D.-7.

6

" In consequence of the delay in this payment I put off getting in supplies until this month, when I sent an order for goods to Westport to be forwarded to me by the p.s. ' Result,' a boat subsidized by the County Council, but my goods were refused, and Mr. Bailie, the merchant at Westport, was told that no goods would be taken for me. " The goods brought here per ' Result' by Mr. Stitt were sold wholesale and for cash on the wharf at prices varying very little from mine. Some things were sold for the same price, others slightly cheaper, and others dearer, than I have been charging on a retail and long-credit system since last March. " A number of the poorer settlers whom I have trusted have been unable to obtain any supplies from Mr. Stitt, and care was taken that I should not obtain any by the boat to meet their wants. The greater number of the settlers having received large supplies by the ' Result,' they will not require much for the next three months. "I have, &c, " H. Dolphin." " That the subsidizing of a steamer to call periodically at the port, and the outlay of a moderate sum of money on public works within the Karamea District will make the settlement a success." — It is very important, in the interest of the place, that a steamer should be subsidized to call there periodically. At present, owing to the Karamea being a new and comparatively unknown port, combined with the want of inducement, owners of steamers are disinclined to send a boat there without a subsidy, and, unless an arrangement of this kind can be made, the settlers will be cut off from communication from other places. Moreover, Government, having established a settlement in so isolated a place, cannot in justice to the people located there relinquish their charge until the usual operations of trade induce private individuals to undertake to supply the want now r felt. I purpose recommending in my report that a small sum of money should be expended on public works. A. Mackay.

COMPARATIVE LIST of PRICES at KARAMEA, WESTPORT, and MOKIHINUI.

Karamea. Government Store. Dolphin's. AVestport. Mokihinui. Axes Axe-handles ... Bacon Butter Beef Candles Castor oil Cheese Coffee Currants Biscuits Flour Jam Hops Dried apples ... Kerosine Hams Maizena Matches Mustard Mutton Oatmeal Onions 9s. Is, 6d. Is. 6d. Is. 6d. 6d. Is. 3d. Is. Is. 3d. Is. 9d. 8d. 9s. Is. 6d. Is. Id. Is. 6d. 5d. to 6d. ... Is. 3d. Is. Is. Id. Is. 9d. 8d. 4d. per lb. ... 22s. to 26s. ... Is. per lb. ... 3s. Is. 4s. per gal. ... 8s. 6d. to 9s. Is. 6d. Is. Is. 6d. 7d. to 9d. ... Is. 3d. Is. Is. Is. 9d. 8d. 6d. to 9d. ... 22s. to 25s. ... Is. 2s. lOd. 3s. to 4s. Is. Is. 2d. to Is. 3d, Is. 6d. 8d. Is. 3d. Is. Is. 3d. Is. 9d. to 2s. 9d. 94 27:'. to 30s. Is. 21s. per 100 lbs. 3s. per lb. ... Is. 3d. per lb. 3s. per gal. ... Is. 6d. Is. 3d. per box ... Is. 3d. per tin 6d. per lb. ... 4Jd. „ ... 4d. „ ... 2s. Is. 3d.to4d. p. box Is. 9d. 5d. to 6d. ... 4id. 2d. 2s. 6s. per cwt. ... Is. Is. 6d. 2s. 9d. per lb. ... -id. „ ... 2d. „ Is. 2d. „ ... 6d. to 6|d- ... 3s. to 3s. 6d. 6s. 6d. per lb. ... Is. Is. 2s. 6d. 2s. 6d. per doz. 2s. 6d. to 8d. ... 4d. 3d. 2s. 6s. to 7s. ... Is. Is. 6d. Is. 6d. 9d. to lOd. ... 5d to 6d. ... 3d. per lb. ... Is. 4d. 5d. to 6d. ... 3s. to 3s. 6d. 5s. 6d. 6d. per lb. ... Is. Is. 4s. 3d. per gal. 4d. per box. 8d. 8s. per 25 lbs. Pepper Potatoes Pick-handles ... Painkiller Pills Raisins Rice Salt Is. 6d. Is. 6d. 2s. 9d. per lb. ... 4d. „ ' ... 2d. „ Is. per bar ... 4d. per lb. ... 6d. „ ... 3s. „ 5s. „ 6d. „ ... Is. a bottle ... Is. 2s. 5d. per lb. ... Is. 5d. 4d. Is. 6d. Soap Soda Sugar Tea Tobacco Treacle Vinegar Salad oil Steadman's powders Nails 6d. 3s. 6d. 6s. Is. Is. 4d. to 6d. ...