THE NEW ZEALAND OFFICIAL YEAR-BOOK 1904


Table of Contents

PREFACE.

THIS is the thirteenth issue of the New Zealand Official Yearbook.

The plan of publishing pamphlets of “Advance Sheets” from time to time, as the work is printed, has been again followed on this occasion.

By this means an earlier publication is insured of small quantities of matter at a time, and suitable for mailing by parties having correspondents.

The pamphlets are also used by the Agent-General in London.

E. J. VON DADELSZEN.

Registrar-General's Office,

Wellington, N.Z., 6th October, 1904.

ADDENDA ET CORRIGENDA.

ON page 21: Supreme Court Judges—H. S. Chapman held office until March, 1852.

On page 26: Consul of France in New Zealand (with jurisdiction over the Cook Archipelago, Suwarrow, Penrhyn, and Palmerston Islands, and the Tonga Islands)—Robert Boeufvé, vice Count de Courte.

On page 26: Vice-Consul for Argentine Republic at Dunedin—Hon. T. Fergus.

On page 26: Vice-Consul for Belgium at Wellington—G. F. Johnston. Esq.

On page 27: Vice-Consul for Netherlands at Dunedin—George Ritchie, Esq.

On page 27: Consular Agent of Italy at Dunedin—James Mills, Esq.

On page 29: New Zealand Cross—Wrigg. Harry C. W. Cross given 1898 for service rendered in 1867.

On page 30: Retired Judges of the Supreme Court—Add the name of Edward Tennyson Conolly.

On page 30: Governor of New Zealand—Lord Ranfurly's term of office having expired, he is succeeded by the Right Honourable Sir William Lee, Baron Plunket, K.C.V.O.

GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.
20TH JUNE, 1904.

PLUNKET, His Excellency The Right Honourable Sir William Lee, fifth Baron (United Kingdom, 1827), formerly an Attaché in the Diplomatic Service, and subsequently Private Secretary to successive Lords Lieutenant of Ireland (1900-4): Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order; son of fourth Baron (Archbishop of Dublin); born 19th December, 1864; succeeded 1897: married, 1894, Lady Victoria Alexandrina Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, daughter of first Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, K.P., G.C.B., &c. Issue: Two sons (Honourables Terence and Brinsley), four daughters (Honourables Helen, Eileen, Moira, and Joyce). Appointed 9th March, 1904, and assumed office 20th June, 1904, as Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, Salary, £5,000. Allowance on account of establishment, £1,500, and travelling-expenses, £500 per annum. The allowance is not payable for any period during which the Governor is absent from the colony. Residences: Old Connaught, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland: Government House, Wellington: Government House, Auckland.

Private Secretary: Horace Clare Waterfield, Esq.

1st Aids-de-Camp: Captain Francis Powell Braithwaite, 5th Northumberland Fusiliers.

Aides-de-Camp: Lieutenant the Honourable Arthur Maurice Robert Bingham, 5th Lancers, Captain John Hugh Boscawen (honorary).

On page 30, twelfth line: After “ex-Ministers” insert the words (omitted since 1902) “whose names do not appear in the foregoing list,” and further on delete “A. J. Cadman,” and “Sir J. G. Ward.” these being previously mentioned as having been knighted.

On page 32: Speaker of the Legislative Council Hon. Sir A. J. Cadman, K.C.M.G., elected 7th July, 1904.

On page 32: Chairman of Committees, Legislative Council Hon. R. H. J. Reeves: elected 6th July, 1904.

On page 33: Hon. Sir George Maurice O'Rorke, Kt., Auckland, summoned to Legislative Council, 25th June, 1904.

On page 35: O'Meara, John, Pahiatua, deceased; Mr. W. H. Hawkins elected 28th July, 1904.

On page 37: Printing and Stationery Department, now a class of itself, should be transferred to page 47, and precede Stamp Department.

On page 69: Westport Harbour pilotage (compulsory) and port charges altered:—

Since the 1st January, 1904, the pilotage and towage charges have been altered and now are: Pilotage (compulsory)—Sailing-vessels up to 120 tons, 1d. per net registered ton each way (in and out): sailing-vessels exceeding 120 tons, and not exceeding 1,500 tons register, 2d. per net registered ton each way (in and out); steamers exceeding 1,000 tons, but not exceeding 2,000 tons (in and out), £10; steamers under 1,000 tons pro rata; steamers exceeding 2,000 tons, but not exceeding 3,000 tons, £20: steamers exceeding 3,000 tons, but not exceeding 4,000 tons register (in and out), £25. Towage (inwards and outwards)—Minimum charge, £7 10s.; sailing vessels up to 100 tons register, £7 10s.; from 101 to 200 tons, £10; from 201 to 400 tons, £17; from 401 to 600 tons, £20: from 601 to 800 tons, £25; from 801 to 1,000 tons, £30; vessels over 1,000 tons and up to 1,500 tons register, £35; steamers up to 500 tons register, £12: from 501 tons to 1,000 tons, £21; from 1,001 to 2,000 tons, £24; from 2,001 to 3,000 tons, £30; from 3,001 to 4,000 tons, £36; over 4,000 tons, £40.

On page 80: Mangaweka Settler is published three times a week—viz., Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

On page 86: Tea; Exemption—Tea grown in British dominions, except that in packets not exceeding 1 lb. in weight. See page 102.

On page 99: Add items as under: 537. Leather board or compo cut into shapes (see New Zealand Gazette of 20th August, 1903), 4d. the pound. 538. Creamalina (see New Zealand Gazette of 17th September, 1903), 1d. the pound. 539. Ground cocoa-shells (see New Zealand Gazette of 7th January. 1904), 3d. the pound. The Customs tariff is modified on and after 1st July, 1904, in respect of the undermentioned articles imported into the Cook and other Islands recently annexed (see New Zealand Gazette of 9th June, 1904): Claret, 2s. the gallon (in lieu of 6s. the gallon): horses, 10s. each (in lieu of £1 each): drugs imported by missionary societies for dispensation among the Natives, free.

PART I.—INTRODUCTORY: OFFICIAL.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. NEW ZEALAND.

THE Colony of New Zealand consists of three main islands, with several groups of smaller islands lying at some distance from the principal group. The main islands, known as the North, the Middle, and Stewart Islands, have a coast-line 4,330 miles in length: North Island, 2,200 miles; Middle Island, 2,000 miles; and Stewart Island, 130 miles. Other islands included within the colony are the Chatham, Auckland, Campbell, Antipodes, Bounty, and Kermadec Islands. The annexation of the Cook and sundry other islands has necessitated an enlargement of the boundaries of the colony, which will be specially treated of further on.

New Zealand is mountainous in many parts, but has, nevertheless, large plains in both North and Middle Islands. In the North Island, which is highly volcanic, is situated the famous Thermal-Springs District, of which a special account will be given. The Middle Island is remarkable for its lofty mountains, with their magnificent glaciers, and for the deep sounds or fiords on the western coast.

New Zealand is firstly a pastoral, and secondly an agricultural country. Sown grasses are grown almost everywhere, the extent of land laid down being nearly twelve millions of acres. The soil is admirably adapted for receiving these grasses, and, after the bush has been burnt off, is mostly sown over without previous ploughing. In the Middle Island a large area is covered with native grasses, all used for grazing purposes. The large extent of good grazing-land has made the colony a great wool, meat, and dairy produce country; while its agricultural capabilities are, speaking generally, very considerable. The abundance of water and the quantity of valuable timber are other natural advantages.

New Zealand is, besides, a mining country. Large deposits of coal are met with, chiefly on the west coast of the Middle Island. Gold, alluvial and in quartz, is found in both islands, the yield having been over sixty-three millions sterling in value to the present time. Full statistical information on this subject is given further on, compiled up to the latest dates.

DISCOVERY AND EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first authentic account of the discovery of New Zealand is that given by Abel Jansen Tasman, the Dutch navigator. He left Batavia on the 14th August, 1642, in the yacht “Heemskirk,” accompanied by the “Zeehaen” (or “Sea-hen”) fly-boat. After having visited Mauritius, and discovered Tasmania, named by him “Van Diemen's Land,” in honour of Anthony van Diemen, Governor of the Dutch possessions in the East Indies, he steered eastward, and on the 13th December of the same year sighted the west coast of the Middle Island of New Zealand, described by him as “a high mountainous country, which is at present marked in the charts as New Zealand.”

Tasman, under the belief that the land he saw belonged to a great polar continent, and was part of the country discovered some years before by Schouten and Le Maire, to which the name of Staaten Land had been given, gave the same name of Staaten Land to New Zealand; but within about three months afterwards Schouten's “Staaten Land” was found to be merely an inconsiderable island. Upon this discovery being announced, the country that Tasman had called Staaten Land received again the name of “New Zealand,” by which it has ever since been known. Tasman sailed along the coast to a bay, where he anchored. To this he gave the name of Murderers (now Massacre) Bay, on account of an unprovoked attack on a boat's crew by the natives, and the massacre of four white men. Thence he steered along the west coast of the North Island, and gave the name of Cape Maria van Diemen to the north-western extremity thereof. After sighting the islands of the Three Kings he finally departed, not having set foot in the country.

There is no record of any visit to New Zealand after Tasman's departure until the time of Captain Cook, who, after leaving the Society Islands, sailed in search of a southern continent then believed to exist. He sighted land on the 6th October, 1769, at Young Nick's Head, and on the 8th of that month east anchor in Poverty Bay. After having coasted round the North Island and the Middle and Stewart Islands—which last he mistook for part of the Middle Island—he took his departure from Cape Farewell on the 31st March, 1770, for Australia. He visited New Zealand again in 1773, in 1774, and in 1777.

M. de Surville, a French officer in command of the vessel “Saint Jean Baptiste,” while on a voyage of discovery, sighted the northeast coast of New Zealand on the 12th December, 1769, and remained for a short time. A visit was soon after paid by another French officer, M. Marion du Fresne, who arrived on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand on the 24th March, 1772, but was, on the 12th June following, treacherously murdered at the Bay of Islands by the Natives.

In 1793 the “Dædalus,” under the command of Lieutenant Hanson, was sent by the Government of New South Wales to New Zealand, and two chiefs were taken thence to Norfolk Island. There was after this an occasional intercourse between the islands of New Zealand and the English settlements in New South Wales.

In 1814 the first missionaries arrived in New Zealand—Messrs. Hall and Kendall—who had been sent as forerunners by Mr. Marsden, chaplain to the New South Wales Government. After a short stay they returned to New South Wales, and on the 19th November of that year again embarked in company with Mr. Marsden, who preached his first sermon in New Zealand on Christmas Day, 1814. He returned to Sydney on the 23rd March, 1815, leaving Messrs. Hall and Kendall, who formed the first mission station at Rangihoua, Bay of Islands, under the auspices of the Church Missionary Society. Six years later, in 1821, the work of evangelization was put on a more durable basis; but the first station of the Wesleyan mission, established by Mr. Leigh and his wife, at the valley of the Kaeo, Whangaroa, was not taken possession of until the 10th June, 1823.

COLONISATION.

The first attempt at colonisation was made in 1825 by a company formed in London. An expedition was sent out under the command of Captain Herd, who bought two islands in the Hauraki Gulf and a strip of land at Hokianga. The attempt, however, was a failure, owing to the savage character of the inhabitants. In consequence of frequent visits of whaling-vessels to the Bay of Islands, a settlement grew up at Kororareka — now called Russell—and in 1833 Mr. Busby was appointed British Resident there. A number of Europeans gradually settled in different parts of the country, and married Native women.

In 1838 a colonisation company, known as the New Zealand Company, was formed to establish settlement on systematic principles. A preliminary expedition, under the command of Colonel William Wakefield, was despatched from England on the 12th May, 1839, and arrived in New Zealand in the following August. Having purchased land from the Natives, Colonel Wakefield selected the shore of Port Nicholson, in Cook Strait, as the site of the first settlement. On the 22nd January, 1840, the first body of immigrants arrived, and founded the town of Wellington. About the same time — namely, on the 29th January, 1840 — Captain Hobson, R.N., arrived at the Bay of Islands, empowered, with the consent of the Natives, to proclaim the sovereignty of Queen Victoria over the islands of New Zealand, and to assume the government thereof. A compact called “The Treaty of Waitangi,” to which in less than six months five hundred and twelve names were affixed, was entered into, whereby all rights and powers of sovereignty were ceded to the Queen, all territorial rights being secured to the chiefs and their tribes. New Zealand was then constituted a dependency of the Colony of New South Wales, but on the 3rd May, 1841, was proclaimed a separate colony. The seat of Government had been previously established at Waitemata (Auckland), round which a settlement was formed.

The New Zealand Company having decided to form another settlement, to which the name of “Nelson” was to be given, despatched a preliminary expedition from England in April, 1841, for the purpose of selecting a site. The spot chosen was the head of Blind Bay, where a settlement was established. About the same time a number of pioneers arrived in Taranaki, despatched thither by the New Plymouth Company, a colonising society which had been formed in England, and had bought 50,000 acres of land from the New Zealand Company.

The next important event in the progress of colonisation was the arrival at Port Chalmers, on the 23rd March, 1848, of the first of two emigrant ships sent out by the Otago Association for the foundation of a settlement by persons belonging to or in sympathy with the Free Church of Scotland.

In 1849 the “Canterbury Association for founding a Settlement in New Zealand” was incorporated. On the 16th December, 1850, the first emigrant ship despatched by the association arrived at Port Cooper, and the work of opening up the adjoining country was set about in a systematic fashion, the intention of the promoters being to establish a settlement complete in itself, and composed entirely of members of the then United Church of England and Ireland.

THE MAORIS.

Prior to the colonisation of New Zealand by Europeans, the earliest navigators and explorers found a race of people already inhabiting both islands. Papers written in 1874 by Mr. (afterwards Sir) William Fox, and Sir Donald McLean, then Native Minister, state that at what time the discovery of these islands was made by the Maoris, or from what place they came, are matters of tradition only, and that much has been lost in the obscurity enveloping the history of a people without letters. Nor is there anything on record respecting the origin of the Maori people themselves, beyond the general tradition of the Polynesian race, which seems to show a series of successive migrations from west to east, probably by way of Malaysia to the Pacific. Little more can now be gathered from their traditions than that they were immigrants, and that they probably found inhabitants on the east coast of the North Island belonging to the same race as themselves—the descend ants of a prior migration, whose history is lost. The tradition run that, generations ago, the Maoris dwelt in a country named Hawaiki, and that one of their chiefs, after a long voyage, reached the northern island of New Zealand. Returning to his home with a flattering description of the country he had discovered, this chief, it is said, persuaded a number of his kinsfolk and friends, who were much harassed by war, to set out with a fleet of double canoes for the new land. The names of most of the canoes are still remembered, and each tribe agrees in its account of the doings of the people of the principal canoes after their arrival in New Zealand; and from these traditional accounts the descent of the numerous tribes has been traced. Calculations, based on the genealogical staves kept by the tohungas, or priests, and on the well-authenticated traditions of the people, indicate that about twenty-one generations have passed since the migration, which may therefore be assumed to have taken place about five hundred and twenty-five years ago. The position of the legendary Hawaiki is unknown, but many places in the South Seas have been thus named in memory of the motherland. The Maoris speak a very pure dialect of the Polynesian language, the common tongue, with more or less variation, in all the Eastern Pacific Islands. When Captain Cook first visited New Zealand he availed himself of the services of a native from Tahiti, whose speech was easily understood by the Maoris. In this way much information respecting the early history of the country and its inhabitants was obtained which could not have otherwise been had.

For results of recent researches as to probable origin and present numbers of the Maoris, see Year-book for 1901.

BOUNDARIES AND AREA.

The Proclamation of Captain Hobson on the 30th January, 1840, gave as the boundaries of the colony the following degrees of latitude and longitude: On the north, 34° 30′ S. lat.; on the south, 47° 10′ S. lat.; on the east, 179° 0′ E. long.; on the west, 166° 5′ E. long. These limits excluded small portions of the extreme north of the North Island and of the extreme south of Stewart Island.

In April, 1842, by Royal Letters Patent, and again by the Imperial Act 26 and 27 Vict., c. 23 (1863), the boundaries of the colony were altered so as to extend from 33° to 53° of south latitude and from 162° of east longitude to 173° of west longitude. By Proclamation bearing date the 21st July, 1887, the Kermadec Islands, lying between the 29th and 32nd degrees of south latitude and the 177th and 180th degrees of west longitude, were declared to be annexed to and to become part of the Colony of New Zealand.

By Proclamation bearing date the 10th June, 1901, the Cook Group of islands, and all the other islands and territories situate within the boundary-lines mentioned in the following Schedule, were included in the Colony of New Zealand :—

A line commencing at a point at the intersection of the twenty-third degree of south latitude and the one-hundred-and-fifty-sixth degree of longitude west of Greenwich, and proceeding due north to the point of intersection of the eighth degree of south latitude and the one-hundred-and-fifty-sixth degree of longitude west of Greenwich; thence due west to the point of intersection of the eighth degree of south latitude and the one-hundred-and-sixty-seventh degree of longitude west of Greenwich; thence due south to the point of intersection of the seventeenth degree of south latitude and the one-hundred-and-sixty-seventh degree of longitude west of Greenwich; thence due west to the point of intersection of the seventeenth degree of south latitude and the one-hundred-and-seventieth degree of longitude west of Greenwich; thence due south to the point of intersection of the twenty-third degree of south latitude and the one-hundred-and-seventieth degree of longitude west of Greenwich; and thence due east to the point of intersection of the twenty-third degree of south latitude and the one-hundred-and-fifty-sixth degree of longitude west of Greenwich.

The following now constitute the Colony of New Zealand :—

1. The island commonly known as the North Island, with its adjacent islets, having an aggregate area of 44,468 square miles, or 28,459,520 acres.

2. The island known as the Middle Island, with adjacent islets, having an aggregate area of 58,525 square miles, or 37,456,000 acres.

3. Stewart Island, and adjacent islets, having an area of 665 square miles, or 425,390 acres.

4. The Chatham Islands, situate 536 miles eastward of Lyttelton in the Middle Island, with an area of 375 square miles, or 239,920 acres.

5. The Auckland Islands, about 200 miles south of Stewart Island, extending about 30 miles from north to south, and nearly 15 from east to west, the area being 210,650 acres.

6. The Campbell Islands, in latitude 52° 33' south, and longitude 169' 8' west, about 30 miles in circumference, with an area of 45,440 acres.

7. The Antipodes Islands, about 458 miles in a south-easterly direction from Port Chalmers, in the Middle Island. These are detached rocky islands, and extend over a distance of between 4 and 5 miles from north to south. Area, 12,960 acres.

8. The Bounty Islands, a small group of islets, thirteen in number, lying north of the Antipodes Islands, and about 415 miles in an east-south-easterly direction from Port Chalmers. Area, 3,300 acres.

9. The Kermadec Islands, a group lying about 614 miles to the north-east of Russell, in the Bay of Islands. Raoul or Sunday Island, the largest of these, is about 20 miles in circuit. The next in size is Macaulay Island, about 3 miles round. Area of the group, 8,208 acres.

10. Islands forming the Cook Group:—

Rarotonga.—Distance from Auckland, 1,638 miles; circumference, 20 miles; height. 2,920ft.

Mangaia.—Distance from Rarotonga, 116 miles; circumference, 30 miles; height, 656 ft.

Atiu.—Distance from Rarotonga, 116 miles: circumference, 20 miles; height, 374 ft.

Aitutaki.—Distance from Rarotonga, 140 miles; circumference, 12 miles; height, 366 ft.

Mauke.—Distance from Rarotonga, 150 miles; circumference, 6 miles; height, about 60 ft.

Mitiaro.—Distance from Rarotonga, 140 miles; circumference, 5 miles; height, about 50 ft; also,

Takutea.—Distant from Rarotonga, 125 miles.

The Herveys (Manuae and Aoutu).—Distant from Rarotonga, 120 miles.

Total area of above group, 150 square miles.

11. Islands outside the Cook Group:—

Savage or Nine.—Distance from Rarotonga, 580 miles; circumference, 40 miles; height, 200 ft.; area, about 100 square miles.

Palmerston.—Distance from Rarotonga, 273 miles; an atoll, miles by 2 miles.

Penrhyn, or Tongareva.—Distance 735 miles from Rarotonga; an atoll, 12 miles by 7 miles.

Humphrey, or Manahiki.—Distance from Rarotonga, 650 miles; an atoll, 6 miles by 5 miles.

Rierson, or Rakaanga.—Distance from Rarotonga, 670 miles; an atoll, 3 miles by 3 miles.

Danger, or Pukapuka.—Distance from Rarotonga, 700 miles; an atoll, 3 miles by 3 miles.

Suwarrow.—Distance from Rarotonga, 530 miles; an atoll.

Total area of islands outside the Cook Group, 130 square miles.

The total area of the colony is thus about 104,751 square miles, of which the aggregate area of the outlying groups of islands that are practically useless for settlement amounts to about 498 square miles.

Area of the Commonwealth States of Australia.

The areas of the several Australian States, as stated by different authorities, vary considerably. The total area of the Australian Continent is given as 2,944,628 square miles, according to a computation made by the late Surveyor-General of Victoria, Mr. J. A. Skene, from a map of Continental Australia compiled and engraved under his direction; but the following areas are taken from the latest official records of each colony :—

 Square Miles.
Queensland668,497
New South Wales310,700
Victoria87,884
South Australia903,690
Western Australia975,920
Total, Continent of Australia2,946,691
Tasmania26,215
Total, Commonwealth of Australia2,972,906

The size of these States (with New Zealand) may be better realised by comparison of their areas with those of European countries. The areas of the following countries—Austria-Hungary, Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, Portugal, Spain, Italy (including Sardinia and Sicily), Switzerland, Greece, Roumania, Bulgaria, Servia, Eastern Roumelia, and Turkey in Europe—containing on the whole rather less than 1,600,000 square miles, amount to little more than half the extent of the Australian Continent. If the area of Russia in Europe be added to those of the other countries the total would be about one-seventh larger than the Australian Continent, and about one-twelfth larger than the Australian States, with New Zealand.

Area of the Colony of New Zealand.

The area of the Colony of New Zealand is about one-seventh less than the area of Great Britain and Ireland, the Middle Island of New Zealand being a little larger than the combined areas of England and Wales.

United Kingdom.Area in Square Miles.
England and Wales58,311
Scotland30,403
Ireland32,531
Total121,305
New Zealand.Area in Square Miles.
North Island44,468
Middle Island58,525
Stewart Island665
Chatham Islands375
Other islands718
Total104,751

PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE NORTH ISLAND.

The North Island extends over a little more than seven degrees of latitude, a distance in a direct line from north to south of 430 geographical or 498 statute miles; but, as the northern portion of the colony, which covers more than three degrees of latitude, trends to the westward, the distance in a straight line from the North Cape to Cape Palliser, the extreme northerly and southerly points of the island, is about 515 statute miles.

This island is, as a whole, hilly, and, in parts, mountainous in character, but there are large areas of plain or comparatively level country that are, or by clearing may be made, available for agricultural purposes. Of these, the principal are the plains in Hawke's Bay on the East Coast, the Wairarapa Plain in the Wellington District, and a strip of country along the West Coast, about 250 miles in length, extending from a point about thirty miles from the City of Wellington to a little north of New Plymouth. The largest plain in the North Island, Kaingaroa, extends from the shore of Lake Taupo in a north-north-easterly direction to the sea-coast in the Bay of Plenty; but a great part of it is covered with pumice-sand, and is unfit for tillage or pasture. There are several smaller plains and numerous valleys suitable for agriculture. The lev or undulating country in this island fit, or capable of being made fit, for agriculture has been roughly estimated at 13,000,000 acres. This includes lands now covered with standing forest, and swamps that can be drained; also large areas of clay-marl and pumice-covered land. The clay-marl in its natural state is cold and uninviting to the farmer, but under proper drainage and cultivation it can be brought to a high state of productiveness. This kind of land is generally neglected at the present time, as settlers prefer soils more rapidly remunerative and less costly to work. The larger portion of the North Island was originally covered with forest. Although the area of bush-land is still very great, yet year by year the amount is being reduced, chiefly to meet the requirements of settlement, the trees being cut down and burnt, and grass-seed sown on the ashes to create pasture. Hilly as the country is, yet from the nature of the climate it is especially suited for the growth of English grasses, which will flourish wherever there is any soil, however steep the land may be; once laid down in grass very little of the land is too poor to supply food for cattle and sheep. The area of land in the North Island deemed purely pastoral or capable of being made so, while too steep for agricultural purposes, is estimated at 14,200,000 acres. In the centre of the island is a lake, about twenty miles across either way, called Taupo. A large area adjacent to the lake is at present worthless pumice-country. The Waikato River, the largest in the North Island, flows out of the north-eastern corner of this lake, and runs thence north-westward until it enters the ocean a little distance south of the Manukau Harbour. This river is navigable for small steamers for about a hundred miles from its mouth. The Maori King-country, occupied by Natives who for several years isolated themselves from Europeans, lies between Lake Taupo and the western coast. The River Thames, or Waihou, having its sources north of Lake Taupo, flows northward into the Firth of Thames. It is navigable for about fifty miles, but only for small steamers. The other navigable rivers in this island are the Wairoa (Kaipara), the Wanganui, and the Manawatu, the two last of which flow towards the south-west into Cook Strait.

The mountains in the North Island are estimated to occupy about one-tenth of the surface, and do not exceed 4,000ft. in height, with the exception of a few volcanic mountains that are more lofty. Of these, the three following are the most important:—

1. The Tongariro Mountain, situated to the southward of Lake Taupo. It consists of a group of distinct volcanic cones, the lava-streams from which have so overlapped in their descent as to form one compact mountain-mass at the base. The highest of these cones is called Ngauruhoe, and attains an elevation of 7,515ft. The craters of Ngauruhoe, the Red Crater (6,140ft.), and Te Mari (4,990ft.) are the three vents from which the latest discharges of lava have taken place, the most recent having occurred in 1868. These craters are still active, steam and vapour issuing from them with considerable force and noise, the vapours, charged with pungent gases and acids, making it dangerous to approach too near the crater-lips.

2. Ruapehu. This mountain lies to the south of Ngauruhoe and Tongariro. It is a volcanic cone in the solfatara stage, and reaches the height of 9,008ft., being in part considerably above the line of perpetual snow. The most remarkable feature of this mountain is the crater-lake on its summit, which is subject to slight and intermittent eruptions, giving rise to vast quantities of steam. Recently—in March, 1895—such an eruption took place, forming a few hot springs on the margin of the lake, and increasing the heat in the lake itself. This lake lies at the bottom of a funnel-shaped crater, the steep sides of which are mantled with ice and snow. The water occupies a circular basin about 500ft. in diameter, some 300ft. below the enclosing peaks, and is quite inaccessible except by the use of ropes. This lake, and the three craters previously mentioned on Tongariro, are all in one straight line, which, if produced, would pass through the boiling springs at Tokaanu on the southern margin of Lake Taupo, the volcanic country north-east of that lake, and White Island, an active volcano in the Bay of Plenty, situated about twenty-seven miles from the mainland.

3. Mount Egmont. This is an extinct volcanic cone, rising to a height of 8,260ft. The upper part is always covered with snow. This mountain is situated close to New Plymouth, and is surrounded by one of the most fertile districts in New Zealand. Rising from the plains in solitary grandeur, it is an object of extreme beauty, the cone being one of the most perfect in the world.

It is estimated that the area of mountain-tops and barren country at too high an altitude for sheep, and therefore worthless for pastoral purposes, amounts, in the North Island, to 300,000 acres.

Without a doubt the hot springs form the most remarkable feature of the North Island. They are found over a large area, extending from Tongariro, south of Lake Taupo, to Ohaeawai, in the extreme north—a distance of some 300 miles; but the principal seat of hydrothermal action appears to be in the neighbourhood of Lake Rotorua, about forty miles north-north-east from Lake Taupo. By the destruction of the famed Pink and White Terraces and of Lake Rotomahana during the eruption of Mount Tarawera on the 10th June, 1886, the neighbourhood has been deprived of attractions unique in character and of unrivalled beauty; but the natural features of the country — the numerous lakes, geysers, and hot springs, some of which possess remarkable curative properties in certain complaints—are still very attractive to tourists and invalids. The world-wide importance of conserving this region as a sanatorium for all time has been recognised by the Government, and it is now dedicated by Act of Parliament to that purpose.

Notwithstanding the length of coast-line, good harbours in the North Island are not numerous. Those on the west coast north of New Plymouth are bar-harbours, unsuitable for large vessels. The principal harbours are the Waitemata Harbour, on which Auckland is situated—this is rather a deep estuary than a harbour; several excellent havens in the northern peninsula; and Port Nicholson, on the borders of which Wellington is situated. This is a landlocked harbour, about six miles across, having a comparatively narrow but deep entrance from the ocean. The water is deep nearly throughout.

The Cape Colville Peninsula is rich in gold-bearing quartz.

COOK STRAIT.

Cook Strait separates the North and Middle Islands. It is some sixteen miles across at its narrowest part, but in the widest about ninety. The strait is invaluable for the purpose of traffic between different parts of the colony.

PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE MIDDLE ISLAND.

The extreme length of the Middle Island, from Jackson's Head, in Cook Strait, to Puysegur Point, at the extreme south-west, is about 525 statute miles; the greatest distance across at any point is in Otago (the southernmost) District, about 180 miles.

The Middle Island is intersected along almost its entire length by a range of mountains known as the Southern Alps. Some of the summits reach a height of from 10,000ft. to 12,000ft., Mount Cook, the highest peak, rising to 12,349ft.

In the south, in the neighbourhood of the sounds and Lake Te Anau, there are many magnificent peaks, which, though not of great height, are, owing to their latitude, nearly all crowned with perpetual ice and snow. Further north the mountains increase in height—Mount Earnslaw, at Lake Wakatipu; and Mount Aspiring, which has been aptly termed the New Zealand Matterhorn, 9,949 ft. in height, at Lake Wanaka. Northward of this again are Mount Cook (or Aorangi), Mount Sefton, and other magnificent peaks.

For beauty and grandeur of scenery the Southern Alps of New Zealand may worthily compare with, while in point of variety they are said actually to surpass, the Alps of Switzerland. In New Zealand few of the mountains have been scaled; many of the peaks and most of the glaciers are as yet unnamed; and there is still, in parts of the Middle Island, a fine field for exploration and discovery—geographical, geological, and botanical. The wonders of the Southern Alps are only beginning to be known; but the more they are known the more they are appreciated. The snow-line in New Zealand being so much lower than in Switzerland, the scenery, though the mountains are not quite so high, is of surpassing grandeur.

There are extensive glaciers on both sides of the range, those on the west being of exceptional beauty, as, from the greater abruptness of the mountain-slopes on that side, they descend to within about 700ft. of the sea-level, and into the midst of the evergreen forest. The largest glaciers on either side of the range are easily accessible.

The following gives the sizes of some of the glaciers on the eastern slope :—

Name.Area of Glacier.Length of Glacier.Greatest Width.Average Width.
 Acres.Milesch.Milesch.Milesch.
Tasman13,664180214115
Murchison5,800107015066
Godley5,3128015513
Mueller3,20080061050
Hooker2,416725054041

The Alletsch Glacier in Switzerland, according to Ball, in the “Alpine Guide,” has an average width of one mile. It is in length and width inferior to the Tasman Glacier.

Numerous sounds or fiords penetrate the south-western coast. They are long, narrow, and deep (the depth of water at the upper part of Milford Sound is 1,270ft., although at the entrance only 130ft.), surrounded by giant mountains clothed with foliage to the snow-line, with waterfalls, glaciers, and snowfields at every turn. Some of the mountains rise almost precipitously from the water's edge to 5,000ft. and 6,000ft. above the sea. Near Milford, the finest of these sounds, is the great Sutherland Waterfall, 1,904ft. high.

The general surface of the northern portion of the Middle Island, comprising the Provincial Districts of Nelson and Marlborough, is mountainous, but the greater part is suitable for grazing purposes. There are some fine valleys and small plains suitable for agriculture, of which the Wairau Valley or Plain is the largest. Deep sounds, extending for many miles, break the coast-line abutting on Cook Strait. The City of Nelson is situated at the head of Blind Bay, which has a depth inwards from Cook Strait of about forty statute miles.

The Provincial District of Canterbury lies to the south of the Marlborough District, and on the eastern side of the island. Towards the north the land is undulating; then there is a stretch of almost perfectly level country extending towards the south-west 160 miles, after which, on the south, the country is undulating as far as the borders of the Otago District. On the east a block of hill-country rises abruptly from the plain and extends for some miles seaward. This is Banks Peninsula, containing several good harbours, the principal being Port Cooper, on the north, on which is situated Lyttelton, the chief port of the district: the harbour of Akaroa, one of the finest in the colony, is on the southern coast of this peninsula.

The District of Otago is, on the whole, mountainous, but has many fine plains and valleys suitable for tillage. The mountains, except towards the west coast, are generally destitute of timber, and suitable for grazing sheep. There are goldfields of considerable extent in the interior of this district. The inland lakes are also very remarkable features. Lake Wakatipu extends over fifty-four miles in length, but its greatest width is not more than four miles, and its area only 114 square miles. It is 1,070ft. above sea-level, and has a depth varying from 1,170ft. to 1,296ft. Te Anau Lake is somewhat larger, having an area of 132 square miles. These lakes are bounded on the west by broken, mountainous, and wooded country, extending to the ocean.

The chief harbours in Otago are Port Chalmers, at the head of which Dunedin is situated, and the Bluff Harbour, at the extreme south.

The District of Westland, extending along the west coast of the Middle Island, abreast of Canterbury, is more or less auriferous throughout. The western slopes of the central range of mountains are clothed with forest-trees to the snow-line; but on the eastern side timber is scarce, natural grasses covering the ground.

The rivers in the Middle Island are for the most part mountain torrents, fed by glaciers in the principal mountain ranges. When the snow melts they rise in flood, forming, where not confined by rocky walls, beds of considerable width, generally covered by enormous deposits of shingle. The largest river in the colony as regards volume of water is the Clutha. It is 154 miles in length, but is only navigable for boats or small river-steamers for about thirty miles. The Rivers Buller, Grey, and Hokitika, on the West Coast, are navigable for a short distance from their mouths. They form the only ports in the Westland District. In their unimproved state they admitted, owing to the bars at their mouths, none but vessels of small draught; but, in consequence of the importance of the Grey and Buller Rivers as the sole ports available for the coal-export trade, large harbour-works have been undertaken, resulting in the deepening of the beds of these rivers, and giving a depth of from 18ft. to 26ft. of water on the bar.

The area of level or undulating land in the Middle Island available for agriculture is estimated at about 15,000,000 acres. About 13,000,000 are suitable for pastoral purposes only, or may become so when cleared of forest and sown with grass-seed. The area of barren land and mountain-tops is estimated at about 9,000,000 acres.

STEWART ISLAND.

Foveaux Strait separates the Middle from Stewart Island. This last island has an area of only 425,390 acres.

Stewart Island is a great tourist resort during the summer months, and is easily reached by steamer from the Bluff, distant about 25 miles.

The principal peak is Mount Anglem, 3,200 ft. above sea-level, which has an extinct crater at its summit. Most of the island is rugged and forest-clad; the climate is mild, frost being seldom experienced; and the soil, when cleared of bush, is fertile.

The chief attractions are the numerous bays and fiords. Paterson Inlet is a magnificent sheet of water, about ten miles by four miles, situated close to Half-moon Bay, the principal port, where over two hundred people live. Horse-shoe Bay and Port William are within easy reach of Half-moon Bay. Port Pegasus, a land-locked sheet of water about eight miles by a mile and a half, is a very fine harbour. At “The Neck” (Paterson Inlet) there is a Native settlement of over a hundred Maoris and half-castes. The bush is generally very dense, with thick undergrowth. Rata, black-pine, white-pine, miro, and totara are the principal timber trees. Fish are to be had in great abundance and variety; oysters form an important industry. Wild pigeons, ducks, and mutton-birds are plentiful.

THE OUTLYING ISLANDS.

The outlying group of the CHATHAM ISLANDS, 480 statute miles east-south-east from Wellington, and 536 miles eastward of Lyttelton, consists of two principal islands and several unimportant islets. The largest island contains about 222,490 acres, of which an irregular-shaped lake or lagoon absorbs 45,960 acres. About one quarter of the surface of the land is covered with forest, the rest with fern or grass. The hills nowhere rise to a great height. Pitt Island is the next in size; the area is 15,330 acres. The greater portion of both islands is used for grazing sheep.

The KERMADEC GROUP of islands, four in number, is situated between 29° 10' and 31° 30' south latitude, and between 177° 45' and 179° west longitude. They are named Raoul or Sunday Island, Macaulay Island, Curtis Islands, and L'Espérance or French Rock. The principal island, Sunday, is 600 miles distant from Auckland. The islands are volcanic, and in two of them signs of activity are still to be seen. The rainfall is plentiful, but not excessive. The climate is mild and equable, and slightly warmer than the north of New Zealand. The following are the areas of the islands and islets of the group: Sunday Island, 7,200 acres; Herald group of islets, 85 acres: Macaulay Island, 764 acres; Curtis Islands, 128 acres and 19 acres; L'Espérance, 12 acres: total, 8,208 acres. Sunday Island is twenty miles in circumference, roughly triangular in shape, and at the highest point 1,723ft. above the sea-level. It is rugged and broken over a very large extent of its surface, and, except in a few places, covered with forest. The soil everywhere on the island is very rich, being formed by the decomposition of a dark-coloured pumiceous tuff and a black andesitic lava, with which is closely mixed a fine vegetable mould. The great luxuriance and richness of the vegetation bear witness to the excellence of the soil, which is everywhere—except where destroyed by eruptions, and on the steep cliffs—the same rich loam. Want of water is one of the drawbacks. Three of the four lakes on the island are fresh, but so difficult of approach as to be practically useless.

The AUCKLAND ISLANDS are about 290 miles south of Bluff Harbour, their position being given on the Admiralty chart as latitude 50° 31' 29″ S., and longitude 166° 19' 12″ E. They have several good harbours. Port Ross, at the north end of the principal island, was described by the eminent French commander, D'Urville, as one of the best harbours of refuge in the known world. At the southern end of the island there is a through passage extending from the east to the west coast. It has been variously named Adams Strait and Carnley Harbour, and forms a splendid sheet of water. The largest of the islands is about 27 miles long by about 15 miles broad, and is very mountainous, the highest part being about 2,000ft. above the sea. The west coast is bold and precipitous, but the east coast has several inlets. The wood on the island is, owing to the strong prevailing wind, scrubby in character. The New Zealand Government maintains at this island a dépôt of provisions and clothing for the use of shipwrecked mariners.

The COOK ISLANDS, with others recently annexed, are as under*:—

* A special article fully descriptive of these annexed islands was given in the Year-book for 1902, and again in that for 1903.

RAROTONGA (Cook Group): A magnificent island, rising to a height of 3,000 ft., clothed to the tops of the mountains with splendid vegetation. It has abundant streams, considerable tracts of sloping land, and rich alluvial valleys. The two harbours are poor.

MANGAIA, the south-easternmost of the Cook Group, is of volcanic origin, and about thirty miles in circumference. The productions, which are numerous and cheap, are obtained by assiduous labour.

ATIU (Cook Group) resembles Mangaia in appearance and extent. It is a mere bank of coral, 10 ft. or 12 ft. high, steep and rugged, except where there are small sandy beaches and some clefts, where the ascent is gradual.

AITUTAKI (Cook Group) presents a most fruitful appearance, its shores being bordered by flat land, on which are innumerable cocoanut and other trees, the higher ground being beautifully interspersed with lawns. It is eighteen miles in circuit.

MAUKE or Parry Island (Cook Group) is a low island; it is about two miles in diameter, well wooded, and inhabited.

MITIARO (Cook Group) is a low island, from three to four miles long and one mile wide.

HERVEY ISLANDS (Cook Group): This group consists of three islands, surrounded by a reef, which may be six leagues in circumference.

NIUE, or Savage Island, lying east of the Friendly Islands, is a coral island, thirty-six miles in circumference, rising to a height of 200 ft. It has the usual tropical productions.

PALMERSTON ISLAND, lying about 500 miles east of Niue and about 220 from the nearest island of the Cook Group (Aitutaki), is remarkable as the “San Pablo” of Magellan, the first island discovered in the South Sea. It has no harbour. The soil is fairly fertile, and there is some good hardwood timber.

PENRHYN ISLAND (Tongareva) lies about 300 miles north-east of Manahiki. It is one of the most famous pearl islands in the Pacific, and there is a splendid harbour, a lagoon with two entrances, fit for ships of any size.

MANAHIKI, lying about 400 miles eastward of Danger Island, is an atoll, about thirty miles in circumference, valuable from the extent of the cocoanut groves. The interior lagoon contains a vast deposit of pearl-shell.

RAKAANGA is an atoll, three miles in length and of equal breadth.

DANGER ISLAND (Pukapuka): Next to the 10th parallel, but rather north of the latitude of the Navigators, and east of them are a number of small atolls. Of these, the nearest to the Samoan Group—about 500 miles—is Danger Island, bearing north-west of Suwarrow about 250 miles.

SUWARROW ISLAND has one of the best harbours in the Pacific. It lies about 500 miles east of Apia, the capital of the Samoan Group. It is a coral atoll, of a triangular form, fifty miles in circumference, the reef having an average width of half a mile across, enclosing a land-locked lagoon twelve miles by eight, which forms an excellent harbour. The entrance is half a mile wide, and the accommodation permits of ships riding in safety in all weathers, with depths of from three to thirty fathoms. It is out of the track of hurricanes, uninhabited, but capable by its fertility of supporting a small population. As a depot for the collection of trade from the various islands it ought to be very valuable.

CONSTITUTION.

British sovereignty was proclaimed over New Zealand in January, 1840, and the country became a dependency of New South Wales until the 3rd May, 1841, when it was made a separate colony. The seat of Government was at Auckland, and the Executive included the Governor, and three gentlemen holding office as Colonial Secretary, Attorney-General, and Colonial Treasurer.

The successors of these gentlemen, appointed in August, 1841, May, 1842, and January, 1844, respectively, continued in office until the establishment of Responsible Government on the 7th May, 1856. Only one of them—Mr. Swainson, the Attorney-General—sat as a member of the first General Assembly, opened on the 27th May, 1854. During the session of that year there were associated with the permanent members of the Executive Council certain members of the General Assembly. These latter held no portfolios.

The Government of the colony was at first vested in the Governor, who was responsible only to the Crown; but in 1852 an Act granting representative institutions to the colony was passed by the Imperial Legislature. Under it the constitution of a General Assembly for the whole colony was provided for, to consist of a Legislative Council, the members of which were to be nominated by the Governor, and of an elective House of Representatives. The first session of the General Assembly was opened on the 27th May, 1854, but the members of the Executive were not responsible to Parliament. The first Ministers under a system of Responsible Government were appointed in the year 1856. By the Act of 1852 the colony was divided into six provinces, each to be presided over by an elective Superintendent, and to have an elective Provincial Council, empowered to legislate, except on certain specified subjects. The franchise amounted practically to household suffrage. In each case the election was for four years, but a dissolution of the Provincial Council by the Governor could take place at any time, necessitating a fresh election both of the Council and of the Superintendent. The Superintendent was chosen by the whole body of electors of the province; each member of the Provincial Council by the electors of a district. The Provincial Governments, afterwards increased to nine, remained as integral parts of the Constitution of the colony until the 1st November, 1876, when they were abolished by an Act of the General Assembly, that body having been vested with the power of altering the Constitution Act. On the same day an Act of the General Assembly which subdivided the colony (exclusive of the areas included within municipalities) into counties, and established a system of local county government, came into force.

GOVERNMENT.

The Governor is appointed by the King. His salary is £5,000 a year, with an annual allowance of £1,500 on account of his establishment, and of £500 for travelling-expenses, provided by the colony.

Members of the Legislative Council hold their seats under writs of summons from the Governor. Till the year 1891 the appointments were for life; but in September of that year an Act was passed making appointments after that time tenable for seven years only, though Councillors may be reappointed. In either case seats may be vacated by resignation or extended absence. Two members of the Council are aboriginal native chiefs.

The members of the House of Representatives are elected for three years from the time of each general election; but at any time a dissolution of Parliament by the Governor may render a general election necessary. Four of the members are representatives of Native constituencies. For the purposes of European representation the colony is divided into sixty-eight electoral districts, four of which—the Cities of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin—return each three members, and all the other electorates one each, a total of seventy-six.* The full number of members composing the House of Representatives is thus eighty. Members of the House of Representatives are chosen by the votes of the inhabitants in every electoral district appointed for that purpose. No person, who, being a bankrupt within the meaning of “The Bankruptcy Act, 1892,” has not obtained an order of discharge under that Act shall be qualified to be nominated as a candidate for election, or to be elected, or to take his seat as a member of the House of Representatives, anything in any other Act to the contrary notwithstanding.

* But after the expiry of the present Parliament, these four city electorates will become twelve single electorates, and there will be as many districts as there are members (excluding Maoris). The change was effected by the City Single Electorates Act passed in 1903.

In 1889 an amendment of the Representation Act was passed, which contained a provision prohibiting any elector from giving his vote in respect of more than one electorate at any election. “The Electoral Act, 1893,” extended to women of both races the right to register as electors, and to vote at the elections for members of the House of Representatives. The qualification for registration is the same for both sexes. No person is entitled to be registered on more than one electoral roll within the colony. Women are not qualified to be elected as members of the House of Representatives. The electoral laws are the subject of special comment further on in this work. Every man registered as an elector, and not specially excepted by the Electoral Act now in force, is qualified to be elected a member of the House of Representatives for any electoral district. For European representation every adult person, if resident one year in the colony and three months in one electoral district, can be registered as an elector. Freehold property of the value of £25 held for six months preceding the day of registration until 1896 entitled a man or woman to register, if not previously registered under the residential qualification. But the Amendment Act of 1896 abolished the property qualification (except in case of existing registrations), and residence alone now entitles a man or woman to have his or her name placed upon an electoral roll. For Maori representation every adult Maori resident in any Maori electoral district (of which there are four only in the colony) can vote. Registration is not required in Native districts. [The above provisions are now incorporated in “The Electoral Act, 1902,” which consolidates the electoral laws, with such amendments as were found necessary.]

THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

Up to the year 1865 the seat of Government of New Zealand was at Auckland. Several attempts were made by members of Parliament, by motions in the Legislative Council and House of Representatives, to have it removed to some more central place; but it was not until November, 1863, that Mr. Domett (the then ex-Premier) was successful in carrying resolutions in the House of Representatives that steps should be taken for appointing some place in Cook Strait as the permanent seat of Government in the colony. The resolutions adopted were: “(1.) That it has become necessary that the seat of Government in the colony should be transferred to some suitable locality in Cook Strait. (2.) That, in order to promote the accomplishment of this object, it is desirable that the selection of the particular site in Cook Strait should be left to the arbitrament of an impartial tribunal. (3.) That, with this view, a Bill should be introduced to give effect to the above resolutions.” On the 25th November an address was presented to the Governor, Sir George Grey, K.C.B., by the Commons of New Zealand, requesting that the Governors of the Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, might each be asked to appoint one Commissioner for the purpose of determining the best site in Cook Strait. Accordingly, the Hon. Joseph Docker, M.L.C., New South Wales; the Hon. Sir Francis Murphy, Speaker of the Legislative Council, Victoria; and R. C. Gunn, Esq., Tasmania, were appointed Commissioners.

These gentlemen, having made a personal inspection of all suitable places, arrived at the unanimous decision “that Wellington, in Port Nicholson, was the site upon the shores of Cook Strait which presented the greatest advantages for the administration of the government of the colony.”

The seat of Government was, therefore, in accordance with the recommendation of the Commissioners, removed to Wellington in February, 1865.

PUBLIC WORKS.

Nearly all the public works of New Zealand are in the hands of the Government of the colony, and in the early days they simply kept pace with the spread of settlement. In 1870, however, a great impetus was given to the progress of the whole country by the inauguration of the “Public Works and Immigration Policy,” which provided for carrying out works in advance of settlement. Railways, roads, and water-races were constructed, and immigration was conducted on a large scale. As a consequence, the population increased from 267,000 in 1871 to 501,000 in 1881, and to 832,505 in December, 1903; besides whom there were 43,143 Maoris, and also 12,292 persons residing in the Cook and other Pacific Islands recently annexed to the colony.

Chapter 2. SUCCESSIVE GOVERNORS.

SUCCESSION OF GOVERNORS OF NEW ZEALAND, AND THE DATES ON WHICH THEY ASSUMED AND RETIRED FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

Captain William Hobson, R.N., from Jan., 1840, to 10 Sept., 1842.

[British sovereignty was proclaimed by Captain Hobson in January, 1840, and New Zealand became a dependency of the Colony of New South Wales until 3rd May, 1841, at which date it was proclaimed a separate colony. From January, 1840, to May, 1841, Captain Hobson was Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand under Sir George Gipps, Governor of New South Wales, and from May, 1841, Governor of New Zealand; the seat of Government being at Auckland, where he died in September, 1842. From the time of Governor Hobson's death, in September, 1842, until the arrival of Governor Fitzroy, in December, 1843, the Government was carried on by the Colonial Secretary, Lieutenant Shortland.]

Lieutenant Shortland, Administrator, from 10 Sept., 1842, to 26 Dec., 1843.

Captain Robert Fitzroy, R.N., from 26 Dec., 1843, to 17 Nov., 1845.

Captain Grey (became Sir George Grey, K.C.B., in 1848), from 18 Nov., 1845, to 31 Dec., 1853.

[Captain Grey held the commission as Lieutenant-Governor of the colony until the 1st January, 1848, when he was sworn in as Governor-in-Chief over the Islands of New Zealand, and as Governor of the Province of New Ulster and Governor of the Province of New Munster. After the passing of the New Zealand Constitution Act, Sir George Grey was, on the 13th September, 1852, appointed Governor of the colony, the duties of which office he assumed on the 7th March, 1853. In August, 1847, Mr. E. J. Eyre was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of New Munster: he was sworn in, 28th January, 1848. On 3rd January, 1848, Major-General George Dean Pitt was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of New Ulster: he was sworn in, 14th February, 1848; died, 8th January, 1851; and was succeeded as Lieutenant-Governor by Lieutenant-Colonel Wynyard, appointed 14th April, 1851; sworn in, 26th April, 1851. The duties of the Lieutenant-Governor ceased on the assumption by Sir George Grey of the office of Governor, on the 7th March, 1853.]

Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Henry Wynyard, C.B., Administrator, from 3 Jan., 1854, to 6 Sept., 1855.

Colonel Thomas Gore Browne, C.B., from 6 Sept., 1855, to 2 Oct., 1861.

Sir George Grey, K.C.B., Administrator, from 3 Oct., 1861; Governor, from 4 Dec., 1861, to 5 Feb., 1868.

Sir George Ferguson Bowen, G.C.M.G., from 5 Feb., 1868, to 19 Mar., 1873.

Sir George Alfred Arney, Chief Justice, Administrator, from 21 Mar. to 14 June, 1873.

Sir James Fergusson, Baronet, P.C., from 14 June, 1873, to 3 Dec., 1874.

The Marquis of Normanby, P.C., G.C.M.G., Administrator, from 3 Dec., 1874; Governor, from 9 Jan., 1875, to 21 Feb., 1879.

James Prendergast, Esquire, Chief Justice, Administrator, from 21 Feb. to 27 Mar., 1879.

Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, G.C.M.G., Administrator, from 27 Mar., 1879; Governor, from 17 April, 1879, to 8 Sept., 1880.

James Prendergast, Esquire, Chief Justice, Administrator, from 9 Sept. to 29 Nov., 1880.

The Honourable Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon, G.C.M.G., from 29 Nov., 1880, to 23 June, 1882.

Sir James Prendergast, Chief Justice, Administrator, from 24 June, 1882, to 20 Jan., 1883.

Lieutenant - General Sir William Francis Drummond Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.B., from 20 Jan., 1883, to 22 Mar., 1889.

Sir James Prendergast, Chief Justice, Administrator, from 23 Mar. to 2 May, 1889.

The Earl of Onslow, G.C.M.G., from 2 May, 1889, to 24 Feb., 1892.

Sir James Prendergast, Chief Justice, Administrator, from 25 Feb., to 6 June, 1892.

The Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., from 7 June, 1892, to 6 Feb., 1897.

Sir James Prendergast, Chief Justice, Administrator, from 8 Feb., 1897, to 9th Aug., 1897.

The Earl of Ranfurly, G.C.M.G., from 10th Aug., 1897.

Chapter 3. SUPREME COURT JUDGES.

SUPREME COURT JUDGES, PAST AND PRESENT, WITH DATES OF APPOINTMENT, AND OF RESIGNATION OR DEATH.

Sir W. Martin, appointed Chief Justice, 10 Jan., 1842. Resigned, 12 June, 1857.

H. S. Chapman, appointed, 26 Dec., 1843. Resigned, 30 July, 1850. Reappointed, 23 Mar., 1864. Resigned, 31 Mar., 1875.

S. Stephen, appointed, 30 July, 1850. Appointed Acting Chief Justice, 20 Oct., 1855. Died, 13 Jan., 1858.

Daniel Wakefield, appointed, Oct., 1855. Died, Oct., 1857.

Hon. H. B. Gresson, appointed temporarily, 8 Dec., 1857. Permanently, 1 July, 1862. Resigned, 31 Mar., 1875.

Sir G. A. Arney, appointed Chief Justice, 1 Mar., 1858. Resigned 31 Mar., 1875.

A. J. Johnston, appointed, 2 Nov., 1858. Died, 1 June, 1888.

C. W. Richmond, appointed, 20 Oct., 1862. Died, 3 Aug., 1895.

J. S. Moore, appointed temporarily, 15 May, 1866. Relieved, 30 June, 1868.

C. D. R. Ward, appointed temporarily, 1 Oct., 1868. Relieved, May, 1870. Appointed temporarily, 21 Sept., 1886. Relieved, 12 Feb., 1889.

Sir J. Prendergast, appointed Chief Justice, 1 April, 1875. Resigned, 25 May, 1899.

T. B. Gillies, appointed, 3 Mar., 1875. Died, 26 July, 1889.

J. S. Williams, appointed, 3 Mar., 1875.

J. E. Denniston, appointed, 11 Feb., 1889.

E. T. Conolly, appointed, 19 Aug., 1889. Resigned, 9 Sept., 1903.

Hon. Sir P. A. Buckley, K.C.M.G., appointed, 20 Dec., 1895. Died, 18 May, 1896.

W. B. Edwards, appointed, 11 July, 1896.

F. W. Pennefather, appointed temporarily, 25 April, 1898. Resigned, 24 April, 1899.

Hon. Sir Robert Stout, K.C.M.G., appointed Chief Justice, 22 June, 1899.

J. C. Martin, acting Judge, appointed, 12 April, 1900. Resigned, 4 Dec., 1900.

Theophilus Cooper, appointed, 21 Feb., 1901.

F. R. Chapman, appointed, 11 Sept., 1903.

Chapter 4. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, 1843-56.

MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE COLONY OF NEW ZEALAND PREVIOUS TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT (NOT INCLUDING THE OFFICERS COMMANDING THE FORCES).

Willoughby Shortland, Colonial Secretary, from 3 May, 1841, to 31 Dec., 1843; succeeded by Mr. Sinclair.

Francis Fisher, Attorney-General, from 3 May to 10 Aug., 1841; succeeded by Mr. Swainson.

George Cooper, Colonial Treasurer, from 3 May, 1841, to 9 May, 1842; succeeded by Mr. Shepherd.

William Swainson, Attorney-General, from 10 Aug., 1841, to 7 May, 1856.

Alexander Shepherd, Colonial Treasurer, from 9 May, 1842, to 7 May, 1856.

Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary, from 6 Jan., 1844, to 7 May, 1856.

[The three gentlemen last mentioned were nominated by Her late Majesty as ex officio members of the Executive Council. Two of them, the Colonial Secretary and the Colonial Treasurer, were not members of the General Assembly, opened for the first time 27th May, 1854, but all three remained in office until the establishment of Responsible Government.]

James Edward FitzGerald, M.H.R., without portfolio, from 14 June to 2 Aug., 1854.

Henry Sewell, M.H.R., without portfolio, from 14 June to 2 Aug., 1854.

Frederick Aloysius Weld, M.H.R., without portfolio, from 14 June to 2 Aug., 1854.

Francis Dillon Bell, M.L.C., without portfolio, from 30 June to 11 July, 1854.

Thomas Houghton Bartley, M.L.C., without portfolio, from 14 July to 2 Aug., 1854.

Thomas Spencer Forsaith, M.H.R., without portfolio, from 31 Aug. to 2 Sept., 1854.

Edward Jerningham Wakefield, M.H.R., without portfolio, from 31 Aug. to 2 Sept., 1854.

William Thomas Locke Travers, M.H.R., without portfolio, 31 Aug. to 2 Sept., 1854.

James Macandrew, M.H.R., without portfolio, from 31 Aug. to 2 Sept., 1854.

Chapter 5. PARLIAMENTS.

NUMBER OF PARLIAMENTS SINCE THE CONSTITUTION ACT PASSED FOR CONFERRING REPRESENTATIVE INSTITUTIONS UPON THE COLONY OF NEW ZEALAND, WITH THE DATES OF OPENING AND CLOSING OF SESSIONS AND DATES OF DISSOLUTION.

Parliament.Date of Opening of Sessions.Date of Prorogation.
First (dissolved 15th September, 27 May, 18549 August, 1854
31 August, 185416 September, 1854
15 September, 18558 August, 1855
Second (dissolved 5th November, 1860)15 April, 1856 (No session in 1857)16 August, 1856
10 April, 1858 (No session in 1859)21 August, 1858
30 July, 18605 November, 1860
Third (dissolved 27th January, 1866)3 June, 18617 September, 1861.
7 July, 186215 September, 1862.
19 October, 186314 December, 1863.
24 November, 186413 December, 1864.
26 July, 186530 October, 1865.
Fourth (dissolved 30th December, 1870)30 June, 18608 October, 1866.
9 July, 186710 October, 1867.
9 July, 186820 October, 1868.
1 June, 18693 September, 1869.
14 June, 187013 September, 1870.
Fifth (dissolved 6th December, 1875)14 August, 187116 July, 1872
15 July, 187325 October, 1872.
3 July, 18743 October, 1873.
20 July, 187531 August, 1874.
16 November, 1871.21 October, 1875.
Sixth (dissolved 15th August, 1879)15 June, 187631 October, 1876.
19 July, 187710 December, 1877.
26 July, 18782 November, 1878.
11 July, 187911 August, 1879.
Seventh (dissolved 8th November, 1881)24 September, 187919 December, 1879.
28 May, 18809 June, 1881
1 September, 1880.24 September, 1881.
Eighth (dissolved 27th June, 1884)18 May, 188215 September, 1882.
14 June, 18838 September, 1883.
5 June, 188424 June, 1884.
Ninth (dissolved 15th July, 1887)7 August, 188410 November, 1884.
11 June, 188522 September, 1885.
13 May, 188618 August, 1886.
26 April, 188710 July, 1887.
Tenth (dissolved 3rd October, 1890)6 October, 188723 December, 1887.
10 May, 188831 August, 1888.
20 June, 188919 September, 1889.
19 June, 189018 September, 1890.
Eleventh (dissolved 8th November, 1893)23 January, 189131 January, 1891.
11 June, 189125 September, 1891.
23 June, 189212 October, 1892.
22 June, 18937 October, 1893.
Twelfth (dissolved 14th November, 1896)21 June, 189424 October, 1894.
20 June, 18952 November, 1895.
11 June, 189619 October, 1896.
Thirteenth (dissolved 15th November, 1899)7 April, 189712 April, 1897.
23 September, 189722 December, 1897.
24 June, 18985 November, 1898.
23 June, 189924 October, 1899.
Fourteenth (dissolved 12th November, 1902)22 June, 190022 October, 1900.
1 July, 19018 November, 1901.
1 July, 19024 October, 1902.
Fifteenth29 June, 190325 November, 1903.

Chapter 6. SUCCESSIVE MINISTRIES

SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT IN NEW ZEALAND IN 1856.

Name of Ministry.Assumed Office.Retired

* Owing to the death of the Premier, the Hon. J. Ballance, on 27th April, 1893.

1. Bell-Sewell7 May, 185620 May, 1856.
2. Fox20 May, 18562 June, 1856.
3. Stafford2 June, 185612 July, 1861
4. Fox12 July, 18616 August, 1862.
5. Domett6 August, 186230 October, 1863.
6. Whitaker-Fox30 October, 186324 November, 1863.
7. Weld24 November, 186416 October, 1865.
8. Stafford16 October, 186528 June, 1869.
9. Fox28 June, 186910 September, 1872.
10. Stafford10 September, 187211 October, 1872.
11. Waterhouse11 October, 18723 March, 1873.
12. Fox3 March, 18738 April, 1873
13. Vogel8 April, 18736 July, 1875.
14. Pollen6 July, 187515 February, 1876.
15. Vogel15 February, 18761 September, 1876.
16. Atkinson1 September, 187613 September, 1876.
17. Atkinson reconstituted)13 September, 187613 October, 1877.
18. Grey15 October, 18778 October, 1879.
19. Hall8 October, 187921 April, 1882.
20. Whitaker21 April, 188225 September, 1883.
21. Atkinson25 September, 188316 August, 1884.
22. Stout-Vogel16 August, 188428 August, 1884.
23. Atkinson28 August, 18843 September, 1884.
24. Stout-Vogel3 September, 18848 October, 1887.
25. Atkinson8 October, 188724 January, 1891.
26. Ballance24 January, 18911 May, 1893.*
27. Seddon1 May, 1893. 

Chapter 7. PREMIERS OF SUCCESSIVE MINISTRIES.

Name of Premier.Name of Premier.
Henry Sewell.Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G.
William Fox.Harry Albert Atkinson.
Edward William Stafford.Harry Albert Atkinson (Ministry reconstituted).
William Fox. 
Alfred Domett.Sir George Grey, K.C.B.
Frederick Whitaker.Hon. John Hall.
Frederick Aloysius Weld.Frederick Whitaker, M.L.C.
Edward William Stafford.Harry Albert Atkinson.
William Fox.Robert Stout.
Hon. Edward William Stafford.Harry Albert Atkinson.
George Marsden Waterhouse.Sir Robert Stout, K.C.M.G.
Hon. William Fox.Sir Harry Albert Atkinson, K.C.M.G.
Hon. Julius Vogel, C.M.G.John Ballance.
Hon. Daniel Pollen, M.L.C.Rt. Hon. Richard John Seddon, P.C.

Chapter 8. SPEAKERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

WITH DATES OF THEIR APPOINTMENT AND DATES OF RETIREMENT OR DEATH.

Name of Speaker.Date of Appointment.Date of Retirement or Death.
Hon. William Swainson16 May, 18548 August, 1855.
Hon. Frederick Whitaker8 August, 185512 May, 1856.
Hon. Thomas Houghton Bartley12 May, 18561 July, 1868.
Hon. Sir John Larkins Cheese Richardson, Kt.1 July, 186814 June, 1879.
Hon. Sir William Fitzherbert, K.C.M.G.14 June, 187923 January, 1891.
Hon. Sir Harry Albert Atkinson, K.C.M.G.23 January, 189128 June, 1892.
Hon. Sir Henry John Miller8 July, 1892.9 July 1903.
6 October, 1897
Hon. W. C. Walker, C.M.G.9 July, 19035 January, 1904.

Chapter 9. SPEAKERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WITH DATES OF THEIR ELECTION AND DATES OF RETIREMENT.

Name of Speaker.Date of Election.Date of Retirement.
Sir Charles Clifford, Bart.26 May, 18543 June, 1861.
15 April, 1856
Sir David Monro, Kt. Bach.3 June, 186113 Sept., 1870.
30 June, 1866
Sir Francis Dillon Bell, K.C.M.G., C.B.14 August, 187121 October, 1875.
Sir William Fitzherbert, K.C.M.G.15 June, 187613 June, 1879.
Sir George Maurice O'Rorke, Kt. Bach.11 July, 18793 October, 1890.
24 September, 1879
18 May, 1882
7 August, 1884
6 October, 1887
Hon. Major William Jukes Steward23 January, 18918 November, 1893.
Hon. Sir George Maurice O'Rorke, Kt. Bach.21 June, 189412 November, 1902.
6 April, 1897.
22 June, 1900
Arthur Robert Guinness29 June, 1903. 

Chapter 10. FOREIGN CONSULS.

CONSULS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES RESIDING IN, OR WITH JURISDICTION OVER, NEW ZEALAND, 7TH MAY, 1904.

Country represented.Office held.Name.Place of Residence.
Austria-HungaryConsul - General for the Commonwealth of Australia, and New ZealandOtto, Baron Hoenning-O'CarrollSydney.
Austria-HungaryConsulE. LangguthAuckland.
BelgiumConsul - General for Australasia and FijiF. HuylebroeckMelbourne.
BelgiumConsulHon. Charles John JohnstonWellington.
BelgiumConsulJoseph James KinseyChristchurch.
BelgiumConsulJohn BurnsAuckland.
BelgiumConsulGeorge Lyon DennistonDunedin.
BrazilVice-ConsulA. H. MilesWellington.
ChiliConsulWilliam BrownSydney.
DenmarkConsul (for North Island)Francis Henry Dillon BellWellington.
DenmarkConsul (for South Island)Emil Christian SkogChristchurch.
DenmarkVice-ConsulFrederick Ehrenfried BaumeAuckland.
DenmarkVice-ConsulWilliam Edward PerryHokitika.
DenmarkVice-ConsulO. H. MollerDunedin.
FranceConsul (for New Zealand)Count Louis Antoine Marie Joseph Henri De CourteAuckland.
FranceConsular AgentPercival Clay NeillDunedin.
FranceConsular AgentGeorge HumphreysChristchurch.
FranceConsular AgentA. Stuart-MenteathWellington.
German EmpireConsul-General for Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, and FijiPaul Von BuriSydney.
German EmpireConsulCarl SeegnerAuckland.
German EmpireConsulBendix HallensteinDunedin.
German EmpireConsulPhilip KippenbergerChristchurch
German EmpireConsulFriedrich August KrullWanganui.
German EmpireVice-ConsulEberhard FockeWellington.
ItalyConsul-General for Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, and FijiC. BertolaMelbourne.
ItalyConsular AgentThomas WallaceChristchurch.
ItalyConsular AgentGeorge FisherWellington.
ItalyConsular Agent(Vacant)Dunedin.
ItalyConsular AgentGeraldo Giuseppe PerottiGreymouth.
ItalyConsular AgentRichard A. CarrAuckland.
JapanConsulA. S. AldrichWellington.
LiberiaConsulA. M. MeyersAuckland.
NetherlandsConsul - General for Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, and FijiW. L. BosschartMelbourne.
NetherlandsConsulHon. Charles John JohnstonWellington.
NetherlandsVice-Consul(Vacant)Dunedin.
NetherlandsVice-ConsulAmbrose MillarAuckland.
NetherlandsVice-ConsulHarold Featherston JohnstonWellington.
NetherlandsVice-ConsulG. de VriesChristchurch.
PortugalConsulJohn DuncanWellington.
PortugalVice-ConsulHenry Rees GeorgeAuckland.
PortugalVice-ConsulArthur Donald Stuart DuncanWellington.
PortugalVice-ConsulCharles William RattrayDunedin.
RussiaConsul-GeneralMichel OustinowMelbourne.
SpainHonorary Consul (with jurisdiction over Australia and New Zealand)Henry CaveMelbourne.
SpainVice-Consul(Vacant)Christchurch
SpainHonorary Vice-ConsulAlexander H. TurnbullWellington.
Sweden and NorwayConsulArthur Edward PearceWellington.
Sweden and NorwayVice-ConsulSidney Jacob NathanAuckland.
Sweden and NorwayVice-ConsulWalter Joseph MooreChristchurch.
United StatesConsul-General (for New Zealand, Fiji, Society, and other South Sea Islands)Hon. Frank DillinghamAuckland.
United StatesVice-Consul-GeneralLeonard A. BachelderAuckland.
United StatesConsular AgentFrank GrahamChristchurch.
United StatesConsular AgentWilliam ReidWellington.
United StatesConsular AgentFrederick Orlando BridgmanDunedin.

Chapter 11. AGENT-GENERAL FOR NEW ZEALAND IN LONDON.

The Hon. W. P. Reeves, Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, S.W. Secretary—Walter Kennaway, C.M.G.

Chapter 12. THE COLONIAL OFFICE.

Table of Contents

APRIL, 1904.

(DOWNING STREET, S.W., LONDON), WITH DATES OF APPOINTMENT.

Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies—Right Hon. Alfred Lyttelton, M.P., 9th October, 1903.

Undersecretaries: Parliamentary—The Right Hon. the Duke of Marlborough, K.G., November, 1903. Permanent—Sir Montagu Frederick Ommaney, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., June, 1900.

Assistant Under-Secretaries: Frederick Graham C.B.; Charles P. Lucas, C.B.; H. B. Cox (Legal); and Reginald L. Antrobus, C.B.

Chapter 13. CROWN AGENTS FOR THE COLONIES.

DOWNING STREET, S.W. CITY OFFICE: 1, TOKENHOUSE BUILDINGS, E.C., LONDON.

Crown Agents—Sir Ernest Edward Blake, K.C.M.G., Major Maurice Alexander Cameron, C.M.G., R.E., and William Hepworth Mercer, C.M.G.

Chapter 14. HONOURS HELD BY COLONISTS.

PRIVY COUNCIL.

Seddon, Right Hon. Richard John, 1897.

KNIGHTS COMMANDERS OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED ORDER OF ST. MICHAEL AND ST. GEORGE (K.C.M.G.).

Buller, Sir Walter Lawry, 1886.

Cadman, Hon. Sir Alfred Jerome, 1903.

Hall, Hon. Sir John, 1882.

Hector, Sir James, 1887.

Perceval, Sir Westby Brook, 1894.

Stout, Hon. Sir Robert, 1886.

Ward, Hon. Sir Joseph George, 1901.

KNIGHTS BACHELOR (KT. BACH.)

Campbell, Sir John Logan, 1902.

Miller, Hon. Sir Henry John, 1901.

O'Rorke. Hon. Sir George Maurice, 1880.

Prendergast, Hon. Sir James, 1881.

Russell, Sir William Russell, 1902.

Steward, Hon. Sir William Jukes, 1902.

COMPANIONS OF THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH (C.B.).

Cradock, Major Montagu, 1901.

Davies, Brevet-Colonel R. H., 1901.

Newall, Brevet-Colonel Stewart, 1901.

Porter, Colonel T. W., 1902.

Robin, Brevet-Colonel Alfred William, 1901.

COMPANIONS OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED ORDER OF ST. MICHAEL AND ST. GEORGE (C.M.G.).

Bauchop Major A., 1902.

Gudgeon, Lieut.-Colonel Walter Edward, 1890.

Jowsey, Lieut.-Colonel Thomas, 1900.

Kennaway, Walter, 1891.

Richardson, Hon. Edward, 1879.

Roberts, John, 1891.

COMPANIONS, DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER (D.S.O.).

Abbott, Major F. W., 1902.

Bartlett, Major E., 1902.

Hickey, Lieutenant D. A., 1902.

Hughes, Captain J. G., 1900.

Major. Major C. T., 1900.

Polson, Major D., 1900.

Stevenson, Captain, R., 1902.

Todd, Captain D. J. M., 1900.

Townley, Lieutenant W. V., 1902.

Tudor, Lieutenant P. L., 1902.

Walker, Captain G. H., 1901.

ROYAL RED CROSS.

Williamson, Miss J. M. N., 1900.

VICTORIA CROSS.

Hardham, Farrier-Major W. J., 1901.

NEW ZEALAND CROSS.

Adamson, Thomas, 1869.

Biddle, Benjamin, 1869.

Black, Solomon, 1869.

Hill, George, 1869.

Lingard, William, 1869.

Mace, Francis Joseph, 1869.

Maling, Christopher, 1869.

Mair, Gilbert, 1870.

Preece, George, 1869.

Roberts, John Mackintosh, 1869.

Rodriguez, Antonio, 1869.

Shepherd, Richard, 1869.

Wrigg, Harry Charles William, 1898.

DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDALS AWARDED TO MEMBERS OF NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA (1899-1902).

Baigent, Private Ivanhoe.

Black, Sergeant-Major G. C.

Burr, Sergeant-Major W. T.

Cassidy, Sergeant W.

Fletcher, Sergeant-Major W. H.

Free, Private A.

Kent, Sergeant W.

Langham, Sergeant-Major J.

Lockett, Sergeant-Major E. B.

Pickett, Sergeant-Major M.

Rouse, Farrier-Sergeant G.

Travers, Quartermaster-Sergeant.

Wade, Private H. B.

White, Sergeant-Major H.

PERSONS ALLOWED TO RETAIN THE TITLE OF “HONOURABLEWITHIN HER MAJESTY'S DOMINIONS.

By despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated Downing Street, 15th June, 1893, His Excellency the Governor was apprised that the title of “Honourable,” appertaining to Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils in colonies possessing Responsible Government, whether confined to duration of office or continued for life, was approved by Her late Majesty for use and recognition throughout her dominions, either during office or for life, as the case may be.

By further despatch of 10th March, 1894, the Secretary of State announced that he was prepared in future to submit for the approval of the Sovereign the recommendation of the Governor of any colony having Responsible Government that the President of the Legislative Council or the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly may, on quitting office after three years' service in their respective offices, be permitted to retain the title of “Honourable.” This title is now held by Sir G. M. O'Rorke and Major Sir William Jukes Steward.

Besides the Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, the following ex-Ministers are allowed, as such, to retain the title of “Honourable”: Bryce, John, 1884; Cadman, A. J., 1901; Fergus, Thomas, 1891; Hislop, Thomas W., 1891; Johnston, Walter W., 1884; Mitchelson, Edwin, 1891, Oliver, Richard, 1884; Reeves, William P., 1896; Richardson, George F., 1891; Thompson, Thomas, 1900; Tole, Joseph A., 1888; Ward, Sir J. G., 1897.

RETIRED JUDGES OF SUPREME COURT.

By despatch of 29th August, 1877, it was announced that retired Judges of the Supreme Court may be allowed the privilege of bearing the title of “Honourable” for life, within the colony. This title is now held by Sir James Prendergast.

Chapter 15. GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.

Table of Contents

1ST MAY, 1904.

RANFURLY, His Excellency The Right Honourable Sir Uchter John Mark, fifth Earl of (Ireland, 1831), Viscount Northland, (1791), Baron Welles (1781), Lord-in-Waiting to Her late Majesty (1895-97), Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George; Knight of Justice of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem; son of third earl, brother of fourth earl; born 14th August, 1856; succeeded, 1875; married, 1880, the Honourable Constance Elizabeth, only child of seventh Viscount Charlemont, C.B. Living issue: One son (Viscount Northland), two daughters (Ladies Constance and Eileen Knox). Appointed 6th April, 1897, and assumed office 10th August, 1897, as Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies. Salary, £5,000. Allowance on account of establishment £1,500, and travelling-expenses £500 per annum. The allowance is not payable for any period during which the Governor is absent from the colony. Residences: Northland House, Dungannon, Ireland; Government House, Wellington; Government House, Auckland.

Private Secretary: Dudley Alexander (Major “The Prince of Wales's Own,” West Yorkshire Regiment).

Assistant Private Secretary: The Honourable Charles Edward Hill-Trevor.

Aide-de-Camp: Lieut. Viscount Northland (Coldstream Guards).

ADMINISTRATOR OF THE GOVERNMENT. — The Chief Justice, appointed under a dormant Commission.

Chapter 16. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

Table of Contents

1ST MAY, 1904.

THE annual appropriation for Ministers' salaries is fixed by statute at the sum of £8,900, of which £1,600 is for the Prime Minister, £1,300 for the Minister for Railways, and £1,000 for each of six other Ministers. All Ministers to whom salaries are appropriated are members of the Executive Council, holding one or more of the offices specified by law. Members of the Executive Council travelling within the colony on public service are entitled to allowance not exceeding £1 10s. per day when so engaged, but not during the time a Minister is attending a session of the General Assembly. The members of the Executive Council to whom salaries are payable, and who are not otherwise provided with residences at the seat of Government, are entitled to an allowance in lieu thereof at the rate of £200 a year.

The Executive Council now consists of:—

His Excellency the GOVERNOR presiding.

Rt. Hon. Richard John Seddon, P.C., Prime Minister, Colonial Treasurer, Minister of Defence, Minister of Labour, Minister of Education, and Minister of Immigration.

Hon. Sir Joseph George Ward, K.C.M.G., Minister for Railways, Colonial Secretary, Postmaster-General and Commissioner of Electric Telegraphs, Minister of Industries and Commerce, and Minister of Public Health.

Hon. James Carroll, Native Minister and Commissioner of Stamp Duties.

Hon. William Hall-Jones, Minister for Public Works and Minister of Marine.

Hon. James McGowan, Minister of Justice and Minister of Mines. (23rd January, 1900.)

Hon. Thomas Young Duncan, Minister of Lands and Minister for Agriculture. (2nd July, 1900.)

Hon. Charles Houghton Mills, Commissioner of Trade and Customs. (29th October, 1900.)

Hon. Albert Pitt, Attorney-General. (22nd June, 1903.)

Without Portfolio, Hon. Mahuta Tawhiao Potatau te Wherowhero (22nd May, 1903.)

Clerk of the Executive Council—Alexander James Willis.

Chapter 17. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE number of members at present constituting the Legislative Council is forty-four. The number cannot be less than ten, but is otherwise unlimited. Prior to 1891 Councillors summoned by the Governor held their appointments for life; but on the 17th of September of that year an Act was passed giving the Council power to elect its own Speaker for a period of five years, and making future appointments to the Council tenable for seven years only, to be reckoned from the date of the writ of summons of the Councillor's appointment, though every such Councillor may be reappointed. The qualifications are that the person to be appointed be of the full age of twenty-one years, and a subject of His Majesty, either natural-born or naturalised by or under any Act of the Imperial Parliament or by or under any Act of the General Assembly of New Zealand. All contractors to the public service to an amount of over £50 and Civil servants of the colony are ineligible as Councillors. Payment of Councillors is at the rate of £200 a year, payable monthly. Actual travelling-expenses to and from Wellington are also allowed. A deduction of £1 5s. per sitting day is made in case of an absence, except through illness or other unavoidable cause. Under “The Legislative Council Act, 1891,” a seat is vacated by any member of the Council: (1.) If he takes any oath or makes any declaration or acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience, or adherence to any foreign Prince or Power; or (2), if he does, or concurs in, or adopts any act whereby he may become a subject or citizen of any foreign State or Power, or is entitled to the rights, privileges, or immunities of a subject of any foreign State or Power; or (3), if he is a bankrupt, or compounds with his creditors under any Act for the time being in force; or (4), if he is a public defaulter, or is attainted of treason, or is convicted of felony or any infamous crime; or (5) if he resigns his seat by writing under his hand addressed to and accepted by the Governor; or (6), if for more than one whole session of the General Assembly he fails, without permission of the Governor notified to the Council, to give his attendance in the Council. By the Standing Orders of the Council, the presence of one-fourth of the members of the Council, exclusive of those who have leave of absence, is necessary to constitute a meeting for the exercise of its powers. This rule, however, may be altered from time to time by the Council.

The ordinary sitting-days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 2.30 p.m. to 5 p.m., resuming again at 7.30 p.m. when necessary.

ROLL OF MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF NEW ZEALAND, (1ST MAY, 1904.)

Speaker—

Chairman of Committees—The Hon. JOHN RIGG.

Name.Provincial District.Date of Appointment.

* Life Members.

Arkwright, the Hon. FrancisWellington.13 December, 1902.
Baillie, the Hon. William Douglas Hall.Marlborough.8 March, 1861.*
Baldey, the Hon. AlfredOtago.18 March, 1903.
Beehan, the Hon. WilliamAuckland.22 June, 1903.
Bolt, the Hon. William MouatOtago.16 October, 1899.
Bowen, the Hon. Charles ChristopherCanterbury.23 January, 1891.*
Cadman, the Hon. Sir Alfred Jerome, K.C.M.G.Auckland.21 December, 1899.
Carncross, the Hon. Walter Charles FrederickTaranaki.18 March, 1903.
Feldwick, the Hon. HenryOtago16 October, 1899.
Fraser, the Hon. Francis HumphrisWellington.22 June, 1899.
George, the Hon. Seymour ThorneAuckland.22 June, 1903.
Gourley, the Hon. HughOtago.22 June, 1899.
Harris, the Hon. BenjaminAuckland.3 February, 1904.
Holmes, the Hon. JamesWestland.18 April, 1902.
Jenkinson, the Hon. John EdwardCanterbury.6 June, 1900.
Johnston, the Hon. Charles JohnWellington.23 January, 1891.*
Jones, the Hon. GeorgeOtago.13 December, 1902.
Kelly, the Hon. ThomasTaranaki.16 October, 1899.
Kelly, the Hon. WilliamAuckland.3 February, 1904.
Kenny, the Hon. Courtney William Aylmer ThomasMarlborough.15 May, 1885.*
Louisson, the Hon. CharlesCanterbury.22 December, 1900.
Macdonald, the Hon. Thomas KennedyWellington.22 June, 1903.
McLean, the Hon. GeorgeOtago.19 December, 1881.*
Marshall, the Hon. JamesWestland.18 April, 1902.
Miller, the Hon. Sir Henry John, Kt.Otago.8 July, 1865.*
Montgomery, the Hon. WilliamCanterbury.16 October, 1899.
Ormond, the Hon. John DaviesHawke's Bay.20 January, 1891.*
Peacock, the Hon. John ThomasCanterbury.9 October, 1877.*
Pinkerton, the Hon. DavidOtago.3 February, 1904.
Pitt, the Hon. Albert, Lieut.-ColonelNelson.23 December, 1899.
Reeves, the Hon. Richard Harman JeffaresNelson.13 December, 1902.
Rigg, the Hon. JohnWellington.6 June, 1900.
Scotland, the Hon. HenryTaranaki.24 February, 1868.*
Smith, the Hon. Alfred LeeOtago.18 June, 1898.
Smith, the Hon. William CowperHawke's Bay.13 December, 1902.
Stevens, the Hon. Edward Cephas JohnCanterbury.7 March, 1882.*
Taiaroa, the Hon. Hori KereiOtago.15 May, 1885*
Thompson, the Hon. ThomasAuckland.18 March, 1903.
Trask, the Hon. FrancisNelson.18 March, 1903.
Twomey, the Hon. Jeremiah MatthewCanterbury.18 June, 1898.
Walker, the Hon. LancelotCanterbury.15 May, 1885.*
Wherowhero, the Hon. Mahuta Tawhiao Potatau teAuckland.22 May, 1903.
Wigram, the Hon. Henry FrancisCanterbury.22 June, 1903.
Williams, the Hon. HenryAuckland.7 March, 1882.*

Clerk of Parliaments, Clerk of the Legislative Council, and Examiner of Standing Orders upon Private Bills—Leonard Stowe.

Clerk-Assistant—Arthur Thomas Bothamley.

Second Clerk-Assistant—George Moore.

Interpreter—Henry S. Hadfield.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The number of members constituting the House of Representatives is eighty—seventy-six Europeans and four Maoris. This number was fixed by the Act of 1900, which came for the first time into practical operation at the general election of 1902. Previously (from 1890) the House consisted of seventy-four members, seventy Europeans and four Maoris; and previously to that (from 1881) of ninety-five members, ninety-one Europeans and four Maoris. The North Island at present returns thirty-eight European members, and the Middle Island thirty-eight. The Cities of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin return each three members,* and all other electoral districts one each. The elections are triennial, except in the case of a dissolution by the Governor. Every registered elector, being of the male sex, and free from any of the disqualifications mentioned in ‘The Electoral Act, 1902,” is eligible for membership. All contractors to the public service of New Zealand to whom any public money above the sum of £50 is payable, directly or indirectly, in any one financial year, as well as the Civil servants of the colony, are incapable of being elected as, or of sitting or voting as, members. The payment made to members of the House of Representatives is £25 per month, amounting to £300 per annum, subject to certain deductions for absence during session not due to sickness or other unavoidable cause. Travelling-expenses to and from Wellington are also allowed. This scale of payment came into force on the 7th November 1901, under the provisions of “The Payment of Members Act, 1901.” Twenty members, inclusive of the Speaker, constitute a quorum. Unless otherwise ordered, the sitting-days of the House are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., resuming at 7.30 p.m. Order of admission to the Speaker's Gallery is by ticket obtained from the Speaker. The Strangers' Gallery is open free to the public.

ROLL OF MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (1ST MAY, 1904.)

Speaker—ARTHUR ROBERT GUINNESS.

Chairman of Committees—JOHN ANDREW MILLAR.

Name.Electoral District.Date of Notification of Return of Writ.
For European Electorates.
Aitken, John Guthrie WoodCity of Wellington.10 December, 1902.
Alison, Ewen WilliamWaitemata10 December, 1902.
Allen, Edmund GiblettChalmers10 December, 1902.
Allen, JamesBruce10 December, 1902.
Arnold, James FrederickCity of Dunedin10 December, 1902.
Barber, William Henry PeterNewtown10 December, 1902.
Baume, Frederick EhrenfriedCity of Auckland10 December, 1902.
Bedford, Harry DodgshunCity of Dunedin10 December, 1902.
Bennet, JamesTuapeka10 December, 1902.
Bollard, JohnEden10 December, 1902.
Buchanan, Walter ClarkWairarapa10 December, 1902.
Buddo, DavidKaiapoi10 December, 1902.
Carroll, Hon. JamesWaiapu10 December, 1902.
Colvin, JamesBuller10 December, 1902.
Davey, Thomas HenryCity of Christchurch10 December, 1902.
Duncan, Hon. Thomas YoungOamaru10 December, 1902.
Duthie, JohnCity of Wellington10 December, 1902.
Ell, Henry GeorgeCity of Christchurch10 December, 1902.
Field, William HughesOtaki10 December, 1902.
Fisher, GeorgeCity of Wellington10 December, 1902.
Flatman, Frederick RobertGeraldine10 December, 1902.
Fowlds, GeorgeGrey Lynn10 December, 1902.
Fraser, Alfred Levavasour DurellNapier10 December, 1902.
Fraser, WilliamWakatipu10 December, 1902.
Graham, JohnCity of Nelson10 December, 1902.
Guinness, Arthur Robert (Speaker)Grey10 December, 1902.
Hall, CharlesWaipawa10 December, 1902.
Hall-Jones, Hon. WilliamTimaru10 December, 1902.
Hanan, Josiah AlfredInvercargill10 December, 1902.
Harding, Alfred ErnestKaipara10 December, 1902.
Hardy, Charles Albert CreerySelwyn10 December, 1902.
Herdman, Alexander LaurenceMount Ida10 December, 1902.
Herries, William HerbertBay of Plenty10 December, 1902.
Hogg, Alexander WilsonMasterton10 December, 1902.
Houston, Robert MorrowBay of Islands10 December, 1902.
Jennings, William ThomasEgmont10 December, 1902.
Kidd, AlfredCity of Auckland10 December, 1902.
Kirkbride, Matthew MiddlewoodManukau10 December, 1902.
Lang, Frederic WilliamWaikato10 December, 1902.
Laurenson, GeorgeLyttelton10 December, 1902.
Lawry, FrankParnell10 December, 1902.
Lethbridge, Frank YatesOroua10 December, 1902.
Lewis, CharlesCourtenay10 December, 1902.
McGowan, Hon. JamesThames10 December, 1902.
McKenzie, RoderickMotueka10 December, 1902.
Mackenzie, ThomasWaikouaiti10 December, 1902.
McLachlan, JohnAshburton10 December, 1902.
McNab, RobertMataura10 December, 1902.
Major, Charles EdwinHawera10 December, 1902.
Mander, FrancisMarsden10 December, 1902.
Massey, William FergusonFranklin10 December, 1902.
Millar, John AndrewCity of Dunedin10 December, 1902.
Mills, Hon. Charles HoughtonWairau10 December, 1902.
Moss, Edward George BrittonOhinemuri10 December, 1902.
O'Meara, JohnPahiatua10 December, 1902.
Reid, Donald (jun.)Taieri10 December, 1902.
Remington, Arthur EdwardRangitikei10 December, 1902.
Rhodes, Robert HeatonEllesmere10 December, 1902.
Russell, Sir William Russell, Kt. Bach.Hawke's Bay10 December, 1902.
Rutherford, Andrew WilliamHurunui10 December, 1902.
Seddon, Rt. Hon. Richard John, P.C.Westland10 December, 1902.
Sidey, Thomas KayCaversham10 December, 1902.
Smith, Edward MetcalfTaranaki10 December, 1902.
Steward, Hon. Sir William Jukes, Kt. Bach.Waitaki10 December, 1902.
Symes, WalterPatea10 December, 1902.
Tanner, William WilcoxAvon10 December, 1902.
Taylor, Thomas EdwardCity of Christchurch10 December, 1902.
Thomson, James WilliamClutha10 December, 1902.
Thomson, John CharlesWallace10 December, 1902.
Vile, JobManawatu10 December, 1902.
Ward, Hon. Sir Joseph George, K.C.M.G.Awarua10 December, 1902.
Wilford, Thomas MasonHutt10 December, 1902.
Willis, Archibald DudingstonWanganui10 December, 1902.
Witheford, Joseph HowardCity of Auckland10 December, 1902.
Witty, GeorgeRiccarton10 December, 1902.
Wood, William ThomasPalmerston10 December, 1902.
For Maori Electorates.Day of Election.
Heke, HoneNorthern Maori22 December, 1902.
Kaihau, HenareWestern Maori22 December, 1902.
Parata, TameSouthern Maori22 December, 1902.
Pere, WiremuEastern Maori22 December, 1902.

* See note on page 17, ante.

Clerk of House of Representatives—H. Otterson.

Clerk-Assistant—A. J. Rutherfurd.

Second Clerk-Assistant—A. F. Lowe.

Sergeant-at-Arms—Major T. V. Shepherd.

Reader and Clerk of Bills and Papers—E. W. Kane.

Chief Hansard Reporter—Silas Spragg.

Interpreters—L. M. Grace, D. F. G. Barclay.

Clerk of Writs—H. Pollen.

Deputy Clerk of Writs— R. F. Lynch.

Chief Librarian—Charles Wilson.

Chapter 18. OFFICIAL LIST.
(1st April, 1904.

PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE.

Prime Minister—Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon, P.C.

Secretary to Cabinet.—A. J. Willis

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S DEPARTMENT.

CHIEF OF OFFICE.

Colonial Secretary—Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, K.C.M.G.

Under-Secretary—Hugh Pollen

Chief Clerk—R. F. Lynch

Clerks—J. F. Andrews, A. R. Kennedy, F. A. de la Mare

Officer in Charge of Government Building—W. H. Hennah

AUDIT OFFICE.

Controller and Auditor-General—J. K. Warburton

Assistant Controller and Auditor—J. C. Gavin

Chief Clerk—L. C. Roskruge

Clerks—W. G. Holdsworth, H. S. Pollen, E. J. A. Stevenson, J. T. Dumbell, C. E. Easton

Cadets—G. G. Smith, J. A. Hay, G. S. Gapper, H. T. Thompson, R. M. Sunley, J. P. Rutherford, T. Treahy, A. A. Cairns

Cadette—E. A. Casey

Extra Clerks—D. C. Innes, A. E. Bybles, C. E. Briggs, E. E. Smythe, J. McC. Hamilton, T. S. Hamer

Chief Audit Inspector and Audit of Local Bodies—P. P. Webb

Clerk—J. Ward

Audit. Officer, Agent-General's Office, London—C. F. W. Palliser

Audit Inspectors—A. H. Maclean, J. King, A. W. Eames, G. H. I. Easton, C. P. Johnson, H. A. Lamb, A. A. Bethune, J. H. Fowler, R. A. Gray

REGISTRAR-GENERAL'S OFFICE.

Registrar-General—E. J. Von Dadelszen

Chief Clerk and Deputy Registrar-General—G. Drury

Clerks—F. H. Machattie, W. W. Cook, Ben Keys

Index Clerk—S. Coffey

REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND MARRIAGES.

Four Chief Towns.

Auckland—E. H. Lyons

Wellington—F. W. Mansfield

Christchurch—L. C. Williams

Dunedin—H. Maxwell

PRINTING AND STATIONERY DEPARTMENT.

Government Printer, Stationery Office Manager, and Controller of Stamp Printing—John Mackay

Superintending Overseer—J. J. Gamble

Chief Clerk and Accountant—B. B. Allen

Clerk and Computer—N. B. K. Manley

Clerks — F. Barraud, J. W. Hall, R. Watts, A. Stace, A. Williams

Cadette—

Cadet—P. C. Jordan

Hansard Supervisor—M. F. Marks

Overseers—B. Wilson, J. F. Rogers

Overseer, Jobbing-room—G. Tattle

Night, Foreman—

Readers—W. Fuller, H. S. Mountier, H. Lee, W. Sutherland

Overseer, Machine-room—J. Phillips

Sub-overseer, Machine-room—John Burns

Overseer, Binding Branch—W. Franklin

Sub-overseer, Binding Branch — G. H. Broad

Forewoman, Binding Branch — Miss O'Malley

Stamp Printer — H. Hume

Overseer, Lithographic Branch—D. Ross

Chief Draughtsman—G. N. Sturtevant

Stereotyper and Electrotyper—W. J. Kirk Engineer—T. R. Barrer

COLONIAL MUSEUM AND OBSERVATORIES.

Director—A. Hamilton

Cadet—C. Freyberg

Astronomical Observer—T. King

Meteorological Observer, Auckland—T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S.

Meteorological Observer, Dunedin — H. Skey

Meteorological Observer, New Plymouth—G. W. Palmer

Meteorological Observer, Hokitika—A. D. Macfarlane

Meteorological Observer, Rotorua—Dr. Wohlmann

Meteorological Observer, Te Aroha—W. Hill

Meteorological Observer, Lincoln—Geo. Gray

Meteorological Observer, Hanmer Plains—J. B. Gould

NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE.

President — Captain F. W. Hutton, F.R.S.

Hon. Treasurer—J. W. Joynt, M.A.

Hon. Secretary—H. Gill

COLONIAL TREASURER'S DEPARTMENT.

CHIEF OFFICE.

Colonial Treasurer—Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon, P.C.

Secretary to the Treasury, Receiver-General, Paymaster-General, and Registrar of New Zealand Consols—James B. Heywood

Assistant Secretary and Accountant to the Treasury — Robert J. Collins

Cashier—C. E. Chittey

Corresponding Clerk—H. Blundell

Clerks—R. B. Vincent, E. L. Mowbray, A. O. Gibbes, J. Holmes, H. N. W. Church, A. J. Morgan, T. J. Davis, F. H. Tuckey, H. Hawthorn, W. Wilson, G. C. Rodda, E. Fisher

Cadets—W. Gillanders, W. L. Clapson, A. Hore, P. Dunstan

Cadettes— L. McIntosh, M. Ralston, D. M. Schramm, H. M. Batham, E. M. Taylor, E. A. C. Burrage, R. B. Banks

Officer for Payment of Imperial Pensions at Auckland—B. J. Daveney

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES, TRADE UNIONS, FINE ARTS AND DRAMATIC WORKS COPYRIGHT, AND UNCLASSIFIED SOCIETIES REGISTRY OFFICE.

Registrar and Actuary—George Leslie

Revising Barrister—L. G. Reid

Clerk and Deputy Registrar—C. T. Benzoni

Cadette—M. A. Bridson

OLD-AGE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT.

Head Office.

Registrar—J. Eman Smith

Chief Clerk—G. C. Fache

Clerks—F. M. Leckie, J. S. Lambert, R. S. Stokes, F. G. Twiss

Cadets—P. Cunningham, G. N. Morris, T. G. C. Mackay

District Agencies.

Deputy Registrars—

Auckland—S. Ruddock. Cadet—J. H. Boyes

Wellington—F. W. Mansfield

Christchurch—L. C. Williams

Dunedin—Robert Hill. Cadet — T. B. Purves

Invercargill—J. R. Colyer. Cadet—E. B. Patrick

Coromandel—D. Banks

Dargaville—S. Thompson

Hamilton—W. Shanaghan

Helensville—J. Watt

Kaitaia—W. Sefton

Mangonui—J. Henry

Maungaturoto—J. Hemphill

Otahuhu—G. Foreman

Raglan—W. McCarthy

Rawene—F. A. Moore

Rotorua—W. Bern

Russell—W. J. Pardy

Taupo—J. Ryan

Warkworth—S. Stacey

Whangarei—T. Kirk

Whangaroa—A. G. Douthet

Thames—J. Jordan

Opotiki—C. O'Reilly

Paerca—H. R. Bush

Tauranga—W. A. Thom

Te Aroha—H. R. Bush

Whakatane—P. Stackpoole

Gisborne—G. J. A. Johnstone

Port Awanui—W. Kelly

Napier—R. B. Mathias

Dannevirke—S. Tansley

Waipawa—J. Eccleton

Wairoa— H. H. Carr

New Plymouth—W. A. D. Banks

Stratford—J. B. Stoney

Wanganui—C. A. Barton

Hawera—A. Trimble

Marton—J. E. Patrick

Patea—M. O'Brien

Feilding—J. M. Rodgers

Greytown—H. D. Armour

Masterton—E. Rawson

Otaki—T. O'Rourke

Pahiatua—W. J. Reeve

Palmerston North—W. Matravers

Nelson—C. H. Webb-Bowen

Motueka—L. Read

Blenheim—J. Terry

Havelock—H. McArdle

Akaroa—E. P. Bird

Amberley—M. Roche

Ashburton—T. W. Tayler

Culverden—A. S. Bird

Kaiapoi—A. G. Ashby

Kaikoura—J. P. Clarkson

Timaru—T. Howley

Fairlie—S. Kidd

Temuka—J. Gillespie

Waimate—W. Y. Purchase

Greymouth—B. Harper

Reefton—A. Askenbeek

Hokitika—J. C. Malfroy

Westport—E. C. Kelling

Oamaru—R. P. Ward

Balclutha—W. A. Matthews

Clyde—F. T. D. Jeffrey

Lawrence—A. M. Eyes

Milton—D. McRae

Naseby—F. W. Hart

Palmerston South—W. Hilliard

Port Chalmers—H. R. Paterson

Queenstown—A. A. Mair

Riverton—A. F. Bent

Chatham Islands—R. W. Rayner

LAND AND INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT.

Commissioner—John McGowan

Deputy Commissioner—G. F. C. Campbell

Chief Clerk—F. J. M. D. Walmsley

Accountant—P. Heyes

LAND TAX.

Clerk in Charge—H. Nancarrow

Clerks — D. R. Purdie, J. Stevenson, E. W. Watson, E. Randell, J. N. Grant, M. Fraser, J. Ferguson, H. S. Barron, C. E. J. Dowland

INCOME TAX.

Clerk in Charge—J. M. King

Clerks—W. M. Tyers, J. W. Black, D. G. Clark, G. W. Jänisch, C. T. Rout, H. A. Anderson

Receiver of Land and Income Tax—C. V. Kreeft

Cadets—J. M. Park, N. H. Mackie

Cadettes—G. Cooke, K. L. Morgan

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (As on 1st May.)

HEAD OFFICE.

Minister of Justice — Hon. James McGowan

Under-Secretary—F. Waldegrave

Chief Clerk—C. B. Jordan

Translator—G. H. Davies

Clerks—C. E. Matthews, G. F. Dixon, L. A. B. Teulenberg

CROWN LAW OFFICE.

Attorney-General—Hon. Albert Pitt

Solicitor-General—F. Fitchett, M.A., LL.D.

Assistant Law Officer—L. G. Reid

Law Draftsman—

Clerk—E. Y. Redward

Cadet—T. Christie

PATENT OFFICE.

Registrar of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks—F. Waldegrave

Deputy Registrar—J. C. Lewis

Clerk—Mary Eyre

Cadet—J. T. Bishop

JUDICIAL.

Supreme Court Judges.

Chief Justice—

Wellington—Sir R. Stout, K.C.M.G.

Judges—

Wellington — Theo. Cooper, F. R. Chapman

Auckland—W. B. Edwards

Christchurch—J. E Denniston

Dunedin—J. S. Williams

District Court Judges.

Hamilton and Thames—C. C. Kettle

Wairarapa, Wanganui, New Plymouth, Stratford, Hawera, Palmerston North, Pahiatua, Nelson. Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Queenstown, Naseby, Lawrence, Invercargill, Gore, Hokitika, Greymouth, Westport, Reefton, and Kumara—C. D. R. Ward

Registrars of the Supreme Court.

Auckland—H. C. Brewer

New Plymouth—T. Hutchison

Wanganui—R. L. Stanford

Napier—H. W. Brabant

Gisborne—W. A. Barton

Wellington—D. G. A. Cooper

Nelson—H. Eyre-Kenny

Blenheim—T. Scott Smith

Christchurch—A. R. Bloxam

Hokitika—V. G. Day

Dunedin—G. A. King

Invercargill—J. R. Colyer

Sheriffs.

Auckland—H. C. Brewer

Taranaki—W. A. D. Banks

Hawke's Bay—H. W. Brabant

Poverty Bay—W. A. Barton

Wellington—D. G. A. Cooper

Wairarapa—E. Rawson

Wanganui and Rangitikei—C. A. Barton

Nelson—W. Heaps

Westland North—E. C. Kelling

Central Westland—A. Askenbeck

Marlborough—J. Terry

Canterbury—A. R. Bloxam

Timaru—C. A. Wray

Westland—V. G. Day

Otago—G. A. King

Southland—J. R. Colyer

Crown Solicitors.

Auckland—Hon. J. A. Tole

New Plymouth—W. Kerr

Gisborne—J. W. Nolan

Napier—H. A. Cornford

Wellington—F. H. D. Bell

Wanganui—S. T. Fitzherbert

Palmerston North—H. S. Fitzherbert

Nelson—C. Y. Fell

Blenheim—R. McCallum

Christchurch—T. W. Stringer

Timaru—J. W. White

Dunedin—J. F. M. Fraser

Invercargill—T. M. Macdonald

Oamaru—A. G. Creagh

Crown Prosecutors (District Courts).

New Plymouth—W. Kerr

Stratford—W. Kerr

Hawera—E. L. Barton

Wanganui—S. T. Fitzherbert

Palmerston North—H. S. Fitzherbert

Masterton—A. R. Bunny

Nelson—C. Y. Fell

Westport and Reefton—C. E. Harden

Hokitika—J. Park

Greymouth—M. Hannan

Timaru—J. W. White

Oamaru—A. G. Creagh

Queenstown—Wesley Turton

Invercargill—T. M. Macdonald

Stipendiary Magistrates.

Auckland—C. C. Kettle

Pokeno, Waikato, &c.—H. W. Northcroft

Onehunga, &c.—E. C. Blomfield*

* Are also Wardens of Goldfields.

Russell, &c.—R. S. Florance

Tauranga, &c.—J. M. Roberts*

Thames, &c.—R. S. Bush*

Gisborne, &c.—W. A. Barton

New Plymouth—T. Hutchison

Hawera, &c.—A. Turnbull

Wanganui, &c.—R. L. Stanford

Palmerston North, &c.—A.D. Thomson

Wellington, &c.—A. McArthur, M.A., LL.D.

Wairarapa, &c.—W. P. James

Napier, &c.—H. W. Brabant

Nelson, &c.—H. Eyre-Kenny*

Blenheim, &c.—T. Scott-Smith

Christchurch, &c.—W. R. Haselden

Kaiapoi, &c.—H. W. Bishop

Timaru, &c.—C. A. Wray

Greymouth, Westport, &c.—W. G. K. Kenrick

Hokitika, &c.—V. G. Day

Dunedin, &c.—E. H. Carew,* C. C. Graham

Oamaru, &c.—J. Keddell*

Milton, &c.—G. Cruickshank*

Clyde, &c.—F. J. Burgess*

Naseby—J. McEnnis*

Invercargill, &c.—S. E. McCarthy*

Chatham Islands—

Official Assignees in Bankruptcy.

Auckland—E. Gerard

Wellington—J. Ashcroft, J.P.

Christchurch—G. L. Greenwood

Dunedin—C. C. Graham, S.M.

Clerks of District and Magistrates' Courts.

New Plymouth—W. A. D. Banks

Hawera—A. Trimble

Wanganui—C. A. Barton

Palmerston North—W. Matravers

Masterton—E. Rawson

Nelson—C. H. Webb-Bowen

Hokitika—J. C. Malfroy

Kumara—T. M. Lawlor

Greymouth—B. Harper

Westport—E. C. Kelling

Reefton—A. Askenbeck

Timaru—T. Howley

Ashburton—T. W. Tayler

Oamaru—R. P. Ward

Invercargill—J. R. Colyer

Queenstown—A. A. Mair

Lawrence—A. M. Eyes

Naseby—F. Hart

Receivers of Gold Revenue, Mining Registrars, and Clerks of Wardens' and Magistrates' Courts.

Thames—J. Jordan

Coromandel—D. Banks

Paeroa—H. R. Bush

Waihi—E. W. Cave

Tauranga—W. A. Thom

Whangarei—T. Kirk

Havelock (Marlborough)—H. McArdle

Nelson—C. H. Webb-Bowen

Blenheim—John Terry

Motueka—L. Read

Collingwood—J. N. Nalder

Westport—E. C. Kelling

Charleston—E. Brophy

Reefton—A. Askenbeck

Ahaura—W. D. Wallace

Greymouth—B. Harper

Kumara—T. M. Lawlor

Hokitika—J. C. Malfroy

Ashburton—T. W. Tayler

Naseby, &c.—F. Hart

Wyndham—D. Bogue

Clyde, Black's, and Alexandra—F. T. D. Jeffrey

Cromwell—E. D. Mosley

Queenstown and Arrowtown—A. A. Mair

Lawrence—A. M. Eyes

Gore—M. Foley

Riverton—A. F. Bent

Clerks of Magistrates' Courts.

Auckland—H. H. G. Ralfe

Gisborne—G. J. Johnstone

Hamilton—W. Shanaghan

Napier—R. B. Mathias

Hastings—P. Skerrett

Wairoa—H. H. Carr

Stratford—C. J. Hewlett

Dannevirke—S. Tansley

Marton, &c.—J. E. Patrick

Feilding—J. M. Rodgers

Otaki—T. O'Rourke

Wellington—A. H. Holmes

Christchurch—W. Martin

Lyttelton—J. Fitzgerald

Kaiapoi—A. G. Ashby

Waimate—W. Y. Purchas

Dunedin—W. G. P. O'Callaghan

Port Chalmers—R. H. Paterson

NATIVE LAND COURT.

Chief Judge—G. B. Davy

Judges—H. W. Brabant, H. F. Edger, W. G. Mair, H. D. Johnson, J. M. Batham

Registrars — Auckland, J. W. Browne; Gisborne, J. Brooking; Wellington, R. C. Sim

Commissioners of the Native Land Court.

R. S. Bush, A. Turnbull, E. C. Blomfield, C. C. Kettle, J. M. Roberts, W. Stuart, H. W. Bishop, E. H. Carew, H. Eyre-Kenny, R. L. Stanford, T. Hutchison, H. W. Robinson, R. S. Florance: Sub-Commissioners — J. Brooking, W. A. Thom

Government Native Agent, Otorohanga—G. T. Wilkinson

VALIDATION COURT.

Chief Judge—G. B. Davy

Judges—The Judges of the Native Land Court

Registrars—The Registrars of the Native Land Court

CORONERS.

Auckland. T. Gresham, E. Baker; Arrowtown, H. Graham; Coromandel, A. R. H. Swindley; Collingwood, E. Davidson; Feilding, J. J. Bagnall; Hamilton, J. S. Bond; Hawera, C. E. Major; Kawhia, T. D. Hamilton; Marton, J. J. McDonald: Otahuhu, S. Luke; Otaki, W. H. Simcox; Paeroa, W. Forrest: Pahi. J. B. Ariell; Palmerston North, J. Mowlem; Port Albert, L. P. Becroft; Queenstown, L. Hotop; Raglan, W. H. Wallis; Midhirst, J. Mackay; Taihape, J. P. Aldridge; Takaka, A. Sinclair; Tapanui, W. Quin; Thames, A. Bruce; Tauranga, A. C. H. Tovey; Te Awa mutu, J. B. Teasdale; Te Kopuru, T. Webb; Waihi, M. D. King; Waipawa, S. Johnson; Wellington, J. Ashcroft; Whangarei, J. M. Killen; Woodville, E. J. Gothard. All Stipendiary Magistrates are ex officio Coroners.

NEW ZEALAND POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Head Office.

Commissioner—Walter Dinnie

Chief Clerk—John Evans

Clerks—John Tasker, Walter Gollan

Police Force.

Inspectors—John Cullen. John Wybrant Ellison, Robert James Gillies, Terence O'Brien. Ewen Macdonell, Nicholas Kiely, Edward Wilson, Alfred James Mitchell

Sub-Inspectors — Patrick Black, Henry Green, John Dwyer, John O'Donovan

PRISONS DEPARTMENT.

Inspector—Lieut.-Colonel Arthur Hume, N.Z.M.

Clerk—T. E. Richardson

Gaolers — Auckland. Francis Egerton Severne; Dunedin, John Henry Bratby; Hokitika, Thomas Rosson Pointon, Invercargill, Alexander Armstrong; Lyttelton, Matthew Michael Cleary; Napier, Michael Flannery; New Plymouth, Bartholomew Lloyd O'Brien; Wanganui, Robert T. N. Beasley; Wellington, Patrick Samuel Garvey; Waiotapu, Jeremiah Charles Scanlon; Hanmer Springs, Alexander William Roberts

DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE.

Minister—Hon Sir J.G. Ward. K.C.M.G.

Secretary—T. E. Donne

Acting Chief Clerk—G. S. Munro

DEPARTMENT OF TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS.

Minister—Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, K.C.M.G.

Superintendent—T. E. Donne

Chief Clerk—C. R. C. Robieson

Inspector—F. Moorhouse

Accountant—R. E. Hayes

Journalist—J. Cowan

Clerks — H. Kirk, P. J. Kelleher, J. Andrews, R. G. M. Par, J. W. Hill, S. J. Collett, G. F. McGirr, C. T. Brebner

Shorthand-writers and Typists—S. Dimant, N. Lambert

District, Agents—Auckland, E. H. Montgomery; Te Aroha, W. Hill; Rotorua, C. Walnutt; Christchurch, W. R. Blow; Dunedin, G. W. C. Moon; Invercargill, W. A. Saunders

Government Balneologist, Rotorua—A. S. Wohlmann, M.D., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.

House Surgeon, Rotorua—W. B. Craig, M.B.

Resident Medical Officer, Te Aroha—G. G. Kenny, M.B.

Manager, Hanmer Hot Springs—J. B. Gould

DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR.

Minister of Labour — Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon, P.C.

Wellington—

Secretary for Labour, Chief Inspector of Factories, and Registrar of Industrial Unions—E. Tregear

Chief Clerk, Deputy Chief Inspector of Factories, and Deputy Registrar of Industrial Unions—James Mackay

Clerks—F. Rowley, J. W. Collins, W. H. Hagger, W. J. McKeown, and W. J. Jamieson, C. E. Aldridge

Shorthand Writer and Typiste—R. Ritson

Cadets — W. Linklater. Thomas McIntosh

Officer in Charge Women's Branch—Mrs. Helen Staveley

Auckland—Clerk, E. A. LeCren. Cadet, W. E. Shanahan

Christchurch—Clerk, A. J. R. Isherwood

Dunedin—Clerk, Jean Maxwell

INSPECTORS OF FACTORIES.

North Island—J. Shanaghan, H. Ferguson, E. A. Le Cren, W. J. Blake, W. H. Hagger, Margaret Hawthorne, W. H. McQuarter-, H. H. Knowles, and 75 local Inspectors

South Island—J. Shanaghan, J. Lomas, A. J. R. Isherwood, L. D. Browett, S. Tyson, James Isdell, T. O'Grady, R. S. Bean, J. B. Lindsay, P. Hally, P. Keddi, W. H. Hagger, Margaret Hawthorne, and 70 local Inspectors

(There are also 200 Bureau Agents in different parts of the colony.)

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

HEAD OFFICE.

Minister for Public Works—Hon. W. Hall-Jones

Under-Secretary—H. J. H. Blow

Engineer-in-Chief—W. H. Hales

Superintending Engineer—P. S. Hay, M.A., M. Inst. C.E.

Inspecting Engineer—R. W. Holmes, M. Inst. C.E.

Architect—J. Campbell

Chief Clerk—W. D. Dumbell

Accountant—G. J. Clapham

Land-purchase Officer—H. Thompson

Record Clerk—H. W. H. Millais

Clerks—G. C. Schmidt, P. S. Waldie, E. Bold, A. Biddell, A. H. Kimbell, N. Jacobs, C. E. Crawford, W. McNamara, H. F. Curtis, A. Sampson, T. H. Hanna, J. J. Bennett, A. L. Goldfinch, L. White, E. Kidd, K. Webb

Chief Draughtsman—W. G. Rutherford

Draughtsmen—E. Jackson, C. A. Lawrence, W. Withers, L. L. Richards, W. G. C. Swan, J. H. Price, A. E. King, R. G. Applegarth, A. E. Macrae, T. S. Lambert, F. S. Marchant, S. W. May-Somerville, A. T. Ford, G. V. Venning

Head Storekeeper—J. C. Fulton

Engineering Cadets—H. Vickerman, B.Sc., H. Patterson

Clerical Cadet—W. S. King

Clerical Cadettes—E. M. B. Lynch, M.A., W. L. J. Mellsop

DISTRICT OFFICES.

District Engineers—Auckland, C. R. Vickerman; Dunedin, E. R. Ussher, M. Inst. C.E.

Resident Engineers—Hunterville, G. L. Cook, M. Inst. C.E.; Taumaranui, J. D. Louch, Assoc.M. Inst. C.E.; Nelson, W. A. Shain; Westport, R. A. Young, Assoc. M. Inst.C.E.; Greymouth, J. Thomson, B.E.; Springfield, J. A. Wilson, Assoc.M.Inst.C.E., J. J. Hay, M.A.

Assistant Engineers—S. J. Harding, J. H. Dobson, F. M. Hewson. J. Hannah, J. H. Lewis, G. C. McGlashan, C. E. Armstrong, F. W. Furkert, W. Widdowson, H. Dickson, J. W. E. McEnnis, A. Ross, J. V. Haskell, C. A. Owen, J. Meenan, A. Stewart, W. P. Moynihan, W. Sherratt, C. J. McKenzie, F. P. Bartley, J. J. Wilson

Engineering Cadets — F. S. Dyson, J. Wood, L. B. Campbell, W. E. Fitzgerald, J. McNair, J. Norris, P. McNab, P. Keller, F. C. Hay, H. H. Sharp, T. M. Crawford, H. T. Thompson, R. Park

Draughtsmen—C. Wood, P. F. M. Burrows, J. Baird, W. H. Hislop, T J. McCosker, J. J. Fraser, H. C. W. Wrigg, J. B. Robertson, W. J. C. Slane

Clerks—W. Black. C. T. Rushbrook, A. R. Stone, J. H. Denton, A. J. Sutcliffe, E. Waddell, L. P. Cabot, J. B. Borton, P. P. Giesen, F. E. Banks, H. Grave, G. T. Grace, E. G. Beale, J. A. White, C. A. Alabone, E. J. Edwards, C. T. Williams, L. M. Shera, H. M. O'Donnell, S. A. Holland, W. A. Bowie, H. Colvin, W. Sotheran

Storekeepers—T. Douglas, C. Loomes, S.J. Moncrieff

Clerical Cadet—A. D. Park

Clerical Cadette—E. J. Colquhoun

RAILWAYS DEPARTMENT.

Minister for Railways—Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, K.C.M.G.

HEAD OFFICE.

General Manager—T. Ronayne

Chief Clerk—R. W. McVilly

Clerks—E. J. Andrews, B. M. Wilson, W. S. Ridler, J. L. Day, J. O. Duff, J. Hislop, J. E. Widdop, W. H. Gifford, J. V. Fogo, D. MacKellar, J. Thomson, W. A. Wellings, P. J. McGovern, W. H. Warren, W. P. Miller, H. Gerard, C. T. Reehal, F. C. Fraser, A. J. Levick, W. H. Rennie, R. W. Warren

Audit Inspectors—H. Baxter, D. Munro, R. Hislop, I. Faris

Railway Accountant—H. Davidson

Clerks—J. H. Davies, S. P. Curtis, G. G. Wilson, J. McLean, E. Davy, A. Morris, C. Batten, J. Firth, W. B. Fisher, E. J. Fleming, H. H. Leopard, R. J. Loe, W. Bourke, T. Pattle, A. J. Belworthy, F. W. Lash, A. H. Hunt, H. D. Smith, W. E. Ahern, F. K. Porteous, A. D. C. Gosman, T. A. O'Connor, A. E. Wilson, C. C. Felton, J. W. Dayman, W. H. Simmons, J. B. Gauntlett, A. T. Parkes, C. U. McGrath

STORES BRANCH.

Stores Manager—G. Felton

Stores Audit Inspector—F. J. Dawes

Clerks—M. C. Rowe, G. H. Norie, S. Alpe, H. W. Barbor, A. E. Boyes, W. G. Wray, R. P. Bray, L. G. Porter, G. H. Stubbs, S. S. Millington, J. Kerr, A. D. Lincoln, J. Brabiner, J. Hayes, J. Ginnane, V. C. Hardie, G. D. Pattle, J. H. Martin

TRAFFIC BRANCH.

Chief Traffic Manager—H. Buxton

Relieving District. Traffic Manager—

Clerks—J. E. Armstrong, G. A. C. Robieson, J. D. Nash

Traffic Superintendents—Wellington, T. Arthur; Dunedin, A. Grant.

District Managers—Whangarei, E. E. Gillon; Auckland, T. W. Waite; Wanganui, W. Stringleman; Westland, F. W. Styles; Christchurch, S. F. Whitcombe; Invercargill, C. A. Piper

Stationmasters in Charge—Kawakawa, J. T. Parsons; Kaihu, R. B. Peat; Gisborne, G. G. Wellsted; Westport, T. Hay-Mackenzie; Nelson. E. G. Wilson; Picton, T. S. Edwards

MAINTENANCE BRANCH.

Chief Engineer for Working Railways—J. Coom, M.Inst.C.E.

Inspecting Engineer—J. Burnett. M.Inst.C.E.

Signal Engineer—H.J. Wynne, A.M.Inst.C.E.

Railway Land Officer—E. G. H. Mainwaring

Inspector of Bridge Construction—A. H. Alabaster

Electrician—J. T. Fahy

Electric Mechanician—T. Hendry

Office Engineer—G. A. Troup

Draughtsmen—J. Besant, C. T. Jeffreys, W. R. B. Bagge, Ad. Howitt, L. Reynolds, A. S. Henderson, W. W. Fry, G. G. Wilson, jun.

Clerks—W. P. Hicks, J. T. Ford, W. A. Mirams, H. Jessup, T. H. Wilson, E. S. Kelly, H. W. Rowden, J. M. Robb, F. J. Rowden, E. D. Richards, W. B. O'Brien, G. P. Parrell, T. Trezise, H. McAlister, F. T. A. Williams, H. G. C. Simmons, O. Foreman, C. S. Nelson

District Engineers—Auckland, C. H. Biss; Wanganui. D. T. McIntosh; Wellington, A. C. Koch; Westport and Westland, F. J. Jones; Christchurch. H. Macandrew; Dunedin, F. W. MacLean; Invercargill, A. J. McCredie

LOCOMOTIVE BRANCH.

Chief Mechanical Engineer — A.L. Beattie

Clerks—J. P. Kelly, R. Aekins, D. D. Weir, J. Rumgay, J. Worthington, H. McKeowen, H. B. Sturmer, C. L. Pettit, J. H. Leopard, J. P. McKeowen, E. S. Stringleman, N. E. White, J. Linehan, E. M. Bish, F. C. Reynolds, A. A. B. Boult

Chief Draughtsman—G. A. Pearson

Draughtsmen—R. Pye-Smith, G. Wilson, A. Smellie, J. M. Porteous

Boiler Inspector—J. W. Nichols

Locomotive Engineers—Auckland, A. V. Macdonald; Wellington-Napier-New Plymouth, T. A. Peterkin; Hurunui-Bluff, H. H. Jackson; Westport and Westland, G. E. Richardson. Relieving, F. T. Murison

Brake Engineer—J. H. Fox

Loco. Inspector—E. L. W. Haskins

BOARD OF APPEAL.

North Island.

H. Eyre-Kenny, Stipendiary Magistrate, Chairman, appointed by the Governor

H. Davidson, Railway Accountant's Office, elected

W. T. Wilson, Engineman, elected

M. J. Mack, Guard, elected

W. Morrison, Ganger, elected

(Workshop representative to be elected)

Middle Island.

C. D. R. Ward, District Judge, Chairman, appointed by the Governor

A. Graham, Stationmaster, elected

A. Dunn, Guard, Christchurch, elected

J. A. McCullough, Leading Tinsmith, elected

D. Wilson, Engineman, elected

R. Duncan, Surfaceman, elected

POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT.

GENERAL POST OFFICE.

Postmaster-General and Electric Telegraph Commissioner—Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, K.C.M.G.

Secretary—W. Gray

Superintendent of Electric Lines—J. K. Logan

Assistant Secretary and Inspector—T. Rose

Controller of Money-orders and Savings-banks, and Accountant—G. Gray

Chief Clerk—D. Robertson

Assistant Controller Money-Orders and Savings - Banks, and Assistant Accountant—W. R. Morris

Clerks, Secretary's Office—F. V. Waters (Second Clerk), H. Plimmer, J. C. Williamson, W. Crow, V. J. Brogan, T. Ward, H. D. Grocott, J. C. Redmond, A. T. Markmann, W. J. Gow, F. W. Furby, J. B. Jordan, S. Macalister, J. P. P. Clouston, W. J. Wilkie, W. H. Banett, A. Donovan

Master of cable steamer “Tutanekai”—C. F. Pos

Mail Agents—W. Isbister, D. E. Lindsay

Clerks, Inspector's Branch—G. V. Hudson, J. Brennan. W. A. Tanner, F. S. Robins, S. M. Harrison, G. P. Edwards, H. McGill

Clerks, Accountant's Branch—J. L. H. Ledger, H. A. R. Huggins, G. W. Moorhouse, W. Callaghan, W. Chegwidden, R. J. Thompson, H. Cornwall, F. Perrin, J. J. Esson, D. A. Jenkins, H. N. McLeod, J. D. Avery, C. B. Harton, W. J. Drake, J. G. Roache, J. Coyle, F. E. Beamish, A. C. Elliott, G. H. Harris, H. C. Milne, C. W. J. Panting, H. C. Hickson, P. D. Hoskins, W. R. Wakelin, F. Stewart, G. G. Rose, H. E. Combs, J. E. Hull, A. Marshall, G. F. W. Kroner, F. G. A. Eagles, C. G. Collins, T. M. Highet, J. C. A. Dudley, T. H. N. Beasley, W. I. Dawson, W. K. Frethey, J. Snell, W. Gilbert, G. L. Messenger, T. A. Churches, C. H. Clinkard, J. M. Dale, H. A. Lamb, R. Porteous, D. Rutherford, A. A. Edwards, A. Baskiville, W. A. Smith, R. H. Twose, E. White, C. Gamble, S. H. A. Levien, J. Madden, J. Alexander, P. Cutforth, A. Leeden, C. B. Burdekin, J. Courtney, G. Foote, E. Bermingham, S. Brock. E. Harris, B. M. Kenny, V. Johnston, M. A. MacLeod, C. M. A. Smith, M. J. Mackellar, M. A. Asquith, E. E. Warren

Electrician—T. Buckley

Assistant Electrician—W. E. Chisholm

Mechanicians—R. Heinitz. F. Palmer

Storekeeper—J. Black

Assistant Storekeeper—C. B. Mann

Clerks in Store—C. Nicholls, T. Palmer, W. H. Carter, M. McGilvray, J. G. Howard, W. R. Aekins, J. L. Murphy, C. R. H. Robertson

CHIEF POSTMASTERS.

Auckland—D. Cumming

* Thames—H. W. Capper

* Combined post and telegraph offices.

*Gisborne—W. H. Renner

Napier—J. H. Sheath

*New Plymouth—F. D. Holdsworth

*Wanganui—D. Miller

Wellington—J. A. Hutton

*Blenheim—E. Northcroft

*Nelson—S. P. Stevens

*Westport—H. Logie

*Greymouth—G. W. Sampson

*Hokitika—D. St. George

Christchurch—J. F. McBeth

*Timaru—W. McHuteneson

*Oamaru—W. W. Beswick

Dunedin—J. W. Wilkin

*Invercargill—C. J. A. H. Tipping

INSPECTORS OF TELEGRAPHS.

Auckland—W. G. Meddings

Christchurch—J. W. Gannaway

Dunedin—J. Orchiston

Nelson—C. C. Robertson

Wellington—W. S. Furby

ASSISTANT INSPECTORS OF POST-OFFICES.

P. Curtis (Northern District), W. J. Chaney (Central District), W. St. G. Douglas (Midland District), T. T. King (Southern District)

OFFICERS IN CHARGE OF TELEGRAPH OFFICES.

Auckland—H. F. Seager

Napier—B. H. Keys

Wellington—H. W. Harrington

Christchurch—J. W. Mason

Dunedin—J. G. Ballard

BOARD OF APPEAL.

J. McGowan, Commissioner of Taxes, Chairman (by Act)

J. K. Logan, Superintendent of Electric Lines (by Act)

F. M. Scully, Representing Postal Branch, elected

W. F. Young, Representing Telegraph Branch, elected

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND CUSTOMS.

Commissioner of Trade and Customs—Hon. C. H. Mills

Secretary and Inspector of Customs—W. T. Glasgow

Chief Clerk—T. Larchin

Clerks, Customs—C. H. Manson, H. S. Cordery

Cadet—G. F. McKellar

Audi—H. W. Brewer, W. A. Cameron

COLLECTORS OF CUSTOMS.

Auckland—A. Rose

Poverty Bay—W. J. Hawley

New Plymouth—J. H. Hempton

Napier—E. R. C. Bowen

Wellington—D. Johnston

Wanganui—A. Elliot

Nelson—R. Carter

Westport—H. J. Crowther

Greymouth—C. Colebrook

Hokitika—W. Rose

Lyttelton and Christchurch—J. Mills

Timaru—C. S. Nixon

Oamaru—T. M. Cullen

Dunedin—C. W. S. Chamberlain

Invercargill and Bluff Harbour—A. McDowell

OFFICERS IN CHARGE OF PORTS, AND COASTWAITERS.

Thames—T. C. Bayldon, Coastwaiter

Russell—H. Stephenson, Coastwaiter

Tauranga—C. E. Nicholas, Officer in Charge

Whangaroa—A. G. Ratcliffe, Coastwaiter

Whangarei—J. Munro, Coastwaiter

Mangonui — H. G. Hunt, Officer in Charge

Hokianga—G. Martin, Coastwaiter

Kaipara—J. C. Smith, Officer in Charge

Waitara—J. Cameron, Coastwaiter

Patea—J. W. Glenny, Officer in Charge

Wairau — H. A. Jackman, Officer in Charge

Picton—T. W. Lecocq, Officer in Charge

Chatham Islands—R. S. Florance, Officer in Charge

MARINE DEPARTMENT.

Minister of Marine—Hon. W. Hall-Jones

Secretary—G. Allport

Clerks—J. J. D. Grix, W. Canton

Cadets—B. W. Millier, D. H. Butcher

Cadette—M. Fisher

Marine Engineer for the Colony—W. H. Hales

Nautical Adviser and Chief Examiner of Masters and Mates—H. S. Blackburne

Weather Reporter—R. A. Edwin, Com. R.N.

Superintendent of Mercantile Marine and Examiner of Masters and Mates, Auckland—W. D. Reid

Assistant—T. A. G. Atwood

Superintendent of Mercantile Marine and Examiner of Masters and Mates—Wellington, G. G. Smith

Superintendent of Mercantile Marine and Examiner of Masters and Mates, Lyttelton—J. A. H. Marciel

Superintendent of Mercantile Marine and Examiner of Masters and Mates, Dunedin—C. E. W. Fleming

Master of s.s. “Hinemoa”—J. Bollons

INSPECTORS OF SEA-FISHERIES.

Wellington, Chief Inspector — L. F. Ayson

Russell—H. Stephenson

Whangarei—A. McDonnell

Wanganui—W. J. Campbell

Palmerston North—M. D. Stagpoole

Foxton—J. Forster

Hokitika—J. Marks

Dunedin—J. McIntyre

Bluff—P. McGrath

Napier—C. H. Pratt

HARBOURMASTERS.*

* The more important harbours are controlled by local Boards, not by the Marine Department.

Collingwood—F. Stallard

Foxton—J. B. Hall

Hokianga—G. Martin

Kaipara—J. Christy Smith

Manukau—J. Neale

Motueka—H. L. Moffatt

Picton—T. Edwards

Port Robinson—J. Sinclair

Russell—H. Stephenson

Wairau—H. Fisk

Waitapu—S. Fittall

INSPECTION OF MACHINERY DEPARTMENT.

Chief Inspector of Machinery, Principal Engineer Surveyor of Steamers, Principal Surveyor of Ships, and Chief Examiner of Engineers and Engine-drivers— R. Duncan, Head Office, Wellington

Chief Clerk—R. P. Milne

Clerks—W. D. Andrews, J. G. Macpherson, J. M. Healy, and J. Driscoll

Cadets—W. M. Egglestone, W. J. Craig

Inspectors of Machinery, Engineer Surveyors of Steamers and Surveyors of Ships, and Examiners of Engineers and Engine-drivers :—

Auckland — H. Wetherilt, W. R. Douglas, N. D. Hood

Wanganui—S. Dalrymple

Wellington—A. Calvert, P. Grant, C. W. R. Suisted, W. Cullen, A. Ramsay

Nelson—A. McVicar

Christchurch—P. J. Carman

Timaru—J. Williamson

Dunedin—A. Walker, M. Sharp

Invercargill—A. W. Bethune

Board of Examiners of Stationary, Traction, Locomotive, and Winding Engine Drivers — Robert Duncan, Chief Inspector of Machinery, M.Inst.Nav.A., M.Inst.Soc.A.Lond., Chairman; John Hayes, F.S.G.C., Inspecting Engineer of Mines; P. S. Hay, M.A., M.Inst.C.E.; R. P. Milne, Secretary

STAMP DEPARTMENT.

Commissioner of Stamp Duties—Hon. James Carroll

Secretary for Stamps—C.A.St.G. Hickson

Chief Clerk—C. H. W. Dixon

Accountant—J. P. Murphy

Custodian and Issuer of Stamps—W. H. Shore

Clerks—V. Willeston, J. Murray

Chief Stamper—C. Howe

Cadette—C. McIntosh

Cadet—F. Acheson

DEPUTY COMMISSIONERS OF STAMPS.

Auckland—E. Bamford

Gisborne—R. N. Jones

Taranaki—T. Hutchison

Hawke's Bay—Thos. Hall

Wellington—C. A. St. G. Hickson

Wanganui — D. Miller

Nelson—W. W. de Castro

Marlborough—C. E. Nalder

Canterbury—P. G. Withers

Timaru—W. McHutchison

Otago—P. C. Corliss

Southland—R. W. Dyer

Westland—V. G. Day

LAND TRANSFER DEPARTMENT AND DEEDS REGISTRY.

Registrar-General of Land and Deeds—G. B. Davy

Secretary, Land and Deeds—C. A. St. G. Hickson

DISTRICT LAND REGISTRARS AND REGISTRARS OF DEEDS.

Auckland—E. Bamford

Taranaki—T. Hutchison

Wellington—Wm. Stuart

Hawke's Bay—Thos. Hall

Poverty Bay—R. N. Jones

Nelson—H. W. Robinson

Marlborough—C. E. Nalder

Canterbury—G. G. Bridges

Otago—W. Wyinks

Southland—R. W. Dyer

Westland—V. G. Day

EXAMINERS OF TITLES.

Auckland—E. Bamford

Taranaki—T. Hutchison

Wellington—H. Howorth

Hawke's Bay—Thos. Hall

Poverty Bay—R. N. Jones

Nelson—H. W. Robinson

Marlborough—C. E. Nalder

Canterbury—G. G. Bridges

Otago—W. Wyinks

Southland—R. W. Dyer

Westland—V. G. Day

REGISTRAR OF JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES.

C. A. St. G. Hickson

REGISTRARS OF BUILDING SOCIETIES, INDUSTRIAL AND PROVIDENT SOCIETIES, AND ASSISTANT REGISTRARS OF JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES.

Auckland—E. Bamford

Taranaki—T. Hutchison

Hawke's Bay—Thos. Hall

Wellington—C. H. W. Dixon

Nelson—W. W. de Castro

Marlborough—C. E. Nalder

Canterbury—P. G. Withers

Otago—P. C. Corliss

Southland—R. W. Dyer

Westland—V. G. Day

Poverty Bay—R. N. Jones

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

Minister of Education (administering also Native schools, industrial schools, and the institution for deaf-mutes)—Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, P.C.

Secretary for Education and Inspector-General of Schools—George Hogben, M.A.

Assistant Secretary—Sir E. O. Gibbes, Bart.

Chief Clerk—F. K. de Castro

Clerks—R. H. Pope, F. L. Severne, F. D. Thomson, B.A., H. J. Barrett, T. G. Gilbert, J. Beck, I. Davey

Cadets—I. Robertson, B.A., C.T. Wild, B.A., M. G. D. Grant, G. P. Prichard, J. F. Cooper, F. W. Millar, A. J. H. Benge, J. Turner, K. McKenzie, H. V. Croxton, I. Johnstone

Temporary Clerks—B. Stocker, M.A., H. J. Bathgate, C. G. Knight, C. G. Rees, T. McInerney

Inspector of Native Schools — W. W. Bird, M.A.

Inspectors of Technical Instruction—M. H. Browne, E. C. Isaac

Assistant Inspectors of Industrial Schools—R. H. Pope (also clerk), T. A. Walker, Miss J. Stewart (also Visiting Officer to “Inmates” at Service, &c.)

Visiting Officers to “Inmates” of Industrial Schools at Service, &c.—E. G. Hyde, Miss J. Stewart, Mrs. A. Young

Officer in charge of Public School Cadets—Lieut.-Colonel L. W. Loveday

EDUCATION BOARDS, WITH NAMES OF SECRETARIES.

Auckland—V. E. Rice

Taranaki—P. S. Whitcombe

Wanganui—W. J. Carson

Wellington—G. L. Stewart

Hawke's Bay—G. T. Fannin

Marlborough—J. Smith

Nelson—S. Ellis

Grey—H. Smith, B.A.

Westland—A. J. Morton, B.A.

Canterbury North—H. C. Lane

Canterbury South—A. Bell, M.A.

Otago—P. G. Pryde

Southland—J. Neill

SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS

(Administrators of Education Reserves, with Names of Secretaries).

Auckland—H. N. Garland

Taranaki—F. P. Corkill

Wellington—J. H. N. Wardrop

Hawke's Bay—E. P. A. Platford

Marlborough—J. Smith

Nelson—A. T. Jones

Westland—A. J. Morton

Canterbury—H. H. Pitman

Otago—C. Macandrew

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.

Government Schools.

Auckland Industrial School—Miss S. E. Jackson, Manager

Wellington Receiving Home—Mrs. E. S. Dick, Manager

Burnham Industrial School (Canterbury)—T. Archey, Manager

Te Oranga Home (Canterbury)—Mrs. E. T. Branting, Manager

Christchurch Receiving Home—Miss A. B. Cox, Manager

Caversham Industrial School (Otago)—G. M. Burlinson, Manager

Official Correspondent for Boarded-out Children, Otago — Miss J. Sievwright

Private Schools.

St. Mary's Industrial School, Auckland — Rev. G. H. Gillan, Manager

St. Joseph's Industrial School, Wellington—Rev. W. J. Lewis, Manager

St. Mary's Industrial School, Nelson—Rev. George Mahony, Manager

St. Vincent de Paul's Industrial School, Dunedin — Right Rev. M. Verdon, Manager

INSTITUTION FOR DEAF-MUTES, SUMNER.

Director—G. van Asch

Steward—H. Buttle

LUNATIC ASYLUMS.

Inspector—Duncan MacGregor, M.A., M.B., C.M.*

* Also holds appointment of Inspector of Hospitals and Charitable Institutions.

Assistant Inspectors—J. F. S. Hay, M.B., C.M., and Mrs. Grace Neill

Medical Superintendent, Auckland Asylum—R. M. Beattie, M.B.

Medical Superintendent, Christchurch Asylum—E. G. Levinge, M.B.

Medical Superintendent, Porirua Asylum—Gray Hassell, M.D.

Medical Superintendent, Wellington Asylum—W. Baxter Cow, M.D.

Medical Superintendent, Seacliff Asylum—F. Truby King, M.B.

Superintendent, Hokitika Asylum—John Downey; Medical Officer, H. Macandrew, M.B.

Superintendent, Nelson Asylum—J. Morrison; Medical Officer, W. J. Mackie, M.D.

Ashburn Hall, Waikari (private asylum)—Proprietors, Dr. E. W. Alexander and Executor of James Hume; Medical Officer, E. H. Alexander, M.B., C.M.

MINES DEPARTMENT.

CHIEF OFFICE.

Minister of Mines—Hon. James McGowan

Under-Secretary for Mines—H. J. H. Eliot

Inspecting Engineer—John Hayes

Chief Clerk—T. H. Hamer

Clerk—H. E. Radcliffe

Analyst—J. S. Maclaurin, D.Sc., F.C.S.

Geologist—Alexander McKay, F.G.S.

Draughtsman—C. H. Pierard

Shorthand Writer—J. T. Watkins

Cadet—T. H. Sherwood

INSPECTORS OF MINES.

Thames and Auckland Districts—James Coutts; Assistant Inspector, Thomas Ryan: Canterbury, Dunedin, and Southland Districts—E. R. Green; Assistant Inspector, Robert McIntosh; Cadet, H. Paton: West Coast Districts—R. Tennent; Assistant Inspector—A. H. Richards, Cadet—A. J. Ching

MINING BUREAU.

Secretary—P. Galvin

MANAGERS OF WATER-RACES.

Waimea-Kumara—A. Aitken

Mount Ida—R. Murray

SCHOOLS OF MINES.

Lecturers and Instructors: Thames—O. G. Adams; Assistant, A. H. V. Morgan, M.A.: Reefton—J. Henderson: Coromandel — D. V. Allen: Waihi—P. G. Morgan, M.A.

BOARD OF EXAMINERS UNDER “THE COAL-MINES ACT, 1891.”

The Surveyor-General; the Inspecting Engineer of Mines; the Chief Inspector of Machinery, Wellington; James Bishop; and H. A. Gordon

BOARD OF EXAMINERS UNDER “THE MINING ACT, 1891.”

Same official members as above Board, excepting the Chief Inspector of Machinery, Wellington, with the following private members: H. A. Gordon, F.G.S., Auckland; Thomas Aitken Dunlop, Thames; Patrick Quirk Caples, Reefton; and Francis Hodge, Coromandel

The Surveyor-General is Chairman of both Boards, and Mr. T. H. Hamer is the Secretary

DEFENCE DEPARTMENT.

Minister of Defence—Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon, P.C.

Under-Secretary—

Senior Clerk—T. F. Grey

Clerk—A. J. Baker

Commandant of the N.Z. Forces.

Colonel James Melville Babington, H.M. General Staff (local Major-General)

Staff Officer of Artillery.

Major St. Leger Montgomery Moore, N.Z.M. (Captain R.G.A.)

Staff Officer Engineer Service—Captain Alick Christopher Robinson, N.Z.M. (Lieut. R.E.)

Inspecting Officer Defence Cadet Volunteers and Defence Rifle Clubs—Captain John Gethin Hughes, D.S.O., N.Z.M.

Commandant Military School of Instruction, Wellington.

Lieut.-Colonel Robert Haylock Owen, N.Z.M. (late Captain. H.M. South Lancashire Regiment)

Defence Store Department.

Storekeeper—J. O'Sullivan

NEW ZEALAND PERMANENT FORCE.

Officer Commanding—Major St. Leger Montgomery Moore, N.Z.M. (Captain R.G.A.)

Royal New Zealand Artillery.

Captain J. E. Hume

Lieutenant H. E. Pilkington

Lieutenant W. P. Wall

Lieutenant M. M. Gardner

Lieutenant G. E. B. Mickle

Lieutenant R. O. Chesney

Lieutenant S. G. Sandle

Royal New Zealand Engineers.

Lieutenant F. Symon

Lieutenant R. B. Smythe

Surgeon, Permanent Force (Wellington).

H. A. H. Gilmer

Surgeon, Permanent Force (Auckland).

John A. Laing, M.D.

Surgeon, Permanent Force (Lyttelton).

C. H. Upham, M.R.C.S.E.

Honorary Chaplain, Lyttelton Detachment Permanent Force.

Rev. E. E. Chambers

Honorary Chaplain, Wellington Detachment Permanent Force.

Rev. G. P. Davys

Hon. Captain—Robert Fraser (Lieut. R.N.R.)

Hon. Captain — Reginald Moorhouse (Lieut. R.N.R.)

Hon. Lieutenant — John Macpherson

Hon. Lieutenant—William Geo. Nelson

Officers Commanding Militia and Volunteer Districts, and Adjutants.

Auckland — Brevet-Colonel Richard Hutton Davies, C.B., N.Z.M.

Wellington — Brevet - Colonel William Holden Webb, N.Z.M., late H.M. 109th Foot; Adjutant, Captain L. J. Joyce, N.Z.M.

Canterbury — Colonel Thomas William Porter, C.B., N.Z.M.

Otago — Brevet-Colonel Alfred William Robin, C.B., N.Z.M.

Nelson — Major (temporary Lieut.-Colonel) George Cecil Burleigh Wolfe, N.Z.M., late Captain R.M.L.I.; Adjutant, Lieut. (temporary Captain) Sydney Vincent. Trask, N.Z.M.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY.

HEAD OFFICE.

Minister of Lands—Hon. Thomas Young Duncan

Surveyor-General and Secretary for Crown Lands—J. W. A. Marchant

Under-Secretary for Crown Lands—W. C. Kensington

Chief Draughtsman—F. W. Flanagan

Chief Clerk—F. T. O'Neill

Auditor of Land Revenue—W. G. Runcie

Accountant—R. A. Paterson

Superintendent of Village Settlements—J. E. March

AUCKLAND DISTRICT.

Assistant Surveyor-General, Chief Surveyor, and Commissioner of Crown Lands—G. J. Mueller

District Surveyors—J. Baber, jun., G. A. Martin, H. D. M. Haszard, T. K. Thompson, R. S. Galbraith, D. A. I. Barron

Assistant Surveyors—A. G. Allom, H. F. Edgecumbe

Chief Draughtsman—C. R. Pollen

Receiver of Land Revenue — T. M. Taylor

HAWKE'S BAY DISTRICT.

Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands—E. C. Gold Smith

District Land Officer, Gisborne, F. S. Smith

District Surveyors—F. S. Smith. James Hay, P. A. Dalziel

Assistant. Surveyor—T. Brook

Chief Draughtsman—F. Simpson

Receiver of Land Revenue—F. Bull

TARANAKI DISTRICT.

Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands—J. Mackenzie

District Surveyors—H. M. Skeet, G. H. Bullard, J. F. Frith, W. T. Morpeth

Chief Draughtsman—J. Langmuir

Receiver of Land Revenue—F. A. Cullen

WELLINGTON DISTRICT.

Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands—J. Stranchon

District Surveyors—J. D. Climie, F. A. Thompson, H. J. Lowe, W. J. Wheeler, J. McKay

Assistant Surveyor—J. R. Strachan, H. E. Girdlestone, E. A. Marchant

Chief Draughtsman—L. Smith

Receiver of Land Revenue—T. G. Wait

NELSON DISTRICT.

Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands—W. G. Murray

District Surveyors—J. A. Montgomerie, J. Snodgrass, R. T. Sadd, J. D. Thomson

Assistant Surveyor—W. C. McAlister

Chief Draughtsman and Receiver of Land Revenue—H. Trent

MARLBOROUGH DISTRICT.

Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands—C. W. Adams

District Surveyor—D. W. Gillies

Chief Draughtsman and Receiver of Land Revenue—W. Armstrong

WESTLAND DISTRICT.

Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands—G. J. Roberts

District Surveyor—W. Wilson

Chief Draughtsman—T. M. Grant

Receiver of Land Revenue—A. D. A. Macfarlane

CANTERBURY DISTRICT.

Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands—T. Humphries

District Surveyor—T. N. Broderick, G. H. M. McClure

Chief Draughtsman—C. B. Shanks

Receiver of Land Revenue—A. A. McNab

OTAGO DISTRICT.

Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands—David Barron

District Surveyors—E. H. Wilmot, D. M. Calder, W. T. Neill

Chief Draughtsman—S. Thompson

Receiver of Land Revenue—G. A. Reade

SOUTHLAND DISTRICT.

Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands—John Hay

District Surveyors—L. O. Mathias, H. Maitland

Chief Draughtsman—G. Robinson

Receiver of Land Revenue—H. L. Welch

MEMBERS OF LAND BOARDS.

Auckland—G. J. Mueller, J. Renshaw, A. R. Harris, M. W. Armstrong, H. J. Greenslade

Hawke's Bay — E. C. Gold Smith, T. Hyde, R. R. Groom, C. R. Baines

Taranaki — J. Mackenzie, J. Heslop, James Rattenbury, J. B. Connett, J. McCluggage

Wellington—J. Strauchon, A. Reese, J. Stevens, T. H. Robinson, J. Dawson

Nelson—W. G. Murray, O. Lynch, R. Kerr, J. S. Wratt, G. Walker

Marlborough—C. W. Adams, J. Redwood, A. P. Seymour, H. M. Reader, G. Renner

Westland—G. J. Roberts, A. Matheson, J. S. Lang, A. Cumming, M. Pollock

Canterbury — T. Humphries, A. C. Pringle, J. Sealy, J. Allan, J. Stevenson

Otago—D. Barron, H. H. Kirkpatrick, H. Clark, J. Duncan, W. Dallas

Southland—J. Hay, A. Kinross, J. McIntyre, D. King, J. McLean

DEPARTMENT OF ROADS.

HEAD OFFICE.

Minister in Charge — Hon. W. Hall-Jones

Chief Engineer of Roads—C. W. Hurst-house

Chief Clerk—W. S. Short (solicitor)

Chief Accountant—H. J. Knowles

Assistant Accountant—J. R. Smyth

Assistant Road Engineer—E. C. Robinson

Clerks—A. Arthur, J. O. Anson, W. Barclay, F. Blake, C. E. Bennett, J. Connell, A. W. Innes, F. Mueller, J. B. Poynter, N. J. Ryan

Cadette—R. B. Orr

Cadets—E. H. Baker, J. W. Black, J. D. Brosnan. R. F. Madden, G. H. Murray, J. M. Tudhope

District Officers.

District Road Engineers—Auckland, A. B. Wright; Te Kuiti, T. Burd; Rotorua, A. C. Turner; Hawke's Bay, D. N. McMillan; Taranaki, G. T. Murray; Wanganui, R. H. Reaney; Wellington, G. F. Robinson; Marlborough, C. H. Williams; Canterbury, F. B. Wither; Otago, W. D. R. McCurdie; Southland, J. H. Treseder

Assistant Road Engineers—Auckland, A. H. Vickerman; Rotorua, C. B. Turner, E. M. Donaldson; Te Kuiti, W. H. Adams, A. Julian; Wellington, T. Carroll

District Accountants—Auckland, G. A. Kallender: Wellington, R. Howe

Clerks — Auckland, H. J. Kallender; Rotorua, W. J. Wiggs; Te Kuiti, F. H. Sims; Hawke's Bay, P. S. Foley; Taranaki, J. Clarke, C. W. Richards; Wanganui, F. Manson, W. Merson, J. R. Cade; Wellington, P. J. Moran, S. d'A. Grut, T. C. Duncan; Nelson, J. A. Hay; Marlborough, F. H. Ibbetson; Westland, C. McFarlane; Canterbury, P. W. Willson; Otago, W. H. Trimble, R. W. Gill; Southland, M. J. Aitkin

Cadets — Auckland, M. H. Hampson; Wanganui, H. A. Joyce; Southland, J. P. Larkin

Draughtsmen—Auckland, R. C. Anderson; Rotorua, F. I. Ellis; Te Kuiti, J. T. Kirkby; Hawke's Bay, P. S. Reaney, W. H. Gilmour; Taranaki, F. A. Tregelles; Wellington, G. R. Ibbetson

Road Inspectors — Auckland, G. G. Menzies, R. J. Baff, R. R. Menzies, R. Hill, H. H. Thompson, S. R. James, J. Higgins; Rotorua, J. A. Brownlie; Hawke's Bay, T. H. Strauchon, P. Gallagher D. G. Robertson; Taranaki, R. Barron, H. C. Strombon, E. Julian, R. D. Tosswill; Wanganui, A. L. Soufflot, R. S. Summers, G. Sutherland, W. Waters; Wellington, W. Nathan, B. Wolff, J. C. Scott, C. Hardinge; Nelson, J. F. Rasmussen; Westland, W. Adair; Canterbury, R. H. Young, U. Hurrell; Otago, H. C. Sutton; Southland, B. Marr, W. Y. Millar

Bridge Inspectors — Te Kuiti, M. W. Forsyth; Wanganui, H. J. Hayns; Wellington, D. Hughes, S. W. Jones

Overseers — Rotorua, W. Fairley, Te Kuiti, W. J. Worthington, W. Bond, J. Williamson; Hawke's Bay, J. Allison; Taranaki, W. Rigg: Wanganui, J. A. Rutherford, E. A. Vine; Wellington, W. Boyden, G. Whittaker, W. Whittaker; Nelson, W. Morris; Marlborough, T. James; Westland, R. Rothwell, W. L. Fleming, A. M. Beer; Otago, P. Fitzpatrick

“THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1900.”

BOARD OF LAND PURCHASE COMMISSIONERS.

Chairman of Board and Land Purchase Inspector—Alexander Barron

The Board consists of the Land Purchase Inspector as Chairman, the Surveyor - General, the Commissioner of Taxes—these for the whole colony—with the Commissioners of Crown Lands and a resident in the land district in which the land under negotiation is situated, who are members only for the business arising within their respective districts.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Minister in Charge—Hon. T. Y. Duncan

HEAD OFFICE.

Secretary of Agriculture and Chief Inspector of Stock—J. D. Ritchie

Chief Clerk—R. Evatt

Clerk in Charge of Correspondence Branch—F. S. Pope

Clerk in Charge of Accounts Branch—J. E. D. Spicer

Clerks—Correspondence Branch: F. C. Hjorring, R. W. Atkinson, D. Sinclair, T. D. H. Hall, W. A. Pye. Accounts Branch — E. Fitzgibbon, F. C. Matthews, A. Callcott, A. E. Rowden, S. T. K. Sharp, A. McTaggart

VETERINARY DIVISION.

Pathologist and Chief Veterinarian—J. A. Giluth, M.R.C.V.S.

Assistant Chief Veterinarian — C. J. Reakes, M.R.C.V.S.

Laboratory Assistant—G. H. Barker

Clerks—H. E. Carey, D. L. Luxford, C. Aston

Veterinarians (Ms.R.C.V.S.) — H. C. Wilkie (F.R.C.V.S., F.Z.S.), Dunedin; J. Lyons, Auckland; C. R. Neale, Gisborne; A. R. Young, New Plymouth; S. Burton, Palmerston North; J. G. Clayton, Wellington

Veterinarians and Meat Inspectors (Ms.R.C.V.S.) — A. Crabb, Christchurch; D. H. Rait, Hastings; J. R. Charlton, Islington; T. G. Lilico, Timaru; J. A. K. Towers, Ngahauranga; D. Machattie, Ashburton; J. Kerrigan, Invercargill; V. A. Bankes, Wanganui; F. C. Robertson, Belfast; W. H. Hawthorn, Auckland; W. G. Taylor, Napier; W. D. Snowball, Dunedin; A. W. Barnes, Nelson; T. Cunningham, Mataura; D. Spilman, Petone; P. M. Edgar, Aramoho; F. Glover, Waitara; W. C. Quinnell, Pareora

Meat Inspectors—H. S. S. Kyle, Invercargill; H. Marsack, Auckland; F. Beattie, Paeroa; J. Jarman, Thames; C. J. Barron, Blenheim; G. W. Mitchell, Lyttelton; E. T. B. Worthy, Hawera; T. J. Reakes, New Plymouth; F. Stewart, Gore

Assistant Meat Inspectors — A. G. Howard, A. D. Gillies, J. Mille, W. H. Rodney, G. W. Rait, B. Thomson, H. W. Binney, J. Preston, B. Ferguson, G. Thomson, C. J. Stone, T. Anderson, S. T. Evatt, W. A. P. Sutton, W. S. Carswell, A. M. R. Mills, W. C. Moore, J. C. Mackley, W. T. Wynyard, G. B. Williams

DAIRY DIVISION.

Dairy Commissioner—J. A. Kinsella

Clerk—D. Bray

Dairy Instructors—W. M. Singleton, A. G. Shirley, J. Pedersen

Dairy Instructors and Dairy - produce Graders, D. Cuddie, D. Dickie, W. Wright, Wellington; S. A. Dumbleton, Patea; L. Hansen, New Plymouth

Dairy-produce Graders—A. A. Thornton, Lyttelton and Port Chalmers; J. Johnston, New Plymouth; E. Townshend, Auckland; E. A. Dowden, Wellington

Clerks to Graders—J. Fleming, R. F. Crosbie, J. Hutton

BIOLOGICAL AND HORTICULTURAL DIVISION.

Biologist—T. W. Kirk, F.L.S.

Assistant Biologist—A. H. Cockayne

Clerks—J. H. Kingdon, B. Clarry

Assistant Entomologist—Auckland, Captain T. Broun, F.E.S.

Pomologists — North Island, W. J. Palmer, W. A. Boucher. South Island, J. C. Blackmore

Fruit Inspectors—Auckland, Captain T. Broun, F.E.S.; Wellington, H. Palethorpe; Christchurch, A. C. Smale; Dunedin, A. F. Cargill

POULTRY DIVISION.

Poultry Expert—D. D. Hyde

Clerk—G. A. Ross

Poultry Graders — Auckland, R. W. Pounsford; Wellington, T. Burke; Christchurch, S. Newton; Dunedin, T. F. Leihy

Poultry-station Managers—Ruakura, C. Cussen; Momohaki, H. C. Collett; Burnham, Leslie Hill; Milton, F. Brown

FIBRE DIVISION.

Chief Fibre Expert—C. J. Fulton.

Fibre Graders—Auckland, W. H. O. Johnston; Wellington, R. T. Bell, W. H. Middlemiss; Bluff, W. J. Shea

Clerk, Wellington—H. Wynn-Williams

VITICULTURAL DIVISION.

Viticultural Expert—R. Bragato

Vine Inspector—A. T. Potter

BONE-STERILISING DIVISION.

Superintendent of Bone-sterilising — F. G. Lawrie

CHEMICAL DIVISION.

Chemist—B. C. Aston, F.C.S.

Assistant Chemist — H. W. Lawrence, F.C.S.

Laboratory Assistant—

STATISTICAL DIVISION.

Compiler of Statistics—E. B. Burdekin

Clerk—A. C. Philpott

EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

Overseers — Waerenga, N. Kensington; Ruakura, M. Mulcahy; Weraroa, G. Ross; Momohaki, F. Gillanders; Te Mata (Hawke's Bay), S. F. Anderson

Clerks—Ruakura, D. Edwards; Weraroa D. N. Cole

LIVE-STOCK QUARANTINE STATION

Caretakers — Auckland, Thomas Hill; Wellington, J. P. Ross; Lyttelton, W. J. Thomas

INSPECTORS OF STOCK.

Auckland District — Ohaeawai, D. A. Graham; Whangarei, *J. T. Stone; Auckland, *E. Clifton (in charge of district), F. H. Brittain, R. Hull, Hamilton, *D. Ross; Kihikihi, J. Kerr; Tauranga, A. H. Burkill

Hawke's Bay District — Gisborne. * C. Thomson and D. Fleming; Wairoa, *W. R. Rutherfurd; Napier, *W. Miller (in charge of district); Hastings, F. G. Wayne; Woodville, J. Harvey

* Also Registrar of Brands.

Wairarapa District—Masterton, *G. H. Jenkinson (in charge of district); Carterton, T. C. Webb

Wellington District — Wellington, *A. Mills (in charge of district), J. Drummond (port)

Manawatu District—Palmerston North, *J. Duncan (in charge of district)

West Coast (North Island) District—Hunterville, V. A. Huddleston; Wanganui, *A. K. Blundell (in charge of district); Hawera, *J. W. Deem; Stratford, J. Budge; New Plymouth, R. Rowan

Marlborough District — Blenheim, *J. Moore (in charge of district)

Canterbury District — Rotherham, *J. Munro; Rangiora, C. A. Cunningham; Christchurch, *H. T. G. Turner (in charge of district); Lincoln, J. C. Miller; Ashburton, B. Fullarton; Timaru, J. C. Huddleston; Fairlie, W. Black

Southern District — Dunedin, T. A. Fraser, Assistant Chief Inspector in charge of district). *J. E. Thomson (port); Kurow, W. Wills; Oamaru, *A. Ironside; Palmerston South, H. Hill; Mosgiel, R. I. Gossage; Naseby, C. Shaw; Clyde. *S. M. Taylor; Lawrence, *G. McLeod; Milton, T. Gillespie; Balclutha, J. L. Bruce; Gore, W. Dalgliesh; Invercargill, *R. Wright; Bluff, J. W. Raymond (port); Riverton, T. Gilmour; Queenstown, R. Fountain

Westland District — Hokitika, *C. C. Empson (in charge of district)

Nelson District—Nelson, G. S. Cooke (in charge of district)

Relieving Inspector of Stock, D. Munro

REGISTRARS OF BRANDS.

(The Inspectors of Stock marked * are also Registrars of Brands.)

Auckland, W. C. Robinson; Wanganui, D. Bell; Nelson, A. T. P. Hubbard

Clerks—Auckland, W. C. Robinson; Napier, R. M. Miller, W. McN. Miller; Masterton, R. J. Harcombe; Wellington, V. A. Mills; Palmerston North, W. Nettlefold; Wanganui, D. Bell; Blenheim, G. J. Ward; Christchurch, J. Longton, R. F. Crosbie; Timaru, W. Pogson; Dunedin, R. F. Cameron; Lawrence. E. Fowler; Invercargill, J. W. Bell, R. L. Johnston

INSPECTORS UNDER SLAUGHTERING ACT.

(The Inspectors of Stock are also Inspectors under the Slaughtering Act.)

F. Beattie, Paeroa; J. Jarman, Thames; E. T. B. Worthy, Hawera; A. Macpherson, Christchurch; F. Stewart, Gore

INSPECTORS OF DAIRIES.

(The Inspectors of Stock are also Inspectors of Dairies.)

Auckland, G. M. Williamson; Paeroa, F. Beattie; Thames, J. Jarman; Napier, J. G. Parker; New Plymouth, T. J. Reakes; Hawera, E. T. B. Worthy; Wellington, J. Drummond; Lyttelton, G. W. Mitchell; Christchurch, A. Macpherson; Blenheim, C. J. Barron; Dunedin, W. R. Brown; Nelson, A. T. P. Hubbard; Gore, F. Stewar

INSPECTORS OF NOXIOUS WEEDS.

(The Inspectors of Stock are also Inspectors of Noxious Weeds.)

Napier, J. G. Parker; Matapu, J. Heslop; Waitara, J. M. Hignett; Dunedin, W. R. Brown; Invercargill, M. O'Meara; Nelson, A. T. P. Hubbard; Hamilton, E. Seddon; Otahuhu, A. Dickson; Hamilton, J. G. Scott; Hunterville, R. Crockett; Stratford, F. Arden

INSPECTORS UNDER RABBIT NUISANCE ACT.

(The Inspectors of Stock are also Inspectors under the Rabbit Nuisance Act.)

RABBIT AGENTS.

Cambridge, J. S. Scott, R. Alexander; Kihikihi, B. Bayly; Pahiatua, T. Bacon; Masterton, J. Halligan; Taueru, H. Munro; Alfredton, H. S. Ussher; Carterton, A. C. Hackworth; Johnsonville, W. Ross; Levin, W. S. Goodall; Blenheim, G. Gee; Martin-borough, W. R. Taylor; Kaikoura, F. W. Sutton; Mount Somers, C. Watson; Fairlie, W. Johnston; Timaru. D. Elliott; Waimate, E. F. Sullivan; Hanmer, C. S. Neville; Kurow, C. S. Dalgleish; Maheno, F. McKenzie; Inch Valley, M. McLeod; Waikouaiti, F. Urquhart; Taieri, H. McLeod; Otago Peninsula, A. Munro; Sutton, R. Irving; Waipiata, B. Grant; Clyde, A. Clarke; Roxburgh, J. G. Johnston; Lawrence, D. Maider; Pembroke, H. A. Munro; Milton, C. Branigan; Owaka, F. W. Blair; Tapanui, A. C. Clapcott; Clinton, T. P. Short; Gore, A. Hughes; Lumsden, W. M. Munro; Wyndha, D. McLeod, J. C. Robinson; Invercargill. J. McKellar; Riverton, T. N. Baxter

VALUATION DEPARTMENT.

Minister in Charge—Hon. C. H. Mills.

Valuer General—John McGowan

Deputy Valuer-General—G. F. C. Campbell

Chief Clerk—F. J. M. D. Walmsley

Clerk in Charge—A. E. Fowler

Clerks—H. L. Wggins, G. Halliday, J. T. Bolt, J. Atkinson, E. J. R. Cumming, C. J. Lovatt

Draughtsman—H. H. Seed

Officers in Charge — A. J. McGowan, Auckland: R. Hepworth, Christchurch; A. Clothier, Dunedin; T. Oswin, Invercargill

District Valuers—James I. Wilson, jun., Whangarei; W. Garrett, J. J. Reynolds, Auckland; W. H. Wallis, Hamilton; W. E. Griffin, Napier; H. J. C. Coutts, Hawera; S. Hill, New Plymouth; A. Barns, Wanganui; R. Gardner, Palmerston North; J. Fraser, Masterton; J. Ames, Wellington; T. W. Caverhill, Petone; E. Kenny, Picton; J. Glen, Nelson; J. Webster, Hokitika; A. D. Bayfield, Westport; H. Murray, Christchurch; A. Freeman, Christchurch; A. Allan, Timaru; E. A. Atkinson. Oamaru; W. L. Craig, Palmerston South; J. Wright, Dunedin; R. Milne, Milton; J. George, Queenstown; John Smaill, Gore; Charles Rout, A. Pyper, Invercargill

Clerks—Auckland, T. C. Somers; Christchurch, J. M. Wheeler, A. Millar; Dunedin,; Invercargill, C. de R. Andrews

Cadets— Auckland, E. Panting; Wellington, F. C. Douglas; Invercargill. D. Corcoran

Cadettes—Auckland, F. B. Robertson; Wellington, G. E. Davidson, M. F. McLean; Christchurch, N. Smythe; Dunedin, M. J. Drysdale

GOVERNMENT INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.

Commissioner—J. H. Richardson, F.F.A., F.I.A.V.

Assistant Commissioner—D. M. Luckie

Actuary—Morris Fox

Secretary—W. B. Hudson

Accountant—G. W. Barltrop

Chief Medical Officer—T. Cahill, M.D.

Assistant Actuary—P. Muter

Chief Clerk—R. C. Niven

Office Examiner—G. A. Kennedy

Clerks—J. W. Kinniburgh, A. Avery, W. S. Smith, A. H. Hamerton, F. B. Bolt, T. L. Barker, A. L. B. Jordan, H. S. Manning, C. E. Galwey, A. T. Traversi, G. Webb, F. K. Kelling, J. B. Young, H. Rose. R. P. Hood, G. A. N. Campbell, J. A. Thomson, A. de Castro, R. T. Smith, H. L. Levestam, C. J. Alexander, S. P. Hawthorne, J. G. Reid, C. H. E. Stichbury, J. R. Samson, R. Fullerton, A. H. Johnstone, G. S. Nicoll, R. S. Latta, T. Fouhy, G. E. Sadd, W. H. Woon, W. Spence, J. J. Feeney, W. J. Ewart, H. Wylie, T. M. Dimant, B. Trevithick

Chief Messenger—W. Archer

AUCKLAND AGENCY.

District Manager—W. J. Speight

Chief Clerk—J. K. Blenkhorn

Clerk—C. H. Ralph

NAPIER AGENCY.

Resident Agent—J. H. Dean

WANGANUI AGENCY.

Resident Agent—A. E. Allison

Clerk—F. D. Banks

WELLINGTON AGENCY.

District Manager and Supervisor of New Business—G. Robertson

Chief Clerk—M. J. K. Heywood

Clerks — W. C. Marchant, A. M. McDonald, G. H. Brialey

NELSON AGENCY.

Resident Agent — A. P. Burnes

GREYMOUTH AGENCY.

Resident Agent — Geo. Crichton

CHRISTCHURCH AGENCY.

District Manager—J. C. Prudhoe

Chief Clerk—J. W. H. Wood

Clerks—G. J. Robertson, H. Mouat

TIMARU AGENCY.

Resident Agent—S. T. Wicksteed

OAMARU AGENCY.

Resident Agent—A. W. G. Burnes

DUNEDIN AGENCY.

District Manager—R. S. McGowan

Chief Clerk—O. H. Pinel

Clerk—A. Marryatt

INVERCARGILL AGENCY.

Resident Agent—J. Findlay

Clerk—J. Hendry

PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

Public Trustee—J. W. Poynton

Deputy Public Trustee and Chief Clerk—A. A. K. Duncan

Solicitor—F. J. Wilson

Inspector—T. S. Ronaldson

Accountant—T. D. Kendall

Examiner—A. Purdie

Clerks—T. Stephens, P. Fair, C. Zachariah, P. Hervey, E. C. Reeves, W. A. Fordham, G. A. Smyth, A. J. Cross, E. A. Smythe, K. N. H. Brown, W. Barr, E. O. Hales, S. W. Smith, C. A. Goldsmith, H. Masters, R. Price, N. M. Chesney, H. Turner, C. M. Calders, M. E. Nash, J. Menzies, E. P. Hay, R. MacGibbon, S. S. Mackenzie, O. L. Bowley, G. M. Morris, A. C. Bretherton, N. M. Macdagall, A. L. Chappell

District Agent, Christchurch — M. C. Barnett. Clerks, W. S. McGowan, G. P. Purnell, P. A. Devereux, A. K. Hadfield

District Agent, Auckland—E. F. Warren. Clerks, J. B. Jack, V. Adams, C. Robinson, A. R. Jordan

District Agent, Dunedin—F. H. Morice. Clerks, J. Allen, C. F. Young, W. Layburn

District Agent, Greymouth—T. R. Saywell

District Agent, Nelson—E. P. Watkis

West Coast Settlement Reserves Agent and District Agent, New Plymouth—Thomas W. Fisher. Clerks, H. Oswin, A. C Campbell

ADVANCES TO SETTLERS OFFICE.

Minister in Charge—Hon. C. H. Mills.

Superintendent—John McGowan

Deputy Superintendent—G. F. C. Campbell

Chief Clerk — F. J. M. D. Walmsley

Inspecting Accountant — P. Heyes

Clerk in Charge — W. Waddell

Clerks — M. J. Crombie, W. N. Hinchliffe, H. E. Williams, J. E. Thompson, C. B. Collins, W. Auld, A. A. Prichard, A. W. Knowles, T. W. Foote, H. S. O'Rourke, C. D. Wilson, R. G. McLennan. Typist C. T. Fraser

Cadets—A. Tudhope. J. F. O'Leary, T. W. Vickery, J. J. M. Harvey, F. J. R. Gledhill

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

Minister of Health — Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, K.C.M.G.

Director and Chief Health Officer, &c.—J. Malcolm Mason, M.D., D.P.H., &c.

Assistant Chief Health Officers—Dr. Thomas H. Ambrose Valintine, M.R. C.S.Eng., D.P.H., &c.

Wellington: R. H. Makgill, M.D. Edin., D.P.H. Camb.

Native Health Officer — Dr. Maui Pomare

Chief Clerk—J. H. McAlister

Clerks—H. B. Magrath, T. P. Butler, H. Eastgate, J. W. Taylor, L. J. Ell. Typistes, Gwenllian Craig. G. Martelli

Pathologist—J.A. Gilruth, M.R.C.V.S.

Analysts—Wellington, J. S. McLaurin; Auckland, J. A. Pond; Dunedin, J. G. Black; Christchurch, A. W. Bickerton

District Health Officers — Blenheim, Dr. W. Anderson; Napier, Dr. F. I. De Lisle; Auckland, Dr. J. P. Frengley; Dunedin, Dr. F. Ogston; Christchurch, Dr. H. E. Finch; Greymouth, Dr. C. G. Morice

Port Health Officers—Picton, Dr. W. E. Redman; Oamaru, Dr. A. Douglas; Wanganui, Dr. R. C. Earle; Port Chalmers, Dr. G. Hodges; Wellington, Dr. H. Pollen; Westport, Dr. M. Mackenzie; Greymouth, Dr. C. G. Morice; Timaru, Dr. E. T. Thomas; Onehunga, Dr. W. G. Scott; Auckland, Dr. E. W. Sharman; Kaipara, Dr. F. M. Purchas; Whangarei, Dr. G. B. Sweet; Bluff, Dr. J. Torrance; Lyttelton, Dr. C. H. Upham; Gisborne, Dr. J. W. Williams; Napier, Dr. T. C. Moore; New Plymouth, Dr. H. A. McClelland.

Sanitary Inspectors — Dunedin, W. E. Gladstone; Wellington, C. A. Schauer; New Plymouth, A. H. Kendall; Auckland, C. C. Winstanley; Napier, M. Kershaw; Nelson, C. Middleton; Christchurch, D. Munro; Invercargill, K. Cameron; Marton, F. C. Wilson; Masterton, G. H. Dolby.

CADETS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE TO BE VOLUNTEERS.

Cadets in the Civil Service are required, after arriving at the age of eighteen years, to serve for three years in a Volunteer corps. Heads of Departments are required to see that cadets who come within the regulations join the Volunteer Force, and serve for the period named, and also to notify the Under-Secretary for Defence of the appointment of all cadets coming within this regulation.

Chapter 19. ECCLESIASTICAL.

THERE is no State Church in the colony, nor is State aid given to any form of religion. Government in the early days set aside certain lands as endowments for various religious bodies, but nothing of the kind has been done for many years past.

CHURCH OF THE PROVINCE OF NEW ZEALAND, COMMONLY CALLED THE “CHURCH OF ENGLAND.”

Bishops.

The Most Rev. Samuel Tarratt Nevill, D.D., Dunedin; consecrated 1871, Primate.

The Right Reverend Moore Richard Neligan, D.D., Auckland; consecrated 1903.

The Right Rev. William Leonard Williams, D.D., Waiapu; consecrated 1895.

The Right Rev. Frederic Wallis, D.D., Wellington; consecrated 1895.

The Right Rev. Charles Oliver Mules, M.A., Nelson; consecrated 1892.

The Right Rev. Churchill Julius, D.D., Christchurch; consecrated 1890.

The Right Rev. Cecil Wilson, M.A., Melanesia; consecrated 1894.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Archbishop.

The Most Rev. Francis Redwood, S.M., D.D., Archbishop and Metropolitan, Wellington; consecrated 1874.

Bishops.

The Right Rev. George Michael Lenihan, D.D., Auckland; consecrated 1896.

The Right Rev. John Joseph Grimes, S.M., D.D., Christchurch; consecrated 1887.

The Right Rev. Michael Verdon, D.D., Dunedin; consecrated 1896.

ANNUAL MEETINGS AND OFFICERS.

The principal present heads or officers of the various churches, and the places and times of holding the annual or periodical assemblies or meetings, are as follow:—

Church of England.—For Church purposes, the colony is divided into six dioceses, viz.: Auckland, Waiapu, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, and Dunedin. The General Synod meets every third year in one or other of the dioceses. Representatives attend from each diocese, and also from the diocese of Melanesia.—President, the Bishop of Dunedin, Primate. The Diocesan Synods meet once a year, under the presidency of the Bishop of the diocese. The next General Synod will be held in Dunedin, on the 28th January, 1907.

Roman Catholic Church.—The diocese of Wellington, established in 1848, was in 1887 created an Archdiocese and the metropolitan see. There are three suffragan dioceses—Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin. A Retreat is held annually in each of the four dioceses, at the end of which a Synod is held, presided over by the Bishop, and at which all his clergy attend.

In January, 1899, the first Provincial Council of New Zealand was held in Wellington, under the presidency of the Metropolitan, and attended by all the Suffragan Bishops, and a number of priests elected specially in each diocese as representatives of the whole Catholic clergy in the colony. The decrees of this Council were approved by Rome in April, 1900, were published on 1st January, 1901, and are now binding in every diocese in the colony.

Presbyterian Church of New Zealand.—The General Assembly will meet on the second Tuesday of November, 1904, in St. John's Church, Wellington; and thereafter, on ordinary occasions, alternately in Wellington and Dunedin. Moderator, the Rev. Michael Watt, D.D., Dunedin; Clerk and Treasurer, Rev. David Sidey, D.D., Napier; Theological Professors. Rev. John Dunlop, M.A., D.D., and Rev. Michael Watt, M.A., D.D; and Mr. James Dunbar, tutor in Greek.

Methodist Church of Australasia in New Zealand.—The annual New Zealand Conference meets on or about the last Tuesday in February, the exact date being determined by the President, who holds office for one year. Each Conference determines where the next one shall assemble. President (1904-5), Rev. S. Lawry, Christchurch; Secretary, Rev. C. H. Laws, Dunedin. The next Conference is to meet in Wesley Church, Taranaki Street. Wellington.

Primitive Methodist Connexion.—A Conference takes place every January. The next is to be held at Christchurch, commencing 11th January, 1905. The Conference officials for the present year are: President, Rev. E. Drake, Wanganui; Vice-President, J. Embury, Esq., Wellington; Secretary, Rev. R. Raine, Invercargill; Hon. District Secretary, Mr. D. Goldie, Pitt Street, Auckland; Treasurer of Mission Funds, Mr. Joseph Watkinson, Mangere, Auckland.

Baptist Union of New Zealand.—President, Gilbert Carson, Esq., Wanganui; Vice-President, Rev. J. M. B. Bennett, B.A., Dunedin; Secretary, Rev. J. North, Oamaru: Treasurer, Mr. A. Chidgey, Christchurch. The Union comprises 39 churches, 25 preaching-stations, 3,885 members, and a constituency of 17,000. The denominational organ is the New Zealand Baptist, Editor, Rev. F. W. Boreham, Mosgiel. The Foreign Missionary Society, with an average income of £1,200, employs a doctor, a missionary, three zenana ladies, and 13 native helpers. The sphere of operations is in North Tipperah, East Bengal.

Congregational Union of New Zealand.—The annual meetings are held during the month of February, at such place as may be decided on by vote of the Council. Chairman for 1904-1905, Rev. John Wilkins, Auckland; Chairman-elect, Mr. F. Meadowcroft, Wellington; Secretary, Rev. A. T. Lee, Devonport, Auckland; Treasurer, Mr. W. H. Lyon, Auckland; Registrar, Mr. A. M. Lewis, Wellington; Head Office, Auckland. In 1905 the meeting of the Council will be held at Christchurch. The Committee of the Union meets in Auckland on the second Tuesday of each month.

Hebrews.—Ministers: Rev. S. A. Goldstein, Auckland; Rev. H. van Staveren, Wellington; Rev. I. Zachariah, Christchurch; Rev. A. T. Chodowski, Dunedin; Mr. Alexander Singer, Hokitika. Annual meetings of the general Congregations are usually held at these places during the month of Elul (about the end of August).

Chapter 20. DEFENCES, MILITARY AND NAVAL.

THE defence forces consist of the Royal N.Z. Artillery and Royal N.Z. Engineers, and the auxiliary forces of Volunteers, Field Artillery, Garrison Artillery, Engineers (submarine mining and field), Mounted Rifles, Rifle, Cycle, Bearer companies, and Defence Rifle Clubs. There is a Commander of the Forces, who is an Imperial officer. A Royal Artillery officer is Staff Officer for Artillery. A Royal Engineer officer is Staff Officer for Engineer services. To the Under-Secretary for Defence all questions of expenditure are referred.

MILITARY INSTRUCTION.

A School of Military Instruction has been established, with headquarters at Wellington.

MILITIA AND VOLUNTEER DISTRICTS.

The two islands (North and Middle) are divided into five military districts, each commanded by an officer of Field rank, with an Adjutant and clerical staff, besides a staff of N.C.O.'s, mostly drawn from the Imperial Army, for instruction of Volunteers.

ROYAL N.Z. ARTILLERY.

This Force is divided into four detachments, which are stationed at Auckland Wellington (head-quarters), Lyttelton, and Dunedin; their principal duties are to look after and take charge of all guns, ordnance stores, ammunition, and munitions of war at these four centres. The Force has an establishment of 270 rank and file.

ROYAL N.Z. ENGINEERS.

This branch is divided between Auckland and Wellington, with small detachments at Lyttelton and Port Chalmers, and has an establishment of 96 of all ranks. They have charge of two submarine mining steamers of the “Sir F. Chapman” class, and of all submarine mining and electric light stores.

VOLUNTEERS.—FIELD ARTILLERY.

There are five batteries of Field Artillery (two in the North Island and three in the Middle Island), with a total of 382 (25 officers, 357 rank and file) of all ranks. They are armed with 15-pounder B.L. and 6-pounder Nordenfeldts, on field-carriages, and go into camp annually for sixteen days.

VOLUNTEERS.—NAVAL AND GARRISON ARTILLERY.

There are five Garrison Artillery Corps in the North Island, and five in the Middle Island, comprising in all a total of 54 officers and 861 rank and file. They go into camp annually for sixteen days.

VOLUNTEERS.—ENGINEERS.

There are six Engineer corps, two Submarine Mining and four Field corps, with a total strength of 479 of all ranks. The Submarine Miners have cutters, &c., provided, and are instructed in rowing, knotting, splicing, signalling, and other duties pertaining to this branch of the service. Attendance at an annual camp is also compulsory. The Field Engineers, besides carrying rifles, are provided with entrenching tools and all appliances for making and blowing up bridges or laying land-mines.

VOLUNTEERS.—MOUNTED RIFLES.

There are forty-two corps of Mounted Rifles in the North Island and thirty-one in the Middle Island, with a total strength of 4,537 of all ranks. These corps go into camp for an annual training of six days.

VOLUNTEERS.—RIFLE CORPS.

In this branch of the service there are a hundred and twenty-four corps, fifty-nine being in the North Island and sixty-five in the Middle Island, with a total strength of 7,313 of all ranks, including garrison bands.

VOLUNTEERS.—CYCLE CORPS.

There are Volunteer cycle corps at Wellington, Christchurch, Nelson, and Dunedin, of a maximum strength of two officers and twenty-five non-commissioned officers, rank and file: they are attached to the infantry battalions at those centres.

VOLUNTEERS.—BEARER CORPS.

Volunteer bearer corps at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin are of a maximum strength of three officers and fifty non-commissioned officers, rank and file. There is also a bearer corps at Nelson of a maximum strength of two officers and twenty-five non-commissioned officers, rank and file.

VOLUNTEERS.—CADET CORPS.

There is a force of fifty-three cadet corps—viz., twenty-eight in the North Island and twenty-five in the Middle Island, with a total strength of 2,773 of all ranks.

DEFENCE RIFLE CLUBS.

These have lately been established by the Government. Members can purchase rifles at cost price from Government. An annual grant of ammunition is made to those members who fulfil conditions as to quarterly drills. There are 100 rifle clubs, comprising 2,416 members.

ARMS, ETC.

The whole of the adult portion of the Force have Lee-Enfield carbines or rifles; Cadets being armed with magazine Lee-Enfield and Martini-Enfield carbines. Defence rifle clubs are armed with magazine Lee-Enfield rifles.

ENROLMENT, ETC.

Members of the Permanent Forces are enrolled to serve for a period of eight years from enrolment, the last three years of such being in the Reserve; adult Volunteers for three years. The Permanent Forces are principally recruited from men who have one year's efficient service in the Volunteers. After passing the gunnery and other courses and serving three years in the Permanent Forces the men are eligible for transfer to police and prison services.

INSTRUCTORS.

The Instructors for artillery and engineer and submarine mining corps are obtained from the School of Gunnery at Shoeburyness, and from the Royal Engineers, under a three years' engagement, on completion of which they return to their regiments.

CAPITATION.

An annual capitation of £2 10s. is granted to each efficient Volunteer, and 5s. to each efficient cadet. One hundred and fifty rounds of ball-cartridge are issued each year free to every adult Volunteer, and fifty rounds to each cadet over thirteen years of age.

ADMINISTRATION.

The defence forces of New Zealand are administered under “The Defence Act, 1886,” and “The Defence Act Amendment Act, 1890.”

EXPENDITURE ON THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF DEFENCES FROM 1897-98 TO 1903-1904.*

Year.Military Expenditure.Harbour Defences.Total.
 £££
1897-9883,0042,52585,529
1898-99114,78910,158124,947
1899-1900184,9705,328190,298
1900-1901156,2183,960160,178
1901-1902250,4786,678257,156
1902-1903292,0816,126298,207
1903-1904221,9592,885224,844

* The special expenditure on account of contingents for South Africa is not included.

Chapter 21. DÉPÔTS FOR SHIPWRECKED MARINERS.

ELEVEN of the crew of the barque “Spirit of the Dawn,” which was wrecked on Antipodes Island on the 4th September, 1893, remained on the island for eighty-eight days without becoming aware of the existence of the dépôt of provisions and clothing for castaways which is established there. Attention is now drawn to the fact that such dépôts are maintained by the New Zealand Government on that island, and on the Auckland, Campbell, Bounty, Kermadec, and Snares Islands.

The following are the positions of the dépôts:—

Auckland Islands.—A dépôt is placed on the south side of Erebus Cove, Port Ross, and another in Camp Cove, Carnley Harbour, and a third at the head of Norman Inlet. One boat is placed on the north-west end of Adams Island, another on Enderby Island, and another on Rose Island.

Campbell Island.—A dépôt is erected in Tucker Cove, Perseverance Harbour, and a boat has been placed at the head of that harbour.

Antipodes Islands.—A dépôt is placed abreast the anchorage on the north-east side of the principal island.

Bounty Islands.—There is a dépôt on the principal island.

Snares Island.—A dépôt has been established on this island in Boat Harbour.

Kermadec Islands.—A dépôt is established on Macaulay Island, near Lava Cascade, on the north-east end of the island, and another on Curtis Island, at the head of Macdonald Cove, on the northwestern end of the island.

Finger-posts to indicate the direction of the dépôts have also been put up.

The Government steamer visits the Auckland, Campbell, Antipodes, Bounty, and Snares Islands twice a year, and the Kermadec Islands once a year, and one of His Majesty's ships calls at the Auckland, Campbell, Antipodes, and Bounty Islands twice a year, the visits being made about midway between the trips of the Government steamer.

Chapter 22. GRAVING DOCKS AND PATENT SLIPS.

VESSELS visiting New Zealand, and requiring docking or repairs, will find ample accommodation at the principal ports of the colony.

There are in New Zealand four graving-docks; two of these are situated in Auckland, one at Lyttelton, and one at Port Chalmers.

AUCKLAND DOCKS.

The Auckland Docks are the property of the Auckland Harbour Board, and cost, with machinery, appliances, &c., £250,300. The dimensions of the docks at Auckland are as follow:—

 Calliope Dock.Auckland Dock.
Length over all525 feet.312 feet.
Length on floor500 feet.300 feet.
Breadth over all110 feet.65 feet.
Breadth on floor40 feet.42 feet.
Breadth at entrance80 feet.43 feet.
Depth of water on sill (at high water ordinary spring tides)33 feet.13 1/2 feet.

Alterations have been made to the lower altars of Calliope Dock which will enable vessels of 63 ft. beam to be docked without any difficulty.

The following is the scale of charges for the use of the Auckland and Calliope Graving Docks and appliances:—

AUCKLAND GRAVING DOCK.£s.d.
Entrance fee110
For every vessel of 100 tons (gross register), or under, per day500
For every vessel from 101 to 200 tons (gross register), per day600
For every additional ton (gross register), per day002

Twenty per cent. reduction on the above rates will be allowed when two or three vessels dock on the same tide, and remain in dock the same number of hours, but such reduction will not be allowed if any of the Auckland Harbour Board's vessels are docked at the same time as another vessel.

For shores cut in docking or hanging the vessel, there must be paid, according to injury done, such amount as may be fixed by the Dockmaster.

For use of steam-kiln, 10s. per day.

For use of pitch furnace, 10s. per day.

CALLIOPE GRAVING DOCK.£s.d.
Entrance fee550
For all vessels up to 300 tons (gross register), for four days or less2000
For all vessels 301 to 400 tons (gross register), for four days or less22100
For all vessels 401 to 500 tons (gross register), for four days or less2500
For all vessels 501 to 600 tons (gross register), for four days or less27100
For all vessels 601 to 700 tons (gross register), for four days or less3000
For all vessels 701 to 800 tons (gross register), for four days or less32100
For all vessels 801 to 900 tons (gross register), for four days or less3500
For all vessels 901 to 1,000 tons (gross register), for four days or less37100
For all vessels 1,001 to 1,100 tons (gross register), for four days or less4000
For all vessels 1,101 to 1,200 tons (gross register), for four days or less4500
For all vessels 1,201 tons (gross register) and upwards, for four days or less5000

After the fourth day in dock, the following rates will be charged:—

For all vessels up to 500 tons (gross register)4d. per ton a day.
For all vessels 501 to 1,000 tons (gross register)3d. per ton a day.
For all vessels 1,001 to 2,000 tons (gross register)2 3/4d. per ton a day.
For all vessels 2,001 to 3,000 tons (gross register)2 1/2d. per ton a day.
For all vessels 3,001 to 4,000 tons (gross register)2 1/4d. per ton a day.
For all vessels 4,001 tons (gross register) and upwards2d. per ton a day.

Twenty per cent. reduction on the above rates will be allowed when two or three vessels dock on the same tide and remain in dock the same number of hours, but such reduction will not be allowed if any of the Auckland Harbour Board's vessels are decked at the same time as another vessel.

For shores cut in docking or hanging the vessel, there shall be paid, according to injury done, such amount as may be fixed by the Dockmaster.

During the year 1903, 95 vessels of various descriptions, with a total of 33,136 tons, made use of the Auckland Graving Dock, occupying it in all 230 days, for repairs or painting.

In Calliope Dock 17 vessels were docked, with an aggregate tonnage of 27,127, and occupying the dock for 158 days.

Dock dues for the year amounted to £5,261 17s. 10d.

Under arrangement with the Admiralty, a complete plant of the most efficient and modern machinery has been provided at Calliope Dock-yard. The workshops are now erected, and all the machinery is placed in position, with the exception of the shear-legs. This plant includes 80-ton shear-legs complete, trolly to carry 80 tons and rails, 10-ton steam crane at side of dock, engines, boilers, overhead travellers; planing, shaping, and slotting machines; radial drills, vertical drills, band-saws for iron, punching and shearing machines, plate-bending rolls; 24 in.-centre gantry lathe, 70 ft. bed; 9 in. and 12 in. gantry lathes, milling - machines, emery - grinders, screwing - machines, ditto for pipes, horizontal boring - machines, Root's blower, smiths' forges (six), coppersmith's forge, levelling-slabs, steam - hammers, lead-furnace, wall-cranes, zinc-bath, plate-furnace, jib-crane for foundry, circular-saw bench, band-saw for wood, lathe for wood, general joiner, carpenters' benches (four), kiln for steaming boards, Fox's trimmer, cupola to melt 5 tons of metal, countersinking machine, pipe-bending machine, tools of various descriptions, moulders' bins, force-pumps for testing pipes, vice-benches, electric-light engines, dynamos (two), &c.; and all other appliances and machinery required to render the plant adequate to repair any of His Majesty's ships upon the station, or any merchant vessel visiting the port. The dock and machinery will be available for use, when not required for His Majesty's vessels, in effecting repairs to any merchant vessel requiring same. Electric lights have been provided for workshops, dock, and dockyard. The dockyard is now connected by telephone with the central exchange. An abundant supply of the purest fresh water is available at Calliope Dock and Calliope Wharf; and a most complete establishment of up-to-date machinery and appliances has been provided.

WELLINGTON PATENT SLIP.

The Port of Wellington has no dock; but there is a well-equipped patent slip at Evans Bay, on which vessels of 2,000 tons can be safely hauled up. This slip is the property of a private company, and is in no way connected with the Harbour Board. It is 1,070ft. long, with a cradle 260ft. in length. There is a depth of 32ft. at high water at the outer end of the slip. A dolphin and buoys are laid down for swinging ships in Evans Bay.

The company has convenient workshops, which contain machinery necessary for effecting all ordinary repairs to vessels using the slip.

During the year ending 31st March, 1903, 101 vessels of various sizes, of an aggregate of 39,872 tons, were taken up on the slip for repairs, cleaning, painting, &c. The charges for taking vessels on the slip and launching them are 1s. per ton on the gross tonnage for the first full twenty-four hours, and 6d. per ton per day afterwards, unless by special agreement.

LYTTELTON DOCK AND PATENT SLIP.

The Graving-dock at Lyttelton, which is the property of the Harbour Board, is capable of docking men-of-war, or almost all of the large ocean steamers now running to the colony. Its general dimensions are: Length over all, 503ft.; length on floor, 450ft.; length inside caisson at a height of 4 ft. above the floor, 462 ft.; breadth over all, 82ft.; breadth on floor, 46ft.; breadth at entrance, 62ft.; breadth where ship's bilge would be, on 6ft. blocks, 55ft.; depth of water on sill at high-water springs, 23ft.

The scale of charges for the use of the dock and pumping machinery are as follow:—

 £s.d.
For all vessels up to 300 tons, for four days or less2000
For all vessels 301 to 400 tons, four days or less22100
For all vessels 401 to 500 tons, four days or less2500
For all vessels 501 to 600 tons, four days or less27100
For all vessels 601 to 700 tons, four days or less3000
For all vessels 701 to 800 tons, four days or less32100
For all vessels 801 to 900 tons, four days or less3500
For all vessels 901 to 1,000 tons, four days or less37100
For all vessels 1,001 to 1,100 tons, four days or less4000
For all vessels 1,101 to 1,200 tons, four days or less4500
For all vessels 1,201 tons and upwards, four days or less5000

After the fourth day in dock, the following rates are charged:—

For all vessels up to 500 tons4d. per ton per day.
For all vessels of 501 tons to 1,000 tons3d. per ton per day.
For all vessels over 1,001 tons up to 2,000 tons2 3/4d. per ton per day.
For all vessels 2,001 tons up to 3,000 tons2 3/4d. per ton per day.
For all vessels 3,001 tons up to 4,000 tons2 1/4 per ton per day.
For all vessels 4,001 tons up to 5,000 tons2d. per ton per day.

Twenty per cent. reduction on the above rates is allowed when two or three vessels can arrange to dock on the same tide and remain in dock the same number of hours. Two vessels of 1,000 tons each can be docked at the same time. The 20-per-cent. rebate is not allowed if any of the Lyttelton Harbour Board's vessels are docked at the same time as another vessel. The twenty-four hours constituting the first day of docking commences from the time of the dock being pumped out.

Any vessel belonging to H.M. Navy or any colonial Government, or any commissioned ship belonging to any foreign nation, is admitted into the graving dock without payment of the usual dock dues, but is charged only such sum as is necessary for the reimbursement of actual expenditure of stores, wages, and materials.

There are electric lights, one on each side of the graving-dock; and there is a workshop alongside the dock, and several other engineering works within a short distance of it, where repairs and heavy foundry-work can be undertaken.

The graving dock and machinery cost £105,000. The interest and sinking fund on that sum, at 6 1/2 per cent., amounts to £6,825 per annum. Since its construction, the dock dues for the twenty-one years, ended 31st December, 1903, amounted to £21,711 4s. 11d., and the working expenses to £13,041 5s. 4d., leaving a credit balance for twenty-one years, ended 31st December, 1903, of £8,669 19s. 7d.

During the year 1903 twenty-seven vessels were docked, and the dock dues amounted to £1,228 0s. 1d. For the twenty-one years, ending 1903, 429 vessels were docked, or an average of about twenty-one a year.

PATENT SLIP, LYTTELTON.

Alongside the graving dock is a patent slip, with a cradle 150ft. in length, suitable for vessels of 300 tons. It belongs to the Harbour Board.

The following is the scale of charges:—

Up to 75 tons gross register, £4 for five days, and 10s. per day after the fifth day.

Over 75 tons and up to 150 tons gross register, £6 for five days, and 15s. per day after fifth day.

Over 150 tons and up to 250 tons gross register, £8 for five days, and 20s. per day after fifth day.

Over 250 tons gross register, £10 for five days, and 20s. per day after fifth day.

A day to mean between sunrise and sunset.

The above rates cover the cost of all labour connected with hauling up and launching (the crew of the vessel to give their assistance as may be required), and the cost of blocking a vessel and shifting the blocks after hauling up.

OTAGO GRAVING DOCK.

The dock at Port Chalmers is vested in the Otago Dock Trust, a body entirely distinct from the Otago Harbour Board. Vessels of large size can be taken in the Otago Dock, as the following measurements will show:—

Length over all335 feet.
Length on the floor328 feet.
Breadth over all68 feet.
Breadth on floor41 feet.
Breadth where ship's bilge would be43 feet.
Breadth at dock gates50 feet.
Depth of water on sill at high-water (ordinary spring tides)17 1/2 feet.

Connected with the Otago Dock are a large machine-shop, steam-hammer, and forge, with all the appliances necessary for performing any work that may be required by vessels visiting the port. An 80-ton shear-legs has also been erected for heavy lifts.

There is also a patent slip, used for taking up small vessels.

‘All vessels using the Otago Graving Dock are liable to dock dues according to the following scale (unless under special contract), revised since the beginning of 1896:—

 £s.d.
Vessels under 200 tons, for the first three days, or part of three days2500
Vessels of 200 tons, and under 800 tons3500
Vessels of 800 tons and upwards5000

And for every day, or part of a day, after the first three days:—

Vessels under 300 tons8d. per register ton per day.
Vessels under 300 tons and under 400 tons7 3/4d. per register ton per day.
Vessels under 400 tons and under 500 tons7 1/2d. per register ton per day.
Vessels under 500 tons and under 600 tons7 1/4d. per register ton per day.
Vessels under 600 tons and under 700 tons7d. per register ton per day.
Vessels under 700 tons and under 800 tons6 3/4d. per register ton per day.
Vessels under 800 tons and under 900 tons6 1/2d. per register ton per day.
Vessels under 900 tons and under 1,000 tons6 1/4d. per register ton per day.
Vessels under 1,000 tons and upwards6d. per register ton per day.

During the twelve months ended 31st December, 1903, the dock was in use 214 working-days. The number of vessels docked was fifty-two, having a total registered tonnage of 46,212.

Chapter 23. HARBOURS.

PILOTAGE, PORT CHARGES, ETC.

PILOTAGE, port charges, berthage charges, &c., at fourteen of the principal harbours in New Zealand, as on the 1st January, 1904 (compiled by Mr. C. Hood Williams, Secretary to the Lyttelton Harbour Board):—

AUCKLAND.

Pilotage (not compulsory): Sailing-vessels, inwards and outwards, 3d. per ton each way.

Steamers, inwards and outwards, 2d. per ton each way when services of pilot are taken.

Pilotage includes the removal fee to or from the berth at 1d. per ton.

Port charges: 3d. per ton half-yearly (on all vessels over 15 tons) in one payment. Steamers arriving for coal, stores, water, or for receiving or landing mails or passengers and their luggage, which do not come to any wharf or receive or discharge cargo within the port, are exempt from port charges.

Harbourmaster's fees: 1d. per ton. Vessels paying pilotage are exempt.

Exemption berthage certificates are given to competent masters in the coastal and intercolonial trades, but not to those in foreign trade.

Berthage: Every person who shall use any wharf with any vessel shall pay for the use thereof—Ferry steamers, 10s. to £1 10s. per month; other vessels under 20 tons, 6d. and 1s. per day, not exceeding 10s. per quarter. For every vessel not included in the above, 1/4d. per ton per day. Outside berths, 1/8d. per ton per day.

GISBORNE.

Pilotage (not compulsory): Sailing-vessels over 100 tons, first 100 tons, 6d. per ton; every ton over 100 tons, 2d. per ton. Into and out of Turanganui River: Sailing-vessels, 3d. per ton; sailing-vessels towed, 2d. per ton; steamers, 2d. per ton.

Port charges: Vessels, intercolonial or foreign, 1d. per ton on arrival, not to exceed 3d. per ton in any three months; vessels, coastal, over 200 tons, 1d. per ton on arrival, not to exceed 3d. per ton in any three months; vessels, coastal, 200 tons and under, 3d. per ton on arrival, not to exceed 3d. per ton in any three months.

Harbourmaster's fees: Free.

Berthage alongside the wharves: Per day or part, under 50 tons, 5s.; over 50 tons and up to 75 tons, 7s. 6d.; over 75 tons up to 100 tons, 10s.; for every additional 50 tons or fraction thereof, 2s. 6d. Vessels discharging outside of bars to pay half foregoing dues. Steamers to pay double rates as per tonnage; and in all cases sailing-vessels to make way for steamers.

NAPIER.

Pilotage (not compulsory): Into Inner Harbour—Sailing-vessels, 4d. per ton: steamers, 3d. per ton. To roadstead—First 100 tons, sailing-vessels, 6d. per ton; steamers, 3d. per ton. Every ton over 100 tons—Sailing-vessels, 2d. per ton; steamers, 1d. per ton. Into Breakwater Harbour—First 100 tons, sailing vessels, 6d. per ton; steamers, 3d. per ton. Every ton over 100 tons—Sailing-vessels, 2d. per ton; steamers, 1d. per ton. Outward pilotage, half rates.

Port charges: 6d. per ton quarterly in advance, vessels plying within port; 2d. per ton on arrival of vessels not plying within port, but not to exceed 1s. per ton in any half-year. Ocean-going vessels (not being “colonial trading” or coasting vessels) returning to port within one month from date of first arrival are exempt from port charges for second or subsequent arrivals within one calendar month.

Harbourmaster's fees: 5s. per vessel of less than 60 tons. Steamers under 60 tons and licensed as lighters are exempt. 1d. per ton sailing-vessels 60 tons and upwards; 10s. per vessel steamers of 60 tons and under 120 tons; 1d. per ton steamers of 120 tons and upwards. Vessels paying for pilotage service inwards do not pay Harbourmaster's fees.

Berthage: Breakwater Harbour wharves—3d. per ton on cargo landed, shipped, or transhipped; 1s. each horse or large cattle shipped or transhipped; 1/2d. each sheep or small animal shipped or transhipped. Other wharves—10s. per vessel of 60 tons; £1 per vessel over 60 tons to 120 tons; 2d. per ton vessels over 120 tons. Half rates only charged where vessels entering the Inner Harbour pay for pilotage services. Vessels licensed as lighters or tow-boats shall, whilst actually employed at lighterage work, only pay one-third of the foregoing charges upon each and every trip.

Hawsers and moorings: Vessels at wharf in Breakwater Harbour—1/4d. per ton per day, or part of a day, on registered tonnage. Vessels moored to buoys within Breakwater Harbour, 1/8d. per ton per day or part of a day.

Fenders: Vessels at wharves in Breakwater Harbour—5s. per day, vessels under 500 tons; 7s. per day, vessels of 500 tons and under 1,000 tons; 10s. per day vessels of 1,000 tons and under 1,500 tons; 15s. per day, vessels of 1,500 tons and under 2,000 tons; £1 per day, vessels of 2,000 tons; and so on, in proportion.

NEW PLYMOUTH.

Pilotage (compulsory): Charged both inwards and outwards, intercolonial or coasting—Sailing vessels, 3d. per ton; steamers, 1 1/2d. per ton; foreign sailing-vessel or steamer, 1/2d. per ton.

Port charges: Intercolonial, 4d. per ton, payable half-yearly; foreign, 1/2d. per ton on arrival in roadstead.

Harbourmaster's fees: Free.

Berthage rate: 3 1/2d. per ton on all cargo landed, shipped, or transhipped outwards; on registered tonnage also 1/2d. per ton.

Warps: 1d. per ton register for first 100 tons; 1/2d. per ton for excess.

Fenders: 1s. per day or part of day.

Water (minimum 3s.): 5s. per 1,000 gallons.

WANGANUI.

Pilotage: All vessels when piloted by signals from the staff only, 1d. per ton register. River pilotage, to be charged for any assistance rendered by the pilot or any of his crew inside the bar, 2d. per ton. When a pilot boards and conducts a vessel outside the bar, 3d. per ton. Steamers engaged in tendering ocean steamers at anchor in the roadstead charged half pilotage rates.

Port charges: Nil.

Harbourmaster's fees: Free.

Berthage: For every steamer using any wharf, being berthed alongside, and whether discharging or loading cargo or not, 2d. per ton on gross register for first day of eight working hours, and 1d. for every succeeding day of eight working hours. For every sailing-vessel the charge to be 2d. for first day of eight working hours, and 1/2d. for every succeeding day of eight working hours, not exceeding five days. For every vessel occupying a berth outside another vessel, and loading or discharging cargo, 1/4d. per ton on gross register per day of eight working hours whilst loading or discharging. Ships' dues on vessels detained in port by stress of weather will not be charged after the third day.

WELLINGTON.

Pilotage (optional): Sailing-vessels inwards, 4d. per ton; sailing-vessels outwards, 3d. per ton; steamers inwards, 3d. per ton; steamers outwards, 2d. per ton. Pilotage includes the removal fee to or from the berth at 1d. per ton.

Port charges: 2d. per ton on arrival; not exceeding 6d. in any half-year. Half-yearly days, 1st January and July. Steamers arriving for coal, stores, water, or for receiving or landing mails or passengers and their luggage, which do not come to any wharf or receive or discharge cargo within the port, are exempt from port charges.

Harbourmaster's or berthing fee on vessels of 120 tons and upwards, 1d. per ton; under 120 tons, 10s. Vessels paying pilotage are exempt. Exemption berthage certificates are given to competent masters in the coastal and intercolonial trades, but not to those in foreign trade.

Berthage: None, unless vessels delay discharging or loading for an undue time.

NELSON.

Pilotage (compulsory): Steamers, inwards and outwards, 1d. per registered ton. Sailing-vessels, inwards and outwards, 3d. per ton. Minimum pilotage each way (in all cases), £1.

Port charges: For vessels not employing the pilot, to pay the following, upon first arrival, half-yearly: Vessels over 100 tons register, 1s. per ton; vessels under 100 tons register, 6d. per ton.

Harbour lights: Vessels not employing the pilot, over 100 tons register, 1d. per ton; under 100 tons register, 1/2d. per ton, on arrival.

Harbourmaster's fees: 120 tons and upwards, 1d. per ton; less than 120 tons, 10s. for each removal of any steamer or sailing vessel within the harbour.

Berthage, fenders, and warps: Nil.

WESTPORT.

Pilotage (not compulsory). Signal station. Four pilots authorised: Vessels up to 120 tons register, 1d. per ton; over 120 tons, 2d. per ton inwards and outwards; minimum charge, 5s.; maximum charge, £10.

Port charges: Receiving and discharging ships' ballast, 1s. per ton; minimum charge, 20s.; 1d. per ton for use of shoot.

Harbourmaster's fees: Free.

Berthage: Use of wharf, for every vessel up to 1,400 tons lying at wharf, 1d. per ton net register per trip; for every vessel over 1,400 tons, 2d. per ton net register per trip; minimum charge, 5s. No vessel to be charged for more than one trip in any one week.

GREYMOUTH.

Pilotage (not compulsory): Signal-station. For sailing vessels, 6d. per ton: for steamers, 4d. per ton, each way.

Port charges: Discharging ships' ballast, 6d. per ton

Harbourmaster's fees: Free.

Berthage: Use of wharf, 6d. per ton net register per trip. Vessels in ballast for coal or timber, 1d. per ton net register for the first four days; maximum, £5 10s.; minimum, 5s.

LYTTELTON.

Pilotage (compulsory): Pilotage, inwards and outwards, sailing-vessels 3 1/2d. per ton; steamers, 2 1/2d. per ton. Foreign going steamers and sailing vessels free on second call on same voyage.

Port charges: 2d. per ton, quarterly in advance, for vessels of 100 tons and upwards plying within the port or employed in coasting only, not to exceed 6d. per ton in any half-year; 2d. per ton for vessels of 100 tons and upwards not plying within the port or not solely employed in coasting, not to exceed 6d. per ton in any half-year. For exemptions from pilotage and harbour fees, see sections 132, 133, and 134 of “The Harbours Act, 1878.”

Harbourmaster's fees: Free.

Berthing charges: None.

Warps (21 in. coir hawsers): £1 per warp for use during a vessel's stay in port, not exceeding six months.

Fenders (soft wood): 10s. for first day, and 5s. per day after. 10s. for use of each hardwood fender.

TIMARU.

Pilotage (compulsory): Sailing-vessels, 3d. per ton inwards and outwards; when tug used, 2d. per ton; steamers, 2d. per ton inwards and outwards. Foreign and intercolonial steamers under 3,500 cargo tons, working 800 tons or less, only one pilotage fee; 3,500 tons or over, working 1,000 tons cargo or less, one pilotage fee only. Foreign going steamer and sailing-vessel calling more than once during same voyage before leaving New Zealand, one inward and outward rate only (subject to above exemptions).

Port charges: Coasters, 1 1/2d. per ton each trip; sailing-vessels, not coasters, 3d. per ton each trip; steam-vessels, not coasters, 6d. per ton on cargo worked; in all cases not to exceed 1s. 3d. per ton in any half-year, dating from the 1st day of January and July in each year. Intercolonial steamers coming coastwise 1 1/2d. per ton register, or 6d. per ton on cargo landed and shipped, whichever rate may be the lesser.

Harbourmaster's fees: 1d. per ton each service; vessels less than 120 tons, 10s.; steamers of 1,000 tons or over, which have loaded wholly in New Zealand or Australian ports, working 500 tons of cargo or less, only one harbourmaster's fee. This fee is charged to all vessels or steamers not paying pilotage.

Berthage: 3d. per ton on all cargo landed or shipped.

Hawsers and moorings: Vessels at wharves, 1/2d. per ton register for first seven days; subsequent days, 1/4d. per ton. Vessels at buoys, under 800 tons register, 1/8d. per ton; over 800 tons, 1/16d. per ton.

Fenders: Sailing-vessels under 500 tons register, 2s. per day; under 1,000 tons, 3s. per day; over 1,000 tons, 4s. per day. Steamers under 1,000 tons register, 4s. per day; under 1,500 tons, 10s. per day; under 2,000 tons, 15s. per day; over 2,000 tons, £1 per day. Foreign-going vessels detained in the port sixty days, half rates thereafter for hawsers and moorings and fenders.

OAMARU.

Tonnage rate: On cargo, inwards or outwards—Coal, merchandise, stone, produce, and timber, 8d. per ton; wool, 2s. per ton; frozen sheep, 1d. per carcase; frozen lamb, 1d. per carcase; rabbits and hares, 3s. per ton, gross weight; all other frozen goods 3s. per ton, gross dead weight; live stock, 1s. 8d. per ton. Note.—Collected in the same manner as berthage dues have been collected.

Warps: 1/2d. per ton per day for seven days; 1/4d. per ton per day thereafter. In the event of any vessel remaining at any wharf for a period exceeding six weeks, the charge for warps will thereafter be reduced to 1/8d. per ton register of such vessel for each day or part of a day that she may occupy a berth at the wharf.

OTAGO.

Pilotage (compulsory): Inwards and outwards, sailing-vesssls without tug, 6d. per ton; with tug, 4d. per ton; steamers, 4d. per ton. Foreign steamers calling twice on one voyage only charged once. All vessels holding exemption certificates, one annual pilotage. For every vessel under steam carrying an exempt pilot and employing a Board's pilot the charge shall be 1/2d. per ton for the Upper Harbour.

Port charges: 6d. per ton half-yearly, all vessels.

Harbourmaster's fees: Vessels less than 120 tons, 10s.; over 120 tons, 1d. per ton.

Berthage: Vessels trading within the port—10 tons, 5s. per quarter; 25 tons, 10s. per quarter; 50 tons, 15s. per quarter; 100 tons, £1 per quarter. Vessels trading beyond the port—Sailing-vessels 1/4d. per ton (maximum, eighteen days, £10); steam-vessels, 1/2d. per ton per day. Vessels laid up for less than a month, one-half the above rates; over a month, 1/2d. per ton per month.

Towage: When assistance is given to steam-vessels under steam, one-fourth usual towage, not exceeding £5 for Upper Harbour, and £7 for Lower Harbour.

NOTE.—Foreign steamers taking or discharging not more than 50 tons general cargo and 100 tons frozen produce, pay £50 for port charges, pilotage, and harbourmaster's fees; also maximum charges on any one vessel, £200.

BLUFF.

Pilotage (compulsory): Steamers, inwards and outwards, 2 1/2d. per registered ton; sailing-vessels, 4 1/2d. inwards and outwards if tug not employed; 2 1/2d. per registered ton inwards and outwards if tug employed. Sailing-vessels in ballast, 2 1/2d. per registered ton inwards and outwards. Steamers in and out, 5d. per registered ton, payable yearly; sailing-vessels, in and out, 9d. per registered ton, payable yearly.

Port charges: On all vessels, per trip, 2d. per registered ton, or in one sum, half-yearly from date of entry, 6d. per registered ton.

Harbourmaster's fees: Free.

Berthage: Steamers, 2nd. per ton net register for the first day, and 1d. per ton per week or part of a week thereafter. Sailing-vessels and hulks of over 50 tons register, 1d. per ton net register per week for the first four weeks, and 1/4d. per ton per week thereafter.

Towage assistance to steamers using their own motive power: Over 3,000 tons, £5; over 2,000 tons, £4; under 2,000 tons, £3.

Maximum charge for berthage dues, pilotage, and port charges, £180 in any one visit.

