141 
Van Diemens Land, for 1846. 
From the above returns, it will be seen that our exports for 1846 
exceeded those of the year preceding by no less a sum than 
£104,257, and are greater than any year since 1841 ; the 
exports of 1845, however, were the lowest on record for many 
years past, having amounted only to £198,066. It will also be 
observed that our exports during the year just expired exceed 
the imports in round numbers by £131,979, whilst in 1845 the 
reverse was the case, the imports having exceeded the exports by 
£3,929. These returns plainly indicate a rapid return to a more 
healthy state of mercantile relationship with the mother country 
and the neighbouring colonies. It is to some extent also gratify¬ 
ing to observe, that the value of imports is less than those of the 
preceding year by £31,651, which we take as an evidence of 
prudent retrenchment, and the encouragement of colonial pro¬ 
ductions, although no doubt in part occasioned by the emigration 
of a large portion of our free population, who were consumers of 
British manufactures. These facts will meet the eye at a glance, 
and are highly satisfactory. We now subjoin a detail of the 
items of imports and exports, which form an interesting return: 
Imports at the Port of Launceston, for the year ending bth January, 
Value. 
£ 
s . 
d. 
Apothecary. 
11 
8 
Apparel and slops.. 
0 
0 
Arms and ammunition. 
0 
0 
Books and stationery .. 
5 
0 
Boots and shoes. 
0 
0 
Butter and cheese. 
18 
0 
Canvas and bagging. 
10 
4 
Carriages . 
0 
0 
Cottons and linens . 
0 
0 
Coals . 
o 
0 
Coffee and cocoa . 
10 
3 
Deals and oars. 
0 
0 
Earthenware and glass.. 
17 
6 
Furniture .. 
() 
0 
Grain, flour, and seeds. 
5 
0 
