THE NEW ZEALAND OFFICIAL YEAR-BOOK, 1905


Table of Contents

NEW ZEALAND AND ITS DEPENDENCIES

PREFACE.

THIS is the fourteenth 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 again been 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.

A supply of the pamphlets is also kept on hand for use by persons who prefer them to the complete book.

E. J. VON DADELSZEN.

Registrar-General's Office,

Wellington, N.Z., 12th October, 1905.

ADDENDA ET CORRIGENDA.

PAGE 24: The fourteenth Parliament was dissolved 5th November, 1902, not 12th November, 1902.

Page 25: Speakers of the Legislative Council—Hon. Sir William Fitzherbert, K.C.M.G., retired 22nd April, 1887; Hon. George Marsden Waterhouse appointed 22nd April, 1887, retired 21st September, 1887; Hon. Sir William Fitzherbert, K.C.M.G., appointed 21st September, 1887, retired 23rd January, 1891.

Page 27: Consular Agent of France —Harold Beauchamp, Esq., Wellington, vice A. A. Stuart Menteath, Esq. Vice-Consul for Greece—Joseph Frank Dyer, Esq., Wellington.

Page 28: Office of “High Commissioner” in London created in substitution for that of “Agent General.” Hon. W. P. Reeves appointed High Commissioner as from 14th June, 1905.

Page 29: After “Distinguished Service Order” read “Imperial Service Order (I.S.O.): Companions —James B. Heywood, Esq., Secretary to the Treasury, 1905; W. Gray, Esq.. Secretary to the Post and Telegraph Department, 1905.”

Page 30: His Excellency the Governor, Lord Plunket, appointed Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (K.C.M.G.).

Page 33: Hon. C. C. Bowen elected Speaker of the Legislative Council, 4th July, 1905. Hon. W. C. Smith elected Chairman of Committees, Legislative Council, 5th July, 1905.

Page 33: Hon. A. Lee Smith and Hon. J. Twomey have ceased to be members of the Legislative Council, their appointments having lapsed; Hon. Henry Williams resigned; Hon. H. K. Taiaroa died.

Page 34: Frank Herbert Phillips appointed Interpreter to the Legislative Council, vice H. S. Hadfield, resigned.

Page 35: Mr. F. M. B. Fisher elected to fill the vacant seat in the House of Representatives for the City of Wellington.

Page 38: Department of Public Health: Medical Superintendent, Te Waikato Sanatorium, Cambridge—Dr. C. H. R. Pentreath. Chief Clerk—J. J. D. Grix, vice J. H. McAlister, transferred.

Page 44: Marine Department, Chief Clerk—J. H. McAlister.

Page 56: Department of Immigration: Minister of Immigration—Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, P.O. Under Secretary—W. C. Kensington.

Page 187: Poll taken for Devonport Borough, 6th June, 1904, was on a proposal to “rescind.”

Page 504: Thames County fourth column, for £325,106, read £235,106.

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 more than 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-five 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 cast 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 descendants of a prior migration, whose history is lost. The tradition runs 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.

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

    Palmerston.—Distance from Rarotonga, 273 miles ; an atoll, 4 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
Scotland30,463
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 level 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 4,000 ft. 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 7,515 ft. The craters of Ngauruhoe, the Red Crater (6,140 ft.), and Te Mari (4,990 ft.) 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 9,008 ft., 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 500 ft. in diameter, some 300 ft. 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 8,260 ft. 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 land-locked 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 10,000 ft. to 12,000 ft., Mount Cook, the highest peak, rising to 12,349 ft.

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.Miles   ch.Miles   ch.Miles   ch.
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 1,270 ft., although at the entrance only 130 ft.), 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 5,000 ft. and 6,000 ft. above the sea. Near Milford, the finest of these sounds, is the great Sutherland Waterfall, 1,904 ft. 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, its area only 114 square miles. It is 1,070 ft. above sea-level, and has a depth varying from 1,170 ft. to 1,296 ft. 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 18 ft. to 26 ft. 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, 3,200ft. 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. Horseshoe 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 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 1,723 ft. 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 2,000 ft. 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 depot of provisions and clothing for the use of shipwrecked mariners.

The COOK ISLANDS, with others now included within the extended boundaries of the colony, are as under*:—

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 fiat land, on which are innumerable cocoa-nut 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 two islands, surrounded by a reef, which may be 10 ½ miles 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.

* See Part IV., “Notes on Annexed Islands” following descriptions of and districts.

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 £6500 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 the 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 857,539 in December, 1904; besides whom there were 43,143 Maoris, and also 12,292 persons residing in the Cook and other Pacific Islands within the extended boundaries of 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 9 Aug:, 1897.

The Earl of Ranfurly, G.C.M.G.. from 10 Aug., 1897, to 19 June, 1904.

The Right Honourable William Lee, Baron Plunket, from 20 June, 1904.

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. Held office until March, 1852. 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, 1855)27 May, 18549 August, 1854.
31 August, 185416 September, 1854.
8 August, 185515 September, 1855.
Second (dissolved 5th November, 1860)15 April, 185716 August, 1856.
(No session in 1857) 
10 April, 185821 August, 1858.
(No session in 1859) 
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, 18668 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 November, 1871.
16 July, 187225 October, 1872.
15 July, 18733 October, 1873.
3 July, 187431 August, 1874.
20 July, 187521 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, 18801 September, 1880.
9 June, 188124 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
1 July, 19018 November, 1901.
1 July, 19024 October, 1902.
Fifteenth29 June, 190325 November, 1903.
28 June, 19048 November, 1904.

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, 1864.
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, 188423 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. 
 6 October, 18979 July 1903.
Hon. W. C. Walker, C.M.G.9 July, 19035 January, 1904.
Hon. Sir A. J. Cadman, K.C.M.G.7 July, 1904.23 March, 1905.

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, 1854 
 15 April, 18563 June, 1861.
Sir David Monro, Kb. Bach.3 June, 1861 
 30 June, 186613 Sept., 1870.
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, 1879 
 24 September, 1879 
 18 May, 1882 
 7 August, 1884 
 6 October, 18873 October, 1890.
Hon. Major William Jukes Steward23 January, 18918 November, 1893.
Hon. Sir George Maurice O'Rorke, Kt. Bach.21 June, 1894 
 6 April, 1897. 
 22 June, 190012 November, 1902.
Arthur Robert Guinness29 June, 1903. 

Chapter 10. FOREIGN CONSULS.

CONSULS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES RESIDING IN , OR WITH JURISDICTION OVER , NEW ZEALAND , 31ST MARCH , 1905.

Country represented.Office heldNamePlace of Residence.
Argentine RepublicVice-ConsulHon. T. FergusDunedin.
Austria-HungaryConsul - General for the Commonwealth of Australia, and New ZealandOtto, Baron Hoenning-O'CarrollSydney.
ConsulE. LangguthAuckland.
BelgiumConsul - General for Australasia and FijiF. HuylebroeckMelbourne.
ConsulHon. Charles John JohnstonWellington.
Vice-ConsulG. F. Johnston
ConsulJoseph James KinseyChristchurch.
John BurnsAuckland.
George Lyon DennistonDunedin.
BrazilVice-ConsulA. H. MilesWellington.
ChiliConsul - General for the Commonwealth of Australia, and New ZealandWilliam BrownSydney.
DenmarkConsul (for North Island)Francis Henry Dillon BellWellington (Principal Consulate).
DenmarkConsul (for South Island)Emil Christian SkogChristchurch.
Vice-ConsulFrederick Ehrenfried BaumeAuckland.
William Edward PerryHokitika.
Odin Henry MöllerDunedin.
FranceConsul (for New Zealand)Robert BoeufvéAuckland.
ChancelierAnguste A Lelievre
Vice ConsulPercival Clay NeillDunedin.
Consular AgentGeorge HumphreysChristchurch
A. A. Stuart-MenteathWellington.
German EmpireConsul - General for Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, and FijiPaul Von BuriSydney.
ConsulCarl SeegnerAuckland.
” (acting)Willy FelsDunedin.
Philip KippenbergerChristchurch.
Friedrich August KrullWanganui.
Vice-ConsulEberhard FockeWellington.
ItalyConsul - General for Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, and FijiC. BertolaMelbourne.
Consular AgentThomas WallaceChristchurch.
Roland Thomas RobertsonWellington.
James MillsDunedin.
Geraldo Giuseppe PerottiGreymouth.
Richard A. CarrAuckland.
JapanConsulA. S. AldrichWellington.
NetherlandsConsul - General for Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, and FijiW. L. BosschartMelbourne.
ConsulHon. Charles John JohnstonWellington.
Vice-ConsulGeorge RitchieDunedin.
Ambrose MillarAuckland.
Harold Featherston JohnstonWellington.
G. de VriesChristchurch.
PortugalConsulJohn DuncanWellington.
Vice-ConsulHenry Rees GeorgeAuckland.
Arthur Donald Stuart DuncanWellington.
Charles William RattrayDunedin.
RussiaConsul-GeneralMichel OustinowMelbourne.
SpainConsul-in Chief (with jurisdiction over Australia and New ZealandHenry CaveMelbourne.
SpainHonorary Vice-ConsulAlexander H. TurnbullWellington.
Sweden and NorwayConsulArthur Edward PearceWellington.
DittoVice-ConsulSidney Jacob NathanAuckland.
Albert KayeChristchurch.
United States of AmericaConsul - General (for New Zealand, Fiji, Society, and other South Sea Islands)Hon. Frank DillinghamAuckland.
Vice-Consul-GeneralLeonard A. BachelderAuckland.
Consular AgentFrank GrahamChristchurch
John DuncanWellington.
Frederick Orlando BridgmanDunedin.

AGENT–GENERAL FOE NEW ZEALAND IN LONDON.

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

Chapter 11. THE COLONIAL OFFICE.

(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.

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

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

Chapter 12. 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 13. 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.Perceval, Sir Westby Brook, 1894.
Hall, Hon. Sir John, 1882.Stout, Hon. Sir Robert, 1886.
Hector, Sir James, 1887.Ward, Hon. Sir Joseph George, 1901.

KNIGHTS BACHELOR (KT . BACH.).

Campbell, Sir John Logan. 1902.Prendergast, Hon. Sir James, 1881.
Miller. Hon. Sir Henry John, 1901.Russell, Sir William Russell, 1902.
O'Rorke. Hon. Sir George Maurice, 1880.Steward, Hon. Sir William Jukes, 1902.

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

Cradock. Major Montagu, 1900.Porter, Colonel T. W., 1902.
Davies, Brevet–Colonel R. H., 1900.Robin, Brevet Colonel Alfred William, 1900.
Newall, Colonel Stewart, 1900.

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

Bauchop Lieut.–Colonel A., 1902.Kennaway, Walter, 1891.
Gudgeon, Lieut.–Colonel Walter Edward, 1890.Richardson, Hon. Edward, 1879.
Jowsey, Lieut.–Colonel Thomas, 1900.Roberts, John, 1891.

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

Abbott, Lieut.–Colonel P. W., 1902.Poison, Major D., 1900.
Bartlett, Major E., 1902.Stevenson, Captain R., 1902.
Hickey, Lieutenant D. A., 1902.Todd, Captain T. J. M., 1900.
Hughes, Captain J. G., 1900.Walker, Captain G. H., 1901.
Major, Major C. T., 1900. 

ROYAL RED CROSS .

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

VICTORIA CROSS.

Hardham, Farrier–Major W. J., 1901.

NEW ZEALAND CROSS .

* For service rendered in 1867.
Adamson, Thomas, 1869.Mair, Gilbert, 1870.
Biddle, Benjamin, 1869.Preece, George, 1869.
Black, Solomon, 1869.Roberts, John Mackintosh, 1869.
Hill, George, 1869.Rodriguez, Antonio, 1869.
Lingard, William, 1869.Shepherd, Richard, 1869.
Mace, Francis Joseph, 1869.Wrigg, Harry Charles William, 1898.*
Maling, Christopher, 1869. 

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

Baigent, Private IvanhoeLangham, Sergeant–Major J.
Black, Sergeant–Major G. C.Lockett, Sergeant–Major E. B.
Burr, Sergeant–Major W. T.Pickett, Sergeant–Major M.
Cassidy, Sergeant W.Rouse, Farrier–Sergeant G.
Fletcher, Sergeant–Major W. H.Wade, Private H. B.
Free, Private A.White, Sergeant–Major H.
Kent, Sergeant W. 

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, whose names do not appear in the list given above, are allowed, as such, to retain the title of “Honourable”: Bryce, John, 1884; 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.

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 and the Hon. Edward Tennyson Conolly.

Chapter 14. GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.

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1ST APRIL, 1905.

PLUNKET , His Excellency The Right Honourable 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.G.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 Aide–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).

ADMINISTRATOROFTHE GOVERNMENT. — The Chief Justice, appointed under a dormant Commission.

Chapter 15. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

Table of Contents


1ST APRIL , 1905.

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, Colonia 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 16. 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 exceeding fourteen sitting–days in any one session, 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.

ROLLOF MEMBERS OFTHE HONOURABLE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF NEW ZEALAND, (1ST APRIL , 1905.)
        Speaker—
Chairman of Committees—The Hon. R. H. J. REEVES.
Name.Provincial District.Date of Appointment.
* Life Members.
Arkwright, the Hon. FrancisWellington13 December, 1902.
Baillie, the Hon. William Douglas HallMarlborough8 March, 1861.*
Baldey, the Hon. AlfredOtago18 March, 1903.
Beehan, the Hon. WilliamAuckland22 June, 1903.
Holt, the Hon. William MouatOtago10 October, 1899.
Bowen, the Hon. Charles ChristopherCanterbury23 January, 1891.
Carncross, the Hon. Walter Charles FrederickTaranaki18 March, 1903.
Feldwick, the Hon. HenryOtago16 October, 1899.
Fraser, the Hon. Francis HumphrisWellington22 June, 1899.
George, the Hon. Seymour ThorneAuckland22 June, 1903.
Gourley, the Hon. HughOtago22 June, 1899.
Harris, the Hon. BenjaminAuckland3 February, 1904.
Holmes, the Hon. JamesWestland18 April, 1902.
Jenkinson, the Hon. John EdwardCanterbury6 June, 1900.
Johnston, the Hon. Charles JohnWellington23 January, 1891.*
Jones, the Hon. GeorgeOtago13 December, 1902.
Kelly, the Hon. ThomasTaranaki16 October, 1899.
Kelly, the Hon. WilliamAuckland.3 February, 1904.
Kenny, the Hon. Courtney William Aylmer ThomasMarlborough15 May, 1885.*
Louisson, the Hon. CharlesCanterbury22 December, 1900
Macdonald, the Hon. Thomas Kennedy .Wellington22 June, 1903.
McLean, the Hon. GeorgeOtago19 December, 1881.*
Marshall, the Hon. JamesWestland18 April, 1902.
Miller, the Hon. Sir Henry John, Kt.Otago8 July, 1865.*
Montgomery, the Hon. WilliamCanterbury16 October, 1899.
Ormond, the Hon. John DaviesHawke's Bay20 January, 1891.*
O'Rorke, the Hon. Sir George Maurice, Kt.Auckland25 June, 1904.
Peacock, the Hon. John ThomasCanterbury9 October, 1877.*
Pinkerton, the Hon. DavidOtago3 February, 1904.
Pitt, the Hon. Albert, Lieut.–ColonelNelson23 December, 1899.
Reeves, the Hon. Richard Harman JeffaresNelson13 December, 1902.
Rigg, the Hon. JohnWellington6 June, 1900.
Scotland, the Hon. HenryTaranaki24 February, 1868.*
Smith, the Hon. Alfred LeeOtago18 June, 1898.
Smith, the Hon. William CowperHawke's Bay13 December, 1902.
Stevens, the Hon. Edward Cephas JohnCanterbury7 March, 1882.*
Taiaroa, the Hon. Hori KereiOtago15 May, 1885.*
Thompson, the Hon. ThomasAuckland18 March, 1903.
Trask, the Hon. FrancisNelson18 March, 1903.
Twomey, the Hon. Jeremiah MatthewCanterbury18 June, 1898.
Walker, the Hon. LancelotCanterbury15 May, 1885.*
Wherowhero, the Hon. Mahuta Tawhiao Potatau teAuckland22 May, 1903.
Wigram, the Hon. Henry FrancisCanterbury22 June, 1903.
Williams, the Hon. HenryAuckland7 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.

* See not on page 17, ante.

ROLL OF MEMBERS OFTHE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
(1ST APRIL , 1905.)
Speaker—ARTHUR ROBERT GUINNESS.
Chairman of Committees—JOHN ANDREW MILLAR .
Name.Electoral District.Date of Notification of Return of Writ.

* The third member for Wellington City was not elected on the 1st April, 1905.

Vacancy caused by death of Mr. George Fisher.

† Date of election.

    For European Electorates.
Aitken, John Guthrie WoodCity of Wellington10 December, 1902.
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
———*City of Wellington
Flatman, Frederick RobertGeraldine10 December, 1902.
Fowlds, GeorgeGrey Lynn
Fraser, Alfred Levavasour DurellNapier
Fraser, WilliamWakatipu
Graham, JohnCity of Nelson
Guinness, Arthur Robert (Speaker)Grey
Hall, CharlesWaipawa
Hall–Jones, Hon. WilliamTimaru
Hanan, Josiah AlfredInvercargill
Harding, Alfred ErnestKaipara
Hardy, Charles Albert CreerySelwyn
Hawkins, William HenryPahiatua28 July, 1904.†
Herdman, Alexander LaurenceMount Ida10 December, 1902.
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, RobertMataura10 December, 1902.
Major, Charles EdwinHawera
Mander, FrancisMarsden
Massey, William FergusonFranklin
Millar, John AndrewCity of Dunedin
Mills, Hon. Charles HoughtonWairau
Moss, Edward George BrittonOhinemuri
Reid, Donald (jun.)Taieri
Remington, Arthur EdwardRangitikei
Rhodes, Robert HeatonEllesmere
Russell, Sir William Russell, Kt. Bach.Hawke's Bay
Rutherford, Andrew WilliamHurunui
Seddon, Rt. Hon. Richard John, P.C.Westland
Sidey, Thomas KayCaversham
Smith, Edward MetcalfTaranaki
Steward, Hon. Sir William Jukes, Kt. Bach.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
For Maori Electorates. Day of Election.
Heke, HoneNorthern Maori22 December, 1902.
Kaihau, HenareWestern Maori
Parata, TameSouthern Maori
Pere, WiremuEastern Maori

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 17. OFFICIAL LIST. (1st April, 1905.)

Table of Contents

PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE.

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

Secretary to Cabinet and Clerk of the Executive Council—A. J. Willis

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S DEPARTMENT.

CHIEF OFFICE.

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

Under–Secretary—Hugh Pollen

Chief Clerk—R. F. Lynch

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

Officer in Charge of Government Buildings—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, E. A. Casey

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

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

Correspondence and Records Clerk—W. W. Cook

Statistical Clerks — F. H. Machattie, W. M. Wright

Clerk and Examiner of Returns from Officiating Ministers and Registrars—G. A. Schoch

Clerks for Searches, Documents, &c.—Ben Keys, C. Janion

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

[There are also 209 District Registrars located throughout the colony.]

COLONIAL MUSEUM AND OBSERVATORIES.

Director—A. Hamilton

Cadet—C. Freyberg

Astronomical Observer—T. King

Meteorological Observers —

North Island—

Auckland, T. F. Cheesman

Cambridge. Miss Rochfort

Rotorua, Dr. A. S. Wohlmann

New Plymouth, G. W. Palmer

Momohaki, F. Gillanders

Levin, D. M. Cole

Tauranga, Dr. W. Brown

Gisborne, A. Cuthbert

Wellington, Rev. D. C. Bates, F.R.Met.S.

South Island—

Nelson, J. Sharp and Dr. Hudson

Kaikoura, Dr. Gunn, F.R.Met.S. Lincoln, G. Gray

Leith Valley, Dunedin, H. Skey

Hokitika, A. D. Macfarlane

Invercargill, D. G. Gilmour

NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE

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

Hon. Treasurer—J. W. Joynt, M.A.

Secretary—T. H. Gill, M.A., L.L.B.

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 Officer —Dr. Thomas H. Ambrose Valintine, M.R. C.S.Eng., D.P.H., &c.

Wellington: Bacteriologist, and District Health Officer—R. H. Makgill, M.D. Edin., D.P.H. Camb.

Native Health Officer —Dr. Maui Pomare

Chief Clerk—J. H. McAlister

Accountant—H. Eastgate

Clerks—H. B. Magrath, T. P. Butler, 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 — Nelson, Dr. James Hudson; 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 — Chief Inspector C. A. Schauer, Wellington. Inspectors: Dunedin, W. E. Gladstone; New Plymouth, F. H. Kendall; Auckland, C. C. Winstanley; Napier, D. Munro; Nelson, C. Middleton; Christchurch, R. H. McKenzie and M. Kershaw Invercargill, K. Cameron; Marton, F. C. Wilson; Masterton, G. H. Dolby

DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE.

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

Secretary—T. E. Donne

Assistant Secretary—G. S. Munro

Chief Clerk – Waller Keay

Shorthand – writer and Typiste—Irene Raymond

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

Accountant—R. E. Hayes

Inspector—F. Moorhouse

Journalist—J. Cowan

Clerks —H. Kirk, P. J. Kelleher, J. Andrews, R. G. M. Park, J. W. Hill, S. J. Collett, G. F. McGirr, J. McDonald, G. A. Cormack

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—J. M. S. Levis, F.R.C.S.I., D.P.H.

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

Manager, Hanmer Hot Springs—J. B. Gould

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—A. 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, L. McIntosh, W. Gillanders

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

Cadettes— 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

Cadettes—M. A. Bridson, E. M. Adams

LAND AND INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT.

Commissioner—P. Heyes.

Deputy Commissioner — F. J. M. D. Walmsley

LAND TAX.

Clerk in Charge—H. Nancarrow

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

INCOME TAX.

Clerk in Charge—J. M. King

Clerks—W. M. Tyers, D. G. Clark, G. W. Jänisch, M. Fraser, C. T. Rout, E. ,T. R. Cumming

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

Shorthand–writer and Typewriter (Private Secretary to Rt. Hon. the Premier)—J. Stevenson

Cadets—J. M. Park, N. H. Mackie, G. C. Smith

Cadette—K. L. Morgan

OLD–AGE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT.

Head Office — Government Buildings, Wellington.

Registrar—J. Eman Smith

Chief Clerk—G. C. Fache

Accountant—H. E. Williams

Clerks — F. M. Leckie, F. G. Twiss, R. S. Stokes, J. H. Reynolds, J. S. Lambert, P. Cunningham

Cadets—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—Philip A. Keddell. Cadet—B. E. Murphy

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

Coromandel—J. McIndoe

Dargaville—S. Thompson

Hamilton—W. Shanaghan

Helensville—G. A. Tapp

Kaitaia—W. Sefton

Mangonui—J. Henry

Maungaturoto—J. Hemphill

Otahuhu—G. Foreman

Raglan—W. McCarthy

Rawene—F. A. Moore

Rotorua—W. Bern

Russell—B. J. Parsons

Taupo—J. Ryan

Warkworth—s. Stacey

Whangarei—J. FitzGerald

Whangaroa—A. G. Douthet

Thames—J. Jordan

Opotiki—C. O'Reilly

Paeroa—H. R. Bush

Tauranga—W. A. Thom

Te Aroha—H. R. Bush

Whakatane—W. Eccles

Gisborne—G. J. A. Johnstone

Port Awanui—W. Kelly

Napier—R. B. Mathias

Dannevirke—S. Tansley

Waipawa—J. Eceleton

Wairoa—H. H. Carr

New Plymouth—W. A. D. Banks

Stratford—C. J. Hewlett

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—E. C. Kelling

Motueka—L. Read

Blenheim—J. Terry

Havelock—H. McArdle

Akaroa—D. Jackson

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. Askenbeck

Hokitika—J. C. Malfroy

Westport—E. D. Mosley

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

Queenstown—A. A. Mair

Riverton—J. M. Adam

Chatham Islands—R. W. Rayner

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

HEAD OFFICE.

Minister of Justice — Hon. James McGowan

Under–Secretary—F. Waldegrave

Chief Clerk—G. C. B. Jordan

Translator—G. H. Davies

Clerks—C. E. Matthews, G. E. Dixon, W. T. Gordon. Cadets— L. A. B.

Teutenberg, G. H. A. Tanner

CROWN LAW OFFICE .

Attorney–General—Hon. Albert Pitt

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

Assistant Law Officer—L. G. Reid

Acting Law Draftsman—W. Jolliffe

Private Secretary to Attorney–General—A. M. Smith

Clerk—E. Y. Redward

Cadet—J. 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 (on leave); W. R. Haselden, Deputy

Registrars of the Supreme Court.

Auckland —R. E. G. Thomas

New Plymouth—T. Hutchison

Wanganui—R. L. Stanford

Palmerston North—A. D. Thomson

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—R. J. Acheson

Dunedin—G. A. King

Invercargill—J. R. Colyer

Sheriffs.

Auckland— R. E. G. Thomas

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—B. D. Mosley

Central Westland—A. Askenbeck

Marlborough—J. Terry

Canterbury—A. R. Bloxam

Timaru—C. A. Wray

West land— R. J. Acheson

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).

Hamilton and Thames — Hon. J. A. Tole

New Plymouth—W. Kerr

Stratford—W. Kerr

Hawera— E. L. Barton

Wanganui—s. T. Fitzherbert

Palmerston North—H. S. Fitzherbert

Pahiatua—W. Tosswill

Masterton—A. R. Bunny

Nelson—C. Y. Fell

Westport and Reefton—A. A. Wilson

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. O. Kettle

Waikato, &c.—H. W. Northcroft

Onehunga, &c.—R. W. Dyer*

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.—H. W. Bishop

Kaiapoi, &c.—V. G. Day

Timaru, &c.—C. A. Wray

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

Hokitika, &c.—R. J. Acheson*

Dunedin, &c.—H. Y. Widdowson, C. C. Graham

Oamaru, &c.—J. Keddell*

Milton, &c.—G. Cruickshank*

Clyde, &c.—F. J. Burgess*

Naseby—J. McEnnis*

Invercargill, &c. — S. E. McCarthy,* W. G. Riddell*

Chatham Islands—Dr. H. W. Pigeon

Official Assignees in Bankruptcy.

Auckland—E. Gerard, J.P.

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—E. C. Kelling

Hokitika—J. C. Malfroy

Kumara—A. F. Bent

Greymouth—B. Harper

Westport—E. D. Mosley

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—J. McIndoe

Paeroa—H. R. Bush

Waihi—E. W. Cave

Tauranga—W. A. Thom

Whangarei—J. Fitzgerald

Havelock (Marlborough) —H. McArdle

Nelson—E. C. Kelling

Blenheim—John Terry

Motueka—L. Read

Collingwood—J. N. Nalder

Westport—E. D. Mosley

Charleston—E. Brophy

Reefton—A. Askenbeck

Ahaura—F. Bird, jun .

* Are also Wardens of Goldfields.

Greymouth—B. Harper

Kumara—A. F. Bent.

Hokitika—J. O. Malfroy

Ashburton—T. W. Tayler

Naseby, &c.—F. Hart

Wyndham—D. Bogue

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

Cromwell—O. E. Bowling

Queenstown and Arrowtown—A. A. Mair

Lawrence—A. M. Eyes

Gore—M. Foley

Riverton—J. M. Adam

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—W. D. Wallace

Kaiapoi—A. G. Ashby

Waimate—W. Y. Purchase

Dunedin—W. G. P. O'Callaghan

Port Chalmers—K. H. Paterson

CORONERS .

Auckland, T. Gresham, E. Baker; Arrowtown, H. Graham; Coromandel, A. R. H. Swindley; Collingwood, E. Davidson; Dannevirke, T. L. Buick; 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 Awamutu, 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.

NATIVE LAND COURT .

Chief Judge —H. G. Seth Smith

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

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

Commissioners of the Native Land Court.

R. S. Bush, A. Turnbull, C. C. Kettle, J. M. Roberts, H. W. Bishop, H. Eyre–Kenny, R. L. Stanford, T. Hutchison, G. Cruickshank, R. S. Florance: Sub–Commissioners — J. Brooking, W. A. Thom

Government Native Agent, Otorohanga—G. T. Wilkinson

VALIDATION COURT.

Chief Judge–H. G. Seth Smith

Judges—The Judges of the Native Land Court

Registrars—The Registrars of the Native Land Court

MAORI LANDS ADMINISTRATION ACT , 1900.”

Superintendent—P. Sheridan

Administrative Officer—P. Sheridan

Recorder—R. C. Sim

Presidents of Councils.

District of Tokerau —J. W. Browne

District of Maniapoto–Tuwharetoa—G. T. Wilkinson

District of Waikato—W. G. Mair

District of Waiareka—Jackson Palmer

District of Te Ikaroa—Gilbert Mair

District of Aotea—H. Dunbar Johnson

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; Dumgree, Edward Murphy, Waipa Valley, John William Brien

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 of Money–orders and Saving–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. Barnett, A. Donovan, C. T. Andrew

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, H. McGill, G. A. Maskew, J. L M. Harkness

Clerks, Accountant's Branch—J.L. H. Ledger, H. A. R. Huggins, J. M Tabuteau, W. Chegwidden, H. Cornwall, R. D. Kelly, J. H. Kibblewhite, 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, G. H. Harris, H. O. 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. Kröner, 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, T. A. Churches, C. H. Clinkard, J. M. Dale, H. A. Lamb, R. M. Porteous, D. Rutherford, A. H. 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, G. Foote, P. S. Carroll, J. A. Humphrey, J. G. Schmidt, C. L. Whitehead, E. J. L. Whiting, G. B. Williamson, J. W. Buchanan, W. M. Krebs, E. Bermingham, S. Brock, E. Harris, B. M. Kenny, V. Johnston, M. A. M. 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, S. C. O. Cox

CHIEF POSTMASTERS.

Auckland—D. Cumming

* Thames—H. W. Capper

* 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. McHutcheson

* 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 POSTOFFICES.

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

* Combined post and telegraph offices.

OFFICERS IN CHARGE OF TELEGRAPH OFFICES.

Auckland—H. F. Seager

Napier—B. H. Keys

Wellington—H. W. Harrington

Christchurch—B. N. Martin

Dunedin —J. G. Ballard

BOARD OF APPEAL.

F. G. B. Waldegrave, Under–Secretary, Department of Justice (Chairman), nominated

J. K. Logan, Superintendent of Electric Lines, nominated

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, C. O. Trounson

Cadet —K. H. Smyth

Audit—H. W. Brewer, W. B. Montgomery, G. F. McKellar

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. Elliott

Nelson—R. Carter

Westport—H. J. Crowther

Greymouth—J. Howie

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 Change

Hokianga—C. C. Courtenay, 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—Dr. H. W. Pigeon, (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

Master of s.s. “ Tutanekai”—C. F. Post

INSPECTORS OF SEAFISHERIES.

Wellington. Chief Inspector — L. F. Ayson

Russell—H. Stephenson

Whangarei—A. McDonnell

Wanganui—J. Fitzpatrick

Waiheke Island—J. P. Bennett

Auckland — H. C. Haywood

Palmerston North—M. D. Stagpoole

Foxton—J. Forster

Hokitika—J. Marks

Dunedin—J. McIntyre, T. J. Sullivan

Bluff—P. McGrath

Napier—C. H. Mellsop

HARBOURMASTERS.*

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.

Minister in Charge — Hon. W. Hall–Jones

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, P. Grant

Napier—M. Sharp

Wanganui—S. Dalrymple

Wellington — A. Calvert, C. W. R. Suisted, W. Cullen

Nelson—N. D. Hood

Christchurch—P. J. Carman

Timaru—J. Williamson

Dunedin—A. Walker, A. Ramsay

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., Chairman; John Hayes, F.S.G.C., Inspecting Engineer of Mines; P. S. Hay. M.A., M.Inst.C.E.; R. P. Milne, Secretary

PRINTING AND STATIONERY DEPARTMENT.

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

Superintending Overseer—J. F. Rogers

Chief Clerk and Accountant—B.B. Allen

Clerk and Computer—N. B. K. Manley

Clerks — F. Barraud, J. W. Hall, R. Watts, A. Stace, W. Hutchings, A. Williams, G. Garnham, C. X. Williams

Cadet—P. C. Jordan

Cadette—I. L Madden

Hansard Supervisor—M F. Marks

Overseers —G. Tattle, W. P. McGirr

Overseer, Jobbing–room—W. A. G. Skinner

Night Foreman—D. Joslin

Readers—W. Fuller, H. S. Mountier, W. Sutherland. P. Riddick

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

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—A. A. Somerville

Cadette—C. McIntosh

Cadet– R. Wakelin

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—F. Broughton

Canterbury—P. G. Withers

Timaru—W. McHutchison

Otago—P. C. Corliss

Southland—C. E. Nalder

Westland—R. J. Acheson

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

LAND TRANSFER DEPARTMENT AND DEEDS REGISTRY.

Registrar–General of Land and Deeds—J. M. Batham

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

DISTRICT LAND REGISTRARS AND RM OF DEEDS.

Auckland—E. Bamford

Taranaki—T. Hutchison

Wellington—J. M. Batham

Hawke's Bay—Thomas Hall

Poverty Bay—R. N. Jones

Nelson—H. Eyre Kenny

Marlborough—T. Scott–Smith

Canterbury—G. G. Bridges

Otago—W. Wyinks

Southland—C. E. Nalder

Westland—R. J. Acheson

EXAMINERS OF TITLES.

Auckland—E. Bamford

Taranaki—T. Hutchison

Wellington—H. Howorth

Hawke's Bay—Thomas Hall

Poverty Bay—R. N. Jones

Nelson—H. Eyre Kenny

Marlborough—T. Scott–Smith

Canterbury—G. G. Bridges

Otago—W. Wyinks

Southland—C. E. Nalder

Westland—R. J. Acheson

REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES.

C. A. St. G. Hickson

REGISTRARS OF BUILDING SOCIETIES , INDUSTRIAL AND PROVIDENT SOCIETIES, AND ASSISTANT REGISTRARS OF COMPANIES.

Auckland—E. Bamford

Poverty Bay—R. N. Jones

Taranaki—T. Hutchison

Hawke's Bay—Thomas Hall

Wellington—C. H. W. Dixon

Nelson—W. W. de Castro

Marlborough—F. Broughton

Canterbury—P. G. Withers

Otago—P. C. Corliss

Southland—C. E. Nalder

Westland—R. J. Acheson

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, I. Robertson, M.A.

Cadets—M. G. D. Grant, J. F. Cooper, F. W. Millar, A. J. H. Benge, J. Turner, K. McKenzie, IT. V. Croxton, I. Johnstone, D. Watson, J. A. Orr, J. R. McClune, J. G. Jordon

Temporary Clerks—B. Stocker, M.A., H. J. Bathgate, G. G. Knight, C. G. Rees, T. McInerney, H. L. J. Machu 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, Mrs. C. F. Scale

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

SECRETARIES TO SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

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—Mist. 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 DEAFMUTES , SUMNER .

Director —G. van Asch

LUNATIC ASYLUMS.

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

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

Medical Superintendent, Auckland Asylum–R. M. Beattie, MB.

Medical Superintendent, Christchurch Asylum—W. Baxter Gow, M.D.

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

Medical Superintendent (Acting), Wellington Asylum—A. Crosby, M.R.C.S.

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

Superintendent, Hokitika Asylum– John Downey: Medical Officer, H. Macandrew, M.B.

Superintendent, Nelson Asylum— George Chapman ; Medical Officer. W. J. Mackay, 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.

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

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

Clerks — F. Rowley, J. W. Collins, W. J. McKeown, W. J. Jamieson, A. J. Isherwood, and W. Linklater Shorthand – writer and Typiste—R. Ritson

Cadet—Thomas McIntosh

Inspectors of Factories.

Wellington — J. H. Lindsay, C. E. Aldridge, M. S. Hawthorne

Auckland—H. Ferguson, E. A. Le Cren

Cadet—W. E. Shanahan

Napier—–W. J. Blake

Wanganui—W. H. McQuarters

Palmerston North– H. H. Knowles

Nelson— S. Tyson

Greymouth—J. Isdell

Christchurch—J. Shanaghan, W. H. Hagger. Clerk—G. H. Wood

Ashburton— R. S. Bean

Timaru—P. Keddie

Oamaru—T. O'Grady

Dunedin — J. Lomas. P. Hally.

Clerk—J. Maxwell

Invercargill—L. D. Brewett

And 160 local Inspectors.

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

MINES DEPARTMENT

CHIEF OFFICE.

Minister of Mines—Hon. James McGowan

Under–Secretary for Mines — H. J. H. Eliott

Inspecting Engineer—John Hayes

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

† Also Assistant Inspectors of Hospitals and Charitable Institutions.

Chief Clerk—T. H. Hamer

Clerk– h. e. Radcliffe

Analyst—J. S. Maclaurin, D.Sc, F.C.S.

Assistant—W. Donovan

Geologists — Alexander McKay, P.G.S., and J. Mackintosh Boll, Ph.D., F.R.G.S.

Draughtsman—C. H. Pierard

Shorthand–writer—J. T. Watkins

Cadet—T. h. Sherwood

INSPECTORS OF MINES.

Thames and Auckland Districts—James Coutts; Waihi—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 –C. M. Wilson

MINING BUREAU.

Secretary—P. Galvin

MANAGERS OF WATERRACES.

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: Karangahake—R. B. McDuff

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

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

BOARD OF EXAMINERS UNDER “THE MINING ACT , 1898.”

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; Benjamin Sutherland, Reefton; and H. P. Hornibrook, Waiomo

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

STATE COALMINES.

Head Office— Greymouth.

Manager—James Bishop

Accountant—L. H. Eilers

Agent, Westport—H. Crowther

Managing Agent, Wellington — Alex. MacDougall

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Minister in Charge—Hon. T. V. 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 Brunch—J. E. D. Spicer

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

VETERINARY DIVISION.

Pathologist and Chief Veterinarian—J. A. Gilruth, 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, A. Ironside

Veterinarians (Ms.R.C.V.S.)—J. Lyons, Auckland; C. R. Neale, Gisborne; A. R, Young, New Plymouth; W. Stapley, M.D., Palmerston North; J. G. Clayton, Wellington ; J. Kerrigan, Dunedin

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

Veterinarians and Meat Inspectors — H. Marsack (Ont.), Auckland; H. S. S. Kyle (Melb.), Invercargill

Meat Inspectors—J. Jarman, Thames; F. Beattie, Paeroa ; B. Ferguson, Napier; C. J. Stone, New Plymouth; E. T. B. Worthy, Hawera”; T. J. Reakes, Stratford; G. W. Mitchell, Feilding; C. J. Barron, Blenheim; B. Thomson, Lyttelton; F. Stewart, Gore

Assistant Meat Inspectors—W. A. P. Sutton, Auckland ; W. C. Moore, Napier; W.T. Wynyard, Gisborne; S.T. Evatt, Tomoana; W. H. Rodney, Longburn; J. Preston, Patea; G. B. Williams, Petone ; J. Millea, Picton; H. W. Binney, Christchurch; A. D. Gillies, Islington; T. Anderson, Belfast, A. M. R. Mills, Smithfield; George Ford, Dunedin; G. Thomson, Mataura; J. C. Mackley, W. S. Carswell, Invercargill

DAIRY DIVISION.

Dairy Commissioner—J. A. Kinsella

Clerk—R. W. Wilkinson

Dairy Instructors—D. Cuddie, W. M. Singleton, A. g. Shirley, J. Pedersen, and W. Grant

Dairy–produce Graders—E. Townshend, Auckland; J. Johnston and L. Hansen, New Plymouth; W. Wright, Patea; D. Dickie and E. A. Dowden, Wellington; A. A. Thornton, Lyttelton and Port Chalmers.

Clerks to Dairy–produce Graders—J. Fleming, New Plymouth ; R. F. Crosbie, Lyttelton ; J. Hutton, Dunedin

BIOLOGICAL AND HORTICULTURAL DIVISION.

Biologist,—T. W. Kirk, F.L.S. Assistant, Biologist—A. H. Cockayne

Fruit–preserving Expert—W. Jaques

Bee Expert,—I. Hopkins

Clerks—J. H. Kingdon, B. Clarry

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

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

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

Orchard Inspectors—A.T. Potter, North Island ; E. Rabbits, South Island

VITICULTURAL DIVISION.

Viticultural Expert—R. Bragato

POULTRY DIVISION.

Chief Poultry Expert—D. D. Hyde Assistant. Poultry Expert—F. Brown

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

Poultry–station Managers — Ruakura, C. Cussen; Momohaki, G. Evatt; Burnham, J. Rose ; Milton, A. Carr

FIBRE DIVISION.

Chief Fibre Expert—C. J. Fulton

Hemp Graders — Auckland, W. H. O. Johnston: Wellington, W. H. Middlemiss, W. H. Ferris, W. G. C. Reid; Bluff, W. J. Shea

Clerk, Wellington—H. Wynn–Williams

MANURE STERILISING DIVISION.

Inspectors of Manure–sterilising—Sydney, F. G. Laurie; Calcutta, R. L. Ward

CHEMICAL DIVISION.

Chief Chemist—B. C. Aston, F.C.S. Laboratory Assistants—E. W. Ludwig, Y. R. Packham

STATISTICAL DIVISION.

Compiler of Statistics —E. B. Burdekin

Clerk—A. C. Philpott

EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

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

LIVE STOCK QUARANTINE STATIONS.

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

INSPECTORS OF STOCK.

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

Hawke's Bay District — Napier, *W. Miller (in charge of district); Gisborne, *C. Thomson and D. Fleming; Wairoa, *T. C. Webb; Hastings, F. G. Wayne; Woodville, J. Harvey

Wairarapa District—Masterton, G. H. Jenkinson (in charge of district); Carterton, V. A. Huddleston

Wellington District—Wellington, *A. Mills, J. Drummond (port)

Manawatu District—Palmerston North, *J. Duncan

West Coast (North Island) District—Wanganui, *A. K. Blundell (in charge of district); Feilding, J. C. Miller; Hunterville, W. R. Rutherfurd; Wanganui, D. Munro; Hawera, *J. W. Deem; Stratford, J. Budge ; New Plymouth, R. Rowan

Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast District—Nelson, T. A. Fraser (in charge of district). *A. T. P. Hubbard; Blenheim, *J. Moore; Hokitika, *C. C. Empson

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

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

Clerks — Auckland, W. C. Robinson; Hamilton, D. Edwards; Napier, A. Callcott, W. McN. Miller; Masterton, R. J. Harcombe; Wellington, V. A. Mills; Palmerston North, W. Nettlefold; Wanganui, D. Bell, H. R. Seddon; Nelson, G. J. Ward; Blenheim, J. Campbell; Christchurch, J. Longton; Timaru, W. Pogson; Dunedin,—Bruce; Invercargill, J. W. Bell, R. L. Johnston

REGISTRARS OF BRANDS.

Auckland—W. C. Robinson; Wanganui, D. Bell

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

INSPECTORS UNDER SLAUGHTERING ACT.

The Inspectors of Stock are Inspectors under the Slaughtering Act.

INSPECTORS OF DAIRIES.

Auckland, G. M. Williamson; Thames, J. Jarman; Paeroa, F. Beatte; Napier, J. G. Parker; New Plymouth, C. J. Stone; Stratford, T. J. Reakes; Hawera, E. T. B. Worthy; Feilding, G. W. Mitchell; Wellington, J. Drummond; Lyttelton, B. Thomson; Christchurch, A. Macpherson; Blenheim, O. J. Barron; Dunedin, W. R. Brown; Gore, F. Stewart (The Inspectors of Stock are also Inspectors of Dairies.)

INSPECTORS OF NOXIOUS WEEDS .

Otahuhu, A. Dickson; Hamilton, K. Seddon; Napier, J. G. Parker ; Waitara, J. M. Hignett; Stratford, F. Arden ; Hawera, A. P. Smith; Hunterville, R. Crockett.; Dunedin, W. R. Brown; Invercargill, M. O'Meara

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

INSPECTORS UNDER RABBIT NUISANCE ACT .

The Inspectors of Stock are Inspectors under the Rabbit Nuisance Act.

Rabbit Agents—Ngaruawahia, B. Bayly; Cambridge, R. Alexander; Kihikihi, J. Case; Pahiatua. T. Bacon ; Masterton, J. Halligan; Taueru, H. Munro; Alfredton, H. S. Ussher; Martinborough, A. C. Hackworth; Johnsonville, W. Ross; Levin, W. S. Goodall; Blenheim, G. Gee; Kaikoura, F. W. Sutton; Mount Somers, C. Branigan ; Fairlie, W. Johnston; Timaru, D. Elliott; Waimate, E. F. Sullivan; Hanmer, C. S. Neville; Kurow, M. McLeod; Maheno, F. Urquhart ; Inch Valley, A. Hughes; Waikouaiti, J. C. Robinson ; Taieri, H. McLeod; Otago Peninsula, A. Munro; Sutton. R. Irving; Waipiata, B. Grant; Clyde, A. Clarke; Roxburgh, J. G. Johnston; Lawrence, C. Watson and E. Fowler; Pembroke, H. A. Munro; Owaka, F. W. Blair; Balclutha, C. S. Dalgleish; Tapanui, A. C. Clapcott; Gore, T. P. Short; Lumsden, W. M. Munro; Wyndham D. McLeod; Invercargill, J. McKellar; Riverton, J. R. Whyborn; Queenstown, S. Firth

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. P. Miller, H. Gerard, C. T. Reehal. F. C. Fraser, A. J. Levick, W. H. Rennie, R. W. Warren, R. H. Cate, W. R. Gibson

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

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, 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, P. J. Wright, A. T. Parkes, H. J. Heath, T. H. Jones

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, S. S. Millington, J. Kerr, J. L. Leydon, A. D. Lincoln, J. Brabiner, J. Hayes, Y. O. Hardie, G. D. Pattle, W. P. McCormick, J. P. Harris, T. Fitzgerald

TRAFFIC BRANCH.

Chief Traffic Manager—H. Buxton

Relieving District Traffic Manager—H. Baxter

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, J. Ashley; Christchurch. S. F. Whitcombe; Invercargill, C. A. Piper

Stationmasters in Charge—Kawakawa, A. M. Arthur; 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—J. T. Ford

Inspector of Bridge Construction—A. H. Alabaster

Electrician—J. T. Fahy, A.M.I.E.E.

Electric Mechanician—T. Hendry

Office Engineer—G. A. Troup

Draughtsmen—J. Besant, C. T. Jeffreys, W. R. B. Bagge, Ad. Howitt, A. L. Baumgart, A. S. Henderson, W. W. Fry, A. S. Wansbrough, F. N. Mansfield

Clerks —W. P. Hicks, 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, F. McGovern, V. W. W. Venimore, O. Foreman, C. S. Nelson, R. Greig, C. A. S. Biss

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

Resident Engineer—Petone, A. C. Koch

LOCOMOTIVE BRANCH.

Chief Mechanical Engineer—A.L. Beattie Clerks—J. P. Kelly, R. Aekins, D. D. Weir, J. Rumgay, B. A. Marris, J. Worthington, C. H. Virtue, H. McKeowen, C. L. Pettit. J. M. Porteous, J. P. McKeowen, N. E. White, J. Linehan, L. G. Armstrong, J. R. Robertson, A. A. B. Boult, J. M. Hemingway, P. Burge, P. E. Cleary

Chief Draughtsman—R. Pye–Smith

Draughtsmen—G. Wilson, A. Smellie, C. G. G. Berry

Boiler Inspector—J. W. Nichols

Locomotive Engineers—Auckland, A. V. Macdonald; Wellington–Napier–New Plymouth, G. A. Pearson; 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

W. Bowles, Traffic Clerk, Wellington, elected

W. T. Wilson. Engineman, elected

M. J. Mack, Guard, elected

W. Morrison, Ganger, elected

W. G. D. Evans, Turner. Petone, elected

Middle Island.

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

J. Gray. Traffic Inspector, Christchurch, elected

A. Williams, Guard, Invercargill, elected

J. Robertson, Engine nan, Invercargill, elected

J. H. Jones, Turner, Addington, elected

T. Hall, Ganger, Dunedin, elected

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, K. Webb, E. Twohill

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. F. Macrae, T. S. Lambert, S. W. May–Somerville, A. T. Ford, G. V. Venning, R. Walker, H. C. North

Head Storekeeper–J. C. Fulton

Storekeeper—E. Kidd

Engineering Cadets—T. M. Ball, W. G. Pearce

Clerical Cadet—W. S. King

Clerical Cadettes —W. L. J. Mellsop, G. F. Edenborough

DISTRICT OFFICES.

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

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

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, J. Meenan, A. Stewart. W. P. Moynihan, W. Sherratt, C. J. McKenzie, F. P. Bartley, J. J. Wilson, F. S. Dyson, J. Wood, H. Vickerman, B.Sc.

Engineering Cadets—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, H. Patterson, W. Hall–Jones, jun., A. J. Baker

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, 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, L. M. Shera, S. A. Holland, L. W. Parsons, W. A. Bowie, A. D. Park, H. M. O'Donnell, H. Colvin, W. Sotheran

Storekeepers —T. Douglas, S. J. Moncrieff

Clerical Cadette—E. J. Colquhoun

DEPARTMENT OF ROADS.

HEAD OFFICE.

Minister in Charge — Hon. W. Hall–Jones

Chief Engineer of Roads—C. W. Hursthouse

Chief Clerk—W. S. Short (solicitor)

Chief Accountant—H. J. Knowles

Assistant Accountant—J. R. Smyth

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

Cadettes—R. B. Orr, O. Ellison

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

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, A. Julian, A. L. Scaly; 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 ; Canterbury. P. W. Willson; Otago, W. H. Trimble, R. W. Gill; Southland, M. J. Aitkin

Cadets—Auckland, M. H. Hampson; Rotorua, C. W. Carver; Wanganui, H. A. Joyce; Southland, F. K. Wilkie

Draughtsmen—Auckland, R. C. Anderson; Rotorua, F. I. Ellis; Te Kuiti, J. T. V. Kirby; Hawke's Bay, P. S. Reaney, W. H. Gilmour; 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. Strombom, E. Julian, R. D. Tosswill; Wanganui, A. L. Soufflot, R. S. Summers, G. Sutherland, W. Waters; Wellington, W. Nathan. B. Wolff, J. O. Scott, C. Hardinge, G. T. Whittaker; Nelson, J. F. Rasmussen, J. Brough; Westland, W. Adair; Canterbury, R. H. Young, U. Hurrell; Otago, H. C. Sutton, J. Kelly; Southland, B. Marr, W. Y. Millar

Bridge Inspector — Te Kuiti, M. W. Forsyth

Overseers — Rotorua, W. Fairley; Te Kuiti, W. J. Worthington, W. Bond, J. Williamson; Hawke's Bay, J. Allison, A. W. Horne, J. McLeod; Taranaki, W. Rigg; Wanganui, J. A. Rutherford, E. A. Vine, J. Corlett, E. Gould; Wellington, W. Boyden; Nelson, M. Green; Marlborough, T. James, D. Watson; Westland, W. L. Fleming, P. Purcell; Otago, P. Fitzpatrick

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE.

Minister of Defence—The Right Hon. Richard John Seddon, P.C.

Private Secretaries — Captain Richard John Spotswood Seddon, N.Z.M.; Thomas Hamilton Hamer

Acting Under – Secretary — Colonel Thomas William Porter, C.B., N.Z.M.

Senior Clerk—Thomas Francis Grey

Clerical Cadet—David Stanley Lyons

HEADQUARTERS STAFF.

Commandant of the New Zealand Defence Forces—Colonel James Melville Babington, H.M. General Staff (local Major–General)

Staff Officer to Commandant, A.M.S., and A.D.C.— Captain Charles Lionel Kirwan Campbell, 16th (The Queen's) Lancers

I Assistant Adjutant – General — Brevet Lieutenant–Colonel Edward Walter Clervaux Chaytor, N.Z.M.

Staff Officer of Artillery — Major George Napier Johnston, N.Z.M. (Captain R.G.A.)

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

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

Surgeon–General—Sidney Skerman (V.D.), N.Z.M., N.Z.V.M.S.

Chief Clerk—William Edward Butler Clerks — John Frederick Rockstrow, William Rickford Collett, Henry Bingham Jacobs, George Francis Rudkin

Shorthand writer and Typiste—Elizabeth Maud Gardiner

MILITARY SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION.

Officer Commanding—Lieutenant–Colonel Robert Haylock Owen, N.Z.M., late H.M. South Lancashire Regiment (Major, retired pay)

Engineer Instructor — Staff Sergeant Major J. P. Russell (R.E.)

CENTRAL BOARD OF MILITARY EXAMINATION.

President—Brevet–Colonel William Holden Webb, N.Z.M. (late H.M. 109th Foot)

Clerks—Thomas W. McDonald, Frank Jennings

MILITARY PENSIONS BOARD.

President—Brigade Surgeon–Lieutenant–Colonel William Edward Collins, N.Z.V.M.S.

Members — Surgeon – Major James R. Purdy, N.Z.V.M.S.; Surgeon–Captain William E. Herber, N.Z.M.

DEFENCE STORE DEPARTMENT.

Defence Storekeeper—James O'Sullivan Assistant Storekeeper—Frederick Silver

NEW ZEALAND PERMANENT FORCE .

Royal New Zealand Artillery. Officer Commanding.

Major John Edward Hume

Officers.

Captain Herbert Edward Pilkington

Captain William P. Wall

Lieutenant Murray Menzies Gardner

Lieutenant George E. B. Mickle

Lieutenant. Robert O. Chesney

Lieutenant Sydney G. Sandle

Cadet—Ivon Tatham Standish

Royal New Zealand Engineers.

Lieutenant Frank Symon

Lieutenant Rayner B. Smythe

Honorary Captain Robert Fraser (Lieut. R.N.R.)

Honorary Captain Reginald Moorhouse (Lieut. R.N.R.)

Honorary Lieutenant John Macpherson

Honorary Lieutenant William George Nelson

Cadet—John Evelyn Duigan

Surgeons.

Surgeon–Captain E. W. Sharman, N.Z.V.M.S. (Auckland)

Surgeon–Captain Hamilton A. H. Gilmer, N.Z.M. (Wellington)

Honorary Chaplains.

Rev. George P. Davys (Wellington)

Rev. Edward Eliot Chambers (Lyttelton)

OFFICERS COMMANDING MILITIA AND VOLUNTEER DISTRICTS , ADJUTANTS, AND PRINCIPAL MEDICAL OFFICERS.

Auckland.

Officer Commanding District—Brevet–Colonel Richard Hutton Davies, C.B., N.Z.M.

Principal Medical Officer — Brigade Surgeon – Lieutenant – Colonel Henry Walker

Wellington.

Officer Commanding District — Brevet–Colonel William Holden Webb, N.Z.M. (late H.M. 109th Foot)

Adjutant—Major Lewis John Joyce, N.ZM.

Principal Medical Officer — Brigade Surgeon–Lieutenant–Colonel William Edward Collins, N.Z.V.M.S.

Nelson.

Officer Commanding District—Major (temporary Lieutenant–Colonel) George Cecil Burleigh Wolfe, N.Z.M. (late Captain R.M.L.I.)

Adjutant—Lieutenant (temporary Captain) Sydney Vincent Trask, N.Z.M.

Principal Medical Officer—Brigade Surgeon–Lieutenant–Colonel Walter Relf Pearless (V.D.)

Canterbury.

Officer Commanding District—Lieutenant–Colonel Arthur Bauchop, C.M.G., N.Z.M.

Principal Medical Officer — Brigade Surgeon – Lieutenant – Colonel Walter Thomas (V.D.)

Otago.

Officer Commanding District—Brevet–Colonel Alfred William Robin, C.B., N.Z.M.

Principal Medical Officer — Brigade Surgeon – Lieutenant – Colonel Harry Archibald de Lautour (V.D.)

NEW ZEALAND POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Head Office.

Commissioner—Walter Dinnie

Chief Clerk and Accountant—John Tasker

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

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY.

HEAD OFFICE.

Minister of Lands and Commissioner of Suite Forests—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

NATIVE LAND PURCHASE BOARD.

Officer in Charge—P. Sheridan

AUCKLAND DISTRICT.

Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands—J. Mackenzie

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

Assistant Surveyors—A. G. Allom, H. F. Edgecumbe, W. C. O'Neill

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 Laud Officer, Gisborne—F. S. Smith

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

Assistant Surveyor—T. Brook

Chief Draughtsman—James Hay

Receiver of Land Revenue– –F. Bull

TARANAKI DISTRICT.

Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands—F. Simpson

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

Chief Draughtsman—W. H. Skinner

Receiver of Land Revenue—F. A. Cullen

WELLINGTON DISTRICT.

Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands—J. Strauchon

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

Assistant Surveyors — J. R. Strachan, H. E. Girdlestone, E A. Marchant Chief Draughtsman—L. Smith

Receiver of Land Revenue —T. G. Waitt

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—W. D. B. Murray

MARLBOROUGH DISTRICT.

Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands—H. Trent

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 Surveyors — G. H. McClure, W. Wilson, H. Maitland

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. Brodrick

Chief Draughtsman —C. B. Shanks

Receiver of Land Revenue—A. A. McNab

Superintendent of Tillage Settlements—J. E. March

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 Surveyor—L. O. Mathias

Chief Draughtsman—G. Robinson

Receiver of Land Revenue—H. L. Welch

MEMBERS OF LAND BOARDS .

Auckland—J. Mackenzie, 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, G. Mathewson

Taranaki — F. Simpson, J. Heslop, James Rattenbury, J. B. Connett, J. McCluggage

Wellington—J. Strauchon, A. Reese, J. Stevens. J. Dawson

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

Marlborough—H. Trent, 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, G. Livingstone, J. Tough, J. M. McKenzie, W. Dallas

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

SURVEYORS' BOARD UNDER “THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE OF SURVEYORS AND BOARD OF EXAMINERS ACT , 1900.”

The Surveyor–General

John Strauchon, Esq

Morgan Carkeek, Esq

The Hon. G. F. Richardson

Thomas Ward, Esq.

The Surveyor–General is ex officio a member of the Board. Of the nominated members, two are selected annually by the Minister of Lands, and two by the Council of the Institute of Surveyors. The Board is one of the Federated Boards of Australasia, and works in conjunction with them.

STATE FORESTS BRANCH .

Chief Forester—H. J. Matthews

Nurserymen in Charge—Rotorua, H. A. Goudie: Eweburn, A. W. Roberts; Tapanui, R. G. Robinson ; Starborough, N. Craig

Assistant Forester, Ruatangata—L. J. Adams

VALUATION DEPARTMENT.

Minister in Charge—Hon. C. H. Mills

Valuer–General—G. F. C. Campbell

Clerk in Charge, Wellington — A. E. Fowler

Clerks—J. W. Black, H. L. Wiggins, G. Halliday, J. T. Bolt. J. Atkinson, C. J. Lovatt, H. A. Anderson

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. F. Thompson, Peria; W. Garrett, J. J. Reynolds, B. J. Esam, G. W. Hyde, Auckland; W. H. Wallis, Hamilton; H. D. Coutts, Te Kuiti; C. F. Lewis, Gisborne; W. E. Griffin, Napier; H. J. C. Coutts, Hawera; S. Hill, New Plymouth; A. Barns, Wanganui; R. Gardner, Palmerston North; G. H. Lloyd, Woodville; J. Fraser, Masterton ; J. Ames, F. N. Martin, Wellington; T. W. Caverhill, Petone; E. Kenny, Picton; J. Glen, Nelson; J. Webster, Hokitika; A. D. Bayfeild, Westport; S. W. Maxton, Kaikoura; H. Murray, W. L. Kernahan, A. Freeman, Christchurch; A. Allan, Timaru; E. A. Atkinson. Oamaru; W. L. Craig, J. Wright, H. G. Fisher, Dunedin; R. Milne, Milton; J. George, Queenstown ; John Smaill, Gore; Charles Rout, A. Pyper, Invercargill

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

Cadets—Auckland, P. G. Pearce ; Wellington, F. C. Douglas, G. J. Russell, W. Lovell; Christchurch, H. E. Ffitch; Invercargill. D. Corcoran, G. Forbes

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

“THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1900.”

BOARD OF LAND PURCHASE COMMISSIONERS .

Chairman of Board and Land Purchase Inspector—Alexander Barron

The Board at present consists of the Land Purchase Inspector as Chairman, the Surveyor–General, and the Under–Secretary for Crown Lands—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.

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 (in charge), W. A. Fordham, E. C. Reeves, P. Fair, C. Zachariah, P. Hervey, 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. Macdougall, A. L. Chappell, G. H. Chesterman, S. Width***, D. H. W. Du Vall, A. H. T. Jones

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

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. Say well. Cadet—A. W. Walters

District Agent, Nelson—E. P. Watkis

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

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, W. S. Smith, A. H. Hamerton, A. Avery, F. B. Bolt, T. L. Barker, A. L. B. Jordan, H. S. Manning, A. T. Traversi, C. E. Galwey, G. Webb, F. K. Kelling, J. B. Young, H. Rose, R. P. Hood, G. A. N. Campbell, J. A. Thomson, A. de Castro, H. L. Levestam, R. T. Smith, S. P. Hawthorne, J. G. Reid, C. H. E. Stichbury, J. R. Samson, R. Fullerton, G. S. Nicoll, T. Fouhy, G. E. Sadd, W. H. Woon, W. Spence, W. J. Ewart, H. Wylie, T. M. Dimant, B. Trevithick, M. A. Spicer, F. E. A. Gunn, E. Tooman, H. Nicoll, P. A. Anderson, E. K. Hay, I. Coulthard

Chief Messenger—W. Archer

AUCKLAND AGENCY.

District Manager—W. J. Speight

Chief Clerk—G. Crichton

Clerks—C. H. Ralph, J. J. Feeney

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—R. S. Latta

CHRISTCHURCH AGENCY.

District Manager—J. C. Prudhoe

Chief Clerk—J. K. Blenkhorn

Clerk—G. J. Robertson

TIMARU AGENCY.

Resident Agent—S. T. Wicksteed

OAMARU AGENCY.

Resident Agent — A. W. G. Barnes

Clerk—J. R. Wallace

DUNEDIN AGENCY.

District Manager—R. S. McGowan

Chief Clerk—O. H. Pinel

Clerks—A. Marryatt, C. F. A. Jones

INVERCARGILL AGENCY.

Resident Agent.—J. Findlay

Clerk—J. Hendry

ADVANCES TO SETTLERS OFFICE.

Superintendent—P. Heyes

Assistant Superintendent—W. Waddel

Accountant—W. N. Hinchliffe

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

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

STATE FIRE INSURANCE OFFICE.

HEAD OFFICE.

State Fire Insurance General Manager— J. W. Brindley

Accountant—John Bowden

Chief Clerk—J. H. Jerram

Fire Surveyor—F. H. Pope

Corresponding and Record Clerk—O. S. Jones

Clerk —A. P. Brown

Cadet—H. J. Thompson

Typiste—A. Coltman

BRANCHES .

Auckland.

Manager—R. J. Lusher

Chief Clerk—C. I. McKean

Cadet—F. R. Gruszning

Canterbury.

Manager—F. J G. Wilkinson

Chief Clerk—K. B. Bain

Cadet—Cecil Marshall

Otago and Southland.

Manager—G. J. C. Smart

Chief Clerk—W. Dobson

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 18. 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 or archbishop, 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 Wednesday of November, 1905, in St. Andrew's Church, Auckland. Moderator, the Rev. David Borrie, 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 (1905–6), Rev. J. Newman Buttle, New Plymouth; Secretary, Rev. C. H. Laws, B.A., Dunedin. The next Conference is to meet in Trinity Church, Dunedin.

Primitive Methodist Connexion.—A Conference takes place every January. The next is to be held at Christchurch, commencing 11th January, 1906. The Conference officials for the present year are: President, Rev. J. Sharp, Waimate ; Vice–President, R. W. Hall, Esq., Christchurch; Secretary, Rev. W. Laycock, Dunedin; Hon. District Secretary, Mr. D. Goldie, Pitt Street, Auckland; Treasurer of Mission Funds, Mr. Joseph Watkinson, Wapiti, Auckland.

Baptist Union of New Zealand.—President, Rev. J. J. North, Wellington ; Vice–President, Mr. A. S. Adams, Dunedin; Secretary, Rev. R. S. Gray, Christchurch; Treasurer, Mr. A. Chidgey, Christchurch; Mission Secretary, Rev. J. C. Martin, Christchurch; Mission Treasurer, Mr. A. Hoby, Wellington. The Union comprises 39 churches, 25 preaching – stations, 3,983 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 £1,400, 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 1905–6, Mr. F. Meadowcroft, Wellington; Chairman–elect, Rev. George Heighway, Dunedin; Secretary, Rev. W. Day, Mount Eden, Auckland; Treasurer, Mr. W. H. Lyon, Auckland; Registrar, Mr. A. M. Lewis, Wellington; Head Office, Auckland. In 1906 the meeting of the Council will be held at Auckland. 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 19. 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, Field Hospital and Bearer Corps, 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 (headquarters), 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 four in the Middle Island), with a total of 431 (32 officers, 399 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 four in the Middle Island, comprising in all a total of 54 officers and 834 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 471 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-one corps of Mounted Rifles in the North Island and thirty-one in the Middle Island, with a total strength of 4,176 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-six corps, fifty-nine being in the North Island and sixty-seven in the Middle Island, with a total strength of 7,290 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 .—FIELD HOSPITAL AND BEARER CORPS.

Volunteer Field Hospital and 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 .—DEFENCE CADET CORPS .

There is a force of fifty-six Cadet Corps—viz., twenty-seven in the North Island and twenty-nine in the Middle Island—with a total strength of 3.089 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 111 Rifle Clubs, comprising 2,777 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 Shoe-buryness, 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 garrison and field artillery and infantry Volunteer, £3 10s. to each efficient mounted 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 ONTHE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF DEFENCES FROM 1897-98 TO 1904-5.*
Year.Military Expenditure.Harbour Defences.Total.
* The special expenditure on account of contingents for South Africa is not included.
 £££
1897-9883, 0042, 52585, 529
1898-99114, 78910, 158124, 947
1899-1900184, 9705, 328190, 298
1900-1156, 2183, 960160, 178
1901-2250, 4786, 678257, 156
1902-3292, 0816, 126298, 207
1903-4221, 9592, 885224, 844
1904-5239, 3332, 515241, 848

Chapter 20. DEPOTS 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 depot of provisions and clothing for castaways which is established there. Attention is now drawn to the fact that such depots 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 depots:—

Auckland Islands.—A depot 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 depot is erected in Tucker Cove, Perseverance Harbour, and a boat has been placed at the head of that harbour.

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

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

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

Kermadec Islands.—A depot 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 depots 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 21. 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 ½ 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 Dock-master.

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 ” ”22100
” 401 to 500 tons ” ”2500
” 501 to 600 tons ” ”27100
” 601 to 700 tons ” ”3000
” 701 to 800 tons ” ”32100
” 801 to 900 tons ” ”3500
” 901 to 1,000 tons ” ”37100
” 1,001 to 1,100 tons ” ”4000
” 1,101 to 1,200 tons ” ”4500
” 1,201 tons (gross register) and upwards, for four days or less5000
After the fourth day in dock the following rates win 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. ”
” 1,001 to 2,000 tons ”2 ¾d. ”
” 2,001 to 3,000 tons ”2 ½d. ”
” 3,001 to 4,000 tons ”2 ¼d. ”
” 4,001 tons (gross register) and upwards2d. ”

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 shall be paid, according to injury done, such amount as may be fixed by the Dockmaster.

During the year 1904, 92 vessels of various descriptions, with a total of 36,183 tons, made use of the Auckland Graving-dock, occupying it in all 207 days, for repairs or painting.

In Calliope Dock 27 vessels were docked, with an aggregate tonnage of 37,869, and occupying the dock for 197 days.

Dock dues for the year amounted to £2,410 14s. 10d.

Under arrangement with the Admiralty, a complete plant of the most efficient and modern machinery has been provided at Calliope Dockyard. 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 joiners' and 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 1,070 ft. long, with a cradle 260 ft. in length. There is a depth of 32 ft. 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 ended 31st March, 1904, 108 vessels of various sizes, of an aggregate of 44,063 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, 503 ft.; length on floor, 450 ft.; length inside caisson at a height of 4 ft. above the floor, 462 ft.; breadth over all, 82 ft.; breadth on floor, 46 ft.; breadth at entrance, 62 ft.; breadth where ship's bilge would be, on 6 ft. blocks, 55 ft.; available docking depth at this breadth, 17 ft.; depth of water on sill at high water, springs, 23 ft.

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
” 301 to 400 tons, ”22100
” 401 to 500 tons, ”2500
” 501 to 600 tons, ”27100
” 601 to 700 tons, ”3000
” 701 to 800 tons, ”32100
” 801 to 900 tons, ”3500
” 901 to 1,000 tons, ”37100
” 1,001 to 1,100 tons, ”4000
” 1,101 to 1,200 tons, ”4500
” 1,201 tons and upwards, ”5000
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. ”
For all vessels over 1,001 tons up to 2,000 tons2 ¾d. ”
” 2,001 tons up to 3,000 tons2 ½d. ”
” 3,001 tons up to 4,000 tons2 ¼ ”
” 4,001 tons up to 5,000 tons2d. ”

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 ½ per cent., amounts to £6,825 per annum. Since its construction the dock dues for the twenty-two years, ended 31st December, 1904, amounted to £23,380 17s. 10d., and the working-expenses to £13,877 1s. 8d., leaving a credit balance for twenty-two years, ended 31st December, 1904, of £9,503 16s. 2d.

During the year 1904 thirty-two vessels were docked, and the dock dues amounted to £1,669 12s. 11d. For the twenty-one years ending 1904 161 vessels were docked, or an average of about twenty-two a year.

PATENT SLIP, LYTTELTON .

Alongside the graving-dock is a patent slip, with a cradle 150 ft. 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 coat 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 ”
Breadth over all68 ”
Breadth on floor41 ”
Breadth where ship's bilge would be43 ”
Breadth at dock-gates50 ”
Depth of water on sill at high water (ordinary spring tides)17 ½ ”

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:—

Vessels under 200 tons, for the first three days, or part of£s.d.
three days2500
Vessels of 200 tons, and under 800 tons3500
” 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.
” 300 ” and under 400 tons7 ¾d. ”
” 400 ” ” 500 ”7 ½d. ”
” 500 ” ” 600 ”7 ¼d. ”
” 600 ” ” 700 ”7d. ”
” 700 ” ” 800 ”6 ¾d. ”
” 800 ” ” 900 ”6 ¼d. ”
” 900 ” ” 1,000 ”6 ¼d. ”
” 1,000 tons and upwards6d. ”

During the twelve months ended 31st December, 1904, the dock was in use 198 working-days. The number of vessels docked was forty-seven, having a total registered tonnage of 39,960.

Chapter 22. HARBOURS.

PILOTAGE , PORT CHARGES , ETC.

PILOTAGE , port charges, berthage charges, &c., at eighteen of the principal harbours in New Zealand, as on the 1st January, 1905 (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—Licensed 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, ¼d. per ton per day. Outside berths, ⅛d. 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 others to pay half foregoing dues. Steamers to pay double rates as per tonnage; and in all cases sailing-vessels to make way for steamers.

THAMES.

Pilotage (compulsory): In and out—Sailing-vessels up to 100 tons, 6d. per ton, and 2d. for each ton over 100 tons; steamers up to 100 tons, 6d. per ton, and 4d. per ton for each additional ton.

Port charges: Regular traders, 2d. per ton per quarter; other vessels, 2d. per ton each trip, not to exceed 1s. 3d. per ton in half-year.

Harbourmaster's fees: Free.

Berthage: 20 tons and under, 10s. per ton per quarter; over 20 tons, 6d. per ton per quarter, or 2s. 6d. first 20 tons per day and ¼d. each additional ton.

Warps and fenders: Nil.

NEW PLYMOUTH.

Pilotage (compulsory), charged both inwards and outwards: Intercolonial or coasting—Sailing-vessels, 3d. per ton; steamers, 1 ½d. per ton: foreign sailing-vessel or steamer, ½d. per ton.

Port charges: Intercolonial, 4d. per ton, payable half-yearly; foreign, ¼d. per ton on arrival in roadstead.

Harbourmaster's fees: Free.

Berthage rate: 3 ½ d. per ton on all cargo landed, shipped, or transhipped outwards; on registered tonnage also ½d. per ton.

Warps: 1d. per ton register for first 100 tons; ½d. per ton for excess.

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

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

WAITARA .

Pilotage: From signal-staff, ½d. per register ton each way, in and out. Oceangoing vessels ¼d. per register ton (one way only).

Port charges: Steamers and sailing-vessels, 3d. per ton quarterly, payable first trip in each quarter; ocean-going vessels, ½d. per register ton, payable each trip.

Harbourmaster's fees: Free.

Berthage: Steamers 2d. per ton and sailing-vessels 3d. per ton every trip.

Warps and fenders: Nil.

PATEA .

Pilotage (in and out): 1d. per ton register.

Port charges: 3d. per ton every three months. Light dues, ¼d. per ton.

Harbourmaster's fees: Free.

Berthage: 6d. per ton on cargo, as per manifest.

Warps and fenders: Nil.

Water: 2s. 6d. per 1,000 gallons.

WAIROA .

Pilotage (compulsory): 4d. per register ton.

Port charges: 3d. per ton per quarter.

Harbourmaster's fees: Free.

Berthage, warps, and fenders: Nil.

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 only; 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.

Harbour-improvement rate: 3d. per ton on cargo landed, shipped, or transhipped (weight or measurement at option of Board); 1s. each horse or large cattle shipped or transhipped; ½d. each sheep or small animal shipped or transhipped. Vessels licensed as lighters, tow-boats, or ferry boats shall, whilst actually employed as lighters, tows, or ferry boats, pay 3s. 4d. upon each and every trip.

Hawsers and moorings: Vessels at wharf in Breakwater Harbour, per ton per day, or part of a day, on registered tonnage. Vessels moored to buoys within Breakwater Harbour, ⅛d. 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. par day, vessels of 1,500 tons and under 2,000 tons; £1 per day, vessels of 2,000 tons; and so on, in proportion.

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 ½d. 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, ¼d. 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 ¾d. per ton.

Port charges: 2d. per ton on arrival; not exceeding 6d. in any half-year. Half-yearly days, 1st January and 1st 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, ¾d. 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: ¼d. per con net register per day or part of a day (day counted from midnight to midnight). Vessels berthing after working-hours, and only landing passengers and luggage, not charged for that day. Vessels leaving wharf after midnight and prior to working-hours, and only on such day taking on board passengers and luggage, not charged for such day. Vessels not working cargo after noon on Saturdays pay half rates for such Saturday. No charge for Sundays or holidays. Vessels laid up for repairs, fitting-out &c., half rates.

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: Vessels not paying pilotage, 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 paying pilotage, over 100 tons register, 1d. per ton; under 100 tons register, ½d. per ton, on each arrival.

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

Berthage, fenders, and warps: Nil.

WESTPORT .

Pilotage (compulsory): For sailing-vessels up to 120 tons register, 1d. per ton; over 120 tons register, and not exceeding 1,500 tons, 2d. per ton, inwards and outwards. For steamers 1,000 to 2,000 tons, £10 (in and out); under 1,000 tons, pro rata; 2,000 to 3,000 tons, £20; over 3,000 to 4,000 tons, £25.

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 lying at a wharf, 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): Inwards and outwards—Sailing-vessels 3 ½d. per ton; steamers 2 ½d. 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 exemption from pilotage and harbour fees, see clauses 132, 133, and 134 of “The Harbours Act, 1878.”

Harbourmaster's fees: Free.

Berthing charges: On all vessels of 25 tons register and upwards ¼d. per ton each trip.

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 or 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 ½d. 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 days of January and July in each year. Intercolonial steamers coming direct or coastwise 1 ½d. 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, ½d. per ton register for first seven days; subsequent days, ¼d. per ton. Vessels at buoys, under 800 tons register, ⅛d. 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. Collected in the same manner as berthage dues have been collected.

Warps: ½d. per ton per day for seven days; ¼d. 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 ⅛d. per ton register of such vessel for each day or part of a day that she may occupy a berth at the wharf.

OTAGO (DUNEDIN).

Pilotage (compulsory): Inwards and outwards—Sailing-vessels 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 he Ad. 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 ¼d. per ton (maximum, eighteen days, £10); steam-vessels, ½d. per ton per day (maximum charge, £15). Vessels laid up for less than a month, one-half the above rates; over a month, ⅕d. 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 genera, 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 ½d. per registered ton: sailing-vessels, 4 ½d. inwards and outwards if tug not employed; 2 ½d. per registered ton inwards and outwards if tug employed. Sailing-vessels in ballast, 2 ½d. per registered ton inwards and outwards. Vessels exempt from pilotage—Steamers, in and out, 5d. per registered ton, payable yearly sailing-vessels, in and out, 9d. per registered ton, payable yearly. On application by master or agent of foreign going steamers ordinary charges for pilotage, port charges, and berthage may be suspended, and a charge of 5s. per ton for inward cargo and 10s. per ton for outward cargo may be substituted therefor, with a minimum charge of £50.

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, 2d. 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 ¼d. 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 eighteen of the principal harbours in New Zealand, as on 1st January, 1905 (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 reshipped, 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 ½ per cent.), 1s. per 1,000 ft. landed, 6d. per 1,000 ft. shipped.

Passengers' luggage under half a 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 ½d.; export, ½d.: 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. (per 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 in roadstead.

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.

THAMES .

General Merchandise.—1s. 6d. per ton, imports or exports, without labour.

Transhipments: Free, if inward wharfage has been paid; half rates otherwise.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.—1s. 6d. per ton, imports or exports, without labour.

Transhipments: Free, if inward wharfage has been paid; half rates otherwise.

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

Transhipments: Half rates.

Wool.—1s. 6d. per ton.

Transhipments: Half rates.

Coal.—1s. 6d. per ton, without labour.

Transhipments: Free, if inward wharfage has been paid; half rates otherwise.

Timber.—3d. to 1s. per 1,000 ft. sawn timber; 6d. per 1,000 shingles; 2s. per 100 props; 1s. 6d. per 100 slabs; 4s. per 100 sleepers; 2s. 6d. per 100 posts and rails; 2s. 6d. per 1,000 palings; 6d. per ton firewood.

NEW PLYMOUTH.

General Merchandise.—2s. per ton.

Transhipments: 1s. 6d. per ton.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.—2s. per ton; grass-seed, 2s. per 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.

WAITARA .

General Merchandise.— Inwards, 2s. per ton, including forty-eight hours' storage; outwards, 2s. per ton, including ten days' storage. Labour provided by the Board.

Transhipments: Half rates.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.—Imports, 2s. per ton; grass-seed, 2s. per 20 sacks. Labour provided. Exports, in not less than 3-ton lots, 1s. per ton.

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.—1s. per ton weight, without labour.

Transhipments: Half rates, without labour.

Wool.—Dumped, 4 ½d. per bale; undumped, 6d. per bale.

Transhipments: Half rates.

Coal.—Imports, 1s. 6d. per ton, without labour; brown coal, 1s. per ton, without labour.

Transhipments: Half rates.

Timber.— Under 5,000 ft., 3d. per 100 ft.; over 5,000 ft., 2d. per 100 ft.: without labour. Exported white-pine, if over 5,000 ft., 1 ½d. per 100 ft.: without labour.

PATEA .

General Merchandise.—2s. per ton, imports or exports (produce shipped direct from South ports, 1s. 6d.).

Transhipments: 1s. per ton.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.—2s. per ton of 10 sacks grain, 20 sacks cocksfoot grass-seed, 20 sacks bran, 40 sacks chaff, 16 sacks pollard or ryegrass. Potatoes, export, 1s. per ton; import, 3s. per ton.

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.—Butter and cheese 1s. per ton, without labour, from grading-wharf; otherwise, 2s., with labour. Frozen meat, 1s. for 20 carcases sheep, 2s. per carcase cattle. Cased meats, 1s. per ton, without labour.

Wool.—6d. per bale, including storage.

Coal.—1s. per ton, without labour.

Timber.—4d. per 100 ft.; labour extra.

WAIROA .

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

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

Butter.—2s. per ton.

Wool.— 9d. per bale, imports and exports.

Coal.—1s. per ton.

Timber.—2 ½d. per 100 ft. Exports, fruit, free. Returned empties, 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, experts 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.

WANGANUI .

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

Transhipments: Half rates.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.— Imports, 3s. per ton; exports, 1s. 6d. per ton. Potatoes, export, 1s. per ton.

Transhipments: Half rates.

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.— Sheep, ½d. per carcase; lambs, ½d. per carcase; legs, shoulders, and loins calculated at so-many to a carcase, according to freight.

Wool.—3d. per bale.

Transhipments: Half rates.

Coal.—1s. 3d. per ton. Coal for ship's use, outward, 3d. 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. Glass, acids, and special goods, 5s. per ton. 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. Glass, acids, and special goods, 2s. 6d. per ton. Railway wharfage—1s. inwards, 6d. outwards, without labour.

Transhipments: 2s. 6d. per ton, including labour and seven days' storage. Glass, acids, and special goods, 5s. per ton. 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. If shifted, more than a quarter of a mile, 6d. per ton extra.

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.—1s, inwards, 1s. outwards, per ton, without labour. Railway wharfage — 1s. inwards, 6d. outwards, per ton, 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. If shifted more than a quarter of a mile, 3d. per hale extra. 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.

Timber.—2d. per 100 ft. inwards; 1 ½d. per 100 ft. outwards, without labour. If labour supplied, 2d. per 100 ft. added inwards, and 1 ½d. outwards. Railway wharfage—2d. inwards, 1 ½d. outwards, without labour.

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

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 all 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, Is. 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; 2s. 6d. per ton with labour.

Transhipments: 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. Reshipments, 2s. 6d. per ton.

WESTPORT .

General Merchandise.—2s. per ton, and 1s. per 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.—2s. per ton., and 1s. per 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. — 2s. per ton, and 1s. per 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.

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. Coke, bricks, and fireclay carried by rail for export, free.

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; outwards, free, if carried by rail.

Timber.—Inwards, 2d. per 100 ft.; outwards, free, if carried by rail.

LYTTELTON .

General Merchandise.—1s. 9d. per ton.

Transhipments: Free, whether landed on wharf or otherwise.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.—9d. per ton.

Transhipments: Free.

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.—8d. per ton.

Transhipments: Free, whether landed on wharf or otherwise.

Wool.— 6d. per bale.

Transhipments: Free.

Coal.— 8d. per ton.

Transhipments: Free, whether landed on wharf or otherwise.

Timber.— 3 ½d. per 100 ft.

Transhipments: Free.

N.B.—All reshipments 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.—½d, 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.—½d. 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.—½d. per foot.

Live Cattle and Horses.—2s. 6d. each; yearlings, half rates. Sheep, 2d. each; pigs, 4d. each.

OTAGO (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. Beer 2s. per ton.

Transhipments: 2s. per ton, or 1s. if import rate is 1s. A rate of 2s. per ton by weight upon all flour, malt, meal, tallow, bone, ores, and quartz.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.— 1s. per ton, imports; 6d. per ton by weight, exports; bran and pollard, exports, free; flour and oatmeal, 2s.

Transhipments: 1s. per ton. A rate of 6d. per ton by weight upon all barley, wheat, oats, rye, beans, whole peas, maize, potatoes, turnips, carrots, onions, straw, hay, and building-stone.

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.— Flax, frozen meat, rabbits, butter, and cheese, 1s. per ton, 6d. per ton exports; butter, imports, 4s. per ton; frozen meat, imports, 5s. per ton.

Transhipments: 2s. per ton.

Wool.— Exports, 2s. 3d. per ton, wool, skins, and hides, 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 lauded on wharf.

Chapter 23. LIGHTHOUSES.

THE coasts of New Zealand are, considering their extent, fairly well lighted, hut 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-one coastal lights—eight of the first order, sixteen of the second, three of the third, and four of smaller orders.

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 £192,000 (the Ponui Passage Light-house 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 Light-house.Order of Apparatus.Description.Period of Revolving Light.Colour of Light.Tower built of.
 Dioptric. Seconds.  
Cape Maria van Diemen1st orderRevolving60WhiteTimber.
..Fixed..Red, to show over Columbia Reef
Moko Hinou1st orderFlashing10WhiteStone.
Tiri-Tiri (Auckland)2nd ”Fixed..White, with red over are Flat RockIron.
Ponui Passage5th ”..White and redTimber.
Cuvier Island1st ”Revolving30WhiteIron.
East Cape2nd ”10White
Portland Island2nd ”30Timber.
..Fixed..Red, to show over Bull Rock
Cape Palliser2nd orderFlashingTwiceWhiteIron.
   every half-minute, with three seconds intervals between flashes
Pencarrow Head2nd ”Fixed..WhiteIron.
Cape Egmont2nd ”..
Manukau Head3rd ”..Timber.
Kaipara Head2nd ”Flashing10
Brothers (in Cook Strait)2nd ”10
..Fixed..Red, to show over Cook Rock
Cape Campbell2nd ”Revolving60White
Godley Head (Lyttelton)2nd ”Fixed..Stone.
Akaroa Head2nd ”Flashing10Timber.
Jack's Point4th ”Fixed..Iron.
Moeraki3rd ”..Timber.
Taiaroa Head3rd ”..RedStone.
Cape Saunders2nd ”Revolving60WhiteTimber.
Nugget Point1st ”Fixed..Stone.
Waipapapa Point2nd ”Flashing10Timber.
Catadioptric.
Dog Island1st orderRevolving30Stone.
Dioptric.
Centre Island1st orderFixed..White, with red arcs over inshore dangersTimber.
Puysegur Point1st ”Flashing10White
Cape Foulwind2nd ”Revolving30
Kahurangi Point2nd ”Fixed..Iron.
Farewell Spit2nd ”Revolving60White, with red arc over Spit end
Nelson4th ”Fixed..White, with red arc to mark limit of anchorage
French Pass6th ”..Red and white, with white light on beacon
Stephens Island1st ”Group30White
flashing

Chapter 24. NEW ZEALAND NEWSPAPERS.

THERE are (January, 1905) 209 publications on the register of newspapers for New Zealand. Of these, sixty-one are daily papers, thirty-one are published three times a week, twenty-four twice a week, sixty-two once a week, three fortnightly, one three-weekly, and twenty-seven 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.
Auckland—
* Edited in Mosgiel by Rev. F. W. Boreham.
      Auckland Star (E.)Daily.
      Auckland Weekly News and Town and Country Journal (M.)Saturday.
      Bible Standard (M.)Monthly.
      Christian Worker (M.)
      Church Gazette (M.)
      New Zealand Farmer, Bee and Poultry Journal (M.)
      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 Victuallers' Gazette (M.)Thursday.
      New Zealand Joyful News (M.)Monthly.
      Observer (M.)Saturday.
      Saturday Night (E.)
      Sharland's Trade Journal (M.)
      Voice (M.)
Cambridge—
      Waikato Independent (E.)Tues., Thur., at.
Coromandel—
      Coromandel County News and Kuaotunu and Mercury Bay Mail (E.)Tuesday, Friday.
Dargaville—
      North Auckland Times (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri.
      Wairoa Bell and Northern Advertiser (E.)Tuesday, Friday.
Hamilton—
      Waikato Argus (E.)Daily.
      Waikato Times and Thames Valley Gazette (K.)
Kawakawa—
      Northern Luminary (E.)Friday.
Kawhia—
      Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser (M.)Saturday.
Mangonui—
      Mangonui County Times and Northern Representative (E.)Tuesday.
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—
Gold fields 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.)” ” ”
Te Aroha—
      Te Aroha and Ohinemuri News and Upper Thames Advocate (M.)Tues., Thur., Sat.
Thames—
      Thames Advertiser (M.)Daily.
      Thames Star (E.)
Waihi—
      Waihi Daily Telegraph (E.)
GISBORNE.
Gisborne—
      Gisborne Times (M.)Daily.
      Poverty Bay Herald (E.)
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.)
      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.)
Hastings—
      Hastings Standard (E.)
      New Zealand Bulletin (M.)Saturday.
Napier—
      Daily Telegraph (E.)Daily.
Hawke's Bay Herald (M.)
      New Zealand Fire and Ambulance Record (M.)Monthly.
      New Zealand Health Journal (M.)Monthly.
      Saturday Night Advertiser (E.)Saturday.
Waipawa—
      Waipawa Mail (E.)Tues., Thur., Sat.
Wairoa—
      Wairoa Guardian and County Advocate (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri.
WANGANUI.
Eltham—
      Eltham Argus and Rawhitiroa and Kaponga Advertiser (E.)Daily.
Hawera—
      Egmont Star (M.)Saturday.
      Hawera and Normanby Star, Patea County Chronicle, and Waimate Plains Gazette (E.)Daily.
Hunterville—
      Hunterville Express and Upper Rangitikei Advertiser (E.)Tues., Thur., Sat.
Kaponga—
      Kaponga Mail and District Advertiser (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri.
Manaia—
      Waimate Witness (E.)” ” ”
Mangaweka—
      Settler (E.)Tues., Thur., Sat.
Marton—
      Farmers' Advocate (M.)Saturday.
      Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus (E.)Daily.
Patea—
      Patea County Press (E.)Hon., Wed., Fri.
Taihape—
      Post (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri.
      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.)
      Weekly Chronicle and Patea-Rangitikei Advertiser (M.)Saturday.
      Yeoman (M.)Friday.
WELLINGTON.
Carterton—
      Wairarapa Leader (E.)Daily.
      Wairarapa Observer, Featherston Chronicle, East Coast Advertiser, and South County Gazette (E.)
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.)Friday.
      Wairarapa Standard and Featherston Advocate (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri.
Levin—
      Manawatu Farmer and Horowhenua County Chronicle (E.)” ” ”
Martinborough—
      Martinborough Star and District News (E.)Tuesday, Friday.
Masterton—
      Wairarapa Age (M.)Daily.
      Wairarapa Daily Times (E.)
      Wairarapa Matuhi Press (M.)Wednesday.
      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.)
      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 Free Lance (M.)Saturday.
      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 (23rd).
      Prohibitionist (E.)Fri., fortnightly.
      Young Man's Magazine (M.)Monthly (1st).
Woodville—
      Examiner (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri.
BLENHEIM.
Blenheim—
      Marlborough Daily Times and Town and Country Advertiser (M.)Daily.
      Marlborough Express (E.)
Havelock—
      Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate (M.)Tuesday, Friday
Picton—
      Marlborough Press, County of Sounds Gazette (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri.
NELSON.
Collingwood—
      Golden Bay Argus (E.)Thursday.
Motueka—
      Motueka Star (E.)Tuesday, Friday.
Nelson—
      Colonist (M.)Daily.
      Nelson Evening Mail (E.)Daily.
Takaka—
      Golden Bay News (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.
      New Zealand Church News (M.)Monthly.
      New Zealand Co-operative News (M.)
      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 Wheel and Motor News (M.)Sat., fortnightly.
      Press (M.)Daily.
      Spectator (M.)Tuesday.
      Star (E.)Daily.
      Truth (E.)
      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.)” ”
Temuka—
      Geraldine Guardian (M.)Tues., Thur., Sat.
      Temuka Leader (M.)” ” ”
Timaru—
      Mercantile and Bankruptcy Gazette of New Zealand (M.)Thursday.
      Timaru Herald (M.)Daily.
      Timaru Post (E.)
Waimate—
      Waimate Advertiser (M.)Tues., Thur., Sat.
      Waimate Times (M.)” ” ”
OAMARU.
Oamaru—
      North Otago Times (M.)Daily.
      Oamaru Mail (E.)
DUNEDIN.
Alexandra South—
      Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette (M.)Thursday.
Balclutha—
      Clutha Leader (M.)Tuesday, Friday.
      Free Press (M.)” ”
Clyde—
      Dunstan Times, Vincent County Official Gazette, and General Goldfields Advertiser (E.)Monday.
Cromwell—
      Cromwell Argus and Northern Goldfields Gazette (E.)
Dunedin—
      Evening Star (E.)Daily.
      Farmers' Circular (M.)Thur., fortn'ly.
      Farmers' Standard of New Zealand (M.)Monthly.
      New Zealand Baptist (E.)*
      New Zealand Guardian (M.)
      New Zealand Journal of Education (M.)
      New Zealand Mining, Engineering, and Building Journal (M.)Thursday.
      New Zealand Public Opinion (M.)Friday.
      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.
      The People (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.
Invercargill—
      Southern Cross (M.)Saturday.
      Southlander (M.)Friday.
      Southland Daily News (E.)Daily.
      Southland Times (M.)
      Weekly Times (M.)Friday.
Orepuki—
      Orepuki Advocate (M.)Saturday.
Queenstown—
      Lake Wakatipu Mail (E.)Friday.
Riverton—
      Western Star and Wallace County Gazette (E.)Tues., Friday.
Winton—
      Winton Record, Hokonui Advocate, and Otautau Guardian (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 41 publications registered as newspapers, Taranaki 14, Hawke's Bay 12, Wellington 43, Marlborough 5, Nelson 13, Westland 8, Canterbury 28, and Otago 45.

Chapter 25. 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. 107.]

Chapter 26. 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 abbreviation “n.o.e.” means not otherwise enumerated.

In computing ad valorem duties the invoice value is increased by 10 per cent.

CLASS I.—FOODS AND ARTICLES FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION .

Navies 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.*

  • 14. Fruit, fresh, viz.:—

    Apples, pears, plums, cherries, peaches, nectarines, medlars, apricots, quinces, tomatoes, 1d. the lb.

    (No duty exceeding ½d. the lb. to be levied on apples and pears from 14th July to 31st December.)

    Currants, raspberries, gooseberries, blackberries, and strawberries, ½d the lb.

    Lemons, ½d. 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 ½d. the lb.

  • 18. Fruits preserved by sulphurous acid, 1d. the lb.

  • 19. Glucose, 1d. the lb.

  • 20. Honey, 2d. the lb.

    * Such as is foreign produce or manufacture, subject to preferential duty (see p. 107).

    † Other than currants and raisins (for which see items 11 and 33).

  • 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, ¼d. 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, ½d. the lb.

  • 40. Treacle and molasses, ½d. 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.

CLASS II.—TOBACCO.

  • 43. Cigarettes, not exceeding in weight 2 ½ lb. per 1,000, 17s. 6d. the 1,000. And for all weight in excess of 2 ½ 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.

  • 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.

    * Vinegar exceeding 6.5 per cent. of acidity to be treated as acetic acid.

    † Such as is foreign produce or manufacture, subject to preferential duty (see p. 107).

  • 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 ½d. the lb.

    For every 10 per cent. of acidity or fraction thereof additional, ½d. 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.

  • 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 pharmacopoeia, containing 50 per cent. proof spirit or less, 15 per cent. ad valorem.

    * Tea grown in British dominions, except that in packets not exceeding one pound in weight, is admitted free of duty (see p. 108).

    † Such as is foreign produce or manufacture, subject to preferential duty (see p. 107)

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 ½ per cent. ad valorem.*

  • 112. Heel-plates, and toe stiffeners and plates, 22 ½ 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.

    * Such as is foreign produce or manufacture, subject to preferential duty (see p 107).

  • 116.Leather, chamois, 20 per cent. ad valorem

  • 117. Leather cut into shapes, 22 ½ per cent. ad valorem.

  • 118. Leather leggings, 22 ½ 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 percent, 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 brown ware, 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. act 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.*

  • 145. Fishing tackle, including artificially-baited hooks other than flies, 20 per per cent. ad valorem.

  • 146. Jewellery; plate, gold or silver greenstone, cut or polished, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 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.

  • 149. Oil, perfumed, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 150. Papier-maché 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.

    * Such as is foreign produce or manufacture, subject to preferential duty (see p. 107).

    † Plate, gold or silver, if of foreign produce or manufacture, subject to preferential duty (see p. 107).

    ‡ Pianos, if of foreign manufacture, are subject to preferential duty (see p. 107)

  • 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. Paperhangings, 15 per cent. ad valorem.*

  • 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. Printed 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; counter-books; cheque- and draft forms; tags; labels; blotting-pads; sketch-books; 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.

    * Such as is foreign produce or manufacture, subject to preferential duty (see p. 107).

  • 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.*

  • 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, sawmilling. 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.

  • 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.*

  • 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.

    * Such as is foreign produce or manufacture, subject to preferential duty (see p. 107).

    † See also item 418.

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 ½d. the lb.

  • 258. Stearine for match-making, ¾d. 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.

    * Such as is foreign produce or manufacture, subject to preferential duty (see p. 107).

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.

  • 275. Blacklead, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 276. Blue, 2d. the lb.

  • 277. 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.*

  • 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 ½d. 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, ¾d. 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 ½d. 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.

    * Such as is foreign produce or manufacture, subject to preferential duty (see p. 107).

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, crude; 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.*

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.

326. Brace-elastic and brace-mountings.

327. Bunting, in the piece.

* If of foreign manufacture, subject to duty (see p. 108).

† 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.”

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. × 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.†

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 chêne 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.*

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.

* 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 out up for shirt-making, under such conditions as he prescribes. (See section 6 of “The Customs and Excise Duties Act, 1895.”)

† If of foreign manufacture, subject to duty (see p. 108).

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.*

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.

405. 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.

* If of foreign manufacture, subject to duty (see p. 108).

429. Iron, plain black sheet, rod, bolt, bar, plate,* hoop, and pig.*

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.

435. 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.†

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 woodware.

471. Carriage- and cart-shafts, spokes and felloes in the rough; hubs, all kinds; poles if unbent and unplaned, all kinds; bent wheel-rims.

* Hoop and pig iron not affected by preferential tariff.

† See preferential tariff, p. 107.

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 Now 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.*

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.

* If of foreign manufacture, subject to duty (see p. 108).

† 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.

Chapter 28. TABLE OP EXCISE DUTIES.

525. Tobacco, 1s. the lb.*

526. Cigars, cigarettes, and snuff, 1s. 6d. the lb.*

527. Beer, 3d. the gallon.

528. Articles in which spirit is a necessary ingredient, manufactured in a ware-house 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.

* “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, 1891,' 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.”

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, 14th 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), ½d. the lb.

536. Compo-board (see New Zealand Gazette, 12th December, 1901), 4s. the 100 ft. super.

537. Leather-board or compo cut into shapes (see New Zealand Gazette, 20th August, 1903), 4d. the lb.

538. Creamalina (see New Zealand Gazette, 17th September, 196***), 1d. the lb.

539. Ground cocoa-shells (see New Zealand Gazette, 7th January, 1904), 3d. the lb.

540. Brunak, a substitute for roasted coffee (see New Zealand Gazette, 8th September, '1904), 3d. the lb.

541. Tartaraline, a substitute for cream of tartar (see New Zealand Gazette, 22nd December, 1904), 1d. the lb.

542. Bush's Cream of Tartar Substitute (see New Zealand Gazette, 26th January, 1905), 1d. the lb.

MODIFICATIONS.

On and after 1st July, 1904, the Customs tariff is modified in respect of the undermentioned articles imported into the Cook and other Islands within the extended boundaries of the colony:—

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.

OPIUM PROHIBITION.

“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.

Chapter 29. TIMBER EXPORT.

“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.
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 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 half” ”
Logs, squared with axe or saw, 10 in. by 10 in. or its equivalent, or over” ”
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 half” ”
Logs, squared with axe or saw” ”
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:—

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.

* No order yet issued

Chapter 30. “THE PREFERENTIAL AND RECIPROCAL TRADE ACT, 1903.”

The above Act forms part of and is to be read together with “The Customs Laws 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.

Paperhangings.

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 platedware.

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-engine3.

Gum boots.

Iron and steel cordage.

Iron, plain black sheet, rod, bolt, bar, and plate.

Printing-paper.*

Rails for railways and tramways.†

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.]

* 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.

† 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.

Chapter 31. FEES PAYABLE UNDER LAND TRANSFER ACT.

FEES PAYABLE TO DISTRICT LAND REGISTRARS UNDER “THE LAND TRANSFER ACT, 1885.”

For the bringing land under the provisions of this Act (over and above the cost of advertisements)—
  £s.d.
        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 sterling000 ½
Other fees—
        For every application to bring land under the Act050
        For every certificate of title on transfer where the consideration does not exceed £1000100
        For every other certificate of title100
        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 32. 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 ½ per cent.
3. Upon any amount exceeding £1,000 but not exceeding £5,000£3 ½ per cent.
4. Upon any amount exceeding £5,000, but not exceeding £20,000£7 per cent.
5. Upon £20,000 and any amount over that sum£10 per cent.
6. 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 33. SECTION I.—POPULATION.

THE population of New Zealand, as estimated for the 31st December, 1904, 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, 1903832,505439,674392,831
Increase during the year 1904:—
    By excess of births over deaths14,6797,0097,67
    Excess of arrivals over departures10,3557,3093,04
        Estimated population (exclusive of Maoris, also Cook and other annexed Islands) on 31st December, 1904857,539453,992403,54
Maori population, census, 190143,14323,11220,03
Population of Cook and other Pacific Islands12,2926,3695,92
Total estimated population of colony (including Maoris, also Cook and other annexed Islands) on 31st December, 1904912,974483,473429,50

The number of the Chinese in New Zealand at the end of the year 1904 was estimated to be 2,829 persons, of whom 35 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, CENSUS 1901.

[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
Manawatu252
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 NOWINCLUDEDWITHINTHE BOUNDARIES OF THE COLONY.

* 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, 64; Arorai, 2; United Kingdom, 8; other places, 4.

(g) Birthplaces.—Manahiki, 469; Pukapuka, 11; Society Islands, 2; England, 2.

 Persons.
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 Pacific Islands12,292

INCREASE OF POPULATION (EXCLUSIVE OF MAORIS AND ANNEXED PACIFIC-ISLANDERS ).

The increase for each quarter of the year 1904 was:—

First Quarter.
Increase from:Total.Males.Females.
Excess of births over deaths3,5911,7291,862
Excess of arrivals over departures2,8612,606255
 6,4524,3352,117
Second Quarter.
Excess of births over deaths3,5811,7241,857
Excess of departures over arrivals−307−55−252
 3,2741,6691,605
Third Quarter.
Excess of births over deaths3,5671,7101,857
Excess of arrivals over departures2,0431,285758
 5,6102,9952,615
Fourth Quarter.
Excess of births over deaths3,9401,8462,094
Excess of arrivals over departures5,7583,4732,285
 9,6985,3194,379
Year 1904
Excess of births over deaths14,6797,0097,670
Excess of arrivals over departures10,3557,3093,046
 25,03414,31810,716

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 (5,758 persons). The March quarter comes next with 2,861 persons, then the September quarter with 2,043 persons, while June quarter shows a loss of 307 persons. 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 thirteen-year period 1892-1904 inclusive is found to be 65,300 persons, drawn from other colonies or countries.

The excess of arrivals in the colony during the year 1904 over the departures will be seen from the table to have been somewhat less than that for 1903. For 1901, the figures are 6,522; for 1902, 7,992; for 1903, 11,275; and for 1904, the number is 10,355. Comparing these results with those for 1900, when the excess of arrivals was only 1,831, a substantial annual gain in population coming from abroad is shown.

In four years New Zealand has secured 36,144 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 7,864 of the above large number added to New Zealand for the four years, while Australia shows as contributing 29.280, 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 1,000 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 1986-91, though correct in the aggregate, cannot be allocated with exactness to the respective years.

†Loss.

1885575,17213,612−2,744†10,8681.93
1886589,38613,164−17,194†58,88610.24
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
1904857,53914,67910,35525,0343.01

The net gain to this country for 1904 appears as 2,720 persons from United Kingdom, and 7,770 from Australia, while 135 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.

The absorption of 10,355 persons during the year from overseas must certainly be considered a very satisfactory result, though the number is not quite so great as that for 1903. Another satisfactory feature is that the figures showing net excess of arrivals direct from the United Kingdom are higher for 1904 (2,720) than for 1903 (1,756). There is indication that the total excess is not so much due to Australian depression during last year as to genuine increase of persons arriving from the Old Country.

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES DURING 1904.

The number of persons who arrived in the colony in the year 1904 was 32,632, an increase of 1,749 on the number for the previous year. Of the arrivals in 1904, 29,126 persons were classified as adults, being above the age of twelve years, and 3,506 as children. The total number of males was 21,980 and of females 10,652. The arrivals from the United Kingdom numbered 4,654, and from Australia 26,110. Besides these, 489 persons came from Fiji, and 1,379 from the South Seas and other ports, including arrivals by mail-steamers from San Francisco.

Classified in respect of birthplace, it is found that 8,994 of the arrivals were persons born in Australasia, 21,853 in the United Kingdom, and 57 in other British possessions. Of 1,728 persons born in foreign countries who arrived during 1904, 207 were born in Germany, 635 in Austria, 97 in France, 195 in the United States, 30 in Denmark, 67 in Sweden, 37 in Norway, 8 in Greece, 79 in Italy, 36 in Switzerland, 13 in Armenia, 6 in Turkey, 2 in Holland. 2 in Poland, 26 in Russia, 3 in Belgium, 3 in Spain, and 282 in other countries (Roumania, Portugal, Ceylon, Palestine, Algeria, Peru, China, Japan, Pacific Islands, Syria, and Asia Minor).

Among the arrivals in 1904 are noticed 320 “race-aliens,” or persons of other than European descent. Particulars of birthplace and sex are as under:—

Birthplace.M.F.Total.
Asia Minor426
China2314235
Palestine527
Syria213
Algeria101
Armenia13013
Fiji123
Cape Colony101
India213
Pacific Islands121022
Japan10010
Ceylon101
United States202
New Zealand13013
Total29822320

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 practically no free immigration in the year 1904. 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 £2,850 was voted by Parliament in 1904 for assistance by way of reduced fares for passages of intending settlers to the colony. Besides this, the small sum of £150 was appropriated to passages for separated families, &c.

Two hundred and thirty-five Chinese (231 men and 4 women) arrived in the colony during 1904, and 128 (all men) left, the arrivals thus exceeding the departures by 107.

The total departures in 1904 were 22,277 persons, being 2,669 more than in 1903. Thus, the movement of population to and from the colony is found to have been greater 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 1904, 20,710 persons were over twelve years of age, and 1,567 children. Nearly twice as many males left the colony as females, the numbers being 14,671 and 7,606 respectively. The departures to the United Kingdom amounted to 1,934 persons, and those to Australia numbered 18,340. Besides these, 529 persons left for Fiji, and 1,474 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 1904, inclusive, New Zealand has drawn to itself more population than it has parted with.

The Board of Trade, London, publishes the total emigration from the United Kingdom to Australasia as a whole. By the figures given it will be seen that there was from 1893 an annual decrease in the number of persons coining to these colonies from the Home-country until 1897, when the number somewhat increased. Prior to 1893 the arrivals from the United Kingdom ranged from 44,055 in 1886 down to 16,183 in 1892. Alongside of the Imperial returns of departures to Australasia are shown in the following statement the arrivals in New Zealand direct from the United Kingdom, taken from our own returns, which numbers are short of the full total of persons coming here from England by the arrivals viÁ Australia or the United States of America. But, using the information available, it seems evident that New Zealand has been preferred to Australia, from the high proportion which the arrivals here (direct) bear to every hundred of departures from England for the Australasian Colonies.

So long as New Zealand can secure one-sixth or more of the total persons leaving England for Australasia, she takes more than the proportion her population bears to that of the seven colonies collectively:—

Year.Emigration from United Kingdom to Australasia.Arrivals in New Zealand direct from United Kingdom.Arrivals in New Zealand per 100 Departures for Australasia from United Kingdom.
189311,4122,92925.67
189411,1512,84625.52
189510,8092,36521.88
189610,7101,95618.26
189712,3962,72421.97
189811,0202,59823.58
189912,2681,91815.63
199015,7232,31414.72
190115,7542,56316.27
190214,6753,47423.67
190312,5733,54728.21

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:—

Population (exclusive of persons of the aboriginal native race, of mixed European and Native blood, and Chinese)Persons.Males.Females
767,455401,979365,476
* Not including 352 persons, officers and crews of two British men-of-war.
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 percent., caused mainly by the excess of departures over arrivals.

The Maori population fell from 41,993 in 1891 to 39,854 in 1896, 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—

North Island and adjacent islets (exclusive of Maoris)Persons.Males.Females.
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 equalisation 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
” 186199,02173,13773.86
” 1864172,15846,51027.01
” 1867218,66837,72517.25
February, 1871256,39343,12116.82
March, 1874299,514114,89838.36
” 1878414,41275,52118.22
April, 1881489,93388,54918.07
March, 1886578,48248,1768.33
April, 1891626,65876,70212.24
” 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.
(-) Decrease.
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

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.

*Since reduced by creation of Waihi Borough.

† Since reduced by creation of Awakino and Waitomo Counties.

‡ Since reduced by creation of Egmont County, and Inglewood, Eltham, and Waitara Boroughs.

§ Waimarino County since cut out.

|| Since reduced by creation of Kairanga County.

Mongonui2,274
On shipboard18
Whangaroa927
Hokianga1,767
On shipboard22
Bay of Islands2,587
On shipboard26
Hobson.4,813
On shipboard163
Whangarei6,380
On shipboard31
Otamatea2,721
Rodney3,678
On shipboard17
Waitemata7,035
On shipboard27
Eden19,314
Manukau12,306
Coromandel4,169
On shipboard14
Thames5,043
On shipboard8
*Ohinemuri9,978
On shipboard50
Piako2,436
Waikato3,183
Waipa3,580
Raglan1,697
†Kawhia1,113
On shipboard1
West Taupo287
East Taupo256
Rotorua1,307
Tauranga1,720
Whakatane779
Opotiki1,438
On shipboard5
Waiapu711
Cook6,393
Wairoa1,773
Hawke's Bay6,833
Clifton2,535
‡Taranaki11,194
On shipboard92
Stratford5,081
‡Hawera8,347
Patea3,046
Waitotara3,476
§Wanganui4,018
Rangitikei7,570
Kiwitea2,844
||Oroua6,778
Pohangina1,536
Manawatu3,000
Horowhenua4,654
Whangarei1,429
Birkenhead1,057
Devonport3,823
On shipboard1
Grey Lynn4,110
Auckland34,213
On shipboard874
Parnell4,566
Newmarket2,060
Onehunga3,015
On shipboard47
Thames4,009
On shipboard11
Te Aroha888
Hamilton1,253
Cambridge989
Tauranga945
On shipboard1
Gisborne2,737
On shipboard58
Napier8,774
On shipboard241
Hastings3,650
New Plymouth4,405
Stratford2,027
Hawera2,131
Patea691
Wanganui7,329
On shipboard5
Marton1,101
Feilding2,298
Palmerston North6,534
Foxton1,211
Counties.Census, 1901.

* Since reduced by creation of Woodville County.

† Weber County since cut out.

‡ Boundaries since altered.

§ Since reduced by creation of Featherston County.

|| Since reduced by creation of Miramar Borough.

¶ Since reduced by creation of Takaka County.

** Since reduced by creation of Mount Herbert County.

†† Since reduced by creation of Geraldine Borough.

‡‡ Since merged in Wellington.

§§ Since merged in Christchurch.

*Waipawa9,495
† Patangata2,376
Pahiatua3,600
‡ Akitio1,018
‡ Castlepoint457
‡ Eketahuna2,332
‡ Mauriceville1,127
‡ Masterton3,123
§ South Wairarapa5,419
|| Hutt7,171
Sounds946
On shipboard2
Marlborough6,518
Kaikoura1,765
¶ Collingwood2,490
On shipboard23
Waimea7,833
On shipboard3
Buller4,868
On shipboard4
Inangahua4,595
Grey4,971
Westland4,405
Amuri1,142
Cheviot1,120
‡ Ashley11,599
‡ Selwyn30,787
** Akaroa3,669
Ashburton11,342
†† Geraldine5,991
Levels5,496
Mackenzie1,642
Waimate5,653
Waitaki9,086
Waihemo2,014
Waikouaiti4,082
Dannevirke2,315
Woodville926
Pahiatua1,209
Masterton3,949
Carterton1,205
Greytown1,122
Wellington43,638
On shipboard332
Onslow1,499
‡‡ Melrose2,995
Petone3,780
Lower Hutt1,823
Karori1,212
Blenheim3,222
Picton875
On shipboard95
Motueka886
Richmond543
Nelson7,010
On shipboard157
Westport2,922
On shipboard236
Brunner1,572
Greymouth3,748
On shipboard89
Hokitika1,946
On shipboard5
Kumara1,121
Ross614
Kaiapoi1,795
Rangiora1,768
Lyttelton4,023
On shipboard321
Christchurch17,538
New Brighton1,008
§§ Sydenham11,404
§§ St. Albans6,607
§§ Linwood6,737
Woolston2,532
Sumner844
Akaroa559
On shipboard5
Ashburton2,322
Temuka1,465
Timaru6,424
On shipboard62
Waimate1,359
Oamaru4,836
On shipboard17
Hampden331
Palmerston South738
Hawksbury690
Port Chalmers2,056
On shipboard149
North-east Valley3,527
Maori Hill1,550
West Harbour1,465
Counties.Census, 1901.

* Boundaries since altered.

† Since merged in Dunedin.

[Chatham Islands, with a population of 207 at time of census of 1901, has since been created a county.]

