Total Trade—Comparison.

The general progress of the Colony may be noted by a comparison of the total trade of the years 1870 and 1890. In the former year it amounted to £9,461,000, of which the exports exceeded the imports by but £185,000, whereas in the latter year the total trade was £16,072,000, the exports being greater than the imports by no less than £3,155,000. This result becomes the more important when it is considered that it has been attained notwithstanding the discontinuance of the large system of borrowing from the British money-lender. In fact, ever since the self-reliant policy, which decided against the constant expenditure of borrowed money, was originated, about five years ago, the value of our exports has constantly but steadily increased.