Steamers calling more than once on same voyage only charged one inward and outward pilotage.

WHARFAGE RATES.

Wharfage rates at fourteen of the principal harbours in New Zealand, as on 1st January, 1904 (compiled by Mr. C. Hood Williams, Secretary to the Lyttelton Harbour Board):—

AUCKLAND.

General Merchandise.—2s. per ton imports; 1s. per ton exports.

Transhipments: Half-rates when declared before landing, or 2s. 6d. per ton, including labour and seven days' storage.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.—1s. 6d. per ton landed; 1s. per ton shipped.

Transhipments: Half-rates when declared before landing, or 2s. 6d. per ton, including labour and seven days' storage.

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.—1s. 6d. per ton landed; 1s. per ton shipped.

Transhipments: Half-rates when declared, or 2s. 6d. per ton, including seven days' storage and labour.

Wool.—6d. per bale, shipped or landed.

Transhipments: If landed, dumped, and re-shipped, 3d. per bale.

Coal.—1s. 3d. per ton landed; 6d. per ton shipped.

Transhipments: Shipped or discharged over side for steamer's use, free.

Timber.—Sawn, 2s. per 1,000 ft. landed; 1s. per 1,000 ft. shipped. Baulk or round (less 12 1/2 per coat.), 1s. per 1,000 ft. landed, 6d. per 1,000 ft. shipped.

Passengers' luggage under half ton, goods carried by hand by passengers, and single packages under 5 ft. measurement, free.

GISBORNE.

General Merchandise.—Imports, 5s. to 6d.; exports, 2s. 6d. to 6d. By measurement, from 40 cubic feet to 4 cubic feet; same for weight. Ale, beer, and porter, per gallon—Import, 1 1/2d., export, 1/2d.; spirits and wine, per ton measurement, 7s. 6d. No export charges on goods that have paid inward wharfage.

Transhipments: Free.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.—Grain—Imports, 5s.; exports, 1s. Grass-seed—Imports, 5s.; exports, 2s. Potatoes—Imports, 5s.; exports, 2s. 6d. (12 sacks).

Transhipments: Free.

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.—Sheep, 2d. per carcase; lambs, 1d. per carcase; haunches, legs, &c., 2s. 6d. per ton.

Transhipments: Free.

Wool.—1s. 3d. per bale, export.

Transhipments: 3d. per bale if landed and reshipped. Free if transhipped into vessel.

Coal.—2s. per ton.

Transhipments: Coal for engines and freezing-ships, free.

Timber.—Sawn, 4s. per 1,000 ft.; baulk, 1s. per 1,000 ft., imports; 1s., and 6d., per 1,000 ft., exports.

Transhipments: Free.

NAPIER.

General Merchandise.—2s. per ton imports, 1s. per ton exports, according to measurement or weight. If labour supplied, add on 6d. imports, and 6d. exports. Ballast, inwards, 1s. per ton; outwards, 1s. per ton. Empties, half rates.

Transhipments: Quarter import rates, Outer Harbour; half import rates, Inner or Breakwater Harbours.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.—2s. imports; 1s. exports, according to measurement or weight. If labour supplied, add on 6d. imports, and 6d. exports.

Transhipments: Quarter import rates, Outer Harbour; half import rates, Inner or Breakwater Harbours.

Frozen or Chilled Meat, &c.—Imports free; exports 1s. per ton. Tallow and pelts, imports free; exports 2s. 6d. per ton.

Transhipments: Quarter import rates, Outer Harbour; half import rates Inner or Breakwater Harbours.

Wool.—6d. per bale, exports only. Imports, free.

Transhipments: Wool, flax, skins, or tow, 3d. over side; 3d. per bale if landed for transhipment or dumping.

Coal.—1s. imports; 1s. exports.

Transhipments: Quarter rates, Outer Harbour; half rates, Inner or Breakwater Harbours. Coal for engines and freezing-ships, Outer Harbour, free, if declared so.

Timber.—3s. 4d. per 1,000 ft., imports; 1s. 3d. per 1,000 ft. exports.

Transhipments: Half rates, Inner or Breakwater Harbours; quarter rates, Outer Harbour.

NOTE.—Goods other than wool, skins, tow, meats, and flax landed on a wharf for transhipment to a vessel lying at another berth, charged inward wharfage only when declared at time of entry.

NEW PLYMOUTH.

General Merchandise.—2s. per ton.

Transhipments: 1s. 6d. per ton.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.—2s. per ton; grass-seed, 2s. (20 sacks).

Transhipments: 1s. 6d. per ton.

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.—2s. per ton.

Transhipments: 1s. 6d. per ton.

Wool.—6d. per bale; five bales of 4 cwt., 2s. per ton; three bales of over 4 cwt. 2s. per ton.

Transhipments: Three-quarter rates.

Coal.—2s. per ton; brown coal, 1s. 9d., with labour.

Transhipments: Three-quarter rates, with labour.

Timber.—480 ft. per ton, 2s.; hardwood, 320 ft. per ton (rough or sawn), 2s., with labour.

Transhipments: Three-quarter rates.

WANGANUI.

General Merchandise.—Imports, 3s. per ton; exports, 2s. per ton.

Transhipments: Half-rates.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.—Imports, 3s. per ton; exports, 2s. per ton. Potatoes, export, 1s. per ton.

Transhipments: Half-rates.

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.—Sheep, 1/2d. per carcase; lambs, 1/2d. per carcase; legs, shoulders, and loins calculated at so many to a carcase, according to freight.

Wool.—6d. per bale.

Transhipments: Half rates.

Coal.—1s. per ton. Coal for ship's use, outward, 6d. per ton.

Transhipments: Half-rates.

Timber.—6d. per 100 ft.; for shipment, 2d.; white pine, 1d.

Transhipments: Half rates.

WELLINGTON.

General Merchandise.—2s per ton inwards, including labour and one night's storage. Inward cargo landed after noon on Friday is stored free till noon on following Monday; landed after noon on Saturday is stored free till 5 p.m. on the following Tuesday. 1s. per ton outwards, including labour. Railway wharfage—1s. inwards; 6d. outwards, without labour.

Transhipments: 2s. 6d. per ton, including labour and one week's storage. Over side of vessel lying at wharf, 6d. per ton. If shifted more than a quarter of a mile, 6d. per ton extra.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.—2s. per ton inwards, including labour and one night's storage; 1s. per ton outwards, including labour. Railway wharfage—1s. inwards; 6d. outwards, without labour.

Transhipments: 2s. per ton, including labour and seven days' storage. Over side of vessel at wharf, 6d. per ton.

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.—1s. inwards; 1s. outwards, without labour. Railway wharfage—1s. inwards: 6d. outwards, without labour.

Transhipments: Meat, 1s. 3d. per ton, without labour; butter, 2s. 6d. per ton, including labour and storage. Meat, butter, &c., over side of vessel at wharf, 6d. per ton.

Wool.—4d. per bale at Railway Wharf, without labour; 6d. per bale at other wharves, including labour.

Transhipments: 6d. per bale, including labour, and 3d. additional if stored. Over side of vessel to vessel at wharf, 3d. per bale.

Coal.—1s. per ton imports; 6d. per ton exports, without labour. Railway wharfage—1s. per ton inwards; 6d. per ton outwards, without labour.

Transhipments: Across wharf for steamer's use, free. From vessel or hulk to vessel at wharf, free. If shifted more than a quarter of a mile, 6d. per ton extra.

Timber.—2d. per 100 ft. inwards; 1 1/2d. per 100 ft. outwards, without labour. If labour supplied, 2d. per 100 ft. added inwards, and 1 1/2d. outwards. Railway wharfage—2d. inwards; 1 1/2d. outwards, without labour.

Transhipments: 2s. 6d. per ton, including seven days' storage and labour; and 6d. over vessel's side into another vessel at wharf.

Harbour Improvement Rate.—The charge of 3d. per ton shall be made to and payable by ships to the Board, as a harbour improvement rate on goods landed on the wharves or landing-places under the control of the Board, except on coal and on ballast, and except on such goods as are the products of the Colony of New Zealand and are landed for the purpose of transhipment to vessels to be carried out of the colony: Provided that for the purposes of this by-law the following measurements shall be taken: Empties, half tonnage; wool, five bales to the ton; great cattle, each one ton; small cattle, twelve to the ton; timber, 500 ft. superficial measurement to the ton; bricks, slates, and tiles, 500 to the ton; carts and carriages, each two tons; loose hides, twenty-five to the ton.

NELSON.

General Merchandise.—2s. per ton, imports and exports, with labour.

Transhipments: Free, when not landed on wharf; 2s. 6d. if landed.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.—1s. 6d. per ton, imports and exports, with labour.

Transhipments: Free, when not landed on wharf; 2s. 6d. if landed.

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.—None shipped.

Transhipments: Free, when not landed on wharf, half rates if landed.

Wool.—Exports, 1s. per bale; imports free.

Transhipments: Free, when not landed on wharf; half rates if landed.

Coal.—1s. per ton imports; 2s. with labour. Free exports.

Transhipments: 2s. 6d. per ton, with labour. Free, when not landed on wharf.

Timber.—1d. per 100 ft. super., import; 1d. per 100 ft. super., export; 2s. per ton by measurement, with labour.

Transhipments: Free, when not landed on wharf; half rates if landed on wharf. Re-shipments, 2s. 6d. per ton.

WESTPORT.

General Merchandise.—2s. per ton.

Transhipments: 2s. 6d. per ton, including labour and one week's storage; 1s. per ton if transhipped to vessel or lighter.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.—2s. per ton.

Transhipments: 2s. 6d. per ton, including labour and one week's storage; 1s. per ton if transhipped to vessel or lighter.

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.—2s. per ton.

Transhipments: 2s. 6d. per ton, including labour and one week's storage.

Wool.—6d. per bale.

Transhipments: 2s. 6d. per ton, including labour and one week's storage; 1s. per ton if transhipped to vessel or lighter.

Coal.—6d. per ton.

Timber.—2d. per 100 ft. If for export and carried by rail, free.

GREYMOUTH.

General Merchandise.—3s. per ton. This charge includes 1s. a ton for receiving and delivering.

Transhipments; 2s. 6d. per ton, including labour and one week's storage; 1s. per ton if transhipped to vessel or lighter.

Grain and Agricultural Produce—3s. per ton. This charge includes 1s. a ton for receiving and delivering.

Transhipments: 2s. 6d. per ton, including labour and one week's storage; 1s. per ton if transhipped to vessel or lighter.

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.—3s. per ton. This charge includes 1s. a ton for receiving and delivering.

Transhipments: 2s. 6d. per ton, including labour and one week's storage.

Wool.—6d. per bale.

Transhipments: 2s. 6d. per ton, including labour and one week's storage; 1s. per ton if transhipped to vessel or lighter.

Coal.—6d. per ton inwards; 3d. outwards. Special rate on coal paid by shippers.

Timber.—2d. per 100 ft. If for export and carried by rail, free.

LYTTELTON.

General Merchandise.—1s. 6d. per ton.

Transhipments: Free, whether landed on wharf or otherwise.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.—6d. per ton.

Transhipments: Free.

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.—6d. per ton.

Transhipments: Free, whether landed on wharf or otherwise.

Wool.—6d. per bale.

Transhipments: Free.

Coal.—6d. per ton.

Transhipments: Free, whether landed on wharf or otherwise.

Timber.—3d. per 100 ft.

Transhipments: Free.

N.B.—All re shipments of goods from Lyttelton under declaration, free.

TIMARU.

General Merchandise.—2s. per ton.

Transhipments: Half rates.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.—1s. 6d. per ton.

Transhipments: Half rates.

Frozen Meat.—1/2d. per carcase.

Transhipments: Half rates.

Wool.—1s. per bale.

Transhipments: Half rates.

Coal.—2s. per ton.

Transhipments: Half rates. For bunkering purposes, free.

Timber.—4d. per 100 ft.

Transhipments: Half rates.

OAMARU.

General Merchandise.—2s. per ton.

Transhipments: Free.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.—2s. per ton.

Transhipments: Free.

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.—1/2d. per sheep. Butter, as merchandise, 2s. per ton. Other frozen goods, 2s. per ton

Transhipments: Free.

Wool.—6d. per bale.

Transhipments: Free.

Coal.—2s. per ton.

Transhipments: Free.

Timber.—5d. and 7d. per 100 ft. Fencing posts and rails, 4s. per 100. Palings, 7d. per 100.

Transhipments: Free.

Stone.—1/2d. per foot.

Live Cattle and Horses.—2s. 6d. each; yearlings, half rates. Sheep, 2d. each; pigs, 4d. each.

DUNEDIN.

General Merchandise.—1s., 2s., 3s., 4s., and 5s. per ton, imports; 2s. and 3s. per ton, exports. (Classified.) Manufactured articles and articles which have paid an import duty, free.

Transhipments: 2s. per ton, or 1s. if import rate is 1s.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.—1s. per ton, imports; 1s. 3d. per ton by weight, exports; bran and pollard, exports, free.

Transhipments: 1s. per ton.

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.—3s. per ton, exports; butter, imports, 4s. per ton; frozen meat, imports, 5s. per ton; sheep and lambs, 1d. per carcase, exports.

Transhipments: 2s. per ton.

Wool.—Exports, 3s. per ton by measurement; 4s. per ton, imports (three bales to ton).

Transhipments: 2s. per ton by measurement.

Coal.—3s. per ton, imports: Exports free.

Transhipments: 2s. per ton.

Timber.—6d. and 3d. per 100 superficial feet, imports; exports, free.

Transhipments: 2s. per ton by measurement. Notice of transhipment must be given within twenty-four hours after ship's arrival.

BLUFF.

General Merchandise.—1s. 10d. per ton, imports and exports.

Transhipments: Free, when not landed on wharf; half rates if landed.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.—11d. per ton, imports and exports.

Transhipments: Free, when not landed on wharf; half rates if landed.

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.—11d. per ton, exports; cheese, 1s. per ton.

Transhipments: Free, when not landed on wharf; half rates if landed.

Wool.—Exports, 9d. per bale; imports free.

Transhipments: Free, when not landed on wharf; half rates if landed.

Coal.—1s. 6d. per ton, imports; free exports.

Transhipments: 1s. 6d. per ton when landed ex hulk; free when not landed on wharf.

Timber.—1s. per 1,000 ft. super., import; 1s. per 1,000 ft. super., export.

Transhipments: Free, when not landed on wharf; half rates if landed on wharf.

Chapter 24. LIGHTHOUSES.

THE coasts of New Zealand are, considering their extent, fairly well lighted, but there are many places where lights are still required. Additions to the existing lights are made from time to time as funds are available.

There are thirty coastal lights—eight of the first order, sixteen of the second, three of the third, and three of smaller orders, and a lighthouse is being erected on Jack's Point, near Timaru.

There has been no special difficulty in the erection of lighthouses in New Zealand, apart from the trouble caused by indifferent landings. There are no lighthouses built in the sea, such as the well-known Eddystone or Bell Rock. That on The Brothers is the only one which it is considered necessary to keep as a rock-station: that is, the keepers are relieved from time to time, three being always at the station and one on shore.

The cost of the erection of the lighthouses is given by the Marine Department as about £190,700 (the Ponui Passage Lighthouse, having been built by the Provincial Government of Auckland, the cost is not given). The annual consumption of oil is about 22,700 gallons; and the cost of maintenance, irrespective of the cost of maintaining the lighthouse steamer, is about £16,000 a year.

Besides the coastal lighthouses, there are harbour-lights at most of the ports of the colony for the guidance of vessels into and out of the ports.

The following table shows the names of the coastal lighthouses, indicating also their situation, the order of apparatus, description, period (in seconds) and colour of the lights, and of what material the respective towers are built:—

Name of Lighthouse.Order of Apparatus.Description.Period of Revolving Light.Colour of Light.Tower built of.
 Seconds. 
 Dioptric.
Cape Maria van Diemen1st orderRevolving Fixed60WhiteTimber.
 Revolving Fixed..Red, to show over Columbia Reef
Moko Hinou1st orderFlashing10WhiteStone.
Tiri-Tiri (Auckland)2nd orderFixed..White, with red arc over Flat RockIron.
Ponui Passage5th orderorder..White and redTimber.
Cuvier Island1st orderRevolving30WhiteIron.
East Cape2nd orderRevolving10WhiteIron.
Portland Island2nd orderFixed30Red, to show over Bull RockTimber.
Cape Palliser2nd orderFlashingTwice every half-minute, with three seconds intervals between flashesWhiteIron.
Pencarrow Head2nd orderFixed WhiteIron.
Cape Egmont2nd orderorderFixed Iron.
Manukau Head3rd orderorder Timber...
Kaipara Head2nd orderFlashing10WhiteTimber.
Brothers (in Cook Strait)2nd orderFixed10Red, to show over Cook RockTimber.
Cape Campbell2nd orderRevolving60WhiteTimber.
Godley Head (Lyttelton)2nd orderFixed WhiteStone.
Akaroa Head2nd orderFlashing10WhiteTimber.
Moeraki3rd orderFixed WhiteTimber.
Taiaroa Head3rd orderorderFixedRedStone.
Cape Saunders2nd orderRevolving60WhiteTimber.
Nugget Point1st orderFixed WhiteStone.
Waipapapa Point2nd orderFlashing10WhiteTimber.
 Catadioptric.
Dog Island1st orderRevolving30WhiteStone
 Dioptric.    
Centre Island1st orderFixed White, with red arcs over inshore dangersTimber.
Puysegur Point1st orderFlashing10WhiteTimber.
Cape Foulwind2nd orderRevolving30WhiteTimber.
Kahurangi Point2nd orderFixed WhiteIron.
Farewell Spit2nd orderRevolving60White, with red arc over Spit endIron.
Nelson4th orderFixed White, with red arc to mark limit of anchorageIron.
French Pass6th orderorder Red and white, with white light on beaconIron.
Stephens Island1st orderGroup flashing30WhiteIron.

Chapter 25. NEW ZEALAND NEWSPAPERS.

Table of Contents

THERE are (January, 1904) 200 publications on the register of newspapers for New Zealand. Of these, sixty are daily papers, twenty-six are published three times a week, twenty-six twice a week, fifty-seven once a week, four fortnightly, one three-weekly, and twenty-six monthly.

The names of the newspapers, with the postal districts and towns in which they are printed, are given in the following list, the second column showing the day or period of publication.

M. signifies morning paper; E. evening paper:—

AUCKLAND.

* Edited in Mosgiel by Rev. F. W. Boreham.

Auckland—
Auckland Star (E.)Daily.
Auckland Weekly News and Town and Country Journal (M)Saturday
Bible Standard (M.)Monthly.
Christian Worker (M.)Monthly.
Church Gazette (M.)Monthly.
New Zealand Farmer, Bee and Poultry Journal (M.)Monthly.
New Zealand Graphic, Ladies' Journal, and Youths' Companion (M.)Wednesday.
New Zealand Herald (M.)Daily.
New Zealand Illustrated Magazine (M.)Monthly.
New Zealand Illustrated Sporting Review and Licensed Victualler's Gazette (M.)Thursday.
New Zealand Joyful News (M.)Monthly.
Observer (M.)Saturday.
Saturday Night (E.)Saturday.
Sharland's Trade Journal (M.)Saturday.
Coromandel—
Coromandel County News and Kuaotunu and Mercury Bay Mail (E).Tuesday, Friday.
Dargaville—
Wairoa Bell and Northern Advertiser (E.)Tuesday, Friday.
Hamilton—
Waikato Argus (E.)Daily.
Waikato Times and Thames Valley Gazette (E.)Daily.
Kawakawa—
Northern Luminary (E.)Friday.
Kawhia—
Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser (M.)Saturday.
Onehunga—
Manukau and Franklin Mail and Auckland Courier (E.)Friday.
Manukau County Chronicle (M.)Saturday.
Raglan—
Raglan County Chronicle (M.)Friday.
Rotorua—
Hot Lakes Chronicle (M.)Wed., Saturday.
Warkworth —
Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette (E.)Friday.
Whangarei—
Northern Advocate (E.)Daily.
THAMES.
Karangahake—
Goldfields Advocate and Ohinemuri County Chronicle (M.)Tues., Thur., Sat
Opotiki—
East Coast Guardian (E.)Wed., Saturday.
Opotiki Herald, Whakatane County and East Coast Gazette (E.)Tuesday, Friday.
Paeroa—
Ohinemuri Gazette (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri.
Tauranga—
Bay of Plenty Times and Thames Valley Warden (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri.
To Aroha—
Te Aroha and Ohinemuri News and Upper Thames Advocate (M.)Tues., Thur., Sat.
Thames—
Thames Advertiser and Miners' News (M.)Daily.
Thames Star (E.)Daily.
Waihi—
Waihi Daily Telegraph (E.)Daily.
Gisborne—
GISBORNE.
Gisborne Times (M.)Daily.
Poverty Bay Herald (E.)Daily.
NEW PLYMOUTH.
Inglewood—
Inglewood Record and Waitara Age (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri.
New Plymouth—
Budget and Taranaki Weekly Herald (M.)Saturday.
Daily News (M.)Daily.
Taranaki Herald (E.)Daily.
Taranaki News (M.)Saturday.
Opunake—
Opunake Times (E.)Tuesday, Friday.
Stratford—
Stratford Evening Post (E.)Daily.
Waitara—
Waitara Evening Mail and Clifton County Chronicle (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri.
NAPIER.
Dannevirke—
Dannevirke Advocate (E.)Daily.
Dannevirke Daily Press (E.)Daily.
Hastings—
Hastings Standard (E.)Daily.
Napier—
Daily Telegraph (E.)Daily.
Hawke's Bay Herald (M.)Daily.
New Zealand Fire and Ambulance Record (M.)Monthly.
New Zealand Health Journal (M.)Monthly.
Waipawa—
Waipawa Mail (E.)Tues., Thur., Sat.
Wairoa—
Wairoa Guardian and County Advocate (M.)Tuesday, Friday.
WANGANUI.
Eltham—
Eltham Argus and Rawhitiroa and Kaponga Advertiser (E.)Daily.
Hawera—
Egmont Star (M.)Saturday.
Hawera and Norman by Star, Patea County Chronicle, and Waimate Plains Gazette (E.)Daily.
Hunterville—
Hunterville Express, and Upper Rangitikei Advertiser (E.)Tues., Thur., Sat.
Manaia—
Waimate Witness (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri.
Mangaweka—
Settler (E.)Wed., Saturday.
Marton—
Farmers' Advocate (M.)Saturday.
Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus (E.)Daily.
Patea—
Patea County Press (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri.
Taihape—
Post (M.)Thursday.
Taihape and Mangaweka News (E.)Tues., Thur., Sat.
Wanganui—
New Zealand Good Templar Watchword (M.)Monthly.
New Zealand Tit Bits (M.)Saturday.
Wanganui Chronicle (M.)Daily.
Wanganui Herald (E.)Daily.
Weekly Chronicle and Patea-Rangitikei Advertiser (M.)Saturday.
Yeoman (M.)Friday.
WELLINGTON.
Carterton—
Wairarapa Leader (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri.
Wairarapa Observer, Featherston Chronicle, East Coast Advertiser, and South County Gazette (E.)Daily.
Eketahuna—
Eketahuna Express and County Gazette (E.)Tues., Thur., Sat.
Feilding—
Feilding Star (E.)Daily.
Foxton—
Manawatu Herald (E.)Tues., Thur., Sat.
Greytown North—
Te Puke ki Hikurangi (E.)Tues., fortnightly.
Wairarapa Standard and Featherston Advocate (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri.
Kimbolton—
Kimbolton Times and County News (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri.
Levin—
Manawatu Farmer and Horowhenua County Chronicle (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri.
Masterton—
Wairarapa Age (M.)Daily.
Wairarapa Daily Times (E.)Daily.
Weekly Star and Wellington District Advertiser (M.)Thursday.
Otaki—
Otaki Mail and Horowhenua County and West Coast Advertiser (M.)Tues., Thur., Sat.
Pahiatua—
Pahiatua Herald (E.)Daily.
Palmerston North—
Manawatu Daily Standard, Rangitikei Advertiser, and West Coast Gazette (E.)Daily.
Manawatu Daily Times (M.)Daily.
Petone—
Hutt and Petone Chronicle (E.)Tuesday, Friday.
Wellington—
Church Chronicle (M.)Monthly.
Evening Post (E.)Daily.
Mercantile Record (M.)Saturday.
New Zealand Craftsman (M.)Monthly.
New Zealand Dairyman and Farmers' Union Journal (E.)Monthly.
New Zealand Field (M.)Friday.
New Zealand Free Lance (M.)Saturday.
New Zealand Home Journal (E.)Monthly.
New Zealand Mail, Town and Country Advertiser (M)Wednesday.
New Zealand Mines Record (M.)Monthly.
New Zealand Times (M.)Daily.
New Zealand Trade Review and Price Current (M.)Three-weekly.
Post and Telegraph Officers' Advocate (E.)Monthly (15th).
Prohibitionist (E.)Fri., fortnightly.
Woodville—
Examiner (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri.
BLENHEIM.
Blenheim—
Marlborough Daily Times and Town and Country Advertiser (M.)Daily.
Marlborough Express (E.)Daily.
Havelock—
Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate (M.)Tuesday, Friday.
Picton—
Marlborough Press, County of Sounds Gazette (M.)Tuesday, Friday.
NELSON.
Collingwood—
Golden Bay Argus (E.)Thursday.
Motueka—
Motueka Star (E)Tuesday, Friday.
Nelson—
Colonist (M.)Daily.
Nelson Evening Mail (E.)Daily.
Takaka—
Takaka News and Collingwood Advertiser (E.)Thursday.
WESTPORT.
Charleston—
Charleston Herald, Brighton Times, and Croninville Reporter (M.)Wed., Saturday.
Murchison—
Buller Post (E.)Tuesday.
Westport—
Buller Miner (M.)Friday.
Westport News (M.)Daily.
Westport Times and Evening Star (E.)Daily.
GREYMOUTH.
Greymouth—
Evening Star and Brunnerton Advocate (E.)Daily.
Grey River Argus (M.)Daily.
Weekly Argus (M.)Weekly.
Reefton—
Inangahua Herald and New Zealand Miner (M.)Daily.
Inangahua Times and Reefton Guardian (E.).Daily.
HOKITIKA.
Hokitika—
Hokitika Guardian and Evening Star (E.)Daily.
Leader (M.)Saturday.
West Coast Times (M.)Daily.
Kumara—
Kumara Times and Dillman's and Goldsborough Advertiser (E.)Daily.
Ross—
Ross and Okarito Advocate and Westland Advertiser (M.)Wed., Saturday.
CHRISTCHURCH.
Akaroa—
Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser (M.)Tuesday, Friday.
Ashburton—
Ashburton Daily News (E.)Daily.
Ashburton Guardian (E.)Daily.
Ashburton Mail, Rakaia, Mount Somers, and Alford Forest Advertiser (M.)Tues., Thur., Sat.
Cheviot—
Cheviot News (M.)Tuesday, Friday.
Christchurch—
Canterbury Times (incorporating “Sportsman” and “New Zealand Cyclist”) (M.)Wednesday.
Lyttelton Times (M.)Daily.
Mercantile and Bankruptcy Gazette of New Zealand (E.)Wednesday.
New Zealand Church News (M.)Monthly.
New Zealand Poultry-keeper and Fanciers' Chronicle (M.)Monthly.
New Zealand Railway Review (E.)Monthly.
New Zealand Schoolmaster (E.)Monthly.
New Zealand War Cry and Official Gazette of the Salvation Army (M.)Saturday.
New Zealand Wheelman and Motor News (M.)Sat., fortnightly.
Press (M.)Daily.
Spectator (M.)Tuesday.
Star (E.)Daily.
Truth (E.)Daily.
Weekly Press (incorporating “The Referee”) (M.)Wednesday.
White Ribbon (M.)Monthly.
Kaikoura—
Kaikoura Star and North Canterbury and South Marlborough News (E.)Daily.
Rangiora—
Standard and North Canterbury Guardian (M.)Wed., Saturday.
Southbridge—
Ellesmere Guardian (M.)Wed., Saturday.
TIMARU.
Temuka—
Geraldine Guardian (M.)Tues., Thur., Sat.
Temuka Leader (M.)Tues., Thur., Sat.
Timaru—
Timaru Herald (M.)Daily.
Timaru Post (E.)Daily.
Waimate—
Waimate Advertiser (M.)Tues., Thur., Sat.
Waimate Times (M.)Tues., Thur., Sat.
OAMARU.
Oamaru—
North Otago Times (M.)Daily.
Oamaru Mail (E.)Daily.
DUNEDIN.
Alexandra South—
Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette (M.)Thursday.
Balclutha—
Clutha Leader (M.)Tuesday, Friday
Free Press (M.)Tuesday, Friday
Clyde—
Dunstan Times, Vincent County Official Gazette, and General Goldfields Advertiser (M.)Tuesday.
Cromwell—
Cromwell Argus and Northern Goldfields Gazette (M.)Tuesday.
Dunedin—
Evening Star (E.)Daily.
Farmers' Circular (M.)Thur., fortn'ly
Farmers Standard of New Zealand (M.)Monthly.
New Zealand Baptist (E.)*Monthly.
New Zealand Guardian (M.)Monthly.
New Zealand Journal of Education (M.)Monthly.
New Zealand Mining, Engineering, and Building Journal (M.)Thursday.
New Zealand Tablet (M.)Thursday.
Otago Daily Times (M.)Daily.
Otago Witness (M.)Thursday.
Otago Liberal and Workman (M)Saturday
Outlook (M.)Saturday
Schoolmates (M.)Monthly.
Trade Review and Farmers' Gazette (M.)Thursday.
Triad (M.)Monthly.
Weekly Budget (M.)Saturday.
Lawrence—
Tuapeka Times (M.)Wed., Saturday.
Milton—
Bruce Herald (M.)Tuesday, Friday.
Mosgiel—
Taieri Advocate (M.)Wed., Saturday.
Naseby—
Mount Ida Chronicle (M.)Friday.
Palmerston—
Palmerston and Waikouaiti Times (M.)Friday.
Roxburgh—
Mount Benger Mail (M.)Saturday.
Tapanui—
Tapanui Courier and Central Districts Gazette (M.)Wednesday.
INVERCARGILL.
Arrowtown—
Lake County Press (E.)Thursday.
Gore—
Mataura Ensign (E.)Tues., Thur., Sat.
Southern Standard (M.)Tuesday, Friday.
Invereargill—
Southern Cross (M.)Saturday.
Southlander (M.)Friday.
Southland Daily News (E.)Daily.
Southland Times (M.)Daily.
Weekly Times (M.)Friday.
Orepuki—
Orepuki Advocate (M.)Saturday.
Queenstown—
Lake Wakatipu Mail (E.)Saturday.
Riverton—
Western Star and Wallace County Gazette (E.)Tues., Friday.
Winton—
Winton Record and Hokonui Advocate (M.)Friday.
Wyndham—
Wyndham Farmer (M.)Mon., Wed., Fri.
Wyndham Herald (M.)Tuesday, Friday.

The foregoing towns are arranged according to the postal district in which they are situated.

Taking the provincial districts, Auckland has 37 publications registered as newspapers, Taranaki 11, Hawke's Bay 10, Wellington 45, Marlborough 4, Nelson 13, Westland 8, Canterbury 28, and Otago 44.

Chapter 26. THE CUSTOMS TARIFF OF NEW ZEALAND,

Under the Customs and Excise Duties Acts, 1888 and 1895, “The Tobacco Excise Duties Act, 1896,” “The Customs Duties Amendment Act, 1900,” and “The Preferential and Reciprocal Trade Act, 1903.” [For rates under last-named Act, see p. 101.]

TABLE OF DUTIES.

THE headings of the respective classes in this Table and in the Table of Exemptions are used solely for convenience of classification, and shall not in any way affect the articles specified therein, or be construed to indicate the material of which any such article is made.

The word “iron” includes steel, or steel and iron combined.

Neither steam-engines, nor parts of steam-engines, nor steam-boilers (land or marine) are included in the expression “machines” or “machinery” in either this Table or the Table of Exemptions.

The abbreviaton “n.o.e.” means not otherwise enumerated.

In computing “ad valorem” duties the invoice value of the goods is increased by 10 per cent.

CLASS I.—FOODS AND ARTICLES FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.

Names of Articles and Rates of Duty.

1. Almonds, in shell, 2d. the lb.

2. Almonds, shelled, n.o.e., 3d. the lb.

3. Bacon and hams, 2d. the lb.

4. Biscuits, ships' plain and unsweetened, 3s. the cwt.

5. Biscuits, other kinds, 2d. the lb.

6. Boiled sugars, comfits, lozenges, Scotch mixtures, and sugar-candy, 2d. the lb., including internal packages.

7. Candied peel and drained peel, 3d. the lb.

8. Capers, caraway seeds, catsup, cayenne pepper, chillies, chutney, curry-powder and -paste, fish-paste, gelatine, isinglass, liquorice, olives, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

9. Chocolate confectionery, and all preparations of chocolate or cocoa—

In plain trade packages, 3d. the lb.

In fancy packages, or in small packages for retail sale, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

10. Confectionery n.o.e., 2d. the lb., including internal packages.

11. Currants, 1d. the lb.

12. Fish, dried, pickled, or salted, n.o.e., 10s. the cwt.

13. Fish, potted and preserved, 2d. the lb. or package of that reputed weight, and so in proportion for packages of greater or less reputed weight.*

* Such as is foreign produce or manufacture, subject to preferential duty, see p. 101.

14. Fruit, fresh, viz.:—

Apples, pears, plums, cherries, peaches, nectarines, medlars, apricots, quinces, tomatoes, 1d. the lb.

(No duty exceeding 1/2d. the lb. to be levied on apples and pears from 14th July to 31st December.)

Currants, raspberries, gooseberries, blackberries, and strawberries, 1/2d. the lb.

Lemons, 1/2d. the lb.

15. Fruits, dried, 2d. the lb.

16. Fruits, preserved in juice or syrup, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

17. Fruit-pulp, and partially preserved fruit n.o.e., 1 1/2d. the lb.

18. Fruits preserved by sulphurous acid, 1d. the lb.

19. Glucose, 1d. the lb.

20. Honey, 2d. the lb.

21. Jams, jellies, marmalade, and preserves, 2d. the lb. or package of that reputed weight, and so in proportion for packages of greater or less reputed weight.

22. Jellies concentrated in tablets or powder, 4d. the lb.

23. Maizena and cornflour, 1/4d. the lb.

24. Meats, potted or preserved, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

25. Milk, preserved, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

26. Mustard, 2d. the lb.

27. Nuts of all kinds, except cocoa-nuts, 2d. the lb.

28. Oysters, preserved, 2d. the lb. or package of that reputed weight, and so in proportion for packages of greater or less reputed weight.

29. Pearl barley, 1s. the cwt.

30. Peas, split, 2s. the cwt.

31. Pickles, 3s. the imperial gallon.

32. Provisions, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

33. Raisins, 1d. the lb.

34. Rice-flour, 6s. the cwt.

35. Sardines, including the oil, 2d. the lb.

36. Sauces, 4s. the imperial gallon.

37. Spices, including pepper and pimento, unground, 2d. the lb.

38. Spices, including pepper and pimento, ground, 4d. the lb.

39. Sugar, 1/2d. the lb.

40. Treacle and molasses, 1/2d. the lb.

41. Vegetables, fresh, dried, or preserved, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

42. Vinegar, table, not exceeding 6.5 per cent. of acidity,* 6d. the gallon.

* Vinegar exceeding 6.5 per cent. of acidity to be treated as acetic acid.

CLASS II.—TOBACCO.

43. Cigarettes, not exceeding in weight 2 1/2 lb. per 1,000, 17s. 6d. the 1,000. And for all weight in excess of 2 1/2 lb. per 1,000, 6d. the oz.

44. Cigars, 7s. the lb.

45. Snuff, 7s. the lb.

46. Tobacco, 3s. 6d. the lb.

47. Tobacco, unmanufactured, entered to be manufactured in the colony in any licensed tobacco manufactory, for manufacturing purposes only, into tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, or snuff, 2s. the lb.

CLASS III.—ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, AND MATERIALS FOR MAKING SAME.

48. Ale, beer of all sorts, porter, cider, and perry, the gallon, or for six reputed quart bottles, or 12 reputed pint bottles, 2s. the gallon.

49. Cordials, bitters, and liqueurs, 16s. the liquid gallon.

50. Hops, 6d. the lb.

† Such as is foreign produce or manufacture, subject to preferential duty, see p. 101.

51. Malt, 2s. the bushel.

52. Rice malt, 1d. the lb.

53. Solid wort, 6d. the lb.

54. Spirits and strong waters, the strength of which can be ascertained by Sykes's hydrometer, 16s. the proof gallon.

(No allowance beyond 16.5 under proof shall be made for spirits or strong waters of a less hydrometer strength than 16.5 under proof.)

55. Spirits and strong waters, sweetened or mixed, when not exceeding the strength of proof, 16s. the liquid gallon.

56. Spirits and strong waters in cases shall be charged as follows, namely:—

Two gallons and under, as two gallons; over two gallons and not exceeding three, as three gallons; over three gallons and not exceeding four, as four gallons; and so on for any greater quantity contained in any case.

57. Spirits or strong waters, mixed with ingredients in any proportion exceeding 33 per cent. of proof spirit, and although thereby coming under any other designation, excepting patent or proprietary medicines, or tinctures and medicinal spirits otherwise enumerated, 16s. the liquid gallon.

58. Wine, Australian, containing not more than 35 per cent. of proof spirit verified by Sykes's hydrometer, the gallon, or for six reputed quart bottles, or twelve reputed pint bottles, 5s. the gallon.

59. Wine, other than sparkling and Australian, containing less than 40 per cent. of proof spirit verified by Sykes's hydrometer, the gallon, or for six reputed quart bottles, or twelve reputed pint bottles, 6s. the gallon.

60. Wine, sparkling, 9s. the gallon.

CLASS IV.—NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, AND MATERIALS FOR MAKING SAME.

61. Aerated and mineral waters and effervescing beverages, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

62. Chicory, 3d. the lb.

63. Chocolate, 3d. the lb.

64. Cocoa, 3d. the lb.

65. Coffee, essence of, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

66. Coffee, roasted, 3d. the lb.

67. Syrups; lime- or lemon-juice sweetened; raspberry vinegar, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

68. Tea, 2d. the lb.*

CLASS V.—DRUGS, MEDICINES, CHEMICALS, AND DRUGGISTS' SUNDRIES.

69. Acid, acetic, n.o.e., containing not more than 30 per cent. of acidity, 1 1/2d. the lb.

For every 10 per cent. of acidity or fraction thereof additional, 1/2d. the lb.

70. Acid, tartaric, 1d. the lb.

71. Baking-powder, yeast preparations, and other ferments, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

72. Chemicals n.o.e., including photographic chemicals, and glacial acetic acid (B.P. standard), 15 per cent. ad valorem.

73. Cream of tartar, 1d. the lb.*

* Such as is foreign produce or manufacture, subject to preferential duty, see p. 101.

74. Drugs and druggists' sundries and apothecaries' wares, n.o.e., 15 per cent. ad valorem.

75. Essences, flavouring, spirituous, 16s. the liquid gallon.

76. Essences, flavouring, n.o.e., 15 per cent. ad valorem.

77. Eucalyptus oil, in bulk or bottle, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

78. Glycerine, refined, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

79. Opium, 40s. the lb.

80. Patent medicines, 15 per cent. ad valorem.

81. Proprietary medicines, or medicaments, (1) bearing the name of the proprietor on label or package; (2) bearing a prefixed name in the possessive case; (3) n.o.e., prepared by any occult secret or art, 15 per cent. ad valorem.

82. Saccharine, except in the form of tabloids or tablets, 1s. 6d. the ounce.

83. Sarsaparilla, 15 per cent. ad valorem.

84. Soda, carbonate and bicarbonate, 1s. the cwt.

85. Soda, crystals, 2s. the cwt.

86. Tinctures and medicinal spirits of any recognised pharmacopœia, containing more than 50 per cent. of proof spirit, 1s. the lb.

87. Tinctures and medicinal spirits of any recognised pharmacopœia, containing 50 per cent. proof spirit or less, 15 per cent. ad valorem.

CLASS VI.—CLOTHING AND TEXTILE GOODS.

88. Apparel and ready-made clothing, and all articles n.o.e. made up wholly or in part from textile or other piece-goods, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

89. Apparel made by British or foreign tailors, dress-, mantle-, or jacket-makers, to the order of residents in the colony, and intended for the individual use of such residents, whether imported by the residents themselves or through an importing firm, 40 per cent. ad valorem.

90. Blankets, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

91. Collars and cuffs, of paper or other material, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

92. Cotton counterpanes, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

93. Cotton piece-goods, to include turkey twills, dress prints (hard-spun and plain-woven), where the invoice value does not exceed 4d. the yard; and cotton piece-goods n.o.e., 10 per cent. ad valorem.

94. Cotton piece-goods—namely, tapestry; cretonnes; chintz art crêpe, and serges; velveteens, velvets, and plushes, all kinds; damasks; moquette; sateens; linenettes; crepons; crimps; zephyrs; ginghams; turkey twills; prints; printed cottons; piqués; vestings; quiltings, and marcellas; muslins of all kinds; nets; window-nets; hollands, curtains, and blinds; diapers; ticks, including coloured Belgian; towellings; laces, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

95. Drapery n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

96. Feathers, ornamental (including ostrich), and artificial flowers, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

97. Forfar, dowlas, and flax sheeting, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

98. Furs, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

99. Haberdashery n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

100. Hats of all kinds, including straw hats, also caps, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

101. Hosiery n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

102. Lace, and laces, n.o.e., 25 per cent. ad valorem.

103. Millinery of all kinds, including trimmed hats, caps, and bonnets, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

104. Ribbons and crape, all kinds, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

105. Rugs, woollen, cotton, opossum, or other, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

106. Shawls, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

107. Silks, satins, velvets, plushes, n.o.e., composed of silk mixed with any other material, in the piece, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

108. Textile piece-goods other than cotton or silk, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

109. Umbrellas, parasols, and sunshades, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

110. Yarns n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

CLASS VII.—LEATHER AND MANUFACTURES OF LEATHER.

111. Boots, shoes, and slippers, n.o.e.; goloshes, clogs, pattens, vamps, uppers, and laces, 22 1/2 per cent. ad valorem.*

* Such as is foreign produce or manufacture, subject to preferential duty, see p. 101.

112. Heel-plates, and toe stiffeners and plates, 22 1/2 per cent. ad valorem.

113. Leather—

Leather belting, and belt-leather, harness, bridle, legging, bag, kip (other than East India), 4d. the lb.

Buff and split, including satin hides and tweeds, 3d. the lb.

Cordovan, levanted leather, roans, sheepskins, morocco n.o.e., basils, 3d. the lb.

Sole-leather, 2d. the lb.

East India kip, Persians, lambskins and goatskins (dressed other than morocco), kangaroo and wallabi skins (dressed), tan and coloured calf, 2d. the lb.

Leather n.o.e., 1d. the lb.

114. Leather board or compo, 4d. the lb.

115. Leather bags and leather-cloth bags, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

116. Leather, chamois, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

117. Leather cut into shapes, 22 1/2 per cent. ad valorem.

118. Leather leggings, 22 1/2 per cent. ad valorem.

119. Leather manufactures n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

120. Portmanteaux; trunks; travelling-bags and brief-bags of leather or leather-cloth, 10 in. in length and upwards, and carpet-bags, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

121. Saddlery, and harness, whips and whip-thongs, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

CLASS VIII.—FURNITURE AND HOUSEHOLD FURNISHING.

122. Basket- and wicker-ware n.o.e., not being furniture, 20 per cent. ad valorem.*

123. Carpets, and druggets; floorcloth; mats, and matting, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

124. Desks, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

125. Furniture and cabinetware, n.o.e., and other than iron. 25 per cent. ad valorem.*

126. Furniture-, knife-, and plate-powder and polish, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

127. Mantelpieces, other than stone, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

128. Upholstery n.o.e., 25 per cent. ad valorem.

CLASS IX.—CHINA, GLASS, AND EARTHEN GOODS.

129. Bricks, known as firebricks, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

130. China, porcelain, and parianware, 20 per cent. ad valorem.*

131. Drainage pipes and tiles, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

132. Earthen flooring and garden-tiles, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

133. Earthenware, stoneware, and brownware, 20 per cent. ad valorem.*

134. Filters, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

135. Fireclay, ground, and fireclay goods, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

136. Glass, crown, sheet, and common window, 2s. the 100 superficial feet.*

137. Glassware; also plate-glass, and glass polished, coloured, and other kinds, n.o.e.; globes and chimneys for lamps, 20 per cent. ad valorem.*

138. Lamps, lanterns, and lampwick, 20 per cent. ad valorem.*

139. Plate-glass, bevelled or silvered; mirrors and looking glasses, framed or unframed, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

CLASS X.—FANCY GOODS, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, ETC.

140. Artificial flies, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

141. Cards, playing, 6d. per pack.

142. Clocks, 20 per cent. ad valorem.*

143. Dressing-cases, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

144. Fancy goods, and toys, 20 per cent. ad valorem.*

* Such as is foreign produce or manufacture, subject to preferential duty, see p. 101.

145. Fishing tackle, including artificially-baited hooks other than flies, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

146. Jewellery; plate, gold or silver; greenstone, cut or polished, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

† Plate, gold or silver, if of foreign produce or manufacture, subject to preferential duty, see p. 101.

147. Mouldings in the piece for picture-frames, cornices, or ceilings 15 per cent. ad valorem.

148. Musical instruments of all kinds n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

† Pianos, if of foreign manufacture, are subject to preferential duty, see p. 101.

149. Oil, perfumed, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

150. Paper-macheé ware, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

151. Perfumery n.o.e., 25 per cent. ad valorem.

152. Perfumed spirits and Cologne-water, £1 10s. the liquid gallon.

153. Photographic goods n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

154. Pictures, paintings, drawings, engravings, and photographs, framed or unframed; picture- or photograph-frames and -mounts, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

155. Platedware, 20 per cent. ad valorem.*

156. Statues, statuettes, casts, and bronzes, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

157. Tobacco-pipes and -cases, cigar- and cigarette-holders and -cases, cigarette papers and -cases, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

158. Toilet preparations n.o.e., 25 per cent. ad valorem.

159. Watches, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

160. Walking-sticks, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

CLASS XI.—PAPER MANUFACTURES AND STATIONERY.

161. Calendars and show-cards, all kinds, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

162. Cardboard boxes complete, or cardboard cut and shaped for boxes (including match-boxes), 25 per cent. ad valorem.

163. Directories of New Zealand, or of any part thereof; also covers for directories, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

164. Handbills, programmes and circulars, playbills and printed posters, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

165. Ink, writing, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

166. Paper bags, coarse (including sugar-bags), 7s. 6d. the cwt.

167. Paper bags n.o.e., 25 per cent. ad valorem.

168. Paper-hangings, 15 per cent. ad valorem.*

* Such as is foreign produce or manufacture, subject to preferential duty, see p. 101.

169. Paper wrapping—viz., blue candle, glazed cap, glazed casings, small hand, lumber hand, and tissue, 5s. the cwt.*

170. Paper, wrapping, other kinds, including brown, cartridge, and sugar papers, 5s. the cwt.*

171. Printing matter relating to patent or proprietary medicines; trade catalogues, price-lists, and fashion-plates of the goods of firms or persons in the colony, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

172. Stationery and writing-paper n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

173. Stationery, manufactured—viz., account-books; manuscript books; bill-head, invoice, and statement forms; printed or ruled paper; counterbooks; cheque- and draft-forms; tags; labels; blotting-pads; sketchbooks; book-covers; copying letter-books; manifold writers; albums (other than for photographs); diaries; birthday-books; plain or faint-lined ruled books; printed window-tickets; printed, lithographed, or embossed stationery; and Christmas, New Year, birthday, and Easter cards and booklets, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

174. Stereotypes and matrices, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

CLASS XII.—MANUFACTURES OF METAL.

175. Bicycles, tricycles, and the like vehicles; also finished or partly finished or machined parts of same, n.o.e., including weldless steel tubing cut to short lengths, 20 per cent. ad valorem.*

176. Boilers, land and marine, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

177. Brass cocks, valves, unions, lubricators, and whistles, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

178. Brass manufactures, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

179. Cartridges (shot), 10- to 24-bore, 1s. 6d. the 100.

180. Cartridge cases, 9d. the 100.

181. Cartridges n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

182. Cash-registering machines, 10 per cent. ad valorem.

183. Coffin-furniture, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

184. Composition-piping, 3s. 6d. the cwt.

185. Copper manufactures n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

186. Copying-presses, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

187. Crab-winches, cranes n.o.e., capstans, and windlasses, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

188. Cutlery, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

189. Firearms, all kinds, 20 per cent. ad valorem.*

190. Galvanised iron manufactures n.o.e., 25 per cent. ad valorem.

191. Gasometers, and other apparatus for producing gas; also gas-meters, 10 per cent. ad valorem.

192. Gaspipes, iron, 5 per cent. ad valorem.

193. Hardware, ironmongery, and holloware, 20 per cent. ad valorem.*

194. Iron bridges, and iron material n.o.e. for the construction of bridges, wharves, jetties, or patent slips, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

195. Iron columns for buildings, and other structural ironwork, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

196. Iron doors for safes and vaults, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

197. Iron, galvanised corrugated sheets, screws, and nails, 2s. per cwt.

198. Iron galvanised tiles, ridging, guttering, and spouting, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

199. Iron gates and gate-posts, staples, standards, straining posts and apparatus, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

200. Iron nails, 2s. per cwt.*

201. Iron pipes, and fittings for same, including main-cocks, 5 per cent. ad valorem.*

* Such as is foreign produce or manufacture, subject to preferential duty, see p. 101

202. Iron, plain galvanised sheet and hoop, 1s. 6d. the cwt.

203. Iron tanks, exceeding 200 gallons and not exceeding 400 gallons, 10s. each.

204. Iron tanks of and under 200 gallons, 5s. each.

205. Iron work and wire work, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

206. Japanned and lacquered metal ware, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

207. Lawn-mowers, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

208. Lead, in sheets, 1s. 6d. the cwt.

209. Lead piping, 3s. 6d. the cwt.

210. Machinery n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

211. Machinery, electric, and appliances, 10 per cent. ad valorem.

212. Machinery for flour-mills, woollen-mills, paper-mills, rope- and twine-making, dredging, saw-milling, planing,† oil refining, boring; and also machinery for refrigerating or preserving meat, leather-splitting machines and band-knives for same, 5 per cent. ad valorem.

† See also item 418.

213. Manufactures, n.o.e., of metal, or of metal in combination with any other material, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

214. Nails n.o.e., 3s. the cwt.

215. Printing machines and presses, 5 per cent. ad valorem.

216. Pumps and other apparatus for raising water n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.*

* Such as is foreign produce or manufacture, subject to preferential duty, see p. 101.

217. Railway and tramway plant and materials n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

218. Sad-irons, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

219. Shot, 10s. the cwt.

220. Soda-water machines; also, machines for aerating liquids, 5 per cent. ad valorem.

221. Steam-engines and parts of steam-engines n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

222. Steam-engines, and parts thereof, including the boiler or boilers therefor, imported specially for mining or gold-saving purposes and processes, or for dairying purposes, 5 per cent. ad valorem.

223. Tinware, and tinsmiths' furniture n.o.e., 25 per cent. ad valorem.

224. Waterworks pipes, iron, 5 per cent. ad valorem.

225. Weighbridges and weighing-machines, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

226. Wire mattresses and webbing, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

227. Zinc tiles, ridging, guttering, piping, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

228. Zinc manufactures n.o.e., 25 per cent. ad valorem.

CLASS XIII.—TIMBER, AND ARTICLES MADE FROM TIMBER.

229. Bellows, other than forge, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

230. Blocks, wooden tackle, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

231. Buckets and tubs, of wood, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

232. Carriages, carts, drays, wagons, and perambulators, and wheels for the same, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

233. Carriage shafts, spokes, and felloes, dressed: bent carriage timber, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

234. Doors, glazed with ornamental glass, 4s. each.

235. Doors, plain, 2s. each.

236. Sashes, glazed, with ornamental glass, 4s. the pair.

237. Sashes, plain, 2s. the pair.

238. Timber, palings, 2s. the 100.

239. Timber, posts, 8s. the 100.

240. Timber, rails, 4s. the 100.

241. Timber, sawn, dressed, 4s. the 100 ft. superficial.

242. Timber, sawn, rough, 2s. the 100 ft. superficial.

243. Timber, shingles and laths, 2s. the 1,000.

244. Woodenware and turnery n.o.e, and veneers, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

CLASS XIV.—OILS, PAINTS, ETC.

245. Axle-grease, and other solid lubricants, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

246. Harness oil and composition, and leather dressing, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

247. Naphtha, 6d. the gallon.

248. Oil, linseed, 6d. the gallon.

249. Oil, mineral, including shale-waste or unrefined mineral-oil n.o.e., 6d. the gallon.

250. Oil n.o.e., 6d. the gallon.

251. Oil, olive, in bulk, 6d. the gallon.

252. Oil vegetable, in bulk, n.o.e., 6d. the gallon.

253. Oil vegetable or other, in bottle, 15 per cent. ad valorem.

254. Paints and colours ground in oil or turpentine, 2s. 6d. the cwt.

255. Paints and colours mixed ready for use, 5s. the cwt.

256. Putty, 2s. the cwt.

257. Stearine, 1 1/2d. the lb.

258. Stearine for match-making, 3/4d. the lb.

259. Varnish; enamel paints; gold size, 2s. the gallon.

260. Whiting and chalk, 1s. the cwt.

CLASS XV.—AGRICULTURAL AND FARM PRODUCTS, ETC.

261. Animals, food for, of all kinds, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

262. Cattle (horned), 10s. each.

263. Chaff, £1 the ton.

264. Grain—namely, barley, 2s. the 100 lb.

265. Grain and pulse of every kind n.o.e., 9d. the 100 lb.

266. Grain and pulse of every kind, when ground or in any way manufactured, n.o.e., 1s. the 100 lb.

267. Horses, £1 each.

268. Linseed, £1 the ton.

269. Maize, 9d. the 100 lb.

270. Onions, £1 the ton.

271. Prepared calf-meal, £1 5s. the ton.

CLASS XVI.—MISCELLANEOUS.

272. Bags, flour, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

273. Bags, calico, forfar, hessian, and linen, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

274. Bagging and bags n.o.e., 15 per cent. ad valorem.

275. Blacking and boot-gloss, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

276. Blacklead. 20 per cent. ad valorem.

277. Blue, 2d. the lb.

278. Brooms, brushes, and brushware, n.o.e., 25 per cent. ad valorem.

279. Brushes, hair, and combs; toilet- clothes- and hat-brushes, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

280. Candles, 1d. the lb. or package of that reputed weight, and so in proportion for packages of greater or less reputed weight.*

281. Cement, 2s. the barrel.*

282. Cordage and rope, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.*

* Such as is foreign produce or manufacture, subject to preferential duty, see p. 101.

283. Cork, cut, including bungs, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

284. Fireworks n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

285. Flock, 10 per cent. ad valorem.

286. Glue and size, 1 1/2d. the lb.

287. Granite, sawn on not more than two sides, and not dressed or polished, 5 per cent. ad valorem.

288. Marble, granite, and other stone, dressed or polished, and articles made therefrom, including mantelpieces, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

289. Matches—

Wooden, in boxes containing not more than 60 matches, 1s. the gross of boxes.

In boxes containing over 60 and not more than 100 matches, 2s. the gross of boxes.

In boxes containing more than 100 matches, for every 100 matches or fraction thereof contained in one box, 2s. the gross of boxes.

Wax, “plaid vestas” in cardboard boxes containing under 100 matches, 1s. the gross of boxes.

“Pocket vestas” in tin or other boxes containing under 100 matches, 1s. 4d. the gross of boxes.

“Sportsman's,” “Ovals,” and “No. 4 tin vestas,” in boxes containing not more than 200 matches, 4s. 6d. the gross of boxes.

Wax, other kinds, for every 100 matches or fraction thereof contained in one box, 2s. 3d. the gross of boxes.

290. Nets and netting, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

291. Paraffin wax, 3/4d. the lb.

292. Powder, sporting, 6d. the lb.

293. Sacks, other than cornsacks and jute sacks, 15 per cent. ad valorem.

294. Sausage-skins and casings (including brine or salt), 3d. per lb.

295. Soap, common yellow, and blue mottled, 5s. the cwt.

296. Soap, n.o.e., 25 per cent. ad valorem.

297. Soap-powder, extract of soap, dry soap, and soft-soap, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

298. Spirits, methylated, 1s the liquid gallon.

299. Spirits, cleared from warehouse, methylated, under prescribed conditions, 6d. the liquid gallon.

300. Starch, 2d. the lb.

301. Tarpaulins, tents, rick- and wagon-covers, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

302. Twine n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

303. Washing-powder, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

304. Wax, mineral, vegetable, and Japanese, 1 1/2d. the lb.

In addition to any duty chargeable by law on any goods imported into the colony, a further duty of 20 per cent. ad valorem shall be charged when the goods are prison-made.

Chapter 27. TABLE OF EXEMPTIONS FROM DUTIES OF CUSTOMS.

CLASS I.—FOODS, ETC.

Names of Articles.

305. Almonds, Barbary, Sicily, and French, used in confectioners' manufactures.

306. Anchovies, salted, in casks.

307. Arrowroot, sago, tapioca, macaroni, vermicelli, and prepared groats.

308. Salt.

309. Rice, dressed or undressed.

310. Rice manufactured into starch in bond.

CLASS IV.—NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, ETC.

311. Cocoa-beans.

312. Coffee, raw.

CLASS V.—DRUGS, ETC.

313. Acids—viz.: boracic; carbolic, in bulk; fluoric; muriatic; nitric; oxalic; oleic; picric; pyrogallic; salicylic; sulphuric.

314. Concentrated extracts or essences in liquid form or preserved in fat for perfume-manufacturing purposes in manufacturing warehouses, in bottles of not less than 1 lb. in weight.

315. Disinfectants.

316. Drugs and chemicals—viz.: alum; sulphate of aluminium; sulphate of ammonia; anhydrous ammonia; aniline dyes; arsenic; bluestone, or sulphate of copper; borax; catechu; chloride of calcium; nitrate of silver; cochineal; creosote, crude or commercial; glycerine, crude; gum, arabic and tragacanth; gum benzoin; artificial gum arabic; gum damar; phosphorus; potash, caustic potash, and chlorate of potash; pearlash; prussiate of potash; cyanide of potassium; cyanide of sodium; liquid chlorine; sal-ammoniac; saltpetre; acetate of soda, de; soda-ash; caustic soda; nitrate of soda; silicate of soda; sulphate of soda; sulphide of sodium; hyposulphite of sodium; strychnine; sulphur; chloride of zinc; iron-sulphates; gall-nuts; turmeric; saffron; nitrous-oxide gas; tree-washes; insecticides; maltine; chlorodyne.

317. Essential oils, except eucalyptus; cod-liver oil; oil of rhodium.

318. Horse drenches.

319. Medicinal barks, leaves, herbs, flowers, roots and gums.

320. Scrub-exterminator.

321. Sheep-dip; sheep-drenches; sheep-licks.

322. Surgical and dental instruments and appliances.*

* If of foreign manufacture subject to duty see p. 101.

323. Scientific and assay balances, retorts, flasks, and other appliances for chemical analysis and assay work.

324. Water-hardening chemicals for brewers' use.

CLASS VI.—CLOTHING AND TEXTILES.

325. Accoutrements for military purposes, excepting uniform clothing.

† Subject to the provisions of section 28 of “The Defence Act. 1900,” as follows :—

Equipments to be admitted free of Customs Duty.

“28. All military clothing, saddlery, and equipments imported into the colony for the bond fide use of a Volunteer corps shall, on the certificate in writing of the Minister of Defence that the same are or have been imported for such purpose, be admitted into the colony free of Customs duty.”

326. Brace-elastic and brace-mountings.

327. Bunting, in the piece.

328. Butter- and cheese-cloth.

329. Buttons, tapes, wadding, pins, needles.

330. Calico, white and grey, also cotton sheetings, in the piece.

331. Corduroy, moleskin, and plain beaver-skin, of cotton, in the piece.

332. Coloured cotton shirtings; flannelette shirtings.*

333. Forfar, dowlas, and flax sheeting, when cut up under supervision in sizes not exceeding 47 in. x 36 in. for making flour-bags, and not exceeding 54 in. for lining wool mats.

334. Fur-skins, green or sun-dried.

335. Gold or silver lace or braid for military clothing.

336. Hatmakers' materials—viz.: silk plush; felt hoods; shellac; galloons; calicoes; spale boards for hat-boxes; leathers and linings; blocks; moulds; frames; ventilators; and tassels.

337. Hessians, plain or striped, and scrim.

338. Leather-cloth.

339. Minor articles (required in the making-up of apparel, boots, shoes, hats, caps, saddlery, umbrellas, parasols, and sunshades), enumerated in any order of the Commissioner, and published in the Gazette.

340. Sailcloth, canvas, and unbleached double-warped duck, in the piece.

† If of foreign manufacture subject to duty, see p. 101.

341. Sewing cottons, silks, and threads; crochet, darning, and knitting cottons; angola mendings not exceeding 45 yards, on cards.

342. Silk for flour-dressing.

343. Silk twist (shoemakers' and saddlers')

344. Staymakers' binding, eyelets, corset-fasteners, jean, ticks, lasting, sateen, and cotell.

345. Tailors' trimmings—viz.: plain-coloured imitation hair-cloth; canvas; plain Verona and plain diagonal, and such patterns of checked Italian cloth as may be approved of by the Commissioner of Customs; Italian cloth of cotton or wool; buckram; wadding and padding; silk, worsted, and cotton bindings and braids; stay-bindings; Russia braids; shoulder-pads; buckles; silesias; drab, slate, and brown jeans; pocketings; slate, black, and brown dyed unions and linens.

346. Umbrella-makers' materials—viz.: reversible and levantine silk mixtures, gloria, and satin de chêpe of not less than 44 in. in width; alpaca cloth, with border; zanella cloth, with border; also other piece-goods on such conditions as the Commissioner may approve; sticks, runners, notches, caps, ferrules, cups, ribs, stretchers, tips, and rings.

347. Union shirtings the invoice value of which does not exceed 6d. the yard.*

* Whenever any dispute arises as to the application of the exemption in favour of coloured cotton, flannelette, or union shirtings, in the case of fabrics alleged to be such shirtings, the Commissioner has power to decide such dispute; and in case of doubt on his part, he may require the fabric in dispute to be cut up for shirt-making, under such conditions as he prescribes. (See section 6 of “The Customs and Excise Duties Act, 1895.”)

348. Waterproof material in the piece.

CLASS VII.—LEATHER, AND ARTICLES USED IN LEATHER MANUFACTURES.

349. Boot elastic.

350. Bootmakers' linings, canvas, plain or coloured, bag and portmanteau linings, of such materials, qualities, and patterns as may be approved by the Commissioner.

351. Boots, shoes, and slippers—viz., children's, No. 0 to 3.

352. Cork soles, and sock soles.

353. East India kip, crust or rough-tanned, but undressed.

354. Goatskins, crust or rough-tanned, but undressed.

355. Grindery, except heel- and toe-plates.

356. Hogskins.

357. Kangaroo-, wallabi-skins, undressed.

358. Leather, japanned or enamelled; goatskins, dressed as morocco, coloured (other than black).

359. Saddle-trees.

360. Saddlers' ironmongery (except bits and stirrup-irons), hames, and mounts for harness; straining, surcingle, brace, girth, and roller webs; collar-check, and the same article plain, of such quality as may be approved by the Commissioner; legging-buckles.

361. Tanning materials, crude.

CLASS VIII.—FURNITURE, ETC.

362. Blind-webbing and tape.

363. Upholsterers' webbing, hair-seating, imitation hair-seating; curled hair; gimp and cord of wool, cotton, or silk; tufts, and studs.

CLASS IX.—CHINA, GLASS, ETC.

364. Bottles, empty, plain glass, not being cut or ground; also, jars up to 3 in. in diameter at the mouth.

365. Glass plates (engraved) for photo-lithographic work.

366. Jars or other dutiable vessels, containing free goods or goods subject to a fixed rate of duty, and being ordinary trade packages for the goods contained in them.

CLASS X.—FANCY GOODS, ETC.

367. Action-work and keys, in frames or otherwise, for manufacture of organs, harmoniums, and pianos; organ-pipes and stop-knobs.

368. Artists' canvas, colours, brushes, and palette knives.

369. Magic-lanterns, lenses, and slides.

370. Microscopes and astronomical telescopes, and lenses for same.

371. Musical instruments, specially imported for Volunteer bands.

372. Paintings, statuary, and works of art, presented to or imported by any public institution or art association registered as a body corporate, for display in the buildings of such institution or association, and not to be sold or otherwise disposed of.

373. Photographic cameras and lenses.

374. Photographs of personal friends in letters or packets.

375. Precious stones, cut or uncut and unmounted.

376. Sensitized surfaces for photographic purposes.

CLASS XI.—PAPER, ETC.

377. Bookbinders' materials—viz., cloth, leather, thread, headbands, webbing, end-papers, tacketing-gut, marbling-colours, marble-paper, blue paste for ruling-ink, staple presses, wire-staples, staple-sticks.

378. Butter-paper, known as parchment paper or waxed paper.

379. Cardboard and pasteboard, of sizes not less than that known as “royal.”

380. Cardboard boxes, material for—viz., gold and silver paper, plain and embossed, gelatine and coloured papers, known as “box papers.”

381. Cartridge-paper for drawing books.

382. Cloth-lined boards, not less than “royal.”

383. Cloth-lined papers, enamelled paper; ivorite and gelatine; metallic paper; not less than “demy.”

384. Copy-books and drawing-books.

385. Copying-paper, medium and double-foolscap, in original mill wrappers and labels.

386. Hand-made cheque-paper.

387. Ink, printing.

388. Masticated para.

389. Millboard, and bookbinders' leather-board.

390. Paper, hand-made or machine-made book or writing, of sizes not less than the size known as “demy,” when in original wrappers.

391. Printing-paper.*

* If of foreign manufacture, subject to duty, see p. 101.

392. Printed books, papers, and music, n.o.e.

393. School slates, and educational apparatus.

CLASS XII.—METALS.

394. All machinery for agricultural purposes, including chaff-cutters, corn-crushers; corn-shellers, also articles used in manufacturing the same—viz., chaff - cutting knives, tilt-rakes, fittings for threshing - mills. forgings for ploughs.

395. All agricultural implements.

396. All bolts and nuts, blank or screwed nuts, black or finished nuts.

397. Anchors.

398. Artificers' tools.

399. Axes and hatchets; spades, shovels, and forks; picks; mattocks; quartz and knapping-hammers; scythes, sheep-shears, reaping-hooks; soldering-irons; paperhangers' scissors; butchers' saws and cleavers.

400. Axles, axle-arms, and boxes.

401. Band-saws and folding-saws, including frames.

402. Bellows-nails.

403. Bicycles and tricycles, fittings for—viz., rubber-tires, pneumatic-tires, outside covers, and inner tubes; rubber and cork handles, and pedal-rubbers; also drop-forgings and stampings, ball-bearings, weldless steel tube in full lengths, rims, forks, and spokes, in the rough.*

404. Blacksmiths' anvils, forges, and fans.

405. Blowers.

406. Brass and copper, in pigs, bars, tubes, or sheets.

407. Brass tubing and stamped work, in the rough, for gasaliers and brackets.

408. Caps, percussion.

409. Card-clothing for woollen-mills.

410. Chain pulleys, and chains for same.

411. Chains, trace and plough chains; or metal articles required to repair or complete riding or driving harness or saddlery to be repaired or made in the colony.

412. Chamfering, crozing and howelling machine for cask-making.

413. Copper and composition, rod, bolts, sheathing, and nails.

414. Couch-roll jackets, machine-wires, beater-bars, and strainer-plates for paper-mills.

415. Crucibles.

416. Emery-grinding machines and emery-wheels.

417. Empty iron drums, not exceeding 10 gallons capacity.

418. Engineers', boilermakers', brass-finishers', smiths', and all metal- and wood-workers' machine and hand tools.

419. Engine governors.

420. Eyelets.

421. Fire-engines, including Merryweather's chemical fire-engines.

422. Fish-hooks.

423. Galvanising-baths, welded.

424. Gas-engines and hammers, and oil-engines.*

425. Glassmakers' moulds.

426. Hydraulic cranes.

427. Iron- and brass-wove wire and wire gauze; also wire netting.

428. Iron boiler-plates and unflanged end-plates for boilers; boiler-tubes not exceeding 6 in. in diameter, and unflanged; Bowling's expansion rings; furnace-flues.

429. Iron, plain black sheet, rod, bolt, bar, plate,* hoop, and pig.

* If of foreign manufacture subject to duty, see p. 101.

† Hoop and pig-iron not affected by preferential tariff.

430. Iron rolled girders.

431. Iron plates, screws, and castings for ships.

432. Iron wire n.o.e., including fencing-wire, plain and barbed.

433. Lead, in pigs and bars.

434. Locomotives.

435. Machine saws.

436. Machinery exclusively for the purpose of the manufacture of beet-root sugar.

437. Machinery for dairying purposes.

438. Machinery of every description for mining purposes, including machine pumps, but not including machinery for dredging.

439. Machinery for gold-saving purposes and processes.

440. Metal fittings for trunks, portmanteaux, travelling-bags, leggings, bags, and satchels.

441. Metal sheaves for blocks.

442. Metallic capsules.

443. Perambulators and the like vehicles, fittings for, n.o.e.

444. Perforated or cellular sheet zinc or iron.

445. Portable engines on four or any greater number of wheels, with boiler of locomotive type; also traction-engines.

446. Printing type and materials n.o.e.

447. Rails for railways and tramways.*

* See preferential tariff, p. 101.

448. Reapers and binders, and reaping and mowing machines, and extra parts for same; materials for manufacturing agricultural machinery, namely, reaper-knife sections, fingers, brass and steel springs, malleable castings, discs for harrows, mould-boards and plough-shares, mould-board plates, and steel-share plates cut to pattern, skeith-plates; ploughs and harrows' combined threshers.

449. Riddles and sieves.

450. Rivets and washers.

451. Separators and coolers for dairying purposes.

452. Set-screws, engineers' studs, and split-pins.

453. Sewing-, knitting-, and kilting machines.

454. Spiral springs (except sofa- and mattress-springs).

455. Steam and hydraulic pressure and vacuum gauges.

456. Steel rams, black or finished, for hydraulic cranes or jiggers.

457. Surveyors' steel bands and measuring-tapes.

458. Swords.

459. Tacks of all kinds.

460. Tea-packing lead.

461. Tin, in pigs, bars, or sheets.

462. Tinsmiths' fittings, including stamped or blocked tin, planished or unplanished.

463. Tins, tops of, ornamented.

464. Welded and flanged boiler-furnaces, plain or corrugated.

465. Wire, of brass, copper, or lead.

466. Zinc, plain sheet.

467. Zinc plates and copper plates for photo-lithographic work.

CLASS XIII.—TIMBER, ETC.

468. Ash, hickory, and lancewood timber, unwrought.

469. Blacksmiths' bellows.

470. Brush wood ware.

471. Carriage- and cart-shafts, spokes and felloes in the rough; hubs, of all kinds; poles if unbent and unplaned, of all kinds; bent wheel-rims.

472. Carriage- and cart-makers' materials—viz.: springs, mountings, trimmings, brass hinges, tire-bolts, shackle-holders, step treads, and other iron fittings (except steps, lamp-irons, dash-irons, seat-rails, and fifth wheels), rubber-cloth.

473. Churns.

474. Lignum-vitæ.

475. Sieves, hair.

476. Wooden handles for tools.

CLASS XIV.—OILS, ETC.

477. Benzine in bulk.

478. Oils—viz.: candlenut, fish, kerosene, penguin, palm, seal, whale.

479. Paints and colours n.o.e.

480. Shale oil, once run, suitable for gas-making.

481. Spirits of tar.

482. Turpentine, driers, and terebene.

CLASS XV.—MISCELLANEOUS.

483. Apparatus and appliances solely for teaching purposes, as may be approved by the Commissioner.

484. Bags made of New Zealand tow or flax.

485. Belting for machinery, other than leather.

486. Binder-twine.

487. Bricks, other than fire-bricks.

488. Building materials n.o.e.

489. Brushes for cream-separators and combined screens.

490. Candlenuts and candlenut kernels.

491. Candle-wick.

492. Canvas aprons and elevators for reapers and binders.

493. Carpenters' baskets.

494. Charts and maps.

495. Confectioners' moulding-starch.

496. Cotton waste.

497. Dye-stuffs and dyeing materials, crude.

498. Felt sheathing.

499. Food preservative n.o.e.

500. Gum boots.*

* If of foreign manufacture subject to duty, see p. 101.

501. Hawsers of 12 in. and over.

502. Honey and brown Windsor soap composition.

503. Iron and steel cordage.*

504. Jute bagging, bags, and sacks.

505. Manures.

506. Marble, and other stone, hewn or rough sawn, not dressed or polished.

507. Netmakers' cotton twine.

508. Official supplies for consular officers of countries where a similar exemption exists in favour of British Consuls.

509. Papermakers' felts.

510. Passengers' baggage and effects, including only wearing-apparel and other personal effects that have been worn or are in use by persons arriving in the colony; also implements, instruments, and tools of trade, occupation, or employment of such persons; and household or other effects not exceeding £100 in value, which have been in use for twelve months prior to embarkation by the persons or families bringing them to the colony, and not intended for any other person or persons or for sale; also cabin-furnishings belonging to such persons.

† Including bicycles which have been in use for twelve months.

511. Plaster of Paris.

512. Powder, blasting and meal.

513. Ship-chandlery n.o.e.

514. Ships' rockets, blue-lights, and danger-signals.

515. Stones, mill- grind-oil- and whet-.

516. Tobacco for sheepwash or for insecticide, after being rendered unfit for human consumption to the satisfaction of the Commissioner.

517. Treacle or molasses, mixed with bone-black in proportions to the satisfaction of the Commissioner.

518. Tubular woven cotton-cloth in the piece, for meat wraps.

519. Type-writers.

520. Wax, bottling.

521. Woolpacks and woolpockets.

522. Yarn—viz.: coir, flax, hemp.

523. Articles and materials (as may from time to time be specified by the Commissioner) which are suited only for, and are to be used solely in, the fabrication of goods within the colony. All decisions of the Commissioner in reference to articles so admitted free to be published from time to time in the Gazette.

524. And all articles not otherwise enumerated.

TABLE OF EXCISE DUTIES.

525. Tobacco, 1s. the lb.*

526. Cigars, cigarettes, and snuff, 1s. 6d. the lb.*

* “The Tobacco Excise Duties Act, 1896,” section 2, enacts:—

“On and after the thirty-first day of December, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-six, section three of “The Customs and Excise Duties Act, 1831,' shall be deemed to be repealed, and in lieu of the duties imposed by that section there shall be levied, collected, and paid, on and after that day, upon tobacco manufactured in the colony, at the time of making the entry for home consumption thereof, the several duties of excise following, that is to say —

On tobaccoOne shilling the pound.
On cigars and snuffOne shilling and sixpence the pound.
On cigarettes—
If manufactured by machineryTwo shillings and sixpence the pound.
If made by handOne shilling the pound.”

527. Beer, 3d. the gallon.

528. Articles in which spirit is a necessary ingredient, manufactured in a warehouse appointed under section 26 of “The Customs Laws Consolidation Act, 1882,” namely—

Pharmacopœia tinctures, essences, extracts, and medicinal spirits containing more than 50 per cent. of proof spirit, 9d. the lb.

Pharmacopœia tinctures, essences, extracts, and medicinal spirits containing less than 50 per cent. of proof spirit, 3d. the lb.

Culinary and flavouring essences, 12s. the liquid gallon, from 1st February, 1896.

Perfumed spirit, 20s. the liquid gallon, from 1st February, 1896.

Toilet preparations which are subject to 16s. the liquid gallon on importation, 12s. the liquid gallon.

Toilet preparations which are subject to 25 per cent. duty on importation, 6s. the liquid gallon.

Duties imposed by His Excellency the Governor under Section 17 of “The Customs and Excise Duties Act, 1888.”

529. Olive stones, ground (see New Zealand Gazette, 15th May, 1890), 4d. the lb.

530. Brewers' caramel (see New Zealand Gazette, 21st August, 1890), 3d. the lb.

531. Liquid hops (see New Zealand Gazette, 21st December, 1893), 6s. the lb.

532. The United Asbestos Patent Salamander Decorations (see New Zealand Gazette, 11th May, 1896), 15 per cent. ad valorem.

533. Matches of any material other than wood or wax, a duty corresponding to the duty payable on wooden matches (see New Zealand Gazette, 27th April, 1899).

534. Fibre conduit pipes and fittings for same (see New Zealand Gazette, 4th May, 1899), 5 per cent. ad valorem.

535. Caramel cereal (see New Zealand Gazette, 14th March, 1901), 1/2d. the lb.

536. Compo-board (see New Zealand Gazette, 12th December, 1901), 4s. the 100 ft. super.

The “Opium Prohibition Act, 1901,” makes it unlawful for any person to import opium into the colony in any form suitable for smoking. Permits may be issued by the Commissioner of Trade and Customs for the importation of the drug in the following forms:—

Opium, crude.
Opium, in powder.
Opium, extract of, solid.

No permit shall be issued to any person of the Chinese race. Heavy penalties are prescribed for breaches of the above law.

“The Opium Prohibition Act Amendment Act, 1902,” makes it illegal to have opium in possession, except the kinds stated above, which can be held under permit.

“The Timber Export Act, 1901,” authorised the collection, by Order in Council, of the following duties :—

SCHEDULE.
Logs, round3s. per
100 superficial
feet.
Or such lesser duty as the Governor by Order in Council determines.
Legs, squared with axe or saw
Half logs
Flitches of any particular kind, or pieces of such size as the Governor by Order in Council from time to time determines3s. per
100 superficial
feet
Or such lesser duty as the Governor by Order in Council determines.

An Order in Council dated the 27th March, 1902, directs that there shall be levied, collected, and paid previous to exportation from New Zealand, duties upon white pine and kahikatea timber as under :—

Logs, round3s. per 100 superficial feet.
Logs, cut in half3s. per 100 superficial feet.
Logs, squared with axe or saw, 10 in. by 10 in. or its equivalent, or over3s. per 100 superficial feet.
Flitches, any width, and not exceeding 10 in. thick,2s. per 100 superficial feet.

A further Order in Council, dated 10th April, 1902, directs that duties on kauri timber shall be charged as under :—

Logs, round3s. per 100 superficial feet.
Logs, cut in half3s. per 100 superficial feet.
Logs, squared with axe or saw3s. per 100 superficial feet.
Flitches, exceeding 30 in. in width and 9 in. in thickness2s. per 100 superficial feet.

“The Timber Export Duty Act, 1903,” forms part of and is to be read with “The Timber Export Act, 1901.” The following duties may, by Order in Council,* be substituted for those in the Schedule to the last-named statute :—

* No order yet issued

SCHEDULE.
Logs, round5s. per 100 superficial feetOr such lesser duty as the Governor by Order in Council determines.
Logs, squared with axe or saw
Half logs
Flitches of any particular kind, or pieces of such size as the Governor by Order in Council from time to time determines3s. per 100 superficial feetOr such lesser duty as the Governor by Order in Council determines.

Chapter 28. “THE PREFERENTIAL AND RECIPROCAL TRADE ACT, 1903.”

THE above Act forms part of and is to be read together with “The Customs Law Consolidation Act, 1882.” Certain goods (enumerated in these Schedules) imported into New Zealand, not being the produce or manufacture of some part of the British dominions, are to be subject to duty or extra duties as set forth hereunder:—

ARTICLE NAMED IN FIRST SCHEDULE.

(An additional duty equal to the amount payable under any tariff for the time being in force in New Zealand.)

Cement.

ARTICLES NAMED IN SECOND SCHEDULE.

(An additional duty equal to one-half of the amount payable under any tariff for the time being in force.)

Basket- and wicker-ware, n.o.e., not being furniture.

Bicycles, tricycles, and the like vehicles; also finished or partly finished or machined parts of same, n.o.e., including weldless steel tubing cut to short lengths.

Boots, shoes, and slippers, n.o.e.; goloshes, clogs, pattens, vamps, uppers, and laces.

Candles.

Carriages, carts, drays, wagons, and perambulators, and wheels for same.

China, porcelain, and parian ware.

Clocks.

Cordage and rope, n.o.e.

Cream of tartar.

Earthenware, stoneware, and brownware.

Fancy goods and toys.

Firearms, all kinds.

Fish, potted and preserved.

Furniture and cabinetware, n.o.e., and other than iron.

Glass, crown, sheet, and common window.

Glassware; also plate-glass, and glass polished, coloured, and other kinds, n.o.e.; globes and chimneys for lamps.

Hardware, ironmongery, and holloware.

Hops.

Iron nails.

Iron pipes, and fittings for same, including main-cocks.

Lamps, lanterns, and lamp-wick.

Musical instruments—viz., pianos.

Paper-hangings.

Paper, wrapping—viz., blue candle, glazed cap, glazed casings, small hand, lumber hand, and tissue.

Paper, wrapping, other kinds, including brown, cartridge, and sugar papers.

Plate and plated-ware.

Pumps and other apparatus for raising water.

ARTICLES NAMED IN THIRD SCHEDULE.

(Duties equal to 20 per centum of the value for duty as defined by the principal Act, or by any Act amending the principal Act.)

Bicycles and tricycles, fittings for—viz., rubber tires, pneumatic tires, outside covers, and inner tubes; rubber and cork handles, and pedal-rubbers; also drop-forgings and stampings, ball-bearings, weldless steel tube in full lengths, rims, forks, and spokes in the rough.

Gas engines and hammers, and oil engines.

Gum boots.

Iron and steel cordage.

Iron, plain black sheet, rod, bolt, bar, and plate.

Printing paper.*

* No duty as above described is to be levied on printing papers imported by and for the use of the proprietors of any registered newspaper, if it is proved to the satisfaction of the Collector that they are imported under a valid contract for the supply of such papers for a period not exceeding three years, entered into prior to the 16th November, 1903.

Rails for railways and tramways.

† No preferential duty will be levied on rails for tramways and other goods mentioned in the above Schedules directly imported before 31st March, 1906, for use in the construction or equipment of any tramway for which plans and specifications have been completed or are in course of preparation on the passing of the Act.

Sailcloth, canvas, and unbleached double-warped duck.

Surgical and dental instruments and appliances.

The Act also provides that from and after the 31st March, 1904, no duty shall be leviable on tea grown in any part of the British dominions, except on tea in packets not exceeding one pound in weight.

[The main features of the Act, including its provisions as to reciprocity of trade, will be found described in Part III. of this volume.]

Chapter 29. FEES PAYABLE UNDER LAND TRANSFER ACT.

FEES PAYABLE TO DISTRICT LAND REGISTRARS UNDER “THE LAND TRANSFER ACT, 1885.”

 £s.d.
For the bringing land under the provisions of this Act (over and above the cost of advertisements)—
When the title consists of a Crown grant, and none of the land included therein has been dealt with020
When the title is of any other description and the value exceeds £300100
When the title is of any other description and the value exceeds £200 and does not exceed £3000150
When the title is of any other description and the value exceeds £100 and does not exceed £2000100
When the title is of any other description and when the value does not exceed £100050
Contribution to the Assurance Fund upon first bringing land under the Act,—
In the pound sterling00
Other fees—
For every application to bring land under the Act050
For every certificate of title on transfer where the consideration does not exceed £100010 
For every other certificate of title10 
Registering memorandum of transfer, mortgage, incumbrance, or lease0100
Registering transfer or discharge of mortgage or of incumbrance, or the transfer or surrender of a lease050
Registering proprietor of any estate or interest derived by settlement or transmission0100
For every power of attorney deposited0100
For every registration abstract100
For cancelling registration abstract050
For every revocation order0100
Noting caveat0100
Cancelling or withdrawal of caveat, and for every notice relating to any caveat050
For every search020
For every general search050
For every map or plan deposited050
For every instrument declaratory of trusts, and for every will or other instrument deposited0100
For registering recovery by proceeding in law or equity or re-entry by lessee0100
For registering vesting of lease in mortgagee, consequent on refusal of Trustee in Bankruptcy to accept the same0100
For entering notice of marriage or death0100
For entering notice of writ or order of Supreme Court0100
Taking affidavit or statutory declaration050
For the exhibition of any deposited instrument, or for exhibiting deeds surrendered by applicant proprietor050
For certified copy, not exceeding five folios050
For every folio or part folio after first five006
For every notice to produce deeds or instruments050
For every outstanding interest noted on certificate of title050
When any instrument purports to deal with land included in more than one grant or certificate, for each registration memorial after the first020

Regulations.

All fees under the Act shall be due and payable in advance.

Where several properties are included in one form of application, there shall be charged in respect of each property an application fee, and a fee for bringing the land under the Act. Land included within one outer boundary shall be deemed one property for the purpose of this regulation.

In all cases a fee of one pound (£1) is hereby prescribed as the charge to be made for advertising notice of application; provided that, whenever it is necessary that unusual publicity shall be given to any application, the District Land Registrar may require payment of such additional sum as shall, in his judgment, be sufficient to defray the cost of such advertisements.

In all cases where application is made to bring land under the Act, and the certificate of title is directed to issue and is issued in the name of the applicant, the fees for bringing such land under the Act, with the exception of the “application fee,” may, at the request of the applicant, remain unpaid until such land is dealt with by him as registered proprietor. The District Land Registrar shall retain any such certificate of title until the fees due upon the same have been paid, and, until such payment, shall not register any dealing with the land included in such certificate of title.

Printed forms supplied by the Registrar for use under the Act shall be charged for at the rate of one shilling each. Solicitors, land-brokers, and others having forms printed for their own use, and at their own expense, shall, on approval of such forms by the Registrar, be entitled to have the same sealed free of charge.

Chapter 30. DUTIES ON ESTATES OF DECEASED PERSONS

By the Amendment Act of 1885 the Schedule of Duties payable under the principal Act of 1881 has been repealed, and the following imposed in lieu thereof:—

1. When the value does not exceed £100No duty.
2. Upon any amount exceeding £100 but not exceeding £1,000—
On the first £100No duty.
And on the remainder£2 1/2 per cent.
3. Upon any amount exceeding £1.000 but not exceeding £5,000£3 1/2 per cent.
4. Upon any amount exceeding £5,000, but not exceeding, £20,000£7 per cent.
Upon £20,000 and any amount over that sum£10 per cent.
Strangers in blood, excepting adopted children£3 per cent. additional.

These duties are leviable upon the final balance of the real and personal estates.

The exemption in respect of property passing absolutely to widow at death of husband is now extended vice versâ.

There are also special provisions in the law affecting children, grandchildren, step-children, and adopted children inheriting property.

The above duties also apply to deeds of gift.

PART II.—STATISTICAL.

Table of Contents

Chapter 31. SECTION I.—POPULATION.

THE population of New Zealand, as estimated for the 31st December, 1903, with the increase for the year, is shown below :—

 Persons.Males.Females
Estimated population, exclusive of Maoris (also Cook and other annexed Islands), on 31st December, 1902807,929425,908382,021
Increase during the year 1903 :—
By excess of births over deaths13,3016,2707,031
Excess of arrivals over departures11,2757,4963,779
Estimated population (exclusive of Maoris, also Cook and other annexed Islands), on 31st December, 1903832,505439,674392,831
Maori population, census, 190143,14323,11220,031
Population of Cook and other Pacific Islands12,2926,3695,923
Total estimated population of colony (including Maoris, also Cook and other Islands on 31st December, 1903887,940469,155418,785

The number of the Chinese in New Zealand at the end of the year 1903 was estimated to be 2,762 persons, of whom 31 were females.

Details showing the distribution of the Maori population and also of the Cook and other annexed Pacific Islands follow; but the figures in the succeeding portions of this section exclude these special features.

TOTAL NUMBER OF MAORIS IN EACH COUNTY.

[Further particulars as to sex, age, &c., will be found in the Year-book for 1903, in the section specially dealing with the Native population.]

Counties.Persons.
Mongonui2,093
Whangaroa743
Hokianga2,330
Bay of Islands2,235
Hobson984
Whangarei739
Otamatea186
Rodney173
Waitemata171
Eden223
Great Barrier Island37
Waiheke Island70
Manukau734
Coromandel565
Thames774
Ohinemuri630
Piako409
Waikato983
Waipa226
Raglan1,499
Kawhia1,649
West Taupo1,130
East Taupo651
Rotorua971
Tauranga1,301
Whakatane3,170
Waiapu2,474
Cook1,803
Clifton420
Taranaki1,020
Stratford43
Hawera853
Patea274
Waitotara and Wanganui1,689
Rangitikei459
Oroua433
Pohangina3
Manawatu232
Horowhenua1,035
Wairoa1,991
Hawke's Bay1,605
Waipawa403
Patangata181
Pahiatua24
Wairarapa North337
Wairarapa South476
Hutt264
Sounds263
Marlborough79
Kaikoura78
Collingwood22
Waimea107
Buller23
Westland60
Ashley188
Selwyn56
Akaroa293
Levels and Geraldine134
Waimate65
Waitaki117
Waikouaiti168
Peninsula92
Taieri42
Clutha22
Southland2
Wallace98
Stewart Island112
Chatham Islands211

POPULATION OF COOK AND OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDS RECENTLY INCLUDED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE COLONY.

 Persons.

* Results of census taken in 1902.

(a) Birthplaces.—Rarotonga, 1,517; Mangaia, 206; Aitutaki, 58; Mauke, 16: Atiu, 37;
Mitiaro, 11; Society Islands, 73; other Pacific Islands, 58; United Kingdom, 30; America, 11;
New Zealand, 21; China, 7; Germany, 5; Portugal, 5; Australia, 3 Jamaica, 1; New Guinea, 1.

(b) Birthplaces.—Atiu, 913; Rarotonga, 3; Austria, 1; China, 1.

(c) Not including 149 natives absent in ships or at the guano islands,

(d) Whites and half-castes living as whites, 28 persons; absent in ships or at Tonga, 418 persons.

(e) Birthplaces.—Palmerston atoll, 100; Manahiki, 10; Penrhyn, 3; Pukapuka, 1; Society Islands, 1.

(f) Birthplaces—Penrhyn, 342; Cook Islands, 25; Society Islands, 61; Arorai, 2; United Kingdom, 8; other places, 4.

(g) Birthplaces.—Manahiki, 469; Pukapuka, 11; Society Islands, 2; England, 2.

Rarotonga*2,060(a)
Mangaia1,541
Atiu*918(b)
Aitutaki*1,170(C)
Mauke (or Parry Island)370
Mitiaro165
Hervey Islands10
Total Cook group6,234
Niue (or Savage Island)*4,079(d).
Palmerston*115(e)
Penrhyn (or Tongareva)*445(f)
Manahiki*484(g)
Rakaanga400
Danger (or Pukapuka)505
Suwarrow30
Total other Islands6,058
Total population of annexed Pacific Islands12,292

INCREASE OF POPULATION (EXCLUSIVE OF MAORIS AND ANNEXED PACIFIC ISLANDS).

The increase for each quarter of the year 1903 was :—

Increase from:Total.Males.Females.
First Quarter.
Excess of births over deaths3,1071,4721,635
Excess of arrivals over departures3,8143,111703
 6,9214,5832,338
Second Quarter.
Excess of births over deaths3,1981,5121,686
Excess of arrivals over departures796585211
 3,9942,0971,897
Third Quarter.
Excess of births over deaths3,1891,4641,725
Excess of arrivals over departures1,466785681
 4,6552,2492,406
Fourth Quarter.
Excess of births over deaths3,8071,8221,985
Excess of arrivals over departures5,1993,0152,184
 9,0064,8374,169
Year 1903.
Excess of births over deaths13,3016,2707,031
Excess of arrivals over departures11,2757,4963,779
 24,57613,76610,810

As to the increase of arrivals over departures, it will be seen that the December quarter is by far the largest proportion of the four (5,199 persons). The March quarter comes next with 3,814 persons, while the June and September quarters yield but small numbers. The increase by births over deaths is also greatest in the December quarter, the numbers for the others being nearly equal.

The movement of population since 1885 is given in the next table. Although the large increase in 1893 by excess of arrivals over departures was not maintained during the nine following years, the arrivals in the colony nevertheless exceeded the departures in each of these years, and the total excess of arrivals for the twelve-year period 1892-1903 inclusive is found to be 54,945 persons, drawn from other colonies or countries.

The excess of arrivals in the colony during the year 1903 over the departures will be seen from the table to have been greater than that shown for 1902. For 1901, the figures are 6,522; for 1902, 7,992; while for 1903, the number is 11,275. Comparing these results with those for 1900, when the excess of arrivals was only 1,831, it shows an annual progressively increasing population coming from abroad.

In three years New Zealand has drawn 25,789 persons, mostly from Australia and the Home country, after deducting from the total arrivals all those who departed outwards.

So far as can be ascertained the United Kingdom only furnished 5,144 of the above large number added to New Zealand for the three years, while Australia shows as contributing 21,510, partly in consequence of the great depression on account of the drought. But the full number from the United Kingdom is not ascertainable, and Australia is credited with more than the actual fact. The figures for other places show a loss to New Zealand of 865 persons.

Year.Estimated Population on the 31st December.Increase during the YearCentesimal Increase on Population of Previous Year.
By Excess of Births over Deaths.By Excess of Arrivals over Departures.*Net Increase.

* Corrected where necessary in accordance with census results. The amount of loss by departures in the period 18-6-91, though correct in the aggregate, cannot be allocated with exactness to the respective years.

† Loss.

1885575,17213,612—2,74410,8681.93
1886589,38613,164-17,19458,88610.24
1887603,36112,998
1888607,38013,194
1889616,05212,685
1890625,50812,284
1891634,05811,755
1892650,43311,4174,95816,3752.58
1893672,26511,42010,41221,8323.36
1894686,12811,6102,25313,8632.06
1895698,70611,68389512,5781.83
1896714,16212,1801,47213,6521.95
1897729,05612,1422,75214,8942.09
1898743,46311,7112,69614,4071.98
1899756,50511,1551,88713,0421.75
1900768,27812,3461,83114,1771.87
1901787,65712,8576,52219,3792.52
1902807,92912,2807,99220,2722.57
1903832,50513,30111,27524,5763.04

The net gain to this country for 1903 appears as 1,756 persons from United Kingdom, and 9,949 from Australia, while 430 represents the net loss to other places. But here again the gain from Australia is given somewhat too high, and that from the Home country too low.

Still, to absorb the greater part of ten thousand persons from Australia in one year, no matter from what causes—prosperity here and reverses there—is an excellent result, not nearly approached in any previous year since 1893, the time of financial panic on the Continent, when New Zealand took 9,074 persons by way of net gain.

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES DURING 1903.

The number of persons who arrived in the colony in the year 1903 was 30,883, an increase of 590 on the number for the previous year. Of the arrivals in 1903, 27,231 persons were classified as adults, being above the age of twelve years, and 3,652 as children. The total number of males was 20,479 and of females 10,404. The arrivals from the United Kingdom numbered 3,547, and from Australia 25,888. Besides these, 476 persons came from Fiji, and 972 from the South Seas and other ports, including arrivals by mail-steamers from San Francisco.

Classified in respect of birthplace, it is found that 8,161 of the arrivals were persons born in Australasia, 21,105 in the United Kingdom, and 33 in other British possessions. Of 1,584 persons born in foreign countries who arrived during 1903, 190 were born in Germany, 516 in Austria, 143 in France, 221 in the United States, 75 in Denmark, 60 in Sweden, 51 in Norway, 20 in Greece, 82 in Italy, 20 in Switzerland, 24 in Russia, 3 in Belgium, 3 in Spain, and 176 in other countries (China, Japan, Pacific Islands, Syria, and Asia Minor).

Among the arrivals in 1903, are noticed 166 “race-aliens,” or persons of other than European descent. Particulars of birthplace and sex are as under :—

Birthplace.M.F.Total.
Asia Minor718
China1320132
Syria7512
Turkey303
Fiji101
India101
Japan80 
United States101
Total1606166

The practice of nominating immigrants to be brought out partly at the Government expense has been discontinued since the 16th December, 1890, and there was no free immigration in the year 1903. Certain reductions in fares are, however, arranged by the Agent-General with the shipping companies for men with moderate means who intend to take up land and settle in the colony, and the sum of £1,000 was voted by Parliament in 1903 for assistance by way of reduced fares for passages of intending settlers to the colony.

One hundred and thirty-two Chinese (all men) arrived in the colony during 1903, and 124 (all men) left, the arrivals thus exceeding the departures by 8.

The total departures in 1903 were 19,608 persons, being 2,693 less than in 1901. Thus, the movement of population to the colony is found to have been greater, and that from the colony less, than in the previous year.

The departures from the colony by the Union Steamship Company's boats, as given through the Customs Department, are checked by special returns kindly furnished by the pursers of the steamers, and, where persons who did not book their passages have been omitted, the necessary additions are made. The pursers' returns also serve to prevent the occasional omission of the full number of persons leaving by any one vessel, which sometimes had happened previous to the introduction of this check. Unless more passengers are at any time of great pressure taken away from New Zealand than can lawfully be carried, the returns of outgo of population should prove fairly correct, and indeed the last census shows that the estimated population even after five years' interval was a very close approximation to the truth.

Of the departures in 1903, 18,089 persons were over twelve years of age, and 1,519 children. Nearly twice as many males left the colony as females, the numbers being 12,983 and 6,825 respectively. The departures to the United Kingdom amounted to 1,791 persons, and those to Australia numbered 15,939. Besides these, 524 persons left for Fiji, and 1,354 for other ports (including passengers for San Francisco).

In 1891 the colony lost population by excess of departures over arrivals, but in each of the years 1892 to 1903, inclusive, New Zealand has drawn to itself more population than it has parted with.

CENSUS, 1901.

The population of the colony (exclusive of Maoris), as returned in the census schedules for the night of the 31st March, 1901, was 772,719 persons, of whom 2,857 were Chinese, and 2,407 half-castes living amongst and as Europeans.

A census of the Maori population was taken during February of 1901, when, according to returns made by the enumerators, the number of the Native race was found to be 43,143 persons, including 3,133 half-castes living as Maoris. 196 Maori women were returned as married to European husbands. The complete population (European and Maori) of the colony was therefore 815,862 persons, as exhibited in the following statement, specifying the numbers for each sex :—

 Persons.Males.Females.

* Not including 352 persons, officers and crews of two British men-of-war.

Population (exclusive of persons of the aboriginal native race, of mixed European and Native blood, and Chinese)767,455401,979365,476
Half-castes and persons of mixed race living as and among Europeans2,4071,1881,219
Chinese2,8572,82532
Aboriginal natives (including 196 Maori wives of Europeans)40,01021,41818,592
Half-castes and persons of mixed race living among and as members of Maori tribes3,1331,6941,439
Total population on 31st March, 1901*815,862429,104386,758

The total half-caste or mixed European and Native population was 5,540 persons. The number of half-castes living among Europeans increased since 1896 by 148, or at the rate of 6.55 per cent. In that year the number of Maori wives of Europeans was 229; in 1901 it was 196. The Chinese decreased from 3,711 at the time of the census of 1896 to 2,857 in March, 1901; or at the rate of 23.01 per cent., caused mainly by the excess of departures over arrivals.

The Maori population fell from 41,993 in 1891 to 39,854 in 189 and increased to 43,143 in 1901, according to the returns.

The increase on the total European population between April, 1896, and 31st March, 1901, amounted to 69,359 persons, or a rate of 9.86 per cent. Between the census of 1891 and that of 1896 the numerical increase was 76,702 persons, or 12.24 per cent. The average annual increase in the period 1896-1901 was at the rate of 1.90 per cent.

The population of the principal divisions of the colony on 31st March, 1901, was—

 Persons.Males.Females.
North Island and adjacent islets (exclusive of Maoris)390,571206,606183,965
Middle Island and adjacent islets (exclusive of Maoris)381,661199,103182,558
Stewart Island272166106
Chatham Islands (exclusive of Maoris)20711295
Kermadec Islands853
Total for the colony (exclusive of Maoris)772,719405,992366,727

PROPORTION OF THE SEXES AND DENSITY OF POPULATION.

The gradual equalization of the numbers of the sexes and growing density of population and dwellings in the colony are alluded to in a further table.

Date of Enumeration.Number of Females to 100 Males.Number of Persons to a Square Mile.Number of Persons to an Inhabited Dwelling.Number of Inhabited Dwellings to a Square Mile.
December, 186162.160.9444.420.214
February, 187170.522.4564.480.548
April, 188181.724.6935.120.917
April, 189188.266.0245.061.191
March, 190190.337.4274.861.527

INCREASE OF POPULATION AT SUCCESSIVE CENSUSES.

The increase of population of European descent at successive census periods has been :—

Date of Enumeration.Population. Persons.Numerical Increase. Persons.Centesimal Increase.
December, 185859,41339,60839.99
December, 186199,02173,13773.86
December, 1864172,15846,51027.01
December, 1867218,66837,72517.25
February, 1871256,39343,12116.82
March, 1874299,514114,89838.36
March, 1878414,41275,52118.22
April, 1881489,93388,54918.07
March, 1886578,48248,1768.33
April, 1891626,65876,70212.24
April, 1896703,36069,3599.86
March, 1901772,719  

POPULATIONS OF PROVINCIAL DISTRICTS.

These are stated as in March, 1901, and at the previous census. Taranaki stands first for rate of progress with an increase of 21.42 per cent. in five years, Wellington comes next with 16 per cent., Auckland third with 14.57, Marlborough and Nelson have increased from 6 to 7 per cent., Canterbury and Otago somewhat over 5 per cent.

Provincial Districts.Population, April, 1896.Population, March, 1901.Increase.
Persons.Persons.Numerical. Persons.Centesimal.
Auckland153,564175,93822,37414.57
Taranaki31,17537,8556,68021.42
Hawke's Bay34,03835,4241,3864.07
Wellington121,854141,35419,50016.00
Marlborough12,48313,3268436.75
Nelson35,73437,9152,1816.10
Westland14,46914,506370.26
Canterbury135,858143,0417,1835.29
Otago163,944173,1459,2015.61
Chatham Islands234207-27-11.54
Kermadec Islands78114.28
Totals703,360772,71969,3599.86
(—) Decrease.

POPULATION OF COUNTIES AND BOROUGHS.

New Zealand is, by “The Counties Act, 1876,” divided into counties and boroughs, excepting certain outlying islands, which are not within county boundaries. It is provided by the above-mentioned Act that boroughs shall not be included in counties. In March, 1901, the number of the counties was 86. Of these, the North Island had 52, with a population amounting altogether to 216,725 persons. The Middle Island had 33 counties, the population being 200,618 persons. Stewart Island is a county in itself, and had a population of 253 persons, exclusive of persons on shipboard. The names and populations of the various counties in the colony, with their interior boroughs set opposite, were as under at the date of the enumeration :—

Counties.Census, 1901.Boroughs.Census, 1901.

* Since reduced by creation of Waihi Borough.

† Since reduced by creation of Awakino County.

* Since reduced by creation of Egmont County, and Inglewood and Eltham Boroughs.

† Since reduced by creation of Kairanga County.

‡ Since reduced by creation of Woodville County.

§ Boundaries since altered.

Since reduced by creation of Featherston County.

Since reduced by creation of Takaka County.

** Since merged in Wellington.

†† Since merged in Christchurch.

* Since reduced by creation of Mount Herbert County.

† Boundaries since altered. [Chatham Islands, with a population of 207 at time of census of 1901, has since been created a county.]

Mongonui2,274  
  On shipboard18  
Whangaroa927  
Hokianga1,767  
  On shipboard22  
Bay of Islands2,587  
  On shipboard26  
Hobson4,813  
  On shipboard163  
Whangarei6,380Whangarei1,429
  On shipboard31  
Otamatea2,721  
Rodney3,678  
  On shipboard17  
Waitemata7,035Birkenhead1,057
  On shipboard27Devonport3,823
    On shipboard1
Eden19,314Grey Lynn4,110
  Auckland34,213
    On shipboard874
  Parnell4,566
  Newmarket2,060
    Onehunga3,015
    On shipboard47
Manukau12,306  
Coromandel4,169  
  On shipboard14  
Thames5,043Thames4,009
  On shipboard8On shipboard11
*Ohinemuri9,978  
  On shipboard50  
Piako2,436Te Aroha888
Waikato3,183Hamilton1,253
Waipa3,580Cambridge980
Raglan1,697  
Kawhia1,113  
  On shipboard1  
West Taupo287  
East Taupo256  
Rotorua1,307  
Tauranga1,720Tauranga945
....  On shipboard1
Whakatane779  
Opotiki1,438  
  On shipboard5  
Waiapu711  
Cook6,393Gisborne2,737
    On shipboard58
Wairoa1,773  
Hawke's Bay6,833Napier8,774
    On shipboard241
  Hastings3,650
Clifton2,535  
*Taranaki11,194New Plymouth4,405
  On shipboard92....
Stratford5,081Stratford2,027
Hawera8,347Hawera2,131
Patea3,046Patea691
Waitotara3,476Wanganui7,329
    On shipboard5
Wanganui4,018  
Rangitikei7,570Martou1,101
Kiwitea2,844  
Oroua6,778Feilding2,298
  Palmerston North6,534
Pohangina1,536  
Manawatu3,000Foxton1,211
Horowhenu4,654  
Waipawa9,495Dannevirke2,315
  Woodville926
Patangata2,376  
Pahiatua3,600Pahiatua1,209
§Akitio1,048  
§Castlepoint457  
§Eketahuna2,332  
§Mauriceville1,127  
§Masterton3,123Masterton3,949
South Wairarapa5,419Carterton1,205
  Greytown1,122
Hutt7,171Wellington43,638
    On shipboard332
  Onslow1,499
  **Melrose2,995
  Petone3,780
  Lower Hutt1,823
  Karori1,212
Sounds946  
On shipboard2  
Marlborough6,518Blenheim3,222
  Picton875
  On shipboard95
Kaikoura1,765  
Collingwood2,490  
On shipboard23  
Waimea7,833Motueka886
On shipboard3Richmond543
  Nelson7,010
  On shipboard157
Buller4,868Westport2,922
  Onshipboard4  Onshipboard236
Inangahua4,595  
Grey4,971Brunner1,572
  Greymouth3,748
    Onshipboard89
Westland4,405Hokitika1,946
    Onshipboard5
  Kumara1,121
  Ross614
Amuri1,142  
Cheviot1,120  
§Ashley11,599Kaiapoi1,795
  Rangiora1,768
§Selwyn30,787Lyttelton4,023
    Onshipboard321
  Christchurch17,538
  New Brighton1,008
  ††Sydenham11,404
  ††St. Albans6,607
  ††Linwood6,737
  Woolston2,532
  Sumner844
*Akaroa3,669Akaroa559
    Onshipboard5
Ashburton11,342Ashburton2,322
Geraldine5,991Temuka1,465
Levels5,496Timaru6,424
    Onshipboard62
Mackenzie1,642  
Waimate5,653Waimate1,359
Waitaki9,086Oamaru4,836
    Onshipboard17
  Hampden331
Waihemo2,014Palmerston South738
Waikouaiti4,082Hawksbury690
  Port Chalmers2,056
    Onshipboard149
  North-east Valley3,527
  Maori Hill1,550
  West Harbour1,465
Peninsula2,561  
Taieri7,179Dunedin24,879
    Onshipboard228
  Roslyn4,632
  Mornington4,008
  Caversham5,266
  St. Kilda1,700
  South Dunedin5,363
  Green Island667
  Mosgiel1,463
Bruce4,762Milton1,241
  Kaitangata1,463
Tuapeka6,272Lawrence1,159
  Roxburgh478
  Tapanui350
Clutha6,445Balclutha1,017
Maniototo3,792Naseby505
Vincent4,362Cromwell642
  Alexandra818
Lake2,535Arrowtown410
  Queenstown690
Southland22,583Gore2,354
  Mataura867
  Winton474
  Invercargill6,215
  Invercargill North925
  Invercargill South1,874
  Invercargill East939
  Avenal355
  Gladstone329
  Campbelltown1,350
    Onshipboard303
Wallace7,989Riverton815
Fiord124  
Stewart Island253  
  Onshipboard19  

The total county population amounted to 417,596, or 54.04 per cent. of the total for the colony. In counties are included all towns not constituted municipal boroughs; but, on the other hand, the people living in many of the boroughs can hardly be called town population. The population in boroughs was 350,202 persons, or 45.32 per cent. of the whole. For every 100 persons resident in counties in 1901 there were 84 residing in boroughs. In 1896 the counties had 391,735 persons, and the boroughs 307,294, or, in other words, for every 100 persons in counties, 78 were residents of the boroughs. Thus it will be seen that the proportion of the town to the county population was greater in 1901 than in 1896.

CHIEF CITIES AND SUBURBS.

The Cities of Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin have considerable suburbs. The suburban population of Wellington is comparatively small. The following gives the names and populations of the several localities which may fairly be termed suburbs of the four principal cities :—

SUBURBS OF AUCKLAND.
..Population, Census, 1901.
Boroughs—
  Birkenhead1,057
  Devonport3,823
  Newmarket2,060
  Grey Lynn (Newton)4,110
  Parnell4,566
Road Districts—
  Arch-hill1,671
  Eden Terrace2,011
  Epsom750
  Mount Albert2,085
  Mount Eden5,129
  Mount Roskill581
  One-tree Hill1,283
  Point Chevalier684
  Remuera2,186
Northcote Riding767
Outlying portion of Parnell Riding, being land in the Domain with hospital on it250
Total suburbs33,013
Auckland City34,213
Total Auckland and suburbs67,226
SUBURBS OF WELLINGTON.
 Population, Census, 1901.

* Since merged in Wellington.

Boroughs—
Onslow1,499
*Melrose2,995
Karori1,212
Total suburbs5,706
Wellington City43,638
Total Wellington and suburbs49,344
SUBURBS OF CHRISTCHURCH.
 Population, Census, 1901.

† Since merged in Christchurch.

Boroughs—
*Sydenham11,404
†St. Albans6,607
†Linwood6,737
New Brighton1,008
Woolston2,532
Road Districts—
Spreydon1,457
Halswell (part)156
Riccarton (part)4,371
Avon (part)2,843
Heathcote (part)2,388
Total suburbs39,503
Christchurch City17,538
Total Christchurch and suburbs57,041

In laying off the suburbs of Christchurch the boundaries of the Christchurch Health District have been mainly followed.

SUBURBS OF DUNEDIN.
Boroughs—
Caversham5,266
Maori Hill1,550
Mornington4,008
North-East Valley3,527
Roslyn4,632
St. Kilda1,700
South Dunedin5,363
West Harbour1,465
Total suburbs27,511
Dunedin City24,879
Total Dunedin and suburbs52,390

The increase of population for ten years at the four chief centres, with their suburbs, was :—

 Census, 1891.Census, 1901.Numerical Increase.Increase per Cent.
Auckland and suburbs51,28767,22615,93931.08
Wellington and suburbs34,19049,34415,15444.32
Christchurch and suburbs47,84657,0419,19519.22
Dunedin and suburbs45,86952,3906,52114.22

Thus the two principal cities of the North Island are found to have progressed between 1891 and 1901 at a greater rate than those of the Middle Island, and Wellington in particular to have developed at more than three times the rate of Dunedin, and more than twice as fast as Christchurch.

While New South Wales and Victoria present what is termed by the statistician of the former State “the disquieting spectacle of capital towns growing with wonderful rapidity, and embracing in their limits one-third of the population of the territory of which they are the centre,” New Zealand is saved from this by the configuration of the country, which has resulted in the formation of four chief towns, besides others of secondary importance but nevertheless trading centres of considerable consequence.

POPULATION OF TOWN DISTRICTS AND SMALL CENTRES.

Besides the boroughs, there were 35 town districts (including the special town district of Rotorua, constituted under “The Thermal-Springs Districts Act, 1881,”) which are portions of the counties in which they are situated. One only of these, Hampstead, has more than 1,000 inhabitants. A list of these town districts is subjoined, with populations, as in 1901 :—

Town Districts.Population.

* Constituted under “The Thermal-Springs Districts Act, 1881.”

† Now a municipal borough.

Kamo260
Helensville531
Papakura286
Te Awamutu355
Kihikihi222
Ngaruawahia245
Rotorua*914
Opotiki627
Waitara (Raleigh)765
Opunake466
Inglewood719
Normanby370
Manaia447
Waverley416
Lethbridge230
Bulls501
Halcombe336
Clyde (Wairoa)623
Taradale763
Ormondville459
Waipawa669
Kaikora North268
Featherston629
Johnsonville502
Havelock316
Amberley417
Southbridge396
Hampstead1,118
Tinwald561
Geraldine868
Allanton (formerly Grey)227
Outram420
Clinton431
Wyndham417
Otautau443

In addition to the boroughs and town districts above referred to, the census results showed for 1901 throughout the colony no less than 683 places of the nature of townships, villages, or small centres without boundaries, the populations of which are given in the previous Year-book.

POPULATION OF ADJACENT ISLANDS.

The names and populations of the islands adjacent to and included in the colony were, in March, 1901:—

Islands.Total.M.F.

* Now a county.

Mokohinau Lighthouse853
Tiritiri Lighthouse523
Motuhora743
Great Barrier510357153
Little Barrier11110
Kawau21714
Ponui271116
Ponui Lighthouse211
Ruthe's1596
Pakatoa532
Pahiki431
Waiheke1628181
Week's (Puketutu)633
Motuihi1192
Bean Rock Lighthouse11..
Motutapu1174
Rakino422
Rangitoto33..
Brown's844
Mercury1459
Cuvier and Lighthouse743
Slipper33..
Motiti22..
East Island Lighthouse651
Portland and Lighthouse21138
Kapiti312
Somes and Lighthouse752
Stephen's1899
Brothers Lighthouse33..
Quarantine211
Ruapuke99..
Dog Island and Lighthouse1697
Centre and Lighthouse954
Resolution22..
Chatham Islands*20711295
Kermadec Islands853
Total1,158706452

The islands which are not included within the boundaries of the counties had in 1901 a population of 1,158 persons (exclusive of Maoris), against 950 in 1896. Only three of the islands had a population over 100 persons at last census. The population of the Great Barrier increased since 1896 from 307 to 510 persons; Waiheke showed a decrease from 166 to 162 persons. Europeans at the Chatham Islands decreased from 234 to 207.

POPULATION OF AUSTRALASIA.

The growth of population in Australasia over a period of forty years is shown in a comparative table. The total for March, 1901, being 4,557,323 persons, is greater than the population of Ireland or Scotland for 1900, and one-seventh part of the population of England and Wales for that year. Australasia has now twice the population of Denmark, over one-third more than Switzerland, and nearly that of the Netherlands.

 Persons. 1860.Persons. 1870.Persons. 1880.Persons. 1890.Census. March, 1901.
New South Wales348,546498,659747,9501,121,8601,362,200
Victoria537,847726,599860,0671,133,2661,201,506
Queensland28,056115,567226,077392,965503,266
South Australia124,112183,797267,573319,414362,604
Western Australia15,22725,08429,01946,290182,553
Tasmania87,775100,765114,762145,290172,475
New Zealand79,711248,400484,864625,508772,719
Australasia1,221,2741,898,8712,730,3123,784,5931,557,323

RELIGION.

Of the various religious denominations, the Church of England has most adherents in this colony. They numbered 314,024 at the date of the census; or, including 1,239 Protestants not more specifically described, 315,263 persons, being 40.84 out of every 100 of population. The Presbyterians numbered 176,503 persons, or 22.87 per cent., and the Roman Catholics came next with 108,960, or, including Catholics not further defined, 109,822, which gives a proportion of 14.23 per cent. The Methodists were 83,802, or 10.86 in every 100 persons. Of other denominations, the Baptists, of whom there were 16,035, and the Salvation Army, 7,999 persons, were those returning more than 1 per cent. of the total population, the proportions being 2.08 and 1.04 respectively. 18,295 persons objected to state their religious belief, or 2.38 in every 100.

The numbers and percentages for five censuses are given in tabular form, so as to allow of the degree of increase relatively to the population being observed:—

Denominations.Number of Adherents in 1901.Proportion per Cent. of Population.
1881.1886.1891.1896.1901.

* “Unspecified” not taken into account.

Church of England and Protestants (undefined)315,26341.5040.1740.5140.2740.84
Presbyterians176,50323.0822.5922.6222.7822.87
Methodists83,8029.539.5510.1410.4410.86
Baptists16,0352.342.482372.282.08
Congregationalists6,6991.371.351.070.970.87
Lutherans4,8331.181.020.900.790.63
Salvation Army7,999..0.911.501.501.04
Society of Friends3130.050.050.050.050.04
Unitarians4680.100.080.050.050.06
Other Protestants16,8771.261.551.822.162.19
Roman Catholics and Catholics (undefined)109,82214.0813.9413.9614.0714.23
Greek Church1890.010.010.010.020.02
Hebrews1,6110.310.270.230.220.21
Buddhists, Confucians2,4321.010.770.630.480.30
Other Denominations1,3470.110.100.120.160.17
No Denomination8,2400.891.051.321.221.07
No Religion1,1090.060.170.250.270.14
Unspecified8820.270.50***
Object to state18,2952.853.442.452.272.38
..772,719100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00

BIRTHPLACES.

A table is given with full details as to birthplace, and under the head of “Allegiance” the number of British and foreign subjects in New Zealand:—

NUMBERS OF EACH NATIONALITY, AND INCREASE, 1896 to 1901.

Where born.Census, 1901.Census, 1896.Increase or Decrease.
Persons.Males.Females.Persons.Numerical.Centesimal.
Total population772,719405,992366,727703,36069,3599.86
Total for specified birth-places772,277405,690366,587702,75669,5219.89
British:—
  United Kingdom,—
   England111,96464,21647,748116,541-4,577-3.93
   Wales1,7651,0766892,148-383-17.83
   Scotland47,85827,51620,34250,435-2,577-5.11
   Ireland43,52423,43020,09446,037-2,513-5.46
  Australasia and Fiji,—
   New Zealand516,106257,828258,278441,66174,44516.86
   Queensland1,27164562693034136.36
   New South Wales6,4303,3953,0354,5361,89441.75
   Victoria12,5836,5306,05310,4712,11220.17
   South Australia1,5758077681,22235328.88
   Western Australia190103871127869.64
   Tasmania3,7202,0841,6363,16056017.72
   Australia (State not named)1,2226695531,200221.83
   Fiji224981261517348.34
  Other British Possessions,—
   Gibraltar48242449-1-2.04
   Malta55371871-16-22.54
   India and Ceylon1,2867225641,341-55-4.10
   Cape of Good Hope1417269246-105-42.68
   St. Helena43251850-7-14.00
   British North America (Canada)1,5449475971,4121329.35
   West Indies20814464247-39-15.79
   Others724408316334390116.76
  Foreign:—
   Austria Hungary1,8741,713161881993112.71
   Belgium1178433138-21-15.22
   Denmark and Possessions2,1201,3847362,125-5-0.24
   France and Possessions609409200698-89-12.75
   Germany4,2172,7431,4744,595-378-8.23
   Greece1239429127-4-3.15
   Italy4283557342351.18
   Netherlands and Possessions11610511132-16-12.12
   Poland976532101-4-3.96
   Portugal and Possessions17215121173-1-0.58
   Russia and Possessions38733948365226.03
   Spain and Possessions59411888-29-32.95
   Sweden1,5481,3372111,514342.25
   Norway1,2799313481,261181.43
   Switzerland33325182342-9-2.63
   Other European Countries30201030....
   China2,9022,866363,719-817-21.97
   Africa1035449134-31-23.13
   America North America776501275969-193-19.92
   United States of America88159228978010112.95
   Other Foreign Countries422289133485-6312.99
   At sea1,2035906131,322-119-9.00
   Unspecified442302140604-162-26.82
Allegiance.
British subjects761,104396,052365,052690,00371,10110.30
Foreign subjects11,6159,9401,67513,3571,742-13.04

NOTE.—The minus sign (-) indicates decrease.

DEAF AND DUMB.

There were 226 persons—134 males and 92 females—returned as deaf and dumb, or dumb only: of these 45 were inmates of the Sumner Institution, leaving 181 deaf-mutes who were living at home or in some other private residence. The total shows a proportion of 2.91 persons per 10,000 living, against 2.86 ascertained in 1896. The proportions of the deaf and dumb taken according to the sexes did not differ much. The figures are given for six census years.

DEAF AND DUMB (IN SEXES).—PROPORTIONS PER 10,000 OF POPULATION.

 MalesFemales.
Census 18782.252.18
Census 18812.232.45
Census 18862.372.22
Census 18912.802.49
Census 18962.992.71
Census 19013.282.51

The numbers at the census of L901 for quinquennial age-periods are:—

NUMBERS OF THE DEAF AND DUMB AT LAST CENSUS.

 M.F.
All age13492
Under 5 years to 10 years1816
10 years to 15 years3214
15 years to 20 years1810
20 years to 25 years168
25 years to 30 years812
30 years to 35 years128
35 years to 40 years68
40 years to 45 years55
45 years to 50 years61
50 years to 55 years35
55 years to 60 years51
60 years to 65 years31
65 years to 70 years..1
70 years to 75 years....
75 years to 80 years12
80 years and upwards....
Unspecified1..

The highest numbers are shown at the ages 10 to 15.

The occupations (past or present) of the deaf and dumb were returned in 1901 as under:—

OCCUPATIONS (PAST OR PRESENT) OF THE DEAF AND DUMB.

 Persons.M.F.
Under 20.Over 20.Under 20.Over 20.
Draughtsman1..1....
Hotel servant1..1....
Domestic servant41....3
Charwoman1......1
Milkman1..1....
Storekeeper's assistant1..1....
Printer's assistant11......
Saddler2..2....
Tanner1..1....
Cabinetmaker11......
Tailor2..2....
Dressmaker6....24
Bootmaker1..1....
Labourer at freezing-works11......
Brewer's assistant1..1....
Fellmonger1..1....
Carpenter413....
Labourer413....
Farmer4..4....
Gardener3..3....
Farm-labourer13112....
Sheep-farmer1..1....
Shepherd1..1....
Dairy-farmer4..4....
Of independent means2..2....
No occupation8..8....
Domestic duties38....137
Scholar, private school21..1..
Scholar, government school86..2..
Receiving tuition at home32..1..
Dependent on relatives41205115
Inmate of deaf and dumb institution4524120..
Industrial school1....1..
Occupation not stated188712
..22668664052

BLIND.

There were 297 males and 156 females, making a total of 453 persons returned as blind, including 63 who were given in the schedules as “nearly” or “partly” blind. Of the above total number, 15 were inmates of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind at Auckland. It would thus appear that only one out of every thirty persons in the colony who suffered from blindness had been received into the institution. The number of blind persons in 1896 was 344. The proportions in every 10,000 of population show a continuous rise at successive censuses, and that there is more blindness amongst males than females.

PROPORTIONS OF BLIND TO EVERY 10,000 PEOPLE.

 Persons.MalesFemales.
18742.342.452.18
18782.562.422.73
18812.822.932.68
18863.223.652.70
18914.374.913.74
18964.905.694.01
19015.877.324.26

The proportion of the blind per 10,000 persons living in the past has been: for England, about 8.79; for Ireland, 11.30; for Scotland, 6.95; for Germany, 7.93; for France, 8.37; and for Italy, 7.63. For the Australian States the figures are: Victoria, 8.72; New South Wales, 6.59; Australian Continent, 7.38.

The number of the blind in quinquennial periods of age is stated for each sex. Of 297 males, 100 were under and 197 upwards of 50 years old. Of 156 females, 63 were under 50, and 93 over that age.

NUMBERS OF THE BLIND AT AGE-PERIODS

 Persons.M.F.
All ages453297156
Under 5 years3..3
5 years to 10 years1697
10 years to 15 years17116
15 years to 20 years15114
20 years to 25 years201010
25 years to 30 years1495
30 years to 35 years17134
35 years to 40 years21165
40 years to 45 years18117
45 years to 50 years221012
50 years to 55 years23167
55 years to 60 years453213
60 years to 65 years372215
65 years to 70 years745321
70 years to 75 years402818
75 years to 80 years362511
80 and upwards29218

Of the total number of the blind, 453 persons, there were 43 in regard to whom no information as to occupation is given on the household schedule, 71 (females) were returned as engaged in domestic duties, 15 persons as inmates of the blind institute, 10 as dependent relatives, 132 as of no occupation, 21 as labourers, 21 as farmers, 9 as farm labourers, 6 as dairy farmers, 5 as sheep-farmers, 8 as carpenters, 10 as pensioners, 6 of independent means, and the rest (96) of various occupations in small numbers each. A complete statement is added, in regard to which it must be remarked that many of the occupations are evidently the past occupations of persons whom blindness has prevented from continuing to work at their usual calling.

OCCUPATIONS (PAST OR PRESENT) OF THE BLIND.

 Persons.Male.Female.
Under 20.Over 20.Under 20.Over 20.
Barrister (not in practice)1..1....
Surgeon1..1....
Teacher of the blind2..2....
School-teacher1..1....
Musician3..3....
Street musician1..1....
Organ-grinder2..2....
Comedian1..1....
Boarding - house keeper2..2....
Hotelkeeper1..1....
Domestic servant1......1
Cook1..1....
Capitalist2..2....
Insurance agent1..1....
Proprietor of houses4..4....
Newsvendor2..2....
Butcher1..1....
Assistant butcher2..2....
Fish-hawker1..1....
Fruiterer2..2....
Grocer3..3....
Seed merchant1..1....
Hawker1..1....
Storekeeper2..2....
Commercial traveller2..2....
Cab proprietor1..1....
Mariner1..1....
Waterman1..1....
Lumper3..3....
Compositor1..1....
Piano-tuner3..3....
Basketmaker4..4....
Saddler1..1....
Shipwright2..2....
Cabinetmaker1..1....
Boot- and shoemaker4..4....
Stonemason2..2....
Carpenter8..8....
Plumber1..1....
Painter1..1....
Contractor1..1....
Labourer21..21....
Farmer21..20..1
Farm labourer9..9....
Gardener1..1....
Market-gardener2..2....
Settler1..1....
Dairy-farmer6..5..1
Sheep farmer5..4..1
Shepherd1..1....
Fisherman1..1....
Bushman1..1....
Gum-digger3..3....
Miner1..1....
Miner, coal1..1....
Miner, quartz3..3....
Miner, alluvial4..4....
Inspector of minerals1..1....
No occupation1321180239
Independent means6..4..2
Pensioner10..9..1
Annuitant3..3....
Domestic duties71....368
Scholar, Government school22......
Scholar, private school11......
Receiving tuition at home21..1..
Dependent on relative103..7..
Inmate of Blind Institute158..7..
Occupation not stated43516..22
Totals4533126620136

LUNACY.

The lunatics enumerated were 2,675 persons, 1,599 males and 1,076 females, nearly all of whom were inmates of the asylums for the insane in the colony. Departmental returns show 2,773 persons (including 22 Maoris, 10 males and 12 females) as the total number of inmates on the 31st December, 1901.

Comparison with the results of previous censuses shows a continually increasing proportion of lunatics to the population in respect of either sex, and that there is considerably more lunacy among the men than women.

LUNATICS.—PROPORTIONS PER 10,000 OF POPULATION.

 Persons.Males.Females.
Census 187419.9323.2815.48
Census 187820.8525.0715.54
Census 188122.8627.3017.43
Census 188620.5031.0321.18
Census 189127.8231.2823.92
Census 189631.1335.7026.02
Census 190134.4739.2329.19

The number of males who were lunatics was highest at the period 45—50 years, and the females at 40—45, as will be found by the following statement:—

LUNATICS.—NUMBERS AT QUINQUENNIAL AGE-PERIODS.

 Persons.M.F.
All ages2,6751,5991,076
Under 5 years211
5 years to 10 years532
10 years to 15 years19118
15 years to 20 years432221
20 years to 25 years1146351
25 years to 30 years18610878
30 years to 35 years245141104
35 years to 40 years257145112
40 years to 45 years312176136
45 years to 50 years333213120
50 years to 55 years296177119
55 years to 60 years298191107
60 years to 65 years244139105
65 years to 70 years16210953
70 years to 75 years886028
75 years to 80 years352114
80 years and upwards221111
Unspecified1486

The proportion of lunatics per 10,000 males living at the above age-periods was only 5.18 at 15-20 years, but had advanced to 59.67 at 35-40 years, and reached its maximum at the period 55-60, when the proportion was 139-30. In the case of females, the proportion rose to a maximum of 130.97 at 60-65.

In 1900 one person in every 288, exclusive of Maoris, in New Zealand was afflicted with lunacy.

IDIOCY.

The number of idiots of both sexes enumerated in the census was 105, against 144 in 1896; the proportion to 10,000 of population being 1.36 against 2.02 at the previous census. As with lunacy, the proportion of idiocy amongst the males (1.43 per 10,000) is higher than amongst the females (1.28).

Chapter 32. SECTION II—EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE.

THE information obtained at the time of the census in respect of the degree of education of the people is remarked upon in the Year-book, 1903. Later particulars are now given as to schooling.

SCHOOL STATISTICS TO 31ST DECEMBER, 1902.

It has been found impossible to collect the full statistics relating to schooling for the year 1903 in time for this work, and the figures for the previous year are accordingly given.

The number of schools, teachers, and scholars, as in December, 1902, are shown in the following summary:—

Description of Schools.Number of Schools.Teachers.Scholars.

* Excluding 59 visiting teachers.

† In addition to the above, the census results showed that 5,055 children (2,215 boys, 2,840 girls) were being taught at home in March, 1901. Attendance at Sunday-schools is given further on.

EUROPEAN.
Public (Government) schools (scholars other than Maoris and half-castes)1,7083,704129,234
Public (Government) schools (half-castes living among Europeans)1,194
Colleges, grammar, and high schools (aided or endowed)25155*3,072
Private and denominational schools (excluding Maori scholars)29785415,624
Industrial schools and orphanages....746
Native village schools, European children attending....363
Private Native boarding - schools, European children attending....19
School for Deaf-mutes1..60
Jubilee Institute for Blind1120
Totals—European2,0324,714150,332
NATIVE.
Native village schools supported by Government (excluding European children stated above)991803,379
Private Native boarding-schools (maintenance of scholars paid by Government)41470
Private Native boarding-schools (maintenance of scholars paid from endowments)150
Private Native day-schools3597
Public (Government) schools, Maoris attending....1,667
Public (Government) schools, half-castes living as Maoris attending....167
Private and denominational schools for Europeans, Maoris attending....43
Totals—Native1061995,573

Thus at the end of 1902 there were 2,138 schools of all classes at which members of the European and Maori races were being educated. This was an increase of 29 on the number in 1901. The public primary schools numbered 1,708 in 1902, against 1,677 in 1901. The number of aided or endowed colleges, grammar, and high schools was 25, the same as in the previous year. The number of private schools from which returns were received by the Registrar-General was 297, a decrease of 12. There were also ten industrial schools and orphanages, public and private, at which education was given, as well as a school for deaf-mutes subsidised by Government, and a school for the blind.

The number of schools established for the education of the Native or Maori race was 106, eight more than in 1901.

Public (Government) Schools.

Compared with 1901 there was in 1902 an increase of 911 in the number of pupils belonging to the public schools at the end of the year, and the average attendance shows an increase of 1,914 for the whole year, but a decrease of 798 for the fourth quarter.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND YEARLY INCREASE FROM 1877 TO 1902.

YearSchool Attendance.Yearly Increase on
Number belonging at Beginning of Year.Number belonging at End of Year.Average Attendance*Average Attendance Expressed as percentage of Roll-numberNumber belonging at Beginning of Year.Number belonging at End of Year.Average Attendance
Fourth Quarter.Whole Year.Fourth Quarter.Whole Year.

* From 1877 to 1893 (inclusive) the “strict” average is given, and for subsequent years the “working” average.

† From 1877 to 1894 (inclusive) the increase on the “strict” average is given, and for subsequent years that on the “working” average.

1877..55,688..............
187850,84965,04049.43545,521....9,352....
187959,70775,56657,30153,06773.88,85810,5267,8667,546
188068,12482,40162,94660,62574.68,4176,8355,6457,558
188174,35983,56063,00961,82274.26,2351,159631,197
188276,30967,17966,42663,70973.61,9503,6193,4171,887
188379,41692,47670,07767,37374.03,1075,2973,6513,664
188184,88397,23874,65072,65775.15,4674,7624,5735,284
188590,670102,40780,18378,3277665,7875,1695,5335,670
188095,377106,32883,36180,73776.14,7073,9213,1782,410
188799,206110,91987,38685,63777.03,8294,5914,0254,900
1888103,534112,68590,84990,1087934,3281,7663,4634,471
1889104,919115,45694,30893,37480.31,3852,7713,4593,266
1890108,158117,91296,67094,6327993,2392,4562,3621,258
1891110,665119,52396,26497,05880.32,5071,611[-406]2,426
1892112,279122,620100,91799,07080.61,6143,0974,6532,012
1893114,305124,68699,87298,61578.52,0262,066[-1,045][-455]
1894116,819127,300107,032104,99681.82,5142,6146,2794,875
1895119,900129,856108,708108,39482.83,0812,5561,6763,398
1896122,425131,037110,274110,51783.32,5251,1811,5662,123
1897123,533132,197111,952112,32883.91,1081,1601,6781,811
1898123,892131,621109,561111,63683.4359[-576][-2,391][-692]
1899123,207131,315109,050110,31682.6[-685][-306][-511][-1,320]
1900123,416130,724111,498111,74784.1209[-591]2,4481,431
1901122,725131,351112,354111,79784.1[-691]62785650
1902123,456132,262111,556113,711849731911[-798]1,914

In the report of the Minister of Education the figures are thus commented upon:—

The average of the weekly roll-numbers for the year shows a marked increase (1,083) over that for 1901, but it still falls 9 short of that for the year 1897, which is the highest yet recorded. The figures for 1897 were 133,961; for 1901 they were 132,869; and for 1902 they were 133,952. The number on the roll at the end of the year also shows the substantial increase of 911 over the number on the roll in December, 1901, the actual totals being respectively 132,262 and 131,351, this year's number being in advance of any previous year's.

Partly through the operation of the School Attendance Act of 1901 and partly from other causes, such as the increase in the number of schools in sparsely populated districts, attendance at public schools has improved, and there seems to he good reason to hope that it may still further improve. The standard of regularity of attendance reached in 1900 and 1901—namely, 84.1 of the average weekly roll-number, rose to 84.9 in 1902. This figure is a high one compared with the corresponding figures for the British Isles and for the several States of the Australian Commonwealth. According to the latest returns which are available the average attendance in primary day-schools in England was 83.6 per cent. of the net enrolment, in Scotland 82.9 per cent., and in Ireland Go per cent. For the Australian States the numbers were: New-South Wales, 72.6; Victoria, 66.5; Queensland, 81.3; South Australia, 79.9; Western Australia, 74.4; Tasmania, 74.4. These returns are for 1901 in the case of Scotland, Ireland, and New South Wales, and for 1992 in all other cases.

Education at the public schools is free (except that, at such as are also district high schools, fees are charged for the teaching of the higher brandies) and purely secular. The attendance of all children between the ages of 7 and 13 is compulsory, except when special exemptions are granted, or a child is being otherwise sufficiently educated.

The subjects to be taught at the primary schools are required by the Education Act to be the following: Reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar and composition, geography, history (including civic instruction), elementary science and drawing, object-lessons, vocal music, physical instruction, moral instruction, nature study, health, and (in the case of girls) sewing and needlework, and the principles of domestic economy. Provision must also be made for the instruction in military drill of all boys in these schools.

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

The Manual and Technical Instruction Act of 1900, and the amending Act of 1902, provides for public instruction in such manual and technical subjects as are set forth in the regulations thereunder. The same Acts provide also for the instruction in elementary handwork of pupils attending primary or secondary schools.

All classes recognised under the Act are eligible for grants in aid of necessary buildings, furniture, and apparatus, and for capitation. During 1902 capitation was paid on classes for drawing (various branches), painting, modelling, design, wood-carving, architecture, carpentry and joinery, plumbing, painters' and decorators work, mechanical and electrical engineering, natural and experimental science (various branches), languages, mathematics, commercial subjects, cookery, laundry work, dressmaking, tailoring, wool-sorting, and singing.

Special classes were maintained by Government grants for the training of public-school teachers in the subjects of manual and technical instruction prescribed and established in several of the education districts of the colony.

The subjects taken up in school classes included cookery, woodwork, cottage gardening, swimming and life-saving, first aid and ambulance, dressmaking, and laundry work.

There were (1902) fifteen Technical or Art Schools, at which 350 recognised classes, attended by about 4,500 students, were conducted. Several new schools were in course of erection, and others contemplated.

In connection with the Canterbury College there is an endowed School of Engineering and Technical Science, the students in which work for the university degree of B.Sc. in engineering. One hundred and ninety-two students attended in 1902.

The Canterbury Agricultural College has an endowment of 62,000 acres of land, of the rental value of £1,500 per annum, and possesses extensive buildings, and an experimental farm of a very complete character. The institution offers an opportunity to acquire a thorough knowledge of the science and practice of agriculture. Two years' residence at the college is accepted by the University of New Zealand as part of the curriculum qualifying for the degree of B.Sc. in agriculture. The college accommodates forty students.

There are several Schools of Mines located in districts in which mining is actively carried on, and the Otago University maintains a professorial chair of mining and metallurgy, to which the Government makes an annual grant of £500. The number of students in mining in 1902 was over three hundred, sixty of whom were at the Otago University.

With the view of encouraging attendance at recognised technical schools and classes, arrangements have been made with the Railway Department by which teachers of classes registered with the Minister of Education may give certificates to their pupils which will enable them to obtain railway tickets at special rates.

The following table shows the results of examinations conducted in the colony on behalf of the Science and Art Department, London, and of the City and Guilds of London Institute:—

ART, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS, 1902.

Subjects of Examination.Auckland.Wanganui.Wellington.Masterton.Pahiatua.Napier.Christchurch.Timaru.Dunedin.Invercargill.
 CPCPCPCPCPCPCPCPCPCP

Total of papers, 473; total of passes, 334.

* A bronze medal and a book prize were also gained by Wellington students.

† A prise was also gained by a Dunedin student.

[“C” represents candidates; “P” passes.]

BOARD OF EDUCATION, S. KENSINGTON.
Art.
Drawing on the blackboard55................1..22............
Geometrical drawing (art)11..33225......11334343....
Perspective53....22........221......85....
Model drawing7744431......43106....9921
Freehand drawing in outline151477111122....9632101021
Drawing in light and shade1051111............31....771..
Principles of ornament....................111......31....
Design....1132........31........33....
Modelling design Memory drawing of plant form....................11................
Memory drawing of plant form....11..........22..................
Painting from still life........................221..........
" ornament....................11........11....
Drawing from the antique................................43....
Anatomy....................11................
Drawing from life........................11....22....
Modelling the head from life....................11................
Students' works11102211*3......3122....136......
Science.
Practical plane and solid geometry................................3311
Machine construction and drawing206331410....................10675
Building construction111..139............96....75....
Mathematics1......1..................1..........
Applied mechanics................................97....
Steam........73....................22....
Magnetism and electricity33....33............................
Agricultural science....11................................
Theoretical inorganic chemistry1......................................
CITY AND GUILDS OF LONDON INSTITUTE.
Woodwork, first year........................75........1813
final........................1..........21
Carpentry and joinery (ordinary)........................11............
Mechanical engineering....1..2......................108....
Plumbers' work (preliminary)3......54............................
(ordinary)3......55....................22....
(honours)................................32....
Painters' and decorators' work........................32............
Gas manufacture........22............................
Electric light and power (preliminary)........1010............11............
Electric light and power11....96....................1......
Electric light and power wiremen's work......2................................
Telegraphy and telephony....................1143............
Cookery........................2018............
Totals87552523976671222216805995111853322

In the twenty-sixth annual report, the Minister of Education remarks as follows on manual training and technical instruction:—

“A great advance was made during 1902 in respect to manual and technical education. The total number of recognised classes, which at the end of 1901 was 425, increased to 980 at the close of 1902. Of these, 566 were classes for handwork in schools, and 414 were ‘special,’ ‘associated,’ or ‘college classes,’ of which 64 were continuation classes—that is, classes for adults or for boys and girls that have left the day schools—in the ordinary branches of a general education, and the remaining 350 were technical classes properly so called. The total number of classes that so far are known to be in operation during the year 1903 is about 1,800. The number of classes for handwork in the upper classes of the public schools is still small in comparison with the number of classes doing such work in the lower classes; with the introduction of the new standard syllabus shortly to be issued all excuse for this anomaly will disappear. One of the most pleasing features of the year is the increase of the number of classes in country schools and of classes for adults in small country towns. Much more might be done, especially if the agricultural associations and the local authorities generally would follow the example so well set by a few of them.

“The Act of 1902, it may be pointed out, by recognising Borough Councils, County Councils, and other local authorities as bodies that might join with Boards of Education, School Committees, or the governing bodies of University colleges to form technical classes, and by giving such authorities representation on the boards of managers, placed them in the same position as associations of various kinds were placed in before. There is now really nothing to prevent any district or any body of persons in a district from starting classes under the Act and securing grants sufficient to equip and carry on the classes, unless it be the comparatively small number of thoroughly competent instructors that are to be obtained. This, however, is an evil that is being gradually removed as those who have been attending training classes for teachers in these subjects become qualified.

“The grants to Education Boards for the instruction of teachers in manual and technical subjects, amounting in all to £1,875, were available for the year 1902 as in 1901, and the amounts were paid over to all the Boards that had complied with the conditions; similar grants will he available during 1903. The revised regulations that were gazetted in December, 1902, considerably simplified the mode in which grants are obtained. Supplementary regulations, approved in June, 1903, offered grants not exceeding £5 per annum on account of each pupil admitted free to technical classes, provided such pupil had passed Standard VI. or a higher examination. These free places are called ‘junior technical scholarships’; they last for two years, and may be extended (as ‘senior, technical scholarships’) for two years more if the holders show signs of satisfactory progress. In order that the substratum on which technical education is based may be sound, it is made a condition of the tenure of the junior technical scholarships that the holders shall attend continuation classes in one or more subjects of general-instruction, such as English or some other language, and arithmetic or some other branch of mathematics. It is, indeed, difficult to see what more could be done by statute or regulation to encourage manual and technical education; it is now a matter for those in the various parts of the colony to start such classes as are suited to the wants of the several districts. Some have urged that Government ought to go further and establish classes everywhere; but it is tolerably certain that to set up classes where people art not prepared to make some effort in their own behalf would result in a considerable waste of public money without any corresponding benefit.

“The grants for buildings and apparatus paid during 1902 amounted to £4,997 8s. 3d.; for material, £246 1s. 8d.: capitation, £5,604 17s. 4d.”

In the following table a statement is given of the expenditure upon manual and technical instruction during the year:—

STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURE FOR YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER, 1902.

 £s.d.
Capitation5,604174
Subsidy of pound for pound on contributions42852
Grants:—
  Building and apparatus4,99783
  Class material24618
..5,243911
    Training of Teachers:—
    Auckland Education Board
    Taranaki10000
    Wanganui......
    Wellington20000
    Hawke's Bay15000
    Marlborough......
    Nelson12500
    Grey......
    Wetland7500
    North Canterbury20000
    South12500
    Otago20000
    Southland15000
..1,32500
Grants in aid of classes11655
Railway fares of teachers attending training-classes1,094166
Railway fares of instructors of training-classes123118
students attending registered classes18626
Scholarships145160
Expenses in connection with Examinations:—
Science and Art Board of Education, South Kensington, with City and Guilds of London Institute224311
Students' works, books, publications, &c.71135
Advertising and sundries4305
Inspectors' salaries and travelling-expenses911167
..15,519810
Less recoveries (examination fees: South Kensington, £44 5s. City and Guilds, £16 7s. 6d.)60126
Total£15,458164
School or Classes.Number of Classes.Subjects of Instruction, and Average Attendance.
Freehand (from the Flat and Round), Light and Shade.Plane and Solid Geometry, Perspective.Design and Ornament.Drawing, Modelling, and Painting from Antique and Nature.Architecture, and Building-construction.Mechanical Drawing and Machine-construction.Practical Mechanics and Mathematics.Mechanical and Electrical Engineering.Experimental and Natural Science (Chemistry, Physics, Botany, Photography).Woodwork and Ironwork.Wood-carving, Modelling, and Reponse Work.Carpentry and Joinery, Painters' and Decorators' Work.Plumbing and Tinsmiths' Work.Cookery and Laundry-work, Dressmaking, Tailoring.Wool-sorting.Commercial Subjects.English, Latin, French, Maori, Arithmetic.Singing and Elocution.Training classes for Teachers in Elementary Handwork and Drawing.
Auckland Education Board—
  Technical School, Auckland89......14134....112714..............
Elam School of Art, Auckland17326....15..............................
Taranaki Education Board—
Technical classes, New Plymouth5....................................60
Stratford3....................................29
Wanganui Education Board—
Technical classes, Wanganui303623..288923..11..26..20....1415....
Palmerston N.74212..5........14..10........1055....
Hawera8252................5................
Eltham2....................7................
Patea2....................8................
Marton2....................13................
Wellington Education Board—
Technical School, Wellington391048431731160302..17522443....12842..93
Technical classes, Masterton19....................................
Pahiatua117....................................
Masterton Technical Classes Association827....1614............8......199....
Hawke's Bay Education Board—
  Technical School, Napier757..616................28..........59
  Technical classes, Gisborne435..37..............................25
Woodville110....................................
Dannevirke110....................................
Continuation classes, Wairoa5............11................819....
Marlborough Education Board—
Continuation classes, Waitohi1....................................9
Nelson Education Board—
Technical classes, Nelson3..........................28..........
Westland Education Board—
Technical classes, Kumara1..................18..................
Board of Governors, Canterbury College—
School of Art, Christchurch41218951314755..........533213..........104
School of Engineering Christchurch29..........119217828....................
School of Domestic Instruction, Christchurch6..........51......14................61
North Canterbury Education Board—
Technical classes, Normal School, Christchurch........6............51......14......61
Technical classes, Ashburton2....................16..............21
Lyttelton5............5..........54....38....20
Rangiora416....................16......37......
Leeston2............................22........
South Canterbury Education Board—
Timaru Technical Classes Association1414....10..26......12....70......9713272
Technical classes, Timaru6..................28................65
Waimate Technical Classes Association815..................11....20..5412....
Otago Education Board—
School of Art, Dunedin3924110832051423..........................
Technical School, Dunedin39..........362365......271730731518514425
Technical classes, Port Chalmers3..............................20......
Southland Education Board—
Technical School, Invercargill236....10827....1336127..102..782323..
Technical classes, Gore6..........................10..31....51
Mataura2........................15..........18
Country Continuation-classes7..............................238....
  Totals4141,21724830434515429313010314815524719914852515666498138630
Controlling Authority.Subjects of Instruction and Number of Classes in each Subject.
Elementary Handwork.Drawing in Light and Shade (Blackboard Drawing).Elementary Design.Cookery.Dressmaking.Woodwork.Chemistry.Physics.Cottage Gardening.Agriculture and Agricultural Chemistry.Ambulance and First-aid.Swimming and Life-saving.

* Modelling, brush drawing, paper, carton, and cardboard work, stick, and brick-laying, cane-weaving, &c.

Education Board, Auckland34..1....1........11
Education Board, Taranaki18..3..........1..31
Board of Governors, High School, New Plymouth........1..............
Education Board, Wanganui......1............11
Education Hoard, Wellington73..1721..1....11....
Board of Governors, Wellington College and Girls' High School—
Girls' High School1..1..................
Education Board, Hawke's Bay33311..1....1....1..
Education Board, Nelson14....9............35
Board of Governors, Nelson College—
Girls' College, Nelson........................
Education Board, Westland17......................
Education Board, North Canterbury72..113..3..........18
Board of Governors, Canterbury College—
Boys' High School, Christchurch..........111........
Girls' High School, Christchurch..1122............1
Board of Governors, Ashburton High School......................1
Education Board, South Canterbury294....................
Board of Governors, Timaru High Schools—
Boys' High School..........1..........1
Girls' High School..........1..........1
Education Board, Otago27....10..1..121..9
Education Board, Southland55........31......5..
Board of Governors, Southland High Schools......1112..........
Totals3738356391432621437

NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY.

The introduction of university education into New Zealand was effected by the Superintendent and Provincial Council of Otago, who in 1869 passed an Ordinance under which the University of Otago was established. Following closely on the founding of this institution was the establishment of the University of New Zealand under an Act of the General Assembly, “The New Zealand university' Act, 1870.” This University subsequently received a Royal charter, whereby the degrees which it confers are declared entitled to “rank, precedence, and consideration” throughout the British Empire “as fully as if the said degrees had been conferred by any university of the United Kingdom.” It was apparently contemplated by Parliament (vide section 19 of the Act last quoted) that the New Zealand University and the Otago University should be amalgamated; but the negotiations for this purpose having failed the two institutions remained for some time distinct bodies. In the year 1874, however, the University of Otago surrendered or put in abeyance its power of conferring degrees, and became affiliated to the University of New Zealand, and at the same time it was stipulated that the University of New Zealand should not directly exercise functions of teaching.

In 1902 an amendment Act was passed reconstituting the Senate, which now consists of twenty-four members or Fellows, live to be elected by each of the four University College districts, that is to say—two by each governing body, two by each District Court of Convocation, and one by each Professorial Board. The remaining four members are nominated by the Governor in Council.

In the year 1873 the Superintendent and Provincial Council of Canterbury passed an Ordinance for founding “The Canterbury College,” and the college was accordingly established with the same standard of university education as that of the University of Otago, but without the power of conferring degrees.

In December, 1878, a Royal Commission on University and Secondary Education was appointed by the Governor, which met in July, 1879, and reported that two colleges, with an income of £4,000 each, ought to be established in Auckland and Wellington, and that suitable buildings, at a cost of £12,500 each, should be erected in those cities. In the following year the Royal Commission repeated these recommendations.

“The Auckland University College Act, 1882,” which became law on the 13th September in that year, definitely established the college, and endowed it with a statutory grant of £4,000 per annum. By “The Auckland University College Reserves Act, 1885,” three blocks of land, containing about 10,000 acres each, and a block containing about 354 acres, which had been devoted to the purpose of promoting higher education in the Province of Auckland, became vested in the Council of University College.

The Auckland University College was affiliated to the University of New Zealand by the Senate of the university on the 6th March, 1883, and on the 21st May in the same year the college was opened by the Governor.

Nothing was done for Wellington until the year 1894, when an Act was passed entitled “The Middle District of New Zealand University College Act, 1894,” which said “There shall be established in the City of Wellington a college to be connected with the University of New Zealand,” and provision was made for a governing body to be called the Council, but no provision was made for any pecuniary grant nor any endowment, and, though certain members of the Council were appointed, nothing could be done for want of funds.

Not until 1897 were the needs of Wellington actually attended to. In the session of Parliament that year the Eight Hon. Mr. Seddon, P.C., Premier of the colony, introduced the Victoria College Act: an Act, as stated in the preamble, “to promote higher education by the establishment of a College at Wellington in commemoration of the sixtieth year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria,” the college being intended to embrace in its work the Provincial Districts of Wellington, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland. The Act was passed on the 22nd December, 1897, and the Council was formed as provided in the Act, and the work of organization was begun. The Act provides for the payment out of the Consolidated Fund of a giant of £4,000 a year, and also requires the Council to give six scholarships each year, called “Queen's Scholarships,” to persons of either sex under the age of fourteen years, upon the results of an examination under such conditions as the Council may provide. The Act further sets apart a parcel of land 4,000 acres in extent in the Nukumaru Survey District (Wellington Provincial District) as an endowment for the college.

The Council of the college has established six chairs: classics, English, mathematics and mathematical physics, chemistry, physics, and biology; and lectureships in modern languages, mental science, jurisprudence and constitutional history, general history, and political economy and law. It is intended as funds allow to add other subjects.

The New Zealand University is not a teaching body, as above explained, undergraduates hitherto for the most part keeping their terms at one or other of the affiliated institutions: the Auckland University College, the Victoria College, the Canterbury College, and the University of Otago, each of which has now a staff of professors and lecturers. On the 1st June, 1903, the number of graduates who had obtained direct degrees was 866.

The number of undergraduates on the roll of the University at that date was 2,782 (exclusive of such as had not performed any academical act for a period of ten years), but only 1,768 were keeping terms (not including undergraduates who had not, in the last two years, entered at a college or come up for any college or university examination), of whom 1,160 were males and 608 females. One hundred and thirty of the males and twenty-our of the females were medical students. The numbers of students attending lectures at the affiliated institutions during the year 1902 were as follow: At the Auckland University College, 114 matriculated and 123 non-matriculated; at Canterbury College, 151 matriculated and 74 non-matriculated; at the Otago University, 186 matriculated and 49 non-matriculated. The Victoria College, before-mentioned, affords further facilities for university students, and in June, 1903, had a total of 167 students on the roll—137 matriculated and 30 non-matriculated.

PRIVATE AND DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOLS.

There were 297 private schools in the colony at the end of 1902, a decrease of 12 on the number in 1901: 26 were for boys, 65 for girls, and 206 for children of both sexes. The number of pupils attending them was 15,624—namely, 6,451 boys and 9,173 girls, not counting 43 Maoris, 22 boys and 21 girls. The number of European pupils at these schools was greater than in 1901 by 280. Of the private schools, 139 were Roman Catholic, with an attendance of 10,802 pupils.

The following gives, for the past ten years, the number of private schools and of Europeans attending them, the number of Roman Catholic schools and pupils being also shown separately:—

Year.Number of Private Schools.Pupils.Included in Previous Numbers.
Boys.Girls.Totals.Roman Catholic Schools.Pupils at Roman Catholic Schools.
18932996,4318,49114,92211110,263
18943026,1178,51014,6271179,953
18952986,1878,47214,65911410,458
18962835,8458,10213,9471159,590
18972785,9748,47314,4471209,642
18982946,0438,73914,78212410,175
18993076,2199,07615,29513310,526
19003046,1529,40315,55513210,687
19013096,2449,10015,34412910,448
19022976,4519,17315,62413910,802

The total number of children of European descent (including such half-castes as live among Europeans) known to be receiving education at school at the end of 1902 was 150,332; of these, 142,168 were from 5 to 15 years of age. The census showed also 5,055 children receiving tuition at home in 1901, against 6,352 in 1896. No doubt increased school accommodation in country places does away with the need for tutors and governesses to a certain extent.

The distribution of the private schools in the various provincial districts of the colony is shown in the next page:—

Provincial Districts.Number of Schools.Number of Teachers.Number of Scholars.Daily Average Attendance.
Boys.Girls.Mixed.Total.Male.Female.Total.Male.Female.Total.Male.Female.Total.

* Exclusive of 43 Maoris (22 boys, 21 girls).

Auckland2146278211701941,2952,0413,3861,0941,7552,849
Taranaki31013..2828224396620176339515..
Hawke's Bay45716917564715881,059393509902
Wellington6153455451582031,4121,9223,3341,2461,7082,954
Marlborough1..34..9134139273106123229..
Nelson24101693541381490871352461813
Westland1291232427254356610224317541
Canterbury6113858161111571,2151,6512,86910391,4682,507
Otago483345151211361,0651,5872,6529141,3182,232
Totals26652062971217338546,4519,17315,624*5,5447,99813,542

NOTE.—Denominational schools, such as Roman Catholic and Anglican, are included in the above as private schools. Particulars for the Roman Catholic schools in December, 1902, are as under:—

SUMMARY OF ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.
Provincial Districts.Number of Schools.Number of Teachers.Number of Scholars.Daily Average Attendance.
Boys.Girls.Mixed.Total.Male.Female.Total.Male.Female.Total.Male.Female.Total.
Auckland192232482865081,2562,0646721,0761,748
Taranaki..246..1515150269419117233350
Hawke's Bay224843337371451822301379680
Wellington3611202165869291,1802,1098121,0411,853
Marlborough12377128123251102109211........
Nelson13372020156328484134305439......
Westland1281132326246347593218311529
Canterbury3418251066769181,0952,0137719871,758
Otago4419271468829211,1202,0178009351,735
Totals163291139563794354,6276,17510,8023,9275,3769,303

SCHOOLS FOR NATIVES.

The number of Native village schools at the end of 1902 either supported or subsidised by the Government was 99, or eight more than at the end of the previous year. In addition, there were four boarding-schools for Native children, the cost of whose maintenance was partly paid either by the Government or from endowments, and three private Native day-schools. The number of Maori children attending schools during the fourth quarter of 1902 was 5,573—namely, 3,130 males and 2,443 females. These included 336 half-castes at the Native village schools who were living as members of Maori tribes, and 167 at public European schools.

The numbers at the several schools in 1901 and 1902 were as under:—

Schools.Maori Children attending Schools.
Boys.Girls.Total of both Sexes.
1901.1902.1901.1902.1901.1902.
At public European schools9361,0266808081,6161,834
At Native village schools1,6411,8951,2941,4842,9353,379
At subsidised or endowed boarding-schools12212090100212220
At private European or Native schools92895751149140
Totals2,7913,1302,1212,4434,9125,573

There was thus, in 1902, an increase of 339 in the number of Maori boys, and 322 in the number of Maori girls, attending school.

Seventy-six out of the ninety-nine Native village schools in operation on 31st December, 1902, were under the charge of masters and nineteen under mistresses, and one under the joint control of a master and mistress; there were besides eighty-four assistants, and eleven sewing-mistresses. The salaries paid to the head-teachers range from £55 10s. to £271, and those for assistants and sewing-mistresses from a nominal sum to £50.

The expenditure on Native schools for 1902 was as follows: Teachers' salaries and allowances, £15,622 1s. 5d.; books and school requisites, £419 16s. 3d.; repairs and small works, £877 14s. 4d.; inspection, £909 3s.; organising instructor's salary and travelling-expenses, £493 11s. 7d.; boarding - schools and scholarships, £2,174 7s. 11d.; buildings, fencing, furniture, &c., £5,593 8s. 9d.; technical instruction classes, £548 5s. 2d.; sundries, £307 19s. 1d.: total, £26,946 7s. 6d.

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE OF EDUCATION BOARDS.

The total income of the various Education Boards for the year 1902 was £579,468, including £770 of deposits, refunds, &c. The grants by Government amounted to £528,372. These grants under “The Public School Teachers' Salaries Act, 1901,” consist of (a) payments to the Board of every district of a sum sufficient to pay the salaries of teachers and pupil-teachers in the district, (b) further payments of a sum of £250 per annum, together with a sum of 11s. 3d. per annum for each child in daily average attendance at a public school. (The Governor may by Order in Council declare that in lieu of (b) there shall be paid to the Boards a capitation allowance of 12s., and in addition £250 per annum to each Board having a daily average attendance of less than 8,000 children). There is also (c) a varying sum for school buildings, and (d) grants for technical education. The income from reserves amounted to £13,047, and that from local receipts, &c., to £8,049.

The total expenditure in 1902 amounted to £567,990, of which the sum of £461,084 was laid out on the maintenance of the schools.

The receipts and expenditure of the Education Boards, numbering thirteen altogether, are tabulated below, with further particulars:—

RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE OF EDUCATION BOARDS.
 £s.d.
Receipts.
To Balance, 1st January, 19026,596199
Government grants—
Rents from reserves£43,0461710
Balance of grants for salaries. &c., of teachers376,924136
Allowance £250 and capitation67,961310
Other grants14,080107
Total for maintenance502,01359
Buildings60,679113
Manual and technical instruction8,726411
Local receipts—
Fees, donations, &c.6,44606
Rents, &c.1,83279
Deposits, refunds. &c.77060
..£586,0641511
Expenditure.
By Boards' administration11,21566
Inspection and examination14,215210
Teachers' salaries and allowances419,70188
incidental expenses of schools32,729611
Scholarships8,617133
Training of teachers3,035184
Manual and technical instruction11,60579
Truancy-prevention expenses1,163711
Buildings, sites, plans, &c.61,76352
Interest, exchange, refunds, &c.942172
Balance, 31st December, 190218,07515
..£580,0641511

SCHOLARSHIPS.

National Scholarships.

An Act to encourage higher education in New Zealand by the granting of national scholarships was passed at the last session of Parliament (1903). It provides for the establishment of junior and senior scholarships, the necessary funds being furnished by the Colonial Treasurer.

A junior scholarship is offered in each education district for every five thousand or part of five thousand children in average yearly attendance, tenable for three years, with an extension of one year under certain conditions. The value of a junior scholarship is £10 per annum in addition to tuition fees. Candidates must be under fourteen years of age. A scholarship shall not be awarded to or held by any child whose parents are in receipt of a net annual income exceeding £250.

Four senior national scholarships are offered in each university district to persons of either sex under nineteen years of age who have been holders of junior scholarships or Education Board scholarships, and will be awarded on the result of the junior scholarship examination of the university. The value of a senior scholarship is £20 per annum in addition to tuition fees, and it is tenable for three years.

Where the holder of a junior or senior national scholarship is obliged to live away from home in order to prosecute his or her studies an additional sum of £30 per annum shall be paid.

Queen's Scholarships.

“The Queen's Scholarships Act, 1903.” provides for the establishment in connection with the Victoria College, and out of its funds, six junior and four senior scholarships, each tenable for three years, but an extension of one year can be obtained under certain conditions in the case of junior scholarships. Each junior scholarship is valued at £10 per annum in addition to tuition fees, and the holder of each senior scholarship is entitled to receive £20 per annum. In both cases an additional £30 per annum is paid if the holder is obliged to live away from home.

Education Board Scholarships.

Particulars of the scholarships and the expenditure of the Boards thereon in 1902 are given in detail. The only institutions for the training of teachers are in North Canterbury and Otago. These two institutions have received grants-in-aid of £500 each.

Education Districts.Number held in Dec., 1902.Boys.Girls.Period of Tenure.Boards' Expenditure on Scholarships in 1902.Annual Value, &c.
 Years.£ s.d...
Auckland83592431,747404 at £30, 21 at £25, 24 at £20, 34 at £15.
Taranaki1495227813104 at £35, 2 at £14,0 at £10, 1 at £4 13s. 4d. 1 at £3 6s. 8d.
Wanganui18117Varies63518313 at £40,1 at £32 10s., 1 at £32, 1 at £15, 2 at £5.
Wellington39201929293912 at £35, 27 at £15.
Hawke's Bay2511142499718 at £30 4s., 2 at £16 4s., 15 at £10 4s.
Marlborough1239216300at £35, 9 at £10.
Nelson95423711767 at £50 10s., 1 at £25, 1 at £10.
Grey431216300£25.
Westland73421011101 at £23, 2 at £17 10s., 4 at £8.
North Canterbury36181821,18311719 at £40,17 at £20.
South Canterbury31131823359811 at £22 10s., 1 at £8, 2at £6, 17 at £2 10s.
Otago543618

Jun. 2

Sen. 3

1,3357213 at £40, 4at £35, 1at £24, 2at £22, 17 at £20, 17 at £15.
Southland23158

2 for 3

21 for 2

66671013 at £35,1 at £20,1 at £18, 8 at £15.
  Totals, 1902355206149..8,3951115 
  Totals, 1901358201157..8,331105

SECONDARY OR SUPERIOR SCHOOLS.

Income and Expenditure.

A summary of the accounts of income and expenditure for the year 1902, as furnished by the governing bodies of the secondary or superior schools in the colony, shows the total receipts to have been £73,229. To this total, rents and sales of reserves contributed £25,926; interest on investments, and other receipts from endowments, £7,743; fees, £36,773; and miscellaneous, £2,787.

The total expenditure amounted to £71,762, of which sum office management and expenses absorbed £2,692; teachers' salaries, £38,035; scholarships and prizes, £2,420; buildings, furniture, insurance, rates, and rent. &c., £11,441; and other expenditure, £17,175.

A summary of the accounts for the year 1902, exhibiting further details, is given below: —

SECONDARY OF SUPERIOR SCHOOLS, 1902.
 £s.d.
Receipts.
To Credit balances on 1st January, 190221,89205
Endowment reserves sold1,16572
Mortgage moneys repaid2,893131
Rents of reserves21,760139
Interest on investments1,984105
Reserves Commissioners payments2,86435
Government payments for technical instruction851110
School fees (tuition)29,241136
Boarding-school fees7,445180
Rooks, &c., sold, and refunds198137
Sundries not classified2,5852
Debit balances, 31 st December, 19023,29909
..£101,419171
Expenditure.
By Liabilities on 1st January, 19021,357110
Expenses of management2,692311
School salaries38,034174
Hoarding-school accounts5,5751110
Examination expenses575310
Scholarships and prizes2,419150
Printing, stationery, fuel-light, &c.3,6431110
Buildings, furniture, insurance, rent, and rates11,44119
Expenditure on endowments2,50024
Capital invested17100
Interest1,557144
Sundries3,238179
Credit balances, 31st December, 190228,30054
..£101,419171

Free Secondary Education.

In December, 1902, regulations were published offering to the governing bodies of secondary schools, on certain conditions as to age and other qualifications, grants at the rate of £6 a head for pupils admitted without payment of fees for tuition, provided that one free place was already given for each £50 of the net income from endowments. Fifteen out of the twenty-five secondary schools have so far accepted the conditions, and up to May of the year 1903, 588 pupils were thus receiving free secondary education in these schools; out of this number grants were being paid for 400, the remainder being those admitted at the rate of one for each £50 of such net income.

At the end of 1902 there were 1,426 pupils in the district high schools who, having passed Standard VI., were receiving free instruction in secondary subjects. The number of such schools, which during 1901 had increased from thirteen to twenty-one rose to thirty-eight at the end of 1902.

NUMBER OF PUPILS RECEIVING SECONDARY EDUCATION AT DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 1902.

Education District.Number of Schools.Number of Pupils.Total Number of Pupils 1901Amount paid by Government to Education Boards during the Year.
Passed Standard VI.Others.Total.
M.F.Total.M.F.Total.Capitation.Grants in Aid.Total.
 £s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
Auckland78882170......170593061008210038900
Taranaki122103211134321271003000157100
Wanganui71691583273813513781681,133001471001,280100
Wellington1314980......80..1151341710013334
Hawke's Bay1252449......49261581003000188100
Marlborough....................................
Nelson36559124......124333200052100372100
Grey1222042......422218650300021650
Westland1132134......342213100300016100
North Canterbury1121830......30191131003000143100
South Canterbury37153124......124705025482100584154
Otago9172143315......3151961,17700240001,41700
Southland3 38554499......991511100450015600
Totals for the colony7456811,4263914531,4794,382388171005,199138....
Totals for 190121324281605441357662..1,26100300001,56100

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.

In December, 1902, the total number on the books of all the industrial schools was 1,817, or 84 more than at the close of the year 1901. On the books of She Government industrial schools there were 1,286, an increase of 59 over the corresponding number for 1901; on the books of the private industrial schools there were 561, or 23 more than at the end of the previous year. The number in residence at Government schools was 283, and at private industrial schools 327, so that 610 was the total number of “inmates” actually in residence. The number boarded out was 441, one being from a private school and the rest from Government schools. There were 24 girls maintained in various corrective institutions, 11 boys and girls in orphan homes, 1 boy at the Blind Institute, Auckland and 2 at the School for Deaf-mutes, Simmer. The total number of inmates dependent on the schools for maintenance was therefore 1,089, or three less than the number at the end of 1901. The remaining 758, although still subject to control and supervision, were not dependent on the schools for maintenance. They may be classified as follows: Licensed to reside with friends, 176; at service, 518; in hospital, 3; in lunatic asylum, 4, in the Costley Training Institution, Auckland, on probation, 1; in other institutions without payment, 12; in gaol, 5; absent without leave, 39: namely, 23 from service and 16 from the schools.

The cost of the Government industrial schools and the amount recovered (from Charitable Aid Boards, from parents, from sale of farm produce, &c.) are next shown:—

COST OF GOVERNMENT INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS, 1902.
School.Cost of School.Cost of Boarding out (Included in preceding column).Salaries of School Staff. (Included in first column.)Recoveries.Net Cost.
 £s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
Auckland1,8501958705533600596851,254110
Levin2,33946......20716071502,33196
Burnham0,04216971421,8401281,6151804,426189
Caversham8,6061852,928071,3671553,424285,182159
Te Oranga Home3,263177......3480069263,194151
Receiving Home, Wellington1,5754889118818700427871,147161
Receiving Home, Christchurch3,35212102,22684298001,047972,30533
  Totals27,0311426,924724,585417,1884919,84395
Salaries and expenses of Assistant Inspectors and Visiting Officers1,586170
Travelling-expenses of managers and others229169
Contingencies4786
Total£21,707118

There were six Government industrial schools in existence in 1902, and the numbers of inmates on their books at the end of the year were as follows: Auckland, 106; Receiving Home, Wellington, 100; Receiving Home, Christchurch, 258; Burnham, 271; Te Oranga Home. 50; Caversham, 531: total, 1,286. A school at Levin was in course of erection. Those belonging to private industrial schools were distributed as follows: St. Mary's, Auckland, 134; St. Joseph's, Wellington, 79; St. Mary's, Nelson, 314; St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin, 34: total, 561.

The next table shows payments made by the Government on account of inmates in private industrial schools, the recoveries, and the net expenditure by the Government. The contributions from Charitable Aid Boards to these schools, being made directly to the managers, are not included in the recoveries shown.

GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON PRIVATE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS (R.C.), 1902.
School.Payments.Recoveries.Net Expenditure by Government.
 £s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
St. Mary's, Auckland1,3041401251681,178174
St. Joseph's, Wellington2681602018248144
St. Mary's, Nelson1,34219831618111,02607
St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin90156181307226
Totals3,007504811032,525149

During 1902, inmates were maintained in eight other institutions, and the expenditure on this account was as follows: Mission Home, Jerusalem, Wanganui (Mother Aubert's), £49 9s. 2d.; St. Mary's Home, Richmond, Christchurch, £62 18s. 1d.; Female Refuge Home, Christchurch, £8; Mount Magdala, Christchurch, £245 14s.; Levin Memorial Home, Wellington, £18 17s.; St. Mary's Home, Karori, £35 14s.

In the Government schools the policy is to board out all children of suitable age and character. The authorities of the private schools do not adopt the boarding-out system.

The total number of inmates of the private and Government industrial schools is given for the years 1901 and 1902, and the variations in the numbers boarded out in residence, or at service:—

INMATES, 1901 AND 1902.

Boarded out.In Residence.At Service, &c.Totals.
Dec., 1901.Increase.Decrease.Dec., 1902Dec., 1901.Increase.Decrease.Dec., 1902.Dec., 1901.Increase.Decrease.Dec., 1902.Dec., 1901.Increase.Decrease.Dec., 1902.
Government Schools—
  Auckland489..5719..118301..31979..106
  Receiving Home, Wellington3935..742..1128..3256931..100
  Receiving Home, Christchurch147..1413310..826924..932262..228
  Burnham..2..2115..12103166....166281..10271
  Te Oranga Home, Christchurch........172..19292..31464..50
  Caversham184..1017413010..14019423..21750823..531
Private Schools—
  St. Mary's, Auckland........96..6903410..441304..134
  St. Joseph's, Wellington..........39237375..42763..79
  St. Mary's, Nelson1....1194..1717711026..1363059..314
  St. Vincent de Paul's, South Dunedin........194..2383..11277..34
Totals419462444164116476107059437961,76592101,847

Institute for the Blind.

The Jubilee Institute for the Blind is a private institution, and is not in any way under Government control, although it has received grants from time to time out of the Consolidated Revenue, and receives payment from the Education Department on account of pupils for whose tuition the department is responsible.

The payments made on behalf of such pupils to the institute during the year 1902 amounted to £897 10s. 11d., towards which the parents contributed £54 9s. 6d. The number of pupils at the end of 1902 was twenty. Attendance is now compulsory for all blind children of school age and sound mind.

School for Deaf-mutes.

The roll of this school includes all the known deaf-mutes of school age and of sound intellect in the colony who have been brought under the notice of the Education Department.

The inclusion in the School Attendance Act of 1901 of provisions dealing with blind and deaf children marks an important step in the education of these unfortunate members of the community. Hitherto many parents, either through carelessness or wilfully, have neglected to send such children to the institutions maintained for their special instruction; but now the Minister of Education has the power to enforce attendance, due provision being made for a contribution by parents towards the cost of maintenance or for free admission where parents are not in a position to contribute. The immediate consequence is an unusual increase in the number of candidates for admission to the Sumner School for Deaf-mutes. The number in residence at the end of 1902 was thirty-five boys and twenty-five girls, or seven boys and four girls more than at the end of 1901.

The method of instruction used at Sumner is the oral method, in favour of which there is a vast predominance of expert opinion.

As regards the adoption of that system, the Minister of Education in his annual report remarks “It is a matter for congratulation that this colony from the first adopted the oral method of teaching, in which children are taught to converse by watching the lips of others. In America, where manual and mixed methods were at first largely in vogue, they are being rapidly discarded in favour of oral instruction, and New Zealand has accordingly been saved the expense and inconvenience of changing from inferior systems of deaf-mute education to that which is now almost universally admitted to be the best.”

Sunday Schools.

These are treated of further on, the information being obtained as part of the Census results.

SUBSIDISED PUBLIC LIBRARIES, 1902-1903.

The number of libraries participating in the vote of £3,000 granted for subsidies shows a decrease of five as compared with the number aided in the previous year. In order that the purpose intended to be served by the vote may be attained, it is made a condition for participation that the whole of the subsidy granted to each library in the previous year shall have been expended in the purchase of books.

Education Districts.Number Of Libraries.Income.Amount on which Subsidy is calculated.Amount of Subsidy.
 £s.d.£sd.£s.d.
Auckland842,202623,2654963883
Taranaki154103770519213808
Wanganui221,0907111,20813623669
Wellington182,923061,006421961310
Hawke's Bay25655191,10897216148
Marlborough51171502421504790
Nelson276041671,17139228193
Grey51695029450571010
Westland59514922014943210
North Canterbury651,633092,4779348462
South Canterbury1850510184347164167
Otago508871931,9571303821310
Southland24204169804169157610
Special grant to Chatham Islands113100381007100..
Totals36411,5138115,345333,00000

Chapter 33. SECTION III.—LAW AND CRIME.

CIVIL CASES.

SITTINGS of the Supreme Court are held for trial of civil cases at Auckland, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Napier, Palmerston North, Wellington, and Wanganui, in the North Island; and at Blenheim, Nelson, Hokitika, Christchurch, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill, in the Middle Island.

The number of writs of summons issued in the Supreme Court in 1902 was 488, against 485 in 1901, and 414 in 1900. The number of civil cases tried increased from 116 in 1901 to 167 in 1902. Of these last 36 were tried before common juries, 8 by special jury, and 123 by Judge without jury. The total of amounts for which judgments were recorded in 1902 was £23,209. There were 43 writs of execution issued during the year.

Forty-seven cases were commenced at ten District Courts in 1902. Sixteen of these cases were tried before juries, and 16 before a Judge only, making a total of 32 cases tried. Fourteen cases lapsed or were discontinued, and in 1 case judgment was pending. The total of amounts sued for was £7,776, and judgments were recorded for £1,587. Before the Magistrates' Courts 17,027 cases were tried, against 19,136 in 1901; the aggregate sum sued for during 1902 being £320,719, and the total for which judgment was given £159,133.

COURT OF APPEAL.

Three Grown (criminal) cases were reserved from the superior Courts to be brought before the Court of Appeal in 1903. In all the cases the convictions were affirmed. There were appeals from 19 civil cases, of which 7 were allowed and 12 dismissed. Judgments were given on 10 other cases removed to the Court of Appeal.

BANKRUPTCY.

The petitions in bankruptcy during 1902 numbered 205, of which 181 were made by debtors and 24 by creditors. This number is 17 fewer than the number of petitions for the preceding year.

Of the bankruptcies in 1902: in 2 cases the liabilities were under £50; in 35, from £50 to £100; in 60, from £100 to £250; in 51, from £250 to £500; in 30, from £500 to £1,000; in 13, from £1,000 to £2,000; in 11, from £2,000 to £5,000; in 3, £5,000 and upwards.

The following gives the number of petitions, the total amount of the unsecured assets, the amount of debts proved, and the amount paid in dividends and preferential claims for the years 1896 to 1902:—

Year.No. of Petitions in Bankruptcy.Debtors' Statements of Assets, excluding Amounts secured to Creditors.Amounts realised by Official Assignees.Amount of Debts proved.Amounts paid in Dividends and Preferential Claims.
  ££££
1896412115,45571,712256,87037,492
189741573,46640,942133,34445,015
189840790,06845,474285,15430,994
189938959,43434,268158,93130,084
190030477,689,53,415141,80037,411
190122258,65849,78184,45230,358
190220501,60439,386110,99529,406

The degree to which private assignment of estates is resorted to cannot be ascertained.

DIVORCE.

In 1898 the Legislature of New Zealand passed a Divorce Act, and the signification of Her Majesty's assent thereto was duly notified by His Excellency the Governor in a Proclamation dated the 1st April, 1899, bringing the Act into operation from the 1st June of that year.

This Act places persons of either sex practically on an equality as regards petitions for dissolution of marriage; the same grounds, in substance, for a decree of divorce applying to man or woman.

Besides this important alteration of the law, the grounds for divorce are extended as under:—

  1. Adultery, on either side.

  2. Wilful desertion continuously during five years or more.

  3. Habitual drunkenness on the part of husband, along with failing to support wife; or drunkenness and neglect, with unfitness to discharge household duties on the part of the wife.

  4. Conviction, with sentence of imprisonment or penal servitude for seven years or upwards, for attempting to take life of petitioner.

Every decree for dissolution of marriage is in the first instance to be a decree nisi, not to be made absolute till after the expiration of such time, being not less than three months from the pronouncing thereof, as the Court shall by order from time to time direct.

The petitioner need not necessarily move to make absolute any decree nisi that may be pronounced.

A decree for a judicial separation may be obtained either by the husband or wife on the ground of adultery, or of cruelty, or of desertion without cause for a period of two years.

The petitions in 1902 under “The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, 1867,” were 138 in number, being 1 less than those for 1901: 136 were for dissolution of marriage, and 2 for judicial separation; 91 decrees for dissolution of marriage were granted. The proceedings under the Act for the years 1896 to 1902, were as follows: —

Year.Petitions forDecrees for
Dissolution of Marriage.Judicial Separation.Dissolution of Marriage.Judicial Separation.
1896556362
18974810331
18985113322
189911214616
19001115853
190113811031
1902136291..

The Act of 1898 has evidently operated in the direction of increasing largely (but probably in the main temporarily) the number of petitions and decrees for dissolution of marriage or judicial separation.

The proportion of petitions and decrees for dissolution of marriage to the number of marriages was up till 1898 higher in New Zealand than in England and Wales, but lower than in New South Wales or Victoria. The full effect of the operation of the new law in New Zealand has now, however, to be experienced.

As early as 1889 an Act was passed in Victoria to allow of divorces being granted for wilful desertion, habitual drunkenness with cruelty or neglect, imprisonment under certain circumstances of either party, and adultery on the part of the husband. This multiplication of the causes for divorce has largely increased the proportion of decrees in that State.

An Act of a similar tenor was passed in New South Wales in 1892, and brought into working in August of that year, under which, and an amending Act of 1893, in addition to adultery since marriage on the part of the wife, and adultery and cruelty on the part of the husband, petitions for divorce can now be granted in that State on any of the following grounds:—

Husband v. wife: Desertion for not less than three years; habitual drunkenness for a similar period; refusing to obey an order for restitution of conjugal rights; being imprisoned under a sentence of three years or upwards; attempt to murder or inflict grievous bodily harm, or repeated assaults on him within one year previously.

Wife v. husband: Adultery, provided that at the time of the institution of the suit the husband is domiciled in New South Wales; desertion for not less than three years; habitual drunkenness with cruelty or neglect to support for the same period; refusing to obey an order for restitution of conjugal rights; being imprisoned for three years or upwards, or having within five years undergone various sentences amounting in all to not less than three years; attempt to murder, or assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, or repeated assaults within one year previously.

To entitle either party to seek relief on these grounds, he or she must have been domiciled in the State at the time of instituting the suit for three years or upwards, and should not have resorted to the State for the purpose of the suit. When a wife seeks for a decree on the ground of three years' desertion, if she was domiciled in New South Wales when the desertion commenced, she shall not be deemed to have lost her domicile by reason of her husband having thereafter acquired a foreign domicile.

The divorces in New South Wales and Victoria since the divorce law has been altered in the direction of increasing the grounds for decrees are as under. With these are given the figures for New Zealand under the old law up to 1898, and according to the new Act up to 1902. The figures for New South Wales tend to show that on altering the law there was a large accumulation of cases to get rid of, which increased the number of decrees to a degree which was not subsequently maintained.

Year.New South Wales. Divorces.Victoria. Divorces.New Zealand. Divorces

* Act of 1898 in force in New Zealand.

18933068525
18943138120
18953018518
189628410636
189724611733
18982478732
1899*23210546
1900*2199385
1901*25283103
1902*24510991

CRIMINAL CASES.

Charges before Magistrates.

The number of charges heard before the Magistrates' Courts in 1902 was 28,527. Repeated charges against the same person are counted as distinct. Of the charges in 1902, 451 were against persons of the aboriginal native race an increase of 11 on the number for the previous year.

If the Maoris be excluded, the number of charges (exclusive of lunacy) in 1902 is found to have been 28,076, an increase of 2,251 upon the number for 1901; and the proportion per 1,000 of population was 35.19, against 33.20 in 1901.

Persons charged with lunacy and committed to asylums have been excluded from the calculations for this and previous years shown, so that the figures now given will differ somewhat from those appearing in former issues of this book.

The figures, both numerical and proportional, covering a period of twenty-one years are subjoined:—

CHARGES BEFORE MAGISTRATES.

Year.Number.Proportion per 1,000 of Mean Population.
188221,62242.45
188522,29738.89
188818,37030.35
189116,71426.54
189416,82024.76
189719,39026.87
189821,66829.42
189922,11329.48
190024,08431.54
190125,82533.20
190228,07635.19

Summary Convictions, and Convictions in Superior Courts.

The summary convictions in 1902 numbered 22,455, including 330 Maoris. 802 persons, 37 of whom were Maoris, were committed for trial at the Supreme and District Courts, an increase of 46 on the number committed in 1901.

Dealing with the summary convictions, and convictions in the superior Courts, for all offences, the figures for 1898 and onwards (excluding the Maoris) are:—

..SUMMARY CONVICTIONS.CONVICTIONS IN SUPERIOR COURTS.
Years.Number.Proportion per 1,000 of Mean Population.Number.Proportion per 1,000 of Mean Population.
1898—
  Offences against the person6900.94530.07
  Offences against property1,5652.132840.39
  Other offences13,91718.90140.02
Totals16,17221.973510.48
1899—
  Offences against the person6780.90790.11
  Offences against property1,5492.072730.36
  Other offences14,58319.44240.03
Totals16,81022.413760.50
1900—
  Offences against the person7240.95790.10
  Offences against property1,4761.932710.35
  Other offences16,28521.33190.02
Totals18,48524.210.47..
1901—
  Offences against the person7781.00910.12
  Offences against property1,7362.232130.27
  Other offences17,81222.90240.03
Totals20,32626.133280.42
1902—
  Offences against the person5400.68820.10
  Offences against property1,7592.202230.28
  Other offences19,82624.85290.04
Totals22,12527.733340.42

Including 5 Maoris, the convictions in the superior Courts numbered 339 (persons). Particulars of sentences for these higher Courts, and of the punishments consequent on summary convictions in the lower Courts, are appended in two tables:—

TABLE SHOWING THE SENTENCES OF CRIMINALS TRIED AND CONVICTED IN THE SUPREME AND DISTRICT COURTS DURING FIVE YEARS.
Punishments.18981899.1900.1901.1902.

* Including 35 Maoris.

† Including 7 Maoris.

‡ Including 22 Maoris.

§Including 26 Maoris.

║ Including 5 Maoris.

Death3..11..
Imprisonment with or without hard labour286306286272253
Fined1922179
Imprisonment with whipping2221 
Released under “The First Offenders' Probation Act, 1886”5061745163
Held to bail, or awaiting pleasure of Court2112251212
Sent to lunatic asylum3........
Sent to industrial school2..1..2
Totals*386383391*354339
TABLE SHOWING THE PUNISHMENTS INFLICTED CONSEQUENT ON SUMMARY CONVICTIONS DURING FIVE YEARS.
Punishments.1898.1699.1900.1901.1902.
Fine8,1498,2299,2069,90511,471
Imprisonment in lieu of fine1,4101,7621,8951,9101,874
Peremptory imprisonment1,6161,6831,7231,9481,734
Recognisance111118121105123
Whipping1828152035
Other4,8684,9905,5256,4386,888
Totals16,17216,81018,48520,32622,125

N.B.—Maoris have been excluded from this table.

Drunkenness.

Excluding Maoris, the proportion of convictions for drunkenness per 1,000 of population was 7.41 in 1898, 8.26 in 1899, 9.50 in 1900, 10.32 in 1901, and 10.34 in 1902. The number of convictions to which the proportions for the years 1898 to 1902 relate were as under:—

Year.Number.
18985,458
18996,194
19007,252
19018,032
19028,244

The totals of charges for drunkenness for the same years were:—

Year.Number.
18985,559
18996,279
19007,319
19018,086
19028,311

Among the New - Zealand - born population of European descent there is evidence of less drunkenness than among persons who have come to the colony from abroad. At the census of 1901, out of the total population of New Zealand over 15 years of age, 51.85 per cent. were found to have been born here while the proportion of the convictions for drunkenness of New-Zealand-born Europeans to the total convictions was in the year 1900 about 17 per cent. only.

During the five years, 1898 to 1902 inclusive, the consumption of beer in the colony per inhabitant would seem to have increased, the proportion having been 8 gallons in the earlier year, against 8.8 gallons in the later one. Excluding the Maoris, the same result is found to obtain, the figures being 8.4 for the year 1898 and 9.3 for 1902. Wine and spirits also show an increase in the consumption per head of population.

The following calculations are made to show the results, including and excluding Maoris:—

CONSUMPTION OF BEER, WINE, AND SPIRITS PER HEAD OF POPULATION (INCLUDING AND EXCLUDING MAORIS).

Year.Including Maoris.Excluding Maoris.
Beer.Wine.Spirits.Beer.Wine.Spirits.
 Gal.Gal.Gal.Gal.Gal.Gal.
18987.9950.1390.6348.4270.1460.668
18998.1500.1410.6538.5830.1480.687
19008.6960.1450.6849.1500.1520.720
19018.9190.1510.7269.4130.1590.766
19028.7770.1500.7169.2520.1580.755

The actual quantities of beer, wine, and spirits used in the colony were, for the five years:—

Year.Beer for Consumption.Wine for Consumption.Spirits for Consumption.
Gals.Gals.Gals.
18986,204,700107,595191,846
18996,437,140111,049515,381
19006,986,900116,188549,932
19017,323,290123,592596,071
19027,380,883126,450602,021

In Australia the consumption per bead of alcoholic liquors is greater than it is here. The average for three years, according to Mr. Coghlan, is quoted below:—

 Spirits.Wine.Beer.
Gal.Gal.Gal.
Per Head.Per Head.Per Head.
New South Wales0.880.6610.75
Victoria0.791.2212.70
Queensland1.030.3811.14
South Australia0.481.298.99
Western Australia1.550.8725.83
Tasmania0.510.169.18
New Zealand0.750.169.27

In each of these States, with the exception of Tasmania and South Australia, charges for drunkenness are, in proportion to population, far more numerous than in New Zealand. The order of the States for the year 1900 in this respect is, to quote from the same authority, as under:—

CHARGES OF DRUNKENNESS IN PROPORTION TO POPULATION.

Queensland  19.02 per 1,000
Western Australia  15.56
New South Wales  15.39
Victoria  14.43
New Zealand  12.35

“The Inebriates Institutions Act, 1898.”

Under this law, the Governor in Council may direct that any building or establishment which is the property of the Crown shall be an institution for inebriates: and he may appoint superintendents with other officers.

Power is also given to make regulations for the management supervision, and inspection of these institutions, any of which may be separated into two divisions, with different scales of accommodation, and fees to be paid by patients.

An inebriate may himself make application to a Judge or Magistrate for an order committing him to an institution. Or, if the husband, wife, or any relation or friend of any inebriate applies, the Judge or Magistrate may summon the inebriate to show cause why he should not be committed: when, if necessary, he may be compulsorily dealt with.

There are penalties for improper treatment of patients, and a patient is also liable if, misconducting himself. It is also enacted that, during the continuance of an order, an escaped inebriate may be retaken.

An amendment Act of 1903 authorises the separation of curable inebriates from those deemed to be incurable, and the establishment of institutions for the reception of curable inebriates only.

A home has been established at Waitati, near Seacliff.

Crime amongst Maoris

The Native population of the colony has hitherto been regarded as stationary, and comparisons of the numbers of summary convictions by the higher and lower Courts are given. The number for 1897 is swelled by 108 persons convicted of trespass. The figures relating to the convictions by the superior Courts are small and fluctuating, the proportionately large increase in 1898 being caused by the inclusion of sixteen convicted of conspiring to prevent the collection of taxes.

SUMMARY CONVICTIONS OF MAORIS.

Year.Number.
1891298
1892293
1893253
1894321
1895316
1896332
1897450
1898349
1899300
1900253
1901298
1902330

CONVICTIONS OF MAORIS IN SUPERIOR COURTS.

Year.Convictions.Number of Persons convicted.
189177
18921615
18931312
18942524
18951751
18961919
18971612
18982135
189987
19002222
19012626
190255

Prisoners in Gaol.

The total number of prisoners received in the different gaols of the colony during the year 1902 was 4,050, including persons awaiting trial but not convicted within the year, and counting as distinct persons repeated admissions of the same person, as well as transfers from gaol to gaol of convicts undergoing sentence. In 1901 the number received was 4,302, so that the figures for 1902 show a decrease of 252. Of 4,050 admissions for 1902, 10 were for debt, and 43 on account of lunacy; while 117 were Maoris imprisoned for various offences. If the debtors, lunatics, and Maoris be excluded, the number of persons received into gaol is reduced to 3,880, against 4,094 in 1901.

The number of persons in gaol (including Maoris) at the end of the year 1902 was 653, or 60 less than in 1901.

PRISONERS IN GAOL (31ST DECEMBER).

Year.Undergoing Sentence.Debtors and LunaticsOn Remand and awaiting Trial.Total.
1889611319633
1891494436534
1893463633502
1895531546582
189762351674..
1899508..58566
1900527..41568
1901661151713
1902602..51653

Of the prisoners previously convicted received in 1902, 379 men and 41 women had been convicted once; 253 men and 34 women twice; 929 men and 346 women three or more times: making a total of 1,561 men and 421 women.

Besides the returns from the Prisons Department, a separate card for each admission is furnished for every gaol. Such cards as show convictions are arranged alphabetically according to name of prisoner, and where several are found referring to the same person, all are thrown out but one; then the number of cards retained equals the actual number of distinct convicted prisoners received in the various gaols during the year. In 1902 this number (excluding Maoris) was 2,396, an increase of 51 on the number in 1901. These figures do not include children committed to the industrial schools simply on the ground that they are neglected or destitute.

The following table shows the number of distinct persons (exclusive of Maoris) received into gaol after conviction during 1902, classified according to nature of offence, religion, birthplace, and age:—

DISTINCT CONVICTED PRISONERS RECEIVED INTO GAOL, 1902.

Offences against the Person.Offences against Property.Miscellaneous.Totals.
Convicted on Indictment.Summarily convicted.Theft and Deceit.Mischief.Vagrancy.Drunkenness.*Other Offences.

* It must be remembered that drunkenness is punished more by fine than by imprisonment, so that the figures in the gaol tables do not represent the full number of persons punished for that offence.

[NOTE.—In this table a prisoner convicted of more than one offence during the year is reckoned once only, under the heading of the principal offence—e.g., a prisoner convicted three times of drunkenness, twice of vagrancy, and once of theft, is counted only once, under the heading “Theft.” Debtors and lunatics received into gaol, and children committed to the industrial schools not convicted of any crime, are omitted.]

Religions—M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.
Church of England261522291151511012123539188590887
Roman Catholic20111117672318033169521606689101
Presbyterian5118178711..5191142187136443
Wesleyan315..2314..41203211807
Others4..6..361214228222..1125
Totals58412246043155225069586120478132,153243
Birthplaces—................................
England and Wales17..2421544141781320-432137262854
Scotland4..12..5435..29893958..25520
Ireland8..17..61710150141234361133166
New Zealand1744422451420..58288523134760378
Australian States7..6..4223..13528841114016
Other British possessions..2..71..4..62101..294..
China........2..1..1......1..5..
Other countries5..17..39..2..1714633811625
Totals Ages—................................
Under 10 years5812246043155225060586120478132153243
10 and under 12 years................................
12 and under 15 years........2..................2..
15 and under 20 years2..1..7346....13..17..1025
20 and under 25 years8136112468..274121104234918
25 and under 30 years7126111048..2812601086132529
30 and under 40 years172302156410..532113736116551970
40 and under 50 years10..18..83512155191503578340663
50 and under 60 years8..6..4468145121142150227542
60 years and over6..5..1223..4269801427..17516
Totals58412246043155225069586120478132,153243
Totals, 190181713965422940424811054211547572,067278

The number of distinct persons (exclusive of Maoris) imprisoned after conviction, in the past thirteen years, counting one offence only when the same person was imprisoned more than once, with the proportion per 10,000 persons living, is added:—

Distinct Persons imprisoned after Conviction.
YearPrisoners.Proportion per 10,000 of Population.
18902,39738.61
18912,11333.55
18922,16433.69
18932,11131.92
18941,95528.78
18951,93027.87
18961,93627.11
18971,88425.84
18981,98226.92
18992.12528.33
19002.11627.71
19012,34530.14
19022,39630.03

There has been since 1890 a reduction of 8.58 per 10,000 in the proportion to population. In New South Wales the proportion for 1898 was 66 per 10,000 persons.

It must be understood that the actual number of imprisonments was much in excess of the figures given, as many persons were several times imprisoned, either for offences differing in kind or for repetitions of the same offence. Thus, persons returned as imprisoned for larceny underwent other imprisonments for drunkenness, &c. Some returned as convicted of drunkenness were several tunes in gaol during the year for the same offence, or for another, such as assault, riotous or indecent conduct, &c. Often there were several charges preferred against the same person at the one time, of which the most serious followed by conviction has been selected.

The proportions in every 100 distinct convicted prisoners belonging to each of the four principal religious denominations, with proportions of prisoners at each age-period, and particulars as to birthplaces and ages, will be found in the Statistical Volume for 1902. on pages 502 and 505.

Cost of Prisoners.

The prisoners in gaols during the year 1902 were maintained at a net cost to the State of £24 16s. 4d. per head, against £26 14s. 1d. in 1901.

Crime amongst the New-Zealand-born.

While the New-Zealand-born formed at the last census 67 per cent. of the whole population of the colony, they contributed in 1902 only 28 per cent. of the prisoners received in gaol. Of the New-Zealand-born population, however, a large number are under 15 years of age, a period of life at which there are very few prisoners; and, therefore, another comparison is necessary. It is found that the New-Zealand-born over 15 years formed 52 per cent. of the total population above that age; but, as before stated, New-Zealanders constituted only 28 per cent. of the total number received in gaols.

The total number of New-Zealand-born distinct prisoners (excluding Maoris) received for the year 1902—681 persons—is found to be 35 in excess of the number for 1901. Of those received in 1902, 84 were under twenty years of age. As before stated, the plan adopted in preparing the foregoing tables is to count each prisoner only once, and to exclude all who are not convicted prisoners, besides dealing only with the number received during the year, instead of with the full number in gaol, which would, of course, include those brought forward from the previous year. The comparative results for a series of years given by this method are held to be more valuable than those brought out by one which includes prisoners merely awaiting trial, and continual repetitions of the same individuals.

Remarks by the Inspector of Prisons.

In his report of the year 1903, the Inspector of Prisons thus comments on the work of the tree-planting prison at Waiotapu, the establishment of which was mentioned in previous Year-books:—

The tree-planting prison camp at Waiotapu has now got beyond an experiment, and is turning out a great success. There are at present 41 prisoners there and 4 officers. For the nature of the work done there, reference is directed to the extracts from the report of the Gaoler attached. There have been no punishments, and it has been only necessary to remove 3 prisoners for grumbling; while, on the other hand, there have been numerous requests to be sent there, and those prisoners who are there have certainly done good work. The class of prisoners suitable for such camp life is of course limited, but it is intended to establish shortly a similar establishment for a like purpose at Hanmer, which will take all suitable prisoners from Wellington and the South Island prisons, while Waiotapu can be made available for prisoners from the North Island with the exception of Wellington; and another party for tree-planting is likely to be sent to Somes Island this season.

First Offenders' Probation Act.

One hundred and twenty-seven persons were placed on probation in the year 1902, as against 97 in 1901. Of these, 24 were discharged after satisfactorily carrying out the conditions of their licenses, 6 were rearrested, and 97 remained under the supervision of Probation Officers.

Of the 1,456 persons placed on probation since the introduction of the Act in October, 1886, no less than 1,199 had, by the end of the year 1902, been discharged after satisfactorily carrying out the conditions of their licenses, 91 have been rearrested and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, 1 committed suicide, 1 died, 34 absconded, 1 was sent to a lunatic asylum, and 129 remained fulfilling the conditions of their terms of probation.

The amount of costs which the various Courts directed to be paid during the year 1902 was £436 19s., of which £209 1s. has been actually paid. The approximate cost of keeping these first offenders had they been sent to prison would have amounted to £4,523, which sum, added to the amount of costs, &c., actually paid, represents a saving of £4,732 1s.

Inquests.

The number of bodies on which inquests were held in 1902 was 1,038, including 42 Maoris. In 785 cases the bodies were of males, and in 253 of females.

The inquests on suicidal deaths in 1902 show a decrease on the number for the previous year. The figures for each of the last six years were:—

Year.Inquests on Suicides.
Males.Females.Total.
1897421153
189869877
1899611374
1900521163
1901711384
190269574

The verdicts given at the inquests held in 1902 may be classified as under:—

Nature of Verdict.Inquests on Persons.
Males.Females.Total.
Accident35775432
Disease and natural causes326167493
Intemperance10111
Homicide336
Suicide69574
Execution......
Not classed20022
..7852531,038

Of the accidental deaths, drowning is the most fatal form. The verdicts show that 137 bodies were found drowned, giving a percentage of 31.71 on the accidental deaths from all causes.

Fire Inquests.

The inquests on tires held during 1902 numbered 24. In five cases the verdict was incendiarism; in two, accident; in three there was not sufficient evidence to show cause; and in fourteen no evidence was forthcoming.

Chapter 34. SECTION IV.—IMPORTS; CUSTOMS AND EXCISE REVENUE.

IMPORTS.

THE quantities and values of imports used in making up the figures given in this portion of the statistical information are obtained from Customs entries, verified where necessary, as with goods subject to an ad valorem duty, by examination. In estimating the value of imports, ad valorem goods are taken at their invoice value increased by 10 per cent., and include the value of case, cask, or covering (sec. 39, “Customs Laws Consolidation Act, 1882”). Value of all other goods includes freight and charges to time of arrival at port of discharge. Goods transhipped at a foreign port are regarded as imported from the country where they were originally shipped. The countries named, however, may not be those of origin, as no attempt is made to trace the goods beyond the ports disclosed by the documents presented to the Customs. Very little cargo in transitu passes through New Zealand.

The total declared values of the imports in 1903 amounted to £12,788,675, being an increase on the corresponding total in 1902 of £1,461,952. These figures, however, include specie. The value of coin brought into the colony in 1903 was £712,716, against £368,685 in the previous year, and if these amounts are excluded, the increase on the values of all other articles will be only £1,117,921.

The value of imports for each of the past sixteen years was:—

Year.Imports, inclusive of Specie.Imports, exclusive of Specie.
££
18885,941,9005,430,050
18896,308,8635,980,583
18906,260,5055,928,625
18916,503,8496,431,101
18926,943,0566,742,544
18936,911,5156,494,279
18946,788,0205,990,177
18956,400,1296,115,953
18967,137,3207,035,379
18978,055,2237,994,201
18988,230,6008,211,409
18998,739,6338,613,636
190010,646,09610,207,326
190111,817,91511,353,416
19021,326,72310,958,038
190312,788,67512,675,959

In 1901 the Government imported railway plant valued at half a million sterling, against far smaller quantities introduced in 1902 and 1903.

It will be seen that the value of imports, exclusive of specie, rose from £5,430,050 in 1888 to £6,742,544 in 1892, then fell to £5,990,177 in 1894, after which there ensued a steady advance year by year to £11,353,416 in 1901, with a substantial increase in 1903. The movement for 1894-1903 shows that the imports have more than doubled in value during that period. In quantities of various imports the increases vary, and full particulars of every kind of article imported in 1903 are to be found in detail further on, which may be critically examined with those in similar tables given in the previous Year-books.

The degree of expenditure of loan moneys raised abroad by the general and local Governments somewhat affects the question when considering the rise of imports. And, when consulting the figures relating to expenditure out of loan accounts, the matter of aids from the Consolidated Fund (which are included) presents itself, besides other features in connection with this subject.

The expansion of imports is still further to be considered in connection with the condition of the manufactures of the colony, for an increase of imports arising from a decline of internal manufactures would scarcely be regarded as a satisfactory position. But there has been great development of the manufactures of New Zealand since 1895, not only in the great primary industries, but throughout.

It is desirable to consider not only the total value of the import trade for different years by comparing figures, but to ascertain the rates per capita of population, to judge whether the imports are relatively greater or less than they have been. The fairest comparisons are from calculations made after deducting specie imported, for in the year 1894, as an instance, no less than £797,843 was brought to the colony in coin, and last year (1903) the amount was £712,716. The figures for each year from 1888 stand thus:—

Years.Imports per head of mean Population, excluding Maoris.
Including Specie.Excluding Specie.
 £s.d.£s.d.
188891648195
188910569156
189010029110
189110661043
18921016310911
189310909165
1894919118165
189594108168..
1896101119191
189711331117
189811371131
1899111311198
19001318101374
190115310141111
19021431113148
190315111014145

Using the figures exclusive of the specie, it will be seen that, though comparisons for years since 1888 do not show by any means a steady rise since that year, the position is, that whereas the imports proper were only £8 19s. 5d. per head of population in the first period of the table, they had increased by £5 15s. per head in 1903, and, with the exception of 1902, increase is observed in each year's figures since 1894.

By means of the accompanying table, in which the articles imported are arranged in groups according to their nature, the increases in value can be traced to their specific heads:—

IMPORTS FOR FIVE YEARS.
Group of Principal Articles imported.1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.

* Includes methylated and perfumed spirits, and spirits of wine.

 £££££
Apparel and slops393,689451,879463,194511,397582,997
Boots and shoes151,593194,811211,215202,931245,639
Cotton piece-goods447,495514,607470,568498,485556,564
Drapery395,696438,299443,863449,503511,717
Haberdashery84,80895,401110,746102,569118,049
Hats and caps68,18466,79970,01375,22277,853
Hosiery90,545103,291101,481115,071125,618
Linen manufactures69,16783,20689,91571,17094,794
Millinery36,93243,31343,38045,70160,503
Silks87,63997,922121,937139,522128,223
Woollens297,387330,713348,666393,033436,161
Totals2,123,1352,420,2412,474,9782,604,6042,938,118
Agricultural implements17,06313,50810,74411,5189,001
Cutlery19,76423,08927,14929,99327,160
Hardware and iron-mongery255,701330,314315,239334,965355,562
Hails and railway bolts, &c.63,557118,464148,34485,163131,592
Iron and steel, other, pig, wrought, wire, &c.632,182865,361682,906315,260795,758
Machinery405,551536,429600,019561,649642,075
Nails31,36348,05040,03444,11439,440
Railway plant63,80763,128514,511122,303122,164
Sewing-machines30,80137,42938,22737,00551,095
Tools, artificers59,06677,44784,52388,27398,076
Totals1,578,8552,113,2192,461,6962,130,2432,271,923
Sugar354,925451,522489,936402,138441,843
Tea183,691199,934219,089197,127204,236
Totals538,616651,456709,025599,265646,079
Beer39,16634,29634,94943,62738,620
Spirits*215,685198,282243,824235,369246,263
Tobacco184,173198,861221,889212,634260,478
Wine51,64055,09863,83760,35057,560
Totals490,664486,537564,499551,980602,921
Paper135,482174,111184,986181,486212,541
Printed books132,260136,891140,347149,194171,672
Stationery100,87596,408113,422112,676136,968
Totals368,617407,410438,755443,356521,181
Arms, ammunition, and explosives91,118111,859201,683129,733138,146
Bags and sacks123,596141,810214,987135,674109,040
Bicycles and tricycles57,61650,41754,05752,63371,082
Bicycles and tricycles, fittings for54,99968,22871,17381,54490,487
Coals92,815120,406151,334125,732158,143
Drugs, chemicals, and druggist's wares186,598187,821212,130240,841261,864
Fancy goods110,114128,339145,356148,072177,227
Fruits (including fresh, preserved, bottled, dried)180,590226,128248,985175,366233,382
Glass and glassware104,524111,847133,434138,908145,059
Manures116,395112,287134,186154,964129,711
Musical instruments86,40597,678116,396110,663113,849
Oils126,967206,770238,396251,415248,859
Timber83,084104,927179,152146,561163,497
Other imports (excluding specie)2,098,9482,459,9462,602,8942,736,4843,064,391
Total Imports (excluding specie)8,613,65610,207,32611,353,41610,958,03812,075,959
Specie imported125,977438,770464,499368,685712,716
Total Imports8,739,63310,646,09611,817,91511,326,72312,788,675

Of £12,075,959 the total value of goods imported during 1906, the chief items were as under:—

Articles.Value.Proportion per Cent
 £..
Clothing, drapery, &c.2,938,11824.33
Metal, machinery, and implements2,271,92318.81
Tea and sugar646,0795.35
Wine, beer, spirits, and tobacco602,9214.99
Paper, books, and stationery521,1814.32
Other imports5,095,73742.20
..£12,075,959100.00

The declared value of the clothing, drapery, &c., imported increased from £2,601,604 in 1902 to £2,938,118 in 1903. In 1899 the value of these imports was £2,123,135. The iron, machinery, and implements imported in 1903 were valued at £2,271,923, an increase of £693,068 on the corresponding figures for 1899 (£1,578,855). The value of sugar and tea imported in 1903 shows an increase, when compared with 1902, of £46,814. Beer, wine, spirits, and tobacco show an increase of £50,941, from £551,980 in 1902 to £602,921 in 1903.

To the total value of “Other imports (excluding specie),” in 1903 (£3,064,391), shown in the table above, patent medicines contributed a sum of £49,182: earthenware, £61,308; floorcloth and oilcloth, £86,242; furniture and upholstery, £72,457; cement, £75,148; leather and leather manufactures, £95,594; and seeds, £94,771.

Goods imported by means of the “Parcels post” system during 1903 were valued at £151,236.

Goods received from the Cook and other annexed Islands are now treated as New Zealand produce, and not as imports. The total in 1903 was valued at £38,708, and the principal articles of produce as follows. Bêche-de-mer, £33; limejuice, £1,060; raw coffee, £1,470; copra, £3,529; fruit, £26,009; candle-nuts, £464; cocoanuts, £490; shell, £2,800; hats, £2,613.

VALUE OF FREE AND DUTIABLE IMPORTS.

The values of the imports into New Zealand during the years 1902 and 1903 are given in the next table, classified according to the duties to which they were liable, and arranged so as to show the declared value of goods on which specific or ad valorem duties at various rates are payable, and of those admitted free of duty:—

Duties to which Imports liable.Value of Imports, 1902Value of Imports, 1903.
 ££££
Specific duties..2,3952742,613,361
Ad valorem duties—
  5 per cent.176,607....187,112
  10 per cent...226,994..251,659
  15 per cent.177,041....206,961
  20 per cent.2,496,376....2,765,964
  22 1/2 per cent.201,967....246,111
  25 per cent.1,084,133....1,258,605
  30 per cent.....1,090..
  33 3/4 per cent.....30..
  37 1/2 per cent.....162..
  40 per cent.1.166..814..
  Various1,584..1,502..
....4,365 868..4,920,010
Parcels-post (various)123912..151,236
Duty-free (excluding specie)..4,072,984..4,391,352
Specie imported..368,685..712,716
Totals..11,326,723..12,788,675

The proportions of free and dutiable goods imported during 1899, 1900, 1902, and 1903 are compared with similar figures for 1894, the year preceding that in which the altered tariff came into force:—

1894.1899.1900.1902.1903.

* Including excise duties levied on certain imports manufactured in bond.

..£££££
Merchandise—
  Free1,871,7722,942,9993,727,9264,072,9844,391,352
  Dutiable4,118,4055,670,6576,479,4006,885,0547,684,607
  Imports (less specie)5,990,1778,613,65610,207,32610,958,03812,075,959
  Total net duty received*1,572,4672,046,4522,174,4982,289,7832,507,478
Duty, per cent. of imports—Per Cent.Per Cent.Per Cent.Per Cent.Per Cent.
  (a.) On dutiable imports38.1836.0933.5633.2632.63
  (b.) On all merchandise26.2523.7621.3020.9020.76

SUGAR.

The value of sugar (including glucose, molasses, and treacle) imported in 1903 was £441,843, an increase of £39,705 on the amount for 1902 (£402,138). The value of this import for the last three years has averaged only £444,639 per annum; but for the three years, 1882, 1883, and 1884, the average, with a much smaller population, was £615,207 for each year. The smaller average amount for the last three years is due, not so much to a reduction in the quantity imported as to the fall in the price of sugar, and partly to the fact that the proportion of refined to raw sugar has vastly deer-eased.

The following figures, giving the average consumption per head of sugar in Australasia, are, saving those for New Zealand—and excluding a proportion (30 lb. per head) deducted on account of Maoris —taken from Mr. Coghlan's “Statistical account of Australia and New Zealand, 1902-1903.” The figures stating the consumption of tea, wine, beer, spirits, and tobacco, given further on, are also taken from the same source:—

ANNUAL CONSUMPTION OF SUGAR PER HEAD IN AUSTRALASIA.
..Lb.
Queensland128.9
New Zealand110.3
Western Australia110.1
New South Wales109.0
South Australia109.1
Tasmania96.1
Victoria95.0

TEA.