Peninsula2,561
Taieri7,179
Bruce4,762
Tuapeka6,272
* Clutha6,445
Maniototo3,792
Vincent4,362
Lake2,535
* Southland22,583
Wallace7,989
Fiord124
Stewart Island253
On shipboard19
Dunedin24,879
On shipboard228
Roslyn4,632
Mornington4,008
† Caversham5,266
St. Kilda1,700
South Dunedin5,363
Green Island667
Mosgiel1,463
Milton1,241
Kaitangata1,463
Lawrence1,159
Roxburgh478
Tapanui350
Balclutha1,017
Naseby505
Cromwell642
Alexandra818
Arrowtown410
Queenstown690
Gore2,354
Mataura867
Winton474
Invercargill6,215
Invercargill North925
Invercargill South1,874
Invercargill East939
Avenal355
Gladstone329
Campbelltown1,350
On shipboard303
Riverton815

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, as at the date of the census (1901), which might fairly be termed suburbs of the four principal cities at that time:—

SUBURBS OF AUCKLAND (MARCH, 1901).
Boroughs—Population, Census, 1901.
    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 suburbs (March, 1901)67,226

Since the date of the census an estimate of the population of Auckland City for January, 1905, has been made on the basis of the inhabited dwellings as reported by the Town Clerk, and similar estimates for so much of the suburbs as lie within municipal boundaries. The results show:—

 Persons.
Auckland City (estimated for January, 1905)38,377
Birkenhead, Devonport, Newmarket, Grey Lynn, Parnell (estimated for January, 1905)19,163

But there has been development of suburban population lying in the road districts around the city of which no account has been obtained. The coming census of March, 1906, will enable correct figures, giving the actual population of Greater Auckland, to be shown.

SUBURBS OF WELLINGTON (MARCH, 1901).
Boroughs—Population, Census, 1901

*Since merged in Wellington.

Onslow1,499
* Melrose2,995
Karori1,212
Total suburbs5,706
Wellington City43,638
Total Wellington and suburbs (March, 1901)49,344

The estimated population of Wellington City, according to its boundaries as enlarged, was in January, 1905, 53,900 persons.

Onslow is estimated to have increased to a population of 1,810 and Karori to 1,953 persons since the census, making altogether 57,663 for Wellington and suburbs in 1905.

SUBURBS OF CHRISTCHURCH (MARCH, 1901).
Boroughs—Population, Census, 1901.

In laying off the suburbs of Christchurch the boundaries of the Christchurch Health District have been mainly followed.

* Since merged in Christchurch.

    * 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 suburbs (March, 1901)57,041

The population of Christchurch, as enlarged since the census of 1901 by the inclusion of three additional boroughs, amounted to 48,767 persons, estimating by means of the Town Clerk's return of dwellings. New Brighton increased, it is believed, to 1,200 and Woolston to 3,004 persons. But for the suburbs lying in road districts, the case is similar to that of Greater Auckland. There being no information as to extension of population, the census of 1906 will be required before particulars can be supplied.

SUBURBS OF DUNEDIN (MARCH, 1901).
Boroughs—Population, Census, 1901.
    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 suburbs (March, 1901)52,390

The estimated population of Dunedin City, including Caversham, for January, 1905, is 31,688 persons, and that for the seven suburban boroughs amounts to 27,250. The figures are again based on the Town Clerk's returns of inhabited houses, working on the lines made use of for arriving at estimates for the other three centres. Greater Dunedin it is believed may have a population of over 58,000 persons.

The increase of population for ten years prior to the census of 1901 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
Inglewood†719
Normanby370
Manaia447
Waverley416
Lethbridge230
Bull's501
Halcombe336
Clyde (Wairoa)623
Taradale763
Ormondville459
Waipawa669
Kaikora North268
Featherston629
Johnsonville502
Havelock316
Amberley417
Southbridge396
Hampstead1,118
Tinwald561
Geraldine†868
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 Yearbook of 1903.

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. Since 1901 the boundaries have been extended to include the Cook and certain other Pacific Islands.

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
Australasia1,221,2741,898,8712,730,3123,784,5934,557,323

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.
* “Unspecifie” 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
Baptists16,0352.342.482.372.282.08
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. Persons.Increase or Decrease.
Persons.Males.Females.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 Countries422289133485−63−12.99
At Sea1,2035906131,322−119−9.00
Unspecified442302140604−162−20.82
Allegiance.      
British subjects761,104396,052365,052690,00371,10110.30
Foreign subjects11,6159,9401,67513,357−1,742−13.04
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.
 Males.Females.
Census 18782.252.18
” 18812.232.45
” 18862.372.22
Census 18912.802.49
” 18962.992.71
” 19013.282.51

The numbers at the census of 1901 for quinquennial age-periods are:—

NUMBERS OF THE DEAF-AND-DUMBAT LAST CENSUS
 M.F.
All ages13492
 
Under 5 years....
5 years to 10 years1816
10 ” 15 ”3214
15 ” 20 ”1810
20 ” 25 ”168
25 ” 30 ”812
30 ” 35 ”128
35 ” 40 ”68
40 years to 45 years55
45 ” 50 ”61
50 ” 55 ”35
55 ” 60 ”51
60 ” 65 ”31
65 ” 70 ”..1
70 ” 75 ”....
75 ” 8012
80 ” 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 (PASTORPRESENT ) OF THE DEAF-AND DUMB .
 Persons.M.F.
Under 20.Over 21.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 BLINDTOEVERY 10,000 People.
 Persons.Males.Females.
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 ” 15 ”17116
15 ” 20 ”15114
20 ” 25 ”201010
25 ” 30 ”1495
30 ” 35 ”17134
35 ” 40 ”21165
40 years to 45 years18117
45 ” 50 ”221012
50 ” 55 ”23167
55 ” 60 ”453213
60 ” 65 ”372215
65 ” 70 ”745321
70 ” 75 ”462818
75 ” 80 ”362511
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 ORPRESENT ) OF THE BLIND.
  Male.Female.
 Persons.Under 20.Over 20.Under 20.Over 20.
Banister (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 housekeeper2..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 shoe maker4..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
” 187820.8525.0715.54
” 188122.8627.3017.43
” 188626.5031.0321.18
” 189127.8231.2823.92
” 189631.1335.7026.02
” 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 "15 ”19118
15 "20 ”432221
20 "25 ”1146351
25 "30 ”18610878
30 "35 ”245141104
35 "40 ”257145112
40 "45 ”312176136
45 "50 ”333213120
50 "55 ”296177119
55 "60 ”298191107
60 "65 ”244139105
65 "70 ”16210953
70 "75 ”886028
75 "80 ”352114
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 34. 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. Eater particulars are now given as to schooling.

SCHOOL STATISTICS TO 31ST DECEMBER , 1903.

It has been found impossible to collect the full statistics relating to schooling for the year 1904 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, 1903, are shown in the following summary:—

Description of Schools.Number of Schools.Number of Instructors.Number of Scholars for the Fourth Quarter of 1903.
M.F.Total.M.F.Total.

*Excluding 62 visiting teachers.

† Excluding men, women, lads, and girls, in addition to the children in the school, who were receiving technical and industrial training.

‡ The census results showed that 5,055 children were receiving home tuition in March, 1901. Attendance at Sunday-schools is given further on.

EUROPEAN .
Public (Government) schools (scholars other than Maoris and half-castes)1,7411,4172,2783,69567,74062,619130,359
Public (Government) schools (half-castes living among Europeans)6085511,159
Colleges, grammar and high schools (aided or endowed)25....*1732,2651,4573,722
Private schools (excluding Maori scholars)2881267148406,4059,20415,609
Industrial schools and orphanages........393353746
Native village schools, European children attending........205190395
Private Native boarding-schools, European children attending........9817
School for Deaf-mutes1..1..343064
Jubilee Institute for Blind1....11011†21
Totals—Europeans2,056....4,70977,66974,423‡152,092
NATIVE .
Native village schools supported by Government (excluding European children stated above)10177981751,8471,4513,298
Private Native boarding-schools (maintenance of scholars paid by Government)5511163763100
Private Native boarding-schools (maintenance of scholars paid from endowments)8071151
Private Native day-schools3246632992
Public (Government) schools, Maoris attending........1,0687601,828
Public (Government) schools, half-castes living as Maoris attending........115107222
Private schools for Europeans, Maoris attending........443478
Totals—Natives109841131973,2542,5155,769

Thus at the end of 1903 there were 2,165 schools of all classes at which members of the European and Maori races were being educated. This was an increase of 27 on the number in 1902. The public primary schools numbered 1,741 in 1903, against 1,708 in 1902. 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 288, a decrease of 9. 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 109, three more than in 1902.

Public (Government) Schools.

Compared with 1902, there was in 1903 an increase of 1,306 in the number of pupils belonging to the public schools at the end of the year, but the average attendance shows a decrease of 664 for the whole year, and an increase of 2,676 for the fourth quarter.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND EARLY INCREASE FROM 1877 TO 1903.
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-number.Number belonging at Beginning of Year.Number belonging at End of Year.Average Attendance †
Fourth Quarter.Whole Year.Fourth Quarter.Whole Year.

* From 1877*** 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, *** 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
188276,30987,17966,42663,70973.61,9503,6193,4171,887
188379,41692,47670,07767,37374.03,1075,2973,6513,664
188484,88397,23874,65072,65775.15,4674,7624,5735,284
188590,670102,40780,18378,32776.65,7875,1695,5335,670
188695,377106,32883,36180,73776.14,7073,9213,1782,410
188799,206110,91987,38685,63777.03,8294,5914,0254,900
1888103,534112,68590,84990,10879.34,3281,7663,4634,471
1889104,919115,45694,30893,37480.31,3852,7713,4593,266
1890108,158117,91296,67094,63279.93,2392,4562,3621,258
1891110,665119,52396,26497,058***80.32,5071,611[−406]2,426
1892112***122,620100,91798,******1,6143,0974,6532,012
1893***124,68699,87298,615******2,0262,0661−1,045][−455]
1894***127,300107,032104,99681.82,5142,6146,2794,875
1895***129,856108,708108,39482.83,0812,5561,6763,398
1896122,425131,037110,274110,51783.32,5251,1811,5662,123
1897***132,197111,952112,32883.91,1081,1601,6781,811
1898******109,561111,63683.4359[−576][−2,391][−692]
1899******109,050110,31682.6[−685][−306][−511][−1,320]
1900******111,498***111,74784.1209[−5912,4481,431
1901122,725131,351***112,354111,79784.1[−691]62785650
1902123,456132,262111,556113,71184.9731911[−798]1,914
1903124,095133,568114,232113,04783.96391,3062,676[−664]

In the report of the Minister of Education the figures are thus commented upon:—

Although there was a decline in the number in average attendance in 1903, the returns show that the average of the weekly roll-numbers has at last exceeded that of 1897, which was previously the highest that had been attained. The figures for 1897 were 133,961, and for 1903 134,748. In 1902 they were 133,952, so that the increase for the year was 795. The number on the roll at the end of the year also shows a large increase, being 133,568, or 1,306 above the number enrolled at the end of 1902—viz., 132,262.

The standard of regularity of attendance attained in 1903 is 1 per cent. less than that of the previous year. The variations in the average daily attendances in the several quarters which have already been noted become even more marked when they are expressed as percentages of the average weekly roll-number. In the last quarter of 1902 the percentage was 83.6; in 1903 it was in the first quarter 83.8, in the second 83.0, in the third 84.1, and in the last 84.7: the percentage for the whole year was 83.9. In 1902 it was 84.9. This fall is fairly general throughout the colony. Although lower than in 1902, the percentage of 83.9 for 1903 is still a high one compared with the corresponding figures for the British Isles and for the several States of the Australian Commonwealth As no later figures are available for comparison, the following paragraph extracted from last year's report may be here repeated:—

“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 65 per cent. For the Australian States the numbers were: New South Wales, 72.6; Victoria, 06.5; Queensland, 81.3; South Australia, 79.9; Western Australia, 81.6; Tasmania, 74.4. These returns are for 1901 in the case of Scotland, Ireland, and New South Wales, and for 1902 in all other cases.”

In average attendance there was an increase in all districts of the North Island as compared with 1902, and a decrease in all districts of the South Island.

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 branches) and purely secular. The attendance of all children between the ages of 7 and 14 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, the principles of domestic economy, also handwork for both sexes. Provision must also be made for the instruction in military drill of all boys in these schools.

A new syllabus of instruction was introduced in April, 1904, and arrangements made for the training of teachers; grants are voted, the intention being to have a training-college at each of the four chief towns in the colony. There is also a vote for instruction of teachers in handwork for purposes of manual and technical instruction.

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE OF EDUCATION BOARDS .

The total income of the various Education Boards for the year 1903 was £589,701, including £388 of refunds, fines, &c. The grants by Government amounted to £581,936, including receipts from education reserves. These grants consist of payments to the Board of every district of a sum sufficient to pay the salaries of teachers and pupil-teachers in the district, and 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 the payments last named 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 a varying sum for the establishment and maintenance of normal or training schools, and for the support of such schools already established; also grants for school buildings and for technical education. The income from local receipts was £7,377.

The total expenditure in 1903 amounted to £601,108, of which the sum of £454,660, including £13,482 for manual and technical instruction, 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.
Receipts.£s.d.Expenditure.£s.d.
*The difference between this balance and that shown at the end of 1902 in last year's report is caused by certain contractors' deposits which were then included being now omitted.
Balances, 1st January, 1903...*17,892155Boards' administration30,493711
Government grants—Teachers' and pupil-teachers' salaries and pupil-teachers' lodging-allowances409,673125
Salaries of teachers and pupil-teachers, and lodging allowances of pupil-teachers£406,532167 Incidental expenses of schools31,504129
Allowance at £250 and capitation69,299172Scholarships and secondary education18,949148
Other grunts19,23501Training of teachers1,204154
Total maintenance495,067148Manual and technical instruction13,481178
Manual and technical instruction8,46124Buildings, house allowance, &c95,01194
Buildings and house allowances of teachers78,4061311Refunds and sundries788511
Total from Government581,935101Balance, 31st December, 19036,4851711
Local receipts7,377711 
Refunds, fines, &c.387198
 £607,5931311 £607,5931311

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, apparatus, and material, and for capitation, and subsidies of £1 for £1 on voluntary contributions.

During 1903 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 vocal music.

The Government grants to Education Boards for the maintenance of training classes for teachers in subjects of manual and technical instruction prescribed for school classes were continued during 1903.

Regulations have been gazetted providing for free technical education. Under these regulations persons who have obtained certificates of proficiency (as defined by regulations for the inspection and examination of schools) are entitled to hold Junior Technical Scholarships for two years, which scholarships may be continued under certain conditions as Senior Technical Scholarships. 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 receive instruction in one or more subjects of general instruction, such as English and arithmetic or some other branch of mathematics, in addition to instruction in technical subjects.

The controlling authorities of classes for manual and technical instruction are Education Boards, governing bodies of secondary schools and university colleges, and, in the case of certain classes in existence before the passing of the Act of 1900, the managers of those classes. School classes, or classes held in connection with primary or secondary schools, are under the control of the Education Boards or of the governing bodies respectively. “Special classes” —that is, continuation classes, or classes for manual or technical instruction—are established and controlled by the same bodies. “College classes” are classes for higher technical instruction established and controlled by the governing body of a university college. Classes may also be established by Borough Councils, County Councils, and other local authorities acting jointly with an Education Board or university college; these are called “associated classes,” and all the contributing bodies may have a voice, according to the share of the cost of maintenance borne by them, in the election of managers for the classes. The capitation on the attendance at classes is more liberal than under the Act of 1895, and many classes that could not be recognised under that Act may be recognised now. Subsidies are payable upon bequests and on voluntary contributions. Grants are also made, on certain conditions, towards the cost of buildings, apparatus, and material. It is worthy of note, but not yet perhaps generally understood, that the Act and regulations thereunder offer just as great inducements for the establishment of classes for dairy-work and for agricultural instruction as for other classes for technical instruction; even more, perhaps, for in certain cases capitation may be paid to country classes at one and a half times the rate paid to town classes. 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 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 (1903) eighteen Technical or Art Schools, at which 458 recognised classes, attended by about 5,500 students, were conducted. In addition 110 technical and continuation classes in various subjects were held in several of the smaller towns.

In connection with the Canterbury College there is an endowed School of Engineering and Technical Science, providing for courses for the university degree of B.Sc. in engineering or for the associateship in engineering. Two hundred and one students attended in 1903.

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 1903 was about 270.

With the view of encouraging attendance at recognised technical schools and classes, arrangements have been made with the Railway Department by which students attending classes registered with the Minister of Education may obtain railway tickets at special rates.

The expenditure by the Government on manual and technical instruction for the year ending 31st December, 1903, was £24,208.

In the twenty-seventh annual report, the Minister of Education remarks as follows on manual training and technical instruction:—

The steady advance in manual and technical instruction noticeable since the passing of the Manual and Technical Instruction Act in 1900 was well maintained during 1903. At the close of 1902 the number of classes recognised under the Act was 980. During 1903 1,247 additional classes were recognised, making the number at the end of the year 2,227. Of these classes 1.659 were classes for handwork in connection with primary and secondary schools, while 568 were “special,” “associated.” or “college” classes, providing for instruction in the various branches of pure and applied art, engineering and science, and in plumbing, carpentry and joinery, domestic economy, and commercial subjects. There is a marked increase in the number of public schools in which handwork is being taught, not only in the lower but also in the higher standards, and there is every indication that the number of such schools will be still further increased during the present year (1904). The causes of this increase are twofold: most of the Education Boards, availing themselves of the special annual grants for the instruction of teachers in subjects of manual and technical instruction, first made in 1901 and continued up to the present time, have established training classes which have, in general, been well attended by teachers; the revised standard regulations recently gazetted also make it possible for handwork to be taken right through the school course.

Of the various branches of handwork now being taught in the schools, cookery for girls and woodwork for boys are receiving considerable attention. In 1902 63 cookery classes and 14 woodwork classes were recognised in connection with primary and secondary schools. For 1903 the numbers were 131 and 100 respectively. Coincident with this increase is the increase in the number of teachers seeking to obtain the certificates of the City and Guilds of London Institute in cookery and woodwork.

MANUAL AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION, 1903.—SCHOOL CLASSES .
Controlling Authority.Subjects of Instruction and Number of Classes in each Subject.
Elementary Handwork.Drawing in Light and Shade (Blackboard Drawing).Elementary Design and Colour Work.Cookery.Dressmaking.Needlework.Woodwork.Chemistry.PhysicsBotany.Agriculture and Cottage-gardening.Ambulance and First-aid.Swimming and Life saving.Total Number of Classes.
Education Board, Auckland1402847..1737........1..252
Education Board, Taranaki93..16....8..........13..130
Board of Governors, High School, New Plymouth..2 ..1 ..............3
Education Board, Wanganui96177....20141..1112166
Education Board, Wellington1273726..21......5....171
Board of Governors, Wellington College and Girls' High School—
Girls' High School..13 ..........5......9
Education Board, Hawke's Bay38..7..21........37..58
Education Board, Marlborough........ 2..............2
Education Board, Nelson30....7311..........161077
Board of Governors, Nelson College—
Boy's College............................
Girls' College......4..................4
Education Board, Grey..........1..............1
Education Board, Westland16........11............18
Education Board, North Canterbury196....11..2918..........16270
Board of Governors, Canterbury College—
Boys! High School............411........6
Girls' High School2....22..  23....112
Board of Governors, Ashburton High School........2............2  
Education Hoard, South Canterbury47..2....181....1......69
Board of Governors, Timaru High Schools—
Boys' High School............2..........13
Girls' High School......11................2
Education Hoard. Otago62....20..28201....15..6152
Board of Governors, Otago High School—
Girls' High School......3..................3
Education Hoard, Southland172..27..4213......24..242
Board of Governors, Southland High Schools—
Boys' and Girls' High Schools......31....2........17
Totals1,0192552131101861008493042371,659
MANUAL AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION, 1903.—SPECIAL, ASSOCIATED, AND COLLEGE CLASSES.
School or Classes.Subjects of Instruction, and Average Attendance.
Number of Classes.Freehand (from the Flat and Round), Light and Shade.Plane and Solid Geometry, Perspective Practical Geometry.Design and Ornament.Drawing, Modelling, and Painting from Antique and Nature.Architecture and Building-construction.Mechanical Drawing and Machine-construction.Practical Mechanics and Mathematics, Surveying.Mechanical and Electrical Engineering.Experimental and Natural Science (Chemistry, Physics, Botany, Photography).Woodwork and IronworkWood-carving, Modelling, and Repousse Work.Carpentry and Joinery, Cabinetmaking, Painters' and Decorators' Work, Coachbuilding.Plumbing and Tinsmiths' Work, Iron and Brass Moulding.Cookery and Laundry-work, Dressmaking, Tailoring.Wool-sorting.Commercial Subjects.English, Latin, French, German, Maori, Arithmetic.Singing and Elocution.Training-classes for Teachers in Elementary Handwork.Training-classes for Teachers in Drawing.
Auckland Education Board—
Technical School, Auckland44..35....124951..34436472985..3413..132..
Devonport School2......................36................
“Elam” School of Art, Auckland1729523..59................................
Taranaki Education Board—
Technical classes, New Plymouth5........................9..........44..
” Stratford2........................9..      
Wanganui Education Board—
Technical School, Wanganui322421 18137....19..29..9....2412..114112
” Palmerston N.181521116......4..101......3......22
” Hawera617............................19........
Technical classes, Bull's2....................9..................
” Marton3....................7..................
” Eltham..........................................
Wellington Education Board—
Technical School, Wellington415364315627264611....253832....10210..3105
Technical classes, Masterton2......................................40
” Pahiatua1......................................24
” Carterton214......................................
” Greytown1........................................
Masterton Technical Classes Association1332....910............1298..16117......
Hawke's Bay Education Board—
Technical School, Napier18593..52......314..101312..12....3429
Technical classes, Gisborne2......................................20
” Hastings1..........................6............
” Woodville1......................................6
” Dannevirke3........................10....13......12
Continuation classes, Wairoa5..............................321......
Board of Governors, Gisborne High School—
Technical classes6..........67............18..274......
Nelson Education Board—
Technical classes, Nelson6..................12......20..........52
Technical School, Reefton..........................................
Westland Education Board—
Technical classes, Kumara1..................19....................
” Hokitika1................19......................
Board of Governors, Canterbury College—
School of Art, Christchurch5812767519840.. ......1924..............122
School of Engineering, Christ-church205552......34258420......................
School of Domestic Instruction, Christchurch13..........................158............
North Canterbury Education Board—
Christchurch Technical Classes Association38..3....18..21........8631361716839.. ..
Technical classes, Normal School, Christchurch6..................17..5............48..
Technical classes, Ashburton1..................8....................
” Lyttelton4......................8..16..7........
” Rangiora3..........5..............22............
” Leeston2..................4..12................
” Southbridge2..........................23............
South Canterbury Education Board—
Timaru Technical Classes Association17..92614..15......1012....16204451......
Waimate Technical Classes Association8..........................11 662323....
Temuka Technical Classes Association94........................21..16115....
Technical classes, Timaru6..................19..................94
Otago Education Board—
School of Art, Dunedin41189862746116............................
Technical School, Dunedin42............152686..92525741616623019....
Technical classes, Dunedin13..................40......68............
” Port Chalmers..........................................
” Oamaru2..................17......13............
” Kaitangata5..........1..............16..12........
Southland Education Board—
Technical School, Invercargill2320......1013....144478..96..241512....
Technical classes, Gore3..................16..3..12............
” Mataura1..........................6............
Country continuation classes7..............................13358....
Totals5689043651363161491621651211992631423151767375376948167375638

The following table shows the results of the examinations conducted in the colony on behalf of the Board of Education, South Kensington, and the City and Guilds of London Institute:—

ART , SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS, 1903.
[“C” represents candidates; “P” passes.]
Subjects of Examination.Auckland.Thames.Wanganui.Wellington.Masterton.Napier.Christchurch.Timaru.Dunedin.Invercargill.

* A book prize was gained by a Wellington student.

† Prizes were gained by two Dunedin students.

BOARD OF EDUCATION, S. KENSINGTON. Art.CPCPCPCPCPCPCPCPCPCP
Drawing on the blackboard44....................11............
Geometrical drawing (art)74....3211111..1......44....
Perspective66........44........1..1..76....
Model-drawing1915........22223384....14733
Freehand drawing in outline4130....96....1372132....14443
Drawing in light and shade75....1..11211122....543..
Memory drawing of plant-form........1155....1..11....32....
Principles of ornament............22................31....
Design........1144....1122....54....
Painting from still life........................11....31....
” ornament............22 ..............1......
Drawing from the antique........................11....32....
” from life........................33............
Anatomy...... ........1......................
Students' works22....3..156................13†7....
Science. 
Practical plane and solid geometry........111..........22............
Machine construction and drawing1412....22....................6644
Building-construction........21127........31....84....
Architecture................................11....
Architectural design............1..........................
Mathematics............31........................
Applied mechanics.......... ....................21....
Steam32................................22
Magnetism and electricity............33....1..................
Theoretical inorganic chemistry........1010....................11....
CITY AND GUILDS OF LONDON INSTITUTE.
Woodwork, first year....................1175........149
” final........................3..........115
Plain cookery........................52....32312825
Mechanical engineering, Part I. (ordinary)11............................32....
Mechanical engineering. Part II. (ordinary)1..............................54....
Mechanical engineering (honours)................................22....
Plumbers' work (preliminary)................................11....
” (ordinary)........11642........................
” (honours)................................11....
Painters' and decorators' work ordinary)........................51............
Gas-manufacture............22........................
Electric light and power (preliminary)....81....63....11........11....
” ” (ordinary)............41........11............
” ” (honours)............1..........................
Wiremen's work.......... 42....1..........11....
Telegraphy and telephony (ordinary)....1......1..........1......11....
Telegraphy (honours)....................1122............
Totals1058291443078481911191053311..141996951
Total of papers, 538; total of passes, 363.

The expenditure for the year is given in detail:—

STATEMENT OF EXPENDITUREBY GOVERNMENT ON MANUAL AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION FOR YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER, 1903.
    £s.d.
Capitation.. ..7,5661310
Subsidy of £1 for £1 on contributions.. ..1,225150
Grants—£s.d. 
    Buildings and apparatus11,75294
    Class material478146
 12,231310
    Training of Teachers —
            Taranaki Education Board10000 
            Wanganui ”15000
            Wellington ”20000
            Hawke's Bay ”15000
            North Canterbury ”20000
            South ” ”12500
            Otago ”20000
            Southland ”15000
 1,27500
Railway fares of instructors of training-classes.. ..14598
” students attending registered classes.. ..31034
Expenses in connection with Examinations—
Science and Art Board of Education, South Kensington137134 
City and Guilds of London Institute211107
 349311
Inspectors—
Salaries700168 
Travelling-expenses16944
    87010
Scholarships.. ..151100
Wood pamphlets.. ..9296
Plaster casts, £40; charges, £8 10s. 1d... ..48101
Sundries.. ..2384
 24,28986
Less recoveries (examination fees, £76 17s. 6d.; proceeds of sale of lead used at examination, £1 5s.; amount received from Agent-General, general average in connection with loss of students' examination papers sent to England for examination, £2 13s. 81.)......80162
Total£24,208124

SECONDARY OR SUPERIOR SCHOOLS .

There were 25 subsidised or endowed schools for higher education in December, 1903. The names of these secondary schools, with the numbers of pupils on the rolls in the last term or quarter of the year, and the fees charged, are stated below. These schools must not be confused with the district high schools, although they nearly all admit to free places holders of Education Board Scholarships and of National or Queen's Scholarships, besides all who gain certificates of proficiency within prescribed limits of age, &c. There are grants payable under the Secondary Schools Act varying from £4 to £10 15s. for each free place, according as the net income from endowments is small or great. This is a modification of the grants previously authorised, which were at the uniform rate of £6. The number of pupils holding free places at the end of the first term of 1901 was 1,605. It will be noticed that the pupils numbered altogether 3,722.

ATTENDANCE AND FEESATCERTAIN SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
Schools.Attendance for Last Term or Quarter of 1903.Number of Boarders.Annual Rates of Fees.
Under 12 Years.12 to 15.15 to 18.Over 18 Years.Total (Roll).Average Attendance.For Ordinary Day-school Course.For Board, exclusive of Day-school Tuition.
        £s.d.£s.d.
Whangarei High Schoolb1410..2434880
g….96..15
Auckland Grammar Schoolb. 612897823934210100
g. 1636685125990
     880
Thames High Schoolb.3011..4165880
g….1411..25
New Plymouth High Schoolb.12316..4075660
g.12813..42
Wanganui Girls' College125278714913555101004000
880
Wanganui Collegiate School (Boys')3015191901861439904500
1200
Wellington College (Boys')10711991329326777111794200
9110
Wellington Girls' High School..948120518216311179
9110
Napier Boys' High School835499285199904000
880
Napier Girls' High School1035448982109904000
880
Marlborough High Schoolb. 22521351828110
g….2514342
Nelson College (Boys')1768892219618285101004000
880
Nelson Girls' College95973915134401010***4000
880
Christchurch Boys' High School78312910292143010040190
7100
Christchurch Girls' High School46856213012012120
990
Christ's College Grammar School347885112081995414364500
11064200
7176   
Rangiora High Schoolb.23210..4471990
g….247132660
Ashburton High Schoolb.288..3662660
g….297137
Timaru Boys' High School4128372691000
800
Timaru Girls' High School3631673671000
800
Waitaki Boys' High School446110595631010042180
4100
Waitaki Girls' High School17266494510100
4100
Otago Boys' High School119797113062924100043100
Otago Girls' High School11426712222213810004000
Southland High Schoolb.64314991781000
g….5736295
Totalsb.889911092942,2653,455581
g.62679657591,457

Income and Expenditure of Secondary or Superior Schools.

A summary of the accounts of income and expenditure for the year 1903, as furnished by the governing bodies of the secondary or superior schools in the colony, shows the total receipts to have been £75,168. To this total, rents and sales of reserves contributed £24,463; interest on investments, and other receipts from endowments, £8,577.; fees, £39,885; and miscellaneous, £7,243.

The total expenditure amounted to £73,831, of which sum office management and expenses absorbed £3,333; teachers' salaries, £40,311; scholarships and prizes, £2,393; buildings, furniture, insurance, rates, and rent, &c., £10,612; and other expenditure, £17,182.

A summary of the accounts for the year 1903, exhibiting further details, is given below:—

SECONDARY OR SUPERIOR SCHOOLS, 1903.
Receipts.£s.d.
To Credit balances on 1st January, 190333,146172
Endowment reserves sold1,46330
Mortgage moneys repaid527148
Rent of reserves22,99985
Interest on moneys invested3,577141
Reserves Commissioners' payments2,19665
Government payments—
For technical instruction645100
For free peaces1,1441311
School fees (tuition)31,203163
Boarding-school fees8,68197
Books, &c., sold, and refunds207170
Sundries not classified2,520139
Debit balances, 31st December, 1903958168
 £109,274011
Expenditure.£s.d.
By Liabilities on 1st January, 19032,520127
Expenses of management3,332162
School salaries40,31116
Boarding-school accounts6,623190
Examination expenses478174
Scholarships and prizes2,3***3179
Printing, stationery, fuel, light. &c.3,8581210
Buildings, furniture, insurance, rent, and rates10,61270
Expenditure on endowments3,06876
Interest87779
Sundries not classified2,2731010
Credit balances, 31st December, 190332,922108
 £109,274011

District High Schools.

Besides 1,605 qualified pupils receiving free tuition at secondary schools, there were about 209 holders of scholarships given by the Boards of Education or by the secondary schools which did not accept the grant-money. And, moreover, there were 2,096 pupils receiving secondary education in secondary classes belonging to the district high schools at the end of the year 1903.

A table is given showing the number of qualified pupils attending these district high schools on the 31st December, 1903—viz., 2,024. These had all passed the Sixth Standard.

NUMBER OF PUPILS RECEIVING SECONDARY EDUCATION AT DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 1903.
Education District.Number of Schools.Number of Pupils.Total Number of Pupils, 1902Amount 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.
Auckland81461553012..230317091250225001.13750
Taranaki13419532..2553423300300026300
Wanganui72111753865410644503781,58200210001,79200
Wellington24966115......115803561003000386100
Hawke's Bay36055115..221174923612114315328082
Marlborough.................. ..  ..  .. 
Nelson368671351..113612458700900067700
Grey1172542......424224000300027000
Westland182028......28342051503710024350
North Canterbury91251472721..1273303706892100462168
South Canterbury37764141......1411246851009000775100
Otago9166143309......3093151,444100270001,714100
Southland36166127......127994531269000543126
Totals for 1903501,0221,0022,0246012722,096..7,3072112381538,545174
Totals for 1902387456811,4263914531,4791,4794,382388171005,199138

It will be noticed that there is a most substantial increase in the number of pupils during the year 1903 who received free instruction in secondary subjects, and that the schools performing the function increased from 38 to 50 in number.

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.

“The New Zealand University Act, 1874,” which repealed the statute of 1870, gave power to the Senate to confer, after examination, the several degrees of Bachelor and Master in Arts, Bachelor and Doctor in Law, Science, Medicine, Music, and also in such other departments of knowledge, except theology, as might be determined by the said Senate in the future.

By statute passed in 1904 further powers were given to confer the degrees of Doctor of Literature; Master of Laws; Master of Surgery; Master of Science; and Bachelor, Master, and Doctor of (a) Veterinary Science, (b) Dental Surgery, (c) Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Mining, Metallurgical, Naval Architecture); (d) Agriculture, (e) Public Health, (f) Commerce.

Powers are granted to confer also ad eundem degrees.

In 1902 an Amendment Act was passed reconstituting the Senate, which now consists of twenty-four members or Fellows, five 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 Right 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 grant 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, 1901, the number of graduates who had obtained direct degrees was 926.

The number of undergraduates on the roll of the University at that date was 2,927 (exclusive of such as had not performed any academical act for a period of ten years), but only 1,388 were keeping terms (not including undergraduates who had not, in the last three years, entered at a college or come up for any college or university examination), of whom 922 were males and 466 females. One hundred and fifty-four of the males and twenty-four of the females were medical students. The numbers of students attending lectures at the affiliated institutions during the year 1903 were as follow: At the Auckland University College, 103 matriculated and 73 non-matriculated; at Canterbury College, 107 matriculated and 82 non-matriculated; at the Otago University, 227 matriculated and 19 non-matriculated. The Victoria College, before mentioned, affords further facilities for university students, and in June, 1904, had a total of 191 students on the roll—149 matriculated and 42 non-matriculated.

The names of the officers forming the controlling body of the New Zealand University for the year 1904 were:—

VISITOR .

His Excellency the Governor.

UNIVERSITY OFFICERS.

Chancellor (1903), Sir Robert Stout, K.C.M.G.

Vice-Chancellor (1903), Charles Christopher Bowen.

Registrar (1899), John William Joynt, M. A., Dublin.

Assistant-Registrar (1904), Barclay Hector.

Office: Wellington.

THE SENATE.

(a) Retired (in accordance with the Act) in 1903. re-elected 1903.

(b), Retired in 1882, re-elected in 1888; retired (in accordance with the Act) in 1903, re-elected 1903.

First appointed. 
(a) 1874.The Reverend John Chapman Andrew, M.A., Oxon.
1903.Frederick Ehrenfried Baume. LL.B., N.Z.
(b) 1881.Charles Christopher Bowen.
(a) 1883.Frederick Douglas Brown, M.A., B.Sc., Oxon.
1877. John Macmillan Brown, M.A., Glasg. 
1903John Rankine Brown, M.A., Oxon.
(a) 1902.The Reverend Andrew Cameron, B.A., N.Z.
1904.William Edward Collins, M.B., Lond.; M.R.C.S., Eng.
(a) 1884.Charles Henry Herbert Cook, M.A., Cantab.
1903. The Reverend William Albert Evans, M.A. 
(a) 1883. Frederick Fitchett, M.A., LL.D., N.Z. 
1903.Henry Andrew Gordon, F.G.S. A.M.I.C.E.
(a) 1888.James Hay, M.A., L.L.B., N.Z.
1903George Hogben, M.A., Cantab.
(a) 1901. Richard Cockburn Maclaurin, M.A., LL.D., Cantab., M.A., N.Z. 
1903.William Chisholm Wilson Mc-Dowell, B. A., M.B., C.M., Edin.
(a) 1879.Sir George Maurice O'Rorke Kt., M.A., LL.D., Dublin.
(a) 1877.George Samuel Sale, M.A., Cantab.
(a) 1880.The Reverend William Salmond, M.A., D.D., Edin.
(a) 1890.John Halliday Scott, M.D., Edin.; M.R.C.S., Eng.; F.R.S.E.
1903.Robert Julian Scott, M.Inst.C.E. M. Inst. M.E., A.A.I.E.E.
(a) 1877.John Shand, M.A., LL D., Aberd.
(a) 1884.Sir Robert Stout, K.C.M.G.
1903.Joseph Augustus Tole, B.A., LL.B., Sydney.

PRIVATE AND DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOLS.

There were 288 private schools in the colony at the end of 1903, a decrease of 9 on the number in 1902: 30 were for boys, 64 for girls, and 194 for children of both sexes. The number of pupils attending them was 15,609—namely, 6,405 boys and 9,204 girls, not counting 78 Maoris, 44 boys and 34 girls. The number of European pupils at these schools was less than in 1902 by 15. Of the private schools, 139 were Roman Catholic, with an attendance of 10,812 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.
18943026,1178,51014,6271179,953
18952986,1878,47214,65911410,458
18962835,8453,10213,9471159,590
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
19032886,4059,20415,60913910,812

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 1903 was 152,092; of these, 143,761 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:—

PRIVATE AND DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOLS , 1903.—SUMMARYBY PROVINCIAL DSTRICTS.
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 78 Maoris (44 boys, 34 girls).
Auckland5145372321671991,3802,0963,4761,1631,8393,002
Taranaki..31215..3636238432670193382575
Hawke's Bay44816114354438561999374476850
Wellington6163153471121891,3361,9493,2851,1631,6942,857
Marlborough1..56..1111141158302109137246
Nelson2471393140432518950386468854
Westland13711..2525258307565214267481
Canterbury6133756101421521,1831,6012,7849801,3762,356
Otago573446171171349961,5822,5788381,3522,190
Totals30641942881267148406,4059,20415,609*5,4207,99113,411
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, 1903. 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.
Auckland3922341083938861,3372,2237281,1481,876
Taranaki..257..2323213320533173285458
Hawke's Bay324972835352420772304349653
Wellington3610192160818981,2172,1157791,0551,834
Marlborough1..23..6612811724594100194
Nelson1337..1919179337516147299446
Westland1359..2323241287528201253454
Canterbury351725768758951,0581,9537399091,648
Otago4319261468828161,1111.9276969481,644
Totals193387139593784374,6086,20410,8123,8615,3469,207

SCHOOLS FOR NATIVES.

The number of Native village schools at the end of 1903 either supported or subsidised by the Government was 101, or two 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 1903 was 5,769—namely, 3,254 males and 2,515 females. These included 309 half-castes at the Native village schools who were living as members of Maori tribes, and 222 at public European schools.

The numbers at the several schools in 1902 and 1903 were as under:—

Schools.Maori Children attending Schools.
Boys.Girls.Total of both Sexes.
1902.1903.1902.1903.1902.1903.
At public European schools1,0261,1838088671,8342,050
At Native village schools1,8951,8471,4841,4513,3793,298
At subsidised or endowed boarding-schools120117100134220251
At private European or Native-schools891075163140170
Totals3,1303,2542,4432,5155,5735,769

There was thus, in 1903, an increase of 124 in the number of Maori boys, and 72 in the number of Maori girls, attending school.

Seventy-six out of the 101 Native village schools in operation on 31st December, 1903, 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-one assistants, and twelve sewing-mistresses. The salaries paid to the head teachers range from £90 8s. 9d. to £284 2s. 8d., and those for assistants and sewing-mistresses from a nominal sum to £50.

The expenditure on Native schools for 1903 was as follows: Teachers' salaries and allowances, £15,605 5s. 6d.; teachers' removal allowances, £436 14s. 9d.; books and school requisites, £795 0s. 1d.; repairs and small works, £1,042 11s. 8d.; inspection, £704 3s. 4d.; travelling-expenses of Inspectors, £455 0s. 11d.; boarding-schools and scholarships, £2,171 18s. 3d.; buildings, fencing, furniture, &c., £5,654 12s. 4d.; technical-instruction classes, £886; model kainga, £443 16s. 8d.; sundries, £484 3s. 11d.: total, £28,679 7s. 5d.

SCHOLARSHIPS.

National Scholarships.

An Act to encourage higher education in New Zealand by the granting of National Scholarships was passed in 1903, and has since been incorporated in “The Education Act, 1904.” Provision is made 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 1903 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., 1903.Boys.Girls.Period of Tenure.Boards' Expenditure on Scholarships in 1903.Annual Value, &c.
    Years.£s.d. 
Auckland90662431,9051897 at £30, 24 at £25, 23 at £20, 36 at £15.
Taranaki11742244345 at £35, 1 at £14, 4 at £10, 1 at £4 13s. 4d.
Wanganui231211Varies732141115 at £40, 1 at £32 10s., 7 at £15.
Wellington412021296919119 at £35, 32 at £15.
Hawke's Bay3013172538469 at £30 4s., 1 at £22 10s., 1 at £16 4s., 19 at £10 4s.
Marlborough8172169003 at £35, 5 at £10.
Nelson95423591007 at £50 10s., 1 at £25, 1 at £10.
Grey413210850£25.
Westland514Varies761762 at £24, 3 at £4.
North Canterbury36162021,2463020 at £40, 1 at £30 15 at £20.
South Canterbury22111123690812 at £22 10s., 1 at £17, 5 at £7 10s., 4 at £2 10s.
Otago53351821,27817810 at £40, 3 at £35, 23 at £20, 17 at £15.
Southland1815325518912 at £35, 1 at £18, 5 at £15.
Totals, 1903350203147..8,55040 
Totals, 1902355206149..8,395115 

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.

In December, 1903, the total number on the books of all the industrial schools was 1,909, or 62 more than at the close of the year 1902. On the books of the Government industrial schools there were 1,366, an increase of 80 over the corresponding number for 1902; on the books of the private industrial schools there were 543, or 18 less than at the end of the previous year. The number in residence at Government schools was 299, and at private industrial schools 302, so that 601 was the total number of “inmates” actually in residence. The number boarded out was 513, five being from private schools and the rest from Government schools. There were 11 girls maintained in various corrective institutions, 8 boys and girls in orphan homes, and 2 boys at the School for Deaf-mutes, Sumner. The total number of inmates dependent on the schools for maintenance was therefore 1,135, or 46 more than the number at the end of 1902. The remaining 774, 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, 195; at service, 489; in hospital, 7; in lunatic asylum, 3; in the Costley Training Institution, Auckland, on probation, 7; in other institutions without payment, 12; in gaol, 5; absent without leave, 56—namely, 33 from service and 23 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, 1903.
School.Cost of School.Boardingout. (Included in first column).Salaries. (Included in first column.)Recoveries.Net Cost.
 £s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
Auckland3,3591031,10217733562826402,53363
Levin4,7641111 .. 2071602521884,511133
Burnham7,594145918101,8201549071366,687011
Caversham9,3231693,103871,517343,8231085,50061
Te Oranga Home4,026310 .. 369171771583,94882
Receiving Home, Wellington2,720981,6966112661621,113871,60711
Receiving Home, Christchurch4,892652,2501443011501,5601513,331114
Totals36,6811338,163634,819918,5626228,11971
 Salaries and expenses of Assistant Inspectors and Visiting Officers1,71551
 Travelling-expenses of managers and others114171
 Refund of inmates' earnings53311
 Contingencies23145
 30,02677 
 Less miscellaneous recoveries2823
 Total net cost£29,99854

There were six Government industrial schools in existence in 1903, and the numbers of inmates on their books at the end of the year were as follows: Auckland, 131; Receiving Home, Wellington, 166; Receiving Home, Christchurch. 239; Burnham, 252; Te Oranga Home, 56; Caversham, 522: total, 1,366. Those belonging to private industrial schools were distributed as follows: St. Mary's, Auckland, 131; St. Joseph's, Wellington, 80; St. Mary's, Nelson, 291; St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin, 41: total, 543.

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.), 1903.
School.Payments.Recoveries.Net Expenditure by Government.
 £s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
St. Mary's, Auckland1,11180159118951164
St. Joseph's, Wellington315484911102651210
St. Mary's, Nelson1,23815632909909149
St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin861464115044196
Totals2,752285791932,17235

During 1903 inmates were maintained in eight other institutions, and the expenditure on this account was as follows: Costley Training Institution, Auckland, £2 9s; Salvation Army Maternity Home, Auckland, £2 8s.; Women's Home, Parnell, £4 0s. 6d.; Mission Home, Jerusalem, Wanganui (Mother Aubert's), £35 2s.; Levin Memorial Home, Wellington, £15 12s.; St. Mary's Home. Karori, £28 5s. 2d.; St. Mary's Home, Richmond, Christchurch, £120 2s. 7d.; Female Refuge Home, Christchurch, £8; Mount Magdala, Christchurch, £165 3s. 9d.; Samaritan Home, Christchurch, £11 18s.; Avon Pine Sanatorium, Christchurch, £26 15s.; Benevolent Institution, Dunedin, £5 6s. 9d.; private homes, £29 19s. 6d.

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 as a rule adopt the boarding-out system.

The total number of inmates of the private and Government industrial schools is given for the years 1902 and 1903, and the variations in the numbers boarded out, in residence, or at service:—

INMATES , 1902 AND 1903.
Boarded out.In Residence.At Service, &c.Totals.
Dec., 1902.Increase.Decrease.Dec., 1903.Dec., 1902.Increase.Decrease.Dec., 1903.Dec., 1902.Increase.Decrease.Dec., 1903.Dec., 1902.Increase.Decrease.Dec., 1903.
Government Schools—
Auckland576..631810..28319..4010625..131
Receiving Home, Wellington7461..1351..1..256..3110066..166
Receiving Home, Christchurch133..313028..10936..9922811..239
Burnham2....2103..1192166..8158271..19252
Te Oranga Home, Christchurch........1912..3131..625506..56
Caversham1743..177140..3137217..9208531..9522
Private Schools—
St. Mary's, Auckland........90..783444..48134..3131
St. Joseph's, Wellington........37..334424..46791..80
St. Mary's, Nelson1....1177..17160136..6130314..23291
St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin..4..4232..25111..12347..41
Totals441743512610324260079630297971,847116541,909

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 1903 amounted to £486 12s. 4d., towards which the parents contributed £56. The number of pupils at the end of 1903 was twenty-two. 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 1903 was thirty-four boys and thirty girls, or one boy less and five girls more than at the end of 1902.

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 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.

The returns for the census of 1901 showed that 107,113 pupils were attending Sunday-schools, and there were 11,299 teachers.

SUBSIDISED PUBLIC LIBRARIES, 1903-4.

The number of libraries participating in the vote of £3,000 granted for subsidies shows an increase of thirty-two 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.£s.d.£s.d.
Auckland972,616223,80781167691
Taranaki1649612277891113861
Wanganui261,22310101,372510243160
Wellington203,1111741,09441119480
Hawke's Bay2867319101,262111122461
Marlborough515046249764461
Nelson28737491,28875228179
Grey5161142861450164
Westland4921101921103441
North Canterbury681,8281972,660121472137
South Canterbury17362138763154135138
Otago53950992,121169376192
Southland2726518094018016731
Chatham Islands21716106716101211
Totals39612,6891916,886793,00000

Chapter 35. 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 1903 was 484, against 488 in 1902, 485 in 1901, and 414 in 1900. The number of civil cases tried increased from 167 in 1902 to 209 in 1903. Of these last, 42 were tried before common juries, 2 by special jury, and 165 by Judge without jury. The total of amounts for which judgments were recorded in 1903 was £30,936. There were 62 writs of execution issued during the year.

Forty cases were commenced at eleven District Courts in 1903. Five of these cases were tried before juries, and 22 before a Judge only, making a total of 27 cases tried. Twelve cases lapsed or were discontinued, and in 1 case judgment was pending. The total of amounts sued for was £5,114, and judgments were recorded for £1,210. Before the Magistrates' Courts 16,571 cases were tried, against 17,027 in 1902; the aggregate sum sued for during 1903 being £285,793, and the total for which judgment was given £157,766.

COURT OF APPEAL.

Seven Crown (criminal) cases were reserved from the superior Courts to be brought before the Court of Appeal in 1903. In 3 cases the convictions were affirmed, in 3 the convictions were quashed, and 1 case was struck out. There were appeals from 21 civil cases, of which 4 were allowed and 14 dismissed, 2 were not prosecuted, and in 1 case judgment was reserved. Judgments were given on 5 other cases removed to the Court of Appeal.

BANKRUPTCY .

The petitions in bankruptcy during 1903 numbered 204, of which 164 were made by debtors and 40 by creditors. This number is one less than the number of petitions for the preceding year.

Of the bankruptcies in 1903: in 8 cases the liabilities were under £50; in 29, from £50 to £100; in 61, from £100 to £250; in 46, from £250 to £500; in 32, from £500 to £1,000; in 18, from £1,000 to £2,000; in 8, from £2,000 to £5,000; in 1, £5,000 and upwards. In 1 case no statement was filed.

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 1903:—

Year.Number 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
190030477,68953,415141,80037,411
190122258,65849,78184,45230,358
190220561,60439,386110,99529,406
190320446,76723,76188,01917,618

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 late 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 placed 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. It, together with the Acts of 1867 and 1881, are now compiled in “The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, 1904.”

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 during four years and upwards on the part of husband, along with failing to support wife or habitual cruelty; or habitual drunkenness for a like period and neglect, with unfitness to discharge her 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 1903 under “The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, 1867,” were 149 in number, being 11 more than those for 1902: 146 were for dissolution of marriage, and 3 for judicial separation; 136 decrees for dissolution of marriage were granted. The proceedings under the Act for the years 1896 to 1903 were as follows:—

Year.Petitions forDecrees for
Dissolution of Marriage.Judicial Separation.Dissolution of Marriage.Judicial Separation.
1896556362
18974810331
18985113322
189911214616
19001115853
190113811031
1902136291..
190314631363

The Act of 1898 has evidently operated in the direction of increasing largely 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 is now, however, being 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 Act of 1898 up to 1903. 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.

 New South Wales.Victoria.New Zealand.
* Act of 1898 in force in New Zealand.
Year.Divorces.Divorces.Divorces.
18933068525
18943138120
18953018518
189623410636
189724611733
18982478732
1899*23210546
1900*2199385
1901*25283103
1902*24510991
1903*206101136

CRIMINAL CASES.

Charges before Magistrates.

The number of charges heard before the Magistrates' Courts in 1903 was 31,298. Repeated charges against the same person are counted as distinct. Of the charges in 1903, 545 were against persons of the aboriginal native race, an increase of 94 on the number for the previous year.

If the Maoris he excluded, the number of charges (exclusive of lunacy) in 1903 is found to have been 30,753, an increase of 2,677 upon the number for 1902; and the proportion per 1,000 of population was 37.50, against 35.19 in 1902.

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-two 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
189416,32024.76
189719,39026.87
189821,66829.42
189922,11329.48
190024.08431.54
190125,82533.20
190228,07635.19
190330,75337.50

Summary Convictions, and Convictions in Superior Courts.

The summary convictions in 1903 numbered 25,186, including 421 Maoris. 914 persons, 43 of whom were Maoris, were committed for trial or sentence at the Supreme and District Courts, an increase of 112 on the number committed in 1902.

Dealing with the summary convictions for all offences, the figures for 1899 and onwards (excluding the Maoris) are:—

SUMMARY CONVICTIONS.
Year,Number.Proportion per 1,000 of Mean Population.
1899—
Offences against the person6780.90
Offences against property1,5492.07
Other offences14,58319.44
Totals16,81022.41
1900—
Offences against the person7240.95
Offences against property1,4761.93
Other offences16,28521.33
Totals18,48524.21
1901—
Offences against the person7781.00
Offences against property1,7362.23
Other offences17,81222.90
Totals20,32626.13
1902—
Offences against the person5400.68
Offences against property1,7592.20
Other offences19,82624.85
Totals22,12527.73
1903—
Offences against the person6440.79
Offences against property1,7672.15
Other offences22,35427.25
Totals24,76530.19

In dealing with the summary convictions in the Magistrates' Courts each offence is reckoned as a distinct person. The total number is from time to time swelled by the inclusion of breaches of statutes, the provisions of winch give rise to fresh offences against the public welfare not strictly criminal, so that comparisons with past years are somewhat affected.

But the groups of serious criminal offences do not show any advance in criminality taken over a period of five years.

The total of summary convictions for offences against the person (excluding Maoris) was 644 for the year 1903, which is actually a smaller number than that for 1899 (678), notwithstanding increase of population. Of these 644 summary convictions in 1903, the greater number (598) were on account of common and aggravated assaults. Cruelty to wife and children caused 29, and there were 16 for attempt to commit suicide.

Of offences against property, larceny not otherwise described is the most common, showing for 1903 1,100 summary convictions. There were besides 50 for specific kinds of larceny, and 25 for housebreaking. Obtaining money under false pretences caused 129 summary convictions, and wilful damage to property 408. These are the principal items only.

Under the heading “Other Offences” (those relating to good order included), drunkenness comes first with 8,774 summary convictions, of which 843 were in respect of females. Prohibition orders numbered 1,626, including 116 made against women. The committals to the Inebriate Institution numbered 8. The subject of drunkenness is separately dealt with under a special heading.

Further offences against good order include 3,125 summary convictions simply defined as “breach of by-laws,” and 1,837 for insulting behaviour, language, &c., and indecent, riotous, or offensive conduct. Also, 236 for assaulting or resisting police. Under “Vagrancy,” idle and disorderly persons show 469 summary convictions, with rogues and vagabonds 178. The chief items only are referred to above.

Offences against public welfare are dealt with in remarks above.

Of 75 persons (excluding the Maoris) convicted in the superior Courts during the year 1903 for offences against the person only one was a female. Assault, with or without robbery, was of this class the offence which caused the most convictions, these amounting to 35 altogether, including wounding. There were also 16 convictions for indecent assault, 8 for rape, with attempt to commit, and 11 for other similar offences. The total number of convictions for sexual offences was thus equal to that for ordinary assaults. For murder and manslaughter 4 persons were convicted. There was 1 conviction for criminal libel.

The convictions for offences against property were far more numerous than those against the person, amounting to 205, of whom 9 were females. Theft was the principal cause, showing 84 convictions, exclusive of burglary with robbery, for which 60 convictions were recorded.

Besides the above, there were 26 convictions for forgery and uttering. 23 for obtaining goods on false pretences and receiving stolen goods, 9 for arson, and 3 others.

Outside of convictions for offences against person and property, 28 of a miscellaneous nature remain, making up a total of 308 convictions in the higher Courts, excluding 56 persons sent for sentence by Magistrates.

But the figures previously referred to only deal with persons convicted in the higher Courts. The committals for sentences are not included, except in case of one Court, where the return seems to have been made up differently from the rest.

Punishments.

Including 16 Maoris, the convictions in the superior Courts, together with 56 sent from Magistrates' Courts for sentence, numbered 380 (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:—

TABLESHOWINGTHE SENTENCES OF CRIMINALS TRIED AND CONVICTEDINTHE SUPREME AND DISTRICT COURTS DURING FIVE YEARS.
Punishments.1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.

* Including 7 Maoris.

† Including 22 Maoris.

‡ Including 26 Maoris.

§ Including 5 Maoris.

|| Including 16 Maoris.

Death..11....
Imprisonment with or without hard labour306286272253305
Fined2217910
Imprisonment with whipping221..6
Released under “The First Offenders' Probation Act, 1886”6174516345
Held to bail, or awaiting pleasure of Court1225121213
Sent to industrial school..1 21
Totals*383†391‡354§339||880
TABLESHOWINGTHE PUNISHMENTS INFLICTEDCONSEQUENTON SUMMARY CONVICTIONS IN MAGISTRATES' COURTSDURING FIVE YEARS.
Punishments.1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.
Fine8,2299,2069,90511,47113,631
Imprisonment in lieu of fine1,7621,8951,9101,8741,956
Peremptory imprisonment1,6831,7231,9481,7341,969
Recognisance118121105123101
Whipping2815203528
Other4,9905,5256,4386,8887,080
Totals16,81018,48520,32622,12524,765
N.B.—Maoris have been excluded from this table.

Drunkenness.

Excluding Maoris, the proportion of convictions for drunkenness per 1,000 of population was 8.26 in 1899, 9.50 in 1900, 10.32 in 1901, 10.34 in 1902, and 10.70 in 1903. The number of convictions to which the proportions for the years 1899 to 1903 relate were as under:—

Year.Number.
18996,194
19007,252
19018,032
19028,244
19038,774

The totals of charges for drunkenness for the same years were:—

Year.Number.
18996,279
19007,319
19018,086
19028,311
19038,872

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 1899 to 1903, 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 9 gallons in the later one. Excluding the Maoris, the same result is found to obtain, the figures being 8.6 for the year 1899 and 9.5 for 1903. 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).
 Including Maoris.Excluding Maoris.
 Beer.Wine.Spirits.Beer.Wine.Spirits.
 Gal.Gal.Gal.Gal.Gal.Gal.
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
19038.9870.1420.7189.4600.1490.755

The actual quantities of beer, wine, and spirits used in the colony were, for the five years:—

 Beer for Consumption. Gals.Wine for Consumption. Gals.Spirits for Consumption. Gals.
18996,437,140111,049515,384
19006,986,900116,188549,932
19017,323,290123,592596,071
19027,380,883126,450602,021
19037,759,330122,490619,649

In Australia the consumption per head of alcoholic liquors for 1903, according to Mr. Coghlan, is as quoted below:—

 Spirits. Gal. Per Head.Wine. Gal. Per Head.Beer. Gal. Per Head.
New South Wales0.790.679.55
Victoria0.611.2411.61
Queensland0.860.389.49
South Australia0.462.228.33
Western Australia1.420.7521.82
Tasmania0.530.188.51

In each of these States, with the exception of Tasmania and South Australia, charges for drunkenness are, in proportion to population, more numerous than in New Zealand. The order of the States for the year 1902 in this respect is, to quote from the same authority, as under:—

CHARGES OF DRUNKENNESS IN PROPORTION TO POPULATION.
Queensland15.78 per 1,000
Western Australia15.56 ”
New South Wales15.33 ”
Victoria12.06 ”

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 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
1903421
CONVICTIONS OF MAORIS IN SUPERIOR COURTS.
Year.Convictions.Number of Persons convicted.
189177
18921615
18931312
18942524
18951751
18961919
18971612
18982135
189987
19002222
19012626
190255
19031616

Police.

The strength of the Police Force in New Zealand on the 31st December, 1904, was a total number of 650 persons. Of these, the police at the four chief centres numbered 267, being 75 at Auckland, 71 at Wellington, 60 at Christchurch, and 61 at Dunedin. The remaining members of the Force (383) may be deemed as belonging to the country.

The expenditure (exclusive of the cost of buildings) on the whole Police Force for the year ended the 31st March, 1904, amounted to £125,152.

Prisoners in Gaol.

The total number of prisoners received in the different gaols of the colony during the year 1903 was 4,786, 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 1902 the number received was 4,050, so that the figures for 1903 show an increase of 736. Of 4,786 admissions for 1903, 4 were for debt, and 49 on account of lunacy; while 127 were Maoris imprisoned for various offences. If the debtors, lunatics, and Maoris be excluded, the number of persons received into gaol is reduced to 4,606, against 3,880 in 1902.

The number of persons in gaol (including Maoris) at the end of the year 1903 was 739, or 86 more than in 1902.

PRISONERS IN GAOL (31ST DECEMBER).
Year.Undergoing Sentence.Debtors and LunaticsOn Remand and awaiting Trial.Total
1889611319633
1891494436534
1893463633502
1895531546582
1897623..51674
1899508..58566
1900527..41568
1901661151713
1902602..51653
1903688..51739

Of the prisoners previously convicted received in 1903, 496 men and 51 women had been convicted once; 284 men and 30 women twice; 1,166 men and 363 women three or more times: making a total of 1,946 men and 444 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 1903 this number (excluding Maoris) was 2,842, an increase of 446 on the number in 1902. 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 1903, classified according to nature of offence, religion, birthplace, and age:—

DISTINCT CONVICTED PRISONERS RECEIVEDINTO GAOL, 1903.
[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.]
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.
Religions—MF.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.
    Church of England28145..3161121..140322783423471,06285
    Roman Catholic21..40..1761022..9162278471995827124
    Presbyterian16..20..79551402315421100341453
    Wesleyan3..6..3112..13419330..1048
    Others4..10..3222..22643240215312
Totals721121..63429521306127772107603172,560282
Birthplaces—
    England and Wales13130..176913..931822734173672568
    Scotland6..9..4113..3110128963128121
    Ireland10..8..4627..59331773381138869
    New Zealand29..49..253151717354115251658701103
    Australian States6..6..6528..15658256121411
    Other British possessions1..3 11......831216..414
    China1..  ................3..4..
    Other countries6 16..42..4..27355356..2066
Totals721121..63429521306127772107603172,560282
Ages—
    Under 10 years................................
    10 and under 12 years......2..............2..   
    12 and under 15 years6..................6..    
    15 and under 20 years6..9..643..1447..18210810
    20 and under 25 years10..21..142112..2313422139238918
    25 and under 30 years12..32..129410..42179610124..44531
    30 and under 40 years15..30..1471012..813819726135361777
    40 and under 50 years12117..8876..652920229108749873
    50 and under 00 years9..6..4439..39201223151128055
    60 years and over8..6..1411..526106928221518
Totals721121..63429521306127772107603172,560282
Totals, 190258412246043155225069586120478132,153243

The number of distinct persons (exclusive of Maoris) imprisoned after conviction, in the past fourteen 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.
Year.Prisoners.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
19032,84234.65

There has been since 1890 a reduction of 3.96 per 10,000 in the proportion to population. In New South Wales the proportion for 1903 was 56 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 times 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 1903, on page 521.

Expenditure on Gaols and Prisoners.

The gross expenditure on the gaols of the colony (exclusive of the cost of buildings) for the year ended the 31st December, 1903, was £31,996; and the net expenditure, after deducting value of services rendered, £17,318.

The prisoners in the gaols during the year 1903 were maintained at a net cost to the State of £25 16s. 6d. per head, against £24 16s. 4d. per head in 1902.

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 1903 only 28 per cent. of the prisoners received in gaol. Of the New-Zealand-born population, however, a large number are under fifteen 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 fifteen 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 1903-804 persons—is found to be 123 in excess of the number for 1902. Of those received in 1903, 95 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 1904, the Inspector of Prisons thus comments on the work of the tree-planting prison camps at Waiotapu and Hanmer, the establishment of which was mentioned in previous Year-books:—

At both Waiotapu and Hanmer Prisons good work is being done, and by the end of the present month (June, 1904) there will probably be some 19 officers and 170 prisoners employed at tree-planting prisons, as follows: Dumgree, 4 officers and 37 prisoners; Hanmer Springs, 4 officers and 25 prisoners; Waipa Valley, 4 officers and 33 prisoners; and Waiotapu, 7 officers and 81 prisoners. The work at these tree-planting prisons, though hard, is healthy and suitable, and under the circumstances discipline is fairly well maintained without punishments, as there are no Visiting Justices available for these prisons, while the separation of the better class of prisoners from the hardened criminals, with the attendant dangers, is of the utmost importance and value. There have been no escapes and few complaints from the inmates of these tree-planting camps.

First Offenders' Probation Act.

One hundred and ten persons were placed on probation in the year 1903, as against 127 in 1902. Of these, 23 were discharged after satisfactorily carrying out the conditions of their licenses, 2 were rearrested, 1 absconded, 1 died, and 83 remained under the supervision of Probation Officers.

Of the 1,566 persons placed on probation since the introduction of the Act in October, 1886, no less than 1,333 had by the end of the year 1903 been discharged after satisfactorily carrying out the conditions of their licenses, 93 had been rearrested and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, 1 committed suicide, 2 died, 35 absconded, 1 was sent to a lunatic asylum, and 101 remained fulfilling the conditions of their terms of probation.

The amount of costs which the various Courts directed to be paid during the year 1903 was £252 17s. 5d., of which £175 15s. 10d. has been actually paid. The approximate cost of keeping these first offenders had they been sent to prison would have amounted to £3,786, which sum, added to the amount of costs, &c., actually paid, represents a saving of £3,961 15s. 10d.

Inquests.

The number of bodies on which inquests were held in 1903 was 1,085, including 43 Maoris. In 839 cases the bodies were of males, and in 246 of females.

The inquests on suicidal deaths in 1903 show an increase on the number for the previous year. The figures for each of the last six years were:—

Year.Inquests on Suicides.
Males.Females.Total.
189869877
1899611374
1900521163
1901711384
190269574
19039115106

The verdicts given at the inquests held in 1903 may be classified as under:—

Nature of Verdict.Inquests on Persons.
Males.FemalesTotal.
Accident37876454
Disease and natural causes341147488
Intemperance10212
Homicide257
Suicide9115106
Not classed17118
 8392461,085

Of the accidental deaths, drowning is the most fatal form. The verdicts show that 153 bodies were found drowned, giving a percentage of 33.70 on the accidental deaths from all causes.

Fire Inquests.

The inquests on fires held during 1903 numbered 22. In four cases the verdict was incendiarism; in four, accident; in one there was not sufficient evidence to show cause; and in thirteen no evidence was forthcoming.

Chapter 36. SECTION IV.—LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES.

COUNTIES , BOROUGHS, ETC .

FOR purposes of local government New Zealand is divided into counties and boroughs. Although the boroughs, of which there were 100* in March, 1904, lie geographically within the counties, yet by the law they are not considered as part of them. On the 31st March, 1904, 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 gold-fields territory.

There were, however, 216 road districts (six without Boards) in existence in March, 1904. and 34 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 33 river protective districts (excluding Inch-Clutha, in Bruce County, which is also a road district), 3 drainage districts (Christchurch, Dunedin, and Hobson's Bay Watershed), 2 water-supply districts, and 19 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 1903-4 to the amount of £950,150, of which £610,475 consisted of general rates, and £309,675 special and separate rates. The sum of £80,722 was raised by licenses, and £20,063 by other taxes, making £1,050,935 altogether, which sum is equivalent to £1 5s. 5d. per head of the mean European population. In the year 1902-3 the local taxation was £1 3s. 8d. per head, or 1s. 9d. less than in 1903-4.

It will he seen from the table on the next page that revenue derived from rates increased from £401,393 in 1884-85 to £950,150 in 1903-4. Revenue from Government has, on the other hand, decreased in the same period (twenty years) from £364,082 to £176,519. Receipts which cannot be classed as “revenue” were £430,561 in 1884-85, against £1,142,595 in 1903-4; 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 Lin wood, St. Albans, and Sydenham were incorporated in the City of Christchurch, and the Borough of Melrose became part of the City of Wellington. On 1st November, 1904, the Borough of Caversham was incorporated in the City of Dunedin.

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, 1885 TO 1904.*
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).Government Loans to Local Bodies.
Revenue from.Receipts not Revenue.Total Receipts.Outstanding Debentures under “The Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882.”Net Indebtedness in February of each Year under “The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886,” Local Bodies' Loans Acts, 1901, 1902, and 1903 (including Debentures under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, converted).
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 the year ending 30th September, 1903, and the Coromandel, Fortrose, Half-moon Bay and Horseshoe Bay, and New River Harbour Boards, the figures for which are for the year ended 31st March, 1904) 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.

 ££££££££££
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
1892488,821584,274109,0221,182,120214,1241,396,2441,400,4676,081,9344,245449,532
1893508,157573,161136,5151,217,833340,5381,558,3711,482,5486,203,8693,465525,173
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
1899685,769642,289178,4381,506,496385,3681,891,8641,778,5746,963,254347789,618
1900714,151695,988152,0441,562,183372,0281,934,2111,960,0737,057,350..810,192
1901734,023751,046168,7851,653,854825,0392,478,8932,250,5727,563,069..902,769
1902800,471848,983170,0411,819,495775,4322,594,9272,528,0927,839,695..1,046,645
1903846,716897,328156,2541,900,298966,0872,866,3852,867,5068,217,196..1,266,002
1904950,1501,029,550176,5192,156,2191,142,5953,298,8143,230,7128,898,910..1,401,752

The indebtedness of local governing bodies on account of outstanding loans has increased in twenty years from £4,313,223 to £8,898,910, 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, 1902, and 1903, which represented a further indebtedness of £1,401,752 at the end of March, 1904.

TAXATIONBY LOCAL BODIES.
TABLE showing the R venue of Local Governing Bodies derived from Rates, Licenses, and other Taxes during the Year 1903-4.
Local Bodies.Rates.Licenses.Other Taxes.Total.
General.Special and Separate.

* For year ended 31st March, 1904.

† Wellington Harbour Board, for year ended 30th September, 1903; Christchurch Drainage Board, for year ended 31st December 1903; Dunedin Drainage and Sewerage Board, for year ended 31st March, 1904.

‡ Wharfage dues, charges, fees, tolls, rents, &c., amounting to £458,377 8s 6d., have not been classed as taxation.

§ Equal to £1 5s. 5d. per head of the mean European population of the colony for the financial year 1903-4.

 £s.d.£s.d£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
Counties*244,05012569,3078919,77716109,794511342,930311
Boroughs*217,93374216,980101154,9161358,715179498,54695
Town Boards*3,56511108132103,5421722041238,12041
Road Boards*89,89117814,2396112,485011,34847107,96493
River Boards*8,2900102,1952810,48536
Land Drainage Boards*3,701008841594,585159
Harbour Boards†48,51376   ...48,51376‡
City and Suburban Drainage Boards†24,5295079316925,32319 
Water - supply Boards*4,4601854,460185 
    Totals640,47527309,6753080,7227620,063061,050,93513 

RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE, 1903-4.

A summary of all the transactions for the year 1903-4 is given on pages 178 to 181. The total revenue of the local bodies for the financial year was £2,156,219, and they further received a sum of £1,142,595 which could not properly be termed “revenue,” making altogether a grand total of receipts amounting to £3,298,814. The rates formed 44 per cent. of the revenue proper. Licenses, rents, and other sources yielded 48 per cent., and 8 per cent. was granted by the General Government.

While the revenue proper of the counties amounted to £475,521, of which those bodies raised £313,358 by way of rates, the Road Boards' revenue was only £147,032, out of which £104,131 represented the result of their rating. The boroughs had the far larger revenue of £891,521, including £434,914 of rates, and their receipts under the heading of licenses, rents, and other sources amounted to the considerable sum of £415,990. 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, 1903-4.
Counties.Boroughs.Town Boards.Road Boards.River Boards (excluding Inch-Clutha, also Road Board).Land Drainage Boards.Harbour Boards.Drainage Board.Totals.
 £s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£sd.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
Rates on Crown and Native lands45294529
One-third receipts from land sold on deferred payment and from perpetual lease …21,5991421017114324,1253125,739184
One-fourth of rents from small grazing-runs3,577893421783,92065
Goldfields revenue and gold duty26,4537922,48412421902511349,19204
Subsidies under the Local Bodies' Finance and Powers Act53,3536114,76714068210317,7592486,562128
Fees and fines under the Financial Arrangements Act768910719170124641461,505510
Other receipts1,0239102,589463,2163101,1891471,535009,55399
    Total Revenue Account106,77513540,617863,9180923,6721351,53500176,518161
Loans from Government under Loans to Local Bodies' Acts51,817134101,5377108900028,4064105,300001,40000189,35160
Grants for special works, &c.119,54018109,918184210509,78519450616717500140,137181
    Total receipts from Government278,13457152,0731485,0185961,8641775,8061671,400001,71000506,00802
LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES.—RECEIPTS, EXPENDITURE, AND LOANS , 1903-4.
Financial Year ended 31st March, 1904.
Counties.Boroughs.Town Boards.Road Boards.River Boards (excluding Inch-Clutha, also Road Board).Land Drainage Boards.Water-supply Boards.Totals.

* For amounts under various heads see preceding table; also for specification of loans under 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, 1902. and 1903. (For rates of interest see page 183.)

‡ Not including loans, amounting to £1,401,752 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, 1902, and 1903.

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.

 £s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
Receipts:—
  Revenue from—
    Rates313,35812434,9131834,378148104,1314710,485364,5851594,460185876,313164
    Licenses, rents, and other sources55,386171415,9891176,7789812,54817104,2527731153273122495,261112
    Government*106,77513540,617863,9180923,672135174,983161
    County1991436,67818644054761567,395137
        Total revenue475,5201118891,52018415,274194147,03114415,1771654,694664,7341071,553,954172
    Receipts not revenue209,919152728,613741,89410754,8301496,049681,575197291001,003,174141
        Total receipts685,4406101,620,1345817,169911201,8629121,227316,270615,0251072,557,129113
Expenditure:—
    Public works483,395148915,77411810,910163141,9243410,8901994,31911102,478431,569,69419
    Charitable aid and hospitals45,4947838,69416218718914,051121098,428155
    Management61,841141174,6841732,32861015,9371111,50726417264661710157,1831211
    Other expenditure84,46781549,018723,6042430,8861796,3210101,4391791,7851710677,523119
        Total expenditure675,199541,578,17212317,03142202,8005018,719316,1761214,73019112,502,830110
Liabilities (including loans, excepting those from Government)196,816584,561,390962,16410258,35712343,772362,464181121,5541524,866,520151‡
Loans†6,214004,226,800001,3000027,7500038,27000500021,200004,321,58400
Financial Year ended 31st December, 1903.Totals—all Local Bodies.
Harbour Boards.*City and Suburban Drainage Boards.*

* Wellington Harbour Board for year ended 30th September, 1903; Christchurch Drainage Board for year ended 31st December, 1903; and Dunedin Drainage and Sewerage Board for year ended 31st March, 1904.

† See notes to table on previous page.

 £s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
Receipts:—
  Revenue from—
    Rates48,5137625,32319950,15057
    Licenses, rents, and other sources526,4831910409331,1,022,154163
    Government†1,53500176,518161
    County7,395137
        Total revenue576,5327425,732702,156,219116
    Receipts not revenue94,47114944,948011,142,594811
        Total receipts671,0042170,680713,298,81405
Expenditure:—
    Public works320,6467034,7401781,925,08165
    Charitable aid and hospitals98,428155
    Management16,127775,3361411178,647155
    Other expenditure326,32915424,7001831,028,55454
        Total expenditure663,10391164,77810103,230,71227
Liabilities (including loans)4,446,778198278,586049,611,885151
Loans†4,308,85100268,475008,898,91000

The expenditure of the local bodies amounted to £3,230,712. 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 £61,842. The Borough Councils expended in the same way £74,685, and the Road Boards £15,938.

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.
Counties9.09.2
Boroughs4.64.7
Road Boards7.97.9

HARBOUR BOARDS.

The amount of receipts and expenditure for each of the Harbour Boards in the colony for the year ended 31st December, 1903 (excepting Wellington, the accounts for which were made up for the year ending 30th September, 1903, and Coromandel, Fortrose, Half-moon Bay and Horseshoe Bay, New River and Riverton, to 31st March, 1904), 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) Including Admiralty subsidy, £1,475.

(b) Public works.

(c) Coromandel County Council is the Harbour Board.

(d) Southland County Council is the Harbour Board.

(e) Including £175 from Government.

(f) Public works, £5,876 15s. 6d.; office expenses £152

(g) Including £60 from Government.

* Including Rates: Gisborne, £6,274 2s. 5d.; Napier, £20,118 3s. 5d.; New Plymouth. £9,043 9s.; Oamaru, £5,701 14s. 7d.; Timaru, £7,101 1s. 10d. Wairoa £274 16s. 3d.: total, £48,513 7s. 6d.

 £s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
Auckland52,163194(a)13,738121165,90212332,7200698,62212938,08912733,322119(b)19,925171191,33823484,59500
Bluff15,355432,50616517,862082504918,1125510,3021018,4465318,74815450,111100
Coromandel(c)3313333133331332810028100
Fortrose(d)
Gisborne12,289396,891141019,1801876,43361025,614551,1990511,452149(b)17,75151030,40310201,73218
Greymouth17,86518113,20713921,07312815,0000036,0731287,46521014,26412(b)10,39717032,12710232,944192
Half-moon Bay and Horseshoe Bay29332933293322662266
Hokitika31511365714097353012397317613719164519578318612,643910
Lyttelton46,9201591,37411748,295745,61561053,91014216,1992127,31675(b)7,9629851,477192267,21999
Mokau1093910939109391486614866125510
Napier21,8301021,93911943,769129(e)4431044,2121397,41515528,52936(f)6,02815641,973145502,314121
Nelson2,25718217,14814619,40612819,4061281,58541(b)14,20610915,791141026,93289
New Plymouth8,79015514,176191122,9671541,2085824,170104,8719415,22813520,10029202,297108
New River9241411105001,02914111,029141110315101,9011282,0058619,80400
Oamaru6,4131367,7418714,1552130715314,4621741,0898011,4447912,533159337,40400
Otago62,8081210,8178373,625955,2000078,8259522,53013049,61818372,149113 708,053151
Patea2,31916044418102,764141012,1889714,95345873371,25263(b)6,4731218,59911122,196183
Riverton19617190171961790021331402231422,04289
Thames1,865583211842,187402,18740831185746291,5781210,03853
Timaru22,9771809,8612032,839007,31616040,15516011,0713117,24599(b)14,14019842,457126286,51528
Waimakariri224127224127224127614524415325198468
Wairoa565119(g)35263917180917180355150526127882775,073150
Waitara1,654567973102,451942,451942,003194041022,407111124,434101
Wanganui5,47918111,871627,351511,5465118,897110810545,4991046,30915833,65975
Wellington108,434603,752113112,1861736,241102118,4287573,4629781,076611154,538166353,76629
Westport66,3315966,3315966,3315924,67515231,0120755,687159662,70000
Whaingaroa219210161902361102361101299111064223514116400
Whangarei422059120431121143112111683613017929913600
    Totals458,37786*118,1541810576,5327494,471149671,00421223,910187342,30521196,88785663,1039114,446,778198

LOANS OF LOCAL BODIES.

In a table on page 183 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 (£5,529,500) is very much greater than that raised in New Zealand (£3,369,410). The lowest rate of interest paid was 3 per cent., but the large sum of £2,827,268 was raised at 5 per cent., and £2,310,552 at 6 per cent., while £102,900 bore interest as high as 7 per cent.

LOANS OF LOCAL BODIES, MARCH. 1904.—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 £75,269, representing 4 ½ per cent. per annum on £1,005,880, 4 per cent. per annum on £42,067, and 3 per cent. per annum on £809,205, the amounts inscribed to 1st February, 1904. Repayments on the amount inscribed (£1,857,152, including £89,878 debentures under “The Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882,” exchanged) would be £2,391,935. The actual repayments to date are £592,020, leaving £1,799,915 to be paid by way of interest and sinking fund on a present indebtedness of £1,401,752.
 ££££££
Counties6,2146825,53230198399
Boroughs4,226,800426,2153,800,585209,21517,037226,252
Town Boards1,3001301,170691584
Road Boards27,75015027,6001,1811271,308
River Boards38,2707,74630,5241,9375602,497
Water-supply Board21,2001,71519,4851,0152501,265
Harbour Boards4,308,851442,2373,866,614210,79829,892231,690
Drainage Boards268,52544,715223,81015,3632,06617,429
        Totals8,898,910923,5907,975,320439,87941,045480,924
Inscribed debt of local bodies under “The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886,” “The Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1901,” and Amendment Acts of 1902 and 1903 (including inscribed stock exchanged for debentures under “The Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882”)1,401,752*..1,401,752*....75,269
        Totals10,300,662923,5909,377,072439,87941,045556,193

LOANS OK 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, 1904, and of Harbour and Drainage Boards as on the 31st December, 1903, classified according to the Rates of Interest paid, distinguishing Loans raised in the Colony from those raised elsewhere. (See note.)

Local Bodies.No Interest.3%3 ¾%4%4 ¼%4 ½%5%5 ¼%5 ½%6%6 ½%7%Total.

* Including £2,500 at 4 ¾ per cent.

† Including £52,095 at 5 7/10 per cent. and £3,000 at 5 ¾ per cent.

‡ 3 ½ per cent.

NOTE.—Not including loans, amounting to £1,401,752, repayable by annual instalments under “The Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882,” The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886,” “The Loans to Local Bodies' Act, 1901,” and Amendment Acts, 1902 and 1903.

Loans raised in the Colony.
 £££££££££££££
Counties..........2,0144,200..........6,214
Boroughs25,290....867,735101,400458,910*478,01818,00059,995†119,1522,60035,9002,167,000
Town Boards..........200600....500....1,300
Road Boards....300‡15,000..10,7501,700..........27,750
River Boards......3,200..5,000650..2,920500....12,270
Water supply Board..........9,00012,200..........21,200
Harbour Boards..14,03160,000871,200..48,87058,650..31,000......1,083,751
Drainage Boards..........49,87550..........49,925
Total raised in colony25,29014,03160,300‡1,757,135101,400584,619*556,06818,00093,915†120,1522,60035,9003,369,410
Loans raised outside the Colony.
Boroughs......243,700..,254,700486,300....1,008,100..67,0002,059,800
River Boards............21,000....5,000....26,000
Harbour Boards......400,000..100,0001,766,400....958,700....3,225,100
Drainage Board..................218,600....218,600
Total raised out of colony......643,700..354,7002,273,700....2,190,400..67,0005,529,500
Total Loans raised.
Counties..........2,0144,200..........6,214
Boroughs25,290....1,111,435101,400713,610*964,31818,00059,995†1,127,2522,600102,9004,226,800
Town Boards..........200600....500....1,300
Road Boards....300‡10,000..10,7501,700..........27,750
River Boards......3,200..5,00021,650..2,92010,500....38,270
Water-supply Board..........9,00012,200..........21,200
Harbour Boards..14,03160,0001,271,200..148,8701,825,050..31,000958,700....4,308,851
Drainage Boards..........49,87550....218,600....268,525
    Total loans raised25,29014,03160,300‡2,400,835101,400939,319*2,829,76818,00093,915‡2,310,5522,600102,9008,898,910

From the tables on the preceding pages it will be seen that the total amount owing was, on the 31st March, 1904, £8,898,910. But against this accrued sinking funds to the value of £923,590 were held, leaving a net debt of £7,975,320, exclusive of moneys borrowed from the General Government and repaid by annual instalments.

The total annual charge (excluding exchange and commission) stood at £480,924, of which £439,879 was for interest, and the remainder, £41,045, contributions to sinking fund accounts.

Of the total net indebtedness in 1903-4 the debt of the Harbour Boards, £3,866,614, formed the largest item, while the Borough Councils owed £3,800,585.

On referring to the comparative table on page 176, a great advance in the outstanding loans of local governing bodies will be noticed. Between 1894 and 1904 the gross indebtedness increased from £6,614,824 to £8,898,910, an addition of £2,284,086 or over 34 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 (1891-1904) from £122,000,000 to £182,800,000, or at the rate of 49 per cent. in thirteen years.

The aggregate interest-charge for the year under review was £439,879. and £291,508 of this was payable on loans raised outside the colony. The average rate of interest payable to bondholders was £4 18s. 10d. per cent.

While the average rate of interest on the above-mentioned debt is found to be less than 5 per cent., over two millions and three-quarters were raised at 5 per cent., and nearly two millions and a half 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 1903, 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 ½ 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 races 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.

The results, as shown by notifications in the New Zealand Gazette,of proposals to levy rates on the unimproved value of land are given in full.

TABLE SHOWING THE RESULT OF POLLS TAKEN UNDER “THE RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE ACT, 1896,” AND AMENDMENT ACT OF 1900, TO 31st MARCH , 1905.
Date of Poll.Result of Poll.Votes recorded.
For.Against.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.

(a) Now part of Christchurch City.

(b) Road district not now in existence.

(c) Including Woodville County since constituted.

(d) Poll taken prior to coming into operation of section 2 of “The Local Government Voting Reform Act, 1800”; less than one-third of ratepayers voted, and proposal consequently rejected. The county has since been subdivided and absorbed in other counties.

* New poll taken under Act of 1900.

Akitio County16 Feb., 1905Carried112323
Ashburton Borough14 Jan., 1903Rejected1021994
Auckland City7 Aug., 19017531,697..
Avenal Borough7 Dec., 1904Carried48102
Balclutha Borough7 July, 19026033..
Blenheim Borough17 June, 190322464..
Buller County10 Sept., 1904302845
Campbelltown Borough14 Sept., 1904101866
Cheviot County6 Oct., 189816541..
Christchurch City30 June, 1902596512..
Devonport Borough30 Oct., 1900356109..
6 June, 1904Rejected1764156
Eketahuna County1 Feb., 1900Carried149211
Feilding Borough16 April, 1901268561
Foxton Borough20 June, 1902Rejected53984
Gore Borough7 July, 1901Carried122675
Grey Lynn Borough20 Mar., 1901140712
Greymouth Borough23 Feb., 1898214481
Hamilton Borough13 Feb., 19017752..
Hamilton Borough3 May, 1904Rejected116148..
Hastings Borough14 July, 190225026515
Hawera Borough8 April, 1903Carried12991
Heathcote Road District14 Mar., 1905Rejected13540314
Hokianga County11 Mar., 1899Carried109256
Hokitika Borough5 May, 1901212531
Hunua Road District5 April, 1899602..
Inangahua County14 May, 1898284112
Invercargill Borough5 June, 19013861744
Kairanga County14 Jan., 1905142542
Karori Borough4 April, 18989331
Linwood Borough(a)30 May, 1901276382
Lower Hutt Borough12 Oct., 190194684
Manawatu Road District(b)6 Jan., 190010510..
Maori Hill Borough25 Jan., 190411927..
Maraetai Road District2 June, 190016....
Mareretu Road District(c)28 June, 190224....
Masterton Borough29 Aug., 19012211396
Mauku Road District2 July, 1904Rejected23391
Melrose Borough (d)3 Mar., 1898Carried236406
Mosgiel Borough27 Feb., 1902Rejected58871
New Plymouth Borough16 Mar., 19051673134
Normanby Town District(e)15 Nov., 1897Carried82563
North-east Valley Borough12 Jan., 1905202172..
North Invercargill Borough1 April, 1903107242
Onslow Borough20 Mar., 19011408..
Pahiatua Borough19 June, 1897136381
Pahiatua County27 June, 1901350313
Palmerston North Borough5 Mar., 1897402123
Papakura Road District10 Mar., 1900Carried301..
Pelorus Road District31 Mar., 19009841..
Petone Borough6 Nov., 1901Rejected*1001344
Picton Borough..Rejected27731
30 July, 1903Carried47389
Raglan County28 Nov., 1901Carried*116852
St. Albans Borough13 Feb., 1902Carried35021815
South Invercargill Borough2 Feb., 1902106541
Southland County1 Mar., 1902919574..
Spreydon Road District16 May, 1901141574
Stratford County29 June, 1901399232
Stratford Borough23 July, 1902137641
Sumner Borough21 Nov., 1901Carried*9119..
Sydenham Borough(a)14 Mar., 1901Carried353193..
Taratahi-Carterton Road District(b)26 Aug., 189726153..
Tauranga County9 Feb., 190190132
Timaru Borough10 Oct., 1900Rejected932465
Waimarino County23 Sept., 1903Carried4313..
Waimate Borough2 Feb., 19012356114
Waimate County1 Nov., 1900368162..
Waipawa County(c)2 Feb., 1898462283
Wairarapa North County(d)8 Nov., 1899Rejected(d)3316810
Wairarapa South County23 Oct., 1902Carried1878..
Wanganui Borough17 Dec, 1903Rejected3033312
Wellington City11 Nov., 1901Carried1,261591..
West Harbour Borough18 April, 190462302
Westport Borough19 April, 19042801637
Winton Borough29 Nov., 190139311
Woodville Borough21 Mar., 189817571
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, 1904.

NEW LEGISLATION .

“The Counties Act Amendment Act, 1904,” provides that the Council of any new county, as soon as the whole principal Act has been brought into force, may borrow by way of overdraft an amount not to exceed the estimated receipts for the first year, exclusive of Government grants and subsidies, moneys borrowed, or moneys received from separate rates.

The Council of any county may, by special order, and without taking a poll, borrow money by way of special loan sufficient to clear off any overdraft as existing on the 31st March, 1904. After the extinction of any such overdraft it shall not be lawful for the Council to owe to its bankers on overdraft at the end of any financial year any sum exceeding the amount of revenue for that year then outstanding and uncollected.

The Act also deals with the construction and repair of footpaths within road or town districts at cost of county, appointment and powers of Fire Inspectors, licensing of billiard-rooms, and grants to cemetery trustees.

“The Town Districts Act, 1881,” and Amendment Act, 1883, previously repealed, are now revived by “The Town Districts Act, 1904.” The Governor may declare that any area wherein there are not less than fifty householders shall be a town district.

“The Land Drainage Act, 1904,” consolidates and, where necessary, amends the law relating to the drainage of land. “The Land Drainage Act, 1893,” and the Amendment Act, 1894, except section 9 of the latter, are repealed.

“The Native Land Rating Act, 1904,” extends the powers already possessed by local authorities for the levying of rates over Native lands, and affords greater facilities for the recovery of such rates.

“The Road Boards Acts Amendment Act, 1904,” enacts that any Road Board in a county wherein the operation of “The Counties Act, 1886,” is suspended may, with the consent of the Governor, given by Order in Council, construct waterworks and levy water rates, as provided in sections 3 to 6 of “The Road Boards Act 1882 Amendment Act, 1888.”

“The Local Elections Act, 1904,” consolidates and amends the law relating to local elections, and to the taking of polls on proposals submitted to the vote of local electors. A noticeable innovation is the form of ballot-paper and method of recording votes: the voter, instead of scoring out the name of the candidate selected by him, marks a cross opposite to the name, in a space ruled for the purpose. The enactments repealed are “The Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876,” “The Regulation of Local Elections Act Amendment Act, 1888,” and section 16 of “The Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Act, 1902.”

RATES , ETC., BOROUGHS , COUNTIES, TOWN AND ROAD DISTRICTS.

The amount of rates levied by the various Borough Councils, County Councils, Town Boards, and Road Boards, with other particulars, as returned by those bodies for the 31st March, 1904, will be found on the following pages:—

BOROUGHS, 1903-4.
Name of Borough.Estimated Area (including Town Belt) in Acres.Population (mainly Town Clerks' Estimates).Number ofAmount of Rate levied in the Pound.Estimated Annual (or Renting) Value of Rateable Property, March, 1904.Capital Value of Rateable Property, March, 1904.Unimproved Value of Rateable Property, March, 1904.
Dwellings.Ratepayers.Rateable Properties.General.Separate.Special.Water.Library.

(1) 6d. sanitation, ⅙d. hospital and charitable aid, on annual value.

(2) On annual value.

(3)Hospital and charitable aid.

(4) Also ⅝d. hospital and charitable aid.

(5) Annual value not exceeding £12 10s., 10s. per annum; £12 10s. to £100, 2 ½ per cent.; exceeding £100, 2 per cent.; non consumers ¼ per cent.; stores, warehouses. &c., 1 per cent.

(6) Under £20, 10s. per annum; over £20, 2 ½ per cent.; half rates where supply not used.

(7) Rate struck but not collected.

(8) 1s. 6d. over portion of borough, 5d. other portions.

(9) Rates levied on old valuation, £331,614.

(10) Special rate over portion of borough for interest realises £17 10s. per annum.

(11) Street lighting, 2d.; street improvement, 2d.; sanitary, 6d.

(12) Hospital and charitable aid, on annual value.

(13) 3 ½ per cent. on dwellings, 2 per cent on stores, &c.

(14) On capital value for hospital and charitable aid.

(15) ⅞d. on mining property, 2d. other.

(16) Central Ward, 2 ⅜d.; Linwood Ward, 3 ¼d.; Sydenham Ward, 3 ¾d.; St. Albans, 2 21/64;d.

(17) Drainage rate—sewage areas, ¾d.; rural, St. Albans, 13/16d.; rural, Linwood, 1 9/32d.; rural, Sydenham, 5/16;d.; Central Ward, special rate, 5/64d.; South Waimakariri River Board rate, 9/100d. Uniform annual sanitation fee—Central Ward, 10s.; Linwood Ward, 8s. 6d.; St. Albans Ward, 7s.; Sydenham Ward, 8s. per pan. Hospital and charitable-aid rate, ⅛d.

(18) Central Ward, ¼d., ⅙d., 5/32d.; Richmond, ½d.; Linwood Ward, 9/64d. and 13/16d.; St. Albans Ward, 21/32d.; Sydenham Ward, 54/64d.

(19) 5/64d. Waimakariri River Board rate. and 53/64d. drainage rate on unimproved value; hospital and charitable-aid rate, 1/16d. on capital value.

(20) Also charge of £1 per annum to each house connected, and by meter.

(21) West district only.

(22) Drainage district only.

(23) Maximum under “The Municipal Corporations Act, 1900.”

(24) Also sanitary fee of 15s. per pan.

(25) North and East Wards, 1s. 6d.; South Ward, 1s. 3d.; West Ward, 1s.

(26) Under £12 10s., 10s.; under £300, 5 per cent.; over £300, 4 per cent.; shops and warehouses. &c., half rates.

(27) Also sanitation rate. 3d., and drainage rate 2d. over portions of district.

(28) Sanitation, 4d.: drainage, 2d.: hospital and charitable aid, 3d.

(29) Sanitation, 6d.; drainage, 2d.

(30) Sanitation, 6d.; hospital and charitable aid, 3d.

(31) 2d., hospital and charitable aid.

      s.d.s.d.s.d.s.d.s.d.£££
Whangarei2,0382,10041539050001 ½(1)6d,⅙d.01 ½..(2)0 1..155,283..
Birkenhead2,7001,32326727630413(3)0502....8,064....
Devonport6405,000939753..0(4)00 3/161d., ¾d., & ½d.(2)6d, or 2 ½ per cent.......215,415
Auckland1,76238,0697,3405,5728,33609(3)0413(5)0406,000....
Grey Lynn9005,3501,0901,0901,21901 ¾(3)00 1/1601(2)10......200,000
Newmarket1502,16044031943117..05 4 to 5 per cent...15,443....
Parnell4805,00099362791115..010 4 per cent...34,478....
Onehunga1,2003,0608706311,02010....4 per cent.00 ½19,374....
Thames2,5604,1009448591,19412(3)04..(6)0125,061....
Te Aroha20089521321033213....07..6,633....
Waihi3,1304,5001,2001,2541,54000 ⅝..........163,741..
Hamilton1,6001,30046039766003....(2)09......58,909
Cambridge1,0831,05027523068816....(7)10..7,651....
Tauranga1,0001,02539240049110..13....5,524....
Gisborne1,2602,85059561080019..03....42,000....
New Plymouth8505,0001,0008001,20019..01006..46,224....
Inglewood7031,18730737649101 ½(3)00 1/12⅛d., 1/12d., ⅞d, 1/10d.......123,899..
Stratford1,9202,1004806001,02002 ½..1 ⅜d., ¾d., & ¼d.(2)06......148,000
Hawera5002,50050045062513....7 per cent...18,781....
Eltham1,5901,40030028340001 ½..........164,416..
Patea1,4207503202153801904 ⅜..01 ¾..6,682....
Wanganui1,0007,8001,7001,6001,870010..10....65,000....
Marton1,4231,50025025839611..(8)..019,938....
Feilding2,3003,25065052992203......00⅛....159,331
Palmerston N.4,5959,3761,8281,3653,10003..02 2/8 2/02 per cent. under max.00 ⅛....(9)819,374
Foxton5,7601,2503003226581301 ¼03 ¼..019,577....
Hastings5,7403,9008528881,29313..010....42,500....
Napier8799,5001,8901,1172,630010..1s. 3d. & 5d.1 to 3 per cent...87,415....
Dannevirke1,2223,0007205601,52013..022 ½ & 3 ¾ per cent.0125,310....
Woodville1,2401,03024547047003 ⅝....(2)7, 6, 5 per cent.......39,876
Pahiatua7401,30038542048003..01 ½........71,737
Masterton4,3114,0007207701,12002 ½..00 ½(2)1 ¼, 2 ½, 5 percent......315,266
Carterton1,8801,20529127238500 15/16..(10)......151,954..
Greytown3,9071,12225526038016..023d. and 6d.019,470....
Lower Hutt3,2252,76150257878702............249,805
Petone9525,1001,0457601,61412(11)2d., 2d. &6d.03....41,283....
Onslow2,8701,80036038070002(3)0 0 ⅕00 ¾........144,987
Wellington7,40854,00010,6806,75015,08701 ¾(12)0 2 ¾5/16d., ⅓ 3/2d., 1/18d., 1/9d.(2)4 per cent.00 1/9....6,515,793
Karori5,1271,50034638967801 ¾(3)0 0 ⅛01 ⅛........201,223
Picton56087017228998001 ½(3)0 0 ⅕..00 ½....97,571..
Blenheim1,5713,2507655621,45014 ¼(3)0 2 ¼02 ½....25,387....
Nelson4,8007,7661,5721,3182,41213..06 ⅝(13)..61,205....
Richmond2,30059513613415800 ¾....(2)4 per cent.....87,431..
Motueka5,64391017518637701..........93,271..
Westport7133,2008601,1001,22320(3)0 6..3 ½ and 5 per cent.0124,500....
Greymouth2,0004,5008756441,11506(14)0 0 9/16..(2)5 per cent.......85,409
Brunner5,7001,50034027232016(3)0 810d. & 7d.....3,900....
Kumara8421,13026431745001 ½(3)0 1 ½........24,712..
Hokitika1,2802,00063058067003 ¾(3)0 1 1/160 1⅝........48,245
Ross4,1966703003504141d., ⅞d.(15)(3)01........29,820..
Rangiora1,0401,76841034655700 ¾..........171,493..
Kaiapoi1,0201,79042237363813........10,459....
Christchurch4,59848,7379,9508,43410,106(16)(17)(18).......3,095,924
Woolston1,2762,90060556270903 31/64(19)5/64d., 53/64d., 1/16d...........96,823
Sumner4,87693425329443603(3)0 0 ⅛..(20)0 0 5/16......62,655
New Brighton1,5001,00022657071414(31)2d., 6d., & 6d.0 1....6,994....
Lyttelton2,0144,50086060081713........27,282....
Akaroa22159813818019000 15/16..00 ⅞......48,180..
Ashburton6802,500560544..20........24,100....
Temuka7941,60036038666001 ½(21)00 ⅜(22)¾d., 1/10d.......93,635..
Timaru1,1007,0001,2801,1241,71910..102 ½ to 5 per cent...54,500....
Waimate6491,40037035849304............45,320
Oamaru1,1115,4751,3191,2201,51020..13(23)..30,866....
Hampden6403109511512001..........18,513..
Palmerston S.80080021023739901 ¾..........48,428..
Hawksbury2,70069017224044000 ¾..........56,649..
Port Chalmers3352,0565055355811306..(23)..12,497....
North-east Valley5,9804,1398631,3071,40212(24)0 206....21,495....
Maori Hill3, 7001,650357410430(25)1s. 6d., 1s. 3d., & 1s.02......12,429....
West Harbour9,6701,50031248164010..10....9,151....
Dunedin1,80025,1145,0364,0486,087130409(26)..279,555....
Roslyn2,0005,5001,1001,1131,22016(27)01 ½......37,236....
Mornington6544,335867843..1602......24,739....
Caversham1,0735,5001,1109501,11213(28)4d., 3d.,&2d...5 per cent...35,671....
St. Kilda4632,00045154777810(29)6d., 2d.065s. to 5 per cent...13,641....
South Dunedin4136,1871,3759861,23410(29)6d., 2d.066 per cent...28,824....
Green Island10370014013818513........2,988....
Mosgiel9671,50032333053913........9,431....
Milton2651,40028022034920........7,736....
Kaitangata1,1582,0003582975601306......7,200....
Balclutha5,6801,04528527033003......0 0 ¼....29,196
Lawrence6401,17524636131116....3d. and Od...8,464....
Roxburgh4005001208012516  ........1,768....
Tapanui1265001408015019........2,422....
Naseby11355016615016310....2 ½, 3 ½, 6, and 7 per cent...2,422....
Cromwell64067016015225513....12..4,586....
Alexandra8401,00022530531913(30)6d., 3d.10....7,370....
Arrowtown3904001079821216........1,909....
Queenstown92369019817571410..0606..4,803....
Gore1,1503,5004006201,39003 ½(3)0 0.15..........98,634
Mataura1,5301,00025021845516........5,955....
Winton16050010013018402 ½............26,134
Invercargill1,0406,7501,3401,1251,80002 1/16(2)(3)0 35/16d., 1 ⅞d.(28)......433,208
North Invercargill32695021029537014..14....4,085....
South Invercargill4,0001,88040363784303 ½..02 ½........44,055
East Invercargill12195020519324519..09....4,331....
Avenal803558412510913........2,662....
Gladstone2403908514015010..06....4,023....
Campbelltown2,0001,60038536566013..03....10,495....
Riverton71890025523541413........4,246....
COUNTIES, 1903-4.
[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.
* Outlying.
Mongonui (1903) 9342,2741d.  
Whangaroa1609271d.   
Hokianga9721,767....2 ½d. 
Bay of Islands8262,5871d.   
Hobson6884,8131 ½d.   
Whangarei9286,380¾d.¾d. separate.  
Otamatea3642,721¾d.¾d. separate in two outlying districts, and ½d. in two.  
Rodney5663,678¾d.¼d. H. and C.A.; ¾d. separate in Hoteo, Mahurangi, Albert, and Omaha outlying districts.  
Waitemata6137,035¾d.¾d. separate, Mairetahi, Wainui, Kaukapa-kapa outlying districts, and Kumeu, Northcote, Takapuna, Birkenhead Waitekerei, and Waikumete Ridings; 5/16d. special, Mairetahi Riding.  
Eden4319,314    
Manukau79112,306    
Coromandel4034,1691 ½d.¾d. special for special-rating district, water-supply.  
Thames4945,0431 ½d.6d. per acre, Matakohe Drainage District, 1,554 acres.  
Ohinemuri4789,978⅝d.¾d. over Paeroa Special Water-rating District.  
Piako1,0952,436¾d.¼d. separate, Te Aroha, Patetere, and Taotaoroa Ridings; special interest rates, ¼d. Te Aroha Riding, 1/10d. Patetere and Taotaoroa Ridings.  
Waikato5913,183¼d.   
Waipa2823,580¾d., ½d.¾d. separate, Hamilton, Mangapiko, and Alexandra outlying districts; 1/16d. special, Pukekura Riding.  
Raglan8241,697....1 ¼d.H. and C.A., ⅛d. Separate, Whaingaroa, Karioi, and Onewhero, 1d.; Waingaro, 1 ½d.; Waipa-Pepepe, ⅝d.; Waipa Bridge, ⅛d.; Whangape, ½d.
Awakino1,5151,113    
Kawhia
West Taupo1,594287    
East Taupo2,581256    
Rotorua9841,307    
Tauranga5771,720....1 ⅛d, 1 2/8d, 1 ⅜d.Special, ⅙d., ⅛d., 1/10d., 1/11d.; district rate, ½d.; H. and C.A. 1/10d.
Whakatane1,7167791d.   
Opotiki1,4401,438¾d.¾d. separate.  
Waiapu1,1217111d.¾d. special, Tokomaru-Tuakau loan.  
Cook1,9506,393¾d.1/11d. H. and C.A.; ten, from 1/14d. to 1d., special various  
Clifton1,5182,5351 ¼d.3/16d., 3/16d., 5/16d., 5/16d., 11/16d., ⅞d, 1 ⅛d., 1 ¼d., 1 5/16d., 2 ⅝d., special.  
Taranaki38619,54120/28d.1/12d. H. and C.A.; 1/28d. bridge rate.  
Hawera381¾d.*¼d. separate, Mangatoki, Okaiawa, and Hawera, and ½d. over Eltham outlying districts.  
Egmont254¾d.¾d. separate, Oeo Riding.  
Stratford7845,081....1 15/16d,¾d, 1 ¼d, ¾d.Separate, South Riding ⅞d., East 1 ¼d., West ⅞d.; special, various.
Patea6913,046¾d.¾d. special, Kapara loan; ¾d. separate, Kapara Riding.  
Waitotara3433,4761d.⅛d., 1d., 1 15/16d., ⅜d., special.  
Waimarino1,3154,0181d.   
Wanganui627Nil.   
Rangitikei8527,570¾d.⅛d. separate, Wangaehu, Paraekaretu, and Ohingaiti Ridings; 1/16d. Maungaraupi Riding; 1/10d. Maungahoe Riding; ⅙d. Otairi Riding. Special in thirty - five special-rating districts.  
Kiwitea3362,844¾d.¼d. separate, Kimbolton, Peep-o'-day, Pahihikura, and Rangiwahia Ridings; twenty-three special, various.  
Kairanga1846,778¾d.Fifty-two special rates for payment of interest on loans.  
Oroua213½d.Special, various, for payment of interest on loans.  
Pohangina2951,536¾d.¼d., ½d., separate; special, various.  
Manawatu2673,000⅝d.Separate and special, various, to meet interest on loans in special areas.  
Horowhenua5914,654½d., ⅝d.Thirty-six special, various.  
Wairoa1,8871,773¾d.   
Hawke's Bay3,2326,833¾d.   
Waipawa9909,495....⅞d.Seven special, various.
Woodville164....1d., 1 ⅛d.Special, various.
Patangata6522,376⅜d., ¾d.⅕d. Wallingford Road loan; 11/80d. Tamumu Bridge loan; 9/25d. Oero Bridge loan special.  
Weber951 ½d.   
Pahiatua3023,600....1 ¼d.Fifty-four special, various.
Akitio3281,048½d.   
Castlepoint1504571 ¼d.14/120d., 41/120d., 1/24d., 1/30d., ⅜d., special.  
Eketahuna1702,332  1 ⅜d.Forty-six special, various.
Mauriceville1251,127⅝d.Eighteen special rates over small special-rating districts.  
Masterton6703,123¾d.½d., 1/16d., and 1/15d. separate; various special on eighty-four loans.  
Wairarapa South4455,419....1 7/16d., 1 1/12d.⅜d. separate on part of county; special, various.
Featherston965¾d.Separate for maintenance two water-races; fifteen special, various.
Hutt5907,171½d., ¾d.¾d., ½d., ¼d., separate; 5/16d., ⅙d, ⅓d, ⅝d., ⅜d., special.  
Sounds573946    
Marlborough3,8126,518    
Kaikoura6731,765¾d.   
Collingwood1,0292,4907/16d., ¼d.5/16d. special for repayment of loan.  
Takaka
Waimea1,6627,833¾d.⅕d. H. and C.A.; 1/16d. bird-nuisance; 1/12d. Stoke Riding; 3/13 Special-rating District No. 1  
Buller1,8184,8681 ½d.½d. H. and C.A.; 3 ¼d. special, Charleston Riding.  
Inangahua2,2564,595.. 3 ¼d, 3 ½d.5/16d., ½d., ½d., 1/12d. special, Town of Reefton; 2 ¼d. special, Boatman's Irrigation District.
Grey1,4524,9711 ½d.⅜d. H. and C.A.  
Westland4,4204,4051 ½d.   
Amuri2,3621,142½d.¾d., 7/16d., 5/16d., special, for interest on loans.  
Cheviot3221,120....1d., ⅞d.⅛d. for interest on and repayment of loan.
Ashley1,62711,599    
Selwyn2,59730,787..1/7d. H. and C.A.; 1/24d. bird-nuisance.  
Akaroa2943,669⅜d.¼d. special, Wainui Wharf Rating District.  
Mount Herbert59¾d.   
Ashburton2,54211,342¼d.¼d. Ruapuna No. 2 Special-rate District; ¾d. Mount Somers Tramway Loan District.  
Geraldine9455,991¼d.Special, various, for interest on loans; also water charge for maintenance.  
Levels2735,4961d.   
Mackenzie2,5371,642¾d.   
Waimate1,3435,653....⅞d.⅓d. Timaru Harbour Board; ¾d. Waihao water-maintenance; ⅝d. Waihao water interest; ½d. Pareora water interest.
Waitaki2,3339,086½d.Separate, 2/13d. Moeraki and Waiareka Ridings; 2/16d. Otepopo Riding; 4/16d. Kakanui Riding; also special rates, maintenance and interest Papakaio Water-race.  
Waihemo3362,014⅝d.   
Waikouaiti3184,082¾d.   
Peninsula372,561    
Taieri9307,179¾d.⅛d. H. and C.A. (united districts Central Otago, Otago Charitable Aid and Otago District Hospital Boards); ⅖d. special, South Taieri Special-rating District.  
Bruce5034,762¾d. and ⅜d.3/16d. H. and C.A.; ⅜d., 9/16d., 7/16d., 1 ¼d., 10/16d., 5/16d., ⅜d., and 5/16 special; ⅙d., ⅙d., and 5/16d. separate.  
Clutha9466,445¾d.½d. separate, Catlin's, South Molyneux, and Richardson Ridings; special for interest, ⅛d. South Molyneux, ⅙d. Richardson, ¼d. Pomahaka Ridings, ⅖d. Clinton Road Board Loan.  
Tuapeka1,3656,2721d.   
Maniototo1,2393,792¾d.   
Vincent2,6844,3621d.1 ½d. for interest Clyde Water-race District, 2 ½d. Blackman's loan; 1 ¼d. for maintenance Clyde Water-race.  
Lake3,7122,5351 ¼d.⅛d. special, Skipper's Bridge loan.  
Southland3,85222,583..⅛d. H. and C.A.1 1/11d.Special, ⅜d. West Plains, ⅙d. South Hillend, ⅜d. Wyndham Road District, ⅙d. Otaraia Road District, ½d. Oteramika Road District. Separate, Awarua Riding, 1d.; small birds, 1/11d.
Wallace3,4047,989¾d.⅛d. H. and C.A.; 1/20d. special for interest; separate rates in four ridings.  
Fiord3,040124    
Stewart Island651253¾d.¼d. H. and C.A.  
Chatham Islands375207    
TOWN DISTRICTS, 1903-4.
Town Districts.Estimated Population, 31st March, 1904Number ofAmount of Hate 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) Library, ¼d.

(2) Special, 2d.

(3) Special, 1 ¾d.

(4) Special, ⅛d. on capital value

(5) Special, ¼d.; separate, 1/16d. and ½d.

(6) Special, 1 ½d.

(7) Water rate, 7 per cent. on annual value whore supplied.

(8) Special, ⅜d.

     s.d
Kamo250.768112200 ¾
Helensville5408095120*05
Papakura2858015620300 ¾
Te Awamutu3505265750 0¾ 
Kihikihi25155803990
Ngaruawahia300801391390
Rotorua1,450350......
Opotiki8003002062320
Waitara (Raleigh)820200270..0(1)
Opunake5501551705400
Normanby (1902-3)35686126126†05
Manaia (1902-3)430721533410
Waverley4161151211210
Lethbridge (Turakina)240565268*10
Bull's550126135179*10(2)
Halcombe37690142730*10(3)
Clyde (Wairoa)70013016032000 ¾
Taradale8501701941980
Ormondville471148151215†02 ⅜
Waipawa669169121196†01 ⅞(4)
Kaikora North26861107135*06
Featherston63512917019000 ¾(5)
Johnsonville70023016216200 ¾
Havelock316768114401
Amberley417969013100 ¾
Southbridge200120240..00 ¾
Hampstead1,25025227032200 ½
Tinwald56011518825000 ¾
Geraldine98021020625000 ¾ (6)
Greytown (Allanton)172497011500 ½
Outram500626711100¼ (7)
Clinton45098122128*10
Wyndham (1902-3)417115116354*10
Otautau62511813419200 ¾ (8)
ROAD DISTRICTS, 1903-4.
County and District.Population (Census, 1901).Number ofAmount of Rate levied in the Pound on the Capital, Annual, or Unimproved Value of Property.
Dwellings.Ratepayers.Rateable Properties.

(1) On annual value; also hospital and charitable-aid rate.

(2) ¼d. separate, hospital and charitable aid.

(3) 11/16d. special.

(4) 5/16d. special, ¼d. separate.

(5) ½d., ⅛d., special, for loans; ¼d. separate, hospital and charitable aid; 1/16d. separate, for lighting.

(6) ⅜d. special. interest on loans; ⅛d. gas; water charge 1s. 6d. per 1,000 gallon.

(7) 1/20d. special; ⅛d. separate, hospital and charitable aid.

(8) ½d. special, ¼d. separate.

(9) 1 7/32d., 2 ⅛d. special in special-rating districts.

(10) 3/10d. separate, hospital and charitable aid.

(11) ½d. special, Patamahoe Ward; 5/16d. special, West Mauku Ward; ½d. separate, Patamahoe Ward; ⅓d. separate, West Mauku Ward.

(12) 22/123d. hospital and charitable aid.

(13) 3/5d. special, ¼d. separate

(14) ⅓d. special.

(15) ¼d. special.

* On unimproved value.

(1) ⅓d. special.

(2) 1/6d. and 1/8d. special.

(3) 1/4d. separate, hospital and charitable aid.

(4) 1/2d. special.

(5) No rate struck.

(1) ⅜d. and ½d. special.

(2) No rate struck.

(3) No general rate struck; ¼d, special.

(4) No general rate struck; 3/16d. special.

(5) No general rate struck; 1/8d., 1/5d., and 1d. special.

(6) ¼d. special; No. 1, 1d.; No. 3, ½d.: No. 5, ½d.; No 6, 1 ½d., separate.

(7) 7/32d. special, over part; 1/10d. separate, over part.

(8) ⅝d. special.

(9) 1/10d. special.

(10) ⅝d. special.

(11) 3/16d. to ¾d. special.

