THE NEW ZEALAND OFFICIAL YEAR-BOOK, 1908


Table of Contents

Colophon

PREFACE.

IN Part I of this work the Customs Tariff of 1907 will now be found conveniently arranged. And the changes effected by the new land legislation of last year, which it was found impossible to introduce in the previous issue, are referred to in Part III. Further information as to land and income assessment, the graduated tax, &c., is also afforded in Part III.

In the statistical portion of the book—Part II—the latest figures have been brought on, and a quantity of new matter inserted.

Much of the printing having been done before the consolidation of the laws of the Dominion was effected this year, the Statutes are often referred to throughout the work as before the passing of the Act.

This is the seventeenth issue of the Year-book.

Any reader detecting errors that may have crept in is requested to report such with a view to their correction in future issues.

E. J. VON DADELSZEN.

Registrar-General's Office, Wellington, N.Z., 5th October, 1908.

ADDENDA ET CORRIGENDA

PAGE 35.—Chairman of Committees, Legislative Council: Hon: R. H. J. Reeves; Hon. Henry Feldwick, deceased.

Page 39.—Secretary to Public Service Superannuation Board and the Public Service Classification Board: A. M. Smith.

Page 160.—”Chinese Immigrants Act, 1907,” assented to by His Majesty the King 16th July, 1908; Act to come into force 23rd October, 1908.

Page 171.—Population Dargaville, census 1906, 613 persons; now constituted a borough.

Page 604.—Capital value, Whangamomona County, 31st March, 1908, should be £239,805.

PART I.—INTRODUCTORY: OFFICIAL.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. NEW ZEALAND.

NEW ZEALAND, formerly a colony, has, since September, 1907, by Royal Proclamation, been granted the designation of “Dominion,” and is referred to accordingly for the first time in this book. It 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 South, and Stewart Islands, have a coastline 4,330 miles in length: North Island, 2,200 miles; South Island, 2,000 miles; and Stewart Island, 130 miles. Other islands included within the Dominion 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 Dominion, which will be specially treated of further on.

New Zealand is mountainous in many parts, but has, nevertheless, large plains in both North and South 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 South Island is remarkable for its lofty mountains, with their magnificent glaciers, and for the deep sounds or fiords on the western coast.

New Zealand is firstly a pastoral and secondly an agricultural country. Sown grasses are grown almost everywhere, the extent of land laid down being nearly thirteen millions and a half 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 South Island a large area is covered with native grasses, all used for grazing purposes. The large extent of good grazing-land has made the Dominion 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 South Island. Gold, alluvial and in quartz, is found in both Islands, the yield having been over seventy-one millions and a half 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 South 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 (since termed Massacre or Golden) 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 South and Stewart Islands—which last he mistook for part of the South 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-books for 1901 and 1907.

BOUNDARIES AND AREA.

The Proclamation of Captain Hobson on the 30th January, 1840, gave as the boundaries of what was then 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 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 then 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:—

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 Dominion 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 South 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 South 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 South 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, 2,920 ft.

    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. 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 Dominion 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 State:—

 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 Dominion of New Zealand.

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

United KingdomArea in Square Miles
England and Wales58,311
Scotland30,463
Ireland32,531
            Total121,305
    New ZealandArea in Square Miles
North Island44,468
South 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 Dominion, 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 pumicesand, 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 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. 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 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 Cap Colville Peninsula contains gold-bearing quartz, and at the southern end rich gold is being found in the Ohinemuri County got from the famous Waihi Mine.

COOK STRAIT.

Cook Strait separates the North and South 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 Dominion.

PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE SOUTH ISLAND.

The extreme length of the South 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 South 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 South 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:—

NameArea of GlacierLength of GlacierGreatest WidthAverage Width
 AcresMiles chMiles chMiles ch
Tasman13,66418 02 141 15
Murchison5,80010 701 50 66
Godley5,3128 01 551 3
Mueller3,2008 00 610 50
Hooker2,4167 250 540 41

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 South 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 lain 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 Dominion, 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 Wakaipu extends over fifty-four miles in length, but its greatest width is not more than four miles, and its area only 114 square miles. It is 1,070 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 South 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 South 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 Dominion 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 Nelson South-west and Westland Districts. 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 up to 26 ft. of water on the bars.

The area of level or undulating land in the South 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 South from Stewart Island. This last island has an area of only 425,390 acres.

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

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

The chief attractions are the numerous bays and fiords. Paterson Inlet is a magnificent sheet of water, about ten miles by four miles, situated close to Half-moon Bay, the principal port, where over two hundred people live. 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 Dominion, 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 flat land, on which are innumerable cocoanut and other trees, the higher ground being beautifully interspersed with lawns. It is eighteen miles in circuit.

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

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

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.

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.

By resolutions passed by the House of Representatives on the 12th July, 1907, and by the Legislative Council on the 16th July, 1907, addresses were forwarded to His Majesty the King respectfully requesting that the necessary steps might be taken to change the designation of New Zealand from the Colony of New Zealand to the Dominion of New Zealand; and His Majesty the King, by Order in Council dated 9th September, 1907, and by Proclamation issued 10th September, 1907, was graciously pleased to change the style and designation of the Colony of New Zealand to “The Dominion of New Zealand”; such change taking effect from Thursday, the 26th day of September, 1907.

GOVERNMENT.

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

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 (now designated M.P. under statute of 1907) 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 Dominion is divided into seventy-six electoral districts, each returning one member. 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 electors 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.

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 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 Dominion. 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 Dominion 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 Dominion) can vote. Registration is not required in Native districts. [The above provisions are now incorporated in “The Electoral Act, 1905,” 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. 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 Dominion, 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 929,484 in December, 1907; besides whom there were 47,731 Maoris, and also 12,340 persons residing in the Cook and other Pacific Islands within the extended boundaries of the Dominion.

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, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., 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.

C. E. Button, appointed temporarily, 12 March, 1907. Resigned, 29th Feb., 1908.

Chapter 4. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, 1843–56.

MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE DOMINION 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 DOMINION OF NEW ZEALAND, WITH THE DATES OF OPENING AND CLOSING OF SESSIONS AND DATES OF DISSOLUTION
ParliamentDate of Opening of SessionsDate 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, 1856 (No session in 1857)16 August, 1856
10 April, in 1858 (No session in 1859)21 August, 1858
30 July, 18605 November, 1860
Third (dissolved 27th January, 18663 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 5th November, 1902)22 June, 190022 October, 1900
1 July, 19018 November, 1901
1 July, 19024 October, 1902
Fifteenth (dissolved 29th November, 1905)29 June, 190325 November, 1903
28 June, 19048 November, 1904
27 June, 190531 October, 1905
Sixteenth27 June, 19063 July, 1906
21 August, 190629 October, 1906
27 June, 190725 November, 1907

Chapter 6. SUCCESSIVE MINISTRIES

SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT IN NEW ZEALAND IN 1856
Name of MinistryAssumed OfficeRetired

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

† Owing to the death of the Premier, Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, P.C., on 10th June, 1906.

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, 188428 August, 1884
23. Atkinson28 August, 18843 September, 1884
24. Stout-Vogel3 September, 18848 October, 1887
25. Atkinson8 October, 188724 January, 1891
26. Ballance24 January, 18911 May, 1893.*
27. Seddon1 May, 189321 June, 1906.†
28. Hall-Jones21 June, 19066 August, 1906
29. Ward6 August, 1906 

Chapter 7. PREMIERS OF SUCCESSIVE MINISTRIES.

Name of PremierName of Premier
Henry SewellHarry Albert Atkinson (Ministry reconstituted)
William Fox 
Edward William StaffordSir George Grey, K.C.B
William FoxHon. John Hall
Alfred DomettFrederick Whitaker, M.L.C
Frederick WhitakerHarry Albert Atkinson
Frederick Aloysius WeldRobert Stout
Edward William StaffordHarry Albert Atkinson
William FoxSir Robert Stout, K.C.M.G
Hon. Edward William StaffordSir Harry Albert Atkinson, K.C.M.G
George Marsden WaterhouseJohn Ballance
Hon. William FoxRt. Hon. Richard John Seddon, P.C
Hon. Julius Vogel, C.M.GWilliam Hall-Jones
Hon. Daniel Pollen, M.L.CRight Hon. Sir Joseph George Ward, P.C., K.C.M.G
Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G 
Harry Albert Atkinson 

Chapter 8. SPEAKERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

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

Name of SpeakerDate of AppointmentDate 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, Kt1 July, 186814 June, 1879
Hon. Sir William Fitzherbert, K.C.M.G14 June, 187922 April, 1887
Hon. George Marsden Waterhouse22 April, 188721 September, 1887
Hon. Sir William Fitzherbert, K.C.M.G21 September, 188723 January, 1891
Hon. Sir Harry Albert Atkinson, K.C.M.G23 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. John Rigg (Acting)5 January, 19047 July, 1904
Hon. Sir A. J. Cadman, K.C.M.G7 July, 190423 March, 1905
Hon. R. H. J. Reeves (Acting)23 March, 19054 July, 1905
Hon. C. C. Bowen4 July, 1905 

Chapter 9. SPEAKERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

WITH DATES OF THEIR ELECTION AND DATES OF RETIREMENT.

Name of SpeakerDate of ElectionDate of Retirement
Sir Charles Clifford, Bart.26 May, 1854 
 15 April, 18563 June, 1861
Sir David Monro, Kt. Bach3 June, 1861 
 30 June, 186613 Sept., 1870
Sir Francis Dillon Bell, K.C.M.G., C.B14 August, 187121 October, 1875
Sir William Fitzherbert, K.C.M.G15 June, 187613 June, 1879
Sir George Maurice O'Rorke, Kt. Bach11 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. Bach21 June, 1894 
 6 April, 1897 
 22 June, 19005 November, 1902
Arthur Robert Guinness29 June, 1903 
 27 June, 1906 

Chapter 10. FOREIGN CONSULS.

CONSULS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES RESIDING IN, OR WITH JURISDICTION OVER, NEW ZEALAND, 31ST MARCH, 1908
Country representedOffice heldNamePlace of Residence
Argentine RepublicVice-Consul (with jurisdiction over New Zealand)Hon. T. FergusDunedin
Austria-HungaryConsul - General for the Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, and the South Sea IslandsHeinrich JehlitschkaSydney
Austria-HungaryConsulE. LangguthAuckland
BelgiumConsul - General for Australasia and FijiF. HuylebroeckMelbourne
BelgiumConsul - General (with jurisdiction over the Provincial Districts of Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, and Wellington)Hon. Charles John JohnstonWellington
BelgiumVice-ConsulG. F. Johnston 
BelgiumConsulJoseph James KinseyChristchurch
BelgiumConsulJohn BurnsAuckland
BelgiumConsulGeorge Lyon DennistonDunedin
BrazilVice-ConsulA. H. MilesWellington
ChiliConsul - General for the Commonwealth of Australia, and New ZealandWilliam BrownSydney
ChiliHonorary ConsulGeorge DunnetAuckland
ChiliHonorary ConsulAlbert Martin, M.DWellington
ChiliHonorary ConsulJ. G. F. PalmerChristchurch
ChiliHonorary ConsulJ. A. RobertsDunedin
DenmarkConsul (for North Island)Francis Henry Dillon BellWellington (Principal Consulate)
DenmarkConsul (for South Island)Emil Christian SkogChristchurch
DenmarkVice-ConsulFrederick Ehrenfried BaumeAuckland
DenmarkVice-ConsulWilliam Edward PerryHokitika
DenmarkVice-ConsulOdin Henry MÖllerDunedin
FranceConsul (for New Zealand)Robert BoeufvéAuckland
FranceChancelierAuguste A LelièvreAuckland
FranceVice-ConsulPercival Clay NeillDunedin
FranceConsular AgentGeorge HumphreysChristchurch
FranceConsular AgentHarold BeauchampWellington
Country representedOffice heldNamePlace of Residence
German EmpireConsul-General for Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, and FijiDr. IrmerSydney
German EmpireVice-Consul GeneralCount Deym Von StritezSydney
German EmpireConsulCarl SeegnerAuckland
German EmpireConsulWilli FelsDunedin
German EmpireConsul (acting)Karl JoostenChristchurch
German EmpireConsulFriedrich August KrullWanganui
German EmpireVice-ConsulEberhard FockeWellington
GreeceVice-Consul for the Dominion of New ZealandJoseph Frank DyerWellington
HondurasConsul-General for Commonwealth of Australia, and New ZealandFrederic WalshSydney
ItalyConsul-General for Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, and FijiCavalieri Camillo BertolaMelbourne
ItalyConsular AgentThomas WallaceChristchurch
ItalyConsular AgentRoland Thomas RobertsonWellington
ItalyConsular AgentSir James Mills, Kt., BachDunedin
ItalyConsular AgentGeraldo Giuseppe PerottiGreymouth
ItalyConsular AgentRichard A. CarrAuckland
JapanConsulA. S. AldrichWellington
LiberiaConsulHon. Charles LouissonChristchurch
LiberiaHonorary ConsulArnold Woodford IzardWellington
MexicoConsulJohn William HallAuckland
NetherlandsConsul-General for Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, and FijiW. L. BosschartMelbourne
NetherlandsConsul, with jurisdiction over New Zealand and the Islands belonging theretoHon. Charles John JohnstonWellington
NetherlandsVice-ConsulGeorge RitchieDunedin
NetherlandsVice-ConsulAmbrose MillarAuckland
NetherlandsVice-ConsulHarold Featherston JohnstonWellington
NetherlandsVice-ConsulG. de VriesChristchurch
NorwayConsul-General for Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, and the adjacent IslandsO. RÖmckeMelbourne
NorwayVice-ConsulLeslie Robert WilsonDunedin
NorwayVice-ConsulRoland St. ClairAuckland
NorwayConsulAlex. W. NewtonWellington
NorwayVice-ConsulAlbert Peter GundersenChristchurch
NorwayVice-ConsulWalter Sinclair WaterstonInvercargill
NorwayVice-ConsulRichard Rowland WhyteWestport
ParaguayConsulA. E. KernotWellington
PortugalConsulJohn DuncanWellington
PortugalVice-ConsulHenry Rees GeorgeAuckland
PortugalVice-ConsulArthur Donald Stuart DuncanWellington
PortugalVice-ConsulCharles William RattrayDunedin
RussiaConsul-GeneralMichel OustinoffMelbourne
SpainConsul-in-Chief (with jurisdiction over Australia and New Zealand)Henry CaveMelbourne
SpainHonorary Vice-ConsulAlexander H. TurnbullWellington
SwedenConsulArthur Edward PearceWellington
SwedenVice-ConsulSidney Jacob NathanAuckland
SwedenVice-ConsulAlbert KayeChristchurch
United States of AmericaConsul-General (for New Zealand and its dependencies)William A. PrickittAuckland
DittoVice-Consul-GeneralLeonard A. BachelderAuckland
DittoConsular AgentFrank GrahamChristchurch
DittoConsular AgentJ. G. DuncanWellington
DittoConsular AgentFrederick Orlando BridgemanDunedin

GOVERNMENT AGENT FOR DOMINION OF CANADA TO NEW ZEALAND.

J. S. LARKE,

Address—Exchange, Bridge Street, Sydney, N.S.W.

Chapter 11. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR NEW ZEALAND, IN LONDON.

The Hon. W. P. Reeves, Westminster Chambers, 13 Victoria Street, S.W. (Appointed as from 14th June, 1905.) Secretary—Walter Kennaway, C.M.G.

Chapter 12. THE COLONIAL OFFICE.

(DOWNING STREET, S.W., LONDON),

Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies—Right Hon. Earl of Crewe, 13th April, 1908.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary—Lieut.-Colonel J. E. B. Seely, D.S.O.

Permanent Under-Secretary—Sir Francis J. S. Hopwood, C.B., K.C.M.G.

Assistant Under-Secretaries: Charles P. Lucas, C.B.; H. B. Cox, C.B. (Legal); Reginald L. Antrobus, C.B.; and H. W. Just, C.B., C.M.G.

Chapter 13. CROWN AGENTS FOR THE COLONIES.

WHITEHALL GARDENS, 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., late R.E.; and William Hepworth Mercer, C.M.G.

Chapter 14. HONOURS HELD IN CONNECTION WITH THE DOMINION.

PRIVY COUNCILLOR (P.C.).

Ward, Right Hon. Sir Joseph George, 1907.

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

Perceval, Sir Westby Brook, 1894.

Ward, Right Hon. Sir Joseph George, 1901.

Stout, Hon. Sir Robert, 1886.

KNIGHTS BACHELOR (KT. BACH.).

Campbell, Sir John Logan, 1902.

Miller, Hon. Sir Henry John, 1901.

Mills, Sir James, 1907.

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

Prendergast, Hon. Sir James, 1881.

Russell, Sir William Russell, 1902.

Steward, Hon. Sir William Jukes, 1902.

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

Cradock, Major Montagu, 1900.

Davies, Brevet-Colonel R. H., 1900.

Newall, Colonel Stewart, 1900.

Porter, Colonel T. W., 1902.

Robin, Brevet-Colonel Alfred William, 1900.

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

Bauchop, Lieut.-Colonel A., 1902.

Gudgeon, Lieut.-Colonel Walter Edward, 1890.

Jowsey, Lieut.-Colonel Thomas, 1900.

Kennaway, Walter, 1891.

Richardson, Hon. Edward, 1879.

Roberts, John, 1891.

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

Abbott, Lieut.-Colonel F. W., 1902.

Bartlett, Major E., 1902.

Hickey, Lieutenant D. A., 1902.

Hughes, Captain J. G., 1900.

Major. Major C. T., 1900.

Polson, Major D., 1900.

Stevenson, Captain R., 1902.

Todd, Captain T. J. M., 1900.

Walker, Captain G. H., 1901.

COMPANION, IMPERIAL SERVICE ORDER (I.S.O.).

Heywood, James B., 1905.

ROYAL RED CROSS.

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

VICTORIA CROSS.

Hardham, Lieut. W. J., 1901.

NEW ZEALAND CROSS.

Adamson, Thomas, 1869.

Biddle, Benjamin, 1869.

Black, Solomon, 1869.

Hill, George, 1869.

Lingard, William, 1869.

Mace, Francis Joseph, 1869.

Maling, Christopher, 1869.

Mair, Gilbert, 1870.

Preece, George, 1869.

Roberts, John Mackintosh, 1869.

Shepherd, Richard, 1869.

Wrigg, Harry Charles William, 1898.*

* For service rendered in 1867.

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

Baigent, Private Ivanhoe.

Black, Sergeant-Major G. C.

Burr, Sergeant-Major W. T.

Cassidy, Sergeant W.

Fletcher, Sergeant-Major W. H.

Free, Private A.

Kent, Sergeant W.

Langham, Sergeant-Major J.

Lockett, Sergeant-Major E. B.

Pickett, Sergeant-Major M.

Rouse, Farrier-Sergeant G.

Wade, Private H. B.

White, Sergeant-Major H.

PERSONS ALLOWED TO RETAIN THE TITLE OF “HONOURABLEWITHIN HIS-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; Duncan, Thomas Y., 1906; Fergus, Thomas, 1891; Hislop, Thomas W., 1891; Mills, Charles H., 1906; Mitchelson, Edwin, 1891; Montgomery, William, 1907; Oliver, Richard, 1884; Reeves, William P., 1896; Richardson, George F., 1891; Thompson, Thomas, 1900; Tole, Joseph A., 1888.

By another despatch of 14th November, 1896, the Secretary of State requested to be informed if the Government of New Zealand desired that members of the Legislative Council in this Dominion should on retirement or resignation, after a continuous service in such Council of not less than ten years, be eligible for recommendation by the Governor for Royal permission to retain the title of “Honourable.”

Mr. William Montgomery has been allowed to retain the title as from 14th December, 1906, accordingly on such retirement.

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 Dominion. This title is now held by Sir James Prendergast and the Hon. Edward Tennyson Conolly.

Chapter 15. GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.

Table of Contents

1ST APRIL, 1908.

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 St. Michael and St. George; Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order; son of fourth Baron (Archbishop of Dublin); born 19th December, 1864; succeeded 1897; married, 1894, Lady Victoria Alexandrina Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, daughter of first Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, K.P., G.C.B., &c. Issue: Two sons (Honourables Terence and Brinsley) five daughters (Honourables Helen, Eileen, Moira, Joyce, and Ethna). Appointed 9th March, 1904, and assumed office 20th June, 1904, as Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over 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 Dominion. Residences: Old Connaught, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland; Government House, Wellington; Government House, Auckland.

Private Secretary: Horace Clare Waterfield, Esq.

1st Aide-de-Camp: Captain the Hon. Nigel Charles Gathorne-Hardy, 5th Fusiliers.

2nd Aide-de-Camp: Edward Lycett Lyon, 18th Hussars.

Local Aide-de-Camp: Captain John Hugh Boscawen (honorary).

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

Chapter 16. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Table of Contents

1ST APRIL, 1908.

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 Dominion 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.

Right Hon. Sir Joseph George Ward, P.C., K.C.M.G., Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Postmaster-General, Minister of Telegraphs, Minister of Defence, and Minister of Tourist and Health Resorts.

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

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

Hon. James McGowan, Minister of Justice, Minister of Mines, Minister of Industries and Commerce, and Minister of Immigration.

Hon. John George Findlay, K.C., LL.D., Attorney-General and Minister of Internal Affairs.

Hon. John Andrew Millar, Minister of Customs, Minister of Labour, and Minister of Marine.

Hon. Robert McNab, Minister of Lands and Minister for Agriculture.

Hon. George Fowlds, Minister of Education and Minister of Public Health.

Clerk of the Executive Council—Alexander James Willis.

Chapter 17. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE number of members at present constituting the Legislative Council is forty-eight, and is not limited. 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 a male 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 Dominion 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.

ROLL OF MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF NEW ZEALAND (1ST APRIL, 1908). Speaker—Hon. C. C. BOWEN.Chairman of Committees—The Hon. W. C. SMITH
NameProvincial DistrictDate of Appointment

* Life members.

Anstey, the Hon. JohnCanterbury22 January, 1907
Baillie, the Hon. William Douglas HallMarlborough8 March, 1861.*
Baldey, the Hon. AlfredOtago18 March, 1903
Barr, the Hon. JohnCanterbury22 January, 1907
Beehan, the Hon. WilliamAuckland22 June, 1903
Bowen, the Hon. Charles ChristopherCanterbury23 January, 1891.*
Callan, the Hon. John BartholomewOtago22 January, 1907
Carncross, the Hon. Walter Charles FrederickTaranaki18 March, 1903
Collins, the Hon. William EdwardWellington22 January, 1907
Feldwick, the Hon. HenryOtago16 October, 1906
Findlay, the Hon. John George, K.C., LL.DWellington23 November, 1906
George, the Hon. Seymour ThorneAuckland22 June, 1903
Gilmer, the Hon. HamiltonWellington22 January, 1907
Harris, the Hon. BenjaminAuckland3 February, 1904
Holmes, the Hon. JamesWestland18 April, 1902
Jenkinson, the Hon. John EdwardCanterbury1 July, 1907
Johnston, the Hon. Charles JohnWellington23 January, 1891.*
Jones, the Hon. GeorgeOtago13 December, 1902
Kelly, the Hon. ThomasTaranaki16 October, 1906
Loughnan, the Hon. Robert AndrewWellington6 May, 1907
Louisson, the Hon. CharlesCanterbury14 January, 1908
Luke, the Hon. Charles ManleyWellington22 January, 1907
McCardle, the Hon. William WilsonAuckland22 January, 1907
Macdonald, the Hon. Thomas KennedyWellington22 June, 1903
McLean, the Hon. GeorgeOtago19 December, 1881.*
Marshall, the Hon. JamesWestland18 April, 1902
NameProvincial DistrictDate of Appointment

* Life members.

Miller, the Hon. Sir Henry John, KtOtago8 July, 1865.*
Ormond, the Hon. John DaviesHawke's Bay20 January, 1891.*
O'Rorke, the Hon. Sir George Maurice, KtAuckland25 June, 1904
Paul, the Hon. John ThomasOtago22 January, 1907
Pere, Hon. WiremuHawke's Bay22 January, 1907
Reeves, the Hon. Richard Harman JeffaresNelson13 December, 1902
Rigg, the Hon. JohnWellington1 July, 1907
Samuel, the Hon. OliverTaranaki22 January, 1907
Scotland, the Hon. HenryTaranaki24 February, 1868.*
Sinclair, the Hon. John RobertOtago22 January, 1907
Smith, the Hon. William CowperHawke's Bay13 December, 1902
Smith, the Hon. George JohnCanterbury22 January, 1907
Stevens, the Hon. Edward Cephas JohnCanterbury7 March, 1882.*
Thompson, the Hon. ThomasAuckland18 March, 1903
Trask, the Hon. FrancisNelson18 March, 1903
Tucker, the Hon. William HenryAuckland22 January, 1907
Wherowhero, the Hon. Mahuta Tawhiao Potatau teAuckland22 May, 1903
Wigram, the Hon. Henry FrancisCanterbury22 June, 1903

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—Frank Herbert Phillips.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The number of members constituting the House of Representatives is eighty—seventy-six Europeans and four Maoris. Under Statute of 1907 they are designated M.P. The 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 South Island thirty-eight. But a new division of the Dominion has been made, coming into operation at the next general election. 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, 1905,” 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 Dominion, are incapable of being elected as, or of sitting or voting as, members. The payment made to members of the House of Representatives is £25 per month, amounting to £300 per annum, subject to certain deductions for absence during session not due to sickness or other unavoidable cause. Travelling-expenses to and from Wellington are also allowed. This scale of payment came into force on the 7th November, 1901, under the provisions of “The Payment of Members Act, 1901.” Twenty members, inclusive of the Speaker, constitute a quorum. Unless otherwise ordered, the sitting-days of the House are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., resuming at 7.30 p.m. Order of admission to the Speaker's Gallery is by ticket obtained from the Speaker. The Strangers' Gallery is open free to the public.

ROLL OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT (JUNE, 1908) IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.Speaker—ARTHUR ROBERT GUINNESS. Chairman of Committees—RODERICK MCKENZIE
NameElectoral DistrictDate when Writs made returnable
For European Electorates.  
Aitken, John Guthrie WoodWellington East13 December, 1905
Alison, Ewen WilliamWaitemata13 December, 1905
Allen, Edmund GiblettChalmers13 December, 1905
Allen, JamesBruce13 December, 1905
Arnold, James FrederickDunedin South13 December, 1905
Barber, William Henry PeterNewtown13 December, 1905
Barclay, Alfred RichardDunedin North13 December, 1905
Baume, Frederick EhrenfreidAuckland East13 December, 1905
Bollard, JohnEden13 December, 1905
Buddo, DavidKaiapoi13 December, 1905
Carroll, Hon. JamesWaiapu13 December, 1905
Chapple, William AllenTuapeka12 June, 1908
Colvin, JamesBuller13 December, 1905
Davey, Thomas HenryChristchurch East13 December, 1905
Dillon, AlfredHawke's Bay13 December, 1905
Duncan, Hon. Thomas YoungOamaru13 December, 1905
Ell, Henry GeorgeChristchurch South13 December, 1905
Field, William HughesOtaki13 December, 1905
Fisher, Francis Marion BatesWellington Central13 December, 1905
Flatman, Frederick RobertGeraldine13 December, 1905
Fowlds, Hon. GeorgeGrey Lynn13 December, 1905
Fraser, Alfred Levavasour DurellNapier13 December, 1905
Fraser, WilliamWakatipu13 December, 1905
Graham, JohnCity of Nelson13 December, 1905
Gray, Charles MatthewChristchurch North13 December, 1905
Greenslade, Henry JamesWaikato13 December, 1905
Guinness, Arthur RobertGrey13 December, 1905
Hall, CharlesWaipawa13 December, 1905
Hall-Jones, Hon. WilliamTimaru13 December, 1905
Hanan, Josiah AlfredInvercargill13 December, 1905
Hardy, Charles Albert CreerySelwyn13 December, 1905
Herries, William HerbertBay of Plenty13 December, 1905
Hogan, James ThomasWanganui13 December, 1905
Hogg, Alexander WilsonMasterton13 December, 1905
Hornsby, John Thomas MarryatWairarapa13 December, 1905
Houston, Robert MorrowBay of Islands13 December, 1905
Izard, Charles HaywardWellington North13 December, 1905
Jennings, William ThomasEgmont13 December, 1905
Kidd, AlfredAuckland Central13 December, 1905
Lang, Frederic WilliamManukau13 December, 1906
Laurenson, GeorgeLyttelton13 December, 1905
Lawry, FrankParnell13 December, 1905
Lethbridge, Frank YatesOroua13 December, 1905
Lewis, CharlesCourtenay13 December, 1905
McGowan, Hon. JamesThames13 December, 1905
McKenzie, RoderickMotueka13 December, 1905
Mackenzie, ThomasWaikouaiti13 December, 1905
McLachlan, JohnAshburton13 December, 1905
McNab, Hon. RobertMataura13 December, 1905
Macpherson, John AndrewMount Ida13 December, 1905
Major, Charles EdwinHawera13 December, 1905
Malcolm, Alexander ScottClutha13 December, 1905
Mander, FrancisMarsden13 December, 1905
Massey, William FergusonFranklin13 December, 1905
Millar, Hon. John AndrewDunedin Central13 December, 1905
Mills, Hon. Charles HoughtonWairau13 December, 1905
Okey, Henry James HobbsTaranaki21 May, 1907
Poland, HughOhinemuri13 December, 1905
Poole, Charles HenryAuckland West13 December, 1905
Reid, Donald (jun.)Taieri13 December, 1905
Remington, Arthur EdwardRangitikei13 December, 1905
Rhodes, Robert HeatonEllesmere13 December, 1905
Ross, Robert BeatsonPahiatua13 December, 1905
Rutherford, Andrew WilliamHurunui13 December, 1905
Seddon, Thomas Edward YoudWestland20 July, 1906
Sidey, Thomas KayCaversham13 December, 1905
Stallworthy, JohnKaipara13 December, 1905
Stevens, JohnManawatu13 December, 1905
Steward, Hon. Sir William Jukes, Kt. BachWaitaki13 December, 1905
Symes, WalterPatea13 December, 1905
Tanner, William WilcoxAvon13 December, 1905
Thomson, John CharlesWallace13 December, 1905
Ward, Right Hon. Sir Joseph George, P.C., K.C.M.GAwarua13 December, 1905
Wilford, Thomas MasonHutt13 December, 1905
Witty, GeorgeRiccarton13 December, 1905
Wood, William ThomasPalmerston13 December, 1905
For Maori Electorates.  
Heke, HoneNorthern Maori11 January, 1906
Kaihau, HenareWestern Maori11 January, 1906
Ngata, Apirana TurupaEastern Maori11 January, 1906
Parata, TameSouthern Maori11 January, 1906

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.

Hansard Supervisor—M. F. Marks.

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

Clerk of Writs—H. Pollen.

Deputy Clerk of Writs—R. F. Lynch.

Chief Librarian—Charles Wilson.

Chapter 18. OFFICIAL LIST.

Table of Contents

1st April, 1908.

PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE.

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

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

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.

THE TREASURY.

Minister of Finance—Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, P.C., K.C.M.G.

Secretary to the Treasury, Receiver-General, Paymaster-General, and Registrar of New Zealand Consols—Robert J. Collins

Accountant to the Treasury—Richard B. Vincent

Cashier—C. E. Chittey

Corresponding Clerk—H. Blundell

Clerks—E. L. Mowbray, A. O. Gibbes, H. N. W. Church, A. J. Morgan, Jas. J. Esson, M. S. Seddon, T. J. Davis, J. A. Martin, J. H. Stock, H. Hawthorn, R. J. Hickson, F. H. Tuckey, W. Wilson, C. B. Carpenter, J. McLean, W. M. Townshend, G. C. Rodda, A. J. Tresize, F. J. Chittey G. Scott, R. Witheford, S. Fraser, A. C. McIntyre, C. Bod, A. H. Duff, J. D. Naughton, T. M. Highet, L. McIntosh, M. Ralston, D. M. Schramm, E. M. Bodmin, E. M. Taylor, W. L. Clapson, A. Hore, P. Dunstan, E. Toms, G. M. Morris

Cadets—H. Stafford, E. M. Joyce, J. C. M. Nutt, J. W. Dowling, C. J. Fisher, T. J. King, W. H. Welsh, D. E. Mackay, W. Ryan, W. H. Prideax, J. B. Watson

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES DEPARTMENT.

Registrar—R. E. Hayes

Revising Barrister—L. G. Reid

Actuary—A. Traversi

Clerk and Deputy Registrar—C. T. Benzoni

Clerks—J. G. Roache, M. A. Bridson

Cadets—A. T. Stratton, G. E. Radley

LAND AND INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT.

Commissioner of Taxes—P. Heyes

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

Clerk in Charge, Land Tax—H. Nancarrow

Clerk in Charge, Income Tax—J. M. King

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

Inspectors—W. M. Tyers, D. G. Clark, G. W. Jänisch

NOTE.—An Act was passed on the 25th November, 1907, providing for the classification of all the positions in the Public Service, excepting those which are subject to “The Government Railways Department Classification Act, 1901,” and “The Post and Telegraph Classification and Regulation Act, 1890.”

The Act provides for the constitution of a Board which shall consist of a Minister of the Crown and of such officers (being permanent heads of Departments of the Public Service, and not exceeding ten in number) as the Governor may from time to time appoint.

The first Board constituted under the Act was appointed on the 8th February, 1908, and consists of the following officers:—

H. J. H. Blow, Under-Secretary for Public works;

R. J. Collins, Secretary to the Treasury;

T. E. Donne, General Manager, Department of Tourists and Health Resorts;

W. T. Glasgow, Secretary and Inspector of Customs;

T. H. Hamer, Under-Secretary for Mines;

G. Hogben, Inspector-General of Schools;

J. Mackay, Government Printer;

H. Pollen, Under-Secretary, Department of Internal Affairs;

J. D. Ritchie, Secretary for Agriculture; and

E. Tregear, Secretary, Labour Department.

LAND-TAX STAFF.

Clerks—E. W. Watson, E. Randell, J. M. Smythe, R. R. Leys, C. E. Dowland, H. S. Barron, P. H. Wood, C. O. Plats, W. H. Doyle, S. C. Lambert, A. S. Williamson, J. Hibbert, M. G. Fisher, P. W. Skelly, T. Hoggard, T. L. Ward, W. B. Rhodes, J. A. Horne, St. G. A. Dowsing, J. H. Clark, T. H. Stone, F. T. Laurenson F. Houldsworth, D. Munro, J. Mons han, C. Headland

INCOME-TAX STAFF.

Clerks—D. R. Purdie, C. T. Rout, J. M. Ferguson, E. J. R. Cumming, J. M. Park, J. M. Glasgow, R. Hirschberg, L. F. Allen, L. Powell, Miss E. O'Leary, Miss I. Hill

Cadets—G. C. Smith, J. S. Arthur, J. D. Eves, T. S. Couch, R. S. Wakelin, H. H. A. Young

POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT.

GENERAL POST OFFICES.

Postmaster - General and Minister of Telegraphs—Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, P.C., K.C.M.G.

Secretary—D. Robertson

Assistant Secretary and Inspector—W. R. Morris

Chief Clerk—F. V. Waters

Staff—J. C. Williamson (Second Clerk), W. Crow, H. D. Grocott, J. C. Redmond, A. T. Markmann, W. J. Gow, R. C. O'Connor, J. E. Broadfoot, F. W. Furby, J. B. Jordan, G. G. Rose, S. Macalister, W. I. Dawon, J. P. P. Clouston, A. Donovan, W. J. Wilkie, W. H. Barnett, J. F. Wilson, C. T. Andrew, J. G. Schmidt, J. W. Gill, S. J. Smith, S. G. Turner, G. L. Hancock, Hon. T. Ogilvie-Grant, E. Brook, E. Davidson, G. B. Farmer, E. Downard, N. T. Polley, A. D. Troup, M. A. Green

Superintendent of Electric Lines—J. K. Logan

Chief Electrician—T. Buckley

Assistant Electrician—G. T. Kemp

Staff—R. Heinitz, F. Palmer, C. S. Plank, R. Crow, J. O. Richter

Controller of Money-orders and Savings-banks, and Accountant—J. L. H. Ledger

Assistant Controller of Money-orders and Savings - banks, and Assistant Accountant—H. A. R. Huggins

Staff—W. Chegwidden (First Clerk), H. G. Cornwall, R. D. Kelly, F. T. R. Johnston, G. Levy, D. A. Jenkins, C. B. Harton, S. J. Bolton, F. E. Beamish, P. D. Hoskins, H. C. Milne, R. de Lambert, F. Stewart, D. Gollan, H. C. Hickson, W. R. Wakelin, A. Marshall, G. F. W. KrÖner, H. E. Combs, J. E. Hull, F. G. A. Eagles, E. White, J. Snell, S. H. A. Levien, J. Madden, P. Cutforth, J. H. Fletcher, G. Foote, W. Gilbert, R. M. Porteous, D. Rutherford, A. Leeden, R. H. Twose, C. Gamble, J. M. Dale, L. C. Forgie, W. A. Smith, J. A. Humphrey, D. J. Lattimore, T. A. Churches, C. H. Clinkard, G. A. Eastick, H. A. Lamb, H. J. Copping, N. V. Ross, H. J. Sanders, C. B. Burdekin, G. B. Williamson, O. L. T. Harrison, T. Brown, D. A. McCurdy, W. M. Krebs, E. E. Mortimer, H. A. Hamilton, W. M. Moore, J. Macmorran, H. D. Smith, F. C. Ambridge, W. Appleton, A. Rosie, K. G. Colman, W. Findlay, A. Hall, J. T. Schlenburg, F. G. Furniss, J. W. Coard, E. J. G. Loader, E. H. Boyd, J. K. Brooks, H. Toner, J. E. Hunt, S. McDowall, C. S. Chaplin, J. C. Paul, W. T. Bird, C. J. H. Davidson, L. F. Bruce, R. T. McElligott, H. G. Shakes, V. J. Brogan, E. Bermingham, E. Harris, B. M. Kenny, V. Johnston, M. A. MacLeod, C. M. A. Smith, M. A. Asquith, E. E. Warren, H. G. Kimbell, . W. East, E. G. Mills, E. M. Rapley, R. E. E. Alexander, R. T. Beehan, C. M. Jordan

Inspector of Post-offices—G. B. Dall.

Staff—G. V. Hudson, J. Brennan, W. A. Tanner, S. M. Harrison, H. McGill, G. A. Maskew, J. L. M. Harkness, T. O. Lambie, L. Sleightholme, J. A. Agar, S. C. Robertson, E. M. Phillips

Inspector of Savings-banks—R. B. Morris

Assistant Inspector of Savings-banks—W. Gee

Inspector of Telegraph Offices—J. G. Ballard

Staff—W. A. Andrews, J. Robertson, W. C. Purdie

Controller of Stores—J. Black

Assistant Controller of Stores—C. B. Mann

Staff—C. Nicholls, T. Palmer, W. H. Carter, M. McGilvray, J. G. Howard, J. L. Murphy, G. S. S. Urquhart, H. W. Cockerill, J. O'Sullivan, J. W. Brabyn, G. E. St. George, J. J. Monahan, W. B. Barker, F. L Chapman, H. A. Johnston

CHIEF POSTMASTERS.

Auckland—F. D. Holdsworth

*Thames—W. H. Nicholls

*Gisborne—W. H. Benner

Napier—J. H. Sheath

*New Plymouth—W. J. Chaney

*Wanganui—D. Miller

Wellington—J. A. Hutton

*Blenheim—E. Northcroft

*Nelson—E. V. Senn

*Westport—H. Logie

*Greymouth—G. W. Sampson

*Hokitika—D. St. George

Christchurch—S. P. Stevens

*Timaru—H. W. Capper

*Oamaru—W. W. Beswick

Dunedin—W. St. G. Douglas

*Invercargill—W. McHutcheson

INSPECTORS OF TELEGRAPHS.

Auckland—W. G. Meddings

Christchurch—J. W. Gannaway

Dunedin—J. Orchiston

Nelson—C. C. Robertson

Wellington—W. S. Furby

Wellington—Assistant Inspector of Telegraphs—W. E. Chisholm

Wellington—Sub-Inspector of Telegraphs—R. M. Baird

ASSISTANT INSPECTORS OF POST-OFFICES.

P. Curtis (Northern District); J. H. Stevens (Central District); H. Kissel (Midland District); T.T. King (Southern District)

OFFICERS IN CHARGE OF TELEGRAPH OFFICES.

Auckland—C. H. M. Hawk

Napier—F. H. Dodd

Wellington—H. W. Harrington

Christchurch—B. N. Martin

Dunedin—B. H. Keys

BOARD OF APPEAL.

R. J. Collins, Secretary to Treasury (Chairman), nominated

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

A. F. Wimsett, Representing Postal Branch, elected

H. L. Slyfield, Representing Telegraph Branch, elected

DEPARTMENT OF TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS.

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

General Manager—T. E. Donne

Chief Clerk—C. R. C. Robieson

Accountant—P. J. Kelleher.

Inspector—F. Moorhouse

Journalist—J. Cowan

Draughtsman—J. McDonald

Clerks—W. H. Frethey, H. Kirk, J. Andrews, J. W. Hill, S. J. Collett, M. Keogh, G. A. Cormack, L. C. Redwood, E. McCarthy, J. H. Barr, C. Freyberg, J. B. H. Saxon, A. M. Perry, U. K. Harty

Shorthand-writers and Typistes—S. Dimant, N. Lambert, R. Jenkins, L. Turton, O. Mills

District Agents—Auckland, C. Walnutt; Te Aroha, G. F. McGirr; Rotorua, W. R. Blow; Christchurch, G. W. C. Moon; Dunedin, J. A. Tipping; Invercargill, T. F. McLaughlin

Oversea Agencies—Melbourne, H. J. Manson; Sydney, . H. Montgomery; Adelaide, Duncan T. Lawes (Honorary Agent); Chicago, U.S.A., British Consulate (Honorary Agency)

Government Balneologist, Rotorua—A. S. Wohlmann, M.D., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.; Clerk, J. F. Robieson

House Surgeon, Rotorua—Herbert Bertram, M.B., Bach. Surg.

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

Engineer in Charge, Rotorua—L. Birks, B.Sc., A.M.I.C.E.

Clerks—W. Hill, C. J. Todd

Manager, Hanmer Hot Springs—J. B. Gould

OLD-AGE PENSIONS DEPARTMENT.

Head Office—Government Buildings, Wellington.

Registrar—J. Eman Smith

Chief Clerk—G. C. Fache

Clerks—J. A. Thomson, J. R. Williams, F. M. Leckie, F. G. Twiss, J. H. Reynolds, J. S. Lambert, H. D. Thomson, P. Cunningham, H. E. Tuckey

Cadets—L. C. Barnes, F. W. Duske, A. W. Robertson

* Combined Post and Telegraph Offices.

District Agencies.

Deputy Registrars—

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

Wellington—L. Crow

Christchurch—P. A. Keddell. Cadet—A. H. Parfitt

Dunedin—R. S. Stokes. Cadet—B. E. Murphy

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

Coromandel—G. G. Paul

Dargaville—S. Thompson

Hamilton—H. J. Dixon

Helensville—G. A. Tapp

Kaitaia—W. Sefton

Mangonui—W. Drummond

Maungaturoto—J. Hemphill

Otahuhu—G. Foreman

Raglan—J. O'Sulliva

Rawene—H. Cox

Rotorua—A. F. Bent

Russell—B. J. Parsons

Taupo—D. Ryan

Warkworth—E. M. Johnson

Whangarei—W. J. Reeve

Whangaroa—P. J. Carmody

Thames—J. Jordan

Opotiki—C. O'Reilly

Paeroa—H. R. Bush

Tauranga—W. A. Thom

Te Aroha—H. R. Bush

Whakatane—J. S. Willcocks

Gisborne—G. J. A. Johnstone

Port Awanui—G. W. Wales

Napier—A. Trimble

Dannevirke—S. Tansley

Waipawa—J. Eccleton

Wairoa—H. H. Carr

New Plymouth—W. A. D. Banks

Stratford—D. W. Mason

Wanganui—C. A. Barton

Hawera—D. Banks

Marton—H. Morgan

Patea—M. O'Brien

Feilding—C. V. Roberts

Carterton—H. Salmon

Masterton—M. Foley

Otaki—T. O'Rourke

Pahiatua—J. Fitzgerald

Palmerston North—C. J. Hewlett

Nelson—E. C. Kelling

Motueka—F. Pidgeon

Blenheim—J. Terry

Havelock—A. T. Ching

Akaroa—R. W. Shepherd

Amberley—F. Lewin

Ashburton—F. W. Hart

Culverden—A. S. Bird

Kaiapoi—A. G. Ashby

Kaikoura—J. P. Clarkson

Timaru—T. W. Tayler

Fairlie—D. Hyland

Temuka—J. Gillespie

Waimate—W. Y. Purchase

Greymouth—B. Harper

Reefton—H. Smith

Hokitika—J. N. Nalder

Westport—O. E. Bowling

Oamaru—R. P. Ward

Balclutha—C. W. Lopdell

Clyde—F. T. D. Jeffrey

Lawrence—A. M. Eyes

Milton—D. McRae

Naseby—J. C. Malfroy

Palmerston South—C. Findlay

Waikouaiti—S. Kidd

Gore—G. H. Lang

Queenstown—A. J. Thompson

Riverton—D. P. Phillips

Chatham Islands—W. A. Matthews

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE.

Minister of Defence—The Right Hon. Sir Joseph George Ward, P.C., K.C.M.G.

Private Secretary—James Hislop

COUNCIL OF DEFENCE.

President—The Hon. Minister of Defence, Right Hon. Sir Joseph George Ward, P.C., K.C.M.G.

First Military Member—Colonel Alfred William Robin, C.B., N.Z.M., Chief of the General Staff

Second Military Member—Colonel Harry Denison Tuson, N.ZM (Major H.M. Manchester Regiment), Adjutant-General and Quartermaster-General

Third Military Member—Colonel Richard Hutton Davies, C.B., N.Z.M., Inspector-General

Finance Member—Colonel Robert Joseph Collins (V.D.), N.Z.M.

Member and Secretary—Colonel William Holden Webb, N.Z.M. (late H.M. 109th Foot)

DEPARTMENT OF THE CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF.

Chief of the General Staff—Colonel Alfred William Robin, C.B., NZ.M.

Staff Officer—Captain Sydney Vincent. Trask. N.Z.M.

General Instructional Staff.

Chief Instructor for General Courses and Classes of Instruction (except technical classes, artillery subjects)—Major E. ff. W. Lascelles, N.Z.M. (Captain H.M. 3rd Dragoon Guards), with headquarters at Wellington

All Garrison and Field Artillery—Captain G. S. Richardson, N.Z.M., with headquarters at Wellington; Staff Sergeant-major H. A. Wilson

Field Engineers—, with headquarters at Wellington

Mounted Rifles (North Island)—Captain H. H. Browne, N.Z.M., with headquarters at Auckland

Mounted Rifles (South Island)—Captain Charles Nelson, N.Z.M. (Lieutenant H.M. 15th (The King's) Hussars), with headquarters at Christchurch

Infantry—Captain C. P. Rogers, N.Z.M., with headquarters at Wellington

Instructional and Military Examination Board.

Colonel Alfred William Robin, C.B., N.Z.M., Chief of the General Staff

Members—Officer Commanding Permanent Forces (ex officio); Colonel R. J. Collins (V.D.), N.Z.M.; Lieutenant-Colonel G. F. C. Campbell; Lieutenant-Colonel W. G. Duthie; Major H. S. E. Hobday; Major C. T. Tatum; Major A. C. Robinson (D.E.S.); Major R. W. Tate; Captain D. J. Cameron; Captain D. Pringle; Captain T. W. McDonald. N.Z.M.; Captain G. S. Richardson, N.Z.M.

DEPARTMENT OF THE ADJUTANT-GENERAL AND QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL.

Adjutant-General and Quartermaster-General—Colonel Harry Denison Tuson (Major H.M. Manchester Regiment)

Staff Officer—Captain Richard John S. Seddon, N.Z.M.

Medical Service—Surgeon-General Sidney Skerman (V.D.), N.Z.M., New Zealand Medical Corps

Veterinary Services—Lieutenant-Colonel John Anderson Gilruth, M.R.C.V.S. (Eng.)

Military Pensions Board—President: Lieutenant-Colonel Hon. William Edward Collins, M.B., M.L.C., N.Z. Medical Corps. Members: Surgeon-Major James R. Purdy, M.B., N.Z. Medical Corps; Surgeon-Captain William E. Herbert, M.D., F.R.C.S., Edin., N.Z. Militia.

Director of Artillery Services—Captain George Spafford Richardson, N.Z.M. (acting)

Director of Engineer Services—Major Alick Christopher Robinson, N.Z.M. (Captain R.E.)

Director of Stores—James O'Sullivan, Honorary Captain and Quartermaster, N.Z.M.

Assistant Storekeeper—Frederick Silver

Testing Officer (Ammunition)—Master-Gunner A. Duvall, R.A.

Magazine-keepers—William Thomas Beck (Auckland); Richard Fredric (Wellington)

Armourers—Staff - Sergeant Bertram Buckley, A.O.C.; Staff-Sergeant John Hunter, A.O.C.; Staff-Sergeant William E. Luckman, A.O.C.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL, NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCES.

Inspector-General—Colonel Richard Hutton Davies, C.B., N.Z.M.

Staff Officer—Lieutenant Robert Oswald Chesney, R.N.Z.A.

DEPARTMENT OF THE FINANCE MEMBER, COUNCIL OF DEFENCE.

Finance Member—Colonel Robert Joseph Collins (V.D.), N.Z.M.

Accountant—Frederick B. Mabin

Clerk—H. M. Griffen

HEADQUARTERS OFFICE, COUNCIL OF DEFENCE.

Secretariat Branch.

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

Chief Clerk—Thomas Francis Grey

Senior Clerk—William Edward Butler

Record Clerk—William McGoldrick

Clerks—M. M. Dodd; F. Jennings; Lieutenant J. F. Rockstrow, N.Z.M.; W. R. Collett; G. F. Rudkin; G. L'E. Logan

Junior Clerks—D. S. Lyons; A. W. Jackson

Clerical Cadets—E. Fennessy, J. B. Ryan

Typistes and Shorthand-writers—Miss E. M. Gardiner; Miss M. I. Davidson

OFFICER COMMANDING PERMANENT FORCE.

Major John Edward Hume

IMPERIAL PAY BRANCH.

Paymaster-General—Colonel Robert J. Collins (V.D.), N.Z.M.

Senior Officer in Charge—Frederick B. Mabin

NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCES RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Patron—His Excellency The Right Hon. William Lee, Baron Plunket, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O.

President—The Right Hon. Sir Joseph George Ward, P.C., K.C.M.G.

Vice-Presidents—Colonel Alfred William Robin, C.B., N.Z.M.; Colonel Richard Hutton Davies, C.B., N.Z.M.; Colonel William Holden Webb, N.Z.M.

Executive Officer—Colonel Robert J. Collins (V.D.), N.Z.M. (Wellington)

Executive Committee—Major A. de B. Brandon (Wellington); Major Robert Hughes, V.D. (Wanganui); Captain Louis P. Skinner (V.D.), (Auckland); Lieutenant P. Doull (Otago); Captain C. Harcourt Turner (Wellington); Captain Charles G. Foster (Canterbury); F. W. Williams (Napier)

Auditor—Captain W. R. Morris (Wellington)

Secretary—Lieutenant J. G. Roache, N.Z.V.

DISTRICT COMMANDS.

Auckland.

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

Assistant Adjutant-General—Captain Robert Carpenter, N.Z.M.

Assistant Quartermaster-General—Captain J. H. Whyte

Intelligence Officer—Captain John Thomas Bosworth (Lieutenant, N.Z.M.)

Principal Medical Officer—Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Walker (V.D.)

Wellington.

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

Assistant Adjutant-General—Captain Thomas William McDonald, N.Z.M.

Assistant Quartermaster-General—Captain Charles Harcourt Turner

Principal Medical Officer—Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Hon. William Edward Collins, M.L.C., M.B.

Nelson.

Officer Commanding District—Major (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel) Lewis John Joyce, N.Z.M.

Assistant Quartermaster-General—Captain Robert William Stiles

Intelligence Officer—Captain George F. C. Glover

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

Canterbury.

Officer Commanding District—Lieutenant-Colonel John Edward Hawkins (V.D.), N.Z.M.

Assistant Adjutant-General—Captain Harry R. Potter, N.Z.M.

Assistant Quartermaster-General—Captain Walter Harry Meddings

Intelligence Officer—Captain Alfred Edgar Luttrell

Principal Medical Officer—Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Thomas, M.B. (V.D.)

Otago.

Officer Commanding District—Major (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel) Vere Staunton Smyth, N.Z.M. (Reserve of Officers), late H.M. Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Assistant Adjutant-General—Captain Daniel A. Hickey, D.S.O., N.Z.M.

Assistant Quartermaster-General—Captain John McIndoe

Intelligence Officer—Major John Stuart Hislop

Signalling Officer—Lieutenant Edward Lacey

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

DETACHMENT ROYAL N.Z. ARTILLERY.

Auckland.

Officer Commanding—Captain Herbert Edward Pilkington

Surgeon-Captain—Harry Charles Bennett

ELECTRIC-LIGHT SECTION.

Auckland.

Lieutenant—Rayner Barrington Smythe

ROYAL NEW ZEALAND ARTILLERY.

Wellington.

Major—John Edward Hume

Adjutant—Captain Frank Symon

Lieutenants—George E. B. Mickle; Robert Oswald Chesney; Ivon Tatham Standish

Surgeon-Captain—Hamilton Andrew Hugh Gilmer, N.Z.M.

Hon. Chaplain—Rev. George P. Davys, M.A.

ELECTRIC-LIGHT SECTION.

Wellington.

Captain Frank Symon; Lieutenant—John Evelyn Duigan

Honorary Captain—Robert Fraser (Lieutenant R.N.R.)

DETACHMENT ROYAL N.Z. ARTILLERY.

Lyttelton.

Captain—William Patrick Wall (on sick leave)

Lieutenant—Sydney George Sandle

Honorary Chaplain—Rev. Edward Eliot Chambers (V.D.)

DETACHMENT ROYAL N.Z. ARTILLERY.

DUNEDIN.

Captain—Murray Menzies Gardner

Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel—Harry Archibald de Lautour, V.D. (Dunedin)

Surgeon-Captain—William Henry Borrie (Port Chalmers)

RAILWAYS DEPARTMENT.

Minister for Railways—Hon. W. Hall-Jones

HEAD OFFICE.

General Manager—T. Ronayne

Chief Clerk—R. W. McVilly

Clerks—G. Brownlee, W. S. Ridler, J. L. Day, J. O. Duff, J. Hislop, J. E. Widdop, J. V. Fogo, D. MacKellar, W. A. Wellings, P. J. McGovern, J. Thomson, W. P. Miller, L. Aekins, F. M. Sherwood, A. J. Levick, T. H. McLean, J. A. Jones, G. H. Hoare, J. H. McIlroy, W. A. H. Love, F. S. Gray, N. J. McKay, J. A. Mitchell

Audit Inspectors—D. Munro, W. P. Williams, I. Faris, H. Williams

Chief Accountant—H. Davidson

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

STORES BRANCH.

Stores Manager—H. Baxter

Stores Audit Inspector—F. J. Dawes

Clerks—M. C. Rowe, S. Alpe, H. W. Barbor, W. H. Chittey, A. E. Boyes, R. P. Bray, S. S. Millington, R. E. Alpe, A. D. Lincoln, J. Brabiner, W. McLeod, E. J. McLennan, G. D. Pattle, J. P. Harris, A. B. Leggett, C. H. Nelson, A. H. G. Lambert, L. Murphy, D. S. Neilsen, L. W. F. Wiren, E. A. Miller

TRAFFIC BRANCH.

Chief Traffic Manager—H. Buxton

Relieving District Traffic Manager—W. J. Stringleman

Clerks—G. A. C. Robieson, J. D. Nash

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

District Managers—Whangarei, J. D. Harris; Auckland, T. W. Waite; Wanganui, J. E. Armstrong; Westport, T. W. Brebner; Westland, J. Ashley; Christchurch, S. F. Whitcombe; Invercargill, C. A. Piper

Stationmasters in Charge—Kawakawa, A. G. Pickmere; Kaihu, R. B. Peat; Gisborne, H. J. Day; Nelson, T. S. Edwards; Picton, P. Couch

MAINTENANCE BRANCH.

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

Inspecting Engineer—F. W. MacLean

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.

Electrical Mechanician—T. Hendry

Electric Lines Inspector—E. A. Tomkies

Office Engineer—G. A. Troup

Draughtsmen—J. Besant, Ad. Howitt, C. T. Jeffreys, A. S. Henderson, W. W. Fry

Civil Engineering Cadets—E. E. Jenkinson, W. P. Mead, C. Hudson, H. D. Henderson, R. A. Fahy

Clerks—W. P. Hicks, W. A. Mirams, H. Jessup, T. H. Wilson, E. S. Kelly, F. W. Phillips, J. M. Robb, F. J. Rowden, W. B. O'Brien, G. P. Parrell, T. Trezise, W. B. Lee, F. McGovern, T. H. Morris, V. W. W. Venimore, H. Southern, N. C. D. Mason, F. W. Baillie, R. Greig, P. McGrath, H. P. McClatchy, P. McMaster, C. M. Guy, J. A. Devlin, R. G. McKay, L. W. Louisson

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

Resident Engineer—Petone, A. C. Koch

Assistant Engineer—(vacant)

LOCOMOTIVE BRANCH.

Chief Mechanical Engineer—A.L. Beattie

Clerks—J. P. Kelly, R. Aekins, D. D. Weir, B. A. Marris, E. J. Walsh, H. McKeowen, N. P. G. Ewart, L. C. Fama, J. H. Leopard, J. M. Porteous, J. P. McKeowen, L. G. Armstrong, P. Burge, M. M. Sullivan, R. G. Chisholm, A. J. Ridler, A. Goodley, O. R. Fennell

Chief Draughtsman—R. Pye-Smith

Draughtsmen—S. H. Jenkinson, C. G. G. Berry

Engineering Cadet—R. H. P. Ronayne, C. G. Johnston

Boiler Inspector—J. W. Nichols

Locomotive Inspectors:

North Island—G. Bowles

South Island—A. Mackenzie

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

Loco Inspector—E. L. W. Haskins

Tech. Clerk—G. Wilson

BOARD OF APPEAL.

North Island.

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

C. P. Ryan, Clerk, Wanganui, elected

W. A. Veitch, Engineman, Wanganui, elected

J. A. Dimond, Guard, Wellington, elected

P. Laffy, Surfaceman, Wellington, elected

D. McKenzie, Machinist, Petone, elected

South Island.

Chairman—Mr. District Judge Haselden, appointed by the Governor

J. Gray, Traffic Inspector, Christchurch, elected

M. Reddington, Shunter, Christchurch, elected

G. Brown, Engineman, Christchurch, elected

J. H. Jones, Turner, Addington, elected

S. Cairns, Surfaceman, Dunedin, elected

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

HEAD OFFICE.

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

Under-Secretary—H. J. H. Blow

Engineer-in-Chief—R. W. Holmes, M.Inst.C.E.

Superintending Engineer—C. R. Vickerman.

Assistant Engineers—F. C. Hay, W. E. Fitzgerald

Architect—J. Campbell, F.R.I.B.A.

Chief Clerk—W. D. Dumbell

Accountant—G. J. Clapham

Land-purchase Officer—H. Thompson

Assistant Land-purchase Officer—E. Bold

Record Clerk—H. W. H. Millais

Clerks—G. C. Schmidt, P. S. Waldie, A. Biddell, A. H. Kimbell, N. Jacobs, C. E. Crawford, W. McNamara, H. F. Curtis, J. J. Bennett, L. White, K. Webb, E. Twohill, P. J. Fennell, St. J. A. White, J. H. Irvine, E. B. Burdekin, D. Carman

Chief Draughtsman—W. G. Rutherford

Draughtsmen—E. Jackson, W. Withers, L. L. Richards, T. J. McCosker, W. G. C. Swan, J. H. Price, A. E. King, R. G. Applegarth, A. F. Macrae, S. W. May-Somerville, A. T. Ford, G. V. Venning, R. Walker, H. C. North, A. Stevenson, P. F. M. Burrows, A. W. Kemp, W. Stewart, C. E. Paton, D. C. Hay, J. J. Hay, D. Reeves, J. P. Nicoll, A. R. Buchanan

Head Storekeeper—J. C. Fulton

Engineering Cadets—O. G. Thornton, F. D. Thompson

Architectural Cadets—B. F. Kelly, L. W. Orr

Clerical Cadets—J. A. Wilkinson, C. E. Nairn, R. H. Packwood, G. W. Albertson, L. May

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

DISTRICT OFFICES.

District Engineers—Auckland, J. A. Wilson, M.I.C.E.; Dunedin, E. R. Ussher, M.Inst.C.E.; Stratford, G. L. Cook, M.Inst.C.E.

Resident Engineers—Te Karaka, C. E. Armstrong; Raurimu, J. D. Louch, Assoc.M.Inst.C.E.; Ohakune, F. W. Furkert; Nelson, J. J. Hay, M.A.; Westport, R. A. Young, M.Inst.C.E.; Greymouth, J. Thomson, B.E., M.Inst. C.E.; Broken River, J. H. Lewis; Gore, J. E. W. McEnnis

Assistant Engineers—S. J. Harding, J.H. Dobson, J. Hannah, G. C. McGlashan, W. Widdowson, H. Dickson, A. Ross, J. V. Haskell, J. Meenan, A. Stewart, W. P. Moynihan, W. Sherratt, C. J. McKenzie, J. J. Wilson, F. S. Dyson, J. Wood, H. Vickerman, B.Sc., L. B. Campbell, J. Norris, P. Keller, H. H. Sharp, H. Patterson, H. Kensington, H. Kemp, P. H. M. Macintosh, H. R. Atkinson

Engineering Cadets—T. M. Crawford, R. Park, W. Hall-Jones, jun., A. J. Baker, C. D. Handley, A. D. Thorpe, W. G. Pearce, G. G. Wilson, J. R. Marks, W. S. King, T. M. Ball, H. G. Shannon, T. G. C. Mackay, G. H. J. Mellsop, J. P. Church, L. W. Wogan, A. C. Smith, C. W. Salmon, R. L. Kaye, G. S. Bogle, J. E. Anderson, R. L. Wilson

Clerical Cadets—C. A. Carmine, G. D. Turnbull

Draughtsmen—C. Wood, W. H. Hislop, J. J. Fraser, J. B. Robertson, W. J. C. Slane, A. E. Wilson, S. B. Dodge, L. H. Keals, W. N. Anderson

Clerks—C. T. Rushbrook, J. H. Denton, A. J. Sutcliffe, E. Waddell, J. Holroyd, E. G. Beale, C. A. Alabone, E. J. Edwards, L. M. Shera, S. A. Holland, A. D. Park, H. M. O'Donnell, H. Colvin, W. Sotheran, A. Ross, P. H. Beaton, E. J. Colquhoun, W. H. Boys, A. A. Halliwell, R. W. Wade, J. J. Gibson, J. G. B. Hannah, H. C. Voke, L. Buisson, J. W. Davies, L. R. Armstrong, J. Nutting, E. E. White, W. T. Birchall, J. G. Gordon, V. C. Curtis

Storekeepers—T. Douglas, S. J. Moncrieff, E. Kidd, T. O'Connor, W. H. Gibbs

DEPARTMENT OF ROADS.

HEAD OFFICE.

Minister in Charge—Hon. Jas. McGowan

Chief Engineer—C. W. Hursthouse

Chief Clerk and Solicitor, also Commissioner—W. S. Short

Chief Accountant—J. R. Smyth

Assistant Accountant—C. E. Bennett

Clerks—J. O. Anson, H. Arthur, W. Barclay, F. Blake, J. W. Black, J. D. Brosnan, J. Connell, O. Ellison, A. W. Innes, R. F. Madden, F. Mueller, R. B. Orr, J. B. Poynter, L. E. Johnson, F. A. Lewis

Draughtsman—G. H. Murray

Cadets–G. F. Jackson, J. Bradley, R. J. Potts

Cadette—E. A. Pettit

District Officers.

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

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

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

Clerks—Auckland, H. J. Kallender, A. L. Menzies; Te Kuiti, E. H. Baker, A. J. Archer, C. Turner, W. S. Turner, J. D. McNaught; Hawke's Bay, P. S. Foley; Taranaki, W. J. Wiggs, C. W. Richards; Wanganui, W. Merson, J. R. Cade, W. Skee, H. A. Joyce; Wellington, S. d'A. Grut, T. C. Duncan; Nelson, F. P. Manson, J. A. Hay; Marlborough, F. H. Ibbetson; Westland, L. Cooper, H. Seymour; Canterbury, P. W. Willson; Otago, W. H. Trimble, R. W. Gill; Southland, N. J. Ryan

Cadets—Auckland, C. W. Carver, W. H. Mardon, H. . Powell, E. Puttick; Rotorua, H. Watkinson; Hawke's Bay, S. L. Searell; Wanganui, T. L. Cooper; Southland, F. K. Wilkie, F. C. Stewart

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

Road Inspectors—Auckland, R. J. Baff, R. R. Menzies, R. Hill, H. H. Thompson, S. R. James, J. Higgins, J. W. Civil; Rotorua, W. Fairley, G. H. Donaldson; Te Kuiti, J. Kelly, W. J. Worthington, E. J. Early; Hawke's Bay, T. H. Strauchon, D. G. Robertson; Taranaki, H. C. Strombom, R. D. Tosswill, W. Rigg; G. Denison, C. Skitrop; Wanganui, A. L. Soufflot, R. S. Summers, B. Wolff, J. A. Rutherfurd, J. Corlett; Wellington, J. C. Scott, C. Hardinge, G. T. Whittaker, P. J. Moran; Nelson, J. F. Rasmussen, J. Brough; Westland, W. Adair; Canterbury, R. H. Young, U. Hurrell; Otago, B. Marr; Southland, H. C. Sutton, J. Maher

Bridge Inspector—Te Kuiti, M. W. Forsyth

Overseers—Rotorua, W. Snodgrass; Te Kuiti, W. Bond, J. Smyth, G. S. Gould, W. Bathe; Hawke's Bay, J. Allison, A. W. Horne, J. McLeod, W. Brook; Taranaki, V. Jackson; Wanganui, W. Waters, E. A. Vine, E. Gould, A. H. Wright; Wellington, W. Boyden, W. Campbell; Nelson, M. Green, J. Quinn, J. Gilroy; Marlborough, T. James, D. Watson; Westland, P. Purcell, G. O'Malley.

PRINTING AND STATIONERY DEPARTMENT.

Minister in Charge—Hon. W. Hall-Jones

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

Chief Clerk and Accountant—B. B. Allen

Clerks—N. B. K. Manley, F. Barraud, J. W. Hall, R. Watts, A. Stace, W. Hutchings, A. Williams, G. Garnham, C. T. Williams, P. C. Jordan

Cadet—C. P. Cosgrove

Cadettes—H. V. Wilson, A. Besant

Copy Supervisor—M. F. Marks

MECHANICAL DIVISION.

Superintending Overseer—J. F. Rogers

Printing Branch—

Overseers—G. Tattle, W. P. McGirr, W. A. G. Skinner, F. H. Mountier

Night Foreman—D. Joslin

Chief Reader—W. Fuller

Stereotyper and Electrotyper—W. J. Kirk

Binding Branch—

Overseer—W. Franklin

Sub-overseer—G. H. Broad

Forewoman—A. O'Malley

Machine-room—

Overseer—J. Phillips

Sub-overseer—W. Weaver

Stamp Branch—

Overseer—J. Burns

Lithographic and Photographic Branch—

Overseer—D. Ross

Chief Draughtsman—G. N. Sturtevant

Engineer—T. R. Barrer

STAMP DEPARTMENT.

Minister of Stamp Duties—Hon. James Carroll

Commissioner of Stamps—C. A. St. G. Hickson

Chief Clerk—C. H. W. Dixon

Custodian and Issuer of Stamps—W. H. Shore

Accountant—J. P. Murphy

Clerks—V. Willeston, C. McIntosh

Chief Stamper—A. A. Somerville

Cadets—J. Morrison, J. McKay, B. L. Dallard

DEPUTY COMMISSIONERS OF STAMPS.

Auckland—E. Bamford

Gisborne—R. N. Jones

Taranaki—R. Bayley

Hawke's Bay—Thomas Hall

Wellington—J. Murray

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

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—R. Bayley

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

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 REGISTRARS OF DEEDS.

Auckland—E. Bamford

Taranaki—H. S. Fitzherbert

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—H. S. Fitzherbert

Wellington—J. M. Batham, G. A. L Pauling

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

NATIVE DEPARTMENT.

Native Minister—Hon. James Carroll

Under-Secretary—Thos. W. Fisher

Chief Clerk—W. H. Bowler

Clerk (also Private Secretary to the Native Minister)—W. T. Gordon

Record Clerk—J. B. Hackworth

Clerk—L. A. Teutenberg

Translator—L. M. Grace

Chief Judge of Native Land Court—Jackson Palmer

President of Native Appellate Court—H. G. Seth-Smith

Judges of Native Land Court—H. F. Edger. W. G. Mair, R. C. Sim, J. W. Browne, W. E. Rawson, C. E. Mac-Cormick, R. N. Jones, T. W. Fisher, M. Gilfedder, H. D. Johnson

Registrars of Native Land Court—Auckland, A. G. Holland; Wellington, E. A. Welch; Gisborne, H. Carr

Clerks and Interpreters of Native Land Court—D. F. G. Barclay, A. F. Puckey, C. W. P. Seon, W. E. Goffe, C. P. Newton, H. R. H. Balneavis, W. T. Pitt

Presidents of Maori Land Boards—Tokerau, Waiariki, Waikato, and Maniapoto-Tuwharetoa Boards, J. W. Browne; Tairawhiti Board, T. W. Porter; Aotea Board, T. W. Fisher; Te Ikaroa Board, R. C. Sim

Superintendent of Maori Councils—J. B. Hackworth.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

HEAD OFFICE.

Minister of Justice—Hon. Jame. McGowan

Under-Secretary—F. Waldegrave

Chief Clerk—G. C. B. Jordan

Clerks—C. E. Matthews (also Private Secretary to Minister of Justice), G. F. Dixon, H. W. Kirkwood

PATENT OFFICE.

Registrar of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks—J. C. Lewis

Clerks—Mary Eyre, E. P. O'Donnell, J. A. Hardie

Cadet—C. V. Fordham

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

Masterton, Dannevirke, Wanganui, New Plymouth, Stratford, Hawera, Palmerston North, Pahiatua, Nelson, Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Queenstown, Naseby, Lawrence, Invercargill, Gore, Hokitika, Greymouth, Westport, Reefton, and Kumara—W. R. Haselden

Registrars of the Supreme Court.

Auckland—R. E. G. Thomas

New Plymouth—H. S. Fitzherbert

Wanganui—R. L. Stanford

Palmerston North—A. D. Thomson

Napier—S. E. McCarthy

Gisborne—W. A. Barton

Wellington—D. G. A. Coope

Nelson—H. Eyre Kenny

Blenheim—T. Scott-Smith

Christchurch—G. A. King

Hokitika—R. J. Acheson

Dunedin—W. A. Hawkins

Invercargill—J. R. Colyer

Sheriffs.

Auckland—R. E. G. Thomas

Taranaki—W. A. D. Banks

Hawke's Bay—S. E. McCarthy

Poverty Bay—W. A. Barton

Wellington—D. G. A. Cooper

Wairarapa—M. Foley

Wanganui and Rangitikei—C. A. Barton

Manawatu—C. J. Hewlett

Nelson—W. Heaps

Westland North—O. E. Bowling

Central Westland—H. Smith

Marlborough—J. Terry

Canterbury—G. A. King

Timaru—C. A. Wray

Westland—R. J. Acheson

Otago—W. A. Hawkins

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—G. Marshall

Palmerston North—C. A. Loughnan

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—G. Marshall

Palmerston North—C. A. Loughnan

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

Invercargil—T. M. Macdonald

Stipendiary Magistrates.

Auckland—C. C. Kettle

Whangarei, &c.—R. W. Dyer*

Onehunga, &c.—H. W. Northcroft

Hamilton, &c.—E. C. Cutten

Russell, &c.—R. S. Florance

Tauranga, &c.—J. M. Roberts*

Thames, &c.—R. S. Bush*

Gisborne, &c.—W. A. Barton

New Plymouth—H. S. Fitzherbert

Hawera, &c.—A. Turnbull

Wanganui, &c.—R. L. Stanford

Palmerston North, &c.—A. D. Thomson

Wellington, &c.—A. McArthur, M.A., LL.D., and W. G. Riddell

Wairarapa, &c.—W. P. James

Napier, &c.—S. E. McCarthy

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, &c.—R. H. Turton*

Westport, &c.—E. Rawson*

Hokitika, &c.—R. J. Acheson*

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

Oamaru, &c.—T. Hutchison*

Milton, &c.—W. G. K. Kenrick*

Queenstown, &c.—F. J. Burgess*

Naseby—J. McEnnis*

Invercargill, &c.—G. Cruickshank*

Chatham Islands—Dr. G. H. Gibson

Official Assignees in Bankruptcy.

Auckland—E. Gerard, J.P.

Wellington—A. Simpson, J.P.

Christchurch—G. L. Greenwood

Dunedin—C. C. Graham

Clerks of District and Magistrates' Courts.

Thames—J. Jordan

Hamilton—H. J. Dixon

New Plymouth—W. A. D. Banks

Hawera—D. Banks

Stratford—D. W. Mason

Wanganui—C. A. Barton

Palmerston North—C. J. Hewlett

Dannevirke—S. Tansley

Masterton—M. Foley

Pahiatua—J. Fitzgerald

Nelson—E. C. Kelling

Hokitika—J. N. Nalder

Kumara—G. H. Sherwood

Greymouth—B. Harper

Westport—O. E. Bowling

Reefton—H. Smith

Timaru—T. W. Tayler

Ashburton—F. W. Hart

Oamaru—R. P. Ward

Invercargill—J. R. Colyer

Gore—G. H. Lang

Queenstown—A. J. Thompson

Lawrence—A. M. Eyes

Naseby—J. C. Malfroy

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

Thames—J. Jordan

Coromandel—G. G. Paul

Paeroa—H. R. Bush

Waihi—J. McIndoe

Tauranga—W. A. Thom

Whangarei—W. J. Reeve

Havelock (Marlborough)—A. J. Ching

Nelson—E. C. Kelling

Blenheim—John Terry

Motueka—F. Pidgeon

Collingwood—G. H. Harris

Westport—O. E. Bowling

Charleston—E. Brophy

Reefton—H. Smith

Ahaura—F. Bird, jun.

Greymouth—B. Harper

Kumara—G. H. Sherwood

Hokitika—J. N. Nalder

Ashburton—F. W. Hart

Naseby, &c.—J. C. Malfroy

Wyndham—D. Bogue

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

Cromwell—J. M. Adam

Queenstown and Arrowtown—Thompson

Lawrence—A. M. Eyes

Gore—G. H. Lang

Riverton—D. P. Phillips

Clerks of Magistrates' Courts.

Auckland—H. H. G. Ralfe

Rotorua—A. F. Bent

Gisborne—G. J. Johnstone

Napier—A. Trimble

Hastings—T. M. Lawlor

Wairoa—H. H. Carr

Marton, &c.—H. Morgan

Feilding—C. V. Roberts

Otaki—T. O'Rourke

Wellington—A. H. Holmes

Christchurch—W. S. Fisher

Lyttelton—W. D. Wallace

Kaiapoi—A. G. Ashby

Waimate—W. Y. Purchase

Dunedin—W. G. P. O'Callaghan

Port Chalmers—G. G. Chisholm

CORONERS.

Auckland, T. Gresham; Arrowtown, H. Graham; Coromandel, A. R. H. Swindley; Collingwood, E. Davidson; Dannevirke, T. L. Buick; Feilding, J. J. Bagnall; Foxton, A. Fraser; Hamilton, J. S. Bond; Hawera, C. E. Major; Kawhia, T. D. Hamilton; Levin, W. C. Nation; Marton, J. J. McDonald; Otahuhu, A. R. Harris; 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; Taumarunui, A. S. Laird; Tauranga, T. H. Price; Te Awamutu, J. B. Teasdale; Te Kopuru, T. Webb; Waihi, W. M. Wallnutt; Waipawa, J. C. Taylor; Westport, G. B. Sinclair; Whangarei, J. M. Killen; Woodville, E. J. Gothard. All Stipendiary Magistrates are ex officio Coroners.

PRISONS DEPARTMENT

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

Clerks—T. E. Richardson, W. Gollan

Gaolers—Auckland, Thomas Rosson Pointon; Dunedin, John Henry Bratby; Hokitika, Alexander William Ironside; Invercargill, Michael Hawkins; Lyttelton, Matthew Michael Cleary; Napier, Michael Flannery; New Plymouth, Sidney George Millington; Wanganui, Robert T. N. Beasley; Wellington, Alexander Armstrong; Waiotapu, Alexander William Roberts; Hanmer Springs, Edward Murphy; Waipa Valley, James Thomas Reid

NEW ZEALAND POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Head Office.

Commissioner—Walter Dinnie

Chief Clerk and Accountant—Sub-Inspector Arthur H. Wright

Police Force.

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

Sub-Inspectors—Henry Green, John Dwyer, John O'Donovan, Arthur H. Wright, Douglass Gordon, Samuel Percival Norwood

DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE.

Minister—Hon. James McGowan

Secretary—T. E. Donne

Chief Clerk—C. R. C. Robieson

Accountant—P. J. Kelleher

Clerk—C. E. Rigg

Typiste—L. M. Shuttleworth

MINES DEPARTMENT.

Minister of Mines—Hon. James McGowan

Private Secretary—C. E. Matthews

CHIEF OFFICE.

Under-Secretary for Mines—T. H. Hamer

Chief Clerk—H. E. Radcliffe

Geologist—Alexander McKay, F.G.S.

Draughtsman—C. H. Pierard

Shorthand-writer—J. T. Watkins

Cadet—T. H. Sherwood

INSPECTION OF MINES.

Inspecting Engineer and Inspector of Mines—Frank Reed, M.I.M.E.

District Inspectors: Thames and Auckland Districts—Boyd Bennie and Matthew Paul; Cadet, G. S. W. R. Hanson: Canterbury, Dunedin, and Southland, Districts—E. R. Green; Assistant Inspector—Robert McIntosh; Clerk, H. Paton: West Coast Districts—R. Tennent; Assistant Inspector, A. H. Richards; Cadet—C. M. Wilson

MINING BUREAU.

Secretary—P. Galvin

MANAGERS OF WATER-RACES

Waimea-Kumara—J. Rochford

Mount Ida—R. Murray

COLONIAL ANALYST BRANCH.

Colonial Analyst—James S. Maclaurin, D.Sc., F.C.S.

Assistants—W. Donovan, Roy Girling-Butcher, R. L. Andrew

Cadets—C. M. Wright, R. Lynch

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BRANCH.

Director—J. M. Bell, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.G.S.

General Geologist—P. G. Morgan, M.A.

Mining Geologist—C. Fraser, M.Sc.

Assistant Geologists—E. J. Webb, E. Clark, J. H. Adams, J. A. Bartrum

Topographer—R. P. Greville

Draftsmen—R. J. Crawford, O. A. Darby

Clerks—John Thompson, P. Clarke

SCHOOLS OF MINES.

Lecturers and Instructors: Thames—W. H. Baker, B.Sc.; Assistant, W. A. Given, M.A.: Coromandel—C. A. Cotton, B.Sc.: Waihi—A. H. V. Morgan, M.A.: Karangahake—R. B. McDuff: Reefton—J. Henderson

BOARD OF EXAMINERS UNDER “THE COAL-MINES ACT, 1905.”

The Director, Geological Survey; the Surveyor-General; the Inspecting Engineer of Mines; the Chief Inspector of Machinery, Wellington; James Bishop; Jonathan Dixon; and H. A. Gordon, F.G.S.

BOARD OF EXAMINERS UNDER “THE MINING ACT, 1905.”

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; G. S. Clark, Thames; Benjamin Sutherland, Reefton; and H. P. Hornibrook, Coromandel

The Director of Geological Survey is Chairman of both Boards, and H. E. Radcliffe is the Secretary

STATE COAL-MINES.

Manager—W. C. Gasquoine

Mine-manager, Point Elizabeth Colliery, Greymouth—James Bishop

Mine-manager, Seddonville Colliery, Westport-James Fletcher

Accountant—L. H. Eilers

Agent, Westport—A. L. Wilson

Depot Agent, Wellington—W. C. Gasquoine

Depot Agent, Christchurch—W. H. Crothers

Depot Agent, Wanganui—F. A. Nalder

IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT.

Minister for Immigration—Hon. James McGowan

Under-Secretary—W. C. Kensington

Chief Clerk—F. T. O'Neill

Chief Accountant—R. A. Paterson

Immigration Officers—J. E. March, A. A. S. Danby

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS.

Minister of Internal Affairs—Hon. J. G. Findlay, K.C., LL.D.

Under-Secretary—Hugh Pollen

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

FINE ARTS AND DRAMATIC WORKS COPYRIGHT OFFICE.

Registrar—Charles T. Benzoni

AUDIT OFFICE.

Controller and Auditor-General—J. K. Warburton

Assistant Controller and Auditor—J. B. Heywood, I.S.O.

Chief Audit Inspector—P. P. Webb

Chief Clerk—L. C. Roskruge

Audit Inspectors—W. G. Runcie, A. H. Maclean, J. King, A. W. Eames, G. H I. Easton, C. P. Johnson, H. A. Lamb, A. A. Bethune, J. H. Fowler, J. Ward, B. A. Meek, R. A. Gray, L. B. Jordan

Audit Officer, London—C. F. W. Palliser

Clerks—D. C. Innes, W. G. Holdsworth, H. S. Pollen, J. T. Dumbell, A. E. Bybles, R. Garriock, W. W. Knowles, A. G. Robinson, H. Wylie, T. S. Hamer, J. McC. Hamilton, H. M. Nalder, C. G. Collins, J. C. A. Dudley, C. E. Easton, K. D. MacLeod, E. E. Smythe, G. G. Smith, J. A. Hay, L. H. Edwards, E. A. Casey, J. P. Rutherford, R. M. Sunley

Cadets—G S. Gapper, H. T. Thompson, T. Treahy, A. A.: Cairns, H. L. Marbrook, T. Auton, R. J. Miller, C. D. Thompson

Temporary Clerks—E. S. Innes, F. M. Hay, O. R. Younghusband, C. A. Ralston, G. H. Richardson, F. J. Taylor

REGISTRAR-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT.

REGISTRAR-GENERAL and GOVERNMENT Statistician—E. J. von Dadelszen

HEAD OFFICE.

REGISTRATION BRANCH.

Senior Clerk and Deputy of Registrar-General—W. W. Cook

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

Clerk for Searches, Documents, &c.—R. G. Poulton

Index Clerk—S. Coffey

Cadet—J. W. Butcher

Typiste—L. Dixon

STATISTICAL BRANCH.

Clerks—General Statistics and Yearbook, W. M. Wright; General Statistics, F. H. Machattie, M. A. Ashenden

REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND MARRIAGES.

Four Chief Towns.

Auckland—E. H. Lyons

Wellington—G. G. Hodgkins

Christchurch—L. C. Williams

Dunedin—H. Maxwell

(There are also 218 other District Registrars located throughout the Dominion.)

DOMINION MUSEUM AND OBSERVATORY.

Director—A. Hamilton

Astronomical Observer—T. King

NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE.

President—G. M. Thomson, F.L.S., F.C.S.

Hon. Treasurer—M. Chapman, K.C.

Secretary—T. King

ELECTORAL DEPARTMENT.

Minister in Charge—Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, P.C., K.C.M.G.

Chief Electoral Officer—F. W. Mansfield

Chief Clerk—F. Evans

Acting Accountant—J. E. Read

Clerks—J. D. Ferguson, F. C. Fraser, J. Geoghan, H. L. Jenkins, I. J. Johnston, W. A. Waters, A. G. Wiffin, T. R. Allen, W. H. Manning, A. P. Levin, J. G. Carpenter

Typistes—R. Rees, E. Swift

CROWN LAW DEPARTMENT.

Attorney-General—Hon. J. G. Findlay, K.C., LL.D.

CROWN LAW OFFICE.

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

Assistant Law Officers—L. G. Reid, E. Y. Redward

Clerk (also Private Secretary to Attorney-General)—E. N. G. Poulton

Clerk—J. M. Tudhope

LAW DRAFTING OFFICE.

Counsel—J. W. Salmond, M.A., LL.B.

Law Draftsman—W. Jolliffe

Clerk—J. Christie

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND CUSTOMS.

Minister of Customs—Hon. J. A. Millar

Secretary and Inspector of Customs—W. T. Glasgow

Chief Clerk—T. Larchin

Assistant Chief Clerk—W. B. Montgomery

Clerks, Customs—G. F. McKellar, G. Uren

Cadets—C. A. Jamieson, W. L. Bardsley

Audit—G. Craig, LL.B.

COLLECTORS OF CUSTOMS.

Auckland—J. Mills

Poverty Bay—W. J. Hawley

New Plymouth—J. H. Hempton

Napier—C. S. Nixon

Wellington—R. Carter

Wanganui—W. F. Dickey

Wairau—R. B. D. Eyre

Nelson—T. M. Cullen

Westport—H. J. Crowther

Greymouth—J. Howie

Hokitika—R. G. Ecclesfield

Lyttelton and Christchurch—A. Elliott.

Timaru—C. Colebrook

Oamaru—H. W. S. Ruffell

Dunedin—W. Sibbald

Invercargill and Bluff Harbour—J. P. Ridings

OFFICERS IN CHARGE OF PORTS, AND COASTWAITERS.

Thames—T. C. Bayldon, Coastwaiter

Russell—H. Stephenson, Coastwaiter

Tauranga—C. E. Nicholas, Officer in Charge

Whangaroa—A. G. Ratcliffe, Coastwaiter

Whangarei—J. Munro, Coastwaiter

Mangonui—H. G. Hunt. Officer in Charge

Hokianga—C. C. Courtenay, Coastwaiter

Kaipara—D. Savident, Officer in Charge

Waitara—J. Cameron, Coastwaiter

Patea—W. A. Cameron, Officer in Charge

Picton—T. W. Lecocq, Officer in Charge

Chatham Islands—G. H. Gibson, Officer in Charge

Custodian, Customhouse, Wellington—R. D. Welsh

MARINE DEPARTMENT.

Minister of Marine—Hon. J. A. Millar

Secretary—G. Allport

Chief Clerk—J. H. McAlister

Clerks—B. W. Millier, G. H. A. Tanner, W. Alves

Cadets—J. A. Munro, L. E. Judd, C. J. Lenihan

Typiste—M. Fisher

Marine Engineer for the Dominion—W. H. Holmes

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

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

Assistant—Rev. D. C. Bates

Clerk—F. W. Simms

Cadette—J. Mackay

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

Assistant—T. A. G. Atwood

Examiner of Masters and Mates, and Surveyor of Ships—T. A. Dykes

Clerk—J. Scully

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

Assistant—S. G. Stringer

Clerk—T. G. Keane

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—N. Beaumont

Clerk—C. B. Jarman

Master of s.s. “Hinemoa”—J. Bollons

Master of s.s. “Tutanekai”—C. F. Post

Commander Training-ship “Amokura”—G. S. Hooper (R.N.R.)

INSPECTORS OF SEA-FISHERIES.

Wellington, Chief Inspector—L. F. Ayson

Raglan—J. O'Sullivan

Mangonui—W. Drummond

Russell—H. Stephenson

Whangarei—John T. Munro, F. Wade

Kaipara—D. Savident, A. McDonnell, G. A. Tapp

Manukau—J. Neale

Hokianga—C. C. Courtenay

Waihi—W. H. McKinnon

Wanganui—R. J. Issell

Auckland—J. P. Bennett, H. C. Haywood, D. Rowles, P. J. Dunne, W. Sefton, J. W. Moar, T. Donovan, W. Eccles

Palmerston North—M. D. Stagpoole, P. MacCormack

Waitara—T. H. Price

Foxton—F. Woods

Picton—W. D. L. Thompson

Greymouth—E. Egan

Hokitika—J. Marks

New Brighton—E. J. Rowe

Rangiora—E. Mackay

Kaiapoi—J. J. Harvey

Dunedin—T. J. Sullivan, J. McIntyre, F. W. Beck

Port Chalmers—L. Mullany

Bluff—P. McGrath

Stewart Inland—J. M. Irwin

Napier—T. J. Wilton

Upper Hutt—B. J. Downing

HARBOURMASTERS.*

Collingwood—F. Stallard

Puponga—E. G. Stallard

Foxton—J. B. Hall

Hokianga—G. Martin

Kaipara—D. Savident

Manukau—J. Neale

Picton—John Walter Jones

Port Robinson—J. Sinclair

Russell—H. Stephenson

Tauranga—A. F. Tunks

Akaroa—H. W. Dawson

Wairau—H. Fisk

Waitapu—S. Fittall

Karamea—A. L. Kemp

Okarito—J. W. Thomson

Okura—J. A. Cuttance

Waikawa—A. Currie

INSPECTION OF MACHINERY DEPARTMENT.

Minister in Charge—Hon. J. A. Millar

Chief Inspector of Machinery, Chief Surveyor of Ships, and Chief Examiner of Marine Engineers and Stationary-engine Drivers—R. Duncan, Head Office, Wellington

Chief Clerk—A. R. Stone

Draughtsman—G. E. Breeze

Clerks—R. P. Milne, Auckland; W. D. Andrews, J. G. Macpherson, J. Driscoll, W. M. Egglestone, W. J. Craig, Wellington

Shorthand-writer and Typiste—A. Duncan

Cadets—Head Office: H. M. Mullins, J. C. O'Leary, D. McKay, G. H. Weir

Inspectors of Machinery, Surveyors of Ships, and Examiners of Marine Engineers and Stationary-engine Drivers:—

Auckland—H. Wetherilt, C. W. R. Suisted, W. J. Crawford

Hamilton—W. R. Douglas

Napier—M. Sharp

Wanganui—S. Dalrymple

Wellington—A. Calvert, W. Cullen, J. Kydd, A. McKenzie

Nelson—N. D. Hood

Christchurch—P. J. Carman

Timaru—J. Williamson

Dunedin—A. W. Bethune, A. Walker, A. Ramsay

Invercargill—P. Grant

Board of Examiners of Stationary, Traction, Locomotive, and Winding Engine Drivers—Robert Duncan, Chief Inspector of Machinery, M.Inst.Nav.A., Chairman; Frank Reed, M.I.M.E., Inspecting Engineer of Mines; R. W. Holmes, M.Inst.C.E., Engineer-in-Chief, P.W.D.; C. R. Vickerman, Superintending Engineer, P.W.D.; J. G. Macpherson, Secretary

DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR.

Minister of Labour—Hon. J. A. Millar

Wellington.

Secretary for Labour and Registrar of Industrial Unions—E. Tregear

Chief Inspector of Factories and Deputy Registrar of Industrial Unions—John Lomas

Deputy Chief Inspector of Factories—F. W. Rowley

Accountant and Inspector of Factories—J. W. Collins

Clerks—W. J. McKeown, W. J. Jamieson, A. J. Isherwood, T. McIntosh, W. J. Blake, J. Morgan, J. R. Fraser, M. Emerson

Shorthand-writers and Typistes—R. Ritson, C. Fama

Cadets—E. M. Casey, Thomas Boyce, G. W. Jackson, A. B. Rigg

Cadettes—N. V. Saxon, H. E. Duff, L. M. Spence

Inspectors of Factories.

Wellington—C. E. Aldridge, E. Le Cren, M. S. Hawthorne, A. Donald

Auckland—J. Shanaghan, J. B. Lindsay, W. H. McQuarters. Clerks—D. Fisher, W. Hunter. Cadets—W. E. Shanahan, R. S. Bremner

Gisborne—D. Carmody

Napier—E. W. F. GÖhns. Cadet—J. S. McClune

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

New Plymouth—H. Willis

Wanganui—W. Hood. Cadet, F. S. Orr

Palmerston North—W.J. Culver. Cadet—A. W. Reynolds

Masterton—G. E. A. Hood. Cadet—J. Burnside

Taihape—J. Georgeson.

Nelson—S. Tyson. Cadet—W. M. Will

Greymouth—J. Isdell

Christchurch—W. H. Hagger, W. Newton, H B. Bower. Clerks—W. Link-later, L. P. Bullen. Cadet—S. G. Gow

Ashburton—R. S. Bean

Timaru—P. Keddie. Cadet—P. Kinsman

Oamaru—T. O'Grady

Dunedin—P. Hally, J. Hollows, D. Carmody, H. R. Morrison, G. H. Wood. Clerk—J. Maxwell. Cadet—A. E. Waite

Invercargill—L. D. Browett. Cadet—G. J. Agnew

And 160 local Inspectors.

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

Workers' Dwellings Act—

Chief Advisory Officer—J. Lomas

Architect—W. Temple

Overseers—W. Anderson, W. H. Uttley

Inspectors of Scaffolding—

Wellington—R. A. Bolland

Auckland—H. Gresham

Christchurch—E. J. G. Stringer

Dunedin—F. Barton

ARBITRATION COURT.

Judge—His Honour Mr. Justice Sim

Employers' Member—Samuel Brown

Workers' Member—J. A. McCullough

Registrar—B. M. Wilson

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND STATE FORESTS.

HEAD OFFICE.

Minister (Secretary) of Lands and Commissioner of State Forests—Hon. R. McNab

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

Surveyor-General—T. Humphries

Chief Clerk—F. T. O'Neill

Chief Accountant—R. A. Paterson

Chief Draughtsman—W. D. B. Murray

Draughtsmen—H. T. McCardell, G. P. Wilson, H. A. R. Farquhar, A. L. Haylock, E. C. Cachemaille, F. W. Bronte, W. J. Adams, G. H. Moir

Clerks—W. R. Jourdain, F. Samuel, E. F. Hawthorne, A. A. S. Danby, W. S. Hardy, J. M. Urquhart, J. A. Attridge, J. Stalker, P. J. Herlihy, R. A. Keenan, F. E. Woodhouse, S. Gambrill. P. D. N. Verschaffelt

Cadets—J. Bennett, W. E. Shaw, J. F. Quinn, W. A. Nicholson, F. W. Watson, W. H. Ellis, E. A. Ingram

AUCKLAND DISTRICT.

Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor—J. Mackenzie

Inspecting Surveyor—J. Langmuir

District Surveyors—H. D. M. Haszard, W. J. Wheeler. R. S. Galbraith, A. G. Allom, H. F. Edgecumbe

Assistant Surveyors—J. B. Thompson, A. Wilson, A. A. Seaton, A. J. Mountfort, H. M. Kensington, V. I. Blake, H. T. Mitchell, J. L. D'A. Irvine, F. E. Byrne, W. C. O'Neill, P. S. Sherratt

Chief Draughtsman—C. R. Pollen

Assistant Draughtsmen—J. W. Davis, A. Morrow, R. W. S. Billantyne, H. D. McKellar, A. Nicholson, T. K. Thompson, G. F Townshend, J. Y. Dixon, J. R. Vaile, H. J. Lewis, R. Covil, H. A. Warner, R. C. Airey, W. C. Spencer, H. Townshend, P. Mitchell, F. Martin, J. Simms, C. E. O. Smith, W. Tole, E. W. Laseron, R. J. Knight, W. Scanlen, A. J. Graham

‘Receiver of Land Revenue—T. M. Tavlor

Chief Clerk—J. H. Boscawen

Clerks—R. Leckie, C. E. Archibald, W. J. Munro, D. Smith, W. H. Stebbing, F. Kilfoyle, R. W. Cumming, A. G. Stebbing, W. H. Bentley, J. Redman, J. Smith, J. Cook, F. S. Downard, R. Macalister, J. Gibson, H. C. Hulme, R. Macky, E. A. Burrage, G. A. Potter, J. E. Taylor

Cadets—P. C. Gannaway, P. L. Goldenstedt, J. Lane, F. Venning, H. Vollemaere, W. B. Willis, R. F. Knight, A. W. Craig, D. Nelson, A. Otterson, G. Pirrit, R. F. Ward

Timber Expert—H. P. Kavanagh

Crown Lands Rangers—F. C. Ewen, J. M. McKay

HAWKE'S BAY DISTRICT.

Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor—H. Trent

District Surveyor and Local Land Officer, Gisborne—T. Brodrick

District Surveyor—T. Brook

Assistant Surveyors—E. H. Farnie, J. Roddick, T. W. Hughes, H. E. Walshe

Chief Draughtsman—H. G. Price

Draughtsmen—J. G. Clare, E. H. Cane, G. Duncan, W. T. Nelson, G. A. Beere, A. F. Browne, E. H. Featon, W. G. Harding

Receiver of Land Revenue—J. H. O'Donnell

Receiver of Land Revenue, Gisborne—H. R. Robinson

Chief Clerk—J. Thompson

Clerks—E. H. Taylor, H. S. Taylor, C. Holden

Caets—T. Cagney, R. Sinel, F. R. Burney, D. Yeats, W. J. Brooke

Crown Lands Ranger—H. M. Smith

TARANAKI DISTRICT.

Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor—F. Simpson

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

Assistant Surveyors—W. Laing, E. O. Weir, E. F. Halse, D. A. Crawford

Chief Draughtsman—W. H. Skinner

Draughtsmen—F. Carrington, J. Cook, W. Gordon, H. W. Saxton, T. V. Mackay, E. F. Luks

Chief Clerk—H. M. Bannister

Receiver of Land Revenue—F. A. Cullen

Clerks—G. W. Palmer, A. C. Clarke, J. W. Harvey, L. L. Smith, E. C. Gideon

Cadets—A. F. Waters, J. E. Warren

Crown Lands Ranger—J. Barror.

WELLINGTON DISTRICT.

Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor—J. Strauchon

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

Assistant Surveyors—C. A. Mountfort, J. Stevenson, A. M. Roberts, H. E. Girdlestone, T. A. Johnston, W. Stewart, O. N. Campbell

Chief Draughtsman—L. Smith

Assistant Draughtsmen—J. S. Welch, C. T. H. Brown, M. C. Smith, H. Mackay, R. Caldwell, C. E. Adams, F. J. Halse, G. F. Richardson, H. J. W. Mason, R. R. Percival, H. A. Armstrong, F. S. Joseph, J. D. Watt, R. W. Collins, M. E. Richardson, H. C. Luff, T. G. Gillespie, D. F. Mason, R. Gillanders, M. Orr

Chief Clerk—G. R. N. Wright

Receiver of Land Revenue—T. G. Waitt

Clerks—J. R. McCormick, C. Gore, A. Duncan, A. Rossiter, J. Armit, W. Burch, J. Rodger, T. Tuhope, N. Fleming, F. A. Greville, G. Letham

Cadets—R. McDonald, R. Macmorran, W. M. Gray, V. Blake, H. Dyett, H. Randrup, G. Keddell, R. Enting, C. Purdie, G. Beeson

Crown Lands Rangers—H. Lundius, J. B. Sutherland, J. Ammunson

NELSON DISTRICT.

Commissioner of Crown Lands—F. W. Flanagan

District Surveyors—J. A. Montgomerie, M. Carkeek, J. Snodgrass, J. D. Thomson, H. Maitland

Assistant Surveyors—C. W. McFarland, J. Cumine

Chief Draughtsman—R. T. Sadd

Assistant Draughtsman—W. Curtis, J. Pollock, W. A. Styche, J. F. Frith, P. A. Dalziell, J. G. Kelly, D. S. Thomson

Chief Clerk—A. J. Redgrave

Receiver of Land Revenue—J. R. Macdonald

Clerk—G. Anderson

Cadets—H. M. Thompson, W. D. Armit, H. F. H. Waters

Crown Lands Ranger—R. E. Harris

MARLBOROUGH DISTRICT.

Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor—F. S. Smith

District Surveyor—D. W. Gillies

Chief Draughtsman—W. Armstrong

Assistant Draughtsmen—F. E. Greenfield, A. D. Burnes, E. Frissell

Clerks—A. Mackintosh, W. H. Marple, C. M. Watterson

Cadets—H. W. Bro more, W. Rochfort

Crown Lands Ranger—F. Ward

WESTLAND DISTRICT.

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

Assistant Surveyors—C. H. Morison, A. N. Harrop, J. Cunningham, C. E. Douglas

Chief Draughtsman and Inspecting Surveyor—H. M. Skeet.

Assistant Draughtsmen—A. D. Macfarlane, F. J. Harrop, W. F. Newman, C. E. Pfeifer, A. D. Folley

Clerks—R. M. King, F. T. Sandford

Cadets—W. E. White, R. P. Dykes, M. Moore

CANTERBURY DISTRICT.

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

District Surveyor—G. H. McClure

Chief Draughtsman—C. B. Shanks

Assistant Draughtsmen—A. Burns, H. R. Schmidt, F. W. Hunt, W. C. Leversedge, T. Maben, W. Darby. H. Kensington, H. M. Ashley

Receiver of Land Revenue—A. A. McNab

Chief Clerk—J. G. Bendeley

Clerks—J. C. Andersen, E. F. Cooke, A. Costelloe, A. H. Eaton

Cadets—J. C. Young, G. Jackson

Crown Lands Rangers—W. B. Buckhurst, J. Forrester, E. E. Townshend

OTAGO DISTRICT.

Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor—D. Barron

District Surveyors—D. M. Calder, W. T. Neill, D. I. Barron

Chief Draughtsman—S. Thompson

Assistant Draughtsmen—H. T. Wadie, C. Fynmore, W. F. Marsh, A. J. Morrison, R. W. Parker, S. B. Smith, A. H. Saunders

Receiver of Land Revenue—G. A. Reade

Chief Clerk—W. E. Sessions

Clerks—R. A. Johnston, A. Marshall, J. McDonald, F. J. Mouat, D. McGoun, W. B. Harlow, J. D. Hay, H. W. Mackintosh, J. Torrance, A. C. Turnbull, F. E. Duncan

Cadet—R. F. Burgess

Crown Lands Rangers — G. Mackenzie, E. Atkinson, E. O'Neill, A. McDougall

SOUTHLAND DISTRICT.

Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor—E. H. Wilmot

Assistant Surveyors—C. Otway, D. Macpherson

Chief Draughtsman—G. Robinson

Assistant Draughtsmen—W. Deverell, J. L. Dickie, J. B. Greig, O. G. Goldsmith, J. C. Potter, N. Macrae, C. Maher

Chief Clerk—G. Fanni

Receiver of Land Revenue—H. Welch

Clerks—A. McGavock, W. Robertson, T. Pound, A. Kennedy, H. S. Janieson

Cadets—A. N. West, S. Seddon, F. Rochfort

Crown Lands Rangers—D. Campbell, A. Cameron, W. Traill

MISCELLANEOUS.

Inspector of Scenic Reserves—E. Phillips Turner

Magnetic Observer—H. F. Skey

MEMBERS OF LAND BOARDS.

Auckland—J. Mackenzie, J. Renshaw, A. R. Harris, M. W. Armstrong, J. Trounou

Hawke's Bay—H. Trent, T. Hyde, R. R. Groom, E. Lane, O. E Bartram

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

Wellington—J. Strauchon, A. Reese, J. Dawson, J. M. A'Court, C. J. Canton

Nelson—F. W. Flanagan, O. Lynch, J. S. Wratt, G. Walker, A. Siclair

Marlborough—F. S. Smith, H. M. Reader, A. McCallum, F. Parsons, J. Duncan

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

Canterbury—E. C. Gold Smith, A. C. Pringle, J. Sealy, J. Allan, J. Stevenson

Otago—D. Barron. G. Livingstone, J. Tough, J. M. McKenzie, W. Dallas

Southland—E. H. Wilmot, A. Kinross, D. King, J. McLean, J. King

SCENERY PRESERVATION BOARD, CONSTITUTED UNDER “THE SCENERY PRESERVATION AMENDMENT ACT, 1906.”

The Surveyor - General, Thomas Humphries (Chairman)

The General Manager of Tourist and Health Reports, T. E. Donne

The Commissioner of Crown Lands for each Land District in which are lands dealt with under the Act, as follows: Auckland, James MacKenzie; Hawke's Bay, Henry Trent; Taranaki, F. Simpson; Wellington, John Strauchon; Marlborough, F. Stephenson Smith; Nelson, F. W. Flanagan: Westland, G. J. Roberts; Canterbury, E. C. Gold Smith: Otago, David Barron; Southland, E. H. Wilmot

Secretary—W. R. Jourdain

STATE FORESTS BRANCH.

Chief Forester—H. J. Matthews

Nurserymen in Charge—Rotorua, H. A. Goudie: Eweburn, A. W. Roberts; Tapanui, R. G. Robinson; Kurow, N. Craig; Starborough, W. Cromb; Hanmer Springs, T. B. Curle; Ruatangata, A. Gordon

Assistant Foresters — H. Howe, R. Macrae, C. Hooper, D. Buchanan, W. G. Morrison, F. Benfell.

SURVEYORS' BOARD

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

The Surveyor - General, Thomas Humphries, Esq., Chairman

John Strauchon, Esq

David Barron, Esq

The Hon. G. F. Richardson

P. E. Cheal, 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, conducting examinations for surveyors in March and September of each year.

Secretary, C. E. Adams, B.Sc.

“THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1900.”

BOARD OF LAND PURCHASE COMMISSIONERS.

Chairman and Land Purchase Inspector—A. Barron

W. C. Kensington, Under-Secretary for Lands

T. Humphries, Surveyor-General

Chief Clerk and Secretary to Board—O. Mewhinney

Also for the following districts:

Auckland—

J. Mackenzie, Commissioner of Crown Lands

R. Hall

Hawke's Bay—

Henry Trent, Commissioner of Crown Lands

Thomas Hyde

Wellington—

J. Strauchon, Commissioner of Crown Lands

Alexander Reese

Taranaki—

F. Simpson, Commissioner of Crown Lands

John Heslop

Marlborough—

F. Stephenson Smith, Commissioner of Crown Lands

J. H. Redwood

Nelson—

F. W. Flanagan, Commissioner of Crown Lands

Philip Best

Westland —

G. J. Roberts, Commissioner of Crown Lands

(Vacant)

Canterbury—

E. C. Gold Smith, Commissioner of Crown Lands

A. C. Pringle

Otago—

D. Barron, Commissioner of Crown Lands

A. McKerrow

Southland—

E. H. Wilmot, Commissioner of Crown Lands

A. Kinross

VALUATION DEPARTMENT.

Valuer-General—G. F. C. Campbell

Chief Clerk—A. E. Fowler

Officers in Charge — A. J. McGowan, Auckland; A. Clothier, Christchurch; H. L. Wiggins, Dunedin; T. Oswin, Invercargill

Clerks—J. W. Black, G. Halliday, J. Atkinson, C. J. Lovatt, H. A. Anderson, G. F. Cook, W. A. Clachan, C. H. Biss, F. W. Barnett, W. J. Hird, E. H. Fisher, E. H. Eton, T. J. Rowse; H. Christie, J. H. Shine, H. J. Valentine, S. Moore, W. Hill, J. Guthrie, E. M. Pytt-Jackson, M. V. Card, A. M. Adams

Draughtsmen—Wellington, H. H. Seed, A. E. S. Gill, F. W. Clayton, J. D. Hutchin; Auckland, H. J. Thomas; Dunedin, A. Wills; Christchurch, D. Freeman

Inspecting Valuer—John P. Dugdale

District Valuers — W. F. Thompson. Whangarei; E. Morgan, B. J. Esam, Auckland; H. D. Coutts, G. W. Hyde, Hamilton; W. F. Wallis, Tauranga; C. F. Lewis, Gisborne; W. E. Griffin, Napier; H. J. C. Coutts, Hawera; S. Hill, New Plymouth; D. Craig, Wanganui; J. Wells, Taihape; R. Gardner, Palmerston North; G. H. Lloyd, Woodville; J. M. Wilson, Otaki; J. Fraser, E. P. Fowler, Masterton; J. Ames, F. N. Martin, J. F. H. McCarthy, Wellington; T. W. Caverhill, Petone; E. Kenny, Picton; H. Murray, D. H. Pullar, Christchurch; G. Mason, O'Kain's Bay; D. Stowell, Timaru: E. A. Atkinson, Oamaru; W. L. Craig, J. Wright, H. G. Fisher, Dunedin; R. Milne, Milton; J. George, Lumsden; John Smaill, Gore; A. Pyper, Invercargill

Clerks — Auckland, T. C. Somers, W. H. Mackie, F. McKenzie, J. B. Wallis, L. Aiekin, W. Gulliver, J. M. Hutchison, T. P. Gilfedder, O. Brunberger, A. T. Jones; Christchurch, A. Millar, C. J. Walker, J. E. Johnston, J. E. Harvey, P. C. Shirley, C. G. Ingall; Dunedin, C. de R. Andrews, D. Corcoran, T. Austin, C. F. Goodridge, J. C. Abernethy, R. B. Dyer, W. T. Parata, L. Broad; Invercargill, A. Wyllie, L. F. Grimstone

Cadets—Auckland, P. G. Pearce, C. W, Chilcott, H. C. Fletcher; Wellington, G. J. Russell, W. Lovell, A. T. McCaw, C. J. Hurley, F. K. Tucker, A. C. Peart, G. G. Lowe; Christchurch, E. J. Bell, B. Nixon; Dunedin, A. A. Falconer; Invercargill, W. W. King. T. L. Seator

Cadettes — Christchurch, N. Smythe; Dunedin, M. J. Drysdale

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Minister in Charge — Hon. Robert McNab

HEAD OFFICE.

Secretary for Agriculture—J. D. Ritchie

Chief Clerk—F. S. Pope

Inspector of Offices—R. Evatt

Clerks—H. W. Rowden, T. D. H. Hall, W. R. B. Aekins, W. A. Pye, L. C. Mitchell

Cadets—D. Patterson, W. R, King, A. M. Gill, J. Gray

ACCOUNTANT'S OFFICE.

Accountant—J. W. Bell

Clerks—R. W. Atkinson, J. S. Fleming, G. H. Butler, V. A. Mills

Cadets—S. H. Huntington, C. H. Schwass

VETERINARY DIVISION.

Chief Veterinarian and Pathologist — J. A. Gilruth, M.R.C. V.S., F.R.S.E.

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

Laboratory Assistant—G. H. Barker

Cadet—H.. R. Seddon

Clerks—D. L. Luxford, A. Ironside, G. W. Rat

Caretaker of Laboratory Farm—D. Pattllo

Attendant at Laboratory — C. R. Matthews

Veterinarians (Ms.R.C.V.S.)—Auckland, J. Lyons; New Plymouth, A. R. Young; Palmerston North, A. W. Barnes; Wallaceville, H. A. Reid, F.R.C.V.S.; Christchurch, J. G. Clayton; Dunedin, J. Kerrigan

Veterinarians and Meat Inspectors (Ms.R.C.V.S.) — Auckland, A. J. Hickman; Gisborne, S. Burton; Hastings, T, G. Lilico; Palmerston North, A. W. Barnes; Waitara, D.H. Rait; Wanganui, P. M. Edgar; Petone, D. Spilman; Ngahauranga, T. G. Palgrave, W. H. Hawthorn; Belfast, J. R. Charlton; Ashburton, C. J. Sanderson; Timaru, C. R. Neale; Pareora, F. C. Robertson; Islington, A. M. Paterson; Oamaru, T. Cunningham; Dunedin, W. D. Snowball; Invercargill, W. T. Sabin

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

Meat Inspectors—Thames, A. C. Scandrett; Paeroa, F. Beattie; Waihi, B. Thomson; Gisborne, W. C. Moore; Napier, G. Thomson; Hastings, T. P. Short; Dannevirke, J. C. Mackley; New Plymouth, T. J. Reakes; Stratford, S. T. Evatt; Hawera, E. T. B. Worthy; Feilding, G. W. Mitchell; Masterton, A. D. Gillies; Blenheim, A. M. R. Mills; Nelson, G. Ford; Westport, G. B. Williams; Greymouth, T. Anderson; Lyttelton, J. Preston; Gore, F. Stewart

Assistant Meat Inspectors—Auckland, J. Jarman; Gisborne, C. R. Spragg, J. E. Tomlinson; Tomoana, P. T.

Emerson; Port Ahuriri, H. F. Brittain; Pakipaki, H. G. Wilton; Waitara, K. Ross; Patea, W. J. Walter; Wanganui, C. T. Stone; Palmerston North, W. H. Rodney; Longburn, C. Aston; Petone, E. Dawson, Ngahauranga, W. A. P. Sutton; J. D. S. Heaton; Picton, J. Millea; Belfast, J. W. Otway; Addington, T. J. Buckton; Smithfield, H. Rountree; Burnside, R. Fleming; Mataura, P. J. Sheridan; Invercargill, A. M. Spilman; Wallacetown, P. Dow; Ocean Beach, M. W. Watt

DAIRY DIVISION.

Dairy Commissioner—D. Cuddie

Clerk—R. W. Wilkinson

Cadet—H. H. Evans

Dairy Instructors — Auckland, A. G. Shirley, N. Fulton; Palmerston North, F. Thomson; Wellington, W. M. Singleton, W. Grant, J. Pedersen; Invercargill, J. Sawers

Dairy Instructress—New Plymouth, Miss N. Breen

Dairy-produce Graders—Auckland, A. A. Thornton, N. Fulton; New Plymouth, J. Johnston, L. Hansen; Patea, W. Wright, A. C. Ross; Wellington, W. Grant, W. E. Gwillim, E. A. Dowden; Lyttelton and Port Chalmers, S. Bowman; Bluff, J. Sawers

Clerks to Dairy-produce Graders—Auckland, J. O. Lord; New Plymouth, W. F. Sheild; Patea, G. Evatt; Wellington, H. B. Reid (Cadet), Lyttelton, E. Weastel; Dunedin, J. M. Hutton; Bluff, R. Hutton

BIOLOGICAL AND HORTICULTURAL DIVISION.

Biologist—T. W. Kirk, F.L.S.

Assistant Biologist—A. H. Cockayne

Clerks—B. Quirk, W. R. Lloyd Williams

Cadet—P. N. Cubitt

Messenger—J. Campbell

Fruit-preserving Expert—W. Jaques

Pomologists—Auckland, W. A. Boucher; Palmerston North (Assistant), A. G. Simms; Christchurch, J. C. Blackmore

Inspectors of Imported Fruit — Auckland, G. Harnett; S. F. Anderson; Wellington, H. Palethorpe; Christchurch, A. C. Smale, Dunedin, J. M. Hutton; Invercargill, F. W. Blair

Orchard Inspectors—Auckland, E. A. Reid, W. C. Thompson; Hamilton, J. A. Campbell; Hastings, F. E. Nottage; Blenheim, E. Rabbits; Nelson, F. R. Hallam; Christchurch, W. J. Courtier

Be Expert—Auckland, I. Hopkins

Inspectors of Apiaries—Auckland, R. Gibb; Christchurch, W. B. Bray

POULTRY DIVISION.

Chief Poultry Expert—D. D. Hyde

Assistant Poultry Expert — F. Brown

Clerk—G. H. Graham

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

CHEMICAL DIVISION.

Chief Chemist—B. C. Aston, F.C.S.

Assistant Chemists—H. Larkin, F. R. Lankshear

Clerk—R. Waters

Cadets—T. Rigg, L. D. Foster

Laboratory Assistants—V. R. Packham, F. T. Leighton

FIBRE DIVISION.

Chief Fibre Expert—C. J. Fulton

Hemp Graders — Auckland, W. H. O. Johnston; Wellington, C. A. D. Hawkins (Grader in charge), W. H. Ferris, Foxton, W. Petrie; Invercargill, W. H. Middlemiss

Hemp Instructors—Palmerston North, J Stewart; Invercargill, W. L. Rutherford

Clerk, Chief Fibre Expert's Office—C. Mackie

Clerks to Graders—Auckland, T. Gedye; Wellington, H. Wynn-Williams; Lyttelton, E. Weastell; Dunedin, J. M. Hutton; Bluff, R. Hutton

VITICULTURAL DIVISION.

Viticulturist—Auckland, R. Bragato

MANURE-STERILISING DIVISION.

Inspectors of Manure-sterilising — Sydney, F. G. Laurie: Calcutta, R. L. Ward

LIVE - STOCK AND AGRICULTURE DIVISION.

Chief Inspector of Stock and Director of Experimental Farms—E. Clifton

Clerks—W. C. Robinson, W. T. Wynyard, J. Fitzgibbon, A. McTaggart, H. Gerard, J. R. F. Cameron

Cadets—F. S. Dayman, C. J. Drake, A. T. Whitehead

Expert in Phormium Culture — G. McGregor

Superintendent of Show Exhibits—G. T. de S. Baylis

Relieving Inspector of Stock—D. Elliott

Inspectors of Stock.

Auckland Districts—Auckland, J. Duncan (Inspector in charge); Ohaeawai, H. Munro; Whangarei, *J. T. Stone; Auckland, *R. Rowan, R. Hull; W. R. Brown; Hamilton, * J. Kerr; Te Kuiti, B. W. Bayly; Cambridge, R. Alexander; Thames, V. A. Huddleston; Tauranga, *A. H. Burkill

Poverty Bay Districts — Gisborne, W. Miller (Inspector in charge), *W. Ross; Te Puia, W. B. Hingston

Hawke's Bay Districts — Napier, *D. Ross (Inspector in charge); Wairoa, *F. W. Sutton; Napier, J. G. Parker; Hastings, D. A. Graham; Waipukurau, J. Harvey; Woodville, *D. Munro.

Wellington - Wairarapa Districts — Wellington, G. H. Jenkinson (Inspector in charge); Masterton, *P. G. Wayne; Carterton, *A. T. P. Hubbard; Wellington, *A. Mills, J. Drummond

West Coast (North Island) Districts—Wanganui, J. W. Deem; (Inspector in charge); New Plymouth, *F. H. Brittain; Stratford, *J. M. Hignett; Hawera, *J. Budge; Wanganui, *W. R. Rutherfurd; Hunterville, W. Dalgliesh; Feilding, J. C. Miller; Palmerston North, *D. Fleming

Marlborough-Nelson-Westland Districts—Nelson, A. K. Blundell (Inspector in charge); Blenheim, *J. Moore; Nelson, *T. C. Webb; Hokitika, *C. C. Empson

Canterbury Districts — Christchurch, *H. T. Turner (Inspector in charge); Kaikoura, *W. S. Goodall; Rotherham, J. Munro; Rangiora, C. A. Cunningham; Christchurch, A. Macpherson; Lincoln, J. G. Scott; Ashburton, B. Fullarton; Timaru, *J. C Huddleston; Fairlie, F. Mackenzie

Otago Districts—Dunedin, J. L. Bruce (Inspector in charge); Kurow, G. McLeod; Oamaru, *A. Ironside; Palmerston, H. Hill; Dunedin, R. G. F. Fountain, *J. E. Thomson (port); Mosgiel, R. I. Gossage; Balclutha, T. Gilmour; Lawrence, *W. Wills; Tapanni, T. Gillespie; Gore, S. M. Taylor; Invercargill, *R. Wright; F. W. Blair; Bluff, J. W. Raymond (port); Naseby, A. A. Clapcott: Clyde. *T. N. Baxter; Queenstown. W. M. Munro

Clerks—Auckland, J. E. D. Spicer, E. A. Farrington, P. G. Andrew, W. McN. Miller, A. T. Stone (cadet), H. T. Norton (caretaker); Hamilton, J. Hill; Gisborne, E. F. Sullivan; Napier, S. T. K. Sharp; Masterton, G. A. Ross; Wellington, R. F. Crosbie; Palmerston North, W. Nettlefold; New Plymouth, W. F. Sheild; Waneanui, A. E. Rowden, G. G. McC. Mitchell (cadet); Nelson, A. C. Philpott; Blenheim, H. T. Payne (cadet); Hokitika, H. H. Halliday; Christchurch, A. Callcott, A. C. Smale, R. H. Brownlie (cadet); Timaru, A. Bryson; Dunedin, L. G. Bruce, A. Gillies, (cadet); Invercargill, D. Sinclair, W. H. McLew (cadet)

Registrars of Brands.

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

Inspectors of Ordinary Slaughterhouses.

(The Inspectors of Stock are also Inspectors of Ordinary Slaughterhouses.)

Inspectors of Dairies.

Pukekohe, H. Whyte; Hamilton, J. Johnston, E. Seddon; Paeroa, J. H. Wilson; Gisborne, G. M. Williamson; Dannevirke, A. Cook; Pahiatua, J. S. Blackmore; Eketahuna, J. P. Finlay; Masterton, E. J. Wright: Greytown, W. Lang; Wellington, H. A. Ward, D. McDonald; New Plymouth, T. D. Bathgate; Opunake, E. A. McKinlay; Stratford, P. Beere; Hawera, A. J. Glasson; Manaia, W. Ross; Wanganui, R. Crockett, R. T. Souness; Feilding, W. O. Twentyman; Palmerston North, G. Allwood, G. Ross; Levin, W. J. Dunlop; Nelson, W. Stobie; Kaiapoi, F. Murray; Christchurch, A. A. Mays; Timaru, M. O'Meara; Dunedin, J. R. Renton; Taieri, J. W. Smith; Wyndham, J. R. Whyborn.

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

Inspectors of Noxious Weeds.

Whangarei, A. P. Speedy; Auckland. J. C. Hawkins; Otahuhu, A. Dickson; Hamilton, E. Seddon, T. Mullaly; Otorohanga, J. L. Morris; Tauranga, J. Ross; Dannevirke, E. R. I. Rutherfurd; New Plymouth, H. W. Smith; Stratford, F. G. Arden; Hawera, R. E. Fairfax-Cholmeley; Hunterville, A. P. Smith; Seddon, G. J. Ward; Nelson, H. Cleland; Takaka, W. J. Ward; Timaru, M. O'Meara.

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

Rabbit Inspectors.

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

Rabbit Agents.

Lichfield, T. Parker; Tauranga, J. Case; Mohaka, W. C. King; Pahiatua, T. Bacon; Taihape, C. Watson; Kiwitea, J. G. Johnston; Masterton, J. Halligan; Te Nui, C. A. M. Hardy-Johnston; Eketahuna, S. H. Ussher; Carterton, S. C. Ivens; Foxton, J. H. Walton; Renwicktown, G. Gee; Motueka, A. C. Hackworth; Ashburton, C. Branigan; Fairlie, W. B. Manning; Waimate, F. A. Macdonald; Leeston, C. S. Neville; Kurow, E. T. Payne; Oamaru, F. Urquhart; Inch Valley, J. A. B. Hughes; Waikouaiti, B. Grant; Taieri, H. McLeod; Sutton, R. Irving; Waipiata, C. S. Dalgliesh; Clyde, A. Clarke; Roxburgh, W. J. McCulloeh; Lawrence, E. Fowler; Owaka, C. Shaw; Balclutha, H. A. Munro; Tapanui, A. Ingram; Gore, M. McLeod; Lumsden, H. Heckler; Wyndham, D. McLeod; Invercargill, J. McKellar; Otautau, H. F. Dencker; Cromwell, D. McL. McKay; Waitahuna, R. Barron; Queenstown, C. E. McPhee.

Experimental Farms.

Managers — Bickerstaffe, H. Winser; Waerenga, W. H. B. Rawson; Ruakura, W. Dibble; Arataki (Hawke's Bay), T. F. Ellis; Weraroa, J. Drys-dale; Moumahaki, F. Gillanders, W. J. Palmer (in charge of Nursery)

Officer in charge Fruit-testing Station, Tauranga—W. J. Palmer

Overseer—W. C. Berridge

Caretaker, Angora Flock, Motuara Island—H. Turner

Clerks—Waerenga, H. Absolum; Moumahaki, J. F. Gillanders; Weraroa, D. M. Cole

Nurserymen—Waerenga, J. E. Barrett; Ruakura, J. A. Green; Weraroa, W. H. Taylor; Moumahaki, T. H. Chapman

Cellarman—Waerenga, J. B. Andrews

Assistant Apiarists—Ruakura, Miss L. Livesay; Weraroa, Miss O. Kent

Flockmaster—Ruakura, D. Evans

Poultry Stations.

Managers—Ruakura, C. Cussen; Moumahuki, A. H. Grant; Burnham, J. Rose; Milton, A. Carr

Live-stock Quarantine Stations.

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

PUBLICATIONS DIVISION.

Editor of Publications—G. Bisset

Clerk—J. Hyland

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

Minister of Education — Hon. George Fowlds

HEAD OFFICE.

Inspector-General of Schools — George Hogben, M.A.

Secretary for Education — Sir E. O. Gibbes, Bart.

Assistant Inspector - General — W. J. Anderson, M.A., LL.D.

Chief Clerk—F. K. de Castro

Assistant Inspector—T. H. Gill, M.A., LL.B.

Editor, School Journal—W. E. Spencer, M.A., M.Sc.

Clerks—F. D. Thomson, B.A., H. J. Barrett, T. G. Gilbert, J. Beck, I. Davey, B.A., M. G. D. Grant, F. W. Millar, A. J. H. Benge, C. G. Rees, H. L. J. Machu, V. A. Mills, H. V. Croxton, E. Lear

Cadets—I. Johnstone, J. A. Orr, J. R. McClune, A. M. Palmer, L. P. Arthur, W. L. Dunn, C. A. Berendsen, B. Egley, C. G. Murray, E. Windsor, W.

C. Collier, T. C. Comrie, E. M. Hogg. H. D. Clyde, T. H. Jamieson, W. Traill, C. H. Horrell, E. A. Crawford, J. Meighan, N. S. Dick, K. J. Hogan, C. A. Suckling

NATIVE SCHOOLS BRANCH.

Inspector—W. W. Bird, M.A.

Assistant Inspector—J. Porteous, M.A.

Clerk in charge—F. L. Severne

MANUAL AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION BRANCH.

Inspectors—M. H. Browne (in charge of Branch), E. C. Isaac

PUBLIC SCHOOLS CADETS BRANCH.

Officer Commanding — Lieut.-Colonel L. W. Loveday, V.D.

Clerk—H. B. Jacobs

Armourer, &c.—R. Mears

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS BRANCH.

Assistant Inspectors—R. H. Pope (in charge of Branch), T. A. Walker

Visiting Officers—E. G. Hyde, Mrs. C. F. Scale

Government Schools.

Managers of Industrial Schools—Auckland (Mount Albert)—Miss S. E. Jackson

Boys' Training Farm, Weraroa—G. M. Burlinson

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

Receiving Home, Christchurch—Miss A. B. Cox

Te Oranga Home, Christchurch—Mrs. E. T. Branting

Burnham—T. Archey

Caversham— Miss H. Petremant

Private Schools.

St. Mary's, Auckland—Rev. H. F. Holbrook

St. Joseph's, Wellington — Rev. J. Hickson

St. Mary's, Nelson—Rev. J. D. Clancy

St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin—Rev. J. Coffey

INFANT LIFE PROTECTION.

District Agents—Auckland, Miss S. E. Jackson; Wellington, Mrs. S. E. Dick; Christchurch, Miss A. B. Cox; Dunedin, Miss H. Petremant

SCHOOL FOR DEAF-MUTES, SUMNER.

Director—J. E, Stevens

HOME FOR BOYS, OTEKAIKE (OAMARU DISTRICT).

Principal—G. Benstead

Matron— Mrs. G. Benstead

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. Crawshaw

Marlborough—E. Hylton

Nelson—N. R. Williams (acting)

Grey—P. F. Daniels

Westland—A. J. Morton, B.A.

Canterbury North—H. C. Lane

Canterbury South—A. Bell, M.A.

Otago—P. G. Pryde

Southland—J. Neill

INSPECTORS OF SCHOOLS.

Auckland—D. Petrie, M.A.; J. S. Goodwin; R. Crowe; J. Grierson; R. D. Stewart; C. W. Garrard, B.A.; E. C. Purdie; W. A. Burnside

Taranaki—W. A. Ballantyne, B.A.

Wanganui—G. D. Braik, M.A.; J. Milne, M.A.; T. B. Strong, M.A., B.Sc.

Wellington — T. E. Fleming, M.A., LL.B.; F. H. Bakewell, M.A.; J. S. Tennart, M.A., B.Sc.

Hawke's Bay—Henry Hill, B.A.; J. A. Smith, B.A.

Marlborough—D. A. Strachan, M.A.

Nelson—G. A. Harkness, M.A.; A. Crawford, B.A.

Grey—Edward A. Scott

Westland—A.J. Morton, B.A.

North Canterbury—T. Ritchie, B.A.; T. S. Foster, M.A.; E. K. Mulgan, M.A.

South Canterbury—J. G. Gow, M.A., A. Bell, M.A.

Otago—P. Goyen, W. S. Fitzgerald, C. R. D. Richardson, C. R. Bossence

Southland—J. Hendry, B.A.; A. L. Wyllie, M.A.

SECRETARIES TO SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

Auckland—H. N. Garland

Taranaki—F. P. Corkill

Wellington—J. H. N. Wardrop

Hawke's Bay—W. J. Talbot

Marlborough—J. Smith

Nelson—A. T. Jones

Westland—A. J. Morton

Canterbury—H. H. Pitman

Otago—C. Macandrew

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

Minister of Health—Hon. George Fowlds

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

Bacteriologist — R. H. Makgill, M.D. Edin., D.P.H. Camb.

Assistant Bacteriologist and Assistant in Vaccine Laboratory—J. A. Hurley

Health Officers to the Maoris—Dr. Maui Pomare, Dr. Peter Buck

Chief Clerk—J. J. D. Grix

Accountant—H. Eastgate

Record Clerk—T. P. Butler

Clerks—H. S. Leplastrier, J. Swift, C. Cornish

Cadets—W. Gazley, J. Smyth

Shorthand - writers and Typistes — G. Craig, E. Hishon, E. Boyd

Pathologist—J.A. Gilruth, M.R.C.V.S.

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

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

Port Health Officers—Hokianga, Dr. E. Yeates; Whangarei, Dr. W. W. Baxter; Kaipara, Dr. W. H. Horton and Dr. Max Meinhold; Whitianga, Dr. Craig; Auckland, Dr. E. W. Sharman; Onehunga, Dr. W. G. Scott; Thames, Dr. Walshe; Gisborne, Dr. J. W. Williams; New Plymouth, Dr. H. A. McCleland; Napier, Dr. T. C. Moore; Wanganui, Dr. R. C. Earle; Wellington, Dr. H. Pollen; Picton, Dr. W. E. Redman; Nelson, Dr. F. A. Bett; Westport, Dr. M. Mackenzie; Greymouth, Dr. C. G. Morice; Lyttelton, Dr. C. H. Upham; Timaru, Dr. E. T. Thomas; Oamaru, Dr. A. Douglas; Port Chalmers, Dr. G. Hodges; Bluff, Dr. J. Torrance; Chatham Islands, Dr. G. H. Gibson

Sanitary Inspectors — Chief Inspector: C. A. Schauer, Wellington. Inspectors: Whangarei, C. C. Winstanley; Auckland, R. Grieve; Thames, B. A. Franklin; Hamilton, A. P. Bennett; Stratford, F. B. Gardiner; Napier, D. Munro; Wanganui, S. H. Sargeant; Marton, F. C. Wilson; Feilding, M. O'Brien; Pahiatua, P. L. Hckes; Greytown, C. E. Miller; Wellington, A. Gray; Blenheim, J. Johnston; Nelson, C. Dorizac; Greymouth, E. Middleton; Christchurch, R. J. McKenzie, M. Kershaw; Dunedin, W. E. Gladstone, J. Craighead; Invercargill, K. Cameron

CAMBRIDGE SANATORIUM.