The quantity of tea entered for consumption in 1903 was 5,232,721 lb. Supposing Maoris to use, on an average, 1 lb. per head per annum, the consumption of tea per head of the population, exclusive of Maoris, would be 6.3 lb. in 1903.

AVERAGE ANNUAL CONSUMPTION OF TEA PER HEAD IN AUSTRALASIA.

..Lb.
Western Australia9.9
South Australia8.3
New South Wales7.7
Queensland7.3
Victoria6.8
New Zealand6.3
Tasmania6.2

BEER, SPIRITS, AND WINE.

During 1903 excise duty was paid on 7,555,200 gallons of beer; and 204,126 gallons of beer, 619,649 gallons of spirits, and 122,490 gallons of wine were entered at the Customs for home consumption.

The actual quantity of beer made and used in the colony has increased from 4,243,760 gallons in 1886 to 7,555,200 gallons in 1903:—

BEER MANUFACTURED IN NEW ZEALAND ON WHICH EXCISE DUTY WAS PAID.
..Gal.
18864,243,760
18874,264,160
18884,050,560
18894,402,480
18904,676,240
18914,567,920
18924,752,720
18934,873,600
18944,807,360
18954,936,400
18965,382,960
18975,741,200
18980,013,120
18990,261,200
19000,811,280
19017,134,800
19027,179,360
19037,555,200

The following table gives the consumption per head of alcoholic liquors by the people, excluding and including Maoris, showing separately the proportions of beer, wine, and spirits from 1883 to 1903. To the amount of beer manufactured in the colony in each year on which excise duty was paid has been added the amount brought into consumption from imports:—

Year.Beer.Spirits.Wine.
Excluding Maoris.Including Maoris.Excluding Maoris.Including Maoris.Excluding Maoris.Including Maoris.
 Gal.Gal.Gal.Gal.Gal.
18839.4358.7091.0881.0050.3150.291
18867.8617.3330.8200.7650.2120.198
18897.6247.1360.5980.5600.1760.165
18927.8077.3280.7080.6640.1740.163
18957.4216.9960.6290.5930.1350.127
18988.4277.9950.6680.6340.1460.139
18998.5838.1500.6870.6530.1480.141
19009.1508.6960.7200.6840.1520.145
19019.4138.9190.7660.7260.1590.151
19029.2528.7770.7550.7160.1580.150
19039.4608.9870.7550.7180.1490.142

A comparison of the average annual consumption of beer, spirits, and wine per head in Australasia is added:—

Beer.Spirits.Wine.
..Gal.Gal.Gal.
Queensland11.141.030.38
New South Wales10.750.880.66
Victoria12.700.791.22
South Australia8.990.481.29
Western Australia25.831.550.87
Tasmania9.180.510.16
New Zealand (including Maoris)9.270.750.16

TOBACCO.

The tobacco entered for consumption in 1903 was 2,164,244 lb., and the consumption per head of population, including Maoris, 2.51 lb.

AVERAGE ANNUAL CONSUMPTION PER HEAD OF TOBACCO IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES.
..Lb.
Holland6.92
Western Australia4.81
United States4.40
Turkey4.37
Austria-Hungary3.77
Denmark3.70
Switzerland3.24
Belgium3.15
Germany3.00
Queensland2.97
New South Wales2.70
New Zealand2.51
Victoria2.22
Canada2.11
Tasmania2.05
France2.05
South Australia2.00
Sweden1.87
Spain United Kingdom1.70
Italy1.34
Russia1.23

IMPORTS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

The imports from the United Kingdom to New Zealand in 1963 were valued at £7,512,668, an increase of £661,216 on the value of goods imported from the Home-country during the previous year. From British colonies and possessions the imports were £3,135,474, an increase of £565,969 on the amount in 1902.

Figures for ten years are given, showing that imports from British possessions only increased by 72.20 per cent., whereas those from foreign States advanced at the far higher rate of 254.16 per cent., mainly in consequence of the development of inwards trade with the United States of America about which full particulars will be found further on:—

 Imports from
United Kingdom.British Colonies and Possessions.Foreign States.
..£££
18943,949,7702,233,860604,390
18953,992,3591,794,849612,921
18963,714,4761,628,661794,183
18975,392,7381,662,985999,500
18985,148,8331,927,8171,153,950
18995,526,6452,036,7971,176,191
19006,504,4842,625,3721,516,240
19016,885,8312,913,8662,018,218
19026,851,4522,569,5051,905,766
19037,512,6683,135,4742,140,533

The following are the values of imports from different countries or places in 1903 and 1902, given in the order of the increase or decrease from each:—

Country, Colony, State, &c.1903.1902.Increase.
£££
United Kingdom7,512,6686,851,452661,216
New South Wales1,229,127871,593357,531
Fiji461,988327,972134,016
United States of America1,441,3581,318,937122,421
Victoria816,003748,31367,690
Germany274,297210,56063,737
Belgium133,14086,23646,904
Japan86,19256,08730,105
Western Australia33,1767,33625,840
Ceylon138,959125,89113,068
Canada46,12033,51612,604
Sumatra11,026..11,026
Italy20,50111,1299,372
Greece21,83914,0977,742
Asia Minor22,78715,2507,537
Prance42,76535,5727,193
Holland16,76010,3636,397
Borneo5,667..5,667
Singapore26,95423,1133,841
Philippine Islands10,8288,1032,725
British Columbia22,20919,8582,351
Burmah3,5412,2341,307
Hongkong19,56818,670898
Tasmania34,81133,927884
Spain1,822988834
Portugal1,069600469
Newfoundland423..423
Denmark2,1331,800333
Norway603300303
Bombay705447258
Switzerland2,4322,198234
Austria1,7981,655143
Sandwich Islands22490134
Turkey263136127
Borneo (British)110..110
Malta65..65
Norfolk Island784335
Transvaal Colony511932
New Hebrides25..25
Lord Howe Island19..19
Egypt71570015
Gibralter15..15
Solomon Islands9..9
Orange River Colony7..7
Tripoli7..7
Argentine Republic5..5
Rhodesia2..2
Country, Colony, State, &c.1903.1902.Decrease.
£££
Java2,84155,00552,164
Bengal251,719284,74233,023
Maiden Island3,96515,66511,700
Ocean Island3,62513,5009,875
South Australia39,62747,1357,508
Country, Colony, State, &c.1903.1902.Decrease.
..£££
China5,00512,5007,495
Surprise Island1,9078,2066,299
Queensland2,2226,9914,769
Friendly Islands6,9789,7562,778
Navigators' Islands8373,5972,760
Sweden17,15619,2432,087
West Indies1,7343,0191,28
Madras146872726
Cape Colony195843648
West Indies (British)..190190
Society Islands5,8035,983180
Natal4413591
New Guinea..8282
Canary Islands34138
New Caledonia42319
Russia..1010

The following table gives the value of the imports for each port in New Zealand for the last two years, arranged in order of magnitude for 1903:—

 1903.1902.
££
Wellington3,966,8913,124,771
Auckland3,167,1853,.087,460
Dunedin2,049,1941,956,235
Lyttelton2,025,4271,745,273
Invercargill and Bluff292,683341,798
Napier234,994211,297
Timaru169,117148,033
Wanganui166,869134,158
Nelson146,279122,555
New Plymouth99,76281,488
Greymouth88,91269,514
Poverty Bay67,30439,902
Oamaru51,80151,428
Westport43,17835,218
Wairau21,82515,861
Patea20,49517,227
Hokitika14,33713,105
Tauranga1,7762,441
Kaipara4,5204,568
Picton1,890479

IMPORTS, BY PROVINCIAL DISTRICTS.

The values of imports in each provincial district during 1893 and 1903 were as under:—

 1893.1903.
££
Auckland1,512,6543,243,785
Taranaki53,524120,257
Hawke's Bay200,437234,994
Wellington1,770,4804,133,760
Marlborough13,57323,715
Nelson139,150189,457
Westland60,972103,249
Canterbury1,379,7332,194,544
Otago1,756,4292,393,678

The value of imports by parcel-post (£24,563 in 1893 and £151,236 in 1903) must be added to the above figures in order to make up the totals (including specie) of £6,911,515 and £12,788,675 for the respective years.

IMPORTS, NORTH AND MIDDLE ISLANDS.

Separating the value of the imports for the North Island from that of the Middle Island, it is found that while in 1893 the former received imported goods to the value of £3,537,095, against £3,319,857 for the Middle Island, in the year 1903 the North Island imports exceeded those of the other to a far greater extent, the values being respectively £7,732,796 and £1,901,613, or an excess for the North Island of £2,828,153, or 57.66 per cent.

DETAILS OF ALL ARTICLES OF IMPORT.

Details of all imports for 1903, giving quantities and values of articles introduced into the colony, with the amounts entered for Home consumption, and the amount of duty received, are next shown:—

GENERAL IMPORTS INTO THE COLONY OF NEW ZEALAND DURING THE YEAR 1903. (For rates of duty, see Tariff, pp. 81 to 102.)
Articles.Total Quantities Imported.Value of Total Imports.Entered for Home Consumption on Importation and ex Warehouse.Amount of Duty received, including Preferential.
* For six months only; previously included under the general heading of “Provisions, n.o.e.”
 £ £s.d.
Acid—
  Acetic415,825 lb.3,559464,550 lb.2,90388
  Carbolic24,151544........
  Salicylic3,585225........
  Sulphuric199,8241,657........
  Tartaric92,0045,00492,590 lb.3851510
  Unenumerated47,5261,268........
Alkali—
  Potash and caustic potash2,018 cwt.2,813........
  Soda ash14,6284,966........
  Soda, carbonate and bicarbonate11,8033,74411,927 cwt.596610
  Soda, caustic11,9228,627........
  Soda crystals15743157 cwt.15136
  Soda silicate4,4071,497........
  Unenumerated7,6894,474........
  Alum1,599674........
Animals, Living—
  Birds1,398 No.582........
  Cats415........
  Cattle, horned311,64531 No,15100
  Deer1268........
  Dogs131650........
  Hares10223........
  Horses78233,775767 No.76700
  Leeches..6........
  Opossums2 No.1........
  Pigs694........
  Poultry402796........
  Sheep885 No.5,231........
  Tortoises92........
  Turtles13........
Apparel and slops n.o.e...582,187£579,511144,877136
Apparel made to the order of residents in the colony..810£810323196
Arms, ammunition, and explosives—
Accoutrements..2,292........
Caps, percussion8,855,000 No.1,086........
Cartridges (shot), 10- to 24-bore5,341,19017,2995,321,833 No.3,99176
Cartridges n.o.e.11,995.91014,412£6,5421,30887
Cartridge-cases200,840313199,820 No.74188
Detonators for dynamite..2,470........
Dynamite188,000 lb.8,814........
Firearms11,529 No.19,227£14,6592,931161
Fuse164,113coils3,892......
Lithofracteur and cordite575,750 lb.26,280........
Ordnance stores..18,496........
Powder, blasting460,581 lb.12,020........
sporting17,6752,02216,200 lb.40500
Shot580 cwt.631211 cwt.1051010
Swords421 No.876........
Other explosives77,540 lb.6,906........
Unenumerated..1,110........
Asphalt13,656 cwt.3,152........
Bacon and hams1,714 lb.62752 lb.654
Bags and sacks—
Cornsacks455,951 doz.101,922........
Unenumerated43,0197,118£1,14522900
Bagging and sacking..1,145£40120
Basketware and wickerware..4,399£4,1688331011
Beer203,766 galls.38,620204,126 galls.20,4121110
Belting, leather34,955 lb.4,29932,669 lb.54498
other than leather..23,020........
Beverages, non-alcoholic—
Aerated and mineral waters9,992 doz.2,210£2,128425140
Coffee essence..8,449£9,1661,83322
Limejuice, sweetened3,964 galls.867£946236117
unsweetened16,5192,569........
Unenumerated..743£70517647
Bicycles and tricycles10,870 No.71,082£66,72113,345189
Materials for..90,487£93,0128,731102
Biscuits—
Fancy, and other kinds71,851 lb.3,41671,358 lb.594130
Ships', plain76 cwt.5674 cwt.1110
Blacking..9,244£9,1911,83824
Blacklead..3,759£3,79075816
Blue197,636 lb.4,927225,084 lb.1.875140
Boats34No.852......
Bones6 tons35........
Books, &c., printed..171,672........
Boots and shoes115,014 doz. pr.235,280£234,43752,751210
Gum-boots1,27210,359........
Borax2,258 cwt.2,421........
Brass—
Pig, bar, tube, or sheet1,0874,555........
Tubing or stamped work in the rough2921,302........
Manufactures..11,587£11,5472,30987
Bricks—
Building189,760No.573......
Fire270,906894£894178160
Other kinds34,188182........
Brushware and brooms—
Brooms2,751 doz.1,579£1,66141550
Brushes (clothes, hair, hat, and toilet)..7,939£8,0201,603192
Unenumerated..6,834£0,7041,67623
Materials for7,263..........
Buckets and tubs—
Iron509 doz.370£355881410
Wood20480£801600
Building materials, unenumerated..4,105........
Butter50 cwt.257........
Candles3,042,053 lb.56,4883,066,042 lb.12,77536
Canes and rattans..2,209........
Canvas..44,939........
Caramel, brewers'12,593 lb.15112,653 lb.15833
cereal144448020
Cards, playing143,270 packs2,61067,150 packs1,678150
Carpeting and druggeting44,801£43,9388,7871111..
Carriages, &c.—
Automobiles, motor cars, and motor cycles153 No.10,598£16,2923,258100
Automobiles, &c., materials for..1,159£1,159231160
Carriages3209,253£9,3801,879135
Carts, drays, and wagons3844,051£4,05181040
Steam-motor lorries42,113£2,113422120
Perambulators and gocarts95145£1553100
Materials for..10,842£10,8142,162166
Materials for axles, axle-arms, and boxes..18,752........
Carriage and cart shafts, spokes, and felloes in the rough..6,795........
Carriage and cart makers' materials..16,920........
Casks, empty659 No.790£78515700
Cement168,765 barrels75,148160,214 barrels16,02180
Chains and chain cables7,310 cwt.8,418........
Charcoal4,5351,927........
Cheese45270£23947142
Chicory22,566 lb.243166 lb.216 
China, porcelain, and parianware..28,445£28,3895,684101
Clocks47,988 No.14,888£15,0183,007164
Coal163,923 tons158,143........
Cocoa and chocolate483,256 lb.49,380473,960 lb.5,924100
Cocoa beans191,0456,381........
Coffee—
Raw240,172 lb.8.548........
Roasted2,092911,939 lb.2449
Coke1,668 tons4,237........
Combs..2,196£2,196439210
Confectionery—
Chocolate in plain trade packages213,539 lb.10,583209,296 lb.2,61640
Chocolate, fancy packages..11,110£11,1442,228179
Unenumerated551,463 lb.16,999532,997 lb.4,4411211
Copper—
Nails271 cwt.1,166........
Pig, bar, sheet, and tube6,87626,514........
Rod and bolt2851,252........
Sheathing303918........
Manufactures..333£3206414
Copra84 tons999........
Cordage4,652 cwt.13,718£13,4392,687178
Hawsers of 12 in and over168280........
Iron and steel11,68125,939........
Cork, cut..11,256£10,7292,145156
in the rough117 cwt.192........
Cotton piece-goods—
Butter and cheese cloth..2,705........
Calico, white and grey189,378..........
Corduroy, moleskin, and beaver-skin..2,911........
Leather-cloth..6,678........
Shirtings, coloured cotton..37,146........
flannelette..5,324........
union, of 6d. per............
yard and under..2,023........
Tubular woven cotton cloth..12,895........
Waterproof material..9,025........
Unenumerated..288,479£281,79042,683159
Cotton—
Raw4,139 lb.52........
Waste4,132 cwt.5,584........
Wick95,607 lb.4,240........
Cutlery..27,160£26,8675,37398
Doors, plain476 No.254476 No.47120
Drapery..293,496£293,35758,67181
Lace and laces, n.o.e...80,270£79,75319,93831
Ribbons and crape32,571£32,5788,144104..
Tailors'trimmings..105,380........
Drugs, chemicals, and druggists' wares—
Baking-powder, yeast preparations, &c...477£453901011
Chemicals n.o.e.5,255£4,470670109..
Cream of tartar878,517 lb.33,808890,317 lb.3,709131
Drugs, druggists'sundries, and apothecaries' wares..90,703£90,14713,522111
Glycerine, refined2,451£2,37847513,5....
Tinctures and medicinal spirits21,714 lb.1,47122,639 lb.1,131187
Washing-powder695£5781151311..
Anhydrous ammonia6,969..........
Arsenic1,065 cwt.917........
Disinfectants5,918........ 
Food preservative4,588..........
Gums2,679..........
Insecticides and tree-washes2,307..........
Maltine845..........
Medicinal barks, leaves, &c.1,430..........
Phosphorus808..........
Potassium cyanide9,961 cwt.47,951........
Sheep-dip28,664..........
Sheep and horse drenches and sheep licks159..........
Unenumerated23,769..........
Dyes17,249..........
Earthenware..61,308£61,37812,27749
Eggs for setting21 doz.18........
Engine-packing3,744 cwt.10,158........
Essences, flavouring—
Spirituous1,853 gals.5,3992,014 gals.1,61189
Unenumerated150£1271925..
Essential oils—
Eucalyptus9,108 lb.2,465£2,414482159
Other kinds37,0535,645........
Fancy goods177,227£175,31835,114129 
Felt sheathing6,862..........
Fire-engines32 No.1,416........
Fire-hose and other appliances3,890..........
Fireworks1,149£95119040 
Fish-Anchovies, salted27 cwt.61........
Dried, pickled, and salted2,9215,2372,921 cwt.1,46092
Potted and preserved2,078,106 lb.48,6582,090,810 lb.17,42768
Fishing-tackle—
Artificial flies304£29974150..
Fish-hooks..553........
Unenumerated..4,302£4,2598511610
Flock332 cwt.248£24824160
Floorcloth and oilcloth..86,242£85,98117,19637
Flour34,201 centals16,70432,682 centals1,63424
Foods, animal—
Chaff57 tons17657 tons56165
Prepared calf-meal2322303
Unenumerated..4,443£4,37874194
Foods, farinaceous—
Arrowroot81,812 lb.1,240........
Macaroni and vermicelli135,610 lb.1,919........
Maizena and corn-flour1,032,25113,1951,079,448 lb.1,12486
Sago and tapioca20,827 cwt.10,112........
Unenumerated..3,094........
Fruits, bottled and preserved85,540 doz.19,974£19,3554,8381311
Fruits, dried—
Currants3,310,142 lb.26,1413,127,276 lb.13,03064
Raisins3,068,00744,6962,896,45512,068113
Unenumerated1,776,90523,1751,668,32113,902135
Fruits, fresh—
Apple, pears, plums, &c.778,85010,622778,8503,24542
Apples and pears599,6106,680599,6101,24939
Currants, raspberries, &c.1,590101,590363
Lemons684,2926,915690,7921,43930
Other kinds16,397,69291,860........
Lemon and orange peel, in brine511,3103,252........
Preserved in sulphurous acid2,077212,077 lb.8131
Pulp and partially preserved fruit4,812364,6328190
Fungus..1........
Furniture, cabinetware, and upholstery..43,820£44,14511,056113
Kapok7,919 cwt.22,830........
Unenumerated..5,807........
Furniture, knife, and plate powder and polish..5,875£5,8661,17351
Furs..5,756£5,7361,433183
Gelatine and isinglass130,327 lb.7,597£7,1461,42933
Glass—
Bottles, empty..43,382........
Mirrors and looking-glasses..6,857£6,8271,706171
Plate, bevelled, &c...5,933£6,0491,512510
other kinds392,488 sup. ft.11,860£11,7892,3571610
Window3,478,12227,8823,441,492 sup. ft.3,442910
Glassware..49,145£40,2388,05277
Glue and size124,144 lb.2,468121,287 lb.758010
Gold-leaf..652........
Grain and pulse—
Barley 727 centals241 7 centals0140....
Beans and peas1,1766961,1764424
Maize38990389141111
Oats9052881901311
Wheat24142401710
Unenumerated16,3346,39515,944597180
Ground, unenumerated6,3965,7647,096354163
Grease5,096 cwt.3,707£3,63672756
Grindery—
Heel and toe plates..2,697£2,617588163
Unenumerated..20,779........
Haberdashery..23,125£23,1184,623119
Buttons, &c...35,074........
Sewing cottons, silks, and threads..59,623........
Unenumerated..827........
Hair500 cwt.1,755........
Hardware, hollow-ware, and ironmongery..300,959£299,17359,8371611
Coffin furniture..2,018£2,155430181
Hardware..2,927........
Hats and caps77,469 doz.77,853£77,37919,344169
Hatters' materials25,461..........
Hemp241 tons9,100........
Hides3,578 No.4,521........
Honey115 lb.2115 lb.0192
Hops79,2775,75880,9252,02789
Hosiery125,618£125,47825,095139..
Indiarubber and gutta-percha goods..12,680£1272580
Ink-Printing167,110 lb.7,287........
Writing2,231£2,02740594..
Instruments, musical—
Harmoniums and organs744 No.7,277£7,2531,450120
Pianos3,67985,656£86,95617,40620
Unenumerated..20,597£20,6714,13456
For Volunteer bands..319........
Materials for..2,336£1623280
Instruments, other kinds—
Optical..2,398........
Scientific..3,197........
Surgical and dental..32,780£32,7672120
Surveying..1,467........
Unenumerated 799 Iron and steel—
Angle389 tons2,810........
Bar, bolt, and rod13,540119,672........
Bolts and nuts19,394 cwt.20,994........
Castings for ships27 tons1,009........
Galvanised manufactures..1,089£1,07726948
Hoop1,914 tons19,288........
Hoop, galvanised4,149 cwt.2,7334,141 cwt.3101011
Pig8,026 tons134,735........
Pipes and fittings12,288117,434£117,4845,87443
Rails15,810101,352........
Railway bolts and fastenings2,40030,240£4879760
Sheet and plate6,67459,972£59,9680160
Sheet, galvanised, corrugated254,004 cwt.200,688251,270 cwt.25,126197
Sheet, galvanised, plain61,30551,25260,7904,55957
Staples and standards453 tons4,952£4,958991121
Tanks3,688 No.11.1603,651 No.1,611100
Wire, fencing, barbed2,894 tons35,947........
Wire, fencing, plain6,33261,197........
Wire, telegraphic and telephonic24399........
Telegraphic cable1406,312........
Wire-netting..31,522........
Wire, unenumerated899 tons12,049........
Unenumerated39544........
Jams, jellies, and preserves506,972 lb.8,428494,662 lb.4,12237
Jellies, concentrated85,6912,95278,2101,303101
Jewellery..25,753£20,4584,091130
Lamps, lanterns, and lamp-wick26,463£25,9955,211111..
Lard80 cwt.133£13326120
Lead—
Pigs and bars845 tons10,754........
Pipe (including composition)955 cwt.959827 cwt.144154
Sheet20,86716,14319,8861,49186
Manufactures..404£40480160
Leather563,698 lb.83,896511,558 lb.3,69594
Chamois..506£4458920
Leather manufactures—
Boot and shoe vamps, uppers, and laces9,231£9,1392,056138..
Unenumerated1,961£2,07843826..
Lighthouse, materials for641..........
Linen piece-goods—
Forfar, dowlas, and flax sheetings n.o.e.13,783£2,1504291811..
Forfar, dowlas, &c., cut up under supervision..£11,122........
Hessians and scrim..57,637........
Linens n.o.e.23,374£22,7624,55299..
Linseed11 cwt.010..
Liquorice3,116£3,164632170..
Machinery and machines—
Agricultural (including agricultural implements)....108,310......
Agricultural, ploughs and harrows..9,001........
Dairying....40,776......
engines for..979£1,7488780
boilers for1,353£1,940..9706
Dredging..4,387........
Electric..111,040£79,9227,99234
Engines, steam108 No.12.979£11,3182,263120
gas94257,506£57,1217700
boilers for1279,114£8,3781,675120
Flour-milling..5,779£5,78323936
Gas-making..25,970£25,6032,56002
Mining..45,702........
boilers for..3,064£3,172158120
engines for..899£1,97798170
Paper-milling..3,111£2,98114910
Portable and traction engines122 No...52,674......
Printing..23,311£22,5601,12806
Refrigerating..11,122£9,00545050
Sewing and knitting13,775 No...51,095......
Wood-working....25,286......
Woollen-milling..13,398£11,96659806
Unenumerated..70,837£61,28011,27495
Materials for and parts of..14,478£1,48528750
Malt2,997 bush.1.0062,789 bush.278176
Rice-malt11,036 lb.7911,036 lb.45198
Manures—
Bone-dust8,112 tons..41,514......
Guano3,80012,109........
Unenumerated18,61367,088........
Marble—............
Dressed and polished, and manufactures..8,767£8,8122,2021910
Hewn, or rough-sawn275 tons..2,046......
Matches and vestas—
Wax (boxes)60,315 gross8,92858,694 gross3,937180
Wooden29,1392,54825,4681,2781011
Mats and matting..10,726£10,5402,109183
Meats, potted and preserved120,178 lb.4,244£3,982796810
Medicines, patent and proprietary..49,182£47,0997,064157
Metal, manufactures—
Japanned and lacquered metalware..1,244£1,242310110
Unenumerated..19,543£18,9953,79916
Weighbridges and weighing machines..4,475£4,42088544
Anchors754No...594....
Rivets and washers8,011 cwt.8,039......
Tacks1,896 cwt.2,810........
Typo-writers1,123 No.15,857........
Unenumerated..54,207........
Metal sheathing, other than copper626 cwt.1,647........
Milk, preserved1,009,602 lb.19,201£18,2304,557811
Millinery—
Feathers, ornamental..3,383£3,37084290
Other kinds..57,120£56,93114,232174
Mustard219,622 lb.12,249223,572 lb.1.863111
Nails—
Iron70,788 cwt.39,24170,608 cwt.7,060193
Unenumerated6119948732
Naphtha (wood)5,360 gal.1,1555,281 gal.13206
Nuts—
Almonds, in shell20,250 lb.41416,410 lb.136151
Almonds, shelled42,0253,20142,75753492
Almonds, 73arbary, &c.215,5807,976........
Cocoanuts51,136 No.220........
Unenumerated58,957 lb.1,02259,547 lb.49646
Oakum238 cwt.291........
Oars1,919 No.342........
Oils—
Castor, bulk74,667 galls.7,62166,197 galls.1,654185
Castor, bottled1,063 doz. pt.443£40874134
Cod liver20,284 galls.3,935........
Colza11,2341,39311,431 galls.285159
Fish, penguin, and seal42,8753,800........
Linseed334,49542,677332,463 galls.8,311116
Mineral, kerosene3,440,326122,933........
other kinds189,62813,910179,042 galls.4,47612
Neatsfoot25025250650
Olive, bulk8,7071,5588,5602131910
Olive, bottled2,377 doz. pts1,250£1,21618273
Unenumerated, bulk302,752 galls.27,700274,939 galls.6,87399
Unenumerated, bottled8,418 doz. pts3,681£3,73556045
Unenumerated378,291 galls.17,933........
Oilmen's stores..9,329£9,1131,822107
Onions27,324 cwt.6,58627,017 cwt.1,350175
Opium96 lb.10196 lb.19294
Paints and colours—
Ground in oil38,907 cwt.43,47537,638 cwt.4,704153
Mixed, ready for use5,91014,8395,3721,342199
Unenumerated14,49615,208........
Paper—
Bags, coarse81118194 cwt.72172
Bags, other kinds3,7345,674£5,6191,4041510
Butter-paper5,68910,198........
Paperhangings..35,853£35,8415,37637
Printing138,147 cwt.120,909........
Wrapping9,026 cwt.9,7358,541 cwt.2,13528
Writing14,64627,048........
Unenumerated1,1843,006........
Pearl barley301630 cwt.1103
Peas, split1,0686031,06410690
Peel, candied and dried15,448 lb.31315,393 lb.19282
Perfumery—
Perfumed spirits1,656 galls.6,9721,691 galls.2,536176
Toilet preparations..10,549£10,3142,578810
Unenumerated..1,411£1,491372132
Photographic goods..7,571£7,2291,445176
Copper, glass, and zinc plates for photo-lithographic work..678........
Photographic cameras and lenses..7,075........
Sensitised surfaces for photographic purposes..19,234........
Pickles6,191 galls.1,8566,075 galls.91168
Pictures, paintings, drawings, engravings, and photographs..9,609£8,5741,714179
Family portraits..40........
Paintings, &c., for museums, &c...7........
Picture frames and mounts..2,231£2,22544500
Pitch2,053 cwt.811........
Plants, trees, and shrubs..4,932........
Plaster of Paris6,467 cwt.1,285........
Plate and plated ware..56,395£58,39411,67973
Portmanteaux and travelling-bags..6,720£6,6441,66103
Leather and leather-cloth bags..109£10921160
Potatoes140 tons109£40981159
Seed potatoes2281........
Printing materials—
Stereotypes and matrices..340£3408510
Type and materials, n.o.e...12,235........
Provisions n.o.e...12,469£12,2632,454121
Eggs*18,762 doz.898£898179140
Pumps..7,464£5,5801,11811
Putty5,467 cwt.2,7295,453 cwt.54564
Quicksilver5,704 lb.704........
Hail way plant—
Locomotives (small engines for private sidings)3 No.1,836........
Unenumerated..120,328£9,5821,91674
Resin9,837 cwt.3,589........
Rice70,13248,259........
Rice-flour117104117 cwt.3509
Rugs16,760£16,6343,326165..
Saccharine5,384 oz.1588,601 oz.64516
Saddlery and harness (including whips)..31,921£31,7916,35850
Harness oil, composition and leather-dressing..2,118£2,164432155
Saddlers' ironmongery and materials..24,402........
Collar-check..6,185........
Salt..14,211 tons29,730......
Rock salt5881,096........
Saltpetre1132,061........
Sauces14,165 gals.10,19014,686 gals.2,93743
Sausage-skins181,710 lb.10.331187,328 lb.2,341120
Seeds—
Grass and clover21,790 cwt.66,002........
Unenumerated..28,769........
Shale46 tons101........
Shells34 cwt.172........
Ship-chandlery n.o.e...4,151........
Silks, &c...128,223£126,00831,50210
Silk for flour-dressing..110........
Silver..706 oz.86......
Skins and pelts—
Fur-skins..60 No.2......
Kangaroo and wallabi..11,401340......
Unenumerated..14,677876......
Slates, roofing..154,1281,561......
Soap—
Common30 cwt.5230 cwt.776
Soap powder, extract of soap, &c.6,201£6,2231,244126..
Unenumerated..33,308£33,1648,290198
Specie—
Gold..613,270........
Silver..95,096........
Copper*..4,350......
Specimens illustrative of natural science..54........
Spices—
Ground17,343 lb.76517,782 lb.29673
Unground542,55715,052520,2684,335114
Spirits—
Bitters, cordials, and liqueurs13,699 galls.3,2283,040 galls.2,43226
Brandy82,37136,86170,85656,684198
Geneva and gin, unsweetened86,87120,51572,12557,699172
Methylated282382621318
Rum12,5812,47616,58013,263121
Sweetened, &c.7,6042,1206,9335,546105
Whisky461,560166,438442,615354,091196
Unenumerated3,1203,0213,3012,640137
Spirits of wine70,676 galls.4,5942,1851,74840
Methylated, in bond50,4071,26037....
Sponges..383£1762673
Starch937,643 lb.9,964920,255 lb.7,6681510
Stationery—
Manufactured..54,063£51,38712,846134
Unenumerated..51,313£44,8988,979128
Apparatus and appliances for teaching purposes..6,090........
Bookbinders' materials..8,309........
Cardboard-boxes, materials for..12,220........
Unenumerated..4,973........
Stearine112 lb.3112 lb.0140
For match-making325,1847,336325,3171,016124
Stone—
Building1,046 tons2,434........
Flagging1028........
Granite and other stone, dressed, or polished, &c.3,760£3,76094000..
Grind-, mill-, oil-, and whet-stones..3,093........
Sugar—
Raw822,390 cwt.411,6621,124 lb.2610
Refined32,58524,731188,196,562 lb.183,742169
Glucose7,8445.428704,4112,935011
Molasses and treacle22222,877,5105,994163
Molasses and treacle, mixed with bone-black25063........
Sulphur10,9713,193........
Tanning materials, crude—
Bark4,330 tons43,955........
Other kinds5,497..........
Tar3,151..........
Tarpaulins and tents, &c...296£29458160
Tea5,181,995 lb.204,2365,232,721 lb.43,60602
Textile piece-goods other than silk, cotton, linen, or woollen33,868£34,3736,874104..
Articles made up from, other than apparel14,815£14,5563,638186..
Timber—
I Laths and shingles1,048,542-No. 1,1911,048,542 No.104171..
Logs3,78911,387........
Logs, hewn4,463,145 sup. ft.52,654........
Palings536,251 No. 3,281534,250 No.53450..
Posts11,8464,16111,70346163
Rails5,9921875,7021181
Sawn, undressed 10,658 771 sup. ft.90,5869,714,000 sup. ft.9,71400..
Sawn, dressed119,8572,859117,408234164
Unenumerated..936........
Tin—
Block3,002 cwt.19,564........
Foil29,066 lb.1,668........
Sheet48,179 cwt.40,523........
Tinware..13,506£13,2223,305107
Tinsmiths' furnishings and fittings..2,387........
Tobacco—
Unmanufactured65,272 lb.3,22038,314 lb.3,831810
Manufactured2,047,587167,2931,819,403318,39596
Cigars78,88828,64078,48027,467174
Cigarettes235,03961,21190,859,219 No.79,501164
......14,387 oz.359134
Snuff1,0661141,452 lb.50840
Tobacco-pipes and cases, &c.33,347£33,4608,36500..
Tools and implements—
Axes and hatchets7,668..........
Engineers' machine tools25,363..........
Scythes1,662..........
Sheep-shears3,281..........
Spades, shovels, and forks13,702..........
Unenumerated98,076..........
Tramway plant19,745£19,7023,94080..
Turpentine, driers, and terebine57,982 galls.10,281........
Twine590,090 lb.17,764£17,1043,420169
Nets and netting1,343£1,343268120..
Binder941 cwt.2,273........
Unenumerated..125........
Umbrellas and parasols..18,905£18,8233,764130
Materials for..5,126........
Varnish and gold-size43,425 galls.20,16442,828 galls.4,282164
Vegetables, fresh, dried, or preserved1,776£1,714342156..
Vinegar42,095 galls.3,81243,780 galls.1,094100
Watches38,261 No.19,188£17,8243,564148
Watchmakers' materials597..........
Wax—
Beeswax81 cwt.553........
Paraffin, &c.1,232,524 lb.15,4961,231,506 lb.3,84892
Unenumerated4,6361724,5002826
Whiting and chalk12,352 cwt.1,39412,346 cwt.61762
Wine-Australian49,814 galls.17,32250,950 galls.12,737111
Sparkling9,28917,01710,0694,53103
Other kinds67,89323,22161,47518,44287
Wooden ware25,835£17,5023,50071..
Mouldings..22,466£21,2983,194140
Wool-Greasy119,552 lb.2,274........
Scoured9,633553........
Washed3508........
Woollen piece-goods..400,206£396,81479,362162
Blankets19,899 pairs8,504£8,3581,671122
Woolpacks45,153 doz.43,547........
Woolpockets1,4211,177........
Yarns..10,691£10,6912,13820
Coir, flax, and hemp..2,006........
Zinc manufactures—
Tiles, ridging, &c.155£1553100..
Unenumerated97£28713..
Zinc—
Perforated sheet350 cwt.733........
Plain sheet8,11010,694........
Spelter3,5694,253........
Minor articles..8,164........
Articles and materials suited only for and to be used solely in the fabrication of goods within the colony26,606..........
Miscellaneous goods—
Manufactured..18,230........
Steamers in sections2 No.3,450........
Goods unmanufactured..5,139........
Parcels-post..151,23631,031184..
EXCISE DUTIES.
Tobacco, manufactured..33,024 lb.1,65140..
Cigars..1,545115183..
Cigarettes made by hand..31115110..
Cigarettes made by machinery..1,91223913..
Pharmacopoeia tinctures, essences, extracts, and medicinal spirits containing more than 50 per cent. of proof spirits....90,138 lb.3,38035
Pharmacopoeia tinctures, essences, extracts, and medicinal spirits containing less than 50 per cent. of proof spirits...1,449 lb.1824..
Culinary and flavouring essences..269 galls.161122..

The Cook Islands and Niue, or Savage Island, now part of New Zealand, have not been considered in the table of imports made up by the Department of Trade and Customs. Details of goods received from those islands in 1903 are given on page 167.

CUSTOMS REVENUE.

The Customs and excise duties received during the last five years are shown in detail, also the rate of revenue per head of mean population, inclusive and exclusive of Maoris, for each year:—

1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.

* See remarks on page 190.

† Including £149 excise duty on culinary and flavouring essences, and £11 on perfumed spirits.

‡ Including £89 excise duty on culinary and flavouring essences.

§ Including £173 duty on culinary and flavouring essences, and £19 on perfumed spirits.

║ Including £183 excise duty on culinary and flavouring essences, £5 perfumed spirits, and £1 toilet preparations. £ Including £162 excise duty on culinary and flavouring essences.

..£££££
CUSTOMS DUTIES.
Spirits414,395442,090478,816483,582498,256
Wine32,04533,61435,86436,74535,710
Ale, Beer, &c.17,59417,56218,84920,15220,413
Cigars, Cigarettes, and Snuff77,81082,35790,49094,992107,838
Tobacco263,057279,651296,016294,272322,227
Tea79,97568,96045,90542,40543,606
Coffee, Cocoa, &c.6,9685,2854,6475,2885,951
Sugar and Molasses162,787168,876173,055185,484192,675
Opium6,1396,4266,618*271*192
Other Goods by Weight192,987178,554151,286166,687184,951
ad valorem682,722775,649808,531867,209982,800
Other Duties91,15594,68759,31665,21976,245
Parcels-post14,36816,64322,40522,73731,032
Totals, Customs Duties2,042,0022,170,3542,191,7982,285,0432,501,896
EXCISE DUTIES
Tinctures—New - Zealand 2,036 1,638§2,1982,454£3,560
Cigars, Cigarettes, and Snuff—New Zealand-manufactured91129174190371
Tobacco—New - Zealand - manufactured2,3232,3762,5962,0961,651
Beer—New Zealand78,26585,14189,18589,74294,440
Totals, Excise Duties82,71589,28494,15394,482100,022
..£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
Revenue from Customs Duties per head of mean population (excluding Maoris)21452161021642173310
Ditto (including Maoris)211821402135214421710
Revenue from Excise Duties per head of mean population (excluding Maoris022.5024025024.40253
Ditto (including Maoris)021.1022.7023.5023023.8

The Customs revenue for the year 1903 amounted to £2,501,896, and the excise duties to £100,022. The revenue from Customs was £3 1s. per head of population excluding Maoris, and £2 17s. 10d. if they be included. In 1888 the Customs revenue was £2 6s. 2d. per head of European population, and from that time the proportion increased slowly year by year until 1892, when it reached £2 11s. 6d. per head. During the next two years there was a falling-off; but 1895 and following years, except for a slight fall in 1901, show increases, the proportion for 1903 being higher than in any year since 1878. Details for fourteen years are given:—

CUSTOMS REVENUE PER HEAD OF EUROPEAN POPULATION.
..£s.d.
1890293
1891297
18922116
18932104
1894264
1895269
18962911
18972130
18982133
18992145
190021610
19012164
19022173
1903310

Dating from 1890, the taxation by way of Customs and excise duties together increased from £2 11s. 2d. in that year to £2 19s. 2d. in 1900, declined to £2 18s. 9d. in 1901, increasing again to £2 19s. 7d. in 1902, and, further, to £3 3s. 5d. in 1903.

Besides an alteration of tariff in 1895 in certain items, in the year 1900 certain duties were lowered and exemptions granted. The duty on tea was brought to 2d. per pound, instead of 4d.; currants and raisins were lowered to 1d. per pound; candles to 1d.; cocoa and roasted coffee to 3d. There was also reduction on stearine for match-making, on paraffin-wax, and wax matches. The duty on patent and proprietary medicines was made 15 percent., also that on certain drugs and chemicals, while the charge on steam-engines, or parts thereof, became 5 per cent. Various exemptions came into force.

With these circumstances there has been a greater import of taxable articles, which would seem to indicate that purchasing power had increased. It is at least certain that the value of imports rose from £5,990,177 (excluding specie), in 1894, to £12,075,959 in 1903, while the changes of tariff were effected.

The Customs revenue for 1903 was increased by the sum of £222 17s. 4d. in consequence of “The Preferential and Reciprocal Trade Act, 1903.” The preferential duties which have been imposed on articles not British produce or manufacture are stated on page 101, following the main tariff, and the provisions of the Act as to reciprocity, &c., will be found set out in a special article in Part III. But for convenience, a full statement is also given of the original rates and additional duties further on in this section.

The tariff (general and preferential), as before- stated, has been given in full in Part I. (see pages 84 to 102). The rates of duty levied include 16s. per gallon on spirits; 30s. per gallon on perfumed spirits; 7s. per pound on cigars and snuff; 17s. 6d. per 1,000, of 2 1/2 lb. and under, and 6d. per ounce weight over 2 1/2 lb. per 1,000, on cigarettes; also 3s. 6d. per pound on manufactured and 2s. on unmanufactured tobacco. Sparkling wine is charged 9s. a gallon; Australian, 5s.; other kinds, 6s.; ale and beer, 2s. The duty on cocoa, chocolate, and chicory is 3d. per lb.; raw coffee, 2d.; roasted, 3d. Tea produced in British dominions is free (from the 31st March) except in packets not exceeding 1 lb. in weight, when the duty is 2d. per lb., and the same duty is chargeable on tea of foreign production. Sugar, molasses, and treacle pay 1/2d., and glucose 1d. per pound. Opium is charged 40s. per pound, hut this article, in a form suitable for smoking, cannot now be legally imported. The Opium Prohibition Acts, 1901 and 1902, make the importation or possession of opium suitable for smoking illegal. The remainder of the Customs revenue, with small exception, is made up of charges on goods by weight, ad valorem duties, ranging from 5 to 40 per cent., and receipts from the foreign parcels-post. There is also an excise duty of 1s. per pound on tobacco; 1s. 6d. per pound on cigars, cigarettes, and snuff; 3d. per gallon on beer; 9d. per pound on tinctures, &c., manufactured in the colony, containing more than 50 per cent. of proof spirit, and 3d. per pound when less than 50 per cent. Also, 12s. per gallon on culinary and flavouring-essences; and 20s. on perfumed spirits.

By “The Tobacco Excise Duties Act, 1896,” the excise duty on cigarettes made in the colony is now (from the 31st December, 1896) 2s. 6d. per pound on machine-made and 1s. per pound on hand-made cigarettes.

“The Tobacco Act Amendment Act, 1896,” enacts that all packages of manufactured tobacco shall be labelled before leaving the manufactory, and provides for the issue of warrants to use cutting-machines for cutting duty-paid manufactured tobacco for sale (or to be used in the manufacture of cigarettes by hand), and to manufacture cigarettes by hand, under certain conditions.

The duties authorised by “The Timber Export Act, 1901,” and “The Timber Export Duty Act, 1903,” will be found given on page 100 in detail, with the full tariff.

“THE PREFERENTIAL AND RECIPROCAL TRADE ACT, 1903.”

The following goods are liable to an additional duty under the above Act when not the produce or manufacture of some part of the British dominions:—

Rate prescribed by the Tariff.Additional Duty when of Foreign Production or Manufacture.

* See extract on next page.

Cement2s. the barrel2s. the barrel.
Basket and wickerware n.o.e., not being furniture20 p.c. ad val.10 p.c. ad val.
Bicycles, tricycles, and the like vehicles; also finished or partly finished or machined parts of same n.o.e., including weldless steel tubing cut to short lengths2010
Boots, shoes, and slippers n.o.e.; goloshes, clogs, pattens, vamps, uppers, and laces22 1/211 1/4
Candles1d. the lb. or package of that reputed weight1d. the lb. or package of that reputed weight.
Carriages, carts, drays, wagons, perambulators, and wheels for the same20 p.c. ad val.10 p.c. ad val.
China, porcelain, and parian ware2010
Clocks2010
Cordage and rope n.o.e.2010
Cream of tartar1d. the lb.1/2d. the lb.
Earthenware, stoneware, and brown ware20 p.c. ad val.10 p.c. ad val.
Fancy goods and toys2010
Firearms, all kinds2010
Fish, potted and preserved2d. the lb. or package of that reputed weight1d. the lb. or package of that reputed weight.
Furniture and cabinetware n.o.e., and other that iron25 p.c. ad val.12 1/2 p.c. ad val.
Glass, crown, sheet, and common window2s. the 1001s. the 100 sup.
..sup. ft.ft.
Glassware; also plate glass, and glass polished, coloured, and other kinds n.o.e.; globes and chimneys for lamps20 p.c. ad val.10 p.c. ad val.
Hardware, ironmongery, and holloware2010
Hops6d. the lb.3d. the lb.
Iron nails2s. the cwt1s. the cwt.
Iron pipes, and fittings for same, including man-cocks5 p.c. ad val.2 1/2 p.c. ad val.
Lamps, lanterns, and lamp-wicks2010
Musical instruments—viz., pianos2010
Paperhangings157 1/2
Paper, wrapping—viz., blue candle, glazed cap, glazed casings, small-hand, lumber-hand, and tissue5s. the cwt2s. 6d. the cwt
Paper, wrapping, other kinds, including brown, cartridge, and sugar papers5s.2s. 6d.
Plate and plated ware20 p.c. ad val.10 p.c. ad val.
Pumps and other apparatus for raising water2010
Bicycles and tricycles, fittings for — viz., rubber tires, pneumatic tires, outside covers, and inner tubes; rubber and cork handles, and pedal-rubbers; also drop-forgings and stampings, ball-bearings, weld-less steel tube in full lengths, rims, forks, and spokes in the roughFree20
Gas engines and hammers, and oil engines..20
Gum boots..20
Iron and steel cordage..20
Iron, plain black sheet, rod, bolt, bar, and plate..20
Printing-paper*..20
Rails for railways and tramways*..20
Sail-cloth, canvas, and unbleached double-warped duck..20
Surgical and dental instruments and appliances”..20

Extract from “The Preferential and Reciprocal Trade Act, 1903.”

Exemptions from provisions of sections 2 and 8.

4. The provisions of sections two and three hereof shall not be applicable in the case of—

  1. Goods imported on or before the thirty-first day of March, one thousand nine hundred and four, if it is proved to the satisfaction of the Collector that an order for the goods was sent from New Zealand on or before the sixteenth day of November, one thousand nine hundred and three.

  2. Printing-papers imported by and for the use of the proprietors of any registered newspaper, if it is proved to the satisfaction of the Collector that they are imported under a valid contract for the supply of such papers for a period not exceeding three years, entered into prior to the sixteenth day of November, one thousand nine hundred and three.

  3. Rails for tramways and other goods mentioned in the Schedules hereto directly imported before the thirty-first day of March, one thousand nine hundred and six, for use in the construction or equipment of any tramway for which plans and specifications have been completed or are in course of preparation on the passing of this Act.

Tea produced in British dominions is free (from the 31st March) except in packets not exceeding 1 lb. in weight, when the duty is 2d. per lb., and the same duty is chargeable on all tea of foreign production.

In connection with the subject of preferential duties, tables are annexed to illustrate the position in regard to two specially selected important foreign States at the time the additional duties were authorised. The table for United States also exhibits the fact that free goods have been introduced at a far greater rate than those which paid duty since the year 1896:—

IMPORTS FROM UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Year.On the East Coast.On the West Const.Total Imports.
Admitted Free of Duty.On which Duty Payable.Admitted Free of Duty.On which Duty Payable.Admitted F of Duty.On which Duty Payable.

* Including excise duties levied on certain imports manufactured in bond.

 ££££££
1896127,235292,45420,66352,488147,898344,942
1897155,730366,20924,90681,199180,636447,408
1898282,332418,22327,47772,379309,809490,602
1899250,656437,25031,35956,044282,015493,294
1900377,569580,71742,56761,020420,136641,737
1901618,312556,433146,02394,492*764,335650,925
1902527,525619,05053,661118,701581,186737,751
1903522,581716,95457,430144,393580,011861,347

Another list shows imports from Germany, in which the greatest items are musical instruments, fancy goods, hardware and machinery, and paper:—

IMPORTS FROM GERMANY, 1896-1903.

Year.Admitted Free of Duty.On which Duty Payable.Proportions per Cent.
Admitted Free of Duty.On which Duty Payable.
 ££ 
189623,40477,97723.0876.92
189729,101127,96518.5381.47
189829,957123,14519.5780.43
189934,937125,66821.7678.24
190039,149142,92521.5078.50
190140,377158,14420.3379.67
190246,084164,47621.8978.11
190370,19204,10625.5974.41

To show the nature of the imports from the United States of America and Germany, two statements, giving the articles and values thereof for the year 1903, are introduced.

Examining the figures for the United States, it will he found that tobacco to the value of £169,114 was imported into New Zealand last year; boots and shoes, £102,054; oils, £129,708; hardware, &c., iron and steel, with machinery, tools and implements, &c., came to £406,487. The rest is a very miscellaneous list of articles, to which paper and fruit contributed more than £40,000 each.

LIST OF PRINCIPAL ARTICLES IMPORTED FROM UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN 1903.

 £
Apparel and slops14,306
Automobiles, motor-cars, and motor-cycles7,443
Bicycles and tricycles17,310
Bicycles and tricycles materials for10,974
Books, &c., printed8,513
Boots and shoes102,054
Building materials2,516
Candles14,482
Canvas9,639
Cards, playing1,731
Carriages6,217
Carriages, &c., materials for17,483
Cartridges, shot (10-24 sore)6,981
Cartridges n.o.e.5,275
Carts, drays, and wagons2,711
Clocks9,276
Confectionery3,216
Cordage1,780
Cotton piece-goods10,209
Drapery2,754
Drugs, chemicals, and druggists' wares13,106
Fancy goods18,252
Felt sheathing1,938
Firearms4,925
Fish, potted and preserved17,635
Flour6,677
Fruits, bottled and preserved12,160
Fruits, dried24,192
Fruits, fresh4,098
Furniture, cabinetware, and upholstery14,206
Furniture, knife, and plate powder and polish3,185
Glass bottles, empty4,206
Glassware11,461
Grindery3,553
Gum boots5,659
Haberdashery3,931
Hardware, holloware, and ironmongery56,569
Hops2,025
Indiarubber goods1,853
Ink1,462
Instruments, musical9,540
Instruments, other kinds15,911
Iron and steel57,315
Lamps, lanterns, and lampwick9,612
Leather24,699
Machinery and machines—
Agricultural and dairying67,176
Electrical9,819
Gas-engines25,780
Mining3,271
Priming2,667
Refrigerating4,196
Sewing and knitting27,119
Typewriters3,807
Woodworking9,747
Other26,169
Maizena and cornflour2,587
Manures4,212
Medicines, patent and proprietary17,225
Metal, manufactures of12,342
Nails20,768
Oil, kerosene99,821
Oil, other kinds29,887
Paints5,517
Paper, printing40,909
Paper, other9,862
Perfumery2,451
Pictures, engravings, &c.2,228
Plate and plated ware3,245
Photographic goods4,872
Pumps3,401
Railway plant10,393
Resin3,229
Saddlery and harness4,437
Sausage-skins9,399
Seeds25,349
Soap8,124
Stationery12,170
Sugar, glucose4,412
Timber4,201
Tobacco169,114
Tools and implements57,185
Tramway plant12,164
Turpentine, driers, and terebine7,247
Varnish2,334
Watches2,095
Wax11,752
Wooden ware22,767
Other imports52,869
..£1,441,358

LIST OF PRINCIPAL ARTICLES IMPORTED FROM GERMANY IN 1903.

 £
Acids1,876
Apparel and slops5,362
Basketware and wicketware1,042
Bicycles and tricycles, materials for3,903
Boots and shoes2,704
Brush ware and brooms1,394
China, porcelain, and parianware4,685
Clocks1,354
Cotton piece-goods3,158
Drapery5,449
Drugs, chemicals, and druggists' wares5,211
Earthenware2,864
Fancy goods25,333
Firearms1,034
Furniture, cabinetware, and upholstery6,429
Glass7,869
Glassware7,511
Hardware, Holloware, and ironmongery10,847
Hosiery2,450
Instruments, musical55,467
Iron and steel3,660
Lamps, lanterns, and lampwick3,454
Leather and leather manufactures1,356
Machinery and machines10,410
Manures7,501
Matches224
Nails2,359
Paper15,865
Photographic goods1,248
Seeds4,964
Spirits2,829
Spirits of wine1,294
Stationery6,283
Tobacco4,812
Tobacco pipes1,226
Twine2,996
Woodenware6,694
Other imports40,180
..£274,297

Chapter 35. SECTION V.—EXPORTS AND TOTAL TRADE.

THE quantities and values of exports used in making up the figures given in this portion of the statistical information are obtained from Customs entries. In estimating the value of exports the “free on board in New Zealand” value is given, and, as regards the main items, the Collector of Customs examines carefully the amounts stated, and compares them with current price-lists, to prevent any over-estimate As a further safeguard, the values of wool, frozen meat, oats, wheat, tallow, phormium fibre, butter, and cheese are submitted to the various Chambers of Commerce for their approval prior to the publication of the figures. Goods transhipped are regarded as destined for the country where it is intended to land them.

The value of all the exports in 1903, inclusive of specie (£38,452), was £15,010,378. The value of New Zealand produce exported, £11,838,192: gives an average of £18 1s. 10d. per head of population, against £16 18s. 5d. for the previous year. The increase in the value of exports of New Zealand produce for 1903 in respect of that for 1902 amounts to £1,339,593, or 9.92 per cent.

The values of exports for the years 1893 and 1903 to the United Kingdom, the Australian States, with other British possessions, and to foreign countries, show the extent and development of outward trade in regard to its distribution:—

Countries.1893.1903.
 ££
United Kingdom7,036,51511,345,075
New South Wales678,904974,460
Victoria527,5001,068,751
Queensland28,31637,289
Western Australia6,525100,759
South Australia19,43929,239
Tasmania14,10623,498
Other British possessions71,356587,612
United States496,548669,649
Other foreign ports106,155174,046
 £8,985,364£15,010,378

A comparative table showing the values of New Zealand domestic exports, according to their nature, for sixteen years will be found further on, with comments. The development for the period, expressed in money value, is from seven millions and a quarter to nearly fifteen millions.

But first a comparative statement of exports according to value for the last two years is given, showing the amounts for various principal articles, being the produce or manufacture of the colony, classified in groups:—

VALUE OF PRINCIPAL ARTICLES EXPORTED, 1902 AND 1903.

 Year 1902.Year1903.Increase in 1903.Decrease in 1903.
THE MINE.££££
Coal154,747128,927..25,820
Gold1,951,4262,037,83280,406..
Silver and minerals77,03898,84521,807..
Total2,183,2112,265,60482,393..
THE FISHERIES.........
Fish16,01516,447432..
Oysters2,8672,445..422
Other1,5422,343801..
Total20,42421,235811..
THE FOREST.........
Fungus10,2579,290..967
Kauri-gum450,223631,102180,879..
Timber—........
Sawn and hewn208,005240,71332,708..
Other2,4774,1521,675..
Total670,962885,257214,295..
ANIMALS AND PRODUCE.........
Bacon and hams18,59014,678..3,912
Beef and pork (salted)9,83711,1881,351..
Butter1,205,8021,318,067112,265..
Cheese163,539194,99831,459..
Hides44,54655,21610,670..
Live-stock113,95939,076..74,883
Preserved meats123,53496,217..27,317
Frozen meat2,718,7633,197,043478,280..
Rabbit-skins52,56640,727..11,839
Sausage-skins61,16765,385..4,218
Sheepskins and pelts375,876468,96993,093..
Tallow550,131517,871..32,260
Wool3,354,5634,041,274686,711..
Other11,99514,2542,259..
Total8,804,86810,074,9631,270,095..
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.........
Bran and sharps39,52326,94812,575..
Chaff1,7052,8061,101..
Flour3,6132,736..877
Grain—........
Barley25,06226,9171,855..
Beans and peas22,09735,06612,969..
Maize40,4173,65636,761..
Malt705269436..
Oats666,664453,702212,962..
Wheat31,07414,06817,006..
Hops14,29221,8267,534..
Oatmeal21,57813,2738,305..
Potatoes72,80713,028..59,779
Seeds (grass and clover)84,861109,04924,188..
Other kinds21,58821,501..87
Total£1,045,986£744,845..£301,141
MANUFACTURES.££££
Apparel2,2672,520253..
Leather92,63694,0241,388..
Phormium fibre534,031595,68461,653..
Woollen manufactures6,6645,015..1,649
Other manufactures119,634126,1156,481..
Total755,232823,35868,126..
Miscellaneous17,91622,9305,014..
Total exports (colonial produce and manufactures)13,498,59914,838,1921,339,593..
Specie9,51838,45228,934..
Other exports (British and foreign)136,860133,7343,126..
Total exports£13,644,977£15,010,378£1,365,401 

The class designated “Animals and Produce” shows by far the greatest value, the sum for 1903 being £10,074,963, which includes £1,011,274 for wool and £3,197,043 for frozen meat. The total value of exports in this class increased during the year by £1,270,095, on a total of £8,801,868 in 1902.

Although the value of wool exported in 1903 is greater than that for the previous year, the quantity will be found to have decreased.

“The Mine” takes second place among the classes for total value, with an export of coal, gold, silver, and other minerals amounting to £2,265,604 for 1903, being an increase of £82,393 on £2,183,211, the export for the previous year.

“Agricultural Products,” principally grain, potatoes, and seeds, take third place, but show a decrease of £301,141 on the value exported in 1902, oats, potatoes, maize, and wheat falling off considerably.

“The Forest” shows an export for last year valued at £885,257, which gives an increase of £214,295 on the figures for the previous year.

“Manufactures” are set down at £823,358 in 1903, being £68,126 more than in the previous year. Phormium fibre shows an increase on the operations for 1902 of £61,653. Woollen manufactures sent abroad decreased by £1,619, leather increased by £1,388, and apparel, with other manufactures, by £6,734.

The smallest group in respect to value is “The Fisheries.” The total for the group was £21,235, last year, an increase of £811 on the value of similar exports in 1902.

The exports of New Zealand produce or manufacture for the two last years have also to be considered in relation to quantity, and the articles are again grouped in the next table according to the same classification as that used for purposes of comparing the values.

QUANTITIES OF THE PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE EXPORTED.

Items.Year 1902.Year 1903.Increase in 1903.Decrease in 1903.
* At 20 lb. to the bushel.
The Mine:—
CoalTons188,677152,33236,345
GoldOz.507,852533,31425,462
Silver..674,196911,914237,718
MineralsTons60770194
The Fisheries:—
FishCwt.9,61110,001390
OystersDoz.339,685294,69044,995
WhaleboneLb.1,6804,1442,464
The Forest:—
FungusCwt.4,6324,280352
Gum (kauri)Tons7,4309,3571,927
Timber (sawn and hewn)8.ft.49,251,54957,097,9907,846,441
Animals and Produce:—
Bacon and hamsCwt.5,9103,7712,139
Beef and pork (salted)..8,0207,572448
Butter..253,998285,10631,108
Cheese..74,74674,78034
HidesNo.45,03853,3478,309
Live-stock (cattle, horses, sheep, pigs)..52,74322,71530,028
Meats (preserved)Cwt.54,27139,52514,746
(frozen)..2,138,5572,378,650240,093
Sausage-skins..13,39814,5211,123
Skins (rabbit)No.6,139,7946,101,89937,895
(sheep) and pelts..6,144,6807,142,531997,851
TallowCwt.424,060396,34027,120
WoolLb.160,419,023155,128,3815,290,642
Agricultural Products:—
Bran and sharps Tons7,7376,226..1,511
Chaff..356768412
Flour..370249121
Grain, barleyBush.151,360154,1372,777
beans and peas..102,314160,40358,089
maize..225,82918,058207,771
malt..2,8651,0201,845
oats5,185,8124,956,330..229,482
wheat..194,67171,700122,971
HopsCwt.4,3113,873438
OatmealTons1,8041,391413
Potatoes..17,7153,17014,545
Seeds(grass and clover)Bush*246,389345,32498,935
Manufactures:—
Ale and beerGals.25,89220,1465,746
CordageCwt.82075763
LeatherCwt.15,46915,4654
Phormium fibreTons20,85222,6521,800
SoapCwt.5,7708,0422,272

The numerical increases in such articles as butter, silver, frozen meat, sheepskins and pelts, beans and peas, timber, seeds, soap, phormium fibre, hides, and kauri-gum, are all most satisfactory, and in some cases very considerable; while, on the other hand, the export of coal, live-stock, preserved meats, tallow, wool, maize, malt, wheat, oats, and potatoes, with some other items, declined in 1903. The rates of increase and decrease for the principal articles are exhibited in the table following:—

INCREASES.
Export ofRate of Increase per Cent. in 1903 over Quantity in 1902.
WhaleboneLb.146.67
ChaffTons115.73
Beans and peas Bush.56.78
SeedsBush.40.15
SoapCwt.39.38
SilverOz.35.26
Kauri-gumTons25.94
HidesNo.18.45
Sheepskins and peltsNo.16.24
TimberFt.15.93
Minerals Tons15.49
Butter.Cwt.12.25
Meat (frozen)Cwt.11.23
Phormium fibreTons8.63
Sausage-skinsCwt.8.38
GoldOz.5.01
FishCwt.4.06
BarleyBush.1.83
CheeseCwt.0.05
DECREASES.
Export ofRate of Decrease per Cent. in 1903 over Quantity in 1902.
MaizeBush92.00
PotatoesTons82.11
MaltBush64.40
WheatBush63.17
Live-stockNo.56.93
Bacon and hamsCwt.36.19
FlourTons32.70
Meats (preserved)Cwt.27.17
OatmealTons22.89
Ale and beerGals22.19
Bran and sharpsTons19.53
CoalTons19.26
OystersDoz.13.25
HopsCwt.10.10
CordageCwt.7.68
FungusCwt.7.60
TallowCwt.6.40
Beef and pork (salted)Cwt.5.59
OatsBush.4.43
WoolLb.3.30
RabbitskinsNo.0.62
LeatherCwt.0.03

The position as to value in respect of a period of sixteen years, 1888 to 1903 inclusive, is presented in a table giving the domestic exports for each. The most important items of export given under the heading “Other New Zealand Produce” are coal, silver, minerals, fish, oysters, fungus, kauri-gum, timber, bacon and hams, salted and preserved meats, tallow, sheep and rabbit skins, hides, sausage-skins, and live-stock. The aggregate value of these in 1903 was £2,437,096.

EXPORTS OF NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE.
 Wool.Gold.Frozen Meat.Butter and Cheese.Agricultural Produce.ManufacturesOther N.Z. Produce.Total.
 ££££££££
18883,115,098914,309628,800197,170905,907233,3831,260,4617,255,128
18893,976,375785,490783,374213,9451,424,297569,8801,288,6479,042,008
18904,150,599751,3601,087,617207,6871,239,864547,9471,393,6879,428,761
18914,129,6861,007,1721,194,724236,933894,467420,3571,516,7559,400,094
18921,313,307951,9631,033,377318,2041,035,637367,6771,345,7039,365,868
18933,774,738915,9211,085,167354,271716,546345,6361,365,1648,557,443
18944,827,016887,8651,194,545366,483317,655224,9581,266,6269,085,148
18953,662,1311,162,1811,262,711378,510326,029188,7021,409,8898,390,153
18964,391,8481,041,4281,251,993411,882572,355198,0811,309,7499,177,336
18974,443,144980,2041,566,286553,122495,175197,6011,360,7359,596,267
18984,645,8041,080,6911,698,750539,466410,677253,8051,695,79510,324,988
18994,324,6271,513,1802,088,856713,617913,678378,0661,867,71611,799,740
19004,749,1961,439,6022,123,881969,7311,230,565549,3421,992,93213,055,249
19013,699,1031,753,7842,253,2621,121,0911,532,386425,1421,905,69212,690,460
19023,354,5631,951,4262,718,7631,369,3411,045,986755,2322,302,28813,498,599
19034,041,2742,037,8323,197,0431,513,065744,845823,3582,480,77514,838,192

The preceding table shows that the value of the exports of New Zealand produce fell from £9,428,761 in 1890 to £8,390,153 in 1895, then rose to £13,055,249 in 1900, and had in 1903 increased to £14,838,192, the highest value yet attained in any one year.

Thus there was a net increase of exports, since 1895, to the value of £6,448,039, all New Zealand produce. With the amount of increase in money must be considered the state of prices of the various kinds of produce.

The export of wool, measured by quantity, rose from 102,817,077 lb. in 1890 to 155,128,381 lb. in 1903, or at the rate of 50.88 per cent., and that of frozen meat from 898,894 cwt. to 2,378,650 cwt.

Gold, too, which was exported to the quantity of 187,641 oz. in 1890, increased to 533,314 oz. in 1903, the rate of increase being 184.22 per cent.

A comparison for ten years of the value of the export trade with the United Kingdom, British colonies and possessions, and foreign countries exhibits an increase of about 100 per cent. in case of exports to foreign States, against a rise of 200 per cent. in value of goods sent to British possessions, calculated on very much greater figures. The exports to the United Kingdom have risen about 40 per cent. in the decade.

 Exports to
YearUnited Kingdom.British Colonies and Possessions.Foreign States.
 £££
18947,903,493925,231402,323
1595045,6461,091,062413,516
18967,541,9811,316,544432,580
18978,168,1231,380,502468,368
18988,265,4991,532,511719,945
18999,427,5151,850,239660,581
190010,259,3422,332,780654,039
19019,295,3752,907,412678,637
19029,450,6483,577,815616,514
190311,345,0752,821,608843,695

Re-exports.

The re-export trade of the colony would seem from the subjoined figures to have been almost stationary for the last fourteen years, the figures for 1890 and 1903 only differing by a sum of £6,821. The re-exports of merchandise in 1903 were valued at £133,734, or less than 1 per cent. of the total exports, excluding specie.

EXPORTS OF BRITISH, FOREIGN, AND OTHER COLONIAL PRODUCE (EXCLUDING SPECIE).

..£
1890140,555
1891160,705
1892125,052
1893123,402
1894136,402
1895127,966
1896122,571
1897144,955
1898124,850
1899123,682
1900168,860
1901179,350
1902136,860
1903133,734

With these sums may be contrasted the re-export trade of New South Wales—a State having somewhat less than double the population of New Zealand—which, exclusive of specie, amounted in 1902 to £3,131,914, or no less than 15.77 per cent. of the value of all goods exported.

Exports from the North and Middle Islands.

The exports from the North and Middle Islands respectively, excluding “Parcels-post,” during the last five years were as under:—

Year.North Island.Middle Island.Proportion to North Island.Total Export. Middle Island.
..££....
18996,011,2395,916,29050.4049.60
19006,707,9646,526,39750.7049.30
19016,077,7246,787,54647.2452.76
19027,085,2750,543,38951.9948.01
19037,994,2276,995,30753.3346.67

The North Island exported in 1903 more than half of the total for the two Islands.

EXPORTS TO DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

The following are the values of exports to different countries or places in 1903 and 1902, arranged in order of magnitude of increase or decrease in the later year to each:—

Country, Colony, State, &c.1903.1902.Increase.
££££
United Kingdom11,345,0759,450,6481,894,427
United States of America669,649489,964179,685
Cape Colony118,61679,21339,403
Argentine Republic30,94154230,399
France13,4351513,420
Germany17,5849,3898,195
Bengal4,0761,7282,348
Fiji61,71759,6902,027
Falkland Islands1,912151,897
Holland1,565421,523
Fanning Island1,519..1,519
New Hebrides1,4891251,364
Solomon Islands1,332..1,332
Belgium985394591
Portuguese East Africa1,5781,045533
Ceylon819377442
Singapore663284379
China33042288
New Caledonia2,2922,011281
Switzerland31342271
Sweden402166236
Denmark6,0985,966132
Transvaal Colony230122108
Ocean Island78..78
Bombay1295475
Antarctic Regions60..60
Maiden Island58157
Austria661254
New Britain64959554
New Guinea20..20
Uruguay1,8901,87713
Russia11..11
Java514011
Norway1239
Orange River Colony1037
Madras927
Chili945
Greece3..3
Country, Colony, State, &c.1903.1902.Decrease.
 £££
Natal336,321674,708338,387
Victoria1,068,7511,295,233226,482
New South Wales974,4601,118,193143,733
Western Australia100,759132,90732,148
Queensland37,28962,98825,699
Tasmania23,49840,99617,498
Hongkong57,57766,3548,777
South Australia29,23934,0334,794
British Columbia2024,3484,146
Brazil1,0304,9093,879
Norfolk Island1,4473,5492,102
Philippine Islands2882,1931,905
Country, Colony, State, &c.1903.1902.Decrease.
..£££
Japan2,0703,7801,710
Friendly Islands35,27236,9801,708
Canada2,2193,018799
Navigator Islands29,75230,537785
Caroline Islands..458458
Society Islands22,97723,393416
Sandwich Islands1,5271,713186
Marshall Islands..140140
Canary Islands..4444
Guam..2222
Italy113221
Surprise Island42218
Rhodesia10133
Peru..22
Burmah..11

Wool exported and produced.

The quantity of wool exported in 1903, as previously shown, was 155,128,381 lb., valued at £4,041,274, a decrease of 5,290,642 lb., or 3.30 per cent. on the quantity exported in the previous year, but an increase of £686,711, or 20.47 per cent. on the value. The annual production of wool is best estimated by taking the exports for the twelve months immediately preceding the commencement of shearing, and adding thereto the quantity used in the colony for manufacturing purposes.

The following shows the produce for each of the last sixteen years ending on the 30th September:—

Year ending 30th September.Quantity exported.Quantity purchased by Local Mills.Total Annual Produce.
 Lb.Lb.Lb.
188889,276,2684,079,56393,355,831
188995,618,5073,556,00499,174,511
1890102,522,1852,979,293105,501,478
1891108,619,4732,918,073111,537,546
1892110,860,0503,388,954114,249,004
1893119,643,8742,629,855122,273,729
1894128,480,4572,476,155130,956,612
1895129,333,7693,299,132132,632,901
1896128,309,6733,989,934132,299,607
1897134,410,9553,298,469137,709,424
1898150,401,3993,763,831154,165,230
1899143,644,2034,258,505147,902,708
1900144,829,5153,223,392148,052,907
1901143,064,7894,629,924147,694,713
1902155,652,5634,203,312159,855,875
1903160,919,6935,294,652166,214,345

From these figures it appears that, notwithstanding the apparent decrease from 1898 to 1901, the wool-clip has increased by over 78 per cent. during the last sixteen years.

To arrive at a perfectly correct estimate of the increase in wool-production it would be necessary to take into consideration the proportion of greasy, scoured (and sliped), and washed wool exported each year, the washing process of course greatly reducing the weight. The percentages of greasy, scoured, and washed wool to the total quantities exported during the last six years are:—

Years.Greasy. Per Cent.Scoured and Sliped. Per Cent.Washed. Per Cent.
189878.6220.361.02
180977.5421.640.82
190078.6220.101.28
190178.2520.611.14
190273.8224.261.92
190376.4722.151.38

Although the increase in the wool-production is, of course, mainly due to the greater number of sheep—namely, 18,954,553 in April, 1903, against 15,423,328 in May, 1889—it becomes necessary to note that there is a diminution since 1902 to the number of 1,388,174. In fact, the number of sheep has receded in one year to little more than the number for 1892, chiefly in consequence of killing for export. A comparative statement for several years is supplied, showing the number of flocks in groups of sizes:—

NUMBER OF FLOCKS, 1890 to 1903.

Size of Flocks.1890.1892.1894.1896.1898.1900.1903.

* From 1,000 to 2,500, 1,798 flocks; from 2,500 to 5,000, 614 flocks.

† From 1,000 to 2,500, 1,971 flocks; from 2,500 to 5,000, 650 flocks.

‡ From 1,000 to 2,500, 2,081 flocks; from 2,500 to 5,000, 670 flocks.

Under 5007,6628,82210,31412,02812,88612,23912,428
500 and under 1,0001,5282,0332,4272,6052,7082,8102,923
1,000 and under 2,0008541,1931,4091,460......
2,000 and under 5,0005867619338922,412*2,6212,751
5,000 and under 10,000283314345340341352342
10,000 and under 20,000236231230231231196207
20,000 and upwards160176179147144139110
Totals11 30913,53015,83717,70318,72218,35718,761

It will be apparent that the general tendency of increase since the year 1890 is towards the multiplication of the smaller flocks, whose owners arc better able to cope with the rabbit difficulty than the large runholders.

Export of Rabbit-skins.

Prior to 1878 rabbit-skins were a very small item in the exports, but in that year the number sent out of the colony amounted to 3,951,209. Ten years after (1888) the export had risen to 11,809,407, from which it increased to 17,041,106 in 1893, the greatest number as yet exported in a year. From 1895 the fall was rapid, and the export for 1898 only reached 6,607,934 skins. In 1899 there was a slight upward tendency, the number exported being 7,891,648, which, however, fell to 5,690,893 in the year 1900. In 1901 7,122,008 skins were exported, in 1902 6,139,794 skins, and in 1903 only 6,101,899 skins.

The figures for the years in which there has been decline are quoted:—

Year.Number of Rabbit-skins exported.
189317,041,106
189414,267,385
189515,229,314
189610,828,612
18978,099,334
18986,607,934
18997,891,648
19005,690,893
19017,112,008
19026,139,794
19036,101,899

From the above it will be seen that the importance of the export has very much diminished. The fall, represented in money value, has been:—

Year.Value of Rabbit-skins exported.
1893138,952
189487,993
189585,022
189665,599
189747,472
189851,607
189981,118
190041,689
190157,046
190252,566
190340,727

While the amount of money received for this produce of the colony shows less profit than formerly, it may be a satisfactory result, as seemingly indicating some abatement of the rabbit-pest. Large quantities of frozen rabbits are now exported, and are alluded to in the remarks on the frozen-meat industry on the next page.

Export of Sheepskins and Pelts.

These form a more important article of export at the present time than the rabbit-skins, though in the year 1888 the position was the reverse as regards value in money. In 1888 the number of sheepskins and pelts sent away from New Zealand was 1,646,401, against 7,142,531 in 1903, a rise of 334 per cent. for the period between those years. The value increased from £83,574 to £468,969, or 461 per cent. Figures for the last ten years are quoted:—

Year.Export of Sheepskins and Pelts.
 No.
18942,681,552
18953,230,539
18963,001,791
18973,688,051
18984,995,325
18994,960,054
19004,669,430
19014,601,531
19026,144,680
19037,142,531

Export of Tallow.

Besides wool and meat, tallow is largely exported, and since the year 1888, when 136,460 cwt. were sent away, the export has increased to 396,940 cwt. in 1903. In value this export considerably exceeds that of either sheepskins or rabbit-skins, and the money is indeed more than the total for those two articles taken together. The ten latest years show the following results:—

TALLOW EXPORTED.

Years.Cwt.£
1894199,400204,499
1895263,560260,999
1896222,540208,821
1897310,200259,964
1898347,160302,141
1899338,620311,649
1900367,780368,473
1901335,360351,710
1902424,060550,131
1903396,940517,871

The decrease in 1903 synchronizes with that of the number of sheep in the colony.

Frozen Meat exported.

Frozen meat now takes second place among the exports of New Zealand produce. In 1903, 2,378,650 cwt., valued at £3,197,043, were shipped in the colony. An account of the development of the industry was given in a special article in the Year-book, 1894. The total export for each year since the commencement of the trade has been:—

Year.Lb.
18821,707,328
18839,853,200
188428,445,228
188533,204,976
188638,758,160
188745,035,984
188861,857,376
188973,564,064
1890100,934,756
1891110,199,082
189297,636,557
1893100,262,453
1894114,827,216
1895127,018,864
1896123,576,544
1897157,687,152
1898173,798,576
1899208,972,624
1900206,621,072
1901208,045,264
1902239,518,384
1903260,408,800

The above figures for 1899 include 129,224 cwt., or 4,876,534 (number) of frozen rabbits and hares in the skin; those for 1900 include 12,260 (731 cwt.) of hares, and 6,501,997 rabbits, weighing 167,971 cwt., valued at £154,856; those for 1901, include 42,202 (2,943 cwt.) of hares, and 4,830,669 (124,353 cwt.) of rabbits, valued at £117,813; those for 1902 include 23,421 (1,643 cwt.) of hares, and 4,776,914 (123,229 cwt.) rabbits, valued at £118,884; and those for 1903 include 8,145 (588 cwt.) of bares, and 4,452,829 (112,972 cwt.) rabbits, valued at £100,088: so that rabbits can hardly now be looked upon as wholly worthless, especially when the export of the skins, previously remarked upon, is further considered.

To ascertain the total value of the meat export in 1903 it is necessary to take into consideration, with the amount of £3,197,043, value of frozen meat before stated, £11,804 for frozen fish; also the value of preserved meats, £96,217; of salted beef and pork, £11,188; and of bacon and hams, £14,678.

Gold exported.

The amount of gold exported in 1903 was 533,314 oz., an increase of 25,462 oz. on the quantity exported in 1902.

The total quantity of gold entered for duty to the 31st December, 1903, which may be reckoned as approximately the amount obtained in the colony, was 16,105,821 oz., of the value of £63,149,147. For fuller information, see special section on mining.

Grain exported.

The value of the grain exported in 1903 was £533,865. The grain exports for 1902 and 1903 were made up as under:—

 1902.1903.
 Bushels.£Bushels.£
Wheat194,67131,07471,70014,068
Oats5,185,812666,6644,956,330453,702
Barley151,36025,062154,13726,917
Malt2,8657051,020269
Maize225,82940,41718,0583,656
Peas and beans102,31422,097160,40335,066
Rye and unenumerated2,7115291,100187
Total quantity and value5,865,562£786,5485,362,748£533,865

Compared with the previous year the quantity and value of grain exported in 1903 show a considerable decrease.

From the year 1890 to 1898, inclusive, the decline in the export of wheat was very great, while for 1899, 1900, and 1901 there was a revival, as will be seen by the following figures. But for 1902 and 1903 the quantity sent out of the colony fell to 194,671 bushels and 71,700 bushels respectively:—

Year.Wheat exported.
 Bushels.
18904,467,026
18922,460,774
1894228,904
1896453,123
189810,090
18992,901,676
19002,867,069
19012,301,092
1902194,671
190371,700

The imports of wheat during 1898 exceeded the exports by upwards of 50,000 bushels, but from 1899 to 1903 the imports were practically nil, the small quantity introduced into the colony being for seeding purposes only.

In oats, the quantity exported in 1903 shows a decrease over that for the previous year:—

Year.Export of Oats. Bushels.
18914,052,414
18923,830,444
18941,963,288
18962,247,053
1898816,210
18993,520,734
19005,818,648
190110,514,924
19025,185,812
19034,956,330

The acreages under cereals for the last four years have been:—

 1900-1901.1901-1902.1902-1903.1903-1904.
 Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.
Land in wheat (for threshing)206,465163,462194,355230,346
oats449,534405,924483,659409,390
barley30,83126,51427,92134,681

Butter and Cheese exported.

The total quantity of butter and cheese exported in the past fifteen years, and the amount of either commodity sent to the United Kingdom is tabulated:—

Year.Total Export of Butter.Butter Exported to the United Kingdom.Total Export of Cheese.Cheese Exported to the United Kingdom.
 Cwt.Cwt.Cwt.Cwt.
189937,95521,09926,5587,633
189034,81626,57940,45131,043
189139,43028,98939,77029,565
189253,93041,50941,49330,000
189358,14952,36346,20141,567
189460,77158,84555,65554,540
189557,96455,19476,74373,369
189671,35360,09271,37258,692
189799,00279,84977,68367,681
189890,80180,81468,71141,412
1899136,086121,50269,44040,901
1900172,583165,871102,84981,908
1901201,591170,903104,29474,510
1902253,998170,20774,74650,325
1903285,106249,01674,78064,661

Of the butter exported in 1903, 249,016 cwt., valued at £1,145,226, were shipped to the United Kingdom; 3,121 cwt., value £14,769, to New South Wales; 10,229 cwt., value £48,318, to Victoria; 468 cwt., value £2,259, to Tasmania; 3,729 cwt., value £18,237, to Western Australia; 46 cwt., value £214, to South Australia; 512 cwt., value £2,501, to Queensland; 793 cwt., value £3,919, to Fiji; 16,323 cwt., value £77,915, to Cape Colony and Natal; 810 cwt., value £4,418, to the South Sea Islands; 56 cwt., value £277, to Philippine Islands; 2 cwt., value £11, to Ceylon; and 1 cwt., valued at £3, to Norfolk Island.

Of the cheese exported, 64,661 cwt., valued at £167,667, were sent to the United Kingdom; 1,109 cwt., value £3,090, to New South Wales; 2,253 cwt., value £5,980, to Victoria; 4,921 cwt., value £13,196, to Western Australia; and 884 cwt., value £2,410, to the other Australian States. While the quantity of butter exported in 1903, 285,106 cwt., shows an increase of 651 per cent. on the quantity exported in 1889, the increase in the export of cheese during the fifteen years has been at the rate of 182 per cent.— 74,780 cwt. in 1903, as against 26,558 cwt. in 1889.

Phormium fibre exported.

Phormium fibre, of which 22,652 tons (excluding 2,042 tons of tow), valued at £595,684, were exported in 1903, shows an increase in the export, on comparing the figures for last year with those for 1902, when the quantity sent away was 20,852 tons. Outside of the question of prices, a large permanent development of this industry depends on the cultivation and careful selection of the plants used, and on improvements in the method of preparing the fibre.

Kauri-gum exported.

The export for 1903 (9,357 tons) is a substantial one. The value was £631,102, or an average of £67 8s. 11d. per ton. Full information as to the uses of this resin and the kauri-gum industry generally was given in a special article in Part III. of the Year-book for 1900. It embraces interesting matter from the report of the Royal Commission which investigated the whole subject in 1898.

Exports from different Ports, &c.

The following table gives the values of the exports from each port in New Zealand for the last two years, arranged in order of magnitude for 1903:—

 1903.1902.
 ££
Wellington2,737,7622,567,268
Lyttelton2,670,5132,382,429
Auckland5,501,6052,091,016
Dunedin1,441,0851,618,294
Napier892,238838,910
Timaru886,985685,759
Invercargill and Bluff814,654938,599
Poverty Bay541,077397,039
Greymouth417,802411,115
Wanganui416,983307,345
New Plymouth398,737413,911
Oamaru292,648154,252
Patea264,059249,750
Wairau and Picton219,129143,094
Kaipara153,593131,789
Nelson105,01470,080
Westport93,20297,206
Waitara88,17888,247
Hokitika54,27542,561

The decrease of exports during 1903 was £177,209 at Dunedin, £123,945 at Invercargill and Bluff, £15,174 at New Plymouth, £4,004 at Westport, and £74 at Waitara.

DETAILS OF ALL EXPORTS, 1903.

Articles exported.Quantities.Value in Sterling.
Produce and Manufactures of the Colony.British, Foreign, and other Colonial Produce and Manufactures.Produce and Manufactures of the Colony.British, Foreign, and other Colonial Produce and Manufactures.Total.
Acid—  £££
Unenumeratedlb...2,2605959
Alkali—     
Soda crystalscwt.62..2
Potash..10..1616
Animals, living—     
BirdsNo.1315..15
Dogs..1454..54
Goats..32..2
Cattle (horned)..3664,337..4,337
Horses330810,35730510,662
Pigs..266416..416
Poultry7,620895417971
Sheep..21,76322,941..22,941
Apparel and slops....2,5203,4996,019
Arms, ammunition, and explosives—     
Caps, percussionNo.250,000..2929
Cartridges2130028,000130,122252
Detonators..1616....
Dynamitelb...2,575169169
FirearmsNo.46..241241
Fusecoils240..99
Ordnance stores..12285297..
Powder, sportinglb.1,500..136136
Unnumerated..115115....
Bacon and hams—     
Baconcwt.7612,993..2,993
Hams..3,01011,685..11,685
Bags and sacks—     
Cornsacks doz..2,8635,6382231,3061,529
Unenumerated26410,571381,1481,186
Basketware and wickerware..7..7..
Bêoce-de-mercwt.1026..26
Beer galls.20,1463,2462,1057492,854
Belting, other than leather lb.......3333
Beverages, non-alcoholic doz.1,2016922816244
Limejuice, sweetenedgalls...2044
Limejuice, unsweetened1,2228,27982577659
Bicycles and tricycles No.68645725770
Materials for..1,4841,484....
Biscuits—     
Fancy, and other kindslb.15,527337..337
Ships' plaincwt.5,544..4,9564,956
Blacking....5128133
BoatsNo.4600..600
Bonestons415..15
Books, printed....4,8602,5497,409
Boots and shoes doz. prs.772793259601,285
Bran tons5,50322,43422,434....
Brass—     
Tubecwt.12..2
Pigs, bars. &c.9..3030..
Manufactures..2480..104
Bricks No.23,100..66..06
Bricks, Fire..4,150..4040
Brushware and brooms....43236
Buttercwt.285,1061,318,0671,318,067..
Candles lb.909,1463136139
Canvas....41620
Cards, playingpacks..9144
Carpeting and druggeting......524524
Carriages, &c.—     
Carriages No.25652467591
Cans and wagons15316340203
Perambulators..39..9
Materials for....27375
Casks, empty No.8372634449483
Cement barrels411162179100
Chaff tons768..2,8062,806..
Chainscwt.215419
Cheese..74,780..194,998194,998
Chinaware......196196
Coals 152,3323,804128,9273,804132,731
Cocoa and Chocolatelb.1,726..9999
Coffee—     
Raw..13,804..339339
Roasted..643..3131
Confectionery—     
Chocolate in fancy packages......9797
Unenumeratedlb.10,466..267267
Copper—     
Pig, bar, &c.cwt...83232
Copperwear......1313
Copra ton.20942131,4161,629
Cordage cwt.7573391,6845472,231
Iron and steel..30..5858
Cork, cut......5050
Cottons—     
Calico......790790
Cheese-cloth......3838
Shirtings......110110
Waterproof material......1313
Tubular-woven cotton-cloth......450450
Unenumerated......2,7742,774
Cotton-wastecwt.11..1616
Cutlery......394394.
DoorsNo.568508..508
Drapery....2561,9882,244
Tailors' trimmings......5858
Lace and laces......2020
Drugs—     
Chemicals n.o.e.....43112443
Baking powder....32023
Cream of tartarlb...3,998162162
Insecticides....6..6
Food-preservative......77
Gums......77
Drugs, and druggists' sundries....3141,1771,491
Anhydrous ammonia....19..19
Disinfectants....9211
Potassium cyanidecwt...20100100
Sheep-dip....36369432
Washing-powder......8989
Dyes......211211
Earthenware....99451550
Eggsdoz.4,715271..271
Engine-packingcwt...11169169
Essential oilslb...1705050
Fancy-goods and toys....5012,6913,192
Curiosities....421250671
Featherslb5,430119..119
Felt-sheathing......113113
Fire-hose and other appliances......100100
Fire-claytons1539..39
Fish—     
Dried cwt.24365606136742
Potted and preserved lb.160,76958,0804,0371,4365,473
Frozencwt.8,32311,804..11,804
OvaNo.407,000..439439
Fishing-tackle......3131
Floorcloth and oilcloth......7676
Flour 249162,7361732,909
Foods, animal, n.o.e.....213..213
Foods, farinaceous—     
Arrowrootlb.2,352..2323
Sago and tapiocacwt.47..2323
Maizena and cornflourlb...11,800199199
Fruits—..........
Bottled and preserved doz.48204105666
Fruits, dried—     
Currantslb...11,177147147
Raisins..10,414..208208
Unenumerated3111,2391273274
Fruits, fresh74,50021,400736186922
Fruit—     
Pulp and partially preserved lb.520,549..6,322..6,322
Preserved in sulphurous acid..5767..7
Funguscwt.4,2809,290..9,290
Furniture and upholstery....1,0344551,489
Furniture and other polish....415192
Furs......3131
Gelatine and isinglass lb.5401,6874178119
Glass bottles....7182189
Glassware......551554
Glue and size cwt.235271496155
Glycerine4594277265837
Gold oz.533,314602,037,8322432,038,075
Grain and pulse—     
Barleybush.154,13726,917..26,917
Beans and peas..100,40335,066..35,066
Maize..18,0583,656..3,656
Oats..4,956,330453,702..453,702
Rye..1,100,187187
Wheat71,700814,068214,070
Groundcentals105..5
Greasecwt.16..1818
Gum, kauritons9,357631,102..631,102
Haberdashery......535535
Buttons....45..45
Sewing-cottons......576576
Haircwt.5472,923..2,923
Hardware, hollow-ware, and iron-mongery....4972,3422,839
Hats and caps doz.1626046260306
Hatters' materials......349349
Hay and strawtons1,5313,406..3,406
H idesNo.53,34755,216..55,216
Honeylb.60,7601,036..1,036
Hops cwt.3,873721,8267321,899
Horns and hoofstons651,062..1,062
Hosiery....7974221,219
Indiarubber goods......603603
Ink, printing lb.5411061420
Instruments, musical—     
Harmoniums, &c. No...5..5959
Pianofortes..29..1,0591,059
Unenumerated..2393..395
Instruments—     
Optical....152237
Scientific......220220
Surgical and dental....20307327
Surveying......8888
iron and steel—     
Angle tons..8..7070
Bar, bolt, and rod22220303323
Bolts and nutscwt.3145
Castings for shipstons577582
Galvanised manufactures....353403756
Hoop ton..1..1616
Pig..2..77
Pipes and fittings cwt.1220102636
Railstons..42929
Sheet and plate25256792
Sheet, galvanised, corrugatedcwt.2,723..2,2982,298
Sheet, galvanised, plain..113..127127
Staples and standards....1..1
Tanks, 400 galls.No...62196196
Tanks, 200 galls...3..66
Wire, fencing, barbedtons..20293293
Wire, telegraphic and telephonictons..21010
Wire netting......176176
Wire, n.o.e.cwt...101212
Unenumeratedtons12411051
Jams, jellies, and preserves lb.12,7884,53024675321
Jellies, concentrated..1,646..5151
Jewellery....32617343
Lamps, lanterns, and lampwick....5260265
Lardcwt.116313..313
Lead, pigs and bars....22020
Leather15,4651494,02426894,292
Leather manufactures, unenumerated..236285..
Limebush.2.480..9292
Linen piece goods......238238
Linseed centals12,839..6,209..6,209
Machinery—     
Agricultural....5,0726,60211,674
Dairying....421,5761,618
Dredging....1,9717,2679,238
Electric....41,0141,018
Engines, steamNo.24260307567
boilers for..1..220220
gas and oil..4..330330
Flour-milling......399399
Gas-making......349349
Mining....7241,5892,313
Printing....104225329
Refrigerating......1,5981,598
Sewing and knittingNo.145..603603
Wood-working......8585
Woollen milling....1818 
Unenumerated....9833,3474,330
Materials for, and parts of....38126164
Maltbush.1,020269..269
Manures—..    
Bonedusttons430..30
Guano..20..5050
Unenumerated..3751,77811,779
Matches and vestas, wooden gross-boxes..3,625..307307
Mats and matting....7671147
Meal, oaten centals27,8282213,2731113,284
Meats—     
Beef, frozencwt.205,205272,105..272,105
salted..7,40510,741..10,741
Kidneys, frozen..8,83113,436..13,436
Lamb, frozen carcases = cwt.2,212,305......
 =cwt.702,2341,125,523..1,125,523
Mutton (whole ca cases), frozen carcases2,602,612..1,594,135..1,594,135
 = cwt.1,279,835......
Mutton (joints), frozencwt.57,43169,170..69,170
Pork, frozen..3,1408,979..8,979
salted..167447..447
Poultry, frozenpairs19,2894,257..4,257
Veal, frozencwt.1,092..1,5111,511
Other kinds, frozen7,32212,096..12,096..
Rabbits, frozen in the skinsNo.4,452,82999,595..99,595
 = cwt.112,972......
Hares, frozen in the skinsNo.8,145493..493
 = cwt.588......
Potted and preserved39,5256796,21716596,382
Extractlb.25,4353,454..3,454
Unenumeratedcwt.386844..844
Medicines, patent....536373909
Metal manufactures....2,00314,3986,401
Anchors.No.15..2323
Rivets and washerscwt.32..2020
TypewritersNo.13..194194
Weighbridges and weighing-machines....10023123
Metal, old cwt.15,57263,811193,830
Milk, preserved lb.636,94248,70812,5881,04413,632
Millinery....85312397
Feathers, ornamental....40..40
Minerals—     
Auriferous oretons4724,449..4,449
Copper ore....123..123
Hæmatite....1..1
Lead oretons21170..170
Manganese..70210..210
Scheelite ore..421,439..1,439
Tin-ore..2180..180
Unenumerated..88776..776
Nailscwt.481..336330
Nuts—     
Almonds in shelllb.240..88
shelled..620..1818
Candlenuts..12,32049..49
CocoanutsNo.6,440..2424
Unenumeratedlb.541..1
Oakumcwt...588
Oil—     
Castor, bulkgalls...1862222
Colza..950..130130
Cocoanut3,282..392..392
Fish, penguin, and seal90292163046
Linseed..2,877..464464
Mineral, kerosene..127,998..5,4405,410
other kinds905,7382433435
Neatsfoot952..40..10
Olive, bulk..500..9090
Whale15,320..1,163..1,163
Unenumerated (bulk)4814,10968382450
bottled, doz. pts...16..77
Oilmen's stores....101,9511,961
Onionscwt.4,8511,708..1,708
Oystersdoz.294,6902,445..2,445
Paints and colours—     
Ground in oilcwt...646920920
Mixed ready for use10280201,1711,191
Unenumerated2924910156157
Paper—     
Bags..778665665..
Butter, paper..6..88
Printing1034113276208
Wrapping8774654284626
Writing....164040
Unenumerated5128129
Peel, candied and driedlb.224..44
Perfumerygalls..70102102
Unenumerated......4343
Phormium fibretons22,652595,684..595,684
Tow..2,0427,727..7,727
Photographic goods....24545569
Pictures....1,2359382,173
Picture-frames and mounts....47579
Pitchcwt.90718383
Plants and shrubs....779..779
Plaster of pariscwt...111
Plate and platedware....2931,4581,751
Pollard and sharpstons7234,514..4,514
Potatoes..3,17013,028..13,028
Printing materials....4870118
Provisions....1,8385912,429
Pumps....17268240
Puttycwt...311818
Rags..1,022735..735
Railway plant3535......
Ricecwt.933..710740
Rugs....2,7321312,863
Saddlery....77675851
Sashespairs1,009..759759
Sauces galls.891345384137
Sausage-skins cwt.14,52112265,38572766,112
Seeds—     
Grass and clover61,665124109,049339109,388
Unenumerated....1,7923902,182
Shells, pearlcwt...22020
Ship-chandlery....281378659
Silk niece-goods..887887....
Silveroz...911,91491,49791,497
Skins-Calf and other kindsNo.8,5691,266..1,266
..6,101,899........
Rabbit{=lb.801,735..40,72740,727
No.683,251........
Sheep, with woollb.4,998,068107,028..107,028
No.6,659,280........
Sheep, without wool{lb.15,074,406361,941..361,941
Pelt pieceslb.138,544127..127
Soap—     
Commoncwt.8,0427,231..7,231
Powder......2626
Un enumerated....31172203
Specie—     
Gold......36,37536,375
Silver......2,0722,072
Copper......55
Specimens, illustrative of natural science....39620416
Spices, ungroundlb.1,622..162162
Spirits—     
Bitters, cordials, &c.galls...201919
Brandy....551368368
Gin and geneva..1,107..353353
Rum..254..7878
Whisky..8,650..3,3973,397
Stationery....1,8738092,682
Educational apparatus......4747
Stearinecwt.4872..72
Stone—     
Buildingtons2822..22
Wrought....80..80
Un wroughtcwt.5596..96
Pumicetons6281,717..1,717
Greenstonecwt.160733..733
Grind, mill, oil, and whet....51217
Sugar—     
Refined lb.725,67980,5026,0545886,642
Molasses and treaclecwt.1212..12
Tallowtons18,407465,817..465,817
Oleomargarineit1,44052,054..52,054
Tanning materials—     
Bark, crudetons1711,101..1,101
Other kinds....1010 
Tar......66
Tealb.92,787..4,3514,351
Textile piece-goods....4312316
Textiles, made-up....15520
Timber—     
LogsNo.3111,245..1,245
hewnsup. ft.486,3481,477..1,477
Sawn, undressed..55,063,747226,169..226,169
dressed..1,547,89513,067..13,067
Unenumerated....1,806..1,806
Tin—     
Sheetcwt.79..7070
Tinware..1119236355
Tobacco—     
Manufacturedlb...53,039.4,6514,651
Cigars502,19825865890
Cigarettes..3,367..1,1981,198
Tobacco-pipes, &c.......2929
Tools—     
Engineers'machine......1010
Sheep-shears......1010
Unenumerated....105446551
Turpentinegals.1,776..279279
Twinecwt.3..9292
Reaper and binder18,00632422..32,422
Umbrellas and parasols......257257
Materials for......4040
Varnish and gold size gals.3158817220237
Vegetables....3006306
Vinegar gals.3383538689
WatchesNo.2,012..2,3972,397
Wax—     
Paraffinlb.420..99
Unenumerated..106..88
Whalebonecwt.37715..715
Wine—     
Australiangals.527..221221
Sparkling..403..722722
Other kinds5474426483509
Woodenware..1,139..3261,465
Mouldings......105105
Wool—     
Greasy lb.118,632,13170,0732,879,2772,9492,882,226
Scoured..14,746,107543,341..543,341
Sliped..19,617,211565,797..565,797
Washed2,132,932..52,859..52,859
Wool packsdoz.2..22
Woollen piece-goods..2,027..1,6313,658
blanketspairs187216..216
Yarns..40....40
Zinc—     
Spelter.723397542310852
Goods, miscellaneous—     
Manufactured..705..7321,437
Unmanufactured....2,0861862,272
Parcels Post..20,844..20,844

A table is appended giving details of goods forwarded in the year 1903 to the Cook and other Pacific Islands annexed to New Zealand in 1901. These do not appear as exports from the colony, being merely part of the internal trade or transactions between one portion of what is now New Zealand and another.

Articles.Quantities.Value.
....£
Animals, living..284
Apparel and slops n.o.e...802
Hags and sacks1,230 doz.369
Biscuits..1,601
Boots and shoes108 doz. pairs352
Butter74 cwt.355
Casks, empty553 No.218
Cement437 barrels200
Coal1,123 tons1,171
Cordage93 cwt.212
Cotton piece-goods..2,345
Drapery..2,477
Fish, preserved..558
Flour95 tons1,041
Furniture and upholstery..233
Hardware, holloware, and ironmongery...496
Hosiery..296
Iron and steel..465
Meats, salted and preserved1,031 cwt.2,409
Oils8,563 gals.464
Oilmen's stores..539
Provisions, unenumerated..326
Rice573 cwt.398
Rugs..215
Ship-chandlery..205
Soap, common891 cwt.631
Spirits1,037 gals.388
Sugar, refined927 cwt.907
Timber..3,948
Tobacco..374
Miscellaneous..3,686
Total value of goods shipped to the Islands..£27,965

Of the above, goods to the value of £27,846 were forwarded from Auckland, £92 from Lyttelton, £20 from Wellington, and £7 from Dunedin.

Particulars of goods cleared outwards from these annexed islands in 1903 will be found in Section IV., p. 167.

TOTAL VALUE OF TRADE.

The value of the total trade of New Zealand advanced from £13,431,804 in the year 1886 to £27,799,053 in 1903. But of these amounts some portion was coin. Excluding the specie, the figures for 1886 are £12,853,736, and for 1903, £27,047,885.

Year.Total Trade.Imports.Exports.Imports (excluding Specie).Exports (excluding Specie).Excess of Exports over imports (excluding Specie).
 ££££££
188613,431,8046,759,0136,672,7916,319,2236,534,513215,290
188713,111,6846,245,5156,866,1696,064,2816,680,772616,491
188813,709,2255,941,9007,767,3255,430,0507,403,2061,972,156
188915,650,7276,308,8639,341,8645,980,5839,183,9543,203,371
189016,072,2456,260,5259,811,7205,928,8959,569,3163,640,421
189116,070,2466,503,8499,566,3976,431,1019,560,8593,129,758
189216,477,9076,943,0569,534,8516,742,5449,490,9202,748,376
189315,896,8796,911,5158,985,3646,494,2798,680,8452,186,566
189416,019,0676,788,0209,231,0475,990,1779,221,5503,231,373
189514,950,3536,400,1298,550,2246,115,9538,518,1192,402,166
189616,458,4257,137,3209,321,1057,035,3799,299,9072,264,528
189718,072,2168,055,22310,016,9937,994,2019,741,2221,747,021
189818,748,5558,230,60010,517,9558,211,40910,449,8382,238,429
189920,677,9688,739,63311,938,3358,613,65611,923,4223,309,766
190023,892,25710,646,096113,246,16110,207,32613,223,2583,015,932
190124,699,33911,817,91512,881,42111,353,41612,869,8101,516,394
190224,971,70011,326,72313,644,97710,958,03813,635,4592,677,421
190327,799,05312,788,675115,010,37812,075,95914,971,9262,895,967

The trade for these years has been selected for exhibition in tabular form because during each of the series there was an excess of exports over imports, whereas previously the reverse obtained, and the colony was purchasing to an extent not covered by the value of the export. During the last eighteen years the excess of exports over imports, excluding money sent to and from the colony, amounted to a total sum of £43,011,426.

How different the foregoing conditions were from those previously obtaining will be seen by observing the balance of trade for the years 1881 to 1885 inclusive:—

Year.Excess of Imports over Exports.
18311,406,898
18821,948,485
1883761,938
1884235,981
1885539,239

The gradually declining excess of imports turned in 1886 and 1887 to a small excess of exports, but subsequently the excess of exports was very great, and attained the sum of £3,640,421 in the year 1890.

Again considering the results for the eighteen years, 1886-1903, during winch the balance was in favour of the exports, the external trade is shown for each year per head of population, the calculations being made exclusive as well as inclusive of specie, for the purpose of arriving at exact conclusions as regard trade in goods. In the year 1894 the imported money amounted to a sum of £797,843, and in 1903 to £712,716, making a substantial difference in the rates.

Excluding specie, the trade per head of population increased from £22 1s. 7d., in 1886, to £32 19s. 6d. in 1903: imports from £10 17s. 1d. to £14 14s. 5d., and exports from £11 4s. 6d. to £18 5s. 1d.

Year.Including Specie.Excluding Specie
Total Trade per Head of Mean Population (excluding Maoris).Imports per Head of Mean Population (excluding Maoris).Exports per Head of Mean Population (excluding Maoris).Total Trade per Head of Mean Population (excluding Maoris).Imports per Head of Mean Population (excluding Maoris).Exports per Head of Mean Population (excluding Maoris).
 £s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
188623151112211932217101711146
188721198109511103217510341141
1888221211916412167214081951247
188925911105615452415991561503
18902513101002151382419491801584
1891251041066153102571010..31537
1892251321016311161125561091114157
1893240910901311922181191651326
1891231199191113111022711816513116
189521111094101270212881681260
18962358101111339232291911331
18972501111331317824117111713100
189825931137145825611113114310
18992711511131151842778119815180
19003159131810176113013813741764
19013115015310161123129141111161010
19023160143111721301061314817110
1903331710151110186032196141451851

The highest record of trade (excluding specie) was that for 1874, when the rate per head was £41 4s. 5d., the imports, in consequence of the large expenditure of borrowed money, amounting at that time to £24 17s. per head, against £14 14s. 5d. in 1903.

It has been customary to leave out the Maoris in estimating the sum per head, for their industries and necessities swell the volume of trade in comparatively so slight a measure that the amount per head of European population can be more truly ascertained by omitting them altogether.

Trade with different Countries, States, or Colonies.

The trade with the United Kingdom in 1903 amounted to £18,857,743, comprising 67.84 per cent. of the total.

With the Australian States, trade was done during 1903 to the value of £4,388,962; of which New South Wales claimed £2,203,587, and Victoria £1,884,754, made up as follows:—

EXPORTS FROM NEW ZEALAND.
 £
To New South Wales, 1903974,460
Victoria, 19031,068,751
IMPORTS INTO NEW ZEALAND.
 £
From New South Wales, 19031,229,127
Victoria, 1903816,003

The latter amounts, in each case, represent the declared values of the imports into New Zealand from the States mentioned, not their export value as given in the New South Wales and Victorian returns.

Included in the exports to New Zealand from New South Wales is coal to the quantity of 163,903 tons, valued at £158,128.

Both imports from and exports to the United States in 1903 show an increase when compared with the previous year's figures. Details of articles imported will be found on page 193.

The articles of exported New Zealand products for 1903 were:—

EXPORTS TO UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
 £
Gum (kauri), value362,890
Phormium fibre125,425
Sheepskins88,038
Sausage-skins37,499
Wool22,330
Grass-seed12,434
Binder twine11,911
Coal1,867
Rabbit-skins859
Hides795

The following table shows the value of the total trade with the United States for each of the past ten years, 1894 to 1903 inclusive, during which period the trade has increased considerably. But the increase is mostly on the side of the imports from those States, and especially from the Atlantic ports, from which there is a far greater output to New Zealand than from the Pacific side.

TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES.
Year.Imports fromExports toTotal Trade.
Atlantic Ports.Pacific Ports.Atlantic Ports.Pacific Ports.
 £££££
1894359,19635,495230,82956,367681,887
1895351,82342,410298,53618,103710,872
1896419,68973,151263,56463,0251,819,429
1897521,939106,105252,013123,0831,003,140
1898700,55599,856337,059286,0741,423,544
1899687,90687,403387,61445,8851,208,808
1900958,286103,587424,31434,1821,520,669
19011,174,715240,515332,175186,9041,934,339
19021,146,575172,362447,62342,3411,808,901
19031,239,535201,823563,885105,7642,111,007

The development in the decennial period is at the rate of over 200 per cent., or an increase in value of £1,429,120.

Figures showing ten years' trade with Germany exhibit advancing imports reaching for the year 1903 to the substantial sum of £274,297. Details of articles imported from Germany will be found on page 194.

TRADE WITH GERMANY.

Year.Imports fromExports toTotal Trade.
 £££
189468,1636,37474,537
189578,0342,48180,515
1896101,3815,190106,571
1897157,0665,468162,534
1898153,10217,244170,346
1899160,60528,027188,632
1900182,07424,186206,260
1901198,52110,470208,991
1902210,5609,389219,949
19032,29717,584291,881

The principal articles of New Zealand produce exported to Germany in the year 1903 were:—

 £
Gum (kauri)14,670
Coals1,385
Rabbit-skins530
Scheelite-ore304
Greenstone147

The trade with India and Ceylon reached a total of £400,103, against £416,348 in 1902. The imports—tea, rice, castor-oil, wool-packs, &c.—were reckoned at £395,070, leaving a balance of only £5,033 for exports.

The value of the South African trade from 1893 to 1903 is as follows:—

Year.Imports fromExports toTotal Trade.
 £££
18931,5633,7795,342
1894162,5452,561
18955810,25510,313
189612912,50812,637
1807876,7956,882
1808722,7662,838
180921590,18790,402
1900502405,419405,921
1901386825,476825,862
1902997754,059755,056
1903299455,187455,486

TRADE OF AUSTRALASIA.

The following table gives the value of the imports and exports of what is now the Commonwealth of Australia and the Colony of New Zealand for the year 1902:—

State or Colony.Total Value ofExcess of Exports over Imports.Excess of Imports over Exports.
Imports.Exports.
 ££££
Queensland7,352,5389,171,0231,818,485 
New South Wales25,974,21023,544,051..2,430,159
Victoria18,270,24518,210,523..59,722
South Australia6,073,7827,698,5141,624,732..
Ditto, Northern Territory107,217191,55884,341..
Western Australia7,218,3529,051,3581,833,006..
Tasmania2,442,7453,244,508801,763..
New Zealand11,326,72313,644,9772,318,254..

In the preceding table is given the total trade inwards and outwards of each State and colony, counting twice over the value of goods produced in one State or colony and carried thence into another, and reckoning the same goods three times where they are imported from without into one State or colony and re-exported thence in the same year into another. But, in order to form a just idea of the trade of Australasia as a whole, it is necessary to eliminate the inter-state traffic altogether. From the following table the value of imports and exports exchanged between the various States has accordingly been excluded:—

EXTERNAL TRADE OF AUSTRALASIA.

Year.Total Trade.Imports.Exports.Excess of Imports.Excess of Exports.
 £££££
188572,220,44441,136,03831,084,40610,051,632..
189075,143,81838,451,16036,692,6581,758,502..
189184,565,77841,325,03343,240,745..1,915,712
189275,325,93334,529,50140,796,432..6,266,931
189367,788,73827,925,99039,862,748..11,936,758
189465,192,20226,063,63039,128,572..13,064,942
189567,624,31727,425,72540,198,592..12,772,867
189674,511,26234,420,59640,090,666..5,670,070
189783,569,56837,862,74145,706,827..7,844,086
189885,600,44237,310,58348,289,859..10,979,276
189997,637,19439,990,12357,647,071..17,656,948
1900104,298,71748,351,93355,946,784..7,594,851
1901109,651,26750,506,80259,144,465..8,637,663
1902101,019,34747,539,70953,479,638..5,939,929

It will be observed that in the year 1885 the excess of imports over exports for Australasia amounted to no less a sum than £10,051,632, and that live years later the excess of imports had fallen to £1,758,502. In 1891 the position was completely reversed, the exports exceeding the imports by £1,915,712. This excess increased to £6,266,931 in the following year (1892), and to £13,064,942 in 1894, but decreased to £12,772,867 in 1895, to £5,670,070 in 1896. It was £7,844,086 in 1897, £10,979,276 in 1898, and in 1899 the excess of exports over imports amounted to £17,656,918. In 1900 there was a falling-off in the value of exports, and the excess amounted to only £7,594,851, but in 1901 the balance in favour of exports was £8,637,663. Both imports and exports declined during 1902, and the excess of exports over imports was only £5,939,929.

The trade per head of the population in each of the States of the Australian Commonwealth and New Zealand in 1902 was:—

TRADE PER HEAD OF THE POPULATION IN 1902.

State or Colony.Mean Population.Imports.Exports.Total Trade.
  £s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
Queensland513,6121464171713235
New South Wales1,392,575181301618235112
Victoria1,207,110152815193045
South Australia359,2321618221873869
Ditto, Northern Territory4,51023155429666411
Western Australia207,142341611431311781010
Tasmania175,6551318218953277
New Zealand797,7931431117213160

But the values of the exports of the Australian States, more especially New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, are largely increased by the inclusion of articles the produce or manufacture of other States, colonies, and countries.

The value of home productions or manufactures exported from each State or colony in 1902, and the rate per head of mean population, were as follow:—

State or Colony.Home Produce exported.Per Head of Population.
 ££s.d.
Queensland8,732,0581700
New South Wales17,248,4941279
Victoria14,554,9221212
South Australia4,768,9471356
Ditto, Northern Territory190,7174259
Western Australia8,871,67642167
Tasmania3,227,7771876
New Zealand13,498,59910185

The next table sets forth the amount of the trade of each of the above-named States and colony with the united Kingdom in 1902:—

State or Colony.Imports from the United Kingdom.Exports to the United Kingdom.Total Trade with the United Kingdom.
 £££
Queensland2,496,8512,736,6325,233,483
New South Wales8,572,3707,102,59615,674,966
Victoria6,935,0403,433,31010,368,350
South Australia1,901,9961,911,1163,813,112
Ditto Northern Territory5,91121,75327,664
Western Australia3,350,6444,364,9107,715,554
Tasmania585,750654,1741,239,924
New Zealand6,851,4529,450,64810,302,100

The statement appended shows the relative importance of Australasia as a market for the productions of the United Kingdom:—

EXPORTS OF HOME PRODUCTIONS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM, IN 1902, TO
British India and Ceylon34,128,361
Australasia25,207,694
Cape of Good Hope and Natal24,436,,739
United States23,760,913
Germany22,850,295
France15,587,300
Dominion of Canada10,345,256
Russia8,635,393
Holland8,445,915
Belgium8,409,659
Italy7,409,984
Sweden and Norway7,194,525
China7,142,021
Egypt6,161,627
Turkey6,113,740
Argentine Republic5,871,096
Brazil5,389,956
Japan5,065,526
Spain4,785,214
Denmark, Iceland, and Greenland3,702,022
Chili2,859,254
Straits Settlements2,744,555
West, India Islands and Guiana2,628,315
Java, &c.2,417,563
Mexico2,170,945
Hongkong2,136,202

The exports to other countries did not amount to £2,000,000 in any one case.

Australasia as a whole, with a population of about 4,700,000, thus takes the second place in importance for consumption of British produce, the exports thereto being nearly three-fourths the value of similar exports to British India, with its 294,000,000 inhabitants.

Chapter 36. SECTION VI.—MANUFACTORIES AND WORKS.

THE results of the compilation of the special returns relating to the various manufactories, works, &c., in the colony are compared with those shown for previous censuses in certain of the tabulated statements given with these remarks.

It must he observed, however, that whereas up till the time of last census the term “factory” was rather held to mean an establishment where manufacture was carried on wholesale, where machinery was employed, and where several hands worked together; in the returns for 1901 a “factory” has been interpreted to mean any concern where two or more persons work together at making articles for disposal, wholesale or retail, and without reference to machinery being used or not. Thus the return seems to be rather one showing industrial workers (and their production) where two or more are found together, than one of manufactories to supply the wholesale traders, or making for export. But the attempt has been made to approximate the census results to those of the Labour Department, according to special direction. To make the comparison with previous census figures as true as possible, the results for all the dressmaking, tailoring, shirt-making, millinery, and other establishments which were not included until 1901, have been deducted from the totals at foot of the summary table. Any roughness in the comparison caused by small concerns employing two persons only, and doing a retail business in making or repairing, having been included at the last census, but not before, cannot be avoided. And indeed it will become clear to any one reading the following remarks that the large increase in money value of manufactures is obtained mostly on items in respect of which moving down to a limit of two persons engaged would not materially alter the comparison.

The totals for the industries do not include mining and quarrying, which are dealt with separately.

Deducting, as above mentioned, from the total value of manufactures for the year 1900 the results for such industries as were not included in 1895, a most satisfactory increase is found on analysis of items, which has been mainly brought about by developments on a large scale in the following industries:—

VALUE OF OUTPUT FOR YEAR 1895 COMPARED WITH 1900.

 Increase in 5 years.
 £
Meat freezing, preserving, &c.2,182,616
Butter and cheese factories1,033,876
Tanning, fellmongering, and wool-scouring650,855
Foundries, boiler-making, range-making, and engineering621,356
Sawmills, with sash and door making369,882
Printing establishments (not Government)315,161
Clothing (with boot and shoe) factories242,122
Breweries and malt-houses240,468
Flaxmills170,946
Gasworks91,542
Chaff-cutting works90,816
Biscuit factories79,010
Bacon-curing establishments73,542
Coach-building and painting67,108
Woollen-mills56,959
Brick, tile, and pottery works56,090
Aerated-water factories53,202
Cycle factories46,230
Lime and cement works29,261

If to these be added the value of the grass-seed after dressing, £241,239 for the year 1900, the greater part of the increase in the total for all manufactured articles (£7,591,789) is accounted for. There are a large number of smaller amounts of increase than those above stated, but the main lines of development are sufficiently indicated.

The addition of the figures in the column for total value of manufactures is not absolutely justified to the fullest extent of the amount shown (seventeen million pounds sterling); but in the present state of New Zealand industries it appears that the degree of repetition of value is not so great as to prevent the total given being of great help in judging of development. No doubt seventeen million pounds is over the fact, because, for instance, butter frozen for export is included in returns for meat freezing establishments, and also in the butter factory returns; timber cut is valued under saw-milling, and some again in the furniture-making line. Also, leather is valued in the tanning returns, and some part of it again in the boot and saddlery items. But, of the material operated upon, a great deal is imported.

The great primary industries of meat-freezing, butter and cheese making, with some others, do not mainly provide materials for making other wares.

The iron which is used at the foundries and engineering works is imported to New Zealand.

But it must be admitted that, as the colony advances in primary industries, deductions will have to be made with great discrimination from the figures in the column “Value of all manufactures,” in respect of the amounts given in the returns.

As yet it is held that the addition is not so much affected by repetitions as to render the result other than useful; although, as before remarked, the total figures are admittedly in excess of the actual fact. The comparison with previous census results is still considered valuable.

Special tables in the Census Volume, following the summaries, show clearly that quantities rose as well as the value of manufactures, so that the development is not merely a question of market prices but of actual output.

In 1896 the actual increase in five years of the annual output was found to be only £775,523. But it was noticed that there were special causes for this amount being so small; and also that quantities showed then in many cases a certain degree of development of industries, though values had not been maintained throughout.

The year 1895 was admittedly a time when great results could not be looked for. Severe financial troubles had happened shortly before. The phormium and rope industries, iron-working (implements and other) were not thriving, and in other lines matters were not altogether what could have been wished. The inquiry for the year 1900 has been made after a period of great prosperity.

MANUFACTORIES AND WORKS, 1896 AND 1901.

* Omitting Government Railway Workshops and Government Printing Office

† Excluding dress-making, tailoring, shirt-making, millinery, &c, for which no returns in 1896.

 April, 1896.March, 1901.Increase, 1896-1901.
 No.No.No.
Number of establishments*2,4593,163704
Hands employed—......
  Males22,98635,43812,452
  Females4,4036,2881,885
Totals†27,38941,72614,337
 £££
Wages paid—......
  To Males1,776,0762,895,2791,119,203
  Females131,516203,28271,766
Totals1,907,5923,098,5611,190,969
 H.-p.H.-p.H.-p.
Horse-power28,09639,05210,956
 £££
Total approximate value of—......
  Land1,063,9891,713,254649,265
  Buildings1,743,0732,419,803676,730
  Machinery and plant2,988,9553,826,574837,019
Totals5,796,0177,959,6312,163,614

Under the heading “Hands employed,” the males increased from 22,986 in 1896 to 35,438, or at the rate of nearly 54.17 per cent. in five years. The females employed increased at the rate of 42.81 per cent.

The wages paid in the factories or large industrial works dealt with in the census returns were returned for 1895 at £1,907,592, and for 1900 £3,098,561.

The average annual amount of wages paid to male hands was £77.2 in 1895 and £81.7 in 1900. For females, £29.8 in 1895 against £32.3 at the last census. The wages of both would seem to have been more than maintained.

The increase for the year 1901 over 1896 in the horse-power stated in the returns was 10,956, against 6,400 for 1896.

The approximate value of the land used for purposes of the factories and industries increased from £1,063,989 in 1896 to £1,713,254 in 1901. The value of the lands used for mining is not included in the above figures, and the value of Crown lands has been omitted throughout.

A very satisfactory development will be found in the value of the machinery and plant, from £2,988,955 in 1896 to £3,826,574 in 1901, being at the rate of 28.02 per cent. for the period. The value of the buildings also increased greatly.

INDUSTRIES IN PROVINCIAL DISTRICTS.

All the various industries for which returns were received in 1901 are given in the statement below, which thus enumerates completely the manufactories and works in operation in the colony, specifying the provincial districts in which they are situated:—

INDUSTRIES IN PROVINCIAL DISTRICTS.

Manufactories, Works, &c.Number of Industries in Provincial Districts.Total Number of Industries.
Auckland.Taranaki.Hawke's Bay.Wellington.Marlborough.Nelson.Westland.Canterbury.Otago.
Animal food—
  Meat freezing and preserving works72251....41334
  Ham- and bacon-curing establishments4423..4..101239
  Fish curing and preserving works8....4111..1328
  Butter and cheese factories271028374731742247
  Rabbit-packing................77
  Condensed milk factory................11
Vegetable food—
  Grain-mills832825..232778
  Biscuit-factories5..1311..2720
  Fruit-preserving and jam-making works6111..1..1213
  Sugar-boiling and confectionery works8..34......7426
  Sugar-refining works1................1
  Fruit-canning works1................1
  Baking-powder factories8....1......1111
Drinks, narcotics, and stimulants—
  Breweries935102104161574
  Malthouses4..1324110833
  Colonial-wine making4..311212..14
  Aerated-water factories22118245742717125
  Coffee and spice works4....4..113518
  Tobacco manufactories2................2
  Cigarette manufactories1....1........13
  Sauce and pickle factories9115..1..4223
  Vinegar works3........1......4
  Ice factories2................2
Animal matters (not otherwise classed)—
  Bone-mills23..2....1....8
  Soap and candle works7..14..2..6424
  Glue factory1................1
  Sausage skin factory1..13......4110
  Boiling-down works5..13........514
  Manure-works1..2........115
  Oleomargarine-works..............1..1
  Fat-refining works..............1..1
Working in wood—
  Cooperages4224......7423
  Saw-mills, sash and door factories48232666846291870334
  Barrow and ladder factory1................1
  Woodware and turnery factories101..5......6628
Vegetable produce for fodder—
  Chaff-cutting establishments152......12..25155
  Grass-seed-dressing establishments..41........91125
Paper manufacture—
  Paper-mills1..............23
  Paper bag and box factories3............137
  Gas-works62261224530
  Electric lighting works..1..1..1..126
Processes relating to stone, clay, glass &c.—
  Lime and cement works6....1..21..515
  Brick, tile, and pottery works2458181522025108
  Tobacco-pipe factory................11
  Monumental masonry8..13..2..6727
  Glassworks1............1..2
  Glass-bevelling works1....1..........2
  Electro-plating works1............1..2
  Pumice-works1................1
Metals, other than gold and silver—
  Tinware-factories12....13..42181160
  Iron and brass foundries, boiler-making, machinists, &c.131213233141465
  Heel- and toe-plate factories2..............13
  Engineering-works10....9..2..8837
  Range-making works5....1........39
  Spouting and ridging factories6823......7935
  Lead-headed-nail works......1..........1
  Iron-pipe and fluming works................22
Books and publications—
  Printing offices35124402833549188
Musical instruments—
  Musical instrument factories......1........23
Ornaments, minor art products, and small wares—
  Picture-frame makers2....4........39
  Basket and perambulator factories6....6........521
  Cork-cutting1................1
  Lapidaries................33
Equipment for sports and games—
  Billiard-table factories1....1......1..3
Designs, medals, type, and dies—
  Rubber-stamp making2................2
Arms and explosives—
  Ammunition factory1................1
Machines, tools, and implements—
  Agricultural - implement factories6..23......101233
  Brush and broom factories6....1......3212
  Cutlery factory1................1
  Bellows factory1................1
Carriages and vehicles—
  Coach building and painting works331112444912620160
  Cycle factories82310..2..252171
Harness, saddlery, and leatherware—
  Saddlery and harness factories227729..512420115
  Whip-thong factories......1........12
  Portmanteau factories2....2........26
  Tanning, fellmongering, and wool - scouring establishments164151444..2933119
Ships, boats, and their equipment—
  Ship- and boat-building yards17....3..1..2932
  Graving-docks and patent slips3....1......217
  Block and pump factory1................1
  Sail and oilskin factories9124..115730
Furniture—
  Furniture and cabinetmaking26147361442032144
  Venetian-blind works2....5......2312
  Mattress factories3....3......2412
  Wool, rug, and mat making................22
Chemicals and by-products—
  Perfumery manufactory1................1
  Varnish manufactories3..............14
  Ink manufactories2..............13
  Sarch manufactories..........1....23
  Chemical works2............158
  Hæmatite paint factories..........1....34
  Sheep-dip factories....2..........13
  Match factories......1........12
  Herbal-remedies factories1....4........38
  Blacking factories1....1........13
  Cocoanut-oil mill2................2
Textile fabrics—
  Woollen-mills1....1......3510
  Flock-mills1....1......125
  Cleaning and dyeing works5....2......3111
Dress—
  Tailoring establishments3212367..1072222175
  Dressmaking and millinery establishments41812785936965290
  Shirt-making establishments41..7..1..4825
  Corset and belt manufactories3............3..6
  Clothing factories7....3......3821
  Waterproof factories1....2......126
  Boot and shoe factories314..24..232735126
  Hat and cap factories5....3......2313
  Hosiery factories1....3..1..5717
Fibrous materials—
  Rope and twine works31..2......7417
  Bag and sack factory................11
  Flax-mills236225147..816101
  Returns not included in above40534..6..13374
  Totals, Census, 190175226716070761198786488093,680
  Deduct tailoring, dressmaking, shirt-making, and monumental masons' establishments, not included in accounts taken for 1896 and 189185211615552210101102517
  Totals, Census, 1901 (less deductions shown above)66724614455256176685477073,163
  Totals, Census, 189657312814739650154474485162,459
  Totals, Census, 189157768853337714253805412,254

The provincial districts, arranged according to the number of industries belonging to each, specified in the last census returns, stand as under:—

 Number of Industries, excluding Mines and Quarries.
 1901.1896.1891.
Otago707516541
Auckland667573577
Wellington552396333
Canterbury547448380
Taranaki24612868
Nelson176154142
Hawke's Bay14414785
Westland684751
Marlborough565077

DETAILS OF THE PRINCIPAL INDUSTRIES.

The principal industries returned at the census of 1901, and particulars relating thereto, are given in detail in the following table. These industries are arranged in classes according to their nature:—

DETAILS OF THE PRINCIPAL INDUSTRIES.

Nature of Industries.Total Number of Industries.Number of Hands employed.Wages paid.Amount of Power employed (Horse-power).Value of all Materials used or operated upon during 1900.Value of all Manufactures or Produce (Including Repairs) for the Year 1900.Approximate Value of Land, Buildings, Machinery, and Plant.
Males.Females.Total.Males.Females.Total.

* For information as to quantities manufactured or produced, see special tables in previous Year-book. Value of output, wages, &c., not shown where the number of establishments is so small that particulars might be identified.

† For full particulars respecting these industries, see special tables in previous issues.*

NOTE.—See note at end of Table.

* For information as to quantities manufactured or produced, see special tables in previous Year-book. Value of output wages, &c., not shown where the number of establishments is so small that particulars might be identified.

† For full particulars respecting these industries, see special tables in previous issues.

NOTE.—See note at end of Table.

* For information as to quantities manufactured or produced, see special tables in previous Year-book. Value of output, wages, &c., not shown where the number of establishments is so small that particulars might be identified.

† For full particulars respecting these industries, see special tables in previous issues.

‡ Value of manufactures at Government Railway Workshops not included.

§ Value of manufactures at Government Printing Office not included.

NOTE.—See note at end of table.

* For information as to quantities manufactured or produced, see special tables in previous Year-book. Value of output, wages, &c., not shown where the number of establishments is so small that particulars might be identified.

† For full particulars respecting these industries, see special tables in previous issues.

§ See remarks on page 230.

NOTE.—Two or more distinct industries were carried on at some establishments. In such cases particulars of power, hands, and plant employed, and wages paid, unless stated separately for each branch of industry, have been treated as belonging to the most important work.

Animal food—........£££H.-p.£££
  Meat freezing and preserving works342,172492,221198,3061,419199,7257,057252,2903,720,475893,720
  Ham and bacon curing establishments391851119613,89149614,387250115,656159,56462,192
  Fish curing and preserving works2813521377,445737,518..7,71425,17317,235
  Butter and cheese factories2471,165231,18895,46197296,4332,3991,195,6001,535,150388,750
  Rabbit-packing762..623,200..3,200......362
  Condensed-milk factory1171633......39......
Vegetable food— 
  Grain-mills78513251549,25411049,3642,422545,642682,884358,656
  Biscuit factories2045421366734,2314,54538,776291117,383197,98990,243
  Fruit-preserving and jam-making works1385821676,3171,7588,07511742,40458,09220,935
  Sugar boiling and confectionery works2615814730511,1283,60014,7281947,15088,58056,955
  Sugar refining works1256..256......922......
  Fruit-canning works1325......10......
  Baking-powder factories111910291,0741811,255179,31818,16318,200
Drinks, narcotics, and stimulants— 
  Breweries74677568283,4937783,570632158,212553,627294,592
  Malthouses33145..14514,994..14,99411072,211105,67175,038
  Colonial-wine making144910592,320922,412143,01910,33018,183
  Aerated-water factories1254371545231,77128432,05525063,835151,811105,178
  Coffee and spice works186315784,9592355,1948332,09145,62847,572
  Tobacco manufactories211920......8......
  Cigarette manufactories311718......6......
  Sauce and pickle factories2377511284,6281,7606,3887120,50531,25836,715
  vinegar works41310231,1792581,43743,2846,8244,480
  Ice-factories25..5......35......
Animal matter (not otherwise classed)— 
  Bone-mills817..17453..453771,0802,5296,230
  Soap and candle works24224823219,00923919,248346112,623158,64966,809
  Glue factory15..5......28......
  Sausage-skin factories1098..988,689..8,689..17,84530,6743,949
  Boiling-down works1461..615,910..5,91039392,693114,41626,838
  Manure works530..301,872..1,8726331,65237,76910,266
  Oleomargarine-works19..9......50......
  Fat-refining works114..14......18......
Working in wood— 
  Cooperages23137113810,8843910,92317719,94237,52121,787
  Saw-mills, sash and door factories3346,80576,812513,622266513,8888,744..1,268,689703,620
  Barrow and ladder factory15..5..............
  Woodware and turnery factories28154215611,7798211,86117619,14637,55228,227
Vegetable produce for fodder— 
  Chaff-cutting establishments5526512669,829269,855391130,507169,31346,786
  Grass-seed dressing establishments2560..605,310..5,310189197,846241,23948,195
Paper manufacture— 
  Paper-mills3791998......705......
  Paper bag and box factories72457811,3121,9363,248134,47114,21711,499
  Gasworks30568457270,38818570,57324283,612290,567971,559
  Electric-lighting works652..526,226..6,2262,1584,60323,23464,156
Processes relating to stone, clay, glass, &c.— 
  Lime and cement works15184..18416,577..16,57746618,39745,14238,436
  Brick, tile, and pottery works108838..83863,336..63,336659..122,230114,567
  Tobacco-pipe factory1224..............
  Monumental masonry2781..817,072..7,072138,68922,31317,391
  Glassworks29..9..............
  Glass-bevelling works27..7......13......
  Electro-plating works211..11......7......
  Pumice works127128......15......
Metals, other than gold and silver— 
  Tinware factories60336133723,1073623,1432352,55398,58756,914
  Iron and brass foundries, boiler-making, machinists, &c.651,95051,955162,477170162,647983240,578508,906211,282
  Heel- and toe plate factories37..7......23......
  Engineering works371,43751,442127,374261127,635541186,208361,958155,081
  Range-making works9193..19316,927..16,9275319,72153,30727,919
  Spouting and ridging factories35261..26120,584..20,5843570,643112,69152,687
  Lead-headed-nail works13..3..............
  Iron-pipe and fluming works25..5..............
Books and publications— 
  Printing offices§1882,6275073,134268,04116,564284,605956200,243704,285559,538
Musical instruments— 
  Musical-instrument factories311..11..............
Ornaments, minor art products, and smallwares— 
  Picture-frame makers9193221,234691,30312,4975,77111,750
  Basket and perambulator factories21107111186,5174947,01196,90217,94218,180
  Cork-cutting13..3..............
  Lapidaries38..8......7......
Equipment for sports and games— 
  Billiard table factories37..7..............
Designs, medals, type, and dies— 
  Rubber-stamp making23..3..............
Arms and explosives— 
  Ammunition-factory12184105......39......
Machines, tools, and implements— 
  Agricultural implement factories33584258653,8796253,94136049,072138,09461,339
  Brush and broom factories1286421285,9651,1907,1553210,15821,13113,829
  Cutlery factory12..2......2......
  Bellows-factory12..2..............
Carriages and vehicles— 
  Coach-building and painting works1601,185..1,18583,356..83,35612888,229216,077150,811
  Cycle-factories713781739520,87357021,4439526,82465,04765,403
Harness, saddlery, and leatherware— 
  Saddlery and harness factories1156292365240,8081,02641,834375,724147,62696,559
  Whip-thong factories25..5..............
  Portmanteau factories6193221,2061171,323..2,7415,4836,460
  Tanning, fellmongering, and wool-scouring establishments1191,95761,963159,180162159,3421,1081,391,3231,888,107235,952
Ships, boats, and their equipment— 
  Ship- and boat-building yards32211..21113,476..13,4764920,38945,81115,198
  Graving docks and patent slips732..322,864..2,864435..7,264230,165
  Block and pump factory12..2......4......
  Sail and oilskin factories301508123110,4461,99612,442..24,62844,85440,893
Furniture— 
  Furniture and cabinet-making1441,243671,31088,8432,26291,105369101,595241,024170,338
  Venetian-blind works12492513,567653,632195,89613,2337,469
  Mattress-factories1255..553,260..3,260209,21216,29613,165
  Wool, rug, and mat making29817..............
Chemicals and by-products— 
  Perfumery-manufactory1134..............
  Varnish-manufactories419..191,474..1,474374,2276,7325,765
  Ink-manufactories35..5......8......
  Starch-manufactories324832......16......
  Chemical-works87619957,5515048,0559242,47964,83437,793
  Hæmatite-paint factories412..12609..609281,0302,5785,943
  Sheep-dip factories3617......10......
  Match-factories237146183......19......
  Herbal-remedies factories81310231,1345811,715123,99418,39610,305
  Blacking-factories3213......7......
  Cocoanut-oil mills210..10......54......
Textile fabrics— 
  Woollen-mills107699241,69371,45440,547112,0011,554196,081359,382277,422
  Flock-mills5911055912571551,4594,1052,650
  Cleaning and dyeing works112823511,8168372,653132,1417,8559,635
Dress— 
  Tailoring establishments1757228991,62165,69537,251102,9468122,853301,356211,016
  Dressmaking and millinery establishments290232,8652,8882,23676,27078,506..173,211312,436193,998
  Shirt-making establishments25285035311,91113,65115,5624045,31975,87926,528
  Corset and belt manufactories6124259542551..9592,2495,659
  Clothing-factories214312,0812,51237,77863,023100,80167177,828329,02689,247
  Waterproof-factories622921141,8072,8224,62936,28513,3787,845
  Boot and shoe factories1261,9067902,696165,22727,216192,443184273,325529,254176,992
  Hat and cap factories1337801172,6412,7485,3892011,46325,64119,217
  Hosiery-factories17172652821,3286,7028,0307118,03231,26519,997
Fibrous materials— 
  Rope and twine works17192..19213,136..13,13649446,37887,86355,309
  Bag and sack factory1..66..............
  Flax-mills1011,698..1,698101,046..101,0461,19053,064203,49264,446
  Values for industries of which less than four of any one sort were found in the returns........53,9279,23563,162..526,252694,896258,885
  Returns not included in above7414015629610,9524,83615,78813828,83461,74959,659
Totals, Census, 19013,68036,29210,55546,8472,972,193330,4543,302,64739,1137,749,77017,853,133§8,408,564
  Deduct tailoring, dress-making, shirtmaking, and monumental masons' establishments, not included in accounts taken for 1896 and 18915178544,2675,12176,914127,172204,08661350,072711,984448,933
Totals, Census, 1901 (less deductions shown above)3,16335,4386,28841,7262,895,279203,2823,098,56139,0527,399,69817,141,1497,959,631
Totals, Census, 18962,45922,9864,40327,3891,776,076131,5161,907,59228,0963,285,2479,549,3605,796,017
Totals, Census, 18912,25422,6642,96920,6631,705,641102,9991,808,64021,696..8,773,8375,261,826

The succeeding statement shows the most important industries in operation in 1901, ranged in order of the values of their output for 1900, and compared with the results obtained for the years 1895, 1890, and 1885:—

 Total Value of all Manufactures or Produce, including Repairs.
 1900.1895.1890.1885.
 ££££
Meat-freezing and preserving and boiling down works3,834,8911,652,2751,464,659543,878
Tanning, fellmongering, and wool-scouring1,888,1071,237,2521,026,349634,915
Butter and cheese factories1,535,150501,274150,95743,094
Sawmills, sash and door factories1,268,689898,807832,9591,177,713
Iron and brass foundries, boiler-making, machinists, &c. (not including Government Railway Workshops)924,171302,815403,635368,919
Clothing and boot and shoe factories858,280616,158570,315514,506
Printing establishments (not including Government Printing Office)704,285389,124354,559273,886
Grain mills632,884874,656991,812754,830
Breweries and malthouses659,298418,830380,849421,197
Woollen mills359,382302,423279,175194,311
Gasworks290,567199,025178,947194,653
Grass - seed dressing establishments241,239......
Furniture and cabinetmaking241,02485,327131,314162,375
Coach - building and painting works216,077148,969139,660128,346
Flax-mills203,49232,546234,26620,059
Biscuit factories197,989118,979127,14747,784
Chaff-cutting works169,31378,49763,23654,440
Bacon curing establishments159,56486,02283,43558,799
Soap and candle works158,649152,298155,714130,745
Aërated-water factories151,81198,60991,69194,098
Saddlery and harness factories147,62663,73537,347 
Agricultural implement factories138,094102,054144,472111,823
Brick, tile, and pottery works122,23066,14056,83091,797
Spouting and ridging works112,69123,76233,14025,478
Tinware factories98,58763,72314,2978,500
Sugar-boiling and confectionery works88,58033,23517,24817,130
Rope and twine works87,86352,40076,71156,413
Cycle factories65,04718,8175,6551,301
Chemical works64,83475,32041,56834,283
Fruit-preserving and jam-making works58,09236,10827,25532,292
Ship and boat-building works45,81125,23335,84756,132
Coffee and spice works45,62874,33964,02498,234
Lime and cement works45,14215,88119,41616,928
Sail, Cent, and oilskin factories44,85430,16631,08325,574
Bone-mills and other manure works40,29812,2464,6288,337
Woodware and turnery factories37,55218,2769,050 
Cooperages37,52119,23311,54011,862
Hosiery factories31,2659,3575,6506,200
Sauce and pickle works31,25813,4176,4073,145
Sausage-skin factories30,67413,47210,582 
Hat and cap factories25,64110,90221,62813,695
Fish - curing and preserving works25,17310,29219,53712,182
Electric-lighting works23,234......
Brush and broom factories21,13123,36313,3407,786
Herbal-remedies factories18,396......
Baking-powder factories18,16310,1535,6374,120
Basket and perambulator factories17,94211,9207,3814,375
Mattress factories16,296......
Paper-bag and cardboard box factories14,2177,6984,497 
Waterproof factories13,37822,354  
Venetian blind factories13,2339,8784,7766,470
Colonial-wine works10,3308,9633,4563,626
Other industries in respect of which the value of the manufactures was less than £8,000, and sundry805,606473,037380,156235,148

The order of the principal industries, ranged according to the number of hands employed, is as follows:—

 Number of Hands.
 1901.1896.1891.
Sawmills, sash and door factories6,8124,0593,266
Clothing and boot and shoe factories5,2084,4073,233
Iron and brass foundries, boiler-making, machinists, &c.3,5901,6421,787
Printing establishments (excluding Government Printing Office)3,1342,3512,569
Meat freezing, preserving, and boiling-down works2,2822,0371,568
Tanning, fellmongering, and wool-scouring establishments1,9631,6291,196
Flax-mills1,6986473,204
Woollen mills1,6931,4161,175
Furniture and cabinet-making factories1,310496585
Butter and cheese factories1,188576269
Coach-building and painting works1,185807678
Brick, tile, and pottery works838455494
Breweries and malthouses827560563
Biscuit factories667425331
Saddlery and harness factories652266184
Agricultural implement factories586581528
Gasworks572295249
Grain-mills515419499
Aerated-water factories452347261
Cycle factories39512531
Tinware factories33728993
Sugar-boiling and confectionery works3056953
Hosiery factories28213351
Chaff-cutting works266212205
Spouting and ridging works26190100
Sugar refining works256160110
Soap and candle works232190209
Sail, tent, and oilskin factories231143124
Ship- and boat-building yards211108145
Bacon-curing establishments19612384
Rope and twine works192150222
Lime and cement works1847998
Match factories183121..
Fruit-preserving and jam-making works167193117
Woodware and turnery factories1568151
Cooperages1387653
Fish-curing and preserving works13775140
Brush and broom factories1289281
Sauce and pickle works1286841
Basket and perambulator factories1187663
Hat and cap factories11772112
Waterproof factories11493 
Ammunition factories1059080
Sausage-skin factories985673
Paper-mills988448
Chemical works9511455
Paper-bag and cardboard-box factories818635
Coffee and spice works7811981
Rabbit preserving and packing works6232..
Grass-seed dressing establishments60....
Colonial-wine works595324
Mattress factories55....
Electric-lighting works52....
Venetian-blind factories514529
Cleaning and dyeing works515848
Bone-mills and other manure works474625
Condensed-milk factory33....
Graving docks and patent slips322964
Starch and soda works322713
Baking-powder factories29....
Pumice works2820..
Corset and belt manufactories25....
Herbal-remedies factories23....
Vinegar works23....
Portmanteau factories22....
Picture-frame makers22....
Tobacco manufactories20....
Sheep-dip factories729..
Industries employing under 20 hands53226836

Special tables relating to the principal industries with comments on each, have been printed in the Year-books for 1901, 1902, and 1903.

Chapter 37. SECTION VII.—TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION.

SHIPPING.

THE shipping entered inwards during 1903 comprised 617 vessels, of 1,102,064 tonnage; while entered outwards were 608 vessels, of 1,113,165 tons. Comparison with the figures for the previous year shows in the entries a decrease of 21 vessels and an increase of 12,885 tons, and in the clearances a decrease of 3 vessels and an increase of 64,395 tons. Of the vessels inwards, 145, of 455,741 tons, were British; 403, of 478,419 tons, colonial; and 69, of 167,904 tons, foreign. Those outwards numbered 141, of 462,122 tons, British; 401, of 485,337 tons, colonial; and 66, of 165,706 tons, foreign. Compared with the figures for 1902 there was a decrease of 27 vessels and of 40,462 tons in British vessels entered, and an increase in the colonial shipping entered of 8 vessels and 48,952 tons. Foreign shipping shows a decrease of 2 in the number of vessels entered, and an increase of 4,395 tons. Of the entries in 1903, 215, of 111,725 tons, were sailing-vessels, and 402, of 990,339 tons, steamers. Of the clearances, 212, of 113,081 tons, were sailing-vessels, and 396, of 1,000,084 tons, steamers. The shipping inwards and outwards for ten years is given in the table following:—

VESSELS ENTERED, 1894-1903.

Year.Total Number.British.Colonial.Foreign.
Vessels.Tons.Crews.Vessels.Tons.Crews.Vessels.Tons.Crews.Vessels.Tons.Crews.
1894609631,10021,834141271,9946,456423306,54713,2794552,5592,099
1895611672,95122,074146299,6676,837420319,31313,2094553,9712,028
1896589614,09719,857126249,6015,495395300,17612,2106864,3202,152
1897600686,89921,542133276,0206,086395340,79313,1387270,0862,318
1898620765,25524,081152329,0657,910399369,84013,8976966,3502,274
1899609811,18323,929149350,8616,986388392,67114,6667267,6512,277
1900616854,63223,791156392,3947,183393392,51914,1356769,7192,473
19016881,063,27429,724175448,6887,713441461,72916,06372152,8575,948
19026381,089,17930,264172496,2038,871395429,46715,30571163,5096,088
19036171,102,06430,600145455,7417,799403478,41916,49769167,9046,304

VESSELS CLEARED, 1894-1903.

NOTE.—Coasting-vessels are not included in the above table.

1894614631,25021,934140270,4646,437432310,05013,5274250,7361,970
1895597648,94621,619134281,8406,528420315,17113,0684351,9352,023
1896592627,65920,217123259,0645,637402305,92612,4486762,6692,132
1897587675,33321,409140280,2296,240378327,06812,8816968,0362,288
1898622765,79324,130150322,1507,898403377,10213,9486966,5412,284
1899604807,86624,117152355,4427,194379386,21914,6567366,2052,267
1900613825,27523,481149368,2416,978397388,43614,1536768,5982,350
19016911,075,90630,028177462,1797,954441458,99416,106173154,7335,968
19026111,048,77029,294152447,3517,983385437,48915,17174163,9306,140
19036081,113,16530,660141462,1227,890401485,33716,50366165,7066,267

The noticeable feature in the operations for the decennium is a considerable increase of tonnage inwards and outwards, but not in the numbers of vessels, showing that larger ships are now used than those of ten years ago.

The figures given apply to the external trade only; but in a new country such as New Zealand, as yet deficient in roads, but having an extensive seaboard and a number of good harbours, the coastal trade must be relatively very large, as is evidenced by the figures next given:—

SHIPPING ENTERED COASTWISE, 1903.

 Number.Tons.
Sailing-vessels4,984330,894
Steamers18,4538,885,327

SHIPPING CLEARED COASTWISE, 1903.

 Number.Tons.
Sailing-vessels4,786318,145
Steamers18,3628,948,835

The total number of vessels entered coastwise was thus 23,437, of 9,216,221 tons, an increase of 1,633 vessels and 966,598 tons on the figures for 1902. The total clearances coastwise were 23,148 vessels, of 9,266,980 tons, an increase of 1,379 vessels and 957,345 tons on the number for the previous year.

REGISTERED VESSELS.

The number and tonnage of the registered vessels belonging to the several ports on the 31st December, 1903 (distinguishing sailing-vessels and steamers), was as under:—

REGISTERED VESSELS, 31ST DECEMBER, 1903.

Ports.Sailing-vessels.Steam-vessels.
Vessels.Gross Tonnage.Net Tonnage.Vessels.Gross Tonnage.Net Tonnage.
Auckland20118,93017,62210113,3347,821
Napier8601588161,487809
Wellington193,1172,998295,8213,049
Nelson1032231010999604
Lyttelton326,4696,18692,178911
Dunedin5115,27014,9146780,83749,473
Invercargill141,3331,279321155
Totals33546,04243,897235104,86762,722

RAILWAYS.

The history and progress of railways in New Zealand was specially described in the Year-book of 1894, as was also the line partly built by the New Zealand Midland Railway Company. An account of the line belonging to the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company was published in the Year-book for 1895.

The length of Government railways open for traffic on the 31st March, 1904, was 2,328 miles, of which 901 were situated in the North Island and 1,427 in the Middle Island.

The sections of the North Island lines consist of the Kawakawa, 8 miles; Whangarei, 23; Kaihu, 17; Auckland, 374; Gisborne-Karaka, 13 miles; and the Wellington-Napier-New Plymouth, 466 miles. The Middle Island sections comprise the Hurunui-Bluff, with branches, 1,217 miles; Westland, 112; Westport, 31; Nelson, 33; Picton, 34 miles. The estimated total cost of construction has been £20,692,911 (besides £1,480,309 spent on unopened lines), and the average cost per mile of open line £8,889.

The following statement shows the number of miles of Government railways open, the number of train-miles travelled and of passengers carried, and the tonnage of goods traffic, for the past fourteen years:—

Year.Length open.Train-mileage.Passengers.Season Tickets issued.Goods and livestock*
     Tons.
1890-911,8422,894,7763,433,62913,8812,134,023
1891-921,8693,010,4893,555,76416,3412,122,987
1892-931,8863,002,1743,759,04416,5042,258,235
1893-941,9483,113,2313,972,70117,2262,128,709
1894-951,9933,221,6203,905,57828,6232,123,343
1895-962,0143,307,2264,162,42636,2332,175,943
1896-972,0183,409,2184,439,38743,0692,461,127
1897-982,0553,666,4834,672,20448,6602,628,746
1898-992,0903,968,7084,955,55355,0272,744,441
1899-19002,1044,187,8935,468,28463,3353,251,716
1900-19012,2124,620,9716,243,59382,9213,461,331
1901-19022,2355,066,3607,356,136100,7783,667,039
1902-19032,2915,443,3337,575,390118,4313,918,261
1903-19042,3285,685,3998,306,383129,9194,259,217

The traffic in local products for the past fourteen years was:—

Year.Wool.Timber.Grain.Minerals.Horses and Cattle.Sheep and Pigs.

* The equivalent tonnage for live-stock has been given.

 Tons.Tons.Tons.Tons.Number.Number.
1890-9187,701153,078528,683828,07944,9991,313,155
1891-9285,888170,521442,277873,89947,6181,117,253
1892-9396,842169,910523,637884,03146,5901,359,860
1893-94101,340183,192411,191864,53851,5731,394,450
1894-95103,328198,578388,556857,91752,0751,563,213
1895-9699,363213,132374,699878,65950,7661,893,058
1896-9798,958257,825423,8881,032,25247,2562,016,437
1897-98103,055313,073427,4481,048,86854,8712,399,379
1898-9997,396310,266420,0711,147,35366,2262,552,745
1899-1900104,621334,677764,0331,218,69876,5372,559,836
1900-190196,519380,803772,5711,366,24184,2892,463,250
1901-1902101,878427,153813,3451,443,79295,3842,780,019
1902-1903116,309436,008718,3761,604,426115,1983,883,177
1903-1904101,316509,712820,4531,744,323122,0643,826,646

The cash revenue for the year 1903 - 1904 amounted to £2,180,641; and the total expenditure to £1,438,724. The net cash revenue—£741,917—was equal to a rate of £3 11s. 8d. per cent. on the capital cost; the percentage of expenditure to revenue was 65.98. The earnings on some of the lines ranged as high as £7 15s., and even £10 0s. 6d., per cent.

The particulars of the revenue and expenditure for the past fourteen years are given herewith:—

Year.Passenger Fares.Parcels Luggage and Mails.Goods and Live-stock.Rents and Miscellaneous.Total.Expenditure.Net Revenue.Percentages of Expenditure to Revenue.Percentages Revenue to Capital Cost. 

NOTE.—For 1895-96 and subsequent years the railways have been credited with the value of services performed for other Government departments, and debited with the value of work done for the railways by other departments.

 £££££££%£s.d. 
1890-91353,59338,997690,77938,3321,121,701700,703420,99862.4721811 
1891-92364,61741,795671,46937,5501,115,431706,517408,91463.342159 
1892-93390,61944,801707,78538,3161,181,521732,141449,38061.97310 
1893-94402,01945,206686,46939,0981,172,792735,358437,43462.702179 
1894-95385,14943,270683,72638,7061,150,851732,160418,69163.622146 
1895-96389,23454,736698,11540,9561,183,041751,368431,67363.512160 
1896-97410,16058,084774,16343,7511,286,158789,054497,10461.353310 
1897-98433,43060,872837,58944,1171,376,008857,191518,81762.303410 
1898-99475,55366,418882,07745,6171,469,665929,737539,92863.263510 
1899-00515,02068,488985,72354,6601,623,8911,052,358571,53364.80385 
1900-01544,97672,7121,051,69457,8541,727,2361,127,847599,38965.3039  
1901-02621,01979,5611,110,57563,4311,874,5861,252,237622,34966.8038  
1902-03625,69887,2731,189,10171,9661,974,0381,343,415630,62368.0536  
1903-04704,660110,1511,293,16972,6612,180,6411,438,724741,91765.98311  

The revenue per (average) mile of railway open during the year was £946, and the expenditure £624; equal to 7s. 8d. and 5s. per train-mile respectively.

The total number of miles travelled by trains was 5,685,399.

In addition to the above railways, there were 113 miles of private lines open for traffic on the 31st March, 1904—including the Wellington-Manawatu Railway, 84 miles.

The cost of the construction of the Wellington-Manawatu Railway is now returned as £805,446, being at the rate of £9,589 per mile. The term “cost of construction,” as applied to railways, includes value of equipment, rolling-stock, &c., not merely the road-line and buildings. The gross earnings for the twelve months ended the 28th February, 1904, amounted to £122,183, and the working-expenses to £63,682, equivalent to 52.12 per cent. of the revenue.

Australasian Railways.

The following statement gives the average number of miles of Government railways open for traffic in Australasia in 1902-1903:—

State or Colony.Year endedAverage Miles open.Train Miles Run.Cost of Construction of Open Lines.Gross Receipts.Working Expenses.Percentage of Net Revenue to Cost.Number of
Locomotives.Vehicles.
Passenger.Goods and Livestock.

* Includes 7 1/2 miles private lines worked by Government.

† State railways only.

    £££%   
Queensland30 June, 19032,7774,947,24220,302,1771,234,230863,3821.833424467,302
New South Wales30 June, 19033,07411,548,33841,654,9773,314,8932,266,2992.5255982312,791
Victoria30 June, 19033,335 1/210,286,27240,974,4933,046,8581,938,5802.705531,17910,257
South Australia30 June, 19031,8823,800,77314,575,8521,087,910637,3233.093524426,428
Western Australia30 June, 19031,4344,611,3158,141,7821,553,4851,247,8733.753162645,694
Tasmania31 Dec., 1902*462902,9183,840,747233,211173,2931.56751721,474
New Zealand31 Mar., 19042,3055,685,39920,692,9112,180,6411,438,7243.5837780913,433

In addition to the Government lines open for traffic in 1903, New South Wales had 81 1/2 miles of private railway; Western Australia, 629 miles (partly used for timber conveyance); Queensland, 102; Tasmania, 158 1/2 miles, 7 1/2 miles of which are worked by Government; and New Zealand, on 31st March, 1904, 113 miles.

POSTAL AND ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

There were 1,844 post-offices in New Zealand at the end of 1903.

The number of letters, letter-cards, post-cards, books, and pattern-packets, newspapers, and parcels dealt with during the year, compared with the number handled in 1902, was as under:—

 Total Number dealt with.Increase.
 1903.1902.
Letters60,512,64756,689,2563,823,391
Letter cards1,174,8101,025,375149,435
Post-cards1,453,4631,302,167151,296
Books and pattern-packets19,567,73418,626,324941,410
Newspapers19,696,43418,517,2761,179,158
Parcels327,629291,67035,959

The average number of letters, &c., posted per head of the population in each of the past five years was,—

 1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.
Letters and letter-cards47.7749.0163.4968.0770.38
Post-cards2.122.431.881.551.68
Books and parcels21.6821.1021.0921.4521.80
Newspapers15.1316.1717.8116.7917.20

The facilities afforded for the transmission of parcels through the Post Office to places within and without the colony have proved of much convenience to the public. The regulations admit of parcels up to 11 lb. in weight being sent to almost all the important countries of the world.

The following table shows the number of parcels exchanged with the United Kingdom, the Australian States, &c., in 1902 and 1903:—

Country.Number of Parcels.
Received.Despatched.

* Four months only.

† Five months only.

‡ Seven months only.

..1902.1903.1902.1903.
United Kingdom and foreign countries viâ London28,88137,6526,2257,575
United States4,1235,0241,0851,286
Vancouver303353168167
Victoria4,0715,0581,9612,365
New South Wales7,7058,8652,7043,322
South Australia380347246325
Queensland507449359453
Tasmania237349464496
Western Australia235291310394
Samoa1212143170
Rarotonga21..27..
Fiji4873251286
Ceylon2092605478
Uruguay....2421
Cape Colony396352407396
Transvaal....151..
Natal174846489
India352486136154
Totals47,65459,65514,77917,577

The declared value of the parcels received from places outside the colony was £151,236, on which the Customs duty amounted to £31,032.

The number and weight of parcels dealt with from 1895 to 1903 are given. The word “parcels” in the first-named table includes the parcels herein mentioned:—

1895.1896.1897.1898.1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.
Parcels, No.176,206186,611197,554204,603223,350233,456273,442291,670327,629
Weight, lb.582,193654,333676,054698,301765,836794,994928,2371,034,3421,161,584

Money-orders and Postal Notes.

The number of offices open for the transaction of money-order business at the end of 1903 was 510.

During 1903, 396,312 money-orders, for a total sum of £1,416,224 12s. 4d., were issued at the various post-offices in the colony. The money-orders from places beyond New Zealand and payable in the colony numbered 30,812, for the amount of £117,521 9s. 11d.

The number of offices open for the sale of postal notes at the end of 1903-1904 was 603: 707,044 postal notes were sold, value £220,069 11s. Commission amounted to £4,795 3s. 4 1/2d.

The notes paid numbered 704,031, value £219,312 2s. 6d.

Mail-services.

The cost of the various mail-services between England and New Zealand was, in 1903, as follows:—

SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE.

  1903.
 £s.d.
Payments—  
  Subsidies, &c.25,53487
  Interprovincial and other charges5,352010
 £30,88695
Receipts—  
  Contributions from Fiji4518
  Postages collected in the colony16,0441810
 £16,09006
Loss to the colony£14,796811

PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL AND ORIENT LINES SERVICES.

 £s.d.
Payments—  
  To P. and O. and Orient Lines4,030129
  Transit across Australia169190
  European Continent411210
  Intercolonial services1,912511
 £6,52406
 £s.d.
Receipts—
  Postages collected from England and from foreign offices1,402160
  Postages collected in the colony2,155158
 £3,558118
Loss to the colony£2,965810

The total amount of postages collected and contributions received for these services in 1903 was £19,648 12s. 2d.

The average number of days in 1903 within which the mails were delivered between London and each of the undermentioned ports in New Zealand was:—

 San Francisco Service.P. and O. Line.Orient Line.
London to—
  Auckland30.4737.6238.81
  Wellington31.6538.9239.46
  Dunedin32.7638.9439.25
  Bluff33.5138.1938.50

Electric Telegraph.

There were 7,779 miles of telegraph-line open at the end of March, 1904, carrying 22,920 miles of wire. 4,965,197 telegrams were transmitted during the year; of these, the private and Press messages numbered 4,671,904, which, together with telephone exchange and other telegraph receipts, yielded a revenue of £237,564 4s. 11 1/2d.

There were twenty-seven central exchanges and fifty-five sub-exchanges on the 31st March, 1904. The number of connections increased from 10,633 in March, 1903, to 12,105 in March, 1904. The subscriptions to these exchanges during the financial year amounted to £71,028 6s. 3d.

The capital expended on the equipment, &c., of the several telephone exchanges up to the 31st March, 1904, was £241,903 2s. 6d.

Pacific Cable.

The cable, which was opened for traffic between New Zealand and Australia and Fiji on the 9th April, 1902, was completed to Bamfield, Vancouver Island, on the 31st October following, and opened for international business on the 8th December, 1902.

The route is from Doubtless Bay, New Zealand, to Vancouver, Canada, viâ Norfolk Island, Fiji, and Fanning Island. The Australian connection is at Norfolk Island. The deep-sea portion of the Vancouver-Fanning Island cable is stated to be the longest in the world. Following the opening of the cable a much faster service between the colony, America, and Europe has resulted.

Chapter 38. SECTION VIII.—VITAL STATISTICS.

Table of Contents

BIRTHS.

The number of births registered in the colony during 1903 was 21,829, or 26.61 in every 1,000 persons living. The rate is the highest reached since the year 1895, the number of births being 1,174 in excess of that for the year 1902, an increase of 5.67 per cent. From 1882 until the year 1899 there was a regular fall in the birth-rate. The number of births registered in a year reached 19,846 in 1884, and, after falling to 17,876 in 1892, has risen to 21,829 in 1903 as stated above.

The figures for each year from 1882 are worthy of notice, especially in connection with the subsequent particulars given as to marriages solemnised and the growth of population:—

Year.Number of Births.Rate per 1,000 of Population.
188219,00937.32
188319,20236.28
188419,84635.91
188519,69334.35
188619,29933.15
188719,13532.09
188818,90231.22
188918,45730.07
189018,27829.44
189118,27329.01
189217,87627.83
189318,18727.50
189418,52827.28
189518,54626.78
189618,61226.33
189718,73725.96
189818,95525.74
189918,83525.12
190019,54625.60
190120,49126.34
190220,65525.89
190321,82926.61

The marriages have increased numerically, and the population of the colony also.

Year.Number of Marriages.Mean Population (excluding Maoris).
18823,600509,309
18833,612529,292
18843,800552,590
18853,813573,362
18863,488582,117
18873,563596,374
18883,617605,371
18893,632612,716
18903,797620,780
18913,805629,783
18924,002642,245
18934,115661,349
18944,178679,196
18954,110692,417
18964,843706,846
18974,928721,609
18985,091736,260
18995,461749,984
19005,860763,594
19016,095777,968
19026,394797,793
19036,748820,217

The average number of children to a marriage may be ascertained by comparing the number of legitimate births for a series of years with the marriages, but commencing with the marriages in the year preceding that for which the first number of births is taken.

The figures for the twenty-year period 1884-1903 show a decline in the proportion of births to every marriage in the preceding year from 5.33 to 3.26, as below:—

Year.Marriages.Legitimate births.Proportion of Births to every Marriage solemnised in the Preceding Year.
18333,614....
18843,80219,2595.33
18853,81519,0635.01
18863,48918,6974.90
18873,56518,5185.31
18883,61718,3255.14
18893,63217,8454.93
18903,79717,6754.87
18913,80517,6354.64
18924,00217,2834.54
18934,11517,5144.37
18944,17817,8244.33
18954,11017,7114.24
18964,84317,7784.32
18974,92817,9113.70
18985,09118,1543.68
18995,46118,0063.54
19005,86018,6403.41
19016,09519,5543.34
19026,39419,7343.23
1903..20,8353.26

If the average result be taken out for the ten years, 1884-1893. it will be found to represent 4.90 births to a marriage. Dealing similarly with the figures for 1894-1903 the result is an average of 3.70, so that regarded annually or decennially there is a decided fall to be observed.

In the Australian States a similar decrease is noticeable.

New Zealand had in 1880 the highest birth-rate (40.78); in 1900 the case was reversed; but in 1903 the New Zealand rate was higher than that of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.

The fall over ten years is calculated as under:—

BIRTH-RATES PER 1,000 OF POPULATION.

State or Colony.1893.1894.1895.1896.1897.1898.1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.
Queensland33.7331.8632.8530.0629.9228.2827.3130.2128.2827.6824.71
New South Wales33.3331.4830.6628.3528.4227.1427.1027.4327.6027.1725.28
Victoria31.2329.1628.5627.3326.5925.7226.7125.8225.7725.2324.46
South Australia31.7630.4930.2328.4626.9724.9825.5125.7825.3924.8523.43
Western Australia34.2228.2726.3022.6525.8229.3530.6431.4630.3230.0930.27
Tasmania33.9231.1130.0928.1627.7326.2425.9828.2528.4028.9528.61
New Zealand27.5027.2826.7826.3325.9625.7425.1225.6026.3425.8926.61

This table also shows that although New Zealand had in 1900 the lowest birth-rate in Australasia, the fall has been much less in this colony since 1893 than in the others.

A declining birth-rate is noticeable in many civilised countries, and attention has been drawn by statisticians and political economists to the serious consequences that may result. That fertility among women in New Zealand is decreasing, from whatever causes, further facts will tend to show.

Taking the number of married women in New Zealand at what may be considered the child-bearing ages (i.e., from fifteen to forty-five years, inclusive) as shown by each census since 1878, and for the same years the number of legitimate births (excluding plural) registered, the birth-rate per 1,000 married women of the above-stated ages is easily found, and is shown to be steadily declining. In 1878 the rate was 337 per 1,000, in 1896 it had fallen to 252, and in 1901 to 244; or, in other words, in 1878 one married woman of the ages specified in every three gave birth to a child, while in 1901 the rate was one in four only. The figures for each census year are given below, and are followed by a le showing the declining birth-rate, and the increase in the marriage rate, in the United Kingdom.

BIRTH-RATES (LEGITIMATE) PER 1,000 MARRIED WOMEN AT CHILD-BEARING AGES FOR EACH CENSUS YEAR, 1878 TO 1901.

Year (Census).Number of Married Women between 15 and 45 Years of Age.Number of Legitimate Births (Confinements).Birth-rate per 1,000 Married Women of from 15 to 45 Years of Age.
187850,99517,196337.2
188157,45818,003313.3
188662,70418,532295.5
189163,16517,455276.3
189669,80717,596252.1
190179,40619,355243.8

BIRTH AND MARRIAGE RATES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, 1887, 1891, 1896, 1901, AND 1902.

  Births.Marriages.
  Year.  Mean Population.  Number.  Rate per 1,000 of Population.  Number.  Rate per 1,000 of Population.
188736,599,1431,123,14930.69246,3390.73
189137,806,7731,148,25930.37275,9707.30
189639,644,1471,152,14429.06296,0897.47
190141,546,6981,162,41427.98312,5327.52
190242,106,8841,177,14927.92315,0487.49

The above figures are taken from the “Statistical Abstract for the United Kingdom” (50th number), published in August, 1903.

The birth-rates for ten years in Great Britain and certain countries of the European Continent are given from the report of the Registrar-General of England. The rates in England and Wales, and in Scotland, are higher than those in New Zealand, but the rate for Ireland is lower. For 1892 and following years France has the lowest rate of all quoted:—

BIRTH-RATES IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 1892 TO 1901.

Countries.Number of Births per 1,000 of Mean Population.
1892.1893.1894.1895.1896.1897.1898.1899.1900.1901.
Hungary40.442.641.541.940.540.337.739.339.337.8
Austria36.237.936.738.138.037.536.237.1..36.9
Italy36.136.435.434.734.734.633.433.832.932.6
German Empire35.736.835.936.136.336.036.135.835.635.7
Netherlands32.033.832.732.832.732.531.932.031.532.3
Scotland30.730.829.930.030.430.030.129.829.629.5
Norway29.630.729.830.630.430.030.330.930.129.8
England and Wales30.430.729.630.229.629.529.329.128.728.5
Belgium28.929.529.028.529.029.028.628.828.929.4
Sweden27.027.427.127.527.226.727.126.426.926.8
Switzerland27.427.727.127.127.928.128.428.928.629.1
Ireland22.523.022.923.223.623.523.222.922.722.7
France22.322.722.321.722.522.321.821.921.422.0

From the year 1895 marriages have shown an increase, the rate being then 5.94 per 1,000 of population. In 1903 the rate rose to 8.23, the highest record since 1876, when it was 8.25 per 1,000 of mean population. The number of marriages solemnised in 1903 was 6,748, an increase of 354 on the number for 1902.

MARRIAGE-RATES IS AUSTRALASIA PER 1,000 OF POPULATION FOR FIVE YEARS.

 1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.
Queensland6.786.886.616.315.72
New South Wales6.897.387.687.536.86
Victoria7.016.966.997.026.29
South Australia6.246.506.446.616.25
Western Australia9.8910.279.659.779.33
Tasmania6.377.717.687.477.57
New Zealand7.287.677.838.018.23

In April, 1896, New Zealand had 83,659 children living under the age of five years, and in March, 1901, the number was 86,806, an increase of 3,147, although the population at all ages increased in the quinquennium by 9.86 per cent. Between 1886 and 1891 the children living under five years actually decreased in number by 3,624, the increase of population of all ages (8.33 per cent.) being less than between 1891 and 1896 (12.24 per cent.), or 1896 and 1901 (9.86 per cent.). The number of children under one year to the total population at all ages, according to the results of four censuses, was:—

 Children under One Year.Total Population (all Ages).
Census 188618,355578,482
189116,443626,658
189617,070703,360
190118,381772,719

Thus, in 1886, with a population of 578,482 persons, there were 18,355 children under one year, against 18,381 children of that age in 1901, with a population of 772,719 persons.

The births registered in 1885 were 19,693, against 19,546 in 1900. The birth-rate fell from 34.35 per 1,000 of the population in 1885 to 25.60 in 1900.

Deducting 1,469, the number of deaths of children under one year registered in 1900, from 19,546, the number of births for that year, leaves 18,077, or within 304 of the living children under one year at the time of the last census.

TWIN BIRTHS.

There were 222 cases of twin births (444 children), and triplets were registered in one instance, in 1903. The number of children born was 21,829; the number of mothers was 21,605: thus, on an average, one mother in every 97 gave birth to twins, against 93 in 1902, and 107 in 1901.

ILLEGITIMACY.

The births of 994 children were illegitimate: thus 46 in every 1,000 children born were born out of wedlock, against 45 in 1902.

The following table gives the rates of illegitimacy in Australasia. The rate in 1903 in New Zealand was less than in any of the Australian States except South Australia:—

PROPORTION OF ILLEGITIMATE BIRTHS IN EVERY 100 BIRTHS.

Year.Queensland.New South Wales.Victoria.South Australia.Western Australia.Tasmania.New Zealand.
18934.976.165.462.844.174.413.70
18944.526.145.503.054.665.093.80
18954.936.515.333.134.474.974.50
18965.225.715.633.455.615.914.48
18976.026.585.423.535.275.744.41
18986.046.935.293.624.995.094.23
18995.977.155.493.954.916.084.40
19006.407.015.914.244.825.434.63
19015.937.165.583.983.885.944.57
19026.046.605.514.363.965.364.46
19036.766.71..4.184.695.614.55

These figures show a rise in the proportion of illegitimate births to every 100 births for this colony, amounting to 0.85 for the period 1893-1903.

The total number of births registered was 19,299 in 1886 and 21,829 in 1903, while the illegitimate births rose from 602 to 994. The causes that led to the fall in the birth-rate certainly did not greatly affect the number of illegitimate children.

The number of spinsters in the colony between 15 and 45 increased during the ten years from 65,035 (census 1891) to 100,310 (census 1901), or at the rate of 55.9 per cent., while the illegitimate births increased from 638 to 937, or at the rate of 46.9 per cent. only.

It would therefore appear that the larger proportion of illegitimate births now obtaining cannot with any certainty be taken as indicative of increased looseness of living on the part of the people.

The following figures, showing the rate of illegitimacy per 100 births in Australasia and in the United Kingdom, are based on statistics for a period of five years:—

Country.Illegitimate Births per Cent.
New South Wales6.9
Victoria5.6
Queensland6.0
South Australia4.0
Western Australia4.5
Tasmania5.7
New Zealand4.4
England and Wales4.2
Ireland2.6
Scotland7.2

Of the total number of children born in Australasia during the five years ended 1901, 5.75 per cent. were illegitimate, as compared with 4.42 per cent. in the United Kingdom for the period 1896-1900.

The figures in the next table, which give the percentages of illegitimate births in a number of foreign countries, also cover in most cases a period of five years, 1897-1901.

Country.Illegitimate Births per Cent.
Germany9.08
Prussia7.68
Bavaria13.43
Saxony12.89
Austria14.20
Hungary9.13
France8.82
Belgium7.67
Netherlands2.60
Sweden11.13
Norway7.48
Italy6.45

For England and Wales the proportion of illegitimate births to the total births in 1900 was 4 per cent., having gradually diminished from 7 per cent. in 1845. The minimum rate was 2.7 per cent., in Essex, and the maximum 6.7 per cent., in Westmoreland. For London the percentage was 3.6.

The average proportion of illegitimate births in Scotland in 1901 was 6.3 per cent., the rate varying from 3.4 per cent. in Dumbartonshire to 13.7 in Wigtownshire; but in Ireland in that year the extremely low average of 2.6 per cent. obtained, the rate varying rom 0.7 in Connaught to 3.4 in Ulster.

THE LEGITIMATION ACT.

An important Act was passed in 1894, entitled the Legitimation Act, which makes provision for the legitimation of children born before marriage on the subsequent marriage of their parents. Under this Act any child born out of wedlock, whose parents afterwards marry, is deemed to be legitimised by such marriage on the birth being registered in the manner prescribed by the Act. For legitimation purposes Registrars must register a birth when called upon to do so by any person claiming to be the father of an illegitimate child; but such person is required to make a solemn declaration that he is the father, and that at the time of the birth there existed no legal impediment to his marriage with the mother of the child. He has also to produce the evidence of his marriage. It will thus be seen that in cases dealt with under the Act registration becomes the test of legitimacy. In the December quarter of 1894, 11 children were legitimised; in 1895 the number was 68; in 1896, 56; in 1897, 48; in 1898, 59; in 1899, 41; in 1900, 62; in 1901, 47; in 1902, 96; and in 1903, 65; making altogether 553 legitimations since the passing of the law.

“THE INFANT LIFE PROTECTION ACT, 1896.”

By this statute it has been rendered unlawful for a person to take charge, for payment, of an infant to maintain or nurse for more than three days without holding a license as an infants' home keeper. The house of such a person must be registered as an infants' home.

The administration of this law is a matter entirely managed by the police. The licensed homes are periodically inspected, and the results have shown that licensees generally comply with the required conditions, the homes and infants being well looked after.

The Commissioner in his report for the year ended 31st March, 1903, writes:—

During the year 1902 there were 583 registered homes throughout the colony, representing 936 infants, against 565 homes and 943 infants in 1901.

Forty four deaths occurred in the homes during the year, against twenty-nine in the preceding year, being equal to 47 per thousand, against 30.75 per thousand in 1901. This increased mortality is due to scarlet fever and measles.

The mortality throughout the colony of infants under four years of age (the age to which the Act applies) rose from 26.37 per thousand in 1901 to 31.11 in 1902. The mortality in the homes will always considerably exceed the general mortality of the colony, for the reason I have stated in previous reports.

Eighteen licensees were prosecuted for breaches of the Act during the year, of whom twelve were convicted, against eleven prosecutions and ten convictions in 1901, and one license was cancelled.

BIRTHS AND BIRTH-RATES IN THE FOUR CHIEF CITIES.

The total number of births registered as occurring in the four chief centres and suburbs in 1903 was 5,812, as against 5,347 for the previous year.

There is increase in the births for the four chief cities and decrease for suburban boroughs found on comparison with figures for 1902, but the rise in the cities and fall in the smaller boroughs is caused by the absorption of Melrose in Wellington, and that of Linwood, St. Albans, and Sydenham in Christchurch. The birthrates for 1902 were:—

Birth-rates per 1.000 of Mean Population.
Auckland City31-67..
and five suburban boroughs..30.09
Wellington City29.22..
and two suburban boroughs..28.63
Christchurch City26.59..
and one suburban borough..26.76
Dunedin City19.54..
and eight suburban boroughs..22.79

By the inclusion of the suburbs the rate is raised at Christchurch and Dunedin, but lowered at Auckland and Wellington. It will be observed that Auckland has the highest rate, Wellington next highest, Christchurch and Dunedin following with intervals. The difference between the Auckland rate (30.09) and the Dunedin rate (22.79) is considerable. The birth-rate for the whole colony last year was 26.61 per thousand. Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington are thus over the average, and Dunedin below it.

The birth-rates for three of the central boroughs last year show a rise when compared with 1902. In Auckland the rate rose from 30.80 to 31.67, in Christchurch from 25.84 to 26.59, in Wellington from 25.29 to 29.22; but fell in Dunedin from 19.96 to 19.54. The rates for five years, 1899 to 1903, are:—

Births per 1,000 of Population.
 1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.
Auckland (without suburbs)25.7729.3130.0030.8031.67
Wellington24.2425.7626.3525.2929.22
Christchurch18.7421.5124.1225.8426.59
Dunedin20.8222.0722.0419.9619.54

NATURALISATION.

Aliens residing in the colony may, on taking the oath of allegiance to His Majesty, obtain letters of naturalisation entitling them to enjoy all the rights and privileges that a natural-born subject of the United Kingdom can enjoy or transmit within this colony. Two hundred and seventy-six aliens (265 men and 11 women) were naturalised in 1903.

The number belonging to each nationality was as under:—

NUMBER OF ALIENS NATURALISED IN 1903.

Natives of—M.F.
  German Empire345
  Norway and Sweden330
  Denmark203
  Russia, Poland, and Finland140
  France and possessions41
  Italy151
  Austria-Hungary1161
  China30
  United States of America40
  Netherlands50
  Switzerland50
  Belgium20
  Portugal and possessions50
  Turkey and Syria30
  Spain10
  Roumania10

The number of natives of each country naturalised during the last twenty-one years is next shown.

Natives of—..
  Germany1,534
  Sweden and Norway1,148
  Denmark816
  China329
  Italy and Sicily210
  Switzerland168
  Russia in Europe227
  Austria-Hungary342
  France129
  Netherlands58
  Greece45
  Portugal58
  United States of America75
  Belgium30
  Other countries93
Total5,262

By section 2 of “The Aliens Act Amendment Act, 1882,” repealed and re-enacted by section 2 of “The Aliens Act Amendment Act, 1892,” it is provided that when the father, or mother being a widow, has obtained naturalisation in the colony, every child who during infancy has become resident with them in New Zealand shall be deemed to be naturalised, and shall have the rights and privileges of a natural-born subject.

MARRIAGES.

The marriages for 1903 show an increase on the number for the previous year. The number was 6,748, or 354 more than in 1902. The marriage-rate rose from 8.01 per 1,000 persons living in 1902 to 8.23 in 1903, the rate for the latter year being the highest obtained since 1876, when it stood at 8.25 per 1,000 persons. The improvement shown during the last eight years sets New Zealand in a good position relatively to the Australian States.

The rates for a series of fifteen consecutive years were:—

MARRIAGES PER 1,000 of the POPULATION.

Year.Queensland.New South Wales.Victoria.South Australia.Western Australia.Tasmania.New Zealand.
18898.376.768.146.476.996.505.94
18908.497.148.217.065.806.646.12
18917.187.397.697.318.006.636.04
18926.676.776.646.517.296.516.23
18935.916.405.996.266.345.516.22
18945.706.205.986.096.245.436.15
18956.236.356.005.886.835.325.94
18966.056.596.486.208.455.886.85
18976.056.726.365.4610.736.236.83
18986.036.666.536.189.896.296.91
18996.786.897.016.249.896.377.28
19006.887.386.966.5010.277.717.67
19016.617.686.996.449.657.687.83
19026.317.537.026.619.777.478.01
19035.726.866.296.259.337.578.23

But the improved rate for this colony is still lower than the rate for some few European countries.

MARRIAGES IN EVERY 1,000 of the POPULATION.

German Empire19018.2
Belgium19018.4
Hungary19018.8
England and Wales19017.95
Switzerland19017.6
Austria19018.1
Spain19008.9
Denmark19017.2
Scotland19017.1
France19017.8
Netherlands19017.7
Italy19017.2
Norway19016.7
Sweden19016.0
Ireland19015.1

Of the marriages solemnised in 1903, 6,133 were between bachelors and spinsters, 198 between bachelors and widows, 305 between widowers and spinsters, and 112 between widowers and widows.

Divorced men and women have been classified as bachelors or spinsters: 34 divorced men and 52 divorced women were married during the year.

Included amongst spinsters are six married women, and amongst the bachelors three married men, who elected to go through the form of marriage with other persons under the protection of the provisions of section 204, subsection (5), of “The Criminal Code Act, 1893,” which runs: “No one commits bigamy by going through a form of marriage if he or she has been continually absent from his or her wife or husband for seven years then last past, and is not proved to have known that his wife or her husband was alive at any time during those seven years.”

The total number of marriages solemnized (6,748) does not include marriages where both parties are of the aboriginal native race, such persons being exempted from the necessity of complying with the provisions of the Marriage Act, although at liberty to take advantage thereof. Sixteen marriages in which both parties were Maoris were contracted in 1903 in terms of the Act: 9 by Registrars, 6 by clergymen of the Church of England, and 1 by a Roman Catholic minister.

BACHELORS AND SPINSTERS IN NEW ZEALAND.

The results of three censuses in respect of the number of bachelors of 20 years and upwards, and spinsters of 15 years and upwards, in the colony show some interesting features. In 1891 there was an excess of bachelors over the spinsters amounting to 3,497 men. But by 1896 not only had the preponderance of the male element been lost, but an excess of spinsters over bachelors was reported amounting to 1,786 women, while in 1901 this excess had risen to 3,572 women.

It is noticeable how differently the numbers for the provincial districts have been affected by the process in operation. An excess of bachelors was preserved in Auckland, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson, and Westland from 1891 to 1901. In Canterbury, however, an excess of spinsters was found in 1891 of 2,516, which increased to 3,997 in 1896 and to 4,918 in 1901; while in Otago an excess of 773 spinsters in 1891 increased to 2,066 in 1896, and diminished slightly in 1901, when there were 1,899 more spinsters than bachelors. These two important districts of the Middle Island have lost large numbers of bachelors by departures to the North Island. The following table exhibits the particulars for each provincial district:—

Provincial Districts.Census, 1891.Census, 1896.Census, 1901.
Excess of Bachelors over Spinsters.Excess of Spinsters over Bachelors.Excess of Bachelors over Spinsters.Excess of Spinsters over Bachelors.Excess of Bachelors over Spinsters.Excess of Spinsters over Bachelors.
  Total excess3,497....1,786..3,572
Auckland156..703..521..
Taranaki121..524..805..
Hawke's Bay1,337..1,142..425..
Wellington2,129..637..32..
Marlborough644..183..158..
Nelson1,486......687..
Westland900......666..
Canterbury..2,516..3,997..4,918
Otago..773..2,066..1,899
Chatham Islands15..7..1..
Kermadec Islands..2........

MARRIAGES BY MINISTERS OF VARIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

Of the marriages in the year 1903, 25.52 per cent. were solemnised by ministers of the Church of England, 25. per cent. by ministers of the Presbyterian Churches, 13.32 per cent. by ministers of the Wesleyan and other Methodist Churches, 10.08 per cent. by ministers of the Roman Catholic Church, 9.87 per cent. by ministers of other denominations, and 15.90 per cent. by Registrars.

The following shows the proportions of marriages by ministers of the principal denominations in the past eight years, and the percentages of these denominations to the total population in 1901:—

Denomination.Percentage of Marriages.Percentage of Denomination to Total Population in 1901.
1896.1897.1898.1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.
Church of England22.8623.0023.3724.1722.6824.9124.5825.5240.84
Presbyterians25.0125.4426.0225.3026.3824.4825.9525.3122.87
Methodists17.9217.6113.9812.9113.2313.1912.9513.3210.86
Roman Catholics10.2610.1210.3710.8710.8210.539.9410.0814.23
Other denominations6.055.869.259.3410.2010.2010.079.8711.20
By Registrars17.9017.9717.0117.4116.6916.6916.5115.90..
 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00

Marriage by the Registrar is found to be less frequent than it was eight years ago, the percentage falling from 17.90 in 1896 to 15.90 in 1903.

MARRIAGE REGISTER SIGNED BY MARK.

Of the men married in 1903, 26, or 3.85 in every 1,000, and of the women 42, or 6.22 per 1,000, signed the register by marks.

The illiteracy of the people, as measured by the proportion of married persons who affix marks instead of signatures to the marriage register, has greatly decreased of late, having fallen since 1881 from 32.04 per 1,000 among men to 3.85 per 1,000, and from 57.98 per 1,000 to 6.22 per 1,000 among women. This is shown in a very striking manner by the following table:—

PERSONS IN EVERY 1,000 married who signed by MARK.

Denomination.1881.1891.1901.1903.
M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.
Church of England16.5927.158.2910.661.323.290.582.94
Presbyterians10.2529.615.798.692.684.690.591.76
Wesleyans and other Methodists32.4141.798.9310.713.733.732.222.22
Roman Catholics117.78133.3331.3318.286.237.795.887.35
Other denominations10.3620.729.26..1.613.223.006.01
By Registrars39.2293.5127.4243.0813.7715.7314.9121.44
Total marriages32.0457.9813.9316.824.596.233.856.22

The proportion of illiterates in 1901 and 1903 was greatest among those married before Registrars. Previously the proportion was largest among Roman Catholics; but since 1881 it has, as shown by the table, most remarkably decreased.

AGES OF PERSONS MARRIED.

Of the persons married in 1903, 109 bridegrooms and 1,080 brides were under 21 years of age—one of the bridegrooms was between 17 and 18, and five between 18 and 19. Of the brides, one was under 15 years of age, eight were between 15 and 16, and twenty-three between 16 and 17 years of age. The proportion of men married is greatest at the ages of 25 to 30, and of women at from 21 to 25 years.

The following are the proportions of men and women married at each age-period to every 100 marriages in the years 1891, 1901, and 1903:—

Age.1891.1901.1903.
M.F.M.F.M.F.
Under 21 years1.5520.791.9317.161.6216.01
21 and under 2526.9943.9924.9439.9724.4839.67
25 3036.1922.9737.0826.8938.2228.14
30 4025.948.7227.1212.7327.0012.52
40 506.442.716.042.445.452.59
50 602.260.661.770.571.940.08
60 700.550.160.920.240.900.33
70 and upwards0.08..0.20..0.390.06

Registrars of Marriages are prohibited by law from issuing certificates for the marriage of minors without the consent of their parents or lawful guardians, if there be any in the colony. If a declaration be made in any case that there is no parent or lawful guardian in the colony, then a certificate may be issued after the expiration of fourteen days following the date on which the notice of intended marriage is given.

A marriage may not be solemnised except after the delivery to the minister or Registrar who Officiates of a certificate issued by a Registrar authorising such marriage, and if any persons knowingly and wilfully intermarry without such certificate the marriage is null and void; and no clergyman or minister of any denomination is empowered to solemnise marriages until his name has been placed on the Registrar-General's list of officiating ministers for the year.

Marriage with a deceased wife's sister in New Zealand was legalised in the year 1880, and an Act was passed in the year 1900 which legalised marriage with the brother of a deceased husband. This Act is retrospective, including in its provisions marriages between such parties which had previously been solemnised as well as those contracted after the statute was passed, and declaring all these to be valid, and the issue born prior or subsequent to the passing of the Act to be deemed born in lawful wedlock.

The measure was reserved for the signification of her late Majesty's pleasure. The Royal assent has since been given, and the Act came into force in New Zealand by Proclamation dated the 22nd May, 1901.

The ages at which persons may contract binding marriages are the same as in England—12 years for females and 14 for males. Marriage may be contracted at earlier ages than those stated, but would be voidable at the discretion of either of the parties upon reaching the age of 12 or 14, as the case may be, and without the necessity of proceedings in Court.

Although in New Zealand the age at which girls may legally marry is as above, nevertheless, by the criminal law, to unlawfully carnally know a girl under the age of 16 years is now a punishable offence. The age of consent was raised from 15 to 16 by statute passed in 1896.

The average age of the men married in this colony in 1903 was 29.89 years, and of the women 25.84 years. In England the mean age of those whose ages were stated was (in the year 1900) 28.41 years for men, and 26.29 years for women. Thus the average age at marriage in the colony would appear to be higher for men, but lower for women, than in England.

The proportion of bridegrooms under 21 is much greater in England than in New Zealand; but the proportion of brides under 21 in the colony is about the same.

In England, in 1900, of every 1,000 bridegrooms whose ages were stated, 51 were under 21 years of age, and of every 1,000 brides 163 were under 21 years of age. In New Zealand, in 1903, the proportions were 16 bridegrooms and 160 brides of similar ages in every 1,000 married:—

Year.Bridegrooms under 21 in every 100.Brides under 21 in every 100.
18901.8922.75
18921.6220.14
18941.4419.53
18961.9619.51
18981.5718.13
18992.1018.81
19001.6717.34
19011.9317.16
19021.3916.59
19031.6216.01

NUMBER OF MINISTERS.

The number of names on the list of officiating ministers under the Marriage Act is (April, 1904) 1,092, and the denominations to which they belong are shown hereunder:—

Denomination.No.
Church of England336
Presbyterian Church of New Zealand243
Roman Catholic Church177
Methodist Church of Australasia in New Zealand167
Congregational Independents22
Baptists35
Primitive Methodist Connexion41
Lutheran Church8
Hebrew Congregations6
Church of Christ16
Free Methodist Church of New Zealand3
Auckland Society of the New Jerusalem Church1
Auckland Central Mission1
Wellington Central Mission1
Independent Free Church1
Salvation Army18
Catholic Apostolic Church1
Seventh-day Adventists5
Unitarians1
Pilgrims of Peace1
Scots Church1
Brethren2
Latter Day Saints2
Total1,092

DEATHS.

The deaths in 1903 numbered 8,528, being equivalent to a rate of 10.40 in every 1,000 persons living, as against 10.50 in 1902. The lowest rate experienced since the year 1887, when the deaths were 10.29 per 1,000 of the population, was that for 1896 (9.10).

COMPARATIVE DEATH-RATE FOR THE PERIOD 1893 TO 1903.

Country.1893.1894.1895.1896.1897.1898.1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.

* Excluding the Northern Territory.

New Zealand10.2310.199.919.109.149.8410.249.439.8110.5010.40
Queensland13.3412.0811.3812.1011.3312.6612.0711.7311.8812.0812.38
New South Wales13.2412.3611.7912.3010.8812.4811.8211.1611.6811.9511.59
Victoria14.1113.1413.2513.3512.9015.9414.2812.7513.2213.4012.90
South Australia*13.4411.6411.2511.4811.2413.0612.1410.6411.1111.7910.71
Western Australia15.3114.4017.7816.4516.9716.0513.7612.9213.3613.6312.60
Tasmania13.4712.4211.3811.6311.5313.5112.2511.0510.4510.8411.92
England and Wales19.116.518.717.017.417.518.218.216.9....
Scotland19.317.119.416.618.418.018.118.518.0....
Ireland17.918.218.416.618.418.117.619.617.8....
Denmark18.817.416.815.616.515.517.316.915.8....
Norway16.316.915.715.215.315.316.915.914.9....
Sweden16.816.415.215.615.415.117.716.816.0....
Austria27.227.827.726.425.624.925.425.224.0....
Hungary31.230.529.728.928.528.027.226.925.4....
Switzerland19.919.919.117.717.618.217.619.318.0....
German Empire24.622.322.120.821.320.521.522.120.7....
Netherlands19.218.518.617.216.917.017.117.817.2....
France22.521.222.220.019.520.921.121.920.1....
Italy25.124.925.024.021.922.921.823.821.9....

As will be seen from the preceding table, covering a series of years, the death-rate in New Zealand contrasts very favourably with that in the Australian States and in European countries.

In this statement New Zealand is conspicuous as showing the lowest death-rate. The rates for the principal Australian States are a little higher, but, generally speaking, far below those for the United Kingdom or the European Continental States mentioned in the table.

Perfect accuracy in comparing one country or colony with another can only be attained by the use of what is termed an “index of mortality.” The proportions of the living vary in regard to the different age-groups, and the ordinary death-rate—which is calculated on the population as a whole—does not afford a true means of judging of the relative healthiness of the places compared. But by taking a population like that of Sweden, and applying the percentage at each age-group to the death-rates, a standard of health or index of mortality can be arrived at. This has been done for New Zealand, in accordance with a resolution of the Statistical Conference held at Hobart in 1902, and the result is expressed in tabular form. When similar results are published by the States of Australia, comparisons will be given.

INDEX OF MORTALITY IN NEW ZEALAND FOR 1903.

Ages.Estimated Mean Population, 1903.Number of Deaths, 1903.Death-rate per 1,000, 1903.Percentage of Population of Sweden, 1890 (Standard).Index of Mortality in New Zealand per 1,000.
Under 1 year19,5211,77090.672.552.31
1 and under 20 years344,3271,1873.4539.801.37
20 and under 40 years270,0971,3695.0726.961.37
40 and under 60 years130,8251,44011.0119.232.12
60 years and upwards55,4472,76249.8111.465.71
Totals820,2178,52810.40100.0012.88

DEATHS AND DEATH-RATES OF THE FOUR PRINCIPAL CITIES AND THEIR SUBURBS.

In the earlier annual reports on the vital statistics of the four chief towns the central boroughs alone were dealt with, particulars respecting the suburbs not having been obtained. But this omission was held to be a grave defect, as the suburban death-rate may differ much from the death-rate at the centre. Steps were therefore taken early in 1895 to collect statistics of the suburban boroughs as well as of the four chief cities. As regards Auckland and Christchurch, the whole of the area usually recognised as suburban has not yet been brought under municipal government, and the statistics given below do not deal with such portions as still remain in road districts. The omission, however, is not very important, for there are in either case quite enough suburbs included within borough boundaries to give a fair idea of the death-rate of greater Auckland and greater Christchurch. As further boroughs are formed the vital statistics will be made to include them.

The total number of deaths registered for the four centres in 1903 was 2,524—viz., 1,964 in the cities, and 560 in the suburbs.

By including the suburbs the death-rate for last year is lowered at each of the four centres. The rates for the year are:—

Death-rates per 1,000 of Mean Population.
Auckland City12.97..
and five suburban boroughs..12.23
Wellington City11.30..
and two suburban boroughs..10.93
Christchurch City11.39..
and one suburban borough..11.29
Dunedin City14.77..
and eight suburban boroughs..12.47

MORTALITY AT FOUR CENTRES, INCLUDING SUBURBS.

If the suburbs are included, the death-rate is found to be highest in Dunedin and lowest in Wellington; Auckland and Christchurch taking second and third places respectively. The death-rate for the colony was 10.40 per 1,000 of mean population. The four centres might be expected to show a higher average than this.

If the number of deaths of infants under one year be excluded. the mortality among the rest of the population is found to have beer for 1902 and 1903 in the following ratio to the 1,000 living:—

 1902.1903.
Auckland (including suburbs)11.108.57
Wellington8.878.27
Christchurch9.048.60
Dunedin9.2311.11

The degree of infantile mortality is perhaps best shown in the proportion of deaths of children under one year of age to every 100 births. For 1902 and 1903 the proportions at the chief centres were,—

 1902.1903.
Auckland (including suburbs)14.0712.15
Wellington13.029.27
Christchurch11.7610.05
Dunedin8.916.23

Thus in 1903 the proportions for Dunedin and Wellington are less than those found at either of the other two chief cities.

MORTALITY AT FOUR CENTRES, EXCLUDING SUBURBS.

The comparison of rates that follow for the towns, excluding suburbs, are all given subject to the fact that Wellington figures for 1903 have been increased by the inclusion of what was formerly the Borough of Melrose, and those for Christchurch by the mortality in the former Boroughs of Linwood, St. Albans, and Sydenham.

Excluding suburbs, and dealing with the deaths at all ages in the four cities or central boroughs only, the rates for 1903 are found to be higher in Dunedin, but lower in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch than in the previous year. The figures for four years are given:—

Cities (excluding Suburbs).Deaths, 1900.Deaths, 1901.Deaths, 1902.Deaths. 1903.
Per 1,000 of Population.Per 1,000 of Population.Per 1,000 of Population.Per 1,000 of Population.
Auckland13.6913.1017.2112.97
Wellington9.1710.6612.5811.30
Christchurch10.6213.1112.2411.39
Dunedin12.2512.6411.8614.77

By omitting the deaths of infants under one year, and calculating the rate on the population of one year of age and upwards, the death-rate for Dunedin is still found to be higher in 1903 than in the previous year, but lower at the other three cities.

 Deaths per 1,000 of Population, excluding Infants (under One Year of Age).
 1900.1901.1902.903.
Auckland (excluding suburbs)9.729.9312.869.45
Wellington7.658.129.548.84
Christchurch8.2210.699.038.83
Dunedin10.6410.8810.3513.61

Subjoined is a table showing the rates of infant mortality in the four cities for each of the past five years, together with the mean rates for the period.

Deaths of Children under One Year to every 100 Births.
 1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.Mean of Five Years.
Auckland (excluding suburbs)14.4714.4911.5715.4012.0813.60
Wellington12.266.6510.4312.979.2810.32
Christchurch19.71.11.9911.3513.3210.4913.37
Dunedin10.208.379.078.607.278.70

CAUSES OF DEATH AT FOUR CENTRES, INCLUDING SUBURBS.

While treating of the death-rates at the chief cities and surroundings, it is desirable to refer to the causes of mortality, which is done in the remarks that follow. The deaths for the whole colony, classified according to their cause, are treated of at length a little further on.

Specific Febrile and Zymotic Diseases (at Four Chief Centres).

The mortality from these diseases at Christchurch and Dunedin, with their suburbs, was higher in 1903 than in the previous year, but for Auckland and Wellington much lower. The total deaths in this class were 256 for 1903, and 356 for 1902 at the four centres.

Deaths from Febrile and Zymotic Diseases.
 Auckland and Suburbs.Wellington and Suburbs.Christchurch and Suburbs.Dunedin and Suburbs.Total
19021651084835356
190386525860256

Of the above, diarrhœal diseases caused most deaths in 1903 at the four centres taken together, the total number being 78. Scarlet fever came next, with 50 deaths, whooping-cough 29, measles 28, typhoid fever 16, influenza 15, diphtheria 5, and other zymotic complaints 35.

Comparison of the deaths for each city shows,—

Zymotic, &c., Diseases.Auckland and Suburbs.Wellington and Suburbs.Christchurch and Suburbs.Dunedin and Suburbs.
1902.1903.1902.1903.1902.1903.1902.1903
Diarrhœal diseases67421922311084
Influenza104923277
Typhoid fever108352221
Measles406493..1732
Scarlet fever1216512430
Bubonic plague3..............
Diphtheria12....22..53
Whooping-cough1817175172..
Other zymotic diseases4710748413

Parasitic Diseases (at Four Chief Centres).

Hydatids were fatal at Wellington and worms at Auckland (1 death each).

Dietetic Diseases (at Four Chief Centres).

These numbered 34, 7 being due to want of breast-milk, or malnutrition, 26 to alcoholism and delirium tremens, and 1 to starvation and exposure.

Constitutional Diseases (at Four Chief Centres).

The deaths at the four cities numbered 488 in 1903. The first in importance of these diseases, and of all causes of death, is tubercle. The figures for 1902 and 1903 show 254 and 250 deaths for each year respectively.

Phthisis and other Tubercular Diseases (at Four Chief Centres).
 1902.1903.
 Phthisis.Other Tubercular Diseases.Phthisis.Other Tubercular Diseases.
Auckland and suburbs42113824
Wellington49194612
Christchurch57123711
Dunedin44205329
..1926217476

The mortality from tubercular diseases for 1903 is 9.90 per cent. of the total deaths at the four cities and their suburbs from all causes.

Deaths from cancer rose at the chief towns from 165 in 1902 to 179 in 1903. The latter number is 7.09 per cent. of deaths for the year from all causes.

The number of deaths from cancer at the four chief towns and their suburbs for each of the last five years was as under:—

 1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.
Auckland and suburbs4032324437
Wellington2736383747
Christchurch4032412533
Dunedin4445435962
 151145154165179

Diabetes shows 25 deaths in 1903, against 26 in 1902.

Developmental Diseases (at Four Chief Centres).

There were 258 deaths in this class, of which 87 were from premature births, 151 from old age, and 20 from other causes.

Local Diseases (at Four Chief Centres).

Deaths in this class were 1 more than in 1902, the figures being 1,267, against 1,266. Diseases of the nervous system were the most fatal of this class, amounting to 295; this number includes 100 deaths from apoplexy, 38 from convulsions, and 34 from paralysis. Diseases of the respiratory system show 275 deaths for 1903, or nearly one-fourth of the whole mortality in the class, against 337 in the former year. Bronchitis, pneumonia, congestion of the lungs, pleurisy, and allied diseases form this group.

Under the head of “Diseases of the Digestive System” there were 258 deaths at the four centres, including 95 from enteritis; peritonitis, 18; gastritis, 21; cirrhosis of liver, 21; jaundice, and liver disease, 26; and dentition 5.

Diseases of the urinary system caused 102 deaths. The remaining deaths were: 4 of disease of organs of special sense, 258 of organs of the circulatory, 14 of the lymphatic, 44 of the reproductive systems, 8 of the organs of locomotion, and 9 of the integumentary system.

Violent Deaths (at Four Chief Centres).

There were 121 violent deaths, 94 of which were classed as accidental. Ten of these latter were caused by fractures, and 15 by falls. In 14 cases deaths resulted from the deceased being run over by a cart, tram, train, &c. Eleven deaths were from burns or scalds, 14 by drowning, 9 by suffocation, 5 by poisoning, 1 by misadventure with chloroform; besides 7 from accident at birth, and 8 others.

Three deaths were classified as murder or manslaughter. Of 24 suicides, 7 were by shooting, 4 by cutting throat, 6 by poison, 3 by hanging, and 4 by drowning.

VITAL STATISTICS OF AUSTRALASIAN CAPITALS, 1902.

The vital statistics of the chief cities, with their suburbs, of Australasia show that the death-rate in Wellington (N.Z.) for 1902 was lower than that of any other of the principal towns, except Sydney, for the same year.

Capital Cities (including Suburbs).Estimated Mean Population.Births.Deaths.Excess of Births over Deaths.
Total Number.Rate per 1,000 of Population.Total Number.Rate per 1,000 of Population.

* Ten-mile radius.

Melbourne502,12012,47824.857,49614.934,982
Sydney502,75013,00225.865,93711.817,065
Adelaide164,5763,90023.702,27613.831,624
Brisbane*121,1223,51128.991,60813.281,903
Perth40,8391,44935.4875318.44696
Hobart34,74595627.51.52114.99435
Wellington50,9671,32125.9262412.24697

DEATHS IN THE WHOLE COLONY AT VARIOUS AGE-PERIODS.

The average age at death of persons of either sex, in each of the eight years 1896-1903, was as follows:—

 Males.Females.
189636.80 years32.41 years.
189738.8034.77
189839.2935.69
189937.7333.54
190040.31 years36.14 years.
190141.6437.68
190241.0734.88
190339.5635.43

The average expectation of life at each year of age has been compiled from a table given in a paper on the rates of mortality in New Zealand which was recently published by Mr. George Leslie, now Registrar of Friendly Societies. This is the best and most up-to-date information procurable, but it is not guaranteed by the authorities of the Government Life Insurance Department.

The table shows, on comparison with New South Wales figures (Coghlan's), that at birth the expectation of life to the male infant in New Zealand is considerably greater than in the State, the figures being 54.44 years (N.Z.), against 49.60 (N.S.W.), and for females 57.26 and 52.90.

At 21 years of age the expectation in New Zealand for males is 43.77 years, against 41.35 (N.S.W.), and for females 45.59, against 43.62.

At age 45 the comparison is, for males, 25.23 years (N.Z.), 23.27 (N.S.W.); females, 27.46 years (N.Z.), against 25.34 (N.S.W.).

At the age of 70, the limit of a normal life, the figures for New Zealand are—males 9.48 years, females 10.23, against 8.64 for both sexes in New South Wales.

Throughout the comparison is in favour of this country.

EXPECTATION OF LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND.

Age.Average Duration of Life: Years.Age.Average Duration of Life: Years.Age.Average Duration of Life: Years.
Male.Female.Male.Female.Male.Female.
054.44457.2603532.82934.954709.48110.227
159.10261.2143632.05434.215718.9889.673
259.16961.2203731.28233.475728.5049.130
358.62660.6173830.51132.734738.0358.604
457.92459.9343929.74431.990747.5888.095
557.16759.1484028.97931.243757.1607.614
656.39658.3434128.22030.493766.7587.164
755.60657.5204227.46529.739776.3796.742
854.79156.6804326.71528.981786.0226.349
953.95655.8254425.97128.221795.6835.982
1053.09454.9534525.23127.458805.3625.636
1152.21254.0694624.49926.694815.0555.312
1251.31553.1804723.77325.927824.7655.005
1350.42552.2944823.05525.163834.4894.714
1449.53951.4154922.34424.399844.2294.439
1548.66350.5455021.63623.640853.9824.180
1647.80349.6905120.93222.885863.7473.935
1746.96048.8475220.23122.135873.5253.705
1846.13948.0165319.53021.392883.3133.487
1945.33647.1985418.83620.655893.1103.283
2044.55146.3935518.15019.926902.9143.089
2143.77545.5935617.47819.202912.7232.905
2243.00544.8035716.82218.485922.5252.731
2342.23544.0215816.18317.776932.3232.564
2441.46343.2445915.56017.077942.1012.400
2540.68442.4746014.94916.386951.8432.238
2639.89941.7086114.34815.705961.5532.082
2739.10840.9466213.75415.037971.2471.931
2838.31940.1876313.17014.386980.9601.774
2937.58639.4316412.60013.752990.6771.600
3036.73638.6786512.04613.1351000.5001.424
3135.94937.9286611.51212.534101..1.195
3235.16537.1816710.99411.945102..0.889
3334.38436.4386810.48611.365103..0.500
3433.60535.695699.98110.792......

ORPHANHOOD OF CHILDREN.

New Zealand statistics give detailed information on this subject, which appears to be unique. In a paper read by Mr. H. W. Manly, actuary of the Equitable Life Assurance Society, on the 27th April, 1903. before the Institute of Actuaries at London, under the heading “Children's Benefits,” he stated that in order to ascertain the ages and the number of children left by a married man at his death he had to go to the same source as Mr. King did when he constructed his table of “Family Annuities”—viz., the “Statistics of the Colony of New Zealand.” And further, after announcing his intention of making very considerable use of the information, he gave the tables, grouping five ages together. (“Journal of the Institute of Actuaries,” October, 1903.)

Although the subject is not one of general interest, as the Yearbook is more often referred to than a statistical volume, it may he excusable to draw attention here to the tables published for the year 1903 and the experience of the quinquennial period, as shown in the “Statistics of New Zealand.”

The first table shows, for the year 1903, the total number of men who died at each year of age from twenty upwards; the number of married men stated in the registers as having died (a) childless, (b) leaving children; and the number and ages of the children living at the time of the father's death. The next is a similar table, but giving five years' results for all ages of the fathers. A condensation of the table is shown.

NEW ZEALAND, 1899 TO 1903.

Ages of Married Men at Death.Number of Married Men who Died.Number and Ages of Living Issue.
Childless.Leaving Children.Under 55 to 10.10 to 15.15 to 21.21 and over.Not specified.
20 to 3061136192291....4
30 4011462372369131855..76
40 501339395959641,079961340173
50 602091,4333097541,2112,0953,121369
60 651631,003671804261,0133,881270
65 and upwards5863,858691654151,17317,4281,094

A table has also been prepared showing, for the year 1903, the number and ages of the youngest orphan children left.

INFANTILE MORTALITY.

Subjoined is a classified statement of the deaths of infants under one year during 1903, with the ratio of the deaths in each class to the 1,000 births during the year:—

Year.Sex.Under 1 Month.1 and under 3 Months.3 and under 6 Months.6 and under 12 Months.Total under 12 Months.
NUMBER OF DEATHS.
1903Male391205186195977
Female301141181170793
DEATHS TO THE 1,000 BIRTHS.
1903Male34.8618.2816.5817.3887.10
Female28.3613.2917.0616.0274.73

Eighty-seven out of every thousand of male children born, and seventy-five of every thousand females, are found to have died before attaining the age of one year. The mortality is thus one in eleven of male children and one in thirteen of females, even in New Zealand, where conditions are far more favourable to infant life than in Australia, at least as far as relates to the cities.

It will also be seen from the figures that the chances of living during the first year of age are far greater for female than for male infants. Thus, during the year 1903 there were—

100 deaths of males to 81 deaths of females under 1 month of age;
100 ″ 73 ″ from 1 to 3 months of age;
100 ″ 103 ″ from 3 to 6 months of age;
100 ″ 92 ″ from 6 to 12 months of age;
100 ″ 86 ″ under 12 months of age.

The rates of infantile mortality—that is, the proportion the deaths of children under one year of age bear to the births—are higher in the Australian States than in New Zealand.

Dealing with the results for ten years, the deaths of infants under one year are in the large proportion of three-fourths of the total deaths under five, as might be expected, the first year being the tenderest period. (See notes to tables.)

DEATHS OF INFANTS UNDER ONE YEAR, AND PROPORTION TO BIRTHS.

Year.Deaths of Infants under 1 Year of Age. (Totals for each Year, and Means of 10 Years.)Total Births registered in each Year, and Mean of 10 Years.Proportion of Deaths of Infants under 1 Year to every 1,000 Births.
Under One Month.1 Month and under 3 Months.3 Months and under 6 Months.6 Months and under 12 Months.Total under 12 Months.

NOTE.—The total number of deaths of infants for the period included in the table is 15,767.

18945372923243341,50718,52881.3
18955753333294001,63718,54688.3
18965662293043401,43918,61277.3
18975122402693331,35418,73772.3
18985732893063421,51018,95579.7
18996193893784201,80618,83595.9
19006072882932811,46919,54675.2
19016102723922891,56320,49170.3
19026653443133901,71220,65582.9
19036923463673651,77021,82981.1
Means of ten years5963033273501,57619,47381.0

DEATHS OF CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS, AND PROPORTION TO DEATHS AT ALL AGES.

Year.Deaths of Children under 1 to 5 Years of Age. (Totals for each Year, and Means of 10 Years.)Total Deaths at all Ages for each Year, and Mean of 10 Years.Deaths under 5 Years: Per Cent. of Mortality at all Ages.
Under 1 Year.1 Year and under 2 Years.2 Years and under 3 Years.3 Years and under 4 Years.4 Years and under 5 Years.Total Deaths under 5 Years.

NOTE.—The total number of deaths included in this table of children under 5 years is 20,487.

18941,5072369697682,0046,91828.97
18951,63725510288572,1396,86331.17
18961,4392155976641,8536,43228.81
18971,3541878469381,7326,59526.26
18981,5102009172471,9207,24426.50
18991,80629111174562,3387,68030.44
19001,4692059364581,8897,20026.24
19011,5632088568521,9767,63425.88
19021,71230711892612,2908,37527.34
19031,770275126111642,3468,52827.55
Means of ten years1,5762389782562,0497,34727.91

Although 15,767 infants (under one year) were lost to the colony by death during the decade, and 20,487 children under five, the third table shows much more satisfactory results for this colony than for New South Wales or Victoria in the matter of the preservation of infant life. Dealing with averages of five years, in New Zealand only 82 infants under one year are found to die out of every 1,000 born, against 111 in New South Wales and 110 in Victoria.

Year.Proportion of Deaths of Infants under 1 Year of Age to every 1,000 Births.
New Zealand.New South Wales.Victoria.
189879.7121.9134.1
189995.9118.7110.9
190075.2103.395.3
190176.3103.7102.9
190282.9109.7108.6
Means of five years82.0111.5110.4

European countries show still higher mortality of infants than the principal Australian States: Great Britain, 150 (under one year) to every 1,000 births; France, 170; Austria, still higher; Sweden is a notable exception.

The principal causes of mortality in children under one year for New Zealand are given, with the numbers of deaths for five years from such causes. Premature birth stands first in order of importance, marasmus or debility coming next.*

New Zealand.—Deaths under One Year.—Principal Causes.