(12) Special, various.

On unimproved value.

(1) No rate struck.

(2) No general rate; 1/10d. special.

(3) 1/10d., 7/12d., 5/6d., 2/5d., 1/16d., ½d. special.

(4) ¼d. separate.

*On unimproved value.

(1)No rate struck.

(2) ¼d. special.

(3) ½d. special.

(4) ¾d. special.

*On unimproved value.

(1) 1/16d. special, for interest on loan; separate, Byre Water-race, 3 ½d. per acre; View Hill Water-race, 1 ½d. in the pound.

(2) On annual value; special,7d.; separate, 6d., ½d., 2 2/7d., ⅔d.

(3) Special, Opawa loan, 7/16d.; separate, Waimakariri River rate, 2/64d.; drainage, ⅜d.; hospital and charitable aid, 1/7d.

(4) 1/5d. separate.

(5) 3/32d. special, on capital value.

(6) 2/64d. separate, Waimakariri River rate.

(7) No rate struck.

(8) ¼d. special.

(9) ¼d. separate.

(10) ⅜d. separate No. 5 Ward.

* On unimproved value.

(1) No rate struck.

* On unimproved value.

     d
Mongonui
Whangaroa
Bay of Islands (No road districts.)
Hokianga
Hobson
Whangarei—
  Hikurangi49585124140¾
  Kaurihohore191353537¾
  Maria2746387114¾
  Maungakaramea2886570115¾
  Maunu..160183197¾
  Otonga300525759¾
  Parua Bay21550200255¾
  Ruarangi103305858¾
  Waikiekie2052792211¾
  Waipu North2245677116¾
  Whareora..647177¾
Otamatea—
  Mangawai268509095¾
  Mareretu..43123160¾
  Matakohe42380136227¾
  Whakapirau (no Board).
Rodney—
  Ahuroa41165869¾
  Albertland North65114242¾
  Albertland South32277159183¾
  Komokoriki62134044¾
  Mahurangi East151299696½
  Mahurangi Upper (merged Sept., 1903)..........
  Mainene (merged Sept., 1903)..........
  Matakana East132213639¼
  Matakana West1726068154¾
  Puhoi59682127..¾
  Tauhoa3716190180¾
  Warkworth..175195..¾
  Wharehine96203738¾
Waitemata—
  Kaukapakapa543100182392¾
  Pukeatua56095224268¾
  Whangaparaoa66253555¾
Eden—    d.
  Arch Hill1,6713703004801s.(1)
  Avondale1,075240415498¾(2)
  Eden Terrace2,011440324438¾(3)
  Epsom750190244320¾
  Mount Albert2,085490611792¾(4)
  Mount Eden5,12914001,1371,403¾(5)
  Mount Roskill581135189260⅝(6)
  Mount Wellington954216210587⅝(2)
  One-tree Hill1,283224212316(2)
  Orakei..201522¾
  Panmure Township259609095½
  Point Chevalier684......¾
  Remuera2,186465458586¾(8)
  Tamaki West375111135175
Manukau—     
  Awhitu413103132160¾
  Drury (1903)38283154204¾
  Howick Town***61116127¾
  Hunua26656119..*1 17/128(9)
  Karaka18865125200¾
  Mangere702200158219¾
  Manurewa260667498¾
  Maraetai82252432* 1 ⅓ (10)
  Mauku380100141141½ (11)
  Maungatawhiri378506295½
  Mercer Township229505493¾
  Opaheke36980....¾(8)
  Otahuhu1,211280....¾(2)
  Pakuranga271677499¾
  Papakura37396120142* 1 43/100(12)
  Paparata37388115160¾(13)
  Paparoa166467193¾
  Papatoetoe176403939¾
  Pokeno39877107160¾(14)
  Pollok Settlement88262343¾(15)
  Pukekohe East942229241264¾
  Pukekohe West1,153241252264¾
  Tamaki East580119126148¾
Turanga227466868¾(1)
Waipipi905..300300¾(2)
Wairoa792192199351¾(3)
Waiuku492200220230¾(4)
Coromandel
Thames (No road districts.)
Ohinemuri
Piako—
Matamata2627090100½
Waitoa1,322269328420¾
Waikato—
Cambridge562100148148¾
Huntly966..204290¾
Kirikiriroa964203285285¾
Tamahere248587070¾
Whangamarino443112240495¾
Waipa—
Newcastle39186151166¾
Pukekura810192240450½
Rangiaohia507134118120¾
Tuhikaramea985757¾
Raglan—
Karamu (no Board)78........
Te Akau (no Board)32........
Awakino
Kawhia
West Taupo (No road districts.)
East Taupo
Rotorua
Tauranga—
Katikati40985137273(5)
Te Puke477150180208(5)
Te Puna16936135140(5)
Whakatane
Waiapu (No road districts.)
Opotiki
Cook–
  Aroha58111212(5)
  Hangaroa..202242(5)
    Kaiti700175204305¾(1)
   Ngatapa489135172(2) 
   Ormond482120114165(2)
   Patutahi6387699230(3)
   Pouawa85454253(2)
   Poverty Bay160281281(4) 
   Taruheru225..71103(2)
   Te Arai2946074188(5)
   Titirangi44152535(2)
   Waikohu328708380(2)
   Waimata264606363(2)
   Waipaoa80101017(2)
   Whataupoko1,148260292342¾(6)
Clifton. (No road districts.)
Taranaki—
   Barrett439120169334
   Carrington3419096182¾(7)
   Egmont635174169277
   Elliot23560101107¾
   Frankley101101119¾ 
   Henui393120210350¾
   Hurford Upper56161617½(8)
   Mangorei276497082¾
   Moa2,836450500550⅔(9)
   Oakura (1903)333......¼(10)
   Okato3457279152½
   Omata2947453162
   Tataraimaka152303661¼
   Waitara West814175176176½(11)
   Waiwakaiho (1903)35080101183½
Egmont—
   Parihaka. (No information.)
Stratford—
   Manganui1,734355380581*1 ¼(12)
Hawera—     
   Waimate (1903)2,619360400590¾(12)
Patea—   d. 
  Kohi166343030(1)
  Motoroa60182020(1)
  Okotuku134242933(1)
  Patea East4017586385(1)
  Patea West777195207630(2)
  Wairoa105223030(1)
  Waitotara Momohaki496103110181¾
  Whenuakura-Waitotara313424444(1)
Waitotara (No road districts.)
Waimarino (No road districts.)
Wanganui—
  Kaukatea..5544124¾
  Kaitoke606135120254½
  Mataongaonga..200250471¾
  Mangawhero..150138138½
  Purua..180200332¾
  Wangaehu Upper..250190261¾
Rangitikei
Oroua
Kairanga
Pohangina(No road districts.)
Kiwitea
Manawatu
Horowhenua—
  Otaki1,2803113201,080¾(3)
  Te Horo512125146438¾
Wairoa (No road districts.)
Hawke's Bay
Waipawa—
  Norsewood1,206210285305*1 ⅜
  Ruataniwha North6512096112* ¼
  Takapau60813083110* ⅝ (4)
  Waipawa274596378* ⅜
  Waipukurau741210196299* ¾
Patangata—
  Oero305405571½
  Patangata2944750993/16
  Porangahau43310095144½
    Tamumu..202023(1)
  Wallingford3031..68¼
  Wanstead..2157..(1)
Weber
Pahiatua
Castlepoint
Eketahuna
Mauriceville (No road districts.)
Woodville
Masterton
Akitio
Wairarapa South
Featherston
Hutt—
  Makara257394666½(2)
  Plimmerton. (No Board.)
  Seatoun..249251251¾(3)
Sounds. (No road districts.)
Marlborough—
  Awatere785150171221¾
  Omaka1,603326501543¾
  Pelorus1,218235263448*1 ¾(4)
  Picton847188162256
  Spring Creek819139143185½
  Wairau930210220252¾
Kaikoura
Collingwood (No road districts.)
Takaka
Waimea—
  Dovedale286575457(1)
  Moutere Upper397100107..(1)
  Riwaka687150....(1)
  Stoke1,183210....(1)
  Suburban North559125119..(1)
  Waimea West460787870(1)
Buller (No road districts)
Inangahua (No road districts)
Grey (No road districts)
Westland (No road districts)
Amuri (No road districts)
Cheviot (No road districts)
Ashley—d.
  Ashley........¾
  Cust713161142213½
  Eyreton339278278¾ 
  Eyreton West401857575½
  Kowai1,851550650770¾
  Mandeville and Rangiora2,257535446734
  Oxford1,973570471872¾(1)
  Waipara1,695510470653½
Selwyn—
  Avon..12008821,1311s.(2)
  Courtenay2,560430463754½
  Ellesmere3,497..592925½
  Halswell1,278200210230¾
  Heathcote2,9956009191,133¾(3)
  Lake Coleridge177263170½
  Lincoln1,213376248274½(4)
  Malvern965170152320½
  Malvern East62514316129311/24
  Malvern South4287820934211/24
  Rakaia825205210357
  Riccarton5,713..1,2011,435¾
  Spreydon1,457320487544*1 13/64(5)
  Springs1,8724604304669/16(6)
  Taitapu324..62..¾(6)
  Templeton2,3385846477039/16(6)
  Waimakariri Upper..211641(7)
Akaroa—
  Akaroa and Wainui1,30827024824811/16
  Le Bon's Bay316568291¾(8)
  Little River810270180160
  Okain's Bay52090104120¾(9)
  Pigeon Bay258565167
Mount Herbert. (No road districts.)
Ashburton—
  Anama..8086139½
  Ashburton Upper2,002395600725⅜(10)
  Coldstream3198590168½
  Longbeach1,335..264388
  Mount Hutt..260244377¼
  Mount Somers928200230300½
Rangitata797129121218
  South Rakaia..360380535
  Wakanui1,230228280324
Geraldine—
  Geraldine2,250500520900¾
  Mount Peel493120125175¾
  Temuka2,380500574868¾
Levels (No road districts.)
Mackenzie (No road districts.)
Waimate (No road districts.)
Waitaki (No road districts.)
Waihemo (No road districts.)
Waikouaiti (No road districts.)
Peninsula—
  Otago Heads304706697¾
  Peninsula1,324222333393¾
  Portobello..372326400¾
  Tomahawk137223344¾
Taieri—
    Half-way Bush. (No Board.)
Bruce—
  Balmoral476748695(1)
  Inch-Clutha (Road and River)344606474½
  Mount Stuart618103118130
Clutha (No road districts.)
Tuapeka (No road districts.)
Maniototo (No road districts.)
Vincent (No road districts.)
Lake (No road districts.)
Southland—
  Invercargill. (No Board.)
  Knapdale1,596293330409*17/20
  Tuturau733113134140
Wallace (No road districts.)
Fiord (No road districts.)
Stewart Island (No road districts.)
Chatham Islands (No road districts.)

Chapter 37. SECTION V —LICENSES AND LICENSED HOUSES, ETC.

LICENSES AND LICENSED HOUSES.

DURING the year ended the 31st March, 1904, 2,223 licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors were granted. Of these, 1,404 were publicans' and accommodation licenses, 6 New Zealand wine, 74 packet, 171 wholesale, and 568 conditional licenses. The fees paid amounted to £50,126, 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:—

NUMBEROF LICENSES GRANTED DURING THE YEAR 1903-4, AND THE AMOUNT OF FEES PAID TO LOCAL BODIES THEREFOR.
Licenses.In Counties.In Boroughs.Total.
Publicans' licenses5616381,199
Accommodation licenses205..205
 
Total licensed houses7666381,404
New Zealand wine licenses..66
Packet licenses205474
Wholesale licenses9162171
Conditional licenses439129568
 
Total licenses granted1,2349892,223
 
Amount of license fees paid to local bodies£18,681£31,445£50,126

The average number of persons to each licensed house in counties and boroughs respectively, for 1903-4, 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.
Counties766412,383540
Boroughs638398,925625
 
Totals1,404811,308578

In 1902-3 the number of licensed houses in counties was 806, and those in boroughs 698, giving a total of 1,504 houses, or 100 more than in 1903-4. The average number of persons to a licensed house increased from 512 in 1902-3 to 540 in 1903-4 in counties, and in boroughs from 549 in the former to 625 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 publicans' 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 au 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 £759,313, and the same for certain of the boroughs at £688,693. There was, besides, an annual value of £109,516 for other licensed houses in the boroughs, which, capitalised at 6 per cent., would represent £1,825,267. The capital value of all licensed houses would therefore be about £3,273,273.

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.. 
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.

(5.)Where any licensing poll is declared void, provision is made in “The Licensing Acts Amendment Act, 1904,” for the taking of a fresh poll.

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.ReductionNo 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.
Eden5,1021,7541,6931,6383,5371,9181,7763,694No 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.
Waiapu6,2812,2951,9702,5684,8793,1391,8354,974
Hawkes' 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.
Chalmers6,0311,6762,6092,7734,5582,3452,3244,669No-license carried.
City of Dunedin23,1337,2698,9378,51817,2408,4368,96817,404Reduction 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.
Tuapeka4,6991,6281,6421,8413,5872,3071,3843,691No proposal carried.
Clutha4,9741,368†..2,245‡3,6132,2451,4763,721Non-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 and 1896 of the votes recorded and the number of persons who went to the poll 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.
1896339,230139,58094,55598,312151,235108,663259,898
1899373,744142,443107,751118,575160,959120,863281,822
1902415,789148,419132,240151,524180,294138,565318,859

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 38. SECTION VI.—REPRESENTATION, AND THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 1902.

REPRESENTATION .

THE colony has been hitherto (March, 1905) 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. The boundaries were formed on the basis of the results of the census of 1901. The Electoral Act of 1902 directed that, in computing for electoral purposes the population of the colony, 28 per cent. should 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, was then divided by the number of members (76), and the quotient thus obtained formed the quota. The four city electoral districts (which had three members each) were so defined in extent that the population should 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 state of affairs as now, 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.

Moreover, “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. This has now been done, and at the general election of 1905 will have effect.

The main 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 will have, consequent on the division of the four city constituencies above referred to, 38 electoral districts, having 38 members; the South and Stewart Islands having the same; instead of there being 31 districts and 38 members for each Island. In 1896 and in 1899 the North Island returned 34 and the South Island 36 members; but in 1902 six new rural districts were created, by which the North Island 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. It also is amended by “The City Single Electorates Act, 1903,” alluded to above.

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 OFOF 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 Poisons 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*
1902429,385415,78996.83318,859†76.69

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 ElectorsNumber 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*
1902233,602229,84598.39180,294‡78.44

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*
1902195,783185,94494.97138,505†74.52

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.FemalesTotal.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
Hawkes' Bay110,7013,4062,1745,5802,0961,1653,26
Napier111,3432,5912,825,4832,1611,8994,060
Waipawa110,5723,1532,0255,1782,2791,3143,593
Pahiatua19,4442,7551,8634,6182,2011,3543,555
Masterton110,2833,0842,2485,3322,4121,5863,998
Wairarapa18,4082,8611,8894,7502,4651,6094,074
Egmont19,5823,0921,9125,0042,3031,2783,581
Taranaki19,8202,9592,5845,5432,5422,0374,579
Hawera110,1323,3472,4305,7772,6691,8344,503
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
Westland13,6622,8621,8064,6682,1241,1533,277
Wairau110,7843,1272,2345,3552,6431,7794,422
Hurunui16,8472,8071,7124,5192,2791,2983,577
Kaiapoi18,5002,4792,2464,7252,1341,8523,986
Avon110,3942,6722,9895,6612,1302,1554,285
Christchurch, City of335,8269,66310,10619,7698,3678,45816,825
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
Timaru110,6512,9882,8695,8572,6792,2454,924
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
Bruce1S,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 had 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 outnumbered 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
Christchurch39,66310,10619,7098,3678,45816,82545,05650,475
Dunedin311,01612,11723,1338,4368,96817,40439,56752,212
Totals1242,16641,93084,09633,73931,58765,326167,107195,978

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. F. W. Isitt, was nominated for ten separate districts, and one, Mr. D. Whyte, for two districts:—

Electoral Districts and Names of Candidates.Number of Votes recorded.
For each candidate.Total.

* Deceased. W. H. Hawkins elected 28th July, 1904.

*Deceased

Bay of Islands:
    Houston, R. M.1,5932,776
    Glass, A. G. C.1,183
Kaipara:
    Harding, A. E.1,1833,554
    Stallworthy, J.824
    Peacocke, G. L.730
    Bassett, T.529
    Newman, C.288
Marsden:
    Mander, F.1,9513,844
    Thompson, R.1,893
Waitemata:
    Alison, E. W.2,4094,104
    Hatfield, A.J.1,695
Eden:
    Bollard, J.2,6283,628
    Cheal, P. E.1,000
City of Auckland:
    Witheford, J. H.7,85440,119
    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.58
Grey Lynn:
    Fowlds, G.2,1084,098
    Masefield, T. T.1,990
Parnell:
    Lawry, F.1,9963,868
    Shera, J. M.1,872
Manukau:
    Kirkbride, M. M.2,3724,517
    O'Rorke, Sir G. M.2,145
Franklin:
    Massey, W. F.2,2973,418
    Harris, A. R.1,121
Thames:
    McGowan, J.2,4584,067
    Lucas, W. H.1,573
    Isitt, F. W.36
Ohinemuri:
    Moss, E. G. B.1,5273,864
    Palmer, J.1,341
    Poland, H.992
Waikato:
    Lang, F. W.2,2344,243
    Greenslade, H. J.2,009
Bay of Plenty:
    Herries, W. H.2,1104,360
    Lundon, D.1,434
    Jordan, C.429
    Taylor, J. E.387
Waiapu:
    Carroll, J.3,2324,794
    Isitt, F. W.1,562
Hawkes' Bay:
    Russell, Sir W. R.2,3303,217
    Isitt, F. W.887
Napier:
    Fraser, A. L. D.2,7393,988
    Eames, R. J.1,249
Waipawa:
    Hall, C.2,5563,544
    Taylor, J.988
Pahiatua:
    O'Meara, J.*1,7963,523
    Bolton, S.1,459
    Gould, A. W.268
Masterton:
    Hogg, A. W.2,4513,954
    Cooper, J. C.1,503
Wairarapa:
    Buchanan, W. C.2,0494,032
    Hornsby, J. T. M.1,983
Egmont:
    Jennings, W. T.1.7653,515
    Leech, C.1,750
Taranaki:
    Smith, E. M.2,4194,524
    Okey, H.J. H.2,105
Hawera:
    Major, C. E.2,2334,445
    McGuire, F.2,212
Patea:
    Symes, W.2,6384,825
    Haselden, F. H.2,187
Rangitikei:
    Remington, A. E.1,3993,515
    Birch, W. J.1,152
    Reardon, M. J.537
    Hornblow, R. E.358
    Smith, J.69
Wanganui:
    Willis, A. D.2,8664,880
    Baker, J. W.1,428
    Lundon, G.580
Oroua:
    Lethbridge, F. Y.1,9113,204
    Tompkins, A. H.1,293
Palmerston:
    Wood, W. T.2,2304,637
    Hodder, T. R.1,896
    Manson, H. J.511
Manawatu:
    Vile, J.1,6913,206
    Stevens, J.1,515
Otaki:
    Field, W. H.2,0062,502
    Isitt, F. W.496
Hutt:
    Wilford, T. M.2,1153,879
    Pirani, F.1,674
    Collier. J. H.90
City of Wellington:
    Aitken, J. G. W.7,80842,365
    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.1,003
Newtown:
    Barber, W. H. P.1,3855,018
    Hislop. T. W.1,357
    Luke, C. M.1,100
    Chapple, W. A.1,017
    Tustin, W. G.159
City of Nelson:
    Graham, J.2,1564,310
    Atmore, H.1,633
    Piper, J.521
Motueka:
    McKenzie, R.2,2562,674
    Isitt, F. W.418
Buller:
    Colvin, J.3,3704,139
    Isitt, F. W.769
Grey:
    Guinness, A. R.2,7643,383
    Isitt, F. W.619
Westland:
    Seddon, Rt. Hon. R. J.2,9833,220
    Isitt, F. W.237
Wairau:
    Mills, C. H.2,4014,391
    Duncan, J.1,990
Hurunui:
    Rutherford, A. W.1,5773,564
    Reece, H. F.880
    Meredith, R.834
    Forbes, G. W.205
    Pulley, G. T.68
Kaiapoi:
    Buddo, D.2,5583,860
    Hassall, A. D.1,302
Avon:
    Tanner, W. W.1,6804,220
    Brunt, J. R.1,632
    Loughrey, A.871
    Myers, J. S.37
City of Christchurch:
    Taylor, T. E.8,1225,056
    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.185
Riccarton:
    Witty, G.1,7763,267
    Russell, G. W.1,491
Ellesmere:
    Rhodes, R. H.1,7192,937
    Thornton, C. R.1,218
Lyttelton:
    Laurenson, G.3,0413,910
    Rollitt, W.869
Courtenay:
    Lewis, C.1,5353,121
    Rennie, J.1,185
    Barrett, J.401
Selwyn:
    Hardy, C. A. C.1,5943,199
    Ivess, J.1,051
    Wilson, K.554
Ashburton:
    McLachlan, J.2,1324,668
    Studholme, J., jun.1,693
    Brock, W.783
    Ager, A.60
Geraldine:
    Flatman, F. R.2,2753,578
    Maslin, W. S.1,303
Timaru:
    Hall Jones, W.3,0464,789
    Smith, F. H.1,395
    Isitt, F. W.348
Waitaki:
    Steward, Sir W. J.1,9923,392
    Campbell, J.1,400
Oamaru:
    Duncan, T. Y.2,1414,257
    Brown, J. M.1,261
    Macpherson, J. A.717
    Crawford, H. B.138
Mount Ida:
    Herdman, A. L.1,7313,331
    Ewing, J.1,600
Waikouaiti:
    Mackenzie, T.2,4243,002
    Isitt, F. W.578
Chalmers:
    Allen, E.G.2,6144,616
    White, J.2,002
City of Dunedin:
    Bedford, H. D.10,08839,567
    Millar, J. A.9,396
    Arnold, J. F.8,393
    Barclay, A. R.7,072
    Chisholm, R.4,618
Caversham:
    Sidey, T. K.2,9395,434
    Earnshaw, W.2,495
Taieri:
    Reid, D., jun.1,5033,782
    Ramsay, J.J.1,149
    Marshall, A.589
    Samson, C.407
    Wright, J.134
Bruce:
    Allen, J.2,5053,897
    Scott, J. A.1,392
Tuapeka:
    Bennet, J.1,8643,662
    Gilkison, R.1,798
Clutha:
    Thomson, J. W.1,6713,698
    Stewart, D.1,031
    Quin, W.820
    McNeil, J.176
Wakatipu:
    Fraser, W.1,9713,882
    Ross, R. B.1,522
    Murdoch, A.324
    Kelly, J.65
Mataura:
    McNab, R.2,6694,900
    Raymond, I. W.2,231
Awarua:
    Ward, Sir J. G.2,7953,708
    Whyte, D.913
Invercargill:
    Hanan, J. A.3,3225,136
    Whyte, D.1,814
Wallace:
    Thomson, J. C.2,5894,385
    Gilfedder, M.1,796

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.

* 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, James.Tuapeka.
Bollard, JohnEden.
Buchanan, Walter ClarkWairarapa.
Buddo, DavidKaiapoi.
Carroll, Hon. JamesWaiapu.
Colvin, James.Buller.
Davey, Thomas HenryCity of Christchurch.
Duncan, Hon. Thomas YoungOamaru.
Duthie, JohnCity of Wellington.
Ell, Henry GeorgeCity of Christchurch.
Field, William HughesOtaki.
Fisher, George*City 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 (jun.)Taieri.
Remington, Arthur EdwardRangitikei.
Rhodes, Robert HeatonEllesmere.
Russell, Sir William Russell, K.C.M.G.Hawkes' 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 Heke1,6652,134
Hamiora Mangakahia268
Kipa te Whatanui119
Hapeta Henare74
Eru Ihaka8
Eastern Maori Electoral District:
Wiremu Pere2,1825,265
Pirimi Mataiawhea1,568
Mohi te Atahikoia1,515
Western Maori Electoral District:
Henare Kaihau3,3246,266
Ngarangi Katitia954
Te Heuheu Tukino840
Eruera te Kahu673
Te One Tuhi399
Te Weraroa Kingi76
Southern Maori Electoral District:
Tame Parata343606
Hone Tare Tikao263
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 HELDFROMTHE 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 Years.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 Now 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.

First18531 5,93437**30,0008115.1160
Second13552 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
Twelfth18934302,9977034 5220,082672,2659,6042.24,328
Thirteenth18964339,23070..4 5258,254714,16210,2022.14,853
Fourteenth18994373,7447034 5279,330756,50510,8072.05,339
Fifteenth19024415,78976..4 5318,859807,92910,6311.95,471

Chapter 39. SECTION VII.—VITAL STATISTICS.

Table of Contents

BIRTHS .

THE number of births registered in the colony during 1904 was 22,766, or 26.94 in every 1,000 persons living. The rate is the highest reached since the year 1894, the number of births being 937 in excess of that for the year 1903, an increase of 4.3 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 22,766 in 1904 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
190422,76626.94

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
19046,983845,022

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 1885-1904 show a decline in the proportion of births to every marriage in the preceding year from 5.01 to 3.22, as below:—

Year.Marriages.Legitimate Births.Proportion of births to every Marriage solemnised in the Preceding Year.
18843,802....
18853,81519,0635.01
18863,48918,6974.90
18873,56518,5185.31
18893,61718,3255.14
18893,63217,8454.93
18903,79717,6754.87
18913,80517,6354.64
18924,00217,2834.54
18934,11517,5144.37
1894..17,8244.33
18944,178....
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
19036,74820,8353.26
1904..21,7373.22

If the average result be taken out for the ten years 1885-1894, it will be found to represent 4.80 births to a marriage. Dealing similarly with the figures for 1895-1904 the result is an average of 3.59, 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 1904 the New Zealand rate was higher than that of Queensland (1903), New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.

The movement over ten years is calculated as under:—

BIRTH -RATES PER 1,000 OF POPULATION.
State or Colony.1895.1896.1897.1898.1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.1904.
Queensland32.8530.0629.9228.2827.3130.2128.2827.6824.71..
New South Wales30.6628.3528.4227.1427.1027.4327.6027.1725.2826.73
Victoria28.5627.3326.5925.7226.7125.8225.7725.2324.4624.65
South Australia30.2328.4626.9724.9825.5123.7825.3924.8523.4324.89
Western Australia26.3022.6525.8229.3530.6431.4630.3230.0930.2730.34
Tasmania30.0928.1627.7326.2425.9828.2528.4028.9528.6129.59
New Zealand26.7826.3325.9625.7425.1225.6026.3425.8926.6126.94

This table also shows that although New Zealand had in 1900 the lowest birth-rate in Australasia, the fall was less in this colony from 1895 to 1903 than in others, while the rate in this colony for 1904 is actually slightly higher than that ten years before.

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 15 to 45 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.

BIRTH -RATES (LEGITIMATE) PER 1,000 MARRIED WOMEN AT CHILD-BEARING AGES FOREACH CENSUS YEAR, 1873 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

And another table is given, showing for a period of twenty years the numbers of married women at the quinquennial periods of age belonging to the full term 15 to 45 years, with the proportions that those numbers bear to every 100 married women living at 15-45.

These proportions are found to have diminished appreciably at the earlier ages, 15-20 and 20-25; but the numbers of the living are much smaller at those ages than at the higher ones, 25-30 and onwards to 40-45, and the effect of this lesser number of wives at the lower ages in reducing the birth-rate would not be so much as might at first be thought probable.

It is, however, undoubtedly a fact that to have a growing proportion of wives at the earlier productive ages is the best position, but it is not the one which obtains at present in New Zealand.

MARRIED WOMEN UNDER 45 YEARS OF AGE, GIVEN ACCORDINGTO AGE GROUPS , AS ATTHE CENSUSES OF 1881, 1891, AND 1901; WITH THE PROPORTION IN . EACH GROUP FOREVERY 100 OF THE WHOLE.
Age-groups.Married Women under 45, excluding Chinese.
Numbers at Census.Proportions per Cent.
1881.1891.1901.1881.18911901.
15-201,2337507772.141.190.98
20-258,9968,86210,05315.6614.0312.66
25-3013,13314,54017,92322.8623.0222.57
30-3512,65614,57619,61722.0323.0824.70
35-4011,81112,95916,85420.5520.5121.23
40-459,62911,47814,18216.7618.1717.86
Totals57,45863,16579,406100.00100.00100.00

A further table shows the declining birth-rate, and the increase in the marriage-rate, in the United Kingdom.

BIRTH AND MARRIAGE RATES INTHE UNITED KINGDOM, 1886, 1891, 1896, 1901, 1902, AND 1903.
Year.Mean Population.Births.Marriages.
Number.Rate per 1,000 of Population.Number.Rate per 1,000 of Population.
188636,313,5821,145,57731.5241,1806.6
189137,802,4401,148,25930.4275,9707.3
189639,599,0721,152,14429.0296,0897.5
190141,550,7731,162,97528.0313,3517.5
190241,961,1991,174,63928.0316,6127.5
190342,371,2191,183,60127.9316,4157.5

The above figures are taken from the report of the Registrar-General of England (66th number), published in 1905.

The birth-rates for ten years in Great Britain and certain countries of the European Continent are also given from the same source. The rates in England and Wales, and in Scotland, are higher than those in New Zealand, but the rate for Ireland is lower. France has the lowest rate of all quoted:—

BIRTH-RATES IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, 1894 TO 1903.
Countries.Number of Births per 1,000 of Mean Population.
1894.1895.1896.1897.1898.1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.
Hungary41.541.940.540.337.739.339.337.838.836.7
Austria36.738.138.037.536.237.137.336.937.0..
Italy35.434.734.734.633.433.832.932.633.331.5
German Empire35.936.136.336-036.135.835.635.735.1..
Netherlands32.732.832.732.531.932.031.532.331.831.6
Scotland29.930.030.430.030.129.829.629.529.229.2
Norway29.830.630.430.030.330.930.129.829.128.7
England and Wales29.630.229.G29.529.329.128.728.528.528.4
Belgium29.028.529.029.028.628.828.929.428.427.5
Sweden27.127.527.226.727.126.426.927.026.525.6
Switzerland27.127.127.928.128.428.928.629.128.727.7
Ireland22.923.223.623.523.222.922.722.723.023.1
France22.321.722.522.321.821.921.422.021.721.1

From the year 1895 marriages have shown an increase, the rate being then 5.94 per 1,000 of population. In 1904 the rate rose to 8.26, the highest record since 1875, when it was 8.94 per 1,000 of mean population. The number of marriages solemnised in 1904 was 6,983, an increase of 235 on the number for 1903.

MARRIAGE -RATES IN AUSTRALASIA PER 1,000 OF POPULATION FOR FIVE YEARS.
 1900.1901.1902.1903.1904.
Queensland6.886.616.315.72..
New South Wales7.387.687.536.867.21
Victoria6.966.997.026.296.80
South Australia6.506.446.616.256.91
Western Australia10.279.659.779.338.83
Tasmania7.717.687.477.577.55
New Zealand7.677.838.018.238.26

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 241 cases of twin births (482 children), and triplets were registered in one instance, in 1904. The number of children born was 22,766; the number of mothers was 22,523: thus, on an average, one mother in every 93 gave birth to twins, against 97 in 1903, and 93 in 1902.

ILLEGITIMACY .

The births of 1,029 children were illegitimate: thus 45 in every 1,000 children born were born out of wedlock, against 46 in 1903.

The following table gives the rates of illegitimacy in Australasia. The rate in 1904 in New Zealand was less than in any of the Australian States except South Australia and Western Australia:—

PROPORTIONOF ILLEGITIMATE BIRTHS INEVERY 100 BIRTHS.
Year.Queensland.Now South Wales.Victoria.South Australia.Western Australia.Tasmania.New Zealand.
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
19036.766.715.734.184.695.614.55
1904..7.125.744.014.365.824.52

These figures show the proportion of illegitimate births to every 100 births for this colony to be very steady for the period 1895-1904; the difference amounts only to 0.02 per cent on a comparison of the first and last years.

The total number of births registered was 19,299 in 1886 and 22,766 in 1904, while the illegitimate births rose from 602 to 1,029. 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
Queensland5.9
South Australia3.8
Western Australia5.0
Tasmania5.6
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 1900, 5.67 per cent. were illegitimate, as compared with 4.42 per cent. in the United Kingdom for the same period.

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.

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
Norway7.43
Italy6.45

For England and Wales the proportion of illegitimate births to the total births in 1903 was 3.9 per cent., having gradually diminished from 7 per cent. in 1845. The minimum rate was 2.4 per cent., in Monmouthshire, and the maximum 7.7 per cent., in Montgomeryshire. For London the percentage was 3.6.

The average proportion of illegitimate births in Scotland in five years was 6.3 per cent., but in Ireland the extremely low average of 2.6 per cent. obtained.

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 the year 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; in 1903, 65; and in 1904, 87; making altogether 640 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, 1904, writes:—

During the year 1903 there were 544 registered homes throughout the colony, representing 854 infants, against 583 homes and 936 infants in 1902.

Twenty-eight deaths occurred in the homes during the year, against forty-four in the preceding year. Six licensees were prosecuted for breaches of the Act, and four convictions resulted, against eighteen prosecutions and twelve convictions in 1902. No licenses were cancelled, and no neglect of licensees was disclosed at inquests.

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 1904 was 5,970, as against 5,812 for the previous year.

There is increase in the births for the four chief cities and suburban boroughs found on comparison with figures for 1903. The birth-rates for 1904 were:—

 Birth-rates per 1,000 of Mean Population.
Auckland City31.08 
” and five suburban boroughs..29.80
Wellington City26.77 
” and two suburban boroughs..26.59
Christchurch City27.53 
” and one suburban borough..27.41
Dunedin City22.40 
” and eight suburban boroughs..23.81

By the inclusion of the suburbs the rate is raised at Dunedin, but lowered at Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. It will be observed that Auckland has the highest rate, Christchurch next highest, Wellington and Dunedin following with intervals. The difference between the Auckland rate (29.80) and the Dunedin rate (23.81) is considerable. The birth-rate for the whole colony last year was 26.94 per thousand. Auckland and Christchurch are thus over the average, and Wellington and Dunedin below it.

The birth-rates for two of the central boroughs last year show a rise when compared with 1903. In Auckland the rate fell from 31.67 to 31.08, in Wellington from 29.22 to 26.77; but it rose in Christchurch from 26.59 to 27.53, and in Dunedin from 19.54 to 22.40. The rates for five years, 1900 to 1904, are:—

 Births per 1,000 of Population.
1900.1901.1902.1903.1904.
Auckland (without suburbs)29.3130.0030.8031.6731.08
Wellington ”25.7626.3525.2929.2226.77
Christchurch ”21.5124.1225.8426.5927.53
Dunedin ”22.0722.0419.9619.5422.40

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 nineteen aliens (213 men and 6 women) were naturalised in 1904.

The number belonging to each nationality was as under:—

NUMBEROF ALIENS NATURALISEDIN 1904.
Natives of—M.F.
    German Empire355
    Norway and Sweden220
    Denmark240
    Russia and Finland90
    France and possessions50
    Italy61
    Austria-Hungary770
    China110
    United States of America30
    Natives of—M.F.
    Netherlands20
    Switzerland20
    Portugal and possessions20
    Turkey and Syria100
    Roumania10
    Greece10
    Egypt10
    Brazil10
    Friendly Islands10

The number of natives of each country naturalised during the last twenty-two years is next shown.

Natives of—
    Germany1,574
    Sweden and Norway1,170
    Denmark840
    China340
    Italy and Sicily217
    Switzerland170
    Russia in Europe236
    Austria-Hungary419
    France134
    Netherlands60
    Greece46
    Portugal60
    United States of America78
    Belgium30
    Other countries107
Total5,481

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 1904 show an increase on the number for the previous year. The number was 6,983, or 235 more than in 1903. The marriage-rate rose from 8.23 per 1,000 persons living in 1903 to 8.26 in 1904, the rate for the latter year being the highest obtained since 1875, when it stood at 8.94 per 1,000 persons. The improvement shown during the last nine 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.
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
1904..7.216.806.918.837.558.26

The improved rate for this colony is higher than the rate for the European countries given in the table following, with the exception of Spain.

MARRIAGES IN EVERY 1,000 OF THE POPULATION.
Spain19038.2
Hungary19038.1
German Empire19027.9
England and Wales19037.8
Austria19027.8
Prance19037.7
Netherlands19037.5
Switzerland19037.5
Italy19037.2
Belgium19037.1
Denmark19037.1
Scotland19037.0
Norway19036.0
Sweden19035.8
Ireland19035.2

Of the marriages solemnised in 1904, 6,365 were between bachelors and spinsters, 210 between bachelors and widows, 307 between widowers and spinsters, and 101 between widowers and widows.

Divorced men and women have been classified as bachelors or spinsters: 41 divorced men and 46 divorced women were married during the year.

Included amongst spinsters are eight married women, and amongst the bachelors one married man, 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 solemnised (6,983) 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. Thirty-one marriages in which both parties were Maoris were contracted in 1904 in terms of the Act: 13 by Registrars, 12 by clergymen of the Church of England, 3 by Roman Catholic ministers, 1 by a Methodist minister, and 2 by a minister of the Church of the Latter Day Saints.

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, Hawkes' 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..
Hawkes' Bay1,337..1,142..425..
Wellington2,129..637..32..
Marlborough644..183..158..
Nelson1,486..580..637..
Westland900..501..666..
Canterbury..2,516..3,997..4,918
Otago773..2,066..1,899 
Chatham Islands157..1.. 
Kermadec Islands..2  ....

MARRIAGES BY MINISTERS OF VARIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

Of the marriages in the year 1904, 24.12 per cent. were solemnised by ministers of the Church of England, 25.46 per cent. by ministers of the Presbyterian Churches, 16.30 per cent. by ministers of the Wesleyan and other Methodist Churches, 11.14 per cent. by ministers of the Roman Catholic Church, 6.54 per cent. by ministers of other denominations, and 16.44 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:—

DenominationPercentage of Marriages.Percentage of Denomination to Total Population in 1901.
1897.1898.1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.1904.
Church of England23.0023.3724.1722.6824.9124.5825.5224.1240.84
Presbyterians25.4426.0225.3026.3824.4825.9525.3125.4622.87
Methodists17.6113.9812.9113.2313.1912.9513.3216.3010.86
Roman Catholics10.1210.3710.8710.8210.539.9410.8011.1414.23
Other denominations5.869.259.3410.2010.2010.079.876.5411.20
By Registrars17.9717.0117.4116.6916.6916.5115.9016.44..
 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 17.97 in 1897 to 16.44 in 1904.

MARRIAGE REGISTER SIGNED BY MARK.

Of the men married in 1904, 32, or 4.58 in every 1,000, and of the women 43, or 6.16 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 4.58 per 1,000, and from 57.98 per 1,000 to 6.16 per 1,000 among women. This is shown in a very striking manner by the following table: —

PERSONSINEVERY 1,000 MARRIED WHOSIGNEDBY MARK.
Denomination.1881.1891.1901.1904.
M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.
Church of England16.5927.158.2910.661.323.291.771.18
Presbyterians10.2529.615.798.692.684.692.252.25
Wesleyans and other Methodists32.4141.798.9310.713.733.734.394.39
Roman Catholics117.78133.3331.3318.286.237.795.149.00
Other denominations10.3620.729.26..1.613.224.38..
By Registrars39.2293.5127.4243.0813.7715.7312.1921.78
Total marriages32.0457.9813.9316.824.596.234.586.16

The proportion of illiterates in 1901 and 1904 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.

AGESOF PERSONS MARRIED .

Of the persons married in 1904, 121 bridegrooms and 1,230 brides were under 21 years of age—one of the bridegrooms was between 17 and 18, and eight between 18 and 19. Of the brides, six were between 15 and 16, and thirty 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 1904:—

Age.1891.1901.1904.
M.F.M.F.M.F.
Under 21 years1.5520.791.9317.161.7317.61
21 and under 2526.9943.9924.9439.9724.9538.25
25 ” 3036.1922.9737.0826.8940.0328.03
30 ” 4025.948.7227.1212.7325.3012.53
40 ” 506.442.716.042.445.302.53
50 ” 602.260.661.770.571.520.70
60 ” 700.550.160.920.240.970.32
70 and upwards0.08..0.20..0.200.03

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-Generals' list of officiating ministers for the year.

Marriage with a deceased wifes' 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 Majestys' 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 1904 was 29.60 years, and of the women 25.44 years. In England the mean age of those whose ages were stated was (in the year 1903) 28.49 years for men, and 26.35 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, and the proportion of brides under 21 in the colony somewhat higher.

In England, in 1903, of every 1,000 bridegrooms whose ages were stated, 46 were under 21 years of age, and of every 1,000 brides 152 were under 21 years of age. In New Zealand, in 1904, the proportions were 17 bridegrooms and 176 brides of similar ages in every 1,000 married:—

Year.Bridegrooms under 21 in every 100Brides under 21 in every 100.
18901.8922.75
18921.6220.14
18941.4419.53
18961.9619.51
18981.5718.13
19001.6717.34
19011.9317.16
19021.3916.59
19031.6216.01
19041.7317.61

NUMBEROF MINISTERS.

The number of names on the list of officiating ministers under the Marriage Act is (April, 1905) 1,109, and the denominations to which they belong are shown hereunder:—

Denomination.No.
Church of England336
Presbyterian Church of New Zealand254
Roman Catholic Church184
Methodist Church of Australasia in New Zealand167
Congregational Independents21
Baptists32
Primitive Methodist Connexion42
Lutheran Church9
Hebrew Congregations6
Church of Christ17
Free Methodist Church of New Zealand4
Auckland Society of the New Jerusalem Church1
Auckland Central Mission1
Wellington Central Mission1
Independent Free Church1
Salvation Army16
Catholic Apostolic Church4
Seventh-day Adventists4
Unitarians1
Brethren3
Latter Day Saints2
Disciples of Christ1
Christchurch Spiritualistic Association1
Christian Catholic Apostolic Church1
Total1,109

DEATHS.

The deaths in 1904 numbered 8,087, being equivalent to a rate of 9.57 in every 1,000 persons living, as against 10.40 in 1903. 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 FORTHE PERIOD 1894 TO 1904.
Country.1894.1895.1896.1897.1898.1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.1904.
* Excluding the Northern Territory.
New Zealand10.199.919.109.149.8410.249.439.8110.5010.409.57
Queensland12.0811.3812.1011.3312.6612.0711.7311.8812.0812.38..
New South Wales12.3611.7912.3010.8812.4811.8211.1611.6811.9511.5910.62
Victoria13.1413.2513.3512.9015.9414.2812.7513.2213.4012.9011.92
South Australia*11.6411.2511.4811.2413.0612.1410.6411-1111.7910.7110.17
Western Australia14.4017.7816.4516.9716.0513.7612.9213.3613.6312.6011.91
Tasmania12.4211.3811.6311.5313.5112.2511.0510.4510.8411.9211.01
England and Wales16.518.717.017.417.518.218.216.916.215.4..
Scotland17.119.416.618.418.018.118.518.017.216.6..
Ireland18.218.416.618.418.117.619.617.817.517.5..
Denmark17.416.815.616.515.517.316.915.814.614.6..
Norway16.915.715.215.315.316.915.914.913.914.8..
Sweden16.415.215.615.415.117.716.816.015.415.1..
Austria27.827.726.425.624.925.425.224.224.7....
Hungary30.529.728.928.528.027.226.925.427.026.1..
Switzerland19.919.117.717.618.217.619.318.017.217.6..
German Empire22.322.120.821.320.521.522.120.719.4....
Netherlands18.518.617.216.917.017.117.817.216.315.6..
France21.222.220.019.520.921.121.920.119.519.2..
Italy24.925.024.021.922.921.823.821-922.122.2..

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.

INDEX OF MORTALITY IN NEW ZEALAND FOR 1904.
Ages.Estimated Mean Population, 1904.Number of Deaths, 1904.Death-rate per 1,000, 1904.Percentage of Population of Sweden, 1890 (Standard).Index of Mortality in New Zealand per 1,000.
Under 1 year20,1121,61680.352.552.05
1 and under 20 years354,7408972.5339.801.01
20 and under 40 years278,2661,3374.8026.961.29
40 and under 60 years134,7811,38910.3119.231.98
60 years and upwards57,1232,84849.8611.465.71
Totals845,0228,0879.57100.0012.04

A similar calculation for the States of the Australian Commonwealth has been made for 1903. The results, when compared with the actual rates, exhibit to what degree the age-constitution of the population affects the death-rate. The figures for New Zealand are also given.

 Year 1903.
Index.Actual.
Queensland16.2212.38
New South Wales15.0611.59
Victoria15.2512.90
South Australia13.8910.71
Western Australia15.7512.60
Tasmania14.8611.92
New Zealand12.8810.40
” (1904)12.049.57

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 1904 was 2,384—viz., 1,841 in the cities, and 543 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 City11.11
” and five suburban boroughs10.20
Wellington City10.75
” and two suburban boroughs10.43
Christchurch City10.50
” and one suburban borough10.44
Dunedin City13.59
” and eight suburban boroughs11.82

MORTALITY AT FOUR CENTRES , INCLUDING SUBURBS.

If the suburbs are included, the death-rate is found to be highest in Dunedin and lowest in Auckland; Wellington and Christchurch taking second and third places respectively. The death-rate for the colony was 9.57 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 been for 1903 and 1904 in the following ratio to the 1,000 living:—

 1903.1904.
Auckland (including suburbs)8.578.11
Wellington ”8.277.89
Christchurch ”8.607.62
Dunedin ”11.119.60

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 1903 and 1904 the proportions at the chief centres were.—

 1903.1904.
Auckland (including suburbs)12.157.01
Wellington ”9.279.53
Christchurch ”10.0510.30
Dunedin ”6.239.30

Thus in 1904 the proportions for Auckland and Dunedin are less than those found at either of the other two chief cities.

MORTALITY AT FOUR CENTRES , EXCLUDING SUBURBS.

Excluding suburbs, and dealing with the deaths at all ages in the four cities or central boroughs only, the rates for 1904 are found to be lower than in the previous year. The figures for the two years are given:—

 Deaths per 1,000 of Population.
1903.1904.
Auckland (excluding suburbs)12.9711.11
Wellington ”11.3010.75
Christchurch ”11.3910.50
Dunedin ”14.7713.59

Omitting the deaths of infants under one year, and calculating the rate on the population of one year of age and upwards, all the four boroughs again show lower rates for 1904 than in the previous year.

 Deaths per 1,000 of Population, excluding Infants (under One Year of Age).
1903.1904.
Auckland (excluding suburbs)9.459.24
Wellington ”8.848.42
Christchurch ”8.837.87
Dunedin ”13.6111.90

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.
1900.1901.1902.1903.1904.Mean of Five Years.
Auckland (excluding suburbs)14.4911.5715.4112.086.9312.10
Wellington ”6.6510.4312.979.289.559.78
Christchurch ”11.9911.3513.3210.4910.3611.50
Dunedin ”8.379.078.607.278.748.41

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 Wellington, with its suburbs, was higher in 1904 than in the previous year, but for Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin much lower. The total deaths in this class were 256 for 1903 and 202 for 1904 at the four centres.

 Deaths from Febrile and Zymotic Diseases.
1903.1904.
Auckland and suburbs8652
Wellington ”5265
Christchurch ”5836
Dunedin ”6049
 256202

Of the above, diarrhœal diseases caused most deaths in 1904 at the four centres taken together, the total number being 92. Influenza came next, with 26 deaths, typhoid fever 19, whooping-cough 3, measles 4, diphtheria 10, scarlet fever 4, bubonic plague 1, and other zymotic complaints 43.

Comparison of the deaths for each city, including suburbs, shows,—

Zymotic, &c., Diseases.Auckland.Wellington.Christchurch.Dunedin.
1903.1904.1903.1904.1903.1904.1903.1904.
Diarrhœal diseases422422301021417
Influenza442523714
Typhoid fever89542214
Measles6..3417..2..
Scarlet fever216312..30..
Bubonic plague..1............
Diphtheria..325..23..
Whooping-cough17..5..71..2
Other zymotic diseases710714871312

Parasitic Diseases (at Four Chief Centres).

Hydatids were fatal at Auckland (1 death), at Wellington (2 deaths), at Christchurch (2 deaths), and at Dunedin (3 deaths). There were also 1 death at Wellington from aphthæ, and 1 from worms at Auckland.

Dietetic Diseases (at Four Chief Centres).

These numbered 15, 6 being due to want of breast-milk, or malnutrition, 8 to alcoholism, and 1 to delirium tremens.

Constitutional Diseases (at Four Chief Centres).

The deaths at the four cities numbered 496 in 1904. The first in importance of these diseases, and of all causes of death, is tubercle. The figures for 1903 and 1904 show 250 and 259 deaths for each year respectively.

Phthisis and other Tubercular Diseases (at Four Chief Centres).
 1903.1904.
Phthisis.Other Tubercular Diseases.Phthisis.Other Tubercular Diseases.
Auckland and suburbs38244510
Wellington ”46125018
Christchurch ”37114216
Dunedin ”53295127
 1747618871

The mortality from tubercular diseases for 1904 is 10.86 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 179 in 1903 to 184 in 1904. The latter number is 7.72 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:—

 1900.1901.1902.1903.1904.
Auckland and suburbs3232443745
Wellington ”3638374744
Christchurch ”3241253338
Dunedin ”4543596257
 145154165179184

Diabetes shows 24 deaths in 1904, against 25 in 1903.

Developmental Diseases (at Four Chief Centres).

There were 234 deaths in this class, of which 100 were from premature births, 119 from old age, and 15 from other causes.

Local Diseases (at Four Chief Centres).

Deaths in this class were 44 less than in 1903, the figures being 1,223, against 1,267. Diseases of the nervous system were the most fatal of this class, amounting to 273; this number includes 102 deaths from apoplexy, 33 from convulsions, and 47 from paralysis, including hemiplegia and paraplegia. Diseases of the circulatory system show 272 deaths from heart-disease and other allied complaints. Diseases of the respiratory system show 268 deaths for 1904, against 275 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 255 deaths at the four centres, including 100 from enteritis; peritonitis, 11; gastritis, 14; cirrhosis of liver, 20; jaundice and liver-disease, 12; and dentition 12. From appendicitis 16 deaths are particularly noted.

Diseases of the urinary system caused 102 deaths. The remaining deaths were: 2 of disease of organs of special sense, 8 of the lymphatic and 37 of the reproductive systems, 3 of the organs of locomotion, and 3 of the integumentary system.

Violent Deaths (at Four Chief Centres).

There were 124 violent deaths, 95 of which were classed as accidental. Nine of these latter were caused by fractures, and 17 by falls. In 6 cases deaths resulted from the deceased being run over by a cart, tram, train, &c. Six deaths were from burns or scalds, 17 head, by drowning, 8 by suffocation, 3 by poisoning, 9 by injuries to spine, hip, &c.; besides 5 from accident at birth, and 15 others.

Two deaths were classified as murder. Of 27 suicides, 10 were by shooting, 7 by cutting throat, 4 by poison, 4 by hanging, 1 by drowning, and 1 by strangling.

VITAL STATISTICS OF AUSTRALASIAN CAPITALS , 1903.

The vital statistics of the chief cities, with their suburbs, of Australasia show that the death-rate in Wellington (N.Z.) for 1903 was lower than that of any other of the principal towns for the same year.

Capital Cities (including Suburbs).Estimated Moan Population.Births.Deaths.Excess of Births over Deaths.
Total Number.Kate per 1,000 of Population.Total Number.Rate per 1,000 of Population.
* Ten-mile radius.
Melbourne502,06012,01223.937,21714.374,795
Sydney509,77012,74925.015,91311.606,836
Adelaide166,8953,78822.702,11412.671,674
Brisbane*123,6393,19025.801,61013.021,580
Perth45,2001,66636.8680517.81861
Hobart34,78994727.2258116.70366
Wellington53,0821,52028.6358010.93940

DEATHS IN THE WHOLE COLONY AT VARIOUS AGE-PERIODS .

The average age at death of persons of either sex, in each of the nine years 1896-1904, was as follows:—

 Males.Females.
189636.80 years32.41 years.
189738.80 ”34.77 ”
189839.29 ”35.69 ”
189937.73 ”33.54 ”
190040.3136.14 ”
190141.64 years37.68 years.
190241.07 ”34.88 ”
190339.56 ”35.43 ”
190441.47 ”38.44 ”

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 that 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.
Male.Female.
054.44457.260
159.10261.214
259.16961.220
358.62660.647
457.92459.934
557.16759.148
656.39658.343
755.60657.520
854.79156.680
953.95655.825
1053.09454.953
1152.21254.069
1251.31553.180
1350.42552.294
1449.53951.415
1548.66350.545
1647.80349.690
1746.96048.847
1846.13948.016
1945.33647.198
2044.55146.393
2143.77545.593
2243.00544.803
2342.23544.021
2441.46343.244
2540.68442.474
2639.89941.708
2739.10840.946
2838.31940.187
2937.52639.431
3036.73638.678
3135.94937.928
3235.16537.181
3334.38436.438
3433.60535.695
3532.82934.954
3632.05434.215
3731.28233.475
3830.51132.734
3929.74431.990
4028.97931.243
4128.22030.493
4227.46529.739
4326.71528.981
4425.97128.221
4525.23127.458
4624.49926.694
4723.77325.927
4823.05525.163
4922.34424.399
5021.63623.640
5120.93222.885
5220.23122.135
5319.53021.392
5418.83620.655
5518.15019.926
5617.47819.202
5716.82218.485
5816.18317.776
5915.56017.07***,
6014.94916.386
6114.34815.705
6213.75415.037
6313.17014.386
6412.60013.752
6512.04613.135
6611.51212.534
6710.99411.945
6810.48611.365
699.98110.792
709.48110.227
718.9889.673
728.5049.130
738.0358.604
747.5868.095
757.1607.614
766.7587.164
776.3796.742
786.0226.349
795.6835.982
805.3625.636
815.0555.312
824.7655.005
834.4894.714
844.2294.439
853.9824.180
863.7473.935
873.5253.705
883.3133.487
893.1103.283
902.9143.089
912.7232.905
922.5252.731
932.3232.564
942.1012.400
951.8432.238
961.5532.082
971.2471.931
980.9601.774
990.6771.600
1000.5001.424
1011.195
1020.889
1030.500

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 “Childrens' 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 be excusable to draw attention here to the tables published for the year 1904 and the experience of the quinquennial period, as shown in the “Statistics of New Zealand.”

The first table shows, for the year 1904, 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 fathers' 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, 1900 TO 1904.
Ages of Married Men at Death.Number of Married Men who diedNumber and Ages of Living Issue.
Childless.Leaving Children.Under 5.5 to 10.10 to 15.15 to 21.21 and over.Not specified.
20 to 3065150218341....12
30 ” 4012065172569331855..88
40 ” 501489506069921,095976345151
50 ” 601991,4192676591,1271,9913,199353
60 ” 651491,018631763979794,014277
65 and upwards6114,029761874731,28318,2841,167

A table has also been prepared showing, for the year 1904, 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 1904, 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.
NUMBEROF DEATHS.
1904Male395141222175933
Female274119134156683
DEATHS TO THE 1,000 BIRTHS.
1904Male33.5811.9918.8714.8879.32
Female24.9010.8112.1814.1862.07

Seventy-nine out of every thousand, of male children born, and sixty-two of every thousand females, are found to have died before attaining the age of one year. The mortality is thus one in thirteen of male children and one in sixteen 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 1904 there were—

100 deaths of males to 74 deaths of females under 1 month of age:
100 ” 90 ”from 1 to 8 months of age
100 ” 65 ”from 3 to 6 months of age
100 ” 95 ”from 6 to 12 months of age
100 ” 78 ”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 PROPORTIONTO 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 1 Month.1 Month and under 3 Months.3 Months and under 6 Months.6 Months and under 12 Months.Total under 12 Months.
18955753333294001,63718,54688.3
18965662293043401,43918,61277.3
18975122402693331,35418,73772.3
18985732893063421,51018,95579.7
18996193893784201,80618,83595.9
19006072882932811,46919,54675.2
19016102723922891,56320,49176.3
19026653443133901,71220,65582.9
19036923463673651,77021,82981.1
19046692603563311,61622,76671.0
Means of ten years6092993313491,58819,89780.0
NOTE.—The total number of deaths of infants for the period included in the table is 15,876.
DEATHS OF CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS, AND PROPORTIONTO DEATHS ATALL 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 or 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 1 Years.4 Years and under 5 Years.Total Deaths under 5 Years.
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
19031,770275126111642,3468,52827.51
19041,6161698363431,9748,08724.41
Means of ten years1,5882319578542,0467,46427.46
NOTE.—The total number of deaths included in this table of children under 5 years is 20,457.

Although 15,876 infants (under one year) were lost to the colony by death during the decade, and 20,457 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 109 in New South Wales and 105 in Victoria.

YearProportion of Deaths of Infants under 1 Year of Age to every 1,000 Births.
New Zealand.New South Wales.Victoria.
189995.9118.7110.9
190075.2103.395.3
190176.3103.7102.9
190282.9109.7108.6
190381.1110.4106.4
Means of five year82.3109.2104.8

European countries show still higher mortality of infants than the principal Australian States: England and Wales, 152 (under one year) to every 1,000 births; France, 152; Italy, 167; Hungary, 214. Sweden (98) and Norway (91) are notable exceptions.

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.*

* 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.

The causes which operate in producing infantile mortality both among legitimates and illegitimates in New South Wales, are enumerated as under:—

  1. Premature birth; defective viability consequent upon imperfections in the process of development; disease acquired before birth; injured and impaired viability arising before or in process of birth.

  2. Defective care of the new-born by ignorant or careless midwives.

  3. Ill health of mothers, and consequent inability to provide the natural nutrition of infants and requisite nursing.

  4. A want of knowledge of the proper modes of rearing infants (exemplified under seven heads).

  5. Injurious quality of proprietary and other artificial foods, often recklessly advertised.

  6. Injurious quality of milk under the conditions in which it is commonly supplied and used.

  7. Injurious effects of chemical preservatives in milk, and in preparations of milk used as infant-food.

  8. Insufficient public maternity-hospital accommodation for the parturient women among the poorer classes.

  9. Insufficient public-hospital accommodation for the treatment of sick infants.

  10. The prevalence of epidemic preventable disease in infants.

  11. The undue incidence of “summer diarrhœa,” or acute gastro-intestinal catarrh. The causes tending to produce mortality in the illegitimate infants were found to be (in Now South Wales):—

  12. Maternal indifference, and the social and economic disabilities of the mothers.

  13. Defective management of institutions and places where illegitimate infants are received.

  14. Secret adoption of children for gain.

  15. Separation of infants from their mothers.

  16. Infanticide and fœticide of viable infants.

New Zealand.—Deaths under One Year.—Principal Causes.
Principal Causes of Deaths of Infants.1900.1901.1902.1903.1904.
Miasmatic diseases85419219136
Diarrhœal diseases15295176122152
Premature birth276264303301291
Convulsions106918210395
Bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy140207235241149
Enteritis134116154167231
Marasmus, &c.231260294270273

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.
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
19031,52014192.812,7491,483110.312,0121,493124.3
Means of five years1,319135102.912,5441,450115.612,2771,507122.7

CAUSES OF DEATH (THE WHOLE COLONY).

The deaths registered in the colony during 1904, arranged in the several classes according to their assigned causes, give the rates shown on the next page.

Causes of Death.Number of Deaths.Proportion to Total Deaths.Proportion per 10,000 living, 1904.Proportion per 10,000 living, 1903.
Males.Females.Total.Males.Females.Total.
Class I. Specific febrile or zymotic diseases,—   Per Cent.Per Cent.Per Cent.  
Order 1. Miasmatic diseases1501232733.163.693.383.247.58
    ” 2. Diarrhœal diseases122711932.572.132.392.282.24
    ” 3. Malarial diseases
    ” 4. Zoogenous diseases
    ” 5. Venereal diseases139220.270.270.270.260.21
    ” 6. Septic diseases3248800.671.440.980.941.14
Total Class I3172515686.677.537.026.7211.17
Class II. Parasitic diseases176230.360.180.290.270.12
Class III. Dietetic diseases3319520.690.570.640.620.82
Class IV. Constitutional diseases848724l,5217.8421.7119.4418.6018.70
Class V. Developmental diseases4713458199.9710.3510.139.6910.77
Class VI. Local diseases,—
Order 1. Diseases of nervous system49037486410.3111.2210.6810.2210.75
    ” 2. Diseases of organs of special sense55100.110.150.120.120.07
    ” 3. Diseases of circulatory system57637795312.1211.3111.7811.2811.19
    ” 4. Diseases of respiratory system54737091711.5111.1011.3410.8511.94
    ” 5. Diseases of digestive system4533538069.5310.599.979.549.17
    ” 6. Diseases of lymphatic system1317300.270.500.380.360.47
    ” 7. Diseases of urinary system1961073034.123.213.753.594.04
    ” 8. Diseases of reproductive system,—
(a.) Of organs of generation128290.020.640.380.340.34
(b.) Of parturition85852.541.051.011.22  
9. Diseases of locomotive system127190.250.210.230.220.27
    ” 10. Diseases of integumentary system67130.130.210.160.150.27
Total Class VI.2,2991,7304,02948.3751.8949.8247.6849.73
Class VII. Violence,—
Order 1. Accident or negligence48610759310.233.217.337.027.49
    ” 2. Homicide3250.660.060.060.060.03
    ” 3. Suicide85151001.790.451.241.181.28
    ” 4. Execution...
Total Class VII.67412469812.083.728.638.268.80
Class VIII. III-defined and not-specified causes1911353264.024.054.033.863.86
Grand totals4,7533,3348,087100.00100.00100.0095.70103.97

The next table shows, for either sex, the number of deaths from each cause registered during the year 1904:—

CAUSES OF DEATH.
Class.Causes of Death.Males.Females.Total.
Orders and Diseases.
I. SPECIFIC FEBRILE OR ZYMOTIC DISEASES.ORDER 1.—Miasmatic.   
Small-pox
Chicken-pox
Measles5510
Epidemic rose-rash, rubeola
Scarlet fever, scarlatina6713
Typhus
Bubonic plague11
Dengue
Relapsing fever
Influenza5855113
Whooping-cough152035
Mumps
Diphtheria91827
Cerebro-spinal fever
Simple and ill-defined fever
Enteric fever, typhoid …551873
Other miasmatic diseases11
Total Order 1150123273
ORDER2.—Diarrhœal.
Simple cholera12820
Diarrhœa10660168
Dysentery235
Total Order 212271193
ORDER 3.—Malarial.
Remittent fever
Ague
Beriberi
Total Order 3
ORDER 4.—Zoogenous.
Hydrophobia
Glanders
Splenic lever
Cow-pox and other effects of vaccination
Total Order 4
ORDER 5.—Venereal.
Syphilis11920
Gonorrhœa, stricture of urethra, ulcer of groin22
Total Order 518922
ORDER 6.—Septic.
Phagedæna
Erysipelas14418
Pyæmia, septicæmia182341
Puerperal fever, pyæmia, septicæmia2121
Total Order 6324880
Total Class I.317251568
II.—PARASITIC DISEASES .Thrush112
Other diseases from vegetable parasites
Hydatid disease14418
Worms213
Other diseases from animal parasites
Total Class II.17623
III.—DIETETIC DISEASES .Starvation, exposure51 
Want of breast-milk358
Scurvy
Intemperance—   
Chronic alcoholism18624
Delirium tremens527
Other dietetic diseases257
Total Class III.331952
IV.—CONSTITUTIONAL DISEASESRheumatic fever161834
Rheumatism347
Gout314
Rickets134
Cancer323248571
Tabes mesenterica, tubercular peritonitis201535
Tubercular meningitis, acute hydrocephalus424688
Phthisis328270598
Other forms of tuberculosis, scrofula443478
Purpura, hæmorrhagic diathesis639
Anæmna, chlorosis, leucoeytlæmia182644
Diabetes mellitus405090
Other constitutional diseases4610
Total Class IV.8487241,572
V.—DEVELOPMENTAL DISEASES.Premature birth171120291
Atelectasis101020
Cyanosis235
Spina bifida448
Imperforate anus
Cleft palate, hare-lip224
Other congenital defects12921
Old ago273197470
Total Class V.471345819
VI.—LOCAL DISEASES.ORDER 1.—Diseases of Nervous System.
Inflammation of the brain or its membranes6042102
Cerebro-spinal meningitis44
Apoplexy155137292
Softening of brain131225
Hemiplegia, brain paralysis211334
Paralysis (undescribed)563086
Paralysis agitans
Insanity, general paralysis of insane311647
Chorea11
Epilepsy242347
Convulsions6057117
Laryngismus stridulus
Idiopathic tetanus224
Paraplegia, diseases of spinal cord91120
Locomotor ataxia77
Other diseases of nervous system183078
Total Order 1190371864
oRDER2.—Diseases of Organs of Special Sense.
Otitis, otorrhœa5510
Epistaxis, and diseases of nose..
Ophthalmia, and diseases of eye
Total Order 25510
ORDER 3.—Diseases of Circulatory System.
Endocarditis, valvular disease380252632
Pericarditis246
Hypertrophy of heart9615
Fatty degeneration of heart302959
Angina pectoris26935
Syncope8045125
Aneurism17320
Senile gangrene9615
Embolism, thrombosis161935
Phlebitis22
Varicose veins, piles
Other diseases of circulatory system729
Total Order 3576377953
ORDER 1.—Diseases of Respiratory System.
Laryngitis14317
Croup8412
Other diseases of larynx and trachea224
Asthma, emphysema19726
Bronchitis172145317
Pneumonia246160406
Pleurisy312256
Other diseases of respiratory system522779
Total Order 4547370917
ORDER 5.—Diseases of Digestive System.
Stomatitis, cancrum oris5510
Dentition121628
Sore throat, quinsy213
Dyspepsia426
Hæmatemesis134
Melæna5712
Diseases of stomach, gastritis405494
Enteritis174115289
Ulceration. perforation, of intestine12416
Heus, obstruction of intestine362359
Stricture or strangulation of intestine22
Intussusception of intestine527
Hernia12416
Fistula11
Peritonitis252348
Ascites33
Gall-stones11516
Cirrhosis of liver332053
Other diseases of liver, hepatitis, jaundice322557
Other diseases of digestive system513182
Total Order 5453353806
ORDER 6.—Diseases of Lymphatic System and Ductless Glands.
Diseases of lymphatic system819
Diseases of spleen112
Bronchocele21113
Addisons' disease246
Total Order 6131730
ORDER 7.—Diseases of Urinary System.
Acute nephritis241943
Brights' disease8374157
Uræmia11314
Suppression of urine44
Calculus213
Hæmaturia131
Diseases of bladder and prostate3939
Other diseases of urinary system (kidney-diseases undescribed)32739
Total Order 7196107303
ORDER 8.—Diseases of Reproductive System.
(a.) Diseases of organs of generation,—   
Ovarian disease99
Diseases of uterus and vagina1414
Disorders of menstruation
Pelvic abscess156
Perineal abscess
Diseases of testes, penis, scrotum, &c.
(b.) Diseases of parturition,—   
Abortion, miscarriage1919
Puerperal mania2
Puerperal metritis
Puerperal convulsions1919
Placenta prævia (flooding)1111
Phlegmasia dolens
Other accidents of childbirth3434
Total Order 81113114
ORDER 9. Diseases of Organs of Locomotion.
Caries, necrosis336
Arthritis, ostitis325
Other diseases of organs of locomotion628
Total Order 912719
ORDER 10.—Diseases of Integumentary System.
Carbuncle11
Phlegmon, cellulitis415
Lupus11
Ulcer, bed-sore
Eczema44
Pemphigus11
Other diseases of integumentary system11
Total Order 106713
Total Class vi.2,2991,7304,029
VII.—VIOLENCE.ORDER 1.—Accident or Negligence.   
Fractures, contusions21029239
Gunshot wounds22123
Cut, stab8412
Burn, scald251641
Sunstroke516
Poison9615
Drowning14328171
Suffocation321345
Otherwise32941
Total Order 1486107593
ORDER 2.—Homicide.
Murder, manslaughter325
Wounds in battle
Total Order 2325
ORDER 3.—-Suicide.
Gunshot wounds25329
Cut, stab13215
Poison9615
Drowning9211
Hanging22123
Otherwise617
Total Order 38515100
ORDER 4.—Execution.
Hanging
Total Class vii.574124698
VIII.—ILL-DEFINED AND NOT-SPECIFIED CAUSES.Dropsy
Marasmus, &c.173130303
Mortification, gangrene112
Tumour11
Abscess314
Hæmorrhage11
Sudden (cause unascertained)13215
Other ill-defined and not-specified causes
Total Class viii.191135326
General totals1,7533,3348,087

MORTALITY FROM FEBRILE AND ZYMOTIC DISEASES.

The deaths in 1904 from specific febrile or zymotic diseases amounted to 568, a proportion of 6.72 in every 10,000 persons living, and a decrease of 348 on the number of deaths in 1903, when the proportion was 11.17.

The feature of last years' mortality is the comparative freedom of the colony from some of the epidemic diseases most fatal to children—viz., measles, scarlet fever, scarlatina, and whooping-cough—the total deaths from these causes being only 58, against 478 in 1903.

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 2,386 deaths in the decennial period. Influenza comes next, with 1,374 deaths; typhoid fever third, with 887 deaths; whooping-cough fourth, with 726 deaths; diphtheria fifth, with 513 deaths; measles next, 497 deaths; scarlet fever, with 218 deaths; and puerperal fever, with 212 deaths:—

Diseases.1893.1896.1897.1898.1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.1904.
Measles..11561379613414310
Scarlet fever and scarlatina42210173913113
Diphtheria76744945586344542327
Whooping-cough15024261239098320435
Influenza1258912021913518121911756113
Diarrhœal diseases232334257275298199139275184193
Enteric or typhoid fever94124106120936895536173
Puerperal fever32101819152420252821

The mortality from measles from 1895 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. Last year this disease was not epidemic in the colony, and caused only ten deaths. From scarlet fever and scarlatina there were only 13 deaths last year, as compared with 131 in 1903. The mortality from diphtheria, which was 76 deaths in 1895, fell to 27 deaths in 1904, the figures for the intervening years not presenting any striking features.

Whooping-cough in 1895 destroyed 150 lives, 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. In 1903 the mortality was heavy, the number of deaths being 204, but last year only 35 deaths are recorded from this complaint.

The deaths from influenza numbered 113 in 1904, as against 56 in the previous year. The figures for the eight previous years ranged from 89 to 219, the last being for the years 1898 and 1901.

From diarrhœal complaints the deaths in 1904 were 193, against 184 in 1903; 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 1904.

Enteric or typhoid fever was slightly more fatal in 1904 than in 1903, the figures being 73 deaths, against 61. 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. Last year one death was ascribed to this cause at Auckland. The Public Health Department is taking every possible precaution.

VACCINATION .

The vaccinations registered for the last ten years are as under:—

Year.Total Vaccinations registered of Children under 14 Years of Age.Vaccinations of Children under 1 Year of Age.Number of Births registered.Proportion of Successful Vaccinations of
Children under 14 Years of Age to Total Births. Per Cent.Children under 1 Year of Age to Total Births. Per Cent.
190418,3682,32322,76680.6810.20
190311,6835,56621,82953.5225.50
19028,7632,61120,65542.4312.64
19013,7681,98420,49118.399.68
19004,5253,15119,54623.1516.12
18995,1333,37918,83527.2517.94
189810,3495,50718,95554.6029.05
189712,4406,16218,73366.4132.39
189611,9175,72718,61264.0330.78
18958,5235,88218,54644.3431.72

The number of successful vaccinations of children registered in 1901 was 18,368, against 11,683 in 1903. 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 the three years was no doubt due to a slight visitation of smallpox from abroad, which caused one death in 1903.

One child in every ten born in 1904 is shown to have been successfully vaccinated in that year. This is a falling-back to the position, or nearly so, which obtained in 1901 as regards vaccination of infants. The exemptions taken out will also be found from the subsequent remarks to have fallen in number. 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 childs' health—can apply for a certificate of exemption to a Magistrate or Registrar of Births; and, when the childs' parent or guardian is resident outside of a borough, the application may be made to and certificate granted by a Justice of the Peace.

Eleven thousand two hundred and thirteen exemption certificates were issued from the 13th October, 1900, when the Act came into force, to the end of the year 1901. Of these 2,625 belong to the year 1904, when, as before stated, the successful vaccination of children under one year of age amounted to 2,323, or 10 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 23 deaths from parasitic diseases, the proportion per 10,000 living being 0.27. Deaths from hydatids numbered 18 in 1904.

DIETETIC DISEASES.

Under the class “Dietetic diseases” are included 31 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 1904 numbered 1,572, or 18.60 per 10,000 of population, and 19 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 598 in 1904. The deaths in 1904 were in the proportion of 7.08 in every 10,000 persons living, against 6.95 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 has been higher in some of the previous years.

Year.Deaths from Phthisis.Rate per 10,000.
18955537.99
18965237.40
18975963.26
18985978.11
18995937.91
19005777.56
19015967.66
19026177.73
19035706.95
19045987.08

Of the persons dying from phthisis in New Zealand during 1904, more than one-half were born in the colony. The numbers are: total of deaths from phthisis, 598; 345 of them having been New-Zealand-born. The proportion is 55 per cent.

At the census of 1901 the New-Zealand-born were shown to be 67 per cent. of the population, which would give the approximate number of the same in 1904 as 566,000. The death-rate from phthisis amongst these persons was, judging from the numbers in the table annexed, exactly 6 per 10,000 living.

The death-rate from phthisis in the United Kingdom is stated by the Registrar-General to be at the rate of 12.03 per 10,000 living for the year.

DEATHS FROM PHTHISIS, 1904.
TABLE showing the Number of Persons who died from Phthisis in the Colony during the Year 1904, classified according to Age, Sex, and Length of Residence in the Colony.
Length of Residence in the Colony.Age at Death.
Under 5 Years.5 to 10.10 to 15.15 to 25.25 to 35.35 to 4545 to 55.55 to 65.65 to 75.75 and upwards.Total.
MALES.
Under 1 month11
1 to 0 months2215
6 to 12 months
1 to 2 years….1214
2 to a years325
3 to 1 years325
4 to 5 years213
5 to 10 years3339
10 to 15 years11125
15 to 20 years123219
20 to 25 years2553217
25 years and upwards59221822177
Not known19451323
Horn in colony3553702851165
Totals3559105584525271328
FEMALES.
Under 1 month
1 to 6 months….112
6 to 12 months112
1 to 2 years 
2 to 3 years11
3 to 1 years2136
4 to 5 years  
5 to 10 years3141110
10 to 15 years 11
15 to 20 years42219
20 to 25 years643114
15 years and upwards...210128739
Not known12216
Horn in colony217836320211180
Totals217947846201111270
Totals of both sexes51121531831046536381598

In Australasia the rate is materially increased by the deaths of persons who have come from other countries 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.

Phthisis is now known to be and is treated as an infectious preventible 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 Cambridge in the Waikato, and further institutions are contemplated.

From other forms of tuberculosis the deaths in 1904 were 201, or 2.38 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 ¼ persons per 10,000 living for the last ten years. This rate is far lower than that which obtained in England during the year 1903, when the proportion was 17.12 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 1895-1904.

DECENNIAL TABLE, 1895-1904, 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.
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
1904845,0227999.469.88
DECENNIAL TABLE, 1895-1904. — Deaths from various Tubercular Diseases registered in New Zealand, specifying the Number under and over Five Years of Age.
Persons.
Year.Tabes Meseuterica, 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.
18954715253755482856105656761
1896361130285518193390590680
189735933327589134588675763
18983712373810587113795674769
18994319324010583125697698795
1900202024551356494766686752
19013022303110586145284691775
190222193630561286675727802
1903222839359561116481688769
1904171844445593126678721799

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 76 years, was registered as from this disease in 1904.

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 1904 there were 598 deaths from phthisis out of a total of 799 deaths from all tubercular complaints. Of 598 deaths by phthisis, only 5 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 1904, shows that of 35 deaths from tabes mesenterica, with tubercular peritonitis, 17 were of children under 5 years. Also that, of 88 deaths from tubercular meningitis, with acute hydrocephalus, 44 were of persons under 5 years, and 42 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 205 deaths out of 598 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 1904 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 1904, arranged in Groups of Ages.
Persons.
Under 1 Year.Under 5 Year.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 peritonitis1117133123411835
Tubercular meningitis, acute hydrocephalus144415893223 114488
Phthisis2511257961097461433629211525131593598
Other forms of tuberculosis, scrofula8123671312653161126678
Totals33782029761131258573463936221627131721799

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 57 fewer than those for the South Island, or 371 deaths and 428 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 1904.
Provincial District.Tabes Mesenterica, Tubercular Peritonitis.Tubercular Meningitis, Acute Hydrocephalus.Phthisis.Other Forms of Tuberculosis, Scrofula.Total Deaths from Tuberculosis
Auckland7612716156
Taranaki3517126
Hawkes' Bay..531140
Wellington41611415149
Marlborough..1427
Nelson3626338
Westland..114..15
Canterbury82112711167
Otago102713826201
Totals358859878799

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 1904 were 571. There were more deaths of males than of females, the numbers being—males 323, females 248. The rate of mortality per 10,000 living was 6.76. 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 8,087 deaths from all causes in New Zealand during 1904, 571, or 7.06 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 5.53 in 1895 to 7.10 in 1903, and 6.76 in 1904; and that whereas 5.58 out of every 100 deaths were attributable to cancer ten years ago, the proportion had grown to 7.06 last year.

TABLE showing for each of the Ten Years 1895 to 1904 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.
1895692,4173836,8635.535.58
1896706,8463896,4325.506.05
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
1903820,2175828,5287.106.82
1904845,0225718,0876.767.06

To exhibit how cancer affects the different parts of the human body in respect of each sex, the experience, of five years (1900 to 1904) 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 1904 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, 61 deaths of females occurred against 389 of males from cancer in the mouth, &c., in a five years' experience of mortality.

DEATHS FROM CANCER, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903 AND 1904.

TABLE showing the Number of Deaths of Males and Females from Cancer during the Years 1900 to 1904, classified according to the Part of the Body affected.

Part affected.1900.1901.1902.1903.1904.
Number of Deaths.Proportion of Specified.Number of Deaths.Proportion of Specified.Number of DeathsProportion 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.6831.786024.696324.149933.569932.46
Stomach8037.389739.9211242.919632.5410735.08
Intestines, rectum2612.153213.173212.263511.873411.15
Liver2511.683715.233814.563511.874213.77
Kidneys, bladder, urethra, &c.94.21135.35124.60175.76134.26
Leg, foot, &c.41.87........41.3572.30
Lung20.9341.6441.5393.0530.98
 214100.00243100.00261100.00295100.00305100.00
Not specified32..22..35..30..18..
        Totals246..265..296..325..323..
Females.
Month, tongue, throat, &c.63.7362.77167.44219.05125.27
Breast1710.563817.513315.353314.232510.78
Stomach2817.396128.114320.005121.985523.71
Intestines, rectum2113.04198.763315.352812.073213.79
Kidneys, bladder53.1120.9283.7252.1641.72
Ovary, uterus, vagina5433.545525.354420.464820.695825.00
Liver2515.532913.363315.353816.383515.09
Gall-bladder, spleen, pancreas21.2420.9231.4041.7210.43
Lung, spine, thigh, shoulder31.8652.3020.9341.72104.31
 161100.00217100.00215100.00232100.00232100.00
Not specified23..23..25..25..16..
        Totals184..250..240..257..248..

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 1895 to 1904.
Year.Under 1 Year.Total under 1 Year.1 to 2.2 to 33 to 1.4 to 5Total under 5 Years.5 to 1010 to 1515 to 20.20 to 2525 to 30.30 to 3535 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 upwardsTotal 5 Years and over.All Ages.
Under 1 Month.1 to 3 Months.3 to 6 Months.6 to 12 Months.
189523161125476164633837196383383
18962221111561421365974674929147387389
18971111321171022414271744935298392395
1898221225581736474777796935309469471
1899113314615214248826487452719467468
1900111262267164035757859513120428430
1901112455820315360658074633311514515
19021355722354950728886673115536536
1903111412610920374768688796723815581582
1904111231329615253557729999793133569571

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 1901-4.
Provincial Districts.1901.1902.1903.1904.
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.
Auckland191921151151171171114115
Taranaki2424242421212121
Hawke's Hay1616151526262525
Wellington838395951107108113113
Marlborough77776655
Nelson3434333328283232
Westland2626191935351616
Canterbury98989898105105109109
Otago1351351301301361361134135
        Totals151451553653615815822569571

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 overactive attempt at repair? The peculiar frequency of such disease in organs once active but row 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 ten years, selected to show the position as from 1886 to 1904:—

DEATHS FROM CANCER INEVERY 10,000 PERSONS OFEACH SEX LIVINGIN 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
19047.236.23

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 7.32 per 10,000 of males and 10.03 of females for the year 1903. 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 INEVERY 10,000 PERSONSLIVING .
Year.New Zealand.England.
18812.695.20
18863.685.90
18914.686.92
18965.507.64
18996.248.29
19005.638.28
19037.108.71

The actual number of deaths of persons of either sex and all ages registered in New Zealand during the last fourteen years was:—

 Males.Females.Totals.
1891154141295
1892173134307
1893188144332
1894240168408
1895208175383
1896205184389
1897210185395
1898263208471
1899271197468
1900246184430
1901265250515
1902296240536
1903325257582
1904323248571
            Totals3,3672,7156,082

MORTALITY FROM DEVELOPMENTAL DISEASES.

The total of deaths from developmental diseases was 819, or 9.69 per 10,000 persons living. The mortality from premature birth comprised 291 deaths, and that from atelectasis, cyanosis, and other congenital defects 58 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 nine years exhibit the annual rates:—

NUMBER AND PROPORTIONS PER 1,000 BIRTHS.
Year.Deaths from Premature Birth.Deaths from Congenital Defects.
Number.Proportion per 1,000.Number.Proportion per 1,000.
189623012.36462.47
189721111.26522.78
189825113.24542.85
189926113.86472.50
190027614.12552.81
190126412.88633.07
190230314.66793.82
190330113.79673.07
190429112.78582.54

Stating the result in another way, there was one death from premature birth to every 78 births in 1904, and one death from congenital defect to every 393 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 1904 numbered 470, against 515 in 1903.

MORTALITY FROM LOCAL DISEASES .

Deaths by diseases of the nervous system were 864, or 10.68 out of every 100 deaths from all causes, and 10.22 out of every 10,000 persons living. Of the 864 deaths, 292 were credited to apoplexy, 117 to convulsions, and 102 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 20 deaths. Deaths from nervous diseases (excluding convulsions of children) numbered 747, or 8.84 per 10,000 persons living.

Diseases of the circulatory system resulted in 953 deaths, being 11.78 out of every 100 from all causes, and 11.28 per 10,000 persons living. Of the total number in this order, endocarditis and valvular disease of the heart contributed 632 deaths. From angina pectoris there were 35 deaths, from syncope 125, from aneurism 20, and from other forms of heart-disease (hypertrophy, fatty degeneration, and pericarditis) 80.

Diseases of the respiratory system show 917 deaths, of which 723 were attributable to bronchitis and pneumonia. Taken together, these two complaints were the cause of more deaths than was phthisis; and adding 56 from pleurisy, 12 from croup, 17 from laryngitis, and 109 from other respiratory diseases, the mortality in the order is found to be 11.34 per cent. of the total deaths, and 10.85 per 10,000 of the population.

Deaths from diseases of the digestive system also formed a large proportion of the whole (9.97 per cent.), the number being 806. Enteritis was most fatal, showing 289 deaths, liver-diseases (110) and gastritis (94) coining next.

Of 303 deaths from diseases of the urinary system in 1901, the deaths from Bright's disease of the kidneys (albuminuria) numbered 157.

Of the groups, (a) and (b), constituting the order styled “Diseases of the reproductive system,” the greater mortality is found under (b), “Diseases of parturition.” In considering the deaths of women in childbirth the number from Order 6, Class I., under the designation “Puerperal fever, pyæmia, zepticæmia,” have also to be dealt with.

As the figures are highly important, a special comparative statement has been made out, giving besides the number of deaths of mothers the proportions in every 10,000 children born. These proportions, taken over ten years' comparison, fluctuate irregularly, the extreme limits being 38.37 per 10,000 births in the year 1900, and 58.64 for the year 1903.

WOMEN DYINGIN CHILDBIRTH.
Year.Deaths of Women in each Year.Deaths of Mothers to every 10,000 Children Born.*
In Childbirth.From Puerperal Fever, &c.Total.
* Still-births are not registered.
1895693210154.46
189677108746.74
189764188243.76
189872199148.01
189971158645.66
190051247538.37
190170209043.92
1902852511053.26
19031002812858.64
1904852110646.56

But any conclusion drawn from the above figures must be held as qualified by the remarks on page 230 touching the matter of diminished fertility of wives at the child-bearing ages.

VIOLENT DEATHS.

Deaths by violence form a large item in the total mortality. In 1904 the proportion per 10,000 of persons living was 8.26, the total number of deaths having been 698.

Of 574 males who died violent deaths, 85 were suicides. The deaths of females by violence were far fewer than those of males, amounting to 124, and out of these only 15 committed suicide. A table given previously states the full list of deaths from external or violent causes for the year 1904.

Accidental deaths numbered 593—males 486 and females 107. Of the total male deaths, 210 resulted from fractures or contusions, and 143 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, 1835,” came into force.

The portion of the colony included within the three principal islands — the North, Middle, and Stewart Islands — is divided into thirty-four hospital districts, each consisting of one or more counties with the interior boroughs, to be 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 1904 these hospitals afforded accommodation for 1,231 male and 757 female patients, a total of 1,988. The number of cubic feet of space included within the walls of all the sleeping-wards was 2,817,641, which gave an average of 1,417 cubic feet to each bed. 9,133 males and 4,696 females were admitted as patients during the year 1904, and 876 male and 368 female patients were inmates at the end of the year. The total number of indoor patients during the year was 14,984—viz., 9,935 males and 5,049 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:—

1899-1900.1900-1.1901-2.1902-3.1903-4.
 £££££
Voluntary contributions and bequests9,1887,33011,15111,53914,260
Payments by patients16,50315,99818,08319,61321,185
From Government44,81547,07454,38755,88159,099
From Hospital Boards and local authorities35,00636,81240,63844,01343,960
Rents and other sources5,0976,9087,5888,22217,149
        Totals110,609114,122131,850139,268155,653

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-four Boards for hospital purposes, there are only twenty-four for charitable-aid purposes.

Returns were received from eighteen benevolent asylums (not including orphanages), established for the support of indigent persons. The number of inmates in these institutions at the end of 1904 was 1,262, of whom 762 were males and 500 females. Outdoor relief was given by two of these institutions to 1,853 persons (including 1,088 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 religions 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 thirty-five 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 1904 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, 29 male and 34 female orphans were received during the year 1904, and 62 male and 98 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 as ***m, 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, 1904:—

Sleeping-rooms for One Person only.Dormitories for more than One Person.
Number.Aggregate Number of Cubic Feet.Inmates (Patients) on 31st December, 1904.Number.Aggregate Number of Cubic Feet.Inmates (Patients) on 31st December, 1904.
Auckland132119,41913232322,094452
Wellington6861,2806816100,173184
Porirua7065,4667017352,798542
Nelson3428,736341465,111105
Hokitika3829,26938995,987138
Christchurch7969,6517935247,296458
Seacliff173141,91917346263,402521
        Totals594515,7405941691,446,8612,400

At Ashburn Hall, Waikari, there are seventy-eight rooms, each for one person only, with an aggregate cubic content of 77,461 ft. The number of patients on the 31st December, 1904, was 44.

At the end of 1904, 1,782 male and 1,212 female patients (including 44 out on trial) were under the care of the asylum officers of the colony. Of these, 1,634 males and 1,082 females were regarded as incurable, 14 males and 30 females were out on trial, and 134 males and 100 females were supposed to be curable. 181 male and 115 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 every393 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 ”
1904, ” ”285 ”

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. 132 and 133.

DEAF , DUMB, AND BLIND.

Particulars relating to the deaf, dumb, and blind, as ascertained at last census, are referred to on pp. 129 to 132, ante.

Chapter 40. SECTION VIII.—METEOROLOGY.

TEMPERATURE , RAINFALL, ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE , AND WIND, THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND, AS OBSERVED AT NINE STATIONS , FOR THE YEAR 1904.

THE OBSERVATIONS WERETAKENAT 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.  
      January78.049.580.8230.09SW, NE.
      February79.553.093.7129.96SW, NE.
      March75.050.5147.3330.10SW, NE.
      April71.548.0125.3330.14SW.
      May66.042.0101.0130.23SW, S.
      June62.038.0246.0729.83SW.
      July61.037.0112.2430.29S.
      August61.037.0183.5730.15SW, S.
      September63.041.0243.9129.81SW.
      October67.044.0173.8029.72SW.
      November71.017.0164.3529.86SW, W.
      December73.048.0123.5629.99SW.
Rotorua (lat. 38° 9′ S.; long. 170° 15′ E.; alt. 925 ft.)—
      January87.038.0132.5530.23NE, N.
      February82.066..0125.0230.21N, SW.
      March78.035.01013.1530.30N, NE, SW.
      April73.031.094.6530.37SW, S.
      May65.030.081.7330.31SW.
      June60.026.0186.9029.8SW, N.
      July61.049.094.9630.41SW, S.
      August63.028.0146.1130.22SW, NW.
      September65.031.0197.0630.04NE, NW.
      October72.032.0198.7029.97SW, NW.
      November76.033.0153.9330.10SW.
      December78.037.0155.9430.11SW.
Cambridge (lat. 37° 51′ 37″ S.; long. 175° 33′ 13″ E.; alt. 1,130 ft.)—
      January79.043.0132.240..NW.
      February79.044.0142.950..NE, W.
      March74.0430168.660..NE, W, NW
      April70.039.0135.320..SW, NW.
      May61.0360122.460..SW, NW.
      June58.0330207.910..NW, SE, SW.
      July57.031.0124.550..SE.
      August58.033.0164.770..NW, SW.
      September62.041.0217.780.NE, NW, SW.
      October65.0350227.050..SW, NW.
      November73.039.0195.305..SW, NW.
      December70.0390188.400..SW, NW.
New Plymouth (lat. 39° 3′ 35″ S.; long. 174° 4′ 56″ E.; alt. 200 ft.)—
      January83.046.0115.14529.977NW.
      February82.049.0165.00029.960SE.
      March81.043.02212.61530.034SE, NW, NE.
      April71.045.0195.19030.130SE.
      May68.040.0199.07530.103SW, SE, NW.
      June68.039.0239.20529.687NW, SE.
      July67.033.0186.67030.170SE, SW, NW.
      August67.032.0245.73030.015SE.
      September68.039.0277.91029.830NE, SE.
      October68.037.0245.74529.794SE, NW.
      November69.041.0254.15029.896NW, W.
      December68.044.0236.52029.885NW, SW.
Wellington (lat. 41° 16′ 25″ S.; long. 174° 46′ 20″ E.; alt. 140 ft.)—
      January82.346.1101.50030.026NW, S.
      February80.446.272.20030.008NW, SE, N.
      March73.447.0179.94030.040NW, S, N.
      April70.543.5102.78030.089NW, S.
      May68.238.9154.59030.006NW.
      June63.737.9206.96029.645NW.
      July57.932.0154.29030.225NW.
      August59.833.3143.48529.930NW, N.
      September64.035.7215.22029.835N.
      October66.239.91712.94029.772S, N.
      November73.840.371.06029.782N, NW,″S.
      December69.843.0175.38029.783N, NW,″S.
Hokitika (lat. 42° 41′30″ S.; long. 170° 49′ E.; alt. 12 ft.)—
      January84.044.565.32029.968SW.
      February78.045.576.37029.920SW, NW.
      March76.040.01719.50029.973NW, SW.
      April79.037.074.71030.124SW.NW.
      May65.034.01411.26530.033SW, NW.
      June58.530.01814.03029.596NW, E.
      July60.030.0167.43030.185E, NW.
      August58.528.01611.89029.948NW, E.
      September67.034.01410.89029.785E, SW.
      October70.032.0136.41029.775SW, E.
      November68.037.02211.48029.794SW, NW.
      December68.040.02114.34029.783SW, NW.
Lincoln College, Canterbury (lat. 43° 32′ 16″ S.; long. 172° 38′ 59″ E.; alt. 42 ft.)—
      January85.139.071.74629.942NE, SW.
      February89.940.2101.04029.896NE.
      March80.436.6154.04529.958NE, SE, SW.
      April72.932.080.69530.085SW, NE.
      May77.028.2101.92529.809NE, SW.
      June62.627.G172.38529.570NE, SW.
      July65.823.4111.56530.191NE.
      August64.424.8102.29029.902SW, NE.
      September67.831.5143.88429.767NE, SW.
      October74.530.2134.77529.727NE, SW.
      November74.234.5111.21529.683NE,SW,NW.
      December85.237.5185.58529.681NE, SW.
Leith Valley, Dunedin (lat. 45° 52′ 11″ S.; long. 170° 31′ 7″ E.; alt. 300 ft.)—
      January82.040.073.16429.892SW, NE.
      February71.045.0113.68429.826SW, NE.
      March69.030.0125.10429.880SW, w.
      April65.040.0152.42230.003SW.
      May65.037.0153.54229.894SW.
      June54.031.0155.23029.575SW.
      July58.029.0111.28030.063SW.
      August60.031.0175.13229.815SW.
      September63.034.0157.09029.724NE.
      October75.036.0153.57429.681NW, SW.
      November71.036.0162.58229.855W, SW.
      December84.037.0195.92429.601NW, W.
Chatham Islands (lat. 43°52′ S.; long. 176° 42′ W.; alt. 100 ft.)—
      January70.041.0182.81029.860NW, SW, SE.
      February68.042.0101.90029.900SW.
      March71.039.0203.03029.940SW, NW, N.
      April64.037.0212.74029.940SW, SE.
      May58.033.0264.48029.770SW, W.
      June59.033.0235.65029.560SW, N.
      July54.032.0216.93030.020SW.
      August60.031.0223.87029.750SW.
      September59.038.0222.43029.610E.
      October63.036.0183.52029.490NE, SW.
      November67.037.0265.43029.630SE, SW.
      December69.042.0245.49029.660W.
NINE STATIONS: COMPARATIVE TABLE: YEAR 1904.
Stations.Temperature in Shade.Rainfall.Mean Height Barometer.Prevailing Wind.
Highest, and DateLowest, and Date.Day on which Rain Fell.Greatest Fall, and Date.
  ° Fahr.° Fahr.No.Inches.Inches.  
      Auckland78.0, 12 Jan.37.0, 5 Aug.1752.95, 1 Mar.80.015SW.
      Rotorua87.0, 27 Jan.30.0, 14 May1614.80, 4 Mar.30.180SW.
      Cambridge70.0. 10, 17 Jan.31.0, 23, 24 July1963.15, 1 Mar.SW, NW.
      New Plymouth83.0, 20 Jan.32.0, 5 Aug.2514.10, 5 Mar.29.957SB, NW.
      Wellington82.3, 21 Jan.32.0, 3 Aug.1703.50. 13 Oct.29.928NW, S.
      Hokitika84.0, 26 Jan.28.0, 5 Aug.1715.50, 24 May29.907SW, NW.
      Lincoln, Canterbury89.0, 29 Feb.23.4, 2 July1441.96, 26 Oct.29.856NE.
      Leith Valley, Dunedin84.0, 20 Dec.29.0, 4 July1681.95.1 8 Sept.29.817SW.
      Chatham Islands71.0, 20 Mar.31.0, 1 Aug.2572.00 23 July29.680SW.

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)7845784776447043663862345033623465376941743375447833
Queensland—
    Brisbane (130)926493639161  54805076427539784185469150915797619739
Now South Wales—
    Sydney (155)9259895881597951724867446339704277458848875491579439
Victoria—
    Melbourne (91)101489947994586407437643762326834743481409444964510132
South Australia—
    Adelaide (140)108491085010048894578406738653674397941864196451014810836
Western Australia—
    Perth (47)10750102539852965781407038703773388042834293481005110737
Tasmania—
    Hobart (160)9145944593447538713761345933663372357735924080439433
Natal—
    Durban(150)9963956194609458895286498848914996509153975798599949
Capo Town—
    Royal Observatory (37)9454905192198645804276397437763783398644894890529437
Hongkong—
    Observatory (110)7347784677498458896891739174917492709060825579499146
Straits Settlements—
    Singapore (30)8870907091719173907390729072897289718971897189709170
Mauritius—
    Royal Alfred Observatory (179)8469847184708270806277607559755977628062826684688459
Canada—
    Toronto (350)47-345-35107122783186448840894782417127561345-189-3
    Montreal (187)45-1442-134406924813287438850865081397027591143-1188-14
    St. John (N.B.) (116)49-746-74746222693381427949774873376026561649-381-7
    Halifax (122)50-146-350106322733283398448844980306929602151384-3
    Charlottetown, Prince Edward47-643-94756020703177398049794975396630581947180-9
Island, (38)
    Winnipeg. Manitoba (764)34-3732-3749-2576882209035874091348630731753-1639-2991-37
    Victoria, British Columbia (10)5114552260306729733876397943764171386435553051237914
    St. John′s, Newfoundland(25)48-650-850116115712776338141794278336524621951981-8
Barbados—
    Joes River(430)8167816783698470847185728470857085718571847083698567
Bahamas—
    Military Hospital7763790879678469897288738978897387758677827077678963
Jamaica—
    Kingston (60)9163906390629168917092719571937392709369910790639562
    Trinidad (130)8667876888698870897086718671867089708870877085698967

Chapter 41. SECTION IX. — MANUFACTORIES AND WORKS.

[Information respecting manufactories and works is collected only once in every five years, at the time of the census. Fresh information showing the full magnitude of the industries of the colony both as to number and value of production will be collected in March, 1906; meanwhile the information given last year is again repeated.]

THE results of the compilation of the special returns relating to the various manufactories, works, &c., in the colony are compared with chose shown for previous censuses in certain of the tabulated statements given with these remarks.

It must be 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 Five 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 malthouses240,468
Flaxmills 170,946
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 sawmilling, 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 vet 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 1.900 has been made after a period of great prosperity.

MANUFACTORIES AND WORKS , 1896 AND 1901.
  April. 1896.March. 1901.†Increase 1896-1901.

* Omitting Government Railway Workshops and Government Printing Office.

† Excluding dressmaking, tailoring, shirt-making, millinery, &c., for which no returns in 1896.

  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
  To Females131,516203,28271,766
        Totals†1,907,5923,098,5611,190,969
  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 plant2,988,9553,826,574837,619
        Totals5,796,0177,059,6312,163,614

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 he 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 BayWellington.Marlborough.Nelson.Westland.Canterbury.Otago.
Animal food—
  Meat freezing and preserving works  7  2  2  5  1....  4  13  34
  Ham- and bacon-curing establishments  4  4  2  3..  4..  10  12  39
  Fish curing and preserving works  8....  4  1  1  1..  13  28
  Butter and cheese factories  27  102  8  37  4  7  3  17  42  247
  Rabbit-packing................  7  7
  Condensed-milk factory................  1  1
Vegetable food—
  Grain-mills  8  3  2  8  2  5..  23  27  78
  Biscuit-factories  5..  1  3  1  1..  2  7  20
  Fruit-preserving and jam-making works  6  1  1  1..  1..  1  2  13
  Sugar-boiling and confectionery works  8..  3  4......  7  4  26
  Sugar-refining works  1................  1
  Fruit-canning works  1................  1
  Baking-powder factories  8....  1......  1  1  11
Drinks, narcotics, and stimulants—
  Breweries  9  3  5  10  2  10  4  16  15  74
  Malthouses  4..  1  3  2  4  1  10  8  33
  Colonial-wine making  4..  3  1  1  2  1  2..  14
  Aerated-water factories  22  11  8  24  5  7  4  27  17  125
  Coffee and spice works  4....  4..  1  1  3  5  18
  Tobacco-manufactories  2................  2
  Cigarette-manufactories  1....  1........  1  3
  Sauce and pickle factories  9  1  1  5..  1..  4  2  23
  Vinegar-works  3........  1......  4
  Ice-factories  2................  2
Animal matters (not otherwise classed)—
  Bone-mills  2  3..  2....  1....  8
  Soap and candle works  7..  1  4..  2..  6  4  24
  Glue-factory  1................  1
  Sausage-skin factory  1..  1  3......  4  1  10
  Boiling-down works  5..  1  3........  5  14
  Manure-works  1..  2........  1  1  5
  Oleomargarine-works..............  1..  1
  Pat-refining works..............  1..  1
Working in wood—
  Cooperages  4  2  2  4......  7  4  23
  Sawmills, sash and door factories  48  23  26  66  8  46  29  18  70  334
  Barrow and ladder factory  1................  1
  Woodware and turnery factories  10  1..  5......  6  e  28
Vegetable produce for fodder—
  Chaff-cutting establishments  15  2......  12..  25  1  55
  Grass-seed-dressing establishments..  4  1........  9  11  25
Paper-manufacture—
  Paper-mills  1..............  2  3
  Paper bag and box factories  3............  1  3  7
  Gasworks  6  2  2  6  1  2  2  4  5  30
  Electric-lighting works..  1..  1..  1..  1  2  6
Processes relating to stone, clay, glass, &c.—
  Lime and cement works  6....  1..  2  1..  5  15
  Brick, tile, and pottery works  24  5  8  18  1  5  2  20  25  108
  Tobacco-pipe factory................  1  1
  Monumental masonry  8..  1  3..  2..  6  7  27
  Glassworks  1............  1..  2
  Glass-bevelling works  1....  1..........  2
  Electro-plating works  1............  1..  2
  Pumice-works  1................  1
Metals, other than gold and silver—
  Tinware-factories  12....  13..  4  2  18  11  60
  Iron and brass foundries, boiler-making, machinists, &c.  13  1  2  13  2  3  3  14  14  65
  Heel- and toe-plate factories  2..............  1  3
  Engineering-works  10....  9..  2..  8  8  37
  Range-making works  5....  1........  3  9
  Spouting and ridging factories  6  8  2  3......  7  9  35
  Lead-headed-nail works......  1..........  1
  Iron-pipe and fluming works................  2  2
Books and publications—
  Printing-offices  35  12  4  40  2  8  3  35  49  188
Musical instruments—
  Musical instrument factories......  1........  2  3
Ornaments, minor art products, and small wares—
  Picture-frame makers  2....  4........  3  9
  Basket and perambulator factories  6....  6......  4  5  21
  Cork-cutting  1................  1
  Lapidaries................  3  3
Equipment for sports and games—
  Billiard-table factories  1....  1......  1..  3
Designs, medals, type, and dies—
  Rubber-stamp making  2................  2
Arms and explosives—
  Ammunition-factory  1................  1
Machines, tools, and implements—
  Agricultural- implement factories  6..  2  3......  10  12  33
  Brush and broom factories  6....  1......  3  2  12
  Cutlery-factory  1................  1
  Bellows-factory  1................  1
Carriages and vehicles—
  Coach building and painting works  33  11  12  44  4  9  1  26  20  160
  Cycle-factories  8  2  3  10..  2..  25  21  71
 Harness, saddlery, and leather-ware—        
  Saddlery and harness factories  22  7  7  29..  5  1  24  20  115
  Whip-thong factories......  1........  1  2
  Portmanteau-factories  2....  2........  2  6
  Tanning, fellmongering, and wool-scouring establishments  16  4  15  14  4  4..  29  33  119
Ships, boats, and their equipment—
  Ship- and boat-building yards  17....  3..  1..  2  9  32
  Graving-docks and patent slips  3....  1......  2  1  7
  Block and pump factory  1................  1
  Sail and oilskin factories  9  1  2  4..  1  1  5  7  30
Furniture—
  Furniture and cabinetmaking  26  14  7  36  1  4  4  20  32  144
  Venetian-blind works  2....  5......  2  3  12
  Mattress-factories  3....  3......  2  4  12
  Wool, rug, and mat making................  2  2
Chemicals and by-products—
  Perfumery-manufactory  1................  1
  Varnish-manufactories  3..............  1  4
  Ink-manufactories  2..............  1  3-
  Starch-manufactories..........  1....  2  3
  Chemical-works  2............  1  5  8
  Hæmatite-paint factories..........  1....  3  4
  Sheep-dip factories....  2..........  1  3
  Match-factories........  1......  1  2
  Herbal-remedies factories  1....  4........  3  8
  Blacking-factories  1....  1........  1  3
  Cocoanut-oil mill  2................  2
Textile fabrics—
  Woollen-mills  1....  1......  3  5  10
  Flock-mills  1....  1......  1  2  5
  Cleaning and dyeing works  5....  2......  3  1  11
Dress—
  Tailoring establishments  32  12  3  67..  10  7  22  22  175
  Dressmaking and millinery establishments  41  8  12  78  5  9  3  69  65  290
Dress—continued.
  Shirt- making establishments  4  1..  7......  4  8  25
  Corset and belt manufactories  3............  3..  6
  Clothing-factories  7....  3......  3  8  21
  Waterproof-factories  1....  2......  1  2  6
  Boot and shoe factories  31  4..  24..  2  3  27  35  126
  Hat and cap factories  5....  3......  2  3  13
  Hosiery-factories  1....  3..  1..  5  7  17
Fibrous materials—
  Rope and twine works  3  1..  2......  7  4  17
  Bag and sack factory................  1  1
  Flax-mills  23  6  2  25  14  7..  8  16  101
  Returns not included in above  40  5  3  4..  6..  13  3  74
          Totals Census, 1901  752  267  160  707  61  198  78  648  809  3680
  Deduct tailoring, dressmaking, shirt making, and monumental masons' establishments, not include! in accounts taken for 1896 and 1891  85  21  16  155  5  22  10  101  102  517
          Totals, Census, 1901 (less deductions shown above)  667  246  144  552  56  176  68  547  707  3163
          Totals, Census, 1896  573  128  147  396  50  154  47  448  516  2459
          Totals, Census, 1891  577  68  85  333  77  142  51  380  541  2254

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.
  1901.1890.1891.
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 IndustriesNumber of Hands employed.Wages paid.Amount of Power employed (Horsepower).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.Female.Total.Males.Females.Total.

* For information as to quantities manufactured or produced, see special tables in Year-books of 1901, 1902, and 190:). 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 (1901, 1902, and 1903).

NOTE .—See note at end of table.

* For information as to quantities manufactured or produced, see special tables in Year-book of 1903. Value of output, wages, &c., not shown where the number of establishments is so small that particulars might be identified.

† See remarks on page 293.

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 works†342,172492,221198,3061,419199,7257,057252,2903,720,475893,720
  Ham and bacon curing establishments†391851119613,89149614,387250115,656169,56462,192
  Fish curing and preserving works†2813521377,445737,518..7,71425,17317,235
  Butter and cheese factories†2471,165231,18895,46197296,4332,3991,195,6001,535,150388,750
  Rabbit-packing762..623,200..3,200..  ..362
  Condensed-milk factory1171633......39......
Vegetable food—
  Grain-mills†78513251549,25411049,3642,422545,642682,884358,656
  Biscuit-factories†2045421366734,2314,54538,776291117,383197,98990,243
  Fruit-preserving and jam-making works†1385821676,3171,7588,07511742,40458,09220,935
  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—
  Breweries†74677568283,4937783,570632158,212553,627294,592
  Malthouses†33145..14514,994..14,99411072,211105,67175,038
  Colonial-wine making†144910592,320922,412143,01910,33018,183
  Aerated-water factories†1254371545231,77128432,05525063,835151,811105,178
  Coffee and spice works186315784,9592355,1948332,09145.62847,572
  Tobacco-manufactories211920......8......
  Cigarette-manufactories311718......6......
  Sauce and pickle factories†2377511284,6281,7606,3887120,50531,25836,715
  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 works†24224823219,00923919,248346112,623158,64966,809
  Glue-factory15..5......28......
  Sausage-skin factories1098..988,689..8,689..17,84530,6743,949
  Boiling-down works†1461..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—
  Cooperages†23137113810,8843910,92317719,94237,52121,787
  Sawmills, sash and door factories†3346,80576,812513,622266513,8888,744..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
  Gasworks†30568457270,38818570,57324283,612290,567971,559
  Electric-lighting works652..526,226..6,2262,1584,60323,23464,156
Processes relating to stone, clay, glass, &c.—
  Lime and cement works†15184..18416,577..16,57746618,39714,14238,436
  Brick, tile, and pottery works†108838..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-factories†60336133723,1073623,1432352,55398,58756,914
  Iron and brass foundries, boiler-making, machinists, &c.†651,95051,955162,477170162,647983240,578508,906211,282
  Heel- and toe-plate factories37..7......23......
  Engineering-works†‡371,43751,442127,374261127,635541186,208361.958155,081
  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†§1882,6275073,134208,04116,564284,605956200,243704,285559,538
Harness, saddlery, and leatherware—
  Tanning, fellmongering, and wool-scouring establishments†1191,95761,963159,180162159,3421,1081,391,3231,888,107235,952
Ships, boats, and their equipment—
  Ship- and boat-building yards†32211..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 factories†
  Furniture—301508123110.4461,99612,442..24,62844,85440,893
  Furniture and cabinet-making†1441,243671,31088,8432,26291,105369101,595241,024170,338
  Venetian-blind works12492513,567653,632195,89613,2337,469
  Mattress-factories1255  553,260  3,260209,21216,29613,165
  Wool, rug, and mat making29..17..............
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-mills†107699241,69371,45440,547112,0011,554196,081359,382277,422
  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-factories†214312,0812,51237,77863,023100,80167177,828329,02689,247
  Waterproof-factories†622921141,8072,8224,62936,28513,3787,845
  Boot and shoe factories†1261,9067902,696165,22727,216192,443184273,325529,254176,992
  Hat and cap factories1337801172,6412,7485,3892011,46325,64119,217
  Hosiery-factories†17172652821,3286,7028,0307118,03231,26519,997
Fibrous materials—
  Rope and twine works†17192..19213,136..13,13649446,37887,86355,309
  Bag and sack factory1..66..............
  Flax-mills†1011,698..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 (see over.)
  Totals, Census, 1901..3,68036,29210,55546,8472,972,193330,4543,302,64739,1137,749,77017,853,133†8,408,564
  Deduct tailoring, dressmaking, 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 (leas 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, 18912,25422,6642,96925,6631,705,641102,9991,808,64021,696..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.
1900.1695.1890.1885.
  ££££
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 factories1,208,689898,807832,9591,177,713
Iron and brass foundries, boiler-making, machinists, &c. (not including Government Railway Workshops)924,171302,815403,635368,919
Clothing and boot-and-shoe factories858,280610,158570,315514,506
Printing establishments (not including Government Printing Office)704,285389,124354,559273,886
Grain-mills682,884874,656991,812754,830
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
Aerated-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 works58,09230,10827,25532,292
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, tent, and oilskin factories44,85430,16631,08325,574
Bone-mills and other manure-works40,29812,2461,6288,337
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 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 cabinetmaking 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 42. SECTION X.—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 1904 amounted to £13,291,694, being an increase on the corresponding total in 1903 of £503,019. These figures, however, include specie. The value of coin brought into the colony in 1904 was £391,664, against £712,716 in the previous year, and if these amounts are excluded the increase on the values of all other articles will be £824,071.

The value of imports for the year 1890, and for each of the ten latest years was:—

Year.Imports, inclusive of Specie.Imports, exclusive of Specie.
  ££
18900,260,5255,928,895
18956,400,1296,115,953
18967,137,3207,035,379
18978,055,2237,994,201
18988,230,6008,211,409
18998,739,6338,613,656
190010,646,09610,207,326
190111,817,91511,353,416
190211,326,72310,958,038
190312,788,67512,075,959
190413,291,69412,900,030

In 1901 the Government imported railway plant valued at half a million sterling, against far smaller quantities introduced in the subsequent years.

It will be seen that the value of imports, exclusive of specie, only rose from £5,928,895 in 1890 to £6,115,953 in 1895, after which there ensued a steady advance year by year to £11,353,416 in 1901, with a substantial increase in 1904. The movement for 1895-1904 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 1904 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 in 1903 £712,716. The amount last year (1904) was £391,664. The figures for 1890 and each year from 1895 onwards stand thus:—

Years.Imports per Head of mean Population, excluding Maoris.
Including Specie.Excluding Specie.
  £s.d.£s.d.
189010029110
189594108168
1896101119191
189711331117
189811371131
1899111311198
19001318101374
190115310141111
19021431113148
190315111014145
1904151471554

Using the figures exclusive of the specie, comparisons for years since 1895 show that imports increased annually with almost unbroken regularity until 1904, the rise being at the rate of £6 8s. 8d. per head. The figures for the years 1890 and 1895 exhibit a decrease per head of population.

A table is given farther on showing, for five years, the principal articles imported, arranged in groups according to their nature.

IMPORTS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

The imports from the United Kingdom to New Zealand in 1904 were valued at £7,982,340, an increase of £469,672 on the value of goods imported from the Home-country during the previous year, From British colonies and possessions the imports were £3,047,354, a decrease of £88,120 on the amount in 1903.

