BOARD OF TRADE RETURNS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 199, 12 July 1860, Page 3

BOARD OF TRADE RETURNS.

[From the Scotsman."] Almost every symptom that could be desired both of growth and of health is to be found in the “ Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation” for the year 1859, and, separately, the month of December. In running over the chief results; we shall make reference to the figures of the month only when they indicate any difference, whether for better or for worse, from the statistics of the vear as a whole.

The imports of grain and flour have been somewhat less than those of 1858, and somewhat'more tharr those *of 1857. In round figures our imports of foieign “bread-stuffs” during 1859 have been four millions of quarters of wheat, 5£ millions of quarters of other grains, and somewhat less than 3f millions of cwts. wheat flour.' In live animals, though the number is still unimportant, there is an increase, mainly in sheep. Provisions may be described as showing a slight increase (on the month a considerable increase). It is of great interest to mention that the number of foreign eggs we consumed last year was nearly 150 millions, or about ,50 eggs to each man, woman, and child in the Three kingdoms; when Mr. Gladstone’s new Tariff takes off the present' import duty >(Bd per cubic foot of package), we may expect a largely increased foreign supply of this commodity. We give the figures showing the quantities taken for consumption, in 1858 and 1859, of those other important articles in ordinary use, ; which are only of; foreign or colonial growth, and where, of course, the Custom-house figures represent

Coffee continues to show a decrease, whilst the consumption of Sugar, which, previous to 1846 almost never reached four millions of cwts., is now. close on nine millions. The total real value of our Imports (as dedueible from imperfect tables given in, these accounts) was about 132 millions sterling,, being many

millions more \ tbap-i.tbe annual value of all the fixed propertyiin, the , Three:kingdoms. In the Exports, the.dnerease extends over almost all the principal articles.. On cotton manufactures .there .is?Gh .-increase of nearly millions sterling; 2$ millions; on iron, 1 million; ...iOU jlinens, 5 million. There is a decrease onibelh cotton and linen yarns, but that may, dje-.taken as indicating chiefly an increase, in the home .demand. The following are the grand, totals : . 1858—116,608.756 30,440^427 In Shipping the following shows, thp results of the year, putting clearances and entries together, distinguishing Foreign and British :

A Table showing th6 v Yalue of Exports to each Foreign Country and 11 British Possession during the last and'preceding year brings out some notable results.' The following are the totals : ; i ' '

Foreign Countries 76,386;299 84,315,381 British Possessions 40,222,457 46;125,040 Our Exports to Foreign countries, though greater than in 1858, have been less than in 1857, while to British Possessions the Exports show an increase,of 14 per cent, over last year, and of 25 per'cent, over 1857. We give the figures ofsomegFpreign countries separately:

One of the most remarkable facts here, especially at this moment, ;is, the small and declining condition, of our trade with France ; and; another is,, that Sardinia takes not greatly less than* -Spain,, which has four times the population. The following are the figures in the most notable cases among the British Possessions:: British: Territories in

exactly the quantities consumed 1858. 1859. Cocoa, lbs.. . 3,071,115 3,480,987 Coffee, lbs. 35,338,111 34,092,947 Sugar, cwts. . 8,746,729 8,905,744 Tea, lbs. . . 73^217,484 76,362,008 Tobacco, lbs, . 34,110^751 34,791,261

. 1858." 1859. British . . . 11,107,297 11.613,271 Foreign . . . 7^645,541 7,718,903 Total . . 18,753,838 19,332,174

Russia, £ £ Northern Ports . 2,725,609 3,493,016 Southern-Ports . 367,890 546,183 Prussia ... . . 1,956,199 l,492„54l flanse- Towns 9,031,877' 6,180,104 Holland . . • . V 5173,312 5,379,794 Spain . . . . j 2,071 ,'219 1,946,360 Sardinia . '-'i" . 1,M;580 1,406,889 Austrian' Territories 1,298,199 789,886 Turkey . ... . 4,255,612 .3,752,458 Egypt (Ports on the Mediterranean) . 1,958,829 2,195,882 United States of America, J Atlantic- Ports . 13,994,815 22,174,245 California. . . 496,633 437,038 Brazil . . . . 3,984,817 3,686,353

the East Indies (exclusive of Singapore ij £ and Ceylon) . . 16*782,386 Singapore ... 960,335 Ceylon .... 541,131 Australia. . . . 10;4.63,032 19*832,699 1,420,324 667,680 11,225,616 British ..Aforth American: Colonies . . 3*159,845 British; JVe st India. 3,645,087 Islands . . . 1,792,323 1,606,700