8.—6

XXXI

Summary of Development. (a.) Imports and Exports, — The value of imports increased—from £6,943,056 to £11,326,723, or a rate of 63-14 per cent. The value of New Zealand produce exported—from £9,365,868 to £13,498,599, or 44-13 per cent. (b.) Banking and Insurance, — Deposits in banks of issue (average of four quarters) —from £13,587,062 to £17,231,767, or 26-82 per cent. Deposits in savings-banks—from £3,580,544 to £7,876,877, or 119-99 per cent. (c.) Transport and Communication, — Shipping (international and intercolonial only) entered inwards—from 675,223 tons to 1,089,179 tons, or 61-31 per cent. Shipping entered outwards—from 656,100 tons to 1,048,770 tons, or 59-85 per cent. Miles of railway (State) open for traffic —from 1,886 miles to 2,291 miles, or 21-47 per cent. Eailway receipts—from £1,181,522 to £1,974,038, or 67-08 per cent. Miles of telegraph-line open—from 5,479 to 7,632, or 39-29 per cent. Telegraph revenue, including telephone — from £103,813 to £222",495, or 114-32 per cent. (d.) Occupied Lands, — Holdings occupied, number of—from 42,768 to 65,034, or 52-06 per cent. Land in cultivation, including sown grasses—from 9,713,745 acres to to 13,357,700 acres, or 37-51 per cent. (c.) Live-stock, — Horses, number of—from 211,040 to 286,955, or 35-97 per cent. Cattle, number of—from 831,831 to 1,460,663, or 75-60 per cent. Sheep, number of—from 18,570,752 to 20,342,727, or 9-54 per cent. (/".) Yield of Income-tax, — From £67,367 to £200,684, or 197-9 per cent., the rate of taxation beinguniform. (g.) European Population,— From 650,433 persons to 807,929 persons, or 24-21 per cent. SOME OP OUE ASSETS, 1902. Railways. —The profits last year amounted to £630,623 ; original cost, £19,081,735'; would fetch in the open market at least £27,000,000, or equal to half the public debt. Grown Lands. —Let to Crown tenants last year, 16,329,620 acres. Rents therefrom, £338,399 per annum. The present values based on a 4-per-cent. value on the rentals received, £8,459,975. Unoccupied Crown Lands. —Exclusive of mineral-bearing lands, 585,513 acres ; valued at £1 per acre. Auriferous, Argentiferous, and Goal-bearing Land. —£so,ooo,ooo. Post-offices, Telegrajih-lines. —Capital cost, £1,312,498; last year's profits (inclusive of State services), £172,954, which on a 4-per-cent. basis fixes the value of the Post and Telegraphs at £4,323,850. State Public Buildings and Land upon which they are erected. — Crown, local authorities, educational, church, and other lands (with improvements), £25,053,840. Harbour Defences: Lands. —Occupied therefor, £30,700.