Figures for eleven years are given, showing that imports from British possessions only increased by 36 per cent., whereas those from foreign States advanced at the far higher rate of 274 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
18995,520,6452,036,7971,176,191
19006,504,4842,625,3721,516,240
19016,855,8312,913,8662,018,218
19026,851,4522,583,0051,892,266
19037,512,6683,135,4742,140,533
19047,982,3403,047,3542,262,000

The following are the values of imports from different countries or places in 1904 and 1903, given in the order of the increase or decrease from each:—

Country, Colony, State, &c.1904.1903.Increase.
United Kingdom7,982,3407,512,668469,672
United States of America1,527,9151,441,35886,557
Fiji516,539461,98854,551
Canada..88,64446,12042,524
Germany308,804274,29734,507
Ceylon172,759138,95933,800
Bengal275,349251,71923,630
Holland29,38816,76012,628
France..55,11042,76512,345
Friendly Islands17,5036,97810,525
Burmah13,7333,54110,192
Singapore36,73226,9549,778
Surprise Island5,6731,9073,766
Malden Island6,8623,9652,897
Austria4,4681,7982,670
British Columbia24,84122,2092,632
Norway2,9746032,371
Tasmania37,16634,8112,355
Java4,6212,8411,780
Switzerland4,0912,4321,659
Portugal2,5401,0691,471
Queensland3,5252,2221,303
Denmark2,6472,133514
Society Islands6,2175,803414
Cape Colony589195394
South Australia39,91739,627290
Madras420146274
Ellice Island228..228
Turkey..436263173
Canary Islands1723169
Egypt875715160
Norfolk Island21178133
Transvaal Colony16051109
Spain1,9031,82281
Aden32..32
Malta271512
Russia8..8
Orange River Colony1174
Rhodesia321
Country, Colony, State, &c.1904.1903.Decrease.
Victoria603,005816,003212,998
New South Wales1,176,8171,229,12752,310
Belgium120,066133,14013,074
Sumatra7611,02610,950
Greece14,07621,8397,763
Asia Minor16,61322,7876,174
Borneo..5,6675,667
Ocean Island..3,6253,625
Hongkong16,73619,5682,832
Japan84,62986,1921,563
Italy19,00620,5011,495
Sweden15,95417,1561,202
Philippine Islands9,82310,8281,005
Navigators Islands148837689
Western Australia32,60633,176570
China4,4405,005565
Newfoundland..423423
Bombay337705368
Sandwich Islands112224112
Borneo (British)..110110
Gibraltar226543
Lord Howe Island..1919
Solomon Islands....99
Tripoli..77
New Hebrides20255
Now Caledonia..44
Natal41443
West Indies1,7311,7343
Argentine Republic352

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 1894 the former received imported goods to the value of £3,560,513, against £3,200,230 for the Middle Island, in the year 1904 the North Island imports exceeded those of the other to a far greater extent, the values being respectively £7,664,353 and £5,461,402, or an excess for the North Island of £2,202,951, or 40.34 per cent.

IMPORTS , BY PROVINCIAL DISTRICTS.

The values of imports in each provincial district during 1894 and 1904 were as under:—

  1894.1904.
  ££
Auckland1,596,9853,331,004
Taranaki49,127112,205
Hawke's Bay206,291249,433
Wellington1,708,1103,971,711
Marlborough12,21723,887
Nelson140,648163,540
Westland39,29387,969
Canterbury1,435,1122,515,639
Otago1,572,9602,670,367

The value of imports by parcel-post (£27,277 in 1894 and £165,939 in 1904) must be added to the above figures in order to make up the totals (including specie) of £6,788,020 and £13,291,694 for the respective years.

IMPORTS , BY PORTS .

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 1904:—

  1904.1903.
  ££
Wellington3,796,7463,966,891
Auckland3,248,1633,167,185
Lyttelton2,320,5072,025,427
Dunedin2,243,0062,049,194
Invercargill and Bluff361,784292,683
Napier249,433234,994
Timaru195,132169,117
Wanganui174,965166,869
Nelson132,665146,279
New Plymouth90,21399,762
Greymouth70,40088,912
Poverty Bay70,25767,304
Oamaru65,57751,801
Westport30,87543,178
Patea21,99220,495
Wairau19,32121,825
Hokitika17,56914,337
Kaipara9,5604,520
Picton4,5661,890
Tauranga3,0244,776

ARTICLES IMPORTED .

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:—

IMPORTSFOR FIVE YEARS.
Group of Principal Articles imported.1900.1901.1902.1903.1904.
* Includes methylated and perfumed spirits, and spirits of wine.
  £££££
Apparel and slops451,879463,194511,397582,997603,894
Boots and shoes194,811211,215202,931245,639256,165
Cotton piece-goods514,607470,568498,485556,564550,775
Drapery438,299443,863449,503511,717501,888
Haberdashery95,401110,746102,569118,049112,816
Hats and caps66,79970,01375,22277,85387,984
Hosiery103,291101,481115,071125,618143,940
Linen manufactures83,20689,91571,17094,79488,693
Millinery43,31343,38045,70160,50367,567
Silks97,922121,937139,522128,223140,154
Woollens330,713348,666393,033436,161452,271
          Totals2,420,2412,474,9782,604,6042,938,1183,006,147
Agricultural implements13,50810,74411,5189,0018,857
Cutlery23,08927,14929,99327,16037,797
Hardware and iron-mongery330,314315,239334,965355,562341,442
Rails and railway bolts, &c.
  118,464148,34485,163131,592140,929
Iron and steel, other, pig, wrought, wire, &c.865,361682,906815,260795,758849,929
Machinery536,429600,019561,649642,075797,618
Nails48,05040,03441,11439,44040,703
Railway plant63,128514,511122,303122,164183,998
Sewing-machines37,42938,22737,00551,09545,749
Tools, artificers'77,44784,52388,27398,076110,847
          Totals2,113,2192,461,6962,130,2432,271,9232,557,869
Sugar451,522489,936402,138441,843504,820
Tea199,934219,089197,127204,236237,738
          Totals651,456709,025599,265646,079742,558
Beer34,29634,94943,62738,62036,796
Spirits*198,282243,824235,369240,263263,645
Tobacco198,861221,889212,634260,478255,257
Wine55,09863,83760,35057,56056,857
          Totals486,537564,499551,980602,921612,555
Paper174,111184,986181,486212,541234,982
Printed books136,891140,347149,194171,672194,240
Stationery96,408113,422112,676136,968152,224
          Totals407,410438,755443,356521,181581,446
Arms, ammunition, and explosives111,859201,683129,733138,146122,457
Bags and sacks141,810214,987135,674109,040123,673
Bicycles and tricycles50,41754,05752,63371,08272,548
Bicycles and tricycles, fittings for68,22871,17381,54490,48797,667
Goals120,406151,334125,732158,143138,093
Drugs, chemicals, and druggists' wares187,821212,430240,841261,864288,502
Fancy goods128,339145,356148,072177,227149,529
Fruits (including fresh, preserved, bottled, dried)226,128248,985175,366233,382213,956
Glass and glassware111 ,847133,434138,908145,059158,586
Manures112,287134,186154,964120,711147,995
Musical instruments97,678116,396110,663113,849127,277
Oils206,770238,396251,415248,859278,414
Timber104,927179,152146,561163,497161,236
Other imports (excluding specie)2,459,9462,602,8942,736,4843,064,3913,319,522
          Total imports (excluding specie)10,207,32611,353,41610,958,03812,075,95912,900,030
Specie imported438,770464,499368,685712,716891,664
          Total imports10,646,09611,817,91511,326,72312,788,67513,291,694

Of £12,900,030, the total value of goods imported during 1904, the chief items were as under:—

Articles.Value.Proportion
  £per Cent.
Clothing, drapery, &c.3,006,14723.30
Metal, machinery, and implements2,557,86919.83
Tea and sugar742,5585.76
Wine, beer, spirits, and tobacco612,5554.75
Paper, books, and stationery581,4464.51
Other imports5,399,45541.85
  £12,900,030100.00

The declared value of the clothing, drapery, &c., imported increased from £2,938,118 in 1903 to £3,006,147 in 1904. In 1900 the value of these imports was £2,420,241. The iron, machinery, and implements imported in 1904 were valued at £2,557,869, an increase of £444,650 on the corresponding figures for 1900 (£2,113,219). The value of sugar and tea imported in 1904 shows an increase, when compared with 1903, of £96,479. Beer, wine, spirits, and tobacco show an increase of £9,634—from £602,921 in 1903 to £612,555 in 1904.

To the total value of “Other imports (excluding specie),” in 1904 (£3,319,522), shown in the table above, patent medicines contributed a sum of £56,223; earthenware, £70,474; floorcloth and oilcloth, £96,827; furniture and upholstery, £72,658; cement, £68,279; leather and leather manufactures, £93,153; and seeds, £86,883.

Amongst the articles imported belonging to this group are automobiles, motor cars, and motor cycles to the number of 258, valued at £25,441, of which 126 came from the United Kingdom and 94 from the United States of America.

Materials for the above vehicles to the value of £3,204 were also introduced, mostly from England and America.

Goods imported by means of the “parcels-post” system during 1904 were valued at £165,939.

Goods received from the Cook and other annexed Islands are now treated as New Zealand produce, and not as imports. The total in 1904 was valued at £45,517, and the principal articles of produce as follows: Vegetables (fresh), £126; limejuice, £948; raw coffee, £394; copra, £3,775; fruit, £35,639; cocoanuts, £229; hats, £4,239.

VALUE OF FREE AND DUTIABLE IMPORTS.

The values of the imports into New Zealand during the years 1903 and 1904 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, 1903.Value of Imports, 1904.
  ££££
Specific duties..2,613,361..2,562,839
Ad valorem duties—
    5 per cent.187,112  203,516  
    7 ½ per cent...  4,001  
    10 per cent.251,659  283,348  
    15 per cent.206,961  231,529  
    20 per cent.2,765,964  2,788,980  
    22 ½ per cent.246,111  213,448  
    25 per cent.1,258,605  1,307,001  
    30 per cent.1,090  261,557  
    33 ¾ per cent.30  47,893  
    37 ½ per cent.162  22,314  
    40 per cent.814  888  
    Various1,502  4,169  
    4,920,010  5,368,644
Parcels-post (various)..151,236..165,939
Duty-free (excluding specie)..4,391,352..4,802,608
Specie imported....712,716..391,664
          Totals..12,788,675..13,291,694

The proportions of free and dutiable goods imported during 1899, 1902, 1903, and 1904 are compared with similar figures for 1894, the year preceding that in which the altered tariff came into force:—

1894.1899.1902.1903.1904.
* Including excise duties levied on certain imports manufactured in bond.
Merchandise—£££££
  Free1,871,7722,942,9994,072,9844,391,3524,802,608
  Dutiable4,118,4055,670,6576,885,0547,684,0078,097,422
    Imports (less specie)5,990,1778,613,65610,958,038..12,075,95912,900,030
  £££££
    Total net duty received*1,572,4672,046,4522,289,7832,507,4782,655,166
Duty, per cent. of imports—Per Cent.Per Cent.Per Cent.Per Cent.Per Cent.
  (a.) On dutiable imports38.1836.0933.2632.6332.79
  (b.) On all merchandise26.2523.7620.9020.7620.58

SUGAR .

The value of sugar (including glucose, molasses, and treacle) imported in 1904 was £504,820, an increase of £62,977 on the amount for 1903 (£441,843). The value of this import for the last three years has averaged only £449,600 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 decreased.

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, 1903-4.” 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.
New Zealand107.2
Western Australia106.2
New South Wales105.2
Tasmania103.1
Victoria101.4
Queensland100.5
South Australia97.8

TEA .

The quantity of tea imported in 1904 was 6,131,958 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 7.2 lb in 1904.

AVERAGE ANNUAL CONSUMPTION OF TEA PER HEAD IN AUSTRALASIA.
  Lb.
Western Australia9.7
South Australia8.2
New South Wales7.4
New Zealand7.2
Queensland7.1
Victoria6.7
Tasmania6.2

BEER , SPIRITS, AND WINE.

During 1904 excise duty was paid on 7,786,480 gallons of beer; and 203,510 gallons of beer, 647,155 gallons of spirits, and 120,120 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 4,936,400 gallons in 1895 to 7,786,480 gallons in 1904:—

BEERMANUFACTUREDIN NEW ZEALAND ONWHICH EXCISE DUTY WASPAID .
  Gal.
18954,936,400
18965,382,960
18975,741,200
18986,013,120
18996,261,200
19006,811,280
19017,134,800
19027,179,360
19037,555,200
19047,786,480

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 in 1895, and from 1898 to 1904. 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.Gal.
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
19049.4558.9960.7660.7290.1420.135

A comparison of the consumption of beer, spirits, and wine per head in Australasia during 1903 is added:—

Beer.Spirits.Wine.
  Gal.Gal.Gal.
Queensland9.490.860.38
New South Wales9.550.790.67
Victoria11.610.611.24
South Australia..8.330.462.22
Western Australia21.821.420.75
Tasmania8.510.530.18
New Zealand (including Maoris)8.990.720.14

Besides showing the quantity of alcoholic liquor consumed during the year, it seems desirable to give some information as to the actual cost to the colony of the beer, wine, and spirits imported, not including duty, which is merely so-much taxation raised by means of the importer, but all held in the colony and used by the Government for the benefit of the people.

In the year 1904 the value of the various kinds of potable spirits imported reached the sum of £252,033, of imported beer to £36,796, and wines to £56,857; making altogether £345,686 paid to merchants abroad.

If to the above total be added £583,986, the estimated value of the beer manufactured in the colony, and £6,288 for wine made, the cost for the introduction and manufacture of alcoholic beverages comes to £935,960 for the year 1904, against which may be set £7,261, representing the value of the small export for the same period.

TOBACCO.

The tobacco entered for consumption in 1904 was 2,275,275 lb., and the consumption per head of population, including Maoris, 2.56 lb.

AVERAGE ANNUAL CONSUMPTION PER HEAD OF TOBACCO INVARIOUS COUNTRIES.
  Lb.
Holland6.92
Western Australia4.58
United States4.40
Turkey4.37
Austria-Hungary3.77
Denmark3.70
Switzerland3.24
Belgium3.15
Germany3.00
Queensland2.99
New South Wales2.80
New Zealand2.56
Tasmania2.35
Canada2.11
France2.05
Victoria2.02
South Australia2.02
Sweden1.87
Spain1.70
United Kingdom1.41
Italy1.34
Russia1.23

DETAILS OF ALL ARTICLES OF IMPORT.

Details of all imports for 1904, 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 INTOTHE COLONY OF NEW ZEALAND DURINGTHE YEAR 1904.
(For rates of duty, see Tariff, pp. 89 to 108.)
Articles.Total Quantities Imported.Value of Total Imports.Entered for Home Consumption on Importation and ex Warehouse.Amount of Duty received, including Preferential.
Acid—  £  £s.d.
  Acetic515,273 lb.4,780536,226 lb.3,35184
  Carbolic58,880 ”923....
  Salicylic4,037 ”216....
  Sulphuric37,740 ”388....
  Tartaric92,749 ”5,02195,405 lb.397105
  Unenumerated64,085 ”1,061....
Alkali—
  Potash and caustic potash2,031 cwt.2,477....
  Soda ash14,388 ”5,025....
  Soda, carbonate and bicarbonate12,744 ”4,38712,590 cwt.629104
  Soda, caustic13,759 ”9,460....
  Soda crystals123 ”51122 cwt.12411
  Soda silicate6,495 ”2,220....
  Unenumerated6,909 ”4,117....
Alum2,903 ”1,322....
Animals, Living—
  Birds2,692 No.679....
  Cats4 ”15....
  Cattle, horned33 ”2,89217 No.8100
  Deer72 ”648....
  Dogs122 ”658....
  Goats16 ”128....
  Horses379 ”18,737370 No.37000
  Leeches..5....
  Lions1 No.40....
  Monkeys2 ”4....
  Pigs11 ”165....
  Poultry1,021 No.1,640....
  Sheep286 ”4,041....
  Tigers1 ”40....
Apparel and slops n.o.e...603,006£603,104150,77631
Apparel and slops made to the order of residents in the colony..888£87334940
Arms, ammunition, and explosives—
  Accoutrements..929....
  Caps, percussion7,797,900 No.985....
  Cartridges (shot), 10 to 24 bore4,877,878 ”15,6474,878,330 No.3,658148
  Cartridges n.o.e.11,541,248 ”18,552£8,6161,723511
  Cartridge-cases126,950 ”261127,400 No.47156
  Detonators for dynamite, &c...1,802....
  Dynamite90,100 lb.4,549....
  Firearms10,744 No.17,027£12,6602,820182
  Fuse240,299 coils5,251....
  Lithofracteur, cordite, and similar explosives534,975 lb.27,369....
  Ordnance stores..9,299....
  Powder, blasting671,643 lb.15,607....
  sporting47,010 ”2,9469,385 lb.234126
  Shot186 cwt.23797 cwt.48149
  Swords117 No.315....
  Other explosives5,140 lb.260....
  Unenumerated1,421.. ..
Asphalt7,830 cwt.1,875....
Bacon and hams735 lb.33735 lb.627
Bags and sacks—
  Cornsacks487.344 doz.116,612....
  Unenumerated40,536 ”7,061£1553120
Bagging and sacking..1,668£34520
Basketware and wickerware..4,064£4,0821,095611
Bêche-de-mer3 cwt.4£40160
Beer198,801 galls.36,796203,517 galls.20,351142
Belting, leather36,823 lb.4,91436,666 lb.61121
” other than leather..26.895....
Beverages, non-alcoholic—
  Aerated and mineral waters10,470 doz.2,441£2,48249690
  Coffee-essence..11,324£10,6962,139511
  Limejuice, sweetened3,367 galls.743£786196118
  ” unsweetened25,560 ”3,416....
Unenumerated..779£56414100
Bicycles and tricycles11,389 No.72,548£72,73115,0691611
  Materials for..97,667£53,75511,29539
Biscuits—
  Fancy, and other kinds126,688 lb.5,833125,200 lb.1,04369
  Ships', plain130 cwt.32691 cwt.13139
Blacking..12,548£12,4972,497611
Blacklead..3,359£3,27665565
Blue245,859 lb.5,771252,919 lb.2,107133
Boats51 No.1,413....
Books..194,240....
Boots and shoes116,170 doz. pr.243,051£240,91459,227197
  Indiarubber soles and heels for same..250£2506300
  Nos. 0 to 33,125 doz. pr.2,003....
  Gum boots1,756 ”10,861£1,39227880
Borax2,905 cwt.3,100....
Brass—
  Pig, bar, tube, or sheet961 ”4,301....
  Tubing and stamped work in the rough185 ”732....
  Manufactures..21,053£21,2394,247166
Bricks—
  Building88,508 No.211....
  Fire805,361 ”3,117£2,864572160
  Other kinds29,076 ”104....
Brushware and brooms—
  Brooms1,302 doz.834£86121568
  Brushes (clothes, hair, hat, and toilet)..15,311£15,3203,063196
  Unenumerated..7,301£7,1041,77607
  Materials for..7,204....
Buckets and tubs—
  Iron387 doz.202£21052100
  Wood175 ”121£1212460
Building materials, unenumerated..13,588....
Butter1 cwt.7£7180
Candles3,038,621 lb.55,2323,050,710 lb.13,872311
Canes and rattans..2,452....
Canvas..53,998£32965160
Caramel, brewers'17,753 lb.22025,413 lb.217133
Cards, playing41,893 packs1,09666,287 packs1,65736
Carpeting and druggeting..52,337£51,64010,328110
Carriages, &c.—
  Automobiles, motor cars, and motor cycles258 No.25,441£23,6755,77120
  Automobiles, &c., materials for..3,204£3,233798140
  Carriages482 No.8,338£7,2201,56820
  Carts, drays, and wagons339 ”4,061£4,048878140
  Steam-motor lorries3 ”1,563£1,563312140
  Perambulators and go-carts72 ”157£2215100
  Materials for..14,119£13,9783,24654
  Materials for—viz., axles, axle arms and boxes..18,308....
  Carriage and cart shafts, spokes, and felloes in the rough..8,979....
  Carriage and cart makers' materials..19,691....
Casks, empty1,299 No.1,389£1,39027805
Cement154,349 barrels68,279147,467 barrels14,763180
Chains and chain cables9,056 cwt.10,182....
Charcoal2,011 ”958....
Cheese66 ”234£21843120
Chicory1,174 lb.151,174 lb.14136
China, porcelain, and parian-ware..43,984£43,3669,72554
Clocks56,519 No.16,219£16,1014,32443
Coals147,196 tons138,093....
Cocoa and chocolate550,945 lb.53,026547,795 lb.6,847810
Cocoa-beans191,737 ”5,949....
Cocoa-butter66,890 ”2,562....
Cocoanut, desiccated64,345 ”965....
Coffee—
  Raw191,422 lb.7,012....
  Roasted1,273 ”601,742 lb.21158
Coke2,219 tons4,975....
Combs..4,074£4,184836173
Confectionery—
  Chocolate in plain trade packages212,510 lb.11,130209,271 lb.2,6151710
  Chocolate in fancy packages..13,295£13,2682,653113
  Unenumerated501,367 lb.15,404501,774 lb.4,18191
Copper—
  Nails338 cwt.1,316....
  Pig, bar, sheet, and tube6,345 ”24,417....
  Rod and bolt231 ”816....
  Sheathing1,050 ”3,680....
  Manufactures..1,448£1,455290189
Copra76 tons913....
Cordage6,056 cwt.16,912£16,2503,358176
  Hawsers of 12 in. and over45 ”132....
  Iron and steel9,302 ”20,940£851700
Cork, cut..13,742£13,9152,78319
” in the rough74 cwt.140....
Cotton piece-goods—
  Butter and cheese cloth..5,208....
  Calico, white and grey..177,032....
  Corduroy, moleskin, and beaver-skin..2,762....
  Leather-cloth..6,622....
  Shirtings, coloured cotton..38,321....
  ” flannelette..3,435....
  ” union, of 6d.per yard and under..2,222....
  Tubular - woven cotton cloth..11,554....
  Waterproof material..7,554....
  Unenumerated..296,065£290,22844,57295
Cotton—
  Raw3,726 lb.85....
  Waste4,938 cwt.7,388....
  Wick83,735 lb.4,287....
Cutlery..37,797£37,9887,597130
Doors, plain416 No.221416 No.41120
Drapery..280,528£279,61455,9221711
  Lace and laces, n.o.e...80,683£80,60620,151104
  Ribbons and crape..37,161£36,8269,206128
  Tailors' trimmings..103,516....
Drugs, chemicals, and druggists' wares—
  Baking-powder, yeast preparations, &c...447£4168351
  Chemicals n.o.e.£4164,867£4,45666887
  Cream of tartar893,844 lb.34,263882,616 lb.5,209911
  Drugs, druggists' sundries, and apothecaries' wares..111,099£110,22016,532189
  Glycerine, refined..2,122£2,02540522
  Tinctures and medicinal spirits27,518 lb.1,82527,072 lb.1,353125
  Washing-powder..874£818163120
  Anhydrous ammonia..5,083....
  Arsenic1,784 cwt.1,579....
  Disinfectants..7,695....
  Food preservative..8,229....
  Gums..2,986....
  Insecticides and tree washes..3,043....
  Maltine..1,150....
  Medicinal barks, leaves, &c...1,770....
  Phosphorus..965....
  Potassium-cyanide7,280 cwt.30,890....
  Sodium-cyanide700 ”3,576....
  Sheep-dip..31,964....
  Sheep and horse drenches and sheep-licks..353....
  Vanilla beans28,432 lb.1,634....
  Unenumerated..32,088....
Dyes..20,138....
Earthenware..70,474£69,80714,4251610
Eggs for setting67 doz.85....
Engine-packing3,604 cwt.11,771....
Essences, flavouring—
  Spirituous2,352 galls.5,7952,311galls.1,848132
  Unenumerated..110£11417210
Essential oils—
  Eucalyptus7,945 lb.2,502£2,48049626
  Other kinds35,907 ”5,849....
Fancy goods and toys..149,529£147,99936,42250
Felt sheathing..11,298....
Fire-engines25 No.494....
Fire-extinguishers..102....
Fire-hose and other appliances..3,255....
Fireworks..1,121£1,079215160
Fish—
  Anchovies, salted53 cwt.118....
  Dried, pickled, or salted2,243 ”3,9182,151 cwt.1,07589
  Potted and preserved2,301,968 lb.53,4162,110,864 lb.18,05129
Fishing-tackle—
  Artificial flies..404£3939840
  Fish-hooks..823....
  Unenumerated..4,472£4,418883146
Fish-ova..200....
Flock63 cwt.49£494180
Floorcloth and oilcloth..96,827£95,40619,08167
Flour8,404 centals3,4348,576 centals4281511
Foods, animal—
  Chaff842 tons2,805842 tons841164
  Prepared calf-meal25 ”33925 ”30126
  Unenumerated..4,208£4,099819170
Foods, farinaceous—
  Arrowroot110,826 lb.1,597....
  Macaroni and vermicelli186,015 ”2,590....
  Maizena and cornflour1,644,915 ”20,1751,565,068 lb.1,63057
  Sago and tapioca20,391 cwt.10,528....
  Unenumerated..2,352....
Fruits, bottled and preserved75,773 doz.19,625£20,1975,04962
Fruits, dried—
  Currants2,464,416 lb.19,9322,747,090 lb.11,44642
  Raisins2,999,993 ”34,1772,958,466 ”12,3261810
  Unenumerated1,409,716 ”17,0521,404,454 ”11,703158
Fruits, fresh—
  Apples, pears, plums, &c.765,275 ”10,359759,134 ”3,16312
  Apples and pears1.129,450 ”10,6741,133,602 ”2,361135
  Lemons819,560 ”7,121819,558 ”1,70783
  Other kinds17,725,598 ”91,554....
  Lemon and orange peel, in brine538,113 ”3,309....
  Pulp and partially preserved fruit12,048 ”15319,938 lb.8316
Fungus..1....
Furniture, cabinetware, and upholstery..51,851£51,45715,628137
  Kapok6,695 cwt.15,765....
  Unenumerated..5,042....
Furniture, knife, and plate powder and polish..6,692£6,7711,35438
Furs..7,837£7,2801,819190
Gelatine and isinglass110,279 lb.6,658£7,1711,43437
Glass—
  Bottles, empty..43,967....
  Mirrors and looking-glasses..7,942£8,0192,004132
  Plate, bevelled, &c...6,749£6,7281,68200
  ” other kinds397,168 sup. ft.13,351£12,9762,908711
  Window4,118,984 ”31,2254,109,000 sup. ft.4,964155
Glassware..55,352£45,84311,382119
Glue and size154,876 lb.2,844146,342 lb.914129
Gold-leaf..787....
Grain and pulse—
  Barley3,182 centals1,0242,518 centals251162
  Beans and peas1,465 ”8051,414 ”5306
  Oats25,099 ”6,31524,994 ”937510
  Unenumerated6,904 ”3,8056,986 ”2611911
  Ground, unenumerated5,925 ”4,6705,908 ”29585
Grease5,260 cwt.3,776£3,73274692
Grindery—
  Heel and toe plates..2,345£2,381535130
  Unenumerated..20,615....
Gum, kauri27 tons2,595....
Haberdashery..22,465£22,5154,50315
  Buttons, &c...31,659....
  Sewing cottons, silks, and threads..57,906....
  Unenumerated..786....
Hair822 cwt.3,018....
Hardware, holloware, and ironmongery..282,746£274,06958,880711
  Coffin-furniture..2,493£2,298459130
Hardware..3,642....
Hats and caps81,942 doz.87,984£87,66921,91764
Hatters' materials..26,328....
Hemp165 tons7,126....
Hides6,852 No.5,555....
Honey548 lb.9453 lb.3156
Hops62,724 ”5,27973,152 ”2,20209
Hosiery..143,940£144,02728,805810
Indiarubber and gutta-percha goods..12,395£6140
Ink—
  Printing200,738 lb.7,041....
  Writing..2,077£1,839367154
Instruments, musical—
  Harmoniums and organs750 No.7,821£7,6751,53500
  Pianos4,280 ”98,235£95,27522,90894
  Unenumerated..20,593£20,2374,04777
  For Volunteer bands..628....
  Materials for..3,586£42985164
Instruments, other kinds—
  Optical..2,921....
  Scientific..4,955....
  Surgical and dental..28,597£10,7672,153107
  Surveying..1,209....
  Unenumerated..267....
Iron and steel—
  Angle350 tons2,677£12825120
  Bar, bolt, and rod14,347 ”127,524£1,81036220
  Bolts and nuts20,421 cwt.20,788....
  Castings for ships27 tons1,467....
  Galvanised manufactures..670£674168107
  Hoop1,612 tons15,449....
  Hoop, galvanised4,815 cwt.3,0044,815 cwt.36120
  Pig10,896 tons43,699....
  Pipes and fittings12,025 ”119,154£119,1446,05255
  Rails23,636 ”133,897£1,30226080
  Railway bolts and fastenings591 ”7,032£1,23221680
  Sheet and plate6,955 ”58,922£3,884776160
  Sheet, galvanised, corrugated301,866 cwt.227,397299,779 cwt.29,977189
  Sheet, galvanised, plain60,619 ”48,53259,959 ”4,496189
  Staples and standards664 tons7,018£7,0971419104
  Tanks3,857 No.11,6703,821 No.1,718100
  Wire, fencing, barbed3,588 tons43,369....
  Wire, fencing, plain8,233 ”73,537....
  Wire, telegraphic and telephonic  105 ”2,517....
  Wire netting..32,186....
  Wire, unenumerated668 tons9,675....
  Unenumerated95 ”611....
Jams, jellies, and preserves474,024 lb.7,893453,973 lb.3,78323
Jellies, concentrated97,469 ”3,67996,332 ”1,605109
Jewellery..17,889£17,0783,415110
Lamps, lanterns, and lamp-wick31,903£31,0657,405010 
Lard174 cwt.293£3116240
Lead—
  Pigs and bars803 tons10,516....
  Pipe (including composition)469 cwt.519483 cwt.84811
  Sheet19,169 ”15,52917,542 ”1,315132
  Manufactures..296£2965940
Leather497,289 lb.79,260424,591 lb.3,130168
  Chamois..1,008£940187196
Leather manufactures—
  Boot and shoe vamps, uppers, and laces..10,747£10,7662,669148
  Unenumerated..3,146£3,08263866
Lighthouse, materials for..709....
Linen piece-goods—
  Forfars, dowlas, and flax sheetings n.o.e...16,928£2,69253880
  Forfars, dowlas, &c., cut up under supervision..£13,128....
  Hessians and scrim..41,810....
  Linens n.o.e...29,813£29,3325,866101
  Unenumerated..142....
Linseed..10½ ton.096
Liquorice..3,039£3,058611119
Machinery and machines—
  Agricultural (including agricultural implements)..115,899....
  Agricultural, ploughs and harrows..8,857....
  Biscuit and confectionery making..1,040£1,04020800
  Brick-making..1,127£1,12722580
  Cartridge-making..524£524104160
  Dairying..37,937....
  ” engines for..1,669£1,7078576
  ” boilers for..1,419£1,45072100
  Dredging..3,332£2,213110130
  Electric..178,061£114,48611,448118
  Envelope-making..934£934186160
  Engines, steam114 No.27,113£20,4004,079196
  ” gas and oil1,055 ”74,024£34,6216,924611
  ” boilers for60 ”6,870£7,2051,44100
  Flour-milling..3,581£3,516175168
  Gas-making..26,660£25,2372,523150
  Knitting90 No.7,306....
  Mining..18,911....
  ” engines for..2,384£2,38411940
  ” boilers for..225£2251150
  Paper-milling..1,277£49224126
  Portable and traction engines191 No.77,409....
  Printing..32,227£29,4951,474158
  Refrigerating..15,687£15,456772160
  Sewing13,114 No.45,749....
  Stone-crushing..379£37975160
  Woodworking..30,213....
  Woollen-milling..24,451£23,2841,16440
  Unenumerated..89,623£84,51115,123187
  Materials for, and parts of..17,336£4,18833990
Malt3,569 bush.1,0603,776 bush.377120
  Rice-malt11,920 lb.16111,920 lb.49134
Manures—
  Bonedust11,088 tons58.208....
  Guano5,523 ”15,204....
  Unenumerated22,071 ”74,583....
Marble—
  Dressed or polished, and manufactures..11,327£11,2092,80276
  Hewn or rough-sawn431 tons3,076....
  Wax                 (boxes)29,440 gross6,02143,386 gross2,928161
  Wooden                  ”45,313 ”3,10237,233 ”1,877136
Mats and matting..9,483£9,2771,85567
Meats, potted and preserved..2,830£2,81156236
Medicines, patent and proprietary..56,223£54,4978,174110
Metal, manufactures of—
  Anchors1,274 No.944....
  Japanned and lacquered metalware..1,048£1,055263176
  Rivets and washers8,356 cwt.8,254....
  Tacks1,914 ”2,904....
  Typewriters1,091 No.14,418....
  Weighbridges and weighing-machines..8,072£6,4741,294188
  Unenumerated..93,333£33,9926,79899
Metal sheathing, other than copper1,584 cwt.4,886....
Milk, preserved741,208 lb.13,761£13,5713,392140
Millinery—
  Feathers, ornamental..4,342£4,2071,051147
  Other kinds..63,225£63,06515,76680
Mustard213,851 lb.12,419222,124 lb.1,85108
Nails—
  Iron74,135 cwt.40,52673,820 cwt.9,68398
  Unenumerated68 ”17792 ”131710
Naphtha (wood)7,008 galls.1,4466,773 galls.16966
Nuts—
  Almonds, in shell25,917 lb.47026,825 lb.2231011
  Almonds, shelled39,478 ”2,80839,596 ”494191
  Almonds, Barbary, &c.125,581 ”4,330....
  Cocoanuts40,124 No.158....
  Unenumerated66,715 lb.1,19965,535 lb.54626
Oakum424 cwt.573....
Oars2,831 No.563....
Oils—
  Castor, bulk111,675 galls.10,65870,568 galls.1,764311
  Castor, bottled1,103 doz. pts378£25738110
  Cod-liver18,228 galls.3,615....
  Colza25,129 ”2,81412,903 galls.322116
  Fish, penguin, and sea29,258 ”2,903....
  Linseed404,099 ”41,762385,079 galls.9,626198
  Mineral, kerosene4,420,491 ”146,842....
  ” other kinds237,933 ”19,197188,350 galls.4,708153
  Neatsfoot303 ”37343 ”8116
  Olive, bulk7,498 ”1,3326,462 ”1611011
  Olive, bottled2,076 doz. pts1,058£1,03515550
  Whal145 galls.7....
  Unenumerated, bulk339,028 ”29,694304,596 galls.7,614181
  Unenumerated, bottled8,868 doz. pts3,858£3,9875971910
  Unenumerated385,956 galls.14,259....
Oilmen's stores..9,047£8,9661,793410
Onions64,580 cwt.13,61263,924 cwt.3,19649
Opium85 lb.8287 lb.17475
Paints and colours—
  Ground in oil50,588 cwt.56,59348,526 cwt.6,065150
  Mixed ready for use7,594 ”17,3196,673 ”1,66834
  Unenumerated16,556 ”16,534....
Paper—
  Bags, coarse153 ”149213 cwt.79187
  Bags, other kinds3,929 ”5,775£5,8021,450102
  Butter-paper4,407 ”7,441....
  Paperhangings..37,799£37,4315,912171
  Printing161,445 cwt.135,908£3,68073620
  Wrapping7,786 ”8,3027,443 cwt.2,27595
  Writing22,125 ”37,964....
  Unenumerated824 ”1,644....
Pearl barley2 ”52 cwt.022
Peas, split1,537 ”7841,494 ”14991
Peel, candied and dried14,248 lb.30514,369 lb.179122
Perfumery—
  Perfumed spirits1,968 galls.7,1851,960 galls.2,940126
  Toilet preparations..12,979£12,8323,207188
  Unenumerated..882£775193133
Photographic goods..6,086£5,8411,16831
  Copper, glass, and zinc plates for photo-litho graphic work..420....
  Photographic cameras and lenses..8,342....
  Sensitised surfaces for photographic purposes..18,230....
Pickles4,726 galls.1,3414,877 galls.731131
Pictures, paintings, drawings. engravings, and photographs..9,298£9,1541,830177
  Paintings, &c., for museums, &c...1,138....
  Family portraits..18....
Picture frames and mounts..4,688£4,64692940
Pitch1,505 cwt.867....
Plants, trees, and shrubs..4,936....
Plaster of-paris9,114 cwt.2,309....
Plate and platedware..72,570£71,02614,7451211
Portmanteaux and travelling-bags..8,496£3,6452,161811
  Leather bags and leather cloth bags..197£1973980
Potatoes121 tons518£30560193
  Seed potatoes22 ”141....
Printing materials—
  Stereotypes and matrices..170£172421911
  Type and materials, n.o.e...12,535....
  Eggs18,477 doz.708£708141120
  Eggs, desiccated, white and yolk..1,767£929185160
  Eggs, liquid, white and yolk..992£968193120
Provisions n.o.e...15,451£14,9892,997185
Pumps..9,499£9,4422,235157
Putty5,805 cwt.2,6135,792 cwt.579310
Quicksilver8,810 lb.1,063....
Railway plant—
  Locomotives10 No.16,332....
  Unenumerated..167,666£2,648529120
Resin24,229 cwt.10,820....
Rice74,688 ”47,139....
Rice-flour100 ”8798 cwt.291010
Rice-meal refuse125 ”20....
Rugs..18,202£18,3203,663192
Saccharine10,598 oz.21711,452 oz.878100
Saddlery and harness (including whips)..31,559£31,4046,280169
  Harness oil, composition, and leather-dressing..1,856£1,842368103
  Saddlers' ironmongery and materials..22,164....
  Collar-check7,996.. ..
Salt12,369 tons25,445....
  Rock salt580 ”1,239....
Saltpetre86 ”1,936....
Sashes, plain40 pairs2236 pairs3120
Sauces14,702 galls.9,80713,914 galls.2,782176
Sausage-skins223,703 lb.12,192198,051 lb.2,475129
Seeds—
  Grass and clover22,088 cwt.59,599....
  Unenumerated27,284.. ..
Shale73 tons185....
Shells9 cwt.18....
Ship-chandlery n.o.e...5,956....
Silks, &c.140,154£137,93234,483210 
  Silk for flour-dressing187.. ..
Silver326 oz.40....
Skins and pelts—
  Fur-skins106 No.9....
  Kangaroo and wallabi9,837 ”225....
  Unenumerated236,744 ”3,648....
Slates, roofing95,642 ”972....
Soap—
  Common41 cwt.3941 cwt.1030
  Soap-powder, extract of soap, &c...7,406£7,3231,464121
  Unenumerated..35,956£35,6908,922129
  Gold..365,208....
  Silver..26,028....
  Copper..429....
Specimens illustrative of natural science..210....
Spices—
  Ground23,830 lb.95921,532 lb.358173
  Unground591,848 ”17,618567,363 ”4,72807
Spirits—
  Bitters, cordials, and liqueurs3,047 galls.2,8033,017 galls.2,413167
  Brandy70,422 ”27,10567,502 ”54,00178
  Geneva and gin, unsweetened87,142 ”22,06173,645 ”58,91623
  Methylated164 ”29528 ”2687
  Rum20,642 ”3,34517,877 ”14,30186
  Sweetened5,785 ”1,5887,299 ”5,83948
  Whisky536,442 ”191,538470,358 ”376,28670
  Unenumerated3,698 ”3,5933,365 ”2,691181
Spirits of wine59,695 ”4,3981,780 ”1,42462
  Methylated, in bond....55,655 ”1,391710
Sponges..261£2493770
Starch905,518 lb.9,745896,640 lb.7,47201
  Starch, confectioners' moulding73,392 ”499....
Starch waste323,680 ”663....
Stationery—
  Manufactured..58,200£55,40113,85056
  Unenumerated..62,083£47,2749,454163
  Apparatus and appliances for teaching purposes..8,655....
  Bookbinders' materials..8,982 ..
  Cardboard boxes, materials for..14,304....
Steamers in sections2 No.3,461....
Stearine for match-making Stone—277,070 lb.5,522281,420 lb.87989
  Building568 tons1,356....
  Granite and other stone, dressed or polished..7,691£7,0311,757176
  Granite, unwrought..4£4040
  Grind, mill, oil, and whet stones..2,843....
Sugar—
  Raw955,620 cwt.477,8605,040 lb.10100
  Refined29,790 ”22,46891,836,904 ”191,326178
  Glucose6,259 ”4,462802,700 ”3,344118
  Molasses2 ”210,094 ”2107
  Golden syrup1 ”11,948,674 ”4,059149
  Treacle20 ”27720,920 ”1,501184
Sulphur14,942 ”4,463....
Tallow1 ton25....
  Bark3,473 tons34,437....
  Other kinds..2,868....
Tar..5,341....
Tarpaulins and tents..388£524104160
Tea6,131,958 lb.237,738580,576 lb.4,83828
Textile piece-goods other than silk, cotton, linen, or woollen..46,806£47,1959,43907
  Articles made up from, other than apparel..16,985£17,0504,26298
Timber—
  Laths and shingles1,639,150 No.1,8101,540,450 No.154011
  Logs2,319 ”9,466....
  Logs, hewn4,481,901 sup. ft.48,218....
  Palings622,020 No.4,067632,155 No.63231
  Posts20,200 ”70620,150 ”801210
  Rails4,900 ”1584,875 ”9150
  Sawn, undressed12,101,602 sup. ft.92,43311,327,605 sup. ft.11,327121
  Sawn, dressed148,758 ”3,281144,935 ”289173
  Unenumerated..1,097....
Tin—
  Block2,943 cwt.19,511....
  Foil30,085 lb.1,636....
  Sheet50,160 cwt.38,675....
Tinware..13,671£13,7813,44558
Tinsmiths' furnishings and fittings..2,105....
Tobacco—
  Unmanufactured34,338 lb.1,63226,170 lb.2,61700
  Manufactured2,004,241 ”167,4241,934,341 ”338,509131
  Cigars71,414 ”26,65268,343 ”23,92005
  Cigarettes242,773 ”60,93697,501,837 No. 13,788 oz.85,31429
      334140
  Snuff1,891 ”2451,805 lb.581176
Tobacco pipes and cases, &c...24,958£25,3526,337197
Tools and implements—
  Axes and hatchets..11,188....
  Engineers' machine tools..24,601....
  Scythes..1,727....
  Sheep-shears..3,053....
  Spades, shovels, and forks..14,485....
  Unenumerated..110,847....
Tramway plant..24,895£24,8414,96840
Turpentine, terebine, and driers237,966 galls.26,047....
Twine472,964 lb.14,540£12,5672,513910
  Nets and netting..1,877£1,872374100
  Binder2,454 cwt.5,757....
  Unenumerated..375....
Umbrellas and parasols..20,127£19,9193,983157
  Materials for..4,304....
Varnish and gold-size44,943 galls.20,22644,096 galls.4,409125
Vegetables, fresh, dried, or preserved..1,947£1,886377410
Vinegar47,095 galls.5,08045,045 galls.1,12624
Watches48,493 No18,437£17,3343,4661511
Watchmakers' materials..664....
Wax—
  Beeswax160 cwt.977....
  Paraffin, &c.1,030,015 lb.14,6771,001,399 lb.3,12975
  Unenumerated13,840 ”52113,847 ”861011
Whiting and chalk13,881 cwt.1,50113,859 cwt.692197
Wine—
  Australian50,625 galls.17,83350,375 galls.12,593157
  Sparkling10,154 ”17,95910,005 ”4,50227
  Other kinds62,745 ”21,06559,739 ”17,921123
Woodenware..35,515£21,6324,32680
  Mouldings..20,419£20,6443,096141
Wool—
  Greasy128,848 lb.2,913....
  Scoured22,270 ”1,323....
Woollen piece-goods..416,340£414,57282,914107
  Blankets21,489 pairs8,145£8,2311,64648
Woolpacks42,481 doz.43,059....
Woolpockets138 ”71....
Yarns..9,584£9,5821,916104
  Coir, flax, and hemp..6,213....
Zinc manufactures—
  Tiles, ridging, &c...10£10200
  Unenumerated..117£1122800
Zinc—
  Perforated sheet605 cwt.1,176....
  Plain sheet7,984 ”10,566....
  Spelter4,879 ”6,029....
Minor articles..7,206....
Articles and materials suited only for and to be used solely in the fabrication of goods within the colony..30,670....
Miscellaneous goods—
  Manufactured..18,017....
  Unmanufactured..7,621....
Parcels-post..165,939..34,341148
          EXCISE DUTIES.
Tobacco, manufactured......1,06150
Cigars......140186
Cigarettes made by hand......32130
Cigarettes made by machinery......291176
Pharmacopœia tinctures, essences, extracts, and medicinal spirits containing more than 50 per cent. of proof spirits......3,13862
Pharmacopœia tinctures, essences, extracts, and medicinal spirits containing less than 50 per cent. of proof spirits......22146
Culinary and flavouring essences......281108
Toilet preparations......806

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 1904 are given on page 307.

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:—

1900.1901.1902.1903.1904.

* See remark on page 328.

* 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.

|| Including £281 excise duty on culinary and flavouring essences, and £8 toilet preparations.

CUSTOMS DUTIES .£££££
Spirits442,090478,816483,582498,256520,664
Wine33,61435,86436,74535,71035,018
Ale, beer, &c.17,56218,84920,15220,41320,351
Cigars, cigarettes, and snuff82,35790,49094,992107,838110,151
Tobacco279,651296,016294,272322,227341,127
Tea68,96045,90542,40543,6064,838
Coffee, cocoa, &c.5,2854,6475,2885,9516,884
Sugar and molasses168,876173,055185,484192,675200,266
Opium6,4266,618*271*2192*2173
Other goods by weight178,554151,286166,687184,951198,231
” ad valorem775,649808,531867,209982,8001,098,387
Other duties94,68759,31665,21976,24579,758
Parcels-post16,64322,40522,73731,03234,341
          Totals, Customs duties2,170,3542,191,7982,285,0432,501,8962,650,189
          EXCISE DUTIES.£££££
Tinctures—New Zealand*1,638†2,198‡2,454§3,560||3,450
Cigars, cigarettes, and snuff —New - Zealand-manufactured129174190371466
Tobacco — New - Zealand - manufactured2,3762,5962,0961,6511,061
Beer—New Zealand85,14189,18589,74294,44097,331
    Totals, excise duties89,28494,15394,482100,022102,308
 £s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
Revenue from Customs duties per head of mean population (excluding Maoris)2161021642173310329
Ditto (including Maoris)214021352144217102198
Revenue from excise duties per head of mean population (excluding Maoris024025024.4025.3025.1
Ditto (including Maoris)022.7023.5023023.8023.6

The Customs revenue for the year 1904 amounted to £2,650,189, and the excise duties to £102,308. The revenue from Customs was £3 2s. 9d. per head of population excluding Maoris, and £2 19s. 8d. if they be included. In 1890 the Customs revenue was £2 9s. 3d. per head of European population, and the proportion increased to £2 11s. 6d. in 1892. 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 1904 being higher than in any year since 1878. Details for fifteen years are given:—

CUSTOMS REVENUEPER HEAD OF EUROPEAN POPULATION.
 £s.d.
1890293
1891297
18922116
18932104
1894264
1895269
18962911
18972130
18982133
18992145
190021610
19012164
19022173
1903310
1904329

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 to £3 5s. 2d. in 1904.

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 per cent., 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 £12,900,030 in 1904, while the changes of tariff were effected.

The Customs revenue for 1904 was increased by the sum of £52,930 in consequence of “The Preferential and Reciprocal Trade Act, 1903,” but the exemption in favour of British-grown tea resulted in a considerable loss of revenue. The duty collected on all tea imported in 1903 was £43,606, while in 1904 only £4,838 was received. The preferential duties which have been imposed on articles not British produce or manufacture are stated on page 107, 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 89 to 108). 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 1/2lb. and under, and 6d. per ounce weight over 2 ½ 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, 1904), 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 ½d., and glucose 1d. per pound. Opium is charged 40s. per pound, but 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 106 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.
* Extract from “The Preferential and Reciprocal Trade Act, 1903.”
Cement2s. the barrel2s. the barrel.
Basket and wicker ware 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 lengths20 ”10 ”
Boots, shoes, and slippers n.o.e.; goloshes, clogs, pattens, vamps, uppers, and laces22 ½ ”11 ¼ ”
Candles1d. the lb. or package of that reputed weight½d. 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 ware20 ”10 ”
Clocks20 ”10 ”
Cordage and rope n.o.e.20 ”10 ”
Cream of tartar1d. the lb.½d. the lb.
Earthenware, stoneware, and brown ware20 p.c. ad val.10 p.c. ad val.
Fancy goods and toys20 ”10 ”
Firearms, all kinds20 ”10 ”
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 than iron25 p.c. ad val.12 ½ p.c. ad val.
Glass, crown, sheet, and common-window2s. the 100 sup. ft.1s. the 100 sup. 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 holloware20 p.c. ad. val.10 p.c. ad val.
Hops6d. the lb.3d. the lb.
Iron nails2s. the cwt.1s. the cwt.
Iron pipes, and fittings for same, including main-cocks5 p.c. ad val.2 ½ p.c. ad val.
Lamps, lanterns, and lamp-wick20 ”10 ”
Musical instruments—viz., pianos20 ”10 ”
Paperhangings15 ”7 ½ ”
Paper, wrapping—viz., blue candle, glazed cap, glazed casings, small-hand, lumber-hand, and tissue5s. the cwt.2s. 6d. the cwt.
Paper, wrapping, other kinds, including brown, cartridge, and sugar papers5s. ”2s. 6d. ”
Plate and platedware20 p.c. ad val.10 p.c. ad val.
Pumps and other apparatus for raising water20 ”10 ”
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-engines20 ”
Gum boots20 ”
Iron and steel cordage20 ”
Iron, plain black sheet, rod, bolt, bar, and plate20 ”
Printing-paper*20 ”
Rails for railways and tramways*20 ”
Sail-cloth, canvas, and unbleached double- warped duck20 ”
Surgical and dental instruments and appliances20 ”

Exemptions from provisions of sections 2 and 3.

4. The provisions of sections two and three hereof shall not be applicable in 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 arc in course of preparation on the passing of this Act.

Tea produced in British dominions is free (from the 31st March, 1904), 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 Coast.Total Imports.
Admitted Free of Duty.On which Duty Payable.Admitted Free of Duty.On which Duty Payable.Admitted Free of Duty.On which Duty Payable.
* Of this sum .£100,497 value was for Government uses.
 ££££££
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
1904629,560679,74251,509167,104681,069846,846

To show the nature of the imports from the United States of America a statement giving the articles and values thereof for the year 1904 is introduced. Examining the figures, it will be found that tobacco to the value of £152,423 was imported into New Zealand last year; boots and shoes, £90,232; oils, £170,246; hardware, &c., iron and steel, with machinery, tools and implements, &c., came to £485,533. The rest is a very miscellaneous list of articles, to which paper and fruit contributed more than £40,000 each.

LIST OF PRINCIPAL ARTICLES IMPORTEDFROM UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN 1904.
 £
Apparel and slops14,773
Arms, ammunition, and explosives16,616
Belting, other than leather1,634
Bicycles and tricycles11,310
Bicycles and tricycles, materials for7,094
Blacking1,030
Books8,567
Boots and shoes90,232
Brass, manufactures of2,268
Brushware and brooms, and materials for1,951
Building materials5,770
Candles12,296
Canvas8,634
Carriages, &c.—
   Automobiles, motor cars, and motor cycles, and materials for10,154
   Carriages2,815
   Carts, drays, and wagons1,006
   Perambulators and go-carts, materials for7,962
   Carriages and carts, materials for10,714
Clocks9,751
Confectionery2,027
Cordage1,684
Cotton piece-goods9,685
Drapery2,062
Drugs, chemicals, and drug gists' wares20,296
Earthenware1,435
Engine-packing1,778
Fancy goods and toys13,433
Felt sheathing3,663
Fish9,744
Foods, farinaceous3,694
Fruits, bottled and preserved13,389
Fruits, dried19,220
Fruits, fresh8,445
Furniture, cabinetware, and upholstery14,976
Furniture, knife, and plate powder and polish3,449
Glass bottles, empty4,045
Glassware11,116
Grain and pulse2,854
Grease1,717
Grindery3,044
Haberdashery3,648
Hardware, holloware, and ironmongery45,543
Hops1,669
Indiarubber and gutta-percha goods3,837
Ink1,469
Instruments, musical6,620
Instruments, other kinds11,228
Iron and steel99,672
Lamps, lanterns, and lamp-wick10,290
Leather23,227
Leather manufactures2,339
Machinery and machines—
   Agricultural (including agricultural implements)55,807
   Agricultural—ploughs and harrows3,586
   Brick-making1,127
   Dairying6,589
   Electric34,388
   Engines, steam2,188
   Engines, gas and oil28,834
   Mining2,705
   Printing2,927
   Refrigerating6,027
   Sewing27,434
   Woodworking11,371
   Other20,007
Medicines, patent and proprietary20,093
Metal, manufactures of26,757
Nails20,757
Oils—
   Kerosene140,055
   Other kinds30,191
Paints and colours6,710
Paper—
   Bags2,074
   Paperhangings2,707
   Printing37,452
   Writing3,851
   Other kinds1,776
Perfumery2,835
Photographic goods2,668
Pictures, paintings, drawings, &c.1,563
Plaster-of-paris1,873
Plate and platedware2,991
Printing materials1,589
Provisions—eggs1,443
Provisions, n.o.e.3,361
Pumps3,306
Railway plant—
   Locomotives15,219
   Other2,103
Resin9,544
Saddlery and harness4,078
Sausage skins10,663
Seeds—
   Grass and clover17,634
   Other2,208
Soap8,554
Spirits1,782
Stationery13,531
Sugar, glucose3,993
Timber10,106
Tinware1,480
Tobacco—
   Tobacco105,931
   Cigars5,566
   Cigarettes40,926
Tools and implements —
   Axes and hatchets10,954
   Engineers' machine tools4,243
   Spades, shovels, and forks4,365
   Unenumerated and other45,339
Tramway plant7,591
Turpentine, terebine, and driers21,557
Varnish and gold-size2,106
Watches5,568
Wax8,707
Woodenware26,635
Other imports34,615
 £1,527,915
IMPORTS FROM GERMANY, 1896-1904.
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
190370,191204,10625.5974.41
190469,594239,21022.5477.46

Among the imports from Germany the principal items in value were musical instruments, fancy goods and toys, iron and steel, hardware, &c., and glassware.

LIST OF PRINCIPAL ARTICLES IMPORTEDFROM GERMANY IN 1904.
 £
Acids1,869
Apparel and slops7,302
Arms (firearms)1,025
Basketware and wickerware1,203
Bicycles and tricycles, materials for1,704
Boots and shoes2,311
Brushware and brooms, and materials for3,317
China, porcelain, and parianware9,068
Clocks2,052
Cotton piece-goods3,323
Cutlery1,325
Drapery5,319
Drugs, chemicals, and druggists' wares6,371
Dyes1,823
Earthenware2,813
Fancy goods and toys28,098
Furniture, cabinetware, and upholstery8,759
Glass bottles, empty3,451
Glass, mirrors and plate1,635
Glass, window1,383
Glassware12,755
Haberdashery1,862
Hardware, holloware, and ironmongery12,252
Hosiery3,512
Ink, printing1,032
Instruments, musical, pianos50,371
” ” other3,785
Instruments, other kinds1,217
Iron and steel16,171
Lamps, lanterns, and lampwick3,925
Leather1,496
Machinery and machines—
   Dairying2,029
   Electric2,267
   Sewing2,199
   Other3,007
Manures5,151
Matches and vestas1,740
Metal, manufactures of1,954
Nails5,590
Paper—
   Butter-paper1,508
   Paperhangings2,607
   Printing6,040
   Wrapping1,632
   Other kinds505
Perfumery1,559
Photographic goods1,405
Plate and platedware1,563
Seeds3,586
Spirits3,010
Spirits of wine1,042
Stationery8,030
Tobacco2,826
Tobacco-pipes and cases, &c.1,828
Tools and implements2,192
Tramway plant1,741
Watches1,220
Woodenware6,929
Woollen piece-goods5,008
Zinc1,197
Other imports26,910
 £308,804

Chapter 43. SECTION XI.—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 overestimate. 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 1904, inclusive of specie (£9,598), was £14,748,348. The value of New Zealand produce exported, £14,601,787, gives an average of £17 5s. 7d. per head of population, against £18 1s. 10d. for the previous year. The decrease in the value of exports of New Zealand produce for 1904 in respect of that for 1903 amounts to £236,405, or 1.59 per cent.

While a slight decline is noticeable in the value of exports of New Zealand produce for 1904 when compared with that for 1903 (£236,405), the imports, on the other hand, have already been shown to have risen from £12,788,675 to £13,291,694, an increase of £503,019.

The position as to balance of trade was at the end of last year as under:—

 £
Exports, 190414,748,348
Imports, ”13,291,694
       Excess of exports for year£1,456,654

The difference is smaller than for the previous year (1903), but it must be remembered that while an expenditure of loan-moneys is proceeding it is scarcely to be expected that the imports will not more or less expand in consequence, and therefore there may be at times less margin between them and the exports than would otherwise obtain. And the exports for a calendar year are often adversely affected by wool leaving the colony late and becoming portion of the exports of the first quarter of a following year.

Exports to Different Countries.

The values of exports for the years 1894 and 1904 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.1894.1904.
 ££
United Kingdom7,903,49311,876,273
New South Wales500,755843,720
Victoria319,637871,935
Queensland11,3558,214
Western Australia14,15440,393
South Australia15,02933,502
Tasmania9,47619,858
Other British possessions54,831271,069
United States287,196598,921
Other foreign ports115,127184,463
 £9,231,047£14,748,348

A comparison for each of 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 89 per cent. in case of exports to foreign States, against a rise of 91 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 69 per cent. in the decade.

Year.Exports to
United Kingdom.British Colonies and Possessions.Foreign States.
 £££
18957,045,6461,091,062413,516
18967,541,9811,346,544432,580
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
190411,876,2732,088,691783,384

The following are the values of exports to different countries or places in 1904 and 1903, arranged in order of magnitude of increase or decrease in the later year to each:—

Country, Colony, State, &c.1904.1903.Increase.
 £££
United Kingdom11,876,27311,345,075531,198
France25,81213,43512,377
Canada12,4202,21910,201
Navigators Islands39,73529,7529,983
Uruguay8,8131,8906,923
Germany23,93117,5846,347
Belgium7,3149856,329
South Australia33,50229,2394,263
British Columbia3,5412023,339
Brazil3,3671,0302,337
Society Islands25,06722,9772,090
Norfolk Island2,3321,447885
Holland2,4231,565858
Fanning Island2,1711,519652
Caroline Islands546..546
Transvaal Colony730230500
Easter Island390..390
Marshall Islands325..325
Uganda217..217
Friendly Islands35,43335,272161
Sweden528402126
Surprise Island71467
Singapore70566342
Rhodesia281018
New Britain66764918
Burmah16..16
Madras21912
Orange River Colony14104
Italy1111..
Country, Colony, State, &c.1904.1903.Decre
 £££
Natal127,503336,321208,81
Victoria871,9351,068,751196,816
New South Wales843,720974,460130,740
Cape Colony25,906118,61692,710
United States of America598,921669,64970,728
Western Australia40,393100,75960,366
Argentine Republic92830,94130,013
Queensland8,21437,28929,075
Hongkong36,03157,57721,546
Fiji55,62161,7176,096
Tasmania19,85823,4983,640
Denmark3,0806,0983,018
Falkland Islands..1,9121,912
Portuguese East Africa..1,5781,578
New Hebrides261,4891,463
Japan1,3192,070751
Bengal3,3294,076747
Ceylon425819394
Solomon Islands9691,332363
Sandwich Islands1,2191,527308
Philippine Islands15288273
China73330257
New Caledonia2,1662,292126
Bombay3012999
Switzerland21831395
Ocean Island..7878
Antarctic Regions..6060
Austria76659
Java..5151
Malden Island295829
New Guinea..2020
Chili..99
Russia4117
Norway6126
Greece..33

Re-exports.

The re-export trade of the colony would seem from the subjoined figures to have been almost stationary for the last eleven years. The re-exports of merchandise in 1904 were valued at £136,963, or less than 1 per cent. of the total exports, excluding specie.

EXPORTS OF BRITISH, FOREIGN, AND OTHER COLONIAL PRODUCE (EXCLUDING SPECIE).
 £
1894136,402
1895127,966
1896122,571
1897144,955
1898124,850
1899123,682
1900168,009
1901179,350
1902136,860
1903133,734
1904136,963

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 bullion and specie, amounted in 1903 to £3,995,719, or no less than 18.43 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 Total Export.
 ££North Island.Middle Island
19006,707,9646,526,39750.7049.30
19016,077,7246,787,54647.2452.76
19027,085,2756,543,38951.9948.01
19037,994,2276,995,30753.3346.67
19048,369,3486,358,27856.8343.17

The North Island exported in 1904 more than half of the total for the two Islands.

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 1904:—

 1904.1903.
 ££
Wellington2,779,6842,737,762
Auckland2,512,9382,501,605
Lyttelton2,156,2882,670,513
Dunedin1,388,0731,441,085
Napier1,145,845892,238
Timaru917,375886,985
Invercargill and Bluff790,923814,654
Poverty Bay651,362541,077
Greymouth449,458417,802
New Plymouth390,046398,737
Wanganui338,135416,983
Patea301,238264,059
Oamaru227,650292,648
Wairau and Picton222,959219,129
Waitara129,07288,173
Kaipara121,028153,593
Nelson99,518105,014
Westport70,04393,202
Hokitika35,99154,275

The decrease of exports during 1904 was £514,225 at Lyttelton, £53,012 at Dunedin, £23,731 at Invercargill and Bluff, £78,848 at Wanganui, £64,998 at Oamaru, £32,565 at Kaipara, £5,496 at Nelson, £8,691 at New Plymouth, £23,159 at Westport, and £18,284 at Hokitika.

Value of Articles exported.

A comparative table showing the values of New Zealand domestic exports, according to their nature, for seventeen 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 , 1903 AND 1904.
 Year 1903.Year 1904.Increase in 1904.Decrease in 1904.
THE MINE.££££
Coal128,927139,89810,971..
Gold2,037,8321,987,501..50,331
Silver and minerals98,845123,70924,864..
        Total2,265,6042,251,108..14,496
THE FISHERIES.
Fish16,44718,2841,837..
Oysters2,4452,785340..
Other2,3432,693350..
        Total21,23523,7622,527..
THE FOREST.
Fungus9,29011,1561,866..
Kauri-gum631,102501,817..129,285
Timber—
   Sawn and hewn240,713254,02113,308..
   Other4,1522,194..1,958
        Total885,257769,188..116,069
ANIMALS AND PRODUCE.
Bacon and hams14,6786,222..8,456
Beef and pork (salted)11,18810,601..587
Butter1,318,0671,380,46062,393..
Cheese194,998185,4869,512..
Hides55,21653,4311,785..
Live-stock39,07637,733..1,343
Preserved meats96,21764,588..31,629
Frozen meat3,197,0432,793,599..403,444
Rabbit-skins40,72740,843116..
Sausage-skins65,38556,434..8,951
Sheep-skins and pelts468,969401,726..67,243
Tallow517,871357,974..159,897
Wool4,041,2744,673,826632,552..
Other14,25416,4852,231..
        Total10,074,96310,079,4084,445..
     AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
Bran and sharps26,9488,895..18,053
Chaff2,806474..2,332
Flour2,7363,079343..
Grain—
   Barley26,91713,322..13,595
   Beans and peas35,06640,1135,047..
   Maize3,65653..3,603
   Malt26996..173
   Oats453,702212,724..240,978
   Wheat14,068126,035111,967..
Hops21,82628,7406,914..
Oatmeal13,273548..12,725
Potatoes13,0289,366..3,662
Seeds (grass and clover)109,04995,835..13,214
Other kinds21,50119,963..1,538
        Total£744,845£559,243..£185,602
   MANUFACTURES.
Apparel2,5202,105..415
Leather94,02467,940..26,084
Phormium fibre595,684710,281114,597..
Woollen manufactures..5,0156,3571,342
Other manufactures126,115109,679..16,436
        Total823,358896,36273,004..
Miscellaneous22,93022,716..214
Total exports (colonial produce and manufactures)14,838,19214,601,787..236,405
Specie38,4529,598..28,854
Other exports (British and foreign)133,734136,9633,229..
        Total exports£15,010,378£14,748,348..£262,030

The class designated “Animals and Produce" shows by far the greatest value, the sum for 1904 being £10,079,408, which includes £4,673,826 for wool and £2,793,599 for frozen meat. The total value of exports in this class increased during the year by £4,445 on a total of £10,074,963 in 1903.

Although the value of wool exported in 1904 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 £2,251,108 for 1904, being a decrease of £14,496 on £2,265,604, the export for the previous year.

“Agricultural Products,” principally grain, potatoes, and seeds, show a decrease of £185,602 on the value exported in 1903, many of the items showing a considerable falling-off. Wheat, however, is an important exception, for the increase of export value is £111,967 for the year.

“The Forest” shows an export for last year valued at £769,188, which is a decrease of £116,069 on the figures for the previous year. Sawn and hewn timber was exported to an increased value, but the kauri-gum exported declined in value by the large sum of £129,285.

“Manufactures” are set down at £896,362 in 1904. being £73,004 more than in the previous year. Phormium fibre shows an increase on the operations for 1903 of £114,597. Woollen manufactures sent abroad increased by £1,342, leather decreased by £26,084, and apparel, with other manufactures, by £16,851.

The smallest group in respect to value is “The Fisheries.” The total for the group was £23,762 last year, an increase of £2,527 on the value of similar exports in 1903.

Quantities of Articles exported.

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 1903.Year 1904.Increase in 1904.Decrease in 1904.
* At 20 lb. to the bushel.
The Mine:—
   CoalTons152,332165,22012,888..
   GoldOz.533,314520,323..12,991
   Silver911,9141,094,461182,547..
   MineralsTons7011,607906..
The Fisheries:—
   FishCwt.10,0019,601..400
   OystersDoz.294,690335,86841,178..
   WhaleboneLb.4,1443,248..896
The Forest:—
   FungusCwt.4,2804,936656..
   Gum (kauri)Tons9,3579,203..154
   Timber (sawn and hewn) S.ft.57,097,99060,326,9923,229,002....
Animals and Produce:—
   Bacon and hamsCwt.3,7711,674..2,097
   Beef and pork (salted)7,5727,458..114
   Butter285,106314,36029,254..
   Cheese74,78084,5269,746..
   HidesNo.53,34754,8231,476..
   Live-stock (cattle, horses, sheep, pigs)22,7158,577..14,138
   Meats (preserved)Cwt.39,52522,788..16,737
   ” (frozen)2,378,6501,912,979..465,671
   Sausage-skins14,52112,460..2,061
   Skins (rabbit)No.6,101,8996,103,9302,031..
   ” (sheep) and pelts7,142,5316,037,460..1,105,071
   TallowCwt.396,940322,480..74,460
   WoolLb.155,128,381144,647,376..10,481,005
Agricultural Products:—
   Bran and sharpsTons6,2263,664..2,562
   Chaff768109..659
   Flour249387138..
   Grain, barleyBush.154,13775,193..78,944
   ” beans and peas160,403193,01732,614..
   ” maize18,058420..17,638
   ” malt1,020374..646
   ” oats4,956,3302,693,417..2,262,913
   ” wheat71,700813,535741,835..
   HopsCwt.3,8735,7531,880..
   OatmealTons1,39194..1,297
   Potatoes3,1703,698528..
   Seeds (grass and clover)*Bush345,324259,240..86,084
Manufactures:—
   Ale and beerGals.20,14620,306160..
   CordageCwt.757615..142
   Leather15,46511,177..4,288
   Phormium fibreTons22,65226,9364,284..
   SoapCwt.8,0428,251209..

The increases in certain articles, amongst them wheat, hops, silver, phormium, fungus, cheese, and butter, are very satisfactory, and in some cases very considerable; while, on the other hand, the export of wool, frozen meats, tallow, and live-stock, with some other items, declined in 1904.

New Zealand Produce exported: Value for Seventeen Years.

The position as to value in respect of a period of seventeen years, 1888 to 1904 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 1904 was £2,081,222.

EXPORTSOF NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE.
Calender Year.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
18904,150,599751,3601,087,617207,6871,289,864547,9471,393,6879,428,761
18914,129,6861,007,1721,194,724235,933894,467420,3571,516,7559,400,094
18924,313,307951,9631,033,377318,2041,035,637367,6771,345,7039,365,868
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
19004,749,1961,439,6022,123,881969,7811,230,565549,3421,992,93213,055,249
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
19044,673,8261,987,5012,793,5991,565,946559,243896,3622,125,31014,601,787

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. A slight decrease is shown for the last year of the series (1904). This is consequent on the use of figures for the calendar year.

Thus there was a net increase of exports, since 1895, to the value of £6,211,634, 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 144,647,376 lb. in 1904, or at the rate of 40.68 per cent., and that of frozen meat from 898,894 cwt. to 1,912,979 cwt.

Gold, too, which was exported to the quantity of 187,641 oz. in 1890, increased to 520,323 oz. in 1904, the rate of increase being 177.30 per cent.

Wool exported and produced.

The quantity of wool exported in 1904, as previously shown, was 144,647,376 lb., valued at £4,673,826—a decrease of 10,481,005 lb., or 6.76 per cent., on the quantity exported in the previous year, but an increase of £632,552, or 15.65 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. But this method does not allow for wool or sheep-skins exported.

The following shows the produce for each of the last seventeen 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
1904141,031,6995,191,451146,223,150

From these figures it appears that, notwithstanding the apparent decrease from 1898 to 1901, and for 1904, the wool-clip has increased by over 56 ½ per cent. during the last seventeen 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 apparent weight. The percentages of greasy, scoured, and washed wool to the total quantities exported during the last seven years are:—

Years.Greasy.Scoured and Sliped.Washed.
 Per Cent.Per Cent.Per Cent.
189878.6220.361.02
189977.5421.640.82
190078.6220.101.28
190178.2520.611.14
190273.8224.261.92
190376.4722.151.38
190479.8718.931.20

Although the increase in the wool-production since 1888 is, of course, mainly due to the greater number of sheep — namely, 18,280,806—in April, 1904, it becomes necessary to note that there is a diminution since 1902 to the number of 2,061,921. In fact, the number of sheep has receded in two years to less 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, 1892 TO 1904.
Size of Flocks.1892.1891.1890.1898.1900.1903.1904.

* 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.

§ From 1,000 to 2,500, 2,078 flocks; from 2,500 to 5,000, 604 flocks.

Under 5008,82210,31412,02812,88612,23912,42812,177
500 and under 1,0002,0332,4272,0052,7082,8102,9232,909
1,000 ” 2,0001,1931,4091,4602,412*2,621†2,751‡§2,742
2,000 ” 5,000761933892
5,000 ” 10,000314345340341352342362
10,000 ” 20,000231230231231196207199
20,000 and upwards176179147144139110104
      Totals13,53015,83717,70318,72218,35718,76118,493

It will be apparent that the general tendency of increase since the year 1892 is towards the multiplication of the smaller flocks, whose owners are 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, and in 1904 only 6,103,930 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
19046,103,930

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
190440,843

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 Sheep-skins 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 sheep-skins and pelts sent away from New Zealand was 1,646,401, against 6,037,460 in 1904, a rise of 267 per cent. for the period between those years. The value increased from £83,574 to £401,726, or 381 per cent. Figures for the last ten years are quoted:—

Year.Export of Sheep-skins and Pelts.
 No.
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
19046,037,460

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 322,480 cwt. in 1904. In 1903 the quantity was 396,940 cwt. The ten latest years show the following results:—

TALLOW EXPORTED .
Years.Cwt.£
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
1904322,480357,974

The decreases for 1903 and 1904 synchronize with those 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 1904, 1,912,979 cwt., valued at £2,793,599, 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
1903266,408,800
1904214,253,648

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.) of rabbits, valued at £118,884; those for 1903 include 8,145 (588 cwt.) of hares, and 4,452,829 (112,972 cwt.) of rabbits, valued at £100,088; and those for 1904 include 8,509 (683 cwt.) of hares, and 3,788,576 (100,442 cwt.) of rabbits, valued at £86,931: 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 1904 it is necessary to take into consideration, with the amount of £2,793,599, value of frozen meat before stated, £4,015 for frozen poultry and £12,029 for frozen fish; also the value of preserved meats, £64,588; of salted beef and pork, £10,601; and of bacon and hams, £6,222.

Gold exported.

The amount of gold exported in 1904 was 520,323 oz., a decrease of 12,991 oz. on the quantity exported in 1903.

The total quantity of gold entered for duty to the 31st December, 1904, which may be reckoned as approximately the amount obtained in the colony, was 16,626,141 oz., of the value of £65,136,648. For fuller information, see special section on mining.

Grain exported.

The value of the grain exported in 1904 was £392,346. The grain exports for 1903 and 1904 were made up as under:—

 1903.1904.
Bushels.£Bushels.£
Wheat71,70014,068813,535126,035
Oats4,956,330453,7022,693,417212,724
Barley154,13726,91775,19313,322
Malt1,02026937496
Maize18,0583,65642053
Peas and beans160,40335,066193,01740,113
Rye and unenumerated1,100187223
       Total quantity and value5,362,748£533,8653,775,978£392,346

Compared with the previous year, the quantity and value of grain exported in 1904 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. In 1902 and 1903 the quantity sent out of the colony fell to 194,671 bushels and 71,700 bushels respectively, but in 1904 the export was 813,535 bushels.

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
1904813,535

The imports of wheat during 1898 exceeded the exports by upwards of 50,000 bushels, but from 1899 to 1904 the imports were practically nil, the small quantity introduced into the colony being for seeding purposes only.

In oats, the quantity exported in 1904 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
19042,693,417

The acreages under cereals for the last four years have been:—

 1901-1902.1902-1903.1903-1904.1904-1905.
Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.
Land in wheat (for threshing)163,462194,355230,346258,015
” oats ”405,924483,659409,390342,189
” barley ”26,51427,92134,68129,484

Butter and Cheese exported.

The total quantity of butter and cheese exported in the past sixteen 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.
188937,95521,09926,5587,633
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
189896,80180,81468,71141,412
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
1904314,360299,17184,52682,046

Of the butter exported in 1904, 299,171 cwt., valued at £1,309,977, were shipped to the United Kingdom; 151 cwt., value £631, to Victoria; 20 cwt., value £94, to Tasmania; 25 cwt., value £105, to Western Australia; 677 cwt., value £3,109, to Fiji; 12,897 cwt., value £59,527, to Cape Colony and Natal; 1,055 cwt., value £5,418, to the South Sea Islands; 3 cwt., value £14, to Norfolk Island; 56 cwt., value £242, to Transvaal Colony; 1 cwt., value £5, to Hongkong; 5 cwt., value £28, to Bengal; 285 cwt., value £1,244, to British Columbia; 13 cwt., value £61, to United States of America; and 1 cwt., value £5, to China.

Of the cheese exported, 82,046 cwt., valued at £178,940, were sent to the United Kingdom; 259 cwt., value £941, to New South Wales; 317 cwt., value £977, to Victoria; 912 cwt., value £2,137, to Western Australia; and 103 cwt., value £451, to the other Australian States; 707 cwt., valued at £1,501, to Cape Colony and Natal; and 182 cwt., valued at £539, to other countries. While the quantity of butter exported in 1904 (314,360 cwt.) shows an increase of 728 per cent. on the quantity exported in 1889, the increase in the export of cheese during the sixteen years has been at the rate of 218 per cent.—84,526 cwt. in 1904, as against 26,558 cwt. in 1889.

Phormium fibre exported.

Phormium fibre, of which 26,936 tons (excluding 1,201 tons of tow), valued at £710,281, were exported in 1904, shows an increase in the export, on comparing the figures for last year with those for 1903, when the quantity sent away was 22,652 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 1904 (9,203 tons) is a substantial one. The value was £501,817, or an average of £54 10s. 7d. 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.

DETAILS OFALL EXPORTS, 1904.
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...576..1616
Alkali —
   Soda, causticcwt.1..1..1
   Unenumerated437261541
   Agricultural implements......8601,0721,932
   Ambergrislb.2..147..147
Animals, living—
   BirdsNo.7..17..17
   Cattle, horned480..4,781..4,781
   Bees......22..22
   DogsNo.31..68..68
   Donkeys..7..2828
   Horses344919,10252519,627
   Lizards2..20..20
   Pigs323..477..477
   Poultry3,056..535..535
   Sheep7,430..12,711..12,711
   Apparel and slops......2,1053,1125,217
Arms, ammunition, and explosives—
   Caps, percussionNo...50,000..1313
   Cartridges3,90028,60020106126
   Detonators........4646
   Dynamitelb...900..6666
   FirearmsNo...39..182182
   Fusecoils..1,410..5252
   Ordnance stores........750750
   Powder, sportinglb...1,600..169169
   ” blasting..100..44
   Shotcwt...6..1010
   Unenumerated........1818
Bacon and hams—
   Baconcwt.583..2,041..2,041
   Hams1,091..4,181..4,181
Bags and sacks—
   Cornsacksdoz.8062,518161458619
   Unenumerated15126,717202,8422,862
Basketware......15..15
Bêche-de-mercwt...6..1717
Beergalls.20,3063,4531,9877912,778
Belting—
   Leatherlb...310..7070
   Other than leather........146146
Beverages, non-alcoholic—
   Aerated watersdoz.2,1316244313456
   Limejuice, unsweetenedgalls.3,81716523512247
Bicycles and tricyclesNo.65270500570
   Materials for......11,3501,351
Biscuits—
   Fancylb.22,65080048716503
   Ships', plaincwt.5,406414,4221484,570
Blacking........223223
Blacklead........4242
BoatsNo.5..573..573
Bonestons16..73..73
Books, printed......5,3275,68411,011
Boots and shoesdoz. prs.495502551,9792,234
Brantons3,599..8,629..8,629
Brass—
   Pigs, bars, &c.cwt...183..307307
   Manufactures........5454
BricksNo.4,000..12..12
Bricks, fire534177431861
Brushware and brooms......38689
Building material......7639115
Buttercwt.314,360..1,380,460..1,380,460
Candleslb...1,625..3535
Canvas........7777
Carpeting and druggeting......20785805
Carriages, &c.—
   CarriagesNo.161388174562
   Carts and wagons33..328..328
   Perambulators6..20..20
   Materials for......1..1
Casks, emptyNo.1214,08124877901
Cementbarrels372443182181363
Chafftons109..474..474
Chainscwt...2..1010
Cheese84,526..185,486..185,486
Chicorylb...22,880..9595
Chinaware......20402422
Coalstons165,220340139,898198140,096
Cocoa and chocolatelb...3,048..196196
Coffee—
   Raw3,33511,82356252308
   Roasted642180311142
Confectionery—
   Chocolate in plain trade packageslb...125..1111
   Unenumerated14,8805,071402181583
Copper, pig, bar, and sheetcwt...1..11
Copperware......11112
Cordagecwt.6151941,3604311,791
   Iron and steel..42..100100
Cork, cut........5757
Cottons—
   Calico........2,1832,183
   Cheese-cloth........1616
   Tubular-woven cotton cloth........268268
   Unenumerated........4,8274,827
Cotton—
   Rawlb...2,412..4444
   Wick..2,180..9191
Cutlery........205205
DoorsNo.569..608..608
Drapery......491,9291,978
   Lace and laces........326326
Drugs—
   Baking-powder......4610
   Chemicals n.o.e.......1,0261661,192
   Cream of tartarlb...13,664..525525
   Insecticides......10212
   Drugs, and druggists sundries......2431,3911,634
   Anhydrous ammonia........55
   Medicinal barks........6767
   Phosphorus........3434
   Sheep-dip......5681,1971,765
   Washing-powder........7070
Dyes........6464
Earthenware......165275440
Eggsdoz.6,391..388..388
Engine-packingcwt...40..493493
Essential oilslb...56..1212
Fancy goods and toys......9252,7573,682
   Curiosities......1,504..1,504
Felt sheathing........2020
Fire-hose and other appliances......52530
Fish—
   Driedcwt.418669161230
   Potted and preservedlb.139,05386,2936,1862,0478,233
   Frozencwt.8,319..12,029..12,029
   OvaNo.267,000..260..260
Fishing-tackle........8989
Floorcloth and oilcloth........173173
Flourtons387..3,079..3,079
Foods, animal, n.o.e.16412176......
Foods, farinaceous—
   Arrowrootlb...1,040..1414
   Sago and tapiocacwt...30..1919
   Maizena and cornflourlb...920..1313
Fruits—
   Bottled and preserveddoz.48248296998
Fruits, dried—
   Currantslb...11,566..131131
   Raisins..9,231..176176
   Unenumerated12028,0873494497
Fruits, freshlb.94,77316,200906981,004
   Pulp and partially preserved997,717..11,053..11,053
Funguscwt.4,936..11,156..11,156
Furniture and upholstery......760148908
Furniture and other polish........4646
Furs........1,0091,009
Gelatine and isinglasslb.9204025061111
Glass bottles, empty........155155
Glass—
   Brokencwt.721220501666
   Mirrors........1111
Glassware......8602610
Glycerinecwt.457..747..747
Goldoz.520,323..1,987,501..1,987,501
Grain and pulse—
   Barleybush.75,193..13,322..13,322
   Beans and peas193,0172940,1132240,135
   Maize420..53..53
   Oats2,693,417..212,724..212,724
   Rye22..3..3
   Wheat813,535..126,035..126,035
Greasecwt...4..66
Grindery........170170
Gum, kauritons9,203..501,817..501,817
Haberdashery........448448
   Buttons........2020
   Sewing-cottons......5367372
Haircwt.908..4,006..4,006
Hardware, holloware, and ironmongery......2863,3263,612
Hats and capsdoz.224575240315
Hay and strawtons59..182..182
HidesNo.54,823..53,431..53,431
Honeylb.55,166..1,204..1,204
Hopscwt.5,7538628,74015528,895
Horns and hoofstons53..1,272..1,272
Hosiery......8654071,272
Indiarunbber goods........1,0311,031
Ink—
   Printinglb...125..1212
   Writing......25..25
Instruments, musical—
   HarmoniumsNo...5..5050
   Pianofortes..14..634634
   Unenumerated......6586592
Instruments—
   Scientific........359359
   Surgical and dental........248248
   Surveying........111111
Iron and steel—
   Anglecwt.10..5..5
   Bar, bolt, and rodtons..24..361361
   Bolts and nutscwt...3..55
   Castings for shipstons7..96..96
   Galvanised manufactures......312339651
   Pipes and fittingscwt...69..7272
   Sheet and platetons..754449
   Sheet, galvanised, corrugatedcwt...2,155..1,8281,828
   Sheet, galvanised, plain..60..5959
   Tanks, 400 galls.No...25..7979
   ” 200 galls...2..33
   Wire, fencing, barbedtons..28..380380
   ” ” plain..5..6161
   Wire netting........170170
   Wire, n.o.e.tons..1..1717
   Unenumerated11102434
Jams, jellies, and preserveslb.16,1296,11927799376
Jellies, concentrated..1,749..5353
Jewellery......343514857
Jewellers' sweepings......18075255
Lamps, lanterns, and lampwick......25271296
Lardcwt.68..88..88
Leather11,177267,9404067,980
Leather manufactures......129118247
Limebush.1,402..59..59
Linen piece-goods......57176
Linseedcentals3,774..1,660..1,660
Machinery—
   Agricultural......2,3601,5863,946
   Dairying......1641,8782,042
   Dredging......9,8851,01010,875
   Electric......71,1521,159
   Engines, steamNo...15..1,0101,010
Engines, parts of......53203256
   ” boilers forNo.1420063263
   ” gas and oil..12..1,2121,212
   Flour-milling........157157
   Gas-making........177177
   Mining......7,5841,3548,938
   Printing........1,2761,276
   Refrigerating......15680695
   Sewing and knittingNo.11198582590
   Woodworking........175175
   Woollen-milling........365365
   Unenumerated......8653,9034,768
Materials for, and parts of........6666
Maltbush.374..96..96
Manures—
   Bonedusttons..22..130130
   Unenumerated37561,557311,588
Marble......1199110
Matches and vestas gross boxes....995..207207
   Wooden..3,611..258258
Mats and matting......17884262
Meal, oatencentals1,281..548..548
Meats—
   Beef, frozencwt.172,311..211,960..211,960
   ” salted7,305..10,155..10,155
   Kidneys, frozen5,865..11,569..11,569
   Lamb, frozencarcases1,917,126..1,062,476..1,062,476
= cwt.1,917,126 584,793
   Mutton, ”carcases2,050,542..1,370,546..1,370,546
= cwt.1,014,741
   Mutton (joints), frozencwt.26,872..35,901..35,901
   Pork, frozen3,389..8,004..8,004
   ” salted153..446..446
   Poultry, frozenpairs19,596..4,015..4,015
   Veal, frozencwt.134..199..199
   Other kinds, frozen3,749..6,013..6,013
   Rabbits, frozen in the skinsNo.3,788,576..86,422..86,422
= cwt.100,442
   Hares, frozen in the skinsNo.8,509..509..509
= cwt.683
   Potted and preserved22,7882364,5885764,645
   Extractlb.14,737..1,958..1,958
   Unenumeratedcwt.583..1,465..1,465
Medicines, patent......128287415
Metal manufactures......1,3995,1346,533
    TypewritersNo...20..227227
    Rivets and washerscwt...17..2929
    AnchorsNo...1..1515
    Weighbridges........1616
Metal, oldcwt.10,773304,050304,080
Milk, preservedlb.263,24353,5415,2301,1146,344
Millinery......8108116
    Feathers, ornamental......80323403
Minerals—
    Auriferous oretons977..8,898..8,898
    Hæmatite7..96..96
    Ironsand100..59..59
    Manganese196..570..570
    Scheelite-ore17..791..791
    Unenumerated310..420..420
Mustardlb...72..44
Nailscwt...423..382382
Naphthagalls...775..109109
Nuts—
    Almonds in shelllb...440..1313
    CocoanutsNo...1,920..1111
    Unenumeratedlb.150..3..3
Oakumcwt...9..1616
Oil—
    Castor, bulkgalls...33..44
    Colza..635..9292
    Cocoanut2,650..300..300
    Fish, penguin, and seal..15..33
    Linseed..2,989..387387
    Vegetable..64..1111
    Kerosene..149,654..7,3427,342
    Mineral, other kinds..3,999..329329
    Neatsfoot302..20..20
    Olive, bulk..557..126126
    Whale6,619..536..536
    Unenumerated206,51615564579
Oilmen's stores........2,1952,195
Onionscwt.5,370..1,922..1,922
Opiumlb...122..8181
Oystersdoz.335,868..2,785..2,785
Paints and colours—
    Ground in oilcwt...471..681681
    Mixed ready for use137951,4611,466
    Unenumerated61..37..37
Paper—
    Bags685..586..586
    Printing..53..5959
    Wrapping716208522224746
    Writing..34..120120
Peel, candied and driedlb.284..5..5
Perfumery—
Perfumed spiritsgalls...29..4141
    Unenumerated........3535
Phormiumtons26,936..710,281..710,281
    Tow1,201..3,866..3,866
Photographic goods......35669704
Pictures......6,1661,2807,446
Picture frames and mounts......9514
Pitchcwt.63331604164
Plants and shrubs......624..624
Plate and platedware......2662,1462,146
Pollard and sharpstons65..266..266
Portmanteaux......1..1
Potatoestons3,698..9,366..9,366
Printing materials......4281285
Provisions......1,0257451,770
Pumps......202285487
Ragscwt.98789024906
Railway plant........44
Ricecwt...777..658658
Rugs......2,975563,031
Saccharinecz...112..44
Saddlery......6673401,007
Salttons..90..272272
Sashespairs1,179..852..852
Saucesgalls.362376130136
Sausage-skinscwt.12,46013856,43422056,654
Seeds—
    Grass and clover46,29316695,83548696,321
    Unenumerated......3,2852023,487
Shells, pearlcwt.2261591106
Ship-chandlery......402552954
Silk piece-goods........461461
Silveroz.1,094,461..112,875..112,875
Skins—
    Calf and other kindsNo.11,060..2,121..2,121
    Rabbit6,103,930..40,84316041,003
= lb.1,003,040
    Sheep, with woolNo.533,413..106,976..106,976
=lb.4,206,976
    Sheep, without woolNo.5,504,047..294,750..294,750
=lb.12,833,612
    Pelt pieceslb.16,800..131..131
Soap—
    Commoncwt.8,251..7,227..7,227
    Powder........2424
    Unenumerated........108108
Specie—
    Gold........6,8206,820
    Silver........2,7782,778
    Specimens illustrative of natural science......1,607..1,607
Spices—
    Groundlb.27..1..1
    Unground..14,454..1,1751,175
Spirits—
    Bitters, cordials, &c.galls...18..2222
    Brandy..592..275275
    Gin and geneva..891..282282
    Rum..3,540..214214
    Sweetened..10..44
    Whisky..6,451..2,7122,712
Stationery......1,3721,2592,631
Stearinecwt.l28..180..180
Stone—
    Buildingtons31..85..85
    Wrought......71273
    Pumicetons901..2,317..2,317
    Greenstonecwt.338..2,151..2,151
Sugar—
    Refinedlb.679,58445,8245,2143525,566
    Molasses and treaclecwt.5..3..3
Tallowtons16,104..357,386..357,386
    Mutton stock, oleomargarine20..588..588
Tanning materials—
    Bark, crudetons145..812..812
    Other kinds......617
Tar........1212
Tarpaulins and tents......21..21
Tealb...164,695..6,6116,611
Textile piece-goods........751751
Textiles, made up......628
Timber—
Logs, hewnsup. ft.521,839..1,499..1,499
    Sawn, undressed58,627,586..242,368..242,368
    ” dressed1,177,567..10,154..10,154
    Unenumerated......1,376..1,376
Tin—
    Blockcwt...½..33
    Sheet..45..6868
Tinware......165306471
    Tinsmiths' fittings........88
Tobacco—
    Manufacturedlb.1,14058,512295,8685,897
    Cigars..2,531..883883
    Cigarettes..4,397..1,5021,502
Tobacco-pipes........2828
Tools—
    Axes and hatchets........189189
    Engineers' machine tools........44
    Sheep-shears........383
    Unenumerated......112494606
Tramway plant........88
Turpentinegalls...162..2828
Twine—
    Reaper-and-bindercwt.4,638..9,088..9,088
    Unenumerated......128128
Umbrellas and parasols........232232
Varnish and gold sizegalls.3245912184196
Vegetables......2692271
Vinegargalls...3..11
WatchesNo...761..1,3551,355
Wax—
    Paraffinlb...336..77
    Beeswaxcwt.1..1..1
Whalebone29..1,735..1,735
Wine—
    Australiangalls...237..121121
    Sparkling..249..459459
    Other kinds5070535359394
Woodenware......1,1352281,363
Wool—
    Greasylb.115,533,028..3,574,618..3,574,618
    Scoured11,301,822..476,351..476,351
    Sliped16,074,533..569,346..569,346
    Washed1,737,993..53,511..53,511
Woolpacksdoz...17..2121
Woollen piece-goods......2,6948903,584
” blanketspairs715..685..685
Yarns......3..3
Zinc—
Speltercwt.1,2343098312721,103
Goods, miscellaneous—
    Manufactured......791182973
    Unmanufactured......1,9944652,459
Parcels-post......20,722..20,722

A table is appended giving details of goods forwarded in the year 1904 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..358
Apparel and slops n.o.e...538
Bags and sacks754 doz.258
Biscuits1,380 cwt.1,279
Boots and shoes67 dcz. pairs356
Butter69 cwt.335
Casks, empty626 No.227
Cement742 barrels347
Coal2,331 tons1,167
Cordage61 cwt.140
Cotton piece-goods..2,125
Drapery..1,645
Fancy goods and toys..196
Fish, preserved..409
Flour106 tons1,095
Furniture and upholstery..215
Hardware, holloware, and ironmongery....730
Hosiery..174
Iron and steel..840
Matches2,379 gross boxes279
Meats, salted and preserved1,297 cwt.3,244
Metal manufactures..191
Nails, iron..320
Oils7,684 galls.395
Oilmen's stores..786
Provisions, unenumerated..439
Rice509 cwt.344
Rugs..173
Soap, common688 cwt.513
Specie..950
Spirits608 galls.221
Sugar, refined722 cwt.685
Timber..4,127
Tobacco..581
Woollen piece-goods..359
Miscellaneous..2,603
         Total value of goods shipped to the Islands..£28,644

Of the above, goods to the value of £28,544 were forwarded from Auckland, £2 from Wellington, £2 from Oamaru, and £96 from Dunedin.

Particulars of goods cleared outwards from these annexed islands in 1904 will be found in Section X., p. 307.

TOTAL VALUE OF TRADE.

The value of the total trade of New Zealand advanced from £13,431,804 in the year 1886 to £28,040,042 in 1904. But of these amounts some portion was coin. Excluding the specie, the figures for 1886 are £12,853,736, and for 1904 £27,638,780.

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
190023,892,25710,646,09613,246,16110,207,32613,223,2583,015,932
190124,699,33911,817,91512,881,42411,353,41612,869,8101,516,394
190224,971,70011,326,72313,644,97710,958,03813,635,4592,677,421
190327,799,05312,788,67515,010,37812,075,95914,971,9262,895,967
190428,040,04213,291,69414,748,34812,900,03014,738,7501,838,720

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 nineteen years the excess of exports over imports, excluding money sent to and from the colony, amounted to a total sum of £44,850,146.

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.
 £
18811,406,898
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 £3,640,4.21 in the year 1890.

Again considering the results for the nineteen years, 1886-1904, during which 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 14s. 2d. in 1904: imports from £10 17s. 1d. to £15 5s. 4d., and exports from £11 4s. 6d. to £17 8s. 10d.

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
18902513101002151382419491101584
1891251041066153102571010431537
1892251321016314161125561091114157
1893240910901311922181191651326
1894231199191113111022711816513116
189521111094101270212881681260
18962358101111339232291911331
18972501111331317824117111713100
189825931137145825611113114310
18992711511131151842778119815180
19003159131810176113013813741764
19013115015310161123129141111161010
19023160143111721301661314817110
1903331710151110186032196141451851
1904333815147179132142155417810

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 £15 5s. 4d. in 1904.

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 1904 amounted to £19,858,613, comprising 70.82 per cent. of the total.

With the Australian States trade was done during 1904 to the value of £3,710,658, of which New South Wales claimed £2,020,537, and Victoria £1,474,940, made up as follows:—

EXPORTS FROM NEW ZEALAND.
 £
To New South Wales, 1904843,720
  ” Victoria, 1904871,935
IMPORTS INTO NEW ZEALAND.
From New South Wales, 19041,176,817
  ” Victoria, 1904603,005

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 146,615 tons, valued at £137,427.

The imports from the United States in 1904 show an increase when compared with the previous year's figures, and the exports a decrease. Details of articles imported will be found on page 332.

The articles of exported New Zealand products for 1904 were:—

EXPORTSTO UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
 £
Gum kauri), value296,787
Phormium fibre ”106,871
Sheep-skins ”96,690
Wool ”46,654
Sausage-skins ”34,867
Coal ”1,779
Grass-seed ”858
Onions ”823
Leather ”210

The following table shows the value of the total trade with the United States for each of the past ten years, 1895 to 1904 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.
 £££££
1895351,82342,410298,53618,103710,872
1896419,68973,151263,56463,025819,429
1897521,939106,105252,013123,0831,003,140
1898700,55599,856337,059286,0741,423,544
1899687,90687,403387,61445,8851,208,808
1900958,286103,587424,31434,4821,520,669
19011,174,745240,515332,175186,9041,934,339
19021,146,575172,362447,62342,3411,808,901
19031,239,535201,823563,885105,7642,111,007
19041,309,302218,613542,47056,4512,126,836

The development in the decennial period is at the rate of nearly 200 per cent., or an increase in value of £1,415,964.

Figures showing ten years' trade with Germany exhibit advancing imports reaching for the year 1904 to the substantial sum of £308,804. Details of articles imported from Germany will be found on page 333.

TRADE WITH GERMANY.
Year.Imports from.Exports to.Total Trade.
 £££
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
1903274,29717,584291,881
1904308,80423,931332,735

The principal articles of New Zealand produce exported to Germany in the year 1904 were:—

 £
Gum (kauri)19,924
Wool1,052
Greenstone746

The trade with India and Ceylon reached a total of £466,419, against £400,103 in 1903. The imports—tea, rice, castor-oil, woolpacks, &c.—were reckoned at £462,598, leaving a balance of only £3,821 for exports.

The value of the South African trade from 1895 to 1904 is as follows:—

Year.Imports from.Exports to.Total Trade.
 £££
18955810,25510,313
189612912,50812,637
1897876,7956,882
1898722,7662,838
189921590,18790,402
1900502405,419405,921
1901386825,476825,862
1902997754,059755,056
1903299455,187455,486
1904804154,398155,202

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 1903:—

State or Colony.Total Value ofExcess of Exports over Imports.Excess of Imports over Exports.
Imports.Exports.
 ££££
Queensland6,731,2079,514,9742,783,767..
New South Wales26,770,16926,738,111..32,058
Victoria17,859,17119,707,0681,847,897..
South Australia6,618,6278,300,4451,681,818..
Ditto, Northern Territory125,245189,91464,769..
Western Australia6,769,92210,324,7323,554,810..
Tasmania2,593,8102,843,108249,298..
New Zealand12,788,67515,010,3782,221,703..

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
1903105,339,39246,142,24059,197,152..13,054,912

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 five 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 £17,656,948. 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; but in 1903 the value of imports shows a decrease of over a million and a quarter, while the exports exceeded those of the previous year by nearly five millions and three-quarters, the value of the excess of the latter being more than thirteen millions sterling.

The trade per head of the population in each of the States of the Australian Commonwealth and New Zealand in 1903 was:—

TRADE PER HEAD OFTHE POPULATION IN 1903.
State or Colony.Mean Population.Imports.Exports.Total Trade
  £s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
Queensland512,69013271811231139
New South Wales1,422,8031816418151037122
Victoria1,208,8801415616603116
South Australia361,7241851122181141410
Ditto, Northern Territory4,311......
Western Australia221,278301111461327751
Tasmania177,54714122160330125
New Zealand820,2171511101860331710

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 1903, and the rate per head of mean population, were as follow:—

State or Colony.Home Produce exported.Per Head of Population.
 ££s.d.
Queensland9,087,87417146
New South Wales18,665,8041325
Victoria14,940,0241272
South Australia5,157,5191452
Ditto, Northern Territory179,535..
Western Australia10,193,4494614
Tasmania2,804,380151511
New Zealand14,838,19218110

The next table sets forth the amount of the trade of each of the above-named States and colony with the United Kingdom in 1903:—

State or Colony.Imports from the United Kingdom.Exports to the United Kingdom.Total Trade with the United Kingdom.
 £££
Queensland2,061,6852,627,3834,689,068
New South Wales6,651,8207,559,75914,211,579
Victoria5,977,9473,280,1349,258,081
South Australia1,929,8791,786,3963,716,275
Ditto, Northern Territory28,11830,22558,343
Western Australia2,599,1424,071,9686,671,110
Tasmania597,540606,8881,204,428
New Zealand7,512,66811,345,07518,857,743

The statement appended shows the relative importance of Australasia as a market for the productions of the United Kingdom:—

EXPORTSOF HOME PRODUCTIONS FROMTHE UNITED KINGDOM, IN 1903, TO
 £
British India and Ceylon35,917,383
Cape of Good Hope and Natal25,287,611
Germany23,550,631
United States22,605,131
Australasia22,505,828
France15,800,011
Dominion of Canada11,112,577
Russia9,114,434
Belgium8,797,812
Holland8,686,410
Argentine Republic8,010,585
Italy7,801,211
Sweden and Norway7,201,327
China6,740,637
Egypt6,439,936
Brazil5,605,795
Turkey5,534,617
Japan4,591,619
Spain4,574,687
Denmark, Iceland, and Greenland4,078,374
Straits Settlements3,125,945
Chili3,009,040
West India Islands and Guiana2,735,588
Hongkong2,719,614
Java, &c.2,542,835
Portuguese possessions in Eastern Africa2,514,699
Portugal2,036,286

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 4,800,000, thus takes the fifth place in importance for consumption of British produce, the exports thereto being more than three-fifths the value of similar exports to British India, with its 294,000,000 inhabitants

Chapter 44. SECTION XII.—TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION.

SHIPPING .

THE shipping entered inwards during 1904 comprised 629 vessels, of 1,154,569 tonnage; while entered outwards were 620 vessels, of 1,144,764 tonnage. Comparison with the figures for the previous year shows in the entries an increase of 12 vessels and of 52,505 tons, and in the clearances an increase of 12 vessels and 31,599 tons. Of the vessels inwards, 149, of 495,667 tons, were British; 410, of 496,427 tons, colonial; and 70, of 162,475 tons, foreign. Those outwards numbered 146, of 487,961 tons, British; 403, of 493,270 tons, colonial; and 71, of 163,533 tons, foreign. Compared with the figures for 1903 there was an increase of 4 vessels and of 39,926 tons in British vessels entered, and in the colonial shipping entered of 7 vessels and 18,008 tons. Foreign shipping shows an increase of 1 in the number of vessels entered, and a decrease of 5,429 tons. Of the entries in 1904, 229, of 115,251 tons, were sailing-vessels, and 400, of 1,039,318 tons, steamers. Of the clearances, 226, of 120,779 tons, were sailing-vessels, and 394, of 1,023,985 tons, steamers. The shipping inwards and outwards for eleven years is given in the table following:—

VESSELS ENTERED, 1894-1904.
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
1895611672,95122,074146299,6676,887420319,31313,2094553,9712,028
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
19046291,154,56931,478149435,6678,548410496,42716,90170162,4756,029
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
1899604807,86624,11715 2355,4427,194379386,21914,6567366,2052,267
1900613825,27523,481149368,2416,978397388,43614,1536768,5982,350
1901691075,90630,028177462,1797,954441458,994l6,10673154,7335,968
19026111,048,77029,294152447,3517,983385437,48915,17174163,9306,140
19036081,113,16530,660141462,1227,890401485,33716,50366165,7066,267
1904620144,731,049146487,9618,341403493,27016,65971163,5336,49
NOTE.—Coasting-vessels are not included in the above table.

The noticeable feature in the operations for the period covered by the table 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 eleven 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, 1904.
 Number.Tons.
Sailing-vessels5,002343,930
Steamers18,8099,343,873
SHIPPING CLEARED COASTWISE, 1904.
Sailing-vessels4,967357,100
Steamers18,7069,376,869

The total number of vessels entered coastwise was thus 23,811, of 9,687,803 tons, an increase of 374 vessels and 471,582 tons on the figures for 1903. The total clearances coastwise were 23,673 vessels, of 9,733,969 tons, an increase of 525 vessels and 466,989 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, 1904 (distinguishing sailing-vessels and steamers), was as under:—

REGISTERED VESSELS, 31ST DECEMBER, 1904.
Ports.Sailing-vessels.Steam-vessels.
Vessels.Gross Tonnage.Net Tonnage.Vessels.Gross Tonnage.Net Tonnage.
Auckland20819,59618,16310313,3287,796
Napier8601588181,585872
Wellington223,3553,186346,5993,591
Nelson9301280101,357780
Lyttelton306,0875,839102,5831,097
Dunedin4113,24212,9406887,11953,374
Invercargill141,3331,279424874
        Totals33244,51542,275247112,81967,584

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.

In the year 1860 a contract was let for the construction of the first New Zealand railway. Up to the year 1870 there were only 46 miles of railway in operation. In that year the construction of railways came to be part of the public-works policy just then initiated, and the Railways Act of 1870 authorised certain lines to be made and surveys of others. In 1876 the abolition of the provinces placed the earlier constructed railways in the hands of the General Government. At that time there were 718 miles open for traffic.

The length of Government railways open for traffic on the 31st March, 1905, was 2,374 miles, of which 919 were situated in the North Island and 1,455 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, 484 miles. The Middle Island sections comprise the Hurunui-Bluff, with branches, 1,240 miles; Westland, 117; Westport, 31; Nelson, 33; Picton, 34 miles. The estimated total cost of construction to 31st March, 1905, was £21,701,572, (besides £1,302,132 spent on unopened lines) and the average cost per mile of open line £9,141.

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 fifteen years:—

Year.Length open.Train-mileage.Passengers.Season Tickets issued.Goods and Live-stock*
* The equivalent tonnage for live-stock has been given.
     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
1897-982,0553,666,4834,672,26448,6602,628,746
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
1904-19052,3746,107,0798,514,112140,4534,185,468

The traffic in local products for the past fifteen years was:—

Year.Wool.Timber.Grain.Minerals.Horses and Cattle.Sheep and Pigs.
 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
1893-94101,340183,192411,191864,53851,5731,394,456
1894-95103,328198,578388,556857,91752,0751,563,213
1895-9699,368213,132374,699878,65950,7661,893,058
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
1904-1905107,625493,327732,4801,806,360126,5753,490,752

NOTE: The percentage of expenditure to revenue was for 1894-1895, 63.62; for 1899-1900, 64.80; and for 1904-1905, 67.58.

The revenue for the year 1904-5 amounted to £2,209,231; and the total expenditure to £1,492,900. The net revenue— £716,331—was equal to a rate of £3 6s. per cent. on the capital cost; the percentage of expenditure to revenue was 67.58. The earnings on some of the lines ranged as high as £8 14s. 3d., and even £9 13s. 4d., per cent.

The particulars of the revenue and expenditure for the past fifteen 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.
 £££££££%£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
1900-01544,97672,7121,051,69457,8541,727,2361,127,847599,38965.30398
1901-02621,01979,5611,110,57563,4311,874,5361,252,237522,34966.80386
1902-03625,69887,2731,189,10171,9661,974,0381,343,415530,62368.05361
1903-04704,66010,1511,293,16972,6612,180,6411,438,724741,91765.983118
1904-05738,158115,0511,277,97678,0462,209,2311,492,900716,33167.58360

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.

The revenue per (average) mile of railway open during the year was £938, and the expenditure £634; equal to 7s. 2 ½d. and 4s. 10 ½d. per train-mile respectively.

The total number of miles travelled by trains was 6,107,079.

In addition to the above railways, there were 113 miles of private lines open for traffic on the 31st March, 1905—including the Wellington-Manawatu Railway, 84 miles.

The cost of the construction of the Wellington-Manawatu Railway is now returned as £816,730, being at the rate of £9,723 per mile. The term "cost of construction,” as applied to railways, includes value of equipment, rolling-stock, &., not merely the road-line and buildings. The gross earnings for the twelve months ended the 28th February, 1905, amounted to £127,733, and the working-expenses to £72,616, equivalent to 56.85 per cent. of the gross receipts.

Australasian Railways.

The following statement gives the average number of miles of Government railways open for traffic in Australasia:—

RAILWAYS (STATE ONLY).
State or Colony.Year endedAverage Miles open.Train Miles Bun.Cost of Construction of Open Lines.Gross Receipts.Working Expenses.Percentage of Net Revenue to Cost.Number of
LocomotivesVehicles.
Passenger.Goods and Live-stock.

* Includes 7 ½ miles private lines worked by Government.

† State railways only.

    £££%   
Queensland30 June, 19042,8284,646,98720,887,5851,305,552811,9512.363474537,359
New South Wales30 June, 19043,22410,400,50342,288,5173,436,4132,258,9402.7862068213,005
Victoria30 June, 19043,3719,172,64441,216,7033,438,1411,921,8673.685501,20010,465
South Australia30 June, 19041,8823,770,63314,698,3111,177,645688,6143.333454396,474
Western Australia30 June, 19041,5354,594,2348,955,9291,588,0841,179,6244.563292695,759
Tasmania31 Dec, 1903*462931,716†3,883,729247,683166,3552.09751791,523
New Zealand31 Mar., 19052,3476,107,07921,701,5722,209,2311,492,9003.3038986413,885

In addition to the Government lines open for traffic in 1903-4, New South Wales had 81 ½ miles of private railway; Western Australia, 629 miles (partly used for timber conveyance); Queensland, 268; Tasmania, 158 ½ miles, 7 ½ miles of which are worked by Government; and New Zealand, on 31st March, 1905, 113 miles.

POSTAL AND ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

There were 1,887 post-offices in New Zealand at the end of 1904.

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 1903, was as under:—

Total Number dealt with.
 1903.1904.Increase.
Letters60,512,64765,119,5604,606,913
Letter-cards1,174,8101,381,874207,064
Post-cards1,453,4632,310,551857,088
Books and pattern-packets19,567,73420,107,921540,187
Newspapers19,696,43421,500,7441,804,310
Parcels327,629357,50429,875

The average number of letters, &., posted per head of the population in each of the past five years was,—

 1900.1901.1902.1903.1904.
Letters and letter-cards49.0163.4968.0770.3873.40
Post-cards2.431.881.551.682.43
Books and parcels21.1021.0921.4521.8021.62
Newspapers16.1717.8116.7917.2018.23

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 weigh′, 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, &., in 1903 and 1904:—

Country.Number of Parcels.
Received.Despatched.
 1903.1904.1903.1904.
United Kingdom and foreign countries viâ London37,65243,8087,5758,552
United States5,0245,3101,2861,321
Vancouver353386167286
Victoria5,0585,9372,3653,062
New South Wales8,8659,2873,3223,842
South Australia347417325394
Queensland449555453677
Tasmania349320496589
Western Australia291292394560
Samoa1212170175
Fiji7367286328
Ceylon2603907874
Uruguay....2124
Cape Colony352391396445
Natal8411489107
India486601154204
        Totals59,65567,88717,57720,640

The declared value of the parcels received from places outside the colony was £165,939, on which the Customs duty amounted to £34,341 14s. 8d.

The number and weight of parcels dealt with from 1896 to 1904 are given. The word "parcels" in the first-named table includes the parcels herein mentioned:—

1896.1897.1898.1899.1900.1901.1902.1903.1904.
Parcels, No.186,611197,554204,603223,350233,456273,442291,670327,629357,504
Weight, lb.654,333676,054698,301765,836794,994928,2371,034,3421,161,5841,279,707

Money-orders and Postal Notes.

The number of offices open for the transaction of money-order business at the end of 1904 was 526.

During 1904, 407,783 money-orders, for a total sum of £1,476,887 8s. 5d., were issued at the various post-offices in the colony. The money-orders from places beyond New Zealand and payable in the colony numbered 30,844, for the amount of £117,617 8s. 6d.

The number of offices open for the sale of postal notes at the end of 1904-5 was 620: 785,347 postal notes were sold, value £250,123 7s. 6d. Commission amounted to £5,404.

The notes paid numbered 775,417, value £247,320 15s. 6d.

Mail-services.

The cost of the various mail-services between England and New Zealand was, in 1904, as follows:—

SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE.1904
Payments—£s.d.
     Subsidies, &.24,64647
     Interprovincial and other charges4,76145
      £29,40790
Receipts—
     Contributions from Fiji5664
     Postages collected in the colony14,317185
 £14,37449
          Loss to the colony£15,03343
PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL AND ORIENT LINES SERVICES.
Payments—
    To P. and O. and Orient Lines3,649190
    Transit across Australia152194
    ” European Continent348106
    Intercolonial services1,99360
 £6,1441410
Receipts—
    Postages collected from England and from foreign offices1,504011
    Postages collected in the colony1,776111
 £3,280210
        Loss to the colony£2,864120

The total amount of postages collected and contributions received for these services in 1904 was £17,654 7s. 7d.

The average number of days in 1904 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—
      Auckland30.5537.3038.15
      Wellington31.6738.6739.42
      Dunedin32.7239.1239.25
      Bluff33.4738.3738.50

Electric Telegraph.

The first Government telegraph-lines in New Zealand were constructed by the provincial authorities.

The Canterbury Provincial Government opened a line between Christchurch and Lyttelton in the beginning of the year 1863. On the 12th February, 1864, the Southland Provincial Government opened a line between Invercargill and the Bluff. The General Government subsequently acquired both the above-named lines, and further established communication by wire between Dunedin and Invercargill, also Dunedin and Christchurch, on the 25th May, 1865.

Messrs. Driver and McLean, merchants, of Dunedin, erected a private line between Dunedin and Port Chalmers, which was opened to the public in 1861, and acquired by the General Government some time after the opening of through communication between Lyttelton, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Bluff, referred to above.

There were 7,944 miles of telegraph-line open at the end of March, 1905, carrying 23,704 miles of wire. 5,159,745 telegrams were transmitted during the year; of these, the private and Press messages numbered 4,900,495, which, together with telephone exchange and other telegraph receipts, yielded a revenue of £250,063 1s. 3 ½d.

There were twenty-eight central exchanges and fifty-seven sub-exchanges on the 31st March, 1905. The number of connections increased from 12,105 in March, 1904, to 13,423 in March, 1905. The subscriptions to these exchanges during the financial year amounted to £79,061 7s. 4d.

The capital expended on the equipment, &., of the several telephone exchanges up to the 31st March, 1905, was £295,029 7s. 2d.

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, via 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 45. SECTION XIII.—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 £65,136,648 was obtained prior to the 31st December, 1904; the value of the produce for the year 1904 having been £1,987,501. 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 1904 amounted to £657,153 in value, the quantity mined in 1904 having been 1,094,461 oz., valued at £112,875.

Of other minerals, the value of the product to the same date amounts to £23,458,673, of which kauri-gum yielded £12,359,087, and coal, with coke, £10,789,204.