Principal Causes of Deaths of Infants,1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.
Miasmatic diseases143854192191
Diarrhœal diseases22615295176122
Premature birth259276264303301
Convulsions1291069182103
Bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy237140207235241
Enteritis124134116154167
Marasmus, &c.270231260294270

A table is added to show that higher mortality obtains in the large towns than in New Zealand as a whole and two States of Australia.

Year.Wellington and Suburbs.Sydney and Suburbs.Melbourne and Suburbs.
Total Births.Deaths of Infants under 1 Year.Proportion of Deaths of Infants under 1 Year to 1,000 Births.Total Births.Deaths of Infants under 1 Year.Proportion of Deaths of Infants under 1 Year to 1,000 Births.Total Births.Deaths of Infants under 1 Year.Proportion of Deaths of Infants under 1 Year to 1,000 Births.

* The report of the Royal Commission on the decline of the birth-rate in New South Wales (1904), besides giving statistics of infantile mortality, describes the conditions that operate in producing such mortality. Recommendations are also made, and the subject of feeding and care of infants dealt with.

18981,198157131.111,9131,826153.312,0161,919159.7
18991,187140117.912,2391,473120.412,4351,552124.8
19001,2439173.212,1271,322109.012,0671,364113.0
19011,326133100.312,6011,517120.412,3751,536124.1
19021,321172130.213,0021,457112.112,4981,590127.2
Means of five years1,255139110.512,3761,519123.012,2781,592129.7

CAUSES OF DEATH (THE WHOLE COLONY).

The deaths registered in the colony during 1903, arranged in the several classes according to their assigned causes, give the rates shown on the next page.

Class.Causes of Death.Number of Deaths.Proportion to Total Deaths.Proportion per 10,000 living, 1903.Proportion per 10,000 living, 1902.
Female.Total.Male.Female.Total.
 ......Per Cent.Per Cent.Per Cent.....
Class I. Specific febrile or zymotic diseases,—................
  Order 1. Miasmatic diseases3153076226.348.577.297.586.05
    2. Diarrhœal diseases106781842.142.182.162.243.45
    3. Malarial diseases..............0.03
    4. Zoogenous diseases................
    5. Venereal diseases143170.280.090.200.210.19
    6. Septic diseases3756930.781.561.091.140.80
Total Class I.4724449169.5412.4010.7411.1710.52
Class II. Parasitic diseases82100.160.060.120.120.10
Class III. Dietetic diseases4918670.990.500.780.820.85
Class IV. Constitutional diseases8827021,53416.8219.6017.9918.7019.30
Class V. Developmental diseases50138288310.1310.6710.3510.7710.60
Class VI. Local diseases,—................
Order I. Diseases of nervous system4883948829.8711.0010.3410.7510.75
    2. Diseases of organs of special sense3360.060.090.070.070.10
    3. Diseases of circulatory system54437491811.0010.4410.7711.1911.96
    4. Diseases of respiratory system58339697911.7911.0611.4811.9413.26
    5. Diseases of digestive system4163367528.419.388.829.179.20
    6. Diseases of lymphatic system1128390.220.780.460.470.35
    7. Diseases of urinary system234973314.732.713.874.044.11
    8. Diseases of reproductive system,—................
(a.) Of organs of generation..2828..0.780.330.340.34
(b.) Of parturition..100100..2.791.171.221.07
    9. Diseases of locomotive system166220.320.170.260.270.38
    10. Diseases of integumentary system175220.340.140.260.270.14
Total Class VI.2,3121,7674,07946.7449.3447.8349.7351.66
Class VII. Violence,—................
Order 1. Accident or negligence4921226149.943.417.207.496.56
    2. Homicide2130.040.030.040.030.02
    3. Suicide87181051.760.501.231.281.00
    4. Execution................
Total Class VII58114172211.743.948.478.807.58
Class VIII. Ill-defined and not-specified causes1921253173.883.493.723.864.36
Grand totals4,9473,5818,528100.00100.00100.00103.97104.97

The next table shows, for either sex, the number of deaths from each cause registered during the year 1903:—

CAUSES OF DEATH.

Class.Causes of Death.Males.Females.Total.
Orders and Diseases.
I.—SPECIFIC FEBRILE OR ZYMOTIC DISEASES.ORDER 1.—Miasmatic.......
Small-pox1..1
Chicken-pox..11
Measles6281143
Epidemic rose-rash, rubeola......
Scarlet fever, scarlatina6368131
Typhus......
Bubonic plague......
Dengue......
Relapsing fever......
Influenza302656
Whooping-cough102102204
Mumps2..2
Diphtheria15823
Cerebro-spinal fever......
Simple and ill-defined fever......
Enteric fever, typhoid402161
Other miasmatic diseases......
Total Order 1315307622
ORDER 2.—Diarrhœal.......
Simple cholera336
Diarrhœa9768165
Dysentery6713
Total Order 210678184
ORDER 3.—Malarial.......
Remittent fever......
Ague......
Beriberi......
Total Order 3......
ORDER 4.—Zoogenous.......
Hydrophobia......
Glanders......
Splenic fever......
Cow-pox and other effects of vaccination......
Total Order 4......
ORDER 5.—Venereal.......
Syphilis7310
Gonorrhœa, stricture of urethra, ulcer of groin7..7
Total Order 514317
ORDER 6.—Septic.......
Phagedæna......
Erysipelas101121
Pyæmia, septicæmia271744
Puerperal fever, pyæmia, septicæmia..2828
Total Order 6375693
Total Class I.472444916
II.—PARASITIC DISEASES.Thrush......
Other diseases from vegetable parasites......
Hydatid disease819
Worms..11
Other diseases from animal parasites......
Total Class II.8210
III.—DIETETIC DISEASES.Starvation, exposure2..2
Want of breast-milk415
Scurvy..11
Intemperance—......
Chronic alcoholism261339
Delirium tremens7..7
Other dietetic diseases10313
Total Class III.491867
IV.—CONSTITUTIONAL DISEASES.Rheumatic fever211738
Rheumatism437
Gout......
Rickets437
Cancer325257582
Tabes mesenterica, tubercular peritonitis183250
Tubercular meningitis, acute hydrocephalus383674
Phthisis321249570
Other forms of tuberculosis, scrofula383775
Purpura, hæmorrhagie diathesis549
Anæmia, chlorosis, leuco-cythæmia191736
Diabetes mellitus364177
Other constitutional diseases369
Total Class IV.8327021,534
V.—DEVELOPMENTAL DISEASES.Premature birth165136301
Atelectasis12820
Cyanosis5510
Spina bifida8816
Imperforate anus2..2
Cleft palate, hare-lip235
Other congenital defects8614
Old age299216515
Total Class V.501382883
VI.—LOCAL DISEASES.ORDER I.—Diseases of Nervous System.......
Inflammation of the brain or its membranes544498
Cerebro-spinal meningitis..88
Apoplexy138146284
Softening of brain16723
Hemiplegia, brain paralysis212041
Paralysis (undescribed)394281
Paralysis agitans415
Insanity, general paralysis of insane35540
Chorea..11
Epilepsy401454
Convulsions6663129
Laryngismus stridulus..11
Idiopathic tetanus224
Paraplegia, diseases of spinal cord17724
Locomotor ataxia7..7
Other diseases of nervous system493382
Total Order 1488394882
ORDER 2.—Diseases of Organs of Special Sense.......
Otitis, otorrhœa336
Epistaxis, and diseases of nose......
Ophthalmia, and diseases of eye......
Total Order 2336
ORDER 3.—Diseases of Circulatory System.......
Endocarditis, valvular disease395265660
Pericarditis459
Hypertrophy of heart3..3
Fatty degeneration of heart242549
Angina pectoris11718
Syncope6840108
Aneurism18321
Senile gangrene325
Embolism, thrombosis142539
Phlebitis325
Varicose veins, piles......
Other diseases of circulatory system1..1
Total Order 3544374918
ORDER 4.—Diseases of Respiratory System.......
Laryngitis358
Croup9817
Other diseases of larynx and trachea2..2
Asthma, emphysema24529
Bronchitis198138336
Pneumonia270194464
Pleurisy391958
Other diseases of respiratory system382765
Total Order 4583396979
ORDER 5.—Diseases of Digestive System.......
Stomatitis, cancrum oris224
Dentition101222
Sore throat, quinsy516
Dyspepsia235
Hæmatemesis516
Melæna7310
Diseases of stomach, gastritis404787
Enteritis127118245
Ulceration, perforation, of intestine426
Ileus, obstruction of intestine262652
Stricture or strangulation of intestine3..3
Intussusception of intestine6410
Hernia191029
Fistula112
Peritonitis355180
Ascites..11
Gall-stones31013
Cirrhosis of liver341044
Other diseases of liver, hepatitis, jaundice442468
Other diseases of digestive system431053
Total Order 5416336752
ORDER 6.—Diseases of Lymphatic System and Ductless Glands.......
Diseases of lymphatic system448
Diseases of spleen1..1
Bronchocele51924
Addison's disease156
Total Order 6112839
ORDER 7.—Diseases of Urinary System.......
Acute nephritis312354
Bright's disease8651137
Uræmia151025
Suppression of urine415
Calculus617
Hæmaturia3..3
Diseases of bladder and prostate54660
Other diseases of urinary system (kidney diseases undescribed)35540
Total Order 723497331
ORDER 8.—Diseases of Reproductive System.......
(a.) Diseases of organs of generation,—......
Ovarian disease..33
Diseases of uterus and vagina..2121
Disorders of menstruation..22
Pelvic abscess..22
Perineal abscess......
Diseases of testes, penis, scrotum, &c.......
(b.) Diseases of parturition,—......
Abortion, miscarriage25..25
Puerperal mania......
Puerperal metritis..11
Puerperal convulsions..88
Placenta prævia (flooding)..1111
Phlegmasia dolens..11
Other accidents of childbirth..5454
Total Order 8..128128
ORDER 9.—Diseases of Organs of Locomotion.......
Caries, necrosis538
Arthritis, ostitis7..7
Other diseases of organs of locomotion437
Total Order 916622
ORDER 10.—Diseases of Integumentary System.......
Carbuncle112
Phlegmon, cellulitis9..9
Lupus..11
Ulcer, bed-sore......
Eczema617
Pemphigus112
Other diseases of integumentary system..11
Total Order 1017522
Total Class VI.2,3121,7674,079
VII.—VIOLENCE.ORDER 1.—Accident or Negligence.......
Fractures, contusions20221226
Gunshot wounds21122
Cut, stab9413
Burn, scald302757
Sunstroke......
Poison7815
Drowning19128219
Suffocation141933
Otherwise181129
Total Order 1492122614
ORDER 2.—Homicide.......
Murder, manslaughter213
Wounds in battle......
Total Order 2213
ORDER 3.—Suicide.......
Gunshot wounds20222
Cut, stab21..21
Poison141024
Drowning11415
Hanging15217
Otherwise6..6
Total Order 38718105
ORDER 4.—Execution.......
Hanging......
Total Class VII.581141722
VIII.—ILL-DEFINED AND NOT-SPECIFIED CAUSES.Dropsy......
Marasmus, &c.178123301
Mortification, gangrene......
Tumour......
Abscess112
Hæmorrhage112
Sudden (cause unascertained)12..12
Other ill-defined and not-specified causes......
Total Class VIII.192125317
General totals4,9473,5818,528

MORTALITY FROM FEBRILE AND ZYMOTIC DISEASES.

The deaths in 1903 from specific febrile or zymotic diseases amounted to 916, a proportion of 11.17 in every 10,000 persons living, an increase of 77 on the number of deaths in 1902, when the proportion was 10.52. A heavier mortality from measles, scarlet fever, whooping-cough, enteric fever, and septic diseases were the causes of the increased death-rate in this class.

The diseases in this class that have caused the greatest mortality during the past ten years are stated in the table that follows. Of these, diarrhœal complaints were by far the most fatal, causing 2,400 deaths in the decennial period. Influenza comes next, with 1,494 deaths; typhoid fever third, with 929 deaths; whooping-cough fourth, with 881 deaths; diphtheria fifth, with 578 deaths; measles next, 501 deaths; puerperal fever with 229 deaths; and scarlet fever with 210 deaths:—

Diseases.1894.1895.1896.1897.1898.1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.
Measles14..115613796134143
Scarlet fever and scarlatina5..422..101739131
Diphtheria92767449455863445423
Whooping-cough190150242612390983204
Influenza2331258912021913518121911756
Diarrhœal diseases207232334257275298199139275184
Enteric or typhoid fever115941241061209368955361
Puerperal fever38321018191524202528

The mortality from measles from 1894 to 1898 was not great, but rose to 137 deaths in 1899, falling again to 9 deaths in 1900 and 6 deaths in 1901, again rising to 134 in 1902, and further to 143 deaths in 1903. From scarlet fever and scarlatina there were 131 deaths last year—a very serious increase. The mortality from diphtheria, which was 92 deaths in 1894, fell to 23 deaths in 1903, the figures for the intervening years not presenting any striking features.

Whooping-cough in 1894 destroyed 190 lives, and 150 in 1895, but was in 1896, 1897, and 1898 much less fatal. In 1899 the mortality sprang up again to a total of 123 deaths, against 90 in 1900, 9 in 1901, and 83 in 1902. Last year the mortality was heavy, the number of deaths being 204.

The deaths from influenza numbered only 56 in 1903, while the figures for the nine previous years ranged from 89 to 233, the last being for the earliest of the decennial period (1894).

From diarrhœal complaints the deaths in 1903 were 184, against 275 in 1902; while in 1896 the mortality reached the height of 334 deaths, and in 1889 was even higher (355), with a much smaller population than in 1903.

Enteric or typhoid fever was more fatal in 1903 than in 1902, the figures being 61 deaths, against 53. The highest mortality during the decennium was in 1896, when the deaths numbered 124 for the colony.

BUBONIC-PLAGUE PREVENTION.

The year 1900 saw the outbreak of the disease known as the bubonic plague, in Sydney and other parts of Australia. In that year there was one death from plague in New Zealand, which occurred at Auckland. None happened in the year 1901, but three deaths from this cause, all males, were registered at Auckland during 1902. No deaths from plague were recorded in 1903. The Public Health Department is taking every possible precaution.

VACCINATION.

From small-pox there was one death in 1903. The vaccinations registered for the last ten years are as under:—

    Proportion of Successful Vaccinations of
Year.Total Vaccinations registered of Children under 14 Years of Age.Vaccinations of Children under 1 Year of Age.Number of Births registered.Children under 14 Years of Age to Total Births.Children under 1 Year of Age to Total Births.
    Per Cent.Per Cent.
190311,6835,56621,82953.5225.50
19028,7632,61120,65542.4312.64
19013,7681,98420,49118.399.68
19004,5253,15119,54623.1510.12
18995,1333,37918,83527.2517.94
189810,3495,50718,95554.6029.05
189712,4406,16218,73366.4132.89
189611,9175,72718,61264.0330.78
18958,5235,88218,54644.3431.72
18949,3226,00618,52850.3132.42

The number of successful vaccinations of children registered in 1903 was 11,683, against 8,763 in 1902. The fall prior to 1902 was consequent on the alteration of the law relative to vaccination in England, and subsequently in this colony, while the increase shown for last year was no doubt due to a slight visitation of small-pox from abroad, which caused the death mentioned above.

One child in every four born in 1903 is shown to have been successfully vaccinated in that year. The procedure under the new law as regards vaccination is similar to that previously in force. The Registrar issues a notice when a birth is registered, with forms for certificate as to the result of vaccination attached. Vaccination is still compulsory, if exemption is not secured in four months from date of birth. But everything is now subject to the provisions of the “exemption clause,” which is the main feature, and governs the rest. Any parent or custodian who has conscientious objections—believing that vaccination would be injurious to the child's health—can apply for a certificate of exemption to a Magistrate or Registrar of Births; and, when the child's parent or guardian is resident outside of a borough, the application may be made to and certificate granted by a Justice of the Peace.

Eight thousand five hundred and eighty-eight exemption certificates were issued from the 13th October, 1900, when the Act came into force, to the end of the year 1903. Of these 4,261 belong to the year 1903, when, as before stated, the successful vaccination of children under one year of age amounted to 5,566, or 25 per cent. of births.

When no exemption certificate is obtained, the law now allows to the parent twelve months instead of six from date of birth in which to vaccinate, and a similar period from date of taking charge of child in case of a custodian. There are penalties for not vaccinating, as before. One conviction for neglecting to vaccinate a child removes liability until the child is four years of age.

The figures given above do not include Maoris vaccinated, nor vaccinations of adult persons other than Natives.

PARASITIC DISEASES.

There were 10 deaths from parasitic diseases, the proportion per 10,000 living being 0.12. Deaths from hydatids numbered 9 in 1903.

DIETETIC DISEASES.

Under the class “Dietetic diseases” are included 46 deaths from intemperance. But these cannot be said to represent the full extent of the mortality really caused by the abuse of alcoholic liquors. Many deaths of intemperate persons are attributed to disease of the liver, kidneys, &c., in the medical certificates.

CONSTITUTIONAL DISEASES: PHTHISIS, CANCER, ETC.

The deaths from constitutional diseases in 1903 numbered 1,534, or 18.70 per 10,000 of population, and 18 out of every 100 deaths from all causes. This class of disease is more fatal than any other except that defined as “Local diseases,” on account of the great numbers of deaths from cancer and phthisis, with other tubercular complaints, which are classed as “Constitutional.”

The number of deaths from phthisis was 570 in 1903. The deaths in 1903 were in the proportion of 6.95 in every 10,000 persons living, against 7.73 in the previous year.

Figures for ten years are quoted, showing that the total number of deaths from this disease in 1902 was the highest recorded during the decennium, though the rate had been higher in some of the previous years.

Year.Deaths from Phthisis.Rate per 10,000.
18915768.48
18955537.99
18965237.40
18975968.26
18985978.11
18995937.91
19005777.56
19015967.66
19026177.73
19035706.95

In Australasia the rate is materially increased by the deaths of persons who have come out either already suffering from phthisis or predisposed thereto. There is no reason for believing that this circumstance has more effect on the death-rate in Australia than in New Zealand; so that the lower rate referred to in previous issues of this work as obtaining in this colony may be taken as proof of the superiority of its climate for withstanding consumptive tendencies.

The death-rate of England and Wales from phthisis, though declining, is far higher than that of New Zealand. In 1900 it stood at 13.32 per 10,000.

Phthisis is now known to be and is treated as an infectious preventable disease caused by the bacillus tuberculosis, which is communicable in many ways. Certain constitutions are far more predisposed than others to receive this bacillus, especially under conditions of life unfavourable to robust health, when a nidus is formed for the development of the bacillus. The Government has established a sanatorium for consumptives at Hamilton in the Waikato, and further institutions are contemplated.

From other forms of tuberculosis the deaths in 1903 were 199, or 2.43 per 10,000 of population. Thus a large addition has to be made to the deaths from phthisis to appreciate the full mischief done by tubercular disease.

Deaths from all Tubercular Diseases.

The mortality from all forms of tubercular disease, taken together, has been at the average rate of about 10 1/4 persons per 10,000 living for the last ten years. This rate is far lower than that which obtained in England during the year 1900, when the proportion was 19 per 10,000 living.

A table is supplied showing the results for each of ten years in New Zealand. Besides the death-rate from tubercular diseases, it also shows the percentage of deaths by tubercle to those from all causes, which was from 9.02 to 11.57 per cent, for the decennial period 1894-1903.

DECENNIAL TABLE, 1894-1903, SHOWING THE DEATH-RATE FROM TUBERCLE PER 10,000 LIVING AND PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL DEATHS.

Year.Mean Population.Number of Deaths, from Tubercular Diseases.Rate per 10,000.Percentage of Total Deaths from All Causes.
1894679,19675211.0710.87
1895692,41776110.9911.09
1896706,8466809.6210.57
1897721,60976310.5711.57
1898736,26076910.4410.62
1899749,98479510.6010.35
1900763,5947529.8510.44
1901777,9687759.9610.15
1902797,79380210.059.58
1903820,2177699.389.02

DECENNIAL TABLE, 1894-1903. — Deaths from various Tubercular Diseases registered in New Zealand, specifying the Number under and over Five-Years of Age.

Persons.

Year.Tabes Mesenterica, Tubercular Peritonitis.Tubercular Meningitis, Acute HydrocephalusPhthisis.Other Forms of Tuberculosis, Scrofula.Total Deaths from Tuberculosis.Total All Ages.
Under 5 Years.Over 5 Years.Under 5 Years.Over 5 Years.Under 5 Years.Over 5 Years.Under 5 Years.Over 5 Years.Under 5 Years.Over 5 Years.
1894361333307569164892660752
18954715253755482856105656761
1896361130285518193390590680
189735933327589134588675763
18983712373810587113795674769
18994319324010583125697698795
1900202024551356494766686752
19013022303110586145284691775
190226193630561286675727802
1903222839359561116481683769

Nine deaths from “lupus” recorded during the decennium have not been included in the above table. They were all deaths of adult persons (4 males and 5 females). One death, that of a female, aged fifty-six years, was registered as from this disease in 1903.

It will be seen that the term “tubercular diseases” includes “phthisis,” “tabes mesenterica,” “tubercular peritonitis,” “tubercular meningitis,” “acute hydrocephalus,” with other forms of tuberculosis (scrofula, &c.). Of these the mortality from phthisis forms by far the greatest part of the whole. Thus, in 1903 there were 570 deaths from phthisis out of a total of 769 deaths from all tubercular complaints. Of 570 deaths by phthisis, only 9 were of persons under 5 years of age.

Examination of the next table, giving the full series of ages of persons who died from tubercular disease during the year 1903, shows that of 50 deaths from tabes mesenterica, with tubercular peritonitis, 22 were of children under 5 years. Also that, of 74 deaths from tubercular meningitis, with acute hydrocephalus, 39 were of persons under 5 years, and 26 from 5 to 20 years. Under “other forms of tuberculosis” (excepting phthisis) the greater numbers of deaths are at ages under 30 years.

The mortality from phthisis is heaviest at 20-30 years, being 183 deaths out of 570 of all ages; but large numbers are found in the columns as far as that for the advanced term of 65 to 70 years, at which the deaths for 1903 were 25, and 14 deaths from this cause are of persons of 70 years and upwards.

Table showing the Number of Deaths from Tubercular Diseases registered in New Zealand during the Year 1903, arranged in Groups of Ages.

Persons.

Under 1 Year.Under 5 Years.5 to 10.10 to 15.15 to 20.20 to 25.25 to 30.30 to 35.35 to 40.40 to 45.45 to 50.50 to 55.55 to 60.60 to 65.65 to 70.70 to 75.75 to 80.80 and upwards.Total, 5 Years and over.All Ages.
Tabes Mesenterica, Tubercular Peritonitis1822..3434101..1..1..1......2850
Tubercular Meningitis, Acute Hydrocephalus183910882..61..................3574
Phthisis39964393906673503021212025932561570
Other forms of Tuberculosis, Scrofula7113310111141951..212....16475
Totals40812220651091058685553221242128933688709

To show the mortality from tuberculosis in various parts of the colony, a table giving the deaths in the various provincial districts is added, which, however, only shows that the mortality is distributed very much according to population. The deaths in the North Island are, however, found to be 65 fewer than those for the South Island, or 352 deaths and 417 deaths for those divisions respectively:—

Table showing the Number of Deaths from Tubercular Disease registered in each Provincial District of New Zealand during the Year 1903.

Provincial District.Tabes Mesenterica, Tubercular Peritonitis.Tubercular Meningitis, Acute Hydrocephalus.Phthisis.Other Forms of Tuberculosis, Scrofula.Total Deaths from Tuberculosis.
Auckland142113512182
Taranaki3320..26
Hawke's Bay....22325
Wellington8108813119
Marlborough2..10315
Nelson2323432
Westland1220225
Canterbury61212013151
Otago142313225194
Totals507457075769

Legislative action before referred to has been already taken in the direction of guarding the life and health of the people from tubercle; further than this, the complete isolation of consumptive patients, with the disinfecting of their sputa and of everything that has been in contact with them, is suggested from time to time as a necessary measure.

Cancer.

The deaths from cancer during the year 1903 were 582. There were more deaths of males than of females, the numbers being—males 325, females, 257. The rate of mortality per 10,000 living was 7.10. The apparent increase in deaths from this disease is shown further on and compared with that of England. But the increase is not believed by all authorities to be a fact to the extent represented, but partly the result of more careful certification of the causes of death, and of improved diagnosis in cases of what is termed inaccessible cancer.

It is certain, however, that out of a total of 8,528 deaths from all causes in New Zealand during 1903, 582, or 6.82 per cent., were caused by cancer.

The death-rate from cancer is not so great as that from tubercular diseases, but is nevertheless a most alarming matter, not only on account of the number of deaths, but because of its progressive increase.

A decennial table shows that the deaths from cancer per 10,000 persons living rose from 6.01 in 1891 to 7.10 in 1903; and that whereas 5.90 out of every 100 deaths were attributable to cancer ten years ago, the proportion had grown to 6.82 last year.

Table showing for each of the Ten Years 1894 to 1903 the Number of Persons registered as having died from Cancer, the Proportion of Deaths from Cancer per 10,000 living, and the Percentage of all Deaths attributed to Cancer.

Year.Estimated Mean Population.Deaths from Cancer.Total Deaths, all Causes.Deaths from Cancer per 10,000 of Living Persons.Percentage of Total Deaths due to Cancer.
1894679,1964086,9186.015.90
1895692,4173836,8635.535.58
1896700,8463896,4325.506.05
1897721,6093956,5955.475.99
1898736,2604717,2446.406.50
1899749,9844687,6806.246.09
1900763,5944307,2005.635.97
1901777,9685157,6346.626.75
1902797,7935368,3756.726.40
1903820,2175328,5287.106.82

To exhibit how cancer affects the different parts of the human body in respect of each sex, the experience of five years (1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, and 1903) is shown in a succeeding table. Of any single organ affected, the stomach is the one most liable to be the seat of cancer among males, although with this sex the disease was for the year 1903 apparently to about the same extent located in the mouth, lips, tongue, and throat, taking these parts all together. Next to the stomach, the liver is with males the part which is most often attacked, to judge by mortality records, and next in order come the intestines and rectum. Afterwards, but at a considerable distance, follow the kidneys, bladder, and urethra.

Amongst the females, the organs of generation, ovaries, uterus, and vagina, as a group, show most cases of mortality from cancer; but, as with the males, the stomach is, of any single organ, the one most affected, the liver coming next, then the breast, and then the intestines and rectum. Females do not contract cancer in the mouth (judging by the returns of deaths), tongue, lips, and throat to nearly the same extent as prevails among males. Whatever may be the cause, the figures are remarkable, being only 6 out of every 100 deaths from cancer among females, against 29 out of every 100 of males dying from the same cause; or, expressed in numbers, 49 deaths of females occurred against 290 of males from cancer in the mouth, &c., in a five years' experience of mortality.

DEATHS FROM CANCER, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, AND 1903.

TABLE showing the Number of Deaths of Males and Females from Cancer during the Years 1899 to 1903, classified according to the Part of the Body affected.

Part affected1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.
Number of Deaths.Proportion of Specified.Number of Deaths.Proportion of Specified.Number of Deaths.Proportion of Specified.Number of Deaths.Proportion of Specified.Number of Deaths.Proportion of Specified.
Males.
 ..Per Cent...Per Cent...Per Cent...Per Cent...Per Cent.
Mouth, lip, tongue, throat, neck, &c.6527.436831.786024.696324.149933.56
Stomach8736.718037.389739.9211242.919632.54
Intestines, rectum208.442612.153213.173212.263511.87
Liver4016.882511.683715.233814.563511.87
Kidneys, bladder, urethra, &c.177.1794.21135.35124.60175.76
Leg, foot, &c.62.5341.87........41.35
Lung20.8420.9341.6441.5393.05
..237100.00214100.00243100.00261100.00295100.00
Not specified34..32..22..35..30..
  Totals271..246..265..296..325..
Females.
Mouth, tongue, throat, &c.179.7163.7362.77167.44219.05
Breast2011.431710.563817.513315.353314.23
Stomach4022.862817.396128.114320.005121.98
Intestines, rectum148.002113.04198.763315.352812.07
Kidneys, bladder42.2953.1120.9283.7252.16
Ovary, uterus, vagina5028.575433.545525.354420.464820.69
Liver2514.292515.532913.363315.353816.38
Gall-bladder, spleen, pancreas31.7121.2420.9231.4041.72
Lung, spine, thigh, shoulder21.1431.8652.3020.9341.72
 175100.00161100.00217100.00215100.00232100.00
Not specified22..23..33..25..25..
  Totals197..184..250..240..257..

Considering the numbers of persons dying at the different age-periods, the following table of ten years' results shows the age of 30 years to be the time of life at which deaths from cancer begin to be numerous (it is really 35 for males and 30 for females). The maximum of deaths is reached at the period 60 to 65 for males, and 55 to 60 for females. These remarks are given without reference to the numbers of persons living at the various ages.

Deaths from cancer, it will be observed, are very rare among children under 5 years, and not frequent in those above that age.

DEATHS FROM CANCER.—DECENNIAL RETURN.

TABLE showing the Number of Persons (Males and Females) at Different Ages registered as having died from Cancer in New Zealand during the Ten Years 1894 to 1903.

Year.Under 1 Year.Total under 1 Year.1 to 2.2 to 3.3 to 4.4 to 5.Total under 5 Years.5 to 10.10 to 15.15 to 20.20 to 25.25 to 30.30 to 35.35 to 40.40 to 45.45 to 50.50 to 55.55 to 60.60 to 65.65 to 70.70 to 75.75 to 80.80 and upwards.Total 5 Years and over.All Ages.
Under 1 Month.1 to 3 Months.3 to 6 Months.6 to 12 Months.
1894..............1..11..315111527416473713826247407408
1895....................2....3161125476164633837196383383
1896................222112561421365974674929147387389
1897..1....1..1..13..211..71022414271744935298392395
1898..............2..21225581736474777796935309469471
1899..............1..133..14615214248826487452719467468
1900..1....1....1..2....62267164035757859513120428430
1901....1..1........12..455820315360658074633311514515
1902....................1..355722354950728886673115536536
19031......1........1412610920374768698796723815581582

The numbers of deaths of persons from cancer in each provincial district are given in another table, according to age-groups, but the result merely shows the disease to be one found everywhere throughout the colony—at least, there is no sufficient evidence of climatic conditions affecting the mortality to a great extent in any particular part of the country.

TABLE showing the Number of Deaths from Cancer registered in each Provincial District of the Colony of New Zealand during the Years 1900-1903.

Provincial Districts.1900.1901. 1902.1903.
Under 5 Years.Over 5 Years.Total.Under 5 Years.Over 5 Years.Total.Under 5 Years.Over 5 Years.Total.Under 5 Years.Over 5 Years.Total. 
Auckland110710819192..115115..117117
Taranaki..99..2424..2424..2121
Hawke's Bay..1515..1616..1515..2626
Wellington..7979..8383..95951107108
Marlborough..1111..77..77..66
Nelson..1919..3434..3333..2828
Westland..1111..2626..1919..3535
Canterbury..7471..9898..9898..105105
Otago110304..135135..130130..136136
  Totals24284301514515..5365361581582

The following extract from a contribution to The Lancet, by Dr. W. Vernon Shaw, is of interest:—

“The growth of cancer cells is to be looked upon as an effort of reproduction in damaged tissue, the incidence of the damage falling upon the nuclear structures. This damage alters the nature of these structures so that the vegetative functions of the cell run riot, and the cells become parasitic towards the organism in which the growth is taking place. The nature of the changes in the cancer cells and their life history thus becomes the important point from which the origin of the cancer process must be determined.

What is the cause of this vegetative activity? Is it an initial damage to the cells in response to which there is an over active attempt at repair? The peculiar frequency of such disease in organs once active but now undergoing involution would suggest this explanation, and also the frequent origin of malignant growths in damaged tissue further supports this view.”

The death-rates for cancer in respect of each sex are given for each of nine years, selected to show the position as from 1886 to 1903:—

DEATHS FROM CANCER IN EVERY 10,000 PERSONS OF EACH SEX LIVING IN NEW ZEALAND.

Year.Males.Females.
18863.693.67
18904.724.79
18946.655.27
18986.775.98
18996.855.56
19006.125.09
19016.486.77
19027.056.35
19037.516.63

The mortality was higher among the males than among the females (with the exception of 1890 and 1901), which is the reverse of English experience, where the rate was 6.72 per 10,000 of males and 9.75 of females for the year 1900. In the United Kingdom, however, the rate of increase is so much higher among males than with females that the Registrar-General calculates equilibrium will be reached in about the year 1932, and thereafter the rate among males would exceed the rate among females.

The increase in the numbers for the sexes together for England and New Zealand is represented in the proportions below:—

DEATHS FROM CANCER IN EVERY 10,000 PERSONS LIVING.

Year.New Zealand.England.
18812.695.20
18863.685.90
18914.686.92
18965.507.64
18996.248.29
19005.638.28

The actual number of deaths of persons of either sex and all ages registered in New Zealand during the last thirteen years was:—

 Males.Females.Totals.
1891154141295
1892173134307
1893188144332
1894240168408
1895208175383
1896205184389
1897210185395
1898263208471
1899271197468
1900246184430
1901265250515
1902296240536
1903325257582
  Totals3,0442,4675,511

MORTALITY FROM DEVELOPMENTAL DISEASES.

The total of deaths from developmental diseases was 883, or 10.77 per 10,000 persons living. The mortality from premature birth comprised 301 deaths, and that from atelectasis, cyanosis, and other congenital defects 67 deaths. The proportion of deaths from premature birth varies from 11 to 15 out of every 1,000 births, and that from congenital defects from 2 to 4 per 1,000 births. Particulars for eight years exhibit the annual rates:—

NUMBER AND PROPORTIONS PER 1,000 BIRTHS.

 Deaths from Premature Birth.Deaths from Congenital Defects.Deaths from Premature Birth.Deaths from Congenital Defects.
Year.No.Proportion per 1,000.No.Proportion per 1,000.
189623012.36462.47
189721111.26522.78
189825113.24542.85
189926113.86472.50
190027614.12552.81
190126112.88633.07
190230314.66793.82
190330113.79673.07

Stating the result in another way, there was one death from premature birth to every 72 births in 1903, and one death from congenital defect to every 326 births. In England the proportion of deaths from premature birth to every 1,000 births was as high as 19.93 in the year 1900.

OLD AGE.

Deaths from old age in 1903 numbered 515, against 464 in 1902.

MORTALITY FROM LOCAL DISEASES.

Deaths by diseases of the nervous system were 882, or 10.34 out of every 100 deaths from all causes, and 10.75 out of every 10,000 persons living. Of the 882 deaths, 284 were credited to apoplexy, 129 to convulsions, and 98 to inflammation of the brain and its membranes. Paralysis, including hemiplegia and paralysis of the insane, caused 167 deaths, and locomotor ataxia 7 deaths. Paraplegia, with diseases of the spinal cord, caused 24 deaths. Deaths from nervous diseases (excluding convulsions of children) numbered 759, or 9.25 per 10,000 persons living.

Diseases of the circulatory system resulted in 918 deaths, being 10.77 out of every 100 from all causes, and 11.19 per 10,000 persons living. Of the total number in this order, endocarditis and valvular disease of the heart contributed 660 deaths. From angina pectoris there were 18 deaths, from syncope 108, from aneurism 21, and from ether forms of heart-disease (hypertrophy, fatty degeneration, and pericarditis) 61.

Diseases of the respiratory system show 979 deaths, of which 800 were attributable to bronchitis and pneumonia. Taken together, these two complaints were the cause of more deaths than was phthisis; and adding 58 from pleurisy, 17 from croup, 8 from laryngitis, and 96 from other respiratory diseases, the mortality in the order is found to be 11.48 per cent. of the total deaths, and 11.94 per 10,000 of the population.

Deaths from diseases of the digestive system also formed a large proportion of the whole (8.82 per cent.), the number being 752. Enteritis was most fatal, showing 245 deaths, liver-diseases (112) and gastritis (87) coming next.

Of 331 deaths from diseases of the urinary system in 1903, the deaths from Bright's disease of the kidneys (albuminuria) numbered 137.

VIOLENT DEATHS.

Deaths by violence form a large item in the total mortality. In 1903 the proportion per 10,000 of persons living was 8.80, the total number of deaths having been 722.

Of 581 males who died violent deaths, 87 were suicides. The deaths of females by violence were far fewer than those of males, amounting to 141, and out of these only 18 committed suicide. A table given previously states the full list of deaths from external or violent causes for the year 1903.

Accidental deaths numbered 614—males 492 and females 122. Of the total male deaths, 202 resulted from fractures or contusions, and 191 from drowning. Of the female deaths, 28 were due to drowning.

HOSPITALS, LUNATIC ASYLUMS, BENEVOLENT ASYLUMS, AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

Hospitals.

Prior to the abolition of provinces the hospitals of the colony were supported mainly out of provincial revenues. After that event the expenditure for hospitals was for the most part charged against the revenue of counties and municipal corporations, until October, 1885, when “The Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1885,” came into force.

The portion of the colony included within the three principal islands—the North, Middle, and Stewart Islands—is divided into thirty-three hospital districts, each consisting of one or more counties with the interior boroughs, to ho presided over by elective Boards, designated “Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards.”

The revenues of these Boards accrue from the following sources:—

  1. Rents and profits of land and endowments vested in the Board, or set apart for the benefit of particular institutions;

  2. Voluntary contributions;

  3. Grants from contributory local authorities; and

  4. Subsidies from the Consolidated Fund (these being at the rate of 10s. for every £1 of bequests, but in no case exceeding £500 in respect of any one bequest; £1 4s. for every £1 of voluntary contributions; and £1 for every £1 received from any local authority).

The contributory local authorities (being the County and Borough Councils, and Boards of road and town districts where the Counties Act is not in force) are empowered by the Act to raise by special rates the amounts assessed by the Hospital District Boards as their proportionate contributions to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Fund.

The District Boards undertake the general management and control of those hospitals that are not incorporated in terms of the Act, and are required to contribute to the support of the incorporated hospitals. To be incorporated a hospital must have as many as 100 subscribers contributing not less than £100 annually by amounts of not less than 5s., and must have been declared by the Governor in Council, after receipt by him of a duly signed petition, to be a body politic and corporate, under the government of trustees.

There are 47 hospitals in the colony, of which 25 are incorporated institutions, while 22 are directly managed and controlled by District Boards. In 1903 these hospitals afforded accommodation for 1,239 male and 738 female patients, a total of 1,977. The number of cubic feet of space included within the walls of all the sleeping-wards was 2,840,424, which gave an average of 1,467 cubic feet to each bed. 9,031 males and 4,587 females were admitted as patients during the year 1903, and 786 male and 354 female patients were inmates at the end of the year. The total number of indoor patients during the year was 14,757—viz., 9,821 males and 4,936 females.

Outdoor relief was also given to a very large number of persons; but, as in some of the hospitals no records are kept of the outdoor patients, it is impossible to state the number of distinct persons who received such relief.

The total revenues of the various hospitals as at five different annual periods were:—

1898-99.1899-1900.1900-1901.1901-1902.1902-1903.
 £££££
Voluntary contributions and bequests11,9919,1887,33011,15411,539
Payments by patients13,06616,50315,99818,08319,613
From Government41,05244,81547,07454,38755,881
From Hospital Boards and local authorities33,86435,00636,81240,63844,013
Rents and other sources5,5235,0976,9087,5888,222
  Totals105,496110,609114,122131,850139,268

Benevolent Asylums and Charitable Institutions.

The various benevolent asylums and charitable institutions are placed on a similar footing to the hospitals. Most of the Boards of hospital districts are also Charitable Aid Boards; but, for the purpose of distributing charitable aid only, some of the hospital districts have been united into larger districts, so that, although there are thirty-three Boards for hospital purposes, there are only twenty-three for charitable-aid purposes.

Returns were received from nineteen benevolent asylums (not including orphanages), established for the support of indigent persons. The number of inmates in these institutions at the end of 1903 was 1,193, of whom 726 were males and 467 females. Outdoor relief was given by two of these institutions to 1,955 persons (including 1,216 children).

Auckland Sailors' Home.

There is a Sailors' Home at Auckland for the use of seafaring men resident in or visiting the town. The late Edmund Costley having left a large sum for charitable purposes, it was resolved to employ the bequest in building and endowing an institution where sailors might be received without distinction of race or religious belief, and board, lodging, and refreshments provided for them, together with such instruction and amusements as might tend to promote their social comfort and general welfare.

The Home, built in 1887, has room for 35 inmates, who are charged 15s. a week for board and lodging. It is managed by a council of eight members elected by the subscribers to the institution. The late Primate of New Zealand, who first originated the scheme, was Life President.

Orphan Asylums.

There were in 1903 four orphan asylums in the colony, one maintained by a District Hospital Board, one by the Church of England authorities, and two by clergy of the Roman Catholic Church; three of them receiving, at the charge of the State, orphan, destitute, and other children committed to them by a Stipendiary Magistrate.

Exclusive of the children so committed, 24 male and 36 female orphans were received during the year 1903, and 54 male and 91 female orphans remained as inmates at the end of the year.

Orphanages receiving committed children are, for that purpose, constituted “industrial schools.”

Lunatic Asylums.

There are seven public lunatic asylums in the colony, maintained wholly or in part out of the public revenue. There is also one private asylum, licensed by the Governor for the reception of lunatics.

The amount of sleeping-accommodation provided in each of the public asylums is shown in tabular form, giving separately the number and cubic contents of the sleeping-rooms intended for one person only, and of the dormitories occupied by several inmates conjointly, together with the number of patients actually in the asylums on the 31st December, 1903:—

Sleeping-rooms for One Person only.Dormitories for more than One Person.
Number.Aggregate Number of Cubic Feet.Inmates (Patients) on 31st December, 1903.Number.Aggregate Number of Cubic Feet.Inmates (Patients) on 31st December 1903.
Auckland133120,00913325254,400441
Wellington6861,2806816100,173190
Porirua6863,2176816336,487504
Nelson2529,609251465,111119
Hokitika3123,22331869,302138
Christchurch8069,6518035254,010424
Seacliff172141,42117247265,262508
  Totals577509,0105771611,344,7452,324

At Ashburn Hall, Waikari, there are 66 rooms, each for one person only, with an aggregate cubic content of 64,913 ft. The number of patients on the 31st December, 1903, was 40.

At the end of 1903, 1,751 male and 1,168 female patients (including 18 out on trial) were under the care of the asylum officers of the colony. Of these, 1,619 males and 1,087 females were regarded as incurable, 9 males and 9 females were out on trial, and 123 males and 72 females were supposed to be curable. 257 male and 129 female patients were discharged during the year.

The following shows the proportion of insane—or, rather, of inmates of lunatic asylums and those out on trial—to the population (exclusive in each case of Maoris) at the end of the years stated:—

1884,1 insane person to every 393 of population.
1886,370
1888,365
1890,348
1892,339
1894,316
1896,308
1898,300
1899,296
1900,288
1901,286
1902,286
1903,284

It must not be overlooked that the proportions are increased by the admission into the asylums of inebriates, idiots, and others, who should not properly be there.

Information as to lunacy, extracted from the results of the census, will be found on pp. 125 and 126.

DEAF, DUMB, AND BLIND.

Particulars relating to the deaf, dumb, and blind, as ascertained at last census, are referred to on pp. 121 to 121 ante.

Chapter 39. SECTION IX.—METEOROLOGY.

TEMPERATURE, RAINFALL, ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE, AND WIND, THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND, AS OBSERVED AT EIGHT STATIONS, FOR THE YEAR 1903.

THE OBSERVATIONS WERE TAKEN AT 9.30 A.M.

Stations and Months.Temperature in Shade.Rainfall.Mean Height of Barometer.Prevailing Wind.
Highest.Lowest.Wet Days.Fall.
Auckland (lat. 36° 50′ S.; long. 174° 50′ 40″ E.; alt. 125 ft.)—° Fahr.° Fahr.No.Inches.Inches. 
     January76.552.0197.1330.00SW, NE.
     February78.050.092.0830.19NE.
     March76.549.081.3830.18SW.
     April71.047.0152.6630.18NE, SW.
     May64.044.0206.0930.17SW, NW.
     June62.040.0203.2030.14SW.
     July61.038.0203.4630.13SW, NE.
     August61.038.0203.3729.98SW, NE.
     September64.042.0162.4029.95NE, SW.
     October72.051.0143.2730.18NE.
     November70.044.0186.8329.99NE.
     December77.056.0143.2629.93SW, NE.
Rotorua (lat. 38° 9′ S.; long. 176° 15′ E.; alt. 990 ft.)—° Fahr.° Fahr.No.Inches.Inches. 
     January79.041.0138.9830.13W.
     February82.037.063.3030.30N.
     March81.035.051.8830.33SW, N.
     April75.037.0104.0630.34SW, W.
     May67.028.0167.8430.25SW, NE.
     June58.025.5132.5830.19SW.
     July59.026.0104.8430.20SW, W.
     August58.027.0174.3230.21SW.
     September66.027.0112.2230.15SW, NE.
     October74.041.0173.8830.53N, NE.
     November79.033.0186.7130.26NE, N.
     December82.062.0154.5830.20W, NE.
New Plymouth (lat. 39° 3′ 35″ S.; long. 174° 4′ 56″ E.; alt. 100 ft.)—° Fahr.° Fahr.No.Inches.Inches. 
     January84.036.0276.0830.01NW, SW.
     February83.041.0173.7030.20NW, SW.
     March83.038.0172.6930.19SE, W.
     April83.040.0204.1330.05SE.
     May78.035.01917.7830.00SE.
     June72.033.0213.7730.03SE, SW.
     July74.032.0235.4030.00SE.
     August80.032.0266.9729.97SE, SW.
     September83.036.0203.7829.95SE, SW.
     October82.042.0163.8030.25SE, NE.
     November84.036.0187.3130.03NE, SE.
     December82.051.0173.7629.94W, NW, NE.
Wellington (lat. 41° 16′ 25″ S.; long. 174° 46′ 20″ E.; alt. 140 ft.)—° Fahr.° Fahr.No.InchesInches 
     January78.542.0123.8629.852NW.
     February78.043.091.8830.087NW.
     March74.043.0101.9530.095NW, SW.
     April70.040.0104.5130.038NW.
     May65.536.5148.9530.037NW, SW.
     June62.032.0163.0429.988NW.
     July60.034.0207.4830.013NW, SW.
     August62.731.0239.8829.979S, NW.
     September63.533.0174.3629.964S, NW.
     October72.442.070.6730.292NW.
     November79.538.2125.4130.083NW.
     December78.748.5111.8129.920NW.
Hokitika (lat. 42° 41′ 30″ S.; long. 170° 49′ E.; alt. 12 ft.)—° Fahr.° Fahr.No.InchesInches 
     January86.038.01813.7929.813SW.
     February80.542.51411.4230.027SW.
     March79.039.0138.6530.101SW.
     April73.033.0115.5929.652SW, E.
     May63.033.0138.3829.963E, SW.
     June65.029.0113.5929.946E.
     July61.528.0159.6229.953E, NW.
     August59.029.0188.6629.950E. SW, NW.
     September70.031.5145.7729.924SW, E.
     October76.039.01014.2930.257SW, NW.
     November74.537.053.2129.992SW, E.
     December80.047.0189.8829.871SW, NW.
Lincoln College Canterbury (lat. 43° 32′ 16″ S.; long. 172° 38′ 59″ E.; alt. 65 ft.)—° Fahr.° Fahr.No.Inches.Inches. 
     January78.856.6133.14529.742NE.
     February83.442.4111.18029.957NE, SE.
     March82.028.581.25029.981NE, SW.
     April74.031.092.34529.945NE.
     May68.035.5153.62529.962SW.
     June58.823.6121.19529.921W, NW.
     July64.622.0132.12529.957SW, NE.
     August70.027.2142.06029.956SW, NE.
     September72.029.170.99029.958NE, SW.
     October82.036.660.17530.166NE.
     November83.836.2132.02530.024NE, SW.
     December79.336.460.77529.783NE.
Dunedin (lat. 45° 52′ 11″ S.; long. 170° 31′ 7″ E.; alt. 300 ft.)—° Fahr.° Fahr.No.InchesInches 
     January70.038.0185.65229.688W.
     February80.042.091.45829.862SW.
     March70.038.0122.54029.873SW, W.
     April68.035.0143.59629.882W, NE.
     May60.034.0165.95029.936SW, W.
     June53.027.0134.63029.812SW, W.
     July57.228.0122.62829.881SW, W.
     August60.032.0171.94029.873SW.
     September61.033.0141.67429.839NE.
     October77.036.084.16030.064NE, SW.
     November76.035.0125.17229.914SW, NE.
     December76.040.0183.37429.713W, NE.
Chatham Islands (lat. 43° 52′ S.; long. 176° 42′ W.; alt. 100 ft.)—° Fahr.° Fahr.No.Inches.Inches. 
     January66.041.0143.7729.63SW.
     February68.039.0111.1729.82SW.
     March63.037.0225.0229.71SW.
     April63.038.0142.8929.82NE.
     May63.034.0264.4629.93N, SW.
     June60.031.0262.8229.56SW.
     July61.030.0172.5629.72N, SW.
     August56.030.0185.1129.65SW.
     September56.030.0222.3229.66SE, SW.
     October62.039.030.6530.50SW, NW.
     November64.039.0111.3729.90NW, SW.
     December67.039.0151.5329.71SW, W, NW.

EIGHT STATIONS: COMPARATIVE TABLE: YEAR 1903.

Stations.Temperature in Shade.Rainfall.Prevailing Wind.Mean Height of Barometer.
Highest and Date.Lowest, and Date.Days on which Rain fell.Greatest Fall and Date.
 ° Fahr.° Fahr.No.Inches.Inches...
Auckland78.0, 15 Feb.38.0, 16, 26 July, 4 Aug.1931.84, 17 Jan.30.085SW, NE.
Rotorua82.0, 17 Feb., 30 Dec.25.5, 8 June1512.88, 18 Jan.30.26SW.
New Plymouth84.0, 6, 13 Jan., 4, 24, 28, 29 Nov.32.0, 15, 16 July, 31 Aug.2413.80, 28 May30.05SE.
Wellington79.5, 30 Nov.31.0, 2 Aug.1613.75, 14 Aug.30.029NW.
Hokitika86.0, 22 Jan.28.0, 31 July1606.30, 13 Feb.29.954SW.
Lincoln83.8, 25 Nov.22.0, 17 July1271.15, 26 Jan.29.946NE.
Dunedin80.0, 12 Feb.27.0, 8 June1632.44, 1 June29.945SW, W. NE.
Chatham Islands68.0, 19 Feb.30.0, 31 July, 7 Aug., 2 Sept.1992.25, 18 Aug.29.80SW.

SUNSHINE IN NEW ZEALAND.

The comparative tables of the amount of sunshine recorded in Surrey and in Christchurch respectively during 1902, and published in the Christchurch Press, afford valuable proof of the brightness of this climate as compared with that of England. The English records were taken at a place near Hindhead, on the Surrey highland, first made known by Professor Tyndall selecting a site for a house there. The district has since become famous as one of the healthiest and sunniest in England, and these characteristics, coupled with its comparative proximity to London, have made it a popular residential district. It is a case, then, of one of the most sunny districts in England being compared with a New Zealand town, which we can hardly suppose to be more blessed with sunshine than many other places in the colony. This being so, it will be admitted that Christchurch comes splendidly out of the test with 1,749.59 hours of sunshine during the year, as against Surrey's 1,492.2 hours, a difference in favour of New Zealand of 257 hours. Nor is this the most striking comparison. The sun shone here on all but thirty-nine days in the year, while at Hindhead there were no less than eighty-one absolutely sunless days. The monthly average of days on which the sun shone in Christchurch was twenty-seven, in Surrey it was under twenty-four. The winter comparisons are still more forcible. Taking the four months from November to February as the English winter months, and those from May to August as the corresponding months out here, we find that whereas three of the months in England had but sixteen days each on which sunshine was recorded, and the fourth had only fifteen days, in Christchurch during the winter months the sun was seen on twenty-eight, twenty, thirty, and twenty nine days respectively. Our worst month was June, with little more than fifty-five hours of sunshine; hut in Surrey December had only forty-two sunny hours, January had fifty-four, and February fifty-five. On the other hand, the best English summer record beats ours. July in Surrey had 229 hours of sunshine, our January had 217; but it must be remembered that summer days in England are longer than with us, just as our winter days are longer than with them.

GRAYSHOT, SURREY, ENGLAND.CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND.
Months, 1902.Days with Sun.Days no Sun.Total Hours.Corresponding Months in New Zealand.Days with Sun.Days no Sun.Total Hours.
Spring—   Spring—   
  February151355.7  August292146.16
  March265118.5  September291149.58
  April282165.3  October310191.50
Summer—   Summer—   
  May283179.0  November282203.20
  June273189.6  December274143.58
  July301229.4  January292217.75
Autumn—   Autumn—   
  August301136.9  February253154.08
  September291178.0  March238121.25
  October23878.8  April27397.08
Winter—   Winter—   
  November161464.0  May283110.58
  December161542.8  June201055.75
January161534.2July301159.08
Total284811492.2Total326391749.59

The following table, compiled from information published in the Statistical Abstract for the Colonial Possessions of the United Kingdom, shows the shade temperature for each month in New Zealand and other British States and Colonies. The figures given are the means of four years (H signifies highest, and L lowest):—

British Possessions (Stations and Height in Feet above Sea Level where known).Jan.Feb.March.April.May.June.July.Aug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec.Year.
H.L.H.L.H.L.H.L.H.L.H.L.H.L.H.L.H.L.H.L.H.L.H.L.H.L.
New Zealand—° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.° F.
Wellington (140)7845784776447043663862345933623465376941743375447833
Queensland—
Brisbane (130)9264936391618554805076427539784185469150945797619739
New South Wales—                          
Sydney (155)9259895884597951724867446339704277458848875494579439
Victoria—
Melbourne (91)101489947994586407437643762326834743481409444964510132
South Australia—....................................................
Adelaide (140)108491065010048894578406738653674397941864196451014810836
Western Australia—
Perth (47)10750102539852965781407038703773388042834293481005110737
Tasmania—
Hobart (160)9145944593447538713761345933663372357735924086439433
Natal—
Durban (150)9963956194609458895286498848914996509153975798599949
Cape Town—
Royal Observatory (37)9454905192498645804276397437763783398644894890529437
Hongkong—
Observatory (110)7347784677498458896891739174917492709066825579499146
Straits Settlements—
Singapore (30)8870907091719173907390729072897289718971897189709170
Mauritius—
Royal Alfred Observatory (179)8469847184708270806277607559755977628062826684688459
Canada—
Toronto (350)47-345-35167122783186448846894782417127561345-189-3
Montreal (187)45-1442-134406924813287438850865081397027591143-1188-14
St. John (N.B.) (116)49-746-74746222693381427949774873376026561649-381-7
Halifax (122)50-146-350106322733283398448844980366929602151384-3
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (38)47-643-94756020703177398049794975396630581947180-9
Winnipeg, Manitoba (764)34-3732-3749-25768822090358740913486301753-1639-2991-37 
Victoria, British Columbia (10)5114552260306729733876397943764471386435553051237914
St. John's, Newfoundland (125)48-650-850116115712776338141794278336524621951981-8
Barbados—
Joes River (430)8167816783698470847185728470857085718571847083698567
Bahamas—
Military Hospital7763796879678469897288738978897387758677827077678963
Jamaica—
Kingston (60)9163906390629168917092719571937392709369916790639562
Trinidad (130)8667876888698870897086718671867089708870877085698967

Chapter 40. SECTION X.—ACCUMULATION: PRICES AND WAGES.

BANKS OF ISSUE.

IN December, 1903, five banks of issue were doing business in New Zealand, the Bank of New Zealand and the Colonial Bank having amalgamated in 1895. Two of the five banks, the Bank of New Zealand and the National Bank of New Zealand (Limited), are wholly New Zealand institutions. The total average liabilities of all five banks for the year 1903 in respect of New Zealand transactions were £20,563,879, and the average assets £19,913,546. The average amount on deposit during the year was £19,011,114, of which sum £1,572,800 belonged to the General Government. Excluding those belonging to Government, deposits to the value of £8,839,963 were bearing interest, and £8,598,351 at call. The value of the notes in circulation of these banks was £1,450,267.

The development of banking in New Zealand since the year 1857 has been very great. Taking for each year the average of the four quarters' returns made by the banks of issue, the figures for 1857, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1900, and 1903 are:—

Year.Deposits.Assets.Liabilities.
 £££
1857343,316419,860432,494
18703,127,7696,315,3543,819,670
18808,538,93514,220,2759,550,177
189012,368,61017,735,25913,356,598
190015,570,61017,314,53516,964,582
190319,011,11419,913,54620,563,879

In 1880 the deposits of these banks were £18 per head of the mean population; in 1890 they were £19.92 per head; and in 1903, £23.18. The ratio of advances to deposits, which was 132.34 per cent. in 1880, reached its maximum in 1883, when it stood at 173.35 per cent. The proportion since that year fell, till in 1897 it was only 76.21 per cent. In succeeding years there were fluctuations until 1903, when the ratio stood at 75.96 per cent.

The following figures, which are taken from the published returns for the December quarter of each year, show that the value of the coin and bullion held by all the banks of issue doing business in New Zealand rose steadily from 1891 to 1895, in which year the value stood at £3,333,272. Since that date the value gradually decreased year by year to £2,636,177 in December quarter, 1899, but rose again to £3,746,580 in 1903:—

Quarter ended 31st December.Coin.Gold and Silver in Bullion or Bars.Total Coin and Bullion.
 £££
18902,421,530169,6592,591,189
18912,231,242126,3462,357,588
18922,381,319141,4062,522,725
18932,480,453121,4962,601,949
18943,103,355118,1213,221,476
18953,199,889133,3833,333,272
18963,171,702122,9013,294,603
18972,848,183107,6352,955,818
18982,625,896126,3492,752,245
18992,511,102125,0752,636,177
19002,658,207144,0252,802,232
19012,921,268142,5753,063,843
19023,124,916167,1743,292,090
19033,597,280149,3003,746,580

The figures shown for each quarter of the year 1903 are :—

 Coin. £Bullion. £
March quarter, 19033,212,561155,683
June ”3,405,536192,710
September ”3,572,526150,170
December ”3,597,280149,300

In 1886 the average amount of advances made by the banks was £15,853,420, equal to £27.23 per head of the mean population. The advances gradually declined in amount and proportion to population until 1891, when they were in value £11,549,145, or £18.34 per head. In 1897 advances stood at £10,892,111, or £15.09 per head, which is the lowest average since the year 1872. From thence there was continuous rise both in amounts of advances and rates per head of population until 1903, for which the figures are £14,440,403, or £17.61 per head. The discounts in 1902 amounted to £1,814,639, or £2.27 per head of mean population, and in 1903 they were £1,893,808, or £2.31 per head. The largest amount of discounts in any year was £6,061,959 in 1879, a rate of £13.53 per head. From 1879 there was a fall year by year until 1896, when the sum was £1,756,791, or £2.49 per head.

An account of the special banking legislation of 1893 and its subsequent developments will be found in the previous issues of the Year-book. (See page 400, Year-book 1902.)

“THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND ACT, 1903.”

This Act was passed in anticipation of guaranteed shares or stock issued under the authority of the Act of 1894, to the extent of two million pounds sterling, reaching maturity on the 19th July of the present year (1904), and of the expiry of the term of currency of the debentures issued by the Assets Realisat on Board (31st March, 1904). It also makes provisions under which the remaining liability of the proprietors of the Bank, under section 21 of “The Banking Act, 1861,” ranks as ordinary uncalled capital, and for the issue of fresh shares to the Government in lieu of the preferred shares originally issued to the Crown, but afterwards repurchased by the Bank. Besides the above, the Act deals with other matters affecting the business of the Bank and the Assets Realisation Board.

Ordinary Shares.

Every ordinary share in the Bank is deemed to be a share of the nominal value of £6 13s. 4d., paid up to the extent only of the amount actually paid on account of instalments of the call in respect of such share, leaving a liability of the balance of instalments, and the further liability of £3 6s. 8d. per share, but no more.

New Guaranteed Stock.

The guaranteed stock issued under “The Share Guarantee Act, 1894,” to the extent of two million pounds, matured on the 19th July, 1904, and has been redeemed by the Bank, and a new issue of guaranteed stock, representing the sum of one million pounds sterling, having a currency not exceeding ten years, has been made in lieu thereof.

Preference Shares.

The preferred shares, representing £500,000 new capital, issued under the authority of “The Bank of New Zealand and Banking Act, 1895,” and subsequently repurchased by the Bank, have been cancelled; and in lieu thereof the Government of New Zealand purchased 75,000 preference shares of the Bank, fully paid, representing £500,000 new capital. These shares rank for dividend purposes in priority to ordinary shares to the extent of 5 per cent. per annum (non-cumulative), and for dividends in excess of 5 per cent. they are entitled to only half the rate payable on ordinary shares; so that where, for example, the dividend on the ordinary shares is at the rate of 6 per cent., the dividend on the preference shares will be at the rate of 5 1/2 per cent. The maximum rate of dividend payable on preference shares is 10 per cent., while that payable on ordinary shares is not limited. Otherwise the preference shares confer the same rights and privileges as ordinary shares.

Assets Realisation Board.

The Act empowers the Assets Board, for the purpose of redeeming such of the debentures as are outstanding at maturity, to issue fresh debentures, having a currency of five years, for a sum not exceeding in all the face value of the residue of the outstanding debt, and hearing interest at a rate not higher than 3 1/2 per cent. per annum.

The properties vested in the Assets Board are to be valued at appointed times, and the actual deficiency between such value and the amount of outstanding debentures of the Board ascertained. When it is found that the assets of the Board are sufficient to meet its liabilities, the Governor may by Order in Council declare that the Board shall cease to exist, its properties being handed over to the Bank, which thereupon is to redeem all the outstanding debentures of the Board.

Other Provisions.

December and June, as the dates for holding the half-yearly and annual meetings, are substituted for February and August. Special provision for voting at elections of directors (by papers forwarded and returned through the post) is made, and the date of election of the chairman is altered from January to April.

SAVINGS-BANKS.

The number of post-offices open for the transaction of savings-bank business at the end of 1903 was 493.

There were 57,047 new accounts opened in the year, and 40,837 accounts were closed. The total number of open accounts at the end of 1903 was 243,675, or 1 in every 3.42 of the population.

The deposits received during the year amounted to £5,661,592 15s. 2d., and the withdrawals to £5,343,828 5s., the excess of deposits over withdrawals having thus been £317,764 10s. 2d. The total sum standing at credit of all accounts on the 31st December, 1903, was £7,388,681 18s. 7d., which gave an average of £30 6s. 5d. to the credit of each open account.

The number of open accounts (as on the 31st December) for the last five years are classified according to amounts at credit of each:—

 1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.
Not exceeding £20133,851142,368153,593161,989174,563
Exceeding £20 and up to £5020,20622,33323,74325,52026,887
£50 £10012,28613,70414,70516,62117,592
£100 £20010,40311,17312,79714,65715,589
£200 £3003,9155,1514,7655,4735,499
£300 £4001,1451,2381,3941,6191,795
£400 £500654773768860905
£500586668671726845
  Totals183,046197,408212,436227,465243,675

The following were the securities, &c., standing in the name of the Postmaster-General on account of the Post-Office Savings-Bank Fund on the 31st December, 1903:—

Description of Securities.Nominal Value.Value at Cost Price.
 £s.d.£s.d.
“Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1896,” Debentures, 3 1/2 per cent.100,00000100,00000
“Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1899,” Debentures, 3 1/2 per cent.125,00000125,00000
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Acts, 1896 and 1897, Debentures, 3 per cent.65,0000065,00000
“Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1902,” Debentures, 4 per cent.100,00000100,00000
“Consolidated Loan Act, 1867,” Debentures, 4 per cent.13,0000012,48000
“Consolidated Stock Act, 1884,” Debentures, 3 1/2 per cent.689,70000689,70000
“Dairy Industry Act, 1898,” Debentures, 3 1/2 per cent.1,781001,78100
“Defence and other Purposes Loan Act, 1870,” Debentures, 4 per cent.75,0000072,00000
“Defence and other Purposes Loan Act, 1870,” Debentures, 4 1/2 per cent.8,100008,10000
District Railways Purchasing Acts, 1885 and 1886, Debentures, 4 per cent.42,0000036,076178
District Railways Purchasing Acts, 1885 and 1886, Scrip, 4 per cent.34,1000034,10000
Dunedin Garrison Hall Debentures, 5 per cent.6,000006,00000
“General Purposes Loan Act, 1873,” Debentures, 4 per cent.5,200004,34200
“Government Advances to Settlers Extension Act, 1901,” Debentures, 3 1/2 per cent.80,0000080,00000
“Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886,” Debentures, 3 1/2 per cent.231,50000231,50000
Greymouth Harbour Board Debentures, 4 per cent.120,00000120,00000
Hamilton Borough Debentures, 4 1/2 per cent.3,000003,00000
Hokitika Harbour Board Debentures, 5 per cent.10,0000010,00000
Description of SecuritiesNominal Value.Value at Cast Price.
 £s.d.£s.d.
“Immigration and Public Works Loan Act, 1870,” Debentures, 4 per cent.174,20000167,27200
“Immigration and Public Works Loan Act, 1870,” Debentures, 4 1/2 per cent.20,9000020,527100
“Immigration and Public Works Loan Act, 1870,” Debentures, 4 per cent. (Imperial guaranteed)400,00000400,00000
Inscribed Stock, 3 per cent.2,134,940002,129,61400
“Land for Settlements Act, 1894,” Debentures, 3 1/2 per cent.731,06600731,06600
Land for Settlements Act Debentures, 3 1/2 per cent.62,0000062,00000
“Lands Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Act, 1894,” Debentures, 4 per cent.264,00000264,00000
“Lands Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Act, 1894,” Debentures, 3 1/2 per cent.35,0000035,00000
“Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1901,” Debentures, 3 1/2 per cent.470,00000470,00000
Oamaru Borough Consolidated Loan 1893 Debentures, 5 per cent.13,8000013,80000
Oamaru Harbour Bonds, 5 1/2 per cent.31,0000031,00000
Patea Harbour Board Debentures, 4 1/2 per cent.21,8700021,87000
“State Coal-mines Act, 1901,” Debentures, 3 1/2 per cent.92,0000092,00000
Thames Harbour Board Debentures, 4 per cent.10,0000010,00000
“Public Revenues Act, 1893 ″ (Treasury Bills), 3 1/2 per cent.749,20000749,20000
Westport Harbour Board Debentures, 4 per cent.489,50000489,50000
  Totals7,408,857007,385,92978

Most of this fund is invested in securities of the New Zealand General Government. Summarising the figures shows the investments to be:—

 £
In New Zealand Government securities6,703,687
In local bodies' securities699,170
In other securities6,000
Total£7,408,857

There are five savings-banks in the colony not connected with the Post Office. The total amount deposited in them in 1903 was £853,786 13s. 6d., of which the deposits by Maoris comprised £180. The withdrawals reached the sum of £832,739 11s. 5d., or less than the total deposits by £21,047 2s. 1d. The total amount to the credit of the depositors at the end of the year was £1,044,276 14s. 6d., of which sum £208 19s. 5d. belonged to Maoris.

SUMMARY OF ALL DEPOSITS.

If the total deposits in the banks of issue at the end of the year be assumed to be equal to the average deposits for the four quarters of the year, then it may be affirmed that, exclusive of Government moneys, the deposits in the said banks of issue and in the two classes of savings-banks amounted at the end of 1903 to £27,444,073. In addition, there are the deposits with building societies, which in 1902 were £328,323, and it is known that there were also deposits with financial companies of which no particulars have been supplied. The known deposits reach an average of £33 7s. 2d. per head of the population, exclusive of Maoris.

BUILDING SOCIETIES.

There were 71 registered building societies in operation in the colony at the end of 1902. Of these, 39 were terminable societies, the rest were permanent.

The total receipts by these societies during their financial year were £840,843, of which deposits comprised £341,197.

The assets at the end of the year were valued at £1,367,000. The liabilities were: To shareholders, reserve fund, &c., £1,013,095; to depositors, £328,323; and to bankers and other creditors, £25,582.

JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES.

During the year ended 31st December, 1903, 197 joint-stock companies, with a total nominal capital of £2,555,509, and two guarantee companies, were registered under the provisions of “The Companies Act, 1882.”

 Companies registered in 1903.
District where registered.No.Nominal Capital.
  £
Auckland50722,720
Taranaki420,000
Hawke's Bay8102,450
Wellington54693,000
Marlborough215,000
Nelson311,000
Westland545,500
Canterbury23529,250
Otago41265,589
Southland7151,000
  Totals1972,555,509

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

The Registrar of Friendly Societies received returns for the year 1902 from 462 lodges, courts, tents, &c., of various friendly societies throughout the colony. The number of members at the end of 1902 was 43,408.

The total value of the assets of these societies was £846,315, equivalent to £19 9s. 11d. per member. Of the total assets, the value of the sick and funeral benefit funds was £774,533.

The receipts during the year on account of the sick and funeral funds amounted to £111,388, and the expenditure to £74,563, of which the sick-pay to members reached the sum of £46,912. In addition to the sick-pay, the sum of £39,848 was paid out of the medical and management expenses fund for attendance given and medicine supplied to the members and their families.

The Registrar of Friendly Societies has supplied particulars of the number of members of friendly societies, the amount of their accumulated capital, and the average capital per member in Australasia, according to the latest published statistics, arranged in order of membership:—

State or Colony.Date of Return.Number of Lodges.Number of Members.Amount of Funds.Capital per Member.
    ££s.d. 
Victoria31st Dec., 19021,146102,3641,415,5251316.. 
New South Wales190079075,027693,3669410 
New Zealand190246243,408846,31519911 
South Australia189947443,043535,1981288 
Queensland190238531,709290,919936 
Tasmania190114914,716114,3097154 
Western Australia190216911,74659,2095010 

New Zealand shows by far the highest average of capital per member, Victoria and South Australia following, but not closely, while the averages of New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, and Western Australia are less than half the sum shown for this colony.

MORTGAGES.

In a return laid before the House of Representatives it is stated that during the year ended 31st March, 1903, mortgages to the value of £8,692,218 were registered in the several land registration districts of the colony, while the monetary value of those paid off amounted to £4,866,033. Compared with a similar return for the year 1901-1902 the mortgages registered show an increase of £435,305, the total amount for the earlier year having been £8,256,913.

The total amounts represented in the mortgages registered and paid off in each registration district during 1901-1902 and 1902-1903 were:—

 1901-1902.1902-1903.
District.Mortgages registered.Mortgages paid off.Mortgages registered.Mortgages paid. off.
 ££££
Auckland768,556596,475914,871363,389
Poverty Bay254,649184,839282,219129,449
Taranaki781,287688,1651,140,155538,197
Hawke's Bay866,311452,948720,333424,385
Wellington2,042,9421,411,3882,433,0341,203,292
Marlborough242,866156,143103,78835,919
Nelson145,10487,927162,89367,025
Westland36,95022,03338,07625,947
Canterbury1,932,0051,651,5691,808,4851,401,255
Otago661,035409,536570,991388,275
Southland525,208263,345517,373288,900
  Totals£8,256,913£5,924,368£8,692,218£4,866,033

Classified according to the various rates of interest, the amounts in the mortgage deeds registered during the two years were:—

1901-1902.1902-1903.Rate of Interest.
££
119,626  70,696  at 4 per cent. or under.
1,876,506(a)  1,884,721(c)  at 4 1/2 per cent.
79,994 (b)  142,105  at 4 3/4 per cent.
2,889,148  2,786,574  at 5 per cent.
13,435  67,425(d)  at 5 1/2 per cent.
481,913  556,449 (e)  at 5 1/2 per cent.
4,895  16,450  at 5 3/4 per cent.
651,315  803,179  at 6 per cent.
590  500  at 6 1/4 per cent.
84,736  120,865  at 6 1/2 per cent.
450  6,000  at 6 3/4 per cent.
244,891  299,548  at 7 per cent.
40,902  18,672  at 7 1/2 per cent.
193,757  181,732  at 8 per cent.
95,005  96,216 (f)  at 8 1/2 per cent. and over.
1,475,075  1,639, 739  at rates not specified.
4,675  1,347  free.
£8,256,913  £8,692,218 

(a.) Including £12,000 at 4 3/13 per cent., £14,000 at 4 5/16 per cent., and £150 at 4 1/3 per cent. (b.) Including £6,500 at 4 5/8 per cent. (c.) Including £3,000 at 4 1/3 per cent. (d.) Including £560 at 5 1/10 per cent., and £1,600 at 5 1/8 per cent. (e.) Including £2,350 at 5 1/3 per cent. (f.) Including £60 at 8 1/3 per cent.

Comparison of the foregoing with the amounts at the various rates of interest in the mortgages registered during 1895-96 shows the lowering of the rates that has taken place:—

Year 1895-96 
£
26,285in small sums at less than 5 per cent.
833,226at from 5 per cent. to 5 1/4 per cent.
732,764at 5 1/2 per cent.
116,600at 5 3/4 per cent.
1,372,261at from 6 per cent. to 6 1/4 per cent.
371,896at from 6 1/2 per cent. to 6 3/4 per cent.
599,542at from 7 per cent. to 7 1/4 per cent.
111,651at 7 1/2 per cent.
382,348at 8 per cent.
173,416in small sums, at rates above 8 per cent.
853,801at rates which are not specified.
£5,573,790..

The total amount shown in deeds as secured by mortgage under the Land Transfer Act on 31st March, 1903, was £42,906,772, as against £40,587,169 in March, 1902, £37,767,650 in March, 1901, £35,303,728 in March, 1900, £33,035,337 in March, 1899, £32,152,288 in March, 1898, and £31,112,921 in March, 1897; but in respect of some transactions the same money may be included more than once.

LIFE INSURANCE.

There were existing in the colony at the close of the year 1902 99,908 life insurance policies, an average of 124 in every 1,000 persons living. The gross amount represented by these policies was £24,697,807, an average of £247 4s. 1d. for each policy, and of £30 11s. 5d. for every European inhabitant of the colony at the end of the year.

The distribution of these policies shows that nearly one-half are held in the Government Life Insurance Department:—

New Zealand Business only. Name of Office.Number of Years of Business in the Colony.Number of Existing Policies at End of Year 1902.Gross Amount insured by Policies at End of Year 1902.
   £
Australian Mutual Provident Society4129,5448,015,240
Australian Widows' Fund Life Assurance Society (Limited)51,867485,883
Citizens' Life Assurance Company (Limited)93,832566,569
Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society (Limited)194,5941,198,870
Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States181,804651,397
Mutual Life Association of Australasia266,4481,603,864
National Mutual Life Association of Australasia (Limited)238,9182,095,915
New York Life Insurance Company16424162,797
Scottish Metropolitan Life Assurance Company (Limited)6218,700
Yorkshire Insurance Company15012,000
Life Insurance Department of the New Zealand Government3342,4069,896,572
Totals, December, 1902..99,908£24,697,807
Totals, December, 1901..94,429£23,567,427

The rate at which life insurance increased is evidenced by the difference between the amounts insured at the end of each of the two years 1901 and 1902, being a sum of £1,130,380, or 4.80 per cent., while for the same twelve months population increased by 2.57 per cent. only.

INDUSTRIAL LIFE ASSURANCE.

In addition to the ordinary life insurance transactions alluded to above, there were in 1902 two industrial life assurance offices doing business in New Zealand. The number of policies in existence and the gross amount insured by such policies at the end of the year were:—

Name of Office.New Zealand Business only.Number of Years of Business in the Colony.
Number of Existing Policies at End of Year 1902.Gross Amount insured by Policies at End of Year 1902.
   £
The Citizens' Life Assurance Company (Limited)917,794379,147
The Provident and Industrial Insurance Company of New Zealand139,624253,231
Totals, December, 1902..27,418£632,378
Totals, December, 1901..26,111£570,792

Here an increase of £61,586, or 10.79 per cent., is shown to have taken place in twelve months.

“THE GOVERNMENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE ACT, 1899.”

By this statute the Commissioner of Life Insurance is given power to insure persons against accident, and specially employers against liability for accident to any person employed, besides generally doing the business of an insurer against accident.

The Act provides for capital for the accident insurance business by empowering the Governor in Council to raise by debentures or scrip, or by issue of inscribed stock, sums of money not exceeding £25,000 altogether. To redeem at maturity the securities issued in respect of capital raised there are provisions for a sinking fund.

The funds, assets, and liabilities of the Government Life Insurance Department belonging to its accident insurance branch are to be kept separate and distinct from the main life insurance business, and powers are vested in the Governor to make regulations in regard to tables fixing rates of premiums, and other details, for the conduct of accident insurance.

The income and expenditure for the years 1902 and 1903 were:—

Year.Income.Expenditure.
Premiums.Other Receipts.Total.Claims.Management.Other Expenses.Total.
 £££££££
190214,1007014,1707,3645,8364013,240
190324,3816824,44913,2306,4501019,690

A sum of £5,450 is held as a reserve on account of claims accrued but unsettled (included above) on the 31st December. The unearned premium reserve fund now stands at £8,530, and the funds at £1,255.

THE PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

This institution was described in full detail in the Year-book for 1898, page 454.

Classifying the business as on the 31st March, 1903 and 1904, the results are:—

 1903.1904.
 Number of Estates.Value of Estates.Number of Estates.Value of Estates.

*Real estates now merged in unclaimed lands.

  £ £
Wills and trusts (including sinking funds accounts)7441,279,7438361,605,143
Intestate estates989197,3681,062232,695
Real estates717,585**
Lunatic estates802170,585854208,573
Native reserves143375,000119380,000
West Coast Settlement Reserves312655,000333700,000
Unclaimed lands25321,50426626,471
Total3,314£2,706,7853,470£3,152,882

The capital funds of the Public Trust Office invested amounted, on the 31st March, 1904, to £1,595,330. The investments are as follow:—

 £

†£500,000 held under “The Bank of New Zealand and Banking Act, 1895,”
was transferred during the course of the year by the Public Trustee to the Bank in terms of “The Bank of New Zealand Act, 1903.”

New Zealand Government securities103,363
Local bodies' debentures44,729
Mortgages of freehold property1,447,238
Total£1,595,330*

PRIVATE WEALTH.

The number and value of estates of deceased persons finally certified on which duty was paid during the years 1901, 1902, and 1903 are shown, classified according to amount:—

Value of Estates.1901.1902.1903.
Number of Estates.Aggregate Value on which Duty was paid.Number of Estates.Aggregate Value on which Duty was paid.Number of Estates.Aggregate Value on which Duty was paid.
£ £ £ £
Under 500856158,551768161,471741151,164
500 to 1,000225163,186254176,148229164,444
1,000 ″ 2,000159232,961167239,166155217,194
2,000 ″ 3,00054130,06984208,45176186,015
3,000 ″ 4,00033113,20930120,27551176,998
4,000 ″ 5,00029125,70126117,01323105,407
5,000 ″ 7,50030181,84939235,53926157,195
7,500 ″ 10,00029248,64417148,72725217,194
10,000 ″ 15,00018227,42319223,97028345,848
15,000 ″ 20,00010167,620468,8598148,683
20,000 and over14603,425251,008,618231,221,198
  Totals1,4572,352,6981,4392,714,2371,3853,091,340

In 1903 the estates of females on which duty was paid numbered 316, valued at £317,648, giving an average of £1,005 each. The estates left by males in 1903 numbered 1,069, valued at £2,773,692, an average of about £2,595 for each estate.

The number of estates admitted to probate and the number of adult deaths in each year 1898 to 1903 are given, and it will be seen that 25 out of every 100 adults who died during the year 1903 left property subject to estate duty.

Year.Number of Estates.Number of Adult Deaths.Proportion per Cent. of Adults who died leaving Property on which Duty paid.
18981,2874,69627.41
18991,3274,71928.12
19001,3454,68328.72
19011,4575,13428.38
19021,4395,41326.58
19031,3855,51525.11

The private wealth of the colony has been estimated as for the year 1903, calculating on the assumption that the wealth of the living is proportionately equal to that left by the dead.

Taking the average for a term of years gives the following results:—

Years, inclusive.Amount on which Duty paid.Total Number of Deaths.Average Amount left by each Person.Average Number of Persons living.Average Total Wealth for each Year of the Period.
 £..£ s. d...£
1899-190312,139,70139,416307 19 9781,911240,819,987

Applying the average amount left by each person during the five years to the population on the 31st December, 1903 (832,505 persons), gives a total of wealth amounting to £256,402,400.

The above calculation has given results decidedly higher than would be shown if the adult population and adult deaths only were used, instead of the totals at all ages.

If what is believed to be the value of real estate privately owned be deducted from the total private wealth as given above, the remainder, being private personal property, represents what has certainly grown immensely in value since 1888, when an estimate was made while the property-tax was in operation.

The evidence by way of comparison of the yield of income-tax for 1892-93 and that for 1903-1904 helps towards forming an approximate estimate of what should be added to the private personal wealth by way of increase since 1888, and tends to confirm the higher figures referred to above.

And it must be remembered in connection with the above calculation that no allowance is made in using the figures for estate on which no stamp duty is payable, lands and goods passing to the husband or wife of deceased, and a great number of properties under £100.

Moreover, making the calculation on the deaths and population of persons from 21 years and upwards is open to the objection of arbitrariness; and females might have been treated as only leaving on an average about one-half what is left by males. By endeavouring to refine on the original method the troubles seem to increase, and, after all has been done that is possible, the result can only be put forward as a rough approximation to the facts.

As regards comparisons with Victoria or New South Wales, New Zealand, having a lower mortality of children than those States of the Australian Commonwealth, makes a calculation based on adult deaths disadvantageous to this colony.

The figures for each of the last eleven years are:—

ESTIMATED PRIVATE WEALTH.

Year.Amount.Average per Head.
 ££
1893156,058,273232
1894154,715,821225
1895152,918,021219
1896170,007,843238
1897183,781,780252
1898201,154,323271
1899217,587,481288
1900228,236,158296
1901229,587,916291
1902240,054,835297
1903256,402,400308

The above estimates of private wealth may be considered as net wealth, because stamp duty is paid after subtracting liabilities on estates.

The Government Statistician of New South Wales estimated the private wealth of the Commonwealth of Australia for the year 1901 at £908,762,000, an average of £243 per inhabitant. Mr. Coghlan remarks (page 306, “A Statistical Account of Australia and New Zealand, 1902-1903”) that these “figures show a considerable reduction on those for 1890, when the average was not less than £309 per inhabitant,” so that the figures for 1903 in respect of New Zealand show that here the average has just been reached that obtained in Australia before the great difficulties caused by financial reverses and drought.

An attempt to arrive at the value of the public property (exclusive of lessees' interests in land and improvements) in the colony, with the assistance of the Valuer-General, has led to the following result:—

PUBLIC PROPERTY, 1903.

Public property—i.e., land and improvements not owned by individuals, exclusive of Government railways:—

 ££
Crown lands15,303,184..
Local authorities' lands4,319,539..
Educational lands3,181,739..
Church and other lands2,249,378..
 ..25,053,840
Government railways, open and under construction, 31st March, 1903..20,366,000
Other public works—viz., telegraphs, lighthouses, harbours, and water-supply on goldfields..4,916,771
Total public property..T£50,336,611

This amount of £50,336,611, with the sum of £256,402,400 previously shown as the private wealth, estimated from probate returns, gives a total of £306,739,011. If to this be added £7,500,000, the value of Native lands with their improvements (exclusive of lessees' interests), a final total of £314,239,011 is reached.

As before stated, so much of this sum as represents private wealth may be considered as net wealth, because stamp duty is paid after subtracting liabilities on estates. But the debt of the General Government and that of the local bodies (so far as raised abroad) must be deducted. The amounts were, in the year 1903, £48,460,466 and £5,336,600 respectively. Allowing for these, it is found that the colony had in 1903 at least £260,441,945 value of public and private wealth. Full information as to public wealth other than property owned by the Government is not procurable.

EARNINGS, INCOME, WAGES, AND COST OF LIVING.

Such calculations as have been made on the above subjects are referred to in the Year-book of 1903 on page 461.

ANNUAL CONSUMPTION OF FOOD, STIMULANTS, ETC.

The quantities used per head of population in New Zealand of some of the main articles of consumption will be found in the Year-book for 1898. The figures are averages for five years.

RATES OF WAGES.

The average rates of wages paid in 1903 in each provincial district for agricultural, pastoral, artisan, and servants' labour are given on pages 323 to 325.

AVERAGE PRICES OF PRODUCE, LIVE-STOCK, PROVISIONS, ETC., IN EACH PROVINCIAL DISTRICT OF NEW ZEALAND DURING THE YEAR 1903.

Produce, &c.Auckland.Taranaki.Hawke's Bay.Wellington.Marlborough.Nelson.Westland (Goldfield).Canterbury.Otago (Part Goldfield).
I. AGRICULTURALPRODUCE.
Wheat per bushel (601b.)4/ to 5/3/9 to 5/63/9 to 4/64/ to 5/4/4/3/6 to 5/3/3 to 4/3/ to 4/6
Barley per bushel (471b.)3/ to 4/63/ to 4/2/9 to 4/63/ to 4/64/4/4/62/9 to 3/62/6 to 3/6
Oats per bushel (401b.)1/10 to 3/2/3 to 3/91/10 to 2/32/ to 2/62/22/32/3 to 2/61/6 to 2/61/6 to 2/9
Maize per bushel (561b.)2/6 to 5/3/6 to 6/3/ to 4/3/6 to 5/6..4/ to 4/63/10 to 4/3/6 to 4/3/6 to 5/6
Bran per bushel (201b.)10d. to 1/91/ to 1/610 1/2d. to 1/211d. to 1/61/1/to 1/39d. to 1/8d. to 1/3 
Hay per ton£3/5 to £5£3 to £4/15£3/10 to £4/10£3/10 to £5£3£4£4 to £4/10£2/10 to £3/15£2/5 to £3/5
II. FLOUR AND BREAD.
Flour, wholesale per ton of 2,0001b.£10/5 to £12£10 to £15£9 to £10/15£9 to £11£10/10200/ to 210/£10 to£11£9/5 to £10£9/10 to £11
Flour, retail per bag of 501b6/3 to 6/67/ to 9/5/9 to 6/65/ to 6/96/36/6/ to 7/5/2 to 5/65/3 to 6/6
Bread per 41b. loaf7d.7d.7d.7d.8d.7d.7d. to 8d.5d. to 7d.6 1/2d. to 8d.
III. LIVE-STOCK AND MEAT.
Horses, draught per head£25 to £40£40£30 to £50£30 to £60£25 to £50£60£45 to £60£30 to £62£35 to £50
Horses, saddle and harness per head£7 to £22£18 to £20£12 to £20£8 to £35£15 to £25£20£15 to £30£10 to £25£15 to £30
Cattle, fat per head£7 to £12£7 to £9£8/10 to £10£8/10 to £11£6 to £10£7/10£10 to £14£7 to £12£8/10 to £11
Cattle, milch cows per head£5 to £9£8 to £9£6 to £9£5 to £12£6 to £8£8£6 to £9£7/10 to £10£6 to £9
Sheep, fat per head18/ to 26/12/ to 15/12/ to 15/13/6 to 19/18/15/14/ to 22/615/to£1£1 to £1/5
Lambs, fat per head12/ to 15/10/10/ to 13/9/6 to 12/12/ to 16/12/12/ to 16/12/ to 17/13/ to 18/
Butchers' meat:—
Beef per 1b5d. to 8d.4 1/2d. to 5d.4 1/2d. to 6d.4d. to 7d.7d.5d.to 8d.6d. to 8d.4d. to 7 1/2d.5 1/2d. to 8d.
Mutton per 1b.3 1/4d. to 6d.3 1/2d. to 4d.4d. to 5d.3 1/2d.to 6d.3 1/2d.4 1/2d. to 6d.5d. to 7d.4d. to 5d.4d. to 7d.
Veal per 1b.4d. to 6d.5d.5d. to 6d.3 1/2d. to 6 3/4d.6d.5d.6d. to 8d.4 1/2d. to 6d.4 1/2d. to 8d.
Pork per 1b.5d. to 7d.5d. to 6d.5d. to 6d.6d. to 8d.6d.6d.6d. to 8d.6d. to 8d.6d. to 8d.
Lamb per 1b.5d. to 8d.5d. to 5 1/2d.4 1/2d.to 7d.5d. to 7d.8d.7d.7d.5d. to 7d.4d. to 8d.
IV. DAIRY PRODUCE...................
Butter, fresh per 1b.10d. to 1/111d. to 1/9d. to 1/8d. to 1/9d.1/1/7d. to 1/9d. to 1/2
Butter, salt per 1b.7d. to 10d.9d. to 10d.6d. to 9d.8d. to 9d.7d.8d. to 11d.10d. to 1/7d. to 10d.7d. to 1/
Cheese, colonialper 1b.6 1/2d. to 8d.6d. to 8d.6d. to 8d.6d.8d.7d. to 8d.6d. to 7d.5 1/2d. to 10d.
Cheese, imported per 1b.1/ to 2/6..1/6 to 2/1/ to 2/....1/to 1/68d. to 1/48 1/2d. to 2/6
Milk per quart3d. to 4d.3d.3d.3d. to 4d.4d.4d. to 6d.4d. to 6d.3d. to 4d.3d. to 6d.
V. FARM-YARD PRODUCE.
Geese per pair7/ to 10/8/ to 8/67/ to 9/5/ to 7/67/67/6 to 10/9/ to 10/5/ to 7/65/6 to 10/
Ducks per pair4/ to 6/4/ to 5/4/ to 6/3/6 to 6/5/5/ to 7/65/ to 7/5/ to 6/4/6 to 6/
Fowls per pair2/6 to 4/3/6 to 4/3/ to 5/2/6 to 4/63/3/6 to 5/4/ to 6/3/3 to 4/93/ to 4/
Turkeys per head4/ to 8/5/6 to 12/5/ to 10/5/ to 9/6..4/ to 7/66/ to 10/7/ to 9/67/to 12/
Bacon per 1b.7 1/2d. to 10d.9d. to 1/8 1/2. to 10 1/2d.9d.9d.7 1/2d. to 9d.9d. to 10d.6d. to 10d.8d. to 10 1/2d.
Ham per 1b.8 1/4d. to 1/110 1/2d. to 1/10d. to 11d.9d. to 1/11d.10d. to 11d.10d.9d. to 1/9d. to 1/1
Eggs per doz.8d. to 1/1/ to 1/11/ to 1/410d. to 1/41/1/2 to 1/61/3 to 1/610d. to 1/9d. to 1/1
VI. GARDEN PRODUCE.
Potatoes, wholesale per ton70/to 120/60/ to 80/50/ to 100/60/ to 80/55/60/60/ to 100/40/40/to 120/
Potatoes, retail per cwt.3/6 to 7/64/3 to 6/3/6 to 6/3/6 to 5/5/..5/ to 6/2/64/ to 8/
Onions per 1b.1 1/4d. to 3d.1d. to 1 1/2d.1 1/2d. to 2d.1d. to 3d.2d.2d.1 1/2d. to 2d.1d. to 1 1/2d.1d. to 2d.
Carrots per doz. bnchs.8d. to 2/2/9d. to 2/1/ to 2/1/1/62/1/ to 3/1/ to 3/
Turnips per doz. bnchs.8d. to 2/2/9d. to 2/1/ to 2/1/1/62/1/ to 3/1/ to 3/
Cabbages per doz.1/4 to 3/1/3 to 4/1/3 to 3/1/ to 3/2/69d. to 3/3/ to 4/1/ to 3/8d. to 3/
VII. MISCELLANEOUSARTICLES.
Tea per 1b.1/8 to 2/62/1/10 to 2/61/6 to 2/62/2/2/ to 3/1/3 to 2/1/8 to 2/
Coffee per 1b.1/4 to 2/1/81/8 to 2/1/6 to 2/1/81/6 to 1/81/6 to 2/1/4 to 2/41/6 to 2/
Sugar per 1b.2 1/2d. to 3d.2 1/2d. to 3d.2 3/4. to 3 1/2d.2 1/2d. to 3d.3d.2 1/2d. to 3d.3d.2 1/2d.2 1/2d. to 3d.
Rice per 1b.2d. to 3d.2 1/2d. to 3d.3d.2d. to 3d.2d.2 1/2d.3d.2d. to 3d.2d. to 3d.
Salt per 1b.1d.1d.1d.1d.1d.1d.1d.1d.1d.
Soap per cwt.12/ to 27/17/ to 20/14/ to 25/11/6 to 23/21/18/to 30/10/ to 24/18/ to 20/14/ to 24/
Candles per 1b.5d. to 8d.6 1/2d. to 8d.6d. to 9d.6d.to 8d.6d. to 8d.7d. to 8d.6d. to 8d.5d. to 7d.6d. to 10d.
Tobacco per 1b.5/3 to 6/65/65/ to 6/5/ to 6/5/6 to 6/65/6 to 6/5/ to 6/65/ to 6/65/ to 6/
Coal per ton26/ to 50/40/ to 42/34/6 to 50/34/ to 50/40/22/ to 40/22/ to 35/30/ to 52/20/ to 40/
Firewood per cord15/ to 30/20/ to 25/20/ to 30/20/ to 33/30/..18/to 24/30/ to 40/17/6 to 40/
VIII. BEER, WINES, SPIRITS.
Beer, colonial per hhd.80/ to 96/80/85/ to 95/70/ to 100/84/80/80/ to 90/80/70/to 100/
Beer, English, bottled per doz. qts13/ to 18/15/14/6 to 16/614/ to 18/14/615/14/ to 16/13/6 to 18/13/ to 18/
Brandy per gallon24/ to 28/30/ to 35/27/ to 30/26/6 to 32/628/25/ to 27/625/ to 26/28/ to 30/23/ to 29/
Rum per gallon22/6 to 27/26/ to 27/623/ to 30/24/6 to 28/30/22/6 to 26/24/ to 25/25/ to 30/21/ to 27/
Whisky per gallon24/ to 27/27/6 to 30/27/to 30/26/ to 30/32/625/to 27/625/27/6 to 31/23/to 29/
Gin per gallon19/ to 24/620/ to 24/23/6 to 27/620/ to 30/23/ to 25/..19/ to 24/20/ to 24/20/ to 33/
Wine, Australian per gallon12/ to 17/16/ to 18/14/6 to 21/14/ to 24/17/615/ to 16/13/6 to 20/15/ to 16/16/ to 30/
Wine. European per gallon16/ to 28/20/22/ to 25/20/ to 40/25/20/17/6 to 27/24/ to 28/18/to 36/

AVERAGE RATES OF WAGES IN EACH PROVINCIAL DISTRICT OF NEW ZEALAND DURING THE YEAR 1903.

Description of Labour.Auckland.Taranaki.Hawke's Bay.Wellington.Marlborough.Nelson.Westland (Goldfield).Canterbury.Otago (Part Goldfield).
1. AGRICULTURAL LABOUR.
Farm-labourers:
With board, per week15/ to 25/20/20/ to 25/15/ to 30/25/20/ to 25/20/ to 30/15 to 20/15/ to 25/
Without board, per day7/7/6/ to 8/8/7/8/..5/ to 6/6/ to 8/
Ploughmen:
With board, per week20/ to 25/25/20/ to 25/20/ to 30/25/20/20/ to 25/20/ to 25/17/6 to 25/
Without board, per day7/6 to 8/7/6/ to 8/7/8/8/5/ to 6/7/ 
Harvesters:
With board, per week30/ to 35/40/30/30/ to 40/48/40/..35/ to 40/20/ to 30/
Without board, per day8/ to 9/1/ per hour1/ per hour8/10/10/..1/ per hour9d. to 1/ per hour
Men cooks on farms
With board, per week20/ to 30/20/ to 25/20/ to 30/20/ to 30/25/25/..20/ to 25/20/ to 40/
Female farm-servants:
With board, per week10/ to 15/10/ to 12/12/ to 15/10/ to 25/12/10/ to 15/..10/ to 15/12/ to 20/
2. PASTORAL LABOUR.
Shepherds, with board, per annum£50 to £70£50 to £80£65 to £78£50 to £80£70 to £80£65..£52 to £70£52 to £85
Stock-keepers, with board, per annum£50 to £70£50 to £80£60 to £78£50 to £80£70 to £80£65..£52 to £65£50 to £75
Station-labourers:
With board, per week15/ to 25/20/ to 25/20/ to 25/10/ to 30/20/ to 25/20/..15/ to 20/15/ to 22/
Without board, per day............5/ to 7/6.. 
Shearers, with board, per 100 sheep shorn16/8 to 20/16/8 to 20/17/6 to 20/16/8 to 20/16/8 to 20/16/8..15/ to 17/615/ to 20/
Men cooks on stations, with board, per week20/ to 30/20/ to 30/25/ to 30/20/ to 40/25/ to 30/25/..20/ to 30/20/ to 30/
3. ARTISAN LABOUR (per day, without board).
Masons10/ to 14/12/12/10/ to 14/10/11/12/ to 14/10/ to 11/10/ to 14/
Plasterers10/ to 14/12/ to 16/14/12/ to 15/12/11/13/4 to 14/11/ to 12/11/ to 14/
Bricklayers10/ to 14/12/ to 12/812/10/ to 14/10/11/ to 14/12/ to 14/12/10/ to 13/
Carpenters9/ to 12/10/10/9/ to 12/8/9/ to 12/12/ to 14/10/ to 10/810/ to 12/
Smiths8/ to 10/9/10/8/ to 10/8/9/ to 11/10/ to 13/48/ to 10/8/ to 10/6
Shipwrights10/10/10/10/ to 12/..12/10/10/ to 12/10/ to 12/
Plumbers8/ to 11/9/ to 10/10/ to 12/9/ to 12/10/8/ to 10/10/ to 13/69/ to 11/10/ to 12/
Painters7/ to 10/9/ to 10/9/ to 10/8/ to 10/10/8/ to 10/8/ to 12/68/ to 10/9/6 to 12/
Saddlers8/ to 10/8/ to 9/8 to 9/8/ to 9/10/8/8/6 to 10/8/ to 8/68/ to 10/
Shoemakers7/to 9/8/7/ to 8/67/6 to 9/7/6 to 8/8/9/ to 10/6/ to 8/6/ to 10/
Coopers8/ to 10/8/ to 10/69/ to 10/8/ to 10/10/10/10/ to 12/8/6 to 11/8/ to 13/
Watchmakers8/ to 10/9/ to 10/10/8/to 10/10/9/10/ to 12/9/ to 12/8/ to 12/6
4. SERVANTS.
Married couples without family, with board, per annum£60 to £85£70 to £80£75 to £90£60 to £80£60 to £90£75..£65 to £80£60 to £80
Married couples with family, with board, per annum£52 to £80..£60 to £80£50 to £80£70 to £80£70..£60 to £70£45 to £80
Grooms, with board, per week15/ to 25/25/20/ to 30/20/ to 25/25/ to 30/20/ to 25/20/ to 25/20/ to 30/20/ to 30/
Gardeners:
With board, per week20/ to 25/20/ to 36/20/ to 30/20/ to 40/20/ to 30/25/..20/ to 30/20/ to 30/
Without board, per day7/8/7/7/ to 8/8/ to 10/8/8/7/ to 8/7/ to 8/
Cooks, with board, per week15/ to 25/20/ to 30/15/ to 30/12/6 to 40/15/ to 21/20/15/ to 20/15/ to 20/12/ to 25/
Laundresses, with board, per week15/ to 20/1 15/ to 30/13/ to 20/15/ to 20/15/ to 20/15/15/ to 20/15/ to 20/12 to 25/
General house servants, with board, per week10/ to 17/610/ to 15/12/ to 15/8/ to 20/10/ to 15/10/ to 15/10/ to 15/10/ to 15/10/ to 15/
Housemaids, with board, per week8/ to 15/10/ to 15/10/ to 15/10/ to 24/10/ to 15/10/ to 15/10/ to 15/10/ to 12/610/ to 15/
Nursemaids, with board, per week5/ to 10/5/6/ to 8/5/ to 15/7/ to 12/8/8/ to 11/4/ to 10/6/ to 10/
Needlewomen:
With board, per week12/ to 20/12/ to 20/..20/15/-20/20/12/ to 20/15/ to 20/15/ to 21/
Without board, per day (lunch always provided)3/6 to 5/3/3/63/ to 5/4/ to 5/..4/3/ to 4/3/ to 6/
5. MISCELLANEOUS...................
General labourers, without board, per day7/ to 8/8/7/ to 8/7/ to 9/7/ to 8/5/ to 8/10/6/ to 8/6/ to 8/
Stonebreakers, without board, per cubic yard4/ to 4/63/ to 3/92/6 to 3/62/6 to 3/63/6..4/62/6 to 3/62/3 to 3/6
Seamen, with board, per month£6....£6 to £6/10..£6£6£4/10 to £6£5 to £8
Miners, without board, per day7/6 to 10/68/....9/9/6 to 10/9/6 to 10/8/ to 10/8/ to 11/
Engine-drivers, ”8/6 to 12/69/ to 10/9/ to 12/8/ to 12/10/10/10/ to 12/10/8/ to 13/
Tailors, ”8/4 to 10/6/8 to 10/7/6 to 10/7/ to 10/10/-11/68/4 to 9/10/ to 12/9/ to 10/6/8 to 11/8
Tailoresses ″ per week16/ to 30/15/to 40/20/ to 30/15/ to 40/..20/ to 25/25/ to 48/24/ to 30/21/ to 30/
Dressmakers, ”10/ to 25/12/ to 36/25/ to 40/24/ to 50/20/-30/15/ to 50/21/ to 24/21/ to 25/20/ to 30/
Milliners, ”10/ to 30/20/ to 42/25/ to 40/30/ to 50/20/-35/30/ to 50/40/ to 50/21/ to 40/20/ to 50/
Machinists, ”15/to 30/20/ to 42/25/ to 30/20/ to 50/7/-20/24/15/ to 20/21/ to 30/17/6 to 30/
Storekeepers, ”40/ to 60/30/ to 54/50/ to 60/30/ to 70/45/-60/50/ to 80/50/ to 72/39/ to 60/40/ to 70/
assistants, ”24/ to 50/36/40/ to 50/30/ to 60/35/-40/30/ to 60/40/ to 50/30/ to 40/25/ to 60/
Drapers' assistants, ”24/ to 65/36/ to 50/30/ to 50/25/ to 65/40/-60/40/ to 50/40/ to 70/30/ to 60/20/ to 60/
Grocers' assistants, ”30/ to 60/36/ to 50/40/ to 50/25/ to 60/30/-35/ 40/-50/ 50/-60/30/ to 50/40/30/ to 60/20/ to 50/
Butchers, ”45/to 50/42/ to 48/45/ to 60/30/ to 70/40/-50/25/ to 40/60/40/ to 54/30/ to 60/
Bakers, ”30/ to 54/40/to 50/47/6 to 60/40/ to 60/50/-60/50/50 to 60/40/ to 60/32/ to 60/
Storemen, ”42/ to 50/45/42/ to 50/45/ to 55/50/-60/42/ to 50/50/ to 60/36/ to 48/40/ to 60/
Compositors, ”45/ to 60/48/ to 50/42/ to 50/40/ to 60/50/-65/50/ to 60/50/ to 60/40/ to 60/40/ to 70/

Chapter 41. SECTION XI.—MINING.

THE natural mineral resources of New Zealand are very great, and have exercised in the past a most important influence on the development and progress of the colony. Gold to the value of £63,149,147 was obtained prior to the 31st December, 1903; the value of the produce for the year 1903 having been £2,037,831. In the earliest years the gold was obtained from alluvial diggings, but at the present time the greatest quantity is taken from gold-bearing quartz, which is distributed widely through several parts of the colony, and thus there is a much better prospect of the permanency of this industry than alluvial diggings alone could give.

The yield of silver to the end of 1903 amounted to £544,278 in value, the quantity mined in 1903 having been 911,914 oz., valued at £91,497.

Of other minerals, the value of the product to the same date amounts to £22,119,815, of which kauri-gum yielded £11,857,270, and coal, with coke, £9,962,997.

The quantities and values of precious metals and minerals obtained during the year 1903, and the total value of all mining produce since 1853, are:—

 ..1903.Total Value since 1853.
 Oz.££
Gold533, 3142,037,83163,149,147
Silver911,9191,497544,278
 1,445,2282,129,32863,693,425
 Tons.££
Copper-ore612318,211
Chrome-ore....38,002
Antimony-ore....52,598
Manganese-ore7021061,056
Hæmatite-ore..1343
Mixed minerals6257,014122,127
Coal1,420,193762,8589,938,193
Shale36187,211
Coke (exported)....24,804
Kauri-gum9,357631,10211,857,270
 ..£3,530,654£85,813,240

Of the gold entered for exportation during the year ended the 31st March, 1904—viz., 540,445 oz., representing a value of £2,066,948—about 60 per cent. came out of quartz-mines; but, if the total yield of gold obtained in the colony be taken, the value of which to 31st March, 1904, is £63,628,261, about 25 per cent. came from quartz - mines and 75 per cent. from alluvial workings.

MINERAL PRODUCTION (VALUE) OF AUSTRALASIA TO END OF 1902.

The total value of mineral production for Australasia to the end of the year 1902 is shown in the following table. The figures, except those for New Zealand, are taken from Mr. Coghlan's “Statistics of the Six States of Australia and New Zealand”:—

State or Colony,Gold.Silver and Silver-lead.Copper.Tin.Coal.Other Minerals.Total.

*Inclusive of kauri-gum to the value of £11,226,168.

 £££££££
New S'th Wales49,844,13533,781,7566,164,8796,661,39941,701,4424,678,830142,832,441
Victoria263,556,405862,289206,395715,9981,198,208411,661266,950,956
Queensland55,472,314860,8932,438,8924,810,0372,994,275359,86366,936,274
South Australia2,483,276138,39023,212,02138,758..575,11826,447,563
W'st'n Australia38,097,37520,929335,062237,982237,160417,91439,346,422
Tasmania5,195,1612,771,9104,609,4787,482,901474,065384,14120,917,656
New Zealand61,111,316452,78118,088..9,175,33511,525,066*82,282,586
Australasia475,759,98238,888,94836,984,81519,947,07555,780,48518,352,593645,713,898

GOLD-MINING.

The history of the finding of gold in this colony was briefly sketched in the Year-books for 1893 and 1894, and need not, therefore, be given again, but the remarks of the New Zealand Mines Record on the great results for the year 1903 at Ohinemuri may well be quoted:—

Reviewing the history of the Auckland goldfields during 1903, generally, the most striking feature is the success of the Ohinemuri district, to which the large increase in the gold-output is solely due.

Operations at the parent mine of Waihi have been attended with gratifying results, the reef systems met with having produced considerable quantities of ore, the bulk of which has been payable, and some of it very rich. A considerable amount of work has been done in the low levels, and there are now large blocks of ground opened up, with ore in sight sufficient to insure the mine a long lease of life. The deep-sinking operations intended to be carried out by the Waihi Company have necessitated the purchase of a large amount of machinery, the installation of which is carried on as rapidly as possible. The latest importation is a winding plant that will enable 1,000 tons of ore per day to be raised—an increase of 600 tons per day. This should largely increase the returns. Efficient and economical methods of ore-treatment have enabled the company to bring their mine ahead of the great Mount Morgan Mine as to productiveness, and there is a reasonable prospect of it becoming in time of even more importance amongst the noted gold-mines of the world. Its yield of about £650,000 during 1903 is over £127,000 in excess of the total output for the previous year.

GOLD-DREDGING.

The year 1903 was not a favourable one for gold-dredging. The fluctuations in height of the River Molyneux were such as to effectually prevent anything like constant work, even with dredges which had been improved for use in deeper water than formerly. Moreover, what are termed the gorge dredges could only be worked at intervals. With the river remaining steadily at a low level during the winter, good results may be obtained, but those were not the conditions for the year 1903.

MINERS, AND GOLD ENTERED FOR EXPORT AT DIFFERENT DISTRICTS.

The total number of gold-miners employed in 1903 was 10,210, as against 11,398 for the previous year. In some places, more especially in Otago, Nelson, and on the West Coast, many of the miners do not depend entirely on mining, but employ a part of their time in farming and other pursuits.

In 1901 an Act was passed reducing the fee payable for a miner's right from 10s. to 5s.

The total quantity of gold entered for export during the years ending 31st March, 1903, and 31st March, 1904, for the several districts, and the total quantity and value of the gold exported from the colony from the 1st January, 1857, to the 31st March, 1904, are shown hereunder; but this does not necessarily include the whole of the gold produced, as no doubt much has been taken out of the colony from time to time by people who have evaded the duty, and a good deal has been used for making jewellery and ornaments:—

TABLE SHOWING THE QUANTITY AND VALUE OF GOLD ENTERED FOR EXPORTATION FROM NEW ZEALAND FOR THE YEARS ENDED THE 31ST MARCH, 1903 AND 1904, AND THE TOTAL QUANTITY AND VALUE FROM JANUARY, 1857, TO 31ST MARCH, 1904.

District.Year ending 31st March, 1903.Year ending 31st March, 1904.Increase for Year ending 31st March, 1904.Total Quantity and Value from January, 1857, to 31st March, 1904.
Quantity.Value.Quantity.Value.

*Decrease.

 Oz.£Oz.£Oz.Oz.£
Auckland203,158724,89223,271834,07030,1133,288,73312,232,414
Wellington..........188706
Marlborough4011,6041,2795,07387888,779345,975
Nelson6,23524,7048,22232,8191,987281,8191,113,018
West Coast125,399501,639126,184504,8457856,355,05425,274,602
Canterbury..........123483
Otago192,079771,892171,489690,141-20,590*6,216,20824,661,063
  Totals527,2722,024,731540,4452,066,94813,173 Net.16,230,90463,628,261

It will be seen from the above table that there was last year an increase in the export of gold of 13,173 oz. on the figures for the preceding twelve months.

Of the total quantity of gold entered for exportation last year Auckland contributed 43.16 per cent.; Marlborough, 0.24 per cent.; Nelson, 1.52 per cent.; West Coast, 23.35 per cent.; and Otago, 31.73 per cent.

Gold-production of Australasia.

The gold-yield of Australasia for the years 1898 to 1902 was as under:—

 1898.1900.1902.
 Oz.Oz.Oz.
Queensland920,048963,189860,453
New South Wales340,493345,650190,316
Victoria837,257807,407777,738
South Australia31,96124,08628,198
Western Australia1,050,1841,580,9502,177,442
Tasmania74,23381,12570,996
New Zealand280,175373,616508,045
..3,534,3514,176,0234,613,188

The increase for the five-year period is 1,078,837 oz. The mint value of Australasian gold averages £3 16s. per ounce, and a comparison of value is therefore as follows: 1898, £13,430,533; 1900, £15,868,887; 1902, £17,530,114: increase, 1898 to 1902, £4,099,581.

Gold-production of the World for each of the Five Years 1897-1901.

(From a table compiled in the Government Statistician's Office, Perth, Western Australia.)

Countries and Continents.1897.1898.1899.1900.1901.
Australasia.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.
Western Australia603,847939,4901,470,6051,414,3111,703,416
Victoria765,365788,429789,368751,211731,276
Queensland601,060647,487668,150676,058598,412
New Zealand230,759254,416356,231338,911412,876
New South Wales265,593292,940412,412281,214216,888
Tasmania68,09368,62477,11074,44569,491
South Australia28,22,37718,63319,41821,946
New Guinea, &c.5,8905,62710,4027,5608,693
Total ounces2,568,8923,019,3903,802,9113,563,1283,762,998
Total value £10,911,96012,825,55316,153,73915,135,20615,984,200
Africa.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.
The Transvaal2,743,5183,823,3673,637,713348,761258,033
Other countries and colonies48,47957,579130,257194,049256,449
Total ounces2,791,9973,880,9463,767,970542,810514,482
Total value £11,859,64916,485,21116,005,3192,305,7102,185,381
America.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.
United States of America2,774,9353,118,3983,437,2103,829,8973,880,578
Canada291,582666,4451,028,6201,350,1761,183,465
Mexico481,362587,548281,471455,204499,725
Columbia107,736109,47389,23157,804100,145
South America394,584414,114493,456563,045584,786
Total ounces4,050,1994,895,9785,329,9886,256,1266,248,699
Total value £17,204,15220,796,79322,640,35026,574,33426,542,786
Europe.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.
Russia1,073,7981,073,5251,083,5431,072,4341,253,592
Other European countries214,280203,844203,446230,400210,873
Total ounces1,288,0781,277,3691,286,9891,302,8341,464,465
Total value £5,471,4075,425,9195,466,7825,534,0876,220,652
Asia.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.
British India369,154378,674405,045444,585452,743
China298,486261,655269,783208,031231,058
Other Asiatic countries88,58499,630157,751207,864273,798
Total ounces756,224739,959832,579860,480957,599
Total value £3,212,2353,143,1463,536,5713,655,0874,067,622
The World.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.
Total ounces11,455,39013,813,64215,020,43712,525,37812,948,243
Value, pounds sterling £48,659,40358,676,62263,802,76153,204,42455,000,641

COAL-MINING.

The extent of the coal-measures in New Zealand will make coal-mining one of the large industries in the colony, especially on the west coast of the Middle Island, where bituminous coal exists equal, if not superior, in quality to coal of the same class in any part of the world.

The progressive increase in the output of coal from 1878 to the end of 1903 is shown below:—

Year.Raised in the Colony.Imported.Total raised in the Colony and imported per Annum.Exported (excluding Coal for Fuel by Ocean Steamers).Total Consumption of Coal within the Colony.Yearly Increase in Consumption within the Colony.
Total.Yearly Increase.

*Decrease.

 Tons.Tons.Tons.Tons.Tons.Tons.Tons.
1878162,218..174,148336,3663,921332,445..
1879231,21869,000158,076389,2947,195382,09949,654
1880299,92368,705123,298423,2217,021416,20034,101
1881337,26237,339129,962467,2246,626460,59844,398
1882378,27241,010129,582507,8544,245503,60943,011
1883421,76443,492123,540545,3047,172538,13234,523
1884480,83159,067148,444629,2756,354622,92184,789
1885511,06330,232130,202641,2652,371638,89415,973
1886534,35323,290119,873654,2262,862651,36412,470
1887558,62024,267107,230665,85012,951652,8991,535
1888613,89555,275101,341715,23627,678687,55834,659
1889586,445-27,450*128,063714,50839,290675,21812,340
1890637,39750,952110,939748,33633,404714,93239,714
1891668,79431,397125,318794,11229,093764,01949,087
1892673,3154,521125,453798,76828,169770,5996,580
1893691,54818,233117,444808,99224,288784,70414,105
1894719,54627,998112,961832,50725,449807,05822,354
1895726,6547,108108,198834,85226,151808,7011,643
1896792,85166,197101,756894,60727,974866,63357,932
1897840,71347,862110,907951,62026,639924,98158,348
1898907,03366,320115,4271,022,46018,3481,004,11279,131
1899975,23468,20199,6551,074,88914,1461,060,74356,631
19001,093,990118,756124,0331 218,02336,6991,181,324120,581
19011,227,638133,648149,7641,377,40277,5631,299,839118,515
19021,362,702135,064127,8531,490,555110,6661,379,88980,050
19031,420,19357,491163,9231,584,11697,4611,486,655106,766

It will be seen from the above that, with the exception of 1889, there has been a steady increase in the output of coal from the mines in the colony year after year since records have been kept by the Mines Department. The yearly increase in output is principally due to the growing demand for consumption within the colony. During a period of twenty-six years the annual consumption of coal in New Zealand has increased to the extent of 1,154,210 tons, showing that new industries are quickly springing up, requiring fuel for generating motive power.

The total output from the mines last year was 1,420,193 tons, as against 1,362,702 tons for 1902, an increase of 57,491 tons. The coal imported from other countries was 163,923 tons, against 127,853 tons in 1902, an increase in the importation last year of 36,070 tons. The imports were 163,903 tons from New South Wales, and 20 tons from the United Kingdom. The total export of coal was 156,136 tons, of which 152,332 tons were colonial produce, and 3,804 tons imported coal from other countries. Of the coal exported, 58,675 tons were for coaling direct steamers trading between the colony and the United Kingdom, and has been treated as coal consumed within the colony, these steamers trading wholly between New Zealand and Great Britain. Taking, therefore, the output from the mines and the coal imported, there is a total of 1,584,116 tons, of which 97,461 tons were exported, leaving the consumption within the colony last year 1,486,655 tons, as against 1,379,889 tons for 1902, an increased consumption of 106,766 tons.

The largest increase in the output last year was in the West-port district—namely, 42,844 tons. There was also an increased production from the mines in the Kawakawa and Hikurangi district of 11,078 tons, in the Southland district of 9,191 tons, in the Waikato district of 4,015 tons, in the Reefton district of 1,423 tons, in the Malvern district of 4,082 tons, in the Miranda district of 3,077 tons, in the Mokau district of 1,900 tons, in the West Wanganui district of 1,102 tons; but there was a decline in the Greymouth district of 18,153 tons, in the Otago district of 748 tons, and in the Whangarei, Kamo, Ngunguru, and Whauwhau district of 2,320 tons.

The quantities of coal produced in each district are as under:—

Name of District.Output of Coal.Increase or Decrease.Approximate Total Output of Coal up to the 31st December, 1903.
1903.1902.
 Tons.Tons.Tons.Tons.
Kawakawa and Hikurangi71,68460,60611,0781,322,108
Whangarei, Kamo, Ngunguru, and Whauwhau29,83532,155-2,320529,609
Waikato95,55691,5414,0151,438,351
Mokau6,1504,2501,90039,934
Miranda6,5703,4933,07710,493
Pelorus......711
West Wanganui1,102..1,10256,285
Westport571,306528,46242,8445,281,318
Reefton10,1838,7601,423109,189
Greymouth198,441216,594-18,1533,498,323
Malvern23,52719,4454,082442,456
Timaru......10,657
Otago307,562308,310-7484,978,531
Southland98,27789,0869,191845,438
  Totals1,420,1931,362,70257,491 Net.18,563,403

(-) Decrease.

The following table, constructed from “Laboratory Reports of the Geological Survey” (Sir J. Hector) gives the composition of samples of New Zealand coals freshly taken from the principal mines:—

Number.Description.Locality.Analysis.Evaporative Power.*
Fixed Carbon.Hydrocarbon.Water.Ash.1.2.

*The second column headed “Evaporative Power” is obtained by the use of a multiple computed from the results of Professor Liversedge's experiments upon the coals of New South Wales. The multiple used for the first column is the one which has long been generally used for computing the evaporative power of coals; but, to prevent any unfair and prejudicial comparison of our coals with those of New South Wales, the second column is given.

1AnthraciteAcheron, Canterbury184-121.961.8012.1210.9318.50
2BituminousCoalbrookdale74.8320.501.163.519.7016.45
3....70.0022.152.525.339.1015.40
4..Banbury69.9725.710.993.3390915.38
5Altered brown coalMalvern Hills68.5419.894.157.428.2712.50
6BituminousTyneside65.5929.180.824.418.5213.55
7Glance coalRakaia Gorge64.5121.276.767.468.3013.20
8BituminousWallsend62.8731.641.663.838.1713.82
9..Grey River62.3729.441.996.208.0113.22
10Pitch coalKawakawa61.1628.002.518.337.9512.55
11BituminousPreservation Inlet60.8828.604.336.197.9112.80
12Pitch coalBlackball, Grey River60.2029.978.011.827.8212.20
13BituminousMokihinui59.7532.143.974.147.7611.80
14..Coalpit Heath58.8138.981.021.197.6412.96
15..Mokihinui57.9234.943.963.187.5012.75
16..Brunner Mine56.6235.681.596.117.3612.46
17....56.2137.731.504.567.3012.30
18..Westport56.0137.172.604.227.2812.30
19..Mokihinui55.5938.863.162.397.2012.22
20..Brunner54.1635.852.507.497.0411.91
21Altered brown coalMalvern Hills53.2932.0412.652.026.9211.50
22BituminousWallsend53.1035.471.4110.026.9011.68
23..Otamataura Creek52.8936.632.198.296.9011.70
24..Near Cape Farewell51.3738.724.385.536.3111.60
25Pitch coalKawakawa50.1542.634.183.046.5011.80
26Glance coalWhangarei50.1138.688.013.206.5011.75
27Pitch coalKamo50.0137.699.612.696.5011.17
28Brown coalMalvern Hills49.9935.4211.792.806.4910.90
29..Fernhill49.9536.9512.001.106.4910.99
30..Allandale47.3134.2612.416.026.1510.96
31..Kaitangata46.4833.4814.665.386.0410.22
32..Shag Point46.2132.6516.025.126.0010.16
33..Homebush44.9236.0015.833.255.839.87
34Pitch coalHikurangi, Whangarei44.5047.005.992.515.789.79
35Brown coalHokonui44.2838.2216.501.005.759.77
36..Kaitangata44.1138.3215.442.135.749.96
37..Nightcaps43.6233.6818.334.375.679.59
38Pitch coalShag Point43.1930.0515.8210.945.619.52
39Brown coalSpringfield42.6833.6618.655.015.559.38
40..Orepuki42.6436.2614.446.665.549.38
41..Kaitangata38.2932.4317.5011.784.878.32
42..Shag Point35.7630.8613.2220.164.647.85
43..Allandale34.7241.4318.994.864.517.63
44Pitch coalGrey River34.7256.486.202.604.517.63
FOR COMPARISON.
 Newcastle, N.S.W.Best158.3334.171.835.677.5012.82
 Worst153.3426.663.3316.676.9011.72 

As regards the quality of the coal, it cannot be surpassed. The late Sir John Coode, in his presidential address to the Institute of Civil Engineers, London, stated: “The bituminous coal found on the west coast of the Middle Island is declared by engineers to be fully equal, if not superior, to the best description from any part of the world.”

The quantity of each class of coal produced in 1902 and 190 was:—

Class of Coal.Output of Coal.Increase or Decrease.Approximate Total Output of Coal up to the 31st December, 1903.
1902.1903
 Tons.Tons.Tons.Tons.
Bituminous and semi-bituminous845,046879,891+34,84510,426,714
Pitch25,24521,116-4,1291,859,072
Brown427,172441,814+14,6425,593,085
Lignite65,23977,372+12,133684,532
  Totals1,362,7021,420,193+57,49118,563,403

It has been computed that to deliver coal at the pit-mouth costs in labour 6s. a ton. The number of persons employed in all the coal-mines last year was 2,852, and the output of coal 1,420,193 tons: the average earning for each person would thus be £149 7s. 9d. per annum, or about £2 17s. 5d. per week.

STATE COAL-MINES.

The development-works at the State Coal-mines at Seddonville were completed during the year 1903. The coal is viewed with great favour by marine engineers. The output for the year has been small, but it is expected the mine will be capable of producing an output of 1,500 tons per week.

At the Point Elizabeth Mine near Greymouth the development-works are nearing completion, and it is estimated the mine will produce an output of 2,000 tons per week, but this will not be possible till the railway-line to Greymouth is completed.

PHOSPHATE ROCK.

Fairly extensive deposits of phosphate rock have been discovered as a fringe to the limestone at Clarendon, near Milton, Otago. The Ewing Phosphate Company (Limited) has been formed, and operations of quarrying and burning on a commercial scale have been undertaken. After burning, the rock is crushed and chemically treated. The value of this phosphate as a fertiliser has been satisfactorily proved, and there is every indication of a growing industry in quarrying the rock and preparing it for use. With such a valuable material at our very doors, there is no doubt that in future the importation of phosphate manures will cease, or at least be greatly reduced, whilst the question of export from this colony is within the range of possibility.

OTHER METALS OR MINERALS.

Very little has been done in the colony to prospect and develop mines other than for gold and silver. The only exports last year of metalliferous products, excluding gold and silver, were 472 tons of auriferous ore, 21 tons of lead-ore, 42 tons of scheelite-ore, 2 tons of tin-ore, and small parcels of other minerals, representing an aggregate value of £7,014.

KAURI-GUM.

The quantity of kauri-gum exported last year was 9,357 tons, as against 7,430 tons for 1902. Last year's produce (£631,102) gave an average value of about £67 8s. 11d. per ton, while for 1902 the average was £60 11s. 11d. per ton.

Chapter 42. SECTION XII. — OCCUPATION OF LAND; AND LIVE-STOCK.

THE occupation of land must not be confused with ownership,* because there are large parcels of lands held which are unused and unoccupied. Neither can lands occupied be properly compared with the returns of Crown lands alienated or in process of alienation, for certain lands have passed into the hands of Europeans which were never made waste lands of the Crown.

The occupied lands of the colony for 1903-1904 have been returned by the Department of Agriculture at 36,476,481 acres, including Crown lands leased for pastoral purposes only, or 589,034 acres in excess of the area for the preceding year.

Tables are given showing the numbers and acreages of holdings, grouped according to size, for the last five years in which the Department of Agriculture has compiled the information.

In 1895 the holdings of over 1 acre in extent, as returned to the Registrar-General, numbered only 46,676. Holdings occupied by Maoris were excluded, besides holdings of exactly 1 acre, also gardens and orchards attached to residences.*

OCCUPIED LANDS: HOLDINGS.

[This and the succeeding statement deal with the full extent of occupied land, including Crown pastoral leases.]

Sizes of Holdings.No. of Holdings.
1899-1900.1900-1901.1901-1902.1902-1903.1903-1904.
1 acre to 10 acres, inclusive17,45417,46817,81718,34818,731
10 acres to 5011,50511,39911,53111,34811,386
50 1007,1957,1627,1307,2397,245
100 2009,1779,0809,3329,4009,570
200 3205,6755,7515,8985,9986,145
320 6405,8306,0236,2016,3876,566
640 1,0002,1282,2122,3242,4492,497
1,000 5,0002,6672,8022,8543,0033,075
5,000 10,000352392393366379
10,000 20,000233233234217223
20,000 50,000169167165175169
50,000 acres and over10097103104106
 62,48562,78663,98265,03466,092

* The latest information in reference to ownership of land which is available gives figures up to the 31st March, 1902. It is contained in Parliamentary Return B.-20 of that year, and states the total number of owners of land (town and country holdings of all sizes) to be 115,713 for the colony. The most important figures (showing ownership of productive land) are those of freeholders outside boroughs and town districts, and excluding holdings of under 5 acres. These figures are:—

NEW ZEALAND OWNERS (OVER 5 ACRES).

Year 190243,735
189238,935
188937,432
Year 188634,450
188330,764

†At the census of April, 1901, the actual number of persons described in the census schedules as having occupations necessitating their occupying holdings of land was 40,144. This number includes 28,337 farmers, 3,220 runholders, 895 market-gardeners, 2,388 horticulturists or gardeners, 4,702 dairy-farmers, 345 fruit-growers, 29 vignerons, 159 poultry-farmers, 35 bee-farmers, and 34 others.

The holdings are shown to have increased by the number of 3,607 since 1899-1900.

The total acreage of occupied land for each of the last five years is shown:—

OCCUPIED LANDS: ACREAGES.

Sizes of Holdings in Acres.1899-1900.1900-1901.1901-1902.1902-1903.1903-1904.
Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.
1 to 10 inclusive70,29071,38773,95473,72676,464
10 ″ 50322,936320,158324,620314,940319,241
50 ″ 100568,716556,868560,888566,406570,736
100 ″ 2001,404,5811,389,1201,431,5321,424,2651,462,747
200 ″ 3201,475,1951,493,7611,543,7491,550,5481,594,245
320 ″ 6402,688,2312,772,3252,836,7872,908,7453,016,780
640 ″ 1,0001,731,6361,843,2351,924,9821,960,7302,007,817
1,000 ″ 5,0005,495,4675,715,0475,849,5166,195,8786,171,815
5,000 ″ 10,0002,451,0732,591,4972,525,8192,600,3482,612,806
10,000 ″ 20,0003,201,3553,272,7413,285,8793,146,7143,383,033
20,000 ″ 50,0005,535,5415,417,9905,578,8875,272,9225,107,555
50,000 and over9,477,6329,467,4449,571,2469,872,22510,153,242
..34,422,65334,911,57335,507,88935,887,44736,476,481

In regard to holdings, out of a total of 66,092 in 1904 the large proportion of 37,362, or 56.53 per cent., were from 1 to 100 acres in extent; 46,932, or 71.01 per cent., were from 1 to 200 acres; and 53,077, or 80.31 per cent., were from 1 to 320 acres in size. The total number over 320 acres was only 13,015, or 19.69 per cent. of the whole, thus indicating a considerable degree of moderately close settlement, although the area of the holdings over the 320-acres limit necessarily shows as very large in a table which includes the Crown pastoral leases.

The plan of excluding these leases from the table showing the holdings in classes has its advantages, though not now adopted.

From the total extent of occupied land shown for the colony, such of the area of the Crown pastoral leases as has been distinguished by the enumerators can be deducted, and comparison then made for the census years 1886 and 1891, and the Agricultural Department returns for 1903-1904. The figures are:—

Census Results, March, 1886.Census Results. April, 1891.Figures returned by Department of Agriculture, 1903-1904.Acres.
Acres.Acres.
Total area of occupied land (after deducting Crown pastoral leases)17,077,07419,951,92527,471,941

The acreage shown in the returns as held on Crown pastoral lease would appear to have been understated in the returns rendered by occupiers, for the table (which is given hereunder) shows little more than nine millions of acres. The figures in the previous column headed “Held from Crown under Various Tenures” seem greater than they should be, judging from the Lands Department returns. Possibly there may have been some misplacements, and caution is advised in using the numbers in the last two columns.

OCCUPATION OF LAND: TENURE.

Provincial Districts.Total Area of Holdings.Freehold.Leased from Private Individuals or Public Bodies.Leased from Natives.Held from Crown under Different Tenures.Held under Pastoral Lease

*For remarks as to the accuracy of the figures in these columns see above.

..Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.
Auckland5,958,0173,886,145552,653482,636964,75771,826
Taranaki1,096,606569,680224,738100,811200,3271,050
Hawke's Bay3,365,0291,660,184422,592901,851312,71267,690
Wellington3,824,1052,446,156488,367247,568621,38220,632
Marlborough2,434,661816,57558,17427,4101,038,867493,635
Nelson2,042,914968,93095,77219,950300,410657,852
Westland564,53958,22215,3287,293262,712220,984
Canterbury6,663,1362,687,811865,58310,068505,6792,593,995
Otago10,527,4742,895,952919,26919,1531,816,2244,876,876
  Totals36,476,48115,989,6553,642,4761,816,7406,023,070 *9,004,540 *

It would appear that holders of their lands from the Crown do not return to collectors so much as the quantity on which they pay rent to Government. The acreages stated to be held under Crown pastoral lease do not agree with the tables of the Lands Department.

Arranged according to the number of holdings, the provincial districts stand in order as under:—

AucklandOtago
Otago13,705
Canterbury11,293
Wellington11,012
Taranaki4,726
Hawke's Bay3,227
Nelson3,204
Marlborough1,476
Westland679

The occupied holdings of the North Island now considerably outnumber those of the Middle Island, the numbers being—North Island, 35,675; Middle Island, 30,417. For the year 1896-97 the returns showed 29,535 holdings for the Middle Island, against 29,369 for the North, besides 36 holdings at the Chatham Islands of which no account has been taken recently.

The full details of holdings and acreages, classified according to size, for the year 1903-1904 will be found in the table on the following page:—

OCCUPATION OF LAND: NUMBER AND AREA OF HOLDINGS (INCLUDING CROWN PASTORAL LEASES).

As compiled by the Department of Agriculture.

TABLE showing for the Year 1903-1904 the Occupied Holdings and the Acreages (including Crown Pastoral Leases) in Groups of Sizes, according to the Provincial Districts.Provincial District.

Provincial District.Total of Holdings.1-10 Acres, inclusive.Over 10-50 Acres, inclusive.Over 50-100 Acres, inclusive.Over 100-200 Acres, inclusive.Over 200-320 Acres, inclusive.Over 320-640 Acres, inclusive.Over 640-1,000 Acres, inclusive.Over 1,000-5,000 Acres, inclusive.Over 5,000-10,000 Acres, inclusive.Over 10,000-20,000 Acres, inclusive.Over 20,000-50,000 Acres, inclusive.Over 50,000 Acres.
Auckland: Area in acres5,958,01718,45786,352165,157372,157398,334713,422487,5571,342,900647,471440,097654,549631,564
Number of holdings16,7104,7382,9472,0672,4541,5321,5645986658930197
Taranaki: Area in acres1,096,6063,44017,30459,813177,856177,678218,376120,022286,071..36,046....
Number of holdings4,7267045927591,192688478151159..3....
Hawke's Bay: Area in acres3,365,0294,84916,55521,64040,05748,234127,470101,307511,382322,453652,641872,669645,772
Number of holdings3,2271,1006242772701862621482285043327
Wellington: Area in acres3,824,10513,31848,51794,203292,814255,257529,755355,6611,054,325361,812461,070228,642128,731
Number of holdings11,0123,0451,7511,1701,8499901,151427534533372
Marlborough: Area in acres2,434,6611,7215,1218,98221,30427,98383,83970,681273,295139,689233,679395,3881,172,979
Number of holdings1,4764691861181441051748913020151412
Nelson: Area in acres2,042,9143,15718,77431,36766,37275,223134,773111,119256,83274,910231,004266,066773,317
Number of holdings3,204799645398454290297149136117126
Westland: Area in acres564,5395933,6376,02616,55518,00926,2128,96450,553105,408140,295188,287..
Number of holdings679180118811076859122315106 
Canterbury: Area in acres6,663,13615,37859,83384,799187,614214,908448,293292,2331,117,604439,836396,761797,2912,608,586
Number of holdings11,2933,8422,1761,1121,24884698336257665272729
Otago: Area in acres10,527,47415,55163,14898,749288,018378,619734,640460,2731,278,853521,227791,4401,704,6634,192,293
Number of holdings13,7653,8542,3471,2831,8521,4401,59856162476555243
  Totals Area in acres36,476,48176,464319,241570,7361,462,7471,594,2453,016,7802,007,8176,171,8152,612,8063,383,0335,107,55510,153,242
Number of holdings66,09218,7311,3867,2459,5706,1456,5662,4973,075379223169106

LIVE-STOCK.

A comparative table is presented showing the increase in livestock since the year 1858. The figures are taken from the census as far as 1891, but for 1895-96 and following years the results of the enumeration made annually by the Department of Agriculture under “The Agricultural and Pastoral Statistics Act, 1895,” have been made use of.

Year.Horses.Asses and Mules.Cattle.Sheep.Goats.Pigs.Poultry.

*Not enumerated.

† Numbers for April, 1895, and years following.

185814,912122137,2041,523,32411,79740,734*
186128,275153193,2852,761,38312,19143,270236,098
186449,409339249,7604,937,27312,00561,276378,414
186765,715323312,8358,418,57911,964115,104676,065
187181,028397436,5929,700,62912,434151,460872,174
187499,859267494,91711,704,85314,276123,9211,058,198
1878137,768241578,43013,069,33814,243207,3371,323,542
1881161,736362698,63712,985,08511,223200,0831,566,114
1886187,382297853,35816,564,59510,220277,9011,679,021
1891211,040348831,83118,128,1869,055308,8121,790,070
1895-96237,4184261,047,90119,826,604*239,778*
1896-97249,8134341,138,06719,138,493*209,834*
1897-98252,8343931,209,16519,687,954*186,027*
1898-99258,1155341,203,02419,673,725*193,512*
1899-1900261,9314591,222,13919,348,506*249,751*
1900-1901266,2454801,256,68019,355,195*250,975*
1901-1902279,6724061,361,78420,233,099*224,024*
1902-1903286,9554641,460,66320,342,727*193,740*
1903-1904298,7144681,593,54718,954,553*226,591*

The stock owned by Maoris in the year 1901, which is included above, comprised 317,436 sheep and 36,913 head of cattle. The number of horses is not specified, but is known to be large.

TABLE SHOWING FOR EACH COUNTY IN NEW ZEALAND THE NUMBER OF HORSES, CATTLE, SHEEP, AND PIGS IN 1903.

County.Horses, October, 1903.Cattle, including Calves, October, 1903.Dairy Cows, included in foregoing.Sheep, including Lambs, April, 1903.Pigs, October, 1903.

*Not including 47,054 heifers over two years old intended for dairying.

Mongonui2,2939,9311,76423,3583,247
Whangaroa6111,8541248,2431,441
Bay of Islands2,73711,5352,09132,0372,322
Hokianga2,6797,0752,15611,5222,581
Rodney2,35716,3794,28568,866834
Whangarei4,63132,3218,59632,4171,706
Otamatea1,87916,7073,49146,3641,040
Hobson2,16815,9273,29219,9141,914
Waitemata2,58113,3764,07433,8491,623
Eden5,5466,8543,5354,8092,133
Manukau8,99955,75820,42989,5697,094
Coromandel1,1254,7531,02115,3171,087
Thames1,5525,3192,0045,3401,115
Ohinemuri1,7876,8042,4493,5591,950
Waikato3,63826,7918,18044,6123,747
Raglan3,16427,3134,14787,6662,223
Waipa3,76725,5288,53720,4773,414
Piako3,12332,0265,179152,9421,959
West Taupo and Kawhia4,93023,4932,58736,1676,231
East Taupo and Rotorua1,3612,91733029,3051,617
Tauranga2,80716,7493,0552,0612,101
Whakatane1,0565,4651,65020,943551
Opotiki1,6338,1251,82016,0381,253
Waiapu4,14116,787508373,0795,131
Cook7,44652,6355,024908,3353,772
Wairoa3,19912,4351,809536,9131,354
Hawke's Bay8,28334,6564,7441,208,2134,106
Waipawa4,73734,3957,132654,0131,921
Woodville2,68715,0101,259..1,531
Patangata and Weber1,28235,0945,238717,534699
Clifton1,50420,5235,44430,6721,512
Taranaki4,93550,98122,24827,2346,329
Egmont2,16132,45114,132..2,395
Stratford2,89246,77520,23279,8363,748
Hawera5,41375,55133,556105,84710,229
Patea3,30232,8489,122193,2622,373
Waitotara2,13616,9263,865129,8131,601
Wanganui3,83218,4074,259351,6732,581
Waimarino1,1933,8221,106..12,447
Rangitikei6,19540,3679,971539,4924,165
Kiwitea2,34122,0546,841247,4412,624
Pohangina1,15511,7964,406104,5781,951
Oroua2,55919,5068,744255,8603,564
Kairanga3,53721,9979,478..3,707
Manawatu2,74623,6418,113122,8643,765
Horowhenua3,73527,6608,712124,5434,787
Hutt5,29915,6717,889196,2033,136
Featherston3,18526,0154,091416,1692,108
Wairarapa South2,43922,9665,393161,9602,362
Masterton3,86226,7903,310514,5521,546
Castlepoint5247,886276145,76460
Akitio1,21514,7072,651152,800530
Pahiatua2,22323,9669,599202,8203,502
Eketahuna1,0419,2864,52962,8571,783
Mauriceville4604,3871,94664,129560
Marlborough3,7175,5131,964491,0061,417
Sounds9036,0601,957161,0571,601
Kaikoura1,2483,143922174,411440
Collingwood1,3667,7432,73345,3612,542
Waimea4,89814,1535,802214,8044,340
Buller5513,3551,3862,276456
Inangahua9886,5291,37225,912816
Amuri1,4484,295340382,149143
Cheviot8931,299595186,640442
Westland1,4236,1972,06811,227673
Grey92510,5811,36216,878528
Ashley8,76520,2437,700750,4416,814
Selwyn15,69234,09016,461697,56917,807
Akaroa and Mount Herbert2,75425,5366,013230,8942,592
Ashburton10,22611,1983,792888,8427,438
Geraldine4,4787,2092,408642,5663,383
Levels3,6836,7622,6051,969
Waimate5,98612,5434,025573,5513,104
Mackenzie1,6363,1751,070392,373406
Waitaki5,82725,09910,371543,0583,736
Waihemo1,4644,8312,030112,270539
Waikouaiti1,5339,7055,32071,2381,536
Peninsula8837,2764,1031,948782
Taieri7,11925,6029,308188,7823,998
Bruce3,7649,9703,510160,5641,420
Clutha4,95918,4865,703282,3201,860
Tuapeka3,9786,6792,274351,955905
Maniototo2,3356,4581,552301,496482
Vincent2,3545,0991,389291,788755
Lake1,5014,218766153,576552
Southland17,89167,57420,626771,3486,633
Wallace and Fiord5,43221,5586,014400,8001,394
Stewart Island113271111,62226
  Totals298,7141,593,547468,125*18,954,553226,591

Live-stock in Australasia.

The following gives the number of the principal kinds of livestock in Australasia for the year 1902-1903:—

State or Colony.Sheep.Cattle.Horses.Pigs Queensland
7,213,9852,543,471399,12277,202 
New South Wales26,649,4241,741,226450,125192,097
Victoria10,841,7901,602,384392,237350,370
South Australia4,922,662519,163179,41383,791
Western Australia2,697,897437,58880,11452,765
Tasmania1,679,518168,38533,46552,092
..April, 1902.Oct., 1902.Oct., 1902.Oct., 1902.
New Zealand20,342,7271,460,663286,955193,740

New Zealand thus takes second place in order for number of sheep, and fourth for the number of her cattle and horses.

The losses in Australia have raised this colony to the second position in regard to sheep. To illustrate this, the case of Queensland shows 19,856,959 sheep in 1895, falling to 10,030,971 in 1901, and further to 7,213,985 in 1902; cattle fell in number from 7,012,997 in 1891 to 3,772,707 in 1901, and again to 2,543,471 in 1902.

Sheep.

The returns made to the Department of Agriculture show a smaller number of sheep for the years 1886 and 1891 than the census figures given previously, because the account was taken later in the year. The particulars are given for eighteen years, distinguishing the number for the North from that in the Middle Island.

According to these returns, the flocks of the North Island increased from 5,285,907 sheep in the year 1886 to 9,433,831 in 1903, or at the rate of over 78 per cent., while sheep in the Middle Island decreased from 9,888,356 to 9,520,722, a loss of 3.72 per cent. in the same period. For the North Island the increase during the eighteen years was 4,147,924 sheep, while in the Middle Island there was a decrease of 367,634.

Year.North Island.Middle Island.Total.
18865,285,9079,888,35615,174,263
18875,506,4859,649,14115,155,626
18885,668,9969,373,20215,042,198
18895,990,2449,433,08415,423,328
18906,588,3469,527,76716,116,113
18917,159,9279,593,82516,753,752
18928,204,02910,366,72318,570,752
18938,685,36110,695,00819,380,369
18949,169,35211,061,47720,230,829
18958,994,64610,831,95819,826,604
18969,131,73610,006,75719,138,493
18979,540,71710,147,23719,687,954
18989,864,9459,808,78019,673,725
18999,953,3999,395,10719,348,506
19009,998,1739,357,02219,355,195
190110,218,94510,014,15420,233,099
190210,286,34610,056,38120,342,727
19039,433,8319,520,72218,954,553

There was a decrease of 1,388,174 in the total number of sheep since April, 1902, by the above figures, and a decrease between 1893 and 1903 amounting to 425,816, or at a rate of 2.20 per cent. The export and local consumption of wool developed from 111,537,546 lb. for the year ended September, 1891, to 166,214,345 lb. for the corresponding year of 1903. The export of sheepskins and pelts, which in 1890 was 2,292,521 in number, rose to 7,142,531 in 1903.

In spite of the great slaughter required for the export of frozen mutton, the number of sheep in New Zealand kept up wonderfully until the last year for which results are shown on the previous page.

The proportion of small flocks of sheep has increased very considerably, and with smaller flocks the rabbit difficulty should be easier to master than with large ones.

NUMBER OF FLOCKS, 1886, 1891, 1896, 1901, 1902, AND 1903.

Size of Flocks.1886.1891.1896.1901.1902.1903.

*

 1901.1902.1903.
From 1,000 to 2,5002,1892,2322,081
From 2,500 to 5,000688730670
 2,8772,9622,751
Under 5006,0248,27212,02811,70011,96112,428
500 and under 1,0001,1891,6912,6053,0593,1582,923
1,000 ″ 2,0007479691,4602,877*2,962*2,751*
2,000 ″ 5,000532666892   
5,000 ″ 10,000263287340397385342
10,000 ″ 20,000228239231189206207
20,000 and upwards166169147138131110
..9,14912,29317,70318,36018,80318,761

The average size of the flocks is found to have been 1,659 sheep for 1886, 1,081 in 1896, and 1,010 in 1903.

Of the provincial districts, that of Canterbury had most sheep in 1903, Wellington came next, and Otago occupied the third place. The full particulars, showing decreases since 1902 to be general throughout the colony, are given:—

Provincial District.No. of Sheep in 1903.No. of Sheep in 1902.Decrease.
Canterbury4,176,2364,341,542165,306
Wellington3,793,5184,222,510428,992
Otago3,632,7653,965,342332,577
Hawke's Bay3,116,6733,292,659175,986
Auckland2,086,7892,218,344131,555
Nelson857,142872,09214,950
Marlborough826,474849,16822,694
Taranaki436,851552,833115,982
Westland28,10528,237132
 18,954,55320,342,7271,388,174

The number of breeding ewes in the colony in April, 1902, was returned at 9,610,149, and in April, 1903, at 9,071,751, thus showing a substantial decrease of 538,398 for the year—a matter for serious consideration. In April, 1901, the number was returned at 9,906,616. The annual export and consumption of sheep during the last five years has been:—

Year.Export of Frozen Mutton and Lamb, including Pieces at 60 lb. to a Sheep.Live Sheep exported.Estimated Consumption in the Colony: Carcases.Total.
18993,468,4314,3621,780,0005,252,793
19003,055,1353,8401,800,0004,858,975
19013,400,1383,6681,834,0005,237,806
19024,084,57848,0471,904,0006,036,625
19034,922,62221,7631,942,0006,886,385

It has been estimated that the annual consumption of mutton in New Zealand is equivalent to 2.25 sheep per inhabitant, and that the number of sheep required in the present year (1904) for food will be about 1,998,000 (Maoris, for the purposes of this calculation, have been included.)

Two important advantages that sheep-farming has in New Zealand are (1) the low cost of the production of mutton, and (2) the high percentage of natural increase. With regard to the high percentage of increase, there need only be cited a few average returns from well-known flocks to show what excellent lambings New Zealand farmers obtain under good management.

LAMBING RETURNS.—AVERAGES.

Locality.Breed of Flock.Breed of Rams.Breed of Ewes.No. of Ewes.Percentage of Lambs.Remarks.
North IslandLincolnLincolnLincoln7,51781.04Land merely surface-sown in English-grass pasture.
""""5,30185.05
"""7/8 Lincoln12,177100.00
"RomneyRomneyRomney1,14196.17
"LincolnSouthd'nLincoln2,03394.71
Middle IslandMerinoMerinoMerino14,76575.36Mountainous country in native pasture, unimproved.
""B. Leic'str"4,23588.94
"Cross-bred"Cross-bred8,62480.82In English grass pasture.
"Half-bred"Half-bred2,74782.79
"B. Leic'str..B. Leic'str77890.77
"LincolnLincolnLincoln45288.08
"R. MarshR. MarshR. Marsh253111.46
"E. Leic'strE. Leic'strE. Leic'str46493.34
"ShropshireShropshireShropshire16897.41
"Southd'nSouthd'nSouthd'n11496.87

The above returns are fair average ones, but much higher might have been shown if exceptional cases had been selected.

Cattle.

The cattle as enumerated in 1903-1904 for each provincial district are given in the next table. Here is shown the substantial increase of 132,884 head of all classes over the number returned in 1902-1903, and of no less than 43,016 in the number of cows and heifers for dairy purposes.

Provincial District.Bulls for Stud Purposes.Steers over Two Years Old.Cows and Heifers for Dairy Purposes.Cows and Heifers for Breeding Purposes.Cows and Heifers for Fattening.Steers and Heifers under Two Years not otherwise enumerated.Totals.

*Including heifers over two years old intended for dairying: 43,390 in 1902-1903, and 47,054 in 1903-1904. For actual number of dairy cows in each county see table on pages 340 to 342.

Auckland7,30777,637114,92863,44813,876165,226442,422
Taranaki4,67234,524114,3706,5217,30791,735259,129
Hawke's Bay2,02723,50122,63636,3883,62243,416131,590
Wellington6,07758,108114,00647,7159,430122,514357,850
Marlborough2591,5035,0946795116,67014,716
Nelson6814,96213,4191,9601,85614,49637,374
Westland2483,7264,0422,5981,1365,02816,778
Canterbury1,74614,54646,8702,6134,68850,293120,756
Otago3,61226,54279,81414,6737,52380,768212,932
Totals, 1903-190426,629245,049515,179*176,59549,949580,1461,593,547
1902-190324,049210,659472,163*170,64147,161535,9901,460,663
Increase2,58034,39043,0165,9542,78844,156132,884

Classified according to breed, the numbers for the two years under review are:—

Pure-bred—1902-1903.1903-1904.
Shorthorn73,03076,435
Hereford11,31511,799
Polled Angus12,35911,146
Ayrshire4,9874,547
Jersey4,1934,481
Other pure-breds4,3415,431
Crosses1,350,4381,479,708
  Totals1,460,6631,593,547

Out of a total of 1,593,547 cattle in the colony, the North Island is shown to have had 1,190,991, or 75 per cent., while the Middle Island had 402,556, or 25 per cent. Similarly, the dairy cows and heifers intended for dairying in the North Island numbered 365,940, or 71 per cent., and in the Middle Island 149,239, or 29 per cent.

Thus, the North Island, which has an almost equal number of sheep to that of the Middle Island, contains nearly three times as many dairy cows and other cattle.

Of the total number of cattle (1,593,547) given above, 468,125 were dairy cows. It is found impossible to give a statement of the total quantity of butter and cheese made in the colony. All that can be said is that there were in September, 1903, 272 cheese and butter factories, with 380 skimming-stations, reported to the Department of Agriculture. A summary of the returns rendered by these factories to the Department of their output for the previous year makes it possible to arrive at the approximate quantity of cheese and butter made.

The number of butter and cheese factories in each provincial district as in September, 1903, with the output for the previous year, is next shown:—

Provincial DistrictNumber of Factories.Skimming-stations.Output.
Butter.Cheese.Butter and Cheese.Butter.Cheese.
     Tons.Tons
Auckland4761892,916 1/4260 1/2
Taranaki7669716,252 3/41,079
Hawke's Bay111111586 3/4..
Wellington311521064,6591,445 1/2
Marlborough13..118215
Nelson91..518810
Westland2....352..
Canterbury771321,236 1/2274 1/2
Otago8243622,1261,753 1/2
Totals, 1903192631738018, 035 1/45,038
1902179651027614,716 1/25,600 1/2

Of the above, 19 were returned as “new” in 1903, and in 12 cases the output was not stated. Three factories combined butter-making with milk-preserving, the output of the latter being 34 tons last year.

Horses.

The increase in horses is shown for four census years:—

Census Years.Number of Horses.Numerical Increase.Increase per Cent.
1886187,38223,65812.63
1891211,04026,37812.50
1896237,418....
1901266,24528,82712.14

At the enumeration made in 1903-1904 (October to January), the number of horses was found to have increased to 299,182 (including 468 mules and asses), for which particulars are given. It will be seen that the Provincial District of Auckland had by far the most horses, Otago and Canterbury following, Wellington taking fourth place.

Provincial District.Entires.Geldings.Mares over Two Years old.Mares with Foal at Foot, or to foal this Season.Colts and Fillies under Two Years old.Totals.

*Including 468 mules and asses in 1904, and 464 in 1903.

Auckland99933,87623,1138,88211,42978,299
Taranaki1368,4756,8792,1302,59020,210
Hawke's Bay1628,7806,4112,2902,56820,211
Wellington46121,64415,5045,5016,59749,707
Marlborough542,5201,9005508455,869
Nelson924,1743,5299701,38410,149
Westland381,1216842102962,349
Canterbury44722,67217,7365,3757,07653,306
Otago42924,81419,4845,7358,62059,082
Totals, 1903-19042,818128,07695,24031,64341,405299,182*
1902-19032,784124,51493,40529,78136,935287,419*
Increase343,5621,8351,8624,47011,763

Classified according to breed, the numbers for the two years under review are:—

 1902-1903.1903-1904.
Thoroughbred6,6616,937
Hunter and hackney23,48322,836
Carriage and trotting19,89720,167
Light ordinary120,284126,148
Draught104,146110,136
Ponies under 14 hands12,48412,490
Mules and asses464468
  Totals287,419299,182

The export of horses from New Zealand is not so large as might be expected. The figures for 1903 are: To Bengal, 150; Victoria, 65; Fiji, 42; New South Wales, 39; Natal, 11; Tasmania, 9; United Kingdom, 8; Norfolk Island and Cape Colony, 2 each; a total of 328.

Pigs.

The figures given in the accompanying table are those compiled by the Agricultural Department, and for 1903-1904 show an increase of 32,851 in the total number of pigs for the previous year, of which number 24,582 was the increase in the number of barrows and sows under one year old. The Auckland Provincial District has far more pigs than any other.

NUMBER OF PIGS IN EACH PROVINCIAL DISTRICT.

Provincial District.Boars for Stud Purposes.Barrows and Sows over One Year old, for Fattening.Sows kept solely for Breeding Purposes.Barrows and Sows under One Year old.Totals.
Auckland1,6409,5639,35841,52562,086
Taranaki6101,4373,94620,59326,586
Hawke's Bay2459641,3707,0329,611
Wellington1,1362,8116,95135,88146,779
Marlborough952644992,6003,458
Nelson1989521,1516,4388,739
Westland342601927151,201
Canterbury8002,3595,98934,36543,513
Otago6562,3253,34018,29724,618
Totals, 1903-19045,41420,93532,796167,446226,591
1902-19034,71618,95027,210142,864193,740
Increase6981,9855,58624,58232,851

The approximate numbers of the different breeds were:—

 1902-1903.1903-1904.
Pure Berkshire30,19230,641
Pure Yorkshire2,7983,707
Other pure-breds1,1821,628
Crosses159,568190,615
  Totals193,740226,591

PRODUCE OF NEW ZEALAND.

ESTIMATED VALUE of the PRODUCE of New Zealand (exclusive of Building Trades output) for the Year 1902-1903.

 £

*The produce of great primary industries, such as meat-freezing establishments butter factories, sawmills, &c., have been included in items 1 and 3.

†To add the value of building trades output would increase the total sum to over thirty millions sterling.

1. Agricultural, pastoral, and dairy produce18,600,000
2. Mining output3,200,000
3. Fisheries and forests1,200,000
4. Manufactures (other than those included above, being the great primary industries*)4,700,000
Total (excluding value of building trades output*)27,700,000

Chapter 43. SECTION XIII.—AGRICULTURE.

By the Agricultural and Pastoral Statistics Act, passed in 1895, the duty of collecting returns devolved upon the Department of Agriculture. The plan adopted is similar to that used in the United Kingdom, the account of land laid down in crop being made up at an early date, while estimates of produce are made after the results of threshing are known.

A summary of the particulars obtained at the collection made in October, 1903, is now shown, with the finally corrected statements of yield of the principal crops. Full remarks on the progress of agriculture in New Zealand, in respect of all its features in detail, are supplied in the special article devoted to the subject which appears as the first of Section II., in Part III.

ACREAGE AND ACTUAL YIELD IN PRINCIPAL CORN-CROPS, 1904.

Provincial District.Wheat.Oats.Barley.Maize.Rye.
Acres.Yield per Acre, in Bushels.Total Bushels.Acres.Yield per Acre, in Bushels.Total Bushels.Acres.Yield per Acre, in Bushels.Total Bushels.Acres.Yield per Acre, in Bushels.Total Bushels.Acres.Yield per Acre, in Bushels.Total Bushels.

*Not included in averages.

†Excluding 17,750 acres damaged by rust.

Auckland3,18627.1286,4071,01533.2033,7001,33728.2437,75710,19647.27481,9731,17617.0019,992
Taranaki1,59230.4348,4441,16824.0028,03299028.0027,72013640.005,440
Hawke's Bay96032.0030,7204,75235.00166,3201,99431.0061,81461658.0035,728
Wellington6,77232.36219,15416,49130.82508,3841,48331.4946,71118835.006,580
Marlborough4,86524.00116,7602,46234.0083,7087,85528.00219,940.... 
Nelson1,87733.3362,5695,82235.09204,3183,71035.28130,8751930.00570
Westland......3530.001,050............
Canterbury158,79234.235,435,889162,08838.696,270,65012,34338.38473,7661*....
Otago52,30236.171,891,711197,80739.497,811,0754,96932.58161,921......
  Totals230,34634.267,891,654391,64038.5715,107,23734,68133.461,160,50411,15647.53530,2911,17617.0019,992

NUMBER OF ACRES UNDER CULTIVATION IN EACH PROVINCIAL DISTRICT, 1904.

Provincial District.In Grass or Clover, sown after Land ploughedIn Grass, surface-sown: Land not ploughed.In Hay, included in either or both of the Previous Columns.In Bare Fallow.In Grain-crops.In Green and other Crops.In Garden.In Orchard or Vineyard.Total in Grass, Crop, and Fallow.In Plantations of Forest Trees.Tussock or Native Grass, and Unimproved.

*Including 17,750 acres of oats damaged by rust and not harvested.

Auckland618,5131,597,53812,59610,11922,16698,6313,75911,9572,362,6839,1453,586,189
Taranaki168,219657,93011,2244717,34218,556953848854,3191,047241,240
Hawke's Bay395,0871,410,9789,70926712,51330,7221,1591,5601,852,2864,6831,508,060
Wellington271,6992,325,43214,9171,10133,31961,3532,2953,7472,698,9464,4271,120,732
Marlborough93,488266,7602,41030517,50318,435258516397,2651,2802,036,116
Nelson115,403301,0503,81854112,31130,6074433,194463,5491,6181,577,747
Westland9,91050,2641,41940369436413861,3957503,137
Canterbury1,468,543378,51013,70114,362343,526253,6944,8483,1512,466,63422,0114,174,491
Otago1,466,303353,5447,37333,863256,727275,3803,7322,4302,391,9795,8858,129,610
Totals4,607,1657,342,00677,16761,069*705,443788,32117,51127,54113,549,05650,10322,877,322

ACREAGE UNDER SOWN GRASSES, AND CULTIVATION GENERALLY, FOR EACH COUNTY, AS ON THE 15TH OCTOBER, 1903.

Counties.In Sown Grasses, after having been ploughed.In Sown Grasses, not previously ploughed.Land broken up but not under Crop.Total under Crop.In Garden.In Orchard.Plantations of Forest Trees.
 Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.
Mongonui6,72424,8271241,483651953
Whangaroa9335,709..10827934
Bay of Islands5,26732,561201,0118125523
Hokianga55925,359884613431848
Rodney11,43285,7994391,1181381,339110
Whangarei22,29299,0873492,143941,22544
Otamatea8,59769,0513315375132732
Hobson2,08140,6141364818617161
Waitemata23,98234,5231,1131,9472862,228269
Eden16,6264,7691071,3691,177548324
Manukau115,785104,7344,11820,4563561,523566
Coromandel4,37717,88126454711203
Thames4,8289,19132955633883
Ohinemuri8,74410,0981701,39428713766
Waikato55,45524,8311,35512,171975144,622
Raglan17,19094,6341164,1622823782
Waipa65,41412,46121113,397101643616
Piako132,56043,75434024,3531033171,024
West Taupo and Kawhia17,90777,6802524,1707293108
East Taupo and Rotorua3,9029,9241571,1406560694
Tauranga37,76022,5652549,1969445493
Whakatane6,23210,4282992,57184611
Opotiki12,94613,9371254,93736727
Waiapu2,516186,809..1,8106613420
Cook34,404536,312378,588173520312
Wairoa20,211306,988953,244173193238
Hawke's Bay197,284381,77611219,1516408602,026
Waipawa88,195319,558..14,5332262081,611
Woodville7,43284,634..1,2892119594
Patangata and Weber81,965318,022605,01899104714
Clifton14,93655,175..2,888110928
Taranaki47,73394,95255,881400352331
Egmont16,05671,836..1,784454531
Stratford2,890173,334..1,603821219
Hawera44,897139,9431008,416246156241
Patea41,707122,6903665,32670191417
Waitotara19,85082,447343,208189237158
Wanganui16,393166,754433,671110271298
Waimarino8325,255..571434449
Rangitikei62,954230,73716116,247158378963
Kiwitea2,587140,5691653,0491415943
Pohangina20987,4451663181858
Oroua10,68691,889..7,46669350142
Kairanga11,33275,8911785,527234484210
Manawatu35,66763,362..13,84590140374
Horowhenua6,05098,846703,16615133186
Hutt6,270157,104181,950721325428
Featherston44,466170,72428511,36376131841
Wairarapa South19,555188,543738,49364162246
Masterton28,113298,4224012,416186180315
Castlepoint2,91688,793..6151925144
Akitio716115,775..245441836
Pahiatua1,513141,782181,3356525861
Eketahuna1,85160,372..673406016
Mauriceville48840,722..2011499
Marlborough58,875104,38129531,0421672901,187
Sounds3,292100,920101,5876220233
Kaikoura31,32161,459..3,309292460
Collingwood3,76738,194441,370123007
Waimea29,902158,32419122,1532422,576262
Buller7397,5901514561119..
Inangahua7,41017,741..8573752
Amuri48,37575,6832029,64170411,027
Cheviot25,2103,518898,7525583320
Grey5,30418,849..42850673
Westland4,60631,4154055114714
Ashley247,978133,3152,29096,1236493982,403
Selwyn298,18317,1792,038139,8832,1531,3175,796
Akaroa25,070166,98713,729169399387
Ashburton407,72816,0093,269170,2647424289,868
Geraldine132,50814,7371,50557,7052762011,249
Levels81,2308261,74937,852353215923
Waimate216,55723,3492,67276,303409150706
Mackenzie59,2896,10883815,3619743679
Waitaki201,717102,0071,40168,4463722621,126
Waihemo33,6786,91125610,9217270108
Waikouaiti19,15646,175937,0275498108
Peninsula3,11813,13251,5232153337
Taieri83,31512,23345326,546569328456
Bruce103,4229,08849237,93819168304
Clutha180,83935,0982,17551,540357154504
Tuapeka99,20010,9511,48134,0602104141,183
Maniototo47,7151,35862222,79720524224
Vincent22,5051,6912,39013,99011622698
Lake12,2006,3385,48411,68010974278
Southland514,87465,93010,610188,5681,0725721,157
Wallace and Fiord144,50642,3058,40157,061182103300
Stewart Island58327..10842
Totals4,607,1657,342,00661,0691,493,76417,51127,54150,103

The extent of land in cultivation (including sown grasses and land broken up but not under crop) amounted to 13,549,056 acres. Of this area, land under artificial grasses comprised 88.19 per cent.; land under grain-crops, 5.21 per cent.; land under root and green crops, 5.82 per cent.; land in garden and orchard, 0.33 per cent.; and land in fallow, 0.45 per cent. Full details for the last seventeen years are tabulated.

NUMBER OF ACRES IN GRASS, UNDER EACH CLASS OF CROP, AND IN BARE FALLOW, 1888 TO 1904.

Year.In Grass or Clover, sown after Land ploughed.In Grass or Clover, surface-sown : Land not ploughed.In Hay, included in either or both of the Previous Columns.In Bare Fallow.In Grain-crops.In Green and other Crops.In Garden.In Orchard or Vineyard.Total in Grass. Crop, Fallow, Garden, and Orchard.In Plantations of Forest Trees.
18882,884,0073,053,05267,812154,266738,603454,8248,60816,3297,309,68928,565
18892,941,8883,337,42350,656142,747793,866454,2438,56115,2467,693,97433,938
18903,027,9123,497,13745,889149,979826,505513,8938,56815,7718,039,76528,928
18913,250,5433,715,67544,045210,509703,329582,4399,81017,0478,489,35235,310
18923,327,7554,076,12646,652140,454769,778579,1129,60819,6278,922,46038,723
18933,611,3934,650,65261,811154,254753,091544,3559,76320,0859,743,59340,401
18943,865,3484,833,54960,740142,342669,850551,9629,95121,10910,094,11139,826
18953,908,5814,921,13656,614140,494560,179597,68610,26321,40110,159,74055,386
18964,254,9835,030,24796,81858,039674,850680,75017,74919,36210,735,98043,246
18974,308,7205,733,138109,46657,158688,297762,76216,92422,29111,589,29047,630
18984,123,3045,743,24567,86560,792727,038790,18416,17722,38711,483,12752,546
18994,065,8606,178,87975,62051,164892,468796,23516,93022,98312,024,51947,216
19004,337,5946,515,70868,23478,751745,685796,77316,89024,40112,515,80248,942
19014,425,7386,656,17468,02367,747721,325765,05117,41125,77712,679,22349,394
19024,695,2006,924,97862,98455,947634,879772,96717,68426,83613,128,49148,770
19034,558,3467,249,86969,34244,494736,683768,30817,63227,19113,402,52353,788
19044,607,1657,342,00677,16761,069705,443788,32117,51127,54113,549,05650,103

Wheat.

The wheat harvest of 1904 showed an average yield of 34.26 bushels per acre, the crop realised being 7,891,654 bushels, against 7,457,915 bushels in 1903.

The quantity of wheat of the previous season's harvest held by farmers in October, 1903, as shown by the gazetted figures, was 2,245,299 bushels, an amount which excludes stocks of grain and flour held by merchants and millers. The total amount of wheat exported during the year 1903 was 71,700 bushels, while the imports were 40 bushels, most probably for seeding purposes.

The imports of flour during 1903 were 34,201 centals (1,710 tons), and the exports 265 tons.

The area under wheat for threshing increased from 194,355 acres in 1903 to 230,346 acres in 1904; and this increase of 35,991 acres was shared by all the provincial districts. In addition to the area cut for threshing, 457 acres were cut for chaff, and 156 acres for ensilage and feeding down with stock, so that the total area sown in wheat was 230,959 acres.

Of the 230,346 acres in wheat (for threshing) this year, no less than 158,792 acres were in Canterbury and 52,302 acres in Otago.

The area under wheat for grain, the estimated gross produce in bushels, and the average yield per acre for each of the last fourteen years were:—

Year.Land undue Wheat.Estimated Gross Produce.Average Yield per Acre.
 Acres.Bushels.Bushels.
1891301,4605,723,61018.99
1892402,27310,257,73825.50
1893381,2458,378,21721.98
1894242,7374,891,69520.15
1895148,5753,613,03724.32
1896245,4416,843,76827.88
1897258,6085,926,52322.92
1898315,8015,670,01717.95
1899399,03413,073,41632.76
1900269,7498,581,89831.81
1901206,4656,527,15431.61
1902163,4624,046,58924.76
1903194,3557,457,91538.37
1904230,3467,891,65434.26

The following gives the area in wheat, and the estimated produce, for the Australian States for the season of 1903:—

State.Wheat-crop.
 Acres.Bushels.Bushels per Acre.
Queensland1,8806,1653.28
New South Wales1,279,7601,585,0971.24
Victoria1,994,2712,569,3641.29
South Australia1,746,8426,354,9123.64
Western Australia92,065970,57110.54
Tasmania40,898876,97121.44

The Wheat-crop of the World.

The estimated wheat-crop of the world for five years is taken from figures published in the Statist of 30th August, 1902 (in bushels of 60 lb., 000's omitted).

..1902.1901.1900.1899.1898.

*Including Slavonia and Croatia.

† Including Poland and Siberia.

Austria46,00044,00040,80049,60046,400
Hungary*176,000138,000152,000150,000140,000
Belgium14,00012,00012,00012,00014,000
Bulgaria40,00032,00024,00028,00040,000
Denmark3,2002,0002,6004,0004,000
France336,000304,000325,200366,000364,000
Germany140,00096,000156,000157,000150,400
Greece6,0005,2006,0006,0006,000
Holland6,0005,2004,0005,2004,800
Italy116,000128,000116,000134,000132,000
Portugal6,0004,8004,0004,0006,000
Roumania72,00070,00054,00026,00056,000
Russia376,000344,000328,000344,000352,000
Caucasus56,00056,00056,00052,00048,000
Servia12,00010,0008,00013,20012,000
Spain108,000112,00098,00095,200120,000
Sweden4,0004,0004,0004,0004,400
Switzerland4,0004,0004,0004,0004,000
Turkey (Europe)40,00032,00032,00024,00028,000
United Kingdom52,00056,00054,40066,00080,000
Totals for Europe1,613,2001,459,2001,481,0001,544,8001,612,000
Algeria28,00026,00024,00020,00028,000
Tunis8,0008,00010,0008,0006,000
Argentine Republic80,00056,00068,000104,00096,000
Australasia32,00043,20055,20044,00054,000
Asia Minor40,00040,00040,00040,00048,000
Canada96,00088,00052,00064,00064,000
Cape Colony4,0002,0004,0004,0004,400
Chili12,0008,8008,00012,00016,000
Egypt12,00010,0008,80010,00010,000
India224,000252,000184,000236,000248,000
Persia20,00020,00024,00020,00020,000
Syria20,00016,00016,00012,00012,000
United States of America656,000752,000600,000656,000720,000
Uruguay8,0006,0006,0007,20012,000
Mexico14,00014,00012,00012,00012,000
Totals out of Europe1,254,0001,342,0001,112,0001,249,2001,350,400
Grand total2,867,2002,801,2002,593,0002,794,0002,962,400

Consumption of Wheat.

The yearly consumption of wheat per head of population in New Zealand has been estimated at 6 bushels, and the quantity required for seed at 2 bushels to the acre.

Using these figures, the Department of Agriculture estimates that there will be a large surplus quantity after providing for this year's wants.

WHEAT: ESTIMATED SURPLUS, 1904.

The area for threshing was 230,346 acres, and the total yield is computed at Bushels...7,891,654
Amount of wheat and flour returned on hand, 31st October, 1903 (as per returns)..2,245,299
Amount of wheat and flour imported from 1st November, 1903, to 29th February, 1904..3,600
 ..10,140,553
 Bushels...
Wheat and flour exported from 1st November, 1903, to 29th February, 1904189,167..
Consumption for same period for population of 870,000, at the rate of 6 bushels per head per annum1,740,000..
 ..1,929,167
Leaving available for all purposes as at 29th February, 1904..8,211,386
Estimated quantity required for seed (say, 250,000 acres at 2 bushels per acre)500,000..
Estimated consumption of 890,000 persons, at 6 bushels per head, from 1st March, 1904, to 28th February, 19055,340,000 
 ..5,840,000
Apparent surplus..2,371,386

The difficulty of correctly computing the consumption o breadstuffs is shown by the great differences in the estimates arrived at.

The average quantity required per head of the population (exclusive of that used for seed) has been calculated at 5.9 bushels for New South Wales, and 5.2 bushels for Victoria, by statisticians in those States.

The average consumption of wheaten breadstuffs in New Zealand thus appears to be somewhat higher than in New South Wales and Victoria.

The following is the average annual consumption of wheat per inhabitant in some of the principal countries of the world:—

United Kingdom5.6 bushels.
Canada6.6
France8.1
Germany3.0
Russia2.1
Italy5.4
United States4.5

The English consumption during the last twenty-five years appears to have ranged from 5 1/2 to 6 bushels per head of population.

Oats.

The extent of land in oats sown for grain in 1904 was 409,390 acres, against 483,659 acres in the preceding year, a decrease of 74,269 acres. The Provincial Districts of Otago (197,807 acres) and Canterbury (162,088 acres) account for 359,895 acres of the total area, Wellington taking third place with 23,368 acres. The breadth of land in oats for chaffing, ensilage, or feeding down with stock was 211,408 acres, an increase of 6,051 acres on the figures for 1903.

Owing to the prevalence of rust last season in the North Island 17,750 acres of oats sown for grain were not harvested, so that the yield per acre is calculated on an area of 391,640 acres.

The average yield per acre was, in 1904, 38.57 bushels, and in 1903, 45 bushels, the quantity of produce decreasing from 21,766,708 bushels to 15,107,237 bushels.

The oat-crop for 1903 in the Australian States was as follows:—

 Acres.Bushels.Average per Acre.
Queensland785206.66
New South Wales42,992351,7588.18
Victoria433,4894,402,98210.16
South Australia50,296620,82312.34
Western Australia10,180161,71415.88
Tasmania55.0581,752,74531.83

Maize.

This is a crop of some importance. In 1904 there were 11,156 acres sown for grain, the yield being 530,291 bushels of corn, an average of 47.53 bushels per acre, and 1,763 acres sown for chaffing, ensilage, or feeding down with stock. Maize is grown only in the North Island, with the exception of a few acres in Nelson and Canterbury. The Provincial District of Auckland had 11,877 acres; Hawke's Bay, 626 acres; Taranaki, 176 acres; and Wellington, 211 acres, in 1904. As considerable interest is taken in this crop, the group of counties where it is chiefly grown is stated—viz., Hobson, Manukau, Thames, Rodney, Whangarei, Mongonui, Waikato, Waipa, West Taupo and Kawhia, Hokianga, Tauranga, Whakatane, Opotiki, Waiapu, Cook, Wairoa, and Hawke's Bay. Small acreages are found in all the counties of the Auckland, and in most of the counties in the Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, and Wellington Districts.

Barley.

Under barley (for threshing), 34,681 acres were returned in 1904, the crop being 1,160,504 bushels, an average yield per acre of 33.46 bushels. In 1903 the area under barley was 27,921 acres, and the yield 1,136,232 bushels, or 40.69 bushels per acre. There were in addition 2,581 acres in barley for ensilage or feeding down with stock.

Rye.

There were 1,176 acres in rye, yielding 19,992 bushels, or at the rate of 17 bushels per acre, in 1904, against 1,279 acres and 38,370 bushels, the rate being 30 bushels per acre, in 1903.

Peas and Beans.

The area under peas for threshing in the season 1904 was 10,328 acres, yielding 311,412 bushels, or an average of 30.15 bushels per acre, against 8,600 acres and 300,675 bushels, or 34.96 bushels per acre, in the previous year.

Under beans there were 2,646 acres, giving a return of 78,421 bushels, the average being 29.64 bushels per acre, against 3,037 acres and 90,346 bushels (29.71 bushels per acre) in 1903.

Potatoes.

The area under potatoes was 31,778 acres in 1904, yielding the return of 208,787 tons, or a rate of 6.57 tons per acre, against 31,408 acres in 1903, and 193,267 tons (or 6.15 tons per acre), an increase of 370 acres and 15,520 tons.

A comparison of the gross yield of potatoes with the amount exported in each of the twelve years 1883-94 showed that for such period an average of 597 lb. per head of population was retained in the colony. Allowing for waste, pig-feed, and seed, the average amount retained for human consumption was found to be 449 lb. a head.

Turnips, &c.

Turnips and rape form a most important crop in a sheep-breeding country such as New Zealand, and in 1892 the area of land under this crop amounted to 422,359 acres. The returns for 1895 gave only 385,788 acres, but for the present year 527,321 acres (408,659 acres in turnips and 118,662 in rape) were set down as under these crops; and there were 10,540 acres in addition, in mangolds (7,808 acres), beet (932 acres), and carrots (1,800 acres).

Hops.

There were 810 acres under hops in 1904, as against 790 acres last year. No account of the produce for the last nine years was taken, but in 1895 the yield was 7,556 cwt. In 1900 the total quantity used by the breweries in the colony amounted to 5,020 cwt. Of the land under hops in 1904, 734 acres were in the Waimea County and 61 in Collingwood, both in the Provincial District of Nelson. The import of hops in 1903 amounted to 708 cwt., and the exports, the produce of the colony, to 3,873 cwt.

Tobacco.

The growing of tobacco does not progress in New Zealand. In 1889, 34 acres were being cultivated; in 1890, 25 acres; in 1891, 16 acres; in 1892, 6 acres; in 1893, 4 acres; in 1894, 4 acres; and in 1895, 5 acres, producing 1,599 lb. of dried leaf. Statistics of this crop have not been taken since 1895.

Gardens and Orchards.

The extent of land in garden was 17,511 acres, of which 13,642 acres were private gardens and 3,869 acres market gardens. In plantations of forest trees there were 50,103 acres.

There were 26,792 acres in orchard in 1904, an increase of 306 acres on the area so returned in the previous year, and 749 acres were returned as “vineyard.” The fruit-crop of the colony is supplemented by a considerable import from the Australian States and Fiji.

Sown Grasses and Seeds.

New Zealand is essentially suited for grazing purposes. Wherever there is light and moisture English grasses thrive when the natural bush and fern are cleared off—in fact, the white clover gradually overcomes the fern; and, from the mildness of the winter season, there are few places where there is not some growth, even in the coldest months of the year. In all parts of the colony stock live, although in varying condition, without other food than such as they can pick up. Sown-grass land, as might be expected, heads the list of cultivations.

At the beginning of the year 1904 there were 11,949,171 acres under artificial grasses. Of these, 4,607,165 acres had been previously ploughed, presumably under grain or other crops, while 7,342,006 acres had not been ploughed. Much of the latter area was bush or forest land, sown down in grass after the timber had been wholly or partially burnt off.

The area under ryegrass for seed in the season of 1904 was 29,350 acres, yielding 658,280 bushels of 20 lb., or a rate of 22.43 bushels per acre, against 27,881 acres and 576,931 bushels, an average of 20.69 bushels per acre, in 1903.

In cocksfoot there were 29,590 acres, which yielded 5,228,572 lb., or an average of 176.70 lb. per acre, against 27,884 acres and 6,786,844 lb. (a rate of 243 lb. per acre) in the previous year.

Seeds for sowing pasture lands are used much as in Great Britain, the following being a common mixture: Perennial ryegrass, 25 lb. to 30 lb. per acre; cocksfoot, 2 lb.; alsike, 2 lb.; timothy, 3 lb.; cowgrass, 2 lb.; red clover, 2 lb.; white clover, 2 lb.; rape, 1 lb.: total, 39 lb. to 44 lb. per acre. Pastures are renewed at intervals of from four to eight years, according to the nature of the land.

The following shows the acreage in sown grasses in Australasia in 1902-1903:—

 Acres.
Queensland24,286
New South Wales477,629
Victoria565,635
South Australia23,636
Western Australia (1902)11,132
Tasmania319,090
New Zealand11,808,215

It will be observed that the acreage of land under sown grasses was nearly nine times as great in New Zealand as in the whole of Australia and Tasmania. When compared in size with the States of Australia, New Zealand is not large — about one-thirtieth of their total area—but in respect of grazing capabilities the relative importance of this country is much greater. Australia is generally unsuitable, owing to conditions of climate, for the growth of English grasses, and the amount of feed produced by the natural grasses throughout the year is very much less per acre than is obtained from the sown-grass lands in New Zealand; indeed, it may be said that the average productiveness of grass land is about nine times as great here as in Australia, or, in other words, that land in this colony covered with English grasses may be considered equal for grazing purposes to an area of Australian land about nine times as great.

In addition to the artificially sown pastures, the returns for 1904 show that 22,877,322 acres of unimproved land, including that in tussock or native grass, belonged to the occupied holdings, and were available for stock-feeding by the sheep-farmers and cattle-farmers of the colony.

Chapter 44. SECTION XIV.—LABOUR LAWS.

The legislation passed by the General Assembly of New Zealand and termed the “labour laws” comprises the undermentioned statutes and regulations made under various Acts:—

“The Accident Insurance Companies Act, 1902.”

“The Accidents Compensation Act, 1901.”

“The Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Act, 1895”: Section 10.

Bankruptcy: Sections 112 and 120 of Act of 1892.

“The Bank Holidays Act, 1902.”

“The Coal-mines Act, 1891”: Sections 18 to 58 and 64 to 88.

“The Coal-mines Act Amendment Act, 1901”: Sections 3, 4, and 6.

“The Coal-mines Act Amendment Act, 1903”: Sections 1 to 10 and Section 12.

“The Companies Acts Amendment Act, 1893”: Sections 8 and 9.

“The Conspiracy Law Amendment Act, 1894.”

“The Contractors' and Workmen's Lien Act, 1892.”

“The Criminal Code Act, 1893”: Sections 150 and 213.

“The Deaths by Accidents Compensation Act, 1880.”

“The Electoral Act Amendment Act, 1900”: Section 10.

“The Employers' Liability Act, 1882,” with amendments of 1891 and 1892.

“The Factories Act, 1901,” with amendments of 1902.

“The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1900,” with amendments of 1901 and 1903 (also “The Arbitration Court Emergency Act, 1903 ”).

“The Inspection of Machinery Act, 1902,” with amendment of 1903.

“The Kauri-gum Industry Act, 1898,” and Amendment Acts of 1899, 1902, and 1903.

“The Labour Day Act, 1899.”

“The Labour Department Act, 1903.”

“The Land for Settlements Act Amendment Act, 1896” (provision for workmen's homes).

“The Legitimation Act, 1894”: Section 6.

“The Licensing Act, 1881”: Section 131.

“The Master and Apprentice Act, 1865.” Master and Apprentice: Extract from “The Criminal Code Act, 1893,” sections 150 and 213.

“The Mining Act, 1898,” and Amendment Acts, 1900, 1901, 1902, and 1903.

“The Public Contracts Act, 1900.”

“The Servants' Registry Offices Act, 1895.”

“The Shearers' Accommodation Act, 1898.”

“The Shipping and Seamen Act, 1903.”

“The Shops and Shop-assistants Act, 1894,” with Amendment Acts of 1895, 1896, and 1901.

“The Sunday Labour in Mines Prevention Act, 1897.”

“The Threshing-machine Owners' Lien Act, 1895.”

“The Trade-Union Act, 1878,” and Amendment Act, 1896.

“The Truck Act, 1891.”

“The Wages Attachment Act, 1895.”

“The Wages Protection Act, 1899” (forming part of and to be read with “The Truck Act, 1891”).

“The Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, 1900,” with amendments of 1902 and 1903.

“The Workmen's Wages Act, 1893.”

The labour laws have been passed in the effort to regulate certain conditions affecting employer and employed. Their scope embraces many difficult positions into which the exigencies of modern industrial life have forced those engaged in trades and handicrafts. The general tendency of these laws is to ameliorate the position of the worker by preventing social oppression through undue influences, or through unsatisfactory conditions of sanitation. It will undoubtedly be found that, with the advance of time, these laws are capable of improvement and amendment; but they have already done much to make the lives of operatives of fuller and more healthy growth, and their aim is to prevent the installation of abuses before such abuses attain formidable dimensions.

The manufacturing population in New Zealand differs from that in some of the Australian State by its wide dispersion. The capital city has hitherto been unable to draw to itself the industrial ability of the other provincial centres; and not only do Auckland, Christ church, and Dunedin vie with Wellington as centres of population, but also as nuclei of commercial activity. In the second-class towns, such as Nelson, Napier, Invercargill, &c., many important works are being carried on, while even in the villages and rural districts the progress of new settlement necessitates the manufacture of articles which in older communities are produced in specialised localities. Men scattered widely at the numerous occupations of colonial country life, shearing, harvesting, bushfelling, road-making, or sailing coastal vessels, &c., require legal protection against the dangers and disabilities to which their callings expose them. This general dispersion of industry necessitates not only a wide system of supervision, but legislative measures of a peculiar character, at once sufficiently elastic to comprehend many varieties of function, and yet rigid to crush any apparent abuse.

The most important of these laws, in its general significance, is that dealing with compulsory arbitration in labour disputes. “The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1894” (with its amending Acts of 1895, 1896, and 1898), were consolidated and further amended by the Acts of 1900, 1901, and 1903, now in force, and which are for the purpose of encouraging industrial association, and to facilitate the settlement of trade difficulties. Societies consisting of two or more employers, or of seven or more workers, may be registered and become subject to the jurisdiction of the Board and Court appointed by the Act of 1900. Any such society, after complying with stated conditions, may bring a disputed case before the Board of Conciliation appointed for that industrial district, and, if the Board fails to effect a settlement, the dispute may be referred to the Court of Arbitration, whose award may be enforced in the same manner as an award of the Supreme Court. The amending Act of 1901 gives the right to either party to a trade dispute to refer the matter directly to the Arbitration Court. The amount for which such an award may be enforced against an association is limited to £500. The amendment of 1903 empowers the Arbitration Court to extend an award to another industrial district under special circumstances. It also deals with conspiracies or combinations for the purpose of defeating any of the provisions of an award, and aims at protecting workers against dismissal merely because they are entitled to the benefit of an award. Inspectors of Awards are appointed, with certain powers necessary for the performance of their duties.

“The Factories Act, 1901,” is a consolidation of previous legislation, with some important amendments. New Zealand has been divided into factory districts under the charge of a Chief Inspector and 150 local Inspectors. As a “factory” or “workroom” includes any place in which two or more persons are engaged in working for hire or reward in any handicraft, there are few operatives who do not come within the scope of the Act. Children under fourteen years of age are not allowed to be employed, and the hours of labour, holidays, &c., of women and youths under sixteen are strictly regulated. Good ventilation, sanitary accommodation, and general cleanliness of buildings are points dwelt upon; while machinery has to be properly guarded, fire-escapes provided, and dangerous occupations especially classified. In order to assist the system of free general education which prevails in the colony, young persons are not allowed to work in factories till they have passed the Fourth Standard of the State schools, or an equivalent examination. To prevent the introduction of “sweating” into our commercial centres, articles made, or partly made, in private dwellings, or unregistered workshops, have to he labelled when offered for sale, so that goods so manufactured (often in unsanitary premises) may not be placed in the market in competition with work done in properly inspected factories. Any person removing such labels is liable to a heavy fine. The Factory Inspectors also exercise supervision over the sleeping accommodation provided for shearers in country districts. As the sheep-runs and farms are widely scattered, sometimes in the rough and remote back country, this part of the work of inspection is no easy task. A woman Inspector of Factories also gives her assistance to the duties of the Department, travelling from place to place, and particularly looking into the condition of the operative women and girls. There is an amendment Act, passed in 1902, relative to the granting of overtime permits, the minimum wages of persons under twenty years of age, an 1 the health of persons working in the manufacture of textile fabrics.

The duration of the hours of business in shops is limited by “The Shops and Shop-assistants Act, 1894,” and the Shops and Shop-assistants Act Amendment Acts, 1895, 1896, and 1901. These provide for the closing of all shops in towns and boroughs for one afternoon half-holiday in each week. A few shops, such as those of fishmongers, fruiterers, eating-house keepers, &c., are exempted from the general closing on account of their convenience to the public; but assistants in such establishments, in the bars of hotels, and in country stores, must have a half-holiday on some day of the week. Very small shops carried on by Europeans without paid assistants are also exempt from closing on the general half-holiday, but must close on one afternoon in each week. The hours of work for women and young persons are defined; sitting accommodation must be provided, and precautions as to the necessary time for meals, sanitary accommodation, &c., are enforced; the Act also enumerates the working-hours, holidays, &c., of clerks employed in banks, mercantile offices, &c.

“The Employers' Liability Act, 1882.” added to and amended in 1891 and 1892, is designed to protect workmen from negligence on the part of employers, by defining under what circumstances compensation for injury or death may be recoverable. The Act covers all employments except that of domestic servant, and does not allow of any “contracting out” by agreement on the part of employer and employed. Another Act of this character has guard to the payment of workmen's wages, and states that if a workman shall demand payment of wages twenty four hours or more after they are due, and the contractor does not pay such wages, the workman may legally attach all moneys due to the contractor by the employer until such wages are paid. “The Truck Act, 1891,” requires that payment of wages shall not be made in goods or “truck,” but in money, any contra account notwithstanding; but there are a few exemptions, such as for advances for food, tools, &c., to men engaged in felling bush. In order to minimise the number of cases wherein fraudulent or unfortunate contractors victimised their labourers, “The Contractors' and Workmen's Lien Act, 1892,” was brought into existence. This entitles a person who has done work upon any land, building, or chattel to a lien upon such property. The lien is only to be exercised under certain restrictions, and for a limited amount, but it gives priority of claim for wages against other service, and enables legal proceedings for recovery to be taken before the attached property can be disposed of or alienated.

“The Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, 1900,” will probably almost altogether supersede the Employers' Liability Act, because, while an accident to a workman had not to be compensated by an employer under the latter Act unless it had occurred through his carelessness or that of his agent, under the former all accidents are to be compensated unless they are caused by the serious and wilful misconduct of the person injured. To meet the difficulty of too great expense falling on an employer through his having to pay large accident compensation. “The Government Accident Insurance Act, 1899” was passed, which insures employers against risk of paying compensation. “The Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act Amendment Act, 1902,” extends the application of the principal Act to workers in all branches of agriculture, while the Amendment Act of 1903 provides that no payment shall be made for the first week in any case where the partial incapacity of the worker does not continue for a longer period than two weeks, and confers the benefits of the principal Act on illegitimate offspring.

“The Accidents Compensation Act, 1901,” provides that an independent medical examination of the injured per on may be ordered by the Judge before whom a claim of compensation for accident is brought.

“The Servants' Registry Offices Act, 1895,” regulates the licensing of registry offices for domestic or farm servants. It prevents friendless or uneducated people from becoming the prey of unscrupulous persons, who formerly collected fees by duping the applicants for situations. The registry-office keepers have to pay a licensing fee to the Government, and to present a certificate of good character when applying for a license. Proper ledgers and books open to inspection must be provided, and the lending or hiring of licenses is not permitted. Registry-office keepers are not allowed to keep lodging-houses for servants, or have any interest in such houses.

The laws relating to shipping and seamen have been consolidated and amended by “The Shipping and Seamen Act, 1903.” All matters connected with the survey and inspection of ships, certificates and examination of officers, apprenticeship, engagement, rating, and discharge of seamen, payment of wages, provisions, health, accommodation, discipline, &c., are dealt with. The appointment of pilots, safety of crew and passengers, shipping inquiries and courts, wreck and salvage, lighthouses, liability of shipowners, and registration of shipping are all provided for.

Combinations or associations of persons for regulating the relations between masters and masters, or masters and workmen, or workmen and workmen, are directed by “The Trade Union Act, 1878.” In this Act the different statutes which do not apply to trade-unions (such as the Joint Stock Act, the Friendly Societies Act, &c.) are enumerated, and the manner in which such societies may register, hold property, &c., is set out, together with the necessary provisions as to returns, penalties, &c. [An Amendment Act was passed in 1896, altering the age of membership.] “The Conspiracy Law Amendment Act, 1894,” permits any combination of persons in furtherance of a trade dispute, provided that any act performed by such combination or society would not be unlawful if done by one person. Such action must not include riot, sedition, or crime against the State.

“The Wages Attachment Act, 1895,” prevents wages below £2 a week being attached for debt. It does not interfere with any workman being sued for debt in the ordinary course, but prevents a grasping creditor from stepping in before others and seizing wages in advance before they are earned. [There is also “The Wages Protection Act, 1899,” which has to be read with “The Truck Act, 1891,” previously alluded to.]

“The Master and Apprentice Act, 1865,” applies mainly to the indenturing of apprentices by the State, such apprentices being children of destitute parents. In other respects the law of England is held to be the law governing the relations between masters and apprentices in this colony; but special sections of the Act apply to the punishment of apprentices for absenting themselves from duty, and to the fine on a master for neglecting or ill-using his apprentice. Sections 150 and 213 of “The Criminal Code Act, 1893,” also relate to the proper care of apprentices by their masters.

“The Mining Act, 1898,” consolidates and repeals all statutes of a similar nature, and includes various amendments suggested by the Conference of Wardens of Goldfields, and by mining associations. The mining legislation refers to labour in any kind of mine, and deals with the position of tributers and wages-men, the examination for certificates for mine-managers, &c., provision for ventilation, precautions against accident by blasting, &c. There are amending Acts of 1900, 1901, 1902, and 1903, providing for the inspection of mines by workmen, limiting the number of hours of working underground, and making provision for the payment of overtime, and dealing with compensation for accidents in mines.

In or about coal-mines women and boys are not allowed to be engaged. There is provision for the appointment of inspectors, mine-managers, engine-drivers, &c., and rules are furnished as to the ages and working-hours of those employed in attending engines, machinery, winding-gear, &c. The ventilation of mines is provided for, and the necessary safeguards imposed as to blasting operations, working in foul air, protecting lights, &c. There are regulations for the management and administration of funds and moneys, which relate chiefly to the withdrawal of moneys from the Sick and Accident Fund, and returns demanded from trustees of the fund. An Act passed in 1903 fixes the working-day of any person employed underground in a mine at eight hours from the time of entering to the time of leaving the mine. This Act also deals with the recovery of compensation for accidents by miners, and with the establishment of coal-miners' medical clubs. State coal-mines are subject to the provisions of this Act.

There is also “The Deaths by Accident Compensation Act, 1880.”

“The Public Contracts Act, 1900,” provides that any person entering into a contract exceeding the value of twenty pounds with the Government, any Education Board, Harbour Board, or local authority, and employing skilled or unskilled manual labour in the execution of such contract, shall be bound to pay wages at the rate ruling in the locality of the work, but in no case lower than the rates fixed by the Arbitration Court. The maximum length of the working-day on any public contract is not to exceed eight hours. A penalty not exceeding £10 is recoverable by summary proceedings for every breach of the provisions of the Act.

“The Labour Department Act, 1903,” provides for the creation of a Department of Labour, and defines the powers and duties thereof. The general duties of the Department shall be to administer the labour laws of New Zealand; to acquire and disseminate knowledge on all matters connected with the industrial occupations of the people, with a view of improving the relations between employers and workers; to collect and publish reliable information relating to or affecting the industries of the colony and rates of wages; and to perform such other duties as may from time to time be prescribed by any Act of the General Assembly.

The Department is empowered to obtain such information as will enable it to carry out the above duties, and penalties are provided for cases of refusal to furnish such returns as may lawfully be required by the Department.

CO-OPERATIVE PUBLIC WORKS.

Remarks on the co-operative system of constructing public works were given in a special article in the Year-book of 1894. The numbers of workmen employed in this manner under Government Departments during each month of the financial year 1903-1904 were:—

Month.Roads and Lands and Survey Departments.Public Works Department.Total.
April,19032,5323,0845,616
May,..2,2562,9075,163
June,..1,9592,6494,608
July,..1,7752,2193,994
August,..1,3902,2913,681
September..1,1592,2143,373
October,..1,0042,1083,112
November,..9481,9592,907
December,..8691,9212,790
January,19049762,0263,002
February,..1,4172,1103,527
March,..1,6352,1733,808

The average number of men employed in each year was as follows:—

Year.Roads and Lands and Survey Departments.Public Works Department.Total.
1891-92261527788
1892-932808421,122
1893-949331,0151,948
1894-951,1039622,065
1895-961,5727642,336
1896-971,4598542,313
1897-981,5528902,442
1898-991,6131,1942,807
1899-19001,8251,2433,068
1900-19011,8202,0903,910
1901-19021,8942,6734,567
1902-19031,3191,7333,052
1903-19041,4932,3053,798
Annual average last thirteen years1,3171,3152,632

LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

The total number of men for whom employment has been found by the Department of Labour up to the end of March, 1904, is given below. The statement also exhibits the number of persons dependent upon the men assisted:—

 Men.Dependents.
June, 1891, to 31st March, 18922,5934,729
1st April, 1892, to 31st March, 18933,8747,802
1st April, 1893, to 31st March, 18943,3417,942
1st April, 1894, to 31st March, 18953,0308,883
1st April, 1895, to 31st March, 18962,8718,424
1st April, 1896, to 31st March, 18971,7184,719
1st April, 1897, to 31st March, 18982,0354,928
1st April, 1898, to 31st March, 18992,1154,759
1st April, 1899, to 31st March, 19002,1474,471
1st April, 1900, to 31st March, 19013,1245,432
1st April, 1901, to 31st March, 19021,8302,747
1st April, 1902, to 31st March, 19033,7045,934
1st April, 1903, to 31st March, 19042,8753,237
 35,25774,007

Chapter 45. SECTION XV.—LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES.

COUNTIES, BOROUGHS, ETC.

FOR purposes of local government New Zealand is divide into counties and boroughs. Although the boroughs, of which there were 103* in March, 1903, lie geographically within the counties, yet by the law they are not considered as part of them. On the 31st March, 1903, the counties numbered 94. The number is increased from time to time as need is found for further division. In the year 1878 there were only 63 counties. Interior to the counties are the road and town districts, but much of the country is outlying, many road districts having been merged, especially on goldfields territory.

There were, however, 221 road districts (three without Boards) in existence in March, 1903, and 35 town districts. One of these latter is the special Town District of Rotorua, constituted under “The Thermal-Springs Districts Act, 1881.” Besides the above there were 31 river protective districts (excluding Inch Clutha, in Bruce County, which is also a road district), 2 drainage districts (Christchurch and Dunedin), 2 water-supply districts, and 16 land drainage districts under the Land Drainage Act of 1893 (one without Board). The Harbour Boards numbered 25, excluding Coromandel, Fortrose, and Half-moon Bay, for which the County Councils of Coromandel, Southland, and Stewart Island act as the Harbour Boards.

These bodies levied rates in the financial year 1902-1903 to the amount of £846,716, of which £581,464 consisted of general rates, and £265,252 special and separate rates. The sum of £83,307 was raised by licenses, and £19,890 by other taxes, making £949,912 altogether, which sum is equivalent to £1 3s. 8d. per head of the mean European population. In the year 1901-1902 the local taxation was £1 2s. 11d. per head, or 9d. less than in 1902-1903.

It will be seen from the table on the next page that revenue derived from rates increased from £398,659 in 1883-84 to £846,716 in 1902-1903. Revenue from Government has, on the other hand decreased in the same period (twenty years) from £241,558 to £156,254. Receipts which cannot be classed as “revenue” were £331,994 in 1883-84, against £966,087 in 1902-1903; but these figures vary from year to year according to circumstances, such as large operations by way of construction of works, for which money has to be specially raised.

* In April, 1903, the Boroughs of Linwood, St. Albans, and Sydenham were incorporated in the City of Christchurch, and the Borough of Melrose became part of the City of Wellington.

The receipts (distinguishing revenue from other sources of income) and expenditure of the various local bodies, with the amount of rates collected, and the amount of indebtedness on account of loans for each of the past twenty years, are shown in the following table:—

LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES.—RATES, RECEIPTS, EXPENDITURE, AND LOANS, 1884 to 1903.*
Year ended 31st March.Receipts of Local Bodies.Expenditure of Local Bodies.Outstanding Loans of Local Bodies (excluding Government Loans, for which see the following Columns).Outstanding Debentures under “The Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882.”Government Loans to Local Bodies.
Revenue from.Receipts not Revenue.Total Receipts.Net Indebtedness in February of each Year under” The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886” (including Debentures under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, converted), and the Local Bodies' Loans Acts of 1901 and 1902.
Rates.Licenses, Tolls, Rents, and other Sources.Government.Total Revenue.

*The figures for the Christchurch Drainage Board and Harbour Boards (excepting Wellington, the last balance being for nine months ending the 30th September, 1902) included are for the calendar years ended three months previous to the financial years.

†Not including balances, deposits, or amounts paid to sinking funds and for redemption of debentures.

‡On the 30th June.

 ££££££££££
1884398,659502,969241,5581,143,186331,9941,475,1801,499,1173,962,33077,439..
1885401,393477,813364,0821,243,288430,5611,673,8491,653,7064,313,223123,086..
1886410,639504,807377,8111,293,257514,7281,807,9851,644,7064,943,270134,534..
1887434,237447,631342,4321,224,300992,6332,216,9331,885,0015,620,747113,072..
1888433,832460,210334,8571,228,899511,5941,740,4931,819,7875,812,80318,635191,687
1889445,929535,140141,2881,122,357316,1391,438,4961,560,6055,892,05010,495273,289
1890460,303568,405139,3201,168,028206,6881,374,7161,476,5405,978,0599,676319,603
1891463,581518,757144,0081,126,346236,9021,363,2481,381,3206,042,6934,317367,715
1892488,824584,274109,0221,182,120214,1241,396,2441,400,4676,081,9344,245449,532
1893508,157573,161136,5151,217,833340,5381,558,3711,482,5486,203,8693,405525,173
1894551,412547,560134,2711,233,243623,0381,856,2811,589,1246,614,8242,685547,679
1895581,868545,629138,2281,265,725328,7981,594,5231,584,5186,685,5102,015621,903
1896592,903581,966156,1801,331,049269,1451,600,1941,627,0796,737,5781,442667,451
1897598,526586,599178,4481,363,573246,9191,610,4921,636,7166,793,3981,077709,282
1898644,552608,436182,1661,435,154304,6451,739,7991,733,0166,834,361712742,530
1899685,769642,289178,4381,500,496385,3681,891,8641,778,5746,963,254347789,618
1900714,151695,988152,0441,502,183372,0281,934,2111,960,0737,057,350..810,192
1901734,023751,046168,7851,653,854825,0392,478,8932,250,5727,563,069..902,769
1902800,471848,983170,0411,819,495775,4322,594,9272,547,2867,839,695..1,046,645
1903846,716897,328156,2541,900,298966,0872,866,3852,867,5068,217,196..1,266,002

The indebtedness of local governing bodies on account of outstanding loans has increased in twenty years from £3,962,330 to £8,217,196, exclusive of moneys borrowed from Government under “The Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882,” “The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886,” and the Local Bodies Loans Acts, 1901 and 1902, which represented a further indebtedness of £1,266,002 at the end of March, 1903.

TAXATION BY LOCAL BODIES.

TABLE showing the Revenue of Local Governing Bodies derived from Rates, Licenses, and other Taxes during the Year 1902-1903.

Local Bodies.Rates.Licenses.Other Taxes.Total.
General.Special and Separate.

*For year ended 31st March, 1903.

†Wellington Harbour Board, for nine months to 30th September, 1902; Christchurch Drainage Board, for year ended 31st December, 1902; Dunedin Drainage and Sewerage Board, for year ended 31st March, 1903.

‡Wharfage dues, charges, fees, tolls, rents, &c., amounting to £400,214 5s. 9d., have not been classed as taxation.

§Equal to £1 3s. 8d. per head of the mean European population of the colony for the financial year 1902-1903.

 £s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
Counties*213,5800256,385181120,567171111,72551302,25921
Boroughs*188,572155193,32418056,6311076,37582441,904122
Town Boards*3,779131329243,531653421117,98239
Road Boards*92,7787510,7471252,576111,4391911107,542010
River Boards*9,8721431,58079......610011,465180
Land-drainage Boards*3,1199098760............4,106150
Harbour Boards40,202121..................46,202121
City and Suburban Drainage Boards23,55715533616............23,8931611
Waimakariri-Ashley Water-supply Board*......1,554 I6 9............1,554109  
Totals581,463610265,2523883,306,16019,889111949,911177§

RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE, 1902-1903.

A summary of all the transactions for the year 1902-1903 is given on pages 372 to 375. The total revenue of the local bodies for the financial year was £1,900,298, and they further received a sum of £966,087 which could not properly be termed “revenue,” making altogether a grand total of receipts amounting to £2,866,385. The rates formed 45 per cent. of the revenue proper. Licenses, rents, and other sources yielded 47 per cent., and 8 per cent. was granted by the General Government.

While the revenue proper of the counties amounted to £419,785, of which those bodies raised £269,966 by way of rates, the Road Boards' revenue was only £150,641, out of which £103,526 represented the result of their rating. The boroughs had the far larger revenue of £768,589, including £381,898 of rates, and their receipts under the heading of licenses, rents, and other sources amounted to the considerable sum of £360,763. In the matter of receipts from Government, of which a table is printed on the next page, the counties received the bulk of the money.

The details of amounts received, representing Government support to the various bodies, are stated in the following table:—

LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES.—RECEIPTS FROM GOVERNMENT, 1902-1903.

Counties.Boroughs.Town Boards.Road Boards.River Boards (excluding Inch-Clutha, also Road Board).Laud Drainage Boards.Harbour Boards.Drainage Board.Totals.
 £s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
Rates on Crown and Native lands48114101............29199..................7589
One-third receipts from land sold on deferred payment and from perpetual lease17,9991811......31636,06036........................24,0631810
One-fourth of rents from small grazing-runs3,36603105311............205101..................3,076143
Goldfields revenue and gold duty23,5992910,55018114188428118........................39,583120
Subsidies under the Local Bodies Finance and Powers Act49,009151113,10312566218018,351710......95025000......81,39592
Fees and fines under the Financial Arrangements Act87368386111012601781........................1,289127
Other receipts1421511,7401563,0561037626444111......210121212006,16912
Total Revenue Account99,9958625,928283,7409225,8031754411195040012121200156,253169
Loans from Government under Local Bodies' Loans Acts72,98700119,637003,8600025,486006,000001,30000............229,27000
Grants for special works, &c.93,640584,394107210007,3252992012310000832136......107,42349
Total receipts from Government200,622142149,9591337,8109258,675026,9641421,409501,2935721200492,94716

LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES.—RECEIPTS, EXPENDITURE, AND LOANS, 1902-1903.

Financial Year ended 31st March, 1903.
Counties.Boroughs.Town Boards.Road Boards.River Boards (excluding Inch-Clutha, also Road Board).Laud Drainage Boards.Waimakariri Water supply Board.Totals.

*For amounts under various heads see preceding table; also for specification of loans under Government Loans to Local Bodies Acts, and special grants, which are here included with “Receipts not revenue.”

†Excluding loans under Roads and Bridges Construction Act and Loans to Local Bodies Acts, 1901 and 1902. (For rates of interest see page 377).

‡Not including loans, amounting to £1,266,002 repayable by instalments under “The Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882,” “The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886” and the Local Bodies' Loans Acts, 1901 and 1902.

NOTE.—The return of receipts and expenditure in this summary represents the net receipts and expenditure of the year, exclusive of credit and debit balances, bank overdrafts, deposits, amounts paid to sinking funds, and for redemption of debentures.

Receipts:—
Revenue from—£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
Rates269,965191381, 8971354,108155103,505191011,459204,1061501,554169776,61916
Licenses, rents, and other sources49,82408360,763886,44013412,417654,7101102610111,3481710435,76598
Government*99,9958625,928283,7409225,86317544111950..155,58148
County............601348,834037510....9,51047
Total revenue419,78583768,5894914,89113150,6413916,288694,3770112,9031471,377,47005
Receipts not revenue190,129178476,1961354,33461152,194247,1181451,55438..731,527185
Total receipts609,9155111,244,78518219,22582202,8356323,407125,931472,9031472,109,0031810
Expenditure:—
Public works449,0221911669,6826512,7201111148,76811118,730684,1686111,487121,304,5791411
Charitable aid and hospitals44,50815430,8691803106510,05651......85,745410
Management56,2514867,247532,38018517,3981282,27133373101325311146,197183
Other expenditure78,80164491,165763,20811629,56711118,544941,083151,07482613,454162
Total expenditure628,584631,258,96417218,57083205,79011729,5551935,6241852,8861332,149,977142
Liabilities (including loans, excepting those from Government)220,324613,982,739431,77115638,27211044,997092,174111022,428094,312,707102
Loans 6,614003,655,436005000017,9150038,47000500021,200003,740,18500
Financial Year ended 31st December, 1902.Totals—all Local Bodies.
Harbour Boards.*City and Suburban Drainage Boards.*

*Wellington Harbour Board for nine months to 30th September, 1902; Christchurch Drainage Board for year ended 31st December, 1902; and Dunedin Drainage and Sewerage Board for year ended 31st March, 1903.

†See notes to table on previous page.

Receipts:—
Revenue from—£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
Rates46,20212123,8931611846,715106
Licenses, rents, and other sources451,859187192113887,817196
Government*46012121200156,253109
County....9,51047
Total revenue498,5232924,298821,900,297114
Receipts not revenue221,424613,135410966,08779
Total receipts719,9177337,4331302,866,384191
Expenditure:—
Public works337,50017625,4396111,667,519194
Charitable aid and hospitals....85,745410
Management14,8161102,671510483,69955
Other expenditure322,6855414,41566630,54186
Total expenditure675,0024842,5251932,867,505181
Liabilities (including loans)4,420,961119229,0571858,962,72704
Loans†4,256,48100220,530008,217,19600

The expenditure of the local bodies amounted to £2,867,506. In the counties the cost of management, including salaries, travelling-expenses, rent, printing and advertising, collection of rates or tolls, legal expenses, and sundries, was £56,251. The Borough Councils expended in the same way £67,247, and the Road Boards £17,399.

The percentages borne by the cost of management to the total receipts and total expenditure were:—

Cost of Management per Cent. ofTotal Receipts.Total Expenditure.
Counties9.28.9
Boroughs5.45.3
Road Boards8.68.5

HARBOUR BOARDS.

The amount of receipts and expenditure for each of the Harbour Boards in the colony for the year ended 31st December, 1902 (excepting Wellington, the accounts for which were made up for nine months ending 30th September, 1902), also the liabilities at date of balancing, including outstanding loans, have been tabulated in another statement.

Harbour Boards.Receipts.Expenditure (excluding Amounts paid to Sinking Fund and for Redemption of Debentures).
Revenue fromReceipts not Revenue.Total Receipts.Works and Maintenance.Other Expenditure, Interest, &c.Out of Loan.Total Expenditure.Liabilities (including Outstanding Loans.
Wharfage Dues, Charges, Fees, Tolls, &c.Rates, Rents, and other Sources.Total Revenue.

(a) Public works.

(b) Including £250 from Government.

(c) Includes £832 13s. 6d. from Government.

(d) Public works, £3,431 0s. 10d.; office expenses, £152 10s.; bubonic-plague expenses. £00 10s. 2d.

(e) Including £210 12s. 1d. from Government.

(f) For nine mouths to 30th September, 1902.

(g) Public works, £22,047 0s. 6d.; other expenditure, £42 10s.

(h) Public works, £39,445 9s. 5d.; office expenses, £680 4s. 5d.

*Including Rates: Gisborne, £5,671 9s. 9d.; Napier, £19,087 18s. 3d.; New Plymouth, £8,091 19s. 9d.; Oamaru, £6,045 12s. 6d.; Timaru. £7,006 15s. 5d.; Wairoa £298 16s. 5d.: total, £46,202 12s. 1d.