Medical Superintendent — Dr. E. E. Roberts

Matron—Miss A. S. Rochfort

Clerk—H. B. Magrath

MENTAL HOSPITALS.

Inspector-General—Frank Hay, M.B., C.M.

Assistant Inspector—Miss Hester Maclean

Chief Clerk—D. Souter

Medical Superintendent, Auckland Mental Hospital—R. M. Beattie, M.B.

Medical Superintendent, Christchurch Mental Hospital—W. Baxter Gow, M.D.

Medical Superintendent, Porirua Mental Hospital—Gray Hassell, M.D.

Medical Superintendent, Wellington Mental Hospital—A. Crosby, M.R.C.S.

Medical Superintendent, Seacliff Mental Hospital—F. Truby King, M.B.

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

Superintendent, Nelson Mental Hospital—George Chapman; Medical Officer, W. J. Mackay, M.D.

Ashburn Hall, Wakari (private hospital)—Proprietors, Dr. E. H. Alexander and Executor of James Hume; Medical Officers, E. H. Alexander, M. B., C.M., and Bernard Sampson, M.R.C.S.

Home for Defectives, Richmond — Steward, Henry Buttle; Matron, Matilda C. Buttle

DEPARTMENT OF HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID.

Minister in Charge—Hon. G. Fowlds

Inspector-General of Hospitals — Dr. T. H. A. Valintine, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., D.P.H.

Assistant Inspector—Miss Hester Maclean

Chief Clerk—E. A. S. Killick

Clerk—Miss T. Bicknell

Cadet—A. E. von Keisenberg

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

Assistant Solicitor—J. W. Macdonald

Clerks in charge—T. T. Stephens, W. A. Fordham, C. Zachariah, P. J. Hervey, P. T. Fair, W. S. W. McGowan

Clerks—E. C. Reeves, G. A. Smyth, E. A. Smythe, W. McL. Barr, E. O. Hales, N. Mulhane, C. A. Goldsmith, J. Finlay, R. Price, N. M. Chesney, H. Turner, C. M. Calders, M. E. Nash, J. Menzies, A. P. Macdonall, A. C. Bretherton, A. B. Chappell, G. H. Chesterman. A. H. T. Jones, E. E. McLean, A. Mackay, E. C. Clarke, G. H. Elliffe, W. G. Baird, G. Ronaldson, K. A. E. Alexander, T. F. H. King, R. D. Newth, J. S. Donovan, E. R. Myers, N. P. Neilson, A. W. Whyte. T. J. Dwyer. A. Waters, P. R. Winchcomb, H. W. S. Pearce, H. Jack, K. Ereatara, R. L. Macalister, C. H. Riddiek, E. Burr, H. A. Cunningham, R A. V. Oswin, K. I. McGrath

District Agent, Christchurch — M. C. Barnett. Clerks—G. P. Purnell, P. A. Devereux, A. W. Ironside, P. G. Dwyer, C. McDonald, V. E. Moon

District Agent, Auckland—E. F. Warren. Clerks—A. J. Cross, A. R. Jordan, S. Hunter, E. E. Shannon, E. P. Hay, F. C. Coombe.

District Agent, Napier—K. N. H. Browne. Cadette—I. I. Hutson.

District Agent, Dunedin—F. H. Morice. Clerks—C. F. Young, R. A. Ward, P. Naylor, W. C. Nicholls, M. Downes, F. M. Whyte, G. E. Allnut

District Agent. Greymouth—J. E. Allen. Cadet—A. W. Watters

District Agent, Nelson — E. P. Watkis. Cadet, T. Richards

West Coast Settlement Reserves Agent and District Agent, New Plymouth—J. B. Jack. Clerks—S. W. Smith, T. K. A. Tamihana, A. H. Pearce

District Agent, Wanganui—T. R. Saywell. Clerks—N. M. Macdougall, A. S. Faire

GOVERNMENT INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.

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

Assistant Commissioner—D. M. Luckie

Actuary—Morris Fox

Secretary—W. B. Hudson

Accountant—G. W. Barltrop

Chief Medical Officer—T. Cahill, M.D.

Assistant Actuary—P. Muter

Chief Clerk—R. C. Niven

Office Examiner—G. A. Kennedy

Clerks—J. W. Kinniburgh, A. H. Hamerton, A. Avery, W. S. Smith, H. S. Manning, F. B. Bolt, T. L. Barker, C. E. Galwey, H. Rose, G. Webb, F. K. Kelling, J. B. Young, G. A. N. Campbell, A. de Castro, C. H. E. Stichbury, J. R. Samson, H. L. Levestam, G. B. Hill, S. P. Hawthorne, J. G. Reid, T. Fouhy, R. T. Smith, R. Fullerton, G. S. Nicoll, G. E. Sadd, W. Spence, W. J. Ewart, A. P. King, W. H. Woon, A. J. E. Wiggs, C. Bolton, S. G. Hamerton, W. McLaughli, H. H. Dixon, J. M. Emerson, A. S. Houston, T. M. Dimant, B. Trevithick, W. E. Arnold, W. Copeland, G. L. Osborne, W. Thompson, I. E. Foot, E. K. Hay, I. Coulthard, J. W. Macdonald, E. T. O. Downard, E. B. Wright, I. L. O'Reilly, A. V. Hewitt, C. Cater, I. A. Bentley, J. C. Low, N. F. Wright, S. C. G. Downard, F. J. Colmer

Chief Messenger—W. Archer

AUCKLAND AGENCY.

District Manager—W. J. Speight

Chief Clerk—W. C. Marchant

Clerks—C. H. Ralph, P. M. West.

NAPIER AGENCY.

Resident Agent—J. H. Dean

WANGANUI AGENCY.

Resident Agent—A. E. Allison

Clerk—N. Webley

WELLINGTON AGENCY.

District Manager and Supervisor of New Business—G. Robertson

Chief Clerk—M. J. K. Heywood

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

Clerks—L. G. Blackwell, F. P. Cleary, C. H. White

TIMARU AGENCY.

Resident Agent—S. T. Wicksteed

OAMARU AGENCY.

Resident Agent.—A. W. G. Burnes

DUNEDIN AGENCY.

District Manager—R. S. McGowan

Chief Clerk—O. H. Pinel

Clerks—A. Marryatt, T. P. Laurenson

INVERCARGILL AGENCY.

Resident Agent—J. Findlay

Clerks—J. Hendry, F. J. Mushet

STATE FIRE INSURANCE OFFICE.

HEAD OFFICE.

General Manager—J. W. Brindley

Deputy General Manager and Accountant—J. H. Jerram

Fire Surveyor—R. H. Pavitt

Corresponding and Record Clerk—O. S. Jones

Clerks—C. B. Redward, M. D. McPhail, P. H. Smith, E. C. Little, J. MacKenzie

Typiste—Miss A. Coltman

Cadets — W. Watson, E. McPherson, E. von Stürmer, S. O. Jones, W. F. Rowe, W. Arthur, J. Dick, F. Haycraft, L. Probert

BRANCHES.

Auckland.

Manager—R. J. Lusher

Chief Clerk—W. C. Prime

Clerk—H. J. Lavers

Cadets—F. R. Gruzning, D. Duncan

Typiste—Miss F. Buck

Canterbury.

Manager—F. J. G. Wilkinson

Chief Clerk—H. J. Thompson

Cadets — Cecil Marshall, D. Morrison, Nigel Tavender, H. V. Foster

Otago and Southland.

Manager—F. H. Pope

Chief Clerk—A. Berry

Cadets—R. McLean, H. F. Williams

South Canterbury and North Otago (Timaru).

Manager—K. B. Bain

Palmerston North.

Manager—H. C- Rogers

Taranaki (New Plymouth).

Manager—L. H. Osborn

ADVANCES TO SETTLERS OFFICE.

Superintendent—P. Heyes

Deputy Superintendent—W. Waddel

Accountant—W. N. Hinchliffe

Clerks—J. E. Thompson, C. T. Fraser, A. W. Knowles, A. A. Prichard, W. Auld, T. W. Foote, C. D. Wilson, R. G. McLennan, J. F. O'Leary, R. J. Goudie, J. T. E. Harrap, E. H. Wood, A. F. Newbold, R. Robertson, H. White, S. O. Clark, G. E. Miller, J. F. R. Gledhill

Solicitor—J. B. Christie

Clerks (Solicitor's Office)—A Tudope, G. Mackley, H. H. O'Meara, A. Curtayne, T. H. Giles, J. Taomson

Typists—F. W. Crombie; P. G. Brennan

Typistes — M. W. Abern, M. P. Lambert

Cadets—H. K. Douglas, J. P. Dwyer, M. P. Finnigan, J. G. Johnston, A. B. Dixon, E. V. Paul

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 Department of Defence of the appointment of all cadets coming within this regulation.

Chapter 19. ECCLESIASTICAL.

THERE is no State Church in the Dominion, 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 Dominion 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.

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 Dominion. 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 Dominion.

Presbyterian Church of New Zealand.—The General Assembly will meet on the first Tuesday of November, 1908, in First Church, Dunedin. Moderator, the Rev. A. Don, Dunedin; Senior Clerk, Rev. David Sidey, D.D., Napier; Junior Clerk, Rev. David Borrie, Dunedin; Treasurer, Rev. W. J. Comrie; Presbyterian Church Offices, Wellington; Theological Professors, Rev. John Dunlop, M.A., D.D., and Rev. Michael Watt, M.A., D.D., Dunedin.

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 (1908–9), Rev. Charles E. Beecroft, Feilding; Secretary, Rev. C. H. Laws, B.A., Dunedin.

Primitive Methodist Connexion.—A Conference takes place every January. The next is to be held at Auckland, commencing 7th January, 1909. The Conference officials for the present year are: President, Rev. J. Olphert, Timaru; Vice-President, Mr. C. Rudd, Greendale, Canterbury; Secretary, Rev. J. Southern, Granity, Westport; Hon. District Secretary, Mr. D. Goldie, Pitt Street, Auckland; Treasurer of Connectional Funds, Mr. Joseph Watkinson, Wapiti Avenue, Auckland.

Baptist Union of New Zealand.—President, Rev. F. C. Buckingham, Oamaru; Vice-President, Rev. W. Hay, Dunedin; Secretary, Rev. E. S. Gray. Christchurch; Treasurer, Mr. A. Chidgey, Christchurch; Mission Secretary, Rev. E. A. Kerwood, Mount Roskill, Auckland; Mission Treasurer, Mr. A. Hoby, Wellington. The Union comprises 42 churches, 24 preaching-stations, 4,465 members, and a constituency of 18,000. The denominational organ is the New Zealand Baptist; Editor, Mr. H. H. Driver, Dunedin. The Foreign Missionary Society, with an average income of £1,500, employs a doctor, a missionary, three zenana ladies, and 14 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 1908, Rev. D. Hird, M.A., Christchurch; Chairman-elect, Rev. W. S. Fernie, Dunedin; Secretary, Rev. Wm. Day, Mount Eden; Treasurer, Mr. W. H. Lyon, Auckland; Registrar, Mr. G. Hunt, Wellington; Head Office, Auckland. In 1909 the meeting of the Council will be held at Christchurch. The Committee of the Union meets in Auckland on the second Tuesday of each month.

Hebrews.—Ministers: Rev. S. A. Goldstein, Auckland; Rev. H. van Staveren and Rev. C. Pitkowski, Wellington; Rev. I. Bernstein, Christchurch; Rev. A. T. Chodowski, Dunedin. Annual meetings of the general congregations are usually held at these places during the month of Elul (about the end of August).

Chapter 20. DEFENCES, MILITARY AND NAVAL.

THE permanent defence forces consist of the Royal N.Z. Artillery and the auxiliary forces of Volunteers—viz., Field Artillery, Garrison Artillery, Engineers, Mounted Rifles, Rifle, Cycle, Field Hospital and Bearer Corps, Reserve Corps, Defence Rifle Clubs, and Defence Cadets. The administration of the defence forces of the Dominion is under the control of the Council of Defence, of which the Hon. the Minister of Defence is President. The other members of the Council are given on page 42.

MILITIA AND VOLUNTEER DISTRICTS.

The two Islands (North and South) are divided into five military districts, each commanded by an officer of field rank, with a paid staff of officers and non-commissioned officers. The district staff officers are given elsewhere. The staffs of non-commissioned officers are engaged in instruction of Volunteer corps of the different branches of the service in their respective districts. The number of non-commissioned officers employed as instructors to Volunteers are as follows:—

Staff Sergeant-major InstructorsAucklandGunnery, 1
Mounted, 4
Infantry, 3
Staff Sergeant-major InstructorsWellingtonEngineering, 1
Mounted, 3
Infantry, 5
Staff Sergeant-major InstructorsNelsonMounted, 1
Infantry, 2
Staff Sergeant-major InstructorsCanterburyGunnery, 1
Mounted, 2
Infantry, 3
Staff Sergeant-major InstructorsOtagoGunnery, 1
Mounted, 2
Infantry, 4

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, horses for Field Artillery, and munitions of war at these four centres, and also to carry out the instruction of Artillery Volunteers. The Force has a strength of 307 of all ranks, the authorised establishment being 402. The training of Garrison and Field Artillery Volunteers is carried out by the Permanent Force under the direction of the Chief Instructor of Artillery Services.

Owing to the decision of the Imperial authorities to dispense with submarine mines as means of defence the Royal New Zealand Engineers have been formed into Electric Light Sections, and are included in the strength of the Royal New Zealand Artillery. Sections are stationed at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers.

VOLUNTEERS.—FIELD ARTILLERY.

There are five batteries of Field Artillery. They are armed with 15-pounder B.L., on field carriages, and go into camp annually for sixteen days. Present strength, 361 of all ranks.

VOLUNTEERS.—NAVAL AND GARRISON ARTILLERY.

There are ten Garrison Artillery Corps. They go into camp annually for sixteen days. Present strength, 1,001 of all ranks.

VOLUNTEERS.—ENGINEERS.

There are six Engineer Corps and one Pioneer Corps, with a total strength of 439 officers and men. The Engineers go into camp for sixteen days each year.

VOLUNTEERS.—MOUNTED RIFLES.

There are seventy-one corps of Mounted Rifles. These corps go into camp for an annual training of seven days. Present strength, 3,923 officers and men.

VOLUNTEERS.—INFANTRY AND CYCLE CORPS.

In this branch of the service there are a hundred and eighteen corps, with a strength of 411 officers, 5,707 other ranks. Infantry company camps are not necessary for capitation, but a certain number of parades (including three daylight parades) must be held. Two Cycle and three Infantry Corps have signalling detachments attached.

VOLUNTEERS.—FIELD HOSPITAL AND BEARER CORPS.

There are Volunteer Field Hospital and Bearer Corps at Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, and Dunedin, with a total strength of 11 officers and 204 other ranks.

RESERVE CORPS.

Reserve Corps are formed mainly from those Infantry or Mounted Corps who have been unable to keep up to the necessary strength as such, or are too far removed from the lines of communication for mobilisation and frequent practical instruction. Each efficient member is allowed 100 rounds of ammunition free annually. Each member must attend four drills during the year to qualify as efficient. An annual capitation allowance of 5s. is made to each Reservist who qualifies by attendance at drill and completes musketry course.

VOLUNTEERS.—GARRISON BANDS.

There are five Garrison Bands, with a total membership of 141.

BATTALION BANDS.

There are twelve battalion bands, with a total membership of 308.

VOLUNTEERS.—DEFENCE CADET CORPS.

There is a force of fifty-nine Defence Cadet Corps, with a total strength of 3,158 of all ranks.

DEFENCE RIFLE CLUBS.

There are 143 Rifle Clubs, comprising 3,369 members. Members can purchase rifles at cost-price from Government. An annual grant of ammunition is made to those members who fulfil conditions as to firing annual musketry course, drills, &c.

ARMS.

The whole of the adult portion of the Force have magazine 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.

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. Every member may, at the expiration of five years' service, if of good character, be allowed to continue in active service for a period of sixteen years. Enrolment in the Volunteer Force is for one year. The Volunteer may continue to serve until he has reached the limit prescribed by the regulations.

INSTRUCTORS.

The present Instructors for Artillery and Engineer Corps are obtained from the School of Gunnery at Shoeburyness, and from the Royal Engineers respectively, under a three years' engagement, on completion of which they return to their regiments, if not re-engaged for a further term.

Two officers for instruction in Mounted duties have been engaged from the Imperial Army, as well as six of the Infantry Instructors; whilst officers and the majority of the N.C.O.’s of the Instructional Staff (Mounted and Infantry) have been trained in the Imperial Army.

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, 12s. 6d. to each efficient cadet, and 5s. to each efficient Reservist. The following annual allowances of small-arms ammunition per man are made annually to the various arms: Permanent Force, 100 rounds ball; Engineers, 100 rounds ball; Artillery, 100 rounds ball; Mounted Rifles, 180 rounds ball; Infantry, 180 rounds ball; Defence Cadets, 100 rounds ball; Defence Rifle Clubs, 120 rounds ball; Reserve Corps, 100 rounds ball.

ESTABLISHMENT.

The establishment for the various branches of the service is as under:—

Mounted Rifles—OfficersN.C.O.'s and Men

* For companies having signalling detachments included.

      Regimentseach105
      Squadronseach480
Field Artillery—   
      Batterieseach676
Garrison Artillery—   
      Divisionseach83
      Companieseach5151
Engineers—   
      Companieseach6100
Infantry—   
      Battalionseach84
      Companieseach594*
      Companieseach360
      Cycle Corpseach466*
      Cycle Corpseach232
      Reserve Corpseach360
      Defence Cadet Corpseach360
Field Hospital Corps and Bearer Corpseach347
Garrison Bandseach125
Battalion Bandseach 20
Rifle Clubseachminimum15

ADMINISTRATION.

The defence forces of New Zealand are administered under “The Defence Act, 1886,” and the Defence Act Amendment Acts, 1900, 1906, and 1907, and the General Regulations of the Defence Forces of New Zealand.

EXPENDITURE ON THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF DEFENCES FROM 1897–98 TO 1906–7.*
YearMilitary ExpenditureHarbour DefencesTotal

* 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
1905–6195,0281,300196,328
1906–7167,8181,541169,359

Chapter 21. DEPOTS FOR SHIPWRECKED MARINERS.

OUTLYING ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND.

MARINERS are informed that depots of provisions and clothing for castaways are established on the following islands:—

Kermadec Islands.—There are two depots, each a small iron shed, fitted with spouting and a tank to catch water, and containing a supply of clothing, biscuits, medicines, tools, &c. One is in 30° 15' S., 178° 31' W., at Lava Cascade, about 1 ½ cables south-eastward of the northern point of Macaulay Island; the other is in 30° 35' S., 178° 36' W., on the southern side of Macdonald Cove (crater), on the N.W. side of Curtis Island.

Three Kings.—A provision depot has been established on the largest island. It is situated on the narrow neck at the head of N.W. and S.E. bays. A fire made on the hill to the west of the depot will attract the attention of the light-keepers at Cape Maria Van Dieman.

Snares Islands.—A depot is established in 48° 0 ¾' S., 166° 33 ¾' E., in Boat Harbour, at the eastern end of N.E. Island.

Bounty Islands.—The depot is a hut at an elevation of 120 ft., visible from the northward, and situated in 47° 43 ¼' S., 179° 0 ½' E., southward of the western inlet of the principal island—the north-eastern—of the western group.

Antipodes Islands.—The depot is a hut at an elevation of 100 ft., visible from some distance north-eastward, and situated in 49° 40' S., 178° 50' E., 300 ft. from the landing-place, on the N.E. side of the large island, and half a mile westward of its east point.

Auckland Islands.—There are three depots on the principal island: one, a square wooden house, in 50° 33 ¼' S., 166° 12' E., and a boat near the depot, on the S. side of Erebus Cove, Port Ross; on the E. side and at the northern end of the island; the second is in 50° 44 ½' S., 166° 8' E., at the head of Norman Inlet (wrongly named “Musgrave Inlet” on charts), and not at the inlet named Norman Inlet, two miles and a half northward; the third, and a boat for shipwrecked people, is in 50° 50 ½' S., 166° 1' E., in the western arm of Camp Cove, Carnley Harbour, at the S. end of the island. A lifeboat has been placed on Enderby Island, the northeastern of the group; another at the N.W. end of Adams Island, the southern of the group; and one on Rose Island, immediately S.W. of Enderby Island. The next time the Government steamer visits these islands a boat will be placed on Disappointment Island.

Campbell Island.—The depot, indicated by a white staff and a boat, is in 52° 33' S., 169° 6 ½' E., in Tucker Cove, at the head of S. or Perseverance Harbour, on the east side of the island.

Finger-posts to indicate the positions of the depots are erected on all these islands. The Government steamer visits the Kermadec and Three Kings Islands once a year; and the Snares, Bounty. Antipodes, Auckland, and Campbell Islands twice a year.

VANCOUVER ISLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA.

Depots with provisions and other necessaries for shipwrecked mariners have been established at Cape Beale Lighthouse in 48° 47 1/8' N., 125° 13 ½' W., and Carmanah Lighthouse in 48° 36 ¾' N., 124° 46 ½' W.

Notice boards have been erected at intervals between Cape Beale and Port San Juan (about twelve miles eastward of Carmanah Lighthouse), giving information for the use of shipwrecked mariners respecting the direction and distance of the nearest lighthouse, and also of the nearest Indian village where assistance can be obtained.

A note to this effect has been placed on the Admiralty charts; also, that Cape Beale and Carmanah Lighthouse are telegraph and signal stations.

INDIAN OCEAN: AMSTERDAM, ST. PAUL, AND KERGUELEN ISLANDS.

Depots containing provisions and clothing for the use of shipwrecked seamen have been established by the French vessel-of-war “Eure” on Amsterdam, St. Paul, and Kerguelen Islands.

Amsterdam Island.—The depot is in a large cavern, in approximately 37° 48 ¾' S., 77° 32 ½' E., in the side of a hill, about 800 yards S., 73° W. from Hosken Point, the N.E. extremity of the island, and bears N. 85° W., about 600 yards from the first flagstaff southward of that point. At the entrance of the cavern is a board, fixed to two upright tarred posts, with the inscription, “France, Vivres, Vêtemens pour navfragés, ‘Eure,’ Janvier, 1893,” on it. This depot contains 1,350 lb. of preserved beef, 1,125 lb. of biscuit, ten woollen shirts, ten pairs cotton drawers, ten blankets, and one soldered metal red box containing four packets of matches. The landing-place used by the “Eure” is about 400 yards southward of Hosken Point, and under the above flagstaff.

Directions for finding the Depot.—Having landed, go to either of the flagstaffs, from whence a cross will be seen; from the cross follow the direction of its arms, leading past two ruins of rough stones, and then directly to the cavern, the entrance to which faces seaward. In the cavern, besides the provisions and clothing, there are cots, a cooking-pot, and dry wood, left by the fishermen who sometimes live there. Cabbage and celery will be found near, and fish and lobsters (crayfish) abound near the landing-place.

St. Paul Island.—The depot is in a hut of rough stones with a thatched roof, in approximately 38° 42 ¾' S., 77° 34 ¾' E., on the northern side of the crater, near the jetty and about 50 yards from the flagstaff, and contains 1,350 lb. of preserved beef in boxes of 9 lb., 1,125 lb. of biscuits, ten woollen shirts, ten blankets, and one soldered metal box containing four packets of matches. The provisions and clothes are in thirteen iron-hooped barrels coated with tar and sand, and placed under a tarpaulin. On the door of the hut is the inscription, “France, Vivres et Vêtements pour naufragés, ‘Eure,’ Janvier, 1893”; and a similar inscription is on a board within the hut.

Kerguelen Island.—The depot is in approximately 49° 16 ¾' S., 69° 40 ½' E., in the south-eastern part of Jachmann Peninsula, Hillsborough Bay, near the south-western shore of the eastern lake, and about ½ mile northward of the coast, opposite Gazelle Basin. It is in a cave at the foot of the W. cliff of a rocky chasm, running N. and S., and its position is indicated by a stone cairn, 11 ½ ft. in height, and about 14 ft. broad at the base, erected on the summit of the W. cliff of the chasm. This cairn, visible from Gazelle Basin, is black, and shows clearly against the grey rocks which form the back ground. The entrance to the cave has been closed by large stones, and on the cliff a few yards above it is the inscription, “Vivres et Vêtements, ‘Eure,’ Janvier, 1893.” This depot contains 2,250 lb. of preserved beef in boxes of 9 lb., 1,125 lb. of biscuits, twenty swan-skin shirts, twenty pairs of woollen drawers, twenty woollen blankets, and four packets of matches. The boxes of preserved beef are stowed in a pile, coated with coal-tar. The biscuits are in four iron-hooped barrels, thickly covered with coal-tar. The clothes are in two similar barrels. The matches are in a box similar to the beef-boxes, painted with minium (red lead) and with a label of the contents on it.

In the event of the cairn being destroyed, the following directions should be followed to find the depot: Land on the N. side of the inlet opposite Gazelle Basin, in a small creek, sheltered by a rocky point, where boats may go alongside under any circumstances of wind or tide. Proceed directly inland about ½ mile as far as the shore of the lake, then turn to the westward and follow the lake to its western end, where the chasm in which the depot is situated will be seen on the left hand.

Chapter 22. GRAVING-DOCKS AND PATENT SLIPS.

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

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. The dimensions of the docks at Auckland are as follow:—

 Calliope DockAuckland Dock
Length over all525 feet312 feet
Length on floor500 feet300 feet
Breadth over all110 feet65 feet
Breadth on floor40 feet42 feet
Breadth at entrance80 feet43 feet
Depth of water on sill (at high water, ordinary spring tides)33 feet13 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. A complete equipment of modern machinery (to Admirality specification) has been provided by the Board, and 80-ton shear-legs complete are now being erected.

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

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

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

For all vessels up to 500 tons (gross register)4d. per ton a day
For all vessels up to 501 to 1,000 tons (gross register)3d. per ton a day
For all vessels up to 1,001 to 2,000 tons (gross register)2 ¾d. per ton a day
For all vessels up to 2,001 to 3,000 tons (gross register)2 ½d. per ton a day
For all vessels up to 3,001 to 4,000 tons (gross register)2 ¼d. per ton a day
For all vessels up to 4,001 tons (gross register) and upwards2d. per ton a day

Twenty per cent. reduction on the above rates will be allowed when two or three vessels dock on the same tide and remain in dock the same number of hours, but such reduction will not be allowed if any of the Auckland Harbour Board's vessels are 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 1907, 117 vessels of various descriptions, with a total of 29,519 tons, made use of the Auckland Graving-dock, occupying it in all 178 days, for repairs or painting.

In Calliope Dock 21 vessels, including 2 warships, were docked with an aggregate tonnage of 63,191, and occupying the dock for 205 days.

Dock dues earned for the year amounted to £4,531.

Under arrangement with the Admiralty, a complete plant of the most efficient and modern machinery has been provided at Calliope Dockyard. The workshops are erected, and all the machinery is placed in position. 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; 9in. 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), steam capstans, &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 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 at present, although one is now being constructed; 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, 1907, 104 vessels of various sizes, of an aggregate of 45,979 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 Dominion. 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 is as follows:—

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

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

For all vessels up to 500 tons4d. per ton per day
For all vessels of 501 tons to 1,000 tons3d. per ton per day
For all vessels over 1,001 tons up to 2,000 tons2 ½d. per ton per day
For all vessels over 2,001 tons up to 3,000 tons2 ½d. per ton per day
For all vessels over 3,001 tons up to 4,000 tons2 ¼ per ton per day
For all vessels over 4,001 tons up to 5,000 tons2d. per ton per day

Twenty per cent, reduction on the above rates is allowed when two or three vessels can arrange to dock on the same tide and remain in dock the same number of hours. Two vessels of 1,000 tons each can be docked at the same time. The 20-percent. 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 are 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-five years ended 31st December, 1907, amounted to £26,828, and the working-expenses to £16,291, leaving a balance for twenty-five years ended 31st December, 1907, of £10,537.

During the year 1907 twenty-nine vessels were docked, and the dock dues amounted to £1,402 0s. 6d. For the twenty-five years ending 1907 537 vessels were docked, or an average of about twenty-one a year.

PATENT SLIP, LYTTELTON.

Alongside the graving-dock is a patent slip, with a cradle 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 cost of blocking a vessel and shifting the blocks after hauling up.

OTAGO GRAVING-DOCK.

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

Length over all335 feet
Length on the floor328 feet
Breadth over all68 feet
Breadth on floor41 feet
Breadth where ship's bilge would be43 feet
Breadth at dock-gates50 feet
Depth of water on sill at high water (ordinary spring tides)17 ½ feet

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

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

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

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

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

Vessels under 300 tons8d. per register ton per day
Vessels under 300 tons and under 400 tons7 ¾d. per register ton per day
Vessels under 400 tons and under 500 tons7 ½d. per register ton per day
Vessels under 500 tons and under 600 tons7 ¼d. per register ton per day
Vessels under 600 tons and under 700 tons7d. per register ton per day
Vessels under 700 tons and under 300 tons6 ¾d. per register ton per day
Vessels under 800 tons and under 900 tons6 ½d. per register ton per day
Vessels under 900 tons and under 1,000 tons6 ¼d. per register ton per day
Vessels under 1,000 tons and upwards6d. per register ton per day

The new dock in course of construction is nearing completion, and should be ready before the end of the year for docking vessels. This dock is of sufficient dimensions to accommodate the largest steamers that come to New Zealand.

Chapter 23. 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, 1908 (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. In the case of any vessel, the registered tonnage of which exceeds 5,000 tons, no pilotage rates shall be payable in respect of such excess.

Port charges: 3d. per ton half-yearly (on all vessels over 15 tons) in one payment. Vessels arriving for coal, stores, water, or for receiving or landing mails, which do not come to any wharf or receive or discharge cargo within the port, are exempt from port charges. In the case of any vessel the registered tonnage of which exceeds 5,000 tons, no port charges shall be payable in respect of such excess.

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, ½d. per ton per day.

NOTE.—The by-laws of the Auckland Harbour Board are being revised, so there may be some change during 1908.

GISBORNE.

Pilotage (not compulsory): To roadstead—Sailing-vessels, first 100 tons, 6d. per ton; every ton over 100 tons, 2d. per ton; steamers, first 100 tons, 3d. per ton; every ton over 100 tons, 1d. per ton. Into Turanganui River: Sailing-vessels, 4d. per ton; steamers, 3d. per ton. Outward pilotage, half-rates.

Port charges: Vessels plying within port only, 3d. per ton quarterly in advance. Vessels not plying within the port only, 2d, per ton on arrival, 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 calendar month.

Harbourmaster's fees: 5s. per vessel of less than 60 tons. Vessels licensed as lighters are exempt. 1d. per ton. sailing-vessels 60 tons and upwards; 10s. per vessel, steamers of 60 and under 120 tons.

To roadstead only: 1d. per ton, steamers of 120 tons and upwards, but not to exceed 6d. per ton in any half-year.

Into Turanganui River: 1d. per ton on arrival, steamers of 120 tons and upwards.

Berthage rate: Lighters carrying cargo, 2s. 6d. per trip. Lighters also charged license 1s. per ton register per annum.

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: Nil.

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, ½d. per ton on arrival in roadstead.

Harbourmaster's fees: Nil.

Berthage rate: 3 ½d. 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. Ocean-going 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: Nil.

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: Nil.

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

Warps and fenders: Nil.

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

WAIROA.

Pilotage (compulsory): 6d. per register ton.

Port charges: 3d. per ton per quarter.

Harbourmaster's fees: Nil.

Berthage, warps, and fenders: Nil.

NAPIER.

Pilotage (not compulsory): Into Inner Harbour—Sailing-vessels, 4d. per ton; steamers, 3d. per ton. Into breakwater, harbour, or 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. 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 thirty days from date of first arrival are exempt from port charges for second or subsequent arrivals within calendar month.

Harbourmaster's fees: 5s. per vessel of less than 60 tons. 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.

Hawsers and moorings: Vessels at wharf in Breakwater Harbour, ¼d. per ton per day, or part of a day, on registered tonnage. Vessels moored to buoys within Breakwater Harbour, 1/8d. per ton per day or part of a day.

Fenders: Vessels at wharves in Breakwater Harbour—5s. per day, vessels under 500 tons; 7s. per day, vessels of 500 tons and under 1,000 tons; 10s. per day, vessels of 1,000 tons and under 1,500 tons; 15s. per day, vessels of 1,500 tons and under 2,000 tons; £1 per day, vessels of 2,000 tons, and under 3,000 tons; 5s. for every 1,000 tons over 3,000 tons.

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: Vessels of 500 tons and up to 8,000 tons register, ½d. per ton. Not to exceed 3d. per ton in any half-year. Vessels paying pilotage exempt. Ocean-going vessels (not being “colonial-trading” or “coastal”) returning to the port within one month of first arrival exempt as regards second or subsequent arrivals.

Harbourmaster's fees: Nil.

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 ton 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.

Harbour-improvement Rate.—The charge of 3d. per ton shall be made to and payable by ship3 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 Dominion of New Zealand and are laded for the purpose of transhipment to vessels to be carried out of the Dominion: 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.

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): All vessels up to 100 tons, free. Any vessel, steamer, or sailer above 100 tons register, 1d. per ton each way, in and out. One way only, half-rates.

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

Harbourmaster's fees: Nil.

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.

Towage (both ways, in and out): Sailing-vessels, minimum charge, £7 10s.; maximum charge, £37 10s. Vessels 200 tons and upwards, 9d. per ton register. Steamers, minimum charge, £12 10s. maximum charge, £40. Vessels 1,000 tons and upwards, 3d. per ton register. Any vessel using the tug one way only, either in or out, half-rates, and vessels arriving for “bunker” coal—i.e., coal to be used in the ship on her voyage and for no other purpose—half-rates. Declaration to be made to this effect.

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: Nil.

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, £10s.; minimum, 5s.

Warps: £1 per trip.

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: Nil.

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 three days; subsequent days, ¼d. per ton. Vessels at buoys, under 800 tons register, 1/8d. per ton; over 800 tons, 1/18d. 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, after three days half-charges. 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. These charges are in lieu of the usual port dues, pilotage, and berthage dues. Cargo is computed as follows for tonnage rates and carnage: Timber (native), 480 ft., super., to the ton; timber (ironbark), 320 ft., super., to the ton; other hard wood, 380 ft., super., to the ton; posts and rails, 50 to the ton; palings, 320 to the ton; Oamaru stone, 22 cubic feet to the ton, or as per railway weight; wool, 4 bales to the ton; live'sheep, 20 to the ton; horses, 2 tons each; cattle, 2 tons each; yearlings, half-rates; pigs, 10 to the ton; light carriages, two-wheeled, 1 ton each; light carriages, four-wheeled, 2 tons each. In computing the tonnage-rate all goods may be charged upon the dead weight or measurement, at the option of the Board.

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 1/8d. per ton register of such vessel for each day or part of a day that she may occupy a berth at the wharf.

OTAGO (DUNEDIN).

Pilotage (compulsory): Inwards and outwards—Sailing-vesssls without tug, 6d. per ton; with tug, 4d. per ton: steamers, 4d. per ton. Foreign steamers calling twice on one voyage only charged once. All vessels holding exemption certificates, one annual pilotage. For every vessel under steam carrying an exempt pilot and employing a Board's pilot the charge shall be ½d. per ton for the Upper Harbour.

Port charges: 2d. per ton, but not to exceed 6d. per ton half-yearly, all vessels.

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

Berthage: Every steam or sailing vessel occupying a berth at the Board's wharves shall, subject to the following exemption, pay the following berthage rate: One halfpenny per ton net register per day or part of a day, provided that the maximum amount chargeable shall not exceed £15, and that the minimum amount shall be 1s. per day or part of a day. Any small boat or yacht using or berthing at any of the Board's wharves, jetties, or landing stages, and not holding a license under the by-laws, shall pay the sum of 1s. per day or part of a day, or in lieu thereof the Board will accept a yearly berthage fee of 5s., paid in advance, provided that nothing contained herein shall render any dingey or small boat belonging to licensed vessels, or vessels berthed at the Board's wharves and paying a berthage rate, subject to any berthage charge.

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.

Extracts from by-laws: The maximum charges on any one vessel for port charges, pilotage and harbourmaster's fees, both inwards and outwards, shall not exceed £180 on any one visit; and in the case of a foreign steamer calling twice at the port on one voyage shall not exceed £200. Minimum charge: On application of the master or agent of any foreign-going steamer visiting the port, the ordinary charges for pilotage and port charges shall be suspended, and a charge of 5s. per ton on cargo as per ships manifest discharged, and 10s. per ton on cargo loaded, shall be substituted therefor, but there shall be a minimum charge of £50. Any payments made under this by-law shall not be deemed to be an inward and outward pilotage under section (d) of By-law No. 79.

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. 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, but no vessel shall be required to pay more than 6d. per registered ton in any six months from date of entry.

Harbourmaster's fees: Nil.

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, 1908 (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: Half-rates when declared. 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.

Transhipments: Half-rates when declared.

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

NOTE.—The by-laws of the Auckland Harbour Board are being revised, so there may be some changes during 1908.

GISBORNE.

General Merchandise.—Imports: General, 3s. per ton; kerosene, sugar, and wire, 2s. 6d. per ton; wine and spirits, 7s. 6d. per ton. Exports: General, 2s. 6d. per ton. If paid inward, free.

Transhipments: Half-rates.

Grain and Agricultural Produce.—Imports: Grain, 2s. 6d. per ton; grass-seed, 3s per ton; maize, 1s. per ton; potatoes (12 sacks), 2s. 6d. per ton; chaff (20 sacks), 2s. 6d. per ton; flour, 2s. 6d. per ton: bran and pollard, 1s. per ton. Exports: Grain, 1s. per ton; grass-seed, 2s. per ton; maize, 1s. per ton; potatoes (12 sacks), 1s. per ton; chaff (20 sacks), 1s. per ton.

Transhipments: Half-rates.

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.—Exports: Carcases mutton, average weight, 55 lb., 4s. per ton; carcases lamb, average weight, 30 lb., 4s. per ton; beef, tallow, and other meat products, 2s. 6d. per ton; butter, 2s. 6d. per ton; hides, every 40 or 10 sacks, 2s. 6d. per ton; sheep-skins, per bale or every 60, 1s. per ton.

Wool.—1s. per bale, export. Transhipments: 3d. per bale; 1s. per bale if landed for dumping.

Coal.—1s. per ton; bunker coal not landed, 6d. per ton.

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

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.—6d. 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 or 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.

Transhipments: Half-rates.

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.

Transhipments: Half-rates.

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, 2s. 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. 6d. per ton imports, 1s. 3d. 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. 6d. imports, 1s. 3d. 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 2s. 6d. per ton. Tallow and pelts, imports free; exports 3s. per ton.

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

Wool.—1s. per bale, exports only. Imports, free.

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

Coal.—1s. 9d. 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.—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 bale 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.

NELSON.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wool.—Exports, 1s. per bale; imports free.

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

Coal.—1s. per ton imports; 2s. with labour. Free, exports; 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, 2rl. 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.—9a. 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, Butter, &c.—1s. 6d. per ton weight.

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.; 6d. per 100 ft. Australian and foreign timber.

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. (Classified.) Exports: Beer 2s. per ton. A rate of 2s. per ton by weight upon all flour, malt, meal, tallow, hides, wool, ores, and quartz. Cattle, 1s. 6d.; calves, 1s.; pigs, 6d.; horses, 2s. 6d.; foals, 1s. 6d. each. All other goods 6d. per ton export.

Transhipments: 1s. per ton.

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

Transhipments: 1s. per ton.

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.—Flax, fungus, rabbits, live-stock, and beef, 6d. per ton exports (measurement), 6d. per ton exports; butter, imports, 4s. per ton; butter and cheese, exports, 6d. per ton (weight); frozen meat, imports, 5s. per ton.

Transhipments: 1s. per ton.

Wool.—Exports, 2s. per ton, wool, skins, and hides (three bales to ton); 4s. per ton, imports (three bales to ton).

Transhipments: 1s. per ton by measurement.

Coal.—3s. per ton, imports; exports, 6d. per ton.

Transhipments: 1s. per ton.

Timber.—6d. and 3d. per 100 superficial feet, imports; exports, 6d. per ton 500 superficial feet.

Transhipments: 1s. per ton by measurement. Notice of transhipment must be given within twenty-four hours after ship's arrival.

BLUFF.

General Merchandise.—1s. 10d. per ton, imports and exports.

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

Grain and Agricultural Produce.—11d. per ton, imports and exports.

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

Frozen Meat, Butter, &c.—11d. per ton, exports; cheese, 1s. per ton.

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

Wool.—Exports, 9d. per bale; imports, free.

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

Coal.—1s. 6d. per ton, imports; free exports.

Transhipments: 1s. 6d. per ton when landed ex hulk; free when not landed on wharf.

Timber.—1s. per 1,000 ft. super., import; 1s. per 1,000 ft. super., export.

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

Chapter 24. LIGHTHOUSES.

Number of LightName of LighthouseOrder of ApparatusFixed, Flashing, or RevolvingInterval of Revolution or FlashHeight, in Feet, above High WaterColour of LightDistance visible in Nautical MilesColour of Lighthouse

* An asterisk denotes those lighthouses which are in telephonic communication with telegraph system.

† Harbour lights.

NOTE.—The distance visible of lights of greater power than 5th order dioptric is calculated in nautical miles as seen from a height of 15 ft. above the sea. In very clear weather the lower-order lights may be seen at a greater distance than is given in this table.

1*Cape Maria Van Diemen1st order dioptricRevolving1 minute330White ...25White
 Cape Maria Van Diemen Fixed  Red, to show over Columbia Reef  
2Moko Hinou ...1st order dioptricFlashing10 seconds385White ...27White
3Cuvier Island ...1st order dioptricRevolving30 seconds390White ...27 
4*Tiritiri ... ...2nd order dioptricFixed 300White, with red arc over Flat Rock24Red
5†Bean Rock ...5th order dioptricFixed 50 White, red, green ...10White 
5a†Rangitoto Beacon ...Pintsch's patent gaslightOcculting5 seconds68White, showing 5 sec. flash and 5 sec. obscured12 
6Ponui Passage ...5th order dioptricFixed 50White and red ...10White
7*East Cape ...2nd order dioptricFlashing10 seconds362White flash ...26White
8†Gisborne Leading LightsDioptric side-lightsFixed 60, 40Red ... ...5 
9Portland Island ...2nd order dioptricRevolving30 seconds300White ... ...24White
 Portland Island ... Fixed  Red, to show over Bull Rock  
10†Napier ... ...4th order dioptricFixed 160 White ... ...19White 
11Cape Palliser ...2nd order dioptricGroup fl., 2 fl30 seconds258White; interval of 3 sec. between flashes23 
12*Pencarrow Hd. ...2nd order dioptricFixed 322White ... ...25White
 Pencarrow Hd. Low-level LightWigham patentFixed ... White, with red arc10White 
13†Somes Island2nd order dioptricFixed 95White, red, and green15 ½White
14†Manawatu River ...Ordinary lampFixed 4White ... ...5 
15†Wanganui River ...6th order port lightFixed 65White ... ...8 
16†Patea ... ...5th order port lightFixed 130Red ... ...10 
17*Cape Egmont ...2nd order dioptricFixed 103White ... ...16White
18†New Plymouth Leading Lights4th order port lightFixed 100, 30Red ... ...16White
19Waitara ... ...6th order port lightFixed 70White ... ...8 
20*Manukau ... ...3rd order dioptricFixed 385White ... ...27Brown
 †Manukau ... ...5th order port lightFixed 70White and green ...10White
21*Kaipara ...2nd order dioptricFlashing10 seconds278White ... ...23 ½Red
22†Hokianga ... ...Masthead-light  152White ... ...5 
23*Nelson ... ...4th order port lightFixed 60White, with red arc13White
24French Pass ...6th order port lightFixed 12White and red, with white light on beacon8White
25Stephens Island ...1st order dioptricGroup fl., 2 fl30 seconds600White ... ...32 ½White
26†Jackson Head ...Wigham bcn. lampFixed 37White ... ...5Concrete bcn
27The Brothers ...2nd order dioptricFlashing10 seconds258White ... ...23White
 The Brothers ... Fixed  Red, over Cook Rock  
28†Torry Channel Leading Lights5th order port lightFixed 86, 22White ... ...10White
29†Wairan River ...6th order port lightFixed 38White ... ...8 
30*Cape Campbell ...2nd order dioptricRevolving1 minute155White ... ...18 ½ 
31*Godley Head ...2nd order dioptricFixed 450White ... ...29White
32*Akaroa Head ...2nd order dioptricFlashing10 seconds270White ... ...23White
33†Timaru ... ...5th order port lightFixed 85Red and green ...10White
34Jack's Point ...4th order dioptricFixed 94White ... ...15 ½White
35†Oamaru ... ...5th order dioptricFlashing14 seconds120White ... ...10Light stone
36Moeraki ... ...3rd order dioptricFixed 170White ... ...19 ½White
37*Taiaroa Head ...3rd order dioptricFixed 196Red ... ... ...20 ½White
37a†Otago Harbour Entrance, N. Mole LightWigham bcn. lightOcculting 29White ... ...8 
38*Cape Saunders ...2nd order dioptricRevolving1 minute210White ... ...21White
39*Nugget Point ...1st order dioptricFixed 250White ... ...22 ½White
40Waipapapa Point ...2nd order dioptricFlashing10 seconds70White ... ...14White
41Dog Island ...1st order catadioptricRevolving30 seconds150White ... ...18 ½White & black bands
42*Centre Island ...1st order dioptricFixed 265White, with red arcs23White
43Puysegur Point ...1st order dioptricFlashing10 seconds180White ... ...20White
44†Hokitika ... ...5th order dioptricFixed 122White ... ...10White
45†Greymouth ...6th order port lightFixed 62White ... ...8Flagstaff
46*Cape Foulwind ...2nd order dioptricRevolving30 seconds238White ... ...22White
47†Westport ...Dioptric masthead-ltFixed 50White ... ...8 
48Kahurangi Point ...2nd order dioptricFixed 110White, with red sector to show over Stewart Breaker16 ½White
49*Farewell Spit ...2nd order dioptricRevolving1 minute97White, with red arc over Spit end16Upper part white & lower part red

Chapter 25. NEW ZEALAND NEWSPAPERS.

THERE are (January, 1908) 232 publications on the register of newspapers for New Zealand. Of these, sixty-six are published daily, thirty are published three times a week, twenty-nine twice a week, sixty-seven once a week, two fortnightly, one three-weekly, and thirty-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— 
      Auckland Argus (M.)Monthly
      Auckland Free Press (M.)Saturday
      Auckland Star (E.)Daily
      Auckland Weekly Despatch (E.)Saturday
      Auckland Weekly News and Town and Country Journal (M.)Thursday
      Campaigner (M.)Saturday
      Christian Worker (M.)Monthly
      Church Gazette (M.)Monthly
      Defence (M.)Monthly
      Haversack (M.)Monthly
      Napredak (E.)Wednesday
      New Zealand Farmer, Stock and Station Journal (M.)Monthly
      New Zealand Graphic, Ladies' Journal, and Youths' Companion (M.)Wednesday
      New Zealand Herald (M.)Daily
      New Zealand Home Journal (M.)Monthly
      New Zealand Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic Review and Licensed Victuallers' Gazette (M.)Thursday
      New Zealand Motor and Cycle Journal (M.)Monthly
      New Zealand Observer (M.)Thursday
      New Zealand Town and Country Life, Farmers' Weekly, and Land Agents' Record (M.)Tuesday
      New Zealand Worker (E.)Wednesday
      Saturday Night (E.)Saturday
      Sentinel and Sporting Life (E.)Thursday
      Sharland's New Zealand Journal (M.)Monthly
      Sport (E.)Saturday
      Sporting Life (M.)Saturday
      Stage (M.)Monthly
      Tourist and Resources of New Zealand (M.)Monthly
Cambridge— 
      Waikato Independent (E.)Tues., Thur., Sat
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 (E.)Daily
Helensville— 
      Kaipara Advertiser and Waitemata Chronicle (M.)Wednesday
      Northern Luminary, Bay of Islands, Hokianga, Mangonui, and Whangaroa Counties Gazette (E.)Friday
Kawhia— 
      Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser (E.)Friday
Kohukohu— 
      Hokianga County Times and North-western Representative (E.)Monday
Mangonui— 
      North Auckland Age (E.)Monday
Onehunga— 
      Manukau Chronicle and Auckland Provincial Times (E.)Tuesday, Friday
Raglan— 
      Raglan County Chronicle (M.)Friday
Rotorua— 
      Hot Lakes Chronicle (M.)Wed., Saturday
      Wonderland Gazette and Rotorua Times (E.)Tuesday, Friday
Taumarunui— 
      Taumarunui Press and King-country Gazette (E.)Tuesday, Friday
Te Kuiti— 
      King Country Chronicle (E.)Thursday
Warkworth— 
      Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette (E.)Wednesday
Whangarei— 
      Morning Press (M.)Tues., Thur., Sat
      Northern Advocate (E.)Daily
THAMES
Karangahake— 
      Goldfields Advocate (M.)Saturday
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 (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri
Te Aroha— 
      Te Aroha and Ohinemuri News and Upper Thames Advocate (E.)Tues., Thur., Sat
      Te Aroha Mail (M.)Wed., Saturday
Thames— 
      Thames Advertiser (M.)Daily
      Thames Star (E.)Daily
Waihi— 
      Waihi Daily Telegraph (E.)Daily
      Waihi Times (M.)Tues., Thur., Sat
Whakatane— 
      Whakatane County Press (E.)Tuesday, Friday
GISBORNE
Gisborne— 
      Gisborne Times (M.)Daily
      Poverty Bay Herald (E.)Daily
NEW PLYMOUTH
Inglewood— 
      Inglewood Record and Waitara Age (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri
New Plymouth— 
      Budget and Taranaki Weekly Herald (M.)Saturday
      Taranaki Daily News (M.)Daily
      Taranaki Herald (E.)Daily
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— 
      Daily Press (M.)Daily
      Dannevirke Advocate (E.)Daily
Hastings— 
      Hastings Standard (E.)Daily
      New Zealand Bulletin (M.)Saturday
Napier— 
      Daily Telegraph (E.)Daily
      Hawke's Bay Herald (M.)Daily
      New Zealand Fire and Ambulance Record (M.)Monthly
Waipawa— 
      Waipawa Mail (E.)Tues., Thur., Sat
Waipukurau— 
      Waipukurau Press (E.)Tuesday, Friday
Wairoa— 
      East Coast Mail (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri
      Wairoa Guardian and County Advocate (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri
WANGANUI
Eltham— 
      Eltham Argus (E.)Daily
Hawera— 
      Egmont Star (M.)Saturday
      Hawera and Normanby Star, Patea County Chronicle, and Waimate Plains Gazette (E.)Daily
Hunterville— 
      Hunterville Express and Rangitikei Advertiser (E.)Tues., Thur., Sat
Manaia— 
      Waimate Witness and Kaponga Advocate (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri
Mangaweka— 
      Mangaweka Settler (E.)Tues., Thur., Sat
Marton— 
      Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus (E.)Daily
Ohakune— 
      Waimarino and Ohakune Times (E.)Friday
Patea— 
      Patea County Press (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri
Taihape— 
      Taihape and Waimarino News (E.)Daily
      Taihape Daily Times and Waimarino Advocate (E.)Daily
Wanganui— 
      Wanganui Chronicle (M.)Daily
      Wanganui Herald (E.)Daily
      Weekly Chronicle and Patea-Rangitikei Advertiser (M.)Saturday
WELLINGTON
Carterton— 
      New Zealand Railway Review (E.)Monthly
      Wairarapa Daily News (E.)Daily
Eketahuna— 
      Eketahuna Express and County Gazette (E.)Tues., Thur., Sat
Feilding— 
      Feilding Star (E.)Daily
Foxton— 
      Manawatu Herald (E.)Tues., Thur., Sat
Greytown North— 
      Wairarapa Standard and Featherston Advocate (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri
Levin— 
      Manawatu Farmer and Horowhenua County Chronicle (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri
Martinborough— 
      Martinborough Star (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri
Masterton— 
      Wairarapa Age (M.)Daily
      Wairarapa Daily Times (E.)Daily
Otaki— 
      Otaki Mail and Horowhenua County and West Coast Advertiser (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri
Pahiatua— 
      Pahiatua Herald (E.)Daily
Palmerston North— 
      Manawatu Daily Times (M.)Daily
      Manawatu Evening Standard (E.)Daily
      New Zealand Bandsman (M.)Saturday
Petone— 
      Hutt and Petone Chronicle (E.)Tues., Thur., Sat
Wellington— 
      Business Life (E.)Monthly
      Church Chronicle (M.)Monthly
      Dominion (M.)Daily
      Evening Post (E.)Daily
      Farmers' Union Advocate (E.)Thursday
      Katipo (E.)Monthly
      Mercantile Gazette of New Zealand (E.)Wednesday
      Nation (M.)Monthly
      New Zealand Craftsman (M.)Monthly
      New Zealand Dairyman and Farmers' Union Journal (E.)Monthly
      New Zealand Free Lance (M.)Saturday
      New Zealand Gazette (E.)Thursday
      New Zealand Mines Record (M.)Monthly
      New Zealand Primitive Methodist (M.)Monthly
      New Zealand Shipping Gazette and Marine News (E.)Friday
      New Zealand Shipping Gazette and Marine News (E.)Daily
      New Zealand Times (M.)Daily
      New Zealand Trade Review and Price Current (M.)Three-weekly
      New Zealand Truth (M.)Saturday
      Progress (M.)Monthly
      Searchlight (M.)Saturday
Woodville— 
      Examiner (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri
BLENHEIM
Blenheim— 
      Marlborough Express (E.)Daily
      Marlborough Herald (E.)Daily
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
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 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
      Examiner (M.)Monthly
      Lyttelton Times (M.)Daily
      New Brighton Monthly Magazine (M.)Monthly
      New Zealand Church News (M.)Monthly
      New Zealand Poultry Journal (M.)Monthly
      New Zealand Poultry-keeper (M.)Monthly
      New Zealand Schoolmaster (E.)Monthly
      Press (M.)Daily
      Spectator (M.)Thursday
      Star (E.)Daily
      Truth (E.)Daily
      Vanguard (E.)Sat., fortnightly
      War Cry and Official Gazette of the Salvation Army (M.)Saturday
      Weekly Press (incorporating “The Referee”) (M.)Wednesday
      White Ribbon (M.)Monthly
Kaikoura— 
      Kaikoura Star and Kaikoura County Gazette and Recorder (E.)Daily
      Kaikoura Sun, Farmers' Advocate, and County Gazetteer (E.)Daily
Rangiora— 
      Co.-op. Monthly (M.)Monthly
      Standard and North Canterbury Guardian (M.)Wed., Saturday
Southbridge— 
      Ellesmere Guardian (M.)Wed., Saturday
TIMARU
Temuka— 
      Geraldine Guardian (M.)Tues., Thur., Sat
      Temuka Leader (M.)Tues., Thur., Sat
Timaru— 
      Timaru Herald (M.)Daily
      Timaru Post (E.)Daily
Waimate— 
      Waimate Advertiser (E.)Mon., Wed., Fri
      Waimate Times (M.)Tues., Thur., Sat
OAMARU
Oamaru— 
      North Otago Times (M.)Daily
      Oamaru Mail (E.)Daily
DUNEDIN
Alexandra South— 
      Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette (E.)Wednesday
Balclutha— 
      Clutha Leader (M.)Tuesday, Friday
      Free Press (M.)Tuesday, Friday
Clyde— 
      Dunstan Times, Vincent County Official Gazette, and General Goldfields Advertiser (E.)Monday
Cromwell— 
      Cromwell Argus and Northern Goldfields Gazette (E.)Monday
Dunedin— 
      Evening Star (E.)Daily
      Farmers' Circular (M.)Thur., fortn'ly
      Farmers' Standard of New Zealand (M.)Monthly
      New Zealand Baptist (E.)Monthly
      New Zealand Guardian (M.)Monthly
      New Zealand Journal of Education (M.)Monthly
      New Zealand Mining, Engineering, and Building Journal (M.)Thursday
      New Zealand Tablet (M.)Thursday
      New Zealand Tribune (M.)Friday
      Otago Daily Times (M.)Daily
      Otago Witness (M.)Thursday
      Outlook (M.)Saturday
      Red Funnel (M.)Monthly
      Triad (M.)Monthly
      Weekly Budget (M.)Saturday
      Young Man's Magazine (M.)Monthly
Lawrence— 
      Tuapeka Times (M.)Wed., Saturday
Milton— 
      Bruce Herald (E.)Mon., Thursday
      Milton Mirror (E.)Mon., Thursday
Mosgiel— 
      Taieri Advocate (E.)Tues., Friday
Naseby— 
      Mount Ida Chronicle (M.)Friday
Palmerston— 
      Palmerston and Waikouaiti Times (M.)Friday
Roxburgh— 
      Mount Benger Mail (M.)Wednesday
Tapanui— 
      Tapanui Courier and Central Districts Gazette (M.)Wednesday
INVERCARGILL
Arrowtown— 
      Lake County Press (E.)Thursday
Gore— 
      Gore Standard (M.)Daily
      Mataura Ensign (E.)Daily
Invercargill— 
      Southern Cross (M.)Saturday
      Southlander (M.)Friday
      Southland Daily News (E.)Daily
      Southland Times (M.)Daily
      Weekly Times (M.)Friday
Orepuki— 
      Orepuki Advocate and Western District Advertiser (M.)Saturday
Otautau— 
      Otautau Farmer and Wallace County Gazette (M.)Wednesday
      Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle (E.)Tuesday
Queenstown— 
      Lake Wakatipu Mail (E.)Tuesday
Riverton— 
      Western Star and Wallace County Gazette (E.)Tues., Friday
Winton— 
      Winton Record, Hokonui Advocate, and Awarua Guardian (M.)Friday
Wyndham— 
      Wyndham Farmer (M.)Tuesday, Friday
      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 61 publications registered as newspapers, Taranaki 12, Hawke's Bay 12, Wellington 46, Marlborough 6, Nelson 13, Westland 7, Canterbury 28, and Otago 47.

Chapter 26. THE CUSTOMS TARIFF OF NEW ZEALAND, Under “The Tariff Act, 1907.

TABLE OF DUTIES.

NOTE.—The headings of the respective classes in Schedules A and B are used solely for convenience of classification, and shall not in any way affect the interpretation of the Tariff.

The word “iron” includes steel, or steel and iron combined.

Neither steam-engines, nor parts of steam-engines, nor boilers (land or marine), nor feed-water heaters, fuel-economizers, steam superheaters, or mechanical stokers are included in the expression “machines” or “machinery” as used in the Tariff.

The abbreviation “n.o.e.” means “not otherwise enumerated.”

SCHEDULE A.

Class 1.—FOODS AND ARTICLES FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.

Goods subject to fixed rates:—

  1. Bacon, and hams, 2d. the lb.

  2. Biscuits, ships', plain and unsweetened; also dog-biscuits, 3s. the cwt.

  3. Biscuits, other kinds, 2d. the lb.

  4. Candied peel, and drained peel, 3d. the lb.

  5. Confectionery n.o.e.; including medicated lozenges, medicated confectionery, boiled sugars, liquorice n.o.e., sugared or crystallized fruits, 2d. the lb., including internal containing packages (other than plain bottles and plain trade packages).

  6. Chocolate confectionery and confectionery containing chocolate:—

    1. In plain trade packages, 3d. the lb.

    2. In fancy packages, or in small packages for retail sale, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  7. Fish, dried, pickled, or salted, n.o.e., 10s. the cwt.

  8. Fish, potted, and preserved, 2d. the lb., including any liquor, oil, or sauce.

    (Note.—The term “fish” is used in the Tariff in its widest sense, and includes shell-fish, crustaceans, and other foods obtained from the fisheries.)

  9. Fruits, dried—viz., currants, and raisins, 1d. the lb., up to and including 31st day of October, 1907; thereafter free.

  10. Fruits, dried—viz., figs, dates, and prunes, 2d. the lb., up to and including 31st day of October, 1907; thereafter free.

  11. Fruits, dried, n.o.e., 2d. the lb.

  12. Fruits, fresh—viz., apples, pears, plums, cherries, peaches, nectarines, medlars, apricots, quinces, tomatoes, and grapes, 1d. the lb.

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

  13. Fruits, fresh—viz., currants, raspberries, gooseberries, blackberries, strawberries, and lemons, ½d. the lb.

  14. Fruit-pulp, partially preserved fruit, fruit preserved by sulphurous acid, unsweetened and n.o.e., 1 ½d. the lb.

  15. Glucose, and caramel, 1d. the lb.

  16. Honey, 2d. the lb.

  17. Jams, jellies, marmalades, and preserves, 2d. the lb., or package of that reputed weight, whichever rate is higher, and so in proportion for packages of greater or less reputed weight.

  18. Jellies, concentrated, 4d. the lb.

  19. Maizena, and cornflour, ¼d. the lb., up to and including 31st day of October, 1907; thereafter free.

  20. Mustard, 2d. the lb., up to and including 31st day of October, 1907; thereafter free.

  21. Pearl barley, 1s. the cwt.

  22. Peas, split, 2s. the cwt.

  23. Pickles, 3s. the gallon.

  24. Sauces, catsup, and chutney, 4s. the gallon.

  25. Soy, in vessels of 10 gallons capacity or under, 4s. the gallon.

  26. Spices, ground, n.o.e., including pepper, pimento, and olivestones, ground, 2d. the lb.

  27. Spices, unground, including chillies, pepper, and pimento, unground, 2d. the lb., up to and including 31st day of October, 1907; thereafter free.

  28. Sugar, ½d. the lb., up to and including 31st day of October. 1907; thereafter free.

  29. Treacle, and molasses, ½d. the lb., up to and including 31st day of October, 1907; thereafter free.

  30. Vinegar, not exceeding 6.5 per cent. of acidity, calculated as acetic acid, 6d. the gallon.

  31. Walnuts, shelled or unshelled, 2d. the lb.

    Goods subject to 20 per cent. ad valorem:

  32. Capers, caraway-seeds, caviare, cayenne pepper, curry-powder, and-paste, fish-paste, olives, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  33. Lard, and refined animal fats, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  34. Meats, potted or preserved, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  35. Provisions, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  36. Vegetables, fresh, dried, or preserved, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

    Goods subject to 25 per cent. ad valorem:

  37. Fruits, preserved in juice, or syrup, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

    (Fruits, preserved in juice, or syrup, fortified with alcohol to any extent exceeding 33 per cent. of proof spirit, shall be charged 16s. per proof gallon on such juice or syrup, in addition to 25 per cent. ad valorem on the total value of the goods.)

  38. Milk or cream, preserved, evaporated, or dried, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

    CLASS II.—TOBACCO.

    Goods subject to fixed rates:—

  39. Cigarettes, not exceeding in weight 2 ½ lb. per 1,000, 17s. 6d. the 1,000.

  40. Cigarettes, n.o.e., 7s. the lb.

  41. Cigars, including the weight of every band, wrapper, or attachment, to any cigar, 7s. the lb.

  42. Snuff, 7s. the lb.

  43. Tobacco, including the weight of every label, tag, or other attachment, 3s. 6d. the lb.

  44. Tobacco, unmanufactured, entered to be manufactured in New Zealand 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 THE SAME.

Goods subject to fixed rates:—

  • 45. Ale, beer of all sorts, porter, cider, and perry, when containing more than 2 per cent. of proof spirit: the gallon, or for six reputed quart bottles or the equivalent in bottles of a larger or smaller reputed quantity, 2s. the gallon.

  • 46. Cordials, bitters, and liqueurs, when exceeding the strength of 33 per cent. of proof spirit, but not exceeding the strength of proof, 16s. the liquid gallon.

  • 47.Cordials, bitters, and liqueurs, when exceeding the strength of proof, 16s. the proof gallon.

  • 48. Hops, 6d. the lb.

  • 49. Maize, flaked, 1s. the bushel.

  • 50. Malt, whole or ground, 2s. the bushel.

  • 51. Rice malt, 1d. the lb.

  • 52. Solid wort, 6d. the lb.

  • 53. Spirits, and spirituous mixtures, the strength of which can be ascertained by Sykes's hydrometer or other instrument, 16s. the proof gallon.

    (No allowance beyond 16.5 under proof shall be made for spirits or spirituous mixtures of a less strength than 16.5 under proof.)

  • 54. Spirits, and spirituous mixtures, sweetened, n.o.e., when not exceeding the strength of proof, 16s. the liquid gallon.

  • 55. Spirits, and spirituous mixtures, sweetened, n.o.e., when exceeding the strength of proof, 16s. the proof gallon.

    Spirits, and spirituous mixtures, in bottles or jars in cases, shall be charged as follows—viz.: 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.

  • 56. Spirits, and spirituous mixtures, containing more than 33 per cent. of proof spirit, in combination with other ingredients, and although thereby coming under any other designation excepting medicinal preparations otherwise enumerated, 16s. the liquid gallon.

    Wine.—The term “wine” as applied to the Tariff includes medicated wine, or wine mixed with food; also such spirituous beverages, and fluid foods, containing less than 33 per cent. of proof spirit, as may be so decided by the Minister.

  • 57. Wine, Australian, containing not more than 40 per cent. of proof spirit; the gallon, or for six reputed quart bottles, or the equivalent in bottles of a larger or smaller reputed quantity, 5s. the gallon.

  • 58. Wine, other than sparkling, and Australian, containing not more than 40 per cent. of proof spirit; the gallon, or for six reputed quart bottles, or the equivalent in bottles of a larger or smaller reputed quantity, 6s. the gallon.

  • 59. Wine, sparkling, containing not more than 40 per cent. of proof spirit; the gallon, or for six reputed quart bottles, or the equivalent in bottles of a larger or smaller reputed quantity, 9s. the gallon.

  • 60. Wine of any kind containing more than 40 per cent. of proof spirit, 16s. the liquid gallon.

CLASS IV.—NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND MATERIALS FOR MAKING THE SAME.

Goods subject to fixed rates:—

  • 61. Chicory, 3d. the lb.

  • 62. Cocoa, and chocolate, including cocoa-beans roasted and crushed; also cocoa or chocolate mixed with milk or any other food substance whatsoever, 3d. the lb.

  • 63. Coffee, roasted, 3d. the lb.

  • 64. Tea, n.o.e., 2d. the lb.

    Goods subject to 20 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 65. Aerated, and mineral waters; effervescing beverages; and beverages n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 66. Coffee, essence of, and essence of coffee with milk or any other food substance, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 67. Fruit juices or imitation fruit juices, unsweetened, in containers of less than ten gallons capacity, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 68. Fruit juices or imitation fruit juices, sweetened; syrups; raspberry vinegar, sweetened, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

CLASS V.—DRUGS, MEDICINES, CHEMICALS, AND DRUGGISTS' SUNDRIES.

Goods subject to fixed rates:—

  • 69. Acid, acetic, containing not more than 30 per cent. of acidity, 1 ½d. the lb.

  • 70. Acid, acetic, containing more than 30 per cent. of acidity, for every 10 per cent. of acidity or fraction thereof, ½d. the lb.

  • 71. Acid, tartaric, 1d. the lb., up to and including 31st day of October, 1907; thereafter free.

  • 72. Cream of tartar, 1d. the lb., up to and including 31st day of December, 1907; thereafter free.

  • 73. Essences flavouring, containing more than 33 per cent. of proof spirit, 16s. the liquid gallon.

  • 74. Medicinal preparations (excepting medicated wines or wines mixed with food), containing more than 50 per cent. of proof spirit, 1s. the lb.

  • 75. Opium, £2 the lb.

  • 76. Saccharin n.o.e., including substances of a like nature or use, 1s. 6d. the ounce.

  • 77. Soda, bicarbonate, 1s. the cwt., up to and including 31st day of October, 1907; thereafter free.

  • 78. Soda-crystals, 2s. the cwt.

    Goods subject to 20 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 79. Baking powder; yeast preparations, and other ferments; also yeast foods, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 80.Chemicals, and chemical preparations, n.o.e., including photographic chemicals n.o.e.; also anti-incrustation, boiler, and other compounds, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 81. Essences, flavouring, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 82. Eucalyptus oil in bulk or bottle, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 83. Glycerine, refined, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 84. Medicinal preparations, drugs, and druggists' sundries, and apothecaries' wares, n.o.e.; also aerated water makers', and cordial manufacturers', and brewers' drugs, chemicals, and other sundries, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 85. Medicinal preparations (excepting medicated wines or wines mixed with food) containing 50 per cent. of proof spirit or less, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 86. Saccharin, in the form of tablets, pilules, granules, or cachets, each containing not more than ½ grain of saccharin in combination with at least 10 per cent. of alkali, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

CLASS VI.—CLOTHING AND TEXTILE GOODS.

Goods subject to fixed rates of duty:—

  • 87. Cotton, raw. 4d. the lb.

    Goods subject to 10 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 87A. Cotton piece-goods, to include turkey twills, dress prints (hard-spun and plain-woven), where the invoice value does not exceed 4d. per yard; and cotton piece-goods n.o.e., 10 per cent. ad valorem, up to and including 31st day of December, 1907; thereafter free (under Schedule B, Class VI, item “Cotton or linen piece-goods, &c.”).

    Goods subject to 20 per cent. ad valorem, except as specified:—

  • 88. All articles n.o.e., made of textile, felt, or other piece-goods, or of any combination of the same, wholly or partly made up or manufactured, and not being apparel or clothing either wholly or partly made up, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 88A. Cotton piece-goods—viz., 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; piques; vestings; quiltings, and marcellas; muslins of all kinds; nets; window-nets; hollands, curtains, and blinds; diapers; ticks, including coloured Belgian; towellings, 20 per cent. ad valorem, up to and including 31st day of December, 1907; thereafter free (under Schedule B, Class VI. item “Cotton or linen piece-goods, &c.”).

  • 89. Drapery n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 90.Flags, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 90A. Forfar, dowlas, and flax sheeting, in the piece, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem, up to and including 31st day of December, 1907; thereafter free (under Schedule B, Class VI, item “Cotton or linen piece-goods, &c.”).

  • 91. Haberdashery n.o.e, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 92. Lace, and laces, n.o.e., 25 per cent. ad valorem, up to and including 31st day of December, 1907; thereafter 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 92A. Linens, and unions of cotton and linen, in the piece, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem, up to and including 31st day of December, 1907; thereafter free (under Schedule B, Class VI, item “Cotton or linen piece-goods, &c.”).

  • 93. Ribbons, and crape, all kinds, 25 per cent. ad valorem, up to and including 31st day of December, 1907; thereafter 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 94. Rugs, woollen, cotton, opossum, or other, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 94A. Silks, satins, velvets, plushes, n.o.e., composed of pure silk, or of silk mixed with any other material, in the piece, 25 per cent. ad valorem, up to and including 31st day of December, 1907; thereafter to be classified under the next ensuing item “Textile piece-goods, &c.”

  • 95. Textile piece-goods n.o.e., including imitation silks, composed of any material or substance whatsoever, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 96. Umbrellas, parasols, and sunshades, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 97. Yarns n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

    Goods subject to 25 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 98. Apparel, and ready-made clothing, n.o.e., 25 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 99. Feathers, ornamental (including ostrich); artificial flowers, leaves, and sprays, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 100. Furs, and fur trimmings, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 101. Hats of all kinds (including straw hats), also caps, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 102. Hosiery n.o.e., 25 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 103. Millinery of all kinds, including trimmed hats, caps, and bonnets, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

    Goods subject to 40 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 104. Apparel made to the order, or measurement, of residents in the colony, and intended for the individual use of such residents, whether imported by the residents themselves or otherwise, 40 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 105. Apparel—viz., Volunteer clothing made to measurements sent from New Zealand, 40 per cent. ad valorem.

CLASS VII.—LEATHER AND MANUFACTURES OF LEATHER.

Goods subject to mixed rates:—

  • 106. Boots, shoes, clogs, and pattens, n.o.e., viz.—

    Men's, above size No. 5, 1s. 6d. the pair, and 15 per cent. ad valorem.*

    Youths', above size No. 1, 1s. the pair, and 15 per cent. ad valorem.*

    Boys', Nos. 7 to 1, both inclusive, 6d. the pair, and 15 per cent. ad valorem.*

    Women's, above size No. 1, 1s. the pair, and 15 per cent. ad valorem.*

    Girls', Nos. 7 to 1, both inclusive, 6d. the pair, and 15 per cent. ad valorem.*

    Other kinds, 1s. the pair, and 15 per cent. ad valorem.*

    Slippers (not including lawn tennis, and gymnasium shoes soled with indiarubber or felt), 6d. the pair, and 15 per cent. ad valorem.*

    Slippers of felt, with carpet, twine, or felt soles, 22 ½ per cent. ad valorem.

    Shoes or goloshes known as Plimsolls with moulded indiarubber soles, 22 ½ per cent. ad valorem.

    Champion, gymnasium, yachting, and lawn tennis boots, and shoes, with moulded indiarubber soles, 22 ½ per cent. ad valorem.

    Goloshes or overshoes of all kinds, of rubber, 22 ½ per cent. ad valorem.

    Shoettes, and sandals, n.o.e, 22 ½ per cent. ad valorem.

    Goods subject to fixed rates:—

  • 107. Leather—

    Leather belting, belt leather, harness, welting, bridle, strap, legging, bag, and kip other than East India, 4d. the lb.

    All hide leathers dressed, n.o.e., 3d. the lb.

    (Note.—Any leathers n.o.e. (1) either dressed in sides, or pieces of whatever size, or (2) if in whole skins over 16 ft., are to be classed as hide leather.)

    Calf skins, being whole skins, however dressed, and 16 ft. spread and under, 1d. the lb.

    Sheepskins, and lambskins, however dressed, n.o.e., 3d. the lb.

    East India kip, dressed, 1d. the lb.

    Sole, pump, and skirt leather, 2d. the lb.

    Leather dressed, n.o.e., including kangaroo, and wallabi, 1d. the lb.

  • 108. Leather board or compo., 4d. the lb.

* On and after the 31st day of October, 1907, and at 22 ½ per cent. ad valorem up to that date.

Goods subject to 20 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 109. Leather bags, and leather cloth bags, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

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

  • 111. Leather manufactures, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 112. Saddlery, and harness; whips, and whip thongs, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

    Goods subject to 22 ½ per cent. ad valorem:

  • 113. Heel plates, and toe stiffeners, and toe plates, 22 ½ per cent. ad valorem.

  • 114. Laces, vamps, and uppers; also clog or patten soles, 22 ½ per cent. ad valorem.

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

  • 116. Leather leggings, 22 ½ per cent. ad valorem.

    Goods subject to 25 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 117. 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.

CLASS VIII.—FURNITURE AND HOUSEHOLD FURNISHING.

Goods subject to 20 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 118. Basketware, and wickerware, n.o.e., not being furniture, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 119. Carpets; druggets; floorcloth; mats; matting; plain, and fancy stair oil baize; wood, and fancy oil baize; and oil, and other dado cloths, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 120. Furniture, knife, and plate powder, and polish; also floor and linoleum polishes, not being varnishes, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

    Goods subject to 25 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 121. Furniture, and cabinetware, n.o.e., and other than iron, or other metal, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 122. Mantelpieces, other than stone, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 123. Upholstery, n.o.e., 25 per cent. ad valorem.

CLASS IX.—CHINA, GLASS, AND EARTHEN GOODS.

Goods subject to fixed rates:—

  • 124. Glass, crown, sheet, and common window, 2s. the 100 superficial feet, up to and including 31st day of December, 1907; thereafter free.

    Goods subject to 20 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 125. Bricks, known as firebricks, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 126. China, porcelain, and parian ware, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 127.Drainage pipes, and drainage tiles, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 128. Earthenware, stoneware, and brownware, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 129. Filters, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 130. Fireclay, ground; and fireclay goods, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 131. Flooring, wall, hearth, and garden tiles, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 132. Glass, plate, polished, coloured, and other kinds, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem, up to and including 31st day of December, 1907; thereafter free.

  • 133. Glassware; globes, and chimneys, for lamps, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 134. Lamps, lanterns, and lampwick, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

    Goods subject to 25 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 135. Plate glass bevelled or silvered; mirrors, and looking glasses, framed or unframed, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

CLASS X.—FANCY GOODS, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, ETC.

Goods subject to fixed rates:—

  • 136. Cards, playing, 6d. the pack.

  • 137. Perfumed spirits, and Cologne water, £1 10s. the liquid gallon.

    Goods subject to 20 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 138. Clocks, time registers, and time detectors, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 139. Fancy goods, and toys; also sporting, gaming, and athletic requisites, n.o.e., including billiard tables, and billiard requisites; hair, and toilet combs, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

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

  • 141. Jewellery; plate, gold, or silver; plated-ware; greenstone, cut or polished, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 142. Lay figures, busts, and dress stands, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 143. Magic lanterns, bioscopes, cinematographs, kinetoscopes, phonographs, gramophones, graphophones, and the like instruments, including accessories peculiar thereto n.o.e.; also limelight, and the like apparatus, including accessories peculiar thereto, except magic-lantern slides, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 144. Mouldings, and panels, in the piece, of either wood, plaster pulp, metal, or other material, for picture frames, cornices, walls, or ceilings, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 145. Musical instruments, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 146.Photographic goods n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 147. Pictures, paintings, drawings, engravings, and photographs, framed or unframed; picture or photograph frames or mounts, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

    (Note.—Any painting, drawing, or photograph, in any medium, having a value for duty exceeding £5 shall be assessed for duty at £5, plus the value of the frame and mounting, if any, and plus the value of the canvas or other material upon which such painting, drawing, or photograph is made.)

  • 148. Statues, statuettes, casts, and bronzes, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 149. Tobacco pipes and cases, cigar and cigarette holders and cases, cigarette papers and cases, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 150. Watches, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 151. Walking-sticks, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

    Goods subject to 25 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 152. Artificial flies, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 153. Oil, perfumed; also toilet preparations, and perfumery, n.o.e., 25 per cent. ad valorem.

CLASS XI.—PAPER MANUFACTURES AND STATIONERY.

Goods subject to fixed rates:—

  • 154. Handbills, circulars, programmes, playbills, printed posters, trade catalogues, price-lists, and fashion-plates; printed advertising matter n.o.e.; also paper bags, and wrapping-paper, or wrappers, of all kinds, printed or lithographed; printed or lithographed envelopes or labels, 3d. the lb.

    (Note.—This shall not apply to trade catalogues or price-lists of the goods of firms or persons having no established business in New Zealand.)

  • 155. Ink, writing, 2s. the gallon.

  • 156. Paper bags, coarse (including sugar bags), 7s. 6d. the cwt.

  • 157. Paper wrapping all kinds, not printed, including blue candle, glazed cap, glazed casings, small hand, lumber hand, tissue, brown, cartridge, and sugar papers, 5s. the cwt.

    Goods subject to 15 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 158. Paperhangings, 15 per cent. ad valorem, up to and including 31st day of October, 1907; thereafter free.

    Goods subject to 20 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 159. Cardboard, pasteboard, strawboard, wood-pulp board, corrugated board, and cloth-lined board, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 160.Cloth-lined, enamelled, gelatine, and metallic papers, n.o.e.; also “ivorite” n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 161. Stationery, and writing paper, n.o.e., also printers' menu, wedding, programme, and mourning cards of cardboard, celluloid, or other material, edged, or embossed, but otherwise unprinted, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

    Goods subject to 25 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 162. Calendars, and showcards, all kinds, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 163. Cardboard- or paper-boxes complete; or cardboard or paper, cut, or shaped, for boxes, wrappers, or other receptacles (including match-boxes), 25 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 164. Directories of New Zealand, or of any part thereof; also covers for directories, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 165. Paper bags, n.o.e., 25 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 166. Stationery, manufactured, viz.:—

    Account-books, manuscript-books, scribbling, and letter blocks, and books, plain, or ruled; bill-head, invoice, and statement forms; printed or ruled paper, counter-books, cheque, and draft forms; tags, labels not printed or lithographed, 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 n.o.e., and Christmas, New Year, birthday, Easter, and other cards, and booklets, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 167. Stereotypes, matrices, half-tone, and line blocks, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

CLASS XII.—MANUFACTURES OF METAL.

Goods subject to fixed rates:—

  • 168. Cartridges (shot) 10- to 24-bore, 2s. 6d. the 100.

  • 169. Cartridge-cases, 1s. 3d. the 100.

  • 170. Composition-piping, 3s. 6d. the cwt.

  • 171. Iron galvanised corrugated sheets, 2s. the cwt.

  • 172. Iron, and other nails, n.o.e., including dog-spikes, 2s. the cwt.

  • 173. Iron, plain galvanised sheet or hoop, 1s. 6d. the cwt.

  • 174. Iron tanks, for every 100 gallons, or fraction of 100 gallons, in holding capacity, 2s. 6d.

  • 175. Lead, in sheets, 1s. 6d. the cwt., up to and including 31st day of October, 1907; thereafter free.

  • 176. Lead piping, 3s. 6d. the cwt.

  • 177. Shot, 10s. the cwt.

    Goods subject to 5 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 178. Engines and machines for mining purposes—namely, capstan engines for mining shafts; winding engines, steam, air, or electrically driven, including bed plates, foundation bolts, and friction clutches, when imported with the engines; drums for winding engines, 5 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 179. Machinery—viz., flour milling, refrigerating, dredging, woollen mill, paper mill, rope and twine making, oil refining, boring, meat preserving, leather splitting, 5 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 180. Printing machines or presses; embossing, bronzing, type casting, and type setting machines; ruling machines, cardboard box making machines, and tools for same, 5 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 181. Soda-water machines; also machines for aerating liquids, 5 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 182. Steam engines, and parts thereof, for mining (including gold-dredging), or gold saving purposes and processes, or for dairying purposes, 5 per cent. ad valorem.

    Goods subject to 10 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 183. Machinery, electric, and appliances—namely, electric- generators, and electric motors, including slide rails therefor, electric lamps including globes for arc lamps, electric transformers, 10 per cent. ad valorem.

    Goods subject to 20 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 184. Bicycles, tricycles, and the like vehicles, also finished, or partly finished or machined parts of the same, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 185. Bill-hooks, bush-hooks, slashers, and hedge knives, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 186. Boilers, land, and marine, including feed-water heaters, fuel-economizers, steam superheaters, and mechanical stokers, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 187. Cartridges, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 188. Cash registering machines, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 189. Crab winches, cranes, capstans, and windlasses, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 190. Electric batteries, and cells; furniture, fittings, instruments, and appliances, n.o.e., for the generation, transmission, application, or utilisation, of electricity, or of electric power of any description whatsoever, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 191. Firearms, all kinds, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 192. Hardware, ironmongery, and hollow-ware, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 193.Iron pipes wrought n.o.e., and wood or fibre pipes, exceeding 6 in. in internal diameter, also knees, bends, elbows, and other fittings for the same. Cast iron pipes exceeding 9 in. in internal diameter, and knees, bends, elbows, and other fittings for the same, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 194. Lawn mowers, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 195. Lead-headed nails and galvanised cup-headed roofing nails, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 196. Machinery, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 197. Manufactured or partly manufactured articles of metal, or manufactured or partly manufactured articles of metal in combination with any other material whatsoever, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 198. Steam engines, and parts of steam engines, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

    Goods subject to 25 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 199. Galvanised iron manufactures, n.o.e., made up from galvanised iron, or from plain sheet iron, and then galvanised, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 200. Japanned, and lacquered metalware, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 201. Tinware, and tin manufactures, n.o.e., 25 per cent. ad valorem.

CLASS XIII.—TIMBER, AND ARTICLES MADE FROM TIMBER.

Goods subject to fixed rates:—

  • 202. Timber, palings, split, 2s. the 100.

  • 203. Timber, posts, split, 8s. the 100.

  • 204. Timber, rails, split, 4s. the 100.

  • 205. Timber, sawn, dressed, 4s. the 100 ft. superficial.

  • 206. Timber, sawn, rough, 2s. the 100 ft. superficial.

  • 207. Timber, shingles, and laths, 2s. the 1,000.

    Goods subject to 20 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 208. Bellows, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 209. Blocks, wooden tackle, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 210. Broom, mop, hoe, rake, and similar handles, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 211. Carriages, carts, drays, wagons, perambulators, and the like vehicles, and wheels for the same, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 212. Carriage shafts, spokes, and felloes, dressed; bent carriage-timber, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 213. Cars, wagons, and trucks, railway, and tramway; and wheels for the same n.o.e. Motor vehicles. Motor car bodies, or bodies for motor busses, whether attached or unattached, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 214. Doors, and sashes, either plain, or glazed with ornamental glass, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 215. Woodenware, and turnery, n.o.e, and veneers, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

CLASS XIV.—OILS, PAINTS, ETC.

Goods subject to fixed rates:—

  • 216. Oils in vessels capable of containing one gallon of oil or more—namely, vegetable oils, 6d. the gallon, up to and including 31st day of October, 1907; thereafter free.

  • 217. Oil—namely, crude petroleum, crude residual oil, once-run shale oil, once-run petroleum oil, ½d. the gallon.

  • 218. Oil, n.o.e., including mineral lubricating - oil, in vessels capable of containing one gallon or more, 6d. the gallon.

  • 219. Paints, and colours, ground in oil or turpentine; also putty; and driers, n.o.e., 2s. 6d. the cwt.

  • 220. Paints, and colours, mixed ready for use; also enamel paints, n.o.e., 5s. the cwt.

  • 221. Stearine, ¾d. the lb.

  • 222. Varnish and lacquers, including lithographic varnish, gold-size, liquid gold, and other metallic paints; also liquid medium for mixing with metallic paints, 2s. the gallon.

  • 223. Whiting, and chalk, 1s. the cwt.

    Goods subject to 20 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 224. Axle grease, and other solid lubricants; petroleum greases, and mixtures of the same with other substances, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 225. Harness oil, and composition, leather dressing, and belt dressing; also leather revivers and polishes n.o.e, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 226. Oils in vessels having a lesser capacity than one gallon, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

CLASS XV.—AGRICULTURAL AND FARM PRODUCTS, ETC.

Goods subject to fixed rates:—

  • 227. Cattle (horned), 10s. each.

  • 228. Chaff, £1 the ton.

  • 229. Grain—namely, barley, 2s. the 100 lb.

  • 230. Grain, and pulse, of every kind, n.o.e., 9d. the 100 lb.

  • 231. Grain, and pulse, of every kind, when ground or in any way manufactured, n.o.e., including wheat flour, 1s. the 100 lb.

  • 232. Horses, £1 each.

  • 233. Onions, £1 the ton.

  • 234. Potatoes, £1 the ton.

  • 235. Prepared calf-meal, £1 5s. the ton.

    Goods subject to 20 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 236. Animals, food for, of all kinds, n.o.e., including horse, and cattle spices, and condiments, proprietary or otherwise; also hempseed, mawseed, millet-seed, canary-seed, and mixed birdseed, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

CLASS XVI.—MISCELLANEOUS.

Goods subject to fixed rates:—

  • 237. Blue, 1d. the lb.

  • 238. Candles, 1 ½d. the lb.

  • 239. Cement, Portland, and other structural, and building cement, 2s. the barrel.

  • 240. Gelatine, isinglass, glue, and size, 1 ½d. the lb.

  • 241. 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.

    Wax, other kinds, for every 100 matches or fraction thereof contained in one box, 2s. 3d. the gross of boxes.

    Matches of any material other than wood or wax, a duty corresponding to the duty payable on wooden matches.

    (Note.—Boxes made of gold, silver, metal, wood, or composition, of permanent value when empty, shall, in addition to the duty payable on any matches contained therein, be charged as jewellery or fancy goods.

  • 242. Paraffin wax, 1d. the lb.

  • 243. Powder, sporting, 6d. the lb., up to and including the 31st day of October, 1907; thereafter free.

  • 244. Sausage skins, and casings (including brine or salt), 3d. the lb.

  • 245. Soap, common yellow, and blue mottled, 5s. the cwt.

  • 246. Spirits, methylated to the satisfaction of the Minister, 1s. the liquid gallon.

  • 247. Spirits, cleared from warehouse, methylated under prescribed conditions, 6d. the liquid gallon, not including the added naphtha or other methylating material.

  • 248. Starch, 2d. the lb.

  • 249. Wax, mineral, vegetable, Japanese, and beeswax, 1d. the lb.

    Goods subject to 10 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 250. Flock, 10 per cent. ad valorem.

    Goods subject to 20 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 251. Bags, calico, forfar, linen, flour; bagging, bags, and sacks, n.o.e., including filter bags, and sheaths, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 252. Blacking, and boot-gloss, and -polish, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

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

  • 254. Boats, launches, yachts, also all vessels propelled by means other than oars, (when imported in any vessel), including all fittings therefor n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 255. Cordage, rope, and twine, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 256. Fireworks, n.o.e., 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 257. Nets, and netting, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 258. Soap powder, extract of soap, dry soap, soft soap, liquid soap, soap solutions, and washing, or cleansing powders, crystals, pastes, and liquids, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 259. Tarpaulins, tents, sails, rick, and wagon covers, 20 per cent. ad valorem.

    Goods subject to 25 per cent. ad valorem:

  • 260. Bags of textile or felt, all kinds, if printed, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 261. Brooms, brushes, and brushware, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 262. Marble, granite, and other stone, dressed, or polished, and articles made therefrom; also imitation stone, dressed, or polished, and articles made therefrom, or from cement, 25 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 263. Soap, n.o.e., 25 per cent. ad valorem.

In addition to any duty chargeable by law on any goods imported into the colony, a further duty of 20 per cent. ad valorem shall be charged when the goods are prison made.

Chapter 27. Exemptions from Duties of Customs—SCHEDULE B.

Goods in this Schedule, except where otherwise provided, are exempt from duties of Customs.

CLASS I.—FOODS, ETC.

  • 264. Almonds, and nuts, except walnuts.

  • 265. Anchovies, salted, in casks, or other containers, capable of holding 28 lb. net or over.

  • 266. Arrowroot, sago, tapioca, macaroni, vermicelli, rice-flour, prepared barley-flour, potato-flour, infants and invalids farinaceous foods.

  • 267. Cocoa or cacao butter, cocoanut butter, nut butter, and other refined vegetable butters or fats.

  • 268. Salt.

  • 269. Rice, dressed or undressed; also rice meal refuse and rice meal.

  • 270. Soy, in vessels exceeding 10 gallons capacity.

CLASS IV.—NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, ETC.

  • 271. Cocoa-beans, uncrushed.

  • 272. Coffee, raw.

  • 273. Fruit-juices, or imitation fruit-juices, unsweetened, in containers of 10 gallons capacity or over.

  • 274. Tea, in bulk—viz., in packages of 5 lb. or over net weight of tea.

CLASS V.—DRUGS, ETC.

  • 275. Acids—viz., boracic; carbolic; chromic; citric; fluoric; formic; lactic; muriatic; nitric; oleic; oxalic; picric; pyrogallic; salicylic; sulphuric.

  • 276. Concentrated extracts, or essences, in liquid form, or preserved in fat, for the purpose of manufacturing perfumery, when entered to be warehoused in a manufacturing warehouse for the purpose of making perfumery or other articles therein.

  • 277. Dextrine n.o.e.

  • 278. Disinfectants.

  • 279. Drugs and chemicals, viz.—

    Carnauba wax.

    Catechu.

    Cochineal.

    Creosote, crude or commercial.

    Crude distillates of coal-tar or wood, in vessels containing 10 gallons or over, for the manufacture of disinfectants in New Zealand.

    Formic aldehyde, and solution thereof.

    Fusel oil.

    Gall nuts.

    Glycerine, crude.

    Gums—viz., arabic, benzoin, damar, tragacanth, artificial gum-arabic.

    Liquefied gases, and compressed gases.

    Liquorice in blocks of 7 lb. net and over, or soft liquorice-extract in bulk, in tins or other vessels capable of holding 7 lb. net or over.

    Naphthalene, crude or refined.

    Saffron.

    Strychnine, and salts of strychnine.

    Sugar of milk.

    Sulphur.

    Turmeric.

    Alum, alum sulphate.

    Ammonium chloride, or sal ammoniac, ammonium sulphate.

    Arsenic, and arsenates.

    Borax.

    Calcium carbide, chloride, sulphate, sulphite, and bisulphite; chlorinated lime.

  • Carbon bisulphide.

    Copper sulphate, or bluestone, oxide of copper.

    Iron sulphates.

    Magnesium sulphite, and bisulphite.

    Manganese oxides.

    Phosphorus.

    Potash; pearlash; potash, caustic, chlorate, cyanide, nitrate (or saltpetre), permanganate, prussiates, sulphite, and bisulphite; metallic potassium.

    Salts of thorium, zirconium, or other rare metals, and solutions thereof, including mixtures of same, suited for the manufacture of incandescent mantles.

    Silver nitrate in crystals.

    Soda acetate, crude; soda ash; soda, arseniate, anhydrous carbonate, caustic, cyanide, bisulphite, hyposulphite, silicate, sulphate, sulphide, sulphite, nitrate, permanganate.

    Metallic sodium, sodium peroxide.

    Zinc chloride.

    (Note.—Mixtures of any of the articles enumerated under this Schedule as drugs and chemicals, with each other, or with chemicals, or substances not enumerated, shall, if not provided for elsewhere in the Tariff, be charged as medicinal preparations n.o.e., or chemicals n.o.e. under Schedule A, Class V.)

  • 280. Drugs crude, not powdered, and unsuited for use as foods, or in the manufacture thereof—viz., barks, woods, twigs, leaves, herbs, flowers (except hops), roots, corms, gums, balsams, inspissated juices (except opium), seeds, fruits, fruit rinds, pitch, cantharides, ergot; also powdered pyrethrum flowers or Dalmatian powder, and powdered hellebore in bulk.

  • 281. Essential oils, except eucalyptus; cod liver oil; oil of rhodium.

  • 282. Horse, and cattle drenches.

  • 283. Insecticides for agricultural uses, also tree washes.

  • 284. Opium when entered to be warehoused in a manufacturing warehouse, for the purpose of making therein approved medicinal preparations.

  • 285. Scrub exterminators.

  • 286. Sheep dip; sheep drenches; sheep licks.

  • 287. Surgical, and dental instruments; also the following surgeons', physicians', dentists', and opticians' materials—viz., antiseptic dressings, gauzes, lint, tow, cotton wool, poroplastic felt, adhesive plaster, oiled silk or other fabric, spongio piline, bandages, catgut, and sterilised, and other sewings, thermometers; also appliances including splints for wear, peculiarly adapted to correct a deformity of the human body, to afford support to an abnormal condition of the human body, or to reduce or alleviate such condition,or to substitute any part of such body; crutches; ear trumpets, ear tubes, and audiphones, for the partially deaf. Opticians' trial cases, lenses, and frames, spectacles, and magnifying glasses, opthalmoscopes, optometers and other measuring instruments, test cards, and diagrams, artificial eyes (demonstration and other). Dentists' materials—viz., artificial teeth, tooth crowns, celluloid blanks, base plates, denture strengtheners, guttapercha stick, points, pellets, and sheets, rubber dam, amadou absorbent, absorbent paper, rubber in sheets, metal-plate, -wire, -foil, -sticks; solder; fusible metal, porcelain powder, and enamel, inlays, modelling composition and wax, investment compound, amalgam, and cement; also such other appliances and materials peculiar to surgical or dental use as may from time to time be enumerated in any order of the Minister.

  • 288. Scientific and philosophical instruments and apparatus — namely, assay-balances; laboratory retorts, and laboratory flasks, and other instruments, and apparatus, for chemical analysis, and assay work; assay furnaces, including dentists', and jewellers' furnaces; also such instruments, and apparatus, suited strictly for scientific and philosophical purposes, as may from time to time be approved by the Minister.

CLASS VI.—CLOTHING AND TEXTILES.

  • 289. Brace-elastic, and brace-mountings.

  • 290. Brattice cloth made of jute or hessian.

  • 291. Bunting, in the piece.

  • 292. Butter cloth; also cheese cloth, and cheese bandages or caps.

  • 293. Buttons, tapes, wadding pins, needles.

  • 293A. *Calico, white and grey, also cotton sheetings, in the piece, up to and including 31st day of December, 1907.

  • 293B. *Corduroy, moleskin, and plain beaver-skin, of cotton, in the piece, up to and including 31st day of December, 1907.

  • 293C. *Coloured cotton shirtings, flannelette shirtings, up to and including 31st day of December, 1907.

  • 293D. *Forfar, dowlas, and flax sheeting, when cut up under supervision in sizes not exceeding 47 in. by 36 in. for making flour-bags, and not exceeding 54 in. for lining wool mats, up to and including 31st day of December, 1907.

  • 294. Cotton or linen piece-goods, and unions of the same, n.o.e., except imitation silks composed of any material or substance whatsoever, on and after 1st day of January, 1908.

  • 295. Fur skins, green or sun-dried.

  • 296. Gold or silver lace or braid for military clothing, feather-stitch braid.

    * Thereafter as “Cotton or linen piece-goods, and unions of the same, n.o.e.”

  • 297. Hatmakers' materials—viz., felt hoods; shellac; gallons; calicoes; spale boards for hat boxes; leathers; silk plush in the piece; linings, when cut up or otherwise, under such conditions as the Minister may prescribe; blocks; moulds; frames; ventilators; tassels.

  • 298. Hessians, plain or striped, and scrim.

  • 299. Leather cloth, plain colours.

  • 300. Minor articles (required in the making-up of apparel, boots, shoes, hats, caps, saddlery, umbrellas, parasols, and sunshades), enumerated in any order of the Minister, and published in the Gazette.

  • 301. Ostrich feathers grown in New Zealand, when returned from abroad dressed, or dyed, upon evidence being produced to the satisfaction of a Collector of Customs as to their previous exportation.

  • 302. Sailcloth, canvas, and unbleached double-warped duck, in the piece.

  • 303. Sewing cottons, silks, and threads; angola mendings not exceeding 45 yards in length; crewel, flourishing, embroidery, darning, knitting, and crochet threads, of silk, linen or cotton, or unions of the same, plain or fancy; macrame thread or macrame twine.

  • 304. Silk for flour dressing, in the piece.

  • 305. Silk twist (shoemakers', and saddlers').

  • 306. Staymakers' binding, eyelets, corset-fasteners, jean, ticks, lasting, sateen, and cotell; also corset shields, and busk protectors.

  • 307. Tailors' trimmings—viz., haircloth; plain or coloured imitation haircloth; canvas; 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; Verona, and Italian cloth, of cotton or wool, or unions of the same; also such other lining materials as may be approved by the Minister.

  • 308. Tubular woven cotton cloth in the piece for meat-wraps.

  • 309. Umbrella-makers' materials—viz., reversible, and levantine silk mixtures, gloria, and satin de chene, 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 Minister may approve; sticks, runners, notches, caps, ferrules, cups, ribs, stretchers, tips, and rings.

  • 310. Union textiles n.o.e., in the piece, the invoice value of which does not exceed 6d. the yard, when cut up, and made into shirts or pyjamas, under such conditions and regulations as the Minister may prescribe.

  • 311. Waterproof material in the piece, having within, or upon it, a coating of indiarubber.

CLASS VII.—LEATHER, AND ARTICLES USED IN LEATHER MANUFACTURES.

  • 312. Boot elastic.

  • 313. Bootmakers' linings, canvas, plain, or coloured, bag and portmanteau linings, of such materials, qualities, and patterns, as may be approved by the Minister.

  • 314. Boots, shoes, shoettes, sandals, clogs, and pattens, slippers, and goloshes—namely, children's Nos. 0 to 6.

  • 315. Cork soles, and sock-soles; moulded shoe and slipper soles of rubber.

  • 316. East India kip, also hides, crust or rough tanned, but undressed.

  • 317. Goat-skins, and kid-skins, however dressed.

  • 318. Grindery—namely, button fasteners, and staples; eyelets, and hook eyelets, and eyelet rings; tingles; spikes for running or cricketing shoes; boot-protectors; wood or rubber heels or knobs; leather toe-tips, “Wells” patent or a similar make, stiffeners or toes moulded ready for use, copper toes, boot stretchers and trees, hollow-fillers, japanned toe-tips; legging springs and stiffeners; lasting tacks, pegs, brass rivets, iron rivets; brass, iron, and copper cut-bills; steel points, sparrow bills; wrought, cut, and malleable hob-nails; Hungarian nails; wrought, and cut tip-nails; iron or wooden lasts; stands for lasts; sole, heel, stiffening, and toe-cap knives; shoemakers' wax; heel-balls; bristles, hemp, and flax; rubber solution or cement; welting cut into strips or in coils ready for use; shoemakers' binding or beading; welting leather cut into strips not exceeding 1 in. in width; webbing; tanners', curriers', and bootmakers' inks or stains; bootmakers' sectional cutting-boards; glass or emery paper, or cloth, on sheets, in rolls, or cut into shapes.

  • 319. Hog-skins.

  • 320. Kangaroo, and wallaby skins, undressed.

  • 321. Leather, japanned or enamelled.

  • 322. Saddle-trees.

  • 323. 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 Minister; legging-buckles, also metal articles required to repair or complete riding or driving harness, or saddlery, to be repaired or made in the colony.

  • 324. Tanning materials, crude.

CLASS VIII.—FURNITURE, ETC.

  • 325. Blind webbing, and tape. Worsted covered cord, and solid glace cord, for venetian, and other blinds.

  • 326. Upholsterers' materials—viz., webbing, hair-seating, imitation hair-seating; curled hair; gimp, and cord, of wool, cotton, or silk; tufts, and studs; chair canvas.

CLASS IX.—CHINA, GLASS, ETC.

  • 327. Bottles, empty, plain stone; also empty plain glass bottles, not being cut or ground: jars, plain glass; and plain earthen jars, up to 3 in. in diameter at the mouth.

  • 328. Earthen, or glass roofing tiles, ridging, or finials; also roofing slates.

  • 329. Glass plates (engraved) for photo-lithographic work.

  • 330. 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.

  • 331. Lamps, miners' safety, and glasses therefor; lamps peculiarly adapted for use on harbour beacons and lighthouses, also appliances peculiar to such lamps; side lights, and head lights, especially suited for the use of ships.

CLASS X.—FANCY GOODS, ETC.

  • 332. Action work, and keys, in frames, or otherwise, iron, or metal piano frames, for manufacture of organs, harmoniums, and pianos; organ pipes, and stop-knobs.

  • 333. Articles, being exhibits for public display only in public museums, whether purchased under bond or directly imported by, or for presentation to such museums, upon declaration that such goods will not be sold or otherwise disposed of in New Zealand without payment of any duty which may be payable.

  • 334. Artists' materials—viz., canvas in the piece or on stretchers, oiled paper or drawing paper in sheets or blocks, colours, brushes, palettes, and palette knives.

  • 335. Cigarette papers entered to be warehoused in any licensed tobacco manufactory for the manufacture therein of cigarettes.

  • 336. Films for bioscopes, cinematographs, and kinetoscopes.

  • 337. Microscopes, and telescopes, and slides, and lenses, for same.

  • 338. Paintings, statuary, and works of art, whether purchased under bond or directly imported by, or for presentation to 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; statuary or works of art, whether purchased under bond, or directly imported, for display in any public park or place, on conditions prescribed by the Minister.

  • 339. Paintings or pictures, painted or drawn by New Zealand students, within five years of the time of their departure from the colony for the purpose of undergoing a periodof tuition abroad for the first time, upon evidence being produced to the satisfaction of a Collector of Customs.

  • 340. Photographic cameras, and lenses, including focussing cloths, and camera covers.

  • 341. Photographs of personal friends in letters or packets.

  • 342. Precious stones, cut or uncut, if unmounted.

  • 343. Sensitised surfaces, and albumenised paper, plain, not being postcards or other stationery.

  • 344. Slides for magic lanterns.

CLASS XI.—PAPER, ETC.

(Note.—In every case where exemption from duty is governed by a size, the equivalent area shall be exempt under like condition.)

  • 345. Bookbinders' materials — viz., cloth, leather, thread, head-bands, webbing, end-papers, tacketing-gut, marbling-colours, marble-paper, blue or red paste for ruling-ink, staple-presses, wire staples, staple-sticks.

  • 346. Butter paper (known as vegetable parchment paper), and waxed paper unprinted.

    (Note.—Butter paper or waxed paper, printed, shall be charged as wrapping paper, or wrappers, of all kinds, printed or lithographed. Schedule A, Class XI.)

  • 347. Cardboard, pasteboard, wood-pulp board, and corrugated board, of size not less than that known as “royal,” and weighing not less than 2 oz. per sheet of “royal” size; also strawboard of size not less than that known as “royal,” and weighing not less than 3 oz. per sheet of “royal” size.

  • 348. Cardboard boxes, material for—viz., gold, and silver paper, plain or embossed; embossed paper in strips; gelatine or coloured papers; known as “box papers.”

  • 349. Cartridge drawing paper.

  • 350. Celluloid, plain, in sheets, n.o.e.

  • 351. Cloth-lined boards, not less than “royal” size.

  • 352. Cloth-lined paper, and enamelled, gelatine, and metallic paper, of size not less than “demy”; also “ivorite” of size not less than “demy.”

  • 353. Copy-books, having printed headlines on each page; also drawing-books.

  • 354. Copying paper, medium and larger sizes, in original mill wrappers and labels.

  • 355. Ink, printing.

  • 356. Masticated para.

  • 357. Millboard, and bookbinders' leather board.

  • 358. Paper, hand-made or machine-made, book, or writing, when in original wrappers, of sizes not less than the size known as “demy,” and not being a wrapping paper, or of the same quality as wrapping paper.

  • 359. Paper, printing.

  • 360. Printed books, papers, and music, n.o.e., excepting advertising matter.

  • 361. Sunday school tickets, and reward cards, being Scriptural or religious motto cards, not exceeding 5d. per dozen invoice value, and not exceeding 6 in. by 4 in. in size, and having no reference upon them to Christmas, New Year, Easter, or birthdays.

CLASS XII.—METALS.

  • 362. Agricultural machines, and agricultural implements, n.o.e.; also parts peculiar to the manufacture or repair of agricultural machines, and implements — including: chaff cutting knives, fittings for threshing mills, forgings or castings for ploughs, discs for harrows, plough-shares, mould-board plates, and steel-share plates cut to pattern, skeith-plates, tilt-rakes, reaper-knife sections or fingers, finished brass, and steel springs.

    (Note.—Agriculture as applied to the Tariff shall include horticulture and viticulture.)

  • 363. Anchors.

  • 364. Artificers' tools, n.o.e., not including brushes or brushware; also the following tools — namely, axes, and hatchets, spades, shovels, forks, picks, mattocks, quartz, and knapping hammers, scythes, sheep-shears, reaping hooks, soldering irons, paperhangers' scissors, butchers' saws or cleavers; measuring bands or tapes; coal cutters, and air picks.

  • 365. Axles, axle-arms, and axle boxes.

  • 366. Bellows nails.

  • 367. Bicycles and tricycles, fittings for — namely, rubber tires, pneumatic rubber tires, outside covers of rubber, and inner tubes, handle grips, pedal rubbers; also the following articles when not plated, japanned, enamelled, or varnished—namely, drop forgings, stampings, steel balls, weldless steel tubes with or without butted ends, wood or metal rims (not bored), spokes, forks, stays, handle bars, and seat pillars, unbuilt, bracket shells, fork, and stay ends, fork tips, bridges, crowns, and lugs; also ball heads complete when not brazed, including all plated parts. Hubs complete plated or otherwise, sprockets, chains, and chain-wheels, whether plated or not. Bottom brackets complete, including axles, cups, cranks, and pedals, plated or otherwise.

  • 368. Beekeepers' tools, implements, and apparatus—namely, metal fittings for bee hives, bee smokers, wax extractors, rubber gloves, gloves of textile soaked in oil, queen cages, comb foundation, foundation machines, honey knives, honey extractors, queen rearing outfits, wax presses, tools peculiar to the use of beekeepers.

  • 369. Blacksmiths' anvils, forges, and fans.

  • 370. Bolts, and bolt ends, up to 24 in. in length; nuts, blank or screwed nuts, black or finished nuts.

  • 371. Brass, copper, and tin, in pigs, bars, or sheets; also tinned hoops.

  • 372. Brass or metal tubing, and stamped work, in the rough.

  • 373. Caps, percussion.

  • 374. Card clothing, for woollen-mills, and for paper-mills.

  • 375. Castings for ships; also propeller-screws, including only bosses and blades.

  • 376. Chains, iron, plain, or with hook, swivel, or ring, attached.

  • 377. Copper, brass, and composition rod, bolt, sheathing, and nails.

  • 378. Couch-roll jackets, machine wires, beater-bars, and strainer-plates, for paper-mills.

  • 379. Crucibles.

  • 380. Electrical materials—namely, insulated cable and wire, carbon in block, sheet, or rod, arc lamp carbons; mica, vulcanite, and other insulating material, rubber or guttapercha solutions, insulating tapes.

  • 381. Electricians' portable testing sets.

  • 382. Emery grinding machines, and emery wheels.

  • 383. Empty iron drums, not exceeding 10 gallons capacity.

  • 384. Engineers', and all metal- or wood- or stone-workers' machine tools or hand tools, not including brushes or brushware.

  • 385. Engine-governors.

  • 386. Eyelets.

  • 387. Fire-engines, chemical fire-engines, and chemical fire-extinguishers; also fire-hose and couplings therefor, portable fire-escapes, fire-ladders, fire-reels, and firemen's helmets, if declared, to the satisfaction of the Collector, for the use of a fire-brigade.

  • 388. Fish-hooks, unmounted, and without attachments.

  • 389. Galvanising baths, welded.

  • 390. Gas engines, and hammers, and oil engines.

  • 391. Glassmakers' moulds.

  • 392. Hydraulic wheel presses.

  • 393. Iron boiler-plates and unflanged end-plates for boilers; boiler-tubes not exceeding 6 in. in internal diameter and unflanged; expansion-rings; furnace-flues.

  • 394. Iron pipes wrought, and wood or fibre pipes, not exceeding 6 in. in internal diameter, also knees, bends, elbows, and other fittings for the same. Cast iron pipes not exceeding 9 in. in internal diameter, also knees, bends, elbows, and other fittings for the same. Wrought iron boring, casing, and lining tubes, for oil boring, mining, or well sinking purposes.

  • 395. Iron, plain black—viz., sheet, plate, hoop, rod, bolt, bar, angle, tee, channel; pig iron; plain iron rolled girders; rolled chequered plates; shafting, plain rolled or plain turned, but otherwise unwrought.

  • 396. Iron and steel cordage.

  • 397. Lead, in pigs and bars.

  • 398. Locomotive wheels and tires, including wheels and tires for railway or tramway passenger cars; coil, spiral, and volute springs, suited for the manufacture of locomotives; automatic air-pressure brakes specially suited for use on railway carriages and wagons.

  • 399. Machine saw-blades.

  • 400. Machinery — viz., dairying machinery (including cream-separating machines, also coolers); also vacuum pumps for milking machines when imported along with the machines to which they belong.

  • 401. Machinery, mining, and gold saving; also, briquette making, and coal washing machines, rock breaking machines, trommels, stamper batteries, ore feeders, grizzly bars, steel shoes and dies, ore crushing rolls, ball mills, grinding pans, tube mills, concentrators and rubber endless belts for same, battery screening woven or punched; also, the following machines, materials, and appliances, when imported for mining purposes, namely:—

    Air compressors, not including the motive power for charging the same.

    Chain links and rollers for conveyors, and conveyor belts of rubber or fibre.

    Electric exploders.

    Fans for mine ventilation.

    Filter presses.

    Fuel economizers.

    Sand pumps.

    Sinking pumps.

    Solution pumps made wholly of metal.

    Steam pumps having a capacity exceeding 5,000 gallons per hour.

    Turbine pumps.

    Shaft signalling gear.

    Steel or iron head frames for mining shafts.

    Battery blanket not exceeding 3 feet wide.

    Material for filter cloths and plush or other cloth for gold saving.

  • 402. Medals, including only old or second-hand war medals, humane societies', and other similar medals; also old coins.

  • 403. Metal fittings, for trunks, portmanteaux, travelling bags, leggings, bags, and satchels.

  • 404. Metal sheaves, grooved metal pulleys.

  • 405. Metal tubes in the rough, having a slit through their whole length, suited for the manufacture of fenders, bedsteads, gates, and the like articles.

  • 406. Metal wire of all kinds, plain; metal cordage n.o.e., not being gold or silver; also barbed fencing wire, and fencing-staples.

  • 407. Metal wove-wire, and metal gauze; also wire netting, and expanded metal lathing or fencing, in the piece.

  • 408. Metallic capsules.

  • 409. Meters, gas, or electricity, being household supply meters.

  • 410. Meters, water-.

  • 411. Motor engines for bicycles.

  • 412. Moulders' chaplets and dowels.

  • 413. Perambulators, and the like vehicles, fittings for, n.o.e.

  • 414. Perforated or cellular sheet zinc or iron.

  • 415. Portables engines on four or any greater number of wheels, with boiler of locomotive type; also traction engines.

  • 416. Printing type, and printing materials, n.o.e., suited only for the use of printers.

  • 417. Rails for railways and tramways, including lay-outs, and points, and crossings, for the same; also fish plates.

  • 418. Rivets, and washers.

  • 419. Rock drills, diamond drills, and drill sharpeners.

  • 420. Set screws, engineers' studs, and split pins.

  • 421. Sewing, knitting, and kilting machines.

  • 422. Spray pumps, not being syringes.

  • 423. Steam or hydraulic pressure, and vacuum gauges; pressure indicators or pressure gauges for gas or oil engines; speed indicators, engineers', for testing machinery.

  • 424. Surveyors' instruments—viz., steel bands, chains, measuring tapes, field instruments, and drawing instruments; draughtsmen's drawing instruments.

  • 425. Tacks, and nails, 1 in. and under.

  • 426. Tea packing lead.

  • 427. Tinsmiths' fittings, and furniture, including stamped or blocked tin or copper, planished or unplanished.

  • 428. Welded and flanged boiler furnaces, plain or corrugated.

  • 429. Zinc, plain sheet.

  • 430. Zinc plates or copper plates for photo-lithographic work.

CLASS XIII.—TIMBER, ETC.

  • 431. Ash, hickory, lancewood, and beechwood timber, unwrought.

  • 432. Blacksmiths', braziers', assay, and treadle power bellows.

  • 433. Carriage or cart makers' materials—viz., shafts, spokes, and felloes, in the rough; hubs, all kinds; poles if unbent and unplaned, all kinds; bent wheel rims.

  • 434. Chassis for motor vehicles, whether attached or unattached to such vehicles, including wheels therefor.

  • 435. Churns.

  • 436. Lignum-vitæ.

  • 437. Material for the manufacture of carriages, carts, drays, and wagons, motor vehicles, and railway cars or wagons—viz., springs, truck pedestals, mountings, trimmings, hinges, tire bolts, shackle holders, step treads, rubber cloth, rubber tires, pneumatic rubber tires, outer covers ofrubber, inner tubes; also, iron or metal fittings (except steps, lamp irons, dash irons, seat rails, and fifth wheels) for the manufacture of carriages, carts, drays, wagons, and motor vehicles (other than motor bicycles or railway or tramway cars or wagons).

  • 438. Sieves, hair.

  • 439. Wooden handles for tools.

CLASS XIV.—OILS, ETC.

  • 440. Oils in vessels capable of containing one gallon of oil or more—viz., refined mineral oils not exceeding in specific gravity 0870 at 60° F.; fish, penguin, mutton bird, seal, and whale oils.

    (Note.—Mixtures of mineral or vegetable oils, with each other, or with fish, penguin, mutton bird, seal, whale, or other oils, shall be charged with duty (1) if imported in vessels capable of containing one gallon of oil or more, as oil n.o.e., including mineral lubricating oil, Class XIV, Schedule A; (2) if imported in vessels having a lesser capacity than one gallon, 20 per cent. ad valorem.)

  • 441. Paints, and colours, n.o.e.

  • 442. Turpentine; turpentine substitute composed of volatile mineral oils, or of volatile mineral oils in combination with turpentine, or other volatile vegetable oils; liquid driers; terebene.

  • 443. Wood naphtha.

CLASS XV.—AGRICULTURAL FARM PRODUCTS, ETC.

  • 444. Linseed.

CLASS XVI.—MISCELLANEOUS.

  • 445. Apparatus, appliances, articles, and materials, for educational purposes, as may be approved by the Minister, and under conditions prescribed by him.

  • 446. Bagging, bags, or sacks, of jute or hessian; also cornsacks; bags made of New Zealand tow or flax.

  • 447. Belting, for driving machinery, other than leather belting, and not being cordage or rope.

  • 448. Binder-twine.

  • 449. Bricks, other than firebricks.

  • 450. Candle-nuts, and candle-nut kernels.

  • 451. Candle-wick.

  • 452. Canvas aprons and elevators, for reapers and binders.

  • 453. Canvas, indiarubber, or other hose, tubing, or piping, armoured or otherwise; flexible metal hose, tubing, or piping.

  • 454. Charts and maps.

  • 455. Confectioners' moulding starch.

  • 456. Cork, cut; bungs; fishermen's cork floats; also plain unornamental stoppers of every description for bottles, jars, and casks.

  • 457. Cotton and other waste, engineers.

  • 458. Diving dresses, and dresses suited solely for use in poisonous gases or smoke, with apparatus peculiar thereto.

  • 459. Dyes; dye stuffs; and dyeing materials, crude.

  • 460. Engine packing.

  • 461. Felt sheathing.

  • 462. Gum boots, half-knee, knee, or thigh, the soles of which may be of either leather or rubber.

  • 463. Hawsers of 12 in. or over.

  • 464. Honey and brown Windsor soap composition.

  • 465. Indiarubber gloves.

  • 466. Manures.

  • 467. Marble, granite, and other stone, hewn or rough sawn, not dressed or polished.

  • 468. Netmakers' cotton twine; nets, seine fishing.

  • 469. Official supplies for consular officers of countries where a similar exemption exists in favour of British consuls.

  • 470. Paper-makers' felts.

  • 471. 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, not exceeding £50 in value, 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 which are not intended for any other person or persons, or for sale; also cabin furnishings belonging to such persons not exceeding in value £10:

    Provided that goods falling within the above exemption may be admitted free, only, if imported within two years of the arrival in the colony of the persons or families by whom they have been used.

  • 472. Plaster of Paris.

  • 473. Powder—viz., blasting powder, and blasting meal.

  • 474. Returned empties which are identified as such to the satisfaction of a Collector of Customs.

  • 475. Shipbuilders' models of vessels suited only for exhibition.

  • 476. Ship chandlery, n.o.e.

  • 477. Ships' rockets, blue-lights, and danger-signals, and rocket life-saving apparatus.

  • 478. Stones, mill, grind, oil, and whet.

  • 479. Tobacco for sheep-wash, or for insecticide, after being rendered unfit for human consumption to the satisfaction of the Minister.

  • 480. Treacle or molasses, mixed with bone-black in proportions to the satisfaction of the Minister.

  • 481. Typewriters.

  • 482. Wax, bottling.

  • 483. Wool packs and wool pockets.

  • 484. Yarn—viz., coir, flax, jute, and hemp.

  • 485. Articles and materials (as may from time to time be specified by the Minister) which are suited only for, and are to be used solely in, the fabrication or repair of goods within the colony. All decisions of the Minister in reference to articles so admitted free to be published from time to time in the Gazette.

  • 486. And all articles n.o.e.

    Provided that all goods falling under this Schedule, which are prison made, shall be charged an ad valorem duty of 20 per cent.

    Table of Duties, under the New Zealand and South African Customs Duties Reciprocity Acts, chargeable on Goods being the Produce or Manufacture of and being imported from the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, the Colony of Natal, the Orange River Colony, the Transvaal, and Southern Rhodesia.

  • 487. Feathers, 15 per cent. ad valorem.*

  • 488. Fish, 1 ½d. per lb.*

  • 489. Fruits, dried, free.

  • 490. Fruits, green, free.

  • 491. Maize, 6d. per cental.

  • 492. Sugar, 1s. 8d. per cental.*

  • 493. Tobacco (manufactured), 2s. 6d. per lb.

  • 494. Tea (not otherwise exempt), 1d. per lb.

  • 495. Wines (other than sparkling), 2s. per gallon.

  • 496. Wines (sparkling), 5s. per gallon.

  • 497. All other goods (except spirits), 25 per cent. less than the duty which would otherwise be payable.

* No higher duty shall be levied on any goods the produce or manufacture of the said colonies than that which would be levied under “The Tariff Act, 1907,” on the same goods if they were the produce or manufacture of some other part of the British dominions. (See “The Tariff Act, 1907,” section 7.)

Chapter 28. EXCISE DUTIES.

Table of Excise Duties.

  • 498. Tobacco, 1s. the lb.

  • 499. Cigars and snuff, 1s. 6d. the lb.

  • 500. Cigarettes—

  • If manufactured by machinery, 2s. 6d. the lb.

  • If made by hand, 1s. the lb.

  • 501. Beer, 3d. the gallon.

  • 502. Articles in which spirit is a necessary ingredient, manufactured in a warehouse appointed under section 26 of “The Customs Laws Consolidation Act, 1882,” namely—

  • Perfumed spirit, 20s. the liquid gallon.

  • 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.

  • Culinary and flavouring essences, 12s. the liquid gallon.

  • Medicinal preparations (excepting medicated wine or wine mixed with food) containing more than 50 per cent. of proof spirit, 9d. the lb.

  • Medicinal preparations (excepting medicated wine or wine mixed with food) containing 50 per cent. of proof spirit or less, free.

Extract from “The Tariff Act, 1907.”

  • 503. “23. Where any dispute arises as to the true meaning and application of any terms used in the Tariff and therein printed in italics, the Minister of Customs may determine such dispute in such manner as appears to him just, and his decision thereon shall be final.”

Extract from “The Defence Act Amendment Act, 1900.”

  • 504. “28. All military clothing, saddlery, and equipments imported into the colony for the bona 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.”

Extract from “The Friendly Societies Act, 1882.”

  • 505. “13. Registered societies shall be entitled to the following privileges:—

  • (3.) Customs duties shall not be chargeable on regalia, emblems, certificates, and banners, being the property of any society or registered branch.”

Exemptions from Duty created by His Excellency the Governor under Section 17 of “The Tariff Act, 1907.”
506. Allenbury's Foods Nos. 1, 2, and 3Free. (See New Zealand Gazette, 17th October 1907.)
507. Allenbury's pancreatised milk and cereal diet
508. Allinson's food
509. Benger's food
510. Burroughs Wellcome and Co.'s peptogenic milk powder
511. Carnrick's soluble food
512. Chapman's Food
513. Du Barry's Revalenta Arabica
514. Frame Food diet
515. Gluten flour
516. Hewlett's food
517. Horlick's Malted Milk
518. Maltico food
519. Mellin's Food
520. Moseley's Food
521. Neave's Food
522. Nestle's Milk food
523. Nestle's Milo food
524. Ridge's Food
525. Savory and Moore's Food
526. Food composed of pasteurised milk or casein of milk in combination with malted or unmalted ground grain

PREFERENTIAL TARIFF.

SCHEDULE C.

Goods in this Schedule, not being the produce or manufacture of some part of the British dominions, are liable to additional duty equal to the amount payable under Schedule A.

  • 1. Cement, Portland, and other structural, and building cement.

SCHEDULE D.—PART I.

Goods in this Schedule, not being the produce or manufacture of some part of the British dominions, are liable to additional duty equal to one-half of the amount payable under Schedule A.

  • 2. Basketware, and wickerware, n.o.e., not being furniture.

  • 3. Bicycles, tricycles, and the like vehicles, also finished, or partly finished or machined parts of the same, n.o.e.

  • 4. Boots, shoes, clogs, and pattens, n.o.e.—namely, men's, above size No. 5; youth's, above size No. 1; boys', Nos. 7 to 1, both inclusive; women's, above size No. 1; girls', Nos. 7 to 1, both inclusive; other kinds; slippers (not including lawn tennis, and gymnasium shoes soled with indiarubber or felt); slippers of felt, with carpet, twine, or felt soles; shoes or goloshes known as Plimsolls with moulded indiarubber soles; Champion, gymnasium, yachting, and lawn tennis boots, and shoes, with moulded indiarubber soles; goloshes or overshoes of all kinds, of rubber; shoettes, and sandals, n.o.e.

  • 5. Candles.

  • 6. Carriages, carts, drays, wagons, perambulators, and the like vehicles, and wheels for the same.

  • 7. China, porcelain, and parian ware.

  • 8. Clocks, time registers, and time detectors.

  • 9. Cordage, rope, and twine, n.o.e.

  • 10. Earthenware, stoneware, and brownware.

  • 11. Fancy goods, and toys; also sporting, gaming, and athletic requisites, n.o.e., including billiard tables, and billiard requisites; hair, and toilet combs.

  • 12. Firearms, all kinds.

  • 13. Fish, potted, and preserved (not including sardines).

  • 14. Furniture, and cabinetware, n.o.e., and other than iron or other metal.

  • 15. Glassware; globes, and chimneys, for lamps.

  • 16. Hardware, ironmongery, and hollow-ware, n.o.e.

  • 17. Hops.

  • 18. Iron, and other nails, n.o.e., including dog-spikes.

  • 19. Iron pipes wrought n.o.e., and wood or fibre pipes, exceeding 6 in. in internal diameter, also knees, bends, elbows, and other fittings for the same. Cast iron pipes exceeding 9 in internal diameter, and knees, bends, elbows, and other fittings for the same.

  • 20. Jewellery; plate, gold, or silver; plated ware.

  • 21. Lamps, lanterns, and lamp-wick, n.o.e.

  • 22. Lawn-mowers.

  • 23. Musical instruments.

  • 24. Paper-wrapping, all kinds, not printed, including blue candle, glazed cap, glazed casings, small-hand, lumber-hand, tissue, brown, cartridge, and sugar papers.

  • 25. Upholstery, n.o.e.

  • 26. Walking-sticks.

    Preferential duties upon the articles hereafter enumerated to be charged up to and including the 31st day of December, 1907, thereafter to cease and determine:—

  • 26A. Cream of tartar.

  • 26B. Glass, crown, sheet, and common window.

  • 26C. Glass, plate, polished, coloured, and other kinds, n.o.e.

  • 26D. Paper-hangings.

SCHEDULE D.—PART II.

Goods in this Schedule, not being the produce or manufacture of some part of the British dominions, are liable to additional duty equal to one-half of the amount payable under Schedule A.

Preferential duties upon the items hereafter enumerated shall only be charged after the 31st day of March, 1908:—

  • 27. Bill-hooks, bush-hooks, slashers, and hedge-knives.

  • 28. Brooms, brushes, and brushware.

  • 29. Cartridges (shot), 10 to 24 bore.

  • 30. Cartridge-cases.

  • 31. Cartridges, n.o.e.

  • 32. Cars, wagons, and trucks, railway, and tramway; and wheels for the same n.o.e.

  • 33. Electric batteries, and cells; furniture, fittings, instruments, and appliances, n.o.e., for the generation, transmission, application, or utilisation of electricity, or of electric power of any description whatsoever.

  • 34. Fish, dried, pickled, or salted, n.o.e.

  • 35. Galvanised iron manufactures, n.o.e., made up from galvanised iron, or from plain sheet iron, and then galvanised.

  • 36. Heelplates, and toe stiffeners, and toe plates.

  • 37. Japanned, and lacquered metalware.

  • 38. Laces, vamps, and uppers; also clog or patten soles.

  • 39. Lay figures, busts, and dress stands.

  • 40. Leather bags, and leathercloth bags, n.o.e.

  • 41. Leather cut into shapes.

  • 42. Leather leggings.

  • 43. Leather manufactures n.o.e.

  • 44. Machinery, electric, and appliances—namely, electric generators, and electric motors, including slide rails therefor, electric lamps including globes for arc lamps, electric transformers.

  • 45. Magic lanterns, bioscopes, cinematographs, kinetoscopes, phonographs, gramophones, graphophones, and the like instruments, including accessories peculiar thereto n.o.e.; also limelight, and the like apparatus, including accessories peculiar thereto, except magic-lantern slides.

  • 46. Mantelpieces, other than stone.

  • 47. Manufactured or partly manufactured articles of metal, or manufactured or partly manufactured articles of metal in combination with any other material whatsoever, n.o.e.

  • 48. Matches:—

    Wooden, in boxes containing not more than 60 matches. In boxes containing over 60 and not more than 100 matches.

    In boxes containing more than 100 matches.

    Wax, “plaid vestas” in cardboard boxes containing under 100 matches.

    “Pocket vestas” in tin or other boxes, containing under 100 matches.

    Wax, other kinds.

    Matches of any material other than wood or wax.

  • 49. Paper bags, coarse (including sugar bags).

  • 50. Paper bags, n.o.e.

  • 51. Picture or photograph frames or mounts.

  • 52. Statues, statuettes, casts, and bronzes.

  • 53. Tinware, and tin manufactures, n.o.e.

  • 54. Tobacco pipes and cases, cigar and cigarette holders and cases, cigarette cases and papers.

  • 55. Woodenware, and turnery, n.o.e., and veneers.

  • 56. Lard, and refined animal fats, n.o.e.

  • 57. Meats, potted or preserved.

  • 58. Provisions, n.o.e.

  • 59. Vegetables, fresh, dried, or preserved.

  • 60. Fruits, preserved in juice, or syrup.

  • 61. Milk or cream, preserved, evaporated, or dried.

  • 62. Coffee, essence of, and essence of coffee with milk or any other food substance.

  • 63. Fruit juices or imitation fruit juices, unsweetened, in containers of less than ten gallons capacity.

  • 64. Fruit juices or imitation fruit juices, sweetened; syrups; raspberry vinegar, sweetened.

  • 65. Baking powder; yeast preparations, and other ferments; also yeast foods.

  • 66. Chemicals, and chemical preparations, n.o.e., including photographic chemicals n.o.e.; also, anti-incrustation, boiler, and other compounds.

  • 67. Essences, flavouring, n.o.e.

  • 68. Glycerine, refined.

  • 69. Medicinal preparations, drugs, and druggists' sundries, and apothecaries' wares, n.o.e.; also aerated water makers', and cordial manufacturers', and brewers', drugs, chemicals, and other sundries, n.o.e.

  • 70. Medicinal preparations (excepting medicated wines or wines mixed with food) containing 50 per cent. of proof spirit or less.

  • 71. Saccharin, in the form of tablets, pilules, granules, or cachets, each containing not more than ½ grain of saccharin in combination with at least 10 per cent. of alkali.

  • 72. Leather, chamois.

  • 73. Saddlery, and harness; whips, and whip-thongs.

  • 74. Portmanteaux; trunks; travelling-bags, and brief-bags, of leather or leather-cloth, 10 in. in length and upwards; and carpet bags.

  • 75. Furniture, knife, and plate powder, and polish; also floor and linoleum polishes, not being varnishes.

  • 76. Bricks, known as firebricks.

  • 77. Drainage pipes, and drainage tiles.

  • 78. Filters.

  • 79. Fireclay, ground; and fireclay goods.

  • 80. Flooring, wall, hearth, and garden tiles.

  • 81. Plate glass bevelled or silvered; mirrors, and looking glasses, framed or unframed.

  • 82. Fishing tackle, including artificially baited hooks, other than flies.

  • 83. Photographic goods n.o.e.

  • 84. Artificial flies.

  • 85. Oil, perfumed; also toilet preparations, and perfumery, n.o.e.