The quantities and values of precious metals and minerals obtained during the year 1904, and the total value of all mining produce since 1853, are:—

 1904.Total Value since 1853.
 Oz.££
Gold520,3231,987,50165,136,648
Silver1,094,461112,875657,153
 1,614,7842,100,37665,793,801
Tons.
Copper-ore....18,211
Chrome-ore....38,002
Antimony-ore....52,598
Manganese-ore19657061,626
Hæmatite-ore796439
Mixed minerals1,40410,168132,295
Coal1,537,838826,20710,764,400
Shale....7,211
Coke (exported)....24,804
Kauri-gum9,203501,81712,359,087
  £3,439,234£89,252,474

Of the gold entered for exportation during the year ended the 31st March, 1905—viz., 519,212 oz., representing a value of £2,008,576—about 55 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, 1905, is £65,636,837, about 25 per cent. came from quartz - mines and 75 per cent. from alluvial workings.

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 New Zealand's greatest mine is worthy of especial comment.

In an article written on the Hauraki Goldfields by Waldemar Lindgren, of the United States Geological Survey Department, and published in the New Zealand Mines Record of the 17th April, 1905, the Hauraki Peninsula is stated to be one of the most interesting gold-mining regions of the world, and the Waihi Mine is thus described:—

From Karangahake a wagon-road leads up to Waihi, a distance of ten miles, first through the picturesque cañon of the Ohinemuri, then over a bleak and hilly fern-covered plateau, only about 300 ft. above the sea, and sloping towards the east coast. The central topographic feature at the Waihi is Martha Hill, containing the croppings of the Martha lode, and rising to 500 ft. above the sea-level.

Cropping conspicuously, the Waihi lodes were discovered in 1878, and rich ore was found near the surface; but it proved difficult to amalgamate by plates or by pans, and only about two-thirds of the value was recovered. Important developments began in 1890, when the ground was acquired by the Waihi Gold-mining Company, and more especially in 1894, when the cyanide process was introduced. The total production from 1890 to the end of 1903 has amounted to £3,100,000.

During 1904 the production has continued at the rate of about £50,000 per month, or £600,000 per year. In 1903 the ore averaged £2 10s. per ton; the expenses were £300,000, leaving a profit of £335,000; dividends for 1904 were 60 per cent. on a capital of £500,000, or 10 per cent. on present share values. Total dividends paid by the company add up to £1,355,000, and ore-reserves are estimated at 583,000 tons. Of the 330 stamps, the larger number drop on oxidized ores. Wet-crushing has recently been introduced; 40-mesh screens are used, and the duty is consequently rather small; the pulp is separated, the sand cyanided directly, and the slime by aid of filter-presses. A. small number of stamps run on sulphide ore, the pulp of which is further treated on plates and vanners, while the tailing is again separated and the slime cyanided.

The geological features are simple. Martha Hill forms a projecting small area of andesitic rock which contains the gold veins, and is surrounded by later non-mineralised rhyolite tuff. After the veins were formed some erosion took place, and over this accentuated topogrophy the ryolites were poured out. The mine developments prove this, for in many places the drifts suddenly run out into the barren rhyolite, often containing carbonised wood; this is especially noteworthy on the second level, where the old surface is shown to have been steep.

At the time of my visit the depth attained was only 500 ft.; however, the total lengths of the drifts must aggregate many miles. There are half a dozen veins within a short distance, dipping steeply and striking N.N.E., but with slightly radiating directions; the most important is called the Martha; one, the Albert, intersects the principal system. Pay-shoots of great length and width have been developed on all of the veins. On the 500-ft. level the Martha is said to be payable for 1,700 ft., the width ranging up to 40 ft., and the ore averaging about £3 per ton.

The country-rock in the upper levels is generally brownish and oxidized, like that of the Karangahake mines; but in the deeper levels fresher rock is found, although it is greatly altered by metasomatic processes, and contains much pyrite. Mr. Park determines it, on authority of Mr. Hutton, as hypersthene-andesite; all of it, however, is not of that character, for specimens collected on the 500-ft. level in the foot-wall of the Martha lode consist of a dark-green porphyritic rock, with recognisable phenocrysts of corroded quartz and orthoclase. The ferro-magnesian silicates, probably pyroxene, are altered to serpentinoid aggregates. Lime-soda felspars could not be definitely recognised, while the groundmass is micropoikilitic, and certainly contains much quartz. The rock is thus either a dacite or is intermediate between a dacite and a quartz-bearing trachyte.

The Martha is a wide lode, consisting chiefly of quartz-filling, with subordinate amounts of metasomatic quartz. The walls are not always marked by sharply defined sheer planes, because near them the quartz is apt to mix with the rock in brecciated zones, with abundant and sharply outlined inclusions of country. The whole vein-formation indicates, by lack of compressive stress phenomena, that large cavities were probably opened near the surface at the time of vein-formation. On the 500 ft. level the lode is 80 ft. wide, the first 40 ft. near the shaft being practically barren, and the next 40 ft. is said to average £3 to £4. The quartz of the upper levels is like that of the Talisman, peculiarly lamellar and hackly, sometimes consisting of a loose framework of quartz blades coated by small quartz crystals, or again chalcedonic with concentric structure. Very commonly it is coated by black oxide of manganese.

The normal "oxidized" ore contains free gold and argentite, as at the Talisman. The gold is rarely visible to the naked eye, and has a fineness of about 645. The silver exists as argentite, in minute particles, and often appearing as thin wavy lines in the quartz, just as in the Talisman. The average proportion of gold to silver by weight is about 1 to 3 or 1 to 4, and the bullion is worth about 16s. 8d. per ounce; there are great variations. On the whole, the values are very constant; from the surface down to the 500-ft. level they average about £3 per ton.

The Waihi Mine also contains unoxidized sulphide ore, and in this we find a key to some of the puzzling questions of secondary alterations. A little pyrite was found at the first level on the Martha lode and at the second the sulphide ore on the foot-wall was a few feet wide. At the 500 ft. level 20 ft. of sulphide ore is exposed at a corresponding place, while an equal width of thoroughly oxidized ore adjoins it on the hanging-wall side. The rock adjoining the sulphide ore has suffered great alteration, although seemingly fresh. Pyrite and a carbonate, probably calcite, are abundant in metasomatic development, as is a brownish-green serpentine. The veinlets traversing it contain much secondary orthoclase or valencianite, together with quartz and calcite. The ore itself is a product of filling, and consists of quartz and calcite in intimate intergrowth. The sulphides, amounting to about 3 per cent., consist of pyrite and dark-brown zinc-blende, the latter sometimes in concentric crustification. Incipient dissolution of the calcite is often noted. The value of the sulphide ore is very nearly the same as that of the oxidized ore. If anything, the grade is somewhat higher, but the assays seem to indicate that it contains more gold and less silver. A little cobalt and tellurium occur. Elsewhere in the oxidized zone, on the 500-ft. level, calcite is abundant in places, and the development of lamellar quartz from the mixture of quartz and calcite is most plainly shown in all stages by the dissolution of the latter mineral, with attendant deposition of admixed manganese.

What has taken place is probably this: Descending surface waters have dissolved and carried away the calcite; secondary deposition of quartz and chalcedony has accompanied this process; simultaneously the pyrite and zinc-blende have been oxidized and carried away as sulphates. The gold has remained in finely divided state; the silver has been redeposited with chalcedonic quartz as argentite.

These developments in the Waihi emphatically contradict the opinion, often heard on the Hauraki Goldfield, that impoverishment necessarily follows the appearance of the primary calcitic ore, and they must be accepted as a favourable sign for the permanence of the ore-bodies to greater depth than yet attained.

The Waihi has been pumping water for some time, beginning from the upper levels, but there is apparently little surface water, most of the workings being practically dry. It comes in, however, in large quantities from certain parts of the veins, and is probably in part ascending, for its temperature is 73°5° Fahr., or some 20° higher than the average temperature of the region. It is not likely that the calcite has been leached by ascending water, which must be well saturated with carbonate of calcium.

GOLD-DREDGING.

During the past year (1904) the dredging industry in Otago and Southland showed better results than for 1903, the total yield being nearly 89,000 oz., as against a little more than 87,000 oz. The Electric Company's No. 1 dredge obtained 1,273 oz. for five days' actual dredging. The maximum number of dredges running during any one week was sixty-seven, and the favourable weather conditions enabled a fair average of working to be maintained.

On the west coast of the Middle Island the number of dredges in operation during 1904 was thirty-nine and the aggregate yield nearly 28,700 oz., an average per dredge of about 735 oz., as compared with 613 oz. for 1903. Both the number of dredges in operation and the total yield for 1904 show a falling off as compared with the previous year.

MINERS , AND GOLD ENTERED FOR EXPORT AT DIFFERENT DISTRICTS.

The total number of gold-miners employed in 1904 was 10,898, as against 10,210 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, 1904, and 31st March, 1905, 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, 1905, 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, 1904 AND 1905, AND THE TOTAL QUANTITY AND VALUE FROM JANUARY, 1857, TO 31ST MARCH, 1905.
District.Year ending 31st March, 1904.Year ending 31st March, 1905.Decrease for Year ending 31st March, 1905.Total Quantity and Value from January, 1857, to 31st March, 1905.
Quantity.Value.Quantity.Value.
 Oz.£Oz.£Oz.Oz.£
Auckland233,271834,070222,652815,49910,6193,511,38513,047,913
Wellington..........188706
Marlborough1,2795,0731666621,11388,945346,637
Nelson8,22232,8196,46125,8141,761288,2801,138,832
West Coast126,184504,845119,545478,0506,6396,474,59925,752,652
Canterbury..........123483
Otago171,489690,141170,388688,5511,1016,386,59625,349,614
      Totals540,4452,066,948519,2122,008,57621,23316,750,11665,636,837

It will be seen from the above table that there was last year a decrease in the export of gold of 21,233 oz. on the figures for the preceding twelve months.

Of the total quantity of gold entered for exportation last year Auckland contributed 42.88 per cent.; Marlborough, 0.03 per cent.; Nelson, 1.25 per cent.; West Coast, 23.02 per cent.; and Otago, 32.82 per cent.

MINERAL PRODUCTION (VALUE ) OF AUSTRALASIA TO END OF 1903.

The total value of mineral production for Australasia to the end of the year 1903 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 Silverlead.Copper.Tin.Coal.Other Minerals.Total.
 £££££££
* Inclusive of kauri-gum to the value of £11,857 270.
New S'th Wales50,924,16435,233,1596,611,1656,817,12244,021,1025,088,341148,745,053
Victoria266,810,712864,319206,895718,1631,239,026487,335270,326,450
Queensland58,312,127923,7252,724,0145,053,1863,159,073450,24570,622,370
South Australia2,573,357140,44123,726,58549,530541,48227,031,395
W'st'n Australia46,868,09440,225391,603293,872306,288418,07548,318,157
Tasmania5,449,5642,872,2764,984,6687,758,167507,914372,56021,945,149
New Zealand63,149,147544,27818,2119,938,19312,163,411*85,813,240
Australasia494,087,16540,668,42338,663,14120,690,04059,171,59619,521,449672,801,814

Gold-production of Australasia (quantity).

The gold-yield of Australasia (in crude ounces) for the years 1898 to 1903 was as under:—

 1898.1900.1902.1903.
 Oz.Oz.Oz.Oz.
Queensland920,048963,189860,453921,363
New South Wales340,493345,650190,316295,778
Victoria837,257807,407777,738822,424
South Australia31,96124,08628,19827,829
Western Australia1,050,1841,580,9502,177,4422,436,311
Tasmania74,23381,12570,99659,891
New Zealand280,175373,616508,045533,314
 3,534,3514,176,0234,613,1885,096,910

The increase for the period is 1,562,559 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; 1903, £19,368,258: increase, 1898 to 1903, £5,937,725.

Gold-production of the World for each of the Five Years 1898-1902.

(From a table compiled in the Government Statistician's Office, Perth, Western Australia.)

The quantities are given throughout the table in fine ounces, the accepted standard of value for which is £4 4s. 11 5/11d. per ounce.

Countries and Continents.1898.1899.1900.1901.1902.
    Australasia.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.Fine oz.
Western Australia939,4901,470,6051,414,3111,703,4161,871,038
Victoria788,429804,665760,319730,450720,862
Queensland647,487668,150676,058598,412640,493
New Zealand254,416356,231338,911412,876459,406
New South Wales282,914382,162252,116173,543161,256
Tasmania66,26777,11174,44469,49070,996
South Australia22,47418,63319,41821,94622,395
New Guinea5,62710,4027,5608,6938,693
      Total ounces3,007,1043,787,9593,543,1373,718,8263,955,139
      Total value£12,773,36616,090,22715,050,28915,796,56916,800,363
    Africa.
Transvaal Colony3,823,3673,637,713348,761231,0761,718,921
Rhodesia14,25748,39972,568143,698161,654
Madagascar9766,80933,48530,80038,484
Abyssinia5,0005,0005,0008,0008,000
Mozambique..5,4168,47512,37714,514
Gold Coast Colony15,02912,0778,9445,2235,223
Cape Colony1071201167116
Natal and Zululand15561213578
French Guinea......8051,441
Senegal3,6085,0891,5521,419967
French Ivory Coast2,949975274605605
        Total ounces3,865,3083,721,654479,187434,2091,949,903
        Total value£ 16,418,78315,808,5812,035,4571,844,4028,282,661
America.
United States of America3,118,3983,437,2103,829,8973,805,5003,870,000
Canada666,4451,028,6201,350,1761,167,3201,032,253
South and Central America1,096,335841,337828,2731,102,9421,110,649
      Total ounces4,881,1785,307,1676,008,3466,075,7626,012,902
      Total value£20,733,92622,543,41225,521,83225,808,19625,541,184
Europe.
Russia1,073,5251,083,5431,082,4991,105,4121,105,412
Other European countries104,585113,752127,557118,140120,115
      Total ounces1,178,1101,197,2951,210,0561,223,5521,225,527
      Total value£ 5,004,2935,085,7865,139,9915,197,3195,205,708
Asia.
British India377,358405,753445,381454,523463,834
China261,655270,720251,092231,465287,996
Other Asiatic countries115,902154,301205,303277,281276,057
      Total ounces754,915830,774901,776963,2691,027,887
      Total value£3,206,6753,528,9043,830,5014,091,7074,366,187
The World.
      Total ounces13,686,61514,844,84912,142,50212,415,61814,171,358
      Total value£58,137,04563,056,91051,578,07052,738,19360,196,103

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 1904 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
19041,537,838117,645147,1961,685,03456,5131,628,521141,866

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-seven years the annual consumption of coal in New Zealand has increased to the extent of 1,296,076 tons, showing that new industries are quickly springing up, requiring fuel for generating motive power.

The total output from the mines last year was 1,537,838 tons, as against 1,420,193 tons for 1903, an increase of 117,645 tons. The coal imported from other countries was 147,196 tons, against 163,923 tons in 1903, a decrease in the importation last year of 16,727 tons. The imports were 146,615 tons from New South Wales, 437 tons from Victoria, 142 tons from the United Kingdom, and 2 tons from the United States. The total export of coal was 165,560 tons, of which 165,220 tons were colonial produce, and 340 tons imported coal from other countries. Of the coal exported, 109,047 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 1,685,034 tons, of which 56,513 tons were exported, leaving the consumption within the colony last year 1,628,521 tons, as against 1,486,655 tons for 1903, an increased consumption of 141,866 tons.

The largest increase in the output last year was in the Grey-mouth district—namely, 40,687 tons. There was also an increased production from the mines in the Waikato district of 21,120 tons, in the Southland district of 14,293 tons, in the Otago district of 13,119 tons, in the West Wanganui district of 11,328 tons, in the Miranda district of 8,772 tons, in the Kawakawa and Hikurangi districts of 7,564 tons, in the Reefton district of 4,936 tons, in the Malvern district of 1,593 tons; but there was a decline in the Whangarei, Kamo, Ngunguru, and Whauwhau districts of 2,864 tons, in the Mokau district of 1870 tons, and in the Westport district of 1,033 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, 1904.
1904.1903.

(+) Increase.

(-) Decrease.

 Tons.Tons.Tons.Tons.
Kawakawa and Hikurangi79,24871,684+ 7,5641,401,356
Whangarei, Kamo, Ngunguru, and Whauwhau26,97129,835- 2,864556,580
Waikato116,67695,556+ 21,1201,555,027
Mokau4,2806,150- 1,87044,214
Miranda15,3426,570+ 8,77225,835
Pelorus......711
West Wanganui12,4301,102+ 11,32868,715
Westport570,273571,306- 1,0335,851,591
Reefton15,11910,183+ 4,936124,308
Greymouth239,128198,441+ 40,6873,737,451
Malvern25,12023,527+ 1,593467,576
Timaru......10,657
Otago320,681307,562+ 13,1195,299,212
Southland112,57098,277+ 14,293958,008
Totals1,537,8381,420,193+ 117,645 Net.20,101,241

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, Canterbury84.121.961.8012.1210.9318.50
2BituminousCoalbrookdale74.8320.501.163.519.7016.45
370.0022.152.525.339.1015.40
4Banbury69.9725.710.993.339 0915.38
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
9Grey 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
14Coalpit Heath58.8138.981.021.197.6412.96
15Mokihinui57.9234.943.963.187.5012.75
16Brunner Mine56.6235.681.596.117.3612.46
1756.2137.731.504.567.3012.36
18Westport56.0137.172.604.227.2812.30
19Mokihinui55.5938.863.162.397.2012.22
20Brunner54.1635.852.507.497.0411.91
21Altered brown coalMalvern Hills53.2932.0412.652.026.9211.50
22BituminousWallsend53.1035.471.4110.026.9011.68
23Otamataura Creek52.8936.632.198.296.9011.70
24Near 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
29Fernhill49.9536.9512.001.106.4910.99
30Allandale47.3134.2612.416.026.1510.96
31Kaitangata46.4833.4814.665.386.0410.22
32Shag Point46.2132.6516.025.126.0010.16
33Homebush44.9236 0015.833.255.839.87
34Pitch coalHikurangi, Whangarei44.5047.005.992.515.789.79
35Brown coalHokonui44.2838.2216.501.005.759.77
36Kaitangata44.1138.3215.442.135.749.96
37Nightcaps43.6233.6818.334.375.679.59
38Pitch coalShag Point43.1930.0515.8210.945.619.52
39Brown coalSpringfield42.6833.6618.655.015.559.38
40Orepuki42.6436.2614.446.665.549.38
41Kaitangata38.2932.4317.5011.784.878.32
42Shag Point35.7630.8613.2220.164.647.85
43Allandale34.7241.4318.994.864.517.63
44Pitch coalGrey River34.7256.486.202.604.517.63
FOR COMPARISON. 
 Newcastle, N.S.W.Best58.3334.171.835.677.5012.82
 Worst53.3426.663.3316.676.9011.72

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 1903 and 1904 was:—

Class of Coal.Output of Coal.Increase.Approximate Total Output of Coal up to the 31st December, 1904.
1904.1903.
 Tons.Tons.Tons.Tons.
Bituminous and semi-bituminous938,518879,89158,62711,365,232
Pitch24,50621,1163,3901,883,578
Brown483,858441,81442,0446,076,943
Lignite90,95677,37213,584775,488
        Totals1,537,8381,420,193117,64520,101,241

The number of coal-mines working during the year 1904 was, as shown by the next table, 168, and the number of men employed 3,288.

Number of Mines working.Number of Men employed in each Mine.Total Number of Men employed.
991 to 4 in each180
355 ” 10 ”230
1011 ” 20 ”158
2421 and upwards2,720
168 3,288

The total output of coal from the above mines was 1,537,838, and the average annual output per man 467 tons.

It is believed that 6s. per ton is a good estimate of the cost, for labour only, of coal delivered in railway-trucks clear of the colliery premises, which differs somewhat from the cost at the pit's mouth.

The average earnings of each person employed have been computed at £2 18s. per week, or £150 16s. per annum, throughout the colony, but this varies in different districts, for which the figures computed by Inspector Green are:—

AVERAGES OF WEEKLY EARNINGS.
 £s.d
Northern district335
West Coast ”396
Southern ”210
      Average for colony£2180

The wage given for the "West Coast district may be somewhat more than the fact on account of youths being counted as men. On the other hand the information given for the southern district may be rather too low on account of the more intermittent nature of the work. The dredging industry is stated by the Southern Inspector to have largely increased coal-consumption in certain places, each steady working dredge consuming 20 tons of coal for at least forty weeks in the year, or, say, 800 tons per annum.

STATE COAL-MINES .

At the Seddonville Colliery the development-work has progressed steadily. The tunnel forming the main haulage-road has been completed through the range from the north side facing Seddonville to the south side at Chasm Creek, a distance of 50 chains. The completion of this tunnel has allowed a new section of the mine to be opened up at what was formerly known as Grant's Face, which contains a much harder coal than that developed in the northern section. Prospecting operations are being carried on on the west side of Chasm Creek to prove the field between that creek and Paton's Creek. The coal from the northern section is viewed with much favour for fuel in steamers by the marine engineers, and the coal from the southern section is highly suitable for locomotives. During 1904 the output from this colliery was 33,808 tons.

The Point Elizabeth Colliery is opening out very well. The workings to the rise from No. 1 and 2 adits show the seam thinning as it goes into the range, but there is a large area of coal that can be worked from No. 3 adit of what is known as the Exhibition Seam, which crops out in the face of the range facing Seven-mile Creek. A dip incline has been constructed from the main level in No. 2 adit for a distance of twenty-six chains, which shows an unbroken seam of coal for the whole distance averaging 10 ft. in thickness. The coal from this mine is of excellent quality, and almost completely free from sulphur, there being only the slightest trace in the different samples analysed. A very large area of coal can be worked from this colliery. Storage-bins have been erected capable of holding 2,000 tons, but there is still a considerable amount of work to do before the colliery is fully equipped to deal with a large output. At the present time arrangements are made for an output of 3,000 tons per week, but as the development work proceeds, and other appliances are erected, this output can be increased considerably. During the year 1904 the output from this colliery was 60,225 tons.

PHOSPHATE BOCK.

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 977 tons of auriferous ore, 100 tons of ironsand, 17 tons of scheelite-ore, 196 tons manganese, and small parcels of other minerals, representing an aggregate value of £10,834.

KAURI-GUM.

The quantity of kauri-gum exported last year was 9,203 tons, as against 9,357 tons for 1903. Last year's produce (£501,817) gave an average value of about £54 10s. 7d. per ton, while for 1903 the average was £67 8s. 11d. per ton.

Chapter 46. SECTION XIV. — 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 1904-5 have been returned by the Department of Agriculture at 36,511,154 acres, including Crown lands leased for pastoral purposes only, or 34,673 acres in excess of the area for the preceding year.

The comparatively small increase in the area of occupied lands is apparently mainly, if not altogether, caused by some of the Crown pastoral leases expiring and not being renewed.

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.
 1900-1.1901-2.1902-3.1903-4.1904-5.
1 acre to 10 acres, inclusive17,46817,81718,34818,73119,529
10 acres to 50 ”11,39911,53111,34811,38611,518
50 ” 100 ”7,1627,1307,2397,2457,540
100 ” 200 ”9,0809,3329,4009,5709,822
200 ” 320 ”5,7515,8985,9986,1456,408
320 ” 640 ”6,0236,2016,3876,5667,043
640 ” 1,000 ”2,2122,3242,4492,4972,609
1,000 ” 5,000 ”2,8022,8543,0033,0753,318
5,000 ” 10,000392393366379395
10,000 ” 20,000233234217223225
20,000 ” 50,000167165175169177
50,000 acres and over9710310410696
 62,78663,98265,03466,09268,680

* 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 laud) 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 5,894 since 1900-1.

The total acreage of occupied land for each of the last five years is shown:—

OCCUPIED LANDS: ACREAGES.
Sizes of Holding1900-1.1901-2.1902-3.1903-4.1904-5.
in Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.
1 to 10 inclusive71,38773,95473,72676,46479,136
10 ” 50 ”320,158324,620314,940319,241321,444
50 ” 100 ”556,868560,888566,406570,736590,962
100 ” 200 ”1,389,1201,431,5321,424,2651,462,7471,497,078
200 ” 320 ”1,493,7611,543,7491,550,5481,594,2451,665,285
320 ” 640 ”2,772,3252,836,7872,908,7453,016,7803,214,473
640 ” 1,000 ”1,843,2351,924,9821,960,7302,007,8172,129,093
1,000 ” 5,000 ”5,715,0475,849,5166,195,8786,171,8156,523,951
5,000 ” 10,0002,591,4972,525,8492,600,3482,612,8062,706,225
10,000 ” 20,0003,272,7413,285,8793,146,7143,383,0333,265,856
20,000 ” 50,0005,417,9905,578,8875,272,9225,107,5555,317,969
50,000 and over ”9,467,4449,571,2469,872,22510,153,2429,199,682
 34,911,57335,507,88935,887,44736,476,48136,511,154

In regard to holdings, out of a total of 68,680 in 1905 the large proportion of 38,587, or 56.18 per cent., were from 1 to 100 acres in extent; 48,409, or 70.48 per cent., were from 1 to 200 acres; and 54,817, or 79.82 per cent., were from 1 to 320 acres in size. The total number over 320 acres was only 13,863, or 20.18 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.

The extent of land occupied as shown in the returns according to tenure is tabulated for each provincial district. The acreage in the last column of the statement is apparently short of the actual facts, judging from the figures shown in the table of “Crown Tenants,” as given in the report of the Surveyor-General. The difference may lie in what has been returned for Grown pastoral leases to the agricultural-statistics collectors and the areas on which rent is paid given by the Lands Department.

OCCUPATION OF LAND: TENURE.
Provincial Districts.Total Area of Holdings.Freehold.Leased form Private Individuals or Public Bodies.Leased from Natives.Held from Crown under Different Tenures.
 Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.
Auckland6,035,9953,973,346443,692538,7591,080,198
Taranaki1,219,550628,920202,687112,432275,511
Hawke's Bay3,030,1621,798,628306,679577,595347,260
Wellington4,013,6782,532,246501,010336,374644,048
Marlborough2,453,209830,62169,59128,393l,524,604
Nelson2,099,992964,793161,37423,626950,199
Westland599,78358,83626,3614,833509,753
Canterbury6,684,8752,701,513849,09016,7443,117,528
Otago10,373,9102,903,3181,013,55428,9206,428,118
      Totals36,511,15416,392,2213,574,0381,667,67614,877,219

Arranged according to the number of holdings, the provincial districts stand in order as under:—

Auckland17,776 holdings.
Otago14,141 ”
Canterbury11,703 ”
Wellington11,136 ”
Taranaki5,031 ”
Hawke's Bay3,292 ”
Nelson3,288 ”
Marlborough1,498 ”
Westland815 ”

The occupied holdings of the North Island now considerably outnumber those of the Middle Island, the numbers being—North Island, 37,235; Middle Island, 31,445. 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 1904-5 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 1904-5 the Occupied Holdings and the Acreages (including Crown Pastoral Leases) in Groups of Sizes, according to the Provincial Districts.
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 acres6,035,99520,42686,968167,956392,497432,071789,317524,9531,505,273658,987499,316429,652528,579
Number of holdings17,7765,0893,0222,1322,5811,6591,7406437609535145
Taranaki: Area in acres1,219,5503,70017,47661,865183,592186,905263,233145,023313,88419,61924,253
Number of holdings5,0317625987761,22872158117918132
Hawke's Bay: Area in acres3,030,1624,93316,99423,33143,82750,597125,185119,985493,607320,233618,286878,974334,210
Number of holdings3,2921,1096213002951922691412394841325
Wellington: Area in acres4,013,67813,20847,40997,903295,622253,167537,402379,6141,051,368387,259507,576276,089177,061
Number of holdings11,1363,1251,7291,2191,8109741,174455547563593
Marlborough: Area in acres2,453,2091,6804,6929,52921,90928,11585,07777,866278,959150,591250,357500,9521,043,482
Number of holdings1,4984571751251461051821001452215179
Nelson: Area in acres2,099,9923,20318,51633,41268,45974,878147,279124,820295,05449,563113,357397,990773,461
Number of holdings3,28882963941845229032115015587136
Westland: Area in acres599,7836983,7566,96716,78319,33530,07511,34043,196139,228135,174193,231
Number of holdings81527412793109746716202087
Canterbury: Area in acres6,684,87515,50762,46389,026191,695229,500487,038293,6471,218,547403,969349,7311,039,4482,304,304
Number of holdings11,7033,8872,2481,1691,2978941,07936761960253325
Otago: Area in acres10,373,91015,78163,170100,973292,694390,717749,807451,8451,324,063576,776767,8061,601,6334,038,585
Number of holdings14,1413,9972,3591,3081,9041,4991,63055865283575242
Totals Area in acres36,511,15479,136321,414590,9621,497,0781,665,2853,214,4732,129,0936,523,9512,706,2253,265,8565,317,9699,199,682
Totals Number of holdings68,68919,52911,5187,5409,8226,4087,0432,6093,31839522517796

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
1886187,382297853,35810,564,59510,220277,9011,679,021
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*
1900-1266,2454801,256,68019,355,195†*250,975*
1901-2279,6724061,361,78420,233,099†*224,024*
1902-3280,9554641,460,66320,342,727†*193,740*
1903-4298,7144681,593,54718,954,553†*226,591*
1904-5314,3224481,736,85018,280,806†*255,320*

The stock owned by Maoris in the year 1901, which is included above, comprised 317,436 sheep and 36,943 head of cattle. The number of horses is not specified, but is known to be large.

TABLESHOWINGFOREACH COUNTY IN NEW ZEALAND THE NUMBER OF HORSES CATTLE, SHEEP, AND PIGSIN 1904.
County.Horses, October, 1904.Cattle, including Calves, October, 1904.Dairy Cows, included in foregoing.Sheep, including Lambs, April, 1904.Pigs, October, 1904.
* Not including 51,875 heifers over two years old intended for dairying.
Mongonui2,24310,6681,53819,8651,682
Whangaroa6071,7151707,532909
Bay of Islands2,83913,0372,08528,0311,949
Hokianga2,8829,0591,6527,6332,925
Rodney2,42717,8494,73159,1991,097
Whangarei5,14235,3649,90324,8071,786
Otamatea1,92419,3613,94936,9181,074
Hobson2,16715,9273,29515,8061,925
Waitemata2,71214,6514,14831,7261,827
Eden5,6597,1193,9738,0952,324
Manukau9,26959,66222,33783,2718,513
Coromandel1,1395,31293716,4051,012
Thames1,2675,5962,3754,6191,185
Ohinemuri2,1106,8512,5802,9981,919
Waikato3,95430,0569,21626,7994,232
Raglan3,65331,1624,49481,2242,936
Waipa4,01426,9048,89921,2123,674
Piako3,38832,6156,645134,1262,354
West Taupo, Kawhia, & Awakino4,20223,1122,70432,7943,814
East Taupo and Rotorua1,8183,43958226,7081,425
Tauranga3,16417,8433,6062,6742,119
Whakatane1,2636,0311,76218,926897
Opotiki1,5927,7111,92415,2201,771
Waiapu4,12218,447801380,3253,739
Cook8,84763,3535,430950,1654,896
Wairoa4,17612,9722,347515,2841,594
Hawke's Bay8,40943,9806,4111,171,9194,398
Waipawa5,34743,0988,068669,3272,828
Woodville1,40614,5935,613669,3271,557
Patangata and Weber2,59637,9161,339704,658669
Clifton1,95524,8595,83419,4212,164
Taranaki4,78554,19923,70419,7877,177
Egmont2,17433,25713,9106,9212,371
Stratford3,02451,06419,87869,9125,482
Hawera6,01383,76037,983107,25211,547
Patea3,47532,1109,743199,5162,355
Waitotara2,25517,7024,268119,5352,000
Waimarino1,4214,4731,24943,1502,021
Wanganui4,14621,8164,542319,6682,808
Rangitikei6,89645,4309,338521,3103,970
Kiwitea2,54324,4527,127232,1872,763
Pohangina1,29215,9224,86998,1652,235
Oroua2,54818,8108,754252,0573,333
Kairanga3,83723,1809,9193,108
Manawatu2,97024,8769,083123,8534,090
Horowhenua3,35227,8689,229114,8104,898
Hutt5,43915,545S,362182,4743,335
Featherston3,37531,1934,286421,0682,197
Wairarapa South2,34119,9945,722153,4092,013
Masterton3,94323,4733,554497,3291,458
Castlepoint5707,99778147,99157
Akitio1,88218,6672,277151,571813
Pahiatua2,39223,6349,798186,3644,071
Eketahuna1,18811,7305,25657,1992,049
Mauriceville4884,7191,77260,748585
Marlborough3,7087,8612,283480,7771,962
Sounds9296,2162,151159,1831,678
Kaikoura1,3603,8361,066171,868517
Collingwood5043,6091,24943,023771
Takaka8864,2501,6051,653
Waimea4,97014,6395,923199,7214,688
Buller5963,5831,3252,357638
Inangahua1,0296,4241,23225,212978
Grey1,0326,3801,50412,316915
Westland1,56111,3732,30014,899978
Amuri1,4343,967323393,846127
Cheviot1,1592,710637181,217507
Ashley9,04922,5517,952750,3168,325
Selwyn16,52736,43617,306655,85522,383
Mount Herbert4632,550357215,316258
Akaroa2,29022,0165,7232,106
Ashburton10,34711,2203,941858,0088,773
Geraldine4,7288,2162,797577,6064,291
Levels4,0467,1692,2892,822
Waimate6,33014,9734,806575,1954,908
Mackenzie1,7924,0841,294399,385708
Waitaki6,95228,67611,258492,9645,372
Waihemo1,4285,6912,245102,150740
Waikouaiti1,63310,7765,39972,3431,835
Peninsula9047,4084,2752,273811
Taieri7,46728,2359,736174,8985,093
Bruce3,81010,2663,618152,8891,830
Clutha4,96620,7985,844278,1832,382
Tuapeka3,9177,2252,375338,3741,078
Maniototo2,4477,1231,835266,336636
Vincent2,4935,6131,403233,137675
Lake1,5983,778991144,393663
Southland18,16672,33321,479734,7849,395
Wallace and Fiord5,64823,4185,579360,5782,801
Stewart Island11314921,44193
      Totals314,3221,736,850498,241*18,280,806255,320

Live-stock in Australasia.

The following gives the number of the principal kinds of livestock in Australasia for the year 1903-4:—

State or Colony.Sheep.Cattle.Horses.Pigs.
Queensland8,392,0442,481,717401,984117,553
New South Wales28,656,5011,880,578458,014221,592
Victoria10,841,7901,602,384392,237350,370
South Australia5,350,258536,580192,41189,331
Western Australia2,600,633497,61782,74750,209
Tasmania1,597,053185,93835,54156,538
 April, 1903.Oct., 1903.Oct., 1903.Oct., 1903.
New Zealand18,954,5531,593,547298,714226,591

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 8,392,044 in 1903. Cattle fell in number from 7,012,997 in 1894 to 2,481,717 in 1903.

Sheep.

The returns made to the Department of Agriculture show a smaller number of sheep for the year 1886 than the census figures given previously, because the account was taken later in the year. The particulars are given for that year, and each of ten years, 1895-1904, 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 9,203,963 in 1904, or at the rate of over 74 per cent., while sheep in the Middle Island decreased from 9,888,356 to 9,076,843, a loss of 8-21 per cent. in the same period. For the North Island the increase during the nineteen years was 3,918,056 sheep, while in the Middle Island there was a decrease of 811,513.

Year.North Island.Middle Island.Total.
18865,285,9079,888,35615,174,263
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
19049,203,9639,076,84318,280,806

There was a decrease of 2,061,921 in the total number of sheep since April, 1902, by the above figures, and a decrease between 1895 and 1904 amounting to 1,545,798, or at a rate of 8 per cent. The export and local consumption of wool developed from 111,537,546 lb. for the year ended September, 1891, to 146,223,150 lb. for the corresponding year of 1904. The export of sheepskins and pelts, which in 1890 was 2,292,521 in number, rose to 6,037,460 in 1904.

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 two years for which results are shown.

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, 1903, AND 1904.
Size of Flocks.1886.1891.1896.1901.1902.1903.1904.
Under 5006,0248,27212,02811,70011,96112,42812,177
500 and under 1,0001,1891,6912,6053,0593,1582,9232,909
1,000 ” 2,0007479691,4602,877 *2,962 *2.751 *2,742 *
2,000 ” 5,0005326668922,877 *2,962 *2.751 *2,742 *
5,000 ” 10,000263287340397385342362
10,000 ” 20,000228239231189206207199
20,000 and upwards166169147138131110104
 9,14912,29317,70318,36018,80318,76118,493
    1901.1902.1903.1904.
* From 1,000 to 2,500   2,1892,2322,0812,078
” 2,500 to 5,000   688730670664
    2,8772,9622,7512,742

The average size of the flocks is found to have been 1,659 sheep for 1886, 1,081 in 1896, 1,010 in 1903, and 989 in 1904.

Of the provincial districts, that of Canterbury had most sheep in 1904, Wellington came next, and Otago occupied the third place. The full particulars, showing decreases since 1903 to be general throughout the colony, though not so heavy as in the preceding year, are given:—

Provincial District.No. of Sheep in 1904.No. of Sheep in 1903.Decrease.
Canterbury4,031,6814,176,236144,555
Wellington3,682,8883,793,518110,630
Otago3,360,7433,632,765272,022
Hawke's Bay3,061,1883,116,67355,485
Auckland2,037,0782,086,78949,711
Nelson845,376857,14211,766
Marlborough811,828826,47414,646
Taranaki422,809436,85114,042
Westland27,21528,105890
 18,280,80618,954,553673,747

The number of breeding ewes in the colony in April, 1904, was returned at 9,222,448, and in April, 1903, at 9,071,751, an increase of 150,697 for the year.

Figures for ten years are given. There is an apparent disposition now to avoid an unrestrained slaughter for purposes of the frozen-meat industry:—

BREEDING-EWES.
18958,465,653
18968,382.781
18978,687,193
18988,445,012
18998,661,746
19009,257,054
19019,900,616
19029,610,149
19039,071,751
19049,222,448

The annual export and consumption of sheep luring 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
19003,055,1353,8401,800,0004,858,975
19013,400,1383,6681,831,0005,237,806
19024,084,57848,0471,904,0000,036,625
19034,922,62221,7631,942,0006,886,385
19044,017,8297,4301,998,0006,023,259

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 (1905) for food will be about 2,050,000. (Maoris, for the purposes of this calculation, have been included.)

For the year ended 30th April, 1904, the total number of sheep and lambs slaughtered in the colony was,—

Sheep3,344,564
Lambs2,642,426
      Total5,986,990

according to returns collected by the Department of Agriculture, which would tend to show that the above estimate of consumption is somewhat too high.

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
⅞ Lincoln12,177100.00
RomneyRomneyRomney1,14196.17
LincolnSouthd'nLincoln2,03394.71
Middle IslandMerinoMerinoMerino14,76575.36Mountainous country in n'tive past're, unimproved.
B. Leic'str4,23588.94
Cross-bredCross-bred8,62480.82In English- grass pasture.
Half-bredHalf-bred2,74782.79
B. Leic'strB. Leic'str77890.77
LincolnLincolnLincoln45288.08
R. MarshR. MarshR. Marsh253111.46
E. Leic'strB. 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 1904-5 for each provincial district are given in the next table. Here is shown the substantial increase of 143,303 head of all classes over the number returned in 1903-4, and of no less than 34,937 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 enumeratedTotals.
* Including heifers over two years old intended for dairying: 47,054 in 1903-4, and 51,875 in 1904-5. For actual number of dairy cows in each county see table on pages 396 to 398.
Auckland7,84580,434125,39776,46515,482177,221482,844
Taranaki4,77034,803123,06611,3678,43896,805279,249
Hawke's Bay2,26028,03927,02741,0954,41449,724152,559
Wellington6,28660,768117,94060,14811,323130,016386,481
Marlborough2842,5545,8017151,5597,00017,913
Nelson7515,17513,6942,1812,91714,46439,182
Westland2593,6674,3102,9471,5435,02717,753
Canterbury1,84017,66449,9393,4107,70648,656129,215
Otago3,69729,48882,94219,92010,11485,493231,654
      Totals, 1904-527,992262,592550,116*218,24863,496614,4061,736,850
” 1903-426,629245,049515,179*176,59549,949580,1461,593,547
Increase1,36317,54334,93741,65313,54734,260143,303

Out of a total of 1,736,850 cattle in the colony, the North Island is shown to have had 1,301,133, or 75 per cent., while the Middle Island had 435,717, or 25 per cent. Similarly, the dairy cows and heifers intended for dairying in the North Island numbered 393,430, or 72 per cent., and in the Middle Island 156,686, or 28 per cent.

Thus, the North Island, which has a slightly greater number of sheep to that of the Middle Island, contains besides three times as many dairy cows and other cattle.

Of the total number of cattle (1,736,850) given above, 498,241 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, 1904, 284 cheese and butter factories, with 444 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 at them.

An attempt to estimate the total production of butter in the colony can be made, although it would not be safe to put forward the result as anything more than a probable approximation to the facts.

First, as to factory production. Accepting the information given by the Department of Agriculture, it would amount to 46 ¼ million lb. annually at the present rate. This does not seem too high considered in the light of the last returns obtained at the census of March, 1901, which gave 30 million lb. weight of butter as the actual produce for the year 1900, shown in the returns obtained from each factory.

Secondly, as to butter made on farms. This can only be estimated by means of an indirect process. Allowing 20 lb. per head of the mean population for 1904, the consumption is shown as nearly 17 million lb. weight. Adding 35 million lb. for export gives 52 million lb. altogether as the total supply. Taking from 52 million the 46 ¼ million shown above as made in factories leaves 5 ¾ million lb. for the quantity made on the farms.

The census returns for 1891 gave an account of all the butter and cheese made in the colony, and also stated the number of milch cows at that time. Using these figures, and taking 2 ½ lb. of cheese to be the equivalent of 1 lb. of butter, it is calculated that every milch cow furnished the milk for 163 lb. of butter (after allowing for consumption of milk in the colony). Mr. Murphy allows 200 lb. of butter to a cow in New Zealand, and 500 lb. of cheese. According to the Year-book of Victoria each dairy cow (wet or dry) produces there annually 336 gals, of milk, which might render 134 lb. of butter.

The number of butter and cheese factories in each provincial district as in September, 1904, with the output for the previous year, is next shown:—

Provincial District.Number of Factories.Skimming-stations.Output.
Butter.Cheese.Butter and Cheese.Butter.Cheese.
     Tons.Tons.
Auckland51721103,564 ¾278 ½
Taranaki8095806,680 ¼1,711
Hawke's Bay142118846155
Wellington301511175,463 ½1,256
Marlborough13..118221
Nelson91..72139
Westland2....352..
Canterbury871401,449 ½306 ½
Otago10232682,4201,916 ½
      Totals, 1904205671244420,7075,853 ½
” 1903192631738018,035 ¼5,038
” 1902179651027614,716 ½5,600 ½

Of the above, 21 were returned as “new” in 1904, and in 15 cases the output was not stated. Two factories combined butter-making with milk-preserving, the output of the latter not being stated.

In order to encourage dairy farmers to improve the quality of their herds, the Government has from time to time imported purebred stud-bulls, which are located in different parts of the colony. A small fee is charged for the service of these animals.

Horses.

The increase in horses is shown for four census years:—

Census Years.Number of Horses.Numerical Increase.Increase per Cent.
1880187,38223,65812.63
1891211,04026,37812.50
1896237,418
1901266,24528,82712.14

At the enumeration made in 1904-5 (October to January), the number of horses was found to have increased to 314,770 (including 448 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 448 mules and asses in 1904-5, and 468 in 1903-4.
Auckland89935,76224,0989,47412,43382,666
Taranaki1668,8787,0962,4192,87321,432
Hawke's Bay1879,5906,8052,5192,84921,950
Wellington52022,27516,6965,6447,29552,430
Marlborough572,6091,9435788115,998
Nelson974,4623,6211,0771,33610,593
Westland401,1957312433812,593
Canterbury45124,28817,7845,5747,54155,638
Otago54925,72819,4116,3879,39561,470
      Totals, 1904-52,966134,78798,18833,91544,914314,770*
” 1903-42,818128,07695,24031,64341,405299,182*
Increase1486,7112,9482,2723,50915,588

Classified according to breed, the numbers for the two years under review are:—

 1903-4.1904-5.
Thoroughbred6,9378,406
Draught110,136118,697
Other breeds (harness and saddle)169,151172,795
Ponies under 14 hands12,49014,424
Mules and asses468448
      Totals299,182314,770

Thoroughbred stallions, imported and owned by the State, are stationed throughout the colony, and are available to breeders at moderate fees.

The export of horses from New Zealand is not so large as might be expected. The figures for 1904 are: To Bengal, 137; Victoria, 58; Fiji, 29; New South Wales, 77; Natal, 8; Tasmania, 10; Western Australia, 4; United Kingdom, 11; and South Sea Islands, 19; a total of 353.

Pigs.

The figures given in the accompanying table are those compiled by the Agricultural Department, and for 1904-5 show an increase of 28,729 in the total number of pigs for the previous year—226,591. The Auckland Provincial District has more pigs than any other, Canterbury following closely.

NUMBEROF PIGS INEACH PROVINCIAL DISTRICT.
Provincial District.Boars.Sows over One Year old kept for Breeding.Sows under One Year Old kept for Breeding.Barrows or Sows all Ages kept for Fattening.Totals.
Auckland1,7699,7873,80746,62161,984
Taranaki7444,50539025,45731,096
Hawke's Bay3301,6555528,50911,046
Wellington1,2227,1811,70037,70147,804
Marlborough996011703,2874,157
Nelson2341,2481787,7029,362
Westland68327611,4371,893
Canterbury1,0167,7341,30144,52354,574
Otago8684,4411,46426,63133,404
      Totals6,35037,4799,623201,868255,320

ANGORA GOATS.

The Government has introduced some pure-bred goats by way of encouraging the breeding of this animal. There are several privately owned flocks in the colony, and the production of mohair should be a profitable undertaking. The animals thrive on dry, scrubby country.

PRODUCE OF NEW ZEALAND .

ESTIMATED VALUE of the PRODUCE of New Zealand (exclusive of Building Trades output) for the Year 1902-3.

 £

* 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 47. SECTION XV.—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, 1904, 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 YIELDIN PRINCIPAL CORN-CROPS, 1905.
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.
Auckland2,35132.8577,2573,92738.44150,9481,18136.6243,2508,58946.48399,2451,12928.0031,612
Taranaki1,00732.0032,2242,12643.0091,41873843.0031,734***40.007,290
Hawke's Bay90233.0029,7666,18542.00259,7701,27540.0051,0001,03770.0072,590
Wellington7,37131.38231,34318,51835.51657,5781,35339.9254,02419040.007,600
Marlborough4,35329.00126,2372,93545.00132,0758,60136.00309,6369135.003,185
Nelson2,75932.0088,2805,26240.80214,7103,40134.96118,9031533.00495
Westland1132.00352
Canterbury185,61935.036,502,705136,20045.256,163,1779,12141.99383,035
Otago53,65337.942,035,861167,02541.216,883,5833,81435.81136,582
Totals258,01535.369,123,673342,18942.5314,553,61129,48438.261,128,16410,08448.63490,405
NUMBER OF ACRES UNDER CULTIVATION INEACH PROVINCIAL DISTRICT, 1905.
Provincial District.In Grass or Clover, sown after Land ploughed.In Grass, surface-sown: Laud 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.
Auckland655,8151,677,36614,22010,74018,52686,6963,73011,7442,464,61710,9833,560,395
Taranaki172,628700,91410,3322164,34220,487883835900,3051,029318,216
Hawke's Bay356,5561,408,5967,9233,39510,08033,5271,0861,6701,814,9104,6451,210,607
Wellington291,8652,373,14713,0811,80929,12963,1802,2513,6512,765,0324,5441,244,102
Marlborough98,964283,1341,8481,19118,98219,471269506422,5171,5562,029,136
Nelson123,771344,9103,3441,31912,20132,9235333,211518,8681,9771,579,147
Westland9,15449,5161,1559129846923659,9807539,796
Canterbury1,511,335431,32913,52413,598341,924286,7634,7253,1592,592,83322,3784,069,664
Otago1,521,614299,42513,38931,036226,730288,7653,6302,4702,373,6705,7277,994,513
      Totals4,741,7027,568,33778,81663,313661,926832,79617,17627,48213,912,73252,84622,545,576
ACREAGE UNDER SOWN GRASSES, AND CULTIVATIONGENERALLY , FOR EACH COUNTY, AS ONTHE 15TH OCTOBER, 1904.
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.
Mongonui7,10728,482451,0876816917
Whangaroa1,0695,676411819882
Bay of Islands7,21730,218801,06375240154
Hokianga55126,509865813831944
Rodney13,12686,0704829151831,139119
Whangarei22,093105,6324241,667821,128278
Otamatea8,61278,5743633404829250
Hobson2,08140,6141364818617161
Waitemata24,43537,2701,8671,5022902,327216
Eden16,9374,821749311,282612306
Manukau124,286101,1434,34417,3233671,4901,082
Coromandel3,61112,233227840782
Thames4,9027,725149135537419
Ohinemuri9,47213,008961,63526814343
Waikato68,74633,66565710,4031035054,477
Raglan18,023101,1421803,7733121678
Waipa70,19911,54741313,209150883495
Piako134,06850,54262818,426773031,034
West Taupo, Kawhia and Awakino17,47274,1222383,5504279184
East Taupo and Rotorua4,3688,8071151,01315571,796
Tauranga35,97823,6591208,82076525265
Whakatane8,8679,4521042,122145326
Opotiki13,94914,3902713,29429868
Waiapu1,186201,469222,136185110
Cook37,460570,596489,565174416217
Wairoa19,149258,855..3,92072133244
Hawke's Bay182,110382,7601,98518,6006691,0501,956
Waipawa95,824309,83738515,2082241861,698
Woodville8,68379,600191,93430195168
Patangata and Weber50,790377,5441,0063,94591106579
Clifton14,02067,534..3,12310110213
Taranaki46,698103,521885,844391337244
Egmont18,38370,955..1,931654615
Stratford3,394190,12052,006781155
Hawera52,175148,233506,908191149318
Patea37,958120,551735,01757190384
Waitotara25,96870,846422,805218206194
Waimarino25526,851352589417
Wanganui16,446165,685323,04470246322
Rangitikei63,752265,81178615,607218471980
Kiwitea3,486152,1951253,5871715572
Pohangina44187,2793855421058
Oroua12,74881,060356,57593321144
Kairanga13,34875,1651964,288250491354
Manawatu46,61757,3784012,329104116317
Horowhenua6,646101,733143,015157297102
Hutt5,850166,885501,776610316267
Featherston45,579203,18012312,20253160904
 Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.
Wairarapa South20,190150,2862279,42763169251
Masterton25,747317,3162513,456156207303
Castlepoint1,87891,904..7111528147
Akitio546109,38130194361054
Pahiatua1,468144,377391,2796026225
Eketahuna50165,3923713275756
Mauriceville39940,4231222133027
Marlborough64,577108,7961,10832,9091782961,278
Sounds2,802105,131121,8536718836
Kaikoura31,58569,207713,6912422242
Collingwood84315,321..2295872
Takaka2,95025,920361,14952351
Waimea32,435162,91240321,6962992,532278
Buller6497,225..142751351
Inangahua6,77040,726..99511711
Amuri44,30169,71476110,64410723885
Cheviot35,81723,09211910,26931128809
Grey4,69321,4409350431536
Westland4,46128,076..64626831
Ashley252,589142,9542,864102,4067124732,328
Selwyn309,05629,0001,601144,6422,0701,3725,945
Mount Herbert9,26721,336..808589126
Akaroa17,919160,095..2,040112284314
Ashburton409,91514,4171,972177,8397084149,624
Geraldine142,30013,0562,76754,1642261731,603
Levels87,2603,5722,63648,1194052361,029
Waimate224,66635,6661,29380,064368103716
Mackenzie58,36311,23346518,60511915693
Waitaki196,02633,7362,25970,213369264918
Waihemo33,0628,47418010,3177373113
Waikouaiti19,87449,7581486,60331113124
Peninsula4,43610,970..1,4211542250
Taieri87,69615,78338825,847586364422
Bruce104,9667,0612,08134,76522974257
Clutha180,06836,5872,17548,29234882534
Tuapeka101,2728,3311,17633,8052084331,325
Maniototo50,6744,38356422,17622439213
Vincent23,8818,48089913,84010627994
Lake14,9674,6396,03812,1189270227
Southland555,32464,40113,672179,4829515561,179
Wallace and Fiord149,26446,330***,45156,60525998258
Stewart Island104422511..313
      Totals4,741,7027,568,33763,3131,494,72217,17627,48252,846

The extent of land in cultivation (including sown grasses and land broken up but not under crop) amounted to 13,912,732 acres. Of this area, land under artificial grasses comprised 88.48 per cent.; land under grain-crops, 4.76 per cent.; land under root and green crops, 5.99 per cent.; land in garden and orchard, 0.32 per cent.; and land in fallow, 0.45 per cent. Full details for the last eighteen years are tabulated.

NUMBER OF ACRES IN GRASS, UNDEREACH CLASS OF CROP, ANDIN BARE FALLOW , 1888 TO 1905.
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
19054,741,7027,568,33778,81663,313661,926832,79617,17627,48213,912,73252,846

Wheat.

The wheat harvest of 1905 showed an average yield of 35.36 bushels per acre, the crop realised being 9,123,673 bushels, against 7,891,654 bushels in 1904.

The quantity of wheat of the previous season's harvest held by farmers in October, 1904, as shown by the gazetted figures, was 2,912,583 bushels, an amount which excludes stocks of grain and flour held by merchants and millers. The total amount of wheat exported during the year 1904 was 813,535 bushels.

The imports of flour during 1904 were 8,404 centals (420 tons), and the exports 387 tons.

The area under wheat for threshing increased from 230,346 acres in 1904 to 258,015 acres in 1905; and of this increase of 27,669 acres Canterbury contributed 26,827 acres, some of the districts showing small decreases. In addition to the area cut for threshing, 723 acres were cut for chaff, and 158 acres for ensilage and feeding down with stock, so that the total area sown in wheat was 258,896 acres.

Of the 258,015 acres in wheat (for threshing) this year, no less than 185,619 acres were in Canterbury and 53,653 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 fifteen years were:—

Year.Land under 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
1905258,0159,123,67335.36

The following gives the area in wheat, and the estimated produce, or the Australian States for the season of 1904:—

State.Wheat-crop.
 Acres.Bushels.Bushels per Acre.
Queensland138,0962,436,79917.64
New South Wales1,561,11127,334,14117.51
Victoria1,968,59928,525,57914.49
South Australia1,711,17413,209,4657.72
Western Australia137,9461,876,25213.60
Tasmania49,414767,39815.53

The Wheat-crop of the World.

The estimated wheat-crop of the world for four years is taken from the Statistical Year-book of Canada, 1903, with the exception of the figures for Australasia.

Countries.Bushels: 1900.Bushels: 1901.Bushels: 1902.Bushels: 1903.
Russia328,000,000344,000,000440,000,000440,000,000
France325,200,000304,000,000332,000,000336,000,000
Hungary152,000,000134,560,000182,400,000173,600,000
Germany156,000,000110,000,000143,200,000132,000,000
Italy132,000,000152,000,000128,000,000160,000,000
United Kingdom54,400,00056,000,00058,000.00048,000,000
Other European countries365,400,000416,400,000466,800,000439,600,000
      Total for Europe1,513,000,0001,516,960,0001,750,400,0001,729,200,000
United States of America600,000,000752,000,000680,000,000637,800,000
India184,000,000252,000,000224,000,000294,000,000
Argentine Republic68,000,00056,000,000100,000,000128,000,000
Canada51,183,00088,620,00096,884,00081,810,000
Australasia54,880,00042,584,00019,821,00082,041,000
Other countries152,800,000150,800,000164,000,000164,000,000
      Total other countries1,110,863,0001,342,004,0001,284,705,0001,387,651,000
Grand total2,623,863,0002,858,964,0003,035,105,0003,116,851,000

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 or 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, 1905.
The area for threshing was 258,015 acres, and the total yield is computed atBushels.
 9,123,673
Amount of wheat and flour returned on hand, 31st October, 1904 (as per returns)2,912,583
Amount of wheat and flour imported from 1st November, 1904, to 29th February, 19055,057
 12,041,313
Wheat and flour exported from 1st November, 1904, to 29th February, 1905Bushels.
 ..14,713
Consumption for same period for population of 900,000, at the rate of 6 bushels per head per annum1,800,000
 1,814,713
Leaving available for all purposes as at 29th February, 190510,226,600
Estimated quantity required for seed (say, 250,000 acres at 2 bushels per acre)500,000
Estimated consumption of 930,000 persons, at 6 bushels per head, from 1st March, 1905, to 28th February, 19065,580,000
 6,080,000
Apparent surplus4,146,600

The difficulty of correctly computing the consumption of 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 ½ to 6 bushels per head of population.

Oats.

The extent of land in oats sown for grain in 1905 was 342,189 acres, against 391,640 acres harvested in the preceding year, a decrease of 49,451 acres. The Provincial Districts of Otago (167,025 acres) and Canterbury (136,200 acres) account for 303,225 acres of the total area, Wellington taking third place with 18,518 acres. The breadth of laud in oats for chaffing, ensilage, or feeding down with stock was 206,749 acres, a decrease of 4,659 acres on the figures for 1904.

The average yield per acre was, in 1905, 42.53 bushels, and in 1904, 38.57 bushels, but the quantity of produce decreased from 15,107,237 bushels to 14,553,611 bushels.

The oat-crop for 1904 in the Australian States was as follows:—

 Acres.Bushels.Average per Acre.
Queensland2,80870,71325.18
New South Wales51,6211,252,15624.26
Victoria433,63813,434,95230.98
South Australia57,558902,93615.69
Western Australia14,568258,50317.74
Tasmania60,6631,621,95026.73

Maize.

This is a crop of some importance. In 1905 there were 10,084 acres sown for grain, the yield being 490,405 bushels of corn, an average of 48.63 bushels per acre, and 1,756 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 Marlborough. The Provincial District of Auckland had 10,210 acres; Hawke's Bay, 1,070 acres; Taranaki, 207 acres; and Wellington, 217 acres, in 1905. 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, Bay of Islands, Waikato, 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 and Hawke's Bay Districts.

Barley.

Under barley (for threshing), 29,484 acres were returned in 1905, the crop being 1,128,164 bushels, an average yield per acre of 38.26 bushels. In 1904 the area under barley was 34,681 acres, and the yield 1,160,504 bushels, or 33.46 bushels per acre. There were in addition 2,717 acres in barley for ensilage or feeding down with stock.

Rye.

There were 1,129 acres in rye, yielding 31,612 bushels, or at the rate of 28 bushels per acre, in 1905, against 1,176 acres and 19,992 bushels, the rate being 17 bushels per acre, in 1904.

Peas and Beans.

The area under peas for threshing in the season 1905 was 11,426 acres, yielding 378,195 bushels, or an average of 33.09 bushels per acre, against 10,328 acres and 311,412 bushels, or 30.15 bushels per acre, in the previous year.

Under beans there were 2,545 acres, giving a return of 89,964 bushels, the average being 35.34 bushels per acre, against 2,646 acres and 78,421 bushels (29.64 bushels per acre) in 1904.

Potatoes.

The area under potatoes was 26,331 acres in 1905, yielding the return of 134,608 tons, or a rate of 5.11 tons per acre, against 31,778 acres in 1904, and 208,787 tons (or 6.57 tons per acre), a decrease of 5,447 acres and 74,179 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 578,832 acres (447,244 acres in turnips and 131,588 in rape) were set down as under these crops; and there were 10,938 acres in addition, in mangolds (8,376 acres), beet (642 acres), and carrots (1,920 acres).

Hops.

There were 894 acres under hops in 1905, as against 810 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 1905, 828 acres were in the Waimea County and 52 in Collingwood, both in the Provincial District of Nelson. The import of hops in 1904 amounted to 560 cwt., and the exports, the produce of the colony, to 5,753 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 17,176 acres, of which 13,418 acres were private gardens and 3,758 acres market gardens. In plantations of forest trees there were 52,846 acres.

There were 26,911 acres in orchard in 1905, an increase of 119 acres on the area so returned in the previous year, and 571 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 1905 there were 12,310,039 acres under artificial grasses. Of these, 4,741,702 acres had been previously ploughed, presumably under grain or other crops, while 7,568,337 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 1905 was 31,662 acres, yielding 758,387 bushels of 20 lb., or a rate of 23.95 bushels per acre, against 29,350 acres and 658,280 bushels, an average of 22.43 bushels per acre, in 1904.

In cocksfoot there were 39,707 acres, which yielded 8,890,775 lb., or an average of 223.90 lb. per acre, against 29,590 acres and 5,228,572 lb. (a rate of 176.70 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 1903-4:—

 Acres.
Queensland15,639
New South Wales552,501
Victoria962,665
South Australia24,118
Western Australia2,952
Tasmania343,284
New Zealand11,949,171

It will be observed that the acreage of land under sown grasses is far greater in New Zealand than 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 1905 show that 22,545,576 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 48. SECTION XVI.—ACCUMULATION: PRICES AND WAGES.

BANKS OF ISSUE.

IN December, 1904, 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 1904 in respect of New Zealand transactions were £20,643,359, and the average assets £20,893,096. The average amount on deposit during the year was £19,074,960, of which sum £1,179,998 belonged to the General Government. Excluding those belonging to Government, deposits to the value of £8,947,472 were bearing interest, and £8,947,490 at call. The value of the notes in circulation of these banks was £1,468,161.

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 1904 are:—

Year.DepositsAssets.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
190419,074,96020,893,09620,643,359

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 1904, £22.57. 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 1903 it was only 75.96 per cent. In 1904 the ratio stood at 82.10 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 £3,953,075 in 1904:—

Quarter ended 31st December.Coin.Gold and Silver in Bullion or Bars.Total Coin and Bullion.
 £££
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
18972,848,183107,0352,955,818
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
19043,790,483162,5923,953,075

The figures shown for each quarter of the year 1904 are:—

 Coin.Bullion.
 ££
March quarter, 19043,690,465151,484
June ”3,712,352155,474
September ”3,802,867119,063
December ”3,790,483162,592

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 1904, for which the figures are £15,661,253, or £18.53 per head. The discounts in 1903 amounted to £1,893,808, or £2.31 per head of mean population, and in 1904 they were £2,072,356, or £2.45 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 mil ion pounds sterling, reaching maturity on the 19th July of the year 1904, and of the expiry of the term of currency of the debentures issued by the Assets Realisation 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, bus 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 shire, 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 exent 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 ho at the rate of 5½ 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 its 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 bearing interest at a rate not higher than 3½ 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.

“THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND ACT, 1904.”

The capital stock of one million pounds sterling issued by the Bank under authority of the Act of 1903, is to have priority, both as to capital and dividend as against the assets of the Bank, over all existing shares of the Bank, whether preference or ordinary. Further provisions of this Act deal with the form in which the stock may be issued, the issue of fresh certificates on transfer, loss, or destruction of certificates or warrants, also as to the countersigning of certificates or warrants.

The appointment and term of office of Auditors is also dealt with.

SAVINGS -BANKS.

The number of post-offices open for the transaction of savings-bank business at the end of 1904 was 510.

There were 57,769 new accounts opened in the year, and 42,280 accounts were closed. The total number of open accounts at the end of 1904 was 259,164, or 1 in every 3.31 of the population.

The deposits received during the year amounted to £5,836,540, and the withdrawals to £5,664,770 3s. 9d., the excess of deposits over withdrawals having thus been £171,769 16s. 3d. The total sum standing at credit of all accounts on the 31st December, 1904, was £7,761,382 0s. 11d., which gave an average of £29 19s. 9d. 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:—

 1900.1901.1902.1903.1904.
Not exceeding £20142,368153,593161,989174,563187,631
Exceeding £20 and up to £5022,33323,74325,52026,88728,231
” £50 ” £10013,70414,70516,62117,59218,363
” £100 ” £20011,17312,79714,65715,58915,583
” £200 ” £3005,1511,7655,4735,4995,624
” £300 ” £4001,2381,3941,6191,7951,918
” £400 ” £500773768860905956
” £500668671726845858
     Totals197,408212,436227,465243,675259,164

The following were the securities, &, standing in the name of the Postmaster-General on account of the Post-Office Savings-Bank Fund on the 31st December, 1904:—

Description of Securities.Nominal Value.Value at Cost Price.
“Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement£s.d.£s.d.
Act, 1899,” Debentures, 3½ per cent.125,00000125,00000
"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, 3½ per cent.789,70000789,70000
“Dairy Industry Act, 1898,” Debentures, 3½ 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, 4½ 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 1986, Scrip, 4 per cent.34,1000034,10000
Dunedin Garrison Hall Debentures, 5 per cent.5,500005,50000
“General Purposes Loan Act, 1873,” Debentures, 4 per cent.5,200004,34200
“Government Advances to Settlers Extension Act, 1901,” Debentures, 3½ per cent.80,0000080,00000
“Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886,” Debentures, 3½ per cent.231,50000231,50000
Greymouth Harbour Board Debentures, 4 per cent.125,00000125,00000
Hamilton Borough Debentures, 4½ per cent.3,000003,00000
Hokitika Harbour Board Debentures, 5 percent.10,0000010,00000
“Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1903,” Debentures, 4 per cent.5,050005,05000
“Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1903,” Debentures, 4 per cent.142,90000142,90000
“The Consolidated Stock Act, 1884,” Debentures, 3 per cent.65,0000065,00000
“The Government Advances to Settlers Act, 1894,” Debentures, 4 per cent.30,0000030,00000
“The Hutt Railway and Road Improvement Act, 1903,” Debentures, 3½ per cent.10,0000010,00000
“The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900,” Debentures, 4 per cent.25,0000025,00000
“The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900,” Debentures, 4 per cent.1500015000
“The Scenery Preservation Act, 1903,” 3½ per cent.10,0000010,00000
“The State Fire Insurance Act, 1903,” Debentures, 3½ per cent.1,500001,50000
“Immigration and Public Works Loan Act, 1870,” Debentures, 4 per cent.174,20000167,27200
“Immigration and Public Works Loan Act, 1870,” Debentures, 4½ 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.2,184,940002,176,582180
“Land for Settlements Act, 1894,” Debentures, 3½ per cent.741,06600741,00600
Land for Settlements Act Debentures, 3½ per cent.62,0000062,00000
“Lauds Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Act, 1894,” Debentures, 4 per cent.279,00000279,00000
“Lands Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Act, 1894,” Debentures, 3½ per cent.35,0000035,00000
“Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1901,” Debentures, 3½ per cent.650,00000650,00000
Oamaru Borough Consolidated Loan 1893 Debentures, 5 per cent.13,8000013,80000
Oamaru Harbour Bonds, 5½ per cent.31,0000031,00000
Patea Harbour Board Debentures, 4½ per cent.21,8700021,87000
“State Coal-mines Act, 1901,” Debentures, 3½ per cent.140,00000140,00000
Thames Harbour Board Debentures, 4 per cent.10,0000010,00000
“Public Revenues Act, 1893” (Treasury Bills), 3½ per cent.599,20000599,20000
Westport Harbour Board Debentures, 4 per cent.489,50000489,50000
     Totals7,700,957007,764,99858

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 securities7,081,287
In local bodies' securities704,170
In other securities5,500
         Total£7,790,957

There are five savings-banks in the colony not connected with the Post Office. The total amount deposited in them in 1901 was £893,978 18s. 4d., of which the deposits by Maoris comprised £192 12s. 10d. The withdrawals reached the sum of £891,985 15s. 4d., or less than the total deposits by £1,993 3s. The total amount to the credit of the depositors at the end of the year was £1,077,924 19s. 6d., of which sum £351 12s. 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 1904 to £27,914,267. In addition, there are the deposits with building societies, which in 1903 were £360,129, 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 £32 19s. 5d. per head of the population, exclusive of Maoris.

BUILDING SOCIETIES.

There were 79 registered building societies in operation in the colony at the end of 1903. Of these, 47 were terminable societies, the rest were permanent.

The total receipts by these societies during their financial year were £910,402, of which deposits comprised £361,166.

The assets at the end of the year were valued at £1,488,307. The liabilities were: To shareholders, reserve fund, &, £1,099,281; to depositors, £360,129; and to bankers and other creditors, £28,896.

JOINT -STOCK COMPANIES .

During the year ended 31st December, 1904, 208 joint-stock companies, with a total nominal capital of £2,442,524, and one unlimited company without nominal capital, were registered under the provisions of “The Companies Act, 1903.”

District where registered.Companies registered in 1904.
No.Nominal Capital.
  £
Auckland521,025,575
Taranaki623,325
Hawke's Bay310,750
Wellington45378,658
Marlborough1500
Nelson751,000
Westland539,250
Canterbury40523,719
Otago41366,247
Southland823,500
         Totals2082,442,524

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

The Registrar of Friendly Societies received returns for the year 1903 from 465 lodges, courts, tents, &c., of various friendly societies throughout the colony. The number of members at the end of 1903 was 45,255.

The total value of the assets of these societies was £883,751, equivalent to £19 10s. 7d. per member. Of the total assets, the value of the sick and funeral benefit funds was £815,082.

The receipts during the year on account of the sick and funeral funds amounted to £116,476, and the expenditure to £73,270, of which the sick-pay to members reached the sum of £46,638. In addition to the sick-pay, the sum of £41,881 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., 19031,155101,7171,475,40314101
New South Wales” 190299096,671802,609861
New Zealand” 190346545,255883,75119107
South Australia” 189947443,043535,1981288
Queensland” 190338831,913314,7119173
Tasmania” 190217115,456115,9157100
Western Australia” 190319912,52271,0225136

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, Tasmania, and Western Australia are less than half the sum shown for this colony, and of Queensland but little more than half.

MORTGAGES .

In a return laid before the House of Representatives it is stated that during the year ended 31st March, 1904, mortgages to the value of £9,858,524 were registered in the several land registration districts of the colony, while the monetary value of those paid off amounted to £7,171,118. Compared with a similar return for the year 1902-3 the mortgages registered show an increase of £1,166,306, the total amount for the earlier year having been £8,692,218.

The total amounts represented in the mortgages registered and paid off in each registration district during 1902-3 and 1903-4 were:—

District.1902-3.1903-4.
Mortgages registered.Mortgages paid off.Mortgages registered.Mortgages paid off.
 ££££
Auckland914,871363,3891,148,389732,379
Poverty Bay282,219129,449260,309290,559
Taranaki1,140,155538,197956,883622,050
Hawke's Bay720,333424,385892,649639,406
Wellington2,433,0341,203,2922,882,3301,790,330
Marlborough103,78835,919105,05581,635
Nelson162,89367,025189,728131,977
Westland38,07625,94741,96124,375
Canterbury1,808,4851,401,2552,243,3501,933,260
Otago570,991388,275708,320597,554
Southland517,373288,900429,550327,593
        Totals£8,692,218£4,866,033£9,858,524£7,171,118

Classified according to the various rates of interest, the amounts in the mortgage deeds registered during the two years were:—

1902-3.1903-4.Rate of Interest.

(a.) Including £3,000 at 4⅓ per cent.

(b.) Including £560 at 5 1/10;per cent., and £1,600 at 5⅛ per cent.

(c.) Including £2,350 at 5⅓ per cent.

(d.) Including £60 at 8⅓ per cent.

(e.) Including £2,200 at 4¼ per cent.

(f.) Including £6,500 at 4⅝ per cent., and £800 at 4 ⅘ per cent.

££ 
70,69688,741at 4 per cent. or under.
1,884,721 (a)2,271,519 (e)at 4½ per cent.
142,105137,067 (f)at 4 ¾ per cent.
2,786,5743,217,494at 5 per cent.
67,425 (b)40,762at 5¼ per cent.
556,449 (c)679,361at 5½ per cent.
16,450800at 5 ¾ per cent.
803,179957,845at 6 per cent.
500780at 6¼ per cent.
120,865120,770at 6½; per cent.
6,000..at 6 ¾ per cent.
299,548277,304at 7 per cent.
18,67216,629at 7½ per cent.
181,732175,479at 8 per cent.
96,216 (d)94,376at 8½ per cent. and over.
1,639,7391,779,597at rates not specified.
1,347..free.
£8,692,218£9,858,524 

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 5¼ per cent.
732,764at 5½ per cent.
116,600at 5 ¾ per cent.
1,372,261at from 6 per cent. to 6¼ per cent.
371,896at from 6½ per cent. to 6 ¾ per cent.
599,542at from 7 per cent. to 7¼ per cent.
111,651at 7½ 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, 1904, was £45,493,552, as against £42,906,772. in March, 1903, £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 1903 104,982 life insurance policies, an average of 126 in every 1,000 persons living. The gross amount represented by these policies was £25,878,909, an average of £246 10s. 2d. for each policy, and of £31 1s. 9d. for every European inhabitant of the colony at the end of the year.

The distribution of these policies shows that 41 per cent. are held in the Government Life Insurance Department:—

Name of Office.Number of Years of Business in the Colony.New Zealand Business only.
Number of Existing Policies at End of Year 1903.Gross Amount insured by Policies at End of Year 1903.
   £
Australian Mutual Provident Society4230,7738,319,957
Australasian Temperance and General Mutual Life Assurance Society (Limited)159449,819
Australian Widows' Fund Life Assurance Society (Limited)62,142549,242
Citizens' Life Assurance Company (Limited)104,368639,707
Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society (Limited)204,8231,230,237
Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States192,450903,596
Mutual Life Association of Australasia276,8191,671,482
National Mutual Life Association of Australasia (Limited)249,2322,214,310
New York Life Insurance Company17568217,897
Scottish Metropolitan Life Assurance Company (Limited)7155,600
Yorkshire Insurance Company28216,800
Life Insurance Department of the New Zealand Government3443,11610,060,262
        Totals, December, 1903..104,982£25,878,909
        Totals, December, 1902..99,908£24,697,807

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 1902 and 1903, being a sum of £1,181,102, or 4.78 per cent., while for the same twelve months population increased by 3.04 per cent. only.

INDUSTRIAL LIFE ASSURANCE .

In addition to the ordinary life insurance transactions alluded to above, there were in 1903 three 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.Number of Years of Business in the Colony.New Zealand Business only.
Number of Existing Policies at End of Year 1903.Gross Amount insured by Policies at End of Year 1903.
   £
The Australasian Temperance and General Mutual Life Assurance Society (Limited)12,63751,541
The Citizens' Life Assurance Company (Limited)1017,849374,613
The Provident and Industrial Insurance Company of New Zealand1410,228329,897
        Totals, December, 1903..30,714£756,051
        Totals, December, 1902..27,418£632,378

Here an increase of £123,673, or 19.56 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 especially 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 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 1902-4 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
190423,76842024,18812,1056,665..18,770

A sum of £6,700 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 £9,508, and the funds at £5,695.

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, 1904 and 1905, the results are:—

 1904.1905.
Number of EstatesValue of Estates.Number of Estates.Value Of Estates.
  £ £
Wills and trusts (including sinking funds accounts)8361,605,1439541,922,303
Intestate estates1,062232,6951,070277,779
Lunatic estates854208,573940256,645
Native reserves119380,000119380,000
West Coast Settlement Reserves333700,000333715,000
Unclaimed lands26626,47126825,628
        Total3,470£3,152,8823,684£3,577,355

The capital funds of the Public Trust Office invested amounted, on the 31st March, 1905, to £1,813,709. The investments are as follow:—

 £
New Zealand Government securities117,385
Local bodies' debentures63,429
Mortgages of freehold property1,632,895
    Total£1,813,709

PRIVATE WEALTH.

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. £
1899-190312,139,701***,416307199781,911240,819,987

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 private wealth amounting to £256,402,400.

As pointed out in the previous Year-book, the above calculation has given results somewhat higher than would be shown if the adult population and adult deaths only were used, instead of the totals at all ages.

It is the original method which was used for many years in Victoria, and has been continued up till now in New Zealand for comparative purposes. The late Professor Mainwaring Brown preferred it.

The average wealth of three Australian States for the years 1898-1902 has been calculated by the Government Statistician of Victoria, Mr. McLean, on the basis of the deaths of adults which gives the following results:—

PRIVATE WEALTH: AVERAGE DURING 1898-1902 IN VICTORIA, NEW SOUTH WALES, AND SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
Victoria.N.S. Wales.S. Australia.
1. Estates of deceased persons: net amount sworn to£25,633,200.£24,027,400£6,383,000
2. Deaths of adults (number)53,21346,71012,591
3. Average amount left by each adult.£482£514£507
4. Adults alive at census of 1901 (number)651,143700,480186,327
5. Private wealthTotal£313,851,000£360,047,000£94,468,000
per head£261£266£260

Working on the adult method, but excluding Maoris, the results for New Zealand, calculated for the five years ending with 1904, as done by Mr. McLean for the Victorian Year-book, gives results as under:—

PRIVATE WEALTH IN NEW ZEALAND.
* Being a somewhat lower estimate than that arrived at by the original method, but one admitting of exact comparison with Australia.
1. Estates of deceased persons: net amount sworn to£13,764,815
2. Deaths of adults (number)26,249
3 Average amount left by each adult£524.394
4. Adults alive, 31st December, 1904 (estimated number)458,097
5. Aggregate private wealth, 31st December, 1904£240,223,000*
6. Wealth per head of total estimated population on 31st December, 1904£230.131

Here the results are, as explained somewhat, though not substantially, lower than those arrived at by the original method. But the adult method enables comparison to be made with Australian States, and may give results less liable to exaggerate or understate the facts, according to the circumstances. It may be well to repeat the remark made before, that, no matter how arrived at, only a rough approximation to the facts can be put forward.

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, 1904.

Public property—i.e., land and improvements not owned by individuals, exclusive of Government railways:—

 ££
Grown lands17,031,92729,601,886
Local authorities' lands5,581,480
Educational lands4,012,795
Church and other lands2,975,684
 
Government railways, open and under construction, 31st March, 190523,003,000
Other public works—viz., telegraphs, lighthouses, harbours, and water-supply on gold fields5,060,000
            Total public property£57,664,886

This amount of £57,664,886, with the sum of £240,223,000 previously shown as the private wealth, estimated from probate returns, gives a total of £297,887,886. If to this be added £8,684,284, the value of Native lands with their improvements (exclusive of lessees' interests), a final total of £306,572,170 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 1904, £48,842,742 and £5,529,500 respectively. Allowing for these, it is found that the colony had in 1904 at least £252,200,000 value of public and private wealth. Full information as to public wealth other than property owned by the Government is not procurable.

RATES OF WAGES.

The average rates of wages paid in 1904 in each provincial district for agricultural, pastoral, artisan, and servants' labour are given on pages 435 to 437.

AVERAGE PRICES OF PRODUCE , LIVE -STOCK, PROVISIONS, ETC., IN EACH PROVINCIAL DISTRICT OF NEW ZEALAND DURING THE EAR 1904
ArticlesAuckland.Taranaki.Hawke's Bay.WellingtonMarlborough.Nelson.Westland (Goldfield.)Canterbury.Otago (Part Goldfield).
        I. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE .
Wheat per bushel (60 lb.)3/10 to 5/3/6 to 4/64/ to 4/6¾ to 4/93/94/4/ to 5/3/6 to 4/33/ to 4/6
Barley per bushel (47 lb.)3/ to 4/62/6 to 3/32/ to 4/62/8 to 4/3/63/93/62/9 to 3/62/6 to 3/6
Oats per bushel (40 lb.)2/ to 3/2/4 to 2/6⅔ to 3/1/9 to 2/92/62/4 to 2/6⅔ to 2/61/6 to 2/61/6 to 2/
Maize per bushel (56lb.)2/6 to 4/3/ to 3/33/ to 3/62/8 to 4/6..3/6 to 3/94/63/3 to 3/93/6 to 7/
Bran per bushel (20lb.)10d. to ⅓1/1 to ⅓1/ to ⅓9d. to 1/61/61/11d. to 1/69d. to ¼6d. to ⅓
Hay per ton60/ to 110/40/ to 50/60/ to 80/50/ to 100/70/75/ to 115/90/ to 95/50/ to 80/50/ to 70/
        II. FLOUR AND BREAD.
Flour, wholesale per ton of 2,000lb.190/ to 210/215/ to 235/200/ to 230/210/ to 240/200/210/210/ to 220/190/ to 220/170/ to 210/
Flour, retail per bag of 50lb.6/ to 6/95/9 to 6/36/ to 6/65/9 to 6/5/66/6/ to 6/6⅝ to 6/5/ to 6/9
Bread per 41b. loaf7d.7d. to 8d.7d.6d. to 7d.7d.7d.7d. to 9½d.5d. to 7d.6½d. to 8d.
        III. LIVE -STOCK AND MEAT.
Horses, draught per head£25 to £40£25 to £35£35 to £70£30 to £50£35 to £50£25£40 to £60£30 to £45£32 to £60
Horses, saddle and harness per head£4 to £20£15 to £18£10 to £20£10 to £25£20 to £30£12/10£15 to £30£12 to £30£15 to £25
Cattle, fat per head120/ to 200/135/ to 150/140/ to 160/160/ to 200/100/ to 180/150/ to 170/200/ to 260/140/ to 260/130/ to 240/
Cattle, milch cows per head100/ to 160/150/ to 160/130/ to 160/80/ to 200/140/130/120/ to 180/120/ to 220/100/ to 160/
Sheep, fat per head17/ to 22/615/ to 25/15/ to 19/15/ to 21/14/ to 18/13/ to 19/620/ to 27/18/ to 28/919/ to 27/
Lambs, fat per head12/ to 17/612/ to 15/11/6 to 14/12/ to 16/12/ to 15/10/ to 16/15/ to 16/15/ to 23/11/ to 18/
Butchers' meat:—
    Beef per lb.4d. to 7d.5d.4d. to 6d.4d. to 8d.6d.6d.6d. to 8d.3d. to 9d.4½d. to 7d.
    Mutton per lb.4½d. to 6d.5d. to 5½d.4d. to 5d.3½d. to 6d.5½d.5d. to 6d.6d. to 8d.4d. to 6d.4½d. to 5½d.
    Veal per lb.5d. to 6d.5d. to 5½d.4d. to 6d.4½d. to 6d.6d.6d. to 7d.5½d. to 8d.3d. to 6d.4d. to 7d.
    Pork per lb.5½d. to 8d.5d. to 6d.5½d. to 6d.6d.6d.6d. to 7d.6d. to 8d.6d. to 8d.5d. to 8½d.
    Lamb per lb.5½d. to 8d.6d.6d. to 7d.5d. to 7d.7½d.7d.7d to 8d.6d. to 8d.5d. to 9d.
        IV. DAIRY PRODUCE.
Butter, fresh per lb.8d. to 1/11d. to 1/9d. to 1/8d. to 1/8d.1/1/8d. to 1/9d. to 1/
Butter, salt per lb.7d. to 10d.8d. to 10d.6d. to 8d.7d. to 9d.7d.9d. to 11d.9d. to 1/7d. to 10d.7d. to 1/
Cheese, colonial per lb.5¼d. to 8d.8d.7d. to 8d.6d. to 7d.7d.7d.7d. to 8d.5½d. to 8d.5d. to 9½d.
Cheese, imported per lb.½ to 1/62/10d. to 2/10d. to 2/..1/91/6⅓ to 1/98d. to 1/6
Milk per quart3d. to 4d.3d.3d. 4d.4d. to 6d.4d. to 5d.3d. to 4d.3d. to 6d.
        V. FARM -YARD PRODUCE.
Geese per pair7/ to 10/7/6 to 8/66/ to 8/5/ to 12/8/ to 10/7/ to 12/9/ to 11/5/6 to 11/5/6 to 10/
Ducks per pair3/6 to 5/5/ to 5/63/ to 4/63/6 to 7/3/ to 5/5/ to 7/64/ to 6/3/6 to 6/4/ to 6/6
Fowls per pair3/6 to 4/4/2/6 to 3/62/6 to 5/2/ to 3/2/6 to 3/64/ to 6/3/ to 5/63/ to 4/6
Turkeys per head5/ to /107/ to 7/65/ to 6/5/ to 13/6/ to 8/8/ to 12/6/ to 10/6/ to 9/4/6 to 15/
Bacon per lb.7½d. to 11d.5d. to 8d.8d. to 9d.7d. to 9½d.7d. to 8d.8d. to 9d.9d. to 10d.7½d. to 9d.7d. to 10d.
Ham per lb9d. to 1/16d. to 9d.9d. to 10d.8d. to 10d.9d.9d. to 9½d.9d. to 1s.9d. to 10d.8d. to 11d.
Eggs per doz.8d. to ¼10d. to 1/10d. to½10d. to½10d.1/1/67d. to 10d.8d. to 1/
        VI. GARDEN PRODUCE.
Potatoes, wholesale per ton44/ to 75/100/ to 120/25/ to 90/70/ to 120/120/ to 140/60/ to 65/70/ to 80/40/ to 80/35/ to 100/
Potatoes, retail per cwt.3/ to 6/6/ to 7/1/6 to 8/4/ to 8/..4/4/ to 5/3/ to 5/2/6 to 9/
Onions per lb.2d. to 3d.2d. to 2½d.1½d. to 2d.2d. to 2½d.1d.1d. to 2d.1½d. to 3d.1d. to 3½d.1d. to 2d.
Carrots per doz. bnchs.9d. to 2/2/2/ to 3/1/ to 2/1/3/2/ to 3/8d. to 3/1/ to 4/
Turnips per doz. bnchs.4d. to 2/2/2/ to 3/1/ to 2/1/3/2/ to 3/8d. to 3/1/ to 4/
Cabbages per doz.2/ to 5/2/6 to 3/2/6 to 3/1/ to 4/2/2/ to 3/4/ to 6/1/6 to 4/1/ to 3/
        VII. MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES .
Tea per lb.1/6 to 3/1/6 to 1/10⅛ to 2/1/6 to 2/11/6 to 2/1/6 to 2/61/9 to 2/1/6 to 2/41/6 to 2/6
Coffee per lb.⅕ to 1/101/9 to 2/1/6 to 1/101/6 to 2/1/9 to 1/101/6 to 2/⅓ to ⅛1/6 to 2/
Sugar per lb.2½d.3d.2½d. to 3d.2½d. to 3d.2½d. to 3½d.2½d. to 3d.3d.2½d.2½d. to 3d.
Rice per lb.2d. to 2½d.2½d. to 3d.2 ¾d. to 3d.2d. to 3d.3d.2d. to 3d.3d.2½d. to 3d.2d. to 3d.
Salt per lb.1d.1d.1d.1d.1d.1d.1d.1d.1d.
Soap per cwt.15/ to 30/20/ to 23/ 7d. to 8d.20/ to 28/19/6 to 25/12/614/ to 24/13/ to 24/13/ to 18/14/ to 30/
Candies per lb.6d. to 9d.7d. to 8d.7d. to 8d.7d. to 8d.7d.6d. to 8d.5d. to 7d.5d. to 9d. 
Tobacco per lb.5/3 to 6/5/65/6 to 6/5/ to 5/95/66/5/65/ to 7/5/ to 6/6
Coal per ton23/6 to 42/625/ to 50/34/6 to 50/36/ to 50/40/22/ to 37/20/ to 38/27/ to 50/20/ to 40/
Firewood per cord12/6 to 40/30/ to 32/20/ to 32/20/ to 38/35/10/ to 35/16/ to 20/30/ to 40/18/ to 40/
        VIII. bEER , WINES, SPIRITS.
Beer, colonial per hhd80/ to 95/80/84/6 to 100/60/ to 100/78/80/ to 100/80/ to 90/80/70/ to 100/
Beer, English, bottl'd per doz. qts.12/6 to 15/15/ to 16/15/ to 17/614/ to 15/914/14/ to 15/14/ to 16/14/6 to 18/13/ to 17/
Brandy per gallon23/6 to 32/30/ to 32/627/ to 30/27/ to 30/25/28/ to 30/25/ to 30/26/ to 33/20/ to 31/
Rum per gallon21/6 to 32/625/ to 30/25/ to 30/24/ to 30/25/625/24/ to 25/23/ to 30/24/ to 30/
Whisky per gallon24/ to 32/30/27/ to 30/26/ to 30/28/28/ to 30/25/21/ to 29/24/ to 29/
Gin per gallon21/6 to 30/20/ to 30/28/ to30/20/ to 27/6..20/ to 26/20/ to 24/24/ to 27/22/ to 33/
Wine, Australian per gallon12/ to 18/15/ to 20/12/6 to 17/612/ to 1815/25/ to 32/613/ to 15/13/ to 18/14/ to 30/
Wine, European per gallon15/ to 30/20/ to 24/21/ to 24/15/ to 20/..40/ to 50/14/ to 18/21/ to 26/16/6 to 30/
        1. AGRICULTURAL LABOUR .
Farm-labourers:
    With board, per week20/ to 25/25/ to 30/25/15/ to 25/20/ to 25/15/ to 20/20/to 25/20/20/ to 22/6
    Without board, per day6/ to 7/7/6/........6/ to 7/66/ to 7/
Ploughmen:
    With board, per week25/ to 30/25/ to 30/25/ to 30/20/ to 30/20/ to 25/20/ to 25/20/ to 25/20/ to 25/20/ to 25/
    Without board, per day..7/7/........6/ to 8/7/
Harvesters:
    With board, per week30/ to 35/20/ to 30/30/48/48/....40/25/ to 45/
    Without board, per day8/..6/ to 8/1/to 1/6 hour..6/ to 8/..1/ per hour10d. to 1/
Men cooks on farms per hour
    With board, per week20/ to 30/20/25/ to 30/20/ to 30/20/ to 30/..20/ to 30/20/ to 30/20/ to 30/
Female farm-servants:
    With board, per week12/ to 15/15/13/ to 15/10/ to 20/10/ to 15/..15/10/ to 15/10/ to 15/
        2. PASTORAL LABOUR.
Shepherds, with board, per annum£52 to £75£70 to £78£60 to £80£52 to £78£65 to £80....£52 to £80£52 to £80
Stock-keepers, with board, per annum£52 to £75£60 to £65£60 to £78£52 to £78£65 to £80....£52 to £75£50 to £80
Station-labourers:
    With board, per week15/ to 25/20/20/ to 25/20/ to 25/20/ to 25/15/ to 20/..20/ to 25/15/ to 20/
    Without board, per day6/............ 5/ to 7/
Shearers, with board, per 100 sheep shorn15/ to 20/17/6 to 20/17/6 to 20/16/8 to 20/16/8 to 20/17/6 to 20/20/15/ to 20/15/ to 20/
Men cooks on stations, with board, per week20/ to 30/20/25/ to 30/20/ to 40/25/ to 30/20/..20/ to 30/20/ to 30/
        3. ARTISAN LABOUR (per day, without board).
Masons9/ to 14/12/ to 14/10/ to 12/12/10/14/14/10/ to 12/10/ to 14/
Plasterers12/ to 14/14/ to 15/12/ to 14/12/ to 14/10/12/ to 14/12/ to 14/12/10/ to 14/
Bricklayers9/ to 14/12/ to 12/811/ to 12/12/ to 14/12/12/ to 14/12/ to 14/10/ to 12/10/ to 14/
Carpenters9/ to 10/10/ to 11/10/10/ to 14/10/10/ to 11/11/ to 14/10/8 to 11/410/ to 13/
Smiths8/ to 10/8/6 to 9/10/9/ to 11/10/10/10/ to 12/8/ to 10/8/ to 10/
Shipwrights10/..10/10/..11/12/10/10/ to 12/
Plumbers9/ to 10/9/ to 12/10/ to 11/10/ to 11/9/9/ to 10/10/ to 14/9/ to 10/8/ to 12/
Painters7/ to 10/9/4 to 10/10/9/6 to 10/9/10/10/ to 12/9/ to 10/8/ to 12/
Saddlers7/ to 10/8/ to 9/8/ to 9/8/ to 10/7/8/ to 10/9/ to 10/8/ to 10/8/ to 10/
Shoemakers7/ to 9/8/7/6 to 10/7/6 to 9/7/8/8/ to 10/8/ to 10/7/6 to 10/
Coopers9/ to 10/8/ to 10/9/8/ to 10/9/10/12/10/8/ to 10/
Watchmakers9/ to 10/9/ to 10/8/ to 10/8/6 to 10/9/10/9/ to 12/7/6 to 10/10/ to 12/
Wheelwrights8/ to 10/9/10/10/ to 12/10/9/ to 11/10/ to 14/9/ to 10/10/ to 12/
        4. SERVANTS .
Married couples without family, with board, per annum£65 to £78£80£75 to £90£70 to £80£75£70..£70 to £90£60 to £75
Married couples with family, with board, per annum£60 to £72..£60 to £90£50 to £80£75£70..£60 to £80£50 to £70
Grooms, with board, per week17/6 to 20/20/20/ to 30/20/ to 27/620/ to 30/20/ to 25/20/ to 30/20/ to 30/20/ to 25/
Gardeners:
    With board, per week20/ to 25/20/ to 30/20/ to 30/20/ to 30/20/ to 30/..20/ to 25/25/20/ to 30/
    Without board, per day6/ to 8/....6/ to 8/8/9/..6/ to 8/7/ to 9/
Cooks, with board, per week20/ to 25/20/15/ to 20/14/ to 20/12/ to 20/20/15/ to 30/15/ to 20/15/ to 20/
Laundresses, with board, per week12/ to 20/15/15/15/ to 25/12/ to 20/15/15/ to 20/12/ to 20/12/ to 20/
General house servants, with board, per week10/ to 17/612/ to 15/12/ to 16/12/ to 20/10/ to 15/10/ to 15/10/ to 15/10/ to 15/10/ to 15/
Housemaids, with board, per week8/ to 15/13/ to 15/12/ to 16/10/ to 15/10/ to 15/10/ to 12/10/ to 17/610/ to 15/10/ to 14/
Nursemaids, with board, per week6/ to 10/8/5/ to 10/6/ to 15/5/ to 8/7/8/ to 12/65/ to 10/5/ to 10/
        Needlewomen:
    With board, per week10/ to 25/..15/ to 20/14/ to 20/..20/21/15/ to 22/612/ to 24/
    Without board, per day (lunch always provided)3/ to 4/4/3/ to 4/3/ to 5/5/..3/6 to 4/3/6 to 5/63/6 to 6/
        5. Miscellaneous.
General labourers, without board, per day6/ to 8/7/ to 8/7/ to 8/7/ to 8/8/8/ to 9/9/ to 10/5/ to 8/7/ to 9/
Stonebreakers, without board, per cubic yard2/2 to 4/3/6⅔ to 2/62/6 to 5/63/..3/ to 5/32/6 to 5/
Seamen, with board, per month130/120/130/ to 170/130/ to 140/..130/ to 140/140/ to 160/100/ to 160/100/ to 130/
Miners, without board, per day8/ to 9/..9/8/ to 11/89/10/69/ to 10/8/ to 10/7/ to 10/
Engine-drivers, ” ”8/ to 10/10/8/ to 10/8/ to 10/10/10/ to 12/8/4 to 12/10/ to 12/8/ to 12/
Tailors, ” ”8/4 to 10/9/ to 10/8/4 to 10/9/ to 10/10/8/48/4 to 11/9/ to 10/8/6 to 10/
Tailoresses ” per week21/ to 30/25/ to 48/20/ to 27/625/ to 40/..15/ to 30/25/ to 30/25/ to 30/21/ to 35/
Dressmakers, ” ”15/ to 30/12/ to 42/18/ to 30/21/ to 50/15/-20/15/ to 40/20/ to 30/18/ to 25/18/ to 35/
Milliners, ” ”15/ to 30/30/ to 36/30/ to 40/30/ to 60/40/30/ to 50/30/ to 50/15/ to 40/21/ to 60/
Machinists, ” ”17/6 to 30/27/6 to 30/20/ to 30/21/ to 30/20/30/15/ to 25/15/ to 25/21/ to 30/
Storekeepers, ” ”48/ to 60/50/ to 80/48/ to 65/40/ to 60/40/-60/0/40/ to 70/40/ to 60/40/ to 80/
” assistants, ” ”30/ to 45/30/ to 50/42/ to 54/30/ to 60/40/30/ to 60/40/ to 50/30/ to 50/25/ to 60/
Drapers' assistants, ” ”24/ to 60/42/ to 55/30/ to 60/25/ to 70/40/-60/40/ to 60/40/ to 00/27/ to 60/25/ to 60/
Grocers' assistants, ” ”40/ to 48/36/ to 55/30/ to 45/30/ to 60/40/-60/35/ to 60/40/ to 50/30/ to 50/25/ to 50/
Butchers, ” ”40/ to 60/48/ to 50/48/ to 60/40/ to 70/40/-60/30/ to 60/40/ to 60/40/ to 60/25/ to 60/
Bakers, ” ”42/ to 60/18/ to 50/35/ to 60/45/ to 60/50/45/ to 50/40/ to 60/40/ to 60/30/ to 60/
Storemen, ” ”45/ to 50/50/42/ to 55/40/ to 55/50/42/ to 60/40/ to 60/40/ to 48/40/ to 50/
Compositors, ” ”48/ to 66/55/45/ to 60/45/ to 60/50/52/ to 60/40/ to 80/48/ to 60/40/ to 60/

Chapter 49. SECTION XVII.—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, 1902”: Section 117.

“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, 1903, and 1904 (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 Consolidation Act, 1900” (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 Offices Act, 1904.”

“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, 1903, and 1904.

“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 States 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, Christchurch, 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, 1903, and 1904, 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, whoso 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 Amendment Act of 1904 extends the definition of “worker” and “employer,” and authorises the acting member of the Court of Arbitration to act when the permanent member is himself a party to a dispute or proceeding.

“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 be 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, and the health of persons working in the manufacture of textile fabrics.

“The Shops and Offices Act, 1904.” consolidates all previous measures relating to this subject, and contains certain amendments found to be necessary. It provides for the early closing of shops in certain districts, limits the hours of employment of any shop-assistant, and prescribes a minimum rate of wage for those under twenty years of age. It is compulsory that shops be closed for one afternoon half-holiday in each week. Certain businesses, such as fishmongers, fruiterers, confectioners, refreshment-room keepers, bakers, or bookstall-keepers on railway-stations or wharves, are exempted from the general half-holiday closing on account of their convenience to the public, but assistants in such establishments, and in the bars of hotels, must have a half-holiday on some day of the week. Hawkers are deemed to be shopkeepers within the meaning of the Act. Sitting accommodation for women must be provided, and precautions as to the necessary time for meals, sanitary accommodation, &c., are enforced. The Act also regulates the closing of offices, and enumerates the working-hours, &c., of office-assistants. In shops and offices clerks and assistants have to be paid for overtime. Substantial penalties may be inflicted for breaches of the Act.

“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 regard 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 Amendment Act of 1904 defines the manner in which the compensation payable to a worker under the principal Act shall be computed, and limits the total liability of the employer. There is special provision made for stevedores, lumpers, or wharf labourers. It also prescribes the time within which a claim for compensation shall be deemed to have been made.

“The Accidents Compensation Act, 1901,” provides that an independent medical examination of the injured person 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 could 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 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 1904-5 were:—

Month.Roads and Lands and Survey Departments.Public Works Department.Total.
April, 19041,5442,3383,882
May, ”1,8862,2514,137
June, ”1,4932,2123,705
July, ”1,2912,1513,442
August, ”1,0602,0993,159
September, ”1,0242,0573,081
October, ”1,0312,0163,047
November, ”1,0392,0753,114
December, ”1,0911,9883,079
January, 19051,3902,0253,415
February, ”1,9152,1034,018
March, ”2,1152,1144,229

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
1900-11,8202,0903,910
1901-21,8942,6734,567
1902-31,3191,7333,052
1903-41,4932,3053,798
1904-51,4072,1193,526
        Annual average last fourteen years1,3241,3722,696

Labour Department.

The total number of men for whom employment has been found by the Department of Labour up to the end of March, 1905, 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
1st April, 1904, to 31st March, 19053,1303,274
 38,38777,281

Chapter 50. SECTION XVIII. — FINANCE.

SUBSECTION A.—REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE OF THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT .

THE revenue proper for the year ended 31st March, 1905, amounted to £7,282,870, and other receipts were £64,327, including £63,200 as the proceeds of sinking-fund debentures. The total receipts were thus £7,347,197. The principal increases over the previous year were in stamps, £80,835; land and income tax, £50,446; railways, £49,775; and Customs duties, £30,659. All the other heads of revenue exceeded the previous year's receipts, except beer duty, which fell off to the amount of £511.

The expenditure for the year under permanent charges and votes reached £6,635,902, or £201,621 in excess of that for the previous year. Amongst the permanent charges interest and sinking fund shows an increase of £35,907 over the previous year, arising from he payment of interest on new loans issued. The amount transferred to the Public Works Fund during the year was £600,000, making the total expenditure out of the Consolidated Fund £7,235,902.

Summarising the above results it is found that the balance of receipts over expenditure for the year amounted to £111,295. To this must be added the amount brought forward from the previous year, £649,741; and the total, £761,036, 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, 1904..649,741
Customs duties2,631,983 
Beer duty96,210 
Stamps (including postal and telegraph cash receipts)1,160,119 
Land-tax352,854 
Income-tax253,952 
Railways2,217,767 
Registration and other fees103,465 
Marine dues30,121 
Miscellaneous170,378 
Territorial revenue260,021 
  7,282,870
Other receipts—
Proceeds of debentures for increases of sinking fund63,200 
Recoveries in respect of expenditure of previous years1,127 
  64,327
  £7,996,938
Expenditure.££
His Excellency the Governor7,000 
Legislative57,126..
Ministers' salaries and allowances12,304 
Interest and sinking fund charges1,993,870 
Exchange and commission24,659 
Pensions, civil and military56,725 
Old-age pensions197,911 
Railways1,471,844 
Public instruction653,272 
Postal and telegraph services557,535 
Judicial and legal280,399 
Hospitals and charitable institutions109,190 
Defence183,134 
Subsidies to local bodies73,640 
Department of Agriculture99,880 
Lunatic asylums71,780 
Valuation Department29,307 
Customs43,303 
Marine (including harbours and lights)45,857 
Printing and stationery42,122 
Australasian Naval Defence40,000 
Land and Income Tax Department20,183 
Registration of land and deeds, births, deaths, and marriages26,157 
Public buildings and domains26,293 
Public Health Department31,773 
Industries and Commerce39,757 
Tourist Department22,721 
Miscellaneous expenditure163,040 
Territorial expenditure255,120 
  6,635,902
Other expenditure—
Transferred to Public Works Fund..600,000
Balance on 31st March, 1905..761,036
  £7,996,938

Ordinary Revenue.

The ordinary revenue shows an increase for the year 1904-5 of 3.68 per cent. over the figures for 1903-4. When considering the figures given it must be remembered that the mean population increased at the rate of 3.03 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.
1904-5.Per Cent of Total.1903-4.Per Cent. of Total.Numerical.Centesimal.
 £ £ £Per Cent.
Customs duties2,631,98337.482,601,32538.4030,6581.18
Railways2,217,76731.582,167,99232.0149,7752.29
Stamps (including postal and telegraph cash receipts)1,160,11916.521,079,28415.9380,8357.48
Land-tax352,8545.02334,9914.9417,8635.33
Income-tax253,9523.62221,3693.2732,58314.72
Beer duty96,2101.3796,7211.43- 511- 0.53
Registration and other fees103,4651.4792,6471.3710,81811.68
Marine36,1210.5135,8360.532850.80
Miscellaneous170,3782.43143,3792.1226,99918.83
     Ordinary revenue7,022,849100.006,773,544100.00249,3053.68

The amount derived from Customs duties was 1.18 per cent, greater than that shown for 1903-4; Income-tax, 14.72 per cent.; stamps, &c., 7.48 per cent.; and railway revenue shows an advance of 2.29 per cent. While the mean population of the colony increased by 3.03 per cent, during 1904-5, the ordinary revenue advanced at the slightly higher rate of 3.68 per cent., as shown above.

The Customs and excise duties in 1904-5 accounted for £38 17s. out of every £100 of ordinary revenue collected; railways, £31 11s. 7d.; and stamps, &c., £16 10s. 5d. Of other items, the land-tax yielded 5.02 per cent. and income-tax 3.62 per cent. of the revenue

Territorial Revenue.

Territorial revenue belonging to the Consolidated Fund increased from £247,842 in 1903-4 to £260,021 in 1904-5, or at the rate of 4.91 per cent. In the previous year, 1903-4, there was a decrease of 1.76 per cent. Details for the last two years are:—

Territorial Revenue.Increase or Decrease 1904-5.
1904-5.Per Cent. of Total.1903-4.Per Cent. of Total.Numerical.Centesimal.
* Exclusive of revenue derived from land set apart for State forests, £12,784; lands for close settlement. £149,606; and of the Cheviot Estate, £15,279. 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, 1905, will be found stated, under each head, in Section XIX., “Crown Lauds.”
 £ £ £Per Cent.
Cash land sales44,16916.9950,56620.40- 6,397- 12.65
Deferred-payment laud sales5,3572.065,5052.22- 148- 2.69
Pastoral runs, rents, miscellaneous210,49580.95191,77177.38+ 18,724+ 9.76
    Territorial revenue260,021*100.00247,842100.00+ 12,179+ 4.91

By the foregoing table the cash land sales for 1904-5 are shown to have decreased by nearly 13 per cent., and to supply 17 per cent. of the whole territorial revenue of the Consolidated Fund; while rents and miscellaneous, which constitute 81 per cent. of the total have increased by nearly 10 per cent.

Ordinary and Territorial Revenue.

The total ordinary and territorial revenue is found to have increased from £7,021,386 in 1903-4 to £7,282,870 in 1904-5, or at the rate of 3.72 per cent., or 0.69 per cent, more than the rate at which population increased:—

 Ordinary.Territorial.Total.
 £££
Year 1903-46,773,544247,8427,021,386
” 1904-57,022,849260,0217,282,870
      Increase249,30512,179261,484

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 27.38 per cent. in 1904-5.

If the sum of £49,526, the amount of territorial revenue received by way of land sales in 1904-5, is deducted from the total revenue the charges of the public debt will be found to have absorbed 27.56 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 ten financial years exhibits great progress. The rates of taxation and of revenue per head of mean population are given to illustrate this:—The table below has been inset to the Year-book for the special purpose of affording information as to the revenue raised per head of population in New Zealand compared with that collected in each State by the Commonwealth and State Governments of Australia. Maoris have been excluded from the population of New Zealand.

Figures for the financial year ended 30th June, 1904, are used for Australia, taken from Mr. Coghlan's pamphlet “The Six States of Australia and New Zealand, 1861-1903,” page 32, and these are set against those for the period ended 31st March, 1904, for this colony.

State.Taxation.Railways and Tramways.Posts and Telegraphs.Public Lands.All other Sources.Total Revenue.
Import and Excise Duties.Other.
 £s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.
New South Wales253015421970132160018108182
Victoria20501272163010906401296191
Queensland23110183291001271460146837
South Australia117110193340014009100163813
Western Australia510111087201040182118117102
Tasmania11820161017901180820925119
Commonwealth26501573100129017001610897
New Zealand3531312125014006001188125

To face p. 448.

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
18972,521,9112,276,7974,798,70831106151
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
19053,754,3793,592,8187,347,1974828126

The total revenue is shown to have increased from £4,556,015 in 1895-96 to £7,347,197 in 1904-5, a difference of £2,791,182, while the proportion to population has increased by no less than £2 1s. 8d. 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 1904-5 (exclusive of expenditure properly belonging to territorial purposes) amounted to £6,380,781, of which the largest item, after the charges of the public debt, £1,993,870, was on account of railways, £1,471,844. Public instruction cost £653,272, of which £459,007 was for carrying on the Board schools, £37,765 for technical and higher education, £20,706 for Native schools, £20,038 for industrial schools, and £68,006 for school-buildings. The postal and telegraph services cost £557,535. Under the heading “Judicial and Legal” the total sum expended was £280,399, of which the largest item was the police, £130,426; the next, District and Magistrates' Courts, £49,218; and, thirdly, prisons, £40,944. Hospitals and charitable institutions cost £109,190, and the lunatic asylums £71,780. Defence required £183,134, exclusive of £40,000 contributed by the colony towards the cost of Australasian naval defence; the Department of Agriculture, £99,880; Public Health Department, £31,773; Industries and Commerce Department, £39,757; Tourist Department, £22,721; and the Valuation Department, £29,307. Payments of old-age pensions required £197,911 for the year.

Territorial Revenue Expenditure.

The chief items of expenditure under this head are the Lands and Survey Department, £150,160, and Mines, £8,465; while there was paid to local bodies £90,214 (£30,759 being "thirds" and “fourths” under the Land Act, and £12,964 for the Greymouth, £3,136 for the New Plymouth, £42,234. for the Westport, and £1,121 for the Nelson Harbour Boards); besides £5,651 expended in management of water-races, and £630 in rates on Grown 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).
1900-1.1901-2.1902-3.1903-41904-5.
 £££££
Charges of the public debt1,745,6161,803,9391,900,9791,957,9631,993,870
Railways1,145,0881,280,9971,357,3851,451,9541,471,844
Public instruction (including school-buildings, industrial and Native schools, and deaf-and-dumb institution)481,087539,317566,568588,860653,272
Postal and telegraph416,364463,817485,860524,500557,535
Militia and Volunteers229,704191,250214,226165,142183,134
Old-age pensions199,708210,045212,962204,500197,911
Crown lands and surveys137,838122,278129,795160,932150,160
Police117,744120,629123,804126,149130,426
Other expenditure1,006,5551,163,6431,222,4401,254,2811,297,750
     Totals5,479,7045,895,9156,214,0196,434,2816,635,902

State Forests Account.

The receipts during the year were £12,784, and the balance brought forward £32,672, making a total of £45,456. The expendi-*** for the year amounted to £18,675, leaving a balance on 31st March last of £26,781.

Loan Accounts, Receipts and Expenditure, 1904-5.

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, 1905, were:—

Receipts in aid:—
    Public Works Fund —££
        The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Acts—
            Balance of loan issued under Act of 1903416,050 
            Instalments received in respect of £750,000 loan issued in London717,063 
 1,133,113
        Transfer from Consolidated Fund600,000 
        Amount received for purchase of debentures under “The Paeroa-Waihi Railway Act, 1903”25,000 
        Debentures issued under “The Hutt Railway and Road Improvement Act, 1903”45,000 
        Instalment received in respect of debentures issued (£92,500) under “The Railway Improvements Authorisation Act, 1904”88,437 
        Transferred from North Island Main Trunk Loan Application Act Deposit Account10,000 
        Proceeds of debentures issued to cover expenses of renewals and redemptions5,500 
 773,937
        Ellesmere Reclamation, &c., Account..1,633
  1,908,683
Cheviot Estate Account—
Receipts under “The Cheviot Estate Disposition Act, 1893”..15,279
State Coal-mines Account—
        Debentures33,000 
        Proceeds of sale of coal108,502 
        Transfer from Public Works Fund, being amount expended on the Point Elizabeth Railway62,541 
  204,043
            Carried forward..2,128,005
            Brought forward..2,128,005
Scenery Preservation Account—
        Debentures..10,000
Land for Settlements Account—
        Debentures730,200 
Rents, &c.149,606 
Other receipts13,545 
Proceeds of debentures issued to cover expenses of renewals and redemptions8,600 
  901,951
Loans to Local Bodies Account—
Debentures185,000 
Recoveries1,891 
  186,891
  3,226,847
Other receipts—
Debentures issued under the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Acts—
        For renewals and redemptions1,049,700 
        For temporary advances403,500 
  1,453,200
Debentures issued under “The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900”—
        For renewals and redemptions 1,798,450
  £6,478,497

The total expenditure out of the above accounts during the financial year was £2,211,449, excluding £3,314,191 for renewal and redemption of debentures falling due, repayment of temporary advances, and transfers.

Disbursements out of the Public Works Fund totalled £1,291,072, including £39,676 for the Paeroa-Waihi Railway, and £32,103 for the improvement of the Hutt Railway. 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 (£4,355,000.)

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, £404,525; incidental expenses, including the cost of issuing debentures, £64,684; while the interest charge on the Consolidated Fund was relieved to the extent of £134,703 out of this account, by way of recoup.

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 £165,893, besides that to open up Crown lands, £28,895.

Working and other expenses of the State coal-mines totalled £106,348, and debenture interest £3,778. The only payment out of the Cheviot Estate Account during the year was for interest £8,866, and the sum of £2,090 was charged to the Scenery Preservation Account for expenses of Commissioners.

Expenditure on Services:—
Public Works Fund—££
        Railways749,453 
        Roads230,012 
        Public buildings116,678 
        Telegraph extension79,298 
        Contingent defence46,588 
        Tourist and health resorts17,108 
        Departmental12,814 
        Immigration6,482 
        Purchase of Native lands6,280 
        Development of goldfields6,258 
        Lighthouses, harbour-works, and harbour-defences5,990 
        Lands improvement2,248 
        Rates on Native lands631 
        Utilisation of water-power468 
        Charges and expenses of raising loans and renewals10,764 
 1,291,072
        Transferred to State Coal-mines Account, being amount expended on Point Elizabeth Railway, now being treated as part of the Government railways 62,541
        Ellesmere and Forsyth Trust Account 545
Land for Settlements Account—
        Purchase of estates404,525 
        Charges and expenses (including loan charges £14,134)64,684 
        Interest recouped to Consolidated Fund134,703 
 603,912
            Carried forward 1,958,070
            Brought forward 1,958,070
Loans to Local Bodies Account—
        Grants to local bodies165,893 
        Roads to open up Crown lands28,895 
 194,788
State Coal-mines Account—
        Working-expenses106,348 
        Interest on debentures3,778 
 110,126
Cheviot Estate Account—
        Interest8,866 
        Surveys, roading, &c.49 
 8,915
Scenery Preservation Account—
        Expenses of Commissioners 2,090
              Total 2,273,989
Other expenditure—
Public Works Fund—
        Repayment of advances (as per contra)300,000 
        Debentures redeemed and renewed (as per contra)749,700 
        Temporary advances repaid (as per contra)403,500 
 1,453,200
Land for Settlements Account—
        Debentures redeemed and renewed (as per contra)1,213,950 
        Temporary advances repaid (as per contra)584,500 
 1,798,450
  £5,525,639

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.
1900-1.1901-2.1902-3.1903-4.1904-5.