..£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
Auckland48,9476113,036131061,983191177,518116139,50211559,6060832,16838(a)32,0561310123,830182483,80200
Bluff19,665102,70681022.37191013315322,5055110,7151949,10552..19,8214650,70390
Fortrose4401..4401..4401103181....103181..
Gisborne9,717956,534101116,252046,520131122,7721436207711,16983(a)13,2289125,018411201,691134
Half-moon Bay and Horseshoe Bay....................
Hokitika17817559915877813181667879733137746119..7805412,223910
Lyttelton40,639724,6622445,301965,88111051,1830627,01318725,358810(a)6,94613659,319011264,34806
Mokau106161..106161..106161..105134..105134..
Napier21,5888820,85112742,44013(c)914111043,3541316,9985828,25242(d)3,6441037,8941010501,581183
Nelson2,241131,1041423,34515510,0000013,345155......843641(a)9,078189,9218010,00000
New Plymouth7,68211912,4383420,1201512,1494022,2691916,5439015,125177..21,66967206,08420
New River79541114818494433..94433140521,49348..1,63391018,92200
Oamaru5,7171168,41117614,129901410014,1431902,0604611,48902..13,54948331,79900
Otago56,68712912,7964069,4831695,0093674,4930325,35716049,88553..75,24313707,6081410
Patea1,945733711242,316197451932,3621810730591,3501910(a)5301132,6511161014,68109
Riverton..2473424734..2473410111132146..1421652,00000
Thames1,56504179101,74414..1,744141,2101610849175..2,06014310,043130
Timaru18,971197,84412826,81514531,7723458,58717911,67919616,43766(a)25,2258353,342143275,18400
Waimakariri..257702577017025814030711181911..14970468
Wairoa506463152982173......821731,05111451186..1,56219105,091131
Wanganui5,4351522,521267,9561789631498,9201254,.7371494,56979..9,3072660,90869
Wellington()74,55014111,6616076,21201185,364110111,5762910,2813053,99109(g)22,08910686,361143355,07818
Westport58,39765..58,3976540,125151098,523231954255,063139(h)40,125131095,384119662,716170
Whaingaroa20124215022274..22274293483410..1128216400
Whangarei37966182839792..39792276100107153..38411315162
Totals400,2145998,308170*498,52329221,42446719,94773176,286102336,565127162,150111675,002484,420,961119

LOANS OF LOCAL BODIES.

In a table on page 377 will be found a summary of the amounts raised by loan, classified according to the rates of interest paid, distinguishing loans raised in the colony from those raised abroad. It will be noticed that the amount raised abroad (£5,336,600) is nearly twice as great as that raised in New Zealand (£2,880,596). The lowest rate of interest paid was 3 per cent., but the large sum of £2,812,872 was raised at 5 per cent., and £2,339,420 at 6 per cent., while £110,900 bore interest as high as 7 per cent.

LOANS OF LOCAL BODIES, MARCH. 1903.—NET INDEBTEDNESS AND ANNUAL CHARGE.

Amount of Debentures and Stock in Circulation.Amount of Accrued Sinking Fund.Net Indebtedness.Annual Charge (excluding Exchange and Commission).
Interest.Sinking Fund.Total.

*Repayable by annual instalments of £58,227, representing 4 1/2 per cent. per annum on £64,361,4 per cent. per annum on £30,430, and 3 per cent. per annum of £674,689, the amounts inscribed to 1st February, 1903. Repayments on the amount inscribed (£1,669,480, including £89,878 debentures under “The Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882,” exchanged) would be £2,063,431. The actual repayments to date are £524,522, leaving £1,538,909 to be paid by way of interest and sinking fund on a present indebtedness of £1,266,002.

 ££££££
Counties6,6149535,661549106655
Boroughs3,655,436404,9613,250,475184,93214,137199,069
Town Boards500121379301545
Road Boards17,915..17,91576229791
River Boards38,4706,86131,6091,9485642,512
Water-supply Board21,2001,41219,7881,0152501,265
Harbour Boards4,256,481422,7533,833,723206,88521,979228,864
Drainage Boards220,58041,459179,12113,1172,12515,242
Totals8,217,196878,5207,338,676409,23339,205448,443
Inscribed debt of local bodies under “The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886,” and “The Local Bodies' Loans Act. 1901,” and Amendment Act, 1902, (including inscribed stock exchanged for debentures under “The Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882”)1,260,002..1,266,002*....68,227
Totals9,483,198878,5208,604,678409,23839,205516,670

LOANS OF LOCAL BODIES, RAISED WITHIN AND WITHOUT THE COLONY.

TABLE showing the Amount of Indebtedness of Counties, Boroughs, Town, Road, River, and Water-supply Boards, as on the 31st March, 1903, and of Harbour and Drainage Boards as on the 31st December, 1902, classified according to the Rates of Interest paid, distinguishing Loans raised in the Colony from those raised elsewhere. (See note.)

Loans raised in the Colony.

Local Bodies.No Interest.3%3 3/44%4 1/4%1/2%5%5 1/4%5 1/2%6%6 1/2%7%Total.

* Including £2,500 at 4 3/4 per cent.

† Including £2,000 at 5 7/10 per cent. and £3,000 at 5 3/4 per cent.

‡ 3 1/2 per cent.

NOTE.—Not including loans, amounting to £1,200,002, repayable by annual instalments under “The Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882,” “The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886,” and “The Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1901,” and Amendment Act, 1902.

 £££££££££££££
Counties..........2,4144,200..........6,614
Boroughs25,000....745,31476,500239,580*467,32218,00050,900112,6202,60050,9001,788,736
Town Boards..................500....500
Road Boards....20010,265..5,7501,700..........17,915
River Boards......3,200..5,000650..3,1205,500....17,470
Water-supply Board..........9,00012,200..........21,200
Harbour Boards..14,03160,000828,200..33,70058,650..31,000......1,025.581
Drainage Boards..........2,53050..........2,580
Total raised in colony25,00014,03160,2001,586,97976,500297,974*544,77218,00085,020118,6202,60050,9002,880,596
Loans raised outside the Colony.
Boroughs33,000254m,700486,300....1,032,700..60,0001,866,700    
River Boards............21,00..........21,000
Harbour Boards......400,000..100,0001,760,800....970,100....3,230,900
Drainage Boards..................218,000....218,000
Total raised out of colony......433,000..354,7002,268,100....2,220,800..60,0005,336,600
Total Loans raised.
Counties............2,4144,200........6,614
Boroughs25,000....778,31476,500494,280*953,62218,00050,9001,145,3202,600110,9003,355,436
Town Boards..................500....500
Road Boards....20010,265..5,7501,700..........17,915
River Boards......3,200..5,00021,650..3,1205,500....38,470
Water-supply Board..........9,00012,200..........21,200
Harbour Boards..14,03100,0001,228,200..133,7001,819,450..31,000970,100..4,256,481 
Drainage Boards........2,53050....218,000....220,580 
Total loans raised25,00014,03160,2002,019,97976,500652,674*2,812,87218,00085,0202,339,4202,600110,9008,217,196

From the tables on the preceding pages it will be seen that the total amount owing was, on the 31st March, 1903, £8,217,196. But against this accrued sinking funds to the value of £878,520 were held, leaving a net debt of £7,338,676, exclusive of moneys borrowed from the General Government and repaid by annual instalments.

The total annual charge (excluding exchange and commission) stood at £448,443, of which £409,238 was for interest, and the remainder, £39,205, contributions to sinking fund accounts.

Of the total net indebtedness in 1902-1903 the debt of the Harbour Boards, £3,833,728, formed the largest item, while the Borough Councils owed £3,250,475.

On referring to the comparative table on page 370, a great advance in the outstanding loans of local governing bodies will be noticed. Between 1893 and 1903 the gross indebtedness increased from £6,203,869 to £8,217,196, an addition of £2,013,327 or over 32 per cent. during the ten years. During the same period the population advanced at the rate of 24 per cent., and the value of land and improvements (1891-1903) from £122,000,000 to £168,800,000, or at the rate of 38 per cent.

The aggregate interest-charge for the year under review was £409,238, and £284,134 of this was payable on loans raised outside the colony. The average rate of interest payable to bondholders was £4 19s. 11d. per cent.

While the average rate of interest on the above-mentioned debt is found to be slightly less than 5 per cent., over two millions and three-quarters were raised at 5 per cent., and nearly two and a half millions at 6 per cent. or over.

THE LOCAL BODIES' LOANS ACTS, 1901, 1902, AND 1903.

The Act of 1901 consolidates all former measures dealing with the borrowing-powers of local bodies. It does not affect the securities issued for any loan raised under any Act repealed.

As to Government loans to local bodies, the yearly rate of interest and the period during which interest is payable by the local authority have now been altered by the Amendment Act of 1908, and stand as under:—

At the option of the authority concerned—

  1. Five per centum per annum for a period of twenty-six years; or

  2. Four and a half per centum per annum for a period of thirty-two years; or

  3. Four per centum per annum for a period of forty-one years.

The Amendment Act of 1902 empowers the Colonial Treasurer to lend to small boroughs, having at the time of the last preceding census a population of less than two thousand persons, any sum not exceeding £2,000 in any year for the purpose of making streets within the borough.

The interest payable in respect of every existing loan the period of which is twenty-six years shall be 4 1/2 per centum per annum. There are provisions for readjustment of the rate of interest on loans for twenty-six years existing at the time of the passing of the Act of 1903, which are regulated by the length of the period over which the repayment of the loan is extended.

At the expiration of the period during which interest is payable the liability of the local authority shall cease without further payment.

MUNICIPAL FRANCHISE.

“The Municipal Corporations Act, 1900,” with its amending Act of 1902, deals with the franchise in the case of boroughs, and provides that, in addition to the persons who are already entitled to be enrolled, every person shall be so entitled who possesses the freehold or residential qualifications stated in the Act.

The possession of the freehold qualification is defined as being the beneficial and duly registered owner of a freehold estate in land of the capital value of not less than £25, situated in the borough, notwithstanding that any other person is the occupier thereof, or part thereof, under any tenancy.

Every person is deemed to possess a residential qualification within a borough if he is, and for at least three months last past has been, a residential occupant within such borough.

No person may be entered in the burgess lists in respect of more qualifications than one; but any person who has more than one qualification may select the one in respect of which he wishes to be entered.

In the case of husband and wife, any qualification possessed by one of them is deemed to be possessed by each.

No person enrolled on a burgess roll has more than one vote, and no person enrolled by virtue of the residential qualification can vote on any proposal relating to loans or rates.

INCREASED RATING-POWERS OF COUNTIES, ROAD AND TOWN DISTRICTS.

By “The Counties Act Amendment Act, 1903,” section 4, it is provided that, notwithstanding anything in the principal Act, the maximum general rate that may be made and levied shall be—

  1. In counties where there are no road or town districts, a rate of threepence in the pound on the capital value of the rateable property therein, or its equivalent on the unimproved value or annual value; and

  2. In counties where there are road or town districts,—

    1. In outlying districts, a rate of threepence in the pound on the capital value, or its equivalent as aforesaid;

    2. In all other parts of the county, a rate of three-halfpence in the pound on the capital value, or its equivalent as aforesaid.

And under section 5 the County Council may make and levy rates, called “separate rates,” in addition to or in lieu of any general rate, upon all rateable property in any riding of a county; or may by special order make or levy any such rate upon all rateable property within the portion of the county defined in the order. But the total amount of separate rates and general rates together is not to exceed in any one year the amount of the maximum general rate prescribed by the last preceding section (No. 4, quoted above).

By “The Road and Town Districts Rating Act, 1903,” the rating-powers of the Boards are extended. Under section 2 the maximum general rate that may be made and levied in any year in a road or town district is a rate of three-halfpence in the pound on the capital value of the rateable property of the district, or its equivalent on the unimproved value, or two shillings in the pound on the annual value, as the case may be. Under section 3, where road districts are divided into subdivisions, no separate rates made and levied in any year may, with the general rates, exceed in any subdivision the amount of the maximum general rate aforesaid.

RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE.

A special article on this system of rating (which it is optional with local governing bodies to adopt or not) is given in Part III. of this work.

Up to the end of March, 1904, sixty-four local governing bodies (thirty-three boroughs, thirteen counties, one town district, and eight road districts) had notified in the New Zealand Gazette that the proposal to levy rates on the unimproved value of land had been carried, while in nine cases (eight boroughs and one county) the proposal had been rejected.

TABLE SHOWING THE RESULT OF POLLS TAKEN UNDER “THE RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE ACT, 1896,” AND AMENDMENT ACT OF 1900, TO 31ST MARCH, 1904.

Date of Poll.Result of Poll.Votes recorded.
ForAgainst.Informal

(a) Now part of Christchurch City.

(b) Road district not now in existence.

(c) Illegal, not in accordance with section 5, “Rating Act, 1894.”

(d) Now part of Wellington City.

(e) Proposal to rescind the adoption of the Act rejected. For proposal, 23; against, 38; informal, 3.

*New poll taken under Act of 1900.

Ashburton Borough14 Jan., 1903Rejected1021994
Auckland City7 Aug., 1901..7531,697..
Balclutha Borough7 July, 1902Carried6033..
Blenheim Borough17 June, 1903..22464..
Cheviot County6 Oct., 1898..16541..
Christchurch City30 June, 1902..596512..
Devonport Borough30 Oct., 1900..356109..
Eketahuna County1 Feb., 1900..149211
Feilding Borough16 April, 1901..268561
Foxton Borough20 June, 1902Rejected53984
Gore Borough7 July, 1901Carried122675
Grey Lynn Borough20 Mar., 1901..140712
Greymouth Borough23 Feb., 1898..214481
Hamilton Borough13 Feb., 1901..7752..
Hastings Borough14 July, 1902Rejected25026515
Hawera Borough8 April, 1903Carried12991
Hokiaga County11 Mar., 1899..109256
Hokitika Borough5 May, 1901..212531
Hunua Road District5 April, 1899..602..
Inangahua County14 May, 1898..284112
Invercargill Borough5 June, 1901..3861744
Karori Borough4 April, 1898..9331
Linwood Borough(a)30 May, 1901..276382
Lower Hu t Borough12 Oct., 1901..94684
Manawatu Road District(b)6 Jan., 1900..10510..
Maori Hill Borough25 Jan., 1904..11927..
Maraetai Road District2 June, 1900..16....
Mareretu Road District(c)28 June, 1902..24....
Masterton Borough29 June., 1901..2211396
Melrose Borough(d)3 Mar., 1898..236406
Mosgiel Borough27 Feb., 1902Rejected58871
Normanby Town District(e)15 Nov., 1897Carried82563
North Invercargill Borough1 April, 1903..107242
Onslow Borough20 Mar., 1901..1408..
Pahiatua Borough19 June, 1897..136381
Pahiatua County27 June, 1901..350313
Palmerston North Borough5 Mar., 1897..402123
Papakura Road District10 Mar., 1900..301..
Pelorus Road District31 Mar., 1900..9841..
Petone Borough6 Nov., 1901Rejected*1001344
Picton Borough..Rejected27731
..30 July, 1903Carried47389
Raglan County23 Nov., 1901Carried*116852
St. Albans Borough13 Feb., 1902Carried35021815
South Invercargill Borough2 Feb., 1902..106541
Southland County1 Mar., 1902..919574..
Spreydon Road District16 May, 1901..141574
Stratford County29 June, 1901..399232
Stratford Borough23 July, 1902..137641
Sumner Borough21 Nov., 1901Carried*9119..
Sydenham Borough (a)14 Mar., 1901Carried353193..
Taratahi-Carterton Head District(b)26 Aug., 1897..26153..
Tauranga County9 Feb., 1901..90132
Timaru Borough10 Oct., 1900Rejected932465
Waimarino County23 Sept., 1903Carried4313..
Waimate Borough2 Feb., 1901..2356114
Waimate County1 Nov., 1900..368162..
Waipawa County(d)2 Feb., 1898..462283
Wairarapa North County(d)8 Nov., 1899Rejected(d)3316810
Wairarapa South County23 Oct., 1902Carried1878..
Wanganui Borough17 Dec., 1903Rejected3033312
Wellington City11 Nov., 1901Carried1,261591..
Winton Borough29 Nov., 1901..39311
Woodville Borough21 Mar., 1898..17571
Woolston Borough24 June, 1902Carried*2521907

A county having decided to levy rates on the unimproved value, makes it compulsory for all interior Town and Road Boards to adopt the same system of rating. But in counties where the Counties Act is suspended, or where a general rate is not levied, the ratepayers of any Road Board may take a poll on the question. It is also permissible for any Town Board within a county not rating on the unimproved value to adopt that system, the decision to do so having been carried by vote of the ratepayers. The date of the polling did not, in some instances, allow of a rate on the unimproved value being struck for the year ended 31st March, 1903.

The amount of rates levied by the various Borough Councils, County Councils, Town Boards, and Road Boards, with other particulars, as returned by these bodies for the 31st March, 1903, will be found on the following pages:—

BOROUGHS, 1902-1903.

Name of Borough.Estimated Area (including Town Belt) in Acres.Population.Number ofAmount of Hate levied in the Pound.Estimated Annual (or renting) Value of Rateable Property, March. 1903.Capital Value of Rateable Property. March, 1903.Unimproved Value of Rateable Property. March, 1903.
Dwellings.Ratepayers.Rateable Properties.General.Separate.Special.Water.Library.

(1) On annual value.

(2) Hospital and charitable aid.

(3) Minimum. 10s. per annum.

(4) On capital value.

(5) On annual value.

(6) 10s. per annum on property valued at less than £20; over £20, 2 1/2 per cent.; half-rate where supply not used.

(7) For eighteen months.

(8) Consumption rate, 5 per cent., 2 1/2 per cent., and 1 1/4 per cent.

(9) On capital value, for charitable-aid purposes.

(10) 1 1/3d. hospital and charitable and; 3d. separate, on part of one ward only.

(11) South Waimakariri River Board, 3/32d. on capital value; hospital and charitable aid, 1/10d. on capital value; Drainage Board rate—sewage area, 3/4d. on capital value; rural area, 1 5/8d. on unimproved value; sanitation fee, 8s. 6d. per pan.

(12) Tuam Street drain rate, 1/3d. on capital value (drain area only); recreation-ground rate, 1/7d. on unimproved value; public-works loan rate, 1/2d. on unimproved value.

(13) 3/64d. on unimproved value; 1/8d. on capital value.

(14) Drainage rate—sewage area, 3/4d. on capital value; rural area, 3/8d. on unimproved value; Waimakariri River Board, 1/10d. on unimproved value.

(15) Christchurch drainage, 1/2d.; Waimakariri rate, 2/64d.

(16) West district only.

(17) Drainage district only.

(18) Maximum under “Municipal Corporations Act, 1900.”

(19) In terms of section 102. “Municipal Corporations Act, 1900.”

(20) Sanitation fee, 15s. per house.

(21) Under £12 10s., 10s.; under £300, 5 per cent.; over £300, 4 per cent.; shops, warehouses, &c., half-rates.

(22) Sanitation rate, 3d. in part of district.

(23) On annual value, for hospital and charitable aid.

      s. d.s. d.s. d.s. d.s. d.£££
Whangarei2,0382,00039537048000 1 1/2........142,231..
Birkenhead2,7001,1002702642911 30 2 1/40 2 1/2....7,768....
Devonport6405,0008386961,2450 1 1/25/8 d., 3/16 d.1/2 d., 3/4 d.(1)6d., or 2 1/2 per cent.......238,157
Auckland1,76237,0227,1805,4598,6410 9(2)0 21 3(3)1/4 to 2 1/2 per cent...358,864....
Grey Lynn9005,2001,050940*0 1 3/4(4)0 0 1/40 0 3/4(5) 4, 4 1/4, 5 1/2, 6 per cent.......197,000
Newmarket1502,0604203144001 7..0 54 to 5 per cent...14,695....
Parnell4804,8509706239091 5..0 104 per cent...32,600....
Onehunga1,2003,0158406091,0101 0....4 per cent.0 0 1/218,753....
Thames2,5604,209***1 20 4..(6)0 1......
Te Aroha2008902032083231 3....0 7..6,500....
Waihi3,1304,0001,0001,4001,4750 0 5/8..........160,872 
Hamilton1,6001,3004504006600 3............62,000
Cambridge1,0831,0002672106881 0....1 0..6,725....
Tauranga1,0001,0253904135901 0..1 3....5,000....
Gisborne1,2602,8005755308001 9..0 3....38,300....
New Plymouth8504,5009608001,2001 9..0 100 6..46,224....
Stratford1,9202,1004606001,0200 1 1/2..1/8d., 1/4d., & 3/4d.(1)0 6....244,000..
Hawera5002,5005004506201 3....7 per cent...18,945....
Eltham1,5901,400300272386(7)0 1/2............106,988
Patea1,4207002801993801 30 4 3/8..0 1 3/4..6,383....
Wanganui1,0007,3861,6001,5681,8500 10..1 0....65,000....
Marton (1902)1,4231,1012382494061 0..1 6..0 0 1/29,953....
Feilding3,5002,5005004708900 2..0 13/5..0 0 1/8....136,973
Palmerston N.4,5937,8281,6281,3002,9100 2 1/2..1/16d., 1/10d., 2 1/8d.2 per cent. under max.0 0 1/8....331,614
Foxton5,7601,2502963206581 3..0 1 1/4..0 18,737....
Hastings5,7403,8008408621,3121 2..0 10..0 142,340....
Napier8799,0151,8799842,6000 9..5d.& 10d1 to 3 per cent...86,412....
Dannevirke1,2223,0005005021,5131 3..d. & 5d.2 1/2 & 3 3/4 per cent.0 121,796....
Woodville1,2409962324774770 3 5/8....2 1/, 3, 3 1/2 per cent.......41,031
Pahiatua7401,2603654104600 3..0 1 1/2........69,265
Masterton4,3114,0007007501,0780 2..0 0 3/4(8)0 0 1/8....315,266
Carterton1,8801,2052872623780 1 1/1 5/6..0 1 367/3888[sec. 3d....110,425..
Greytown3,9071,1222522353761 6..0 2No. 1 sec. 6d, No. 20 19,312....
Lower Hutt3,2252,2304384125710 2............225,873
Petone9524,7509426801,5601 6..1 1....34,300....
Onslow2,8701,5003323606500 20 0 1/60 0 3/4........150,589
Wellington1,10045,4198,2435,7899,9580 1 3/4(1) 0 37/16d., 3/6 5/4d., 2/25 1/6, 7/64d.,(1) 4 per cent.0 0 7/64....5,855,629
Karori5,1271,2503103205490 1/3/4(2)0 0 3/160 1 1/8........151,625
Melrose3,9624,2958591,0401,4830 1 3/40 0 1/40 0 1/6........324,719
Picton5608701652959800 1 1/2(2) 0 0 1/5..1/4d. and 1/2d.....90,437..
Blenheim1,5713,2507555591,4501 1 1/4(2)0 2 1/40 2 1/2....24,894....
Nelson4,8007,5131,5211,1802,3751 3..0 3 7/82 to 3 1/2 per cent...59,483....
Richmond2,3005901321341540 3/4....(1) 4 per cent.....86,324 
Motueka5,6438971681793770 1..........92,316..
Westport7133,2008391,0261,2022 0....3 1/2 and 5 per cent...22,500....
Greymouth2,0004,3008326771,1030 4..(9)0 0 1/2........86,008
Brunner5,7001,5703402723201 67d., 10d.(2)0 8....3,900....
Kumara8421,1302373174390 1 1/20 1 1/2........27,551..
Hokitika1,2802,0006305706700 40 1 1/80 1 7/8........48,245
Ross4,1966503003504143/4d. &0 0 1/2........33,675..
Rangiora1,0401,7684058435520 0 3/4..........170,296..
Kaiapoi1,0201,7804208606301 8........10,862..
Christchurch1,24919,0793,8373,1204,8961 7(10)2 1/8., 1 3/4d.....247,049....
Linwood6597,3331,5421,3991,5610 4(11)(12)........169,286
St. Albans1,5006,7001,5201,4201,8590 3(13)0 0 7/8........285,763
Sydenham1,19012,6792,5722,0372,4690 3 1/4(14)0 0 5/6 1/4........249,049
Woolston1,2762,8005785297060 1 1/4(2)0 0 5/32(15)......209,064..
Sumner4,8768642332974180 1 3/4(2)0 0 1/80 0 2/40 0 5/16......62,655
New Brighton1,5001,100226....1 40 20 7....7,014....
Lyttelton2,0144,0268466118031 3........26,068....
Akaroa2215961361301900 0 15/16..........48,182..
Ashburton6802,400540544..2 0........23,155....
Temuka7941,5503533896580 1 1/2(16)0 0 3/4(17)0 0 3/4......92,954..
Timaru1,1007,0001,2271,1241,7191 3..1 0..2 1/2 to 5 per cent...54,350..
Waimate6491,4003503605000 4............45,320
Oamaru1,1115,0001,2959231,5102 0..1 3(18)..30,855....
Hampden640310901181200 0 3/4..........18,000..
Palmerston S.8007501902483600 1..........43,538..
Hawksbury2,7006901682404400 0 3/4..........46,492..
Port Chalmers3352,0565005205811 3....(19)..12,350....
North-East Valley5,9803,9257851,2001,2501 2..0 6....19,845....
Maori Hill3,7001,6003453823991s., 1s. 3d., & 1s. 6d.....(20)..11,602....
West Harbour1,6701,4903044806391 0..1 0....9,111....
Dunedin1,80025,2144,9833,2006,0211 3..0 9(21)..268,965....
Roslyn2,0005,0001,0351,0591,1721 60 1 1/2(22)....34,697....
Mornington6544,0958508449971 6........23,606....
Caversham1,0735,5001,0738801,0831 40 30 35 per cent...33,932....
St. Kilda4631,9004154976881 00 60 65s. to 5 per cert...12,198....
South Dunedin4136,5091,1329621,2181 00 60 66 per cent...25,582....
Green Island1036801381501861 3........2,968....
Mosgiel9671,5003203305391 3........9,254....
Milton2651,4002752153301 6........7,136....
Kaitangata1,1582,0003502865451 30 6......7,230....
Balclutha5681,0402702603201 0....0 15,394.... 
Lawrence6401,1702453603101 0....3d. and 6d...8,153....
Roxburgh400500122811251 0....6d.,min. chge. 6s...1,767....
Tapanui126500140801461 9........2,074....
Naseby1135501661501631 0....2 1/2, 3 1/2. 6, and 7 per cent...2,412.. 
Cromwell6407001601502251 3....1 2..5,061....
Alexandra8401,0002203073301 00 61 06d. sanitary rate...8,000....
Arrowtown390400105962101 6........1,908....
Queenstown9236901961757141 0..0 60 6..4,850....
Gore1,1502,6005606201,3500 2 1/5(4) 0 0 2/50 0 13/16........99,586
Mataura1,5309752452184501 6........6,005....
Winton1605001001201600 2 1/2............17,803
Invercargill1,0406,5001,2851,1001,8000 2 1/16(23)0 35/16d., 1 7/8d.(18)......434,766
North Invercargill3269252082873681 4..1 4....4,084....
South Invercargill4,0001,9503846199070 3 1/2..0 2 1/2........44,685
East Invercargill1219392001972451 9..0 9....4,331....
Avenal80355801071201 0........2,393....
Gladstone240380701401501 0..0 6....3,941....
Campbelltown2,0001,5003603606601 3........10,074....
Riverton7188502532304231 3........4,254....

COUNTIES, 1902-1903.

[NOTE.—For value of land and improvements see Section XXI.]

Counties.Area in Square Miles (including Boroughs).Population, Census, March, 1901, (excluding Boroughs).Rates struck by County on Capital Rateable Value.On Unimproved Value.
General.Other.General.Other.

*No information.

Mongonui9342,274****
Whangaroa1609271d.......
Hokianga9721,767....2 1/2d.5/16d. charitable purposes.
Bay of Islands8262,5871d.......
Hobson6884,8131 1/2d.Special, Lucks, 3/4d.; Kopuru Swamp, drainage, 3/4d.; Curnow's deviation, 1 1/2d.; H.and C. A., 1/6d.....
Whangarei9286,3803/4d.3/4d. separate.....
Otamatea3642,7213/4d.3/4d. separate in two outlying districts, and 1/2d. in two.....
Rodney5663,6783/4d.1/4d. C.A.; 1/4d. separate in Hoteo outlying district.....
Waitemata6137,0353/4d.3/4d. separate, Mairetahi, Wainui, Kaukapakapa outlying districts; 3/4d. Birkenhead and Waikumete Hidings; 1/2d. Northcote, Takapuna, Waitekerei Ridings; 5/16d. special, Mairetahi Riding.....
Eden4319,314........
Manukau79112,306........
Coromandel4034,1691 1/2d.1 1/2d. special for special district, Coromandel water-supply.....
Thames4945,0431 1/2d.6d. per acre, Matakohe Drainage District, 1,554 acres.....
Ohinemuri4789,9785/8d.3/4d. special, Paeroa Water-rating District.....
Piako1,0952,4363/4d.1/4d. separate, Te Aroha, Patetere, and Taotaoroa Ridings.....
Waikato5913,1831/4d.......
Waipa2823,5801/2d., 3/4d.3/4d. separate, Hamilton, Mangapiko, and Alexandra outlying districts.....
Raglan8241,697....1 1/4d.1/4d.H. and C.A.; 1d. separate Karioi, 1/2d. Whangape, 1/2d. One whero Ridings.
Kawhia1,5151,113........
West Taupo1,594287    
East Taupo2,581256........
Rotorua9841,307........
Tauranga5771,720....1 1/8 d, 1 2/8 d. 1 3/8d.1/10 d. H. and C. A.; 1/6d., 1/8d., 1/10d., 1/11d. special.
Whakatane1,716779****
Opotiki1,4401,4383/4d.1/2d. separate, Waioeka and Ohiwa Ridings.....
Waiapu1,1217111d.3/4d. special, Tokomaru-Tuakau loan.....
Cook1,9506,3933/4.d.1/10d.H. and C.A.; thirteen, from 1/40d. to 1 1/2d., various rates.....
Clifton1,5182,5351/4d.3/16 d., 5/16d., 1 5/8d., 2d. special, for loans.....
Taranaki386....3/4d.1/8d. H. and C.A.; 3/4d. Eltham Road loan...
Hawera3819,5413/4 d.1/4d. separate, Mangatoki, Eltham, and Okaiawa outlying districts.....
Egmont254........
Stratford7845,081..3/4d., 1d., 1 1/4d., 1 5/16d.Separate, South 3/4d., East 1d., West 3/4d., Ridings; special, various.
Patea6913,0463/4d.3/4d. special, Kapara loan; 5/5d. Omoua loan; 3/4d. separate, Kapara Riding.....
Waitotara3433,4761d.......
Waimarino1,3154,0181/4d.1/8d. special No. 2 Long Acre, 3/8d. No. 1, 7/16d. Denlair, 10/16d. Waikupu Districts.....
Wanganui627....
Rangitikei8527,5703/4d.7/16d. separate, Maungahoe, Otairi, Ohingaiti, Ridings; special in thirty special-rating districts.....
Kiwitea3362,8443/4d.Separate and special, various.....
Kairanga1846,7783/4d.1/2d. separate, Fitzherbert Riding.  
Oroua213
Pohangina2951,5363/4d.1/4d., 1/2d. separate; ten special, various, from 1/10d. to 2d.....
Manawatu2673,0005/8d.Separate and special, various, to meet loans in special districts.....
Horowhenua5914,6541/2d., 5/5d., 3/4d.Eleven special, various.....
Wairoa1,8871,7735/8d.3/16d., 5/32d., 1/64d. special over part of county.....
Hawke's Bay3,2326,8833/4d.......
Waipawa9909,495....3/4d. in road districts, 1 3/4d outlying11/16d. No. 2, 3/8d. No. 3, 1/11d. No. 4, 2/3d. No. 6, 1 1/10d. No. 8 loans.
Woodville164....1d., 1/8d.Special rates in respect of special loans.
Patangata6522,3761/2d., 3/4d.1/6d., 1/12d., 12/30d. special.....
Weber953/4d.7/32d. for interest on loan.....
Pahiatua3023,600....1 1/4d.Fifty-two special and various.
Akitio3281,0483/8d.......
Castlepoint1504571 1/4d.14/120d., 45/120d., 41/120d., 1/30d., 3/80d. special.....
Eketahuna1702,332....1 3/4d.Forty-six special and various for interest on loans.
Mauriceville1251,1275/8d.Seventeen special rates on small special-rating districts.....
Masterton6703,1233/4d.1/16d., 1/16d., 1/2d. separate in three ridings; special, various.....
Wairarapa South4455,419..1/8d. H. and CA.; various special rates for interest on loans; 3/8d. special-rating district for maintenance Taratahi Water-race works1 5/16d...
Featherston9655/8d.1/12d. H. and C.A.; special, various, for interest on loans.....
Hutt5907,1711/2d., 3/4d.1/2d. separate; special, 5/16d., 1/5d., 1/2d., 5/8d., 3/8d.....
Sounds573946........
Marlborough3,8126,518........
Kaikoura6731,7653/4d.......
Collingwood1,0292,4901/4d.1/4d., 5/18d. special for repayment of loans.....
Waimea1,6627,8333/4d.1/5d. H. and C.A.; 1/12d., 3/13d. special for loans.....
Buller1,8184,8681 1/2d.1/2d. H. and C.A.; 3 1/4d. special, Charleston Riding.....
Inangahua2,2564,595....3d., 3 1/2d.Three special, one 5/16d. and two 1/2d., in Reef-ton Town; 2 1/4d. Boatman's Irrigation District.
Grey1,4524,9711 1/2d.3/8d. H. and C.A.....
Westland4,4204,4051 1/2d.......
Amuri2,3621,1421/2d.3/4d., 7/16d., 5/16d., special, for interest on loans.....
Cheviot3221,120....7/8d., 1d.1/8d. Hawkswood Riding
Ashley1,62711,599........
Selwyn2,59730,787..1/8d. H. and C.A.; 1/32d. bird-nuisance.....
Akaroa2943,6693/8d.1/4d. special, Wainui Wharf.....
Mount Herbert591/2d. Port Levy, 3/4d. Port Victoria......
Ashburton2,54211,3421/4d.1 1/2d. Ruapuna No. 1 and No. 2 Districts; 1/2d. Ashburton Forks Protective - works District; 1/5d. Wakanui Protective-works District; 3/4d. Mount Somers tramway.....
Geraldine9455,9911/4d.3/8d. to 9/16d. water districts, also 1d. to 3d. per acre for maintenance.....
Levels2735,4961d.......
Mackenzie2,5371,6423/8d.......
Waimate1,3435,653....7/8d.1/4d. Timaru Harbour Board; 5/8d. Waihao water-rate for interest; 3/4d. Waihao maintenance.
Waitaki2,3339,0861/2d.Separate, 3/16d. Moeraki Riding, 3/16d. Waiarika Riding, 2/16d. Otepopo Riding, 4/16d. Kakanui Riding; also special rates, maintenance and interest Papakaio Water-race.....
Waihemo3362,0143/4d.......
Waikouaiti3184,0823/4d.......
Peninsula372,561........
Taieri9307,1793/4d.1/8d. H. and C.A.; 109/1432d. Otago Charitable Aid Board; 70/1432d. Otago District Hospital Board; 2/5d. special, South Taieri District.....
Bruce5034,7623/4d. outlying, 3/8d. road districts3/16d. H. and C.A.; eight special, various, from 5/6d. to 1 1/4d.; 1/6d., 5/16d. separate.....
Clutha9466,4453/4d.1/2d. separate, Catlin's, South Molyneux, Richardson Ridings; special for interest, 1/8d. South Molyneux loan, 1/6d. Richardson Riding loan, 2/5d. Clinton Road Board loan, 1/4d. Pomahaka Riding loan.....
Tuapeka1,3656,2723/4d.......
Maniototo1,2393,7923/4d.......
Vincent2,6844,3621d.1 1/2d. for interest Clyde Water-race loan, 2 1/2d. Blackman's loan.....
Lake3,7122,5351d.1/8d. special, Skipper's Bridge loan.....
Southland3,85222,583..9/50d. H. and C.A.; 3/8d. special, West Plains1 1/20d.1/3d. South Hill-end, 1/3d. Wyndham Road District, 1/6d. Otaraia District.
Wallace3,4047,9893/4d.1/8d. H. and C.A.; separate rates in four ridings.....
Fiord3,040124........
Stewart Island6512533/4d.1/4d. H. and C.A.....
Chatham Islands375207........

TOWN DISTRICTS, 1902-1903.

Town Districts.Estimated Population 31st March, 1903.Number ofAmount of Rate levied in the Pound on the Capital, Annual, or Unimproved Value of Property.
Dwellings.Ratepayers.Rateable Properties.

* On the annual value.

† On the unimproved value.

(1) Special, 1/4d.

(2) Special, 1/8d.

(3) County rate, 3/4d.

(4) Special, 1 3/4d.

(5) Special, 1/8d. on capital value.

(6) Special, 1/4d.; separate, 1/12d.

(7) Water rate. 7 per cent. on the annual value where water supplied.

(8) Special, 3/8d.

     s.d.
Kamo250768010200 3/4
Helensville4508593111*05
Papakura2827915620300 1/2
Te Awamutu35050637500 3/4
Kihikihi (1902)263629914100 3/4
Ngaruawahia30010014014100 3/4
Rotorua1,200250    
Opotiki80030020528000 3/4
Waitara (Raleigh)860200266..00 3/4 (1)
Opunake600150165..00 3/4
Inglewood945......00 3/4 (2)
Normanby3568612612605
Manaia4307215334100 3/4 (3)
Waverley41611212112100 3/4
Lethbridge (Turakina)250604568*08
Bull's550123134179*10
Halcombe37690150730*10 (4)
Clyde (Wairoa)72013517534000 3/4
Taradale85016519219800 1/2
Ormondville47010615121502 3/8
Waipawa66916812119601 7/8 (5)
Kaikora North26860105135*06
Featherston62912015019000 3/4 (6)
Johnsonville503120132..00 1/2
Havelock316767915301
Amberley417979213000 3/4
Southbridge200120240..00 3/4
Hampstead1,25025227032200 1/2
Tinwald56011116023300 5/8
Geraldine90020520831600 3/4
Greytown (Allanton)167497011500 1/2
Outram420616611000 1/4 (7)
Clinton44095120126*10
Wyndham417115116354*10
Otautau62511112218600 3/4 (8)

ROAD DISTRICTS, 1902-1903.

County and District.Population (Census, 1901).Number ofAmount of Rate levied in the Pound on the Capital, Annual, or Unimproved Value.
Dwellings.Ratepayers.Rateable Properties.

*No information.

(1) On annual value; 6 1/2d. special.

(2) 1/8d. separate, hospital and charitable aid.

(3) 26/45d. special.

(4) 5/16d. special, drainage; 1/6d. separate, hospital and charitable aid.

(5) 1/8d. special, for lighting.

(6) 1/8d. separate, for gas.

(7) 1d. separate, hospital and charitable aid.

(8) 1 7/32d., 2 1/8d., special in special-rating divisions.

(9) 1/4d. separate, hospital and charitable aid.

(10) 1/2d. and 5/16d. special not collected.

(11) 1/2d. special.

(12) 1 33/100 special on portion of district.

(13) 3/8d. special.

(14) 1/6d. special.

(15) 3/4d. special.

(16) 3/4d. in Buckland Subdivision only.

(17) 1/3d. special.

(18) 1/4d., 1/6d., and 1/8d. special.

(19) 1/4d. separate, hospital and charitable aid.

*On unimproved value.

*On unimproved value.

(1) No rate struck.

(2) 3/8d. and 1/2d. special.

(3) 1 1/4d. special; no general rate

(4) 1/4d. special; no general rate.

(1) 3/16d. special; no general rate.

(2) No rate struck.

(3) 1/6d. and 1d. special; no general rate.

(4) 1/2d. special; no general rate.

(5) 1/4d. special; No. 2, 1d.; No. 3, 1/2d.; No. 5, 1/2d.; No. 6, 1 1/3d.

(6) 7/32d. special.

(7) 1/6d., 1/6d., 1/3d., and 3/4d. special.

(8) 5/8d. special.

(9) 1/10d. special.

(10) Special, various, 1/4d. to 1 3/4d.

(11) 1/10d. special; no general rate.

*On unimproved value.

(1) Special, various from 1/24d. to 1/6d.

(2) 1/2d. special.

(3) Special, various.

(4) 1/4d. special.

(5) No rate struck.

* On unimproved value.

(1) Special. various, for interest on loans.

(2) 1/4d. special.

(3) 3/4d. special.

(4) No rate struck.

* On unimproved value.

(1) 3d. per acre, Eyre Water-race.

(2) On annual value; special, 6d.; separate 1/2d., 1/2d., 2d., 7d.

(3) Special, hospital and charitable aid, 1/8d.; Waimakariri River rate, 3/64d.; separate drainage rate, 1/2d.; small-birds rate, 1/32d.

(4) 1/5d. separate.

(5) Separate, 1/32d., small birds.

(6) 5/64d. separate.

(7) 2/64d. Waimakariri, separate.

(8) Separate, 1/32d., small birds; special, 2/64d., Waimakariri.

(9) No rate struck. (10)

1/4d. special.

(11) 3/8d. separate, No. 5 Ward.

* On unimproved value.

(1) 1/2d. special.

(2) No rate struck.

(3) 1/4d. separate on one subdistrict only.

*On unimproved value.

     d.
Mongonui..........
Whangaroa..........
Bay of Islands (No road districts.)..........
Hokianga..........
Hobson..........
Whangarei—..........
  Hikurangi495701201463/4
  Kaurihohore1914745473/4
  Kensington (merged)4991818 
  Marua27463871143/4
  Maungakaramea288711101303/4
  Maunu5841551421603/4
  Otonga3005570733/4
  Parua Bay215502002553/4
  Ruarangi1033057573/4
  Waikiekie20527922113/4
  Waipu North22448821173/4
  Whareora926464803/4
Otamatea—..........
  Mangawai2685490953/4
  Mareretu..481151213/4
  Matakohe423871582753/4
  Whakapirau (no Board)...........
Rodney..........
  411442723/4
  Albertland North651242423/4
  Albertland South322791451723/4
  621544473/4
  1512396961/2
  Mahurangi Upper947......3/4
  Mainene741126823/4
  Matakana East1322137391/4
  Matakana West17257691543/4
  Omaha357......3/4
  Puhoi59680130..3/4
  Tauhoa3715991..3/4
  Warkworth (in first year)..........
  Wharehine962037383/4
Waitemata—..........
  Kaukapakapa5431001823923/4
  Pukeatua560902172643/4
  Whangaparaoa662535533/4
Eden—..........
  Arch Hill1,6713662964711s.(1)
  Avondale1,0752303854953/4 (2)
  Eden Terrace2,0114303154383/4 (3)
  Epsom7501651701913/4
  Mount Albert2,0854606117913/4 (4)
    Mount Eden5,12912501,1501,3903/4 (5)
  Mount Roskill5811271872583/4 (6)
  Mount Wellington9542042005765/8
  One-tree Hill1,2832041842723/8 (7)
  Panmure Township25970801001/2
  Point Chevalier6843344553/4
  Remuera2,1864504145483/4
  Tamaki West3751061251655/8
Manukau—..........
  Awhitu4131031321603/4
  Drury382831542043/4
  Howick Town224521191193/4
  Hunua26654125220*1 17/128 (x8)
  Karaka18850147..3/4
  Mangere7022001582091/2
  Manurewa26060741411/2
  Maraetai82252432*1 1/3 (9)
  Mauku3801051381501/2 (10)
  Maungatawhiri3785062953/4
  Mercer Township2295049863/4
  Opaheke369851142803/4 (11)
  Otahuhu1,2113202813793/4
  Pakuranga2716574993/4
  Papakura37386108119*1 33/100 (12)
  Paparata373891161603/4 (13)
  Paparoa1664671933/4
  Papatoetoe1764039393/4
  Pokeno398821011883/4 (14)
  Pollok Settlement882037461/2 (15)
  Pukekohe East9423252192643/4
  Pukekohe West1,1532212502613/4 (16)
  Tamaki East5801191181493/4
  Turanga2274580903/4 (17)
  Waipipi9053003003503/4 (18)
  Wairoa7921922033133/4 (19)
  Waiuku4922002202253/4
Coromandel..........
Thames (No road districts.)..........
Ohinemuri..........
Piako—..........
  Matamata2626050701/2
  Waitoa1,3222572883643/4
Waikato—..........
  Cambridge5621001551551/2
  Huntly9661042043673/4
  Kirikiriroa9641782552553/4
  Tamahere2485761613/4
  Whangamarino443802094213/4
Waipa—..........
  Newcastle391821481713/4
  Pukekura8101862704301/2
  Rangiaohia507811071203/4
  Tuhikaramea983056563/4
Raglan—..........
  Karamu (no Board)78........
  Onewhero (merged)197........
  Te Akau (no Board)32........
Kawhia..........
West Taupo..........
East Taupo..........
Rotorua (No road districts.)..........
Tauranga—..........
  Katikati40984146265*1 7/18
  Te Puke4771401802081 1/4
  Te Puna16936135140(1)
Whakatane..........
Waiapu..........
Opotiki (No road districts.)..........
Cook—..........
  Aroha58111212(1)
  Hangaroa..202242(1)
  Kaiti7001701942903/4 (2)
  Ngatapa489105127164(3)
  Ormond4827099166()
  Patutahi6387599230(4)
  Pouawa85452953(1)
  Poverty Bay1,050140258258(1)
  Taruheru225566070(2)
  Te Arai2945674188(3)
  Titirangi44112536(4)
  Waikohu328707575(2)
  Waimata264484850..
  Waipaoa80101017(2)
  Whataupoko1,1482352853303/4 (5)
Clifton. (No road districts.)..........
Taranaki—..........
  Barrett4391191141631/2
  Carrington34183961703/4 (6)
  Egmont6351741692773/4 (7)
  Elliot2355470783/4
  Frankley2311011011093/4
  Henui3931201401703/4
  Hurford, Upper561618183/4 (8)
  Mangorei2764070823/4
  Moa2,8365005506002/3 (9)
  Oakura (no information)333........
  Okato34570801451/4
  Omata (no information)294........
  Parihaka (no information)1,514........
  Tataraimaka (no information)152........
  Waitara West (no information)814........
  Waiwakaiho (no information)350........
Egmont. (No road districts.)..........
Stratford—..........
  Manganui1,734355395581*1 1/4
Hawera—..........
  Waimate2,6193604005903/4 (10)
Patea—..........
  Kohi166343030(2)
  Motoroa60182020(2)
  Okotuku134242933(2)
  Patea East4017584355(2)
  Patea West777195204630(11)
  Wairoa105223030(2)
  Waitotara-Momohaki496105149..3/4
  Whenuakura-Waitotara313424444(2)
Waitotara (No road districts.)..........
Waimarino..........
Wanganui—..........
  Kaitoke6061251201573/4
  Kaukatea19847431163/4
  Mangawhero9734504007001/2
  Mataongaonga..2002123403/4
  Purua9042201902913/4
  Wangaehu Upper (no information)695........
Rangitikei. (No road districts.)..........
Oroua—..........
  Manchester3,3137646402,1751/2(1)
Kairanga (No road districts.)..........
Pohangina..........
Kiwitea..........
Manawatu..........
Horowhenua—..........
  Otaki1,2803003201,1711/2 (2)
  Te Horo5121101355001/2
  Wirokino2,8627906931,1001/2 (3)
Wairoa..........
Hawke's Bay (No road districts.)..........
Waipawa—..........
  Norsewood1,206208280300*1 3/8
  Ruataniwha North65111482123*1/2
  Takapau60810565117* 1/2 (4)
  Waipawa274586478*3/8
  Waipukurau741200210292*3/4
Patangata—..........
  Oero3055559781/2
  Patangata2944751993/16
  Porangahau433907615311/16
  Tamumu1852020311/4
  Wallingford1922324561/4
  Wanstead1432127..(5)
Weber (No road districts.)..........
Pahiatua..........
Castlepoint..........
Eketahuna..........
Mauriceville..........
Woodville..........
Masterton........ 
Akitio..........
Wairarapa South—..........
  Taratahi-Carterton2,523560489696*1 5/16 (1)
Featherston. (No road districts.)..........
Hutt—..........
  Makara2573945661/2 (2)
  Seatoun4321571601603/4 (2)
Sounds. (No road districts.)..........
Marlborough—..........
  Awatere7851501712213/4
  Omaka1,6033263934873/4
  Pelorus1,218233258439*1 3/4 (3)
  Picton8471881612545/8
  Spring Creek8191371371771/2
  Wairau9302002102243/4
Kaikoura. (No road districts.)..........
Collingwood—..........
  Collingwood1,0783503095553/4
  Takaka1,3423463307863/4
Waimea—..........
  Dovedale286505050(4)
  Moutere Upper397100100..(4)
  Riwaka687145....(4)
  Stoke1,183210....(4)
  Suburban North559120126..(4)
  Waimea West460787870(4)
Buller (No road districts.)..........
Inangahua..........
Grey..........
Westland..........
Amuri..........
Cheviot..........
Ashley—..........
  Ashley7265002002803/4
  Cust7131611412097/16
  Eyreton West4018574741/2
  Kowai1,8515506507703/4
  Mandeville and Rangiora2,2575324396905/8
  Oxford1,9735504668633/4 (1)
  Waipara1,6955004505331/2
Selwyn—..........
  Avon3,88911458651,1101s. (2)
  Courtenay2,5604284637547/16
  Ellesmere3,497..5979329/16
  Halswell1,2782302002303/4
  Heathcote2,9955508089753/4 (3)
  Lake Coleridge1772731831/2
  Lincoln1,2133742533311/2 (4)
  Malvern9651701523201/2
  Malvern East6251411592921/4
  Malvern South428802113421/2
  Rakaia8252002103573/8 (5)
  Riccarton5,713..1,1381,3523/4
  Spreydon1,457346473497*1 3/16 (6)
  Springs1,8724604204529/16 (7)
  Taitapu3249569783/4
  Templeton2,3385696386867/16 (8)
  Waimakariri Upper235211341(9)
Akaroa—..........
  Akaroa and Wainui1,30827024824811/16
  Le Bon's Bay3165682913/4 (10)
  Little River8162701801605/8
  Okain's Bay520901041253/4
  Pigeon Bay2585750605/8
  Port Levy1593248581/2
  Port Victoria2924766493/4
Mount Herbert. (No road districts.)..........
Ashburton—..........
  Anama..80861391/2
  Ashburton Upper2,0023856007253/8 (11)
  Coldstream31980851581/2
  Longbeach1,335..2143606/16
  Mount Hutt1,5002552393721/4
  Mount Somers9281952313101/2
  Rangitata7971301362181/4
  South Rakaia1,4803553765301/4
  Wakanui1,2302282803243/8
Geraldine—..........
  Geraldine2,2504854988373/4
  Mount Peel4931201201751/2
  Temuka2,380..510..3/4
Levels (No road districts.)..........
Mackenzie..........
Waimate..........
Waitaki..........
Waihemo..........
Waikouaiti..........
Peninsula—..........
  Otago Heads30463631033/4
  Peninsula1,3242193333933/4
  Portobello7963653613713/4
  Tomahawk1372029433/4 (1)
Taieri. (No road districts.)..........
Bruce—..........
  Balmoral476748695(2)
  Inch-Cluths (Road and River)3446064721/2
  Mount Stuart6181001241243/8
Clutha (No road districts.)..........
Tuapeka..........
Maniototo..........
Vincent..........
Lake..........
Southland—..........
  Knapdale1,596293328408*17/20
  Oteramika2,249......1/2 (3)
  Tuturau733..134140*3/4
Wallace (No road districts.)..........
Fiord..........
Stewart Island..........
Chatham Islands..........

Chapter 46. SECTION XVI.—LICENSES AND LICENSED HOUSES, ETC.

LICENSES AND LICENSED HOUSES.

DURING the year ended the 31st March, 1903, 2,415 licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors were granted. Of these, 1,504 were publicans' and accommodation licenses, 6 New Zealand wine, 62 packet, 174 wholesale, and 669 conditional licenses. The fees paid amounted to £54,334, and formed part of the revenue of the local governing bodies of the districts in which the licenses were issued. Particulars are given in the following table:—

NUMBER OF LICENSES GRANTED DURING THE YEAR 1902-1903, and the AMOUNT OF FEES PAID TO LOCAL BODIES THEREFOR.

Licenses.In Counties.In Boroughs.Total.
Publicans' licenses5936981,291
Accommodation licenses213..213
  Total licensed houses8066981,504
New Zealand wine licenses156
Packet licenses134962
Wholesale licenses15159174
Conditional licenses528141669
  Total licenses granted1,3631,0522,415
Amount of license fees paid to local bodies£19,380£34,954£54,334

The average number of persons to each licensed house in counties and boroughs respectively, for 1902-1903, is next shown:—

 Number of Licensed Houses.*Estimated Population.Average Number of Persons to each Licensed House.

*I.e., houses holding publicans' or accommodation licenses.

Counties806412,383512
Boroughs698382,957549
  Totals1,504795,340529

In 1901-1902 the number of licensed houses in counties was 823, and those in boroughs 690, giving a total of 1,513 houses, or 9 more than in 1902-1903. The average number of persons to a licensed house increased from 507 in 1901-1902 to 512 in 1902-1903 in counties, and in boroughs from 508 in the former to 549 in the latter year.

The annual fees paid for licenses are—

*Between the hours of six in the morning and ten at night. For an eleven o'clock license an additional £5 must be paid.

(1.) For a publican's license—£
  (a.) Within the limits of a borough or town district40*
  (b.) Outside the aforesaid limits25
(2.) For a New Zealand wine license1
(3.) For an accommodation license, a sum to be determined by the Licensing Committee, not exceeding20
(4.) For a packet license—..
  (a.) For a vessel exceeding 50 tons register10
  (b.) For a vessel not exceeding 50 tons register5
(5.) For a wholesale license20
(6.) For a conditional license, according to duration of license, a sum not exceeding30

The approximate capital value of the licensed houses in the counties was stated at £770,170, and the same for certain of the boroughs at £623,069. There was, besides, an annual value of £112,551 for other licensed houses in the boroughs, which, capitalised at 6 per cent., would represent £1,875,850. The capital value of all licensed houses would therefore be about £3,269,089.

The total number of persons engaged in or connected with the sale or manufacture of wine, spirits, beer, cordials, &c., was returned at the census of 1901 as under:—

 Males.Females.Persons.
Hotelkeepers1,3412151,556
Relative assisting133631764
Manager, clerk10422126
Hotel servant, cook1,3762,5573,933
Barman, barmaid178349527
Manager, secretary, steward of club-house11527142
Wine, spirit, merchant50353
Assistant10111
Clerk, storeman55156
Traveller31..31
Cordial, &c., seller6..6
Brewer, bottler, and others engaged in brewing6064610
Relative assisting819
Maltster and assistants147..147
Wine-manufacturer16..16
Cordial, &c., maker, bottler2317238
Assistant, clerk, traveller, &c.1302132
Totals4,5373,8208,357

LOCAL OPTION POLL.

Under “The Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act, 1893,” each electoral district constituted for the election of a member of the House of Representatives is a licensing district, and electors for the House of Representatives are also electors under the Licensing Acts.

Under the Amendment Act of 1895 the licensing poll is taken at the same time as the general election of members of the House of Representatives. The questions for the decision of the voters are,—

  1. Whether the number of licenses existing in the district shall continue?

  2. Whether the number shall be reduced?

  3. Whether any licenses whatever shall be granted?

The voter may vote for one or two of these proposals, but no more.

The method of determining the result of the poll in each district by the Returning Officer is as follows:—

  1. If the number of votes recorded in favour of the continuance of existing licenses is an absolute majority of all the voters whose votes were recorded, the proposal is deemed to be carried, and the licenses continue until the next poll, subject to certain provisions in special cases.

  2. If the number of votes recorded in favour of a reduction in the number of licenses is an absolute majority of all the voters whose votes were recorded, the proposal is deemed to be carried, and supersedes the proposal for continuance of licenses. The Licensing Committee then reduces publicans' licenses by not less than 5 per cent. or more than 25 per cent. of the total number existing, excluding forfeitures. Provision is made that when a reduction vote is carried the licenses shall be reduced by one at least when the total number does not exceed ten, two when not over thirty, and three at least when the licenses exceed thirty.

  3. If the number of votes recorded in favour of the proposal that no license shall be granted is not less than three-fifths of all the voters whose votes were recorded, the proposal is declared to be carried, and supersedes the proposal for reduction and for continuance, and no licenses can be granted.

  4. If none of the proposals respecting licenses is carried by the prescribed majority the licenses continue as they are until next poll, subject to certain provisions in special cases.

The result of the poll taken on the 25th November, 1902, as made up from returns received from the officer in charge of the poll in each licensing district, is as follows:—

District.Number of Persons on Roll.Votes recorded forTotal Number of Persons who recorded Valid Votes.Number of Men and Women who recorded Votes (including Informal).Result of Poll.
Continuance.Reduction.No License.Men.Women.Total.

*Election since declared void.

†For restoration.

‡For non-restoration.

§ Not including 8,900 informal votes.

Bay of Islands4,0161,7595678502,7501,7531,0522,805Continuance carried.
Marsden4,8861,7381,7092,0323,8442,3581,5153,873No proposal carried.
Kaipara4,7342,0371,0371,3533,5602,3091,2703,579Continuance carried.
Waitemata5,7782,2341,6271,6484,0352,4301,7304,160..
City of Auckland19,9767,3456,6836,52414,5948,2676,84915,116..
Grey Lynn5,4191,8292,1972,1754,1071,9562,1964,152Reduction carried.
Eden5,1021,7541,6931,6883,5371,9181,7763,694No proposal carried.
Parnell6,1882,0621,5381,4353,8522,0301,9193,949Continuance carried.
Manukau5,8522,2681,9641,9274,4782,2311,3794,610..
Franklin4,8511,5841,5881,7373,3612,0891,3463,435No proposal carried.
Thames5,5011,9961,7682,0904,1782,2751,9674,242..
Ohinemuri5,2811,9561,2551,8083,7952,5271,3673,894Continuance carried.
Waikato5,2362,5061,3871,5874,1652,5481,7324,280..
Bay of Plenty5,7282,0771,1821,8384,2252,8151,5964,411No proposal carried.
Waiapu6,2312,2951,9702,5684,8793,1391,8354,974..
Hawke's Bay5,5801,6361,1571,4173,1332,0961,1653,261Continuance carried.
Napier5,4831,7492,0802,0063,8542,1611,8994,060Reduction carried.
Waipawa5,1781,8021,2391,6403,5442,2791,3143,593Continuance carried.
Pahiatua4,6181,6011,0581,8003,4642,2011,3543,555No proposal carried.
Masterton5,3321,9451,3961,9063,9302,4121,5862,998..
Wairarapa4,7502,0151,2451,7273,9722,4651,6094,074Continuance carried.
Egmont5,0041,8628631,4033,4142,3031,2783,581..
Taranaki5,5432,3471,5422,0214,4022,5422,0374,579..
Hawera5,7772,1121,6592,1334,2952,6691,8344,503No proposal carried.
Patea6,3872,1951,8422,2654,6113,0341,8324,866..
Rangitikei5,0961,8637071,3423,3712,4571,1143,571Continuance carried.
Wanganui6,5042,4091,8852,2674,7452,7412,2154,956..
Oroua4,7151,5701,0811,5053,1001,7821,4613,243..
Palmerston6,1162,3651,4731,9764,6372,6382,0284,666..
Manawatu4,4781,5871,0961,4003,1092,0141,2383,252..
Otaki3,7431,3459551,0622,4641,5591,0172,576..
Hutt5,0641,6741,5851,9203,7212,1571,7633,920No proposal carried.
City of Wellington21,2186,7497,3257,49615,1758,6697,31215,981..
Newtown*6,6651,8692,7772,9954,9852,6702,4475,117No-license carried.
City of Nelson5,5172,5151,5271,3274,2432,2672,0754,342Continuance carried.
Motueka4,4601,7455957992,6571,7969072,703..
Buller5,4312,4131,1491,5934,1022,6651,4874,152..
Grey5,5111,7461,3991,5243,3932,2971,1543,451..
Westland4,6682,1798358883,2202,1241,1533,277..
Wairau5,3552,3031,6711,8694,3232,6431,7794,422..
Hurunui4,5191,7841,3951,6323,4722,2791,2983,577..
Kaiapoi4,7251,6012,1322,3193,9362,1341,8523,986Reduction carried.
Riccarton4,3311,6461,3061,3653,2361,4041,9083,312Continuance carried.
Avon5,6611,8982,0212,1874,1692,1302,1554,285No proposal carried.
City of Christchurch19,7697,8977,4847,88816,2988,3678,45816,825..
Lyttelton4,8661,7821,9002,0123,8741,9601,9823,942..
Ellesmere3,8901,4891,1621,3362,8901,7241,2422,966Continuance carried.
Courtenay4,2271,3201,5121,6443,0401,8011,3523,153No proposal carried.
Selwyn4,3391,2581,6081,8043,0812,0171,2223,239Reduction carried.
Ashburton5,8761,7342,4892,8704,6252,7721,9624,734No-license carried.
Geraldine4,3051 6831,5801,7963,5782,0581,5753,633No proposal carried.
Timaru5,8572,1752,4272,6374,8562,6792,2454,924..
Waitaki4,4451,4811,6741,8963,4112,0431,4223,465..
Oamaru5,2211,8012,1442,4594,3192,3822,0254,407..
Mount Ida4,2961,5961,3191,5693,2512,1741,1803,354..
Waikouaiti4,3331,3111,5241,6983,0171,7671,3363,103Reduction carried.
Chalmers6,0311,6762,6692,7734,5582,3452,3244,669No-license carried.
City of Dunedin23,1337,2698,9378,51817,2408,4368,96817,401Reduction carried.
Caversham6,3422,3992,8622,9385,3972,7272,8085,535..
Taieri4,7271,6261,7292,0313,6952,1321,6903,822No proposal carried.
Bruce*4,8711,5252,1572,3723,8692,1031,8263,929No-license carried.
Tuapeka4,6991,6281,6421,8413,5372,3071,3843,691No proposal carried.
Clutha4,9741,368..2,2453,6132,2451,4763,721Non-restoration carried.
Mataura6,0551,8772,3532,9394,8252,9432,0164,959No-license carried.
Wakatipu4,9472,0901,3591,6543,8372,5361,4223,958Continuance carried.
Wallace5,1541,9571,8362,3234,2012,6881,7144,402No proposal carried.
Invercargill6,3392,0432,8553,0795,1472,6602,5565,216Reduction carried.
Awarua4,8351,4991,8582,2083,7132,1951,5803,775..
    Totals415,789148,449132,240151,524309,959§180,294138,565318,859 

From the foregoing table it will be seen that 148,449 votes were recorded in favour of continuing existing licenses—including one district, that of Clutha, where the vote (1,368) was for restoration of the licenses cancelled at the poll taken in 1899—132,240 for reduction, and 151,524 for no license (including 2,245 votes cast for non-restoration in the Clutha district).

In twenty-nine of the sixty-eight licensing districts the majority of the voters was in favour of continuance, in twenty-four no proposal was carried, in nine reduction, and in six no-license was carried, but in two of these latter the poll on petition was declared invalid. In twenty-four of the districts—Marsden, Grey Lynn, Franklin, Thames, Waiapu, Napier, Pahiatua, Hutt, Waitaki, Oamaru, Waikouaiti, Kaiapoi, Avon, Lyttelton, Courtenay, Selwyn, Geraldine, Timaru, Caversham, Taieri, Tuapeka, Wallace, Invercargill, and Awarua—a majority of the votes polled was for no-license, but not in sufficient number to make up the three-fifths required to carry that issue. Of the total number of persons, 318,859, including those whose votes were informal, 180,294, or 56.54 per cent., were men, and 138,565, or 43.46 per cent., were women. Compared with the polling in the year 1899, this shows a numerical increase of 19,335, or 12.01 per cent., on the part of the men, and 17,702, or 14.65 per cent., on the part of the women, clearly showing that the latter are now taking greater interest in local-option matters than they formerly did.

A comparison with 1899 of the votes recorded and the number of persons who went to the poll, with the numerical and centesimal increase in each case, is shown in the next table:—

Year.Number of Persons on Rolls.Votes recorded forNumber of Persons who recorded Votes (including informal).
Continuance.Reduction.No License.Males.Females.Totals.

*Many had been struck off for not voting at the general election for Parliament.

1894248,194*73,77125,91981,43574,37247,862122,234
1896339,230139,58094,55598,312151,235108,663259,898
1899373,744142,443107,751118,575160,959120,863281,822
1902415,789148,449132,240151,524180,294138,565318,859

The large increases in the number of votes recorded for no-license or reduction are prominent features in the above table. It is also interesting to note the substantial increase shown in the number of persons who went to the poll, though these latter must not be accepted as absolutely correct throughout.

Chapter 47. SECTION XVII.—REPRESENTATION, AND THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 1902.

REPRESENTATION.

THE colony is at present (July, 1903) divided into sixty-eight districts for purposes of European representation — sixty-four rural districts having one member each, and four city electorates three members each. This division was made on the basis of the results of the census of 1901. The Electoral Act of 1902 directs that, in computing for electoral purposes the population of the colony, 28 per cent. shall be added to the country population — i.e., all persons living outside towns of 2,000 inhabitants and over. The total population of the colony (other than Maoris), with the addition aforesaid, having been ascertained, is then divided by the number of members (76), and the quotient thus obtained forms the quota. The four city electoral districts (which have three members each) are so defined in extent that the population shall be three times the quota.* Inasmuch as it would be impossible to divide the country into a given number of districts all having exactly the precise quota of population, the law permits the Commissioners to make an allowance of 550 persons by way of addition to or deduction from the population of rural districts, and of 100 in case of city electorates, with special provision for districts where the population is partly city and partly rural, so that more consideration can be given to community of interest, facilities of communication, and topographical features, in constructing the districts.

But, although the above describes the existing state of affairs, the present electoral districts were formed in accordance with the laws in force prior to 2nd October, 1902, when the allowance by way of addition to or deduction from the population of rural districts was 1,250.

The Act provides for two permanent Commissions, called the “North” and “South” Island Representation Commissions. These sit together as a joint Commission for the purpose of fixing the number of districts for the North and South Islands respectively, but afterwards act separately and independently of one another, the duties and functions of each being confined to their respective island.

The North Island with its adjacent islands includes 34 electoral districts, having 38 members; the South and Stewart Islands having also 34 districts and 38 members. In 1896 and in 1899 the North Island returned 34 and the South Island 36 members; but * “The City Single Electorates Act, 1903,” provides that the existing electoral districts of City of Auckland, City of Wellington, City of Christchurch, and City of Dunedin shall each be divided into three electoral districts, returning one member for each division. since then six new rural districts have been created, by which the North Island has gained four and the South Island two members.

These districts are, as before stated, for purposes of European representation. But the colony is again divided into four districts for purposes of Maori representation, under the electoral law, each district having one Native member elected by the Maoris; making the House of Representatives consist of 80 members altogether—76 Europeans and 4 Maoris.

THE ELECTORAL LAW.

By the Act which came into force in 1893 the great step was taken of admitting women to the franchise. The Amendment Act of 1896 abolished the non-residential or property qualification, with a saving clause in favour of then-existing registrations in respect of such qualification. “The Electoral Act, 1902,” consolidates the whole of the electoral laws, and amends the same where necessary.

Electors are enrolled on sending to the Registrar a claim and declaration according to a prescribed form. There are no fixed periods for making up fresh electoral rolls, but the rolls are revised and printed before a general election, and also for any district in which a by-election is to take place. Nor are there any fixed periods for the revising and purifying of the rolls. It is the duty of the Registrar of each electoral district to keep the rolls revised and complete.

THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 1902.

For European Representatives.

[Polling-day, 25th November, 1902; number of polling-places, 1,879.]

Dealing with the population of both sexes, it is found that the total number of persons on the rolls was 415,789, out of a total adult population estimated at 429,385. These figures give a proportion of 96.83 per cent. of adults who were registered as electors, as against 96.79 at the previous election in 1899, 95.11 in 1896, and 94.98 in 1893. The number of persons who voted, or who went to the poll, was 318,859, or 76.69 per cent. of the number on the rolls, a slightly smaller proportion than obtained in 1899, which was 77.59 per cent.

Date of General Election.Estimated Total Adult Persons.Number on Rolls.Proportion of Adult Persons registered as Electors.Number of Persons who voted.Proportion of Persons on Rolls who voted.

*Excluding figures for three electorates in which there was no contest.

† Including 4,974 informal votes.

1893319,010302,99794.98220,08275.25*
1896356,658339,23095.11258,25476.13
1899386,146373,74496.79279,33077.59*
1902429,385415,78996.83318,85976.69

Dealing with men only, the number on the rolls was 229,845, or only 3,757 short of the full number of adult males in the colony as estimated for the day of the election. The males who voted in 1902 were 180,294, or 78.44 per cent. of those on the rolls, against 79.06 per cent. in 1899.

Date of General Election.Estimated Total Adult Males.Number of Men on Rolls.Proportion of Adult Males registered as Electors.Number who voted.Proportion of Males on Rolls who voted.

*Excluding figures for three electorates in which there was no contest.

†The number on the rolls was in excess of the estimated adult male population at the date of the election.

‡Including informal.

1893179,539193,536129,79269.61*
1896197,002196,92599.96149,47175.90
1899214,773210,52998.02159,78079.06*
1902233,602229,84598.39180,29478.44

The figures relating to women show that a lesser proportion (94.97 per cent.) of adults were registered as electors in 1902 than in 1899 (95.24 per cent.). The number of women who voted, 138,565, is 74.52 per cent. of the females on the rolls, while in 1899 there were 119,550 who voted, giving the higher proportion of 75.70 per cent.; so that (assuming the figures to be correct) there is no evidence of a greater willingness now on the part of the females to go to the poll.

Date of General Election.Estimated Total Adult Females.Number of Women on Rolls.Proportion of Adult Females registered as Electors.Number who voted.Proportion of Females on Rolls who voted.

*Excluding figures for three electorates in which there was no contest.

†Including informal.

1893139,471109,46178.4890,29085.18*
1896159,656142,30589.13108,78376.44
1899171,373163,21595.24119,55075.70*
1902195,783185,94494.97138,56574.52

The following table shows for the different districts the number of electors of each sex on the rolls, with the voters (including those whose votes were informal), and the population as at last census:—

Electoral Districts.Number of Members.Population as at Census, 31st March, 1901.Number of Electors on Roll.Number of Voters who recorded Votes (including informal).
Males.Females.Total.Males.Females.Total.
Bay of Islands18,3722,4301,5864,0161,7531,0522,805
Kaipara19,5193,0991,6354,7342,3091,2703,579
Marsden19,7982,8961,9904,8862,3581,5153,873
Waitemata110,7823,2442,5345,7782,4301,7304,160
Eden19,5532,5592,5435,1021,9181,7763,694
Auckland, City of335,68710,4249,55219,9768,2676,84915,116
Grey Lynn19,7162,4872,9325,4191,9562,1964,152
Parnell110,5112,9803,2086,1882,0301,9193,949
Manukau110,3642,7463,1065,8522,2312,3794,610
Franklin19,5232,7662,0854,8512,0891,3463,435
Thames110,7082,8202,6815,5012,2751,9674,242
Ohinemuri19,8343,4531,8285,2812,5271,3673,894
Waikato19,4913,0082,2285,2362,5481,7324,280
Bay of Plenty110,8974,0451,6835,7282,8151,5964,411
Waiapu19,9053,9302,3516,2813,1391,8354,974
Hawke's Bay110,7013,4062,1745,5802,0961,1653,261
Napier111,3432,5912,8925,4832,1611,8994,060
Waipawa110,5723,1532,0255,1782,2791,3143,593
Pahiatua19,4442,7551,8634,6182,2011,3543,555
Masterton110,2883,0842,2485,3322,4121,5863,998
Wairarapa18,4082,8611,8894,7502,4651,6094,074
Egmont19,5823,0921,9125,0042,3031,2783,581
Taranaki19,8202,9592,5845,5432,5422,0374,579
Hawera110,1323,3472,4305,7772,6691,8844,503
Patea110,5683,9482,4396,3873,0341,8324,866
Rangitikei18,4803,3521,7445,0962,4571,1143,571
Wanganui111,1963,6782,8266,5042,7412,2154,956
Oroua19,4352,8161,8994,7151,7821,4613,243
Palmerston110,5553,4502,6666,1162,6382,0284,666
Manawatu19,0572,7521,7264,4782,0141,2383,252
Otaki18,3472,1171,6263,7431,5591,0172,576
Hutt110,4512,7752,2895,0642,1571,7633,920
Wellington, City of335,83611,06310,15521,2188,6697,31215,981
Newtown111,7013,4183,2476,6652,6702,4475,117
Nelson, City of111,2842,7172,8005,5172,2672,0754,342
Motueka19,8722,7031,7574,4601,7969072,703
Buller110,7473,3552,0765,4312,6651,4874,152
Grey110,2553,4152,0965,5112,2971,1543,451
Westland18,6622,8621,8064,66S2,1241,1533,277
Wairau110,7843,1212,2345,3552,6431,7794,422
Hurunui18,8472,8071,7124,5192,2791,2983,577
Kaiapoi18,5002,4792,2464,7252,1341,8523,986
Avon110,3942,6722,9895,6612,1302,1554,285
Christchurch, City of335,8209,66310,10619,7698,3678,45816,825
Riccarton18,4751,9222,4094,3311,4041,9083,312
Ellesmere18,3382,1161,7743,8901,7241,2422,966
Lyttelton110,4652,5022,3644,8661,9601,9823,942
Courtenay18,4302,3351,8924,2271,8011,3523,153
Selwyn19,2312,6081,7314,3392,0171,2223,239
Ashburton110,4973,4222,4545,8762,7721,9624,734
Geraldine18,7872,3871,9184,3052,0581,5753,633
Timaru110,6512,9882,8695,8572,679*2,2454,924
Waitaki18,6542,6851,7604,4452,0431,4223,465
Oamaru110,0982,7642,4575,2212,3822,0254,407
Mount Ida18,3612,7211,5754,2962,1741,1803,354
Waikouaiti18,9122,3242,0094,3331,7671,3363,103
Chalmers110,9453,0163,0156,0312,3452,3244,669
Dunedin, City of335,29711,01612,11723,1338,4368,96817,404
Caversham111,5333,1003,2426,3422,7272,8085,535
Taieri19,0272,5562,1714,7272,1321,6903,822
Bruce18,4052,6862,1854,8712,1031,8263,929
Tuapeka18,5572,8951,8044,6992,3071,3843,691
Clutha19,4812,8272,1474,9742,2451,4763,721
Wakatipu110,2263,0661,8814,9472,5361,4223,958
Mataura110,7103,5242,5316,0552,9432,0164,959
Awarua110,2862,8162,0194,8352,1951,5803,775
Invercargill111,1593,1633,1766,3392,6602,5565,216
Wallace110,2373,1082,0465,1542,6881,7144,402

Particulars are given for the four city electorates, where the electors have the right of voting for three members. The number of votes exercisable is more than twenty-eight thousand in excess of those recorded, so that some of the electors evidently voted for only one or two candidates. It is interesting to note, that for the two northern cities (Auckland and Wellington) in the number of electors on the rolls and the number who recorded their votes the males exceeded the females, while for the two city electorates in the South Island (Christchurch and Dunedin) the women voters out-numbered the men.

City.No. of Members returned.Electors on Rolls.Voters who recorded Votes.No. of Votes recorded.No. of Votes exercisable by persons who voted.
Men.Women.Total.Men.Women.Total.
Auckland310,4249,55219,9768,2676,84915,11640,11945,348
Wellington311,06310,15521,2188,6697,31215,98142,36547,943
Christchurch39,66810,10619,7698,3678,45816,82545,05650,475
Dunedin311,01612,11723,1338,4368,96817,40439,56752,212
Totals1242,16641,93084,09633,73931,58765,326107,107195,978

A return is added showing the number of votes recorded for each candidate, and from this it will be seen that in thirteen instances the deposits were forfeited, the number of votes received in each case having been less than one-tenth of the number polled by the successful candidate. One candidate, Mr. P. W. Isitt, was nominated for ten separate districts, and one, Mr. D. Whyte, for two districts:—

..Number of Votes recorded.
Electoral Districts and Names of Candidates.For each Candidate.Total.

*Deceased. W. H. Hawkins elected 28th July, 1904.

Bay of Islands:....
  Houston, R. M.1,593..
  Glass, A. G. C.1,1832,776
Kaipara:....
  Harding, A. E.1,183..
  Stallworthy, J.824..
  Peacocke, G. L.730..
  Bassett, T.529..
  Newman, C.2883,554
Marsden:....
  Mander, F.1,951..
  Thompson, R.1,8933,844
Waitemata:....
  Alison, E. W.2,409..
  Hatfield, A. J.1,6954,104
Eden:....
  Bollard, J.2,628..
  Cheal, P. E.1,0003,628
City of Auckland:....
  Witheford, J. H.7,854..
  Baume, F. E.7,540..
  Kidd, A.5,786..
  Richardson, W.4,852..
  Napier, W. J.4,271..
  Rosser, A.3,504..
  French, R.3,055..
  Hanan, J. H.2,016..
  Fawcus, J.966..
  Bradly, A. P.217..
  Simson, H. N.5840,119
Grey Lynn:....
  Fowlds, G.2,108..
  Masefield, T. T.1,9904,098
Parnell:....
  Lawry, F.1,996..
  Shera, J. M.1,8723,868
Manukau:....
  Kirkbride, M. M.2,372..
  O'Rorke, Sir G. M.2,1454,517
Franklin:....
  Massey, W. F.2,297..
  Harris, A. R.1,1213,418
Thames:....
  McGowan, J.2,458..
  Lucas, W. H.1,573..
  Isitt, F. W.364,067
Ohinemuri:....
  Moss, E. G. B.1,527..
  Palmer, J.1,341..
  Poland, H.9963,864
Waikato:....
  Lang, F. W.2,234..
  Greenslade, H. J.2,0094,243
Bay of Plenty:....
  Herries, W. H.2,110..
  Lundon, D.1,434..
  Jordan, C.429..
  Taylor, J. E.3874,360
Waiapu:....
  Carroll, J.3,232..
  Isitt, F. W.1,5624,794
Hawke's Bay:....
  Russell, Sir W. R.2,330..
  Isitt, F. W.8873,217
Napier:....
  Fraser, A. L. D.2,739..
  Eames, R. J.1,2493,988
Waipawa:....
  Hall, C.2,556..
  Taylor, J.9883,544
Pahiatua:....
  O'Meara, J.*1,796..
  Bolton, S.1,459..
  Gould, A. W.2683,523
Masterton:....
  Hogg, A. W.2,451..
  Cooper, J. C.1,5033,954
Wairarapa:....
  Buchanan, W. C.2,049..
  Hornsby, J. T. M.1,9834,032
Egmont:....
  Jennings, W. T.1,765..
  Leech, C.1,7503,515
Taranaki:....
  Smith, E. M.2,419..
  Okey, H. J. H.2,1054,524
Hawera:....
  Major, C. E.2,233..
  McGuire, F.2,2124,445
Patea:....
  Symes, W.2,638..
  Haselden, F. H.2,1874,825
Rangitikei:....
  Remington, A. E.1,399..
  Birch, W. J.1,152..
  Reardon, M. J.537..
  Hornblow, R. E.358..
  Smith, J.693,515
Wanganui:....
  Willis, A. D.2,866..
  Baker, J. W.1,428..
  Lundon, G.5864,880
Oroua:....
  Lethbridge, F. Y.1,911..
  Tompkins, A. H.1,2933,204
Palmerston:....
  Wood, W. T.2,230..
  Hodder, T. R.1,896..
  Manson, H. J.5114,637
Manawatu:....
  Vile, J.1,691..
  Stevens, J.1,5153,206
Otaki:....
  Field, W. H.2,006..
  Isitt, F. W.4962,502
Hutt:....
  Wilford, T. M.2,115..
  Pirani, F.1,674..
  Collier, J. H.903,879
City of Wellington:....
  Aitken, J. G. W.7,808..
  Duthie, J.6,886..
  Fisher, G.6,685..
  O'Regan, P. J.6,304..
  Atkinson, A. R.6,094..
  Findlay, J. G.4,764..
  Godber, J.1,437..
  Jellicoe, E. G.1,384..
  McLaren, D.1,00342,365
Newtown:....
  Barber, W. H. P.1,385..
  Hislop, T. W.1,357..
  Luke, C. M.1,100..
  Chapple, W. A.1,017..
  Tustin, W. G.1595,018
City of Nelson:....
  Graham, J.2,156..
  Atmore, H.1,633..
  Piper, J.5214,310
Motueka:....
  McKenzie, R.2,256..
  Isitt, F. W.418,674..
Buller:....
  Colvin, J.3,370..
  Isitt, F. W.7694,139
Grey:....
  Guinness, A. R.2,764..
  Isitt, F. W.6193,383
Westland:....
  Seddor Rt. Hon. R. J. 2,983....
  Isitt, F. W.2373,220
Wairau:....
  Mills, C. H.2,401..
  Duncan, J.1,9904,391
Hurunui:....
  Rutherford, A. W.1,577..
  Reece, H. F.880..
  Meredith, R.834..
  Forbes, G. W.205..
  Pulley, G. T.683,564
Kaiapoi:....
  Buddo, D.2,558..
  Hassall, A. D.1,3023,860
Avon:....
  Tanner, W. W.1,680..
  Brunt, J. R.1,632..
  Loughrey, A.871..
  Myers, J. S.374,220
City of Christchurch:....
  Taylor, T. E.8,122..
  Ell, H. G.7,924..
  Davey, T. H.6,331..
  Collins, W. W.5,982..
  Smith, G. J.5,980..
  Turnbull, A. H.4,648..
  Taylor, C.4,491..
  Allison, C.1,393..
  Baynes, B.18545,056
Riccarton:....
  Witty, G.1,776..
  Russell, G. W.1,4913,267
Ellesmere:....
  Rhodes, R. H.1,719..
  Thornton, G. R.1,2182,937
Lyttelton:....
  Laurenson, G.3,041..
  Rollitt, W.8693,910
Courtenay:....
  Lewis, C.1,535..
  Rennie, J.1,185..
  Barrett, J.4013,121
Selwyn:....
  Hardy, C. A. C.1,594..
  Ivess, J.1,051..
  Wilson, K.5543,199
Ashburton:....
  McLachlan, J.2,132..
  Studholme, J., jun.1,693..
  Brock, W.783..
  Ager, A.604,668
Geraldine:....
  Flatman, F. R.2,275..
  Maslin, W. S.1,3033,578
Timaru:....
  Hall-Jones, W.3,046..
  Smith, F. H.1,395..
  Isitt, F. W.3484,789
Waitaki:....
  Steward, Sir W. J.1,992..
  Campbell, J.1,4003,392
Oamaru:....
  Duncan, T. Y.2,141..
  Brown, J. M.1,261..
  Macpherson, J. A.717..
  Crawford, H. B.1384,257
Mount Ida:....
  Herdman, A. L.1,731..
  Ewing, J.1,6003,331
Waikouaiti:....
  Mackenzie, T.2,424..
  Isitt, F. W.5783,002
Chalmers:....
  Allen, E. G.2,614..
  White, J.2,0024,616
City of Dunedin:....
  Bedford, H. D.10,088..
  Millar, J. A.9,396..
  Arnold, J. F.8,393..
  Barclay, A. R.7,072..
  Chisholm, R.4,61839,567
Caversham:....
  Sidey, T. K.2,939..
  Earnshaw, W.2,4955,434
Taieri:....
  Reid, D., jun.1,503..
  Ramsay, J. J.1,149..
  Marshall, A.589..
  Samson, C.407..
  Wright, J.1343,782
Bruce:....
  Allen, J.2,505..
  Scott, J. A.1,3923,897
Tuapeka:....
  Bennet, J.1,864..
  Gilkison, R.1,7983,662
Clutha:....
  Thomson, J. W.1,671..
  Stewart, D.1,031..
  Quin, W.820..
  McNeil, J.1763,698
Wakatipu:....
  Fraser, W.1,971..
  Ross, R. B.1,522..
  Murdoch, A.324..
  Kelly, J.653,882
Mataura:....
  McNab, R.2,669..
  Raymond, I. W.2,2314,900
Awarua:....
  Ward, Sir J. G.2,795..
  Whyte, D.9133,708
Invercargill:....
  Hanan, J. A.3,322..
  Whyte, D.1,8145,136
Wallace:....
  Thomson, J. C.2,589..
  Glifedder, M.1,7964,385

A summary of the population, number of electors on the rolls, and the total number of votes recorded at each of the last four general elections is next given:—

1902.1899.1896.1893.

*Total number of electors who recorded their votes: 318,859 in 1902, 279,330 in 1899,258,254 in 1896, and 220,082 in 1893.

Number of votes recorded for members elected235,083202,324184,929153,663
Number of votes recorded for defeated candidates181,879185,305174,475149,413
Total votes recorded*416,962387,629359,404303,076
Number of names on rolls in districts uncontested..13,726..10,539
Number of names on rolls in districts where elections were contested415,789360,018339,230292,458
Total number of electors on rolls415,789373,744339,230302,997
Total population at last census772,504703,119703,119626,359

The names of the members returned at the last general election arranged in alphabetical order are next shown, with the electoral district represented by each.

Name.Electoral District.

*Since deceased; and William Henry Hawkins, Esq., elected.

Aitken, John Guthrie WoodCity of Wellington.
Alison, Ewen WilliamWaitemata.
Allen, Edmund GiblettChalmers.
Allen, JamesBruce.
Arnold, James FrederickCity of Dunedin.
Barber, William Henry PeterNewtown.
Baume, Frederick EhrenfriedCity of Auckland.
Bedford, Harry DodgshunCity of Dunedin.
Bennet, JamesTuapeka.
Bollard, JohnEden.
Buchanan, Walter ClarkWairarapa.
Buddo, DavidKaiapoi.
Carroll, Hon. JamesWaiapu.
Colvin, JamesBuller.
Davey, Thomas HenryCity of Christchurch.
Duncan, Hon. Thomas YoungOamaru.
Duthie, JohnCity of Wellington.
Ell, Henry GeorgeCity of Christchurch.
Field, William HughesOtaki.
Fisher, GeorgeCity of Wellington.
Flatman, Frederick RobertGeraldine.
Fowlds, GeorgeGrey Lynn.
Fraser, Alfred Levavasour DurellNapier.
Fraser, WilliamWakatipu.
Graham, JohnNelson.
Guinness, Arthur RobertGrey.
Hall, CharlesWaipawa.
Hall-Jones, Hon. WilliamTimaru.
Hanan, Josiah AlfredInvercargill.
Harding, Alfred ErnestKaipara.
Hardy, Charles Albert CreerySelwyn.
Herdman, Alexander LaurenceMount Ida.
Herries, William HerbertBay of Plenty.
Hogg, Alexander WilsonMasterton.
Houston, Robert MorrowBay of Islands.
Jennings, William ThomasEgmont.
Kidd, AlfredCity of Auckland.
Kirkbride, Matthew MiddlewoodManukau.
Lang, Frederic WilliamWaikato.
Laurenson, GeorgeLyttelton.
Lawry, FrankParnell.
Lethbridge, Frank YatesOroua.
Lewis, CharlesCourtenay.
McGowan, Hon. JamesThames
McKenzie, RoderickMotueka.
Mackenzie, ThomasWaikouaiti.
McLachlan, JohnAshburton.
McNab, RobertMataura.
Major, Charles EdwinHawera.
Mander, FrancisMarsden.
Massey, William FergusonFranklin.
Millar, John AndrewCity of Dunedin.
Mills, Hon. Charles HoughtonWairau.
Moss, Edward George BrittonOhinemuri.
O'Meara, John*Pahiatua.
Reid, Donald (juu.)Taieri.
Remington, Arthur EdwardRangitikei.
Rhodes, Robert HeatonEllesmere.
Russell, Sir William Russell, K.C.M.G.Hawke's Bay.
Rutherford, Andrew WilliamHurunui.
Seddon, Rt. Hon. Richard John, P.C.Westland.
Sidey, Thomas KayCaversham.
Smith, Edward MetcalfTaranaki.
Steward, Sir William Jukes, K.C.M.G.Waitaki.
Symes, WalterPatea.
Tanner, William WilcoxAvon.
Taylor, Thomas EdwardCity of Christchurch.
Thomson, James WilliamClutha.
Thomson, John CharlesWallace.
Vile, JobManawatu.
Ward, Hon. Sir Joseph George, K.C.M.G.Awarua.
Wilford, Thomas MasonHutt
Willis, Archibald DudingstonWanganui.
Witheford, Joseph HowardCity of Auckland.
Witty, GeorgeRiccarton.
Wood, William ThomasPalmerston.

OCCUPATIONS OF MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The occupations of members elected in 1902 show an increase in the number of the representatives of the farmer class as compared with 1899. The table also shows that farmers or runholders furnish more members than any other class of occupation. There were twenty-one of these (besides four given as “settlers”) returned in 1902. There were ten barristers or solicitors, and five journalists. The number of members returned in 1902 was seventy-six, against seventy in 1896 and 1899:—

Occupations.1896.1899.1902.
Professional—......
  Barrister, solicitor5910
  Journalist985
  Mining advocate, interpreter, lecturer, teacher341
  Chemist....1
Domestic—......
  Hotelkeeper....1
Commercial—......
  Land-broker, estate agent....2
  Auctioneer112
  Director of financial company..11
  Native agent..11
  Stationer, bookseller, draper, grocer, butcher365
  Merchant, iron-merchant, timber-merchant324
  Storekeeper122
  Commission agent, clerk, accountant, commercial traveller323
Transport and Communication—......
  Coach-proprietor....1
Industrial—......
  Tailor, shoemaker, dyer223
  Mill-owner, ship-rigger, builder, metallurgical engineer, mine-manager422
  Blacksmith....1
  Printer....2
  Farmer111312
  Sheep-farmer, runholder, grazier, stock-owner1479
  Contractor333
Others—......
  Settler, gentleman, &c.875

For Maori Representatives.

(Polling-day, 22nd December, 1902.)

Of a Maori population amounting to 43,143 persons at the census of 1901, 14,271 voted at the general election held in December, 1902, an increase of 643 on the number who voted at the election of 1899. In 1893 the voters numbered 11,269, or 1,739 persons fewer than in 1896, when 13,008 Maoris recorded their votes, while at the general election held in December, 1899, the number of Maoris who voted was 13,628. As the Native population increased but slightly between 1891 and 1901, it would appear that Maoris are taking more interest as to their representation in Parliament than formerly, or perhaps there is now more convenience for attending to vote, or better knowledge of political affairs. The numbers of voters for the several districts in December, 1902, were:—

Electoral Districts.Population: Census 1901.Number who voted.Per Cent. of Population at all Ages.
Males.Females.Totals.
North Island—..........
  Northern Maori5,4004,4789,8782,13421.60
  Eastern Maori7,4656,51013,9755,26537.67
  Western Maori9,0547,99417,0486,26636.76
South Island—..........
  Southern Maori1,1931,0492,24260627.03
Totals23,11220,03143,14314,27133.08

The votes recorded for each candidate were:—

Electoral Districts and Names of Candidates.Number of Votes recorded.
For each Candidate.Total
Northern Maori Electoral District:....
  Hone Heke1,665
  Hamiora Mangakahia268..
  Kipa te Whatanui119..
  Hapeta Henare74..
  Eru Ihaka82,134
Eastern Maori Electoral District:....
  Wiremu Pere2,182..
  Pirimi Mataiawhea1,568..
  Mohi te Atahikoia1,5155,265
Western Maori Electoral District:....
  Henare Kaihau3,324..
  Ngarangi Katitia954..
  Te Heuheu Tukino840..
  Eruera te Kahu673..
  Te One Tuhi399..
  Te Weraroa Kingi766,266
Southern Maori Electoral District:....
  Tame Parata343..
  Hone Tare Tikao263606
Total..14,271

On the succeeding page will be found a tabular statement giving the results of each general election since the year 1853 for purposes of European representation.

GENERAL ELECTIONS FOR EUROPEAN REPRESENTATIVES HELD FROM THE YEAR 1853.

ParliamentDate of General Election.Number of Names on Roll of Electors.Number of Members returned.Number of Members returned unopposed.Numbers of Votes recorded (or of Voters recording Votes).Population of the Colony at end of Year.Average Number of
Persons to each Member.Persons to each Elector.Electors to each Member.

*Information not obtainable.

1 Including 100, the estimated number in Akaroa District, for which there is no return.

2 Including 800, the estimated number in the electorates of Town of New Plymouth, Grey, and Bell, and Omata, for which districts there are no returns.

3 Electors for the Electoral District of “The Otago Goldfields” not included.

4 Men and women.

5 Voters recording votes.

First185315,93437**30,0008115.1160
Second18552 10,32437**37,1921,0053.6279
Third186113,46653**79,7111,5045.9254
Fourth18663 33,33872**190,6072,6475.7463
Fifth187147,27574**248,4003,3575.3639
Sixth187561,75584**375,8564,4746.1735
Seventh187982,271841443,776463,7295,5215.6979
Eighth1881120,972911169,985500,9105,5054.11,329
Ninth1884137,686911174,672564,3046,2014.11,513
Tenth1887175,410915111,911603,3616,6303.41,928
Eleventh1890183,171706136,337625,5088,9363.42,617
Twelfth18934 302,99770345 220,082672,2659,6042.24,328
Thirteenth18964 339,23070..4 5 258,254714,16210,2022.14,853
Fourteenth18994 373,7447034 5 279,330756,50510,8072.05,339
Fifteenth19024 415,78976..4 5318,859807,92910,6311.95,471

Chapter 48. SECTION XVIII.—FINANCE.

SUBSECTION A.—REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE OF THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE revenue proper for the year ended 31st March, 1904, amounted to £7,021,386, and other receipts were £108,731, including £60,600 as the proceeds of sinking-fund debentures. The total receipts were thus £7,130,117. The principal increases over the previous year were in the Customs duties, £265,682; stamps, £100,345; land and income tax, £59,617; and railways, £185,442. All the other heads of revenue exceeded the previous year's receipts, except the territorial revenue, which fell off to the amount of £4,435.

The expenditure for the year under permanent charges and votes reached £6,434,281, or £220,263 in excess of that for the previous year. Amongst the permanent charges interest and sinking fund shows an increase of £57,000 over the previous year, arising from the payment of interest on new loans issued. The amount transferred to the Public Works Fund during the year was £350,000, making the total expenditure out of the Consolidated Fund £6,784,281.

Summarising the above results it is found that the balance of receipts over expenditure for the year amounted to £345,836. To this must be added the amount brought forward from the previous year, £303,905; and the total, £649,741, represents the balance carried forward for the current financial year's operations.

The chief heads of revenue and expenditure are shown hereunder:—

REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.

Revenue.££
Balance on 31st March, 1903 303,906
Customs duties2,601,325..
Beer duty96,721..
Stamps (including postal and telegraph cash receipts)1,079,284..
Land-tax334,991..
Income-tax221,369..
Railways2,167,992..
Registration and other fees92,647..
Marine dues35,836..
Miscellaneous143,379..
Territorial revenue247,842..
  7,021,386
Other receipts—....
     Proceeds of debentures for increases of sinking fund60,600..
     Recoveries in respect of expenditure of previous years48,131..
  108,731
 £7,434,022 
Expenditure.££
His Excellency the Governor7,000..
Legislative57,915..
Ministers' salaries and allowances12,416..
Interest and sinking fund charges1,957,963..
Exchange and commission27,126..
Pensions, civil and military65,629..
Old-age pensions204,500..
Railways1,451,954..
Public instruction588,860..
Postal and telegraph services524,500..
Judicial and legal265,789..
Hospitals and charitable institutions103,262..
Defence165,142..
Subsidies to local bodies70,548..
Department of Agriculture112,447..
Lunatic asylums68,601..
Valuation Department27,971..
Customs37,713..
Marine (including harbours and lights)42,703..
Printing and stationery41,339..
Land and Income Tax Department19,923..
Registration of land and deeds, births, deaths, and marriages22,363..
Public buildings and domains22,840..
Public Health Department32,936..
Industries and Commerce36,494..
Tourist Department21,151..
Miscellaneous expenditure170,160..
Territorial expenditure275,036..
  6,434,281
Other expenditure—
Transferred to Public Works Fund 350,000
Balance on 31st March, 1904 649,741
.. £7,434,022

Ordinary Revenue.

The ordinary revenue shows an increase for the year 1903-1904 of 10.42 per cent. over the figures for 1902-1903. When considering the figures given it must be remembered that population increased at the rate of 2.96 per cent., so that any rate above this means a higher ratio of revenue. Taking the items in order of their magnitude, the advance is shown below:—

Heads of Revenue.Ordinary Revenue.Increase.
1903-1904.Per Cent. of Total.1902-1903.Per Cent. of Total.Numerical.Centesimal.
 £ £ £Per Cent.
Customs duties2,601,32538.402,335,64338.07265,68211.38
Railways2,167,99232.011,982,55132.32185,4419.35
Stamps (including postal and telegraph cash receipts)1,079,28415.93978,93915.96100,34510.25
Land-tax334,9914.94296,0624.8338,92913.15
Income-tax221,3693.27200,6843.2720,68510.31
Beer duty96,7211.4390,4001.476,3216.99
Registration and other fees92,6471.3783,8811.378,76610.45
Marine35,8360.5332,9680.542,8688.70
Miscellaneous143,3792.12133,2042.1710,1757.64
Ordinary revenue6,773,544100.006,134 332100.00639,21210.42

The amount derived from Customs duties was 11.38 per cent. greater than that shown for 1902-1903; beer duty, 6.99 per cent.; income-tax, 10.31 per cent.; stamps, &c., 10.25 per cent.; and railway revenue shows an advance of 9.35 per cent. While the mean population of the colony increased by 2.96 per cent. during 1903-1904, the ordinary revenue advanced at the much higher rate of 10.42 per cent., as shown above.

The Customs and excise duties in 1903-1904 accounted for £39 16s. 7d. out of every £100 of ordinary revenue collected; railways, £32 0s. 2d.; and stamps, &c., £15 18s. 7d. Of other items, the land-tax yielded 4.94 per cent. and income-tax 3.27 per cent. of the revenue

Territorial Revenue.

Territorial revenue belonging to the Consolidated Fund decreased from £252,277 in 1902-1903 to £247,842 in 1903-1904, or at the rate of 1.76 per cent. In the previous year, 1902-1903, there was an increase of 1.06 per cent. Details for the last two years are:—

Territorial Revenue.Increase or Decrease, 1903-1904.
1903-1904.Per Cent. of Total.1902-1903.Per Cent. of Total.Numerical.Centesimal.
* Exclusive of revenue derived from land set apart for State forests, £16,726; lands for close settlement, £150,407; and of the Cheviot Estate, £13,780. These moneys are credited in the separate loan accounts to which they belong. The amount of all moneys taken by the Receivers of Land Revenue during the year ended 31st March, 1904, will be found stated, under each head, in Section XIX., “Crown Lands.”
 £ £ £Per Cent.
Cash land sales50,56620.4037,44614.84+ 13,120+ 35.03
Deferred-payment land sales5,5052.226,7022.66- 1,197- 17.86
Pastoral runs, rents, miscellaneous191,77177.38208,12982.50- 16,358- 7.86
Territorial revenue247,842100.00252,277*100.00- 4,435- 1.76

By the foregoing table the cash land sales for 1903-1904 are shown to have increased by 35 per cent., and to supply more than 20 per cent. of the whole territorial revenue of the Consolidated Fund; while rents and miscellaneous, which constitute over 77 per cent. of the total, have decreased by nearly 8 per cent.

Ordinary and Territorial Revenue.

The total ordinary and territorial revenue is found to have increased from £6,386,609 in 1902-1903 to £7,021,386 in 1903-1904, or at the rate of 9.94 per cent., or 6.98 per cent. more than the rate at which population increased:—

 Ordinary.Territorial.Total.
 £££
Year 1902-19036,134,332252,2776,386,609
     ″     1903-19046,773,544247,8427,021,386
Increase639,212-4,435634,777
..   

After allowing for alteration in system of charging interest and sinking fund, the charges of the public debt paid out of the Consolidated Fund, in proportion to the ordinary and territorial revenue, are found to have fallen from 41.6 per cent. in 1890-91 to 27.89 per cent. in 1903-1904.

If the sum of £56,071, the amount of territorial revenue received by way of land sales in 1903-1904, is deducted from the total revenue the charges of the public debt will be found to have absorbed 28.11 per cent. of the revenue, reduced by the sum derived from relinquishment of real estate of the Crown.

Total Revenue of General Government.

The whole of the revenue of the General Government arising from taxation as well as from other sources for the last nine financial years exhibits great progress. The rates of taxation and of revenue per head of mean population are given to illustrate this:—

Year ended 31 March.Revenue.Taxation per Head of Mean Population.Revenue per Head of Mean Population.
From Taxation.From other Sources.Total.
 ££££s.d.£s.d.
18962,335,7602,220,2554,556,01537161010
18972,521,9112,976,7974,798,70831106151
18982,678,5762,400,6545,079,23031311702
18992,707,0992,551,1295,258,2283133723
19002,891,1262,808,4925,699,618316107116
19013,042,8902,864,0265,906,91631967144
19023,113,0793,039,7606,152,83931987176
19033,277,9643,169,4716,447,435418808
19043,649,6013,480,5167,130,1174848125

The total revenue is shown to have increased from £4,556,015 in 1895-96 to £7,130,117 in 1903-1904, a difference of £2,574,102, while the proportion to population has increased by no less than £2 1s. 7d. per head.

The greater yield from the sources of taxation exhibited by the above figures may be regarded as indicative of increased prosperity enjoyed by the people of the colony.

Ordinary Revenue Expenditure.

The expenditure for 1903-1904 (exclusive of expenditure properly belonging to territorial purposes) amounted to £6,434,281, of which the largest item, after the charges of the public debt, £1,957,963, was on account of railways, £1,451,954. Public instruction cost £588,860, of which £450,708 was for carrying on the Board schools, £30,712 for technical and higher education, £19,706 for Native schools, £20,178 for industrial schools, and £29,526 for school-buildings. The postal and telegraph services cost £524,500. Under the heading “Judicial and Legal” the total sum expended, was £265,789, of which the largest item was the police, £126,149; the next, District and Magistrates' Courts, £48,639; and, thirdly, prisons, £34,976. Hospitals and charitable institutions cost £103,262, and the lunatic asylums £68,601. Defence required £165,142, exclusive of £13,366 contributed by the colony towards the cost of Australasian naval defence; the Department of Agriculture, £112,447; Public Health Department, £32,936; Industries and Commerce Department, £36,494; Tourist Department, £21,151; and the Valuation Department, £27,971. Payments of old-age pensions required £204,500 for the year.

Territorial Revenue Expenditure.

The chief items of expenditure under this head are the Lands and Survey Department, £160,932, and Mines, £9,785; while there was paid to local bodies £98,190 (£33,354 being “thirds” and “fourths” under the Land Act, and £15,662 for the Greymouth, £3,210 for the New Plymouth, £44,510 for the Westport, and £1,454 for the Nelson Harbour Boards); besides £5,427 expended in management of water-races, and £702 in rates on Crown lands.

Ordinary and Territorial Revenue Expenditure: Five Years.

The expenditure out of ordinary and territorial revenue during the last five financial years is tabulated, specifying the chief heads of expenditure. It must be noted that the old-age pensions become a large item for 1899-1900 and following years. The development of the Departments of Agriculture, Public Health, &c., also contributed to raising the expenditure latterly:—

Expenditure.Financial Years (ended 31st March).
1899-1900.1900-1901.1901-1902.1902-1903.1903-1904.
 £££££
Charges of the public debt1,749,3941,745,6161,803,9391,900,9791,957,963
Railways1,039,4121,145,0881,280,9971,357,3851,451,954
Public instruction (including school-buildings, industrial and Native schools, and deaf-and-dumb institution)472,653481,087539,317566,568588,860
Postal and telegraph388,582416,364463,817485,860524,500
Militia and Volunteers162,940229,704191,250214,226165,142
Old-age pensions157,095199,708210,045212,962204,500
Crown lands and surveys123,441137,838122,278129,795160,932
Police115,752117,744120,629123,804126,149
Other expenditure930,8581,006,5551,163,6431,222,4401,254,281
Totals5,140,1275,479,7045,895,9156,214,0196,434,281

State Forests Account.

The receipts during the year were £16,726, and the balance brought forward £31,530, making a total of £48,256. The expendi-for the year amounted to £15,584, leaving a balance on 31st March last of £32,672.

Loan Accounts, Receipts and Expenditure, 1903-1904.

The total receipts of the various loan accounts—excluding the operations of the Government Advances to. Settlers Office, the Conversion Account, and New Zealand Consols Account—for the year ended 31st March, 1904, were:—

Receipts:—

Public Works Fund—££
  The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Acts—....
    Balance of loan issued under Act of 1902740,000..
    Debentures issued under Act of 1903 (colonial issue)583,950..
  Interest and premium291,323,979
  Transfer from Consolidated Fund350,000..
  Amount received for purchase of debentures under “The Paeroa-Waihi Railway Act, 1903”50,000..
  Debentures created under The Midland Railway Petitions Settlements Acts, 1902, 1903150,000550,000
  Ellesmere Reclamation, &c., Account..1,635
....1,875,614
Cheviot Estate Account—....
  Receipts under “The Cheviot Estate Disposition Act, 1893”..13,780
State Coal-mines Account—....
  Debentures55,000..
  Proceeds of sale of coal1,70356,703
Land for Settlements Account—....
  Debentures511,350..
  Rents and license fees, &c.164,502675,852
Loans to Local Bodies Account—....
  Debentures205,000..
  Recoveries665205,665
....2,827,614
Debentures issued under the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Acts, in London, for renewal of a like amount (as per contra)..465,000
....£3,292,614

The total expenditure out of the above accounts during the financial year was £2,715,627, excluding £465,000 for payment of debentures falling due.

Disbursements out of the Public Works Fund totalled £1,796,841, including debentures for £150,000 issued to the Midland Railway bondholders by way of settlement of all claims. The Colonial Treasurer proposes to transfer to this account during the current year a substantial sum out of the Consolidated Fund, in addition to the amounts already received from that source in past years (£3,755,000).

The Land for Settlements Account shows that payments were made during the year for the purchase of estates to be cut up for close settlement, £468,616; incidental expenses, £39,565; while the interest charge on the Consolidated Fund was relieved to the extent of £115,088 out of this account.

The Loans to Local Bodies Account, which deals with moneys used chiefly for roading the more inaccessible country and for water-supply, shows an expenditure amounting to £195,652, besides that to open up Crown lands, £25,753.

Working and other expenses of the State coal-mines totalled £63,174, and debenture interest £2,072. The only payment out of the Cheviot Estate Account during the year was for interest £8,866.

Expenditure:—

Public Works Fund—££
  Railways828,704..
  Roads361,842..
  Public buildings216,192..
  Contingent defence38,724..
  Development of goldfields16,278..
  Tourist and health resorts15,643..
  Lighthouses, harbour - works, and harbour-defences10,863..
  Telegraph extension47,227..
  Purchase of Native lands5,352..
  Lands improvement2,019..
  Rates on Native lands666..
  Public Works departmental16,089..
  Charges and expenses of raising loans87,249..
  ImmigrationCr. 7..
  Debentures issued under the Midland Railway Petitions Settlement Acts150,0001,796,841
Land for Settlements Account—....
  Purchase of estates468,616..
  Charges and expenses39,565..
  Interest115,088623,269
Loans to Local Bodies Account—....
  Grants to local bodies195,652..
  Roads to open up Crown lands25,753221,405
State Coal-mines Account—....
  Working-expenses and other charges63,174..
  Interest on debentures2,07265,246
Cheviot Estate Account—....
  Interest..8,866
Total2,715,627..
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Acts—....
  Debentures paid off..465,000
 ..£3,180,627

The expenditure out of loan accounts for five years may be summarised as given in the next table:—

Heads of Expenditure out of Loan Accounts.Financial Years.
1899-1900.1900-1901.1901-1902.1902-1903.1903-1904.

* Including sums expended in the purchase of lands for settlement and expenses in connection therewith—viz., £158,586 in 1897-98; £518,459 in 1898-99; £469,331 in 1899-1900; £251,837 in 1900-1901; £498,124 in 1901-1902; £466,844 in 1902-1903; and £623,269 in 1903-1904. Interest recouped to Consolidated Fund has been included, being treated as expenditure out of the account.

† Including sums expended under Loans to Local Bodies Acts—viz., £31,363 in 1899-1900; £37,390 in 1900-1901; £31,979 in 1901-1902; £18,578 in 1902-1903; and £25,753 in 1903-1904.

NOTE.—Excluding amounts applied to investments by way of advances to settlers with charges and expenses, besides amounts for debentures redeemed and advances repaid.

 £££££
Charges and expenses of raising loans28,3221,4605,62088,18087,249
Cheviot Estate purchase and expenses8,9178,9378,8819,0378,866
Contingent defence42,81037,650146,87637,00438,724
Immigration385214140142Cr. 7
Land purchases*501,355*280,575*516,385*482,627*628,621
Lighthouses, harbour-works, and defences9,0266,51712,15913,58110,863
Public buildings115,427121,364145,600197,455216,192
Public Works departmental expenditure12,57212,93316,40412,81916,089
Railway - construction and other works connected with railway-extension417,937717,7231,333,941759,753828,704
Rates on Native lands744673570471666
Roads316,753353,131435,669301,747387,595
Telegraph-extension26,77150,10131,72968,57847,227
Development of goldfields21,81515,90715,32524,21316,278
Tourist and health resorts....11,26010,94915,643
Lands improvement....1,6772,3482,019
State coal-mines......39,42465,246
Payments to local bodies under Government Loans to Local Bodies Acts68,770138,956208,531234,870195,652
Debentures issued to Midland Railway bondholders........150,000
Totals1,571,6041,746,1412,890,7672,283,1982,715,627

The total amount of actual loan-moneys under various heads raised from the beginning is roughly shown further on in a table dealing with the public debt of the colony.

Although the Public Works Fund forms the main source of the expenditure out of loan accounts, all the money included in it has not been raised from loans. Amounts from the revenue of the Consolidated Fund were paid to the Public Works Fund during the last thirteen financial years as follows:—

1891-9230,000
1892-93200,000
1893-94250,000
1894-95250,000
1895-96150,000
1896-97150,000
1897-98300,000
1898-99425,000
1899-1900450,000
1900-1901500,000
1901-1902500,000
1902-1903200,000
1903-1904350,000
Total£3,755,000

The expenditure each year since 1884 on services provided for by the Public Works Fund has been:—

Year.Immigration.Railways.Roads.Development of Goldfields.Telegraph Extension.Public Buildings.Lighthouses, &c.Other Services.Totals.

* Exclusive of moneys spent on roads under Lands Improvement, Native Lands Purchase, and Government Loans to Local Bodies Accounts: £103,076 in 1894-95, £162,757 in 1895-96, £173,358 in 1890-97.

† The expenditure on roads under the first two Acts mentioned above (*) is included as part of Public Works Fund; the sum of £18,770 was also spent out of Loans to Local Bodies Account on roads to open up Crown lands in 1897-98, £16,972 in 1898-99, £31,363 in 1899-1900, £37,390 in 1900-1901, £31,979 in 1901-1902, £18,578 in 1902-1903, and £25,753 in 1903-1904. These moneys have been excluded, as have also small sums expended in roading, &c., the Cheviot Estate.

‡ Including £150,000 debentures issued to Midland Railway bondholders.

 £££££££££
1884-8557,148663,063317,0438,02925,799117,36131,033114,2511,336,727
1885-8611,675725,496335,9049,03236,01086,859133,975136,4351,475,386
1886-8712,454615,265278,6177,66518,95289,598148,705162,2281,333,484
1887-8815,598403,726219,5191,01622,98490,52976,825135,962966,159
1888-898,791272,077106,4405512,04734,59247,593132,344613,939
1889-90867289,57284,12628416,34635,4739,43446,302482,464
1890-911,823180,02071,28982116,29222,8192,66639,026334,756
1891-92817154,416101,6052,25727,77334,7917,34762,495391,501
1892-93242220,894105,5063,81129,24531,10111,20560,502462,506
1893-94343176,304147,4185,27216,12744,0326,58810,713406,797
1894-95101247,54561,757*5,86519,22954,1903,1459,578401,410*
1895-96Cr. 10197,10566,774*9,34535,53870,5297,41019,639412,330*
1896-97301207,23164,292*10,50836,79170,57911,60026,683427,985*
1897-9870351,600290,77733,11729,38473,5855,29581,715865,543
1898-99105374,141295,53417,35428,551107,26715,66277,713916,327
1899-1900385417,937285,53221,81526,771115,4279,026116,320993,223
1900-1901214717,723315,79115,90750,101121,3646,51781,4041,309,021
1901-19021401,333,941403,69015,32531,729145,60012,159200,6682,143,252
1902-1903142759,753283,16924,21368,578197,45513,581167,5541,514,445
1903-1904Cr. 7828,704361,84216,27847,227216,19210,863315,7281,796,841

Conversion Account.

Three-per-cent. stock to the value of £60,000 was inscribed during the year 1903-1904, which began with a credit balance of £1,662 in this account. Of this sum, £55,900 was applied to pay off 5-per-cent. debentures issued under “The Consolidated Loan Act, 1867,” and debentures for £165,000 were issued in renewal of those of a similar amount under the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Acts, 1896 and 1897. Expenses—the chief items of which were stamp duty (£375), and office expenses, rents, law charges, &c. (£348)—absorbed £723, leaving a credit balance in this account of £5,039 on the 31st March, 1904.

Loans for Government Advances to Settlers.

A notable feature in the legislation of the year 1894 was the passing of the Government Advances to Settlers Act, a description of which, with its amending Acts and the loan operations under the same, will be found in Part III.

The loans authorised to the 31st March, 1904, classified according to provincial districts, are shown in tabular form:—

Provincial Districts.Loans authorised.
Number of Applications.Amount applied for.Amount of Advances authorised.
  ££
Auckland2,933988,496870,433
Taranaki2,086947,172838,089
Hawke's Bay906283,080255,700
Wellington3,6511,395,5521,233,478
Marlborough474195,882175,950
Nelson19863,97057,310
Westland19050,74043,620
Canterbury1,146361,737317,925
Otago2,8291,191,3911,061,535
Totals14,4135,478,0204,854,040

Of the 14,413 advances authorised, 1,877 applicants declined the grants (£844,520) offered them, so that the net advances to the 31st March, 1904, numbered 12,536, and amounted to £4,009,520.

Of the total advances authorised, 11,687 were for advances under £500 in value, and 2,726 over.

The number of applications received to the 31st March, 1904, was 18,285, for an aggregate amount of £6,630,981.

The advances authorised on fixed loans, according to provincial districts, to the 31st March, 1904, were:—

Provincial Districts.Number.Amount of Mortgage.Value of Security.
  ££
Auckland5618,31546,767
Taranaki6950,785121,583
Hawke's Bay217,77018,064
Wellington9465,490154,091
Marlborough11,2002,005
Nelson3250963
Westland66702,113
Canterbury2118,73041,791
Otago9782,145172,831
Totals368245,355560,208

The liabilities and assets at 31st March, 1904, of the Government Advances to Settlers Office were:—

DR. Liabilities.£s.d.
3-per-cent. Loan. redeemable 1st April, 1915, “A”1,500,00000
3-per-cent. Loan, redeemable 1st April, 1945, “B”500,00000
Sundry loans990,00000
Advances on account of loans200,00000
Assurance Fund91,418103
Suspense Account4,42427
Accrued interest payable32126
Profit and Loss Account6,221100
 £3,292,096154
CR. Assets.£s.d.
Investment Account—......
 £s.d.
  Advances on mortgage3,980,10000
  Less repayments1,184,25165
 2,795,848137
Temporary investments, Bank of New Zealand4,836170
Temporary investments, 3-per-cent. stock9,393157
Sinking Fund investment with Public Trustee158,52049
Assurance Fund investment with Public Trustee91,418103
Mortgage instalments receivable, overdue1,589122
Bills receivable790117
Interest receivable, overdue6,50215
accrued29,75211
Loan-flotation charges178,46630
Cash in hand and in bank14,978411
 £3,292,095154

“The Government Advances to Settlers Act Amendment Act, 1899,” as an encouragement to the early payment of the prescribed instalments of interest on fixed loans, and of interest and principal on loans under the instalment principle, provides for a rebate to the mortgagor, which reduces his interest to 4 ½ per cent. in lieu of 5 per cent. per annum.

There are new alternative modes of disposing of moneys paid in advance laid down in this measure, but it is optional with mortgagors to adopt the new system instead of that previously in operation in respect of moneys paid before the commencement of the new Act, and which are held under the original arrangements.

Provision is made for the readjustment of loans by memorandum of adjustment, which gives elasticity to the system by treating the balance of principal due as a fresh loan granted for a new term.

The margin of security on loans is provided for as follows: In he case of fixed loans the amount of the loan is not to exceed three-fifths of the value of the security, while in case of loans under the instalment system on freehold security of first-class agricultural land the amount of the loan is not to exceed two-thirds the value of the security; on other rural freeholds the limit is three-fifths.

Advances may now be made on the security of urban or suburban land, but on the instalment system only, and with limitation of amount to a maximum of £2,000 and a minimum of £25.

Urban land is defined as that situate in a borough having a population of at least two thousand persons, and which is not used for farming, dairying, or market gardening; and suburban land means that which is situate in a borough having under two thousand people, or any town or vicinity, and which is not used for agricultural or dairying purposes as above referred to.

As to security for loans: In the case of urban lands on which there are buildings, the amount of the loan is not to exceed three-fifths of the value of the land apart from the buildings, plus one-half of the value of the buildings apart from the land. When the land is suburban, having buildings thereon, the loan is not to exceed one-half of the value of the land apart from the buildings, plus one-half of the value of the buildings separately.

When the land is urban or suburban, but has no buildings, the loan is not to exceed one-half of the value of the land, and there is not to be any loan except for the erection of buildings, and to be by way of instalments as erection proceeds.

There is a further subdivision of the Act, under which special provisions are made for protecting the interests of the Advances to Settlers Department with respect to other than freehold securities.

The legislation for authorisation of loan moneys for Advances to Settlers has been: Under the principal Act of 1894, £3,000,000; under the Amendment Act of 1901, £1,000,000.

New Zealand Consols.

Another financial Act, termed the New Zealand Consols Act, was passed in 1894, with the intention of providing further means of investment for the savings of persons resident in the colony. Some degree of progress has been made.

Up to the 31st March, 1899, deposits amounting to £385,925 had been received, in sums ranging from £5 to £150,000. During 1899-1900 the deposits inscribed totalled £55,562; in 1900-1901, £17,902; in 1901-1902, £8,935; in 1902-1903, £4,232; and 1903-1904, £1,720: making the sum invested to the 31st March, 1904, £474,276.

Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement.

“The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1896,” empowered the Colonial Treasurer to raise £1,000,000—in aid of the Public Works Fund to the extent of £500,000, and the Lands Improvement Account and the Native Lands Purchase Account £250,000 each.

The Act passed in 1897 authorised the raising of an additional sum of £250,000, to be applied for the purpose of procuring £200,000 for further rolling-stock for railways, and for the repair of damages to lines by floods or otherwise; £25,000 for erection and repair of public-school buildings, and another sum of £25,000 for purposes of building and equipment of technical schools.

The Act of 1898 provided for raising £500,000, of which £175,000 was allocated to railways-construction, £200,000 was for new rolling-stock for open railways, and £125,000 for the construction of roads, bridges, and other works authorised.

Under another Act of 1899, the sum of £1,000,000 was authorised—£300,000 for railway-construction, £225,000 for rolling-stock, £350,000 for land-settlement and goldfields-development, £50,000 for school-buildings, £50,000 for purchase of Native lands, and £25,000 for harbour defence.

A further Act of 1900 provided for the raising of £1,000,000, of which £500,000 was allocated to railway-construction, £300,000 for rolling-stock, £150,000 for land-settlement, and £50,000 for gold-fields-development.

Again, an Act of 1901 authorised raising the sum of £1,250,000. Of this, £600,000 was applied to railway-construction, £400,000 for rolling-stock, £200,000 for land-settlement, and £50,000 to development of goldfields.

The Act of 1902 authorised raising £1,750,000, to be devoted to railway-construction (£750,000), rolling-stock (£450,000), roads and bridges (£450,000), development of goldfields (£50,000), and telegraph-extension (£50,000).

“The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1903,” authorised raising, in the colony or elsewhere, of sums not exceeding £1,000,000 altogether, by debentures or scrip, or by the creation or issue of inscribed stock under “The New Zealand Consolidated Stock Act, 1877.”

Provision was made for obtaining funds pending the raising of the money authorised, by the sale, &c., of short-dated debentures, bearing interest not exceeding 4 ½ per cent. per annum, and having a currency of not more than seven years.

All the money raised under this Act is applied to the following purposes:—

1. Railways—£
  Railway-construction450,000
  Additional rolling-stock, &c., for open lines150,000
2. Land-settlement and goldfields-development—..
  Construction of roads, tracks, and bridges to open up back blocks, and other work in connection therewith340,000
  For developing goldfields20,000
3. For telegraph-extension40,000
 £1,000,000

Loans under Land for Settlements Acts.

The moneys raised under these Acts and the operations by way of purchasing estates to be cut up for close settlement form the subject of a special section of this part of the Year-book (No. XX.).

“The Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1901.”

The above Act consolidates all former measures dealing with the borrowing-powers of local bodies. It does not affect the securities issued for any loan raised under any Act repealed.

“The Local Bodies' Loans Amendment Act, 1903.”

As to Government loans to local bodies, the yearly rate of interest and the period during which interest is payable by the local authority shall, at the option of such authority, be—

  1. Five per centum per annum for a period of twenty-six years; or

  2. Four and a half per centum per annum for a period of thirty-two years; or

  3. Four per centum per annum for a period of forty-one years.

Such option shall be exercised by the local authority in its application for the loan.

At the expiration of the period during which interest is payable the liability of the local authority shall cease without further payment.

SUBSECTION B.—TAXATION.

Direct Taxation.

THE direct taxation prior to 1892 consisted of a property-tax of 1d. in the pound on all assessed real and personal property (with an exemption of £500), and the stamp duties; but in 1891 a Land and Income Assessment Act was passed repealing the property-tax. A full description of the system of the land and income tax will be found in a special article in Part III. of this work. The leading features only are briefly stated here.

The Assessment Act of 1891 provided for an ordinary land-tax on the actual value of land, allowing an owner to deduct any amount owing by him secured on a registered mortgage. Under the original Act the deduction for improvements might not exceed £3,000; but by the Amendment Act of 1893 the value of all improvements whatsoever was exempted from liability to land-tax. Besides this, an exemption of £500 was allowed when the balance, after making deductions as above stated, was not above £1,500; and beyond that a smaller exemption was granted, but ceasing when the balance amounted to £2,500. There is a consolidation Act passed in 1900 now in force, with amendments made in 1903. Mortgages are subject to the land-tax, but in 1902-1903 and for 1903-1904 the rate was lowered from the full amount to 3/4d. in the pound. The revenue from the ordinary land-tax is, in round numbers, about £233,000 per annum. The rate of ordinary land-tax for 1903-1904 was 1d. in the pound. Native land occupied by Europeans is taxed 1/2d. in the pound on the unimproved value.

In addition to the ordinary land-tax, there is a graduated land-tax, which commences when the unimproved value is £5,000. For the graduated land-tax the present value of all improvements is deducted; but mortgages are not deducted. The Act of 1893, while reducing the ordinary taxation on land by exempting all improvements, increased the graduated tax. Under the subsequent Act passed in 1903 the rates of graduated tax have been again increased, and the revised rates are now one-sixteenth of a penny in the pound sterling when the value is £5,000 and is less than £7,000, from which the rate increases with the value of the property by further steps of a sixteenth of a penny until the maximum of 3d. in the pound is reached, payable when the value is £210,000, or exceeds that sum.

This graduated tax yields, in round numbers, £102,000 per annum, which is not included in the sum of £233,000 given above. Fifty per cent. additional tax is levied in case of persons who have been absent from the colony for not less than one year prior to the passing of the yearly taxing Act. This amounts to about £3,550, and is included in the £102,000 shown above.

Graduated tax is not chargeable on Native land.

Besides the land-tax (ordinary and graduated) there is also levied by way of further direct taxation an income-tax on all incomes above £300. From the yearly income of every taxpayer there is deducted by way of special exemption the sum of £300, and from taxable incomes a further deduction up to £50 per annum for life-insurance premiums is allowed. The rate of income-tax for 1903-1904 was 6d. in the pound on the first taxable £1,000, and 1s. in the pound on any excess of £1,000.

Companies pay 1s. in the pound, and are not allowed exemption. The Act of 1893 further disallowed the £300 exemption in the case of persons not domiciled in New Zealand.

The revenue derived from income-tax may be roughly set down at £221,000 per annum.

Indirect Taxation.

The indirect taxation is made up of Customs duties, and excise duty on beer made in the colony.

The following statement shows the total amount raised by the General Government taxation in 1885, 1890, and the last nine financial years ending 31st March:—

 Amount of Revenue raised by Taxation.Amount per Head of Population (excluding Maoris).
££s.d.
18852,016,73031010
18902,173,9853100
1895-962,335,761371
1896-972,521,9113110
1897-982,678,57631311
1898-992,707,0993133
1899-19002,891,12631610
1900-19013,042,8903196
1901-19023,113,0793198
1902-19033,277,964418
1903-19043,649,601484

The average annual amount of revenue raised by taxation during the period 1895-96 to 1903-1904 has been £3 16s. 10d.

It may be well to call attention to the fact that a rise in the amount of taxation yielded per head of population may indicate (outside the question of increasing the rate of any particular tax levied) a satisfactory condition of business, as showing activity.

As the Maoris contribute somewhat to the Customs revenue, an allowance should be made on that account to ascertain more correctly the amount of taxation per head of the rest of the people. By including Maoris the Customs and excise duties per head of the rest of the population would be reduced by 3s. 3d. for the year 1903-1904. If this amount be deducted from the taxation per head given for that year, the rate would be reduced from £4 8s. 4d. to £4 5s. 1d. This latter rate may fairly be used for comparison with the rates in the States of Australia.

Of the total amount of taxation stated for the year 1903-1904, the indirect taxation—i.e., Customs and excise duties—amounted to £2,698,046, while land and income tax, with stamps for taxation, yielded £951,555, which constitutes direct taxation. So that the colony still raises nearly 74 per cent. of its taxation revenue by means of the indirect method.

A table of the Customs tariff is given in detail in Part I. of this book (pp. 84-102), and the duties leviable upon estates of deceased persons on page 104.

Growth of Amount paid in Income-tax.

The amounts paid by way of income-tax, under a uniform rate of taxation, show great increase year by year, and afford satisfactory evidences of prosperity. These are quoted with a caution in regard to the figures for 1892 to 1895. The full number of persons properly liable to the tax may not have been ascertained at such time.

 Income-tax paid.
£
1892-9367,367
1893-9475,238
1894-9589,891
1895-9692,778
1896-97105,504
1897-98115,210
1898-99115,480
1899-1900128,721
1900-1901173,809
1901-1902179,397
1902-1903200,684
1903-1904221,369

The increase from 1895-96 to 1903-1904 is £128,591, being a rate of 138 per cent., while the population increased during the same period by 19 per cent.

Taxation by Local Governing Bodies.

The various local bodies levied taxation during the year ended 31st March, 1903, to the amount of £949,912, or £1 3s. 8d. per head of European population. Of the total sum, £581,463 was raised by general rates, £265,252 by special and separate rates, £83,307 by licenses, and £19,890 by other taxes.

Taxation in Australasia.

The following were the amounts and rates of General Government taxation per head of population in Australasia for 1902-1903, specifying the proportions derived from Customs and other taxes:—

State or Colony.Amount of Revenue raised by Taxation.Proportion of Taxation from Customs and Excise Duties.
Customs and Excise.Other Taxes.Total.
 £££Per Cent.
Queensland1,261,066415,6881,676,75475.21
New South Wales3,478,7421,108,7814,587,52375.83
Victoria2,499,014859,9723,358,98674.40
South Australia689,727398,9411,088,66863.36
Western Australia1,395,997221,2471,617,24486.32
Tasmania360,607105,401466,00877.38
New Zealand2,426,043851,9213,277,96474.01
State or Colony.Rate of Taxation per Head of Mean Population.
Customs and Excise.Other Taxes.Total.
* Or, including Maoris, £3 18s. 7d. (See remarks on previous page.)
 £s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
Queensland2960162358
New South Wales29501510353
Victoria21601432159
South Australia117811102196
Western Australia69101077105
Tasmania20901202129
New Zealand305113418*

One measure of the burden of taxation is found in the proportion it bears to the total production of the country. It is roughly estimated that the value of the annual production from all industries in New Zealand is about £30,000,000. The proportion of taxation for 1902 as compared with that for the principal Australian States is shown below. The figures for Australia are worked on the estimated value of production as stated by Mr. Coghlan. Proportion per cent. of taxation to total production: Queensland, 12£42; New South Wales, 12£40; Western Australia, 11£72; South Australia, 11£22; Victoria, 11£20; New Zealand, 10£93. These figures would appear to show that in New Zealand, where the yield of the taxation per head of population is decidedly higher than in Australia, the proportion of such yield of taxes to the total value of the production is, nevertheless, lower.

It might be inferred from these calculations that the production of New Zealand is higher per inhabitant than that of the Australian States. Mr. Coghlan may be again quoted here. He gives production of New South Wales as £26 9s. 11d. per head; Victoria, £24 16s. 10d.; Queensland, £26 8s. 3d.; South Australia, £26 12s. 3d. New Zealand, £37 16s. 11d.

SUBSECTION C.—PUBLIC DEBT.

THE gross public debt of the colony on the 31st March, 1904, was £57,522,215, an increase of £1,623,196 on the amount owing at the end of the preceding financial year. The net debt increased by £1,478,548, and on 31st March, 1904, stood at £55,064,328.

Of this increase, £511,350 was devoted to the purchase of lands for settlement; £205,000 for loans to local bodies; £1,720 for New Zealand Consols deposits; and £55,000 for development of State coal-mines: making a total of £773,070 invested in a directly reproductive manner, outside of money used for railway and telegraph construction, which might almost be considered as of a similar nature. The above sum of £773,070 does not include £150,000 payment to Midland Railway bondholders.

The following table states the debentures and stock in circulation on 31st March, 1904, under the several Loan Acts or Ordinances of the Colonial and old Provincial Governments, the dates when redeemable, the estimated sinking funds accrued in respect of the same, and the annual charge thereon for interest and sinking fund:—

PUBLIC DEBT ON 31ST MARCH, 1904.

Amount outstanding.Due Date.Sinking Funds accrued, estimated.Net Indebtedness.Annual Charge.Remarks.
Rate.Amount.When payable.
Int.S.F.
 ££..££c.c.£  
New Zealand Loan Act, 1863..264,30015 July, 1914155,161111,1395115,97815 Jan. and 15 July. 
Consolidated Loan Act. 1867..180,500Ann. drawing..180,5005..9,025Quarterly, 15 Jan., &c. 
Immigration and Public Works Loan Act. 1870..*1,000,0001 June, 1907807,752192,24842.464,0001 June and 1 Dec.Sinking fund payable 13 Mar. and 13 Sept. *Only £200,000 has actually been issued to the public.
Canterbury Loan Ordinance, 18623,00015,2002 Jan., 191515,15743611,12030 June and 31 Dec. 
12,2002 July, 1916 
Consolidated Loan Act, 1867..13,00015 April, 1913..13,0004..52015 April and 15 Oct. 
Immigration and Public Works Loan Act, 1870363,000390,90015 April 1913..363, 0004..14,52015 April and 15 Oct. 
27,90015 April, 1913..27,9004 ½..1,25615 April and 15 Oct. 
Defence and other Purposes Loan Act, 187025,000100,0001 July, 1910..25,0004 ½..1,12530 June and 31 Dec. 
75,00015 April, 1913..75,0004..3,00015 April and 15 Oct. 
General Purposes Loan Act, 187317,40082,90015 Oct., 1913..17,4004..69615 April and 15 Oct.† The sinking fund is payable on £2,227,100 (1 ½ per cent. on £1,455,658. 1 per cent. on £47,520, and ½ per cent. on £723,922); the Land Assurance Fund is also charged with ½ per cent. as a contribution towards sinking fund.
10,80015 May, 1914..10,8004..43215 May and 15 Nov.
54,70028 Nov., 1914..54,7005..2,73515 May and 15 Nov.
District Railways Purchasing Acts, 1885-8640,000137,1001 July, 1909..40,0006..2,4001 April and 1 Oct.
97,1001 April, 1905..97,1004..3,884
Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886..250,3001 Sept., 1907..250,3003 ½34,6881 Mar. and 1 Sept.
  Carried forward..2,436,200..978,0701,458,130....155,379..
  Brought forward..2,436,200..978,0701,458,130....155,379.. 
Consolidated Stock Act, 187729,150,30244,884,4661 Nov., 1929..29,150,3024..1,166,0121 May and 1 Nov. 
6,161,1071 Jan., 1940..6,161,167..215,6411 Jan. and 1 July. 
9,572,9971 April, 1945..9,512,9973..287,190‡1 April and 1 Oct.‡ £89,700 of this amount will be recouped by the Government Advances to Settlers Office.
Consolidated Stock Act, 1884—
Colonial issue332,6001,007,1001 Sept., 1905 842,1003 ½ 29,4731 Mar. and 1 Sept. 
509,50031 Dec., 1907
65,0004 Jan., 190965,00031,950
100,0004 Jan., 1909100,0003,500
Native Land Purchases Act, 1892..125,00031 Oct., 1906..125,000..4,37530 April and 31 Oct. 
  (Renewed under the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act. 1899)...................
Land for Settlements Act. 1892..45,27631 Oct., 1906..45,2763 ½..1,58530 April and 31 Oct. 
  (Renewed under the Land for Settlements Acts Amendment Act, 1899).................. 
Lands Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Act, 1894 400,00030 Sept., 1908 283,0004 11,32031 Mar. and 30 Sept. 
117,0004,09531 Mar. and 30 Sept. 
New Zealand Consols Act. 1894..474,2761 Feb., 1910..474,2763 ½..16,5991 Feb. and 1 Aug. 
Land for Settlements Acts 1894, 1897, 1899, and 1900769,4903,233,69031 Oct., 1906 769,490 26,93230 April and 31 Oct. 
349,0001 April, 1909349,00013,0881 April and 1 Oct.
68,0001 April, 190962,0002,1701 April and 1 Oct.
56,0001 April, 190556,00042,2401 April and 1 Oct.
15,0001 April, 190610,0003501 April and 1 Oct.
521,9501 May, 1904527,950421,1181 May and 1 Nov.
21,0001 Nov., 190421,00048401 May and 1 Nov.
412,9001 Feb., 1905412,900416,5161 Feb. and 1 Aug.
2,1001 Feb., 19052,100731 Feb. and 1 Aug.
100,0001 Dec., 1906100,00044,0001 June and 1 Dec.
442,6001 Feb., 1908442,600417,7041 Feb. and 1 Aug.
230,6501 Aug., 1908230,65049,2261 Feb. and 1 Aug.
250,0001 April, 1904250,000410,0001 April and 1 Oct.
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Acts, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, and 1903500,0003,818,95015 Aug., 1921* 500,000 17,50015 Feb. and 15 Aug.* Loan may be paid off at any time after 15th February, 1907, on six months' notice being given.
100,00015 Jan., 1905500,000315,00031 Mar. and 30 Sept.
100,00015 Feb., 1905
100,00015 Mar., 1905
100,00017 April, 1905
100,00015 May, 1905
100,00016 July, 1905300,00010,50031 Mar. and 30 Sept.† ¼ per cent. over bank rate; varying interest, calculated at 3 ½ per cent.
100,00015 Aug., 1905
100,00015 Sept., 1905
500,0001 April, 1904500,000420,0001 April and 1 Oct.
250,0001 Dec., 1904250,000410,0001 June and 1 Dec.
750,0001 Dec., 1906750,000430,0001 June and 1 Dec.
20,0001 Feb., 1908465,000418,6001 April and 1 Oct. 
250,0001 April, 1905 
175,0001 April, 1906 
20,0001 April, 1908 
299,8001 Feb., 1924 ‡500,000420,0001 Feb. and 1 Aug.Loan may be paid off at any time after 1st February, 1909, on six months' notice being given.
200,2001 Feb., 1909
83,9501 Jan., 190983,9504†3,358§ Short - dated debentures.
Government Advances to Settlers Act, 1894..200,000§....200,000..7,000..
Dairy Industry Act, 18984381,7811 Aug., 1908 1,7813 ½ 621 Feb. and 1 Aug.
8431 Jan., 1911 
5001 Jan., 1916 
Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1901..555,0001 Jan., 1909..555,0003 ½..19,4251 Mar. and 1 Sept. 
State Coal-mines Act, 1901..107,0001 April, 1907..107,0003 ½....3,7451 April and 1 Oct.
Paeroa-Waihi Railway Act, 1903..53,47631 Mar., 1912..53,4763..1,60431 Mar. and 30 Sept. 
Midland Railway Petitions Settlement Act, 1902..150,0001 Jan., 1906..150,0003 ½..5,2501 July and 1 Jan. 
....57,522,215..978,07056,544,145........ 
  Add—.................. 
    Accrued sinking fund in respect of the Government Loans to Local Bodies Acts......364,097..........Represents the accrued sinking fund held by Public Trustee in respect of the total amount issued under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Acts, of which £1,421,800 has been converted into consolidated stock.
    Sinking fund, Government Advances to Settlers Office Account......158,520..........
    Investments in securities included above on account New Zealand Consols Investment Account......457,200..........
    Bank of New Zealand Preference Shares held by Government......500,0001,479,817........
          Totals..57,522,215¶..2,457,88755,064,328....2,203,420..¶ Treasury bills amounting to £700,000 are not included.

A condensation of this table shows at a glance the amount of money that will be required in the near future for meeting the liabilities arising at the expiration of the terms of the loans. Taking the position as at present, and dealing with the term of six years 1904-1909, the total sum falling due is found to be £10,060,054.

From the year 1910 onwards to 1921 the amounts becoming due annually are comparatively small.

In 1929 (25 years hence) and from then the bulk of the debt will have to be dealt with—that is, about forty-five millions of money out of a total of fifty-seven millions and a half.

Due Date.Amount.
 £
19041,548,950
19051,950,700
19062,124,766
19071,866,800
19081,113,688
19091,455,150
1910499,276
1911843
191253,476
1913496,300
1914331,800
19153,000
191612,700
1921500,000
192929,150,302
19406,161,167
19459,572,997
Annual drawing180,500
Short - dated debentures200,000
 £57,522,215

Net Indebtedness: Comparison with Past Years.

The net public debt, after deducting the accrued sinking fund (£2,457,887), was on 31st March, 1904, £55,064,328, an increase of £1,478,548 during the year. Nearly eight years' revenue, ordinary and territorial, at the present rate would thus be required to pay off the net debt of the colony. The net indebtedness per head of population for 1903-1904 is less than in 1902-1903 by 2s. 7d. In March, 1890, it stood at £60 5s. 3d.; in 1891, £59 11s. 10d.; in 1892, £59 2s.; in 1893, £58 2s. 7d.; in 1894, £57 8s. 10d.; in 1895, £57 9s. 9d.; in 1896, £60 2s. 4d.; in 1897, £60 13s. 9d.; in 1898, £60 4s. 11d.; in 1899, £61 14s. 4d.; in 1900, £61 17s. 3d.; in 1901, £62 16s. 10d.; in 1902, £65 12s. 4d.; in 1903, £65 15s. 3d.; and in 1904, £65 12s. 8d. But, in considering the increase of the amount of debt per head as a burden on the people, attention should be given to the remarks following the table showing amounts paid by way of charges of the public debt out of the revenue year by year. Besides these remarks, under the head of “Interest and Sinking Funds” there are others bearing on the subject, given previously, under “Revenue,” which is shown to have been relieved substantially since the year 1890.

Years ended 31st March.Estimated or Census Population.Amount of Debentures and Stock in Circulation.Gross Indebtedness per Head of European Population.Amount of Sinking Fund accrued.Net Indebtedness.Net Indebtedness per Head of European Population.
* With these figures, in addition to the customary deduction made for sinking funds accrued, there has been included the accrued sinking funds of the Government Advances to Settlers Office, an item previously not shown in the table. The gross debt is also further reduced by taking off the amount of Government securities in which the New Zealand Consols deposits are invested, as both amounts appear in the table of the public debt. £500,000, the value of the preference shares held by the Government in the Bank of New Zealand, is also deducted.
....££s.d.£££s.d.
1890618,65738,667,950621011,386,18537,281,7656053
1891626,65838,830,350611941,487,04237,343,308591110
1892637,47238,713,068601481,037,86237,675,2065920
1893656,18739,257,840591671,113,77038,144,0705827
1894676,74739,826,41558170951,92438,874,49157810
1895689,47540,386,96458116751,93239,635,0325799
1896703,18743,050,78061165778,89142,271,8896024
1897717,64944,366,61861165814,29443,552,32460139
1898731,71344,963,4246190881,90344,081,52160411
1899746,67346,938,00662173857,27946,080,72761144
1900758,61647,874,4526322944,37546,930,07761173
1901772,71949,591,24564371,033,49448,557,751621610
1902789,99452,966,447670111,128,81651,837,63165124
1903814,84255,899,019681202,313,239*53,585,780*65153
1901838,95457,522,215681112,457,887*55,064,328*65128

The debt of the colony as above stated does not include the unpaid loans raised by the several local bodies, amounting at the end of March, 1903, to £8,217,196, of which sum £5,336,600 was raised outside the colony. These are referred to in dealing with the finance of local bodies.

Increase of Gross Public Debt.

The increase of the gross public debt since the 31st March, 1891, amounts to £18,691,865. A schedule of items composing this sum is subjoined. It shows the purposes to which the money raised has been or is being devoted. The second largest item is £3,190,000 raised for advances to settlers, which represents investments by the Government bearing interest and lent on continually improving security, the principal being repaid by instalments.

Other items which may be considered to represent interest-bearing investments are those under the heads “Land settlement,” “Native land purchases,” “Loans to local bodies,” “Lands improvement,” “N.Z. Consols,” and “Bank of N.Z. preferred shares.”

 £
Gross public debt, 31st March, 190457,522,215
Gross public debt, 31st March, 189138,830,350
    Increase£18,691,865
 £
Native land purchases649,700
Land settlement (including Cheviot)3,622,766
Loans to local bodies1,902,100
Lands improvement500,000
Advances to settlers3,190,000
Bank of N.Z. preference shares500,000
N.Z. Consols474,276
District railways47,000
Public works7,122,426
Increase by conversions670,569
Sinking fund accretions1,582,800
Naval and military settlers27,226
Government accident insurance2,000
Advances to dairy companies1,781
State coal-mines107,000 £
 20,399,644
  Less Redemptions—..
    Consolidated Stock Act, 1884, debentures1,260,420
    Other debentures447,359
 1,707,779
    Total net increase£18,691,865

The above addition to the public debt, mainly for purposes of a directly reproductive nature, does not represent the whole expenditure on public works and services during the period. Out of surplus revenue since 1891, the sum of £3,755,000 has been transferred to the Public Works Fund and expended, thus substantially increasing the value of the national estate without a corresponding augmentation of the public liability.

Interest and Sinking Fund.

Of the total amount of outstanding public debt at the end of March, 1904 — viz., £57,522,215 — more than thirty-five millions sterling bore interest at the rate of 4 per cent., nearly eleven millions sterling at 3 ½ per cent., and more than ten millions sterling at 3 per cent. The following are the rates of interest payable on the complete public debt:—

Rates of Interest.Amount at each Rate.
*Including £500,000 on which the interest paid was 1/4 per cent. over bank rate: varying rate, averaging 3 ½ per cent.
 £
6 per cent.55,200
5 per cent.501,500
4 ½ per cent.52,900
4 per cent.35,599,652
3 3/4 per cent.349,000
3 ½ per cent.10,772,490*
3 per cent.10,191,473
Total£57,522,215

The total amount of interest payable to bondholders on the full amount of the public debt as quoted above is £2,150,622, which gives an average rate of £3 15s. 7d. per £100. On the total public debt outstanding on the 31st March, 1891, the average interest charge was £4 10s. 3d. per £100. During the period 1891-1904, therefore, the average rate is found to have declined by 14s. 8d. per £100, or 16 per cent.

The foregoing refers to interest payable to bondholders only, and has nothing to do with sinking-fund requirements, which are included in the whole annual charge of the public debt.

The actual payments during nine years for interest and sinking fund out of the Consolidated Fund are shown hereunder, together with the percentage of ordinary and territorial revenue absorbed by the public-debt charges:—

Year ended 31st March.Amounts actually paid for Interest and Sinking Fund out of the Consolidated Fund.Rate per Head of Mean Population.Percentage of Revenue absorbed by Public Debt Charges.
Public Debt.Treasury Bills.Total.
Interest.Sinking Fund.Total.Interest.
NOTE.—The alteration made in 1891-95 of the system which previously obtained in dealing with the drawing loan of 1867 has affected the comparison of the figures for the last ten years with those preceding. The total amount actually paid for interest and sinking fund in 1889-90 was, under the old system, £1,697,602. The figures for each of the years ended March, 1890 to 1891 inclusive, will be found in the Year-book for 1899.
 ££££££s.d. 
18951,619,92557,9791,677,90438,9851,716,889210338.96
18961,602,93341,1831,644,11639,6591,683,77528436.96
18971,630,57741,8581,672,43537,034709,46928235.62
18981,668,69743,3801,712,07729,3361,741,41328134.28
18901,689,74944,6511,734,40033,0681,767,468271033.61
19001,674,61846,0731,720,69128,7031,749,39426631.07
19011,671,55246,3641,717,91627,7001,745,61625629.83
19021,722,81947,7241,770,54333,3961,803,93926229.80
19031,817,70150,4641,868,16532,8141,900,97927529.77
19041,875,37653,4081,928,78429,1791,957,96327427.89

The above amounts shown as interest and sinking fund do not comprise the whole of the interest and sinking fund paid by the Government in respect of moneys raised by the issue of loans. Thus, for loans raised under the Land for Settlements Acts, the Government Advances to Settlers Acts, and for the purchase of the Cheviot Estate, the interest, although made a charge upon the Consolidated Fund, is recovered from the receipts derived from the leasing of the lands, or from instalments paid by borrowers. The amount of interest thus charged and recovered during last year was £215,143 (under the Land for Settlements Acts, £115,088; Advances to Settlers Act, £89,117; Cheviot Estate, £8,866; other amounts, £2,072). Such interest does not become a burden upon the taxpayer, and consequently is not included in the figures upon which the rate per head of mean population is calculated.

The amount actually paid for interest and sinking fund out of the Consolidated Fund during 1903-1904 was £56,984 more than that for the previous year, and the rate of charge per head of population increased somewhat.

The securities in which the sinking funds were held as on the 31st March, 1904, are specified in the statement following:—

STATEMENT of the SECURITIES in which the SINKING FUNDS of the several LOANS were invested on the 31st March, 1904.

Investments in—£s.d.
  New Zealand 5-per-cent. Debentures3,47000
  New Zealand 4 1/2-per-cent. Debentures1,70000
  New Zealand 3 1/2-per-cent. Debentures1,25000
  New Zealand 4-per-cent. Inscribed Stock129,754196
  New Zealand 3 1/2-per-cent. Inscribed Stock2,57137
  New Zealand 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock9,22992
  New South Wales 4-per-cent. Debentures19,80000
  New South Wales 4-per-cent. Inscribed Stock5,48607
  New South Wales 3 1/2-per-cent. Inscribed Stock84,3841610
  New South Wales 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock71,386184
  Victoria 4-per-cent. Debentures15,00000
  Victoria 4-per-cent. Inscribed Stock43,233174
  Victoria 3 1/2-per-cent. Inscribed Stock84,00000
  Victoria 3-per cent. Inscribed Stock27,42941
  South Australia 4-per-cent. Debentures24,70000
  South Australia 4-per-cent. Inscribed Stock4,85105
  South Australia 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock38,068116
  South Australia 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock114,866159
  Canada 4-per-cent. Debentures18,20000
  Canada 4-per-cent. Inscribed Stock60,00000
  Canada 3 1/2-per-cent. Inscribed Stock34,022118
  Canada 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock33,226123
  Canada 2 ½ per-cent. Inscribed Stock13,6661511
  Tasmania 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock6,645151
  Queensland 4-per-cent. Inscribed Stock1,43388
  Ceylon 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock10,00000
  Transvaal 3-per-cent. Guaranteed Stock30,99499
  Leeds Corporation 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock14,00000
  Cardiff Corporation 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock26,00000
  Gold Coast 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock17,1211410
  Reading Corporation 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock6,50000
  Sheffield Corporation 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock16,00000
  Aid to Public Works and Land Settlements Act 4-per-cent. Debentures66000
  Land for Settlements Act 4-per-cent. Debentures2,88500
  Local Bodies' Loans Act 3 1/2-per-cent. Debentures40000
  County of Tauranga 5-per-cent. Debentures6000
  Borough of Brunner 6-per-cent. Debentures84000
  Borough of Hokitika 6-per-cent. Debentures1,86000
  Borough of Patea 4 1/2-per-cent. Debentures20000
  Borough of Tauranga 5-per-cent. Debentures20000
  Westport Harbour Board 4-per-cent. Debentures55000
  Waimakariri-Ashley Water-supply Board 5-per-cent. Debentures32000
  Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company 5-per-cent. Debentures54000
..977,509113
  Brought forward977,509113
Sinking funds in respect of Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1901, and Government Advances to Settlers Act, 1894 —......
  Mortgages61,90000
  In common fund, Public Trust Office—......
    At 4 per cent.£6,00000
    At 3 1/4 per cent.454,717411
..460,717411
..1,500,126162
  Cash balance on 31st March, 1904667178
  Total£1,500,7941310

Of the total amount, £541,287 is represented by stock and debentures of the Australian States, and £169,116 by those of Canada and Ceylon; £151,921 was invested in similar securities of the New Zealand Government; £62,500 in inscribed stock of English corporations; £30,994 in Transvaal Guaranteed stock; £4,030 in debentures of various local governing bodies; other securities, £17,662; £61,900 on mortgage; and £460,717 is in the hands of the Public Trustee.

Flotation of Loans.

Of the gross public debt of the colony outstanding on 31st March, 1904, £48,048,842 was raised in London, £793,900 in Australia, and £8,679,473 in New Zealand; and of the total amount £45,302,842 was held as inscribed stock, and £12,219,373 in the form of debentures. Details are given hereunder:—

Kind of Stock.Floated in London.Australia.New Zealand.Total.
££££
Debentures3,220,276793,9008,205,19712,219,373
Inscribed stock44,828,566..474,27645,302,842
Total48,048,842793,9008,679,47357,522,215

Prices of New Zealand Stock.

The highest and lowest London prices for the New Zealand 4, 3 1/2, and 3 per cent. stock, taken over a range of fifteen years, are quoted:—

QUOTATIONS, NEW ZEALAND STOCK.

Year.4-per-cents. (1929)3 1/2-per-cents. (1940)-per-cents. (1945)
Highest.Lowest.Highest.Lowest.Highest.Lowest.
1888104 ½96 1/4........
1889109 1/499 5/8........
1890109 1/8102 1/498 5/893 1/4....
1891107 ½1009891 ½....
1892106 5/81009891 ½....
1893107 1/49797 ½90....
1894109 7/8105 3/8103 ½96 1/4....
1895113 1/4105 5/8107 ½10095 3/491
1896118 1/4106 ½110 3/8101 ½103 ½90
1897117112 3/8111104 3/410299 ½
1898116 7/8108109 7/8103101 ½96 ½
1899116 ½105 ½10910299 1/494 1/4
1900113 1/4109106 3/4103 3/898 ½95 1/4
1901115 3/8110 3/4109 3/4104 1/899 ½93 1/8
1902113 1/4109109 ½102 1/89793 5/8
1903110 1/8105104 3/499 ½9688

Utilisation of Money composing Public Debt.

A statement is supplied, based on figures taken from the Colonial Treasurer's Budget of 1897 (to which the necessary additions have been made), showing the purposes for which the money forming the public debt of the colony was raised or voted.

But the amounts in the items must be regarded as only approximations to the actual facts. The information is merely indicative of the truth, and is a revision of what was given in the Year-book, 1899, which was found to be not as hear to correctness as possible in places.

PUBLIC DEBTOF NEW ZEALAND, MARCH, 1904, SHOWINGAPPROXIMATELYTHE AMOUNTSRAISEDORVOTEDUNDERVARIOUS HEADS, ARRANGEDIN THREE CLASSES.

 On 31st March, 1904.
(a.) Services£
*NOTE.—Only a portion of expenditure of old Provincial Governments on railways became public debt of the colony. The total expenditure on railways (Provincial and General Government) to 31st March, 1904, was over twenty-two millions sterling, which includes £1,104,281 spent by the Provincial Governments, of which £82,259 was for the Dunedin and Port Chalmers line.
  Railways18,660,000*
  Lands improvement (roads and bridges)5,700,000
  Public works and buildings4,340,000
  Immigration2,460,000
  Maori war2,360,000
  Land-purchases2,190,000
  Defence1,870,000
  Telegraphs990,000
  Goldfields and coal-mines790,000
  Lighthouses and harbours530,000
  Midland Railway Company's bondholders150,000
  State coal-mines100,000
  Tourist and health resorts30,000
(b.) Investments..
  Purchase of land for settlements3,620,000
  Advances to settlers3,200,000
  Loans to local bodies2,180,000
  Bank of New Zealand preference shares500,000
  New Zealand Consols470,000
(c.) Other..
  Deficiencies in revenue, charges and expenses of raising loans, provincial liabilities, and miscellaneous expenditure7,380,000

It will thus be found that on the 31st March, 1904, out of a total debt of £57,522,215, the amounts allocated for services formed approximately the following proportions of the whole:—

 Per Cent.
For Railways32.44
For Lands improvement (roads and bridges)9.91
For Public works and buildings7.55
For Immigration4.28
For Maori war4.10
For Land-purchases3.81
For Defence3.25
For Telegraphs1.72
For Goldfields and coal-mines1.37
For Lighthouses and harbours0.92
Midland Railway0.26
For State coal-mines0.18
For Tourist and health resorts0.05

The total sum is divided into three classes in the table, of which (a) is composed of the various services above referred to, and the total of which forms 69£84 per cent. of the whole debt in 1904; class (b) consists of moneys devoted to what may be termed investments, being 17£33 per cent. of the total; (c) moneys paid away in charges and expenses of raising loans, also to meet deficiencies of revenue, besides old provincial liabilities, and miscellaneous expenditure, forming 12£83 per cent. of the debt.

The figures given as to railways do not include all the sums spent by the Provincial Governments, as stated in the note to the table, nor do the figures in some other items agree with those given elsewhere, made up from tables showing the expenditure out of the Public Works Fund, which, as previously explained, is augmented by contributions from the Consolidated Revenue Account.

Public Works in New Zealand.

The burden of a public debt depends greatly on the measure in which it is expended on reproductive works, and on the degree of prosperity enjoyed by the people. The generally ragged character of this country, and the natural difficulties appertaining to the sites of many of the towns, soon necessitated a large outlay on roads and public works. The need was fully recognised, and to some extent met, by the Provincial Governments, which have justly received great credit for their far-seeing and liberal exertions. A great deal of road-making, often of a very costly character, was accomplished, harbour and other improvements begun, and immigration encouraged. Some railways were made in Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. The City of Christchurch and the Canterbury Plains were connected with the Port of Lyttelton by a railway, which required the construction of a long and very costly tunnel through the intervening range of hills. In Otago private enterprise, backed by the guarantee of the Provincial Government, built a railway from Dunedin to Port Chalmers, and some miles of line were made in Southland from the Town of Invercargill into the interior; but no general and comprehensive scheme of public works could be carried out by the separate exertions of the Provincial Governments. In 1870, therefore, the General Government brought forward its public-works and immigration policy, by which it was proposed to raise a loan of ten millions for the construction of main trunk railways, roads, and other public works of importance to the colony as a whole, as well as for the promotion of immigration on a large scale, the expenditure to be spread over a period of ten years. This policy was accepted by the Legislature, and embodied in “The Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870.”

The demands for local railways and other works soon caused the original proposals to be exceeded, and entailed an expenditure at a much more rapid rate and to a far greater amount than was originally contemplated. Although many of the works undertaken have been directly unremunerative, yet the effect of the policy as a whole has been largely to develop the settlement of the country, and to increase enormously the value of landed property; land in parts which before the construction of railways was valued at from £1 to £2 per acre having been subsequently sold at prices varying from £10 to £20 per acre. Moreover, the railway and telegraph lines yield a revenue which covers a large portion of the interest on their cost after paying working-expenses.

Expenditure out of the Public Works Fund.

The net expenditure, under all heads, of the Public Works Fund from 1870 to the 31st March, 1904, can be given correctly, but this fund, as stated previously, is not altogether composed of money charged to the public debt. It had received £35,388,167 from loans and £4,720,842 by way of receipts in aid on the latter date. The money received by way of aid included £3,755,000 transferred from the Consolidated Fund during the last thirteen financial years, out of surplus revenue. Nearly forty millions sterling were spent since the year 1870 up to March, 1904, and the items given below exhibit the nature of the works, &c., with amount for each.

NET EXPENDITUREOF PUBLIC WORKS FUNDFROM 1870 TO 31ST MARCH, 1904.

Expenditure on—£
  Immigration2,147,994
  Public works, departmental507,126
  Railways, including surveys of new lines20,063,960
  Roads6,610,090
  Land-purchases2,004,365
  Development of goldfields742,170
  Telegraph extension1,053,692
  Public buildings3,068,896
  Lighthouses, harbour-works, and defences1,002,216
  Contingent defence772,563
  Rates on Native lands65,934
  Thermal springs14,600
  Tourist and health resorts37,852
  Lands improvement6,109
  Charges and expenses of raising loans1,238,304
  Coal-mines10,835
  Interest and sinking fund218,500
  Payment to Midland Railway bondholders150,000
  Total£39,715,206

Expenditure on Railways.

The railway expenditure during each of six quinquennial periods, and for the years ended 31st March, 1901 to 1904, since the initiation of the public-works policy, has been:—

 £
*Excluding £26,463 expended on the Paeroa-Waihi line during the year.
1st July, 1870, to 30th June, 18753,575,362
1st July, 1875, to 31st March, 18804,919,712
1st April, 1880, to 31st March, 18853,120,680
1st April, 1885, to 31st March, 18902,308,319
1st April, 1890, to 31st March, 1895978,680
1st April, 1895, to 31st March, 19001,547,732
1st April, 1900, to 31st March, 1901717,723
1st April, 1901, to 31st March, 19021,333,941
1st April, 1902, to 31st March, 1903759,752
1st April, 1903, to 31st March, 1904802,241
Total£20,063,960*

New Zealand's expenditure on railways is, with one exception (that of Tasmania) the lowest per head of the population of any of the Australian States. The next table shows the cost of railway-works, the mileage, the average cost per mile, the population, and the cost per head of the population in New Zealand and the several States referred to:—

State or Colony.Year endedCost of Construction of Open Lines.Average No. of Miles of Line open.Average Cost per Mile.Estimated PopulationCost per Head of Population

† Including Northern Territory.

‡ Maoris included.

  £ £ £s.d.
Queensland30 June, 190320,302,1772,7777,489514,8513988
New South Wales30 June, 190341,654,9773,07413,2721,415,7602985
Victoria30 June, 190340,974,4933,335 ½12,1101,208,07033184
South Australia30 June, 190314,575,8521,8827,745365,02039188
West'n Australia30 June, 19038,141,7821,4345,678221,99036137
Tasmania31 Dec., 19023,840,7474628,317177,07721139
New Zealand31 Mar., 190420,692,9112,3058,977882,0972392

In the foregoing table the cost per head of population for railway-construction is shown to have been between £33 and £36 in the States of Victoria and Western Australia; over £39 in South Australia and Queensland; in New South Wales it was over £29; but in New Zealand the cost has been £23, and in Tasmania over £21, per head of population.

Public Debt of Australasia.

The following figures, which, with the exception of those for New Zealand, are taken from Mr. Coghlan's Australasian Statistics, show the public debt of each State or colony in 1902-1903:—

State or Colony.Date.Public Debt.Debt per Head of Population.
Fixed Debt.Floating Debt.Total.
* As shown previously (see page 445), the amount of accrued sinking fund reduces this by £2 16s. 9d. per head.
  ££££s.d.
Queensland30 June, 190339,901,2471,130,00041,031,24779810
New South Wales30 June, 190370,486,3617,206,62677,692,987541511
Victoria30 June, 190350,397,9001,050,00051,447,90042138
South Australia30 June, 190326,386,6451,456,72527,843,3707695
Western Australia30 June, 190315,627,298..15,627,29869136
Tasmania31 Dec., 19029,228,963..9,228,9635224
New Zealand31 Mar., 190355,899,019..55,899,01968120*

The amount of indebtedness per head of population in June, 1903, in Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia was thus greater than that for New Zealand in March, 1903.

THE ASSETS REALISATION BOARD.

The Assets Realisation Board was established for the purchase, in connection with the affairs of the Bank of New Zealand, of all the assets of the Estates Company and of the Auckland Agricultural Company.

The following particulars are extracted from the General Manager's report for the year ended 31st March last (1904)—

Sales to the extent of £286,350 have been made, as compared with £138,498 the previous year. Of the total value (£286,350), £252,962 represents country, £8,863 town lands, and £24,525 stock, implements, &c., sold on properties finally realised.

The sales for the period 1895-1904, including stock, show a total of £1,250,028 received.

On 31st March, 1904, the proportion of total sales from time of starting to the book-cost of all estates (£2,731,706) was 45£76 per cent.; and to land-tax valuation, plus 10 per cent. for sundry properties, with the manager's valuation for station properties (which together total £1,895,179), it was 65£96 per cent.

Particulars of operations are—

 £
Sales of properties finally realised. 1895-1904 (including stock), (net amount)700,975
Properties partially realised549,053
 £1,250,028

The book-cost of the estates in respect of which the sales were finally closed was £1,017,031. These properties are shown above to have realised £700,975, leaving a deficiency of £316,056, including the realisation expenses, &c.

The localities of the sales are as follows:—

 Estates.Farms.Town Sections.Suburban Sections.£
Auckland7270722270518,385
Canterbury3982263286,455
Hawke's Bay2..10..104,250
Otago21063618275,202
Marlborough1465620,414
Wellington117311156,631
..........1,161,337
Proceeds: realisation of sundry assets........8,419
Stock sales on properties finally realised........80,272
..........£1,250,028

SPECIAL BANKING LEGISLATION.

A synopsis of “The Bank of New Zealand Act, 1903,” is given previously on page 308.

Chapter 49. SECTION XIX.—CROWN LANDS.

A summary of the transactions during the year ended 31st March, 1904, will be found in the following table, which shows under all descriptions of tenure the number of selectors and the area selected:—

Nature and Tenure of Lands selected during the Year ended the 31st March, 1904.Number of Purchasers or Selectors.Area.
 Selectors.Area.    
  A.R.P. A.R.P.
Town lands sold for cash196202213........
Suburban lands sold for cash7421932243122,476032
Rural lands sold for cash16122,053237........
Occupation with right of purchase........402146,952337
Lease in perpetuity........489102,370327
Agricultural lease........21310
Village settlement, cash........10806
     ″    occupation with right of purchase........1010
     ″    lease in perpetuity........2151325
Village-homestead special settlement........23272125
Special settlement associations........472900
Improved-farm special settlement (lease in perpetuity and occupation with right of purchase)........10619,435314
Occupation leases, Mining Act........974,971332
Small grazing-runs........39105,049322
Pastoral runs........129956,581132
Miscellaneous leases and licenses........593111, 62238
Cheviot Estate—................
  Miscellaneous........2610
Land for Settlements Acts—................
  Cash lands........44132
  Lease in perpetuity........40592,144135
  Small grazing-runs........1939,73530
  Miscellaneous........3422,045128
 ........2,8111,624,934315
Endowments—................
  Cash lands........6420
  Occupation leases, Mining Act........791333
  Lease in perpetuity........380318
  Small grazing-runs........164427
  Miscellaneous........911,156128
Thermal Springs District leases........211136
          Totals........2,9211,627,64707

Particulars of the number of Crown tenants at present holding lands under the several tenures, together with the yearly rental payable, are given in the next statement.

STATEMENT showing the TOTAL NUMBER OF CROWN TENANTS, with Area selected or held, and the Yearly Rent payable, as on the 31st March, 1904.

Tenures.Total Number of Tenants.Total Area held by such Tenants.Total Yearly Rental or Instalment payable.
ORDINARY CROWN LANDS...A.R.P.£s.d.
Deferred payment40070,6673393,34102
Perpetual lease704130,0282335,120182
Occupation with right of purchase3,9891,107,1281239,51081
Lease in perpetuity4,0041,038,86721636,97241
Agricultural lease185622373133
Homestead2158037......
Mining Districts Land Occupation Act47120,3130121,18106
Village settlements—..............
  Deferred payment203783283208
  Perpetual lease1422,178327320192
  Occupation with right of purchase3829241292
  Lease in perpetuity4586,718325623124
Village-homestead special settlements—..............
  Perpetual lease3566,49732587029
  Lease in perpetuity67016,4532102,42024
Special settlement associations—..............
  Perpetual lease1596421169168
  Lease in perpetuity631116,8793275,996141
Improved-farm special settlements55869,3283163,10171
Small grazing-runs6421,338,48923026,92176
Pastoral runs87211,583,32421373,93750
Miscellaneous leases2,765552,0260411,35419
          Totals16,75516,060,997336211,82233
CHEVIOT ESTATE..............
  Lease in perpetuity11924,403196,50150
  Village-homestead special settlement702,4801087004
  Grazing-farms4845,977296,62472
  Pastoral runs11,6420019338
  Miscellaneous731,450211289157
LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACTS..............
  Lease in perpetuity2,465433,624017132,302109
  Lease in perpetuity, village464473203401110
  Special-settlement associations112,1141916278
  Small grazing-runs72128,64811617,3971710
  Pastoral runs2953238121130
  Miscellaneous14510,885241,13353
THERMAL SPRINGS (ROTORUA)2846,0711241,979164
          Grand totals20,09116,719,696333379,73978
Endowments729165,182358,389190
Native townships2819880191,19966

Tables I. and II., which follow, exhibit the acreage of land taken up for settlement, and the number of holdings under each description of tenure. The lands held under pastoral license and miscellaneous leases, such as for timber and flax-cutting, coal-mining, &c., are not included in these tables. Tables III. and IV show the total acreage taken up year by year since 1894 in each land district, and the number of holdings grouped according to size, the areas varying from less than one acre in extent to 1,000 acres and over.

The forfeitures and surrenders in respect of the lands taken up for settlement (excluding, as already remarked, pastoral and miscellaneous leases) for the last eight years were:—

1896-97815 holdings228,978 acres.
1897-98658 ”180,380 ”
1898-99567 ”180,957 ”
1899-1900510 ”164,003 ”
1900-1901354 holdings106,690 acres.
1901-1902192 ”75,368 ”
1902-1903329 ”106,390 ”
1903-1904354 ”105,625 ”

Forfeited and surrendered lands are again thrown open for selection as soon as possible, and in the majority of cases are taken up again by fresh selectors within a short time.

A full description of the various tenures under which land is dealt with in the colony is given in the article entitled “The Land System of New Zealand,” in Part III. of this book.

I.— COMPARATIVE STATEMENT SHOWING ACREAGE OF LANDS SELECTED UNDER SETTLEMENT CONDITIONS (EXCLUDING PASTORAL RUNS, MISCELLANEOUS LEASES AND LICENSES, ENDOWMENTS, AND THERMAL SPRINGS DISTRICT LEASES) DURING EACH OF THE YEARS ENDED 31st MARCH, 1894-1904.

 1893-94.1894-95.1895-96.1896-97.1897-98.1898-39.1899-1900.1900-1901.1901-1902.1902-1903.1903-1904.
 Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.
NOTE.—The forfeitures and surrenders for the last eight of the years dealt with in the table were—for the year 1896-97, 228,978 acres; 1897-98, 130,380 acres; 1898-99, 180,957 acres; 1899-1900,164,003 acres; 1900-1901, 106,690 acres; 1901-1902, 75,368 acres; 1902-1903, 106,390; and for 1903-1904, 105,625 acres. But it must not be supposed that these relate to the acreages taken up during the same years; on the contrary, forfeitures may have their origin in selections of long standing and various dates.
Cash lands34,99938,69526,57528,48522,52537,40023,93658,70027,29017,27722,481
Deferred payments12,6695,454456....13....52....
Perpetual lease and small areas3,8541,2631,4279,1066516406242,49910....
Occupation with right of purchase108,13375,47884,96859,64881,414109,950117,771262,729128,893118,557146,953
Lease in perpetuity179,99391,799122,350104,927117,938159,415153,531144,208116,445162,839194,515
Agricultural lease3654536132581147023283613
Occupation lease under “The Mining Districts Land Occupation Act,1894”....2,9312,8171,2851,4492,2952,1232,6442,4854,972
Village settlement—......................
  Cash224941304221098
  Occupation with right of purchase12324221..1....
  Lease in perpetuity3,9534,0503,3651,3171,4262,1151,7621,082456619514
Village-homestead special settlement2,5502,74379336042134313764691,512272
Special-settlement associations (lease in perpetuity)68,85251,34644,23728,0844426072....5,761729
Special-settlement improved farms..9,73128,3484,8829,0074,8237,3931,9361,6184,03219,436
Small grazing-runs and grazing-farms252,693117,84646,40768,934149,45877,632155,10986,076128,060116,567144,786
          Totals668,064398,497361,904308,581384,449394,324462,529559,774405,976429,694534,679

II.—COMPARATIVE STATEMENT SHOWING NUMBER OF SELECTORS OF LAND UNDER SETTLEMENT CONDITIONS (EXCLUDING PASTORAL RUNS, MISCELLANEOUS LEASES AND LICENSES, ENDOWMENTS AND THERMAL SPRINGS DISTRICT LEASES) DURING EACH OF THE YEARS ENDED 31st MARCH, 1894-1904.

 1893-4.1894-5.1895-6.1896-7.1897-8.1898-9.1899-1900.1900-1901.1901-1902.1902-1903.1903-1904.
NOTE.— The forfeitures and surrenders for the last eight of the years dealt with in the table were—for the year 1896-97, 815 holdings; 1897-98, 658 holdings; 1898-99, 567 holdings; 1899-1900, 510 holdings; 1900-1901, 354 holdings; 1901-1902. 192 holdings; in 1902-1903, 329 holdings; and in 1903-1904, 354 holdings.
 No.No.No.No.No.No.No.No.No.No.No.
For cash497392476388272534491363489381435
Deferred payments96476....1....1....
Perpetual lease and small areas17371921231....
Occupation with right of purchase461398431277380458395673447403402
Lease in perpetuity612372696659599675647489502579894
Agricultural lease52325231132
Occupation lease under “The Mining Districts Land Occupation Act, 1894”....694823316453785897
Village settlement—......................
  Cash323164221635211910
  Occupation with right of purchase53034233..1..1
  Lease in perpetuity203232193102921068097334021
Village-homestead special settlement11860191891267303423
Special-settlement associations290262238142551....294
Improved-farm special settlement..1073154577644113930106
Small grazing-runs and grazing-farms14260322771406435484758
          Totals2,4541,9882,5041,7351,5391,9531,8031,7691,6611,6232,053

III.—LANDS TAKEN UP UNDER SETTLEMENT CONDITIONS DURING EACH OF THE YEARS ENDED 31st MARCH, 1895-1904 (EXCLUSIVE OF PASTORAL RUNS, MISCELLANEOUS LEASES AND LICENSES, ENDOWMENTS, AND THERMAL SPRINGS DISTRICT LEASES).*

* See note to previous table as to the origin of these failures.

Land District.1894-95.1895-96.1896-97.1897-98.1898-99.1899-1900.1900-1901.1901-1902.1902-1903.1903-1904.
Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.
Auckland99,31367,83149,52256,29590,16078,677201,355108,761153,741134,375
Hawke's Bay20,14116,35322,85819,87636,22236,45190,62571,90238,50599,153
Taranaki35,11355,85022,00216,78618,86754,96071,00023,94239,35369,236
Wellington49,58679,47863,80148,90963,74641,38748,53014,30115,04825,432
Nelson34,90619,42114,46213,60018,67310,21118,91829,52011,28916,981
Marlborough18,35315,85820,85854,58151,97374,31133,06364,624**56,68933,332
Canterbury33,74414,82722,65475,04152,83934,21820,74411,98145,46478,363
Westland1,8261,7653,86543735279270927,2144,1124,098
Otago80,43970,23879,21277,34540,59968,43649,90129,23251,03851,783
Southland25,07620,2839,34721,57920,89363,08624,92924,49914,46321,926
          Totals.398,497361,904308,581384,449394,324462,529559,774405,976429,694534,679

IV.—HOLDINGS TAKEN UP UNDER SETTLEMENT CONDITIONS DURING EACH OF THE YEARS ENDED 31st MARCH, 1895-1904 (EXCLUSIVE OF PASTORAL RUNS, MISCELLANEOUS LEASES AND LICENSES, ENDOWMENTS, AND THERMAL SPRINGS DISTRICT LEASES), CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO SIZE.

Size.1894-95.1895-96.1896-97.1897-98.1898-99.1899-1900.1900-1901.1901-1902.1902-1903.1903-1904.
No.No.No.No.No.No.No.No.No.No.
* See notes as to forfeitures and surrenders on previous tables I. and II.
Under 1 acre256259154103293345158195187363
1 to 50 acres696719588496571501466569475467
51 to 250 acres7571,198709616633492522475498624
251 to 500 acres169232178197277262333245240322
501 to 1,000 acres70708463128116181113158190
1,001 acres and upwards402622645187109646587
          Totals1,9882,5041,7351,5391,9531,8031,7691,6611,6232,053

The following is a statement of the gross amounts collected by Receivers of Land Revenue for the years 1902-1903 and 1903-1904:—

 1902-1903.1903-1904.
 £s.d.£s.d.
Territorial revenue252,277151247,84275
Lands for settlement110,63288150,88345
Cheviot Estate14,6099913,779121
State forests3,870141016,72635
North Island Main Trunk Railway9,39614710,9311210
Thermal springs77492429
Rotorua Town Council1,846201,772140
Lakes Ellesmere and Forsyth1,63117101,63531
Crown-grant fees8041682674
Native townships702210933169
Mining district land occupation911109943106
Miscellaneous1,550671,366177
Government loans to local bodies28,3017427,195410
Endowments20,05319920,722189
Survey vote1,7131991,62782
Totals—448,379160£497,211311

Chapter 50. SECTION XX.—LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS.

A FULL description is given, in a special article belonging to Section 1, Part III., of the objects and method of the Land for Settlements Acts, under which the acquirement by Government is authorised, through purchase from private owners, of properties for subdivision into small farms to meet the want felt of Crown lands for disposal in places where they are specially in demand.

The report of the Chairman of the Board of Land Purchase Commissioners on the transactions for the twelve months ended the 31st March, 1904, states:—

About 81 estates were offered to the Government, aggregating 327,600 acres.

The Board of Land Purchase Commissioners held 29 meetings, at which 33 cases were considered, and recommendations were made that 25 estates, of an area of 191,056 acres, should be purchased.

The Government approved of offers being made for 22 of these estates, of an area of 185,801 acres.

The vendors accepted the offers made for 4, and 1 was taken compulsorily. The purchase of 3, aggregating 39,269 acres, costing £263,563, was completed during the year.

The purchase of 7 estates acquired in the previous year was also completed. They contain 57,880 acres, and cost £205,052.

The total transactions completed during the year are therefore 11 estates, of 97,149 acres, purchased for £468,615 10s. 10d.

There are 2 estates, containing 62,520 acres, to cost about £241,286, which have been acquired but not yet paid for.

Negotiations were in progress at the 31st March for the purchase of a number of other estates.

The account shows that during the year £164,502 9s. 5d. was received as rent and interest, and that £115,104 7s. 7d. was paid as interest, leaving a profit for the year of £49,398 1s. 10d.

The amount expended in the purchase of land up to the 31st March, 1904, is £2,939,156 for 615,255 acres, average price £4 15s. 7d. per acre (rural land £4 13s. 3d., and workmen's homes £27 2s. 3d. per acre). Roads and incidental expenses cost £171,537 (5s. 6d. per acre). The whole is therefore £3,110,693 for 615,255 acres, or about £5 1s. 1d. per acre.

The total sum paid to the 31st March as interest and charges on the money borrowed to purchase this land is £422,851 14s. 3d., and the amount received as rent, &c., is £589,111 4s. 8d. The apparent gain to the account is £166,259 10s. 5d., and this is included in the amount shown as in credit.

The amount at the credit of the account at the 31st March was £418,658 18s. 9d.

The probable liabilities at the beginning of the year were for the purchase of land £501,286, and for roads to lands already acquired £19,376—in all, £520,662.

The Compensation Court which was held in Blenheim in November last to deal with the Flaxbourne Estate adjourned to December, 1904, without making an award.

The Mount Vernon and Manga-a-toro Estates were not before the Court during the year. Mount Vernon was, however, disposed of in May, 1904. No Court has yet been fixed for Manga-a-toro. Summarising the transactions at the end of the year, it appears that there were:—

 Estates.Acres.Prime Cost.
   £
Purchased and opened for selection to 31st March, 1904131615,2552,939,156
Acquired but not paid for nor opened for selection262,520241,286
There are also awaiting awards of Compensation Court374,000260,000 (approximate).

SUMMARY OF ALL LANDS OFFERED TO GOVERNMENT UNDER “THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS CONSOLIDATION ACT, 1900,” AND HOW DEALT WITH, FROM 1st APRIL, 1903, to 31st MARCH, 1904.

Land District where Land situated.Number of Estates offered.Area offered.Area declined without going to Board.Area not recommended by Board.Area recommended by Board.Area under Consideration.Area withdrawn.Total.
 ..Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.
Auckland962,52561,275..1,250....62,525
Hawke's Bay845,05631,000..4,4792,3077,27045,056
Taranaki1519,89417,702..2421,950..19,894
Wellington1940,6072,6291,80019535,983..40,607
Marlborough1296....296....296
Nelson118,00018,000........18,000
Canterbury1341,0976,1913,65521,6773,8455,72941,097
Otago730,97128,600..1,02738895630,971
Southland869,2162,782..66,191243..69,216
Total81327,662168,1795,45595,35744,71613,955327,662

SUMMARY OF ESTATES ACQUIRED UP TO THE 31st MARCH, 1904, AND AMOUNTS OF PURCHASE-MONEY.

Name of Land District.No. of Estates acquired before 31st March, 1903.Areas acquired before 31st March, 1903.No. of Estates acquired from 1st April, 1903, to 31st March, 1904.Area acquired from 1st April, 1903, to 31st March, 1904.Total Numbers of Estates to 31st March, 1904.Total Area to 31st March, 1904.Purchase-money.
  A.R.P. A.R.P. A.R.P.£s.d.
Auckland1337,017318112,4800191449,497337142,86024
Hawke's Bay13105,371218110,47501214115,846230637,33678
Taranaki21,812033188101332,6931658,33662
Wellington1124,86701611,623091226,490025185,182181
Marlborough768,135201245311868,381111171,419171
Westland25,124326........25,1243268,34322
Canterbury52174,363122370,8943155245,2580231,255,2221710
Otago1767,04711715421131867,589230392, 821106
Southland534,373118........534,37311888,132159
Totals122518,11318997,142038131615,255262,939,155177

The Secretary for Crown Lands and Surveyor-General's report to the Hon. the Minister of Lands on the condition and settlement of the lands acquired and handed over to his department under the before-mentioned Acts gives the particulars of the estates offered for selection as follows:—

The Chairman of the Board of Land Purchase Commissioners transferred to this Department the following eight estates: Bickerstaffe, on the Otamatea River, near Maungaturoto (Auckland District), containing 12,480 acres; Wigan, inland from Tologa Bay, north of Gisborne (Hawke's Bay District), with an area of 10,475 acres; Clandon, near Toko (Taranaki District), 881 acres; Normandale, adjoining the Lower Hutt (Wellington District), 1,623 acres; Rainford, north of Kaikoura (Marlborough District), 246 acres; Annan, north-east of Waiau, 32,652 acres, and Rosewill, inland from Timaru, 38,143 acres (Canterbury District); and St. Helen's, twelve miles from Oamaru (Otago District), 542 acres. Their aggregate area is 97,042 acres.

Very complete sectional and topographical surveys were made of the properties, which were followed by an elaborate detailed classification, estimation, and valuation of the lands and improvements comprised in each subdivision or allotment. This was effected by surveyors and agricultural and pastoral experts, and duly revised by the Land-tax Valuers; the estimated cost of all road, bridge, and drainage works was furnished by the Roads Department's engineers. The capital cost of each estate was ascertained by adding to the amount paid the former proprietors the whole of the expenses incurred in connection with the survey, construction of roads, classification and valuations of the lands, and, in addition, the interest on the purchase-money, land-tax, local rates, Court and other legal expenses, as well as the cost of advertising and the publishing of maps and pamphlets illustrative of the properties.

As the Department had in hand on the 1st April, 1903, other estates which had not been submitted for selection, the number of estates actually opened to application was 13, representing a total of 140,356 acres. With the exception of the Bickerstaffe Estate and 2 hamlets, the public as usual manifested great interest, flocked in numbers to inspect the lands, lodged applications, and attended the ballots, practically taking up all the holdings, as the greater portion of the lands which were unselected at the close of the financial year have now been taken up. The unallotted areas in the Longbush and Tablelands Settlements comprise the 2 homestead sections which are still in the occupation of the former lossees.

The net result is that 441 selectors secured 134,793 acres of these chosen properties, representing a capital value of £705,295, an average of about £1,600 per holding, and an annual rental of £35,765, affording facility for the employment and maintenance upon the land of, say, 2,200 souls, besides providing profitable occupation for a considerable number of others. If to the selections of 1903-1904 be added those made in preceding years, we obtain a total of 129 estates, on which are located 2,745 selectors who lease from the State 576,045 acres, assessed at £3,030,462, and yielding a revenue of £151,523 per annum. The average capital value of the holdings works out to about £1,110, and an annual rental of £59 10s. 5d. The population carried by the whole of the settlements established upon these reacquired lands amounts to 8,255, who own 2,076 dwellings. It will be observed that these producers already equal in number the population of a considerable town.

Canterbury, with 1,007 selections, comprising 242,586 acres, on which the annual rental of £66,695 is payable, is easily first as regards the number, area, and value of holdings under the Land for Settlements Acts; Hawke's Bay comes next with 364 holdings, containing 109,561 acres and £33,311 annual rental; Otago third with 470 selections of an aggregate area of 62,562 acres and rental of £20,704; Marlborough, with 194 holdings, 66,815 acres and £9,709 rental, is fourth, if area and value are the basis of comparison; Wellington comes next with 225 selections, 22,645 acres, and annual rental of £8,489; Auckland is sixth in the scale, with 228 holdings, 35,637 acres, and £5,530 rental; Southland and Westland follow with 98 and 33 holdings respectively; whilst Nelson does not possess any settlements on this system.

The reports of the Commissioners of Crown Lands and Rangers afford full and detailed information in regard to each settlement. Shortly stated, it may be said that only six ordinary settlements and six hamlets are not in a satisfactory and prosperous condition. The area of unallotted lands is 29,530 acres; but it must be remembered that this includes balances of estates which were submitted for selection late in the year, which, as already indicated, have since been quitted to a large extent. It is anticipated that, as the opportunities for securing holdings on Crown and land-for-settlements estates grow less, more attention will be bestowed by would-be settlers upon the remnants of estates which they now reject.

A careful consideration of the reports and statistics furnished by the Commissioners leads to the conclusion that with the few exceptions previously mentioned the settlements have made fair to excellent progress during the period under review, that their condition is satisfactory, and that the future prospects of the tenants are, on the whole, most hopeful and encouraging. Every one interested in close settlement must view with satisfaction the results disclosed herein and agree that the Land for Settlements policy has resulted in the founding of numerous homes, provided the tenants with healthy, congenial, and profitable occupation, improved their condition in life, added to the material wealth of the community, and strengthened and consolidated the colony's position.

ESTATES OFFERED for SELECTION during the Year ending the 31st March, 1904, under “The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900.”

Land District, and Name of Estate.Area of Estate.Number of Selectors.Area unselected 31st March, 1901.Annual Rental payable on Lands leased.Date of Opening.
Auckland—A.R.P. A.R.P.£s.d. 
  Waari427232537801481220 April, 1903.
  Bickerstaffe12,480019109,484020486607 Dec., 1903.
Hawke's Bay—......................
  Argyll33,705130601,650008,17121023 June, 1903.
  Wigan10,07213716462202,6524615 Dec., 1903.
Taranaki—......................
  Spotswood31032314187131291525 May, 1903.
  Clandon8810135......6230616 Nov., 1903.
Wellington—......................
  Longbush3,02132663182187271616 June, 1903.
  Tablelands5,49633081,338209984416 June, 1903.
  Normandale1,62309151,4950015571015 Dec., 1903.
Marlborough—......................
  Rainford24602111......31515431 Aug., 1903.
Canterbury—......................
  Annan32,85823337......5,12910215 June, 1903.
  Rosewill38,6832151371,34423113,2847431 March, 1904.
Otago—......................
  St. Helens5473203......22411029 June, 1903.
Totals140,35532832716,65833433,066178..

The estates, &c., acquired in each district under the Land for Settlements Acts to the 31st March, 1904, are next shown:—

Name of Estate.Area acquired and handed over by Board.
Auckland—A.R.P.
  Opouriao7,60400
  Okauia5,92000
  Rangiatea4,00400
  Karapiro2,335024
  Fencourt7,10535
  Whitehall8,95900
  Cradock Hamlet3309
  Hetana Hamlet451134
  Kitchener Hamlet26335
  Methuen Hamlet77314
  Plumber Hamlet7400
  Waari Hamlet427232
  Bickerstaffe12,480019
 49,480019
Hawke's Bay—A.R.P.
  Raureka42720
  Elsthorpe9,74000
  Waimarie430210
  Pouparae33734
  Tomoana111338
  Mahora1,13330
  Willows775136
  Hatuma26,522320
  Manga-a-toro19,581312
  Kumeroa3,774238
  Forest Gate8,822013
  Argyll33,705130
  Wigan10,072137
 115,436138
Taranaki—A.R.P.
  Tokaora1,50528
  Spotswood310323
  Clandon881013
 2,69724
Wellington—......
  Paparangi322332
  Ohakea1,745130
  Te Matua702019
  Aorangi1,78500
  Langdale9,40500
  Mangawhata1,240236
  Epuni Hamlet100314
  Maungaraki472120
  Linton551136
  Longbush3,021326
  Tablelands5,496330
  Normandale1,62309
 26,467312
Marlborough—......
  Blind River5,50700
  Omaka3,89800
  Puhipuhi32000
  Starborough35,90600
  Richmond Brook5,85400
  Waipapa3,75520
  North Bank12,89500
  Rainford246021
 68,381221
Westland—......
  Poerua3,23010
  Kokatahi1,894220
 5,124326
Canterbury—......
  Pareora620213
  Studholme Junction10907
  Kapua574122
  Rosebrook60018
  Otaio373314
  Patoa4,535314
  The Peaks2,81109
  Roimata48327
  Kereta105..29
  Braco2724
  Epworth2103
  Ashley Gorge1,16536
  Omihi Valley2000
  Orakipaoa384031
  Highbank9,12138
  Otarakaro3939
  Wharenui73110
  Rakitairi3,526126
  Waiapi1,124236
  Horsley Down3,982335
  Albury19,639124
  R.S. 18622000
  2682624
  3646915432
  3623198330
  36056 and 3605758016
  36228100323
  3627861820
  30791 (part)10000
  36226 ”46126
  Marawiti2,028233
  Hekeao2,254211
  Pawaho52018
  Waikakahi48,262234
  Tamai41028
  Takitu9,713037
  Pareora No. 28,132031
  Rautawiri11307
  Papaka1,561225
  Punaroa7,02935
  Lyndon4,243328
  Kohika3,864110
  Tarawahi3130
  Raincliff74520
  Puhuka3927
  Kaimahi10021
  Kapuatohe49337
  Rapuwai2,247211
  Lyndon No. 215,88700
  Maytown391332
  Eccleston1,24615
  Mead5,914317
  Chamberlain10,50019
  Annan32,858233
  Rosewill38,683215
 246,005230
Otago—......
  Pomahaka Downs7,47822
  Teanaraki351039
  Tahawai70135
  Maerewhenua11,163331
  Puketapu50906
  Ardgowan4,267328
  Makareao2,38304
  Makareao Extension2,589212
  Momona224116
  Toka-rahi11,259236
  Janefield14702
  Elderslie11,61824
  Barnego7,07821
  Earnscleugh1,26935
  Windsor Park3,821216
  Windsor Park No. 22,179217
  Duncan63323
  St. Helen's547320
 67,594037
Southland—......
  Merrivale9,99800
  Otahu6,153036
  Beaumont4,48404
  Ringway2,25328
  Glenham11,484210
 34,373118
SUMMARY.
Auckland49,499012
Hawke's Bay115,436138
Taranaki2,69724
Wellington26,467312
Marlborough68,381221
Westland5,124326
Canterbury246,005230
Otago67,594037
Southland34,373118
Totals615,580238

Chapter 51. SECTION XXI.—GOVERNMENT VALUATION OF LAND AND ITS IMPROVEMENTS.

RESULTS OF THE GENERAL VALUATION MADE FOR MARCH, 1898, AND ITS REVISION TO MARCH, 1904.

IN the year 1896 an Act intituled the Government Valuation of Land Act was passed, providing for the appointment of a Valuer-General, and for the periodical valuation of all land in the colony. The Valuer-General is the Commissioner of Taxes for the time being. The valuations on the district roll are used for the assessment of land-tax, stamp duties, and duties on deceased persons' estates; for local rates, except in places where these are levied on the annual value; also, for the purposes of advances and investments on mortgage of land by the Post Office, Government Insurance Department, Public Trust Office, and Government Advances to Settlers Office.

The term “land” means and includes all lands, tenements, buildings, and hereditaments, whether corporeal or incorporeal, and also includes all chattel interests in land.

A certified copy of any entry in the district valuation-roll is supplied by the Department on payment of the prescribed fee.

The district valuation-roll continues in force until a fresh roll is made, but whilst in force it may be altered and amended from time to time. The rolls for rating purposes are supplied to local bodies by the Valuer-General on the request of the local authority. The aim is to insure a standard valuation for taxation, local rating, and loan purposes.

Owners and occupiers dissatisfied with their valuations have the right of objection, the procedure being that laid down by “The Rating Act, 1894,” and the regulations under “The Government Valuation of Land Act, 1896.”

The cost of making the valuation is divided proportionally between the Departments mostly using it and the local authorities, while separate fees are provided for by regulation for supplying individual valuations to persons requiring them.

The district valuation-roll shows the capital value of the property, of improvements, and the unimproved value of the land.

The surface-value only of gold mines is included, and the value of the Government railways has been excluded.

All land is included, whether occupied or unoccupied, whether owned by private individuals, by the Crown, by Natives, by local authorities, Education Boards, School Commissioners, Churches, corporations, companies, or societies of all kinds, and whether subject to or exempt from taxation or rates.

The result of the general valuation of land as in March, 1898, is given in the report of the Valuer-General, presented to both Houses of Parliament. Since this general valuation a revision has been made in many districts, which brings the figures as corrected to represent the values on the 31st March, 1904. Comparative figures are here given for 1891 and 1904 showing the increase, and stating separately the unimproved value and the value of improvements.

COMPARISON OF CAPITAL VALUES, 1891 AND 1904.

 1891.1904.Increase, 1891 to 1904.

*In several cases the unimproved value, together with the value of improvements, does not equal the capital value. This is chiefly owing to alterations made by Assessment Courts.

 £££
Unimproved value75,787,895112,629,41236,841,517
Value of improvements46,365,29770,166,82923,801,532
Total£122,225,029*£182,796,241£60,571,212*

In the figures for the North and South Islands the relative degree of increase is exhibited, and the rapid rate of progress in the North Island shows in strong contrast to that of the other Island. There has been great spread of settlement in the Wellington and Taranaki Districts.

CAPITAL VALUES.

 1891.1904.Increase.
 £££
North Island57,441,115101,924,87744,483,762
South Island64,783,91480,871,36416,087,450
Totals£122,225,029£182,796,241£60,571,212

The increase for the North Island of £44,483,762 represents an advance of 77.44 per cent. on the value in 1891, and that of £16,087,450, for the South Island, 24.83 per cent. The increase for the whole colony, as shown previously, was £60,571,212, or 49.55 per cent.

The following statement gives the capital value of land and improvements in counties and boroughs as for 1891 and 1904.

CAPITAL VALUE OF LAND AND IMPROVEMENTS IN COUNTIES AND BOROUGHS.

 1891.1904.
 ££
Counties85,818,167121,966,152
Boroughs36,406,86260,830,089
Totals£122,225,029£182,796,241

The increase in the capital value of land, with improvements, in counties for the thirteen years is £36,147,985, or 42.12 per cent., while that for boroughs is £24,423,227, or 67.08 per cent.; but the value of property in boroughs was added to between 1891 and 1904 by the constitution of fourteen new boroughs, and that of the counties correspondingly reduced, so that the actual rate of increase in the value of country lands is higher than indicated by the above figures, and in urban lands considerably less.

Comparisons for counties and boroughs are given in the two tables next following. Afterwards, the capital value of rateable property in counties, road and town districts, with an indication of the system of rating adopted by those local bodies. The rateable values can be used in connection with the information given in Section XV., “Local Governing Bodies,” as to rates struck, &c.:—

COUNTIES, 1891 AND 1904.

TABLE showing the CAPITAL VALUE of LAND, with IMPROVEMENTS (and distinguishing the UNIMPROVED VALUE of LAND), in each COUNTY in NEW ZEALAND according to the Results of the General Valuation made in 1891, and as at 31st March, 1904:—

[* No valuation made. R signifies valuation revised since 1898.]

County.Capital Value, Land and Improvements.Unimproved Value of Land (included in previous columns).
As in Year 1891.As at 31st March, 1901.As in Year 1891.As at 31st March, 1904.

(a) Exclusive of Borough of Whangarei, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(b) Exclusive of Borough of Waihi, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(c) Exclusive of Borough of Te Aroha, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(d) Exclusive of County of Opotiki, which in 1891 formed part of the County of Whakatane.

(e) Formed part of Whakatane County.

† Approximate.

(f) Exclusive of the County of Woodville and of Dannevirke Borough, which in 1891 formed parts of the County of Waipawa.

(g) Formed part of Waipawa County.

(h) Exclusive of Weber County, which in 1891 formed part of Patangata County.

(i) Formed part of Patangata County.

(j) Exclusive of the Borough of Inglewood and of a portion of Egmont County, which in 1891 formed parts of Taranaki County.

(k) Formed parts of the Counties of Taranaki and Hawera.

(l) Exclusive of the Borough of Stratford, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(m) Exclusive of the Borough of Eltham, which in 1891 formed part of county; also exclusive of a portion of the Egmont County.

(n) Exclusive of Waimarino County, which in 1891 formed part of Wanganui County.

(o) Formed part of Wanganui County.

(p) Formed part of Oroua County.

(q) Exclusive of Counties of Kiwitea, Pohangina, and Kairanga, which in 1891 formed parts of Oroua County.

(r) Late Wairarapa North County.

(s) Exclusive of Featherston County, which in 1891 formed part of Wairarapa South County.

(t) Formed part of Wairarapa South County.

(u) Exclusive of County of Takaka, which in 1891 formed part of County of Collingwood.

(v) Formed part of Collingwood County.

(w) Exclusive of Motueka Borough, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(x) Exclusive of Linwood, Woolston, and New Brighton Boroughs, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(y) Exclusive of Mount Herbert County, which in 1891 formed part of Akaroa County.

Formed part of Akaroa County.

(xl) Exclusive of Levels County and Temuka Borough, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(yl) Formed part of Geraldine County.

(zl) Exclusive of Borough of Mataura, which in 1891 formed part of county.

 ££££
Mongonui196,158227,808152,151156,643
Whangaroa63,82576,96641,37947,108
Bay of Islands365,069r418,336247,612r266,706
Hokianga422,365r439,798365,957r348,568
Whangarei523,420r708,079(a)316,003r377,057(a)
Hobson325,974r623,934241,880r411,464
Otamatea258,496r441,014156,975r264,976
Rodney293,235r332,704173,313r155,228
Waitemata632,012r806,129388,568r444,842
Eden2,002,677r3,411,337991,380r1,772,273
Manukau1,385,330r2,116,783664,272r1,142,484
Islands (Great and Little Barrier)55,28461,73242,57439,621
Waiheke, &c.71,34387,02140,21145,005
Waikato682,774r797,794282,655r382,696
Raglan357,941r753,647280,945r471,042
Waipa464,086r727,470197,900r348,011
Kawhia354,269552,744350,051489,291
Coromandel217,120r547,843166,483r357,630
Thames253,013r377,538168,442r240,324
Ohinemuri204,704r463,550(b)164,182r267,631(b)
Tauranga282,723r404,640172,078r265,324
Piako689,384r987,696(c)427,889r527,738(c)
Rotorua168,371487,265114,289403,138
Whakatane663,785r386,175(d)548,221r318,075(d)
Opotiki(e)r542,116(e)r416,506
East Taupo301,681510,311292,106498,884
West Taupo235,997261,804226,406235,548
Islands (Mayor and Motiti)*5,780*3,696
Waiapu472,548r1,002,545341,062r577,148
Cook1,885,856r3,482,6781,175,712r2,129,113
Wairoa1,101,072r1,384,645786,032r915,554
Hawke's Bay3,673,889r4,475,1192,558,583r3,289,477
Waipawa2,179,812r3,171,017(f)1,249,695r2,075,638(f)
Woodville(g)r733,436(g)r459,927
Patangata1,863,936r2,060,952(h)1,154,909r1,491,290(h)
Weber(i)r303,188(i)r162,690
Clifton441,325r807,584385,252r605,437
Taranaki969,579r1,753,811(j)604,091r1,023,747(j)
Egmont(k)r976,900(k)r586,186
Stratford560,345r1,479,214 (l)447,502r898,265(l)
Hawera1,247,436r2,792,994 (m)807,887r1,866,838(m)
Patea823,675r1,383,399522,322r849,008
Waitotara731,668r1,058,812460,842r698,532
Wanganui1,176,106r1,529,499(n)830,519r994,644 (n)
Waimarino(o)r698,499(o)r584,690
Rangitikei1,475,473r2,626,717870,091r1,520,328
Kiwitea(p)r1,105,206(p)r653,104
Pohangina(p)r572,821(p)r333,414
Manawatu810,171r1,198,277445,416r853,518
Oroua2,268,854r1,183,662(q)1,298,417r771,353(q)
Kairanga(p)r1,659,335(p)r1,195,924
Horowhenua858,648r1,864,114551,248r1,198,431
Islands (Kapiti, Mana, and Somes)*17,984*13,378
Chatham Islands*95,557*55,838
Pahiatua511,400r1,297,346331,634r738,551
Akitio(r) 1,831,209r499,461(r)1,057,393r304,710
Castlepointr385,349r216,556
Eketahunar547,230r295,515
Mauriceviller322,089r152,759
Mastertonr1,810,237r1,085,594
Wairarapa South1,872,035r1,123,621(s)1,104,064r689,825(s)
Featherston(t)r2,049,752(t)r1,392,452
Hutt1,030,745r1,956,982520,005r1,099,678
Collingwood323,910r206,224(u)223,376r124,155(u)
Takaka(v)r277,622(v)r146,514
Waimea1,196,226r1,598,219 (w)740,668r967,537(w)
Sounds171,095r364,899124,480r217,869
Marlborough1,837,632r2,436,5661,344,120r1,800,291
Kaikoura350,521r553,488209,082r408,637
Buller651,129r574,840483,407r337,319
Inangahua874,948r856,627598,963r616,171
Grey861,890r808,738670,528r627,337
Westland1,048,156r809,675964,461r669,219
Cheviot486,765r707,388413,852r561,212
Amuri921,221r 937,755762,518r723,316
Ashley3,801,341r4,341,4552,861,083r3,398,861
Selwyn7,446,756r8,335,784 (x)4,897,419r5,794,633(x)
Akaroa1,169,379r1,315,487(y)775,316r958,105 (y)
Mount Herbert(z)r211,580(z)r150,396
Ashburton3,630,383r5,041,2702,691,466r3,919,733
Geraldine3,257,696r2,148,433 (xl)2,316,183r1,694,728(xl)
Levels(yl)r1,562,164(yl)r1,197,386
Mackenzie736,021819,336589,528670,798
Waimate2,462,433r2,915,6031,968,587r2,418,579
Waitaki2,709,379r2,904,1842,060,640r2,297,621
Maniototo449,650568,061358,342370,564
Waihemo417,887r462,802277,792r313,047
Waikouaiti602,015r691,304309,077r379,212
Peninsula414,146r534,479193,301r308,358
Taieri1,330,718r1,538,721931,554r1,082,971
Tuapeka938,701r919,812642,394r612,502
Bruce957,438r1,077,601600,771r740,413
Clutha1,151,046r1,309,156772,352r873,054
Vincent791,595r473,143637,287r303,125
Lake382,722r345,424274,791r250,679
Fiord*144,425*137,645
Wallace1,364,016r1,945,499943,777r1,334,933
Southland3,739,513r5,081,705(zl)2,446,830r3,480,307(zl)
Stewart Island85,021r161,30779,690r135,007
Islands (Antipodes, &c.)*13,880*13,880
Quarantine and Goat Islands*3,450*900

BOROUGHS, 1891 AND 1904.

TABLE showing the CAPITAL VALUE of LAND, with IMPROVEMENTS (and distinguishing the UNIMPROVED VALUE of LAND), in each BOROUGH in NEW ZEALAND according to the Results of the General Valuation made in 1891, and as at 31st March, 1904.

[R signifies valuation revised since 1898.]

Borough.Capital Value, Land and Improvements.Unimproved Value of Land, (included in previous columns).
As in Year 1891.As at 31st March, 1904.As in Year 1891.As at 31st March, 1904.

(a) Formed part of Whangarei County.

(b) Formed part of Piako County.

(c) Formed part of Ohinemuri County.

(d) Formed part of Waipawa County.

(e) Formed part of Stratford County.

(f) Formed part of Hawera County.

(g) Formed part of Taranaki County.

(h) Formed part of Pahiatua County.

(i) Formed part of Waimea County.

(j) Formed part of Selwyn County.

(k) Formed part of Geraldine County.

(l) Value of railway-station (£80,000) included in 1891, excluded in 1898.

(m) Formed part of Southland County.

 ££££
Whangarei(a)R161,503(a)R61,491
Birkenhead77,532109,92642,33350,124
Devonport407,333598,364163,468243,176
Auckland4,934,288R7,287,9252,471,496R3,734,874
Parnell366,098464,841138,775193,547
Newmarket182,353220,94082,32794,802
Grey Lynn222,355R578,943135,607R274,698
Onehunga250,634293,069111,406140,404
Hamilton90,142R289,14144,584R183,443
Cambridge70,27988,58725,52127,821
Thames227,171295,78376,547115,314
Tauranga63,02689,23025,15330,240
Te Aroha(b)55,757(b)24,189
Waihi(c)R187,450(c)R64,667
Gisborne317,989R527,297148,511R312,173
Napier1,275,8531,294,497667,157585,570
Hastings372,458R565,474230,592R318,561
Dannevirke(d)R367,241(d)R227,147
Woodville102,22698,00857,85243,756
New Plymouth341,117R987,127165,621R616,423
Hawera84,834R330,29937,914R177,046
Patea43,378R64,10912,055R21,919
Stratford(e)R312,621(e)R158,552
Eltham(f)R171,416(f)R98,235
Inglewood(g)R138,686(g)R67,055
Wanganui543,403R1,332,946290,321R854,556
Marton83,915116,63133,73640,512
Feilding146,884R333,56668,199R167,520
Palmerston North489,618R1,419,893310,293R868,797
Foxton85,743R121,57939,755R61,509
Onslow144,053R288,34770,803R147,847
Karori118,728R344,77174,595R211,413
Wellington—........
  City Ward5,865,778R11,802,7593,440,182R6,913,234
  Melrose Ward203,517R1,081,313129,429R752,988
Pahiatua(h)R149,102(h)R71,737
Masterton356,860R740,479159,861R400,573
Carterton88,650R170,65231,315R82,172
Greytown115,649R149,94334,095R58,974
Lower Hutt244,075R826,762159,178R619,457
Petone268,358R499,854145,221R255,916
Richmond84,285R99,02243,375R53,813
Nelson942,370865,161389,397348,906
Picton88,195R118,51841,189R52,351
Blenheim378,943R401,668167,481R170,761
Motueka(i)R139,661(i)R84,922
Westport166,987199,91957,78282,586
Greymouth299,077R543,615114,543R183,240
Brunner115,89270,33016,16611,539
Kumara33,565R34,5756,945R6,072
Hokitika102,708R168,69318,054R66,008
Ross16,961R21,0065,250R5,413
Rangiora158,017189,71971,16174,980
Kaiapoi134,055164,41647,02348,517
Christchurch—
Central Ward3,403,566R4,627,4111,820,770R2,282,830
St. Albans Ward524,822R951,962284,938R365,211
Sydenham Ward821,000R1,117,303(i)333,876R385,446(i)
Linwood Ward(j)R704,584(j)R237,991
Woolston(j)R259,503(j)R109,377
New Brighton(j)100,566(j)46,245
Sumner102,145R165,68060,246R85,509
Lyttelton851,730853,204150,490238,897
Akaroa49,40755,41819,62817,778
Ashburton223,091264,58890,73397,561
Temuka(k)R123,443(k)R37,388
Timaru442,830R874,804151,661R324,610
Waimate75,399R142,28218,759R51,658
Oamaru612,571R531,719279,113R179,223
Hampden13,195R21,5395,229R7,460
Naseby24,18634,2492,4404,174
Palmerston51,182R58,75616,771R14,354
Hawksbury45,716R61,41419,823R28,530
Port Chalmers200,043R259,14560,946R80,438
West Harbour137,015R148,99668,240R65,239
North-east Valley276,835R365,354130 271R155,471
Maori Hill142,890R236,81667,348R110,590
Roslyn360,962R600,325169,610R249,011
Mornington284,875R388,266125,414R152,443
Dunedin4,193,422R5,441,5822,124,467R 2,565,904
Caversham466,074R617,700217,158R253,009
South Dunedin223,534R469,36382,609R142,141
St. Kilda118,477R268,78776,842R130,486
Green Island36,962R40,86113,585R11,234
Mosgiel122,625R166,68353,441R65,200
Roxburgh20,12330,5453,1673,448
Lawrence79,06699,87418,58423,339
Tapanui16,15519,0692,5752,580
Milton76,207R138,86814,012R38,562
Balclutha53,210R96,54614,547R32,809
Kaitangata54,97662,52021,13328,037
Arrowtown24,58627,1835,0124,754
Queenstown65,15370,29413,52412,226
Cromwell22,16838,4024,6589,149
Alexandra13,57845,8032,95510,257
Gore142,708R285,90766,171R105,958
Mataura(m)R128,001(m)R50,111
Winton20,195R49,8297,965R19,613
Gladstone26,54139,79013,82516,140
Avenal15,26926,6906,6878,093
North Invercargill28,293R50,49215,640R20,312
East Invercargill42,99658,25918,38517,695
Invercargill959,140R1,255,449517,879R500,375
South Invercargill79,526R118,25342,813R45,038
Riverton59,62660,82622,02415,206
Campbelltown97,380R201,99229,430R89,132

LOCAL DISTRICTS, 1904.

TABLE showing—(1.) CAPITAL VALUE of LAND, with IMPROVEMENTS (and distinguishing the UNIMPROVED VALUE of LAND), in each COUNTY, RIDING, ROAD DISTRICT, and TOWN DISTRICT in NEW ZEALAND. (2.) CAPITAL VALUE of RATEABLE PROPERTY, with IMPROVEMENTS (and distinguishing the UNIMPROVED VALUE of LAND), in each COUNTY, RIDING, ROAD DISTRICT, and TOWN DISTRICT as at 31st March, 1904.

NOTE.—The rateable value of pastoral lands of the Crown is fixed, under section 2 of “The Rating Act, 1894,” at the annual rental capitalised at 6 per cent., and in some cases is more and in some cases less than the assessed capital value of same.

[System of rating: C.V. signifies capital value, U.V. unimproved value, and A.V. annual value.]

County and RidingRoad District or Town District.Gross Values.Systems of RatingRateable Values
Capital Value (Land and Improvements).Unimproved Value of Land (included in previous column).Capital Value (Land and Improvements).Unimproved Value of Land (included in previous column).

* Approximate.

* Formerly Knapdale Road District.

