imported, £40,667, the sum sent out of the Colony for liquors in one year is found to be £464,650* Placing this beside the total value of the exports for the year, which may be said to represent the Colony's gross trade income in relation to the outside world, ifc appears that it required one-twelfth of these to meet the year's liquor bill, their total value having been £5,828,627. If from this sum is deducted the value of wool and gold (dust and specie) exported,which was £5,037,115, j the balance representing the miscellaneous export trade of the Colony will he found to be £791,512. A sum, therefore, greater than half the exports of the Colony, with the exception of the two items above referred to, was expended in quenching the national thirst. To put the matter in another j way: — New Zealanders, drank up up last year the whole value (£232,565) at the ports of export of the grain raised during the year ; the whole value (£75,863) of the hides and skins exported ; the whole value (£138,523) of the kauri gum raised : the whole value (£12,465) of the live stock exported. If we throw in a third of the value (£16,071) of the leather exported, these amounts will together just balance the liquor account above-named, and leave the magnificent credit in favour of the trades of £123. It; should be mentioned that, in striking the above balance between certain trades and the prevailing drouthiness, we have perforce omitted to debit the latter with the sum patriotically expended in the support of local industry, that ia to say, in the manufacture of Colonial beer and in tho support of the retailers. For this purpose no data are available, bbust s it may be reasonably conjectured that it would absorb the remaining two-thirda of the leather trade, and make a very big hole in the fifty- five thousand pounds worth of tallow exported last year. Figures and statistics are very generally held dry subjects both by writers and raaders, but it will surely not be laid to our charge that the figures wo have quoted to-day exhibit this failing of dryness to any large extent. If any number of the colonists think so, thon indeed it is time to fear for the safety of the Pacific Ocean and New Zealand's insular advantages. Such people must own some kinship to thatj renowned, offshoot of "ta f'alianfc Phftirflhon," who allied himself with lifoah's dd^gber, , Apdp^ly,. spoilt fca flood , , dwkwgr»Bita!,vatw» ; but was stayed from the full accomplishment of that feat by the untoward cir oumHtandel' 'VM&' Wf ter' Mfri^al&ig pull, he found there was no Glenlivet" mingled with the' deluge.

Persons holding tb.o)m<J«tiOitJf«mo vlewfl on woular eduQation, Ktt*!*M«lly Justify the tale recently adopted by tbo Weitlaad Boftwtof

Education to the offoot that toaohers in tho employ of the Board will not bo permittod to aot as Sunday sohool toaohers or lay readers. It does not appear that many of tho Wostland toaohers aro anxious to aot in either of tho oapaoitios nomod, but, supposing that they were all anxious to do so, it is impossible to see upon what grounds the Board is justified in interfering. It is highly questionable if a dismissal for a breaoh of this rule, whioh has no relation to sohool duties, would be pronounood " rightful " in a law Court, at least in tho oaso of teachers who were ongagod prior to tho promulgation of ttie precious odiot. At all events tho toaohing fraternity of Wostland, will surely not bow their neoks to the oppressor, and tamely forego their liberties without an enorgotio protest. It is only within tho lash two years that Wostland has established an oduoational system, and thore has been considerable difficulty in obtaining a staff of tolerably cf&oiont teacher's. Tho aotion of tho Board soems direotly calculated to neutralise this good beginning, and to break up the staff.