  • 86. Cardboard, pasteboard, strawboard, wood-pulp board, corrugated board, and cloth-lined board, n.o.e.

  • 87. Cloth-lined, enamelled, gelatine, and metallic papers, n.o.e.; also “ivorite” n.o.e.

  • 88. Ink, writing.

  • 89. Stationery, and writing paper, n.o.e., also printers' menu, wedding, programme, and mourning cards of cardboard, celluloid, or other material, edged, or embossed, but otherwise unprinted.

  • 90. Calendars, and showcards, all kinds.

  • 91. Cardboard or paper boxes complete; or cardboard or paper, cut, or shaped, for boxes, wrappers, or other receptacles (including match-boxes).

  • 92. Directories of New Zealand, or of any part thereof; also covers for directories.

  • 93. Stationery, manufactured—viz., account-books, manuscript books, scribbling, and letter blocks, and books, plain or ruled; bill-head, invoice, and statement forms; printed or ruled paper, counter-books, cheque, and draft forms; tags, labels not printed or lithographed, 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 n.o.e., and Christmas, New Year, birthday, Easter, and other cards, and booklets.

  • 94. Boilers, land, and marine, including feed-water heaters, fuel-economizers, steam superheaters, and mechanical stokers.

  • 95. Crab winches, cranes, capstans, and windlasses.

  • 96. Machinery, n.o.e.

  • 97. Steam-engines, and parts of steam-engines, n.o.e.

  • 98. Bellows, n.o.e.

  • 99. Doors, and sashes, either plain, or glazed with ornamental glass.

  • 100. Axle grease, and other solid lubricants; petroleum greases, and mixtures of the same with other substances, n.o.e.

  • 101. Harness oil, and composition, leather dressing, and belt dressing; also leather revivers and polishes n.o.e.

  • 102. Animals, food for, of all kinds, n.o.e., including horse, and cattle spices, and condiments, proprietary or otherwise; also hemp-seed, maw-seed, millet-seed, canary-seed, and mixed bird-seed.

  • 103. Bags, calico, forfar, linen, flour; bagging, bags, and sacks, n.o.e., including filter bags, and sheaths.

  • 104. Blacking, and boot-gloss, and polish.

  • 105. Blacklead.

  • 106. Boats, launches, yachts, also all vessels propelled by mean other than oars (when imported in any vessel), including all fittings therefor n.o.e.

  • 107. Fireworks, not otherwise enumerated.

  • 108. Nets, and netting.

  • 109. Tarpaulins, tents, sails, rick, and wagon covers.

  • 110. Bags of textile or felt, all kinds, if printed.

  • 111. Granite, and other stone, dressed, or polished, and articles made therefrom; also imitation stone, dressed, or polished, and articles made therefrom, or from cement.

  • 112. Soap, n.o.e.

SCHEDULE D.—PART III

Goods in this Schedule, not being the produce or manufacture of some part of the British dominions, are liable to additional duty equal to one-fifth of the amount payable under Schedule A.

Preferential duties upon the items hereafter enumerated shall only be charged after the thirty-first day of March, 1908:—

  • 113. Biscuits, ships', plain and unsweetened; also dog biscuits.

  • 114. Biscuits, other kinds.

  • 115. Candied peel, and drained peel.

  • 116. Confectionery n.o.e.; including medicated lozenges, medicated confectionery, boiled sugars, liquorice n.o.e., sugared or crystallized fruits.

  • 117. Chocolate confectionery, and confectionery containing chocolate—

    1. In plain trade packages.

    2. In fancy packages, or in small packages for retail sale.

  • 118. Jams, jellies, marmalade, and preserves.

  • 119. Jellies, concentrated.

  • 120. Spices, ground, n.o.e., including pepper, pimento, and olive stones, ground.

  • 121. Vinegar, not exceeding 6.5 per cent. of acidity calculated as acetic acid.

  • 122. Chicory.

  • 123. Cocoa, and chocolate, including cocoa-beans roasted and crushed; also cocoa or chocolate mixed with milk or any other food substance whatsoever.

  • 124. Coffee, roasted.

  • 125. Tea n.o.e.

  • 126. Soda-crystals.

  • 127. Handbills, circulars, programmes, playbills, printed posters, trade catalogues, price-lists, and fashion-plates; printed advertising matter n.o.e.; also paper bags, and wrapping paper, or wrappers, of all kinds, printed or lithographed; printed or lithographed envelopes or labels. (Note.—This shall not apply to trade catalogues or price-lists of the goods of firms or persons having no established business in New Zealand.)

  • 128. Composition piping.

  • 129. Iron galvanised corrugated sheets.

  • 130. Iron, plain galvanised sheet or hoop.

  • 131. Iron tanks.

  • 132. Lead piping.

  • 133. Shot.

  • 134. Oil, n.o.e., including mineral lubricating-oil, in vessels capable of containing one gallon or more.

  • 135. Paints, and colours, ground in oil or turpentine; also putty; and driers n.o.e.

  • 136. Paints, and colours mixed ready for use; also enamel paints, n.o.e.

  • 137. Stearine.

  • 138. Varnish and lacquers, including lithographic varnish, gold size, liquid gold, and other metallic paints; also liquid medium for mixing with metallic paints

  • 139. Whiting, and chalk.

  • 140. Grain, and pulse, of every kind, when ground or in any way manufactured, n.o.e., including wheat flour.

  • 141. Blue.

  • 142. Gelatine, isinglass, glue, and size.

  • 143. Soap, common yellow, and blue mottled.

  • 144. Spirits, methylated to the satisfaction of the Minister.

  • 145. Starch.

SCHEDULE E.—PART I.

Goods in this Schedule, not being the produce or manufacture of some part of the British dominions, are liable to 20 per cent. ad valorem.

  • 146. Bicycles and tricycles, fittings for—namely, handle-grips, pedal rubbers: also the following articles when not plated, japanned, enamelled, or varnished—namely, drop-forgings, stampings, steel balls, weldless steel tubes with or without butted ends, wood or metal rims (not bored), spokes, forks, stays, handle-bars, and seat pillars, unbuilt, bracket shells, fork, and stay ends, fork-tips, bridges, crowns, and lugs; also ball heads complete when not brazed, including all plated parts. Hubs complete plated or otherwise, sprockets, chains, and chain-wheels, whether plated or not. Bottom brackets complete, including axles, cups, cranks, and pedals, plated or otherwise.

  • 147. Gas engines, and hammers, and oil engines.

  • 148. Iron pipes wrought, and wood or fibre pipes, not exceeding 6 in. in internal diameter, also knees, bends, elbows, and other fittings for the same. Cast iron pipes not exceeding 9 in. in internal diameter, also knees, bends, elbows, and other fittings for the same. Wrought iron boring, casing, and lining tubes, for oil boring, mining, or well-sinking purposes.

  • 149. Iron, plain black—viz., sheet, plate, hoop under 6 in. in width, rod, bolt, bar, angle, tee, channel; plain iron-rolled girders; rolled chequered plates; shafting, plain rolled or plain turned, but otherwise unwrought.

  • 150. Iron and steel cordage.

  • 151. Motor engines for bicycles.

  • 152. Paper, printing.

  • 153. Rails for railways and tramways, including lay-outs, and points, and crossings, for the same; also fish plates.

SCHEDULE E.—PART II.

Goods in this Schedule, not being the produce or manufacture of some part of the British dominions, are liable to 20 per cent. ad valorem.

Preferential duties upon the items hereafter enumerated shall only be charged after the thirty-first day of March, 1908:—

  • 154. Butter cloth; also cheese cloth, and cheese bandages or caps.

  • 155. Canvas, indiarubber, or other hose, tubing, or piping, armoured or otherwise; flexible metal hose, tubing, or piping.

  • 156. Cardboard boxes, material for—namely: gold, and silver paper, plain or embossed; embossed paper in strips; gelatine or coloured papers; known as “box papers.”

  • 157. Castings for ships; also propeller-screws, including only bosses and blades.

  • 158. Iron boiler-plates and unflanged end-plates for boilers; boiler-tubes not exceeding 6 in. in internal diameter and unflanged; expansion-rings; furnace-flues.

  • 159. Tubular woven cotton cloth in the piece for meat wraps.

SCHEDULE E.—PART III.

Goods in this Schedule, not being the produce or manufacture of some part of the British dominions, are, in addition to the duties (if any) chargeable under Schedule A, liable to 10 per cent. ad valorem.

Preferential duties upon the articles hereinafter enumerated shall only be charged after the thirty-first day of March, 1908:—

  • 160. Boots, shoes, shoettes, sandals, clogs, and pattens, slippers, and goloshes—namely, children's Nos. 0 to 6.

  • 161. Cork soles, and sock-soles; moulded shoe and slipper soles of rubber.

  • 162. Artists' materials—viz., canvas in the piece or on stretchers, oiled paper or drawing-paper in sheets or blocks, colours, brushes, palettes, and palette knives.

  • 163. Photographic cameras, and lenses, including focussing cloths, and camera covers.

  • 164. Sensitised surfaces, and albumenised paper, plain, not being postcards or other stationery.

  • 165. Copy-books, having printed head lines on each page; also drawing-books.

  • 166. Ink, printing.

  • 167. Anchors.

  • 168. Blacksmiths' anvils, forges, and fans.

  • 169. Caps, percussion.

  • 170. Chains, iron, plain, or with hook, swivel, or ring, attached.

  • 171. Engine governors.

  • 172. Fire-engines, chemical fire-engines, and chemical fire-extinguishers; also fire-hose and couplings therefor, portable fire-escapes, fire-ladders, fire-reels, and firemen's helmets, if declared, to the satisfaction of the Collector, for the use of a fire brigade.

  • 173. Machinery—namely, dairying machinery (excluding cream-separating machines, also coolers).

  • 174. Machinery, mining, and gold saving; also briquette making, and coal washing machines, rock breaking machines, trommels, stamper batteries, ore feeders, grizzly bars, steel shoes and dies, ore crushing rolls, ball mills, grinding pans, tube mills battery screening woven or punched; also, the following machines, materials, and appliances, when imported for mining purposes, namely:—

    Air compressors, not including the motive power for charging the same.

    Chain links and rollers for conveyors, and conveyor belts of rubber or fibre.

    Electric exploders.

    Fans for mine ventilation.

    Filter presses.

    Fuel economizers.

    Sand pumps.

    Sinking pumps.

    Solution pumps made wholly of metal.

    Steam pumps having a capacity exceeding 5,000 gallons per hour.

    Turbine pumps.

    Shaft signalling gear.

    Steel or iron head frames for mining shafts.

    Battery blanket not exceeding 3 feet wide.

    Material for filter cloths and plush or other cloth for gold saving.

  • 175. Metal sheaves, grooved metal pulleys.

  • 176. Metal wove-wire, and metal gauze; also wire netting, and expanded metal lathing or fencing, in the piece.

  • 177. Metallic capsules.

  • 178. Perforated or cellular sheet zinc or iron.

  • 179. Portable engines on four or any greater number of wheels, with boiler of locomotive type; also traction engines.

  • 180. Printing machines or presses; embossing, and bronzing machines, ruling machines, cardboard box making machines, and tools for same.

  • 181. Printing type, and printing materials, n.o.e., suited only for the use of printers.

  • 182. Steam or hydraulic pressure, and vacuum gauges; pressure indicators or pressure gauges for gas or oil engines; speed indicators, engineers', for testing machinery.

  • 183. Surveyors' instruments—viz., steel bands, chains, measuring tapes, field instruments, and drawing instruments; draughtsmen's drawing instruments.

  • 184. Welded and flanged boiler furnaces, plain or corrugated.

  • 185. Paints, and colours, n.o.e.

  • 186. Belting, for driving machinery, other than leather belting, and not being cordage or rope.

  • 187. Binder-twine.

  • 188. Cork, cut; bungs; fishermen's cork floats; also plain unornamental stoppers of every description for bottles, jars, and casks.

  • 189. Felt-sheathing.

  • 190. Machineryviz., refrigerating, dredging, woollen mill, paper mill, rope and twine making, meat preserving, leather splitting.

  • 191. Soda-water machines; also machines for aerating liquids.

  • 192. Steam engines, and parts thereof, for mining (including gold dredging), or gold-saving purposes and processes, or for dairying purposes.

  • 193. Engines and machines for mining purposes—viz., capstan engines for mining shafts; winding engines, steam, air, or electrically driven, including bed-plates, foundation bolts, and friction clutches, when imported with the engines; drums for winding engines.

SCHEDULE E—PART IV.

Goods in this Schedule, not being the produce or manufacture of some part of the British dominions, are liable to duty as set forth herein.

  • 194. Tea, in bulk—viz., in packages of 5 lb. or over net weight of tea, 2d. the lb.

MODIFICATIONS.

The Customs tariff is modified in respect of the undermentioned articles imported into the Cook and other Islands within the extended boundaries of the Dominion:—

Claret, 2s. the gallon.

Horses, 10s. each.

Drugs imported by missionary societies for dispensation among the Natives, free.

“The Tariff Act, 1907,” does not take effect in the above Islands until a day to be determined by the Governor by Order in Council gazetted, but after the coming into operation of the Act there shall be levied and collected in the said Islands, in addition to all other duties imposed by the Act, the following, viz.:—

Sugar, whether imported from New Zealand or elsewhere, ½d. per lb.

Cotton piece-goods (except calico), linen piece-goods, and piece-goods of mixed cotton and linen, whether imported from New Zealand or elsewhere, 10 per cent. ad valorem.

OPIUM PROHIBITION.

“The Opium Prohibition Act, 1901,” makes it unlawful for any person to import opium into the Dominion in any form suitable for smoking. Permits may be issued by the Commissioner of Trade and Customs for the importation of the drug in the following forms:—

Opium, crude.

Opium, in powder.

Opium, extract of, solid.

No permit shall be issued to any person of the Chinese race. Heavy penalties are prescribed for breaches of the above law.

“The Opium Prohibition Act Amendment Act, 1902,” makes it illegal to have opium in possession, except the kinds stated above, which can be held under permit.

“The Opium Prohibition Act Amendment Act, 1906,” requires that every person who purchases opium from the holder of a permit shall enter or cause to be entered in a book kept for such purpose the particulars of all purchases in the same manner as the holder of a permit is required to enter particulars of all sales.

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 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

An Order in Council dated the 27th March, 1902, directs that there shall be levied, collected, and paid previous to exportation from New Zealand, duties upon white-pine and kahikatea timber as under:—

Logs, round3s. per 100 superficial feet
Logs, cut in half3s. per 100 superficial feet
Logs, squared with axe or saw, 10 in. by 10 in. or its equivalent, or over3s. per 100 superficial feet
Flitches, any width, and not exceeding 10 in. thick,2s. per 100 superficial feet

A further Order in Council, dated 10th April, 1902, directs that duties on kauri timber shall be charged as under:—

Logs, round3s. per 100 superficial feet
Logs, cut in half3s. per 100 superficial feet
Logs, squared with axe or saw3s. per 100 superficial feet
Flitches, exceeding 30 in. in width and 9 in. in thickness2s. per 100 superficial feet

“The Timber Export Duty Act, 1903,” forms part of and is to be read with “The Timber Export Act, 1901.” The following duties may, by Order in Council,* be substituted for those in the Schedule to the last-named statute:—

SCHEDULE

* No order yet issued.

Logs, round5s. per 100 superficial feetOr such lesser duty as the Governor by Order in Council determines
Logs, squared with axe or saw
Half logs
Flitches of any particular kind, or pieces of such size as the Governor by Order in Council from time to time determines3s. per 100 superficial feetOr such lesser duty as the Governor by Order in Council determines

Chapter 30. NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH AFRICAN CUSTOMS DUTIES RECIPROCITY.

THE “New Zealand and South African Customs Duties Reciprocity Act, 1906.” makes provision for Customs reciprocity between New Zealand and South Africa. An Order in Council dated the 7th January, 1907, sets out that the treaty shall be with the Colonies of the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Orange River, Transvaal, and Southern Rhodesia. The existing New Zealand Customs tariff is altered in respect of importations from the above colonies into New Zealand, and on and after the 1st January, 1907, the following duties shall be levied:—

*No higher duty shall be levied on any goods the produce and manufacture of the said colonies than that which would be levied under “The Tariff Act, 1907,” on the same goods if they were the produce or manufacture of some other part of the British dominions (see “The Tariff Act, 1907,” sec. 7).

Feathers15 per cent. ad valorem.*
Fish1 ½d. per lb.*
Fruits, driedFree
Fruits, greenFree
Maize6d. per cental.*
Sugar1s. 8d. per cental*
Tobacco (manufactured)2s. 6d. per lb
Tea (not otherwise exempt)1d. per lb
Wines (other than sparkling)2s. per gallon
Wines (sparkling)5s. per gallon
All other goods (except spirits)25 per cent. less than the duty which would otherwise be payable

The following duties are chargeable under the treaty on New Zealand goods imported into the above colonies of South Africa:—

Bran1s. per cental
Flour2s. 3d. per cental
Oats1s. 10d. per cental
Wheat1s. per cental
Butter2d. per lb
Cheese12 per cent. ad valorem.
Meats1d. per lb
All other goods (except spirits)25 per cent. less than the duty which would otherwise be payable

It is also agreed that if a fiscal difference is made by either of the contracting parties between locally manufactured spirits and imported spirits, the manufactured spirits of the other contracting party shall be admitted at the same rate of duty as is payable on the locally manufactured spirits.

“The New Zealand and South African Customs Treaty Ratification Act, 1907,” ratifies and confirms the above treaty, which continues in full force and effect until terminated by the Governor by Order in Council gazetted.

*No higher duty shall be levied on any goods the produce and manufacture of the said colonies than that which would be levied under “The Tariff Act, 1907,” on the same goods if they were the produce or manufacture of some other part of the British dominions (see “The Tariff Act, 1907,” sec. 7).

Chapter 31. FEES PAYABLE UNDER LAND TRANSFER ACT.

Table of Contents

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)—£sd
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 £300 .. ..100
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 sterling ..000 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 lease .. ..0100
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 caveat ..0100
Cancelling or withdrawal of caveat, and for every notice relating to any caveat ..050
For every search ..020
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 lessee .. ..0100
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 first ..020

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, and up to £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 versa.

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, 1907, with the increase for the year, is shown below:—

 MalesFemalesTotals

* Excluding 776 natives of South Sea Islands at labour abroad.

Estimated population (exclusive of Maoris, also Cook and other annexed Pacific Islands) on 31st December, 1906481,651427,075908,726
Increase during the year 1907—   
By excess of births over deaths7,0807,94815,028
By excess of immigration over emigration3,9181,8125,730
Estimated population (exclusive of Maoris, also Cook and other annexed Pacific Islands) on 31st December, 1907492,649436,835929,484
Maori population, census, April, 190625,53822,19347,731
Population of Cook and other Pacific Islands, census, 19066,2246,11612,340*
Total estimated population of Dominion on 31st December, 1907524,411465,144989,555

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 1906
CountiesPersons
Mangonui2,053
Whangaroa743
Hokianga2,769
Bay of Islands2,571
Hobson882
Otamatea407
Whangarei960
Rodney132
Great Barrier Island41
Eden (including Waiheke and Chamberlin Islands)282
Waitemata189
Manukau678
Waikato838
Raglan1,483
Kawhia615
Awakino131
East Taupo889
West Taupo1,136
Waitomo1,075
Waipa344
Piako576
Ohinemuri675
Thames774
Coromandel695
Tauranga and adjacent islands2,040
Whakatane2,332
Opotiki1,319
Rotorua1,260
Waiapu2,611
Cook1,759
Hawke's Bay1,505
Waipawa468
Patangata140
Woodville11
Wairoa2,266
Akitio43
Castlepoint9
Featherston365
Wairarapa South119
Pahiatua50
Masterton251
Eketahuna20
Mauriceville8
Hutt290
Waitotara348
Manawatu260
Kairanga166
Rangitikei557
Wanganui782
Horowhenua1,015
Waimarino728
Oroua212
Patea332
Hawera699
Stratford52
Taranaki295
Clifton704
Egmont1,008
Sounds80
Marlborough158
Waimea113
Collingwood7
Takaka30
Buller36
Westland94
Kaikoura109
Ashley198
Selwyn83
Akaroa141
Mount Herbert106
Geraldine151
Levels25
Waimate54
Waitaki115
Waikouaiti140
Peninsula144
Waihemo13
Taieri68
Clutha22
Southland93
Wallace276
Stewart Island and adjacent islands100
Chatham Islands202
POPULATION OF COOK AND OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDS NOW INCLUDED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE DOMINION
 Whites and Half-castes living as WhitesNatives and Half-castes living as NativesTotalAbsentees.*

* Absent in ships or at the guano islands, &c.

(a) Birthplaces.—United Kingdom, 28; New Zealand, 23; Australia, 6; Tasmania, 3; Rarotonga, 10; France, 8; Germany, 5; Sweden, 1; Cape Verde Islands, 2; United States America, 8; Holland, 1; Portugal, 2; Society Group, 1; Hong Kong, 6; Jamaica, 2; Manila, 1.

(b) Birthplaces.—United Kingdom, 5; New Zealand, 2; Rarotonga, 1.

(c) Birthplaces.—Australia, 1; Hong Kong, 2; Austria, 1.

(d) Birthplaces.—United Kingdom, 4; New Zealand, 1; Jamaica, 1; Norway, 1; Aitutaki, 1.

(e) Birthplaces.—France, 1; Germany, 1.

(f) Birthplaces.—Cape Verde Islands, 1; Hong Kong, 1.

(g) Birthplaces not stated.

(h) Birthplaces.—United Kingdom, 5; United States America, 1.

(l) Birthplaces.—United Kingdom, 1; Australia, 1.

(k) Birthplaces.—United Kingdom, 1.

(SUMMARY OF BIRTHPLACES.—United Kingdom, 44; New Zealand, 26; Australia, 8; Tasmania, 3; Karotonga, 11; France, 9; Germany, 6; Sweden, 1; Cape Verde Islands, 3; United States America, 9; Holland, 1; Portugal, 2; Society Group, 1; Hong Kong, 9; Jamaica, 3; Manila, 1 Norway, 1; Aitutaki, 1; Austria, 1; not stated, 21 (on Niue Island). Total. 161.

Rarotonga107(a)2,3342,441 
Mangaia8(b)1,5231,531 
Atiu4(c)914918 
Aitutaki8(d)1,1541,16282
Mauke (or Parry Island)2(e)44444610
Mitiaro2(f)208210 
          Total Cook Group1316,5776,70892*
Niue (or Savage Island)21(g)3,8013,822580
Palmerston 8282 
Penrhyn (or Tongareva)6(h)414420 
Manihiki2(l)51952122
Rakaanga1(k)35135250
Danger (or Pukapuka) 43543532
          Total other islands305,6025,632684*
Total population of Pacific islands16112,17912,340776*

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

The increase for each quarter of the year 1907 was:—

First Quarter.
Increase from:MalesFemalesTotal

* Decrease.

Excess of births over deaths1,6531,9753,628
Excess of immigration over emigration1,2152981,513
                      Increase during quarter2,8682,2735,141
Second Quarter.
Excess of births over deaths1,8311,9953,826
Excess of emigration over immigration-2,013*-1,093*-3,106*
                      Increase during quarter-182*902720
Third Quarter.
Excess of births over deaths1,6411,8623,503
Excess of immigration over emigration6304621,092
                      Increase during quarter2,2712,3244,595
Fourth Quarter.
Excess of births over deaths1,9552,1164,071
Excess of immigration over emigration4,0862,1456,231
                      Increase during quarter6,0414,26110,302
Year 1907.
Excess of births over deaths7,0807,94815,028
Excess of immigration over emigration3,9181,8125,730
                      Total increase during 190710,9989,76020,758

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 (6,231 persons). The March quarter comes next with 1,513 persons, then the September quarter with 1,092 persons, while June quarter shows a loss of 3,106 persons. The increase by births over deaths is 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 Dominion nevertheless exceeded the departures in each of these years, and the total excess of arrivals for the sixteen-year period 1892–1907, inclusive, is found to be 93,180 persons, drawn from other colonies or countries.

The excess of arrivals in the Dominion during the year 1907 over the departures will be seen from the table to have been decidedly less than that for 1906. For 1901, the figures were 6,522; for 1902, 7,992; for 1903, 11,275; for 1904, 10,355; for 1905, 9,302; for 1906, 12,848; and for 1907 the number is 5,730. 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 five years New Zealand has secured 49,510 persons, mostly from Australia and the Home-country, after deducting from the total arrivals all those who departed outwards; but the arrivals in the Dominion last year (36,108) were less than the number recorded in 1906 (39,233), and the departures during 1907, which numbered 30,378, were greater than those in the previous year—viz., 26,385.

The Exhibition of 1906–7 caused considerably more arrivals in the latter part of the year 1906 than in the corresponding portion of 1907, and the departures in the first four months of 1907 exceeded those in 1906 for the same reason.

The interchange of people between New Zealand and the Commonwealth of Australia was more equal during 1907 than in 1906, though New Zealand still gained 1,068 persons after deducting departures to the Continent. The number of departures for other British possessions in 1907 (659) consists mainly of persons who left for British Columbia.

So far as can be ascertained the United Kingdom only furnished 18,976 of the above large number added to New Zealand for the five years, while Australia shows as contributing 31,529. 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 995 persons.

YearEstimated Population on the 31st DecemberIncrease during the YearCentesimal Increase on Population of Previous Year
By Excess of Births over DeathsBy Excess of Arrivals over Departures.*Net Increase

* Corrected where necessary in accordance with census results. The amount of loss by departures in the period 1886–91, 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
1905882,46215,6219,30224,9232.91
1906908,72615,91312,84828,7613.26
1907929,48415,0285,73020,7582.28

The net gain to this country for 1907 appears as 5,003 persons from United Kingdom and 1,068 from Australia, while the net loss was 28 persons to other British possessions, and 313 persons to other places. But here again the gain from Australia is given somewhat too high, and that from the Home-country too low.

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES DURING 1907.

The number of persons who arrived in the Dominion in the year 1907 was 36,108, a decrease of 3,125 on the number for the previous year. Of the arrivals in 1907, 32,346 persons were classified as adults, being above the age of twelve years, and 3,762 as children. The total number of males was 23,228 and of females 12,880. The arrivals from the United Kingdom numbered 7,449, and from Australia 26,916. Besides these, 753 persons came from Fiji, and 990 from the South Seas and other ports, including arrivals by mail-steamers from San Francisco.

Classified in respect of birthplace, it is found that 13,520 of the arrivals were persons born in Australasia, 21,161 in the United Kingdom, and 123 in other British possessions. Of 1,304 persons born in foreign countries who arrived during 1907, 245 were born in Germany, 179 in Austria Hungary, 123 in France, 169 in the United States, 75 in Denmark, 26 in Sweden, 26 in Norway, 10 in Greece, 69 in Italy, 9 in Switzerland, 1 in Turkey, 7 in Holland, 3 in Poland, 41 in Russia, and 321 in other countries (Roumania, Spain, Finland, China, Japan, Siam, Pacific Islands, Syria, Asia Minor, and South America).

Among the arrivals in 1907 are noticed 314 “race-aliens,” or persons of other than European descent. Particulars of birthplace and sex are as under:—

BirthplaceMFTotal
China2487255
Syria3 3
Siam1 1
Asia Minor224
India14620
Pacific Islands27128
Japan213
            Total29717314

The practice of nominating immigrants to be brought out partly at the Government expense has been discontinued since the 16th December, 189, and there was no free immigration in the year 1907. Certain reductions in fares are, however, arranged by the High Commissioner with the shipping companies for men with moderate means who intend to settle in the Dominion, and the sum of £9,000 was voted by Parliament in 1907 for assistance by way of reduced fares for passages of intending settlers. Besides this,

the sum of £1,000 was appropriated to passages for separated families, &c.

The arrangements indicated enable farmers and others possessed of a small capital to obtain passages from the United Kingdom to New Zealand at £10 per adult. The question of the suitability of any applicant is decided by the High Commissioner in London, and the passage-money must be paid to his officers.

Two hundred and fifty-five Chinese (248 men and 7 women) arrived in the Dominion during 1907, and 182 (171 men and 11 women) left, the arrivals thus exceeding the departures by 73.

The total departures in 1907 were 30,378 persons, being 3,993 more than in 1906. Thus, the movement of population from the Dominion is found to have been greater than in the previous year, as it was with the arrivals.

The departures from the Dominion 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 1907, 27,791 persons were over twelve years of age, and 2,587 children. Nearly twice as many males left the Dominion as females, the numbers being 19,310 and 11,068 respectively. The departures to the United Kingdom amounted to 2,446 persons, and those to Australia numbered 25,848. Besides these, 585 persons left for Fiji, and 1,499 for other ports (including passengers for San Francisco).

In 1891 the Dominion lost population by excess of departures over arrivals, but in each of the years 1892 to 1907, 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 coming to the Commonwealth and the Dominion from the Home-country until 1897, when the number somewhat increased. Prior to 1893 the arrivals from the United Kingdom ranged from 43,076 in 1886 down to 15,950 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 via 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 Australasia.

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 six States and New Zealand collectively.

YearEmigration from United Kingdom to AustralasiaArrivals in New Zealand direct from United KingdomArrivals in New Zealand per 100 Departures for Australasia from United Kingdom
189311,2032,92926.14
189410,9172,84626.07
189510,5672,36522.38
189610,3541,95618.89
189712,0612,72422.59
189810,6932,59824.30
189911,4671,91816.73
190014,9222,31415.51
190115,3502,56316.70
190214,3453,47424.22
190312,3753,54728.21
190413,9104,65433.46
190515,1395,55336.68
190619,3318,29342.90

“The Immigration Restriction Act, 1899,” prohibits the landing of lunatics or idiots, persons suffering from a dangerous or loathsome contagious disease, certain convicted criminals, and any person other than of British birth who fails to write out and sign, in any European language, a prescribed form of application. Shipwrecked persons are excepted. The Act does not apply to officers and crews of any mercantile vessels, provided they are not discharged in New Zealand, and are on board the vessel when she clears outward. There are other exemptions under the Act, including His Majesty's land and sea forces, and the officers and crew of any ship of war of any Government, and certain persons may be specially exempted by the Minister of Internal Affairs. Heavy penalties may be incurred for breaches of this law.

Nothing in the Act applies to Chinese coming within the meaning of the Chinese Immigration Act of 1881, referred to hereafter.

THE CHINESE.

At the census of 1881, the year in which taxation was first imposed on Chinese landing in New Zealand, the Chinese population numbered 5,004 persons, which fell to 4,542 in 1884, and further to 3,711 in 1896. During the period 1881–96 the poll-tax was £10 per head, and this seemed sufficient for the purpose of preventing a large influx of the Chinese, but during the years 1894 and 1895 the arrivals shown by the Customs returns were found to be somewhat greater than the departures. The census of 1896 showed the number of Chinese as 3,711, and during that year the Chinese Immigrants Act Amendment Act was passed, raising the poll-tax on Chinese immigrants to £100 per head and limiting the number of Chinese passengers that may be carried by vessels to New Zealand to one for every 200 tons burthen. According to the census of 1901 the Chinese population was 2,857, and in 1906 it was 2,570, of whom 55 were females. During 1907 the arrivals in the Dominion were 255 (248 males and 7 females) and the departures 182 (171 males and 11 females), the total number remaining on 31st December being estimated at 2,724 (2,665 males and 59 females). The sum of £14,800 was received as poll-tax for the year 1907, representing 148 new arrivals, the balance being those who had previously resided in the Dominion. The law of the Commonwealth of Australia, with a view to the restriction of Asiatic immigration, prohibits the landing of any person, who, when asked to do so by a public officer, fails to write out from dictation and sign a passage of fifty words in any prescribed language. An Act, having a similar purpose, was passed by the Parliament of New Zealand in 1907, requiring that any Chinese proposing to land in the Dominion shall be able to read a printed passage of not less than one hundred words of the English language. This measure is reserved for the assent of His Majesty the King.

Of the number of Chinese in 1906, 2,515 were males and 55 females. Of the males 63 were returned as married; 40 females were given as wives, and 13 as daughters or relatives, one a dressmaker, and one a shirtmaker.

The number of Chinese under 14 years of age was only 33 (23 males and 10 females).

The occupations showed 612 gold-miners, 734 market gardeners with 57 labourers and assistants, 184 fruiterers or greengrocers with 42 assistants, 219 laundrymen with 24 assistants, 53 storekeepers with 25 clerks and assistants, 105 labourers undefined, 36 farm labourers, 51 hotel cooks and servants, 18 boardinghouse-keepers with 3 cooks and servants, 5 fish-hawkers, 34 vegetable-hawkers, 21 rabbiters, 8 carpenters and cabinetmakers, 7 merchants, 5 fishermen, 24 grocers and assistants, 4 restaurant-keepers, 3 rag, bone, and bottle dealers, 1 draper, 2 station labourers, 4 interpreters, 1 butcher, 39 general hawkers, and one person of independent means.

On board ships in port were 10 firemen and 8 ship's servants. In addition to the number of hotel and boardinghouse cooks there were 4 farm, 3 station, and 36 cooks undefined. Amongst others in small numbers are noticed 2 missionaries, 1 medical man, 2 herbalists, and 1 clergyman.

Three of the Chinese were inmates of hospitals, and 15 of benevolent asylums. There were 22 Chinese lunatics (in asylums), and 5 of this race were prisoners in gaol on the census night.

CENSUS, 1906.

The population of the Dominion (exclusive of Maoris), as returned in the census schedules for the night of the 29th April, 1906, was 888,578 persons, of whom 2,570 were Chinese, and 2,578 half-castes living amongst and as Europeans.

A census of the Maori population was taken during April of 1906, when, according to returns made by the enumerators, the number of the Native race was found to be 47,731 persons, including 3,938 half-castes living as Maoris. 211 Maori women were returned as married to European husbands. The complete population (European, Maori, and residents of Cook and other annexed Pacific Islands) of the Dominion was therefore 948,649 persons, as exhibited in the following statement, specifying the numbers for each sex:—

 PersonsMalesFemales

* Not including 601 persons, officers and crews of two British men-of-war.

† Excluding 776 absentees at labour abroad.

Population (exclusive of persons of the aboriginal Native race, of mixed European and Native blood, and Chinese)883,430467,186416,244
Half-castes and persons of mixed race living as and among Europeans2,5781,3071,271
Chinese2,5702,51555
Aboriginal Natives (including 211 Maori wives of Europeans)43,79323,38720,406
Half-castes and persons of mixed race living among and as members of Maori tribes3,9382,1511,787
          Total (exclusive of annexed Pacific islands)936,309*496,546439,763
Population of Cook and other annexed Pacific Islands12,340†6,2246,116
          Total population on 29th April, 1906948,649502,770445,879

The total half-caste or mixed European and Maori population on the main islands was 6,516 persons. The number of half-caste Maoris living among Europeans increased since 1901 by 171, or at the rate of 7.1 per cent. In that year the number of Maori wives of Europeans was 196; in 1906 it was 211. The Chinese decreased from 2,857, at the time of the census of 1901, to 2,570 in April, 1906, or at the rate of 10.05 per cent., caused mainly by the excess of departures over arrivals.

The Maori population fell from 41,993 in 1891 to 39,854 in 1896, increased to 43,143 in 1901, and further to 47,731 in 1906, according to the returns.

The increase on the total European population between March, 1901, and April, 1906, amounted to 115,859 persons, or a rate of 14.99 per cent. Between the census of 1896 and that of 1901 the numerical increase was 69,359 persons, or 9.86 per cent. The average annual increase in the period 1901–6 was at the rate of 2.79 per cent.

The population of the principal divisions on 29th April, 1906, was—

 PersonsMalesFemales
North Island and adjacent islets (exclusive of Maoris)476,732255,057221,675
South Island and adjacent islets (exclusive of Maoris)411,340215,641195,699
Stewart Island (exclusive of Maoris)304193111
Chatham Islands (exclusive of Maoris)19711483
Kermadec Islands532
          Total population (exclusive of Maoris)888,578471,008417,570

PROPORTIONS OF THE SEXES AND DENSITY OF POPULATION.

The gradual equalisation of the numbers of the sexes and growing density of population and dwellings are alluded to in a further table.

Date of EnumerationNumbers of Females to 100 MalesNumber of Persons to a Square MileNumber of Persons to an Inhabited DwellingNumber 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
April, 190688.658.5414.821.773

INCREASE OF POPULATION AT SUCCESSIVE CENSUSES.

The increase of population of European descent at successive census periods has been:—

Date of EnumerationPopulation. PersonsNumerical Increase. PersonsCentesimal Increase
December, 185859,413  
  39,60839.99
December, 186199,021  
  73,13773.86
December, 1864172,158  
  46,51027.01
December, 1867218,668  
  37,72517.25
February, 1871256,393  
  43,12116.82
March, 1874299,514  
  114,89838.36
March, 1878414,412  
  75,52118.22
April, 1881489,933  
  88,54918.07
March, 1886578,482  
  48,1768.33
April, 1891626,658  
  76,70212.24
April, 1896703,360  
  69,3599.86
March, 1901772,719  
  115,85914.99
April, 1906888,578  

POPULATIONS OF PROVINCIAL DISTRICTS.

These are stated as in April, 1906, and at the previous census. Wellington stands first for rate of progress with an increase of 27.25 per cent. in five years, Auckland comes next with 20.06 per cent., Hawke's Bay third with 19.25, Taranaki fourth with 14.65 per cent., Nelson following with 19.15 per cent., Canterbury next with 11.23 per cent. Marlborough shows an increase of nearly 8 per cent., while Otago as a whole advanced by 4.52 per cent., though the Southland portion of the province shows the much higher rate of 11.23 per cent.

Provincial DistrictsPopulation, March, 1901Population, April, 1906Increase
NumericalCentesimal

* Decrease.

 PersonsPersonsPersons 
Auckland175,938211,22335,28520.06
Taranaki37,85543,3995,54414.65
Hawke's Bay35,42442,2426,81819.25
Wellington141,354179,86838,51427.25
Marlborough13,32614,3681,0427.82
Nelson37,91542,5224,60712.15
Westland14,50614,6741681.16
Canterbury143,041159,10616,06511.23
Otago—    
 Otago portion125,339127,8772,5382.02
 Southland portion47,80653,0975,29111.07
Chatham Islands207197-10*-4.83*
Kermadec Islands85-3*-37.50*
          Totals772,719888,578115,85914.99

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 April, 1906, the number of the counties was 97. Of these, the North Island had 60, with a population amounting altogether to 249,752 persons. The South Island had 35 counties, the population being 208,560 persons. Stewart Island and Chatham Islands are counties in themselves, and had a population of 288 persons and 197 persons respectively, exclusive of persons on shipboard. The names and populations of the various counties, with their interior boroughs set opposite, were as under at the date of the enumeration:—

COUNTIESCensus, 1906

* Since reduced by the creation of Dargaville Borough.

† Since reduced by the creation of Northcote Borough.

‡ Since reduced by the creation of Mount Eden Borough.

Mangonui2,801
Whangaroa801
Hokianga2,514
On shipboard51
Bay of Islands2,692
On shipboard4
Hobson*5,424
On shipboard68
Whangarei7,306
On shipboard38
Otamatea2,921
On shipboard11
Rodney4,185
On shipboard6
Waitemata†7,949
On shipboard13
Eden‡26,663
Manukau13,480
Coromandel2,841
On shipboard84
Thames4,286
On shipboard21
Ohinemuri5,895
On shipboard46
Piako3,761
Waikato4,532
Waipa4,849
Raglan2,282
Kawhia688
Awakino389
On shipboard8
Waitomo1,226
West Taupo1,397
East Taupo509
Rotorua2,657
Tauranga1,999
On shipboard8
Whakatane1,015
On shipboard1
Opotiki1,679
On shipboard31
Waiapu858
On shipboard12
Cook7,173
Wairoa2,156
Hawke's Bay7,700
Clifton2,837
On shipboard2
Taranaki8,486
On shipboard152
BOROUGHS.Census, 1906

* Since reduced by the creation of Dargaville Borough.

† Since reduced by the creation of Northcote Borough.

‡ Since reduced by the creation of Mount Eden Borough.

Whangarei2,115
On shipboard4
Birkenhead1,266
Devonport5,073
On shipboard32
Grey Lynn5,882
Auckland37,736
On shipboard755
Parnell5,253
Newmarket2,342
Onehunga3,693
On shipboard60
Thames6,750
On shipboard1
Waihi5,594
Te Aroha1,109
Hamilton2,150
Cambridge1,244
Tauranga1,047
On shipboard7
Gisborne5,664
On shipboard ...23
Napier9,454
On shipboard207
Hastings4,594
New Plymouth5,141
Inglewood1,152
Waitara958
COUNTIESCENSUS, 1906

* Since reduced by the creation of Whangamomona County.

† Since reduced by the creation of Eltham County.

‡ Since reduced by the creation of Eastbrook Borough.

§ Since reduced by the creation of Taihape Borough.

|| Since reduced by the creation of Dannevirke and Waipukurau Counties and Waipawa Borough.

¶ Since reduced by the creation of Eketahuna Borough.

** Since reduced by the creation of Makara County.

†† Portions of these Boroughs now incorporated in Wellington City.

Egmont2,885
Stratford*5,912
Hawera†8,009
Patea3,123
Waitotara4,164
On shipboard43
Wanganui‡4,833
Waimarino2,787
Rangitikei§9,511
Kiwitea3,034
Oroua3,69
Kairanga3,681
Pohangina1,797
Manawatu4,007
Horowhenua5,337
Waipawa||9,911
Woodville2,036
Patangata1,843
Weber593
Pahiatua3,672
Akitio1,394
Castlepoint561
Eketahuna¶2,738
Mauriceville1,089
Masterton3,723
South Wairarapa ...2,734
Featherston3,470
Hutt**7,259
Sounds1,098
On shipboard5
Marlborough7,287
On shipboard10
Kaikoura1,747
Collingwood1,211
On sbipboard ...6
Takaka1,547
On shipboard9
Waimea7,785
Buller5,458
On shipboard10
Inangahua4,638
Grey5,692
Westland4,117
Amuri1,406
Cheviot1,605
Ashley11,306
Selwyn34,378
On shipboard3
BOROUGHSCENSUS 1906

* Since reduced by the creation of Whangamomona County.

† Since reduced by the creation of Eltham County.

‡ Since reduced by the creation of Eastbrook Borough.

§ Since reduced by the creation of Taihape Borough.

|| Since reduced by the creation of Dannevirke and Waipukurau Counties and Waipawa Borough.

¶ Since reduced by the creation of Eketahuna Borough.

** Since reduced by the creation of Makara County.

†† Portions of these Boroughs now incorporated in Wellington City.

Stratford2,127
Hawera2,153
Eltham1,329
Patea869
Wanganui8,175
Marton1,268
Feilding2,971
Palmerston North ...10,239
Foxton1,330
On shipboard ...14
Levin1,265
Dannevirke3,509
Woodville1,110
Pahiatua1,370
Masterton5,026
Carterton1,402
Greytown1,123
Wellington58,563
On shipboard667
Onslow††2,098
Karori††2,194
Petone5,893
Lower Hutt3,407
Miramar952
Eastbourne358
Blenheim3,351
On shipboard12
Picton995
On shipboard19
Motueka1,068
On shipboard ...2
Richmond651
Nelson8,164
On shipboard59
Westport3,642
On shipboard315
Brunner1,135
Greymouth4,569
On shipboard213
Hokitika2,224
On shipboard5
Kumara ...919
Ross573
Kaiapoi1,804
Rangiora1,723
Lyttelton3,941
On shipboard451
Christchurch49,928
New Brighton1,132
Woolston2,900
Sumner1,181
COUNTIESCensus, 1906
Akaroa3,155
Mount Herbert470
Ashburton11,541
Geraldine5,027
Levels6,584
Mackenzie1,939
Waimate6,510
Waitaki9,613
Waihemo1,806
Waikouaiti4,119
Peninsula2,477
Taieri6,882
Bruce4,675
Tuapeka6,113
Clutha6,174
Maniototo3,004
Vincent4,300
Lake2,103
On shipboard7
Southland24,424
Wallace8,315
Fiord54
Stewart Island288
On shipboard16
Chatham Islands ...197
BOROUGHSCensus, 1906
Akaroa557
Ashburton2,563
Temuka1,661
Geraldine942
Timaru7,615
On shipboard72
Waimate1,637
Oamaru5,071
On shipboard49
Hampden379
Palmerston South ...772
Hawksbury698
Port Chalmers2,120
On shipboard91
North-east Valley ...4,378
Maori Hill1,886
West Harbour1,515
Dunedin36,070
On shipboard160
Roslyn5,438
Mornington4,150
St. Kilda2,579
Green Island703
Mosgiel1,517
Milton1,284
Kaitangata1,682
Lawrence1,106
Roxburgh ...479
Tapanui370
Balclutha1,161
On shipboard2
Naseby418
Cromwell671
Alexandra936
Arrowtown340
Queenstown665
Gore3,033
Mataura1,023
Winton456
Invercargill7,299
Invercargill North973
Invercargill South ...2,272
Invercargill East ...1,038
Avenal424
Gladstone501
Campbelltown1,472
On shipboard568
Riverton914
On shipboard4

The total county population amounted to 458,797, or 51.63 per cent. of the total. 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 424,614 persons, or 47.79 per cent. of the whole. For every 100 persons resident in counties in 1906 there were 92.55 residing in boroughs. In 1901 the counties had 417,596 persons, and the boroughs 350,202, or, in other words, for every 100 persons in counties, 84 were residents of the boroughs. Thus it will be seen that the proportion of the town to the county population was greater in 1906 than in 1901.

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 (1906), which might fairly be termed suburbs of the four principal cities at that time:—

AUCKLAND AND SUBURBS (APRIL, 1906)
 Population, Census, 1906
Boroughs— 
  Birkenhead1,266
  Devonport5,073
  Newmarket2,342
  Grey Lynn5,882
  Parnell ..5,253
Road Districts— 
  Arch Hill1,952
  Eden Terrace2,338
  Epsom ..1,591
  Mount Albert3,583
  Mount Eden6,888
  Mount Roskill883
  One-tree Hill1,915
  Point Chevalier902
  Remuera3,082
Northcote Riding1,116
Outlying portion of Parnell Riding, being land in the Domain with hospital on it299
                Total suburbs44,365
                Auckland City37,736
                Total Auckland and suburbs (April, 1906)82,101

Since the date of the census an estimate, based on the number of inhabited dwellings, has been made of the population of Auckland City and of the suburban Boroughs of Birkenhead, Devonport, Newmarket, Grey Lynn, Parnell, Mount Eden, and Northcote, as on 1st January, 1908. This gives a total of 73,032 persons, to which must be added those residing in the suburban area not yet municipalised, numbering 16,545 persons, as ascertained at the census of 1906. The total estimated population of Greater Auckland on the above date would therefore be 89,577 persons.

WELLINGTON AND SUBURBS (APRIL, 1906)
 Population, Census, 1906
Boroughs— 
  Onslow ..2,098
  Karori ..2,194
  Miramar952
                Total suburbs5,244
                Wellington City58,563
                Total Wellington and suburbs (April, 1906)63,807

The total population of Greater Wellington, including the Boroughs of Karori, Onslow, and Miramar, is estimated, as on 1st January, 1908, to have been 70,947 persons.

CHRISTCHURCH AND SUBURBS (APRIL, 1906)
 Population, Census, 1906
Boroughs— 
  New Brighton1,132
  Woolston2,900
Road Districts— 
  Spreydon2,332
  Halswell (part)107
  Riccarton (part)4,981
  Avon (part)3,131
  Heathcote (part)3,367
                Total suburbs17,950
                Christchurch City49,928
                Total Christchurch and suburbs (April, 1906)67,878

An estimate has been made of the population of Christchurch City and of the Boroughs of Woolston, New Brighton, and Sumner, based on the number of inhabited dwellings, as on 1st January, 1908. This gives a total of 59,544 persons in the city and the boroughs mentioned. No reliable estimate of the population of that portion of the suburban area not yet municipalised can be made, so that the number ascertained at the last census, 13,918 persons, must be used, making the total estimated population of Greater Christchurch 73,462 persons.

DUNEDIN AND SUBURBS (APRIL, 1906)
 Population, Census, 1906
Boroughs— 
  Maori Hill1,886
  Mornington4,154
  North-east Valley4,378
  Roslyn ..5,438
  St. Kilda2,579
  West Harbour1,515
                Total suburbs19,950
                Dunedin City36,070
                Total Dunedin and suburbs (April, 1906)56,020

The estimated population of Dunedin City, with the suburban Boroughs of Maori Hill, Mornington, North-east Valley, Roslyn, St. Kilda, and West Harbour, on 1st January, 1908, was 59,495 persons.

The increase of population for ten years prior to the census of 1906 at the four chief centres, with their suburbs, was:—

 Census, 1896Census, 1906Numerical IncreaseIncrease per cent
Auckland and suburbs57,61682,10124,48542.50
Wellington and suburbs41,75863,80722,04952.80
Christchurch and suburbs51,33067,87816,54832.24
Dunedin and suburbs47,28056,0208,74018.48

Thus the two principal cities of the North Island are found to have progressed between 1901 and 1906 at a greater rate than

those of the South Island, and Wellington in particular to have developed at nearly three times the rate of Dunedin, and considerably faster than Christchurch.

While New South Wales and Victoria present what has been termed “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.

Besides the boroughs, there were 40 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. Two only of these, Rotorua and Hampstead, have more than 1,000 inhabitants. A list of these town districts is subjoined, with populations, as in 1906:—

Town DistrictsPopulation

* Constituted under “The Thermal-Springs Districts Act. 1881,” and under the control of the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts.

† Since constituted a Borough.

‡ Now included in Eketahuna Borough.

Kamo315
Helensville616
Papakura359
Pukekohoe379
Te Awamutu379
Kihikihi253
Ngaruawahia383
Rotorua*1,927
Opotiki683
Opunake406
Kaponga278
Normanby383
Manaia441
Waverley471
Lethbridge245
Hunterville645
Bull's492
Halcombe276
Rongotea318
Clyde (Wairoa)..707
Taradale805
Ormondville413
Waipawa†691
Waipukurau761
Kaikora North268
Eketahuna‡704
Featherston670
Martinborough637
Johnsonville731
Havelock267
Amberley341
Southbridge403
Hampstead1,286
Tinwald511
Bay776
Greytown181
Outram431
Clinton418
Wyndham532
Otautau554

POPULATION OF SMALL CENTRES.

In addition to the boroughs and town districts above referred to, the census results showed for 1906 no less than 870 places of the nature of townships, villages, or small centres without boundaries. It is impossible to say that the population of these small centres are all strictly accurate, even for the census date, or given in such a way as to be fit for comparison one with another. In different cases more or less of surrounding country may have been considered as belonging to the centre, but there is at least at each place mentioned some sort of nucleus of population, if not a well-defined village or township. In making the statement the best has been done with a difficult matter, and the information is given as useful, in some cases important—such as Reefton and Taihape (the latter since constituted a municipal borough)—even if open to objection here and there. The county in which each is situated is also given:—

 Population
Abbotsford and vicinity, Taieri432
Addington, Selwyn751
Addison's Flat, Buller128
Ahipara, Mangonui50
Ahuroa, Rodney57
Ahuriri Flat, Clutha90
Akaaka, Manukau114
Akatarawa, Hutt194
Akatore, Bruce29
Akitio, Akitio129
Albany, Waitemata171
Albury Settlement, Mackenzie371
Alfredton Town and vicinity, Masterton523
Allandale, Waihemo78
Allenton, Ashburton945
Alma, Waitaki133
Annandale, Wallace222
Annat, Selwyn191
Aorangi, Oroua120
Aoroa and vicinity, Hobson442
Aotea, Raglan67
Appleby, Waimea280
Aramoho, Waitotara1,018
Aranga, Hokianga109
Ararua, Otamatea131
Ardgowan, Waitaki282
Ardgowan Settlement, Waitaki187
Ardmore, Manukau180
Argyll, Waipawa250
Arthurstown, Westland70
Arundel, Geraldine51
Ashhurst Town and vicinity, Oroua583
Ashley and vicinity, Ashley195
Ashley-Clinton, Waipawa220
Ashwick Flat, Mackenzie118
Atea, Eketahuna126
Athol Town, Southland134
Avondale Town, Eden1,159
Awahuri Town, Manawatu108
Awakino, Awakino152
Awamoko, Waitaki184
Awatoto V., Hawke's Bay101
Awatuna, Egmont110
Bainham, Collingwood164
Balcairn, Ashley214
Bald Hill Flat, Vincent152
Barewood, Taieri81
Barrhill, Ashburton77
Barry's Bay, Akaroa121
Barrytown, Grey231
Bastings, Tuapeka24
Beck's, Maniototo81
Belfast Town, Selwyn620
Belgrove V., Waimea242
Belmont, Hutt57
Belvedere, Wairarapa330
Bennett's, Ashley72
Berwick, Taieri92
Birchfield, Buller134
Bishopdale, Waimea41
Blackball, Grey356
Blackburn, Waipawa133
Black's Point, Inangahua288
Bluespur, Tuapeka166
Brighton, Buller28
Brightwater, Waimea418
Broad Bay, Peninsula273
Broadwood, Hokianga64
Brockville, Taieri27
Brookside, Selwyn280
Broomfield, Ashley92
Brown's, Southland62
Brunswick and vicinity, Waitotara215
Buckland, Manakau257
Bunnythorpe, Oroua, and Kairanga504
Burnett's Face, Buller261
Burnham, Selwyn323
Burnside and vicinity, Taieri514
Burwood, Selwyn198
Calcium, Southland30
Cambrian, Maniototo73
Cameron's, Grey38
Camside, Ashley45
Candletown, Bruce74
Cannington, Waimate38
Canvastown, Marlborough94
Capleston, Inangahua143
Cardrona, Lake116
Carew, Ashburton48
Caroline, Southland62
Castlecliff, Waitotara380
Cave, Levels95
Chamberlain, Raglan78
Chamberlain Settlement. Mackenzie117
Chaney's, Selwyn34
Charing Cross, Selwyn86
Charleston, Buller131
Charlton, Southland106
Chasland's, Clutha35
Chatton, Southland185
Cheltenham, Kiwitea96
Chertsey, Ashburton190
Churchill, Raglan77
Churchill, Waikato126
Claremont, Levels192
Clarendon, Bruce38
Clareville, Wairarapa South333
Clarksville, Bruce140
Clarkville and vicinity, Ashley232
Claudelands, Waikato305
Clevedon, Manukau492
Clifden, Wallace79
Clifton, Clutha64
Clifton, Hawke's Bay28
Clifton, Southland54
Clifton, Takaka70
Clinton, Clutha418
Clive, Hawke's Bay88
Cloudy Bay, Marlborough137
Clyde, Vincent328
Clyde, Wairoa707
Clydevale, Clutha83
Coalbrookdale, Buller107
Coalgate and vicinity, Selwyn154
Cobden, Grey582
Colyton, Oroua204
Conway, Cheviot29
Coop Town, Akaroa80
Coromandel, Coromandel858
Courtenay and vicinity, Selwyn104
Craigleith, Peninsula42
Crofton, Rangitikei55
Croixelles, Sounds26
Cromarty, Fiord10
Cronadon, Inangahua86
Crookston, Tuapeka297
Cross's Creek, Featherston125
Croydon, Southland43
Crushington, Inangahua142
Cullensville, Marlborough31
Culverden, Amuri119
Gust, Ashley227
Dalefield, Wairarapa South280
Dallington, Selwyn184
Danieltown, Wallace42
Darfield, Selwyn301
Day's Bay, Hutt26
Deborah Bay, Waikouaiti161
Denniston, Buller831
Dillmanstown, Westland178
Dixon, Southland62
Domett, Cheviot214
Doubtless Bay, Mangonui34
Dovedale, Waimea181
Doyleston, Selwyn300
Dromore, Ashburton111
Duart, Hawke's Bay68
Dumbarton, Tuapeka48
Dunback, Waihemo265
Dunganville, Grey63
Dunkeld, Tuapeka118
Dunollie, Grey43
Dunrobin, Tuapeka125
Duntroon, Waitaki253
Duvauchelle, Akaroa177
East Dipton, Southland133
East Town, Wanganui406
Edendale Settlement, Southland653
Edendale Township, Southland194
Edievale, Tuapeka64
Egmont, Taranaki52
Elderslie, Waitaki112
Elsthorpe, Patangata130
Enfield, Waitaki379
Epuni Hamlet, Hutt157
Epworth, Geraldine81
Eskdale, Hawke's Bay282
Ettrick, Tuapeka81
Evansdale, Waikouaiti94
Eweburn, Maniototo135
Eyreton, Ashley181
Fairburn's, Mangonui122
Fairdown, Buller42
Fairfax and vicinity, Bruce207
Fairfield, Taieri181
Fairton, Ashburton174
Farndon, Hawke's Bay58
Fencourt, Waikato264
Fern Flat, Inangahua46
Fernhill, Hawke's Bay77
Fitzroy, Taranaki273
Flaxbourne, Marlborough301
Flaxmere, Hawke's Bay64
Flaxton, Ashley134
Forsyth, Tuapeka59
Fortrose and vicinity, Southland176
Foxhill, Waimea127
Frasertown, Wairoa230
Galatea, Whakatane36
Garfield, Wallace118
Garston, Lake83
German Bay, Akaroa151
Gibb's Town, Collingwood170
Gimmerburn, Maniototo173
Gladstone, Wairarapa South160
Glenavy, Waimate203
Glen-iti, Levels129
Glenledi, Bruce48
Glenmore, Eden459
Glenomaru, Clutha131
Glenorchy, Lake33
Glenore, Bruce54
Glentunnell, Selwyn201
Globe Mine, Inangahua288
Goldsborough, Westland77
Goodwood Town, Waihemo171
Goodwood Settlement, Waihemo55
Gordon Special Settlement, Piako104
Gordonton, Waikato109
Granity, Buller522
Granville Town, Grey39
Grassmere Town, Southland109
Greendale, Selwyn332
Greenmeadows, Hawke's Bay376
Greenpark, Selwyn355
Grovetown, Marlborough345
Hakaru, Otamatea49
Hakataramea, Waimate88
Half-moon Bay, Stewart Island63
Halkett, Selwyn184
Halswell Junction, Selwyn81
Hamilton, Maniototo30
Hampden Town, Waipawa253
Hamua, Eketahuna181
Hanmer, Amuri176
Hapuku Settlement, Kaikoura107
Harben, Buller249
Harrington's, Southland109
Harrisville, Manukau141
Hastings Town, Thames178
Hatuma, Waipawa283
Hautapu, Waikato224
Havelock, Hawke's Bay439
Hawarden V., Ashley153
Hayward's, Hutt38
Hazelburn, Levels57
Heatherlea, Horowhenua42
Heddon Bush, Wallace176
Hedgehope Town, Southland96
Henley, Taieri135
Herbert V., Waitaki220
Herbertville, Patangata94
Herekino, Hokianga174
Heriot and vicinity, Tuapeka243
Hetane Hamlet, Waitemata64
Highbank, Ashburton786
Highcliffe, Peninsula250
Hikurangi Town, Whangarei615
Hilderthorpe, Waitaki86
Hillgrove, Waitaki44
Hilton, Geraldine210
Himatangi, Manawatu93
Hinds, Ashburton48
Hinuera, Piako74
Hobsonville, Waitemata212
Hodgkinson, Wallace42
Hokonui, Southland158
Holmesdale, Wallace20
Hope V., Waimea356
Hornby Junction, Selwyn25
Houipapa, Clutha175
Huia, Waitemata58
Hukanui, Eketahuna314
Hukatere, Otamatea100
Hukeronui, Whangarei, and Bay of Islands284
Hunter, Waimate196
Huntly, Waikato850
Hunua, Manukau258
Inangahua Junction, Inangahua71
Inchbonnie, Grey53
Incholme, Waitaki173
Inglewood, Southland26
Irwell, Selwyn244
Islington, Selwyn410
Jacobstown, Southland38
Jackytown, Kairanga74
Jackson's, Westland44
Jervoiston, Hawke's Bay42
Judgeford, Hutt128
Junction Town, Rangitikei75
Kaeo, Whangaroa315
Kaihiku, Clutha103
Kaihu, Hobson427
Kai Iwi, Waitotara136
Kaikohe, Bay of Islands127
Kaikoura, Kaikoura385
Kaiparoro, Eketahuna101
Kaitaia, Mangonui229
Kaitara, Whangarei131
Kaitoke, Hutt54
Kaituna, Collingwood100
Kaiwaiwai, Featherston63
Kaiwaka, Otamatea183
Kakanui North, Waitaki133
Kakanui South, Waitaki172
Kakapuaka, Clutha102
Kakaramea, Patea113
Kanieri, Westland201
Kapuka, Southland104
Karamu, Raglan159
Karangahake, Ohinemuri792
Karewarewa, Kiwitea20
Karioi, Waimarino81
Kauaeranga, Thames139
Kaukapakapa, Waitemata358
Kaurihohore, Whangarei121
Kawakawa, Bay of Islands161
Kawhia, Kawhia96
Keele and vicinity, Ashley211
Kelso, Tuapeka209
Kennington, Awarua125
Kensington, Levels227
Kereru, Horowhenua46
Kerry Town, Levels40
Killinchy, Selwyn109
Kimbell, Mackenzie97
Kimberley, Selwyn144
Kimbolton, Kiwitea224
Kingsdown, Levels216
Kingston, Lake43
Kinohaku, Kawhia42
Kirikiriroa, Waikato266
Kiripaka, Whangarei171
Kirwee, Selwyn260
Kitchener Hamlet, Eden28
Kiwitahi, Piako56
Kohukohu, Hokianga295
Koiterangi, Westland133
Kokatahi, Upper, Westland81
Kokatahi, Lower, Westland142
Kokiri, Grey261
Kokoamo, Waitaki120
Komata Reef, Ohinemuri341
Komokoriki, Rodney79
Konini, Pahiatua53
Kopu, Thames116
Kopuaranga, Masterton166
Korere, Waimea62
Koromiko, Marlborough134
Koru, Taranaki62
Kotuku, Grey84
Kowai Bush, Selwyn82
Kuaotunu, Coromandel169
Kumeroa, Woodville84
Kumeu, Waitemata101
Kuri Bush, Taieri90
Kuriwao, Clutha72
Kurow, Waitaki347
Kyeburn, Maniototo92
Kyeburn Diggings, Maniototo78
Lakeside, Bruce82
Langdale, Masterton53
Larrikin's, Westland59
Lauriston, Ashburton45
Leeston, Selwyn343
Leigh V., Rodney30
Lepperton, Taranaki57
Lichfield, Piako50
Limehills, Southland186
Lincoln Town, Selwyn300
Lindisfarne, Southland78
Lindsay Settlement, Waipawa214
Lingvin, Grey189
Lismore, Ashburton34
Loburn, Ashley37
Lochiel, Southland67
Longburn, Kairanga247
Longbush, Southland210
Longford, Inangahua35
Longridge, Southland125
Longwood Village Settlement, Wallace75
Lovell's Flat, Bruce168
Lowburn V., Vincent144
Lower Blackball, Grey52
Lower Moutere, Waimea52
Lowry Bay, Hutt21
Luggate, Vincent53
Lumsden Extension, Southland153
Lumsden V., Southland283
Lyell, Buller97
Maben, Patea153
Macandrew, Southland23
Macetown, Lake117
Mackaytown, Ohinemuri349
Mackenzie, Cheviot245
Macrae's, Waihemo146
Maharahara, Woodville74
Maheno Town and vicinity, Waitaki326
Mahoenui, Awakino101
Mahora North, Hawke's Bay111
Maitland V., Southland26
Makaka V., Hawera25
Makaretu, Waipawa273
Makarewa, Southland384
Makarora, Vincent76
Makatote Town, Waimarino107
Maketu, Manukau171
Makikihi, Waimate308
Makirikiri, Wanganui218
Makomako, Pahiatua160
Makotua, Southland118
Makotuku, Waipawa183
Makuri Town and vicinity, Pahiatua206
Mamaku, Rotorua299
Manakau Town, Horowhenua118
Manaroa, Sounds50
Manawaru, Piako165
Mangaehu, Stratford122
Mangamahu and vicinity, Wanganui197
Mangamaire, Pahiatua86
Mangapai V., Whangarei84
Mangapakeha, Castlepoint65
Mangapehi, Clifton148
Mangaramarama, Pahiatua54
Mangarimu, Kiwitea52
Mangatainoka V., Pahiatua292
Mangatoki, Hawera80
Mangatoro, Waipawa112
Mangawai, Otamatea178
Mangaweka Town, Rangitikei609
Mangere V., Manukau291
Mangonui Town, Mangonui258
Mansford Town, Waikouaiti392
Manunui, West Taupo116
Manurewa, Manukau103
Manutahi Town, Patea53
Maori Gully, Grey49
Maraekakaho, Hawke's Bay78
Maraetai, Manukau142
Maramarua, Waikato165
Mareretu, Otamatea148
Marima, Pahiatua86
Maropiu, Hobson189
Marsden, Grey31
Marshland, Marlborough78
Marua, Whangarei202
Matahuru, Waikato162
Matakana, Rodney197
Matakohe, Otamatea231
Matamata, Piako353
Matamau, Waipawa335
Matangi, Waikato62
Matarawa, Wairarapa South149
Matata, Whakatane70
Matatoki, Thames135
Mauku, Manukau195
Maungakaramea V. and vicinity, Whangarei211
Maungatapere, Whangarei134
Maungatua, Taieri238
Maungawera, Vincent43
Mauriceville, Mauriceville479
Maxwelltown, Waitotara244
Mayfield, Ashburton90
Mecalickstone, Akitio76
Medbury, Ashley114
Meeanee, Hawke's Bay239
Menzie's Ferry, Southland118
Mercer, Manukau245
Merton, Waikouaiti199
Methuen Hamlet, Eden55
Methven Town, Ashburton266
Middlemarch and vicinity, Taieri266
Midhirst Town, Stratford289
Millerton, Buller595
Millwood V., Southland62
Mine Creek, Buller53
Moana, Grey67
Moawhango, Rangitikei96
Moeraki Town, Waitaki136
Mohaka V., Wairoa219
Mokau, Awakino50
Mokoreta, Southland204
Moneymore, Bruce75
Morrinsville Town, Piako383
Morrison's Bush, Featherston68
Morton Mains, Southland168
Morven, Waimate288
Motu, Opotiki59
Motupipi, Takaka200
Moturoa, Taranaki136
Moutere, Waimea165
Moutoa, Manawatu182
Murchison Town, Inangahua118
Murimotu, Rangitikei135
Myross Bush, Southland149
Neavesville, Thames40
Netherton, Ohinemuri136
Neudorf, Waimea53
Nevis, Vincent38
Newborough, Waitaki125
New Lynn, Waitemata193
Newman, Eketahuna265
Newport, Hobson143
Newstead, Waikato214
Ngahauranga, Hutt254
Ngahere, Grey185
Ngakawau, Buller76
Ngapaeruru, Waipawa220
Ngapara, Waitaki340
Ngaruawahia, Waikato175
Ngatimoti, Waimea121
Ngunguru, Whangarei60
Niagara, Southland113
Nightcaps, Wallace349
Nikau, Pahiatua87
Nireaha, Eketahuna300
Nokomai, Lake61
Nolan, Hawera146
Normandale, Hutt78
Norsewood and vicinity, Waipawa991
No Town, Grey42
Nuhaka, Wairoa93
Nukumaru, Waitotara96
Oakura, Taranaki118
Oban, Stewart Island71
Ohaeawai, Bay of Islands62
Ohakune, Waimarino87
Ohau, Horowhenua377
Ohinewai, Waikato96
Ohingaiti, Rangitikei319
Ohiwa, Opotiki15
Ohoka, Ashley411
Ohura, Waimarino87
Oio North, West Taupo103
Oio South, West Taupo147
Okaiawa, Hawera100
Okaihau, Bay of Islands164
Okarito, Westland51
Okato, Taranaki149
Okoroire, Piako103
Okura, Westland57
Omahu, Thames110
Omaka, Marlborough61
Omakau, Vincent96
Omapere, Hokianga56
Omata, Taranaki222
Onamalutu, Marlborough122
Ongaonga, Waipawa319
Ongarue, Clifton107
Oparau, Kawhia124
Opawa, Selwyn661
Ophir, Vincent93
Opouriao and vicinity, Whakatane141
Opoutama, Wairoa45
Opuawhanga, Whangarei72
Oraki, Wallace125
Orari, Geraldine138
Orinoco, Waimea110
Oropi, Tauranga43
Otahuhu, Manukau1,302
Otaio, Waimate136
Otakeho, Hawera75
Otaki and vicinity, Horowhenua658
Otama, Southland324
Otara, Southland129
Otaua, Manukau97
Otakou, Peninsula111
Otatara, Southland181
Otekaike, Waitaki61
Otiake, Waitaki149
Otira, Westland182
Otokia, Taieri88
Otonga, Whangarei175
Otorohanga, Waitomo205
Owaka, Clutha505
Oxford, Piako126
Oxford East, Ashley549
Oxford West, Ashley563
Paekakariki, Hutt180
Paeroa, Ohinemuri993
Pahautanui, Hutt118
Pahi, Otamatea89
Pahia, Wallace92
Pakuranga, Manukau312
Pakipaki, Hawke's Bay109
Pakowhai, Hawke's Bay55
Panmure and vicinity, Eden359
Papakaio and vicinity, Waitaki202
Papakura, Manukau294
Papanui, Selwyn826
Paparangi, Hutt186
Paparata, Manukau165
Paparoa, Manukau195
Paparoa, Otamatea351
Papatoetoe, Manukau193
Paraparaumu, Hutt215
Pareora, Levels158
Pareora East, Levels266
Parkhurst, Waitemata181
Parkvale, Wairarapa South139
Patumahoe, Manukau179
Pembroke, Lake153
Penrose, Eden92
Petane, Hawke's Bay220
Pigeon Bay, Akaroa155
Pirongia, Raglan123
Pleasant Point, Levels691
Pohangina, Pohangina145
Pokeno, Manukau169
Pollok Settlement, Manukau109
Pongakawa, Tauranga146
Pongaroa, Akitio150
Poolburn, Vincent169
Porangahau, Patangata280
Porirua, Hutt260
Port Albert, Rodney96
Port Awanui, Waiapu52
Port Molyneux, Clutha100
Portobello, Peninsula48
Portobello Bay, Peninsula177
Puerua, Clutha137
Puhoi, Rodney416
Pukehou, Waipawa100
Pukekawa, Raglan289
Pukekohe, Manukau405
Pukerau, Southland178
Pukeroro, Waikato134
Puketapu, Hawke's Bay56
Puketitiri, Hawke's Bay105
Pukeuri, Waitaki172
Pungarehu, Egmont120
Puponga, Collingwood108
Purakanui, Waikouaiti241
Purekireki, Clutha157
Puriri, Thames226
Putiki, Wanganui165
Queensberry, Vincent66
Raetihi, Waimarino285
Raglan, Raglan154
Rahotu, Egmont194
Rakaia, Ashburton586
Ranfurly, Maniototo120
Rangitumau, Masterton129
Rangiwahia, Kiwitea155
Rata, Rangitikei220
Ratanui, Clutha273
Raurimu, Waimai459
Rawene, Hokianga171
Redcliffs, Waimate102
Red Hill, Hobson111
Redwood, Marlborough212
Reefton, Inangahua1,679
Reidston, Waitaki93
Reikorangi, Hutt186
Renwick, Marlborough365
Reynolds, Waikouaiti42
Richmond, Selwyn198
Richmond Brook, Marlborough73
Richmond Grove, Southland150
Rimu, Southland97
Rimu, Westland111
Rissington, Hawke's Bay92
Riversdale, Southland307
Riverhead, Waitemata135
Riwaka, Waimea686
Rolleston, Selwyn105
Romahapa, Clutha157
Rongoiti, Wanganui181
Rongokokako, Eketahuna105
Rongomai, Eketahuna159
Rongotea, Manawatu318
Rosebrook, Levels73
Rosewill Settlement, McKenzie236
Rosewill, Levels88
Rotherham, Amuri131
Round Hill, Wallace211
Ruapekapeka, Bay of Islands78
Ruapuna, Ashburton99
Runanga, Grey281
Runanga Settlement, Grey23
Russell, Bay of Islands175
Ryal Bush and vicinity, Southland239
Saddle Hill, Taieri238
Saies, Whangaroa134
Salisbury, Levels242
Saltwater Creek, Ashley89
Sandon, Manawatu200
Sandymount, Peninsula240
Sawyer's Bay, Waikouaiti375
Scarborough, Pahiatua110
Scargill, Ashley55
Seaward Downs, Southland94
Seddon, Marlborough165
Seddon Terrace, Westland82
Seddonville, Buller313
Sedgebrook, Wanganui300
Sefton and vicinity, Ashley589
Shag Valley, Waihemo194
Shag Point, Waihemo118
Shannon, Horowhenua506
Sheffield, Selwyn197
Shirley, Selwyn279
Shertland, Thames1,064
Silverhope, Rangitikei186
Silverstream, Hutt121
Southbrook, Ashley380
Southburn, Waimate145
South Malvern, Selwyn118
Spreydon, Selwyn1,514
Spring Creek, Marlborough275
Springfield, Selwyn371
Spring Grove, Waimea264
Springlands, Marlborough491
Springston, Selwyn676
Stafford, Westland93
Stanley Brook, Waimea127
Stanway, Oroua115
Starborough, Marlborough303
Staveley, Ashburton102
St. Andrew's, Waimate189
St. Bathan's, Maniototo210
St. Heliers Bay, Eden227
St. John's, Waitotara361
Stirling, Bruce289
Stoke, Waimea603
Strathmore, Stratford112
Studholme, Waimate189
Summerlea, Buller100
Sutherland's, Levels165
Sutton, Taieri122
Swannanoa, Ashley132
Swanson, Waitemata94
Taiaroa, Peninsula64
Taihape, Rangitikei1,273
Tairua, Thames336
Taita, Hutt96
Takaka, Takaka273
Takaka Central, Takaka105
Takaka West, Takaka129
Takapau, Waipawa400
Tamaki East, Manukau579
Tamumu, Patangata110
Taneatua, Whakatane65
Tangowahine, Hobson246
Taonui, Oroua147
Taratahi East, Wairarapa South168
Taratahi West, Wairarapa South213
Tarras, Vincent121
Tatarariki, Hobson394
Taueru, Masterton138
Tauherinikau, Featherston116
Taumarunui, West Taupo307
Taupaki, Waitemata123
Taupiri, Waikato177
Taupo, East Taupo84
Tawa Flat, Hutt114
Taylorville, Wanganui82
To Arai, Rodney143
Te Aroha West, Piako200
Te Aute, Hawke's Bay226
Teddington, Mount Herbert76
Te Houka, Clutha148
Te Kopuru, Hobson437
Te Kuiti, Waitomo246
Te Mata, Raglan207
Templeton, Selwyn33
Te Nui, Castlepoint147
Te Puke, Tauranga503
Te Whiti, Masterton108
Thornbury, Wallace102
Thorpe, Waimea136
Tisbury, Southland152
Toiro, Clutha174
Tokaanu, East Taupo44
Toko Town, Stratford168
Tokomaru, Waiapu118
Tokomaru, Horowhenua383
Tokonui, Southland67
Tomoana, Hawke's Bay221
Tongaporutu, Clifton171
Totara, Waitaki250
Totara Flat, Grey169
Trentham, Hutt243
Tuakau, Manukau302
Tuamarina, Marlborough259
Tuapeka Mouth, Tuapeka144
Tuapeka West, Tuapeka259
Turangarere, Wanganui166
Turua, Thames200
Upper Hutt, Hutt489
Upper Moutere, Waimea101
Urenui, Clifton139
Uruti, Clifton165
Vauxhall, Peninsula53
Vogeltown, Taranaki78
Waddington, Selwyn254
Wade, Waitemata204
Waharoa, Piako188
Waiareka Junction, Waitaki111
Waiau, Amuri173
Waiau, Manukau77
Waiharara, Mangonui191
Waihola, Bruce181
Waihopo, Mangonui269
Waihou, Piako100
Waikaia, Southland334
Waikaka Siding, Southland187
Waikaka, Southland124
Waikakahi, Waimato667
Waikanae, Horowhenua163
Waikari, Ashley267
Waikawa, Southland82
Waikiekie, Whangarei104
Waikiwi, Southland673
Waikoikoi, Clutha152
Waimamaku, Hokianga210
Waimangaroa, Buller93
Waimate, Bay of Islands109
Waimatuku, Wallace43
Wainui, Akaroa142
Wainuiomata, Hutt115
Waiomio, Bay of Islands75
Waiorongomai, Piako131
Waiotahi, Opotiki157
Waiotapu, Rotorua93
Waiouru, Waimarino191
Waipahi, Clutha125
Waipara, Ashley50
Waipiata, Maniototo102
Waipipi, Manukau183
Waipiro, Waiapu107
Waipori, Tuapeka135
Waipu, Whangarei208
Wairamarama, Raglan186
Wairere, Piako89
Wairio, Wallace73
Waitahuna, Tuapeka285
Waitangi, Manukau117
Waitati and vicinity, Waikouaiti295
Waitekauri, Ohinemuri270
Waitotara, Patea118
Waituna, Kiwitea67
Waiuku, Manukau183
Waiwera, Clutha158
Wakefield, Waimea544
Wallacetown, Southland134
Wallacetown East, Southland174
Wallingford, Patangata91
Walton, Piako141
Wangaloa, Bruce121
Wanstoad, Patangata93
Warepa, Clutha162
Warkworth, Rodney360
Washdyke, Levels279
Waynes, Waihemo27
Weatherstone, Tuapeka150
Weber and vicinity, Weber164
Wedderburn, Maniototo107
Weedon's, Selwyn110
Wellsford, Rodney171
Wendonside, Southland322
West Clive, Hawke's Bay387
Westerfield, Ashburton97
West Manakau, Horowhenua159
West Melton, Selwyn239
Western Spit, Hawke's Bay328
Weston, Waitaki275
Whakapara, Whangarei235
Whakarewarewa, Rotorua66
Whakatane, Whakatane108
Whangamarino, Waikato64
Whangaparaoa, Waitemata68
Whangape, Hokianga106
Whangarata, Manukau149
Whangaroa, Whangaroa69
Wharehine, Rodney74
Whitford, Manukau116
Whitmore, Kairanga23
Wimbledon, Patangata73
Wimbledon, Weber71
Winchester, Geraldine263
Windsor Park Settlement, Waitaki117
Wingatui, Taieri251
Woodend, Southland132
Woodlands, Southland253
Woodside, Taieri164
Woodstock, Waimea48
Woodstock, Westland54
Wrey's Bush, Wallace118
Yaldhurst, Selwyn359

POPULATION OF ADJACENT ISLANDS.

The names and populations of the islands adjacent to and included in New Zealand were, in April, 1906:—

IslandsTotalMF

* Now a county.

Mokohinau Lighthouse844
Tiritiri Lighthouse844
Motuhora312
Great Barrier312197115
Little Barrier817
Kawau26188
Ponui401822
Ponui Lighthouse11 
Ruthe's734
Pakatoa422
Pahiki33 
Waiheke1638083
Week's (Puketutu)514
Motuihi541
Bean Rock Lighthouse11 
Motutapu1385
Rakino33 
Rangitoto33 
Brown's211
Cuvier and Lighthouse642
Rakitu743
Rangiahua633
East Island Lighthouse752
Portland and Lighthouse734
Somes and Lighthouse532
Stephen's16106
Brothers Lighthouse33 
Dog Island and Lighthouse1367
Centre and Lighthouse1064
Chatham Islands*19711483
Kermadec Islands532
                        Total897517380

Only three of these islands had a population over 100 persons at last census. Since 1901 the boundaries of New Zealand have been extended to include the Cook and certain other Pacific islands, the population of which is shown elsewhere.

AGES OF THE PEOPLE.

The number of persons living in New Zealand at the time of the census, given according to eight principal age periods, is published in a table, with comparisons.

The table is worthy of notice, as exhibiting a much stronger position than obtained in 1891 as to component parts of the population.

In 1891 the population under five years had fallen from 86,828 persons in 1886 to 83,204, a loss of 3,624, or 4.17 per cent.

In 1896 those under five had increased to the number of 83,659, being 455 more than in 1891, or 0.55 per cent., while those from five to ten had suffered an actual decrease of 55, or 0.06 per cent., in consequence of there not having been enough children under five years to come on since 1891.

By 1901 the children under five had increased to 86,806, being 3,147, or 3.76 per cent., but previous diminutions caused decrease in those from five to ten and also ten to fifteen.

The effect of the deficiencies had been overcome by 1906, when the census showed 102,745 children under five, being an increase of 15,939, or 18.36 per cent., on the number in 1901. The number at the group five to ten was 90,288, or an increase of 4,552 in the quinquenium; and at ten to fifteen the number was 86,758, an increase of 1,533, or 1.8 per cents. Thus the minus sign has been eliminated in regard to the three groups comprising the population under fifteen years of age.

The group fifteen to twenty-one years still suffers from losses in the previous periods, but an increase of 2,989 over the number for 1901 is nevertheless exhibited, or 2.93 per cent.; and the population was found to be 104,945 in 1906.

The group twenty-one to forty years is a most important one, the population of these ages being no longer “dependents,” but “producers” or “bread-winners.” Here are observed 299,770 persons in 1906, an increase of 62,732 in five years, or 26.46 per cent. Between 1896 and 1901 the increase was 18.96 per cent., in the previous period 19.19 per cent., and for 1886–1891 only 7.52 per cent.

Again, at forty to fifty-five there are 115,707 persons, an increase of 16.32 per cent. since 1901, against an increase of 7.96, 6.22, and 6.15 per cent. for the three previous quinquennia.

There is nothing remarkable about the numbers of the groups fifty-five to sixty-five and sixty-five to seventy. At these periods the population at the groups becoming of a “dependent character.”

INCREASE OF POPULATION AT DIFFERENT AGE-PERIODS
AgesNumbers, March, 1886Increase, 1886 to 1891Numbers, April. 1891Increase, 1891 to 1896Numbers, April, 1896Increase, 1896 to 1901Numbers, March, 1901Increase, 1901 to 1906Numbers, April, 1906
NumericalCentesimalNumericalCentesimalNumericalCentesimalNumericalCentesimal
Under 5 years86,828-3,624-4.1783,2044550.5583,6593,1473.7686,80615,93918.36102,745
5 years and under 10 years84,3151,7652.0986,080-55-0.0686,025-289-0.3485,7364,5525.3190,288
10 years and under 15 years67,38513,69920.3381,0844,3835.4085,467-242-0.2885,2251,5331.8086,758
15 years and under 21 years69,5818,22711.8277,80817,77622.8595,5846,3726.67101,9562,9892.93104,945
21 years and under 40 years155,49211,6897.52167,18132,08019.19199,26137,77718.96237,03862,73226.46299,770
40 years and under 55 years81,7215,0226.1586,7435,3926.2292,1357,3367.9699,47116,23616.32115,707
55 years and under 65 years20,4368,81243.1229,24810,38335.5039,6314,86312.2744,4942,3425.2646,836
65 years and upwards10,433- 3,90937.4714,3426,41444.7220,75610,59751.0631,3539,43530.0940,788
Unspecified2,291-1,323-57.75968-126-13.02842-202-23.9964010115.78741
                All ages578,48248,1768.33626,65876,70212.24703,36069,3599.86772,719115,85914.99888,578

BIRTHPLACES OF THE PEOPLE.

Of the population, exclusive of Maoris (888,578 persons), all but 472 were described as to birthplace on the census schedules. The number of the New-Zealand-born was 606,247, and of those born in Australia, Tasmania, and Fiji 47,536, making 653,783 born in Australasia. The New-Zealand-born increase in proportion to the whole with every successive census. In 1886, 51.89 per cent, of the population were born in New Zealand; in 1891 the percentage was 58.61; in 1896 it had reached 62.85; in 1901 the proportion was 66.83; and in 1906, 68.26, adding to which 5.35 per cent, born in Australia, &c., makes 73.61 out of every 100 persons living in New Zealand who were born in Australasia.

208,931 persons were born in the United Kingdom, or 23.53 per cent. of the population, which was divided as under:—

Born in United KingdomNumber of PersonsPer Cent. of Population
England116,56013.13
Wales2,1440.24
Scotland47,7675.38
Ireland42,4604.78
 208,93123.53

Besides these there were 4,280 persons born in other British Possessions. Summarising these results it is found that 866,994 of the population, or 97.62 per cent, were born in the British Possessions, made up as follows:—

Born inNumber of PersonsPer Cent. of Population
Australasia653,78373.61
United Kingdom208,93123.53
Other British Possessions4,2800.48
 866,99497.62

There remained 19,867 persons born in foreign countries or 2.24 per cent. of the population, 1,245 born at sea, and 472 whose birthplaces were not specified.

Of those born in British Possessions outside of Australasia (4,280), 1,349 were born in India or Ceylon (but of European blood), 1,547 were born in British North America, 697 in British South Africa, Mauritius, or St. Helena, and 299 in British West Indies.

Born in Foreign Parts.

Out of 19,867 persons born abroad, 14,559 were born in Europe; 4,174 of these were born in Germany, 2,277 in Denmark and possessions, 2,212 in Austria Hungary, 1,618 in Sweden, 1,396 in Norway, 624 in France, 574 in Italy, 484 in Russia, 464 in Switzerland.

Outside of Europe 2,010 were found to have been born in the United States and North America (not more specifically defined), also 148 in South America. Those born in foreign parts of Asia numbered 3,009, in which are included 2,602 born in China (53 of European blood) and 361 in Syria (all Asiatics).

Only 129 persons were returned as born in Africa, outside of the British Possessions in that continent.

The foreign-born decrease at successive censuses, having been 2.71 of the total population in 1896, which fell to 2.41 in 1901, and 2.24 in 1906.

RELIGION.

Of the various religious denominations the Church of England has most adherents in New Zealand. They numbered 366,828 persons, or, including 1,237 Protestants not more specifically described, 368,065 persons, being 41.51 per cent. of the total specified. The Presbyterians numbered 203,597, or 22.96 per cent.; the Roman Catholics, including Catholics not further defined, 126,995 persons, or 14.32 per cent.; the Methodists, including Primitive Methodists and Methodists undefined, 89,038 persons, or 10.06 per cent. Of other denominations the Baptists, of whom there were 17,747, returned 2 per cent. of the total. The numbers and proportions per cent. are shown in tabular form.

Religious DenominationsNumbersProportions per Cent. of Total

*Includes Methodist Church of Australasia, Primitive Methodists, and Methodists undefined.

Episcopalians—  
    Church of England, including Protestants undefined368,06541.51
Presbyterians203,59722.96
Methodists*89,03810.06
Baptists17,7472.00
Congregationalists7,3600.83
Lutherans4,8560.55
Unitarians7890.09
Society of Friends3340.04
Other Protestants—  
    Church of Christ7,0610.80
    Brethren (Disciples)7,9010.89
    Salvation Army8,3890.95
    Christadelphians1,0590.12
    Swedenborgians1860.02
    Seventh Day Adventists9900.11
    Others1,3340.13
Roman Catholics, including Catholics undefined126,99514.32
Greek Church2320.03
Catholic Apostolic3810.04
Other sects—  
    Hebrews1,8670.21
    Mormons, Latter Day Saints2790.03
    Spiritualists1,0540.12
    Buddhists, Confucians, &c1,4520.17
    Others3560.04
No denomination—  
    Freethinkers3,1160.35
    Agnostics7340.08
    No denomination5,4160.61
    Others72 
No religion—  
    No religion1,6000.18
    Others1090.01
Object to state24,3252.75
Unspecified1,884 

CONJUGAL CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE.

Bachelors and Spinsters in New Zealand.

It is found that in April, 1906, there were 9,633 bachelors, aged twenty years and upwards, in excess of the number of spinsters, aged fifteen years and upwards. In 1901 the reverse was the case, the spinsters having been 3,572 in excess of the bachelors; and in 1896, similarly, the spinsters exceeded the bachelors by 1,786. No doubt the preponderance of bachelors in 1906 (for the whole of New Zealand) has been to a great extent brought about by increased arrivals of male population from abroad. But in regard to portions, other causes may have operated.

At each of the above-quoted censuses, the Provincial Districts of Canterbury and Otago are remarkable as having more spinsters than bachelors, while all the others exhibit, more or less, the opposite position. But the figures for 1906 show that the excess of spinsters in Canterbury and Otago have much diminished.

Excess of Spinsters over Bachelors.

Provincial Dis'ricts189619011906
Canterbury3,9974,9182,117
Otago2,0661,899954

Excess of Bachelors over Spinsters.

Provincial Districts189619011906
Wellington637324,389
Auckland7035213,383
Nelson5806371,550
Hawke's Bay1,1424251,151
Westland501666935
Taranaki524805754
Marlborough183158532

OCCUPATIONS OF THE PEOPLE.

In the Registrar-General's Report on the Census of 1906 and in the Census Volume will be found full details of the Occupations of the People. A short reference to the Classification is all that can be introduced here.

NUMBERS AND PROPORTIONS IN THE CLASSES.

The population, specified as to occupation, is divided into two sections:—

 TotalsMalesFemales
Breadwinners399,085323,84175,244
Dependents, or non-breadwinners489,260146,947342,313
Occupation not stated23322013

The dependent population consists chiefly of wives, relatives, and others employed in household duties but unpaid, children, persons supported by charity, &c. Its proportion to the whole increases with the process going on of equalisation in numbers of the sexes.

The male breadwinners were more than twice as numerous as the male dependents, who were mostly under fifteen years of age; but the female dependents were nearly five times as many as the breadwinners of that sex.

Breadwinners are divided into seven classes:—

Primary Producers.—Males, 114,906; females, 3,467: This class includes persons engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits, fishing, and mining.

Males 24.41, females 0.83 per cent. of population of either sex.

Industrial.—Males, 105,768; females, 18,487: persons engaged in manufacture or other processes where materials are employed combined.

Males 22.47, females 4.42 per cent.

Commercial.—Males, 43,339; females, 8,629.

The commercial group forms 9.19 per cent. of the male and 2.07 per cent. of the female population.

Transport and Communication.—Males, 27,637; females, 749: persons engaged in the transport of passengers and goods, and in effecting communication.

Males 5.87, females 0.18 per cent.

Professional.—Males, 16,578; females, 10,520. These are persons, not otherwise classed, engaged in Government, defence, law and order, or ministering to religion, charity, health, education, art, science, or amusement.

Males 3.53, females 2.52 per cent.

Domestic (but directly earning money).—Males, 9,593; females, 30,210: persons supplying board and lodging, or personal services for which payment is rendered.

Males 2.04, females 7.24 per cent.

Indefinite.—Males, 6,020; females, 3,182: persons living on incomes earned in the past, or indefinitely described.

Males 1.28, females 0.76 per cent.

The population of each class, and the proportion per cent. of the total population, are tabulated below:—

OccupationsNumbersProportions per Cent
PersonsMalesFemalesPersonsMalesFemales
Total population888,578471,008417,570100.00100.00100.00
Section A.—Breadwinners.      
Class I. Professional27,09816,57810,5203.053.532.52
Class II. Domestic39,8039,59330,2104.482.047.24
Class III. Commercial—      
    Sub-class A. Property and Finance7,2336,3708630.811.350.21
    Sub-class B. Trade44,07736,3177,7604.967.701.86
    Sub-class C. Storage65865260.070.14 
Class IV. Transport and Communication28,38627,6377493.205.870.18
Class V. Industrial124,255105,76818,48713.9822.474.42
Class VI. Agricultural, Pastoral, and other Primary Producers—      
    Sub-class A. Agricultural69,55767,8341,7237.8314.410.42
    Sub-class B. Pastoral27,40025,6701,7303.085.450.41
    Sub-class C. Mineral15,96415,95681.813.39 
    Sub-class D. Other Primary Producers5,4525,44660.611.16 
Class VII. Indefinite9,2026,0203,1821.041.280.76
Section B—Non-breadwinners (Dependents).      
Class VIII. Dependents—      
    Sub-class A. Dependent on natural guardians480,297141,279339,01854.0730.0181.19
    Sub-class B. Dependent upon the State, or upon public or private support8,9635,6683,2951.011.200.79
Occupations not stated23322013   

No less than 31.21 per cent. of the male population are shown to be dependent, and 81.98 per cent. of the females. These consist of 141,279 males and 339,018 females dependent upon natural guardians; and 5,668 males and 3,295 females dependent upon the State, or upon public or private support. The greater number of those dependent upon natural guardians are scholars and students. There are also a large number of dependent relatives who were not stated to be performing domestic duties, and, of females, many persons performing domestic duties for which remuneration is not paid.

In the next table the number of breadwinners of either sex in each class of occupation, and the proportions per cent. to the total of breadwinners, is given:—

OccupationsNumbersProportions per Cent
PersonsMalesFemalesPersonsMalesFemales
Total breadwinners399,085323,84175,244100.00100.00100.00
Class I. Professional27,09816,57810,5206.795.1213.98
Class II. Domestic39,8039,59330,2109.972.9640.15
Class III. Commercial—      
    Sub-class A. Property and Finance7,2336,3708631.811.971.15
    Sub-class B. Trade44,07736,3177,76011.0511.2110.31
    Sub-class C. Storage65865260.160.200.01
Class IV. Transport and Communication28,38627,6377497.118.530.99
Class V. Industrial124,255105,76818,48731.1332.6624.57
Class VI. Agricultural, Pastoral, and other Primary Producers—      
    Sub-class A. Agricultural69,55767,8341,72317.4320.952.29
    Sub-class B. Pastoral27,40025,6701,7306.877.932.30
    Sub-class C. Mineral15,96415,95684.004.930.01
    Sub-class D. Other Primary Producers5,4525,44661.371.680.01
Class VII. Indefinite9,2026,0203,1822.311.864.23

EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYED.

The breadwinners of the Dominion are also classified according to the grade of their occupations, by which means the entire population can be brought under six heads:—

 MalesPer Cent. of BreadwinnersFemalesPer Cent. of Breadwinners
Employers41,47612.812,3333.10
Independent workers46,93614.497,93110.54
Wage earners203,98762.9955,49173.75
Unemployed8,1892.531,3721.82
Relatives assisting, and not specified23,2537.188,11710.79
Breadwinners323,841100.0075,244100.00
Dependents146,947 342,313 
Not stated220 13 
            Totals471,008 417,570 

Details for each class of occupation in every grade are given in the census report.

The proportion of the male breadwinners who are employers (12.81 per cent.) is slightly higher than it was in 1901 (12.39 per cent.). On the female side the proportion of employers was 3.1 per cent., as against 3.06 in 1901. Male wage-earners, employed or unemployed, were 65.52 per cent., against 63.7 per cent. in 1901. Female wage-earners, whether in work or not, were 75.57 per cent. in 1906, against 75.3 per cent. in 1901.

THE UNEMPLOYED.

The unemployed male population in New Zealand in April, 1906, formed only 2.53 per cent. of the breadwinners, as against 3.08 per cent returned at the census of 1901.

Of the unemployed (males), which totalled 8,189,—

1,941 are found in Order 24 (891 agricultural, 224 pastoral, 679 mining, gold, coal, &c., 114 bushmen, and 33 fishermen and others).

1,191 in Order 23: Industrial workers imperfectly defined (chiefly general labourers).

1,164 in Order 21: House building, road and railway - works labourers, &c.,

330 in Order 3: Engaged in board and lodging and rendering personal services.

695 in Order 14: Road, railway, tram, or sea and river traffic.

719 in Order 15: Manufacturers of books, tools, implements, furniture, building materials, &c.

303 in Order 16: Manufacturing textile, fabrics, dress, &c.

317 in Order 2: Ministering to religion, charity, health, education, &c.

345 in Order 19: Manufacturing earthenware, jewellery, and workers in metals.

273 in Order 7: Dealing in food, drinks, narcotics, and stimulants.

206 in Order 17: Workers in animal food, drinks, narcotics, stimulants, &c.

The balance being fairly evenly distributed over the remaining Orders of Occupations.

Of the regular agricultural workers for wages, only thirty-five in every thousand were found to be unemployed.

In dealing with the above figures it is necessary to remember that at the time of the census no less than 3,241 males between 15 and 60 years of age were returned as suffering from sickness or accident, and some of these would probably be included in the number stated to be unemployed.

Generally, the results of the investigation into the occupation of the people agree with the result of the inquiry into the development of manufactures and works, which is given further on (Section VIII). It is found in regard to industries that spring directly from land settlement, such as butter and cheese making, meat-freezing, and sawing of timber, the development since 1901 was considerable. The exact number of persons unemployed belonging to each specific occupation will be found in the Census volume, p. 386.

It is a matter for congratulation that the total number of unemployed in 1906 was found to be only 9,561, against 9,826 in 1901, when the population of the Dominion was much smaller.

POPULATION OF AUSTRALASIA.

The growth of population in Australasia over a period of forty-six years is shown in a comparative table. The total for December, 1906, being 5,038,560 persons, is greater than the population of Ireland or Scotland for 1905, 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.

 PersonsPersonsPersonsPersonsPersonsPersons
 186018701880189019011906

* Excluding 47,731 Maoris and 12,340 persons belonging to Cook and other annexed Pacific Islands.

New South Wales348,546498,659747,9501,121,8601,362,2001,526,697
Victoria537,847726,599860,6671,133,2661,201,5061,231,940
Queensland28,056115,567226,677392,965503,266535,113
South Australia124,112183,797267,573319,414362,604383,829
Western Australia15,22725,08429,01946,290182,553261,746
Tasmania87,775100,765114,762145,290172,475180,156
New Zealand79,711248,400484,864625,508772,719*908,726
      Australasia1,221,2741,898,8712,730,3123,784,5934,557,3235,028,207

Chapter 34. SECTION II.-EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE.

OF every 100 persons in New Zealand at the time of the census of 1906, 83.5 could read and write, 1.6 could read only, and 14.9 could neither read nor write. The proportion able to read and write has increased, and that of persons who cannot read has decreased, steadily since 1874. The figures are given for four censuses:—

 Read and writeRead onlyCannot read
Census 187468.158.0923.76
Census 188674.014.8021.19
Census 189680.602.8916.51
Census 190683.501.6014.90

To ascertain, however, how completely education is carried out, accepting as a test the knowledge of reading and writing, it is necessary to show the position at present in respect of age periods, which is accordingly given.

At the period under five years none are found to read and write, and only 0.37 were able to read; 99.63 being unable to do either on account of extreme youth. At five to ten years 65.51 could read and write, and 10.14 read only, leaving 24.35 who could not read. But this last only includes three years of the school-going period.

With the subsequent periods up to forty years figures under “Read only” and “Cannot” are reduced to small fractions as under:—

 Read and writeRead onlyCannot read
10 to 15 years99.450.220.33
15 to 20 years99.630.080.29
20 to 25 years99.560.080.36
25 to 30 years99.430.130.44
30 to 35 years99.350.160.49
35 to 40 years99.120.240.64

At forty to forty-five years those who “cannot read” are over 1 per cent., and the proportion goes on increasing regularly, thus:—

 Read and writeRead onlyCannot read
50 to 55 years96.321.532.15
60 to 65 years94.052.533.42
70 to 75 years89.155.125.73
80 and upwards86.146.127.74

The improved conditions of the young people are clearly shown above. At the last two periods given, which belong to advanced life, 10.85 per cent. and 13.86 per cent. are found to be either “reading only” or quite illiterate.

SCHOOL STATISTICS TO 31ST DECEMBER, 1906.

It has been found impossible to collect the full statistics relating to schooling for the year 1907 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, 1906, are shown in the following summary:—

Description of SchoolsNumber of SchoolsNumber of InstructorsNumber of Scholars for the Fourth Quarter of 1906
MFTotalBoysGirlsTotal

* Excluding 54 visiting teachers.

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

‡ And 11 sewing-mistresses.

EUROPEAN       
Public (Government) schools (scholars other than Maoris and half-castes)1,8471,4672,4053,87270,68164,669135,350
Public (Government) schools (half-castes living among Europeans)6575901,247
Colleges, grammar and high schools (aided or endowed)28  *1952,5281,7424,270
Private schools (excluding Maori scholars)3081317688997,02610,10517,131
Industrial schools and orphanages    435360795
Native village schools, European children attending    201181382
Private Native boarding-schools, European children attending    9 9
School for Deaf-mutes1   373370
Jubilee Institute for Blind1 22189†27
  Totals—Europeans2,185  4,96881,59277,689159,281
NATIVE       
Native village schools supported by Government (excluding European children stated above)10079115‡1942,0741,7183,792
Private Native boarding-schools (maintenance of scholars paid by Government)781119405999
Private Native boarding-schools (maintenance of scholars paid from endowments)13299231
Private Native day-schools648129070160
Public (Government) schools, Maoris attending    1,4671,0272,494
Public (Government) schools, half-castes living as Maoris attending    11299211
Private schools for Europeans, Maoris attending    444286
  Totals—Natives113911342253,9593,1147,073

Thus at the end of 1906 there were 2,298 schools of all classes at which members of the European and Maori races were being educated. This was an increase of 67 on the number in 1905. The public primary schools numbered 1,847 in 1906, against 1,806 in 5. The number of aided or endowed colleges, grammar, and high schools was 28, 1 more than in the previous year. The number of private schools from which returns were received by the Registrar-General was 308, an increase of 17. There were also 11 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 113, 8 more than in 1905.

Public (Government) Schools.

Compared with 1905, there was in 1906 an increase of 1,679 in the number of pupils belonging to the public schools at the end of the year, and the average attendance shows an increase of 1,693 for the whole year.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND YEARLY INCREASE FROM 1877 TO 1906
YearSchool AttendanceYearly Increase on
Number belonging at Beginning of YearNumber belonging at End of YearAverage Attendance*Average Attendance expressed as Percentage of Roll-numberNumber belonging at Beginning of YearNumber belonging at End of YearAverage Attendance†
Fourth QuarterWhole YearFourth QuarterWhole Year

* From 1877 to 1893 inclusive) the “strict” average is given, and for subsequent years the “working” average.

† From 1877 to 1894 (inclusive) the increase on the “strict” average is given, and for subsequent years that on the “working” average.

1877 55,688       
187850,84965,04049,43545,521  9,352  
187959,70775,56657,30153,06773.88,85810,5267,8667,546
188068,12482,40162,94660,62574.68,4176,8355,6457,558
188174,35983,56063,00961,82274.26,2351,159631,197
188276,30987,17966,42663,70973.61,9503,6193,4171,887
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
1891110,665119,52396,26497,05880.32,5071,611[—406]2,426
1892112,279122,620100,91799,07080.61,6143,0974,6532,012
1893114,305124,68699,87298,61578.52,0262,066[—1,045][—455]
1894116,819127,300107,032104,99681.82,5142,6146,2794,875
1895113,900129,856108,708108,39482.83,0812,5561,6763,398
1896122,425131,037110,274110,51783.32,5251,1811,5662,123
1897123,533132,197111,952112,32883.91,1081,1601,6781,811
1898123,892131,621109,561111,63683.4359[—576][—2,391][—692]
1899123,207131,315109,050110,31682.6[—685][—306][—511][—1,320]
1900123,416130,724111,498111,74784.1209[—5912,4481,431
1901122,725131,351112,354111,79784.1[—691]62785650
1902123,456132,262111,556113,71184.9731911[—798]1,914
1903124,095133,568114,232113,04783.96391,3062,676[—664]
1904125,150135,475117,965116,50685.51,0551,9073,7333,459
1905126,653137,623120,725120,26586.91,5032,1482,7603,759
1906128,328139,302 121,95886.91,6751,679 1,693

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

In the average of the weekly roll-numbers there is an increase of 1,849 for the year. The figures for 1905 were 138,471, and 140,320 for 1906. At the end of the year the number on the roll was 139,302, as against 137,623 for the previous year, an increase of 1,679.

The high standard of regularity of attendance of last year, 86.9, was maintained in 1906. In the first quarter the average daily attendance was 86.9 per cent. of the average weekly roll-number, in the second quarter 87.1 per cent., in the third quarter 87.4 per cent., and in the fourth 86.4 per cent. Otago, which ever since 1901 has stood at the head of the list, took second place, having to give way to Westland, which district shows a percentage of 88.8. South Canterbury, with a percentage of 88.2, and Wellington with 87.5, hold third and fourth places. As a whole the South Island shows a greater degree of regularity of attendance than the North, the respective rates being 87.1 per cent. and 86.7 per cent. of the average weekly roll. In 1905 the figures were 87.5 per cent. and 86.4 per cent. respectively.

The increase in total average attendance for the year 1906 was 1,693. In the North Island the increase was 1,916; but there was a decrease in the South Island of 223.

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.

TRAINING OF TEACHERS.

For the training of teachers, secondary and primary, provision has been made by the establishment of a non-residential training college in each of the four chief centres of population—Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington. Training institutions for primary teachers have for many years been established in Christchurch and Dunedin.

In the beginning of 1906 the training colleges at Auckland and Wellington were opened, and, with the two training colleges then in operation, but which had been recently reorganized under more liberal conditions, adequate provision has been made for the training of teachers in each of the four University centres.

The number of students during the year attending the various training colleges was as follows: Auckland, 19 women, 17 men, total 36; Wellington, 61 women, 16 men, total 77; Christchurch, 54 women, 15 men, total 69; Dunedin, 61 women, 18 men, total 79. The total for the whole is 195 women and 66 men, as compared with 174 women and 47 men for the corresponding period of 1905. The proportion of male teachers to women teachers has risen from 27 to 34 per cent.

The amount paid during 1906 for the training of teachers was £33,747, made up as follows: Salaries of staffs of four training colleges, £11,006; students' allowances and University fees, £11,032; grants

for special instruction in handwork, £2,415; railway fares of teachers in training, £4,307; alterations to buildings, Wellington, £4,787; apparatus, furniture, &c., Auckland, £200. It must be remembered, however, that £22,038 of this total provides not only for the efficient training of over two hundred teachers, but the instruction of over sixteen hundred children in attendance at the practising schools.

Connected with each training college is a normal or practising school, which includes, besides the ordinary classes of a public elementary school, a model “country” school of forty children and a secondary department. The secondary department affords opportunities of practical training to those who intend to take up secondary work either in the high schools or in the upper departments of district high schools.

According to the regulations adopted, students of a training college take English and other non-special subjects at the university college, and attend lectures in the methods of teaching and in the history and principles of education, under the principal, who is generally also by appointment the university college lecturer in education. Every one is required to take up at least one branch of science, special attention being directed to nature-study and elementary agriculture; and handwork of various forms suited to school purposes also receives a prominent place in the curriculum.

A pupil-teacher in any education district who has satisfactorily completed his term of service may enter at the training college most convenient for him, the complete course extending over two years. During this period he receives, in addition to the amount of his university college fees, a sum of £30 a year, with a further allowance of £30 if he is compelled to live away from home to attend the college. Advantages not quite so great are also offered to other qualified candidates who have not been pupil-teachers. Others again may be admitted for longer or shorter periods although they may for some time have been engaged in the practice of their profession.

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE OF EDUCATION BOARDS.

The total income of the various Education Boards for the year 1906 was £824,958, including £1,064 of refunds, fines, &c. The grants by Government amounted to £805,417, 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 £18,476.

The expenditure on teachers' salaries was £472,152, as against £426,343 for 1905. Of this increase—nearly £46,000—part was due to the usual increase in the number of schools and in the average attendance; but a very large proportion of the increase was caused by the operation of “The Education Act Amendment Act, 1905” (which came into force on the 1st January, 1906), which provided a general increase to the salaries of teachers, including pupil-teachers, and the same rate of salary for female teachers as for males. There has also been considerable increase in expenditure for secondary education at district high schools and for scholarships; for training of teachers, due to the reorganization of the four training colleges under more liberal conditions; for manual and technical instruction, due to the increase in the number of classes and in the attendance; and for school buildings, owing to increase of new settlements and additions required at existing 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.£sd
Balance, 1st January, 190620,92371
Government grants—   
Rents from reserves ...£48,895711
Balance of grants for salaries of teachers and pupil-teachers424,483168
Allowance at £250 and capitation74,884149
Other grants20,36686
          Total for maintenance568,630710
Scholarships and salaries of staffs of secondary departments of district high schools ...32,431136
Manual and technical instruction32,279131
Buildings and teachers' house allowances172,075155
          Total from Government805,417910
Local receipts—   
Fees, donations, &c16,8071711
Interest, rents, &c1,667163
 18,475142
Refunds, fines, &c. ...1,06492
 £845,88103
Expenditure.£sd
Boards' administration35,148105
Teachers' and pupil-teachers' salaries and pupil-teachers' lodging-allowances472,1521711
Incidental expenses of schools—   
Ordinary£37,73165
Capitation at 9d.4,525149
 37,73165
Salaries of relieving teachers2,83933
Scholarships and secondary education33,002131
Training of teachers15,132159
Manual and technical instruction36,239128
Buildings, house allowances, sites, &c150,34456
Refunds and sundries4,21464
Balance, 31st December, 190659,075811
 £845,88103

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

The Education Act of 1904 provides for public instruction in such subjects of manual training and of art, science, and technology as are set forth in the regulations thereunder. The same Act provides 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, equipment, and material, and for capitation, and subsidies of £1 for £1 on voluntary contributions.

During 1906 capitation was paid on attendances at classes for drawing (various branches), painting, modelling, design, wood-carving, architecture, cabinet-making, carpentry and joinery, plumbing, painters' and decorators' work, mechanical and electrical engineering, practical mathematics and mechanics, surveying, natural and experimental science (various branches), agriculture, dairy-work, farriery and smithing, modern languages, mathematics, commercial subjects, cookery, laundry-work, dressmaking, millinery, tailoring, wool-sorting, and vocal music.

The subjects taken up in classes in connection with primary and secondary schools included cookery, woodwork, elementary practical agriculture, dairy-work, swimming and life-saving, first aid and ambulance, dressmaking, and laundry-work, and elementary practical physics and chemistry.

Special annual grants are made to Education Boards for the maintenance of training classes for teachers in subjects of manual and technical instruction prescribed for school classes.

Provision has also been made for free technical education. Persons complying with the conditions prescribed by the regulations are entitled to hold junior free places at technical schools or classes. These free places are tenable for two years, and may be continued under certain conditions for three years more as senior free places. In order that the substratum on which technical education is based may be sound, it is made a condition of the tenure of junior free places 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. Holders of senior free places are required to take up definite courses of technical instruction. Over 1,600 persons qualified for free technical instruction during the year.

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 1904, 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, and 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. Continuation classes and classes for manual and technical instruction may also be established by Borough Councils, County Councils, and other local authorities acting jointly with an Education Board or the governing body of a university college or secondary school; these are called “associated classes,” and all bodies contributing thereto 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 Education Department conducts every year examinations on behalf of the Board of Education, South Kensington (science and art subjects), and the City and Guilds of London Institute (technological subjects). In 1906 examinations were held at sixteen centres. At the science and art examinations, 358 out of 559 candidates who presented themselves for examination in various subjects were successful. At the technological examinations 154 candidates passed out of a total of 236. The number of separate subjects in which candidates are examined increases from year to year, and likewise the number of centres from which candidates are drawn. The percentage of failures in New Zealand is less than in England, although a smaller proportion of colonial students qualify in the honours grade.

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 mechanical, electrical or civil engineering, or for the associateship in engineering. One hundred and sixty students attended in 1906.

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.

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. Free railway tickets are issued to holders of free places at technical schools, and to public school teachers attending approved training-classes.

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

A review of the year's work discloses a very considerable advance throughout in respect of matters connected with manual and technical instruction. In the larger centres controlling authorities have been enabled by means of Government grants to continue the work of extending and improving the provision already made for technical instruction, with the result that a general improvement is noticeable not only in the range and character of the instruction, but also in the efficiency of the accommodation and equipment for classes. Provision is also being made, as far as circumstances (local and otherwise) warrant, for accommodation and equipment for classes in a number of smaller centres in which facilities for technical instruction have been previously la king. Evidence is not wanting that on the whole the classes so established are being taken advantage of by those for whose benefit they have been initiated. In the case of some of the technical schools in the larger centres steps have been taken to establish subcentres, many of the classes being conducted by itinerant instructors or by instructors on the staff of the technical school. This system, which has much to commend it, makes for greater efficiency in the matter of instruction than would otherwise be the case, and further enables the authorities of what may be termed the parent schools to find full employment for some at least of their instructors. The establishment in certain centres of technical day classes, in addition to the usual evening classes, to which reference was made in last year's report, has also done much to improve the teaching-strength of the staffs of the technical schools concerned. Far better results are likely to accrue where instructors are able to give their whole time to the work, instead of, as has too often been the case hitherto, being employed in giving instruction for one or two evenings a week only. With regard to the technical day classes, which are attended mainly by holders of free places, there is one feature that appears to call for special mention, and that is the very large number of pupils taking courses in commercial instruction compared with the number of pupils taking courses in other subjects of technical instruction. Without going into the reasons, which are sufficiently obvious, for this not altogether satisfactory state of affairs, let it suffice to say that this undue preponderance of classes for commercial instruction is to be regretted. The continued efforts on the part of those responsible for the conduct of the larger technical schools in the direction of inducing students to take up definite courses of instruction in lieu of isolated subjects are meeting with a greater measure of success than heretofore. In spite of the many real difficulties to be contended against, it has been found possible to arrange in certain cases for fairly complete courses of instruction for those engaged in important and widespread industries and trades. The schools have been assisted in this very important matter by the improved attitude of employers, who appear to have begun to realise that it is to their benefit to encourage their employees to avail themselves of the opportunities now offered for obtaining a knowledge of the principles underlying the practice of the industry or trade with which they are immediately concerned. There is abundant evidence that an increasing interest is being taken by local bodies and employers of labour in the institutions devoted to technical instruction, the effect of which cannot fail to be other than beneficial to the cause of technical education. As evidencing the interest referred to, it may be remarked that the amount paid by the Government during the year by way of subsidies on voluntary contributions in aid of technical instruction was nearly two and a half times as much as for the previous year. The number of approved technical, continuation, and school classes in operation during the year was 5,012, as against 3945 for the previous year. Of these classes 3,839 were classes for instruction in various branches of handwork in connection with nearly a thousand primary and secondary schools, while 1,173 were special, associated, and college classes for instruction in various subjects of science, art, and technology. Technical classes were held at about seventy-eight different places.

An increasing amount of attention continues to be given to instruction in handwork in connection with primary and secondary schools. Cookery and woodwork, among other subjects, are now being taught in nearly every education district. During the year 214 cookery classes and 188 woodwork classes were in operation. These classes are taught usually at properly equipped central schools This system, though not without disadvantages, has much to command it. It has the merit of economy, and thus enables controlling authorities to arrange for the instruction of a much larger number of children than would otherwise be the case. Considerable attention is also being given to instruction in primary schools, in subjects relating or leading up to rural pursuits. A large number of schools over three hundred, are now provided with gardens and experimental plots, affording excellent opportunities for gaining a little knowledge at first hand by bringing children into contact with things rather than with other people's description of things. The action of certain controlling authorities in appointing special instructors to train the teachers and to supervise the work in the schools should do much to increase the value of what is a most important factor in the all-round education of the child. When it is remembered that until recently facilities for the training of teachers in rural science were almost if not entirely absent, it is pleasing to be able to record the fact that the work accomplished in connection with not a few of the school gardens has been distinctly beneficial to the general work of the school. In two education districts, in addition to school gardens, instruction is now being given in the principles connected with the processes common to dairying, and to a smaller extent in the processes themselves, with gratifying results. As a result of this preliminary training in the schools, controlling authorities should experience little difficulty in arranging later on for more specialised instruction in connection with classes or young people who have left school not unacquainted with some at least of the facts of their surroundings.

The special grants to Education Boards for the training of teachers in subjects of manual and technical instruction have been continued this year. The grants have, on the whole, been wisely used, and full advantage has been taken by teachers of the opportunities provided for instruction. The curriculum of the training colleges in the four large centres also includes instruction in various branches of handwork. At the examinations of the City and Guilds of London Institute thirty-eight teachers passed the examination in cookery, and twenty-nine that in woodwork.

Free places at technical schools were held by over 1,600 persons, as against about 1,000 for the previous year. A fair proportion of holders of junior free places have qualified by examination for senior free places, entitling them to three years further free education, at the end of which period they should have passed through a fairly complete course of technical instruction.

The specimens of handwork from public and secondary schools, and of the work of some of the technical and art schools, exhibited at the International Exhibition at Christchurch afforded an opportunity of gauging to some extent the value of what is being done in the way of manual and technical instruction. The exhibits, though not as representative as they might have been, gave in many instances evidence of sound instruction and of progress along right lines.

The total expenditure by the Government on manual and technical instruction for 1906 was £63,416 2s. 3d. The details are as follows: Capitation on all classes, £25,363 1s. 2d.; grants for buildings and equipment, £24,905 3s. 11d.; grants for material for class use, £951 4s. 4d.; subsidies on voluntary contributions, £3,225 15s. 11d.; training of teachers in subjects of manual and technical instruction, £2,415; training colleges on account of instruction in handwork, £923 12s. 5d.; railway fares of instructors and students, £647 9s. 5d.; expenses in connection with the examinations of the Board of Education, South Kensington, and of the City and Guilds of London Institute, £701 0s. 2d.; inspection, £899 19s.; free places, £3,336 0s. 7d.; sundries, £47 15s. 4d. The sum of £160 12s. 6d. was recovered by way of examination fees and from sale of material used at examinations, leaving a net expenditure of £63,255 9s. 9d.

MANUAL AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION, 1906.—SCHOOL CLASSES
Subjects of InstructionNumber of Classes
Elementary handwork2,028
Drawing in light and shade, blackboard drawing and design637
Cookery .. ..214
Dressmaking .. ..64
Needlework .. ..198
Woodwork .. ..188
Elementary science ..76
Elementary physiology, health, and first aid39
Swimming and life-saving81
Elementary agriculture253
Dairying .. ..2
Elementary physical measurements59
  Totals3,839
MANUAL AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION, 1906.—SPECIAL ASSOCIATED AND COLLEGE CLASSES
Subjects of InstructionAverage Attendance
Freehand (from the flat and round), light and shade1,520
Plane and solid geometry, perspective, practical geometry357
Design and ornament ..102
Drawing, modelling, and painting from antique and nature707
Architecture and building-construction216
Mechanical drawing and machine-construction330
Practical mechanics and mathematics, surveying548
Mechanical and electrical engineering485
Experimental and natural science (chemistry, physics, botany, agriculture, photography, &c.)450
Woodwork and ironwork335
Wood-carving, modelling, and repoussé work505
Carpentry and joinery, cabinetmaking, painters' and decorators' work, coachbuilding434
Plumbers' and tinsmiths' work, iron and brass moulding366
Smithing .. ..3
Cookery and laundry-work, dressmaking, millinery, tailoring1,735
Wool-sorting .. ..60
Commercial subjects ..4,918
English, Latin, French, German, Maori, arithmetic2,706
Music, singing, and elocution49
Training-classes for teachers in elementary handwork, woodwork, and cookery ..277
Training-classes for teachers in drawing739
Training-classes for teachers in physical measurements, elementary agriculture, and nature-study865

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

ART AND SCIENCE EXAMINATIONS, 1906
Subjects of ExaminationNumber of
CandidatesPasses
Art—  
 Freehand drawing9668
 Model drawing10158
 Geometrical drawing2721
 Perspective drawing129
 Blackboard drawing6111
 Drawing in light and shade2619
 Memory drawing of plant-form77
 Drawing common objects from memory30
 Drawing from life22
  Painting from still life118
 Painting ornament10
 Design ..128
 Anatomy22
 Drawing from the antique22
 Modelling the head from life21
 Modelling design10
 Architecture20
 Architectural design22
 Students' works2816
Science—  
 Practical plane and solid geometry77
 Machine construction and drawing4534
 Building construction and drawing3529
 Mathematics1817
 Applied mechanics117
 Steam ..41
 Theoretical inorganic chemistry43
 Magnetism and electricity128
 Sound, light, and heat10
 Sound ..11
 Light ..11
 Heat ..11
 Botany ..11
 Physiography42
 Hygiene44
 Human physiology85
 Zoology ..11
 General biology11
 Agricultural science and rural economy21
  Totals559358
TECHNOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS, 1906
Subjects of ExaminationNumber of
CandidatesPasses
Plumbers' work (preliminary)158
Principles of plumbing (ordinary)1710
Principles of plumbing (honours)21
Plumbers' work, practical (ordinary)154
Plumbers' work, practical (honours)21
Plumbers' work (ordinary)2920
Plumbers' work (honours)129
Carpentry and joinery (preliminary)85
Carpentry and joinery (ordinary)85
Carpentry and joinery (honours)11
Cabinetmaking (ordinary)22
Mechanical engineering (ordinary), Part I11
Mechanical engineering (ordinary), Part II31
Electric light and power (preliminary)99
Electric light and power (ordinary)41
Wiremen's work31
Electric light and power (honours)  
Telegraphy and telephony (ordinary)32
Telegraphy (honours)11
Gas-manufacture (ordinary)22
Gas-manufacture (honours)11
Woodwork, first year3522
Woodwork, final157
Plain cookery4588
Dressmaking22
Plain needlework10
  Totals236154

The expenditure for the year is given in detail:—

SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURE BY GOVERNMENT ON MANUAL AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION FOR YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER, 1906
    £sd
Capitation ..   25,36312
Subsidy of £1 for £1 on contributions   3,2251511
Grants—£sd   
      Buildings, apparatus, and rent24,905311   
      Class material95144   
    25,85683
      Training of Teachers—      
            Auckland Education Board25000   
            Taranaki Education Board19500   
            Wanganui Education Board25000   
            Wellington Education Board10000   
            Hawke's Bay Education Board25000   
            Marlborough Education Board12500   
            Nelson Education Board12500   
            Grey Education Board2500   
            Westland Education Board7500   
            North Canterbury Education Board25000   
            South Canterbury Education Board22500   
            Otago Education Board22000   
            Southland Education Board32500   
    2,41500
Railway fares of instructors of training-classes   47406
Railway fares of students attending registered classes   173811
Expenses in connection with Examinations—      
      Science and Art Board of Education, South£sd   
            Kensington23027   
      City and Guilds of London Institute470177   
    70102
Inspectors—      
      Salaries737100   
      Travelling-expenses16290   
    899190
Scholarships ..   3,33607
Specimens of students' work for Exhibition   42132
Grants on account of training colleges   923125
Sundries .. ..   522
    63,41623
Less recoveries (examination fees, £149 12s. 6d.; proceeds of sale of material used at examination, £11)   160126
                        Total   £63,25599

SECONDARY OR SUPERIOR SCHOOLS.

There were 28 subsidised or endowed schools for higher education in December, 1906. 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 further on. 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 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.

At the end of 1906 the secondary schools giving free tuition to duly qualified pupils, and receiving grants therefor under section 87 of the Education Act, numbered twenty-three, as against twenty-one for the previous year. The total number of pupils on the roll of these schools was 3,261, and of this total 2,435 (1,324 boys and 1,111 girls), or 76 per cent. of the roll-number, were given free places under the regulations for free places at a mean average cost to the Treasury of £8 17s. 4d. per pupil; the approximate annual rate as determined on the payments for the last term of the year being £21,240. In 1905 the number of such free pupils was 1,906, and the approximate annual rate £16,414, with a mean capitation of £8 14s. 4d. per pupil. There is thus a very substantial increase to be noted in the grant of free places under this heading, with an approximate increase in capitation payments of £4,826. In addition, free tuition was given to 335 holders of scholarships or exhibitions granted by these schools, by Boards of Education (in some circumstances), or by endowed secondary schools not coming under the conditions, making the total number of free places held at secondary schools 2,770, as against 2,265 for 1905.

Further, however, in reckoning the amount of free secondary education there has to be included an almost equal number of pupils in attendance at the secondary classes of district high schools. As shown below, there were on the roll of the secondary departments of these schools 2,594 pupils who had passed through the elementary school course and were in receipt of secondary instruction, not differing materially in character from the instruction given in the secondary schools. All but a comparatively small number of these were free pupils within the meaning of the regulations for free places, and a number still nearer in approach to the complete enrolment actually received free tuition at a total cost in salaries of £18,484, and an average annual cost per pupil enrolled of £7 2s. 7d.

A table showing the attendance and fees at certain secondary schools is given on the opposite page.

In six cases no secondary school is maintained by the governing body: these are the Auckland Girls' High School, Gisborne High School, Greymouth High School, Hokitika High School, Akaroa High School, and Waimate High School; but in all cases the funds are applied, in whole or in part, to the establishment of scholarships or in aid of local district high schools or other secondary schools.

Under the regulations for free places at secondary schools and district high schools, free places in such schools were divided into two series, junior and senior, the former being tenable for two years or till the age of seventeen, the latter till the age of nineteen. Boys and girls who qualify for scholarships, whether they obtain scholarships or not, are entitled to junior free places, and all who pass the special examination for free places, whether they are under fourteen years of age or not, are also participants in the privilege. With respect to such candidates the age-limit is thus practically abolished. Junior free places may again be obtained not only by all those who gain certificates of proficiency and satisfy the conditions of age, but also by those who gain certificates of proficiency and are over fourteen, provided that the number of the last-named admitted to any secondary school does not exceed 10 per cent. of the whole number of pupils.

In like manner all who pass the Matriculation Examination of the University, or who gain credit at the Civil Service Junior Examination, are admitted to senior free places whether they are over sixteen or not, while the same privilege is granted to those who qualify for senior scholarships of the Education Boards, and to those who secure a bare pass in the Civil Service Junior Examination, if their age does not exceed sixteen.

There is no age-limit for admission to a junior free place in a district high school or a technical school.

ATTENDANCE AND FEES AT CERTAIN SECONDARY SCHOOLS
SchoolsStaffAttendance for Last Term or Quarter of 1906Number of BoardersAnnual Rates of Fees
RegularPart-timeUnder 12 Years12 to 1515 to 18Over 18 YearsTotal (Roll)For Ordinary Day-school CourseFor Board, exclusive of Day-school Tuition
         £sd£sd
Whangarei High School3 b1524 39 880 
g911 20
Auckland Grammar School‘202b1501737330 10100 
g.92986196880
Thames High School3 b.1410 24 880 
g.238 31
New Plymouth High School51b.1631 47 660 
g.1133 44
Wanganui Girls' College871254761215461101004000
880
Wanganui Collegiate School1213291311517813812004500
Palmerston North High School64b.2660187 1000 
g.3130263 
Wellington Boys' College14 6891801529088111794200
Wellington Girls' College9 6631063178 11179 
9110
Napier Boys' High School7 7485341122810404000
Napier Girls' High School6363937587139904000
Dannevirke High School2 b.2111 32 1000 
g.1017 27 
Marlborough High School4 b.2527254 8110 
g.2226351 
Nelson Boys' College82172911417855101004000
880
Nelson Girls' College81106667815136101004000
880
Christchurch Boys' High School115147410813209 10100 
7100
Christchurch Girls' High School882109708189 12120 
990
Christ's College Grammar School123299476102097314364500
11064200
7176    
               
Rangiora High School3 b.1722140 990 
g.1623140
Ashburton High School4 b.2228 50 660 
g.2122144
Timaru Boys' High School41 3044175 900   
Timaru Girls' High School4  236867 900   
Waitaki Boys' High School31239453893771004940
42180
Waitaki Girls' High School32 3924467 7100   
Otago Boys' High School94 1661601033619100043100
Otago Girls' High School95 831034190 1000   
Southland Boys' High School52 76694149 1000   
Southland Girls' High School52 66752143 1000   
          Totals for 190619554b.621,0231,3431002,528548  
g.36777862671,742
          Totals for 190519551b.651,0641,243952,467537  
g.44712767701,593

Income and Expenditure of Secondary or Superior Schools.

A summary of the accounts of income and expenditure for the year 1906, as furnished by the governing bodies of the secondary or superior schools shows the total receipts to have been £104,523. To this total, rents of reserves contributed £26,027; interest on investments, and other receipts from endowments, £9,611; fees, £21,191; Government payment for technical instruction, £665; for free places, £19,589; grants for buildings, sites, furniture, &c., £9,547; and miscellaneous, £17,893.

The total expenditure amounted to £106,197, of which sum office management and expenses absorbed £3,030; teachers' salaries, £47,458; scholarships and prizes, £2,033; buildings, furniture, insurance, rates, and rent, &c., £34,802; and other expenditure, £18,874.

A summary of the accounts for the year 1906, exhibiting further details, is given below:—

SECONDARY OR SUPERIOR SCHOOLS, 1906
Receipts.£sd
To Credit balances on 1st January, 1906 ...38,797139
      Endowment reserves sold and mortgage moneys repaid1,534108
      Rent of reserves26,02767
      Interest on moneys invested4,23612
      Reserves Commissioners' payments ...3,84089
      Government payments—   
        For technical instruction665310
        For free places19,5881510
        Subsidy on voluntary contributions89120
        Grants for buildings, sites, furniture, &c.9,547211
        Statutory grant (Marlborough High School)40000
      School fees (tuition)21,190103
      Boarding-school fees6,66993
      Loans for buildings, sites, furniture, &c. ...8,80000
      Books, &c., sold, and refunds5121610
      Sundries not classified1,420140
      Debit balances, 31st December, 1906 ...1,59368
 £144,913126
Expenditure.£sd
By Liabilities on 1st January, 190648034
      Expenses of management3,029154
      School salaries ...47,4571110
      Boarding-school accounts5,846158
      Examination expenses299122
      Scholarships and prizes2,032102
      Printing, stationery, fuel, light, &c. ...4,32502
      Buildings, furniture, insurance, rent, and rates34,802611
      Expenditure on endowments3,152141
      Interest1,022187
      Sundries not classified4,2271111
      Credit balances, 31st December, 1906 ...38,236124
 £144,91312 

District High Schools.

The number of district high schools in operation at the end of 1906 was 61, as against 59 for 1905 and 52 for 1904. In the secondary departments of these schools the teachers employed,a part from the principals, who may or may not have taken part in the secondary instruction, but whose added responsibility is in all cases recognised by some increment of salary, numbered 99, and the number of pupils in attendance was 2,594—an increase of 21 teachers, and a decrease of 278 pupils. In 1905 a very substantial rise in the attendance had to be noted; the present movement in the opposite direction may be attributed to various causes, among which increased facilities for higher education in other directions and somewhat stricter tests of admission have doubtless much to do.

The programme followed in the upper departments of district high schools embraces generally a secondary course in English, mathematics (including arithmetic), and science. Where possible, handwork is also included, and in many cases Latin, French, geography, and history are taken up by a greater or less proportion of the pupils. With few exceptions—the secondary departments attached to the training colleges for teachers in the four chief centres, two other schools in Wellington, and one in Christchurch—the schools are really rural schools, situated in the smaller boroughs or in townships, without any of the features of urban environment, and it is to be hoped that as opportunities occur every effort will be made to adapt the course of study accordingly. In many cases steps in this direction have already been taken, and with the introduction of more teachers on the staff of these schools who have been trained on modern lines a further extension of the work in the direction of agricultural science for agricultural districts, chemistry, or geology and allied knowledge for mining centres, and some branch of handwork to cultivate manual dexterity in all, could be profitably undertaken.

A table is given showing the number of qualified pupils attending these district high schools on the 31st December, 1906.