 Mongonui—££..££
  Kaitaia..53,90136,172..46,27130,727
  Hohoura..39,67723,340..24,35614,991
  Oruru..41,52530,835..25,43815,424
  Mongonui..35,81523,012..23,89913,207
  Victoria Valley..25,48714,783..22,57212,158
  Herekino..31,40328,501..15,32612,662
Total of county..227,808156,643C.V.157,86299,169
Whangaroa—............
  Whangaroa..25,08815,387..15,0087,685
  Totara..20,10212,697..14,0407,480
  Kaeo..31,77619,024..23,47712,262
Total of county..76,96647,108C.V.52,52527,427
Bay of Islands—............
  Waimate..120,89972,618..101,33354,869
  Russell..46,29432,607..30,87918,952
  Kawakawa..87,71840,449..67,32025,098
  Pakaraka..163,425121,032..92,93752,953
Total of county..418,336266,706C.V.292,469151,872
Hokianga—............
  Whangape..58,78548,853..26,04719,485
  Kohukohu..70,87545,918..40,16517,230
  Waihou..70,50162,104..37,86530,663
  Taheke..66,96261,678..22,37218,200
  Horeke..23,71118,159..20,76015,228
  Rawene..29,99418,778..25,60316,709
  Omapere............
  Waipoua..118,97093,078..56,07734,360
Total of county..439,798348,568U.V.228,889151,875
Whangarei—..££..££
  OtongaOtonga21,9689,178C.V.21,4708,893
Outlying37,57221,171..28,29013,621
  KiripakaMarua31,15620,054C.V.26,07815,274
Outlying45,19630,009..38,80524,118
  HikurangiHikurangi42,58426,014C.V.41,13525,673
Kaurihohore17,2097,837..16,6757,666
Outlying19,37011,578..17,0979,413
  WairuaKamo T D.24,9279,041C.V.23,6258,881
Outlying75,78236,624..69,56531,436
  MaunuMaunu88,49245,887C.V.82,68943,626
Outlying56,82634,163..46,30424,499
  ManaiaWhareora11,3356,258C.V.11,1066,029
Parua25,22211,81522,76810,528
Outlying29,92116,183..26,62713,183
  MangapaiMaungakaramea31,33612,877C.V.30,28817,884
Ruarangi14,7157,58114,1827,048
Waikiekie37,79420,22236,79819,551
Outlying18,5569,418..17,2098,346
  WaipuWaipu North21,3319,748C.V.20,7459,402
Outlying56,78731,399..52,00027,492
Total of county..708,079377,057C.V.643,456332,563
Hobson—............
  Dargaville..83,95152,656..77,71047,040
  Kaihu..50,76036,333..46,86532,438
  Tangowahine..104,02986,224..86,80469,229
  Wairoa..104,15185,803..95,44577,228
  Okahu..78,02547,377..76,64546,766
  Aratapu..112,25656,046..108,32354,470
  Te Kopuru..90,76247,025..63,46827,610
Total of county..623,934411,464C.V.555,260354,781
Otamatea—
  Tokatoka..110,35073,736..98,04361,808
  MatakoheMatakohe50,85333,084C.V.49,61632,250
Outlying14,0608,965..13,6998,704
  MareretuMareretu26,07613,828C.V.25,33613,356
  Paparoa..48,96822,666..46,84022,247
  Wairau..51,38827,405..50,67327,296
  WhakapirauWhakapirau72,19745,697Nil37,41420,667
  KaiwakaMangawai24,74713,150C.V.22,79511,747
Outlying42,37526,445 34,08119,790
Total of county..441,014264,976C.V.378,497217,865
Rodney—..££..££
  AlbertAlbertland North7,0464,493C.V.6,4824,141
Outlying7,0833,823..6,5833,323
Albertland South26,2488,644C.V.24,7758,222
Wharehine13,4747,64912,9667,362
  Hoteo..42,25720,902..38,57317,569
  TauhoaTauhoa26,35411,131C.V.24,98910,385
Komokoriki11,9936,8939,6854,729
Ahuroa6,0383,6135,8453,545
  Omaha,36,09421,02725,87311,696
  MatakanaMatakana West18,6486,907C.V.17,6296,536
Matakana East9,2165,3949,1505,347
Eastern Mahurangi11,3734,69410,1284,009
  MahurangiOutlying33,94614,823..32,42313,905
Warkworth47,76316,006C.V.45,33315,549
  PuhoiPuhoi35,17110,22933,98218,855
Total of county..332,704155,228C.V.304,416135,173
Waitemata—............
  MairetahiHelensville T.D.27,3235,143A.V.24,6934,925
Outlying113,67065,470..101,62326,600
  KaukapakapaKaukapakapa47,92326,367C.V.44,76823,825
  Kumeu..42,51324,306..40,51322,478
  WainuiWhangaparaoa8,0364,041C.V.7,9883,993
Pukeatua31,16517,89426,85213,916
Outlying29,87114,284..27,93713,764
  Takapuna..154,48587,494..147,82685,327
  Birkenhead..52,85232,464..50,26430,504
  Northcote..92,89743,079..89,43241,400
  Waitakerei..98,67062,532..91,89657,469
  Waikomiti..106,72461,774..84,44548,005
Total of county..806,129444,842C.V.738,237372,206
Eden—............
  NewtonArch Hill104,89540,638A.V.101,15440,638
  GraftonEden Terrace153,83962,759C.V.153,11462,534
  WhauPoint Chevalier120,54427,82432,51220,919
Mount Albert383,091213,458371,148207,813
Avondale150,19571,089141,63065,229
Mount Roskill232,474173,618224,404170,048
  EpsomMount Eden689,069260,292C.V.605,749235,293
Epsom316,013187,546312,733187,546
One tree Hill338,250193,441320,813193,441
  ParnellRemuera578,150332,646554,575317,024
Orakei11,3969,4728,5947,170
TamakiTamaki West129,80787,060128,26041,495
Panmure Township15,2484,30613,8819,686
Mount Wellington188,366108,124184,22177,363
Total of county..3,411,3371,772,273Nil3,152,7931,636,199
Manukau—............
  AwhituAwhitu38,59718,932C.V.34,28218,024
Pollok Settlement14,5366,81514,1266,732
  WaiukuWaipipi196,124108,667188,809104,494
Waiuku144,21493,358139,81490,565
  HowickPakuranga60,84044,61360,12844,511
Howick Township16,6876,25815,7246,065
Paparoa22,31111,08521,96710,997
East Tamaki109,37653,383107,54653,083
Turanga27,32412,07026,58612,044
Maraetai13,8106,933U.V.13,5426,898
  OtahuhuOtahuhu110,76551,424C.V.105,39149,612
Mangere201,503119,479196,627117,178
Papatoitoi60,23139,86058,99239,575
Manurewa56,35631,43655,23531,248
  PapakuraPapakura70,89536,721U.V.69,98436,700
Wairoa138,22074,719C.V.133,35871,712
Drury48,50021,69147,52321,587
Papakura T.D.22,8368,48521,0298,005
Hunua42,77123,160U.V.41,68722,556
  PukekobeMauku86,63047,221C.V.84,69346,563
Karaka39,19419,94138,43619,592
Pukekohe W.209,271117,277203,451116,693
Pukekohe E.128,29554,348125,25554,033
  MaungatawhiriOpaheke54,88223,43953,22223,354
Paparata46,62319,74345,08819,234
Pokeno46,22021,14243,57419,827
Maungatawhiri36,45815,71835,91315,523
Mercer19,3768,79714,3046,036
Outlying53,93845,76933,88025,711
Total of county..2,116,7831,142,484Nil2,030,1661,098,152
Islands—..££..££
  Great Barrier..61,73239,621Nil40,31832,420
  Little Barrier..
  Kawau 87,02145,005Nil73,77439,011
  Motuhora
  Motutikatika
  Mokohinau
  Taranga
  Week's Island
  Tiritiri
  Waiheke
  Motutapu
  Ponui
  Rangitoto
  Motuihi
  Cuvier
  Great Mercury
  White
  Whale
Total of islands..148,75384,626Nil114,09271,431
Waikato—............
  WhangamarinoWhangamarino152,36391,585C.V.129,19175,128
  HuntlyHuntly125,06067,554109,38154,041
  KirikiriroaKirikiriroa271,179100,470262,06195,471
  TamahereTamahere88,07442,48083,08638,292
  CambridgeCambridge161,11880,607159,10380,192
Total of county..797,794382,696C.V.742,822343,124
Raglan—............
  Onewhero..143,33086,689125,13069,965
  Whangape..167,344106,947140,718S2.301
  Waingaro..134,40174,021122,74462,831
  Te AkauTe Akau107,78987,658Nil105,25585,357
  Karioi..62,70433,10355,21326,664
  Whaingaroa..60,54931,83252,88825,357
  KaramuKaramu28,23917,798Nil22,41012,888
Outlying15,36711,1289,2345,072
  Pirongia..33,92421,86632,57720,659
Total of county..753,647471,042U.V.666,169391,094
Waipa—............
  NewcastleNewcastle78,69842,795C.V.75,18440,518
Ngaruawahia T.D.20,6135,77418,7685,069
  Hamilton..98,74450,47098,23249,983
  TuhikarameaTuhikaramea45,34025,993C.V.45,14525,848
  PukekuraPukekura186,64091,614184,31691,097
  Mangapiko..120,94050,898122,56555,423
  RangiaohiaRangiaohia124,29157,826C.V.122,10657,641
Te Awamutu T.D.31,20611,61627,69910,926
Kihikhi T.D.15,9985,02513,6624,709
Total of county..727,470348,011C.V.707,677341,209
Kawhia..552,744489,291Nil331,080269,469
Coromandel—............
  Harataunga..247,127162,218..173,49798,721
  Mercury Bay..300,716195,412..50,40338,091
Total of county..547,843357,630C.V.229,900136,812
Thames—............
  Hastings..72,82257,359..61,36348,042
  Kauaeranga..48,45615,511..41,76113,736
  Parawai..42,33317,855..36,94316,440
  Totara..213,927149,599..162,927105,960
Total of county..377,538240,324C.V.302,994184,178
Ohinemuri—............
  Waitoa..107,15883,840..62,72040,928
  Paeroa..212,698118,221..168,98881,744
  Waitekauri..48,16231,848..24,3529,478
  Karangahake..95,53233,716..71,19121,701
Total of county..403,550267,631C.V.327,251153,851
Tauranga—............
  KatikatiKatikati60,91738,708U.V.47,90626,272
Outlying18,95517,084..6,2714,871
  Te PunaTe Pona39,96030,428U.V.27,80118,454
Outlying (Te Puna Township)1,759879..1,587752
  Waimapu..90,08959,769..71,62042,011
  MaketuTe Puke*86,65653,346U.V.66,09834,151
Outlying105,70465,110..80,74048,510
Total of county*..404,640265,324U.V.308,023175,021
Piako—..££..££
  WaitoaWaitoa414,601211,076C.V.392,512193,764
  Te Aroha..87,25653,059..78,64646,429
  MatamataMatamata164,58990,854C.V.148,12374,878
  Taotaoroa..54,78632,687..54,39032,652
  Patetere..266,464140.062..235,516109,194
Total of county..987,696527,738C.V.909,187456,917
Rotorua—.......... 
  North..235,305190,111..54,64935,102
  South..251,960213,027144,192109,002 
Total of county..487,265403,138Nil198m,841144,104
Whakatane—.......... 
  Matata..119,053102,425..64,25449,224
  Omataroa..96,01369,130..76,21452,669
  Opouriao..125,243111,018..45,95333,476
  Waimana..45,86635,502..36,08425,934
Total of county..386,175318,075C.V.222,505161,305
Opotiki—.......... 
  Waioeka..453,173368,123..230,416150,386
  Ohiwa..30,73116,665..25,17711,142
  OpotikiOpotiki T,.D.58,21231,718C.V.52,70129,575
Total of county..542,116416,506C.V.308,294191,103
  East Taupo..510,311498,884Nil323,065311,638
  West Taupo..261,804235,548Nil86,24860,839
  Mayor and Motiti Islands..5,7803,696Nil2,200956
Waiapu—.......... 
  Matakaoa93,47278,728..32,63818,826 
  Awanui86,37061.678..55,01535,456 
  Piritarau..297,127162,944..248,940117,651
  Waipiro..258,986139,084..242,050123,886
  Tokomaru..266,590134,714..209,38078,451
Total of county..1,002,545577,148C.V.788,023374,270
Cook—.......... 
  Tolago..508,539297,344..422,047224,812
  WaikohuWaikohu374,370229,105C.V.303,562161,739
Waipaoa137,42970,543135,59768,711
Ngatapa414,493262,779378,182227,829
  WaimataWaimata234,722125,924C.V.202,01894,948
  Pouawa178,19297,147177,79296,747
  GisborneOrmond111,35074,025106,75972,688
Poverty Bay235,379167,424225,899160,064
  Taruheru (Subdivisions 1, 2)77,95755,12276,35254,106 
  WhataupokoTaruheru (Subdivision 3)52,13525,78852,13525,788
Whataupoko117,44349,218117,24649,089
Kaiti103,48060,885102,15159,608
Titirangi33,67927,06630,31324,244
  PatutahiPatutahi312,435220,339301,271211,285
  HangaroaHangaroa73,30144,75148,88220,376
Outlying112,80884,16775,34847,139
Aroha75,78740,234C.V.73,48538,017
  AraiArai329,179197,252278,335153,225
Total of county..3,482,6782,129,113C.V.3,107,3741,790,465
Wairca—.......... 
  Waikaremoana..618,337409,511532,324329,425
  ClydeClyde T.D.58,19029,344C.V.51,63826,395
Outlying280,473184,876..237,902143,755
  Mohaka..427,645231,823..347,672218,098
Total of county..1,384,645915,554C.V.1,169,536717,673
Hawke's Bay—.......... 
  Petane..329,078213,354323,176208,719
  Puketapu..450,534311,779448,268310,128
  Okawa..604,650428,830559,336392,284
  MeaneeTaradale T.D.67,65234,341C.V.65,66734,185
Outlying200,890128,306193,733126,838
  Erewhon..478,341411,733422,006360,203
  Maraekakaho..454,248317,352440,785305,457
  Heretaunga..780,865583,861777,217581,883
  Clive..377,150292,055361,666280,129
  Havelock..731,711567,260728,493566,218
Total of county..4,475,1193,289,477C.V.4,320,3473,166,044
Waipawa—.......... 
  HampdenNorth Ruataniwha409,890288.827U.V.408,289288,626
Outlying57,24926,92449,05919,654
  WaipawaWaipawa63,03842,170U.V.63,00842,150
Waipawa T.D.96,39947,06389,58445,068
  TakapauTakapau339,909223,254U.V.337,339222,607
Outlying183,093102,917..178,12398,498
  Ruataniwha..338,230218,774..328,619210,700
  WaipukurauWaipukurau393,778264,709U.V.372,327256,608
  NorsewoodNorsewood257,559157,162244,090146,258
  OrmondvilleOrmondville T.D.36,56410,40632,0559,463
Outlying173,84497,204..167,16591,121
  Dannevirke..361,283275,440..322,269237,007
  Mangatoro..460,176320,788..455,888316,910
Total of county..3,171,0172,075,638U.V.3,048,4151,984,670
Woodville—.......... 
  Woodville..178,894105,674..177,701104,975
  Maungaatua..159,192109,232..157,636107,711
  Kumeroa..215,553122,816..207,865117,790
  Maharahara..179,797122,205..176,713119,523
Total of county..733,436459,927U.V.719,915449,999
Patangata—.......... 
  PatangataPatangata171,064118,790C.V.170,816118,777
Kaikora N. T.D.25,94211,293A.V.25,19211,178
  OeroOero372,407286,385C.V.371,840285,93
  TamumuTamumu600,164444,454599,543443,93
  EparaimaWanstead147,963107,015147,756106,911
Wallingford380,368265,799379,660265,381
  PorangahauPorangahau363,044257,554357,522253,837
Total of county..2,060,9521,491,290C.V.2,052,3291,485,990
Weber—.......... 
  Weber..98,47053,703..98,08853,627
  Ti-tree Point..85,62649,441..84,59648,435
  Wimbledon..119,09259,546..118,57859,420
Total of county..303,188162,690C.V.301,262161,482
Clifton—............
  Mokau..412,508354,709..225,630169,433
  Urenui..103,72966,606..91,27355,623
  Tikorangi..76,59645,895..70,66841,314
  Waihi..80,32357,138..61,55040,665
  Ngatimaru..134,42881,089..108,51955,722
Total of county..807,584605,437C.V.557,640362,757
Taranaki—..££..££
  WaitaraWaitara West189,001108,920C.V.176,89798,345
Raleigh T.D.49,85719,15946,76817,353
Egmont137,27578,806128,60171,939
Henui118,47679,589113,03075,182
  MoaMoa465,785230,510462,491229,539
Mangorei53,40234,53952,97834,245
Waiwakaiho71,31138,92069,30737,260
  OmataElliott55,28139,03554,42438,391
Carrington100,21164,56399,71164,256
Frankley73,13945,52473,01845,504
Barrett115,15277,303113,43376,131
Omata90,93963,86677,10351,032
Upper Hurford14,6488,62714,4638,623
Tataraimaka36,79021,38336,22321,362
Oakura77,71850,98371,91545,530
Werekino23,24214,76522,88814,411
Okato81,58447,25579,18345,984
Total of county..1,753,8111,023,747C.V.1,692,433975,137
Stratford—.......... 
  NorthManganui392,788215,514U.V.388,989214,077
  East..434,164257,013..419,859243,306
  Ohura..221,519151,838..164,68096,999
  West..212,830133,977..209,183131,034
  South..217,913139,923..216,800139,566
Total of county..1,479,214898,265U.V.1,399,511824,982
Egmont—............
  RahotuParihaka631,539381,642C.V.615,507371,456
  OpunakeOpunake T.D.73,49739,217C.V.63,22635,242
  Oeo..271,864165,327..2151,053157,177
Total of county..976,900586,186C.V.939,786563,875
Hawera—............
  WaimateWaimate810,466540,596C.V.766,494506,768
  Manaia T.D.39,79014,07835,31613,046
  Mangatoki..346,544229,980..345,251229,298
  Okaiawa..256,413188,642..230,903168,633
  Eltham..273,887168,625..255,779151,336
  HaweraNormanby T.D.27,28411,003U.V.25,56810,692
  Outlying..764,353528,048..717,025496,872
  Mokoia..274,257185,866C.V.256,786172,122
Total of county..2,792,9941,866,838C.V.2,633,1221,748,767
Patea—..££..££
  OtoiaPatea West361,980230,183C.V.356,022226,131
Patea East210,812138,714198,233127,183
  Outlying4,4584,458..1,6481,648
  Kapara..137,74881,972..106,71951,410
  WaverleyKohi72,28644,934C.V.71,96944,894
Wairoa84,51651,56880,22047,272
Motoroa37,86820,90836,24919,576
Waitotara164,79582,801153,08177,256
Momohaki
Okutuku79,86154,59079,86154,590
Whenuakura196,186129,048195,921128,842
Waitotara    
Waverley T.D.32,8899,83229,2189,172
Total of county..1,383,399849,008C.V.1,309,141787,974
Waitotara—............
  Tokomaru..160,778114,641..67,55822,751
  Waitotara..343,426242,809..330,842234,317
  Brunswick..304,688199,655..300,252198,001
  Westmere..249,920141,427..236,729137,791
Total of county..1,658,812698,532C.V.935,381592,860
Wanganui—.......... 
  MangawheroMangawhero336,115220,819C.V.280,444168,488
  Upper WangaehuUpper Wangaehu523,478324,238..413,877217,144
  MataongaongaMataongaonga214,682161,559214,182161,309
  KaukateaKaukatea75,69046,45975,48646,451
  PuruaPurua211,240129,297209,574129,021
  KaitokeKaitoke168,294112,272160,318107,529
Total of county..1,529,499994,644C.V.1,353,881829,942
Waimarino—............
  Huikumu..191,861162,551..103,44275,563
  Manganui..129,789112,432..42,16725,577
  Ruapehu..66,66056,570..26,66317,263
  Karioi..35,45033,279..13,68612,685
  Parapara..118,55288,974..70,65645,123
  Raetihi..32,68219,688..26,01714,843
  Ohakune..123,505111,196..68,59259,662
Total of county..698,499584,690U.V.351,223250,716
  Rangitikei—............
  Ohingaiti..593,796334,007..511,575268,387
  Otairi..320,184161,864..294,382136,518
  Maungahoe..184,996103,388..183,365102,178
  Paraekaretu..295,749170,564..291,253168,368
  Wangaehu..210,827133,954..197,793125,004
  Maungaraupi..251,278142,704..249,794142,644
  Porewa..264,028143,965..261,795143,577
  OtakapuLethbridge T.D.27,02411,143A.V.25,08110,831
Outlying264,958182,481..264,485182,352
  RangitotoBull's T.D.38,94811,790A.V.35,68511,354
Outlying174,929114,468..174,529114,421
Total of county..2,626,7171,520,328C.V.2,489,7371,405,634
Kiwitea—............
  Hautapu..133,58379,988..124,62471,489
  Rangiwahia..148,70584,895..140,71377,587
  Peep-of-day..113,07058,733..102,06147,724
  Ongo..120,50773,862..118,55572,015
  Kiwitea..106,78868,861..106,52268,845
  Waituna..116,48469,913..115,72769,716
  Cheltenham..117,02373,032..115,79472,977
  Kimbolton..112,03160,693..108,50658,575
  Pakihikura..137,01583,127..136,46782,651
Total of county..1,105,206653,104C.V.1,068,969621,579
Pohangina—.......... 
  Mangapikopiko..90,39949,750..89,13149,114
  Umutoi..92,29257,728..77,46442,940
  Coal Creek..87,80745,729..87,75945,681
  Tamaki..67,25846,872..44,12423,738
  Pohangina..52,19228,460..51,47528,230
  Mangaone..100,24058,929..100,01458,875
  Awahou..82,63345,946..76,50139,924
Total of county..572,821333,414C.V.526,468288,502
Manawatu—............
  Sandon..159,494104,742..157,034104,447
  Mount Stewart..152,189105,819..151,686105,456
  Waitohi..157,880106,100..157,234106,070
  Campbell..198,777137,064..195,985136,257
  Carnarvon..194,196152,144..191,910150,907
  Kawakawa..170,495120,810..170,125120,798
  Awahou..165,246126,839..152,415117,124
Total of county..1,198,277853,518C.V.1,176,389841,059
  Otoua—............
  RangitawaHalcombe T.D.21,4435,428A.V.19,3845,348
Outlying88,04656,927..81,64351,671
  Mangaone..20,42414,623..20,36414,563
  Raumanga..233,367156,745..216,743143,216
  Makino..239,623162,598..239,199162,578
  Taonui..277,361188,300..276,056188,077
  Hiwinui..255,239166,317..253,797165,588
  Otangaki..48,15720,415..45,20519,124
Total of county..1,183,662771,353C.V.1,152,391750,165
Kairanga—............
  Taonui..1,153,778858,774..1,136,525846,302
  Fitzherbert..505,557337,150..492,778325,419
Total of county..1,659,3351,195,924C.V.1,629,3031,171,721
Horowhenua—............
  Tokomaru..443,550280,596..437,203276,141
  Wirokino..804,603554,326..743,920508,290
  OtakiOtaki334,649190,298C.V.315,644179,079
  Te HoroTe Horo281,312173,211272,367165,409
Total of county..1,864,1141,198,431C.V.1,769,1341,128,919
  Chatham Islands..95,55755,838Nil92,44653,614
Islands—............
  Kapiti 17,98413,378Nil10,4849,378
Mana
Somes
Pahiatua—............
  Mangahao*..479,683296,061..470,952286,508
  Pakemiku..157,27894,548..152,10792,550
  Makuri..211,479111,372..205,753106,485
  Mangaone..190,836111,594..190,513111,465
  Puketoi..258,070124,976..255,158123,190
Total of county*..1,297,346738,551U.V.1,274,483720,198
Akitio—............
  Akitio..151,19391,429..149,34389,739
  Waihi..81,72847,532..75,97642,155
  Rakaunui..40,53825,264..35,93920,758
  Pongaroa..117,41369,429..113,88466,585
  Mataikona..108,58971,056C.V.105,41468,761
Total of county..499,461304,710C.V.480,556287,998
  Castlepoint—............
  East..170,20999,222..169,24498,782
  West..215,140117,334..212,056116,575
Total of county..385,349216,556C.V.381,300215,357
Eketahuna—............
  West..286,746161,563..276,270152,346
  East..260,484133,952..254,241131,941
Total of county..547,230295,515U.V.530,511284,287
Mauriceville—............
  West..159,80777,281..147,94767,803
  East..162,28275,478..160,72075,298
Total of county..322,089152,759C.V.308,667143,101
Masterton—............
  Alfredton..259,626114,690..250,781107,143
  Upper Taueru..166,76090,943..166,58390,901
  Rangitumau..244,743170,899..283,869170,841
  Opaki..412,770243,855..393,655229,219
  Te Whiti..189,695121,503..189,159121,230
  Wainuioru..536,643343,704..529,677338,920
Total of county..1,810,2371,085,594C.V.1,813,7241,058,254
  Wairarapa South—............
  Belvedere..198,133114,320..183,058100,794
  Dalefield..183,566112,342..181,725111,740
  Parkvale..194,566122,403..191,252122,203
  Maungaraki..547,356340,760..536,665333,264
Total of county..1,123,621689,825U.V.1,092,700668,001
Featherston—............
  Pahaoa..309,570217,813..300,029210,887
  Greytown..294,213206,529..280,096193,432
  Martinborough..213,254132,472..208,952131,558
  Western Lake..137,761103,629..126,02292,134
  Kahutara..258,892195,612..247,250185,926
..Outlying137,01987,806..134,61285,609
  FeatherstonOutlying137,01987,806..134,61285,609
Featherston T.D.60,28510,576C.V.52,51715,684
  Otaraia..141,19494,017..140,56593,388
  Turanganu..187,363139,892..176,582129,596
  Awhea..310,201198,106..291,782179,970
Total of county..2,049,7521,392,452C.V.1,958,4071,318,184
Hutt—............
  Whareroa..174,91086,972..167,65880,309
  HorokiwiOutlying180,81678,074..179,26077,678
Plimmerton19,5417,631C.V.19,1417,231
  PoriruaJohnsonville T.D.71,33231,24167,92528,862
Outlying408,678146,149..344,720139,104
  Mungaroa..243,317141,930..225,272127,949
  Epuni..203,064133,801..180,154116,106
  Wainuiomata..209,408132,089..190,448120,830
  MakaraMakara105,03856,388C.V.104,54356,331
Seatoun340,878285,403315,848266,638
Total of county..1,956,9821,099,678C.V.1,794,9691,021,038
Collingwood—............
  Aorere..119,77060,800..93,67237,057
  Pakawau..86,45463,355..68,88051,111
Total of county..206,224124,155C.V.162,55288,168
Takaka—............
  Waitapu..138,43664,715..128,52257,654
  Anatoki..139,18681,799..101,79248,663
Total of county..277,622146,514C.V.230,314104,317
Waimea—............
  MoutereUpper Moutere56,01325,504C.V.54,58325,115
Outlying57,94434,313..56,79133,704
  MotuekaRiwaka148,07792,367C.V.141,03186,403
Outlying142,02572,490..133,27665,001
  StokeStoke314,788221,474C.V.293,178207,988
  Wai-itiDovedale53,80025,52551,75224,399
Waimea W.92,01060,44589,77759,682
Outlying313,937178,539..296,549167,454
  Wangapeka..122,98275,102..99,24852,204
  Motupiko..136,11086,341..107,19858,863
  WangamoaSuburban N.132,58071,514C.V.123,22966,763
Outlying9,8078,180..6,1794,909
Maitai, Outlying18,14615,743..12,3849,981
Total of county..1,598,219967,537C.V.1,465,175862,466
Sounds—............
  Pelorus Sound portion (Croixelles to Cape Lambert)..262,777150,244..216,721105,186
  Queen Charlotte Sound and Port Underwood portion..102,12267,625..78,50144,292
Total of county..364,899217,869Nil295,222149,478
Marlborough—............
  PelorusPelorus366,726231,808U.V.285,903153,653
  HavelockHavelock T.D.26,8308,837C.V.21,9577,462
  PictonPicton222,942136,849201,288118,272
  Spring CreekSpring Creek207,000159,405203,908157,443
  OmakaOmaka356,026264,145348,751262,102
  WairauWairau477,798358,848..445,922329,584
  AwatereAwatere779,242640,399733,590596,406
Total of county..2,436,5661,800,291Nil.2,241,3191,624,922
Kaikoura—............
  Clarence..104,56079,320..81,27356,033
  Suburban..136,646103,273..130,855100,282
  Peninsula..56,39724,725..49,80422,578
  Conway..191,999151,056..179,566138,623
  Hundalee..63,88650,263..43,63230,009
Total of county..553,488408,637C.V.485,130347,525
Buller—............
  Karamea..56,66019,078..56,14018,841
  Wareatea North..339,647185,961..238,62897,960
  Wareatea South..90,59264,225..30,51813,709
  Lyell..26,91316,813..11,7973,017
  Charleston..61,02851,242..9,7872,714
Total of county..574,840337,319C.V.346,870136,241
Inangahua—............
  Hampden..406,493358,339..84,47237,445
  Boatman's..104,67273,566..43,32413,438
  Reefton..182,09456,990..157,20748,076
  Murray..16,20810,471..8,7943,627
  Crushington..56,01348,538..10,6203,145
  Antonio's..91,14768,267..36,26814,138
Total of county..856,627616,171U.V.340,685119,869
  Grey—............
  Cobden..98,92565,813..50,59924,131
  Brunnerton..148,469105,019..63,43828,680
  Waipuna..147,514114,102..53,64822,372
  Nelson Creek..72,43254,299..27,96310,694
  Red Jack's..111,27799,877..33,12021,720
  Maori Creek..56,45149,790..45,31639,954
  Paroa..40,48722,593..27,39311,280
  Marsden..21,41817,961..6,2903,291
  Hohonu..111,76597,883..38,78725,371
Total of county..808,738627,337C.V.346,554187,493
Westland—............
  Arahura..81,65851,893..46,42219,748
  Kanieri..193,394107,086..107,88435,149
  Southern..534,623510,240..56,94932,953
Total of county..809,675669,219C.V.211,25587,850
Cheviot—............
  Hawkeswood..166,875139,494..166,596139,215
  Kaiwara..88,45083,100..88,45083,100
  Waiau..114,37590,620..112,82690,286
  Lowry..127,06892,146..122,66090,263
  Hurunui..98,22970,825..97,07770,358
  Seaward..112,39176,027..108,20275,029
Total of county..707,388561,212U.V.695,871557,251
Amuri—............
  Hanmer..209,357145,087..187,194128,692
  Pahau..227,943164,713..226,129163,283
  Waiau..381,777324,664..379,594323,919
  Rotherham..118,67888,852..118,12088,738
Total of county..937,755723,316C.V.911,037704,632
Ashley—............
  WaiparaWaipara1,354,7511,144,554C.V.1,347,3451,140,230
  Mount ThomasAshley327,183248,911313,898237,283
  KowaiKowai649,065475,206640,579472,189
Amberley T.D.31,29310,42628,1639,781
  OxfordOxford415,771299,686369,921258,620
  CustCust175,627130,413172,992129,794
  MandevilleMandeville-Rangiora744,098583,244735,438580,147
  West EyretonWest Eyreton195,327161,524194,445161,155
  EyretonEyreton448,340344,897443,878343,686
Total of county..4,341,4553,398,861Nil4,246,6593,332,885
Selwyn—............
  AvonAvon629,463386,906A.V.618,417382,605
  RiccartonRiccarton1,161,534707,590C.V.890,405502,081
Templeton535,596315,404522,701310,132
  CourtenayCourtenay868,165632,105844,504626,489
  MalvernMalvern189,952145,002179,345141,759
East Malvern187,274147,959183,039145,809
S'th Malvern127,21896,612125,51496,318
Upper Waimakariri65,52452,48464,61552,275
  HeathcoteHeathcote572,744309,820559,415308,006
  HalswellTaitapu126,22897,067124,12796,581
Spreydon201,05698,448U.V.196,71197,268
Halswell396,432277,457C.V.372,057268,054
  ColeridgeL'ke Coleridge287,578231,086286,764230,272
Rakaia353,118260,033349,472258,391
  LincolnSprings633,012470,212595,247467,891
Lincoln432,001343,456424,531342,207
  EllesmereEllesmere1,532,2371,210,0011,512,2671,205,744
Southbridge T.D.36,65212,99131,81912,089
Total of county..8,335,7845,794,633C.V.7,880,9505,543,971
Mount Herbert—............
  Port Victoria..81,19952,024..76,98551,250
  Port Levy..130,38198,372..129,62698,360
Total of county..211,580150,396C.V.206,611149,610
Akaroa—............
  Port LevyPigeon Bay156,288108,930C.V.155,215108,863
  Little RiverLittle River463,346360,376454,449353,774
  Okain's BayOkain's Bay137,92398,859136,81598,621
  Le Bon's BayLe Bon's Bay103,79075,818103,56975,734
  WainuiTown of Akaroa & Wainui454,140314,122446,172312,496
Total of county..1,315,487958,105C.V.1,296,220949,488
Ashburton—............
  Mount HuttMount Hutt937,845757,662C.V.924,476749,859
  South RakaiaSouth Rakaia778,883605,595767,280601,819
  Mount SomersM'nt Somers295,643239,485286,102232,197
Anama375,562312,055374,852311,550
  Upper AshburtonUpper Ashburton758,059577,070753,968575,947
  WakanuiWakanui477,558353,661472,281353,147
Hampstead T.D.97,18242,24286,74241,797
  RangitataRangitata388,196310,287C.V.384,188309,113
..Longbeach582,905464,527579,556464,126
  AshburtonColdstream292,299226,025289,383225,235
Tinwald T.D.57,13831,12455,25230,706
Total of county..5,041,2703,919,733C.V.4,974,0803,895,496
Geraldine—............
  Mount PeelMount Peel483,757392,451C.V.480,956391,166
  RaukapukaGeraldine614,878478,307610,111477,218
Geraldine T.D.59,61814,68953,25713,043
  TemukaTemuka990,180809,276978,811803,861
Total of county..2,148,4331,694,723C.V.2,123,1351,685,288
Levels—............
  Tengawai..304,450251,187..303,296250,892
  Point..227,375187,763..224,024186,917
  Waimataiti..231,870180,765..231,480180,377
  Seadown..213,880176,649..212,497176,327
  Claremont..169,711136,682..168,221136,602
  Gleniti..169,91489,488..166,67488,033
  Otipua..244,964174,852..242,919174,344
Total of county..1,562,1641,197,386C.V.1,549,1111,193,492
Mackenzie—............
  Te Kapo..238,339216,458..331,613210,712
  Fairlie..246,179167,100..240,996166,140
  Albury..334,818287,240..331,954286,532
Total of county..819,336670,798C.V.804,563663,384
Waimate—............
  Upper Pareora..297,825259,266..297,007258,448
  Lower Pareora..252,170211,072..249,643210,690
  Hakataramea..236,190193,878..234,064192,819
  Otaio..375,126318,393..373,820318,228
  Makikihi..294,094235,793..292,065235,522
  Deep Creek..458,709367,421..455,022366,214
  North Waihao..1,001,483832,756..992,829827,354
Total of county..2,915,6032,418,579U.V.2,894,4502,409,275
Waitaki—............
  Ahuriri..121,750110,116..121,750110,116
  Otakaika..327,773237,858..321,584237,553
  Awamoko..452,391385,291..451,147385,083
  Papakaio..528,733400,319..521,196398,837
  Waiareka..551,485435,986..547,108435,693
  Incholme..227,829197,907..227,452197,832
  Kakanui..313,206257,869..311,764257,604
  Otepopo..228,320156,232..222,623155,609
  Moeraki..152,697116,043..148,022115,866
Total of county..2,904,1842,297,621C.V.2,872,6462,294,193
Maniototo—............
  St. Bathan's..75,56641,347..74,57641,257
  Idaburn..62,19042,850..62,19042,850
  Mount Ida..176,865106,403..171,341106,265
  Kyeburn..64,51743,222..64,51343,218
  Puketoi..96,64865,718..95,74965,684
  Hyde..38,41223,582..36,71123,476
  Serpentine..53,86347,442..53,86347,442
Total of county..568,061370,564C.V.558,943370,192
Waihemo—............
  Green Valley..45,46931,173..45,06931,163
  Dunback..59,71638,199..58,48738,074
  Macrae's..96,27763,707..94,88463,625
  Blue Mountain..85,17057,131..84,77057,011
  Meadowbank..31,64325,692..31,64325,692
  Bushy..77,60051,378..77,60051,378
  Goodwood..66,92745,767..66,38645,737
Total of county..462,802313,047C.V.458,839312,680
Waikouaiti—............
  Hawksbury..194,750139,351..193,815139,236
  Merton..254,320116,704..160,568109,164
  Blueskin..164,03680,077..157,77679,499
  North-east Valley..78,19843,080..77,74843,020
Total of county..691,304379,212C.V.589,907370,919
Peninsula—............
  Portobello BayOtago Heads64,51333,788C.V.54,75833,138
  Portobello (Portobello Ward)65,29338,712181,612107,769
  Broad BayPortobello (Broad Bay Ward)58,23234,455
  North-east HarbourPortobello (North-east Harbour Ward)62,41735,463
  SandymountPeninsula (Sandymount Ward)56,67036,046C.V.244,891142,420
  HighcliffPeninsula (Highcliff Ward)68,77140,399
  Anderson's BayPeninsula (Anderson's Bay Ward)126,08066,775
  TomahawkTomahawk33,50322,72033,20822,610
Total of county..534,479308,358Nil514,529305,937
Taieri—............
  Strath Taieri..224,025162,067..221,420161,727
  Deep Stream..163,624129,927..162,734129,832
  Maungatua..188,999144,131..186,459143,835
  OutramOutram T.D.44,64522,016C.V.40,32821,197
Outlying212,432180,632..211,891180,526
  East Taieri..169,967124,465..167,737124,143
  North TaieriHalf-way Bush20,8619,749C.V.20,4759,729
Outlying145,51092,983..144,31892,903
  Kaikorai..202,746106,106..202,664106,193
  OtokiaAllanton T.D.9,9763,540C.V.8,5563,230
Outlying155,936107,355..153,047107,046
Total of county..1,538,7211,082,971C.V.1,519,6291,080,361
Tuapeka—............
  Teviot..139,97693,025..138,52292,872
  James..247,795175,916..245,092175,754
  Beaumont..46,53834,362..45,80534,289
  Gabriel's..40,25621,243..39,26421,169
  Waipori..43,55833,173..42,79033,105
  Tapanui..192,557132,814..190,607132,570
  Brown's..92,64755,894..91,69455,827
  Clark's..55,61033,452..54,34833,350
  Waitahuna..60,87532,622..59,02132,427
Total of county..919,812612,502C.V.907,143611,363
Bruce—............
  Clarendon..58,99940,663..58,76940,605
  Mount StuartMount Stuart102,11172,461C.V.101,15972,391
  Waihola..75,10940,398..72,59740,033
  BalmoralBalmoral253,737175,818C.V.253,257175,638
  Tokomairiro..217,711146,000..213,174145,547
    Glenledi..36,44426,828..36,23626,823
  Crichton..101,21871,487..100,42771,351
  Kaitangata..62,92743,553..62,05543,193
  MatauInch-Clutha83,25064,785C.V.82,18064,630
Outlying86,09558,420 85,44558,270
Total of county..1,077,601740,413C.V.1,065,299738,481
Clutha—............
  Glenkenich..156,037104,680..154,581104,619
  Waipahi..140,19392,832..138,21792,681
  Clydevale..115,01687,274..114,35687,204
  Pomahaka..198,650151,574..196,520151,442
  ClintonClinton T.D.19,9186,484A.V.17,7536,144
Outlying66,60751,220..66,43251,200
  Clutha..139,951100,899..139,825100,896
  Richardson..155,01999,884..151,15599,623
  South Molyneux..129,82278,661..123,17778,350
  Catlin's..187,94399,546 183,65599,035
Total of county..1,309,156873,054C.V.1,285,671871,194
  Islands (Quarantine and Goat)..3,450900Nil....
Vincent—............
  Hawea..87,38064,848..78,42061,086
  Clutha..42,78022,506..29,49713,490
  Lindis..22,38815,599..21,01615,219
  Matakanui..60,21338,484..55,53837,021
  Manuherikia..76,47050,352..69,93448,411
  Dunstan..103,12261,340..88,42756,782
  Carrick..39,27326,292..39,52226,196
  Earnscleugh..41,51723,704..33,34419,203
Total of county..473,143303,125C.V.415,698277,408
Lake—............
  Matukituki..23,69619,300..7,0213,433
  Shotover..20,62417,064..5,7452,794
  Greenstone..48,41338,630..21,53012,446
  Cardrona..43,24227,181..23,80711,403
  Queenstown..57,77257,220..45,90429,010
  Arrow..92,48262,451..86,52554,455
  Kingston..59,19548,833..41,33832,562
Total of county..345,424250,679C.V.231,870146,103
Fiord 144,425137,645Nil15,8199,039
  Wallace—............
  Mararoa..342,767269,750..273,508202,101
  Waiau..294,268223,963..232,367163,759
  Wairio..400,861258,818..373,807236,706
  OtautauOtautau T.D.32,0869,146C.V.29,6728,694
Outlying375,504264,605..365,381256,550
  Orepuki..189,709102,896..169,93286,909
  Aparima..310,304205,755 302,606199,802
Total of county..1,945,4991,334,933C.V.1,747,2731,154,521
Southland—............
  Oreti..433,193315,492..408,526296,304
  Wakaia..309,888229,737..279,425203,591
  Winton..1,058,469681,550..1,023,322655,112
  HokonuiOutlying — Waimumu portion227,583182,793..215,261170,971
Outlying— north'n portion and Mabel subdivision404,167279,317..390,523269,232
  MatauraOutlying*356,898261,772..349,791257,793
Tuturau189,279133,374U.V.187,659132,596
Outlying166,214114,267..158,589109,338
  Wallacetown..335,915228,306..329,693225,208
  AwaruaInvercargill168,38985,963Nil158,16978,782
Outlying338,643199,086..333,011197,097
  Waihopai..495,177359,596..455,950324,947
  ToetoesOutlying — Wyndham portion90,85663,739..88,72461,956
Wyndham T.D.35,50311,663U.V.32,10711,078
Outlying471,531333,652 406,870274,052
Total of county..5,081,7053,480,307U.V.4,817,6263,268,057
  Stewart Island—............
  North..64,16343,445..21,94213,919
  South..97,14491,562..8,6513,980
Total of county..161,307135,007C.V.30,59317,899
Islands—............
  Antipodes 13,88013,880Nil.680680
  Auckland
  Campbell
  Cook Not Valued.

BOROUGHS.

TABLE showing (1) CAPITAL VALUE OF LAND with IMPROVEMENTS (and distinguishing the UNIMPROVED VALUE of LAND). (2.) CAPITAL VALUE of RATEABLE PROPERTY, with IMPROVEMENTS (and distinguishing the UNIMPROVED VALUE of LAND) in each BOROUGH in NEW ZEALAND as at 31st March, 1904.

Boroughs.Gross Values.System of Rating.Rateable Values.
Capital Value (Land and Improvements).Unimproved Value of Land (included in previous column).Capital Value (Land and Improvements).Unimproved Value of Land (included in previous column).
 ££ ££
Whangarei161,50361,491C.V.155,38358,761
Birkenhead109,92650,124A.V.107,35348,471
Devonport598,364243,176U.V.560,478215,415
Auckland7,287,9253,734,874A.V.6,804,6373,507,611
Parnell464,841193,547436,876181,792
Newmarket220,94094,802216,32392,035
Grey Lynn578,943274,698U.V.567,935270,632
Onehunga293,069140,404A.V.275,667131,736
Hamilton289,141183,443U.V.253,042157,422
Cambridge88,58727,821A.V.77,54523,461
Thames295,783115,314274,502110,268
Tauranga89,23030,24079,04428,148
Te Aroha55,75724,18949,85421,176
Waihi187,45064,667U.V.171,04959,579
Gisborne527,297312,173A.V.482,435289,213
Napier1,294,497585,5701,137,329522,884
Hastings565,474318,561551,304315,209
Dannevirke367,241227,147352,714218,501
Woodville98,00843,756U.V.86,78939,876
New Plymouth987,127616,423A.V.889,029556,000
Hawera330,299177,046301,053160,629
Patea64,10921,91955,98219,954
Stratford312,621158,552U.V.285,061143,956
Eltham171,41698,235C.V.164,51693,830
Inglewood138,68667,055123,89958,648
Wanganui1,332,946854,556A.V.1,181,781755,758
Marton116,63140,512103,76638,240
Feilding333,566167,520U.V.314,669159,331
Palmerston North1,419,893868,7971,347,853824,008
Foxton121,57961,509A.V.113,81959,578
Onslow288,347147,847U.V.282,385144,987
Karori344,771211,413333,391202,168
Wellington—..........
  City Ward11,802,7596,913,2349,936,5415,895,765
  Melrose Ward1,081,313752,9881,054,418735,980
Pahiatua149,10271,737139,44068,738
Masterton740,479406,573668,212374,811
Carterton170,65282,172C.V.158,63577,973
Greytown149,94358,974A.V.141,98456,906
Lower Hutt826,762619,457U.V.800,205600,728
Petone499,854255,916A.V.485,467250,393
Richmond99,02253,813C.V.96,54752,688
Nelson865,161348,906A.V.759,255323,029
Picton118,51852,351C.V.102,44244,839
Blenheim401,668170,761A.V.371,515162,659
Motueka139,66184,922C.V.135,31983,536
Westport199,91982,586A.V.163,51261,229
Greymouth543,615183,240U.V.485,904163,569
Brunner70,33011,539A.V.66,2239,381
Kumara34,5756,072C.V.24,7124,037
Hokitika168,69366,008U.V.127,15848,343
Ross21,0065,413C.V.16,8214,456
Rangiora189,71974,980C.V.175,79471,900
Kaiapoi164,41648,517A.V.151,64146,142
Christchurch—..........
  Central Ward4,627,4112,282,830U.V.4,274,1322,166,576
  St. Albans Ward951,962365,211937,127361,738
  Sydenham Ward1,117,303385,4461,030,815331,993
  Linwood Ward704,584237,991694,075235,617
Woolston259,503109,377246,321106,177
New Brighton100,56646,245A.V.97,66745,281
Sumner165,68085,509U.V.152,61581,919
Lyttelton853,204238,897A.V.314,549142,392
Akaroa55,41817,778C.V.50,82516,758
Ashburton264,58897,561A.V.239,88086,328
Temuka123,44337,338C.V.102,41533,088
Timaru874,804324,610A.V.784,314301,006
Waimate142,28251,658U.V.121,04946,610
Oamaru531,719179,223A.V.491,657172,701
Hampden21,5397,460C.V.19,3397,280
Naseby34,2494,174A.V.33,1343,949
Palmerston58,75614,354C.V.53,98613,882
Hawksbury61,41428,53059,50728,215
Port Chalmers259,14580,438A.V.234,66076,203
West Harbour148,99665,239142,76563,994
North-east Valley365,354155,471354,377153,976
Maori Hill236,816110,590235,656125,371
Roslyn600,325249,011585,360244,596
Mornington388,266152,443380,213151,103
Dunedin5,441,5822,565,9044,990,2622,338,464
Caversham617,760253,009589,005247,954
South Dunedin469,363142,141452,978139,156
St. Kilda268,787130,486261,057129,336
Green Island40,86111,23434,99610,569
Mosgiel166,68365,200155,52562,475
Roxburgh30,5453,44826,8323,173
Lawrence99,87423,33985,83821,378
Tapanui19,0692,58014,9642,443
Milton138,86838,562132,02037,887
Balclutha96,54632,809U.V.91,50159,812
Kaitangata62,52028,037A.V.59,12527,517
Arrowtown27,1834,75420,8994,217
Queenstown70,29412,22661,14211,271
Cromwell38,4029,14933,5677,762
Alexandra45,80310,25741,8369,684
Gore285,907105,958U.V.258,61098,634
Mataura128,00150,111A.V.121,38846,515
Winton49,82919,613U.V.46,13218,337
Gladstone39,79016,140A.V.38,30315,890
Avenal26,6908,09326,6908,093
North Invercargill50,49220,31249,13519,882
East Invercargill58,25917,69558,10917,645
Invercargill1,255,449500,375U.V.1,117,516435,593
South Invercargill118,25345,038116,23044,523
Riverton60,82615,206A.V.52,57413,788
Campbelltown201,99289,132185,51779,867

Chapter 52. SUPPLEMENTAL TO PART II.

STATISTICAL VIEW OF FIFTY YEARS' PROGRESS IN NEW ZEALAND, 1854-1903.

I.—POPULATION.

Year.Population (exclusive of Maoris and for Annexed Pacific Islands) on 31st December.Births.Deaths.Marriages.
Males.Females.Totals.
NOTE.—Maori population excluded from above was 43,143 in 1901, and that of Cook and other Islands, 12,392 persons.
185417,91414,64032,554......
185520,78116,41137,1921,460470406
185625,35620,18445,5401,722406404
185727,60622,19649,8021,966434478
185833,67925,73459,4132,272582534
185941,10730,48671,5932,647704603
186045,39434,31779,7113,1461,092690
186161,06237,95999,0213,4411,109878
186279,68046,132125,8124,0641,2311,091
1863105,97858,070164,0485,1151,9831,485
1864106,58065,578172,1586,5012,9211,878
1865117,37673,231190,6077,4902,7571,908
1866125,08079,034204,1148,4662,5402,038
1867131,92986,739218,6688,9182,7022,050
1868134,62191,997226,6189,3912,6622,085
1869140,11297,137237,2499,7182,7211,931
1870145,732102,668248,40010,2772,7031,851
1871156,431110,555266,98610,5922,6421,864
1872162,404117,156279,56010,7953,1921,873
1873170,406125,540295,94611,2223,6452,276
1874194,349147,511341,86012,8444,1612,828
1875213,294162,562375,85614,4385,7123,209
1876225,580173,495399,07516,1684,9043,196
1877227,681180,937408,61816,8564,6853,114
1878240,627191,892432,51917,7704,6453,377
1879257,894205,835463,72918,0705,5833,352
1880268,364216,500484,86419,3415,4373,181
1881274,986225,924500,91018,7325,4913,277
1882283,303234,404517,70719,0095,7013,600
1883294,665246,212540,87719,2026,0613,612
1884306,667257,637564,30419,8465,7403,800
1885312,125263,101575,22619,6936,0813,813
1886317,646271,740589,38619,2996,1353,488
1887324,558278,803603,36119,1356,1373,563
1888324,948282,432607,38018,9025,7083,617
1889328,588237,464616,05218,4575,7723,632
1890332,557292,951625,50818,2785,9943,797
1891336,174297,884634,05818,2736,5183,805
1892345,146305,287650,43317,8766,4594,002
1893357,635314,630672,26518,1876,7674,115
1894363,763322,365686,12818,5286,9184,178
1895369,725328,981698,70618,5466,8634,110
1896376,987337,175714,16218,6126,4324,343
1897384,703344,353729,05618,7376,5954,928
189392,124351,339743,46318,9557,2445,091
1899398,679357,826756,50518,8357,6805,461
1900403,628364,650768,27819,5467,2005,860
1901414,223373,434787,65720,4917,6346,095
1902425,908382,021807,92920,6558,3756,394
1903439,674392,831832,50521,8298,5286,748

II.—LAND AND STOCK.

Year.Occupied and Cultivated Holdings over One Acre in Extent.Land (including Sown Grasses) under Cultivation.Live-stock.
Horses.Horned Cattle.Sheep.Pigs.

* Holdings of exactly 1 acre, besides certain Maori holdings, are included.

† Prior to 1892 this information is given for the years in which a census of the colony was taken.

 Number.Acres.........
1854............
1855............
1856............
1857..121,648........
1858..141,00714,912137,2041,523,32440,734
1859..156,940........
1860............
1861..226,62128,275193,2852,761,38343,270
1862............
1863............
1864..382,65549,409249,7604,937,27361,276
1865............
1866............
1867..676,90965,715312,8358,418,579115,104
186811,932783,435........
186913,476997,477........
187010,2111,140,279........
187114,8741,226,22281,028436,5929,700,629151,460
187215,3041,416,933........
187315,8831,651,712........
187416,0921,943,65399,261494,11311,674,863123,741
187517,2502,377,402........
187618,7502,940,711........
187720,5193,523,277........
187821,0483,982,866137,768578,43013,069,338207,337
187923,1294,506,889........
188024,1474,768,192........
188126,2985,189,104161,736698,63712,985,085200,083
188227,3525,651,255........
188328,5876,072,949........
188429,8146,550,399........
188531,7636,668,920........
188633,3326,845,177187,382853,35816,564,595277,901
188734,7437,284,752........
188835,7477,670,167........
188938,1788,015,426........
189038,0838,462,495........
189141,2248,893,225211,040831,83118,128,186308,812
189242,7689,713,745....18,570,752..
189345,29010,063,051..885,30519,380,369..
189446,67610,128,076..964,03420,230,829..
189552,79010,698,809237,4181,047,90119,826,604239,778
189658,904*11,550,075249,8131,138,06719,138,493200,834
189760,759*11,444,563252,8341,209,16519,687,954186,027
189862,639*11,984,606258,1151,203,02419,673,725193,512
189962,485*12,474,511261,9311,222,13919,348,506249,751
190062,786*12,636,035266,2451,256,68019,355,195250,975
190163,982*13,083,971279,6721,361,78420,233,099224,024
190265,034*13,357,700286,9551,460,66320,342,727193,740
190366,092*13,504,004298,7141,593,54718,954,553226,591

III.—TRADE.

    Exports (the Produce of New Zealand).
Year.Wool.Grain.Frozen Meat.
Quantity.Value.Quantity.Value.Quantity.Value.
 Lb.£Bushels.£Cwt.£
18541,254,41670,10393,70O41,019....
18551,772,34493,104150,35282,302....
18562,559,618146,07066,15024,032....
18572,648,716176,57981,75729,676....
18583,810,372254,02271,403,40,680....
18595,096,751339,779118,74039,016....
18606,665,880444,39255,68313,112....
18617,855,920523,7288,1182,518....
18629,839,265674,2266,6021,821....
186312,585,980830,4953,2381,160....
186416,691,6661,070,9973,580722....
186519,180,5001,141,76125,4476,076....
186622,810,7761,354,15232,6107,297....
186727,152,9661,580,608158,81126,986....
186828,875,1631,516,548632,556114,125....
186927,765,6361,371,230520,55696,441....
187037,039,7631,703,944854,399141,135....
187137,793,7341,606,1441,032,902164,087....
187241,886,9972,537,9191,058,480178,886....
187341,535,1852,702,471598,431136,832....
187446,848,7352,834,6951,162,782291,103....
187554,401,5403,398,1551,276,927231,417....
187659,853,4543,395,8162,172,098337,878....
187764,481,3243,658,9381,323,910276,452....
187859,270,2563,292,8072,112,214508,767....
187962,220,8103,126,4393,470,344660,557....
188066,860,1503,169,3005,540,445898,997....
188159,415,9402,909,7605,815,960986,072....
188265,322,7073,118,5544,310,984907,96115,24419,339
188368,149,4303,014,2116,723,3031,286,72487,975118,328
188481,139,0283,267,5275,489,635766,824254,069345,090
188586,507,4313,205,2754,597,645513,697296,473373,857
188690,853,7443,072,9713,523,324463,549346,055427,193
188788,824,3823,321,0744,126,836443,780402,107455,870
188883,225,7333,115,0085,101,167668,859552,298628,800
1889102,227,3543,976,3756,120,202985,224656,822783,374
1890102,817,0774,150,5998,287,0241,030,415898,8941,087,617
1891106,187,1144,129,6865,877,059676,3381,000,3071,194,724
1892118,180,9124,313,3076,625,525816,272869,6001,033,377
1893109,719,6843,774,7384,855,368583,397903,8361,085,167
1894144,295,1544,827,0162,434,295226,1831,025,2431,194,545
1895116,015,1703,662,1312,381,837215,7831,134,0971,262,711
1896129,151,6244,391,8482,941,821346,1971,103,3621,251,993
1897135,835,1174,443,1441,919,887235,4291,407,9211,566,286
1898149,385,8154,645,8041,045,980136,1201,551,7731,698,750
1899147,169,4974,324,6276,985,999721,8171,865,8272,088,856
1900140,706,4864,749,1969,529,8471,034,0141,844,8312,123,881
1901146,820,0793,699,10313,373,5151,285,8111,857,5472,253,262
1902160,419,0233,354,5635,865,562786,5482,138,5572,718,763
1903155,128,3814,041,2745,362,748533,8652,378,6503,197,043
Year.Butter.Cheese.Phormium Fibre.
Quantity.Value.Quantity.Value.Quantity.Value.
 Cwt.£Cwt.£Tons.£
18548077,399169975481,563
18557855,7864062,1631504,674
18566473,8372901,41422552
18573822,1025491,81838710
18585322,8389343,995641,516
18598595,5881,0674,296771,593
18601,0266,6238103,535611,240
1861251264041,844243
1862Butter and cheese not separately given for years 1862 to 1865. The total export for this period was 617 cwt., value £2,97613261
186313251
18647170
1865375
18662321,590136545996
186738192903621264,256
18681385323351,2405348,137
18692,70514,6792,3318,0402,02845,245
18703,43512,9952,7359,3275,471132,578
18714,34212,4261,6194,0234,24890,611
18721,6294,4621,3624,3793,98599,405
18737222,3421,9936,6256,454143,799
18743571,1681,3264,4082,03837,690
18751046604421,86263911,742
18768713,9108853,48889718,285
18775,20623,4584,99916,7131,05318,826
18783,10612,1113,0199,36862210,666
18793391,6311726284457,874
18802,7178,3507171,98389415,617
18812,4268,4963,0566,1121,30826,285
188211,26452,0883,55310,1302,04041,955
18838,86942,0202,5196,8922,01336,761
188415,76666,59310,34225,0741,52523,475
188524,923102,38715,24535,7421,06316,316
188623,175105,53716,42945,6571,11215,922
188717,01854,92123,91354,5621,57825,094
188829,995118,25236,68278,9184,04275,269
188937,955146,84026,55867,10517,084361,182
189034,816122,70140,45184,98621,158381,789
189139,430150,25839,77086,67515,809281,514
189253,930227,16241,49391,04212,793214,542
189358,149254,64546,20199,62612,587219,375
189460,771251,28055,655115,2034,67766,256
189557,964227,60176,743150,9091,80621,040
189671,353281,71671,372130,1662,96832,985
189799,002402,60577,683150,5172,76930,674
189896,801403,69068,711135,7764,85074,556
1899136,086571,79969,440141,81810,371184,411
1900172,583740,620102,849229,11115,906332,182
1901201,591882,406104,294238,68510,171195,728
1902253,9981,205,80274,746163,53920,852534,031
1903285,1061,318,06774,780194,99822,652595,684
Year.Gold.Gold(Kauri).Provision Tallow, Timber, &c.
Quantity.Value.Quantity.Value.Value.
 Oz.£Tons.££
1854....1,66028,864170,967
1855....3554,514173,324
1856....1,44018,591123,937
185710,43640,4422,52135,25082,817
185813,53352,4431,81020,03678,419
18597,33628,4272,01020,77681,833
18604,53817,5851,0469,85152,795
1861194,234752,6578569,88848,437
1862410,8621,591,3891,10311,10777,835
1863628,4502,431,7231,40027,02752,105
1864480,1711,857,8472,22860,59059,089
1865574,5742,226,4741,86746,06082,729
1866735,3762,844,5172,53570,572116,901
1867686,7532,700,2752,68577,49189,294
1868637,4742,504,3262,69072,49351,361
1869614,2812,362,9952,850111,30780,197
1870544,8802,157,5854,391175,074212,044
1871730,0292,787,5205,054167,958338,335
1872445,3701,730,9924,811154,167396,976
1873505,3371,987,4252,83385,816412,660
1874376,3881,505,3312,56879,986397,762
1875355,3221,407,7703,230138,523285,715
1876318,3671,268,5592,888109,334351,731
1877366,9551,476,3123,632118,348469,670
1878311,4371,244,1903,445132,975573,735
1879284,1001,134,6413,228147,535484,150
1880303,2151,220,2634,725242,817544,973
1881250,683996,8675,460253,778574,880
1882230,893921,6645,533260,369921,290
1883222,899892,4456,518336,6061,121,257
1884246,392988,9536,393342,1511,116,799
1885222,732890,0565,876299,7621,154,819
1886235,578939,6484,920257,6531,058,552
1887187,938747,8786,790362,4341,085,468
1888229,608914,3098,482380,9331,274,780
1889197,492785,4907,519329,5901,606,828
1890187,641751,3607,438378,5631,440,731
1891251,1611,007,1728,388437,0561,436,671
1892237,393951,9638,705517,6781,200,525
1893227,502915,9218,317510,7751,113,799
1894221,614887,8658,338404,5671,112,233
1895293,4931,162,1817,425418,7661,269,031
1896263,6941,041,4287,126431,3231,269,680
1897251,647980,2046,641398,0101,389,398
1898280,1751,080,6919,905586,7671,562,834
1899389,5701,513,18011,116607,9191,645,313
1900373,6141,439,60210,159622,2931,784,350
1901455,5581,753,7847,541446,1141,935,567
1902507,8521,951,4267,430450,2232,333,704
1903533,3142,037,8329,357631,1022,288,327
    Exports (the Produce of New Zealand).
Year.Gold.Gum (Kauri).Provisions, Tallow, Timber, &c.
Quantity.Value.Quantity.Value.Value.
 Oz.£Tons.££
1854....1,66028,864170,967
1855....3554,514173,324
1856....1,44018,591123,937
185710,43640,4422,52135,25082,817
185813,53352,4431,81020,03678,419
18597,33628,4272,01020,77681,833
18604,53817,5851,0469,85152,795
1861194,234752,6578569,88848,437
1862410,8621,591,3891,10311,10777,835
1863628,4502,431,7231,40027,02752,105
1864480,1711,857,8472,22860,59059,089
1865574,5742,226,4741,86746,06082,729
1866735,3762,844,5172,53570,572116,901
1867686,7532,700,2752,68577,49189,294
1868637,4742,504,3262,69072,49351,361
1869614,2812,362,9952,850111,30780,197
1870544,8802,157,5854,391175,074212,044
1871730,0292,787,5205,054167,958338,335
1872445,3701,730,9924,811154,167396,976
1873505,3371,987,4252,83385,816412,660
1874376,3881,505,3312,56879,986397,762
1875355,3221,407,7703,230138,523285,715
1876318,3671,268,5592,888109,334351,731
1877366,9551,476,3123,632118,348469,670
1878311,4371,244,1903,445132,975573,735
1879284,1001,134,6413,228147,535484,150
1880303,2151,220,2634,725242,817544,973
1881250,683996,8675,460253,778574,880
1882230,893921,6645,533260,369921,290
1883222,899892,4456,518336,6061,121,257
1884246,392988,9536,393342,1511,116,799
1885222,732890,0565,876299,7621,154,819
1886235,578939,6484,920257,6531,058,552
1887187,938747,8786,790362,4341,085,468
1888229,608914,3098,482380,9331,274,780
1889197,492785,4907,519329,5901,606,828
1890187,641751,3607,438378,5631,440,731
1891251,1611,007,1728,388437,0561,436,671
1892237,393951,9638,705517,6781,200,525
1893227,502915,9218,317510,7751,113,799
1894221,614887,8658,338404,5671,112,233
1895293,4931,162,1817,425418,7661,269,031
1896263,6941,041,4287,126431,3231,269,680
1897251,647980,2046,641398,0101,389,398
1898280,1751,080,6919,905586,7671,562,834
1899389,5701,513,18011,116607,9191,645,313
1900373,6141,439,60210,159622,2931,784,350
1901455,5581,753,7847,541446,1141,935,567
1902507,8521,951,4267,430450,2232,333,704
1903533,3142,037,8329,357631,1022,288,327
 £££Tons.
1854320,890891,201....
1855365,867813,460....
1856318,433710,868....
1857369,394992,9945,978..
1858433,9491,141,2735,276..
1859521,3081,551,0305,945Prior to 1878, 709,931
1860549,1331,548,33318,474
18611,339,2412,493,81126,790
18622,358,0204,626,08289,806
18633,342,8917,024,674109,998
18643,050,6347,000,655109,222
18653,503,4215,594,97745,084
18664,396,0905,894,863129,300
18674,479,4645,344,60792,590
18684,268,7624,985,748117,326
18694,090,1344,976,12669,109
18704,544,6824,639,01560,497
18715,171,1044,078,19359,345
18725,107,1865,142,95190,657..
18735,477,9706,464,687143,273..
18745,152,1438,121,812191,539..
18755,475,8448,029,172213,492..
18765,488,9016,905,171192,287..
18776,058,7176,973,418269,656..
18785,784,6198,755,663432,572162,218
18795,563,4558,374,585438,399231,218
18806,102,3006,162,011238,011299,923
18815,762,2507,457,045343,645337,262
18826,253,3508,609,270463,493378,272
18836,855,2447,974,038419,250421,764
18846,942,4867,663,888348,557480,831
18856,591,9117,479,921401,532511,063
18866,386,6826,759,013337,322534,353
18876,551,0816,245,515298,736558,620
18887,255,1285,941,900323,069613,895
18899,042,0086,308,863342,436586,445
18909,428,7616,260,525355,395637,397
18919,400,0946,503,849361,795668,794
18929,365,8686,943,056381,627673,315
18938,557,4436,911,515379,378691,548
18949,085,1486,788,020394,691719,546
18958,390,1536,400,129394,233726,654
18969,177,3367,137,320492,840792,851
18979,596,2678,055,223628,044840,713
189810,324,9888,230,600800,411907,033
189911,799,7408,739,633775,309975,234
190013,055,24910,646,0961,061,8731,093,990
190112,690,46011,817,9151,415,2601,227,638
190213,498,59911,326,7231,318,9371,362,702
190314,838,19212,788,6751,441,358 

IV.—TRANSPORT.

Year.Shipping.Government Railways. (Figures to 31st March following.)
Inwards.Outwards.Registered Vessels belonging to the Colony.Miles open for Traffic.Miles under Construction.Railway Receipts.
Tonnage.Tonnage.Gross Tonnage.
*There are besides 113 miles of private lines.
      £
185474,83176,718........
185588,61479,825........
185685,74882,991........
185778,30976,5246,662......
185890,11882,2936,852......
1859136,580120,3927,883......
1860140,276140,2938,527......
1861197,986205,3509,144......
1862301,365288,64710,825......
1863419,935394,66515,189......
1864426,004433,25322,573......
1865295,625283,02024,484......
1866330,303306,97926,787......
1867309,568308,16923,240......
1868277,105287,71024,539......
1869250,731247,76425,990......
1870273,151265,40726,743......
1871274,643265,61827,107......
1872300,302285,36623,963......
1873289,297281,84730,035145434..
1874399,296385,53338,93520962121,198
1875416,727417,82042,02554246472,073
1876393,180393,33444,401718427469,051
1877388,568400,60942,4791,052251569,898
1878456,490428,49346,9651,089142758,096
1879473,940475,75264,4571,171284762,572
1880395,675424,04166,3161,288192836,077
1881420,134413,48772,3871,333187892,026
1882461,285438,55176,1961,371171953,347
1883494,926507,56584,9031,404224961,304
1884529,188534,24292,6961,4791581,045,712
1885519,700513,00095,8871,6131791,047,418
1886502,572488,33194,1961,721171998,768
1887489,754493,58394,0271,753169994,843
1888526,435531,47886,1321,777163997,615
1889602,634593,25287,4111,8091761,095,569
1890662,769649,70598,9071,8421321,121,701
1891618,515625,807102,0681,8691701,115,432
1892675,223656,100101,1561,8861881,181,522
1893615,604642,466100,3881,9481481,172,792
1894631,100631,25099,5881,9931271,150,851
1895672,951648,946100,9882,0141141,183,041
1896614,097627,659105,5532,0181241,286,158
1897686,899675,333119,7132,055921,376,008
1898765,255765,793126,1132,0901131,469,665
1899811,183807,866129,5832,1041111,623,891
1900854,632825,275137,7672,2122081,727,236
19011,063,2741,075,906143,1832,2352121,874,586
19021,089,1791,048,770147,8222,2911941,974,038
19031,102,0641,113,165150,9092,328 1752,180,641
Year.Electric Telegraph.Post Office Money Orders Issued
Miles Of Line.Number Of Messages.Cash And Cash Value, Including Telephones.Number.Amount.
*From 1895 (inclusive) the figures are for 31st March of the year following.
   £ £
1854..........
1855..........
1856..........
1857..........
1858..........
1859..........
1860..........
1861..........
1862......1,4106,590
1863......11,58655,703
1864......16,59178,556
1865......17,23678,576
186669948,2319,11422,710108,779
186771487,43614,29524,473115,610
18681,471134,64726,22425,854118,211
18691,611173,74632,64928,427127,218
18701,887238,19527,42231,864140,454
18712,015369,08537,20336,291157,397
18722,312491,20544,66944,660191,009
18732,389637,94155,19552,351219,258
18742,632844,30162,32262,712263,164
18753,156993,32374,42073,027293,481
18763,1701,100,59980,84180,255310,268
18773,3071,182,95585,58990,672334,973
18783,4341,260,32492,433101,017368,255
18793,5121,448,943112,351117,999428,673
18803,7581,304,712100,023135,648465,405
18813,8241,438,772101,566135,556452,182
18823,9741,570,189102,378148,162499,368
18834,0741,599,400102,958172,556541,133
18844,2641,654,305101,482186,052572,666
18854,4631,774,273112,778188,622581,395
18864,5461,836,266115,666155,680547,755
18874,6461,835,394116,211159,579555,744
18884,7901,765,860104,116162,387555,996
18894,8741,802,987106,462172,076589,545
18905,0601,961,161110,697176,427602,077
18915,3491,968,264117,634195,239651,990
18925,4791,904,143103,813199,438694,847
18935,5132,069,791112,466210,957750,929
18945,8232,046,839114,510222,678776,783
18956,2452,124,211123,112243,497812,604
18966,2852,520,169129,635269,566902,160
18976,4842,696,233136,221293,659970,831
18986,7362,960,738145,295318,3701,029,241
18996,9103,469,631162,945344,6641,118,808
19007,2493,898,128186,978369,8341,214,853
19017,4694,167,981207,476405,9671,286,508
19027,7494,559,304222,495367,2071,277,059
19037,7794,965,197237,564396,3121,416,225

V.—ACCUMULATION.

Year.Banks.(Average Of Four Quarters.)Savings-Banks* (Post Office and private).
Deposits.Assets.Liabilities.Number Of Depositors.Balance to Credit on 31st Dec.
*Post-Office savings-banks were first opened in 1867.
 £££..£
1854..........
1855..........
1856..........
1857343,316419,860432,494....
1858448,078705,738616,7697157,862
1859541,2131,003,584678,4748027,996
1860644,521992,082801,5881,10412,450
1861882,7541,235,9521,097,1621,14422,921
18621,596,4462,691,1172,092,4971,49629,768
18632,092,0904,028,7662,962,5852,37144,117
18642,480,3035,063,4583,343,1724,66994,248
18652,638,4145,455,2893,522,1464,30487,400
18663,097,4735,891,5324,010,1104,51391,863
18672,904,5945,947,1603,737,6956,579156,855
18683,102,7275,734,7453,838,2208,121243,615
18693,174,8316,231,4163,863,00610,103320,383
18703,127,7696,315,3543,819,67012,137388,804
18713,334,6725,871,8883,988,40014,275454,966
18723,919,8385,429,7474,628,81917,289597,002
18734,713,8067,267,7205,538,03021,807812,144
18745,564,4349,954,2166,490,50427,215943,753
18755,967,20510,987,1786,987,31830,310897,326
18766,238,47111,776,0707,221,39932,577905,146
18777,185,10612,992,1048,152,23035,709964,430
18788,960,36915,393,63010,031,00939,9261,043,204
18798,021,07316,054,2959,057,46342,679990,337
18808,538,93514,220,2759,550,17747,4621,148,992
18819,069,37714,863,64510,083,18861,0541,549,515
18828,945,34617,162,23410,015,27368,3581,832,047
18838,659,47717,794,7619,706,70073,5461,784,631
18849,643,21418,442,13910,691,59979,5141,926,759
188510,083,29618,811,56711,130,24485,7692,142,560
188610,579,71119,041,82711,603,19491,2962,133,861
188711,031,61418,799,84711,995,49597,4962,407,776
188811,155,77818,709,44412,108,353103,0462,691,693
188911,528,42417,652,91512,486,717110,5662,858,644
189012,368,61017,735,25913,356,598118,3443,137,023
189112,796,09816,814,51813,820,458126,8863,406,949
189213,587,06217,558,16814,623,335135,8273,580,544
189314,433,77718,255,53415,489,633147,1993,966,849
189413,927,21717,746,42114,930,791154,4054,066,594
189513,544,41518,159,78114,491,627163,5134,620,696
189614,490,82716,900,19915,520,431175,1735,065,864
189714,290,51217,276,77115,380,248187,9545,520,080
189814,143,22917,013,40415,299,058199,4645,746,887
189914,591,22317,190,43315,834,858213,1726,128,297
190015,570,61017,314,53516,964,582228,8836,665,344
190116,034,84818,422,27417,490,035245,0247,268,103
190217,231,76718,999,18018,701,063261,9487,876,877
190319,011,11419,913,54620,563,879280,0118,432,958
Year.Insurance in Force in the Goverment Life Insurance Department at end of Year.Old-age Pensions, 31st March of following Year.Friendly Societies from which returns received.Public Trust Office.
No. of Policies.Sums Assured and Bonuses.No. of Pensions in force.Amount represented.No. of Lodges, &c.No. of Members.Number of Estates.Amount represented.
* From here figures are for year ended 31st March.
  £ £   £
1854................
1855................
1856................
1857................
1858................
1859................
1860................
1861................
1862................
1863................
1864................
1865................
1866................
1867................
1868................
1869................
18705930,250............
1871454200,611............
18721,689625,421............
18732,634995,986........25717,500
18743,9531,453,496........29328,930
18754,9891,836,859........34742,163
18766,1532,282,129....898,56041259,720
18777,1492,716,907....888,82857567,675
18788,7113,251,220....1109,75962773,940
187910,2233,726,330....13813,16571396,315
188011,6564,171,504....17914,484770117,980
188112,4114,471,182....27218,634836150,750
188215,8925,273,164....27318,700911204,545
188319,9175,992,111....27518,8481,024317,680
188421,0036,224,571....28121,1441,082392,315
188523,2186,552,242....30222,7941,190457,620
188624,7157,053,276....29021,6791,293576,010
188725,4397,136,944....34724,9281,304715,860
188826,1687,362,488....35324,9381,483954,675
188927,2187,600,537....36526,0131,5611,130,960
189028,1027,807,792....35726,3791,6781,240,097
189129,2268,390,803....36427,3721,8251,252,625
189230,3168,580,817....37928,7541,9121,284,745
189331,7098,821,255....37229,7632,0221,450,918
189432,9079,232,543....36929,963**
189533,9689,345,229....37630,9052,0861,562,269
189634,7729,415,693....39231,8252,2361,806,953
189736,1749,857,010....38832,6702,3341,898,163
189837,84810,124,2277,443128,08241035,5012,4131,950,314
189939,36610,341,70211,285193,71843338,2022,4912,110,316
190040,36810,639,97812,405211,96544440,2572,6672,192,594
190141,29110,627,26312,776217,19244541,2362,8982,326,954
190242,40611,024,73412,481211,59546243,4083,0492,467,614
190343,11611,111,80711,926200,915....3,3142,706,785

VI—PUBLIC INDEBTEDNESS.

Year.Public Debt: Debentures and Stock in Circulation. (Prior to 1880 the figures are for Calendar Years.)Debt of Local Bodies (excluding Government Loans).Year.

* There was in March, 1904. an estimated accrued sinking fund amounting to £2,457,887, leaving a net indebtedness of £55,064,328.

† There was in March, 1903, an accrued sinking fund amounting to £878,520, leaving a net indebtedness of £7,338,676.

 ££ 
31st December, 1854....31st December, 1854
     ″    1855....     ″    1855
     ″    1856....     ″    1856
     ″    1857....     ″    1857
     ″    1858....     ″    1858
     ″    1859....     ″    1859
     ″    1860....     ″    1860
     ″    1861....     ″    1861
     ″    1862836,000..     ″    1862
     ″    18631,289,750..     ″    1863
     ″    18642,219,450..     ″    1864
     ″    18654,368,681..     ″    1865
     ″    18665,435,728..     ″    1866
     ″    18675,781,193..     ″    1867
     ″    18687,182,743..     ″    1868
     ″    18697,360,616..     ″    1869
     ″    18707,841,891..     ″    1870
     ″    18718,900,991..     ″    1871
     ″    18729,985,386..     ″    1872
     ″    187310,913,936..     ″    1873
     ″    187413,366,036..     ″    1874
     ″    187517,400,031..     ″    1875
     ″    187618,678,111..     ″    1876
     ″    187720,691,111..     ″    1877
     ″    187822,608,311..     ″    1878
     ″    187923,958,311..     ″    1879
31st March, 188128,185,7113,039,80731st March, 1881
     ″    188228,479,1113,277,584     ″    1882
     ″    188329,445,0113,540,046     ″    1883
     ″    188431,071,5823,962,330     ″    1884
     ″    188532,195,4224,313,223     ″    1885
     ″    188633,880,7224,943,270     ″    1886
     ″    188735,741,6535,620,747     ″    1887
     ″    188836,758,4375,812,803     ″    1888
     ″    188938,375,0505,892,050     ″    1889
     ″    189038,667,9505,978,059     ″    1890
     ″    189138,830,3506,042,693     ″    1891
     ″    189238,713,0686,081,934     ″    1892
     ″    189339,257,8406,203,869     ″    1893
     ″    189439,826,4156,614,824     ″    1894
     ″    189540,386,9646,685,510     ″    1895
     ″    189643,050,7806,737,578     ″    1896
     ″    189744,366,6186,793,398     ″    1897
     ″    189844,963,4246,834,361     ″    1898
     ″    189946,938,0066,963,254     ″    1899
     ″    190047,874,4527,057,350     ″    1900
     ″    190149,591,2457,563,069     ″    1901
     ″    190252,966,4477,839,695     ″    1902
     ″    190355,899,0198,217,196     ″    1903
     ″    190457,522,215*..     ″    1904

VII.—EDUCATION.

Year.Scholars at Primary Schools.Scholars at Secondary or High Schools.Scholars at Private Schools.New Zealand University Graduates (Direct Degrees).

*In addition to these there were in December, 1903, 3,693 children attending the Native Schools, nearly all maintained by the Government, and 746 at Industrial Schools and Orphanages.

NOTE.—Statistics of schools and scholars, not being complete for years prior to 1874, no figures are entered.

1854........
1855........
1856........
1857........
1858........
1859........
1860........
1861........
1862........
1863........
1864........
1865........
1866........
1867........
1868........
1869........
1870........
1871........
1872........
1873........
187438,215..8,237..
187545,562..7,316..
187651,9646549,357..
187756,2397169,992..
187865,0408689,206..
187975,5561,41710,234..
188082,4011,63111,238..
188183,5601,8199,987..
188287,1791,89910,002..
188392,4762,38411,255..
188497,2382,64212,203..
1885102,4072,65911,989103
1886106,3282,35812,497117
1887110,9192,24213,417145
1888112,6852,12013,893168
1889115,4562,14713,458199
1890117,9122,11713,626230
1891119,5232,20514,142279
1892122,6202,26214,456323
1893124,6902,25114,922366
1894127,3002,45414,627410
1895129,8562,52514,659464
1896131,0372,61413,947501
1897132,1972,70914,447546
1898131,6212,70614,782603
1899131,3152,72315,295641
1900130,7242,79215,555699
1901131,3512,89915,344757
1902132,2623,07215,624814
1903133,568*3,72215,609869

THE TOTALISATOR.

Year.No. of Totalisator Licenses issued for Meetings held during Financial Year.Days.Percentage paid to Treasury.Total Amount Invested by the Public.
   ££
1889-90187241....
1890-91219278....
1891-922343007,591506,078
1892-9324030710,800720,029
1893-9424731810,375691,673
1894-9520726810,446696,456
1895-9617025611,156743,763
1896-9715825011,911794,096
1897-9815526813,297886,567
1898-9914425013,695912,969
1899-190015427815,9831,065,580
1900-190115327817,5411,168,732
1901-190216530919,0401,275,813
1902-190314827619,7341,274,102
1903-190415128220,4861,357,263

N.B.—The years used for purposes of the table are financial years, not the racing years. This accounts for the number of licenses issued in some of the periods being over the legal limit for one year.

LICENSES UNDER THE GAMING AND LOTTERIES ACT GRANTED TO RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

RETURN of LICENSES granted by the Colonial Secretary under “The Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1881,” to Persons connected with Religious Denominations.

Year.Total Number of Licenses granted.Church of England.Presbyterian Church.Roman Catholic Church.Jewish Church.Not stated.
1894-954691023..4
1895-96488118..21
1896-976230329....
1897-9870352321..
1898-994014..26....
1899-19004213..29....
1900-19015521..33..1
1901-19025914..45....
1902-19036520..441..
1903-19047117..53..1

PART III.—ARTICLES ON SPECIAL SUBJECTS.

Table of Contents

Chapter 53. SECTION I.: THE LAND SYSTEM OF NEW ZEALAND.

[By S. PERCY SMITH, F.R.G.S.]

THE Crown lands of New Zealand are administered under “The Land Act, 1892,” together with its amendments and the regulations made thereunder.

The distinguishing features of the present land system are the outcome of ideas which have been gradually coming to maturity for some years past in this colony. These features involve the principle of State ownership of the soil, with a perpetual tenancy in the occupier. This, whatever may be the difference in detail, is the prevailing characteristic of the several systems under which land may now be selected. In New Zealand this tendency to State ownership has taken a more pronounced form than in any of the Australian States. In point of fact, a very large proportion of the Crown lands are now disposed of for 999 years. The rentals are based on the assessed value of the land at the time of disposal, without increase or recurring valuations. Under this system there is a fixity of tenure practically equal to freehold, and which, like freehold, necessarily carries with it the power of sale, sub-lease, mortgage, or disposition by will. At the same time the improvements made in the soil by cultivation, &c., are secured to the tenant should he from any cause be obliged to forfeit or surrender his lease.

The advantages of this system to the selector are manifest. When it is taken into consideration that, with few exceptions, the Crown lands are, in their prairie condition, incapable of profitable use, the advantage to the settler of setting free his capital to develop the capabilities of the soil, rather than having to expend it in the purchase of a freehold, is very apparent. One of the most striking benefits of this system is the advantage it gives to the man who, with little more capital than his strong right arm, is enabled to make a home for himself; which, under the freehold system, he would be unable to accomplish.

The values placed on the Crown lands are, as a rule, low, for the State does not so much seek to raise a revenue directly therefrom as to encourage the occupation of the lands by the people; this occupation secures an indirect increased revenue, besides the other advantages resulting from a numerous rural population.

Again, underlying the whole of the New Zealand land system is a further application of the principle of “the land for the people”—viz., the restriction in area which any man may hold. This subject has been forced upon the attention of the Legislature by defects in former systems, under which one individual with means at his command could appropriate large areas, to the exclusion of his less wealthy fellow-settler. Under existing conditions, where the price at which land is offered is fixed for ever, and where choice of selection is by ballot, every would-be settler has the same chance, and may hold under the Crown an equal area of land. The quantity that a selector may hold is so fixed as to encourage the class of moderate farmers, for up to the statutory limit the amount he may select is left almost entirely to himself. The Act defines the amount of land any one may hold at 640 acres of first-class or 2,000 acres of second class land. These limits apply to lands which are thrown open for optional selection, but in some cases, where the quality of the land is very good and the selectors many, the limit is by regulation made smaller.

In addition to the many advantages offered by the lease-in-perpetuity system, the Land Act provides others, to meet the wants of different classes. The general rule is that land thrown open for optional selection is offered to the public under three different tenures, the choice of which is left to the would-be settler.

The three tenures are:—

  1. Cash, in which one-fifth of the purchase-money is paid down at once, and the remainder within thirty days. The final title is not given until certain improvements have been made on the land.

  2. Lease with a purchasing clause, at a 5-per-cent. rental on the value of the land; the lease being for twenty-five years, with the right to purchase at the original upset price at any time after the first ten years and within twenty-five years, or to convert into a lease in perpetuity (3rd tenure).

  3. Lease in perpetuity, at a rental of 4 per cent, on the capital value.

“The Land Act, 1892,” provides for a special class of settlement called small - farm associations, which found favour with the public to a very considerable extent during the first three years after the Act of 1892 came into force, but is now superseded to a large extent by the improved - farm settlement system. The small-farm association system provides that, where not less than twelve individuals have associated themselves together for mutual help, such an association can, with the approval of the Minister of Lands, select a block of land of not more than 11,000 acres, but there must be a selector to each 200 acres in the block. The extreme limit that one person may hold is fixed at 320 acres. Settlements of this class are held on lease in perpetuity, in a similar way to lands under the same tenure when thrown open for optional selection. The conditions of residence and improvement are the same. The system offers many advantages to the settler, so long as the blocks of land are judiciously chosen, having regard to quality of land. access, markets, and the probability of employment being obtained in the neighbourhood. In the eagerness to obtain lands on such easy terms these points have, in the past, not received sufficient attention by some of the associations, and in consequence they are not all successful.

Under “The Land Act, 1885,” there was a somewhat similar system, but it allowed of the acquisition of the freehold. This is now being taken advantage of to a considerable extent.

The following figures show the amount of settlement by associations under both Acts on the 31st March, 1904. At that date there were 657 selectors, holding 119,959 acres under various tenures and in different parts of the country. Many of the settlements, which were carefully selected, are doing well. Others, where long and expensive roads have to be made to them, are as yet not very productive, and many selections have been abandoned.

The village - settlement system of New Zealand has excited much inquiry. This system provides: 1st, villages of one acre sections; 2nd, small farms of 100 acres. There has not been any great extension of this system in recent years. On the 31st March last there were 1,747 settlers holding 36,753 acres, and the total number of persons residing in these settlements was 1,250 and 497 non-resident, the amount advanced by Government for houses, clearing, &c., being £15,115, of which £4,234 had been returned. The total value of improvements on the lands at the same date was £181,264. The above figures do not include the settlement on reserves and endowments.

The improved - farm settlement system was first begun in order to find work for the people. Considerable areas of forest-clad Crown lands were set aside, and small contracts for the clearing, burning, and sowing these with grass have been let. In most cases the farms are selected or balloted for in their primitive state, and the settler is for a time paid for the improvements he makes, or, in other words, the cost of converting forest lands into grass lands is advanced from time to time by the Government. In other cases a piece of forest land is taken in hand, and men are employed at fixed rates in felling, burning, and grassing. When so much grass is laid down as will give a good start, the land is opened for selection in sections of 50 to 200 acres and balloted for among the applicants. The farms are let on lease in perpetuity at a rental sufficient to cover the cost of clearing, &c., together with a fair rental of the land. Up to the 31st March, 1904, 52 settlements had been allocated, covering an area of 90,323 acres, situate in various parts of the colony. At that date 558 settlers had been allotted sections, who, together with their families, numbered 1,722 persons who were residing on the lands. They had felled and grassed 28,598 acres.

The amount paid to the settlers up to the 31st March, 1904, was £54,127, and the total value of improvements on the land (including the Government advances) was £106,416.

The size of holdings averages about 115 acres.

“THE BUSH and SWAMP CROWN LANDS SETTLEMENT ACT, 1903.”

This Act, passed last session, came into operation at the end of 1903, and provided more liberal conditions for the selection and settlement of bush and swamp lands. The principal provisions are as follows: Land opened under the Act is divided into three classes —(a) heavy-bush lands, (b) light-bush or swamp lands, and (c) scrub land, according to the nature of the vegetation existing on the lands opened for sale or lease. On heavy-bush lands the selector, after payment of his first half-year's rent is exempt for further rent for a period of four years, whilst no rate can be levied or collected by any local authority on the land for the same period; on light-bush lands or swamp lands three years' exemption from rent and rates is allowed, whilst residence for the first five years may be dispensed with on swamp lands; on scrub lands two years' exemption from rent and rates is given.

THE LAND for SETTLEMENTS ACTS.

In the earlier years of the settlement of New Zealand there were opportunities for men of capital and judgment to acquire large estates, and while there were plenty of good Crown lands to select from this was of great advantage to the colony when money was needed for administration and roads and bridges. These large estates employed hired labour, and most of them did little towards cultivating their lands, and consequently progress beyond the pastoral stage ceased in the districts in which they were situated. As the best lands in the course of years passed from the Crown, the country became a series of agricultural communities interspersed with large properties occupied by a manager and a few shepherds, and the people pressed that they and their sons should be allowed to occupy these large estates instead of being compelled to go into inaccessible back country without roads or railways. To meet this the late Hon. (later Sir) John McKenzie, then Minister of Lands, introduced into the Legislature in the session of 1892 a Bill intituled “The Land for Settlements Act,” which authorised the purchase from private individuals of suitable properties for subdivision into farms. Under the provisions of this Act and the amending Acts, which are now consolidated into the Act of 1900, properties have been acquired, and divided into small farms and leased in perpetuity at a 5-per-cent. rental, on a capital value fixed at a rate sufficient to cover first cost, together with survey, administration, and roads (if required). The usual process of acquisition is as follows: Whenever a property is offered to the Government, if it is so situated as to meet the object of the Act, a report on it is obtained from a Government officer, and, should his report be favourable, the question of purchase is then considered by a Board of Land Purchase Commissioners, composed of the Inspector, who is the permanent Chairman, three other Government officers, whose training and duties qualify them to advise the Government as to whether the purchase is a suitable one, and as to the price which should be given for the property, and a member nominated by the Government from residents in the district where the land to be dealt with is situated. It is only on the advice of this Board that the Government acts. In nearly all cases the properties acquired have been improved to a certain extent by fencing and buildings, and were situated in the neighbourhood of closely settled districts. The amount which may be expended per annum under the Act is £500,000. The Act also provides for the exchange of high-lying pastoral Crown lands for low-lying agricultural lands suitable for small holdings.

Lands may also be taken compulsorily in cases where the Board cannot agree with the owner as to price, &c., and where the Governor in Council decides to acquire the land for closer settlement. The amount payable to the owner is decided by a Compensation Court, composed of a Judge of the Supreme Court and two Assessors, one appointed by Government, the other by the owner of the property. Five properties have hitherto been acquired compulsorily, and they have been disposed of on satisfactory terms.

The acquisition of lands under the Land for Settlements Acts has proved beneficial in providing homes for a large class of men of moderate capital who shrink from the rough work of breaking in new country or who, having accumulated capital (cash, stock, and implements), prefer open country near civilisation. Sons of farmers begin life near the old home, and help from there is given in many ways. The system also affords to the small-farmer class of the Old Country an opening for building up homes for themselves where their previous experience will be of use, instead of having to learn the methods adapted to a new and wild country.

Preference is given to landless people, and applicants for rural land have to satisfy the Land Board as to their means to stock and cultivate the property applied for and erect suitable buildings thereon. The Board, in fact, has a discretion as to who may become tenants.

Land may also be compulsorily taken for workmen's homes within a borough having a population of at least 15,000 persons, or within a radius of fifteen miles from the border thereof, for the purposes of providing workmen's homes or villages; but the area is restricted to not more than 100 acres every year within any such borough, or within the radius named above from the boundary of the borough.

The owner is left with right to retain an area of not more than 10 acres if in a borough, or 50 acres in any other case.

A workman's allotment is not to exceed 5 acres, and advances up to £50 are made by Government to successful applicants in aid of the cost of fencing and building dwellinghouses.

Regulations giving full directions to applicants under this Act have been issued from time to time, which should be in the hands of every one before applying for lands under this Act.

An account of the operations under the Land for Settlements Acts will be found in Part II. of this work.

PURCHASE of NATIVE LANDS by GOVERNMENT.

From about the year 1823 (which is the date of the first recorded deed) until the 6th February, 1840, the date of the Treaty of Waitangi, lands in New Zealand were acquired by direct purchase from the Maoris by individual members of the white races. During the years 1837 to 1839, or about the time it became probable that the sovereignty of the islands would be assumed by the United Kingdom, the greater number of these purchases were made, and they extended to most parts of the country. These purchases are technically known as “the old land claims,” and their total number (including pre-emptive claims), as estimated by Commissioner F. Dillon Bell in 1862, was 1,376, covering an area of about 10,322,453 acres, out of which large area grants were recommended for 292,475 acres. These figures have been slightly added to since, but not to any very large extent. The large area shown above was reduced on survey to about 474,000 acres, situated principally to the north of Auckland. The difference in area between the amount granted to the purchasers and the total area surveyed became what are termed “surplus lands of the Crown.” It was held that the Native title had been fully extinguished through such purchases over the whole area surveyed; but, as by Ordnance No. 2 of 9th June, 1841, the claimants could not be granted more than 2,560 acres each, the balance became vested in the Crown on the assumption of the sovereignty, the Native title having been fully extinguished.

In many cases the titles did not issue to those to whom the land was awarded, as they were compensated by scrip issued by the Government, with the understanding that such scrip was to be exercised in the purchase of Crown lands in the neighbourhood of Auckland, to which place it was desirable—so soon as the capital was founded—to draw a population. The lands thus paid for in scrip became Crown lands, and these, together with the surplus lands, have from time to time been disposed of by the Crown and settled on. The amount of scrip, &c., issued up to 1862 was over £109,000.

On the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on the 6th February, 1840, the pre-emptive right was ceded to the Government, and consequently private purchase ceased. This remained the law until the passing of “The Native Land Act, 1862,” when the Crown relinquished its right of pre-emption, whilst at the same time the purchase of Native lands for the Crown did not abate, but continued side by side with the private purchases up to the passing of “The Native Land Court Act, 1894.”

“The Maori Lands Administration Act, 1900,” is a measure intended to restrain Natives from pauperising themselves in the future by parting with the freehold of the balance of their lands (about five millions of acres). Its main provisions are—

  1. Prohibition of further alienation of the freehold of Native lands, either to the Crown or private purchasers, except as to inchoate transactions at the date of the passing of the Act and certain limited areas which were then comprised in separate titles and by not more than two owners.

  2. Leasing of Native lands through partly elected and partly nominated Councils possessing all the powers and, where authorised, exercising all or any of the functions of the Native Land Court.

  3. Advances to Natives to road and otherwise improve their surplus lands for their own use and occupation.

From time to time since 1840 various sums were appropriated by Government or by Parliament for the acquisition of a Crown estate. Up to the date of passing of “The Native Land Act, 1862,” these operations were conducted by officers of the Government specially appointed, who, from a knowledge of the Maoris, their customs and disposition, were successful in securing large areas of land for settlement. It must be conceded that their operations as a whole were successful, and that the number of disputed cases arising out of their labours was exceedingly small. The Waitara purchase is, however, here excluded, for there were reasons of general policy affecting that sale which did not prevail in other cases. This purchase was the ostensible cause of the Native rebellion of 1860 and following years, but the motives which led to it were far deeper than the mere purchase of a few acres—there was a great principle at stake.

The difference effected in the mode of purchase by “The Native Land Act, 1862,” was this: Previously, the title of the Maoris who were to receive payment for the land was decided by the Land Purchase officers; but the Act quoted set up a Court, presided over by able Judges, who determined the titles, which were afterwards registered in a special Court. Purchases have since been effected with the registered owners.

It is difficult to obtain figures showing the actual area acquired by the Crown from the Maoris up to 1870, but in round numbers it was 6,000,000 acres in the North Island; whilst the whole of the Middle Island, with the exception of reserves for the original Native owners, was acquired prior to the passing of “The Native Land Act, 1862.” Stewart Island was purchased from the Native owners by deed dated 29th June, 1864.

The Native rebellion of 1860-69 brought Native-land purchases, for the time being, practically to a standstill.

The Immigration and Public Works Acts of 1870 and 1873 appropriated £200,000 and £500,000 respectively for the purchase of lands in the North Island; and these amounts have, up to the 31st of March, 1904, been augmented by further annual appropriations from the public funds and other loan-moneys, covering altogether a total expenditure since 1870 of £2,005,365, with the following results: Area finally acquired in the North Island from Natives, from 1870 to 31st March, 1904, 7,958,793 acres. Area under negotiation in the North Island on 31st March, 1904, 110,635 acres; interests therein finally acquired, 10,998 acres.

DIGEST of the LAND LAWS.

Administration.

The Crown lands are administered, under the authority of “The Land Act, 1892,” by the Hon. the Minister of Lands at Wellington. For convenience the colony is divided into ten land districts, each being under the local direction of a Commissioner and a Land Board. The Commissioner's office is known as the principal land office, and in some of the larger districts there are one or more local land offices. It is with these land offices the selector has to transact all business, from the first consultation of the maps to the final receipt of the Crown title.

Land Districts and Principal Land Offices.

The names of the land districts and of the towns where each principal office is situated are, beginning with the most northerly and taking them geographically, as under:—

Land District.Town where Principal Land Office is situated.
AucklandAuckland.
TaranakiNew Plymouth.
Hawke's BayNapier.
WellingtonWellington.
NelsonNelson.
MarlboroughBlenheim.
WestlandHokitika.
CanterburyChristchurch.
OtagoDunedin.
SouthlandInvercargill.

Classification of Lands, &c.

Crown lands are divided into three classes:—

  1. Town and village lands, the upset prices of which are, respectively, not less than £20 and £3 per acre; such lands are sold by auction:

  2. Suburban lands, the upset price of which may not be less than £2 an acre; these lands are also sold by auction:

  3. Rural lands, which may be disposed of at not less than £1 per acre for first-class, and 5s. an acre for second-class lands; such lands may be sold or leased by auction, or sold or leased on application.

No rural section may be larger than 640 acres in extent if first-class land, or 2,000 acres if second-class land, whether offered by auction or application. No person can select more than 640 acres of first-class or 2,000 acres of second-class land, including therein any land which he then holds. Small grazing-runs, first-class, may not exceed 5,000 acres, and second class 20,000 acres. Pastoral runs are limited to areas which will carry 20,000 sheep or 4,000 cattle. No person can select more than one run.

Mode of acquiring Crown Lands.

Crown lands may be acquired as follows:—

  1. By auction, after survey, in which case one-fifth of the price is paid down at the time of sale, the balance within thirty days:

  2. By application, after the lands have been notified as open for selection, in which case the applicant fills up a form (to be obtained at any of the Land Offices) and makes the declaration and undertaking required by the particular system he wishes to select under.

All applications, whether for surveyed or unsurveyed lands, are deemed to be simultaneous if made on the same day, and, if there be more than one applicant for the same land, the right of selection is determined by ballot.

Lands thrown open for application may be either surveyed or unsurveyed, and those not selected the first day remain open.

The Optional System of Selection.

Lands for selection are notified as open for application on and after a stated day, and, at the option of the applicant, may be obtained on any of the three following tenures: (a) Freehold; (b) occupation with the right of purchase; (c) lease in perpetuity.

(a.) Freehold.

If the land is surveyed, one-fifth of the price is to be paid down when the application is granted, and the balance within thirty days; or, if the land is not completely surveyed, the survey fee is deposited when the application is agreed to, and goes towards the purchase of the land; the balance must be paid within thirty days of notice that the survey is completed.

A certificate of occupation will issue to the purchaser on final payment, which will be exchanged for a Crown title so soon as the Board is satisfied that the improvements mentioned on the next page have been completed.

(b.) Occupation with Right of Purchase.

Lands selected on this tenure are held under a license for twenty-five years. At any time subsequent to the first ten years, and before the expiration of the license, after having resided and made the improvements hereinafter described, the licensee can, on payment of the upset price of the land, acquire the freehold. If the land be not purchased, the license may be exchanged for a lease in perpetuity.

The rent is 5 per cent. on the cash price of the land; a half-year's rent has to be paid at the time the application is approved, if surveyed land, which represents the half-year's rent due in advance on the 1st day of January or July following the selection. If the land is unsurveyed, the cost of survey is to be paid, and is credited to the selector as so much rent paid in advance, counted from the 1st day of January or July following thirty days' notice of the completion of survey.

Residence and improvement of the land are compulsory, as hereinafter described.

(c.) Leases in Perpetuity.

Lands selected on this tenure are leased for 999 years, subject to the conditions of residence and improvements described below. The rental is 4 per cent. on the cash price of the land, and applications are dealt with in the same way as under the previous tenure (b), but there is at no time a right to purchase the freehold.

Two or more persons may make a joint application to hold as tenants in common under either of the two last-named tenures.

Residence and Improvements.

Under the two last-mentioned tenures, the conditions as to residence and improvements are:—

RESIDENCE

  1. Must commence on bush or swamp lands within four years, and in open or partly open land within one year, from the date of selection:

  2. Must be continuous for six years on bush or swamp land, and for seven years on open or partly open land, on lands occupied with a right of purchase:

  3. Must be continuous for a term of ten years on lease-in-perpetuity lands.

The Board has power to dispense with residence in certain cases, such as where the selector is residing on adjacent lands, or is a youth or unmarried woman living with parents, and in a few other cases.

RESIDENCE implies the erection of a habitable house to be approved of by the Board.

IMPROVEMENTS which must be made are as follows:—

  1. Freehold-tenure lands must be improved within seven years to an amount of £1 an acre for first-class land, and 10s. an acre for second-class land.

  2. Lands held on lease with right of purchase, or on lease in perpetuity, must be improved to an amount equal to 10 per cent. of the value of the land within one year from the date of the license or lease; within two years must be improved to the amount of another 10 per cent.; within six years must be improved to the value of another 10 per cent., making 30 per cent. in all within the six years. In addition to the above, the land must be further improved to an amount of £1 an acre for first-class land, and on second-class land to an amount equal to the net price of the land, but not more than 10s. an acre.

IMPROVEMENTS may consist of reclamation from swamps, clearing of bush, planting with trees or hedges, cultivation of gardens, fencing, draining, making roads, wells, water-tanks, water-races, sheep-dips, embankments or protective works, or in any way improving the character or fertility of the soil; or the erection of any building, &c.; and cultivation includes the clearing of land for cropping, or clearing and ploughing for laying down with artificial grasses, &c.

Special-settlement Associations.

Under the existing regulations any number of persons, not less than twelve, may select and apply for a block of land of not less than 1,000 acres or more than 11,000 acres in extent, but the number of members must be such that there shall be one for every 200 acres in the block, and no one can hold more than 320 acres, except in swamp lands, where the area may be 500 acres.

The capital value of lands within a special settlement is fixed after survey by special valuation, but may not be less than 10s. an acre; the rental is not less than 4 per cent, on the capital value, and the tenure is a lease in perpetuity.

Residence, occupation, and improvements are generally the same as already described, and applications have to be made in manner prescribed by regulations.

Applicants should apply to a Commissioner for a copy of the regulations, as they are liable to change at any time.

Suitable land for small settlement of this kind is now scarce.

Improved-farm Settlements.

Special regulations are in force for this class of settlement, which should be applied for, but briefly the terms are as follow: Applicants are selected by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, preference being given to married men. The areas of the farms may vary from 10 acres to 200 acres, according to locality; no settler can select more than one farm. Contracts are made with the settler to fell the forest, burn it, and sow with grass-seed up to 100 acres, the cost being paid by the Government, and £10 may be advanced to a single man and £30 to a married man to help to build a house. The rates allowed for felling are those current in the district. The land is then leased for 999 years at a rental of 4 per cent. on the unimproved capital value, plus the actual cost of the felling and grassing. As a rule, the settlers can get employment on the roadworks in the neighbourhood, but Government does not guarantee this.

Residence for the first ten years is compulsory, and improvements must be made in terms of Part III. of “The Land Act, 1892.” (See ante.)

Village Settlements.

Village settlements are disposed of under regulations made from time to time by the Governor, but the main features are as follow:—

Such settlements may be divided into:—

  1. Village allotments not exceeding 1 acre each. which are disposed of either by auction among the applicants or by application, as already described, with option of tenure, the cash price being not less than £3 per allotment:

  2. Homestead allotments not exceeding 100 acres each, which are leased in perpetuity at a 4-per-cent. rental on a capital value of not less than 10s. per acre.

Residence, improvements, and applications are the same as already described. The leases are exempt from liability to be seized or sold for debt or bankruptcy.

The Colonial Treasurer is empowered in certain cases to advance small sums for the purpose of enabling selectors to profitably occupy their allotments.

Small Grazing-runs.

Small grazing-runs are divided into two classes: First class, not exceeding 5,000 acres; second class, not exceeding 20,000 acres in area. The rental in both cases is not less than 2 1/2 per cent. on the capital value per acre, but such capital value cannot be less than 5s. per acre. Small grazing-runs are leased for terms of twenty-one years, with right of renewal for other twenty-one years, at a rent of 2 1/2 per cent. on the then value of the land. The runs are declared open for selection, and applications and declarations on the forms provided have to be filled in and left at the Land Office, together with the deposit of one half-year's rent, which represents that due on the 1st day of March or September following the selection.

No holder of a pastoral run, and no holder of freehold or leasehold land of any kind whatever, over 1,000 acres in area, exclusive of the small grazing-run applied for, may be a selector under this system; and only one small grazing-run can be held by any one person.

The lease entitles the holder to the grazing rights, and to the cultivation of any part of the run, and to the reservation of 150 acres round his homestead through which no road may be taken; but the runs are subject to the mining laws.

Residence is compulsory, if bush or swamp land, within three years; if open, within one year; and must be continuous to the end of the term, but may in a few cases be relaxed. Improvements necessary are as follow: Within the first year, to the amount of one year's rent; within the second year, to another year's rent; and within six years, to the value of two other years' rent: making in all a sum equal to four years' rental which must be expended within six years. In addition to these improvements, bush-covered first-class runs must be improved to an amount of 10s. an acre, and second-class bush-clad runs to an amount of 5s. an acre.

These runs may be divided, after three years' compliance with the conditions, amongst the members of the selector's family.

Pastoral Runs.

Pastoral country is let by auction for varying terms not exceeding twenty-one years; and, excepting in extraordinary circumstances, runs must not be of a greater extent than will carry 20,000 sheep or 4,000 head of cattle. Runs are classified from time to time by special Commissioners into: (1) Pastoral lands, which are suitable only for depasturing more than 5,000 sheep; (2) pastoral-agricultural lands, suitable for subdivision into areas of under 5,000 acres, which may be either let as pastoral runs, generally for short terms, or cut up for settlement in some other form. Leases of pastoral lands may not be resumed; leases of pastoral-agricultural lands may be resumed at any time after twelve months' notice without compensation.

No one can hold more than one run; but, in case of any one holding a run of a carrying-capacity less than 10,000 sheep, he may take up additional country up to that limit.

Runs are offered at auction from time to time, and half a year's rent has to be paid down at the time of sale, being the amount due in advance on the 1st day of March or September following the sale, and the purchaser has to make the declaration required by the Act. All leases begin on the 1st day of March, and they entitle the holder to the grazing rights, but not to the soil, timber, or minerals; and the lease terminates over any part of the run which may be leased for some other purpose, purchased, or reserved. The tenant has to prevent the burning of timber or bush; in open country to prevent the growth of gorse, broom, or sweetbriar; and to destroy the rabbits on his run. With the consent of the Land Board, the interest in a run may be transferred or mortgaged, but power of sale under a mortgage must be exercised within two years.

In case it is determined again to lease any run on expiry of the lease, the new lease must be offered by auction twelve months before the end of the term, and if, on leasing, it shall be purchased by some one other than the previous lessee, valuation for improvements, to be made by an appraiser, shall be paid by the incoming tenant, but to a value not greater than three times the annual rent—excepting in the case of a rabbit-proof fence, which is to be valued separately. If the run is not again leased, the value of rabbit-proof fencing is paid by the Crown, but the tenant has no claim against the Crown beyond the value of the rabbit-proof fence; he may, however, within three months of sale, remove fences, buildings, &c. Runs may also be divided with the approval of the Board.

Survey Charges on Unsurveyed Lands.

The following is the scale of charges for surveys of unsurveyed lands:—

  • Not exceeding 30 acres, £6.

  • Exceeding 30 and up to 50 acres, 3s. 6d. per acre, but not less than £6.

  • Exceeding 50 and up to 100 acres, 3s. per acre, but not less than £8 15s.

  • Exceeding 100 and up to 200 acres, 2s. 6d. per acre, but not less than £15.

  • Exceeding 200 and up to 300 acres, 2s. per acre, but not less than £25.

  • Exceeding 300 and up to 500 acres, 1s. 8d. per acre, but not less than £30.

  • Exceeding 500 and up to 1,000 acres, 1s. 4d. per acre, but not less than £41 10s.

  • Exceeding 1,000 and up to 2,000 acres, 1s. per acre, but not less than £66 10s.

For the survey of any area of rural land, being open land, the scale of charges shall be two-thirds the foregoing rates.

The Chief Surveyor may vary the above charges by substituting a rate per mile or per day for such work as may not come under the foregoing scale.

Chapter 54. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS.

THE Government Advances to Settlers Act was a Government policy measure in the legislation of 1894. It was designed to afford relief to a numerous class of colonists who were struggling under the burden of high rates of interest and heavy legal expenses of mortgages. These were established when prices of agricultural produce were high and profits large; and, so long as business continued to be prosperous, they attracted but little, if any, attention. For several years preceding 1894 commerce and agriculture had suffered from world-wide depression; settlers were becoming embarrassed in their circumstances; and the high rates of interest still charged were felt to be a burden on the industry of the people not easily borne, and a hindrance to the settlement and development of the farming lands of the colony. Under these circumstances the Government brought in the Government Advances to Settlers Act. It was passed towards the close of the session of 1894, and immediately came into operation, with results which have proved beneficial to the farming community. A general decline in the rates of interest at once set in, and it is not too much to claim that the Act has been instrumental in lowering these to a considerable extent on several millions of money invested on mortgage of the farming lands of the colony. This result, while it may have diminished the incomes of a few persons resident within the colony, has benefited thousands of deserving settlers and led to large areas of land being brought under cultivation that, but for the Advances to Settlers Act, would still be in their natural state.

The Act authorised the raising of three million pounds sterling within two years, in sums of a million and a half per annum, at a rate of interest not higher than 4 per cent. In May, 1895, tenders were invited in London for £1,500,000 of 3-per-cent. inscribed stock of the Government of New Zealand, and applications were received for £5,960,400 at prices ranging from £100 to £90. The million and a half was placed at an average price of £94 8s. 9d.

An amending Act, passed in 1895, extended the time for raising the residue of the three millions to three years from the coming into operation of the amending Act. In 1898 this term was extended for a further period of three years, and in 1901 the time-limit restriction was removed altogether, power being given at the same time to raise an additional loan of £1,000,000.

To carry out the objects of the Act, an office was established called the “Government Advances to Settlers Office”; at the same time a General Board was constituted to co-operate with and assist the Superintendent, the title by which the chief administrative officer is known.

The business of the office is the advancing of money in New Zealand on first mortgage of lands and improvements held under the following classes of tenure, free from all encumbrances, liens, and interests other than leasehold interests, that is to say:—

  1. Freehold land held in fee-simple under “The Land Transfer Act, 1885,” or freehold land held in fee-simple the title to which is registered under “The Deeds Registration Act, 1868.”

  2. Crown land held on perpetual lease under “The Land Act, 1885.”

  3. Crown land held under Parts III. and IV. of “The Land Act, 1892.”

  4. Crown land held on lease as a small grazing-run under “The Land Act, 1885,” or under “The Land Act, 1892.”

  5. Crown land held on agricultural lease under “The Mining Act, 1891.”

  6. Crown land held on lease (not being for mining purposes) under “The Westland and Nelson Coalfields Administration Act, 1877.”

  7. Native land held on lease under “The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, 1881,” or under the Act of 1892.

  8. Land held on lease under “The Westland and Nelson Native Reserves Act, 1887.”

  9. Land held under “The Thermal Springs Districts Act, 1881.”

  10. Educational and other reserves which are subject to the provisions of “The Land Act 1877 Amendment Act 1882,” by virtue of Proclamation made under section 50 thereof, or “The Land Act, 1885,” by virtue of Proclamation made under section 237 thereof, or “The Land Act, 1892,” by virtue of Proclamation made under section 243 thereof, and are held on perpetual lease or lease in perpetuity, or on deferred-payment or small-grazing-run systems.

  11. Crown land held by license on the deferred-payment system under Part III. of “The Land Act, 1885.”

  12. Land held under lease from a leasing authority, as defined by “The Public Bodies' Powers Act, 1887,” and providing for the payment by the incoming tenant of valuation for improvements made upon the land, whether by the lessee named in such lease or any former lessee, as tenant.

With regard to classes 10 and 12, a lease is not eligible if it provides for absolute forfeiture (without compensation) for breach of conditions, or if on the determination of the lease compensation is to be allowed for certain improvements only.

Mortgages are granted either on the instalment or the fixed-loan system (fully described hereafter); and the margins of security required by the Act are as follow:—

  1. On all freeholds (other than urban or suburban) three-fifths of the value may be advanced either on the instalment or fixed-loan system: Provided that in the case of first-class agricultural freeholds instalment loans may be advanced up to two-thirds of the value.

  2. On leaseholds (other than urban or suburban) one-half of the value of the lessee's interest in the improvements may be advanced on the instalment system. No loans are granted under the fixed-loan system on leaseholds.

  3. On urban and suburban freeholds loans are granted on the instalment system only, and the amounts of loan are limited as follow:—

    1. On urban freehold on which buildings exist three-fifths of the value of the land, plus one-half the value of the buildings, may be advanced;

    2. On suburban freehold on which buildings exist one-half the value of the land, plus one-half the value of the buildings, may be advanced:

    3. On urban or suburban freehold on which no buildings exist one-half the value of the land may be advanced, but on such security no loan shall be granted except for the erection of buildings on the land; the loan to be advanced by instalments, at the discretion of the Board, as the erection of the buildings proceeds.

“Urban land” means land which is situate in a borough having a population of at least two thousand inhabitants and is not used for farming, dairying, or market-gardening purposes.

“Suburban land” means land which is situate in a borough having a population of less than two thousand inhabitants, or in any town, or in the vicinity of any town or borough, and is not used for farming, dairying, or market-gardening purposes.

Lands situated within towns which are used for farming, dairying, or market-gardening are treated in accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2) above.

The right of determining what land may be considered “urban,” or “suburban,” or “first-class agricultural” is imposed by the Act on the General Lending Board.

The security which the applicant offers for the loan must consist of one or more holdings of the several classes of tenure above mentioned, and must, of course, be of the necessary value; and if the security is leasehold all the covenants and conditions of the lease, including the payment of rent, must have been regularly complied with. Crown lessees should note that “The Land Act, 1892,” provides that leases under that Act must be at least twelve months in existence before they can be mortgaged.

Any person desiring an advance should make a written application on the form provided for the purpose, a copy of which can be obtained from any Postmaster in the colony. The Postmaster will also supply an envelope in which the application may be forwarded free of postage, and will afford to the applicant any explanation which may be required respecting the filling-in of the application.

In the case of an application for an advance on the security of an interest in land held under a lease or license issued from the Lands Department (and belonging to one or more of the classes of tenure numbered 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11), a notice of the application must be forwarded to the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the district in which the land is situated. The requisite form, and an envelope for forwarding it free of postage, may be obtained from any Postmaster in the colony.

No loan of less than £25 or more than £3,000 can be granted, and in the case of “urban” or “suburban” lands the maximum loan is fixed at £2,000.

All applications must be accompanied by a valuation fee according to the following scale:—

 £sd
On an application for a loan not exceeding £1000106
Exceeding £100 but not exceeding £250110
Exceeding £250 but not exceeding £5001116
Exceeding £500 but not exceeding £3,000220

If the applicant has already obtained any advance under this Act and is desirous of obtaining a further advance, either on the same security or on a separate security, the amount of the application, added to the amount of the advances already obtained, must not exceed the limit mentioned above—£3,000 for farming and £2,000 for urban or suburban lands.

Mortgages granted on the fixed-loan system may be for any period not exceeding ten years, and the principal is repayable at the end of the term. They may also be repaid in whole or in part on any half-yearly due date during the term, as explained hereafter. Interest at the rate of 5 per cent. is payable half-yearly, reducible to 4 1/2 per cent. provided payment is made not later than fourteen days after due date and no arrears remain outstanding.

Mortgages granted on the instalment system are repayable by seventy-three half-yearly payments of principal and interest combined. They may also be repaid in whole or in part at any time. Interest is charged at the rate of 5 per cent., reducible to 4 1/2 per cent. provided payment is made not later than fourteen days after due date and no arrears remain outstanding.

Every half-yearly instalment, except the last, is at the rate of £3 (less the rebate of interest in case of prompt payment) for every £100 of the loan. The following table shows, taking a loan of £100 as an instance, how much of each instalment is applied to repaying the principal, and how much is in payment of interest. It shows also the amount of rebate in respect of each instalment, and the balance of principal remaining due after payment of the respective instalments until the loan is entirely repaid in thirty-six years and a half:—

TABLE of PRESCRIBED HALF-YEARLY INSTALMENTS for every ONE HUNDRED POUNDS of the LOAN.

Half-year.Prescribed Half-yearly Instalment.Apportioned thus:1/2 per Cent. Rebate of Interest.Balance of Principal owing. 
On Account of Interest at 5 per Cent.On Account of Principal. 
 £s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d. 
1st3002100010005099100 
2nd300299010305098199 
3rd300296010604119893 
4th3002930109041197186 
5th300290011004119776 
6th3002880114041096162 
7th300285011704109647 
8th30028101111041095128 
9th300271001220499506 
10th30027601260499480 
11th3002720121004993152 
12th300261101310489321 
13th30026701350489288 
14th3002630139047911411 
15th300251001420479109 
16th30025601460479063 
17th3002520141004689115 
18th300249015304688162 
19th30024501570458807 
20th30024001600458747 
21st30023701650448682 
22nd3002320161004485114 
23rd300229017304384141 
24th300224017804383165 
25th3002111018104282184 
26th3002160186042811910 
27th300210019004181010 
28th30020601960418014 
29th3002001000407914 
30th3001196106031178010 
31st30011901100311761910 
32nd3001186116031075184 
33rd3001180120031074164 
34th300117512703973139 
35th3001161013203872107 
36th300116313903771610 
37th30011581440377026 
38th3001151141103668177 
39th300114515703567120 
40th3001131016203566510 
41st3001132161003464190 
42nd300112617603363116 
43rd30011191830326233 
44th3001111181103160144 
45th30011041980305948 
46th3001971105021157143 
47th3001810111202115631 
48th30018111111021054112 
49th300173112902952185 
50th300166113602851411 
51st300158114402749107 
52nd300149115302647154 
53rd3001311116102545193 
54th30013011700244423 
55th300121117110224244 
56th300111118110214055 
57th300102119100203857 
58th3000192201001113649 
59th30001812111011034210 
60th30001712211018311911 
61st3000160240017291511 
62nd30001411251016271010 
63rd30001392630142547 
64th300012727501322172 
65th30001152870122087 
66th3000103299010171810 
67th3000902110001115710 
68th300078212400912156 
69th300065213700810111 
70th30005121411006770 
71st30003821640044108 
72nd30002421780031130 
73rd1131000101130001.. 

The mortgagee under the instalment system may pay to the Superintendent at any time, and under the fixed-loan system on any half-yearly due date, the whole balance of principal owing, with interest to date of payment, and obtain a discharge of the mortgage on payment of the fee prescribed for such discharge.

The mortgagor may also from time to time pay to the Superintendent, in addition to the half-yearly payments, sums of £5 or a multiple of £5, and in the case of fixed loans such deposits will be applied in reduction of the advance, and interest will be charged on the balance only; or, if the mortgagor so directs, such deposits will be held on his behalf and applied in payment of the half-yearly instalments of interest as they fall due.

In the case of an instalment loan, money paid in advance by a mortgagor may be applied in one of the following methods, according as he directs:—

  1. It may be held on his behalf and applied in payment of the half-yearly instalments (consisting partly of interest and partly of principal) as they fall due, until the deposit is exhausted.

  2. It may be applied at once in payment of as many future half-yearly instalments of principal (but not of interest) as it will cover, and, as far as such instalments are concerned, the corresponding interest will not be charged. On the next half-yearly date, however, the mortgagor will be required to continue his payments as before, the advance payment having the effect of reducing the period (thirty-six years and a half) during which he would have to pay such instalments. For instance, a mortgagor has a loan of £100: On the due date of his eighth half-yearly instalment he pays, in addition to the amount due, a sum of £5. This is applied in payment of his ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth instalments of principal—12s. 2d., 12s. 6d., 12s. 10d., 13s. 1d., 13s. 5d., 13s. 9d., 14s. 2d. (see table), making a total of £4 11s. 11d.—and the corresponding interest, £2 7s. 10d., £2 7s. 6d., £2 7s. 2d., £2 6s. 11d., £2 6s. 7d., £2 6s. 3d., £2 5s. 10d., is not charged. A balance of 8s. 1d. remains in his favour. Then on the next due date he has to make the half-yearly payment as usual (less 8s. 1d.), but, instead of being the ninth, it counts as the sixteenth instalment, and by this means the whole loan is repaid three years and a half earlier (seven half-yearly payments) than it otherwise would be.

  3. It may be applied as provided in the next paragraph.

On the due date of any instalment, after at least one-tenth of the loan has been repaid, by means of the half-yearly instalments or of moneys repaid in advance, or both, the mortgagor (provided he is not in arrear with any instalment or other payment due under the mortgage) may, with the consent of the Superintendent, readjust the loan by treating the balance of principal then unpaid as a fresh loan duly granted on that date for a fresh term. But no readjustment is allowed unless the balance of unpaid principal amounts to at least £100. Under this arrangement the mortgagor will be relieved of paying interest on the original amount of the loan, and will pay only on the balance of principal not repaid.

Advance payments in reduction of the mortgage, unless made on the due date of a half-yearly payment, take effect only from the next due date.

The law-costs payable for preparing and completing the mortgages under the Act are as under, but the mortgagor will require to pay also a reasonable fee for any additional work that the solicitor may have to undertake:—

Mortgages under “The Land Transfer Act, 1885.”

Law-costs of perusing title, preparing and registering mortgage (to be deducted from the advance),—

 £s.d.
  If advance be not exceeding £250076
  Exceeding £250, but not exceeding £5000100
  Exceeding £500, but not exceeding £7500150
  Exceeding £750, but not exceeding £1,000110
  Exceeding £1,000, but not exceeding £1,500160
  Exceeding £1,500, but not exceeding £2,0001116
  Exceeding £2,000, but not exceeding £3,0001176
With cash disbursements, which are the same in every case, namely,—..
  Mortgage-forms0 20
  Search-fee (with an additional 2s. for every certificate of title after the first)020
  Registration (with an additional 2s. for every certificate of title after the first)0100

Mortgages under “The Deeds Registration Act, 1868.”

Law-costs of perusing title, preparing and registering mortgage (to be deducted from the advance),—

 £ s.d.
  If advance be not exceeding £1500180
  Exceeding £150, but not exceeding £250106
  Exceeding £250, but not exceeding £500150
  Exceeding £500, but not exceeding £7501130
  Exceeding £750, but not exceeding £1,000230
  Exceeding £1,000, but not exceeding £1,5002130
  Exceeding £1,500, but not exceeding £2,0003130
  Exceeding £2,000, but not exceeding £3,0004130

With cash disbursements,—

  Fee chargeable by solicitor not residing in registration centre for employing agent to register mortgage£s.d
  Solicitor's charge for obtaining Land Board's consent to mortgage of leasehold land—
    If advance be not exceeding £250020
    Exceeding £250050
  Fee for partial or total discharge of mortgage050
  Fee for execution of consent by the Superintendent to any document050
  Fee for production of title-deeds held by the Superintendent056

Solicitors are entitled to charge moderately for any services mortgagors may require over and above those provided for in the scale—such services, for example, as clearing encumbered titles, obtaining and registering titles, &c.

Valuation reports on the securities offered are made on behalf of the Department by expert land-valuers; and these reports, together with the corresponding valuations appearing in the district valuation-rolls, prepared in accordance with the provisions of “The Government Valuation of Land Act, 1896,” and reports from the Commissioners of Crown Lands in the case of Crown leaseholds, are considered by the General Board. Board meetings are held weekly, or as occasion requires, and the Superintendent is bound by the resolutions of the Board. A resolution is taken with regard to every application placed before the General Board, so that on the Board rests the responsibility of granting loans or of refusing to grant them.

Some applicants offer securities which are obviously not eligible; and in that event the valuation fees paid are returned, the securities are not reported on, and the applications do not go before the Board.

By arrangements made with the Post Office, mortgagors are enabled to pay their instalments and interest to the credit of the Superintendent at any money-order office throughout the colony, and free of all costs for remitting the money to Wellington. This is an arrangement at once convenient and economical for the large number of persons scattered all over the colony who have financial dealings with the Advances to Settlers Office. Loans may also be repaid in full through the Post Office.

The officials of the Government Advances to Settlers Office are bound by declaration to observe secrecy respecting applications for advances, and are forbidden to give any information respecting the business of the Department except to officers appointed to assist in carrying out the provisions of the Act.

The Act provides penalties for persons employed in the business of the Advances to Settlers Office taking any fee or reward from an applicant for a loan under the Act; for persons acting as valuers of land in which they have a pecuniary interest; and for persons who may attempt to bribe any one employed under the Act. It should be understood that no commission, charge, or procuration fee is payable in connection with an application for a loan.

The first meeting of the General Board for the purpose of considering applications for loans was held on 23rd February, 1895; and up to the 31st March, 1904, the Board had authorised 14,413 advances, amounting to £4,854,040. The total amount applied for in the 14,413 applications granted in full and partially was £5,478,020. 1,877 applicants declined the partial grants offered to them, amounting to £844,520; so that the net advances authorised at 31st March, 1904, numbered 12,536, and amounted to £4,009,520. The security for the net authorised advances was valued at £8,704,640. The number of applications received up to 31st March, 1904, was 18,285, for an aggregate amount of £6,630,981.

Chapter 55. THE LAND-TAX AND INCOME-TAX.

BY “The Land and Income Assessment Act, 1891,” a system of taxation was instituted on the unimproved value of land and the capital value of mortgages of land, in conjunction with a tax on incomes in excess of £300 a year. Various amending Acts were passed from time to time, and in 1900 the law was consolidated in “The Land and Income Assessment Act, 1900.”

In 1903 an amending Act, containing certain amendments which experience had shown were required was passed. These two measures, with an annual taxing Act, comprise the legislation on the subject.

THE LAND-tax.

In 1902-1903 the rate of land-tax in respect of mortgages was reduced from one penny in the pound to three farthings. This represented a reduction of revenue to the extent of £30,000. This loss has now been recouped by revised valuations made, and the yield for 1903-1904 was, in round figures, £335,000, of which the ordinary land-tax was £232,800 and the graduated tax (including the special tax on absentee land-owners) £102,200.

For the purposes of the “ordinary” land-tax, owners are allowed under the Act to deduct from the total unimproved value of their land the amount of any registered mortgage thereon, and the mortgagees are required to make a return of all their mortgages. In the case of uncompleted sales, where the title has not been transferred the amount of unpaid purchase-money is treated as a mortgage—that is, it may be deducted by the purchaser and must be included in the return made by the vendor.

An owner of land the unimproved value of which, together with mortgages owing to him, does not exceed £1,500 (after deducting mortgages owing by him) is allowed an exemption of £500, but where such value exceeds £1,500 the exemption diminishes by £1 for every £2 that such value increases, so that no exemption is allowable when £2,500 is reached.

The Act contains a provision that in cases where the income from any land or mortgages, plus income from all other sources, is less than £200 per annum, and the owner is incapacitated by age or infirmity from supplementing such income, a further exemption may be allowed by the Commissioner upon his being satisfied that the payment of the tax would entail hardship on such owner. This discretionary power has been exercised in a considerable number of instances, especially in the case of widows and orphans with small means, and much hardship prevented.

All mortgages are assessed at their full nominal value, except where it is satisfactorily shown that owing to depreciation of the security or other cause such value has been diminished. In the case of mixed mortgages—that is, mortgages which are secured on both real and personal property—the amount of the mortgage chargeable with land-tax is taken to be the assessed value of the and included in the security, the interest derived from the balance of mortgage being liable to income-tax.

It will be readily seen that the deductions and exemptions which have been referred to materially reduce the number of taxpayers as compared with the number of land-owners, the latter being upwards of 115,000, whilst the former only number about 20,000.

If the unimproved value of land in any assessment amounts to £5,000 or over, graduated tax is payable thereon according to the scale given on another page. Mortgages, however, are not chargeable with the graduated tax; but, on the other hand, no deduction is allowed in an assessment for graduated tax in respect of any mortgage owing on the land.

Fifty per cent. additional on the amount of the graduated tax is levied where the owners have been resident out of the colony for a period of not less than one year next preceding the date of the passing of the annual taxing Act.

Native lands which are occupied by Europeans are subject to the ordinary tax, it being considered that as such lands have benefited equally with the lands of Europeans by the expenditure of public money, they should bear some proportion of the taxation. But, recognising that in some instances, where the interests of the Native owners are small, the collection of the tax might possibly entail some hardship, the Legislature decided that only half the usual rate should be collected on such lands. Graduated tax is not chargeable on Native land.

THE INCOME-TAX.

Both the number of income-tax payers and the amount of tax received may appear at first sight smaller than might be expected from the population of New Zealand, but it should be remembered that incomes from land and mortgages are exempt, the unimproved value of the former and the capital value of the latter being chargeable with land-tax in the manner hereinbefore explained. The statutory exemption of £300, plus life-insurance premiums up to £50, renders a very large number of employees and small traders exempt from the tax. Companies pay the tax on profits, and dividends are not returnable by their shareholders. These circumstances will account for the smallness of the number (7,400) subject to income-tax and, to a certain extent, the comparatively inconsiderable contribution to the revenue.

Objections to income assessments, are heard in private before the Stipendiary Magistrate.

It is impossible to indicate the number and variety of questions which arise daily in connection with income assessments, or to give a full account of how they are dealt with.

Amongst the questions to which special attention has been given is that of the depreciation of plant and machinery, and the amount to be allowed as a deduction under this heading. The Amendment Act of 1894 admitted, amongst deductions, an allowance for depreciation of plant and machinery over and above what may be claimed as repairs and renewals, and this allowance is maintained in the Act of 1900. The allowance is, by law, fixed at what may be considered just by the Commissioner; but the Chief Inspector of Machinery is, in this matter, the expert adviser of the Department, and he fixes the rates to be allowed. There have been naturally some differences of opinion between owners of machinery and the Department, but only in the case of steam-vessels has the Inspector found it necessary to alter the scale first laid down. The rule formulated for the Inspector's guidance is as follows:—

An allowance to be made of such an amount (over and above what is expended in renewals and repairs) as will equal the annual loss of profit-earning power.

This is not intended to provide for the loss of capital invested, but simply represents the annual loss through wear and tear (as affecting income-earning capacity), other than that which can be made good by renewals of parts and repairs.

Obsolete machinery is also allowed for when the machinery has been actually discarded; and here the amount to be allowed must bear the same proportion to the whole loss as the time the tax has been in operation bears to the life of the machine. An engine discarded in the tenth year of the tax—the life of the engine being, say, twenty years—would be allowed for to one-half of the loss incurred, less the annual amounts that have been allowed by the Department for depreciation during ten years. Machinery superseded by something better, but kept in reserve in case of a breakdown, is not allowed for.

In the consolidating Act of 1900, before referred to, a further allowance is made to taxpayers who occupy their own freehold or leasehold premises. Such taxpayers are now entitled to deduct a sum at the rate of 5 per cent. on the capital value of their interest in the land or improvements thereon. This concession is intended to remove an anomaly which previously existed as between a taxpayer in business who occupied premises for which he paid rent and one who occupied his own freehold, or premises erected on leasehold ground. In the first case rent was deducted, and in the hands of the landlord was not taxable, being income derived from land; in the second case the allowance was limited under the then existing law to 5 per cent. on the amount on which land-tax was paid. This might be nothing, and in the case of premises on leasehold land no allowance could then be made. As an equivalent of the rent paid by a tenant, a freeholder is now allowed a deduction of 5 per cent. on the capital value of his business premises; while a leaseholder, who was previously entitled to deduct his ground-rent only, is now allowed a further deduction of 5 per cent. on the capital value of any leasehold interest he may own in his business premises. Mortgage interest, however, is not now deductible. The deduction of 5 per cent. on the capital value of the taxpayer's interest in his business premises precludes any further deduction. The effect of the provision is to exclude land, with its profit or loss, from the income-tax system.

It should be mentioned here that the statutory exemption of £300 is not allowed to absentees, whether firms or individuals, nor in any case to companies.

Regulations have been issued for levying income-tax on the profits earned by shipowners whose headquarters are beyond the colony. The plan adopted is to require a return of the outward freight and passenger lists, and to levy tax at the rate of one shilling in the pound upon 5 per cent. of the total returned.

YIELD OF TAX.

The yield of land-tax and income-tax for the last six years has, in round figures, been as follows:—

Year.Land-tax.Income-tax.
 ££
1898-9298,000115,500
1899-1900294,000129,000
1900-1294,000173,000
1901-2313,000179,000
1902-3296,000201,000
1903-4335,000221,000

RATES OF TAX.

The rates of tax at present are as follow: The ordinary land-tax. is 1d. in the pound; the mortgage tax, 3/4d.; the graduated tax commences at £5,000, at 1/16d. in the pound on the unimproved value, and rises to 3d. where the unimproved value of an owner's land is £210,000, or exceeds that sum. The ordinary tax on Native land occupied by Europeans is 1/2d. in the pound. For taxpayers other than companies the rate of income-tax is 6d. in the pound on the first taxable £1,000—that is, after deducting the £300 exemption—and 1s. in the pound on any excess over £1,000. A person having an annual income of £1,900 would be thus taxed: £300 would be exempted; £1,000 would pay 6d. in the pound; and the remaining £600, 1s. in the pound: making a total of £55 a year. The tax on an income of £400 would be at 6d. on £100, equal to £2 10s. Income-tax is payable by companies, at the uniform rate of 1s. in the pound.

The schedule of rates of graduated land-tax is as follows:—

Where the value is£5,000 and is less than £7,000,one-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£7,000 and is less than £9,000,two-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£9,000 and is less than £11,000,three-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£11,000 and is less than £13,000,four-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£13,000 and is less than £15,000,five-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£15,000 and is less than £17,500,six-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£17,500 and is less than £20,000,seven-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£20,000 and is less than £22,500,eight-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£22,500 and is less than £25,000,nine-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£25,000 and is less than £27,500,ten-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£27,500 and is less than £30,000,eleven-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£30,000 and is less than £35,000,twelve-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£35,000 and is less than £40,000,thirteen-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£40,000 and is less than £45,000,fourteen-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£45,000 and is less than £50,000,fifteen-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£50,000 and is less than £55,000,one penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£55,000 and is less than £60,000,one penny and one-sixteenth of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£60,000 and is less than £65,000,one penny and two-sixteenth of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£65,000 and is less than £70,000,one penny and three-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£70,000 and is less than £75,000,one penny and four-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£75,000 and is less than £80,000,one penny and five-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£80,000 and is less than £85,000,one penny and six-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£85,000 and is less than £90,000,one penny and seven-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£90,000 and is less than £95,000,one penny and eight-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£95,000 and is less than £100,000,one penny and nine-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£100,000 and is less than £105,000,one penny and ten-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£105,000 and is less than £110,000,one penny and eleven-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£110,000 and is less than £115,000,one penny and twelve-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£115,000 and is less than £120,000,one penny and thirteen-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£120,000 and is less than £125,000,one penny and fourteen-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£125,000 and is less than £130,000,one penny and fifteen-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£130,000 and is less than £135,000,twopence in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£135,000 and is less than £140,000,twopence and one-sixteenth of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£140,000 and is less than £145,000,twopence and two - sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£145,000 and is less than £150,000,twopence and three-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£150,000 and is less than £155,000,twopence and four-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£155,000 and is less than £160,000,twopence and five - sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£160,000 and is less than £165,000,twopence and six - sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£165,000 and is less than £170,000,twopence and seven-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£170,000 and is less than £175,000,twopence and eight-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£175,000 and is less than £180,000,twopence and nine-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£180,000, and is less than £185,000,twopence and ten - sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£185,000 and is less than £190,000,twopence and eleven-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£190,000 and is less than £195,000,twopence and twelve-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£195,000 and is less than £200,000,twopence and thirteen-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£200,000 and is less than £205,000,twopence and fourteen - sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£205,000 and is less than £210,000,twopence and fifteen-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling.
Where the value is£210,000 or exceeds that sum threepence in the pound sterling. 

Chapter 56. “THE GOVERNMENT VALUATION OF LAND ACT, 1896.”

THE above Act provides for the periodical valuation of all landed properties in New Zealand, and for that purpose the colony is divided into special districts.

The first valuation was made as at 31st March, 1898, since which date valuations in many parts of the colony have been revised as circumstances required. An Amendment Act passed during the session of 1900 contains the amendments which four years' experience of the original Act showed to be desirable. As the principle of the original Act remains unaltered, the amendments are practically confined to the machinery clauses and the clearer definition of terms.

The valuations are used for the following purposes: Land-tax, local rates (in cases where rates are levied on the capital or on the unimproved value), stamp duties, and duties under “The Deceased Persons' Estates Duties Act, 1881”; for advances and investments on mortgage of land made by the Post Office, Government Insurance Department, Public Trust Office, Government Advances to Settlers Office, and the Commissioners of the Public Debts Sinking Funds. The valuation is also used for the guidance of the Government in transactions under “The Land for Settlements Act, 1894,” and “The Public Works Act, 1894.”

Valuations are supplied by the Department on payment of the prescribed fee.

The cost of making the valuation is borne principally by the Valuation Department, the Land- and Income-tax Department, the Advances to Settlers Office, and the local authorities using the valuation, while separate fees, for supplying individual valuations to those requiring them, are charged by regulation.

Chapter 57. RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE OF LAND.

“THE Rating on Unimproved Value Act, 1896,” was passed by the General Assembly to afford local bodies the opportunity of adopting the principle of rating which is expressed in the title of the measure. It is entirely at the option of the bodies to adopt the system, and provision is made for a return to the old system of rating, if desired, after three years' experience of the new one. The Act provides that a proportion of the ratepayers on the roll, varying from 25 per cent. where the total number does not exceed 100, to 15 per cent. where the number exceeds 300, may by demand in writing, delivered to the chairman of the district, require that a proposal to rate property on the basis of the unimproved value may be submitted to the ratepayers, whose votes shall be taken between twenty-one and twenty-eight days after delivery of the demand. The poll is to be taken in the same manner as in case of a proposal to raise a loan in the district under “The Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1901.”

Under the original Act it was necessary for a minimum number of one-third of the ratepayers to vote, and a majority of their votes carried the proposal. Now, under “The Local Government Voting Reform Act, 1899,” the question of adoption or otherwise is decided by a bare majority of the valid votes recorded, irrespective of the number of ratepayers who have voted.

A rescinding proposal can be carried at a poll by the same means as one for adoption, but not until after three years have elapsed, and, vice versâ, rejection of a proposal bars its being again brought forward for a similar period. However, in the case of past polls at which the proposal to adopt the Act was rejected solely on account of an insufficient number of ratepayers recording their votes, it is now provided that a new poll may be held at any time.

The valuation-roll is supplied to the local authority by the Valuer-General under the provisions of “The Government Valuation of Land Act, 1896,” and its amendment of 1900, and the definitions of “capital value,” “improvements,” “unimproved value,” and “value of improvements” found in these Acts apply also to the Rating on Unimproved Value Act. Provision is made for adjustment of rating powers given under previous Acts to the Act of 1896 by fixing equivalents. Thus a rate of 1s. in the pound on the annual value under former Acts is to be considered equal to 3/4d. in the pound on the capital value under the Act of 1896.

The adjustments are to be made to that the rates on the unimproved value shall be such as to produce as much as, but not more than, the rates under “The Rating Act, 1894.” For instance, supposing a local authority has a rating power up to 3/4d. in the pound on the capital value, then it can levy any rate in the pound on the unimproved value of land in its district so long as the producing capacity of such rate is not greater than would be the producing capacity of a 3/4d. rate on the capital value of the district. When a fixed rate, under the older system of rating, is security for a loan, the Controller and Auditor-General is given power to interfere and fix the new rate himself if of opinion that the new rate on the unimproved value does not afford equally good security to the one to be given up.

The operation of the Act does not apply to water, gas, electric light, sewage, nor hospital and charitable aid rates.

Particulars will be found in Section XV., “Local Governing Bodies,” of the local bodies that have, up to 31st March, 1904, submitted the question of the adoption of the Act to the ratepayers, and the result of the polling in each case.

Chapter 58. STATE FIRE INSURANCE.

IN the year 1903 was passed an Act “to establish a State Fire Insurance Office and to make other provisions for the insurance and protection of insurable property in New Zealand against loss or damage by fire.”

The statute provides for the establishment of an office to be administered by a General Manager appointed by the Governor, and for the necessary staff—not subject to the laws regulating the Civil Service.

There is provision for the constitution of a Board, to consist of the General Manager, the Colonial Treasurer, the Government Insurance Commissioner, and two other persons (not being in the Civil Service) appointed by the Governor. The latter hold office for two years, with eligibility for reappointment, and are to be remunerated according to appropriation by Parliament.

In order to provide capital for the business, the Treasurer, on being authorised by the Governor in Council, is empowered to raise from time to time such sums as he thinks fit, not exceeding in the whole £100,000, any of which may, if found convenient, be raised in the colony.

In the event of such capital not being found sufficient, the Treasurer, on being authorised by the Government, is empowered to raise additional capital as required. To do this the General Manager must convene a meeting of the Board, and, if the Board approves, by requisition under his seal apply to the Treasurer for what is deemed necessary by way of supplementary capital and additional funds (not exceeding £20,000 at a time) to carry on business until the pleasure of Parliament is signified.

The rate of interest on debentures, scrip, or other security issued in respect of any sum raised under the Act may not be higher than 4 per cent.

For purposes of sinking fund, it is provided that at the expiration of every triennial period during the currency of securities the General Manager shall pay over to the Public Trustee one-half the net profits to the credit of a State Fire Insurance Sinking Fund Account. As soon as the Treasurer is satisfied that the accumulations of sinking fund will suffice to redeem the securities at maturity he is to notify the Public Trustee and the Manager, whereupon the payments of sinking fund cease, and subsequent accretions of interest are paid into Reserve Fund.

All moneys payable to the General Manager are to be paid to the credit of the State Fire Insurance Account, out of which shall be payable, without further appropriation than the Act under notice, all costs and expenses, salaries, fire losses, and other outgoings of the business—including interest payable on securities issued.

Provision is made for the General Manager, with consent of the Board, to buy, sell, or lease land, with or without buildings.

For the period ending 31st December following the expiration of three years after the first insurance is effected, and triennially from then, one-half of the net surplus profits are to go to a Reserve Fund and be invested by the General Manager. The other half is to be devoted to bonuses payable to such persons as are actual insurers in the State Fire Insurance Office. The division is to be made on a proportional basis, relatively to premiums paid, and as soon after the close of the triennial period as possible.

Chapter 59. OLD-AGE PENSIONS.

IN 1898 a Bill, introduced into Parliament by the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, Premier, became law, which provided for the payment of old-age pensions out of the Consolidated Fund (revenue of the General Government) to persons duly qualified, without contribution by the beneficiaries. A Bill had been previously introduced in 1897, which, as amended by the House of Representatives, was transmitted to the Legislative Council, but thrown out by that body. The original Act has been amended in several directions by amending Acts passed in 1900, 1901, and 1902.

A Registrar at Wellington has the general administration of the Act, subject to the control of the Colonial Treasurer; and, for the purposes of administration, the colony is divided into seventy-four districts, each in charge of a Deputy-Registrar. In several instances the Deputy-Registrar is the paid officer of the Old-age Pensions Department, but the duties of this office are mostly undertaken by Clerks of Stipendiary Magistrate's Courts.

The Act does not apply to,—

  1. Aboriginal natives of New Zealand to whom moneys other than pensions are paid out of the sums appropriated for Native purposes by “The Civil List Act, 1863.”

  2. Aliens.

  3. Naturalised subjects, except such as have been naturalised for the period of one year next preceding the date on which they establish their pension-claims.

  4. Chinese or other Asiatics, whether naturalised or not.

The Act, however, does apply to aboriginal natives of New Zealand other than those specified above.

Every person of the full age of sixty-five years or upwards, other than above stated, is entitled to a pension who fulfils the following conditions:—

  1. That he is residing in the colony on the date when he establishes his claim to the pension, and remains in the colony.

  2. That he has so resided continuously for not less than twenty-five years immediately preceding such date:

    Provided that continuous residence in the colony shall not be deemed to have been interrupted by occasional absence therefrom unless the total period of all such exceeds two years; nor, in the case of a seaman, by absence therefrom whilst serving on board a vessel registered in and trading to and from the colony if he establishes the fact that during such absence his family or home was in the colony.

    [NOTE.—A total period of four years' absence is allowed where the applicant was not absent during the twelve months ended 31st October, 1898, and where the total period of actual residence is not less than twenty-five years.]

  3. That during the period of twelve years immediately preceding such date he has not been imprisoned for four months, or on four occasions, for any offence punishable by imprisonment for twelve months or upwards, and dishonouring him in the public estimation.

  4. That during the period of twenty-five years immediately preceding such date he has not been imprisoned for a term of five years with or without hard labour for any offence dishonouring him in the public estimation.

  5. That during the period of twelve years immediately preceding such date the claimant has not, for a period of six months or upwards, if a husband, deserted his wife, or without just cause failed to provide her with adequate means of maintenance, or neglected to maintain such of his children as were under the age of fourteen years; or, if a wife, deserted her husband or such of her children as were under that age.

  6. That he is of good moral character, and is, and has for five years immediately preceding such date been, leading a sober and reputable life.

  7. That his yearly income does not amount to fifty-two pounds or upwards, or the joint income of husband and wife, including pension, does not exceed seventy-eight pounds.

  8. That the net capital value of his accumulated property does not amount to two hundred and seventy pounds or upwards.

  9. That he has not directly or indirectly deprived himself of property or income in order to qualify for a pension.

The full amount of pension is eighteen pounds per annum (£18), diminished by,—

  1. One pound for every complete pound of income above thirty-four pounds.

  2. One pound for every complete fifteen pounds of net accumulated property.

Income is money or profits derived by any means or from any source, and includes reasonable cost of board and lodging up to £26, but not any payment by way of sick-allowance or funeral benefits from any registered Friendly Society, nor any pension payable under the Act.

Net accumulated property is the capital value of all real and personal property owned by a person to the extent of his beneficial estate or interest therein, less the sum of £50, and less any mortgages existing on such property.

Where the claimant is married the yearly income is deemed to be not less than half of the total yearly incomes of both husband and wife, and the net accumulated property is deemed to be not less than half the total net accumulated property of both, provided that the actual income or property of either is not reduced by this condition.

Any person otherwise qualified to receive a pension who owns property on which he resides, and the value of which does not exceed £300, may transfer the said property to the Public Trustee, and the value of such property shall be deducted from the capital value of his total accumulated property for the purpose of computing the amount of his pension. The pensioner is permitted to reside on the property rent free during his life time, but must pay all rates and charges thereon. If a husband and wife, both being pensioners, are living together, and one should die, the survivor shall be permitted to continue to reside on the property. On the death of the pensioner or survivor, or where the pensioner is no longer entitled to a pension, the Public Trustee shall sell the property, and after deducting from the proceeds of the sale the amount of pension paid as a consequence of the transfer of the property, together with his commission and interest at the rate 4 per cent., shall pay the balance to the person or persons entitled thereto. Provision is made for a pensioner or survivor to pay such amounts as aforesaid at any time, with the view of obtaining a retransfer of the property.

Each applicant for a pension must make application on a printed form to the Deputy-Registrar of the district in which he resides, and the Deputy-Registrar is required to certify that the questions and answers therein have been read over to the applicant.

On receiving an application the Deputy-Registrar proceeds at once to verify the applicant's statements by a series of inquiry forms, which are sent, among other places, to the various banks and insurance companies, the Post-Office Savings-Bank, the Tax and Valuation Departments, and, in addition, the Police Department is asked to furnish a report. The claim is then transmitted with the results of the inquiries to the Stipendiary Magistrate presiding at the nearest Court, and a date is fixed for the personal examination of the pensioner. If the claim is admitted, the Magistrate issues a certificate setting out the amount of the pension granted for the first year, which is at once forwarded to the Registrar at Wellington, who issues a pension-certificate.

Payment of the pension is made by twelve monthly instalments through the Postal Department, sufficient money being remitted each month to cover the payments falling due in that month. No payment is made without production of the pension-certificate. Instalments are payable on the first day of the month, but may be collected up to the first day of the month following, after which date the special authority of the Colonial Treasurer is required before payment can be made.

For the purpose of ascertaining if a pensioner is entitled to a renewal of his pension, he is required, shortly before the expiry of the pension certificate held by him, to furnish to the Deputy-Registrar a statement of his income during the past year, and also of his property, and this statement is dealt with and submitted to the Magistrate for investigation in the same manner as an original claim. The Magistrate issues a certificate as before, which is forwarded to the Registrar, who issues a fresh pension-certificate, the expired certificate being retained by the Postal Department on payment of the last instalment.

If a pensioner is physically unfit to draw his pension in person he may appoint an agent, who requires an authority signed by a Magistrate before he can collect an instalment.

Pensions granted to persons maintained by a charitable institution are paid to the governing body of such institution on production of an authority likewise signed by a Magistrate.

No payment is made of an instalment which falls due while the pensioner is in gaol, an asylum, or out of the colony. On the death of a pensioner, the portion of the instalment accruing to date of death may be paid if applied to defray burial expenses.

All deaths over the age of sixty-five are reported to the Registrar by the Registrars of Deaths throughout the colony.

If a pensioner is convicted of drunkenness, the convicting court may forfeit one or more instalments, or cancel the pension outright.

Provision is also made for a Magistrate cancelling during its currency any pension-certificate the holder of which ceases to qualify for a pension.

If the Registrar has reason to believe that any pension has been improperly obtained, he may suspend payment and cause inquiry to be made before a Magistrate; and if a pensioner becomes possessed of property or income in excess of the amount allowed by law the Registrar may apply to have the pension varied or cancelled.

Any person who by a wilfully false statement obtains, or attempts to obtain, a pension, is liable to six months' imprisonment, as also is any person who aids or abets such person.

Where it is found on inquiry that a pension has been overpaid, and the Magistrate is of opinion that the over-payment was obtained by fraud, the pensioner is liable, in addition to imprisonment, to a penalty of double the amount paid in excess.

If, on the death of a pensioner, or the wife or husband of a pensioner, it is found that he, or either of them, was possessed of property in excess of the amount allowed by law in respect of the amount of pension granted, double the amount of pension over-paid may be recovered from the estate so found to be in excess.

By the 31st March, 1899, there were 7,443 pensions, which represented a yearly payment of £128,082. A year later the number of pensions in force was 11,285, representing a yearly payment of £193,718. On the 31st March, 1901, the number in force was 12,405, the yearly payment for these being £211,965; on the 31st March, 1902, there were 12,776 pensions, and the amount was £217,192; on the 31st March, 1903, the number in force was 12,481 (including 892 Maoris), representing a liability of £211,594; and on the 31st March, 1904, the number of pensions was 11,926 (729 Maoris), and the amount payable thereon £200,915.

The number of pensions in force in each of the old-age pension districts was:—

NUMBER AND ANNUAL VALUE OF PENSIONS GRANTED TO EUROPEANS AND MAORIS IN FORCE ON THE 31ST MARCH, 1904.

District.Number.Annual Value.
Europeans.Maoris.

*Two hundred pensions were transferred to this district during the year from the Helensville district.

   £s.d.
Auckland*1,1371119,43400
Coromandel78301,89300
Dargaville55..92600
Hamilton136132,49600
Helensville41..72200
Kaitaia173993300
Mangonui91845600
Maungaturoto35..55300
Otahuhu180103,00700
Raglan122051700
Rawene14821,57100
Rotorua114599000
Russell56812,24000
Taupo12544400
Warkworth67..1,00600
Whangarei13112,21300
Whangaroa112459700
Thames24744,27600
Opotiki152977500
Paeroa5961,11200
Tauranga32391,23100
Te Aroha32157000
Whakatane54793100
Gisborne57311,47300
Port Awanui51637800
Napier25G14,30500
Dannevirke14712,45700
Waipawa23..39800
Wairoa104386500
New Plymouth180203,30100
Stratford25..42600
Wanganui176103,19300
Hawera6221,12700
Marton7361,35100
Patea20135300
Wellington53139,22100
Feilding9061,621100
Greytown7911,33100
Masterton8211,42100
Otaki55121,15300
Pahiatua31..47500
Palmerston North15442,67200
Nelson24544,03100
Motueka72..1,14500
Blenheim14222,42200
Havelock7..12600
Christchurch1,211320,01700
Akaroa31662600
Amberley8..13300
Ashburton202..3,37000
Culverden5....8100
Kaiapoi27464,64100
Kaikoura21238900
Timaru143..2,42900
Fairlie4..6300
Temuka114..1,85600
Waimate9321,54300
Greymouth461..8,16000
Reefton135..2,38800
Hokitika48928,47400
Westport23344,10900
Oamaru21023,50300
Dunedin943116,04600
Balclutha135..2,30300
Clyde102..1,80000
Lawrence193..3,23900
Milton124..1,98200
Naseby95..1,60800
Palmerston South53..87000
Pert Chalmers16452,67500
Invercargill611110,18500
Queenstown105..1,81700
Riverton13042,32200
Chatham Islands328200
Total11,197729£200,91500

With the above, a statement of the cost of administration year by year is furnished.

COST OF ADMINISTRATION OF “THE OLD AGE PENSIONS ACT, 1898,” FOR THE FINANCIAL YEARS ENDED

 31 March, 1900.31 March, 1901.31 March, 1902.31 March 1903.31 March, 1904.
 £££££
Salaries and clerical assistance1,3741,5091,6472,6302,681
Travelling-expenses and interpreters' fees309194190384274
Contributions to Post Office466500500500520
Contingencies211176138245180
Rent of offices..366040..
Total2,3602,4152,5353,8053,655

The following particulars are taken from the Registrar's report on the transactions for the year ended 31st March, 1904:—

“The number of pensions in force on the 31st March, 1904, was 11,926, representing a liability of £200,915—an average per pension of £16 17s. Of this number, 729 were Maoris. The sexes of the 11,926 pensioners were—Europeans, 6,708 males and 4,489 females; Maoris, 371 males and 358 females. Of the total number of pensioners since the Act came into force 3,707 were not married, 8,162 married, and 6,692 widowed; making a total of 18,561.

“During the financial year just ended the number of new pensions granted was 1,063.

“The total number of pensions voided during the year was 1,618, made up as follows: Deaths, 928; cancellations, 690.”

NUMBER OF PENSIONS GRANTED SINCE THE ACT CAME INTO OPERATION; NUMBER OF DEATHS, CERTIFICATES CANCELLED; NUMBER AND LIABILITY IN RESPECT OF PENSIONS IN FORCE AT END OF EACH YEAR.

Year ending the 31st March.Number of Pensions granted.Deaths.Cancellations.In Force at End of Year.Liability each Year.

*Including forty-four pensions previously cancelled and now reinstated.

     £
18997,4873867,443127,319
19004,6997867111,285193,718
19012,22781529212,405211,965
19021,69493538812,776217,192
19031,3911,06462212,481211,594
19041,063*92869011,926200,915
Totals18,5614,5662,069....

AGES OF EUROPEAN PENSIONERS ON THE ROLLS AT 31ST MARCH, 1904.

At AgeNumber.
6560
66444
67636
68730
69928
701,468
711,207
72947
73803
74707
75554
76413
77408
78352
79308
80244
81213
82151
83157
84137
85101
8655
8745
8845
8926
9019
9113
9210
937
942
951
961
971
1001
1011
1032
..11,197

Chapter 60. PREFERENTIAL AND RECIPROCAL TRADE.

PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

THE Act passed in 1903 is referred to on page 101 of Part I., and the articles not of British origin, with the additional preferential duties which have been imposed on them, are specified in detail after the tariff in force under “The Customs Laws Consolidation Act, 1882.”

No duty is payable on tea grown in British Dominions, except when imported in packets not over 1 lb. in weight.

On pages 190-192 the original rates and additional duties are set out in still clearer form in the remarks under “Customs Revenue.”

RECIPROCAL TRADE.

Where any country, being part of the British Dominions, reduces or abolishes, or proposes to do so, the duty on any product or manufacture of New Zealand, the Governor is authorised to enter into an agreement to reduce or abolish the duty on any articles the produce or manufacture of such country to an extent that the estimated revenue so remitted shall equal as nearly as possible the remission by that country. Such agreements, however, require ratification by Parliament.

Similarly, where any country not being part of the British Dominions, reduces or abolishes, or proposes to do so, the duty on any product or manufacture of New Zealand, the Governor is authorised, subject to or by virtue of a treaty with His Majesty, to negotiate for an agreement to reduce or abolish the duty on any articles the produce or manufacture of such country to an extent that the estimated revenue so remitted in New Zealand shall equal as nearly as possible what is remitted by that country, subject to Parliamentary ratification.

Chapter 61. SECTION II.: AGRICULTURE IN NEW ZEALAND.

[By M. MURPHY, F.L.S.]

IT is generally admitted that there is no part of the British dominions where agriculture, in its widest sense, can be carried on with so much certainty and with such good results as in New Zealand. The range of latitude, extending as it does from 34° to 47° South, secures for the colony a diversity of climate which renders it suitable for all the products of subtropical and temperate zones, while an insular position protects it from the continuous and parching droughts which periodically inflict such terrible losses on the agriculturist and pastoralist of Australia and South America.

Again, the climate, although somewhat variable, never reaches the extremes of heat or cold. So genial, indeed, is it that most animals and plants, when first introduced to the colony, assume a vigour unknown to them before.

NORTH ISLAND.

All the best forage-plants and grasses thrive most admirably, continuing to grow throughout the year with little intermission. Stock of every sort thrive and fatten rapidly on the pastures, coming to maturity at an early age without the aid of roots or condimental foods. All cereals flourish equally well, more especially Indian corn, which produces from fifty to eighty bushels per acre.

So full is the soil of plant-food that several continuous crops of potatoes or cereals may be taken with little apparent exhaustion. Wheat, oats, and barley thrive where the soil is not too rich; otherwise they produce enormous crops of straw, without a corresponding yield of corn. The tobacco-plant thrives well, as do also hops and sorghum, broom-corn, peanut, hemp, ramee or rhea (China grass), together with a large variety of economic plants, the growth of which will one day afford employment for a large population. In addition to these, all the British, Chinese, and Japanese fruits, with oranges, lemons, limes, olives, and vines (in the northern part), flourish abundantly, requiring but ordinary care. Potatoes are largely grown, and yield heavy crops.

Much of the country along the south-west and west coast is not taken up, and the primeval forest is fast disappearing before the settler's axe. For the most part, the soil is fertile, and the growth of grass and clover is extremely rapid and vigorous when sown on the surface after the felled timber has been destroyed by fire.

To the British husbandman it will seem almost incredible that the best pasture-grasses grow and thrive as they do with no other preparation than the ashes resulting from the burnt timber—no ploughing and no previous loosening of the soil—yet, in less than a year from the date of scattering the seed, this same land will fatten from five to six sheep per acre.

So rapidly are these fertile forest-lands being cleared and converted into pastures that the demand for stock (principally dairy) has greatly increased, and this demand must continue for a series of years before it is fully met.

Those who in the past have watched the progress of New Zealand, especially of the North Island, have always maintained that when the Maori difficulties and other impediments to settlement were over, the prosperity of the country would advance at a very rapid rate. The time has now come, and all that is required to expedite the coming prosperity is the settlement of our lands by a thrifty class of settlers.

There are millions of acres yet unoccupied, a great portion of which is of good quality, and only waiting the hand of man to make it carry, with very little cost, large herds of dairy stock, with flocks of long-wool and crossbred sheep. The west coast of the island is essentially a cattle-country. Considerable areas in the midland districts are adapted to long-wool sheep, as is also the country along the east coast. Much of the country may be described as being good sheep-land, a large portion of which is quite capable of carrying two sheep to the acre, and some of it as many as three or four.

MIDDLE ISLAND.

If the North Island has a splendid inheritance in her forests, the Middle Island can boast of her magnificent plain-lands, rolling downs, and vast mountain ranges, all of which, to a greater or less degree, have already been made to contribute to the wealth of the colony.

The central portion of the Middle Island presented to the first-comers a vast plain, covered only with waving tussock-grass, offering little or no obstruction to the plough.

Travelling south, the country assumes a different character: easy, undulating downs, well watered, here and there interspersed with fertile plains, the greater portion admirably adapted for agriculture, and all of it suitable for pastoral purposes.

The climate of the Middle Island is not so warm in summer nor so mild in winter as that experienced in the North Island. However, as has already been stated, there are no extremes of heat or cold. Much more might be said in praise of this portion of the colony. It is deemed necessary to say so much in order that readers may better comprehend the comparative ease with which every kind of farming is carried on in New Zealand as compared with other countries less favourably situated.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

The following resumé of the statistics, as published in the Gazette for the past season, is sufficient to indicate the trend of the agricultural and pastoral industries; fuller particulars will be found in the statistical portion of this book. It will be seen that there has been a decrease in the areas devoted to cereal crops, and an increase in that under sown grasses throughout the colony.

In wheat there is an increase of 35,991 acres; and in barley, 6,760 acres. There is, however, a decrease in oats of 92,019 acres, inclusive of 17,750 acres damaged by rust; small decreases in the area under rye and maize are also noted. The land laid down in pasture increased by 140,956 acres, and in turnips there were 15,829 acres increase.

The stock statistics show that horses have increased by 11,295 head, cattle by 132,884, and pigs by 32,851.

The sheep returns, made up to 30th April, 1903, afford convincing evidence of the folly of the indiscriminate slaughter of the ewe lambs of the colony to meet the ever-increasing demand of the frozen-meat trade. The total number in April, 1902, was 20,342,727, the highest total yet reached by the colony. But the figures for April, 1903, show only 18,954,553, a decrease of 1,388,174.

THE FARMING OUTLOOK.

Before the advent of the freezing-chamber, sheep-farming could only be carried on profitably on large areas with large flocks, for the reason that wool and tallow were the only marketable products, she sale of fat sheep and lambs being confined to supplying the demand for local consumption. The development of the meat-export trade has completely altered the condition of things from an agricultural point of view. Almost every farmer, small and large, now keeps his flock of breeding-ewes for the production of lambs for freezing, thereby necessitating the growth of root and forage crops, and so bringing about a greatly improved style of farming throughout the colony when compared with the previous system of universal corn-growing.

The season of 1903-1904 has, on the whole, proved somewhat disappointing to the grain-growers of the colony. The want of sufficient moisture during the critical period—viz., the growing-season of the cereal-crops—caused much anxiety to farmers generally. Subsequent rains, however, resulted in fair average yields all round.

Feed has seldom been more abundant than was the case during the past autumn, and, indeed, up to the time of writing these notes (July). This is fully accounted for by the fact that the pastoral lands have not been stocked up to their carrying-capacity owing to the phenomenal prices which have ruled for a lengthened period for store sheep, and, indeed, stock of all kinds. The increasing development of the dairy industry (notwithstanding the want of an efficient milking-machine) keeps the price of dairy stock up to a high level. The demand for dairy-farms continues as brisk as ever, the natural result of which is that suitable land for the purpose has advanced from 25 to 50 per cent, in value during the last decade. It would be unreasonable to expect this rise in value to continue, either for dairying or for agricultural lands, in the face of the strides being made in these industries in other parts of the world. In connection with this subject, the following information will be interesting as well as instructive, viz The area of land under occupation in New Zealand at the present time amounts to 36,476,481 acres, of which 705,443 acres were under cereals this season, 788,321 acres in green crops, in sown grasses 11,949,171 acres, in tussock or native grass 22,877,322 acres, fallow lands 61,069 acres, and in gardens, plantations, and orchards 95,155 acres.

As regards the future outlook for agricultural produce, it will be useless to anticipate a continuance of high prices such as those experienced for some years past, the result of droughts and other causes. The phenomenal yields of wheat and other cereals through-out the Australasian Commonwealth has practically closed those markets against New Zealand produce of all kinds. According to returns to hand South Australia produced 13,000,000 bushels of wheat—the largest crop since 1890—the average yield per acre being 8.29 bushels. Victoria had 1,968,599 acres under wheat, which yielded 141/2 bushels per acre. Oats returned 31 bushels to the acre, barley 251/2 bushels, and maize 77 bushels per acre. New South Wales grew 1,561,111 acres of wheat, yielding 27,334,141 bushels, or an average of 17.5 bushels per acre. The area under maize was 226,834 acres, yielding 6,836,740 bushels. It is, there-fore, extremely improbable that any great demand will come from the Commonwealth for this year's produce.

WHEAT.

The Canterbury Plains, the great wheat-growing district of the Middle Island, extend 150 miles north and south, running inland from the sea for forty miles, the whole forming an area of over 3,000,000 acres. A great portion of this vast plain is admirably adapted for the production of wheat, barley, and oats, and all the best cultivated grasses, the growing of which has been carried on extensively since the foundation of the colony. The total area under wheat for threshing in the colony for the season 1903-1904 was 230,346 acres (exclusive of areas grown for chaffing and fed off), of which 158,792 acres were grown in Canterbury, the average yield throughout the colony being 34.26 bushels per acre. The land is for the most part free from stones or impediments of any kind. Single-furrow ploughs are now rarely seen, double- and three-furrow ploughs being in general use, and an occasional steam plough. Three horses, occasionally four, with a man or a boy, can turn over three acres per day on the plains, at a cost of 5s. or 6s. per acre. A stroke of the disc or other harrow, followed by the seed-drill and light harrows, completes the operation of sowing.

Seed-sowing commences in May, and can be continued as weather permits through the winter, and in the heavy swamp land (drained) on into September and even October. From 11/4 to 11/2 and 2 bushels of seed per acre are usually sown, the quantity increasing as the season advances.

OATS AND BARLEY.

Otago and Southland districts excel in the production of oats, which is their principal cereal crop. The total area under this cereal harvested for the season 1903-1904 was 391,640 acres, being a decrease as compared with the previous season of 92,019 acres.

The yield of oats in Otago and Southland varies from 40 to 80 bushels per acre, the cost of production being about the same as wheat—viz., £2 per acre when grown from grass-land, and £1 10s. from stubble.

Malting barley, of very superior quality, is grown in Nelson and Marlborough, where the soil and climate appear to be particularly adapted to its culture.

The growing of this cereal (barley) for malting purposes requires more attention than it has yet received in this colony. It is claimed for this crop that it will show a better It than wheat, for the following reasons: (1) It is less exhaustive to the soil; (2) it gives an average yield of from 10 per cent. to 20 per cent. more than wheat; (3) the growing crop in favourable seasons can be fed off twice, or even three times, to the advantage of the subsequent yield of grain. Land of a light and calcareous nature, but unsuitable for wheat, will give a barley thin in the skin, and particularly suited for malting purposes. Barley is not a difficult crop to raise, but there are certain points that need careful attention, which, if neglected, would probably result in the production of an inferior sample, which would hardly pay for growing.

ROOT-CROPS.

Potatoes: Potatoes are largely grown throughout New Zealand. On suitable soils very heavy crops are raised, it being no uncommon thing to dig from 8 to 10 and 15 tons per acre, although the general average is much lower, for the reason that unsuitable land is frequently devoted to this crop. The area under potatoes in 1903-1904 was 31,778 acres. The bulk of the crop is planted without manure, but, where used, bonedust, superphosphate, blood-manure, or animal guano (which may be procured of first quality from the local manure manufactories), from 1 cwt. to 2 cwt. per acre, is applied with good results. The potato is, however, an expensive crop to grow, costing from £5 to £6 per acre, and it is perhaps the most precarious of all crops, being materially affected by drought, but more particularly so by early and late frosts. The crop in Canterbury for the past season, 1904, was a fair average one, yielding 6.5 tons per acre. Potato-growers admit that £1 10s. per ton off the fork will pay better than £2 after being stored for any time.

Land for potatoes is usually broken out of grass, skim-ploughed in autumn, ploughed deeply in spring, and thoroughly tilled; or potatoes may be grown in drills opened and closed with a double-furrow plough. The seed—15 cwt. per acre—is then ploughed in under every third furrow, the after-culture consisting of harrowing just as the crop is appearing over ground (by this means myriads of seedling weeds are destroyed); drill-grubbing, hoeing, horse-hoeing, and earthing-up being the subsequent operations. Heavy crops of wheat, oats, barley, beans, or peas can always be relied upon after potatoes.

Turnips:* The turnip-crop of this season has been a fair average one on the plains of Canterbury. In the southern portion of the Island the crop was very good. The area under this crop for the season 1903-1904 was 408,659 acres, an increase of 15,829 acres as compared with the previous year.

* Valuable information on the growing of this crop will be found under this heading in the Year-book for 1901, page 478.

Rape is largely grown as sheep-feed, and may be sown either in early spring or immediately after harvest, the stubble being skim-ploughed or broken up with the spring-tined cultivator. This crop is invaluable in the early spring, and may be fed off in time for oats or barley. Dairy cattle, however, should not be fed on rape, as doing so destroys the flavour of the milk. This fodder plant is more valuable for fattening lambs than the turnip; there were 118,662 acres under this crop.

Mangolds and Carrots are largely grown in some districts. They cost more money per acre than turnips to produce, as they must be hand-hoed; nor are they so suitable a crop for cleaning the land. Turnip-sowing does not commence till November or December, affording ample time for the destruction of seedling weeds; this important opportunity is largely lost in the culture of the mangold, which is usually sown in October. Mangolds are, however, an invaluable crop on a stock-farm, as they do not reach their primest condition until the turnip-supply is exhausted, usually in August. From 30 to 60 tons per acre is not an uncommon yield of these roots, often without the aid of manure, on rich swamp land.

Carrots are also a valuable crop, especially for horses; on sandy loams the yield reaches 15 to 20 tons per acre. Carrots impart a pleasant flavour to butter, and should be largely grown for dairy stock.

SEEDS.

Clover: Saving clover for seed in favourable seasons is a lucrative industry, adding materially to the farmers' income. Clover is sown with a spring crop, usually of corn, lightly grazed in the following autumn, and then reserved for a crop of hay, which, according to the season, yields from 2 to 3 tons per acre when cut in November or early in December. Most farmers prefer feeding off with sheep in preference to mowing for hay. The after-growth is then allowed to flower and seed, which it does very freely. Thousands of humble-bees may be seen in the clover-fields during the months of January, February, and March. The seed ripens in March, and is then cut and dried, and threshed out by machines known as clover-shellers. An acre of clover may yield in hay and seed from £8 to £10. It must, however, be stated that, while a good crop of clover-seed is a most lucrative one, it is nevertheless a most precarious one. Owing to the lateness of the season of ripening, it sometimes happens that the fertilisation is imperfect, resulting in a majority of barren heads. This has given rise to a controversy as to whether the proper bee has been introduced. The point was referred to the late Miss Ormerod, the English entomologist, who settled the question in the affirmative.

White and alsike clover are now grown in considerable quantities. White clover yields enormously: as much as 300 lb. of alsike seed has been obtained per acre. These clovers are not so dependent on the action of the humble-bee for their fertilisation. They mature earlier, and are more easily threshed and cleaned than cow-grass or red-clover.

Grass-seed Saving: All the most valuable British grasses flourish throughout New Zealand. Cocksfoot has been for many years a staple product of Banks Peninsula (Akaroa County), where the soil for the most part consists of decomposed volcanic rocks and vegetable mould. Large quantities of this seed are now raised in the North Island and in many other parts of the colony as well. The seed is of the finest description, frequently weighing 20 lb. to the bushel, 12 lb. being a standard bushel. Cocksfoot thrives on a very wide range of soil, from the richest to the poorest, preferring, of course, the former. It may be found on the dry stony plains of the interior, green and healthy, when the surrounding herbage, introduced or indigenous, has given in to the heat of the summer sun.

Growing ryegrass for seed is also an important industry. The seed is usually gathered by stripping; sometimes the grass is cut and tied and afterwards threshed by machinery. The average yield is from 15 to 20 bushels per acre, weighing from 25 lb. to 32 lb. per bushel, 20 lb. being the standard weight. A common practice is to graze the land till midsummer; to take the stock off for a few weeks, and then to run the stripper over the ground. By this primitive method 10 bushels per acre are sometimes secured, being of the finest quality. Ryegrass-seed is usually in good demand; the price varies according to the season; the usual price, however, is from 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d. and 4s. per bushel.

Many of the indigenous grasses of New Zealand are possessed of considerable feeding-value, but, unfortunately, few of them will stand too close feeding. The action of fire is especially injurious to most of them. Of recent years a great deal is being written about Danthonia semiannularis (one of the native oat-grasses) as a grass particularly adapted to some of the poorer soils in the North Island, where it is said to thrive admirably; it is also said to be able to resist the action of occasional grass-fires. There are many varieties of Danthonias, from the giant, coarse-growing snow-grass or oat-grass, to the fine-leaved varieties found in almost all the natural pastures in the colony.

Small Seeds: New Zealand, from the nature of her soil and climate, offers a fine field for growing all kinds of farm and garden seeds. This circumstance has already attracted the attention of some of the larger seed-merchants of Great Britain, whose agents occasionally visit the colony with a view to inducing farmers and others to grow certain kinds of seeds. The industry is peculiarly adapted to small holdings, and well suited to young persons, the work being light and of an interesting character. Ready sale can be found for carefully grown and carefully cleaned garden-seeds if grown in quantity.

OTHER CROPS.

Pulse: Peas and beans are largely grown for pig and horse feed, and for export; they form an excellent preparation for wheat. An extensive trade in peas of a certain description is done in the manufacturing towns of Great Britain; and efforts are now being made to secure a share of this trade for the colony by producing peas suitable for splitting for human food. The business should prove a most remunerative one. Thirty bushels of peas per acre are considered a fair crop, while 60 to 70 bushels of beans are often secured. As showing the extraordinary fertility of some of the lands in the colony, it may be mentioned that beans and wheat have been grown alternately on Kaiapoi Island for thirty years without any apparent diminution of yield, the crops of recent years being as abundant as those grown twenty-five years ago—40 to 50 bushels of wheat and 60 to 70 bushels of beans being the usual return per acre.

Cape Barley and Winter Oats: The demand for early spring feed has resulted in the growing of these plants for forage. Their extreme hardiness renders them well adapted for autumn sowing. If sown in March they are ready for feeding-off in May; they may be fed off again in July, and on till the beginning of October, when, if allowed to run to seed, they will produce 40 to 60 bushels per acre, or they may be ploughed in for turnips.

Tares are also grown, but not so largely as they deserve to be, especially for dairy stock. Mixed with oats, barley, or rye, they are excellent milk-producers; and when grown luxuriantly they destroy all kinds of weeds, and leave the land in fine condition for a spring corn-crop.

Lucerne: This permanent fodder-plant thrives admirably in most parts of New Zealand, yielding three to five cuttings in the year; and, if properly cultivated and well attended to, particularly in its early stage of growth, it will continue to yield liberal cuttings for seven or eight years, or even longer. This is a most excellent crop for the small or large farmer, furnishing, as it does, an abundant supply of succulent fodder, in deeply-cultivated soils, during the drier months of midsummer, as well as in the early spring. All farm animals are partial to lucerne; pigs thrive admirably upon it. No farm should be without a well-cultivated plot of this plant. In deeply cultivated land lucerne will yield several cuttings during the season, no matter how hot and dry the weather may be. It is this drought-resisting quality which renders lucerne such a valuable fodder plant in Queensland and New South Wales, where it is extensively grown for pasture purposes.

COST OF WORKING A FARM IN NEW ZEALAND.

When comparing the cost of working a farm in England with one of the same size in the colony, several points have to be taken into account, such as the climate, the soil, labour, and machinery. In Australasia wages are higher than in Britain; as a set-off against this, New Zealand can claim, firstly, that there are more fine working-days in the year, the fields are much larger, the latest improvements in machinery have been introduced, the soil is more easily worked, and that the genial nature of the climate renders it unnecessary to house stock during the winter months, at least in the North Island, thus saving the cost of attendance; secondly, that farming operations may be carried on continuously throughout the ploughing and sowing season; and, thirdly, that the paddocks are so large, and usually so level, that the double- and treble-furrow plough may be worked by one man or youth with three horses, thus equalising the cost of labour, as we have shown that one man, or even a boy, will be quite equal to two men or boys in the Old Country; so that, after all, the difference in the cost of working a farm in the colony is not so great as might appear at first sight.

The hay-crop is simply cut one day, raked into windrows the next, and in a couple more it is ready for stacking.

Wheat is cut and tied by machinery, the stooks requiring no capping. It is frequently threshed out of the stook in favourable seasons, thereby saving the cost of stacking and thatching; but this method, although very general, is not recommended except in hot or dry seasons. The stacks are rarely thatched, except, perhaps, on the weather side. This is a wise precaution, the neglect of which sometimes entails serious loss.

The manure bill, which is such a heavy item of annual expenditure with the British farmer, presses as yet very lightly on the farmers of the colony. It is, however, a notable fact that the use of fertilisers is becoming more general; 1 cwt. to 1 1/2 cwt. of super-phosphates per acre is used with the turnip and other root-crops, for the purpose of forcing the young plant into the rough leaf, when it will be out of one danger—the turnip-fly. It will therefore be seen that the colonial farmer has many advantages over the farmer of the Old Country.

It may also be pointed out that the application of one or two hundred weight per acre of superphosphate of lime produces better results in colonial soils than double the quantity would do in England, showing clearly that the natural richness of colonial soils is not yet exhausted.

LIVE STOCK.

Cattle: The total number of cattle in the colony for 1903-1904 was 1,593,547, an increase of 132,884 over the previous year.

Horses: The number of horses in the colony for 1902-1903 was 298,714, an increase of 11,295 over the previous year.

Sheep: The returns made up to the 30th April, 1903, show a falling off of 1,388,174. It must not, however, be assumed that this shortage arises from any diminution in the power of production in the colony in this direction; but rather to the continually increasing export of maiden ewe lambs, regardless of the requirements for the up-keeping of the breeding flocks of the colony. The export of frozen lambs for the year 1903, amounted to 2,212,805, and the export of frozen sheep for the same period was 2,602,612—a total of 4,815,417; besides which there were 57,431 cwt. of frozen mutton joints exported.

The returns made up to the 30th April, 1903, show the distribution of the flocks of the colony to be as follows: In the North Island, 9,433,831; and in the South Island, 9,520,722: total, 18,954,553, a decrease of 1,388,174 on the numbers for the previous year.

The estimated number of sheep in the colony on the 30th April, 1904, was 18,289,539, or a further decrease of 665,014.

SHEEP.

New Zealand has proved itself admirably adapted for the breeding of all classes of sheep, from the fine-combing merino to the strongest type of Lincoln. The merino occupies and thrives on the wild lands of the colony, from the snow-line to the border of the plains, as well as on the drier portions of the plains. The merino ewe furnishes the foundation for all the crossbred varieties. On the rich moist soils the Lincoln and Romney Marsh sheep flourish, while the finer English and Border Leicesters and Downs sheep occupy the drier lands.

Sheep bred from merino ewes and longwool rams, or from crossbred ewes with Down rams, are the most suitable for the frozen-meat trade, and are known as “freezers.”

The dapper little Southdown flourishes wherever crossbreds thrive. Their more ponderous cousins, the Shropshire and Hampshire Downs, have their admirers, especially the Shropshire, which are largely used for crossing, with a view to producing early-maturing lambs. English Leicesters are also much sought after for this purpose, particularly in the Middle Island, where “prime Canterbury” mutton is produced.

Shearing commences in September, and is continued till January. The usual price per hundred is from 17s. 6d. to 20s. Shearing-machines are not so largely used as was expected when first introduced.

The average clips for the various breeds of sheep are approximately: Merino, from 4 lb. to 7 lb.; quarter-breds, about 6 1/2 lb.; half-breds, 7 1/2 lb.; three-quarter-breds, 8 1/2 lb.; Leicester, 10 1/2 lb.; Lincoln, 11 lb. Of course, very much larger clips are obtained from special flocks, as much as 25 lb. to 30 lb. per sheep; but the above figures represent general averages.

The staple of New Zealand wool, especially the long-wool and cross-bred, is remarkable for its freedom from breaks and other imperfections incidental to countries subject to long droughts and scarcity of feed.

The most profitable sheep for New Zealand is that which combines the best fleece and the most suitable carcase for freezing purposes, together with early maturity. This is the class of sheep which some sheep-breeders have set themselves to produce. Whether such an animal, having fixity of type, can be evolved, remains to be proved; so much depends on the feed, situation, and soil.

The capability of New Zealand for producing mutton has not yet reached its limit. When the frozen-meat trade was first seriously considered, an assertion to the effect that the colony could soon find 1,000,000 sheep per annum for freezing without impairing the breeding-flocks was treated as highly chimerical by sheep-breeders of long experience. The annual output of sheep and lambs is now over four millions and a half. But, while congratulating the colony on the rapid development of the frozen-meat trade, it must be borne in mind that Argentina and Australia also share the trade of Great Britain with New Zealand. It must be admitted that with cheaper land, and a closer proximity to the markets of the world, Argentina must necessarily be a very formidable rival to Australasia. The only way to keep command of the market is to ship nothing but first quality graded mutton and lamb.

“The New Zealand Flock-book,” published in 1895, is now thoroughly established, and is of great value to the owners of pure pedigree flocks. The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria also publishes a Flock-book for British breeds of sheep. This is a step in the right direction, as flock-masters in South America demand a certificate to the effect that the cattle and sheep purchased by them are duly registered in an authorised Herd- or Flock-book. The value of these books is now so fully recognised that all the distinctive breeds of sheep in Britain and elsewhere have their recognised registers.

HORSE-BREEDING.

The climate of New Zealand is admirably adapted for the breeding and rearing of horses of all kinds, especially draught-horses. Indeed it would be difficult to find better Clydesdale horses than those bred on the limestone soils of Oamaru and elsewhere. Some of the best blue-blood of this breed has from time to time been imported from Scotland, with the result that the breed is now well established in the colony.

The light-horse stock of the colony has risen into note through the production of animals which have rendered themselves famous on the colonial turf. The demand for horses suitable for remounts for the cavalry service in India is a continuous one, affording a ready market for the proper stamp of animal; shipments are periodically made to that country with varying results.

With a view to bringing the use of pure-bred sires within the reach of small selectors in the outlying blocks the Government have imported a few first-class horses of the most approved types, which cannot fail to have a beneficial effect on the stock of the country. The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association publish a Draught-horse Stud-book, which is largely used by breeders of that class of horse.

CATTLE.

The colony possesses all the best strains of blood, and this is evidenced by the superior class of cattle to be met with throughout the settled districts, especially in the show yards. There are now four herd-books published in the colony—viz., the “Shorthorn,” “Other Breeds,” published by the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, the “Hereford Herd-book,” published by the Hereford breeders, and the “Jersey Herd-book,” published in Palmerston North. The value of properly kept herd-books is now fully recognised. Purchasers of animals for export or otherwise now demand that they shall be duly registered in some authorised herd-book as a guarantee of pure breed. New Zealand is comparatively free from many of the diseases so disastrous to horned stock in other countries. With a view to maintaining this enviable position, the Government have prohibited vessels carrying live-stock from infected colonies touching at any of the ports of New Zealand except under certain conditions. This action is deemed necessary, owing to the prevalence of pleuro-pneumonia in Australia.

DAIRY STOCK.

The breeding of first-class dairy stock offers a field for profitable investment. Milking-cattle now command a high price, and will continue to do so, owing to the increasing development of the dairy industry. There are now 468,125 cows kept exclusively for dairy purposes, an increase of 39,352. The rearing of well-bred heifer calves will repay all the time and trouble bestowed thereon. Separated milk, although relieved of its butter-fat, loses little of its feeding value; the addition of a little linseed meal will restore the fatty constituents, which, however, are not the most valuable for feeding purposes. Ground oats, wheat, or barley added to the linseed mucilage will render calves fit for the butcher in a comparatively short time. An acre or so of European flax should be grown upon every farm whore stock-rearing is carried on. The fattening of calves for export has not yet been attempted in the colony, although there is a very large and lucrative market for veal calves in London, ranging from £4 to £6 and £7 per head. Much has still to be done in the way of improving the dairy stock of the colony. The yield of milk from fairly good milking-cattle is approximately 500 gal. per annum, although 700 gal. per head are frequently obtained from selected herds. The average quantity of milk obtained will no doubt be increased as more attention is paid to breeding and proper feeding. The general management and feeding of dairy stock is a question demanding every attention. Kind treatment is essential to success; clean pastures, clear running water, and grasses of the best quality are all factors fully recognised wherever dairying is successfully carried out; and, last but not least, warmth and shelter during the cold wet months of winter.

The average yield of butter from milk passed through the separator is 1 lb. for every 2 1/2 gal. of milk of 10 1/2 lb.; so that the average cow produces annually 200 lb. of butter, or 500 lb. of cheese, which, estimated at 4 1/2d. per pound, will be worth about as much as the butter.

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

This industry continues to flourish throughout New Zealand. The Government still spends large sums of money in teaching the art of butter-making, the proper method of packing, and shipping. Till recently nothing was done in the way of encouraging the breeding of better strains of cattle for the production of milk of superior quality as well as quantity. The Government, recognising the importance of this matter, have imported a few first-class sires from well-known breeders of milking strains of cattle for the use of those dairy farmers who are not in a position to secure the best bulls for their purpose. The service of these bulls has been fixed at a nominal scale, and is only available for selected animals. It will thus be seen that dairy farming has now developed into one of the settled industries of the colony. Graders are employed examining all butter and cheese for export, who brand each packet with its proper quality. Factory-owners now recognise the fact that it is folly to pay freight on any but the best quality; and this remark applies to grain and meat as well. We have to compete against Canada, the United States, Denmark, Australia, the Argentine, and Siberia. New Zealand dairymen must, therefore, endeavour to raise dairy cattle which will yield the maximum of milk of the best quality; in fact, nothing but intense farming will pay in the future, applied to every branch.

The complete sterilising of milk to destroy the germs of disease is a wise precaution. The operation consists of heating milk up to a certain temperature, and cooling it rapidly, a process which has been found to destroy the bacillus of tuberculosis known to be present in the milk of affected cattle. The Government veterinaries are employed examining the cattle, and a large number are annually tested with tuberculin, and when found affected they are destroyed, compensation being allowed.

PIGS.

These useful adjuncts to the dairy should hold an important position on all dairy farms in New Zealand. The last statistics show that there has been a material increase in this class, swine numbering 226,591, an increase of 32,851 as compared with 1902-1903. The favourite breed in New Zealand is the improved Berkshire. The large and small breeds of White Yorkshire are also to be met with, but are not so generally approved of as the black pigs. The Tamworth pig has its admirers amongst pig-breeders, as they answer admirably for crossing with black pigs. They produce good bacon pigs, making more lean meat and longer sides than the pure Berkshires. Pigs require no better attention than a good grass paddock, with a liberal supply of roots, and a little unthreshed pea-haulm for a few weeks before killing, with plenty of water, and shelter from the sun during the warmest summer months.

The breeding, rearing, and fattening of pigs is a source of wealth which is capable of considerable expansion. Several plants for the mild curing of bacon have been set up at the various freezing-factories, and by private persons and firms. The establishment of properly appointed pig-farms is a somewhat costly undertaking, as all the fences must be pig-proof. Doubtless this consideration has had a deterrent effect upon some, while others find the rearing of young stock for the dairy and the breeding of lambs a sufficiently profitable undertaking, besides causing less trouble, but there is room for an enormous extension of this industry.

POULTRY.

The efforts being made by the Government to foster this industry are gradually producing the hoped-for results. The distribution of a better class of poultry is showing good results already. Farmers are beginning to see that their poultry-yard should form no mean auxiliary to the general return from the products of the farm. With such a climate as we have, there need be no difficulty in raising hundreds where dozens are now produced. The Department is doing much to foster this industry, with what success may be gathered from the following statement of facts: Since the 1st January last (1904) no less than 100,000 head of poultry have been prepared for export in Christchurch. The Government Poultry Depot is kept busily employed. The Agricultural Department intends to seek legislation to prevent the export of any poultry unless it has been graded by a Government official. This is a step in the right direction.

THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

From the North Cape to the Bluff Hill, in the extreme south of the Middle Island, the climate and soil are, for the most part, eminently adapted for the growth of a large variety of fruits. Generally speaking, pears, plums, quinces, apricots, figs, walnuts, cherries, gooseberries, currants, strawberries, and raspberries grow luxuriantly, producing abundant crops of fruit. In the Auckland District, oranges, lemons, and limes flourish: many groves are now bearing, and afford light and pleasant employment to a large number of persons. This employment will go on increasing as the plantations throughout the colony become older. The olive flourishes in the North Island, bearing heavy crops, and the manufacture of oil will assume important dimensions at no distant date.

Vine-growing is also carried on with tolerable success in many districts; tons of fruit grown under glass are sold in the Auckland markets annually. Signor Bragato, an Italian wine expert, has given it as his opinion that there are numerous localities in both Islands suited for growing vines for the manufacture of wine.

Away in the far north the banana grows and ripens its fruit, but it is not thought that it will ever enter into successful competition with those grown and imported at so cheap a rate from the Pacific Islands.

Extensive orchards of apples have existed in Auckland for many years, and are still capable of producing an abundance of fruit, if kept free from codlin-moth and other pests. Orchard-planting is progressing, and must one day be a very important industry. Central Otago will also become a large fruit-producing district, being free from violent and scorching north-west winds. The total area under orchards in the colony is 27,541 acres, including 749 acres of vineyard.

The manufacture of cider has assumed considerable dimensions, opening up a ready market for suitable surplus fruit. The colonial-made article is rapidly coming into favour with the general public.

The drying of fruit has been fostered by the authorities, who sent an expert through some of the apple-growing districts, giving practical lessons in the art of artificial fruit-drying. A great deal more might also be done in bottling fruits, and the manufacture of fruit-wine, if only for home consumption. The manufacture of jam is successfully carried on; there is, however, plenty of room for further developments in this direction.

PROSPECTS OF SMALL FARMERS.

Those who have watched the course of events in other countries, so far as they affect the agricultural interests of New Zealand, are forced to the conclusion that New Zealand will have to pay great attention to the quality of her agricultural exports. Our farmers cannot hope to compete with such countries as Australia and South America, where land is so much cheaper, and where mutton and beef of good quality can be produced; for cheap meat these must command the markets of the world. Happily for New Zealand, our climate and pastures are such that we can not only produce mutton equal to the finest English or Scotch, but we can produce more per acre than can be done in Australia. Our dairy-produce is now second to none, which is largely due to the system of manufacture and Government grading.

Owing to her humid climate and fertile soil New Zealand is peculiarly well adapted for small holdings. Men of slender means can easily make homes for themselves and their families, always provided they know something of the work they undertake, and are, with their families, willing to work hard and live frugally for a few years. It is quite possible for a man with a few cows and pigs, together with poultry and bees, to make a good living, as markets for these products are available in England and elsewhere; there is also a good local market if the goods are properly prepared, and a continuous demand for the supply of coastal and ocean-going steamers. The facilities now given for obtaining land and money at reasonable rates offer great inducements to persons to settle upon the land. This is amply illustrated at Cheviot, where a fine estate has been cut up into moderate-sized farms, and let to farmers on perpetual lease at a rental representing 4 per cent. on the purchase-money. Prosperous homes have sprung up, and tree-planting is being earned on by some of the settlers, which is an earnest of the stability of the settlement.

ARBOR DAY.

Speaking recently on the subject of tree-planting, at a meeting of farmers, Mr. T. W. Adams, of Greendale, made the following statement:—

“Arbor Day is languishing, if not dead, and mainly, I think, for the want of suitable sites for planting. As a rule, the school-sites are too small to allow of anything but a few shelter-trees round the boundary, and, however desirous the Committee or teacher of a school may be to observe the day, they are often unable to do anything in the way of planting on Arbor Day. It has occurred to me that if the Road Boards or County Councils would prepare annually a reserve in a convenient position for one or more schools it would help along the object famously. In many cases a reserve could be found that would be so situated that three or four schools might meet at the same place, and if each school were allotted a portion it would cause emulation between them, which would encourage them to do their best to make the planting a success.

“It seems a great pity that the day should be allowed to drop, as it would give an opportunity for the study of nature not to be found in the schoolroom; and although the winter is not so favourable as the other seasons for the study of botany, yet much might be done even in winter to awaken in boys and girls their powers of observation. Supposing pines are being planted, the children could be shown the difference there is in the number of needles in a sheath, say, between a Pinus insignis and a Scotch pine, or between the Weymouth and the Bishop's pine, the length of the needles, the shape of the buds, and many other points which the close observer notices in the trees. Even deciduous trees, which are leafless in winter, have characteristics that the person who has made them a study detects at a glance—something in bud, or bark, or twig, which is generally sufficient for him to recognise even trees of the same species in winter.

“Why the advantages to be derived from tree-planting should require any advocacy, in view of the marvellous effects which have resulted from the establishment of Arbor Day in the United States of America, is difficult to understand. Tree-planting is being carried on by the General Government, Road Boards, County Councils, and by private individuals throughout New Zealand; this work, however, should be carried out on a much larger scale than at present, especially by the public generally. One of the best means of cultivating a desire for tree-planting in the minds of the people, more especially those of the young, would be by fostering a general observance of Arbor Day throughout the colony.”

Chapter 62. EXOTIC TREES IN CANTERBURY: THEIR GROWTH ON THE PLAINS.

[By Mr. T. W. ADAMS.]

EFFECT OF EXTREMES OF CLIMATE.

The following paper was contributed by Mr. T. W. Adams, of Greendale, at the Science Congress, Dunedin:—

Having during the last thirty-five years planted many species of trees and shrubs, an opportunity has been afforded me of testing their suitability to withstand the extremes of the winter cold and the heat and drought of summer characteristic of the Canterbury Plains. Greendale, where most of the planting has been done, is situated in the forks of the Selwyn River, is about 400 ft. above sea-level, and about ten miles from the western foothills. The average rainfall is about 26 in. per annum, but during the years 1897 and 1898 not more than half that quantity per annum was registered. In Canterbury there is no marked difference as to rainfall in any part of the year, but rain may fall in any month. In the dry year of 1897 February was the wettest month, with less than 3 in. for the month. In the next year, which was also very dry, the most rain fell in the month of May—about 3 1/2 in. On the Canterbury Plains the summers are very hot, the thermometer in the shade sometimes registering nearly 100° Fahr. On the other hand, the winters are occasionally very severe, 24° of frost having been registered on more than one occasion. Such extremes limit considerably the number of species of trees that can be successfully grown; but as the country is everywhere intersected with water-races, it is possible to grow to a limited extent many trees that would not otherwise live through the seasons of drought. But for trees that will not bear the winter frosts there is no remedy. Speaking generally, Western American trees have succeeded best, although there are trees from many other parts of the world that are equally successful. Australian trees are generally capable of bearing the dry summers pretty well, but the number that are capable of withstanding our winters is very limited indeed. Trees from Japan seem quite incapable, unless assisted by an artificial water-supply, of living through our dry summers, but they withstand our winters admirably. As a rule, one would expect that trees growing in any country of about the same latitude as any particular part of New Zealand would likely succeed in that part of New Zealand. But in practice one finds many exceptions; altitude, soil, and amount of rainfall all have to be taken into account before any satisfactory conclusions can be drawn as to the probability of success or failure of certain trees; and even after this many puzzling exceptions will be met with, some trees growing quite readily in a much lower latitude than their native habitat. The kauri (Dammara australis) is a notable illustration of this, being only found growing in the north of New Zealand, yet I believe it can be grown successfully as far south as Dunedin. Of exotic trees we have a notable example in the Brazilian monkey-puzzle (Araucaria braziliensis). This tree, though a native of the country north of Rio de Janeiro and within the tropics, has proved hardy in Canterbury, and grows much faster than the Chilian monkey-puzzle (Araucaria imbricata). On the other hand, a good deal of disappointment has been met th through planting trees grown in northern Europe, such as the larch ( europœa), (Abies excelsa), and Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris). g from English text-books, these ought to have been just the trees for our thin soil. As one of the best authorities says of the Scotch pine, “No tree can be reckoned upon with so much certainty to succeed in poor soils of diverse quality and texture, ranging from loose sand to stony formations.” Also of the larch he says, “An alluvial gravelly soil is what the larch requires. Here on the Canterbury Plains we have the exact soil that these trees are said to require, and yet they have proved sad failures except in a few favoured positions.”

As the Canterbury Plain when first settled was almost destitute of trees, and at the same time subject in summer to very violent gales from the north-west of a very hot and parching character, and in winter to frequent heavy snowstorms with strong winds from the south, the first settlers naturally began to inquire for suitable trees for shelter. From their home experience they planted many thousands of larch, Scotch pine, and Norway spruce, and these at first throve so well that they were raised in large numbers by the nurserymen. But after a few years' experience they were found quite unsuited for the drier atmosphere of the Canterbury Plain. The same may be said of nearly the whole of the species of trees introduced from Japan. Other trees that failed badly in our years of drought besides those already mentioned were the following: Wellingtonia gigantea (I am following the English nomenclature all through the paper), Sequoia sempervirens, Abies alba, Abies nigra, Thuja gigantea, Abies Menziesii, Abies canadensis, Cupressus lawsoniana, and in a less degree Abies douglassii. Of the trees that came through with the least injury, that close relation of the Scotch pine, the Austrian pine (Pinus austriaca), was very noticeable, the deep green of its leaves being in strong contrast to the foliage of the Scotch pine. Other pines that proved capable of withstanding the dry seasons were- Pinus ponderosa, Pinus coulterii, Pinus jeffreyii, Pinus laricio, Pinus rigida, Pinus fremontiana, Pinus benthamiana, Pinus tuberculata, Pinus muricata, and Pinus in. Professor Lemon, speaking of Pinus insignis and Pinus muricata in a letter to me, expresses surprise that they should stand drought, as they are, he says, both lovers of the moist coasts. In the droughts of 1886 and 1897 and 1898 a few trees of each of these perished when in an unfavourable position, but on the whole they stood the test very well, although not as well as the Austrian pine, P. coulterii, P. sabiniana, and one or two others. Of the cypresses several species were no: much injured by the drought. Cupressus nutkaensis seems capable of bearing a long drought better than many others. Of the deciduous trees, few, if any, stood the test better than the English oak, although in the long drought of 1897 and 1898 they lost all their leaves, and in some cases died back to the extent of two or three years' growth. On the return of better seasons they quickly recovered. In the shorter but more intense drought of 1886 the oaks passed through with little damage, whilst the spruces and larch were killed by thousands, but in the longer drought the oaks suffered equally with the spruces.

The various willows were an interesting study during the dry seasons, showing that there exists a wide difference between the various species as to their power of doing without water. The broad-leaved or sallow willows last out much longer than the others; the most sensitive being the Huntingdon willow (Salixalba), which soon died after it lost the support of water. The upright poplar is very drought-resistant, and the grey poplar (Populus canescans) stood it well; but the Canadian poplar (Populus balsamifera) was soon killed. Of the maples Acer campestre went through very successfully, and Acer negundo was not much damaged, but most of the others in a large collection suffered severely. The English ash (Fraximus excelsior) is quite a failure except on the better lands of the plains. The most promising of the family are Fraximus oregana and Fraximus vividis. The species of elms are generally much more at home than the species of ash, and not much difference was observed between the trees of any one species of elms. Catalpa speciosa, of which so much has been written, is of no value whatever on the Canterbury Plains. Of walnuts, the black walnut (Juglans nigra) gives the most promise of success. They all escaped damage from frost except the Californian walnut, which had all its last year's growth killed. The eucalypts, as was to be expected, passed through the dry seasons better than most of the other families of trees, although some trees of E. amygdalina, in unfavourable positions, were killed, and trees of E. coriacea became almost leafless. The winter frosts are the chief hindrances to the successful growing of the various gum-trees in Canterbury, and out of a large number of species tried the only ones to live through a succession of our winters are E. coriacea, E. urnigera, E. gunnii, E. stuartiana, E. regnans, E. amygdalina, E. mulleriana, and E. globulus. In the exceptionally cold winter of 1899 trees of the blue-gum (E. globulus) 70 ft. high, and nearly 3 ft. in diameter, were killed. These had been growing for more than thirty years. In the same season wattle-trees of equal age of the species Acacia dealbata were killed. Younger trees of A. melanoxylon were also killed. No other species of wattles have stood the frosts of more than two or three winters, although many species have been tried. Of the thirty or forty species of oaks planted here none were much damaged by the frost. Two of the Californian evergreen oaks (Quercus dumosa and Q. agrifolia) only had their leaves browned, but were not otherwise hurt. The beautiful evergreen species, from Japan, Quercus acuta, Q. cuspidata, Q. glauca, Q. laevigata, Q. Phyllioides, came through unhurt. The cypresses all proved hardy enough to stand the winter except the Guatemala cypress (C. excelsa), which was a little damaged. As showing the severity of the winter of 1899, I may mention that the native trees, almost without exception, were greatly damaged. Such things as manuka (Leptospermum scoparium), cabbage-tree (Cordyline australis), and other plants indigenous to the plains, were killed in great numbers.

So far I have dealt mainly with the effects of the two extremes of our climate on the various species of trees and shrubs. But in other cases causes have been at work to change the habits of a tree from its behaviour in its natural state changes that are not so easily explained. Writing to a gentleman in California of the way Pinus tuberculata and P. murrayana grew here, he was so surprised that he hinted he thought I should have to change my labels; but on sending him specimens, he admitted that my trees were correctly named. Here Pinus tuberculata and P. murrayana both grow rapidly, and make good shelter-trees, with a wide spread of branches, on which it is not unusual to find still unopened cones for each year for twenty-five years. Although I have hundreds of trees of Pinus tuberculata with cones on them from twenty to thirty years, I do not remember to have seen one opened by the sun. Another remarkable thing about the cones of Pinus tuberculata is that, being pointed at the base, it is not an uncommon thing for the cones to become quite embedded in the tree, and it is said that such cones, when taken out of the tree and opened, have given up seeds that have still retained their vitality. I cannot vouch for this, but cones fifteen years old, and remaining on the tree unopened, contain fertile seeds, as I have proved. These trees, I am told, as found in their natural state, are growing in thick of small poles without any side branches, and as unlike their habit here as possible. The reason for this remarkable change of habit may be found, I think, by considering the fact that these trees never release their seeds till a fire passes through them. The cones then open, liberating thousands of seeds, which fall on a prepared soil and spring up like grass, each one struggling for existence. The seedlings pressing upwards to the light are thus drawn up into thin poles without any side branches.

Obviously the planting of exotic trees must be of an experimental character, and only those who have been engaged in the work of introducing new plants can appreciate the difficulties met with; but if we all give to the world our experience, and exchange notes now and then, there would soon accumulate sufficient knowledge to enable us to work on a systematic plan, and avoid the frequent errors of the present rule-of-thumb methods.

Chapter 63. SECTION III.: ROTORUA.

[By A. S. WOHLMANN, M.D., Government Balneologist.]*

* I must express my great indebtedness to Sir James Hector and to Professor Maclaurin for the numerous analyses they have placed at my disposal.

THERE is no district in the world containing a larger quantity and a greater variety of hot mineral springs than Rotorua. Their total number is enormous and practically impossible to estimate, for while the number of the large springs must run into hundreds, in some areas small ones bubble up from under the lee of every little rock and wash the roots of every tuft of hardy manuka, until the ground is literally a sieve, where one must walk warily, and where to stray from the beaten track after dark is to court disaster. Such areas as the Kuirau Reserve, the lake-shore from the Sanatorium grounds to beyond the Postmaster Baths, and parts of Whakarewarewa and Ohinemutu are simply riddled, and to form a fresh spring all that is required is a few moments' work with a spade. Stories have got about, which have obtained a wide credence, that the ground is in a constant tremble, that the air always reeks of sulphur, that the place is a veritable Gehenna, to be gazed at and sniffed at with awe and swiftly departed from. These are ″ travellers' tales.” There are whiffs of sulphur in the air certainly, especially on damp days, but the ground does not tremble, and though earthquakes are not uncommon they are less severe than in other parts of the country. The average visitor, unless he is stopping to take a course of the baths, is whisked off every day by enterprising caterers to see the wonders of the distant districts, ignorant of those that lie at his very door. At Ohinemutu, at Whakarewarewa, even in the Sanatorium grounds, may be seen as fine examples of thermal activity as could be wished, while the Sanatorium gardens afford an endless feast of floral colouring. Here one may take one's tea al fresco, sitting at daintily-spread tables, and attended by Maori maidens in picturesque native dress, while a band discourses music, or if more energetically inclined may repair to the beautiful bowling-green, the tennis or the croquet lawn. Or here the lazy man or the contemplative may sit on a shady seat and smoke his pipe at ease, watching the shadows purple the woods of ever-beautiful Mokoia lying like a jewel on the breast of Rotorua.

The Township of Rotorua has been well laid out. Broad straight streets, planted with avenues of English trees, intersect each other at right angles, lined with little villas each surrounded by its own garden, giving plenty of light and air and space, while the public gardens will more than bear comparison with the finest in the country. Besides the usual public buildings there is an excellent public library, while the town boasts, in addition to easy access by rail, such conveniences of up-to-date civilisation as electric light and a telephone exchange.

To add to its value as a health resort, Rotorua possesses a bright, sunny, bracing climate. Standing as it does, on an inland plateau, at an altitude of nearly 1,000 ft., by a wide expanse of lake, there is nearly always a keen air, and visitors will do well to bring with them warm clothing, and not be misled by such a geographical expression as latitude.

Turning our backs on the lake and following the broad main street of Rotorua for a couple of miles, we come to Whakarewarewa, perhaps the most interesting spot in the whole thermal district. The ground seems fairly alive, with every kind of hot spring and hot mud-pools of every size, shape, and colour. The beautifully shaped cones of the mud geysers are especially interesting, as here you may see in the actual process of formation perfect models of the craters of the great volcanoes. Here, too, may be seen several very fine geysers. The action of the largest of these is intermittent. At Whakarewarewa the amount of hot mineral water is simply enormous, millions of gallons bubbling and hissing and seething all around. Finally, here is a Native village of surpassing interest. Women, in crimson and green and purple, puffing stolidly at the inevitable pipe, the inevitable baby slung across their backs; piccalillis of all shapes and sizes and colours, active bright little beggars, here, there, and everywhere, dodging between the legs of the pakeha, diving from the high bridge for the coins he may throw, shrilly clamorous to dance a haka for him, to sing to him,—anything, alas, to extract the tourist's cash. There are several primitive but very enjoyable baths at Whakarewarewa, notably the Spout Bath, which is practically a hot waterfall, part of the overflow of an enormous spring, and the Oil Bath, somewhat resembling the Rachel.

At Ohinemutu, the old township of Rotorua, one may see, with the exception of the geysers, pretty much the same sights as at Whakarewarewa, but everything is, so to speak, on a softer scale. The Native village seems a thought more civilized; the boiling springs are curbed to a decorous bubble, even the sullen black mud geysers look less blatantly diabolical. Here as at Whakarewarewa one may see the Natives cooking by natural steam over a banked-up spring, and may also, for a consideration, throb to the fierce stamping of a haka in the carved meeting-house, or be lulled by the rhythmic grace of the poi dance.

As a contrast to so much hot water, a trip across the lake to Hamurana is well worth doing. A river of purest water wells up with great force through a shaft of rock—whose iridescent walls sparkle and scintillate with colour—and runs a short swift course to the lake. The picture, of hanging willows and blue waters mantled with red water-weed is one to haunt the memory. But you must go on a fine day.

From Hamurana the steamer proceeds to Mokoia, an island stored with Maori legend, and on to Te Ngae, where the coach takes one to Tikitere and Rotorua.

At Tikitere are the same thermal phenomena as at Rotorua, but the hot mud springs are in a state of even fiercer activity. A short walk along a pretty bush track takes one to the Blue Lake, a sheet of fresh water nestling calmly beautiful in the hollow of a crater of verdure-clad hills.

No one should leave this district without visiting the great fresh-water lakes, Rotoiti, Rotoehu, and Rotoma. Rotoiti can be reached either by road or by water, and is worth going a long way to see. The road, after leaving Tikitere, skirts the lake for miles, here giving a panoramic view of the blue waters, there running round a miniature bay where tiny waves lap a white sandy beach and promontories of rook and forest are mirrored in the calm waters they shelter. Should time permit, passing Rotoehu and along Hongi's Track through the forest, a luxurious bath may be taken in the hot effervescing springs of Waitangi, and a glimpse obtained of Rotoma, perhaps the loveliest of all the lakes. Or, going by steamer, one reaches Rotoiti by the Ohau Channel from Rotorua, and, winding along the other shore of the lake, pries into a succession of exquisite nooks, rich with the luxuriant beauty of native bush down to the water's edge. Leaving the steamer at the far end of Rotoiti, the journey may be continued home by coach viá Tikitere.

Perhaps the most interesting, and certainly the most enthralling excursion of the whole district is that known as the “round trip.” This takes one round the scene of the Tarawera eruption of 1886, past the buried village of Wairoa, and past the mighty geyser of Waimangu. Part of the trip is by road and part by water, the interest increasing with every step of the journey till it culminates in Waimangu itself.

Leaving Rotorua by coach, proceeding across the pumice plain, and passing through a narrow belt of bush left undestroyed by the eruption, one suddenly comes on Lake Tikitapu, of an almost unnatural blue, and beyond it Rotokakihi, of an equally fantastic greenish shade. The curious colour of these lakes is due to the suspended mineral matter in the water. Passing these lakes, Wairoa is reached, the village buried by the eruption of Tarawera in 1886. Ruins of the old mill, the hotel, Sophia's whare, and here and there parts of the walls of a cottage still remain; but Nature is busily and successfully engaged in covering up the pathetic relics of the past. From Wairoa a pleasant row or sail across Lake Tarawera lands one at the foot of the volcano, in a wilderness of dried mud, furrowed to an extraordinary degree with storm-water. A short walk, and we embark again on Lake Rotomahana, and row past the sites of the Pink and White Terraces, the former still in a state of fierce thermal activity. Boiling springs and steam-holes riddle the hillside, while numerous hot springs rise from the floor of the lake, so that one may enjoy the somewhat uncanny experience of rowing over boiling water and feeling the boat vibrate as to the propeller of a steamer. Disembarking where a deep gorge marks the cleft of the eruption, we follow the course of the overflow water of Waimangu up a fairly stiff incline, till we reach the shelter hut over-looking the geyser, usually hot and panting and more than ready for lunch. Hundreds of feet below us lies a small lake, rather over an acre in extent, looking absolutely quiet and innocent. That this apparently harmless sheet of water may suddenly shoot a thousand feet into the air, bearing with it tons of mud and boulders, seems quite incredible, and it requires all the photographs of the guides to convince the doubters who are disappointed in a display, that Waimangu is really a geyser at all. Beside the actual geyser is a boiling lake, the Echo Crater Lake, which looks much more formidable and geyser-like. Though there is a rough periodicity about Waimangu of about thirty hours, yet this is by no means absolute, and however carefully one may plan a visit it is impossible to insure seeing a display. To get over the difficulty, the Government have just erected a handsome “accommodation house.” which is really an hotel, commanding a fine view of the geyser and a panorama of Tarawera mountain and the district for miles around.