* Including sums expended in the purchase of lands for settlement and expenses in connection therewith — viz., £251,837 in 1900-1; £498,124 in 1901-2; £466,844 in 1902-3; £623,269 in 1903-4, and £603,912 in 1904-5. 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., £37,390 in 1900-1; £31,979 in 1901-2; £18,578 in 1902-3; £25,753 in 1903-4; and £28,895 in 1904-5.

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 loans and renewals (Public Works Fund)1,4605,62088,18087,24910,764
Cheviot Estate interest and expenses8,9378,8819,0378,8668,866
Contingent defence37,650146,87637,00438,72446,588
Immigration214140142Cr. 76,482
Land purchases*280,575*516,385*482,627*628,621*610,193
Lighthouses, harbour-works, and defences6,51712,15913,58110,8635,990
Public buildings121,364145,600197,455216,192116,678
Public Works departmental expenditure12,93316,40412,81916,08912,814
Railway - construction and other works connected with railway-extension717,7231,333,941759,753828,704749,453
Rates on Native lauds673570471666631
Roads†353,131†435,669†301,747†387,595†258,956
Telegraph-extension50,10131,72968,57847,22779,298
Development of goldfields15,90715,32524,21316,2786,258
Tourist and health resorts11,26010,94915,64317,108 
Lands improvement1,6772,3482,0192,248 
State coal-mines....39,42465,246110,126
Scenery-preservation........2,090
Utilisation of water-power........468
Payments to local bodies under Government Loans to Local Bodies Acts138,956208,531234,870195,652165,893
Ellesmere and Forsyth Railway Trust........545
Debentures issued to Midland Railway bondholders......150,000..
      Totals1,746,1412,890,7672,283,1982,715,6272,211,449

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 fourteen 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
1900-1500,000
1901-2500,000
1902-3200,000
1903-4350,000
1904-5600,000
      Total£4,355,000

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 1896-97.

† 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 1900-1, £31,979 in 1901-2, £18,578 in 1902-3, £25,753 in 1903-4, and £28,895 in 1904-5. 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.

 £££££££££
1884-8557,148663,063317,0438,02925,799117,36134,033114,2511,336,727
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
1889-90867289,57284,12628416,34635,4739,43446,362482,464
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*9,34535,53876,5297,41019,639412,330*
1896-97301207,23164,292*10,50836,79170,57911,60026,683427,985*
1897-9870351,600290,777†33,11729,38473,5855,29581,715865,543†
1898-99105374,141295,534†17,35428,551107,26715,66277,713916,327†
1899-1900385417,937285,532†21,81526,771115,4279,026116,330993,223†
1900-1214717,723315,791†15,90750,101121,3646,51781,4041,309,021†
1901-21401,333,941403,690†15,32531,729145,60012,159200,6682,143,252†
1902-3142759,753283,169†24,21368,578197,45513,581167,5541,514,445†
1903-4Cr. 7828,704361,842†16,27847,227216,19210,863315,728£1,796,841†
1904-56,482749,453230,012†6,25879,298116,6785,99096,9011,291,072†

Conversion Account.

Three-per-cent. stock to the value of £848, and 3½-per-cent. stock to the value of £154,791 was inscribed during the year 1904-5, which began with a credit balance of £5,039 in this account, and £87 10s. was received as premium on sale of stock. Of this sum, £54,200 was applied to pay off 5-per-cent. debentures issued under "The Consolidated Loan Act, 1867,” £600 to pay off debentures under "The New Zealand Loan Act, 1863.” Three-per-cent. inscribed stock for £848 was issued in exchange for £800 debentures, and 3½-per-cent. inscribed stock to the value of £92,791 was exchanged for debentures amounting to £90,100. Expenses—the chief items of which were discount (£7,660), stamp duty (£1,104), brokerage and commission (£305), and office expenses, rents, interest, &c. (£295)—absorbed £9,364, leaving a credit balance in this account of £2,962 on the 31st March, 1905.

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, 1905, classified according to provincial districts, are shown in tabular form:—

Provincial Districts.Number of Applications.Amount of Advances authorised.
  £
Auckland3,219926,383
Taranaki2,219868,449
Hawke's Bay942262,575
Wellington3,8911,277,543
Marlborough511184,065
Nelson21059,045
Westland21448,640
Canterbury1,210328,670
Otago2,9331,087,185
      Totals15,3495,042,555

Of the 15,349 advances authorised, 1,990 applicants declined the grants (£868,585) offered them, so that the net advances to the 31st March, 1905, numbered 13,359, and amounted to £4,173,970. The securities for the net authorised advances were valued at £9,172,962.

The total sum raised by the Government for investment on mortgage is £3,200,000. Nine thousand and thirty-four mortgagors are indebted to the Department to the extent of £2,754,915 19s. 5d. in respect of principal moneys.

The gross profits for the year ended the 31st March, 1905, were £39,600 4s. 11d., and the cost of management £5,145 10s. 4d., being 0.16 per cent., or 3s. 2d. per £100 on the capital employed. The net profits amounted to £34,454 14s. 7d.

Arrangements have recently been made by the office whereby the whole cost of providing cover indemnifying the Department as mortgagee against claims which may arise under "The Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, 1900,” will be borne by the Department. Hitherto the premiums payable in respect of mortgagee's accident indemnity insurance have been a charge against mortgagors. The concession made cannot be considered otherwise than highly satisfactory to the settlers, and it relieves the office of a large amount of clerical work.

There have been no losses on advances since the inception of the office, and the office has no securities on its hands. The payments of interest and instalments of principal have been well maintained, and continue very satisfactory.

The liabilities and assets at 31st March, 1905, of the Government Advances to Settlers Office were:—

Dr. Liabilities.£s.d.
3-per-cont. Loan, redeemable 1st April, 1945, “A”1,500,00000
3-per-cent. Loan, redeemable 1st April, 1945, “B”500,00000
Sundry loans990,00000
Advances on account of loans210,00000
Assurance Fund125,724156
Suspense Account3,2231110
Accrued interest payable25144
Profit and Loss Account6,369194
 £3,335,34410
Cr. Assets.   
Investment Account—   
Advances on mortgage4,156,10500
Less repayments1,402,92359
 2,753,181143
Temporary investments, Bank of New Zealand4,836170
Sinking Fund investment with Public Trustee193,887105
Assurance Fund investment with Public Trustee125,724156
Mortgage instalments receivable, overdue1,73452
Bills receivable740117
Interest receivable, overdue7,00310
” accrued29,392128
Loan-flotation charges178,46630
Cash in hand and in bank40,376105
 £3,335,34410

“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 4½ 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 the 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 1900-1, £17,902; in 1901-2, £8,935; in 1902-3, £4,232; 1903-4, £1,720: and 1904-5, £1,458; making the sum invested to the 31st March, 1905, £475,734.

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 Act of 1903 authorised raising £1,000,000 for the following purposes:—Railway-construction (£450,000), rolling-stock (£150,000), roads and bridges (£340,000), development of goldfields (£20,000), telegraph-extension (£40,000).

“The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1904,” authorised raising, under the provisions of “The New Zealand Loans Act, 1904,” in the colony or elsewhere, of sums not exceeding £750,000 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 4½ 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-construction275,000
      Additional rolling-stock, &c., for open lines75,000
2. Land-settlement and goldfields-development—
      Construction of roads, tracks, and bridges to open up back blocks, and other work in connection therewith350,000
      For developing gold fields20,000
3. For telegraph-extension30,000
 £750,000

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—

  • Five per centum per annum for a period of twenty-six years: or

  • Four and a half per centum per annum for a period of thirty-two years; or

  • 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 1902-3 the rate was lowered from the full amount to ¾d. in the pound. The revenue from the ordinary land-tax is, in round numbers, about £254,000 per annum. The rate of ordinary land-tax for 1904-5 was 1d. in the pound. Native land occupied by Europeans is taxed½d. 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, £98,000 per annum, which is not included in the sum of £254,000 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.

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 1904-5 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 set down at £254,000 per annum.

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
1900-1173,809
1901-2179,397
1902-3200,684
1903-4221,369
1904-5253,952

The increase from 1895-96 to 1904-5 is £161,174, being a rate of 174 per cent., while the population increased during the same period by 23 per cent.

Indirect Taxation.

The indirect taxation is made up of Customs duties, and excise duty on beer made in the colony.

During the year ended 31st March, 1905, Customs duties collected amounted to £2,631,983, and excise duty on beer to £96,210, a total of £2,728,193. The duties are levied by specific charges of varying amount, and ad valorem charges ranging from 5 per cent, to 40 per cent. During the year 1904 specific duties were levied on goods imported to the value of £2,562,839, and ad valorem duties on £5,368,644; while goods valued at £4,802,608, or 37.23 per cent. of the total import, were admitted free of duty.

Of the total amount of taxation stated for the year 1904-5, the indirect taxation—i.e., Customs and excise duties—amounted to £2,728,193, while land and income, tax, with stamps for taxation, yielded £1,026,186, which constitutes direct taxation. So that the colony still raises nearly 73 per cent. of its taxation revenue by means of the indirect method.

Total Taxation by General Government.

The following statement shows the total amount raised by the General Government taxation during the financial year ended 31st March, 1905:—

Heads of Taxation.Amount collected.Amount of Taxation per Head (including Maoris) of Mean Population, 1904-5.
* If the calculation be made excluding the Maoris, the amount per head of population is found to be increased to £4 8s. 2d.
 ££s.d.
Customs and excise2,728,1933011
Land-tax352,8540711
Income-tax253,952058
Stamps (taxation only)419,380095
 3,754,3794311*

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.

Taxation by Local Governing Bodies.

The various local bodies levied taxation during the year ended 31st March, 1904, to the amount of £1,050,935, or £1 5s. 5d. per head of European population. Of the total sum, £640,475 was raised by general rates, £309,675 by special and separate rates, £80,722 by licenses, and £20,063 by other taxes.

SUBSECTION C.—PUBLIC DEBT.

THE gross public debt of the colony on the 31st March, 1905, was £59,912,000, an increase of £2,389,785 on the amount owing at the end of the preceding financial year. The net debt increased by ***£2,339,304, and on 31st March, 1905, stood at £57,403,632.

Of this increase, £730,200 was devoted to the purchase of lands for settlement; £185,000 for loans to local bodies; £1,458 for New Zealand Consols deposits; £33,000 for development of State coal-mines; £10,000 for Advances to Settlers; and £2,000 for the State Fire Insurance Department: making a total of £961,658 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 following table states the debentures and stock in circulation on 31st March, 1905, 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 , 1905.
Amount outstanding.Due Date.Sinking Funds accrued.Net Indebtedness.Annual Charge.Remarks.
Rate.Amount.When payable.
Int.S.F.
 ££ ££*** c.*** c.£  
New Zealand Loan Act, 1863266,30015 July, 1914164,572101,7285115,97815 Jan. and 15 July. 
Consolidated Loan Act, 1867125,900Ann. drawing125,90056,295Quarterly, 15 Jan., &c. 
Immigration and Public Works Loan Act, 18701,000,0001 June, 1907859,338140,66242.464,0001 June and 1 Dec.Sinking fund payable 13 Mar. and 13 Sept.
Canterbury Loan Ordinance, 18623,00015,2002 Jan., 191515,917Cr. 717611,06430 June and 31 Dec.* Only £200,000 has actually been issued to the public.
12,2002 July, 1916
Consolidated Loan Act, 186713,00015 April, 191313,000452015 April and 15 Oct. 
Immigration and Public Works Loan Act, 1870363,000390,90015 April, 1913363,000414,52015 April and 15 Oct. 
27,90015 April, 191327,9001,25615 April and 15 Oct. 
Defence and other Purposes Loan Act, 187025,000100,0001 July, 191025,0001,12530 June and 31 Dec. 
75,00015 April, 191375,00043,00015 April and 15 Oct. 
General Purposes Loan Act, 187317,40082,90015 Oct., 191317,400469615 April and 15 Oct. 
10,80015 May, 191410,800443215 May and 15 Nov.† The sinking fund is payable on £2,412,100 (1½ per cent. on £1,644,366, 1 per cent. on £57,703, and½ per cent. on £710,031); the Land Assurance Fund is also charged with½ per cent. as a contribution towards sinking fund.
54,70028 Nov., 191454,70052,73515 May and 15 Nov.
District Railways Purchasing Acts, 1885-8640,000137,1001 July, 190940,00062,4001 April and 1 Oct.
97,1001 April, 190597,10043,884
Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886250,3001 Sept., 1907250,30037,5531 Mar. and 1 Sept.
Carried forward2,381,6001,039,8271,341,773155,458  
Brought forward2,381,6001,039,8271,341,773155,458  
Consolidated Stock Act, 187729,150,30245,140,1051 Nov., 192929,150,30241,166,0121 May and 1 Nov. 
6,415,9581 Jan., 19406,415,958224,5581 Jan. and 1 July.£ £89,700 of this amount will be recouped by the Government Advances to Settlers Office.
9,573,8451 April, 19459,573,8453287,215£1 April and 1 Oct. 
Consolidated Stock Act, 1884—
Colonial Issue332,6001,070,3001 Sept., 1905842,10029,4731 Mar. and 1 Sept. 
509,50031 Dec., 1907 
65,0004 Jan., 190965,00031,950 
100,0004 Jan., 1909100,0003,500 
63,2001 Feb., 191263,2002,2121 Feb. and 1 Aug. 
Native Land Purchases Act, 1892125,00031 Oct., 1906125,0004,37530 April and 31 Oct. 
(Renewed under the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1899)
Land for Settlements Act, 189245,27631 Oct., 190645,2761,58530 April and 31 Oct. 
(Renewed under the Land for Settlements Acts Amendment Act, 1899)
Lauds Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Act, 1894400,00030 Sept., 1908283,000411,32031 Mar. and 30 Sept. 
117,0004,09531 Mar. and 30 Sept. 
New Zealand Consols Act, 1894475,7341 Feb., 1910475,73416,6501 Feb. and 1 Aug. 
Land for Settlements Act, 1894, and Amendment Act, 1897769,4901,236,49031 Oct., 1906769,49026,93230 April and 31 Oct. 
349,0001 April, 1909349,0003 ¾13,0881 April and 1 Oct. 
62,0001 April, 190962,0002,1701 April and 1 Oct. 
56,0001 April, 190556,00042,2401 April and 1 Oct. 
Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 190010,0002,723,2001 April, 190610,0003501 April and 1 Oct. 
10,0001 Nov., 190510,00044001 May and 1 Nov. 
10,0001 Feb., 190610,00044001 Feb. and 1 Aug. 
50,00030 June, 190650,00042,00030 June and 31 Dec. 
3,0001 Nov., 19063,00041201 May and 1 Nov. 
100,0001 Dec., 1906100,00044,0001 June and 1 Dec. 
88,0001 Feb., 190788,00043,5201 Feb. and 1 Aug. 
50,00030 June, 190750,00042,00030 June and 31 Dec. 
559,6001 Feb., 1908559,600422,3841 Feb. and 1 Aug. 
250,0001 April, 1908250,000410,0001 April and 1 Oct. 
230,6501 Aug., 1908230,65049,2261 Feb. and 1 Aug. 
29,4001 Jan., 190929,40041,1761 Jan. and 1 July 
263,3501 May, 1909263,350410,5341 May and 1 Nov. 
337,4001 May, 1909337,400413,4961 May and 1 Nov. 
127,50030 Sept., 1909127,50045,10031 Mar., and 30 Sept. 
300,0001 Jan., 1910300,000412,0001 Jan., and 1 July 
137,8001 Feb., 1910137,80045,5121 Feb., and 1 Aug. 
8,6001 Nov., 19118,60043441 May and 1 Nov. 
5,0001 Jan., 19125,00042001 Jan. and 1 July 
34,8001 Feb., 191234,80041,3921 Feb. and 1 Aug. 
118,10030 June, 1914118,10044,72430 June and 31 Dec. 
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1896500,00015 Aug., 1921*500,00017,50015 Feb. and 15 Aug.* Loan may be paid off at any time after 15th February, 1907, on six months' notice being given.
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1899500,000700,00015 Aug., 1905700,000315,0001 April and 1 Oct. 
200,0001 Mar., 190748,0001 Mar. and 1 Sept. 
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1900250,000970,5001 April, 1905250,000410,0001 April and 1 Oct. 
175,0001 April, 1906175,00047,0001 April and 1 Oct. 
3,5001 May, 19073,50041401 May and 1 Nov. 
20,0001 Feb., 190820,00048001 April and 1 Oct. 
20,0001 April, 190820,00048001 April and 1 Oct. 
227,4001 April, 1908227,40049,0961 April and 1 Oct. 
125,0001 April, 1908125,00045,0001 April and 1 Oct. 
149,6001 May, 1909149,60045,9841 May and 1 Nov. 
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1901300250,0001 Dec., 1904300Outstanding, unpresented.
15,0001 Dec., 190515,00046001 June and 1 Dec. 
1,0001 Dec., 19061,0004401 June and 1 Dec. 
152,7001 Dec., 1908152,70046,1081 June and 1 Dec. 
63,4001 Dec., 191163,40042,5361 June and 1 Dec. 
17,6001 Jan., 190917,60047041 Jan. and 1 July. 
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1902750,0001 Dec., 1906750,000430,0001 June and 1 Dec. 
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1903†299,8001,000,0001 Feb., 1924500,000420,0001 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
342,5001 Jan., 1909..342,500413,7001 Jan. and 1 July.
157,5001 Jan., 1912157,50046,3001 Jan. and 1 July.
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1904750,0001 Jan., 1912750,000430,0001 Jan. and 1 July.
Government Advances to Settlers Act, 189430,000210,0001 Feb., 190630,00041,2001 June and 1 Dec. 
80,0005 June, 190880,0002,80031 July and 31 Dec.£ Short - dated debentures.
£100,000100,000§3,500  
Dairy Industry Act, 18984381,7811 Aug., 19081,781621 Feb. and 1 Aug.§ ¼ per cent. over bank rate; varying interest, calculated at 3½ per cent.
8431 Jan., 1911 
5001 Jan., 1916 
Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1901685,000740,0001 Jan., 1909685,00023,9751 Mar. and 1 Sept. 
55,0001 Jan., 190955,00042,2001 Mar. and 1 Sept. 
State Coal-mines Act, 1901140,0001 April, 1907140,0004,9001 April and 1 Oct. 
    Carried forward59,609,9861,039,82758,570,1592,289,656 
    Brought forward59,609,9861,039,82758,570,1592,289,656  
Midland Railway Petitions Settlement Act, 1902150,0001 Jan., 1906150,0005,2501 July and 1 Jan. 
Paeroa-Waihi Railway Act, 190353,47680,21431 Mar., 191280,21432,40631 Mar. and 30 Sept. 
26,73830 Sept., 1912 
Hutt Railway and Road Improvement Act, 190345,0001 May, 191145,0001,5751 May and 1 Nov. 
State Fire Insurance Act, 19032,0001 May, 19111,500521 May and 1 Nov. 
5004201 May and 1 Nov. 
Scenery Preservation Act, 190310,0001 May, 191110,0003501 May and 1 Nov. 
Railway Improvements Authorisation Act, 190414,8001 Jan., 191214,80045921 Jan. and 1 July. 
  59,912,000 1,039,82758,872,173     
Add—
Accrued sinking fund in respect of the Government Loans to Local Bodies Acts417,003      
Sinking Fund, Government Advances to Settlers Office Account193,888      
Investments in Securities included above on account New Zealand Consols Investment Account 357,650      
Bank of New Zealand Preference Shares held by Government500,0001,468,541     
     Totals59,912,0002,508,36857,403,6322,299,901  
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 five years ending 31st March, 1906 to 1910, the total sum falling due is found to be £11,523,938.

For the year 1912-13 onwards to 1929-30 the amounts becoming clue annually are comparatively small.

In 1929-30 (24 years hence) and from then the hulk of the debt will have to be dealt with—that is, about forty-five millions of money out of a total of nearly sixty millions.

Due Date: Year ending 31st March.Amount.
 £
1905 (unpresented)300
19061,450,700
19072,316,766
19082,532,900
19092,980,883
19102,242,384
191125,843
19121,207,776
191326,738
1914496,300
1915452,900
1916500
191712,200
1922500,000
1924299,800
193029,150,302
19406,415,958
19469,573,845
Annual drawing125,900
Short - dated debentures100,000
      £59,912,000

The amounts that have matured or are maturing during the current financial year, with their due dates, are as follow:—

£ 
403,100due 1st April, 1905
500,000 ”15th August, ”
332,600” 1st September, ”
10,000” 1st November,”
15,000"1st December, ”
150,000” 1st January, 1906
40,000” 1st February, ”
£1,450,700 

Net Indebtedness: Comparison with Past Years.

The net public debt, after deducting the accrued sinking fund (£2,508,368), was on 31st March, 1905, £57,403,632, an increase of £2,339,304 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 (excluding the Maoris) for 1904-5 is greater than in 1903-4 by 14s. 8d. 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.; in 1904, £65 12s. 8d.; and in 1905, £66 7s. 4d. But, in considering the increase of the amount of debt per headas 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.”

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.

If Maoris be included in the population for 31st March, 1905, the gross indebtedness at that date is lowered to £65 19s. 6d. per head, and the net indebtedness to £63 4s. 3d.

  ££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
1896703,18743,050,7806145778,89142,271,8896024
1897717,64944,366,61861165814,29443,552,32460139
1898731,71344,963,4246190881,90344,081,52160411
1899746,67346,938,00662173857,27946,080,72761144
1900758,61647,874,4526322914,37546,930,07761173
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
1904838,95457,522,215681142,457,887*55,064,328*65128
1905864,97159,912,00069542,508,368*57,403,632*6674

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, 1904, to £8,898,910, of which sum £5,529,500 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 £21,081,650. A schedule of items composing this sum is subjoined. It shows the purposes to which the money raised has been or is being devoted. One of the largest items is £3,200,000 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, 1905..59,912,000
” 31st March, 1891..38,830,350
Increase..£21,081,650
 £ 
Native land purchases649,700 
Land settlement (including Cheviot)4,361,566 
Loans to local bodies2,087,100 
Lands improvement500,000 
Advances to settlers3,200,000 
Bank of N.Z. preference shares500,000 
N.Z. Consols475,734 
District railways47,000 
Public works8,458,214 
Increase by conversions681,108 
Sinking fund accretions1,646,000 
Naval and military settlers27,226 
Government accident insurance2,000 
Advances to dairy companies1,781 
State coal-mines140,000 
State fire insurance2,000 
Scenery-preservation10,000£
  22,789,429
     Less Redemptions—
        Consolidated Stock Act, 1884, debentures1,260,420 
        Other debentures447,359 
  1,707,779
               Total net increase £21,081,650

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 £4,355,000 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, 1905 — viz., £59,912,000—close on thirty-eight millions sterling bore interest at the rate of 4 per cent., nearly eleven millions sterling at 3½ 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 £100,000 on which the interest paid was ¼ per cent. over bank rate: varying rate, averaging 3½ per cent.
 £
6 per cent.55,200
5 per cent.446,900
4½ per cent.52,900
4 per cent.37,799,302
3 ¾ per cent.349,000
3½ per cent.10,989,339*
3 per cent.10,219,059
Outstanding300
          Total£59,912,000

The total amount of interest payable to bondholders on the full amount of the public debt as quoted above is £2,244,296, which gives an average rate of £3 14s. 11d. 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 1891-1905, therefore, the average rate is found to have declined by 15s. 4d. per £100, or about 17 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 eleven 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.
 ££££££s.d. 
18951,619,92557,9791,677,90438,9851,716,889210338.96
18961,602,93341,1831,644,11639,6591,683,77528436.96
18971,630,57741,8581,672,43537,0341,709,46928235.62
18981,668,69743,3801,712,07729,3361,741,41328134.28
18991,689,74944,6511,734,40033,0681,767,468271033.61
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
19051,914,29654,9331,969,22924,5001,993,729261027.38

Note.—The alteration made in 1894-95 of the system which previously obtained in dealing with the drawing loan of 1867 has affected the comparison of the figures for the last eleven years with those preceding. The total amount actually paid for interest and sinking fund in 1889-90 was, under the old system, £1,897,602. The figures for each of the years ended March, 1890 to 1891 inclusive, will be found in the Year-book for 1899.

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 £244,103 (under the Land for Settlements Acts, £134,704; Advances to Settlers Act, £96,755; Cheviot Estate, £8,866; other amounts, £3,778). 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 1904-5 was £35,766 more than that for the previous year, but the rate of charge per head of population shows a small decrease.

The securities in which the sinking funds were held as on the 31st March, 1905, 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, 1905.
Investments in—£s.d.
        New Zealand 5-per-cent. Debentures3,47000
        New Zealand 4½-per-cent. Debentures1,70000
        New Zealand 4-per-cent. Debentures7,20000
        New Zealand 3½-per-cent. Debentures1,91000
        New Zealand 4-per-cent. Inscribed Stock129,754196
        New Zealand 3½-per-cent. Inscribed Stock4,491188
        New Zealand 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock9,22992
        New South Wales 4-per-cent. Debentures19,80000
        New South Wales 4-per cent. Inscribed Stock5,48667
        New South Wales 3½-per-cent. Inscribed Stock85,00000
        New South Wales 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock71,386184
        Victoria 4-per-cent. Debentures15,00000
        Victoria 4-per-cent. Inscribed Stock43,233174
        Victoria 3½-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 3½ percent. Inscribed Stock39,00000
        South Australia 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock114,866159
        Canada 4-per-cent. Debentures18,20000
        Canada 4-per-cent. Inscribed Stock60,00000
        Canada 3½-per-cent. Inscribed Stock34,022118
        Canada 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock33,226123
        Canada 2½-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 Stock65,249194
        Leeds Corporation 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock14,00000
        Cardiff Corporation 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock26,00000
 £974,955129
            Brought forward974,955129
        Gold Coast 3-per cent. Inscribed Stock17,1211410
        Trinidad 4-per-cent. Inscribed Stock2,861910
        Lagos 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock13,551311
        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. Debentures1,29000
        Land for Settlements Act 4-per-cent. Debentures3,74000
        Local Bodies' Loans Act 3½-per-cent. Debentures40000
        County of Tauranga 5-per-cent. Debentures6000
        Borough of Brunner 6-per-cent. Debentures99000
        Borough of Patea 4½-per-cent. Debentures42000
        Borough of Palmerston North 5-per-cent. Debentures2000
        Borough of Tauranga 5-per-cent. Debentures20000
        Westport Harbour Board 4-per-cent. Debentures66000
        Waimakariri-Ashley Water-supply Board 5-per-cent. Debentures32000
        Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company 5-per-cent. Debentures54000
 1,039,63014
Sinking funds in respect of Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1901, and Government Advances to Settlers Act, 1894—
             Mortgages50,90000
     In common fund, Public Trust Office—
          At 4 per cent.£6,00000
          At 3½ per cent.553,99090
 559,99090
 1,650,520104
          Cash balance on 31st March, 190519773
                    Total£1,650,717177

Of the total amount, £542,833 is represented by stock and debentures of the Australian States, and £169,116 by those of Canada and Ceylon; £163,186 was invested in similar securities of the New Zealand Government; £62,500 in inscribed stock of English corporations; £65,249 in Transvaal Guaranteed stock; £2,670 in debentures of various local governing bodies; other securities, £34,074; £50,900 on mortgage; and £559,990 is in the hands of the Public Trustee.

Flotation of Loans.

Of the gross public debt of the colony outstanding on 31st March, 1905, £49,379,619 was raised in London, £1,209,550 in Australia, and £9,322,831 in New Zealand; and of the total amount £45,615,839 was held as inscribed stock, and £14,296,161 in the form of debentures. Details are given hereunder:—

Kind of Stock.Floated inTotal.
London.Australia.New Zealand.
 ££££
Debentures4,239,5141,209,5508,847,09714,296,161
Inscribed stock45,140,105..475,73445,615,839
          Total49,379,6191,209,5509,322,83159,912,000

The large proportion of the public debt which has been floated in the colony is worthy of attention.

Prices of New Zealand Stock.

The highest and lowest London prices for the New Zealand 4, 3½, and 3 per cent. stock, taken over a range of sixteen years, are quoted:—

QUOTATIONS, NEW ZEALAND STOCK.
Year.4-per-cents.
(1929)
3½-per-cents.
(1940)
3-per-cents.
(1945)
Highest.Lowest.Highest.Lowest.Highest.Lowest.
1888104½96¼........
1889109¼99⅝........
1890109⅛102¼98⅝93¼....
1891107½10098¼91⅛....
1892106⅝1009891½....
1893107¼9797½90....
1894109 ⅞105 ⅜103½96¼....
1895113½105⅝107½10095 ¾91
1896118¼106½110 ⅜101½103½90
1897117112 ⅜11104 ¾10299½
1898116 ⅞108109 ⅞103101½96½
1899116½105½10910299¼94¼
1900113¼109106 ¾103 ⅜98½95¼
1901115 ⅜110 ¾109 ¾104⅛99½93⅛
1902113¼109109½102⅛97½93⅝
1903110⅛105104 ¾99½9688
1904107½104½101½96 ¾9086¼

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 near to correctness as possible in places.

PUBLIC DEBT OF NEW ZEALAND, MARCH, 1905, SHOWING APPROXIMATELY THE MOUNTS RAISED OR VOTED UNDER VARIOUS EADS , ARRANGED IN THREE CLASSES.
 On 31st March, 1905.
* 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, 1905, was over twenty-three millions sterling, which includes £1,104,281 spent by the Provincial Governments, of which £82,259 was for the Dunedin and Port Chalmers line.
(a.) Services£
     Railways19,500,000*
     Lands improvement (roads and bridges)5,920,000
     Public works and buildings4,450,000
     Immigration2,465,000
     Maori war2,360,000
     Land-purchases2,195,000
     Defence1,910,000
     Telegraphs1,070,000
     Goldfields and coal-mines800,000
     Lighthouses and harbours535,000
     Midland Railway Company's bondholders150,000
     State coal-mines140,000
     Tourist and health resorts50,000
     State fire insurance2,000
     Scenery-preservation10,000
(b.) Investments—
     Purchase of land for settlements4,358,000
     Advances to settlers3,210,000
     Loans to local bodies2,365,000
     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 expenditure7,450,000

It will thus be found that on the 31st March, 1905, out of a total debt of £59,912,000, the amounts allocated for services formed approximately the following proportions of the whole:—

 Per Cent.
For Railways32.55
” Lands improvement (roads and bridges)9.88
” Public works and buildings7.43
” Immigration4.12
” Maori war3.94
” Land-purchases3.66
” Defence3.19
” For Telegraphs1.80
” Goldfields and coal-mines1.34
” Lighthouses and harbours0.89
” Midland Railway0.25
"State coal-mines0.23
” Tourist and health resorts0.08
” Scenery-preservation0.02

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 69.38 per cent. of the whole debt in 1905; class (b) consists of moneys devoted to what may be termed investments, being 18.20 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 12.42 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 rugged 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, 1905, can be given correctly, but this fund, as stated previously, is not altogether composed of money charged to the public debt. It had received £36,526,780 from loans and £5,331,931 by way of receipts in aid on the latter date. The money received by way of aid included £4,855,000 transferred from the Consolidated Fund during the last fourteen financial years, out of surplus revenue. Nearly forty-one millions sterling were spent since the year 1870 up to March, 1905, and the items given below exhibit the nature of the works. &c., with amount for each.

NET EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC WORKS FUND FROM 1870 TO 31ST MARCH, 1905.
Expenditure on—£
     Immigration2,154,475
     Public works, departmental519,939
     Railways, including surveys of new lines20,804,175
     Roads6,839,052
     Land-purchases2,010,646
     Development of goldfields748,428
     Telegraph extension1,132,990
     Public buildings3,186,224
     Lighthouses, harbour-works, and defences1,008,207
     Contingent defence819,152
     Rates on Native lands66,565
     Thermal springs14,600
     Tourist and health resorts55,360
     Lands improvement8,357
     Charges and expenses of raising loans1,249,067
     Coal-mines10,835
     Interest and sinking fund218,500
     Payment to Midland Railway bondholders150,000
     Utilisation of water-power468
          Total£40,997,040

Expenditure on Railways.

The railway expenditure during each of seven quinquennial periods since the initiation of the public-works policy has been:—

 £
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, 1895978,498
1st April, 1895, to 31st March, 19001,547,732
1st April, 1900, to 31st March, 19054,353,872
           Total£20,804,175

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, 190420,887,5852,8287,134515,53040104
New South Wales30 June, 190442,288,5173,22412,8901,441,44129610
Victoria30 June, 190441,216,7033,37112,1911,206,0983436
South Australia*30 June, 190414,698,3111,8827,810369,04539167
West'n Australia30 June, 19048,955,9291,5355,834238,01037127
Tasmania31 Dec., 19033,883,7294628,411180,20021111
New Zealand31 Mar., 190521,701,5722,3479,141†908,114231711

In the foregoing table the cost per head of population for railway-construction is shown to have been between £34 and £38 in the States of Victoria and Western Australia; over £39 in South Australia and over £40 in Queensland; in New South Wales it was over £29; but in New Zealand the cost has been nearly £24, 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 1903-4:—

State or Colony.Date.Public Debt.Debt per Head of Population.
Fixed Debt.Floating Debt.Total.
* As shown previously (see page 472), the amount of accrued sinking fund reduces this by £2 18s. 8d. per head.
  ££££s.d.
Queensland30 June, 190440,651,2871,130,00041,781,28779115
New South Wales30 June, 190469,926,65510,106,92680,033,5815572
Victoria30 June, 190448,336,1623,483,80051,819,96242194
South Australia30 June, 190426,324,1452,269,50028,593,6457791
Western Australia30 June, 190416,090,288..16,090,28867121
Tasmania31 Dec., 19039,211,070107,3309,318,40051184
New Zealand31 Mar., 190457,522,215..57,522,21568114*

The amount of indebtedness per head of population in June, 1904, in Queensland and South Australia was thus greater than that for New Zealand in March, 1904.

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 (1905)—

Sales to the extent of £113,787 have been made, as compared with £286,350 the previous year. Of the total value (£113,787), £83,557 represents country, £2,695 town lands, and £27,535 stock, implements, &c., sold on properties finally realised.

The sales for the period 1895-1905, including stock, show a total of £1,363,815 received.

On 31st March, 1905, the proportion of total sales from time of starting to the book-cost of all estates (£2,731,706) was 49.92 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 71.96 per cent.

Particulars of operations are—

 £
Sales of properties finally realised, 1895-1905 (including stock), (net amount)£ 734,087
Properties partially realised629,728
 £1,363,815

The book-cost of the estates in respect of which the sales were finally closed was £1,056,569. These properties are shown above to have realised £734,087, leaving a deficiency of £322,482, including the realisation expenses, &c.

The localities of the sales are as follows:—

 Estates.Farms.Town Sections.Suburban Properties£
Auckland8296743388566,910
Canterbury3982263286,455
Hawke's Bay2..10..104,250
Otago21064018275,658
Marlborough1865656,226
Wellington118371157,839
     1,247,338
Proceeds: realisation of sundry assets8,670
Stock sales on properties finally closed107,807
     £1,363,815

SPECIAL BANKING LEGISLATION.

A SYNOPSIS of “The Bank of New Zealand Act, 1903,” and “The Bank of New Zealand Act, 1904,” is given previously on pages 421 and 422.

Chapter 51. SECTION XIX.—CROWN LANDS.

A SUMMARY of the transactions during the year ended 31st March, 1905, 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, 1905.Number of Purchasers or Selectors.Area.
 Selectors.Area.    
 A.R.P. A.R.P.
Town lands sold for cash1345913735818,832210
Suburban lands sold for cash6332324
Rural lands sold for cash16118,44929
Occupation with right of purchase330138,20538
Lease in perpetuity360107,925229
Agricultural lease321820
Village settlement, cash21117
” occupation with right of purchase1010
” lease in perpetuity1220719
Village-homestead special settlement8111026
Special settlement associations222310
Improved-farm special settlement (lease in perpetuity and occupation with right of purchase)141,45913
Occupation leases, Mining Act401,91323
Small grazing-runs2660,636117
Pastoral runs87427,6***0239
Miscellaneous leases and licenses564126,65335
Cheviot Estate—
    Cash lands214300
    Grazing-farms16851137
    Miscellaneous533129
Land for Settlements Acts—
    Cash lands1114228
    Lease in perpetuity39165,884330
    Lease in perpetuity (village)2030
    Small grazing-runs35,78300
    Miscellaneous273,46339
Endowments-2,264960,214212
    Occupation with right of purchase141400
    Occupation leases, Mining Act16248227
    Lease in perpetuity103,384123
    Pastoral runs274,50000
    Miscellaneous78,46731
Native townships5790120
Totals2,3571,047,31933

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 ROWN TENANTS, with Area-selected or held, and the Yearly Rent payable, as on the 31st March, 1905.
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 payment31255,178322,58451
Perpetual lease640121,3781184,58025
Occupation with right of purchase4,1511,193,64611543,66704
Lease in perpetuity4,3221,243,49501539,94391
Agricultural lease1754213022169
Homestead
Mining Districts Land Occupation Act51022,2070131,31008
Village settlements—
    Deferred payment203783283208
    Perpetual lease1362,049220303106
    Occupation with right of purchase31223410178
    Lease in perpetuity5119,388234778122
Village-homestead special settlements—
    Perpetual lease3466,350126838159
    Lease in perpetuity71016,6191272,462116
Special settlement associations—
    Deferred payment
    Perpetual lease1376802655140
    Lease in perpetuity645116,521086,00879
Improved-farm special settlements59275,3701283,255172
Small grazing-runs6461,352,91813727,2911910
Pastoral runs86011,386,41621272,768146
Miscellaneous leases2,891645,31003312,222198
Totals17,35816,248,562316218,137156
CHEVIOT ESTATE
    Lease in perpetuity11924,403196,45650
    Village-homestead special settlement922,48010869104
    Grazing-farms5046,020166,912140
    Pastoral runs11,6420019338
    Miscellaneous711,434224320178
Totals33375,98013914,752108
LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACTS
    Lease in perpetuity2,838497,909235147,23267
    Lease in perpetuity, village484482203411510
    Special-settlement associations112,1141916278
    Small grazing-runs73128,86111617,233112
    Pastoral runs2953238121130
    Miscellaneous15512,652051,18948
Totals3,127642,93933166,2801811
THERMAL SPRINGS (ROTORUA)2836,0710241,973164
Grand totals21,09616,973,55412401,14515
Endowments767390,49432114,51474
Native townships3239580331,33258

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 March, 1895, 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 nine years wore:—

1896-97815 holdings228,978 acres.
1897-98658 ”130,380 ”
1898-99567 ”180,957 ”
1899-1900510 ”164,003 ”
1900-1354 ”106,690 ”
1901-2192 holdings75,368 acres.
1902-3329 ”106,390 ”
1903-4354 ”105,625 ”
1904-5180 ”89,451 ”

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 TEN YEARS ENDED 31ST MARCH, 1905.
1895-96.1896-97.1897-98.1896-99.1899-1900.1900-1.1901-2.1902-3.1903-4.1904-5.
 Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.
Cash lands26,57428,48522,52537,40023,93658,70327,29017,19422,48118,991
Deferred payments456....13....52......
Perpetual lease and small areas1,4279,1066516406242,49910......
Occupation with right of purchase84,96859,64881,414109,950117,771262,729128,893118,557146,953138,206
Lease in perpetuity122,350104,927117,938159,415153,531144,205116,125161,745194,515173,811
Agricultural lease36132581147023283613218
Occupation lease under “The Mining Districts Land Occupation Act, 1894”2,9312,8171,2851,4492,2952,1232,5072,4344,9721,914
Village settlement—
    Cash9413042210981
    Occupation with right of purchase24222..1......
    Lease in perpetuity3,3651,3171,4262,1151,7621,082456619514208
Village-homestead special settlement79336042134313764691,512272111
Special-settlement associations (lease in perpetuity)44,23728,0844426072....5,761729223
Special-settlement improved farms28,3484,8829,0074,8237,3931,9361,6184,03219,4361,459
Small grazing-runs and grazing-farms46,40768,934149,45877,632155,10986,076112,947113,925144,78667,271
Totals361,903308,581384,449394,324462,530559,774390,406425,824534,679402,413
NOTE.—The forfeitures and surrenders for the last nine 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; 1900-1, 106,690 acres; 1901-2, 75,368 acres; 1902-3, 106,390; 1903-4, 105,625 acres; and for 1904-5, 89,451 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.
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 TEN YEARS ENDED 31ST MARCH, 1905.
1895-96.1896-97.1897-98.1898-99.1899-1900.1900-1.1901-2.1902-3.1903-4.1904-5.
 No.No.No.No.No.No.No.No.No.No.
For cash476388272534491363489374435371
Deferred payments6....1....1......
Perpetual lease and small areas71921231......
Occupation with right of purchase431277380458395673447403402330
Lease in perpetuity696659599675647489501573894751
Agricultural lease3252311323
Occupation lease under “The Mining Districts Land Occupation Act, 1894”69482331645371529740
Village settlement—
    Cash1642216352119102
    Occupation with right of purchase34233..1..11
    Lease in perpetuity19310292106809633402114
Village-homestead special settlement1918912673034238
Special-settlement associations238142551....2942
Improved-farm special settlement3154577644113..3010614
Small grazing-runs and grazing-farms32277140643536455845
Totals2,5041,7351,5391,9531,8031,7691,6321,6022,0531,581
NOTE.—The forfeitures and surrenders for the last nine 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; 1900-1, 354 holdings; 1901-2. 192 holdings; in 1902-3, 329 holdings in 1903-4. 354 holdings, and in 1904-5, 180 holdings. See note to previous table as to the origin of these failures.
III.—LANDS TAKEN UP UNDER SETTLEMENT CONDITIONS DURING TEN YEARS ENDED 31ST MARCH , 1905 (EXCLUSIVE OF PASTORAL RUNS, MISCELLANEOUS LEASES AND LICENSES . ENDOWMENTS , AND THERMAL SPRINGS DISTRICT LEASES).*
Land District.1895-96.1896-97.1897-98.1898-99.1899-1900.1900-1.1901-2.1902-3.1903-4.1904-5.
* See notes as to forfeitures and surrenders on previous tables I. and II.
 Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.
Auckland67,83149,52256,29590,16078,677201,35599,824153,559134,375120,351
Hawke's Bay16,35322,85819,87636,22236,45190,62571,90238,50599,15340,949
Taranaki55,85022,00216,78618,86754,96071,00023,94239,35369,23663,005
Wellington79,47763,80148,90963,74641,38848,53014,30013,26825,43253,135
Nelson19,42114,46213,60018,67310,21118,91829,38311,23716,98110,340
Marlborough15,85820,85854,58151,97374,31133,06364,62456,68133,33220,795
Canterbury14,82722,65475,04152,83934,21820,74411,57545,40178,3634,487
Westland1,7653,86543735279270927,2144,1124,09820,202
Otago70,23879,21277,34540,59968,43649,90123,46250,17651,78338,487
Southland20,2839,34721,57920,89363,08624,92924,18013,53221,92630,662
Totals361,903308,581384,449394,324462,530559,774390,406425,824534,679402,413
IV.—HOLDINGS TAKEN UP UNDER SETTLEMENT CONDITIONS DURING TEN YEARS ENDED 31ST MARCH , 1905 (EXCLUSIVE OF PASTORAL RUNS, MISCELLANEOUS LEASES AND LICENSES , ENDOWMENTS , AND THERMAL SPRINGS DISTRICT LEASES), CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO SIZE.
Size.1895-96.1896-97.1897-98.1898-99.1899-1900.1900-1.1901-2.1902-3.1903-4.1904-5.
 No.No.No.No.No.No.No.No.No.No.
Under 1 acre259154103293245158195182363246
1 to 50 acres719588496571301466553466467397
51 to 250 acres1,198709616633492522471496624450
251 to 500 acres232178197277262333244237322280
501 to 1,000 acres708463128116181110157190131
1,001 acres and upwards262264518710959648777
Totals2,5041,7351,5391,9531,8031,7691,6321,6022,0531,581

The following is a statement of the gross amounts collected by Receivers of Land Revenue for the years 1903-4 and 1904-5:—

 1903-4.1904-5.
 £s.d.£s.d.
Territorial revenue247,84275260,020142
Land for settlements150,88345150,272124
Cheviot Estate13,77912115,27964
State forests16,7263512,78428
North Island Main Trunk Railway10,93112109,00127
Thermal springs, Rotorua24293050
Lakes Ellesmere and Forsyth1,635311,629147
Rotorua Town Council1,7721401,79542
Crown-grant fees8267464382
Lands and Survey vote1,627822,263176
Native townships9331691,01430
Mining Districts Land Occupation Act943106819143
Miscellaneous1,36617796085
Government Loans to Local Bodies Act27,19541028,29736
Endowments20,72218925,162182
Totals£497,211311£509,9741410

Chapter 52. 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, 1905, states:—

  1. There were 88 estates offered to the Government for sale, aggregating 713,741 acres; and 61 estates, containing 723,984 acres, were inspected on the ground.

  2. The Board of Land Purchase Commissioners held fourteen meetings—viz., one in Auckland, two in Hawke's Bay, seven in Wellington, two in Canterbury, and two in Otago—when the acquisition of 24 estates was considered, and 17 of these, containing 237,874 acres, were recommended for purchase.

  3. The Government approved of the recommendations regarding 14 estates, containing 219,695 acres.

  4. The owners ultimately accepted the offers made for 5 of these properties—viz., Longbush (balance), Greenfield, Hikawera (part of Tablelands), Hawtrey (workmen's homes), and Selwyn.

The purchase of Hikawera and Greenfield was completed during the year, at a cost of £87,976 for 24,648 acres; and Matamata, Edendale, and Mount Vernon (Lindsay), negotiated for last year, and containing 75,993 acres, were also completed at a cost of £336,507.

The total transactions finished in the year comprise 5 estates, containing 100,641 acres, the prime cost of which was £424,483 1s. 8d. The incidental expenses, roads, administration, and charges on debentures, amount to £64,733 13s. 9d. in addition, making a total of £489,216 15s. 5d.

If to these transactions there are added the purchases of past years, the total transactions become 136 estates, containing 716,224 acres, for which the owners received £3,362 013, and £238,324 was spent on roads and other services, making a total of £3,600,337.

The purchase of three other agricultural and pastoral estates, containing 180,087 acres, and which will cost about £209,000, has also been arranged for; and two small properties near Wellington, containing 327 acres, have been secured for workmen's homes, at a cost of £26,920.

The transactions awaiting the decision of the Compensation Court at 31st March were: (1) Flaxbourne, which was before the Court last year, and was decided on the 19th April, 1905, when the claimants were awarded £181,675 for 45,368 acres, and 11,700 acres were cut out and remain with the owners; (2) Tawaha, an estate of 3 350 acres in the Wairarapa, which was dealt with in the Compensation Court on the 24th instant, when the owners were awarded £34,000 for 2,350 acres, they retaining 1,000 acres and the homestead.

Negotiations are in progress for the acquisition of land for workmen's homes, Hutt Valley and near Christchurch, and for some agricultural and pastoral estates in Hawke's Bay, Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago, and Taranaki.

Values have advanced, especially in the neighbourhood of Wellington, and the high prices given for good land in Canterbury and the west coast of the North Island render negotiations for suitable land difficult and hazardous.

The rents collected during the year amount to £149,606 0s. 11d., and the interest received for that portion of the loan invested by the Treasury was £12,875, making a total of £162,481 0s 11d. There were also recoveries for lands finally disposed of, otherwise than by lease, amounting to £670 6s. 11d.

The interest paid for the money obtained under the Act was £134,703 13s. 7d., showing a profit for the year of £27,776 7s. 4d. This, added to the profit at 31st March, 1904 (£166,259 10s. 5d.), makes the amount realised at 31st Match, 1905, to be £194,035 17s. 9d., all of which has been expended in the construction of roads and other works, on surveys, administration, and other incidentals.

Two transactions under section 70 of “The Native Land Laws Amendment Act, 1895,” were practically concluded during the year—-viz., Tamaki, containing 3,542 acres, the resumption of the lease of which cost £7,000, and a part of the Manga-a-toro Station, containing 5,141 acres, the lease of which cost £16,000 to resume.

The following is a summary of the transactions:—

 No.Acres.Prime Cost. £
(a.) Estates purchased and selected or ready for selection at 31st March, 1904131615,5822,939,672
(b.) Estates purchased and prepared for selection in 1904-5262,523241,138
(c.) Estates purchased and paid for but not prepared for selection at 31st March, 1905338,119183,345
Totals136716,224£3,364,155
(A.) Acquired but not paid for nor prepared for selection6230,186£427,947
(B.) Leases resumed under section 70 of “The Native Land Laws Amendment Act, 1895"28,683£23,000

SUMMARY OF ALL LANDS OFFERED TO GOVERNMENT UNDER “THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS CONSOLIDATION ACT, 1900,” AND ITS AMENDMENTS, AND HOW DEALT WITH, FROM 1ST APRIL , 1904, to 31ST MARCH, 1905.
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.
* There were also eight estates, containing 14,703 acres, offered in the previous year which were dealt with this year.
  Acres.AcresAcres.Acres.Acres.Acres.Acres.
Auckland12194,11121,670..160,00011,0411,400194,111
Hawke's Bay25302,809224,51051,97019,4296,900..302,809
Taranaki44,0394,039........4,039
Wellington2243,4164,393..11,44227,33025143,416
Nelson22,1282,128........2,128
Canterbury1682,36318,67847,0898,0006,7211,87582,363
Otago469,56445,264..24,300....69,564
Southland315,31115,311........15,311
Total88713,741335,99399,059223,171*51,9923,526713,741
SUMMARY OF ESTATES ACQUIRED UP TO THE 31ST MARCH, 1905, AND AMOUNTS OF PURCHASE -MONEY.
Name of Land District.No. of Estates acquired before 31st March, 1904.Areas acquired before 31st March, 1904.No. of Estates acquired from 1st April, 1904, to 31st March, 1905.Area acquired from 1st April, 1904, to 31st March, 1905.Total Numbers or Estates to 31st March, 1905.Total Area to 31st March, 1905.Not Purchase-money, less Recoveries.Incidental Expenses, Roads, Preliminaries &c.
  A.R.P. A.R.P. A.R.P.££
Auckland1449,499012142,739001592,238012269,87030,971
Hawke's Bay14115,436138113,4700015128,906138732,90044,002
Taranaki32,69724....  32,6972458,3363,098
Wellington1226,46731212,6052331329,07325194,86622,430
Marlborough868,381221....  868,381221171,46723,597
Westland25,124326....  25,1243268,3432,470
Canterbury55246,005230....  55246,0052301,255,20047,456
Otago1867,595037122,0432111989,63838471,41851,587
Southland534,373118119,78402654,157120201,75512,713
Totals131615,5812385100,64216136716,224043,364,155238,324

The 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 following properties acquired under the provisions of “The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900,” were handed over to the Lands and Survey Department by the Chairman of the Board of Land Purchase Commissioners in order that the estates should be surveyed and prepared for application and settlement:—

Name of Estate and Land District.Area.
Matamata, Auckland42,739 acres.
Lindsay, Hawke's Bay13,470 ”
Flaxbourne, Marlborough45,368 ”
Greenfield, Otago22,043 ”
Edendale, Southland19,784 ”
        Total143,404 acres.

After the usual elaborate and detailed topographical and subdivisional surveys, classification, and valuation, the Edendale Settlement, comprising 122 sections and 19,495 acres, was offered on the 15th April, 1904; and the Matamata Settlement, containing 302 allotments and a gross area of 42,481 acres, was opened for selection on the 2nd June, 1904; and, with the exception of 4,007 acres, the whole of the subdivisions were satisfactorily disposed of.

As the result of surveys effected during the year 1904-5 the usual complete plans and pamphlets, supplemented by full descriptions and information regarding the Lindsay and Greenfield Settlements, were published, but these two settlements were not opened until after the end of the financial year. Suffice to say that in these cases also great success attended the sales.

The Flaxbourne Settlement, which has been the subject of protracted litigation, was completely surveyed and prepared for selection, but, owing to the delay in obtaining the decision of the Compensation Court, the settlement could not be advertised for selection before the 22nd June, 1905.

The Department has now in hand the survey of eight additional estates, containing 188,177 acres, and comprising the Selwyn Estate, Auckland, three estates in the Wairarapa, one exchange of lands in the Poverty Bay District, two properties to provide workmen's homes in the vicinity of Wellington, and the Kinloch Estate at Little River, Canterbury.

If to the selections in the Matamata and Edendale Settlements there be added all selections of the balances of estates previously submitted for application, the total number of selectors registered during the financial year amounts to 425, who secured in all 75,133 acres. This brings the total number of tenants under the Land for Settlements Act to the considerable number of 3,131, who hold 642,940 acres, and pay thereon £166,281 per annum.

It will be seen, by reference to the Lands and Survey Report, that the number of houses upon the settlements is 2,471; that the number of souls residing on the holdings is 10,283; that the value of the improvements amounts to £803,381 2s. 3d.; that the arrears on the 31st March, 1905, due by 167 selectors, amount to £5,787 8s. 7d.; that the amount of rent and other payments received during the year is £150,272 12s. 4d.; and that the total receipts since the inception of the system amount to £721,569 6s. 8d.

The receipts for the year were £610 12s. 1d. less than the amount collected in the year 1903-4. This anomaly is explained by the fact that the outstanding rents, which in the year 1902-3 amounted to £10,497, were reduced to £4,096 in 1903-4, and also because the great Rosewill Settlement was balloted for on the 7th March, 1904, and the amount, £6,675 5s. 4d., received with the successful applications, representing rents due in advance on the 1st July or the 1st September, 1904, was carried to revenue, and thereby swelled the receipts for the previous year, to the loss of the year 1904-5.

Of the gross area of 681,055 acres acquired by the Crown and opened for selection since the inauguration of the system, there remains 38,170 acres still to be di-posed of, which latter figures amount to 5 ½ per cent. of the whole. With few exceptions, the settlements have made fair to excellent progress during the year; the settlers have become, or are becoming, well-established upon their holdings; they appreciate and are contented with their condition; whilst there is every prospect that the settlements will prove in the future, as in the past, an inestimable advantage to the fortunate possessors of the holdings, and be a source of congratulation and benefit, socially and economically, to the colony. The results of the policy of acquiring freehold properties, with the object of bringing about the occupation of rural lands in small areas as their quality, position, and productiveness warrant, have been an unqualified and great success, whether the scheme is considered from the point of view of the tenants and the Government or the colony as a whole. There is one very important feature of the lease-in-perpetuity tenure under the Land for Settlements Act which, in my opinion, deserves special prominence—-viz., that, in addition to bona fide, occupation and utilisation of the holdings, residence by the tenants is compulsory for all time. This should insure that an ever-increasing area of the lands of the colony shall be occupied by a rural population—-the class admittedly of the first importance to the well-being of any nation.

ESTATES OFFERED for SELECTION during the Year ending the 31st March, 1905, under “The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900.”
Land District, and Name of Estate.Area of Estate.Number of Selectors.Area unselected 31st March, 1905.Annual Rental payable on Lands leased.Date of Opening.
Auckland—A.R.P. A.R.P.£s.d. 
Matamata42,738321649593326,863222 June, 1904.
Southland—
Edendale19,8093111163,047355,88212815 April, 1904.
Totals62,5482132804,00723712,7451410 

The estates, &c., acquired in each district under the Land for Settlements Acts to the 31st March, 1905, are next shown:—

Name of Estate.Area
acquired and
handed over
by Board.
Auckland—A.R.P.
    Opouriao60400
    Okauia5,92000
    Rangiatea4,00400
    Karapiro2,335024
    Fencourt7,10535
    Whitehall8,95900
    Cradock Hamlet3309
    Hetana Hamlet451134
    Kitchener Hamlet26335
    Methuen Hamlet77314
    Plumer Hamlet7400
    Waari Hamlet427232
    Bickerstaffe12,480019
    Matamata42,73832
 92,237314
Hawke's Bay—
    Raureka42720
    Elsthorpe9,74000
    Waimarie430210
    Pouparae33734
    Tomoana111338
    Mahora1,13330
    Willows775136
    Hatuma26,522320
    Manga-a-toro19,581312
    Kumeroa3,774238
    Forest Gate8,822013
    Argyll33,705130
    Wigan10,072137
    Lindsay13,470035
 128,906233
Taranaki—
    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—
    Poerua3,23016
    Kokatahi1,894220
 5,124326
Canterbury—
    Pareora620213
    Studholme Junction10907
    Kapua574122
    Rosebrook60018
    Otaio373314
    Patoa4,535314
    The Peaks2,81109
    Roimata48327
    Kereta105229
    Braco2724
    Epworth2103
    Ashley Gorge1,16536
    Omihi Valley2000
    Orakipaoa384031
    Highbank9,12138
    Otarakaro3939
    Wharenui73110
    Rakitairi3,526126
    Waiapi1,124236
    Horsley Down3,982335
    Albury19,539124
    R.S. 18622000
    ” 2682 (part)624
    ” 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
    Tokarahi11,259236
    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
    Edendale19,809311
 54,183029
SUMMARY.
    Auckland92,237314
    Hawke's Bay128,906233
    Taranaki2,69724
    Wellington26,467312
    Marlborough68,381221
    Westland5,124326
    Canterbury245,005230
    Otago67,594037
    Southland54,183029
    Totals691,59926

Chapter 53. SECTION XXI.—"THE GOVERNMENT VALUATION OF LAND ACT, 1896,” AND AMENDMENTS OF 1900 AND 1903.

Table of Contents

PRIOR to the passing of “The Government Valuation of Land Act 1896,” there was an entire absence of uniformity in the system of making valuations of land within the colony for Governmental purposes. Each lending Department employed a separate set of local valuers for valuing mortgage securities. The Land-tax Department periodically employed a small army of temporary valuers when it required a new valuation of the land of the colony for taxation purposes, and each local authority had its own particular method of making up its roll for the levying of rates.

All values required by the Government Departments mentioned below and by local bodies, whether for loan, taxation, or other purposes, are now made by valuers employed by the State. These valuers work upon the one system which is laid down by the above-named Acts, and are responsible to the Government alone. They receive a regular salary, and when valuing for loan purposes are not dependent for their remuneration upon the good will of the person whose property they are valuing.

Under the above-mentioned Acts the Valuer-General is required to prepare valuation rolls, showing the selling-value of all land in the colony.

Briefly stated, the following are the chief purposes for which the roll values may be used:—

  1. As a basis on which loans may be granted by—

    1. The Advances to Settlers Office.

    2. The Public Trust Office.

    3. The Government Insurance Office.

    4. The Post Office.

    5. The Commissioners of Public Debt Sinking Funds.

    6. Such other public offices as the Governor from time to time directs.

    7. Trustees and investors.

  2. As a basis for the advancement of loans to local bodies by the Treasury under the Local Bodies' Loans Acts.

  3. As a basis for the levying of land-tax and local rates.

  4. As a basis on which to assess stamp duty and duty on deceased persons' estates.

  5. For the guidance of the Land Purchase Board when acquiring land under the Land for Settlements Act or the Public Works Act on behalf of the Government.

  6. For the guidance of all who may desire to ascertain the selling-value of any piece of land for investment, mortgage, or other purpose.

In view of the many and diverse purposes for which the roll values may be used, it is of the utmost importance that these values should be neither above nor below the fair market price, and it is as much to the interest of the owner as it is to that of the Department that the “unimproved value,” “value of the improvements,” and “capital value” of every property should be accurately entered in the roll.

The Act states that the “unimproved value of any piece of land means the sum which the owner's estate or interest therein, if unencumbered by any mortgage or other charge thereon, and if no improvements existed on that particular piece of land, might be expected to realise at the time of valuation if offered for sale on such reasonable terms and conditions as a bona fide seller might be expected to require.”

There are few terms used in connection with land-valuation which are more imperfectly understood than the term “unimproved value.” Some interpret the term to mean the original value of the land at the time when it was in its unimproved state, while others understand it to mean the present value, assuming all the land in the district to be unimproved. Neither of these interpretations is correct. The increased value attaching to any piece of land due to the successful working of other lands in the district, or to progressive works affected by the State, the general prosperity of the country, high markets for produce, &c., forms portion of the unimproved value under the New Zealand law. Any increased value, however, which is represented by the improvements effected by the individual possessor does not form part of the unimproved value.

Land-tax is levied on the unimproved value, and so also are the local rates in districts where the Rating on Unimproved Values Act is in force. It is therefore particularly necessary that uniformity of unimproved values should be studied by the valuer, otherwise one owner would be rated unfairly in comparison with his neighbour.

The Act defines “improvements” and “value of improvements” as follows:—

” ‘Improvements’ on land means all work actually done or material used thereon by the expenditure of capital or labour by any owner or occupier of the land, nevertheless in so far only as the effect of such work or material used is to increase the value of the land, and the benefit thereof is unexhausted at the time of valuation; but shall not include work done or material used on or for the benefit of land by the Crown or by any statutory public body, unless such work has been paid for by the contribution of the owner or occupier for that purpose: Provided that the payment of rates or taxes shall not be deemed to be a contribution within the meaning of this definition.”

“‘Value of improvements’ means the sum by which the improvements upon an owner's land increases its value: Provided that the value of improvements shall in no case be deemed to be more than the cost of such improvements estimated at the time of valuation, exclusive of the cost of repairs and maintenance.”

Subject to the limitations contained in the above definition, all buildings, fences, planting, draining, private roads and water-races, clearing, permanent grassing, and other work of a permanent nature effected upon land are improvements.

The valuer must be guided, when valuing details of improvements, by the terms of the above definitions, and it is necessary, therefore, that the limitations referred to should be considered in detail. Anything which can be valued as an improvement must in the first place be effected upon the land which is benefited by that improvement. A public road may be made by an owner for the purpose of increasing the value of his land. This road would not be valued as an improvement, as it is not on the land and is not included in the area which is valued. Were the road a private one, however, such as a farmer would make through his farm for the convenient working of his holding, it would be included in the total area valued, and would then be also valued as an improvement. Improvements can only be valued to the extent to which they increase the selling-value of the land. Sometimes an owner will expend his capital and labour injudiciously, and the result will prove detrimental to the land instead of being an improvement. Some lands hold grass better without being first ploughed than they do after the plough. The effect of ploughing in such cases would not be to improve the selling-value. Some improvements, such as ornamental shrubbery, orchards, lawns, vineries, &c., rarely increase the selling-value to the full extent of their cost, and should therefore be valued accordingly.

The definition also tells us that no work can be considered an improvement if the benefit is exhausted at the time of valuation. The Government lends money on the security of improvements, and it is obvious that if exhausted improvements were included in the valuation the security would be a very poor one.

Draining and orchards are improvements which frequently become exhausted. As long as a drain is effective and acts as a drain it necessarily adds to the selling-value and is an improvement; but an open drain which was cut many years ago and has become filled in and grassed over, owing to the necessity for it having passed away, would be considered as exhausted.

From the foregoing it will be seen that it devolves upon a valuer to ascertain carefully the condition of an improvement before estimating its value.

Work done by the Crown or a public body is not, the Act says, to be considered an improvement unless it is paid for by the individual, but expenditure by way of rates and taxes is not to be deemed to be payment for the work.

The expenditure of loan-moneys by the Crown or by public bodies is for the benefit of the community or district, and not for the exclusive benefit of any individual or holding.

It would be beyond the powers of any valuer to apportion the value of a public street, railway, telegraph-line, or, in fact, any public work amongst the different holdings which derived benefit from that work.

The amount at which improvements are to be valued is defined by the Act as the sum by which they increase the selling-value of the land, provided that the value must not exceed the cost, although it may be below the cost. The cost of an improvement is not necessarily its selling-value, as its suitability and condition must be taken into consideration.

Machinery, whether fixed to the soil or not, is not an improvement, and it is not included in the capital value. The buildings containing the machinery would, however, be valued as an improvement.

“Capital value” is defined as follows: —

“‘Capital value’ of land means the sum which the owner's estate or interest therein, if unencumbered by any mortgage or other charge thereon, might be expected to realise at the time of valuation if offered for sale on such reasonable terms and conditions as a bona fide seller might be expected to require.”’

The fair selling-value in the open market represents the capital value, but not necessarily the auction value or value derivable at a forced sale. The valuer is required to exercise special care in fixing the capital value at such a sum as will be fair to both the borrower and the lender should the property be offered as a security.

Uniformity of capital values is of the utmost importance. Land of similar quality and position should be valued uniformly, whether in a large or a small holding.

Ratepayers frequently complain that their rates will be unduly increased when values are raised. This is not a matter which the Department has any right to consider, however much it may sympathize. Its duties under the Act are to make a roll of selling-values for various purposes. The responsibility of fixing the rate for local rating purposes rests entirely with the local body, and, if the selling-values in a district are high, it is within the power of the ratepayers themselves to see that a moderate rate is struck.

It may not be out of place to mention the relative numbers of the land-tax and local ratepayers within the colony, from which it will be seen that the number of persons who are interested in the amount of rate annually struck by the local body far exceeds the number who are interested in the amount of land-tax annually fixed by Parliament. There are, roughly, 145,000 holders of land in the colony. The total number of land-tax payers is only, roughly, 23,000, while practically every holder pays local rates.

The foregoing remarks apply when valuing land, whether it is leased or not; but in the case of lands which are leased on terms favourable to the lessee the valuer has, in addition, the important duty of determining what proportion of the value belongs to the owner and what proportion to the lessee.

The principle on which lessees' and sublessees' interests are to be determined is contained in “The Government Valuation of Land Act, 1903.”

Special provision is contained in the Act for adjusting the relative interests of owner and lessee year by year, and this adjustment will always be made by the Valuer-General when applied to.

When the values appearing on a roll become out of date a revision takes place, but before any revised values can take effect the district must be gazetted for revision by Order in Council. There is no fixed period between one revision and another. The necessity for revision depends upon whether or not the roll values are correct.

When a revision of a district is ordered, the valuer makes a thorough overhaul of the unimproved values as well as the values of improvements and capital values. During the period intervening between revisions the Valuer-General cannot alter the unimproved values of the roll entries unless the owner pays a fee to cover the cost and demands a revaluation of his property, or in case of an admitted error having taken place. During this intervening period, however, the Valuer-General may keep values up to date by adding the value of improvements which have been put on since the revision, or by deducting the value of those taken away.

If additional improvements have been effected to a property prior to the 31st March in any year, they can be rated for the then ensuing year commencing on the 1st April. If they have been effected after the 31st March, however, they cannot be rated until the 1st April of the following year. The same rule applies to changes in occupancy. The person who is occupier on the 31st March is placed on the roll for the rates for the ensuing year, but if a person enters into possession after the 31st March his name is not entered up until the 1st April succeeding the date of occupation. Rolls are thus corrected in respect to occupancy and improvements as at the 31st March in each year, but the unimproved values must remain until a complete revision is ordered by the Governor in Council. The local authority is empowered by the Act to amend its rating roll in respect to the occupancy of land, but cannot amend values on its own authority. When a property becomes subdivided the Valuer-General divides the existing value on the roll proportionately. No alteration is made in any entry on the roll without giving the owner and occupier due notice, in order that they may object, if necessary, but the omission to give such notice does not invalidate an assessment.

It has been said that roll values are used as a guide to Government Departments when lending money. On receipt of an application for a loan the lending Department is supplied with a copy of the existing roll value of the security. The lending Boards, however, usually require that the security should be again inspected by the valuer before they grant the loan. This necessitates a revaluation of the property, but such revaluation is not used for either taxation or rating purposes. Since the present Act came into force these revaluations for loan purposes have, in almost every case, exceeded the values entered on the roll.

When the values in a district have been revised the new roll is lodged for inspection at some public office, and an advertisement in the papers calls the attention of the public to the fact, so that every person interested may inspect it. At the same time every owner and occupier receives a notice showing at what value his property is entered. The omission to give notice, however, does not, as has been said, invalidate the assessment. The Department invites the fullest scrutiny of its rolls before submitting them to the Assessment Court. Persons whose names appear on the roll are invited to object if they are of opinion that the valuer has exceeded the selling-price, or for other sufficient cause. The fact that the new valuation will cause an increase in the amount of local rates or land-tax payable is not considered a sufficient cause. The Department does not fix the rate in either case, and any such objection can only be base on an assumption that the rate to be levied will be the same as previously. Neither is the fact that the new valuation shows an increase or decrease on the last valuation considered a sufficient ground of objection, as the selling-value may have increased or decreased since the last valuation was made, or the previous valuation may have been erroneous.

Objections to value can only be on the ground that the valuation does not represent the true selling-value, as that is the guide imposed by the Act. Of course, there are legitimate reasons for objection on other questions besides the question of value, such as errors in ownership, occupancy, area, or description, &c., which matters are always attended to and corrected without reference to the Assessment Court.

A frequent source of objection is that improvements are valued too high or too low. Before such an objection can be maintained it must be ascertained whether the capital value represents the fair and full selling-value. If, for instance, the capital value of a property is set below the true selling-value, the improvements will necessarily be valued in proportion. In such cases as this an increase in the value of improvements would only serve to increase the capital value, and would not reduce the unimproved value.

Objections to values are invariably referred to the valuer to enable him to review his valuation before the sitting of the Assessment Court, and the objector receives in due course a reply. If the objection has been allowed there is no necessity for the objector to appear at the Court. Should it be disallowed, he may carry it before the Court for consideration. Due notice of the sitting of the Court will be given by advertisement, as required by the Act.

If on appeal to the Court the objection is allowed, the reduction is immediately carried into the roll. If, however, the owner is not satisfied with the Court's decision he may, under section 31 of the Act of 1900, within fourteen days of the hearing, require the Valuer-General either to reduce to the value which he considers to be the fair selling-value or else to purchase the property at that value.

On the other hand, section 30 of the 1900 Act provides that if the Valuer-General is of opinion that a Court has made an unfair reduction in a valuation, he may, also within fourteen days of the hearing, require the owner to consent to what he considers is the fair selling-value, or else he will acquire the property at that value on behalf of the Government.

Power is also given by section 18 of the same Act to an owner to appeal to the Supreme Court on questions of law. On all other questions the decision of the Assessment Court is, however, final.

There is still another course open to an owner who is dissatisfied with his value, and he may adopt it at any time without reference to the date of sitting of the Court. Section 7, subsection (5), of “The Government Valuation of Land Act, 1896,” provides that an owner, by paying the fee prescribed by regulation to cover the cost, may obtain a revaluation of his property. Such revaluation is subject to the same right of objection and review as it would be in the case of the revision of the district.

The following figures may be of interest to those who study the question of land-valuation:—

TABLE SHOWING CAPITAL AND UNIMPROVED VALUES OF LAND IN THE COLONY.
Year of Valuation.Total Capital Values.Total unimproved Values.
 ££
187899,566,67962,573,868
1982101,000,000..
1885113,270,649..
1888111,137,71475,497,379
1891122,225,02975,832,465
1897138,591,34784,401,244
1902154,816,13294,847,727
1904182,796,241112,629,412
1905197,684,475122,937,126
TABLE SHOWING NUMBERS OF FREEHOLDERS OF LAND, OUTSIDE OF BOROUGHS AND TOWN DISTRICTS , CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO AREA HELD BY THEM.
Year.Holders of 5 Acres and under 100 Acres.Holders of 100 Acres and under 1,000 Acres.Holders of 1,000 Acres and under 5,000 Acres.Holders of 5,000 Acres and under 10,000 Acres.Holders of 10,000 Acres and under 20,000 Acres.Holders of 20,000 Acres and under 50,000 Acres.Holders of 50,000 Acres and over.Total Number of Holders.
188314,76614,2671,281203141832330,764
188617,07515,4711,425220151792934,450
188918,80516,7431,413221134892737,432
189219,36917,5381,558208148843038,935
190220,79920,3162,144260123702343,735

The total numbers of freeholders in the colony, including owners of township lands, were as follows:—

In year 188371,240
”        188680,527
”       188984,547
”       189291,501
”       1902115,713

N.B.—It should be noted that no leaseholders, Grown or otherwise, are included in the above numbers.

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, 1905. Comparative figures are here given for 1891 and 1905 showing the increase, and stating separately the unimproved value and the value of improvements:—

COMPARISON OF CAPITAL VALUES, 1891 AND 1905.
 1891.1903.Increase, 1891 to 1905.
 £££
Unimproved value75,832,465122,937,12647,104,661
Value of improvements46,392,56474,747,34928,354,785
Totals£122,225,029£197,684,475£75,459,446

In the figures for the North and South Islands the relative degree of increase is exhibited:—

CAPITAL VALUES.
 1891.1905.Increase.
 £££
North Island57,441,115110,810,38453,369,269
South Island64,783,91486,874,09122,090,177
Totals£122,225,029£197,684,475£75,459,446

The increase for the North Island of £53,369,269 represents an advance of 92.91 per cent. on the value in 1891, and that of £22,090,177 for the South Island, 34.09 per cent. The increase for the whole colony as shown above is £75,459,446, or 61.74 per cent. The following statement gives the capital value of land and improvements in counties and boroughs as for 1891 and 1905:—

CAPITAL VALUE OF LAND AND IMPROVEMENTS IN COUNTIES AND BOROUGHS.
 1891.1905
 ££
Counties85,818,167131,929,078
Boroughs36,406,86265,755,397
Totals£122,225,029£197,684,475

The increase in the capital value of land with improvements in counties for the fourteen years is £46,110,911, or 53.73 per cent.; while that for boroughs is £29,348,535, or 80.61 per cent. But the value of property in boroughs was added to between 1891 and 1905 by the constitution of seventeen 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 gross capital value and the capital value of rateable property in counties, road and town districts, with an indication of the system of rating adopted by the local authorities for those districts. The rateable values can be used in connection with the information given in Section IV., “Local Governing Bodies,” as to rates struck, &c.—

COUNTIES , 1891 AND 1905.

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, 1905:—

County.Capital Value, Land and Improvements.Unimproved Value of Land (included in previous columns).
As in Year 1891.As in Year 1898, revised to 31st March, 1905.As in Year 1891.As in Year 1898, revised to 31st March, 1905

[*No valuation made.

R signifies valuation revised since 1898.]

(a) Exclusive of Borough of Whangarei, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(b) Exclusive of County of Awakino, which in 1891 formed part of County of Kawhia.

(c) Formed part of Kawhia County.

(d) Exclusive of Borough of Waihi, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(e) Exclusive of Borough of Te Aroha, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(f) Exclusive of County of Opotiki, which in 1891 formed part of the County of Whakatane.

(g) Formed part of County of Whakatane.

(h) Exclusive of a portion transferred to Rangitikei County during 1904.

(h1) Exclusive of the County of Woodville and of Dannevirke Borough, which in 1891 formed parts of the County of Waipawa.

(i) Formed part of Waipawa County.

(j) Exclusive of Weber County, which in 1891 formed part of Patangata County.

(k) Formed part of Patangata County.

(l) Exclusive of portion of Borough of Waitara, which in 1891 formed part of Clifton County.

(m) Exclusive of the Borough of Inglewood and of portions of the Borough of Waitara and of Egmont County, which in 1891 formed parts of the County of Taranaki.

(n) Formed part of the Counties of Taranaki and Hawera.

(o) Exclusive of the Borough of Stratford, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(p) Exclusive of the Borough of Eltham and a portion of Egmont County, which in 1891 formed parts of County of Hawera.

(q) Exclusive of Waimarino County, which in 1891 formed part of Wanganui County.

(r) Formed part of Wanganui County.

(r1) Including portion transferred from Hawke's Bay County.

(s) Formed part of Oroua County.

(t) Exclusive of Counties of Kiwitea, Pohangina, and Kairanga, which in 1891 formed parts of Oroua County.

(u) Late Wairarapa North County.

(v) Exclusive of Featherston County, which in 1891 formed part of Wairarapa South County.

(w) Formed part of Wairarapa South County.

(x) Exclusive of the Borough of Miramar, which in 1891 formed part of the Hutt County.

(y) Exclusive of County of Takaka, which in 1891 formed part of Collingwood County.

(z) Formed part of Collingwood County.

(a1) Exclusive of Motueka Borough, which in 1391 formed part of county.

(b1) Exclusive of Linwood, Woolston, and Now Brighton Boroughs, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(c1) Exclusive of Mount Herbert County, which in 1891 formed part of Akaroa County.

(d1) Formed part of Akaroa County.

(e1) Exclusive of Levels County and Temuka and Geraldine Boroughs, which in 1891 formed parts of Geraldine County.

(f1) Formed part of Geraldine County.

(g1) Exclusive of Borough of Mataura, which in 1891 formed part of county.

 ££££
Mongonui196,158R 283,364152,151R173,635
Whangaroa63,825R82,55841,379R51,403
Bay of Islands365,069R421,567247,612R268,201
Hokianga422,365R588,554365,957R463,181
Whangarei523,420R707,634(a)316,003R375,081(a)
Hobson325,974R634,783241,880R414,908
Otamatea258,496R 448,216156,975R271,399
Rodney293,235R533,180173,313R260,924
Waitemata632,012R975,362388,568R550,560
Eden2,002,677R3,875,001991,380R2,055,233
Manukau1,385,330R2,212,768664,272R1,200,384
Islands (Great and Little Barrier)55,28461,73242,57439,621
Waiheke, &c.71,34388,02140,21145,695
Waikato682,774R1,000,478282,655R533,054
Raglan357,941R765,031280,945R482,331
Waipa464,086R808,199197,900R398,484
Kawhia354,269R422,959(b)350,051R347,779(b)
Awakino(c)R558,375(c)R428,808
Coromandel217,120R544,324166,483R355,390
Thames253,013R372,320168,442R325,106
Ohinemuri204,704R464,661(d)164,182R268,243(d)
Tauranga282,723R405,657172,078R265,352
Piako689,384R1,029,478(e)427,889R575,342(e)
Rotorua168,371R674,488114,289R522,186
Whakatane663,785R385,381(f)548,221R31 ,181(f)
Opotiki(g)R542,236(g)R416,626
East Taupo301,681510,311292,106498,884
West Taupo235,997260,804226,406235,548
Islands (Mayor and Motiti)*5,780*3,696
Waiapu472,548R1,002,510341,062R577,133
Cook1,885,856R3,992,0061,175,712R2,574,734
Wairoa1,101,072R1,389,603786,032R919,480
Hawke's Bay3,673,889R4,206,925(h)2,558,583R3,067,775(h)
Waipawa2,179,812R3,123,030(h1))1,249,695R2,025,153(h1))
Woodville(i)R720,886(i)R452,537
Patangata1,863,936R 2,768,803(j)1,154,909R2,161,780(j)
Weber(k)R367,923(k)R208,713
Clifton441,325R1,102,018(l)385,252R798,619(l)
Taranaki969,579R1,708,519(m)604,091R1,000,658(m)
Egmont(n)R977,217(n)R586,218
Stratford560,345R1,488,470(o)447,502R901,889 (o)
Hawera1,247,436R2,807,145(p)807,887R1,873,333(p)
Patea823,675R1,384,476522,322R849,032
Waitotara731,668R1,308,677460,842R915,587
Wanganui1,176,106R1,535,498(q)830,519R997,417(q)
Waimarino(r)R708,954(r)R594,615
Rangitikei1,475,473R 3,021,403(r1))870,091R1,816,463(r1))
Kairanga(s)R1,659,217(s)R1,195,936
Kiwitea(s)R1,104,438(s)R651,561
Pohangina(s)R574,094(s)R333,264
Oroua2,268,854R1,600,527(t)1,298,417R1,140,960 (t)
Manawatu810,171R1,483,302445,416R1,095,085
Horowhenua858,648R1,860,554551,248R1,196,308
Islands (Kapiti, Mana, and Somes)*17,984*13,378
Chatham Islands*95,557*55,838
Pahiatua511,400R1,293,936331,634R836,962
Akitio(u) 1,831,209}R501,214(u) 1,057,393R305,247
CastlepointR384,880R216,272
EketahunaR547,356R295,696
MauricevilleR322,639R152,759
MastertonR2,425,247R1,555,890
Wairarapa South1,872,035R1,126,225(v)1,104,064R690,489(v)
Featherston(w)R2,058,164(w)R1,336,999
Hutt1,030,745R1,968,670(*)520,005R1,112,537(x)
Collingwood323,910R207,674(y)223,376R125,454 (y)
Takaka(z)R279,549(z)R147,274
Waimea1,196,226R 1,600,065(a1)740,668R968,169(a1)
Sounds171,095R364,952124,480R217,922
Marlborough1,837,632R2,437,3401,344,120R1,800,441
Kaikoura350,521R557,263209,082R409,137
Buller651,129R660,107483,407R425,715
Inangahua874,948R861,310598,963R618,485
Grey861,890R810,391670,528R628,633
Westland1,048,156R846,997964,461R698,486
Cheviot486,765R711,347413,852R561,626
Amuri921,221R946,418762,518R729,673
Ashley3,801,341R5,364,7572,861,083R4,319,761
Selwyn7,446,756R9,297,465(b1)4,897,419R6,450,060(b1)
Akaroa1,169,379R1,922,080(c1)775,316R1,498,674(c1)
Mount Herbert(d1)R320,649(d1)R253,224
Ashburton3,630,383R5,653,1092,691,466R4,449,937
Geraldine3,257,696R2,323,149(e1)2,316,183R1,897,907(e1)
Levels(f1)R1,803,263(f1)R1,366,499
Mackenzie736,021R988,532589,528R794,149
Waimate2,462,433R2,916,1461,968,587R2,416,892
Waitaki2,709,379R2,905,7422,060,640R2,297,126
Maniototo449,650R734,003358,342R508,579
Waihemo417,887R464,248277,792R313,316
Waikouaiti602,015R694,410309,077R379,359
Peninsula414,146R541,696193,301R308,656
Taieri1,330,718R1,549,630931,554R1,081,765
Tuapeka938,701R944,924642,394R644,573
Bruce957,438R1,126,699600,771R802,748
Clutha1,151,046R1,351,616772,352R906,008
Vincent791,595R497,800637,287R319,736
Lake382,722R348,514274,791R250,258
Fiord*144,559*137,779
Wallace1,364,016R1,987,116943,777R1,359,932
Southland3,739,513R5,283,188(g1)2,446,830R3,581,093 (g1)
Stewart Island85,021R163,74779,690R135,897
Islands (Antipodes, &c.)*13,880*13,880
Quarantine and Goat Islands*3,454*900

BOROUGHS, 1891 AND 1905.
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, 1905.
Borough.Capital Value, Land and Improvements.Unimproved Value of Land (included in previous columns).
As in Year 1891.As in Year 1888, revised to 31st March, 1905.As in Year 1691.As in Year 1698, revised to 31st March, 1905.

[R signifies valuation revised since 1898.]

(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 Clifton and Taranaki Counties.

(f) Formed part of Stratford County.

(g) Formed part of Hawera County.

(h) Formed part of Taranaki County

(i) Formed part of Pahiatua County.

(j) Formed part of Hutt County.

(k) Formed part of Waimea County.

(l) Value of railway-station (£80,000) included in 1891, excluded in 1898.

(m) Formed part of Selwyn County.

(n) Formed part of Geraldine County.

(o) Formed part of Geraldine County.

(p) Formed part of Southland County.

 ££££
Whangarei(a)R198,766(a)R89,019
Birkenhead77,532R149,54342,333R67,508
Devonport407,333626,812163,468243,846
Auckland4,934,288R7,484,3262,471,496R3,745,465
Parnell366,098R687,606138,775R305,123
Newmarket182,353R273,26582,327R123,535
Grey Lynn222,355B602,907135,607R276,770
Onehunga250,634R454,896111,406R230,487
Hamilton90,142R316,67344,584R184,352
Cambridge70,279R214,85425,521R110,974
Thames227,171R273,23876,547R93,945
Tauranga63,026R104,37025,153R44,678
Te Aroha(b)R87,044(b)R34,126
Waihi(c)R187,450(c)R64,667
Gisborne317,989R969,837148,511R573,975
Napier1,275,8531,310,407667,157585,570
Hastings372,458R568,223230,592R318,591
Dannevirke(d)R371,516(d)R227,162
Woodville102,226R112,31757,852R45,712
New Plymouth341,117R991,363165,621R616,818
Waitara(e)R129,885(e)R55,286
Hawera84,834R340,60937,914R177,046
Patea43,378R64,11312,055R21,923
Stratford(f)R353,067(f)R190,908
Eltham(g)R175,444(g)R98,215
Inglewood(h)R139,546(h)R67,055
Wanganui543,403R1,340,087290,321R854,429
Marton83,915116,74833,73640,512
Feilding146,884R336,42568,199R167,620
Palmerston North489,618R1,446,061310,293R869,328
Foxton85,743R122,04939,755R61,825
Onslow144,053R518,70370,803R315,421
Karori118,728R575,58674,595R335,789
Wellington—
    City Ward5,865,778R12,092,7593,440,182R6,927,148
    Melrose Ward203,517R1,104,118129,429R735,980
Pahiatua(i)R149,256(i)R71,737
Masterton356,860R782,806159,861R410,194
Carterton88,650R173,48331,315R82,198
Greytown115,649R149,97834,095R59,009
Lower Hutt244,075R893,871159,178R618,883
Petone268,358R1,158,491145,221R735,803
Miramar(j)R360,592(j)R285,403
Richmond84,285R99,02243,375R53,813
Nelson942,370R1,162,678389,397R568,141
Picton88,195R125,96341,189R54,978
Blenheim378,943R425,350167,481R182,241
Motueka(k)R138,617(k)R81,838
Westport166,987R259,58657,782R106,086
Greymouth299,077R492,876114,543R164,849
Brunner115,89270,34216,16611,551
Kumara33,565R34,5956,945R6,082
Hokitika102,708R175,53718,054R66,074
Ross16,961R21,5765,250R5,475
Rangiora158,017R202,32671,161R86,166
Kaiapoi134,055166,20747,02348,603
Christchurch—
Central Ward3,403,566R4,742,0201,820,770R2,281,883
St. Albans Ward524,822R991,520284,938R369,820
Sydenham Ward821,060R 1,160,406(l)333,876R386,155 (l)
Linwood Ward(m)R723,185(m)R238,011
Woolston(m)R267,745(m)R112,084
New Brighton(m)R116,610(m)R51,482
Sumner102,145R183,20960,246R96,274
Lyttelton851,730854,234150,490238,942
Akaroa49,40755,59819,62817,778
Ashburton223,091R445,61890,733R202,140
Temuka(n)R126,589(n)R37,419
Timaru442,830R888,526151,661R325,921
Waimate75,399R143,56418,759R51,668
Geraldine(o)R91,388(o)R34,838
Oamaru612,571R549,269279,113R179,223
Hampden13,195R22,0005,229R7,460
Naseby24,186R33,4182,440R4,765
Palmerston51,182R60,12116,771R14,374
Hawksbury45,716R62,41919,823R28,542
Port Chalmers200,043R258,27560,946R80,458
West Harbour137,015R149,25968,240R64,235
North-east Valley276,835R366,260130,271R155,310
Maori Hill142,890R244,51767,348Rll0,021
Roslyn360,962R748,357169,610R321,599
Mornington284,875R388,755125,414R152,468
Dunedin—
Leith, Bell, High, and South Wards4,193,422R5,471,2572,124,467R2,564,409
Caversham Ward466,074R625,942217,158R253,616
South Dunedin Ward223,534R479,17982,609R142,918
St. Kilda113,477R282,86276,842R130,541
Green Island36,962R41,50613,585R11,234
Mosgiel122,625R173,50753,441R65,200
Roxburgh20,123R32,6503,167R5,061
Lawrence79,066R119,33818,584R31,988
Tapanui16,155R23,2292,575R3,750
Milton76,207R144,02814,012R38,562
Balclutha53,210R101,10414,547R32,794
Kaitangata54,976R100,27921,133R31,297
Arrowtown24,586R20,9845,012R3,325
Queenstown65,153R63,23713,524R14,561
Cromwell22,16838,6784,6589,210
Alexandra13,57845,5032,9558,307
Gore142,708R316,61966,171R106,013
Mataura(p)R131,031(p)R50,111
Winton20,195R51,1287,965R19,613
Gladstone26,541R54,63513,825R24,978
Avenal15,269R48,1246,687R18,931
North Invercargill28,293R54,55015,640R20,187
East Invercargill42,996R73,87118,385R25,138
Invercargill959,140R1,320,711517,879R522,696
South Invercargill79,526R121,62942,813R45,036
Riverton59,62660,82622,02415,206
Campbelltown97,380R202,35849,430R89,367
LOCAL DISTRICTS, 1905.
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, 1905.
Note.—The rateable value of pastoral lands of the Crown is fixed, under section 2 of “The Hating 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.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).

* No Board.

* No rate levied. The whole of the Counties Act not in force.

* No rate levied. The whole of the Counties Act not in force.

* No Board.

† No rate levied. The whole of the Counties Act not in force.

* Counties Act not in force.

* Counties Act not in force.

*Counties Act not in force.

* No Board.

* No rate levied. Counties Act not in force.

* No rate levied. The whole of the Counties Act not in force.

* No rate levied. Counties Act not wholly in force.

† No Board.

*Formerly Knapdale Road District.

† No Board.