STAFF, SALARIES, ATTENDANCE, AND PAYMENTS AT DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS
Education DistrictNumber of SchoolsNumber of Teachers (including Head Teachers)Number of PupilsAmounts paid in Salaries during the Year
From Receipts from GovernmentFrom other sourcesTotal
MFTotalArrears for 19051906
      £sd£sd£sd£sd
Auckland92218019737760002,592122202,65432
Taranaki135626828100416158   497158
Wanganui514122731951891041,53099   1,72001
Wellington10312733035765738103,84973   4,422161
Hawke's Bay385253105148009981901571001,30490
Nelson37435598   75500   75500
Grey13162440   2511347000321134
Westland13162339   3769012311050000
North Canterbury924217167384375363,155188100003,63122
South Canterbury41096851811611501,3648013681,53998
Otago10241971873843041002,88770   3,19170
Southland511637013315676891188   1,04862
          Totals for 1906611601,3311,2632,5942,04915219,070764669821,586124
          Totals for 1905591371,5091,3632,872            

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. It was affiliated to the University of New Zealand.

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 the 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 of that year the late Right Hon. Mr. Seddon, P.C., then Premier, 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 eight chairs: classics, English, mathematics and mathematical physics, chemistry and

physics, biology, law (two), and modern languages; and lectureships in mental science, history, general history, and political economy. 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 31st December, 1907, the number of graduates who had obtained direct degrees was 1,183.

The number of undergraduates on the roll of the University on 1st June, 1908 was 4,100 (exclusive of such as had not performed any academical act for a period of ten years), but only 1,707 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 1,007 were males and 700 females. One hundred and eight of the males and twelve of the females were medical students. The numbers of students attending lectures at the affiliated institutions during the year 1906 were as follow: At the Auckland University College, 195 matriculated and 126 non-matriculated; at Canterbury College, 242 matriculated and 106 non-matriculated; at the Otago University, 281 matriculated and 32 non-matriculated. The Victoria College, before mentioned, affords further facilities for university students, and in June, 1907, had a total of 350 students on the roll—330 matriculated and 20 non-matriculated.

The names of the officers forming the controlling body of the New Zealand University for the year 1908 are:—

VISITOR.

His Excellency the Governor.

UNIVERSITY OFFICERS.

Chancellor (1903 and 1906), Sir Robert Stout, K.C.M.G.

Vice-Chancellor (1903 and 1906), Charles Christopher Bowen.

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

Assistant-Registrar (1904), Barclay Hector.

Office: Wellington.

THE SENATE.

First appointed.

1908. James Allen, M.A., Cantab.

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.

1903. John Rankine Brown, M.A., Oxon.

(a) 1902. The Reverend Andrew Cameron, B.A., N.Z.

1908. Charles Chilton, M.A., D.Sc., N.Z.; M.B., C.M., Edin.; F.L.S.

(c) 1899. Louis Cohen, M.A., N.Z.

1904. William Edward Collins, M.B., Lond; M.R.C.S., Eng.

1903. The Reverend William Albert Evans.

(a) 1883. Frederick Fitchett, M.A., LL.D., N.Z.

1903. Henry Andrew Gordon, F.G.S. A.M.I.C.E.

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

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

(c) Retired in accordance with the Act) in 1903, re-elected 1906.

(a) 1888. James Hay, M.A., LL.B., N.Z.

1903. George Hogben, M.A., Cantab.

1903. William Chisholm Wilson McDowell, B.A., N.Z.; M.B., C.M., Edin.

(a) 1879. Sir George Maurice O'Rorke, Kt., M.A., LL.D., Dublin.

(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.

1908. Heinrich Ferdinand von Haast. M.A., LL.B., N.Z.

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

PRIVATE AND DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOLS.

There were 308 private schools at the end of 1906, an increase of 17 on the number in 1905: 32 were for boys, 81 for girls, and 195 for children of both sexes. The number of pupils attending them was 17,131—namely, 7,026 boys and 10,105 girls, not counting 86 Maoris, 44 boys and 42 girls. The number of European pupils at these schools was greater than in 1905 by 492. Of the private schools, 154 were Roman Catholic, with an attendance of 11,948 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:—

YearNumber of Private SchoolsPupilsIncluded in Previous Numbers
BoysGirlsTotalsRoman Catholic SchoolsPupils at Roman Catholic Schools
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
19042956,7859,59316,37814911,373
19052916,8379,80216,63914611,738
19063087,02610,10517,13115411,948

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 1906 was 159,281; of these, at least 150,776 were from 5 to 15 years of age. The census showed also 4,591 children receiving tuition at home in 1906, against 5,055 in 1901. 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 is shown on the next page:—

PRIVATE AND DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOLS, 1906.—SUMMARY BY PROVINCIAL DISTRICTS
Provincial DistrictsNumber of SchoolsNumber of TeachersNumber of Scholars (exclusive of Maoris)Daily Average Attendance
BoysGirlsMixedTotalMaleFemaleTotalMaleFemaleTotalMaleFemaleTotal

*Exclusive of 86 Maoris (44 boys, 42 girls).

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, 1906, are as under:—

Auckland7184469291752011,4612,4473,9081,2622,1823,444
Taranaki 31215 3737358535896310471781
Hawke's Bay3481510415138253491633946835
Wellington7214068511552061,5692,0933,6621,3851,8553,240
Marlborough1236 1111110150260100129229
Nelson37616114253435534969398469867
Westland1281132326278335613244305549
Canterbury4133956111511621,3731,9363,3091,1951,6822,877
Otago6113552161331491,0601,5412,6019111,3212,232
             Totals32811953081317688997,02610,10517,131*6,1448,91015,054
SUMMARY OF ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
Provincial DistrictsNumber of SchoolsNumber of TeachersNumber of Scholars (exclusive of Maoris)Daily Average Attendance
BoysGirlsMixedTotalMaleFemaleTotalMaleFemaleTotalMaleFemaleTotal
Auckland41224409981071,0571,7172,7748971,5062,403
Taranaki189 2727335466801293413706 
Hawke's Bay123632124308360668272332604
Wellington3616252472969791,1642,1438671,0371,904
Marlborough1124 9910111821993104197
Nelson2529 2424224337561200295495
Westland126932124271323594239295534
Canterbury341825772791,0191,2782,2978971,1222,019
Otago4617271270828551,0361,8917589051,663
            Totals193996154584144725,1496,79911,9484,5166,00910,525

SCHOOLS FOR NATIVES.

The number of Native village schools in operation at the end of 1906 either supported or subsidised by the Government was 100. In addition, there were six boarding-schools for Native children, the cost of whose maintenance was partly paid either by the Government or from endowments, and six mission schools.

At the six boarding-schools, St. Stephen's and Te Aute for boys, and Hukarere, St. Joseph's, Queen Victoria, and Turakina Schools for girls, the Government offers 123 scholarships, at one or other of these schools, tenable for two years, for children of predominantly Maori race who pass the Fourth or a higher Standard at the Maori village schools. At the end of the year 80 of these places were occupied, 40 by boys, and 40 by girls.

Maori children attending public schools who pass the Fifth Standard before reaching the age of fifteen may obtain scholarships to the value of £20 a year, granted to enable them to attend a secondary school or to enter upon industrial pursuits. There is one scholar receiving higher education and two boys serving apprenticeships under these conditions. Three boys who formerly attended Native schools were also, at the end of the year, learning trades under this arrangement.

Six Maori girls are at present being trained as nurses for work among their own people. Of these, three hold senior scholarships and are probationers on the staffs of various hospitals, while three hold junior scholarships, or day-pupilships, and attend the hospitals daily from their respective schools.

Of the six University scholarships offered by the Government to the most promising youths from secondary schools, three are at present held—two in law and one in medicine. A former scholarship holder has just succeeded in qualifying for the degree in medicine and surgery of the New Zealand University, he being the second to so qualify under the scheme.

Instruction in woodwork is given in thirteen schools, and in several schools the girls are taught practical dressmaking and plain cookery with simple appliances. A scheme of cottage gardening as a branch of handwork is being prepared; in several schools a beginning has already been made. In the majority of schools some form or other of elementary handwork is taken with success.

The number of Maori children attending schools during the fourth quarter of 1906 was 7,073—namely, 3,959 males and 3,114 females. These included 264 half-castes at the Native village schools who were living as members of Maori tribes, and 211 at public European schools.

The numbers at the several schools in 1905 and 1906 were as under:—

SchoolsMaori Children attending Schools
BoysGirlsTotal of both Sexes
190519061905190619051906
At public European schools1,4171,5791,0671,1262,4842,705
At Native village schools1,9472,0741,5921,7183,5393,792
At subsidised or endowed boarding-schools157172148158305330
At private European or Native schools10413483112187246
            Totals3,6253,9592,8903,1146,5157,073

There was thus, in 1906, an increase of 334 in the number of Maori boys, and 224 in the number of Maori girls, attending school.

Seventy-six out of the 100 Native village schools in operation on 31st December, 1906, were under the charge of masters and nineteen under mistresses, and one under the joint control of a master and mistress; there were besides ninety-seven assistants, and eleven sewing-mistresses.

The net expenditure on Native schools for 1906 was as follows: Teachers' salaries and allowances, £17,703 13s.; teachers' removal allowances, £402 19s. 3d.; books and school requisites, £594 3s. 2d.; repairs and small works, £756 19s. 2d.; inspection, £707 10s.; travelling - expenses of Inspectors and others, £531 0s. 10d.; boarding-schools, scholarships, and apprenticeship charges, £2,476 18s. 9d.; buildings, fencing, furniture, &c., £5,641 2s. 10d.; technical - instruction classes, £336 2s.; sundries, £530 14s. 8d.: total, £29,681 3s. 8d.

SCHOLARSHIPS.

Education Board Scholarships.

The Education Board scholarship scheme by which the Education Boards, under local regulations approved by the Minister of Education, award annually a large number of scholarships of varying value out of an allowance of old standing, amounting to 1s. 6d. per head of the average attendance, still remains the chief door of entry to secondary schools for the most promising of the primary school pupils. The regulations adopted in the different districts commonly provide for two classes of scholarships, junior and senior—the former limited to children under fourteen or in some cases under thirteen years of age resident in the district and tenable usually for two years; the latter, more restricted in number, continuing the secondary education of the holders for two or three years longer.

During the year 1906 Education Board scholarships—junior and senior—were current to the number of 463, as against a total of 394 for 1905. The actual monetary value of these scholarships in most instances is small, the object in view being generally to spread the benefits as widely as possible rather than to provide attractive prizes for a few. Each scholarship, however, through the operation of the provisions for free places, which give a preference to scholarship-holders, carries with it in all but certain exceptional circumstances the substantial benefit of free tuition, and a lodging or travelling allowance is added where necessary. The total expenditure of Education Boards on scholarships of this class during the year 1906 was £8,487. The following table shows the number and value of Education Board scholarships current at the end of 1906:—

Education DistrictsNumber held in Dec., 1906BoysGirlsPeriod of TenureBoards' Expenditure on Scholarships in 1906Annual Value, &c
    Years£sd 
Auckland97712632,25919922 at £40, 6 at £30, 13 at £25, 8 at £20, 19 at £15, 29 at £10
Taranaki191362322064 at £35, 1 at £16, 2 at £14, 12 at £10
Wanganui3414202 or 37574711 at £0, 11 at £15, 1 at £12, 11 at £10
Wellington55332229650104 at £40, 4 at £35, 1 at £18 18s., 18 at £15, 28 at £5
Hawke's Bay28151325010014 at £30, 1 at £16, 1 at £15, 2 at £7 10s., 10 at £2 10s
Marlborough7432115003 at £25, 4 at £10
Nelson ...28111722811573 at £40, 1 at £25, 2 at £7, 22 at £1 5s
Grey ...743266701 at £26, 6 at £8
Westland532283002 at £24, 1 at £20, 1 at £10, 1 at £4
North Canterbury452520299517711 at £40, 8 at £30, 9 at £20, 17 at £10
South Canterbury312382339127 at £27, 24 at £7
Otago ...7952272 or 31,18611810 at £40, 7 at £30, 6 at £25, 4 at £12 10s., 6 at £10, 11 at £7 10s., 17 at £6, 18 at £4
Southland2816122 or 36150019 at £30, 9 at £5
          Totals, 1906463284179 8,487188 
          Totals, 1905394242152 8,01366 

In extension of the provisions for scholarships, the arrangements now in force, by which pupils of fair promise are admitted to free tuition in secondary and other schools, are very comprehensive and far-reaching in their effects. For all who deserve it there is now a free course from the initiatory stages of the primary school to the doors of the University, and by means of further scholarships and bursaries, making classes at the colleges free to all duly qualified students, a further step of progress to the distinction of a University degree is also possible in terms of similar advantage. Under the regulations for free places in secondary schools and district high schools boys and girls who qualify for junior scholarships, whether they obtain scholarships or not, or who pass the special examinations for free places, become entitled to two years' free tuition, and the privilege is extended with various conditions to a very large group of other aspirants whose claims may in some cases be less convincing. At the end of the period a further free place is obtainable to the age of nineteen by all who succeed in passing the Civil Service Junior Examination within the age of sixteen years, who qualify under a similar condition for Education Board senior scholarships, whether within the age of sixteen years or not, gain a credit pass in the Civil Service Junior Examination, or qualify for matriculation in the University.

Beyond the limits of the secondary school the opportunities given to promising students are now also great. Besides the scholarships offered by the University, there are available Senior National scholarships, and one or more Taranaki Scholarships under special enactment.

University bursaries, covering free tuition at University college classes for a period of three years, are also offered out of the public funds to all who obtain credit in the Junior University Scholarship examination, and otherwise possess the qualifications for a National scholarship without obtaining one. With these provisions there can be few indeed entitled to special consideration who are deterred from a University course by the question of the cost of classes.

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,” and “The Education Act Amendment Act, 1907.” Provision is made for the establishment of junior and senior scholarships, the necessary funds being furnished by the Minister of Finance.

A junior scholarship is offered in each education district for every four thousand or part of four 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.

Senior National Scholarships, not exceeding twenty in number, are awarded annually to persons of either sex under nineteen years of age 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, and actual travelling-expenses, not exceeding £10 per annum, are allowed if the holder of a scholarship is obliged to travel more than four miles daily in order to prosecute his or her studies.

At the end of 1906 the number of Junior National scholarships current was 79, 66 of which were held at secondary schools and 13 at district high schools. Of this number, 30 were in the first year of their currency, 27 in the second year, and 22 in the third year. A few of the scholarships have been extended to a fourth year, but, the first award dating only from January, 1904, there has not been time for the names of any fourth-year holders to appear in the annual record. Thirty-three of the scholarships were of the annual value of £10, and 46 of £40, with free tuition added in all cases. Apart from fees otherwise accounted for under the heading of free-place expenditure, the cost of Junior National scholarships for the year was £2,170. The amount actually paid through the Boards on account of these scholarships was £2,241.

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.

In December, 1906, the total number on the books of all the industrial schools was 2,075, or 122 more than at the close of the year 1905. On the books of the Government industrial schools there were 1,559, an increase of 139 over the corresponding number for 1905; on the books of the private industrial schools there were 516, or 17 less than at the end of the previous year. The number in residence at Government schools was 343, and at private industrial schools 317, so that 660 was the total number of “inmates” actually in residence. The number boarded out was 690, 7 being from private schools and the rest from Government schools. There were 11 girls maintained in various corrective institutions, 1 girl in hospital, 2 boys at the School for Deaf-mutes, Sumner, and 12 boys at the Costley Training Institution, Auckland. The total number of inmates dependent on the public funds for maintenance was therefore 1,370, or 124 more than the number at the end of 1905. The remaining 705, 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, 171; at service, 419; boarded out without payment, 6; adopted, 1; in hospital, 5; in mental hospital, 6; in the Costley Training Institution, Auckland, 7; in other institutions, 7; in gaol, 1; absent without leave, 82 namely, 39 from service, 35 from the schools, and 8 from friends.

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 1905 and 1906, and the variations in the numbers boarded out, in residence, or at service:—

INMATES, 1905 AND 1906
Boarded outIn ResidenceAt Service, &cTotals
Dec., 1905IncreaseDecreaseDec., 1906Dec., 1905IncreaseDecreaseDec., 1906Dec., 1905IncreaseDecreaseDec., 1906Dec., 1905IncreaseDecreaseDec., 1906
Government Schools—                
  Auckland (Mount Albert)634 67244 2847 2451346 140
  Boys' Training 18 1811115 126 105 105111138 249
  Farm, Weraroa                
  Receiving Home, Wellington19239 2316 42378 4523543 278
  Te Oranga Home, Christchurch    418 49186 245914 73
  Receiving1374818512 3996 49224541 286 
  Home, Christchurch                
  Burnham314979 1061327 13923217 249 
  Caversham179117826 323199 11683404 120284 
Private Schools—                
  St. Mary's, Auckland    879 9654 945141  141
  St. Joseph's, Wellington    3052528 12758 652 
  St. Mary's, Nelson1  1177 221551047111282 15267 
  St. Vincent de426374 4111 29524 56 
  Paul's, Dunedin                
          Totals579112169064849376607261331347251,9532631412,075

There were seven Government industrial schools in existence in 1906, and the numbers of inmates on their books at the end of the year were as follows: Auckland (Mount Albert), 140; Boys' Training Farm, Weraroa (new school), 249; Receiving Home, Wellington, 278; Receiving Home, Christchurch, 286; Burnham, 249; Te Oranga Home, 73; Caversham, 284: total, 1,559. Those belonging to private industrial schools were distributed as follows: St. Mary's, Auckland, 141; St. Joseph's, Wellington, 52; St. Mary's, Nelson, 267; St., Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin, 56: total, 516.

The cost of the Government industrial schools and the amount recovered (from Charitable Aid Boards, from parents, from sale of farm-produce, &c.) are shown:—

COST OF GOVERNMENT INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS, 1906
Government SchoolCost of SchoolBoarding out. (Included in first column)Salaries. (Included in first column.)RecoveriesNet Cost
 £sd£sd£sd£sd£sd
Auckland (Mount2,277631,22518103871499091581,367107
Albert)               
Boys' Training14,4421710921001,6571311,61617512,82605
Farm, Weraroa               
Receiving Home,6,5031973,973023411932,84919103,653199
Wellington               
Te Oranga Home1,800010 634145907111,7091211  
Receiving Home,4,8461003,12232396051,3421843,503118
Christchurch               
Burnham5,4651624912101,937476041764,860188
Caversham5,314673,611186931403,6911071,622160
          Totals40,65017312,074686,0490611,1067329,544100
Salaries and expenses of Assistant Inspectors and Visiting Officers1,9631210
Travelling-expenses of managers and others409159
Refund of earnings to former inmates2069
Commission expenses, inquiry held at Burnham537131
Contingencies ..23554
Total net cost£32,71139

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.), 1906
Name of SchoolGross CostRecoveriesNet Cost
 £sd£sd£sd
St. Mary's, Auckland1,3921402201131,17229
St. Joseph's, Wellington234102318821024
St. Mary's, Nelson1,18690304191088192
St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin7212046162251510
Totals2,8851605965112,289101

During 1906 inmates were maintained in nine other institutions, and the expenditure on this account was as follows: Costley Training Institution, Auckland, £289 3s.; Door of Hope Home, Auckland, £17 4s. 3d.; Mount Magdala, Christchurch, £58 2s. 11d.; Children's Convalescent Cottage Home, Christchurch, £8 4s.; Otago Benevolent Institution, £3 12s.; Private Homes, £139 5s. 8d.

Institute for the Blind.

The Jubilee Institute for the Blind at Auckland is a private institution, though four of the nine members of the Board of Trustees are now appointed annually by the Governor. Being, however, a “separate institution” under the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Acts, it receives a subsidy at the rate of 24s. in the pound upon the voluntary contributions raised by the Trustees, and, in addition, payment is made to it by the Education Department on account of pupils for whose tuition the Department is responsible. The Trustees have received, at various times, other grants in aid of buildings. The total amount paid on account of Government pupils during the year 1906 was £618 17s. 11d. The Department also paid £14 for the separate tuition of a pupil in Christchurch, and £111 2s. 6d. was recovered from parents and others. The number of Government pupils at the end of 1905 was 24; 4 of these left during the year 1906, and 7 were admitted; the number of such pupils at the close of the last year was accordingly 27.

School for Deaf-mutes.

The roll of this school includes all the known deaf-mutes of school age and of sound intellect in New Zealand who have been brought under the notice of the Education Department.

The number in residence at the end of 1906 was thirty-seven boys and thirty-three girls, or three boys and four girls more than at the end of 1905.

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 cannot be too often repeated that in this institution the deaf, who would otherwise be speechless, are taught both to speak and to understand (from the motion of the lips) the speech of others, and that they are thereby admitted not only to the benefits of communication with their fellow-men, but even very largely to the conceptions involved in human intercourse. These facts are not always understood or appreciated. Every year deaf children are found who, to a greater or less extent, have passed the age at which their special instruction should have begun, and who consequently fail to attain expertness in oral communication, or more than partial mental development. Through want of knowledge of the institution, through mistaken advice, through misguided affection, or through fear of expense, the parents of these children are responsible for a loss of time that can never be made good.”

The following classes of deaf children are admitted to the institution, mental soundness being in all cases a necessity:—

  1. Children born deaf, or who have lost their hearing before learning to speak.

  2. Children who can hear a little, but are too deaf to be taught in an ordinary school.

  3. Children who have lost their hearing after having learned to speak.

Sunday-schools.

The returns for the census of 1906 showed that 107,759 pupils were attending Sunday-schools, and there were 11,720 teachers.

SUBSIDISED PUBLIC LIBRARIES, 1906–7.

The number of libraries participating in the vote granted for subsidies shows a decrease of eight 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.

The number of libraries subsidised was 422; the income £14,525; amount on which subsidy calculated, £17,589; and amount of subsidy, £3,000.

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 South Island.

The number of writs of summons issued in the Supreme Court in 1906 was 524, against 527 in 1905, 536 in 1904, 484 in 1903, 488 in 1902, 485 in 1901, and 414 in 1900. The number of civil cases tried increased from 255 in 1905 to 282 in 1906. Of these last, 49 were tried before common juries, 16 by special jury, and 217 by Judge without jury. The total of amounts for which judgments were recorded in 1906 was £41,504. There were 63 writs of execution issued during the year.

Forty-one cases were commenced at 12 District Courts in 1906. Eight of these cases were tried before juries, and 23 before a Judge only, making a total of 31 cases tried. Nine cases lapsed or were discontinued, and 1 was pending. The total of amounts sued for was £7,685, and judgments were recorded for £3,451. Before the Magistrates' Courts 23,381 cases were tried, against 20,161 in 1905; the aggregate sum sued for during 1906 being £419,198, and the total for which judgment was given £236,643.

COURT OF APPEAL.

Four Crown (criminal) cases were reserved from the superior Courts to be brought before the Court of Appeal in 1906. In 2 cases the convictions were affirmed, in 1 the conviction was quashed, and in 1 case a new trial was ordered. There were appeals from 26 civil cases, of which 10 were allowed, 10 dismissed, 1 was settled, and 5 stood over. Judgments were given on 6 other cases removed to the Court of Appeal—5 for plaintiffs, and 1 for defendant.

BANKRUPTCY.

The petitions in bankruptcy during 1906 numbered 347, of which 305 were made by debtors and 42 by creditors. This number is 43 more than the number of petitions for the preceding year.

Of the bankruptcies in 1906: in 10 cases the liabilities were under £50; in 64, from £50 to £100; in 98, from £100 to £250; in 69, from £250 to £500; in 67, from £500 to £1,000; in 26, from £1,000 to £2,000; in 8, from £2,000 to £5,000; in 5, £5,000 and upwards.

The following gives the number of petitions, the total amount of the unsecured assets, the amount of debts proved, and the amount paid in dividends and preferential claims for the years 1897 to 1906:—

YearNumber of Petitions in BankruptcyDebtors' Statements of Assets, excluding Amounts secured to CreditorsAmounts realised by Official AssigneesAmount of Debts provedAmounts paid in Dividends and Preferential Claims
  £      £      £      £      
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
190425786,09443,514125,39228,103
1905304100,81347,798146,33228,150
1906347106,37650,761192,92735,448

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

An amendment to the Act of 1904 was passed by the Legislature in 1907, and after having been reserved for the assent of His Majesty the King became law on the 9th May, 1908.

By this Act failure to comply with a decree for restitution of conjugal rights ceases to be a ground for divorce proceedings. On the other hand the following grounds have been added, viz.:—

“That the respondent has been convicted of the murder of a child of the petitioner or respondent.

“That the respondent is a lunatic or person of unsound mind, and has been confined as such in any asylum or other institution or house in accordance with the provisions of ‘The Lunatics Act, 1882,’ for a period or periods not less in the aggregate than ten years within twelve years immediately preceding the filing of the petition, and that the respondent is unlikely to recover from such lunacy or unsoundness of mind.”

It is provided that where the ground of the petition is lunacy or unsoundness of mind, the Solicitor-General shall take such steps as he may consider necessary in the interests of the respondent.

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 1906 under “The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, 1904,” were 214 in number, being 31 more than those for 1905: 207 were for dissolution of marriage, and 7 for judicial separation; 151 decrees for dissolution of marriage were granted. The proceedings under the Act for the years 1897 to 1906 were as follows:—

YearPetitions forDecrees for
Dissolution of MarriageJudicial SeparationDissolution of MarriageJudicial Separation
18974810331
18985113322
189911214616
19001115853
190113811031
1902136291 
190314631363
190415661112
19051821126 
19062077151 

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 1906. 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.

YearNew South Wales. DivorcesVictoria. DivorcesNew Zealand. Divorces

* Act of 1898 in force in New Zealand.

18933068525
18943138120
18953018518
189623410636
189724611733
18982478732
1899*23210546
1900*2199385
1901*25283103
1902*24510991
1903*206101136
1904*216140111
1905*175128126
1906*174119151

CRIMINAL CASES.

Charges before Magistrates.

The number of charges heard before the Magistrates' Courts in 1906 was 33,629. Repeated charges against the same person are counted as distinct. Of the charges in 1906, 763 were against persons of the aboriginal Native race, an increase of 262 on the number for the previous year.

If the Maoris be excluded, the number of charges (exclusive of lunacy) in 1906 is found to have been 32,866, an increase of 2,125 upon the number for 1905; and the proportion per 1,000 of population was 36.7, against 35.3 in 1905.

Persons charged with lunacy and committed to mental hospitals 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
YearNumberProportion per 1,000 of Mean Population
188522,29738.89
188818,37030.35
189116,71426.54
189416,82024.76
189719,39026.87
189922,11329.48
190024,08431.54
190125,82533.20
190228,07635.19
190330,75337.50
190430,93436.60
190530,74135.33
190632,86636.70

Summary Convictions.

The summary convictions in 1906 numbered 27,670, including 542 Maoris. 950 persons, 67 of whom were Maoris, were committed for trial or sentence at the Supreme and District Courts, an increase of 90 on the number committed in 1905.

Dealing with the summary convictions for all offences, the figures for 1902 and onwards (excluding the Maoris) are:—

YearSUMMARY CONVICTIONS
NumberProportion per 1,000 of Mean Population
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
1904—  
    Offences against the person6660.79
    Offences against property1,8012.13
    Other offences22,77026.95
        Totals25,23729.87
1905—  
    Offences against the person6480.74
    Offences against property1,8992.18
    Other offences22,44725.80
        Totals24,99428.72
1906—  
    Offences against the person6400.71
    Offences against property2,0502.29
    Other offences24,43827.29
                Totals27,12830.29

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 which 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 640 for the year 1906, which is a smaller number than that for 1905 (648), notwithstanding increase of population. Of these 640 summary convictions in 1906, the greater number (568) were on account of common and aggravated assaults, and there were 40 for attempt to commit suicide.

Of offences against property, theft not otherwise described is the most common, showing for 1906 1,437 summary convictions. There were besides 21 for specific kinds of theft, and 23 for house-breaking. Obtaining money and goods under false pretences caused 153 summary convictions, and wilful damage to property 392. These are the principal items only.

Under the heading “Other Offences” (those relating to good order included), drunkenness comes first with 9,420 summary convictions, of which 859 were in respect of females. Prohibition orders numbered 2,209, including 152 made against women. The subject of drunkenness is separately dealt with under a special heading.

Further offences against good order include 3,304 summary convictions simply defined as “breach of by-laws,” and 1,820 for insulting behaviour, language, &c., and indecent, riotous, or offensive conduct. Also, 214 for assaulting or resisting police. Under “Vagrancy,” idle and disorderly persons show 563 summary convictions, with rogues and vagabonds 249. The chief items only are referred to above.

Offences against public welfare are dealt with in remarks above.

Convictions in Superior Court.

Of 78 persons (excluding the Maoris) convicted in the superior Courts during the year 1906 for offences against the person there were 6 females. Assault, with or without robbery, was of this class the offence which caused the most convictions, these amounting to 29 altogether, including wounding. There were also 8 convictions for indecent assault, 5 for attempt to commit rape, 2 for procuring abortion, and 18 for other similar offences. For murder and manslaughter 7 persons were convicted.

The convictions for offences against property were far more numerous than those against the person, amounting to 136, of whom 2 were females. Theft was the principal cause, showing 49 convictions, exclusive of burglary with robbery, for which 51 convictions were recorded.

Besides the above, there were 16 convictions for forgery and uttering, 18 for obtaining goods on false pretences and for receiving stolen goods, and 2 for arson,

Outside of convictions for offences against person and property, 26 of a miscellaneous nature remain, making up a total of 240 convictions in the higher Courts, excluding 167 persons, other than Maoris, sent for sentence by Magistrates.

But the figures previously referred to deal only with persons convicted in the higher Courts. The committals for sentences under “The Indictable Offences Summary Jurisdiction Act, 1900,” were:—

 PersonsMalesFemales
For offences against the person26242
For offences against property1341313
For miscellaneous offences761
          Totals1671616

Offences against the person, in these preceding figures, include 2 for assault, 7 for indecent assault, 8 for carnal knowledge, and 7 others. Against property the offences were: For theft undescribed, 30; for specified theft, 11; breaking and entering with theft, 59; forgery and uttering, 21; fraud and false pretences, 6; receiving stolen goods, 1; robbery, 1; embezzlement, 2; arson and attempt, 3. Miscellaneous offences include—libel, 1; false declaration, 1; other offences, 5.

Punishments.

Including 26 Maoris, the convictions in the superior Courts, together with 174 sent from Magistrates' Courts for sentence, numbered 433 (persons). Particulars of sentences for these higher Courts, and of the punishments consequent on summary convictions in the lower Courts, are appended in two tables:—

TABLE SHOWING THE SENTENCES OF CRIMINALS TRIED AND CONVICTED IN THE SUPREME AND DISTRICT COURTS DURING FIVE YEARS
Punishments19021903190419051906

* Including 5 Maoris.

† Including 16 Maoris.

‡ Including 7 Maoris.

§ Including 11 Maoris.

|| Including 26 Maoris.

Death    1
Imprisonment with or without hard labour253305411349350
Fined91012107
Imprisonment with whipping 61 1
Released under “The First Offenders' Probation Act, 1886”6345705456
Held to bail, or awaiting pleasure of Court1213242016
Sent to industrial school211 2
                Totals*339†380‡519§433||433
TABLE SHOWING THE PUNISHMENTS INFLICTED CONSEQUENT ON SUMMARY CONVICTIONS IN MAGISTRATES' COURTS DURING FIVE YEARS
Punishments19021903190419051906

N.B.—Maoris have been excluded from this table.

Fine11,47113,63113,13313,58113,517
Imprisonment in lieu of fine1,8741,9562,5302,0913,476
Peremptory imprisonment1,7341,9692,0671,9312,089
Recognisance12310113078100
Whipping3528353456
Other6,8887,0807,3427,2797,890
                Totals22,12524,76525,23724,99427,128

“THE HABITUAL CRIMINALS AND OFFENDERS ACT, 1906.”

The above Act was passed by the General Assembly to provide for the detention and control of habitual criminals and offenders. Habitual criminals comprise those persons previously convicted on indictment of the following offences: (Class I) sexual offences, abortion; (Class II) wounding, robbery, burglary and housebreaking, theft, false pretences extortion, forgery, and mischief. On two previous convictions for any offence in Class I or four previous convictions in Classes I and II, the Court may order as part of the sentence that the person is an habitual criminal, whether such previous convictions took place within or out of New Zealand and either before or after the coming into operation of the Act. Habitual offenders comprise all persons previously convicted on at least six occasions of any offence under sections 26, 27, 28, or 29 of “The Police Offences Act, 1884,” and persons previously convicted as above under Classes I and II and convicted summarily of any offence punishable by not less than three months' imprisonment, provided such persons have been previously summarily convicted at least six times of any offence punishable by not less than three months' imprisonment.

Any prison or other suitable place may be set apart as a reformatory prison for the detention of habitual criminals and offenders, a separate part being set aside for women. Every habitual criminal or offender shall be detained during the pleasure of the Governor, but may apply to the Supreme Court or a Judge thereof for a recommendation for discharge on the ground of having sufficiently reformed, or for other good and sufficient reason. The Governor upon granting such discharge may order that so long as the person remains in New Zealand he shall report his name and address to some Probation Officer, for a period not exceeding two years, at stated times, either personally or by letter. Should such person fail to report himself as directed, he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding twenty pounds or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months. If during the period of probation he is convicted of failure to report himself, or of any indictable offence punishable on summary conviction by three months' imprisonment, the Court may direct that in addition to the punishment imposed for the offence he shall be recommitted to a reformatory prison, but if during the period of probation he be not so convicted he shall cease to be an habitual criminal or offender.

Any person detained in a reformatory prison shall be employed in some description of labour, and wages according to the scale prescribed by regulations shall be credited to him and applied either wholly or in part to maintaining his wife and family, if any, during the period of his detention, and the balance, if any, paid to him upon his release.

The Act makes provision for the maintenance and management of reformatory prisons and the control of those detained therein.

Drunkenness.

Excluding Maoris, the proportion of convictions for drunkenness per 1,000 of population was 10.34 in 1902, 10.7 in 1903, 11.32 in 1904, 10.03 in 1905, and 10.52 in 1906. The number of convictions to which the proportions for the years 1902 to 1906 relate were as under:—

YearNumber
19028,244
19038,774
19049,566
19058,725
19069,420

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

YearNumber
19028,311
19038,872
19049,626
19058,790
19069,486

Among the New-Zealand-born population of European descent there is evidence of less drunkenness than among persons who have come from abroad. At the census of 1906, out of the total population of New Zealand over 15 years of age, 55.75 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 1906 about 20 per cent. only.

“The Habitual Drunkards Act, 1906,” is designed to make better provision for the care and detention of habitual drunkards—persons who have been three times convicted for drunkenness within the nine months immediately preceding any conviction for drunkenness. A Magistrate may, in addition to or in lieu of a penalty, commit an habitual drunkard to any institution authorised by the Governor to receive and detain such persons for any period not being less than twelve months. The Act makes provision for the discharge of inmates, their good conduct, discipline, and punishment for offences during their detention, and for the proper inspection of such institutions.

During the five years 1902 to 1906, inclusive, the consumption of beer per inhabitant would seem to have increased from 8.8 gallons in the earlier year to 9.1 gallons in the later one. Excluding the Maoris, the same result is found to obtain, the figures being 9.3 for the year 1902 and 9.6 for 1906. Wine shows a decrease in the consumption per head of population, but spirits the reverse. Both rise and fall are, however, not important.

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 MaorisExcluding Maoris
BeerWineSpiritsBeerWineSpirits
 GalGalGalGalGalGal
19028.7770.1500.7169.2520.1580.755
19038.9870.1420.7189.4600.1490.755
19048.9960.1350.7299.4550.1420.766
19058.7770.1240.6959.2120.1300.730
19069.0850.1360.7349.5690.1430.773

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

 Beer for ConsumptionWine for ConsumptionSpirits for Consumption
 GalsGalsGals
19027,380,883126,450602,021
19037,759,330122,490619,649
19047,989,990120,120647,155
19058,014,430113,189634,827
19068,570,460128,120692,324

In Australia the yearly average consumption per head of alcoholic liquors for 1901–6 is as quoted below:—

 SpiritsWineBeer
GalGalGal
Per HeadPer HeadPer Head
New South Wales0.810.579.76
Victoria0.700.8512.04
Queensland0.820.2910.38
South Australia0.402.538.17
Western Australia1.491.0824.74
Tasmania0.530.179.15

The average annual consumption in the United Kingdom, 1901–5, was—spirits, 1 gallon per head; beer, 29 ½ gallons per head; and wine, one-third of a gallon per head.

* It has been estimated by the Government Statistician of Victoria that each gallon of beer (including ale and stout) costs the consumer in that State 3s.; each gallon of spirits 35s.; and each gallon of wine 10s.—allowing in each case for a certain proportion being consumed privately.

If these figures may be applied to the consumption of alcoholic liquors in New Zealand, the yearly average cost per head of the total population is found to be £2 13s. 0d., and of the adult population £4 18s. 1d. This is considerably lower than that shown for any of the States of the Australian Commonwealth, with the exception of Tasmania. In the Victorian Year Book, 1906–7, the figures have been so applied to New Zealand.

Crime amongst Maoris.

The Native population of New Zealand 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
YearNumber
1891298
1892293
1893253
1894321
1895316
1896332
1897450
1898349
1899300
1900253
1901298
1902330
1903421
1904435
1905377
1906542
CONVICTIONS OF MAORIS IN SUPERIOR COURTS
YearConvictionsNumber of Persons convicted
189177
18921615
18931312
18942524
18951751
18961919
18971612
18982135
189987
19002222
19012626
190255
19031616
190477
19051111
19061919

The figures for superior Courts do not include persons sent up from the Magistrates' Courts for sentence under “The Indictable Offences Summary Jurisdiction Act, 1900.”

Police.

The strength of the Police Force in New Zealand on the 31st December, 1907, was a total number of 731 persons. Of these, the police at the four chief centres numbered 321, being 96 at Auckland, 90 at Wellington, 69 at Christchurch, and 66 at Dunedin. The remaining members of the Force (410) 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, 1907, amounted to £144,516.

Prisoners in Gaol.

The total number of prisoners received in the different gaols during the year 1906 was 5,236, 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 1905 the number received was 5,03, so that the figures for 1906 show an increase of 197. Of 5,236 admissions for 1906, 26 were for debt, and 37 on account of lunacy; while 110 were Maoris imprisoned for various offences. If the debtors, lunatics, and Maoris be excluded, the number of persons received into gaol is reduced to 5,063, against 4,846 in 1905.

The number of persons in gaol (including Maoris) at the end of the year 1906 was 891, or 81 more than in 1905.

PRISONERS IN GAOL (31ST DECEMBER)
YearUndergoing SentenceDebtors and LunaticsOn Remand and awaiting TrialTotal
1889611319633
1891494436534
1893463633502
1895531546582
1897623 51674
1899508 58566
1901661151713
1903688 51739
1905759150810
1906833 58891

Of the prisoners previously convicted received in 1906, 585 men and 39 women had been convicted once; 383 men and 32 women twice; 1,350 men and 281 women three or more times: making a total of 2,318 men and 352 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 1906 this number (excluding Maoris) was 2,966, an increase of 170 on the number in 1905. 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 1906, classified according to nature of offence, religion, birthplace, and age:—

DISTINCT CONVICTED PRISONERS RECEIVED INTO GAOL, 1906.[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 PersonOffences against PropertyMiscellaneousTotals
Convicted on IndictmentSummarily convictedTheft and DeceitMischiefVagrancyDrunkenness.*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.

Religious—MFMFMFMFMFMFMFMF
      Church of England40638 330528 136533282521671,11696
      Roman Catholic33142 1995181124613133618510914114
      Presbyterian16 1718837 46221511385541044
      Wesleyan612 25 1 101394181016 
      Others12 6 38 4 21435342 1587
                        Totals107810516801358133714186681546222,699267
Birthplaces—                
      England and Wales23222 143114 942224421144568451
      Scotland10 8 3924 37101421249 28924
      Ireland10 15 5112 59241762366437952
      New Zealand386421302830192681721818510861112
      Australian States15 6 7814 28941545121716
      Other British possessions1 1 11 1 421813 393
      China1   1   1   15 18 
      Other countries9 11 55 3 2267313922129
                        Totals107810516801358133714186681546222,699267
Ages—                
      Under 10 years                
      10 and under 12 years                
      12 and under 15 years    4        4  
      15 and under 20 years914 5846 557 18 10710
      20 and under 25 years9221114636 221448180133222
      25 and under 30 years28117 1343171432093793342735
      30 and under 40 years31136 180114 934825420162777077
      40 and under 50 years14117 9619 70302052999751068
      50 and under 60 years917 4512 54181582158233343
      60 years and over713 17 4 50699336221612
                        Totals107810516801358133714186681543222,699267
                        Totals. 1905822135267736383251127805106519162,507289

The number of distinct persons (exclusive of Maoris) imprisoned after conviction, in the past seventeen 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.
YearPrisonersProportion 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
19042,89634.27
19052,79632.14
19062,96633.12

There has been since 1890 a decrease 5.49 per 10,000 of population. In New South Wales the proportion for 1905 was 47.5 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 1906, on page 566.

Expenditure on Gaols and Prisoners.

The gross expenditure on the gaols (exclusive of the cost of buildings) for the year ended the 31st December, 1906, was £34,811; and the net expenditure, after deducting value of services rendered, £18,368.

The prisoners in the gaols during the year 1906 were maintained at a net cost to the State of £25 0s. 6d. per head, against £25 3s. 5d. per head in 1905.

Crime amongst the New-Zealand-born.

While the New-Zealand-born formed at the last census 68 per cent. of the whole population, they contributed in 1906 only 33 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 56 per cent. of the total population above that age; but, as before stated, New-Zealanders constituted only 33 per cent. of the total number received in gaols.

The number of New-Zealand-born distinct prisoners (excluding Maoris) received for the year 1906—973 persons—is found to be 119 in excess of the number for 1905. Of the total number received in 1906, 121 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.

Tree-planting by Prisoners.

There are now four tree-planting prison-camps established—viz., Waiotapu and Waipa Valley in the North Island, and Dumgree and Hanmer Springs in the South Island. There were 132 prisoners at these camps at the end of 1906, and a considerable amount of planting, clearing, fencing, and other work was carried out during the year. In his report of the year 1906 the Inspector of Prisons thus comments on the system:—

The amount of work done at the tree-planting prisons is creditable to all concerned, and it is satisfactory to find that many who have completed their sentences at those places are now doing well. The unfavourable comments made as to the former characters of men sent to these prisons when an escape or suchlike occurs are unworthy of consideration. It is one of the most difficult duties performed by the Department to select men for tree-planting who are likely to reform, and I hold that if a man, after doing some period of his sentence, shows signs of wishing to reform and become a decent member of society, he is as much entitled to be sent to tree-planting, regardless of his crime and former history, as a first offender is; and when those competent to judge consider the matter, and the number of prisoners who have passed through the tree-planting prisons, with the few offences committed by them, I think it will be readily admitted that few mistakes have been made in the selection of those sent.

Children's Courts.

An Act to make better provision for the hearing of charges against juvenile offenders was passed in 1906. Where a juvenile offender, meaning any person under sixteen years of age, is brought before the Court, the constable in charge of the case must make a special report to the Magistrate, who fixes a special hour for the hearing of the charge, notice of which shall be given to the parents of the child, and also, if the Magistrate thinks fit, to any religious or charitable organization or any public institution which interests itself in the care of children. If the offender is under arrest he shall either be at once admitted to bail or given into the charge of some person willing to receive him and produce him when required, or the constable in charge may arrange for him to be taken care of pending the hearing, but in no case shall the offender be allowed to remain in a gaol or lock-up pending the hearing unless his safe custody cannot otherwise be provided for. On the hearing of the charge the Magistrate may order out of Court all persons excepting any counsel, solicitor, witness, parent, or guardian, or newspaper representative, or any person representing any institution or organization interested in the reform of juvenile offenders. Any Magistrate may, if he thinks fit, in lieu of recording a conviction against a child, even if the charge be proved, admonish him, and may order him or his parents to pay any costs or damages incurred by or through the offence.

First Offenders' Probation Act.

One hundred and one persons were placed on probation in the year 1906, as against 111 in 1905. Of these, 28 were discharged after satisfactorily carrying out the conditions of their licenses, 5 were rearrested, 1 absconded, and 67 remained under the supervision of Probation Officers.

Of the 1,869 persons placed on probation since the introduction of the Act in October, 1886, no less than 1,567 had by the end of the year 1906 been discharged after satisfactorily carrying out the conditions of their licenses, 104 had been rearrested and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, 1 committed suicide, 3 died, 39 absconded, 2 were sent to mental hospitals, 2 to industrial schools, and 151 remained fulfilling the conditions of their terms of probation.

The amount of costs which the various Courts directed to be paid during the year 1906 was £298 6s. 10d., of which £164 9s. 7d. has been actually paid. The approximate cost of keeping these first offenders had they been sent to prison would have amounted to £3,249, which sum, added to the amount of costs, &c., actually paid, represents a saving of £3,414.

Inquests.

The number of bodies on which inquests were held in 1906 was 1,141, including 11 Maoris. In 878 cases the bodies were of males, and in 263 of females.

The inquests on suicidal deaths in 1906 show an increase on the number for the previous year. The figures for each of the last nine years were:—

YearInquests on Suicides
MalesFemalesTotal
189869877
1899611374
1900521163
1901711384
190269574
19039115106
19048916105
1905732396
19068515100

The verdicts given at the inquests held in 1906 may be classified as under:—

Nature of VerdictInquests on Persons
MalesFemalesTotal
Accident39570465
Disease and natural causes370170540
Intemperance628
Homicide8513
Suicide8515100
Not classed14115
 8782631,141

Of the accidental deaths, drowning is the most fatal form. The verdicts show that 159 bodies were found drowned, giving a percentage of 34.19 on the accidental deaths from all causes.

Fire Inquests.

The inquests on fires held during 1906 numbered 27. In 4 cases the verdict was incendiarism; in 1 case accidental; in 2 there was insufficient evidence; and in 20 no evidence was forthcoming.

“The Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Act, 1907.”

This Act is designed to suppress gambling by confining all betting to racecourses. It contains provisions for the closing of “tote” shops and for the declaration by the Supreme Court of “common gaminghouses” on the affidavit of a Superintendent or Inspector of Police showing reasonable grounds for suspecting that any premises are used as a common gaming-house or as a means of access thereto or exit therefrom. Notice of such declaration is advertised and gazetted, served on the owner or occupier, and posted up on the premises.

There are also provisions for determining any such declaration on proof that the premises are not used as a common gaming-house or in conjunction therewith. The Act provides penalties for carrying on business in, the continued use of, and being found on the premises during the currency of the declaration, and includes a club, in certain cases, in the term “common gaming-house.”

Constables have power of entry over the premises, and may use such force as may be necessary. To obstruct or give warning of the approach of a constable in the performance of his duty is an offence. Any game of chance is made an unlawful game, and the definition of “occupier” is extended. The Gaming Acts are made to apply to lotteries whether promoted in New Zealand or elsewhere.

Street betting is punishable by a fine of not less than £20 or more than £100 for the first offence, and by imprisonment not exceeding three months for a second or any subsequent offence. Money paid to bookmakers for bets made in a street may be recovered, and betting on any sports ground is made penal. In prosecutions for betting with an infant, the defence that the infant was an “agent” will not now avail. Betting in factories is made an offence.

A constable on duty, or person acting under instructions from any Superintendent or Inspector of Police, is not deemed an offender or accomplice in the commission of any offence against the Gaming Acts.

Racing clubs must not accept any totalisator investment by telegram or telephone. The publication is prohibited of dividends (except on the racecourse), and racing tips and the “double” totalisator is abolished. The totalisator must be closed not later than the time advertised for the starting of a race. Racing clubs authorised to use the totalisator are required to license bookmakers.

Chapter 36. SECTION IV.—VITAL STATISTICS.

Table of Contents

BIRTHS.

THE number of births registered during 1907 was 25,094, or 27.30 in every 1,000 persons living. The number of births is 842 in excess of that for the year 1906, an increase of 3.47 per cent. From 1882 until the year 1899 there was a regular fall in the birthrate. The number of births registered in a year reached 19,846 in 1884, and, after falling to 17,876 in 1892, has risen to 25,094 in 1907 as stated above.

The number of male children born during 1907 was 12,835, and of female children 12,259.

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:—

YearNumber of BirthsRate 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
190523,68227.22
190624,25227.08
190725,09427.30

The marriages have increased numerically, and the population of the Dominion also.

YearNumber of MarriagesMean 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
19057,200870,000
19067,592895,594
19078,192919,105

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 1888–1907 show a decline in the proportion of births to every marriage in the preceding year from 5.14 to 3.15, as below:—

YearMarriagesLegitimate BirthsProportion of Births to every Marriage solemnised in the Preceding Year
18873,565  
18883,61718,3255.14
18893,63217,8454.93
18903,79717,6754.87
18913,80517,6354.64
18924,00217,2834.54
18934,11517,5144.37
18944,17817,8244.33
18954,11017,7114.24
18964,84317,7784.32
1897 17,9113.70
18974,928  
18985,09118,1543.68
18995,46118,0063.54
19005,86018,6403.41
19016,09519,5543.34
19026,39419,7343.23
19036,74820,8353.26
19046,98321,7373.22
19057,20022,6003.24
19067,59223,1203.21
1907 23,9373.15

If the average result be taken out for the ten years 1888–1897, it will be found to represent 4.51 births to a marriage. Dealing similarly with the figures for 1898 1907 the result is an average of 3.33, 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 1906 the New Zealand rate was higher than that of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.

The movement over ten years is calculated as under:—

BIRTH-RATES PER 1,000 OF POPULATION
Country1898189919001901190219031904190519061907
Queensland28.2827.3130.2128.2827.6824.7127.1225.9226.31 
New South Wales27.1427.1027.4327.6027.1725.2826.7326.7327.0427.14
Victoria25.7226.7125.8225.7725.2324.4624.6524.8325.1425.16
South Australia24.9825.5125.7825.3924.8523.4324.7023.8223.5423.97
Western Australia29.3530.6431.4630.3230.0930.2730.3430.3030.0229.24
Tasmania26.2425.9828.2528.4028.9528.6129.5929.3229.5229.68
New Zealand25.7425.1225.6026.3425.8926.6126.9427.2227.0827.30

This table shows that although New Zealand had in 1900 the lowest birth-rate in Australasia, the rate for 1907 was higher than that of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.

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, in 1901 to 244, and in 1906 to 228; or, in other words, in 1878 one married woman of the ages specified in every three gave birth to a child, while in 1906 the rate was less than one in four. The figures for each census year are given below.

BIRTH-RATES (LEGITIMATE) PER 1,000 MARRIED WOMEN AT CHILD-BEARING. AGES FOR EACH CENSUS YEAR, 1878 TO 1906
Year (Census)Number of Married Women between 15 and 45 Years of AgeNumber 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
190698,81122,352227.6

And another table is given, showing for a period of twenty-five 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 ACCORDING TO AGE-GROUPS, AS AT THE CENSUSES OF 1881, 1891, 1901, AND 1906; WITH THE PROPORTION IN EACH GROUP FOR EVERY 100 OF THE WHOLE
Age-groupsMarried Women under 45, excluding Chinese
Numbers at CensusProportions per Cent
18811891190119061881189119011906
15–201,2337507779232.141.190.980.95
20–258,9968,86210,05312,15315.6614.0312.6612.37
25–3013,13314,54017,92324,03022.8623.0222.5724.47
30–3512,65614,57619,61723,02522.0323.0824.7023.44
35–4011,81112,95916,85421,45320.5520.5121.2321.84
40–459,62911,47814,18216,62218.7618.1717.8616.93
    Totals57,45863,16579,40698,211100.00100.00100.00100.00

A table is given in the Sixty-ninth Annual Report of the Registrar-General of England of such importance that it is reproduced here:—

LEGITIMATE-BIRTH RATES
Country— (Arranged in order of rates in 1900-2)Proportion of Legitimate Births per 1,000 Wives aged 15–45 YearsIncrease (+) or Decrease(-) per Cent. in Fertility during 20 Years
Approximate Periods
1880–21890–21900–2
European Countries    
  The Netherlands347.5338.315.3-9.3
  Norway314.5306.8302.8-3.7
  Prussia312.6307.6290.4-7.1
  Ireland282.9287.6289.4+2.3
  German Empire310.2300.9284.2-8.4
  Austria281.4292.4283.7+0.8
  Scotland311.5296.4271.8-12.7
  Italy276.2 239.4-2.5
  Sweden293.0280.0269.0-8.2
  Switzerland284.1274.0265.9-6.4
  Denmark287.1278.1259.1-9.8
  Spain257.7263.9258.7+0.4
  Belgium312.7285.1250.719.8
  England and Wales286.0263.8235.517.7
  France196.2173.5157.5-19.7
Australian Commonwealth    
  Tasmania 311.0256.4 
  Queensland329.0320.6252.8-23.2
  Western Australia323.9338.8246.4-23.9
  South Australia326.5307.5235.0-28.0
  New South Wales337.8298.5234.3-30.6
  Victoria299.2297.8226.8-24.2
New Zealand322.1277.5243.2-24.5

Here England and Wales for 1900 2 stands as having had the lowest fertility of all the European countries specified, except France. New Zealand shows a little above England, and, in respect of Australia, somewhat higher than South Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria.

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

BIRTH AND MARRIAGE RATES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, 1886, 1891, 1896, 1901, AND 1906
 BirthsMarriages
YearMean PopulationNumberRate per 1,000 of PopulationNumberRate 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
190643,661,0921,170,53726.8325,8237.5

The above figures are taken from the report of the Registrar-General of England (69th number), published in 1908.

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, 1897 TO 1906
CountriesNumber of Births per 1,000 of Mean Population
1897189818991900190119021903190419051906
Hungary40.337.739.339.337.838.836.737.035.736.0
Austria37.536.337.337.336.637.035.235.533.7 
Italy34.733.533.933.032.633.431.732.832.531.9
German Empire36.036.135.835.635.735.133.934.133.0 
Netherlands32.531.932.031.532.331.831.631.430.830.4
Scotland30.030.129.829.629.529.229.228.728.127.9
Norway29.930.130.729.929.629.028.828.127.426.5
England and Wales29.629.329.128.728.528.528.427.927.227.1
Belgium29.028.628.828.929.428.427.527.126.125.7
Sweden26.727.126.427.027.026.525.725.825.725.7
Switzerland28.128.428.928.629.128.727.727.727.4 
Ireland23.523.323.122.722.723.023.123.623.423.6
France22.221.821.921.422.021.721.120.920.620.6

In March, 1901, New Zealand had 86,806 children living under the age of five years, and in April, 1906, the number was 102,745, an increase of 15,939, or 18.35 per cent., although the population at all ages increased in the quinquennium by only 14.99 per cent. Between 1891 and 1896 the increase was only 455, or 0.55 per cent., while 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.), 1896 and 1901 (9.86 per cent.), or 1901 and 1906 (14.99 per cent.). The number of children under one year to the total population at all ages, according to the results of five censuses, was:—

 Children under One YearTotal Population (all Ages)
Census 188618,355578,482
Census 189116,443626,658
Census 189617,070703,360
Census 190118,381772,719
Census 190622,289888,578

Thus, in 1886, with a population of 578,482 persons, there were 18,355 children under one year, against 22,289 children of that age in 1906, with a population of 888,578 persons.

The births registered in 1885 were 19,693, against 23,682 in 1905. The birth-rate fell from 34.35 per 1,000 of the population in 1885 to 27.22 in 1905.

Deducting 1,599, the number of deaths of children under one year registered in 1905, from 23,682, the number of births for that year, leaves 22,083, or within 206 of the living children under one year at the time of the last census.

SEXES OF CHILDREN BORN.

The figures show that during each year since 1886 there has been a preponderance of births of male children. It would appear, however, that this excess of male births is not sufficient to compensate for the heavier mortality which occurs among this sex. Of the total population in 1871 there were 70.52 females to every 100 males, but in 1907 the proportion of the females to 100 males had risen to 88.67.

YearNumber of Births ofProportion of Births of Males to every 100 Females
MalesFemales
18879,7259,410103.3
18889,6419,261104.1
18899,5148,943106.4
18909,2938,985103.4
18919,3778,896105.4
18929,1018,775103.7
18939,3108,877104.9
18949,4729,056104.6
18959,4939,053104.9
18969,5119,101104.5
18979,6009,137105.1
18989,6159,340102.9
18999,7249,111106.7
190010,1079,439107.1
190110,47110,020104.5
190210,65310,002106.5
190311,21710,612105.7
190411,76211,004106.9
190512,10911,573104.6
190612,39711,855104.6
190712,83512,259104.7

TWIN BIRTHS.

There were 244 cases of twin births (488 children) registered in 1907. The number of children born was 25,094; the number of mothers was 24,850: thus, on an average, one mother in every 102 gave birth to twins, against 114 in 1906, 97 in 1905, 93 in 1904, and 97 in 1903.

ILLEGITIMACY.

The births of 1,157 children were illegitimate: thus 46 in every 1,000 children born were born out of wedlock, against 47 in 1906.

The rates of illegitimacy in Australasia are quoted. That for 1907 in New Zealand was less than in any of the Australian States except South Australia and Western Australia.

PROPORTION OF ILLEGITIMATE BIRTHS IN EVERY 100 BIRTHS
YearQueenslandNew South WalesVictoriaSouth AustraliaWestern AustraliaTasmaniaNew Zealand
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
19046.897.125.744.014.365.824.52
19057.007.375.614.374.195.524.57
19067.687.045.584.004.785.784.67
1907 7.045.624.103.895.864.61

These figures show the proportion of illegitimate births to every 100 births for New Zealand to be fairly steady during the period 1898–1907; the difference amounts only to 0.38 per cent. on a comparison of the first and last years.

The proportion of illegitimate births per 1,000 unmarried women —i.e., spinsters and widows—at the reproductive ages, covering a period of twenty years, is shown:—

YearUnmarried Women aged 15-45 YearsIllegitimate BirthsIllegitimate-birth Rate per 1,000 Unmarried Women
188656,27760210.70
189168,9906389.25
189689,7228349.30
1901105,4209378.89
1906116,5061,1329.72

The rate in New South Wales for 1905 was 16.24 per 1,000 unmarried women, in Victoria the rate was 10.31 for 1901, while in England and Wales the rate was as low as 8.1 for the year 1906.

For England and Wales the proportion of illegitimate births to the total births in 1906 was 4 per cent., having gradually diminished from 7 per cent. in 1845.

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 figures in the next table, which give the percentages of illegitimate births to the total births in a number of foreign countries, cover in most cases a period of five years.

CountryIllegitimate 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

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; in 1904, 87; in 1905, 84; in 1906, 125; and in 1907, 114, making altogether 963 legitimations since the passing of the law.

MATERNITY HOMES AND THE REGISTRATION OF NURSES AND MIDWIVES.

There are four maternity homes now open for the use of the public, one at each of the principal centres. The St. Helen's Hospital at Wellington was opened in June, 1905; that at Dunedin n October, 1905; that at Auckland in June, 1906; and that at Christchurch, in April, 1907. Up to the end of March, 1907, a total of 564 births had taken place in the three hospitals, and 154 confinements had been attended by the institution nurses outside the hospitals. These institutions are a development of the policy begun by legislation in 1901, when the Nurses Registration Act was passed, followed in 1904 by the Midwives Act, the latter providing that after a certain date only those midwives who were duly registered would be qualified to practise on their own account. Thirty-three nurses' certificates have been issued to those who were trained in the hospitals and were qualified to practise, while 996 midwives have been registered, 149 of these holding special certificates.

The maternity hospitals are not intended in any sense to be charitable institutions, and it is expected that they will be self-supporting.

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 1907 was 7,018, as against 6,512 for the previous year. The birth-rates for 1907 were:—

 Birth-rates per 1,000 of Mean Population
Auckland City29.63 
Auckland City and six suburban boroughs 27.46
Wellington City27.53 
Wellington City and three suburban boroughs 27.34
Christchurch City30.47 
Christchurch City and one suburban borough 30.48
Dunedin City25.69 
Dunedin City and six suburban boroughs 25.36

By the inclusion of the suburbs the rate is raised at Christchurch, but lowered at Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin. It will be observed that Christchurch has the highest rate, Auckland next highest, Wellington and Dunedin following with intervals. The birth-rate for the Dominion last year was 27.30 per thousand. Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch are thus over the average, and Dunedin below it.

The birth-rates for three of the central boroughs last year show a fall when compared with 1906. In Auckland the rate fell from 29.96 to 29.63, in Wellington from 27.85 to 27.53, in Dunedin from 28.96 to 25.69, but rose in Christchurch from 28.19 to 30.47. The rates for five years, 1903 to 1907, are:—

 Births per 1,000 of Population
19031904190519061907
Auckland (without suburbs)31.6731.0830.9629.9629.63
Wellington (without suburbs)29.2226.7729.7227.8527.53
Christchurch (without suburbs)26.5927.5329.7028.1930.47
Dunedin (without suburbs)19.5422.4023.9028.9625.69

NATURALISATION.

Aliens residing in New Zealand 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 Dominion. Two hundred and eighty-two (275 men and 7 women) were naturalised in 1907.

The number belonging to each nationality was as under:—

NUMBER OF ALIENS NATURALISED IN 1907
Natives of—MF
    German Empire272
    Norway211
    Sweden180
    Denmark272
    Russia and Finland230
    France and possessions40
    Belgium20
    Netherland10
    Switzerland81
    Italy81
    Spain81
    Portugal and possessions10
    Austria-Hungary1000
    Greece40
    China120
    Japan20
    United States of America50
    Syria100
    Chili10

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

Natives of— 
    Germany1,742
    Sweden and Norway1,375
    Denmark954
    Russia in Europe310
    France149
    Belgium36
    Netherlands70
    Switzerland202
    Italy and Sicily256
    Portugal67
    Austria-Hungary778
    Greece62
    China416
    United States of America108
    Other countries183
                Total6,708

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 Dominion 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 1907 show an increase on the number for the previous year. The number was 8,192, or 600 more than in 1906. The marriage-rate rose from 8.48 per 1,000 persons living in 1906 to 8.91 in 1907, 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 recent years sets New Zealand in a good position relatively to the Australian States.

The rates for a series of seventeen consecutive years were:—

MARRIAGES PER 1,000 OF THE POPULATION
YearQueenslandNew South WalesVictoriaSouth Australia (Proper)Western AustraliaTasmaniaNew Zealand
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
18956.236.356.005.836.835.325.94
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
19045.937.216.806.918.837.558.26
19056.047.427.247.008.487.618.28
19066.737.637.287.128.707.748.48
19077.847.687.998.027.918.91 

The improved rate for New Zealand is higher than the rate for the European countries given in the table following.

MARRIAGES IN EVERY 1,000 OF THE POPULATION
Hungary19068.7
German Empire19058.1
Belgium19068.1
Austria19057.8
England and Wales19067.8
France19067.8
Italy19067.8
Switzerland19057.6
Netherlands19067.5
Denmark19067.5
Spain19067.3
Scotland19067.0
Sweden19066.1
Norway19065.9
Ireland19065.2

The marriage-rate, measured by the total population, does not show the true position when, as in the case of New Zealand, the age constitution of the people fluctuates considerably. A more satisfactory standard is found in the number of persons of marriageable age, defined as meaning the unmarried and widowed of males aged 20 years and upwards and of females aged 15 years and upwards. The rates are given for four census years:—

Year of CensusProportion of Unmarried per 1,000 of TotalProportion of Marriages per 1,000 of the
MalesFemalesMarriageable MenMarriageable WomenMarriageable PersonsTotal Population
1891246.2267.846.2248.1047.146.04
1896264.2308.349.1147.0948.086.85
1901278.3330.653.5649.9651.697.83
1906295.8326.954.0955.1554.628.48

Of the marriages solemnised in 1907, 7,499 were between bachelors and spinsters, 231 between bachelors and widows, 335 between widowers and spinsters, and 127 between widowers and widows.

Divorced men and women have been classified as bachelors or spinsters: 53 divorced men and 75 divorced women were married during the year.

Included amongst spinsters are three married women, and amongst the bachelors two married men, who elected to go through the form of marriage with other persons under the protection of the provisions of section 204, subsection (5), of “The Criminal Code Act, 1893,” which runs, “No one commits bigamy by going through a form of marriage if he or she has been continually absent from his or her wife or husband for seven years then last past, and is not proved to have known that his wife or her husband was alive at any time during those seven years.”

The total number of marriages solemnised (8,192) 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. Twenty-one marriages in which both parties were Maoris were contracted in 1907 in terms of the Act: 13 by Registrars, 3 by clergymen of the Church of England, 1 by a Methodist minister, 1 by a minister of the Congregational Church, and 3 by ministers 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, 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. The census of 1906 disclosed the fact that there was a considerable excess of bachelors, amounting to 9,633. This result, no doubt, is largely due to the arrivals from abroad of numbers of young men who have settled in New Zealand.

It is noticeable how differently the numbers for the provincial districts have been affected by the process in operation. An excess of bachelors was preserved in Auckland, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson, and Westland from 1891 to 1906. 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, but decreased to 2,117 in 1906; while in Otago an excess of 773 spinsters in 1891 increased to 2,066 in 1896, diminished in 1901, when there were 1,899 more spinsters than bachelors, and again in 1906, when the number of spinsters was 954 greater than the number of bachelors. These two important districts of the South Island have lost large numbers of bachelors by departures to the North Island. The following table exhibits the particulars for each provincial district:—

Provincial DistrictsCensus, 1891Census, 1896Census, 1901Census, 1906
Excess of Bachelors over SpinstersExcess of Bachelors over SpinstersExcess of Bachelors over SpinstersExcess of Bachelors over SpinstersExcess of Bachelors over SpinstersExcess of Bachelors over SpinstersExcess of Bachelors over SpinstersExcess of Bachelors over Spinsters
          Total excess3,497  1,786 3,5729,633 
Auckland156 703 521 3,383 
Taranaki121 524 805 754 
Hawke's Bay1,337 1,142 425 1,151 
Wellington2,129 637 32 4,389 
Marlborough644 183 158 532 
Nelson3,486 580 637 1,550 
Westland900 501 666 935 
Canterbury 2,516 3,997 4,918 2,117
Otago 773 2,066 1,899 954
Chatham Island15 7 1 10 
Kermadec Islands 2      

MARRIAGES BY MINISTERS OF VARIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

Of the marriages in the year 1907, 24.38 per cent. were solemnised by ministers of the Church of England, 26.23 per cent. by ministers of the Presbyterian Churches, 14.95 per cent. by ministers of the Methodist Churches, 11.22 per cent. by ministers of the Roman Catholic Church, 7.99 per cent. by ministers of other denominations, and 15.23 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 1907:—

DenominationPercentage of MarriagesPercentage of Denomination to Total Population in 1906
1901190219031904190519061907 
Church of England22.6824.9124.5825.5224.1224.2424.9324.3841.51
Presbyterians26.3824.4825.9525.3125.4626.425.7526.2322.96
Methodists13.2313.1912.9513.3216.3016.7614.9414.9510.06
Roman Catholics10.8210.539.9410.0811.1410.2211.111.2214.31
Other denominations10.2010.2010.079.876.546.756.37.9911.16
By Registrars16.6916.6916.5115.9016.4415.6016.915.23 
 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00 

Marriage by the Registrar is found to be less frequent than it was eight years ago, the percentage falling from 16.69 in 1900 to 15.23 in 1907.

MARRIAGE REGISTER SIGNED BY MARK.

Of the men married in 1907, 12, or 1.46 in every 1,000, and of the women 25, or 3.05 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 1.46 per 1,000, and from 57.98 per 1,000 to 3.05 per 1,000 among women. This is shown in a very striking manner by the following table:—

PERSONS IN EVERY 1,000 MARRIED WHO SIGNED BY MARK
Denomination1881189119011907
MFMFMFMF
Church of England16.5927.158.2910.661.323.291.50 
Presbyterians10.2529.615.798.692.684.690.931.86
Methodists32.4141.798.9310.713.733.73 2.45
Roman Catholics117.78133.3331.3318.286.237.791.091.09
Other denominations10.3620.729.26 1.613.21 1.53
By Registrars39.2293.5127.4243.0813.7715.734.8112.82
          Total marriages32.0457.9813.9316.824.596.231.463.05

The proportion of illiterates in 1901 and 1907 was greatest among those married before Registrars. Previously the proportion was largest among Roman Catholics; but since 1881 it has, as shown by the table, most remarkably decreased.

AGES OF PERSONS MARRIED.

Of the persons married in 1907, 131 bridegrooms and 1,296 brides were under 21 years of age—one of the bridegrooms was between 16 and 17, and ten between 18 and 19. Of the brides, ten were between 15 and 16, and thirty-four 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 1907:—

Age189119011907
MFMFMF
Under 21 years1.5520.791.9317.161.6015.82
21 and under 2526.9943.9924.9439.9723.6336.77
25 and under 3036.1922.9737.0826.8939.3929.53
30 and under 4025.948.7227.1212.7327.1614.11
40 and under 506.442.716.042.445.072.66
50 and under 602.260.661.770.571.990.81
60 and under 700.550.160.920.240.830.28
70 and upwards0.08 0.20 0.280.02

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 New Zealand. If a declaration be made in any case that there is no such parent or lawful guardian resident in the Dominion, then a certificate may be issued after the expiration of fourteen days following the date on which the notice of intended marriage is given.

A marriage may not be solemnised except after the delivery to the minister or Registrar who officiates of a certificate issued by a Registrar authorising such marriage, and if any persons knowingly and wilfully intermarry without such certificate the marriage is null and void; and no clergyman or minister of any denomination is empowered to solemnise marriages until his name has been placed on the Registrar-General's list of officiating ministers for the year.

Marriage with a deceased wife's sister in New Zealand was legalised in the year 1880, and an Act was passed in the year 1900 which legalised marriage with the brother of a deceased husband. This Act is retrospective, including in its provisions marriages between such parties which had previously been solemnised as well as those contracted after the statute was passed, and declaring all these to be valid, and the issue born prior or subsequent to the passing of the Act to be deemed born in lawful wedlock.

The measure was reserved for the signification of her late Majesty's pleasure. The Royal assent has since been given, and the Act came into force in New Zealand by Proclamation dated the 22nd May, 1901.

The ages at which persons may contract binding marriages are the same as in England—12 years for females and 14 for males. Marriage may be contracted at earlier ages than those stated, but would be voidable at the discretion of either of the parties upon reaching the age of 12 or 14, as the case may be, and without the necessity of proceedings in Court.

Although in New Zealand the age at which girls may legally marry is as above, nevertheless, by the criminal law, to unlawfully carnally know a girl under the age of 16 years is now a punishable offence. The age of consent was raised from 15 to 16 by statute passed in 1896.

MEAN AGES AT MARRIAGE
YearMean Age of BridegroomsMean Age of Brides
189529.9025.05
189629.7425.28
189729.6225.21
189829.9525.30
189929.8625.48
190029.9125.29
190129.7225.54
190229.8925.63
190329.8925.84
190429.6025.44
190529.6525.75
190629.7625.97
190729.8326.07

The average age of bridegrooms has remained fairly constant during the period, but there is a gradual increase in the average age of the brides. In England the mean age of those whose ages were stated was (in the year 1906) 28.56 years for men, and 26.41 years for women. Thus the average age at marriage in New Zealand 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 somewhat higher.

In England, in 1906, of every 1,000 bridegrooms whose ages were stated, 43 were under 21 years of age, and of every 1,000 brides 146 were under 21 years of age. In New Zealand, in 1907, the proportions were 16 bridegrooms and 158 brides of similar ages in every 1,000 married:—

YearBridegrooms under 21 in every 100Bridges 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
19041.7317.61
19051.3016.90
19061.6515.86
19071.6015.82

NUMBER OF MINISTERS.

The number of names on the list of officiating ministers under the Marriage Act is (April, 1908) 1,203, and the denominations to which they belong are shown hereunder:—

DenominationNo
Specified in statute— 
Church of England368
Presbyterian Church of New Zealand286
Roman Catholic Church201
Methodist Church of Australasia in New Zealand172
Congregational Independents23
Baptists37
Primitive Methodist Connexion45
Lutheran Church8
Hebrew Congregation6
Not specified in statute— 
Church of Christ17
Free Methodist Church of New Zealand3
New Jerusalem Church (Swedenborgians)1
Independent Free Church1
Salvation Army20
Catholic Apostolic Church4
Unitarians2
Brethren1
Others 
  Total1,208

DEATHS.

The deaths in 1907 numbered 10,066, being equivalent to a rate of 10.95 in every 1,000 persons living, as against 9.31 in 1906. This is the highest rate experienced since the year 1883, when the deaths were 11.45 per 1,000 of the population.

COMPARATIVE DEATH-RATE FOR THE PERIOD 1897 TO 1907
Country18971898189919001901190219031904190519061907

* Excluding the Northern Territory.

New Zealand9.149.8410.249.439.8110.5010.409.579.279.3110.95
Queensland11.3312.6612.0711.7311.8812.0812.3810.1110.479.56 
New South Wales10.8812.4811.8211.1611.6811.9511.5910.6210.139.8910.56
Victoria12.9015.9414.2812.7513.2213.4012.9011.9212.1012.4211.66
South Australia*11.2413.0612.1410.6411.1111.7910.7110.2210.1410.349.72
Western Australia16.9716.0513.7612.9213.3613.6312.6011.9110.8311.8711.09
Tasmania11.5313.5112.2511.0510.4510.8411.9211.0110.2311.1311.22
England and Wales17.417.518.218.216.916.215.416.215.215.4 
Scotland18.418.018.118.517.917.216.616.915.916.0 
Ireland18.518.217.719.617.817.517.518.117.117.0 
Denmark16.615.517.816.815.814.614.714.115.013.5 
Norway15.315.216.715.814.913.814.814.314.813.7 
Sweden15.415.117.716.816.115.415.115.315.614.4 
Austria25.624.925.625.324.024.723.823.725.0  
Hungary28.528.027.226.925.427.026.124.827.824.8 
Switzerland17.718.317.719.318.017.217.617.817.9  
German Empire21.320.521.522.120.719.520.019.619.8  
Netherlands16.917.017.117.817.216.315.615.915.314.8 
France19.420.921.121.920.119.519.219.419.619.9 
Italy21.922.921.923.822.022.222.421.121.920.8 

Considering the range of 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 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 1907
AgesEstimated Mean Population, 1907Number of Deaths, 1907Death-rate per 1,000, 1907Percentage of Population of Sweden, 1890 (Standard)Index of Mortality in New Zealand per 1,000
Under 1 year23,0702,22896.572.552.46
1 and under 20 years338,0471,2813.7839.801.50
20 and under 40 years347,5131,5284.3926.961.18
40 and under 60 years145,5861,50210.3119.231.98
60 years and upwards64,8893,52754.3511.466.23
            Totals919,10510,06610.95100.0013.35

A similar calculation for the States of the Australian Commonwealth has been made for 1905. 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 1905
IndexActual
Queensland14.5310.47
New South Wales13.5310.13
Victoria14.5512.10
South Australia13.5210.15
Western Australia14.4110.83
Tasmania13.3610.29
New Zealand11.859.27
New Zealand (1906)11.559.31

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 1907 was 3,095—viz., 2,567 in the cities, and 528 in the suburbs.

By including the suburbs the death-rate for last year is lowered at all of the four centres. The rates for the year are:—

Death-rates per 1,000 of Mean Population
Auckland City13.38 
Auckland City and six suburban boroughs 11.43
Wellington City11.45 
Wellington City and three suburban boroughs 11.28
Christchurch City14.72 
Christchurch City and one suburban borough 14.37
Dunedin City12.98 
Dunedin City and six suburban boroughs 12.02

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 1906 and 1907 in the following ratio to the 1,000 living:—

 19061907
Auckland (including suburbs)7.638.76
Wellington (including suburbs)7.238.06
Christchurch (including suburbs)9.1510.52
Dunedin (including suburbs)9.399.60

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 1906 and 1907 the proportions at the chief centres are,—

 19061907
Auckland (including suburbs)8.589.72
Wellington (including suburbs)7.1911.78
Christchurch (including suburbs)7.4412.62
Dunedin (including suburbs)7.269.54

The higher mortality for 1907 is very considerable.

Again, the percentage of deaths of children under 5 to the total number of deaths is—Auckland 32.83; in Christchurch, 32.71; in Wellington, 35.98; in Dunedin, 24.65.

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 1907 are found to be higher than in the previous year. The figures for five years are given:—

 Deaths per 1,000 of Population
19031904190519061907
Auckland (excluding suburbs)12.9711.1112.1512.5113.38
Wellington (excluding suburbs)11.3010.7510.559.4511.45
Christchurch (excluding suburbs)11.3910.5010.7611.1214.72
Dunedin (excluding suburbs)14.7713.5911.1312.7012.98

Omitting the deaths of infants under one year, and calculating the rate on the population of one year of age and upwards, an increase on the previous year is shown at three of the four centres.

 Deaths per 1,000 of Population, excluding Infants (under One Year of Age)
19031904190519061907
Auckland (excluding suburbs)9.459.249.399.8410.57
Wellington (excluding suburbs)8.848.427.807.688.43
Christchurch (excluding suburbs)8.837.878.469.3411.10
Dunedin (excluding suburbs)13.6111.909.6410.7610.74

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
19031904190519061907Mean of Five Years
Auckland (excluding suburbs)12.086.9310.139.9210.559.92
Wellington (excluding suburbs)9.289.5510.027.1111.859.56
Christchurch (excluding suburbs)10.4910.368.607.2412.999.94
Dunedin (excluding suburbs)7.278.747.217.769.778.15

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 Dominion, 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 was much higher at each of the four centres in 1907 than in the previous year. The total deaths in this class were 133 for 1906 and 395 for 1907.

 Deaths from Febrile and Zymotic Diseases
19061907
Auckland and suburbs42103
Wellington and suburbs22110
Christchurch and suburbs23110
Dunedin and suburbs4672
 133395

Of the above, diarrhœal diseases caused most deaths in 1907 at the four centres taken together, the total number being 111. Whooping-cough came next with 104 deaths, influenza 64, measles 36, diphtheria 23, scarlet fever 11, typhoid fever 9, bubonic plague 1, and other zymotic complaints 36.

Comparison of the deaths for each city, including suburbs, shows,—

Zymotic, &c., DiseasesAucklandWellingtonChristchurchDunedin
19061907190619071906190719061907
Diarrhœal diseases1619223847322
Influenza1110617913724
Typhoid fever564  251
Measles 17 15 410 
Scarlet fever21191  1
Diphtheria28592541
Whooping-cough 36 28 291211
Bubonic plague 1      
Other zymotic diseases6549310512

Parasitic Diseases (at Four Chief Centres).

Hydatids were fatal at Auckland (1 death), Wellington (2 deaths), Christchurch (1 death), and Dunedin (1 death).

Dietetic Diseases (at Four Chief Centres).

These numbered 15, 3 being due to want of breast-milk, 8 to alcoholism, and 4 to delirium tremens.

Constitutional Diseases (at Four Chief Centres).

The deaths at the four towns numbered 582 in 1907. The first in importance of these diseases, and of all causes of death, is tubercle. The figures for 1906 and 1907 show 232 and 289 deaths for each year respectively.

 19061907
PhthisisOther Tubercular DiseasesPhthisisOther Tubercular Diseases
Auckland and suburbs40124620
Wellington and suburbs49114524
Christchurch and suburbs28145225
Dunedin and suburbs59194928
 1765619297

The mortality from tubercular diseases for 1907 is 9.3 per cent. of the total deaths at the four boroughs and their suburbs from all causes.

Deaths from cancer rose at the chief towns from 217 in 1906 to 235 in 1907. The latter number is 7.59 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:—

 19031904190519061907
Auckland and suburbs3745354950
Wellington and suburbs4744475350
Christchurch and suburbs3338496076
Dunedin and suburbs6257605559
 179184191217235

Diabetes shows 27 deaths in 1907, against 36 in 1906.

Developmental Diseases (at Four Chief Centres).

There were 330 deaths in this class, of which 127 were from premature birth, 183 from old age, and 20 from other causes.

Local Diseases (at Four Chief Centres).

Deaths in this class were 245 more than in 1906, the figures being 1,542, against 1,297. Diseases of the circulatory system were the most fatal of this class, amounting to 384, being heart-disease, &c. Diseases of the nervous system show 300 deaths—117 from apoplexy. Diseases of the respiratory system show 369 deaths for 1907, against 297 in the former year. Bronchitis, pneumonia, congestion of the lungs, pleurisy, and allied diseases form this group, and the increased number for 1907 is very considerable.

Under the head of “Diseases of the Digestive System” there were 330 deaths at the four centres, including 166 from enteritis; peritonitis, 10; gastritis, 16; cirrhosis of liver, 14; jaundice and liver-disease, 20; and dentition 5. From appendicitis 28 deaths are particularly noted.

Diseases of the urinary system caused 111 deaths—51 from Bright's disease. The remaining deaths were: 1 disease of organs of special sense, 11 of the lymphatic, 26 of the reproductive systems, 5 of the organs of locomotion, and 5 of the integumentary system.

Violent Deaths (at Four Chief Centres).

There were 127 violent deaths, 95 of which were classed as accidental. Eight of these latter were caused by fractures, and 17 by falls. In 4 cases deaths resulted from the deceased being run over by a train, 3 by being struck by tram-car, 3 crushed by dray, truck, &c., 2 while getting off tram-car in motion, 3 by an accident at the Auckland Dock. Nine deaths were from burns or scalds, 16 by drowning, 12 by suffocation, 1 by poisoning; besides 4 from accident at birth, and 13 others.

Four deaths were classified as homicide. Of 28 suicides, 8 were by shooting, 2 by cutting throat, 8 by poison, 4 by hanging, 4 by drowning, and 2 others.

VITAL STATISTICS OF AUSTRALASIAN CAPITALS, 1907.

The vital statistics of the two chief cities, with their suburbs, of Australasia show that the death-rate in Wellington (N.Z.) for 1907 was lower than that of either of these principal towns for the same year.

Capital Cities (including Suburbs)Estimated Mean PopulationBirthsDeathsExcess of Births. over Deaths
Total NumberRate per 1,000 of PopulationTotal NumberRate per 1,000 of Population
Melbourne532,20012,86024.166,82312.826,037
Sydney544,70014,33426.326,23811.458,096
Wellington69,2411,89327.3478111.281,112

AVERAGE AGE AT DEATH, AND EXPECTATION OF LIFE.

The average age at death of persons of either sex, in each of the ten years 1898–1907, was as follows:—

 MalesFemales
189839.29 years35.69 years
189937.73 years33.54 years
190040.31 years36.14 years
190141.64 years37.68 years
190241.07 years34.88 years
190339.56 years35.43 years
190441.47 years38.44 years
190543.03 years39.13 years
190644.39 years39.35 years
190740.43 years36.66 years

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 published by Mr. George Leslie. 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
AgeAverage Duration of Life: Years
MaleFemale
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
5915.56017.077
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
738.0358.60
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
858.9824.180
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
101 1.195
102 0.889
103 0.500

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 “Children's Benefits,” he stated that in order to ascertain the ages and the number of children left by a married man at his death he had to go to the same source as Mr. King did when he constructed his table of “Family Annuities”—viz., the Statistics of 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 1907 and the experience of the quinquennial period, as shown in the “Statistics of New Zealand.”

The first table shows, for the year 1907, the total number of men who died at each year of age from twenty upwards; the number of married men stated in the registers as having died (a) childless, (b) leaving children; and the number and ages of the children living at the time of the father's death. The next is a similar table, but giving five years' results for all ages of the fathers. A condensation of this table is shown here.

NEW ZEALAND, 1903 TO 1907
Ages of Married Men at DeathNumber of Married Men who diedNumber and Ages of Living Issue
ChildlessLeaving ChildrenUnder 55 to 1010 to 1515 to 2021 and overNot specifiedTotals
20 to 309115525024   13287
30 to 4017365588656521332 671,763
40 to 501629187149199687702932263,890
50 to 601961,4153326501,1571,5913,2443467,320
60 to 651261,057711804198544,3232426,089
65 and upwards7114,806822075911,28022,8701,18126,211

A table has also been prepared for the statistical volume showing, for the year 1907, the number and ages of the youngest orphan children left by married men who died. The results of five years' experience in this matter are expressed below in tabular form.

NUMBER AND AGES OF YOUNGEST LIVING CHILDREN LEFT BY MARRIED MEN WHO DIED, 1903–7
Ages of Married Men at DeathNumber of Married Men who died leaving ChildrenNumber and Ages of Youngest Living Children
Under 55 to 1010 to 1515 to 2021 and overNot specified
20 to 301551482   5
30 to 40655503101222 27
40 to 50918416236132602351
50 to 601,41522628032928422670
60 to 651,057498916827643441
65 and upwards4,80656992814983,648224

INFANTILE MORTALITY.

Subjoined is a classified statement of the deaths of infants under one year during 1907, with the ratio of the deaths in each class to the 1,000 births during the year:—

YearSexUnder 1 Month1 and under 3 Months3 and under 6 Months6 and under 12 MonthsTotal under 12 Months
NUMBER OF DEATHS
1907Male4302692572861,242
Female333177243233986
DEATHS TO THE 1,000 BIRTHS
1907Male33.5020.9620.0222.2896.76
Female27.1614.4419.8219.0180.43

Ninety-seven out of every thousand of male children born, and eighty of every thousand females, are found to have died before attaining the age of one year. The mortality was thus one in ten of male children and one in twelve of females in New Zealand, where conditions are far more favourable to infant life than in Australia, at least as far as relates to the cities. But the year 1907 was exceptionally fatal amongst children, as is exhibited in the further tables on this subject.

It will also be seen from the figures that the chances of living during the first year of age are greater for female than for male infants. Thus, during the year 1907 there were—

100 deaths of males to 81deaths of femalesunder 1 month of age;
100 deaths of males to 69deaths of femalesfrom 1 to 3 months of age;
100 deaths of males to 99deaths of femalesfrom 3 to 6 months of age;
100 deaths of males to 85deaths of femalesfrom 6 to 12 months of age;
100 deaths of males to 83deaths of femalesunder 12 months of age

The rates of infantile mortality—that is, the proportion the deaths of children under one year of age bear to the births—are higher in the Australian States than in New Zealand.

Dealing with the results for ten years, the deaths of infants under one year are in the large proportion of three-fourths of the total deaths under five, as might be expected, the first year being the tenderest period. (See notes to tables.)

DEATHS OF INFANTS UNDER ONE YEAR, AND PROPORTION TO BIRTHS
YearDeaths 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 YearsProportion of Deaths of Infants under 1 Year to every 1,000 Births
Under 1 Month1 Month and under 3 Months3 Months and under 6 Months6 Months and under 12 MonthsTotal under 12 Months

NOTE—The total number of deaths of infants for the period included in the table is 16,679.

18985732893063421,51018,95579.7
18996193893784201,80618,83595.9
19006072882932811,46919,54675.2
19016102722922891,46320,49171.4
19026653443133901,71220,65582.9
19036923463673651,77021,82981.1
19046692603563311,61622,76671.0
19057142852903101,59923,68267.5
19067172472442981,50624,25262.1
19077634465005192,22825,09488.79
Means of ten years6633173343541,66821,61177.18
DEATHS OF CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS AND PROPORTION TO DEATHS AT ALL AGES,
YearDeaths of Children under 1 to 5 Years of Age. (Totals for each Year, and Means of 10 Years.)Total Deaths at all Ages for each Year, and Mean of 10 YearsDeaths under 5 Years: Per Cent. of Mortality at all Ages
Under 1 Year1 Year and under 2 Years2 Years and under 3 Years3 Years and under 4 Years4 Years. and under 5 YearsTotal Deaths under 5 Years

NOTE.—The total number of deaths included in this table of children under 5 years is 21,363.

18981,5102009172471,9207,24426.50
18991,80629111174562,3387,68030.44
19001,4692059364581,8897,20026.24
19011,4632088568521,8767,63424.57
19021,71230711892612,2908,37527.34
19031,770275126111643,3468,52827.51
19041,6161698363431,9748,08724.41
19051,5991769761461,9798,06124.55
19061,5061778758371,8658,33922.36
19072,22835016594492,88610,06628.67
Means of ten years1,66823610576512,1368,12126.30

Although 16,679 infants (under one year) were lost to the Dominion by death during the decade, and, including these, 21,363 children under five, the third table shows much more satisfactory results for New Zealand 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 73 infants under one year are found to die out of every 1,000 born, against 91 in New South Wales and 94 in Victoria.

YearProportion of Deaths of Infants under 1 Year of Age to every 1,000 Births
New ZealandNew South WalesVictoria
190282.9109.7108.65
190381.1110.4106.4
190471.082.477.6
190567.580.683.3
190662.174.592.9
Means of five years72.991.593.8

European countries show still higher average mortality of infants than the principal Australian States: England and Wales, 132 (under one year) to every 1,000 births; France, 136; Italy, 166; Hungary. 205. Sweden (99) and Norway (81) have exceptionally low rates.

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. Here it is seen how much mortality is attributed to these causes according to the medical certificates. As to the conditions which operate, the Registrar-General cannot deal with the question.*

DEATHS UNDER ONE YEAR.—PRINCIPAL CAUSES
Principal Causes of Deaths of Infants19031904190519061907
Miasmatic diseases191362043238
Diarrhœal diseases1221529265235
Premature birth301291360337359
Convulsions10395969084
Bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy241149208170269
Enteritis167231193167322
Marasmus, &c.270273258267304

*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.

  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.

The causes tending to produce mortality in the illegitimate infants were found to be (in New South Wales):—

A table is added to show the infant mortality in Wellington, Sydney and Melbourne.

YearWellington and SuburbsSydney and SuburbsMelbourne and Suburbs
Total BirthsDeaths of Infants under 1 YearProportion of Deaths of Infants under 1 Year to 1,000 BirthsTotal BirthsDeaths of Infants under 1 YearProportion of Deaths of Infants under 1 Year to 1,000 BirthsTotal BirthsDeaths of Infants under 1 YearProportion of Deaths of Infants under 1 Year to 1,000 Births
19021,321172130.213,0021,457112.112,4981,590127.2
19031,52014192.812,7491,483116.312,0121,493124.3
19041,47914195.313,2151,30098.411,8861,10292.7
19051,71516596.213,7691,23089.311,9441,13394.8
19061,75312671.8813,9841,17684.1012,3731,404113.47
Means of five years1,58814995.6413,3441,32999.6012,1431,344110.68

The infantile mortality for a number of countries is given by the Registrar-General of England.

DEATHS OF CHILDREN UNDER ONE YEAR TO 1,000 BIRTHS
CountryAverage Annual Rate in 10 Years. 1896–1905
Chili326
Russia268
Austria223
Roumania218
Hungary215
Prussia196
Spain178
Jamaica174
Ceylon170
Italy168
Servia154
Belgium153
Japan153
France149
England and Wales147
Netherlands144
Bulgaria144
Western Australia143
Switzerland139
Finland135
Denmark126
Scotland125
New South Wales105
Victoria103
Ireland102
South Australia100
Queensland99
Sweden97
Tasmania94
Norway88
New Zealand77

Here, of European countries, Austria, which has a birth-rate of 35 to 38 per 1,000 of population, shows an infantile mortality of 223 per 1,000 births; while New Zealand, with a birth-rate of 27 per 1,000 of population, loses only 77 infants per 1,000 births. So that, whatever may be the faults of ignorance or wilfulness in this country, from a statistical point of view it would appear that far better conditions obtain than elsewhere.

INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION.

“The Infant Life Protection Act, 1907,” repeals the statute of 1896. The Act renders it unlawful for any person to take charge of an infant under the age of six years, for the purpose of nursing or maintaining it apart from its parents or guardians, for a longer period than seven consecutive days, unless such person is licensed as a foster-parent.

Provision is made for the granting and revocation of licenses, and for the method of payment of maintenance-money. No payment is to be made to or received by a foster-parent except in pursuance of an agreement approved by the Secretary to the Education Department, and if default be made in payment under the agreement the amount due, or part thereof, may be paid by the Secretary, and shall be recoverable as a debt due to the Crown. When and so long as any money so recoverable remains unpaid, the Secretary shall have and may exercise the powers of a guardian until the child attains the age of fifteen years. Provision is also made for the inspection of foster-homes, and in case of the removal or death of foster-children.

The Act applies to any infant adopted under “The Adoption of Children Act, 1895,” in the same manner and to the same extent as if no such adoption had taken place. The Department of Education is the authority by whom the Act is to be administered.

In his sixty-seventh annual report the Registrar-General of England remarked “that a well-devised system of early notification of births, legalised and worked in conjunction with the present registration system on the one hand, and with sanitary administration on the other, might, along with other motive forces, serve as a most effective and lasting barrier with which to stem the tide of infant mortality.” The Notification of Births Act was passed accordingly in England, and the New Zealand legislature in 1907 introduced provisions for early notification when passing the Infant Life Protection Act of that year, allowing seventy-two hours afterbirth if in a city or borough, or twenty-one days in any other case.

CAUSES OF DEATH (THE WHOLE DOMINION).

The deaths registered during 1907, arranged in the several classes according to their assigned causes, give the rates shown on the next page.

Causes of DeathNumber of DeathsProportion to Total DeathsProportion per 10,000 living, 1907Proportion per 10,000 living, 1906
MalesFemalesTotalMalesFemalesTotal
    Per CentPer CentPer Cent  
Class I. Specific febrile or zymotic diseases,—        
      Order 1. Miasmatic diseases3843847686.678.917.638.353.05
      Order 2. Diarrhœal diseases1841303143.208.013.123.421.08
      Order 3. Malarial diseases110.020.010.010.01  
      Order 4. Zoogenous diseases        
      Order 5. Venereal diseases77140.120.160.140.150.19
      Order 6. Septic diseases2959880.501.370.870.960.65
Total Class I6055801,18510.5113.4511.7712.894.98
Class II. Parasitic diseases610160.100.230.160.170.17
Class III. Dietetic diseases3517520.610.390.520.570.72
Class IV. Constitutional diseases9128181,73015.8518.9817.1918.8217.17
Class V. Developmental diseases6044881,09210.5011.3210.8511.8810.90
Class VI. Local diseases,—        
      Order 1. Diseases of nervous system5014099108.709.199.049.909.64
      Order 2. Diseases of organs of special sense ...4370.070.070.070.080.07
      Order 3. Diseases of circulatory system7584751,23313.1711.0212.2513.4112.62
      Order 4. Diseases of respiratory system6534931,14611.3511.4411.3912.4710.90
      Order 5. Diseases of digestive system5294741,0039.1910.999.9610.918.73
      Order 6. Diseases of lymphatic system1623390.280.530.390.420.35
      Order 7. Diseases of urinary system2861284144.972.974.114.504.27
      Order 8. Diseases of reproductive system,—        
                            (a.) Of organs of generation227290.030.630.290.320.36
                            (b.) Of parturition87872.020.860.950.84  
      Order 9. Diseases of locomotive system911200.160.250.200.220.32
      Order 10. Diseases of integumentary system ...1312250.230.280.250.270.14
Total Class VI2,7712,1424,91348.1549.6948.8153.4548.21
Class VII. Violence,—        
      Order 1. Accident or negligence506996058.792.306.016.586.30
      Order 2. Homicide4260.070.056.060.070.12
      Order 3. Suicide92101021.600.231.011.110.93
      Order 4. Execution        
Total Class VII60211171310.462.587.087.767.35
Class VIII. Ill-defined and not-specified causes ...2201453653.823.363.623.973.58
  Grand totals5,7554,31110,006100.00100.00100.00109.5193.11

The next table shows, for either sex, the number of deaths from each cause registered during the year 1907:—

CAUSES OF DEATH
ClassCauses of DeathMalesFemalesTotal
Orders and Diseases
I.—SPECIFIC FEBRILE OR ZYMOTIC DISEASES    
ORDER 1.—Miasmatic.   
Small-pox ...   
Chicken-pox ...   
Measles5546101
Epidemic rose-rash, rubeola   
Scarlet fever, scarlatina81725
Typhus   
Bubonic plague 22
Dengue   
Relapsing fever ...   
Influenza ...111112223
Whooping-cough142165307
Mumps 11
Diphtheria ...352055
Cerebro-spinal fever   
Simple and ill-defined fever   
Enteric fever, typhoid322153
Other miasmatic diseases1 1
Total Order 1384384768
ORDER 2.—Diarrhœal.   
Simple cholera251540
Diarrhœa ...145109254
Dysentery ...14620
Total Order 2184130314
ORDER 3.—Malarial.   
Remittent fever ...   
Ague   
Beriberi ...1 1
Total Order 31 1
ORDER 4.—Zoogenous.   
Hydrophobia ...   
Glanders ...   
Splenic fever ...   
Cow-pox and other effects of vaccination ...   
Total Order 4   
ORDER 5.—Venereal.   
Syphilis6713
Gonorrhœa, stricture of urethra, ulcer of groin1 1
Total Order 57714
ORDER 6.—Septic.   
Phagedæna ...   
Erysipelas ...61016
Pyæmia, septicæmia232043
Puerperal fever, pyæmia, septicæmia ... 2929
Total Order 6295988
Total Class I.6055801,185
II.—PARASITIC DISEASESThrush1 1
Other diseases from vegetable parasites   
Hydatid disease51015
Worms   
Other diseases from animal parasites ...   
Total Class II.61016
III.—DIETETIC DISEASESStarvation, exposure4 4
Want of breast-milk325
Scurvy   
Intemperance—   
Chronic alcoholism17825
Delirium tremens10111
Other dietetic diseases167
Total Class III.351752
IV.—CONSTITUTIONAL DISEASESRheumatic fever16925
Rheumatism ...7512
Gout123
Rickets3 3
Cancer361313674
Tabes mesenterica, tubercular peritonitis181735
Tubercular meningitis, acute hydrocephalus6451115
Phthisis337275612
Other forms of tuberculosis, scrofula ...454994
Purpura, hæmorrhagic diathesis ...10313
Anæmia, chlorosis, leucocythæmia ...183250
Diabetes mellitus295887
Other constitutional diseases347
Total Class IV.9128181,730
V.—DEVELOPMENTAL DISEASESPremature birth194165359
Atelectasis ...111122
Cyanosis ...336
Spina bifida ...459
Imperforate anus213
Cleft palate, hare-lip314
Other congenital defects10818
Old age377294671
Total Class V.6044881,092
VI.—LOCAL DISEASESORDER 1.—Diseases of Nervous System.   
Inflammation of the brain or its membranes7159130
Cerebro-spinal meningitis   
Apoplexy ...182148330
Softening of brain71320
Hemiplegia, brain paralysis242246
Paralysis (undescribed)293261
Paralysis agitans527
Insanity, general paralysis of insane ...36945
Chorea 11
Epilepsy ...202444
Convulsions ...5159110
Laryngismus stridulus3 3
Idiopathic tetanus ... 22
Paraplegia, diseases of spinal cord ...211132
Locomotor ataxia13114
Other diseases of nervous system ...392665
Total Order 1501409910
ORDER 2.—Diseases of Organs of Special Sense.   
Otitis, otorrhœa ...437
Epistaxis, and diseases of nose   
Ophthalmia, and diseases of eye   
Total Order 2437
ORDER 3.—Diseases of Circulatory System.   
Endocarditis, valvular disease ...498307805
Pericarditis ...628
Hypertrophy of heart   
Fatty degeneration of heart422769
Angina pectoris ...23932
Syncope ...11775192
Aneurism ...28836
Senile gangrene ...7714
Embolism, thrombosis203151
Phlebitis ... 44
Varicose veins, piles   
Other diseases of circulatory system ...17522
Total Order 37584751,233
ORDER 4.—Diseases of Respiratory System.   
Laryngitis ...181432
Croup12820
Other diseases of larynx and trachea ...2 2
Asthma, emphysema17724
Bronchitis ...209177386
Pneumonia ...323249572
Pleurisy331548
Other diseases of respiratory system ...392362
Total Order 46534931,146
ORDER 5.—Diseases of Digestive System.   
Stomatitis, cancrum oris112
Dentition ...7916
Sore throat, quinsy415
Dyspepsia ...7613
Hæmatemesis ...448
Melæna549
Diseases of stomach, gastritis445599
Enteritis ...214205419
Ulceration, perforation, of intestine ...5712
Ileus, obstruction of intestine ...402363
Stricture or strangulation of intestine ...213
Intussusception of intestine12618
Hernia18927
Fistula123
Peritonitis ...294170
Ascites 44
Gall-stones ...101525
Cirrhosis of liver35742
Other diseases of liver, hepatitis, jaundice313162
Appendicitis ...563086
Other diseases of digestive system ...41317
Total Order 55294741,003
ORDER 6.—Diseases of Lymphatic System and Ductless Glands.   
Diseases of lymphatic system ... 77
Diseases of spleen   
Bronchocele ...72027
Addison's disease235
Total Order 6162339
ORDER 7.—Diseases of Urinary System.   
Acute nephritis ...352257
Bright's disease12982211
Uræmia ...19928
Suppression of urine9312
Calculus ...314
Hæmaturia 11
Diseases of bladder and prostate ...76379
Other diseases of urinary system (kidney-diseases undescribed) ...15722
Total Order 7286128414
ORDER 8.—Diseases of Reproductive System.   
(a.) Diseases of organs of generation,—   
Ovarian disease 77
Diseases of uterus and vagina ... 1717
Disorders of menstruation   
Pelvic abscess ...235
Perineal abscess   
Diseases of testes, penis, scrotum, &c. ...   
(b.) Diseases of parturition,—   
Abortion, miscarriage 1313
Puerperal mania 11
Puerperal metritis 11
Puerperal convulsions 1313
Placenta prævia (flooding) 1515
Phlegmasia dolens   
Other accidents of child-birth 4444
Total Order 82114116
ORDER 9.—Diseases of Organs of Locomotion.   
Caries, necrosis ...5712
Arthritis, ostitis213
Other diseases of organs of locomotion ...235
Total Order 991120
ORDER 10.—Diseases of Integumentary System.   
Carbuncle ...123
Phlegmon, cellulitis7714
Lupus   
Ulcer, bed-sore ...   
Eczema224
Pemphigus ...2 2
Other diseases of integumentary system112
Total Order 10131225
Total Class VI.2,772,1424,913
ORDER 1.—Accident or Negligence.   
VII.—VIOLENCEFractures, contusions21025235
Gunshot wounds24125
Cut, stab ...12 12
Burn, scald ...281947
Sunstroke ... 11
Poison8412
Drowning ...16125186
Suffocation ...332053
Otherwise ...29534
Total Order 150699605
ORDER 2.—Homicide.   
Murder, manslaughter426
Wounds in battle   
Total Order 2426
ORDER 3.—Suicide.   
Gunshot wounds39140
Cut, stab ...12113
Poison8210
Drowning ...819
Hanging ...19322
Otherwise ...628
Total Order 39210102
ORDER 4.—Execution.   
Hanging ...   
Total Class VII.602111713
VIII.—ILL-DEFINED AND NOT-SPECIFIED CAUSES   
Dropsy   
Marasmus, &c. ...202143345
Mortification, gangrene1 1
Tumour3 3
Abscess2 2
Hæmorrhage ...112
Sudden (cause unascertained) ...11112
Other ill-defined and not-specified causes   
Total Class VIII.220145365
  General totals5,7554,31110066

MORTALITY FROM FEBRILE AND ZYMOTIC DISEASES.

The deaths in 1907 from specific febrile or zymotic diseases amounted to 1,185, a proportion of 12.89 in every 10,000 persons living, and an increase of 739 on the number of deaths in 1906, when the proportion was 4.98.

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 2,102 deaths in the decennial period. Influenza comes next, with

1,465 deaths; whooping-cough third, with 886 deaths; typhoid fever fourth, with 709 deaths; measles fifth, with 616 deaths; diphtheria next, 439 deaths; scarlet fever, with 265 deaths; and puerperal fever, with 220 deaths:—

Diseases1898189919001901190219031904190519061907
Measles561379613414310812101
Scarlet fever and scarlatina2 10173913113101825
Diphtheria45586344542327353555
Whooping-cough61239098320435326307
Influenza2191351812191175611370132223
Diarrhœal diseases27529819913927518419312897314
Enteric or typhoid fever120936895536173454853
Puerperal fever19152420252821211829

The mortality from measles for 1898 was not very 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. During 1904, 1905, and 1906 this disease was not epidemic in the Dominion, and caused only ten, eight, and twelve deaths respectively, but in 1907 there was an outbreak which caused 101 deaths. From scarlet fever and scarlatina there were only 25 deaths last year, as compared with 131 in 1903. The mortality from diphtheria, which was 45 deaths in 1898, rose to 55 deaths in 1907, the figures for the intervening years not presenting any striking features.

Whooping-cough in 1898 caused only 6 deaths. In 1899 the mortality sprang up 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 in 1904 only 35 deaths are recorded from this complaint, while in 1905 and 1906 the number was further reduced. Last year this complaint was epidemic, and 307 deaths were recorded.

The deaths from influenza numbered 223 in 1907, as against 132 in the previous year. The figures for the eight previous years ranged from 56 to 219, the last being for the years 1898 and 1901.

From diarrhœal complaints the deaths in 1907 were 314, the highest number observed in the decennial period, as against 97 in 1906; 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 1907.

Enteric or typhoid fever was slightly more fatal in 1907 than in 1906, the figures being 53 deaths, against 48. The highest mortality during the decennium was in 1898, when the deaths numbered 120.

BUBONIC PLAGUE.

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, but one death occurred in 1904. Last year two deaths of females were ascribed to this cause, both registered at Auckland. The Public Health Department is taking every possible precaution.

VACCINATION.

The vaccinations registered for the last ten years are as under:—

YearTotal Vaccinations registered of Children under 14 Years of AgeVaccinations of Children under 1 Year of AgeNumber of Births registeredProportion of Successful Vaccinations of
Children under 14 Years of Age to Total Births. Per CentChildren under 1 Year of Age to Total Births. Per Cent
19075,3281,96125,09421.237.81
19063,6021,81024,25214.857.46
19053,8182,07923,68216.128.78
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

The number of successful vaccinations of children registered in 1907 was 5,328, against 3,602 in 1906. The fall prior to 1902 was consequent on the alteration of the law relative to vaccination in England, and subsequently in this Dominion, while the increase shown for the three years 1902–4 was no doubt due to a slight visitation of small-pox from abroad, which caused one death in 1903.

Eight children out of every hundred born in 1907 are shown to have been successfully vaccinated in that year. The last three years show a position even lower than that which obtained in 1901 as regards vaccination of infants. The procedure under the new law as regards vaccination is similar to that previously in force. The Registrar issues a notice when a birth is registered, with forms for certificate as to the result of vaccination attached. Vaccination is still compulsory, if exemption is not secured in four months from date of birth. But everything is now subject to the provisions of the “exemption clause,” which is the main feature, and governs the rest. Any parent or custodian who has conscientious objections—believing that vaccination would be injurious to the child's health—can apply for a certificate of exemption to a Magistrate or Registrar of Births; and, when the child's parent or guardian is resident outside of a borough, the application may be made to and certificate granted by a Justice of the Peace.

Nineteen thousand and ninety-six exemption certificates were issued from the 13th October, 1900, when the Act came into force, to the end of the year 1907. Of these 3,250 belong to the year 1907, when, as before stated, the successful vaccination of children under one year of age amounted to 1,961, or 7.81 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 16 deaths from parasitic diseases, the proportion per 10,000 living being 0.17. Deaths from hydatids numbered 15 in 1907.

DIETETIC DISEASES.

Under the class “Dietetic diseases” are included 36 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 1907 numbered 1,730, or 18.82 per 10,000 of population, and 17 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 612, and was in the proportion of 6.66 in every 10,000 persons living, against 6.21 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 was higher in two of the previous years.

YearDeaths from PhthisisRate per 10,000
18985978.11
18995937.91
19005777.56
19015967.66
19026177.73
19035706.95
19045987.08
19054965.70
19065566.21
19076126.66

Of the persons dying from phthisis in New Zealand during 1907, more than one-half were born in the Dominion. The numbers are: total of deaths from phthisis, 612; 372 of them having been New-Zealand-born. The proportion is 61 per cent.

At the census of 1906 the New-Zealand-born were shown to be 68 per cent. of the population, which would give the approximate average number of the same in 1907 as 627,400. The death-rate from phthisis amongst these persons was, judging from the numbers in the table annexed, 5.93 per 10,000 living.

The death-rate from phthisis in England and Wales is stated by the Registrar-General to be at the rate of 11.50 per 10,000 living for the year 1906.

DEATHS FROM PHTHISIS, 1907.TABLE showing the Number of Persons who died from Phthisis during the Year 1907, classified according to Age, Sex, and Length of Residence in New Zealand
Length of Residence in New ZealandAge at Death
Under 5 Years5 to 1010 to 1515 to 2525 to 3535 to 4545 to 5555 to 6565 to 7575 and upwardsTotal
  MALES           
Under 1 month ...    121   4
1 to 6 months ...   112    4
6 to 12 months ...   121    4
1 to 2 years ...     21   3
2 to 3 years ...    1     1
3 to 4 years ...    3  1  4
4 to 5 years ...    41    5
5 to 10 years ...   36121  13
10 to 15 years ...     33   6
15 to 20 years ...   1121   5
20 to 25 years ...    3262  13
25 years and upwards ...   912202116381 
Not known ...   356513 23
Born in New Zealand ...22154742610 2 171
          Totals ...22164114594526213337
  FEMALES           
Under 1 month ...         ... 
1 to 6 months ...     1    1
6 to 12 months ...    1     1
1 to 2 years ...         ... 
2 to 3 years ...    1 1   2
3 to 4 years ...    22    4
4 to 5 years ...         ... 
5 to 10 years ...   31     4
10 to 15 years ...   12 3   6
15 to 20 years ...   2 111   
20 to 25 years ...   1162   10
25 years and upwards ...   391191134 
Not known ...   1222   7
Born in New Zealand ...21981811872  201
          Totals ...219899439271211275
          Totals of both sexes4310153208987238224612

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 country 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 preventable disease caused by the Bacillus tuberculosus, 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. There are sanatoria for the treatment of this disease in connection with some of the public hospitals.

From other forms of tuberculosis the deaths in 1907 were 244, or 2.65 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 9.5 persons per 10,000 living for the last ten years. This rate is far lower than that which obtained in England during the year 1905, when the proportion was 16.44 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 8.50 to 10.62 per cent. for the decennial period 1898–1907.

DECENNIAL TABLE, 1898–1907, SHOWING THE DEATH-RATE FROM TUBERCLE PER 10,000 LIVING AND PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL DEATHS
YearMean PopulationNumber of Deaths from Tubercular DiseasesRate per 10,000Percentage of Total Deaths from all Causes
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
1905870,0006787.798.41
1906895,5947208.048.63
1907919,1058569.318.50

DECENNIAL TABLE, 1898–1907. — Deaths from various Tubercular Diseases registered in New Zealand, specifying the Number under and over Five Years of Age.Persons.

YearTabes Mesenterica, Tubercular PeritonitisTubercular Meningitis, Acute HydrocephalusPhthisisOther Forms of Tuberculosis, ScrofulaTotal Deaths from TuberculosisTotal all Ages
Under 5 YearsUnder 5 YearsUnder 5 YearsUnder 5 YearsUnder 5 YearsUnder 5 YearsUnder 5 YearsUnder 5 YearsUnder 5 YearsUnder 5 Years
18983712373810587113795674769
18994319324010583125697698795
1900202024551356494766686752
19013022303110586145284691775
190226193630561286675727802
1903222839359561116481688769
1904171844445593126678721799
190515193738449286564614678
190681235318548106881959720
190716196847460888696760856

Seven deaths from “lupus” recorded during the decennium have not been included in the above table. They were all deaths of adult persons (2 males and 5 females), excepting 1, aged 13 years.

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 1907 there were 612 deaths from phthisis out of a total of 856 deaths from all tubercular complaints. Of 612 deaths by phthisis, only 4 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 1907, shows that of 35 deaths from tabes mesenterica, with tubercular peritonitis, 16 were of children under 5 years. Also that, of 115 deaths from tubercular meningitis, with acute hydrocephalus, 68 were of persons under 5 years, and 33 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 25–30 years, being 114 deaths out of 612 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 1907 were 16, and 10 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 1907, arranged in Groups of Ages.Persons.
Under 1 YearUnder 5 Years5 to 1010 to 1515 to 2020 to 2525 to 3030 to 3535 to 4040 to 4545 to 5050 to 5555 to 6060 to 6565 to 7070 to 7575 to 8080 and upwardsTotal, 5 Years and overAll Ages
Tabes mesenterica, tubercular peritonitis101611561 12  2     1935
Tubercular meningitis, acute hydrocephalus32681779471 11       47115
Phthisis ...1431064891149465333141182016622608612
Other forms of tuberculosis, scrofula48531417157575213 2  8694
            Totals479626219211613710271433743212316822760856

To show the mortality from tuberculosis in various parts of New Zealand, 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 South Island are, however, found to be 16 more than those for the North Island, or 436 deaths and 420 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 1907
Provincial DistrictTabes Mesenterica, Tubercular PeritonitisTubercular Meningitis, Acute HydrocephalusPhthisisOther Forms of Tuberculosis, ScrofulaTotal Deaths from Tuberculosis
Auckland52414219190
Taranaki1321429
Hawke's Bay1331742
Wellington62810619159
Marlborough  11 11
Nelson3227436
Westland  11415
Canterbury112013513179
Otago83512824195
Totals3511561294856

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 1907 were 674. There were more deaths of males than of females, the numbers being—males 361, females 313. The rate of mortality per 10,000 living was 7.33. 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 10,066 deaths from all causes in New Zealand during 1907, 674, or 6.70 per cent., were caused by cancer.

The death-rate from cancer is not so great as that from tubercular diseases, but is nevertheless a most alarming matter, not only on account of the number of deaths, but because of its progressive increase.

A decennial table shows that the deaths from cancer per 10,000 persons living rose from 6.40 in 1898 to 7.10 in 1903 and 7.33 in 1907.

TABLE showing for each of the Ten Years 1898 to 1907 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
YearEstimated Mean PopulationDeaths from CancerTotal Deaths, all CausesDeaths from Cancer per 10,000 of Living PersonsPercentage of Total Deaths due to Cancer
1898736,2604717,2446.406.50
1899749,9844687,6806.246.09
1900703,5944307,2005.635.97
1901777,9685157,6346.626.75
1902797,7935368,3756.726.40
1903820,2175828,5287.106.82
1904845,0225718,0876.767.06
1905870,0005668,0616.517.02
1906895,5946238,3396.967.47
1907919,10567410,0667.336.70

To exhibit how cancer affects the different parts of the human body in respect of each sex, the experience of five years (1903 to 1907) 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, while the mouth, lips, tongue, and throat, taking all these organs together, show a large number. Next to the stomach, the liver is with males the organ which is most often attacked, to judge by mortality records, and next in order come the intestines and rectum. Afterwards 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 breast, liver, intestines, and rectum following. 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 7.2 out of every 100 deaths from located cancer among females, against 30.3 out of every 100 of males dying from the same cause, or, expressed in numbers, 89 deaths of females occurred against 463 of males from cancer in the mouth, &c., in a five years' experience of mortality.

DEATHS FROM CANCER, 1903 TO 1907.TABLE showing the Number of Deaths of Males and Females from Cancer during the Years 1903 to 1907, classified according to the Part of the Body affected
Part affected19031904190519061907
Number of DeathsProportion of SpecifiedNumber of DeathsProportion of SpecifiedNumber of DeathsProportion of SpecifiedNumber of DeathsProportion of SpecifiedNumber of DeathsProportion of Specified
 Males.
  Per Cent Per Cent Per Cent Per Cent Per Cent
Mouth, lip, tongue, throat, neck, &c9933.569932.467926.699431.029228.05
Stomach9632.5410735.0810736.1510434.339829.88
Intestines, rectum3511.873411.15299.83511.554914.94
Liver3511.874213.774916.554414.525817.68
Kidneys, bladder, urethra, &c175.76134.26258.45185.94175.18
Leg, foot, &c41.3572.3041.3551.65113.35
Lung93.0530.9831.0130.9930.92
 295100.00305100.00296100.00303100.00328100.00
Not specified30 18 17 34 33 
            Totals325 323 313 337 361 
Females.
  Per Cent Per Cent Per Cent Per Cent Per Cent
Mouth, tongue, throat, &c219.05125.17198.09218.37165.50
Breast3314.232510.783816.173815.144816.50
Stomach5121.985523.715121.704216.734716.15
Intestines, rectum2812.073213.793414.473212.755318.21
Kidneys, bladder52.1641.7272.9831.2041.37
Ovary, uterus, vagina4820.695825.004920.856827.097325.09
Liver3816.383515.092711.494216.733913.40
Gall-bladder, spleen, pancreas41.7210.4341.7051.9962.06
Lung, spine, thigh, shoulder41.72104.3162.55  51.72
 232100.00232100.00235100.00251100.00291100.00
Not specified25 16 18 35 22 
            Totals 257 248 253 286 313

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 1898 to 1907
YearUnder 1 YearTotal under 1 Year1 to 22 to 33 to 44 to 5Total under 5 Years5 to 1010 to 1515 to 2020 to 2525 to 3030 to 3535 to 4040 to 4545 to 5050 to 5555 to 6060 to 6565 to 7070 to 7575 to 8080 and upwardsTotal, 5 Years and overAll Ages
Under 1 Month1 to 3 Months3 to 6 Months6 to 12 Months
1838       2 21225581736474777796935309469471
1899       1 133 14615214248826487452719467468
1900 1  1  1 2  62267164035757859513120428430
1901  1 1    12 455820315360658074633311514515
1902         1 1 355722354950728886673115536
19031   1    1412610920374768698796723815581582
1904   11   1231329615253557729999793133569571
1905        11 13191015263958678496993819565566
1906 11 211  4  33982529485770102107825026619623
1907 1 12  215111271124454962741011041006522669674

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 Dominion—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 Dominion of New Zealand during the Years 1904–7
Provincial Districts1904190519061907
Under 5 YearsOver 5 YearsTotalUnder 5 YearsOver 5 YearsTotalUnder 5 YearsOver 5 YearsTotalUnder 5 YearsOver 5 YearsTotal
Auckland ...1114115 110110 1271271146147
Taranaki ... 2121 2020 2525 3030
Hawke's Bay ... 2525 1616 3333 3232
Wellington ... 113113 10610621221241113114
Marlborough ... 55 66 1515 1515
Nelson ... 3232 2525 2626 2020
Westland ... 1616 1010 1919 1616
Canterbury ... 109109 112112 1141142153155
Otago ...1134135116016121381401144145
            Totals ...2569571156556646196235669674

The following extract from a contribution to the Lancet, by Dr. W. Vernon Shaw, is of interest:—

The growth of cancer cells is to be looked upon as an effort of reproduction in damaged tissue, the incidence of the damage falling upon the nuclear structures. This damage alters the nature of these structures so that the vegetative functions of the cell run riot, and the cells become parasitic towards the organism in which the growth is taking place. The nature of the changes in the cancer cells and their life-history thus becomes the important point from which the origin of the cancer process must be determined.

What is the cause of this vegetative activity? Is it an initial damage to the cells in response to which there is an over-active attempt at ? The peculiar frequency of such disease in organs once active but now undergoing involution would suggest this explanation, and, also, the frequent origin of malignant growths in damaged tissue further supports this view.

The death-rates for cancer in respect of each sex are given for each of ten years, selected to show the position as from 1886 to 1907:—

DEATHS FROM CANCER IN EVERY 10,000 PERSONS OF EACH SEX LIVING IN NEW ZEALAND
YearMalesFemales
18863.693.67
18904.724.79
18946.655.27
18986.775.98
19016.486.77
19037.516.63
19047.236.23
19056.796.18
19067.106.79
19077.417.25

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 7.94 per 10,000 of males and 10.32 of females for the year 1906. In the United Kingdom, however, the rate of increase is so much higher among males than with females that the Registrar-General calculates equilibrium will be reached in about the year 1932, and thereafter the rate among males would exceed the rate among females.

The increase in the numbers for the sexes together for England and New Zealand is represented in the proportions below:—

DEATHS FROM CANCER IN EVERY 10,000 PERSONS LIVING
YearNew ZealandEngland
18812.695.20
18863.685.90
18914.686.92
18965.507.64
19005.638.28
19056.518.85
19066.969.17

The actual number of deaths of persons of either sex and all ages registered in New Zealand during the last seventeen years was:—

 MalesFemalesTotals
1891154141295
1892173134307
1893188144332
1894240168408
1895208175383
1896205184389
1897210185395
1898263208471
1899271197468
1900246184430
1901265250515
1902296240536
1903325257582
1904323248571
1905313253566
1906337286623
1907361313674
          Totals4,3783,5677,945

MORTALITY FROM DEVELOPMENTAL DISEASES.

The total of deaths from developmental diseases was 1,092, or 11.88 per 10,000 persons living. The mortality from premature birth comprised 359 deaths, and that from atelectasis, cyanosis, and other congenital defects 62 deaths. The proportion of deaths from premature birth varies from 12 to 15 out of every 1,000 births, and that from congenital defects from 2 to 4 per 1,000 births. Particulars for ten years exhibit the annual rates:—

NUMBER AND PROPORTIONS PER 1,000 BIRTHS
 Deaths from Premature BirthDeaths from Congenital Defects
YearNumberProportion per 1,000NumberProportion per 1,000
189825113.24542.85
189926113.86472.50
190027614.12552.81
190126412.88633.07
190230314.66793.82
190330113.79673.07
190429112.78582.54
190536015.20411.73
190633713.90512.10
190735914.31622.47

Stating the result in another way, there was one death from premature birth to every 70 births in 1907, and one death from congenital defect to every 405 births. In England the proportion of deaths from premature birth to every 1,000 births was as high as 20.38 in the year 1906.

OLD AGE.

Deaths from old age in 1907 numbered 671, against 588 in 1906.

MORTALITY FROM LOCAL DISEASES.

Deaths by diseases of the nervous system were 910, or 9.04 out of every 100 deaths from all causes, and 9.90 out of every 10,000 persons living. Of the 910 deaths, 330 were due to apoplexy, 110 to convulsions, and 130 to inflammation of the brain and its membranes. Paralysis, including hemiplegia and paralysis of the insane, caused 159 deaths, and locomotor ataxia 14 deaths. Paraplegia, with diseases of the spinal cord, caused 32 deaths. Deaths from nervous diseases (excluding convulsions of children) numbered 800, or 8.70 per 10,000 persons living.

Diseases of the circulatory system resulted in 1,233 deaths, being 12.25 out of every 100 from all causes, and 13.41 per 10,000 persons living. Of the total number in this order, endocarditis and valvular disease of the heart contributed 805 deaths. From angina pectoris there were 32 deaths, from syncope 192, from aneurism 36, and from other forms of heart-disease (hypertrophy, fatty degeneration, and pericarditis) 77.

Diseases of the respiratory system show 1,146 deaths, of which 958 were attributable to bronchitis and pneumonia. Taken together, these two complaints were the cause of more deaths than was phthisis; and adding 48 from pleurisy, 20 from croup, 32 from laryngitis, and 88 from other respiratory diseases, the mortality in the order is found to be 11.39 per cent. of the total deaths, and 12.47 per 10,000 of the population.

Deaths from diseases of the digestive system also formed a large proportion of the whole (9.96 per cent.), the number being 1,003. Enteritis was most fatal, showing 419 deaths, liver-diseases (104), gastritis (99) coming next, while 86 deaths were due to appendicitis.

Of 414 deaths from diseases of the urinary system in 1907, the deaths from Bright's disease of the kidneys (albuminuria) numbered 211.

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 numbers from Order 6, Class I., under the designation “Puerperal fever, pyæmia, septicæmia,” 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 DYING IN CHILDBIRTH
YearDeaths of Women in each YearDeaths of Mothers to every 10,000 Children Born.*
In ChildbirthFrom Puerperal Fever, &cTotal

* Still-births are not registered.

189872199148.01
189971158645.66
190051247538.37
190170209043.92
1902852511053.26
19031002812858.64
1904852110646.56
1905792110042.23
190676189439.11
1907872911646.23

But any conclusion drawn from the above figures must be held as qualified by the remarks on page 244 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 1907 the proportion per 10,000 of persons living was 7.76, the total number of deaths having been 713.

Of 602 males who died violent deaths, 92 were suicides. The deaths of females by violence were far fewer than those of males, amounting to 111, and out of these only 10 committed suicide. A table given previously states the full list of deaths from external or violent causes for the year 1907.

Accidental deaths numbered 605—males 506, and females 99. Of the total male deaths, 210 resulted from fractures or contusions, and 161 from drowning. Of the female deaths, 25 were due to drowning.

HOSPITALS, MENTAL HOSPITALS, BENEVOLENT ASYLUMS, AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

Public Hospitals.

Prior to the abolition of provinces the hospitals of the colony were supported mainly out of provincial revenues. After that event the expenditure for hospitals was for the most part charged against the revenue of counties and municipal corporations, until October, 1885, when “The Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1885,” came into force.

The portion of New Zealand included within the three principal islands—the North, South, and Stewart Islands—is divided into thirty-five hospital districts, each consisting of one or more counties with the interior boroughs and certain town districts under “The Town Districts Act, 1906,” 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 duty signed petition, to be a body politic and corporate, under the government of trustees.

There are 53 hospitals, of which 27 are incorporated institutions, while 26 are directly managed and controlled by District Boards. In 1907 these hospitals afforded accommodation for 1,431 male and 900 female patients, a total of 2,331. The number of cubic feet of space included within the walls of all the sleeping-wards was 3,272,523, which gave an average of 1,404 cubic feet to each bed. 11,182 males and 5,835 females were admitted as patients during the year 1907, and 1,011 male and 525 female patients were inmates at the end of the year. The total number of indoor patients during the year was 18,497—viz., 12,191 males and 6,306 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:—

1902–31903–41904–51905–61906–7
 £      £      £      £      £      
Voluntary contributions and bequests11,53914,26020,05216,99215,967
Payments by patients19,61321,18521,79824,15626,578
From Government55,88159,09959,94767,61556,752
From Hospital Boards and local authorities44,01343,96050,32348,98472,144
Rents and other sources8,22217,14916,34214,76312,420
              Totals139,268155,653168,462172,510183,861

Private Hospitals.

“The Private Hospitals Act, 1906,” which came into force on the 1st January, 1907, provides for the licensing, management, and inspection of private hospitals. All such institutions must be licensed, and every application for a license must be accompanied by a statement giving full description of the house proposed to be used, number of patients, and class of cases proposed to be received. The licensee shall state whether it is in respect of a lying-in private hospital or a surgical and medical private hospital, and no lying-in patient shall be received in a private hospital unless it is licensed for such cases, and no patient other than a lying-in patient shall be received in a private hospital licensed for lying-in cases only.

For every private hospital there must be a resident manager, either the licensee or some person appointed by the licensee, and in every case the manager must be a legally qualified medical practitioner or a registered nurse in the case of a surgical and medical hospital, or a registered midwife in the case of a lying-in hospital, or a registered nurse and midwife, or a registered nurse having as resident assistant a registered midwife in the case of a hospital licensed for both purposes. No license shall be granted in respect of a house not previously licensed until such house and annexed buildings have been approved by the Inspector-General of Hospitals, and no addition shall be made to any private hospital until it has been so approved. No license shall be granted until the character and fitness of the applicant have been proved satisfactory, and the license must be renewed on the 1st January of each year.

In every private hospital there must be kept a register of patients showing particulars as to name, age, abode, and date of reception of each patient, date when such patient left, or in the event of death the date thereof, name of medical practitioner attending, and such other details as may be prescribed. Inquiry may be made at any time as to the management and conduct of any such private hospital, and if such inquiry prove unsatisfactory the license may be revoked, and no new license shall be granted to the person whose license is so revoked, for a period of five years.

The fact that two or more persons, not members of the occupier's family, are received into any house in any one month as lying-in cases, or who there receive medical or surgical treatment, attendance, or care, shall be sufficient evidence that the house is a private hospital, whether or not it is proved that any charge is made for such treatment, attendance, or care.

The Governor may from time to time make such regulations as are necessary for carrying the Act into effect, and substantial penalties are provided for breaches of its provisions. The first regulations under the Act were published in the New Zealand Gazette on the 30th May, 1907.

Mental Hospitals.

There are seven public mental hospitals in the Dominion, maintained wholly or in part out of the public revenue. There is also one private hospital, licensed by the Governor for the reception of the mentally afflicted.

The amount of sleeping-accommodation provided in each of the public mental hospitals 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 hospitals on the 31st December, 1907:—

Sleeping-rooms for One Person onlyDormitories for more than One Person
NumberAggregate Number of Cubic FeetInmates (Patients) on 31st December, 1907NumberAggregate Number of Cubic FeetInmates (Patients) on 31st December, 1907
Auckland127114,02412733319,269558
Wellington6760,3806716100,173168
Porirua7065,4667018355,528553
Nelson3226,970321465,111125
Hokitika3728,5593711112,199170
Christchurch8069,6518038266,200474
Seacliff185148,78418562327,883550
          Totals598513,8345981921,546,3632,598

At Ashburn Hall, Wakari, 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, 1907, was 44.

At the end of 1907, 1,886 male and 1,310 female patients (including 90 out on trial) were under the care of the mental-hospital officers of the Dominion. Of these, 1,763 males and 1,203 females were regarded as incurable, 57 males and 33 females were out on trial, and 66 males and 74 females were supposed to be curable. 233 male and 180 female patients were discharged during the year.

The following shows the proportion of the mentally afflicted—or, rather, of inmates of mental hospitals and those out on trial—to the population (exclusive in each case of Maoris) at the end of the years stated:—

1884, 1 patient to every393 of population
1886, 1 patient to every370 of population
1888, 1 patient to every365 of population
1890, 1 patient to every348 of population
1892, 1 patient to every339 of population
1894, 1 patient to every316 of population
1896, 1 patient to every308 of population
1898, 1 patient to every300 of population
1899, 1 patient to every296 of population
1901, 1 patient to every286 of population
1903, 1 patient to every284 of population
1905, 1 patient to every286 of population
1906, 1 patient to every286 of population
1907, 1 patient to every290 of population

It must not be overlooked that the proportions are increased by the admission into the hospitals of inebriates, idiots, and others who should not properly be there.

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-five Boards for hospital purposes, there are only twenty-four for charitable-aid purposes.

Returns were received from seventeen benevolent asylums (not including orphanages) established for the support of indigent persons. The number of inmates in these institutions at the end of 1907 was 1,262, of whom 756 were males and 506 females. Outdoor relief was given by one of these institutions to 1,860 persons (including 1,200 children).

Auckland Sailors' Home.

There is a Sailors' Home at Auckland for the use of seafaring men resident in or visiting the town. The late Edmund Costley having left a large sum for charitable purposes, it was resolved to employ the bequest in building and endowing an institution where sailors might be received without distinction of race or religious belief, and board, lodging, and refreshments provided for them, together with such instruction and amusements as might tend to promote their social comfort and general welfare.

The Home, built in 1887, has room for 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 1907 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, 9 male and 17 female orphans were received during the year 1907, and 57 male and 75 female orphans remained as inmates at the end of the year.

Orphanages receiving committed children are, for that purpose, constituted “industrial schools.”

SALE OF FOOD AND DRUGS.

In order to make better provision for the sale of food and drugs in a pure state, “The Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1907,” was passed by the Legislature, and came into operation on the 1st January, 1908.

The Act is administered by the officers of the Public Health Department, and provides for the analysis, by public analysts, of any article of food or drink, or of any drug, which may be sold, offered for sale, or exposed for sale, and for the inspection of any place where there is any food or drug intended for sale. If any such article be proved to be unfit for human consumption, or likely to cause injury to health if consumed, heavy penalties may be inflicted on the person or persons responsible.