THE MINERAL WATERS OF ROTORUA.

Before proceeding to a description of the mineral waters and baths of Rotorua, it may not be out of place to preface the account with a few words on the action of mineral waters generally. There is a largely prevalent idea that the mineral matters dissolved in thermal waters are absorbed through the skin of the bather, enter into his system, and so directly attack the disease. Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately, for the results in every-day life would be disastrous—this is by no means the case. The skin, partly from the greasy secretions on its surface and partly from the nature of its construction, is quite incapable of absorbing substances in watery solution, except under special conditions. Substances dissolved in a fatty medium may undoubtedly penetrate the skin, and so may certain gases, such as sulphuretted hydrogen, which is abundantly present in the waters, or very finely powdered substances such as the sulphur which is deposited on the skin after a sulphur-vapour bath. Probably, too, a certain amount of mineral water is absorbed when directed on to the skin in fine spray under pressure, more especially if massage is used at the same time, as in the Aix massage douche. A very much larger amount may be absorbed through the lungs and respiratory tract by inhaling the vapours and fumes arising from the waters, and this will explain why it is that silver articles about the clothing may be blackened by the sulphur exuded through the skin several days after leaving a sulphur district. But when all is said and done, the amount absorbed by the skin and lungs is so infinitesimal that it plays quite a minor part in the therapeutics of thermal bathing, and it is only when taken by the mouth in carefully graduated doses that the medicinal effect of the dissolved salts can be obtained. It is to the mechanical, chemical, and possibly electrical, stimulation of the skin by the thermal waters that the balneologist trusts for all those curative processes which it is his function to direct, aiding them with massage, passive movements, gymnastics, or electricity, as the case demands.

The skin must be conceived as a structure exceedingly rich in blood-vessels, which, though minute in themselves, are, when taken in the aggregate, capable of containing a large proportion of the whole blood-supply of the body. Remembering, too, that these vessels are capable both of great dilatation and active contraction, and that they can readily be made to dilate or contract by using various mineral waters and varying the temperature of the water, it will at once be seen how profoundly a properly selected mineral bath may modify the circulation, can be made to draw blood to the surface, relieving an inward congestion, or by constricting the skin may flush the deep vessels. It can readily be seen, too, how this action of the skin, which has been termed the “skin heart,” may greatly help on the action of a heart perhaps diseased and overloaded, or, again, by injudicious use may thwart that organ and cause fainting or even death. For this reason alone it is about as reasonable a thing to take baths “on one's own” for the cure of disease as to go into a chemist's shop and reach down the nearest bottle “on spec.”

The nature of the mineral waters of Rotorua and their source are described below, and full analyses of the principal springs given:—

NATURE OF THE WATERS.

While amongst the countless springs arising in the Rotorua district there are, as might be expected, considerable numbers of varieties, and although it is no uncommon thing to observe two springs of almost diametrically opposite chemical properties arising side by side, yet there are certain features common to all.

In the first place, all the mineral springs in the district are hot, and where at times there may appear to be exceptions to the rule it will always be found that the coolness of the water is due either to admixture with fresh water or to evaporation in a basin comparatively large and fed only by a small spring. Without exception, too, the waters contain in solution either sulphuretted hydrogen, sulphurous acid, or both gases. Another invariable ingredient is silica, either in the form of silica, silicic acid, or a combination of that acid with various bases. This is a special characteristic of the waters of geyser regions, and is noticeable in Iceland and in the Yellowstone Park, U.S.A. To this silica is due the formation of those wonderful terraces for which New Zealand has long been famous. The hot water, as it cools and concentrates, being no longer able to keep in solution its dissolved salts, these are deposited in layers, either horizontal and delicately rippled or in stalactite masses, the colour varying generally from white through every shade of grey to pink, according to the nature of the metals present with the silica. This deposition is materially assisted by the action of living algæ. The waters, which may therefore be classed under the heading of sulphurous siliceous thermal waters, may be roughly divided into two main groups—acid and alkaline—with various subdivisions, and it is to the close juxtaposition of these entirely unlike waters that Rotorua owes its unique importance.

GROUP I.—THE ACID SULPHUROUS WATERS.

The distinguishing characteristic of these waters is the presence of free hydrochloric acid, free sulphuric acid, or both, in considerable quantity. In addition, they contain a large amount of alum, sulphae of soda, and iron-oxides, and in the somewhat cumbersome nomenclature of certain modern authors would be classed as acid sulphuretted sulphated alumino-chalybeate siliceous waters, a type which does not exist in Europe, though found in the Yellowstone Park, U.S.A., in Tuscarora, Canada, and in Japan.

Such waters are more suitable for external than for internal use, and for baths of what are known as the “simple immersion” kind they are especially valuable.

In addition to the therapeutic action which they exert in common with all other thermal baths, these waters possess a very powerful rubefacient action in virtue of the free acids they contain. By rapidly withdrawing large quantities of blood to the skin over the whole surface of the body, they profoundly modify the circulation, relieving congestion of internal organs and inflamed joints and nerves, easing pain and stiffness, resolving exudations, and promoting glandular activity. They act, in fact, in medical parlance, as powerful alteratives.

Besides their use as baths, some of these waters, more especially those containing a large proportion of alum and sulphurous acid, have been used with great success as astringents and antiseptics, as gargles in cases of relaxed and congested throat. The Egg-pot, a small but powerful spring near the Postmaster Baths, has long had a reputation for this purpose.

The best-known examples of the acid waters are the springs supplying the Priest and Postmaster Baths.

Class 1.—The “Priest” Water.

This spring percolates through a layer of hot pumice a few feet beneath the surface of the ground, and flows into the lake. The water has a greenish tinge, a very acid taste, an odour of sulphuretted hydrogen and sulphurous-acid gases, and issues from the earth at a temperature of from 98° to 110° Fahr. The total output it is impossible to estimate, on account of the numerous sources of leakage, but it is very large. The analysis is as follows:—

..Grains per Gallon.
Sulphate of soda19.24
     ″    potashTraces.
     ″    lime7.41
     ″    magnesia3.03
     ″    alumina21.67
     ″    iron1.24
Sulphuric acid22.12
Hydrochloric acid3.65
Silica18.41
Total96.77

Also sulphuretted hydrogen and carbonic-acid gas.*

* In this and subsequent analyses the exact amount of gas present is not stated, except in cases in which the analysis was made on the spot.

The Postmaster.—This spring bears a very close resemblance to the Priest, both in its situation and in its chemical properties, and differs only in containing an even larger proportion of free sulphuric and hydrochloric acids. It may, in fact, be looked upon as a stronger Priest water. It issues from the ground at a temperature varying from 98° Fahr. to 110° Fahr., and the total outflow is about the same as, or rather less than, the Priest spring. The following is the analysis of the water:—

..Grains per Gallon.

*See note to the “Priest” Bath.

Sulphate of soda32.87
     ″    potash1.24
     ″    lime4.93
     ″    magnesia1.83
     ″    alumina33.22
Iron-oxides4.42
Sulphuric acid (free)30.32
Hydrochloric acid (free)6.14
Silica17.61
Total132.58
Sulphuretted hydrogen*

Two springs near the Postmaster, and at present supplying some unenclosed and almost disused baths, are the Waikupapapa and Ngaruapuia. The waters, as will be seen from the analysis, are practically identical with the Priest water, but considerably weaker.

WAIKUPAPAPA.

 Grains per Gallon.

*See note to the “Priest” Bath.

Sulphate of soda33.18
     ″    potash0.26
     ″    lime2.44
     ″    magnesia0.24
     ″    alumina0.32
Iron-oxidesTrace.
Sulphuric acid (free)4.29
Hydrochloric acid (free)7.49
Silica8.23
Total56.45
Sulphuretted hydrogen*

NGARUAPUIA.

 Grains per Gallon.

*See note to the “Priest” Bath.

Sulphate of soda29.80
     ″    potash0.64
     ″    lime6.87
     ″    magnesia0.31
     ″    alumina 
Iron-oxidesTrace.
Sulphuric acid (free)3.11
Hydrochloric acid (free)6.76
Silica12.01
Total59.50
Sulphuretted hydrogen*

All the above springs are typical examples of acid, sulphurous thermal water, and form a pale-green solution, perfectly clear, except that on standing exposed to the air there is a tendency to the precipitation of flocculent sulphur.

Class 2.

There is another class of acid water, constituting a connecting-link between the foregoing and the hot mud-springs—that is to say, an acid water containing a considerable and varying amount of mineral mud in suspension. Such a spring is the Coffee-pot—a spring which it is hard to know whether to class under the head of mud or water—and the Cameron Spring arising a few yards from it. These waters, while owing their virtues partly to the salts and free acids in solution, act still more powerfully from the amount of mineral mud in suspension. They had a great reputation among the Maoris, and have fallen into an altogether undeserved neglect. It is hoped that when the new buildings are erected increased use will be made of them for immersion baths.

COFFEE-POT.

 Grains per Gallon.

* See note to the “Priest” Bath.

Silica13.86
Sulphate of soda23.71
Chloride of potassium0.77
     ″    aluminium1.46
     ″    calcium2.04
     ″    magnesium1.62
     ″    iron1.47
Hydrochloric acid7.66
Sulphuric acid7.60
Total60.19
Sulphuretted hydrogen*

CAMERON SPRING.

 Grains per Gallon.
Sulphate of soda44.54
Chloride of potassium1.67
     ″    sodium12.04
     ″    calcium5.22
     ″    magnesium1.28
     ″    aluminium0.62
Silica9.22
Hydrochloric acid5.92
Total80.51
Sulphuretted hydrogen..

PAINKILLER.

 Grains per Gallon

* See note to the “Priest” Bath.

Chloride of sodium46.42
     ″    potassium1.71
     ″    calcium2.66
     ″    magnesium1.47
     ″    iron and aluminium4.22
Sulphate of soda29.14
Hydrochloric acid6.84
Silica18.02
Total110.48
Sulphuretted hydrogen*

These springs find their way through a thick stratum of mineral mud, which generally reaches to the surface of the ground, but may be entirely overlaid by a thick rocky crust of silica. As a rule they are also characterized by a very large evolution of gas, chiefly sulphuretted hydrogen and sulphurous acid, with a certain amount of carbonic acid, while they differ from the Priest water in the small quantity of alum in solution.

GROUP II.—THE ALKALINE SULPHUROUS WATERS.

We have seen that the acid waters are without parallel in Europe, and possess certain unique advantages for external use. The alkaline waters represent a type common to many of the most famous spas of Europe, and are suitable both for bathing and drinking. They differ from the majority of European waters in being more siliceous, and would be classed as thermal sulpho-carbonated siliceous sodic-chlorinated saline waters.

These waters are characterized by their very high temperature (180° Fahr. to boiling point), perfect clearness, and soft emollient feel. Seen in bulk, in a perfectly fresh condition, they present every gradation of colour between a faint blue and a delicate green, but on standing exposed to the air for some time the water is apt to become opalescent as a result of oxidation.

Used for bathing purposes these waters possess certain medicinal attributes which may be considerably modified by the method of bathing employed. And herein lies their great utility. Taken as simple immersion baths about the body-temperature they act as nervous sedatives, an effect greatly increased by the action of the sulphuretted hydrogen present. Prolonging the immersion, the action of the alkaline salts and the dissolved gases removes the greasy secretions and dead cells of the skin, at the same time flushing it with blood, while the silicates in the water exert a bland emollient action. Hence the value of these waters in certain forms of skin disease. But it is for douche purposes that these waters are most of all valuable, more especially for that combination of douching and massage known as Aix massage. For this the bland nature of the water, combined with an almost slippery feel, a quality permitting the masseur's hands to glide easily over the bather's skin, and which is really due to a soapy material formed by the action of the alkaline water on the sebaceous secretions of the skin, renders the alkaline waters particularly suitable. Doubtless, too, the siliceous nature of the water increases this effect. At Aix-les-Bains the same quality appears to be due to a low form of vegetable growth in the water called glairine.

For internal administration the alkaline sulphurous waters have valuable properties, and also certain drawbacks, the most serious of the latter being their extremely nauseous taste. Happily, however, if the water is taken at first in small doses, which are gradually increased from day to day, the distaste not only steadily lessens but is often replaced by a positive enjoyment. The water should be taken as fresh and as hot as possible, sipped rather than gulped down, and should be taken on an empty stomach either before meals or in the cooling-room after or before a bath, according to the special effect desired. Thus taken before meals it cleanses the stomach, neutralises acidity, and stimulates the flow of gastric juice in virtue of its alkalinity. In addition, the sulphides, sulphates, and chlorides in solution exert a specific influence on the digestive glands, more especially stimulating the liver, so that the water relieves engorgement of the liver, hæmorrhoids, and, indirectly, constipation. At the same time the amount of iron present, though small, is sufficient to exert a distinctly tonic influence. There remains one important ingredient whose action must be regarded as still open to question—the silica. What therapeutic action, if any, the silicates exert is still a moot point, and my own experience in their use has been hardly long enough for me to venture a positive opinion.

It will be seen from the above that the alkaline sulphurous waters—such as the Rachel—are fairly potent medicines, and not to be taken in indiscriminate quantities without medical advice. More especially patients with greatly enfeebled digestion, profound anæmia, or persons suffering from functional disturbances of the heart should avoid their internal use.

One other application of these waters remains to be considered—their use, in the form of vapour, for inhalation and for vapour baths. At present no facilities exist for inhaling the vapour, but in the new baths I hope to see installed a complete inhalatorium. By increasing the mucous secretions, relaxing the respiratory tissues, and softening and desquamating the epithelium, inhalation of these vapours would be distinctly beneficial certain cases of chronic bronchitis and asthma.

While on the subject of inhalation it may be remarked that a good deal of involuntary inhalation goes on during a bath, especially when, as in the old form of baths, these are built directly over the source. The amount of sulphuretted hydrogen that bubbles up through the water in the Priest and Postmaster Baths is very considerable, and is largely responsible for the not infrequent cases of fainting in those baths. While possibly not without its use for its action on the skin in the water, and for its action on the nervous system when inhaled, the good is so much more than counterbalanced by the evil that it would be better in all future baths not to build them over the springs, but always to lead the waters to them. The carbonic-acid gas which is present in several of the springs is hardly in sufficient quantity to have any marked therapeutic or toxic effect.

Vapour baths in which the body or part of the body is immersed in the steam arising from the mineral water form a part of the armamentarium of nearly every spa in Europe, and ample provision for them has been made in the designs for the new bath buildings. But, while at present deficient in this respect, Rotorua possesses a “sulphur-vapour bath” which is believed to be unique. From a hot sulphur cavern immediately below the floor of the Blue Bath, steam and hot fumes, principally sulphur-dioxide in a very concentrated form, are led into a vapour “cabinet” of the ordinary type, in which the patient sits immersed with his head projecting through an aperture. It is hardly possible to exaggerate the value of this bath in certain cases. While possessing all the properties of an ordinary vapour bath, the sulphurous fumes of themselves have an intensely stimulating effect on the skin; while, in addition, sulphur in the finest possible powder is deposited on the whole surface of the body. Under such a combination of circumstances quite an appreciable amount of sulphur is absorbed into the system, while at the same time all the effects mentioned before as attributable to immersion in Priest water are brought about. In addition to the complete immersion vapour bath, there has recently been installed a series of “local vapour baths,” in which a limb, or part of a limb only, is immersed.

Analyses of the Alkaline Waters, in Grains per Gallon.

 Rachel.Oil Bath. (Whakarewarewa).Waikiti (Ohinemutu, 1903).
Sodium-chloride69.4366.3438.75
Potassium-chloride3.411.46..
Lithium-chlorideTracesTraces..
Sodium-sulphate11.807.492.72
Potassium-sulphate....2.70
Sodium-bicarbonate....20.03
Calcium-bicarbonate....0.82
Magnesium-bicarbonate....0.74
Iron and alumina oxides2.41....
Alumina....0.16
Silica5.87..24.36
Sodium-silicate18.212.08..
Calcium-silicate4.243.16..
Magnesium-silicate1.090.76..
Ferr. silicate..0.85..
Totals116.4682.1490.28

Also sulphuretted hydrogen and carbonic acid.

SOURCE OF THE WATERS.

The appearance of an acid and an alkaline spring alongside flashes at once across the mind the inevitable query “Why?” How is it that two such antagonistic waters can outflow so closely together without mixing and neutralising one another? Evidently their sources, or at any rate one of their sources, must be far distant from their outlet. Very deep vertical or sinuous fissures in the earth's crust might account for the phenomenon, or one vertical shaft penetrating a horizontal and superficial water-bearing stratum. A close examination of a large number of springs inclined me to the latter opinion.

The foreshore of Lake Rotorua for more than a mile is riddled with acid springs, which seem, so to speak, to ooze from the surface pumice. By digging down a few feet in almost any part of this area one strikes a layer of acid sulphurous water closely resembling the Priest water. It is significant, too, that the temperature of the Priest Baths is materially lowered by a heavy rainfall. The alkaline waters in this area, on the other hand, are ejected with a certain amount of force from deep shafts, whose walls are lined with a silicate deposit soft under the water, of stony hardness where exposed and dry. It is impossible to measure the depth of these shafts, as their walls are not vertical, but they are certainly of considerable depth—the Rachel Spring, for instance, has been sounded to a depth of 150 ft. There is a close resemblance, both in the nature of the outlet-shaft and in the character of the water, between these springs and the geysers of Whakarewarewa; and even the quietest and most placid pools—such as the Rachel—will exhibit geyser action if the pressure on them is suddenly lowered, as by rapidly running off a large quantity of water.

The physical configuration of the springs, then, would point to the supposition that the Priest water is a superficial layer separated from a deeper level of alkaline water by some impervious stratum, pierced here and there by vertical shafts which allow the alkaline water under a considerable degree of pressure, to reach the surface. To test the truth of this theory shafts were sunk in various parts of the Sanatorium grounds, both in sulphur-beds, where one might expect to obtain hot water, and in apparently sound places overgrown with trees 30 ft. high. In all cases hot, acid, sulphurous water was obtained at a distance varying from 5 ft. to 12 ft. below the surface. Certain strata, more especially a black layer consisting of pumice thickly coated with crystals of marcasite, contained water in larger quantities and at higher temperatures than others, the thermometer registering anything from 110° Fahr. to 160° Fahr. It is probable that chemical action is largely concerned in the production of these local high temperatures, and, as is well known, the natural decomposition of marcasite produces sulphuric acid. An analysis of one of these “artificial springs” will be seen below under heading A. On digging through the floor of spring A we came upon a dense stratum of white clay some 12 ft. thick, and boring through this with a 6 in. iron pipe we came on a plentiful supply of a neutral water, richer in chlorides, of a temperature of 187° Fahr., and altogether more approximating in character to Rachel water (analysis B).

Analysis, in Grains per Gallon.

 A.B.
Silica16.8016.80
Alumina20.364.10
Iron-oxide1.100.15
Lime0.560.56
Magnesia0.610.20
Soda2.4613.33
Potash0.400.80
Chloride3.5514.41
Sulphuric acid57.4012.60
Total103.2462.95
Sulphuretted hydrogenin both...
Acidity, calculated as sulphuric acid11.31 Neutral...

THE BATHS.

The baths of Rotorua are designed expressly to cater for the needs of two distinct types of bathers—those who come for pleasure and those who come for “the cure.” For the former there are hot swimming-baths which are amongst the finest in existence. The enormous supplies of hot mineral water available enable us to keep up three large swimming-baths, always filled with water at the body-temperature. These are entirely emptied and cleaned out every week, while a constant stream of clean hot water is always flowing in, and bathers have this additional guarantee of the purity of the water: that unless this constant inflow of fresh hot water is kept up the temperature of the bath must inevitably and rapidly sink.

The Duchess Bath is a fine swimming-bath 40 ft. long and 20 ft. broad, enclosed in a building lofty enough to prevent any feeling of stuffiness. Here one may get a luxurious swim and a cold shower in independence of the weather. On one side of the swimming-bath is a suite of private rooms containing a bath-room, and a really sumptuous dressing-room, lavatory, cold shower, and hot douche. These baths, which are open to ladies one half the day and gentlemen the other, are all supplied by the Rachel spring, which is noted for the soft emollient nature of its water.

The ladies' swimming-bath, also supplied by the Rachel spring, is open to the sky, and measures 48 ft. by 24 ft.

The third swimming-bath, the Blue Bath, 62 ft. by 23 ft., is reserved for gentlemen, is also open-air, and is fed by the water from the Malfroy geysers.

In the same building is the sulphur-vapour bath already described.

The main block of buildings, the Pavilion Baths, is divided into separate wings for ladies and gentlemen. Here are situated, in addition to the ladies' swimming-bath, the immersion baths supplied by the famous “Priest” water and suites of public and private baths supplied from the Rachel spring. Under the same roof are the mud baths, comprising “complete immersion” and “local” mud baths.

At the ticket-office may be obtained hot Rachel water free for drinking purposes, and cold Te Aroha water—a strongly alkaline saline—at 2d. per glass. It is hoped to be able before long to retail here several of the more important waters of the colony.

Behind the Duchess Bath, in an unpretentious wooden building, are the ladies' and gentlemen's Aix massage baths. These are very comfortably fitted up with cooling-rooms and private dressing-rooms, while the walls of the bath-rooms are lined with plate glass to insure absolute cleanliness. The Rachel water, under hydraulic pressure of about 50 lb. to the square inch, supplies the various douches, and the whole is in charge of thoroughly experienced masseurs and masseuses, who, in addition to a knowledge of massage and douching, are expert in the Swedish movements and gymnastics.

In the same building are rooms fitted up for the employment of dry massage, electricity, and medical gymnastics. Here, as in the Aix massage baths, the attendants do not give any treatment on their own initiative, but work only according to the instruction of the patient's medical attendant. Full written directions are handed in with each case, a prescription in fact, and this is carried out with the same literal exactness as an ordinary prescription is made up by the chemist.

Half a mile away along the lake-shore, in the direction of Whakarewarewa, are the Postmaster Baths, similar in construction to the Priest Baths, with a male and female side, but open to the air. Their special use and nature have already been touched upon.

At Whakarewarewa are the Spout Bath already mentioned, and several other baths at present in private hands.

Tariff.—The cost of the baths is really remarkably low, and varies from 6d. for certain public baths to 3s. 6d. for the “double Aix massage.”

SEASON.

The season may be said to last all the year round, for while the great majority of visitors crowd to Rotorua during the summer, there are large and increasing numbers who have learned from past experience that Rotorua is much more comfortable in the autumn, when we frequently enjoy week after week of still, clear, bracing days, with a genial sun and an absence of that gusty wind which is the chief drawback of the climate in early summer. Even in winter similar weather is by no means uncommon—bright sunny days, with sharp frost at night.

ROUTES OF ACCESS.

Rotorua may most easily be reached by rail from Auckland. The express leaves Auckland every morning, arriving in Rotorua, in comfortable time for dinner in the evening. As a dining-car is now attached to this train the journey can be made very much more comfortably than heretofore. This train connects with the Australian boat from Sydney to Auckland.

Another route is overland via the Wanganui River and Taupo; a most interesting and charming way in summer, but, owing to the long coaching journey, somewhat uncomfortable in winter.

ACCOMMODATION.

There are four hotels and over twenty boardinghouses, and the number of the latter is steadily increasing; still there is often a great demand for accommodation, and during the height of the season, especially if some special function such as the Carnival or a public holiday is on, it would be wise to engage rooms in advance.

LENGTH OF TIME REQUIRED FOR A CURE.

This it is impossible to state, so much depending on the nature and severity of the case, but, striking an average, a month would be a very fair allowance. Indeed in very severe cases it is as a rule better not to prolong a stay over several months, but rather to go away after six weeks or so and return later.

The sufferer must not expect a Pool of Bethesda at Rotorua: we do not profess to do impossibilities, and are only too well aware of our limitations; but this much may be affirmed with absolute sincerity, that nowhere in the known world exist finer bathing-waters for the relief of suffering humanity.

WAIOTAPU.

Taking coach at Rotorua, and turning sharply to the right from Whakarewarewa, a drive of twenty-one miles brings one to Waiotapu. From the time the first gorge is left, with boulder-strewn Puarenga rushing far below, the conduit supplying Rotorua with water winding snakily beside it, the road is comparatively uninteresting until Kakaramea is reached.

Maunga Kakaramea—Rainbow Mountain—owes its name to the extraordinary richness and variety of colouring of its steeper slopes, due to the coloured earths of which it is largely composed. In a single roadside cutting one may pick up specimens of earth of the most intense red, purple, and orange, with every gradation through delicate pinks, greys, and greens to pure white. There is an easy track to the summit.

Passing an intensely green still lake at the foot of Kakaramea, a short drive brings one to the Waiotapu Hotel.

Many people look upon Waiotapu as merely a place to halt at for lunch on the road to Taupo, but it is well worth spending a few days here. Space forbids anything like an adequate description of this wonderful valley. Here may be seen on a gigantic scale every kind of hydro-thermal activity: enormous boiling cauldrons, mud geysers on a scale nowhere else attempted, hot cascades and waterfalls, steam-holes, alum caves, and an immense variety of mineral waters.

WAIRAKEI.

From Waiotapu the road leads across an interminable pumice plain to Taupo. The Waikato River, now rolling majestically, now thundering over falls and rapids, alone breaks the monotony of the journey. Away to the left can be seen the steam from the Ohaki Spring, while in the far distance rise the snowy peaks of the volcanoes Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe.

A few miles before reaching Taupo we come to Wairakei, a veritable oasis in the desert of pumice, fern, and manuka. On no account should the traveller miss Wairakei. Waiotapu holds us with its weirdness, but Wairakei is magnificent. Through the hotel gardens, fed by innumerable springs, runs literally a river of hot water, in which you can swim under the overarching trees, a cold stream running alongside for the delectation of the hardier spirits; at points along the stream cascades of hot water form natural shower-baths amid fern and moss and shrub. Finally, in one high fall, the mineral water serves a purpose which is, I believe, unique—to drive a water-wheel and cut chaff.

There are two main groups of springs in two distinct valleys: one, the smaller, consisting of a large number of springs of an aluminous, sulphurous, and chalybeate nature, the overflow of which constitutes the hot river; and the other, and larger, the “Geyser Valley,” in which most of the waters are of an alkaline saline nature. Here may be seen a large number of geysers of all sizes, which differ from those of Whakarewarewa in the extreme frequency and regularity of their action and in their beautiful surroundings. Any one with half an hour to spare may be quite certain of his patience being rewarded by seeing at least one geyser play.

TAUPO.

Many miles before reaching Wairakei the landscape is dominated by the frowning extinct crater of Tau Hara. As the road twists and turns round the low hills at its base, the great mountain seems ever elusive, never getting nearer, and, in fact, even when we reach Taupo after hours of driving, we seem still as far off the mountain as ever. This peculiarity of a conical mountain is due of course to the fact that one face of it is so much like another as to be indistinguishable; we have simply driven round it. The same phenomenon is very noticeable in passing Mount Egmont.

The Aratiatia Rapids may be visited from either Wairakei or Taupo, but a splendid view of the Huka Falls may be obtained from the coach-road between Wairakei and Taupo. It is a really magnificent sight to see the huge mass of purest water, of the most delicious green colour, pour thunderously over the falls. One realises what an immense force it is the electrical engineers propose to harness.

Taupo is a pretty little place overlooking the lake, and commanding quite a Swiss view of the snowy giants opposite.

There is a choice of three hotels for the traveller: the Lake Hotel, most convenient for the steamer and the through route to Wanganui; the Spa, and the Terraces, with hot mineral baths attached.

Taupo, standing as it does at an altitude of 1,250 ft. in the very centre of the North Island, with a fine bracing climate, a magnificent lake, and absolutely unlimited supplies of hot mineral water, can hardly fail to become in the future one of the foremost health resorts of the country.

The Spa Hotel consists of a series of cottages grouped about a pretty garden, through which runs a stream of hot mineral water. There are a number of comfortable baths, and several kinds of mineral water flowing in astounding quantities. The whole is in a sheltered sunny valley, and should prove a perfect haven for those in search of a quiet restful winter resort.

Some 200 ft. above Taupo is the Terraces Hotel. In its grounds is a deep and picturesque ravine in which arise a large number of springs of different kinds. The outflow of mineral water here is really enormous, and many of the springs possess valuable medicinal properties.

In addition to several hot springs which arise from the shore of the lake between the Terraces and the Lake Hotel, there is another group along the bank of the Waikato River, including some exceedingly interesting geysers.

At Tokaanu, across the lake, are several very-large hot springs, of varying nature, which on account of the enormous number of springs in this district have been comparatively neglected. Had they been situated in any European country they would long ago have obtained worldwide reputation.

ORAKEI KORAKO.

Orakei Korako may be reached either by driving over from Wairakei or by riding from Atiamuri by the new road beside the Waikato, a most picturesque route.

There are two objects at the springs which are alone well worth going to see—the Terraces, which since the destruction of the Pink and White Terraces are the finest in the colony, and the Alum Cave. Surely if any spot deserved the epithet “fairy” it is this grotto. In a cliff overlooking the Waikato, with the everlasting dingy scrub and scrubby fern around, one suddenly comes on an opening in the cliff half-hidden with vegetation. Descending by a rough boulder-strewn track, one enters fairyland. A hundred feet overhead the cliff-face shelves into the grotto. Purple and orange, green and crimson, the roof is iridescent with every colour, while at the very bottom of the grotto, where painted roof meets painted floor, is an exquisitely beautiful pool of hot water, delicately green, its perfectly still surface reflecting the coloured walls. The sloping floor of the cave is filled with stately nikau palms, growing luxuriantly in the warm steamy atmosphere. To the left of the pool is a narrow opening leading into a large cave, whose floor is a pool of hot water, and whose atmosphere is like the hottest room of a Turkish bath. Here the guide will momentarily disappear, to appear torch in hand in the mysterious depths, lighting up the cave with weird effect. The atmosphere, however, does not invite too long a sojourn.

There are a very large number of valuable mineral springs at Orakei Korako, but on account of the inaccessibility of the spot they have hitherto been used only by the Maori.

OKOROIRE.

These springs may be reached from Rotorua either by rail or road. In either case, the route passes through charming scenery.

Taking the coach by preference, and skirting the foot of Ngongotaha along the western side of the lake, we reach the bush some ten miles from Rotorua, after a long pull uphill. Thenceforward the road runs for miles through beautiful bush scenery, and by the time the mid-day halt is made the keen air—we are some 2,000 ft. up—has made lunch a welcome duty. As the coach begins the descent of the opposite face of the mountain-chain the scenery gets finer and finer, until it culminates in a magnificent panorama of wooded ridge and rocky crest, with deep luxuriant gorges in between, and, beyond the broad valleys of Thames and Waikato, the far horizon serrated with blue hills. A few miles across the plain and we come to Okoroire.

Here the River Waihou forces its way through a narrow cleft of rock, foaming into a broad basin, on whose margin are situated the springs, overhung with trees and banks of fern. Close behind is the hotel with its lazy verandahs, its orchards, and its farmyard. The waters, which are mildly saline and comfortably hot, have been led into the baths close to the river-side, and constitute a particularly pleasant and inviting dip. Jammed in the narrowest cleft of the river's course is all that is left of a large Maori canoe which tradition says was wrecked in its present situation during a foolhardy and fatal attempt by a visiting tribe to paddle through the rapids. There is good trout-fishing in the river, and altogether for the angler, and for the bather in search of quiet comfort, Okoroire is a charming spot. Within driving distance of Okoroire are the fine hot springs of Mata Mata, which are well worth a visit and a bathe in.

Upper No. 2 Bath.—Analysis.

 Grains per Gallon.
Calcium-sulphate2.77
Magnesium-chloride0.69
Sodium-chloride9.48
Sodium-carbonate17.18
Potassium-carbonate1.42
Iron-oxide1.10
Silica and silicates9.70
Total42.34

Flow, 1,300 gallons per hour. Temperature, 113° Fahr.

Fairy or Open-air Bath.—Analysis.

 Grains per Gallon.
Calcium-sulphate2.42
Calcium-carbonate1.84
Magnesium-carbonate1.03
Sodium-chloride4.34
Alkaline oxide11.41
Iron-oxide0.70
Silica and silicates9.82
Total31.56

Flow, 4,100 gallons per hour. Temperature, 99° Fahr.

TE AROHA.

One of the best and, certainly one of the prettiest, resorts in New Zealand is Te Aroha. Nestling at the foot of a high richly-wooded mountain, on the edge of a wide plain, the first view of it from the railway recalls irresistibly one of those pleasant little watering-places one finds in quiet nooks on the Continent of Europe. Only a chalet or two perched among the pines is wanted to make the illusion complete.

Situated in a large garden, prettily terraced on the hillside, are dotted about a large number of baths. Some of these are small buildings erected either over or alongside a spring, as, for instance, No. 1, which is reserved for ladies; but the central block consists of quite a handsome and picturesque bath-house, with a large number of private baths, and, with the exception of the Aix massage bath at Rotorua, is the most up-to-date bathing establishment in the colony.

The climate of Te Aroha is mild and sedative, and in this respect is more suitable than either Rotorua or Hanmer for elderly persons and patients suffering from bronchitis, emphysema, degenerative changes in the vascular system, or kidney-disease.

While Rotorua is essentially a bathing resort, Te Aroha is a spa for drinking the waters. These would be classed as thermal carbonated sodic-muriated alkaline-saline, and closely resemble the celebrated waters of Vichy and Ems, but are considerably richer in the essential medicinal ingredients—the bicarbonate, chloride, and sulphate of sodium.

As compared with most of the mineral springs of New Zealand, the outflow is not great, but it is enough not only to supply all possible drinking requirements, but also a large number of immersion baths.

ANALYSIS IN GRAINS PER GALLON.*

* A large number of springs hitherto given in the Year-book are omitted, some of them being now extinct, merged in other springs, or so insignificant as to be unimportant. The temperatures of Nos. 2, 4, and 6 cannot be given, as they flow through the floor of large baths.

Spring.Sodium-bicarbonate.Sodium-chloride.Sodium-sulphate.Potassium-chloride.Calcium-carbonate.Magnesium-carbonate.Ferrous-carbonate.Alumina.Silica.Total.Temperature (Deg. Fahr.).
1461-5660.2538.321.7210.776.86TraceTrace7.56586.96135
2426.2960.4532.671.907.124.217.12539.76..
4246.4934.2419.16..4.622.145.17311.82Cold.
6499.7566.2335.14..7.122.997.14618.37..
8451.9766.1432.911.967.474.218.60573.26109
13301.6440.6721.86..6.113.13”..6.36380.27135
14321.6442.6123.16..7.143.49..6.66404.70135
15321.7643.1122.16..6.913.61....7.05414.60130
Also carbonic-acid gas in all.

Drinking the Waters.—The springs generally used for this purpose are No. 8, which supplies the octagon fountain, and No. 15. Drunk fresh from the spring, the water is by no means so unpalatable as might be expected, considering the very large amount of bicarbonate of sodium in solution. It is well to begin with small quantities—say a third of a glass—sipped three times a day on an empty stomach, the dose being gradually increased till four or five glasses a day are taken. As a rule, the water should be taken about half an hour to an hour before meals, or two hours after meals, beginning with a glass in the early morning, followed by a short walk before breakfast, or a bath, or both, another glass about noon, and a final glass about 9 at night. The next step would be a fourth glass about half-past 3 or 4 in the afternoon, and then one half an hour before dinner.

The waters act as antacids and diuretics, and have also the effect of liquifying bronchial, hepatic, and other secretions. Owing to the presence of considerable quantities of sodium-chloride they are less “lowering” than simple alkaline waters, and in this respect resemble the waters of Ems rather than those of Vichy. In many persons they have a distinct laxative effect, partly due to the indirect action of the carbonates and chlorides in solution, and partly to the sulphate of sodium.

Used as baths the waters have a remarkably cleansing action on the skin, due to the solution of its fatty secretions by the strong alkali, an action invaluable in promoting skin-excretion and in those skin-diseases in which seborrhoea is a marked feature.

Indications.—Drinking: Acid and hepatic dyspepsia, gallstones, gout, gouty diabetes, certain forms of urinary trouble, chronic bronchitis, and some forms of obesity. Bathing: Chronic gout and rheumatism; certain skin-diseases, especially if associated with seborrhoea; catarrhal conditions of the female pelvic organs.

Contra-indications.—Patients greatly enfeebled and run down, as in many cases of true rheumatoid arthritis, in advanced diabetes, and in low forms of gout and rheumatism.

Chapter 64. HANMER.

What Rotorua is to the North Island, Hanmer is to the South. While by no means the only hot springs in the South Island, those of Hanmer are the only ones of any magnitude at present easily accessible, and they have an especial importance in that they can be reached by train from the most populous centres of the South without, what is to invalids often a serious drawback, the discomforts of a sea-passage. Hanmer is some thirty-two miles from the east coast, and in latitude 42° 30′ S.

Access.—The principal route, and the only one practicable for invalids, is by train from Christchurch to Culverden, a distance of sixty-nine miles, and thence twenty-four miles by coach to Hanmer. The journey can be comfortably managed in a day, leaving ample time for lunch at the Culverden Hotel, and a break in the coach-ride for tea at a picturesque little hostelry, reached just before the descent into the Hanmer Plains.

Accommodation.—There is excellent accommodation at the Government “Spa,” which is practically an hotel without a license. Provision is made in separate quarters for fifteen first-class and sixteen second-class guests, while three beds are reserved for patients receiving free treatment. Inside the Spa gardens, and within a couple of hundred yards of the house, are the hot springs and the bath-buildings, so that the site is as central and convenient as could well be wished. In addition to the Spa. there are several good boardinghouses, and, two and a half miles away, the Jollie's Pass Hotel. Altogether some three hundred visitors can be accommodated at Hanmer.

Climate.—Situated on an elevated plateau 1,220 ft. above sea-level, rimmed round by high mountains, and shut off by the central mountainous backbone of the island from the warm moist west winds, Hanmer possesses in its climate a curative factor scarcely less valuable than its mineral waters. The air is comparatively dry, absolutely pure, and has just that touch of keenness in it which exhilarates and lessens fatigue—in a word, is “bracing.” At this altitude the atmosphere is more diathermous and translucent than at the sea-level: the temperature in the direct sunshine is higher and in the shade lower, and distant details show up with a clear-cut outline which makes them deceptively near. The prevailing wind is from the north-west, and the wettest months are in the spring and autumn. Rain falls on about 104 days in the year, and the average rainfall is about 43 in. There may be said to be two distinct “seasons” at Hanmer—the summer, when most people visit it, and the winter, when it holds out considerable attractions to those who need bracing up and are yet not too invalided to endure the keen frosty air.

The Mineral Waters.—The hot sulphur waters arise within the Spa grounds from a number of springs, which all appear to have a common origin. The temperature of these springs varies from about 100 degrees Fahr. to 114 degrees Fahr., and they issue from the earth accompanied by a fairly copious evolution of sulphuretted-hydrogen gas, the excess of which, by an ingenious device, is collected and utilised for the lighting and heating of the Spa.

The waters are saline in nature, with a faintly alkaline reaction, the principal ingredient being sodium-chloride, and they would therefore be classed as sulphuretted saline waters, or, to give them their full title, as thermal sulphuretted sodic-muriated saline.

Analysis in Grains per Gallon.

Chloride of sodium62.09
Chloride of potassium0.15
Chloride of lithiumTrace.
Iodide of magnesiumTrace.
Carbonate of lime0.55
Carbonate of magnesia1.77
Carbonate of iron0.05
Sulphate of sodium7.48
Carbonate of sodium2.66
Phosphate of aluminaTrace.
Silica2.63
Total77.38
Also sulphuretted-hydrogen gas.

From the above analysis it will be seen that the waters closely resemble the alkaline sulphuretted waters of Rotorua of the Rachel” type, but contain more alkaline carbonate and much less silica. They are therefore distinctly better waters for internal administration, and, indeed, approximate more closely to some of the most celebrated European sulphur-waters.

Drinking the waters is usually combined with taking the baths, the nauseous taste of the sulphides in the water being the principal drawback to its internal administration. The water is drunk hot and fresh directly from the spring, and, like most sulphur waters, will not keep when bottled. The usual dose is from a quarter to two pints a day, sipped on an empty stomach. Taken in this way, its principal uses are—(1.) As an antacid and hepatic alterative in certain cases of dyspepsia, abdominal plethora, hæmorrhoids, and engorgement of the liver. In many cases of neurotic dyspepsia the taste of sulphuretted hydrogen is rather an advantage than otherwise. (2.) In cases of chronic gout, rheumatism, and metallic poisoning, to increase metabolism and flush the system.

The Baths.—There are several bath-buildings dotted about the gardens, their positions having been originally determined either by the site of a spring or by the contour of the ground enabling mineral water to be led into them.

Of the former class are the men's and women's swimming-pools, two walled-in enclosures containing oval concrete baths, some 30 ft. long by 20 ft. wide and 4 ft. 6 in. deep, open to the sky, but protected from the direct rays of the sun by awnings. These baths are kept at slightly below the body-temperature, and constitute a delightful dip, rendered all the more pleasant in that the excess of sulphuretted hydrogen is removed from the water.

The private baths, some twenty-two in number, are housed in three separate buildings, and are of the ordinary shallow immersion type. They are fitted with cold showers, are clean and comfortable, and are altogether of a less primitive type than the similar plunge-baths at Rotorua. Special baths are reserved for patients suffering from diseases of the skin.

Massage-rooms, in charge of male and female operators, are provided with hot and cold douches, not-air cabinets, and a needle bath. It is intended shortly to replace the present low-pressure douches by a high-pressure system, so that true Aix massage and douche-treatment can be given as at Rotorua.

Inhalation.—The present arrangements for inhaling the vapour of the mineral water are somewhat primitive, consisting of a couple of pipes leading from a roofed-in spring into the open air. Patients sit on seats placed immediately above the spring, and inhale the hot vapour as it issues from the pipes. In fine weather there are distinct advantages about this open-air method, while the steaming of the face, which necessarily takes place in inhaling from the somewhat large apertures, exerts an emollient action on the skin. It is rumoured that it is not unknown that visitors, hearing of this cosmetic property, have developed a sudden bronchial affection necessitating inhalation. It is intended shortly to erect an inhalation-room and a natural vapour-bath over the spring.

Cases suitable for Treatment.—The baths are indicated in most cases of gout and rheumatism in a chronic or subacute stage, and in local manifestations of these diseases, such as sciatica, lumbago, and certain forms of neuralgia and mild neuritis. Patients suffering from true rheumatoid arthritis are likely to receive benefit from the combination of the bracing climate with the mineral-water treatment, but the latter requires most stringent medical regulation, and is easily overdone.

The same remarks apply to many forms of anæmia, general debility, nervous exhaustion, and insomnia; and, indeed, it cannot be too strongly insisted that mineral-water treatment, while capable of doing great good, is capable, if misapplied, of doing fully as much harm. Cases of chronic poisoning by metals, such as lead, and by certain constitutional diseases, are likely to be benefited by the combination of the external and internal use of the waters.

Many forms of dyspepsia will be greatly benefited by the combination of drinking the waters and bathing, together with a carefully regulated diet. Here, again, while the bracing climate assists the cure and stimulates the appetite, it must be remembered that the increased appetite must be restrained at first by the dyspeptic.

Certain skin-diseases, notably the dry forms of eczema and mild cases of psoriasis, are usually benefited, but much longer immersion is required than is advisable in the treatment of most other diseases. Special baths are set apart for these cases.

Convalescents from acute diseases will find the pure upland air markedly invigorating, but must be careful in the matter of bathing.

Certain forms of kidney-disease may be improved by cautious use of the hot baths and vapour-cabinets.

Lastly, many cases of chronic bronchitis and asthma benefit by the inhalation of the mineral-water vapour, the sulphuretted hydrogen of which, combined with the warm steam, has a bland sedative action on the mucous membranes, while at the same time the vapour tends to liquefy the bronchial secretions.

Contra-indications.—As already pointed out, the waters must not be used indiscriminately in each and every case, and in certain cases not only will no good be likely to result, but there is considerable risk of great harm being done. Invalids should never embark on a course without medical advice, and should specially avoid taking very hot baths or prolonged immersion on their own responsibility. The waters should not be taken internally by persons suffering from severe anæmia, functional disturbances of the heart, or very enfeebled digestion.

Medical Attendance.—The Government medical officer, Dr. Little, resides at Culverden, and visits Hanmer regularly. In cases of urgent necessity he can always be communicated with by telephone. A booklet. “The Mineral Waters and Health Resorts of New Zealand,” “Section 2, Hanmer,” giving further information in regard to the waters, is being issued free by the Government Department of Tourist and Health Resorts.

Chapter 65. OTHER GOVERNMENT TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS.

MOUNT COOK.

The Mount Cook Hermitage Hotel—under the control of the Government Tourist Department—is situated in the heart of the Southern Alps. The Hermitage is 2,506 ft. above sea-level. It is reached from Christchurch or Dunedin by rail and coach. Trains connect at Timaru for Fairlie, thirty-nine miles. At Fairlie the traveller changes to the coach for the rest of his journey (ninety-six miles). A night is spent en route from Fairlie to the Hermitage at Lake Pukaki, where there is a Government hotel. Guides and horses are obtainable at the Hermitage. The hotel is a building of thirty-five rooms, with stabling and paddocks for horses. Cook's coupons are accepted at the Hermitage. The glaciers within easy distance include the great Tasman Glacier (one of the largest in the world), the Murchison, Godley, Mueller, and Hooker. Mount Cook (12,349 ft.) and the surrounding mountains are within convenient distance of the Hermitage. From the Ball Hut (3,404 ft.) and Malte Brun Hut (5,700 ft.), erected for the shelter of climbers, in the vicinity of Mount Tasman, many alpine excursions may be made. The Ball Hut is twelve miles, and the Malte Brun about twenty miles from the Hermitage. The west coast may be reached from here, viâ the Hooker Glacier, Fitzgerald's Pass, and the valleys of the Copland and Karangarua Rivers.

THE SOUTHERN LAKES.

The most easily accessible of the Otago lakes is WAKATIPU, which is fifty-four miles long, 1,069 ft. above sea-level, and has a depth of 1,252 ft. Queenstown, on the shores of this lake, is reached in one day from Dunedin or Invercargill by rail (174 miles or eighty-seven miles) to Kingston, thence by Government steamer twenty-five miles. From Queenstown, where there is good hotel-accommodation, the ascent of Ben Lomond (5,747 ft.) and other mountains may be made on horseback. The Government steamers run to Kinloch and Glenorchy, at the head of the lake, whence excursions may be made to Mount Earnslaw (9,300 ft.), by horse and on foot, to Paradise (by buggy), and to the Routeburn Valley, the Dart River, Rere Lake, &c. There is an alpine route through from Greenstone on the shores of the lake, via the Hollyford River, to Martin's Bay on the west coast (sixty-three miles), also a track from Mount Nicholas to Lake Te Anau via the Keys.

LAKE WANAKA (928 ft. above sea-level and thirty-five miles in length) may be conveniently visited from Wakatipu. A coach runs from Queenstown to Pembroke, on Lake Wanaka, a distance of forty-one miles. The service is bi-weekly in summer and weekly in winter. There are hotels at Pembroke, and an accommodation-house at Makarora (the head of the lake). Steamers ply on the lake and may be hired as required. LAKE HAWEA (134 ft. above Wanaka) is ten miles distant by a vehicle-road. There is good red-deer stalking in the vicinity; trout abound in the streams and in Lakes Wanaka and Hawea. A track leads from the head of Lake Wanaka over the Haast Pass (sixteen miles distant) to the west coast, connecting with the road to Hokitika.

LAKE TE ANAU, forty-two miles long, and 694 ft. above the sea, is reached by train and coach from either Dunedin or Invercargill—train to Lumsden, thence a coach journey of fifty-two miles to Te Anau, occupying a day. There is a comfortable hotel at the coach terminus on the shores of the lake. A small steamer runs to the head of the lake, where there is an accommodation-house. From here visitors may walk to Sutherland Falls and Milford Sound. The track leads up the Clinton Valley, over Mackinnon's Pass to the Sutherland Falls (nineteen miles), and Milford Sound (thirty-five miles). The Sutherland Falls (1,904 ft.) are the highest in the world. There are shelter-huts at convenient distances along the route. Guides are obtainable at Te Anau. There is an accommodation-house at Sutherland's, Milford Sound, opposite Mitre Peak. An oil-launch is available for excursions on the Sound. From the upper part of Lake Te Anau there is a good track to George Sound (thirteen miles), viâ Lakes Hankinson and Thompson. A rowing-boat is available on the Sound, and huts are provided for visitors.

MANAPOURI LAKE (elevation 597 ft.) is visited from Lake Te Anau. The distance between the lakes is six miles, but the accommodation-houses are thirteen miles apart. A coach traverses the intervening distance, in connection with the steamers on the lakes and the coaches from Lumsden. Manapouri may also be reached by coach (thirty-eight miles) from Otautau, which is thirty-two miles from Invercargill by rail. Manapouri is the deepest of the New Zealand lakes, having an extreme depth of 1,452 ft. There is a small steamer on the lake; it may be engaged by visitors as required. This lake is regarded by many as the most picturesque in New Zealand.

STEWART ISLAND.

Stewart Island is reached by steamer (weekly service) from the Bluff, a distance of twenty-four miles. There are accommodation-houses at Oban (Half-moon Bay), where the steamer calls, and at the bays round the coast. An auxiliary oil-ketch and other boats may be hired at Oban for coastal cruises, and excellent fishing is to be obtained. Bathing, boating, and deep-sea-fishing excursions are the chief attractions of the island. Walking-tours may also be made to the summits of Mounts Anglem (3,200 ft.) and Rakiahua (2,217 ft.), and other wooded peaks.

Small coasting-boats (sail and screw) take visitors when required to Paterson Inlet, the Neck, and other scenic resorts. Two of the most attractive spots, Port Adventure and Lords River, may be visited in one day from Oban. The boardinghouses at Oban are capable of accommodating a large number of visitors; there are several stores in the township.

PART IV.—DESCRIPTIONS OF LAND DISTRICTS.

Table of Contents

Chapter 66. THE AUCKLAND LAND DISTRICT.

JAMES MACKENZIE, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Introductory.

THE Auckland Land District covers about four and a half degrees of latitude, with an area of 13,85,000 acres, extending from 34° 30′ to 39° S., its greatest length being about 365 miles, from the North Cape to the 39th parallel, south of Lake Taupo, while its greatest width is about 180 miles. In the peninsula north of Auckland, indented as it is on either side by harbours and arms of the sea, and with a mean width between the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea of little over forty miles, the range of temperature is remarkably small. The thermometer seldom registers above 80° in the shade in the middle of summer, whilst the heat is always tempered by a cool breeze, bringing the mean summer temperature to under 70° in the shade. The frosts are hardly worth mentioning, as the minimum register is seldom below 40°; but south of Auckland sharp white frosts occur very often, more especially beyond 38° of latitude, and snow lies upon the summits of some of the highest hills or mountains in winter.

Physical Features.

This land district may be said to have no real mountains, as the most prominent peaks of the several scattered ranges or hills seldom exceed 3,000 ft. in height above the sea-level, an altitude just enough—south of 38°—to clothe the last 1,000 ft. with snow in the depth of winter. North of Hokianga and the Bay of Islands there is one well-defined range of hills rising to a height of 2,463 ft.; whilst south of these places, and extending to the Wairoa River on one side and the Whangarei Harbour upon the other, the country is all more or less broken into ranges from 1,000 ft. to 2,000 ft. in height, with valleys between. The next really well developed main range lies within the Coromandel and Thames Peninsula. With a length of over 150 miles, it has an average height of over 2,800 ft., commencing with Moehau, or Cape Colville, 2,935 ft.; next, Te Aroha, a peak of 3,176 ft.; and ending at Weraiti with a height of 2,527 ft. There are two other well-defined ranges—namely, Tawairoa and Hauturu—lying between the West Coast and the Waipa basin, with their highest peak at Pirongia, which rises to 3,156 ft., and is often snow-capped. There are other ranges forming the watershed between the basins of the Waikato and Waipa Rivers, and dividing both from the streams running into the western side of Lake Taupo. Their highest peak is Pureora, rising to 3,793 ft. The eastern side of the land district is occupied by a very broken, forest-clad country, known as the Urewera country, the average height of which is about 2,500 ft. It is practically unexplored, and, being still in the hands of the Natives, is not as yet available for settlement. To the east of Lake Taupo lie the Kaimanawa Ranges, of about 4,500 ft., and generally open on the ridges, with valleys clothed in beech forests. Nearly the whole of the Auckland Land District is indented on both coasts with harbours and arms of the sea, forming a cheap and easy means of access. Of rivers, properly so called, there are only two of any great length—namely, the Wairoa and Waikato. The first empties itself into the Kaipara Harbour, a large arm, or rather succession of arms, of the sea, giving hundreds of miles of inland water-carriage to all parts of the Counties of Hobson, Otamatea, Rodney, and Waitemata. This river is navigable from its mouth to its junction with its tributaries Wairua and Mangakahia, a distance of ninety-one miles from the sea, and for forty miles it is navigable for ships of large burden. The River Waikato has a course of 200 miles, measured from its source in the Ruapehu Mountain through Lake Taupo to the sea on the West Coast. It is navigable for river-steamers for seventy-five miles from its mouth, and its tributary, the Waipa, for twenty miles from its confluence with the Waikato at Ngaruawahia. Another river—the Thames, or Waihou—though of no great length, affords a valuable means of inland water-carriage, and is navigable for small steamers for twenty-five miles. Generally speaking, every part of the district has an abundant water-supply, now and then lessened for a short time at the end of a very dry summer.

Plains.

Of plains proper, this district has only the stretch of country called Kaingaroa, extending from the eastern side of Lake Taupo towards the Bay of Plenty, all more or less of a pumice formation; the valley of the Thames, and the delta between the Thames and Piako Rivers, which is generally level, the quality of the soil varying very much in different parts; and the Central Waikato basin, already thickly settled. Here and there in the North there are level plateaux of volcanic soil, more or less densely wooded, and along the main rivers there are stretches of level country, but there are no large plains of alluvial soil such as the Middle Island can show.

Lakes.

Of these, which add so much to the scenery of a country, this district possesses a fair share, there being eight principal lakes, with some twenty or more smaller ones. To the north of Auckland, in the Bay of Islands district, there is only one lake of any size, called Omapere, three miles by two miles, an old crater. In the Waikato are Lakes Waikare and Whangape, the first six miles and a half long by three miles across, and the second five miles by one mile. These lakes are generally covered with numerous wild swans and ducks, and, being both connected with the Waikato River by navigable creeks, form a convenient waterway for transport of goods to settlers living around their shores. All the remaining lakes of large size are within the watershed of the Thermal-springs District, and are mostly from seven to eight miles long, and from three to six miles wide, except Taupo Moana, the queen of the North Island lakes, which is twenty-five miles long and eighteen miles broad, with a depth of 500 ft. The scenery round its western shore is of the most romantic kind.

Forests.

The greater part of the Auckland Land District has been covered in the past with dense forests, which are now fast disappearing under the axe of the settler and being transformed into rich pasture-land. The only really good Crown lands fit for settlement in the North are still all covered with forest, and must be cleared and sown before any returns can follow. The area of forest land in the Auckland District at the present time is about 1,300,000 acres north of Auckland, and 3,320,000 acres south of it. The forests contain a mixture of trees of all kinds, from the giant kauri to scrubby tea-tree or manuka, but all the bush is useful for building, fencing, and household purposes, or at any rate may be converted into charcoal for sale. Of kauri (the most valuable tree in New Zealand) great quantities are being yearly cut and exported or used for home consumption.

Soils.

With respect to the soils of Auckland, nowhere in New Zealand within such short distances is there such a diversity in the quality—a distance of half a mile often makes all the difference between rich alluvial and barren pipeclay. To the north of the Bay of Islands and Hokianga the lands are chiefly clay and sandstone, with here and there a volcanic area intervening. In and about the valley of the Mangonuiowae River, in the Hokianga County, there is some of the richest alluvial soil in the district; and, taking the whole Crown land remaining to the north of a line between the Hokianga and Bay of Islands Harbours, the really available good land fit for settlement would be about 40,000 acres. There are large areas outside of this which will carry good grass and feed one or two sheep to the acre, after clearing and laying down in grass; and there is also land highly suitable for fruit-growing. South of Hokianga, and between that place and the Wairoa River, the soil is, generally speaking, very good, being both volcanic and alluvial. Here the Crown has probably 120,000 acres of such land fit for settlement. Immediately south of the Bay of Islands, and extending thence to Whangarei, the soil is, for the most part, clay lying upon sandstone or marl, with alluvial flats in the bottoms of the valleys; but these are, as a rule, very narrow. Within the Puhipuhi State Forest there is an area, say, of 16,000 acres, more or less, of volcanic soil. Approaching Whangarei, at Hikurangi, the limestone crops out, overlying coal-deposits, and round Whangarei itself the soil becomes a rich volcanic, in a high state of cultivation. South of Whangarei Harbour, and from thence to Auckland, the Crown lands generally are of a broken character, with soil varying from alluvial swamps—as in the case of the Tokatoka Swamp of 16,000 acres—to the limestone areas round Maungaturoto, the sandstone and clay lands of Rodney County, and the poorer clay lands lying north of the City of Auckland, which have, however, proved eminently suitable for fruit-growing.

For about 200 miles south of Auckland the land (with the exception of the Cape Colville Ranges) is, generally speaking, far less broken, and gradually opens out into large tracts of level country in the Waikato and Waipa basins. Immediately south of Auckland the soil is rich volcanic until it is gradually superseded by the prevailing clays; the greater portion of Manukau County, for thirty miles south of Auckland, may be classed as pastoral, and is under occupation as such. The Crown areas available for settlement—say, 13,000 acres—are chiefly in the Otau Parish, varying from volcanic clay to ordinary clay land, forest-clad, and well adapted for pastoral purposes. In the Counties of Waikato, Raglan, Waipa, Piako, West Taupo, and Kawhia, there is a still greater diversity of soils; Raglan County contains large areas of good limestone country, broken, but with rich black soil, and carrying most luxuriant grass. The lower Waikato country consists of clay soil and extensive swamps, almost undrainable, but at a distance of eighty miles from Auckland is found a flat and undulating country, lying partly within the Waikato and Waipa basins, and partly within the valleys of the Piako and Waihou Rivers, formed mainly of alluvial deposits of rhyolite sands brought down from the volcanic districts. In the Kawhia County there are some 300,000 acres of excellent limestone land, a large portion of which is heavily timbered, with numerous warm valleys. Most of this land has now been acquired by the Government from the Native owners, and is being opened for settlement. Beyond this there is a large stretch of country consisting alternately of open valleys and forest-clad hills, a fair proportion of which is good land, both pastoral and agricultural. The County of Coromandel, with portions of Thames and Ohinemuri Counties, is chiefly devoted to the mining industry. The soil is nearly all clay, the land very broken, but suitable for pastoral purposes if cleared of the dense forest that now covers it. The western portion, however, of the Thames and Ohinemuri Counties contain large areas of alluvial and swamp lands, now in the hands of the Crown, but, through want of drainage, not yet available for settlement.

In the County of Tauranga, the clay lands extend from Te Aroha Mountain to Katikati entrance, changing, near Tauranga, to sandstone and black pumice soil of rich character, which improves towards Te Puke and Maketu, where the land is all good, and more or less volcanic. In Whakatane and Opotiki Counties there are very extensive swamps, of which large portions are drainable, and back from the coast seven miles or so are large areas of Crown lands, broken and forest-covered, opened ready for settlement. The soil is chiefly clay or light loam, with alluvial flats in the valleys, and all well watered. This kind of country extends to the boundary of the land district. The coastal lands are nearly all alluvial flats in a high state of cultivation, and the settlers mostly well-to-do.

Review of Soils: Uses and Returns.

Briefly to set forth the capabilities of the Crown lands in the district, it will suffice to say that north of the Bay of Islands and Hokianga the land is suitable chiefly for two classes of persons—the gum-digger, and the fruit-grower or small farmer. The former has the range over large areas of Crown lands upon paying a small fee, and his earnings average from 5s. to 10s. a day. As for the latter, in and around Hokianga, with its 250 miles of water-frontage, almost anything can be grown. Oranges and lemons flourish side by side with all kinds of apples, pears, and plums. Wheat does fairly well, and maize gives a return of 50 to 60 bushels an acre. Sheep also thrive; and most of the lands, when properly grassed with artificial grasses, will carry two or three sheep to an acre, but ordinary rough-grassed lands only one and a half to two sheep per acre. The clearing of forest lands, ring fencing and grassing them, will cost about £3 to £3 10s. per acre. The same remarks apply to the Bay of Islands and Whangarei, and to the country as far south as Auckland. Round about Whangarei district, and under similar conditions of culture, the average return for good agricultural or pastoral lands would be fully 12s an acre per annum. South of Auckland, throughout the Waikato, Pinko, Waipa, and Raglan Counties, and thence south to the district boundaries, the land is both agricultural and pastoral. All the cereals do well, wheat averaging 27 to 30 and up to 40 bushels per acre, and oats 26 bushels per acre. Potatoes average from 5 to 7 tons per acre. Dairy-farming is carried on, yielding (upon well cultivated farms) a net profit of 15s. to an acre per annum; whilst sheep-farming yields a profit of from 5s. to 7s. 6d. a sheep per annum on very large estates; allowing for greater losses from disease, &c., the average return would still be 4s. per sheep. The cost of clearing fern and scrub is generally from 7s. to 10s. an acre, and laying down fern land by surface-sowing and harrowing, about 17s. an acre.

The seaward counties of Tauranga, Whakatane, and Opotiki are both agricultural and pastoral, growing wheat and maize alike to perfection. In fact, these counties, upon their alluvial shores and uplands, grow the greater portion of the maize produced in the district, and from the ports of Whakatane and Opotiki in one year some 34,000 sacks have been exported. In these counties the average yield of wheat is from 22 to 25 bushels per acre, oats about 29 bushels per acre, and maize 45 to 60 bushels per acre. It is quite possible within this district to select land early in the winter, fell and burn off by the ensuing summer, sow in grass in the autumn, and put on stock within twelve months from selection.

Rainfall.

The rainfall during the year averages about 39 in., the greater portion of which, as a rule, falls between the 1st of May and 1st of November, or during the winter and spring months. Owing to the constant changes of wind, caused by the configuration of the coast-line, the shortness of the distance between the two coasts, and the influence, greater or less, of the trade-winds, it is quite common for one neighbourhood to have double the rainfall of another, even though the two be only twenty miles apart. Droughts of more than a couple of months are practically unknown, and grass is always abundant.

Winds.

One of the chief means whereby the great healthiness of the climate is maintained is the constant presence of fine breezes, blowing both summer and winter, the prevailing winds being north-east and south-west, and very seldom passing into really heavy gales. In the middle of summer, the sea-breeze during the day and the land-breeze at night are almost unvarying.

Chief Centres and Surrounding Districts.

The City of Auckland lies on the southern shore of the Waitemata Harbour, one of the finest havens in the colony, on a narrow neck of land between the Waitemata and the Manukau. Alike from the sea and from the neighbouring hills the city and surrounding country present a charming picture. Especially fine is the view from Mount Eden, a low volcanic hill in the suburbs. Facing the town are the green hills and white houses of the North Shore, and the remarkable island peak of Rangitoto; beyond lie the many islands of the Hauraki Gulf, with the blue hills of Coromandel and the Great Barrier in the far distance. Clustered near the foot of the hill, and scattered for many miles to the southward, are charming villa-like houses, with tasteful gardens and shrubberies, while to the north-west the view is closed by high wooded ranges. The city has an excellent commercial position; it has communication by sea with both sides of the Island, while the Kaipara and Wairoa Rivers leading far into the northern peninsula, and to the south the Waikato and Thames Rivers leading into the heart of the Island, give it natural facilities for inland communication. In March, 1901, the population of the city and suburbs amounted to 67,226 persons. The city is well supplied with gas and water, and amongst public buildings may be noticed Government House, the new Government Offices, Post and Telegraph Offices, Supreme Court, &c. There is a Free Public Library and Art Gallery, and a good Museum, containing what is probably the best Maori collection in the world. The Auckland University College is affiliated to the New Zealand University. The Victoria Arcade, the Exchange, Harbour Board Offices, hotels and clubs, as well as many commercial buildings, compare favourably with those in other parts of the colony. There are admirable recreation-grounds, including the Government Domain of about 180 acres, as well as the Botanic Garden and the Albert Park in the centre of the city. There is an electric tramway system extending through the suburbs. Auckland has numerous industries, including, amongst others, ship-building, sugar-refining, timber-converting, sash and door manufactories; rope and twine, pottery, brick and tile, and varnish works; printing-offices, &c.

The City of Auckland is the centre from which radiate all railways, road, and steamer routes. From it, by rail, lies the way to all Crown lands south of the Waitemata, while the Kaipara Railway connects it with the country north of Helensville. All lands to the north and along the Bay of Plenty are reached from its wharves by the Northern Company's steamers. The chief centres to the north are:—

Warkworth, on the East Coast, over forty miles from Auckland, with communication by coach and steamer nearly every day. It is a thriving township, with post and telegraph office, public halls, hotels, &c. It is also the site of important hydraulic-lime and cement works. A good deal of agricultural and pastoral farming is carried on in its neighbourhood.

On the West Coast an important centre is Helensville, on the Kaipara Harbour, distant thirty-eight miles from Auckland, with which it is connected by rail. It has all the conveniences required by travellers in the shape of good hotels, stores, &c., and is the starting-point of the river-steamers running to all places in the Otamatea and Hobson Counties. It is also one of the main centres for the export of balk timber.

North of Helensville the railway has been opened to Ahuroa, fifty-seven miles from Auckland. The line is under construction to Mahurangi, and will eventually be carried on to Maungaturoto.

Dargaville, on the Wairoa River, is a town of about 600 inhabitants, with all conveniences for travellers. It may be reached by rail and steamer from Auckland three times a week. Dargaville is the starting-point of the Kaihu Valley Railway, which is open for traffic for seventeen miles from the town, and from the terminus of the railway all the Crown lands in the neighbourhood are reached, even so far north as Hokianga. The town is also the centre of a very large timber-export trade. There are only two townships on the west of any importance north of Dargaville—Port Rawene, or Hokianga, and Kohukohu, about five miles further up. Both have post and telegraph stations, and comfortable hotels, with fortnightly steam-communication from Auckland.

Whangarei, on the East Coast, is distant ninety-five miles from Auckland, with which it has steam-communication three times a week. The town is a thriving and important place, having a population of about 1,700, and is the centre of a large agricultural and pastoral country. In the neighbourhood is also a large coal-bearing and gum-and-timber-producing district, while the export of oranges and lemons, which thrive magnificently on the rich volcanic soil, is on the increase. From here, all lands within a radius of thirty to forty miles may be visited by horse, carnage, or rail. Opau Wharf, about three miles south of Whangarei, is the present commencing point of the railway-line passing through Whangarei and Kamo to Hukerenui, a distance of about twenty-three miles. This line will ultimately join that now being constructed in a southerly direction from Kawakawa. A bridge has just been built over the Whangarei River, in order that the railway may be extended from Opau Wharf to deep water at Grahamtown, three miles distant.

Kawakawa, at the head of the tidal portion of the river of the same name, is connected by a short railway-line with Opua, the calling-place of steamers from Auckland. Kawakawa possesses good inns. From it coaches run weekly to Hokianga and Hukerenui. It is the centre of a coal and gum industry, and a port of lading for those products. The old town of Russell is situated further down the bay, and has a good hotel, besides having a post and telegraph office. To Whangaroa, Mangonui, Awanui, Hohoura, and Parengarenga the Northern Company's steamers run every week. Whangaroa is famed for its exquisite scenery, and is the centre of a large timber and gum export trade. Mangonui is the starting-point and centre from which to visit, by carriage or horse, all the Crown lands in the Mangonui County.

South of Auckland, along the Waikato Railway, there are numerous townships of more or less importance, but no starting-point for Crown lands until Mercer is reached at a distance of forty-three miles. It is situated at the borders of what is known as the Waikato Country, upon the Waikato River, which is tidal up to this point, and the township has a post and telegraph office and other conveniences. At sixty-five miles from Auckland by rail is Huntly, also on the Waikato River, a flourishing township, with a large output of valuable coal. It has also pottery, brick, and tile works. On the opposite side of the Waikato River large areas of Crown lands are being brought into use, and are carrying numbers of sheep and cattle. The next town is Ngaruawahia, or Newcastle, seventy-four miles from Auckland, situated at the junction of the Waikato and Waipa Rivers, with hotels, bank, post and telegraph office. It is a centre from which portions of Crown lands in Raglan County are reached, and also from it river-steamers run north and south to the various settlements. Ngaruawahia has a flourishing creamery, a brewery, and a cooperage. At eighty-five miles from Auckland the train reaches Frankton Junction, where lines branch off to Hamilton, Cambridge, Te Aroha, Paeroa, Thames, and Rotorua, the main line going through Te Awamutu, 100 miles from Auckland, to Taumarunui, 175 miles. About two miles beyond Taumarunui the Wanganui River is crossed on a substantial steel bridge, which is available for both road and railway traffic. The rails are laid for a few miles beyond this bridge, but only material and goods trains are run at present, the passenger-trains making Taumarunui their terminus. The formation-work on the railway is being actively proceeded with towards Waimarino, the advance works now reaching to a distance of 190 miles from Auckland.

Waimarino (206 miles from Auckland) is the summit of the line, the height above sea-level here being 2,600 ft.

Te Awamutu is a thriving town, and is especially English-looking with its nicely cultivated fields and well-kept hedges Taumarunui is not only the temporary railway terminus, but is also the point where the Wanganui River traffic connects with the northern railway system, and is becoming in consequence of this a regular tourist resort. As the train reaches the town in the evening, and leaves for Auckland early on the following morning, travellers stay the night, and a very good accommodation-house exists for their convenience. Taumarunui is also an important Native centre.

Hamilton is a busy, flourishing town, situated on both sides of the Waikato River, with a population of about 1,400 persons, and is the centre of an agricultural and pastoral district. It possesses a creamery, flax-mill, brewery, and two soap-factories, besides other local industries. Cambridge, about, thirteen miles by road and fifteen miles by rail from Hamilton, has a population of about 1,200, and is the headquarters of the Farmers' Club. It is a busy, thriving township, surrounded by good farming country. Between Hamilton and Cambridge, and in the country round, there are numerous creameries, cheese and butter factories. Wine and cider making is also successfully pursued, and there are several apiaries, from which large quantities of honey are produced. There are three flour-mills in the district, one at Cambridge, one at Hamilton, and the third at the terminus of one of the before-mentioned branch lines. One hundred and fifteen miles from Auckland by rail is Te Aroha, a quiet township, celebrated for its thermal springs, with good hotels. Another thirteen miles brings the traveller to Paeroa, a centre of mining industry, whence a branch line 12 1/2 miles long is under construction to Waihi, a gold-mining town, and in another twenty miles the Thames Borough is reached.

The settlements at the Thames and Coromandel are essentially mining townships. The first is situated forty-two miles by steamer from Auckland, on the Firth of Thames, and at the mouth of the Waihou River. It has a population of about 4,000 persons. There is daily rail and steam communication with Auckland, the railway also connecting it with Paeroa and Te Aroha. Coromandel is about thirty-five miles from Auckland, with which it has constant communication by steamer; it is another mining centre, situated at the head of a picturesque harbour. Tauranga, with a population of about 1,200, is situated on the harbour of that name in the Bay of Plenty. Coaches run thither from the Thames, and from Rotorua; it has also constant communication by steamer with Auckland, and with Matata, Whakatane, and Opotiki. From the fact of the harbour being the only one on the East Coast between Coromandel Peninsula and Gisborne capable of receiving large vessels, the town is bound to be of importance in the future.

Opotiki, the second town of importance in the Bay of Plenty, is situated about eighty miles by steamer or road from Tauranga. It has steam communication with Auckland, and is connected with Gisborne by means of bridle-track, road, and railway. It is the headquarters of the maize-producing district, and has rich alluvial lands, from which good returns are obtained. It is a starting-point from which large blocks of Crown lands suitable for pastoral purposes may be reached.

The Township of Rotorua is situated on the shores of Rotorua Lake, at a distance of 171 miles by rail from Auckland. Travellers can reach Rotorua in one day from Auckland. It is the chief township in the hot-lakes district, and has also a large area of fairly good Crown land near, adapted for pastoral purposes. Considerable quantities of sulphur are obtained from the neighbourhood.

Crown Lands available for Immediate Settlement (1,014,266 Acres).

Surveyed rural land125,850acresin 663 sections.
Unsurveyed rural land303,089..
Lease in perpetuity under Land for......
    Settlements Acts7,721in 280 sections.
Village settlement, lease in perpetuity9in 5 sections.
Pastoral runs261,810in 11 runs.
Small grazing-runs61,051in 10 runs.
Hauraki pastoral leases254,697..
  Acres.
Bay of Islands County58 sections, including 1,394 acres8,773
unsurveyed land..
Coromandel ”3 sections, including 7,626 acres8,442
unsurveyed land..
      ” ”Hauraki pastoral leases72,849
East Taupo ”14,076 acres unsurveyed land14,076
      ” ”7 pastoral runs204,801
      ” ”2 small grazing-runs19,288
Hobson ”11 sections, including 2,154 acres3,051
..unsurveyed land..
Hokianga ”97 sections, including 10,47226,494
..unsurveyed land acres..
Kawhia ”29 sections, including 4,590 acres27,560
..unsurveyed land..
      ” ”5 sections (Te Kuiti Village Settlement)9
....Acres.
Manukau County10 sections, including 2,695 acres3,526
unsurveyed land..
Mangonui ”75 sections, including 12,179 acres26,387
..unsurveyed land..
Ohinemuri ”36 sections12,958
      ” ”Hauraki pastoral lenses67,998
Opotiki ”30 sections, including 113,195 acres115,281
..unsurveyed land..
Otamatea ”8 sections163
Piako ”47 sections, including 3,206 acres6,583
..unsurveyed land..
Raglan ”8 sections, including 1,815 acres3,275
..unsurveyed land..
Rodney ”25 sections, including 230 acres2,223
..unsurveyed land..
Rotorua ”7 sections, including 12,020 acres15,044
..unsurveyed land..
      ” ”2 pastoral runs25,360
Tauranga ”29 sections, including 12,926 acres17,151
..unsurveyed land..
Thames ”7 sections, including 1,970 acres4,838
..unsurveyed land..
      ” ”Hauraki pastoral leases113,850
Whangarei ”64 sections, including 2,241 acres7,419
..unsurveyed land..
Waikato ”32 sections, including 6,016 acres26,390
..unsurveyed land..
      ” ”2 small grazing-runs6,386
Waipa ”2 sections25
Waitemata ”49 sections, including 400 acres4,588
..unsurveyed land..
Whangaroa ”14 sections, including 1,207 acres3,362
..unsurveyed land..
Whakatane ”6 sections, including 34,757 acres35,263
..unsurveyed land..
      ” ”1 pastoral run17,413
      ” ”1 small grazing-run5,232
West Taupo ”8 sections, including 42,209 acres53,959
..unsurveyed land..
      ” ”1 pastoral run14,275
      ” ”5 small grazing-runs30,145
No county ”8 sections, including 1,351 acres2,096
..unsurveyed land..
..Total1,006,545
Under Land for Settlements Acts.Acres.
Eden County28 sections59
Otamatea County22 sections6,532
Piako ”1 section325
Waitemata ”212 sections786
Whakatane ”16 sections12
      ” ”1 section7
..Total7,721
..Grand total1,014,266

Timber.

The extensive forests in the Auckland District contain many timbers of which the durability and strength are of established reputation. Of these the kauri, which is indigenous to the district, is greatly valued. The trees often attain gigantic size, and the vast groves create a profound impression upon those who view them for the first time. There is great demand for kauri timber, but rimu (red-pine), kahikatea (white-pine), and totara are also much used for building and other purposes. Most of the timber is disposed of in New Zealand, but during the year ended the 31st December, 1903, 54,493,610 ft. of hewn or sawn timber, valued at £236,012, were shipped for export at Auckland and Kaipara.

Recently compiled returns furnish the information that there are in the Auckland District 64 sawmills, employing 1,845 hands; but the number of persons engaged in bushfelling and other occupations in connection with the timber industry must be approximately between four and five thousand. The aggregate cutting-capacity of the mills is about 275,000,000 ft. per annum, but the average annual output is about 197,000,000 ft. The balk timber is brought by rail or along the coast to Auckland, where it is sawn into various sizes. Several large mills and wood-working establishments have been erected in the city, and also for a considerable distance along the harbour frontage.

With the view to preserving specimens of the various timbers and clumps of forest for scenic purposes, the Government have made extensive reserves in various parts of the district. In addition, State-appointed experts are engaged in planting forest-trees, and in nurturing and cultivating young trees.

Kauri-gum.

A good demand continues to exist for this unique product, which is found in the Auckland District only. During 1903 large consignments, totalling 9,357 tons and valued at £631,102, were disposed of in America, the United Kingdom, and other parts of Europe, where it is manufactured into varnish of the finest quality.

A proportion of the gum is also utilised in this colony for the same purpose, and altogether about a hundred persons are engaged in the manufacture of varnish, 90 per cent. of which is disposed of locally.

In the manufacture of varnish kauri-gum is said to have an advantage over even the best Manila copal, inasmuch that in its use uniformity of quality may be anticipated with a greater degree of certainty.

The gum industry affords employment for several thousand men, who are engaged in digging, scraping, sorting, and packing it for export.

In its original state, being of a viscid nature, it exudes from various parts of the trees, and finally reaches the ground, where it solidifies and becomes a hard yet brittle substance.

The principal method of obtaining it is as follows: Where the land has been denuded of kauri-trees, a long rod or spear is used in penetrating the ground to a depth varying from 12 in. to 30 in., according to the nature of the soil.

When the existence of gum has been ascertained the soil is turned over and the deposits unearthed. These are of different quality, that of an amber-like transparency being of the highest value.

A few years ago it was thought that the supply would soon become exhausted, but a competent authority of long experience advances the opinion that large quantities of gum will be obtainable for a considerable period, as deposits are continually being found at greater depths than formerly, and in localities where it was believed that the gum was completely worked out.

It might be supposed that kauri-gum which had been covered by earth for many years would have in consequence deteriorated, but such is not the case unless the soil be wet. New gum contains a chemical property which proves troublesome to the manufacturers of varnish, whilst that which has been imbedded for a lengthy period does not possess this defect.

It has been observed that kauri-trees flourish best on high ground, but large quantities of gum are found in swampy land where the face of nature appears to have undergone a change through seismic disturbance.

The value of swamp-gum is generally low in comparison with that of gum obtained at higher elevations; and, indeed, in some instances huge deposits are found in the swamps which are of no commercial value.

Recently the Government permitted an experiment to be made in the matter of procuring kauri-gum by tapping a few trees in an isolated district; but until it has been definitely ascertained that the trees are not injured in consequence the further tapping of trees is regarded as an illegal act. It is quite possible that the experiment, which is being carried out scientifically, may be thoroughly satisfactory, and the risk of damage to the kauri-trees so minimised as to justify their preservation for the purpose of cultivating a new industry, in which case the present milling operations would be so revolutionised as to centre attention on many valuable timbers that have hitherto been overlooked to a great extent in the desire to obtain kauri.

Flax (Phormium Tenax).

At a very remote period in the history of New Zealand the value of this excellent product, which is found in abundance, was recognised, and long before machinery was introduced by Europeans the Natives possessed a method of successfully treating it.

Not only were they able to use the flax in making mats and comfortable Native clothing for themselves, but they produced it in large quantities for disposal to the early traders and whalers, who turned the investment to profitable account in the market of the New South Wales capital.

For many years past much attention has been devoted to the dressing of flax by improved methods, and the Government have from time to time greatly encouraged manufacturers by offering a substantial bonus for the production of fibre of a high-grade quality.

Throughout this district numerous flax-mills are in operation. These employ a large number of people, whilst in the City of Auckland some forty-one hands are engaged in making rope, twine, and cordage. The manufactured articles are of a quality which bear favourable comparison with those imported into the colony.

Last year the quantity of flax exported was 4,917 tons, valued at £128,280.

Gold and Silver.

For many years past large quantities of gold have been obtained in this district, the auriferous-quartz reefs being principally located in the Thames, Coromandel, Ohinemuri, and Piako Counties. The method usually adopted in the treatment of the ores is by the cyanide process and battery amalgamation.

During last year there was a substantial increase in the gold-output as compared with that of the previous year. In 1902 the quantity yielded was 201,390 oz., valued at £721,974, whilst 1903 produced 232,682 oz., of the value of £832,334, being an increase of 31,292 oz. and £110,360 on the former year's figures. The value of 911,914 oz. of silver exported from Auckland last year amounted to £91,497.

Considerable interest continues to be taken in the School of Mines at the Thames, where the instruction imparted is keenly appreciated.

Many experienced prospectors are still engaged in exploring other parts of the district where auriferous reefs are known to exist; whilst the future of some of the smaller claims which have been pegged off is anticipated with much hopefulness.

The famous Waihi Mine, situated in the Ohinemuri County, steadily maintains its reputation as one of the largest gold-producers in the world. This mine employs some seven hundred men. The quantity of ore treated during 1903 was 231,323 tons (dry weight), the bullion realising £658,393. The total value of bullion yielded since the company commenced operations amounts to the large sum of £3,161,298, and dividends amounting to £1,255,143 have been distributed amongst shareholders, this being exclusive of £77,489 paid as income-tax. As the auriferous-quartz reefs are very extensive in character, it is reasonable to predict that immense quantities of ore will be treated for many years to come with equally satisfactory results. The Town of Waihi contains a population of about 4,500, and may be reached by either steamer to the Thames, thence by rail to Paeroa, thence by coach; or by rail from Auckland to Paeroa, thence fourteen miles by coach to destination. The whole distance between Auckland and Waihi will shortly be connected by rail, as the work of further railway extension is being proceeded with. The time occupied in visiting Waihi and returning to Auckland is two days.

Coal.

In various parts of this district extensive coal-deposits exist, and mining operations are successfully carried on in the north at Hiku-rangi, Kamo, and Ngunguru, whilst in the south the coal-mines at Huntly and Taupiri continue to supply a household coal of fine quality. The annual output of these mines is about 190,000 tons, most of which is consumed locally.

The City and Suburbs of Auckland are principally lighted by coal-gas, and about 36,000 tons is utilised annually for its manufacture. This is brought from Westport, in the South Island, where a specially suitable coal is obtainable in large quantities.

The value of 15,659 tons of coal exported from Auckland during 1903 was £18,334.

Wool.

This industry does not reach a maximum of importance in this district as compared with other parts of the colony, the attention of the settlers being chiefly centred in the dairying industry. At the same time a considerable quantity of wool is produced for export and local use. The product is usually of excellent quality, and when properly graded brings the highest market prices.

The quantity of wool shipped from the Auckland District during 1903 was 7,513,316 lb., the value being £166,886, an increase of 234,961 lb. and £27,810 over the figures of 1902.

As the forest lands become denuded larger areas will be available for sheep-grazing. This will no doubt result in the wool industry being found within a few years in the front rank of importance.

Dairying.

Some idea of the prosperous condition of this industry may be arrived at from the fact that no less than 41,447 cwt. of butter, valued at £195,433, and 215 cwt. of cheese, valued at £683, were shipped from the port of Auckland to the United Kingdom and elsewhere during the year 1903.

Distributed over this district are numerous factories and creameries, employing a large number of hands, who are periodically instructed by experts appointed by the Government as to the most improved methods of dealing with the manufacture of cheese and butter. Under these circumstances it can be easily understood that the industry is yearly increasing in importance, inasmuch as large quantities of these commodities are being produced of a high standard of excellence.

Fisheries.

At present about 180 boats of various sizes are engaged in the fishing industry, employment being thus found for several hundred people.

There is great abundance and variety of edible fish, and a steady supply for the market is maintained, consisting principally of snapper, mullet, and flounders. Whitebait are also supplied from the Waikato River during the months of August, September, October, and November.

A small quantity of cured fish is exported to Sydney, and the canning of mullet for local consumption and export affords employment to a large number of people.

There is good trout-fishing to be obtained in many of the rivers and streams of the district, notably those at Okoroire, Rotorua, Atiamuri, and Galatea.

Numerous beds of rock-oysters exist on both coasts, but during part of the year this fishery is closed. Large numbers of oysters are exported during the open season to other New Zealand ports, besides a small quantity to Australia.

Fruit-canning and Preserving.

The soil and climate of Auckland are particularly adapted to fruit-growing, and during the season the supply is so abundant that in many instances it barely pays the producer to send it to the local market. The increased interest in the business of canning is mainly due to this fact, and already the prospects of the industry are good, as canned fruits may now be obtained equal in quality to those imported from California and elsewhere.

At the Thames and in parts of the Waikato gooseberries and apricots do well. Peaches grow splendidly in most parts of Auckland, and within a few years large quantities should be available for canning purposes. Apples, plums, and strawberries of fine flavour grow abundantly, and the former, when carefully packed, always command good prices. Evaporated fruits are also disposed of to advantage.

Fruit-growers are now recognising the importance of the canning industry, and are being encouraged under the supervision of Government experts to cultivate fruits especially suitable for canning. There are five firms in this district engaged in the business, and employment is found for about seventy hands. A number of fruit-growers are also canning fruits in a small way in various parts of Auckland with more or less success.

General.

Auckland, on account of its remarkably fine harbour and first-class shipping facilities, possesses many local industries, all of which are in a most flourishing condition.

Perhaps first in importance is the Colonial Sugar Company's refinery at Chelsea, where some 250 hands are constantly employed. The extensive machinery for the treatment of the raw material which is brought from Fiji is capable of turning out 1,000 tons of refined sugar weekly. Most of the output is consumed in the colony, but a proportion is shipped to the New Zealand dependencies and elsewhere. Last year the value of sugar exported was £5,448.

Amongst the more recently established industries are the paper-mills at Riverhead, on the upper reaches of the Waitemata. These mills employ some thirty-one hands, whilst the quality of the paper manufactured is first-class.

The brick and pottery business affords occupation for about 220 people, and there is every prospect of this number being increased shortly, as, in consequence of the extension of the electric tramways to various parts of the suburbs, a much larger demand for building material exists.

In the north and on the shores of one of the best harbours in the colony (Whangarei) an immense deposit of kaolin has been found. Various tests have proved the quality exceptionally good and in every way suitable for the manufacture of china, crockery, vitrified drainpipes, tiles, &c.

Within easy distance of Auckland large hydraulic lime and Portland cement works are in full operation, the annual output being from 25,000 to 30,000 tons. These works employ about 120 hands. The quality of the lime and cement is such that it is used in connection with important public works. Over 8,000 tons of cement have been used in the construction of the breakwater at New Plymouth, and it has given entire satisfaction.

The Onehunga woollen-mills employ ninety hands in the manufacture of blankets, tweeds, and other woollen goods. These compare favourably with anything of the kind imported.

Besides the industries mentioned, many others equally successful are in operation, including meat-preserving works, flour-mills, oil, soap. and candle works, boot and shoe factories, tanneries, ironworks, shipbuilding-yards, large printing and lithographic works, &c.

The Electric Tramway Company employs some 340 hands, and maintains a huge plant. During the year 1903 no less than 13 million tickets were issued to passengers. Since the inauguration of the electric-car service the congested portion of the population of the city has been greatly relieved, as large numbers of people have removed to suburban houses which have been recently erected at an almost extraordinary rate. Auckland may now claim to be one of the most progressive cities in the colonies.

The exports of colonial produce from this port last year amounted in value to £2,501,605.

Chapter 67. THE TARANAKI LAND DISTRICT.

F. SIMPSON, Chief Surveyor.

The Taranaki Land District is situated on the western side of the North Island of New Zealand, at about its widest part, and may be said to be the most compact and fertile district of the colony, for, with the exception of the upper half of Mount Egmont, and of the ranges adjoining, which absorb about 36,000 acres, the whole of the area—minus what is taken up by the rivers, streams, and lakes—is suitable for settlement, and certainly two-thirds of the district is good land. The gross area of the district is 2,430,000 acres.

Physical Features.

Of mountains, the principal one is the beautiful volcanic cone from which the district takes its name, Taranaki, otherwise called Mount Egmont, which has an altitude of 8,260 ft. This mountain is the centre of distribution for a radius of twenty miles of the volcanic formation known as the “drift,” which covers the volcanic rocks below an altitude of 3,000 ft. Hummocks composed of trachyte boulders and cement crop up here and there and make excellent metal-quarries.

Beyond the volcanic formation—that is, from about Urenui on the north and Hawera on the south—the country is generally broken, and the formation is known as papa, a calcareous blue clay, capped in many places by shelly limestone.

The northern portion, between the Tongaporutu and the Mokau Rivers, contains also limestone, greensands, and coal outcrops. At Panirau, a small tributary of the Mokau, about thirty miles from the sea, there is an isolated patch of volcanic agglomerate and tufas, and a similar formation is found at the north-eastern corner of the district.

Eastward of the base of Mount Egmont there are few, if any, mountains worthy of the name, although there are many ranges varying in height from 1,000 ft. to 1,500 ft. above sea-level, and, in a few instances—such as the Matemateonga and Waiaria Ranges—they run up to 2,500 ft.

The principal river is the Wanganui, which bounds the district on the east between Taumarunui and Pipiriki, a distance of about ninety miles. Its average width varies from 2 to 3 chains. For nearly the whole distance it is shut in by high precipitous hills, and in many places by perpendicular walls of rock. The scenery is very grand and beautiful. There are numerous rapids, but few of them are dangerous to skilful canoeists. Steamers run regularly from Wanganui to Pipiriki, a distance of fifty-five miles.

Messrs. Hatrick and Co. are running a steamer between Pipiriki and Putikituna, some twelve miles up the Tangarakau River. From this point a road (nine miles in length) has been constructed to join the Ohura (or East) Road at a point about forty-seven miles from Stratford, and in the middle of the Whangamomona Improved-farm Settlement, the settlers in which and surrounding blocks will thus have double communication, with Wanganui on the one hand and Stratford on the other. When the road is completed through to Auckland, tourists can enjoy a trip up the Wanganui River as far as Ohura, then back, and up Tangarakau River across to Ohura Road, then on to Auckland, or back to Stratford, as they desire. The dimensions of the steamer are 40 ft. long by 8 ft. beam, with a light draft of 9 in. and passenger capacity for forty, the amount of cargo depending on quantity of water in river from time to time. The time-table as at present arranged is : Leave Putikituna for Pipiriki and Wanganui every Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock, and every Sunday leave Pipiriki for Putikituna. The principal tributaries flowing into the Wanganui on the Taranaki side are the Whangamomona, at eighty-two miles; Tangarakau, at eighty-five miles; Ohura, at 114 miles; Ongaruhe, at 143 miles respectively from the Town of Wanganui.

The next river in size is the Mokau, bounding the district on the north. It is navigable for handy steamers drawing from 7 ft. to 8 ft. of water as far as the coalmines, about twenty miles from its mouth, and for canoes as far as Totoro, twenty-six mines further up. Several outcrops of coal are found on its banks, and, as limestone is also present, the river is likely to become an important waterway of the district. The scenery on either side, although not on quite so grand a scale as may be seen on the Wanganui, is very beautiful.

The other large rivers are the Waitara and Patea. The former has its source about midway between the coast and the Wanganui River, in an easterly direction from Pukearuhe, between New Plymouth and the Mokau. It is about a hundred miles in length, and runs out at the Town of Waitara, some ten miles north-east from New Plymouth. There is a bar at the mouth, but steamers of 300 tons can enter safely in calm weather, and, although there are numerous rapids on its course, it is navigable for canoes for about ninety miles.

The Patea River rises in Mount Egmont, and, after traversing a tortuous course of about 110 miles, runs out at the extreme southern end of the provincial district. It has a bar-harbour, with a depth of 13 ft. to 14 ft. at spring-tides. Steamers of from 40 tons to 50 tons trade regularly to the town of Patea, which is situated a mile or so north of the mouth. The Patea is navigable for canoes for fifty miles.

Besides these rivers there are many smaller ones, and streams innumerable—in fact, no district in the world could be better watered and at the same time be so secure from disastrous floods. It is estimated that between the Mokau and the Patea there are no fewer than eighty-five named streams emptying themselves into the Tasman Sea, fully sixty of which flow from Mount Egmont.

Excepting the Ngaire Swamp, a block of open land near Eltham, 3,700 acres in extent, now partially drained and recently disposed of for settlement purposes, there are no plains, properly so called, in the district, although the stretch of very fertile country lying between the Waingongoro and Otakeho Rivers, comprising an area of about 25,000 acres, is known as the Waimate Plains. Of this area 13,500 acres have been disposed of, and the remainder, 11,500 acres, has been handed back to the Natives as a reserve.

There are no lakes worthy of the name. The largest sheet of water is Rotokare, situate about twelve miles from Eltham; it is about half a mile in length, with an average width of six chains. There are also a few small lakes inland from Waverley, at the southern end of the district.

The whole of the district, with the exception of a fringe of open country along the coast from Pukearuhe to Patea, averaging three miles in width, and containing about 250,000 acres, and some valleys at the north-eastern corner of the district, about 150,000 acres in extent, was originally covered with heavy forest, but this is rapidly disappearing under progress of settlement and erection of sawmills to deal with such timber.

The larger timber is chiefly rata, rimu, matai, tawa, kahikatea, kohekohe, pukatea, rewarewa, hinau, with a few totara scattered here and there. Among the smaller trees may be mentioned the kotukutuku or fuchsia, karaka, and mahoe.

As regards the timber industry, there are altogether forty sawmills, and the total quantity cut during the year ended the 31st March, 1904, was 22,100,000 ft., chiefly rimu, 17,426,000 ft.; kahikatea, 4,397,600 ft.; totara, 88,200 ft.; and matai, 88,200 ft. Most of these mills work together under Association rules and prices, their output for the year being 12,495,553 superficial feet. The others work independently, and their output amounted to 9,604,447 ft. for the same period.

An area of 72,565 acres, measuring six miles on every side from the summit of Mount Egmont, was originally set apart as a forest-reserve. To this has now been added 1,040 acres on the lower slopes of Pouakai Range, with an additional 5,500 acres on the Patua Range, making a total of about 79,000 acres, which has now by Act of Parliament been set apart as the “Egmont National Park,” the internal affairs of which are administered by a partly elected and partly nominated Board of ten members. At about three miles within the reserve the forest begins to get stunted; and at four and a half miles it gives place to low wiry scrub, which ceases at five miles, or an elevation of about 4,000 ft. At 5,000 ft. the moss ends; beyond this point to the summit the mountain is composed of loose scoria and lava.

A comfortable house, known as the Egmont Mountain-house, has been built at an elevation of 3,200 ft. on the northern face of the mountain, at a distance of twenty miles from New Plymouth by the Junction and Egmont Roads. Eighteen miles can be driven over, and the remaining two ridden. This house is maintained by the Egmont National Park Board, and is open for the accommodation of visitors from about the 20th of December to the middle or end of April in each year. The keeper acts as guide also. The time usually occupied in the ascent from the house is from three to four hours for men, and four to six hours for ladies. There are two women's rooms at one end of the house, and two men's at the other, with large common living and dining room in the centre. Visitors have now the option of being supplied with meals at a cost of 1s. 6d. each, or they may provide and cook their own food. Horse feeds, 1s. 6d. each; paddocking, 6d. daily, or 2s. 6d. a week. A small charge for use of house is made to visitors of 1s. per night or 5s. per week throughout the visit. In addition to the mountain-house, the Board has erected a cottage of three rooms, comprising two bedrooms (fitted with four bunks each), and one living room in between. This cottage is intended for renting by the week to family parties, only one such party occupying it at a time, the minimum charge per week being two pounds sterling for a party of four adults; over that number and up to eight (the limit allowed), 7s. 6d. each per week; children over five and under twelve years, half rates. The cottage is not let to any one party for a longer period than two weeks while there are other applicants. The Board provides cooking and other utensils, firewood, and water, also mattresses and pillows; but visitors must take their own blankets, and provide and cook their own food. The caretaker at the mountain-house keeps a small stock of the principal lines of food usually wanted for sale to visitors. The cottage is within 60 or 70 yards of the mountain-house, and in charge of the same caretaker, but parties desirous of renting it should communicate with the Honorary Secretary to Committee for Northern Division of Egmont National Park, New Plymouth, giving dates between which they require it. These applications are booked in order of priority of receipt (after notification that offers will be received, usually in the early part of December). The cottage is opened and closed on same dates as the mountain-house. Guide's fee for mountain, £1 per party. During the past season there were 1,116 visitors, remaining various periods of from one or two days to as many weeks. The view from the top is superb, including as it does, volcanic cones of Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro, the whole of Taranaki, and a considerable portion of Auckland and Wellington Districts, also across Cook Strait to the mountains of Marlborough and Nelson Districts of the Middle Island. In fine weather, when the snow is off, the mountain can be ascended without risk. A considerable sum has been expended in improving the accommodation at the house.

The mountain can also easily be ascended from Stratford side, the return journey occupying about thirteen hours, including stoppages. Tourists can ride over the first eleven miles to the Pembroke Road Mountain-house (three rooms) above the bush-line, altitude 3,720 ft.: time occupied, about two and a half hours. A new two-roomed cottage has been erected, and is now in use. Here the horses are left, and the remaining climb has to be done on foot: time required for a fair walker, three hours, although, coming down, the distance can be done in two hours. Three hundred persons visited the mountain by this route during the season. Good hotel-accommodation, guide, and horses can be obtained in Stratford. Provisions are kept on reasonable terms by the caretaker at the house. The return trip can be varied by visiting Dawson's Falls and Kendle's Cascade, or by a run across to the Egmont Mountain-house. Those who do not care to attempt the summit will be amply repaid by the pleasure of the ride through the forest, and by the magnificent views to be obtained from the house. The houses have sleeping-accommodation for about thirty persons.

Another route now coming into favour is from Hawera or Eltham viâ Manaia or Kaponga and Dawson's Falls. At the latter place a comfortable shelter-house, capable of accommodating over forty people, has been erected, and is known as the Falls Mountain-house (altitude, 2,990 ft.). This house, which is close to the Falls (65 ft.), is within an easy two hours' ride of Kaponga. During the season the house is in charge of a caretaker, and food, horse-feed, and paddocking can be obtained. There were 1,236 visitors to Falls and mountain by this route during last season. A comfortable three-roomed cottage has been erected in connection with this house. Water is obtained from the adjoining creek by means of a ram. From the house to summit of Mount Egmont occupies from four to six hours' climbing at a moderate pace, the time being in accordance with strength and composition of party. From the top the tourist can, instead of returning by the same route, drop down to the mountain-house on the north or New Plymouth side of the mountain. The walk would not occupy over two hours, easy walking, or he could go out viâ Stratford.

Recently a track has been partly made from the western side of the mountain, enabling 100 tourists to ascend via Rahotu. A small accommodation-house has been erected, 32 ft. by 14 ft., consisting of a general room and two sleeping-rooms, each containing twelve bunks. Tables, forms, and utensils have also been provided.

Soils.

The volcanic soil, the boundaries of which have been already described, varies a good deal in quality. The best is believed to be on the south side of the mountain, between Stratford, Hawera, and Opunake, but not less than two or three miles from the forest-reserve boundary. It is thought that the country now being opened to the north and east of the volcanic deposit—that is, the papa and limestone formation—will, from the presence of lime, be much richer and more lasting as pasture-land than that around the mountain. The carrying-capacity of the land is, on an average, two and a half to three sheep to the acre.

Dairying, Grazing, and Agriculture.

Taranaki is essentially a grazing and dairying district, its chief products being butter and cheese.

There are 91 dairy factories and 71 skimming stations scattered over the district. Of these factories, 76 produce butter only, 9 butter and cheese combined, while 6 produce cheese only. Forty-four factories are owned by proprietory companies, while 47 are run on co-operative principles. There are also in this district 14 registered packing-houses for milled butter, more than 200 registered private dairies for butter-making, and 2 for cheese only, besides many small plants run on individual farms of which no record is obtainable.

In September, 1896, a new work in connection with the dairying and meat industries was started in the shape of the Taranaki Freezing-works, situated at Moturoa, near the breakwater, and close alongside the railway-line. During the year 1903 the output from the works was—Butter, 156,820 packages, weighing 3,920 1/2 tons net; cheese, 14,955 packages, net weight 1,001 1/2 tons. During the hot season the factories and railway-vans carrying butter have been supplied with ice from the works at a nominal cost. The district has sustained a loss this season through these works being burnt down, but, luckily, the most of the season's butter and cheese had been shipped. This set-back has not deterred the company, and plans are now prepared and everything in readiness to build the works anew in time for next season's output. Most of the butter from the southern end of the district now goes to Patea.

There are in the Taranaki District 20,207 horses, 259,129 cattle, 436,851 sheep, and 26,586 swine. These figures include all kinds and ages.

Agriculture has not hitherto been carried on to any great extent in this district. The total area under corn-crops and cut for threshing during season 1903-1904 was 7,263 acres; corn and grass crops cut for hay, chaff, or ensilage, 15,129 acres; corn and green crops for feeding to, or down with, stock, 1,036 acres; sown grasses and clovers for feeding down, 812,974 acres; sown grasses for seed, 511 acres; potatoes, 1,401 acres; beet, 2 acres; turnips, 9,930 acres; mangolds, 680 acres; rape, 1,888 acres; carrots, 542 acres; other crops, 80 acres; total area under crops of all kinds, including gardens, orchards, vineyards, 853,237 acres. Plantations, 1,047 acres; fallow, 471 acres.

The average yield of different grain-crops in bushels per acre for season of 1903-1904 was: Wheat, 3043; oats, 24.0; barley, 28.0.

Mining.

The only mining going on at present is at the Mokau Coal-mines, which are situated on the Mokau River, about twenty-three miles from the sea, the river being navigable right up to the mines for vessels of 7 ft. 6 in. draught. The coal is the best class of pitch-brown, and is excellent for household and steam purposes.

Ironsand is found in great abundance on the seashore from Mokau to Patea, a distance of 130 miles. It produces, when smelted, from 50 to 60 per cent. of iron of the finest quality. The first attempt to smelt this sand was made in 1848, and several trials have been made since, but the heavy cost of production and the absence of capital and modern appliances have, so far, retarded the industry. Strong efforts are now being made to remedy this by the introduction of outside capital, and it is hoped these will shortly be successful, and work in full swing.

Petroleum Boring.

Another attempt at boring near the Breakwater is in progress.

Climate.

The climate of Taranaki is remarkably healthy, without any extremes of temperature. Below is given a table of mean, maximum, and minimum temperatures in shade for each month of the year ending December, 1903:—

..Jan.Feb.Mar.April.May.June.July.Aug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec.
Mean temperature6664.664.86257.652.553.565.760.160.964.864
Extreme maximum temperature848383837872748083828482
Extreme minimum temperature364138403533323236423651
Number of days on which rain fell271717201921232620161817
Total rainfall per month in inches and decimals6.083.692694.1317.783.775.406.973.783.807.313.76
Mean barometric reading for the month30.01030.20130.1930.04930.00330.02630.00429.96729.95130.25030.0329.94

The mean barometric reading was 30.051 in. for the year. Total rainfall, 69.165 in. on 241 days. The rainfall varies considerably, as, for instance, at Norfolk Road, three miles south of Inglewood, the rainfall for the year 1903 was 112.77 in. on 199 days, the maximum falls being 4.24 in. and 4.25 in. on 12th and 13th May respectively. The average rainfall at New Plymouth during the past nine years was 62.540 in., and at Norfolk Road for same period 100.072 in.

Chief Towns.

The principal town of the district is New Plymouth (population about 5,000), situate on the seashore, about two miles from and to the north-east of the picturesque rocky islets known as the Sugar Loaves. The general appearance of the town is very attractive, and it abounds in neatly-kept gardens. The Recreation Grounds, from which a good view of Mount Egmont is obtained, form a favourite resort.

New Plymouth is 251 miles by rail from Wellington, the railway running in a northerly direction through the district from Patea to Sentry Hill, where it turns at right-angles westward for eight miles to New Plymouth. From Sentry Hill there is a branch line to Waitara, four miles distant.

The Port of New Plymouth is situated at the Sugar Loaves, two miles from the town. Protection for shipping is afforded by a concrete mole or breakwater running in a north-east direction for a distance of 1,900 ft. Under the lee of this there is wharf-accommodation provided for the coastal trade. Steamers of 1,000 tons can be berthed here in almost all weathers. The wharf is connected with New Plymouth by both rail and road. The breakwater was built at a cost of £200,000, borrowed under security of one-fourth of the land revenue of the Provincial District of Taranaki, and the right to levy a rate over certain lands. The present rate levied is 1/4d. in the pound on the capital value. The principal over-sea exports from breakwater for the year (exclusive of all coastal trade) were: Bacon and hams, 261 cwt. value £988; butter, 72,730 cwt., value £337,455; cheese, 18,435 cwt., value £50,955; fungus, 1,008cwt., value £1,937; leather, 127 cwt., value £621; tallow, 12 tons, value, £268; wool, 116,625 lb., value £2,173; hides, 3,525, value £392; total value, £398,737. Imports (oversea): value, £99,762. Customs duties for the year, £29,554.

Manufactures in New Plymouth are represented by a sash-and-door, a boot, butter-ke, and three coach factories, a brewery, a cordial factory, a flour-mill, tannery, .......mongery, bone-mill, and iron-foundry, with freezing-works and bacon-factory in the suburbs. The town has both water and gas laid on.

Hawe........., the next largest town, is situate on the eastern edge of the Waimate Plains. The population is 2,500, and the town is lit with electric light and gas. The Wellington-New Plymouth Railway runs close to it, the distance by rail from New Plymouth being about forty-eight miles. Hawera is surrounded by a first-class dairying and grazing country, capable of carrying a very large population.

On 1st December, 1898, an up-to-date bacon-factory, costing some £1,200, commenced the work of killing and curing in Hawera, last season's output being 1,565 pigs, at a cost of £4,106.

The Town of Patea is situated on the coast, at the extreme southern end of the district, and has a population of 700. There is a splendid grazing district inland, with a large area of land yet to be opened up. There is a dairy factory, which has two branch creameries in the country. A refrigerating company for dairy and other produce has also been established, and is proving a great success. Exports for 1903 were: Wool, 5,310 bales; fungus, 891 bags; tallow, 356 casks; pelts, 152 casks; loose hides, 3,820; grass seed, 343 sacks; butter, 100,558 cases; flax, 99 bales; meat, 3,859 cases; sheep, 459; sundries, 476 packages; bacon, 67 cases; empties, 981; transhipment, 214 tons Imports : Ordinary, 9166 tons; coals, 2,544 tons. Wharfages amounted to £1,388, dumping dues £375, tonnage dues £437. The number of steamers in and out were 202. The Harbour Board has an up-to-date wool-dumping press and hydraulic pumps. The width between the east and west pier-heads is 260 ft.; width of channel about 180 ft., gradually narrowing to 100 ft. as the beacons are approached. The pilot reports the depth of water at not less than 12ft. at high-water springs, and 9 ft. at high-water neaps, with a straight channel. Steamers trade regularly to West port, Greymouth, Lyttelton, Wellington, and other ports. The Board is now engaged in erecting a west breakwater, of concrete, to be carried out to a distance of 600 ft., and this should prove a great protection to steamers, and prevent the encroachment of sand common to bar harbours.

Stratford, a comparatively young town, lies about midway between Patea and New Plymouth. It has already a population of over 2,100, and is growing fast. The height above sea-level is 1,000 ft., and the climate is bracing though somewhat moist. The main road to Auckland—known as the Stratford-Ongarue (now Ohura Road)—starts here. It has been formed as a cart-road for fifty-six miles and a half, and as a bridle-road to sixty-four miles and a half. There are three miles of bridle-track and sixteen miles of dray-road to be formed before through communication with Ohura is established, but, still, the trip right through on horseback is possible, the unformed track not being very difficult. A commencement has been made with the construction of the railway-line between Stratford and Auckland vi Ongarue, the line being almost completed as far as Oruru. Trains are running to Toko. A short branch is also projected from Waipuku to Mangonui, on the slopes of Mount Egmont. This line is for the purpose of opening up the extensive stone deposits that exist in the Mangonui Gorge of great value for road-metalling and railway-ballasting purposes. A bacon-factory has been started at Stratford under very favourable circumstances, and is likely to prove a public benefit, and also a financial success to the proprietary company. The works are on a fair scale and up to date. The machinery is driven by a 30-horse-power Victor turbine, the power being obtained from the Patea River through a tunnel 865 ft. long, cut across a bend in the river. The refrigerating engine is a 6-ton British Linde, while hot water is supplied from a high-pressure boiler in an adjoining building. The chilling-chamber holds about 120 carcases (or one day's killing); here they remain overnight, and are then passed on to the curing-room, a spacious compartment of 80ft. by 26 ft., capable of holding 1,000 carcases; from here they pass to the drying-room, of same size and capacity, on the upper story. A brick smoke-house, capable of dealing with 600 pieces at a time, has also been erected. The piggeries and slaughter-house are about a mile from the works, and are connected by tramway. The former consist of twenty compartments holding ten pigs each, and are conveniently arranged for feeding, &c. The output during the past season was 3,419 pigs, costing £8,719.

Waitara, a seaport town of about 900 inhabitants, is situated on the river of the same name, a mile up from the sea, and about ten miles north-east from New Plymouth. The Mount Egmont Freezing-works have passed into the hands of a company styled the “Waitara Freezing and Cool Storage Company, Limited,” who have rebuilt and greatly enlarged the works, the storage capacity now being for 25,000 carcases of mutton, together with five freezing rooms, capable of hanging 1,200 carcases; also a beef-chilling room and a mutton-chilling room. Provision is made at the slaughterhouse for accommodation of fourteen mutton and three beef butchers. The freezing-plant is a 60-ton Hercules, and is guaranteed to freeze 1,500 sheep per day. The boiling-down and tallow department is most complete and up-to-date, and a large manure plant has now been erected. The works are fitted throughout with electric light. The following were the direct shipments Home during the year: 1,736 tons of frozen meat, 4,435 bales of wool, 24 bales of leather, 660 casks of tallow, 27 casks of pelts, and 271 sacks of grass-seed. All produce is conveyed on board the New Zealand Shipping Company's ocean-going steamers (which anchor in Waitara roadstead) in specially constructed and insulated bags. These works are gazetted as Government grading and cool stores, which is a great convenience for outside dairy factories, as it avoids risk of injury to their produce after it has been graded. The exports from the port for the year 1903 were: Wool, 156 bales; grain, 74 tons; grass-seed 602 sacks; hides, 1,703; skins, 85 bundles; timber, 10,924 super. feet; flour 41 tons; potatoes, 471 sacks; tallow, 35 casks; pelts, 64 casks; cattle, 460 head; horses, 24; sheep, 288; frozen meat, 1,736 tons; butter, 21 boxes; fungus, 13 bales; general cargo, 591 tons. Total tonnage of exports for year was 4,136 tons. Imports for same period were: Grain, 3 tons; manure, 215 tons; lime, 36 tons; timber, 369,934 super. feet; coal, 3,606 tons; wool, 335 bales; fungus, 42 bales; hides, 33; skins, 38 bundles; flour, 27 tons; horses, 7; flax, 657 bales; butter, 626 boxes; general cargo, 3,359 tons. Total tonnage of imports, 8,259 tons; making in all a gross total of 12,395 tons of cargo handled at the port during the year.

Inglewood, situated on the railway-line, sixteen miles south-east of New Plymouth, is a flourishing little town of some 950 inhabitants, rapidly coming to the front. The bacon-factory during the year put through 2,333 pigs, costing £5,774. The factory is worked by a 24in. turbine, the water being conveyed in a race 10 chains long. It is provided with a four-horse-power tubular boiler, a Lard jacket, and Californian pump. There is also a size “D” ammonia refrigerating machine.

Eltham, a rising borough of 1,400 inhabitants, is making very rapid progress. The bacon-factory during nine months of the year put through 1,141 pigs, valued at £2,757. The works were closed down at the end of September, 1903, pending extensive alterations.

Opunake, a seaport town of 600 inhabitants, was visited during the year by 45 steamers. Imports, 956 tons; exports, 100 tons; but more than half the trade of the district does not come or go through the port; in fact, the goods carried by road are on the increase. If the railway from Eltham is made this town should make rapid strides, as it is intended to improve the harbour.

The only other towns of importance are Manaia, population, 450; and Normanby, population, 400

Roads and Railways.

The chief means of communication is the railway from Wellington, which traverses the district between Patea and New Plymouth—a distance of sixty-six miles. Through trains run every day, except Sunday, between New Plymouth and Wellington, and vice versa, a distance of 251 miles. As already stated, a railway from Stratford to Whangamomona has been commenced, and is already open so far as the village of Toko, six miles and a half from Stratford. This line will eventually be extended to connect with the North Island Main Trunk Railway at Ongarue Station.

The Main North Road runs from New Plymouth, passing through the Towns of Waitara and Urenui; and is formed as a cart-road to Mokau, the northern boundary of the district. All the streams are bridged with the exception of the Mokau River, on which is a good ferry. From Mokau there is a dray-road right through to Te Kuiti, on the Auckland railway system. About midway between New Plymouth and Waitara the Mountain Road diverges and runs almost due south, and chiefly along the railway, for a distance of forty miles, connecting with the Main South Road at the Town of Hawera. This is at present the principal road in the district, tapping, as it does, large numbers of district roads, and passing through the Towns of Inglewood, Midhirst, Stratford, Eltham, Normanby, and Hawera.

The Ohura Road branches from the Mountain Road at Stratford. It is formed and open for traffic as a dray-road for fifty-six miles and a half from Stratford and for horse-traffic to sixty-four miles and a half. A coach runs in summer time every Monday and Thursday (returning on following days) between Stratford and Whangamomona Village, a distance of forty-one miles, and the road is now being extended into the interior so as eventually to connect with Auckland, and will open up a large area of fertile country.

The Main South Road from New Plymouth follows the trend of the coast to the south, and was at one time the coach-road to Wellington. It passes through the Villages of Omata, Oakura, Okato, Rahotu, Otakeho, Manutahi South, and Kakaramea, and the Towns of Opunake, Manaia, Hawera, and Patea.

The Junction Road runs south-east from New Plymouth, and crosses the Mountain Road and railway at Inglewood, thirteen miles out; it is metalled for thirty-six miles and a quarter, formed as a dray-road to forty-five miles and three-quarters, where it connects with the Ohura Road at a distance of thirty miles from Stratford. This road crosses a number of district roads; hence its name.

The Opunake Road runs from Stratford to Opunake, twenty-six miles, skirting the southern base of Mount Egmont. It is formed and metalled for twelve miles from Stratford; the remainder is open for horse-traffic only. Vehicular traffic turns down the Manaia Road to Kaponga, thence along the Eltham-Opunake Road to the latter place. This route is metalled throughout.

The Eltham Road runs from Eltham to Opunake, twenty-five miles, connecting with the Opunake Road at Punehu, seven miles from Opunake. This is formed and metalled throughout.

The other main roads in course of construction are the Rawhitiroa Road, leaving the Mountain Road near Eltham; the Otaraoa, Moki, and Okoke Roads.

Lands open and available for ordinary Selection.

In Ohura and Aria Survey Districts, and situate on roads branching from the Ohura Road, between Tuhara and Ongarue: Thirteen allotments, comprising 14,141 acres, generally slopes and spurs covered with mixed forest, some open land; fair soil, on papa formation, and well watered. The land is suitable for sheep and cattle raising.

In Opaku, Kapara, Omona, and Taurakawa Survey Districts : Sixty-three allotments, comprising 60,662 acres, lying inland of Waverley, Waitotara, Patea, and Hawera, also to the east of Eltham, and tapped by the Eltham-Waitotara Road, and branch roads leading from the towns named. Generally rough country, wholly covered with heavy mixed forest; soil varying from fair to good, on papa and sandstone formation, and well watered. The land when cleared will be suitable for sheep and cattle raising.

In Mahoe, Ngatimaru, and Upper Waitara Survey Districts: Seventeen allotments, comprising 11,806 acres, lying at the back of the settled districts around Strathmore, Pohokura, and Whangamomona, and tapped by branch roads from the Ohura Road. Generally rough country, wholly covered with mixed forest; soil fair to good, on papa formation, and well watered. The land when cleared will be suitable for sheep and cattle raising.

In Waitara, Upper Waitara, and Pouatu Survey Districts : Thirty-eight allotments, comprising 36,519 acres, lying at the back of the settled districts of Urenui, Uruti, and Tongaporutu. Generally rough country, wholly covered with mixed heavy forest, and well watered. The land when cleared will be suitable for raising sheep and cattle, and on the flats along rivers and streams may be found small areas suitable for dairying operations.

In the Upper Waitara Survey District: Five allotments, comprising 7,464 acres, lying at the back of the settled district round Purangi, and tapped by the roads leading from the Junction Road. All rough, broken country, covered with heavy mixed forest; soil fair, on papa formation, well watered. The country when cleared will be suitable for sheep raising.

Lands being prepared for Settlement.

In the Upper Tongaporutu District: 44,800 acres, chiefly in the Waro Survey District, comprising easy to broken country of good quality, covered with heavy forest, and lying on the upper watersheds of the Tougaporutu, Mohakatino, Mangakara, and Tangarakau Rivers.

In Ohura and Piopiotea West Survey Districts, between Ohura and Wanganui and Ohura Rivers: 44,000 acres, undulating and hilly country, of fair quality, covered with mixed forest, scrub, and some of it open country.

In Opatu Block, in Heao Survey District: 3,900 acres, comprising undulating and hilly country of good quality; portion of it open, in grass, fern, and scrub, remainder light forest. Situate near confluence of the Ohura and Wanganui Rivers.

In Whangamomona District, on the watersheds of the Lower Whangamomona and Tangarakau Rivers: 24,000 acres, hilly country of fair quality, covered with heavy forest.

Total, 116,700 acres. All the lands will be found suitable for mixed occupation, such as raising young cattle and sheep, and in the more favoured localities for dairying.

In addition, 190,000 acres are in the hands of the Crown partially explored a good deal of which will be suitable for settlement.

There are 429,800 acres of land in this district still in the hands of the Natives.

A guide, giving particulars of any Crown lands open for selection, will be supplied free to any one applying personally or by letter to the Lands and Survey Department, New Plymouth.

It may be said, in conclusion, that there is every sign of genuine prosperity throughout the district, which has advanced rapidly during the last few years, and will no doubt continue to do so.

Chapter 68. THE HAWKE'S BAY LAND DISTRICT.

E. C. GOLD SMITH, Chief Surveyor.

The Land District of Hawke's Bay comprises that portion of the east coast of the North Island from Cape Turnagain, in latitude 40° 30, northwards to Lottin Point, about thirty miles beyond the East Cape, and contains the Waiapu, Cook, Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, Waipawa, Patangata, Woodville, and Weber Counties.

It has a seaboard of 300 miles, with an average depth from the coast of forty-five miles, and embraces an area of 6,063,000 acres. Its western limit is defined by the Ruahine, Kaweka, Ahimanawa, Raukumara, and other high ranges that form the watershed between the rivers flowing through it to the sea, and those that run to the west coast and the Bay of Plenty.

Physical Features.

The Ruahine Range extends northwards for about sixty miles from the Manawatu Gorge as far as the valley of the Ngaruroro River. Its altitude varies from 3,000 ft. to 6,000 ft., and for a considerable distance its summit is snow-clad during the winter months.

The Kaweka, a shorter range, divided from the Ruahine by the Ngaruroro River, attains an altitude of 5,650 ft., is very rugged and steep, and a prominent feature in the landscape in winter, covered as it then is with snow.

From these two ranges, which fall very abruptly on the Hawke's Bay side, the land slopes gradually to the sea, forming in some parts fine rolling hills—the essence of a sheep-country—in others extensive plains, with comparatively little poor soil.

Northwards from the Kaweka there is a series of forest-clad ranges of varying height, stretching away in the direction of the East Cape. Hikurangi, the highest point, is a bold peak with an elevation of 5,606 ft., rising so abruptly on all sides that the ascent can be made only at one point, and that with difficulty.

The only lake in the district of any extent is Waikaremoana, so famous for its magnificent scenery. It lies about thirty-five miles inland of Wairoa (Clyde), and is eleven miles in length, with a breadth at the widest part of about eight miles. Nestled among precipitous mountain-ranges, wooded to the water's edge, with numerous bays and inlets, it has a natural beauty hardly to be surpassed.

From Wairoa there is a formed road to the lake, and twenty-five miles round it, as far as the Oporuahine River.

The principal plains are : (1.) The Ruataniwha, some fifty miles south of Napier. This is 120 square miles in extent, is for the most part occupied as sheep-runs, and carries a large quantity of stock. (2.) The Heretaunga Plain, with an area of ninety square miles, lying immediately to the south of Napier. This is rich alluvial land; a large portion is thickly settled, the remainder used for grazing and agriculture. The only other plain of any extent is at Poverty Bay. It has an area of sixty-five square miles, is very fertile, well cultivated, and has a large population.

The district is well watered throughout by numerous rivers and streams, but none are navigable except the Wairoa and Turanganui, and these only for vessels of light draught. They are both tidal, and serve as ports to the Towns of Wairoa (Clyde) and Gisborne.

Communication.

The chief outlets from Napier are three in number. First the Napier-Wellington Railway, which traverses the centre of the southern half of the district for its whole length of 100 miles, and may be called the main artery of communication. Parallel to it throughout runs an excellent gravelled road, which was made before the construction of the railway. On either side there are numerous branch roads, which act as feeders, making a very complete system of internal transit. Another main road runs in a westerly direction to Kuripapanga, distant forty-five miles, a favourite resort in the summer time, removed as it is from the heat of the country near the coast. A coach runs thither twice a week, and on thence to Inland Patea, where the Napier Road meets the roads to Hunterville, Tokaanu, and the Wanganui River.

The part of the district served by these two main lines—viz., that between Napier and Woodville—contains the greater portion of the population, and from the extent of arable land within it is likely in the future to be very thickly peopled. Notwithstanding that so much of the Native land in this part is unoccupied and in its natural state, there are nearly a million of acres of land in sown grasses.

The main road northwards from Napier is the coach route to Taupo, which, soon after leaving the fertile Petane Valley, begins to traverse poor country, and twenty-five miles out enters the light pumice soil.

The Napier- Wairoa Road has been completed, with the exception of bridges at Waikare and Matahouroa Streams, and there is a weekly mail-coach service between the two towns. The coach is stopped occasionally by floods at the streams mentioned, and until the bridges are completed the heavy traffic between the two places will be done by a small steamer.

From the Wairoa a main road runs northward, through the Village of Tiniroto and on to Gisborne, a distance of seventy-five miles. For a considerable distance it runs through hilly country, and, as it has not been gravelled, wheeled traffic is suspended during the winter months; but a coach runs weekly for nine or ten months out of the year. The road from Wairoa to Gisborne vi Nuhaka Hot Springs is completed and open for wheeled traffic.

Between Gisborne and Opotiki, in the Bay of Plenty, communication is not good. The road, which is 120 miles in length, has been formed to the Motu Township, a distance of sixty miles. In the neighbourhood of the forest a large area of Crown lands has been taken up and settled during the last few years. The rest of the journey must be done on horseback. A railway is being constructed from Gisborne in the direction of Motu. The portion from Gisborne to Ormond, a distance of ten miles, and for three miles beyond to Kaiteraahi, is open for traffic. The continuation of this line will greatly assist the progress of the district.

The country to the north of Gisborne is being rapidly opened up, the coastal road being open for traffic as far as Port Awanui, while several of the arterial roads are being extended.

Small steamers trade regularly along the coast, calling in at Tolago and Tokomaru Bays, Waipiro, Tuparoa, Awanui, Kawakawa, and other small bays.

Pastoral Industries.

The Hawke's Bay District is pre-eminently a sheep-grazing country, and the large area of 2,566,106 acres has been improved and sown in English grasses, clover, &c. In April, 1903, there were 4,398,087 sheep in the district, and the numbers of other stock were as follows: Horses, 31,775; cattle, 201,012; and swine, 18,514. The value of the wool exported from Hawke's Bay for the year ended 30th June, 1903, was £575,575, a considerable increase over previous year.

Freezing-works are established at Tomoana, Port Ahuriri, and Gisborne, and the export of frozen meat for the year ended 30th June, 1903, was as follows : Beef, 1,684 tons, valued at £45,468; 283,506 carcases of mutton, valued at £219,717; 155,373 carcases of lamb, valued at £97,108; preserved meats, 174 tons, valued at £8,700. The total of the above shows a very gratifying increase over previous year's figures—namely, £310,968—and instances the effect of increased settlement and the continued prosperity of the district.

Timber Industry.

As showing the importance of this industry, there are numerous sawmills in the district, and, outside of wool, frozen meats, tallow, and pelts, sawn timber ranks first in the value of the exports. 2,791,703 ft. of timber were exported during the year, the total value being £13,955. It is satisfactory to note that sawmills have been established at Pohui and Puketitiri, in which districts there are large areas of valuable forest. As the bulk of the sawn timber from these places must necessarily come through Napier, it follows that the port and trade of the town will reap immense benefits from the further development of the industry in its vicinity.

Trawling Industry.

The trawling industry has received a decided impetus during the year by the addition of several new steamers, the fleet now numbering seven. Thirty-eight tons of fish, valued at £380 were caught during the year, which is a considerable increase. It is a pleasing fact that the fish are now more plentiful, evidenced by the splendid catches recorded when the steamers are not prevented from working by stress of weather.

Agricultural Pursuits.

Agriculture is not carried on to the extent it might be with so much land suitable for root and grain crops. No doubt this is due to the profits made in sheep-farming. It is chiefly confined to the Heretaunga Plains and the flat lands near Gisborne. The soil is favourable to root-crops; potatoes range from 12 to 15 tons to the acre, and in some instances exceed this amount. Only a moderate quantity of grain is grown; barley, for which the soil seems well adapted, returning from 20 to 60 bushels of good sample to the acre.

The fruit growing and canning industries have now attained some importance. There are large orchards at Hastings and Havelock North, and also vineyards at Taradale and Greenmeadows.

Dairying.

Settlers are now turning their attention to dairying, and factories have been established in the bush districts at Norsewood, Ormondville, Maharahara, Hastings, Gisborne, and Woodville, whilst several others are in contemplation. At the last-mentioned town a cheese-factory has been in existence for some years, and turns out an excellent article much sought after in other parts of the colony. There can be no doubt that the further development of the dairying industry must materially benefit the farming class—especially the small farmer, who may find it difficult to make a living out of sheep.

Other Industries.

Other industries, such as fellmongeries, soap-works, boot, coach, sash-and-door, and rope-and-twine factories, &c., are established in the principal towns. During the year 1901 the Hawke's Bay Woollen Manufacturing Company commenced operations in their factory at Napier, and now gives employment to a large number of hands.

Climate.

The climate is generally of a mild character, and, though hot along the coast-lands in the height of summer, it is, owing to the dryness of the atmosphere, not so relaxing as in parts of the island farther north. The rainfall is light, excepting in the bush districts and high inland country.

Napier itself is recommended by many medical men as a resort for invalids suffering from pulmonary complaints, chiefly on account of the mildness of its winter season. The average rainfall for thirty-four years is 37.070in.

Towns.

Napier is pleasantly situated on the peninsula known as Scinde Island, which is joined to the mainland by a narrow shingle-bank several miles in length. It is a busy town, with a population of about 9,500. The business part is on the flat land at the foot of the group of hills that take up the greater part of the peninsula. These hills, formerly barren and waste, are now occupied by numerous private residences, and the very general tree-planting has given the upper town a distinctive and pleasing character. There is a good water-supply, derived wholly from artesian wells of large size, and pumped by machinery to reservoirs on the tops of the hills. The shipping trade, as the large exports show, is especially active during the wool and frozen-meat season. It is still carried on at Port Ahuriri, about a mile from the town; but has recently, in a large measure, been transferred to the fine breakwater which is now partially completed. During the year 1903, the imports amounted in value to £234,994, and the exports to £892,238.

Gisborne, the trade-centre and port of what is known as the Poverty Bay District, is a prosperous town of nearly 3,000 inhabitants, exclusive of Maoris, rapidly increasing in size and importance, as the large quantity of unimproved land in the Cook County is fast becoming settled and made productive. There are 1,281,414 sheep in Cook and Waiapu Counties, and Gisborne's exports amounted to £541,077 in value for the year 1903.

Clyde, the county town and port of the Wairoa County, is picturesquely situated on the Wairoa River, about three miles from the mouth. The river is navigable for small craft as far as the village of Frasertown, twelve miles further up.

With a few exceptions, the towns and villages to the south of Napier are all situated on the line of railway running from that city to Wellington. The principal are: Hastings, a rising town of about 4,000 inhabitants, Waipawa, Waipukurau, Dannevirke, and finally Woodville, about three miles from the Manawatu Gorge, and distant ninety-eight miles from Napier. It is at this end of the district that the Crown has, in the last few years, successfully planted settlement, and, in place of the continuous forest known as the Seventy-mile Bush of earlier days, there are now prosperous townships, with various thriving industries established.

Crown Lands.

The land held by tenants of the Crown, of whom there are 1,173 in the district under the various systems of tenure, amounts to 726,336 acres, and there remain about 265,488 acres not yet dealt with in any manner.

The latter is, for the most part, suitable for pastoral purposes only, any fit for agriculture lying in small, isolated spots, widely scattered, and such as could not be selected independently of the surrounding inferior land. Nearly the whole is broken forest country, fitted more for sheep than cattle, and having an average carrying-capacity, when cleared, of about one sheep to the acre, though the best of it might possibly graze from two to three. The land is chiefly in the Hangaroa, Koranga, Mangatoro, Norsewood, and Motu Districts, and the back-country of the Waiapu County.

About 64,093 acres are now open for selection. This area includes lands open under the small grazing-run system.

The following is a short description of some of the areas to be dealt with in the future :—

Tutamoe Survey District.—7,750 acres, being the Huiarua No. 1 and Tutamoe Blocks; all bush, broken, soil medium. Situated about thirty miles from Tokomaru.

Koranga, Tuahu, and Moanui Survey Districts.—About 48,000 acres, being part of the Tahora No. 2 Block, situated north of Waipaoa and Ruakituri Rivers, and between them and the Koranga River. It comprises some very hilly country, but, though nearly all the land is covered with bush or scrub, there is some fair soil, and would make fair pastoral country. All well watered. North of this portion the Crown has some 70,000 acres in the Auckland Land District, west of the Waioeka River.

Moanui Survey District.—About 16,500 acres. All hilly forest land, at an elevation from 900 ft. to 3,500 ft. First-class soil. Distance from Gisborne, fifty miles.

Patoka Survey District.—4,028 acres, chiefly forest country, with light soil. Part river-bed.

Puketapu Survey District.—320 acres, in Block I. Waste land, north of the Pokopoko Stream, and west of Sections 16 to 20. Chiefly gullies.

Tahoraite and Norsewood Districts.—About 8,416 acres 1 rood 30 perches, being portions of Tamaki Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Bush country, all covered with heavy forest. A good proportion undulating land. All well watered. It will probably be some time before this block is opened for selection.

Norsewood Survey District.—Piripiri Block, 10,207 acres. It will probably be some time before this land is in the market.

In addition to the foregoing, there is an area of 5,315 acres, principally small blocks scattered over various districts, as follows : Mata, 1,320 acres; Hikurangi, 1,623 acres; Tokomaru, 216 acres; Waingaromia, 832 acres; Uawa, 53 acres; Hangaroa, 486 acres; Waiapu, 640 acres; Matakaoa, 145 acres.

Native Lands.

Of the Native lands in this district, a very considerable portion has been leased to Europeans, but there still remains in the hands of the Maoris a valuable estate, comprising both agricultural and pastoral country, and including some 800,000 acres of excellent land. This land lies for the most part in the Waiapu County, towards the East Cape.

Thermal Springs.

At Waipiro Bay and Nuhaka thermal baths have been constructed and their medicinal properties are highly spoken of. Both places are now accessible by coach, and the number of visitors, especially in the summer-time, is considerable.

Chapter 69. THE WELLINGTON LAND DISTRICT.

JOHN STRAUCHON, Chief Surveyor.

The Wellington District is bounded towards the north by the Auckland District; towards the east by the Hawke's Bay District, to the sea; thence by the sea in the Patea River on the West Coast; and thence bounded towards the west by the Taranaki District. The area contained within these limits is about 6,810,958 acres. It lies between the parallels of 39° and 41° 30 south latitude; its greatest length north and south is about 180 miles, and its mean width east and west about sixty miles.

General Physical Features.

The district is divided into two well-defined parts by a mountain range, which forms part of the backbone of the North Island. At its northern end this range— there known by the name of Ruahine, and averaging a height of about 4,000 ft.— divides Wellington from Hawke's Bay; but after passing the point where it is intersected by the Manawatu River, the range takes the name of Tararua for many miles, until, at about forty miles from the termination on the shores of Cook Strait, it divides into two main ranges, known respectively under the general names of Rimutaka and Tararua, both ranges averaging from 2,500 ft. to 3,500 ft. in height, the highest point being 5,154 ft. Parallel to the main range, and divided from it by the Wairarapa Plain and the undulating country to the north, is a series of ranges at a few miles inland from the East Coast, known as the Puketoi, Taipo, Maungaraki, and Haurangi Ranges. Lying on the northern border of the district are the Kaimanawa Ranges, for the most part open and grass-covered, rising to a mean height of about 4,500 ft. Westward from the latter mountains, and divided from them by a deep, broad valley, in which flow the Waikato and Wangaehu Rivers, is the volcanic chain of mountains containing Ruapehu, 9,008 ft., and Ngauruhoe, an active volcano, 7,515 ft. high. The long sweeping curve of Cook Strait, forming the south-western limit of the district, is bordered, from the Patea River to within thirty miles of Wellington, by a comparatively level and undulating country, now nearly all under cultivation, having an average width of about fifteen miles. This is one of the finest parts of the colony, and is celebrated for its stock-raising capabilities. It was originally in a great measure open, though the southern part, where the plain is narrowed in between the sea and the Tararua Range, has a good deal of forest on it, now fast disappearing under the axe of the settler.

Inland of this coastal plain, at varying distances from the sea, the country gradually rises to a mean height of about 1,500 ft. to 1,800 ft., and becomes a good deal broken in character. It was originally forest-clad almost throughout. It is much cut up by rivers and streams flowing from the interior to the sea, of which the principal, commencing from the north, are these : The Waitotara, the Wanganui, the Wangaehu, the Rangitikei, the Oroua, the Pohangina, and the Manawatu, which last, after leaving the gorge in the Ruahine Ranges, runs through level land to its mouth in Cook Strait. This broken country, being everywhere composed of papa, or marly formation, which takes grass excellently, promises in the near future to be a large sheep-carrying district.

At about fifteen miles south of the volcanic peaks of Ruapehu Mountain the papa country terminates in a fairly well-marked escarpment, giving place to a more level and undulating country formed of volcanic matter, the greater portion of which is forest-clad, though on the south-east, east, and west sides of that mountain there are open grassy plains, of no great fertility, but yet suited to pastoral pursuits.

To the eastward of the main range formed by the Rimutaka and Tararua Ranges is the great depression known at its southern end as the Wairarapa Plain, which gradually rises northwards from the lake of that name into wooded, somewhat broken country, of no great height, at a distance of some forty-five miles from the sea. From here the country falls again slightly to the Upper Manawatu River, the depression in this part being marked by the extensive flats in the neighbourhood of Pahiatua, and by the shallow valleys of the Mangahao, Mangatainoko, and Tiraumea Rivers and their branches. For thirty miles from the sea this great valley is mostly open, with patches of forest here and there, but becomes more plentifully wooded at the base of the Rimutaka and Tararua Ranges. The quality of the soil varies from light and stony on the Wairarapa Plains proper to rich papa country as the northern end is approached. The southern end of this country is watered by the Ruamahanga River and its tributaries. Generally the district is a pastoral one, though agriculture is also pursued successfully. The neighbourhood of the Puketoi Ranges is in many places composed of limestone, and promises in the future to become a very rich pastoral district, such as will support a considerable population. In the forks formed by the Tararua and Rimutaka Ranges the Hutt River takes its rise and runs in a southerly direction through an undulating or level country, finally falling into Port Nicholson. The valley contains some very fine land, generally held in small holdings.

Plains.

The two most important of these have already been mentioned. On the eastern side of the main range the Wairarapa extends northward from the lake of that name for about forty-seven miles, with an average width of about nine miles. In some parts, especially on the flats along the Ruamahanga River, the soil is alluvial and rich; in others, though stony and unfit for cultivation, it is nevertheless grassed, and carries stock well in the winter and rainy seasons. The plain is watered by the Waiohine, Waingawa, and Ruamahanga Rivers, and contains altogether about 200,000 acres, much of which is good agricultural land. On the other side of the district, west of the Tararua and Ruahine Ranges, there is a large block of land so nearly level that it may be called a plain, extending from Paikakariki (twenty-seven miles from Wellington) to Marton (a few miles north of the Rangitikei River), and contains about half a million acres. Starting as a narrow strip between the hills and the sea, the plain widens out by degrees until at Feilding it is at least twenty miles in breadth. Along the beach runs a fringe of sandhills, but behind this is to be found some of the best farming and grazing land in the colony. There are two plains inland—Murimotu and Waimarino—both lying some 2,200 ft. above sea-level, in the neighbourhood of Mount Ruapehu, the former to the south and the latter to the north-west of the mountain. The soil is covered with a coarse native tussock, and, though capable of carrying stock, is of a light porous nature, and cannot be classed as agricultural land.

Rivers

First among these is the Wanganui, with a length of 136 miles from its source, near Mount Tongariro, to its outlet. The Manawatu is next in importance. Rising in the Ruahine Range, it flows through the picturesque Manawatu Gorge, joining the sea at the port of Foxton. The Rangitikei, the third in size, rises in the Ruahine Mountains, and flows through the Awarua country, where it is joined by the Hautapu and other large tributaries. After a course of over a hundred miles it reaches the sea some little distance below the Township of Bull's, on the West Coast. Lesser rivers on the West Coast are the Waitotara (north of Wainui), the Wangaehu (which takes its rise in Mount Ruapehu, and from its source to its mouth is so strongly impregnated with sulphur that fish cannot live in it), the Turakina, and the Otaki. The only other rivers of any size are the Hutt (Here-taunga), emptying itself into the Wellington Harbour, the Ruamahanga, flowing through the Wairarapa Valley and lakes into Palliser Bay, and on the East Coast the Pahaoa, Aohanga, and Akitio

Lakes.

The only lake of any size in the Wellington District is the Wairarapa, lying between the Rimutaka and Haurangi Ranges, towards the southern end of the Wairarapa Valley. It is about twelve miles long and four broad, and is connected by the Ruamahanga River with Onoke, a small lake separated from Palliser Bay by a narrow shingle spit only. A passage through the spit is opened from time to time when the lake rises above its natural level and overflows the low-lying flats along its margin. Water-fowl of every—kind—among them numbers of black swans—are to be found round about these lakes.

Scenery.

The views obtained from the railway-line in the ascent and descent of the Rimutaka Range are among the best in the neighbourhood of Wellington, and the road through the Forty-mile Bush was long considered one of the most beautiful drives in the North Island; but its beauty has been diminished by the felling of the bush consequent on the increase of settlement. The same may be said of the Manawatu Gorge, famed in the old coaching days for its lovely scenery, but now sadly marred by the construction of the railway-line. The most beautiful drive now left is through the Awarua Bush, from Ohingaiti to Moawhango. From this road, as it winds round the spurs, most charming glimpses are obtained of the Rangitikei River and the blue hills beyond, and at other points the traveller looks up deep ravines where the graceful fern-tree stands out in bright relief against the dark green of the native bush. Another road from Pipiriki, on the Wanganui River, to the Murimotu Plain, traverses one of the most magnificent forests in the North Island. Here the bushman's axe has felled only the timber standing on the road-line, and the track runs beneath the shade of the largest and stateliest maire and rimu known. Beautiful as these drives are, the scenery on the Wanganui River is still more lovely. A few miles below Taumarunui the river enters a series of gorges, shut in by high precipitous cliffs. Sometimes the canoe glides slowly through quiet reaches, sometimes shoots rapids which make the traveller hold his breath till they are passed, and then again traverses places where the water is ever in turmoil, boiling and eddying in whirlpools, taxing the energies of the most skilful Native steersman, and testing the nerve of the most courageous tourist. These experiences, with the views obtained of the banks, densely wooded even where the papa rock rises almost straight from the water's edge, make the eighty miles journey from Taumarunui to Pipiriki an event not easily effaced from the memory. Between Pipiriki and Wanganui excellent steamers are now running, so that the beauties of the lower part of the river may be seen by all without trouble or discomfort. In summer time a launch goes as far as Taumarunui.

Forests.

The Wellington District is essentially a forest country, for out of the 6,810,958 acres contained within its borders about 3,000,000 are still under bush. By far the largest forest is the Waimarino, having an area of at least three-quarter million acres, a large portion of it being nearly level land, containing magnificent timber, principally totara, maire, matai, rimu, and other pines. This forest is as yet hardly touched, though timber is being cut at Raetihi for the settlers now making their homes in the neighbourhood. The distance from the settled districts or any port will render the timber in this part useless as a marketable commodity until the country is opened up by the Auckland Main Trunk Railway now in course of construction.

There is a large extent of bush land, drained by the Turakina, Mangamahu, and Wangaehu Rivers, extending up to the Wanganui River, and containing about 300,000 acres. Very little of this, from its inaccessibility, will be utilised for saw-milling purposes, but a great deal of it, together with a further block of 230,000 acres on the west side of the Wanganui River, will be cleared by the settlers and sown down with grass. A further block of about 100,000 acres of forest land lies in the Pohangina Valley and on the slopes of the Ruahine Range. A large portion of this has been taken up and is now being settled.

The forest land on the West Coast extends from Pukerua to the Manawatu Gorge, on the west side of the Tararua Range, and contains an area of about 300,000 acres, the bulk of it being fit only for turning into pasture. The most available part of it, alongside the Wellington-Manawatu Railway, is being extensively cut into by sawmillers at Levin and other places on the line.

After this in size is the forest on the eastern slopes of the Tararua Ranges, extending from Featherston to the Manawatu Gorge, which includes what remains of the well-known Forty-mile Bush, containing probably about 175,000 acres. Portion of this area is being quickly denuded of timber by the sawmills established at Pahiatua, Newman, Hukanui, Eketahuna, and by settlers. A tract of about 50,000 acres lying to the east of the Puketoi Range cannot be utilised for milling purposes, as it is not tapped by any branch railway-line, and its distance from the main line would probably render the business unprofitable except for local purposes. Nor are there any suitable ports along the coast where timber could be shipped.

The other forests are, one near Lake Taupo, and the Haurangi Forest on the east side of the Wairarapa Lake. These consist for the most part of birch-covered hills, and cannot be considered as valuable for milling purposes.

Soil.

It may be said that the Wellington Land District contains within its borders a greater quantity of good land than any other in the North Island, very little, except the mountain-tops, being unfitted for use, while some of it is of very superior quality, suited for the growth of the productions of every temperate climate. As much of it is still forest-clad, settlers must look forward to having to make their farms by felling and burning the bush before grass can be sown, and, as it takes from ten to fifteen years before the plough can be used in bush-land, grazing, for which the climate and soil is admirably adapted, will be the principal industry for some time to come. It is generally calculated that the cost of felling and burning ordinary bush varies from 25s. to 35s. an acre. To this must be added about 20s. for seed and fencing. It is no uncommon thing for a return to be received at from twelve to eighteen months after felling. The usual practice is to put sheep on to the new lands soon after the grass has obtained a good hold. The process of improving the lands by the gradual “logging up” and burning of the fallen tree-trunks is a long one, but it pays in the end, for in this way fine pasture-lands are obtained on the hills, and agricultural lands on the flats.

Climate.

The climate of Wellington District is healthy and mild, the mean annual temperature (in the city) being 55.4, whilst the mean rainfall is 48.49 in. per annum. The rainfall differs, however, according to locality. Inland and near the ranges it is much greater. The top of Ruapehu Mountain is covered with perpetual snow, which lies also on the tops of Kaimanawa, Ruahine, and Tararua in the winter. Frosts are heavy in the interior.

Harbours and Ports.

The coasts of Wellington are not so well supplied in this respect as are some other parts of the colony; but what is lost in number is made up in a great measure by the excellence of the chief haven—Port Nicholson—which, from the position it occupies, at the meeting-point, as it were, of the coastal traffic of both Islands, and from its sheltered position and depth of water, may be considered one of the most convenient harbours in the world. The Wanganui River, which has been considerably improved by artificial means, is the second port in the district, and has a considerable trade carried on by coastal steamers. The Patea and Manawatu Rivers are also used by coastal steamers, whilst several other inlets along the shore afford shelter and stopping-places, according to the direction of the wind. The extension of railways along both coasts has, in a large measure, done away with the inconveniences arising from want of harbours.

Towns.

The capital of the colony—Wellington—is situated in the south-west angle of Port Nicholson, on Lambton Harbour. The wharfage accommodation here is second to none in the colony, and the wharves present always a busy scene of life with the numerous steamers and sailing-vessels continually loading or discharging. As many as six ocean-going steamers are frequently seen alongside, loading with wool, frozen meat, and other products, for conveyance to Europe. The port possesses a patent slip at Evans' Bay, within a short distance of the city. Founded in 1840 by the New Zealand Company, the city occupies the flats skirting the original shore-line, long since obliterated by the reclamation of the foreshore, which is now mostly covered with fine buildings. Rising close behind the old shore-line is a range of hills, the lower parts of which are all built over. The population of the city at the present time is about 50,000, including the suburb of Melrose, which now forms part of Wellington. Being the seat of Government, the city contains the residence of the Governor and the headquarters of the Government departments, which are placed in what is said to be the largest wooden building in the Southern Hemisphere. There are several noticeable public buildings, amongst which must be mentioned the Parliamentary Buildings, containing a valuable library, General Post Office, Government Life Insurance Offices, Government Printing Office, Government Railway Offices, Public Library, School of Art, and Harbour Board Offices. The Colonial Museum and the Botanical Gardens are also worthy of notice. The city is lighted by electricity, and its principal streets are being paved with wooden blocks, whilst an excellent supply of water is obtained from the Wainui-o-mata River, on the other side of the harbour. The installation of a system of electric trams is proceeding, and a fine Town Hall is nearly finished. The principal industries are represented by iron and brass foundries, sawmills, soap and candle works, boot-factories, aerated water, meat-freezing works, coachbuilding, rope-and-twine works, sash-and-door factories, brick, tile, and pottery works, printing and publishing offices, besides match and box factories, and other smaller works of various kinds. The city is increasing with rapid strides; its excellent position, together with the fine back-country, places it in the front rank of New Zealand towns. Its principal suburbs are Onslow and Karori, containing 1,800 and 1,700 inhabitants respectively. The railway-line to the Hutt Valley is now being straightened to afford greater facilities of transit, which are necessary in consequence of rapid developments.

Petone is situated near the mouth of the Hutt River, seven miles from Wellington, on the railway-line. It has a population of 4,750, and is a rising township, containing the Government Railway Workshops, a woollen-factory, and a meat freezing and preserving establishment. The Lower Hutt, almost immediately adjoining, has a population of 2,250, and some well-built residences with beautiful gardens. The Upper Hutt, situated at the head of the valley, has many small farms, owned by some of the very early settlers. The railway here starts the ascent of the Rimutaka Range.

Featherston, situated at the foot of the Wairarapa Valley, forty-six miles by rail from Wellington, is a small township, with butter and cheese factories in the neighbourhood. Roads lead from it to Martinborough and the East Coast, and also down the Wairarapa Valley to Palliser Bay.

Greytown is situated three miles off the main line of railway, and near the middle of the Wairarapa Valley, fifty-four miles from Wellington by rail. The chief industries are sawmilling and coachbuilding. The population is about 1,200 persons.

A few miles further north is the Town of Carterton, where are to be found timber-mills, cheese-factories, &c., and a population of about 1,300 persons. There is some splendid farming land in this locality on the banks of the Ruamahanga River.

Masterton is situated at the head of the Wairarapa Valley, on the Wellington-Napier Railway, sixty-seven miles from the capital. It is the centre of an agricultural and pastoral country, and has a population of about 4,000. It is lit with gas, drained on the septic-tank principle, and has several industries, such as fell-mongery, rope-making, flax-mills, coach-factory, &c., and, in addition, has some excellent fish-breeding ponds, from which many of the rivers in the colony have been supplied with trout. An important coach-road leads from here through a fine pastoral district to Te Nui, and on to Castlepoint on the East Coast, where a large quantity of wool is annually shipped to Wellington for export.

North of Masterton is the Opaki Plain, and beyond is the entrance of the once famous Forty-mile Bush, which is now a thriving pastoral, agricultural, and dairying district. Butter-factories have been established at numerous centres.

Eketahuna is, by rail and road, eighty-nine miles from Wellington. From there a main road leads to Alfredton, and up the Tiraumea Valley, through the East Puketoi country, to Weber, and Dannevirke, the latter on the Napier Railway-line.

Pahiatua, a township eighteen miles beyond Eketahuna, has a resident population of about 1,250. It is the county and market-town of a large and improving district, and will probably also become the centre of a large dairying industry. Several branch roads run from Pahiatua into the adjoining country, the principal one leading to Makuri through a beautifully-wooded gorge. From there another branch road passes over the Makuri saddle into the East Puketoi country. Excellent fishing is obtainable in the neighbourhood.

On the West Coast, Pahautanui, at the head of the Porirua Harbour, is the centre of a small agricultural community of early settlers, the old coach-road to the West Coast running through it; and there is a branch-road leading over to Hayward's in the Hutt Valley. Paikakariki, twenty-seven miles from Wellington, may be considered the commencing-point of the West Coast settlements, which are springing up in every available valley along the coast. At Otaki, forty-seven miles from Wellington, by rail and road, there is a township, and a large Native settlement. At Manukau, Levin, and Shannon, thriving townships have arisen since the Manawatu Railway Company opened up the land round about, much of it being rich farming and grazing country. Between Shannon and the Manawatu River there is a large raupo or flax swamp, named Makurerua, containing at least 15,000 acres of fine alluvial soil, which is being gradually drained, and will probably at some future period become grazing-land.

Foxton, a township at the mouth of the Manawatu River, is a small shipping port, containing about 1,250 inhabitants. It is connected with Palmerston North by a branch railway, and is the outlet for a large area of good agricultural land.

Palmerston North is an inland town at the junction of the Wellington-New Plymouth and the Palmerston-Napier Railways, situated on a fine plain in the midst of a most excellent farming district at a point eighty-seven miles from Wellington, and 112 miles from Napier. Its population is now upwards of 8,900. It is lit with gas, and has a good water-supply. A fine bridge across the Manawatu River connects it with the Fitzherbert Block, a tract of rich agricultural land. Nine miles from Palmerston is the Township of Ashhurst, at the mouth of the Pohangina Valley, up which settlement has now extended for a distance of twenty-two miles. Several large farm-homestead association blocks have been selected up this valley.

Feilding, ninety-nine miles from Wellington by rail, with a population of about 3,250, is becoming one of the most important towns on the West Coast, as it is the centre of a very fine locality, and the outlet for a large tract of inland country, the forest on which is fast being felled. Water supply and drainage-works are under construction. A coach-road connects it with Birmingham (Kimbolton) and Pemberton, about thirty-two miles distant. On the seaward side for a distance of twenty miles there is also much good agricultural land, extending on the north-west to the Rangitikei River, and including the Township of Halcombe. There are several dairy factories established in the neighbourhood.

Marton, 116 miles from Wellington by rail, with a population of 1,200, one of the earliest of the West Coast settlements, is also the centre of an agricultural country. The Township of Bull's, on the north side of the Rangitikei River, lies between Marton and the coast. From Marton Junction the southern part of the North Island Main Trunk Railway extends up the Rangitikei Valley to Hunterville, a good-sized township in the centre of a grazing district, and from thence as far as Mangaweka, thirty-two miles from Marton, by way of the Makohine Viaduct. A short distance beyond Mangaweka is the viaduct of this name, 964ft. long, recently completed. The line is in a well advanced state to Taihape, and is already open for goods traffic to that place. The construction of the line is proceeding between Taihape and Waiouru. The distance from Marton Junction to the summit at Waimarino is about 104 miles. The coach-road has been made to Waiouru, and from thence to Tokaanu, on Lake Taupo, in the Auckland District.

Wanganui, situated near the mouth of the river of that name, is the oldest town after Wellington, from which it is 150 miles by rail—the distance by sea being only a hundred and twenty miles. It is the centre of an excellent farming district, and has a considerable trade, and several manufactories. Near the mouth of the river are freezing-works, the meat from which is conveyed by lighters to the large English steamers which lie off the mouth of the river. The town is lit with gas, and has a good water-supply. Not far from it are some extensive railway workshops. Altogether it is a thriving place, with a population of about 7,800. The Wanganui River is navigable for a light-draught steamer up to Pipiriki, a distance of sixty miles, and a launch goes a further distance of eighty-four miles to Taumarunui. A branch road extends from Pipiriki through the Waimarino Forest to Ohakune, and on to Karioi on the Murimotu Plains, thence by way of Turangarere and Moawhango to Napier.

Crown Lands available for Future Settlement.

Town Land.—Sections in Piriaka, Raetihi, Ohakune, Mowhanau, Taihape, Mataroa, and Pongaroa Townships will probably be opened for sale at Wanganui, Pahiatua, and Wellington on dates due notice of which will be given in the local papers.

About 20,000 acres, known as the Retaruke Block, on the Wanganui River. It is proposed to open this under the small grazing-run system during next summer.

Awarua Block.—There is an area of about 101,000 acres purchased by the Crown in this block available for future subdivision and disposal. This area for the most part consists of the rougher portion of the block, and will probably be occupied as pastoral country. It is proposed to offer an area east of Utiku at an early date.

Taonui, Maraetana, Pukewhakapu Blocks—These blocks, which comprise about 12,500 acres, situated between the Mangawhero and Wangaehu Rivers, have been surveyed, and will be offered shortly on optional systems.

Improved-Farm Settlement Lands.

All the available land suitable for holding under the improved-farm conditions has now been allotted, but if any of the sections now held under this system should be forfeited they will probably be ballotted for amongst applicants in the district who are known to be of good character and likely to make good settlers.

Lands Open and Available for Ordinary Selection.

Waitotara.—The Te Ngaue Block, 1,546 acres of second-class pastoral land, is now open for selection in two small grazing-runs.

Waimarino.—A block of about 46,550 acres, on the Retaruke, Oio, and Kaitieke Rivers, has had roads surveyed through it, and portion of it lately surveyed is now open for selection on small grazing-run system. About 29,000 acres still remain open as unsurveyed land on optional systems. 32,000 acres at the head of the Retaruke and Makino Streams have also been roaded. The rest of the Waimarino country, containing about 250,000 acres, is more or less broken, and will probably be opened later on as second-class pastoral country or small grazing-runs, to enable it to be taken up in larger sections.

A number of forfeited sections are now open for selection in the following blocks: Marton No. 3, Umutoi, Waimarino, Hunterville No. 2, Mekalickstone, Kaiparoro, &c.

Tauakira No. 1 Block.—Five sections, of an area of 4,861 acres, are open for selection on optional systems. This block is situated on the Wanganui River, about twenty-eight miles from Wanganui.

Victoria College Endowment Block.—One lot of 2,200 acres is open for selection on the small-grazing-run system.

Wanganui River Trust Endowment Block.—This block of 9,733 acres is subdivided into four lots, open for selection on the small-grazing-run system.

Taonui, Maraetaua, and Pukewhakapu Blocks.—These blocks, which comprise about 29,600 acres of unsurveyed land situated between the Mangawhero and Wangaehu Rivers, are now open for selection under the optional systems.

Waimarino Block.—An area of 8,100 acres of Crown land and State forest is open for application as a grazing lease for a term of three years.

Rangipo-Waiau-Murimotu Block.—An area of 31,841 acres in this block is open for selection as a pastoral lease under Part VI. of “The Land Act, 1892,” for a term of twenty-one years.

Kaitieke Block.—Ten lots, comprising an area of 5,150 acres, are open for selection on the small-grazing-run system.

Ohotu Block.—Seventy-one lots, comprising an area of 57,455 acres of Maori land, about forty-five miles up the Wanganui River, in the Ohotu Block, have been offered for selection for terms of twenty-one years with right of renewal. Particulars as to the lots still open can be obtained from the President, Aotea Maori Council Wanganui.

Pipiriki Township.—Leases of several forfeited allotments for the term of twenty-one years, with right of renewal for a further term of twenty-one years, will be open for application by tender shortly.

Tokaanu Township.—Leases of ninety-nine allotments for the term of twenty-one years, with right of renewal for a further term of twenty-one years, are open for application by tender.

Potaka Township.—Leases of forty-four allotments for the term of twenty-one years, with right of renewal for a further term of twenty-one years, will be offered by auction shortly.

Hokio Township.—Leases of thirty-four allotments for the term of twenty-one years, with right of renewal for a further term of twenty-one years, are open for application by tender.

Wharangi (Foxton Sanatorium).—Leases of twenty-three allotments for the term of fourteen years are open for application by tender.

“Crown Land Guides” and sale lithographs, giving full particulars of lands open for selection in this Land District, will be forwarded to any one on application to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Wellington.

Native Lands.

Townships are now surveyed at Pipiriki, Tokaanu, Parata, Potaka, and Hokio, sections in all of which are open for leasing under “The Native Townships Act, 1895.”

The blocks under lease to Europeans contain about 374,700 acres, the principal being the Owhaoko, Mangohane, and Ruanui, occupied by Mr. Studholme; and the Oroumatua, leased to Mr. Birch. Of others passed through the Native Land Court there are about 562,415 acres which are fit for settlement, the principal being the balance of the Awarua and the Motukawa, Te Tuhi, Ahu-Ahu, Rangiwaea, and Puketotara Blocks in the central district; Raetihi in the Waimarino district; Tauakira and Ohotu, on the Wanganui River; Tupapanui, Maraetaua, Taonui, and Kaha-kaha, between the Wanganui and Wangaehu Rivers. Those not suitable for settlement at present are the Te Hautu, Ohuanga, and Kaimanawa, on the east side, and the Oahukura on the west side, of Tongariro Mountain, containing an area of about 345,000 acres.

The Native lands which have not passed the Native Land Court contain an area of about 105,306 acres, the principal being the Pukehika, Te Hautu, Waihunu, and Waipapa Blocks, on and between the Wangaehu and Wanganui Rivers, and some others on the west side of the latter river.

Pastoral and Agricultural Industries.

The pastoral industry is by far the more important, the total area in grass in 1904 being 2,597,131 acres as compared with 101,815 acres under crop, garden, or orchard. Of the area in crop, 6,772 acres were in wheat, 16,491 in oats, and 40,731 acres in turnips or rape, the rest being in potatoes or other crops.

The following figures will show the average return per acre of grain for the year 1904 : Wheat, 32.36 bushels; oats, 30.82 bushels; barley, 31.49 bushels.

The area in sown grass now exceeds that in any other district in the colony, though the area under crop is very small as compared with either the Otago or Canterbury Districts. In April, 1903, there were 3,793,518 sheep; and in October, 1903, the cattle numbered 357,850, and horses 49,707. The total area in gardens is given as 2,295 acres; in orchards, 3,747 acres; and in plantations, 4,427 acres.

Dairy Industry.

Both soil and climate are well adapted for the production of butter and cheese, and hence we find creameries and butter-factories increasing in number very considerably each year, and the export constantly augmenting.

Forty-six butter and cheese factories were returned in September, 1903, as at work in the Wellington Provincial District.

Phormium Tenax.

The principal flax-mills working are at Featherston, Carterton, and Martin-borough, in the Wairarapa, and at Foxton on the West Coast. This industry fluctuates greatly, in accordance with the price ruling for the dressed article. In 1901 twenty-five mills were at work, employing 580 men and 25 boys; the machines driven by water-wheel or engine working up to 365-horse power.

Timber Industry

Sawmills are to be found in different parts of the district where the means of communication are sufficient, the timbers cut being principally totara and red-pine, both of which are largely used in house construction and other works. Others of the native woods are very beautiful, but are utilised only to a small extent.

The principal mills are at Pahiatua, Eketahuna, Masterton, and Carterton, in the Forty-mile Bush and Wairarapa districts, and at Levin on the West Coast, besides which there are several mills in Wellington for dressing the rough material. In the whole district there were in 1901 sixty-six mills, of an aggregate of 1,114-horse power, engaged in this industry, employing 1,114 hands, the output of sawn timber being 41,375,471ft., and the total value including posts and rails, resawn timber, doors, sashes, &c., £210,589, which, next to Auckland, is the highest for any provincial district in the colony.

Miscellaneous Industries.

The numbers of the other principal industries in this provincial district, as given in Census, 1901, were as follow: Meat freezing and preserving works, 5; ham and bacon curing establishments, 3; fish-curing works, 4; grain-mills, 8; sugar-boiling and confectionery works, 4; breweries, 10; aerated-water factories, 24; sauce and pickle factories, 5; soap and candle works, 4; cooperages, 4; woodware factories, 5; gasworks, 6; brick, tile, and pottery works, 18; tinware factories, 13; iron and brass foundries, 13; printing offices, 40; basket and perambulator factories, 6; coachbuilding and painting works, 44; cycle-factories, 10; saddlery and harness factories, 29; tanning, fellmongering, &c., establishments, 14; sail and oilskin factories, 4; furniture and cabinet-making, 36; tailoring establishments, 67; dressmaking and millinery, 78; shirt-making, 7; boot and shoe factories, 24.

Chapter 70. THE MARLBOROUGH LAND DISTRICT.

C. W. ADAMS, late Chief Surveyor.

Boundaries

The Marlborough Land District, occupying the north-east corner of the Middle Island, and containing about 2,792,500 acres of land, is bounded generally on the north and east by Cook Strait and the East Coast as far as the Conway River; thence by that river to its junction with the Towy River; from this point, by straight lines, rivers, and the summits of watersheds to the western side of Tennyson Inlet, Pelorus Sound. From the Conway to the Acheron River it abuts on to the Canterbury Land District, and from that river to Pelorus Sound it is bounded by the Land District of Nelson.

The widest part of the district is from Cape Campbell to Tophouse, a distance of about sixty-seven miles, and the extreme length from Cape Jackson to the Conway is 120 miles.

Physical Features.

The district throughout is generally mountainous, but none even of the highest peaks are covered with perpetual snow, although Tapuaenuku, the highest of the inland Kaikouras, attains an altitude of 9,462 ft. Of the Seaward Kaikouras, or Looker-on Mountains, the highest points are Kaitarau and Whakari, which are 8,700 ft. and 8,500 ft respectively. There are several lesser peaks, from 4,000 ft. upwards.

The view from Kahautara Bluff, south of Kaikoura Settlement, looking northwards, when the Looker-on Mountains are snow-capped, is said to be one of the finest in New Zealand.

Geologically, the district may be briefly described as follows: North of the Wairau River the rocks belong chiefly to the Upper and Lower Devonian series, with a belt of Silurian between them, embracing the country along the west of Queen Charlotte Sound to Cook Strait. Within these series auriferous deposits are found, and at present worked at Mahakipawa, Wakamarina, and Wairau Valley. In Endeavour Inlet an antimony-mine was worked for some time; but operations have been discontinued and the machinery removed. The country south of the Wairau River may be said to belong chiefly to the Carboniferous Age, with patches, along the coast and up the Clarence Valley, of Cretaceo-Tertiary and Lower Greensand formations; while along and between the Awatere and Clarence Rivers volcanic formation and numerous intrusive dykes occur. The Red Hills also, at the head of the Wairau Valley, are of volcanic origin.

Coal has been discovered in the neighbourhood of Picton, and in the Clarence Valley, but none has been as yet successfully worked within the district. A narrow belt of Tertiary limestone, suitable for building purposes, extends, with small interruptions, from Cape Campbell to the boundary of the Canterbury Provincial District. The Marlborough land may be divided into three classes : Open land, generally covered with associated grasses; forest-land; and intermediate, or land partly forest, partly covered with scrub, fern, or other rank vegetation. This original condition of the soil naturally gave rise to a localisation of industries, and a very unequal distribution of settlement. Thus the open country was taken up for pastoral purposes; in the forest country the timber industry was developed, and the intermediate land passed into the hands of farmers. Though agriculture is now extending into the pastoral and forest country, and considerable areas of forest land have been cleared and laid down in grass, the portions of the district characterized by these respective industries are still well defined.

In the northern part of the district, bounded by Cook Strait, numerous deep fiords and bays run far into the land. The principal of these are Pelorus and Queen Charlotte Sounds, Tory Channel, Port Underwood, and Port Gore.

These Sounds are very picturesque, but the hills surrounding them are not so rugged and precipitous as are those of the thirteen celebrated Sounds on the west coast of Otago and Southland.

Though generally steep, the land is not too rough to be used for pastoral purposes, and nearly all the land in the Sounds is occupied by thriving settlers.

Pelorus Sound, the most extensive and picturesque, is thirty-four miles long, following the course of the main channel, with the Town of Havelock at its head. There are many bays and inlets branching of in all directions; the largest of these is Kenepuru Sound, fourteen miles long. Pelorus Sound, including its branches, has a shore line of over 300 miles in length, not counting islands.

Queen Charlotte Sound is the next in length, being thirty miles from its entrance to its head; it also has many bays and inlets, one of which is Picton Harbour, twenty-five miles from the entrance.

Tory Channel is ten miles long, and forms the most direct line of communication between Picton and Wellington. The distance from Wellington Wharf to the entrance of Tory Channel is about forty miles, and about twenty more to Picton.

The shore-line of Queen Charlotte Sound and Tory Channel is over 200 miles in length. The entrance of Queen Charlotte Sound is about twenty miles distant from that of Pelorus Sound, and this latter is about twelve miles from the French Pass. Generally there is deep water in all the sounds and bays, and good anchorage can be found near the shore. The country is hilly everywhere in the neighbourhood of the Sounds, the highest point being Mount Stokes, 3,951 ft. above sea level.

Rivers.

Four considerable rivers, the Wairau, Awatere, Clarence, and Conway, rise towards the western boundary of the district; the two former, running east and north, fall into Cook Strait; the two latter, taking a southerly and easterly course, discharge into the sea on the eastern side of the Island. These rivers water large and fertile valleys, but none can be entered by vessels except the Wairau, which is navigable for small steamers for about twelve miles from its mouth.

Plains.

The Wairau Plain, containing about 65,000 acres, on which stands Blenheim, the capital of Marlborough, is the principal block of agricultural land within the district. The soil, generally good, is, on the lower or seaward side of the plain, extremely fertile, especially in the neighbourhood of Tuamarina, Spring Creck, and near Blenheim, which is surrounded by numerous gardens, with rich deep mould, and well sheltered with trees. The average yield of wheat for the plain is about 25 bushels per acre; of oats and barley, 35; of peas, 30; and of potatoes, 10 tons per acre. Hops have been successfully grown for many years in the neighbourhood of the town, but, owing to the high price of labour, their cultivation has not extended. The plain, traversed in all directions by good macadamised roads, and dotted over with numerous comfortable homesteads, standing in clumps of trees amidst well-cultivated fields, has already an old-world appearance. More than half the population of the Marlborough Land District—about 13,000, according to the last census—is centred in the Town of Blenheim and on the Wairau Plain. Besides this plain there are several thousand acres of terrace flats and valleys along the larger rivers, notably at Starborough, on the Lower Awatere.

Lakes.

There are not any lakes worthy the name. The largest is Kapara te Hau, more familiarly known as Grassmere, situate on the coast between the Awatere River and Cape Campbell. It is about three miles in diameter, and very shallow, being, indeed, no more than a lagoon, as during a dry season there is little or no water in it.

There are two other lakes of small size, viz.,—Lake Elterwater, four miles south of Lake Grassmere, and Lake McRae, situate in the open country between the Awatere and the Clarence Rivers.

Forests.

The portion of Marlborough north-west of the Wairau River, extending to the boundary of the Nelson Land District, and including the County of Sounds, in all about 280,000 acres, was originally covered with dense forest. In the valleys and on the lower hill-slopes, rimu, kahikatea, matai, totara, miro, and tawa were the principal forest-trees. The higher portion of the hills and steep spurs are clothed with the various species and variety of birch (beech), to which along the shores of the Sounds were added pukatea and kohekohe, the latter locally called cedar.

Since 1860 sawmills have been at work in various parts of the district. Thirty-two mills have been erected, and have worked for longer or shorter periods. Have-lock, on the Pelorus Sound, is at present the headquarters of the timber trade.

The hills along the shores of the Sound will, for many years, furnish birch sleepers. There are other timbers left in places, but nowhere sufficient to justify the erection of a mill, unless pukatea wood, hitherto neglected, could be utilised. It is a light, tough timber, well adapted for boat-building and for packing-cases. The quantity of pine timber remaining in the Kaituna and Onamalutu Valleys is small, but there is a good supply of birch and other wood, suitable for fencing and firewood. On these valleys the Wairau Plain is mainly dependent for timber.

The Pelorus Valley, with its tributaries the Wakamarina, Rai, Ronga, and Opouri Valleys, still contain about 300,000,000 ft. of convertible timbers, exclusive of the birch, of which there is a large amount of the best quality on the hills and terraces. The Wairau, Blenheim, and other districts extending southwards must depend for the future on this source for all their building material.

In the neighbourhood of Kaikoura, along the base of Mount Fyffe, and in the Hapuku Valley, there is another small block of forest land in which three small sawmills have been erected. The quantity of timber suitable for sawmill purposes in this block is very limited, but it will furnish the neighbouring country with firewood and fencing for many years.

Soils and their Uses.

The Wairau Plain, which is the principal block of agricultural land, has been already dealt with. The second agricultural centre is in the neighbourhood of Kaikoura. The land extending along the base of Mount Fyffe, between the Kohai and Hapuku Rivers, about 13,000 acres in extent, is held in small or moderate-sized farms; the soil is good, the block known as “The Swamp,” between Mount Fyffe and the Peninsula, being particularly rich. In the Pelorus, Kaituna, and Onamalutu Valleys, and in the Sounds, settlers following in the wake of the sawmills have already converted much of the land worked over into grazing-farms. The land is of three descriptions—alluvial flats, terraces, and hill-sides. On the flats in the larger valleys the soil is rich, producing heavy crops of oats, peas, beans, and potatoes, wherever it has been brought into cultivation. The terrace-land varies much in quality, but generally grows good grass, as do also the hills on which tawa formerly grew; the birch country being very barren. On the small bush-farms cattle-grazing is the chief pursuit. Out of 14,700 head kept in Marlborough, 4,300 belong to the forest country.

Grazing.

About 1,680,000 acres of the Marlborough Land District are at present devoted to keeping sheep. The leaseholds in the northern parts of the district contain a large extent of scrub and fern covered country, now producing little or no food for sheep, but capable of improvement. The total number of sheep depastured is 826,474, distributed as follows amongst the counties into which the land district is divided: Marlborough County, 491,006; Sounds County, 161,057; Kaikoura County, 174,411. On the natural pasture of the open country merino sheep are kept almost exclusively, the land carrying from half to one sheep per acre. In the forest country, on sown grass, the land keeps from two to four crossbred sheep per acre. Along the shores of the Sounds large areas of hill-land have been taken up on lease, and are now being cleared and laid down in grass expressly for keeping sheep, but generally throughout the forest country the holdings are small or of moderate size; hence this is, after the Wairau Plain, the most populous portion of the district.

The export of wool during last year amounted to 12,700 bales.

Industries.

Gold-mining has been carried on for some years, principally at Mahakipawa, Wakamarina, and Wairau Valley. At present not much gold is being obtained.

One dredge is at work in the Wakamarina River, but the two at Top Valley have suspended operations—the returns not being payable—and one of them has been removed to Armchair Creek.

Fifteen sawmills are at work within the district: two at Kaikoura, and the others in the Pelorus, Kaituna, Onamalutu, and Wakamarina Valleys, and in the Pelorus and Queen Charlotte Sounds. The principal one is Messrs. Brownlee and Co.'s, in the Pelorus Valley, their tramway being some fifteen miles long, the output last year being about 3,297,000 ft. Messrs. Brownlee and Co. have sixty men employed, and keep two vessels running between Havelock and Lyttelton.

During the year the phormium industry employed eleven mills, and the quantity of fibre shipped was 5,900 bales and 1,250 bales tow.

There are three flour-mills at work, two of them being owned by Messrs. Redwood Bros. The one at Spring Creek is a complete roller-mill, driven by water-power, and can turn out about 14 tons of flour in twenty-four hours. It is electric lighted, and the sack-working machinery is driven by electric motor. The other two mills are in the Town of Blenheim; one is worked by water-power and the other by steam.

There is a dairy factory at Spring Creek which contains all the latest improvements in machinery; 18 tons of butter were produced in 1903.

There is a first-class cheese-factory at Tuamarina. Last season 60 tons were turned out There are also cheese-factories at Kaikoura and Havelock. The latter had an output of 52 tons, and that at Kaikoura 104 tons.

Climate.

Marlborough possesses one of the finest climates in the world; and at Blenheim it is fine weather nearly all the year round. There is almost a total absence of the boisterous winds that so frequently visit Wellington.

The original distribution of the open and forest lands was entirely due to climatic causes. At Cape Campbell, one of the barest places in the district, the annual rainfall is only 23.25in.; in the Pelorus Valley, the centre of the forest country, it is over 65 in. This difference between the climates of the north-western and south-eastern portions of the district explains why the artificial pastureland, when compared with the natural pasture, supports such a large amount of stock. Winter and spring are the wettest seasons, hence the dry climate is not unfavourable for agriculture. Wherever the soil is suitable, crops sown in winter and harvested in early summer can be successfully grown. Everywhere near the coast the range of temperature, considering the latitude, is very small. The thermometer seldom falls below 30 deg., or rises above 78 deg. Along the shores of the Sounds the mildness of the winter, owing to the curious distribution of land and water, allows lemons, oranges, passion-fruit, figs, and other sub-tropical fruits to be grown in favourable situations. On the lower hills and terraces of the forest country the chestnut (Castanea vulgaris) grows rapidly, and commences to bear fruit in five or six years. A few trees planted in the Pelorus Valley some twenty years ago are now yielding annually about 2 cwt. of nuts a tree. In all parts of the low country the common English fruit-trees—apple, plum, pear, cherry, &c.—yield abundantly, the fruit, owing to the clearness of the atmosphere, being of excellent quality. In the high country, where snow falls occasionally during winter, red, white, and black currants can be produced in such quantities that with little labour they might be made an article of export to the warmer parts of Australia.

Towns.

The chief town, Blenheim, is situate on the Wairau Plain, at the junction of the Opawa and Omaka Rivers—a third river, the Taylor, would join at about the same point were it not that when not in flood it disappears beneath the surface, about three miles south of the town. Blenheim has been termed a miniature Christchurch, doubtless from its extreme flatness. Considering this, its streets are not so straight and wide as they should be. The Government Buildings, which comprise the Post and Telegraph Offices, Lands and Survey Offices, Courts of Justice, &c., form a handsome edifice in the centre of the town, which is well planted with deciduous and evergreen trees. It is about eighteen miles and a half from Picton by rail, and about twelve miles from the sea by the Opawa River, which is navigable for small steamers. Blenheim is lit by gas, and is supplied with water principally by artesian wells. The population is 3,300.

The next town in importance is Picton, the principal port, only fifty-three miles by sea from Wellington. This little town, both in position and appearance, may be said to be the antithesis of Blenheim, being most picturesquely situated at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound, and nestling among hills, some of the higher ones still densely covered with birch and other forest. There is frequent communication with Wellington and Nelson by steamers averaging 500 tons, and vessels of large size can lie at the wharf at low-water. The direct exportation of frozen meat from Picton commenced in 1892, when 16,433 carcases were shipped. The Christchurch Meat Company exported from Picton for the year ended 31st March, 1904, mutton, 42,081 carcases, and lambs, 66,216 carcases. Picton possesses a malting establishment also, producing for export, as the excellent quality of the barley grown on the Wairau Plain insures a ready market. A small quantity of oysters, mostly procured in Queen Charlotte Sound, is annually exported from Picton; with culture the supply might be almost indefinitely increased, many of the sheltered bays in both sounds being well adapted for the purpose. What is now being done along the Marlborough coast is a mere trifle compared with what might be accomplished if capital and knowledge were brought to bear on the fishing industry. Around the whole coast, from the mouth of the Conway to near the French Pass, the sea abounds in fish. Within the Sounds and amongst the islands of Cook Strait, hapuku, snapper, moki, barracouta, raturi, kahawai, and rock-cod are extremely plentiful. Immense shoals of the southern herring (Clupea sagax) and of anchovies (Engranlis encrasicholus) frequent the inlets at certain seasons of the year, and quantities of fresh fish are exported thence to various places within the colony. As steamers arrive at and leave Picton almost daily, shipments can be made without delay to all parts. Picton possesses a good gravitation water-supply. Its population is about 900 persons.

Havelock, situate at the head of Pelorus Sound, is, as has been already stated, the present headquarters of the timber trade, Messrs. Brownlee and Co.'s steam sawmill, at the mouth of the Pelorus River, being only a mile or so from the town. Between Picton and Havelock there is a mail-service twice a week, vi Cullensville, on the Mahakipawa Goldfields. The population of Havelock is about 300 persons.

The Town of Kaikoura, the greater part of which is built on a raised shingle-beach, is situate at Kaikoura Peninsula, near the southern boundary of the district. The town, with the adjoining settlement of small farms, forms one of the most picturesque spots in New Zealand, lying as it does under the Seaward Kaikouras, or Looker-on Mountains. At the back of the town the peninsula, which is composed of Cretaceo-Tertiary limestone, rises abruptly for about 100 ft., and affords splendid sites for dwelling-houses. Kaikoura is connected with Blenheim by a bi-weekly coach service, the distance being about ninety-five miles. There is also direct steamer communication with Wellington and Lyttelton. The population of the town is about 500.

Roads and Railways.

The only railway is that between Picton and Seddon, a distance of thirty-three miles and a half. Three trains run daily between Picton and Blenheim. about eighteen miles, and trains twice daily on three days in the week and once daily on the other three days between Blenheim and Seddon. A substantial railway and traffic bridge over the Awatere River, costing £22,500, is a very great boon to the district.

The Main North Road to Nelson, distant seventy-eight miles, is a good metalled road nearly the whole way. It runs up the Wairau Valley from Blenheim for about six miles, crosses the Wairau River into the Kaituna Valley, which it follows as far as Havelock—about twenty-eight miles. It then runs up the Pelorus and Rai Valleys, and ascends by easy gradients to the Brown Saddle, where it crosses the boundary into Nelson. An excellent coach service—probably the best in the colony —has been established for some years, the coach running to and from Nelson on alternate days, covering the distance in eleven hours, and another coach service twice a week has been established between Blenheim and Havelock.

The Main South Road, running over the Taylor Pass into the Awatere Valley, and through the Starborough, Flaxbourne, Kekerangu, and other properties, connects Blenheim with Kaikoura and the south, and is a good road during dry weather, although it might be much improved in places. Since the acquisition of the Starborough Estate by the Government the bulk of the traffic now goes vi the Redwood Pass, as it is a more direct route to the town of Seddon. The portion between the Clarence River—over which a fine bridge was built some years ago—and the Hapuku River runs along the coast under steep and picturesque hills covered with forest. A road to the south of Kaikoura, between the Kahautara and Conway Rivers, is now completed and forms part of the main Cheviot-Kaikoura Road, and, besides its great usefulness in opening up the country through which it passes, will also become a favourite route for tourists, as in many places it passes through most picturesque scenery.

A good road has been formed up the Wairau Valley, passing through the Bank-house, Erina, Lansdowne, Hillersden, and Birch-hill properties, and connecting with Tophouse, just outside the boundary, distant fifty-six miles from Blenheim. At Tophouse there are an hotel and a telegraph-station, and thence a good road leads to Belgrove, on the Nelson Railway-line.

A coach runs twice a week between Blenheim and Wairau Valley—twenty-five miles—where there are an hotel, a post and telegraph office, and one or two stores.

There is also a good cart-road running up the Awatere River—which it crosses and recrosses several times—as far as Molesworth Station, about seventy miles from Blenheim. Between these points there is a weekly coach and mail service.

There are other minor roads and bridle-tracks throughout the district too numerous to specify.

Crown Lands.

The area of Crown lands at present available for settlement is about 160,000 acres, but of this area 120,000 acres are of very poor quality, being chiefly the summits of high, rugged country. The balance of available area lies principally in the Pelorus, Rai, and Wakamarina Valleys, and in the Sounds, and will doubtless be readily taken up when thrown open for selection.

Chapter 71. THE NELSON LAND DISTRICT.

W. G. MURRAY, Chief Surveyor.

General Physical Features.

The Nelson Land District comprises the north and north-western portion of the Middle Island, the greater part being high and mountainous, and on the western and inland ranges covered with dense forest to the bush-limit, at from 4,000 ft. to 4,500ft. Cape Farewell, the northernmost point, is situated at the western entrance of Cook Strait, on the south side of which lie Golden or Massacre Bay, and Tasman Bay, more commonly called Blind Bay. The former derives its name from the massacre of a boat's crew belonging to Tasman, who visited it on the occasion of his discovery of New Zealand in 1642. At the head of the latter, which has a depth of fifty-four miles from its entrance, stands the town of Nelson. From Separation Point, on the western side of Blind Bay, a range of mountains from 3,000 ft. to 4,000 ft. in height extends southward to Mount Murchison. It consists of a granitic formation, with slate, limestone, and sandstone belts. From Pelorus Sound, on the east, commences another range—a portion of which is serpentine, forming a mineral belt immediately south of Nelson City. It reaches an elevation of 6,000ft., and runs in a south-westerly direction to the St. Arnaud Range, terminating in the Spencer Mountains, a large central mass attaining a height of 8,000 ft. above the sea-level. To the westward of the Spencer Ranges and those on the further side of Blind Bay are the Brunner, Lyell, Marine, and Tasman Mountains, from 5,000 ft. to 6,500 ft. in height. Still further westward along the coast are the Paparoa, Buckland Peaks, and Papahaua Mountains, about 4,500 ft. at their highest point, and the Whakamarama Range, extending from Rocks Point to Cape Farewell. There are also a number of isolated mountain-masses here and there through the district.

The inland Spencer Mountains are the source of the principal rivers of the district south of the Buller River, and are thus described by the late Sir Julius von Haast: “On the southern slopes of this wild alpine stack we find the principal sources of the Grey, or Pohaturoa; on its north-east side the sources of the Wairau; on its eastern side those of the Acheron and Clarence; and in the deep recesses of these snow-clad giants those of the Waiau-ua, or Dillon: so we may say that, with the exception of the Takaka and Aorare, which fall into Massacre Bay, the Wangapeka and Motaeka, which run into Blind Bay, the Karamea and smaller streams, which., reach the sea on the West Coast to the north of the Buller River, all the rivers of any size in the northern part of this island take their rise in this magnificent chain.”

Rivers.

The Buller River (Kawatiri) has its source at a point about sixty miles south-west from Nelson, where it flows out of the beautiful alpine lake Rotoiti, lying 1,800 ft. above sea-level at the foot of the lofty St. Arnaud Range' This river breaks through the massive mountain chains of the interior in a transverse or easterly direction, forming, where it receives no tributaries, a succession of magnificent rocky gorges, and, after a course of about one hundred miles, finally discharges its waters into the ocean on the West Coast. The Gowan River, a tributary, has its source in another exquisite lake, Rotoroa, 1,623 ft. above sea-level. Other tributaries of the Buller are: the Matakitaki, Maruia, Owen, Matiri, and Inangahua, all of which take their rise in the snowy ranges.

Lakes.

The lakes of the district are alpine in character, surrounded by grand mountain and bush scenery. The principal are: Rotoiti, lying east, and Rotoroa south-east, of Mount Murchison; Matiri, to the west of Owen Range, 980 ft. above the sea.

Plains.

The Waimea Plains, near Nelson, with the Lower Motueka, Riwaka, and Takaka Valley lands, formed part of the original settlement of the New Zealand Company, and are occupied mostly by small settlers. Inland are the Tiraumea Plains, 1,100 ft. above sea-level, and the Maruia, 1,300 ft. These are, together, about 30,000 acres in extent. They are surrounded by high mountains heavily timbered, and the land is of only second-rate quality. On the West Coast the level lands are Totara Flat and Ikamatua Plains, Mawhera-iti, and Inangahua Valleys, lying on the eastern flanks of the Paparoa coastal range. There are also open pakihi at Addison's Flat, on the south side of the Buller, and low swampy lands on the north side; northward is the heavily timbered country of the special settlement at the mouth of the Karamea.

Forest.

The area of the District is estimated at 4,686,000 acres, of which the open land under 2,000ft. in altitude is, approximately, 915,000 acres; the area of forest-land under 2,000 ft., about 1,382,000 acres; and the open land above that altitude, about 581,000 acres, inclusive of bare mountain summits. The wooded country is estimated at 3,200,000 acres; of this area probably about 900,000 acres is scrub and stunted bush; and of the remainder, not 700,000 acres at the outside would be available for clearing. The timber on the western side consists of red and white pine, matai (or black-pine), totara, kawaka (or cedar), rata, and occasional silver-pine, besides black and red birch (Fagus fusca). These varieties are also found, but in smaller areas, on the eastern side, birch preponderating. A large amount of timber is used in the mining industry for props and planking, and throughout the districts generally for shingles, fencing, firewood, sleepers, &c.

Agricultural.

On the Waimea Plains is grown excellent barley, a small quantity of which is exported. Oats and chaff are sent in large amounts to the West Coast and elsewhere. Hops also form one of the chief exports. Wheat, maize, rye, and root-crops of most varieties are grown, and fruit is plentiful. The weekly wage of a farm-labourer is 25s. with board; without board he would receive 7s. a day. Ploughmen can get 25s. per week with board; without, 7s. a day.

Pastoral.

The total area of pastoral lands held under the Crown by 70 tenants on the 31st March, 1904, amounted to 310,520 acres. As the agricultural land is limited, settlers are turning their attention to the timbered mountain-slopes for grazing purposes. These, when the timber is felled and burnt, and the ground sown with suitable grass, will, after three to four years, carry about two sheep to an acre on fair soil, and more on the limestone country. The cost of felling and burning green timber is from 15s. to 20s. per acre; cost of mixed grass-seeds and sowing, about 15s. per acre; and a good paling-fence on ordinary bush lands with double No. 8 wires at top and bottom, with in. palings and 7 in. posts sunk 2 ft. in the ground, can be erected at about 12s. perhain.

Mining.

The western side of the Nelson District was a terra incognita till about the year 1863, when gold was first discovered in large quantities. Miners flocked in at first from the other goldfields in New Zealand, then from Australia, California, and other parts of the world, until in 1865 the whole coast-line was peopled from Broken River in the north to Jackson's Bay in the south. Mining, at first altogether alluvial, developed into quartz-reefing, and hydraulic-sluicing of large areas. The agricultural lands about the Grey and Inangahua were taken up and cultivated; and, as mining became a more settled industry, the miners occupied and tilled the non-auriferous alluvial flats in the many valleys : hence at the present time a number of homesteads are scattered throughout the district.

Reefton and its neighbourhood forms one of the chief quartz-mining districts in New Zealand; and the West Coast, including Westland, has produced about 45 per cent. of the total gold raised in the colony. The oldest alluvial field is at Collingwood. Among other minerals found in the district are: silver, copper. chrome, antimony, manganese, and haematite. Extensive deposits of coal are found on the West Coast, within the areas of the Grey and Buller Coalfields Reserves. Coal is also found in Collingwood, in Blind Bay, and in West Wanganui Inlet; and there are numerous smaller areas of coal-bearing strata here and there throughout the district. The output from the mines at work within the district during the year ending 31st December, 1903, was 581,489 tons. Copper-ore is found in a serpentine rock-formation near Nelson, but the companies which have worked the ore have not hitherto been successful—the last one, “ The Champion,” failing from want of sufficient capital. Deposits of chrome-ore are also found here. Silver-ore has been worked in the Collingwood District; and at Parapara, in Blind Bay, there are widespread deposits of haematite iron-ore, combined with limestone and coal, waiting only for capital to develop them. It will be readily gathered from the above brief description that mining is the chief industry of the Nelson District. A great many river and beach dredging claims have been taken up, and in many instances a large amount has been expended in the purchase and erection of dredges, and, although this industry has not proved quite so successful as anticipated, yet a large number of dredges are working with fair results.

Sawmilling, &c.

The timber industry in this district has now become an important trade. There are now over forty sawmills working, and during the past year about 12,000,000 ft. of various kinds of wood, principally red and black pine, have been cut in this district for export, and silver-pine has been largely in demand for railway-sleepers for home consumption.

A small industry in phormium fibre is also carried on.

Towns.

The chief town is Nelson, situated at the head of Blind Bay, in 41° 16 S., and surrounded on all sides, except the north, by mountains reaching an elevation of 3,500ft. With a mean temperature of 54.8° Fahr, it possesses a climate almost unequalled for its beneficial effects on invalids suffering from pulmonary diseases. There are many picturesque spots in the suburbs, and the city itself, with its cleanly-looking buildings and well-kept gardens, is one of the most charming spots in New Zealand. There is an old-established Boys' College, a Girls' College, and a School of Music, besides Government and other schools. The Anglican Pro-Cathedral, built on the summit of a central hill, memorable as being the site of fortifications erected in the early days of the settlement for defence against an expected attack of the Natives, is a striking feature. The Roman Catholic Church, Convent, and school-buildings cover a large extent of ground. There is also at Stoke, a small village three miles from Nelson, a central Catholic Orphanage, surrounded by grounds of considerable area. There is a good supply of excellent water from a reservoir in the hills at the back of the town, and the streets are well lighted with gas. The several Government departments are housed in one roomy building, containing a large hall used for Supreme Court sittings and other public purposes. The principal industries are represented by iron foundries, fruit preserving and canning works, breweries, biscuit-factory, coachbuilding, sawmills, and sash and door factories, boot factories, and many other small works. Nelson has a small natural harbour, formed by a boulder-bank running for eight miles parallel to the shore, deep enough at high tide to admit vessels of 1,000 tons burden. It is a port of call for the Union Steamship Company's coastal steamers, and has a small local fleet plying between the West Coast, Blind Bay, Picton, and Wellington. The town is reached from the eastward by a good main road from Marlborough. A railway-line has been constructed up country to the southward for thirty-one miles to Motupiko, passing through the farming villages of Stoke, Richmond (borough), Brightwater, Wakefield, Foxhill, and Belgrove, and is being extended for a further distance of ten miles, crossing the Motueka River by means of a combined railway and traffic bridge, and proceeding up the Tadmor Valley as far as Tadmor Settlement. The section will probably be open for traffic within the year. Leaving for the West Coast by a good main road, the traveller starts from the Motupiko Station on one of Cobb and Co.'s coaches, and proceeding up the Valleys of the Motupiko and Clarke, crosses the Hope Saddle and thence down the Hope Valley to its junction with the Buller, about sixty-seven miles from town. He then enjoys a succession of views of mountain-gorge scenery, and, after traversing a gorge of seventeen miles in length, arrives at the Lyell, 107 miles from his starting-point. This is an alpine township, in a small quartz-mining neighbourhood. Here is a fine lattice-girder bridge, spanning a rocky gorge of the Buller, and springing boldly from a bluff on the northern side. It is about 347 ft. long, two of the spans being 108 ft. and 168 ft. respectively. The roadway is 100 ft. above the river-bed. At 116 miles the junction of the Inangahua with the Buller is reached, the main road continuing to Reefton, with a branch road twenty-eight miles to Westport, which for twelve miles passes through some of the grandest river-gorge scenery in New Zealand.

Westport, the town next in importance to Nelson, is situated at the mouth of the Buller River. The harbour is sheltered from southerly gales by Cape Foulwind and its outlying rocks, and is accessible in nearly all weathers. A large sum has been spent on a system of harbour-works, designed by the late Sir John Coode. Westport is the place of shipment for the coal-mines lying northward as far as the Mokihinui River. The character of this coal for steam purposes stands unrivalled. The long line of coal-staiths and wharves on the northern bank of the river, with a fleet of steam-colliers loading alongside, does not fail at once to impress a visitor with a sense of the importance of the trade. Though much has already been done, yet the industry, from the extent of the coal-bearing strata, is capable of much larger expansion when the necessary capital can be found. The Westport-Mokihinui Mine Railway connects with the mines and conveys the coal to the port. At the foot of the Mount Rochfort plateau, nine miles from Westport, is Wai-mangaroa, and on the plateau itself is Denniston—both coal-mining villages. The latter, built at an elevation of 1,960 ft., is said to be the highest township in New Zealand. On a clear day it is well worth a visit, for the sake of enjoying the magnificent panoramic view of the southern Alps, which reach their highest point in Mount Cook, 12,349 ft. high, about 100 miles south. South of Westport are the alluvial gold-mining centres of Addison's Flat, Croninville, Nine-mile Beach, and Charleston.

Motueka is a thriving town situate near the mouth of the Motueka River. It is the centre of a considerable agricultural and fruit-growing district. It has two bacon-factories, fruit pulping and canning works, and dairy factory.

From the Inangahua Junction, the main road continues southward through the Inangahua Valley, passing through cultivated lands, which are being gradually won from the heavy bush, and at a distance of 136 miles from Nelson reaches the township of Reefton. Here, as at Westport, are good hotels, and, as in every one of the larger coast towns, a hospital receiving a Government grant-in-aid. This town was the first in New Zealand to be lighted by electricity. Through the Midland Railway extension of the Grey-Brunner line, Reefton is now connected by rail with Grey-mouth, from whence it is for the most part supplied. The continuation of the line down the Inangahua Valley is being carried on at present. About two miles inland from Reefton is Black's Point mining township, with several batteries at work in and about the place, a visit to which is generally paid by tourists wishing to see something of the gold-mining industry. Other small mining townships are: Boatman's, Capleston, and Antonio's.

Leaving Reefton by rail, and passing into the Grey Valley through a short tunnel, and by a bridge over the Grey River, Totara Flat is reached, nineteen miles distant. This brings us into the Westland District, to the description of which reference should be made for the journey to Greymouth.

Roads, Tracks, &c.

Situate on the coast, fifty miles north of Westport, is the Karamea Special Settlement, principally settled from the Nelson and Motueka Valley districts. This part of the district contains some excellent but heavily timbered land, and is reached from Westport by a road, connecting with the Westport—Mokihinui Railway at the Mokihinui River. There is a bridle-track, also, connecting with Collingwood and Golden Bay. This track passes along the coast northwards, thence up the Heaphy Valley to the Golden Downs, and down the Aorere Valley to Golden Bay. Here again is another coal-basin, which, though of inferior value to the older deposits on the western side, is likely to become of importance, having at the present time one mine in full work. Another coal-basin exists at West Wanganui and Pakawau.

In the Aorere Valley, of which Collingwood is the port, alluvial mining is still found to be payable, and the country contains some valuable timber in the upper part not yet utilised. Nineteen miles south, in Blind Bay, lies the small port of Waitapu, from which a considerable amount of sawn timber is exported, drawn from the Takaka Valley, and brought down by a steam tramway from the upper mills. From the head of this valley the main road is carried over a pass in the Pikikirunga Range, 3,476 ft. high, through the villages of East and West Takaka, Riwaka, Motueka, and Moutere to the town of Richmond, eight miles from Nelson. Inland are also the villages of Ngatimoti, Dovedale, Tadmor, and Sherry, each the centre of a number of small farms, and all connected by fairly-good dray-roads.

An inland road, partly bridle-track and partly dray-road, has been made from Nelson to Canterbury, by way of Tophouse, Wairau Gorge, Tarndale, Clarence Valley, Jollie's Pass, and the Hanmer Plains. Here there are hot mineral springs, much visited by persons suffering from rheumatism and skin-diseases.

Crown Lands.

About 3,000,000 acres of Crown lands still remain unoccupied in the northern part of the Nelson District; they consist principally of high bush country, with occasional patches of good valley lands, the greater part being classed as second-class land. The area open for selection to date comprises 28,841 acres of surveyed lands, and 242,575 acres unsurveyed lands, of which the location, nature of soil, &c., have been briefly described in the foregoing pages.

Chapter 72. THE WESTLAND LAND DISTRICT.

G. J. ROBERTS, Chief Surveyor.

The Westland District occupies the central portion of the western watershed of the Middle Island, joining Canterbury on the east; its north and south boundaries with Nelson and Otago being the Pororari, Otututu, Grey, and Awarua Rivers. The mean length is 240 miles, and its average width twenty-five miles. The area is 6,086 square miles, composed, for the most part, of the great central snow clad mountain chain and its out-running ranges, intersected by narrow bush-clad valleys, and subsiding westward into undulating plateaux, river straths, and shelving coasts.

Physical Features—Mountains.

The great dividing range, which constitutes the eastern boundary from the head of the Grey River to Mount Aspiring, presents a magnificent spectacle of snow and ice clad summits, representing every aspect of mountain grandeur—masses of rock protruding from ice and snow; precipices of enormous height, with cascades; drifted expanses of snow-fields, feeding glaciers; canons and ravined foothills covered to the top with forest.

Rivers.

A few of these lead from the foothills, and are of small volume; the others are snow-fed streams descending from the central range, at first in narrow gorges amongst the mountains, but spreading widely on reaching the sea-board country. They are shallow, shingly streams in winter, but swift and deep in summer. In the northern district all the larger rivers are bridged : and, southward, ferries are placed on all the main streams, which, from the melting of the snow, are practically unfordable from September to January. They will all, more or less, be available for electric-power purposes.

Lakes.

The principal lakes are Lakes Christabel, Hochstetter, Ahaura, Haupiri, Brunner, Poerua, Kanieri, Mahinapua, Ianthe, Rotokino, Whahapo, Mapourika, Paringa, Moeraki, and Ellery, with Saltwater and Okarito Lagoons. These and a considerable number of smaller ones are dotted over the district, all varying in character—mountain tarns; coastal tidal lagoons; shallow reedy sheets; deep mountain-girt waters, all more or less forest-locked, and presenting every form of lacustrine beauty. In conjunction with their effluents they form valuable waterways for light transport to adjacent districts.

Climate.

The climate is equable and temperate, remarkably free from storms and fogs, and immediately after bad weather the clouds roll inland, and there is a prevailing clearness of sky. The rain-bearing winds are mostly from the north-west and north-east. The southerly winter gales usually coat the ranges with snow, which, however, rarely falls below 2,000 ft. The rainfall averages 109.89 in. per annum.

Soils.

The high pastoral uplands have a coating of rich mould, and this continues fairly good down to the heavy timber lands. The alpine forest is readily cleared, and imported grasses grow luxuriantly, cocksfoot being the best, as it withstands fire and frosts. The lower flanks of the mountains hold a thinner soil, which at present hardly pays the heavy labour of felling the bush, while the lower heights are somewhat abrupt and unfitted for cultivation. A margin, varying in width, of fertile slopes and fans fringes the basis of the hills, and having a natural drainage constitutes an area of excellent agricultural land.

The upland soils of the coastal undulations and terraces are light loams of moderate fertility, which rest upon transported gravels, the drifted accumulations of eroded hills. On these plateaux are numerous “pakihi,” or natural clearings, which are mostly extensive tracts of swampy lands, with a peaty soil, resting on thin layers of impervious clay and non-porous gravels, or, in a few cases, on impacted glacial moraines; these formations all overlying loose drifts. The reclamation of these areas is only a matter of time, as the bulk of them are quite drainable.

Stretches of good alluvium border the rivers, streams, and sea-coast, and form the favourite location to settlers.

Pastoral Lands.

The total area of pastoral lands amounts to 2,002,577 acres, 103,801 of which constitute high mountain grass districts, the balance (1,898,776 acres) being the ordinary bush-clad country, much of which is quite inaccessible to stock. All over the coastal lands, along the slopes of the lower hills, and in the bottoms of the valleys, large herds of cattle are bred and fattened on the dense undergrowth of the forest. The tussock herbage of the high lands is being gradually used by sheep-farmers, and in the near future these natural pastures will support large flocks.

Agricultural Lands.

The agricultural lands comprise some 219,400 acres of forest and 11,500 acres of open surface, such as swamps, grass-grown river-beds, and fringes, &c. The bulk of these lands, when cleared of bush, grow root-crops, especially turnips, which are much used for fattening purposes. The even and moist temperature encourages the almost uninterrupted growth of grass and clover, which are very luxuriant, and favour stock-raising. Oats are also grown abundantly for local consumption, and for the most part are cut into chaff. Year by year the imports of potatoes, fruits, butter, and fat stock are decreasing, owing to increased local production.

Forests.

Generally speaking the whole of the district is covered with dense forest, from the sea-beach to the grass-grown tops of the high ranges. The varieties of trees differ considerably according to soil and altitude. Kamahi and rata are the chief timbers, very useful for firewood, and, spread over the whole country, constitute an almost inexhaustible supply. Rimu is the chief milling timber, and this also is widely distributed from the sea-board to the interior uplands. Valuable stretches of white-pine belt the low-lying depression of the coastal lands, and the same may be remarked concerning the imperishable silver-pine. Clumps of black-pine of good quality are met with, also rarer patches of marketable totara, while serviceable cedars are scattered along the flanks of the inland ranges and all over the lower hills and plateaux. The approximate area of forest equals 2,183,358 acres, of which a portion carries timber fit for the sawmill; the remainder is chiefly firewood and mining timbers and dwarfed alpine bush.

Sawmilling.

The sawmilling industry has progressed considerably during the year, and the output has been the largest on record. Several new mills have been erected, and extensive sawmill areas acquired all over the northern district. The total output from forty-five mills on endowment reserves, Crown and private lands amounted to 26,000,000 ft.; 857,777 silver-pine sleepers were delivered, besides a considerable quantity of props and paving-blocks for mining purposes. The extension of the railway to Ross will result in all the milling forest at hand being worked. There are experts willing to establish mills, provided milling areas of a size commensurate with the great amount of capital involved, are granted.

Flax-milling.

It may be stated that every available strip of flax in this district has been taken up. Seven flax-mills are now in full working-order, and others are in course of erection. These are scattered all over the coast. The output of fibre has not been large as yet, as most of the mills have only recently commenced operations.

Fully a thousand hands are employed in the sawmilling and flax-milling industries.

Means of Communication.

The district is fairly well provided with means of communication. The railway now extends from Hokitika, vi Greymonth, to Reefton, branching at Stillwater to Otira, near Arthur's Pass. An extension to Ross of the Grey-mouth-Hokitika line is now in course of construction. Coaches twice a week connect with Canterbury, vi Arthur's Pass, and ply daily between Ross, Hokitika, Kumara, Greymouth, and the neighbouring towns; while once a week a mail is despatched by coach to Okarito, and thence conveyed on horseback southward to Gillespie's Beach, and once a fortnight to Jackson's Bay. A subsidised steamer runs between Hokitika and the southern ports as far as Jackson's Bay, plying every two months, thus enabling settlers to obtain supplies and to ship their cattle and produce to market. The Government steamer also calls at Big, Jackson's, and Bruce Bays on her quarterly trips from Dunedin. Steamers also trade regularly between Hokitika and Greymouth and other parts of the colony. The Main South Road, which for many miles skirts the foot of the Main Range, has been so greatly improved of late years that the traveller can now ride comfortably and safely, vi Haast Pass, right through into Otago. Numerous bridle-tracks branch from the trunk line to various points, while the large open river-beds likewise give access to the country on either hand. From Jackson's Bay horse tracks have been made, vi Cascade River and Barn Bay, to open up the southernmost country. Sundry dips and cols, varying in height from 1,800 ft. to over 7,000 ft., leading down the central range, have been explored and mapped, and during the summer months are crossed from time to time by experienced mountaineers. Of these depressions the only sub-alpine saddle is Haast Pass, all the others being liable to blocks by winter snows. A coach-road over Arthur's Pass and a horse-track through Haast Pass have been made. Another bridle-road is also in course of construction across Whitcombe's Pass, but between these points no trans-insular road exists. Tracks have also been constructed giving easy access to the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, and in the future, as population increases, doubtless tourist and stock tracks will be constructed along many of the intervening routes. From Okarito northward the district is in telegraphic communication with the rest of the colony.

Towns.

Greymouth.—This, the largest town in Westland, containing a population of 4,400, has progressed most remarkably during the last few years. It is situated on the south bank of the Grey River, close to its mouth, and is the main shipping port for northern Westland. Four railway-lines radiate from Greymouth to the State coal-mine, Reefton, Otira, and Hokitika. Extensions of the three last-mentioned lines are in course of construction. The town has a Telephone Exchange, good Public Library, first-class drainage, an abundant water-supply, and is well paved and lighted, the water and gas works belonging to the Corporation. One of the Government railway workshops is located here, and amongst other local industries are a foundry, breweries, sawmills, sash and door factories, furniture manufactories, meat-preserving works, lime and cement works, coachbuilding establishments, &c.

Hokitika.—This town is situated at the north mouth of the Hokitika River, bordering the sea-beach. It contains a population of about 2,000, and is mainly dependent on the adjacent saw and flax mills, farming settlements, and goldmines. A considerable trade is also done by sea with the miners and settlers in South Westland, for which district it is the shipping port. The town enjoys grand views of Mount Cook and other peaks; and from the terrace on the town hill the panorama of snow-capped mountains is one of the finest in the world. The town possesses a good library, reading-room, and museum; it is lit with gas, and has a telephone exchange. It is well laid out, the main streets being 99 ft. wide and very clean. There is a central park, and as the suburban dwellings are surrounded by gardens the town has a very pleasing aspect. A fine clock-tower, with chimes, has been erected in memory of the Westland troopers who fell in the Boer war. The local industries comprise saw and flax mills, sash and door and furniture factories, foundry and engineering shops, coachbuilding, fish cannery, breweries, and coffee and spice works. A very handsome building encloses the High and State Schools.

Brunner.—Picturesquely situated on the banks of the Grey River, seven miles above Greymouth, includes the villages of Dobson, Taylorville, and Wallsend, and contains about 1,500 people. This town is wholly dependent on the adjacent Brunner and Tyneside coal-mines and their allied industries of coke-burning, brick and tile making. The output of these mines and manufactories is sent by rail to Greymouth, where the bulk of it is shipped. The mineral traffic causes this short branch to be the best-paying railway-line in the colony. Two fine suspension bridges across the Grey River link the townships together, one being a railway and the other a foot bridge.

Kumara.—This compact little town, with its suburbs of Dillmanstown and Larrikins, of 1,120 inhabitants is placed on the skirts of the largest alluvial goldfield in New Zealand. Main roads to Hokitika, Greymouth, and Christchurch radiate from this place, and a fine turnpike of four miles connects it with the railway. The town is finely situated on a high tableland, and enjoys interesting views of mountains and bush-clad plateaux, river, valley and ocean. Hydraulic gold-mining is carried on here on an extensive scale, the greater portion of the water-supply coming many miles from the inland mountains. Large sludge-channels have been made to carry away the tailings. This industry gives employment to a large number of men, and also provides lucrative work for sawmillers and mechanical engineers. It has finely equipped and well-built schools and a hospital.

Ross.—Population, 650. A very picturesque township, situated at the foot of the northern slopes of Mount Greenland, 150 ft. above and one mile distant from the sea. It occupies a very sunny sheltered position, and is famed for fruit and flowers. It is essentially a gold-mining centre, and extensive sluicing is carried on. Right under the town area are various layers of auriferous drifts, partly worked, but at present water-logged. In the near future it is expected that these deep levels will be worked again and the town renew its old prosperity. The completion of the railway from Hokitika will greatly benefit Ross and the surrounding district.

Cobden.—Population, 420. This town is at the northern mouth of the Grey River, and immediately opposite the Borough of Greymouth, to which it is linked by a fine bridge. It is principally occupied by the residences of Grey-mouth merchants and tradesmen.

Blackball.—Population about 800. A prosperous and rising township, mainly dependent on the splendid coal-mines in its vicinity. A fine railway and traffic bridge is in course of construction over the Grey River, and a branch about two and a half miles long will connect the town with the main line.

In addition to the towns already enumerated, there are many small mining and sawmilling centres, such as Ahaura, Hatter's Terrace, No Town, Stillwater, Kokiri, Nelson Creek, Moana, Nobles, Orwell Creek, Twelve-mile, Stafford, Kanieri, Woodstock, Rimu, Blue Spur, Okarito, Gillespie's, &c. The Town of Runanga has been established in connection with the State coal-mines near Greymouth, which are connected by rail with that town.

Harbours and Ports.

The harbours and ports of Westland are the following:—

Greymouth, twenty-four miles north-east of Hokitika: Extensive harbour-works have been carried out. A breakwater or sea-wall extends some 3,542 ft. seaward from the mouth of the river on the south side, and on the north side 1,125 ft., with internal half-tide training walls, the result being an average depth of water on the bar of 21 ft. at high water, and of from 8 ft. to 16 ft. at low water. Vessels of 1,500 tons can now come alongside the wharf. There is berthage accommodation of 2,030 ft., with a minimum depth of 12 ft. to 16 ft. at low water. The principal exports are gold, coal, coke, and timber. The number of vessels that entered the port during the year 1903 was : 581 steamers, tonnage, 210,585; 42 sailing vessels, tonnage, 5,770: being a total tonnage of 216,355 for the year. The train runs down the wharf, and the coal-trucks, specially made for the purpose, are lifted and emptied into the vessel's hold by means of powerful hydraulic and steam cranes, of which there are six, with capacities of from 1 tons to 12 tons, so that every encouragement is given to quick despatch. 170.317 tons of coal, 2,030 tons of coke, 1,648 tons of bricks, and 22,069,997 superficial feet of sawn timber, and 116.916 sleepers were exported, and 43,696 tons of general cargo were imported during the year.

Hokitika : Two training walls have been constructed, the one on the north side being about 2,000 ft. long, while that on the south is 677 ft. The bar is of shifting sand, and the depth at high water varies from 9 ft. to 15 ft., while inside the depth is from 6 ft. to 22 ft. for three-quarters of a mile from the entrance. For ten months out of the twelve the port is usually safe for vessels drawing 8 ft. 10 ft. of water. The berthage space amounts to 1,000 ft., with from 18 ft. to 22 ft. of water. The principal exports are gold and timber.