Mongonui—££ ££
    Kaitaia..69,40043,256..60,81936,653
    Hohoura..47,87825,534..32,37717,058
    Oruru..50,44034,186..33,60718,729
    Mongonui..45,36124,250..32,19013,567
    Victoria Valley..34,58717,697..31,15114,841
    Herekino..35,69823,712..19,31212,697
        Total of county..283,364173,635C.V.209,456113,545
Whangaroa—
    Whangaroa..28,89619,523..24,75216,793
    Totara..21,96813,425..14,3587,074
    Kaeo..31,69418,455..22,57311,047
        Total of county..82,55851,403C.V.61,68334,914
Bay of Islands—
    Waimate..123,31673,299..119,87871,617
    Russell..47,10833,421..31,69319,766
    Kawakawa..87,71840,449..67,32025,098
    Pakaraka..163,425121,032..92,93752,953
        Total of county..421,567268,201C.V.311,828169,434
Hokianga—
    Whangape..70,78255,372..35,75422,531
    Kohukohu..70,87245,915..39,93617,205
    Waihou..71,67360,859..34,34324,688
    Taheke..68,23260,925..22,12015,915
    Horeke..28,42119,505..25,34116,425
    Rawene..35,72421,061..16,4596,817
    Omapere..186,255152,992..46,43517,548
    Waipoua..56,59546,554..33,59924,045
        Total of county..583,554463,181U.V.253,967145,174
Whangarei—
    OtongaOtonga21,9879,197C.V.21,4778,900
Outlying35,14819,747..25,53311,889
    KiripakaMarua29,74118,639C.V.24,32413,520
Outlying44,83829,724..38,35223,698
    HikurangiHikurangi44,90526,575C.V.43,45626,234
Kaurihohore17,2097,837..16,6757,666
Outlying19,37211,580..17,0999,415
    WairuaKamo T D.24,8579,041C.V.23,5558,881
Outlying75,97636,818..69,87231,743
    MaunuMaunu101,06952,140C.V.95,21149,874
Outlying45,37628,213..35,00718,652
    ManaiaWhareora11,3356,258C.V.11,1066,029
Parua25,22211,81522,68310,443
Outlying29,92116,18326,62713,183
    MangapaiMaungakaramea31,33612,877C.V.30,28812,404
Ruarangi14,8447,62014,3117,087
Waikiekie37,79420,22236,80019,551
Outlying18,5569,418..17,2098,346
    WaipuWaipu North21,3319,748C.V.20,7459,402
Outlying56,81731,429..53,51029,002
        Total of county..707,634375,081C.V.643,840325,919
Hobson—
    Dargaville..85,80153,111..79,51047,445
    Kaihu..50,76030,333..46,75132,341
    Tangowahine..117,82098,105..99,85580,010
    Wairoa..99,95680,708..91,23572,118
    Okahu..77,98547,297..76,56546,686
    Aratapu..111,93453,249..107,80951,616
    To Kopuru..90,52746,105..66,39329,850
        Total of county..634,783414,908C.V.508,118360,066
Otamatea—
    Tokatoka..107,98572,080..95,77460,248
    MatakoheMatakohe52,34734,538C.V.50,84733,441
Outlying21,92616,168..20,95515,297
    MareretuMareretu26,07613,828C.V.25,27813,328
    Paparoa..48,96822,666..46,84022,247
    Wairau..50,84026,802..50,01526,583
    WhakapirauWhakapirau*72,19745,697..41,29123,238
    KaiwakaMangawai25,50213,175C.V.23,55011,772
Outlying42,37526,445..34,08119,790
        Total of county..448,216271,399C.V.388,631225,944
Rodney—
    HoteoAlbertland North8,5254,513C.V.7,8334,068
Outlying48,30127,228..42,71121,743
    AlbertAlbertland33,01810,531C.V.31,34910,087
South Wharehine24,53114,92623,84614,526
    TauhoaTauhoa59,58027,30057,94026,389
    KaiparaKomokoriki13,1257,32510,8175,161
Ahuroa13,1628,35312,9328,248
Outlying33,69216,655..32,74815,876
    Omaha..56,07226,274..48,29119,138
    MatakanaMatakana West31,99212,693C.V.30,48712,061
Matakana East17,0079,56216,9319,496
Eastern Mahurangi15,0617,42113,7616,731
    MahurangiOutlying32,47715,90031,43315,371 
Pt. Warkworth, N.W.15,8667,275C.V.15,5687,087
    WarkworthPt. Warkworth, Township & S.W.66,20724,83463,52824,130
    PuhoiPuhoi64,56440,10463,28939,854
        Total of count..533,180260,924C.V.503,464239,966
Waitemata—
    MairetahiHelensville T.D.30,3826,505A.V.27,7856,191
Outlying113,57065,410..101,52356,540
    KaukapakapaKaukapakapa63,91533,329C.V.61,01630,951
    Kumeu..61,84937,363..59,41235,391
    WainuiWhangaparaoa18,47011,302C.V.18,40311,235
Pukeatua39,05722,10334,68818,069
Outlying46,28320,955..44,26820,349
    Takapuna..196,895124,040..189,918121,500
    Birkenhead..52,63732,449..50,04929,861
    Northcote..96,67443,573..93,31941,994
    Waitakerei..145,37590,456..137,53284,253
    Waikomiti..110,25563,075..87,93649,266
        Total of county..975,362550,560C.V.905,849505,600
Eden—
    NewtonArch Hill141,03361,168A.V.134,45357,888
    GraftonEden Terrace163,70662,893C.V.162,98162,668
    WhauP'nt Chevalier160,91054,837C.V.52,19043,572
Mount Albert410,616213,633399,193208,108
Avondale152,63871,088144,48965,644
Mount Roskill236,864173,888228,794170,318
    EpsomMount Eden860,466381,276765,847354,311
Epsom337,650187,846334,870186,121
One tree Hill447,499298,755421,793285,635
    ParnellRemuera607,829333,557584,254317,935
Orakei11,3969,4728,5947,170
    TamakiTamaki West131,54288,800127,18785,705
Panmure22,68510,61120,4759,781
Township Mount Wellington191,167108,409186,987107,108
        Total of county..3,875,0012,055,233*3,572,1071,961,964
Manukau—
    AwhituAwhitu38,74218,941C.V.34,31617,932
Pollok Settlement14,5366,81514,1266,732
    WaiukuWaipipi196,340108,833189,019104,654
Waiuku144,35193,495139,95190,702
    HowickPakuranga83,67056,56882,48856,054
Howick24,97110,25523,8749,975
Settlement Paparoa37,97620,99837,31620,763
East Tamaki109,37653,383107,54653,043
Turanga29,12412,07528,38612,049
Maraetai24,00313,721U.V.23,27313,621
    OtahuhuOtahuhu110,76551,424C.V.107,14550,092
Mangere201,503119,479196,627117,178
Papatoitoi80,41156,35479,17256,069
Manurewa56,35031,43655,22931,248
    PapakuraPapakura70,89536,721U.V.69,98436,700
Wairoa138,29974,738C.V.133,35871,712
Drury48,50021,69147,52321,587
Papakura T.D.34,81416,40232,23315,336
Hunua42,77523,160U.V.41,68722,556
    PukekoheMauku86,63047,221C.V.84,69346,563
Karaka39,19919,94638,44119,597
Pukekohe W.212,081117,632206,297117,084
Pukekohe E.129,98154,509126,94154,214
    MaungatawhiriOpaheke54,88223,439C.V.53,22223,354
Paparata46,62319,74345,08819,234
Pokeno46,22021,14243,57419,827
Maungatawhiri36,43715,69735,99215,502
Mercer19,3768,79714,3046,036
Outlying53,93845,76933,88025,711
        Total of county..2,212,7681,200,384*2,125,5851,165,123
Islands—
    Great Barrier..61,73239,621Nil40,31832,420
    Little Barrier
    Kermadec..88,02145,695Nil73,77439,011
    Waiheke
    Kawau
    Motutapu
    Motiti
    Ponui
    Motuhora
    Rangitoto
    Moturoa
    Motuhihi
    Motutikatika
    Cuvier
    Mokohinau
    Great Mercury
    Taranga
    White
    Week's Island
    Whale
    Tiritiri
Total of islands..100,66385,316Nil114,09271,431
Waikato—
    WhangamarinoWhangamarino151,54190,556C.V.128,40474,216
    HuntlyHuntly125,38067,894109,74754,900
    KirikiriroaKirikiriroa387,820187,672360,863169,283
    TamahereTamahere122,21469,357115,61363,481
    CambridgeCambridge213,523117,575210,910116,972
        Total of county..1,000,478533,054C.V.925,537478,852
Raglan—
    Onewhero..143,68086,969..125,14969,876
    Whangape..168,156107,734..140,84882,215
    Waingaro..134,40174,021..122,74462,831
    Te AkauTe Akau*107,78987,658..105,25585,357
    Karioi..62,70433,103..55,21326,664
    Whaingaroa..60,54931,832..52,88825,357
    KaramuKaramu*28,23917,798..22,41012,888
Outlying15,36711,128..9,2345,072
    Pirongia..44,14632,088..32,79920,881
        Total of county..765,031482,331U.V.666,540391,141
Waipa—
    NewcastleNewcastle79,00842,795C.V.75,49440,513
Ngaruawahia T.D.20,6135,77418,6885,009
    Hamilton..104,37449,245..103,86248,758
    TuhikarameaTuhikaramea47,11027,168C.V.46,91527,023
    PukekuraPukekura256,309142,141253,043141,023
    Mangapiko..126,13856,894..122,76555,421
    RangiaohiaRangiaohia124,29157,826C.V.122,10657,641
Te Awamutu T.D.34,35811,61630,45110,926
Kihikihi T.D.15,9985,02513,6624,709
        Total of county..808,199398,484C.V.786,986391,023
    Kawhia..422,959347,779265,477198,867
    Awakino..558,375428,808430,453305,870
Coromandel—
    Harataunga..246,024162,394..171,24198,799
    Mercury Bay..298,300192,996..57,37039,123
        Total of county..544,324355,390C.V.228,611137,922
Thames—
    Hastings..73,99758,534..62,43649,086
    Waiotahi..10,3862,643..5,8241,446
    Kauaeranga..38,07012,868..35,80712,185
    Parawai..42,33317,855..36,94316,440
    Totara..207,534143,206..155,97499,036
        Total of county..372,320235,106C.V.296,984178,193
Ohinemuri—
    Waitoa..108,02584,214..65,44543,029
    Paeroa..212,898118,421..169,18881,944
    Waitekauri..48,20631,892..24,7629,888
    Karangahake..95,53233,716..71,19121,701
        Total of county..464,661268,243C.V.330,586156,562
Tauranga—
    KatikatiKatikati61,09538,833U.V.48,13526,453
Outlying18,95517,084..6,2714,871
    Te PunaOutlying39,93930,407..27,63818,291
Outlying (Te Puna Township)1,759879..1,759879
    Waimapu..89,59259,332..70,09541,151
    MaketuTe Puke88,60353,682U.V.68,28535,092
Outlying105,71465,135..86,73548,520
        Total of county..405,657265,352U.V.308,918175,257
Piako—
    WaitoaWaitoa415,004211,479C.V.392,697194,553
    Te Aroha..89,75155,554..81,18148,964
    MatamataMatamata202,791135,061C.V.171,407107,296
    Taotaoroa..55,08632,804..54,69032,769
    Patetere..266,846140,444..236,045109,723
        Total of county..1,029,478575,342C.V.936,020493,305
Rotorua—
    North..305,258239,575..91,84631,554
    South..369,230282,611..240,927160,056
        Total of county..674,488522,186*332,773191,610
Whakatane—
    Matata..119,053102,425..64,25449,224
    Omataroa..96,31369,330..76,51452,869
    Opouriao..125,243111,018..45,98333,478
    Waimana..44,77234,408..37,28727,137
        Total of county..385,381317,181C.V.224,038162,708
Opotiki—
    Waioeka..453,173368,123..233,988153,958
    Ohiwa..30,73116,665..25,17711,142
    OpotikiOpotiki T.D.58,33231,838C.V.52,82129,695
        Total of county..542,236416,626C.V.311,986194,795
    East Taupo..510,311498,884*323,065311,638
    West Taupo..260,804235,548*86,24860,839
Islands—
    Mayor and Motiti..5,7803,696Nil5,7803,696
Waiapu—
    Matakaoa..93,47278,728..32,08218,270
    Awanui..86,37061,678..55,01535,456
    Piritarau..297,127162,944..249,210117,913
    Waipiro..258,986139,084..242,476124,312
    Tokomaru..266,555134,699..209,38078,451
        Total of county..1,002,510577,133C.V.788,163374,402
Cook–
    Tolago..853,050602,128..727,599482,639
    Waikohu***kohu372,417223,152C.V.313,006166,322
Waipaoa137,42970,543135,84568,959
Ngatapa666,800432,716590,638356,818
    WaimataWaimata240,587125,397207,88394,421
Pouawa178,19297,147178,19297,147
    GisborneOrmond111,45074,125106,85972,788
Poverty Bay235,654167,424226,314160,164
Taruheru (Subdivisions 1, 2)77,95755,12276,01954,081
    WhataupokoTaruheru (Subdivision 3)52,04425,70852,04425,708
Whataupoko54,02733,20453,25233,054
Kaiti64,60848,50664,60848,506
Titirangi42,43932,00642,43932,006
    PatutahiPatutahi312,435220,339301,271211,295
    HangaroaHangaroa73,32644,77651,01022,504
Outlying111,94883,307..78,52150,362
Aroha75,78740,234C.V.73,48538,017
    AraiArai331,856198,900285,654159,509
        Total of county..3,992,0062,574,734C.V.3,564,6392,174,290
Wairoa—
    Waikaremoana..623,127413,443..537,405334,458
    ClydeClyde T.D.59,36429,344C.V.52,81226,395
Outlying280,463184,866..237,562143,480
    Mohaka..426,649291,827..345,717216,918
        Total of county..1,389,603919,480C.V.1,173,496721,251
Hawke's Bay—
    Petane..329,709213,354..323,807208,719
    Puketapu..450,634311,779..449,070310,620
    Okawa..604,650428,836..562,171394,881
    MeaneeTaradale T.D.91,05853,841C.V.88,99953,584
Outlying200,890128,306..193,733126,838
    Erewhon..187,148173,598..167,398154,158
    Maraekakaho..452,955314,257..443,517306,674
    Heretaunga..780,965583,861..777,391581,929
    Clive..377,205292,710..360,827279,316
    Havelock..731,711567,260..728,493566,218
        Total of county..4,206,9253,067,775C.V.4,095,4062,982,937
Waipawa—
    HampdenNorth Ruataniwha410,903290,760U.V.409,996288,863
Outlying57,24926,924..48,51719,192
    WaipawaWaipawa62,99842,125U.V.62,96342,105
Waipawa T.D.95,69446,67186,20743,044
    TakapauTakapau339,909223,254337,279222,547
Outlying183,093102,917..178,12398,498
    Ruataniwha..338,225218,764..328,609210,690
    WaipukurauWaipukurau392,972264,183U.V.376,596257,192
    NorsewoodNorsewood252,934151,654243,755145,040
    OrmondvilleOrmondville T.D.36,43910,40631,9309,463
Outlying168,79390,975..167,58290,360
    Dannevirke..322,612236,073..321,967236,009
    Mangatoro..461,214320,447..456,858316,241
        Total of county..3,123,0302,025,153U.V.3,050,3821,979,244
Woodville—
    Woodville..179,289106,024..178,096105,325
    Maungaatua..159,237109,232..157,681107,711
    Kumeroa..202,620115,493..194,932110,467
    Maharahara..179,740121,788..176,828119,628
        Total of county..720,886452,537U.V.707,537443,131
Patangata—
    PatangataPatangata237,354180,542C.V.237,096180,519
Kaikora N. T.D.34,42016,471A.V.32,54816,266
    OeroOero498,091408,991C.V.497,033408,222
    TamumuTamumu821,071667,216820,987667,132
    EparaimaWanstead198,729157,562198,371157,317
Wallingford466,547346,310465,372345,425
    PorangahauPorangahau512,591384,688495,777370,289
        Total of county..2,768,8032,161,780C.V.2,747,1942,145,170
Weber—
    Weber..122,90670,597..121,61670,262
    Ti-tree Point..109,76161,825..108,47660,564
    Wimbledon..135,25676,291..114,21556,738
        Total of county..367,923208,713C.V.344,307187,564
Clifton—
    Mokau..586,222495,824..345,830259,923
    Urenui..158,26289,847..145,18577,979
    Tikorangi..90,48756,901..83,44551,191
    Waihi..99,96667,375..76,27348,634
    Ngatimaru..167,08188,672..139,35561,488
        Total of county..1,102,018798,619C.V.790,088499,215
Taranaki—
    WaitaraWaitara West183,473104,723C.V.171,37094,149
Egmont137,49878,854130,47173,434
Henui119,79279,469114,53375,152
    MoaMoa466,905230,486463,611229,515
Mangorei53,65234,53953,22834,245
Waiwakaiho71,51638,92069,48437,232
    OmataElliott55,44439,09354,58738,449
Carrington103,28264,513102,78264,206
Frankley73,13945,52473,01845,504
Barrett115,87277,658113,89076,223
Omata92,49463,86679,90252,492
Upper Hurford14,6488,62714,4638,623
Tataraimaka36,79021,38336,22321,362
Oakura77,91850,98372,11545,580
Okato82,85447,25580,45345,984
Werekino23,24214,76522,88814,411
        Total of county..1,708,5191,000,658C.V.1,653,018956,561
Egmont—
    RahotuParihaka631,903381,721C.V.616,087371,718
    OpunakeOpunake T.D.73,24539,17063,26135,608
    Oeo..272,069165,327..245,045144,281
        Total of county..977,217586,218C.V.924,393551,607
Stratford—
    NorthManganui393,413215,514U.V.389,464214,057
    East..431,263252,711..416,702238,748
    Ohura..231,206159,831..173,251103,697
    West..214,410133,977..210,763131,034
    South..218,178139,856..217,038139,478
        Total of county..1,488,470901,889U.V.1,407,218827,014
Hawera—
WaimateWaimate811,168540,635C.V.767,198506,809
Manaia T.D.48,18415,87443,14114,480
    Mangatoki..346,544229,980..345,251229,298
    Okaiawa..256,583188,642..230,653168,373
    Eltham..275,025169,633..257,272152,699
    HaweraNorman by T.D.27,37911,003U.V.25,66310,692
Outlying768,005531,700..720,677500,524
    Mokoia..274,257185,866..256,786172,122
        Total of county..2,807,1451,873,333C.V.2,646,6411,754,997
Patea—
    OtoiaPatea West362,994230,144C.V.343,580212,636
Patea East210,812138,714198,132130,455
Outlying4,4584,458..1,6481,648
    Kapara..137,81182,035..98,56349,135
    WaverleyKohi72,28644,934C.V.71,96944,894
Wairoa84,51651,56879,03146,158
Motoroa37,86820,90836,24919,576
Waitotara164,79582,801151,79876,468
Momohaki
Okutuku79,86154,59079,86154,590
Whenuakura196,186129,048195,921128,842
Waitotara
Waverley T.D.32,8899,83229,2189,172
        Total of county..1,384,476849,032C.V.1,285,970773,574
Waitotara—
    Tokomaru..166,512114,868..71,82121,907
    Waitotara..407,025297,227..392,475287,174
    Brunswick..369,747252,109..365,444250,256
    Westmere..365,393251,383..352,110247,680
        Total of county..1,308,677915,587C.V.1,181,850807,017
Wanganui—
    MangawheroMangawhero337,118221,822C.V.283,698171,742
    Upper WangaehuUpper Wangaehu525,304325,592420,676223,384
    MataongaongaMataongaonga215,007161,559214,507161,309
    KaukateaKaukatea75,69046,45975,48646,451
    PuruaPurua212,788129,617211,122129,341
    KaitokeKaitoke169,591112,368161,177107,251
        Total of county..1,535,498997,417C.V.1,366,666839,478
Waimarino—
    Huikumu..191,861162,551..103,39475,515
    Manganui..139,594122,237..49,64633,084
    Ruapehu..66,66056,570..27,55018,150
    Karioi..35,45033,279..9,8468,357
    Parapara..118,97288,974..71,07645,123
    Raetihi..32,79219,638..26,02314,788
    Ohakune..123,625111,316..68,56059,630
        Total of county..708,954594,615U.V.356,095254,647
Rangitikei—
    OhingaitiTaihape S.R.D.69,01039,410C.V.58,13031,490
Hunterville T.D.54,03022,025..49,84819,787
Outlying858,405572,101C.V.749,904472,970
    Otairi..320,581161,916..295,466136,952
    Maungahoe..184,996103,388..183,365102,178
    Paraekaretu..295,749170,564..290,953168,292
    Wangaehu..210,827133,954..197,948125,118
    Maungaraupi..251,338142,704..249,839142,634
    Porewa..262,143142,707..259,900142,311
    OtakapuLethbridge T.D.27,35211,143A.V.25,40910,831
Outlying264,926182,449..264,320182,244
    RangitotoBull's T.D.39,21811,735A.V.35,95511,299
Outlying182,828122,367..182,428122,320
        Total of county..3,021,4031,816,463C.V.2,843,4651,668,426
Kiwitea—
    Hautapu..134,53379,988..125,97171,689
    Rangiwahia..148,29384,684..140,38677,461
    Peep-o'-day..113,07058,733..102,06147,724
    Ongo..118,57072,530..116,58870,653
    Kiwitea..106,78868,861..106,52268,845
    Waituna..116,48469,913..115,72769,716
    Cheltenham..117,02378,032..115,79472,977
    Kimbolton..112,19760,693..108,69658,599
    Pakihikura..137,48083,127..136,93282,651
        Total of county..1,104,438651,561C.V.1,068,677620,315
Pohangina—
    Mangapikopiko..91,05949,750..89,79749,120
    Umutoi..92,36457,680..80,53945,895
    Coal Creek..87,75745,679..87,70945,631
    Tamaki..67,39846,872..44,38823,862
    Pohangina..52,22328,408..51,47828,178
    Mangaone..100,57358,929..100,37258,891
    Awahou..82,72045,946..76,58839,924
        Total of county..574,004333,264C.V.530,871291,501
Manawatu—
    Sandon..206,825147,394..203,162146,548
    Mount Stewart..225,723160,268..223,499158,491
    Waitohi..191,114137,962..190,448137,912
    CampbellRongotea T.D.25,09010,646C.V.22,3759,813
Outlying232,342175,601..232,155175,517
    Carnarvon..196,367154,138..194,081152,901
    Kawakawa..240,595182,237..239,279181,579
    Awahou..165,246126,839..152,415117,124
        Total of county..1,483,3021,095,085C.V.1,457,4141,079,885
Oroua—
    RangitawaHalcombe T.D.21,1956,303A.V.19,1576,180
Outlying107,58774,525..107,52274,460
    Mangaone..26,67019,509..26,62019,459
    Raumanga..294,722210,909..294,186210,878
    Makino..344,573260,212..344,149260,192
    Taonui..391,341285,403..389,786285,110
    Hiwinui..352,985253,941..352,581253,895
    Otangaki..61,45430,158..58,09228,063
        Total of county..1,600,5271,140,960C.V.1,592,0931,138,237
Kairanga—
    Taonui..1,153,880858,776..1,136,769846,406
    Fitzherbert..505,337337,160..492,558325,429
Total of county..1,659,2171,195,936U.V.1,629,3271,171,835
Horowhenua—
    Tokomaru..443,638230,684..437,740276,514
    Wirokino..802,524552,115..741,501505,699
    OtakiOtaki333,080190,298C.V.314,350179,085
    Te HoroTe Horo281,312173,211272,367165,409
        Total of county..1,860,5541,196,308C.V.1,765,9581,126,707
Chatham Islands..95,55755,838*92,44653,614
Islands—
    Kapiti..17,98413,378Nil10,4849,378
    Mana
    Somes
Pahiatua—
    Mangahao..476,197294,600..465,031285,941
    Pukemiku..157,18994,478..152,01892,480
    Makuri..211,525111,372..206,283106,783
    Mangaone..190,836111,594..190,513111,465
    Puketoi..258,189124,918..255,439123,214
        Total of county..1,293,936836,962U.V.1,269,284719,883
Akitio—
    Akitio..151,19391,429..149,34389,739
    Waihi..82,17347,697..77,54743,291
    Rakaunui..40,98925,275..36.94321,249
    Pongaroa..118,08969,684..109,40161,671
    Mataikona..108,77071,162..105,58068,852
    Total of country..501,214305,247U.V.478,814284,802
Castlepoint—
    East..169,69098,938..169,32598,898
    West..215,190117,334..212,103116,572
    Total of country..384,880216,272C.V.381,428215,470
Eketahuna—
    West..286,359161,231..276,075152,205
    East..260,997134,465..254,754132,454
    Total of country..547,356295,696U.V.530,829284,659
Mauriceville—
    West..160,35777,281..149,36368,054
    East..162,28275,478..152,18266,069
    Total of country..322,639152,759C.V.301,545154,123
Masterton—
    Alfredton..340,429174,671..330,359165,291
    Upper Taueru..214,139124,123..213,903124,052
    Rangitumau..337,734215,319..336,803215,227
    Opaki..595,437384,834..578,057371,204
    Te Whiti..280,177207,639..279,139207,201
    Wainuioru..657,331449,304..650,966444,339
    Total of country..2,425,2471,555,890C.V.2,389,2271,527,314
Wairarapa South—
    Belvedere..198,651114,320..183,431112,751
    Dalefield..184,661112,336..182,809111,097
    Parkvale..194,731122,403..191,417122,203
    Maungaraki..548,182341,430..536,541332,604
        Total of county..1,126,225690,489U.V.1,094,198678,655
Featherston—
    Pahaoa..310,059218,227..303,930213,961
    Greytown..294,218206,534..280,101193,437
    Martinborough..213,254132,472..208,952131,558
    Western Lake..137,761103,629..126,02292,134
    Kahutara..266,688199,675..255,040189,989
    FeatherstonOutlying137,169587,956..134,61285,609
Featherston T. D.60,25716,491C.V.52,48915,599
    Otaraia..141,19494,017..140,56593,388
    Turanganui..187,363139,892..176,582129,596
    Awhea..310,201198,106..291,782179,970
        Total of County..2,058,1641,396,999C.V.1,970,0751,325,241
Hutt—
    Whareroa..174,27686,334..167,02479,671
    HorokiwiOutlying180,81678,074..179,26077,678
Plimmerton*19,5417,631..19,1417,231
    PoriruaJohnsonville T.D.133,85179,249C.V.129,55176,929
Outlying427,843145,949..363,885138,884
    Mungaroa..377,579260,074..346,940236,869
    Epuni..340,383266,799..321,502252,706
    Wainuiomata..209,343132,039..190,383120,780
    MakaraMakara105,03856,388C.V.104,54356,331
        Total of county..1,968,6701,112,537C.V.1,822,2291,047,079
Collingwood—
    Aorere..119,94160,820..93,84337,077
    Pakawau..87,73364,634..70,15952,390
Total of county..207,674125,454C.V.164,00289,467
Takaka—
    Waitapu..138,95565,075..129,04158,014
    Anatoki..140,59482,199..103,19347,056
        Total of county..279,549147,274C.V.232,234105,070
Waimea—
    MoutereUpper Moutere56,01325,504C.V.54,58325,115
Outlying57,94434,313..56,77133,684
    MotuekaRiwaka148,67292,367C.V.141,62686,403
Outlying142,02572,490..133,27665,001
    StokeStoke315,310221,816C.V.293,163207,623
 Dovedale53,80025,52551,75224,399
    Wai-itiWaimea W.92,01060,44589,77759,682
Outlying313,919178,383..296,531167,298
Wangapeka122,95275,072..99,15052,106
    Motupiko..136,11086,341..107,18858,663
    WangamoaSuburban N.133,35771,990C.V.124,00667,239
Outlying9,8078,180..6,1794,909
Maitai, Outlying18,14615,743..12,3849,981
        Total of county..1,600,065968,169C.V.1,466,386862,303
Sounds—
    Pelorus Sound portion (Croixelles to Cape Lambert)..262,777150,244..215,752104,934
    Queen Charlotte Sound and Port Underwood portion..102,17567,678..78,61544,311
        Total of county..364,952217,922*294,367149,245
Marlborough—
    PelorusPelorus366,677231,763U.V.286,747154,473
    HavelockHavelock T.D.26,8308,837C.V.22,0327,537
    PictonPicton223,102136,959202,308119,242
    Spring CreekSpring Creek207,000159,405203,908157,443
    OmakaOmaka356,136264,145348,861261,102
    WairauWairau477,855358,835444,951328,543
    AwatereAwatere779,740640,497607,187480,898
        Total of county..2,437,3401,800,441*2,115,9941,509,238
Kaikoura—
    Clarence..106,48579,820..82,51155,846
    Suburban..137,596103,273..131,805100,282
    Peninsula..56,79724,725..50,22922,603
    Conway..192,499151,056..180,066138,623
    Hundalee..63,88650,263..62,74549,122
        Total of county..557,263409,137C.V.507,356360,476
Buller—
    Karamea..145,068107,466..56,16718,848
    Wareatea North..336,218185,755..235,30697,901
    Wareatea South..90,75664,315..30,63213,749
    Lyell..26,91316,813..11,7973,017
    Charleston..61,15251,366..9,9112,838
        Total of county..660,107425,715U.V.343,813136,353
Inangahua—
    Hampden..407,131358,537..84,25237,185
    Boatman's..105,27873,986..43,88013,808
    Reefton..183,57657,269..159,11948,255
    Murray..17,30310,966..9,8894,122
    Crushington..56,93949,448..11,5764,085
    Antonio's..91,08368,279..35,66113,667
        Total of county..861,310618,485U.V.344,377121,122
Grey—
    Cobden..110,28976,953..56,78330,019
    Brunnerton..148,408104,956..63,37528,617
    Waipuna..147,558113,880..53,71122,169
    Nelson Creek..72,03653,878..27,56710,273
    Red Jack's..110,95399,553..32,77921,379
    Maori Creek..47,18440,5230..35,11729,755
    Paroa..40,85522,961..27,74511,632
    Marsden..21,32717,870..5,2152,216
    Hohonu..111,78398,059..38,80225,544
        Total of county..810,391628,633C.V.341,094181,604
Westland—
    Arahura..84,02153,776..47,63120,483
    Kanieri..207,505117,901..122,95546,934
    Southern..555,471526,809..79,64051,377
        Total of county..846,997698,486C.V.250,226118,794
Cheviot—
    Hawkeswood..166,875139,494..166,596139,215
    Kaiwara..88,45083,100..88,45083,100
    Waiau..114,61190,636..112,99287,894
    Lowry..129,28692,539..124,85988,469
    Hurunui..99,42979,825..98,27774,304
    Seaward..112,69676,032..108,59171,633
        Total of county..711,347561,626U.V.699,765544,615
Amuri—
    Hanmer..268,005187,219..228,931170,609
    Pahau..228,108164,713..225,440163,283
    Waiau..331,177288,899..320,496282,644
    Rotherham..119,12888,842..118,57088,728
        Total of county..946,418729,673C.V.893,437705,264
Ashley—
    WaiparaWaipara1,913,3121,654,507C.V.1,864,6921,650,789
    Mount ThomasAshley435,019348,533421,334336,505
    KowaiKowai649,672475,813641,186472,796
Amberley T.D.31,09310,42627,9639,781
    OxfordOxford540,044402,679506,675380,074
    CustCust226,448174,392223,837173,937
    MandevilleMandeville-Rangiora745,856583,320737,026580,059
    West EyretonWest Eyreton261,911223,520261,029223,151
    EyretonEyreton561,402446,571556,790443,329
        Total of county..5,364,7574,319,761*5,240,5414,272,42
Selwyn—
    AvonAvon636,312387,042C.V.624,596382,121
    RiccartonRiccarton1,537,482911,9221,157,854698,234
Templeton654,889412,725640,464406,700
    CourtenayCourtenay1,144,681859,8571,101,420839,498
    MalvernMalvern189,952145,002178,416141,759
East Malvern187,286147,971183,051145,821
S'th Malvern127,30096,694125,51096,400
Upper Waimakariri65,52452,48471,08652,025
    HeathcoteHeathcote593,602310,308580,273308,494
    HalswellTaitapu162,902126,872160,356126,415
Spreydon216,16598,920U.V.211,82097,740
Harwell398,749279,844C.V.374,384270,451
    ColeridgeL'keColeridge287,578231,086284,789230,272
Rakaia456,198347,951450,332345,933
    LincolnSprings633,077470,252595,312467,931
Lincoln432,159343,485424,689342,236
    EllesmereEllesmere1,537,0121,214,6541,516,3201,210,310
Southbridge T.D.36,59712,99131,76412,089
        Total of county..9,297,4656,450,060C.V.8,712,4366,174,429
Mount Herbert—
    Port Victoria..108,08479,896..103,08678,759
    Port Levy..212,565173,328..211,630173,293
        Total of county..320,649253,224C.V.314,716252,052
Akaroa—
    Port LevyPigeon Bay263,846204,145C.V.262,703203,994
    Little RiverLittle River619,488502,953605,180493,652
    Okain's BayOkain's Bay240,422181,934239,015181,650
    Le Bon's BayLe Bon's Bay163,446123,510162,939123,276
    WainuiTown of Akaroa & Wainui634,878486,132624,310482,242
        Total of county..1,922,0801,498,674C.V.1,894,1471,484,814
Ashburton—
    Mount HuttMount Hutt938,231757,167C.V.923,189749,364
    South RakaiaSouth Rakaia782,238605,605770,531601,829
    Mount SomersM'nt Somers296,315239,677273,877232,492
Anama375,572312,065369,657311,560
    Upper AshburtonUpper Ashburton1,088,961864,9521,083,270863,844
    WakanuiWakanui728,880581,905721,213580,884
Hampstead T.D.100,01542,50789,57542,062
    RangitataRangitata388,256310,285364,368309,231
    AshburtonLongbeach583,135464,527579,873464,213
Coldstream292,306226,032289,390225,232
Tinwald T.D.79,20045,21576,22644,610
        Total of county..5,653,1094,449,937C.V.5,561,1694,425,321
Geraldine–
    Mount PeelMount Peel483,827392,521C.V.467,010391,268
    RaukapukaGeraldine848,278695,337842,756694,084
    TemukaTemuka991,044810,049979,765804,694
        Total of county..2,323,1491,897,907C.V.2,289,5311,890,046
Levels—
    Tengawai..309,058251,312..307,196250,917
    Point..236,322187,788..232,986186,957
    Waimataiti..286,373218,773..285,997218,417
    Seadown..213,980176,649..212,597176,327
    Claremont..204,735164,881..203,185164,751
    Gleniti..249,999144,286..244,619141,261
    Otipua..302,796222,810..299,556222,235
        Total of county..1,803,2631,366,499C.V.1,786,1361,360,865
Mackenzie—
    Te Kapo..254,156221,503..169,235216,492
    Fairlie..321,375232,448..307,770230,891
    Albury..413,001340,198..403,914339,615
        Total of county..988,532794,149C.V.880,919736,998
Waimate—
    Upper Pareora..298,060259,301..297,242257,041
    Lower Pareora..250,445209,184..247,918208,802
    Hakataramea..236,196193,878..234,064199,098
    Otaio..375,589318,376..374,283317,851
    Makikihi..294,158235,857..292,129234,636
    Deep Creek..459,786367,481..456,134366,***00
    North Waihao..1,001,912832,815..994,065826,582
        Total of county..2,916,1462,416,892U.V.2,895,8352,410,210
Waitaki—
    Ahuriri..121,750110,116..120,955109,321
    Otakaika..327,446237,854..318,114235,492
    Awamoko..452,699385,296..450,673384,307
    Papakaio..527,983400,339..518,236396,767
    Waiareka..552,009435,345..546,678434,601
    Incholme..228,878197,927..227,807197,162
    Kakanui..313,605257,984..311,918257,474
    Otepopo..228,318156,230..221,896155,268
    Moeraki..153,054116,035..147,257114,756
        Total of county..2,905,7422,297,126C.V.2,863,5342,285,148
Maniototo—
    St. Bathan's..95,55259,490..90,63957,056
    Idaburn..85,93862,366..84,48361,411
    Mount Ida..246,606159,984..232,907153,051
    Kyeburn..68,90446,787..67,99446,268
    Puketoi..138,695103,561..135,769101,750
    Hyde..40,34925,836..38,18325,327
    Serpentine..57,95950,555..56,35948,955
        Total of county..734,003508,579C.V.706,334493,818
Waihemo—
    Green Valley..45,46931,173..44,61830,784
    Dunback..59,93638,199..58,43037,814
    Macrae's..96,23863,271..94,69163,036
    Blue Mountain..86,19057,801..85,39457,490
    Meadowbank..31,78825,727..31,76325,702
    Bushy..77,70051,378..77,66851,346
    Goodwood..66,92745,767..66,37445,725
        Total of county..464,248313,316C.V.458,938311,897
Waikouaiti—
    Hawksbury..195,702139,471..194,648139,237
    Merton..254,915116,709..160,209108,550
    Blueskin..165,59580,099..153,71477,750
    North-east Valley..78,19843,080..77,71742,989
        Total of county..694,410379,359C.V.586,288368,526
Peninsula—
    Portobello BayOtago Heads64,55333,764C.V.43,83826,967
Portobello (Portobello Ward)65,29138,61062,46138,224
    Broad BayPortobello (Broad Bay Ward)58,38134,45457,28834,122
    North-east HarbourPortobello (North-east Harbour Ward)62,96734,46361,72235,103
    SandymountPeninsula (Sandy-mount Ward)55,67036,04654,67035,946
    HighcliffPeninsula (Highcliff Ward)69,19140,39968,25640,324
    Anderson's BayPeninsula (Anderson's Bay Ward)131,59067,180127,89566,555
    TomahawkTomahawk34,05322,74033,68322,495
        Total of county..541,696308,656*509,811299,736
Taieri—
    Strath Taieri..225,235161,947..221,611160,858
    Deep Stream..164,349129,927..161,711128,144
    Maungatua..189,475144,187..185,395142,361
    OutramOutram T.D.45,00522,016C.V.38,13920,598
Outlying212,432180,632..211,703180,338
    East Taieri..169,972124,465..167,716124,117
    North TaieriHalf-way Bush†20,8619,749..20,2389,498
Outlying146,81392,983..144,36392,445
    Kaikorai..209,522105,854..207,728104,529
    OtakiaGrey T.D9,9763,540C.V.7,5782,882
Outlying155,990106,465..152,282105,457
        Total of county..1,549,6301,081,765C.V.1,516,4641,071,217
Tuapeka—
    Teviot..140,68193,024..133,65087,618
    James..247,909175,917..240,561174,146
    Beaumont..49,25535,327..45,53832,342
    Gabriel's..39,08922,215..34,98019,027
    Waipori..40,10428,923..36,00725,543
    Tapanui..193,195132,612..187,679130,244
    Brown's..105,04173,004..101,29570,131
    Clark's..63,54844,059..58,53740,386
    Waitahuna..66,10239,492..60,33036,419
        Total of county..944,924644,573C.V.898,577615,856
Bruce—
    Clarendon..71,47150,580.. 70,92650,260 
    Mount StuartMount Stuart118,21883,121C.V.115,80081,669
    Waihola..87,09448,906..83,78244,736
    BalmoralBalmoral253,314202,130C.V.170,096123,132
    Tokomairiro..218,624145,959..212,848145,267
    Glenledi..44,04630,121..42,73629,224
    Crichton..96,20170,475..95,34570,274
    Kaitangata..67,90948,259..66,47547,367
    MatauInch-Clutha82,69564,785C.V.81,74564,645
Outlying87,12758,412..86,32758,112
        Total of county..1,126,699802,748C.V.1,026,080717,686
Clutha—
    Glenkenich..154,108104,676..152,587104,550
    Waipahi..140,30092,789..137,64491,963
    Clydevale..115,01687,274..114,31487,162
    Pomahaka..198,650151,574..193,411148,498
    ClintonClinton T.D.21,0686,484A.V.18,3516,049
Outlying66,60751,220..65,70250,470
    Clutha..140,146100,909..139,958100,844
    Richardson..172,957122,103..166,388119,228
    South Molyneux..156,00289,467..142,90884,946
    Catlin's..186,76299,512..144,14062,902
        Total of county..1,351,616906,008C.V.1,275,403856,612
    Islands (Quarantine and Goat)..3,454900Nil....
Vincent—
    Hawea..92,28566,867..82,43862,738
    Clutha..42,47822,504..29,65613,614
    Lindis..22,38815,599..21,05115,254
    Matakanui..83,88354,513..74,82649,992
    Manuherikia..76,41650,348..69,96948,664
    Dunstan..103,42261,640..92,51357,036
    Carrick..35,09724,246..35,34525,464
    Earnscleugh..41,83124,019..33,69919,559
        Total of county..497,800319,736C.V.439,497292,321
Lake—
    Matukituki..23,69619,300..6,9503,362
    Shotover..20,59217,057..5,6892,769
    Greenstone..48,81238,534..21,68112,395
    Cardrona..44,08827,179..23,75311,377
    Queenstown..58,24437,402..46,42929,245
    Arrow..92,64662,562..85,04457,232
    Kingston..60,43648,224..42,81332,547
        Total of county..348,514250,258C.V.232,359148,927
Fiord..144,559137,779C.V.16,0539,273
Wallace—      
    Mararoa..343,939270,357..273,364205,621
    Waiau..294,431223,968..232,740163,786
    Wairio..402,343258,658..376,770237,894
    OtautauOtautau T.D.41,74114,819C.V.38,27014,048
Outlying401,067280,254..390,452272,073
    Orepuki..191,833104,664..170,36887,487
    Aparima..311,762207,212..303,482200,673
        Total of county..1,987,1161,359,932C.V.1,785,4461,181,582
Southland—
    Oreti..433,105315,360..408,425296,272
    Wakaia..314,568234,430..283,578208,052
    Winton..1,061,006683,550..1,027,142658,297
    HokonuiWaimumu—north'n and Mabel sub-division portions649,678470,796..622,018447,324
    MatauraOutlying*416,889287,868..409,104283,697
Tuturau188,864133,374U.V.187,119132,471
Outlying166,192114,245..158,601109,350
    Wallacetown..337,067228,335..330,969225,361
    AwaruaInvercargill†176,40293,336..166,03886,050
Outlying388,479236,378..380,267232,628
    Waihopai..514,877369,602..471,977331,643
    ToetoesOutlying—Wyndham portion90,84763,730..88,71561,947
Wyndham T.D.37,00311,653U.V.33,60711,068
Outlying508,211338,436..448,689284,764
        Total of County..5,283,1883,581,093U.V.5,016,2493,368,924
Stewart Island—
    North..66,15344,335..16,0658,807
    South..97,59491,562..7,5043,354
        Total of county..163,747135,897C.V.23,56912,161
Islands—
    Antipodes..13,88013,880Nil.680680
    Auckland
    Campbell
    Cook  NotValuedd. 
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, 1905.
BoroughGross 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 Laud (included in previous column).
 ££ ££
Whangarei198,76689,019C.V.192,69287,295
Birkenhead149,54367,508A.V.146,67965,762
Devon port626,812243,846U.V.503,156213,685
Parnell687,606305,123A.V.649,487288,839
Newmarket273,265123,535266,305119,575
Grey Lynn602,907276,770U.V.591,699272,604
Onehunga454,896230,487A.V.423,889215,300
Hamilton316,673184,352U.V.280,111158,362
Cambridge214,854110,974A.V.188,56996,579
Thames273,23893,945243,23587,922
Tauranga104,37044,67894,51640,191
To Aroha87,04434,126C.V.76,32430,331
Waihi187,45064,667177,04959,579
Auckland City7,484,3263,745,465A.V.6,968,2133,517,452
Gisborne969,837573,975931,929558,593
Napier1,310,407585,5701,153,239522,884
Hastings568,223318,591553,603315,114
Dannevirke371,516227,162356,989218,516
Woodville112,31745,712U.V.97,27341,128
New Plymouth991,368616,818A.V.893,270556,395
Hawera340,609177,046U.V.311,858160,934
Patea64,11321,923A.V.55,98619,958
Stratford353,067190,908U.V.318,202171,591
Eltham175,44498,215C.V.168,31693,594
Ingle wood139,54667,055124,75958,648
Waitara129,88555,286122,40850,854
Wanganui1,340,087854,429A.V.1,188,922755,631
Marton116,74840,512103,88338,240
Feilding336,425167,620U.V.317,478159,381
Palmerston North1,446,061369,3281,373,773824,291
Foxton122,04961,825A.V.114,28959,894
Onslow518,703315,421U.V.489,213308,781
Karori575,586385,789531,476360,654
Wellington—
    City Ward12,092,7596,927,14810,226,5415,909,679
    Melrose Ward1,104,118735,9801,077,223718,972
Pahiatua149,25671,737139,92068,848
Masterton782,806410,194708,259378,432
Carterton173,48382,198C.V.161,26177,839
Greytown149,97859,009A.V.142,01956,941
Lower Hutt893,871618,883U.V.859,962593,271
Petone1,158,491735,8031,110,725705,141
Miramar360,592285,403C.V.333,647264,553
Richmond99,02253,81394,66751,895
Nelson1,162,678568,141A.V.1,056,016528,434
Picton125,96354,978U.V.107,44045,892
Blenheim425,350182,241387,963172,154
Motueka138,61781,838C.V.131,93480,405
Westport259,586106,086U.V.226,14592,356
Greymouth492,876164,849426,589142,123
Brunner70,34211,551A.V.66,2359,393
Kumara34,5956,082C.V.24,7324,047
Hokitika175,53766,074U.V.133,98648,393
Ross21,5765,475C.V.17,3914,518
Rangiora202,32686,166189,01082,320
Kaiapoi166,20748,603A.V.153,43246,228
Christchurch—
    St. Albans Ward991,520369,820U.V.975,149366,002
    North-east Ward628,052227,200588,632215,890
    North-west Ward1,130,975506,187972,528456,850
    South-east Ward868,456379,111812,029362,364
    South-west Ward2,114,5371,169,3852,007,8121,128,575
    Sydenham Ward1,160,406386,1551,067,728328,847
    Linwood Ward723,185238,011711,653234,629
Woolston267,745112,084254,467108,939
New Brighton116,61051,482A.V.113,23650,328
Sumner183,20996,274U.V.167,78490,484
Lyttelton854,234238,942A.V.310,229139,637
Akaroa55,59817,778C.V.51,09816,688
Ashburton445,618202,140A.V.403,828177,795
Temuka126,58937,419C.V.105,56133,119
Timaru888,526325,921A.V.789,326294,917
Waimate143,56451,668U.V.122,66446,820
Geraldine91,33834,83883,97632,848
Oamaru549,269179,223A.V.492,333165,886
Hampden22,0007,460C.V.18,6026,587
Naseby33,4184,765A.V.27,2184,245
Palmerston60,12114,374C.V.52,181 113,268
Hawksbury62,41928,54259,59128,001
Port Chalmers258,27580,458A.V.231,79575,348
West Harbour149,25964,235U.V.143,02862,990
North-east Valley366,260155,310352,971151,503
Maori Hill244,517110,021206,71799,190
Roslyn748,357321,599A.V.732,667317,159
Mornington388,755152,468380,522150,948
Dunedin—
   Leith Ward1,117,803464,9301,011,323435,180
   Bell ”1,227,280599,3101,081,100527,960
   High ”2,314,9341,116,1942,042,184980,354
   South ”811,240383,975758,550340,325
   Caversham Ward625,942253,616591,287246,336
   South Dunedin Ward479,179142,918462,794139,933
St. Kilda282,662130,541A.V.276,862130,141
Green Island41,50611,23434,95610,269
Mosgiel173,50765,200161,75462,155
Roxburgh32,6505,06128,7704,561
Lawrence119,33831,988104,01329,163
Tapanui23,2293,75020,6543,555
Milton144,02838,562134,52537,157
Balclutha101,10432,794U.V.92,75630,451
Kaitangata100,27931,297A.V.94,34429,985
Arrowtown20,9843,32515,6982,896
Queenstown63,23714,561 53,46513,536
Cromwell38,6789,21033,8437,902
Alexandra45,5038,30741,5827,764
Gore316,619106,013U.V.288,47998,331
Mataura131,03150,111A.V.123,26645,995
Winton51,12819,613U.V.46,48917,645
Gladstone54,63524,978A.V.52,97324,538
Avenal48,12418,931U.V.48,12418,931
North Invercargill54,55020,18753,19319,757
East Invercargill73,87125,138A.V.73,69125,063
Invercargill1,320,711522,696U.V.1,162,985451,912
South Invercargill121,62945,036119,53544,426
Riverton60,82615,206A.V.52,57413,793
Campbelltown202,35889,367U.V.173,14368,672

Chapter 54. SUPPLEMENTAL TO PART II.

STATISTICAL VIEW OF FIFTY YEARS' PROGRESSIN NEW ZEALAND, 1855-1904.
I.—POPULATION.
Year.Population (exclusive of Maoris and for Annexed Pacific Islands) on 31st December.Births.Deaths.Marriages.
Males.Females.Totals.
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
1889328,588287,464616,05218,4575,7723,632
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
1896376,987337,175714,16218,6126,4324,843
1897384,703344,353729,05618,7376,5954,928
1898392,124351,339743,46318,9557,2445,091
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
1904453,992403,547857,53922,7668,0876,983
NOTE .—Maori population excluded from above was 43,143 in 1901, and that of Cook and other Islands 12,292 persons.
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.
 Number.Acres.    
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..676,90965,715312,8353,418,579115,104
186811,932783,435........
186913,476997,477........
197010,2111,140,279........
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........
188531,7036,668,920........
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
189658,90411,550,075249,8131,138,06719,138,493209,834
189760,75911,444,563252,8341,209,16519,687,954186,027
189862,63911,984,606258,1151,203,02419,673,725193,512
189962,48512,474,511261,9311,222,13919,348,506249,751
190062,78612,636,035266,2451,256,68019,355,195250,975
190163,98213,083,971279,6721,361,78420,233,099224,024
190265,03413,357,700286,9551,460,66320,342,727193,740
190366,09213,504,004298,7141,593,54718,954,553226,591
190468,68013,868,074314,3221,736,85018,280,806255,320
III.—TRADE.
Exports (the Produce of New Zealand).
Year.Wool.Grain.Frozen Meat.
Quantity.Value.Quantity.Value.Quantity.Value.
 Lb.£Bushels.£Cwt.£
18551,772,34493,104150,35282,302....
18562,559,618146,07066,15024,032....
18572,648,716176,57981,75729,676....
18583,810,372254,02271,40320,680....
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
1895116,015,1703,662,1312,381,837215,7831,103,3621,262,711
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
1904144,647,3764,673,8263,775,978392,3461,912,9792,793,599
Year.Butter.Cheese.Phormium Fibre.
Quantity.Value.Quantity.Value.Quantity.Value.
 Cwt.£Cwt.£Tons.£
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
1904314,3601,380,46084,526185,48626,936710,281
Year.Gold.Gum (Kauri).Provisions, Tallow, Timber, &c.
Quantity.Value.Quantity.Value.Value.
 Oz.£Tons.££
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
1876318,3671,268,5592,888109,234351,731
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
1887187,938747,8786,790363,4341,085,468
1888229,608914,3088,482380,9331,274,780
1889197,492785,4007,519329,5901,606,828
1890187,641758,3607,438378,5631,440,731
1891251,1611,007,1728,388437,0561,436,671
1892237,393951,9638,705517,6781,200,525
1893227,502915,***8,317510,7751,113,799
1894221,614887,8658,338404,5671,112,233
1895293,4931,162,1817,425418,7661,269,031
1896263,6941,041,4287,126431,3231,269,680
1897251,647980,2046,645398,0101,389,398
1898280,1751,080,691***5586,6761,562,834
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
1904520,3231,987,5019,203501,8171,976,471
Year.Exports (the Produce of New Zealand).Imports.Coal-mines, Output from.
Total Value.Total Value.From United States (included in previous Column).
 £££Tons.
1855365,867813,460....
1856318,433710,868....
1857369,394992,9945,978..
1858433,9491,141,2735,276..
1859521,3081,551,0305,945 
1860549,1331,548,33318,474Prior to 1978, 709-931
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
190314,838,19212,788,6751,441,3581,420,193
190414,601,78713,291,6941,527,9151,537,838
IV.—TRANSPORT.
Year.Shipping.
Inwards.Outwards.Registered Vessels belonging to the Colony.
Tonnage.Tonnage.Gross Tonnage.
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
1873289,297281,84730,035
1874399,296385,53338,935
1875416,727417,82042,025
1876393,180393,33444,401
1877388,568400,60942,479
1878456,490428,49346,965
1879473,940475,75264,457
1880395,675424,04166,316
1881420,134413,48772,387
1882461,285438,55176,196
1883494,926507,56584,903
1884529,188534,24292,696
1885519,700513,00095,887
1886502,572488,33194,196
1887489,754493,58394,027
1888526,435531,47886,132
1889602,634593,25287,411
1890662,769649,70598,907
1891618,515625,807102,068
1892675,223656,100101,156
1893615,604642,466100,388
1894631,100631,25099,588
1895672,951648,946100,988
1896614,097627,659105,553
1897686,899675,333119,173
1898765,255765,793126,113
1899811,183807,866129,583
1900854,632825,275137,767
19011,063,2741,075,906143,183
19021,089,1791,048,770147,822
19031,102,0641,113,165150,909
19041,154,5691,144,764157,334
Year.Government Railways. (Figures to 31st March following.)Electric Telegraph.
Miles open for Traffic.Miles under Construction.Railway Receipts.Miles of Line.Number of Messages.Cash and Cash Values, including Telephones.
   £  £
1855............
1856............
1857............
1858............
1859............
1860............
1861............
1862............
1863............
1864............
1865............
1866......69948,2319,114
1867......71487,43614,295
1868......1,471134,64726,224
1869......1,611173,74632,649
1870......1,887238,19527,422
1871......2,015369,08557,203
1872......2,312401,20544,669
1873145434..2,389637,94155,195
187420962121,1982,632844,30162,322
187554246472,0733,156993,32374,420
1876718427469,0513,1701,100,59980,841
18771,052251569,8983,3071,182,95585,589
18781,089142758,0963,4341,260,32492,433
18791,171284762,5723,5121,448,943112,351
18801,288192836,0773,7581,304,712100,023
18811,333187892,0263,8241,438,772101,566
18821,371171953,3473,9741,570,189102,378
18831,404224961,3044,0741,599,400102,958
18841,4791581,045,7124,2641,654,305101,482
18851,6131791,047,4184,4631,774,273112,778
18861,721171998,7684,5461,836,266115,666
18871,753169994,8434,6461,835,394116,211
18881,777163997,6154,7901,765,860104,116
18891,8091761,095,5694,8741,802,987106,462
18901,8421321,121,7015,0601,961,161110,697
18911,8691701,115,4325,3491,968,264117,634
18921,8861881,181,5225,4791,904,143103,813
18931,9481481,172,7925,5132,069,791112,466
18941,9931271,150,8515,8232,046,839114,510
18952,0141141,183,0416,2452,124,211123,112
18962,0181241,286,1586,2852,520,169129,635
18972,055921,376,0086,4842,696,233136,221
19982,0901131,469,6656,7362,960,738145,295
18992,1041111,623,8916,9103,469,631162,945
19002,2122081,727,2367,2493,898,128186,978
19012,2352121,874,5867,4694,167,981207,476
19022,2911941,974,0387,7494,559,304222,495
19032,3281752,180,6417,7794,965,197237,564
19042,3741732,209,2317,9445,159,745250,063
V.—ACCUMULATION.
Year.Banks. (Average of Four Quarters.)Savings-Banks (Post Office and private).Post Office Money Orders issued.
Deposits.Assets.Liabilities.Number of Depositors.Balance to credit on 31st Dec.Number.Amount.
 £££ £ £
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....
18621,596,4462,691,1172,092,4971,49629,7681,4106,590
18632,092,0904,028,7662,962,5852,37144,11711,58655,703
18642,480,3035,063,4583,343,1724,66994,24816,59178,556
18652,638,4145,455,2893,522,1464,30487,40017,23678,576
18663,097,4735,891,5324,010,1104,51391,86322,710108,779
18672,904,5945,947,1603,737,6956,579156,85524,473115,610
18683,102,7275,734,7453,838,2208,121243,61525,854118,211
18693,174,8316,231,4163,863,00610,103320,38328,427127,218
18703,127,7696,315,3543,819,67012,137388,80431,864140,454
18713,334,6725,871,8883,988,40014,275454,96636,291157,397
18723,919,8385,429,7474,628,81917,289597,00244,660191,009
18734,713,8067,267,7205,538,03021,807812,14452,351219,258
18745,564,4349,954,2166,490,50427,215943,75362,712263,164
18755,967,20510,987,1786,987,31830,310897,32673,027293,481
18766,238,47111,776,0707,221,39932,577905,14680,255310,268
18777,185,10612,992,1048,152,23035,709964,43090,672334,973
18788,960,36915,393,63010,031,00939,9261,043,204101,017368,255
18798,021,07316,054,2959,057,46342,679990,337117,999428,673
18808,538,93514,220,2759,550,17747,4621,148,992135,648465,405
18819,069,37714,863,64510,083,18861,0541,549,515135,556452,182
18828,945,34617,162,23410,015,27368,3581,832,047148,162499,368
18838,659,47717,794,7619,706,70073,5461,784,631172,556541,133
18849,643,21418,442,13910,691,59979,5141,926,759186,052572,666
188510,083,29618,811,56711,130,24485,7692,142,560188,622581,395
188610,579,71119,041,82711,603,19491,2962,133,861155,680547,755
188711,031,61418,799,84711,995,49597,4962,407,776159,579555,744
188811,155,77818,709,44412,108,353103,0462,691,693162,387555,996
188911,528,42417,652,91512,486,717110,5662,858,644172,076589,545
189012,368,61017,735,25913,356,598118,3443,137,023176,427602,077
189112,796,09816,814,51813,820,458126,8863,406,949195,239651,990
189213,587,06217,558,16814,623,335135,8273,580,544199,438694,847
189314,433,77718,255,53415,489,633147,1993,966,849210,957750,929
189413,927,21717,746,42114,930,791154,4054,066,594222,678776,783
189513,544,41518,159,78114,491,627163,5134,620,696243,497812,604
189614,490,82716,900,19915,520,431175,1735,065,864269,566902,160
189714,290,51217,276,77115,380,248187,9545,520,080293,659970,831
189814,143,22917,013,40415,299,058199,4645,746,887318,3701,029,241
189914,591,22317,190,43315,834,858213,1726,128,297344,6641,118,808
190015,570,61017,314,53516,964,582228,8836,665,344369,8341,214,853
190116,034,84818,422,27417,490,035245,0247,268,103405,9671,286,508
190217,231,76718,999,18018,701,063261,9487,8-6,877367,2071,277,059
190319,011,11419,913,54620,563,879280,0118,432,958396,3121,416,224
190419,074,96020,893,09620,643,359297,5698,839,307407,7831,476,887
Year.Insurances in Force in the Government 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.

* Information not yet available.

† From here figures are for year ended 31st March.

  £ £   £
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....365126,0131,5611,130,960
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
190343,11611,111,80711,926200,91546545,2553,3142,706,785
190444,19411,261,08011,770199,081**3,4703,152,882
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, 1905, an estimated accrued sinking fund amounting to £3,508,368, leaving a net indebtedness of £57,403,633.

† There was in March, 1904, an accrued sinking fund amounting to £933,590, leaving a net indebtedness of £7,975,320.

 ££ 
31st December, 1855....31st December, 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
” 187413,366,936..” 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
” 190457,522,2158,898,910†” 1904
” 190559,912,000*..” 1905
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. 1904, 3.754 children attending the Native Schools, nearly all maintained by the Government, and 763 at Industrial Schools and Orphanages.

NOTE .—Statistics of schools “and scholars, not being complete tor 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..
183392,4762,38411,255..
188497,2382,64212,203..
1885102,4072,65911,989103
1886106,3282,35812,497117
1887110,9192,24213,417145
1888112,6852,12013,893168
1889115,4562,14713,458199
1890117,912***713,626230
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
1903133,5683,72215,609869
1904135,475*4,03816,378929
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
1900-115327817,5411,168,732
1901-216530919,0401,275,813
1902-314827619,7341,274,102
1903-415128220,4861,357,263
1904-515629421,5711,437,431

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 he legal limit for one year.

PART III.—ARTICLES ON SPECIAL SUBJECTS.

Table of Contents

Chapter 55. SECTION I.
THE LAND SYSTEM OP NEW ZEALAND. *

F.R.G.S.. S. PERCY SMITH

* A Royal Commission has recently reported on the whole system of land tenure.

THE Crown lands of New Zealand are administered under “The Land Act, 1892,” together with its amendments and the regulations made there under.

The distinguishing features of the present land system involve the principle of State ownership of the soil, with a perpetual tenancy in the occupier. 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.

When it is taken into consideration that, with few exceptions, the Grown 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.

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, 1905. At that date there were 669 selectors, holding 119,401 acres under various tenures and in different parts of the country.

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 1,893 settlers holding 37,739 acres, and the total number of persons residing in these settlements was 1,321 and 572 non-resident, the amount advanced by Government for houses, clearing, &c., being £15,035, of which £4,625 had been returned. The total value of improvements on the lands at the same date was £187,079. 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, 1905, 54 settlements had been allocated, covering an area of 96,165 acres, situate in various parts of the colony. At that date 592 settlers had been allotted sections, who, together with their families, numbered 1,777 persons who were residing on the lands. They had felled and grassed 32,453 acres. The amount paid to the settlers up to the 31st March, 1905, was £55,187, and the total value of improvements on the land (including the Government advances) was £118,428.

The size of holdings averages about 116 acres.

“THE BUSH AND SWAMP CROWN LANDS SETTLEMENT ACT, 1903.”

This Act provides 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 Grown 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.

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 held 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, 1905, been augmented by further annual appropriations from the public funds and other loan-moneys, covering altogether a total expenditure since 1870 of £2,011,646, with the following results: Area finally acquired in the North Island from Natives, from 1870 to 31st March, 1905, 7,972,309 acres. Area under negotiation in the North Island on 31st March, 1905,100,790 acres; interests therein finally acquired, 10,454 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 610 acres of first-class or 2,000 acres of second-class land, including therein any land which he then owns. 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 hush 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 eases.

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 ½ 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 ½ 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 laud 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 lessen, valuation for improvements, to he 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 56. 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 Bill. 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. The very great success of this office and the extent to which it has contributed to the general prosperity of the colony are not sufficiently realised. A general decline in the rates of interest at once set in, and at a moderate computation it is claimed that the Act has been instrumental in lowering these to the extent of a saving, directly or indirectly, to mortgagors in this colony of over £8,000,000, in addition to a large saving in legal costs and valuations, owing to the very low rates charged. 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. Additional concessions are being made from time to time to extend the usefulness of the office, and render further assistance to settlers.

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 £5,960,100 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 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 which are situated within towns and 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.

Application forms may be obtained at any post-office, also pamphlets supplying all information as to the provisions of the Act, fees, costs, &c.

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:—

 £s.d.
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 ½ 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 ½ 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-yearPrescribed Half-yearly Instalment.Apportioned thus:½ 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
  2nd300299o10305098199
  3rd300296010604119893
  4th300293o109041197186
  5th300290011004119776
  6th300288o114041096162
  7th300285o11704109647
  8th30028101111041095128
  9th3002710c1220499506
10th300276o1260499480
11th3002720121004993152
12th300261101310489321
13th30026701350489288
14th3002630139047911411
15th300251001420479109
16th30025601460479063
17th3002520141004689115
18th300249015304688162
19th30024501570458807
20th30024001600458747
21st30023701650448682
22nd3002320161004485114
23rd3002210017204384142
24th300224017804383166
25th3002111018104282185
26th3002160186042811911
27th300210019004181011
25th30020601960418015
29th3002001000407915
30th300119710503117810
31st300119011003117700
32nd3001186116031075186
33rd3001180120031074166
34th3001175127039731311
35th3001161013203872109
36th30011631390377170
37th30011581440377028
38th3001151141103668179
39th300114515703567122
40th300113101620356660
41st3001132161003464192
42nd300112617603363118
43rd30011191830326235
44th3001111181103160146
45th300110419803059410
46th3001971105021157145
47th3001811111102115634
48th30018111111021054115
49th300173112902952188
50th30016611360285152
51st3001581144027491010
52nd300149115302647157
53rd3001311116102545196
54th30013011700244426
55th30012011800224246
56th300111118110214057
57th300102119100203859
58th30001922010011136411
59 th3000181211101103430
60th300017122110183201
61st300016024001729161
62nd3000141125101627110
63rd30001392630142549
64th300012827401322175
65th300011528701220810
66th300010329901017191
67th300090211000111581
68th300078212400912159
69th30006521370081022
70th3000502150006772
71st300038216400441010
72nd30002321790031131
73rd1131100101131001..

The mortgagor 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.

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-forms020
          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,—
          Pee chargeable by solicitor not residing in registration centre for employing agent to register mortgage050
          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
          Pee for execution of consent by the Superintendent to any document050
          Pee 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 permanently employed by the Government Valuation of Land Department; 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.

Arrangements have been made whereby the whole cost of mortgagee's accident indemnity insurance in respect of its mortgages will be borne by the Advances to Settlers Office. Formerly the premiums were charged to and paid by mortgagors.

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, 1905, the Board had authorised 15,349 advances, amounting to £5,042,555. 1,990 applicants declined the partial grants offered to them, amounting to £868,585; so that the net advances authorised at 31st March, 1905, numbered 13,359, and amounted to £4,173,970. The security for the net authorised advances was valued at £9,172,962. The number of applications received up to 31st March, 1905, was 19,505, for an aggregate amount of £6,956,717.

The total sum raised by the Government for investment on mortgage amounts to £3,200,000.

The actual balance of principal owing by mortgagors on mortgages of property is £2,754,915 19s. 5d.

On 31st March, 1905, the sinking fund for the repayment of loans amounted to £193,887 10s. 5d., and the reserve fund to £125,724 15s. 6d. The cost of management is equal to 0.16 per cent., or 3s. 2d. per £100 of the capital employed. There have been no losses on advances since the inception of the office, nor are there any securities on its hands, and there are practically no arrears.

Chapter 57. THE LAND AND INCOME TAX ASSESSMENT.

THE INCOME-TAX .

IN New Zealand there is a combined land and income tax in force. The income-tax is generally assessable on all income, with the exceptions of the rents or profits derived from the direct use or cultivation of land, and interest from mortgages of land. The reason for these important exceptions is that the income-tax is levied in conjunction with a land-tax and a graduated land-tax on the unimproved value of land, and a tax on the capital value of mortgages. This exemption from income-tax of income derived from land is therefore necessary in order to avoid duplicate taxation, on the principle that where the capital is taxed (as in land and mortgages) the income earned by such capital is exempt.

In addition to the above, the following incomes are exempted: The income of—

  • The Crown;

  • The salary and emoluments of the Governor;

  • Local authorities;

  • Friendly societies in respect of business carried on within their circle of membership only;

  • Building societies;

  • Public charitable and public education institutions;

  • Savings-banks;

  • Commissioners of General Government and local body sinking funds;

  • Religious societies, so far as funds devoted to support of aged or infirm ministers or their families only;

  • Imperial pensioners, so far as the amount of the pension drawn from the Crown and charged with income-tax in Great Britain or some British possession only;

  • Any co-operative dairy-factory company, so far as income is derived from dairy-produce supplied by its own shareholders

  • Public societies not carrying on business for pecuniary gain.

Process of Assessment.

All persons, firms, and companies deriving income in or from the colony are required, before the 1st June in each year, to furnish full and complete returns of the same. The forms on which returns are required to be made are posted direct to taxpayers, and they may also be obtained at any post-office.

Returns of income have to be made annually, and must be posted to reach the Commissioner's office in Wellington not later than the 1st of June; they contain particulars of all income liable to taxation actually earned during the year ending the 31st March immediately preceding.

Returns of land and mortgages are made by companies annually and by persons biennially, and must be posted to reach the Commissioner's office in Wellington not later than the 1st May. The returns contain particulars of all land and mortgages as owned at noon on the 31st March; the Commissioner must also be notified from time to time of sales or purchases of land and alterations in mortgages.

All returns (both of land and mortgages and of income) are critically examined by a permanent and experienced staff of Government officials; all inaccuracies and obscure items are the subject of correspondence during examination.

Income-tax assessments are made and the accounts posted about the 1st January; they are made payable about the 31st January, and a period of fourteen days' grace is allowed in which to make payment, after which 10 per cent. is added to the amount of the tax.

Land-tax assessments are made and the accounts posted about the 1st November; they are made payable about the 30th November, and, as in the case of income-tax, fourteen days are allowed in which to make payment, after which 10 per cent. is added to the amount of the tax.

The returns are exhaustively revised and checked in the Land and Income Tax Office, Wellington, all doubtful points are queried, erroneous deductions disallowed, and additions made where necessary. In addition to these steps, there are two inspecting officers continually going all over the colony verifying returns at the taxpayer's domicile by a rigid examination of his books, also discovering those who have failed to make returns. The Act provides special powers for examining all the books, &c., of a taxpayer. The Commissioner can at any time call for the production to the inspecting officers of all books, balance-sheets, stock-sheets, and any papers or other evidence of the taxpayer's income; penalties are provided in the event of refusal to comply with the Commissioner's request. This process of examination has resulted in a very large amount of revenue being collected, which otherwise would have escaped, and it is beyond question that a great measure of the success attending the income-tax administration in New Zealand is in a large degree due to this careful and systematic inspection. It not only results in the large collections of shortages referred to, but is having a daily moral effect, because no taxpayer feels safe in making incorrect returns, knowing that his books may be called for and examined at any time.

The Inspectors also give information and instructions to taxpayers as to how the returns should be made, and suggest a simple form of accounts to be kept to facilitate the making of the return in the correct-form. The form of the return for traders and manufacturers is that of a simple profit and loss account, easily understood by persons in business. A great improvement in the records and book-keeping of taxpayers has resulted from this action of the Department.

All persons, firms, companies, local authorities, Government Departments, and others having employees, furnish annual returns of the salaries, bonuses, &c., paid to their employees as remuneration for their services. These are checked by comparison with the individual returns of employees.

All persons, firms, or companies paying interest on deposits, loans, &c, have to furnish annual returns of such payments, and altogether there is a complete system of check on returns furnished to the Department.

Penalties are provided for failure to make returns or for making incorrect or fraudulent returns.

Ordinary trading and manufacturing companies arc assessed on the whole of the income derived, save that from exempted sources referred to. In addition to the full return required they have also to furnish a true copy of their last balance-sheet issued to shareholders.

Banking companies are assessed on an arbitrary amount, arrived at by taking 10s. per cent. on the average assets and liabilities as shown by the quarterly statements published in the Government Gazette, owing to the difficulty in arriving at an accurate assessment of the actual income.

Loan, building, and investment companies are charged on the whole of their income, inclusive of the interest on money lent on mortgage, but in their case the mortgages are not charged land-tax.

Fire, accident, and guarantee insurance companies are assessed on the business done in New Zealand only, and reinsurances with companies or underwriters outside New Zealand are not allowed as deductions from income.

Life-insurance companies are assessed only on the income from investments (other than investments in land or mortgages of land).

Mining companies are assessed on one-half of the dividends paid annually to shareholders. (The other half is exempted, as it is deemed to be the return of the shareholders' capital.)

Income from shipping, whether in the case of companies or persons, for assessment is deemed to be that derived from business originating in the colony, whether carried on outside New Zealand or not, but does not include income from business originating outside New Zealand.

Where a company has borrowed money on debentures secured on land, the debentures are deemed to be a mortgage up to the capital value of the land, and are assessed as a mortgage. If the amount of the debentures exceed the capital value of the lands, they are assessed on this excess for income-tax.

The only income which is assessed at the source is that derived from public companies, either as dividends or interest on debentures. In all other cases, income, including salaries, is assessed direct to the taxpayer, who has to make a return of income from all assessable sources (such returns do not, of course, include income from dividends of public companies or interest from mortgages and debentures).

Income returns and assessments are in all cases made on the actual income of the preceding year. Returns and assessments for land-tax, graduated land-tax, and mortgage-tax are made on the value as at noon on the 31st day of March in each year.

What is deductible from Income.

Briefly put, the only deductions permissible are the losses, outgoings, and expenses actually incurred in the production of the income. The rules as to these are to be found in (more particularly) section 66 of “The Land and Income Assessment Act, 1900.”

It may be pointed out in this connection that in taxpayers' balance-sheets many sums are written off to Profit and Loss which are not allowed in a return of income, and at the initiation of the system considerable difficulty was experienced by the Department in disabusing taxpayers of the idea that the return should agree with the Profit and Loss Account. After these years, however, the Department has succeeded in thoroughly establishing the principle, and taxpayers now recognise that the return must ho prepared in accordance with the Assessment Act, and not with what they have deemed to be the year's profit for their own purposes. This has the effect of a uniform return being obtained for assessment; otherwise there is no uniformity.

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. 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 exhaustion of capital invested, but simply represents the annual deterioration 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; the amount allowed is the actual loss on the machinery discarded and not the value of new machinery replacing the old. Machinery superseded by something better but kept in reserve in case of breakdown is not allowed for.

An allowance is made to taxpayers who occupy their own freehold or leasehold premises by way of rent or sinking fund. 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. Mortgage-interest at the same time is not deductible. The deduction of 5 per cent. on the capital value of the taxpayer's interest in his business premises precludes any further deduction.

All assessments are made in the office of the Commissioner of Taxes, Wellington. When assessments are completed the Commissioner serves each taxpayer with a notice of the amount on which he is assessed, and also at the same time with a notice of the amount payable thereon. The taxpayer then has the right to object to the assessment within a time specified, but the payment of the tax is not held over pending settlement of the objection. These objections are in the first instance dealt with by a permanent Stipendiary Magistrate, with an appeal to the higher Courts on points of law.

Special Exemption for Income-tax.

Each taxpayer, whether alone or in partnership, is allowed exemption up to £300. That is to say, if there are two partners in the business £600 is exempted, but if either or both taxpayers derive income apart from the partnership then no further exemption is allowed in their individual assessment. Life-insurance premiums on the taxpayer's own life are also allowed up to £50.

The statutory exemption of £300 is not allowed to absentees, whether firms or individuals, nor in any case to companies.

Rates of Tax.

Income-tax—
        On the first £1,000 of taxable income after allowances of exemption of £300 and life-insurance premiums up to £506d. in the pound.
        On income in excess of £1,3001s. in the pound.
        Companies (no exemption)1s. in the pound.
Land-tax—
        Ordinary land-tax (on the unimproved value)1d. in the pound.
        Graduated land-tax (in addition to ordinary land-tax)1/16d to 3d. in the pound.
        Mortgages (on the capital value)¾ d. in the pound.

Total Yield of Tax.

The income-tax for the year just closed (ending the 31st March, 1905) amounts to £253,952. As this seems a small sum the many exempted sources of income already enumerated must be borne in mind. The land-tax, which takes the place of income-tax on the use or produce of land, yielded £352,854.

The net assessed income, after allowing all exemptions, is £5,522,200. The net assessed taxable value of land and mortgages, after allowing all exemptions, is £70,117,760.

The number of income-tax payers is 8.934. The number of land-tax payers is 22,778.

The yields of tax for the last ten years were as follows:—

 Land-tax.Income-tax.
 ££
        1895-96271,39492,778
        1896-97272,309105,504
        1897-98207,286115,210
        1898-99293,052115,480
        1899-1900293,027128,721
        1900-1294,583173,808
        1901-2312,835179,397
        1902-3296,062200,083
        1903-4334,990221,368
        1904-5352,854253,952
The number of taxpayers for the same period were:—
        1895-9612,5773,822
        1896-0713,3604,276
        1897-9813,1324,588
        1898-9915,4494,647
        1899-190015,8925,088
        1900-116,8885,656
        1901-218,4686,556
        1902-318,8697,589
        1903-420,8658,258
        1904-522,7788,934

Principle of Graduation.

All incomes are exempt up to £300, with the exceptions previously mentioned. This amount is taken off the income of all taxpayers, so that a person with a net income of £300 would pay nothing while one with an income of £350 would pay tax on £50 only, and so on. As explained. incomes of persons over £1,000, after allowing £300 exemption, pay a double rate, so the system of graduation may be described as—the total exemption of small incomes up to £300, a tax of 6d. in the pound on moderate incomes between £300 and £1,300, and on larger incomes over £1,300 at 6d. in the pound on the first £1,000 and 1s. in the pound on the excess.

THE LAND-TAX .

The land-tax is assessed on the unimproved value–i.e., the capital value (or gross saleable value) less the value of all improvements.

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.

If the total unimproved value of land in any assessment amounts to £5,000 or over, graduated land-tax is payable thereon (in addition to ordinary land-tax) in graduations beginning at the rate of 1/16d. in the pound, and increasing by sixteenths to the maximum rate of 3d. in the pound. Mortgages are not chargeable with graduated tax, but, on the other hand, they are not deductible in assessments for graduated land-tax.

Owing to the deductions and exemptions allowable the number of land-tax payers is only 22,778, as compared with the number of landowners, 115,713.

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.

The valuations for land-tax are made by a permanent staff of expert valuers, and assessment rolls are supplied by the Government Valuation of Land Department.

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 land included in the security, the interest derived from the balance of mortgage being liable to in come-tax.

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.

Exemptions from Land-tax.

A place of worship for any religious society, or a place of residence for any of the clergy or ministers of such society.

A charitable or educational institution (other than a public charitable or educational institution hereinbefore exempt) not carried on exclusively for pecuniary profit: provided that this exemption shall not extend to more than 15 acres in the case of any one such institution.

A public library, athenæum, mechanics' institute, public museum, school of mines, or masonic lodge.

A showground or place of meeting of any agricultural society.

A public cemetery or public burial-ground.

A public garden, public domain, public recreation-ground, or other public reserve.

A public road or public street.

A public railway, to the extent of the land actually used for permanent-way, and for yards, sheds, and buildings for the purposes of traffic only, but not further nor otherwise.

SYSTEM OF COLLECTION.

The tax may be paid at any postal money-order office or direct to the office of the Commissioner of Taxes, Wellington. The total cost of the collection of the income-tax, including cost of assessment and administration, is 2.25 per cent., and for land-tax, graduated land-tax, and mortgage-tax, including the cost of valuation of land, is 4.28 per cent. The cost of collection for both taxes is 3.29 per cent.

Chapter 58. “THE GOVERNMENT VALUATION OF LAND ACTS 1896.”

[A complete exposition of the system in force, with tables, forms the subject of Section XXI. of Part II. See page 495, ante.]

Chapter 59. 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 versa, 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 amendments of 1900 and 1903, 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 ¾d. in the pound on the capital value under the Act of 1896.

The adjustments are to be made so 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 1d. 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 ¾d. 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 IV., “Local Governing Bodies,” of the local bodies that have, up to 31st March, 1905, submitted the question of the adoption of the Act to the ratepayers, and the result of the polling in each case.

Chapter 60. 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 61. OLD-AGE PENSIONS.

[Since the following article was prepared important alterations have been made in the main provisions of the original Act by an amending Act introduced during the present session of Parliament (1905), which became law on the 29th July.

Under this Act the full amount of pension has been increased from £18 to £26 per annum, bringing the amount payable up to 10s. a week, the increase taking effect with the instalment payable on the 1st September

The scope of the original Act has been widened by two provisions affecting property, one of which increases the deduction from property from £50 to £150 in cases where any part of the accumulated property of an applicant consists of property of any tenure (i.e., freehold, leasehold, life interest, occupation license, &c.) on which he permanently resides, and which produces no income. The other provision is in the direction of a more equitable division of property as between husband and wife. Where, under the original Act, the full amount of a husband's property was applied to reduce his pension, and hall of the said property was applied to reduce his wife's pension, under the Act now in operation a husband's property is equally divided between himself and his wife, whether his wife is an applicant or not.

Further important provisions are an increase from £52 to £60 in the amount of income required to disqualify an applicant, and an increase from £78 to £90 in the amount of income required to disqualify a married couple, both being applicants.

The Magistrate is now empowered to investigate claims for the pension in camera instead of in open Court, if he so chooses.

The effect of these provisions will be to increase the annual expenditure under the Act, on the basis of the present number of pensioners, by a sum exceeding £100,000, bringing the total appropriation up to £300,000 per annum.]

IN 1898 a Bill, introduced into Parliament by the Eight 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, and subsequently in 1905.

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 Magistrates' 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 (since sixty), or the joint income of husband and wife, including pension, does not exceed seventy-eight pounds (since ninety).

  8. That the net capital value of his accumulated property does not amount to two hundred and seventy (now two hundred and sixty) 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 was originally eighteen pounds per annum (£18), (since made £26), diminished by,—

  1. One pound for every complete pound of Income above thirty-four pounds.

  2. One pound for every complete fifteen (now ten) 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 (since altered to £150 in certain cases), 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.

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, Deeds, 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 any 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 liability of £127,319. A year later the number of pensions in force was 11,285, representing a yearly liability of £193,718. On the 31st March, 1901, the number in force was 12,405, the yearly liability 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.

NUMBER AND ANNUAL VALUE OF PENSIONS GRANTED TO EUROPEANS AND MAORIS IN FORCE ON THE 31ST MARCH, 1905.
District.Number.Annual Value.
Europeans.Maoris.
* One hundred and twenty-six pensioners were transferred to this district during the year from the Port Chalmers district, which no longer exists.
   £s.d.
Auckland1,1421019,57500
Coromandel76291,83200
Dargaville6521,14100
Hamilton132112,42000
Helensville42..73400
Kaitaia123784400
Mangonui131341900
Maungaturoto31..51900
Otahuhu16682,79500
Raglan161651000
Rawene15721,45700
Rotorua133585000
Russell48712,01100
Taupo22342600
Warkworth62..95900
Whangarei13012,21500
Whangaroa72249400
Thames25054,36400
Opotiki162674400
Paeroa6361,19400
Tauranga30331,08900
Te Aroha31155000
Whakatane61082800
Gisborne59271,43800
Port Awanui51230600
Napier237..3,94700
Dannevirke12312,03300
Waipawa55..94700
Wairoa103672600
Now Plymouth200193,55300
Stratford23..40000
Wanganui17043,11600
Hawera6311,10000
Marton7971,45200
Patea23142500
Wellington52829,18800
Feilding8831,54200
Carterton77..1,27000
Masterton8321,43400
Otaki51999900
Pahiatua32..51200
Palmerston North14232,45100
Nelson224..3,52000
Motueka66..1,04700
Blenheim13712,34100
Havelock6..10200
Christchurch1,247220,87800
Akaroa39573000
Carried forward6,141596£113,42700
Brought forward6,141596113,42700
Amberley9..15200
Ashburton215..3,60700
Culverden7..11700
Kaiapoi27054,49900
Kaikoura18233500
Timaru152..2,56600
Fairlie7..11700
Temuka113..1,88700
Waimate10221,69800
Greymouth449..7,95000
Reefton128..2,28800
Hokitika46328,49900
Westport23244,15300
Oamaru20933,60500
Dunedin*1,054117,69200
Balclutha131..2,22300
Clyde95..1,66700
Lawrence186..3,12000
Milton118..1,89000
Naseby103..1,80600
Palmerston South52..85800
Waikouaiti35568600
Invercargill603210,12200
Queenstown101..1,76700
Riverton12282,26000
Chatham Islands329000
Total11,138632£199,08100

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, 190031 March, 1901.31 March, 1902.31 March, 1903.31 March, 1904.31 March, 1905.
 ££££££
Salaries and clerical assistance1,3741,5091,6472,6302,6812,950
Travelling-expenses and interpreters' fees309194190384274289
Contributions to Post Office466500500500520510
Contingencies211176138245180187
Rent of offices..366046....
        Total2,3602,4152,5353,8053,6553,936
NUMBER OF PENSIONS AT EACH RATE IN FORCE ON THE 31ST MARCH, 1905.
 £
9,200 at £18165,600
    441 ” £177,497
    371 ” £165,936
    315 ”£154,725
    296 ” £144,144
    223 ”£132,899
    203 ” £122,436
    148 ”£111,628
    126 ” £101,260
      95 ” £9855
      96 ” £8768
      73 ” £7511
      58 ” £6348
      46 ” £5230
      34 ” £4136
      24 ” £372
      15 ” £230
        6 ” £16
11,770£199,081

The following particulars are taken from the Registrar's report on the transactions for the year ended 31st March, 1905:—

“The number of pensions in force on the 31st March, 1905, was 11,770, representing a liability of £199,081—an average per pension of £16 18s. Of this number, 632 were Maoris.

“During the financial year just ended the number of new pensions granted was 1,210.

“The total number of pensions voided during the year was 1,366, made up as follows: Deaths, 890; cancellations, 476.”

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
19051,21089047611,770199,081
        Totals19,7715,4562,545....
AGES OF EUROPEAN PENSIONERS ON THE ROLLS AT 31ST MARCH, 1905.
At AgeNumber.
65243
66259
67519
68665
69723
70885
711,418
721,164
73909
74752
75669
76527
77383
78376
79304
80275
81209
82194
83133
84143
85108
8691
8745
8841
8932
9021
9119
9210
936
946
953
962
971
1011
1021
1041
 11,138

Chapter 62. PREFERENTIAL AND RECIPROCAL TRADE.

PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

THE Act passed in 1903 is referred to on page 107 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 329-331 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 articled 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 63. SECTION II.
AGRICULTURE IN NEW ZEALAND.

F.L.S.. M. MURPHY

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.

Most of the country along the south-west and west coast is now 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 number 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 overcome, the prosperity of the country would advance at a. very rapid rate. This prediction has now been realised, and all that is required to make the present prosperity of the country continuous is the more rapid settlement of our lands with 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 North 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 resume 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 increase in the acreage devoted to wheat amounting to 27,937 acres, while there has been a falling off of 71,860 acres of oats and 5,061 acres of barley; the area under turnips, mangolds, and rape exceeds that of the previous year by 52,079 acres. The increase of laud laid down in grass is shown to be 360,868 acres.

The stock statistics show that horses have increased by 15,140 head, cattle by 143,303, and pigs by 28,729.

The sheep returns, made up to 30th April, 1904, 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 of sheep in the colony in April, 1904, was only 18,280,806, a decrease of 673,747 on the number for the previous year. But interim returns to April, 1905, show a recovery, the total number being 19,121,924.

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, the 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 1904-5 has resulted in much better returns to the farming community than was at one time anticipated. The cold, cutting winds and rain which prevailed during the growing season caused much anxiety to farmers. The results, however, as revealed by the threshing-mills have shown that these fears were ungrounded, the general average of the cereals being rather above chat of the last few seasons. Up to the time of writing these notes (July) feed has been abundant, which to some extent is accounted for by the abnormal prices obtainable for sheep. The increasing development of the dairy industry, accelerated by the advent of an efficient milking-machine, which appears to give general satisfaction, will cause the demand for dairy farms to continue as brisk as ever, the natural result of which will be that suitable land for the purpose will continue to increase in value. Already dairy-farms, especially in the North Island, have advanced from 25 to 50 per cent. in value during the last decade. It would, however, be unreasonable to expect this rise to continue, either for dairying or for agricultural lauds, 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 36,511,154 acres, of which 851,875 acres were under cereals and 19,781 acres under pulse and other similar crops (including 216,024 acres for ensilage, chaff, and feeding down), 623,066 acres under green crops, in sown grasses 12,310,039 acres, in native grass, tussock, &c., 22,545,576 acres, in fallow 63,313 acres, orchards 26,911 acres, plantations 52,846 acres, gardens 17,176 acres, and vineyards 571 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 throughout the Australasian Commonwealth has practically closed those markets against New Zealand produce of all kinds.

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 1904-5 was 258,015 acres (exclusive of areas grown for chaffing and fed off), of which 185,619 acres were grown in Canterbury, the average yield throughout the colony being 35-36 bushels per acre; total yield, 9,123,673 bushels. 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-furrows 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 1 ¼ to 11/2 and 2 bushels of seed per acre are usually sown, the quantity increasing as the season advances. The value of the export of grain for 1904 was £.

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 1904-5 was 548,938 acres, of which 206,749 were cut for chaff and ensilage.

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. 29,484 acres were grown this year for threshing.

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 result 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 1904-5 was 26,331 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 past season was an unfavourable one for this crop, owing to the cold, cutting winds experienced throughout the country during the early stages of growth, inducing an alarming outbreak of disease of fungoid growth, very similar—said to be identical—to that which has from time to time devastated the potato crops of Great Britain, and, indeed, all other potato-growing countries. Its development was so rapid that the total destruction of the crop was at one time threatened. Happily, however, this has not eventuated, and a moderate crop has been secured. With advanced prices, the shortage will be very little felt by growers. Frequent dressings with Bordeaux mixture prevents the germination of the fungus spores. The formula for the remedy can be obtained by applying to the Government Biologist.

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 1904-5 was 447,244 acres, an increase of 38,585 acres as compared with the previous year.

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 131,588 acres under this crop, being an increase of 12,926 acres.

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. Experiments and analyses show that the orange and yellow Tankard are more nutritious than any of the long varieties.

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.

* Valuable information on the growing of this crop will be found under this heading in the Year-book for 1901, page 478.

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 most lucrative, it is nevertheless a most precarious one. Owing to lateness of the season of ripening, it sometimes happens that the fertilisation is imperfect, resulting in a majority of barren heads. This gave 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, with specimens, which that lady identified as Bombus terrestris and subterraneous. The former is declared by Mr. Darwin to be useless as a fertiliser for the reason that its tongue is too short. This question has again been revived, it being thought that while some of the varieties introduced have proved very valuable as fertilisers it is quite possible that there are others still more so. The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association has taken the matter in hand. It is to be hoped that their inquiries will result in further importations of still more useful bees or insects for the purpose of fertilising red clover.

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 way 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, 201b. 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. Crested dogstail, sheep's fescue, and meadow fescue are also successfully grown, particularly in the North Island, for seed.

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 much has been said in favour of 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. They are for the most part valuable for sheep pastures.

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 (Canterbury) 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 as green manure 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, provided the land is not waterlogged, 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 upon it. No farm should be without a well-cultivated plot of this plant. In deeply cultivated land lucerne will yield four or five 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, and for hay, which is largely exported, for use in other parts of the Commonwealth.

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 labour-saving 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 whole year; 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.

Colonial farmers, particularly those farming large areas, are already turning their attention to the coming motive power which is destined to take the place of horse-power for ploughing, threshing, and indeed every kind of work which is now performed by horses. A trial of agricultural motors was recently held in Scotland with motors registering 14-horse power. Ploughing, harrowing, reaping and binding, and manure spreaders were worked with great ease and precision. The total cost of working one of these motors is estimated at 18s. per day. The machine complete weighs about 30 cwt., and the speed is from two and a half to six miles an hour. Numbers of these motors have already been booked for Australia, and a few for New Zealand. This power will undoubtedly take the place of horses for ploughing and other farm work, doing it at a greatly reduced cost per acre. A fully equipped three-horse team costs nearly £200, besides the upkeep in the way of feed and the risk of accidents and death.

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 ½ cwt. of superphosphates 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 hundredweight 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 1904-5 was 1,736,850, an increase of 143,303 over the previous year.

Horses: The number of horses in the colony for 1904-5 was 314,322, an increase of 15,608 over the previous year.

Sheep: The returns made up to the 30th April, 1904, show 18,280,806, a falling off of 673,747. It must not, however, be assumed that this shortage ar*** 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. So serious was this matter considered that legislation was contemplated with a view to curtailing the export of maiden ewes. The increasing demand for breeding ewes has had the natural result of raising the price of this class of sheep, large numbers of which are now reserved for replenishing the breeding flocks of the colony. The export of frozen lambs for the year 1904, amounted to 1,917,126, and the export of frozen sheep for the same period was 2,050,542 —a total of 3,967,668; besides which there were 26,872 cwt. of frozen mutton joints exported.

The returns made up to the 30th April, 1904, show the distribution of the flocks of the colony to be as follows: In the North Island, 9,203,963; and in the South Island, 9,076,843: total. 18,280,806.

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 and Border Leicesters are also much sought after for this purpose, particularly in the Middle Island, where "prime Canterbury" mutton is produced. The breeds of sheep now in New Zealand are Lincolns, English Leicesters, Border Leicesters, Romney Marsh, Shropshires, Southdown, Hampshire Downs, Merinos, Cheviots, Ryelands, and Dorset horns.

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 ½ lb.; half-breds, 7 ½ lb.; three-quarter-breds, 8 ½ lb.; Leicester, 10 ½ 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 export of wool for 1904 was valued at £4,673,826.

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 output of sheep and lambs for the year ending 31st March, 1905, was 3,777,638 carcases; in 1903 the output reached 4,815,417 carcases. There are now twenty-two freezing works in operation in New Zealand. But, while congratulating the colony on the 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. Carefully kept registers of breeding must ultimately tend to improvement in the quality of the flocks of the colony.

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 owing to the increasing development of the dairy industry. There are now 498,241 cows kept exclusively for dairy purposes, an increase of 30,116. The rearing of well-bred heifer calves is sadly neglected by many dairy farmers for the reason that the consumption of the separated milk by pigs gives a better and much quicker return. Nevertheless every dairy farmer should rear a few of the best heifer calves from the best milkers got by a good strain of sire. 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 tend greatly to the rapid growth of the calves. An acre or so of European flax should be grown upon every farm where stock-rearing is carried on. The fattening of calves for export has not yet been attempted in the colony, although it is stated there is a 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 from 700 gal. to 900 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 ½ gal. of milk of 10 ½ lb.; so that the average cow produces annually 200 lb. of butter, or 500 lb. of cheese, which, estimated at 4 ½ d. per pound, will be worth about as much as the butter.

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY .

This industry continues to flourish throughout New Zealand. As evidence of its growth during the last decade, it may be stated that the export of butter and cheese in 1894 amounted to £366,483, as compared with £1,695,030 in 1904-5. The Government still spends large sums of money in teaching the art of butter and cheese 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. Graders are employed examining all butter and cheese for export, who brand each packet with its proper quality. Factory-owners 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. To produce milk of the best quality for the manufacture of butter or cheese during the winter and early spring months is a very difficult matter, especially when turnips are largely used. This question is fully discussed in the annual report of the National Dairy Association. The practice of grazing milking cattle on “breaks” of turnips is discouraged, but if this feed must be used, they should be topped and tailed and carted on to clean grass land, and fed immediately after milking with plenty of clean sweet hay intervening. Ensilage is strongly recommended as a substitute for turnips. A well-known Australian authority, writing in the Pastoralists' Review, says, “Ensilage for years past has been fully recognised as pre-eminently a food for the cow in milk, but to be of much feeding value a great deal depends on the herbage and grasses and care used in its manufacture.” This is an important point. Mr. Gibbie, of Te Roti, who makes very large quantities of ensilage for his dairy cattle every season, read a practical paper on the subject before the National Dairy Association at their meeting at Palmerston North in 1904. Many farmers in Otago Central also use large quantities of this kind of fodder with great success.

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 now hold an important position on all dairy farms in New Zealand. The last statistics show swine numbering 255,320, an increase of 28,729 as compared with 1903-4. 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, and in winter as well.

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. The Government Poultry Depots are 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 egg-laying competitions now being carried out at Lincoln Agricultural College and Blenheim will certainly give an impetus to fowl raising. The competition at Lincoln College embraces thirty-eight pens of most of the pure breeds of the colony. The condition of the several lots at the end of a trial extending over twelve months will be a fairly good index to the breeds best suited for export.

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, so soon as that districtis connected by rail with the sea ports. The total area under orchards in the colony is 27,482 acres, including 541 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 and elsewhere, where fine estates have 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 carried on by some of the settlers, which is an earnest of the stability of the settlements.

Chapter 64. STATE FORESTRY IN NEW ZEALAND.

Chief Forester.. Henry J. Matthews

THE first suggestion relative to the establishment of a State Forest Department in this colony came from the late Sir Julius Vogel, who in 1876 obtained the services of Captain Campbell-Walker, an officer of the Indian Forestry Department. A report and scheme for forest-administration were submitted by that gentleman. No action, however, was taken until 1886, when the late Professor Kirk was appointed Chief Conservator of State Forests. He published valuable reports on “The Durability of New Zealand Timbers,” “Bark and Secondary Forest Products,” and a popular descriptive work on “The Timber-trees of the Colony.” Some three years later the Department was abolished.

The next step towards the re-establishment of the Department took the form of a voluminous report prepared in 1896 on “The Conservation of New Zealand Forests” by the late Mr. George S. Perrin, then Conservator of Forests for Victoria.

The conservation and utilisation of State forests and forests on Crown lands are at the present time controlled and managed by the Hon. the Commissioner of State Forests and Minister of Lands with his officers.

In the year 1896 the writer of this paper, was appointed to organize a Forest Branch of the Department of Lands and Survey. The scope of this branch is limited solely to tree raising and planting of forest reserves.

Six nurseries are at present in operation, under the management of officers designated Nurserymen in Charge, and eleven plantations, under the control of Assistant Foresters. Particulars of the above will be found in the following table:—

NURSERIES .
Name of Nursery.Locality.When established.Area.Altitude.Average Number of Hands employed.Average Annual Output of Trees.
   Acres.Ft.  
Eweburn NurseryCentral Otago1896491,4005200,000
Tapanui NurserySouthland189712050013800,000
Starborough NurseryMarlborough19011041007500,000
Hanmer Springs NurseryNorth Canterbury1901601,0006200,000
Rotorua NurseryAuckland1898501,000242,000,000
Ruatangata Nursery1903653507200,000
  ..448..623,900,000
PLANTATIONS.
Name of Plantation.Locality.When established.Area.Altitude.Average Number of Hands employed.
   Acres.Ft. 
Naseby Survey PaddockCentral Otago18961751,7001
Gimmerburn Plantation19044201,2003
Dusky Hill PlantationSouthland1897845400 to 8005
Conical Hills Plantation19031,05040016
Dumgree PlantationMarlborough1903857 ½10018
Whakarewarewa PlantationAuckland19008,8171,000 to 1,50024
Waiotapu Plantation19003,2001,20045
Kaingaroa Plantations1900251,500Occasionally only.
Puhipuhi Plantations19048711,0008
Raincliff PlantationCanterbury18872061,000Occasionally only.
Hanmer Springs Plantation19016001,22518
  ..17,066 ½..138

The varieties of trees grown at the nurseries and plantations vary according to climatic conditions, soil, aspect, and elevation. In central Otago, for instance, the species found to be suitable to withstand the rigorous climate are very few—larch, Austrian and Corsican pines, and the heavy-wooded pine (Pinus ponderosa) being the principal kinds dealt with. Here we have experienced a difference in temperature of no less than 76° within seven months, the thermometer registering 90° Fahr. in January and 14° below zero (46 degrees of frost) in June. Another factor limiting the varieties that can be successfully grown is rainfall. For the past nine years the average rainfall has been only about 17 in. per annum, the majority of this falling when it was least needed—viz., in autumn and winter; while during spring and summer only slight showers were experienced, and, falling as it does on parched soil, it evaporates as quickly as it falls.

In Tapanui district we have almost opposite conditions to that of Eweburn—a relatively mild climate, ample rainfall, and low elevation. Here almost any of the ordinary European and American timber-trees can be grown with surprising results. The principal trees raised are the Tyrolese larch, English ash, English oak, the common spruce fir, Oregon pine, heavy-wooded pine, clear or Weymouth pine, Austrian and Corsican pines, and several species of maple, walnut, birch, and chestnut. One plantation area in this district, known as Dusky Hill Plantation, containing 845 acres, is now filled up, no less than two million trees being planted therein. The tree found to make the most rapid growth is the Tyrolese larch—many specimens measuring 18 ft. in height six years from planting.

In Canterbury the Department were fortunate enough to purchase a very fine plantation some fifteen years old at Raincliff. The area is about 206 acres, and contains about fifty thousand trees, principally larch. Oak, ash, sycamore, elm, chestnut, and lime, as well as the more prominent conifers are also to he found growing here with amazing rapidity and in perfect health. Very little work is now necessary in maintaining this plantation, as the trees are sufficiently advanced to take care of themselves, the only element of danger being from fire.

Travelling northwards the next station where forestry operations are carried on is Hanmer Springs Nursery and Plantation, within a few minutes' walk of the popular health resort. Here the principal work done is by prison labour, some twenty-five men being constantly employed in preparing ground for planting trees as well as attending to the raising of the necessary trees in a small nursery adjoining. The climate of Hanmer much resembles that of central Otago, but the frosts are not quite so severe as experienced in that district, and this allows of a considerably larger variety of trees that can be successfully grown for commercial purposes.

In the Province of Marlborough, the northern province of the South Island, the Department's Starborough Nursery is producing half a million trees annually, which are being planted by prison labour on the Dumgree Plantation, a few miles distant. The climatic conditions at these two stations are similar to those of Hanmer Springs, although the frosts are not quite so severe. The rainfall for the last three years has been about 25 in. annually, and, as is the case in all treeless regions, long-protracted droughts and floods are of frequent occurrence. The variety of timber-trees which can be grown successfully here is rather limited, but includes such useful trees as larch, Austrian pine, Tideland spruce, and birch. The Dumgree Plantation estate contains 857 acres, and of this 62 ½ acres has been planted with trees. During the autumn of 1904 (the first planting season) a severe drought was experienced, and a large number of trees were lost; but the autumn of 1905 proved more moist, and good results have been got with all the trees planted—numbering in all 170,000.

Leaving the South Island the next station where tree-planting operations are carried on by the Department is in the Rotorua Hot Lakes District, located almost in the centre of the North Island. The weather conditions are somewhat extreme owing to the high altitude of the place—from 1,000 ft. to 1,400 ft. During the last six years the rainfall has ranged from 40 in. to 60 in. annually, and the temperature from 15° Fahr. (17 degrees of frost in the winter) to 95° Fahr. in midsummer. The soil is of no great depth, and varies considerably in character, but is chiefly pumiceous with from 6 in. to 8 in. of humus on the surface. This class of soil requires a regular rainfall, otherwise crops of any description are uncertain. In Rotorua Nursery some three million trees are raised annually to supply the Whakarewarewa and Waiotapu Plantations. The nursery is situated about two miles from the Rotorua Railway-station, and contains 50 acres of fairly level, easily worked pumice land. Adjoining the nursery and running in a southerly direction is some 9,000 acres of land known as the Whaka-rewarewa Plantation. Until July, 1904, this plantation was worked by free labour, but at that time a prison camp capable of accommodating thirty-three prisoners was established, and since then tree-planting work has been carried on partly by free labour and partly by prison labour. The area is for the most part a wide open valley, surrounded by very steep rough ridges, but the soil is fairly good, and it has been found admirably adapted to a large variety of economic trees. Close on 1,500,000 trees have been planted here, occupying an area of 956 ¾ acres, and the rate of growth of some of the species is phenomenal. An area of 100 acres of larch (Larix europaa) was planted during August, 1901, the trees being three years old when planted, and at present the great majority of them are from 10 ft. to 12 ft. in height, having made a growth of from 3 ft. to 4 ft. during the second and third seasons after they were planted. Austrian and Corsican pine in four years have grown from 4 ft. to 6 ft. Acacia melanoxylon (blackwood of Australia) made a remarkable growth of from 3 ft. to 6 ft. in one year. Oregon pine, heavy-wooded pine, Weymouth pine, and Californian redwood all do remarkably well.

Catalpa speciosa: Though experiments with this valuable North American timber-tree have been made in the Rotorua district the information gained leads us to be as yet somewhat doubtful of planting this tree in large quantities. Young trees were raised from seed as easily as turnips, and they made a remarkably quick growth in the seedbeds of an average of 12 in. At Waiotapu Plantation, where a trial lot were planted, the frost proved too severe for them, killing them outright; but at Whakarewarewa Plantation they have done better. Owing to its broad, soft leaves the catalpa will not thrive in an exposed situation, and if planted in damp gullies or under natural shelter the first frost in the autumn usually nips back the leader, and next spring it breaks away into three or more heads. The limit of our information has now been reached, and we shall require to wait for a few years to see if, when this tree has established a thorough hold of the ground, it will be better able to withstand the frost. In the meantime we propose allowing the trees already planted to grow as they will, and about four or five years hence they can be pruned back to the collar and allowed to break away afresh. This system is adopted by the American forest officers, and, in a nutshell, means that you must produce a good root-system before you think about the top.

Many of the Australian eucalypti have been found suitable to the district, and at present there is close on 400 acres planted with these. Any one who has tried to transplant a eucalyptus tree knows that it requires the utmost care to do so successfully. The root-system of most of the species comprises a straight tap-root with very little root-fibre or secondary roots, and it is an extremely difficult matter to get the soil to adhere to the roots when transplanting. To effect the safe removal of this tree the Department have resorted to “mossing”—a system in use by most nurserymen on a small scale for protecting the roots of herbaceous plants when they are to be exposed to the air for some time. During the year 1904 some 1,200,000 eucalypti were “mossed” at Rotorua Nursery by Native women at an average cost of 9s. 1d. per 1,000, and the rate of deaths did not exceed 5 per cent. The trees are raised from seed in beds outside, and when they have attained a height of from 3 in. to 4 in.—usually about four months—they are lifted carefully with a round-tined fork and the roots are trimmed and “puddled.” These plants are then removed to the workshop, where they have their roots tied in moss with a little soil enclosed. The “mossed” plants are then “heeled-in” outside, where they remain until the spring, and by that time any weak ones have died, whilst the remainder are removed to the plantations. Eight women can moss from thirty to forty thousand trees per week. Many of these “mossed” eucalypti after being planted at Whakarewarewa Plantation have in one year attained a height of 3 ft, The varieties grown are amygdalina, gunnii, stuartiana, pauciflora, muellerii, coccifera, obliqua, and urnigera. A number of other varieties were tried, but the afore-mentioned were found to be the best suited for this district.

The Waiotapu Plantation (before mentioned) is situated some twenty-two miles from Rotorua, and obtains its supply of trees from the Rotorua Nursery. The climate is somewhat more rigorous, and it is not possible to grow as great a variety of trees as at Whakarewarewa. The Department has some 3,200 acres enclosed, and there are hundreds of square miles of country adjoining which are unsuitable for any other purpose than tree-planting. This plantation is worked solely by prison labour, and close on two million trees have been planted here with good results. Larch, Austrian. Weymouth, Corsican, and heavy-wooded pines, Eucalyptus gunnii and pauciflora all do remarkably well.

During May, 1903, a nursery was started at Ruatangata, near Whangarei, eighty miles north of the City of Auckland, for the purpose of growing the cork-oak (Quercus suber), eucalypti, and several New Zealand native timber-trees, including Podocarpus totara and puriri (Vitex littoralis). Subsequently a plantation area of 870 acres was taken on the State Forests Reserves at Puhipuhi, twelve miles distant from Ruatangata, for permanently planting the produce of Ruatangata Nursery.

The weather records kept at Ruatangata Nursery from the 1st April, 1904, to 31st March, 1905, show a rainfall for the year of 45.52 in, falling on eighty-eight clays, and minimum and maximum temperatures of 25° Fahr. and 97° Fahr. respectively. The soil is volcanic—very sticky when wet and inclined to “bake” during the dry weather, but nevertheless very suitable for tree-growing purposes.

The work at these two places has been full of interest to lovers of our native trees throughout the colony, as no previous attempt has been made to raise native trees on a large scale for timber purposes. During the first year at Ruatangata Nursery some 100,000 totara, collected from the native forests, were lined out, and about 100,000 of the same tree were raised from seed, and a few from cuttings. The growth made by the collected plants and seedlings was highly satisfactory, and the following year about a hundred thousand of these trees were sent to Puhipuhi, and planted permanently. Puriri, both from seed and cuttings, has done well, and is by no means as slow in growth as is generally supposed. The cork-oak, too, is showing every indication that it will succeed. There are very few cork-trees in the colony from which seed can be procured. The importation of the cork acorns in good condition is an exceedingly difficult matter, and out of two shipments of 7 ½ cwt. of seed, each from Italy, only some 1,000 trees have been raised.

Of the eucalypti here the information gained is as yet limited. Most of the varieties tried here were the least hardy sorts, which cannot be grown in the Rotorua Nursery. The species which have done best are—red-gum of Victoria, Wando or white-gum (West Australia), apple-scented gum (Tasmania), white or drooping gum (pauciflora), red-gum of Queensland, grey-gum of New South Wales, stringy-bark of New South Wales, and mountain red-gum of Tasmania. Many of these, both at Ruatangata and Puhipuhi, have grown 6 ft. in height in twelve months. Trees to the number of 124,100 have been planted out at Puhipuhi Plantation, and the area planted is 250 acres.

PRISON LABOUR.—The employment of prison labour for preparing land and planting trees was commenced at Waiotapu Plantation four years ago, and since then three other prison camps have been started—viz., Waipa Plantation, Dumgree Plantation, and Hanmer Springs Plantation. The accommodation for the men consists of huts of similar construction to a railway surfaceman's hut, and each can accommodate four men. The full capacity of the four camps is 175 men. The forestry work done by prisoners has been very successful. The majority of the men take an intelligent interest in the work, and, although they are on the whole not quite as fast as paid labourers, they perform their work in a creditable manner.

Chapter 65. SECTION III.
ROTORUA.

Government Balneologist*. A. S. Wohlmann M.D.

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.

* I must express my great indebtedness to Sir James Hector and to Professor Maclaurin for the numerous analyses they have placed at my disposal.

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; piccaninnies 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 Rotorua.

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 rock 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 via 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 Rotokakahi, 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 launch trip across Lake Tarawera lauds 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 overlooking 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. Indeed, for some months past the giant geyser has remained quiescent, but whether it has become extinct or is merely sleeping remains to be seen. It used to have a rough periodicity of about thirty hours. Beside the actual geyser is a boiling lake, the Echo Crater Lake, which looks much more formidable and geyser-like.

THE MINERAL WATERS OF ROTORUA .

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 silicon, 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 sulphuretted 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 those entirely unlike waters that Rotorua owes its unique importance.

GROUP I.—THE ACID SULPHUR 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, sulphate 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 o 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 an congested throat. The Egg-pot, a small but powerful spring near the Postmaste 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:—

 Grams 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.*

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:—

* 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.

 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.
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.
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.
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 SULPHUR 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 taint 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.

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 in 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 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
Soda2.4613.83
Potash0.400.80
Chloride3.5514.41
Sulphuric acid57.4012.60
         Total103.2462.95
Sulphuretted hydrogenin both. 
Acidity, calculated as sulphuric acid11.31Neutral.

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 hath 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. Pull 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. Or the river may be ascended as far as Taumarunui on the main trunk line, and the journey finished by rail.

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 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 he 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 mature. 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 midday 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

Plow, 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 oxide ..11.41
Iron-oxide0.70
Silica and silicates9.82
         Total31.56

Flow, 4,100 gallons per hour. Temperature, 99° Fahr.

Chapter 66. 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 OF THE WATERS IN GRAINS PER GALLON.*
1.2.4.6.8. (1904.)13.14.15. (1904.)
* A large number of springs are omitted, some of them being now extinct or merged in other springs, others so insignificant, as to be unimportant. The temperature of some of the springs cannot ho given, as they either rise through the floor of largo baths or are enclosed beneath a fountain.
Sodium-chloride60.2560.4534.2466.2359.1040.6742.6159.5
Sodium-bicarbonate461.56426.29246.49499.75648.0301.64321.64657.4
Sodium-sulphate38.3232.6719.1635.1439.221.8623.1640.1
Potassium chloride1.721.90....10.0....11.0
Calcium-bicarbonate10.777.124.627.128.96.117.146.8
Magnesium-bicarbonate6.864.212.142.992.53.133.492.5
Silica7.567.125.177.148.06.866.667.0
         Total solids586.96539.76311.82618.37775.7380.27404.70784.3
Free carbonic acid........55.0....37.4
Temperature (Fahr.)135°..106°....135°135°135°

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 67. 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 July and August. 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 115 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, hot-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 shin. 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.

Gases 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 theses 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 anaæmia, 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 3 Hanmer,” giving further information in regard to the waters, is being issued free by the Government Department of Tourists and Health Resorts.

Chapter 68. 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, via 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.

LAKETE 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), via 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 (bi-weekly service December to February, weekly at other times) 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.

Chapter 69. NOTES ON THE COLOUR-SENSE OF THE MAORI.

. Elsdon Best

IN studying evidence as to the mentality of the old-time Maori, one is struck by the paucity of words in their language to denote the various colours. Apart from the terms signifying black, white, and red, all other expressions used to define colours would appear to be artificial terms. Especially noticeable is the lack of any universal, ancient, and generally used word to denote blue, which was usually confused with black, the same poverty of expression having been noted in connection with many primitive peoples. Geiger, in his “Lectures on the Development of the Human Race” has drawn attention to the fact that the colour blue is not mentioned in the Veda hymns, the Zendavesta, the Bible, or the Homeric poems. There does not appear to be any proof that a people in the culture-stage of the Maori of New Zealand has no perception of any difference between blue and black, but rather that they look upon the colours blue and dark brown as being allied to black. Hence they are usually described by the use of the same term, although certain qualifying expressions are often employed to denote that a deep black is not meant. In this wise: the term pango is used to denote black or dark, and is also applied to blue and dark brown. In describing to me the appearance of the momoutu, a bird having a dark-brown plumage, a native said, “He pango tenei manu, ko tona pango ano, kaua e tino pango” (“This bird is black, its own peculiar black, not intensely black”).

Is colour-sense but partially developed in primitive man, and is the perception of colours a matter of evolution, a gradual development? It would appear that the senses of sight, smell, and hearing are keener in those peoples of a lower culture-stage than they are among more civilised races. The average Maori is keener-sighted and more observant of natural objects than is the average European. When questioned, the former appears to be able to detect the various colours and shades of colour, but he has not words at his command to express himself, or describe what his eyes see. The fault would seem to lie more with his vocabulary than with his sight or powers of perception. The lack of mental training, of any system of permanently recording impressions and perceptions for future use, of continued research on scientific lines, have produced the same effect on the Maori mind as on the Maori tongue—they are both undeveloped. The Maori language is suited to a primitive people, its vocabulary a copious one from the point of view of the untrained mind, but it is no more.

In regard to the colour-sense of the Maori the following are what may be called the primary terms known to and used by them in ancient times: Pango, black; Ma, white; Whero, red.

BLACK .—The term pango was also used to denote blue and brown, especially dark brown, the light shades of brown being generally described by the use of the word whero. The word mangu also meant black, variant forms of the term being mamangu and mangumangu. The word Keretewha means “dark,” as also does tiwhatiwha,* and pouri, and pouriuri. Uriuri has a similar meaning, and is applied to the ocean (moana uriuri) to denote the dark-blue appearance of the waters of mid-ocean. Pouri is applied to the darkness of night and of shade. Pouriuri = dusk, gloomy, the shades of evening. Maru ahiahi denotes the evening shades, dusk. Pango is the word generally used to denote black. The terms pangopango and mangumangu are applied to dark-skinned persons.

* Also titiwha.

WHITE.—Ma, white, also “clean” and “pale.” Koma, pale, whitish, light-coloured, sometimes used to denote grey colour, as also is the word ma. Marama, light (not dark), as of daylight, also “transparent,” and “clear-sounding,” and “clear-minded,” and also “plain, easily understood.” Whakamarama, to explain, to make clear. In respect to mental condition, marama is the antithesis of pouri, sad, gloomy, vexed. (Cf. po, night, also Hades, the underworld, the place of departed spirits. For uri see ante.) The words ahoaho and puaho are used to describe intense whiteness. (Cf. aho, radiant light; tiaho, to emit rays of light; mataaho, a window; ahoroa, the moon.

The word kapukapu is used among the Tuhoe Tribe in order to describe the whiteness of snow: “Katahi ki te huka o Huiarau, kapukapu ana tera,” possibly in the sense of “dazzling,” but the etymology of the word is obscure.

Tea, white, is an old-time word, but not in common use. Katea, whitened. Whakatea, to show the whites of the eyes, as when chanting a song of derision Horotea, pale. Horetea, faded, pale. Korako, albino.

RED .—The common expression for red is whero, which term is also applied to light brown or reddish brown and yellow. Puwhero and puwherowhero mean “reddish,” often “pink” colour. Other words meaning red, but not in such common use as whero are ngangana, ura, kura, towhero, pakurakura, nonokura, mumura, pakaka, waiarangi, which imply red or brown; makura, light red; makurakura, reddish, glowing. In addition to these were other terms implying redness, such as tore and toretore, applied to the redness of inflammation; katore and katoretore, glimmering luminous; hinatore, phosphorescent light; hahana, to glow, flushed (as a person's face); mura, blaze of fire, to glow. Red was the sacred colour of the Maori. Kaka means “red-hot” (Cf. ka, to burn). Kakaka, reddish brown; tuawhero, light Ted, reddish.

The above terms for the three colours, black, white, and red, were really the only ancient, permanent, and universal colour-names possessed by the Maori. These were the three colours used in the painting of their houses, and in their clothing. This, however, does not prove that their powers of perception recognised no other colours, for they assuredly did so, probably at some later period in their history, inasmuch as we know that they have what may be termed artificial terms, used to describe such colours as green, yellow, blue, and grey. The terms used to define these colours would appear to be taken from natural objects, as we shall show.

GREEN .—The word kakariki is used to denote green, and is also the name of the small green parrot, and of the green lizard. This word, as a colour-name, was evidently taken from the bird, as it did not originally mean “green,” but simply “small parrot.” The name of the large bush parrot is kaka, to which the word riki, small, was added, to describe the small parrot. This word was probably applied to the green lizard in after-times, because its colour resembled that of the small parrot, but even now it is still used as an adjective. Moko is the ancient term for “lizard,” and in speaking of the green lizard a Native styles it moko kakariki—i.e., the kakariki lizard. This word kakariki was never in such common use as were the terms for red, white, and black; in fact, all colours, except the three latter, seem to have been expressed by comparison with natural objects, and, even so, much confusion, and a certain lack of perception, seems to have been common. It does not appear that the term kakariki was generally applied to anything green, as the foliage of trees, &c., nor had the Maori any terms to denote the various shades of green.

The word pounamu (Native name of greenstone) is sometimes used to denote green, but this is merely a comparison with the colour of that stone. Another such expression is kohuwai, a water-plant of a peculiar shade of green. This name is used as a colour simile, as, “He mea ahua kohuwai” —i.e., a thing of a kohuwai appearance. Also “Penei me te kohuwai te ahua” (“In appearance it is like the kohuwai”).

YELLOW .—There was no specific commonly used term to denote this colour in the Maori tongue. To the Maori yellow was whero, red, although he seems to have recognised the difference between yellow, as of the kowhai-blossom, and the red of ochre, or of the rata flower—i.e., deep red. He seems to have looked upon yellow as a light red, although he had no archaic term to describe it, but simply expressed his meaning by comparison. Hence we hear among Natives the following terms used to denote yellow: —Kowhai: From the yellow blossoms of the kowhai-tree (Sophora tetraptera). Pungapunga: From the yellow pollen of the raupo (Typha angustifolia). Mangaeka: From the yellow strips of flax inserted in some of the rough capes made by Natives. This yellow colour is produced by heating strips of green flax (Phormium tenax) at a fire.

BLUE .—This colour was not generally recognised by the Maori, at least he had no ancient specific term in common use to define the same. Blue was termed pango (black). The blue sky was styled kikorangi which seems to have implied “clear” sky—i.e., the true body of the sky, as not obscured by clouds, &c. The deep-blue sea was uriuri, a term that seems to have been used to denote “black,” “dark,” or “deep blue.” The only term used for blue among the Tuhoe Tribe is pukepoto. This is the name of a blue earth, used in former times for painting the face. These people obtained it at a place named Ohaware, at Rua-tahuna. This was simply used as a comparison, it was not an ancient, arbitrary, or widely used term for blue. In using such terms a Native implies that he is making a comparison, inasmuch as he will say, “It was of a pukepoto appearance. In appearance it was like kowhai-blossoms,” &c. Whereas in describing anything black, white, or red he makes use of the arbitrary, archaic expression in a direct manner. “The object was pango or ma or whero.

GREY.—The term ma (white, clean, &c.) was often used to denote light-grey colour, as also to describe light shades of yellow, &c. Dark grey would be pango (black, dark). Among the Tuhoe Tribe grey is expressed by the term korora. Hina is applied to grey hair, but to nothing else. Puhinahina also means “grey,” as applied to hair. It is also used to describe a grey horse, but is not applied to inanimate objects. Grey was described to me by a Native as being “between black and white.”

BROWN .—Dark brown would be termed pango (see ante), and reddish brown as pakaka, ura or mumura, or whero. Brown was confused with black or red by the Maori. There is no specific term for brown.

There is no specific or distinct term in Maori to denote colour, the word ahua (appearance, form) being the term commonly employed. Yet shades of colour may be denoted by the use of the words “ata” and kakano. The latter expression implies “texture,” “grain,” as of timber; the former is used to define “shadow” and “reflection,” but both are also occasionally used to define the appearance or shades of colours. “Nga ata maha o ona puawai” (“The many shades of colour of its flowers”).

The terms hae and wana are used to define “contrast” in colours. (Cf., hae, envy, to be envious, and wana, rays; whakawanawana, to throw out rays.) In making a garment, &c., of different-coloured materials the various colours vie with each other according to the Maori mind. When making some Maori waistbelts for me a Native said, “Kia toru nga kakano, kaore e pai te rua, kaore e hae, ara kaore e wana te titiro atu i runga i te kakano kotahi, e rua ranei, tena ki te toru, ka nui te wana. Ko aua mea kai te ririri, e whakaputa ana i tona pai tetahi. e whakaputa ana i tona pai tetahi. Koina te hae” (“Let us insert three colours, two are not enough, they will not hae—that is, there will not be sufficient contrast with one or two colours, but with three there will be a fine contrast. Those colours will vie with each other, each one will appear to advantage. That is the meaning of hae.”)

I have inserted the above as an illustration of the power of the Native mind to perceive the result of grouping colours together for the sake of effect, albeit the outcome of such grouping is not always harmonious or pleasing to the eye of more cultured people, as witness the glaring display of colours often made by Native women when in gala costume. These women are much addicted to bright colours, brilliant yellow, blue, red, &c., but have also a liking for black. The patterns of prints made for the Native trade are often remarkably “loud,” and the colours gaudy beyond compare. This is the result of the colour-sense of the Maori being still in a crude state, and not educated as it is with us.

In regard to the Native definition of colours by means of illustrative comparisons, we may observe the same process among ourselves, as when we use the terms “wine-colour,” “rose-colour,” “orange,” &c.

Compound terms are sometimes used by the Natives to define shades of colour, as ma kura, light red (literally “red white”); ma puwhero, literally “reddish white” or browny white; whero popouri, dark red; whero kita (kita is an intensive), very red.

There does not appear to be much colour-blindness, as we term it, among the Maoris. Natives are much surprised at my own inability to see the red flowers of the rata-tree, even when within 50 yards of me. The colour-blindness of the Maori, such as it is, appears to be the natural sequence of lack of education of the colour-sense. The poverty of their vocabulary of colour-names would seem to imply a greater ignorance and non-perception of colours than really exists among them. I do not agree with the Rev. Mr. Stack's statement that the Maori was blind to blue in pre-European days, but he appearde to confuse it with black, or look upon it as a light form or shade of the same. The term pukepoto was certainly employed to express blue, albeit a figurative expression borrowed from the earth of that colour. That earth was sought for to be used as a face-paint, although it is of very rare occurrence. The women who sought and used it would not so use the black mud used to dye garments with, although the latter is quite common.

So long as the Maori kept to their originally known colours, black white, and red, in the ornamentation of their houses and clothing the effect was harmonious and pleasing, but when they obtained European paints, dyes, and coloured fabrics they were guilty of combinations of colour offensive to the cultivated eye.

A perusal of various accounts of primitive and barbarous peoples, their powers of perception, and their vocabularies, leaves us with a conviction that the colour-sense in man is a matter of development, and also, as Geiger puts it. “The colour-terms originate according to a definite succession, and originate so everywhere.”

The following words are those employed by the Maori to denote anything speckled, spotted, or striped: Tongitongi, tingotingo, kotingotingo, speckled; purepure, kopurepure, kotiwhatiwha, spotted; tawatawa, striped, like mackerel; tahekeheke, striped, streaked; whakahekeheke, striped; whakakakakaka, covered with short stripes.

These notes will serve to give some idea as to the stage of development of the colour-sense of the Maori.

PART IV.—DESCRIPTIONS OF LAND DISTRICTS.

Table of Contents

Chapter 70. The Auckland Land District.

Commissioner, of Crown Lands.. James Mackenzie

Introductory.

THE Auckland Land District covers about four and a half degrees of latitude, with an area of 13,858,000 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 Bide 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. This has been reserved for the Natives. 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 1,000,000 acres north of Auckland, and 2,820,000 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. Between the Hokianga and Bay of Islands Harbours there are large areas 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. 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, 4,500 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, Kawhia, Waitomo, and Awakino, 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, Waitomo, and Awakino Counties there is a large area of excellent limestone land, a considerable 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 has been taken up by a good class or settlers. 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 ail 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 largo 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 bis 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. The soil is well adapted for the cultivation of grapes, and an excellent wine is being manufactured at Kohukohu. 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, Piako, 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 20s. 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 moans 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 are the views obtainable from Mount Eden, a volcanic hill some 644 ft. above sea-level and from One Tree Hill, both situated in the suburbs. These are also points of historic interest, inasmnch as they were held as strongholds during the tribal wars. A favourite drive is that through Cornwall Park, in the vicinity of One Tree Hill. 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 1904, the population of the city and suburbs amounted to nearly 80,000 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. There are several fine buildings included amongst the places of worship in the city and suburbs. 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 city and 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 balls, 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 Woodcocks, about sixty miles from Auckland. The line is under construction to Hoteo, and will eventually be carried on to Maungatapere.

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 2,000, and is the centre of a large agricultural and pastoral country. In the neighbourhood is also a large coal-hearing 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, carriage, 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 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 culling-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 tor 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 to a point known as Piriaka, 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 row reaching to a distance of 199 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 1,500 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 1,400, 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 and medicinal mineral waters, with good hotels. Another thirteen miles brings the traveller to Paeroa, a centre of mining industry, whence a branch line 12 ½ 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 4,100 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 1,100, 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, Whaka-tane, and Opotiki. From the fact of the harbour being the only one on the East Coast bet ween 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. (See special articles, Thermal Springs District.)

Crown Lands available for Immediate Settlement (893,976 Acres).
Surveyed rural land18,219 acres, in 49 sections.
Surveyed rural land under “The Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement Act, 1903”90 124 ” in 552 sections.
Unsurveyed rural land99,509 ”
Unsurveyed rural land under “The Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement. Act, 1903”113,842 ”
Lease in perpetuity under Land for Settlements Acts6,905 ” in 286 sections.
Village settlement, lease in perpetuity4 ” in 2 sections.
Pastoral runs255,949 ” in 10 runs.
Small grazing-runs61,051 ” in 10 runs.
Hauraki pastoral leases248,343 ”
  Acres.
Awakino County25 sections21,509
Bay of Islands County65 sections, including 990 acres unsurveyed land11,187
Coromandel ”6 sections, including 7,061 acres unsurveyed land7,979
Hauraki pastoral leases68,595
East Taupo ”Unsurveyed land14,076
7 pastoral runs204,801
2 small grazing-runs19,288
Hobson ”6 sections, including 1,100 acres unsurveyed land1,657
Hokianga ”86 sections, including 5,089 acres unsurveyed land19,029
Kawhia ”Unsurveyed land3,990
2 sections (Te Kuiti Village Settlement)4
Manukau ”8 sections, including 3,443 acres unsurveyed land4,495
Mangonui ”54 sections, including 10,912 acres unsurveyed land18,491
Ohinemuri ”28 sections10,255
Hauraki pastoral leases66,598
Opotiki ”35 sections, including 28,751 acres unsurveyed land30,738
Otamatea ”9 sections168
Piako ”46 sections, including 3,206 acres unsurveyed land6,498
Raglan ”6 sections798
Rodney ”23 sections, including 230 acres unsurveyed land2 ,009
Rotorua ”8 sections, including 12,020 acres unsurveyed land15,692
1 pastoral run19,460
Tauranga ”29 sections, including 13,351 acres unsurveyed land16,983
Thames ”2 sections, including 1,970 acres unsurveyed land3,052
Hauraki pastoral leases113,150
Whangarei ”57 sections, including 3,498 acres unsurveyed land7,758
Waikato ”29 sections, including 13,606 acres unsurveyed land18,206
2 small grazing-runs6,386
Waipa ”2 sections25
Waitemata ”46 sections, including 400 acres unsurveyed land4,488
Whangaroa ”10 sections, including 1,207 acres unsurveyed land2,810
Whakatane ”4 sections, including 44,491 acres unsurveyed land44,997
1 pastoral run17,413
1 small grazing-run5,232
West Taupo ”7 sections, including 42,609 acres unsurveyed land52,738
1 pastoral run14,275
5 small grazing-runs30,145
No county8 sections, including 1,351 acres unsurveyed land2,096
             Total887,071
Under Land for Settlements Acts.
Eden County26 sections (workmen's homes)53
Otamatea County19 sections (rural)5,492
Piako ”2 sections755
” ”114 sections (town and suburban)76
Waitemata ”116 sections (workmen's homes)459
Waikato ”1 section (rural)64
Whakatane ”8 sections (village lots)6
             Total6,905
             Grand total893,976

Areas which are not yet open for Selection.

Awakino County.—16,524 acres, mostly broken forest land of good quality, principally limestone formation.

Bay of Islands County.—51,116 acres. About one-half open fern and tea-tree lands; one-half mixed forest; soil generally second-class; fairly accesible by roads; some fair bush lands at Ruapekapeka. The good land in this county is much scattered. A block of 6,700 acres in Omapere Survey District has been surveyed, and will shortly be available for selection.

Coromandel County.—2,337 acres; generally rough forest lands, not suited for agriculture, except in isolated patches of small extent. Possibly the Cape Colville Range is auriferous all its length through the county. A considerable amount of timber —kauri—is still in the hands of the Crown. Soil generally fair. Coromandel possesses many excellent harbours, advantage of which is taken by several sawmill companies.

East Taupo. —122,300 acres broken forest land; soil light and indifferent. A coach road from Tauranga to Napier runs through this county.

Hobson County.—35,050 acres, about 6,000 acres of which is broken forest lands, which cannot be offered for selection until the kauri has been removed. The remaining land is mostly open, gumbearing, and of pour quality.

Hokianga County.—56,734 acres, Crown lands; nearly all forest; soil generally fair, but the best lands are at present inaccessible for want of roads. The large extent of Crown lands lying to the south of Hokianga Harbour is of excellent quality, but a good deal broken and forest-clad. The Crown lands to the north of the harbour are generally of good quality, but also broken, but not so much so as those to the south. The Rotokakahi Block of 5,000 acres in the Whangape Survey District, and a block of about 27,000 acres in the Tutamoe and Punakitere Survey Districts, are now under survey for the purpose of being offered for selection later. The completion of the road from Hokianga to Takahue has opened up a large extent of bush country for settlement. The Crown owns a considerable extent of valuable kauri forest in this county. Rawene is the principal town, where there are a post, telegraph, and Magistrate's offices. The water communication throughout the district is extensive. The soil varies much, but is principally clay, though the Waoko plateau is all volcanic. Communication weekly via Bay of Islands, and fortnightly via West Coast.

Kawhia, Waitomo, and Awakino Counties.—6,077 acres, forest and open land, generally of good quality. Two blocks in Kawhia North Survey District of 2,050 acres and 1,550 acres respectively have now been surveyed, and are being prepared for selection, and the survey of other blocks is at present proceeding.

Mangonui County.—53,630 acres, the greater part of which is indifferent soil, with a vegetation of fern and tea-tree, though some, such as in the Herekino district, are first-class lands. The lands in Herekino are undulating, wooded, and at present difficult of access, but in time will form a fine settlement. The open fern lands are usually clay, and only suitable for rough cattle runs. The survey of the Otukai Block, in Rangaunu Survey District, of 2,600 acres, has been completed, and the block, which is of good quality, will shortly be offered for selection. A little kauri forest remains in the hands of Government. Mangonui is reached from Auckland by steamer once a week.

Manukau County.—5,230 acres, mostly open lands or swamp, the soil generally only medium. The lands in eastern part of county are very good, but broken, and covered with mixed forest. Communication by road, rail, or water in this county is more advanced than in most of the others in this district.

Opotiki County.—115,000 acres, nearly all broken forest lands, good pastoral country. Maize growing is largely carried on over the flat lands near the coast, which have mostly been disposed of. Opotiki is in weekly communication with Auckland by steamer. Extensive surveys are now proceeding in this county.

Otamatea County.—8,530 acres; open and forest lands of fair to medium quality. About 4,500 acres is situated in the Tokatoka Swamp, a drain swamp of excellent quality; but the greater part of this cannot be dealt with for some years owing to existing timber rights.

Piako County. —10,260 acres. The Government lands are broken forest ranges, near Te Aroha, and open flat land near Waotu.

Raglan County.—20,100 acres, the greatest part open undulating land of medium quality, with some fair patches.

Rodney County.—2,800 acres, mostly forest, and a good deal broken; but, when roads are made, a large area of this will be available for settlement. The soil is generally very fair clay land.

Rotorua County.—24,000 acres; soil generally very good, but light, covered principally with mixed forest; accessible by Rotorua-Morrinsville Railway and Rotorua-Tauranga Road from Rotorua Township. A block of about 3,000 acres, fronting Rotorua-Tauranga Road, has been surveyed, and will be available for selection in a few months.

Tauranga County.—24,816 acres. Those near Tauranga are forest lands of good quality, but broken. The forests are mixed, the principal timber trees being rimu and matai. The subdivision of the Mangatotara Block of 5,500 acres has just been completed, and steps are now being taken to throw it open for selection.

Thames and Ohinemuri Counties.—Thames County, 20,600 acres, and Ohinemuri County, 66,056 acres; partly broken forest country, unsuited for agriculture except in isolated spots; partly swamp land of good quality, which will be offered for selection as soon as the necessary drainage works are completed. The Ohinemuri Goldfield contains some fair agricultural land, but not of any great extent. Thames, the second town in the provincial district, is situated in Thames County, and is supported principally by the adjacent goldfields.

Waitemata County.—14,900 acres, mostly open, undulating, but inferior soil, suitable for fruit-growing.

Waikato County.— 34,265 acres; mostly open land of second-class quality. A good deal of swamp and inferior land. Extensive coalfields at Maramarua and Huntly, at both of which places it is worked. Some swamp lands still remain in the hands of the Crown, generally isolated sections. Communication is easy —as the surface is generally level—by rail, road, and water.

Waipa County. —400 acres, mostly open, gently undulating fern hills, but not first-class soil.

Whakatane County.—82,250 acres, mostly either good swamp or forest-clad ranges. Here and there fair agricultural lauds are found near Richmond and Whakatane, which is in weekly communication by steamer with Auckland. A block of 50,000 acres is now under survey, and will be offered for selection on completion thereof.

Whangarei County.—18,060 acres, Crown lands; soil generally very fair, mostly bush, occasionally a good deal broken. In various places a few farms can be obtained of good quality, mixed agricultural and pastoral land. Whangarei Township has daily communication by steamer with Auckland, and exports a considerable quantity of coal, timber, lime, and fruit.

Whangaroa County. — 3,500 acres, mostly open broken land of inferior quality. Whangaroa, celebrated for its beautiful scenery, is the site of a large sawmill industry.

West Taupo County.—6,260 acres open and forest land, close to Taumarunui, on the Main Trunk Railway-line.

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, 1904, 53,026,641 superficial feet of hewn or sawn timber, valued at £226,967, were shipped for export at Auckland and Kaipara.

Recently compiled returns furnish the information that there are in the Auckland District 49 sawmills employing 2,138 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 in operation is about 245,000,000 ft. per annum, the average annual output being about 183,000,000 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 1904 large consignments, totalling 9,203 tons and valued at £501,817, 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. Those 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 7,002 tons, valued at £185,182, showing an increase of 2,085 tons and £56,902 when compared with the figures for 1903.

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 the year ended the 31st December, 1904, the quantity of gold shipped from Auckland was 223,010 oz., valued at £791,529, besides which 1,049,461 oz. of silver, valued at £112,875, was exported.

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 1904 was 259,978 tons (dry weight), the bullion realising £683,882. The total value of bullion yielded since the company commenced operations amounts to the large sum of £3,845,180, and dividends amounting to £1,602,278, have been distributed amongst shareholders, this being exclusive of £96,958 paid as income-tax. As the auriferous-quarts; 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 Hikurangi, 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 or 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 21,019 tons of coal exported from Auckland during 1904 was £20,880.

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 1904 was 6,996,153 lb., valued at £233,991.

In consequence of the great demand for wool both in America and Japan, there has been a marked advance in the price of New Zealand clips, and, although the quantity shipped from Auckland during 1904 was less than that of the previous year, the value shows an increase of £72,105.

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 row 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 54,018 cwt. of butter, valued at £248,602, and 1,107 cwt. of cheese, valued at £3,159, were shipped from the port of Auckland to the United Kingdom and elsewhere during the year 1904.

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 210 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.

Good trout-fishing is 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 forwarded during the open season to other New Zealand towns, and small consignments are shipped regularly to Australia.