Stringent measures are provided for the prevention of adulteration of food, drink, or drugs, and for the inspection of places where such things are manufactured or packed. The selling of light-weight bread is an offence under the Act, as is also the taking-back of bread after it has been in the possession of the purchaser for more than an hour.

Any person may, on payment of the prescribed fee, together with the cost of the sample, require any authorised officer to purchase a sample of any food or drug and submit the same for analysis.

Regulations under the Act were published in the New Zealand Gazette on the 20th February, 1908.

Chapter 37. SECTION V.—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 105* in March, 1907, lie geographically within the counties, yet by the law they are not considered as part of them. On the 31st March, 1907, the counties numbered 98. The number is increased from time to time as need is found for further division. In the year 1878 there were only 63 counties. Interior to the counties are the road and town districts, but much of the country is outlying, many road districts having been merged, especially on goldfields territory.

There were, however, 209 road districts (six without Boards) in existence in March, 1907, and 44 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 36 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), 3 water supply districts (one without Board), and 33 land drainage districts under the Land Drainage Act of 1893 (one without Board). The Harbour Boards numbered 28, excluding Coromandel, Port Robinson, Fortrose, and Half-moon Bay, for which the County Councils of Coromandel, Cheviot, Southland, and Stewart Island act as the Harbour Boards.

These bodies levied rates in the financial year 1906–7 to the amount of £1,233,049, of which £889,712 consisted of general rates, and £343,337 special and separate rates. The sum of £79,593 was raised by licenses, and £25,894 by other taxes, making £1,338,536 altogether, which sum is equivalent to £1 9s. 8d. per head of the mean European population. In the year 1905–6 the local taxation was £1 8s. 8d. per head, or 1s. less than in 1906–7.

It will be seen from the table on the next page that revenue derived from rates increased from £434,237 in 1886–87 to £1,233,049 in 1906–7. Revenue from Government has, on the other hand, decreased in the same period (twenty-one years) from £342,432 to £192,932. Receipts which cannot be classed as “revenue” were £992,633 in 1886–87, against £1,227,473 in 1906–7; 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.

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-one years, are shown in the following table:—

* In April, 1903, the Boroughs of Linwood, St. Albans, and Sydenham were incorporated in the City of Christchurch, and the Borough of Melrose became part of the City of Wellington. On 1st November, 1904, the Borough of Caversham was incorporated in the City of Dunedin. On 1st April, 1905, the Borough of South Dunedin was incorporated in the City of Dunedin.

LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES.—RATES, RECEIPTS, EXPENDITURE, AND LOANS, 1886–7 TO 1906–7.*
Year ended 31st MarchReceipts of Local BodiesExpenditure of Local Bodies.†Outstanding Loans of Local Bodies (excluding Government Loans, for which see the following Columns)Government Loans to Local Bodies
Revenue fromReceipts not RevenueTotal ReceiptsOutstanding 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)
RatesLicenses, Tolls, Rents, and other SourcesGovernmentTotal Revenue

*The figures for the Harbour Boards (excepting Wellington, the period being for the year ending 30th September, 1906, and the Coromandel, Fortrose, Half-moon Bay, and Horse-shoe Bay, New River, Port Robinson, and Riverton Harbour Boards, the figures for which are for the year ended 31st March, 1907) 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.

 £      £      £      £      £      £      £      £      £      £      
1887434,237447,631342,4321,224,300992,6332,216,9331,885,0015,620,747 113,072  
1888433,832460,210334,8571,228,899511,5941,740,4931,819,7875,812,80318,635191,687
1889445,929535,140141,2881,122,357316,1391,438,4961,560,6055,892,050 10,495 273,289  
1890460,303568,405139,3201,168,028206,6881,374,7161,476,5405,978,0599,676319,603
1891463,581518,757144,0081,126,346236,9021,363,2481,381,3206,042,6934,317367,715
1892488,824584,274109,0221,182,120214,1241,396,2441,400,4676,081,9344,245449,532
1893508,157573,161136,5151,217,833340,5381,558,3711,482,5486,203,8693,465525,173
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
19051,019,4311,088,587166,6352,274,6531,350,6313,625,2843,497,32110,018,242 1,526,353
19061,151,2191,223,138169,0102,543,3671,326,5973,869,9643,601,50610,718,051 1,580,494
19071,233,0491,386,459192,9322,812,4401,227,4734,039,9133,897,51511,616,048 1,647,273

The indebtedness of local governing bodies on account of outstanding loans has increased in twenty-one years from £5,620,747 to £11,616,048, 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, which represented a further indebtedness of £1,647,273 at the end of March, 1907.

TAXATION BY LOCAL BODIES.

TABLE showing the Revenue of Local Governing Bodies derived from Rates, Licenses, and other Taxes during the Year 1906–7
Local BodiesRatesLicensesOther TaxesTotal
GeneralSpecial and Separate
 £    sd£    sd£    sd£    sd£    sd

* For year ended 31st March, 1907.

† Wellington Harbour Board, for year ended 30th September, 1906; Christchurch Drainage Board, for year ended 31st March, 1907; Dunedin Drainage and Sewerage Board, and Hobson's Bay Watershed Sewage Board, to 31st March, 1907.

‡ Wharfage dues, charges, fees, tolls, rents, &c., amounting to £527,326 17s. 10d., have not been classed as taxation.

§ Equal to £1 9s. 8d. per head of the mean European population for the financial year 1906–7.

Counties*350,7002265,57218918,24814713,399194447,9211410
Boroughs*312,36994249,74910755,8156110,868711628,8021311
Town Boards*7,1681125321963,41514104167711,533131
Road Boards*107,3646616,6611732,113471,209132127,34916
River Boards*9,1903112,866160      12,0561911
Land Drainage Boards*5,393361,21610      6,60946
Harbour Boards†60,011411         60,011411‡
City and Suburban Drainage Boards†36,1201851,8181611      37,939154
Water - supply Boards*1,393624,918510      6,311120
      Totals889,71161343,33751079,5930125,894801,338,5360

Of the total taxation by rates, amounting to £1,233,049, the sum of £381,401, or 31 per cent., was levied on the unimproved value, and £851,648, or 69 per cent., on the capital or annual value of rateable properties.

RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE, 1906–7.

A summary of all the transactions for the year 1906–7 is given on pages 302 to 305. The total revenue of the local bodies for the financial year was £2,812,440, and they further received a sum of £1,227,473 which could not properly be termed “revenue,” making altogether a grand total of receipts amounting to £4,039,913. The rates formed 44 per cent. of the revenue proper. Licenses, rents, and other sources yielded 49 per cent., and 7 per cent. was granted by the General Government.

While the revenue proper of the counties amounted to £599,132, of which those bodies raised £416,273 by way of rates, the Road Boards' revenue was only £169,082, out of which £124,026 represented the result of their rating. The boroughs had the far larger revenue of £1,217,695, including £562,119 of rates, and their receipts under the heading of licenses, rents, and other sources amounted to the considerable sum of £613,121. 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, 1906–7
CountiesBoroughsTown BoardsRoad BoardsRiver Boards (excluding Inch-Clutha, also Road Board)Land Drainage BoardsHarbour BoardsDrainage BoardsTotals
 £    sd£    sd£    sd£    sd£    sd£    sd£    sd£    sd£    sd
Rates on Crown and Native lands166117  5604    2221111
One-third receipts from land sold on deferred payment and from perpetual lease22,247142518721743,05738    25,35939
One-fourth of rents from small grazing-runs1,37908  2561110    1,635126
Timber and flax royalties ...9,921146  270111    10,191165
Goldfields revenue and gold duty21,27810021,2571711110111391110    45,677108
Subsidies under the Local Bodies' Finance and Powers Act64,04110416,356801,04510719,47768 241177  101,162132
Fees and fines under the Financial Arrangements Act ...9019666465211562130    1,608145
Other receipts6963101,1241962,9411561691049004 2,051148 7,07442
          Total Revenue Account120,63214742,455054,01391023,4479790042411772,051148 192,93270
Loans from Government under Loans to Local Bodies' Acts74,2039019,880364000018,153005,000004,511190  122,148116
Grants for special works, &c.106,0821252,563161240309,74016056611   118,683153
      Total receipts from Government300,91816064,899004,65313851,341575,146734,7531672,051148 433,764139
Financial Year ended 31st March, 1907
CountiesBoroughsTown BoardsRoad BoardsRiver Boards (excluding Inch-Clutha, also Road Board)Land Drainage BoardsWater-supply BoardsChristchurch Tramway Board
Receipts:—                        

* For amounts under various heads see previous 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, Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, and the Loans to Local Bodies Acts. For rates of interest see page 307.

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.

  Revenue from—£    sd£    sd£    sd£    sd£    sd£    sd£    sd£    sd
    Rates416,273011562,11818117,701108124,0263912,05619116,609466,311120 
    Licenses, rents, and other sources62,22658613,1201188,6871313,17918115,7581802757443017686,71824
    Government* ...120,63214742,455054,01391023,447979004241177  
    County  18319108,42812815500   
          Total revenue ...599,132121,217,69412020,58617169,08241118,0601837,126956,7429686,71824
    Receipts not revenue220,066210721,118834,669181057,5725106,308434,6372172150 
          Total receipts ...819,198401,938,8130325,25605226,65410924,3692611,7631166,8154686,71824
Expenditure:—                        
    Public works ...565,1240101,037,80315317,87431160,4151812,26712117,7381132,58617110,480153
    Charitable aid and hospitals53,13018440,1421810276628,21460    
    Management ...76,23771093,8821332,91310616,360792,671132777216091883,87025
    Other expenditure ...93,32708714,4341464,94017121,937145,5241221,5601901,0509252,76594
          Total expenditure767,819781,886,26411026,0041610206,92616920,46318310,0761244,24741167,11670
Liabilities (including loans, excepting those from Government)220,3041256,381,6401838,37925101,87014938,131692,9637921,632147412,00255
Loans†31,678005,920,305007,1540066,0900029,87000 21,20000405,00000
Financial Year endedTotals—all Local Bodies
31st March. 1907. City and Suburban Drainage Boards31st December, 1906. Harbour Boards.*
Receipts:—         

* Wellington Harbour Board for year ended 30th September, 1906.

† See notes to table on previous page.

‡ For rates of interest see page 307.

§ Not including loans, amounting to £1,647,273, repayable by 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.

  Revenue from—£    sd£    sd£    sd
    Rates37,93915460,0114111,233,0481111
    Licenses, rants, and other sources1,521610585,7721341,377,691210
    Government† 2,051148192,93270
    County  8,767126
          Total revenue39,46122647,83512112,812,439143
    Receipts not revenue35,45475177,574101,227,47356
          Total receipts74,91597825,40913114,039,912199
Expenditure:—         
    Public works42,903179265,077312,122,271182
    Charitable aid and hospitals ...  101,76494
    Management6,98718519,6141011223,92550
    Other expenditure25,6851111528,326581,449,553010
          Total expenditure ...75,57781813,0171983,897,514134
Liabilities (including loans) ...461,4721814,899,037107§12,547,435110
Loans‡458,200004,676,55100§11,616,04800

The expenditure of the local bodies amounted to £3,897,515. 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 £76,237. The Borough Councils expended in the same way £93,883, and the Road Boards £16,360.

The percentages borne by the cost of management to the total receipts and total expenditure were:—

Cost of Management per Cent. ofTotal ReceiptsTotal Expenditure
Counties9.39.7
Boroughs4.85.0
Road Boards7.27.9

HARBOUR BOARDS.

The amount of receipts and expenditure for each of the Harbour Boards for the year ended 31st December, 1906 (excepting Wellington, the accounts for which were made up for the year ending 30th September, 1906, and Coromandel, Fortrose, Half-moon Bay and Horseshoe Bay, New River, Port Robinson, and Riverton, to 31st March, 1907), also the liabilities at date of balancing, including outstanding loans, have been tabulated in another statement.

Harbour BoardsReceiptsExpenditure (excluding Amounts paid to Sinking Fund and for Redemption of Debentures)
Revenue fromReceipts not RevenueTotal ReceiptsWorks and MaintenanceOther Expenditure, Interest, &cOut of LoanTotal ExpenditureLiabilities (excluding Loans from Government)
Wharfage Dues, Charges, Fees, Tolls, &cRents and other SourcesTotal Revenue
 £    sd£    sd£    sd£    sd£    sd£    sd£    sd£      sd£      s£    sd 

(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) Stewart Island County Council is the Harbour Board.

(f) Including £125 from Government.

(g) Including £465 1s. 3d. from Government.

(h) Including £250 from Government.

(i) Public works, £3,804 19s. 10d.; office expenses, £120.

(j) Including £874 1s. 4d. from Government.

(k) Other expenditure.

(j) Cheviot County Council is the Harbour Board.

(m) From Government.

* Including rates: Gisborne, £9,536 7s.; Napier, £22,905 0s. 11d.; New Plymouth, £9,738 7s. 4d. Oamaru, £8,017 4s. 7d.; Timaru, £9,366 11s. 7d.; Wairoa £447 3s. 6d.

Auckland ...64,92212717,1850782,107132(a)50,25253132,35918537,62301038,81378(b)68,7371411145,17435612,73500
Bluff ...17,4861542,94915720,43610113801620,8161259,7787410,08776 19,865141071,12891
Coromandel(c)2890 2890 289025120  25120 
Fortrose(d) 10001000 1000     
Gisborne ...15,344131110,5491725,893156638025,957367,70413713,09814 20,8021411203,143111
Greymouth16,7621431,80710818,57041110,0000028,5704115,0690018,68745(b)7,27217431,02919255,68121
Half-moon Bay and Horseshoe Bay(e)84910 84910 84910231083706 601121131
Hokitika ...3741002145458815420166081610489560810 65610514,128910
Lyttelton ...55,496842,4181057,91494 57,9149423,890101025,636101 49,527011278,95100
Mokau ...12738(f)183911310137 310137155111013934 29415229102
Motueka ...60547(g)477061,082511,0825134872458194    807661720
Napier ...23,36876(h)252762848,64410210014848,74541017,95516329,21218(i)3,924191051,092179504,184121
Nelson ...2,780107(j)1,183863,9631918101504,774141 3,128149(b)7,37510110,50441051,56391
New Plymouth11,88913114,83411926,72441013512026,859161011,41814814,07811 25,496159208,78245
New River96458206631,1701111872292,0421487173687634 1,59361017,476131
Oamaru ...6,88512311,774111018,660411,06612219,7261633,2603912,414122(b)6,2135621,88815367,83234
Otago ...64,479019,79201074,27101123,07314697,34415521,0550068,700110(b)5,0000094,755110713,314010
Patea ...2,1151464300102,545154812393,3571911,043093,32541(k)1,469435,8379128,079411
Port Robinson(l)884150 884150 8841501621211579116 7424548127
Riverton ...27372191111246156 2461563018812610 1561981,90000
Thames ...1,642167231501,87417104001,978173311111,400103 1,7321410,086911
Timaru ...24,3198011,73411136,05391134,9849571,0371949,087141020,735108(b)37,3469467,1691410343,683198
Waikokohu69110(m)33712140731 4073115617075161(k)804240135216511
Waimakariri 2729027290 27290797412245 201119468
Wairoa ...821584481361,269192206101,2906050841165299 1,1601485,04800
Waitara ...1,788132657872,4461923872,4691041,13010113811210 1,5123925,67762
Wanganui7,87212111,178459,0501741161249,167989,294873,161011 12,4559630,53867
Wellington134,204456,080124140,28416954,72829195,01219673,7433698,79278(b)9,20899181,744011491,869146
Westport ...70,897911 70,897911 70,89791129,8850835,42607 65,31113662,85000
Whaingaroa28318336140320123 32012322121254811 277104000
Whakatane154811 15481141001581811114617986 18130 
Whangarei64453201466641995006691995253619681 7211172636
        Totals527,3261710*120,508151647,8351211177,57410825,4091311265,07731401,38453146,556114813,0171984,899,037107

LOANS OF LOCAL BODIES.

In a table on the next page will be found a summary of the amounts raised by loan, classified according to the rates of interest paid, distinguishing loans raised in New Zealand from those raised abroad. It will be noticed that the amount raised abroad (£5,470,500) is now less than that raised in New Zealand (£6,145,548). Figures for four consecutive years on page 308 show that the operations have been such as to leave the total outside indebtedness almost the same in March, 1907, as it was in 1904, while on the other hand the inside indebtedness has increased steadily. The lowest rate of interest paid in 1907 was 3 per cent., but the large sum of £3,025,231 was raised at 5 per cent., and £1,784,625 at 6 per cent., while £97,300 bore interest as high as 7 per cent.

LOANS OF LOCAL BODIES, MARCH, 1907.—NET INDEBTEDNESS AND ANNUAL CHARGE
Amount of Debentures and Stock in CirculationAmount of Accrued Sinking FundNet IndebtednessAnnual Charge (excluding Exchange and Commission)
InterestSinking FundTotal

* Repayable by annual instalments of £92,396, representing 5 per cent. per annum on £48,891, 4 ½ per cent, per annum on £1,061,156, 4 per cent. per annum on £200,404, and 3 ½ per cent. per annum on £976,654, the amount inscribed to 1st February, 1907. Repayments on the amount inscribed (£2,287,105, including £89,878 debentures under “The Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882,” exchanged) would be £3,026,173. The actual repayments to date are £831,782, leaving £2,194,391 to be paid by way of interest and sinking fund, on a present indebtedness of £1,647,273.

 £      £      £      £      £      £      
Counties ..31,6781,43430,2441,4675442,011
Boroughs ..5,920,305499,3365,420,969275,19932,479307,678
Town Boards ..7,1542326,92234599444
Road Boards ..66,09070665,3842,9053593,264
River Boards ..29,870 2,255 27,615; 1,439 564 2,003     
Water-supply Board21,20021,2001,0152501,265 
Harbour Boards4,676,551507,0044,169,547225,14925,041250,190
Drainage Boards458,20066,449391,75123,5182,19125,709
Christchurch Tramway Board405,0002,067402,93317,3502,02519,375
Totals11,616,048 1,079,483 10,536,565 548,38763,552 611,939     
Inscribed debt of local bodies under “The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act. 1886,” “Tho 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”)1,647,273* 1,647,273*  92,396
Totals13,263,3211,079,48312,183,838  704,335
LOANS OF LOCAL BODIES, RAISED WITHIN AND WITHOUT NEW ZEALAND.TABLE showing the Amount of Indebtedness of Counties, Boroughs, Town, Road, River, Water-supply, Christchurch Tramway Boards, and Drainage Boards, as on the 31st March, 1907, and of Harbour Boards as on the 31st December, 1906, classified according to the Rates of Interest paid, distinguishing Loans raised in the Dominon from those raised elsewhere. (See note.)
Local BodiesNo Interest3%3 ¾%4%4 ¼%4 ½%4 ¾%5%5 ¼%5 ½%6%7%Total

* Including £3,000 at 5 ¾ per cent.

† Including £1,500 at 8 per cent.

‡ Including £40 at 10 per cent.

NOTE.—Not including loans, amounting to £1,647,273, 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.

Loans raised in the Dominion.
 £      £      £      £      £      £      £      £      £      £      £      £      £      
Christchurch Tramway Board    350,00055,000      405,000
Counties   1,400 17,700 12,578    31,678
Boroughs25,000  1,212,144214,8601,565,87374,850632,15318,00029,500*148,52513,500†3,934,405
Town Boards   3,554  3,100  500 7,154 
Road Boards   13,9005,00019,750 2,100   25,340‡66,090
River Boards   3,200 18,000 650 2,5201 500 24,870
Water-supply Board     9,000 12,200    21,200
Harbour Boards 14,03160,000930,80039,600228,470 93,050 31,000  1,390,951
Drainage Boards   25,0004,800228,400      258,200
  Total raised in Dominion25,00014,03160,0002,186,444617,8142,142,19374,850755,83118,00063,020*149,52538,840†‡6,145,548
Loans raised outside the Dominion.
Boroughs   530,000 307,000 488,300 35,000565,60060,0001,985,900
River Boards         5,000 5,000 
Harbour Boards   400,000134,000100,000 1,781,100  864,500 3,279,600
Drainage Board          200,000 200,000
Total raised outside Dominion   930,000134,000407,000 2,269,400 35,0001,635,10060,0005,470,500
Total Loans raised.
Christchurch Tramway Board    350,00055,000      405,000
Counties   1,400 17,700 12,578    31,678
Boroughs25,000  1,742,144214,8601,872,87374,8501,120,45318,00064,500*711,12573,500†5,920,305
Town Boards    3,554  3,100  500 7,154
Road Boards   13,9005,00019,750 2,100   25,340‡66,090
River Boards   3,200 18,000 650 2,5205,500 29,870
Water-supply Board     9,000 12,200    21,200
Harbour Boards 14,03160,0001,330,800173,600328,470 1,874,150 31,000864,500 4,676,551
Drainage Boards   25,0004,800228,400    200,000 458,200
  Total loans raised25,00014,03160,0003,116,444751,8142,549,19374,8503,025,23118,00098,020*1,784,62598,840†‡11,616,048
INDEBTEDNESS OF LOCAL BODIES
 Inside New ZealandOutside New Zealand
 £      £      
March, 19043,369,4105,529,500
March, 19054,379,6425,638,600
March, 19065,250,5515,467,500
March, 19076,145,5485,470,500

From the tables on the preceding pages it will be seen that the total amount owing was, on the 31st March, 1907, £11,616,048. But, against this, accrued sinking funds to the value of £1,079,483 were held, leaving a net debt of £10,536,565, exclusive of moneys borrowed from the General Government and repayable by annual instalments.

The total annual charge (excluding exchange and commission) stood at £611,939, of which £548,387 was for interest, and the remainder, £63,552, contributions to sinking fund accounts.

Of the total net indebtedness in 1906–7 the debt of the Borough Councils, £5,420,969, formed the largest item, while the Harbour Boards owed £4,169,547.

On referring to the comparative table on page 300, a great advance in the outstanding loans of local governing bodies will be noticed. Between 1898 and 1907 the gross indebtedness increased from £6,834,361 to £11,616,048, an addition of £4,781,687 or 70 per cent. during the ten years. During the same period the population advanced at the rate of 25 per cent., and the value of land and improvements (1897–1907) from £138,591,347 to £236,644,536, or at the rate of 71 per cent. in eleven years.

The aggregate interest-charge for the year under review was £548,387, and £278,911 of this was payable on loans raised outside the Dominion. The average rate of interest payable to bondholders was £4 14s. 5d. per cent.

While the average rate of interest on the above-mentioned debt is found to be less than 5 per cent., more than three millions were raised at 5 per cent., and nearly two millions at 6 per cent. or over.

THE LOCAL BODIES' LOANS ACTS.

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 1907, and stand as under:—

At the option of the authority concerned—

  1. Four and a half per centum per annum for a period of twenty-six years; or

  2. Four per centum per annum for a period of thirty-two years; or

  3. Three and a half per centum per annum for a period of forty-one years.

With respect to loans heretofore granted under Part II of the principal Act or under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, the rate of interest payable by the local authority, at and from the next half-yearly payment of interest after the passing of the Act, shall be according to the scale quoted above.

At the expiration of the period during which interest is payable the liability of the local authority shall cease without further payment.

The Amendment Act of 1902 empowers the Minister of Finance 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 Act of 1906 amends the principal Act as regards special roll, raising of special loans, investment of sinking funds, and makes provision as to merger of special-rating areas.

In order to remove any doubt as to the operation of section 24 of “The Municipal Corporations Act, 1900,” it is declared that all proposals for loans shall be submitted under the principal Act, and not under “The Local Elections Act, 1904,” and past loans raised under the latter Act are validated so far as this ground is concerned.

In any case where land liable to any special rate is acquired by the Crown, the Crown shall be liable for payment of any such rate for any year during which there is no occupier of the land within the meaning of “The Rating Act, 1894.”

MUNICIPAL FRANCHISE.

“The Municipal Corporations Act, 1900,” with its amending Act of 1902, deals with the franchise in the case of boroughs, and provides that, in addition to the persons who are already entitled to be enrolled, every person shall be so entitled who possesses the freehold or residential qualifications stated in the Act.

The possession of the freehold qualification is defined as being the beneficial and duly registered owner of a freehold estate in land of the capital value of not less than £25, situated in the borough, notwithstanding that any other person is the occupier thereof, or part thereof, under any tenancy.

Every person is deemed to possess a residential qualification within a borough if he is, and for at least three months last past has been, a residential occupant within such borough.

No person may be entered in the burgess lists in respect of more qualifications than one; but any person who has more than one qualification may select the one in respect of which he wishes to be entered.

In the case of husband and wife, any qualification possessed by one of them is deemed to be possessed by each.

No person enrolled on a burgess roll has more than one vote, and no person enrolled by virtue of the residential qualification can vote on any proposal relating to loans or rates.

INCREASED RATING-POWERS OF COUNTIES, ROAD AND TOWN DISTRICTS.

By “The Counties Act Amendment Act, 1903,” section 4, it is provided that, notwithstanding anything in the principal Act, the maximum general rate that may be made and levied shall be—

  1. In counties where there are no road or town districts, a rate of threepence in the pound on the capital value of the rateable property therein, or its equivalent on the unimproved value or annual value; and

  2. In counties where there are road or town districts,—

    1. In outlying districts, a rate of threepence in the pound on the capital value, or its equivalent as aforesaid;

    2. In all other parts of the county, a rate of three-halfpence in the pound on the capital value, or its equivalent as aforesaid.

And under section 5 the County Council may make and levy rates, called “separate rates,” in addition to or in lieu of any general rate, upon all rateable property in any riding of a county; or may by special order make or levy any such rate upon all rateable property within the portion of the county defined in the order. But the total amount of separate rates and general rates together is not to exceed in any one year the amount of the maximum general rate prescribed by the last preceding section (No. 4, quoted above).

By “The Road and Town Districts Rating Act, 1903,” the rating-powers of the Boards are extended. Under section 2 the maximum general rate that may be made and levied in any year in a road or town district is a rate of three-halfpence in the pound on the capital value of the rateable property of the district, or its equivalent on the unimproved value, or two shillings in the pound on the annual value, as the case may be. Under section 3, where road districts are divided into subdivisions, no separate rates made and levied in any year may, with the general rates, exceed in any subdivision the amount of the maximum general rate aforesaid.

RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE.

A special article on this system of rating (which it is optional with local governing bodies to adopt or not) is given in Part III of this work.

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, 1908
Date of PollResult of PollVotes recorded
ForAgainstInformal

(a) Proposal to rescind the adoption of the Act rejected. Poll taken 6th June, 1904. For rescission, 176; against, 415; informal, 6.

(b) Proposal to rescind the adoption of the Act rejected. Poll taken 3rd May, 1904. For rescission, 116; against, 148.

(c) Proposal to rescind.Poll taken 28th August, 1907. For recission. 108: against, 161; informal. 5 Proposal rejected.

(d) Proposal to rescind. Poll taken 4th May, 1906. For recission, 300; against, 462. Proposal rejected.

(e) Now part of Christchurch City.

Akitio County16 Feb., 1905Carried112323
Ashburton Borough14 Jan., 1903Rejected1021994
Auckland City7 Aug., 1901Rejected7531,697 
Avenal Borough7 Dec., 1904Carried48102
Awatere Road District3 May, 1905Carried1468 
Awhitu Road District25 Jan., 1907Carried23151
Balclutha Borough7 July, 1902Carried6033 
Blenheim Borough17 June, 1903Carried22464 
Buller County10 Sept., 1904Carried302845
Campbelltown Borough14 Sept., 1904Carried101866
Castlepoint County8 Nov., 1905Carried5645 
Cheviot County6 Oct., 1898Carried16541 
Christchurch City30 June, 1902Carried596512 
Clyde Town District22 Feb., 1907Carried68121
Dannevirke Borough27 Feb., 1907Carried3089413
Devonport Borough(a)30 Oct., 1900Carried356109 
Eastbourne Borough8 Aug., 1906Carried7824 
Eketahuna Borough16 Sept., 1907Carried889 
Eketahuna County1 Feb., 1900Carried149211
Feilding Borough16 April, 1901Carried268561
Foxton Borough20 June, 1902Rejected53984
Foxton BoroughCarried104363 
Gore Borough7 July, 1901Carried122675
Grey Lynn Borough20 Mar., 1901Carried140712
Greymouth Borough23 Feb., 1898Carried214481
Hamilton Borough (b)13 Feb., 1901Carried7752 
Hastings Borough14 July, 1902Rejected25026515
Hastings Borough30 Aug., 1905Rejected31437421
Hawera Borough (c)8 April, 1903Carried12991
Heathcote Road District14 Mar., 1905Rejected13540314
Hobson County14 Feb., 1905Carried2271968
Hokianga County11 Mar., 1899Carried109256
Hokitika Borough5 May, 1901Carried212531
Hunua Road District5 April, 1899Carried602 
Inangahua County14 May, 1898Carried284112
Invercargill Borough (d)5 June, 1901Carried3861744
Kaiapoi Borough7 Sept., 1905Rejected8325116
Kairanga County14 Jan., 1905Carried142542
Karori Borough4 April, 1898Carried9331
Kawhia County21 Nov., 1905Carried967 
Linwood Borough(e)30 May, 1901Carried276382
Lower Hutt Borough12 Oct., 1901Carried94684
TABLE SHOWING THE RESULT OF POLLS TAKEN UNDER “THE RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE ACT, 1896,” AND AMENDMENT ACT OF 1900, TO 31ST MARCH, 1908
Date of PollResult of PollVotes recorded
ForAgainstInformal

(a) Road district not now in existence.

(b) Illegal, not in accordance with section 5, ‘Rating Act, 1894.”

(c) Now part of Wellington City.

(d) Proposal to rescind the adoption of the Act rejected. For proposal, 23; against, 38; informal, 3.

(e) For recission.

(f) Proposal to rescind the adoption of the Act rejected. For proposal, 85; against, 124; informal, 2.

(g) Now part of Christchurch City.

(h) Road district not now in existence.

* New poll taken under Act of 1900.

Manawatu Road District(a)6Jan., 1900Carried10510
Maori Hill Borough25 Jan., 1904Carried11927 
Maraetai Road District2 June, 1900Carried16  
Mareretu Road District(b)28 June, 1902Carried24  
Masterton Borough29 Aug., 1901Carried2211396
Mataura Borough27 Mar., 1907Rejected17581
Mauku Road District2 July, 1904Rejected23391
Melrose Borough(c)3 Mar., 1898Carried236406
Miramar Borough30 Nov., 1905Carried117451
Mosgiel Borough27 Feb., 1902Rejected58871
New Brighton Borough27 Feb., 1908Carried133762
New Plymouth Borough16 Mar., 1905Rejected1673134
Normanby Town District(d)15 Nov., 1897Carried82563
North-east Valley Borough12 Jan., 1905Carried202172 
North-east Valley Borough(e)30 Mar., 1908Carried354185 
North Invercargill Borough(f)1 April, 1903Carried107242
Onslow Borough20 Mar., 19011408  
Pahiatua Borough19 June, 1897Carried136381
Pahiatua County27 June, 1901Carried350313
Palmerston North Borough5 Mar., 1897Carried402123
Papakura Road District10 Mar., 1900Carried301 
Pelorus Road District31 Mar., 19009841  
Petone Borough6 Nov., 1901Rejected1001344
Petone Borough23 Mar., 1905Carried311112 
Piton BoroughRejected27731 
Piton Borough30 July, 1903Carried47389
Raglan County23 Nov., 1901Carried*116852
St. Albans Borough13 Feb., 1902Carried35021815
St. Kilda Borough28 Nov., 1907Rejected1522231
South Invercargill Borough2 Feb., 1902Carried106541
Southland County1 Mar., 1902Carried919574 
Spreydon Road District16 May, 1901Carried141574
Stratford County29 June, 1901Carried399232
Stratford Borough23 July, 1902Carried137641
Sumner Borough21 Nov., 1901Carried*9119 
Sydenham Borough (g)14 Mar., 1901Carried353193 
Takaka County2 Sept., 1905Carried136405
Taratahi-Carterton Road District(h)26 Aug., 1897Carried26153 
Tauranga County9 Feb., 1901Carried90132
Timaru Borough10 Oct., 1900Rejected932465
Timaru Borough18 April, 1905Rejected372440 
Waimarino County23 Sept., 1903Carried4313 
Waimate Borough2 Feb., 1901Carried2356114
Waimate County1 Nov., 1900Carried368162 
TABLE SHOWING THE RESULT OF POLLS TAKEN UNDER “THE RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE ACT, 1896,” AND AMENDMENT ACT OF 1900, TO 31ST MARCH, 1908
Date of PollResult of PollVotes recorded
ForAgainstInformal

(a) Including Woodville County since constituted.

(b) Poll taken prior to coming into operation of section 2 of “The Local Government Voting Reform Act, 1899”; less than one-third of ratepayers voted, and proposal consequently rejected. The county has since been subdivided and absorbed in other counties.

(c) New poll taken under Act of 1900. Proposal to rescind rejected; poll taken, 9th March, 1906. For proposal, 213; against, 228.

Waipawa County(a)2 Feb., 1898Carried462283
Wairarapa North County(b)8 Nov., 1899Rejected3316810
Wairarapa South County23 Oct., 1902Carried1878 
Wanganui Borough17 Dec., 1903Rejected3033312
Wellington City11 Nov., 1901Carried1,261591 
West Harbour Borough18 April, 1904Carried62302
Westport Borough19 April, 1904Carried2801637
Whangarei Borough27 Sept., 1905Rejected1662262
Winton Borough29 Nov., 1901Carried39311
Woodville Borough21 Mar., 1898Carried17571
Woolston Borough24 June, 1902Carried(c)2521907

A county having decided to levy rates on the unimproved value makes it compulsory for all interior Town and Road Boards, excepting Town Districts coming under “The Town Districts Act, 1906,” 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, 1907.

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.

A further amendment in 1907 empowers the Council of any county to make a uniform annual charge or levy a separate rate for sanitation purposes. The rate must be levied only upon the capital value of such rateable properties as have a house or houses erected thereon, and shall not exceed one halfpenny in the pound in any one year.

“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 Town Districts Act, 1906,” gives power to constitute town districts in certain counties, and provides that every town district having a population of not less than five hundred shall be deemed not to form part of the county within which it is included. The Act also provides for the apportionment of assets and liabilities, and the preliminary appointments on the constitution of a new district. There are certain provisions in the case of a town district becoming a borough, and town Boards are empowered to raise moneys by way of overdraft to an amount not exceeding the revenue of the Board for the previous financial year, not including Government grants, borrowed moneys, and separate or special rates.

“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.”

“The Timber and Flax Royalties Act, 1905,” provides that one-half of the revenue received by the Receiver of Land Revenue in respect of royalty under any license for cutting timber or flax, and payable into the Consolidated Fund, shall be payable to the local authority within whose district the timber or flax is obtained and the revenue was derived, and shall be applied by such local authority exclusively in constructing, repairing, and maintaining roads. Revenue received from any district where no local authority exists shall be applied for the purposes aforesaid under the direction of the Minister or of such person as he may appoint.

Whenever it appears that any moneys paid to any local authority under this Act have not been properly applied to the objects for which they were so paid, the Minister of Finance may proceed for the recovery of such moneys, or may deduct the amount from any subsidy or other moneys payable at any time to the said local authority under any Act.

“The Municipal Corporations Amendment Act, 1906,” describes the procedure until the election of the first councillors in the case of a newly constituted borough. It also deals with the renewal and surrender of leases, waste of water, and the open space to be provided for dwellinghouses. The Council may, of its own motion, or shall, if the District Health Officer recommends, make by-laws in respect of lodginghouses, hotels, and houses occupied by more than one family, in order to prevent overcrowding. There are a number of minor amendments of the principal Act.

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, 1907, will be found on the following pages:—

BOROUGHS, 1906–7
Name of BoroughEstimated Area (including Town Belt) in AcresPopulationNumber ofAmount of Rate levied in the PoundEstimated Annual(or renting) Value of Rateable Property, March, 1907Capital Value of Rateable Property, March, 1907Unimproved Value of Rateable Property, March, 1907
DwellingsRatepayersRateable PropertiesGeneralSeparateSpecialWaterLibrary

(1) Hospital and charitable aid.

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

(3) On annual value.

(4) 3d.lighting, 2d. hospital and charitable aid.

(5) 1/12d. lighting, 1/6d. hospital and charitable aid.

(6) Including 3d. hospital and charitable aid.

(7) On 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.

(8) On capital value.

(9) 3d. drainage, 3d. hospital and charitable aid.

(10) 2d. in No. 1 district, 3d. in No. 2 district; extraordinary supply, 1s. per 1,000 gallons.

(11) To value of £20, 10s.; over £20, 2 ½ per cent.

(12) On annual value under £12 10s., 10s. per annum (minimum charge); £12 10s. to £100, 5 per cent.; on second £100, 4 per cent.; on third £100, 3 per cent.; 2 per cent. over £300.

(13) Up to £200, 5 per cent; £200 to £300, 4 per cent.; over £300, 3 per cent.

(14) 7 per cent., 6 per cent., 5 per cent. (minimum, 10s.).

(15) For water and drainage.

(16) For drainage loan interest.

(17) Various, for interest on loans.

(18) Sanitary, 15s. per pan.

(19) 2 ½ per cent. for supply, ¼ per cent. non-supply

(20) Including 3/16d, hospital and charitable aid.

(21) Drainage rate.

(22) 2 per cent. on stores, &c.; 3 ½ per cent. on dwellings.

(23) 9/10d. lighting, 9/20d. drainage, on unimproved value; ¾d. hospital and charitable aid, on capital value.

(24) ⅞d. on mining property, 1 ½d. other.

(25) On annual value not exceeding £12 10s., 10s.

(26) Central Ward, 2 73/96d.; Sydenham Ward, 2 61/64d.; Linwood and St. Albans Wards, 2 2/3 3/2d. Sanitation fees—Central Ward, £1; Linwood Ward. 9s. 2d.; St. Albans Ward, 8s. 7d.; Sydenham Ward, 11s. 10d.

(27) Drainage rate—sewage area, ¾d. o capital value; rural area, ½d. on unimproved value; Central Ward special, 1/9d. on capital value. South Waimakariri River Board's rate, 4/41d.; 2/23d. hospital and charitable aid.

(28) Central Ward (part late Richmond Ward), 13/32d.; Central Ward, 15/64d., 1/7d., ⅛d.; Linwood Ward, 13/132d., 9/16d.; St. Albans Ward, ¾d., 1 ½d. on special loan areas; Sydenham Ward, 11/16d.

(29) Sydenham Ward, 3 ½ per centum on annual value.

(30) Waimakariri River Board's rate, 1/14d.; Christchurch Drainage Board's rate, 1 23/64d.; lighting rate, 3/16d.; hospital and charitable aid rate, 1/16d.; sanitation fees, 12s. 7d. per pan.

(31) Hospital and charitable aid rate, 1/12d. on capital value. Sanitation, uniform fee of 9s. 6d.

(32) Includes 6d. drainage rate.

(33) ⅜d. in sanitation district only; ¾d. in drainage district only.

(34) Sanitary charge, 8s. 6d. per house.

(35) ¾d. on capital value (on portion of borough). Drainage, 4d. on annual value.

(36) 1 ½d. West Ward, 2d. North Ward, 2 ½d. South Ward, 3d. East Ward.

(37) Drainage 2d., South and East Wards. Sanitation, 10s. per house in South and East Wards.

(38) 4 ½d. sanitation in Caversham and South Dunedin Wards. Drainage rate—sewered area. 9d.; unsewered, 4 ½d. Hospital and charitable aid, 3d.

(39) Under £12 10s., 10s.; from £12 10s. to £300, 5 per cent.; over £300, 4 per cent. Lands and buildings not supplied, half foregoing rates.

(40) Lighting, 1 ½d.; sanitation, 5d. in part of district: drainage, 4d. and 7d. in parts of district.

(41) Drainage rate—sewered area, 9d.; unsewered, 4 ½d.

(42) Over £20 annual value, 6d. in the pound where laid on; below that amount, and within 100 yards of any portion of the work, 3d. in the pound.

(43) Sanitation—uniform charge, 7s. per year.

(44) Lighting rate, on capital value.

(45) 2d. hospital and charitable aid; 1 11/16d., excluding Northend.

(46) Northend only.

(47) On 6 per cent. of capital value.

(48) Sanitation 14s. per pan per annum.

      sdsdsdsdsd£      £      £      
Whangarei2,0382,20045042956401 ½(1)00 1/6 (2)(3)01 198,868  
Birkenhead2,7001,30027929734214(4)0502  9,142  
Devonport (1906)6405,1001,100850 0 1 ½(5)0 0 ¼1d., ¾d., & ½d(3)2 ½ per cent       214,537
Auckland1,78641,4987,4754,5348,965011(6)0513(7)00 ½442,303  
Gray Lynn9006,2161,2501,375 01 ¾(1)(81/6d00 7/8(3)4, 4 ½, 5 ½, 6 per cent    272,422
Newmarket1502,37546433545616(9)06034 to 5 per cent 16,402  
Parnell4805,2601,04566495112(1)03094 per cent 38,102  
Mount Eden1,4107,4001,6101,4271,64710(1)02 ½ (10) 58,737  
Onehunga1,2003,7008506501,08010(1)02 3 per cent00 ½24,000  
Thames2,5603,7508859121,17012(1)0401(11)0125,235  
Te Aroha2001,05925923338416  07 7,661  
Waihi3,1305,5941,6401,4001,89106  (12) 33,226  
Hamilton1,6002,20046049877901 ¾  (13)   228,736
Cambridge1,0831,25032029750010 01 ¼(14) 10,648  
Tauranga1,0001,09041633352510 09 017,194  
Gisborne2,0006,0001,2001,0001,50020 03  78,500  
Waitara2,0801,137 391 01 ½   00 ⅛ 129,468 
New Plymouth8505,2001,0908001,37819 01006 54,000  
Inglewood7031,15630029344901 ½  (3)09  130,306 
Stratford1,9202,2005006151,02002 ⅜ 1 ⅛d., 2/5d., ½0d., ⅛d(3)06   172,000
Hawera5002,50053046666803 00 ⅜7 per cent    160,949
Eltham1,5951,50030030343301 ½  (2)  175,878 
Patea1,42090035023938016 04 ⅜  7,131  
Wanganui1,0008,5002,1001,8002,03016 08  83,658  
Marton1,4231,50032026442617 5d. and 1s. 6d 0112,664  
Taihape1,0001,30020019038001 ½ 2/5d., 1 ½d   125,523 
Feilding2,3003,2506009001,24002 01(2)00 1/16  325,453
Palmerston N4,59510,2432,3281,4003,40001 7/8 00 11/12(3)3 per cent00 1/12  1,081,351
Foxton1,2401,450367257578190603 019,512  
Levin1,3501,30032033684801 ¼ 00 3/10   106,834 
Hastings5,7404,9001,0771,1241,94517 06  76,875  
Napier8799,4731,9981,1802,95009042d., 6d., 1s3 ½ to 1 per cent 91,614  
Dannevirke1,2223,6008166241,85715  6d. and 9d0132,455  
Woodville1,2401,1402584431,22703 ⅝ 06 ¼(3)6, 5, 4 per cent01  41,325
Pahiatua7201,36036046052002 ½(15)0201 ½    97,505
Masterton2,1005,0261,1909201,59502 ¼ (16)00 ½(3)5, 2 ½, 1 ¼ per cent00 1/9  379,227
Carterton1,8801,40735535847001 (17)(3)7 per cent  167,590 
Greytown3,9071,20026425426216 023d. and 7d019,640  
Lower Hutt3,2553,7507379281,86202 979/1200d    589,892
Petone9526,3031,3418901,82301 7/8(18)5/24d. & 1/6d(19)   673,486
Onslow2,5202,10038161959701 ½(20)7/16d11/32d    169,349
Wellington8,13761,53311,8417,90016,59902(1)(3)2 1/5d1/10d., 3/23d., 1/16d., 1/9d(3)2 ½ per cent1/13d  9,878,374
Karori1,5272,4325798172,24101 ¾(1)3/16d3/16d., 3/32d., 3/32d    357,594
Eastbourne1,50050019033073301 ⅜      109,676
Miramar2,1561,5003504751,60001 ¾      265,421
Picton56099521531698003 ½(1)1/6d ¼d. and ½d   45,951
Blenheim1,5713,3517506811,45003(1)(3)2 ⅜d⅜d., 5/16d., 3/16d., ¾d    172,154
Nelson4,8008,1641,6521,3602,61619(21)4d03 ½(22)2, 3 ½ per cent 73,124  
Richmond2,30065114613716700 ¾  (3)4 per cent  96,717 
Motueka5,6431,08021120335201     138,555 
Westport7133,7509201,1501,22903 2/3(23) (3)3 ½, 7 per cent00 3/20  93,112
Greymouth,’062,0004,5699747301,20004 ⅜(1)(8)5/16d (3)6 per cent(3)1d  141,972
Brunner5,7001,10029023628716(1)087d., 10d  3,993  
Kumara84291926431745001 ½(1)0 1 ½    24,732 
Hokitika1,2802,20055060070004(1)00 15/1601 2/5    61,943
Ross4,196580250350414(24)1 ½d, ⅞d(1)00 ½01 2/3(25)  29,314 
Rangiora1,0401,80014537356201     199,033 
Kaiapoi1,0201,80442735663713    10,609  
Christchurch4,59852,31310,8899,14010,665(26)(27)(28)(29)   3,095,062
Woolston1,2762,95063075590103 31/64(30)     117,389
Sumner4,8761,25037039057702(31)⅜d., ⅝d., 1d., 1 ⅜d(3)5 per cent   103,547
New Brighton1,5001,13225068375016(32)10 ½d08  8,100  
Lyttelton2,0144,20083063582816    28,722  
Akaroa22155712814219000 15/1600 ¾00 ⅞   59,119 
Ashburton6802,850600570 16    26,251  
Temuka9451,66536538566001 ½(33)    112,674 
Geraldine4871,02022032737401  (2)  85,704 
Timaru1,1007,7001,5001,4002,07510 102 ½ to 5 per cent 75,243  
Waimate6491,80040045058904 ½      81,358
Oamaru1,1115,1001,0641,2361,34116 13(2) 39,787  
Hampden6403799612012000 ¾     26,360 
Palmerston S80080020622738801 5/4(34)    51,664 
Hawksbury2,70070017219854400 ¾     58,592 
Port Chalmers3352,2504805915901306 (2) 14,825  
North-east Valley3,9804,4671,0991,4501,50002 ⅜(35)(8)00 ⅜    156,838
Maori Hill3,7002,100456446481(36)1 ½d., 2d., 2 ½d. 3d(37) 10   120,140
West Harbour1,6701,53034049862001 ¾01 ¼01 ¾    78,443
Dunedin3,29237,6217,7534,9619,13413(38)09(39) 384,000  
Roslyn2,0005,6001,1921,2451,35014(40)01 ½  43,584  
Mornington6544,2509708641,06319    28,160  
St. Kilda4632,6006537661,00710(41)6d., 4 ½d., 9d065s. to 5 per cent 19,030  
Green Island10370314419220013    3,012  
Mosgiel9671,5503343405451309 5 per cent 10,446  
Milton2651,40028022036720    8,824  
Kaitangata1,1581,68232430057413 09  7,412  
Balclutha5681,20030028634502 ¾(1)(8) 3/16d01 00 ¼  43,830
Lawrence6401,10623836031016  (42) 8,487  
Roxburgh4004801229113016    1,940  
Tapanui1265001408014119    2,150  
Naseby11341811512815210  2 ½, 3 ½, 6, and 7 per cent 2,288  
Cromwell64067116014525613 0210 4,700  
Alexandra8401,000250299320160610  6,650  
Arrowtown3904209811220416(43)   1,933  
Queenstown92367520424075010(1)020606 4,730  
Gore1,1503,05369065098003(1) 1/10d., (44) 1/5d (2)(8)   164,225
Mataura1,5301,10027523246520    6,562  
Winton16050010013018402 ½      19,300
Invercargill1,0407,5001,4501,4001,8242 13/16d(45)2d., 1 11/16d(46)02(2)   552,070
North Invercargill32697324038737003 ⅞(1)0211/16d., 3 3/16d. 2 9/16d     19,648
South Invercargill4,0002,27245773093103 ½ 03 ½    73,217
East Invercargill1211,03824021026018 010  5,295  
Avenal1634241129812702(1)(47)2d01    19,571
Gladstone24050111019520113(48)03  4,743  
Campbelltown2,0001,60039540070003 ½ 03    68,087
Riverton71895021223040819    4,386  
[NOTE—For value of land and improvements see Section XXI
CountiesArea in Square Miles (including Boroughs)Population, Census, April, 1906 (excluding Boroughs)System of Rating: “C.” on Capital Value; “U.” on Unimproved ValueRates struck
GeneralOther
Mangonui9342,801C1 ¼d 
Whangaroa160801C1d 
Hokianga9722,514U2 ½d 
Bay of Islands8262,692C1d 
Hobson6885,424U3dSpecial, Kopuru and Taita special works rate, ¾d.; Kopuru swamp drain rate, 2 ½d.; Tangiteroria Bridge, ⅜d.; Lusk's Road, ¾d.; Gill's Road, 1 ½d.; Curnow's deviation, 1 ½d.; Ringrose Road, 2d.; Dargaville Wharf loan, ⅝d
Whangarei9287,306C¾d¾d. separate; ⅙d. H. and C.A
Otamatea3642,921C¾d. in three ridings, 1d. in one riding, 1 ½d. in three ridings½d. separate in two outlying districts
Rodney5664,185C¾d¾d. separate in outlying districts; 1/5d. H. and C.A
Waitemata6137,949C¾d¾d. separate in Mairetahi, Waitakerei, and Northcote Ridings; 1d. separate in Wainui outlying district, Takapuna, Birkenhead, Kumeu, and Waikumete Ridings; 5/16d. special, Mairetahi Riding
Eden4326,663   
Manukau79113,480   
Coromandel4032,841C1 ½d1 ½d. special rate for special-rating district (water-supply loan)
     
Thames4944,286C1 ½d 
Ohinemuri4785,895C⅝d1d. special, Waitoa special-rating district
Piako1,0953,761C1d. in road districts, 1 ¼d. and 1 ½d. in outlying districtsSpecial interest-rates, ¼d. Te Aroha Riding; 1/10d. Patetere and Taotaoroa Ridings
Waikato5914,532C¼d 
Waipa2824,849C¾d¾d. separate, Alexandra outlying district; ½d. separate, Mangapiko and Hamilton outlying districts; 1/13d. and 1/16d. special, Rangiaohia and Pukekura Ridings
Raglan8242,282U2d. Te Akau, 1 ¾d. Waingaro, 1 ¾d. Pirongia, 2d. Whangape, 2 ¾d. Onewhero, 2 ¾d. Karioi, 1 ½d. Karamu, 3 ½d. Whaingaroa¼d. H. and C.A., ⅛d. Waipa Bridge loan, ⅝d. Waipa-Pepepe loan, ¾d. Raglan-Tuakau loan, 1d. Te Mata loan, 9/14d. Opotoro Bridge loan
Awakino356389   
Waitomo1,6041,226C½d 
Kawhia374688U1d 
West Taupo1,5941,397   
East Taupo2,581509   
Rotorua9842,657   
Tauranga5771,999U1 ½d½0d. H. and C.A. (on capital value), 1/10d. special, ½d. district rate, 1/600d. bird-nuisance rate
Whakatane (1906)1,7161,015C½d., ½d., ¾d., 1d5/16d. and 3/8d., special, over special-loan areas
Opotiki1,4401,679C1d 
     
Waiapu1,121858C1 ¼d 
Cook1,9507,173C1dTwenty-four special, ½0d. to 1 ¼d
Clifton6272,837C1 ½dFifteen special
Taranaki3868,486C¾ d1/12d. H. and C.A.; 1/32d. bridge rate; ⅛d., 5/32d. interest rates
Hawera223   1 ¼d. Eltham, Mangatoki,
Eltham (in first year)1588,009Cand Hawera Ridings, 1 ½d. Okaiawa, and 1d. Mokoia 
Egmont2542,885C¾d. in Rahotu and Opunake Ridings, 1 ¼d. in Oeo Riding 
Stratford7845,912U1 ⅛d. North, 1 ⅝d. South, 2 ¾d. East, 1 ⅝d. West, 2d. Ohura RidingsSpecial and separate, various
Patea6913,123C¾d1 ½d. separate, Kapara; ¾d. special, Kapara; ¼d. special, Omona
Waitotara3434,164C⅞d3/16d., 3/16d., ¼d., 5/16d., 13/16d., 15/16d., 1¾ special
Waimarino1,3152,787U1 ½d⅝d. special, for interest on loan
Wanganui6274,833C¼d½d., ⅜d., ⅛d., 7/16d., 10/16d, special (on part district)
Rangitikei8529,511C1d¼d. separate in portion of Te Kapua Riding; special, various, in forty-four special-rating districts
Kiwitea3363,034C¾dSpecial, various
Kairanga1843,681U1dFifty-seven special, various, for interest
Oroua2133,698C⅝dTen special, various
Pohangina2951,797CIn ridings: Awahou, 1⅜d.; Special, sundry 
    Coal Creek. 1d.: Mangaone, ⅞d.; Mangapikopiko, 1 ½d.; Pohangina, 1 ¾d.; Tamaki, 1 ¾d.; Umutoi, 2 ¼d 
Manawatu2674,007CIn ridings: Sandon, ¾d.; Mount Stewart, ¾ d.; Waitohi, ¾d; Rongotea, 1d.; Carnarvon, ⅞d.; Kawakawa, 15/16d.; Awahou, ¾dSeparate and special, to meet interest on loans over special areas
Horowhenua5915,337C1/1 1/60d., ¾d., 1d., 1 ⅛dTwenty-one special, various
Wairoa1,8872,156C¾d3/16d., 1/60 ¼d., 1 ½d. special over portions of county
     
Hawke's Bay3,2327,700C¾d. to 1d.Five special rates over small special-rating districts
Waipawa9909,911U1 3/16d., 1 10/16d., 1 7/16d., 1 5/16d 
Woodville1642,036U1 ⅛dSpecial, various, for interest on loans
Patangata6521,843C1/16d. to 1 ½d.⅛d. H. and C.A
Weber95593C1 ½d 
Pahiatua3023,672U1 ½d. to 2d. (the latter over one riding)Sixty-one special, various
Akitio3281,394U1 ½d1 ½d. Akitio, Waihi, Rakaunui, and Pongaroa Ridings
Castlepoint150561U2 ½d14/120d., ⅛d., 41/120d., 1/9d. (on capital value)
Eketahuna1702,738U1 ½dFifty-four special, various
Mauriceville1251,089C1dTwenty-two special, various
Masterton6703,723C⅝d8/16d., 1/16d, ⅜d., 1/14d., separate, special, various, on ninety-four loans
Wairarapa South4452,734U1d1/7d. separate for maintenance of water-races; ⅝d. special for interest on water race an; twenty special rates for interest; 4/7d. special works rate
Featherston9653,470C⅝d. and ¾d.⅝d. and ¾d. separate for water-race maintenance; twenty-four interest rates
Hutt5907,259C1d5/16d., 1/60d., 1/3d., ⅝d., ⅜d
Sounds5731,098   
Marlborough3,8127,287   
Kaikoura6731,747C1d 
Collingwood7601,211C1d 
Takaka4711,547U1 ¾d 
Waimea1,6627,785C1 ¼d1/16 special, Rocks Road loan; ½d. Ngatimoti Bridge loan
Buller1,8185,458U4 ½d½d. H. and C.A. (on capital value); 4 ½d. special, Charleston Riding
     
Inangahua2,2564,638U3 ¼d. on mining property,On capital value, 1/5d., 5/16d., 1/12d., ½d., ½d.,
    3 ½d. on general propertyspecial, Town of Reefton; 2 ¼d. Boatman's Irrigation District
Grey1,4525,692C1 ½d⅜d. H. and C.A
Westland4,4204,117C1 ½d 
Amuri2,3621,406C7/16d1/3 ½d., 3/16d., 9/64d., special for interest on loans
Cheviot3221,605U¾d⅛d. special
Ashley1,62711,306   
Selwyn2,59734,378C1/10d. H. and C.A.; 1/32d. birds rate; ½d. special Coalgate Water-race District 
Akaroa2943,155C¼d 
Mount Herbert59470C½d 
Ashburton2,54211,541C¼d¾d. special, tramway loan (on capital value); 1/5d. special, Wakanui protective works; 1 ½. Ruapuna Nos. 1 and 2 districts; 1d. Ruapuna maintenance district
Geraldine9495,027C¼d., ¼d.¾d. to 4d. per acre separate, for maintenance of water-races; six special, for interest
Levels2736,584C1d¼d. separate, Seadown water
Mackenzie2,5371,939C1 ⅛d. Te Kapo Riding, 1d. Cave and Albury Ridings, ⅞d. Fairlie Riding 
Waimate1,3436,510U¾d¼d. Waihao water maintenance; 3/10d. separate, Timaru Harbour Board rate; ½d. special, Waihao water interest; 1/5d. Pareora water interest
Waitaki2,3339,613CFrom ¼d. to ¾d. in different ridings3 ½d. per acre separate, Papakaio water-race maintenance; ⅜d. special, Papakaio water-race interest
Waihemo3361,806C¾d 
Waikouaiti3184,119C¾d. and 1d 
Peninsula372,477   
Taieri9306,882C1d⅛d. separate, H. and C.A.; ½d. separate, Orohia Riding; 2/5d. special, South Taieri special-rating district; 3/5d. and 1/16d. special, West Taieri special-rating district
     
Bruce5034,675C1 1/10d., 1d., ⅝d.⅜d., 9/16d., 7/16d., 10/16d., 5/16d., special over various districts
Clutha9466,174C1 ½d. over one riding, 1 ¼d. over one riding, 1d. over five ridings, ¾d. over two ridings⅛d., 1/d., ¼d., ¼d., ⅜d., special, for interest; 1/16d. separate, H. and C.A
Tuapeka1,3656,113C1d 
Maniototo1,2393,004C¾d 
Vincent2,6844,300C1 ¼d1d. Clyde Water-race District; 2 ½d. Blackman's Water-race District
Lake3,7122,103C1 ½d⅛d. Skipper's Bridge loan
Southland3,85224,424U1 ½d⅛d. H. and C.A. (on capital value); 1/15d. small-birds rate; ⅛d. special, Otaraia Road District; 3/11d. Tuturau Road District; ⅛d. Wyndham Road District; ⅜d. South Hill-end; ½d. West Plains
Wallace3,4048,315C¾d. Mararoa Riding and Otautau Town District, 1d. Aparima Riding, 1 ¼d. Orepuki, Waiau, and Wairio Ridings, and the outlying district of Otautau Riding⅛d. H. and C.A.; ½0d. special, Orawaia Bridge loan
Fiord3,04054   
Stewart Island651288C⅞d.⅛d. H. and C.A
Chatham Islands375197   
TOWN DISTRICTS, 1906–7
Town DistrictsPopulation (Census, 1906)Number ofAmount of Rate levied in the Pound on the Capital (or Annual) Value of Property
Dwellings (Census, 1906)RatepayersRateable Properties

* On annual value.

† In first year; no rate struck

‡ No rate struck.

§ On the unimproved value.

(1) ¼d. special.

(2) ½d. special.

(3)⅜d. separate.

(4)4d. special.

(5)1 ¾d. special.

(6)1/10d., ½4d., 1/2d. special.

(7)⅛d. special.

(8)¼ special, 1/16d. separate.

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

(10)⅜d. special.

     sd
Kamo315768312600 ¾
Helensville616113120113*07
Papakura359901582040¾(1)
Pukekohe3909315115101 ½
Te Awamutu37973719800 ¾
Kihikihi253607840000 ½(2)
Ngaruawahia3837813413401
Raglan     
Rotorua1,927376   
Opotiki68314019024000 ¾
Kawhia (in first year)1555588112 
Fitzroy (no Board)      
Opunake406112190 00 ¾
Kaponga27859646601 ½
Normanby3839414514503 ½§
Manaia441118175 01 ½(3)
Gonville (no Board)      
Waverley47110811611601
Lethbridge (Turakina)245525876*0
Hunterville64513416421201
Bull's492118120170*14(4)
Halcombe27665130730*13(5)
Rangotea318747812600 ¾(2)
Clyde (Wairoa), (1906)70714117030000 ¾
Taradale80516416723400 ¾
Ormondville413105153215§02 ⅜
Waipawa691156146240§03(6)
Waipukurau761145150251§02
Kaikora North26873119150*16
Eketahuna704173215440§01
Martinborough63714320230000 ¾(7)
Featherston67015416720001 ¼(8)
Johnsonville73116724649800 ½
Havelock267628713901 ¼
Amberley341929912100 ¾
Southbridge40397240 00 ¾
Hampstead1,28628128038000 ¾
Tinwald51111816424000 ⅝
Bay77617227539001
Greytown (Allanton)181556011500 ½
Outram431966711100 ¼(9)
Clinton41895120136*10
Wyndham532124145266*10
Otautau55413313723100 ¾(10)
ROAD DISTRICTS, 1906–7
County and DistrictPopulation (Census, 1906)Number ofAmount of Rate levied in the Pound on the Capital ValueAmount of Rate levied in the Pound on the Unimproved Value
Dwellings (Census, 1906)RatepayersRateable Properties

(1) No information.

(2) On annual value.

(3) 6 ½d. special; 2d. separate.

(4) 1/60d. separate.

     dd
Mangonui      
Whangaroa      
Hokianga      
Bay of Islands (No road districts.)      
Whangarei—      
    Hikurangi624137118180¾ 
    Kaunrihohore121324646¾ 
    Mangakahia116353646¾ 
    Maungakaramea2926464 ¾ 
    Maunu804149250279¾ 
    Marua33667881171 
    Otonga383887070¾ 
    Parua27665128174¾ 
    Ruarangi78265290(1) 
    Waikiekie211561472821 
    Waipu598109162217¾ 
    Waipu North229538284¾ 
    Whareora107357083¾ 
Otamatea—      
    Mangawai278708090¾ 
    Mareretu148451231601 ¼ 
    Matakohe447951352361 
    Whakapirau (no Board)32467    
Rodney—      
    Ahuroa57164036½ 
    Albertland North48143838¾ 
    Albertland South26570148228¾ 
    Komokoriki79144244¾ 
    Mahurangi East134287676½ 
    Matakana East123233641½ 
    Matakana West2365368631 
    Puhoi48194117 ¾ 
    Tauhoa55388  ¾ 
    Warkworth789174176195¾ 
    Wharehine89233738(1) 
Waitemata—      
    Kaukapakapa48410993182(1) 
    Pukeatua577202233286¾ 
    Whangaparaoa6823  (1) 
Eden—      
    Arch Hill1,9524313255981s.(2)(3) 
    Avondale1,4893444385301 1/3(4) 
County and DistrictPopulation (Census, 1906)Number ofAmount of Rate levied in the Pound on the Capital ValueAmount of Rate levied in the Pound on the Unimproved Value
Dwellings (Census, 1906)RatepayersRateable Properties

(1) 1¼0d. special; 9/40d. separate.

(2) 1/60d. separate.

(3) ½d., 1/10d., ½0d. special; 1/60d., 1/60d. separate.

(4) ⅜d. special. for interest; ⅛d. gas; for water revenue by meter.

(5) ¼d. special.

(6) 1/32d. special.

(7) 3/16d., 1/16d., 9/16d., special; ⅛d. separate.

(8) ¼d. special over portion of district.

(9) ¾d. special, main road; 1 ½d. special, Whisky Creek Road.

(10) ⅛d., 1/60d., ¼d. special.

(11) ⅜d. special.

(12) ¾d. special; ½d. separate.

(13) ⅛d. special; ⅛d. separate

(14) 1/60d., ⅛d., 1/10d., ½0d. special.

(15) 3/16d. separate, hospital and charitable aid.

(16) Six special, various.

     dd
Eden—      
    Eden Terrace2,338517371581¾(1) 
    Epsom1,591329352432¾(2) 
    Mount Albert3,5837679311,340¾(3) 
    Mount Roskill883160254310½(4) 
    Mount Wellington1,084231234310(5) 
    One-tree Hill1,915375421538¾(6) 
    Orakei25515221 
    Panmure Township2176390104 
    Point Chevalier902516077¾ 
    Remuera3,082637624834(7) 
    Tamaki West415124156184(8) 
Manukau—      
    Awhitu4161131281681 
    Drury45398118118¾ 
    Howick Town23573155193¾ 
    Hunua25564128145 2 ¾(9)
    Karaka31477144 ¾ 
    Mangere771171174234½ 
    Manurewa298657093½ 
    Maraetai142363131 1
    Mauku458114145178½ & 1(10) 
    Maungatawhiri2445567114½ 
    Mercer Township245606693¾ 
    Opaheke367881151421(11) 
    Otahuhu1,302283265373¾(5) 
    Pakuranga278717499¾ 
    Papakura39696134144 1 ½
    Paparata355881171561 (11) 
    Paparoa1954878103¾ 
    Papatoetoe1883939399/16 
    Pokeno36286941131 
    Pollok Settlement1092825431 (5) 
    Pukekohe East1,0642362453031 
    Pukekohe West845264230 1 ¼(12) 
    Tamaki East579120127140½ 
    Turanga227576982¾(13) 
    Waipipi1,044241300300¾(14) 
    Wairoa860207212258¾(15) 
    Waiuku592133190212(16) 
Coromandel (No road districts.)      
Thames (No road districts.)      
Ohinemuri (No road districts.)      
County and DistrictPopulation (Census, 1906)Number ofAmount of Rate levied in the Pound on the Capital ValueAmount of Rate levied in the Pound on the Unimproved Value
Dwellings (Census, 1906)RatepayersRateable Properties

(1) No rate struck.

Piako—   dd 
  Matamata753212244359½ 
  Waitoa1,842379365648¾ 
Waikato—      
  Cambridge782160149149¾ 
  Huntly1,326262244447¾ 
  Kirikiriroa1,4153073604001 
  Tamahere3867772108¾ 
  Whangamarino623139238505¾ 
Waipa—      
  Newcastle527104186195¾ 
  Pukekura1,092220270485 
  Rangiaohia55399120147¾ 
  Tuhikaramea127326870¾ 
Raglan—      
  Karamu (no Board)11737    
  Te Akau (no Board)195    
Awakino (No road districts.)      
Waitomo     
Kawhia     
West Taupo     
East Taupo     
Rotorua     
Tauranga—      
  Katikati404118139237 1 ⅓
  Te Puka585148160232 1 ¼
Whakatane (No road districts.)      
Opotiki     
Waiapu     
Cook—      
  Aroha57211313(1) 
  Hangaroa138313242(1) 
  Mangatu231162124(1) 
  Ngatapa819143190198(1) 
  Ormond492101106139(1) 
  Patutahi589113112230(1) 
  Pouawa178294248(1) 
  Poverty Bay927182217316(1) 
  Taruheru486135114160  
  Titirangi98267575(1) 
County and DistrictPopulation (Census, 1906)Number ofAmount of Rate levied in the Pound on the Capital ValueAmount of Rate levied in the Pound on the Unimproved Value
Dwellings (Census, 1906)RatepayersRateable Properties

(1) No rate struck.

(2) ½d special; 1/10d. separate, over part of district.

(3) 3/14d. special, Veale Road; 7/16d special, Frankley Road.

(4) 1/14d. special.

(5) ¼d. and ⅜d. special.

(6) 1 3/16d. special.

(7) Nine special, ⅛d. to ½d

(8) Special, various.

(9) 1/10d. special, no general rate.

Cook—   dd 
  Waikohu713131124129(1) 
  Waimata39364104104(1) 
  Waipaoa9516714(1) 
Clifton. (No road districts.)      
Taranaki—      
  Barrett585142178300  
  Carrington40691123 ¾(2) 
  Egmont678145172247½ 
  Elliot27665107107¾ 
  Frankley29966105206¾(3) 
  Henui575127230250¾ 
  Hurford Upper59131616¾ 
  Mangorei293545977½ 
  Moa2,791565520550½(4) 
  Oakura36577100100¼(5) 
  Okato42184224224¼ 
  Omata4108378391¼(6) 
  Tataraimaka (1906)169335065 
  Waitara West758166172172¾(7) 
  Waiwakaiho3597594110½ 
  Werekino42103051 
Hawera—      
  Waimate2,0403773024213 & ½(8) 
Eltham (no road districts)      
Egmont—      
  Parihaka1,717319441 ½ 
Stratford—      
  Mangonui1,829337380581 1 (8)
Patea—      
  Kohi179335050(1) 
  Motoroa5592626(1) 
  Okotuku144303030(1) 
  Patea East4029184385(1) 
  Patea West891170220635(9) 
  Wairoa117313737(1) 
  Waitotara-Momohaki382104122183¾ 
  Whenuakura-Waitotara320605050(1) 
County and DistrictPopulation (Census, 1906)Number ofAmount of Rate levied in the Pound on the Capital ValueAmount of Rate levied in the Pound on the Unimproved Value
Dwellings (Census, 1906)RatepayersRateable Properties

(1) ¼d. special.

(2) 7/10d. special.

(3) Special, various.

(4) Six special, various.

(5) 1/10d. special.

(6) No rate struck.

     dd
Waitotara (No road districts.)      
Waimarino     
Wanganui—      
  Kaitoke702129  ½ 
  Kaukatea20949  ¾ 
  Mataongaonga1,027223  1 (1) 
  Mangawhero40889150 ½(2) 
  Purua997195  ¾ 
  Wangaehu Upper1,490282  1 (3) 
Rangitikei (No road districts.)      
Kiwitea     
Kairanga     
Oroua     
Pohangina     
Manawatu     
Horowhenua—      
  Otaki1,520401317884½(4) 
  Te Horo (no Board)697169    
Wairoa (No road districts.)      
Hawke's Bay     
Waipawa—      
  Norsewood1,326305282342 15/16
  Ruataniwha North (no Board) 892230   
  Takapau577123136  (5)
  Waipawa325587183 
  Waipukurau488101110175 ½(1)
Woodville. (No road districts.)      
Patangata—      
  Oero293547576 
  Patangata259555098(6) 
  Porangahau45494105122½ 
  Tamumu216382929(6) 
  Wallingford207303145¼ 
  Wanstead14621  (6) 
Weber (No road districts.)      
Pahiatua     
Akitio     
Castlepoint     
County and DistrictPopulation (Census, 1906)Number ofAmount of Rate levied in the Pound on the Capital ValueAmount of Rate levied in the Pound on the Unimproved Value
Dwellings (Census, 1906)RatepayersRateable Properties

(1) ¼d. special.

(2) 1/14d. special.

(3) No rate struck.

(4) 1/16d. special, Eyre Water race 3 ½d. per acre.

     dd
Eketahuna (No road districts.)      
Mauriceville     
Masterton     
Wairarapa South     
Featherston     
Hutt—      
  Makara224615266⅜(1) 
  Plimmerton694347541 ½ 
Sounds. (No road districts.)      
Marlborough—      
  Awatere1,266252304386 0 ⅞(2)
  Omaka1,699376443500 
  Pelorus1,431356270498 1 ⅜(1)
  Picton877155162260¾ 
  Spring Creek817153143185 
  Wairau930191235270¾ 
Kaikoura (No road districts.)      
Collingwood     
Takaka     
Waimea—      
  Dovedale27160  (3) 
  Moutere Upper38392  (3) 
  Riwaka751171  (3) 
  Stoke1,318262  (3) 
  Suburban North540168  (3) 
  Waimea West40987  (3) 
Buller (No road districts.)      
Inangahua     
Grey     
Westland     
Amuri     
Cheviot     
Ashley—      
  Ashley651166170251¾ 
  Cust609130144211½ 
  Eyreton1,4493192762769/16 
  Eyreton West370788080¼ 
  Kowai1,754449650780 
  Mandeville and Rangiora2,358504454690½ 
  Oxford1,957464451867¾(4) 
  Waipara1,817356316660½ 
County and DistrictPopulation (Census, 1906)Number ofAmount of Rate levied in the Pound on the Capital ValueAmount of Rate levied in the Pound on the Unimproved Value
Dwellings (Census, 1906)RatepayersRateable Properties

(1) On annual value; also 6d. special; ½d., ½d., 1 ½d., 11d. separate.

(2) 1/32d. separate.

(3) 7/16d. special, Opawa Ward; ½d. in Biomley Ward (portions of districts only).

(4) 1/10d., 1 1/30d., 2/64d., special; 1/60d. separate.

(5) 23/100d., 38/100d., special.

(6) 2/64d. separate.

(7) 2/64d., 1/10d., 1/32d. separate.

(8) No rate struck.

(9) 5/32 special.

(10) ⅛d. special.

     dd
Selwyn—      
  Avon4,1918869201,1301s. (1) 
  Courtenay2,3154444637547/20(2) 
  Ellesmere3,429772605925½ 
  Halswell1,305232400487¾ 
  Heathcote4,2639091,0861,3861 (3) 
  Lake Coleridge203152646¼ 
  Lincoln1,228262248274½(4) 
  Malvern679150138269½ 
  Malvern East633122151263¼ 
  Malvern South521111214307½ 
  Rakaia856250208304 
  Riccarton6,48613341,5211,800¾(5) 
  Spreydon2,332504723807 2 1/32
  Springs1,8944244254759/16(6) 
  Taitapu354715887¾ 
  Templeton2,5615336046787/16(7) 
  Waimakariri Upper7258641 (8) 
Akaroa—      
  Akaroa and Wainui1,2602652482481 1/16 
  Le Bon's Bay275708391½(9) 
  Little River855185201230 
  Okain's Bay51011395117(10) 
  Pigeon Bay255585463 
Mount Herbert. (No road districts.)      
Ashburton—      
  Anama4028973138½ 
  Ashburton Upper2,019448575884¼ 
  Coldstream3848590179½ 
  Longbeach1,1732592643545/16 
  Mount Hutt1,497306290389 
  Mount Somers808194208353½ 
  Rangitata618135141267 
  South Rakaia1,617390346540 
  Wakanui1,2262862803245/16 
Geraldine—      
  Geraldine2,243451509¾  
  Mount Peel549136112175¾ 
  Temuka2,235463501¾  
County and DistrictPopulation (Census, 1906)Number ofAmount of Rate levied in the Pound on the Capital ValueAmount of Rate levied in the Pound on the Unimproved Value
Dwellings (Census, 1906)RatepayersRateable Properties

(1) ½d. special.

     dd
Levels (No road districts.)      
Mackenzie     
Waimate     
Waitaki     
Waihemo     
Waikouaiti     
Peninsula—      
  Otago Heads2235258104¾ 
  Peninsula556147333393¾ 
  Portobello794218349454¾ 
  Tomahawk128263344¾(1) 
Taieri. (No road districts.)      
Bruce—      
  Balmoral585123185202  
  Inch-Clutha307697073  
  Mount Stuart491111118125½ 
Clutha (No road districts.)      
Tuapeka     
Maniototo     
Vincent     
Lake     
Southland—      
  Invercargill. (No Board.)1,542334    
Wallace (No road districts.)      
Fiord     
Stewart Island     
Chatham Islands     

Chapter 38. SECTION VI.—LICENSES AND LICENSED HOUSES, ETC.

LICENSES AND LICENSED HOUSES.

DURING the year ended the 31st March, 1907, 2,179 licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors were granted. Of these, 1,367 were publicans' and accommodation licenses, 7 New Zealand wine, 70 packet, 28 bottle, 154 wholesale, and 553 conditional licenses. The fees paid amounted to £48,865, and formed part of the revenue of the local governing bodies of the districts in which the licenses were issued. Particulars are given in the following table:—

NUMBER OF LICENSES GRANTED DURING THE YEAR 1906–7, AND THE AMOUNT OF FEES PAID TO LOCAL BODIES THEREF OR
LicensesIn CountiesIn BoroughsIn Town DistrictsTotal
Publicans' licenses510628271,165
Accommodation licenses200 2202
          Total licensed houses710628291,367
New Zealand wine licenses 7 7
Bottle licenses 28 28
Packet licenses1653170
Wholesale licenses91432154
Conditional licenses4261225553
          Total licenses granted1,161981372,179
Amount of license fees paid to local bodies£16,812£30,905£1,148£48,865

The average number of persons to each licensed house in counties and boroughs respectively, for 1906–7, is next shown:—

 Number of Licensed Houses.*Population (Census, 1906)Number of Persons. to each Licensed House

* I.e., houses holding publicans' or accommodation licenses.

† Including only such districts as do not now form part of counties.

Counties710447,720631
Boroughs628451,865720
Town districts†2911,077382
      Totals1,367910,662666

In 1905–6 the number of licensed houses in counties was 765, and those in boroughs 657, giving a total of 1,422 houses, or 55 more than in 1906–7. The average number of persons to a licensed house increased from 600 in 1905–6 to 666 in 1906–7.

The annual fees paid for licenses are—

(1.) For a publican's license—£      
 (a.) Within the limits of a borough or town district40*
 (b.) Outside the aforesaid limits25
(2.) For a New Zealand wine license1
(3.) For an accommodation license, a sum to be determined by the Licensing Committee, not exceeding20
(4.) For a packet license— 
 (a.) For a vessel exceeding 50 tons register10
 (b.) For a vessel not exceeding 50 tons register5
 (5.) For a wholesale license20
 (6.) For a conditional license, according to duration of license, a sum not exceeding30

The approximate capital value of the licensed houses in the counties was stated at £769,738 for certain of the boroughs at £830,833, and for certain of the town districts at £47,652. There was, besides, an annual value of £123,715 for other licensed houses in the boroughs, which, capitalised at 6 per cent., would represent £2,061,917. The capital value of all licensed houses would therefore be about £3,710,140.

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 1906 as under:—

 MalesFemalesPersons
Hotelkeeper1,2692201,489
  Relative assisting1328831,015
  Manager, clerk12622148
Hotel servant1,4992,6194,118
Manager, secretary, steward, servant of clubhouse15525180
Barman, barmaid307396703
Wine, spirits, ale, merchant47 47
Assistant12113
Relative assisting213
Clerk, book-keeper, accountant, traveller, storeman, carter973100
Cordial, &c., merchant, salesman5 5
Brewer, bottler2041205
  Manager, clerk, traveller948102
  Relative assisting, apprentice4 4
  Cellarman, assistant, carter, &c3811382
Maltster and assistants94 94
Wine-maker, bottler9 9
Cordial, &c., maker2571258
  Clerk, book-keeper, traveller, assistant21610226
  Relative assisting718
                        Totals4,9174,1929,109

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 City Single Electorates Act, 1903,” the three electorates of the cities of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin in each case form one electorate for the purpose of taking a local-option poll.

* Between the hours of six in the morning and ten at night. For an eleven-o'clock license an additional £5 must be paid.

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 6th December, 1905, as made up from returns received from the officer in charge of the poll in each licensing district, shows that 182,884 votes were recorded in favour of continuing existing licenses—including three districts, Clutha, Ashburton, and Mataura, where the vote (6,170) was for restoration of the licenses cancelled at the poll taken in 1902—151,057 for reduction, and 198,768 for no-license (including 7,989 votes cast for non-restoration in the Clutha, Ashburton, and Mataura districts).

In eighteen of the sixty-eight licensing districts the majority of the voters was in favour of continuance, in forty no proposal was carried, in four reduction, in three no-license was carried, and in three non-restoration was carried. In thirty-six of the districts—Marsden, Eden, Manukau, Franklin, Thames, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Waiapu, Hawke's Bay, Waipawa, Pahiatua, Masterton, Wairarapa, Egmont, Taranaki, Hawera, Patea, Rangitikei, Oroua, Palmerston, Manawatu, Otaki, Newtown, Hutt, Waitaki, Mount Ida, Waikouaiti, Kaiapoi, Chalmers, Courtenay, Selwyn, Timaru, Taieri, Bruce, Wallace, 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 (396,417, including those whose votes were informal), 221,674, or 55.92 per cent., were men, and 174,143, or 44.08 per cent., were women. Compared with the polling in the year 1902, this shows a numerical increase of 41,380, or 22.95 per cent., on the part of the men, and 36,178, or 26.11 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 1896, 1899, and 1902 of the votes recorded and the number of persons who went to the poll is shown in the next table:—

YearNumber of Persons on RollsVotes recorded forNumber of Persons who recorded Votes (including informal)
ContinuanceReductionNo LicenseMalesFemalesTotals
1890339,230139,58094,55598,312151,235108,663259,898
1899373,744142,443107,751118,575160,959120,863281,822
1902415,789148,449132,240151,524180,294138,565318,859
1905476,473182,884151,057198,768221,674174,743396,417

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 39. SECTION VII.—THE ELECTORAL LAW, AND THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 1905.

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, 1905,” consolidates the whole of the electoral laws, and amends the same where necessary. Electors are enrolled on sending to the Registrar a claim and declaration according to a prescribed form. The general roll in every district must be closed on 15th April in every year, and after the closing of the general roll a supplementary roll is to be prepared for each district, upon which the Registrar enters the names of all persons whose claims for enrolment have been received and approved by him after the closing of the general roll. It is the duty of the Registrar of each electoral district to keep the rolls revised and complete.

Every seaman qualified to be enrolled as an elector, and having no settled residence in any electoral district, may be enrolled in the district comprising any port where the ship in which he is engaged usually calls. On application, a seaman may obtain an elector's right enabling him to vote for the election of a representative for the district where he is enrolled. He may exercise such vote at any time between the issue of the writ and the closing of the poll on the polling-day, at any place or port where he may be at the time, and may obtain from a Collector of Customs a ballot-paper for the purpose of recording such vote. The right shall not be in force for any period exceeding twelve months, but may be renewed.

An elector of any district may, at any time up to the issue of the writ, obtain from the Returning Officer a voting-permit authorising him to record his vote at any polling-booth outside the district for which he is enrolled, but only in respect of the district wherein he is enrolled.

The Act provides for the appointment of a Chief Electoral Officer, who shall be charged with the duty of carrying the Act into effect, and for the appointment of a Deputy Electoral Officer in case of the unavoidable absence of the Chief Electoral Officer.

THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 1905.

For European Representatives.

[Polling-day, 6th December, 1905; number of polling-places, 2,195.]

Dealing with the population of both sexes, it is found that the total number of persons on the rolls was 476,473. The number of persons who voted, or who went to the poll, was 396,657, or 83.25 per cent. of the number on the rolls, a much larger proportion than obtained in 1902, which was 76.69 per cent.

Date of General ElectionEstimated Total Adult PersonsNumber on RollsProportion per Cent. of Adult Persons registered as ElectorsNumber of Persons who votedProportion per Cent. of Persons on Rolls who voted

* Excluding figures for three electorates in which there was no contest.

† Including 4,974 informal votes.

‡ Including 5,468 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
1905500,108476,47395.28396,657‡83.25

Dealing with men only, the number on the rolls was 263,597. The males who voted in 1905 were 221,611, or 84.07 per cent. of those on the rolls, against 78.44 per cent. in 1902.

Date of General ElectionEstimated Total Adult MalesNumber of Men on RollsProportion per Cent. of Adult Males registered as ElectorsNumber who votedProportion per Cent. 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
1905273,175263,59796.49221,611‡84.07

The number of women who voted, 175,046, is 82.23 per cent. of the females on the rolls, while in 1902 there were 138,565 who voted, giving the lower proportion of 74.52 per cent.; so that (assuming the figures to be correct) there is evidence of a greater willingness now on the part of the females to go to the poll.

Date of General ElectionEstimated Total Adult FemalesNumber of Women on RollsProportion per Cent. of Adult Females registered as ElectorsNumber who votedProportion per Cent. of Females on Rolls who voted

* Excluding figures for three electorates in which there was no contest.

† Including informal.

1893139,471109,46173.4890,29085.18*
1890159,656142,30589.13108,78376.44
1899171,373163,21595.24119,55075.70*
1902195,783185,94494.97138,565†74.52
1905226,933212,87693.80175,046†82.23

A summary of the population, number of electors on the rolls, and the total number of votes recorded at each of the last five general elections is next given:—

19051902189918961893

* Total number of electors who recorded their votes: 396,657 in 1905, 318,859 in 1902 279,330 in 1899, 258,254 in 1896, and 220,082 in 1893.

† The total of votes recorded for 1905 shows less than that for 1902, because in the later year the four previously amalgamated city constituencies had become single electorates, and consequently a voter could only vote for one person.

Number of votes recorded for members elected216,378235,083202,324184,929153,663
Number of votes recorded for defeated candidates173,811181,879185,305174,475149,413
          Total votes recorded*†390,189416,962387,629359,404303,076
Number of names on rolls in districts uncontested  13,726 10,539
Number of names on rolls in districts where elections were contested476,473415,789360,018339,230292,458
          Total number of electors on rolls476,473415,789373,744339,230302,997
          Total population at last census772,504772,504703,119703,119626,359

In the succeeding table will be found a statement giving the results of each general election since the year 1853 for purposes of European representation.

GENERAL ELECTIONS FOR EUROPEAN REPRESENTATIVES HELD FROM THE YEAR 1853
ParliamentDate of General ElectionNumber of Names on Roll of ElectorsNumber of Members returnedNumber of Members returned unopposedNumbers of Votes recorded (or of Voters recording Votes)Population at end of YearAverage Number of
Persons to each MemberPersons to each ElectorElectors to each Member

* Information not obtainable.

1 Including 100, the estimated number in Akaroa district, for which there is no return.

2 Including 800, the estimated number in the electorates of Town of New Plymouth, Grey and Bell, and Omata, for which districts there are no returns.

3 Electors for the Electoral District of “The Otago Goldfields” not included.

4 Men and women.

5 Voters recording votes.

First18531 5,93437**30,0008115.1160
Second18552 10,32437**37,1921,0053.6279
Third186113,46653**79,7111,5045.9254
Fourth18663 33,33872** 190,6072,6475.7463
Fifth187147,27574** 248,4003,3575.3639
Sixth187561,75584**375,8564,4746.1735
Seventh187982,271841443,776463,7295,5215.6979
Eighth1881120,972911169,985500,9105,5054.11,329
Ninth1884137,686911174,672564,3046,2014.11,513
Tenth1887175,410915111,911603,3616,6303.41,928
Eleventh1890183,171706136,337625,5088,9363.42,617
Twelfth18934302,9977034 5220,082672,2659,6042.24,328
Thirteenth18964399,23070 4 5258,254714,16210,2022.14,853
Fourteenth18994373,7447034 5279,330756,50510,8072.05,339
Fifteenth1902415,78976 4 5318,859807,92910,6311.95,471
Sixteenth19054476,47376 4 5396,657882,46211,6111.96,269

For Maori Representatives.

(Polling-day, 20th December, 1905; Number of Polling-places, 327.)

Of a Maori population amounting to 43,143 persons at the census of 1901, 16,045 voted at the general election held in December, 1905, an increase of 1,774 on the number who voted at the election of 1902. 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, and in 1902 the number of voters was 14,271. 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, 1905, were:—

Electoral DistrictsPopulation: Census 1901Number who votedPer Cent. of Population at all Ages
MalesFemalesTotals
North Island—     
  Northern Maori5,4004,4789,8782,34823.77
  Eastern Maori7,4656,51013,9756,91349.47
  Western Maori9,0547,99417,0486,03535.40
South Island—     
  Southern Maori1,1931,0492,24274933.41
                    Totals23,11220,03143,14316,04537.19

The votes recorded for each candidate were:—

 Number of Votes recorded
Electoral Districts and Names of CandidatesFor each CandidateTotal
Northern Maori:  
  Heke, Hone1,166 
  Reweti, Ru539 
  Tukariri, Te Huirama238 
  Ururoa, Papa216 
  Rotoroa, Rihari189 
  2,348
Eastern Maori:  
  Ngata, Apirana2,447 
  Pere, Wi1,690 
  Atahikoia, Mohi te1,594 
  Paaka, Tiki785 
  Hutana, Ihaia305 
  Kohere, Tuhaka92 
  6,913
Western Maori:  
  Kaihau, Henare3,026 
  Tukino, Te Heuheu1,338 
  Kahu, Eruera te991 
  Taipua, Pitiera394 
  Kingi, Weraroa162 
  Teimana, Hare124 
  6,035
Southern Maori:  
  Parata, Tame287 
  Uru, John Hopere Wharewiti127 
  Taiaroa, Wiwi123 
  Maketanaro, Tuiti118 
  Matiu, Hoani94 
  749

Chapter 40. SECTION VIII.—MANUFACTORIES AND WORKS.

REMARKS ON SUMMARISED RESULTS.

IN regard to the returns of manufactories and works, it is necessary, as a preliminary, to repeat the statement made at last census as to what has been included.

Whereas up till the time of the census of 1901 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 of 1901 and 1906 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 these returns include certain industrial workers (and their production) where two or more are found together, with 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. The totals for the industries do not include mining, quarrying, and the fisheries, which are dealt with separately.

MANUFACTORIES AND WORKS, 1906 AND 1901
 April, 1906March, 1901Increase, 1901–6

* Omitting Government Railway Workshops and Government Printing Office.

NoNoNo 
Number of establishments*4,1863,680506
Hands employed-   
  Males44,94636,2928,654
  Females11,41310,555858
                    Totals50,35946,8479,512
 190519001900–5
Wages paid—£      £      £      
  To males3,979,5932,972,1931,007,400
  To females478,026330,454147,572
                    Totals4,457,6193,302,6471,154,972
 H.pH.pH.p
Horse-power60,33539,11321,222
 April, 1906March, 1901Increase, 1901–6
Total approximate value of—£      £      £      
  Land3,264,8621,980,4281,284,434
  Buildings3,851,9022,575,6791,276,223
  Machinery and plant5,392,5223,852,4571,540,065
            Totals12,509,2868,408,5044,100,722

Under the heading “Hands employed,” the increase was from 46,847 in 1900 to 56,359 in 1905, or at the rate of over 20 per cent. in five years. This increase, it will be observed, is mainly on the male side. The returns show a decrease of females employed in clothing and boot and shoe factories, besides woollen-mills, matchmaking, and a few others, which brings the net increase in this sex down to 8 per cent.

The wages paid in the factories or industrial works dealt with in the census returns were returned for 1905 at £4,457,619, and for 1900 at £3,302,647, the increase on the total sum being at the rate of 35 per cent.

The average amount of wages paid to male hands in 1905 was £88 10s. 1ld., and £81 17s. 1ld. in 1900; for females, £41 17s. 8d. against £31 6s. 2d. in 1900. Tested in this way the wages of both would seem to have increased substantially. It must be remembered that these are not adult wages, but those of persons of all ages, male and female distinctly.

The increase for the year 1906 over 1901 in the horse-power stated in the returns was 21,222.

The approximate value of the land used for purposes of the factories was returned as £3,264,862 in 1906, against £1,980,428 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 large increase will be found in the value of machinery and plant, from £3,852,457 in 1901 to £5,392,522 in 1906, being at the rate of 39.98 per cent. Somewhat of this result is what might be expected, considering the ever increasing use and improvement in machinery that is proceeding with time. The value of the buildings also increased from £2,575,679 to £3,851,902, or 49.55 per cent.

VALUE OF MANUFACTURES OR PRODUCE (OUTPUT)
 19051900Increase in 5 Years
 £      £      £      
Value of all manufactures or produce (including repairs)3,444,23517,853,1335,591,102

This is at the rate of 31.31 per cent, for the quinquennium, a very satisfactory rate of progress, taking all the manufactories and works collectively.

The development is analysed in the following statement, which includes nearly the whole increase, and has been worked down to a limit of £20,000 to show the main features. The factories or works in connection with our great primary industries, agricultural, pastoral, timber, and flax, include the greater part of the money.

PRINCIPAL INCREASES, CENSUS 1906
 £      
Meat freezing and preserving works, with boiling-down1,093,654
Butter and cheese factories1,046,489
Sawmills, sash and door factories860,077
Grain-mills375,802
Printing and bookbinding establishments (not Government) ..363,542
Flax-mills ..354,316
Gasworks ..96,353
Ham and bacon curing establishments94,373
Brick, tile, and pottery works94,320
Furniture and cabinet making87,161
Coach building and painting works78,741
Woodware and turnery factories72,673
Lime and cement works62,533
Agricultural-implement factories61,647
Electric-lighting works58,796
Sugar-boiling and confectionery works50,055
Fruit-preserving and jam-making39,940
Woollen-mills37,966
Aerated-water factories37,750
Hosiery-factories36,323
Chemical-works30,556
Grass-seed dressing28,789
Tinware factories28,563
Biscuit-factories27,487
Bone-mills and manure-works26,260
Ship and boat building yards20,761

The addition of the figures for the total value of manufactures is not absolutely justified to the fullest extent of the amount shown (twenty-three and a half million pounds sterling); but 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 the above amount is over the fact, because, for instance, some of the butter made is included in returns for meat-freezing establishments, as well as 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. A certain amount of duplication is unavoidable. This is admitted in the accounts of industrial statistics of the United States of America and elsewhere.

The total increase in value of manufactures for the period 1900–5 (£5,591,102) is not so large as that stated previously for 1895–1900, when the sum was £7,600,000; but the latter represented the rise from a period of depression, which is not the case in respect of the later period.

Where decreases have been found in the returns these may be referred to in a comparative statement which follows, as well as in the special tables relating to individual industries further on.

The printed tables relating to individual industries will clearly show that quantities have risen, as well as the value of manufactures, so that the development is not merely a question of market prices, but of actual output.

Value of Materials operated upon.

This information was given in case of most industries, but important estimates had to be made to obtain completeness. The sum arrived at for the year 1905 is £13,163,692. The difference between this amount and the total value of all the manufacture and produce (with repairs) may be termed the net value of the manufacture in a sense, and duplications on account of the articles of any one kind becoming materials operated upon for another sort would be eliminated. But to arrive at any approximate notion of profit £4,457,619 spent in wages ought further to be deducted, and also interest and depreciation on £12,509,286 invested in land, buildings, machinery, and plant, together with taxes, insurance, and other incidental expenses.

INDUSTRIES IN PROVINCIAL DISTRICTS.

All the various industries for which returns were received in 1906 are given in the statement below, which thus enumerates completely the manufactories and works in operation, specifying the provincial districts in which they are situated:—

INDUSTRIES IN PROVINCIAL DISTRICTS
Manufactories, Works, &cNumber of Industries in Provincial DistrictsTotal Number of Industries
AucklandTaranakiHawke's BayWellingtonMarlboroughNelsonWestlandCanterburyOtago
Animal food—          
  Meat freezing and preserving works84351 16937
  Ham and bacon curing establishments6724 5 111752
  Fish curing and preserving works11  21 111521
  Butter and cheese factories576919515931635264
  Condensed-milk factories        22
Vegetable food—          
  Grain-mills4211136 222877
  Biscuit-factories5  2 1 1312
  Fruit-preserving and jam-making works8 21 2 3824
  Sugar-boiling and confectionery works8 211 1 7736
  Sugar-refining works1        1
  Baking-powder factories3  1   3 7
Drinks, narcotics, and stimulants—          
  Breweries82513925131572
  Malthouses2 111 58422
  Colonial-wine making10 43 212 22
  Aerated-water factories238722 2142819123
  Coffee and spice works1  2 2 3513
  Tobacco-manufactories1      1 2
  Sauce, pickle, and vinegar factories5  9 24627 
  Ice-factories2        2
Animal matters (not otherwise classed)—          
  Soap and candleworks6 24  4219 
  Glue-factory1      1 2
  Sausage-skin factories1 22   5212
  Boiling-down works7223   2319
  Bone-mills and manure-works31 2   2816
  Working in wood–          
  Cooperages442   5122 
  Sawmills, sash and door factories833428981559421867444
  Woodware and turnery factories93113   4939
Vegetable produce for fodder—          
  Chaff-cutting establishments81 3 3 24847
  Grass-seed-dressing establishments1212   91025
          
Paper-manufacture—          
  Paper-mills3        3
  Paper bag and box factories4  2    28
Gasworks10239 224638
Electric lighting works14 2 1 3213
Processes relating to stone, clay, glass, &c.—          
  Lime and cement works5 1  311920
  Brick, tile, and pottery2677292722223125
  Monumental masonry 4114 25623
  Glass-works   4     4
  Electro-plating works1  2     3
  Pumice-works1        1
Metals other than gold or silver—          
  Tinware-factories17419 2 111054
  Iron and brass foundries, boiler-making, machinists, &c161511 34131871
  Heel and toe plate factories1      113
  Engineering-works181212 4 61861
  Range-making works5  2   1311
  Spouting and ridging factories9  4   1216
  Lead-headed-nail works1  1     2
Books and publications—          
  Printing and book-binding offices4714135411253756239
Musical instruments—          
  Musical-instrument factories1      113
Ornaments, minor art products, and small wares—          
  Toy-factories1      1 2
  Picture-frame makers   6   5314
  Basket and perambulator factories5 17   7626
  Cork-cutting1        1
  Lapidaries        33
Equipment for sports and games—          
  Billiard-table factories1  2   1 4
Designs, medals, type, and dies—          
  Rubber-stamp making 1 1    13
Ammunition—          
  Ammunition-factory1        1
Machines, tools, and implements—          
  Agricultural-implement factories2232   91129
  Brush and broom factories5  2   2211
  Cutlery-factory        11
Carriages and vehicles—          
  Coach building and painting works3814154121332631183
  Cycle-factories51319 91411897
Harness, saddlery, and leather-ware—          
  Saddlery and harness factories2297241711421106
  Whip-thong factories1  1     2
  Portmanteau-factories4  2   118
  Tanning, fellmongering, and wool - scouring establishments133121654 271999
Ships, boats, and their equipment—          
  Ship and boat building yards19  3   2630
  Graving-docks and patent slips2  1   227
  Block and pump factories2        2
  Sail, tent, and oilskin factories3217 217629
Furniture—          
  Furniture and cabinetmaking48139402462723172
  Venetian-blind works1  3   149
  Mattress-factories3  4   2211
  Wool-rug and mat making   1    23
Chemicals and by-products—          
  Varnish-manufactories1       12
  Ink-manufactories        22
  Starch-manufactories        22
  Chemical-works2  3  111017
  Hæmatite-paint factories     1  23
  Sheep-dip factories  21   1 4
  Match-factories   1    12
  Backing-factories   1   2 3
Textile fabrics—          
  Woollen-mills1 11   3410
  Flock-mills   1    23
  Cleaning and dyeing works4  5   1313
Dress—          
  Tailoring establishments6010186942125371308
  Dressmaking and millinery establishments51141769 1928977338
          
  Shirt-making establishments5  6   6522
  Corset and belt manufactories       2 2
  Clothing and waterproof factories7  6   6423
  Boot and shoe factories261 18 1 151172
  Hat and cap factories6 13   1516
  Hosiery-factories   2 1 3410
Fibrous materials—          
  Rope and twine works3 11   2310
  Bag and sack factories       123
  Flax-mills75344112138876240
Returns not included in above11122041 181269
            Totals, census 1906885247214846682291126968894186
            Totals, census 190175226716070761198786488093680

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
1906 
Otago889
Auckland885
Wellington846
Canterbury696
Taranaki247
Nelson229
Hawke's Bay214
Westland112
Marlborough68

DETAILS OF THE PRINCIPAL INDUSTRIES.

The principal industries returned at the census of 1906, 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 IndustriesTotal Number of IndustriesNumber of Hands employedWages paidAmount of Power employed (Horsepower)Value of all Materials used or operated upon during 19003Value of all Manufactures or produce (including Repairs) for the Year 1905Approximate Value of Land (excluding Crown), Buildings, Machinery, and Plant
MalesFemalesTotalMalesFemalesTotal

* For information as to quantities manufactured or produced, see special tables in Census volume. 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 Census volume.

‡ The value of the animals used for freezing was not included in any case in the returns furnished by managers, but an estimated amount has been added on this account. A similar allowance was found necessary for butter.

§ Some portion of the value of butter manufactured which is stated under “Butter and cheese factories” has been again included in the value of frozen produce.

Animal food—    £      £      £      H.p£      £      £      
    Meat freezing and preserving works†373,157333,190277,2711,321278,5929,4983,672,002‡4,891,322§1,476,782
    Ham and bacon curing establishments†522101422420,7291,49322,222532186,375253,93778,966
    Fish curing and preserving works†2110331066,801286,829 13,40428,10920,372
    Butter and cheese factories†2641,456281,484130,442681131,1233,7592,062,2152,581,639616,266
    Condensed-milk factories*2382058   50   
Vegetable food—           
    Grain-mills†77534654056,98834757,3353,188835,4771,058,686411,558
    Biscuit-factories†1237920858723,31010,57133,881389110,396225,476121,366
    Fruit-preserving and jam-making works†241741373117,9564,24712,20315566,39498,03242,317
    Sugar-boiling and confectionery works†3630426757121,4707,94029,4108489,055138,63583,752
    Sugar-refining works*1228 228   675   
    Baking-powder factories7187251,1521661,318 12,26516,3524,785
Nature of IndustriesTotal Number of IndustriesNumber of Hands employedWages paidAmount of Power employed (Horsepower)Value of all Materials used or operated upon during 19003Value of all Manufactures or produce (including Repairs) for the Year 1905Approximate Value of Land (excluding Crown), Buildings, Machinery, and Plant
MalesFemalesTotalMalesFemalesTotal

* For information as to quantities manufactured or produced, see special tables in Census volume. 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 Census volume.

‡ Value of barley malted not ascertained.

§ The value of the wood used at the mills was not given in the returns, but an estimate of the total value of materials operated upon has been made on this account.

Drinks, narcotics, and stimulants—    £      £      £      H.p£      £      £      
    Breweries†727201173191,97333592,308703187,799572,579334,931
    Malthouses2290908,6738,6735973,05874,807  
    Colonial-wine making†22501511,539521,59143,6039,96524,792
    Aerated-water factories†1235632358648,83877949,61730771,371189,561166,470
    Coffee and spice works1366541206,7861,3148,10020842,32260,75836,095
    Tobacco-manufactories*25813   5   
    Sauce, pickle, and vinegar factories†271151042198,2412,92211,1635531,46656,32644,982
    Ice-factories*22 2   10   
Animal matters (not otherwise classed)—           
    Soap and candle works†192152323821,05979421,853277119,260178,55668,566
    Glue-factory*213215   36   
    Sausage-skin factories1215115111,06911,069416,69737,0456,807  
    Boiling-down works†1970705,3245,32412725,45137,22326,825  
    Bone-mills and manure-works162162168,1568,15619651,72266,55843,755  
Working in wood—           
    Cooperages†2211421169,409949,50315819,37038,12426,736
    Sawmills, sash and door factories†4449,098139,111834,371556834,92713,278206,644§2,128,7661,204,843
           
    Woodware and turnery factories3930430426,25826,25854061,613110,22555,815  
Vegetable produce for fodder—           
    Chaff-cutting establishments47194319710,05615010,206402114,883139,06039,035
    Grass-seed-dressing establishments25929213,76813,768367131,415270,02854,508  
Paper-manufacture—           
    Paper-mills*38729116   730   
    Paper bag and box factories818821001,3892,2723,661335,27411,94119,012
Gasworks†3893717954112,939846113,785496134,474386,9201,375,241
Electric-lighting works1311811817,62717,6276,02924,40682,030323,428  
Processes relating to stone, clay, glass, &c.—           
    Lime and cement works†2028028034,24934,2491,17536,251107,675116,746  
    Brick, tile, and pottery works†1251,2541,25499,24699,2461,496216,550273,831   
    Monumental masonry23117111810,6571810,6754515,58035,99322,567
    Glassworks414 141,412 1,41241,8595,1235,340
    Electro-plating works*317 17   15   
    Pumice-works*112 12   25   
Metals, other than gold or silver—           
    Tinware-factories†54469447336,36210536,4678068,802127,15080,270
Nature of IndustriesTotal Number of IndustriesNumber of Hands employedWages paidAmount of Power employed (Horsepower)Value of all Materials used or operated upon during 19003Value of all Manufactures or produce (including Repairs) for the Year 1905Approximate Value of Land (excluding Crown), Buildings, Machinery, and Plant
MalesFemalesTotalMalesFemalesTotal

* For information as to quantities manufactured or produced, see special tables in Census volume. 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 Census volume.

‡ Value of manufactures at Government Railway Workshops not included (£427,341 in 1905), to maintain true comparisons with previous census results.

§ Value of manufactures at Government Printing Office not included (£83,556 in 1905), to maintain true comparisons with previous census results

  Iron and brass foundries, boiler-making, machinists, &c.†711,814241,838144,340702145,0421,221173,685376,527284,875
  Heel and toe plate factories*39110   7   
  Engineering-works†‡611,846221,868166,8051,191167,9961,109223,365437,036249,901
  Range-making works1123023022,48122,4817422,37664,27133,461  
  Spouting and ridging factories16158115916,0512816,0799451,95473,75630,245
  Lead-headed-nail works*26 6       
Books and publications—           
  Printing and bookbinding offices†§2393,2386603,898374,87225,940400,8121,520272,8571,067,827920,022
Musical instruments—           
  Musical-instrument factories*311 11   7   
Ornaments, minor art products, and small wares—           
  Toy-factories*229 29   5   
  Picture-frame makers14331342,4671102,57728,43816,29616,775
  Basket and perambulator-factories26121271489,0737939,8661216,78834,10317,190
  Cork-cutting*14 4       
  Lapidaries*34 4   8   
           
Equipment for sports and games—           
  Billiard-table factories425252,5042,504174,70110,4177,263  
Designs, medals, type, and dies—           
  Rubber-stamp making*35 5   3   
Ammunition—           
  Ammunition-works*126104130   40   
Machines, tools, and implements—           
  Agricultural - implement factories†29788579378,80124179,04241991,043199,74195,467
  Brush and broom factories1199551547,5972,0839,6806216,33136,34515,657
  Cutlery-factory*13 3   4   
Carriages and vehicles—           
  Coach building and painting works†1831,465 1,465116,204 116,204395122,384294,818251,717
  Cycle-factories†974361645230,07375830,8319437,09275,99183,666
Harness, saddlery, and leatherware—           
  Saddlery and harness factories†1065143054440,8721,34142,2131372,662140,813108,674
  Whip-thong factories*24 4       
  Portmanteau-factories84519642,8007913,59166,45912,0648,930
  Tanning, fellmongering, and wool-scouring establishments†991,33421,336102,41888102,5069801,201,3181,836,310182,682
Ships, boats, and their equipment—           
  Ship and boat building yards†30237 23720,889 20,8898852,07066,57214,722
Nature of IndustriesTotal Number of IndustriesNumber of Hands employedWages paidAmount of Power employed (Horsepower)Value of all Materials used or operated upon during 19003Value of all Manufactures or produce (including Repairs) for the Year 1905Approximate Value of Land (excluding Crown), Buildings, Machinery, and Plant
MalesFemalesTotalMalesFemalesTotal

* For information as to quantities manufactured or produced, see special tables in Census volume. 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 Census volume.

‡ Value of manufactures at Government Railway Workshops not included (£427,341 in 1905), to maintain true comparisons with previous census results.

§ Value of manufactures at Government Printing Office not included (£83,556 in 1905), to maintain true comparisons with previous census results.

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.

  Graving-docks and patent slips724 243,946 3,9461,630 12,327447,420
  Block and pump factories*21 1       
  Sail, tent, and oilskin factories†2997661638,3422,86311,205 23,30345,32132,692
Furniture—           
  Furniture and cabinetmaking†1721,435931,528130,7593,825134,584706157,484328,185239,375
  Venetian-blind works9332351,831931,92454,3097,1809,476
  Mattress-factories11521533,434533,487318,93517,89229,735
  Wool, rug, and mat making*310919   6   
Chemicals and by-products—           
  Varnish-manufactories*213114       
  Ink-manufactories*2314       
  Starch-manufactories*220525   40   
  Chemical-works17103751789,7432,73312,47616256,30895,39086,181
  Hæmatite-paint factories*35 5   19   
  Sheep-dip factories47 7426 42661,7894,2843,402
  Match-factories*229177206   34   
  Blacking-factories*33811   31   
           
Textile fabrics—           
  Woollen-mills†107158341,54968,81236,224105,0361,945206,847397,348307,759
  Flock-mills*312113   18   
  Cleaning and dyeing works133016462,6277643,391221,11610,33216,155
Dress—           
  Tailoring establishments3081,2331,7642,997123,50991,578215,087 244,191578,416372,026
  Dressmaking and millinery establishments338183,0213,039562112,804113,366181,201331,268269,000 
  Shirt-making establishments22253743992,05912,89614,9551241,36275,83231,680
  Corset and belt manufactories*2 1111       
  Clothing and waterproof factories†233751,5391,91438,04567,516105,561135154,655308,94390,641
  Boot and shoe factories†721,5186882,206142,82628,669171,495328269,664501,065153,991
  Hat and cap factories16831542378,7147,66616,38015019,81738,36947,010
  Hosiery-factories†10303443743,23018,73021,9604642,05267,58836,697
Fibrous materials—           
  Rope and twine works†10195 19513,964 13,96448368,775100,75370,095
  Bag and sack factories*372936   12   
  Flax-mills†2401,076 4,076227,460 227,4603,087185,894557,808355,840
Values for industries of which less than four of any one sort were found in the returns 61,54115,16976,710 653,646843,002215,749   
Returns not included in above6930813344123,9965,34629,3425350,976146,64391,549
          Totals, census 19064,18614,94611,41356,3593,979,593478,0264,457,61960,33513,163,69223,444,235‡§12,509,286
          Totals, census 19013,68036,29210,55546,8472,972,193330,4543,302,64739,1137,749,77017,853,1338,408,564

The succeeding statement shows the most important industries in operation in 1906, ranged in order of the values of their output for 1905, and compared with the results obtained for the years 1900, 1895, 1890, and 1885:—

 Total Value of all Manufactures or Produce, including Repairs
1905. £1900. £1895. £1890. £1885. £
Meat freezing and preserving and boiling down works4,928,5453,834,8911,652,2751,464,659543,878
Butter and cheese factories ..2,581,6391,535,150501,274150,95743,094
Sawmills, sash and door factories2,128,7661,268,689898,807832,9591,177,713
Tanning, fellmongering, and wool-scouring establishments1,836,3101,888,1071,237,2521,026,349634,915
Printing establishments (not including Government Printing Office)1,067,827704,285389,124354,559273,886
Grain-mills .. ..1,058,686682,884874,656991,812754,830
Iron and brass foundries, boiler-making, machinists, &c. (not including Government Railway Workshops)877,834924,171302,815403,635368,919
Clothing and boot and shoe factories810,008871,658638,512570,315514,506
Breweries and malthouses ..645,637659,298418,830380,849421,197
Tailoring establishments ..578,416301,356   
Flax-mills .. .. ..557,808203,49232,546234,26620,059
Woollen-mills .. ..397,348359,382302,423279,175194,311
Gasworks .. .. ..386,920290,567199,025178,947194,653
Dressmaking and millinery ..331,268312,436   
Furniture and cabinetmaking328,185241,02485,327131,314162,375
Coach building and painting294,818216,077148,969139,660128,346
Grass-seed dressing ..270,028241,239   
Ham and bacon curing ..253,937159,56486,02283,43558,799
Biscuit-factories .. ..225,476197,989118,979127,14747,784
Brick, tile, and pottery works216,550122,23066,14056,83091,797
Agricultural-implement factories199,741138,094102,054144,472111,823
Aerated-water factories ..189,561151,81198,60991,69194,098
Soap and candle works ..178,556158,649152,298155,714130,745
Saddlery and harness factories140,813147,62663,73537,347 
Chaff-cutting .. ..139,060169,31378,49763,23654,440
Sugar-boiling and confectionery138,63588,58033,23517,24817,130
Tinware-factories .. ..127,15098,58763,72314,2978,500
Woodware and turnery ..110,22537,55218,2769,050 
Lime and cement works ..107,67545,14215,88119,41616,928
     
Rope and twine works ..100,75387,86852,40076,71156,413
Fruit-preserving and jam-making98,03258,09236,10827,25532,292
Chemical-works .. ..95,39064,83475,32041,56834,283
Electric lighting .. ..82,03023,234   
Cycle-factories .. ..75,99165,04718,8175,6551,301
Shirt-making .. ..75,83275,879   
Spouting and ridging factories73,756112,69123,76233,14025,478
Hosiery-factories .. ..67,58831,2659,3575,6506,200
Ship and boat building ..66,57245,81125,23335,84756,132
Bone-mills and manure-works66,55840,29812,2464,6288,337
Coffee and spice works ..60,75845,62874,33964,02498,234
Sauce, pickle, and vinegar factories56,32638,08213,4176,4073,145
Sail, tent, and oilskin factories45,32144,85430,16631,08325,574
Hat and cap factories ..38,36925,64110,90221,62813,695
Cooperages .. ..38,12437,52119,23311,54011,862
Sausage-skin factories ..37,04530,67413,47210,582 
Brush and broom factories ..36,34521,13123,36313,3407,786
Monumental masonry ..35,99322,313   
Basket and perambulator factories34,10317,94211,9207,3814,375
Fish curing and preserving works28,10925,17310,29219,53712,182
Mattress-factories .. ..17,89216,2961,850  
Baking-powder factories ..16,35218,16310,1535,6374,120
Picture-frame making ..16,2965,771   
Graving-docks and patent slips12,3277,2645,4229,000 
Portmanteau-factories ..12,0645,483 2,889 
Paper bag and box factories ..11,94114,2177,6984,497 
Billiard-table factories ..10,417    
Cleaning and dyeing works10,3327,8557,53013,6674,510
Colonial-wine making ..9,95610,3308,9633,4563,626
Other industries in respect of which the value of the manufactures was less than £8,000, and sundry1,006,232803,938468,113359,376237,108

The order of the principal industries, ranged according to the number of hands employed, is as follows:—

 Number of Hands
1906190118961891
Sawmills, sash and door factories9,1116,8124,0593,266
Clothing and boot and shoe factories4,1205,3224,5003,233
Flax-mills4,0761,6986473,204
Iron and brass foundries, machinists, &c. (excluding Government Railway Workshops)3,9363,5901,6421,787
Printing and bookbinding establishments (excluding Government Printing Office)3,8983,1342,3512,569
Meat freezing, preserving, and boiling-down works3,2602,2822,0371,568
Dressmaking and millinery establishments3,0392,888  
Tailoring establishments2,9971,621  
Woollen-mills1,5491,6931,4161,175
Furniture and cabinetmaking factories1,5281,310496585
Butter and cheese factories1,4841,188576269
Coach building and painting works1,4651,185807678
Tanning, fellmongering, and wool-scouring establishments1,3361,9631,6291,199
Brick, tile, and pottery works1,254838455494
Gasworks954572295249
Breweries and malthouses821827560563
Agricultural-implement factories793586581528
Biscuit-factories587667425331
Aerated-water factories586452347261
Sugar-boiling and confectionery works5713056953
Saddlery and harness factories544652266184
Grain-mills540515419499
Tinware-factories47333728993
Cycle-factories45239512531
Shirt-making establishments399531  
Hosiery-factories37428213351
Fruit-preserving and jam-making works311172193117
Woodware and turnery factories3041568151
Lime and cement works2801847998
Soap and candle works238232190209
Ship and boat building yards237211108145
Hat and cap factories23711772112
Sugar-refining works228256160110
Ham and bacon curing establishments22419612384
Sauce and pickle factories2191517444
Bone-mills and manure-works216474625
Match-factories206183121 
Chaff-cutting works197266212205
Rope and twine works195192150222
Chemical-works1789511455
Sail, tent, and oilskin factories163231143124
Spouting and ridging factories15926190100
Brush and broom factories1541289281
Sausage-skin factories151985673
Basket and perambulator factories1481187663
Ammunition-works1301059080
Coffee and spice works1207811981
Electric-lighting works11852  
Monumental masonry11881  
Paper mills116988448
Cooperages1161387653
Fish curing and preserving works10613775140
Paper bag and box factories100818635
Grass-seed-dressing establishments92607 
Portmanteau-factories64221314
Condensed-milk factories5833102
Mattress-factories535515 
Colonial-wine making51595324
Cleaning and dyeing works40515848
Bag and sack factories3662214
Venetian-blind works35514529
Picture-frame makers3422  
Starch and soda factories25322713
Baking-powder factories25291927
Billiard-table factories2572 
Graving-docks and patent slips24322964
Industries employing under 20 hands675679255173

FREEZING AND PRESERVING WORKS WITH BOILING-DOWN.

The establishments increased from 43 in 1896 to 48 in 1901, and the hands employed from 2,037 to 2,282; while in 1906 the number of works was returned as 56, employing 3,260 hands. The value of output for 1905 greatly exceeds that for 1900, showing £1,093,654 increase, the figures being £4,928,545 against £3,834,891. From 1890 to 1895 the increase was only £187,616. Of the total value for 1905 (£4,928,545), sheep and lambs frozen were valued at £2,431,146, excluding legs of mutton. The number of carcases of sheep frozen in 1905 was fewer than in 1900 by 789,353, but carcases of lambs frozen increased by 1,055,375. The freezing of butter and other produce (excepting beef and rabbits) developed very greatly between 1900 and 1905, the increase being £1,225,038 in value on a total sum of £503,430 value in 1900, or at the rate of nearly 250 per cent. There is no increase of tallow prepared since 1900, as might be expected, judging from the exportation.

The table below shows that while some items of the output decreased there has been considerable advance made on the operations taken as a whole.

 Census Years
19061901
Number of works5648
Number hands employed3,2602,282
Amount paid in wages .. .. .. £283,916205,635
Amount of horse-power .. .. .. H.p9,6257,450
Approximate value of land .. .. .. £126,17487,776
Approximate buildings .. .. £732,802428,075
Approximate machinery and plant .. £644,631404,707
 Output for Years
19051900
Frozen sheep—  
  Carcases .. .. .. .. .. No1,355,9342,145,287
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £1,023,3851,388,121
  
Frozen lambs—  
  Carcases .. .. .. .. .. No2,258,2111,202,836
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £1,407,761715,045
Frozen legs of mutton—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Cwt15,59864,203
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £23,21085,361
Frozen beef—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Cwt160,133306,119
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £154,988381,210
Frozen rabbits—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. No2,632,8746,040,047
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £60,329144,616
Frozen produce (butter and all other)—Value .. £1,728,468503,430
Preserved meats—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Cwt44,45370,245
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £88,719171,151
Tallow—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Tons13,91014,767
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £316,532298,821
Bonedust—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Tons5,8706,514
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £28,85931,037
Other manures—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Tons6,4105,721
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £28,34925,824
Neatsfoot and trotter oil—  
  Quantity Gal32,93830,174
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £3,8793,450
Bones, horns, hoofs, &c.—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Tons240530
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £1,2763,085
Other products—Value .. .. .. £62,79082,345
Total value of output .. .. .. .. £4,928,5453,834,891

BACON-CURING ESTABLISHMENTS.

These were 52 in number, employing 224 hands, against 39 with 196 in 1900. There is a steady increase observed in the value of the output, the figures being £86,022 for 1895, £159,564 for 1900, and £253,937 for 1905. The business done in bacon now amounts to 56,831 cwt., besides which there was a large output of hams and lard.

 Census Years
19061901
Number of works5239
Number hands employed224196
Amount paid in wages .. .. .. .. £22,22214,387
Amount of horse-power .. .. .. .. H.p532250
Approximate value of land .. .. .. £21,09819,377
Approximate buildings .. .. .. £35,13025,960
Approximate machinery and plant .. £22,73816,855
Value of material used .. .. .. .. £186,375115,656
 Output for Years
19051900

* Besides bacon, a large quantity of hams and lard.

Bacon, quantity* .. .. .. .. Cwt56,83134,103
Other products—Value .. .. .. .. £7,1804,182

FISH-CURING AND PRESERVING.

There was a considerable increase shown in the quantity of fish cured in 1905 as compared with 1900. The quantity cured in 1905 was 1,886,336 lb., against 1,082,820 lb. in 1900. The output of tinned fish is stated to have decreased from 288,849 lb. to 187,338 lb., but the total value of all products of the establishments rose from £25,173 to £28,109.

 Census Years
19061901
Approximate value of land .. .. .. ..£5,5559,937
Approximate buildings .. .. £7,1553,858
Approximate machinery and plant .. £7,6623,440
 Output for Years
19051900
Fish, cured—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Lb1,886,3361,082,820
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £11,85913,182
Fish, tinned—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Lb187,338288,849
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £2,7366,206
Value of other products .. .. .. £13,5145,785
Total value of output .. .. .. .. £28,10925,173

BUTTER AND CHEESE FACTORIES.

Comparison of the results shown by the returns collected at the census of 1906 with that of 1901 shows great development. Not only did the number of factories increase from 247 to 264 between 1901 and 1906, besides skimming-stations in connection with them—459 against 202—but the value of the output rose to £1,046,489 over the amount for 1901. The figures are £2,581,639 for 1905, against £1,535,150 for 1900.

The produce of factory-made butter for 1905 was set down at 51,818,607 lb., and for 1900 at 29,758,310 lb., while cheese made increased from 139,687 cwt. to 150,061 cwt. in the same period.

By far the greater number of factories for making butter are in the North Island, the number having been 196 out of a total of 264, which turned out 40,300,000 lb. of butter in the year 1905, leaving nearly 11,500,000 lb. as the output for the South Island. Taranaki is the provincial district in which the operations are by far the largest, 16,400,000 lb. of butter being the result of the factory operations, and over 42,500 cwt. of cheese. Wellington factories show for 1905 a total of over 12,100,000 lb. of butter and 34,700 cwt. of cheese. Otago makes more cheese (49,600 cwt.) in her factories than any other district; the butter was found to be a little over 5,600,000lb. for the year.

The money invested for purposes of this industry in land, buildings, machinery, and plant has largely increased. Full particulars are given in the subjoined table:—

 Census Years
19061901
Number of factories264247
Number of hands employed1,4841,188
Amount paid in wages .. .. .. £131,12396,433
Amount of horse-power3,7592,399
Approximate value of land .. .. .. £56,00838,780
Approximate buildings .. .. £215,178147,307
Approximate machinery and plant .. £345,080202,663
 Produce for Years
19051900
Butter—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Lb51,818,60729,758,310
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £2,195,6811,203,520
Cheese—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Tons7,5036,984
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £362,684303,758
Other produce—Value .. .. £23,27427,872
Total value of all produce .. .. .. £2,581,6391,535,150

In addition to the above registered factories there were 384 private dairies, of which Taranaki possessed 228.

GRAIN-MILLS.

The result of the inquiry regarding this industry is to show that so far as it relates to number of mills, hands employed, and grain operated upon, there has been no great increase during five years. The flour produced in 1905 was given as 95,528 tons, against 83,017 tons in 1900. But the value of the output of all kinds, which includes meal, was returned for 1905 as £1,058,686, against £682,884 for 1900, showing that a much higher value was placed on the flour, &c., at the last census than at the previous one. The ruling price in Canterbury wheat for 1900 was stated at 2s. per bushel, while for 1905 the figures for best wheat were 3s. 6d., and for other sorts from 2s. 8d. per bushel.

 Census Years
19061901
Number of mills7778
Number of hands employed540515
Amount paid in wages .. .. .. £57,33549,364
Amount of horse-power .. .. .. H.p3,1882,422
Approximate value of land .. .. .. £71,87044,688
Approximate buildings .. .. £160,799132,817
Approximate machinery and plant .. £178,889181,151
  Grain operated on in
  19051900
WheatBush4,352,5444,004,789
Other grainBush714,955762,340
Value£835,477545,642
 Produce for
 19051900
Flour .. .. .. .. .. Tons95,52883,017
Meal .. .. .. .. .. Tons7,2477 418
Other products—Value .. .. .. £144,188 
Total value of output .. .. .. .. £1,058,686682,884

BISCUIT-FACTORIES.

A comparison of hands employed in the year 1905 with those in 1895 shows 587 against 425. The male hands increased by only 34, but females by 128, in ten years. In biscuit-making the increase was from 3,003 tons to 4,133 tons. But the returns for 1906 show also confectionery made in 1905 to the value of £46,429, and other products to the value of £400. The total output came to £225,476, while in 1895 the sum was only £118,979. Confectionery is, however, only a small portion of that made, for a special table, relating to confectionery-works and sugar-boiling only, will be published, exhibiting further output valued at £138,635, and 571 hands employed, for the year 1905.

 Census Years
19061896
Number of works1217
Number of hands employed587425
Amount paid in wages .. .. .. .. £33,88120,156
Amount of horse-power .. .. .. .. H.p389134
Approximate value of land .. .. .. £26,13111,340
Approximate buildings .. .. .. £42,44021,575
Approximate machinery and plant .. .. £52,79525,951
Value of materials used .. .. .. .. £110,39685,280
 Manufactures for the Years
Biscuits made—19051895
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Tons4,1333,003
  Value .. .. .. .. .. .. £178,646118,979
Confectionery made—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Tons1,138 
  Value .. .. .. .. .. .. £46,429 
Other products—Value .. .. .. .. £401 
Total value of all manufactures .. .. .. £225,476118,979

FRUIT-PRESERVING AND JAM-MAKING.

The weight of fruit bottled or preserved in New Zealand during 1905 was returned at 661,956 lb., against 84,500 lb. in 1900. This shows an eightfold increase in five years. The jam-manufacture also increased greatly, the figures being 5,196,357 lb., and 3,303,395 lb. for 1900. Other preserves were also made in 1905 to the extent of 292,404 lb. The value of the total output stood at £98,032, against £58,092 five years previously. The results shown for this industry are most satisfactory, although the actual money value of the total manufacture is not so great as in the case of many industries.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of works2413
Number of hands employed311167
Amount paid in wages .. .. .. .. £12,2038,075
Approximate value of land .. .. .. £10,8285,160
Approximate buildings .. .. .. .. £20,0219,835
Approximate machinery and plant .. £11,4685,940
 Manufactures for Years
 19051900
Fruit bottled or preserved—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Lb661,95684,500
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £9,537950
Jam made—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Lb5,196,3573,303,395
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £83,52054,120
Other preserves—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Lb292,404179,532
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £4,9753,022
Total value of all manufactures .. .. £98,03258,092

CONFECTIONERY-WORKS AND SUGAR-BOILING.

This industry is now of considerable magnitude, and gives employment to a large number of persons. There were 36 works in 1906, against 26 in 1901. The value of the manufactured articles for the year 1905 reached the sum of £138,635, which is £50,055 in excess of the value returned for 1900. Besides the output of £138,635 for the year 1905 given in these returns, a further production of 1,138 tons of confectionery, worth £46,429, will be found included in the biscuit-factory table. The confectionery and sugar-boiling works used 2,350 tons of sugar during the year 1905. The hands employed show an increase from 305 to 571, of whom 267 were females.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of works3626
Number of hands employed571305
Amount of wages paid .. .. .. £29,41014,728
Approximate value of land .. .. £22,84021,271
Approximate value of buildings .. .. £26,65417,709
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. £34,25817,975
 19051900
Value of materials used .. .. .. £89,05547,150
 Manufactures for Years
 19051900
Sugar used—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Tons2,3501,400
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £44,70328,440
Other materials used—Value .. .. .. £44,25218,710
Total value of output .. .. .. .. £138,63588,580

BREWERIES.

The number of breweries shown in the census returns for 1906 was somewhat fewer than that returned ten years previously in 1896, but the hands employed were more numerous and the quantity of beer manufactured considerably greater.

While in the year 1895 there were 5,249,278 gallons brewed, the output for 1905 amounted to 7,634,362 gallons, being an increase of nearly 2,400,000 gallons in a ten-year period. The money value rose from £336,734 to £572,579.

The quantities of beer on which excise duty was paid were—for 1895, 4,936,400 gallons, and 7,796,160 gallons for 1905. These quantities are in close agreement with those returned in this census as manufactured.

The imported beer entered at the Customs for home consumption only increased in quantity from 201,770 gallons in 1895 to 218,270 gallons in 1905, which tends to show that the New Zealand-made beer is by degrees displacing the beer brought from abroad. In the year 1892, 201,394 gallons were brought in, when the population was only 650,433 persons. The consumption of beer per head of population, which was 7.421 gallons in the year 1895, reached 9.150 in the year 1900, since when it has been almost stationary, the figures for 1905 being 9.212.

 Census Years
 19061896
Number of breweries7285
Number of hands employed731465
Amount paid in wages .. .. .. .. £92,30857,327
Amount of horse-power .. .. .. H.p703441
Approximate value of land .. .. .. £82,59051,533
Approximate value of buildings .. .. .. £156,541115,033
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. £95,80063,850
 Beer made in
 19051895
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Gal7,634,3625,249,278
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £572,579336,734

WINE MAKING.

Establishments for the manufacture of wine increased in number from 14 in 1901 to 22 in 1906, and the output of wine from 26,513 gallons in 1900 to 33,842 gallons in the year 1905. Cider-making, however, if the returns be correct, seems to have fallen off, the decrease being from 27,537 to 11,595 gallons in five years. But 13,692 dozen of bottled cider were turned out by the aerated-water and cordial manufactories, for which see special table.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of works2214
Approximate value of land .. .. .. .. £13,33410,156
Approximate value of buildings .. .. .. £7,7685,074
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. .. £3,6902,953
 Manufactures for Years
 19051900
Wine—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Gal33,84226,513
  Value .. .. .. .. .. .. £8,5586,288
Cider—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Gal11,59527,537
  Value .. .. .. .. .. .. £1,2083,492
Other value .. .. .. .. .. £199300
Total value of all manufactures .. .. .. £9,96510,330

AERATED-WATER AND CORDIAL FACTORIES.

The operations in these factories were very much greater in the year 1905 than in 1900, and with this is shown increase of value of manufactures, as well as quantity, besides a greater number of persons employed.

The money value of all manufactures for 1905 amounted to £189,561, against £151,811 in 1900—an increase of 25 per cent. The amount paid in wages was close on £50,000; while an increase from 1,886,024 dozen of aerated water bottled to 2,220,174 dozen, besides a greatly enlarged business in cordials, tonic beer, and other drinks, is recorded. Cider is noticed as having been made to the extent of 13,692 dozen.

The full particulars are tabulated below.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of works123125
Number of hands employed586452
Amount of wages paid .. .. .. £49,61732,055
Approximate value of land .. .. .. £57,08333,037
Approximate value of buildings .. .. £52,12834,875
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. £57,25937,266
 Manufactures for Years
19051900 
Aerated waters—Quantity .. .. .. Doz2,220,1741,886,024
Cordials—Quantity .. .. .. .. Doz37,94525,478
Tonic beer—Quantity .. .. .. .. Doz106,60789,821
Miscellaneous—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Gal25,74413,356
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £2,3535,356
Cider—Quantity .. .. .. .. Doz13,6929,950
Total value of all manufactures .. .. £189,561151,811

SAUCE, PICKLE, AND VINEGAR MAKING.

The progress is very good. The industry employed 115 males and 104 females in 1906. Sauces and pickles with other condiments and vinegar were manufactured to the value of £56,326 in the previous year, an increase of more than £25,000 over the amount made five years before.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of works2723
Number of hands employed219128
Amount of wages paid .. .. .. .. £11,1636,388
Approximate value of land .. .. .. £14,48317,120
Approximate value of buildings .. .. .. £22,84212,375
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. £7,6577,220
 Manufactures for Years
 19051900
Sauces—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Doz. pt111,98244,604
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £23,46811,128
Pickles—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Doz. pt46,90131,110
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £13,09010,378
Vinegar—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Gal130,092 
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £6,473 
Other condiments—Value .. .. .. £13,2959,752
Total value of all manufactures .. .. .. £56,32631,258

SOAP AND CANDLE WORKS.