Okarito, fifty-five miles south-west of Hokitika : A bar harbour, sometimes completely blocked by a high sandbank thrown up by heavy seas. When open, the entrance is good, with a maximum depth of 10 ft. There is a small jetty about half a mile from the entrance.

Bruce Bay, ninety-five miles south-west of Hokitika : An open roadstead, well sheltered from the south and south-westerly winds by Heretaniwha Point, which juts out fully a mile to the northward. Good anchorage in 18 ft. of water opposite the Green rock, which stands up out of the water. Good boat-landing with above-mentioned winds on a smooth sandy beach.

Paringa River, one hundred and four miles south-west of Hokitika: Open roadstead. Vessels coming in and out should give Harata Reef (off the north head) a wide berth. There is also a sunken reef, awash at low water, in the middle of the Bay, and a dangerous sunken rock just off the south head, two or three chains away, facing a small sandy bay and right abreast of the trig, station. Vessels lie inside and a little to the northward of this rock, about a quarter of a mile from shore, and are quite safe with southerly winds.

Haast River, one hundred and eighteen miles south-west of Hokitika: A constantly shifting bar at entrance, which is nearly opposite and a little to the southward of the Alhambra Rock. This rock stands well out of the water, and vessels entering can go on either side with safety. Average depth of water on bar from 6 ft. to 8 ft.

Okuru and Turnbull Rivers, one hundred and thirty-eight miles south-west of Hokitika: These rivers join just inside the entrance. Good straight channel: average depth, 8 ft. to 10 ft. The port is well sheltered by Open Bay Islands, which lie about three miles away, just opposite the entrance, bearing a trifle west of north. A dangerous reef lies about two miles and a half from the south-west point of the smaller island, and immediately to the north-west of a line drawn from the last-named point to the extreme end of Jackson's Head.

Jackson's Bay, one hundred and fifty-three miles south-west of Hokitika: Good shelter and anchorage open only to north-east, with 12 ft. of water within a few chains of shore. Jackson's Head runs out about one mile and a half in a north-easterly direction from the southern end of the Bay. This is the only ocean harbour on the coast of Westland, and could be converted into a first-class port at comparatively small cost. No doubt Jackson's Bay will eventually form a coal port, as indications of coal are found from the bay to Tauperikaka, a distance of thirty miles. Moreover, the recent discovery of a practicable pass through the Main Range, via the Waiatoto and Axius Rivers, will make it in the near future the natural outlet for the Lake Wanaka country.

Big, or Awarua Bay, two hundred miles south-west of Hokitika: At the extreme south-west corner of Westland. An open roadstead, sheltered from east and south-west winds: 24 ft. of water on south side anchorage and 30 ft. on north side, just opposite Crayfish Rock, in a spot sheltered from northerly winds.

Steamers have also in past years entered the Teremakau, Waitaha, Wataroa, Wanganui, Waiatoto, and Arawata Rivers, all of which have bar-entrances. The Cascade River is likewise navigable, though no steamer has as yet been in; and goods and passengers are also landed at the roadsteads of Saltwater, Gillespie's Beach, and Abbey Rocks.

Minerals and Mining.

The District of Westland contains the greatest area of alluvial auriferous ground on the West Coast.

A great mineral belt traverses the outer spurs and valleys of the main range right throughout the whole length of the district; outcrops of serpentine, containing copper in the north and centre and nickel in the far south, show all along the line, which is also indicated in all the deeply-eroded valleys by numerous hot springs.

Specimens of nearly all the known minerals have been discovered in various localities. The Paparoa Range, north of Greymouth, contains many varieties, and will eventually hold a large mining population.

Copper also occurs in the Taipo, Arahura, Toaroha, Whitcombe, Wanganui, and Jackson Valleys, the finest lodes discovered being on the western faces of the Matakitaki Range, near the Haast River, with good seams and beds of coal and limestone adjacent.

Petroleum has been found in the Arnold Valley, and borings are now being made to test and develop what is hoped may be a good oil-bearing basin.

All the Westland rivers carry down more or less gold, but the three great gold-yielding rivers are the Grey, Arahura, and Waiho, the bars and beaches of which appear to be replenished with fresh deposits of the metal after each flood. Every stream in the Grey Valley is auriferous, and the gold-bearing nature of the adjoining gravels is evidenced by the old and new workings which are scattered all over the watershed. Again, if one stands on the summit of Mount Turiwhate, the ancient beds of the Arahura can be easily traced northward to the Kumara and southward to the Rimu diggings. Similarly, the Waiho has in olden times flowed both northward down the present valley of the Okarito River and southward to the Omoeroa River, the lateral terraces in both directions being well defined and gold-bearing.

There are three main gold-bearing deposits in Westland. The first, which may be called riverine leads, run generally westward. These are ancient riverbeds, often lying at a considerable elevation, of which the bulk has been washed away, leaving detached portions, as Kumara and Rimu. The second are beach-leads, both those along the present coast-line and others running parallel there to at distances varying from one quarter to four miles inland, and at levels from a few feet below to a couple of hundred feet above sea-level. The third are extensive masses of gravel, &c., occurring in large isolated patches, as at Bell Hill, Big Dam Hill, Humphrey's Gully, and Bald Hill, north of the Haast. These drifts have all one noticeable peculiarity—namely, that they invariably coat the seaward faces of the hills, and neither gold nor drift is to be found on the inland slopes. Gold-bearing fans from Mount Greenland have been found at different levels on Ross Flat, having probably been deposited in deep water by successive land slides.

Hydraulic mining on a large scale is successfully carried on in various protions of the northern districts, and is rapidly being extended to many other localities. Kanieri Lake is being again utilised, and an abundant quantity of water is now available for the sluicers in the Kanieri Valley. The extension, now being surveyed, of the Humphrey's Gully Water-race to Rimu and Back Creek would develop a very large field. The tapping of the Arahura River will enable the miners at Blue Spur to obtain an unfailing supply of water and command a large area of auriferous country at present unworkable from want of water at a sufficient altitude. A large acreage of alluvial drift has been pegged out as dredging claims. Some companies are at work, with more or less profit. Experts are assured that a large extent of auriferous gravels exists all over the low-lying country which will yield remunerative returns by this new treatment. Undoubtedly great areas of swampy, undrainable, and hitherto unavailable lands will be thoroughly prospected, and it is confidently predicted that valuable finds will be made in such districts. Numerous and costly experiments have been made with dredges of different types in the endeavour to work economically the gold-bearing sands which lie along the sea-beaches for a distance of a hundred and forty miles; but very few have proved a success. A considerable number of miners (“black-sanders”) work on some of the beaches, and seem to make a fair living, many of them having been so employed in one neighbourhood for over twenty years.

Gold-bearing quartz has been found throughout the district, the most promising finds being at Paparoa, Mount Alexander, Taipo Range, Browning's Pass, and Cedar Creek. Silver ores, associated with gold, have also been found, notably at Rangitoto.

Coal-mining.

As noted before, great quantities of coal are obtained from the mines at Brunner, and also from the fine seams at Blackball, higher up the Grey Valley. It would appear that the greater portion of the seaward country hereabouts contains practically inexhaustible coal fields. Extensive seams are now being developed at the State coal-mine, in the Seven-mile Creek Basin, and further along the coast, and on the higher slopes of the Paparoa Range large outcrops are being prospected. This region contains the greater area of coal-bearing strata, but all the way down the coast to Jackson's Bay, wherever the coal-measures have been protected from the scour of the ice-streams of the great glacial period, isolated patches of coal exist; possibly borings would prove the lower coal-beds to be intact under the overlying drifts.

Chapter 73. THE CANTERBURY LAND DISTRICT.

THOMAS HUMPHRIES, Chief Surveyor.

Boundaries—Physical Features.

The Land District of Canterbury comprises the central portion of the Middle Island, and lies between the Conway River, Barefell Pass, and Mt. Franklin on the northward; the Spenser Mountains, Travers Peak, Mt. Barron, the Amuri, Hope, and Hurunui Passes, the summit of the Southern Alps, and the western watershed of the River Hopkins and Lake Ohau on the westward; the Rivers Ohau and Waitaki on the southward; and the South Pacific Ocean on the eastward. It lies between south latitudes 42° 5 and 44° 55, and east longitudes 169° 45 and 173° 30. The length of the district north-east and south-west is about 220 miles; the breadth W.N.W. and E.S.E., from the summit of the Alps to the sea, averages seventy miles. The sea-board has a length of about 300 miles, consisting generally of low-lying beaches, broken by the projection eastward of Banks Peninsula, which contains the only large natural harbours. That portion of the district which fronts the ocean between the Ashley and Opihi Rivers is flat land, about 2,500,000 acres in extent; north and south of those limits the plain is interspersed with undulating and hilly country. This great plain stretches westwards, rising and merging into downs and hills, which again extend westward and merge into the Southern Alps and the offshoots therefrom. Banks Peninsula, which has an area of about 250,000 acres, is wholly composed of ridges and hills, deeply intersected by basins and gullies, the result of volcanic action.

The Southern Alps, which form the backbone of the island, are a continuous chain of mountains, with a succession of magnificent peaks, attaining their culminating point in Mount Cook, or Aorangi, 12,349 ft. above sea-level; there are, besides, numerous peaks ranging in altitude between 7,000 ft. and 10,000 ft. Offshoots, extending to great distances eastward and south-eastward from the main range, attain elevations of 6,000 ft. to 9,000ft. On these mountain-ranges are numerous and extensive glaciers, from which emanates the river-system of the district, comprising the Waiau-ua, about 100 miles in length Hurunui, 85 miles; Waimakariri, 90 miles; Rakaia, 85 miles; Ashburton, 64 miles; Rangitata, 74 miles: the Waitaki and its main feeders, 140 miles. These rivers rush down from the mountain-gorges, through the intervening ranges and hills, and traverse the plains to the sea. The channels on the plains are shallow, and extend in some instances over a mile in width.

These rivers serve as outlets for a portion of the Lake system of the Middle Island, Lake Sumner being connected with the Hurunui, Lakes Coleridge and Heron with the Rakaia, and the Mackenzie Country lakes—Tekapo, Pukaki, and Ohau—with the Waitaki. Another important lake is that known as Lake Ellesmere, west of Banks Peninsula; it is separated from the ocean by a narrow shingle-spit only 5 chains across at one point, through which, at certain seasons, the flood waters force a channel to the sea. Lake Tennyson is situated on the eastern flank of the Spenser Mountains, 3,614 ft. above sea-level.

Climate.

The climate of Canterbury is well suited to Europeans. It resembles that of Great Britain, but on the plains is far more equable, the mean daily range of temperature being 17.10° Fahr. Observations taken at Lincoln (fourteen miles from Christchurch) for a period of twenty-one years, ending December, 1903, give the following results: Barometer, reduced to 32° Fahr. and sea-level, 29.968 in.; mean maximum daily temperature, 61.8°; mean minimum daily temperature, 43.1°; mean average temperature, 52.4°. The extremes of temperature were 98.4° and 19.9° Fahr. The rainfall for the same period averaged 24.674 in. per annum, the extremes being 35.287 in. in 1886 and 14.480 in. in 1897. The average annual number of days on which rain fell was 123, the extremes being 154 in 1902 and 98 in 1891. Snowfalls are very light on the plains, but in the high uplands the climate is much colder and more severe. The changes of weather and temperature are sudden, calms and gales, rain and sunshine, heat and cold alternating. The prevailing winds are north-east, south-west, and north-west—the last a hot wind. The climate, as a whole, is splendidly healthy, bracing, and most enjoyable.

Foundation and Settlement.

The district was occupied, in the first instance, by settlers sent out by the Canterbury Association, which was formed in 1848, and incorporated by Royal Charter in 1849, under the auspices of prominent men in England, including the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Lyttelton. The step was not taken until after due inquiry as to the most suitable part in which to establish a settlement. Captain (afterwards Sir George) Grey, at that time Governor, recommended the Wairarapa, but it was finally decided to take over from the New Zealand Company a tract of the Canterbury Plains, in the neighbourhood of Port Cooper. Captain Thomas, the agent of the association, who had advised the selection, superintended the surveys and the preparations for receiving intending settlers. The original intention of the founders was that the settlement should be independent and complete in itself, and should embrace only such persons as were members of the Church of England and were approved of by the association. This was frustrated by the influx of numbers of persons of all classes and beliefs. The first body of emigrants arrived at Port Cooper on the 16th December, 1850, and the settlement remained under the control of the association, as directed by a committee of management in England, and under the active personal supervision of Mr. John Robert Godley, until 1853, when the whole of Canterbury became a province of New Zealand by the provisions of “The Constitution Act, 1852.”

Thenceforward the control of the settlement was vested in the Superintendent and the Provincial Council. The first Superintendent was Mr. James Edward FitzGerald, who held office till 1857; he was followed in succession by Mr. William Sefton Moorhouse, 1857-1863; Mr. Samuel Bealey, 1863-1866; Mr. Moorhouse again till 1868; and Mr. William Rolleston till the abolition of the provinces in 1876, when the district came directly under the control of the General Government.

Internal Communication.

In no part of New Zealand are the means of communication better than in Canterbury. The natural facilities of the country have been abundantly supplemented by railways and roads. Lyttleton on, the chief port, is connected by rail with Christchurch, the heart and centre of the whole district. From Christchurch the main line extends northwards to Culverden, a distance of 69 miles, with a branch from Waipara to Scargill (about fifteen miles) open for traffic. It is proposed to extend this branch to Mackenzie, in the Cheviot District, and the work is now actively in progress. An extension of the main line from Culverden to Haniner Springs is also in contemplation. Southward the main trunk line runs through Waitaki (139 miles) to Dunedin. These lines tap and serve the whole coastal district and the lands adjoining on the western side. In addition, eight branch lines have been constructed westward, and two lines south-eastward; the former, in most instances, extending to the foot of the hills.

Combined with the railway system is a complete network of main, district, and subsidiary roads, extending into all parts of Canterbury. The total length of railways is 467 miles, and the roads probably exceed 10,000 miles in the aggregate. The completion of this splendid system is due, partly to the foresight of the original settlers, partly to the exertions of the Provincial Government, and partly to the railway and public-works policy of the late Sir Julius Vogel.

Geological Formation.

According to Sir James Hector, the main western ranges are composed of Upper Palæozoic rocks, having at their base extensive plains of Tertiary fluviatile formation, with occasional protruding ridges of Upper Mesozoic, forming low mountain-ranges subordinate to the main axis. Banks Peninsula consists of basic volcanic rocks.

Area, Nature, and Disposition of Lands.

The area of the Canterbury Land District is 9,604,045 acres, of which the estimated area of forest land is 516,030 acres. Forest lands are found in Banks Peninsula and in the Mount Peel and Waimate districts, where the timber consists chiefly of rimu, totara, and matai; at the sources of the Waiau-ua, Ashley, Waimakariri, Rakaia, and Hopkins Rivers, at Lakes Ohau and Sumner, and near Springfield and Methven, the timber in these localities being mostly native beech; and near Oxford, where the beech is interspersed with rimu, totara, matai, &c.

The lands of Canterbury may be classed approximately as follows: First class, 2,046,071 acres; second class, 5,207,173 acres; third class (barren lands and lands of small value), 2,350,801 acres: total, 9,604,045 acres.

   The disposition of lands was in 1904 as follows:—No. ofArea in
Holders.Acres.
  1. Crown lands disposed of for cash (including land granted....
        under Midland Railway Act, 572,000 acres, but deducting....
        lands repurchased for settlement—246,006 acres)..3,856,034
  2. Lands held on deferred payments1911,200
  3. Lands held on perpetual lease703,923
  4. Lands held as leaseholds in perpetuity1,461271,712
  5. Lands held in occupation with right of purchase374,932
  6. Lands held as village-homestead special settlements40812,447
  7. Lands held as small grazing-runs94200,747
  8. Lands held as grazing-farms (on Cheviot Estate)4845,978
  9. Pastoral licenses1513,528,893
10. Special-settlement associations414,651
11. Reserves and Crown lands held under temporary occupation....
        licenses (area, 96,636 acres, included in 12 and 16)684..
12. Area of land reserved and granted under various Acts ....
        (exclusive of Midland Railway land, included in 1)..970,797
13. Land purchased and disposed of under Land for Settlements....
       Acts (included in 4, 7, 10, and 11, 1,107 holders,....
        242,587 acres)....
14. Crown lands open for selection..3,970
15. Crown lands being prepared for selection....
16. Barren lands, and lands for future disposal 688,761
                        Total3,0139,604,045

In explanation, it may be noted that No. 1 comprises the freehold lands conveyed, and that tenants of Nos. 2, 3, and 5 have the right of acquiring the freehold, which is not the case with tenants of Nos. 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 13. Crown lands proper are: 14, open for selection; 15, being prepared for selection.

Soils.

The Southern Alps and mountains adjoining are, owing to their great altitude, subject to disintegration, and form for the most part rocky barren wastes.

The lower ranges and hills, the high tablelands, and the light stony portions of the plain form the pastoral areas.

In the northern and southern districts and in the great central plain are the agricultural areas. This latter class of land comprises rich alluvial tracts about Cheviot, Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Lincoln, Ellesmere, Longbeach, Temuka, and Waimate, and the splendid plain and down lands which extend from Cheviot to the Waitaki.

Banks Peninsula, where the soil is of a rich volcanic nature, though exceedingly hilly, has alluvial areas in the valleys and about the bays.

Pasturage and Crops.

Below a certain level, the mountainous and hilly regions, and the high upland country in the western and northern part, are covered by native grasses, with an admixture of English forage-plants where the character of the soil and other circumstances are favourable.

The pasturage, which is very suitable for sheep-farming, is taken full advantage of by the pastoral tenants of the Crown, and is used to some extent by freeholders. The light stony portions of the plain also contain native grass lands, well adapted to merino sheep.

The lower hills, downs, and better kinds of plain-country have been widely cultivated, and have proved well fitted for the production both of cereals and of grasses.

The chief crops grown in Canterbury District are wheat, oats, barley, turnips, rape, clover and grass seed; while amongst other crops produced are rye, peas, beans, mangolds, beet, carrots, and potatoes.

Of the cereals, wheat is the most largely grown, and was for many years a large item of export. In the season 1903-1904 the area under crop for threshing was 159,361 acres, being over two-thirds of the total wheat-area of the colony. The total yield was 5,459,218 bushels, being an average of 34.26 bushels per acre.

Oats also are very successfully grown, the figures for the same period being 164,332 acres, or about five-twelfths of the total area of this crop in the colony. The total yield was 6,378,362 bushels, being an average of 38.81 bushels per acre.

Barley of superior quality is also produced, the figures being 12,548 acres, equal to over one-third of the total area of barley-crop in the colony. The total yield was 481,966 bushels, being an average of 38.40 bushels per acre.

Grass-seeds are abundantly grown, cocksfoot mainly on the splendid Banks Peninsula country, and ryegrass throughout the land district.

Potatoes, which yield crops of excellent quality, were grown in 1903-1904 on 9,339 acres; turnips and rape were grown on 197,799 acres, and the combined area of other crops grown, including rye, peas, beans, mangolds, beet, carrots, and onions, was 15,874 acres. The area of wheat, oats, and barley for fodder was 56,360 acres. The area ploughed and laid down in English grasses was 1,542,128 acres. Surface-sown lands comprised 457,711 acres. The total area under crop was 615,613 acres, and the area broken up but not in crop, 14,653 acres. Plantations, exclusive of private gardens, occupied an area of 23,358 acres. The aggregate area of private and market gardens, orchards, and vineyards over quarter of an acre in extent was 8,248 acres.

Stock.

The pastoral and agricultural lands provide grazing and fodder for a large number of sheep, cattle, horses, and other stock. Of late years the value of the plains has been much enhanced and the carrying-capacity thereof greatly increased by the water-race system, which supplies water throughout the length and breadth of the dry areas, and enables the country to be occupied in smaller holdings than would otherwise be possible.

The following table shows the extent, cost, and other particulars regarding the water-race system in the several counties in 1904:—

County.Area watered.Miles of Races.Total Cost.Cost per Acre watered.Amount of Water distributed every Twenty-four Hours.Annual Charge for Use of Water.
 Acres...£s. d.Gal...
Amuri24,162544,8003 11 2/3..Races are maintained by an
............   annual charge in proportion
............   to area watered.
Ashley122,00050025,0004 127,000,000From 3/4d. to 6d. per acre, in
............   addition to special rates
............   for interest on loans.
Selwyn326,8881,13279,3074 1090,940,9608s. 4d. to £1 6s. 6d. per 100
............   acres.
Ashburton586,0001,36043,6201 5 7/886,000,000From £2 to £3 per mile of
............   race.
Geraldine71,2122609,0102 6 1/229,520,000About 7d. per acre, including
............   a rate for payment
............   of principal and interest
............   on loans, and a rate for
............   maintenance.
Levels19,000715,5005 9 1/26,480,0001 1/2d. per acre, and on part of
............   area an interest-rate of 1/4d.
............   in the pound on capital-
............   value.
Mackenzie9,400351,9354 1 1/27,516,8002 11/16d. per acre on part of
............   district and 5/8d. in the
............   pound on capital value in
............   remainder of district.
Waimate35,7001578,1254 78,500,000Races are maintained by an
............   annual charge on the
............   value of lands watered.

The sheep in the District of Canterbury, in April, 1903, numbered 4,745,025. In October, 1903, there were 55,649 horses, 126,350 cattle, and 44,098 pigs.

The district has a well-deserved reputation for the classes and splendid quality of its sheep. On the mountains and higher lands the merino still predominates; but on the richer low-lying ranges, hills, and plains the prevailing types are crosses between the merino and Leicester, Lincoln, Romney Marsh, and other breeds. In proof of the superior character of the flocks, pasturage, and climatic conditions in the Middle Island, the following percentages of lambing returns are quoted—these are “fair average returns, but much higher might have been exhibited”: Mountain native pasture—pure merino, 75.36; pure merino and Border Leicester, 88.94: English-grass pasture—crossbred and Border Leicester, 80.8; half-bred Border Leicester, 82.79; Border Leicester, 90.77; Lincoln, 88.08; Romney Marsh, 111.46; English Leicester, 93.34; Shropshire, 97.41; Southdowns, 96.87. It must, be borne in mind that the flocks and herds are supported by the natural and artificial pastures without housing.

Owing to the development of the frozen-meat trade a great impetus has been given to sheep-breeding. The bulk of the primest meat exported from the colony is supplied by this district, with Marlborough, and commands the highest price in the London markets. In the year ended 31st December, 1903, the number of carcases frozen was 2,014,481, valued at £1,360,749. There were also produced 14,983 cases of preserved meats, 12,098 casks of tallow, 8,846 tons of bonedust and manures, besides neatsfoot-oil, oleo, &c.

The frozen meat exported from Canterbury during the year ended 31st March. 1904, was valued at £1,120,552. At Belfast, Fairfield (near Ashburton), Islington, and Timaru, freezing-works are established, each containing a complete plant for carrying on the industry, as well as departments for curing, preserving, boiling-down, tallow rendering, fellmongering, and the manufacture of manures. The Belfast Freezing Works, owned by the Canterbury Frozen Meat and Dairy Produce Export Company, contain engines of 710-horse-power, and employ 300 men. They have storage for 90,000 carcases, and can put through 5,500 carcases in a day. The same company has a factory at Fairfield (near Ashburton), where 65,000 carcases can be stored and 4,500 dealt with in a day, and has recently erected a factory at Pareora, near Timaru, which has storage for 100,000 carcases, and can deal with 5,000 in a day. The Islington and Timaru works, which are owned by the Christchurch Meat Company, employ in all about 750 men, and have engines representing 403 horse-power. The former can put through 8,000 carcases per diem, and have storage for 140,000 carcases. The latter can deal with 6,000 carcases in a day, and have storage for 100,000 carcases. At Hornby there has been established by Messrs. Nelson Brothers (Limited) a well-equipped factory for freezing only, with engines of 300 horse-power, and a capacity of dealing with 1,000 sheep per diem. The factory has storage-room for 50,000 sheep, but is not now in operation.

Wool.

During the year ended 31st March, 1904, there were shipped at Lyttelton and Timaru 35,705,495 1b. wool, valued at £1,177,190; and to this must be added the amount (about 1,200,000 1b.), bought for manufacture by the woollen-mills in the district. The Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Company, Limited, owns large woollen mills at Kaiapoi, and clothing factories at Christchurch. These are fitted with modern machinery and appliances, and the company's products have obtained a considerable reputation. The company employs about 980 hands, and uses about £40,000 worth of wool and £6,100 worth of other colonial products in a year. The staple of the New Zealand wool, especially the long-wool and cross-bred, is remarkable for its freedom from breaks and other imperfections. The average clips are approximately as follows: Merino, 4 1b. to 7 1b.; quarter-breds, 6 1/2 1b.; half-breds, 7 1/2 1b.; three-quarters, 8 1/2 1b.; Leicesters, 10 1/2 1b.; Lincoln, 11 1b. From special flocks clips up to 25 1b. and 30 1b. are obtained.

Butter and Cheese.

Banks Peninsula and the rich tracts of country previously mentioned are excellently suited for dairy farming. The pasturage and climatic conditions are favourable, and a great increase in the production of butter and cheese may be looked for, more especially as housing and hand-feeding are in some districts unnecessary. A central co-operative dairy factory has been established at Addington, served by twelve creameries, situate at Marshlands, Oxford, Halswell, Springston, Doyleston, Little River, Ladbrooks, Lakeside, Kaiapoi, Green Park, Brookside, and Ashburton, each capable of dealing with the milk of 1,000 cows. There are also very complete dairy factories at Taitapu, Sefton, Cheviot, Timaru, Temuka, South-brook, Belfast, Tinwald, and Lc Bon's Bay, as well as cheese-factories at Flemington and German Bay. The number of cheese and butter factories in the district in 1903 was 15, and of creameries 32; the output of butter and cheese amounted to 3,384,640 1b.

Timber.

The sawmilling industry finds its development chiefly in the Oxford, Little River, Mount Somers, and Waimate districts. The number of mills in Canterbury in 1901 was eighteen, employing 260 hands, the horse-power being 317. The output in 1900 was 4,714,959 ft., valued at £22,277. The number is, however, diminishing, owing to the working-out of the available timber. The timber comprises birch, totara, red and white pine. The first-named is used chiefly for sleepers and fencing, the totara and pine for building purposes. Including the work done by the planing and moulding mills the value of all the manufactures under this head was £45,866.

Fruit.

The district is eminently adapted for the growth of a large variety of fruits, especially all that flourish in Great Britain. Attention has recently been directed to landing supplies of fruit in London; the attempts so far have proved satisfactory, and point to the possibility of a large trade being established.

Coal.

Brown coal is found at the Malvern Hills, Homebush, Whitecliffs, Springfield, Mount Somers, Albury, and various other places. Lignite is also commonly distributed. For the year 1903, the output from 15 collieries, employing about 70 hands, was 23,527 tons, bringing the total amount raised from 26 collieries up to the 31st December, 1903, to 453,113 tons. The seams worked vary from 16 ft. to 2 ft. 3 in., the average width being 8 ft. At Acheron, near Lake Coleridge, a true anthracite is found, the other pits in the district being of brown coal or lignite.

Building-stones.

The building-stones of Canterbury comprise some excellent varieties. The Halswell quarries produce an exceedingly hard and close-grained stone of a dull leaden-grey colour. Granular trachytes are obtained from Governor's Bay, Lyttelton; porphyrites at Malvern Hills; good limestone at Malvern Hills, Waikari, Mount Somers, and various other places; bluestone rock is found at Timaru suitable for millstones. There is abundance of limestone in North Canterbury, Mount Somers, Castle Hill, and various other parts, which is well adapted for making lime.

Fisheries.

Deep-sea fishing is carried on from Lyttelton and Akaroa, the kinds of fish chiefly caught being groper (hapuku), ling, conger eels, moki, butterfish, barracouta, soles, whiting, red-cod, herrings, and garfish. From Lake Ellesmere and the river estuaries excellent flounders are obtained.

Trout thrive amazingly in the rivers and fresh-water lakes, affording excellent sport.

Manufactories.

Excluding mines and quarries, the total number of manufactories in Canterbury at the date of the census in 1901 was 648, employing 7,050 males and 2,754 females.

Included in the above were 35 printing, 10 agricultural-implement, 26 coach building and painting, 29 fellmongering, tanning, currying, and wool-scouring establishments, 5 sail and oilskin factories, 27 boot and shoe factories, 7 rope and twine works, 8 flax-mills, 4 boiling-down, meat-preserving, and freezing works, 10 bacon-curing works, 17 cheese and butter factories, 23 grain-mills, 34 chaff-cutting and grass-seed-dressing works, 16 breweries, 10 malt-houses, 27 aerated waters and cordial works, 4 sauce and pickle making factories, 6 soap and candle works, 18 sawmills and sash-and-door factories, 4 gasworks, 20 brick, tile, and pottery manufactories, 14 iron and brass foundries, 25 cycle-works, 20 furniture-factories, and 8 engineering-works.

The census returns also showed that in 1900, the value of land, machinery, and buildings used for factory purposes was £1,489,096, and the total value of manufactures £4,701,304.

Educational Institutions.

Primary Schools.—The district is divided into two parts, termed North and South Canterbury, each presided over by an Educational Board. Under the control of the Boards schools have been established throughout the whole country wherever population warrants their erection.

The number of children attending the public primary schools in Canterbury, on 31st March, 1904, was 24,626. Average daily attendance, 21,007. Number of teachers—males, 248; females, 393: total, 641. Number of schools, 280.

There is a Normal School at Christchurch for the training of teachers.

Secondary Education.—For the further education of children ample provision has been made by the establishment of secondary schools. The principal schools of this class are the Boys' and Girls' High Schools at Christchurch, Rangiora, Ashburton, and Timaru. For more advanced students Canterbury College, Christchurch, is available. This institution was founded and endowed by the Provincial Government in 1873. It is presided over by a Board of Governors. The teaching staff comprises twelve professors and lecturers, and the number of students attending lectures is 249. The School of Engineering, Electricity, and Technical Science, recently established as a special branch of the college, is well equipped, and is attended by a large number of students. The School of Art is also a special branch of the college work, and the popularity of both these branches has been met by the recent erection of considerable additions to the building accommodation.

It should be recorded here that the Provincial Government of Canterbury was fully alive to its duties as regards higher education. It made reserves for the purpose of endowment for the following objects: (1) College, 101,640 acres, reserved June, 1873; (2) technical science, 103,000 acres, reserved July, 1873; (3) School of Agriculture, 100,950 acres, reserved June, 1873; (4) Boys' High School, 9,220 acres, reserved at various dates; (5) Classical School, 8,953 acres, reserved at various dates. To these were subsequently added the following: (6) Girls' High School, 2,578 acres, reserved January, 1878; (7) Medical School, 5,000 acres, reserved December, 1877.

In April, 1903, there was established in Christchurch a technical school, administered by a local Board of Management, and embracing continuation, commercial, and technical classes. The school commenced with 8 classes and 66 students, and at the end of twelve months had developed to include 31 classes, with 924 students and 20 instructors. The fees vary from 3s. 6d. per term for continuation classes to 15s. per term for commercial and practical classes, and the revenue of the school is supplemented by contributions from various public and local bodies assisted by Government subsidy and capitation.

Private Schools.—There are numerous private schools, independent of the State, the chief amongst them being Christ's College, Christchurch, connected with the Church of England. The Roman Catholics support schools of their own in Christchurch, Pleasant Point, Lyttelton, Timaru, Addington, Papanui, Ashburton, Akaroa, Rangiora, Sheffield, Temuka, Leeston, and Waimate. There are besides, in Christchurch, some excellent private boarding and day schools for both boys and girls.

Other Institutions.

Canterbury has the advantage of possessing many flourishing public institutions. The School of Art, Christchurch, was established by the College Governors in 1882; the Art Gallery owes its origin to the Art Society, the site being the gift of the Government. The Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, also founded by the College Governors, is surrounded by 660 acres of land. The commodious buildings, which cost over £20,000, provide accommodation for the Director and teaching-staff, and for forty-five students. The fees are on a low scale. The farm buildings are complete, and include a well-equipped dairy. Instruction is given in agriculture, chemistry, botany, mechanics, physics, surveying, &c.

The Public Library, Christchurch, under the control of the College Governors, contains reading-rooms, a circulating library of 22,447 books, and a reference library of 15,164 volumes. One hundred and seventy-one magazines and newspapers are provided. The number of subscribers is 1,844, and the average daily attendance 1,000. A spacious free reading-room, 60 ft. by 36 ft., has recently been erected, and is supplied with 127 English, American, and colonial newspapers and periodicals.

The Museum, Christchurch, is a handsome pile of stone buildings; the collections are large and varied. They are separated into two groups: (1) Those from New Zealand; (2) those from foreign countries. In the New Zealand department the skeletons of whales and moas, as well as the collections of shells (tertiary and fossils) and rocks, are specially good; and the Maori collection, exhibited in a Maori house, is also of considerable interest. In the foreign department, the geological, mineralogical, and ethnological collections are the most extensive, but there is also a good illustrative series of Egyptian and Roman antiquities, as well as of the remains of prehistoric man in Europe and America.

This institution owes its origin and success to the foresight, skill, and energy of the late Sir Julius von Haast, and to the munificence of the Provincial Government.

The philanthropic institutions embrace the Christchurch, Akaroa, Ashburton, Timaru, and Waimate Hospitals; the Sunnyside Asylum for the Insane; the Rhodes Convalescent Home; the Memorial Home for the Aged at Woolston; the City Mission and Destitute Men's Home, Christchurch; the Deaf-and-Dumb Asylum at Simmer; the Orphanage, Lyttelton; the Industrial School at Burnham; and the Mount Magdala Asylum, Samaritan Home, and St. Mary's Home, in the vicinity of Christchurch.

Towns.

Christchurch, the capital city of the Canterbury District, is situated on the plains. It is practically level, the original portion of the city being laid out in rectangular form, two miles by one mile and a quarter, and intersected diagonally by a street. All the principal streets are 66 ft. in width. There are numerous open spaces, including the Cathedral Square in the centre, and Cranmer and Latimer Squares. The Avon, a pretty stream, overhung by willows, runs through the town, presenting from all points charming vistas. The city is surprisingly English in its appearance, architecture, and surroundings. The central portion, where stands the Cathedral, Government offices, and other substantial structures, has a handsome, well-built look. Other parts contain fine public buildings, such as the Museum, Canterbury College, High Schools, &c. The whole is admirably set off by Hagley Park, 400 acres in extent, the Domain and Botanical Gardens, 79 acres, Lancaster Park, the Town Belts, and other public and private gardens and plantations. The suburbs can show many handsome houses and beautifully kept grounds.

On the 1st April, 1903, the suburbs of Sydenham, Linwood, and St. Albans were amalgamated with the original city proper into what is known as “Greater Christchurch,” comprising a total population of about 49,000. Including the adjacent Borough of Woolston, and the suburbs of Papanui, Fendalton, Riccarton, &c., the total population amounted to about 57,000 at the time of the census in 1901. Tramways connect the centre of the city with the outlying areas of Addington, Sydenham, the Port Hills, and Papanui, and with the seaside villages of New Brighton and Sumner. The city has been drained at considerable expense, the sewage being conveyed three miles and discharged on the sand wastes near the sea. A pure and copious water-supply has been provided by nature, and is obtained by artesian wells. For the purposes of municipal government the city is divided into four wards, and its affairs are controlled by the City Council, presided over by the Mayor. Christchurch is the centre of trade and commerce for the North Canterbury agricultural and pastoral country, and the headquarters of many manufacturing industries, including carriage, boot, and clothing factories, flour-mills, breweries, meat preserving and freezing, biscuit, planing and moulding, bicycle, and other works.

There are large and well-equipped show-grounds at Addington.

The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association and the Industrial Association, operating through a public company, have erected a fine block of buildings in brick and stone, comprising a large hall capable of scating three thousand persons (and known as the Canterbury Hall), together with smaller halls and suites of offices. It is proposed to establish an industrial and agricultural museum of a permanent character in the building, which should form a most useful reference to the productions and capabilities of the district. The oping of the building was inaugurated by the holding of the “Canterbury Jubilee Industrial Exhibition, 1900,” commemorating the establishment of the province fifty years before, and forming an excellent index to the progress of the district since that time. The exhibition was confined to colonial products, but the bulk of the exhibits were produced in the district. It remained open for three months—from the 1st November, 1900, to the 31st January, 1901—was visited during that time by about 250,000 persons, and yielded a profit to the Industrial Association (as promoters) of about £3,000

Recreation and amusement are provided for by the Canterbury Hall (already referred to), Theatre Royal, Opera House, and various public halls, the famous Riccarton racecourse, the numerous cricket and football grounds, &c., while boating men have the River Avon and the Heathcote estuary.

Christchurch is connected with the outside world by Port Lyttelton, seven miles distant. The railway-tunnel of 1 5/8 miles in length, through the Port Hills, is on this line. Christchurch is not only the centre of the splendid Canterbury Plains, but is also one of the chief railway centres of the colony. Addington railway-workshops are extensive and fully equipped.

Lyttelton, the chief port, of the district, is situated on the northern shores of the inlet of that name, sometimes called Port Cooper. The surrounding country consists of high precipitous hills, which separate the harbour from Christchurch and the plains; but by the construction of the railway and tunnel the natural difficulties have been overcome, with the result that the whole of the imports and exports of northern and central Canterbury pass through Lyttelton. The origination and accomplishment of this great engineering work is due to the late William Sefton Moorhouse, at that time Superintendent of the Province. The natural advantages of the port have been enhanced by reclamation and harbour-works, which include two breakwaters. 2,010 ft. and 1,400 ft. in length respectively, extending from Officer and Naval Points, enclosing about 107 acres; long lengths of wharf accommodation, 10,041 ft.; a patent slip for ships up to 400 tons; and a splendid graving dock 450 ft. long, width on top and bottom 82 ft. and 46 ft. respectively, the entrance being 62 ft. wide, well equipped with machinery and all requisites for repairs. Ships drawing up to 25 ft. can berth alongside the spacious wharves and sheds. The railway, electric-light, machinery, and appliances are available throughout, which renders loading and unloading practicable both by day and by night. As an indication of the volume of trade dealt with at the port, it may be noted that for the year ended March 31, 1904, the imports were valued at £2,194,430 and the exports at £2,412,687. The town is built on the side of the range, the streets being generally steep, flanked by solid stone buildings; and a background of green spurs and bold rocky faces gives completeness to the whole appearance. The water-supply is obtained from artesian wells on the Christchurch side of the hills. To Christchurch there is a bridle-track over the range, and a carriage-road viâ Sumner. The harbour is well defended by fortifications and batteries on Ripa Island and the mainland. The population at last census was 4,023 persons.

Timaru, the third town in importance, is situated on the coast and railway-line between Christchurch (100 miles) and Dunedin (131 miles). The boundaries of this borough were extended in 1898, the estimated area, including town belt, being now 1,100 acres. It has a well-constructed artificial harbour, the port of shipment for the agricultural and pastoral districts of Geraldine, Timaru, and Waimate. The harbour is enclosed by a breakwater built of blocks of concrete; a rubble wall—the North Mole—starts from the shore a quarter of a mile away to the north, and extends easterly to a point 350 ft. from the breakwater. The enclosed space is 50 acres. During the year ended March 31, 1904, the value of goods imported here was £194,656 and of produce exported £967,716. The town is situated on rolling hills overlooking the sea. The streets are irregular, but the public and commercial buildings, churches, and private houses are generally well and handsomely built of stone. The chief industries are meat-freezing, sawmilling. flour-milling, &c. The town had a good high-pressure water-supply, and is connected by well-made roads with the surrounding districts, and by rail with Fairlie, the route to the Mackenzie Country and Mount Cook. The population is about 7,000 persons.

Of other towns in Canterbury the following deserve mention: Rangiora, population, 1,768 persons, twenty miles from Christchurch by northern line of railway, is situated in the centre of a fine farming country, and possesses manufactories, including flax-mills, flour-mill, and brewery. The town and neighbourhood are much benefited by plantations.

Kaiapoi, on the Waimakariri, population 1,795, about fourteen miles from Christchurch by the northern railway-line, lies in a rich farming country, rendered pleasing and attractive by the extent and variety of plantations and gardens. There are factories and various industries, including ham and bacon curing, sawmills, brewery, and agricultural-implement works. Here also is the famed Kaiapoi Woollen-mill, which employs 600 hands when trade is brisk. The Waimakariri is navigable for small vessels to the centre of the town.

Ashburton, the newest of the towns, has a population of 2,322, and is fifty-three miles from Christchurch on the southern trunk line. It is a well-built town, with extensive and beautiful recreation-grounds and gardens. It owes its existence to the settlement of the plains, the surrounding country being well adapted for farming. There are meat-freezing works, a cordial-factory, flour-mills, gasworks, ironworks, woollen-mill, brickworks, &c.

Geraldine, population 868, is situated on the Waihi River, four miles from Orari Railway-station, about eighty-six miles south-west from Christchurch. It is a neat and pretty town, in a first-class farming district, and has a beautiful park of native forest-trees.

Temuka, eighty-nine miles from Christchurch, on the southern railway-line, is a well-built town, with good agricultural land all round. It possesses flour-mills, a butter and cheese factory, brewery, foundry, fellmongery and paper-mill. There is a beautiful park and domain. The population of the borough is 1,550 persons.

Waimate, population 1,500, is situated on the Waihao Forks Railway, about four miles from Studholme Junction, over a hundred miles from both Christchurch and Dunedin. This town is the centre for an extensive back-country, and a splendid agricultural area. It owes its origin to the sawmill industry of the Waimate bush. Industries: sawmilling, flour-milling, &c.

Akaroa, population 600, situated on the noble harbour of that name, was founded in 1840, in the first instance by the French. It is a quiet, picturesque little place, much patronised by Christchurch residents and others as a summer resort and watering-place. It was here that Captain Stanley hoisted the British flag on 11th August, 1840, when he took possession of the Middle Island on behalf of the Crown, forestalling the French by a few hours only. A suitable obelisk commemorating this event has been erected on the spot.

Chapter 74. THE OTAGO LAND DISTRICT.

DAVID BARRON, Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor.

Boundaries and Area.

The Otago Land District lies between the 44th and 47th parallels of south latitude, and extends from 167° 20′ to 171° 10′ of east longitude. It is bounded on the north by the Canterbury Land District; on the south-east and south by the ocean; on the west and south by the Waikawa, Mokoreta, Slopedown, Waikaka, Chatton, Wendon, Waikaia, Gap, Rockyside, and Kingston Survey Districts, the western and southern shores of Lake Wakatipu, the Mid-Wakatipu, Mavora, Swinton, Eglinton, Arran, and Doon Survey Districts, and a straight line from the north-east corner of the last-mentioned district to the nearest arm of George Sound, and by George Sound to the ocean; and on the north-west by the ocean to Big Bay.

The district measures about 160 miles from Milford Sound on the west coast to Waikouaiti Bay on the east coast, and the same distance from north to south. Its area is 9,482,800 acres.

Physical Description.

The country generally is mountainous, the highest land being to the north-west, and culminating in Mount Aspiring, 9,960 ft. above the level of the sea.

The west coast mountains are remarkably rugged and grand; and of the thirteen sounds that pierce this coast, three are within the limits of the Otago Land District, the remaining ten being on the west coast of the Southland District.

These three are Milford Sound, Bligh Sound, and George Sound. Milford Sound, though only eight miles in length, contains some of the grandest scenery in the world; and fourteen miles inland from its head is the great Sutherland Waterfall, 1,904 ft. high, possibly the highest waterfall known. Bligh Sound is smaller than Milford, and not nearly so interesting; but George Sound is larger, and very picturesque.

A tourist track has been opened from the head of Te Anau Lake to Milford Sound. The Government Tourist Department has now assumed complete control of this track, and has established a comfortable accommodation-house at the head of Te Anau, where guides are in readiness from the 1st October to the 30th April. There are six huts on the track, supplied with blankets, provisions, &c., and a man in charge of each hut. During the season there is a weekly mail between Te Anau and Milford. The track runs through the Clinton Valley, passes the Sutherland Falls and Lake Ada, and opens out some of the finest scenery in the colony. A practicable route has also been discovered, and a track formed, from the north-west arm of the middle fiord of Te Anau Lake to the head of George Sound.

For nearly one hundred miles inland from the west coast the country is very mountainous, but at a distance of sixty or seventy miles from the south-east coastline it begins to get gradually lower, taking the form of rolling hills and downs along the sea-shore.

Rivers and Lakes.

The largest rivers are the Clutha, Taieri, and Waitak: the first-named drains Lakes Wakatipu, Wanaka, and Hawea; the last, Lakes Ohau, Pukaki, and Tekapo, in the Canterbury District. Te Anau, the largest lake in the Middle Island, lies partly in the Otago and partly in the Southland District. The dimensions of these lakes are as follows:—

Lakes.Length in Miles.General Breadth in Miles.Area in Square Miles.Height above Sea-level in Feet.
Te Anau381 to 6132694
Wakatipu501 to 3 1/21141,069
Wanaka291 to 375928
Hawea193481,062
Ohau111 to 3231,720
Pukaki112 1/2 to 5311,538
Tekapo151 to 3 1/232 1/22,325

These lakes are situated in mountainous country; they are of glacial origin, and all very deep.

The steamer service on Lake Wakatipu is now owned by the Government, and is under the control of the Railway Department. During the summer months the steamers run between Kingston and Queenstown daily, and to the head of the lake from Queenstown three times a week. During the winter months the daily service to Kingston is maintained, but the communication with the head of the lake is only bi-weekly.

On Lakes Wanaka and Te Anau smaller steamers are in use.

The Clutha River is the largest in New Zealand, and is estimated to discharge over 1,000,000 cubic feet per minute. It has a rapid current, but is navigable for small steamers for a distance of forty miles from its mouth. The Waitaki is not a navigable river. For some seventeen miles from its mouth the Taieri River is affected by tides, which run up one branch into Waihola Lake, and up the other branch as far as Allanton (Greytown).

A small privately-owned steamer runs from Henley to the mouth of the Taieri River on holidays and during the summer months. Thescenery down the Taieri River is exceptionally fine, and the numerous excursions are well patronised by those in search of a day's outing. The distance from Henley to Taieri Mouth is about eight miles.

Plains.

There are some considerable areas of tolerably level land in the interior, the largest being the Maniototo Plains, the Idaburn, Manuherikia, and Upper Clutha Valleys. Their dimensions are approximately as follows: Maniototo Plains, length, twenty-four miles; average breadth, ten miles; Idaburn Valley, twenty-five miles by four miles; Manuherikia Valley, thirty-five miles by four miles; Upper Clutha Valley, thirty-three miles by five miles.

The Taieri Plain, nearer the coast, is about the same size as the Idaburn Valley, and is very fertile. Other plains are the Waitaki in the north, the Tokomairiro, the Strath-Taieri, the Tapanui, and the fertile Inch-Clutha, lying between the two branches of the Clutha River, and consisting entirely of alluvial deposit. There is also a good deal of low country, chiefly rolling downs, on the south-west side of the Clutha near the sea.

Forests.

The forest land lies mostly along the sea-coast, the largest area of bush being Tautuku Forest, about forty miles in length and fifteen miles in breadth. The western part of this forest is in the Southland District. The other principal forest areas are in the following localities, viz.: north of Dunedin, east of the Tapanui mountains, in the upper valley of the Waikaia River, and towards the north-west coast.

The forests of Otago contain a large variety of useful timber, both hard and softwood; some being suitable for building purposes, while other varieties are highly ornamental, and much prized for cabinet-work.

Building Stones.

Building-stones of good quality are found in various places throughout Otago. The Port Chalmers quarries afford an inexhaustible supply of bluestone, a basaltic stone of great hardness and durability; and the neighbourhood of Hindon furnishes a bluestone of superior quality. In Otago central a hard, close sandstone is obtained near Kokonga. A hard freestone of excellent quality is found at Waikawa, where there is a large hill of it close to the water's edge. Blocks of very great size can be obtained. There is also a freestone of superior quality on the property lately owned by the late Hon. W. J. M. Larnach at the Peninsula. A dense dark granite is obtainable on Ruapuke Island; specimens, both tooled and polished, may be seen in the base and pilasters of the new Government Life Insurance Buildings at Dunedin. A soft white building-stone—the well-known Oamaru limestone—is found in large quantities along the railway-line near Oamaru, from whence a good deal is exported to other parts of New Zealand and to the Australian States. A similar kind of stone is found at Otekaike, about two miles from the railway-station, and it may be interesting to note that during the years 1891-93 about 3,000 tons of stone were sent from the Otekaike quarries to form the facings of the Melbourne Fish-market.

Limestone for Burning.

Limestone is found in the following places: Oamaru, Otekaike, Otepopo, Waihemo Waikouaiti, Lower Harbour, Peninsula, Waihola, Millburn, and Wakatipu.

The Millburn Lime and Cement Company burn large quantities of lime at their Millburn works, whence it is sent to all parts of Otago, for building purposes, gasworks, &c. It is also largely used in farming, and the productiveness of the Tokomariro Plain has been greatly increased of late years by its application to the soil. Large cement-works belonging to the same company have been open for some years on the reclaimed land in Otago Harbour, near Dunedin. The cement manufactured at these works is considered fully equal, if not superior, to the best imported, and is largely used in building and other constructive works.

The Government lime-kilns at Makareao, near Dunback, have been leased for five years. The lime produced is of good quality, and there is a branch railway to the kilns.

Coal and Lignite.

In the southern portion of Otago and in part of Southland thin seams of coal of a bituminous character exist. Probably the coal produced from the pits at Kaitangata and Nightcaps is the best in quality. First-class brown coals are worked in several parts of Otago and Southland, the principal seats of the industry being Shag Point, Gore, Mataura, Coal Creek Flat, and Green Island.

Beds of lignite are also found in numerous localities, chiefly around the margins of the old lake-basins and along the courses of the older river-valleys, and are worked on a sufficient scale to supply local requirements.

The output of coal and lignite in Otago and Southland for 1903 was 105,839 tons, an increase of 8,443 tons on the previous year.

Climate.

The climate of Otago is on the whole fairly equable. Central Otago suffers a little from the intensity of the cold in the winter and the excess of heat in summer; but places on the sea-coast have a fairly even temperature all the year round. There is a somewhat large area of practically rainless territory, which includes the Maniototo Plains, the Idaburn and Manuherikia Valleys, and extends to Lakes Wakatipu, Wanaka, Hawea, and Ohau on the west and north, and to the northern portion of Waitaki County on the north-east. From Oamaru the direction would be across country to Mount Benger and to the southern end of Lake Wakatipu. This part of the country is well adapted for sheep of all kinds, especially merinos, some of the runs being capable of carrying 80,000 sheep. Wonderful results have been worked with irrigation on parts of the hitherto dry and barren portions of Central Otago.

West Coast.

In marked contrast to Central Otago is the West Coast District, which may be described as having a wet climate. Mot that the number of wet days in the year is very great, but it is subject to very heavy rains from the north-west, the fall generally exceeding 100 in. per annum. But, although wet, the climate is mild, and the vegetation is consequently luxuriant. Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland keep a house of accommodation for tourists at the head of Milford Sound. There are very few visitors to the Sounds during winter, but in summer the tourist traffic is considerable. Towards the south-east and south coasts of the district the climate is moist, being somewhat similar to that of Dunedin, where the average rainfall is 35 in., distributed over 163 days in the year.

At Martin's Bay three families have settled, consisting of ten persons. Their sheep and cattle are increasing, and the land is gradually being cleared.

There are thousands of acres of first-class bush land in and around Martin's Bay well adapted for dairy-farming and stock-raising only awaiting selectors to occupy them. The land belongs to the Crown, and is at the present moment open for application at the Land Office, Dunedin. Good milling timber, consisting of red, white, and black pine, beech, and totara is obtainable on this part of the west coast.

Fruit.

There are some fine fruit-growing districts in the valley of the Clutha, from below Roxburgh right up to Lake Wanaka. The summers are dry and warm, and the soil suitable. Apricots, peaches, &c., come to maturity fully a month before they do at Dunedin, and grapes ripen in the open air. There is a great future for this neighbourhood in the growing of those varieties of fruit which agree with andthrive in a dry climate. The grape might be cultivated either for wine-making or for the table, and some varieties could he made into good raisins. The dryness of the atmosphere is favourable for preserving all kinds of fruit, while the Otago Central Railway will bring portion of the valley into direct communication with a market.

Crops.

Cereals of all kinds do very well over nearly the whole of the provincial district, including Southland. The following are the agricultural statistics for the year ending the 31st March, 1904:—

Total area under cultivation in the provincial district, including sown grasses and fallow land, 2,397,864 acres. Corn-crops sown for threshing, chaffing, and feeding-off, comprising wheat, oats, barley, rye, peas, beans, linseed, 329,064 acres; land broken up and grassed, 1,462,971 acres; in clover, 3,332 acres; surface-sown with grass without the land being first broken up, 353,544 acres; plantations, &c., including private gardens, market gardens, orchards and vineyards of a quarter of an acre and upwards, 12,047 acres; land ploughed but not planted, 33,863 acres; area in tussock or native grass, 8,129,610 acres.

 Acres.Estimated Yield per Acre.Total.
Wheat for threshing52,30236 bushels1,891,711 bushels
Oats ”197,807 ”407,811,075 ”
Barley, ”4,96932 ”161,921 ”

Stock.

Total number of sheep on 30th April, 1903 (including 752,957 merinos)3,632,765
Horses59,082
Cattle212,932
Swine24,618

The dairy industry continues to flourish and expand in Otago, and new lands are continually being brought under cultivation.

The export of rabbit-skins from Dunedin during the financial year ended 31st March, 1904, amounted to 5,007,381 skins, valued at %pD31,837.

Freezing Establishments.

There are nine meat freezing and preserving works in Otago. The principal freezing establishments are at Oamaru, at Burnside, and at Port Chalmers. At Oamaru there is a 60-ton Hercules refrigerator, capable of freezing 1,200 sheep a day, and there is storage-room for 25,000 carcases. At Burnside there is a 70-ton Hercules machine, capable of freezing 2,000 carcases per day, and storage-room for 50,000 carcases. The Port Chalmers freezing-works, erected in 1896 by the Otago Dock Trust, cost %pD4,500. They are used principally for the storage of butter prior to shipment, but the freezing-chambers have also been used for sheep, rabbits, and fish. The refrigerating machinery includes a 12-ton Hercules refrigerator. The capacity of the building is 30,000 cubic feet, and 50 tons of butter can be handled per week. The capacity has lately been nearly trebled, at an additional cost of %pD8,500. These additions include a 35-ton. Hercules refrigerator.

Gold Production.

Otago produces about one-third of the gold-output for New Zealand.

Gold is found very generally distributed throughout Otago, except in the southern portion of the district. The principal localities are: Clutha Valley, Tuapeka, Shotover, Cardrona, Tinker's, St. Bathan's, Mount Ida, Nevis, Bannockburn, and Maerewhenua.

Last financial year 162,582 oz. of gold were exported from Dunedin, having value of %pD654,609.

Woollen mills.

There are four woollen-mills at work in the Provincial District of Otago, employing about 1,000 hands. The woollen industry in Otago is of greater magnitude than in any other district of New Zealand.

Besides supplying local needs Otago Provincial District exported during the year ended 30th June, 1904, 20,769,697 1b. of wool, having a value of %pD675,001.

Other Manufactories and Works.

Under this head the census returns of 31st March, 1901, gave within the Otago Provincial District—13 meat-preserving works; 12 bacon-curing establishments; 13 fish-curing establishments; 42 butter and cheese factories; 27 grain-mills; 7 biscuit-factories; 2 jam-factories; 4 confectionery-works; 15 breweries; 8 malt-houses; 17 aerated-water and cordial factories; 2 sauce and pickle factories; 4 soap and candle works; 4 cooperages; 70 sawmills and sash-and door factories; 5 gasworks; 5 lime and cement works; 25 brick, tile, and pottery works; 11 tinware-factories; 14 iron and brass foundries; 8 engineering-works; 12 agricultural implement factories; 49 printing establishments; 20 coach building and painting establishments; 21 cycle-works; 20 saddlery and harness factories; 33 fell-mongeries, tanning, currying and wool-scouring establishments; 9 ship and boat building yards; 7 sail, tent, and oilskin factories; 32 furniture-factories; 8 clothing-factories; 2 waterproof-factories; 7 hosiery-factories; 35 boot-and-shoe factories; 4 rope and twine works; and 16 flax-mills.

The total number of works of the above description in the Otago Provincial District was 809. The motive power employed comprised 295 steam-engines, 43 water-engines, 98 gas engines, 4 oil-engines, 21 worked by horse and 3 by electricity, making a total of 464, with horse-power amounting to 8,390. The number of hands employed was 8,745 males and 3,057 females, who received in wages %pD733,671 and %pD96,069 respectively. The value of materials used or operated upon in 1900 was %pD1,741,981, while the approximate value of the manufactures, &c. (including repairs), was %pD3,749,497. The approximate value of the land, buildings, machinery, and plant totalled %pD1,862,858. The above amounts are exclusive of Government railway workshops.

Under the head of mining there were 26 gold-quartz mines, 68 hydraulic goldmines, 121 gold-dredges, and 105 coal-mines in operation.

Chief Towns.

The following are the chief towns of Otago, with their population at last census, including all having 1,000 inhabitants and upwards: Dunedin, and suburbs, 52,390; Oamaru, 4,836; Port Chalmers, 2,056; Mosgiel, 1,463; Milton, 1,241; Kaitangata, 1,463; Lawrence, 1,159; Balclutha, 1,017.

City of Dunedin.

Dunedin, the capital city and commercial centre of Otago, is situated at the head of Otago Harbour, and is distant nine miles—about half an hour's journey by rail—from its seaport, Port Chalmers. Otago Harbour has been greatly deepened by dredging during the past decade, and ocean liners are now berthed alongside the Dunedin wharves.

The city proper is about two miles and a half long by a mile broad, and is dotted here and there with handsome public buildings and large warehouses which compare favourably both in size and architecture with those in other centres of New Zealand. Among buildings of note may be mentioned the new Supreme Court, Knox Church, St. Joseph's Cathedral, Boys' High School, First Church, Town Hall, and Otago University. The city has been much beautified of late years with numerous parks and reserves artistically laid out by the Dunedin and Suburban Reserves Conservation Society, who have taken in hand with praiseworthy energy the task of planting with trees and flowers hitherto neglected areas of waste land. The Octagon, Jubilee Park, andVictoria Gardens (formerly known as the Triangle) are standing monuments to the society's work.

The private residences of Dunedin are largely situated on the hills sloping upwards from the harbour, and cable tramways connect the city proper with the hill suburbs. A reserve of native bush fringes the hills round about, and is traversed by a fine carriage road, named “The Queen's Drive,” from which views of the harbour and city can be obtained. This reserve—known as the Town Belt—was set apart in the early days of Otago settlement.

The city has now an electric tram service, which is being rapidly extended to the favourite seaside resorts of Ocean Beach and St. Clair, each within three miles of the Chief Post Office. At the northern end of the city—about two miles from the Chief Post Office—the electric cars run down to the Botanical Gardens, which are tastefully and artistically laid out with many beautiful flowers and shrubs. A band rotunda has been erected here, and on Sunday afternoons sacred concerts are given throughout the summer months.

The Woodhaugh Valley, the reservoir, and the Leith Valley with its waterfalls, are also within easy distance of the town, and from a scenic point of view possess many features of interest.

Dunedin is well supplied with elementary schools, there being six large schools in the city proper, with an attendance of 3,470 pupils, and twelve more in the suburbs, with 4,065 pupils.

There is also in Dunedin a training-college for teachers. The students in training number forty-four. They devote every fifth week during the session to practice in teaching and management of classes in the ten associated schools of the city and suburbs.

The School of Art and Design is in the same building as the Normal School, and has a staff of six teachers and a pupil-teacher. In 1903 there were 392 students in attendance.

The Otago Boys' High School stands on a commanding plateau 300 ft. above the business part of the city and the harbour. The school was opened on the 3rd August, 1863, in the building in Dowling Street now occupied as the Girls' High School. The new buildings in Arthur Street were opened by the late Sir William Jervois, Governor, in February, 1885. The teaching staff, including the Rector, numbers twelve; the attendance is about 311.

The Otago Girls' High School was opened on the 6th February, 1871, with a roll of 78 pupils. The present attendance is 221, with a teaching staff of 10, exclusive of visiting teachers. Otago holds the proud distinction of having established the first Girls' High School in Australasia. Among the earnest band of workers who laboured to establish this first High School for girls the name of Miss Dalrymple stands pre-eminent, and will ever be held in grateful remembrance by the people of Otago.

At the commencement of the year 1903 the Board of Governors accepted the Government's offer in connection with providing free secondary education by admitting sixty-three boys and fifty-one girls who passed the sixth standard in the primary schools and were under fourteen years of age on 31st December, 1902, on payment by the Government at the rate of %pD6 per annum per head.

There are now 171 boys and 140 girls in attendance at the schools under the new Government regulations.

The Otago University was founded in 1869, and opened in 1871. It is well housed in a handsome pile of buildings in the domestic Gothic style. There are three separate faculties in the University—viz., Arte and Science, Medicine, and Mining. The School of Medicine provides the full course for a Medical degree of the University of New Zealand. There is a Medical Museum in the University buildings containing anatomical, pathological, and other preparations and models. The teaching staff numbers at present twenty-two professors and lecturers. The School of Mines occupies a separate (temporary) building. There are at present about forty students going through the prescribed courses for the diplomas and certificatesin the Mining, Metallurgical, Geological, Mine and Land Surveying, and the Assaying Divisions. Of undergraduates keeping terms there are 287—viz., 200 men and 87 women. The University Library contains over 5,000 specially selected volumes, and is open to the public under certain conditions for purposes of reference. The Chemical and Physical Laboratories are well fitted up, and furnished with all necessary instruments and appliances. There are six scholarships tenable at the University, ranging in value from %pD15 to %pD30 per annum.

The public Museum, of which the Professor of Biology is Curator, is under the control of the University Council. It is situated in Great King Street, about five minutes' walk from the University. There is a public Art gallery attached, which contains some good works of art. Up to the present time only the central portion of the original design for the Museum building has been erected.

The Dunedin Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute is centrally situated in the Octagon, and possesses a well-maintained library of over 20,000 volumes, and a membership of about 1,400 subscribers. The building has lately been enlarged, and in addition to the circulating library contains a reference library, a large reading-room with an excellent supply of magazines and newspapers from all parts of the world, a chess-players' room, and a smoking-room.

The Cargill Monumenx which was erected to the memory of the late Captain Cargill, the founder of the Otago settlement, stands in the Triangle, between the Customhouse and the Bank of New Zealand. It is an ornate specimen of early decorated Gothic.

Towns and Surrounding Country.

Port Chalmers (eight, miles from Dunedin) situate Otago Harbour, midway between the Heads and Dunedin, has a population of over 2,000. It is the chief port of Otago, and possesses every accommodation for Home vessels, including dry dock, 80-ton sheer-legs, steam-hammer, and other appliances, besides several private foundries, cool-storage chamber, &c. The Port Chalmers graving dock is described in the article on page 66.

Leaving Dunedin by the northern railway, winding in and out through the hills which surround the town, and skirting the precipitous cliffs of the coast-line, the first station of importance reached is Waitati, a favourite seaside resort in Blueskin Bay; distance, seventeen miles. Fifteen miles beyond is Waikouaiti—population, 690—pleasantly situated on the Hawksbury lagoon, the centre of a flourishing farming country. The next place of note is Palmerston, forty-one miles from Dunedin, with 738 inhabitants. A branch-line leaves Palmerston and runs nine miles up Shag Valley to Dunback. Six miles further on the main line there is a branch to Shag Point, a coalfield, with two pits being actively worked.

Oamaru (seventy-eight miles) is the second town in Otago, having a population of about 5,300. It is the centre of a large farming district, and has a good harbour, formed by a concrete breakwater, for the reception of ocean-going ships. The chief exports are wool and grain. A branch-line runs from the junction near Oamaru up the Waiareka Valley to Ngapara, seventeen miles, and Tokarahi, twenty-five miles from Oamaru, and another seven miles by road lends to Livingstone.

Starting from Oamaru, and proceeding to Central Otago, via the valley of the Waitaki River, the first part of the journey is accomplished by rail across the fertile Papakaio Plains to Awamoko (ninety-six miles), and thence following up the Waitaki River past Duntroon to Kurow (120 miles from Dunedin). At Kurow the traveller leaves the railway and follows the course of the Waitaki through pastoral country to Rugged Ridges Station (133 miles); a little beyond Rugged Ridges the road leaves the Waitaki River, and crossing the Ahuriri Pass (141 miles), strikes the Ahuriri River, which it follows up past Omarama Station (158 miles) to the junction of Longslip Creek; it then ascends this creek until Lindis Pass saddle is reached (172 miles), at a height of 3,185 feet. Here begins the descent to the Clutha Valley via Morven Hills Station (181 miles) and Tarras Station (200 miles). From Tarras Station the road runs through settled farming country up the Clutha River, which is crossed by means of a punt at Newcastle (219 miles), and four miles more brings the traveller to Pembroke, on the southern shore of Lake Wanaka.

From Dunedin the main trunk railway runs southward to Invercargill, a distance of 139 miles. Passing through the Caversham Borough and tunnel the traveller reaches Burnside (four miles) and Abbotsford (five miles), industrial centres, with coalmining, tanning, iron-smelting, and other works. Four miles farther on is Wingatui, the junction of the Otago Central Railway; and ten miles from Dunedin is Mosgiel, a rising township with 1,500 inhabitants, noted for its woollen-mills. The railway-line now skirts the Taieri Plain, an alluvial flat eighteen miles long by five miles broad; the most fertile portion of Otago. A branch-line nine miles long from Mosgiel junction runs to Outram, on the farther side of the Taieri Plain. Passing the smaller Townships of Allanton (Greytown) and Henley, and Lakes Waihola and Waipori, the main line strikes Milton (thirty-six miles). Milton, in the middle of the Tokomairiro Plain, is a town of 1,400 inhabitants, with flour-mill, dairy factories, flax-mill, pottery-works, and tannery. The next place of importance is Balclutha (fifty-three miles), on the banks of the Clutha River, with flax mills, dairy factories, and chicory works; population 1,100. Kaitangata, situated lower down the Clutha River, and connected by a branch-line four miles long, has extensive coalfields, and a population of about 1,500. Leaving Balclutha, the main line runs through the Clutha downs, passing the small centres of Waitepeka, Warepa, Kaihiku, and Waiwera, and reaches Clinton (seventy-four miles), on the Waiwera stream, a favourite resort of anglers. The next station of note beyond Clinton is Waipahi Junction (eighty-four miles), on the Waipahi River, likewise a favourite fishing-ground. Further on is Gore (100 miles), on the Mutaura River, in the Southland District. Gore is a fast-rising township of 3,500 inhabitants, with paper-mill, flour-mill, freezing-works, dairy factory, coal-mines, &c.

A branch-line from Waipahi follows up and crosses the Pomahaka River and connects Tapanui (107 miles), Kelso (110 miles), and Heriot (114 miles). An extension of this line for a distance of over six miles to Edie's is nearly completed.

The Otago Central Railway starts from Wingatui, crosses the Taieri Plain, and then winds round to the Taieri River, which it follows up to Waipiata, 81 miles from Dunedin, thence proceeds across the Maniototo Plain to the watersheds of the Taieri and Manuherikia Rivers and through the Ida Valley to Blacks (Ophir), the present terminus.

In its course along the river it runs for some distance through a rocky gorge, but after crossing the Sutton Stream enters Strath-Taieri—a comparatively flat open country. Near Hindon Station (twenty-five miles from Dunedin), in the Taieri Gorge, and Barewood (thirty-seven miles), there are quartz-reefs being worked. In traversing the Strath-Taieri the line passes the Blair-Taieri Village Settlement (forty-four miles), Middlemarch, a rising township (forty-eight miles), and reaches Hyde (sixty-four miles). The line passes through the Poolburn Gorge across the Manuherikia River to a point immediately opposite the Township of Ophir. The townships of Alexandra and Clyde are thus brought within seventeen and eighteen miles respectively of the railway.

The extension of the line to Clyde presents no engineering difficulties. Central Otago has a great future before it, as in the opinion of experts it is naturally adapted for producing fruit of different kinds in perfection.

Another means of access to Central Otago is by the Clutha Valley.

Two miles beyond Milton the Lawrence branch leaves Clarkesville Junction, runs up the Tokomairiro River and the gorge of Manuka Creek, and down to Waitahuna (fifty-three miles from Dunedin), and Lawrence (sixty miles), gold-mining centres, with an aggregate population of about 1,500. Gold was first discovered here in 1861, and the mines are still yielding freely. From Lawrence a coach runs to Beaumont (seventy-two miles), on the Clutha River, and thence up the Clutha Valley. Crossing the Beaumont Bridge the road follows the west bank of the Clutha, passing numerous dredging-claims. At eighty-nine miles is Ettrick, and seven miles further on is Roxburgh—the Teviot—(ninety-six miles), a town of 500 inhabitants.

Following the main road along the west bank of the Clutha River, the traveller reaches Alexandra South (122 miles), at the junction of the Manuherikia River with the Clutha, and Clyde—the Dunstan—(130 miles), the county town of Vincent County. The next place ofimportance is Cromwell (143 miles), at the junction of the Kawarau River with the Clutha. Cromwell is a small town of 700 inhabitants.

If the traveller wishes to pursue his journey farther he can either follow the road up the Clutha to Newcastle and Pembroke, on Lake Wanaka, or take the Kawarau Gorge road by way of the Crown Terrace to Queenstown, on Lake Wakatipu.

Queenstown, a township situated on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, has a population of 700, and is the centre of a large gold - mining district. The chief feature of Queenstown is the grand mountain and lake scenery in the neighbourhood, which attracts large numbers of tourists every year. There are two ways of reaching Queenstown—the one by the Clutha Valley and Kawarau Gorge, as above described, and the other by rail to Kingston, at the foot of Lake Wakatipu, and thence by steamer, which runs to suit the trains.

The Tautuku bush, in the south of Otago, has only lately been opened up, but already a large number of settlers are making their homes there. Starting from Balclutha the Catlin's River branch-line runs southwards to Romahapa (sixty-one miles from Dunedin) on the crossing of the main road to Port Molyneux, thence to Glenomaru (sixty-five miles), Owaka (seventy-two miles from Dunedin), and the present termination at Catlin's, four miles further on. The Catlin's-Waikawa main road is formed the whole way through, as are also numerous district roads.

Railways.

The principal lines are as follows: (1.) The main trunk line from Dunedin to Christchurch, with branches from Oamaru to Hakataramea, forty-three miles; and Oamaru to Ngapara and Tokarahi, twenty-five miles; also, Palmerston to Dunback, nine miles. (2.) The main trunk line, Dunedin to Invercargill, with branches—Mosgiel to Outram, nine miles; Milton to Lawrence, twenty-four miles; Stirling to Kaitangata, five miles; Balclutha to Catlin's, twenty-three miles; and Waipahi to Heriot, twenty miles. (3.) The Otago Central, from Wingatui to Blacks, 119 miles.

Statistical.

The total population of the Otago Provincial District on the 31st March, 1901, was 173,145.

Area of Otago Land District: Open land below 2,000 ft., 5,300 square miles; forest land below 2,000 ft., 1,960 square miles; open land above 2,000 ft., 6,777 square miles; forest land above 2,000 ft., 500 square miles; area of lakes, &c., 280 square miles: total, 14,817 square miles, or 9,482,800 acres.

The following table shows the disposition of the land in the Otago District on 31st March, 1904:—

1.Lands finally alienated, comprising freehold land and vested reserves..2,821,648
2.Lands held on deferred payment, rural3912,403
3.Lands held on perpetual lease, rural23244,395
4.Lands held under occupation-with-right-of-purchase clause22338,619
5.Lands held on lease in perpetuity, ordinary Crown lands, rural681172,182
6.Lands held under agricultural lease on goldfields17542
7.Lands held under Mining Districts Land Occupation Act2057,874
8.Lands held under village settlement, deferred payment2100
9.Lands held under village settlement, perpetual lease16357
10.Lands held under village settlement, lease in perpetuity1141,669
11.Lands held under village-homestead special settlement, perpetual lease761,174
12.Lands held by special-settlement associations, lease in perpetuity142,765
13.Lands held as small grazing-runs272557,071
14.Lands held under pastoral license, not including bush2264,385,344
15.Lands held under lease and license for miscellaneous purposes, exclusive of gold-mining621104,715
16.Lands acquired and disposed of as lease in perpetuity under Land for Settlements Act, rural41557,138
17.Lands acquired and disposed of as small grazing-runs under Land for Settlements Act33,667
18.Lands acquired and disposed of as pastoral homestead sites under Land for Settlements Act2954
19.Lands acquired and disposed of as miscellaneous licenses under Land for Settlements Act50803
20.Crown lands open for selection (including Land for Settlements Act), exclusive of pastoral lands..54,110
21.Crown lands being prepared for selection..19,740
22.Land open for application under pastoral licenses..45,249
23.Lands held by aboriginal natives..16,500
24.Lakes, and Clutha and Taieri Rivers..179,200
25.Balance of Crown lands, including mining reserves, public reserves not vested, bush-lands, roads, barren country, &c...1,022,175
        Total area of district (14,817 square miles),9,482,800

Tenants of lands included in 2, 3, and 4 have the right of acquiring the freehold. There is no right of acquiring the freehold for tenants of lands included in 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19. From item No. 1 should be deducted 67,594 acres, having been acquired under Land for Settlements Act, and absorbed in items Nos. 16, 17, 18, 19, and part 20. The summation of items exceeds total area of district by this amount.

Chapter 75. THE SOUTHLAND LAND DISTRICT.

J. HAY, Chief Surveyor.

Physical Features.

The Southland District may be stated to comprise the Counties of Fiord, Stewart Island, Southland, Wallace, and part of Lake, and is bounded on the north and east by the Otago District, and on the south and west by the Tasman Sea, and may be said to lie between south latitudes 45% and 47% and east longitudes 166% 15′ and 169% 15%. For administrative purposes, however, the Snares, Auckland, Enderby, Campbell, Antipodes, Bounty, and all other islands within the limits of the colony south of the 47% parallel of south latitude are included in it.

Area and Nature of Lands.

The total area of the district, including Stewart Island, but exclusive of Solander, Ruapuke, and the other small islands enumerated above, is 6,966,592 acres, of which 500,000 are covered with bush. A considerable area in the Fiord County consists of immense alpine country with scrubby bush reaching to the snow-line. This little-known country extends to the western sea, and there presents the remarkable indentations of the coast-line known as the West Coast Sounds. The whole region is a paradise for the artist, and, indeed, for all enthusiastic lovers of nature, but has little attraction for the agriculturist or pastoralist. The bush land suitable for timber lies in the neighbourhood of Forest Hill, Hokonui, Waikawa, and on Stewart Island. The timbers of commercial value are totara, rimu, miro, matai, kahikatea, rata, and kamahi, in mixed bushes; but Fagus fusca and other beeches predominate on the high lands.

The open land in Southland and Wallace Counties, in its natural state, carries tussock and snow-grass, fern, flax, manuka, &c., and there is a considerable area of marshy land, interspersed here and there with peat bogs.

Perhaps the most striking feature, if we exclude the Fiord country, is the number of well-defined rivers and valleys of the district, the latter often widening out to such an extent as to form very extensive plains. Commencing with the eastern side, the Mataura, Oreti (or New River), Aparima (or Jacob's River), and Waiau are the most prominent illustrations of this; but these rivers by no means exhaust the list, as they all have numerous tributaries, which exhibit the same features on a smaller scale.

Speaking generally, the watersheds of these rivers do not attain any great height until followed far inland, and near the great lakes to be presently noticed. From what has been said above it follows that the extensive plains and valleys referred to are of alluvial formation, in many places of very rich and fertile quality, and capable of raising crops of every known product, subject, of course, to climatic limitations. Generally these plains and valleys rise from the river-levels in a very gradual slope, sometimes into a series of terraces from 10 ft. to 50 ft. in height, and sometimes into undulating hills intersected at frequent intervals by lateral gullies affording natural drainage and an abundant supply of water.

These hills are covered with an indigenous growth, consisting of tussock and other grasses, fern, flax, &c., and even in their native state afford excellent grazing for sheep.

Near the large lakes, such as Wakatipu, Te Anau, Manapouri, Hauroko, and others, and between these and the West Coast, the country becomes very high, often reaching 5,000 ft. and 6,000 ft. above sea-level, with very steep and rugged spurs—this is the Fiord country before referred to. The open country occasionally presents a number of ridges and lesser mountain-tops covered with tussock and other herbage, affording admirable pasture for sheep in summer; but stock have to be removed from April to October, during which period this country is generally covered with snow.

Southland does not contain so much forest as most of the North Island districts, and this will account for its early and extensive settlement; nevertheless there are considerable areas of forest in the eastern, southern, and western parts, and on Stewart Island, and a large export trade is done in the different kinds of pine and other timbers used for building, engineering, furniture-making, &c.

From what has been said of the river systems it will be evident that the country is well supplied with water, although none of the rivers can be used for purposes of internal communication; but the plains are traversed by railways for considerable distances from the principal towns, and where the railways end communication is continued by good roads, so that there is probably no part of the colony better off for means of transit; and with the Bluff Harbour the Southland District would seem to possess every facility.

Agriculture.

Having already touched on the character of the soil, it only remains to say that the plains, terraces, and lower hills are well adapted for raising wheat, oats, and other cereals, turnips, mangolds, beets, and the various other crops common to temperate climates. Wheat is not so widely grown as it might be, for the reason, probably, that the pastoral branches of farming receive more attention than the agricultural, and wheat is not required for these, whereas oats are largely grown for export and to feed sheep in the form of chaff; turnips also are much cultivated for winter food. Where wheat is grown the yields are very satisfactory, ranging from 40 to 60 bushels per acre, while oats frequently give 70 to 80 bushels.

Linseed is now receiving some attention from farmers, as they find ready sale for it to the manufacturing chemists at remunerative prices, a fair crop yielding over £5 per acre.

Dairy-farming, &c.

Dairy-farming now forms a very important industry in this district, a number of factories having been established, the total number now in the district being 8 creameries, 6 cheese-factories, and 14 dairy factories, one being a large condensed-milk factory and one making first-class Stilton cheese. In this connection the Customs Department, returns (1903) for this district, under “Exports,” give the following interesting figures: Butter, 2,247 cwt., value £9,432; cheese, 20,305 cwt., value £50,882.

Sheep-farming.

By far the most important industries are those connected with the raising and export of mutton and wool. Some years ago sheep-farming was much hindered by the inroads of rabbits; but owing to the repressive measures adopted there has been a marked abatement of the pest. The hill-country, although it does not carry a large proportion of stock to area, is eminently healthy. The average carrying-capacity over the whole district would probably be slightly over one sheep to the acre. Until within the last few years most of the runs were stocked with merinos, but owing to the decline in price of merino wool, and to the carcase being unacceptable to the European market, these sheep have, generally speaking, been replaced by Leicesters, Lincolns, Romney Marsh, Cheviot, and crossbreds of various kinds, better suited to the existing demands. The total number of sheep on the books of the local Stock Department readies 1,173,770. This number is distributed over Southland District. During the early and later portions of the past year many of these were acquired by settlers from the northern districts of the colony, but the successful lambing season intervening has quite neutralised the depletion. A number of large establishments for slaughtering and freezing and tinning meat are at work. Two large establishments are situated at the B and another at Mataura (on the Main Trunk Railway-line). Beef, mutton, and it tinning works have been established for some years at the Gap Road, near Winton, while another is in operation at Woodlands. The exports from these factories (frozen meats) as returned for past year is as follow: Frozen mutton—94,944 carcases, value £58,163; lamb—132,704 carcases, value £62,148; rabbit-skins—631,139, value £4,599.

Industrial (Coal, Gold, &c).

Extensive seams of coal and lignite are distributed over the district, and a large deposit of brown coal is being developed by the Nightcaps Coal Company. This coal is used throughout the district, and its utility has been recognised by the Railway Department of the colony, some 16,000 tons having been used on the Southland section of New Zealand railways during the past year. Coal of quality similar to that at the Nightcaps has been opened up at Hokonui, and some 52,000 tons have been taken out therefrom. The comparatively small demands of the district, however, led to the mine being closed down a few years since. A deposit of shale covering a fair area exists at Orepuki. Peat is also found in some up-country neighbourhoods—notably, at Mataura—and is used for fuel where wood and coal are scarce. Gold is found all over the district, and is being obtained either by sluicing or dredging. A considerable amount of capital has been invested in river and beach dredges worked by steam. The dredging operations of the past year have for the most part been confined to the streams lying east of the Mataura River. Twenty-one steam power dredges are on the Waikaka, twelve at Wakaia, and ten in all on the Waimumu and Carlton Streams. These dredges have been working for some years, and the yields of gold, although of an intermittent character, have on the whole been satisfactory. Payable gold-bearing reefs exist in Preservation Inlet and at Stewart Island. Among the lesser industries the preparation of the fibre of the native flax plant (Phormium tenax) is worthy of notice. The plant is found all over this district, and sixty-one mills have been set up. The more remunerative and regular prices obtained during the past year will, if upheld, make this a steady industry throughout the district.

Timber.

Last, but of considerable value in results, the timber industry of the district merits attention. For many years the active efforts of the sawmiller have proved a source of considerable wealth. No less than sixty-six sawmills are now at work off and on within the greatly reduced timber-areas of Southland, and it is feared that this district will be worked out; at any rate, the industry will be very considerably reduced in the near future.

Fish.

Salt-water fish abound in great numbers in the waters surrounding Stewart Island, and oysters are found on banks between that island and the Bluff. Fish are largely exported to Melbourne, as also the oysters during the open season. All the large rivers, and many of the tributaries, are well stocked with trout, while for heavy trout-fishing the Waiau River may be mentioned as one of the finest in New Zealand. One river—the Aparima—had salmon-spawn put into it some years ago, and, it is now believed, with success.

Fruit.

The small English fruits, such as gooseberries, currants, raspberries, straw berries, &c., grow in great profusion, as do also apples. Stone-fruits are not so common, although peaches, nectarines, apricots, &c., do well when trained against nursery-walls in favourable aspects.

Climate.

The climate is bracing in winter, and warm and genial in spring and summer. The old residents state that there has been a marked decrease in the rainfall within the last decade. No regular observations have been recorded for the last few years, but it is believed that the average is about 30 in. a year. It may, however, be observed that more rain falls near the coast than inland, and also that the rainfall is more evenly distributed throughout the year than is the case in the northern part of the colony. The temperature varies from 40° in winter to 70° in summer.

Towns.

Invercargill, the chief town, was from the first well laid out with wide streets and liberal reserves in the town belts for recreation purposes. The town has become conspicuous by the architectural beauty presented to the visitor in the many fine buildings. Among these—all in brick, concrete, or limestone—the branches of the leading banks doing business in this colony are prominent, also hotels and many wholesale and retail mercantile houses. The Government Buildings are on a scale not often seen in a town of the same size, and a clock and chimes of New Zealand make have been placed in the central tower. The Corporation provides water and gas, also disposes of sewage, &c., for the citizens. The streets are well lighted, paved, and maintained. Artesian water is pumped to the top of a handsome brick tower—which, by the way, is a very conspicuous landmark—and stored there in a tank, from which most of the houses within the town boundaries are supplied. The population, including suburbs, is nearly 11,000. Five railways concentrate here, one from the famed Cold Lakes, another from Dunedin and Christchurch, a third line communicates with the agricultural and pastoral country lying east of the Mataura River, known as the Seaward Bush line, a fourth line opens communication with the extended area westward covered by the Wallace County and known as the Western District, while the short line to the Port of Bluff carries a heavy traffic—the main produce of the district—for export. Rope and twine, carriage and implement factories, flour-mills, sawmills, fellmongeries, a boot-factory, three bacon-factories, brick and pottery works, iron-foundries, and various other industries are in active operation. There are three first-class hotels. In the summer season Invercargill, by the arrival of intercolonial steamers and express trains, may be said to be thronged with visitors and tourists desiring to view the beauties of Stewart Island or the more distant high alpine scenery and deep waters of the Cold Lakes District (Te Anau, Wukatipu, Manapouri and the further lakes), for, doubtless, the combinations of scenery there presented in mountain, glacier, and lake are unexcelled in either hemisphere. It should also be mentioned that Stewart Island is now connected by means of a submarine cable used for telephonic communication, which is of the greatest service to business-men and pleasure-seekers. Although the Bluff is the principal port, Invercargill is provided with a lesser harbour in the New River Estuary, forming its western margin, where there is a jetty with appliances for the use of small steamers and craft trading with Stewart Island and along the coast, the goods being handled within the town boundaries.

Campbelltown, situate at the foot of the hill known as the “Bluff,” has become a place of some importance in the district, being identified with the Bluff Harbour. The town presents some good buildings—frozen-meat works, hotels, grain-stores, and shipping offices, all in brick. Perhaps the most conspicuous building is seen in the Government, Post, Telegraph, and Customs building, with its clock-tower and chimes; while the railway-offices, with hardly less proportions, and conveniences lately added to facilitate the easy handling of goods, assert the prosperity of the place. Connected by rail with Invercargill (eighteen miles—six trains daily), a very large shipping business is effected here in the imports and exports of the agricultural counties of Southland, Wallace, Lake, and Stewart Island, principally consisting in exports of wool, grain, frozen mutton, rabbits, fish, cheese, butter, timber, flax, and oysters; and in imports of general merchandise, guano, coal, and hardwood timber. In 1901, 75,000 tons of grain, chiefly oats, were exported, being about 4,200,000 bushels. The increasing trade of the port has been steadily met by the harbour authorities in increase of wharfage accommodation in the direction of widening and strengthening, and there is now a fine wharf, 1,760 ft. long, with four lines of rails, having 3,300 ft. of berthage, all well lit, as also the town, with electric light. As a further indication of the importance of the port, it may be stated that steamers having a combined net tonnage of 412,162 tons entered inwards during 1903, and comprised the largest frozen-meat carriers of the New Zealand Shipping, Shire, Tyser, Federal, and Shaw-Savill Lines. The port is a natural one, possessing good shelter and anchorage with deep water. On account of the depth of water, the port is frequently selected as the final port of departure for fully laden vessels, and in April last the s.s. “Ayrshire” left the port for London drawing 27 ft. 10 in., and with a cargo estimated to be 15,000 tons. Bluff is also known as the first and last port of call for steamers trading with Tasmania and Australia.

Next in size to Invercargill is the inland Town of Gore, situated on the Mataura River, and at the junction of the Main Trunk Railway with the Waimea Plains Branch. Owing to this fact, and to the fertility of the land in the neighbourhood, Gore is rapidly growing in size and importance.

Riverton is a pretty little town, about twenty-five miles from Invercargill, with which it is connected by rail, which runs through to Orepuki and Waihoaka; it is situated on the estuary of Aparima, or Jacob's River. Riverton is the oldest settlement in Southland, and was a great resort for whalers in former years. The harbour is available for and used by coasting-vessels, but the principal carrying-trade is done by rail. There are several sawmills in the neighbourhood, this industry being largely carried on near the many timbered localities in the district.

Otautau, on the banks of the stream bearing the same name, is the county town of Wallace. It is the distributing centre of all that large area of agricultural and pastoral country lying between the Longwood range and the Waiau River, and northwards to the Mararoa River. It has direct communication by rail with Invereargill, Nightcaps, and Orepuki. In Otautau large grain-stores are seen, flour-mills, and a dairy factory, while in the vicinity timber and flax mills are met with. The most direct inland communication with Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau is by road passing through the town and onwards. This route is well suited for vehicular traffic, but the favourite or more easy line of communication is by rail from Invercargill to Lumsden and onward by coach as before noticed.

The Village of Nightcaps is reached by a short line of railway from Thornbury, on the Invercargill-Riverton line. A large colliery exists here. (See Industrial, Coal, &c., ante.)

The Town of Winton is on the Invercargill-Kingston Railway, about twenty miles distant from Invercargill, and is the centre of a good farming, sawmilling, and coal-mining district. A short line of railway has been opened from here to Hedge-hope, an extensive agricultural locality lying some fifteen miles in a westerly direction.

Lumsden is the junction of the Kingston (Lake Wakatipu), Invercargill, and Waimea Plains Railway-lines. Coaches starting from here take passengers and mails to Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau and the surrounding country.

East of Invercargill are Edendale and Wyndham, both with railway connection, and surrounded by rich agricultural country reaching to Fortrose, with good roads. Fortrose is easily reached from Invercargill by the Seaward Bush Railway, which connects with the Wyndham Road at Waimahaka, distant about four miles north of Fortrose. It is surrounded by exceedingly fertile country, and the harbour (estuary of the Mataura River) can be entered by coasting steamers.

Eastward of Fortrose and about midway between that place and Catlin's River is Waikawa, a newly-settled township with a harbour for coasters, and a large area of surveyed Crown land around, with good timber, available for settlement. Steamers trading with Dunedin and Invercargill call here and at Fortrose at regular intervals. A good export of timber occurs at Waikawa.

Crown Lands for Disposal.

The total area of surveyed lands remaining open for selection as on the 31st March, 1904, was 62,561 acres 3 roods 14 perches, comprising the following lands:—

 A.R.P.
Town and suburban767335
Village-homestead settlements45210
Rural—ordinary4,234330
     ″    —bush and swamp45,437038
Land for settlements6,254014
Rural—lease in perpetuity1,710038
     ″    —bush and swamp (lease in perpetuity)4,11139
..62,561314
Unsurveyed pastoral runs1,085,30600
        Gross total1,147,867314

Chapter 76. NEW ZEALAND'S EXTENDED BOUNDARIES.

NOTES ON THE COOK AND OTHER ISLANDS ANNEXED TO NEW ZEALAND IN 1901.

J. W. BLACK.

The Pacific islands annexed to this colony in pursuance of resolutions passed by the House of Representatives in September and October, 1900, were Rarotonga, Mangaia, Mauke, Atiu, Aitutaki, Mitiaro, Hervey Islands, Palmerston, Niue, Danger, Rakahanga, Manihiki, Penrhyn, and Suwarrow. Takutea and Nassau, not mentioned in the resolutions, also lie within the boundary-lines prescribed by the Imperial Order in Council and the New Zealand Proclamation dealing with the annexation. Under “The Cook and other Islands Government Act, 1901,” the Federal Parliament of the Cook Islands and the several Native Councils were continued under the names “Federal Council” and “Island Councils.” The former has power to enact Federal Ordinances for the government of all the islands excepting Niue, while each Island Council can make local Ordinances governing the inhabitants within its jurisdiction. No Ordinance passed in the islands, however, can have the force of law until assented to by the Governor of New Zealand in the name and on behalf of His Majesty; and the Governor has power, by Order in Council, to direct that any of the laws in force in the islands at the commencement of the principal Act shall be repealed or modified. The Governor in Council has power also to apply to the islands any law in force in New Zealand, either in whole or with modifications, excepting the laws relating to alcoholic liquors. The only New Zealand law in force in the islands at present is that relating to Customs duties, and the Governor, by Order in Council, may from time to time modify the tariff as applying to any of the islands.

The laws are enforced through the High Court, which has jurisdiction throughout the whole of the islands excepting Niue, and, in the Cook Group, through the Arikis' Courts. The Arikis' Courts are composed of Native Judges, with the exception of the Arikis' Court at Aitutaki, where no Court is legally constituted unless the European Magistrate is present. The Arikis' Courts deal with all minor offences, but the Resident European Magistrate at Aitutaki has power to hear and determine all civil cases where the matter in issue does not exceed £50 in value. Appeals are allowed from the Arikis' Courts to the High Court. It is probable that steps will be taken to abolish the Arikis' Courts in those islands on which there is a European Resident Agent. The High Court has exclusive jurisdiction in all cases of murder or of assault with intent to commit murder, and in all cases of manslaughter; in all criminal charges against foreign residents; and in all cases between foreign residents, or between foreign residents and Maoris in which the plaintiff may, with the consent of the Chief Judge, begin an action in the Co, or may with the same consent seek redress for any wrong alleged to have been done by any local Government in any island. The Chief Judge has power to send any case of a criminal charge against a foreign resident for trial before a Court constituted under the provisions of the Pacific Order in Council. The headquarters of the High Court are at Rarotonga, where it sits once a week, but visits are periodically made to the other islands within its jurisdiction,

The Act of 1901 placed all the annexed islands under one administration, and Colonel W. E. Gudgeon, C.M.G., who, prior to the annexation, had acted as British Resident, was appointed Resident Commissioner. By the amending Act of 1903 Niue was placed under a separate administration, and the Federal Council and the High Court of the Cook Islands have now no jurisdiction in that island. Mr. C. F. Maxwell, formerly Resident Agent, is now Resident Commissioner in Niue.

Rarotonga.

Rarotonga is certainly the finest island in the Cook Group, both in point of scenic attractions and in respect of its general productiveness. It is a particularly good specimen of the volcanic order of islands, and the rugged grandeur of its mountain-peaks and the variety and luxuriance of its vegetation combine to present one of the most romantic and picturesque scenes that one could possibly find even in the South Seas, where the romantic and picturesque are supposed to abound. Attaining, as it does, a height of 3,000 ft., the island is well watered; and a belt of rich alluvial soil, varying from one to two miles in width, extends all round from the mountains to the sea. The circumference of Rarotonga is over twenty miles, and it will be seen, therefore, that the area available for cultivation is by no means inconsiderable. The land at present is not being utilised to anything like the full extent of its possibilities; but the Land Titles Court is doing good work, and there seems to be a growing inclination on the part of the Arikis to lease their lands to suitable tenants, preferably Europeans. A considerable portion of the island has been surveyed, and with the advent of a larger European population a steady increase in the yield of the staple products of the island may be looked for. In the case of copra it will be some years before the production can be greatly increased, but the cocoa-palm is being extensively planted, and, given favourable conditions, the results may be awaited with confidence. The banana trade is developing satisfactorily, and as Rarotonga is particularly well adapted to the growth of the banana, the outlook so far as this item is concerned is distinctly hopeful. The coffee industry, which received a check a few years ago in consequence of an attack of leaf-blight, is once more in a satisfactory condition. Avarua, on the north coast, is the principal village on the island, and the seat of the Federal Government and Islands Administration. It is also the port of call for the Union Steam Ship Company's steamer which visits the Group every four weeks. A substantial building is about to be erected here for the accommodation of visitors, and when the island is better known it is hoped that a tourist traffic will be developed. The population of Rarotonga is 1,900, about eighty being Europeans.

Mangaia.

This is one of the largest of the annexed islands, being about thirty miles in circumference, and having an area of some thirty square miles. Given proper landing facilities, it would be in no way behind Rarotonga, except in the lack of that impressive mountain scenery that lends such a charm to the latter island. Mangaia is somewhat peculiar in structure. At a short distance inland from the shore there rises an almost perpendicular wall of dead coral, about 100 ft. high, as if the reef of earlier days had been lifted bodily by some convulsion of nature. This makatea. as it is called, runs right round the island, and is perforated by numerous caves and crevices, which in olden times were used as depositories for the dead, as well as for storage and other purposes. These caves still supply, in the calcareous formations in which they abound, the material from which the Natives manufacture some of their household implements. The top of the makatea averages about a mile in width, and is well adapted to the growth of the citrus family of fruits. The interior face of this coral rampart slopes down gradually into a basin of rich swamp land containing extensive taro-plantations, and from this the land rises again in a succession of low hills to a central plateau, about 650 ft. high, known as the “Crown of Mangaia.” These taro-swamps still supply most of the food of the Mangaians, although for many years the tribes have lived in the Villages of Oneroa, Tamarua, and Ivirua, on the coast. The interior of the island, which contains some splendid valleys, is well watered by streams which filter through below the base of the makatea into the sea. The population, according to the latest returns, is 1,507; and the people are said to display a greater degree of industry than is usual among Natives of the Pacific islands. This fact, combined with the natural resources of the island, promises well for the future prosperity of Mangaia. There are considerable areas of waste land awaiting cultivation, and the Natives are becoming alive to the necessity for planting these with cocoanuts, &c. Citrus fruits are already growing in profusion, and it is estimated that with proper cultivation the output could be increased twenty-fold. Mangaia produces the best coffee in the Group at present. The trade of the island has hitherto been hampered to a considerable extent in consequence of the difficulty in shipping produce. The reef, which encircles the island at a short distance from the shore, is without an opening, and communication between the island and outside can only be obtained by crossing the reef in Native canoes. This process, where cargo is concerned, is necessarily slow and costly—it takes as long to ship 50 tons over the reef at Mangaia as it does to ship 200 tons at Rarotonga— besides which the produce is always liable to be damaged by salt-water. Steps have been taken, however, to have suitable boat-passages blasted in the reef, and the matter is now being attended to by one of the vessels of the Australian Squadron. When this has been accomplished the chief hindrance to the development of the trade of this island will be removed.

There was no Resident Agent at Mangaia until last year, when Mr. J. T. Large was transferred from Aitutaki. There are already indications that his appointment to Mangaia will bring about a very necessary improvement in the conduct of affairs on that island.

Mauke.

This island is low and flat, and a belt of ironwood (toa) skirting the island obscures to some extent the cocoanut-palms which are usually one of the most prominent and first-observed features in the landscape of a Pacific island. This ironwood was formerly found in large quantities, and was much sought after by traders. Mauke, like Mangaia, has a fringing reef which, however, does not so readily lend itself to the process of crossing in canoes that obtains in Mangaia. A landing has to be effected on the edge of the reef itself, and one reaches dry land by wading or being carried through the shallow water covering the depression in the coral between the outer edge and the shore. There is a landing at the northern side of the island also, and the Resident Commissioner has arranged for a road to be constructed to connect this with the western side. When this is completed it will be possible to ship goods at almost any time, as it has been found that when the western landing is inaccessible through bad weather the sea at the northern side remains quite smooth. Mauke also has its maka-tea, or raised-coral area, but it merges almost imperceptibly into the volcanic formation of the centre, and the general level of the island all over is about 60 ft. above the sea. The island is small, its area being only about four square miles and a half; but it is remarkably fertile, and, notwithstanding that in common with the other islands of the Group it is very imperfectly planted, it exports 100 tons of copra and 3,500 boxes of oranges annually, an output that exceeds that of Atiu, which is six or seven times its size. There is no Resident Agent on Mauke. The population of the island is 338.

Atiu.

This island is much like Mauke in appearance, having the same high fringing reef and the same dead-coral formation over the greater part of its area. It is much larger, however, its area being about thirty-two square miles, and it has four times as much unused land as Rarotonga. Atiu is a valuable island, and exports good quantities of copra, oranges, coffee, and limejuice. All the usual island fruits grow well, but a fuller development of the resources of the island is retarded through the lack of proper facilities for shipping produce. Arrangements have been made, however, as in the case of Mangaia, to have a boat-passage formed through the reef at the earliest possible moment. The cavernous formation, which is so marked a feature of the makatea at Mangaia, is also present in the coral-rock portion of Atiu, and must, no doubt, be found more or less in all islands that owe their existence in any degree to the upheaval of a sea-worn coral reef. The late Ngamaru Ariki was practically King of Atiu, although he had lived for many years in Rarotonga, and as such he exercised a measure of sovereignty over Mauke and Mitiaro, both of which were conquered by the Atiuans prior to the introduction of Christianity. The population of the island is 940 Natives, but this does not represent anything like the total of the Atiuan tribes. They are largely represented in the subordinate islands, as well as in Tahiti. The only white resident is Mr. Adolph von Nagel, who acts as British Resident without salary.

The settlement at Atiu is some distance inland, on the flat summit of the low central hill to which the island rises.

Aitutaki.

Aitutaki combines the features of the volcanic island and the atoll; indeed, it may be regarded as an atoll in course of formation, and it affords a good illustration of the different stages of the process. The island is almost surrounded by a barrier reef, which supports several fruitful islets, and on the south-east lies five miles distant from the land. On the western side it approaches much nearer, the entrance to the Avatapu Channel being about a mile from the wharf at Arutunga, the principal village on the island. At the northern point of the island the reef fringes the shore as in the other main islands of the Cook Group, the barrier stage having not yet been reached. This island approaches more closely to Rarotonga in the general appearance of fertility than any of the others, and it can also claim to possess a considerable degree of scenic attractiveness. It rises somewhat abruptly on the western side to a height of 360 ft., and slopes away gradually to the eastern coast. The area is about seven square miles. The lagoon on the Arutunga side of the island is shallow, and can only be used by vessels of a very small class; but on the eastern side it is much deeper, and freer from coral patches, and there are several places in the reef where, it is believed, a navigable channel might be formed. The land at Aitutaki is divided among the people in small sections; but though each family has quite enough land for its support, it has seldom more than an acre or two in any one place, and the more remote sections are apt to be neglected. The population at present is 1,170, two-thirds of these living in the four settlements on the western side, and the remainder in the Villages of Vaipae and Tautu on the east. The Resident Agent is Mr. J. C. Cameron.

Niue.

Niue is the largest of the annexed islands, having an area of a hundred square miles, and a circumference of forty miles by road. It consists entirely of uplifted coral, and is probably the result of a series of upheavals. In general formation it takes the shape of two terraces, the lower being about 90 ft. above sea-level, and the other about 220 ft.

At Alofi the fringing reef is broken by a narrow boat-passage, partly natural and partly the result of improvements effected by H.M.S. “Mildura” a few years ago. In addition to the one at Alofi, there are landing-places at Avatele and Tuapa, and a boat-passage is being formed at the latter, where Togia, the “King” of Niue resides. Although so rocky that it is for the most part unploughable, Niue is by no means unproductive. All the usual tropical fruits grow well, and large trees are found averaging from 18 in. to 2 ft. 6 in. in diameter, and in some cases attaining a diameter of 4 ft. and running up to 100 ft. in height. Large areas of the island are covered with forest, and it is estimated that there must be millions of feet of timber suitable for milling purposes, including ebony and other hardwoods. A good deal of this timber, however, is situated in rocky country, and it is questionable if it would pay to cut it and bring it out. One of the principal drawbacks to Niue trade in the past has been the lack of good roads connecting the various villages with the principal landing-place, but this difficulty is fast being removed. In addition to a road right round the island, there is now a road through the centre, with branch roads to the settlements on either side, and before long there should be a good system of roads throughout the island. A careful survey of the island was made last year; the roads were traversed throughout, the area of the island determined, and the coast-line defined. There are many extensive caves in Niue, and concerning these Mr. Haszard, the surveyor who visited the island, says: “There is one at Lakepa, I was told, having passages which can be measured by the mile. I was so Pushed for time, however, that I was unable to inspect it, but one that I visited at Vaiopeope is extremely beautiful. It is situated about two hundred yards from the sea on the northern coast, and is formed of a number of galleries and terraces, one below the other. Stalactites and stalagmites are in great profusion, and group themselves into all kinds of fantastic shapes. In one gallery the roof appears to be studded with lilies carved out of alabaster. As one descends to the lower galleries the sensation is decidedly weird. The gurgling and reverberations of the swiftly flowing water is heard deep down in dark subterranean channels, which are evidently connected with the sea, for, ever and anon, a mighty gust of wind impelled by the huge rollers breaking on the reef outside, strikes the visitor, and it requires a steady nerve and a firm foothold to avoid being swept into the seething cauldron below. If these caves were in an accessible position they would be a great draw to tourists.

In consequence of the porous nature of the rock there are no streams in Niue, and consequently fresh water is scarce. A supply is obtainable from the caves, but the difficulty of carriage is necessarily considerable, and the water is frequently brackish. Steps are being taken to construct concrete tanks in the principal villages. These will be roofed over with galvanised corrugated iron, and will provide a sufficient catchment-surface to fill them during the rainy season. The people will then have a reliable supply of good drinking-water.

The principal industry on the island is the manufacture of hats. The Natives are very expert plaiters, but the material used—a kind of pandanus—is not the best for the purpose. It is proposed to import the genuine Panama leaf, and if this can be done the hat trade in Niue will be developed immensely. During the year ending the 31st December, 1903, hats to the number of 4,294 dozen were exported from Niue, principally to Auckland, the value represented being £2,962. There is also a good trade done in curios, fungus, and copra, the export of the last-mentioned item for 1903 being 447 tons. The population of Niue may be stated as 4,100, exclusive of some four hundred men at present absent in other islands. The Niueans are naturally of a roving disposition, and numbers of the men go to Tonga, Samoa, Malden Island, &c. Many go under engagement as labourers, and return on the expiration of their term. The white population numbers about twenty persons. The Resident Commissioner is Mr. C. F. Maxwell, who also acts as Postmaster, Collector of Customs, &c.

Penrhyn.

Penrhyn is a good specimen of the pure atoll. It is merely a ring of coral, about forty-eight miles in circuit, supporting a number of low islands, from 200 to 300 yards across, and enclosing a lagoon of ninety square miles in area, of which twenty-four square miles are more or less covered with pearl-shell. There are three passages into the lagoon, the principal one having a depth of 18 ft. at low water, and there is sufficient wharf accommodation at Omoka for the small class of vessel that visits the island. The other village at Penrhyn, Te Tautua, is some ten miles distant. The pearl-shell fishing is the main industry of the island, but during 1902-1903 100 tons of copra were exported; and Colonel Gudgeon then reported “that from some unexplained cause the cocoanut palms have suddenly regained their old fertility, and thousands of young trees, planted on land only a few feet above sea-level, are growing as vigorously as those planted on the best alluvial land in Rarotonga.” The practice followed with regard to pearl-shell fishing is to divide the lagoon into three parts, which are alternately closed against fishing for a certain period. When the interdiction is removed from any area the Natives may dive without restriction beyond the payment of a small fee to the Government. After the naked diving has been in operation for a time the machines are allowed to be brought into requisition until the limit of time has been reached. That area is then closed, and the same procedure is repeated in another portion of the lagoon. By this means each area is given rest for about a year, and as the shell is said to grow very rapidly at Penrhyn the supply is well maintained. An Ordinance of the Federal Council prohibits the removal of shells of less than 4 in. in diameter. Over 90 tons of pearl-shell, representing an amount of £9,300, were exported from the northern islands during 1902, and it would be safe to say that the greater part of this came from Penrhyn, from which island alone over 100 tons annually were formerly obtained. The value of the shell ranges from £100 a ton to upwards of £200. The total population is nearly 450, about a dozen being Europeans. The Resident Agent is Captain M. J. Nagle.

Manihiki.

Manihiki is also an atoll, but, unlike Penrhyn, it has no opening through the reef into the lagoon, and when the Natives wish to visit the neighbouring island of Rakahanga their boats have to be carried across the narrow strip of land separating the lagoon from the sea. The island consists of about two square miles of land, encircling a lagoon of some six miles in diameter. A good deal of pearl-shell has been obtained from Manihiki, but about three years ago it was found necessary to close the lagoon, as the shell-beds had been fished almost to the point of exhaustion. The Natives of this island have some reputation for their skill in the manufacture of hats. Walking-sticks, paddles, &c., inlaid with pearl-shell, are also manufactured. The export of copra from Manihiki for 1902-1903 amounted to 135 tons, and as the Natives are beginning to see the wisdom of thinning out the superabundant growth of their palms the production of this item should materially increase. The Native teachers of the London Missionary Society look after the education of the children of the island. The total population is approximately five hundred. Mr. H. Williams acts as Resident Agent.

Mitiaro.

This is a small coral island lying about forty miles to the north-east of Atiu, and an equal distance from Mauke. Its area is only about four square miles, and it nowhere rises higher than 50 ft. above sea-level. It contains some good land, however, and is capable of producing 100 tons of copra annually. Its present annual export is about 70 tons of copra and five hundred boxes of oranges. In the centre is a pretty little lagoon, bordered by a belt of swamp. The population according to the last returns was 218.

Takutea.

This is the smallest island in the Cook Group, its area being about 400 acres. It lies about 125 miles to the north-east of Rarotonga, and close to the Island of Atiu. It belonged to the late Ngamaru Ariki, and was by him presented to His Majesty King Edward for the benefit of his subjects in the Group. The Resident Commissioner proposes to have the island systematically planted with cocoanut-palms, and he anticipates that it will in time yield 200 tons of copra annually. At present it is uninhabited.

Palmerston.

Palmerston is an atoll, with a land-area of one square mile, lying to the north-west of Rarotonga, some 273 miles distant. The reef carries a number of small islets, which are in the occupation of the descendants of the late William Marsters, an old English sailor. One of these, Joel Marsters, acts as Resident Agent, and he and six other members of the family constitute the Island Council. The lagoon, which is about eight miles in diameter, does not carry pearl-shell at present, but it is hoped that spawn may be successfully introduced from other islands. The planting of the land is being well looked after by the Marsters family. The population is 115.

Manuae and Te Au-o-Tu.

These two small islands are enclosed within one reef, and are known as the Hervey Isles—a name that is frequently applied to the Cook Group as a whole. They contain approximately 500 acres and 800 acres respectively of good cocoanut land, and under the careful cultivation of the Cook Islands Trading Company, to whom they are leased, they will ere long produce an immense amount of copra. The islets form a dependency of Aitutaki, about sixty miles distant, by the people of which they were conquered in heathen times. By a recent decision of the Land Titles Court Te Au-o-Tu was awarded to the Arikis of Aitutaki and their clans, seventy-one owners. who claimed the islands by right of conquest; while in the case of Manuae an order was made in favour of the eighty-six descendents of the conquered people, their claim also having been recognised as good. This partition of the islands ends a long-standing contention between the rival claimants, and the judgment is admitted to be an equitable one. The Cook Islands Trading Company's lease runs for twenty-five years from the 7th June, 1898, and the rent will now be shared equally by the owners of the two islands. The population is stated as ten.

Suwarrow.

Suwarrow is a valuable atoll, 530 miles from Rarotonga. Its value lies chiefly in its lagoon, however, the land-area being very small. The lagoon is from eight to ten miles long, and about eight miles across at the widest part, and it makes a splendid harbour, having an entrance sufficiently deep to admit vessels drawing up to 20 ft. of water. The island is under lease to Lever's Pacific Plantations (Limited) ″ for the purpose of removing guano or other fertilising substances therefrom, and of planting the land with cocoanuts, and for collecting pearl-shells, and for other purposes of a like nature.” A portion of one of the reef islets, known as Anchorage Island, is vested in the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty as a reserve for naval purposes. Large quantities of pearl-shell of excellent quality have been obtained from the lagoon by the Pacific Trading Company, the predecessors of the present lessees; but diving has been discontinued for some time now, and the shell-beds are being given a long rest, the company having transferred its operations to Christmas Island. It is probable that on the expiry of the present lease in August, 1913, the Islands Government will take over the control of the lagoon, so far, at least, as machine-diving is concerned. It is estimated that one machine will obtain from 40 to 45 tons of shell a year at Suwarrow. There are about thirty people on the island.

Rakahanga.

This island lies about twenty-five miles to the north of Manihiki. It is not so large as its neighbour, and the lagoon does not contain any pearl-shell, but otherwise the two islands are very much alike. They are owned and inhabited by the same people, and what has been said concerning Manihiki is true, for the most part, of Rakahanga also. The duties of Resident Agent are performed by Panapa Wauharangi, a teacher of the London Missionary Society, whose good sense and great influence with the people enable him to fill the position very satisfactorily. Rakahanga exported 160 tons of copra during the year 1902-1903; but here, as in Manihiki, the cocoanut-palms must be judiciously thinned out before the limit of production can be reached. Rakahanga has a population of 400.

Danger (Pukapuka) and Nassau.

Of these two islands, which lie away towards the north-west corner of the annexation boundary, it is not possible to say much at present. Concerning the former Colonel Gudgeon writes, “At Pukapuka I found a very singular population, who have now some knowledge of the Rarotongan language, but whose language is not intelligible to the Maori of the Pacific. This is such a primitive people that I considered it advisable for the present to leave them under their own ancient form of government, inasmuch as they are seldom visited by Europeans, and produce only a little copra.” The island is a small atoll of about three miles in diameter, and the lagoon produces some pearl-shell. The population numbers about five hundred. Nassau is owned by a resident of Apia, Samoa.

EDUCATION.

The education of the children in these islands is well looked after by the London Missionary Society, the pioneers in all educational and missionary effort in this part of the Pacific. Almost every village of any importance has its school. The most important educational establishment, however, is the high school at Tereora, Rarotonga, where children from all the islands of the Group are received as boarders and given a really good education. The following extract from a recent report by the Resident Commissioner will convey a good idea of the work that is being done in Tereora School, and in the educational institutions generally throughout the islands:—

“During the past year four boys have been selected from this school and employed in the various stores in the island, and I have taken one on as a cadet in the survey office, who promises to become a first-class draughtsman. The master, Mr. P. H. Hall, deserves very great credit for the good English taught in his school, and I feel assured that Tereora will be to the Cook Islands what Te Aute College is to the young Maoris of New Zealand. A Native of Polynesia is apt to take a very practical view of education, and only values it for the advantages that may thereby accrue to the scholar. Until lately these prospective benefits have not been apparent to the Maori, and therefore many of the most influential people have not taken advantage of the education offered by Tereora; but the sudden demand for reliable and educated boys who can speak both English and Maori has altered all that. Makea is now sending her foster-children to Tereora, and the parents generally are alive to the fact that knowledge may be both power and money, two things that will never be despised in Polynesia.

“The remarks I have made concerning Tereora will apply in a slightly less degree to the Araura School of Aitutaki. This institution is of recent date, but under the management of the Misses Royle is doing good work, while the Rev. Mr. Jones, with characteristic energy and benevolence, prepares the younger children for Araura.

“At Mangaia the Rev. Mr. Bond James is engaged in the same good work, and it may safely be said that wherever the European members of the mission are engaged in the teaching the education given is quite up to the requirements of the islands. This remark can only apply to Rarotonga, Aitutaki, and Mangaia. At Atiu, Mauke. and Mitiaro, where there are no European missionaries, the education of the children must of necessity be left in the hands of the Native teachers. In these cases it is, however, possible to render assistance at a very small cost to the Group, and I propose to employ a few of the smartest boys from Tereora as teachers at a sum not exceeding £20 per annum each, a salary that will be regarded as absolute wealth. For the last eight years we have given an annual subsidy to Tereora of £2 10s. per scholar, provided that not more than fifty scholars were taught in the school. This subsidy was paid with the view of providing food for the children from the outlying islands, but it has been found to be insufficient, and I propose to increase it to £200 per annum. It will be money well spent, for it is from Tereora that the English language will spread over the whole Group.”

The Sisters of St. Joseph have a very good school at Avarua, Rarotonga, where music is included among the subjects taught; and in the Village of Titikaveka the Seventh-day Adventists have a school which is well patronised owing to the fact that the lady in charge makes the teaching of English the leading feature of her work.

REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.

Cook and Northern Islands.—For the financial year ending the 31st March, 1904, the revenue of the Cook and other Islands, including the balance from the previous year, was £7,169 0s. 8d., and the expenditure £4,558 3s. 9d., leaving a credit balance of £2,610 16s. 11d. In addition to this there is an amount of £421 18s. 6d. outstanding for Land Titles Court fees, so that the real surplus at the 31st March, 1904, was £3,032 15s. 5d. The following is a comparative statement of revenue and expenditure for the past six years:—

Year.Revenue.Expenditure.Surplus.
..£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
* Figures for 1901-2 are for nine months only.
1898-991,8011341,402125......
1899-19003,1657102,188910......
1900-14,25217112,95114101,30131
1901-24,063962,335731,72823
1902-36,5841344,72516111,858165
1903-47,169084,558392,6101611

Niue.—The revenue of Niue for the year ending the 31st March, 1904 (including balance from previous year), was £2,965 6s. 1d., and the expenditure £1,244 11s. 4d., showing a surplus on the year's working of £1,720 14s. 9d. The total funds to the credit of the Niue Government on the 31st March, however, amounted to £2,117 7s. 3d.

EXPORTS AND IMPORTS.

Cook and Northern Islands.—The value of exports for the year 1903-1904 was £34,740, while the imports amounted to £34,886. The principal items exported were as follow:—

From the Cook Group—£
    Bêche-de-mer, 32 cwt.48
    Coffee, 138,000 1b.2,310
    Copra, 655 tons5,443
    Candlenuts, 113 tons678
    Bananas, 25,843 cases, 10,075 bunches4,800
    Oranges, 60,346 cases10,050
    Pineapples, 5,663 cases900
    Fruit, unenumerated, 282 cases40
    Limejuice, 29,000 gallons1,250
From the northern islands—..
    Copra, 450 tons3,870
    Pearl-shell, 50 tons4,000

The amount of the imports is made up as follows:—

From New Zealand25,803
    ″     United Kingdom2,089
    ″     New South Wales879
    ″     Victoria298
    ″     United States1,256
    ″     Germany193
    ″     France79
    ″     Tahiti4,289
 £34,886

Niue.—The exports for 1903 amounted to £7,651 18s. 2d., and the imports to £8,001 2s. 6d. The items of export were,—

 £s.d.
Copra, 447 tons4,09385
Hats, 4,293 2/3 dozen2,961109
Fungus, 27,267 1b.331177
Curios25141
Arrowroot, 981 1b.1047
Kava, &c.3129
 7,651182

The imports represented—

 £s.d.
From New Zealand5,592010
    ″     Sydney1,53901
    ″     Tonga302156
    ″     Samoa6834
    ″     Malden Island265145
Germany23384
 £8,00126

Chapter 77. APPENDIX.

PRINCIPAL EVENTS.

DATES OF SOME OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND.

Dec. 13, 1642.—Discovery of New Zealand by Abel Jansen Tasman.

Oct. 8, 1769.—Captain Cook larded at Poverty Bay on his first visit.

June 30, 1788.—Macaulay and Curtis Islands, of the Kermadec Group, discovered by Captain Sever, of H.M. transport “Lady Penrhyn.”

Nov. 29, 1790.—Chatham Islands discovered by Lieutenant Broughton, in H.M.S. “Chatham.”

Nov. 17, 1793.—Captain d'Entrecasteaux, with the “La Recherche” and “L'Espérance,” discovered Raoul or Sunday Island. (The latter name was given by Captain Raven, of the transport “Britannia,” who visited the island 6th Nov., 1796.)

Nov., 1793.—Lieutenant-Governor King's (of Norfolk Island) visit to Doubtless Bay.

1795.—The ship “Endeavour,” Captain Bampton, sunk at Facile Harbour Dusky Sound.

1800.—Antipodes Island discovered by Captain Pendleton.

1806.—Auckland Isles discovered by Captain Briscow, ship “Ocean,” one of Enderby's whalers.

1806.—Ship “Venus” visited East Coast of New Zealand. She was taken by convicts at Port Dalrymple, Tasmania. Their visits gave rise to the Nga-Puhi southern expedition.

1807.—Defeat of Hongi and Nga Puhi tribe at Moremonui, 10 miles south of Maunganui Bluff, Kaipara.

1809.—The taking and burning of the transport “Boyd” at Whangaroa.

1810.—Campbell Island discovered by Captain F. Haselburg, of brig “Perseverance.”

1814.—First arrival of the Rev. Mr. Marsden at Bay of Islands, and introduction of Christianity. Horses, oxen, sheep, and poultry first brought to the colony.

Aug., 1815.—Attempted capture of the “Trial” and “Brothers” at Kennedy Bay.

1818.—Hongi's and Te Morenga's great expedition to East Cape.

1819-20.—Patuone, Nene, and Te Rauparaha's raid on Taranaki and Port Nicholson.

1820.—Hongi visited England; returned to New Zealand July, 1821.

1820.—H.M. store-ship “Coromandel” visited Coromandel.

1820.—Rev. S. Marsden travelled from Wai-te-mata viâ Kaipara to the Bay of Islands—the first white man to do so.

Aug., 1820.—The “Prince Regent” entered Auckland Harbour—the first vessel to do so.

Nov., 1821.—Fall of Mauinaina Pa, Auckland Isthmus, to Hongi.

Nov., 1821.—Ngati-Toa migration from Kawhia to Otaki under Te Rauparaha.

Dec., 1821.—Fall of Te Totara Pa, Thames, to Hongi.

May, 1822.—Fall of Matakitaki Pa, Waikato, to Hongi.

May, 1823.—Fall of Mokoia Pa, Rotorua Lake, to Hongi.

1823, 1828.—Acts passed by the Imperial Parliament extending the jurisdiction of the Courts of justice in New South Wales to all the British subjects in New Zealand.

1824.—Fall of Te Whetumatarau Pa, near East Cape, to Pomare.

1825.—First attempt at colonisation by an expedition under the command of Captain Herd, who bought two islands in the Hauraki Gulf.

Feb., 1825.—Great defeat of Ngati-Whatua at Te Ikaaranganui, Kaipara, by Hongi.

1827.—Destruction of mission-station at Whangaroa by Hongi's forces.

Feb., 1827.—Admiral (then Captain) Dumont D'Urville anchored in Auckland Harbour.

1828.—Hongi died at Whangaroa, from wounds received at Hokianga.

1828.—The “Maquarie,” Captain Kent, the first vessel to enter Kawhia.

March, 1829.—Brig “Hawes” captured at Whakatane by Maoris.

1830.—Battle of Taumata-wiwi, near Cambridge.

1830.—Fall of Kaiapohia Pa, Canterbury.

March 6, 1830.—Battle of Kororareka, between two Nga-Puhi tribes.

Dec., 1830.—Death of Tama-i-hara-nui at the hands of Te Rauparaha's people. He was brought from Port Cooper by Captain Steward, brig “Elizabeth.”

1831.—Tory Channel whaling-station established.

1831.—Application of thirteen chiefs for the protection of King William the Fourth.

Dec., 1831.—Pukerangiora Pa, Waitara, fell to Waikato.

Feb., 1832.—Repulse of Waikato at Nga-motu Pa, under Dicky Barrett.

1833.—Mr. Busby appointed British Resident, to live at the Bay of Islands.

1834.—Battle of Haowhenua and Pakakutu, near Otaki.

1834.—Bishop Williams's first visit to East Cape.

April 29, 1834.—“Harriet” wrecked at Cape Egmont.

Oct. 1, 1834.—H.M.S. “Alligator” shelled and took Waimate Pa, near Opunake. First occasion of H.M. troops being employed in New Zealand.

1835.—Declaration of independence of the whole of New Zealand as one nation, with the title of “The United Tribes of New Zealand.”

Nov. and Dec., 1835.—Ngati-Awa tribes migrated to and conquered the Chatham Islands.

March 28, 1836.—Maketu Pa, Bay of Plenty, fell to Waikato.

May 9, 1836.—Te Tumu Pa, Bay of Plenty, fell to Te Arawa.

Aug. 5, 1836.—Battle at Matai-puku, Rotorua—Waikato beat Te Arawa.

Oct., 1836.—Siege of Toka-a-kuku, Te Kaha, Bay of Plenty.

1838.—The Roman Catholic Bishop Pompallier, with several priests, arrived at Hokianga.

Sept. 1, 1838.—H.M.S. “Pelorus” discovers Pelorus Sound.

April, 1839.—Taking of the French whaler “Jean Bart” at Chatham Islands by Maoris.

May 12, 1839.—Departure of the preliminary expedition of the New Zealand Company from England.

June, 1839.—Issue of Letters Patent authorising the Governor of New South Wales to include within the limits of that colony any territory that might be acquired in sovereignty by Her Majesty in New Zealand.

Sept. 16, 1839.—First body of New Zealand Company's emigrants sailed from Gravesend.

Sept. 20, 1839.—Arrival in Port Nicholson of the preliminary expedition of the New Zealand Company under Colonel Wakefield.

Oct. 16, 1839.—Battle of Te Kuititanga, Otaki.

Jan. 20, 1840.—First steamer arrived in New Zealand.

Jan. 22, 1840.—Arrival of first body of immigrants at Port Nicholson.

Jan. 29, 1840.—Captain Hobson, R.N., arrived at the Bay of Islands. On the following day (Jan. 30) he hoisted the Union flag, and read the commission, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom, which extended the boundaries of the Colony of New South Wales so as to embrace and comprehend the Islands of New Zealand; also his own commission as Lieutenant-Governor over territory that might be acquired in sovereignty.

Feb. 5, 1840.—Treaty of Waitangi signed.

May 21, 1840.—Date of Proclamations of sovereignty over the Islands of New Zealand.

June 17, 1840.—The Queen's sovereignty over the Middle Island formally proclaimed at Cloudy Bay, by Major Bunbury, H.M. 80th Regiment, and Captain Nias, R.N.

Aug. 11, 1840.—The British flag hoisted at Akaroa by Captain Stanley, R.N., and British authority established. The French frigate “L'Aube” arrived there on the 13th August, and the vessel “Comte de Paris,” with fifty-seven immigrants, on the 16th August, in order to establish a French colony.

Sept. 18, 1840.—The British flag hoisted at Auckland. The Lieutenant-Governor's residence established there.

1840.—Formation of Wanganui settlement under the name of “Petre.”

Feb. 12, 1841.—Issue of charter of incorporation to the New Zealand Company.

Mar. 31, 1841.—Arrival of first New Plymouth settlers.

May 3, 1841.—New Zealand proclaimed to be independent of New South Wales.

Oct., 1841.—Selection of site for settlement at Nelson.

Feb. 1, 1842.—Settlement founded at Nelson.

May 29, 1842.—Arrival of Bishop Selwyn in the colony.

Sept. 10, 1842.—Death of Governor Hobson. Lieutenant Shortland, R.N., Colonial Secretary, became Acting-Governor until the arrival of Captain Fitzroy.

June, 1843.—Affray with Natives at the Wairau, and massacre by Rangihaeata of Captain Wakefield, R.N., agent at Nelson of the New Zealand Company, and others, who had surrendered.

Dec. 1, 1843.—Arrival of Captain Fitzroy, R.N., as Governor.

July 8, 1844.—The Royal flagstaff at Kororareka cut down by Heke.

March 10, 1845.—Attack on and destruction of Town of Kororareka by Heke.

Oct. 1, 1845.—Receipt of despatch notifying recall of Governor Fitzroy.

Nov. 14, 1845.—Arrival of Captain Grey, as Lieutenant-Governor of the colony, from South Australia.

Jan. 11, 1846.—Capture of pa at Ruapekapeka, Bay of Islands, and termination of Heke's war.

Mar. 3, 1846.—Commencement of Native hostilities in the Hutt Valley, near Wellington.

May 16, 1846.—Attack by Natives on a military outpost in the Hutt Valley.

July 23, 1846.—Capture of Te Rauparaha at Porirua, near Wellington. He was detained for a year as a prisoner on board a ship of war.

Aug. 28, 1846.—The New Zealand Government Act passed by the Imperial Parliament, under which a charter was issued dividing the colony into two provinces, and granting representative institutions.

May 19, 1847.—Attack by Natives on settlement of Wanganui.

Jan. 1, 1848.—Captain Grey sworn in as Governor-in-Chief over the Islands of New Zealand, also as Governor of the Province of New Ulster and Governor of the Province of New Munster.

Jan. 3, 1848.—Major-General Pitt appointed by Governor Grey to be Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of New Ulster.

Jan. 28, 1848.—Assumption by Lieutenant-Governor E. J. Eyre, at Wellington, of the administration of the Government of the Province of New Munster.

Feb. 21, 1848.—Peace ratified at Wanganui.

Mar. 7, 1848.—Suspension by Imperial statute of that part of the New Zealand Government Act which had conferred representative institutions.

Mar., 1848.—Otago founded by a Scotch company under the auspices of the Free Church of Scotland.

Oct., 1848.—Severe earthquake at Wellington.

July, 1850.—Surrender of the New Zealand Company's charter, all its interests in the colony reverting to the Imperial Government.

Dec., 1850.—Canterbury founded by the Canterbury Association in connection with the Church of England.

Jan. 8, 1851.—Death of Major-General Pitt, Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of New Ulster.

April 14, 1851.—Lieutenant-Colonel Wynyard appointed Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of New Ulster.

1852.—Discovery of gold at Coromandel by Mr. Charles Ring.

June 30, 1852.—The Constitution Act passed by the Imperial Parliament, granting representative institutions to the colony, and subdividing it into six provinces.

Jan., 1853.—Promulgation of the Constitution Act.

Mar. 7, 1853.—Assumption by Sir George Grey, K.C.B., of the duties of Governor of the colony, in terms of the appointment after the passing of the New Zealand Constitution Act, and cessation of the duties of the Lieutenant-Governors of New Ulster and New Munster.

Dec. 31, 1853.—Departure of Governor Sir George Grey.

Jan. 3, 1854.—Lieutenant-Colonel Wynyard assumed the administration of the Government.

May 27, 1854.—Opening at Auckland of the first session of the General Assembly by Lieutenant-Colonel Wynyard, Administrator of the Government.

Jan., 1855.—Very severe earthquake on each side of Cook Strait.

Sept. 6, 1855.—Arrival of Governor Colonel T. Gore Browne, C.B.

Nov. 12, 1855.—First members elected to House of Representatives under system of Responsible Government.

Aug. 8, 1855.—General Assembly opened.

Sept. 15, 1855.—General Assembly prorogued.

May 7, 1856.—Appointment of the first Ministry under the system of Responsible Government, under Mr. Sewell, Colonial Secretary.

May 14, 1856.—Defeat of Mr. Sewell's Ministry.

May 20, 1856.—Appointment of a Ministry under presidency of Mr. W. Fox, as Attorney-General.

May 28, 1856.—Defeat of Mr. Fox's Ministry, by a majority of one, on a direct vote of want of confidence.

June 2, 1856.—Appointment of a Ministry under the presidency of Mr. E. W. Stafford.

1857.—First payable goldfield in the colony opened at Collingwood, in the Nelson Province.

Aug. 21, 1858.—New Provinces Act passed.

Nov. 1, 1858.—Establishment of the Province of Hawke's Bay.

Dec. 22, 1858.—The Austrian exploring frigate “Novara” arrived in Auckland Harbour. Dr. Ferdinand von Hochstetter, at the request of the New Zealand Government, was commissioned to make geological surveys of the greater part of Auckland and Nelson Provinces.

March, 1859.—Te Teira offered land at Waitara for sale to the Government.

Nov. 1, 1859.—Establishment of the Province of Marlborough.

Mar., 1860.—Commencement of hostilities against Wiremu Kingi te Rangitake at Waitara.

Mar. 18, 1860.—Capture of Maori pa at Waitara.

Mar. 28, 1860.—Engagement at Waireka.

June 27, 1860.—Engagement of Puketakauere at Waitara.

Nov. 6, 1860.—Defeat at Mahoetahi, with heavy loss, of a force of Waikato Natives, who had crossed the Waitara River to join Wiremu Kingi.

Dec. 31, 1860.—Capture of the Matarikoriko Pa, and defeat of a large body of Waikato Natives.

Jan. 23, 1861.—The Natives made a determined attack on the redoubt at Huirangi occupied by Imperial troops, and were repulsed with heavy loss.

April 1, 1861.—Establishment of Province of Southland.

May 21, 1861.—A truce agreed to.

May, 1861.—Discovery of gold at Gabriel's Gully, Otago.

July 5, 1861.—Defeat of Mr. Stafford's Ministry, by a majority of one, on a vote of want of confidence.

July 12, 1861.—Appointment of a Ministry under the premiership of Mr. Fox.

July 29, 1861.—Incorporation of the Bank of New Zealand.

Sept. 26, 1861.—Arrival of Sir George Grey, K.C.B., at Auckland, from the Cape Colony, to succeed Governor Gore Browne. Sir George Grey was sworn in as Governor on the 3rd October.

Oct. 2, 1861.—Departure of Governor Gore Browne.

June 28, 1862.—Coromandel proclaimed a goldfield.

June 29, 1862.—Wreck of s.s. “White Swan” on East Coast (with loss of many public records, in transit from Auckland).

July 28, 1862.—Defeat of Mr. Fox's Ministry by the casting-vote of the Speaker, on a proposed resolution in favour of placing the ordinary conduct of Native affairs under the administration of the Responsible Ministers.

Aug. 6, 1862.—Appointment of a Ministry under the leadership of Mr. Alfred Domett.

Feb. 7, 1863.—Wreck of H.M.S. “Orpheus” on Manukau Bar; 181 lives lost.

Feb. 26, 1863.—Definite relinquishment by the Imperial Government of control over administration of Native affairs.

May 4, 1863.—Treacherous assault near Tataraimaka by Natives on a military escort. Murder of Lieutenant Tragett, Dr. Hope, and five soldiers of the 57th Regiment.

June 4, 1863.—Defeat of Natives at Katikara, by a force under Lieut.-General Cameron.

July 17, 1863.—Action at Koheroa, in the Auckland Province. Commencement of the Waikato War.

Oct. 27, 1863.—Resignation of the Domett Ministry, in consequence of difficulties experienced in connection with arrangements for finding a fitting representative of the Government in the Legislative Council.

Oct. 30, 1863.—Appointment of the Ministry formed by Mr. Fox, under the premiership of Mr. F. Whitaker.

Nov., 1863.—Acceptance by the General Assembly of colonial responsibility in Native affairs.

Nov. 20, 1863.—Battle of Rangiriri. Defeat of Natives and unconditional surrender of 183.

Dec. 1, 1863.—The first railway in New Zealand opened for traffic by Mr. Samuel Bealey, Superintendent of Canterbury. The line was from Christchurch to Ferrymead Junction.

Dec. 3, 1863.—The New Zealand Settlements Act passed, giving the Governor power to confiscate the lands of insurgent Natives.

Dec. 8, 1863.—Occupation of Ngaruawahia. The British flag hoisted on the Maori king's flagstaff.

Feb. 11, 1864.—Engagement with Natives on Mangapiko River. Major (then Captain) Heaphy, of the New Zealand Forces, won the Victoria Cross for distinguished bravery on this occasion.

Feb. 22, 1864.—Defeat of Natives at Rangiaohia.

April 2, 1864.—Attack on and capture of pa at Orakau, Waikato.

April 21, 1864.—Engagement near Maketu, Bay of Plenty. Tribes of the Rawhiti defeated by Arawa Natives, under Captain McDonnell.

April 29, 1864.—Assault on Gate Pa, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, and repulse of large British force by the Maoris. The pa was abandoned by the Natives during the following night.

April 30, 1864.—Repulse of attack by rebel Hauhau Natives on redoubt at Sentry Hill, Taranaki.

May 14, 1864.—Battle of Moutoa, an island in the Wanganui River, between friendly and rebel Hauhau Natives. Complete defeat of rebels.

June 21, 1864.—Engagement at Te Ranga, near Tauranga, by Licut.-Colonel Greer, 68th Regiment. Severe defeat of the Natives.

1864.—Discovery of gold on the west coast of the Middle Island.

Sept. 10, 1864.—Escape of Maori prisoners from Kawau.

Oct. 3, 1864.—Wellington chosen as the seat of Government.

Nov. 24, 1864.—Appointment of a Ministry under the premiership of Mr. F. A. Weld, the Whitaker-Fox Ministry having resigned during the recess.

Dec. 17, 1864.—Confiscation of Native lands in Waikato by Sir George Grey.

Feb., 1865.—Removal of the seat of Government to Wellington.

March 2, 1865.—Barbarous murder of the Rev. Mr. Volkner, a Church of England missionary, at Opotiki, by Hauhau fanatics, under Kereopa.

June 8, 1865.—Submission of the Maori Chief Wiremu Tamihana te Waharoa (William Thompson).

June 17, 1865.—Murder of Mr. Fulloon, a Government officer, and his companions, at Whakatane, by Hauhau fanatics.

July 22, 1865.—Capture of the Wereroa Pa, near Wanganui.

Aug. 2, 1865.—Assault and capture of the Pa Kairomiromi, at Waiapu, by Colonial Forces under Captain Fraser, and Native Contingent under the chief Te Mokena. Eighty-seven rebels killed.

Sept. 2, 1865.—Proclamation of peace issued by Governor Sir George Grey, announcing that the war, which commenced at Oakura, was at an end.

Sept. 30, 1865.—Murder by Hauhaus, at Kakaramea, of Mr. Broughton, when sent as friendly messenger to them by Brigadier-General Waddy.

Oct. 12, 1865.—Resignation of Mr. Weld's Ministry, on account of a resolution adverse to the Government policy, having been defeated only by the casting-vote of the Speaker.

Oct. 16, 1865.—Appointment of a Ministry under the premiership of Mr. E. W. Stafford.

Dec. 25, 1865.—Defeat of rebel Natives at Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, by Colonial Forces and Native Contingent.

Jan. 4, 1866.—Defeat of Natives at Okotuku Pa, on the west coast of the North Island, by force under Major-General Chute.

Jan. 7, 1866.—Assault on and capture of Putahi Pa, by force under Major-General Chute.

Jan. 13, 1866.—Assault on and capture of Otapawa Pa, by force under Major-General Chute.

Jan. 17, 1866, to Jan. 25, 1866.—Period of Major-General Chute's march through the bush to New Plymouth.

Jan., 1866.—Escape of a large number of Native prisoners from the hulk at Wellington; many were drowned in trying to swim ashore.

March 29, 1866.—Submission of the rebel chiefs Te Heuheu and Herekiekie of Taupo district.

Mar., 1866.—A detachment of Maori prisoners sent to the Chatham Islands.

June 15, 1866.—Commencement of Panama steam mail-service.

Aug. 26, 1866.—The Cook Strait submarine telegraph cable laid.

Oct. 2, 1866.—Engagement with rebel Natives at Pungarehu, West Coast, by Colonial Forces, under Major McDonnell.

Oct. 8, 1866.—First Act passed to impose stamp duties.

Oct. 12, 1866.—Defeats of rebel Natives at Omaranui and at Petane, Hawke's Bay, by Colonial Forces.

Oct. 10, 1867.—An Act passed to establish an institute for the promotion of science and art in the colony.

Oct. 10, 1867.—An Act passed for the division of the colony into four Maori electorates, and the admission of four Maori members to the House of Representatives.

Jan., 1868.—Establishment of the County of Westland.

Feb. 5, 1868.—Arrival of Governor Sir George F. Bowen, G.C.M.G.

July 4, 1868.—Seizure by Maori prisoners, under the leadership of Te Kooti, of the schooner “Rifleman,” and their escape from the Chatham Islands.

July 12, 1868.—Night attack by Natives on redoubt at Turuturu Mokai. Sub-Inspector Ross and seven Europeans killed. Natives driven off by the arrival of a force under Major Von Tempsky.

Aug. 8, 1868.—Pursuit by Lieut.-Colonel Whitmore of escaped Chatham Island prisoners, and indecisive engagement in the gorge of the Ruake Ture.

Aug. 21, 1868.—Attack on Ngutu-o-te-Manu by force under Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. Defeat of Natives; four Europeans killed and eight wounded.

Sept. 7, 1868.—Engagement in bush at Ngutu-o-te-Manu. Major Von Tempsky, Captains Buck and Palmer, Lieutenants Hunter and Hastings, and fourteen men killed.

Oct. 19, 1868.—Bishop Selwyn left New Zealand.

Nov. 7, 1868.—Attack on Moturoa. Repulse of Colonial Forces, with severe loss.

Nov. 10, 1868.—Massacre of thirty-two Europeans at Poverty Bay by Te Kooti's band of Natives, who had escaped from the Chatham Islands.

Nov. 24, 1868, Dec. 3, 1868, Dec. 5, 1868.—Engagements between friendly Natives and rebels under Te Kooti, at Patutahi, Poverty Bay district.

Jan. 5, 1869.—Assault on and capture of Ngatapa Pa, Poverty Bay district, after a siege of six days, by the Colonial Forces of Europeans and friendly Natives under Colonel Whitmore and Major Ropata. Dispersion and pursuit of Te Kooti's band. More than 136 rebel Natives were killed.

Feb. 13, 1869.—Treacherous murder of the Rev. John Whitely and seven other Europeans at the White Cliffs, Taranaki.

Feb. 18, 1869.—Attack by rebel Natives on a foraging-party at Karaka Flat one sergeant and six men killed.

Mar. 3, 1869.—Termination of Panama mail-service.

Mar. 13, 1869.—Attack on and defeat of Titokowaru's force at Otauto.

April 10, 1869.—Native pa at Mohaka taken by Te Kooti, who killed forty friendly Natives and several Europeans in the neighbourhood.

April 12, 1869.—First arrival of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh in Wellington, in H.M.S. “Galatea.”

May 6, 1869.—Surprise and capture of Ahikereru and Oamaru Teangi Pas, Waiwera country. Defeat of Te Kooti.

June 13, 1869.—Surrender to Major Noake and Mr. Booth, R.M., of the chief Tairua, with 122 men, women, and children of the Pakakohe Tribe, near Wanganui.

June 24, 1869.—Defeat of Mr. Stafford's Ministry on a want-of-confidence motion.

June 28, 1869.—Appointment of a Ministry under the premiership of Mr. W. Fox.

Sept. 3, 1869.—An Act passed providing Government life insurance and annuities.

Oct., 1869.—Seventy-four prisoners from the bands of Te Kooti and Titoko-waru sentenced to death, after trial, for treason. The sentences of seventy-three were commuted to penal servitude for various terms.

Oct. 4, 1869.—Pourere Pa stormed and taken by Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, with a mixed force of Europeans and Natives.

Jan., 1870.—Three hundred friendly Natives under Topia, and three hundred under Major Keepa (known as Kemp), started up the Wanganui River in pursuit of Te Kooti, who retreated into the Urewera country.

Jan. 25, 1870.—Capture of Tapapa Pa, occupied by Te Kooti.

Feb. 24, 1870.—The last detachment of the Imperial troops left the colony.

Mar. 25, 1870.—Major Keepa, with Native force, captured the position held by Te Kooti at Maraetahi, in Urewera country; nineteen rebels killed and seventy-three of Te Kooti's men taken prisoners. Te Kooti escaped with twenty followers.

Mar. 26, 1870.—Commencement of San Francisco mail-service.

June 28, 1870.—Enunciation in the House of Representatives of the public-works policy by the Colonial Treasurer, Mr. Vogel.

July, 1870.—Thirty prisoners of Te Kooti's band sentenced to death. The sentences were commuted to penal servitude.

Aug. 27, 1870.—Arrival in Wellington of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh in H.M.S. “Galatea.” Second visit.

Sept. 12, 1870.—An Act passed to establish the New Zealand University.

Sept. 12, 1870.—The Land Transfer Act passed, to simplify the title to land and dealings with real estates.

Oct. 6, 1870.—Southland Province reunited with Otago.

Dec. 5, 1870.—Honiani te Puni, the chief of the Ngatiawas, a staunch friend of the Europeans, died at Petone, near Wellington, aged ninety years.

Mar., 1871.—Commencement of railway-construction under the public-works policy.

Aug. 4, 1871.—Death of Tamati Waka Nene, the great Ngapuhi chief and friend of the Europeans.

Nov., 1871.—Capture of the notorious rebel Kereopa, the murderer of the Rev. Mr. Volkner, by the Ngatiporous.

Jan. 5, 1872.—Execution of Kereopa at Napier.

Jan., 1872.—Remission of sentences on fifty-eight Native prisoners then undergoing imprisonment for rebellion.

Feb. 22, 1872.—Visit of William King, the Maori chief of Waitara, to New Plymouth, and resumption of amicable relations with the Europeans.

May 9, 1872.—A general thanksgiving-day for the recovery of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales.

Sept. 6, 1872.—Defeat and resignation of Mr. Fox's Ministry.

Sept. 10, 1872.—Appointment of a Ministry under the premiership of the Hon. E. W. Stafford.

Oct. 4, 1872.—Defeat of the Stafford Ministry on a vote of want of confidence moved by Mr. Vogel.

Oct. 11, 1872.—Appointment of a Ministry under the premiership of the Hon. G. M. Waterhouse, M.L.C.

Oct. 11, 1872.—First appointment of Maori chiefs (two) to be members of the Legislative Council.

Oct. 25, 1872.—The Public Trust Office Act passed.

Jan., 1873.—Establishment of the New Zealand Shipping Company.

Mar. 3, 1873.—The Hon. W. Fox appointed Premier on the resignation of that office by the Hon. G. M. Waterhouse, the other members of the Ministry being confirmed in their offices.

Mar. 19, 1873.—Departure of Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G.

Mar. 21, 1873.—Assumption of the Government by Sir G. A. Arney, Chief Justice, as Administrator.

April 8, 1873.—Resignation of the premiership by the Hon. W. Fox, on the return of the Hon. J. Vogel, C.M.G., from Australia. Appointment of Mr. Vogel as Premier, the other Ministers being confirmed in their offices.

June 14, 1873.—Arrival of Governor Sir J. Fergusson, P.C.

Aug. 22, 1874.—The Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Act passed.

Nov. 27, 1874.—Sir James Fergusson left New Zealand.

Dec. 3, 1874.—Arrival of Governor the Marquis of Normanby, P.C.

1874.—31,774 immigrants were introduced this year under the immigration and public-works policy.

Jan. 3, 1875.—Visit of Sir Donald McLean to the Maori king; resumption of amicable relations.

July 6, 1875.—Resignation of the Ministry, in consequence of the absence of Sir J. Vogel, K.C.M.G., in England, and his being unable to attend the session of Parliament. Reconstitution thereof, under the premiership of the Hon. Dr. Pollen, M.L.C.

July, 1875.—Establishment of the Union Steam Shipping Company of New Zealand.

1875.—18,324 immigrants were introduced this year under the immigration and public-works policy.

Oct. 12, 1875.—The Abolition of Provinces Act passed.

Feb. 15, 1876.—Resignation of the Hon. Dr. Pollen's Ministry, and reconstitution under the premiership of Sir J. Vogel, K.C.M.G.

Feb. 18, 1876.—Completion of the work of laying the telegraph cable between New Zealand and New South Wales.

June, 1876.—Death of Dr. Isaac Earl Featherston, while acting as Agent-General for the colony in England. He was the first to hold that office, and had previously been Superintendent of the Province of Wellington from the time of the first establishment of provincial representative institutions.

Sept. 1, 1876.—Resignation of Sir J. Vogel's Ministry in view of the appointment of Sir J. Vogel as Agent-General. Formation of a Ministry under the premiership of Major Atkinson.

Sept. 13, 1876.—Resignation of Major Atkinson's Ministry in consequence of doubts being entertained as to the constitutional position thereof. Reconstruction of the Ministry under the premiership of Major Atkinson.

Nov. 1, 1876.—“The Abolition of Provinces Act, 1875,” came into full operation. Complete abolition of provincial institutions. The colony subdivided into counties and municipal boroughs.

Oct. 8, 1877.—Defeat of the Atkinson Ministry on a vote of want of confidence moved by Mr. Larnach.

Oct. 15, 1877.—Appointment of a Ministry under the premiership of Sir George Grey, K.C.B.

Nov. 29, 1877.—The Education Act, providing for the free and compulsory education of children, passed.

April 11, 1878.—Bishop Selwyn died, in England.

Oct. 29, 1878.—Sir George Grey's first land-tax passed.

Feb. 29, 1879.—Departure of Governor the Marquis of Normanby, P.C.

Mar., 1879.—Removal of surveyors from the Waimate Plains by Natives acting under Te Whiti's orders.

Mar. 27, 1879.—Arrival of Governor Sir Hercules G. R. Robinson, G.C.M.G.

May 25, 187.—The Natives from Parihaka, by order of Te Whiti, began ploughing up lands occupied by Europeans.

June, 1879.—Arrest and imprisonment of 180 of these Natives for causing disturbances.

July 29, 1879.—Defeat of the Grey Ministry on an amendment to the Address in Reply, moved by Sir William Fox, followed by a dissolution of Parliament.

Oct. 3, 1879.—Defeat and subsequent resignation of Sir George Grey's Ministry.

Oct. 8, 1879.—Appointment of a Ministry under the premiership of the Hon. John Hall.

Dec. 19, 1879.—An Act passed to assess property for the purpose of taxation.

Dec. 19, 1879.—The Triennial Parliament Act passed.

Dec. 19, 1879.—An Act passed to qualify every resident male of twenty-one years of age and upwards to vote.

June, 1880.—First portion of the Parihaka Maori prisoners released by the Government.

July 9, 1880.—Bounty Island taken possession of by Captain George Palmer H.M.S. “Rosario.”

Sept. 8, 1880.—Departure of Governor Sir Hercules G. R. Robinson, G.C.M.G.

Oct. 1880.—Release of the last portion of the Parihaka Maori prisoners.

Oct. 26, 1880.—Sir Francis Dillon Bell appointed Agent-General.

Nov. 29, 1880.—Arrival of Governor Sir A. H. Gordon, G.C.M.G.

April 29, 1881.—“Tararua,” steamer, wrecked; 130 lives lost.

June 26, 1881.—Severe earthquakes in Wellington.

Nov. 5, 1881.—March of force of Constabulary and Volunteers on Parihaka, and arrest of Te Whiti and Tohu, without bloodshed.

Feb. 15, 1882.—First shipment of frozen meat made from Port Chalmers. (See Year-book, 1893, p. 192.)

April 21, 1882.—Resignation (during the recess) of the Hon. J. Hall's Ministry, and its reconstruction under the premiership of the Hon. F. Whitaker, M.L.C.

June 23, 1882.—Departure of Governor Sir A. H. Gordon.

June 24, 1882.—Assumption of the Government by Sir J. Prendergast, Chief Justice.

Jan. 20, 1883.—Arrival of Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.B.

Jan. 26, 1883.—A direct line of steam-communication between England and New Zealand inaugurated by the New Zealand Shipping Company.

Feb. 13, 1883.—Proclamation of amnesty to Maori political offenders.

Feb. 19, 1883.—Liberation of Te Whiti and Tohu.

Sept. 25, 1883.—Resignation of the office of Premier and his seat in the Ministry by the Hon. F. Whitaker, and the appointment of the Hon. Major H. A. Atkinson to be Premier, the members of Mr. Whitaker's Ministry being confirmed in their offices.

June 11, 1884.—Defeat of Major Atkinson's Government.

June 27, 1884.—Dissolution of the General Assembly.

Aug. 16, 1884.—Resignation of Major Atkinson's Ministry in consequence of the result of the general election. Formation of a Ministry under the premiership of Mr. Robert Stout.

Aug. 20, 1884.—Defeat of Mr. Stout's Ministry by an amendment, expressive of want of confidence, to the Address in Reply being carried.

Aug. 28, 1884.—Appointment of a Ministry under the premiership of Major Atkinson.

Aug. 29, 1884.—Defeat of Major Atkinson's Ministry on a vote of want of confidence.

Sept. 3, 1884.—Appointment of a Ministry under the premiership of Mr. Robert Stout.

Nov. 8, 1884.—An Act passed to enable certain loans of the New Zealand Government to be converted into inscribed stock and the accrued sinking funds released.

Aug. 1, 1885.—The New Zealand Industrial Exhibition opened at Wellington.

June 10, 1886.—Volcanic eruptions at Tarawera, and destruction of the famed Pink and White Terraces; 101 lives lost.

May 28, 1887.—Defeat of Sir Robert Stout's Ministry.

July 15, 1887.—Dissolution of the General Assembly, after prorogation, on the 10th June.

July 21, 1887.—A Proclamation issued declaring the Kermadec Islands to be annexed to and form part of the Colony of New Zealand.

Aug. 17, 1887.—Kermadec Group annexed to New Zealand. Flag hoisted and proclamation read at Sunday Island.

Oct. 8, 1887.—Appointment of a Ministry under the premiership of Major H. A. Atkinson, Sir Robert Stout's Ministry having resigned in consequence of the result of the election.

Dec. 19, 1887.—An Act passed to reduce the number of members of the House of Representatives, after the expiration of the General Assembly then sitting, to seventy-four, including four Maori representatives.

Dec. 23, 1887.—The Australian Naval Defence Act, being an Act to provide for the establishment of an additional naval force on the Australian station, at the joint charge of the Imperial and the several Colonial Governments, was passed by the New Zealand Legislature.

Oct. 27, 1888.—Formal Proclamation of British Protectorate of Cook group of islands, by Captain Bourke, R.N., of H.M.S. “Hyacinth.”

Mar. 22, 1889.—Departure of Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.B., from the colony.

Mar. 23, 1889.—Assumption of the Government by Sir James Prendergast.

Mar. 2, 1889.—Arrival of the Earl of Onslow, G.C.M.G.

Sept. 2, 1889.—Electors prohibited by statute from voting in respect of more than one electorate at any election for the House of Representatives.

Nov. 26, 1889.—Opening of South Seas Exhibition, Dunedin.

Dec. 5, 1890.—First election of members of the House of Representatives under a practical manhood suffrage, and on the one-man-one-vote principle.

Jan. 24, 1891.—Notification by Governor of acceptation of resignation (during the recess) of the Hon. Sir H. A. Atkinson's Ministry. Appointment of a Ministry under the premiership of the Hon. John Ballance.

April 22, 1891.—Proclamation by Governor of New Zealand to inhabitants at Rarotonga of appointment of British Resident for the Protectorate of the Cook Islands.

May 25, 1891.—Adhesion of Australia to Postal Union.

Aug. 19, 1891.—Labour-laws: Passing of Employers' Liability Act 1882 Amendment Act

Aug. 29, 1891.—Labour-laws: Passing of Truck Act, to prohibit payment of wages in goods or otherwise than in money.

Sept. 8, 1891.—Passing of Land and Income Assessment Act for purposes of taxation, and repeal of property-tax.

Sept. 21, 1891.—Labour laws: Passing of an Act for supervising and regulating of factories and workrooms. [Repealed by Act of 1894.]

Jan. 19, 1892.—Electoral districts of the colony based on population as ascertained by the results of the census of 1891 proclaimed.

Feb. 2, 1892.—Departure of Governor the Earl of Onslow.

Feb. 25, 1892.—Assumption of the Government by Sir James Prendergast, Chief Justice.

June 7, 1892.—Arrival of Governor the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G.

June 28, 1892.—Death of Sir H. A. Atkinson, K.C.M.G., Speaker of the Legislative Council, and previously four times Premier.

Oct. 1, 1892.—Labour-laws: Passing of Contractors' and Workmen's Lien Act.

Oct. 8, 1892.—Passing of Dairy Industry Act. [Repealed by Act of 1894.]

Oct. 11, 1892.—Passing of first Land-tax and Income-tax Act on the basis of the Assessment Act of previous year.

Oct. 11, 1892.—“Land Act, 1892”: Lease in Perpetuity without revaluation system introduced: occupation with right of purchase: optional method of selection: small farms associations.

Oct. 8, 1892.—“Land for Settlements Act, 1892,” authorising purchase of lands from individuals for purposes of subdivision. [Repealed by Act of 1894. See post.]

April 19, 1893.—Cheviot Estate taken over by Government under the Land and Income Assessment Act.

April 27, 1893.—Death of Hon. John Ballance, Premier of New Zealand.

May 1, 1893.—Resignation of the Ministry in consequence of the death of the Hon. John Ballance, and appointment of a new Ministry under the premiership of the Hon. R. J. Seddon.

June 23, 1893.—Death of Sir William Fox, K.C.M.G., four times Premier of New Zealand.

Sept. 2, 1893.—Passing of Bank-note Issue Act, to make bank-notes a first charge on assets and to enable the Government to declare them to be a legal tender, &c.

Sept. 8, 1893.—The Legislative Council of New Zealand passed, by a majority of two, the Bill conferring the franchise on women.

Sept. 14, 1893.—Banks and Bankers Act Amendment Act passed, to permit of increase of capital by issue of new shares.

Sept. 19, 1893.—“The Electoral Act, 1893,” extending franchise to women.

Oct. 2, 1893.—Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act passed: New licenses to be subject to the votes of the electors: reduction or abolition of licenses if desired.

Oct. 6, 1893.—Passing of “Criminal Code Act, 1893.”

Oct. 6, 1893.—Labour-laws: Passing of “Workmen's Wages Act, 1893.”

Oct. 6, 1893.—Native Land Purchase and Acquisition Act.

Oct. 20, 1893.—Sir James Prendergast appointed temporarily Deputy of the Governor.

Nov. 28, 1893.—A general election took place, being the first occasion on which women exercised the franchise.

Dec. 28, 1893.—Death of Right Rev. Dr. Henry John Chitty Harper, formerly Bishop of Christchurch and Primate of New Zealand.

Mar. 19, 1894.—Sir James Prendergast appointed temporarily Deputy of the Governor.

June 30, 1894.—Passing of Act to extend operation of Bank-note Issue Act, and another Act to control the transfer of bank shares.

June 30, 1894.—“Bank of New Zealand Share Guarantee Act, 1894,” to guarantee special issue of shares to amount of £2,000,000, and purchase of Assets Estates Company by Assets Board. [Amended on July 20.]

July 20, 1894.—Passing of an Act to limit number of bank directors and power of shareholders to transfer their shares.

Aug. 21, 1894.—Labour-laws: Passing of Conspiracy Law Amendment.

Aug. 31, 1894.—Labour-laws: Passing of an Act to encourage the formation of industrial unions and associations, and to facilitate the settlement of industrial disputes by conciliation and arbitration.

Oct. 18, 1894.—“New Zealand Consols Act, 1894.”

Oct. 18, 1894.—“Government Advances to Settlers Act, 1894,” for relief of settlers burdened by high charges of interest, &c.

Oct. 18, 1894.—Passing of “Land for Settlements Act, 1894,” authorising acquisition of private lands for purposes of settlement, with compulsory powers, and repealing Act of 1892; also “Lands Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Act, 1894.”

Oct. 18, 1894.—Labour-laws: Passing of “Shops and Shop-assistants Act, 1894,” for limiting hours of business in shops.

Oct. 23, 1894.—Passing of “Banking Act, 1894.”

Oct. 23, 1894.—Dairy Industry Act, to regulate manufacture of butter and cheese, with inspection and grading for export, and provide for purity of milk.

Oct. 28, 1894.—Wreck of s.s. “Wairarapa” at Great Barrier Island; 135 lives lost.

Mar. 29, 1895.—Death of Right Reverend Andrew Burn Suter, D.D., formerly Bishop of Nelson, and Primate of New Zealand.

May 27, 1895.—Government assumed management of the Midland Railway.

Aug. 3, 1895.—Death of C. W. Richmond, Puisne Judge of Wellington.

Aug. 20, 1895.—Trustees cemeteries authorised to provide for cremation of dead.

Sept. 4, 1895.—“Bank of New Zealand and Banking Act, 1895,” providing for writing off paid-up capital with proceeds of first call on reserve liability. Also for new capital and Assets Realisation Board, &c. Also to purchase business of any other bank.

Sept. 20, 1895.—Labour-laws: Passing of an Act to regulate attachment of wages.

Sept. 20, 1895.—Labour-laws: Passing of Servants' Registry Office Act.

Sept. 20, 1895.—“Family Homes Protection Act, 1895,” to secure homes for the people and to prevent them from mortgage or sale for debt.

Oct. 18, 1895.—Amended tariff passed.

Oct. 31, 1895.—Bank of New Zealand and Banking Act Amendment Act: Sale of Colonial Bank business to Bank of New Zealand.

Dec. 20, 1895.—Appointment of Sir P. A. Buckley, K.C.M.G., as a Judge of Supreme Court.

Jan. 10, 1896.—Hon. W. P. Reeves appointed Agent-General in London.

Mar. 26, 1896.—Brunner Mine explosion; sixty-seven deaths.

April 12, 1896.—General census of colony taken for Sunday night.

May 18, 1896.—Death of Sir Patrick Buckley, K.C.M.G.

July 11, 1896.—Appointment of Mr. W. B. Edwards as a Judge of the Supreme Court.

July 19, 1896.—Death of Hon. Robert Pharazyn, M.L.C.

Aug. 2, 1896.—Death of James Edward FitzGerald, C.M.G., Controller and Auditor-General.

Oct. 16, 1896.—Land for Settlements Act amended: Special provision made for disposal of highly improved lands acquired: preference given to landless people: Boards may select applicants, &c.

Oct. 17, 1896.—Alteration of franchise by abolition of non-residential or property qualification.

Oct. 17, 1896.—Government Valuation of Land Act passed.

Dec. 4, 1896.—General election of members of House of Representatives for the new districts as fixed by the Representation Commissioners on basis of Census, 1896.

Feb. 6, 1897.—Departure of the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G.

Feb. 8, 1897—Sir James Prendergast Administrator of Government.

June 22, 1897.—Diamond Jubilee of reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. Hon. R. J. Seddon, Premier of New Zealand, called to Privy Council, on occasion of his visit to England with contingent New Zealand Forces.

July 29, 1897.—Wreck of s.s. “Tasmania” at Mahia Peninsula, ten lives lost.

Aug. 10, 1897.—The Earl of Ranfurly assumed office as Governor.

Dec. 22, 1897.—Act to establish at Wellington the Victoria College, in connection with the New Zealand University.

July 15, 1898.—Hon. Sir Francis Dillon Bell, K.C.M.G., C.B., died.

1898.—Death of Sir George Grey, K.C.B.

1898.—Death of Bishop Selwyn, of Melanesia.

Oct. 15, 1898.—The Municipal Franchise Reform Act passed.

1898.—The Divorce Bill passed both Houses. Her Majesty's assent thereto gazetted 13th April, 1899.

Nov. 1, 1898.—An Act to provide for Old-age Pensions passed.

Feb. 10, 1899.—Rev. William Colenso died at Napier.

March 13, 1899.—Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., died.

April, 1899.—Victoria University College opened in Wellington.

May 25, 1899.—Resignation of Sir James Prendergast, Chief Justice.

June 1, 1899.—“The Divorce Act, 1898” (assented to by Her Majesty the Queen), came into operation.

June 22, 1899.—Sir Robert Stout, K.C.M.G., appointed Chief Justice.

Oct. 19, 1899.—Act passed constituting Labour Day. The second Wednesday in the month of October in each year to be a public holiday.

Oct. 21, 1899.—N.Z. Contingent (the first) consisting of 215 officers and men, left in s.s. “Waiwera,” for Algoa Bay to assist the British in the Transvaal war.

Nov. 16, 1899.—General Assembly dissolved.

Dec. 6, 1899.—General Election of Members of House of Representatives.

Jan. 21, 1900.—The Second N.Z. Contingent (258 officers and men) left for South Africa in s.s. “Waiwera.”

Feb. 5, 1900.—Hon. Thomas Dick died.

Feb. 17, 1900.—The Third N.Z. Contingent (264 officers and men) left for South Africa in s.s. “Knight Templar.”

March 24 and 31, 1900.—The Fourth and Fifth Contingents (1,060 officers and men) left for South Africa in s.s.'s “Monowai,” “Gymeric,” “Waimate,” and “Maori.”

June 28, 1900.—“Bubonic Plague Prevention Act, 1900,” passed.

Aug. 8, 1900.—“Immigration Restriction Act, 1899,” assented to by Her Majesty in Council, came into operation.

Oct. 13, 1900.—Public Health Act passed.

Oct. 18, 1900.—The Maori Councils Act passed.

Oct. 20, 1900.—“The Representation Act, 1900,” passed, increasing number of European representatives to seventy-six.

Dec. 29, 1900.—Hon. Sir James Prendergast, Kt., appointed Deputy-Governor.

Jan. 1, 1901.—Universal penny postage adopted by New Zealand.

Jan. 22, 1901.—Queen Victoria died.

Jan. 28, 1901.—Accession of King Edward VII. proclaimed in New Zealand.

Jan. 30, 1901.—Sixth N.Z. Contingent (578 officers and men) sailed for South Africa in s.s. “Cornwall.”

Feb. 21, 1901.—Appointment of Mr. Theo. Cooper as a Judge of the Supreme Court.

March 31, 1901.—General census of the Colony taken for Sunday night.

April 6, 1901.—Seventh N.Z. Contingent (600 officers and men, roughriders) sailed for South Africa, per s.s. “Gulf of Taranto.”

May 22, 1901.—Deceased Husband's Brother Marriage Act came into operation after Royal assent.

June 10, 1901.—Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York arrived in New Zealand.

June 10, 1901.—Boundaries of Colony extended to include Cook and other Pacific Islands.

Aug. 6, 1901.—Sir John McKenzie, K.C.M.G., died.

Nov. 7, 1901.—State Coal-mines Act passed.

Feb. 1, 1902.—North Island division of the Eighth N.Z. Contingent sailed from Auckland for South Africa per s.s. “Surrey.”

Feb. 8, 1902.—South Island division of the Eighth Contingent sailed from Lyttelton per s.s. “Cornwall.”

March 12, 1902.—South Island division of the Ninth N.Z. Contingent sailed from Port Chalmers for South Africa per s.s. “Kent.”

March 19, 1902.—North Island division of the Ninth Contingent sailed from Auckland per s.s. “Devon.”

March 24, 1902.—End of Pacific cable landed in Doubtless Bay, Mongonui.

April 14, 1902.—North Island division of the Tenth N.Z. Contingent sailed from Auckland for South Africa per s.s. “Drayton Grange.”

April 14, 1902.—Right Hon. R. J. Seddon sailed for London to attend Conference of Colonial Premiers, and to represent New Zealand at His Majesty the King's Coronation.

April 19, 1902.—South Island division of the Tenth Contingent sailed for South Africa per s.s. “Norfolk.”

June 26, 1902.—Death of Most Rev. Bishop William Garden Cowie, Primate of New Zealand.

Aug. 9, 1902.—Celebration in New Zealand on the occasion of the Coronation of His Majesty King Edward VII.

Aug. 1902.—Return of N.Z. troopers from South Africa (Eighth Contingent left Durban 5th July; Ninth, 9th July; Tenth, 15th July).

Nov. 12, 1902.—General Assembly dissolved.

Nov. 25, 1902.—General Election of Members of House of Representatives.

Dec. 8, 1902.—Pacific (all red) Cable-service opened for international business.

Dec. 31, 1902.—Export of frozen-meat for year valued at £2,718,763.

Dec. 31, 1902.—Export butter and cheese for year valued at £1,369,341.

Feb. 8, 1903.—Hon. W. Rolleston died.

Mar. 16, 1903.—Sir George Whitmore, K.C.M.G., died.

May 22, 1903.—Mahuta Tawhiao Potatau te Wherowhero (formerly known as the Maori King), summoned to the Legislative Council, and sworn in as a member of the Executive Council of the Colony.

May 24, 1903.—Empire Day proclaimed in New Zealand (anniversary of birth of late Queen Victoria).

June 29, 1903.—Opening of Parliament (the fifteenth).

Sept. 11, 1903.—Mr. F. R. Chapman appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court.

Nov. 18, 1903.—State Fire Insurance Act passed.

Nov. 24, 1903.—Preferential and Reciprocal Trade Act passed.

Jan. 5, 1904.—Hon. W. C. Walker, C.M.G., died.

June 20, 1904.—Assumption of the Government of New Zealand by Lord Plunket.

GENERAL INDEX.

“Accident Insurance Act, 1899” 316
Acclimatisation.
(Year-book, 1894, p. 431.)
Accumulation, Prices and Wages 307
Development of Banking 307
Acres and Yield in Corn-crops 351
Acres of Land under Crop 352
Addenda et Corrigenda. (Back of Title).
Administration of Land-laws, &c. 521
Advances to Settlers 430, 527
Loans for 431, 528
Table showing how repaid 531
Titles eligible 528
Valuation fees 530
Agents for the Colonies, Crown 28
Agent-General in London 28
Ages at Death, Average 274
Average, of Persons married 268
Of Prisoners 159
Agricultural College, Lincoln 130
Agricultural Statistics 350
Agriculture and Live Stock 350, 553
Acreage under Wheat, Oats, &c., in Provincial Districts 351
Barley 359, 557
Cape Barley and Winter Oats 560
Cattle 345, 564
Cereals 351, 556
Consumption of Wheat 358
Cost of growing Oats 557
Cost of working a Farm 561
Dairy Industry, The 565
Dairy Stock 346, 564
Fertilisers 561
Fruit Industry, The 567
Gardens and Orchards 361
Grass-seeds 361, 559
Hops 360
Horses 347, 562
Lambing Returns, Averages 345
Mangolds and Carrots 558
Maize 359
Oats 359, 557
Pigs 348, 566
Potatoes 360, 557
Poultry 566
Rape 558
Root-crops 557
Sheep 343, 562
Tree-planting 568
Turnips and Rape 360, 558
Wheat-crop of Australian States 357
Wheat-crop of the World 357
Wheat, Estimated Surplus of 358
Wheat for Threshing 356
Wheat held by Farmers, 1903 356
Wheat, Seed per Acre 557
Wheat, Yield per Acre 356
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Acts, 1896 to 1903 432
Alcoholic Liquors, Consumption of, 1883 to 1903 169
Aliens Naturalised 262
Allegiance 121
America, Trade with the United States of 223
Animals, 340, 562
Live-Stock
Antipodes Islands 6
Appendix—
Dates of certain Principal Events in the History of New Zealand 685
Area of New Zealand 5
Of Cook Islands 7
Of North, Middle, Stewart, Chatham, and other Islands 6
Of United Kingdom compared with New Zealand 8
Area of Australasia 7
Compared with European Countries 7
Area under Cultivation in Counties 353
Arrests for Drunkenness 155
Arrivals and Departures 109
Chinese 110
Departures, how Numbers ascertained 110
Articles on Special Subjects 514
Artillery, Naval, Field, and Garrison 59, 60
Assembly, General 31
Assets Realisation Board 454
Associations, Special-Settlement 524
Assurance, Industrial Life 315
Asylums, Benevolent 298
Lunatic 299
Orphan 298
Auckland, City of—
Exports 209
General description 600
Imports 172
Meteorology 301
Population (including all suburbs) (Census, 1901) 116
   , ,     and Suburban Boroughs (estimated 1903) 383
Value of Property 383, 472, 498
Vital Statistics 262, 270
Auckland Docks 62
Graving-dock Charges 63
Auckland Islands 6, 14
Auckland Land District—Introductory, Physical Features, Plains, Lakes, Forests, Soils; Rainfall; General Products and Industries; Chief Towns; Crown or Native Lands available for Future Settlement 597
Auckland Sailors' Home 298
Australasian Railways 250
Australian States, Area of 7
Birth-rates of 256, 259
Death-rates of 269
Debt of 453
Friendly Societies in 312
Live-Stock in 342
Marriage-rates of 258
Mineral Production of 327
Oat-crop of 359
Population 119
Railways in 250
Taxation in 438
Trade 225
Wheat-crop of 357
Average Quantity of Milk to 1 lb. Butter 565
Average Yield of Butter or Cheese 565

Bachelors and Spinsters in New Zealand 264
Banking, Development in 307
Banking Legislation, Special.
(Year-book 1902, p. 400.)
“Bank of New Zealand Act, 1903” 308
Bankruptcy 150
Petitions, &c., Seven Years 151
Transactions in 1902 150
Banks of Issue—
Advances and Discounts 308
Assets and Liabilities 307
Deposits 307
In all Classes of Banks, Average per Head 311
Notes in Circulation, &c. 307
Banks—
Post-Office Savings 309
Deposits, Withdrawals, Open Accounts, Amounts to Credit 309
Securities held 310
Deposits, Withdrawals 311
Private Savings 311
Deposits, Withdrawals 311
Barley 359
Beer, Consumption of, per Head 169
Beer, Excise Duty on 99
Benevolent Asylums and Charitable Institutions 298
Birthplaces of the People 120
Numbers of each Nationality and Increase 120
Birth-rates per 1,000 of Population in Australasia 256
Births 255
Illegitimate 259
Illegitimacy in Australasia 259
Legitimation Act 261
Of Twins 259
Proportion to Population, 1882-1903 255
To Marriages, Proportion of 256
Blind, The 123
Blind, Institute for the 148
Boroughs—
Expenditure of 373
Auckland, with suburbs 116, 383
Christchurch, with suburbs 116, 385
Dunedin, with, suburbs 116, 385
Wellington, with suburbs 116, 384
In Colony 383, 472, 498
Auckland, with suburbs 116, 383
Christchurch, with suburbs 116, 385
Dunedin, with, suburbs 116, 385
Wellington, with suburbs 116, 384
Indebtedness of 373
Population of (Census, 1901) 113
Rateable Value of Property in 383
Revenue of 373
Value of Land and Improvements in 472
Value of Rateable Property in 498
Boundaries and Area of the Colony 5
Bounty Islands 6
Breadstuffs in various Countries, Consumption of 358
Bubonic Plague Prevention 285
Building Societies 312
Amounts deposited with 312
Income, Assets, Liabilities, Reserve Funds 312
Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement, Act 517
Butter and Cheese 208, 565
Export to United Kingdom, Fifteen Years 208
Factories 347
Grading 565
Industry 565

Cadet Corps 60
Campbell Islands 6
Cancer, Deaths from 290
Decennial Return 291
Part of Body affected 292
Proportion of Deaths per 10,000 living, 1894-1903 291
Canterbury Agricultural College 130
Canterbury Land District—Boundaries and Physical Features, Scenery, Climate; Internal Communication; Geological Formation; Area, Nature, and Disposition of Lands; Soils; Pasturage and Crops; Stock, Wool, Butter and Cheese, Timber, Fruit; Coal, Building-stones; Fisheries; Manufactories; Libraries and Churches; Educational and other Institutions; Towns 648
Cape Barley and Winter Oats 560
Capital City, Population of (Census, 1901) 116
Capitation to Efficient Volunteers and Cadets 61
Cattle 345, 564
In Provincial Districts 346
Causes of Death 281
At Four Centres 272
Cancer 290
Developmental Diseases 295
Dietetic Diseases 286
Local Diseases 295
Measles 284
Old Age 295
Parasitic Diseases 286
Phthisis 286
Proportion of Deaths from each 280
Typhoid Fever 284
Violence 296
Cereals 207, 556
Charges, Survey, on Unsurveyed Lands 527
Charitable Institutions, Benevolent Asylums and, &c. 296
Chatham Islands 6, 14
Cheese and Butter 208, 565
Cheviot Estate. 457
(Year-book, 1895, p. 264.)
Children to a Marriage, Number of 256
Chinese—
Immigration and Emigration of 110
Number in Colony 105
Christchurch, City of—
Exports (Lyttelton) 209
General Description 656
Imports 172
Population (City and all Suburbs), (Census 1901) 116
   , ,     City and Suburban Boroughs, Estimated, 1903 385
Value of Property 385, 473, 499
Vital Statistics 261, 270
Church Lotteries, Permits issued for 513
Cities 116
Civil Cases 150
Civil Establishment at Seat of Government 37
Classification of Lands, &c. 521
Climate—
Sunshine in New Zealand 304
Temperature in New Zealand, Australia, and other British Possessions 301-306
Clips, Average Wool- 563
Clothing, Imported, Value of 165
Coal 330
Colleges and University 137
Colonial Office, The 28
Colonisation of New Zealand 3
Colony, Boundaries and Area of the 5
Crown Agents for the 28
Population of the 105
Communication and Transport 247
Constitution 16
Government 17
Consumption of Beer, Spirits, and Wine 156, 169
Consuls, Foreign 26
Convictions 154
For Drunkenness 155
Summary 154
Convictions of Maoris 157
Cook and other Pacific Islands Annexed 674
Cook Strait 11
Co-operative Public Works 367
Corn-crops, Acreage, and Actual Yield of 351
Corrigenda. (Back of Title.)
Cost of Living in New Zealand and in Various Countries.
Management of Local Governing Bodies 374
Railways 249
Working a Farm in New Zealand 561
Council, Executive, 1843-56 22
Council, Executive, May, 1904 31
Legislative, Roll of Members of the 32
Successive Speakers of the Legislative 25
Counties, Population of (Census, 1901) 113
Land under Cultivation in 353
Value of Land and Improvements in 469, 475
Value of Rateable Properties in 475
Court, Validation 41
Courts, Bankruptcy 150
Civil Cases, Supreme and District 150
Charges for Offences before 153
Committals 154
Punishment on Summary Convictions (five years) 155
Divorce and Separation 151
Charges for Offences before 153
Committals 154
Punishment on Summary Convictions (five years) 155
Magistrates', Civil Cases 150
Charges for Offences before 153
Committals 154
Punishment on Summary Convictions (five years) 155
Sentences, Supreme and District (five years) 155
Supreme and District, Convictions 154
Cows, Average Annual Yield of Milk 565
Crime, Law and 150
Cross-breeding of Sheep 562
Crown Agents for the Colonies 28
Crown Lands occupied 336
Mode of acquiring 522
Crown Lands of New Zealand 456, 514
Crown Tenants 457
Cultivation.
Agriculture.
Customs Duties, Rates levied 84
Revenue from 188
Proportion of Taxation in Australasia derived from, 1902-3 438

Dairy Industry 565
Produce, Export of 208
Stock 346, 564
Dates of Principal Events 685
Deaf and Dumb 121
Deaf-mutes, Institution for 148
Death, Average Age at 274
Causes of 281
Death-rates in various Countries and States, 1893-1903 269
Deaths from Cancer 290
Congenital Defects 295
Nervous Diseases 295
From Phthisis 286
From Typhoid Fever 284
In Four Principal Cities 272
In Principal Cities of Australasia 274
Inquests on 162
Number of, in 1903 269
Of Infants 276
Of Infants to every 1,000 Births 276
Violent 296
Debt, General Government, 440
Of Local Bodies 370, 373
Deceased Persons' Estates 317
Duties Payable on 104
Defences, Military and Naval—
Administration; Artillery, New Zealand Royal; Bearer Corps, Volunteers; Cadet Corps, Volunteers; Capitation; Cycle Corps, Volunteers; Defence Rifle Clubs; Engineers, New Zealand Royal; Engineers, Volunteers; Enrolment, &c.; Expenditure and Maintenance; Field Artillery, Volunteers; Instructors; Militia and Volunteer Districts; Mounted Rifles, Volunteers; Naval and Garrison Artillery, Volunteers; Arms, &c.; Rifle Corps, Volunteers; School of Instruction; Submarine Mining Engineers, Volunteers 59
Deferred-payment System, Land taken upon 457
Departures, Arrivals and 109
Deposits in Banks 307
Depots for Shipwrecked Mariners 62
Digest of the Land-laws 521
Discovery and Early Settlement 2
Discovery of Gold in New Zealand.
(Year-book, 1894, p. 343.)
Diseases, Various, Deaths from 281
District Court, Civil Cases 150
Divorce, Petitions and Decrees, 1896-1902 152
Divorce and Separation 151
Grounds for 151
Docks, Graving, and Patent Slips 62
Drainage Boards, Revenue, Expenditure, and Loans 373-376
Dredging, Gold-, Description of.
(Year-book, 1899, p. 509.)
Drunkenness 155
Persons convicted of 155
Dunedin, City of—
Exports 209
General Description 663
Imports 172
Meteorology 303
Population, City and all Suburbs (Census, 1901) 116
   , ,     and Suburban Boroughs, Estimated, 1903 385
Value of Property 385, 473, 499
Vital Statistics 261, 270
Duties and Functions of Representation Commissions 407
Duties on Estates of Deceased Persons 104

Early Settlement, Discovery and 2
Ecclesiastical 57
Education 127
Free Secondary 144
Scholarships 142
Public (Government) Schools 128
School of Engineering and Technical Science 130
Technical 129
University, Now Zealand 137
Education Boards, Income and Expenditure of 142
Egmont, Mount 10
Election, General, 1902 408
Electoral.
Representation.
“Electoral Act, 1893,” extends Franchise to Women 18, 408
“Electoral Act Amendment Act, 1896,” abolishes property qualification 18, 408
Electric Telegraph 254
Emigration.
Immigration and Emigration.
Engineering, School of 130
Errata. (See back of Half-Title.)
Estates of Deceased Persons, Value of 317
Duties Payable on 104
Estates offered for Selection under Land for Settlements Act, during Year 1903-4 463
European Population of Colony 105
Excise Duty on Beer 99
Executive Council, 1843-56 22
Exotic Trees 569
Expectation of Life in New Zealand 275
Expenditure, Revenue and—
General Government 420
Local Bodies 373
On Railways 250
Of Public Works Fund by General Government 426, 427
Exports 195
Butter and Cheese to United Kingdom, for Fifteen Years 208
Quantity, Twenty-two Years 206
Value, Sixteen Years 200
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 201
Coal 196, 331
Quantity, Twenty-two Years 206
Value, Sixteen Years 200
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 201
Details of all Exports 210
Quantity, Twenty-two Years 206
Value, Sixteen Years 200
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 201
From different Ports 209
Quantity, Twenty-two Years 206
Value, Sixteen Years 200
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 201
From North and Middle Islands 201
Quantity, Twenty-two Years 206
Value, Sixteen Years 200
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 201
From United Kingdom to various Countries and Colonies 228
Quantity, Twenty-two Years 206
Value, Sixteen Years 200
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 201
Frozen Meat 206
Quantity, Twenty-two Years 206
Value, Sixteen Years 200
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 201
Gold, Silver, and other Minerals to 31st December, 1903 196
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 201
Gold, 1903 206
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 201
Grain 207
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 201
Home Produce, Value of 200
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 201
Increase and Decrease on Principal Articles 199
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 201
Kauri-gum 209
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 201
Of Australasia, 1902 225
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 201
Phormium 209
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 201
Quantities of Principal Articles, 1902 and 1903 198
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 201
Rabbitskins 204
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 201
Re-exports, exclusive of Specie 201
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 201
Sheepskins and Pelts 205
Tallow 205
To United States 223
Value of principal Articles of New Zealand Produce 196
Wool, Sixteen Years 203
External Trade of Australasia 226

Factories, &c.
Manufactories and Works.
Factories, Butter and Cheese 347
Farming, Dairy 565
Farm in New Zealand, Cost of Working a 561
Features of the Middle Island, Physical 11
Of the North Island 8
Fees Payable under Land Transfer Act 102
Fifty Years' Progress of New Zealand 501
Finance 420
Fire Inquests 162
Fire Insurance, State 544
Fish Acclimatised.
(Year-book, 1894, p. 431.)
Fish and Fisheries.
(Year-book, 1895, p. 373.)
First Offenders' Probation Act 161
Flocks of Sheep, Number and Size of 204
Foreigners Naturalised during last Twenty-one Years, Number of 263
Foreign Consuls 26
Foveaux Strait 13
Franchise 18, 408
Municipal 379
Freezing Establishments in the Colony.
(Year-book, 1894, p. 314.)
Free Secondary Education 144
Friendly Societies 312
Frozen-meat exported 206
Fruit Culture 567
Drying 567
Industry, The 567
Fungus, Now Zealand, Export of 196
Gaols, Prisoners in 158

Gardens, Plantations, and Orchards, Total Acreage in 361
General Assembly, The 31
General Election, 1902 408
Germany, Trade with 193, 194, 224
Glaciers in Middle Island 11
Gold, Coal, and other Minerals 326
Coal-mining 330
Composition of 333
Consumption of 331
Output of 332
Total Quantity and Value entered for Exportation, 31st Match, 1904 328
Gold exported Year 1903 206
Total Quantity and Value entered for Exportation, 31st Match, 1904 328
Gold produced in Australasia 329
Gold production of the World 329
Gold-dredging 327
Gold-mining—Hands, Output, &c. 328
Remarks on 327
Governing Bodies, Local 369
Government Advances to Settlers 430, 527
Government Schools 128
Government, the Seat of 18
Government Valuation of Land and its Improvements 467, 542
Governor of New Zealand. 30
(Addenda)
Governors, Successive 19
Grain exported 207
Grown in each Provincial District 351
Grass Lands, Acres of 352-355
In Australasia, 1902-3 361
Grass-seed 559
Sown, per Acre 361
Graving-docks and Patent Slips 62
Grazing-runs, Small 525
Green Crops, Acreage under, in Provincial Districts 352

Hanmer Thermal Springs—Accommodation, &c. 590
Harbour Boards Revenue, Expenditure, and Loans 374-377
Harbours.
(Year-book, 1894, pp. 389-408.)
Harbours—Pilotage, Port Charges, &c. 67
Hawke's Bay Land District—General Description; Communication; Pastoral Industries; Agricultural Pursuits; Dairying; Timber and other Industries; Climate; Towns; Crown Lands; Native Lands 618
Hay, Acres in 355
Holdings, Number of occupied 336
Home Produce exported, Value of 200
Honours held by Colonists 28
Hops, cultivated, imported and exported 360
Horse-breeding 563
Horses in New Zealand, Number of 347
In Provincial Districts 348
Hospitals 296
Hot Springs (see Thermal Springs)
House of Representatives 17, 34
Speakers of the 26
Houses, Licensed 401

Illegitimate Births in Australasia 259
Immigration and Emigration 109
Of Chinese 110
Imports and Exports 163, 195
Each Australian State, 1902 225
Imports—
Beer, Spirits, and Wine, Consumption of 169
Germany 193, 194
South Africa 225
United Kingdom 170
United Kingdom to Australasia 227
United States 192, 193
Consumption of, per Head of Population 168
Clothing, &c. 165
Germany 193, 194
South Africa 225
United Kingdom 170
United Kingdom to Australasia 227
United States 192, 193
Consumption of, per Head of Population 168
Coal 166, 331
Germany 193, 194
South Africa 225
United Kingdom 170
United Kingdom to Australasia 227
United States 192, 193
Consumption of, per Head of Population 168
Free and Dutiable Imports, Value of 167
Germany 193, 194
South Africa 225
United Kingdom 170
United Kingdom to Australasia 227
United States 192, 193
Consumption of, per Head of Population 168
From different Countries, 1902 and 1903, Values of 171
Germany 193, 194
South Africa 225
United Kingdom 170
United Kingdom to Australasia 227
United States 192, 193
Consumption of, per Head of Population 168
Inclusive and exclusive of Specie, Sixteen Years 163
Consumption of, per Head of Population 168
Into Australasia 225
Consumption of, per Head of Population 168
Per Head of Population 164
Consumption of, per Head of Population 168
Spirits 169
Consumption of, per Head of Population 168
Sugar and Tea, Imports of 168
Consumption of, per Head of Population 168
Tobacco, Consumption of 170
Trade per Head of Population, Australasia 227
Improved-farm Settlements 524
Income-tax, Land and 435, 536
Exemptions 536, 537
Rates of Tax 539
Yield of Tax 539
Indebtedness of Australasia 453
Of Local Bodies 373-377
For Twenty Years 370
To Persons outside Colony 377
Index of Mortality for New Zealand 269
Industrial Schools 146
Industrial Life Assurance 315
Industries.
Manufactories and Works.
Inebriates Institutions Act 157
“Infant Life Protection Act, 1896” 261
Infantile Mortality 276
Influenza, Deaths from 284
Inquests, Death 162
Fire 162
Insurance, Life 315
Companies in New Zealand 315
Insurance, State Fire 544
Iron, Machinery, &c., imported, Value of 165
Islands outlying, Description of the 14, 674

Joint Stock Companies 312
Jubilee Institution for the Blind 148
Judges, Supreme Court 21

Kauri-gum (Exported)—
Average Price of 209
Quantities and Values exported 209
Kermadec Islands 6, 14
Labour—
In New Zealand.
Prices of Provisions, Live-stock, &c., 1903 321
Wages, Average Rates of 323

Labour Department, Men assisted by 368
Labour Legislation—
Acts of Parliament composing 363
Remarks on 364
Lakes 9-13, 594
Lambing Averages 345
Land—
Acreage of, under Crop 355
Land Districts.
And Income-tax 435, 536
Land Districts.
Crown, open for Selection.
Land Districts.
Fit for Agriculture and Pasture 9
Government Valuation of 467, 542
Grass-sown 361
Held as Pastoral Runs 457
Held as Small Grazing-runs 457
Held under Pastoral and Miscellaneous Leases 457
Holdings in Provincial Districts 339
Holdings taken up 336
Holdings taken up, Sizes of 336
Improved Farm Settlements 457, 524
Occupation of 336, 523
On Perpetual Lease, Lease in Perpetuity, and Occupation with Right of Purchase 457
Rating on Unimproved Value 380
Revenue from 461
Sold for Cash 456, 458
Sold on Deferred Payments 457
Taken up under various Tenures, Eleven years 458
Taken up in each Land District 460
Tax 435, 536
Graduated 435, 537
Village Settlements, Land held 457
Village Settlements, sold on Deferred Payments, &c. 457
Land and Improvements, Government Valuation of 467
Land Districts in the Colony, Description of—Auckland, 597; Canterbury, 648; Hawke's Bay, 618; Marlborough, 631; Nelson, 637; Otago, 658; Southland, 668; Taranaki, 609; Wellington, 622; Westland, 641.
Land for Settlements Acts—
Estates offered for Selection during Year ended 31st March, 1904 464-5
Transactions under 462
Land-Laws, Digest of 521
Administration 521
Freehold Tenure 522
Leases in Perpetuity 523
Occupation with Right of Purchase 522
Classification of Lands, &c. 521
Freehold Tenure 522
Leases in Perpetuity 523
Occupation with Right of Purchase 522
Grazing-runs, Small 525
Freehold Tenure 522
Leases in Perpetuity 523
Occupation with Right of Purchase 522
Improved-farm Settlements 524
Freehold Tenure 522
Leases in Perpetuity 523
Occupation with Right of Purchase 522
Land Districts and Principal Land Offices 521
Freehold Tenure 522
Leases in Perpetuity 523
Occupation with Right of Purchase 522
Mode of Acquiring Crown Lands 522
Freehold Tenure 522
Leases in Perpetuity 523
Occupation with Right of Purchase 522
Optional System of Selection 522
Freehold Tenure 522
Leases in Perpetuity 523
Occupation with Right of Purchase 522
Pastoral Runs 526
Residence and Improvements 523
Special-settlement Associations 524
Survey Charges on Unsurveyed Lands 527
Village Settlements 525
Land Settlements Acts, 1896-1903, Aid to Public Works and 432
Land System of New Zealand 514
Land-tax 435, 536
Land Transfer Act, Fees payable under 102
Lands—
Native, Purchase of, by Government 519
Survey Charges on Unsurveyed 527
Land under Cultivation in Counties 353
Land, Valuation of—
In Boroughs 472
In Colony 468
In Counties 469
In Local Districts 475
Law and Crime 150
Laws, Difference of, between England and New Zealand.
(Year-book, 1896, p. 281.)
Legislation, Special Banking.
(Year-book, 1902, p. 400.)
Legislative Council 31
Roll of Members of the 32
“Legitimation Act, 1894” 261
Letters posted 252
Licenses and Licensed Houses 401
Licenses—
Number and Fees paid 401
Proportion to Population 401
Licensing Laws—
Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act 403
Annual Fees 402
Revenue from Licenses 401
Life Insurance, Year 1902 315
Lighthouses, Names and Number of, Colour, Order, &c. 76
Lincoln Agricultural College 130
List, Official 37
Live-stock—
Average Prices of 321
Export of 210
In Australasia 342
In each County 340
Loans—
Expenditure, 1903-4 427
Public Debt
For Advances to Settlers 431
Public Debt
General Government, 440
Public Debt
Of Local Bodies, Outstanding, at various Rates of Interest 377
Of Local Bodies, Net Indebtedness 376
Local Bodies' Loans Acts 378
Local Bodies—
Cost, of Management 373
Expenditure of 373-375
Indebtedness: Twenty Years 370
Number of 369
Outstanding Loans at various Rates of Interest 377
Rates collected in Twenty Years 370
Revenue and Expenditure of Boroughs, Counties, Drainage Board, Harbour Boards, River Boards, Road Boards, Town Boards 373-375
Taxation by 371
Local Option Poll, 1902 403
Lucerne 560
Lunacy 125
Lunatic Asylums 299
Lunatics, Proportion of 125

Magistrates' Courts, Apprehensions, Convictions, &c. 153
Mail-services between England and New Zealand, Cost of 253
Maize, Area under 359
Manawatu-Wellington Railway 250
Mangolds and Carrots 360
Manual and Technical Instruction 129
Manufactories and Works 229
Comparison of, 1896 and 1901 231
Comparison, Number of Hands employed, 1891, 1896, 1901 245
Comparison, Value of Product, 1885, 1890, 1895, and 1900 244
Details of Principal Industries 236
Increase in Value of Output, 1895-1900 230
Industries in Provincial Districts 232
Maoris, The—
Charged with Offences 157
Children attending Schools 141
Contribute towards Revenue 437
Convicted of Offences, 1898-1902 155
Distribution of 105
Half-castes 110
Population at Last Census 110
Representation 17, 34, 417
Marlborough Land District—Physical Features: Rivers, Plains, Lakes, Forests, Soils, Grazing; Industries; Climate; Towns; Roads and Railways; Crown Lands
Marriage, Births to every 256
Decrees for Dissolution of 151
Decrees for Judicial Separation 151
Rates in New Zealand, Australian States, and European Countries 263
Marriages 263
Ages at which Marriage may be contracted 267
Ages of Persons Married 266
Of Aborigines 264
Percentage of Persons under 21 Years 267
Proportion by each Denomination 266
Proportion of each Sex signing Register by Mark 266
Measles, Deaths from 284
Meat, Frozen, Total Export of 206
Medicine, School of, Otago 664
Members of House of Representatives, Roll of 34
Legislative Council, Roll of 32
Meteorological Observations 301-306
Miles of Railway open for Traffic 248
Military and Naval Defences 59
Milk—
Average Yield of Butter from 565
Average Yield per Cow 565
Mineral Production of Australasia 327
Minerals, Gold, Coal, and other 326
Mineral Waters of New Zealand.
Thermal-springs Districts.
Mines, Schools of 130
Mines, State Coal 334
Ministers, Officiating, under Marriage Act 268
Ministers, Cabinet 31
Ministries, Successive 24
Money-orders and Postal-notes 253
Mortgages 313
Amounts borrowed at various rates of interest 314
Mountains 9, 10, 594
Mount Cook 11
Egmont 10
Ruapehu 10
Tongariro 9
Municipal Corporations Act, 1900, Qualifications for Enrolment under 379
Mutton. (See Frozen Meat.)
Consumption per head.
(Year-book, 1898, p. 289.)

National Scholarships 142
Native Lands purchased by Government 519
Native Schools 141
Naturalisation 262
Nelson Land District—General Description; Rivers, Lakes, Plains, Forests; Agricultural, Pastoral, Mining; Towns; Railways, Roads, Tracks, &c.; Crown Lands 637
Newspapers 78
Posted 252
New Zealand—
Abolition of Provincial Governments in 17
Canterbury 4
Nelson 4
New Plymouth 4
Otago 4
Area of, Boundaries and 5
Canterbury 4
Nelson 4
New Plymouth 4
Otago 4
Arrival of Missionaries in 3
Canterbury 4
Nelson 4
New Plymouth 4
Otago 4
Captain Cook's Visits to 2
Canterbury 4
Nelson 4
New Plymouth 4
Otago 4
Colonisation of 3
Canterbury 4
Nelson 4
New Plymouth 4
Otago 4
Colony divided into Six Provinces 17
Canterbury 4
Nelson 4
New Plymouth 4
Otago 4
Company 3
Canterbury 4
Nelson 4
New Plymouth 4
Otago 4
County Government in 17
Canterbury 4
Nelson 4
New Plymouth 4
Otago 4
Cook Islands, Inclusion of 5
Canterbury 4
Nelson 4
New Plymouth 4
Otago 4
Discovery and Early Settlement of 2
Canterbury 4
Nelson 4
New Plymouth 4
Otago 4
General Assembly of 31
Canterbury 4
Nelson 4
New Plymouth 4
Otago 4
Governors of, Successive 19
Canterbury 4
Nelson 4
New Plymouth 4
Otago 4
Lieutenant Hanson's Visit to 3
Canterbury 4
Nelson 4
New Plymouth 4
Otago 4
Made a Separate Colony 4
Canterbury 4
Nelson 4
New Plymouth 4
Otago 4
Representative Government granted in 16
Canterbury 4
Nelson 4
New Plymouth 4
Otago 4
Settlement at Port Nicholson 3
Canterbury 4
Nelson 4
New Plymouth 4
Otago 4
Sovereignty of Queen proclaimed 3
Surville, and Marion du Fresne, Visits of 2
Tasman's Visit 2
Treaty of Waitangi 4
Nine, Island of 675

Oats 359
Oat-crop of Australasia, 1903 359
Occupation of Land 336
Offences—
Charges for, before Magistrates' Courts 153
Convicted before Supreme and District Courts 158
Summarily convicted 157
Convictions for 154
Convicted before Supreme and District Courts 158
Summarily convicted 157
Maoris charged with 157
Convicted before Supreme and District Courts 158
Summarily convicted 157
Office, The Colonial 28
Official List 37
Officiating Ministers 268
Old-age Pensions 545
Optional System of selecting Land 522
Orchards 361, 567
Orphan Asylums 298
Orphanhood of Children 275
Otago Land District—Boundaries and Area; Physical Description; Rivers and Lakes, Plains, Forests; Building-stones, Coal, Limestone; Climate; West Coast; Fruit, Crops, Stock; Freezing Establishments, Woollen-mills, Clothing-factories, Dairy-factories; Gold Production; Chief Towns; City of Dunedin; Towns and surrounding country; Railways; Statistical; Local Industries 658
Outlying Islands of New Zealand 14, 674

Parcels Post 252
Value of Imports by 173
Parliament, Members of 34
Parliaments, Successive 23
Passengers, Railway 249
Pastoral Leases—
Lands held under 457
Receipts from 457
Patent Slips and Graving Docks 62
Pensions, Old-age 545
Perpetual-lease System, Land held under the 457
Perpetuity, Leaseholds in 457
Phormium tenax
Export of 209
Phosphate Rock 334
Phthisis, Death-rates from 286
Deaths from, 1894 to 1903 287
Physical Features of the North Island 8
Middle Island 11
Pigs 348, 566
In Counties 340
In Provincial Districts 349
Pilotage, Port Charges, &c. 67
Plantations, Gardens, and Orchards, Acreage in 361
Population of New Zealand 105
Arrivals and Departures 109
From and to United Kingdom 109
Of Chinese 110
Census, 1901 110
Chinese 105
Cook and other Islands 106
European 105
Increase in each Quarter, 1903 107
In adjacent Islands 118
In Principal Cities and Suburb (Census, 1901) 116
In Provincial Districts (Census, 1901) 112
Maori 110
Of Australasia 119
Of Boroughs (Census, 1901) 113
Of Capital City (Census, 1901) 116
Of Counties (Census, 1901) 113
Of Town Districts (Census, 1901) 117
Port Charges, Pilotage, &c. 67
Post-offices 252
Savings-banks 309
Securities 310
Potatoes 360
Cost of Growing 557
Cultivation of 558
Export of 196
Yield of 360
Preferential and Reciprocal Trade 552
Premiers of Successive Ministries 25
Preserved Meats exported 196
Prices and Wages 321-325
Principal Events, Dates of 678
Prisoners in Gaol 158
Private Schools 139
Private Wealth, Increase of 319
Probation Act, First Offenders treated under 161
Probate, Estates admitted to 317
Production, Total Value of 350
Property-tax repealed 435
Prospects of Small Farmers 567
Public Debt 440
Annual Charge 443
Comparison with Past Years 444
Details of Loans 441
Flotation of Loans 449
Increase of 445
Net Indebtedness 444
Of Australasia 453
Purposes of Money composing Debt 450
Rates of Interest on 446
Sinking Fund accrued, Amount of 445
Securities in which invested 448
Stock Quotations 449
Public Libraries subsidised 149
Public Property, Value of 320
Public Schools 128
Industrial Schools 146
Secondary Schools, Income and expenditure of 144
Technical Schools 129
Public Trust Office 317
Number and Value of Estates administered 317
Public Works 19,367
Expenditure on 427
Purchase of Native Lands by Government 519

Queen's Scholarships 143
Quotations, New Zealand Stock 449

Railways 248
Australian States, Miles of, in 251
Length and Cost 248
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Particulars of Revenue from 250
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Passengers 249
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Profit on Working 250
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Revenue and Expenditure 250
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Train-miles 249
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Traffic in Local Products for Fourteen Years 249
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Comparison of Traffic, Revenue, and Expenditure for Fourteen Years 249, 250
Length and Cost 248
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Particulars of Revenue from 250
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Passengers 249
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Profit on Working 250
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Revenue and Expenditure 250
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Train-miles 249
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Traffic in Local Products for Fourteen Years 249
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Government, Goods and Live-stock carried 249
Length and Cost 248
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Particulars of Revenue from 250
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Passengers 249
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Profit on Working 250
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Revenue and Expenditure 250
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Train-miles 249
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Traffic in Local Products for Fourteen Years 249
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
In New Zealand, their History and Progress.
(Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Wellington-Manawatu Railway 250
Rainfall in New Zealand 301
Rape and Turnips, Acres under 360
Rateable Properties in Boroughs 383
In Road Districts 393
Town Districts 392
Rates collected by Local Bodies, Twenty Years 370
Rates of Wages, Average in Provincial Districts in 1903 323-325
Rating on Unimproved Value 380, 542
Method of taking Poll 542
Ratepayers may demand Poll to be taken 542
Rating Powers 380
Result of Polls taken by Local Bodies 380
System Optional 542
Reciprocal Trade 552
Religion of the People 119
Proportion of each denomination, 1881, 1886, 1891, 1896, 1901 120
Repayments of Advances to Settlers 531
Representation 407
Duties and Functions of Representation Commissions 407
“ Electoral Act, 1902” 18
Electoral Acts 408
Electoral Divisions of the Colony 407
General Election of 1902 408
Maori Members 417
Qualifications of Electors, European 18
Maori 18
Representation Commissions 407
Woman's Franchise 18, 408
Residence and Improvements on Crown Lands 523
Revenue and Expenditure—
Government Railways 250
Land-tax and Income-tax, Revenue from 435, 437
Loan Expenditure, 1903-4 427
Of Boroughs, Counties, Drainage Boards, Harbour Boards, River Boards, Road Boards, and Town Boards 373, 375
Ordinary Revenue 422
Ordinary Revenue Expenditure 424
Territorial Revenue Expenditure 425
Territorial Revenue 422
River Boards, Revenue of 373
Rivers 9, 13
Road Boards, Revenue, Expenditure, &c. 373
Roll of Members of the House of Representatives 34
Legislative Council 32
Roman Catholic Schools 139
Root-crops 360, 557
Rotorua Thermal Springs—General description; Mineral waters; Nature of waters; Analysis of waters; Source of the waters; Baths; Season; Routes of access; Accommodation; Time required for cure; Waiotapu; Wairakei; Taupo; Orakei Korako; Okoroire 572
Sailors' Home, Auckland 298

Sanatorium, Hanmer 500
Rotorua 572
Te Aroha 588
Savings-Banks, Post-Office 309
Private 311
Scholarships 142
Schools, Blind 148
Deaf and Dumb 148
Cost of 146
Inmates, 1901 and 1902 147
Industrial 148
Cost of 146
Inmates, 1901 and 1902 147
Engineering 130
Mines 130
Native 141
Primary or Public 128
Private 139
Roman Catholic 139
Sunday 149
Technical 129
Seeds, Grass- 559
Settlement, Discovery and Early 2
Settlements, Land for 462, 517
Acquisition of Land under 462
Estates offered for Selection during Year 1903-1904 463
Expenditure authorised 518
Government Aid to Settlers 519
Preference given to Landless People 518
Process of Acquisition 517
Special Provisions for Workmen's Homes 518
Transactions of Board for Year 1903-1904 462
Settlers, Advances to 430, 527
Sheep 313, 562
In Australasia, 1902-1903 342
In Colony, Eighteen Years 343
In Counties 340
In Provincial Districts, April, 1902 and 1903 344
Number and Size of Flocks 344
Numbers in North and Middle Islands, Eighteen Years 343
Sheep-farming 562
Clips, Average Weight of 563
Grass-seed sown per Acre 361
Lambing Returns 345
New Zealand Flock-book 563
Shipping 247
Coastwise, Inwards 248
   , ,     Outwards 248
Inwards and Outwards, Ten Years 247
Laws 366
Registered Vessels 248
Shipwrecked Mariners, Depots for 62
Silver Produced 326
Sinking Fund—
Amounts paid for interest and 447
Securities of 448
Sitting-days of House of Representatives 34
Legislative Council 32
Slips, Patent 62
Small Farmers, Prospects of 567
Small Grazing-runs 457, 525
Soils, Description of.
Land Districts.
Sounds, West Coast 12
South Africa, Trade with 225
Southern Lakes, The 594
Southland Land District—Physical Features; Area, Nature, and Disposition of Lands; Agriculture, Dairy-farming, Sheep-farming; Coal and Gold; Fish, Fruit; Climate; Towns; Crown Lands for Disposal 668
Sown Grasses, Extent of 361
In Counties 353
New Zealand, compared with Australia 361
Speaker of Legislative Council. (See Addenda.)
Speakers of the House of Representatives, Successive 26
Legislative Council, Successive 25
Special Settlement. Associations 524.
Spinsters and Bachelors in New Zealand 264
Spirits, Consumption per Head 156, 169
Springs, The Thermal 572, 588, 590
State Coal-mines 334
State Fire Insurance 544
State Instruction.
Schools.
Statistical Synopsis: Fifty years' Progress of Colony 501
Stewart Island 6, 13, 595
Stipendiary Magistrates' Courts, Apprehensions, Convictions, &c. 153
Civil Cases 150
Stock in New Zealand, Live- 340, 562
In Australasia 342
Subsidised Public Libraries 149
Successive Governors 19
Ministries 24
Premiers 25
Sugar, Consumption of 168
Supplemental. Fifty years' Progress of New Zealand 501
Supreme Court, Civil Cases 150
Judges, Past and Present 21
Survey Charges on Unsurveyed Lands 527
Sutherland Waterfall, The 659
Tallow exported 205
Taranaki Land District—Physical Features; Soils; Dairying, Grazing, &c.; Mining; Climate; Towns; Roads and Railways; Crown Lands 609
Tariff, Customs 84-102
Taxation by General Government 435
Deductions and Exemptions under Land- and Income-tax 435, 536, 537
Growth of Amount paid in Income-tax 437
Incidence of Land- and Income-tax 435, 536, 537
Income-tax 437, 536
Land-tax (ordinary) 435, 536
Graduated 435, 539
Per Head in New Zealand (excluding Maoris) 436
In Australasia 438
Proportion derived from Customs, 1903-1904 437
Rate of, per Head, including Maoris 437
Rates of Land-tax 435, 536, 539
Yield of Land and Income-tax 435, 539
Taxation by Local Bodies 371
Tea, Consumption of 168
Te Aroha Mineral Springs 588
Technical Education 129
Telegraphs: Messages transmitted, Miles of Line, Receipts 254
Telephone Exchanges 254
Temperature and Rainfall 301-304
At different Stations of New Zealand 301-304
Highest and Lowest in Shade, in New Zealand, the Australian States, and other British Possessions 306
Tenure of Occupied Lands 338
Tenures, the Three, under Land Act 515
Thermal-springs Districts—
Hanmer 590
Rotorua 572
Te Aroha 588
Timber exported 196
Tobacco, Consumption of 170
Tongariro Mountain 9
Totalisator Permits issued. 513
Town Districts.
Local Bodies.
Towns, Principal, and Suburbs 116
Trade—
Australasia as Market for Great Britain, Importance of 228
External, of Australasia 226
Of Australasia, Value of, per Head 227
Of Australasia with United Kingdom 227
Exports.
Imports.
Shipping.
Of Cook and other Islands 167, 220
Per Head of Population, Eighteen Years 222
With Atlantic and Pacific Ports of United States, Ten Years 224
With Australia 223
With Germany 193, 194, 224
With India 225
With United Kingdom 223
With United States 192, 194, 223
Transport and Communication 247
Electric Telegraph 254
Australasian 250
Cost of 249
Number of Miles travelled 249
Revenue and Expenditure for Fourteen Years 250
Traffic for Fourteen Years 249
Traffic in Local Products for Fourteen Years 249
Shipping 247
Mail-services 253
Australasian 250
Cost of 249
Number of Miles travelled 249
Revenue and Expenditure for Fourteen Years 250
Traffic for Fourteen Years 249
Traffic in Local Products for Fourteen Years 249
Shipping 247
Postal and Electric Telegraph 252
Australasian 250
Cost of 249
Number of Miles travelled 249
Revenue and Expenditure for Fourteen Years 250
Traffic for Fourteen Years 249
Traffic in Local Products for Fourteen Years 249
Shipping 247
Railways 248
Australasian 250
Cost of 249
Number of Miles travelled 249
Revenue and Expenditure for Fourteen Years 250
Traffic for Fourteen Years 249
Traffic in Local Products for Fourteen Years 249
Shipping 247
Treaty of Waitangi 4
Trees in Canterbury, Exotic 569
Trout in New Zealand, Introduction of.
(Year-book, 1894, p. 431.)
Trust Office, Public 317
(Year-book, 1898, p. 454)
Turnips, Acreage under 360

Unimproved Value, Rating on 380
United States, Trade with 192, 194, 223
University of New Zealand 137
Students 139
Undergraduates 138
Vaccination, Exemption from 285

Vaccinations, Successful, Numbers and Proportions 285
Valuation of Land, Government 467
Value of Home Produce exported 195
Vessels.
Shipping.
Village Settlements 516
Vine-growing 567
Vital Statistics 255
Vital Statistics, Australasian Capitals, 1902 274
Volunteers 59

Wages and Prices in each Provincial District 321-325
Waihi Gold-mine 327
Water-races, Canterbury 652
Wealth, Private 317
Calculated from Probate Returns 318
Of Australasia 319
Wealth, Public 320
Wellington, City of—
Exports 209
General Description 626
Imports 172
Meteorology 302
Population (and all Suburbs) (Census, 1901) 116
Population City and Suburban Boroughs, Estimated, 1903 384
Value of Property 384, 472, 498
Vital Statistics 261, 272
Wellington Land District—Physical Features; Plains, Rivers, Lakes, Scenery, Forests, Soil; Climate; Harbours and Ports; Towns; Crown Lands; Industries, &c. 622
Wellington-Manawatu Railway 250
Westland Land District—Physical Features, Mountains, Rivers, Forests, Lakes, Soil, Climate, Lands, Harbours, Towns, Mining and Minerals, &c. 641
Wheat, Amount held from Previous Season 356
Acreage and Actual Yield in Provincial Districts 351
Area under, and Produce, Fourteen Years 356
Consumption of, in New Zealand 358
Annual Average, Principal Countries 358
Crops of Australian States 357
Crop of the World 357
Export in 1903 207
Seed Sown per Acre 557
Wine, Consumption of, per Head 156, 169
Winter Oats and Cape Barley 560
Yield per Acre 560
Women's Franchise 18, 408
Wool—
Exported 203
Production of, Sixteen Years 203
Proportions of Greasy, Scoured, and Washed Wool exported, Six Years 204
Used at Local Mills 203
Woollen Manufactures exported 197
World's Gold Production 329
World's Wheat-crop 357
By Authority: JOHN MACKAY Government Printer, Wellington.—1904.