Fruit-canning and Preserving.

The soil and climate of Auckland are particularly adapted to fruitgrowing, 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 total output of the refinery was 41,000 tons, the quantity exported being valued at £5,214.

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 entirely satisfactory.

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 exists for building material.

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 to be exceptionally good and in every way suitable for the manufacture of china, crockery, vitrified drain-pipes, 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 one hundred and twenty hands. The quality of the cement is such that it is extensively used in connection with important public works. Over 9,000 tons have been used in the construction of the Napier breakwater, whilst at New Plymouth and in other parts of the colony large quantities have been used with the best results.

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, flourmills, oil, soap and candle works, boot and shoe factories, tanneries, ironworks, shipbuilding yards, large printing and lithographic works, stationery and book manufacturing establishments, &c.

The Electric Tramway Company employ some 360 hands, and maintain a huge plant. In 1904 the power was increased from 1,500 to 2,500 horse power. During the year no less than 18,500,000 tickets were issued to passengers, the largely increased traffic necessitating the construction of additional cars. Those built locally have proved in every way highly satisfactory. Since the inauguration of the electric-car service the congestion of population has been greatly relieved, large numbers of people having removed to the suburbs where building is proceeding at an unprecedentedly rapid 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 were valued at £2,442,128.

Chapter 71. THE TARANAKI LAND DISTRICT.

Chief Surveyor.. F. Simpson

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. New Zealand's great scenic river-trip may now he done in a number of ways. From Wanganui, in the winter, the steamers run tri-weekly to Pipiriki, and in the summer months, from December to April, daily, and a daily excursion is made from that point to the beautiful upper reaches beyond, returning to Pipiriki House in the evening. The traveller can then return to Wanganui, taking train either north or south, or he can take coach round Ruapehu, Tongariro, and Ngauruhoe to the Hot Lakes, or may go on up stream to Messrs. Hatrick and Co.'s houseboat, sixty miles beyond Pipiriki, returning to the latter point the next day, or proceed right on to Taumarunui, the junctioning point at the head of the river with the new Central Railway, taking train from there to Auckland or Rotorua. Coming down stream the traveller may take the train from either Auckland or Rotorua to Taumarunui, staying there overnight; take the steam launch down stream the following day to Pipiriki, staying there for the night, and going on to Wanganui the next day. From Taumarunui to Pipiriki is about ninety miles, and from Pipiriki to Wanganui sixty miles. Good accommodation can be procured at the houseboat and Pipiriki. Messrs. Hatrick and Co. have a fleet of twelve steamers and launches, the route being now one of the most largely frequented in the colony. The fares on the river are: Taumarunui to Pipiriki, 40s. single; Pipiriki to Wanganui, 15s. single; Wanganui to Pipiriki, 20s. return; Taumarunui to Pipiriki, 60s. return, or vice versa. Accommodation at, Pipiriki and the houseboat can be obtained at the rate of 2s. 6d. for each meal and bed. The caves near Pipiriki are very extensive, and rich in stalactites, the entrance being hung with a mass of ferns and lichens. There are some magnificent views near Atene. A mile or two below Pipiriki the banks of the river rise to a great height, and are very imposing. From the caves, for some sixty miles to the houseboat, the river flows between perpendicular walls of rock, all festooned with ferns and lichens, with a background of luxuriant bush. Over these cliffs fall numerous streams, making a succession of waterfalls. At Manganuia-te-ao, an immense cliff rises like a mighty pillar on the right, and the rivers meet like two lanes, walled in by massive piles of masonry.

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 miles 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 thirty-eight sawmills, and the total quantity cut during the year ended the 31st March, 1905, was about 18,700,300 ft., chiefly rimu, kahikatea, totara, and matai. Most of these mills work together under Association rules and prices, their output for the year being 8,796,360 superficial feet; of the others, which work independently, the output of Messrs. Burnard and Ellis, of Otorohanga, amounted to 7,400,000 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 4,000ft. 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 all the year round. 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 Is. 6d. each, or they may provide and cook their own food. Beds are also provided. Horse feeds, Is. 6d. each; paddocking, 6d. daily, or 2s. 6d. a week. A small charge for use of house is made to visitors of Is. 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), 5s. 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). Guide's fee for mountain, £1 per party. During the past season there were about 2,000 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. About two 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 via 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. 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 via Stratford, there being a good walking track between the homes. A weekly coach-service has been instituted both at Hawera and Eltham, while Stratford, as a base, is equally desirable to start from. It is confidently anticipated that it. will be possible, at the opening of next season, to drive the whole distance up to the house.

A track has been partly made from the western side of the mountain, enabling 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 81 skimming-stations scattered over the district. Of these factories, 79 produce butter only, 6 butter and cheese combined, while 6 produce cheese only. Forty factories are owned by proprietory companies, while 51 are run on co-operative principles. There are also in this district 16 registered packing-houses for milled butter, 221 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 1904 the output from the works was—Butter, 152,483 packages, weighing 3,812 tons net; cheese, 8,556 packages, net weight. 572 tons. During the hot season the factories and railway-vans carrying butter have been supplied with ice from the works at a nominal cost. Most of the butter from the southern end of the district now goes to Patea.

There are in the Taranaki District 21,432 horses, 279,249 cattle, 422,809 sheep, and 31,096 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 during season 1904-1905 was 7,941 acres; grass crops cut for hay, chaff, or ensilage, 11,706 acres; sown grasses and clovers for feeding down, 860,207 acres; sown grasses for seed, 1,629 acres; potatoes, 1,113 acres; turnips, 11,947 acres; mangolds, 779 acres; rape, 2,220 acres; carrots, 653 acres; other crops, 176 acres; total area under crops of all kinds, including gardens, orchards, vineyards, 900,089 acres. Plantations, 1,029 acres; fallow, 216 acres; tussock, native grass, and unimproved land, 318,216 acres.

The average yield of different grain-crops in bushels per acre for season of 1904-5 was: Wheat, 32; oats, 43; barley, 43.

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, the company now conducting operations having decided to try until 2,000 ft. is reached.

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, 1904:—

 Jan.Feb.Mar.April.May.June.July.Aug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec.
Mean temperature65.565.663.759..555.553.650.351.353.654.756.865.2
Extreme maximum temperature838281716868676768686968
Extreme minimum temperature464943454039333239374144
Number of days on which rain fell111622191923182427242523
Total rainfall per month in inches and decimals5.1455.0012.6155.1909.0759.2056.675.737.915.7454.156.52
Mean barometric reading for the month29.97729.9630.03430.1330.10329.68730.1730.01529.8329.79429.89629.885

The mean barometric reading was 29.956 in. for the year. Total rainfall, 82.955 in. on 251 days. The rainfall varies considerably, as, for instance, at Norfolk Road, three miles south of Inglewood, the rainfall for the year 1904 was 128.26 in. on 201 days, the maximum fall being 5.51 in. 25th May. The average rainfall at New Plymouth during the past ten years was 64.581 in., and at Norfolk Road for same period 102.890 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 ¼ d. 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, 85 cwt., value £307; butter, 83,439 cwt., value £355,519; cheese, 12,012 cwt., value £25,093; fungus, 1,044 cwt., value £2,164; wool, 47,442 lb., value £1,439; total value, £390,046. Imports (oversea): value, £90,213. Customs duties for the year, £26,539.

Manufactures in New Plymouth are represented by two sash-and-door, a boot, butter-keg, and three coach factories, a brewery, a cordial factory, a flour-mill, tannery, fellmongery, bone-mill, and iron-foundry, with freezing-works and bacon-factory in the suburbs. The town has both water and gas laid on.

Hawera, 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.

The Town of Patea is situated on the coast, at the extreme southern end of the district, and has a population of 750. There is a splendid grazing district nland, 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 1904 were: Wool, 3,836 bales; fungus, 959 bags; tallow, 586 casks; pelts, 110 casks; loose hides, 5,040; grass seed, 409 sacks; butter, 123,225 cases; flax, 25 bales; meat, 6,032 cases; sheep, 1,560; sundries, 582 packages; cheese, 14,129 boxes; empties, 1,257; cattle, 334; bonedust, 260 sacks; potatoes, 290 sacks; carcases of frozen meat, 2,474; bricks, 12,000. Imports: Ordinary, 8,874 tons; coals, 2,839 tons. Wharfages amounted to £1,572, dumping dues £253, tonnage dues £516. The number of steamers in and out were 204. 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 12 ft. 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 curried 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 via Ongarue, the line being completed and open for traffic as far as Oruru, a distance of eleven miles. A short branch is also in course of construction 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 & 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 80 ft. 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 4,194 pigs, costing £7,751 7s. 4d.

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: 2,619 tons of frozen meal, 2,213 bales of wool, 35 bales of leather, 974 casks of tallow, 14 casks of pelts, and 3 bales of horns. All produce is conveyed on hoard the New Zealand Shipping Company's oceangoing 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 1904 were: Wool, 196 bales; grain, 76 ¼ tons; grass-seed, 387 sacks; hides, 3,017; skins, 38 bundles; timber, 14,963 super. feet; flour, 85 tons; potatoes, 574 sacks; tallow, 87 casks; pelts, 28 casks; cattle, 304 head; horses, 18; sheep, 311; butter, 136 boxes; fungus, 6 bales; general cargo, 524 tons. Total tonnage of exports for year was 4,463 tons. Imports for same period were: Grain, 24 tons; manure, 263 ½ tone; lime, 25 ¾ tons; timber, 444,277 super. feet; coal, 4,710 tons; wool, 185 bales; fungus, 36 bales; hides, 31; skins, 15 bundles; flour, 190 ¼ tons; horses, 12; flax, 209 bales; butter, 765 boxes; general cargo, 4,188 tons. Total tonnage of imports, 11,068 tons; making in all a gross total of 15,531 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 1,200 inhabitants, rapidly coining to the front. The bacon-factory during the year put through 2,999 pigs, costing £5,885 13s. 8d. The factory is worked by a 24 in. 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. The electric light has now been installed in the town.

Eltham, a rising borough of 1,400 inhabitants, is making very rapid progress. The bacon-factory during nine months of the year put through 365 pigs, valued at £565. The works were destroyed by fire, and were closed down during the greater part of the year.

Opunake, a seaport town of 600 inhabitants, was visited during the year by 47 steamers. Imports, 1,040 tons; exports, 116 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 townships that need be mentioned 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 Ongarue, on the North Island Main Trunk Railway, is under construction, and is open to Oruru, eleven miles from Stratford.

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.

These comprise 133,823 acres, situated in all parts of the district, consisting generally of rough forest-clad country but of very fair soil resting upon a formation principally of papa. These sections are at present rather difficult of access, but when cleared of timber will be found to be very suitable for raising sheep and cattle, while flats along streams could be used for dairying operations on a small scale. Most of the lands are exempt from rent and rates for four years from date of selection.

Lands being prepared for Settlement.

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: 5,000 acres, hilly country of fair quality, covered with heavy forest.

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.

There are 418,000 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 72. THE HAWKE'S BAY LAND DISTRICT.

Chief Surveyor.. E. C. Gold Smith

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. Nearly 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 via 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. 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 Te Karaka, a distance of eighteen miles, 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 2,774,266 acres has been improved and sown in English grasses, clover, &c. In April, 1904, there were 4,391,678 sheep in the district, and the numbers of other stock were as follows: Horses, 34,982; cattle, 234,359; and swine, 19,681. The value of the wool exported from Hawke's Bay for the year ended 30th June, 1904, was £775,337, 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, 1904, was as follows: Beef, 912 tons, valued at £22,800; 359,485 carcases of mutton, valued at £271,656; 106,227 carcases of lamb, valued at £69,047; preserved meats, 91 tons, valued at £4,550. The total of the exports shows a very gratifying increase over previous year's figures—namely, £92,416—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. 3,805,164 ft. of timber were exported during the year, the total value being £19,025. 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 ten. Fifty-two tone of fish, valued at £520 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 Te Mata, 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.

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 37.070 in.

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 9,700. 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 1904, the imports amounted in value to £249,433, and the exports to £1,145,845.

Gisborne, the trade-centre and port of what is known as the Poverty Bay District, is a prosperous town of nearly 4,000 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 1,330,490 sheep in Cook and Waiapu Counties, and Gisborne's exports amounted to £651,362 in value for the year 1904.

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-five 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 1,199 in the district under the various systems of tenure, amounts to 766,988 acres, and there remain about 224,836 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 55,387 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 urea 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 73. THE WELLINGTON LAND DISTRICT.

Chief Surveyor.. John Strauchon

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 to 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 th 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 every where 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 Wanganui), 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 (Heretaunga), 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 43-Ybk. 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 54,000, 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, Customhouse, Public Library, School of Art, Town Hall, 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 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. A system of electric trains for the city has been installed, and is being extended to Brooklyn, Island Bay, and Kilbirnie. 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 1,900 and 1,500 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 the rapid development of population.

Petone is situated near the mouth of the Hutt River, seven miles from Wellington, on the railway-line. It has a population of 5,100, 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 2,760, 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 begins 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 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 4,500. 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, 1,300. 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;or more correctly Paua-taha-nui), 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. Near Plimmerton, on the sandhills and about a mile south, lies a large boulder known to Native tradition as "Te Ponga o Matahourua" —the anchor of “Matahourua,” one of the canoes bringing the original Maori inhabitants to the island. 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, with a considerable flax-milling industry.

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 9,300. 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 3,750, 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. 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 1,500, 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 by way of the Makohine Viaduct to Taihape, forty five miles from Marton, passing through Mangaweka. A short distance beyond Mangaweka is the viaduct of this name, 964 ft. long. 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 8,000. 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 land shortly.

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.—Part of the Te Ngaue Block, 885 acres of second-class pastoral land, is now open for selection as a small grazing-run.

Waimarino.—A block of about 46,550 acres, on the Retaruke, Oio, and Kaitieke Rivers, has had roads surveyed through it, 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: Mekalickstone, Kaiparoro, Christchurch, Wellington Fruitgrowers', Waiwera, &c.

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.

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.

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 eleven allotments for the term of fourteen years are open for application by tender.

Village Lands.—Village homesteads are open for application in the following settlements: Marshall, Upper Makuri, Pongaroa, and Mangaweka.

Normandale Settlement.—About twenty lots, ranging from 5 to 389 acres, are open for application on lease in perpetuity in this settlement, which is situated near Lower Hutt.

"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, except Parata and Potaka, 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, Rangi-waea, 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 1905 being 2,665,012 acres as compared with 98,111 acres under crop, garden, or orchard. Of the area in crop, 7,371 acres were in wheat, 18,518 in oats, and 45,832 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 1905: Wheat, 31.38 bushels; oats, 35.51 bushels; barley, 39.92 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, 1904, there were 3,682,888 sheep; and in October, 1904, the cattle numbered 386,481, and horses 52,430. The total area in gardens is given as 2,251 acres; in orchards, 3,651 acres; and in plantations, 4,544 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, 1904, 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 Waikanae, Shannon, and 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 (rimu), 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 Otaki, Waikanae, Shannon, and 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 41,375,471 ft., 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; wood ware 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 74. THE MARLBOROUGH LAND DISTRICT.

late Chief Surveyor.. C. W. Adams

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 north-wards, 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 off 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 Creek, 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-five 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 260,000,000 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 17,900 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 811,828, distributed as follows amongst the counties into which the land district is divided: Marlborough County, 480,777; Sounds County, 159,183; Kaikoura County, 171,868. 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 11,900 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.

Seventeen 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 total output being about 9,500,000 ft. 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 3,252,000 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 4,400 bales and 2,500 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 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 1904.

There is a first-class cheese-factory at Tuamarina. Last season 65 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 106 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 rains all is only 23.25 in.; in the Pelorus Valley, the centre of the forest country, it is over 65 in. This difference between the climates of the northwestern and south-eastern portions of the district explains why the artificial pasture-land, 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 3,500.

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, 1905, mutton, 46,303 carcases, and lambs, 67,444 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, via 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 dwellinghouses. 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, mosses 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 via 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 75. THE NELSON LAND DISTRICT.

Chief Surveyor.. W. G. Murray

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 4,500 ft. 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 6,000 ft., 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 slack 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 Aorere, which fall into Massacre Bay, the Wangapeka and Motueka, which run into Blind Buy, 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 southwest 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 Ikamatua Plain and 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 2,000 ft. 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 quantities 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 15s. with board; without board he would receive 7s. a day. Ploughmen can get £1 to £1 5s. per week with board; without, 7s. a day.

Pastoral.

The total area of pastoral lands held under the Crown by 54 tenants on the 31st March, 1905, amounted to 231,409 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 ½ in. palings and 7 in. posts sunk 2 ft. in the ground, can be erected at about, 12s. per chain.

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 41 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 hæmatite. 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, 1904, was 582,307 tons.

The properties formerly held by the Champion and the United Copper-raining Companies some twenty three years ago are now being developed by the Mineral Belt Copper-mining Company (Limited), which has its headquarters at Christchurch. The area held comprises some thousand acres on the mineral belt, and lies about four miles in a direct line from the City of Nelson, but twenty-six miles by rail and road. The mineral country is a serpentinous belt, from half a mile to a mile wide, stretching from D'Urville Island in the north-east to Tophouse in the southwest, over a length of about eighty miles, and probably with breaks to the southern end of the island. It is along the western edge of this belt on the company's ground that the most important ore deposits are found, and these cover a distance of about four miles on a straight line, with possibly some slight breaks in continuity. The deposits are practically contact lodes between the Maitai slates and the serpentines, and have a dip of 75† westerly, coincident with that of the slates at the point in question. The company have been opening old levels and driving new ones, and otherwise steadily prospecting the ground for the last sixteen months. Its prospects will be more definitely ascertained when No. 7 level, now in progress at the United section of the mine, is driven.

Between No. 2 and No. 5, 168 ft., good ore has been obtained, and No. 7, 150 ft. lower, should practically prove its continuity downwards. The ores are massive sulphides assaying up to 26 per cent. in the “United,” 5 per cent. with good gold contents at “Mount Claud,” 44 per cent. black ore on the surface, untouched at “Mount Claud” West, 3 per cent. with good gold at the “Monster,” grey ore and native copper at the “Champion.” The chief drawback is at present bad roads, but this is being rapidly remedied by the Government. The company is proceeding very cautiously. and as soon as it is satisfied that the ore supplies fully justify it, they will probably increase their capital and erect reduction works.

Silver-ore has been worked in the Collingwood District; and at Parapara, in Blind Bay, there are widespread deposits of hæmatite 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 fifty-eight sawmills working, and during the past year over 13,000,000 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 3,500 ft. 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 Boys' College was destroyed by fire during 1904, but is to be rebuilt immediately. 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 ore 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, coach building, sawmills, and sash and door factories, boot factories, and many other small works. Nelson has a good inner harbour, enclosed by a natural boulder-bank running from its entrance to the base of Mackay's Bluff, a distance of about eight miles. The average rise and fall of the tide is 12 ft. 6 in., and at present is capable of admitting vessels up to 1,200 tons with a draught of 17 ft. 6 in. There is also good, safe anchorage in the roadstead. which is calm for about ten months in the year.

With a view to admitting trading steamers of the “Mapourika” class at all states of the tide, and home steamers at high tide, a new entrance is row in course of construction, which, when complete, will give 15ft. depth at L.W.O.S T., and over 27 ft. at high water. The work is making rapid and satisfactory progress, and it is expected that the new entrance will be cut through to a sufficient width for the passage of shipping by the end of 1905.

Nelson is a port of call for the Union Steamship Company's coastal steamers, and has a small local fleet plying between the West Coast, Bind 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), Bright water, 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. 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 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 Waimangaroa, and on the plateau itself is Denniston—both coal-mining villages. The latter, built at an elevation of 1,980 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, 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 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 he made for the journey to Greymouth.

Roads, Tracks, &c.

Situate on the coast, fifty miles north of Westport, is the Karamea Specia 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 Gouland 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 22,536 acres of surveyed lands, and 286,161 acres unsurveyed lands, of which the location, nature of soil, &c., have been briefly described in the foregoing pages.

Chapter 76. THE WESTLAND LAND DISTRICT.

Chief Surveyor.. G. J. Roberts

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 250 miles, and its average width twenty-seven miles. The area is 6,750 square miles, composed for the most part of the great. central snow-clad mountain-chain and its outrunning ranges, intersected by narrow bush-clad valleys, and subsiding westward into undulating plateaux, river straths, and shelving coasts.

There are few places of historical interest. The country has been sparsely peopled by the Maoris for many years past, and they have left numerous traces of their occupation. There are several beautiful allegorical legends connected with their sojourn and wanderings in various parts of the district. A remarkable coincidence holds with regard to the minerals most precious to the Maoris and Europeans—viz., that the first finds of greenstone and gold were made in the same locality—at Pounamu—and that each in its time induced adventurers to dare the unknown, and led to the exploitation of various transinsular routes, for there is not a single subalpine pass through the main range that was not known and used in the ancient days by the Maoris. They passed the information on to the whites, who have subsequently used these crossings. The Maoris have now two permanent settlements—at Arahura in the north, and Makawhio in the south, of West-land. They have adopted European habits, reside in comfortable houses, are well-educated, orderly citizens, living partly on the rentals, and partly by the cultivation, of their reserves. The greater number are located at Arahura, where they have the advantage of church and school.

About the period 1840 to 1850 the seaboard was fairly well-known to the whalers and sealers, who then found profitable sport along the coast. Casual explorers and others afterwards visited the region, coming by sea and land, mainly with a view to establishing pastoral settlements; but they found no inducement to remain. The discovery of gold in 1864, however, led to an enormous influx of miners, who flocked in from all parts of the world, and in a short time there was an estimated population of forty thousand young and hardy men. The result of their search was the discovery of numerous deposits of gold, and as a consequence clearings were made, townships built, harbours improved, roads, bridges, and tracks constructed. Although after the first flush of success the population has dwindled, yet year by year the country has progressed. Gold-mining now is conducted on more scientific principles, with the attendant establishment of extensive coal-mines, flax-mills and sawmills, whilst farms now occupy the straths of the rivers. Telegraph-lines, railways, and coach-roads are rapidly overtaking the narrow bridle-tracks which extend and are being extended all over the district.

Westland is intensely interesting to all and every class. To the geologist, in the striking difference of rock-texture, every variety being represented and easily scanned in the frequent sections laid bare in the ravines bordering the different routes; in the numerous hot springs, which here, as in all other deeply-eroded ranges, ooze forth from decomposing sulphides in the pressure-heated strata; and in the many forms of ice-action which have left record of past and present glaciation.

The botanist will be interested in the varieties of alpine lichens, mosses, grasses, flowers, and shrubs; the dwarfed mountain forest and flora, with the tangle of subalpine underbrush; the tree-dotted openings in the valley bottoms; the heavy milling-timbers of the lowlands, with their wealth of parasitical plants, festoons of creepers, and close undergrowth; the sedges and aquatic plants fringing the lakes, streams, and lagoons; and the varied ferns, from the giant tree-fern near the coast to the tiny moss-fern on the high Alps.

The naturalist will find the ornithology quaint and beautiful—the diminutive rock-wren, the kea, and the kakapo on the ranges, the kiwi, the white heron of the coastal waters, and the wild-fowl of the streams and rivers, with hosts of intervening bird-life. On the beaches and in the tidal pools of the south are shells, whilst rookeries of the fur and other seals are also to be found.

To the artist this land presents manifold subjects of diversity and beauty. None need fail, either with brush or lens, to carry away interesting momentoes of land- and sea-scapes and pictures of unique interest, pourtraying the surroundings of the gold-miner and the settlers' homes.

For the mountaineer this is an endless field for activity. He may make his excursion short or far-reaching—either following the few beaten routes, or breaking new ground and climbing the virgin peaks.

The settler will find areas of excellent land suitable for farming, and under the present land laws, by industry and thrift he can redeem an independency from the country now under forest.

The miner will also obtain an outlet for his knowledge in the mineral belts which traverse the mountains right through and contain almost all known metals, he may exploit the coal-bearing regions, or try for gold amongst the quartz in the ranges, the gold-bearing gravels of the terraces, or the auriferous sands on the sea-beaches.

The sawmiller has a great extent of forest lands containing quantities of saleable timbers, which only await working.

Physical Features—Mountains.

The main range (Southern Alps), which is the dividing elevation or backbone of the South Island, constitutes the eastern boundary of Westland for its entire length. This mountain system is snow-covered almost from end to end, and its ice-clad lofty peaks uplift from the snowfields which cap the less abrupt elevations, and which fill the immense intervening hollows (névés). Subsidiary ranges, varying in height, radiate chiefly from “knots” in this great central chain, and are snow-coated most of the year. From these again, ridges covered with dense alpine forests descend steeply into the valleys or fall abruptly to the level of the inland plateaux of the littoral country. The westward faces of these spurs at one time formed the sea-wall. From the sheets of névé-snow alluded to above, numerous glaciers, with feeders from the lateral ranges, extend down the upper main valleys, presenting every aspect of ice-action, and from these the principal rivers take their rise. Parallel with the central mountain-mass and linked to it by low narrow saddles in the northern districts, are isolated mountains, varying in extent and height, which are the remnants of an ancient continuous granite range that extended along the old coast-line. The bold, flat-topped Paparoa Range, lying between the central Grey Valley and the sea-coast, is another island mountain. With the exception of this Paparoa Range and a few outrunners of the central chain, the whole of the above-mentioned areas may, from a settlement point of view and apart from minerals, be considered barren mountain wastes.

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 seaboard 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. Under the heading of “Harbours s, and Ports” post, are described those tidal rivers which are available for oversea shipping.

The Westland rivers and their feeders, flowing with great speed and volume, and being frequent and constant, could easily and cheaply be harnessed for the supply of electric power for the whole of the South Island.

Climate.

The climate is equable and temperate, free from storms and fogs. Immediately after bad weather the clouds roll inland, and there is a prevailing clearness of sky, without wind. 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. Westland has none of the muggy heat of the north, nor the dry, depressing, dust-laden winds of the east. Frost is infrequent and slight along the coast, and a light snowfall has only reached the seaboard once in twenty years.

The rainfall averages 112 in. per annum, and falls for the most part at night. It is undoubtedly heavy, hut does not last, as it is very thorough, and there is none of the long-continued drizzle of the south, from which the adjacent dividing-range completely screens the West Coast.

The following figures exhibit the average temperature for the past few years: Mean temperature in shade in summer, 50†; in winter, 48.5†. The average number of days on which there was no rainfall is 264. Old residents and visitors alike esteem the climate of Westland, at all times of the year, to be most healthy and enjoyable.

Lakes.

The principal 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 vary in character—mountain tarns; coastal tidal lagoons; shallow reedy sheets; deep mountain-girt waters—all are more or less forest-locked, and present every form of lacustrine beauty.

Some of these waters are fairly deep, and sound more than 300 ft. below the sea-level.

The deeper lakes occupy the basins scooped out by ancient glaciers that have receded ages ago. Some again are slowly filling up with the shingle, &c., poured into them by the mountain rivers and streams, whilst others are rising very slowly but definitely; and a few are only remnants of very extensive sheets of Water, as the high marginal lake-formed terraces prove.

In conjunction with their effluents these lakes form valuable waterways for the transport of timber and goods. Eventually, the bulk of them will be used for electric-power purposes.

Soils.

The pastoral highlands have a coating of fine mould, and this continues fairly good down to the heavy-timber line.

Where these lands have a fall or a porous subsoil they produce a fine sward of alpine grasses, which are yearly increasing the cap of rich humus so characteristic of this district. The lower flanks of the mountains hold a thinner and less fertile soil. Although these and the lower heights are somewhat abrupt and unfitted for cultivation, yet when cleared of bush and exposed to the sun and air they improve rapidly, and will eventually become good sheep country. There are scattered areas of hilly lands, more or less extensive, which are of limestone formation. Although unsuitable for agricultural purposes, they are coated with splendid grass-growing soils. These limestone areas are becoming much appreciated by the older settlers who are using the lime to fertilise their pastures. In the formation of soils there have not been, as in other countries, countless herds of animals to depend upon. Only the bones of a few birds and rats enrich them—hence their paucity of bone-producing properties.

A margin, varying in width, of gentle slopes and “fans” fringes the base of the foothills. Here the soil is a rich vegetable mould and proves most productive when properly tilled.

Stretches of good alluvium, composed for the most part of arable free-working soils, border the rivers, streams, and sea-coast. These are admirably adapted for oats and root-cropping.

Pastoral Lands.

The total area of pastoral land now available amounts to 1,850,000 acres, 104,000 of which constitute scattered high mountain grass districts; the balance, 1,746,000 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 inland valleys, large numbers of cattle are bred and fattened on the dense undergrowth of the forest. The tussock herbage of the high lands above the timber-line is at present lying waste. In the past one or two attempts that have been made to utilise this country have failed, because the sheep were left there to brave the winter snow-storms, the owners having become careless owing to having successfully wintered their stock in previous mild seasons. Sheep may be safely pastured on these high lands for eight months in the year, but feed must be provided for them in the low country for the remaining four. There are one or two farmers who are successfully following this method, and there is ample scope for settlers to copy their example. Hitherto sufficient attention has not been paid to the breed of sheep most suitable for these mountain pastures.

Some of the richest soil in Westland is on the middle mountain slopes, and eventually, when these have been cleared of the scrubby stunted timber and grassed, stock may run quite safely throughout the year.

Pastoral Runs open for Selection, as on 1st April, 1905.

There are fifty-nine pastoral runs at present open for selection, varying in area from 2,000 acres to 45,000 acres, the annual rentals of which average £1 per 1,000 acres for a term of ten years. Detailed descriptions of each run, as to locality and nature of country, are published in the Crown Lands Guide, which may be obtained at any Land Office in the colony. Any further desired information will also be promptly supplied on application to the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Hokitika.

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 oven 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.

The settlement of these lands is progressing remarkably, and farmers are now located in almost every valley in the district. These pioneers are very successful in the main, possess comfortable holdings, and evidence further progress by the importation of pedigree stock of all classes, and of agricultural machinery, and by the establishment of dairy factories and creameries. No intending settler could do better than make an inspection of these farming centres, view the local methods of reclaiming the country, and obtain an encouraging object-lesson as to the future from the prosperous homesteads established by the efforts of our early settlers.

The whole of the Westland District is a proclaimed goldfield. Hence before dealing with any portions of the agricultural lands noted above for settlement purposes these various areas have to be withdrawn from mining operations. This is done from time to time as settlement-pressure demands, after duly safeguarding the mining and sawmilling interests by the exclusion of all known auriferous lands and blocks of saleable milling-timbers.

Under the provisions of the Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement Act, special facilities are afforded in Westland to selectors with the most limited capital to obtain a holding, which when laid down in grass is a moderate and sufficient independency.

The following statement exhibits the settlement lands open for selection, as on the 1st April, 1905:—

 Acres.
Unsurveyed rural lands, under the Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement Act100,518
Surveyed rural lands, under the Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement Act8,975

Many other areas in different parts of the district are now being surveyed into suitable farming allotments. The capital values of these lands vary from 5s. to £1 per acre. They are wholly procurable on lease in perpetuity, under the above-mentioned enactment, which provides that after the payment of the first half-year's rent no further rental or tax of any description is leviable for two, three, and four years, according to the nature of the surface or bush.

Intending settlers should write to the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Hokitika, and all possible information will be promptly forwarded for their guidance.

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, even the broken mountain-faces being wrapped with foliage. The varieties of trees differ considerably according to soil and altitude. Kamahi and rata are the chief timbers—very useful for firewood—and being spread over the whole district, constituting an almost inexhaustible supply. Rimu is the chief milling-timber, and this also is widely distributed from the seaboard to the interior uplands. Valuable stretches of white-pine belt the low-lying coastal lands, and the same may be remarked concerning the imperishable silver-pine. Clumps of black-pine are met with, also rarer patches of totara, while cedars are scattered along the flanks of the in-and ranges and all over the lower hills and plateaux. The approximate area of forest is 2,394,051 acres, of which a fair proportion carries timber fit for the sawmill, the remainder being mainly firewood and mining timbers and dwarfed alpine bush.

The sawmilling industry has advanced considerably during 1904. With the contemplated early extension of existing railway-lines and main roads and the improvements of southern harbours and waterways, it will undoubtedly still further progress. Westland is well fitted for an expansion of this industry, as the forests extend over the whole district. Coal is located in many places, whilst the power derivable from the rivers and streams, either direct or by electricity, is practically unlimited. The isolation of the district, limited means of transport, and want of good harbours at present act against the utilisation of the areas of marketable timber south of Ross; but this is only a temporary obstruction, and ere long means will be adopted to cope with these difficulties.

The sawmills at present in operation (save three smaller ones) are located north of Hokitika River—that is, in proximity to the running railway-lines. The millers are gradually extending their operations into the back country of the northern district, whence the haulage to the railways and ports is conducted by means of light railways, tramways, traction-engines, and water-carriage, via lakes and streams. Red-pine is the timber principally cut by the mills, and is accounted of very fine quality; but large quantities of white-pine have also been milled during the season and exported to Australia for butter-boxes. A few of the small mills cut silver-pine railway sleepers only. A certain quantity of totara, black-birch, black-pine, &c., has also been utilised, but not in large quantities. A few mills are run by water-power, but the bulk of them use steam.

The appended summary shows the present position of the industry in West-laud:—

Number of Mills.Number of Hands.Horsepower.Cutting-capacity.Output for the Year.
   Super, ft. Super. ft.
5160991388,990,000White-pine5,091,734
    Silver-pine3,625,436
    Red-pine, &c.28,532,605
           Total37,249,775

It is estimated that quite nine hundred hands are employed either about the mills or in cutting firewood, fencing-posts, railway-sleepers, bridge piles and braces, telegraph-poles, and blocks for houses; while many are wholly engaged in furnishing the props, sluice-blocks, and other timbers required for the coal and gold-mines. From a settlement point of view alone these lumberers and their families are consumers of all kinds of farm-produce, and are thus local markets for the farmers.

Flax-milling.

Every available strip of flax in this district has been taken up. Eleven flax-mills are now in full working-order, located all over the coast. The output of fibre has not been large, as most of the mills have only recently commenced operations. The industry, by the employment given and the consumption of local produce, further tends to the settlement of the country.

Means of Communication.

Steamer Access.—Hokitika and Greymouth are the principal shipping centres, and steamers of various lines trade daily between the latter port and the other ports of the colony. A subsidised steamer runs between Hokitika, Okarito, and the southern ports as far as Jackson's Bay, plying every two or three months, thus enabling miners and settlers to obtain supplies and the latter 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 and Bluff. Cargo-craft of various tonnage, with and without auxiliary steam-power, likewise make periodical calls at Hokitika and Greymouth.

Railways.—As yet only a portion of the northern district has been railed.

Hokitika to Greymouth (24 miles).—This line, with the exception of a loop midway to connect with Kumara, runs parallel to and only a short distance from the ocean-beach. Many interesting phases of old and modern gold-workings are passed through along the base of the wooded terrace which, at no far-distant date, formed the shore-line. Sundry small farms and wayside holdings are on either hand, and lumbering and gold-mining takes place on the plateaux and in the gullies for miles inland all the way through, numerous flag-stations affording termini for this side traffic.

And hereabouts, as elsewhere in Westland, there are clusters of miners, farmers, and wood-cutters, whose workings and clearings he scattered far back on the terraces and amongst the hollows of the surrounding forest, of whom the passing traveller is unaware.

Greymouth to Runanga (5 miles).—This short line connects with the State Coal-mine in the vicinity of the newly established Township of Runanga, which lies to the north-east of the Port of Greymouth.

Greymouth to Reefton (46 miles).—This railway taps the central and lower valley of the Grey River, via Brunnerton, Stillwater, Ngahere, and Ahaura, as well as six minor stations all within the Westland District. A great tonnage of coal from the Brunner, Tyneside, and Blackball mines, large quantities of timber from the numerous sawmills, gold-mining material, green flax, farming produce, stock, and goods, besides a large number of passengers, are railed along this line. A further section (Reefton to Inangahua Junction) is in course of construction.

Greymouth to Otira.—This line branches from the Reefton line at Stillwater and proceeds up the Arnold Valley, via Lake Brunner and Taramakau Valley to Otira (42 miles from Stillwater and 51 from Greymouth). Large quantities of timber are brought down this section from the numerous sawmills that are established alongside of the line. Stock and produce also swell the amount of traffic, and there is also a considerable and increasing number of passengers travelling to and from Christchurch by the overland coach, which connects the present termini of the railways at Otira and Springfield.

The railways in course of construction in connection with the Westland system include the extension of the Greymouth-Reefton section down the valley of the Inangahua River (20 miles), to the Buller Valley, a very convenient and promising line. There is also the link (43 miles) between the Otira terminus and the works now progressing up the Waimakariri Valley to complete communication between the East and West Coast. This includes the contemplated tunnel through the main range between the Otira and Bealey valleys. The extension of the Greymouth-Hokitika line to Ross (Hi miles), is likewise in progress, and its completion will render an immense area of milling-timber available, will revive the mining industry by the economical carriage of material and coal, and enable large numbers of fat stock to be railed to the northern markets.

Roads.—An arterial road extends throughout Westland from the Upper Grey valley, via Ahaura, Greymouth, Kumara, Hokitika, Ross, and Okarito, down to the Haast River, and thence partly by sea-beach and rough tracks almost to Big Bay, on the confines of Otago. This thoroughfare is fit for vehicle traffic down to the Waiho, but southward of that river it is merely a horse-track. The rivers in the northern district, as far as the Waitaha, are all bridged; below that point ferries are placed on all the large streams, so that access is safe and uninterrupted right through, via Haast Pass, to Otago.

Three roads only have been made across the island leading out of Westland. One, a coach-road, runs from Hokitika via Kumara to Christchurch. The others are bridle-roads, one of which at present is out of repair and impassible, leads up the Ahaura Valley via the Amuri Pass into North Canterbury, and the other, in good order, proceeds from the sea-coast up the Haast Valley via the Makarora River to Pembroke in Otago.

Numerous short dray-roads and horse-tracks branch from these trunk lines to the various mining and settlement centres, while the sea-beach and open shingle river-beds likewise give access to the adjacent country. Sundry dips and cols, varying from 1,800 ft. to over 7,000 ft. in height, leading across the Southern Alps have been explored and mapped, and during the summer months are repeatedly crossed by experienced mountaineers. Of these depressions the only subalpine saddle is Haast Pass, all the others being liable to blocks by winter snow.

Four rough foot-tracks, blazed through the bush and partly benched, go across into Canterbury, as follows: (1) Via Arahura and Browning's Rivers over Browning's Pass into the Wilberforce Valley; (2) via Hokitika River over Mathias Pass into Mathias Valley; (3) via Whitcombe River, over Whitcombe's Pass into Rakaia Valley; and (4) via Copland River, over the main divide to the Hermitage in the Tasman Valley.

As a whole our roads are smooth and level, and, passing through rocky and gravelly districts, are free from mud and dust.

Coach Traffic.—Coaches three times a week connect with Canterbury via Arthur's Pass and also ply daily between Ross, Hokitika, Kumara, Greymouth, and the neighbouring towns. Once a week a mail is despatched by coach to Okarito and thence conveyed on horseback southward to Paringa, and once a fortnight to Jackson's Bay.

Telegraph Lines.—These extend along all the trunk road-lines in the north, with numerous telephonic connections with side districts, and south as far as Okarito.

Towns.

Greymouth.—This borough, the largest town in Westland, containing a population of some five thousand, has progressed 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. The rising township of Cobden, which is placed on the north bank of the Grey River immediately abreast of Greymouth, to which it is linked by a fine bridge, may be considered a suburb of the borough. It contains a population of about five hundred, and is principally occupied by the residences of Greymouth merchants and tradesmen.

Four railway-lines radiate from Greymouth—to the State coal-mines at Runanga, to Reefton, to Otira, and to Hokitika. Extensions of the three last-mentioned lines are in course of construction. The town possesses several very fine buildings, notably the handsome new Town Hall, the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches, the State school buildings, convent structure and school, Harbour Board buildings, hospital, and many other substantial edifices. The principal street facing the port has been almost wholly rebuilt during late years and presents a fine appearance, while the numbers of comfortable up-to-date residences give a most pleasing aspect to this prosperous place. A monument in honour of those v. ho fell in the African war is erected in a central position. The town has a telephone exchange, a good public library, first-class sewer-system, an abundant high-pressure water-supply, and is well paved and lighted, the water-works and gasworks belonging to the corporation. One of the Government railway workshops is located here, and amongst other local industries are a foundry and engineering establishment, breweries, sawmills, dairy factory, sash and door factories, furniture-manufactories, meat-preserving works, lime and cement works, coach-factories, &c. Recreation-grounds have been laid out, one in the southern suburb and the other, containing a pretty racing track and stand, lies almost alongside the main town. About one mile out is the racecourse, which in equipment and surroundings is esteemed one of the best in the colony.

A description of the Port of Greymouth will be found post.

Hokitika.—This town is situated at the north mouth of the Hokitika River, bordering the sea-beach. It contains a population of about two thousand, and is mainly dependent on the adjacent sawmills, flax-mills, farming settlements, and gold-mines. A considerable trade is also done by sea with the miners and settlers in south Westland, for which district it is the shipping-port. It possesses convenient structures, such as a drill-shed, theatre, four churches, convent, and school as well as a commodious Town Hall, containing the Corporation offices, library, public reading-room, and museum; is lit with gas and has a telephone exchange. A fine clock-tower, with chimes, has been erected in the centre of the town in memory of the Westland troopers who fell in the Boer war. A very handsome building encloses the High and State schools. On a high terrace immediately north of the borough are situated the hospital, gaol, and lunatic asylum, all of which, with their many detached buildings, gardens, and grounds, are beautifully kept. There is a fine central park—the recreation-ground of the place. As the suburban dwellings are surrounded by gardens the town has a most pleasing aspect. It enjoys grand views of Mount Cook and other dominant peaks, and from the terrace on the Town Belt the panorama of snow-capped mountains is one of the finest in the world. Excursions by road and water can be made to the adjacent beauty-spots and Lakes Kanieri and Mahinapua, which are unrivalled in their different scenic aspects. On the eastern boundary of the borough is the racecourse, which is well equipped and pleasantly situated. The local industries comprise sawmills, flaxmills, sash, door, and furniture factories, foundry and engineering shops, fish-cannery, coachbuilding, bone-mill, breweries, and coffee and spice works. Hokitika is connected with Greymouth and the north by railway, which will ere long be open southward to Ross. In connection with this latter extension a fine combined railway and traffic bridge has been erected across the Hokitika River and proves a great convenience to the townspeople and suburban residents.

Brunner.—Picturesquely situated on the banks of the Grey River, seven miles above Greymouth, it includes the villages of Dobson, Taylorville, and Walls-end, and contains about fifteen hundred people. This town is wholly dependent on the adjacent Brunner and Tyneside coal-mines and their allied industries of coke-burning and brick and tile making. The output of these mines and the 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 1,130 inhabitants is placed on the skirts of the largest alluvial gold-field in New Zealand. Main roads to Hokitika, Greymouth, and Christchurch radiate from this place, and a fine road of four miles connects it with the railway. The town is finely situated on a high table-land, 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. Largo 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. Kumara has finely equipped and well-built schools and a hospital.

Ross.—Population, 670. 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 waterlogged. It is expected that these deep levels will be worked again in the near future, and the town renew its old prosperity. The completion of the railway from Hokitika will greatly benefit Ross and the surrounding district.

Blackball.—Population about eight hundred. A township in the Grey Valley mainly dependent on the coal-mines in its vicinity. A railway and traffic bridge has been constructed over the Grey River, and a branch line about two miles and a half long will connect the town with the main trunk railway.

In addition to the towns already enumerated there are many small mining and sawmilling centres, such as Ahaura, Hatters' Terrace, No Town, Stillwater, Kokiri, Nelson Creek, Moana, Noble's, 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.

Ports.

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 1,400 ft. with internal half-tide training-walls, the result being an average depth of water on the bar of 20 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 a berthage accommodation of 2,355 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 1904 was: 593 steamers, tonnage 226,506; 28 sailing-vessels, tonnage 4,751; being a total tonnage of 231,257 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 ½ tons to 12 tons, so that every encouragement is given to quick despatch. 200,641 tons of coal, 1,854 tons of coke, 1,659 tons of bricks, 21,721,094 superficial feet of sawn timber, and 92,870 sleepers were exported, and 44,708 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. to 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.

The several succeeding places are each the port for the adjacent small mining and farming settlements which are wholly dependent on the periodical steamers for their supplies and for the export of flax, timber, produce, and, at times, of fat stock for the northern markets. The Government steamship calls at the three bays noted below, and the local steamer from Hokitika visits all these minor ports every two and three months, whilst other steamers ply to such of these places as trade induces; but as all the rivers have bar entrances the working of them is often precarious and intermittent.

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. The sand and pipi bank was blown up recently by the Government.

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 southward. Good anchorage in 18 ft. of water opposite the Green Rock, which stands up out of the water. Good boat-landing with above named winds on a smooth sandy beach.

Paringa River.—104 miles south-west of Hokitika. Open roadstead. Vessels coming in and out should give Hanata 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.—118 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.—139 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.—153 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 bar. 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 great 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, 200 miles south-west of Hokitika: At the extreme southwest 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 Taramakau, Waitaha, Wataroa, Whanganui, Wai...to, Arawata, and Cascade Rivers, all of which have bar entrances Goods and passengers are also landed at the roadsteads of Saltwater, Gillespie's Beach, and Abbey Rocks.

Minerals and Mining.

The whole of the District of Westland is a proclaimed goldfield and contains the greatest area of alluvial auriferous ground on the West Coast.

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 thereto 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 landslides.

Hydraulic mining on a large scale is successfully carried on in various portions of the northern districts, and is 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 surveyed, of the Humphrey's Gully water-race to Rimu and Back Creek will 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 prospected, and it is expected 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-hearing 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 (“blacksanders”) 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.

The reefs at Garden Gully, on the Paparoa Range, are now undergoing a. thorough test by a well-equipped battery on the spot, and evidence satisfactory results.

At Browning's Pass deposits of auriferous quartz, known as the “Westland Reefs,” have been traced for considerable distances, and are at present being prospected by several parties of experienced miners.

The amount of gold exported during the past year amounted to 109,966 oz., valued at £439,841.

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, Tearoha, 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.

First-class slate, suitable for any purpose, exists in the upper Wanganui valley and on the Paparoa range. Fine pottery-clays and fireclays are also in bulk on this range, and building-stone of all kinds, granite freestone, &c., is to be found all over the Coast. Limestone also occurs in different localities, comprising qualities suitable for making lime and cement, and also for lithographic purposes. Greenstone (pounamu), is now largely exported for fine lapidary and jewellers' work, and commands a ready sale. Iron-ores occur in quantity in various localities.

Coal-mining.—As noted before, great quantities of coal are obtained from the mines at Brunnerton, and also from the fine seams at Blackball, higher up the Grey Valley. Extensive seams are now being developed at the State coal-mine in the Seven-mile Creek basin, and further along the coast. On the higher slopes of the Paparoa range areas have been surveyed and leased, and large-outcrops are being prospected. It would appear that the greater portion of the seaward country hereabouts contains very extensive coalfields: it undoubtedly contains the greatest area of coal-bearing strata yet discovered, but nevertheless 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 areas of coal exist, and possibly borings would prove the lower coal-beds to be intact under the overlying drifts. The four large coal-mines now at work—viz., the Brunner, Tyneside, Blackball, and State coal-mines—are all finely equipped with the latest machinery, are directly linked to the main railway by branch lines, and produce great quantities of coal varying in character and suited for different economic purposes. Last year some 250,000 tons were raised and railed to various towns, but principally into Greymouth, whence it was shipped to places in and beyond the colony.

Chapter 77. THE CANTERBURY LAND DISTRICT.

Chief Surveyor.. Thomas Humphries

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†3o'. 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 9,000 ft. 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.† 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 Kith 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. Lyttelton, 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. A further portion, Scargill to Hurunui (about twenty-three miles), is almost completed, and work is actively in progress beyond this point towards Westlands (about twenty-seven miles). It is proposed to extend this branch to Mackenzie, in the Cheviot District. An extension of the main line from Culverden to Hanmer 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 about 470 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 Bank Peninsula and in the Mount Peel and Waimate districts, where the timber consists chiefly of 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 lauds of small value), 2,350,801 acres: total, 9,604,045 acres.

The disposition of lands was in 1905 as follows:—No. of Holders.Area in 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)..3,858,826
2. Lands held on deferred payments169,769
3. Lands held on perpetual lease593,145
4. Lands held as leaseholds in perpetuity1,494273,304
5. Lands held in occupation with right of purchase375,085
6. Lands held as village-homestead special settlements40812,447
7. Lands held as small grazing-runs93197,063
8. Lands held as grazing-farms (on Cheviot Estate)5046,020
9. Pastoral licenses1423,452,942
10. Special-settlement associations414,651
11. Reserves and Crown lands held under temporary occupation licenses (area, 92,929 acres, included in 12 and 16)712..
12. Area of land reserved and granted under various Acts (exclusive of Midland Railway land; included in 1)..971,432
13. Land purchased and disposed of under Land for Settlements Acts (included in 4, 7, 10, and 11; 1, 137 holders, 240,058 acres)....
14. Crown lands open for selection..69,288
15. Crown lands being prepared for selection....
16. Barren lands, and lands for future disposal..700,073
                    Total3,0529,604,045

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.

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 1904-5 the area under crop for threshing was 187,104 acres, being nearly three-fourths of the total wheat-area of the colony. The total yield was 6,559,135 bushels, being an average of 35.05 bushels per acre.

Oats also are very successfully grown, the figures for the same period being 137,782 acres, or about two-fifths of the total area of this crop in the colony. The total yield was 6,234.367 bushels, being an average of 45.24 bushels per acre.

Barley of superior quality is also produced, the figures being 9,253 acres, equal to nearly one-third of the total area of barley-crop in the colony. The total yield was 387,523 bushels, being an average of 41.88 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 or excellent quality, were grown in 1904-5 on 7,135 acres; turnips and rape were grown on 222,180 acres, and the combined area of other crops grown, including rye, peas, beans, mangolds, beet, carrots, and onions, was 18,658 acres. The area of wheat, oats, and barley for fodder was 67,485 acres. The area ploughed and laid down in English grasses was 1,591,453 acres. Surface-sown lands comprised 524,135 acres. The total area under crop was 649,597 acres, and the area broken up but not in crop, 14,478 acres. Plantations, exclusive of private gardens, occupied an area of 24,072 acres. The aggregate area of private and market gardens, orchards, and vineyards over quarter of an acre in extent was 8,173 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 1905:—

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.  
Amuri24,162544,800311 ⅔Races are maintained by an annual charge in proportion to area watered. 
Ashley122,00050025,0004127,000,000From ¾d. to 6d. per acre, in addition to special rates for interest on loans. 
Selwyn326,8881,13279,30741090,940,9608s. 4d. to £1 6s. 6d. per 100 acres. 
Ashburton586,0001,40043,78015 ¾86,000,000From £2 to £3 per mile of race. 
Geraldine71,2122609,01026 ½29,520,000About 7d. per acre, including a rate for payment of principal and interest on loans, and a rate for maintenance. 
Levels19,000715,50059 ½6,480,0001 ½d. per acre, and on part of area an interest-rate of ¼d. in the pound on capital-value. 
Mackenzie9,400351,93541 ½7,516,8002 11/16d. per acre on part of district and ⅝d. in the pound on capital value in remainder of district. 
Waimate35,7001578,125478,500,000Races are maintained by an annual charge on the value of lands watered. 

The sheep in the District of Canterbury, in April, 1904, numbered 4,606,744. In October, 1904, there were 58,238 horses, mules, and asses, 135,892 cattle, and 55,208 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, 1904, the number of carcases frozen was 1.575,962, valued at £1,067,995. There were also produced 9,278 cases of preserved meats, 2,518 tons of tallow, 7,823 tons of manure, besides neatsfoot oil, oleo, &c.

The frozen meat exported from Canterbury during the year ended 31st March, 1905, was valued at £1,022,819. At Belfast, Fairfield (near Ashburton), Islington, Timaru, and Pareora 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 Canterbury Frozen Meat and Dairy Produce Export Company (Limited) owns the Belfast Freezing Works, with storage for 90,000 carcases, and a daily capacity of 5,500 carcases; the Fairfield Works (near Ashburton), with storage for 65,000 carcases, and a daily capacity of 4,500 carcases; and the Pareora Works (near Timaru), which have storage for 100,000 carcases, and can deal with 5,000 in a day. The works have engines representing 950-horse power, and employ 719 men when in full work. 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 120,000 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, 1905, there were shipped at Lyttelton and Timaru 33,631,274 lb. wool, valued at £1,324,834; and to this must be added the amount (about 1,200,000 lb.) 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 900 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 lb. to 7 lb.; quarter-breds. 6 ½ lb.; half-breds, 7 ½ lb.; three-quarters, 8 ½ lb.; Leicesters, 10 ½ lb.; Lincoln, 11 lb. From special flocks clips up to 25 lb. and 30 lb. 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 Le Bon's Bay, as well as cheese-factories at Flemington and German Bay. The number of cheese and butter factories in the district in 1904 was 17, and of creameries 40; the output of butter and cheese amounted to 3,933,440 lb.

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 1904, the output from 15 collieries, employing about 70 hands, was 25,120 tons, bringing the total amount raised from 26 collieries up to the 31st December, 1904, to 478,233 tons. The seams worked vary from 16 ft. to 2ft. 3in., 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, 1905, was 24,738. Average daily attendance, 21,232. Number of teachers—males, 251; females, 410: total, 661. Number of schools, 283.

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 277. 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, commercials 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 23,429 books, and a reference library of 15,547 volumes. One hundred and thirty-three magazines and newspapers are provided. The number of subscribers is 1,900, and the average daily attendance 1,300. A spacious free reading-room, 60 ft. by 36 ft., has been erected, and is supplied with 151 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 Sumner; 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 seating 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 opening 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 ⅝ 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 clay 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, 1905, the imports were valued at £2,236,608 and the exports at £2,230,529. 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 via Sumner. The harbour is well defended by fortifications and batteries on Ripa Island and the mainland. The population is about 4,500 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, 1905, the value of goods imported here was £204,124 and of produce exported £952,112. 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 has 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 1,900, 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 2,500, 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 980, 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, and fellmongery. There is a beautiful park and domain. The population of the borough is 1,600 persons.

Waimate, population about 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 78. THE OTAGO LAND DISTRICT.

Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor.. David Barron

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, to opposite Round Peaks; thence by southern watershed of the Greenstone, Hollyford, and John o' Groats Rivers to the ocean at Stripe Point; and on the north-west by the ocean to Big Bay.

The district measures about 160 miles from Stripe Point on the west coast to Waikouaiti Bay on the east coast, and the same distance from north to south. Its area, is 8,882,800 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. The thirteen sounds that pierce this coast are on the west coast of the Southland District. 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 can be procured if required 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 Waitaki: 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 Anau, in Southland421 to 6132694
Manapouri, Southland14450597
Wakatipu, in Otago501 to 3 ½1141,069
Wanaka291 to 375928
Hawea193481,062
Ohau111 to 3231,720
Pukaki112 ½ to 5311,538
Tekapo151 to 3 ½32 ½2,325

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, Manapouri, 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 (Grey town).

A small privately-owned steamer runs from Henley to the mouth of the Taieri River on holidays, and bi-weekly during the summer months. There is also a house-boat in connection with the steamer. The scenery 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 Bide 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 soft wood; 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 Tokomairiro 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 1904 was 433,251 tons, an increase of 27,412 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. Not 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. 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 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 and thrive in a dry climate. The grape might be cultivated either for wine-making or for the table, and some varieties could be 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 districts, including Southland. The following are the agricultural statistics for the year ending the 31st March, 1905:—

Total area in occupation in the provincial district, including sown grasses and fallow land, 10,373,910 acres. Corn-crops sown for threshing, chaffing, and feeding-off, comprising wheat, oats, barley, rye, maize, peas, beans, linseed, hops, vetches, and other similar crops, 295,682 acres; green and root-crops, including grasses sown for seed and hay, 250,901 acres; land broken up and grassed, 1,487,066 acres; in clover, 4,659 acres; surface-sown with grass without the land being first broken up, 298,226 acres; plantations, &c., including private gardens, market gardens, orchards, and vineyards of a quarter of an acre and upwards, 11,827 acres; land ploughed but. not planted, 31,036 acres; area in tussock or native grass, 7,994,513 acres.

 Acres.Estimated Yield per Acre.Total.
Wheat for threshing53,65337.94 bushels2,035,861 bushels
Oats ”167,02541.21 ”6,883,583 ”
Barley ”3,81435.81 ”136,582 ”
Stock.
      Total number of sheep on 30th April, 19043,360,743
      Horses61,470
      Cattle321,654
      Swine33,404

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, 1905, amounted to 5,278,977 skins, valued at £33,524.

Freezing Establishments.

There are three freezing and preserving works in Otago. The establishment are at Oamaru, Burnside, and 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 30,000 carcases. The Port Chalmers freezing-works, erected in 1896 by the Otago Dock Trust, are largely used for the storage of butter prior to shipment, and for the freezing of rabbits during the season when these are available for export. The refrigerating machinery originally consisted of a 12-ton Hercules, but. lately the buildings were enlarged, and a 35-ton Hercules was added. At Burnside there is a 75-ton Hercules machine, capable of freezing 2,000 sheep per day, and there is storage-room for 50,000 carcases. In addition to the usual export in mutton and lamb, much export business is done at these works in rabbit-freezing.

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 156,655 oz. of gold were exported from Dunedin, having a value of £629,672.

Manufactories and Works.

Under this head the returns to 31st March, 1905, give within the Otago Provincial District—12 aerated-water and cordial factories; 5 agricultural implement factories; 6 bacon-curing establishments; 4 basket-making factories; 7 biscuit-factories; 100 blacksmithing establishments; 10 brewing establishments; 105 bakers; 16 brick, tile, and pottery works; 2 brush-factories; 63 boot-factories; 49 butter and cheese factories; 3 cardboard-box factories; 34 carpentering works; 2 cigarette-factories; 3 confectionery-factories; 6 coffee and spice factories; 2 coopering-factories; 34 coach building and painting factories; 15 clothing-factories; 21 cycle-fitting establishments; 8 dental establishments; 132 dressmaking establishments; 35 engineering-works; 2 electrical-works; 2 engraving-works; 1 explosive-factory; 39 flaxmills; 11 fish-curing works; 2 flockmaking establishments; 3 fruit-preserving works; 15 fellmongeries, tanning, currying, and wool-scouring establishments; 45 furniture-factories; 4 gasworks, 21 grain-mills; 4 gunsmithing shops; 3 hatmaking establishments; 9 hosiery-factories; 1 ink-factory; 4 iron and brass works; 2 jam-factories; 2 lime and cement works; 39 laundries; 5 lapidary-works; 2 manure-works; 3 mat and rug factories; 4 monumental masonry works; 1 match-factory; 4 meat-preserving works; 2 paper-mills; 11 patent medicine establishments; 5 piano-repairing factories; 16 photographers; 39 printing establishments; 5 rabbit-packing establishments; 2 rope and twine works; 28 saddlery and harness factories; 26 sawmills and sash and door factories; 2 sauce and pickle factories; 8 sail, tent, and oilskin factories; 9 shirt-making factories; 3 ship and boat building yards; 5 soap-factories; 95 tailoring-factories; 9 tea-packing establishments; 40 tinsmithing and plumbing factories; 3 umbrella-factories; 2 venetian-blind factories; 26 watchmaking-factories; 2 waterproof-factories; 3 wire-working establishments.

Woollen-mills.

There are four woollen-mills at work in the Provincial District of Otago, employing about 1,200 hands. The woollen industry in Otago is of greater magnitude than in any other district of New Zealand, and as an exemplification of the excellent quality of the material turned out it may be mentioned that the Mosgiel Woollen Factory took the Grand Prix at St. Louis Exposition for rugs, blankets, and wool.

Besides supplying local needs Otago Provincial District exported during the year ended 31st March, 1905, 9,606,183 lb. of wool, valued at £367,799.

The number of hands employed are 7,588 males and 3661 females; total number of works of the above description, 1,243.

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, and Victoria 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 in 1903 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 in also in Dunedin a training-college for teachers. The students in training number sixty-two.

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 1904 there were 388 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 306.

The Otago Girls' High School was opened on the 6th February, 1871, with a roll of 78 pupils. The present attendance is 185, with a teaching staff of 11, 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 £6 per annum per head.

There are now 222 boys and 153 girls in attendance at the schools under the new Government regulations.

The University of Otago was founded in 1869, and opened in 1871. It is well housed in a pile of handsome buildings after the domestic Gothic style. There are four separate faculties in the University—viz., arts and science, medicine, mining, and law. The teaching staff comprises twenty-six professors and lecturers.

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 School of Mines occupies a separate (temporary) building. It possesses a metallurgical testing-plant, well-equipped mining, geological, and metallurgical laboratories. The curriculum provides for the course prescribed for the B.Sc. degrees in mining and metallurgy of the University of New Zealand, geology, and for the Associate diplomas in mining and metallurgy of the University of Otago.

The undergraduates keeping terms in the present year are 239 men and 94 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 £15 to £30 per annum.

The public museum is under the control of the University Council. It is situated in Great King Street, about five minutes' walk from the University. It includes a public art gallery, in which there are some good works of art, and a well-equipped biological laboratory. Up to the present, time only the central portion of the original design for the museum building has been erected.

The Dunedin Athenæum 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 Monument, 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 on 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 68.

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 800 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 5,500. 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 leads 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 Ward 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. The main line continues on from Mosgiel, passing the smaller townships of Allanton (Grey-town) and Henley, and Lakes Waihola and Waipori, 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 2,000. 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 Mataura 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), Heriot (114 miles), and Edievale (120 miles).

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, eighty-one miles from Dunedin, thence proceeds across the Maniototo Plain to the watersheds of the Taieri and Manuherikia Rivers and through the Ida Valley to Omakau Station (Ophir), the present terminus, and is under construction towards Alexandra and Clyde.

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 of importance 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 home? 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 River, twenty-three miles; and Waipahi to Edievale, twenty-seven miles. (3.) The Otago Central, from Wingatui to Omakau, 120 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., 5,230 square miles; forest land below 2,000 ft., 1,710 square miles; open land above 2,000 ft., 6,177 square miles; forest land above 2,000 ft., 500 square miles; area of lakes, &c., 262 square miles: total, 13,879 square miles, or 8,882,800 acres.

The following table shows the disposition of the land in the Otago District on 31st March, 1905:—

 HoldingsAcres.
1. Lands finally alienated, comprising freehold land and vested reserves (net area after deducting land acquired under Land for Settlements Acts, &c...2,762,978
2. Lands held on deferred payment, rural318,121
3. Lands held on perpetual lease, rural21941,120
4. Lands held under occupation-with-right-of-purchase clause24441,144
5. Lands held on lease in perpetuity, ordinary Crown lands, rural750184,321
6. Lands held under agricultural lease on goldfields17542
7. Lands held under Mining Districts Land Occupation Act2268,694
8. Lands held under village settlement, deferred payment2100
9. Lands held under village settlement, perpetual lease15312
10. Lands held under village settlement, lease in perpetuity1141,643
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-runs272562,887
14. Lands held under pastoral license, not including bush2134,324,622
15. Lands held under lease and license for miscellaneous purposes, exclusive of gold-mining670132,582
16. Lands acquired and disposed of as lease in perpetuity under Land for Settlements Act, rural42059,329
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 Act501,563
20. Crown lands open for selection (including Land for Settlements Act), exclusive of pastoral lands..39,739
21. Crown lands being prepared for selection....
22. Land open for application under pastoral licenses..40,818
23. Lands held by aboriginal natives..16,500
24. Lakes, and Clutha and Taieri Rivers..163,500
25. Balance of Crown lands, including mining reserves, public reserves not vested, bush-lands, roads, barren country, &c...483,727
Total area of district (13,879 square miles), 8,882,800

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.

Chapter 79. THE SOUTHLAND LAND DISTRICT.

Chief Surveyor.. J. Hay

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 7,566,592 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 Mat aura. 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, To Anau, Manapouri, Hauroto, 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 budding, 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 he, 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 11 creameries, 8 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 (1904) for this district, under “Exports,” give the following interesting figures: Butter, 2,405 cwt., value £10,821; cheese, 21,498 cwt., value £51,168.

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 wing 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 reaches 1,102,803. This number is distributed over Southland District. During the later portion 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 more than neutralised the depletion. A number of large establishments for slaughtering and freezing sheep and tinning meat are at work. Two large establishments are situated at the Bluff, and another at Mataura (on the Main Trunk Railway-line). Beef, mutton, and rabbit 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—80,767 carcases, value £52,650; lamb—120,251 carcases, value £58,292; rabbit-skins—774,295, value £6,650.

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 42,000 to 45,000 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-six steam power dredges are on the Waikaka, twelve at Wakaia, fen on the Waimumu and Charlton Streams, one at Mataura, and one at. Chatton. These dredges Lave 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 seventy-four 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 fifty-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, strawberries &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 about 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, Wakatipu, 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 469,042 tons entered inwards during 1904, 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, 1903, the s.s. “Ayrshire' left the port for London drawing 27 ft. 10 in., and with a cargo estimated to be 15,000 tons; but in view of the increasing size of steamers, and the possibility of the great ocean passenger lines extending their terminals to New Zealand, the Board has recently imported an up-to-date bucket and suction dredge built by Simon's, of Renfrew, and capable of dredging to a depth of 40 ft. By this means it is intended to make the harbour one of the most accessible and commodious in the colony. The 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 Invercargill, 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 3lst March, 1905, was 62,488 acres, comprising the following lands:—

Town and suburban738 acres.
Village-homestead settlements817 ”
Rural-ordinary4,372 ”
” —bush and swamp44,393 ”
Land for settlements8,356 ”
Rural—lease in perpetuity118 ”
” —bush and swamp (lease in perpetuity), unsurveyed3,694 ”
                    Total62,488 ”
Unsurveyed pastoral runs78,009 ”
                    Gross total140,497 ”

Chapter 80. 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 he 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 Licensing Act Amendment Act, 1904,” contains special provisions dealing with the question of liquor in the Cook and other Islands. The New Zealand Customs Tariff is in force within the extended boundaries, 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, until last year, there were also the Arikis' Courts, which were composed of Native Judges, except at Aitutaki, where no Court was legally constituted unless the European Magistrate was present. Under “The Cook and other Islands Government Act Amendment Act, 1904,” however, the Arikis' Courts have been abolished in all those islands in which a European Resident Agent has been appointed, and the jurisdiction and power of these Courts or a Judge thereof are now exercised by such 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 Court, 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. Appeals are allowed from the local Courts to the High Court. In cases in which white people are concerned. These are dealt with in Niue the laws are administered by Native Magistrates, except in a Court held by the Resident Commissioner.

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 Nine 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 2,100 ft., the island is well watered; and a belt of rich 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 the total area is 16,500 acres. 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 a considerable portion of the island has been surveyed. With the advent of a larger European population a steady increase in the yield of the staple products or 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 cocoanut-palm is being extensively planted, and, given favourable conditions, the results may be awaited with confidence. The banana trade is developing very satisfactorily, and large areas are being planted with this fruit. Rarotonga is particularly well adapted to the growth of the banana, and the outlook so far as this item is concerned is distinctly hopeful, the export from the group for 1904 having exceeded that of the previous year by 14,000 cases. 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 has been erected here for the accommodation of visitors, and it is hoped that a tourist traffic will now be developed. The population of Rarotonga is 2,200, about a hundred 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 or 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, Tainarua, and lvirua, 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 1,515, of whom eight are Europeans. The people are said to display a greater degree of industry than is usual among Natives of the Pacific islands, and 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 he 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 opened through the reef, and when this has been accomplished the chief hindrance to the development of the trade of this island will be removed.

The Resident Agent at Mangaia is Mr. J. T. Large.

Mauke.

This island is low and flat, and is skirted by a belt of ironwood (toa), which 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 another landing-place at the northern side of the island. Mauke also has its makatea, 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. Tararo, Ariki, is Resident Agent on Mauke. The population of the island is 370, the Europeans numbering only three.

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 about 920 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 Native population at present is 907, 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. There are seven white people on the island. 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 taken 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 at Tuapa, 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 hardwood. 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 two years ago; 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. 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. Concrete tanks are now being constructed 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, the material used being a kind of pandanus, and the trade has already assumed large dimensions. During the year ending the 31st December, 1904, hats to the number of 6,053 dozen were exported from Niue, principally to Auckland, the value represented being £4,407. There is also a good trade done in curios, fungus, and copra. The population of Niue may be stated as 4,100. exclusive of some four hundred men at present absent in other islands. The Niueans arc naturally of a roving disposition, and numbers of the men go to Tonga, Samoa, Maiden 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, To Tautua, is some ten miles distant. The pearl-shell fishing is the main industry of the island, but considerable quantities of copra are now being exported also. For many years the supply of cocoanuts was barely sufficient for home consumption, but in 1903 Colonel Gudgeon 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 the 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 ½ 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 £80 a ton to £200. The price at present is low, and the export for 1904 was comparatively small. The total population is 440, six 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 some 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 principal export is copra, 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 550. 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 166. Tou, Ariki, acts as Resident Agent.

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 118.

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 Island 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 were 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 Mr. Henry Williams, of Manihiki. Rakahanga has a population of 340.

Danger (Pukapuka) and Nassau.

These two islands lie away towards the north-west corner of the annexation boundary. Concerning the former Colonel Gudgeon writes, “At Pukapuka 1 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 or 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, 1905, the revenue of the Cook and other Islands, including the balance from the previous year, was £8,185 11s., and the expenditure £5,093 8s. 8d., of which £437 represents payments (liabilities of previous years) made to New Zealand Government on adjusted accounts. This leaves a credit balance of £3,092 2s. 4d., in addition to which there is an amount of £612 19s. outstanding for Land Titles Court fees, so that the real surplus at the 31st March, 1905, was £3,735 1s. 4d. 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.
1898-991,8011341,402125
1899-19003,1657102,188910
1900-14,25217112,95114101,30131
*1901-24,063962,335731,72893
1902-36,5841344,72516111,858165
1903-47,169084,558392,6101611
1904-58,1851105,093883.09224
Figures for 1901-2 are for nine months only.

Nine.—The revenue of Niue for the year ending the 31st March, 1905 (including balance from previous year), was £1,586 13s. 4d., and the expenditure £604 16s. 9d., showing a surplus on the year's working of £981 16s. 7d. The total funds to the credit of the Niue Government on the 31st March, however, amounted to £2,361 6s. 5d.

EXPORTS AND IMPORTS .

Cook and Northern Islands.—The value of exports for the year 1904 was £38,348, while the imports amounted to £33,399. The principal items exported were as follow:—

From the Cook Group—£
      Coffee, 58,050 lb.973
      Copra, 972 tons10,950
      Bananas, 39,588 cases, 9,324 bunches7,400
      Oranges, 79,330 cases9,600
      Pineapples, 5,275 cases680
      Limejuice, 22,344 gallons1,106
From the northern islands—
      Copra, 500 tons5,000
      Pearl-shell, 30 tons1,650
The amount of the imports is made up as follows:—
      From New Zealand25,222
      ” United Kingdom1,373
      ” New South Wales789
      ” Victoria59
      ” United States2,303
      ” Germany77
      ” France51
      ” Tahiti3,374
      ” Canada54
      ” Hongkong72
      ” Samoa29
 £33,399

Niue.—The exports for 1904 amounted to £7,016, and the imports to £6,707. The principal items of export were—

 £
      Copra, 170 tons1,668
      Hats, 6,053 dozen4,407
      Fungus, 30,090 lb.384
      Curios102
      Vegetables, &c.75
The imports represented—
      From New Zealand4,902
      ” Sydney983
      ” Tonga87
      ” Samoa125
      ” Maiden Island244
      ” Germany56
      ” Cook Islands88
      ” United Kingdom143
      ” United States of America79
 £6,707

Chapter 81. APPENDIX.

Table of Contents

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 landed 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 via 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 Capo 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.G.B., at Auckland, from the Gape 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 Christ-church 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 Lieut.-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, Doc. 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 PakakoheTribe, 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 Titokowaru 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. Ho 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, 1879.—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.

May 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 Pox, K.C.M.G., four time3 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 granted 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, 1891.”

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 of 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 now 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 Now 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. 14, 1901.—Death (in England) of Sir Edward Stafford, G.C.M.G., formerly three times Premier of New Zealand.

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 Coalmines 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.— Eight 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 of 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.

July, 1904.—A team of riflemen, chosen from the Defence Force of New Zealand to represent the colony, was sent to England under the command of Lieut.-Colonel R. J. Collins, V.D., to compete at Bisley for the “Kolapore Imperial Challenge Cup,” and succeeded in bringing the trophy to New Zealand.

March 23, 1905.—Death of Hon. Sir A. J. Cadman, Speaker, Legislative Council.

June 14, 1905.—Hon. W. P. Reeves appointed first High Commissioner for New Zealand at London.

July 29, 1905.—” Old-age Pensions Act, 1905,” passed, increasing amount of annual pension to £26.

GENERAL INDEX.

“Accident Insurance Act, 1899” 429
Acclimatisation. (See Year-book, 1894, p. 431.)
Accumulation, Prices and Wages 419
Development of Banking 419
Acres and Yield in Corn-crops 407
Acres of Land under Crop 408
Addenda et Corrigenda. (Back of Title).
Administration of Land-laws, &c. 557
Advances to Settlers 457,563
Loans for 457,564
Mortgage-fees 570
Table showing how repaid 567
Titles eligible 564
Transactions of Office 571
Valuation fees 566
Agents for the Colonies, Crown 28
Ages at Death, Average 249
Average, of Persons married 242
Of Prisoners 171
Agricultural College, Lincoln 139
Agricultural Statistics 406
Agriculture and Live Stock 396,406,591
Acreage under Wheat, Oats, &c., in Provincial Districts 407
Barley 415,595
Cape Barley and Winter Oats 599
Cattle 402,603
Cereals 407,594
Consumption of Wheat 413
Cost of growing Oats 595
Cost of working a Farm 599
Dairy Industry, The 604
Dairy Stock 402,603
Fertilisers 600
Fruit Industry, The 606
Gardens and Orchards 417
Grass-seeds 417,597
Hops 416
Horses 404,600
Lambing Returns, Averages 401
Mangolds and Carrots 596
Maize 415
Oats 414,595
Pigs 405,605
Potatoes 416,595
Poultry 606
Rape 596
Root-crops 595
Sheep 399,601
State Forestry 608
Turnips and Rape 416,596
Wheat-crop of Australian States 413
Wheat-crop of the World 413
Wheat, Estimated Surplus of 414
Wheat for Threshing 412
Wheat held by Farmers, 1904 412
Wheat, Seed per Acre 594
Wheat, Yield per Acre 412
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Acts, 1896 to 1904 460
Alcoholic Liquors, Consumption of, 1895 to 1904 310
Aliens Naturalised 236
Allegiance 129
America, Trade with the United States of 363
Angora goats 405
Animals. (See Live-stock.)
Antipodes Islands 6
Appendix—
Dates of certain Principal Events in the History of New Zealand 737
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 409
Arrests for Drunkenness 168
Arrivals and Departures 115
Chinese 116
Departures, how Numbers ascertained 116
Articles on Special Subjects 550
Artillery, Naval, Field, and Garrison 61-63
Assembly, General 32
Assets Realisation Board 481
Associations, Special-Settlement 560
Assurance, Industrial Life 429
Asylums, Benevolent 274
Lunatic 274
Orphan 274
Auckland, City of—
Exports 338
General description 646
Imports 304
Meteorology 277
Population 123
” and Suburban Boroughs, Estimated, 1905 123
Value of Property 190, 507, 534
Vital Statistics 236, 245
Auckland Docks 64
Graving-dock Charges 65
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 643
Auckland Sailors' Home 274
Australasian Railways 374
Australian States, Area of 7
Birth-rates of 230
Death-rates of 243
Debt of 481
Friendly Societies in 426
Live-stock in 398
Marriage-rates of 237
Mineral Production of 383
Oat-crop of 415
Population 127
Railways in 373
Trade 365
Wheat-crop of 413
Average Quantity of Milk to 1 lb. Butter 604
Average Yield of Butter or Cheese 604
Bachelors and Spinsters in New Zealand 238
Banking, Development in 419
Banking Legislation, Special. (See Year-book 1902, p. 400.)
“Bank of New Zealand Act, 1903” 421
“Bank of New Zealand Act, 1904” 422
Bankruptcy 161
Petitions, &c., Eight Years 162
Transactions in 1903 161
Banks of Issue—
Advances and Discounts 420
In all Classes of Banks, Average per Head 424
Assets and Liabilities 419
In all Classes of Banks, Average per Head 424
Coin and Bullion 419
In all Classes of Banks, Average per Head 424
Deposits 419
In all Classes of Banks, Average per Head 424
Notes in Circulation, &c. 419
Banks—
Post-Office Savings 422
Deposits, Withdrawals, Open Accounts, Amounts to Credit 422
Securities held 423
Deposits, Withdrawals 424
Private Savings 424
Deposits, Withdrawals 424
Barley 415
Beer, Consumption of, per Head 309
Beer, Excise Duty on 104
Benevolent Asylums and Charitable Institutions 274
Birthplaces of the People 128
Numbers of each Nationality and Increase 128
Birth-rates per 1,000 of Population in Australasia 230
Births 228
Illegitimate 233
Illegitimacy in Australasia 233
Legitimation Act 235
Of Twins 233
Proportion to Population, 1882-1904 228
To Marriages, Proportion of 229
Blind, The 131
Blind, Institute for the 158
Boroughs—
Expenditure of 179
Auckland, with Suburbs 123
Christchurch, with Suburbs 124
Dunedin, with Suburbs 124
Wellington, with Suburbs 123
In Colony 190,507
Auckland, with Suburbs 123
Christchurch, with Suburbs 124
Dunedin, with Suburbs 124
Wellington, with Suburbs 123
Indebtedness of 179
Population of (Census, 1901) 117
Rateable Value of Property in 190, 534
Revenue of 179
Value of Land and Improvements in 507
Value of Rateable Property in 534
Boundaries and Area of the Colony 5
Bounty Islands 6
Breadstuff's in various Countries, Consumption of 414
Bubonic Plague Prevention 260
Building Societies 425
Amounts deposited with 425
Income, Assets, Liabilities, Reserve Funds 425
Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement Act 552
Butter and Cheese 348,604
Export to United Kingdom, Sixteen Years 348
Factories 403
Grading 604
Industry 604
Cadet Corps 62
Campbell Islands 6
Cancer, Deaths from 265
Decennial Return 266
Part of Body affected 267
Proportion of Deaths per 10,000 living, 1895-1904 266
Canterbury Agricultural College 139
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 701
Cape Barley and Winter Oats 599
Capital City, Population of 123
Capitation to Efficient Volunteers and Cadets 63
Cattle 603
In Provincial Districts 402
Causes of Death 256
At Four Centres 246
Cancer 265
Developmental Diseases 270
Dietetic Diseases 261
Local Diseases 271
Measles 259
Old Age 271
Parasitic Diseases 261
Phthisis 261
Proportion of Deaths from each 255
Typhoid Fever 259
Violence 272
Cereals 347, 594
Charges, Survey, on Unsurveyed Lands 562
Charitable Institutions, Benevolent Asylums and, &c. 272
Chatham Islands 6, 14
Cheese and Butter 348,604
Cheviot Estate (see also Year-book, 1895, p. 264) 484
Childbirth, Deaths of Women in 272
Children to a Marriage, Number of 229
Chinese—
Immigration and Emigration of 116
Number in Colony 111
Christchurch, City of—
Exports (Lyttelton) 338
General Description 709
Imports 304
Population 124
” City and Suburban Boroughs, Estimated, 1905 124
Value of Property 190, 508, 535
Vital Statistics 236, 245
Cities 122
Civil Cases 161
Civil Establishment at Seat of Government 37
Classification of Lands, &c. 557
Climate—
Temperature in New Zealand, Australia, and other British Possessions 277-281
Clips, Average Wool- 601
Clothing, Imported, Value of 305
Coal 385
Coal-miners, Average Output and Earnings 389
Colleges and University 149
Colonial Office, The 28
Colonisation of New Zealand 3
Colony, Boundaries and Area of the 5
Crown Agents for the 28
Population of the 111
Colour-sense of the Maori 637
Communication and Transport 369
Constitution 16
Government 17
Consumption of Beer, Spirits, and Wine 168, 309
Consuls, Foreign (see also Addenda) 26
Convictions 165
For Drunkenness 168
Summary 165
Convictions of Maoris 169
Cook and other Pacific Islands annexed 727
Cook Strait 11
Co-operative Public Works 442
Corn-crops, Acreage, and Actual Yield of 407
Corrigenda. (Back of Title.)
Cost of Living in New Zealand and in Various Countries. (See Year-book, 1903, p. 462.)
Management of Local Governing Bodies 180
Railways 371
Working a Farm in New Zealand 599
Council, Executive, 1843-56 22
Council, Executive, April, 1905 31
Legislative, Roll of Members of the 33
Successive Speakers of the Legislative 25
Counties, Population of (Census, 1901) 120
Land under Cultivation in 409
Value of Land and Improvements in 504,510
Value of Rateable Properties in 510
Court, Validation 42
Courts, Bankruptcy 161
Civil Cases, Supreme and District 161
Charges for Offences before 164
Committals 165
Punishment on Summary Convictions (five years) 167
Divorce and Separation 162
Charges for Offences before 164
Committals 165
Punishment on Summary Convictions (five years) 167
Magistrates', Civil Cases 161
Charges for Offences before 164
Committals 165
Punishment on Summary Convictions (five years) 167
Sentences, Supreme and District (five years) 167
Supreme and District, Convictions 165
Cows, Average Annual Yield of Milk 604
Crime, Law and 161
Cross-breeding of Sheep 601
Crown Agents for the Colonies 28
Crown Lands occupied 484
Mode of acquiring 557
Crown Lands of New Zealand 483, 550
Crown Tenants 484
Cultivation. (See Agriculture.) 89
Customs Duties, Rates levied
Revenue from 326
Dairy Industry 604
Produce, Export of 348
Stock 402, 603
Dates of Principal Events 737
Deaf and Dumb 129
Deaf-mutes, Institution for 159
Death, Average Age at 249
Causes of 256
Death-rates in various Countries and States, 1894-1904 243
Deaths—
From Cancer 265
From Congenital Defects 270
From Nervous Diseases 271
From Phthisis 261
From Typhoid Fever 259
In Four Principal Cities 245
In Principal Cities of Australasia 248
Inquests on 174
Number of, in 1904 243
Of Infants 251
Of Infants to every 1,000 Births 251
Of Women in Childbirth 272
Violent 272
Debt, General Government, (see Public Debt) 466
Of Local Bodies 179, 182
Deceased Persons' Estates 431
Duties Payable on 110
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 61
Deferred-payment System, Land taken up on 484
Departures, Arrivals and 115
Deposits in Banks 424
Depots for Shipwrecked Mariners 64
Digest of the Land-laws 557
Discovery and Early Settlement 2
Discovery of Gold in New Zealand. (See Year-book, 1894, p. 343.)
Diseases, Various, Deaths from 256
District Court, Civil Cases 161
Divorce, Petitions and Decrees, 1896-1903 163
Divorce and Separation 162
Grounds for 162
Docks, Graving, and Patent Slips 64
Drainage Boards, Revenue, Expenditure, and Loans 179-182
Dredging, Gold-, Description of. (See Year-book, 1899, p. 509.)
Drunkenness 168
Persons convicted of 168
Dunedin, City of—
Exports 338
General Description 716
Imports 304
Meteorology 279
Population, City and all Suburbs (Census, 1901) 124
” and Suburban Boroughs, Estimated, 1905 124
Value of Property 193, 508, 535
Vital Statistics 236, 245
Duties and Functions of Representation Commissions 215
Duties on Estates of Deceased Persons 110
Early Settlement, Discovery and 2
Ecclesiastical 59
Education 134
Free Secondary 145
Scholarships 155
Public (Government) Schools 135
School of Engineering and Technical Science 139
Technical 137
University, New Zealand 149
Education Boards, Income and Expenditure of 136
Egmont, Mount 10
Election, General, 1902 216
Electoral. (See Representation.) “Electoral Act, 1893,” extends Franchise to Women 18, 216
“Electoral Act Amendment Act, 1896,” abolishes Property Qualification 18, 216
Electric Telegraph 377
Emigration. (See Immigration and Emigration.) Engineering, School of 139
Errata. (See back of Half-title.) Estates of Deceased Persons, Value of 431
Duties Payable on 110
Estates offered for Selection under Land for Settlements Act, during Year 1904-5 489
European Population of Colony 111
Excise Duty on Beer 104
Executive Council, 1843-56 22
Expectation of Life in New Zealand 250
Expenditure, Revenue and—
General Government 445
Local Bodies 179
Of Public Works Fund by General Governments 452
Exports 334
Butter and Cheese to United Kingdom, for Sixteen Years 348
Quantity, Twenty-three Years 346
Value, Seventeen Years 342
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 337
Coal 341, 385
Quantity, Twenty-three Years 346
Value, Seventeen Years 342
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 337
Details of all Exports 349
Quantity, Twenty-three Years 346
Value, Seventeen Years 342
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 337
From different Ports 337
Quantity, Twenty-three Years 346
Value, Seventeen Years 342
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 337
From North and Middle Islands 337
Quantity, Twenty-three Years 346
Value, Seventeen Years 342
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 337
From United Kingdom to various Countries and Colonies 368
Quantity, Twenty-three Years 346
Value, Seventeen Years 342
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 337
Frozen Meat 346
Quantity, Twenty-three Years 346
Value, Seventeen Years 342
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 337
Gold, Silver, and other Minerals to 31st December, 1904 379
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 337
Gold, 1904 347
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 337
Grain 347
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 337
Home Produce, Value of 342
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 337
Increase and Decrease on Principal Articles 339
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 337
Kauri-gum 349
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 337
Of Australasia, 1903 365
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 337
Phormium 349
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 337
Quantities of Principal Articles, 1903 and 1904 340
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 337
Rabbitskins 344
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 337
Re-exports, exclusive of Specie 337
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand 337
Sheepskins and Pelts 345
Tallow 345
To different Countries 335
To Germany 364
To United States 363
Value of Principal Articles of New Zealand Produce 339
Wool, Seventeen Years 343
External Trade of Australasia 366
Factories, &c. (See Manufactories and Works.) Factories, Butter and Cheese 403
Farming, Dairy 604
Farm in New Zealand, Cost of Working a 599
Features of the Middle Island, Physical 11
Of the North Island 8
Fees payable under Land Transfer Act 109
Fifty Years' Progress of New Zealand 537
Finance 445
Fire Inquests 174
Fire Insurance, State 581
Fish Acclimatised. (See Year-book, 1894, p. 431.)
Fish and Fisheries. (See Year-book, 1895, p. 373.)
First Offenders' Probation Act 173
Flocks of Sheep, Number and Size of 344
Foreigners Naturalised during last Twenty-two Years, Number of 237
Foreign Consuls 26
Forestry, State 608
Foveaux Strait 13
Franchise 18, 216
Municipal 185
Freezing Establishments in the Colony. (See Year-book, 1894, p. 314.)
Free Secondary Education 145
Friendly Societies 425
Frozen-meat exported 346
Fruit Culture 606
Drying 607
Industry, The 606
Fungus, New Zealand, Export of 341
Gaols, Prisoners in 170
Gardens, Plantations, and Orchards, Total Acreage in 408
General Assembly, The 32
General Election, 1902 216
Germany, Trade with 364
Glaciers in Middle Island 11
Gold, Coal, and other Minerals 379
Coal-mining 385
Composition of Coal 388
Consumption of 386
Output of 386
Total Quantity and Value entered for Exportation, 31st March, 1905 383
Gold exported Year 1904 347
Total Quantity and Value entered for Exportation, 31st March, 1905 383
Gold produced in Australasia 383, 384
Gold Production of the World 384
Gold-dredging 382
Gold-mining—Hands, Output, &c. 382
Remarks on 380
Governing Bodies, Local 175
Government Advances to Settlers 457, 563
Government Schools 135
Government, the Seat of 18
Government Valuation of Land and its Improvements 495, 580
Governor of New Zealand (see also Addenda) 30
Governors, Successive 19
Grain exported 347
Grown in each Provincial District 407
Grass Lands, Acres of 408-411
In Australasia, 1903-4 417
Grass-seed 597
Sown, per Acre 417
Graving-docks and Patent Slips 64
Grazing-runs, Small 561
Green Crops, Acreage under, in Provincial Districts 408
Hanmer Thermal Springs—Accommodation, &c. 631
Harbour Boards Revenue, Expenditure, and Loans 181, 182
Harbours. (See Year-book, 1894, pp. 389-408.)
Harbours—Pilotage, Port Charges, &c. 69
Hawke's Bay Land District—General Description; Communication; Pastoral Industries; Agricultural Pursuits; Dairying; Timber and other Industries; Climate; Towns; Crown Lands; Native Lands 666
Hay, Acres in 408
High Commissioner. (See Addenda.) Holdings, Number of occupied 392
Home Produce exported, Value of 342
Honours held by Colonists (see also Addenda) 29
Hops, cultivated, imported and exported 416
Horse-breeding 602
Horses in New Zealand, Number of 404
In Provincial Districts 404
Hospitals 272
Hot Springs. (See Thermal Springs.)
House of Representatives 17,34
Speakers of the 26
Houses, Licensed 209
Illegitimate Births in Australasia 233
Immigration and Emigration 115
Of Chinese 116
Imports and Exports 300, 334
Each Australian State, 1903 365
Imports—
Beer, Spirits, and Wine, Consumption of 309
Germany 333
South Africa 365
United Kingdom 302
United Kingdom to Australasia 367
United States 331
Consumption of, per Head of Population 309
Clothing, &c. 305
Germany 333
South Africa 365
United Kingdom 302
United Kingdom to Australasia 367
United States 331
Consumption of, per Head of Population 309
Coal 314, 385
Germany 333
South Africa 365
United Kingdom 302
United Kingdom to Australasia 367
United States 331
Consumption of, per Head of Population 309
Free and Dutiable Imports, Value of 307
Germany 333
South Africa 365
United Kingdom 302
United Kingdom to Australasia 367
United States 331
Consumption of, per Head of Population 309
From different Countries, 1903 and 1904, Values of 302
Germany 333
South Africa 365
United Kingdom 302
United Kingdom to Australasia 367
United States 331
Consumption of, per Head of Population 309
Inclusive and exclusive of Specie 300
Consumption of, per Head of Population 309
Into Australasia 365
Consumption of, per Head of Population 309
Per Head of Population 301
Consumption of, per Head of Population 309
Spirits 309
Consumption of, per Head of Population 309
Sugar and Tea, Imports of 308
Consumption of, per Head of Population 309
Tobacco, Consumption of 311
Per Head of Population, Australasia 367
Improved-farm Settlements 560
Income Tax, Land and 463, 572
Exemptions 572, 579
Rates of Tax 576
Yield of Tax 577
Indebtedness of Australasia 481
Of Local Bodies 179-183
For Twenty Years 176
To Persons outside Colony 183
Index of Mortality for New Zealand 243
Industrial Schools 156
Industrial Life Assurance 429
Industries. (See Manufactories and Works.) “Infant Life Protection Act, 1896” 235
Infantile Mortality 251
Influenza, Deaths from 259
Inquests, Death 174
Fire 174
Insurance, Life 428
Companies in New Zealand 428
Insurance, State Fire 581
Iron, Machinery, &c, imported, Value of 305
Islands outlying, Description of the 14, 727
Joint Stock Companies 425
Jubilee Institution for the Blind 158
Judges, Supreme Court 21
Kauri-gum (Exported)—
Average Price of 349
Quantities and Values exported 349
Kermadec Islands 6, 14
Labour—
In New Zealand. (See Year-book, 1894, p. 362.)
Prices of Provisions, Live-stock, &c., 1904 433
Wages, Average Rates of 435
Labour Department, Men assisted by 444
Labour Legislation—
Acts of Parliament composing 438
Remarks on 439
Lakes 9-13, 636
Lambing Averages 401
Land—
Acreage of, under Crop 408
Graduated 463, 578
And Income-tax 463, 572
Graduated 463, 578
Crown, open for Selection. (See Land Districts.)
Graduated 463, 578
Fit for Agriculture and Pasture 9
Graduated 463, 578
Government Valuation of 495, 580
Graduated 463, 578
Grass-sown 417
Graduated 463, 578
Held as Pastoral Runs 484
Graduated 463, 578
Held as Small Grazing-runs 484
Graduated 463, 578
Held under Pastoral and Miscellaneous Leases 484
Graduated 463, 578
Holdings in Provincial Districts 395
Graduated 463, 578
Holdings taken up, Sizes of 392
Graduated 463, 578
Improved Farm Settlements 484, 560
Graduated 463, 578
Occupation of 392, 559
Graduated 463, 578
On Perpetual Lease, Lease in Perpetuity, and Occupation with Right of Purchase 484
Graduated 463, 578
Rating on Unimproved Value 186
Graduated 463, 578
Revenue from 488
Graduated 463, 578
Sold for Cash 483, 485
Graduated 463, 578
Sold on Deferred Payments 434
Graduated 463, 578
Taken up under various Tenures, Ten Years 485
Graduated 463, 578
Taken up in each Land District 487
Graduated 463, 578
Tax 463, 578
Graduated 463, 578
Village Settlements, Land held 484
Village Settlements, sold on Deferred Payments, &c. 484
Land and Improvements, Government Valuation of 495
Land Districts in the Colony, Description of—Auckland, 643; Canterbury, 701; Hawke's Bay, 666; Marlborough, 679; Nelson, 684; Otago, 711; Southland, 721; Taranaki, 657; Wellington, 670; Westland, 689.
Land for Settlements Acts—
Estates offered for Selection during Year ended 31st March, 1905 493
Transactions under 490
Land-Laws, Digest of 557
Administration 557
Freehold Tenure 558
Leases in Perpetuity 559
Occupation with Right of Purchase 558
Classification of Lands, &c. 557
Freehold Tenure 558
Leases in Perpetuity 559
Occupation with Right of Purchase 558
Grazing-runs, Small 561
Freehold Tenure 558
Leases in Perpetuity 559
Occupation with Right of Purchase 558
Improved-farm Settlements 560
Freehold Tenure 558
Leases in Perpetuity 559
Occupation with Right of Purchase 558
Land Districts and Principal Land Offices 557
Freehold Tenure 558
Leases in Perpetuity 559
Occupation with Right of Purchase 558
Mode of Acquiring Crown Lands 557
Freehold Tenure 558
Leases in Perpetuity 559
Occupation with Right of Purchase 558
Optional System of Selection 558
Freehold Tenure 558
Leases in Perpetuity 559
Occupation with Right of Purchase 558
Pastoral Runs 561
Residence and Improvements 559
Special-settlement Associations 560
Survey Charges on Unsurveyed Lands 562
Village Settlements 560
Land Settlements Acts, 1896-1904, Aid to Public Works and 460
Land System of New Zealand 550
Land-tax 463, 578
Land Transfer Act, Fees payable under 109
Lands—
Native, Purchase of, by Government 554
Survey Charges on Unsurveyed 562
Land under Cultivation in Counties 409
Land, Valuation of—
In Boroughs 507
In Colony 502
In Counties 504
In Local Districts 510
Law and Crime 161
Laws, Difference of, between England and New Zealand. (See Year-book, 1896, p. 281.)
Legislation, Special Banking. (See Year-book, 1902, p. 400.)
Legislative Council 32
Roll of Members of the (see also Corrigenda) 33
“Legitimation Act, 1894” 235
Letters posted 375
Licenses and Licensed Houses 209
Licenses—
Number and Fees paid 209
Proportion to Population 209
Licensing Laws—
Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act 211
Annual Fees 210
Revenue from Licenses 209
Life Insurance, Year 1903 428
Lighthouses, Names and Number of, Colour, Order, &c. 80
Lincoln Agricultural College 139
List, Official 37
Live-stock—
Average Prices of 433
Export of 349
In Australasia 398
In each County 396
Loans—
Expenditure, 1904-5 452
For Advances to Settlers 458
General Government (see Public Debt) 466
Of Local Bodies, Outstanding, at various Rates of Interest 183
Of Local Bodies, Net Indebtedness 182
Local Bodies' Loans Acts 184
Local Bodies—
Cost of Management 180
Expenditure of 179
Indebtedness: Twenty Years 176
Number of 175
Outstanding Loans at various Rates of Interest 183
Rates collected in Twenty Years 176
Revenue and Expenditure of Boroughs, Counties, Drainage Board, Harbour Boards, River Boards, Road
Boards, Town Boards 179-181
Taxation by 177
Local-option Poll, 1902 211
Lucerne 599
Lunacy 132
Lunatic Asylums 274
Lunatics, Proportion of 133
Magistrates' Courts, Apprehensions, Convictions, &c. 164
Mail-services between England and New Zealand, Coat of 376
Maize, Area under 415
Manawatu-Wellington Railway 373
Mangolds and Carrots 416
Manual and Technical Instruction 137
Manufactories and Works 282
Comparison of, 1896 and 1901 284
Comparison, Number of Hands employed, 1891, 1896, 1901 298
Comparison, Value of Product, 1885, 1890, 1895, and 1900 297
Details of Principal Industries 289
Increase in Value of Output, 1895-1900 283
Industries in Provincial Districts 286
Maoris, The—
Charged with Offences 169
Children attending Schools 154
Colour-sense of 637
Convicted of Offences, 1891-1903 169
Distribution of 111
Half-castes 117
Population at Last Census 117
Representation 17, 34, 225
Marlborough Land District—Physical Features: Rivers, Plains, Lakes, Forests, Soils, Grazing; Industries; Climate; Towns; Roads and Railways; Crown Lands 679
Marriage, Births to every 229
Decrees for Dissolution of 163
Decrees for Judicial Separation 163
Rates in New Zealand, Australian States, and European Countries 237, 238
Marriages 237
Ages at which Marriage may be contracted 241
Ages of Persons Married 240
Of Aborigines 238
Percentage of Persons under 21 Years 241
Proportion by each Denomination 239
Proportion of each Sex signing Register by Mark 240
Measles, Deaths from 259
Meat, Frozen, Total Export of 346
Medicine, School of, Otago 718
Members of House of Representatives, Roll of 35
Legislative Council, Roll of 33
Meteorological Observations 277-281
Miles of Railway open for Traffic 371
Military and Naval Defences 61
Milk—
Average Yield of Butter from 604
Average Yield per Cow 604
Mineral Production of Australasia 383
Minerals, Gold, Coal, and other 379
Mineral Waters of New Zealand. (See Thermal-springs Districts.)
Mines, Schools of 139
Mines, State Coal 390
Ministers, Officiating, under Marriage Act 242
Ministers, Cabinet 31
Ministries, Successive 24
Money-orders and Postal-notes 376
Mortgages 426
Amounts borrowed at various Rates of Interest 427
Mountains 9, 10, 635
Mount Cook 11
Egmont 10
Ruapehu 10
Tongariro 9
Municipal Corporations Acts 1900 and 1902, Qualifications for Enrolment under 185
Mutton. (See Frozen Meat.)
Consumption per Head. (See Year-book, 1898, p. 289.)
National Scholarships 155
Native Lands purchased by Government 554
Native Schools 154
Naturalisation 236
Nelson Land District—General Description; Rivers, Lake6, Plains. Forests; Agricultural. Pastoral, Mining; Towns; Railways, Roads, Tracks, &c.; Crown Lands 684
Newspapers 82
Posted 375
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 32
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
Niue, Island of 730
Oats 414
Oat-crop of Australasia, 1904 415
Occupation of Land 392
Offences—
Charges for, before Magistrates' Courts 164
Convicted before Supreme and District Courts 169
Summarily convicted 169
Convictions for 165
Convicted before Supreme and District Courts 169
Summarily convicted 169
Maoris charged with 169
Convicted before Supreme and District Courts 169
Summarily convicted 169
Office, The Colonial 28
Official List 37
Officiating Ministers 242
Old-age Pensions 582
Optional System of selecting Land 558
Orchards 417, 606
Orphan Asylums 274
Orphanhood of Children 250
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 711
Outlying Islands of New Zealand 14, 727
Parcels Post 375
Value of Imports by 307
Parliament, Members of 35
Parliaments, Successive 23
Passengers, Railway 372
Pastoral Leases—
Lands held under 484
Receipts from 484
Patent Slips and Graving-docks 64
Pensions, Old-age 582
Perpetual-lease System, Land held under the 484
Perpetuity, Leaseholds in 484
Phormium tenax—
Export of 349
Phosphate Rock 390
Phthisis, Death-rates from 261
Deaths from, 1895 to 1904 261
Physical Features of the North Island 8
Middle Island 11
Pigs 405, 605
In Counties 396
In Provincial Districts 405
Pilotage, Port Charges, &c. 69
Plantations, Gardens, and Orchards, Acreage in 408
Population of New Zealand 111
Arrivals and Departures 115
From and to United Kingdom 115
Of Chinese 116
Census, 1901 117
Chinese 111
Cook and other Islands 112
European 111
Increase in each Quarter, 1904 113
In adjacent Islands 126
In Principal Cities and Suburbs 122
In Provincial Districts (Census, 1901) 119
Maori 117
Of Australasia 127
Of Boroughs (Census, 1901) 120
Of Capital City (Census, 1901) 123
Of Counties (Census, 1901) 120
Of Town Districts (Census, 1901) 125
Port Charges, Pilotage, &c. 69
Post-offices 375
Savings-banks 422
Securities 423
Potatoes 416
Cost of Growing 595
Cultivation of 596
Export of 341
Yield of 416
Preferential and Reciprocal Trade 590
Premiers of Successive Ministries 25
Preserved Meats exported 341
Prices and Wages 433-437
Principal Events, Dates of 737
Prisoners in Gaol 170
Private Schools 152
Probation Act, First Offenders treated under 173
Production, Total Value of 406
Property-tax repealed 462
Prospects of Small Farmers 607
Public Debt 466
Annual Charge 473
Securities in which invested 475
Comparison with Past Years 471
Securities in which invested 475
Details of Loans 467
Securities in which invested 475
Flotation of Loans 476
Securities in which invested 475
Increase of 472
Securities in which invested 475
Net Indebtedness 471
Securities in which invested 475
Of Australasia 481
Securities in which invested 475
Purposes of Money composing Debt 477
Securities in which invested 475
Rates of Interest on 473
Securities in which invested 475
Sinking Fund accrued, Amount of 472
Securities in which invested 475
Stock Quotations 477
Public Libraries subsidised 160
Public Property, Value of 432
Public Schools 135
Industrial Schools 156
Secondary Schools, Income and Expenditure of 147
Technical Schools 137
Public Trust Office (see also Year-book, 1898, p. 454) 430
Number and Value of Estates administered 430
Public Works 19, 442
Expenditure on 452
Purchase of Native Lands by Government 554
Queen's Scholarships 155
Quotations, New Zealand Stock 477
Railways 371
Australian States, Miles of, in 374
Length and Cost 371
Particulars of Revenue from 373
Passengers 372
Profit on Working 373
Revenue and Expenditure 373
Train-miles 372
Traffic in Local Products for Fifteen Years 372
Comparison of Traffic, Revenue, and Expenditure for Fifteen Years 372, 373
Length and Cost 371
Particulars of Revenue from 373
Passengers 372
Profit on Working 373
Revenue and Expenditure 373
Train-miles 372
Traffic in Local Products for Fifteen Years 372
Government, Goods and Live-stock carried 372
Length and Cost 371
Particulars of Revenue from 373
Passengers 372
Profit on Working 373
Revenue and Expenditure 373
Train-miles 372
Traffic in Local Products for Fifteen Years 372
In New Zealand, their History and Progress. (See Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Wellington-Manawatu Railway 373
Rainfall in New Zealand 280
Rape and Turnips, Acres under 416
Rateable Properties in Boroughs 190
In Road Districts 201
Town Districts 200
Rates collected by Local Bodies, Twenty Years 176
Rates of Wages, Average in Provincial Districts in 1904 435-437
Rating on Unimproved Value 186, 580
Method of taking Poll 580
Ratepayers may demand Poll to be taken 580
Rating Powers 186
Result of Polls taken by Local Bodies 187
System Optional 580
Reciprocal Trade 590
Religion of the People 127
Proportion of each Denomination, 1881, 1886, 1891, 1896, 1901 128
Repayments of Advances to Settlers 567
Representation 215
Duties and Functions of Representation Commissions 215
Maori 18
“Electoral Act, 1902” 18
Maori 18
Electoral Acts 216
Maori 18
Electoral Divisions of the Colony 215
Maori 18
General Election of 1902 216
Maori 18
Maori Members 216
Maori 18
Qualifications of Electors, European 18
Maori 18
Representation Commissions 215
Woman's Franchise 18, 216
Residence and Improvements on Crown Lands 559
Revenue and Expenditure—
Government Railways 373
Land-tax and Income-tax, Revenue from 463, 464
Loan Expenditure, 1904-5 452
Of Boroughs, Counties, Drainage Boards, Harbour Boards, River Boards, Road Boards, and Town Boards 179-181
Ordinary Revenue 447
Ordinary Revenue Expenditure .449
Territorial Revenue Expenditure 449
Territorial Revenue 447
River Boards, Revenue of 179
Rivers 9, 13
Road Boards, Revenue, Expenditure, &c. 179
Roll of Members of the House of Representatives 35
Legislative Council 33
Roman Catholic Schools 153
Root-crops 416, 595
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 614
Sailors' Home, Auckland 274
Sanatorium, Hanmer 631
Rotorua 614
Te Aroha 629
Savings-Banks, Post-Office 422
Private 424
Scholarships 155
Schools, Blind 158
Deaf and Dumb 159
Cost of 157
Inmates, 1902 and 1903 158
District High 147
Cost of 157
Inmates, 1902 and 1903 158
Industrial 156
Cost of 157
Inmates, 1902 and 1903 158
Engineering 139
Mines 139
Native 154
Primary Public 135
Private 152
Roman Catholic 153
Secondary or Superior 145
Sunday 159
Technical 139
Seeds, Grass- 597
Settlement, Discovery and Early 2
Settlements, Land for 489, 553
Acquisition of Land under 489
Estates offered for Selection during Year 1904-1905 493
Government Aid to Settlers 554
Preference given to Landless People 554
Process of Acquisition 553
Special Provisions for Workmen's Homes 554
Transactions of Board for Year 1904-1905 490
Settlers, Advances to 457, 563
Sheep 399, 601
In Australasia, 1903-1904 398
In Colony 399
In Counties 396
In Provincial Districts, April, 1903 and 1904 400
Number and Size of Flocks 400
Numbers in North and Middle Islands 399
Sheep-farming 601
Clips, Average Weight of 601
Grass-seed sown per Acre 417
Lambing Returns 401
New Zealand Flock-book 602
Shipping 369
Coastwise, Inwards 370
” Outwards 370
Inwards and Outwards, Eleven Years 369, 370
Laws 441
Registered Vessels 371
Shipwrecked Mariners, Depots for 64
Silver Produced 379
Sinking Fund—
Amounts paid for Interest and 474
Securities of 475
Sitting-days of House of Representatives 34
Legislative Council 32
Slips, Patent 64
Small Farmers, Prospects of 607
Small Grazing-runs 484, 561
Soils, Description of. (See Land Districts.) Sounds, West Coast 12
South Africa, Trade with 355
Southern Lakes, The 636
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 721
Sown Grasses, Extent of 408
In Counties 409
New Zealand, compared with Australia 417
Speaker of Legislative Council. (See Addenda.) Speakers of the House of Representatives, Successive 26
Legislative Council, Successive 25
Special-settlement Associations 560
Spinsters and Bachelors in New Zealand 238
Spirits, Consumption per Head 168, 310
Springs, The Thermal 614, 629, 631
State Coal-mines 390
State Fire Insurance 581
State Forestry in New Zealand 608
State Instruction. (See Schools.) Statistical Synopsis: Fifty Years' Progress of Colony 537
Stewart Island 6, 13, 637
Stipendiary Magistrates' Courts, Apprehensions, Convictions, &c. 164
Civil Cases 161
Stock in New Zealand, Live- 396, 600
In Australasia 393
Subsidised Public Libraries 160
Successive Governors 19
Ministries 24
Premiers 25
Sugar, Consumption of 309
Supplemental. Fifty Years' Progress of New Zealand 537
Supreme Court, Civil Cases 161
Judges, Past and Present 21
Survey Charges on Unsurveyed Lands 562
Sutherland Waterfall, The 712
Tallow exported 345
Taranaki Land District — Physical Features; Soils; Dairying, Grazing, &c.; Mining; Climate; Towns; Roads and Railways; Crown Lands 657
Tariff, Customs 89-108
Taxation by General Government 463
Deductions and Exemptions under Land-and Income-tax 463, 572, 579
Graduated 463, 578
Growth of Amount paid in Income-tax 577
Graduated 463, 578
Income-tax 464, 572
Graduated 463, 578
Land-tax (ordinary) 463, 578
Graduated 463, 578
Proportion derived from Customs, 1904-1905 465
Yield of Land-and Income-tax 463, 577
Taxation by Local Bodies 177
Tea, Consumption of 309
Te Aroha Mineral Springs 629
Technical Education 137
Telegraphs: Messages transmitted. Miles of Line, Receipts 377
Telephone Exchanges 377
Temperature and Rainfall 277-280
At different Stations of New Zealand 277-280
Highest and Lowest in Shade, in New Zealand, the Australian States, and other British Possessions 281
Tenure of Occupied Lands 394
Tenures, the Three, under Land Act 558
Thermal-springs Districts—
Hanmer 631
Rotorua 614
Te Aroha 629
Timber exported 341
Tobacco, Consumption of 311
Tongariro Mountain 9
Totalisator Permits issued. 549
Town Districts. (See Local Bodies.) Towns, Principal, and Suburbs 122
Trade—
Australasia as Market for Great Britain, Importance of 368
External, of Australasia 366
Of Australasia, Value of, per Head 367
Of Australasia with United Kingdom 367
(See Exports.)
(See Imports.)
(See Shipping.)
Of Cook and other Islands 307, 360
Per Head of Population, Nineteen Years 362
With Atlantic and Pacific Ports of United States, Ten Years 364
With Australia 363
With Germany 333, 364
With India 365
With United Kingdom 363
With United States 331, 363
Transport and Communication 369
Electric Telegraph 377
Australasian 373
Cost of 372
Number of Miles travelled 372
Revenue and Expenditure for Fifteen Years 373
Traffic for Fifteen Years 372
Traffic in Local Products for Fifteen Years 372
Shipping 369
Mail-services 376
Australasian 373
Cost of 372
Number of Miles travelled 372
Revenue and Expenditure for Fifteen Years 373
Traffic for Fifteen Years 372
Traffic in Local Products for Fifteen Years 372
Shipping 369
Postal and Electric Telegraph 375
Australasian 373
Cost of 372
Number of Miles travelled 372
Revenue and Expenditure for Fifteen Years 373
Traffic for Fifteen Years 372
Traffic in Local Products for Fifteen Years 372
Shipping 369
Railways 371
Australasian 373
Cost of 372
Number of Miles travelled 372
Revenue and Expenditure for Fifteen Years 373
Traffic for Fifteen Years 372
Traffic in Local Products for Fifteen Years 372
Shipping 369
Treaty of Waitangi 4
Trout in New Zealand, Introduction of. (See Year-book, 1894, p. 431.)
Trust Office, Public (see also Year-book, 1898, p. 454) 430
Turnips, Acreage under 416
Unimproved Value, Rating on 186
United States, Trade with 331, 363
University of New Zealand 149
Senate 151
Students 151
Undergraduates 151
Vaccination, Exemption from 260
Vaccinations. Successful, Numbers and Proportions 260
Valuation of Land, Government 495
Value of Home Produce exported 342
Vessels. (See Shipping.) Village Settlements 560
Vital Statistics 228
Vital Statistics, Australasian Capitals. 1903 248
Volunteers 61
Wages and Prices in each Provincial District 433-437
Waihi Gold-mine 380
Water-races, Canterbury 705
Wealth. Private 430
Wellington, City of—
Exports 338
General Description 674
Imports 304
Meteorology 277
Population (and all Suburbs) 123
” City and Suburban Boroughs, Estimated, 1905 123
Value of Property 507, 534
Vital Statistics 236, 245
Wellington Land District—Physical Features; Plains, Rivers, Lakes, Scenery, Forests, Soil; Climate; Harbours and Ports; Towns; Crown Lands; Industries, &c. 670
Wellington-Manawatu Railway 373
Westland Land District—Physical Features, Mountains, Rivers, Forests, Lakes, Soil, Climate, Lands, Harbours, Towns, Mining and Minerals, &c. 689
Wheat, Amount held from Previous Season 412
Acreage and Actual Yield in Provincial Districts 407
Area under, and Produce. Fifteen Years 412
Consumption of. in New Zealand 413
Annual Average, Principal Countries 414
Crops of Australian States 413
Crop of the World 413
Export in 1904 347
Seed sown per Acre 594
Wine, Consumption of, per Head 168, 310
Winter Oats and Cape Barley 599
Yield per Acre 599
Women's Franchise 18, 216
Wool—
Exported 343
Production of, Seventeen Years 343
Proportions of Greasy, Scoured, and Washed Wool exported, Seven Years 344
Used at Local Mills 343
Woollen Manufactures exported 340
World's Gold Production 384
” Wheat-crop 413
By Authority: JOHN MACKAY Government Printer, Wellington.—1905.
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