The value of manufactures of all kinds at these works reached the sum of £178,556 for the year 1905, against £158,649 for 1900. The soap made in 1905 was 115,825 cwt., or 23,504 cwt. more than five years previously. But the making of candles declined, according to the returns, from 26,690 cwt. to 17,237 cwt., which is what might have been expected as a consequence of the larger employment of gas and electricity for lighting purposes with the advance of time.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of works1924
Number of hands employed238232
Amount paid in wages .. .. .. .. £21,85319,248
Approximate value of land .. .. .. £9,44710,432
Approximate value of buildings .. .. .. £27,53327,184
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. .. £31,58629,193
 Manufactures for Years
 19051900
Soap—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Cwt115,82592,321
  Value .. .. .. .. .. .. £107,01276,591
Candles—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Cwt17,23726,690
  Value .. .. .. .. .. .. £48,38561,447
Other manufactures—Value .. .. .. £23,15920,611
Total value of all manufactures .. .. .. £178,556158,649

COOPERAGES.

These numbered 22 according to the returns for 1906. The manufacture of casks and kegs would appear to have decreased between the years 1900 and 1905, judging from the comparison given below. But in the matter of butter-boxes an increase of over 53,000 in number is shown by the output.

The total value of the manufacture of all kinds increased a little during the five-year period, but the sum is inconsiderable.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of works2223
Number of hands employed116138
Amount of wages paid .. .. .. .. £9,50310,923
Approximate value of land .. .. .. .. £10,2835,669
Approximate value of buildings .. .. .. £7,2007,815
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. .. £9,2538,303
 Manufactures for Years
 19051900
Kegs .. .. .. .. .. .. No11,29712,585
Casks .. .. .. .. .. .. No37,93647,072
Butter-boxes .. .. .. .. .. No. 212,776159,147 
Cheese-boxes .. .. .. .. .. No10,64533,165
Other manufactures—Value .. .. .. £7,6202,700
Total value of all manufactures .. .. .. £38,12437,521

SAWMILLS, AND SASH AND DOOR FACTORIES.

There has been a very great development of this industry since 1901. 110 additional mills were returned as working in 1906, the hands employed increased from 6,812 to 9,111, and the (first-cut) sawn timber from 261,583,518 ft. to 336,470,930 ft.—an addition of 74,887,412 ft. The figures given for resawing, &c., also show an increase from 34,824,246 ft. to 51,588,812 ft., those for moulding from 9,152,598 ft. to 12,148,474 ft., while the number of doors and sashes made increased from 91,376 to 143,100. The total money value of all manufactures or produce of the sawmills reached the sum of £2,128,766, against £1,268,689 at the previous census. The value of the plant largely increased.

The value of the output for the mills for the year 1905 was far greater in the Auckland Provincial District than in any other, the order being as follows:—

 Value of Output of Sawmills
£       
Auckland1,078,233
Wellington339,481
Otago234,693
Hawke's Bay138,668
Westland117,104
Taranaki97,401
Nelson65,784
Canterbury29,912
Marlborough27,490

The increase in quantity of first-cut timber at Auckland in five years is from 109,124,543 ft. to 163,592,619 ft. At Westland, also, the increase is noticeably great (from 13,971,951 ft. to 31,996,047 ft.), considering the magnitude of the industry there.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of mills444334
Number of hands employed9,1116,812
Amount paid in wages .. .. .. £834,927513,888
Amount of horse-power .. .. .. H.p13,2788,744
Approximate value of land .. .. .. £373,313187,398
Approximate value of buildings .. .. £181,899108,015
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. £649,631408,207
 Produce for Years
 19051900
Sawn timber—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. Ft330,470,930261,583,518
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £1,442,950971,048
Posts, rails, &c.—Value .. .. .. £12,29719,277
Resawing, planed flooring, skirting, &c.—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. Ft51,588,81234,824,246
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £517,954172,127
Moulding—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. Ft12,148,4749,152,598
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £56,02742,970
Doors and sashes—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. No143,10091,376
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £99,53863,267
Total value of all manufactures .. .. £2,128,7661,268,689

GASWORKS.

The operations of the gasworks for the year 1905, contrasted with the returns obtained at previous censuses, show such expansion as must be considered highly satisfactory, and this notwithstanding the increased use of electricity in substitution for gas.

There were 38 gasworks at the time of the census of 1906, employing 954 hands, against 30 with 572 in 1901. The wages paid in 1905 amounted to nearly £114,000, against £70,000 in 1900, and the value of all produce was £386,920 against £290,567.

In quantity nearly 1,275,000,000 cubic feet of gas are shown to have been manufactured in 1905, against 786,000,000 feet for 1900, besides increased quantities of coke, tar, and other residuals.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of works3830
Number of hands employed954572
Amount paid in wages .. .. .. £113,78570,573
Amount of horse-power .. .. .. H.p496242
Approximate value of land .. .. £132,18865,555
Approximate value of buildings .. .. £135,91988,874
Approximate value of machinery and plane £1,107,134817,130
Value of materials used .. .. .. £134,47483,612
 Produce for Years
 19051900
Gas made—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. C. ft1,274,873,860786,531,150
  Value .. .. .. .. £316,322245,000
Coke—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. Tons51,31138,830
  Value .. .. .. .. £44,57232,968
Tar—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. Gal1,290,869693,181
  Value .. .. .. .. £20,88211,665
Other residuals—Value .. .. .. £5,144934
Total value of all produce .. .. £386,920290,567

LIME AND CEMENT WORKS.

Twenty of these works, employing 280 hands, were in operation in 1906. In 1901 only 184 hands were returned at 15 works. The value of the manufacture for 1905 was more than double that for 1900, the figures being £107,675 and £45,142 for these years respectively, and that of machinery used was trebled during the five-years period.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of works2015
Number of hands employed280184
Amount of horse-power .. .. .. .. H.p1,175466
Amount of wages paid .. .. .. .. £34,24916,577
Approximate value of land .. .. .. .. £17,5653,881
Approximate value of buildings .. .. .. £23,53910,218
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. .. £75,64224,337
 Years
 19051900
Value of materials used .. .. .. .. £36,25118,397
Total value of manufactures .. .. .. .. £107,67545,142

BRICK, TILE, AND POTTERY WORKS.

These works employed in 1905 1,254 hands, against 838 in 1900, and the number of bricks rose from 40,900,000 to 69,800,000 for those years. There were also firebricks made to the number of 774,000 in 1905. The value of bricks of all kinds was £150,200. The value of pottery made, including drain-pipes, rose from £34,810 to £52,193, and the total value of all the manufactures from £122,230 to £216,550. Wellington shows first for output of bricks, and Canterbury second; Otago comes third, and Auckland takes fourth place. The number of brick, stone, and concrete dwellinghouses increased between the last two censuses from 7,517 to 8,359, a rate of 11 per cent. Houses built of wood or iron increased from 153,945 to 178,551, the rate, 16 per cent., being somewhat higher than that which obtained for brick and stone dwellings. These do not include huts.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of works125108
Number of hands employed1,254838
Amount paid in wages .. .. .. £99,24663,336
Amount of horse-power .. .. .. H.p1,496659
Approximate value of land .. .. .. £96,00141,123
Approximate value of buildings .. .. £83,36737,718
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. £94,46335,726
 Manufactures for Years
 19051900
Bricks—  
  Common .. .. .. .. .. No69,785,91140,976,765
  Firebricks .. .. .. .. No774,281313,551
          Total value .. .. .. .. £150,20086,578
Pottery—  
  Drain-pipes .. .. .. .. No1,460,2501,226,296
  Tiles .. .. .. .. .. No484,741310,076
  Flower-pots .. .. .. .. No179,05037,332
  Miscellaneous—Value .. .. .. £14,1577,475
Pottery, &c.—Total value .. .. .. £52,19334,810
Total value of all manufactures .. .. £216,550122,230

TINWARE-FACTORIES.

Again a large development is observed in respect of this industry. The value of the manufacture rose from £98,587 in 1900 to £127,150 in 1905. In 1895 the value of the goods was only £63,723. The number of hands increased from 337 to 473 in five years, and the wages paid from £23,143 to £36,467.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of works5460
Number of hands employed473337
Amount of wages paid .. .. .. .. £36,46723,143
Approximate value of land .. .. .. .. £36,7224,907
Approximate value of buildings .. .. .. £23,622,100
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. .. £19,829,907
Total value of manufactures and repairs .. .. £127,15098,587

IRON AND BRASS FOUNDRIES, BOILER AND RANGE MAKING, WITH ENGINEERING.

The total value of the manufacture (including repairs) in connection with these industries was returned for the year 1905 at £877,834, which sum is £46,337 less than the amount returned for the year 1900. The figures for Otago, where the value of manufacture given at last census was £347,707, are found to be considerably less than for 1900, when the amount reached £512,021, no doubt being swelled by the dredge-making work which was then proceeding. There were 3,936 hands employed in 1906.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of works143111
Number of hands employed3,9363,590
Amount of wages paid .. .. .. .. £335,519307,209
Amount of horse-power .. .. .. .. H.p2,4041,577
Approximate value of land .. .. .. £183,605127,346
Approximate value of buildings .. .. .. £127,01889,001
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. .. £257,614177,935
 Years
 19051900
Value of materials used or operated on .. .. £419,426446,507
Total value of manufactures (including repairs) .. £877,834924,171

NOTE.—The above table does not include 20 Government railway and maintenance workshops (11 railway workshops and 9 maintenance workshops). Hands employed in year 1905, 1,936; wages paid, £242,670; horse-power employed, 1,042; materials used, £208,726; manufactures and repairs (4 locomotives, 42 bogie carriages, 10 bogie brake-vans, 309 wagons, 1,501 tarpaulins, and repairs to the value of £42,086), the total of manufactures and repairs in the railway workshops being £427,341, and the value of machinery and plant £140,845. The value of materials used and value of repairs are not stated in maintenance-workshops returns.

PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING ESTABLISHMENTS.

It is necessary to remark previously to considering the figures given that, for the sake of obtaining true comparisons, particulars relating to the Government Printing Office have been omitted. To arrive at the full measure of the printing and bookbinding industry as in 1906, 431 hands should be added, with £51,421 of wages paid for the year 1905 and £83,556 value of output, besides £57,167 for buildings, machinery, and plant.

The increases recorded below will be found very substantial—51 in number of establishments, 764 in hands employed, and £363,542 in the value of the output. Female hands increased from 507 to 660. The linotypes used in 1906 numbered 110, and the monolines in operation were 31. Very particular inquiries were made to insure that all the value of newspaper-work was included in the returns as well as that of a jobbing character, so that the output for 1905 may be more completely rendered than that for 1900, which would make the increase above referred to of £363,542, somewhat above the actual facts.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of works239188
Hands employed—  
  Males ..3,2382,627
  Females660507
Approximate value of land, buildings, machinery, and plant .. .. .. .. .. £920,022559,538
 Years
 19051900
Wages paid—  
  Males .. .. .. .. .. .. £374,872268,041
  Females .. .. .. .. .. £25,94016,564
Value of all manufactures .. .. .. .. £1,067,827704,285

AGRICULTURAL-IMPLEMENT FACTORIES.

The total value of all manufacture appears to have increased from £138,094 to £199,741, including repairs. Hands and horse-power employed, wages paid, with value of machinery and plant, all increased correspondingly to the output.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of works2933
Number of hands employed793586
Amount of wages paid .. .. .. .. £79,04253,941
Amount of horse-power .. .. .. .. H.p419360
Approximate value of land .. .. .. .. £27,87819,591
Approximate value of buildings .. .. .. £30,79121,504
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. .. £36,79820,244
 Years
 19051900
Value of all materials used .. .. .. .. £91,04349,072
Total value of manufactures (including repairs) .. £199,741138,094

COACH BUILDING AND PAINTING.

The value of the manufacture and repairs rose from £216,077 in 1900 to £294,818 in 1905, an increase of £78,741, or at a rate of 36 per cent. The hands also increased from 1,185 to 1,465.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of works183160
Number of hands employed1,4651,185
Amount paid in wages .. .. .. .. £116,20483,356
Amount of horse-power .. .. .. .. H.p395128
Approximate value of land .. .. .. .. £116,91670,622
Approximate value of buildings .. .. .. £97,23855,972
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. .. £37,56324,217
Value of materials used .. .. .. .. £122,38482,229
Total value of manufactures (including repairs .. £294,818216,077

CYCLE-WORKS.

As before pointed out, cycles are used for business as well as pleasure and health, so that the growth of the trade in these machines has importance seen from various points of view. The number of these factories was 97 in 1906, being 26 more than in 1901. The value of the manufacture rose from £65,047 for the year 1900 to £75,991 for 1905, or 17 per cent. This is not nearly so high a rate as that for the previous quinquennium, as might be expected from the fact of the industry being a more settled affair. Comparison under certain heads is given.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of works9771
Number of hands employed452395
Amount of wages paid .. .. .. .. £30,83121,443
Approximate value of land .. .. .. .. £38,02031,465
Approximate value of buildings .. .. .. £33,66424,431
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. .. £11,9829,507
 Years
 19051900
Total value of manufactures (including repairs) .. .. £75,99165,047

SADDLERY AND HARNESS WORKS.

One hundred and six of these were returned. In the total value of manufacture and repairs there is no increase, according to the returns rendered, since 1900. The industry would appear to have remained in a stationary condition.

 Census Years
 1906
Number of factories ..106
Number of hands employed544
Amount of wages paid .. .. .. .. .. £42,213
Approximate value of land .. .. .. .. £65,038
Approximate value of buildings .. .. .. .. £36,554
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. .. .. £7,082
 Years 1905
Value of materials used .. .. .. .. .. £72,662
Total value of manufactures (including repairs) .. .. .. £140,813

FELLMONGERING, TANNING, CURRYING, AND WOOL-SCOURING.

The figures shown by the census returns for 1906 do not show increase of the above-named industry during the last five-year period. For 1905 the total value of produce and manufacture is set down as £1,836,310, against £1,888,107 for 1900, while the number of hands employed and the wages paid are also somewhat reduced. The wool sliped was, for 1905, 23,347,891 lb., against 25,793,239 lb. in 1900. Hides tanned fell in number from 178,075 to 124,695, skins from 272,775 to 191,496; but pelts salted or preserved increased from 4,031,974 to 4,432,103.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of works99119
Number of hands employed1,3361,963
Amount paid in wages .. .. .. £102,506159,342
Amount paid of horse-power .. .. .. H.p9801,108
Approximate value of land .. .. .. £48,38652,319
Approximate value of buildings .. .. £80,380102,855
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. £53,91680,778
 Manufacture or Produce for Years
 19051900
Value of hides, skins, &c., operated on .. .. £1,201,3181,161,965
Wool scoured and sliped .. .. .. Lb23,347,89125,793,239
Hides tanned .. .. .. .. No124,695178,075
Pelts salted or preserved .. .. .. No4,432,1034,031,974
Skins tanned .. .. .. .. .. No191,496272,775
Other products—Value .. .. .. £24,89154,296
Total value of manufactures and produce .. £1,836,3101,888,107

SHIP AND BOAT BUILDING.

As to the number of hands employed, vessels built, and total value of all manufactures, the returns for last census show an improvement on those for 1901. Nevertheless, the number of establishments has fallen from 32 to 30, and boat-building is shown to have very slightly declined, the number built in 1905 having been returned as 208, against 218 in 1900.

Of vessels under 50 tons, 118 were built in 1905; and of those 50 to 100 tons, 6. There were also built 2 vessels over 100 tons.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of hands employed237211
Amount of wages paid .. .. .. .. .. £20,88913,476
 Years
 19051900
Total value of manufactures (including repairs) .. .. £66,57245,811

FURNITURE FACTORIES.

In this branch of industrial work it would appear that a substantial rise took place during the five years' operations. The value of the output was £328,185 in 1905, against £241,024 in 1900. There were 1,528 hands employed, being an increase of 218.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of factories172144
Number of hands employed1,5281,310
Amount of wages paid .. .. .. .. £134,58491,105
Approximate value of land .. .. .. .. £98,96675,200
Approximate value of buildings .. .. .. £99,37371,884
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. .. £41,03623,254
 Years
 19051900
Value of material used .. .. .. .. £157,484101,595
Total value of all manufactures .. .. .. £328,185241,024

WOOLLEN-MILLS.

In April, 1906, there were 10 woollen-mills, which employed 1,511) persons—715 being males and 834 females. These factories therefore provide more occupation for women and girls than for the male sex.

As to value of manufacture of all kinds, the increase is at the rate of 10.56 per cent. for five years, being £359,382 for 1900, and £397,348 for 1905. There was a slight decrease (145,396 yards) in the quantity of tweed manufactured, the figures being 1,445,867 yards for 1900 and 1,300,471 yards for 1905. The production of flannel and blankets, however, shows steady increase, in the case of the former 1,368,268 yards having been manufactured in 1905 against 1,191,234 yards in 1900, while the returns for the latter show 59,572 pairs against 49,523 pairs in 1900. There was a slight decrease in the number of rugs and shawls, but a marked advance in the manufacture of hosiery (80,578 dozen in 1905 against 53,920 dozen in 1900). The output of yarn was slightly increased, and 104,452 yards of shirting are returned as having been made, with no comparative figures for 1900.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of works1010
Number of hands employed1,5491,693
Amount of wages paid .. .. .. .. £105,036112,001
Amount of horse-power .. .. .. H.p1,9451,554
Approximate value of land .. .. .. £9,00311,264
Approximate value of buildings .. .. .. £110,29793,454
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. £188,459172,704
 Years
 19051900
Wool used—  
Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Lb3,835,0643,257,319
Value .. .. .. .. .. £167,291162,920
 Output for Years
 19051900
Tweed .. .. .. .. .. Yd1,300,4711,445,867
Flannel .. .. .. .. .. Yd1,368,2681,191,234
Blankets .. .. .. .. .. Pr59,57249,523
Rugs and shawls .. .. .. .. No23,78026,806
Hosiery .. .. .. .. .. Doz80,57853,920
Yarn .. .. .. .. .. .. Lb259,067234,843
Shirting .. .. .. .. .. Yd104,452 
Total value .. .. .. .. .. £397,348359,382

CLOTHING AND WATERPROOF FACTORIES.

This industry employs nearly two thousand hands, therefore it is of considerable importance in the matter of labour, especially that of the female sex, of whom over fifteen hundred are required.

The value of all manufacture for the year 1905 was returned at £308,943, but there is no development exhibited by the returns.

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of works2327
Number of hands employed—  
Males ..375453
Females ..1,5392,173
Amount of wages paid—  
Males .. .. .. .. .. .. £38,04539,585
Females .. .. .. .. .. .. £67,51665,845
Approximate value of land .. .. .. .. £32,98534,220
Approximate value of buildings .. .. .. £42,49350,270
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. .. £15,16312,602

HOSIERY-FACTORIES.

At the census of 1906 returns were obtained from 10 stocking-weaving factories, employing 30 males and 344 females. The value of the output amounted to £67,588, against £31,265 in 1900. The quantities of manufactured articles increased commensurately with the money value. Stocking-weaving is also carried on at woollen-factories, for which see special table.

 Census Years
 19061901
Approximate value of land .. .. .. .. £4,2484,605
Approximate value of buildings .. .. .. £5,5136,790
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. .. £26,9368,602
 Manufactures for Years
 19051900
Half-hose—Quantity .. .. .. .. Doz44,16539,601
Hose—Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Doz12,4999,529
Shirts and pants—Quantity .. .. .. .. Doz19,1291,053
Other knitted goods—Value .. .. .. .. £6,581480
Total value of all manufactures .. .. .. £67,58831,265

NOTE.—The above table does not include 80,578 dozen hose, half-hose, undershirts, pants, and other knitted garments which are given in “Woollen-factories” return.

BOOT AND SHOE FACTORIES.

The total value of all manufactures as brought out is £501,065 for 1905. The output from the factories during 1905 was 1,081,644 pairs of boots and shoes, 89,378 pairs of slippers, and 38,410 pairs of uppers.

During 1905, boots and shoes to the value of £282,211 were imported. Of this amount £209,545 represents the value of British manufacture, and £72,666 foreign—including United States of America, £61,340. All these were subject to a duty of 22 ½ per cent. ad valorem, and the foreign manufacture to an additional duty under the preferential tariff of 11 ¼ per cent.

Comparison of quantity and value of output from the boot and shoe factories of New Zealand for the year 1905 with the returns rendered for 1900 exhibits, according to the returns, somewhat of a decline in the industry, while the import of boots and shoes during the quinquennial period rose in value from £194,811 to £282,211—including those from the United States of America, which increased from £46,807 to £61,660.

The exports of leather, the produce of the Dominion, during the same period were valued at £60,966, and of boots and shoes made in New Zealand £333.

 Census Year 1906
Number of works ..72
Number of hands employed— 
Males .. ..1,518
Females ..688
Amount of wages paid— 
Males .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £142,826
Females .. .. .. .. .. .. £28,669
Approximate value of land .. .. .. .. £46,409
Approximate value of buildings .. .. .. .. £50,170
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. .. .. £57,412
 Manufacture for Year 1905
Boots and shoes .. .. .. .. .. Pr1,081,644
Slippers .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Pr89,378
Uppers .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Pr38,410
Leggings .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Pr1,468
Shoe-ettes .. .. .. .. .. .. No20,000
Total value of all manufactures .. .. .. .. £501,065

ROPE AND TWINE WORKS.

Rope and twine making would appear to have advanced since 1900, to judge from the value of all manufactures given in the returns, which amounted to £100,753 for the year 1905, against £87,863 five years before. The quantity of rope made represented in weight is shown at 618 tons for 1905. As to materials used, phormium comes by far the first, 1,568 tons in 1905 being utilised, against 363 tons of manila.

 Years
 19051900
Materials used—  
Phormium—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Tons1,5681,502
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £35,16528,663
Manila—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Tons363291
  Value .. .. .. .. .. £16,52413,140
Total value of all manufactures .. .. .. £100,75387,863

PHORMIUM-MILLS.

This industry was in the lowest depths of depression at the time of the census of 1896. At that time only 52 mills were left in operation, and the hands employed had fallen in number to 484 men and 163 boys. Returns for 1901 showed a revival in the mills to 101 in operation, with 1,519 men and 179 boys. But the census returns for 1906 show 240 mills in operation during April of that year, with 3,951 men and 125 boys employed thereat. The wages paid stood at £101,046 for the year 1900, but increased to £227,460 for 1905; while nearly 200,000 tons of raw material were used in 1905, and 22,000 tons of fibre dressed, besides 2,439 tons of tow produced. The money value of the total output was £557,808, against £203,492 in 1900, and £32,546 in 1895. Of the total value of output for 1905 the Provincial District of Wellington contributed the most (£189,002); Otago followed with £139,099; and Auckland took third place (£137,426). For the other provincial districts the output ranged from £25,000 to £11,000.

The export of phormium for eleven years has been as under:—

YearExportedValue

* This is greater than the quantity returned as dressed at the census.

 Tons£      
18951,80621,040
18962,96832,985
18972,76930,674
18984,85074,556
189910,371184,411
190015,906*332,182
190110,171195,728
190220,852534,031
190322,652595,684
190426,936710,281
190527,877*696,467

The grading of phormium for exportation from New Zealand by a Government official under regulations has the effect of preventing badly dressed flax of an inferior quality from being sent away, and thus injuring the reputation of the article generally by depreciation.

The most important particulars given in the returns are tabulated below:—

 Census Years
 19061901
Number of works240101
Number of hands employed4,0761,698
Amount paid in wages .. .. .. .. £227,460101,046
Amount of horse-power .. .. .. .. H.p3,0871,190
Approximate value of land .. .. .. £192,47124,644
Approximate value of buildings .. .. .. £43,75111,212
Approximate value of machinery and plant .. ..£119,61828,590
 Produce for Years
 19051900
Raw material used—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Tons199,17196,571
  Value .. .. .. .. .. .. £185,89453,064
Fibre dressed—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Tons22,12812,035
  Value .. .. .. .. .. .. £544,070201,235
Tow produced—  
  Quantity .. .. .. .. .. Tons2,4391,062
  Value .. .. .. .. .. .. £13,7382,257
Total value of output .. .. .. .. £557,808203,482

Chapter 41. SECTION IX.—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 1907 amounted to £17,302,861, being an increase on the corresponding total in 1906 of £2,091,458. These figures, however, include specie. The value of coin brought into the Dominion in 1907 was £763,154, against £908,233 in the previous year, and if these amounts are excluded the increase on the values of all other articles will be £2,236,537.

The value of imports for the year 1890, and for each of the ten latest years was:—

YearImports, inclusive of SpecieImports, exclusive of Specie
 £      £      
18906,260,5255,928,895
18988,239,6008,211,409
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
190512,828,85712,481,178
190615,211,40314,303,170
190717,302,86116,539,707

In 1901 the Government imported railway plant valued at half a million sterling, against far smaller quantities introduced in the subsequent years.

It is found 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. For 1907 the amount was £16,539,707. The movement for 1898–1907 shows that the total imports have increased by 101 percent. in value during that period. In quantities of various imports the increases vary, and full particulars of every kind of article imported in 1907 are to be found in detail further on, which may be critically examined with those in similar tables given in the previous issues of this book.

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. Indeed, the whole matter of money introduced from abroad for whatever purpose, public or private, underlies the comparisons. 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 Dominion, 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.

A section giving the results of the inquiry made at the census of 1906 relating to manufactories and works, with remarks thereon, is given previously. Along with increased imports a considerable development of the manufacturing industries is shown to have taken place during the last five years.

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 New Zealand in coin, in 1903 £712,716, in 1906 £908,233, and in 1907 £763,154. The figures for 1890 and each year from 1898 onwards stand thus:—

 Imports per Head of mean Population, excluding Maoris
YearsIncluding SpecieExcluding Specie
 £sd£sd
189010029110
189811371131
1899111311198
19001318101374
190115310141111
19021431113148
190315111014145
1904151471554
190514141114611
19061619815195
190718166171911

Using the figures exclusive of the specie, comparisons for years since 1898 show that imports increased annually with almost unbroken regularity until 1905. For the years 1906 and 1907 there was considerable increase in the rate, making the rise between 1898 and 1907 £6 16s. 10d. per head.

A table is given further on showing, for five years, the principal articles imported, arranged in groups according to their nature.

With the rise of imports during the last ten years the Customs revenue has grown in amount and in proportion to population. This is treated of further on in this section as a subject in itself, and the general and preferential tariffs under which collected. In the section headed “Finance” will be shown how large a proportion of the whole revenue of the General Government of New Zealand is derived from Customs and excise, and hence how much that revenue helps to maintain the total revenue of the General Government, which has of late years aided the Public-works Fund annually with very large sums, which will be specifically stated.

IMPORTS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

The imports from the United Kingdom to New Zealand in 1907 were valued at £10,278,019, an increase of £1,274,790 on the value of goods imported from the Home-country during the previous year. From British colonies and possessions the imports were £4,664,164, an increase of £777,377 on the amount in 1906.

The figures given below show for ten years the imports from the United Kingdom, with those from the British colonies and possessions, and from foreign States:—

 Imports from
 United KingdomBritish Colonies and PossessionsForeign States
 £      £      £      
18985,148,8331,927,8171,153,950
18995,526,6452,036,7971,176,191
19006,504,4842,625,3721,516,240
19016,885,8312,913,8662,018,218
19026,851,4522,583,0051,892,266
19037,512,6683,135,4742,140,533
19047,982,3403,047,3542,262,000
19057,795,2842,914,3582,119,215
19069,003,2293,886,7872,321,387
190710,278,0194,664,1642,360,678

The proportions represented by the above figures in every one hundred pounds' value of total imports are:—

 United KingdomBritish Colonies and PossessionsForeign States
 Per centPer CentPer Cent
189862.5623.4214.02
189963.2423.3013.46
190061.1024.6614.24
190158.2624.6617.08
190260.4922.8016.71
190358.7424.5216.74
190460.0522.9317.02
190560.7622.7216.52
190659.1925.5515.26
190759.4026.9613.64

In dealing with the question of imports from the United Kingdom it must be pointed out that the trade returns of New Zealand do not disclose the countries of origin, goods being credited in every case to the countries of shipment. This, no doubt, is a serious defect in the values, but the comparison of proportions would be affected in a minor degree only, as the proportion of transhipments to the total shipments from the United Kingdom to New Zealand remains fairly steady year by year.

The exports from the United Kingdom to New Zealand as given in the United Kingdom trade returns for the period 1898–1906, distinguishing between the value of goods of British and Irish produce and those the produce of other countries re-exported, are next shown. These values are f.o.b., while those recorded in the New Zealand returns are c.i.f.:—

YearBritish and Irish Produce exported from the United Kingdom to New ZealandProduce of other Countries reexported to New ZealandTotal Exports from the United Kingdom to New Zealand
 £      £      £      
18984,020,677444,9494,465,626
18994,543,131393,3804,936,511
19005,485,845413,4475,899,292
19015,599,272468,9586,068,230
19025,676,576481,3096,158,885
19036,361,390593,4306,954,820
19046,315,090582,3306,897,420
19056,425,793569,0136,994,806
19067,400,188652,2888,052,476

Imports from the Commonwealth of Australia contain a far larger proportion of re-exports than those from the United Kingdom, considerable quantities of goods, the produce of the United Kingdom and foreign countries, being transhipped at Australian ports for New Zealand. This element would further disturb the values credited to foreign countries if Canadian goods shipped at ports in the United States to New Zealand were assigned to the country of origin.

The following are the values of imports from different countries or places in 1907 and 1906, given in the order of the increase or decrease from each:—

Country, Colony, State, &c19071906Increase
 £      £      £      
United Kingdom10,278,0199,003,2291,274,790
New South Wales1,776,8961,462,928313,968
Fiji625,644378,050247,594
Bengal369,219288,78080,439
Western Australia80,68730,85749,830
Canada154,766108,23746,529
Ceylon220,102189,28830,814
Tasmania81,08056,32324,757
United States of America1,425,5961,405,78119,815
Greece39,21821,69117,527
Germany351,634336,96014,674
British Columbia60,46648,85111,615
Asia Minor38,89328,11910,774
France87,67579,3528,323
Malden Island25,79319,6136,180
Austria-Hungary14,2508,0716,179
Surprise Island12,1176,7255,392
Holland35,79030,7635,027
Switzerland14,94711,0443,903
Sweden16,62112,9683,653
Ocean Island3,000 3,000
Italy26,32723,3512,976
Singapore45,53942,9182,621
Navigator Islands4,4231,8442,579
Turkey4,7482,2312,517
Spain5,0303,0921,938
Friendly Islands20,78219,0091,773
Gilbert Islands1,500 1,500
Philippine Islands16,45815,1861,272
South Australia42,62341,786837
Portugal2,0551,268787
Cape Colony958284674
Malta69426668
New Caledonia587 587
Persia444 444
Denmark1,3901,049341
Peru273 273
Norway6,1795,927252
Arabia131 131
Gibraltar772750
Sumatra41 41
Canary Islands13210329
China3,3273,30027
Alaska24 24
Egypt80978524
Norfolk Island13211022
Orange River Colony15 15
New Hebrides15 15
Madagascar13 13
Argentine Republic8 8
Cochin China8 8
Rhodesia6 6
Solomon Islands633
Transvaal Colony41383
Colombia1 1
Borneo1 1
Mauritius1 1
Country, Colony, State, &c19071906Decrease
 £      £      £      
Java16,56274,73558,173
Victoria1,142,6931,178,52035,827
Japan94,29899,6535,355
Chesterfield Island 3,6473,647
Belgium113,500116,3592,859
Society Islands4,0216,5052,484
Burmah13,46215,4622,000
Hong Kong15,19817,0631,865
West Indies8442,3921,548
Queensland3,5744,8981,324
Madras8101,271461
Sandwich Islands29896
Aden55853
Bombay62667448
Russia22321
Natal537219
Mexico 55
British New Guinea 11

IMPORTS, NORTH AND SOUTH ISLANDS.

Separating the value of the imports for the North Island from that of the South Island, it is found that while in 1897 the former received imported goods to the value of £4,428,824, against £3,584,579 for the South Island, in the year 1907 the North Island imports exceeded those of the other to a far greater extent, the values being respectively £10,701,794 and £6,290,848, an excess for the North Island of £4,410,946, or 70 per cent.

IMPORTS, BY PROVINCIAL DISTRICTS.

The values of imports in each provincial district during 1897 and 1907 were as under:—

 18971907
  £      
Auckland2,167,9164,672,360
Taranaki59,050145,195
Hawke's Bay183,867413,417
Wellington2,017,9915,470,822
Marlborough11,31339,281
Nelson156,890172,663
Westland59,653105,251
Canterbury1,465,2392,930,791
Otago1,891,4843,042,862

The value of imports by parcel-post (£41,820 in 1897 and £310,219 in 1907) must be added to the above figures in order to make up the totals (including specie) of £8,055,223 and £17,302,861 for the respective years.

IMPORTS, BY PORTS.

The following table gives the value of the imports for each port in New Zealand for years 1907, 1900, 1895, 1890, arranged in order of magnitude for 1907:—

 1907190018951890
 £      £      £      £      
Wellington5,248,8352,767,0661,580,8021,233,184
Auckland4,533,9992,617,3291,592,5581,385,959
Lyttelton and Christchurch2,633,2441,770,7091,055,7191,174,370
Dunedin2,489,1262,158,1771,343,7791,662,629
Invercargill and Bluff495,708288,170178,141120,050
Napier413,417209,418184,475162,097
Timaru297,547143,09075,05695,202
Wanganui221,987145,26778,66149,637
Nelson127,713140,514116,769141,980
Poverty Bay123,86549,27823,17017,731
New Plymouth118,22067,33837,48612,971
Greymouth93,46259,46028,66179,877
Oamaru58,02847,55928,79954,075
Westport44,95037,75011,3199,442
Wairau32,55915,9429,63818,964
Patea26,97515,56111,83911,604
Kaipara13,4347,8831,5341,294
Hokitika11,78912,69310,44413,549
Picton6,7221,591906583
Tauranga1,0623,6393,4351,493

ARTICLES OF IMPORTS.

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 respective heads.

IMPORTS FOR FIVE YEARS
Group of Principal Articles imported19031904190519061907

* Includes methylated and perfumed spirits and spirits of wine

 £      £      £      £      £      
Apparel and slops582,997603,894614,859685,195769,819
Boots and shoes245,639256,165282,211300,134290,786
Cotton piece-goods556,564550,775518,854612,348723,954
Drapery511,717501,888483,681549,640614,381
Haberdashery118,049112,816116,276121,079137,870
Hats and caps77,85387,98483,11794,75593,310
Hosiery125,618143,940144,370160,977189,880
Linen manufactures94,79488,69381,58784,482127,860
Millinery60,50367,56762,70659,45661,357
Silks128,223140,154119,72796,11195,248
Woollens436,161452,271438,480479,986474,204
Other textile fabrics48,68363,79182,17984,414167,826
          Totals2,986,8013,069,9383,028,0473,328,5773,746,495
Agricultural machinery and implements117,311124,756109,514122,668112,898
Cutlery27,16037,79738,59537,74627,607
Hardware and iron-mongery355,562341,442314,148371,037457,543
Rails and railway bolts, &c.131,592140,929120,064247,394156,020
Iron and steel, other, pig, wrought, wire, &c795,758849,929826,1671,087,5071,224,605
Machinery533,765681,719570,657645,882767,536
Nails39,44040,70344,98152,67060,166
Railway plant122,164183,99879,96689,41273,424
Sewing-machines51,09545,74933,74140,27937,635
Tools, artificers'98,076110,847115,741118,501120,418
Brass and brass-manufactures17,44426,08624,82923,52616,975
Tin and tin-manufactures75,26173,49382,63987,000104,567
          Totals2,364,6282,657,4482,361,0422,923,6223,159,394
Sugar441,843504,820424,534451,206569,472
Tea204,236237,738226,427229,469268,556
          Totals646,079742,558650,961680,675838,028
Beer38,62036,79639,93545,72654,804
Spirits*246,263263,645242,523294,073304,733
Tobacco260,478255,257281,539330,454372,322
Wine57,56056,85751,82565,02873,930
          Totals602,921612,555615,822735,281805,789
Paper212,541234,982236,231243,588276,632
Printed books171,672194,240183,560177,509184,125
Stationery136,968152,224160,157174,969185,836
          Totals521,181581,446579,948596,066646,593
Miscellaneous (specified articles)—     
  Arms, ammunition, and explosives138,146122,457122,65096,438137,069
  Automobiles, motorcars, and motorcycles16,59825,44148,91366,052149,092
  Automobiles, &c., materials for1,1593,2043,59013,76942,018
  Bags and sacks109,040123,673138,868121,492156,976
  Bicycles and tricycles71,08272,54870,42871,69257,721
  Bicycles and tricycles, fittings for90,48797,667120,540127,916127,790
  Candles56,48855,23241,68648,52241,528
  Canvas44,93953,99844,09160,76366,565
  Carpeting and druggeting44,80152,33755,49070,69477,243
  Carts, carriages, and materials for68,87175,21673,26167,11782,721
  Cement75,14868,27969,99565,549106,361
  China, earthenware, parianware, and porcelain89,753114,458102,306115,074154,665
  Coals158,143138,093155,786195,141213,377
  Drugs, chemicals, and druggists' wares261,864288,502265,411316,173340,502
  Fancy goods and toys177,227149,529151,972170,529202,321
  Fish (preserved and potted)53,95657,45251,18854,60865,574
  Floorcloth and oil-cloth86,24296,81787,78596,546111,371
  Fruits (including fresh, preserved, bottled, dried)233,382213,956271,841280,274398,259
  Furniture, cabinetware, and upholstery72,45772,65867,28178,82096,101
  Glass and glassware145,059158,586138,857175,837192,496
  Leather and leather-manufactures95,59494,161105,443121,335132,200
  Manures120,711147,995173,734209,838234,739
  Musical instruments113,849127,277123,795128,070136,459
  Oils248,859278,414255,198291,228311,455
  Timber163,497161,236133,276197,585270,770
      Total miscellaneous (specified articles)2,737,3522,849,1862,873,3853,241,0623,905,373
Other imports (excluding specie)2,216,9972,386,8992,371,9732,797,8873,438,035
      Total imports (excluding specie)12,075,95912,900,03012,481,17814,303,17016,539,707
Specie imported712,716391,664347,679908,233763,154
          Total imports12,788,67513,291,69412,828,85715,211,40317,302,861

Of £16,539,707, the total value of goods imported during 1907, the chief items were as under:—

ArticlesValueProportion per Cent
 £       
Clothing, drapery, &c.3,746,49522.65
Metal, machinery, and implements3,159,39419.10
Tea and sugar838,0285.07
Wine, beer, spirits, and tobacco805,7894.87
Paper, books, and stationery646,5933.91
Other imports7,343,40844.40
 £16,539,707100.00

Adopting the same classification as in the foregoing table the average value for each group is shown for the period 1895–7 as compared with 1905–7, distinguishing imports from the United Kingdom, British possessions, United States of America, Germany, and other foreign countries.

PeriodAverage Annual Imports from
United KingdomBritish PossessionsForeign Countries
United StatesGermanyOthersTotal Foreign Countries
  £      £      £      £      £      £      
Textiles, boots and shoes, drapery and clothing1895–71,746,58648,30515,9506,91610,03932,905
1905–73,009,873168,08687,43822,16774,953184,558
Iron and steel, machinery, hardware, tools, and other manufactures of iron and steel1895–7905,39091,252110,10218,98315,420144,805
1905–72,086,826209,065417,77855,74045,278518,796
Sugar and tea1895–74,235535,48636212,43215,38528,179
1905–7906697,3114,3782820,59825,004
Beer, wine, spirits, and tobacco1895–7217,88155,257101,8006,07619,452127,328
1905–7389,973125,003166,2819,82727,880203,988
Paper, books, and stationery1895–7238,35642,79729,8582,60271333,173
1905–7419,080110,95246,95919,71410,83077,503
Miscellaneous articles1895–71,536,861797,396274,02165,151123,152462,324
1905–73,087,4941,871,628700,458214,544340,3031,255,305
Specie1895–723,200125,005  841841
1905–731,359639,065  2,5982,598
                        Average imports1895–74,672,5091,695,498532,393112,160185,002829,555
1905–79,025,5113,821,1101,423,292322,020522,4402,267,752

There being no record of the countries of origin, all goods imported into New Zealand are credited to the countries from which they were shipped, and the figures are subject to some slight degree of qualification on this account.

The declared value of the clothing, drapery, &c., imported increased from £3,328,577 in 1906 to £3,746,495 in 1907. In 1903 the value of these imports was £2,986,801. The iron, machinery, and implements imported in 1907 were valued at £3,159,394, an increase of £794,766 on the corresponding figures for 1903 (£2,364,628).

The value of sugar and tea imported in 1907 shows an increase, when compared with 1906, of £157,353. Beer, wine, spirits, and tobacco show an increase of £70,508–from £735,281 in 1906 to £805,789 in 1907.

To the total value of “Other imports (excluding specie),” in 1907 (£3,438,035), shown in the table above, patent medicines contributed a sum of £43,384; brushware, £47,697; clocks, £20,319; paints and colours, £119,337; metal-manufactures, £246,916; plate and platedware, £93,521; saddlery and saddlers' ironmongery, £73,584; grain and pulse, £82,268; confectionery, £63,764; cordage, £49,772; flour, £43,320; farinaceous foods, £60,743; rice, £44,889; salt, £43,161; lead, £48,507; soap and soap-powder, £57,305; lamps, lanterns, and lampwick, £43,162; tools and implements, £60,477; and seeds, £201,795.

Amongst the articles imported belonging to the miscellaneous group are automobiles, motor-cars, and motor-cycles to the number of 6,205, valued at £149,092, of which 532, valued at £132,340, were of British manufacture.

Materials for the above vehicles to the value of £42,018 were also introduced, mostly from England and Australia.

Goods imported by means of the “parcels-post” system during 1907 were valued at £310,219.

Goods received from the Cook and other annexed Islands are now treated as New Zealand produce, and not as imports. The total in 1907 was valued at £61,922, and the principal articles of produce as follows: Raw coffee, £544; copra, £8,577; fruit, £46,334; coconuts, £278; hats, £2,819; vegetables, £342; fungus, £213; shells, £2,000.

VALUE OF FREE AND DUTIABLE IMPORTS.

Owing to changes of tariff in the year 1907 it is impossible to give a correct comparison of values classified as to rates, but taken as a whole the proportions of free and dutiable imports are given, and it is believed the results may be accepted as fairly correct. In the next Year-book a perfect comparison will be presented.

The proportions of free and dutiable goods imported during 1899, 1904, 1906, and 1907 are compared with similar figures for 1894, the year preceding that in which an altered tariff came into force. The remissions under the Tariff Act of 1907 did not operate until late in the year, but their effect is apparent. Increased duties on foreign goods were not imposed until 31st March, 1908.

18941899190419061907

* Including excise duties levied on certain imports manufactured in bond.

Merchandise—£      £      £      £      £      
  Free1,871,7722,942,9994,802,6085,476,9496,350,448
  Dutiable4,118,4055,670,6578,097,4228,826,22110,189,259
  Imports (less specie)5,990,1778,613,65612,900,03014,303,17016,539,707
 £      £      £      £      £      
  Total net duty received*1,572,4672,046,4522,655,1662,903,1313,085,276
Duty, per cent. of imports—Per CentPer CentPer CentPer CentPer Cent
  (a.) On dutiable imports38.1836.0932.7932.8930.28
  (b.) On all merchandise26.2523.7620.5820.3018.65

SUGAR.

The value of sugar (including glucose, molasses, and treacle) imported in 1907 was £569,472, an increase of £118,266 on the amount for 1906 (£451,206). The value of this import for the last three years has averaged only £481,737 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 (30lb. per head) deducted on account of Maoris—taken from “The Official Year-book of New South Wales, 1904–5.” 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
Queensland123.0
New South Wales109.2
New Zealand107.9
Western Australia107.6
South Australia107.8
Victoria100.7
Tasmania100.4

TEA.

The quantity of tea imported in 1907 was 6,771,169 lb. Supposing Maoris to use, on an average, 1lb. per head per annum, the consumption of tea per head of the population, exclusive of Maoris, would be 7.3 lb. in 1907.

AVERAGE ANNUAL CONSUMPTION OF TEA PER HEAD IN AUSTRALASIA
 Lb
Western Australia9.6
South Australia8.2
New Zealand7.3
New South Wales7.2
Queensland7.0
Victoria6.9
Tasmania6.2

BEER, SPIRITS, AND WINE.

During 1907 excise duty was paid on 9,049,600 gallons of beer; and 279,110 gallons of beer, 740,936 gallons of spirits, and 146,179 gallons of wine were entered at the Customs for home consumption.

The actual quantity of beer made and used in New Zealand has increased from 6,013,120 gallons in 1898 to 9,049,600 gallons in 1907:—

BEER MANUFACTURED IN NEW ZEALAND ON WHICH EXCISE DUTY WAS PAID
 Gal
18986,013,120
18996,261,200
19006,811,280
19017,134,800
19027,179,360
19037,555,200
19047,786,480
19057,796,160
19068,318,880
19079,049,600

The following table gives the consumption per head of alcoholic liquors by the people, excluding and including Maoris, showing separately the proportions of beer, wine, and spirits from 1898 to 1907. To the quantity of beer manufactured in each year on which excise duty was paid has been added the quantity brought into consumption from imports:—

YearBeerSpiritsWine
Excluding MaorisIncluding MaorisExcluding MaorisIncluding MaorisExcluding MaorisIncluding Maoris
 GalGalGalGalGalGal
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
19059.2128.7770.7300.6950.1300.124
19069.5699.0850.7730.7340.1430.136
190710.1509.6490.8060.7660.1590.151

A comparison of the consumption of beer, spirits, and wine per head in Australasia on an average of five years is added:—

BeerSpiritsWine
 GalGalGal
Queensland10.41.100.28
New South Wales9.80.830.68
Victoria13.40.701.29
South Australia8.40.465.43
Western Australia24.51.471.00
Tasmania9.220.540.17
New Zealand (including Maoris)9.360.750.15

Besides showing the quantity of alcoholic liquor consumed during the year, it seems desirable to give some information as to the actual cost 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 Dominion and used by the Government for the benefit of the people.

In the year 1907 the value of the various kinds of potable spirits imported reached the sum of £291,609, of imported beer to £54,791, and wines to £73,930; making altogether £420,330 paid to merchants abroad.

If to the above total be added £678,720, the estimated value of the beer manufactured, and £8,500, the estimated value of wine made, the cost for the introduction and manufacture of alcoholic beverages comes to £1,107,550 for the year 1907, against which may be set £8,231, representing the value of the small export for the same period.

TOBACCO.

The tobacco entered for consumption in 1907 was 2,619,939 lb., and the consumption per head of population, including Maoris, 2.71lb.

AVERAGE ANNUAL CONSUMPTION PER HEAD OF TOBACCO IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES
 Lb
Holland6.92
United States4.40
Turkey4.37
Western Australia4.36
Austria-Hungary3.77
Denmark3.70
Switzerland3.24
Belgium3.15
Germany3.00
New Zealand2.71
New South Wales2.69
Queensland2.65
Tasmania2.30
South Australia2.14
Canada2.11
France2.05
Victoria2.02
Sweden1.87
Spain1.70
United Kingdom1.41
Italy1.34
Russia1.23

DETAILS OF ALL ARTICLES OF IMPORT.

Details of all imports for 1907, giving quantities and values of articles introduced, with the amounts entered for home consumption, and the amount of duty received, are next shown:—

GENERAL IMPORTS INTO NEW ZEALAND DURING THE YEAR 1907.(For rates of duty, see Tariff, pp. 105 to 150.)
ArticlesTotal Quantities ImportedValue of Total ImportsEntered for Home Consumption on Importation and ex WarehouseAmount of Duty received, including Preferential
Acid— £       £sd
    Acetic487,885 lb6,111551,655 lb3,4471610
    Carbolic27,111 lb484    
    Salicylic5,819 lb355    
    Sulphuric27,831 lb256    
    Tartaric134,208 lb6,72194,217 lb392115
    Unenumerated102,644 lb2,632    
Alkali—      
    Potash and caustic potash1,481 cwt2,043    
    Soda, ash19,082 cwt6,312    
    Soda, carbonate and bicarbonate18,594 cwt7,92910,337 cwt5161610
    Soda, caustic15,341 Cwt11,031    
    Soda crystals81 cwt3181 cwt830
    Soda silicate5,111 cwt1,948    
    Unenumerated7,991 cwt4,271    
Alum4,117 cwt1,460    
Animals, Living—      
    Birds1,339 No406    
    Camels1 No135    
    Cats3 No4    
    Chamois8 No1,200    
    Deer42 No284    
    Dogs127 No896    
    Emus2 No2    
    Cattle, horned22 No2,52819 No9100
    Goats18 No63    
    Horses99 No11,78375 No7500
    Kangaroos2 No2    
    Monkeys13 No16    
    Opossums2 No2    
    Pheasants100 No30    
    Pigs10 No145    
    Poultry928 No1,228    
    Sheep648 No9,108    
Apparel and slops n.o.e768,140£766,108191,52716 
Apparel made to order of residents in the Dominion1,679£1,726690120 
Arms, ammunition, and explosives—      
    Accoutrements 85    
    Caps, percussion7,435,028 No968    
    Cartridges (shot), 10 to 24 bore6,956,750 No22,7056,900,100 No6,049195
    Cartridges n.o.e11,515,363 No7,393£6,7741,354145
    Cartridge-cases252,100 No398113,600 No5129
    Detonators for dynamite 3,693    
    Dynamite91,600 lb4,304    
    Firearms8,062 No11,897£11,7453,043194
    Parts of 1,434    
    Fuse195,808 coils4,635    
    Lithofracteur, cordite, and similar explosives728,473 lb26,913    
    Ordnance stores 12,154    
    Powder, blasting727,200 lb19,744    
    Powder sporting8,638 lb1,4676,435 lb17376
    Shot80 cwt14937 cwt18910
    Swords50 No108    
    Other explosives377,550 lb14,584    
    Unenumerated 4,438    
Asphalt26,288 cwt3,544    
Bacon and hams3,193 lb1573,193 lb26123
Bags and sacks—      
    Cornsacks390,713 doz136,391    
    Unenumerated100,154 doz20,585£33165176
Bagging and sacking 4,225    
Basketware and wickerware5,059£5,1341,42433 
Beer296,029 gal54,804279,108 gal27,910155
Belting, leather32,251 lb4,55928,065 lb467150
Belting, other than leather 24,064    
Beverages, non-alcoholic—      
    Aerated and mineral waters18,990 doz3,896£3,715742190
    Coffee-essence11,351£11,3552,27101 
    Limejuice, sweetened2,549 gal837£415193132
    Limejuice, unsweetened15,036 gal1,921£1112240
    Unenumerated908£46320270 
Bicycles and tricycles12,466 No57,721£57,92911,77684
    Materials for127,790£42,4298,898115 
Biscuits—      
    Fancy, and other kinds91,411 lb3,98790,527 lb754710
    Ships', plain92 cwt10598 cwt14149
Blacking21,223£20,9324,186102 
Blacklead6,249£6,0031,200110 
Blue301,125 lb7,509267,719 lb1,67701
Boats51 No1,653£92118440
    Fittings for3£30120 
Books, &c., printed 1184,125    
    boots and shoes104,649 doz. pr261,546£204,42167,01180
    Goloshes and sandshoes3,450 doz. pr3,968£4,003952411
    Indiarubber soles and heels4,061£3,64899389 
    Nos. 0 to 610,776 doz. pr8,665    
    Gum-boots1,690 doz. pr2,546£2,43648766
Borax5,475 cwt4,555    
Brass— £             £sd
    Pigs, bars, tubes, or sheets1,141 cwt6,808    
    Tubing or stamped work in the rough159 cwt839    
    Manufactures9,328£9,3051,86110 
Bricks—      
    Building53,910 No146    
    Fire362,821 No1,770£1,76635340
    Other kinds41,821 No204    
Bronze313 cwt2,373    
Brushware and brooms—      
    Brooms607 doz421£42110550
    Brushes (clothes, hair, hat, and toilet)9,493£10,6442,244182 
    Unenumerated28,344£27,8196,954139 
    Materials for 9,439    
Buckets and tubs—      
    Iron123 doz49£491250
    Wood5 doz3 0120
Building materials, n.o.e 28,688    
Butter1 cwt3    
Candles2,356,371 lb41,5282,405,081 lb11,586411
Canes and rattans 2,459    
Canvas 66,565£971980
Caramel, brewers'32,547 lb39629,971 lb178162
Cards, playing46,107 packs1,12985,729 packs2,14346
Carpeting and druggeting 77,243£76,81815,3631211
Carriages, &c.—      
    Automobiles, motor-cars, and motor-cycles625 No149,092£63,14214,20983
    Materials for 42,018£8,7592,30405
    Carriages209 No5,223£7,0771,622160
    Steam-motor lorries3 No1,890£1,973394120
    Carts, drays, and wagons91 No1,457£1,288360100
    Perambulators and go-carts1,030 No1,079£1,07927920
    Materials for 14,027£13,9203,08490
    Materials for—viz., axles, axle arms and boxes 23,233    
    Carriage and cart shafts, spokes, and felloes in the rough 8,410    
    Carriage and cart makers' materials 27,402    
Casks, empty336 No359£30260100
Cement239,978 barrels106,361222,725 barrels22,851108
Chains and chain cables10,569 cwt12,465    
Charcoal2,685 cwt1,367    
Cheese38 cwt174£14829115
Chicory18 lb118 lb946
China, porcelain, and parianware 50,318£50,14211,19462
Clocks67,528 No20,319£19,3755,651136
Coals220,749 tons213,377    
Cocoa and chocolate637,949 lb64,727604,805 lb7,56012
Cocoa-beans266,257 lb10,651    
Cocoa-butter257,110 lb12,953£670 3,649 lb14941
Cocoanut, desiccated246,169 lb4,774    
Coffee—      
    Raw195,365 lb6,828    
    Roasted2,862 lb1312,827 lb3569
Coke4,391 tons8,854    
Combs9,617£9,7052,176179 
Confectionery—      
    Chocolate in plain trade packages180,484 lb10,484177,504 lb2,218161
    Chocolate in fancy packages 32,101£31,807 13,021 lb6,524210
    Unenumerated637,451 lb21,179643,204 lb5,63121
Copper—      
    Nails178 cwt1,049    
    Pig, bar, sheet, or tube6,195 cwt34,378    
    Rod and bolt64 cwt368    
    Sheathing438 cwt2,356    
    Manufactures 464£4659303
Copra221 tons4,563    
Cordage6,095 cwt20,345£18,6183,90265
    Hawsers of 12 in. and over331 cwt442    
Iron and steel13,711 cwt28,985£1953900
Cork, cut 15,310£6,4981,299107
Cotton piece-goods—      
    Butter and cheese cloth 8,220    
    Calico, white and grey 218,587    
    Corduroy, moleskin, and beaverskin 2,816    
    Leather cloth 9,256    
    Shirtings, coloured cotton 38,520    
    Shirtings, flannelette 7,798    
    Shirtings, Union, of 6d. per yard and under 3,037    
    Tubular woven cotton cloth 35,794    
    Waterproof material 6,207    
    Unenumerated 393,719£337,53251,0441610
Cotton—      
    Raw183,914 lb4,674    
    Waste6,209 cwt9,130    
    Wick118,232 lb5,708    
Cutlery 27,607£27,6165,53384
Doors—      
    Plain321 No267376 No39160
    Glazed with ornamental glass1 No31 No040
Drapery 344,693£340,59868,119121
    Lace and laces, n.o.e 97,400£95,09523,7731411
    Ribbons and crape 52,295£50,02912,507610
    Tailors' trimmings 119,993    
Drugs, chemicals, and druggists' wares—      
    Baking-powder, yeast preparations, &c 1,564£1,444288187
    Carbide of calcium898 tons14,826    
    Chemicals n.o.e 13,007£12,7362,29054
    Cream of tartar1,039,939 lb38,062720,582 lb4,4671010
    Drugs, druggists' sundries, and apothecaries' wares 121,718£118,69920,37727
    Glycerine, refined 2,567£2,5935181111
    Tinctures and medicinal spirits45,208 lb6,32943,554 lb2,177147
    Washing-powder 2,192£2,21744380
    Anhydrous ammonia 4,703    
    Arsenic694 cwt1,060    
    Disinfectants 9,231    
    Food preservative2,526£579115180 
    Gums 2,476    
    Insecticides and tree-washes 2,142£40160
    Maltine 744    
    Medicinal barks, leaves, &c., 1,620    
    Phosphorus 997    
    Potassium-cyanide6,121 cwt24,972    
    Sheep-dip 28,151    
    Sheep and horse drenches and sheep-licks 449    
    Vanilla-beans3,567 lb321    
    Unenumerated 60,845    
Dyes 18,086    
Earthenware 104,347£100,66320,80050
Eggs for setting61 doz65    
Engine-packing5,313 cwt15,853    
Essences, flavouring—      
    Spirituous3,340 gal8,4193,396 gal2,71676
    Unenumerated 600£79914430
Essential oils—      
    Eucalyptus15,875 lb4,319£3,729745169
    Other kinds32,2887,320    
Fancy goods and toys 202,321£197,93749,312154
Felt sheathing 13,579    
Fire-engines94 No2,903    
Fire-hose and other appliances 4,791    
Fireworks 3,938£1,4392871610
Fish—      
    Anchovies, salted60 cwt126    
    Dried, pickled, or salted1,694 cwt3,4931,655 cwt8271011
    Potted and preserved2,492,268 lb61,9552,372,052 lb21,29371
Fishing-tackle—      
    Artificial flies 349£34285114
    Fish-hooks 634    
    Unenumerated 6,636£6,5601,311192
Fish-ova 22    
Flock309 cwt196£20820160
Floorcloth and oilcloth 111,371£110,87022,173193
Flour99,827 centals43,32099,445 centals4,97255
Foods, animal—      
    Chaff2,825 tons11,5063,156 tons3,155169
    Prepared calf-meal3 tons303 tons3100
    Unenumerated 8,236£7,3351,46712
Foods, farinaceous—      
    Arrowroot82,141 lb880    
    Macaroni and vermicelli291,865 lb3,683    
    Maizena and cornflour1,441,060 lb18,401815,378 lb84972
    Sago and tapioca29,511 cwt28,384    
    Unenumerated 9,395    
Fruits, bottled and preserved126,184 doz35,727£34,5288,63201
Fruits, dried—      
    Currants4,036,899 lb44,1461,300,306 lb5,417186
    Raisins5,280,453 lb85,2231,774,438 lb7,393910
    Unenumerated2,848,669 lb39,3581,142,492 lb9,520154
Fruits, fresh—      
    Apples, pears, plums, &c895,458 lb13,481885,808 lb3,6901710
    Apples and pears1,398,182 lb16,8381,397,184 lb2,910160
    Lemons988,650 lb10,250988,784 lb2,059194
    Currants and raspberries2,308 lb272,308 lb4162
    Other kinds25,742,314 lb148,504    
Fruits, lemon and orange peel, in brine582,706 lb4,125    
Fruit-pulp, and partially preserved fruit44,851 lb58045,650 lb28564
Fungus124 cwt219    
Furniture, cabinetware, and upholstery63,384£61,29418,72417 
    Kapok10,205 cwt24,974    
    Unenumerated 7,743    
Furniture, knife, plate, powder, and polish 8,987£8,9561,79135
Furs 21,534£18,6334,65849
Gelatine and isinglass166,020 lb9,567£5,562 68,768 lb1,54250
Glass—      
    Bottles, empty 59,003    
    Mirrors and looking-glasses 9,811£9,7912,447147
    Plate, bevelled, &c 12,929£12,6283,156176
    other kinds482,730 sup. ft17,892£15,9753,6221810
    Window 249,599 sup. ft33,7143,623,500 sup. ft4,9861
Glassware 59,147£51,20313,395168
Glue and size126,311 lb2,623118,159 lb738910
Gold-leaf 325    
Grain and pulse—      
    Barley4,303 centals2,0594,303 centals430611
    Beans and peas1,518 centals1,2581,590 centals59127
    Oats116,228 centals37,620115,808 centals4,3421510
    Wheat23,159 centals8,03723,159 centals86894
    Unenumerated66,687 centals23,36566,352 centals2,48842
    Ground, unenumerated18,298 centals9,92915,658 centals7821711
Grease6,470 cwt5,081£4,751 centals95046
Grindery—      
    Heel and toe plates 913£875196176
    Unenumerated 32,486    
Gum, kauri28 tons1,557    
Haberdashery 25,318£23,8544,770147
    Buttons, &c 38,824    
    Sewing cottons, silks, and threads 71,156    
    Unenumerated 2,572    
Hair589 cwt2,991    
Hardware, holloware, and ironmongery 392,098£385,25084,895112
Coffin-furniture 1,881£1,92638540
Hardware 3,087    
Hats and caps72,517 doz93,310£90,64922,66239
Hatters' materials 25,294    
Hemp406 tons15,461    
Hides1,948 No2,464    
Honey3,136 lb68448 lb3148
Hops85,527 lb3,80268,525 lb2,311130
Hosiery 189,880£189,30742,3411610
Indiarubber and gutta-percha goods 21,885£10821120
Ink—      
    Printing211,821 lb8,290£15430160
    Writing 3,269£1,96862688
2,328 gal      
Instruments, musical—      
    Harmoniums and organs499 No6,581£6,4121,413611
    Pianos4,302 No101,466£99,48325,019310
    Unenumerated 22,536£22,2204,993142
    For Volunteer bands 628    
    Materials for 5,248£3627280
Instruments, other kinds—      
    Optical 3,581    
    Scientific 7,794    
    Surgical and dental 46,995£6,0531,210172
    Surveying 1,775    
    Unenumerated 242    
Iron and steel—      
    Angle669 tons5,912£32680
    Bar, bolt, and rod21,791 tons199,017£2,085416180
    Bolts and nuts30,176 cwt33,703    
    Castings for ships16 tons520    
    Galvanised manufactures 787£7201791810
    Hoop2,383 tons24,184£4028080
    Hoop, galvanised5,214 cwt3,8405,217 cwt39150
    Pig9,723 tons45,566    
    Pipes and fittings17,743 tons188,159£105,8096,22649
    Rails17,988 tons136,331£12,4442,4881610
    Railway bolts and fastenings1,648 tons19,689£2254500
    Sheet and plate7,948 tons77,944£1,12522500
    Sheet, galvanised, corrugated314,695 cwt291,085314,144 cwt31,41492
    Sheet, galvanised, plain78,919 cwt70,39278,706 cwt5,902193
    Staples and standards955 tons11,064£6,3441,268160
    Tanks4,988 No15,5024,945 No2,26100
    Wire, fencing, barbed3,629 tons47,392    
    Wire, fencing, plain10,940 tons116,204    
    Wire, telegraphic and telephone196 tons6,031    
    Wire netting 65,005    
    Wire, unenumerated1,649 tons18,711    
    Unenumerated521 tons3,587    
Jams, jellies, and preserves629,686 lb12,211588,332 lb4,902154
Jellies, concentrated173,883 lb7,104163,799 lb2,729198
Jewellery 18,233£17,5853,5981210
Lamps, lanterns, and lamp-wick 43,162£42,59911,06659
Lard68 cwt181£2204400
Lead—      
    Pigs and bars1,199 tons25,413    
    Pipe (including composition)318 cwt436318 cwt55121
    Sheet18,561 cwt22,47011,594 cwt869117
    Manufactures 188£182 cwt36100
Leather780,190 lb116,320620,115 lb5,41508
    Chamois 1,290£1,28625740
Leather manufactures—      
    Boot and shoe vamps, uppers, and laces 9,186£8,5881,994164
    Unenumerated 5,404£5,2961,103158
Lighthouse, materials for 176    
Linen piece-goods—      
    Forfars, dowlas, and flax sheetings 24,293£2,79055806
    Forfars, &c., cut up under supervision £14,713    
    Linens n.o.e 22,267£17,9423,58867
    Hessians and scrim 81,280    
    Unenumerated 20    
Liquorice 2,282£1,791 26,590 lb58817
Machinery and machines—      
    Agricultural (including agricultural implements) 103,397    
    Agricultural, ploughs and harrows 9,501    
    Dairying 49,487    
    Dairying engines for 52£1,3236630
    Dairying boilers for 10£1185180
    Dredging 8,483£2,26941393
    Electric 233,352£121,09414,76986
    Engines, steam63 No9,434£9,5611,91240
    Engines, gas and oil2,377 No110,132£34,0276,80585
    Engines, gas and oil, for motor-cars135 No13,577£2,98559700
    Engines, gas and oil, parts of3,405£1,64132862 
    Engines, boilers for57 No8,777£9,1861,83740
    Flour-milling 2,424£2,30411546
    Gas-making 30,269£25,8792,699137
    Knitting41 No1,099    
    Mining 35,216£187970
    Mining engines for 2,374£2,46712370
    Mining boilers for453£45322130 
    Paper-milling 938£73136110
    Portable and traction engines75 No29,360    
    Printing 58,758£55,1252,75659
    Refrigerating 8,191£8,296414166
    Sewing11,067 No37,635    
    Woodworking 9,067    
    Woollen-milling 11,174£9,951497110
    Unenumerated 128,601£103,91717,8461010
    Materials for, and parts of 12,903£3,910761110
Maize, flaked3,197 bush4593,197 bush159170
Malt6,464 bush1,9446,467 bush6461310
    Rice-malt7,020 lb807,020 lb2950
Manures—      
    Bonedust11,147 tons62,996    
    Guano14,483 tons43,141    
    Unenumerated35,424 tons128,602    
Marble—      
    Dressed or polished, and manufactured9,095£9,2672,316140 
    Hewn or rough-sawn568 tons4,263    
Matches and vestas—      
    Wax .. (boxes)93,891 gross16,32893,026 gross5,63507
    Wooden .. (boxes)48,382 gross3,64544,326 gross2,228163
Mats and matting 13,038£13,1082,622142
Meats, potted and preserved 1,273£1,223244128
Medicines, patent and proprietary 43,384£44,6657,322138
Metal, manufactures of—      
    Anchors670 No680    
    Japanned and lacquered metalware 1,422£1,40135050
    Rivets and washers13,486 cwt13,065    
    Tacks2,250 cwt3,583    
    Typewriters1,139 No18,105    
    Weighbridges and weighing-machines 4,574£3,986797410
    Unenumerated 205,487£75,48315,226710
Metal sheathing, other than copper10 cwt56    
Milk, preserved698,204 lb12,809£10,9492,73764
Millinery—      
    Feathers, ornamental 4,579£4,5361,13376
    Other kinds 56,778£56,73514,1831710
Mustard310,046 lb16,267123,091 lb1,025153
Nails—      
    Iron94,365 cwt60,02291,669 cwt11,941103
    Unenumerated66 cwt14452 cwt71711
Naphtha (wood)16,514 gal1,6944,197 gal104186
Nuts—      
    Almonds, in shell33,126 lb1,4383,936 lb32160
    Almonds, shelled52,344 lb2,9152,937 lb36144
    Almonds, Barbary234,541 lb10,973    
    Cocoanuts25,932 No119    
    Unenumerated198,582 lb6,85156,350 lb469118
Oakum411 cwt464    
Oars2,240 No357    
Oils—      
    Castor, bulk122,671 gal17,53746,608 gal1,16541
    Castor, bottled937 doz. pts404£40867170
    Cod-liver22,489 gal2,491    
    Colza36,009 gal3,4263,844 gal9620
    Fish, penguin, and seal31,105 gal2,265    
    Linseed351,881 gal43,580239,694 gal5,99271
    Mineral, kerosene3,653,951 gal146,853    
    Mineral, other kinds404,052 gal32,040297,396 gal7,418911
    Olive, bulk4,725 gal9973,884 gal97111
    Olive, bottled1,134 doz. pts513£54993156
    Whale45 gal6    
    Unenumerated, bulk388,464 gal37,316322,616 gal8,06581
    Unenumerated bottled16,054 gal7,272£7,0821,245154
    Unenumerated409,312 gal16,755    
Oilmen's stores 11,855£11,5202,317147
  68 gal   
Onions63,906 cwt14,33163,767 cwt3,18872
Opium106 lb11755 lb11050
Paints and colours59,127 cwt77,57557,504 cwt7,18810
    Mixed ready for use10,005 cwt23,6979,349 cwt2,33771
    Unenumerated15,708 cwt18,065    
Paper—      
    Bags, coarse12 cwt171 ½ cwt0105
    Bags, other kinds4,533 cwt6,770£6,5251,795910
  13,124 lb   
    Butter-paper6,723 cwt11,116    
    Paperhangings41,150£29,8294,83491 
    Printing191,497 cwt151,805£2,128425120
    Wrapping8,965 cwt9,8708,913 cwt2,90129
    Writing29,940 cwt50,124    
    Unenumerated3,973 cwt5,780    
Pearl barley4,442 cwt2,5314,372 cwt218120
Peas, split3,492 cwt2,0093,518 cwt351164
Peel, candied and dried7,212 lb2127,465 lb9363
Perfumery—      
    Perfumed spirits1,687 gal7,0761,646 gal2,46971
    Toilet preparations 16,389£16,1034,025180
    Unenumerated 553£54613696
Photographic goods 5,327£5,0581,011124
    Copper, glass, and zinc plates for photo-lithographic works 723    
    Photographic cameras and lenses 8,416    
    Sensitised surfaces for photographic purposes 18,164    
Pickles3,071 gal8943,154 gal47310
Pictures, paintings, drawings, engravings, and photographs16,633£11,0992,219188 
    Family portraits 24    
    Paintings, &c., for museums, &c 120    
Picture frames and mounts 9,007£8,9191,783156
Pitch23,271 cwt3,690    
Plants, trees, and shrubs 8,158    
Plaster of-paris15,446 cwt3,155    
Plate and platedware 93,521£93,24619,13586
Portmanteaux and travelling-bags 9,326£9,3652,34141
    Leather bags and leather cloth bags 1,104£1,104220160
Potatoes14,857 tons47,324£ 24,69211,0641610
  6, 126 tons   
    Potatoes for seed192 tons1,349    
Printing materials—      
    Stereotypes and matrices 195£19548176
    Type and materials, n.o.e 20,367£24600
Provisions—      
    Eggs6,565 doz271£2715440
    Eggs, desiccated, white and yolk of egg 1,218£1,369273160
    Eggs, liquid, white and yolk 315£3156300
    Unenumerated 18,419£18,5313,70655
Pumps 10,105£7,1491,678165
Putty7,144 cwt3,2997,175 cwt78344
Quicksilver8,154 lb861    
Railway plant—      
    Locomotives2 No900    
    Parts of locomotives 9,739    
    Unenumerated 62,785£1,199239160
Resin16,003 cwt9,653    
Rice66,719 cwt44,889    
Rice-flour70 cwt6124 ½ cwt776
Rice-meal refuse2,840 cwt466    
Rugs, all kinds 22,419£22,4664,49330
Saccharine39,735 oz62921,030 oz1,57756
Saddlery and harness (including whips) 33,452£33,2136,642126
    Harness oil, composition, and leather-dressing 3,823£3,279655160
    Saddlers' ironmongery and materials 26,830    
    Collar-check 9,479    
Salt17,991 tons41,381    
    Rock salt902 tons1,780    
Saltpetre97 tons2,306    
Sauces15,974 gal10,62114,892 gal2,978710
Sausage-skins250,256 lb15,878252,118 lb3,15195
Seeds—      
    Grass and clover80,190 cwt138,854    
    Unenumerated 62,941    
Shale315 tons948    
Shells41 cwt16    
Ship-chandlery 6,599    
Silks, &c 195,248£93,03723,25989
    Silk for flour-dressing 181    
Silver6,128 oz733    
Skins and pelts—      
    Fur-skins267,502 No3,311    
    Rabbit444,590 No3,641    
    Unenumerated4,874 No1,364    
Slates, roofing310,581 No2,366    
Soap—      
    Common17 cwt2217 cwt450
    Powder, extract of soap 12,775£12,1702,43405
    Unenumerated 44,508£43,30410,825185
Specie—      
    Gold 753,300    
    Silver 8,374    
    Copper 1,480    
Specimens illustrative of natural science 379    
Spices—      
    Ground17,048 lb66115,842 lb19480
    Unground686,212 lb16,731393,955 lb3,282193
Spirits—      
    Bitters, cordials, and liqueurs4,199 gal3,8403,297 gal2,637182
    Brandy77,406 gal37,12674,894 gal59,915610
    Gin and geneva, unsweetened99,131 gal25,22182,861 gal66,28905
    Methylated152 gal21154 gal7138
    Rum17,503 gal3,93518,601 gal14,880131
    Sweetened6,180 gal1,7527,689 gal6,15113
    Whisky576,984 gal215,139544,315 gal435,45228
    Unenumerated4,355 gal4,5963,854 gal3,08315
Spirits of wine86,158 gal6,0272,029 gal1,623152
    Methylated, in bond  78,909 gal1,972148
Sponges 140£961530
Starch972,836 lb10,862990,222 lb8,251171
    Starch, confectioners' moulding178,130 lb790    
    Starch waste489,011 lb764    
Stationery—      
    Manufactured 73,973£67,65116,912140
    Unenumerated 68,325£54,54513,05189
  171,389 lb   
    Apparatus and appliances for teaching purposes 6,459    
    Bookbinders' materials 10,117    
    Cardboard boxes, materials for 19,962    
    Unenumerated 7,000    
Stearine 6224 lb180
    For match-making353,844 lb8,324353,844 lb1,105153
Stone—      
    Building503 tons1,198    
    Granite and other stone, dressed or polished 5,742£5,7381,434116
    Granite, unwrought36 tons189£1587180
    Grind, mill, oil, and whet stones 3,996    
Sugar—      
    Raw1,033,040 cwt546,7872,240 lb4131
    Refined21,739 cwt16,37075,586,168 lb157,47138
    Glucose8,825 cwt5,3461,039,275 lb4,33063
    Molasses8,965 cwt9655,564 lb111110
    Golden syrup  1,579,720 lb3,29118
    Treacle2 cwt4588,682 lb1,22685
    Molasses mixed with bone-black8,734 cwt682    
Sulphur6,788 cwt2,025    
Tallow¾ ton22    
Tanning materials, crude—      
Bark3,491 tons33,436    
Other kinds 1,765    
Tar 1,832    
Tarpaulins and tents 245£2454908
Tea6,771,169 lb268,556122,034 lb1,016189
Textile piece-goods other than silk, cotton, linen, or woollen 145,997£143,37628,67550
    Articles made up from, other than apparel 21,829£21,6124,94356
Timber—      
    Laths and shingles2,735,012 No3,1852,732,512 No27356
    Logs4,201 No15,258    
    Logs, hewn10,430,145 sup. ft104,07    
    Palings701,049 No4,370701,200 No70148
    Posts55,281 No1,99055,276 No220199
    Rails5,750 No1335,750 No1171
    Sawn, undressed16,162 628 sup. ft136,70212,457,400 sup. ft12,45780
    Sawn, dressed114,384 sup. ft3,146114,425 sup. ft228174
    Uneuumerated 1,915    
Tin—      
    Block442 cwt31,693    
    Foil25,231 lb2,261    
    Sheet55,813 cwt52,127    
Tinware18,486£18,3404,58525 
Tinsmiths' furnishings and fittings 2,843    
Tobacco—      
    Unmanufactured13,928 lb63527,594 lb2,75980
    Manufactured2,248,560 lb223,1092,138,061 lb374,02060
    Cigars66,873 lb23,54169,382 lb24,283161
    Cigarettes421,538 lb124,838151,105,000 No134,273410
  11,779 oz. 5,035 lb   
  5,035 lb   
    Snuff1,563 lb1991,369 lb47930
Tobacco-pipes, cases, &c 30,097£29,3746,55380
Tools and implements—      
    Axes and hatchets 11,534    
    Engineers' machine tools 28,508    
    Scythes 1,116    
    Sheep-shears 2,261    
    Spades, shovels, and forks 17,055    
    Unenumerated 120,418    
Tramway plant 3,854£3,31566680
Turpentine, driers, and terebine121,476 gal19,455    
Twine609,581 lb18,269£16,4403,33394
    Nets and netting 1,454£1,37627540
    Binder341 cwt1,022    
    Unenumerated 498    
Umbrellas and parasols 18,493£18,4363,687611
    Materials for 10,791    
Varnish and gold-size60,105 gal27,01156,375 gal5,6371011
Vegetables, fresh, dried, or preserved 3,318£3,139627179
Vinegar50,248 gal5,98955,153 gal1,378168
Watches46,783 No21,284£20,8884,177111
Watchmakers' materials 1,082    
Waterworks materials, other than iron pipes 101    
Wax—      
    Beeswax146 cwt1,04118,208 lb75174
    Paraffin1,833,520 lb22,8561,774,035 lb6,430196
    Unenumerated15,924 lb58115,742 lb78132
Whalebone 10    
Whiting and chalk12,641 cwt1,24312,554 cwt627145
Wine—      
    Australian66,876 gal22,51466,186 gal16,5461010
    Sparkling14,870 gal28,18314,617 gal6,5771311
    Other kinds69,445 gal23,23365,402 gal19,611139
Woodenware 39,409£26,3245,264175
    Mouldings 25,676£25,5634,25955
Wool—      
    Greasy70,863 lb3,652    
    Scoured3,328 lb200    
    Washed935 lb22    
Woollen piece goods434,683£430,62686,12545 
    Blankets15,533 pairs5,399£5,3711,07458
Woolpacks63,356 doz75,317    
Woolpockets1,182 doz1,077    
Yarns 11,703£11,0562,21166
    Coir, flax, and hemp 3,462    
Zinc—      
    Tiles, ridging, &c 299£29959160
    Zinc-manufactures n.o.e 332£3327780
    Perforated sheet551 cwt1,387    
    Plain sheet7,979 cwt12,801    
    Spelter6,834 cwt9,895    
Minor articles 7,095    
Articles and materials suited only for and to be used solely in the fabrication of goods within the Dominion 23,295    
Miscellaneous goods—      
    Manufactured 37,504    
    Unmanufactured 13,948    
Parcels-post 310,219 58,63212
EXCISE DUTIES      
Tobacco, manufactured  19,686 lb98460
Cigars  281 lb2111
Cigarettes made by hand  6,376 lb318166
Cigarettes made by machinery  106 lb1363
Tinctures over 50 per cent. proof spirit  103,473 lb3,88047
Tinctures under 50 per cent. proof spirit  714 lb8186
Culinary and flavouring essences  971 gal5821311
Perfumed spirits  45 gal4500
Toilet preparations  1 ½ gal0180

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 1907 are given in Section X.

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:—

19031904190519061907

* See page 148.

CUSTOMS DUTIES£      £      £      £      £      
Spirits498,256520,664509,928556,393595,218
Wine35,71035,01833,07237,53242,737
Ale, beer, &c.20,41320,35121,82725,15827,911
Cigars, cigarettes, and snuff107,838110,151121,435139,065159,037
Tobacco322,227341,127348,600363,931376,779
Tea43,6064,8385345481,013
Coffee, cocoa, &c.5,9516,8846,1366,1797,595
Sugar and molasses192,675200,266196,736214,134166,335
Opium*192173204130111
Other goods by weight184,951198,231201,498212,738225,309
Other goods by ad valorem982,8001,098,3871,097,9681,210,6171,317,206
Other duties76,24579,75875,00087,604101,539
Parcels-post31,03234,34139,72845,07458,632
          Totals, Customs duties2,501,8962,650,1892,652,6662,899,1033,079,422
19031904190519061907

* Including £162 excise duty on culinary and flavouring essences.

† Including £281 excise duty on culinary and flavouring essences, and £8 toilet preparations.

‡ Including £155 excise duty on culinary and flavouring essences, and £62 toilet preparations.

§ Including £275 excise duty on culinary and flavouring essences, and £90 toilet preparations. Including £582 excise duty on culinary and flavouring essences, £1 on toilet preparations, and £45 on perfumed spirits.

EXCISE DUTIES£      £      £      £      £      
Tinctures—New Zealand*3,560†3,450‡2,473§2,5564,517
Cigars, cigarettes, and snuff—New-Zealand-manufactured37146684343353
Tobacco — New - Zealand-manufactured1,6511,0619101,129985
Beer—New Zealand94,44097,33197,452103,986113,120
        Totals, excise duties100,022102,308100,919108,014118,975
 £sd£sd£sd£sd£sd
Revenue from Customs duties per head of mean population (excluding Maoris)310329310349370
Ditto (including Maoris)2171021982181316338
Revenue from excise duties per head of mean population (excluding Maoris)025.3025.1023.8024.9027.1
Ditto (including Maoris)023.8023.6022.5023.5025.5

The Customs revenue for the year 1907 amounted to £3,079,422, and the excise duties to £118,975. The revenue from Customs was £3 7s. per head of population excluding Maoris, and £3 3s. 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 and 1905, show increases, the proportion for 1907 being higher than in any year, shown in the table following. Details for eighteen years are given:—

CUSTOMS REVENUE PER HEAD OF EUROPEAN POPULATION
 £sd
1890293
1891297
18922116
18932104
1894264
1895269
18962911
18972130
18982133
18992145
190021610
19012164
19022173
1903310
1904329
1905310
1906349
1907370

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. For the year 1905, although the collections under these heads show an increase, the amount per head of population was £3 3s. 4d., a decrease on the previous year's total of 1s. 10d. per head. For 1906 the rate per head was £3 7s 2d., a substantial increase on that for 1905, while the rate for 1907 shows a further increase to £3 9s. 7d.

Besides an alteration of tariff in 1895 in some 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 £16,539,707 in 1907, while the changes of tariff were effected.

The Customs revenue for 1907 was increased by the sum of £70,239 in consequence of “The Preferential and Reciprocal Trade Act, 1903,” but the exemption in favour of British-grown tea has resulted in a considerable loss of revenue. The duty collected on all tea imported in 1903 was £43,606, while in 1907 only £1,013 was received. The preferential duties which have been imposed on articles not British produce or manufacture are stated on page 138, and the provisions of the Act as to reciprocity, &c., will be found set out in a special article in Part III.

In 1907 the Customs tariff was completely revised and some important alterations made. Among articles placed upon the free list are: Sugar, molasses and treacle, currants, raisins, figs, dates, prunes, unground spices, mustard, maizena, cornflour, almonds and nuts (excepting walnuts), carbonate and bicarbonate of soda, tartaric acid, infants' foods, forfar, dowlas, and flax-sheeting, vegetable oils, fencing staples and standards, sheet lead; gas, electricity, and water meters; rubber and pneumatic tires for carriages. Children's boots Nos. 0–6 and tea in bulk are admitted free if of British manufacture or growth.

Increased rates of ordinary duty were imposed on certain articles, among which are found: Flavouring essences, n.o.e., medicinal preparations, drugs and druggists' sundries, candles, paraffin wax, hosiery, cash-registers, cartridges (shot), 10–24 bore, cartridge-cases, certain sizes of iron and fibre pipes, mouldings and panels.

Tea, the produce of British dominions, if in packages of 5 lb. in weight or over is admitted free, in packages under 5 lb. 2d. per pound. The preferential duty on tea of foreign growth is 2d. per pound if in packages of 5 lb. in weight or over, and 2/5d. per pound if in packages of a lesser weight than 5 lb.

The effect of these tariff changes will be experienced during the current year, and to the full extent only during the last three quarters of the year, as the preferential surtax on items additional to those charged in 1903 did not operate until the 1st April. The subject of preference is treated of later in this section.

The tariff (general and preferential) has been given in full in Part I (see page 105). 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 ½lb. and under, 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 pound; roasted coffee, 3d. 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, 1902, and 1906. 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 and snuff; 3d. per gallon on beer; 9d. per pound on medicinal preparations (with exceptions) containing more than 50 per cent. of proof spirit, or if less than 50 per cent. free. Toilet preparations subject to 16s. liquid gallon on importation, 12s. the liquid gallon, or when subject to 25 per cent. duty, 6s. per gallon. 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 New Zealand 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 149 in detail, with the full tariff.

PREFERENTIAL TARIFF.

In 1903 the Legislature of New Zealand, with the object of encouraging trade between this country and other parts of the British Empire, imposed a surtax upon certain goods not being the produce or manufacture of some part of the British dominions. This may be regarded as the small beginning of what under the tariff of 1907 came to be a substantial qualification of the ordinary rates.

In 1907, while the tariff was under revision, some changes were made in the preferential duties of 1903, and the number of articles subject to the surtax greatly increased, until at present two-fifths of all the items on the tariff come under this head. A complete list of the articles upon which preferential duty is charged will be found in Schedules C, D, and E of the tariff given in Part I of this volume.

The value of imports into New Zealand from foreign countries has never assumed large proportions, ranging from 13.6 to 17 per cent. of the total during the past ten years. From 1899 to 1904 there was a steady increase, but from the latter year to 1907 the proportion has fallen from 17 to 13.6 per cent. of the total, a result, no doubt, in a large measure due to the preferential treatment of British goods.

During the three years 1905–7, when the preferential tariff of 1903 was in full operation, the proportion of the value of goods imported upon which the surtax was charged, to the total value of goods imported, excluding specie, was—

YearValue of Imports subject to Preferential DutyProportion to Total Value of Imports (excluding Specie)
 £Per. Cent
1905599,7644.81
1906620,6004.34
1907658,0273.98

The value of imports from the United States of America on which duty is payable increased during the period 1902–4 by 14 79 per cent., and decreased by 0.59 per cent. between 1905 and 1907. For the same periods the value of the dutiable goods imported from Germany increased by 45.44 per cent. and 17.13 per cent. respectively.

The Advisory Committee of the British Board of Trade, in a report based upon information collected by their Commissioner, who visited New Zealand for that purpose, remarks: “The figures as a whole suggest that the effect of the preferential arrangements has been to divert to the United Kingdom and the British possessions a portion of the trade formerly held by foreign countries in commodities affected by the preference, and that in particular in the last year (1906) the United Kingdom and British possessions were enabled to secure the whole of the increase in the imports of these commodities, which constituted in that year about 22 per cent. of the total imports into New Zealand. This conclusion is borne out by evidence collected both in the Dominion and in the United Kingdom itself from various firms engaged in the New Zealand trade. Thus it was frequently stated that before the Act of 1903 came into operation Belgian bars could be placed in the New Zealand market cheaper than Scotch or North Country bars, but that the 20 per cent. ad valorem duty on foreign bars has completely reversed matters, and that British iron can now be purchased and landed in New Zealand at less cost than the continental article. The same statement is made as to most kinds of manufactured metal goods to which preferential treatment is accorded. British-made boots and shoes are also said to benefit considerably.”

GROWTH OF IMPORTS FROM UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND GERMANY.

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 the value of free goods introduced has been at a higher rate since the year 1898 than of those which paid duty:—

IMPORTS FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
YearOn the East CoastOn the West CoastTotal Imports
Admitted Free of DutyOn which Duty PayableAdmitted Free of DutyOn which Duty PayableAdmitted Free of DutyOn which Duty Payable

* Of this sum £100,497 value was for Government use.

 £      £      £      £      £      £      
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
1905541,685668,93354,415173,468596,100842,401
1906529,572638,69952,230185,280581,802823,979
1907562,805708,74725,324128,720588,129837,467

To show the nature of the imports from the United States of America a statement giving the articles and values thereof for the year 1907 is introduced. Examining the figures, it will be found that tobacco to the value of £166,607 was imported into New Zealand last year; boots and shoes, £33,466; oils, £194,587; hardware, &c., iron and steel, with machinery, tools and implements, &c., came to £461,963. The rest is a miscellaneous list of articles, to which fruit (fresh and dried) contributed more than £58,800.

LIST OF PRINCIPAL ARTICLES IMPORTED FROM UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN 1907 
 £    
Apparel and slops, n.o.e17,559
Arms, ammunition, &c17,349
Bicycles and tricycles, materials for3,265
Books, printed6,770
Boots and shoes33,466
Brass and manufactures of1,469
Brushware and brooms2,862
Building materials10,352
Canvas3,047
Carriages, &c.— 
    Automobiles, motor-cars, and motor-cycles, and materials for12,206
    Carriages1,589
    Carts, drays, perambulators, &c1,672
    Materials for12,509
Clocks12,094
Cocoa-beans1,132
Confectionery3,557
Cordage1,412
Cotton piece-goods22,212
Cutlery1,244
Drapery2,660
Drugs, chemicals, and druggists' wares21,696
Earthenware1,159
Engine-packing1,929
Fancy goods and toys7,419
Felt sheathing4,650
Fish, dried, pickled, potted, and preserved7,288
Foods, farinaceous3,476
Fruits, bottled and preserved13,843
Fruits, dried35,498
Fruits, fresh9,479
Furniture, cabinetware, and upholstery13,818
Furniture, knife, and plate polish and powder2,983
Glass bottles, empty4,460
Glassware6,929
Grain and pulse2,894
Grease2,736
Grindery6,692
Haberdashery4,631
Hardware, holloware, and ironmongery52,180
Hops1,623
Hosiery1,157
Indiarubber and gutta-percha goods2,641
Ink, printing2,210
Instruments, musical4,831
Instruments, other kinds9,599
Iron and steel82,601
Lamps, lanterns, and lamp-wick11,045
Leather19,000
Leather manufactures1,961
Machinery and machines— 
    Agricultural (including agricultural implements)45,196
    Agricultural — ploughs and harrows1,565
    Dairying5,347
    Dredging1,791
    Electric20,777
    Engines, steam2,553
    Engines, gas, oil, and parts of31,356
    Mining and engines for1,530
    Printing10,234
    Refrigerating2,310
    Sewing19,135
    Woodworking2,645
    Other39,730
Marble1,457
Medicines, patent and proprietary8,571
Metal, manufactures of— 
    Rivets and washers1,006
    Typewriters5,997
    Other32,859
Nails28,705
Oils— 
    Colza1,423
    Kerosene143,982
    Other49,182
Paints and colours9,900
Paper bags1,391
Paperhangings2,009
Paper— 
    Printing7,577
    Writing3,205
    Other kinds1,705
Perfumery3,087
Photographic goods1,429
Pictures, paintings, drawings, engravings, and photographs1,458
Picture frames and mounts2,335
Plaster-of-paris2,545
Plate and platedware1,406
Printing materials2,448
Pumps2,163
Resin8,455
Saddlery and harness1,792
Saddlery and harness materials for1,885
Sausage-skins13,284
Seeds, grass and clover6,664
Ship chandlery1,256
Soap and soap powder10,446
Spirits1,872
Stationery, manufactured3,458
Stationery, other9,568
Stones—grind, mill, oil, and whet1,480
Sugar, glucose4,697
Timber5,435
Tinware1,117
Tobacco, manufactured108,619
Tobacco, cigars5,445
Tobacco, cigarettes52,543
Tools and implements74,446
Tramway plant2,655
Turpentine, driers, and terebine15,589
Varnish and gold-size3,044
Watches4,591
Wax, paraffine13,059
Woodenware, mouldings9,012
Woodenware, other19,909
Other imports33,836
 £1,425,596
IMPORTS FROM GERMANY, 1898–1907
YearAdmitted Free of DutyOn which Duty PayableProportions per Cent
Admitted Free of DutyOn which Duty Payable
 £      £        
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
190564,920212,54723.4076.60
1906109,538227,42232.5167.49
1907102,677248,95729.2070.80

Among the imports from Germany the principal items in value were musical instruments, fancy goods and toys, iron and steel, manures, machinery, hardware, &c., and glassware.

LIST OF PRINCIPAL ARTICLES IMPORTED FROM GERMANY IN 1907
 £      
Acid, acetic1,581
Apparel and slops, n.o.e7,718
Arms, ammunition, &c1,146
Basketware and wickerware1,406
Bicycles and tricycles, materials for1,496
Boots and shoes1,384
Brushware and brooms1,551
Building materials, n.o.e3,806
Carriages, &c.— 
    Automobiles, motor-cars, motor-cycles, and material for2,739
China, porcelain, and parianware7,655
Clocks2,309
Cotton piece-goods3,125
Drapery4,794
Drugs, chemicals, and druggists' wares6,893
Dyes1,055
Earthenware3,293
Fancy goods and toys34,399
Furniture, cabinetware, and upholstery4,703
Furs4,285
Glass— 
    Bottles, empty3,466
    Window1,335
Glassware13,753
Haberdashery1,271
Hardware, holloware, and ironmongery12,652
Hosiery2,232
Instruments, musical— 
    Pianos49,713
    Other kinds4,486
Instruments, other kinds1,467
Iron and steel24,951
Lamps, lanterns, and lampwick8,970
Leather and leather-manufactures1,996
Machinery and machines— 
    Dairying1,302
    Engines, gas, oil, and parts of1,091
    Electric6,317
    Sewing4,008
    Other3,036
Manures14,652
Matches and vestas1,522
Metal, manufactures of3,856
Nails3,398
Paper— 
    Printing1,424
    Writing1,064
    Other5,558
Paperhangings2,499
Picture frames and mounts1,385
Plate and platedware1,177
Provisions1,116
Seeds (grass, clover, and other)13,802
Spirits4,954
Stationery (manufactured)2,506
Stationery other5,673
Textile piece-goods other than silk, cotton, linen, or woollen1,506
Tobacco3,759
Tobacco pipes, cases, &c1,242
Tools and implements2,481
Woodenware (mouldings)4,796
Woollen piece-goods1,848
Zinc2,016
Other imports32,016
                  Total£351,634

SOUTH AFRICA.

The value of goods imported from South Africa during the past ten years is very small, as shown below, but the total trade as will be seen further on has at times reached a considerable amount.

YearImports
 £  
189872
1899215
1900502
1901386
1902997
1903299
1904804
1905559
1906394
19071,073

Chapter 42. SECTION X.—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 1907, inclusive of specie (£7,316), was £20,068,957. The value of New Zealand produce exported, £19,783,138, gives an average of £21 10s. 6d. per head of population, against £19 18s. 5d. for the previous year. The increase in the value of exports of New Zealand produce for 1907 in respect of that for 1906 amounts to £1,942,792, or 10.89 per cent.

While this most important increase is noticeable in the value of exports of New Zealand produce for 1907 when compared with that for 1906 (£1,942,792), the imports have already been shown to have increased from £15,211,403 to £17,302,861.

The balance of trade was at the end of last year as under:—

 £    
Exports, 190720,068,957
Imports, 190717,302,861
Excess of exports for year£2,766,096

The difference is slightly less than that shown for the previous year (1906), when the balance of trade in favour of the Dominion was £2,883,734.

Exports to Different Countries.

The values of exports for the years 1897 and 1907 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, considered for such period:—

Countries18971907
 £      £      
United Kingdom8,168,12310,533,493
New South Wales735,8501,341,073
Victoria ..387,782795,883
Queensland28,86811,031
Western Australia72,81913,169
South Australia33,12036,678
Tasmania65,34523,426
Other British possessions56,718338,371
United States375,096714,063
Germany5,46866,489
Other foreign ports87,804195,281
 £10,016,993£20,068,957

A comparison for the period 1898–1907 of the value of the export trade with the United Kingdom, British colonies and possessions, and foreign countries, exhibits an increase of about 36 per cent. in case of exports to foreign States, against a rise of 67 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 100 per cent. in the decade.

 Exports to
YearUnited KingdomBritish Colonies and PossessionsForeign States
 £      £      £      
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
190512,087,8182,591,802976,327
190614,047,1763,141,327906,634
190716,533,4932,559,631975,833

The following are the values of exports to different countries or places in 1907 and 1906, arranged in order of magnitude of increase or decrease:—

Country19071906Increase
 £      £      £      
United Kingdom16,533,49314,047,1762,486,317
United States of America714,063642,79271,271
Ceylon112,02457,00755,017
British Columbia60,02622,11137,915
South Australia36,67824,19712,481
Germany66,48954,95211,537
Canada17,9897,70410,285
Gibraltar6,5136,513 
Belgium15,2419,6255,616
Society Islands28,86724,7424,125
Cape Colony16,27012,7093,561
Argentine Republic4,7731,3473,426
Country19071906Increase
 £      £      £      
Queensland11,0317,6703,361
Uruguay5,5452,4563,089
New Caledonia3,8681,6152,253
New Britain866 866
Bengal5,6234,802821
Caroline Islands1,442668774
King Edward VII Land737 737
Peru613 613
Maiden Island635142493
Banks Island417 417
Chili1,307980327
China34569276
Holland26741226
New Hebrides399224175
Sweden159 159
Low Archipelago85 85
Italy67 67
Torres Island37 37
Transvaal Colony16512936
Switzerland251015
Rhodesia10 10
Brazil3353269
Egypt9 9
New Guinea8 8
Surprise Island18126
Bombay51474
Burmah4 4
Russia3 3
Siam3 3
Mexico3 3
Norway2 2
Country19071906Decrease
 £      £      £      
New South Wales1,341,0731,900,022558,949
Victoria795,883891,44395,560
Natal47,28275,83628,554
France31,74152,54120,800
Western Australia13,16928,97715,808
Tasmania23,42630,2136,787
Navigators Islands40,60644,5903,984
Fiji57,52360,9513,428
Singapore1353,4843,349
Japan1,4674,6983,231
Friendly Islands49,28251,6442,362
Denmark6,4117,8481,437
Portuguese East Africa1,258 1,258
Solomon Islands1,0641,968904
Philippine Islands3700697
Costa Rica500 500
Hong Kong11,61812,030412
Austria-Hungary19357338
Sandwich Islands401669268
Norfolk Island1,3211,521200
Penang138 138
Madras28164136
British East Africa21 21
British New Guinea9 9
Guam2 2

Re-exports.

The re-export trade of New Zealand would seem from the subjoined figures to have been almost stationary until 1907, when the re-exports of merchandise were valued at £278,503, or less than 1 ½ 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
1905138,539
1906152,134
1907278,503

With these sums may be contrasted the re-export trade of New South Wales—a State having less than double the population of New Zealand—which, exclusive of bullion and specie, amounted in 1906 to £7,454,192, or no less than 19.43 per cent. of the value of all goods exported.

Exports from the North and South Islands.

The exports from the North and South Islands respectively, excluding “Parcels-post,” during the last five years were as under:—

YearNorth IslandSouth IslandProportion to Total Export
 £        £        North IslandSouth Island
19037,994,2276,995,30753.3346.67
19048,369,3486,358,27856.8343.17
19058,648,6466,986,69155.3144.69
190610,438,3117,635,28657.7542.25
190712,204,9017,836,66160.9039.10

Exports from Different Ports, &c.

The following table gives the values of the exports from each port in New Zealand for the years 1907, 1900, 1895, 1890, arranged in order of magnitude for 1907:—

 1907190018951890
 £      £      £      £      
Wellington3,919,0022,345,3951,140,3541,506,383
Auckland3,472,4052,068,3611,302,0751,237,600
Lyttelton and Christchurch2,836,7392,522,9121,635,3312,251,412
Napier1,784,885770,159870,422963,520
Dunedin1,538,4151,478,0711,047,4891,117,011
Timaru1,216,542932,949474,858624,809
Invercargill and Bluff1,180,867741,750595,277475,997
Poverty Bay993,367450,125136,539183,700
New Plymouth and Waitara914,089503,921108,84661,968
Patea524,35937,71740,34734,706
 1907190018951890
 £      £      £      £      
Wanganui468,307386,960241,053118,615
Greymouth343,890255,385257,065237,700
Wairau and Picton309,923141,039123,355228,030
Oamaru249,828324,616300,893464,017
Kaipara128,487144,68090,621100,973
Nelson79,34158,30363,72768,658
Westport49,90345,89740,73643,956
Hokitika31,21325,47574,54687,409
Tauranga 646133

During the period covered by the above table the increase in the value of the exports from nearly all of the ports was substantial, and in some cases remarkable. The percentage of increase for the four chief ports was: Auckland, 180.6; Wellington, 160.2; Dunedin, 37.7; and Lyttelton, 26.0.

Value of Articles exported.

A comparative table showing the values of New Zealand domestic exports, according to their nature, for twenty 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 more than nineteen millions and three-quarters.

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 Dominion classified in groups. This analyses the very great increase on the total previously referred to, and especial notice is directed to the excellent results shown in the group for “Animals and Produce”:—

VALUE OF PRINCIPAL ARTICLES EXPORTED, 1906 AND 1907
 Year 1906Year 1907Increase in 1907Decrease in 1907
THE MINE£      £      £      £      
Coal122,614114,737 7,877
Gold2,270,9042,027,490 243,414
Silver and minerals162,033202,67640,643 
                  Total2,555,5512,344,903 210,648
THE FISHERIES    
Fish18,06720,0161,949 
Oysters2,7283,132404 
Whale-oil509208 301
Other283250 33
                  Total21,58723,6062,019 
THE FOREST    
Fungus11,16110,157 1,004
Kauri-gum522,486579,88857,402 
Timber—    
Sawn and hewn304,941311,8626,921 
Other2,5782,5791 
                  Total841,166904,48663,320 
ANIMALS AND PRODUCE    
Bacon and hams4,4596,1301,671 
Beef and pork (salted)9,33514,5875,252 
Butter1,560,2351,615,34555,110 
Cheese341,002662,355321,353 
Hides143,682187,07943,397 
Live-stock69,87271,2241,352 
Preserved meats94,482100,2135,731 
Frozen meat2,877,0313,420,664543,633 
Rabbit-skins50,68653,7573,071 
Sausage-skins58,53768,4979,960 
Sheep-skins and pelts680,630796,127115,497 
Tallow455,026560,965105,939 
Wool6,765,6557,657,278891,623 
Other29,72829,507 221
                  Total13,140,36015,243,7282,103,368 
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS    
Bran and sharps13,6042,777 10,827
Chaff574192 382
Flour2,2391,574 665
Grain—    
    Barley19,51218,346 1,166
    Beans and peas32,37429,656 2,718
    Maize19828 170
    Oats76,9814,656 72,325
    Wheat9,915326 9,589
Hops18,06910,927 7,142
Oatmeal11417258 
Potatoes1,5321,027 505
Seeds (grass and clover)89,02287,300 1,722
Other kinds6,4085,986 422
                  Total270,542162,967 107,575
MANUFACTURES    
Apparel2,4672,111 356
Leather44,33957,44813,109 
Phormium fibre776,106832,06855,962 
Woollen-manufactures7,35310,6773,324 
Other manufactures157,999171,39813,399 
                  Total988,2641,073,70285,438 
Miscellaneous22,87629,7466,870 
Total exports (domestic produce and manufactures)17,840,34619,783,1381,942,792 
Specie102,6577,316 95,341
Re-exports152,134278,503126,369 
                  Total exports£18,095,137£20,068,957£1,973,820 

The class designated “Animals and Produce” shows by far the greatest value, the sum for 1907 being £15,243,728, which includes £7,657,278 for wool and £3,420,664 for frozen meat. The total value of exports in this class increased during the year by £2,103,368 on a total of £13,140,360 1906.

“The Mine” takes second place among the classes for total value, with an export of coal, gold, silver, and other minerals amounting to £2,344,903 for 1907, being a decrease of £210,648 on £2,555,551, the export for the previous year.

“Agricultural Products,” principally grain, hops, and seeds, show a decrease of £107,575 on the value exported in 1906, some of the items showing a considerable falling-off, oats especially.

“The Forest” shows an export for last year valued at £904,486, which is an increase of £63,320 on the figures for the previous year.

“Manufactures” are set down at £1,073,702 in 1907, being £85,438 more than in the previous year. Phormium fibre shows an increase on the operations for 1906 of £55,962. Woollen-manufactures sent abroad increased by £3,324, leather increased by £13,109, apparel decreased by £356, and other manufactures increased by £13,399.

The smallest group in respect to value is “The Fisheries.” The total for the group was £23,606 last year, an increase of £2,019 on the value of similar exports in 1906.

Quantities of Articles exported.

The exports of New Zealand produce or manufacture for the last two 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
ItemsYear 1906Year 1907Increase in 1907Decrease in 1907

*At 20 lb to the bushel.

The Mine:—    
    Coal .. .. Tons141,641128,950 12,691
    Gold .. .. Oz563,843508,210 55,633
    Silver .. .. Oz1,390,5361,562,603172,067 
    Minerals .. .. Tons1,3131,651338 
The Fisheries:—    
    Fish .. .. Cwt9,65711,2761,619 
    Oysters .. .. Doz326,655419,71793,062 
The Forest:—    
    Fungus .. .. Cwt4,9584,160 798
    Gum (kauri) .. Tons9,1548,708 446
    Timber (sawn and hewn) S.ft75,528,89972,154,417 3,374,482
Animals and Produce:—    
    Bacon and hams .. Cwt1,2681,642374 
    Beef and pork (salted) Cwt8,01411,7783,764 
    Butter .. .. Cwt320,225328,4418,216 
    Cheese .. .. Cwt131,206236,833105,627 
    Hides .. .. No134,467182,68148,214 
    Live-stock (cattle, horses, sheep, pigs) No14,59114,970379 
    Meats (preserved) .. Cwt10,19247,2397,047 
    Meats (frozen) .. Cwt2,025,5072,354,808329,301 
    Sausage-skins .. Cwt13,28215,6502,368 
    Skins (rabbit) .. No5,454,7385,513,90059,162 
    Skins (sheep) and pelts .. No6,551,2287,016,744465,516 
    Tallow .. .. Cwt378,400414,88036,480 
    Wool .. .. Lb154,384,568171,635,59517,251,027 
Agricultural Products:—    
    Bran and sharps .. Tons4,167597 3,570
    Chaff .. .. Tons11734 83
    Flour .. .. Tons279183 96
    Grain, barley .. Bush78,68269,740 8,942
    Grain, beans and peas Bush128,098120,905 7,193
    Grain, maize .. Bush994113 881
    Grain, oats .. Bush734,99736,693 698,304
    Grain, wheat .. Bush61,1991,374 59,825
    Hops .. .. Cwt4,3792,555 1,824
    Potatoes .. .. Tons1281324 
    Seeds(grass and clover) Bush*283,578205,733 77,845
Manufactures:—    
    Ale and beer .. Gal10,08717,0206,93 
    Cordage .. .. Cwt6,6553,537 3,118
    Leather .. .. Cwt6,4747,7161,242 
    Phormium fibre .. Tons27,77928,547768 
    Soap .. .. Cwt7,0876,152 935

The increases in certain articles, amongst them, silver, cheese, frozen meat, hides, wool, sheep-skins and pelts, and tallow, are very satisfactory, and in some cases considerable; while, on the other hand, the export of grain, gold, seeds, timber, and kauri-gum, with some other items, declined in 1907.

To sum up it will be seen that the great increase in value of exports is not solely a matter of market prices, but that increased quantities have contributed very largely on the most important items towards bringing about the enhanced money value for 1907 over that for 1906.

New Zealand Produce exported: Value for Twenty Years.

The position as to value in respect of a period of twenty years, 1888 to 1907 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, rabbit and other skins, and pelts, hides, sausage-skins, and live-stock. The aggregate value of these in 1907 was £3,103,626.

EXPORTS OF NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE
Calendar YearWoolGoldFrozen MeatButter and CheeseAgricultural ProduceManufacturesOther N.Z. ProduceTotal
 £      £      £      £      £      £      £      £      
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
18914,129,6861,007,1721,194,724236,933894,467420,3571,516,7559,400,094
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
19004,749,1961,439,6022,123,881969,7311,230,565549,3421,992,93213,055,249
19013,699,1031,753,7842,253,2621,121,0911,532,386425,1421,905,69212,690,460
19023,354,5631,951,4262,718,7631,369,3411,045,986755,2322,302,28813,498,599
19034,041,2742,037,8323,197,0431,513,065744,845823,3582,480,77514,838,192
19044,673,8261,987,5012,793,5991,565,946559,243896,3622,125,31014,601,787
19055,381,3332,093,9362,694,4321,613,728428,280882,9602,408,86115,503,530
19066,765,55270,9042,877,0311,901,237270,542988,2642,766,71317,840,346
19077,657,2782,027,4903,420,6642,277,700162,9671,073,7023,163,33719,783,138

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 1907 increased to £19,783,138, the highest value yet attained in any one year.

Thus there was a net increase of exports, during the last ten years, to the value of £9,458,150, 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 171,635,595 lb. in 1907, or at the rate of 67 per cent., and that of frozen meat from 898,894 cwt. to 2,354,808 cwt.

Gold, too, which was exported to the quantity of 187,641 oz. in 1890, increased to 508,210 oz. in 1907, the rate of increase being 171 per cent.

Wool exported and produced.

The quantity of wool exported in 1907, as previously shown, was 171,635,595 lb., valued at £7,657,278—an increase of 17,251,027 lb., or 11.17 per cent., on the quantity exported in the previous year, and of £891,623 or 13.18 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 Dominion for manufacturing purposes. But this method does not allow for wool on sheep-skins exported.

The following shows the produce for each of the last twenty years ending on the 30th September:—

Year ending 30th SeptemberQuantity exportedQuantity purchased by Local MillsTotal Annual Produce
 Lb.        Lb.        Lb.        
188889,276,2684,079,56393,355,831
188995,618,5073,556,00499,174,511
1890102,522,1852,979,203105,501,478
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
1897134,410,9553,298,409137,709,424
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
1905140,889,7673,651,343150,541,110
1906152,765,2324,372,472157,137,704
1907164,006,5794,116,722168,123,301

From these figures it appears that, notwithstanding the apparent decrease from 1898 to 1901, and for 1904, the wool-clip has increased by over 80 per cent. during the period covered by the table.

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 ten years are:—

YearsGreasy. Per CentScoured and Sliped. Per CentWashed. 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
190582.0916.821.09
190682.2516.910.84
190783.5915.870.54

Although the increase in the wool-production since 1888 shown above is mainly due to the greater number of sheep—namely, 20,983,772 in April, 1907—improvement in breeding has resulted in a greater weight of fleece.

A comparative statement for several years is supplied, showing the number of flocks in groups of sizes:—

NUMBER OF FLOCKS, 1892 TO 1907
Size of Flocks1892189418961898190019031907

* 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, 2,733 flocks; from 2,500 to 5,000, 811 flocks.

Under 5008,82210,31412,02812,88612,23912,42812,014
500 and under 1,0002,0332,4272,6052,7082,8102,9233,661
1,000 under 2,0001,1931,4091,4602,412*2,621†2,751‡§3,544
2,000 under 5,000761933892
5,000 under 10,000314345340341352342441
10,000 under 20,000231230231231196207230
20,000 and upwards17617914714413911087
          Totals13,53015,83717,70318,72218,35718,76119,977

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 Dominion amounted to 3,951,209. Ten years after (1888) the export had risen to 11,809,407, from which it increased to 17,041,106 in 1893, the greatest number as yet exported in a year. From 1895 the fall was rapid, and the export for 1898 only reached 6,607,934 skins. In 1899 there was a slight upward tendency, the number exported being 7,891,648, which, however, fell to 5,690,893 in the year 1900. In 1901 7,122,008 skins were exported, in 1905 the number rose to 8,831,107 skins, but fell to 5,454,738 in 1906. In 1907 there was a slight increase, the number exported being 5,513,900.

The figures for the years 1893 to 1907 are quoted:—

YearNumber 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
1903101,899
19046,103,930
19058,831,107
19065,454,738
19075,513,900

From the foregoing it will be seen that the importance of the export has very much diminished. The fall, represented in money value, has been:—

YearValue 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
190566,983
190650,686
190753,757

While the amount of money received for this product is less than in some of the earlier years shown, it may be a satisfactory result, as seemingly indicating some abatement of the rabbit pest. The increase for 1905 is probably due to the more vigorous enforcement of the laws relating to the destruction of rabbits, as there does not appear to be any report of an unusual increase in their number. 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 that year the number of sheep-skins and pelts sent away from New Zealand was 1,646,401, against 7,016,744 in 1907, a rise of 320 per cent. for the period between those years. The value increased from £83,574 to £796,127, or over 850 per cent. Figures for the last ten years are quoted:—

YearExport of Sheep-skin and Pelts
 No
18984,995,325
18994,960,054
19004,669,430
19014,601,531
19026,144,680
19037,142,531
19046,037,460
19054,931,191
19066,551,228
19077,016,744

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 414,880 cwt. in 1907. In 1906 the quantity was 378,400 cwt. The latest ten years show the following results:—

TALLOW EXPORTED.

YearsCwt£      
1898347,160302,141
1899338,620311,649
1900367,780368,473
1901335,360351,710
1902424,060550,131
1903396,940517,871
1904322,480357,974
1905318,942347,888
1906378,400455,026
1807414,880560,965

The decreases for 1903, 1904, and 1905 synchronize with those of the number of sheep.

Frozen Meat exported.

Frozen meat now takes second place among the exports of New Zealand produce. In 1907, 2,354,808 cwt., valued at £3,420,664, were shipped. 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:—

YearLb
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
1905189,356,608
1906226,856,784
1907263,738,496

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; those for 1904 include 8,509 (683 cwt.) of hares, and 3,788,576 (100,442 cwt.) of rabbits, valued at £86,931; those for 1905 include 8,173 (658 cwt.) of hares, and 2,807,242 (78,170 cwt.) of rabbits, valued at £60,782; those for 1906 include 4,993 (387 cwt.) of hares and 2,517,600 (72,286 cwt.) of rabbits, valued at £54,463; and those for 1907 include 4,706 (476 cwt.) of hares, and 3,325,941 (96,064 cwt.) of rabbits, valued at £72,385: so that rabbits can hardly now be looked upon as wholly worthless, especially when the export of the skins, previously remarked upon, is also considered.

To ascertain the total value of the meat export in 1907 it is necessary to take into consideration, with the amount of £3,420,664, value of frozen meat before stated, £15,083 for frozen fish; also the value of preserved meats, £100,213; of salted beef and pork, £14,587; and of bacon and hams, £6,130.

Gold exported

The amount of gold exported in 1907 was 508,210 oz., a decrease of 55,633 oz. on the quantity exported in 1906.

The total quantity of gold entered for duty to the 31st December, 1907, which may be reckoned as approximately the amount obtained in New Zealand, was 18,218,680 oz., of the value of £71,528,978. For fuller information, see special section on mining.

Grain exported.

The value of the grain exported in 1907 was £53,204. The grain exports for 1906 and 1907 were made up as under:—

 19061907
 Bushels£      Bushels£    
Wheat61,1999,9151,374326
Oats734,99776,98136,6934,656
Barley78,68219,51269,74018,346
Maize99419811328
Peas and beans128,09832,374120,90529,656
Rye and unenumerated2,855494765192
        Total quantity and value1,006,825£139,474229,590£53,204

Compared with the previous year, the quantity and value of grain exported in 1907 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 fell to 194,671 bushels and 71,700 bushels respectively, in 1904 the export was 813,535 bushels, in 1905 967,151 bushels, in 1906 61,199 bushels, and in 1907 only 1,374 bushels.

YearWheat 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
1905967,151
190661,199
19071,374

The imports of wheat during 1898 exceeded the exports by upwards of 50,000 bushels, but from 1899 to 1906 the imports were practically nil, the small quantity introduced being for seeding purposes only. In 1907 the import was 38,598 bushels, of which 31,933 bushels come from Victoria, and 6,665 bushels from New South Wales.

In oats, the quantity exported in 1907 was insignificant
YearExport 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
19051,076,916
1906734,997
190736,693

The acreages under cereals for the last four years have been:—

 1904–1905. Acres1905–1906. Acres1906–1907. Acres1907–1908. Acres
Land in wheat (for threshing)258,015222,965211,185193,031
Land oats (for threshing)342,189360,569372,929386,890
Land barley (for threshing)29,48429,64433,30536,177

Butter and Cheese exported.

The total quantity of butter and cheese exported in the past nineteen years, and the amount of either commodity sent to the United Kingdom, is tabulated:—

YearTotal Export of ButterButter Exported to the United KingdomTotal Export of CheeseCheese Exported to the United Kingdom
 CwtCwtCwtCwt
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
1905305,722282,27588,56285,653
1906320,225306,739131,206129,321
1907328,441314,081236,833234,517

Of the butter exported in 1907, 314,081 cwt., valued at £1,540,275, were shipped to the United Kingdom; 347 cwt., value £1,721, to Victoria; 765 cwt., value £4,264, to New South Wales; 755 cwt., value £3,789, to Fiji; 10,957 cwt., value £56,795, to Cape Colony and Natal; 1,043 cwt., value £5,966, to the South Sea Islands; 2 cwt., value £7, to Norfolk Island; 1 cwt., value £3, to Malden Island; 455 cwt., value £2,322, to British Columbia; 32 cwt., value £184, to Sandwich Islands; and 3 cwt., value £14, to the Argentine.

Of the cheese exported, 234,517 cwt., valued at £655,061, were sent to the United Kingdom; 364 cwt., value £1,327, to New South Wales; 504 cwt., value £1,747, to Victoria; 49 cwt., value £192, to Queensland; and 15 cwt., value £87, to the other Australian States; 1,227 cwt., valued at £3,437, to Cape Colony and Natal; 130 cwt., value £417, to Fiji; and 27 cwt., valued at £87, to other countries. While the quantity of butter exported in 1907 (328,441 cwt.) shows an increase of 765 per cent. on the quantity exported in 1889, the increase in the export of cheese during the nineteen years has been at the rate of 792 per cent.—236,833 cwt. in 1907, as against 26,558 cwt. in 1889.

Phormium fibre exported.

Phormium fibre, of which 28,54 tons (excluding 6,885 tons of tow), valued at £832,068, were exported in 1907, shows an increase in quantity and value, on comparing the figures for last year with those for 1906, when the quantity sent away was 27,779 tons, valued at £776,106. 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 1907 (8,708 tons) is less than that of the previous year by 446 tons. The value was £579,888, or an average of £66 11s. 10d. per ton. Full information as to the uses of this resin and the kauri-gum industry generally was given in a special article in Part III of the Year-book for 1900. It embraces interesting matter from the report of the Royal Commission which investigated the whole subject in 1898.

EXPORTS, 1907
Articles exportedQuantitiesValue in Sterling
Produce and Manufactures of the DominionBritish, Foreign, and other Colonial Produce and ManufacturesProduce and Manufactures of the DominionBritish, Foreign, and other Colonial Produce and ManufacturesTotal
Acid—  £      £      £      
    Tartaric .. .. lb 17,192 830830
    Unenumerated .. lb 6,780 22022
Agricultural implements  439545984
Alkali—     
    Soda crystals .. cwt 5 55
    Unenumerated .. cwt207 150 150
Animals, living—     
    Cattle, horned .. No322 3,454 3,454
    Horses .. .. No638322,57730022,877
    Birds .. .. No29 22 22
    Dogs .. .. No23180300380
    Pigs .. .. No248 570 570
    Poultry .. .. No2,75014382440
    Sheep .. .. No13,762 44,083 44,083
Apparel and slops, n.o.e  2,1063,1705,276
Apparel and slops, made to order  5 5
Arms, ammunition, and explosives—     
    Cartridges .. .. No900563,36241,2711,275
    Detonators .. .. No 13,120 3131
    Dynamite .. .. lb 1,714 103103
    Firearms .. .. No 5,045 10,29010,290
    Fuse .. .. coils 631 1919
    Powder, sporting .. lb 505 3737
    Unenumerated   44
Asphalt .. .. cwt 6 66
Bacon and hams—     
    Bacon .. .. cwt688 2,493 2,493
    Hams .. .. cwt954 3,637 3,637
Bags and sacks—     
    Cornsacks .. .. Doz 10,300 1,6001,600
    Unenumerated .. Doz11410,357381,0531,091
Basketware and wickerware  62531
Beche-de-mer .. .. cwt 10 2222
Beer .. .. gal17,0203,6321,8368882,724
Belting—     
    Leather .. .. lb 3,225 584584
    Other than leather  20720740
Beverages, non-alcoholic—     
    Aerated and mineral waters doz1,44414830949358
    Limejuice, sweetened gal 10 22
    Limejuice, unsweetened gal258225212142
    Unenumerated  3348342
Bicycles and tricycles .. No106593565658
Materials for  23,3773,379
Biscuits—     
    Fancy and other kinds lb16,7551493587365
    Ships', plain .. cwt5,002144,731384,769
Blacking ..   348348
Blue .. .. .. lb22826,4965677682
Boats .. .. No8151119530
Bones .. .. Tons80 362 362
Books, &c., printed  5,3735,51610,889
Boots and shoes .. Doz. prs565622301,0421,272
    Indiarubber soles and heels for   117117
Bran .. .. Tons541 2,459 2,459
Brass—     
    Pig, bars, &c. .. cwt 40 7575
    Manufactures  91726
    Scrap .. .. cwt32 65 65
Bricks—     
    Building .. .. No25,000 70 70
    Fire .. .. No6,250 60 60
Brushware and brooms  59126185
Building material, unenumerated  201,2691,289
Butter .. .. cwt328,441 1,615,345 1,615,345
Candles .. .. lb2003,15557176
Canes and rattans   5050
Canvas  20186206
Caramel .. .. lb 2,352 3434
Cards, playing .. packs 168 44
Carpeting and druggeting   897897
Carriages, &c.—     
    Automobiles, motor-cars, and motor-cycles .. No 25 9,7539,753
    Automobiles, &c., materials for   1,2081,208
    Carriages .. .. No318482170652
    Carts, drays, and wagons No24 320 320
    Perambulators and go-carts No3 4 4
    Materials for  1254,6074,732
Casks, empty .. .. No6473,7591491,2151,364
Cement .. .. barrels630610249384633
Chains .. .. cwt 8 1010
Charcoal .. .. cwt116215657
Cheese .. .. cwt236,833 662,3552662,357
China, porcelain, and parianware   117117
Clocks .. .. No 29 2424
Coal .. .. Tons128,95080114,73778114,815
Cocoa and chocolate .. lb41710,354301,0211,051
Cocoa-beans .. .. lb 2,834 8888
Cocoa-butter .. .. lb 7,728 632632
Coffee—     
    Raw .. .. lb3,7551,2748548133
    Roasted .. .. lb1521,44676774
Coke .. .. .. Tons15 15 15
Combs ..   2323
Confectionery—     
    Chocolate in plain trade packages .. lb 5,060 215215
    Chocolate in fancy packages  14223237
    Unenumerated .. lb5,0134,181122124246
Copper—     
    Pig, bar, sheet, &c. .. cwt 4 2020
    Manufactures   1212
    Scrap .. .. cwt5 12 12
Copra .. .. Tons5362485013,08013,930
Cordage .. .. cwt3,5376735,3111,4196,730
    Iron and steel .. cwt 18 5454
Cork, cut   126126
Cottons—     
    Butter and cheese cloth   548548
    Calico, white and grey   840840
    Unenumerated  2046,40046,420
Cutlery ..   164164
Doors .. .. No399 346 346
Drapery  1663,5293,695
    Lace and laces, n.o.e   323323
    Ribbons and crape   17017
    Tailors' trimmings  17487261
Drugs, chemicals, and druggists' wares—     
    Baking-powder  20 20
    Chemicals, n.o.e  21542257
    Carbide of calcium .. Tons 1 2525
    Cream of tartar .. lb 21,406 760760
    Drugs, druggists' sundries, &c.  4052,8273,232
    Glycerine, refined  741488
    Tinctures and medicinal spirits .. .. lb 6 22
    Washing-powder   7171
    Anhydrous ammonia  12103115
    Insecticides and tree-washes   33
    Medicinal barks, leaves, &c   7373
    Sheep-dip  425208633
    Vanilla-beans .. lb 10,497 1,0681,068
    Casein .. .. cwt379 1,767 1,767
    Unenumerated  148718866
Dyes  46064
     
Earthenware  1921,3711,563
Eggs .. .. Doz2,565 183 183
Engine-packing .. cwt 25 483483
Essences, flavouring .. gal 1 44
Essential oils .. .. lb842038044124
Fancy goods and toys  1,4202,1663,586
    Curiosities  39225417
Feathers .. .. lb953 24 24
Felt sheathing .. cwt10214317
    Fireworks ..   55
Fish, dried, &c. .. cwt747889116205
    Potted and preserved lb118,055130,4924,8443,0617,905
    Frozen .. .. cwt10,148 15,083 15,083
Fish ova .. .. No197,000 184 184
Fishing-tackle  335891
Floorcloth and oilcloth  24446
Flour .. .. Tons18311,574121,586
Foods, animal—     
    Chaff .. .. Tons3421192100292
    Unenumerated  283 283
Foods, fariaceous—     
    Arrowroot .. .. lb 1,462 2222
    Maizena and cornflour lb 3,810 5050
    Sago and tapioca .. cwt 144 152152
    Unenumerated  1590105
Fruits—     
    Bottled and preserved Doz5753123195218
Fruits, dried—     
    Currants .. .. lb 230,415 2,3562,356
    Raisins .. .. lb 295,627 4,4064,406
    Unenumerated .. lb 169,011 2,8342,834
Fruits, fresh .. .. lb17,1851,71319432226
Fruits, lemon and orange peel in brine .. lb 2,240 6060
Fungus .. .. cwt4,160 10,157 10,157
Furniture, cabinetware and upholstery—  1,9161,2653,181
    Karok .. .. cwt 9 3232
Furniture and other polish   7070
Furs   2,9432,943
Gelatine and isinglass lb1,0641,47810597202
Glass—     
    Bottles, empty   5151
    Broken .. .. cwt5,463 500 500
     
    Mirrors and looking-glasses   1313
    Window .. .. sup. ft 7,593 8484
Glassware  3393396
Glue and size .. .. cwt1,119 394 394
Glycerine (crude) .. cwt372 561 561
Gold .. .. oz508,210 2,027,490 2,027,490
Grain and pulse—     
    Barley .. .. bush69,740 18,346 18,346
    Beans and peas .. bush120,905329,656129,657
    Maize113428129
    Oats .. .. bush36,693 4,656 4,656
    Wheat .. .. bush1,374 326 326
    Unenumerated .. bush765 192 192
Grain, ground .. centals5922401454
Grease .. .. cwt3211112536
Grindery, n.o.e.   137137
Gum, kauri .. .. Tons8,708 579,888 579,888
Haberdashery   8282
    Buttons   55
    Sewing cottons, silks, and threads   258258
    Unenumerated   1,4241,424
Hair .. .. .. cwt855 5,207 5,207
Hardware, holloware, and iron mongery  2362,2722,508
Hats and caps .. Doz2815837247284
Hatters' materials   332332
Hay and straw .. Tons24 115 115
Hides .. .. No182,681 187,079 187,079
Honey .. .. lb16,938 359 359
Hops .. .. cwt2,5551810,92710411,031
Horns and hoofs .. Tons248 2,721 2,721
Hosiery  9714451,416
Indiarubber and gutta-percha  4271,6772,104
goods     
Indiarubber, old .. cwt309 441 441
Ink, printing .. .. lb 741 9191
Instruments, musical—     
    Harmoniums and organs No 4 3838
    Pianofortes .. No 29 1,3501,350
    Unenumerated  51,3411,346
Instruments—     
    Optical   1010
    Scientific   176176
    Surgical and dental   11,80811,808
    Surveying   8989
Iron and steel—     
    Bar, bolt, and rod .. Tons 34 411411
    Bolts and nuts .. cwt 8 88
    Castings for ships  15 15
    Galvanised manufactures  16997266
    Pig .. .. Tons 2 55
    Pipes and fittings .. Tons 7 193193
    Rails .. .. Tons 116 481481
    Sheet and plate .. Tons 4 3737
    Sheet, galvanised, corrugated .. .. cwt 1,578 1,6211,621
    Galvanised, plain .. Tons 299 383383
    Staples and standards   44
    Tanks, 400 gal. .. No 73 200200
    Tanks 200 gal. .. .. No 29 5959
    Wire, fencing, barbed tons 22 309309
    Wire fencing, plain .. tons 7 9090
    Wire netting   244244
    Wire, unenumerated Tons 10 100100
    Unenumerated .. tons2 16 16
Jams, jellies, and preserves lb35,3667,563599159758
Jellies, concentrated .. lb 2,038 9999
Jewellery  229440669
Jewellers' sweepings  1,0062301,236
Lamps, lanterns, and lampwick  1206207
Lard .. .. cwt12 48 48
Lead—     
    Pigs and bars .. cwt 1 22
    Pipe .. .. cwt 1 22
    Sheet .. .. cwt 40 4242
Leather .. .. cwt7,7161057,4489157,539
    Manufactures, n.o.e  161,7041,720
Lime .. .. bush1,3052069170
Linen piece goods   6,7436,743
Linseed .. .. centals2,908 1,312 1,312
Machinery—     
    Agricultural  3,1081,0564,164
    Agricultural Ploughs and harrows  1,8092222,031
    Dairying  7221,1431,865
    Dredging  9,792 9,792
    Electric  202,2472,267
    Engines, steam .. No 5 289289
    Engines, gas and oil No 29 2,6702,670
    Flour-milling   250250
    Gas-making   4848
    Mining  4951,2981,793
    Printing  140292432
    Sewing and knitting No 124 881881
    Wood-working   1818
    Woollen-milling   5252
    Unenumerated  1,9346,9028,836
    Materials for, and parts of  112225337
Malt .. .. bush3 1 1
Manures .. .. Tons4710752499
Marble, dressed and polished   130130
Matches and vestas, gross boxes 48 1212
    Wooden .. Tons 5,858 437437
Mats and matting  8150131
Meal, oaten .. .. centals243 172 172
Meats—     
    Beef, frozen .. cwt357,875 430,088 430,088
    Beef, salted .. cwt11,765 14,550 14,550
    Kidneys, frozen .. cwt9,713 15,107 15,107
    Lamb, frozen .. carcases2,840,877 1,532,300 1,532,300
= cwt862,831
    Mutton, frozen .. carcases1,944,392 1,285,326 1,285,326
= cwt967,037
    Mutton (joints), frozen cwt34,973 46,834 46,834
    Poultry, frozen .. pairs4,038 1,253 1,253
    Pork, frozen .. cwt7,073 17,339 17,339
    Pork, salted .. cwt13 37 37
    Veal, frozen .. cwt1,736 1,763 1,763
    Other kinds, frozen .. cwt17,030 18,269 18,269
    Rabbits, frozen in the skins No3,325,941 71,904 71,904
= cwt96,064
    Hares, frozen in the skins No4,706 481 481
= cwt476
    Potted and preserved cwt47,2395100,21312100,225
    Extract .. .. lb46,995 5,819 5,819
    Unenumerated .. cwt414 1,541 1,541
Medicines, patent and proprietary  126171297
Metal manufactures—     
    Typewriters .. No 91 829829
    Anchors .. .. No1641216
    Weighbridges   258258
    Unenumerated  3,2079,03312,240
Metal, old .. .. cwt28,626 6,813 6,813
Milk, preserved .. lb81,41165,9501,9761,2513,227
Millinery ..   144144
    Feathers, ornamental   44
Minerals—     
    Auriferous ore .. Tons1,244 14,650 14,650
    Antimony .. .. Tons98 2,118 2,118
    HaEmatite  5 5
    Ironsand .. .. Tons 73 3737
    Copper-ore .. .. Tons56 595 595
    Manganese-ore .. Tons5 26 26
    Tin-ore .. .. Tons1 ¼ 101 101
    Scheelite-ore .. Tons137 15,486 15,486
    Unenumerated .. Tons37 1742176
Mustard .. .. lb 39,796 1,8581,858
Nails, iron .. .. cwt 684 816816
Naphtha .. .. gal 154 2222
Nuts—     
    Almonds, in shell .. lb 5,901 131131
    Almonds, shelled .. lb 4,228 365365
    Unenumerated .. lb8,96412,122312496808
Oakum .. .. cwt 10 1616
Oars .. .. No4248211738
Oils—     
    Castor, bulk .. gal 630 102102
    Castor, bottled .. Doz. pts 2 11
    Cod-liver .. .. gal 2 11
    Colza 803 119119
    Cocoanut .. .. gal385 61 61
    Fish, penguin, and seal gal1,7934,994125373498
    Linseed 9,517 1,3771,377
    Kerosene .. .. gal 124,255 5,6475,647
    Mineral, other kinds gal2264,6569345354
    Neatsfoot .. .. gal626 26 26
    Whale .. .. gal3,276 208 208
    Unenumerated .. gal 44,565 4,8984,898
Oilmen's stores  5503508
Onions .. .. cwt3,6233461,6421381,780
Oysters .. .. Doz419,797 3,132 3,132
Paints and colours—     
    Ground in oil .. cwt 346 501501
    Mixed, ready for use .. cwt17395421,4561,498
    Unenumerated .. gal36689796
Paper—     
    Bags .. .. cwt74746416647
    Hangings ..   156156
    Felting .. .. cwt5 7 7
    Printing .. .. cwt 40 6060
    Wrapping .. .. cwt4394235684440
    Writing .. .. cwt 2 44
    Unenumerated .. cwt446612
Peas, split .. .. cwt 1 11
Perfumery—     
    Perfumed spirits, &c. gal 59 136136
    Toilet preparations  9610106
    Unenumerated   66
Phormium .. .. Tons28,547 832,068 832,068
    Tow .. .. Tons6,885 65,650 65,650
Photographic goods  98290388
    Cameras and lenses  2111113
    Sensitised surfaces   114114
Pickles .. .. gal4254131730
Pictures  2,0131,3913,404
Pitch .. .. cwt45521722174
Plants and shrubs  60019619
Plate and platedware   1,7131,713
Pollard and sharps .. Tons56 318 318
Potatoes .. .. Tons132701,0273661,393
Printing materials—     
    Stereotypes and matrices   2222
    Type and materials, n.o.e  125375500
Provisions, n.o.e  2,076122,682
Pumps  1478661,013
Rags .. .. cwt1,731 1,522 1,522
Resin .. .. cwt 6 66
Rice .. .. cwt 1,332 1,0621,062
Rugs  6,8981497,047
Saccharine .. .. oz 1,424 1717
Saddlery and harness  670277947
Saddlery and harness oils   3030
Salt .. .. .. Tons 4 5151
Sand .. .. Tons251 551 551
Sashes, window .. pairs1,477 789 789
Sauces .. .. gal11635242205247
Sausage-skins .. cwt15,6506568,49739868,895
Seeds—     
    Grass and clover .. cwt36,7381,05387,3002,61589,915
    Unenumerated  1,2204691,689
Shells .. .. cwt 380 2,0002,000
Ship-chandlery  242120362
Silk piece-goods   1,4031,403
Silver .. .. oz1,562,603 169,484 169,484
Skins—     
    Calf and other kinds No162,750 18,687 18,687
    Rabbit .. .. No5,513,900 53,757 53,757
= lb899,883
    Sheep, with wool .. No830,130 219,407 219,407
= lb5,899,999
    Sheep, without wool .. No6,186,614 576,720 576,720
= lb16,158,949
Soap—     
    Common .. .. cwt6,152 6,199 6,199
    Powder, &c.   119119
    Unenumerated  28422450
Specie—     
    Gold ..   3,7513,751
    Silver ..   3,5653,565
Specimens illustrative of natural science  75250802
Spices—     
    Ground .. .. lb  5731212
    Unground .. .. lb 10,218 172172
Spirits—     
    Bitters, cordials, &c. gal 160 116116
    Brandy .. .. gal 655 392392
    Gin and geneva .. gal. 1,243 407407
    Rum .. .. gal 81 2323
    Sweetened .. .. gal 8 55
    Whisky .. .. gal 7,294 2,8442,844
    Unenumerated .. gal 86 9191
Starch .. .. lb2241,74823335
Stationery  1,0711,0192,090
    Bookbinders' materials   201201
    Teaching apparatus   1111
    Unenumerated  556441997
Stone—     
    Building .. .. Tons39 38 38
    Greenstone .. cwt262 2,664 2,664
    Grind, mill, oil, and whet   11
    Pumice .. .. Tons621 1,553 1,553
    Wrought  7738115
Sugar—     
    Refined .. .. lb645,53395,8184,6998135,512
    Glucose .. .. cwt 61 8686
    Molasses and treacle .. cwt3257316596
Sulphur .. .. cwt3 1 1
Tallow .. .. Tons18,543 487,448 487,448
    Mutton stock, oleomargarine Tons2,201 73,517 73,517
Tanning materials, crude bark Tons52 354 354
    Other kinds   3030
Tar ..  639
Tarpaulins and tents  12 12
Tea .. .. .. lb 61,871 2,9462,946
Textile piece-goods  481,1891,237
Textiles, made up   169169
Timber—     
    Logs, hewn .. .. sup. ft33,800 112 112
    Sawn, undressed .. sup. ft71,192,518448301,9175301,922
    Sawn, dressed .. sup928,099 9,833 9,833
    Unenumerated  2,2251072,332
Tin—     
    Block .. .. cwt 2 1010
    Scrap .. .. cwt167 13 13
    Sheet .. .. cwt 210 219219
Tinware  23969308
Tobacco—     
    Manufactured .. lb 64,718 5,2345,234
    Cigars .. .. lb 2,050 976976
    Cigarettes .. .. lb 3,535 1,0601,060
Tobacco pipes and cases   4646
Tools—     
    Engineers' machine tools  5110115
    Unenumerated  129572701
Turpentine .. .. gal 424 4747
Twine .. .. cwt718342231273
    Binder .. .. cwt243 471 471
Umbrellas and parasols  5510
Varnish and gold-size .. gal114845218223
Vegetables  343279622
Vinegar .. .. gal535178
Watches .. .. No 366 174174
Wax—     
    Beeswax .. .. cwt39176077
    Paraffine .. .. lb 28 11
    Unenumerated .. lb 188 44
Whalebone .. .. cwt7 66 66
Whiting and chalk .. cwt 6 22
Wine—     
    Australian .. .. gal 210 107107
    Sparkling .. .. gal 529 987987
    Other kinds .. gal811,08945490535
Woodenware  2,6954913,186
    Mouldings  3844388
Wool—     
    Greasy .. .. lb  143,478,2546,173,0266,173,026
    Scoured .. .. lb11,151,166 655,236 655,236
    Slipe .. .. lb16,082,608 788,994 788,994
    Washed .. .. lb923,567 40,022 40,022
Woollen piece-goods  3,3629334,295
    Woollen blankets .. pairs351 401 401
Woolpacks .. .. Doz 14 1212
Yarns  16869885
Zinc—     
    Plain sheet .. .. cwt 45 3838
    Spelter .. .. cwt1,210 1,018 1,018
    Manufactures   1010
Goods—     
    Manufactured  6587551,413
    Unmanufactured  2,3514832,834
Parcels-post  27,395 27,395

A table is appended giving details of goods forwarded in the year 1907 to the Cook and other Pacific Islands annexed to New Zealand in 1901. These do not appear as exports from the Dominion, being merely part of the internal trade or transactions between one portion of what is now New Zealand and another.

