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all, I think, would like to see them more forward in the race for wealth; and the same remark applies to the next in order —working storemen, mechanics, labourers, shepherds, miners, sailors, &c, who are enumerated at 2,088. Professional men, including authors and editors, number 1,226; merchants, importers, warehousemen, contractors, &c, 1,231, of whom 282 are firms; and agents, auctioneers, clerks, book-keepers, teachers (not under Educational Board), merchants captains, &c, 1,134. 1 need not quote the other numbers excepting, perhaps, to state that the Civil servants, officers of local bodies, teachers under Board of Education, &c, number (549. I have had a return very carefully prepared, showing the assets and liabilities of the colony; it does not include such works as roads and bridges. It shows, under the head of assets, real property, .£116',376,659 ; personal property, £82,540,315 ; Government property, £19,377,986 : making a total of .£218,294,959. On the other side —liabilities: Debt of the colony, less sinking fund, £31,688,349 ; debts of local bodies, £5,616,273 ; debts represented by mortgages, £31,821,109; indebtedness, exclusive of mortgages, £20,365,593: amounting in all to £89,491,324, and leaving a surplus of £128,803,635, or divided amongst the population, exclusive of Maoris, it shows a surplus of £223 for each man, woman, and child in the colony. It has also to be remembered that Native lands outside the five-mile limit are not included in the assets. I ask honourable members to ponder over these facts themselves. It is unnecessary for me to draw deductions from them. I cannot, however, resist reading a few extracts from the remarks of the expert, Mr. Proctor Baker, who was appointed by the Eoyal Commissioners to report on the grain sections in the late Colonies and Indian Exhibition :— "The average produce of over twenty-six bushels per acre of wheat, and over thirty-two bushels of barley, places New Zealand in the position of being among the most prolific countries in the world. . . . The samples of wheat shown in sheaf by the Canterbury Association are so remarkable as to deserve to be placed on record. . . In fact nothing finer than these wheats has probably ever been seen. The wheats of commerce which are shipped to England do not approach in quality these fine specimens. . . . The samples of barley were simply magnificent, and such barleys as the Chevalier would bring in enormous prices in England. If anything like the quality exhibited can be produced in quantity and delivered in England in good condition a ready market would be found for it, and (supposing the produce in beer be equivalent to the appearance of the barley) at very high prices. ... In the quality of its oats again New Zealand is in the front rank. . . . The samples of potato oats are unsurpassable. . . . Whether such splendid grain as is here exhibited is common and. can be obtained in quantity is doubtful. But still the fact remains that in all the chief grains New Zealand has shown by these samples a production of superb quality and in prolific quantities." No one, I hope, can have listened to this criticism, without feelings ot pride, that such a magnificent encomium can. be passed on the colony by a competent and unprejudiced judge. Eemarks like these should prove strong incentives to those interested in New Zealand, and inducements to persons in other countries, who are looking out for "fresh fields and pastures new." A propos of our agricultural capabilities, a few words should be said concerning the lately-compiled statistics. They record an increase of 647 freehold, 420 rented, and 502 part freehold and part rented holdings of over an acre in extent, or what may be considered an addition of 1,569 settlers. The average yield per acre of wheat, oats, barley, and potatoes, has in every case increased. Excepting in barley, there was also a larger production of these articles, amounting in net value to £680,000. CONCLUSION. I have occupied honourable members' attention at such length that something in the form of an epitome of what I have said may be convenient. After taking into account the various savings-in expenditure and the losses and gains of revenue, there was a deficit in the transactions of last year of £92,300. Additions

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