CUSTOMS RETURNS.
The following are the Customs receipts at the port of Wanganui for the month of Augnst, 1896, as compiled and kindly sup plied by Mr A. Elliott, Collector : £ s. d i Customs Duties 2919 3 1 Beer Duty 187 6 6| Light Dues 4 5 8 S. and S. Act Fees 0 15 9 Brewers' Licenses 10 0 Custom House Agent Liconao 10 0 Pilotago 31 5 0 Total £8117 15 0 Last month 2235 15 6 Same month last year , 2338 19 9 The summary for the month is as fol lows :— £ B. d. Spirike.lßspergal 982 16 1 Spirits, perfumed, 30s uor gal 0 7 6 Cigars 7 14 0 Cigarettes, 17s 6d per 1000 ... "73 14 0 Tobacco, 3s 6d per lb ... 672 14 0 Wine— Australian, 5s per gal 10 0 0 Wine— Other kinds, 6s gal 31 8 11 Ale and beer, 2s gal 34 8 0 Tea, at 4d lb 44 16 8 Coffee, roasted, 5d per lb ... 0 4 2 Cocoa ... , ... ... 2 16 0 Sugar, jaib 95 13 4 Gemore, ldperlb 2 13 0 Opium, 40s per lb 0 10 0 Goods by weight 206 14 1 Goods ad valorem 665 14 0 Obhorjdutios 86 19 4 Total £2919 3 1 La t month 2006 5 11 Same month last year ... 2135 19 11

THE HOSPITAL.