ArticlesQuantitiesValue
  £  
Apparel and slops 1,711
Bacon and hams38 cwt128
Bags and sacks1,544 doz532
Biscuits—  
    Fancy and other kinds11,390 lb234
    Ships', plain2,300 cwt2,263
Boots and shoes116 doz. pairs414
Bran76 tons334
Butter79 cwt425
Cement577 barrels244
Coal2,102 tons1,715
Cordage105 cwt245
Cotton piece-goods 2,513
Drapery 1,199
Drugs, n.o.e. 186
Fancy goods and toys 168
Fish, potted and preserved18,886 lb576
Flour126 tons1,404
Furniture, cabinetware, and upholstery 234
Haberdashery 138
Hardware, holloware, and ironmongery 1,049
Hats and caps110 doz140
Hosiery 230
Iron and steel 1,467
Matches1,586 gross boxes208
Meats, frozen, salted, and preserved1,943 cwt3,977
Metal manufactures 199
Milk, preserved7,050 lb200
Millinery .. 116
Nails429 cwt400
Oils115,480 gal755
Oilmen's stores 142
Paper, wrapping109 cwt182
Provisions, n.o.e. 479
Rice ..337 cwt251
Rugs .. 276
Saddlery and harness 104
Silks 264
Soap, common758 cwt692
Specie, silver 800
Spirits437 gal228
Stationery .. 145
Sugar, refined135,564 lb1,010
Tea ..3,752 lb169
Timber, sawn, undressed644,693 sup. ft2,924
Timber, sawn, dressed92,535 sup. ft919
Timber, sawn, unenumerated 495
Tobacco7,771 lb608
Waterworks, materials for, other than iron pipes 1,277
Miscellaneous 2,919
          Total value of goods shipped to the Islands £38,288

Of the foregoing, goods to the value of £38,083 were forwarded from Auckland, £80 from Wellington, £63 from Timaru, and £2 from Dunedin.

Particulars of goods cleared outwards from these annexed islands in 1907 will be found in Section IX, p. 393.

TOTAL VALUE OF TRADE.

The value of the total trade of New Zealand advanced from £13,431,804 in the year 1886, to £37,371,818 in 1907. But of these amounts some portion was coin. Excluding the specie, the figures for 1886 are £12,853,736, and for 1907 £36,601,348.

YearTotal TradeImportsExportsImports (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
190023,892,25710,646,09613,246,16110,207,32013,223,2583,015,932
190124,699,33911,817,91512 881,42411,353,41612,869,8101,516,394
190224,971,70011,326,723113,644,97710,958,03813,635,4592,677,421
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
190528,484,80412,828,85715,655,94712,481,17815,642,0693,160,891
190633,306,54015,211,40318,095,13714,303,17017,992,4803,689,310
190737,371,81817,302,86120,068,95716,539,70720,061,6413,521,934

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 Dominion was purchasing to an extent not covered by the value of the export. During the last twenty-two years the excess of exports over imports, excluding money sent to and from the Dominion, amounted to a total sum of £55,222,281.

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:—

YearExcess 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 £3,521,934 in the year 1907.

Again considering the results for the twenty-two years, 1886–1907, 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 regards trade in goods. In the year 1894 the imported money amounted to a sum of £797,843, in 1903 to £712,716, in 1906 to £908,233, and in 1907 to £763,154, making a substantial difference in the rates.

Excluding specie, the trade per head of population increased from £22 1s. 7d. in 1886, to £39 16s. 6d. in 1907: imports from £10 17s. 1d. to £17 19s. 11d., and exports from £11 4s. 6d. to £21 16s. 7d.

YearIncluding SpecieExcluding 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)
 £sd£sd£sd£sd£sd£sd
188623151112211932217101711146
188721198109511103217510341141
1888221211916412167214081951247
188925911105615452415991561503
18902513101002151382419491101584
1891251041066153102571010431537
1892251321016314161125561091114157
1893240910901311922181191651326
1894231199191113111022711816513116
189521111094101270212881681260
18962358101111339232291911331
18972501111331317824117111713100
189825931137145825611113114310
18992711511131151842778119815180
19003159131810176113013813741764
19013115015310161123129141111161010
19023160143111721301661314817110
1903331710151110186032196141451851
1904333815147179132142155417810
190532141014141117191132661461117197
190637391619820413612151952019
19074013318166211693916617191121167

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 £17 19s. 11d. in 1907.

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 1907 amounted to £26,811,512, comprising 71.74 per cent. of the total.

With the States of the Australian Commonwealth trade was done during 1907 to the value of £5,348,813, of which New South Wales claimed £3,117,969, and Victoria £1,938,576, made up as follows:—

EXPORTS FROM NEW ZEALAND
 £      
To New South Wales, 19071,341,073
To Victoria, 1907795,883
IMPORTS INTO NEW ZEALAND£      
From New South Wales, 19071,776,896
From Victoria, 19071,142,693

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 220,726 tons, valued at £213,302.

The imports from and exports to the United States in 1907 show an increase when compared with the previous year's figures. Details of articles imported will be found on page 418.

The principal articles of exported New Zealand products for 1907 were:—

EXPORTS TO UNITED STATES OF AMERICA£      
Gum (kauri),value381,566
Sheep-skins and peltsvalue156,950
Woolvalue130,261
Phormium fibrevalue29,528
Sausage-skinsvalue4,348
Hidesvalue1,929
Coalvalue1,765
Grass-seedvalue1,447
Onionsvalue1,085
Greenstonevalue550
Towvalue309
Rabbit-skinsvalue293

The following table shows the value of the total trade with the United States for each of the past ten years, 1898 to 1907 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
YearImports fromExports toTotal Trade
Atlantic PortsPacific PortsAtlantic PortsPacific Ports
 £      £      £      £      £      
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
19051,213,204225,297641,37174,9302,154,802
19061,168,271237,510569,68273,1102,048,573
19071,271,552154,044702,58111,4822,139,659

The development in the decennial period is at the rate of 50 per cent., or an increase in value of £716,115.

Figures showing ten years' trade with Germany exhibit advancing imports, reaching for the year 1907 to the substantial sum of £351,634. Details of articles imported from Germany will be found on page 420.

TRADE WITH GERMANY
YearImports fromExports toTotal Trade
 £      £      £      
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
1905277,46738,958316,425
1906336,96054,952391,912
1907351,63466,489418,123

The principal articles of New Zealand produce exported to Germany in the year 1907 were:—

 £      
Gum (kauri)27,473
Wool ..21,205
Scheelite-ore12,924
Seeds (grass and clover)1,736
Sausage-skins1,661
Greenstone900

The trade with India and Ceylon reached a total of £721,949 against £557,495 in 1906. The imports—tea, rice, castor-oil, wool-packs, &c.—were reckoned at £604,219, leaving a balance of £117,730 for exports.

TRADE WITH JAPAN.

With Japan New Zealand does a trade which shows great expansion, as illustrated by figures given below, the total value of imports having increased from £30,155 in 1897 to £94,298 in 1907:—

 18971902190419061907
Goods admitted—£      £      £      £      £      
a.) Free of duty93120,21535,71040,65694,298
(b.) Subject to duty29,22435,87248,91958,997
 30,15556,08784,62999,65394,298

The value of exports to Japan has also increased, but the total is insignificant:—

YearValue of Exports
 £    
1897134
19023,780
19041,319
19064,698
19071,467

The principal articles, with their values, imported during 1907, were:—

Principal ArticlesValue
 Free of DutySubject to Duty
 £    £    
Apparel and slops 3,895
Basketware and wickerware 1,525
Brushes and brooms 1,944
Canes and rattans289 
China, porcelain, and parianware 1,845
Cotton piece-goods 466
Cotton waste383 
Drapery 5,161
Drugs and druggists' sundries 1,367
Earthenware 1,150
Fancy goods and toys 7,437
Foods, farinaceous28670
Fruits, dried 232
Furniture, cabinetware, and upholstery7001,721
Grain and pulse, unenumerated 868
Haberdashery4882
Hats and caps 469
Hatters' materials794 
Hosiery 410
Manures19,441 
Mats and matting 1,693
Paper383 
Plants, trees, and shrubs385 
Rice5,165 
Rugs 1,450
Silks, &c 29,531
Stationery613117
Textile piece-goods 1,808

TRADE WITH SOUTH AFRICA.

The value of the South African trade from 1898 to 1907 is as follows:—

YearImports fromExports toTotal Trade
 £  £      £      
1898722,7662,838
189921590,18790,402
1900502405,419405,921
1901386825,476825,862
1902997754,059755,056
1903299455,187455,486
1904804154,398155,202
1905559176,937177,496
190639488,67489,068
19071,07363,72764,800

TRADE OF AUSTRALASIA.

The following table gives the value of the imports and exports of the different States comprising what is now the Commonwealth of Australia, and for New Zealand, for the year 1906. The Australian figures are taken from the Official Year-book of the Commonwealth:—

CountryTotal Value ofExcess of Exports over Imports
ImportsExports
 £      £      £      
States of the Commonwealth of Australia—   
    New South Wales31,307,00042,280,00010,973,000
    Victoria23,796,00027,464,0003,668,000
    Queensland8,308,00012,751,0004,443,000
    South Australia (including Northern Territory)9,697,00011,927,0002,230,000
    Western Australia6,820,0009,777,0002,957,000
    Tasmania3,030,0003,753,000723,000
New Zealand15,211,00018,095,0002,884,000

In the preceding table is given the total trade inwards and outwards in each case, including oversea and inter-State transportations. 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, which has been done in the figures given further on. Prior to the year 1891 the balance of Australasian external trade was in favour of the imports, but in that year (which preceded the financial difficulties of 1893) the scale turned and exports exceeded the imports. This condition has obtained ever since until in the year 1906 the figures stood as under:—

EXTERNAL TRADE OF AUSTRALASIA
 £    
Imports54,009,108
Exports82,613,741
          Total trade136,622,849
  Excess of exports over imports28,604,633

The trade per head (oversea and inter-State) of the population in each of the States of the Australian Commonwealth and New Zealand in 1906 was:—

TRADE PER HEAD OF THE POPULATION IN 1906
CountryImportsExportsTotal Trade
 £sd£sd£sd
States of the Commonwealth of Australia—         
    New South Wales2014827191048146
    Victoria198112281041179
    Queensland1511112318939108
    South Australia (including Northern Territory)251063171156185
    Western Australia264113712463173
    Tasmania1618112019837187
New Zealand1619820413739

Figures for the Australian States are again quoted from the Official Year-book of the Commonwealth. 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 and countries.

The value of home productions or manufactures exported from each Australian State and New Zealand in 1906, and the rate per head of mean population, were as follow:—

State or ColonyHome Produce exportedPer Head of Population
 £      £sd
New South Wales32,219,1232157
Victoria19,881,2331641
Queensland12,511,2172398
South Australia7,439,84119116
Western Australia9,634,1293718
Tasmania3,679,0972074
New Zealand17,840,34619185

The next table sets forth the amount of the trade of each of the above-named States and New Zealand with the United Kingdom in 1906:—

CountryImports from the United KingdomExports to the United KingdomTotal Trade with the United Kingdom
 £      £      £      
New South Wales10,047,92812,174,15522,222,083
Victoria8,617,0578,926,30017,543,357
Queensland2,518,9682,706,4335,225,401
South Australia2,513,3763,550,9356,064,311
Western Australia2,315,9665,147,3467,463,312
Tasmania562,538377,494940,032
New Zealand9,003,22914,047,17623,050,405

The statement appended shows the relative importance of Australasia as a market for the productions of the United Kingdom:—

EXPORTS OF HOME PRODUCTIONS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM, IN 1906, TO
 £      
British India and Ceylon46,751,481
Germany33,558,954
United States27,764,905
Australasia27,629,024
France20,444,756
Argentine Republic19,428,641
Cape of Good Hope and Natal15,249,202
Dominion of Canada13,688,833
Japan12,907,675
China12,199,913
Holland11,608,723
Belgium11,595,075
Italy11,164,694
Egypt8,935,749
Russia8,858,388
Turkey8,095,928
Brazil7,643,451
Chili6,077,690
Sweden5,584,996
Denmark, Iceland, and Greenland4,867,867
Spain4,626,004
Straits Settlements3,965,459
Norway3,724,446
Java, &c.3,614,852
Hong Kong3,065,149
West India Islands and Guiana2,809,158
Portugal2,603,960
Portuguese East Africa2,510,493
Austria-Hungary2,432,895
Mexico2,326,279
Uruguay2,233,227

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 5,100,000, thus takes the fourth place in importance for consumption of British produce, the exports thereto being more than half the value of similar exports to British India, with its 300,000,000 inhabitants.

Chapter 43. SECTION XI.—TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION.

SHIPPING.

THE shipping entered inwards during 1907 comprised 645 vessels, of 1,254,266 tonnage; while entered outwards were 615 vessels, of 1,225,382 tonnage. Comparison with the figures for the previous year shows in the entries an increase of 16 vessels and of 10,614 tons, and in the clearances a decrease of 16 vessels and of 12,832 tons. Of the vessels inwards, 194, of 636,456 tons, were British; 400, of 548,916 tons, colonial; and 51, of 68,894 tons, foreign. Those outwards numbered 185, of 625,006 tons, British; 383, of 537,234 tons, colonial; and 47, of 63,142 tons, foreign. Compared with the figures for 1906 there was an increase of 42 vessels and of 88,314 tons in British vessels entered, a decrease in the colonial shipping entered of 8 vessels, but an increase of 6,645 tons. Foreign shipping shows a decrease of 18 in the number of vessels and of 84,345 tons entered. Of the entries in 1907, 191, of 89,716 tons, were sailing-vessels, and 454, of 1,164,550 tons, steamers. Of the clearances, 174, of 80,832 tons, were sailing - vessels, and 441, of 1,144,550 tons, steamers. The shipping inwards and outwards for ten years is given in the table following:—

VESSELS ENTERED, 1898–1907
YearTotal NumberBritishColonialForeign
VesselsTonsCrewsVesselsTonsCrewsVesselsTonsCrewsVesselsTonsCrews
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
19046291,154,56931,478149495,6678,548410496,42716,90170162,4756,029
19056271,139,41031,429130462,8518,005423500,46717,18774176,0926,237
19066291,243,65232,528152548,1429,212408542,27118,04269153,2395,274
19076451,254,26631,425194636,45611161400548,91618,1365168,8942,128
VESSELS CLEARED, 1898–1907
YearTotal NumberBritishColonialForeign
VesselsTonsCrewsVesselsTonsCrewsVesselsTonsCrewsVesselsTonsCrews
NOTE.—coasting-vessels are not included in the above table
1898622765,79324,130150322,1507,898403377,10213,9486966,5412,284
1899604807,86624,117152355,4427,194379386,21914,6567366,2052,267
1900613825,27523,481149368,2416,978397388,43614,1536768,5982,350
19016911,075,90630,028177462,1797,954441458,99416,10673154,7335,968
19026111,048,77029,294152447,3517,983385437,48915,17174163,9306,140
19036081,113,16530,660141462,1227,890401485,33716,50366165,7066,267
19046201,144,76431,049146487,9618,341403493,27016,65971163,5336,649
19056271,141,55231,219130465,1718,039421500,37116,94176176,0106,239
19066311,238,21432,237149538,4948,775413545,02618,17369154,6945,289
19076151,225,38230,840185625,00610,864383537,23417,9184763,1422,058

The noticeable feature in the operations for the period covered by the table is a considerable increase of tonnage inwards and outwards as compared with the numbers of vessels, showing that larger ships are now used than those of ten years ago.

The figures given apply to the external trade only; but in a new country such as New Zealand, as yet deficient in roads, but having an extensive seaboard and a number of good harbours, the coastal trade must be relatively very large, as is evidenced by the figures next given:—

SHIPPING ENTERED COASTWISE, 1907
 NumberTons
Sailing-vessels4,479260,028
Steamers20,79410,981,579
SHIPPING CLEARED COASTWISE, 1907
 NumberTons
Sailing-vessels4,402255,532
Steamers20,69510,913,497

The total number of vessels entered coastwise was thus 25,273, of 11,241,607 tons, an increase of 148 vessels, but a decrease of 90,154 tons on the figures for 1906. The total clearances coastwise were 25,097 vessels, of 11,169,029 tons, an increase of 93 vessels, but a decrease of 152,793 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, 1907 (distinguishing sailing-vessels and steamers), was as under:—

REGISTERED VESSELS, 31ST DECEMBER, 1907
PortsSailing-vesselsSteam-vessels
VesselsGross TonnageNet TonnageVesselsGross TonnageNet Tonnage
Auckland20920,07618,61112816,5039,580
Napier7640627222,6401,621
Wellington243,9783,811398,1984,227
Nelson10298280121,540853
Timaru21,6491,5771942488
Lyttelton234,7404,577112,8091,074
Dunedin3913,76113,30783117,02570,255
Invercargill91,2311,1799971531
          Totals32346,37343,967305150,62888,629

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, 1908, was 2,474 miles, of which 953 were situated in the North Island and 1,521 in the South Island.

The sections of the North Island lines consist of the Kawakawa, 8 miles; Whangarei, 23; Kaihu, 17; Auckland, 395; Gisborne–Karaka, 20 miles; and the Wellington–Napier–New Plymouth, 490 miles. The South Island sections comprise the Hurunui–Bluff, with branches, 1,288 miles; Westland, 125; Westport, 31; Nelson, 43; Picton, 34 miles. The estimated total cost of construction to 31st March, 1908, was £24,365,647 (besides £2,369,493 spent on unopened lines), and the average cost per mile of open line £9,849.

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 eighteen years:—

YearLength openTrain-mileagePassengersSeason Tickets issuedGoods and Live-stock
     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
1905–19062,4076,413,5738,826,382147,9894,415,166
1906–19072,4586,755,4549,600,786165,5044,824,563
1907–19082,4747,051,2749,756,716185,1745,070,176

The traffic in local products for the past eighteen years was:—

YearWoolTimberGrainMineralsHorses and CattleSheep and Pigs

*The equivalent tonnage for live-stock has been given.

 TonsTonsTonsTonsNumberNumber
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
1895–9699,363213,132374,699878,65950,7661,893,058
1896–9798,958257,825423,8881,032,25247,2562,016,437
1897–98103,055313,073427,4481,048,86854,8712,399,379
1898–9997,396310,266420,0711,147,35366,2262,552,745
1899–1900104,621334,677764,0331,218,69876,5372,559,836
1900–190196,519380,803772,5711,366,24184,2892,463,250
1901–1902101,878427,153813,3451,443,79295,3842,780,019
1902–1903116,309436,008718,3761,604,426115,1983,883,177
1903–1904101,316509,712820,4531,744,323122,0643,826,646
1904–1905107,625493,327732,4801,806,360126,5753,490,752
1905–1906116,086534,533772,2581,938,548136,3193,441,387
1906–1907128,161567,835770,7062,135,446150,8014,776,223
1907–1908120,593616,892739,5682,319,913169,1744,719,087

The revenue for the year 1907–8 amounted to £2,761,938; and the total expenditure to £1,949,759. The net revenue — £812,179—was equal to a rate of £3.33 per cent. on the capital cost; the percentage of expenditure to revenue was 70.59. The earnings on some of the lines ranged as high as £10 17s. 1d. per cent.

The particulars of the revenue and expenditure for the past eighteen years are given herewith:—

YearPassenger-faresParcels, Luggage, and MailsGoods and LivestockRents and MiscellaneousTotalExpenditureNet RevenuePercentages of Expenditure to RevenuePercentages of Revenue to Capital Cost
NOTE.—for 1895–96 and subsequent years the railways have been credited with the value of services performed for other Government departments, and debited with the value of work done for the railways by other departments
 £      £      £      £      £      £      £      %£sd
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
1901–02621,01979,5611,110,57563,4311,874,5861,252,237622,34966.8038 
1902–03625,69887,2731,189,10171,9661,974,0381,343,415630,62368.0536 
1903–04704,660110,1511,293,16972,6612,180,6411,438,724741,91765.98311 
1904–05738,158115,0511,277,97678,0462,209,2311,492,900716,33167.5836 
1905–06786,873142,6421,346,03874,1512,349,7041,621,239728,46569.0034 
1906–07892,053151,9131,498,68681,9482,624,6001,812,482812,11869.0639 
1907–08912,978176,8761,582,32889,7562,761,9381,949,759812,17970.5936 

The revenue per (average) mile of railway open during the year was £1,115, and the expenditure £787; equal to 7s. 9 ¾d. and 5s. 6 ¼d. per train-mile respectively.

The total number of miles travelled by trains was 7,051,274.

In addition to the above railways, there were 113 miles of private lines open for traffic on the 31st March, 1908—including the Wellington–Manawatu Railway, 84 miles.

The cost of the construction of the Wellington–Manawatu Railway is now shown on the books of the company as £828,377, being at the rate of £9,862 per mile. The term “cost of construction,” as applied to railways, includes value of equipment, rolling-stock, &c., not merely the road-line and buildings. The gross earnings for the twelve months ended the 29th February, 1908, amounted to £160,561, and the working-expenses to £98,410, equivalent to 61.28 per cent. of the gross receipts.

Negotiations for the acquisition of this line by the State are practically complete, and it is proposed to take over the property in December of the current year.

Australasian Railways.

Government railways open for traffic in Australasia:—

RAILWAYS (STATE ONLY)
CountryYear endedAverage Miles openTrain-miles RunCost of Construction of Open LinesGross ReceiptsWorking-expensesPercentage of Net Revenue to CostNumber of
LocomotivesVehicles
Passenger-carsGoods and Livestock trucks

* Includes 7 ½ miles private lines worked by Government.

† State railways only.

    £      £      £      %   
Queensland30 June, 19073,1376,126,13621,839,0811,829,673912,6384.203504627,617
New South Wales30 June, 19073,42812,949,06844,700,2304,709,4062,499,7414.9465676411,379
Victoria30 June, 19073,39510,035,91441,533,1364,012,6412,353,3034.004971,23310,625
South Australia30 June, 19071,9604,365,14414,879,4241,589,386881,2854.763353296,044
Western Australia30 June, 19071,6764,180,79610,300,9381,537,3331,135,9073.903213006,190
Tasmania30 June, 1907*470981,379†3,943,359258,223185,5001.84761431,379
New Zealand31 Mar., 19082,4697,051,27424,365,6472,761,9381,949,7593.334101,00215,475

In addition to the Government lines open for traffic in 1905, New South Wales had 81 miles of private railway; South Australia, 34 ½ miles; Western Australia, 694 ½ miles (partly used for timber conveyance); Queensland, 103; Tasmania, 155 ½ miles, 7 ½ miles of which are worked by Government; and New Zealand, on 31st March, 1908, 113 miles.

POSTAL AND ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

There were 2,064 post-offices in New Zealand at the end of 1907.

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 1906, was as under:—

 Total Number dealt withIncrease
 19071906 
Letters83,600,31677,402,1976,198,119
Letter-cards1,814,2411,682,369131,872
Post-cards6,722,0165,792,808929,208
   Decrease
Books and pattern-packets23,781,66523,894,209112,544
   Increase
Newspapers25,417,07323,716,4311,700,642
Parcels801,937448,171353,766

The average number of letters, &c., posted per head of the population in each of the past seven years was,—

 1901190219031904190519061907
Letters and letter-cards63.4968.0770.3873.4076.0982.1386.46
Post.cards1.881.551.682.433.385.716.63
Books and parcels21.0921.4521.8021.6224.9023.9723.82
Newspapers17.8116.7917.2018.2319.8719.0419.56

The facilities afforded for the transmission of parcels through the Post Office to places within and without the Dominion have proved of much convenience to the public. The regulations admit of parcels up to 11 lb. in weight being sent to almost all the important countries of the world.

The following table shows the number of parcels exchanged with the United Kingdom, the Australian States, &c., in 1906 and 1907:—

CountryNumber of Parcels
ReceivedDespatched
 1907190619071906
United Kingdom and foreign countries viâ London91,06565,80611,0989,574
United States4,9246,7571,1241,384
Vancouver509491377255
Victoria8,3777,7393,4533,200
New South Wales12,15311,5065,2574,925
South Australia528494502521
Queensland759706749742
Tasmania483442707748
Western Australia359357530587
Samoa2412212205
Fiji13387468359
Ceylon303283103123
Uruguay8864  
Cape Colony418416185150
Natal10585300306
India862781256236
          Totals121,00295,96225,40923,379

The declared value of the parcels received from places outside the Dominion was £310,219, on which the Customs duty amounted to £49,108 14s. 1d.

The number and weight of parcels dealt with from 1898 to 1907 are given. The word “parcels” in the first-named table includes the parcels herein mentioned:—

1898189919001901190219031904190519061907
Parcels, No204,603223,350233,456273,442291,670327,629357,504392,017448,171801,937
Weight, lb698,301765,836794,994928,2371,034,3421,161,5841,279,7071,386,7231,638,2312,863,909

Money-orders and Postal Notes.

The number of offices open for the transaction of money-order business at the end of 1907 was 579.

During 1907, 441,487 money-orders, for a total sum of £1,773,590 17s. 1d., were issued at the various post-offices. The money-orders from places beyond New Zealand and payable in the Dominion numbered 32,012, for the amount of £132,150 12s.

The number of offices open for the sale of postal notes at the end of 1907–8 was 707: 1,092,631 postal notes were sold, value £347,300. Commission amounted to £6,864

The notes paid numbered 1,082,516, value £344,841 18s.

Mail-services.

The cost of the various mail-services between England and New Zealand was, in 1907, as follows:—

SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE1907
Payments—£sd
      Subsidies, &c4,23445
      Interprovincial and other charges1,184175
 £5,419110
Receipts—   
      Contributions from Fiji6114
      Postages collected in the Dominion2,36153
 £2,367167
            Loss to the Dominion£3,05153
PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL AND ORIENT LINES SERVICES
Payments—£    sd
      To P. and O. and Orient Lines4,915102
      Transit across Australia1,85316
      Transit across European Continent1,43447
      Gratuities to Australia8,445109
      Payments made for Australian–New Zealand conveyance on behalf of United Kingdom and Foreign Offices3,20262
 £19,850182
Receipts—   
 £sd
      Postages collected from England and from foreign offices3,20262
      Postages collected in the Dominion11,94828
 £15,150810
            Loss to the Dominion£4,70044

The total amount of postages collected and contributions received for these services in 1907 was £17,518 5s. 5d.

The average number of days in 1907 within which the mails were delivered between London and each of the undermentioned ports in New Zealand was:—

 San Francisco Service. Weir LineSan Francisco Service. Oceanic S.S. CoyP. and O. LineOrient Line
London to—
    Auckland41.2537.6737.6938.35
    Wellington42.7538.6738.7739.23
    Dunedin44.2539.6738.6538.65
    Bluff45.0040.4238.1538.15

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 9,656 miles of telegraph-line open at the end of March, 1908, carrying 29,344 miles of wire. 7,042,923 telegrams were transmitted during the year; of these, the private and Press messages numbered 6,958,279, which, together with telephone exchange and other telegraph receipts, yielded a revenue of £344,251 0s. 6d.

There were thirty-one central exchanges and eighty-two sub-exchanges on the 31st March, 1908. The number of connections increased from 17,403 in March, 1907, to 23,981 in March, 1908. The subscriptions to these exchanges during the financial year amounted to £116,852 13s. 10d.

The capital expended on the equipment, &c., of the several telephone exchanges up to the 31st March, 1908, was £508,408 7s. 8d.

Pacific Cable.

The cable, opened for traffic between New Zealand and Australia and Fiji on the 9th April, 1902, was completed to Bamfield, Vancouver Island, on the 31st October following, and opened for international business on the 8th December, 1902.

The route is from Doubtless Bay, New Zealand, to Vancouver, Canada, viâ Norfolk Island, Fiji, and Fanning Island. The Australian connection is at Norfolk Island. The deep-sea portion of the Vancouver–Fanning Island cable is stated to be the longest in the world. Following the opening of the cable a much faster service between New Zealand, America, and Europe has resulted.

Chapter 44. SECTION XII.—OCCUPATION OF LAND; AND LIVESTOCK.

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 for 1907–8 have been returned by the Department of Agriculture at 37,564,288 acres, including Crown lands leased for pastoral purposes only, or 155,815 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.

* The latest information in reference to ownership of land which is available gives figures up to the 31st March, 1906. It is contained in Parliamentary Return B.–17A of the year 1907, and states the total number of owners of land (town and country holdings of all sizes) to be 128,019. The most important figures (showing ownership of productive land) are those of freeholders outside boroughs and town districts, and excluding holdings of under 5 acres. These figures are:—

NEW ZEALAND OWNERS (OVER 5 ACRES)
Year 1906 ...45,068
Year 1902 ...43,735
Year 1892 ...38,935
Year 1889 ...37,432
Year 1889 ...34,450
Year 1883 ...30,764

Three tables are appended to this section showing freehold lands held on 31st March, 1906, classified according to area and value.

† At the census of April, 1906, the actual number of persons described in the census schedules as having occupations necessitating their occupying holdings of land was 43,438. This number includes 29,927 farmers, 3,903 runholders, 1,107 market-gardeners, 432 horticulturists or gardeners, 7,172 dairy-farmers, 467 fruit-growers, 30 vignerons, 323 poultry-farmers, 33 bee-farmers, and 44 others.

OCCUPIED LANDS: HOLDINGS.

[This and the succeeding statement deal with the full extent of occupied land, including Crown pastoral leases.]

Sizes of HoldingsNumber of Holdings
  1903–41904–51905–61966–71907–8
1 acre to10 acres, inclusive18,73119,52919,78720,45521,186
10 acres to50 acres, inclusive11,38611,51811,74512,01212,147
50 acres to100 acres, inclusive7,2457,5407,5627,7677,760
100 acres to200 acres, inclusive9,5709,8229,95010,25110,098
200 acres to320 acres, inclusive6,1456,4086,5316,8206,827
320 acres to640 acres, inclusive6,5667,0437,2197,4977,602
640 acres to1,000 acres, inclusive2,4972,6092,7502,9363,011
1,000 acres to5,000 acres, inclusive3,0753,3183,4973,6823,816
5,000 acres to10,000 acres, inclusive379395408415436
10,000 acres to20,000 acres, inclusive223225237248247
20,000 acres to50,000 acres, inclusive169177166167153
50,000 acres and over10696908884
  66,09268,68069,94272,33873,367

The holdings are shown to have increased by the number of 7,275 since 1903–4.

The total acreage of occupied land for each of the last five years is shown:—

OCCUPIED LANDS: ACREAGES
Sizes of Holdings in Acres1903–41904–51905–61906–71907–8
  AcresAcresAcresAcresAcres
1 to10 inclusive76,46479,13679,92681,33986,870
10 to50 inclusive319,241321,444324,375328,657340,498
50 to100 inclusive570,736590,962591,209599,236604,567
100 to200 inclusive1,462,7471,497,0781,514,0841,544,2421,533,048
200 to320 inclusive1,594,2451,665,2851,092,8241,742,1231,764,903
320 to640 inclusive3,016,7803,214,4733,306,4753,390,7623,491,728
640 to1,000 inclusive2,007,8172,129,0932,220,1492,354,8912,425,028
1,000 to5,000 inclusive6,171,8156,523,9516,955,3107,212,5877,677,624
5,000 to10,000 inclusive2,612,8062,706,2252,874,5622,822,0302,994,820
10,000 to20,000 inclusive3,383,0333,265,8563,278,4983,536,3343,365,132
20,000 to50,000 inclusive5,107,5555,317,9695,273,4724,911,9774,870,772
50,000 and over inclusive10,153,2429,199,6829,056,5768,884,2958,409,298
  36,476,48136,511,15437,167,46037,408,47337,564,288

In regard to holdings, out of a total of 73,367 in 1908 the large proportion of 41,093, or 56.01 per cent., were from 1 to 100 acres in extent; 51,191, or 69.77 per cent., were from 1 to 200 acres; and 58,018, or 79.08 per cent., were from 1 to 320 acres in size. The total number over 320 acres was only 15,349, or 20.92 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.

Excluding the Crown pastoral leases, the average area of occupied holdings was 382 acres in 1903–4, and 363 acres in 1907–8. Leaving out all areas under 10 acres, the average was 535 acres in the former and 512 acres in the latter year.

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 Crown 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 DistrictsTotal of HoldingsFreeholdLeased from Individuals or Public BodiesLeased from NativesHeld from Crown under Different Tenures
 AcresAcresAcresAcresAcres
Auckland6,547,1504,015,520406,894591,0161,533,720
Taranaki1,219,680611,130196,622129,551282,377
Hawke's Bay3,000,9851,758,781294,735584,527362,942
Wellington4,133,4892,507,116538,788417,485670,100
Marlborough2,417,461743,23892,28022,4981,559,445
Nelson2,155,300988,75299,28525,2201,042,043
Westland645,49653,91522,5273,995565,059
Canterbury6,669,1932,768,8921,003,91013,0452,883,346
Otago—     
    Otago portion7,639,4941,546,691637,9188,1725,446,713
    Southland portion3,136,0401,361,103526,1898,3251,240,423
          Totals37,564,28816,355,1383,819,1481,803,83415,586,168

Arranged according to the number of holdings, the provincial districts stand in order as under:—

Auckland21,082 holdings
Otago14,640 holdings
Canterbury11,849 holdings
Wellington10,871 holdings
Taranaki5,496 holdings
Hawke's Bay3,602 holdings
Nelson3,494 holdings
Marlborough1,445 holdings
Westland888 holdings

The occupied holdings of the North Island now considerably outnumber those of the South Island, the numbers being—North Island, 41,051; South Island, 32,316. For the year 1898–99 the returns showed 29,543 holdings for the South Island, against 33,096 for the North.

The full details of holdings and acreages, classified according to size, for the year 1907–8 will be found in the following table:—

OCCUPATION OF LAND: NUMBER AND AREA OF HOLDINGS (INCLUDING CROWN PASTORAL LEASES).

As compiled by the Department of Agriculture.

TABLE showing for the Year 1907–8 the Occupied Holdings and the Acreages (including Crown Pastoral Leases) in Groups of Sizes, according to the Provincial Districts
Provincial DistrictTotal of Holdings1–10 Acres, inclusiveOver 10–50 Acres, inclusiveOver 50–100 Acres, inclusiveOver 100–200 Acres, inclusiveOver 200–20 Acres, inclusiveOver 320–640 Acres, inclusiveOver 640–1,000 Acres, inclusiveOver 1,000–5,000 Acres, inclusiveOver 5,000–10,000 Acres, inclusiveOver 10,000–20,000 Acres, inclusiveOver 20,000–50,000 Acres. inclusiveOver 50,000 Acres
Auckland: Area in acres6,547,15022,788103,013185,266458,327516,012945,477648,7851,971,508675,115459,012471,79690,051
          Number of holdings21,0826,1683,5392,3533,0201,9762,0628101,00410035141
Taranaki: Area in acres1,219,6804,78322,94767,379200,054176,676235,991141,911342,03215,28712,620  
          Number of holdings5,4969147828491,35869052017920121  
Hawke's Bay: Area in acres3,000,9855,87817,52823,19751,47150,857129,700137,576601,329483,978578,378716,278204,815
          Number of holdings3,6021,2816483002832042821742966840233
Wellington: Area in acres4,133,46914,58045,51791,448243,456236,156562,653412,3161,190,853470,041402,844196,379267,246
          Number of holdings10,8713,1321,6651,1521,5749191,222500597692964
Marlborough: Area in acres2,417,4611,3404,9148,69022,40426,73898,35878,320388,538112,380184,896515,320975,563
          Number of holdings1,445365185114155102210951661612178
Nelson: Area in acres ...2,155,3003,52119,45734,12565,08682,854166,430130,756366,52168,109174,335278,265765,841
          Number of holdings3,49488267643344331736416418091196
Westland: Area in acres645,4967563,8546,58117,56824,26142,29121,81243,242115,276250,55868,13751,160
          Number of holdings8882851258711393952824171731
Canterbury: Area in acres6,669,19316,09062,08388,346192,545242,213507,244319,3041,332,646376,409425,825901,8402,204,648
          Number of holdings11,8493,9642,2141,1691,2859521,09242061359342423
    Otago—             
    Otago portion: Area in acres7,639,49410,76239,52767,895161,656210,626403,563296,116979,788495,973589,371,238,4783,145,736
          Number of holdings8,9222,7461,4778901,09281088834648770463832
    Southland portion: Area, acres3,136,0406,37221,65831,640120,481198,510400,021238,132461,167162,252287,290484,279704,238
          Number of holdings5,7181,4498364137757648672952482622176
    Totals{Area in acres ... Number of holdings37,564,28886,870340,498604,5671,533,0481,764,9033,491,7282,425,0287,677,6242,994,8203,365,1324,870,7728,409,298
73,36721,18612,1477,76010,0986,8977,6023,0113,81643624715384

OWNERSHIP OF LAND.

From the tables following it will be seen that of the total area of New Zealand (66,861,440 acres) there was held as freehold on 31st March, 1906, more than eighteen million and a half acres. The balance is in the hands of the Crown, Native owners, local bodies, church, education, friendly societies, and other public bodies. The number of freeholders of country lands (i.e., exclusive of those in boroughs and townships), with the area held, and the capital and unimproved values of same on 31st March, 1906, is as follows:—

Size of Holdings in AcresNumber of OwnersTotal AreaCapital ValueUnimproved Value
  Acres£      £      
5 and under 32035,2003,394,75331,228,14820,377,057
320 and under 6405,1072,299,64614,318,11910,082,449
640 and under 1,0001,8621,475,8598,472,1075,931,751
1,000 and under 2,0001,5532,142,80711,065,7107,963,977
2,000 and under 5,0008642,618,60811,555,3338,479,100
5,000 and under 10,0002781,955,3487,001,0425,176,287
10,000 and under 20,0001291,817,5626,192,1674,669,180
20,000 and under 30,000401,002,8162,910,6302,182,823
30,000 and under 40,00014474,8221,299,027948,764
40,000 and under 50,0008353,100510,849417,169
50,000 and under 100,00012833,0001,005,416789,584
150,000 and over1223,242331,985240,642
          Totals45,06818,591,56395,890,53367,288,774

In addition to the above there were 82,951 owners of town lands having a capital value of £65,881,225.

NUMBER OF FREEHOLDERS (EXCLUSIVE OF THOSE IN BOROUGHS OR TOWNSHIPS) WITH SIZES OF HOLDINGS.

Sizes of Holdings, in AcresNumber of Freeholders in
188318861889189219021906
5 and under32025,40728,52131,32432,21134,80035,200
320 and under6402,6952,9823,1893,5534,7355,107
640 and under1,0009311,0431,0351,1431,5801,862
1,000 and under2,0008169169069921,3691,553
2,000 and under5,000465509507566775864
5,000 and under10,000203220221208260278
10,000 and under20,000141151134148123129
20,000 and under30,000494350454040
30,000 and under40,000233126302114
40,000 and under50,00011513998
50,000 and under100,000192518201812
100,000 and under150,00022242 
150,000 and over227631
          Totals30,76434,45037,43238,93543,73545,068 

Previous to the year 1906 the areas of freehold lands under 10,000 acres were not classified, but it is possible to compare the areas above that quantity as held in 1889 and 1906. Still excluding lands in the hands of Native owners, local bodies, church, education, friendly societies, and other public bodies, the figures are:—

 18891906
Area in acresAcresAcres
10,000 and under 20,0001,911,1541,817,562
20,000 and under 30,0001,221,8291,002,816
30,000 and under 40,000921,435474,822
40,000 and under 50,000570,646353,100
50,000 and under 75,000723,459490,507
75,000 and under 100,000522,590342,493
100,000 and under 150,000241,423 
150,000 and over1,389,664223,242

It would appear from the above that there has been a reduction in the total held in areas of 10,000 acres and over of 2,797,658 acres during the period 1889-1906. Purchases by Government contributed to this result, but only to the extent of about one-third, voluntary subdivision accounting for the balance. The average area held by owners of 10,000 acres and upwards shows a steady decrease since 1889, as follows:—

 Average Area held
YearAcres
188930,009
189229,924
190228,312
190623,061

LIVE-STOCK.

A comparative table is presented showing the increase in live-stock 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.

YearHorsesAsses and MulesCattleSheepGoatsPigsPoultry

* Not enumerated.

† Numbers for April, 1895, and years following.

185814,912122137,2041,523,32411,79740,734*
186128,275153193,2852,761,38312,19143,270236,098
186449,409339249,7604,937,27312,00561,276378,414
186765,715323312,8358,418,57911,964115,104676,065
187181,028397436,5929,700,62912,434151,460872,174
187499,859267494,91711,704,85314,276123,9211,058,198
1878137,768241578,43013,069,33814,243207,3371,323,542
1881161,736362698,63712,985,08511,223200,0831,566,114
1886187,382297853,35816,564,59510,220277,9011,679,021
1891211,040348831,83118,128,1869,055308,8121,790,070
1895-96237,4184261,047,90119,826,604†*239,778*
1896-97249,8134341,138,06719,138,493†*209,834*
1897-98252,8343931,209,16519,687,954†*186,027*
YearHorsesAsses and MulesCattleSheepGoatsPigsPoultry

* Not enumerated.

† Numbers for April, 1895, and years following.

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*
1902-3286,9554641,460,66320,342,727†*193,740*
1903-4298,7144681,593,54718,954,553†*226,591*
1904-5314,3224481,736,85018,280,806†*255,320*
1905-6326,5374291,810,93619,130,875†*249,727*
1906-7342,6084511,851,75020,108,471†*242,2733,191,604
1907-8352,8324251,816,29920,983,772†*241,128*

The stock owned by Maoris in the year 1906, which is included above, comprised 252,404 sheep, 54,960 head of cattle, and 42,473 pigs. The number of horses is not specified, but is known to be large.

TABLE SHOWING FOR EACH COUNTY IN NEW ZEALAND THE NUMBER OF HORSES CATTLE, SHEEP, AND PIGS IN 1907
CountyHorses, October, 1907Cattle, including Calves, October, 1907Dairy Cows, included in foregoingSheep, including Lambs, April, 1907Pigs, October, 1907

* Not including 59,000 heifers over two years old intended for dairying.

Mangonui2,70112,6442,29518,5661,947
Whangaroa6112,066347,831365
Bay of Islands3,64018,6433,30427,2302,974
Hokianga3,73614,3592,5547,4172,389
Rodney2,73120,6825,52357,0351,454
Whangarei5,41242,50913,45924,9342,893
Otamatea2,29123,5225,12441,5511,580
Hobson2,06520,2733,48623,9991,097
Waitemata3,13416,0475,16839,6872,501
Eden6,0327,1713,9146,1601,665
Manukau10,03255,98423,70082,1268,908
Coromandel1,1367,52189216,730677
Thames1,2696,5722,7695,0801,353
Ohinemuri2,1539,3563,8495,3292,175
Waikato4,40126,94110,78146,0655,229
Raglan2,23233,7444,71591,9422,619
Waipa4,58727,21710,25031,7624,693
Piako4,98932,05210,880104,2404,256
East Taupo and Rotorua1,9924,19377034,190893
Waitomo4,32515,9063,43327,7402,433
Kawhia1,2777,12272610,579884
Awakino7639,08319223,295193
West Taupo1,8458,1151,2976,5342,665
Tauranga3,58021,9964,6723,6232,538
Whakatane2,1208,4682,61024,0391,220
Opotiki2,0729,3932,48538,5921,141
Waiapu5,17424,649342480,6723,979
Cook10,77687,8574,5171,228,6892,431
Wairoa4,22924,9362,961584,4561,384
Hawke's Bay8,15752,5307,1411,096,3972,319
Patangata and Weber3,03940,3968,667724,003404
Waipawa6,61747,0315,711791,9733,276
Woodville1,55614,7102,796 2,722
Clifton1,85018,8285,54139,7442,918
Taranaki4,95149,85824,74137,69910,303
Egmont2,73735,83717,4688,9434,249
Stratford3,44147,72823,179129,5388,606
Hawera6,97385,30646,515136,75019,002
Patea3,77729,2849,306262,6313,204
Waitotara2,42817,2954,268168,9811,541
Wanganui4,46824,7803,669404,6211,183
Waimarino2,0035,5421,19676,2231,135
Rangitikei7,73845,9647,491824,6483,342
Kiwitea2,83419,4014,448314,0282,037
Oroua2,70214,7997,843151,3334,500
Kairanga3,80820,0079,658113,6244,744
Pohangina1,36714,2594,262140,8732,130
Manawatu3,85023,60011,267150,6146,068
Horowhenua3,69726,5489,331140,2325,253
Hutt5,65516,3857,380208,5643,411
Featherston3,88736,7074,694441,4582,753
South Wairarapa2,52523,4175,865171,4873,000
Masterton4,03631,9242,730540,554885
Castlepoint71310,959537171,68838
Akitio1,38818,8191,531177,231403
Pahiatua2,21723,1169,111193,1454,739
Eketahuna1,14710,9504,69569,9411,695
Mauriceville4675,3191,45167,002539
Collingwood4113,6791,40711,686686
Takaka8273,9601,74036,0461,358
Waimea5,57512,9814,812239,7792,380
Buller7124,3961,6413,675494
Inangahua1,1576,6611,31931,441839
Grey1,1126,6562,01118,170844
Westland1,88713,8652,32821,248836
Sounds2813,118993199,749775
Marlborough5,41211,0613,064560,6461,729
Kaikoura1,3814,7971,198200,942467
Amuri1,7984,751505454,134214
Cheviot1,2672,397587166,545290
Ashley10,08018,7108,246831,8805,211
Akaroa2,33221,8846,275267,140173
Mount Herbert5002,293382 2,202
Selwyn17,73830,75618,148695,51815,021
Ashburton11,3269,8604,050890,1194,231
Mackenzie2,2753,361983449,957260
Geraldine5,6567,5233,280616,2851,963
Levels4,4945,7862,700 1,152
Waimate6,99311,8594,619574,8202,711
Waitaki7,74421,78410,137495,0263,488
Maniototo2,7227,7931,768275,377344
Vincent2,6155,2151,371299,070676
Lake1,5813,957838183,514417
Waihemo1,5715,3142,230122,539734
Waikouaiti1,7349,6295,27781,0811,589
Taieri7,32325,46910,288198,2923,369
Bruce4,33810,6035,008164,5921,210
Peninsula9106,2444,1481,257556
Clutha5,46916,9836,039293,4901,410
Tuapeka4,3727,6182,315367,214741
Southland21,62671,70126,375949,5036,171
Wallace and Fiord6,55623,0025,969427,2081,610
Stewart Island242631181,81142
          Totals352,8321,816,299541,363*20,983,772241,128

Live-stock in Australasia.

The following gives the number of the principal kinds of live-stock in Australasia for the year 1906-7:—

CountrySheepCattleHorsesPigs
Queensland14,886,4383,413,919452,916138,282
New South Wales44,132,4212,549,944537,762243,370
Victoria12,937,4401,804,323406,840220,452
South Australia6,661,217680,095224,447107,337
Western Australia3,340,745690,011104,92256,203
Tasmania729,394211,11738,29942,985
 April, 1906Oct., 1906Oct., 1906Oct., 1906
New Zealand20,108,4711,851,750342,608242,273

New Zealand thus takes second place in order for number of sheep, third place for cattle, and fourth for the number of her horses.

The losses in Australia have raised New Zealand to the second position in regard to sheep. To illustrate this, the case of Queensland shows 19,856,959 sheep in 1895, falling to 10,843,470 in 1904. Cattle fell in number from 7,012,997 in 1894 to 2,722,340 in 1904. With the advent of good seasons these losses are fast being recovered.

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, 1898-1907, distinguishing the number for the North from that in the South Island.

According to these returns, the flocks of the North Island increased from 5,285,907 sheep in the year 1886 to 10,854,018 in 1907, or at the rate of 105 per cent., while sheep in the South Island increased from 9,888,356 to 10,129,754, a gain of only 2.44 per cent. in the same period. For the North Island the increase during the twenty-two years was 5,568,111 sheep, and in the South Island 241,398.

YearNorth IslandSouth IslandTotal
18865,285,9079,888,35615,174,263
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
19059,388,6059,742,27019,130,875
190610,009,73110,098,74020,108,471
190710,854,01810,129,75420,983,772

There was an increase of 641,045 in the total number of sheep since April, 1902, and of 1,310,047 between 1898 and 1907.

Of the provincial districts, that of Wellington had most sheep in 1907, Canterbury came next, and Otago occupied the third place. The full particulars, showing increases since 1906 to be general, with the exception of Canterbury, are given:—

Provincial DistrictNo. of Sheep in 1906No. of Sheep in 1907Increase or Decrease
Wellington4,244,8304,526,247281,417
Canterbury4,485,9504,325,719-160,231
Otago3,788,2803,859,97471,694
Hawke's Bay3,037,7843,196,829159,045
Auckland2,233,8622,515,637281,775
Marlborough904,918961,33756,419
Nelson886,100943,30657,206
Taranaki493,255615,305122,050
Westland33,49239,4185,926
          Totals20,108,47120,983,772875,301
NUMBER OF FLOCKS, 1886, 1891, 1896, 1901, 1906, AND 1907
Size of Flocks188618911896190119061907
Under 5006,0248,27212,02811,70011,79312,014
500 and under 1,0001,1891,6912,6053,0593,4313,661
1,000 and under 2,0007479691,4602,877*3,340*3,544*
2,000 and under 5,000532666892
5,000 and under 10,000263287340397394441
10,000 and under 20,000228239231189213230
20,000 and upwards1661691471389487
          Totals9,14912,29317,70318,36019,26519,977
 190119061907
* From 1,000 to 2,5002,1892,5582,733
* From 2,500 to 5,000688782811
 2,8773,3403,544

The average size of the flocks is found to have been 1,659 sheep for 1886, 1,081 in 1896, and 1,050 in 1907.

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.

Crossbreds and other longwools comprise about 90 per cent. of the New Zealand flocks, the merino being less suited for freezing. The number of the different classes composing the flocks in April, 1907, was as follows:-

Stud—
    Merino60,719
    Lincoln111,506
    Romney174,667
    Border Leicester85,598
    English Leicester4,100,011
    Shropshire40,044
    Southdown19,509
    Other breeds43,630
Flock—
    Crossbreds and other longwools18,189,112
    Merino2,158,976
 20,983,772

According to the latest available returns the sheep in the flocks of the world numbered 478 ½ millions, as against 515 ½ millions in 1895.

An interim return gives the number of sheep in New Zealand on the 30th April, 1908, as 22,124,202, an increase of 1,140,430 on the number for the previous year. Of this increase the North Island is credited with 483,448, and the South Island with 656,982.

The number of breeding-ewes in April, 1906, was returned at 10,479,187, and in April, 1907, at 10,736,846, an increase of 257,659 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
18988,445,012
18998,661,746
19009,257,054
19019,906,616
19029,610,149
19039,071,751
19049,222,448
190510,079,184
190610,479,187
190710,736,846

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
LocalityBreed of FlockBreed of RamsBreed of EwesNo. of EwesPercentage of LambsRemarks
North IslandLincolnLincolnLincoln7,51781.04Land merely surface-sown in English-grass pasture
North IslandLincolnLincolnLincoln5,30185.05
North IslandLincolnLincoln⅞ Lincoln12,177100.00
North IslandRomneyRomneyRomney1,14196.17
North IslandLincolnSouthd'nLincoln2,03394.71
South IslandMerinoMerinoMerino14,76575.36Mountainous country in n'tive past're, unimproved
South IslandMerinoB. Leic'strMerino4,23588.94
South IslandCross-bredMerinoCross-bred8,62480.82In English-grasspasture
South IslandHalf-bredMerinoHalf-bred2,74782.79
South IslandB. Leic'strMerinoB. Leic'str77890.77
South IslandLincolnLincolnLincoln45288.08
South IslandR. MarshR. MarshR. Marsh253111.46
South IslandE. Leic'strE. Leic'strE. Leic'str46493.34
South IslandShropshireShropshireShropshire16897.41
South IslandSouthd'nSouthd'nSouthd'n11496.87

The above returns are fair average ones, but much higher might have been shown if exceptional cases had been selected.

The annual export and consumption of sheep during the last eight years has been:—

YearExport of Frozen Mutton and Lamb, including Pieces at 60 lb. to a SheepLive Sheep exportedEstimated Consumption in the Dominion: CarcasesTotal
19003,055,1353,8401,800,0004,858,975
19013,400,1383,6681,834,0005,237,806
19024,084,57848,0471,904,0006,036,625
19034,922,62221,7631,942,0006,886,385
19044,017,8297,4301,998,0006,023,259
19053,605,59211,7292,050,0005,667,321
19064,274,63713,3242,137,0006,424,961
19074,850,55213,7622,175,0007,039,314

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 (1908) for food will be about 2,224,000. (Maoris, for the purposes of this calculation, have been included.)

Cattle.

The cattle as enumerated in 1907-8 for each provincial district are given in the next table, and show a decrease of 35,451 on the total number. All districts with the exception of Auckland and Marlborough share in the decline, which is no doubt due mainly to a greater area of grazing-land being devoted to sheep-farming:—

Provincial DistrictBulls for Stud PurposesSteers over Two Years OldCows and Heifers for Dairy PurposesCows and Heifers for Breeding PurposesCows and Heifers for FatteningSteers and Heifers under Two Years not otherwise enumeratedTotals

* Including heifers over two years old intended for dairying: 60,210 in 1906-7 and 59,000 in 1907-8. For number of dairy cows in each county see table on pages 474-476.

Auckland1 8,849113,986156,76186,73228,868178,889574,085
Taranaki5,15830,498138,0059,10812,32371,799266,891
Hawke's Bay2,56039,91230,58849,1629,03648,345179,603
Wellington6,24477,048109,90572,35821,623102,613389,791
Marlborough4173,3855,8859062,0456,33818,976
Nelson6846,46413,4742,3924,22611,58538,825
Westland3434,3095,1363,7141,6315,38820,521
Canterbury2,12613,67951,8712,8027,58833,966112,032
Otago—       
    Otago portion2,13217,31253,3016,5096,10735,248120,609
    Southland portion1,65213,99435,4378,1387,48628,25994,966
    Totals, 1907-830,165320,587600,363*241,821100,933522,4301,816,299
    Totals, 1906-731,405315,558604,137*239,28584,145577,2201,851,750
          Increase5,0292,536 2,536-16,788  
          Decrease1,240 3,774  54,79035,451

Out of a total of 1,816,299 cattle, the North Island is shown to have had 1,410,370, or 78 per cent., while the South Island had 405,929, or 22 per cent. Similarly, the dairy cows and heifers intended for dairying in the North Island numbered 435,259, or 72 per cent., and in the South Island 165,104, or 28 per cent.

Thus, the North Island, which has a greater number of sheep than the South Island, contains besides more than three times as many cattle.

Of the total number of cattle (1,816,299) given above, 541,363 were dairy cows. It is found impossible to give a statement of the total quantity of butter and cheese made. All that can be said is that there were in March, 1907, 321 cheese and butter factories, with 463 skimming-stations, 403 private dairies, and 128 packinghouses reported to the Department of Agriculture. A summary of the returns rendered to the Department by the cheese and butter factories of their output for the previous year makes it possible to arrive at the approximate quantity of cheese and butter made at them.

Butter.

An attempt to estimate the total production of butter can be made, although it would not be safe to put forward the result as anything more than a probable approximation of the facts.

The total quantity of butter exported during the year ending 31st March, 1908, was 29,115,408 pounds, according to the figures of the Agricultural Department. The estimated consumption in New Zealand at twenty pounds per head of population-per annum equals 19,706,360 pounds. Adding to this 19,706,306 pounds consumed locally the 29,115,408 pounds exported, the estimated total production of butter for the year would equal 48,821,768 pounds.

This amount evidences a considerable falling off from the previous season, but this is mainly accounted for by the large increase in the production of cheese due to the disparity of prices between these two commodities at the beginning of the season.

The number of butter and cheese factories in each provincial district as in March, 1907, with the output for the previous year, is next shown:—

Provincial DistrictNumber of FactoriesSkimmingOutput
ButterCheeseButterCheese
    TonsTons
Auckland5191215,139458 ½
Taranaki7823797,5083,541
Hawke's Bay201311,534 ½119
Wellington35271185,8912,203 ½
Marlborough23138267
Nelson82123066
Westland2 183 
Canterbury78421,534550
Otago936581,9554 ½3,167
          Totals, 190721210946323,98910,312
          Totals, 19062118246022,466 ¼7,671
          Totals, 190529844822,108 ¼5,121
          Totals, 190428444420,7075,853 ½
          Totals, 190327238018,035 ¼5,038
          Totals, 190225427614,716 ½5,600 ½

Of the above, 15 were returned as “new” in 1907, and in 26 cases the output was not stated.

Of the cattle used or intended for stud or dairy purposes only there were 82,913 of pure breeds, viz.:—

Shorthorns45,948
Hereford9,564
Polled Angus9,103
Ayrshire4,687
Jersey5,957
Other breeds7,654
          Total82,913

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 Dominion. A small fee is charged for the service of these animals.

Horses.

The increase in horses is shown for five census years:—

Census YearsNumber of HorsesNumerical IncreaseIncrease per Cent
1880187,38223,65812.63
1891211,04026,37812.50
1896237,41828,82712.14
1901266,245
1906326,53760,29222.65

At the enumeration made in 1907-8 (October to January), the number of horses was found to have increased to 353,257 (including 425 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 DistrictEntiresGeldingsMares over Two Years oldMares with Foal at Foot, or to foal this SeasonColts or Fillies under Two Years oldTotals

* Including 425 mules and asses in 1907-8, and 451 in 1906-7.

Auckland1,00642,62728,85310,66614,15097,302
Taranaki1359,5928,112,5333,35523,733
Hawke's Bay3969,9597,2572,7523,24523,609
Wellington63624,17718,4476,0117,72356,994
Marlborough1315,0194,1881,0281,38511,751
Nelson621,2828523404632,999
Westland58526,09520,1095,8478,82461,460
Otago—
    Otago portion16,77916,77913,0323,9016,35040,422
    Southland portion19311,5558,4523,1794,83428,213
        Totals, 1907-83,611149,762111,58236,90651,396353,257*
        Totals, 1906-73,378145,246107,73036,45350,252343,059*
          Increase2334,5163,8524531,14410,198

Classified according to type, the numbers for the two years under review are:—

 1906-71907-8
Thoroughbred9,2159,452
Draught132,501137,653
Other breeds (harness and saddle)184,463189,263
Ponies under 14 hands16,42916,464
Mules and asses451425
                Totals343,059353,257

Thoroughbred stallions, imported and owned by the State, are stationed throughout the Dominion, 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 1907 are: To Bengal, 213; Queensland, 2; Victoria, 227; Fiji, 47; New South Wales, 133; Tasmania, 7; United Kingdom, 1; United States of America, 3; and South Sea Islands, 5: a total of 638.

Pigs.

The figures given in the accompanying table are those compiled by the Agricultural Department, and for 1907-8 show a decrease of 1,145 in the total number of pigs for the previous year—242,273. The Auckland Provincial District has more pigs than any other, Wellington, Taranaki, and Canterbury following in that order.

NUMBER OF PIGS IN EACH PROVINCIAL DISTRICT
Provincial DistrictBoarsSows over One Year old kept for BreedingSows under One Year old kept for BreedingBarrows or Sows all Age kept for FatteningTotals
Auckland1,8179,7273,13952,46967,152
Taranaki1,1396,66036140,12248,282
Hawke's Bay2691,4665617,80910,105
Wellington1,3617,41966639,95049,396
Marlborough1034471192,3022,971
Nelson1768052315,0496,261
Westland46275791,2801,680
Canterbury6704,10858427,56232,924
Otago—
    Otago portion3851,73222912,18814,534
    Southland portion2078741496,5937,823
    Totals, 1907-86,17333,5136,118195,324241,128
    Totals, 1906-75,91433,1116,366196,882242,273
    Increase259402   
    Decrease  2481,5581,145

Of 45,804 pigs intended solely for breeding, 11,345 were pure Berkshires, 1,941 pure Yorkshires, 826 other pure breeds, and 31,692 crosses.

ANGORA GOATS.

The Goverment has introduced some pure-bred goats by way of encouraging the breeding of this animal. There are several privately owned flocks, and the production of mohair should be a profitable undertaking. The animals thrive on dry scrubby country.

Chapter 45. SECTION XIII.—AGRICULTURE.

By the Agricultural and Pastoral Statistics Act, passed in 1895, the duty of collecting returns devolved upon the Department of Agriculture. The plan adopted is similar to that used in the United Kingdom, the account of land laid down in crop being made up at an early date, while estimates of produce are made after the results of threshing are known.

A summary of the particulars obtained at the collection made in October, 1907, 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 in Section II, in Part III.

ACREAGE AND ACTUAL YIELD IN PRINCIPAL CORN-CROPS, 1908
Provincial DistrictWHEATOATSBARLEYMAIZERYE
AcresYield per Acre, in BushelsTotal BushelsAcresYield per Acre, in BushelsTotal BushelsAcresYield per Acre, in BushelsTotal BushelsAcresYield per Acre, in BushelsTotal BushelsAcresYield per Acre, in BushelsTotal Bushels

* Approximate.

Auckland ...1,37230.942,4442,08330.9664,5001,25538.247,9658,86956.74503,3012,95823.970,702
Taranaki ...38734.013,1583,78535.0132,47589947.042,253
Hawke's Bay34034.011,5608,08736.0291,1321,56343.067,209
Wellington4,01923.9796,34819,56930.1589,16760242.925,860
Marlborough1,26424.030,3362,87837.0106,48611,41326.0296,738
Nelson ...1,93232.4362,6645,11835.6181,9984,00125.0101,047
Westland         
Canterbury138,59728.23,911,445169,01833.85,713,59411,75339.0461,022
Otago—         
    Otago portion42,55930.51,299,63486,23344.93,872,3514,13125.8106,752
    Southland portion2,56138.899,55090,11445.24,070,15856026.014,560
        Totals ...193,03128.845,567,139386,88538.8215,021,86136,17732.151,163,4068,86956.74503,3012,95823.970,702
NUMBER OF ACRES UNDER CULTIVATION IN EACH PROVINCIAL DISTRICT, 1907-8
Provincial DistrictIn Grass or Clover, sown after Land ploughedIn Grass, surface-sown: Land not ploughedIn Hay, included in either or both of the Previous ColumnsIn Bare FallowIn Grain-cropsIn Green and other CropsIn GardenIn Orchard or VineyardTotal in Grass, Crop, and FallowIn Plantations of Forest TreesTussock or Native Grass, and Unimproved

* Approximate.

 AcresAcresAcresAcresAcresAcresAcresAcresAcresAcresAcres
Auckland748,8642,092,21915,04913,39916,644107,3554,33612,1352,994,95219,3183,532,880
Taranaki183,479735,54310,1096565,66926,879764716953,7061,038264,936
Hawke's Bay359,8161,353,77613,7231,76811,14450,0671,2551,9591,779,7854,5361,216,664
Wellington339,5302,405,56518,2312,31925,46176,8892,3813,3952,855,5405,5981,272,351
Marlborough93,028*290,0001,81320417,56726,333230415427,7772,1131,987,571
Nelson137,602360,6245,0861,19012,73939,5655513,762556,0332,8721,596,395
Westland10,40560,906709242151,3696915473,16014572,322
Canterbury1,540,805556,9068,8378,238328,678369,8835,1153,2142,812,83925,7483,830,606
Otago—           
    Otago portion837,184194,8706,59910,728136,078182,6092,6661,8831,366,0185,5076,267,869
    Southland North707,520117,11127910,52893,505181,1431,2176111,111,6351,1992,023,306
          Totals4,958,2338,167,52080,43549,272647,5001,062,09218,58428,24414,931,44567,94322,564,900
ACREAGE UNDER SOWN GRASSES, AND CULTIVATION GENERALLY, FOR EACH COUNTY, AS ON THE 15TH OCTOBER, 1907
CountiesIn Sown Grasses, after having been ploughedIn Sown Grasses, not previously ploughedLand broken up but not under CropTotal under CropIn GardenIn OrchardPlantations of Forest Trees
 AcresAcresAcresAcresAcresAcresAcres
Mangonui6,37927,932521,04010920139
Whangaroa4237,011 18728923
Bay of Islands8,16042,314751,88612629040
Hokianga1,00044,817261,34015239928
Rodney15,531103,4335861,5931051,225228
Whangarei24,867126,0092611,922991,23353
Otamatea8,35888,46062666794268292
Hobson3,30163,1863030182182145
Waitemata34,76837,4571,8552,1513122,747305
Eden14,8397,579547541,471588248
Manukau132,26090,1664,57820,3423721,3661,198
Coromandel5,39817,243438241922
Thames5,5288,08668395535520
Ohinemuri12,36312,8892072,24632112829
Waikato76,80331,8391,34710,7231055554,572
Raglan21,245137,3942274,7176320693
Waipa80,15511,65847314,722122513387
Piako145,81535,0301,42321,454105333804
Waitomo4,71350,388551,3641087739
Kawhia68432,627250135245
Awakino19149,250 216 2 
West Taupo15,72414,2072992,4921538567
East Taupo & Rotorua3,63817,2203031,41616675,473
Tauranga40,85732,71927011,1731075774,160
Whakatane10,93921,2184204,267205227
Opotiki14,54326,2761284,053265762
Waiapu2,614268,43673,73668127179
Cook57,768687,375857,515179341320
Wairoa14,221267,170454,836100132187
Hawke's Bay177,002342,89896821,9027581,3101,610
Waipawa96,159284,70331828,4342222302,173
Woodville7,79389,054 2,4158417364
Patangata and Weber64,641369,9514373,62491114502
Clifton12,26880,167 3,791444115
Taranaki44,341108,957599,785434388458
Egmont22,39282,1353542,34238547
Stratford7,345195,007 3,626462133
Hawera and Eltham57,041152,9611437,092165110296
Patea40,092116,3161005,91237102229
Waitotara27,56074,28973,650125246227
Waimarino67844,953 67993469
Wanganui17,734177,136283,779142182346
Rangitikei62,293304,20859521,0271995061,088
Kiwitea6,033156,720204,7601199107
Pohangina71192,319301,446913420
Oroua14,09478,143306,62390161252
Kairanga18,06671,5671364,518395457254
Manawatu38,18171,78726115,490115230536
Horowhenua6,131103,872324,061289301147
Hutt4,882172,108111,671457239231
Featherston48,600202,04120412,3121311811,067
Wairarapa South31,422134,9616588,09596123341
Masterton34,761259,7837310,933167162515
Castlepoint3,88390,10916582026171
Akitio11,144118,85795112303661
Pahiatua2,278148,805351,2955419889
Eketahuna7,84661,77487778305951
Mauriceville3,23342,13316463122126
Marlborough56,583146,35919240,3861733261,963
Sounds3,48177,12110323325930
Kaikoura32,96466,52023,1912530120
Collingwood1,88814,7303022915657
Takaka4,52723,570641,365242077
Waimea34,853168,00654126,0163083,147355
Buller1,12210,3232117511306
Inangahua5,92731,7533499912785
Grey5,38220,9924591401143
Westland5,02339,914238793294011
Amuri55,27191,33149212,96482411,748
Cheviot34,01420,9112710,6145994744
Ashley310,619188,0662,394107,3615385003,540
Selwyn296,99339,7981,875150,5472,6281,2146,783
Mount Herbert10,14124,502 7423087109
Akaroa11,309168,966 2,39998163326
Ashburton420,75823,7601,674204,69862946110,298
Geraldine137,42513,76085867,9922672602,288
Levels89,05110,22636847,4564242921,051
Waimate205,24570,8731,06994,108408196734
Mackenzie59,26416,955 23,2589341619
Waitaki190,95445,9681,27781,965463285850
Waihemo34,10415,38118710,1328157155
Waikouaiti19,27530,287 6,696112101160
Peninsula3,28412,882 1,4121922061
Taieri80,93421,14973027,372639306370
Bruce111,0347,68560540,21319863378
Clutha183,89231,7261,07656,614345134543
Tuapeka110,46318,07722440,2971775482,210
Maniototo57,8302,76939925,93322833197
Vincent29,6461,8722,14915,346113270143
Lake15,7687,0744,08112,80711866440
Southland534,07062,1419,561211,0811,099523985
Wallace and Fiord173,40954,00796763,45910285212
Stewart Island41963 81632
       Totals4,958,2338,167,52049,2721,709,59218,58428,24467,943

The extent of land in cultivation (including sown grasses and land broken up but not under crop) amounted to 14,931,445 acres. Of this area, land under artificial grasses comprised 87.91 per cent.; land under grain-crops, 4.34 per cent.; land under root and green crops, 7.11 per cent.; land in garden and orchard, 0.31 per cent.; and land in fallow, 0.33 per cent. Full details for the last twenty years are tabulated.

NUMBER OF ACRES IN GRASS, UNDER EACH CLASS OF CROP, AND IN BARE FALLOW, 1889 TO 1908
YearIn Grass or Clover, sown after Land ploughedIn Grass or Clover, surface-sown: Land not ploughedIn Hay, included in either or both of the Previous ColumnsIn Bare FallowIn Grain-cropsIn Green and other CropsIn GardenIn Orchard or VineyardTotal in Grass, Crop, Fallow, Garden, and OrchardIn Plantations of Forest Trees
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
18964,254,9835,030,24796,81858,039074,850680,75017,74919,36210,735,98043,246
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
19024,695,2006,924,97862,98455,947634,879772,96717,68426,88613,128,49148,770
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
19064,779,7347,745,72780,74954,080648,805886,57918,91527,31014,161,15061,479
19074,815,1577,903,37470,20152,119649,003963,13418,39128,16914,429,34757,079
19084,958,2338,167,52080,43549,272647,5001,062,09218,58428,24414,931,44567,943

Wheat.

The wheat harvest of 1908 showed an average yield of 28.84 bushels per acre, the crop realised being 5,567,139 bushels, against 5,605,252 bushels in 1907.

The quantity of wheat of the previous season's harvest held by farmers in October, 1907, as shown by the gazetted figures, was 1,641,251 bushels, which includes stocks of grain and flour held by merchants and millers. The total amount of wheat exported during the year 1907 was 1,374 bushels.

The imports of flour during 1907 were 99,827 centals (4,991 tons), and the exports 184 tons.

The area under wheat for threshing decreased from 206,185 acres in 1907 to 193,031 acres in 1908, and the decrease was general throughout the Dominion, with the exception of Otago Provincial District. In addition to the area cut for threshing, 732 acres were cut for chaff, and 126 acres for ensilage and feeding down with stock, so that the total area sown in wheat was 193,889 acres.

Of the 193,031 acres in wheat (for threshing) this year, no less than 138,597 acres were in Canterbury and 45,120-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 ten years were:—

YearLand under WheatEstimated Gross ProduceAverage Yield per Acre
 AcresBushelsBushels
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
1906222,9656,798,93430.60
1907206,1855,605,25227.18
1908193,0315,567,13928.84

The following gives the area in wheat, and the estimated produce, for the States of the Commonwealth of Australia for the season of 1907:—

StateWheat crop
 AcresBushelsBushels per Acre
New South Wales1,866,25321,817,93811.69
Victoria2,031,89322,618,04311.13
Queensland114,5751,108,902968
South Australia1,681,98217,145,79610.19
Western Australia250,2832,758,56711.02
Tasmania32,808651,40819.86
 5,977,79466,100,65411.06

The Wheat-crop of the World.

The estimated wheat-crop of the world for the years 1904 to 1907, according to “Beerbohms',” was as follows:—

THE WHEAT-CROP OF THE WORLD
(In Quarters of 480 lb., 000 omitted)
Country1907190619051904

* Including Slavonia and Croatia.

† Including Poland and Siberia.

 QrsQrsQrsQrs
Austria6,2507,2006,7506,700
Hungary*16,25025,90021,50018,300
Belgium1,8501,7501,5001,750
Bulgaria2,5005,1503,7505,250
Denmark500500500510
France46,0041,00042,00037,400
Germany15,93518,00017,00017,500
Greece750750750750
Holland650600590750
Italy20,00020,00020,00021,000
Portugal400500500350
Roumania5,35013,60012,7506,750
Russia63,67563,30079,00082,000
Servia1,5001,8501,4001,500
Spain12,00017,60011,00012,000
Sweden725750620700
Switzerland500500500450
Turkey (in Europe)3,5005,0005,0004,500
United Kingdom7,0007,5807,5504,750
            Total for Europe206,335231,430232,660223,010
Algeria3,8904,2502,7003,550
Tunis1,2501,2507501,200
Argentine Republic22,0019,10017,50019,500
Australasia6,00010,0009,5007,900
Asia Minor3,5005,0005,0004,500
Canada10,50015,40013,5008,500
Cape Colony500500500550
Chili1,8001,7501,5502,000
Egypt1,0001,5001,5001,500
India39,00040,00035,00044,700
Persia4,0003,5003,5003,000
Syria3,0003,0002,5002,500
United States of America79,00091,00085,0066,000
Uruguay1,500800575750
Mexico1,0001,0007501,100
Japan10,0012,00010,00011,600
            Total out of Europe187,940210,050189,825178,850
            Grand totals394,275441,080422,485401,860

Consumption of Wheat.

The yearly consumption of wheat per head of population in New Zealand has been estimated at 6 bushels, and the quantity required for seed at 2 bushels to the acre.

Using these figures, the Department of Agriculture estimates that there will be a surplus quantity after providing for this year's wants.

WHEAT: ESTIMATED SURPLUS, 1908
  Bushels
The area for threshing was 193,031 acres, and the total yield is computed at .. ..5,567,139
Amount of wheat and flour returned on hand, 31st October, 1907 (as per returns) ..1,641,251
Amount of wheat and flour imported from 1st November, 1907, to 28th February, 1908124,271
  7,332,661
 Bushels 
Wheat and flour exported from 1st November, 1907, to 28th February, 19084,756 
Consumption for same period for population of 960,000, at the rate of 6 bushels per head per annum1,920,000 
  1,924,756
Leaving available for all purposes as at 28th February, 19085,407,905

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 bushels
France8.1 bushels
Germany3.0 bushels
Russia2.1 bushels
Italy5.4 bushels
United States4.5 bushels

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 1908 was 386,885 acres, against 351,929 acres harvested in the preceding year, an increase of 34,956 acres. The Provincial Districts of Otago (176,347 acres) and Canterbury (169,018 acres) account for 345,365 acres of the total area harvested, Wellington taking third place with 19,569 acres. The breadth of land in oats for chaffing, ensilage, or feeding down with stock was 294,638 acres, an increase of 34,288 acres on the figures for 1907.

The average yield per acre was, in 1908, 38.82 bushels, and in 1907, 31.83 bushels, and the quantity of produce increased from 11,201,789 bushels to 15,021,861 bushels.

The oat-crop for 1907 in the States of the Commonwealth of Australia was as follows:—

 AcresBushelsAverage per Acre
Queensland1,23628,88423.37
New South Wales56,4311,404,55424.89
Victoria380,4938,845,65423.25
South Australia57,000896,16615.72
Western Australia28,363457,15516.12
Tasmania58,3201,979,57433.94

Maize.

This is a crop of some importance. In 1908 there were 8,869 acres sown for grain, the yield being 503,301 bushels of corn, an average of 56.74 bushels per acre, and 2,087 acres sown for ensilage, or feeding down with stock. Maize is grown only in the North Island, with the exception of a few acres. The Provincial District of Auckland had 10,018 acres; Hawke's Bay, 424 acres; Taranaki, 288 acres; and Wellington, 143 acres, in 1908. As considerable interest is taken in this crop, the group of counties where it is chiefly grown is stated—viz., Manukau, Whangarei, Mangonui, Bay of Islands, Hokianga, Tauranga, Whakatane, Opotiki, Waiapu, Cook, and Wairoa. Small acreages are found in nearly all the counties of the Auckland, Taranaki, and Hawke's Bay Districts.

Barley.

Under barley (for threshing), 36,177 acres were returned in 1908, the crop being 1,163,406 bushels, an average yield per acre of 32.15 bushels. In 1907 the area under barley was 33,305 acres, and the yield 1,035,346 bushels, or 31.08 bushels per acre. There were in addition 5,058 acres in barley for ensilage or feeding down with stock.

Rye.

There were 2,958 acres in rye, yielding 70,702 bushels, or at the rate of 23.9 bushels per acre, in 1908, against 1,298 acres and 41,536 bushels, the rate being 32 bushels per acre, in 1907.

Peas and Beans.

The area under peas for threshing in the season 1908 was 8,416 acres, yielding 242,245 bushels, or an average of 28.78 bushels per acre, against 11,519 acres and 336,452 bushels, or 29.21 bushels per acre, in the previous year.

Under beans there were 1,168 acres, giving a return of 43,923 bushels, the average being 37.6 bushels per acre, against 1,960 acres and 73,299 bushels (37.39 bushels per acre) in 1907.

Potatoes.

The area under potatoes was 27,035 acres in 1908, yielding the return of 142,999 tons, or a rate of 5.28 tons per acre, against 31,289 acres in 1907, and 169,875 tons (or 5.42 tons per acre), a decrease of 4,254 acres and 26,876 tons.

A comparison of the gross yield of potatoes with the amount exported in each of twelve years showed that for such period an average of 597 lb. per head of population was consumed. 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 1898 gave only 470,582 acres, but for the present year 712,913 acres (549,209 acres in turnips and 163,704 in rape) were set down as under these crops; and there were 11,697 acres in addition, in mangolds (9,242 acres), best (481 acres), and carrots (1,974 acres).

Hops.

There were 865 acres under hops in 1908, as against 1,011 acres last year. No account of the produce for the last ten years was taken, but in 1895 the yield was 7,556 cwt. In 1905 the total quantity used by the breweries amounted to 5,155 cwt. Of the land under hops in 1908, 820 acres were in the Waimea County and 21 in Takaka, both in the Provincial District of Nelson. The import of hops in 1907 amounted to 764 cwt., and the exports, the produce of the Dominion, to 2,555 cwt.

Tobacco.

The growing of tobacco does not progress in New Zealand. In 1889, 34 acres were being cultivated; in 1890, 25 acres; in 91, 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 18,584 acres, of which 14,422 acres were private gardens and 4,162 acres market gardens. In plantations of forest trees there were 67,943 acres.

There were 27,623 acres in orchard in 1908, an increase of 108 acres on the area so returned in the previous year, and 621 acres were returned as “vineyard,” as against 654 acres in 1907. The fruit-crop 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 Dominion 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 1908 there were 13,125,753 acres under artificial grasses. Of these, 4,958,233 acres had been previously ploughed, presumably under grain or other crops, while 8,167,520 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 1908 was 40,435 acres, yielding 1,160,413 bushels of 20 lb., or a rate of 28.69 bushels per acre, against 25,893 acres and 579,399 bushels, an average of 22.37 bushels per acre, in 1907.

In cocksfoot there were 28,731 acres, which yielded 4,147,902 lb., or an average of 144.37 lb. per acre, against 31,633 acres and 5,795,915 lb. (a rate of 183.19 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 1906-7:—

 Acres
Queensland45,990
New South Wales679,631
Victoria1,095,642
South Australia23,679
Western Australia6,787
Tasmania432,128
New Zealand12,718,531

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 New Zealand 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 1908 show that 22,564,900 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.

Chapter 46. SECTION XIV.—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 Dominion. Gold to the value of £71,528,978 was obtained prior to the 31st December, 1907; the value of the produce for the year 1907 having been £2,027,490. 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 country, 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 1907 amounted to £1,090,751 in value, the quantity mined in 1907 having been 1,562,603 oz., valued at £169,484.

Of other minerals, the value of the product to the same date amounts to £27,903,357, of which kauri-gum yielded £14,022,905, and coal, with coke, £13,510,099.

The quantities and values of precious metals and minerals obtained during the year 1907, and the total value of all mining produce since 1853, are:—

 1907Total Value since 1853
 Oz.    £    £    
Gold508,2102,027,49071,528,978
Silver1,562,603169,4841,090,751
 2,070,8132,196,97472,619,729
 Tons  
Copper-ore5659518,823
Chrome-ore  38,002
Antimony-ore982,11854,716
Manganese-ore52661,857
Scheelite-ore13715,48629,853
Hæmatite-ore 5444
Mixed minerals1,355 ¼14,962159,447
Coal1,831,009965,76613,485,259
Coke (exported)151524,840
Kauri-gum8,708579,88814,022,905
Shale  7,211
  £3,775,835£100,523,086

GOLD-MINING.

The history of the finding of gold was briefly sketched in the Year-books for 1893 and 1894, and need not, therefore, be given again. An account of the “Waihi,” New Zealand's greatest mine, will be found in the Year-book of 1905.

GOLD-DREDGING.

This system of alluvial mining, which had New Zealand for its cradle, although now adopted in other countries, has probably produced more than eight millions sterling of the total gold-production of this Dominion.

To enable dredge-mining to be carried out profitably, even when the ground to be operated upon is payably auriferous, it is necessary that a number of favourable conditions shall exist, the absence of any one of which may render unprofitable the undertaking. The presence of snags, or of large boulders, the hardness of the matrix surrounding the same, a hard and rough bottom from which the dredge-buckets are unable to clean up the gold, and in connection with paddock dredges the limited space of operations causing the gold to be stirred up and held in suspension in the muddy water, are all causes any one of which may render unprofitable an otherwise promising proposition. There is therefore no cause for surprise that the system of alluvial mining by hydraulic sluicing and elevating is now being applied whenever practicable in preference to the bucket-and-ladder dredge.

The following statement shows the number of dredges, the gold produced by them, and the dividends paid during 1906 and 1907:—

Inspection DistrictNumber of DredgesNumber of Persons ordinarily employedYield during 1907Average Yield per Dredge. 1907Dividends paid
19061907
IdleAt WorkIdleAt Work19071906
      £      £      £      £      
West Coast73122520175,6703,02716,48824,080
Southern2313635103949343,9583,33973,21979,630
        Totals30167371281,150419,6343,27889,707103,722

During 1907 the average yield per working dredge was £3,278, as against £3,013 in 1906; there has, however, to be recorded a decrease of £81,565 in the gold-productiou, and the number of working dredges has decreased by thirty-nine.

MINERS, AND GOLD ENTERED FOR EXPORT AT DIFFERENT DISTRICTS.

The total number of gold-miners employed in 1907 was 9,138, of whom 8,514 were Europeans and 624 were Chinese, as against a total of 9,039 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.

The total quantity of gold entered for export during the years ending 31st March, 1907, and 31st March, 1908, for the several districts, and the total quantity and value of the gold exported from the 1st January, 1857, to the 31st March, 1908, are shown hereunder; but this does not necessarily include the whole of the gold produced, as no doubt much has been taken away 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, 1907 AND 1908, AND THE TOTAL QUANTITY AND VALUE FROM JANUARY, 1857, TO 31ST MARCH, 1908
DistrictYear ending 31st March, 1907Year ending 31st March, 1908Increase or Decrease for Year ending 31st March, 1908Total Quantity and Value from January, 1857, to 31st March, 1908
QuantityValueQuantityValue
 Oz.      £      Oz.      £      Oz.      Oz.      £      
Auckland298,18811,202,975307,4691,215,592+9,2814,365,07316,467,434
Wellington     188706
Marlborough1104387202,702+61089,929350,354
Nelson3,58414,3293,22512,601-3591,718,9296,814,569
West Coast96,783381,87485,203334,936-11,5805,348,00821,280,817
Canterbury     99387
Otago153,607620,901127,578516,256-26,0290,830,55727,142,780
          Totals552,2722,220,517524,1952,082,087-28,07718,352,78372,057,047

It will be seen from the above table that there was last year a decrease in the export of gold of 28,077 oz. on the figures for the preceding twelve months.

Of the total quantity of gold exported in 1907-8 Auckland contributed 58.66 per cent.; Marlborough, 0.13 per cent.; Nelson, 0.62 per cent.; West Coast, 16.25 per cent.; and Otago, 24.34 per cent.

Of the gold entered for exportation during the year ended the 31st March, 1908—viz., 524,195 oz., representing a value of £2,082,087 — about 65 per cent, came out of quartz-mines; but, if the total yield of gold obtained be taken, the value of which to 31st March, 1908, is £72,057,047, about 26 per cent, came from quartz-mines and 74 per cent. from alluvial workings.

MINERAL PRODUCTION (VALUE) OF AUSTRALASIA TO END OF 1906.

The total value of mineral production for Australasia to the end of the year 1906 is shown in the following table:—

CountryGoldSilver and Silver-leadCopperTinCoalOther MineralsTotal

* Inclusive of kauri-gum to the value of £13,443,017.

 £      £      £      £      £      £      £      
New S'th Wales54,314,15243,236,7598,472,6297,744,50050,356,7426,683,364170,808,155
Victoria276,516,979207,784123,454441,5301,477,275257,185279,024,207
Queensland64,334,9031,352,3164,402,0036,111,1993,654,368873,82880,728,617
South Australia2,707,141387,90425,575,846137,902 936,65029,745,443
W'st'n Australia70,793,659545,796478,129597,173486,90853,86072,955,525
Tasmania ...6,246,2144,255,2666,753,5619,175,180399,125120,81426,950,160
New Zealand69,501,488921,26718,228 12,519,49313,786,775*96,747,251
 544,414,53650,907,09245,823,85024,207,49368,893,91122,712,476756,959,358

Gold-production of Australasia (Quantity).

The gold-yield of Australasia (in crude ounces) for the years 1900 to 1906 was as under:—

 1900190219041906
 Oz.      Oz.      Oz.      Oz.      
Queensland963,189860,453639,151544,636
New South Wales309,884190,316324,996302,556
Victoria807,407777,738821,017834,775
South Australia24,08628,19829,10829,084
Western Australia1,580,9502,177,4422,373,0211,736,295
Tasmania81,12570,99665,92160,547
New Zealand373,616508,045520,323563,843
 4,140,2574,613,1884,773,5374,071,736

The value is as follows: 1900, £15,018,040; 1902, £16,763,381; 1904, £17,884,838; 1906, £16,902,649.

Gold-production of the World for the Years 1905 and 1906.

The following is a summary of the world's production of gold for the year 1905, and of the estimated and ascertained production for 1906, in fine ounces:—

 19051900
 Fine OuncesFine Ounces
Australasia4,232,0003,964,000
Africa5,494,0006,602,000
United States4,266,0004,649,000
Canada701,000605,000
Russia1,078,0001,028,000
Mexico738,000775,000
Other countries1,781,0001,750,000
            Total18,290,00019,373,900
            Total Value£78,770,613£83,431,759

COAL-MINING.

The extent of the coal-measures in New Zealand will make-coal-mining one of the large industries, especially on the west coast of the South 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 1907 is shown below:—

YearRaised in New ZealandImportedTotal raised in the Dominion and imported per AnnumExported (excluding Coal for Fuel by Ocean Steamers)Total Consumption of Coal within the DominionYearly Increase in Consumption within the Dominion
TotalYearly Increase

* Decrease.

 Tons.  Tons.  Tons.  Tons.  Tons.  TomsTons.  
1878162,218174,148336,3663,921332,445  
1879231,21809,000158,076389,2947,195382,09949,654
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
1889580,44527,450*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
1894719,54627,938112,961832,50725,449807,05822,354
1895720,6547,108108,198834,85226,151808,7011,643
1896792,85166,197101,756894,60727,974866,63357,932
1897840,71347,802110,907951,62026,639924,98158,348
1898907,03366,320115,4271,022,46018,3481,004,11279,131
1899975,23468,20199,655074,88914,1461,060,74356,631
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
19051,585,75647,918169,0461,754,80241,2571,713,54585,024
19061,729,536143,780207,5671,937,10362,7451,874,358160,813
19071,831,009101,473220,7492,051,75851,7901,999,968125,610

It will be seen from the above that, with the exception of 1889, there has been a steady increase in the output of coal 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 dominion. During a period of thirty years the annual consumption of coal in New Zealand has increased to the extent of 1,667,523 tons, showing that new industries are springing up, requiring fuel for generating motive power.

The total output from the mines last year was 1,831,009 tons, as against 1,729,536 tons for 1906, an increase of 101,473 tons. The coal imported from other countries was 220,749 tons, against 207,567 tons in 1906, an increase in the importation last year of 13,182 tons. The imports were 220,726 tons from New South Wales, 2 tons from Victoria, 2 tons from Tasmania, and 19 tons from the United Kingdom. The total export of coal was 129,030 tons, all New Zealand produce hut 80 tons. Of the coal exported, 77,240 tons were for coaling direct steamers trading between New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and has been treated as coal consumed within the Dominion, 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 2,051,758 tons, of which 51,790 tons were exported, leaving the consumption within the Dominion last year 1,999,968 tons, as against 1,874,358 tons for 1906, an increased consumption of 125,610 tons.

The largest increase in the output last year was in the Grey-mouth district—namely, 58,086 tons. There was also an increased production from the mines in the Westport district of 40,943 tons, in the Waikato district of 6,507 tons, in the Southland district of 7,080 tons, in the Mokau district of 723 tons, in the Kawakawa and Hikurangi districts of 6,171 tons, in the Whangarei, Kamo, Ngunguru, and Whauwhau districts of 11,982 tons, but there was a decline in the Otago district of 7,631 tons, in the Miranda district of 9,592 tons, in the Reefton district 4,185 tons, in the Canterbury district of 2,874 tons, and in the West Wanganui district of 5,737 tons.

The quantities of coal produced in each district are as under:—

Name of DistrictOutput of CoalIncrease or DecreaseApproximate Total Output of Coal up to the 31st December, 1907
19071906
 Tons.  Tons.  Tons.  Tons.  
Kawakawa and Hikurangi105,86699,6956,1711,701,775
Whangarei, Kamo, Ngunguru, and Whauwhau32,98721,00511,982630,163
Waikato162,226155,7196,5071,998,289
Mokau4,9674,24472357,178
Miranda10,93120,523-9,59273,646
Pelorus   711
West Wanganui14,41820,155-5,737124,066
Westport649,212608,26940,9437,660,897
Reefton9,46613,651-4,185155,297
Greymouth378,926320,84058,0864,712,969
Canterbury23,67926,553-2,874554,103
Otago295,350302,981-7,6316,215,274
Southland142,981135,9017,0801,363,174
          Totals1,831,0091,729,536101,47325,247,542
(-) Decrease

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 South 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 1907 and 1906 was:—

Class of CoalOutput of CoalIncrease or DecreaseApproximate Total Output of Coal up to the 31st December, 1907
19071906
 Tons.  Tons.  Tons.  Tons.  
Bituminous and semi-bituminous1,184,2111,077,408106,80314,591,934
Pitch22,06024,961-2,9011,953,671
Brown515,797521,003-5,2067,610,679
Lignite108,941106,1642,7771,091,258
          Totals1,831,0091,729,536101,47325,247,542

The number of coal-mines working during the year 1907 was, as shown by the next table, 173, and the number of persons employed 3,910.

Number of Mines workingNumber of Persons employed in each MineTotal Number of Persons employed
1101 to 4 in each196
285 to 10 in each183
911 to 20 in each119
2621 and upwards3,412
173 3,910

The total output of coal from the above mines was 1,831,009, and the average annual output per person 468 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 Dominion, but this varies in different districts, for which the figures computed by Inspector Green are:—

AVERAGES OF WEEKLY EARNINGS
 £sd
Northern district335
West Coast396
Southern210
      Average for Dominion£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.

There are two collieries owned and worked by the State, one at Seddonville, the other at Point Elizabeth. The former is situated twenty-nine miles in a northerly direction from the Port of Westport, and connected therewith by a railway under the control of the Westport Harbour Board. The colliery contains a large quantity of excellent hard coal valuable for steam and household purposes, and during 1907 produced 35,436 tons of this quality. There is also in this mine a considerable quantity of soft coal, suitable for the manufacture of briquettes, and a plant for this purpose has been erected at the port of shipment, producing an article of fuel highly recommended for household use.

The Point Elizabeth Colliery lies some live miles north of the Port of Greymouth, the connection being by a State-owned railway, and is equipped with a complete and up-to-date coal-mining and carrying plant. The coal mined is of excellent quality, containing but a small percentage of sulphur, and is largely used for steam-producing purposes on the Government railways. At the present time the mine is capable of an output of 1,500 tons per day if facilities for shipment were sufficient. During the past year 205,337 tons were won. Depots have been opened at Wellington, Christchurch, and Wanganui, and one is shortly to be opened at Dunedin for the sale of coal to the public at a price which is greatly to the advantage of the purchaser. It is intended to extend this class of business where the circumstances warrant the establishment of depots, and an endeavour is being made to arrange with municipal bodies to undertake the sale and distribution of coal in localities where State depots could not be financially successful.

Within four miles of the Point Elizabeth mine there is an area, reserved by the State, containing a large field of the best bituminous coal in six distinct seams, the outcrops of which vary from 5 ft. to 21 ft. in thickness.

Samples from each of these seams have been analysed at the Colonial Laboratory by Dr. Maclaurin, with the following results:—

Thickness of SeamFixed CarbonVolatile HydrocarbonsWaterAshTotal SulphurEvaporative Power per Pound of Coal
10 ft. 6in56.8835.764.343.020.3913.66
13 ft. 6 in60.6035.301.852.250.3615.49
7 ft. 4 in63.6332.250.823.300.3015.70
7 ft. 4 in62.9033.530.672.900.3315.81
13 ft. 6in62.2330.333.523.920.3314.07
11 ft.65.0831.950.772.200.3615.58
10 ft.65.9829.931.272.820.2915.49
21 ft.55.6339.101.623.650.2514.83
16 ft.55.4040.342.361.900.2215.17
5 ft. 10 in56.0539.131.623.20.1915.31
3 ft.53.6239.601.685.100.3114.55
5 ft. 3 in54.7037.952.954.400.3114.44
5 ft.57.5834.307.000.920.3113.01
5 ft.43.6242.943.1610.280.0912.61

With the exception of the last two samples the whole of the tests show the coal to be of excellent quality. The small percentage of water, ash, and sulphur, with its high evaporative power, prove it to be coal of very great value.

WORLD'S COAL PRODUCTION.

The total coal produced by all the countries of the world has been estimated for the year 1905 at over 880,000,000 tons. The principal contributors were:—

 Tons
Germany121,190,000
Austria-Hungary12,971,000
Belgium22,492,000
Spain3,045,000
France35,347,000
Great Britain236,111,000
Russia19,318,000
 Tons
India8,216,000
Japan9,979,000
South Africa3,182,000
Canada7,951,000
United States of America392,000,000
Australia6,853,000
New Zealand1,586,000

In the year 1886 the total production was 383 millions of tons, and in 1896 547 millions of tons.

ACCIDENTS.

During 1907 there were 10 fatal accidents in coal-mines, causing 12 deaths, and 33 non-fatal accidents, by which 34 persons were injured. Of the fatal accidents 5 were caused by falls in mines, 2 occurred in shafts, and 3 from various causes—one underground and two on the surface. Of the non-fatal accidents 12 were caused by falls in mines, and 22 from various causes—eighteen underground and four on the surface. Of the average number of persons employed during the year (3,910) the fatalities were one in every 326, the proportion of persons injured was one in every 115, and of the two classes of accident together, one in every 85 persons.

IRONSANDS AND ORES OF NEW ZEALAND.

Almost every known variety of iron-ore has been discovered in New Zealand. At Parapara, near Nelson, immense quantities of brown hæmatite ore occur on the surface of the ground. When converted, the product is of the variety called white iron. Another deposit, about 60 ft. thick, is that on the west side of Mount Peel. This ore contains 56 per cent. of metallic iron, and has been traced a distance of three miles, beyond which point it is reported to swell out to as much as a mile in width. An extensive and valuable deposit (limonite and glauconite) occurs on the western slope of Mount Royal, Otago. It contains about 37 per cent, of the metal, and as regards both quality and position this deposit is of importance.

The following information on the ore deposits at Parapara is extracted from the Geological Survey Reports: The deposit occurs about a mile south-west of the Parapara River. About five miles north of this is the town of Collingwood, close to which is a mine which yields some of the best coal in New Zealand. A short tramway would enable the ore to be shipped in barges and taken to Collingwood, where there is every facility for the construction of a wharf, at which vessels of any size might lie. There is a large deposit of nearly pure crystalline limestone on the banks of the Parapara River, and the numerous streams in the neighbouring hills would give ample water-power if needed. It is estimated that the main deposit contains nearly 53 millions of tons of ore, but in the absence of any system of prospecting this estimate must not be regarded as in any way conclusive.

In the form of sand, the chief deposits are on the seashore of the west coast of both islands, the best known being that near New. Plymouth. The Taranaki ironsand has been the subject of many experiments to determine the best method of smelting it. When mixed with clay and moulded in the form of a brick it has been readily smelted in the blast-furnace, and the iron produced is of excellent quality, suitable for steel-making processes. Cheap coal is obtainable from Mokau, a short distance from the ironsand deposits. deposits. A variety of articles have been manufactured from the product of the sand and submitted to experts, who have invariably expressed a favourable opinion as to quality and suitability.

PHOSPHATE ROCK.

Fairly extensive deposits of phosphate rock have been discovered as a fringe to the limestone at Clarendon, near Milton, Otago. The Ewing Phosphate Company (Limited) has been formed, and operations of quarrying and burning on a commercial scale have been undertaken. After burning, the rock is crushed and chemically treated. The value of this phosphate as a fertiliser has been satisfactorily proved, and there is every indication of a growing industry in quarrying the rock and preparing it for use. With such a valuable material at our very doors, there is no doubt that in future the importation of phosphate manures will cease, or at least be greatly reduced, whilst the question of export is within the range of possibility.

OTHER METALS OR MINERALS.

Very little has been done to prospect and develop mines other than for gold and silver. The only-exports last year of metalliferous products, excluding gold and silver, were 1,244 tons of auriferous ore, 137 tons of scheelite-ore, and small parcels of other minerals, representing an aggregate value of 33,192.

KAURI-GUM.

The quantity of kauri-gum exported last year was 8,708 tons, as against 9,154 tons for 1906. Last year's produce (£579,888) gave an average value of about £66 11s. 10d. per ton, while for 1906 the average was £57 1s. 7d. per ton.

SCHOOLS OF MINES.

Schools of Mines have been established in New Zealand during the past twenty-three years, and are of great value for the education of mining and metallurgical students at the principal mining centres. In connection with these schools the Government offers four scholarships annually, one each for Otago and the west coast of the South Island, and two for the North Island. These scholarships, tenable for three years, are awarded to candidates who comply with the conditions and obtain the highest number of marks at the yearly examinations held in each December, and are of the value of £50 each per annum to successful candidates residing three miles or more beyond the town in which the school is situated, and of £30 each per annum to successful candidates residing within the three-mile limit. The Mines Department will furnish particulars to intending candidates.

The amount expended by the Government on the schools since their inauguration to 31st March, 1907, was £46,583, including £12,053 paid to the school attached to the University of Otago.

EXAMINATIONS.

Examinations are held annually under “The Mining Act, 1905,” and “The Coal-mines Act, 1905,” of candidates for certificates as first-class mine managers, battery superintendents, dredge-masters, first-class coal-mine managers, and second-class coal-mine managers. No candidate will be permitted to present himself for examination unless he holds an authority from the Secretary to the Board of Examiners stating that his certificates of service have been accepted by the Board. All necessary information will be supplied by the Mines Department on application.

DIAMOND DRILLS.

Three diamond rock-drills, with a boring capacity of 2,500 ft., 1,500 ft., and 1,000 ft., respectively, may be hired from the Mines Department on the following conditions: The hirer to take delivery of the plant at any place decided upon by the Minister of Mines. The superintendent in charge of the drill to defray all expenses whatsoever in connection with transit, wages, and working-expenses, and at the end of every two weeks to deliver a statement of the same to the hirer, and receive payment of one-half of the total outlay. The hirer, prior to the delivery of the plant, to make a deposit of 50, and to find approved bond and security for the payment of all charges he may become liable for, and also for the due observance of the conditions. The superintendent appointed by the Minister to have sole control of the drill and the workmen employed in connection therewith. The Minister may terminate the agreement and remove the drill if the payments are not made within one week of the account being rendered, or if the work is unnecessarily delayed by the hirer; the cost of such removal to be borne by the hirer. Applications should be addressed to the Under-Secretary for Mines.

SALIENT FEATURES OF THE ECONOMIC GEOLOGY.

The salient features of the economic geology of New Zealand are thus described by Dr. James Mackintosh Bell, F.G.S., Director of the Geological Survey:—

COAL.

Distribution of Coal.—Perhaps in no country of the world is coal more generally distributed than it is in New Zealand, as it occurs in almost every part of the Dominion—a fact which makes up for the narrowness of the coal-seams and the inextensiveness of the basins in which they lie, as compared with coal-deposits in other countries. The coal varies considerably in quality, both in regard to the amount of ash and the state of carbonation.

The coals of Kaitangata, Shag Point, and Nightcaps, which form fairly wide seams in Tertiary rocks in the south-eastern part of the South Island, are lignites of good quality. The seams which are so widely distributed in the hilly country west of the Canterbury Plains are all lignites, but not generally so highly carbonised as are the southern coals. The coals of Greymouth and Brunnerton, in the Westland District, and of Westport and Puponga, in the Nelson District, are bituminous coals of varying degrees of purity. The coals of the North Island, which are chiefly in the northern part, near Auckland and Whangarei, arc in general intermediate in state of carbonation between the bituminous coals and lignites. No extensive seams of true anthracite have as yet been found in New Zealand, though there is a very small deposit in early Tertiary sediments at Cabbage Bay, in the Hauraki Peninsula, which owes its high percentage of fixed carbon to the metamorphism produced by the extrusion of flows of andesite. Some of the lignite seams of Canterbury also are said to be in part altered to anthracite, as a product of contact metamorphism.

PETROLEUM.

In many parts of the Dominion there is abundant evidence of petroleum, though in no locality can it be said to have been proven to exist in great quantity. It has been found and exploited to some slight degree at Kotuku, near Greymouth, in Westland; near Gisborne, in the Auckland District; and more especially at New Plymouth, in Taranaki, not far from the base of the lofty cone of Mount Egmont. In the last-mentioned locality the oil seeps out on the surface along the sea-shore and at a few places in the interior, and gas issues at many points along natural crevices. Boring operations have been conducted in this locality for a number of years, and an oil-bearing stratum has been struck at a depth of 2,400 ft. This stratum consists of a loosely consolidated marine sand underlying hard argillaceous sandstone, above which marine sands and clays, more or less hardened, extend to the surface. As far as is known, all the beds are disposed in almost horizontal attitude, the lowest being probably of Miocene age, the upper apparently Pliocene.

IRON-ORE.

There are in New Zealand two very interesting deposits of iron-ore. The most important of these appears at Parapara, in the rugged Cape Farewell Peninsula, lying west of Golden Bay, in the South Island; while the other is visible on the shores of the Tasman Sea, near New Plymouth.

Parapara Deposits.—The rocks in which the Parapara ore occurs are metamorphic, and consist of much corrugated hornblendic and feldspathic schists, sideritic limestones, and cherty quartzites. These have been tentatively classified as Silurian by Mr. Herbert Cox, formerly a geologist on the staff of the New Zealand Geological Survey. Uncomformably above this series of Palæozoic rocks lies a considerable thickness of coal-bearing strata—probably Early Tertiary—which consist of limestones, sandstones, grits, and coal-seams. Forming a mantle over much of the district are thick deposits of glacial gravels and boulder-clays. These usually contain more or less gold, and have afforded some rich bonanzas in the past where reassorted by stream action.

Structurally, the iron-ore appears to occur in a broad syncline composed of banded ferruginous cherts and quartzites. In intimate connection with the banded cherts are narrow beds of sideritic crystalline limestone, which is often rusty, due to the oxidation of iron-carbonate contained. The ferruginous limestones and banded cherts bear a striking resemblance to similar rocks so closely associated with the iron-ore bodies of the Lake Superior region in America. The soft, rusty, and much-decomposed banded cherts so common in many of the American ranges may occasionally be observed in the mass of the ore-body itself. The width of the actual ore-mass visible on the surface averages not less than 900 ft., though the iron-bearing horizon is much wider. Broken by several gullies filled with glacial débris, the ore-body outcrops in a north-westerly and southwesterly direction for nearly a mile and a half from the Parapara Inlet. Beyond this the iron-bearing horizon is known to extend much farther, and is said to contain several deposits of high-grade ore. Mr. George J. Binns, formerly Inspector of Mines for the New Zealand Government, estimates that in the large ore-body near Parapara Inlet there are not less than 51,835,600 long tons of iron-ore in actual outcrop, which could be removed in an open quarry.

The ore is in general a high-grade hydrous hæmatite, botryoidal, mamillary, and often porous in character. Apparently, manganese is a constant constituent. Phosphorus and sulphur are in general low, though there are small quantities of other impurities, principally lime, magnesia, alumina, and some silica. In places the ore contains rounded quartz pebbles, often in sufficient abundance to constitute a highly ferruginous quartz conglomerate. This conglomerate is apparently the result of glacial action, which was very effective in the past. It represents soft ore, which has been intensely comminuted by the pressure of the ice and mixed with its burden of quartz pebbles, to be subsequently recemented into the conglomerate now observable in the outcrops. The conglomeratic portion of the ore is auriferous, the gold apparently being derived from the same source as that in the quartz pebbles. In depth the quartz pebbles are lacking.

The origin of this extensive deposit of iron-ore is of considerable interest. Briefly stated, the ore has resulted from the concentration of iron oxide by meteoric waters in the base of a synclinal trough having an impervious basement of schist. The waters had their burden of iron derived either directly or indirectly from the oxidation, partly of iron-carbonate, but more especially of the suphides pyrite and marcasite.

New Plymouth Deposits.—The deposits of iron-ore occurring near New Plymouth, in the North Island, are of a very different character. They consist of magnetic iron-sands, all more or less titaniferous, which owe their concentration in thick beds along the sea-shore and inland for a mile or more to the action of the waves or wind. Beds of pure black sand of very fine grain are interstratified with beds of feldspathic quartz sand, containing considerable titaniferous magnetite, and with others practically free from iron. Sometimes the demarcation between the various beds is very abrupt and decided, again much more gradual. Considered longitudinally, the beds of pure black sand lense out, and are replaced by others in which the iron constituent is lacking or unimportant, and again the latter beds may be replaced by pure black sand. The black sand is supposed to consist of an intimate mixture of magnetite and ilmenite. It occurs very widely distributed, and, there can be no doubt, in very large quantities. It appears at very frequent intervals along the coast on either side of New Plymouth, from the mouth of the Waitara River as far south as the mouth of the Patea.

The black sand has apparently been derived in part from the disintegration of hornblende andesites and more basic volcanics—all rich in titaniferous magnetite—and in part from tufa, representing the comminuted equivalent of these volcanics. Volcanics and tufas carrying titaniferous magnetite have a wide distribution near New Plymouth around the volcanic cone of Egmont.

COPPER.

Ores of copper are found in New Zealand at many localities, but there are no known deposits of any considerable size. There has recently been discovered a mineralised horizon, containing native copper, malachite, and other ores of copper, near the Kaipara Harbour, in the North Auckland peninsula. The country is but little explored, and the exact nature of the deposit has not yet been investigated.

Perhaps the best-known deposits of ores of copper are in a heavy mineralised zone stretching from D'Urville Island southward to the Aniseed River, in the neighbourhood of the Town of Nelson, in the South Island. The ore-bodies lie in small disconnected and generally parallel lenses disposed along the planes of stratification of the enclosing argillites, and occur close to the contact between the argillite and extensive sills or bosses of dunite. The most common ore is a cupriferous pyrite, in which the copper-content is generally low. On the surface the oxidation-products— malachite, azurite, chrysocolla, cuprite, and native copper—are occasionally encountered, and in one case (the Champion Mine) are important, giving very rich, though small, bodies above the water-level. Enriched sulphides are to be seen in some of the lower workings of the United Mine above the water - level, though the ore is more or less oxidized on the surface.

GOLD.

In the past most of the gold of New Zealand was derived from placer deposits in various parts of the South Island, but more especially in the districts of Westland and Otago. The bonanzas, in general, occurred where morainic gravels had been reassorted by fluviatile or marine action. The amount of gold derived from this source is now much reduced, and the supply of the precious metal in New Zealand is to a greater extent obtained from quartz reefs. All through the ancient crystalline schists and Palæozoic argillites and grauwackes, which form such an important part of the strata of the South Island, quartz veins are common. Generally, these are disposed parallel to the stratification, but are sometimes in fissures transverse to the bedding-planes. Although quartz veins of this class are almost innumerable, many of them contain gold only in traces, and comparatively few yield it in payable quantities. The veins are in rocks which exhibit physiographically mature and sub-mature forms, and in consequence are in general merely the remnant of former veins, the upper and probably richer part having been removed in the extensive and varied denudation—sub-aerial and glacial—which the country has undergone.

At present much the most important centre of quartz-mining in the South Island is at Reefton, where a number of mines are now working—the Globe, the Progress, the Wealth of Nations, the Keep-it-Dark, &c. The ore filling the veins consists chiefly of quartz. This contains a great deal of pyrites, rarely chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite, and often stibnite. In all of the mines the values are very irregularly distributed in the quartz gangue, even near the surface, where the yield is usually higher than from the lower levels. Often not only may the ore-shoots terminate within the quartz mass in the direction both of the strike and dip of the vein, but the quartz gangue frequently itself lenses out and is replaced by comminuted gouge, to reappear either barren or with shoots of rich ore in the continuation of the line of reef. This occurrence of the quartz in patches is one of the most characteristic features of the veins at Reefton. The highest values are almost always along slaty selvages, which are frequently rusty, and where the quartz is of the character known as “magpie stone” by the miners. “Magpie stone” is simply quartz enclosing numerous small angular fragments of argillite of grauwacke, which are the prevailing country rocks of the district.

There is a small reefing-area near the head of the Wilberfore and Arabura Rivers, known as the Westland Reefs district, in which a number of promising auriferous-quartz veins have recently been discovered, but which has been as yet very little prospected. Quartz-mining is carried on at Taitapu, in the Cape Farewell Peninsula, in reefs very much like those at Reefton. Quartz veins are also being worked at Skipper's, Arrowtown, Barewood, and various other places in Central Otago, though none is of important proportions.

The occurrence of the mineral scheelite in many of the quartz veins in Otago is interesting. The quartz with which it is associated is nearly always somewhat auriferous, and in places payably so. The scheelite sometimes appears in a decided band running through the quartz, or again intimately intermixed, with the appearance of a pegmatite. At Barewood, Glenorchy, and Macrae's, near Palmerston South, the mineral is found in sufficient quantity to pay for working.

Much more prominent than any of the centres of quartz mining in the South Island, and of widely different character, are the goldfields of the Hauraki Peninsula of the North Island, which contain the mining centres of Coromandel. Thames, Karangahake, and Waihi, in addition to many less prominent mining localities. The output of gold from Coromandel is now comparatively small. At Thames the Waiotahi Mine yielded bullion to the value of £18,000 to £20,000 per month, but there is no other mine at present date giving large returns, though many rich bonanzas have been discovered in the past. The site of the Waihi Mine—one of the greatest gold-mines of the world—is a centre of immense economic importance as well as of scientific interest. At Karangahake is situated the Talisman Mine, which is now the second gold-producer in New Zealand.

The oldest rocks of the Hauraki Goldfield apparently consist of unfossiliferous argillites and grauwackes, which are probably very late Palæozoic or early Mesozoic. Uncomformably above these are late Cretaceous rocks containing unimportant coal-seams, which occur as widely separated isolated remnants in the northern part of the Hauraki Peninsula. On the denuded surface of these sedimentaries have been disposed thick and wi distributed volcanic deposits, flows, breccias, and tuffs of andesitic character, above which are others of rhyolitic character. By far the most important veins of the Hauraki Peninsula are in the andesitic flow or in the fine-grained andesitic tuffs. Veins occurring in the coarse andesitic agglomerates and tuffs rarely carry much gold, while those appearing in the rhyolites are decidedly unimportant as compared with those in the andesites. A few relatively unimportant veins are found in the older sedimentary rocks. The andesites are often tremendously altered, especially near the veins. In fact, the rock in places has been changed to a mass of chlorite, epidote, sericite, calcite, quartz, and pyrite, giving the so-called propylite. There were evidently at least two periods of vein-deposition, much the more important apparently being the result of the andesite extrusion, while the second period of vein-formation succeeded the outpouring of the rhyolites. Sinter-deposits, widely distributed throughout the Hauraki Peninsula, testify to the enormous extent of hydro-thermal activity in the past, and a few scattered hot springs show that it has not yet ceased. The veins are apparently mainly deposits by hot siliceous solutions, carrying a great deal of hydrogen-sulphide in pre-existing fissures, greatly enlarged by replacement of the wall-rock.

Of the payable veins of the Hauraki Goldfields there are two more or less distinct types—those which occur in decided and definite veins, in which the payable ore is contained chiefly in a well-demarcated ore-shoot, with considerable horizontal continuation, and with longitudinal extension from level to level; and those in which not only is the quartz of very irregular width, but the values are almost entirely in small disjointed patches, often of the enormous richness of “jewellery-shop” ores. Of the former class much the most conspicuous example is given by the more or less connected reefs worked in the Waihi Mine, at Waihi, though the Union, Amaranth, and Silverton veins at the same place, and the Talisman vein at Karangahake, are of the same class. Of the “jewellery-shop” class of veins, the reef-systems of the Hauraki, Kapanga, Royal Oak, and Tokatea Mines at Coromandel, and the reef-systems of the Kuranui-Cale-donian. Moanatairi, and Waiotahi Mines at Thames, are good examples. The bonanzas of free gold in the veins of the Waiotahi type are apparently always at points where the vein is heavily mineralised with pyrite, with which is sometimes associated sphalerite, stibnite, and chalcopyrite, and occasionally native arsenic. The bonanzas frequently have an intimate connection with the faulting of the vein. The faults, formed subsequent to the original period of vein-deposition, may have determined the position of the bonanzas formed during a period of secondary enrichment of the vein, either by acting as barriers to migrating auriferous solutions, or by forming channels along which solutions came, reacting with those in the original vein-channel.

The great Waihi Mine, which is now working on the complex system of branching reefs—the Martha, Welcome, Empire, Royal, and several smaller veins—had an output during the year ended 31st December, 1907, of 878,486. Those reefs of the Waihi Mine system which approach the surface show an oxidized cap ping of moderate though not of bonanza richness, which gradually is replaced in depth by sulphide ores. The gold is very rarely visible to the unaided eye, though a considerable portion exists as free gold. One of the most characteristic features of the reefs of the Waihi Mine system is the continuity of the “pay-ore,” both in horizontal and vertical extension. If there was any enrichment of these veins subsequent to the original deposition of the quartz, which seems very likely, it was probably by secondary solutions ascending along the reef-channels, excepting near the surface, where descending solutions gave a limited concentration. Some of the veins of the Waihi reef system are of immense size—the Martha reaches a width of 60 ft. on the surface, and at the levels opened at about 800 ft. beneath the surface it is, where widest, over twice that width. It is interesting to note that in general the veins of the Hauraki Peninsula show a diminution in the amount of gold in the electrum in passing from the northern to the southern portion of the field.

Very interesting evidence on the origin of gold and silver in quartz veins is given by certain hot springs in the centre of existing hydro-thermal activity in New Zealand—the Taupo volcanic zone. Sinter taken by the writer from the rim of a very ebullient spring at the Maori settlement of Whakarewarewa was found to contain, on analysis, silver to the amount of 4 oz. and 18 gr. per ton, and gold to the amount of 1 dwt. 4 gr. per ton. The sinter analysed was stained with sulphur, but showed no visible evidence of any sulphides. Analysis made from the sinter deposited in a wooden trough used to conduct water from the same spring at Whakarewarewa gave the following result in the precious metals: Gold, 12 gr.; and silver, 16 dwt. 3 gr. per ton.

The great geyser of Waimangu, which broke into action some years after the terrible Tarawera eruption of 1886, and remained active until November, 1904, deposited a blackish material, consisting chiefly of sulphides, but containing neither gold nor silver. Some mud obtained by Dr. Wohlmann, the Government Balneologist, from a hot spring in the sanatorium grounds at Rotorua gave the following somewhat remarkable analysis:—

Silica ..69.30
Alumina ..4.52
Iron-oxides2.00
Titanium-oxide0.58
Lime ..1.00
Magnesia0.10
Soda and potash1.30
Sulphur, combined1.40
Sulphur, free6.09
Organic matter10.01
Water ..3.70
 100.00

Microscopic examination of the deposit showed that it consisted mainly of quartz and amorphous silica, with a little feldspar. The mud also contained 5 gr. of gold and 6 dwt. 1 gr. of silver per ton. It is evidently not a deposit from the spring, but is merely a siliceous tufa impregnated by the thermal solutions.

PLATINUM.

Platinum has been found at many points in the South Island in the alluvial drifts, but never in sufficient quantities to be of any economic value, excepting where saved with gold. Platinum has been reported from the Queen of Beauty quartz reef at Thames, and also from an occurrence of massive pyrites at Coromandel. During the past season a number of platiniferous quartz veins were discovered by the writer near the Teremakau River, in the district of Westland, in the South Island, in close proximity to sheets of altered magnesian eruptives—apparently originally dunite, and situated parallel to the stratification of the enclosing phyllites. The quartz is somewhat vitreous, and in general very “hungry” in appearance. Iron-pyrite is fairly common, and iron-oxides derived from its alteration. In three analyses made of the platiniferous quartz the platinum was found to occur associated with silver, and always in the approximate ratio of 7 parts of silver to 1 of platinum. The following is a characteristic result, showing the amount of platinum and silver: Platinum, 3 dwt. 8gr.; and silver, 1 oz. 4 dwt. 9 gr. per ton. It seems possible that the platinum and silver may exist in some mineralogical combination, though no data were obtained to substantiate this hypothesis.

An interesting product of metamorphism of the magnesian eruptives, near which the platinum-veins just described occur, is the mineral nephrite—the much-valued pounamu and tangiwai of the Maoris, and the precious “greenstone” of commerce. This mineral, which is apparently a massive actinolite or allied amphibole, occurs as segregations from a few inches to several feet in width in a talcose matrix—also a product of alteration of the magnesian eruptives. Many analyses made of the magnesian eruptives failed to show any platinum actually existing in them.

TIN.

Cassiterite has been found in the form of “stream-tin” in some of the streams amid the rugged hills of Stewart Island, and has been reported to occur actually in situ in granite.

Ores of antimony, lead, zinc, and several other metals have been discovered in New Zealand, but scarcely in sufficient quantity to deserve especial mention in this paper.

Much of the wild, mountainous country of the South Island, and the thickly wooded central and northern parts of the North Island, are still unexplored, and vast mineral wealth may yet be discovered in these areas of terra incognita.

Chapter 47. SECTION XV.—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 Accidents Compensation Act, 1901.”

“The Accident Insurance Companies Act, 1902.”

“The Agricultural Labourers' Accommodation Act, 1907.”

“The Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Act, 1895”: Section 10 (re holiday on licensing-election day).

“The Bank Holidays Act, 1902.”

“The Bankruptcy Act, 1892”: Sections 112 and 120 (re wages of employees).

“The Coal-mines Act Compilation Act, 1905,” with amendments (2) of 1907.

“The Companies Act, 1903”: Sections 1 and 249 (re wages of employees of companies that are being wound up).

“The Conspiracy Law Amendment Act, 1894” (re conspiracy in trade disputes, &c.).

“The Contractors' and Workmen's Lien Act, 1892.” (See also Threshing machine Owners' Lien Act.)

“The Criminal Code Act, 1893”: Sections 150 and 213 (re masters and apprentices).

“The Deaths by Accidents Compensation Act, 1880.” (See also Legitimation Act.)

“The Electoral Act, 1905”: Section 115 (re holiday on election-day).

“The Employers' Liability Act, 1882,” with amendments of 1891 and 1892.

“The Factories Act, 1901,” with amendments of 1902, 1905, 1906, and 1907.

“The Government Advances to Workers Act, 1906.”

“The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Acts Compilation Act, 1905,” and Amendment Acts, 1905 and 1906.

“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”: Section 13 (provision for workmen's homes).

“The Legitimation Act, 1894”: Section 6. (See Deaths by Accident Compensation Act.)

“The Licensing Act, 1881”: Section 131 (re payment of wages at houses where liquor is sold).

“The Master and Apprentice Act, 1865.” Master and Apprentice: Extract from “The Criminal Code Act, 1893,” sections 150 and 213.

“The Mining Act Compilation Act, 1905,” and Amendment Acts, of 1905 and 1906.

“The Public Contracts Act, 1900.”

“The Scaffolding Inspection Act, 1906,” and Amendment Act of 1907.

“The Servants' Registry Offices Act, 1895.”

“The Shearers' Accommodation Act, 1898.”

“The Shipping and Seamen Act, 1903,” and Amendment Act, 1905.

“The Shops and Offices Act, 1904,” and Amendment Acts, 1905 and 1907.

“The Statute Law Amendment Act, 1906,”: Section 10.

“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, 1904, and 1905.

“The Workers' Dwellings Act, 1905,” and Amendment Acts of 1905 and 1906.

“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 Palmerston North, Wanganui, 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 following explanatory notes on the labour laws of New Zealand are by Mr. E. Tregear, Secretary for Labour:—

“By far the most interesting and original of these laws is the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, first passed in 1894. This, with three later amending Acts, was consolidated in 1900, but has been amended afresh in 1901, 1903, and 1904. The substance of all these may be found in ‘The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Acts Compilation Act, 1905'; but it has to be supplemented with the amending Act of 1905. The necessity of continuous amendment has been thrust upon the Legislature through the principle of industrial of a judicial character being entirely unique and without statutory . The law on this subject has to be kept flexible in order to meet the continual necessities of change and growth. As difficulties impossible to foresee arise on the untrodden ground, they have to be met by new efforts to cope with the new situation, and with the knowledge which can only be born with experience. A Bill is now before the Legislature the outcome of which will probably be radical changes found necessary in respect of Arbitration and Conciliation methods.

“ ‘The Factories Act, 1901' is a consolidation of former legislation, but with important amendments within itself and in the years 1902, 1905, 1906, and 1907. The Acts passed prior to 1901 dealt almost exclusively with the protection of working-women and children, but the existing law takes cognisance also of the working-hours of men, and arranges for payment being made for overtime-work. The forty-five-hour week is insisted on for women and youths, except in woollen-mills, where forty-eight hours are allowed; but if men are employed over forty-eight hours in one week overtime must be paid. The wages of young persons, the statutory holidays (with payment therefor), the regulated hours of overtime, the sanitation and hygiene of factories, provision of fire-escapes, drinking-water, &c., are all carefully arranged for under this Act. Any establishment wherein two or more persons work to produce articles intended for sale is a factory in New Zealand. All bakehouses, all laundries, and all places wherein Asiatics are employed are also factories, even if only one person is employed therein. This low limit is made mainly for the purpose of inspection, in order that the public should not be injured by taint on food or clothing manufactured in filthy surroundings. ‘Sweating' has almost disappeared in New Zealand by the prohibition of sub-contracting in the issue of textiles to be made up into garments. The Factories Act is probably one of the most complete and perfect laws to be found on the statute-book of any country, and is greatly appreciated by the workers, while the honest, fair-dealing employer is himself thereby protected from the unscrupulous proceedings of the piratical competitor.

“ ‘The Shops and Offices Act, 1904,’ is the consolidation of the Shops and Shop-assistants Acts of 1894, 1895, 1896, and 1901, but was itself amended in 1905 and 1907. The Act regulates the hours of assistants in shops, not allowing them to exceed fifty-two hours a week or more than nine hours a day, with some exceptions. The shops are to be kept clean, and to have sanitary conditions necessary where two sexes are employed together.

“A weekly half-holiday is compulsory, but the particular day of the week is left to be chosen by each town separately. Compulsory closing of shops at any hour whatever is not insisted on unless under certain conditions whereby each trade is allowed to settle its closing-hour by a majority vote of all shopkeepers. To all young persons wages of 5s. a week as a minimum must be paid, with an annual increase of 3s. per week, until twenty years of age is reached. Overtime has to be pai for in both shops and offices, but some establishments, such as banks and shipping offices, are exempt.

“The hours of work and wages are subject to awards of the Arbitration Court.

“ ‘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 employment except that of domestic service, and does not allow of ‘contracting out' from its provisions, or permit the plea of ‘common employment' to shield the employer or his agent for payment of damages if incurred.

“The last-mentioned Act has been practically superseded by ‘The Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, 1900' (amendments 1902, 1903, 1904, and 1905), because, while an accident to a worker had not to be compensated by an employer under the Employers' Liability Act unless such accident had occurred through his carelessness or through that of his agent, under the later Act all accidents are to be compensated unless they are caused by the serious and wilful misconduct of the person injured. This compensation is in no sense intended to be a punishment or penalty on the employer, but to be a means of providing for an injured workman or (in case of his death) for his family.

“A certain number of accidents take place—these numbers can almost be computed beforehand by actuarial experts— in spite of all that care and skill can do to prevent them. The workman, in case of industrial accident, had formerly not only the risk and pain to bear, but the money-loss of wages, the medical expenses, and in some events the ruin of his family, in order that profits might be made by others. Now the expense of accident is borne by the business itself as one of the legitimate expenses of carrying it on. To meet the difficulty of too great expense falling suddenly on an employer through his having to pay large accident compensation, provision is made by ‘The Government Accident Insurance Act, 1899,’ which insures employers against risk of paying compensation. There are also several private insurance companies which undertake these risks, and are regulated in some degree by ‘The Accident Insurance Companies Act, 1902.’ The Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act allows compensation up to £400 in case of death, and a less sum for injury. ‘Contracting out' is permitted if the alternative scheme is accepted as a fair equivalent by the Board of Conciliation of the district. ‘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. See also ‘The Deaths by Accidents Compensation Act, 1880,’ which deals with the status of persons to be benefited by compensation, and also ‘The Legitimation Act, 1894,’ which includes illegitimate children as legal recipients. ‘The Statute Law Amendment Act, 1906,’ amends The Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, 1900,’ as regards certain Court procedure.

“ ‘The Workmen's Wages Act, 1893,’ states that if a workman shall demand payment of wages twenty-four hours or more after they are due, and the wages are not paid, the worker can legally attach moneys payable to the contractor by the employer until such wages are paid. Without written agreement to the contrary, all wages must be paid at intervals of not more than one week. Before the passing of ‘The Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, 1900,’ it was ascertained that certain employers were taking out accident-insurance policies on their work-peoples' risks, so as to remove their own liability in case of accident, and deducting premiums therefor from the wages of the workers. This was considered by the Legislature as not only tending to produce negligence or recklessness in employers and their agents or foremen, by removing from them the liability for damages through accidents, but was also condemned in principle, on the ground that it is against justice to allow an employer to make arbitrary deductions from any wage agreed upon and worked for. This caused ‘The Wages Protection Act, 1899,’ to be passed. It prevents any deduction from lawfully earned wages as premiums for accident insurance, and makes any such deductions recoverable as debts within six months of such deductions being made.

“ ‘The Public Contracts Act, 1900,’ provides that in every contract let by a public body (such as the Government, a municipality, a Harbour Board, Education Board, &c.), the contractor must pay such rates to his men for wages, overtime, holidays, &c., as are generally considered usual and fair for such description of labour in that locality, or as fixed by the Court of Arbitration for the industrial district, whether the contractor is or is not a party to the award.

“ ‘The Truck Act, 1891,’ requires that payment of wages or earnings shall not be made in goods (technically known as ‘truck' or barter), but in money, any contra-account notwithstanding; but there are a few exceptions, 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 formerly victimised their labourers, ‘The Contractors' and Workmen's Lien Act, 1892,’ was brought into existence. This entitles a person who has done work on 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. With the Contractors' and Workmen's Lien Act ‘The Threshing-machine Owners' Lien Act, 1895,’ is also to be considered. Liens to be acquired for security of miners' wages are dealt with in ‘The Mining Acts Compilation Act, 1905,’ and in ‘The Mining Act Amendment Act, 1905.’

“Among the enactments for the security of workers' wages may be noticed ‘The Companies Act, 1903,’ which gives priority of payment for wages or salaries above other debts in the event of the winding-up of a company, as ‘The Bankruptcy Act, 1892,’ does in the case of ordinary bankruptcy. ‘The Wages Attachment Act, 1895,’ prevents wages below £2 a week from being hypothecated for debt. It does not interfere with any workman being sued for debt in the ordinary course, but prevents a particular creditor from stepping in before others and seizing wages in advance before they are earned. The wages or earnings of coal-miners are specially safeguarded in the ‘The Coal-mines Compilation Act, 1905,’ and amending Acts of 1907, and all conditions of other miners in ‘The Mining Acts Compilation Act, 1905,’ and the amending Acts of 1905, 1906, and 1907. No wages or payments of any kind may be made to workers in a publichouse or other premises licensed for the sale of alcoholic liquors; penalties are provided under ‘The Licensing Act, 1881,’ for any such payment.

“ ‘The Kauri-gum Industry Act, 1898' (with its amending Acts of 1899' 1902, and 1903), regulates the conditions under which the fossil gum of the giant kauri-pine is dug and disposed of for sale. It specifies the different classes of settlers who may obtain licenses for digging gum, the varieties of licenses to dig and sell gum, and the particular lands on which the right to dig gum may be exercised.

“ ‘The Shearers' Accommodation Act, 1898,’ entails on Inspectors of Factories the duty of inspecting shearing-sheds on farms, runs, and stations all over the Dominion. Proper sleeping and other accommodation has to be provided for shearers—the most nomadic of workmen. If no provision is made, or if the accommodation is insufficient, formal notice has to be served on the owner or occupier in regard to improvements to be effected, and if the notice is disregarded or not fully complied with the offender can be brought before a Magistrate and fined.

“ ‘The Agricultural Labourers' Accommodation Act, 1907, follows on the lines of the Shearers' Accommodation Act by making provision for the decent and comfortable housing of agricultural workers. It constitutes the Inspectors of Factories of the district the arbiters as to the sufficiency of the accommodation provided, but other officers may be appointed, if necessary, as Inspectors. The maximum fine on any employer neglecting to comply with the instructions of the Inspector is £25, with a further fine of £2 per day for the continuance of the default.

“The licenses of registry offices for domestic or farm servants are regulated by ‘The Servants' Registry Offices Act, 1895.’ This Act prevents friendless or uneducated persons from becoming the prey of unscrupulous persons. Applicants for licenses as registry-office keepers have to pay a fee to the Government and to present a certificate of good character. Proper ledgers and books, open to inspection, must be provided. Registry-office keepers are not allowed to keep lodging-houses for servants or have any interest in such houses.

“ ‘The Shipping and Seamen Act, 1903' (with amending Act of 1905), contains all the existing legal provisions affecting the protection of life at sea of both sailors and passengers. They relate to the appointment of pilots, ships' officers and engineers, the engagement and discharge of sailors, the sanitation, ventilation, or overloading of vessels, and the number of duly rated hands to be engaged in proportion to tonnage. They endeavour to prevent injustice to the sailor as to advance notes or payments in foreign money, and also specify penalties to be inflicted for desertion, disobedience, &c.

“ ‘The Inspection of Machinery Act, 1902' (with Amendment Act, 1903), has, as its name implies, the oversight of all machinery, whether on land or water. It also provides for proper persons being in charge of machinery, &c., and for certificates of engineers and others in charge of engines and boilers.

“ ‘The Labour Department Act, 1903,’ established that Department on a statutory basis, although it had been in practical existence for some years. Its duties are to administer the labour laws, and to furnish information on all industrial matters, while power is given to certain of its officers to collect statistics with the authority wherewith a Crown Commissioner is invested.

“ ‘The Master and Apprentices Act, 1865' applies mainly to the indenturing of children to employers, such children being the offspring of destitute parents. In other respects the law of England is held to be the law governing the relations between master and apprentice in New Zealand; but this is tempered by awards of the Arbitration Court, which allot the ratio of apprentices to journeymen engaged. Special sections of the main 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. ‘The Criminal Code Act, 1893,’ sections 150 and 213, also relates to the proper care of apprentices by their masters.

“Combinations or associations of persons for regulating the trade relations between masters and masters, or masters and workmen, or workmen and workmen, are to be found in ‘The Trade Union Act, 1878,’ with its amending Act of 1896. Practically, however, these relationships are determined by the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and it is to the latter statute that attention must be paid if the relation of worker to employer is to be understood.

“ ‘The Conspiracy Law Amendment Act, 1894,’ permits any combination of persons in furtherance of a trade dispute, so long as it is not a combination for riot, sedition, or crime. Later legislation, however, forbids such combination from attempting to evade or defeat an award of the Arbitration Court, or to promote a strike or lock-out.

“Holidays for workers in the different trades are regulated under awards of the Arbitration Court, but by statute are referred to in the Factories, Shops and Offices, and other general Acts. Special enactments relate to ‘The Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Act, 1895,’ ‘The Electoral Act, 1905,’ ‘The Bank Holidays Act, 1902,’ and ‘The Labour Day Act, 1899.’

“One of the latest departures in ‘advanced legislation' is the provision of land and dwellings for labour by means of ‘The Workers' Dwellings Act, 1905,’ ‘The Workers' Dwellings Act Amendment Act, 1905,’ the Amendment Act of 1906, and a section of ‘The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900.’ The excessive rents which workmen have had to pay in the chief centres needed reform in some protective way, and this method of attempting to achieve the object has been adopted.

“ ‘The Government Advances to Workers Act, 1906,’ enables a worker, manual, or clerical, who is not in receipt of more than £200 per annum to borrow from the Government Advances to Settlers Office a sum not exceeding £350 for the purpose of erecting a dwelling for himself. The loan, with interest at the rate of five per cent. per annum (subject to a rebate of one-half per cent. if paid within fourteen days of due date), is repayable by seventy-three half-yearly instalments, or the borrower may from time to time reduce his liability by payment of five pounds, or a multiple of five pounds.

“ ‘The Scaffolding Inspection Act, 1906,’ and Amendment Act, 1907, provide for the appointment of inspectors, whose duties are to see that all scaffolding and gear used in connection therewith is constructed or rigged in accordance with regulations to be framed for the purpose. Any person intending to set up scaffolding must, in writing, notify the inspector of such intention, subject to a penalty for non-compliance not exceeding twenty pounds. The inspector has power, if necessary, to order the owner or person in charge of scaffolding or gear to make such alterations to the same as may be required to render it safe. The penalty for failure to comply with such direction is a fine not exceeding twenty pounds. There is a right of appeal to the Minister against the decision of an inspector.”

INDUSTRIAL UNIONS.

Returns were received, as on the 31st December, 1907, from 120 unions of employers, with a membership of 3,640, and 312 unions of workers, with a membership of 45,614, registered in New Zealand under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The number for each registration district is as follows:—

Registration DistrictEmployers UnionsWorkers Unions
NoMembershipNoMembership
Auckland316896710,660
Taranaki4778311
Wellington266607814,254
Marlborough2634192
Nelson24810474
Westland322143,011
Canterbury261,266699,438
Otago and Southland26815627,274
                    Totals1203,64031245,614

Eight industrial unions of employers and nine industrial unions of workers failed to send in their returns.

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 1907-8 were:—

MonthRoads DepartmentPublic Works DepartmentTotal
April, 19072,3933,2515,644
May, 19072,1263,2455,371
June, 19072,0333,2285,261
July, 19071,8713,2025,073
August, 19071,7113,1624,873
September, 19071,7002,9834,683
October, 19071,6572,8014,458
November, 19071,6842,8064,490
December, 19071,9092,8004,709
January, 19082,3532,7305,083
February, 19083,0512,9355,986
March, 19083,0952,8575,952

The average number of men employed in each year was as follows:—

YearRoads DepartmentPublic Works DepartmentTotal
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
1905-63,4402,3455,785
1906-72,3934,6147,007
1907-82,1323,0005,132

LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

The total number of men for whom employment has been found by the Department of Labour up to the end of March, 1908, is given below. The statement also exhibits the number of persons dependent upon the men assisted:—

 MenDependents
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
1st April, 1905, to 31st March, 19066,9037,324
1st April, 1906, to 31st March, 19077,2044,136
1st April, 1907, to 31st March, 19086,3004,413
  58,79493,154

Chapter 48. SECTION XVI.—ACCUMULATION; PRODUCTION; PRICES AND WAGES.

BANKS OF ISSUE.

IN December, 1907, 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 1907 in respect of New Zealand transactions were £25,334,348, and the average assets £26,584,239. The average amount on deposit during the year was £23,517,111, of which sum £2,184,771 belonged to the General Government. Excluding those belonging to Government, deposits to the value of £9,669,658 were bearing interest, and £11,662,682 at call. The value of the notes in circulation of these banks was £1,644,644.

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 1907 are:—

YearDepositsAssetsLiabilities
 £      £      £      
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
190723,517,11126,584,23925,334,348

In 1880 the deposits of these banks were £18 per head of the mean population; in 1890 they were £19.92 per head; in 1900 they were £20.39, and in 1907, £25.59. 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., in 1905 at 80.77 per cent, in 1906 at 79.54 per cent., and in 1907 at 84.35 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 £4,984,566 in 1907:—

Quarter ended 31st DecemberCoinGold and Silver in Bullion or BarsTotal 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
18972,848,183107,6352,955,818
18982,625,896126,3492,752,245
18992,511,102125,0752,636,177
19002,658,207144,0252,802,232
19012,921,268142,5753,063,843
19023,124,916167,1743,292,090
19033,597,280149,3003,746,580
19043,790,483162,5923,953,075
19053,849,039203,1344,052,173
19064,513,551183,2074,696,758
19074,814,908169,6584,984,566

The figures shown for each quarter of the year 1907 are:—

 CoinBullion
 £      £      
March quarter, 19074,451,669150,989
June quarter, 19074,570,603185,204
September quarter, 19074,842,383161,456
December quarter, 19074,814,908169,658

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 1907, for which the figures are £19,838,799, or £21.58 per head. The discounts in 1906 amounted to £2,068,404, or £2.31 per head of mean population, and in 1907 they were £2,014,848, or £2.19 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 portion of “The Bank-note Issue Act, 1893,” which remains in permanent operation is quoted on the following page.

“THE BANK-NOTE ISSUE ACT, 1893.”

Section 3 of the above Act provides that—”After the passing of this Act all notes payable on demand heretofore, or hereafter to be, issued, circulated, or reissued in the colony by any bank under authority of this or any other Act of this colony in that behalf, shall, to the amount of the issue authorised, be a first charge on all the assets and property of that bank being assets for the payment of debts or other obligations contracted or entered upon, or due and payable in the colony; and shall be payable in gold only at the office of the bank at the place of issue of the said notes respectively, anything contained in any other Act notwithstanding.”

“THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND ACT, 1903.”

This Act was passed in anticipation of guaranteed shares or stock issued under the authority of the Act of 1894, to the extent of two million pounds sterling, reaching maturity on the 19th July of the 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, but afterwards repurchased by the Bank. Besides the above, the Act deals with other matters affecting the business of the Bank and the Assets Realisation Board

Ordinary Shares.

Every ordinary share in the Bank is deemed to be a share of the nominal value of £6 13s. 4d., paid up to the extent only of the amount actually paid on account of instalments of the call in respect of such share, leaving a liability of the balance of instalments, and the further liability of £3 6s. 8d. per share, but no more.

New Guaranteed Stock.

The guaranteed stock issued under “The Share Guarantee Act, 1894,” to the extent of two million pounds, matured on the 19th July, 1904, and has been redeemed by the Bank, and a new issue of guaranteed stock, representing the sum of one million pounds sterling, having a currency not exceeding ten years, has been made in lieu thereof

Preference Shares.

The preferred shares, representing £500,000 new capital, issued under the authority of “The Bank of New Zealand and Banking Act, 1895,” and subsequently repurchased by the Bank, have been cancelled; and in lieu thereof the Government of New Zealand purchased 75,000 preference shares of the Bank, fully paid, representing £500,000 new capital. These shares rank for dividend purposes in priority to ordinary shares to the extent of 5 per cent. per annum (non-cumulative), and for dividends in excess of 5 per cent. they are entitled to only half the rate payable on ordinary shares; so that where, for example, the dividend on the ordinary shares is at the rate of 6 per cent., the dividend on the preference shares will be at the rate of 5 ½ 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. (Since defunct; see last paragraph.)

The Act empowered the Assets Board, for the purpose of redeeming such of its debentures as might be outstanding at maturity, to issue fresh debentures, 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 3 ½ per cent. per annum.

The properties vested in the Assets Board were to be valued at appointed times, and the actual deficiency between such value and the amount of outstanding debentures ascertained. When the assets were found to be sufficient to meet liabilities, the Governor by Order in Council declared that the Board should cease to exist, its properties being handed over to the Bank, which thereupon was empowered to redeem all the outstanding debentures of the Board.

A Proclamation by the Governor in Council was published in a supplement to the New Zealand Gazette, dated 7th December, 1906, to the effect that valuations in the terms of the above provisions having been duly made and confirmed by the Valuer-General, the assets were found to be sufficient to meet the outstanding liabilities, and the Assets Realisation Board, from the 17th December, 1906, should cease to exist.

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 1907 was 563

There were 74,671 new accounts opened in the year, and 53,644 accounts were closed. The total number of open accounts at the end of 1907 was 319,773, or 1 in every 2.91 of the population.

The deposits received during the year amounted to £9,351,664, and the withdrawals to £8,125,123, the excess of deposits over withdrawals having thus been £1,226,541. The total sum standing at credit of all accounts on the 31st December, 1907, was £11,523,231, which gave an average of £36 0s. 9d. to the credit of each open account.

The number of open accounts (as on the 31st December) for five years are classified according to amounts at credit of each:—

 19001902190419061907

*Exceeding £400 and not exceeding £600, 3,262 depositors, exceeding £600, 816 depositors.

Not exceeding £20142,368161,989187,631212,605226,012
Exceeding £20 and up to £5022,33325,52028,23133,31434,708
Exceeding £50 and up to £10013,70416,62118,36321,74823,830
Exceeding £100 and up to £20011,17314,65715,58317,75219,005
Exceeding £200 and up to £3005,1515,4735,6247,5858,219
Exceeding £300 and up to £4001,2381,6191,9182,8413,921
Exceeding £400 and up to £5007738609561,5064,078*
Exceeding £5006687268581,395
          Totals197,408227,465259,164298,746319,773

The following were the securities, &c., standing in the name of the Postmaster-General on account of the Post-Office Savings-Bank Fund on the 31st December, 1907:—

Description of Securities, &cNominal ValueValue at Cost Price
 £      sd£      sd
“The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1899,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent125,00000125,00000
“The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1900,” Debentures, 4 per cent2000019900
“The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1901,” Debentures, 4 per cent17,6000017,60000
“The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1901,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent15,0000015,00000
“The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1902,” Debentures, 4 per cent2,000002,00000
“The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1902,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent125,00000125,00000
“The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1903,” Debentures, 4 percent48,5250048,52500
“The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1903,” Debentures, 4 per cent107,90000167,90000
“The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1906,” Debentures, 4 per cent20,5000020,50000
“The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1906,” Debentures, 3 ½ percent500,00000500,00000
“The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1907,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent200,00000200,00000
Canadian Debentures, 4 per cent.10,7000010,86900
Canadian Stock, 4 per cent.30,49617230,801210
Canadian Stock, 3 ½ per cent.34,02211833,85293
Canadian Stock, 3 per cent.5,000004,80000
Canadian Stock, 2 ½ per cent.13,666151110,93389
“The Consolidated Loan Act, 1867,” Debentures, 4 per cent13,0000012,48000
“The Consolidated Stock Act, 1884,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent194,20000194,20000
“The Consolidated Stock Act, 1884,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent283,50000283,50000
“The Consolidated Stock Act, 1884,” Debentures, 3 per cent100,00000100,00000
“The Consolidated Stock Act, 1884,” Debentures, 3 per cent65,0000065,00000
“The Dairy Industry Act, 1898,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent1,781001,78100
“The Defence and other Purposes Loan Act, 1870,” Debentures, 4 ½ per cent.75,0000072,00000
“The Defence and other Purposes Loan Act, 1870,” Debentures, 4 ½ per cent.8,100008,10000
Dunedin Garrison Hall Debentures, 4 ½ per cent5,000005,00000
“The General Purposes Loan Act, 1879,” Debentures, 4 per cent5,200004,34200
Gold Coast Stock, 3 per cent.18,0000015,12000
“The Government Advances to Settlers Act, 1894,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent.300,00000300,00000
“The Government Advances to Settlers Act, 1906,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent.410,00000410,00000
“The Government Advances to Settlers Extension Act, 1901,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent80,0000080,00000
“The Government Advances to Workers Act, 1906,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent.140,00000140,00000
“The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent.231,50000231,50000
Greymouth Harbour Board Debentures, 4 per cent165,00000165,00000
Hamilton Borough Debentures, 4 ½ per cent3,000003,00000
Hokitika Harbour Board Debentures, 5 per cent.7,225007,22500
Hong Kong Stock, 3 ½ per cent.14,26017514,11780
“The Hutt Railway and Road Improvement Act, 1903,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent45,0000045,00000
“The Hutt Railway and Road Improvement Act, 1905,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent80,0000080,00000
“The Immigration and Public Works Loan Act, 1870,” Debentures, 4 ½ per cent20,9000020,527100
“The Immigration and Public Works Loan Act, 1870,” Debentures, 4 per cent175,30000168,37200
Inscribed Stock, 3 ½ per cent.618,00000618,00000
Inscribed Stock, 3 per cent.2,260,4951112,244,582180
“The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent.741,06600741,06600
The Land for Settlements Acts, 1894 and 1897, Debentures, 3 ½ per cent.62,0000062,00000
“The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900,” Debentures, 4 per cent.1,750001,75000
“The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900,” Debentures, 4 per cent.6500065000
“The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900,” Debentures, 4 per cent.25,0000025,00000
“The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent.23,0000023,00000
“The Lands Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Act, 1894,” Debentures 4 per cent.279,00000279,00000
“The Lands Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Act, 1894,” Debentures 3 ½ per cent.60,0000060,00000
Leeds Corporation Stock, 3 per cent14,0000012,28000
“The Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1901,” Debentures, 4 per cent55,0000055,00000
“The Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1901,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent.1,086,000001,086,00000
“The Maori Land Settlement Act, 1905,” Debentures, 4 per cent6000060000
“The Maori Land Settlement Act Amendment Act, 1907,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent50,0000050,00000
New South Wales Debentures, 4 per cent19,8000020,09700
New South Wales Stock, 4 per cent5,486675,815102
New South Wales Stock, 3 ½ per cent85,0000084,57500
“The New Zealand Consols Act, 1894,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent27,5900027,49650
Oamaru Borough Consolidated Loan, 1893, Debentures, 5 per cent13,8000013,80000
Oamaru Harbour Bonds, 5 ½ per cent31,0000031,00000
Patea Harbour Board Debentures, 4 ½ per cent.26,8700026,87000
Reading Corporation Stock, 3 per cent6,500005,79539
“The Reserve Fund Securities Act, 1907,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent.800,00000800,00000
“The Scenery Preservation Act, 1903,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent30,0000030,00000
Sheffield Corporation Stock. 3 per cent9631510838100
South Australian Debentures. 4 per cent24,7000024,8500
South Australian Stock, 4 per cent4,851054,970811
South Australian Stock, 3 ½ per cent39,0000038,22000
Southern Nigeria Stock, 3 ½ per cent17,0000016,300
“The State Coal-mines Act, 1901,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent100,00000100,00000
“The State Fire Insurance Act, 1903,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent5000050000
“The State Fire Insurance Act, 1903,” Debentures, 3 ½ per cent1,500001,50000
Thames Harbour Board Debentures, 4 per cent.10,0000010,00000
“The Public Revenues Act, 1893” (Treasury Bills), 3 ½ per cent449,20000449,20000
Transvaal Stock, 3 per cent.42,60218540,0461411
Trinidad Stock, 4 per cent.2,8619102,918145
Victorian Debentures, 4 per cent.10,0000010,10000
Victorian Stock, 4 per cent.43,23317443,650152
Victorian Stock, 3 ½ per cent.84,0000082,32000
Victorian Stock, 3 per cent.12,379191010,7081310
Wellington City Council Debentures, 4 per cent.75,6000075,08800
Wellington Harbour Board Debentures, 4 ½ per cent28,9000028,90000
Westport Harbour Board Debentures, 4 per cent.489,50000489,50000
 Totals11,515,9791611,473,254130

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 securities10,121,558
In local bodies' securities850,895
In other securities543,526
          Total£11,515,979

There are five savings-banks not connected with the Post Office. The total amount deposited in them in 1907 was £1,036,568, of which the deposits by Maoris comprised £61. The withdrawals reached the sum of £993,841, or less than the total deposits by £42,727. The total amount to the credit of the depositors at the end of the year was £1,301,832, of which sum £175 belonged to Maoris.

The deposits in the savings-banks of New South Wales on 31st December, 1906, of the other States of the Commonwealth on 30th June, 1907, and of New Zealand on 31st December, 1907, were as given below. The figures for Australian States are taken from the Official Year-book of the Commonwealth:—

StateNumber of DepositorsAmount on Deposit at End of YearAverage amount per Depositor at End of YearDeposits to Credit per Head of Population
  £      £sd£sd
New South Wales392,05015,320,53239171008
Victoria491,31812,792,590260910610
Queensland92,9124,543,104481711876
South Australia161,8555,320,8723217613150
Western Australia66,7372,633,13539919193
Tasmania53,8171,488,05627130884
 Commonwealth1,258,68942,098,289338111038
New Zealand364,42212,825,0635310131511

Thus it would appear that in New Zealand the average amount to the credit of each depositor and the amount per head of population are each higher than in the Commonwealth as a whole, although in the States of Queensland, Western Australia, and New South Wales the average per depositor is higher than in this country.

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 1907 to £34,157,403. In addition, there are the deposits with building societies, which in 1906 were £484,991, 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 £37 5s. 5d. per head of the population, exclusive of Maoris.

BUILDING SOCIETIES.

There were 100 registered building societies in operation at the end of 1906. Of these, 65 were terminable societies, the rest were permanent.

The total receipts by these societies during their financial year were £1,200,978, of which deposits comprised £538,206.

The assets at the end of the year were valued at £1,992,200. The liabilities were: To shareholders, reserve fund, &c., £1,429,254; to depositors, £484,991; and to bankers and other creditors, £77,955.

JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES.

During the year ended 31st December, 1907, 290 joint-stock companies, with a total nominal capital of £6,405,295, were registered under the provisions of “The Companies Act, 1903,” including 124 private companies, with a nominal capital of £1,079,570.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

The Registrar of Friendly Societies received returns for the year 1907 from 552 central bodies, lodges, courts, tents, &c., having a membership at the end of the year of 56,817.

The total value of the assets of these societies was £1,118,217, of which the value of the sick and funeral benefit funds was £1,033,477.

The receipts during the year on account of the sick and funeral funds amounted to £144,242, and the expenditure to £85,985, of which the sick-pay to members reached the sum of £58,939. In addition to the sick-pay, the sum of £51,479 was paid out of the medical and management expenses fund for attendance given and medicine supplied to the members and their families.

The increase in the membership of Friendly Societies during the twenty years from 1888 to 1907 has been at a considerably greater ratio than the increase in population during the same period, the percentage of members to population in 1888 being 4.11; in 1896, 4.46; in 1907, 6.11.

The total membership and funds of the various Orders at 31st December, 1907, was:—

Name of OrderNumber of MembersTotal Worth of Funds
  £      
Independent Order of Oddfellows, M.U.21,049544,924
Independent Order of Oddfellows of N.Z.3,83263,149
National Independent Order of Oddfellows4344,701
British United Order of Oddfellows1402,214
Ancient Order of Foresters14,465290,621
Ancient Order of Shepherds931,247
United Ancient Order of Druids11,572106,041
Independent Order of Rechabites2,20055,297
Sons and Daughters of Temperance74514,678
Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society1,32316,898
Protestant Alliance Friendly Society of Australasia88415,945
Railway Employees'Benefit Society802,502
  56,8171,118,217

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:—

StateDate of ReturnNumber of LodgesNumber of MembersAmount of FundsCapital per Member
    £      £sd
Victoria31st Dec., 19061,351116,5621,708,34614132
New South Wales19061,314107,7231,069,9759188
New Zealand190650053,7591,057,82119136
South Australia190449349,241676,04013147
Queensland190540532,164359,3711136
Tasmania19041616,287136,7868711
Western Australia190623714,630108,286780

MORTGAGES.

In a return laid before the House of Representatives it is stated that during the year ended 31st March, 1907, mortgages to the value of £14,802,895 were registered in the several land registration districts, while the monetary value of those paid off amounted to £9,043,122. Compared with a similar return for the year 1905-6 the mortgages registered show an increase of £1,692,799, the total amount for the earlier year having been £13,110,096.

The total amounts represented in the mortgages registered and paid off in each registration district during 1905-6 and 1906-7 were:—

 1905-61906-7
DistrictMortgages registeredMortgages paid offMortgages registeredMortgages paid off
 £    £    £    £    
Auckland1,648,935819,8341,673,620970,870
Poverty Bay562,685382,538501,035256,980
Taranaki922,286619,9771,010,411740,772
Hawke's Bay947,747697,5381,446,904882,936
Wellington4,285,5562,236,0414,722,8472,823,370
Marlborough170,689141,195334,306138,641
Nelson206,054135,631271,697171,810
Westland30,40623,84135,00733,045
Canterbury2,774,9042,015,0803,264,7241,912,834
Otago997,560640,874847,880609,836
Southland563,274365,544694,464502,028
          Totals£13,110,096£8,108,093£14,802,895£9,043,122

Classified according to the various rates of interest, the amounts in the mortgage deeds registered during the two years were:—

1906-71905-6 

(a) Including £26,205 at 4 ¼ per cent.

(b) Including £15,780 at 5 ½ per cent.

(c) Including £1,400 at 6 ⅓ per cent.

(d) Including £1,050 at 6 ⅔ per cent.

(e) Including £54 at 6 7/9 per cent.

(f) Including £737 at 7 ¼ per cent., £600 at 7 ⅓ per cent., and £200 at 7 ¾ per cent.

(g) Including £17,698 at 4 ¼ per cent.

(h) Including £7,000 at 5 5/10 per cent.

(i) Including £1,000 at 5 ⅜ per cent.

(j) Including £290 at 6 1/5 per cent.

(k) Including £925 at 7 ¼ per cent. and £900 at 7 ¾ per cent.

£      £      Rate of Interest
50,118 free of interest
107,552101,818at 4 per cent. or under
1,361,306 (a)545,023 (g)at 4 ½ per cent
350,83057,829at 4 ½ per cent
5,987,6096,313,670at 5 per cent
49,801106,224 (h)at 5 ¼ per cent
1,401,3811,277,389 (i)at 5 ½ per cent
27,430 (b)6,370at 5 ¾ per cent
1,836,8501,683,164 (j)at 6 per cent
3,7651,500at 6 ¼ per cent
150,668 (c)150,639at 6 ½ per cent
2,550 (d) at 6 ¾ per cent
511,635 (e)454,760at 7 per cent
69,113 (f)36,246(k)at 7 ½ per cent
280,387283,240at 8 per cent
106,308105,114at 8 ½ per cent. and over
2,505,5921,987,110at rates not specified
£14,802,895£13,110,096 

Comparison of the foregoing with the amounts at the various rates of interest in the mortgages registered during 1895-96 shows the lowering of the rates that has taken place:—

Year 1895-96 
£         
26,285in small sums at less than 5 per cent
833,226at from 5 per cent. to 5 ¼ per cent
732,764at 5 ½ per cent
116,600at 5 ¾ per cent
1,372,261at from 6 per cent. to 6 ¼ per cent
371,896at from 6 ½ per cent. to 6 ¾ per cent
599,542at from 7 per cent. to 7 ¼ per cent
111,651at 7 ½ 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 amounts shown in deeds as registered are given above, but in respect of some transactions the same money may be included more than once.

LIFE INSURANCE.

There were existing at the close of the year 1906 118,265 life-insurance policies, an average of 130 in every 1,000 persons living. The gross amount represented by these policies was £29,036,047, an average of £245 10s. 4d. for each policy, and of £31 19s. 1d. for every European inhabitant at the end of the year.

The distribution of these policies shows that 39 per cent. are held in the Government Life Insurance Department:—

Name of OfficeNumber of Years of Business in the DominionNew Zealand Business only
Number of Existing Policies at End of Year 1906Gross Amount insured by Policies at End of Year 1906
   £      
Australian Mutual Provident Society4534,6949,428,000
Australasian Temperance and General Mutual Life Assurance Society (Limited)41,742192,674
Australian Widows' Fund Life Assurance Society (Limited)93,069757,029
Citizens' Life Assurance Company (Limited)135,229818,459
Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society (Limited)235,3101,278,534
Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States222,083753,553
Mutual Life Association of Australasia307,9061,866,715
National Mutual Life Association of Australasia (Limited)2711,2502,954,065
New York Life Insurance Company20831286,327
Scottish Metropolitan Life Assurance Company (Limited)1093,600
Yorkshire Insurance Company516129,500
Life Insurance Department of the New Zealand Government3745,98110,667,591
          Totals, December, 1906 118,265£29,036,047
          Totals, December, 1905 114,553£28,087,349

INDUSTRIAL LIFE ASSURANCE.

In addition to the ordinary life insurance transactions alluded to above, there were in 1906 four 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 OfficeNumber of Years of Business in the DominionNew Zealand Business only
Number of Existing Policies at End of Year 1906Gross Amount insured by Policies at End of Year 1906
   £      
The Australian Mutual Provident Society22,82875,755
The Australasian Temperance and General Mutual Life Assurance Society (Limited)47,061156,210
The Citizens' Life Assurance Company (Limited)1317,311353,911
The Provident and Industrial Insurance Company of New Zealand1713,413395,210
              Totals, December, 1906 40,613£981,086
              Totals, December, 1905 36,502£877,871

Here an increase of £103,215, or 11.76 per cent., is shown to have taken place in twelve months.

GOVERNMENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE.

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.

In 1901 an Accident Branch of the Government Insurance Department was opened mainly with a view to relieve employers of labour of the liability imposed upon them by “The Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, 1900.” In such a business the rates charged must necessarily be of an experimental nature for a considerable time, but so far they have proved to be, on the average, equal to the strain imposed upon them. In any event the interests of the life-insurance policyholders cannot suffer, as the life funds are in no case liable, and the costs of conducting the business are borne entirely by the Accident Branch itself.

“The Employers' Liability Act, 1882,” and its amendments give a workman the right to claim for any accident caused through any defect in the ways, works, machinery, or plant of the employer, or through the neglect of any overseer in the service of the employer, with certain limitations, the maximum amount he can claim being £500.

“The Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, 1900,” greatly extends the liability of employers, as under this Act a workman can claim compensation for all injuries arising out of and in the course of his employment, not attributable to his serious and wilful misconduct.

The compensation is as follows:—

  1. Where death results from the injury and the workman leaves dependants wholly dependent upon his earnings, the compensation is three years' wages, but not to be less than £200, nor to exceed £400.

  2. If dependants are left partially dependent upon the workman's earnings, the compensation is to be such sum as may be agreed upon, not exceeding the amount payable under the former provision.

  3. If no dependants are left, the compensation is to be a sum equal to the reasonable expenses of the workman's medical attendance and burial, not exceeding £30.

  4. Where a workman is totally incapacitated for work, he is entitled to a weekly payment from the date of the accident, not exceeding 50 per cent. of his average weekly earnings. If the incapacity is partial only, he cannot claim for the first week unless the incapacity continues for a longer period than two weeks. The weekly payment is not to exceed £2, nor to be less than £1 when earning as much as £1 10s. at the time of accident, and the total liability of the employer is limited to £300.

If the accident occurs in course of employment in or about a mine, factory, building, or vessel, the compensation becomes a charge on the employer's interest in the property. This charge takes precedence of all existing or subsequent charges or encumbrances howsoever created other than those lawfully existing at the time of the commencement of the Act.

The Department's policies cover the full liability of an employer to his workmen under the Employers' Liability Acts and the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Acts, and the liability under common law to the extent of £500 per man.

The premiums are assessed on the wages, and vary from 3s. and 4s. per £100 of wages for the lightest occupations to 20s. per cent. for building trades, 45s. per cent. for coal-mines, and 85s. per cent. for bushfelling.

Policies protecting mortgagees from loss through the charge of an injured workman taking precedence of a mortgage are issued at premiums varying from 1s. per cent. of the mortgage for small mortgages to 6d. per cent. for large mortgages.

Personal-accident policies are also issued securing amounts for accidental death and permanent total or partial disablement, and weekly allowances during temporary disablement.

The premium income and claims of the Accident Branch since the commencement of business have been as follows:—

YearPremium IncomeClaims
 £    £    
7th June to 31st December, 190111,8562,428
Year ending 31st December, 190214,1007,364
Year ending 31st December, 190324,38113,230
Year ending 31st December, 190423,76812,105
Year ending 31st December, 190523,97011,242
Year ending 31st December, 190620,81513,720
Year ending 31st December, 190721,47711,288

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.

STATE FIRE INSURANCE.

A special article on this subject will be found in Part III of this book.

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, 1907 and 1908, the results are:—

 19071908
 Number of EstatesValue of EstatesNumber of EstatesValue of Estates
  £       £      
Wills and trusts (including sinking funds accounts in 1907)1,2402,608,9421,5102,000,107
Intestate estates1,164343,3761,270353,760
Mental patients'estates1,082284,0041,037323,542
Native reserves119425,00094425,000
West Coast Settlement Reserves333900,000460935,000
Unclaimed lands33828,83534728,580
Sinking funds  54973,946
          Total4,276£4,590,1574,772£5,039,935

The capital funds of the Public Trust Office invested amounted, on the 31st March, 1908, to £2,444,712. The investments are as follow:—

 £      
New Zealand Government securities217,462
Local bodies' debentures131,859
Mortgages of freehold property2,095,391
                    Total£2,444,712

PRIVATE WEALTH.

The private wealth of the Dominion has been estimated as for the year 1906, calculating on the assumption that the wealth of the living is proportionately equal to that left by the dead.

Working on the adult method, but excluding Maoris, the results for New Zealand, calculated on figures for the five years ending with 1906, were as under:—

PRIVATE WEALTH IN NEW ZEALAND
1. Estates of deceased persons: net amount sworn to (five years)£16,477,000

* Some exceptionally valuable estates certified for probate in 1906 accounts in a measure for the largely increased estimate of private wealth for that year, when compared with the figures previously given for 1905.

2. Deaths of adults (number) (five years)27,852
3. Average amount left by each adult£591-589
4. Adults alive, 31st December, 1906 (estimated number)514,975
5. Aggregate private wealth, 31st December, 1906£304,654,000*
6. Wealth per head of total estimated population on 31st December, 1906 ..£335-253

The calculation has been made on the same method as that adopted in Australian States. It may be well to repeat the remark made before, that only a rough approximation to the facts can be put forward.

ESTIMATED PRIVATE WEALTH
YearAmount

* Some exceptionally valuable estates certified for probate in 1906 accounts in a measure for the largely increased estimate of private wealth for that year, when compared with the figures previously given for 1905.

 £      
1891145,781,000
1896170,008,000
1906304,654,000*

In the year 1891 the private wealth was estimated at £145,781,000, which rose to £170,008,000 in 1896, during a period of five years. From this last amount the private wealth would appear to have advanced to £304,654,000 in the year 1906.

An attempt to arrive at the value of the public property (exclusive of lessees' interests in land and improvements) in the Dominion, with the assistance of the Valuer-General, has led to the following result:—

PUBLIC PROPERTY.

Public property —i.e., land and improvements not owned by individuals (1905-6, latest information available), exclusive of Government railways:—

 £      £      

* Some exceptionally valuable estates certified for probate in 1906 accounts in a measure for the largely increased estimate of private wealth for that year, when compared with the figures previously given for 1905.

Crown lands18,918,000 
Local authorities' lands5,851,000 
Educational lands4,646,000 
Church and other lands3,392,000 
  32,807,000
Government railways, open and under construction, 31st March, 190624,092,000
Other public works—viz., telegraphs, lighthouses, harbours, and water-supply on goldfields5,142,000
Total public property£62,041,000

This amount of £62,041,000, with the sum of £304,654,000 previously shown as the private wealth, estimated from probate returns, gives a total of £366,695,000. If to this be added £9,708,000, the value of Native lands with their improvements (exclusive of lessees' interests), a final total of £376,403,000 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 1906, £53,497,000 and £5,468,000 respectively. Allowing for these, it is found that the Dominion had in 1906 at least £317,438,000 value of public and private wealth. Full information as to public wealth other than property owned by the Government is not procurable.

PRODUCTION.

The value of the total production of New Zealand has been estimated for the year 1905-6, and the result is given. In regard to the last item, the amount has been arrived at by an indirect though recognised method. It should not be considered as altogether guaranteed.

 1905-6
 £      
1. Agricultural produce6,163,895
2. Pastoral, dairy, and poultry produce15,882,132
3. Mining produce ..3,871,991
4. Manufactures ..6,636,120
5. Miscellaneous (including fisheries and forestry)1,761,251
  £34,315,389
Value of building trade, industries not included in manufactories, and general labour6,838,380
          Total£41,153,769

WAGES.

The aggregate of wages paid for the year 1906 has been arrived at by assigning to each wage-earner the probable annual income each would derive from the profession or occupation followed. The calculations made are put forward merely as the result of an attempt to get as closely as possible to the facts. No wage census was taken.

The total sum paid in salary or wages during the year is in this way found to have been £24,211,100, of which £21,539,900 was earned by males, and £2,671,200 by females, giving an average yearly earning of £94 16s. for the one sex and £42 6s. for the other. It is of course obvious that as the totals here given represent the gross sums paid in salaries or wages, they must include money counted many times over. Details, arranged, according to the classification used for the census of 1906, are given.

MALES
ClassOccupationsNumber of Wage-earners, 1906Estimated Average Annual EarningsEstimated Aggregate Earnings, 1906
   £    £    
IProfessional12,221144.81,769,600
IIDomestic6,70179.3531,400
IIICommercial29,003115.93,361,400
IVTransport24,224108.02,616,200
VIndustrial85,29094.18,025,800
VIAgricultural, pastoral, mineral, and other primary producers63,62473.34,663,600
VIIIndefinite6,02095.0571,900
   227,08394.821,539,
FEMALES
ClassOccupationsNumber of Wage-earners, 1906Estimated Average Annual EarningsEstimated Aggregate Earnings, 1906
IProfessional8,00867.2538,100
IIDomestic27,59637.31,029,300
IIICommercial6,42437.9243,500
IVTransport73159.843,700
VIndustrial15,31640.1614,200
VIAgricultural, pastoral, mineral, and other primary producers1,93222.443,300
VIIIndefinite3,18250.0159,100
   63,18942.32,671,200
TOTALS
Males21,539,900
Females2,671,200
  £24,211,100

ESTIMATED RISK IN WAGES AND PRICES OF NECESSARY FOODS.

After the census of 1906 was completed a calculation was made in respect of wages paid in the various divisions of labour—agricultural, pastoral, artisans, servants, and miscellaneous—to show the rise since 1895. The calculation has since been extended to include the year 1907.

Taking the figures for 1906 in each occupation to represent 100 as a standard, the proportions to this of the rates for previous years and 1907 were ascertained, and the figures for the different groups were duly weighted according to the number of persons in each group.

The result shows the index number for each year, thus:—

189584.8
189684.3
189784.6
189888.7
189988.0
190090.4
190189.7
190293.4
190396.5
190498.6
190598.0
1906100.0
1907104.9

Here the rise in wages is found to have been at the rate of 23 per cent. in thirteen years.

The manufactories' returns, collected at the census of 1896 and 1906, which state hands employed and wages paid, were utilised as a sort of rough check on the above. They showed a rise of 19 per cent., including both sexes and all ages, between the years 1895 and 1905.

The rise in the price of provisions for the same years was also calculated, on the bare necessaries of life divided into three groups— animal food, vegetable food, and other necessaries. The price for 1906 was again considered to equal 100, and the proportions to this which obtained for the other years calculated. The weighting was according to the proportion of expenditure on the different classes of articles in the consumption of a family.

Index numbers were found to be as under:—

189584.3
189686.1
189786.1
189887.4
189983.6
190086.0
190189.6
1902105.6
1903100.5
190498.5
1905102.0
1906100.0
1907103.3

The rise is at the rate of 22.0 per cent for thirteen years.

The result of the whole workings was to show that wages and prices for necessary foods had advanced at nearly equal rates in thirteen years, the wages' calculation having been made on two independent methods, both yielding very similar probable results. No calculation has been attempted so far for clothing or rent.

An effort has at least been made to answer the definite questions asked, using methods adopted in England, but not worked out in their fullest elaborations.

AVERAGE RATES OF WAGES IN EACH PROVINCIAL DISTRICT OF NEW ZEALAND DURING THE YEAR 1907
Description of LabourAucklandTaranakiHawke's BayWellingtonMarlboroughNelsonWestland (Goldfield)CanterburyOtago (Part Goldfield)
1. AGRICULTURAL LABOUR         
Farm labourers:         
    With board, per week20/ to 25/20/ to 25/25/ to 2/7/620/ to 25/25/ to /2/7/620/25/ to 30/20/ to 25/20/ to 25/
    Without board, per day    7/ to 8/ 8/7/ to 8/6/ to 8/
Ploughmen:         
    With board, per week25/ to /2/7/625/ to 30//2/7/6 to 30/25/ to 30/25/ to /2/7/625/30/ to 40/22/6 to /2/7/620/ to 30/
    Without board, per day  8/ 8/ 8/6/ to 8/8/
Harvesters:         
    With board, per week25/48/30/ to 40/25/ to 30/40/ to 50/  40/ to 50/40/ to 50/
    Without board, per day1/ per hour1/9 per hr8/1/ to ⅓ pr hour1/ per hr8/8/8/6 to 10/1/60 per hr
Men cooks on farms:         
    With board, per week20/ to 30/25/25/ to 30/20/ to 30/20/ to 30/25/30/ to 40/20/ to 30/20/ to 40/
Female farm servants:         
    With board, per week12/ to /1/7/6/1/7/6 to 20/15/ to 20/15/ to 25/12/ to 15/15/15/12/6 to 20/10/ to 18/
2. PASTORAL LABOUR         
Shepherds, with board, per annum£52 to £78£78 to £83£65 to £78£60 to £80£65 to £90 £52 to £65£65 to £80£60 to £80
Stock-keepers, with board, per annum£52 to £65£70£60 to £78£65 to £80£78 £52 to £65£65 to £80£65 to £75
Station labourers:         
    With board, per week20/ to 25/20/ to 25/20/ to 25/20/ to 25/20/ to 25/25/20/ to 30/20/ to 25/20/ to 25/
    Without board, per day         
Shearers, with board, per 100 sheep shorn/1/7/6 to 20/20/20//1/7/6 to 22/61 6/6 to 20/1 8/620/1 6/8 to 20/15/ to 20/
Men cooks on stations, with board, per week20/ to 30/30/25/ to 30/25/ to 30/20/ to 30/20/ to 30/30/25/ to 30/25/ to 30/
3. ARTISAN LABOUR (per day, without board)         
Masons10/ to 14/12/11/ to 14/12/12/14/12/11/ to 12/12/ to 15/
Plasterers12/ to 13/14/ to 15/15/12/ to 14/12/14/12/12/12/ to 14/
Bricklayers12/ to 14/12/12/ to 15/12/ to 12/811/ to 12/12/ to 14/12/ to 15/12/ to 13/12/ to 14/
         
Carpenters10/ to 12/12/10/ to 12/10/ to 12/10/10/ to 12/12/ to 14/10/8 to 12/10/8 to 12/
Smiths9/ to 11/9/6 to 10/10/ to 1210/8/ to 11/9/ to 11/11/ to 12/69/ to 10/9/ to 12/
Shipwrights10/10/ 1⅛   10/8 to 12/10/ to 12/
Plumbers9/ to 10/9/ to 10/9/6 to 11/10/ to 12/9/4 to 10/10/ to 10/610/ to 11/10/9/ to 12/
Painters9/ to 10/10/10/ to 11/9/4 to 10/9/4 to 10/10/9/ to 12/10/ to 11/9/ to 12/
Saddlers8/ to 10/8/ to 9/8/ to 10/8/ to 10/8/ to 8/67/6 to 8/48/8/ to 9/8/ to 10/
Shoemakers8/ to 8/67/6 to 8/68/6 to 10/8/ to 10/8/ to 10/7/8/4 to 10/7/6 to 9/7/6 to 10/
Coopers7/6 to 10/9/ to 10/9/ to 10/10/ to 11/10/ 9/ to 10/9/610/
Watchmakers8/ to 10/10/10/10/ to 12/10/10/ 8/4 to 11/608/4 to 12/
Wheelwrights9/ to 11/9/6 to 10/10/ to 12/10/ to 1⅛10/ to 12/9/ to 11/10/ to 12/610/ to 12/10/ to 12/
4. SERVANTS         
Married couples without family, with board, per annum£75 to £85£75 to £90£80 to £85£75 to £100£70 to £90£95£75£70 to £100£75 to £90
Married couples with family, with board, per annum£70 £75 to £80£75 to £90£65 to £80£95 £70 to £85£70 to £85
Grooms, with board, per week15/ to 25/15/ to 25/25/ to /2/7/620/ to 30/20/ to 25/ 20/ to 25/20/ to 30/20/ to 30/
Gardeners:         
    With board, per week20/ to 22/625//2/7/6 to 30/20/ to 25/25/  25/ to 30/25/ to 30/
    Without board, per day5/ to 8/8/8/7/ to 9/ 7/7/ to 9/8/8/
Cooks, with board, per week20/ to 30/25/ to 30/20/ to 30/20/ to 30/25/ to 40/25/25/ to 30/20/ to 30/15/ to 40/
Laundresses, with board, per week15/ to 20/20/15/ to 20//1/7/6 to 25/15/ to 20/  15/ to 20/15/ to 30/
General house servants, with board, per week12/ to 15/12/612/ to 18/12/ to 15/12/6 to 20/15/ to 17/612/ to 15/12/ to 17/610/ to 18/
Housemaids, with board, per week12/ to 15/14/ to 15/10/ to 15/12/6 to 17/615/15/12/ to 15/12/6 to 15/10/ to 18/
Nursemaids, with board, per week5/ to 10/7/ to 7/68/ to 127/6 to 12/8/ to 15/10/5/ to 12/10/ to 15/7/ to 15/
Needlewomen:         
    With board, per week21/10/ to 15//1/7/6 to 20/15/ to 20/ 24/20/12/ to 25/15/ to 20/
    Without board, per day (lunch always provided)2/6 to 5/ 4/6 to 6/4/ to 5/3/6 to 5/ 3/ to 6/3/6 to 4/3/ to 3/6
5. MISCELLANEOUS         
General labourers, without board, per day6/8 to 8/69/8/ to 9/7/ to 9/8/ to 9/8/ to 9/8/ to 10/7/6 to 9/8/ to 10/
Stonebreakers, without board, per cubic yard3/ to 4/3/6 to 4/62/6 to 3/63/6  5/3/ to 3/6⅔ to 3/6
Seamen, with board, per month100/ to 130/ 130/130/ to 140/120/ to 160/130/ to 170/120/ to 130/110/ to 140/130/ to 160/
Miners without board, per day8/ to 10/  9/4 to 10/9/ to 10/10/ to 11/10/10/10/ to 11/
Engine-drivers without board, per day8/ to 12/10/ to 11/10/ to 11/10/10/ to 1110/ to 11/10/ to 12/610/9/ to 12/
Tailors without board, per day8/4 to 10/9/9/ to 10/9/ to 11/10/8/ to 10/8/10/9/ to 10/
Tailoresses without board per week25/ to 30/25/ to 30/30/ to 32/625/ to 40/30/22/6 to 35/20/ to 30/25/ to 30/24/ to 35/
Dressmakers without board per week24/ to 40/15/ to 42/30/20/ to 40/27/ to 30/25/ to 30/30/21/ to 30/20/ to 35/
Milliners without board per week30/ to 45/30/ to 50/30/ to 35/25/ to 35/40/30/ to 50/20/ to 60/24/ to 40/20/ to 60/
Machinists without board per week22/6 to 40//2/7/6 to 36/21/ to 36/20/ to 30/15/ to 25/22/620/ to 25/25/ to 30/20/ to 30/
Storekeepers without board per week42/ to 60/48/ to 70/60/ to 72/40/ to 60/55/ to 100/ 50/ to 80/40/ to 60/40/ to 80/
Storekeepers assistants, without board per week24/ to 45/40/45/ to 60/30/ to 50/30/ to 60/48/ to 50/40/ to 50/30/ to 48/30/ to 60/
Drapers' assistants, without board per week24/ to 45/40/ to 42/45/ to 60/30/ to 60/30/ to 60/50/30/ to 50/36/ to 60/30/ to 60/
Grocers' assistants, without board per week24/ to 50/39/ to 45/45/ to 60/30/ to 60/30/ to 60/45/40/ to 50/40/ to 60/30/ to 60/
Butchers, without board per week50/ to 60/4 5/6 to 50/48/ to 60/45/ to 60/45/ to 60/50/40/ to 60/40/ to 70/42/ to 70/
Bakers, without board per week50/ to 60/48/ to 50/48/ to 60/45/ to 60/50/ to 60/4 7/6 to 55/40/ to 65/40/ to 60/45/ to 60/
Storemen, without board per week45/ to 54/42/ to 50/45/ to 50/45/ to 50/42/ to 60/50/50/40/ to 60/40/ to 60/
Compositors without board per week42/ to 60/50/ to 54/48/ to 60/45/ to 60/48/ to 70/50/ to 60/40/ to 60/60/ to 65/48/ to 66/
Sawmill hands without board per week40/ to 60/54/50/ to 66/54/ to 60/54/ 54/60/48/ to 60/
Flax-mill hands without board per week40/ to 54/ 50/54/    30/ to 48/
AVERAGE RATES OF PRODUCE, LIVE-STOCK PROVISIONS, ETC., IN EACH PROVINCIAL DISTRICT OF NEW ZEALAND DURING THE YEAR 1907
ArticlesAucklandTaranakiHawke's BayWellingtonMarlboroughNelsonWestland (Goldfield)CanterburyOtago (Part Goldfield)
I. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE          
Wheatper bushel (60lb.)5/3 to 6/65/6 to 6/5/6 to 6/65/6 to 6/4/3 to 6/5/ to 6/6/ to 6/64/9 to 6/4/9 to 6/
Barleyper bushel (47lb.)4/ to 5/3/9 to 4/63/6 to 4/94/3 to 5/5/-4/ to 4/64/6 to 5/4/ to 4/64/ to 4/6
Oatsper bushel (40lb.)3/6 to 4/63/6 to 3/104/3/11 to 4/64/-4/ to 4/64/63/6 to 4/3/3 to 4/
Maizeper bushel (56lb.)4/6 to 5/35/4/6 to 5/65/ to 5/65/ to 5/65/ to 5/65/63/ to 5/64/6 to 4/10
Branper bushel (20lb.)1/1 to 1/60⅓ to 1/601/ to 1/601/ to 1/91/9½ to 1/60⅓ to 1/601/ to ¼1/ to 1/60
Hayper ton80/ to 120/60/75/ to 100/80/ to 120/65/ to 90/80/ to 100/110/ to 120/60/ to 110/60/ to 100/
II. FLOUR AND BREAD          
Flour, wholesaleper ton of 2,000lb250/ to 280/220/ to 270/245/ to 280/235/ to 260/240/ to 260/235/ to 240/245/ to 260/230/ to 280/220/ to 280/
Flour, retailper bag of 50lb6/9 to 7/66/ to 8/7/3 to 7/66/6 to 7/66/9 to 7/96/ to 6/97/66/9 to 7/66/6 to 8/
Breadper 4lb. loaf7 ½ d7d. to 7 ½ d7 ½ d. to 8d7d. to 8d7d7d8d. to 9d7d7d. to 8 ½
III. LIVE-STOCK AND MEAT          
Horses, draughtper head£25 to £50£35£35 to £50£30 to £45£35 to £50£35£45 to £60£2 7/10 to £35£30 to £45
Horses, saddle and harnessper head£10 to £30£12 to £20£10 to £25£10 to £25£18 to £25£12£12 to £30£12 to £22£12 to 2 7/10
Cattle, fatper head140/ to 200/120/ to 130/150/ to 160/140/ to 170/120/ to 160/150/ to 160/180/ to 210/140/ to 215/150/ to 240/
Cattle, milch cowsper head100/ to 200/100/ to 120/85/ to 170/100/ to 140/100/ to 180/100/ to 140/120/ to 140/100/ to 160/100/ to 200/
Sheep, fatper head19/ to 24/16/ to 22/15/ to 17/15/ to 16/15/ to 16//1/7/6 to 20/17/ to 23/14/ to 20/16/ to 25/
Lambs, fatper head13/ to 16/12/6 to 14/12/ to 13/612/6 to 15/11/ to 14/11/ to 14/12/ to 1 5/613/ to 17/1 3/6 to 18/
Butchers' meat:—          
    Beefper lb.4d. to 5d4d. to 5d4d. to 5d5d. to 6d4d. to 6d5d. to 8d5d. to 6d4d. to 6d4d. to 7d
    Muttonper lb4d. to 6d5d. to 6d4d. to 5d4d. to 5 ½d4d. to ½4d. to 6d½ to 7d4d. to 5 ½ d4d. to 6d
    Vealper lb.4d. to 6d4 ½ d. to 5d5d. to 6d4 ½d. to 6d5d. to 6d4d. to 6d.½6d. to 7d4d. to 6d4d. to 6d
    Porkper lb.6d6d. to 7d6d6d. to 7d5d. to 6d6d. to 7d6d. to 8d7d. to 8d6d. to 8d
    Lambper lb.6d. to 7 ½d6d. to 7d6d. to 8d6d. to 8d6d7d. to 8d7d6d. to 8d5d. to 8d
IV. DAIRY-PRODUCE          
Butter, factory made per lb.1/ to ½1/11/ to ½1/ to ½1/ to ½1/11/1 to ⅓1/ to 1/11/ to 1/1 
Butter, fresh dairyper lb.10d10d 10d10d10d 10d10d. to 11d
Butter, saltper lb.10d10d9d. to 10d8d. to 10d7d. to 10d8d1/8d. to 11d7d. to 11d
Cheese, colonialper lb.6d. to 9d8d. to 9d7d. to 8 ½d8d. to 9d6 ½d. to 8d8d8d. to 9d7d. to 8d6 ½d. to 9d
Cheese, importedper lb.1/ to 2/2/1/9 to 2/2/1/-1/601/ to 3/1/60
Milkper quart3d. to 4d3d3d3d. to 4d3d. to 4d3 ½d to 5d4 ½d. to 5d3d. to 4d3d. to 4d
          
V. FARM-YARD PRODUCE          
Geeseper pair7/ to 12/6/5/ to 8/7/ to 10/8/6 to 9/65/ to 10/12/6/ to 9/9/
Ducksper pair4/ to 5/65/4/ to 5/5/ to 6/4/ to 5/64/6 to 7/6/ to 7/3/6 to 6/4/ to 7/
Fowlsper pair3/6 to 5/3/6 to 4/3/ to 4/2/6 to 5/2/6 to 3/63/ to 3/94/ to 5/2/6 to 5/2/6 to 5/
Turkeysper head7/6 to 12/67/6 to 10/5/6 to 7/65/ to 10/4/6 to 10/6/ to 10/10/6/ to 10/6/ to 11/
Baconper lb8d. to 9d9d8 ½d. to 11d7d. to 10d7d. to 11d8 ½d. to 10d9d. to 9 ½d8d. to 11d9d. to 11d
Hamper lb8d. to 10d9d. to 10d9 ½d. to 1/8 ½d. to 11d8d. to 1/10d to 10 ½d9½d. to 10d9d. to 1/10d. to 1/
Eggsper doz10d. to ½1/ to 1/11/ to 1/601/ to ⅓1/1 to ½1/1 to 1/601/6011d. to ⅓10d. to ½
VI. GARDEN PRODUCE          
Potatoes, wholesale per ton200/ to 280/140/ to 180/250/160/ to 200/300/210/200/ to 240/160/180/ to 300/ 
Potatoes, retailper cwt12/ to 18/10/15/10/ to 12/18/-12/12/ to /1/7/610/11/ to 20/
Onionsper lb1½ d. to 2d1½ d. to 2d1½ d. to 2d1d. to 2d2d1½ d. to 2d2d. to2d1d. to 2 ½ d1d. to 4d
Carrotsper doz. bnchs1/ to 2/1/1/ to 2/1/ to 2/1/ to 3/2/ to 3/1/60 to 2/9d. to 1/601/ to 3/
Turnipsper doz. bnchs1/60 to 3/1/1/ to 2/1/ to 2/1/ to 3/2/ to 2/61/60 to 2/9d. to 1/601/ to 3/
Cabbagesper doz2/ to 2/63/2/ to 3/2/ to 3/2/6 to 4/2/ to 4/3/6 to 6/1/60 to 3/61/ to 3/
VII. MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES          
Teaper lb1/ to ⅔2/ to 2/2⅓ to 2/61/60 to 2/⅛ to 2/41/101/60 to 2/1/60 to ⅛1/ to 2/
Coffeeper lb¼ to ⅛1/10 to 2/⅛ to 1/101/60 to 1/101/9 to 2/1/91/60 to 1/10¼ to 1/91/60 to 1/9
Sugarper lb2d. to 2 ½ d2d. to 2 ½ d2 ½ d. to 3d2d. to 2 ½ d2d. to 3d2 ½ d2 ¼d. to 3d2d. to 2¾d2d. to 2 ½ d
Riceper lb2d. to 3d2 ½ d2d. to 3d2d. to 3d2 ½ d. to 3d2 ½ d. to 3d3d2d. to 2 ½ d2d. to 3d
Saltper lb1d1d1d1d1d1d1d1d 
Soapper cwt10/ to 36/20/20/ to 28//1/7/6 to 27/24/ to 26/20/ to 24/14/ to 26/9/6 to 28/12/ to 30/
Candlesper lb6d. to 8d7 ½ d. to 8d6d. to 8d6 ½ d. to 8d7d. to 8d7d6d. to 9d6d. to 8d5 ½ d. to 9d
Tobaccoper lb5/3 to 5/66/ to 6/65/3 to 5/95/ to 6/6/ to 6/85/6/65/6 to 6/4/11 to 6/
Coalper ton21/60 to 36/45/ to 48/35/ to 50/36/ to 45/38/ to 4 7/622/ to 32/20/ to 36/32/ to 40/19/ to 40/
Firewoodper cord10/ to 30/32//1/7/6 to 3522/6 to 3 9/620/ to 32/612/6 to 30/16/ to 30/30/ to 40/16/ to 40/
VIII. BEER, WINES, SPIRITS          
Beer, colonialper hhd72/ to 8 6/685/ to 8 7/68 4/6 to 100/80/ to 91/6084/ to 120/80/ to 90/80/ to 90/80/ to 90/80/ to 110/
Beer, English, bottl'd per doz. qts13/ to 24/15/15/13/ to 1 6/618/ to 24/15/1 4/6 to 16/1 3/6 to 18/1 4/6 to 20/ 
Brandyper gallon26/ to 36/32/27/ to 31/25/ to 30/27/ to 30/26/24/ to 26/27/ to 35/24/ to 36/
Rumper gallon25/ to 31/25/25/ to 30/22/to 29/25/ to 30/24/24/ to 25/25/ to 30/21/ to 30/
Whiskyper gallon25/ to 36/30/28/ to 31/26/ to 30/26/ to 35/25/ to 29/23/ to 25/26/ to 30/24/ to 29/
Ginper gallon20/ to 36/24/ to 35/30/21/ to 30/24/ to 28/19/ to 24/19/ to 30/23/ to 33/19/ to 30/
Wine, Australianper gallon16/ to 31/18/15/ to 20/14/ to 19/17/ to 30/1 3/6 to 15/15//1/7/6 to 28/15/ to 27/
Wine, Europeanper gallon18/ to 36/22/20/ to 40/20/ to 40/24/ to 36/15/6 to 16/18/ to 20//1/7/6 to 30/16/ to 30/

Chapter 49. SECTION XVII.—FINANCE.

SUBSECTION A.—REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE OF THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE revenue proper for the year ended 31st March, 1908, amounted to £9,055,946, an increase of £656,871 over that for the previous financial year. There was also a sum of £8,043 recovered in respect of expenditure of previous years. The principal increases over the previous year were in stamps, £185,207; Customs duties, £162,525; railways, £143,999; land and income tax, £117,542; and territorial, £38,703. All the other heads of revenue, excepting miscellaneous, exceeded the previous year's receipts.

The expenditure for the year under permanent charges and votes reached £8,213,965, or £439,039 in excess of that for the previous year. Amongst the permanent charges interest and sinking fund shows an increase of £15,327 over the previous year, arising from the payment of interest on new loans issued; old-age pensions amounted to £11,210 more than for the previous year, and £20,000 was granted to the Public Service Superannuation Fund. Of the increase in the departmental expenditure, £113,771 was or railways, £89,867 for post and telegraphs, £35,434 for education, and £23,661 for defence.

The receipts for the year from all sources being £9,063,989, and the expenditure £8,213,965, a surplus is left on the year's transactions of £850,024, to which must be added the amount of £717,825 left from previous year's balance, making a total of £1,567,849, out of which the sum of £800,000 was transferred to the Public Works Fund, leaving a balance on 31st March last of £767,849.

The chief heads of revenue and expenditure are shown hereunder:—

REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE
Revenue.£      £      
Balance on 31st March, 1907 717,825
Customs duties ...3,103,565 
Beer duty ...113,973 
Stamps (including postal and telegraph cash receipts) ...1,550,934 
Land-tax ...537,846 
Income-tax ...304,905 
Railways ...2,765,395 
Registration and other fees129,166 
Marine dues ...42,217 
Miscellaneous ...218,342 
Territorial revenue289,603 
  — 9,055,946
Other receipts—  
    Recoveries in respect of expenditure of previous years ... 8,043
  £9,781,814
Expenditure.£      £      
His Excellency the Governor ...7,000 
Legislative ...62,795 
Ministers' salaries and allowances ...14,692 
Interest and sinking fund charges ...2,187,427 
Exchange and commission29,486 
Pensions, civil and military62,375 
Old-age pensions330,802 
Railways ...1,963,428 
Public instruction843,311 
Postal and telegraph services707,146 
Judicial and legal352,163 
Hospitals and charitable institutions ...145,999 
Defence (including Naval)214,670 
Subsidies to local bodies109,591 
Department of Agriculture144,989 
Mental hospitals82,785 
Valuation Department33,096 
Customs ...49,579 
Marine (including harbours and lights)66,292 
Printing and stationery46,261 
Electoral ...9,668 
Registration of land and deeds, births, deaths, and marriages31,243 
Public buildings and domains, and maintenance of roads67,169 
Public Health Department33,253 
Labour Department29,047 
Tourist Department33,979 
Contribution to Civil Service Superannuation Fund20,000 
Grant to New Zealand International Exhibition21,000 
Miscellaneous expenditure172,551 
Territorial expenditure342,168 
  — 8,213,965
Other expenditure—  
  Transferred to Public Works Fund 800,000
Balance on 31st March, 1908 767,849
  £9,781,814

Ordinary Revenue.

The ordinary revenue shows an increase for the year 1907-8 of 8.06 per cent. over the figures for 1906-7. When considering the figures given it must be remembered that the mean population increased at the rate of 2.64 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 RevenueOrdinary RevenueIncrease
1906-7Per Cent. of Total1907-8Per Cent. of TotalNumericalCentesimal

* Decrease.

 £       £       £      Per Cent
Customs duties ...2,941,04036.093,103,56535.40162,5255.53
Railways2,621,39632.172,765,39531.55143,9995.49
Stamps (including postal and telegraph cash receipts)1,365,72716.761,550,93417.69185,20713.56
Land-tax447,3425.49537,8466.1490,50420.23
Income-tax ...277,8673.41304,9053.4827,0389.73
Beer duty ...107,5821.32113,9731.306,3915.94
Registration and other fees119,4441.47129,1661.479,7228.14
Marine40,8910.5042,2170.481,3263.24
Miscellaneous ...226,8852.79218,3422.49-*8,543-*3.77
          Ordinary revenue8,148,174100.008,766,343100.00618,1698.06

The amount derived from Customs duties was 5.53 per cent. greater than that shown for 1906-7; land-tax, 20.23 per cent.; stamps, &c., 13.56 per cent.; income-tax, 9.73 per cent.; beer duty, 5.94 per cent.; registration and other fees, 8.14 per cent.; and railway revenue shows an advance of 5.49 per cent. While the mean population increased by 2.64 per cent. during 1907-8, the ordinary revenue advanced at the higher rate of 8.06 per cent., as shown above.

The Customs and excise duties in 1907-8 accounted for £35 8s. out of every £100 of ordinary revenue collected; railways, £31 11s.; and stamps (with postal and telegraph cash receipts), £17 13s. 10d. Of other items, the land-tax yielded 6.14 per cent. and income-tax 3.48 per cent. of the revenue.

Territorial Revenue.

Territorial revenue belonging to the Consolidated Fund increased from £250,901 in 1906-7 to £289,603 in 1907-8. Details for the last two years are:—

Territorial RevenueIncrease or Decrease 1907-8
1906-7Per Cent. of Total1907-8Per Cent. of TotalNumericalCentesimal

* Exclusive of revenue derived from land set apart for State forests, £18,258; lands for close settlement, £230,357; and of the Cheviot Estate, £14,291. These moneys are credited in the separate accounts to which they belong.

 £     £     £    Per Cent
Cash land sales ...37,30914.8745,23315.62+ 7,924+ 21.24
Deferred-payment land sales2,4620.982,2550.78- 207- 8.41
Pastoral runs, rents, miscellaneous211,13084.15242,11583.60+ 30,985+ 14.68
          Territorial revenue250,901*100.00289,603100.00+ 38,702+ 15.43

By the foregoing table the cash land sales for 1907-8 are shown to have increased by 21 per cent., and to supply 16 per cent. of the whole territorial revenue of the Consolidated Fund; while rents and miscellaneous, which constitute 84 per cent. of the total, have increased by 15 per cent.

Ordinary and Territorial Revenue.

The total ordinary and territorial revenue is found to have increased from £8,399,075 in 1906-7 to £9,055,946 in 1907-8, or at the rate of 7.82 per cent., or 5.18 per cent. more than the rate at which population increased:—

 OrdinaryTerritorialTotal
 £      £      £      
Year 1907-88,766,343289,6039,055,946
Year 1906-78,148,174250,9018,399,075
          Increase618,16938,702656,871

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 24.15 per cent. in 1907-8.

If the sum of £47,488, the amount of territorial revenue received by way of land sales in 1907-8, is deducted from the total revenue the charges of the public debt will be found to have absorbed 24.28 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:—

Year ended 31 MarchRevenueTaxation per Head of Mean PopulationRevenue per Head of Mean Population
From TaxationFrom other SourcesTotal
 £      £      £      £sd£sd
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
19063,841,5963,808,5027,650,0984778144
19074,264,5554,214,4018,478,9564147980
19084,645,7544,418,2359,063,98950491510

The total revenue increased from £5,258,228 in 1898-99 to £9,063,989 in 1907-8, a difference of £3,805,761, while the proportion to population has increased by no less than £2 13s. 7d. per head.

The greater yield from the sources of taxation exhibited by the above figures may be regarded as to a large extent indicative of increased prosperity enjoyed by the people.

Ordinary Revenue Expenditure.

The expenditure for 1907-8 (exclusive of expenditure properly belonging to territorial purposes) amounted to £7,871,797, of which the largest item, after the charges of the public debt, £2,187,427, was on account of railways, £1,963,428. Public instruction cost £843,311, of which £526,548 was for carrying on the Board schools, £27,301 for training colleges and training of teachers, £128,773 for technical and higher education, £26,760 for Native schools, £24,631 for industrial schools, and £81,068 for school-buildings. The postal and telegraph services cost £707,146. Under the heading “Judicial and Legal” the total sum expended was £352,163, of which the largest item was the police, £157,932; the next, District, Magistrates', and Wardens' Courts, £58,125; and, thirdly, prisons, £45,448. Hospitals and charitable institutions cost £145,999, and the mental hospitals £82,785. Defence required £214,670, inclusive of £40,000 contributed towards the cost of Australasian naval defence; the Department of Agriculture, £144,989; Public Health Department, £33,253; Electoral, £9,668; Labour Department, £29,047; Tourist Department, £33,979; and the Valuation Department, £33,096. Payments of old-age pensions required £330,802 for the year, and £20,000 was contributed to the Civil Service Superannuation Fund.

Territorial Revenue Expenditure.

The chief items of expenditure under this head are the Lands and Survey Department, £172,462, and Mines, £29,043; while there was paid to local bodies £134,285 (£55,220 being “thirds” and “fourths” and royalties under the Land Act, and £19,789 for the Greymouth, £3,718 for the New Plymouth, £54,391 for the West-port, £500 for the Motueka, and £667 for the Nelson Harbour Boards); besides £5,427 expended in management of water-races, and £951 in rates on Crown lands.

Ordinary and Territorial Revenue Expenditure: Five Years.

The expenditure out of ordinary and territorial revenue during the last five financial years is tabulated, specifying the chief heads of expenditure. It must be noted that the old-age pensions is now a large item. The development of the Departments of Agriculture, Public Health, &c., also contributed to raising the expenditure latterly:—

ExpenditureFinancial Years (ended 31st March
1903-41904-51905-61906-71907-8
 £    £    £    £    £    
Charges of the public debt1,957,9631,993,8702,087,4372,172,0922,187,427
Railways1,451,9541,471,8441,594,9541,850,0471,963,428
Public instruction (including school buildings, industrial and Native schools, and deaf-and-dumb institution)588,860653,272714,071813,580843,311
Postal and telegraph524,500557,535577,115617,270707,146
Militia and Volunteers165,142183,134156,555151,431174,670
Old-age pensions204,500197,911258,72019,076330,802
Hospitals and charitable institutions103,262109,190131,102122,802145,999
Crown lands and surveys160,932150,160176,388165,833172,462
Police126,149130,426135,253145,321157,932
Other expenditure1,151,0191,188,5601,290,7451,417,4741,530,788
          Totals6,434,2816,635,9027,122,3407,774,9268,213,965

Loan Accounts, Receipts and Expenditure, 1907-8.

The total receipts of the various loan accounts—excluding the operations of the Government Advances to Settlers Account, Government Advances to Workers Account, the Conversion Account, and New Zealand Consols Account—for the year ended 31st March, 1908, were:—

Receipts in aid:—
      Public Works Fund—£    £    
                The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Acts—
                      Proceeds of scrip and debentures issued under the Act of 190656,400 
                      Proceeds of scrip and debentures issued under the Act of 1907808,200 
                Proceeds of debentures issued under the Hutt Railway and Road Improvement Acts, 1903 and 190550,000 
                Proceeds of debentures issued under “The Railways Improvements Authorisation Act, 1904”65,000 
                Proceeds of debentures issued under “The Waikaka Branch Railway Act, 1905”50,000 
                Transfer from Consolidated Fund800,000 
                Premiums received on sale of scrip and debentures14,814 
                Ellesmere Reclamation, &c., Account1,640 
  — 1,846,054
      Cheviot Estate Account—
                Receipts under “The Cheviot Estate Disposition Act, 1893”: Rents from lands14,291 
      Land for Settlements Account—
                Debentures sold for purchase of estates390,690 
                Rents, &c.230,357 
                Interest on investments13,814 
                Premium on sale of debentures2,924 
                Other receipts2,178 
  — 639,963
      Loans to Local Bodies Account—
                Proceeds of sale of debentures185,000 
                Other receipts818 
  — 185,818
      Maori Land Settlement Account—
                Proceeds of sale of debentures50,000 
      Scenery Preservation Account—
                Proceeds of sale of debentures10,000 
Other receipts:—
      Public Works Fund—
                The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Acts—
                      Debentures for renewals and redemptions3,700 
                Land for Settlements Account—
                      Debentures issued for renewals and redemptions415,600 
                Loans to Local Bodies Account—
                      Debentures issued for renewals250,300 
  — 669,600
  £3,415,726

The total expenditure out of the above accounts during the financial year was £3,318,649, excluding £669,600 for renewal and redemption of debentures falling due.

Disbursements out of the Public Works Fund totalled £2,109,882, including £46,221 for the improvement of the Hutt Railway, £36,609 for the Waikaka Branch Railway, and £140,461 for railway improvements. The Minister of Finance 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 (£6,430,000).

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, £565,728; incidental expenses, including the cost of issuing debentures, £47,967. The interest charge on the Consolidated Fund was relieved to the extent of £209,061 out of this account, by way of recoup, while the sum of £54,465 was paid to the Public Trustee for the purpose of providing a sinking fund for repayment of securities issued.

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 £136,420, besides that to open up Crown lands, £38,524.

The only payments out of the Cheviot Estate Account during the year were for interest £8,866, and surveys, roading, &c., £6; and the sum of £5,484 was charged to the Scenery Preservation Account.

The sum of £139,672 was paid out of the Maori Land Settlement Account for land purchases, and £2,574 for charges and expenses.

Expenditure on Services:—  
      Public Works Fund—£      £      
                Railways1,280,217 
                Roads323,717 
                Public buildings226,035 
                Telegraph-extension155,491 
                Contingent defence18,574 
                Tourist and health resorts45,048 
                Departmental18,244 
                Immigration9,131 
                Purchase of Native lands2,190 
                Development of goldfields8,632 
                Lighthouses, harbour-works, and harbour-defences6,863 
                Lands improvement9,561 
                Rates on Native lands837 
                Utilisation of water-power315 
                Charges and expenses of raising loans and renewing debentures5,027 
  — 2,109,882
      Cheviot Estate Account—
                Interest8,866 
                Surveys, roading, &c6 
  — 8,872
                                Carried forward 2,118,754
                                Brought forward 2,118,754
      Land for Settlements Account—
                Purchase of estates565,728 
                Interest recouped to Consolidated Fund209,061 
                Sinking Fund54,465 
                Charges and expenses (including loan charges)47,967 
  — 877,221
      Maori Land Settlement Account—
                Purchase of lands139,672 
                Expenses2,574 
  — 142,246
      Loans to Local Bodies Account—
                Grants to local bodies136,420 
                Roads to open up Crown lands38,524 
  — 174,944
      Scenery Preservation Account—
                Expenses ..5,484 
Other expenditure:—3,318,649 
      Public Works Fund—
                Debentures redeemed and renewed (as per contra)3,700 
      Land for Settlements Account—
                Debentures redeemed and renewed (as per contra)415,600 
      Loans to Local Bodies Account—
                Debentures renewed (as per contra)250,300 
  — 669,600
  £3,988,249

The expenditure out of loan accounts for five years may be summarised as given in the next table:—

Heads of Expenditure out of Loan AccountsFinancial Years
1903-41904-51905-61906-71907-8

* Including sums expended in the purchase of land for settlements and expenses in connection therewith—viz., £623,269 in 1903-4; £603,912 in 1904-5; £990,815 in 1905-6; £432,343 in 1906-7; and £877,221 in 1907-8. Interest recouped to Consolidated Fund and payment to Sinking Fund has been included, being treated as expenditure out of the account. Also includes amount expended on purchase of land for Maori land settlement with expenses incidental thereto—viz., £37 in 1905-6; £106,389 in 1906-7; and £142,246 in 1907-8.

 £      £      £      £      £      
Charges and expenses of raising loans and renewals (Public Works Fund)87,24910,76423,65410,6605,027
Cheviot Estate interest and expenses8,8668,8668,8668,8668,866
Contingent defence38,72446,58835,56914,87418,574
ImmigrationCr. 76,4828,75314,3539,131
Land purchases*628,621*610,193*1,001,616*547,867*1,021,657
Lighthouses, harbour-works, and defences10,8635,9904,9464,5046,863
Public buildings216,192116,678160,214226,918226,035
Public Works departmental expenditure16,08912,81413,51716,71018,244
            Carried forward1,006,597818,3751,257,135844,7521,314,397
Heads of Expenditure out of Loan AccountsFinancial Years
1903-41904-51905-61906-71907-8

* Including sums expended under Loans to Local Bodies Acts—viz., £25,753 in 1903-4; £28,895 in 1904-5; £38,801 in 1905-6; £47,371 in 1906-7; and £38,524 in 1907-8.

† This account is now dealt with under another heading, the expenditure being met entirely from the proceeds of the sale of coal.

NOTE.—Excluding amounts applied to investments by way of advances to settlers, and advances to workers, with charges and expenses, besides amounts for debentures redeemed and advances repaid.

 £      £      £      £      £      
          Brought forward1,006,597818,3751,257,135844,7521,314,397
Railway-construction and other works connected with railway-extension828,704749,4531,077,9781,345,7491,280,217
Rates on Native lands666631547695837
Roads*387,595*258,956*399,667*395,029*362,247
Telegraph-extension47,22779,29877,186114,068155,491
Development of goldfields16,2786,25818,53311,0648,632
Tourist and health resorts15,64317,10815,43842,27145,048
Lands improvement2,0192,2481,0525,6059,561
State coal-mines65,246110,126
Scenery-preservation 2,0905,0859,1475,484
Utilisation of water-power 4682,9024,664315
Payments to local bodies under Government Loans to Local Bodies Acts195,652165,893117,066133,629136,420
Ellesmere and Forsyth Railway Trust 545   
Debentures issued to Midland Railway bondholders150,000    
              Totals2,715,6272,211,4492,972,5892,906,6733,318,649

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.

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 seventeen 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
1905-6500,000
1906-7775,000
1907-8800,000
                    Total£6,430,000

The expenditure each year since 1884 on services provided for by the Public Works Fund has been:—

YearImmigrationRailwaysRoadsDevelopment of GoldfieldsTelegraph ExtensionPublic BuildingsLighthouses, &cOther ServicesTotals

* 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, £28,895 in 1904-5, £38,801 in 1905-6, £47,371 in 1906-7, and £38,524 in 1907-8. 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†21,81526,771115,4279,026116,30993,223†
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†
1905-68,7531,077,978360,766†18,53377,186160,2144,946103,4431,811,819†
1906-714,3531,345,749347,624†11,064114,068226,9184,504104,6142,168,894†
1907-89,1311,280,217323,716†8,632155,491226,0356,86399,7972,109,882†

Other Accounts.

The State Coal-mines Account received during the year £222,583, derived from the sale of coal. The working-expenses of the mines and depots, together with development of mines, machinery, plant, rolling-stock, and buildings absorbed £230,142, and the sum of £4,200 was paid for interest on debentures. The net profit on the year's working was £8,440, including £2,000 set aside as a sinking fund for redemption of debentures. During the year £40,000 of debentures were paid out of accumulated profits, and £100,000 of debentures were renewed.

The State Forests Account receipts for the year were £18,258, made up of rents from lands set apart, £3,083, and miscellaneous £15,175; while the expenditure for tree-planting, &c., was £25,831.

Revenue received for local bodies amounted for the year to £80,091, to which gold duty contributed £30,685, goldfields revenue £18,248, endowments of land, &c., £22,071, and fees and fines, &c., £9,087. The amount paid over to the various local bodies was £80,784.

In the Deposit Account the sum of £404,582 is shown to have been received during the year, and £356,674 to have been withdrawn.

In the Conversion Account £633,676 10s. of 3 ½-per-cent. stock was inscribed, of which £266,100 was used for redemption of debentures, and £340,676 10s. for conversion of £332,700 of debentures which fell due, the premium paid requiring additional stock to the amount of £7,976 10s. Other expenses of these operations were: Brokerage and commission, £2,062 10s.; discount, £3,512 10s.; stamp duty, £3,945 10s. 11d.; rent and office expenses, £376 12s. 10d.; interest, £2,073 3s. 1d.; law costs, £8 8s.: total, £11,978 14s. 10d.

The public debt is increased by these conversions; but a considerable saving in the annual interest-payment is effected, as the Treasury was paying as high as 5 per cent. on £4,300 and 4 per cent. on the balance of the debentures dealt with.

Treasury bills, issued in anticipation of revenue, were reduced during the year by £150,000, leaving £400,000 outstanding on 31st March last. For many years, until 1906-7, these bills stood at £700,000.

Debentures to the amount of £924,000, part of £1,000,000 issued under authority of “The Immigration and Public Works Loan Act, 1870,” and guaranteed by the Imperial Parliament, matured during the year, and were redeemed. These debentures had hitherto been held in London as a reserve fund to meet any unexpected financial contingency that might arise. It being deemed expedient to provide other securities to be used in the same manner, “The Reserve Fund Securities Act, 1907,” authorised the raising of £800,000 to be invested in negotiable securities. Debentures bearing interest at 3 ½ per cent. per annum for this amount were created and sold, the proceeds being invested in London through the High Commissioner in the direction indicated by the Act. The nominal value of the securities purchased is £856,119 13s. 8d., so that if they be held to maturity a profit of £56,119 13s. 8d. will be realised. In the meantime the investment gives a return of 3 ¼ per cent. per annum.

Deposits inscribed in the New Zealand Consols Account amounted to £214 for the year. The sum invested up to 31st March, 1908, was £478,449.

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, will be found in Part III.

The loans authorised to the 31st March, 1908, classified according to provincial districts, are shown in tabular form:—

Provincial DistrictsNumber of ApplicationsAmount of Advances authorised
  £      
Auckland5,4821,707,283
Taranaki3,3011,450,549
Hawke's Bay1,113320,275
Wellington5,6592,085,678
Marlborough676279,860
Nelson28490,415
Westland468115,280
Canterbury1,911603,155
Otago and Southland3,5621,351,435
            Totals22,4568,003,930

Of the 22,456 advances authorised, 2,573 applicants declined the grants (£1,065,980) offered them, so that the net advances to the 31st March, 1908, numbered 19,883, and amounted to £6,937,950.

The total sum raised by the Government for investment on mortgage is £4,110,000. Eleven thousand seven hundred and thirteen mortgagors are indebted to the Department to the extent of £4,186,020 2s. 8d. in respect of principal moneys.

The gross profits for the year ended the 31st March, 1908, were £55,772 7s. 4d., and the cost of management £7,323 6s. 1d., being 0.18 per cent., or 3s. 7d. per £100 on the capital employed. The net profits amounted to £51,385 2s. 4d.

Loan-flotation charges have been written off out of profits and this item has now disappeared altogether.

The liabilities and assets at 31st March, 1908, of the Government Advances to Settlers Office were:—

      DR.              Liabilities.£      sd
3-per-cent. Loan, redeemable 1st April, 1945, “A”1,500,00000
3-per-cent. Loan, redeemable 1st April, 1945, “B”500,00000
Sundry loans ...1,230,00000
Advances on account of loans880,00000
Reserve Fund ...50,00000
Suspense Account ...35,108198
Accrued interest payable11,21018
Accrued interest on deposits2038
Sinking Fund ...23,65900
Profit and Loss Account7,4371410
 £4,237,4351910
      CRAssets.£      sd
Investment Account—
 £      sd   
Advances on mortgage6,754,70480   
Less repayments2,574,08859   
 — 4,180,61623
Mortgage instalments receivable, overdue ...2,75300
Bills receivable ...23491
Interest receivable, overdue10,51759
Interest receivable, accrued42,121810
Office Furniture account6744
Cash in hand and in bank1,12697
 £4,237,4351910

The Statutes under which Government Advances to Settlers have been made are now consolidated.

Advances to Workers.

The Government Advances to Workers Act was passed on the 29th October, 1906. Applications for loans were first considered by the Board at its meeting on the 8th January, 1907, and up to 31st March applications for loans to the number of 1,310, and amounting to £351,610, were received. Up to the 31st March, 1908, the Board had authorised 1,179 advances, amounting to £296,305. Applicants to the number of forty-five declined the grants offered them, amounting to £10,545, so that the net advances authorised to the 31st March, 1908, numbered 1,134, and amounted to £285,760.

Classified according to provincial districts, the advances authorised are as under:—

Provincial DistrictNumber of ApplicationsAmount of Advances authorised
  £      
Auckland28971,270
Taranaki368,570
Hawke's Bay6917,435
Wellington26869,280
Marlborough398,900
Nelson224,785
Westland7114,580
Canterbury25871,160
Otago and Southland12730,325
                    Total1,179£296,305

The advances outstanding are as follows:—

 NumberAmount
  £      sd
On freeholds729198,285158
On leaseholds284,87000
                    Total757£203,155158

The average freehold advance is £272, and the average leasehold advance is £174.

The advances granted during the year ended 31st March, 1908, are as follows:—

 NumberAmount
  £      sd
On freeholds750198,84822
On leaseholds305,13000
                    Total780£203,97822

For the year the average freehold advance is £265, and the average leasehold advance is £171.

The total sum raised by the Government in debentures for investment on mortgage is £205,000.

Seven hundred and fifty-seven mortgagors are now indebted to the Department, to the extent of £203,155 15s. 8d., in respect of principal moneys.

As provided by the Act, all mortgages are prepared in the office free of cost to mortgagors, and the work has been done in a most satisfactory manner and without difficulty.

The liabilities and assets as at 31st March, 1908, were:—

    Dr.                          Liabilities£      sd
Advances on account of loan205,00000
Accrued interest payable on account of loan1,524132
Suspense Account8,74307
 £215,267139
    Cr.                          Assets.£      sd£      sd
Investment Account—
    Advances on mortgage209,46822   
    Less repayments6,32544   
 203,1421710
Mortgage instalments receivable overdue121710
Interest receivable overdue511411
Interest receivable accrued1,390150
Cash in hand and in bank10,26233   
    Less cheques not presented2541310   
 10,00795
Profit and Loss Account661189
 £215,267139

The Profit and Loss Account shows a debit balance of £661 18s. 9d., an increase on the previous year of £228 7s. 7d. The explanation of this increase is due to the fact that of the money advanced on mortgage during the year 67 ½ per cent. was issued during the last six months, with the result that the source from which the Department looks for revenue was considerably curtailed, whilst the interest payable on loan-money received for investment had to be provided for. At the end of the financial year the Department will, in addition to the interest received and accrued from investments made during the ensuing twelve months, have received a full year's interest on the sum (£203,155 15s. 8d.) advanced as at the 31st March, 1908, and at the same time the management and office expenses will not be increased. The time will then have arrived when the income will be sufficient to cover the expenditure and to yield a profit. The debit balance may, therefore, be considered to be in the nature of preliminary expenses necessarily incidental to the initiation of what is practically a new business.

Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement.

“The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1896,” gave power 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 Act of 1904 authorised raising £750,000 for purposes of railway-construction (£275,000), rolling-stock (£75,000), roads and bridges (£350,000), development of goldfields (£20,000), telegraph-extension (£30,000).

The Act of 1905 authorised raising £1,000,000 for purposes of railway-construction (£425,000), rolling-stock (£75,000), roads and bridges (£400,000), development of goldfields (£25,000), telegraph-extension (£75,000).

The Act of 1906 authorised raising £1,000,000 for purposes of railway construction (£450,000), rolling stock (£75,000) roads and bridges (£400,000), development of goldfields (£25,000), telegraph-extension (£50,000).

“The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1907,” authorised raising, under the provisions of “The New Zealand Loans Act, 1904,” in the Dominion or elsewhere, of sums not exceeding £1,000,000 altogether, by debentures or scrip, or by the creation or issue of inscribed stock under “The New Zealand Consolidated Stock Act, 1877.”

Pending the raising of the money authorised, funds may be obtained by the sale, &c., of short-dated debentures, bearing interest not exceeding 4 ½ per cent. per annum, and having a currency of not more than seven years.

All the money raised under this Act is applied to the following purposes:—

1. Railways—£      
        Railway-construction375,000
        Additional rolling-stock, &c., for open lines200,000
2. Land-settlement and goldfields-development— 
        Construction of roads, tracks, and bridges to open up backblocks, and other work in connection therewith350,000
        For developing goldfields25,000
3. For telegraph-extension50,000
 £1,000,000

Loans under Land for Settlements Acts.

The moneys raised under these Acts and the operations by way of purchasing estates to be cut up for close settlement form the subject of a special section of this part of the Year-book (No. XIX).

“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, 1907.”

As to Government loans to local bodies, the yearly rate of interest and the period during which interest is payable by the local authority shall, at the option of such authority, be—

  1. Four and a half per centum per annum for a period of twenty-six years; or

  2. Four per centum per annum for a period of thirty-two years; or

  3. Three and a half 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.

This Act 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 an 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 more than £1,500; and beyond that a smaller exemption was granted, but ceasing when the balance amounted to £2,500. In 1900 a consolidation Act was passed and is deemed to be the principal Act. 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 rate of ordinary land-tax for 1907-8 was 1d. in the pound. Native land occupied by Europeans is taxed ½d. 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 a subsequent Act passed in 1903 the rates of graduated tax were again increased to 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 a value of £40,000 (unimproved) is reached, when the provisions of the new Act of 1907, hereafter described, begin to have effect.

“The Land and Income Assessment Act. 1907,” which deals almost entirely with the graduated land-tax and the prevention of evasion thereof, is deemed to form part of the principal Act.

The scale of graduated land-tax at present in force is continued up to £40,000, unimproved value, but beyond that the scale is repealed and a new rate is imposed, taking effect for and after the year ending 31st March, 1908. From £40,000 to £41,000, unimproved value, the rate is 8s. per cent., and for every additional £1,000 of unimproved value the rate is increased by one-fifth of a shilling; the increased rate in each graduation is chargeable on the total unimproved value of land owned. The rate reaches its maximum at £200,000, all estates of that value and over paying at the rate of £2 per cent. on the total unimproved value.

For and after the year ending 31st March, 1910, the new progressive graduated scale over £40,000 is to be increased by 25 per cent. in the case of all land other than “business premises,” which is defined as being “any piece of land included within the area of a building used for business purposes, together with such additional land as immediately adjoins the said building, and is used and occupied in connection therewith, and does not exceed in extent the area of the building itself.” A building is deemed to be used for business purposes “if it is exclusively or principally used, whether by the owner or by any occupier or occupiers, for the purposes of any business, trade, or industry.”

As in the principal Act the graduated tax is increased by 50 per cent. in the case of absentees, but a new definition of an absentee is given, and it is made clear that the absentee tax does not apply to companies, but does apply to shareholders in companies. A person is now deemed to be an absentee “unless he has been personally present in New Zealand for at least one-half of the period of four years immediately preceding the year in and for which he is assessed for graduated land-tax: Provided that no person who has acquired all his land in New Zealand within the said period of four years shall be deemed to be an absentee if he has been personally present in New Zealand for at least one-half of the period which has elapsed between the time when he first acquired any of that land and the commencement of the year in and for which he is assessed for graduated land-tax.

Graduated tax is not chargeable on Native land. The total revenue derived from land-tax, ordinary, graduated, and absentee, for 1907-8 was £537,846.

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 1907-8 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 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
1905-6261,816
1906-7277,867
1907-8304,905

The increase from 1895-96 to 1907-8 is £212,127, being a rate of nearly 230 per cent., while the population increased during the same period by 30 per cent.

Indirect Taxation.

The indirect taxation is made up of Customs duties, and excise duty on beer made in the Dominion.

During the year ended 31st March, 1908, Customs duties collected amounted to £3,103,565, and excise duty on beer to £113,973, a total of £3,217,538. 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 1907 duties were levied on goods imported to the value of £10,189,259, while goods valued at £6,350,448 or 38.40 per cent. of the total import, were admitted free of duty.

The revenue derived from Customs and excise duties has increased steadily year by year notwithstanding repeated remissions during the past ten years equal to five per cent. ad valorem of the dutiable imports.

Total Taxation by General Government.

Of the total amount of taxation stated for the year 1907-8, the indirect taxation—i.e., Customs and excise duties—amounted to £3,217,538, while land and income tax, with stamps for taxation, yielded £1,428,216 which constitutes direct taxation. So that New Zealand still raises 69 per cent. of its taxation revenue by means of the indirect method.

The following statement shows the total amount raised by General Government taxation during the financial year ended 31st March, 1908:—

Heads of TaxationAmount collectedTaxation per Head of Mean Population (excluding Maoris) 1907-8

*If the calculation be made including the Maoris, the amount per head of population would be £4 15s. 5d.

 £      £sd
Customs and excise3,217,538396
Land-tax537,8460117
Income-tax304,905067
Stamps (taxation only)585,4650128
 4,645,754504*

The revenue from indirect taxation during the period 1899-1908 is found to have increased by 57 per cent., despite substantial remissions of customs duties. Direct taxation shows a far greater proportion of increase.

Year ended 31st MarchIndirect TaxationDirect TaxationTotal Taxation
 £      £      £      
18992,041,231665,8682,707,099
19002,187,859703,2672,891,126
19012,266,032776,8583,042,890
19022,291,349821,7303,113,079
19032,426,043851,9213,277,964
19042,698,046951,5553,649,601
19052,728,1931,026,1863,754,379
19062,795,5461,046,0503,841,596
19073,048,6221,215,9334,264,555
19083,217,5381,428,2164,645,754

Corresponding information respecting the taxation per head of population (excluding Maoris) is set forth hereunder:—

Year ended 31st MarchAverage Amount per Head of Population derived from
Indirect TaxationDirect TaxationTotal Taxation
 £sd£sd£sd
1899215301803133
19002182018831610
190121921403190
190221881103198
1903305113418
1904353131484
1905341141482
19063391310477
19073771704147
190839611010504

It may be well to call attention to the fact that a full yield of taxation 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, 1907, to the amount of £1,338,536, or £1 9s. 8d. per head of European population. Of the total sum, £889,711 was raised by general rates, £343,337 by special and separate rates, £79,593 by licenses, and £25,895 by other taxes.

SUBSECTION C.—PUBLIC DEBT.

THE gross public debt of New Zealand on the 31st March, 1908, was £66,453,897, an increase of £2,274,857 on the amount owing at the end of the preceding financial year. The net debt increased by £2,248,419 and on 31st March 1908, stood at £63,524,961.

Of the increase in the public debt, £440,690 was for the purchase of land for settlements; £200,000 for additions to open lines of railway; £185,000 for loans to local bodies; £550,000 for advances to settlers; £185,000 for advances to workers; and £214 for New Zealand Consols deposits: making a total of £1,560,904 invested in a directly reproductive manner, besides moneys raised for railway construction and other public works, scenery preservation, and conversion charges.

The following table states the debentures and stock in circulation on 31st March, 1908, 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:—

Amount outstandingDue DateSinking Funds accruedNet IndebtednessAnnual ChargeRemarks
RateAmountWhen payable
IntS.F

Treasury bills amounting to £400,000 are not included.

 £      £       £      £      cc£        
New Zealand Loan Act, 1863 266,30015 July, 1914193,98672,3145115,97815 Jan. and 15 July† The sinking fund is payable on £2,893,100 (2 per cent. on £1,754,509, 1 ½ per cent. on £95,277, 1 per cent. on £1,043,314). ‡ £4,900 of this amount recoverable from the Government Advances to Settlers Office. § £89,700 of this amount recoverable from the Government Advances to Settlers Office
Canterbury Loan Ordinance, 18623,00015,2002 Jan., 191518,616Cr. 3,416611,06430 June and 31 Dec
12,2002 July, 1916
Consolidated Loan Act. 1867 13,00015 April, 1913 13,0004 52015 April and 15 Oct
Immigration and Public363,000390,90015 April, 1913 363,0004 14,52015 April and 15 Oct
    Works Loan Act, 187027,90015 April, 1913 27,9004 ½ 1,25615 April and 15 Oct
Defence and other Purposes Loan Act, 187025,000100,0001 July, 1910 25,0004 ½ 1,12530 June and 31 Dec
75,00015 April, 1913 75,0004 3,00015 April and 15 Oct
General Purposes Loan Act, 187317,40082,90015 Oct., 1913 17,4004 69615 April and 15 Oct
10,80015 May, 1914 10,8004 43215 May and 15 Nov
54,70028 Nov., 1914 54,7005 2,73515 May and 15 Nov
District Railways Purchasing Acts, 1885-86 40,0001 July, 1909 40,0006 2,4001 April and 1 Oct
Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886 250,3001 Sept., 1914 250,3003 ½55,7131 Mar. and 1 Sept
Consolidated Stock Act, 187729,150,30248,390,9561 Nov., 1929 29,150,3024 1,166,0121 May and 1 Nov
9,580,6741 Jan., 1940 9,580,6743 ½ 335,324‡1 Jan. and 1 July
9,659,9801 April, 1945 9,659,9803 289,799§1 April and 1 Oct
Consolidated Stock Act, 1884—         
Colonial Issue65,000744,7004, Jan., 1909 65,0003 1,9501 Mar. and 1 Sept
100,0004 Jan., 1909 100,0003 ½ 3,500
194,2001 Feb., 1912 194,2003 ½ 6,7971 Feb. and 1 Aug
385,50031 Dec., 1914 385,5003 ½ 13,4931 Mar. and 1 Sept
Native Land Purchases Act, 1892. (Renewed under “The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act. 1899,” and “The New Zealand Loan Act, 1904”) 125,00031 Oct., 1912 125,0003 ½ 4,37530 April and 31 Oct
Lands Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Act, 1894117,000400,0001 Sept., 1908 117,0003 ½ 4,0951 Mar. and 1 Sept
283,000(30 Sept., 1908 283,0004 11,32031 Mar. and 30 Sept
New Zealand Consols Act, 1894 478,4491 Feb., 1910 478,4493 ½ 16,7461 Feb. and 1 AugDebentures not presented at due date
Land for Settlements Act, 1894, and Amendment Act, 1897349,000411,0001 April, 1909 349,0003 ¾ 13,0881 April and 1 Oct
62,0001 April, 1909 62,0003 ½ 2,1701 April and 1 Oct
Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 19005,7004,453,6211 Feb., 1908 5,7004   
10,0001 Jan., 1909 10,0003 ½ 3501 Jan. and 1 July
13,0001 Jan., 1911 13,0003 ½ 4551 Jan. and 1 July
814,76631 Oct., 1912 814,7663 ½ 28,51730 April and 31 Oct
5,0001 Jan., 1915 5,0003 ½ 1751 Jan. and 1 July
250,0001 April, 1908 250,0004 10,0001 April and 1 Oct
230,6501 Aug., 1908 230,6504 9,2261 Feb. and 1 Aug
106,4501 Jan., 1909 106,4504 4,2581 Jan. and 1 July
38,5001 April, 1909 38,5004 1,5401 April and 1 Oct
263,3501 May, 1909 263,3504 10,5341 May and 1 Nov
337,4001 May, 1909 337,4004 13,4961 May and 1 Nov
7,0001 July, 1909 7,0004 2801 Jan. and 1 July,
185,80030 Sept., 1909 185,8004 7,43231 Mar. and 30 Sept
400,0001 Jan., 1910 400,000 416,0001 Jan. and 1 July
187,8001 Feb., 1910 187,8004 7,5121 Feb. and 1 Aug
99,6001 Jan., 1911 99,6004 3,9841 Jan. and 1 July
8,8001 Nov., 1911 8,6004 3441 May and 1 Nov
171,8501 Jan., 1912 171,8504 6,8741 Jan. and 1 July
50,1651 Jan., 1912 50,1654 2,0071 April and 1 Oct
82,8001 Feb., 1912 82,8004 3,3121 Feb. and 1 Aug
39,5001 April, 1912 39,5004 1,5801 April and 1 Oct
45,3001 May, 1912 45,3004 1,8121 May and 1 Nov
50,0001 April, 1913 50,0004 2,0001 April and 1 Oct
183,50030 June, 1914 183,5004 7,34030 June and 31 Dec
77,4751 Jan., 1915 77,4754 3,0991 Jan. and 1 July
214,8151 Feb., 1915 214,8154 8,5931 Jan. and 1 July
168,7001 Jan., 1921 168,7004 6,7481 Feb. and 1 Aug
293,5501 Jan., 1922 293,5504 11,7421 Jan. and 1 July
39,9501 Jan., 1922 39,9504 1,5981 April and 1 Oct
27,4001 Feb., 1922 27,4004 1,0961 Feb. and 1 Aug
45,0001 April, 1922 45,0004 1,8001 April and 1 Oct
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1896 500,000*15 Aug., 1921 500,0003 ½ 17,50015 Feb. and 15 Aug* Loan may be paid off at any time on six months' notice being given
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 190020,000645,5001 April, 1908 20,0004 8001 April and 1 Oct
352,4001 April, 1908 352,4004 14,0961 April and 1 Oct
120,0001 April, 1909 120,0004 4,8001 Jan. and 1 July
149,6001 May, 1909 149,6004 5,9841 May and 1 Nov
3,0001 May, 1912 3,0004 1201 May and 1 Nov
5001 Feb., 1915 5004 201 Feb. and 1 Aug
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 190115,000250,0001 Jan., 1909 15,0003 ½ 5251 Jan. and 1 July
152,7001 Dec., 1908 152,7004 6,1081 June and 1 Dec
17,9001 Jan., 1909 17,9004 7161 Jan. and 1 July
63,4001 Dec., 1911 63,4004 2,5361 June and 1 Dec
1,0001 Dec., 1912 1,0004 401 June and 1 Dec
          Carried forward 57,557,826 212,60257,345,224  2,195,057 
Amount outstandingDue DateSinking Funds accruedNet IndebtednessAnnual ChargeRemarks
RateAmountWhen payable
IntS.F

Treasury bills amounting to £400,000 are not included.

 £      £       £      £      cc£        
Brought forward ... 57,557,826 212,60257,345,224  2,195,057 Debentures not presented at due date
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 19023,000670,9001 Dec., 1906 3,000    
667,9001 Dec., 1912 125,0003 ½ 4,3751 June and 1 Dec
542,9004 21,716
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1903342,500842,5001 Jan., 1909 842,5004 13,7001 Jan. and 1 July
200,2001 Feb., 1909 500,0004 20,0001 Feb. and 1 Aug
*299,8001 Feb., 1924
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1904 ... 569,5001 Jan., 1912 569,5004 22,7801 Jan. and 1 July* Loan may be paid off at any time after 1st February, 1909, on six months' notice being given
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1905500,000939,0001 July, 1916 500,0004 20,0001 Jan. and 1 July
439,0001 Jan., 1921 439,0004 17,5601 Jan. and 1 July
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 190699,8001,000,0001 Jan., 1912 99,8004 3,9921 Jan. and 1 July
40,0001 Dec., 1912 40,0004 1,6001 Dec. and 1 June
5,0001 Jan., 1917 5,0004 2001 Jan. and 1 July
855,2001 Jan., 1922 500,0003 ½ 17,5001 Jan. and 1 July
355,2004 14,2081 Jan. and 1 July    
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 190716,100808,2001 Jan., 1915 16,1004 6441 Jan. and 1 July
378,6001 Jan., 1922 200,0003 ½ 7,0001 Jan. and 1 July
178,6004 7,1441 Jan. and 1 July
413,5001 Jan., 1923413,5004 16,5401 Jan. and 1 July 
Government Advances to Settlers Act 1894 Extension Act, 190180,000380,0005 June, 190880,0003 ½ 2,8001 June and 1 Dec 
300,00023 Oct., 1912 300,0003 ½ 10,5001 June and 1 Dec
Government Advances to Settlers Act, 1906450,000600,00023 Oct., 1912 450,0003 ½ 15,7501 June and 1 Dec† Rate varying, calculated at 3 ½ per cent
100,0006 Feb., 1915 100,000 3,5006 Feb. and 6 Aug
50,00023 Mar., 1915 50,000 1,75023 Mar. and 23 Sept
Government Advances to Workers Act, 1906 205,0001 Jan., 1912 205,0003 ½ 7,1751 Jan. and 1 July
Dairy Industry Act, 18984381,7811 Aug., 1908 1,7813 ½ 621 Feb. and 1 Aug
8431 Jan., 1911
5001 Jan., 1916
Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1901735,0001,256,0001 Jan., 1909 735,0003 ½ 25,7251 Mar. and 1 Sept
416,0001 Mar., 1911 416,0003 ½ 14,5601 Mar. and 1 Sept
55,0001 Jan., 1909 55,0004 2,2001 Mar. and 1 Sept
50,0001 June, 1911 50,0004 2,001 June and 1 Dec
State Coal-mines Act, 1901 100,0001 April, 1912 100,0003 ½ 3,5001 April and 1 Oct
Paeroa-Waihi Railway Act, 190353,47680,21431 Mar., 1912 80,2143 2,40631 Mar. and 30 Sept 
26,73830 Sept., 1912
Hutt Railway and Road Improvement Acts, 1903, and 1905100,000150,0001 May, 1911 150,0003 ½ 5,2501 May and 1 Nov
50,001 May, 1915 
State Fire Insurance Act, 1903 2,0001 May, 1911 1,5003 ½ 521 May and 1 Nov
5004 201 May and 1 Nov
Scenery Preservation Act, 1903 30,0001 May, 1911 30,0003 ½ 1,0501 May and 1 Nov
Railway Improvements Authorisation Act, 190417,500157,50030 June 1910 92,5004 3,70030 June and 31 Dec
75,00030 June, 1914
65,0001 Jan., 1922 65,0004 2,6001 Jan. and 1 July
Maori Land Settlement Act 190550,000200,0001 Jan., 1911 200,0004 8,0001 Jan. and 1 July
150,0001 Jan., 1921
Maori Land Settlement Act Amendment Act, 1907 50,0001 Jan., 1921 50,0003 ½ 1,7501 Jan. and 1 July
Waikaka Branch Railway Act, 1905 53,4761 May, 1915 53,4763 1,6041 May and 1 Nov
Reserve Fund Securities Act 1907 800,0001 Aug., 1912 800,0003 ½ 28,0001 Feb. and 1 Aug
  66,453,897 212,60266,241,295    
    Add Sinking Fund in respect of—         
      The Government Loans to Local Bodies Acts   600,183     
      The Government Advances to Settlers Office Account   269,204     
      The War and Defence Loans   80,717     
      The Land for Settlements Loans   105,655     
      Investments in Securities included above on account New Zealand Consols Investment Account   360,575     
      Investment in Securities held under than Reserve Fund Securities Act, 1907   800,000     
      Bank of New Zealand Preference Shares held by Government   500,0002,716,334    
          Total 66,453,897 2,928,93663,524,961  2,527,970 

Net Indebtedness: Comparison with Past Years.

The net public debt, after deducting the accrued sinking fund (£2,928,936), was on 31st March, 1908, £63,524,961, an increase of £2,248,419 during the year. About seven years' revenue, ordinary and territorial, at the present rate would thus be required to pay off the net debt. The net indebtedness per head of population (excluding the Maoris) in March, 1890, stood at £60 5s. 3d.; in 1895, £57 9s. 9d.; in 1900, £61 17s. 3d.; in 1905, £66 7s. 4d.; and in 1908, £67 15s. 1d. But, in considering the increase of the amount of debt per head as a burden on the people, attention should be given to the remarks following the table showing amounts paid by way of charges of the public debt out of the revenue year by year. Besides these remarks, under the head of “Interest and Sinking Funds” there are others bearing on the subject, given previously, under “Revenue.”

A summary of the loans detailed in the foregoing table, showing the amounts falling due in each financial year, is given:—

Due Date: Year ending 31st MarchAmount

* Debentures not presented at due date.

 £      
1906*3,000
1908*5,700
19093,133,238
19102,618,899
1911621,943
19121,680,791
19133,413,204
1914546,300
19151,692,990
1916103,976
1917517,200
1921807,700
19222,159,700
1923458,500
1924299,800
193029,150,302
19409,580,674
19469,659,980
 £66,453,897

The large sum of £29,150,302 will fall due on 1st November, 1929, £9,580,674 on 1st January, 1940, and £9,659,980 on 1st April, 1945, making £48,390,956 of the debt repayable during or subsequent to the financial year 1929-30.

The amounts that have matured or are maturing during the current financial year, with their due dates, are as follows:—

£       
622,400due 1st April, 1908
80,000due 1st June, 1908
231,088due 1st August, 1908
117,000due 1st September 1908
283,000due 30th September, 1908
152,700due 1st December, 1908
1,281,850due 1st January, 1909
165,000due 4th January, 1909
200,200due 1st February 1909
£3,133,238 

The Hon. Minister of Finance in his financial statement delivered on the 7th July, 1908, announced that satisfactory arrangements had already been made for the renewal of £1,750,000 of the above amount, at no higher than the existing rate of interest, and the conversion of £500,000 of debentures had been effected at a reduced rate, thus providing for £2,250,000 of the debt falling due. He anticipated no difficulty in arranging for the balance of £883,238 when the payments became due.

31st MarchEstimated or Census PopulationAmount of Debentures and Stock in CirculationGross Indebtedness per Head of European PopulationAmount of Sinking Fund accruedNet IndebtednessNet 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. During the financial year 1907-8 debentures were issued for £800,000 to purchase securities to be held as a reserve to meet any unexpected financial contingency. The cost price of these securities (£800,000) has been included in the amount shown above as sinking fund.

If Maoris be included in the population for 31st March, 1908, the gross indebtedness at that date is lowered to £67 8s. 11d. per head, and the net indebtedness to £64 11s. 6d.

  £      £sd£      £      £sd
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
1899746,67340,938,00662173857,27946,080,72761144
1900758,61647,874,4526322944,37546,930,07761173
1901772,71949,591,24564371,033,49448,557,751621610
1902789,99452,966,447670111,128,81651,837,63165124
1903814,84255,899,019681202,313,239*53,585,780*65153
1904838,95457,522,215681142,457,887*55,064,328*65128
1905864,97159,912,00069542,508,368*57,403,632*6674
1906889,96862,191,040691772,520,569*59,670,471*67011
1907913,87364,179,04070472,902,498*61,270,542*6710
1908937,58766,453,897701762,928,936*63,524,961*67151

The debt as above stated does not include the unpaid loans raised by the several local bodies, amounting at the end of March, 1907, to £11,616,048, of which sum £5,470,500 was raised outside New Zealand. 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 £27,623,547. 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 £4,110,000 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,” “Advances to workers,” “Bank of N.Z. preferred shares,” and “Reserve Fund securities.” The item below termed “Public works” includes moneys raised for railways, roads and bridges, and public buildings, with some others.

 £      
Gross public debt, 31st March, 190866,453,897
Gross public debt, 31st March, 189138,830,350
                    Increase£27,623,547
 ££
Native-land purchases765,675 
Land-settlement (including Cheviot)5,890,046 
Loans to local bodies2,603,100 
Lands improvement500,000 
Advances to settlers4,110,000 
Advances to workers205,000 
Bank of N.Z. preference shares500,000 
N.Z. Consols478,449 
District railways47,000 
Public works11,632,550 
Increase by conversions783,499 
Sinking fund accretions1,777,000 
Naval and military settlers27,226 
Advances to dairy companies1,781 
State coal-mines140,000 
State fire insurance2,000 
Scenery-preservation30,000 
Reserve Fund securities800,000 
  30,293,326
  Less Redemptions—
      Consolidated Stock Act, 1884, debentures1,384,420 
      Other debentures1,285,359 
 2,669,779
                    Total net increase£27,623,547

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 £6,430,000 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, 1908—viz., £66,453,897—nearly thirty-nine millions sterling bore interest at the rate of 4 per cent., nearly seventeen millions sterling at 3 ½ per cent., and nearly ten millions sterling at 3 per cent. The following are the rates of interest payable on the complete public debt:—

Rates of InterestAmount at each Rate
 £      
6 per cent.55,200
5 per cent.321,000
4 ½ per cent.52,900
4 per cent.38,868,957
3 ¾ per cent.349,000
3 ½ per cent.16,945,170
3 per cent.9,858,670
    Overdue3,000
            Total£66,453,897

The total amount of interest payable to bondholders on the full amount of the public debt as quoted above is £2,478,429, which gives an average rate of £3 14s. 7d. per £100. On the total public debt outstanding on the 31st March, 1891, the average interest charge was £4 10s. 3d. per £100. During the period 1891-1908, therefore, the average rate is found to have declined by 15s. 8d. per £100, or 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 fourteen years for interest and sinking fund out of the Consolidated Fund are shown on the following page, together with the percentage of ordinary and territorial revenue absorbed by the public-debt charges:—

Year ended 31st MarchAmounts actually paid for Interest and Sinking Fund out of the Consolidated FundRate per Head of Mean PopulationPercentage of Revenue absorbed by Public Debt Charges
Public DebtTreasury BillsTotal
InterestSinking FundTotalInterest

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 later figures 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 1894 inclusive, will be found in the Year-book for 1899.

 £      £      £      £      £      £sd 
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
19062,006,53756,1672,062,70424,5002,087,20427727.52
19072,048,99097,3512,146,34125,7512,172,09228225.86
19082,085,01881,8422,166,86020,55912,187,41927324.15

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 and Workers 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 £332,639 (under the Land for Settlements Acts, £205,249; Advances to Settlers and Workers Acts, £114,189; Cheviot Estate, £8,866; other amounts, £4,335). Such interest does not become a burden upon the tax-payer, 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 1907-8 was £15,327 more than that for the previous year, and the rate of charge per head of population shows a slight decrease.

The securities in which the sinking funds were held as on th 31st March, 1908, 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, 1908
Investments in—£    sd
          New Zealand 5-per-cent. Debentures3,47000
          New Zealand 4 ½-per-cent. Debentures1,70000
          New Zealand 4-per-cent. Debentures199,01500
          New Zealand 3 ½-per-cent. Debentures2,31000
          New Zealand 4-per-cent. Inscribed Stock129,754196
          New Zealand 3 ½-per-cent. Inscribed Stock11,92363
          New Zealand 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock19,80992
          New South Wales 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock4,386184
          Victoria 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock1,42941
          Tasmania 3-per-cent. Inscribed Stock6,645151
          Queensland 4-per-cent. Inscribed Stock1,43388
          Bank of New Zealand Guaranteed Stock, 4 per cent4,80000
          Cape of Good Hope 3 ½-per-cent. Stock1,50000
          India 3 ½-per-cent. Stock20000
          Straits Settlement 3 ½-per-cent. Stock4,902126
          County of Tauranga 5-per-cent. Debentures6000
          Borough of Brunner 6-per-cent. Debentures99000
          Borough of Palmerston North 4 ½-per-cent. Debentures53000
          Borough of Patea 4 ½-per-cent. Debentures42000
          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
 397,000137
          Mortgages8,00000
          Investments, Government Advances to Settlers Office269,20400
          In common fund, Public Trustee, at 4 per cent. (on account Loans to Local Bodies debentures592,18393
 1,266,388210
          Cash balance on 31st March, 19082,16102
                              Total£1,268,54930

Of the total amount, £13,895 is represented by stock and debentures of the Australian States, and £6,603 by those of India, Africa, and Straits Settlement; £367,983 was invested in similar securities of the New Zealand Government; £3,180 in debentures of various local governing bodies; other securities, £5,340; £8,000 on mortgage; Investments of Government Advance to Settlers Office, £269,204; and £592,183 is in the hands of the Public Trustee.

Flotation of Loans.

Of the gross public debt outstanding on 31st March, 1908, £51,158,670 was raised in London, £3,554,700 in Australia, and £11,740,527 in New Zealand; and of the total amount £48,869,405 was held as inscribed stock, and £17,584,492 in the form of debentures. Details are given hereunder:—

Kind of StockFloated inTotal
LondonAustraliaNew Zealand
 £      £      £      £      
Debentures2,767,7143,554,70011,262,07817,584,492
Inscribed stock48,390,956478,44948,869,405 
      Total51,158,6703,554,70011,740,52766,453,897

The large proportion of the public debt which has been raised in New Zealand is worthy of attention.

Prices of New Zealand Stock.

The highest and lowest London prices for the New Zealand 4, 3 ½, and 3 per cent. stock, taken over a range of twenty years, are quoted:—

QUOTATIONS, NEW ZEALAND STOCK
 4-per-cents. (1929)3 ½-per-cents. (1940)3-per-cents. (1945)
YearHighestLowestHighestLowestHighestLowest
1888104 ½96 ¼    
1889109 ¼99 ⅝    
1890109 ⅛102 ¼98 ⅝93 ¼  
1891107 ½10098 ¼91 ⅛  
1892106 ⅝1009891 ½  
1893107 ¼9797 ½90  
1894109 ⅞105 ⅜103 ½96 ¼  
1895113 ½105 ⅝107 ½10095 ¾91
1896118 ¼106 ½110 ⅜101 ½103 ½90
1897117112 ⅜111104 ¾10299 ½
1898116 ⅞108109 ⅞103101 ½96 ½
1899116 ½105 ½10910299 ¼94 ¼
1900113 ¼109106 ¾103 ⅜98 ½95 ¼
1901115 ⅜110 ¾109 ¾104 ⅛99 ½93 ⅛
1902113 ¼109109 ½102 ⅛9793 ⅝
1903110 ⅛105104 ¾99 ½9688
1904107 ½104 ½101 ½96 ¾9086 ¼
1905110 ¼105 ¼100 ⅛97 ⅝89 ⅞89 ½
1906110 ¾104 ⅝102 ½98 ⅜91 ¼87 ¼
1907108 ¾103 ¼1019889 ¾84

Utilisation of Money composing Public Debt.

A statement is supplied, based on figures taken from the Budget of 1897 (to which the necessary additions have been made), showing the purposes for which the money forming the public debt 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, 1908, SHOWING APPROXIMATELY THE AMOUNTS RAISED OR VOTED UNDER VARIOUS HEADS, ARRANGED IN THREE CLASSES
 On 31st March, 1908

* NOTE.—Only a portion of expenditure of old Provincial Governments on railways became public debt. The total expenditure on railways (Provincial and General Government) to 31st March, 1908, was over twenty-six millions and a half 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£      
          Railways21,271,000*
          Lands improvement (roads and bridges)6,092,000
          Public works and buildings4,771,000
          Immigration2,435,000
          Maori war2,360,000
          Land-purchases2,247,000
          Defence1,947,000
          Telegraphs1,196,000
          Goldfields and coal-mines815,000
          Lighthouses and harbours543,000
          State coal-mines100,000
          Tourist and health resorts99,000
          Scenery-preservation30,000
          State fire insurance2,000
(b.) Investments
          Purchase of land for settlements5,890,000
          Advances to settlers4,110,000
          Loans to local bodies2,881,000
          Bank of New Zealand preference shares500,000
          New Zealand Consols478,000
          Advances to workers205,000
          Reserve fund securities800,000
(c.) Other
          Deficiencies in revenue, charges and expenses of raising loans, provincial liabilities, and miscellaneous expenditure7,681,000

It will thus be found that on the 31st March, 1908, out of a total debt of £66,453,000, the amounts allocated for services formed approximately the following proportions of the whole:—

 Per Cent
For Railways32.01
For Lands improvement (roads and bridges)9.17
For Public works and buildings7.18
For Immigration3.66
For Maori war3.55
For Land-purchases3.38
 Per Cent
For Defence2.93
For Telegraphs1.80
For Goldfields and coal-mines1.23
For Lighthouses and harbours0.82
For State coal-mines0.15
For Tourist and health resorts0.15
For Scenery-preservation0.04

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 66.7 per cent. of the whole debt in 1908; class (b) consists of moneys devoted to what may be termed investments, being 22.37 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 11.56 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 New Zealand 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 varying prices up to £30 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, 1908, can be given correctly, but this fund, as stated previously, is not altogether composed of money charged to the public debt. It had received £39,442,887 from loans and £7,411,763 by way of receipts in aid on the latter date. The money received by way of aid included £6,430,000 transferred from the Consolidated Fund during the last seventeen financial years, out of surplus revenue. Nearly forty-seven millions sterling were spent since the year 1870 up to March, 1908, 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, 1908
Expenditure on—£      sd
    Immigration2,186,711172
    Public works, departmental568,38576
    Railways, including surveys of new lines24,176,38463
    Roads7,861,467175
    Land-purchases2,035,74859
    Development of goldfields786,65693
    Telegraph-extension1,479,73636
    Public buildings3,804,59730
    Lighthouses, harbour-works, and defences1,024,519109
    Contingent defence888,16886
    Rates on Native lands68,6441510
    Thermal springs14,599132
    Tourist and health resorts158,567109
    Lands improvement24,57501
    Charges and expenses of raising loans1,235,641911
    Coal-mines10,83580
    Interest and sinking fund218,50000
    Payment to Midland Railway bondholders150,00000
    Utilisation of water-power8,3471811
                        Total£46,702,08759

Expenditure on Railways.

The railway expenditure during each of seven quinquennial periods with the years 1905-6, 1906-7, and 1907-8, comprising the period 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
1st April, 1905, to 31st March, 19061,012,404
1st April, 1906, to 31st March, 19071,302,879
1st April, 1907, to 31st March, 19081,056,926
                          Total£24,176,384

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 to 31st March, 1908, and the States of the Australian Commonwealth to 30th June, 1907:—

StateLength of Line openTotal Cost of Construction and EquipmentAverage Cost per Mile openCost per Head of Population

* Including Maoris.

 £      £      £      £sd
New South Wales3,45344,700,23012,94528165
Victoria3,39641,533,13612,23533117
Queensland3,13721,839,0816,9624055
South Australia1,83213,699,0297,49135147
Northern Territory145 ½1,180,3958,1173301210
Western Australia1,76410,300,9385,8403902
Tasmania462 ½3,943,3598,5172260
              Total Commonwealth14,190137,196,1689,669321910
New Zealand (31st March, 1908)2,47424,365,6479,84924147*

In the foregoing table the cost per head of population for railway-construction is shown to have been between £33 and £39 in the States of Victoria and Western Australia; over £35 in South Australia and £40 in Queensland; in New South Wales it was nearly £29; but in New Zealand the cost has been over £24, and in Tasmania over £22, per head of population.

Public Debt of Australasia.

The following figures show the public debt of each State of the Australian Commonwealth on 30th June, 1907, and of New Zealand on 31st March, 1907:—

StateFixed DebtFloating DebtTotal Public DebtAmount per Head of Population
DebenturesInscribed Stock
 £      £      £      £      £sd
New South Wales8,309,15070,413,1506,885,53285,607,83255311
Victoria4,804,11943,169,0105,131,86053,104,98942188
Queensland13,480,58027,153,8871,130,00041,764,4677702
South Australia8,028,20018,432,0684,066,45030,526,71878178
Western Australia425,50018,297,138500,00019,222,638721410
Tasmania3,014,2506,692,518216,3159,923,0835626
          Commonwealth38,061,799184,157,77117,930,157240,149,72757151
New Zealand15,943,52648,235,514 64,179,0407047

With the exception of Queensland each of the above States and New Zealand had accumulated sinking funds to set against the gross debt shown above, making in some cases an appreciable difference in the amount per head. The net indebtedness per head of population is as follows:—

 £sd
New South Wales54175
Victoria4252
Queensland7702
South Australia77102
Western Australia66139
Tasmania541211
          Commonwealth56171
New Zealand6710

SPECIAL, BANKING LEGISLATION.

A synopsis of “The Bank of New Zealand Act, 1903,” and “The Bank of New Zealand Act, 1904,” is given previously in Section XVI.

Chapter 50. SECTION XVIII.—CROWN LANDS.

A SUMMARY of the transactions during the year ended 31st March, 1908, 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, 1908Number of Purchasers or SelectorsArea
Ordinary Crown Lands— A. R. P
    Town lands sold for cash160102 0 23
    Suburban lands sold for cash112368 0 23
    Rural lands sold for cash11428,005 2 18
    Occupation with right of purchase354187,799 0 35
    Lease in perpetuity21463,871 2 5
    Renewable lease173,427 10
    Agricultural lease383 3 32
    Village settlement, cash33 0 24
    Village settlement, cash occupation with right of purchase32 3 22
    Village settlement, cash lease in perpetuity702,300 3 32
    Village settlement, cash renewable lease15108 1 37
    Improved-farm special settlements3410 0 30
    Occupation leases Mining Districts Land Occupation Act733,046 2 22
    Small grazing-runs61216,600 1 19
    Pastoral runs90572,076 0 12
    Miscellaneous leases and licenses521134,511 1 24
Cheviot Estate—  
    Miscellaneous leases 130 1 0
Land for Settlements Acts—  
    Cash1843 0 39
    Lease in perpetuity21334,495 2 13
    (village)20 3 16
    Renewable lease15167,107 1 29
    Small grazing-runs310,157 0 0
    Miscellaneous leases232,128 1 16
Endowments—  
    Lease in perpetuity41,585 0 0
    Occupation leases, Mining Act7276 3 14
    Native townships95 0 30
                        Totals2,2451,328,677 2 35

Particulars of the number of Crown tenants at present holding lands under the several tenures, together with the yearly rental payable, are given in the next statement.

STATEMENT showing the TOTAL NUMBER OF CROWN TENANTS, with Area selected or held, and the Yearly Rent payable, as on the 31st March, 1908
TenuresTotal Number of TenantsTotal Area held by such TenantsTotal Yearly Rental or Instalment payable
          ORDINARY CROWN LANDS ARP£sd
Deferred payment6524,5652151,116123
Perpetual lease52092,6272103,20962
Occupation with right of purchase ...4,7011,579,10232360,875174
Lease in perpetuity5,0171,450,38203745,739166
Renewable lease173,427108234
Agricultural lease165211292243
Mining Districts Land Occupation Act57724,9060111,41420
Village settlements—       
    Deferred payment91643319114
    Perpetual lease1051,50702221912
    Occupation with right of purchase346403215510
    Lease in perpetuity1,10923,2500314,41898
    Renewable lease1510813711126
Village-homestead special settlements—       
    Perpetual lease2614,56522635511
    Lease in perpetuity3439,0870141,074196
Special settlement associations—       
    Perpetual lease10669084840
    Lease in perpetuity634113,351035,88142
Improved-farm special settlements58371,1010244,25185
Small grazing-runs6631,568,32402832,55431
Pastoral runs90511,066,72401575,31794
Miscellaneous leases3,674788,5441515,50856
                        Totals19,25816,822,997029252,41523
CHEVIOT ESTATE       
    Lease in perpetuity11824,392126,450146
    Village-homestead special settlement922,48010870104
    Grazing-farms4945,8461266,871132
    Pastoral runs11,6420019338
    Miscellaneous601,37732626161
                        Totals32075,73831414,64779
LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACTS       
    Lease in perpetuity3,690678,971330201,40712
    Renewable lease15167,10712913,94342
    Lease in perpetuity, village ...46438128333128
    Special-settlement associations ...112,1141916278
    Small grazing-runs115217,65403326,940110
    Pastoral runs2953238121130
    Miscellaneous19311,8403202,021139
                        Totals4,208979,080327244,929143
WORKERS' DWELLINGS83140172,25094
THERMAL SPRINGS (ROTORUA) ...3106,0800242,188164
                        Grand totals ...24,17917,883,911031516,431911
Endowments841402,54112812,46002
Native townships3381,1442221,359138

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, 1898, 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 ten years were:—

1898-99567 holdings180,957 acres
1899-1900510 holdings164,003 acres
1900-1354 holdings106,690 acres
1901-2192 holdings75,368 acres
1902-3329 holdings106,390 acres
1903-4354 holdings105,625 acres
1904-5180 holdings89,451 acres
1905-6154 holdings36,698 acres
1906-7324 holdings74,841 acres
1907-8269 holdings50,810 acres

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 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, 1908
1898-991899-19001900-11901-21902-31903-41904-51905-61906-71907-8

NOTE.—The forfeitures and surrenders for the years dealt with in the table were—for the year 1898-99, 180,957 acres; 1899-1900, 16,003 acres; 1900-1, 106,690 acres; 1901-2, 75,368 acres; 1902-3, 106,390 acres; 1903-4, 105,625 acres; 1904-5, 89,451 acres; 1905-6, 36,698 acres; 1906-7, 74,841 acres; and for 1907-8, 50,810 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.

 AcresAcresAcresAcresAcresAcresAcresAcresAcresAcres
Cash lands37,40023,93658,70327,29017,19422,48118,99111,13220,35728,519
Deferred payments13  52      
Perpetual lease and small areas6406242,49910   127  
Occupation with right of purchase109,950117,771262,729128,893118,557146,953138,206157,432215,530187,799
Lease in perpetuity159,415153,531144,205116,125161,745194,515173,811158,019154,23798,367
Renewable lease .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..70,535         
Agricultural lease1147023283613218  84
Occupation lease under “The Mining Districts Land Occupation Act, 1894”1,4492,2952,1232,5072,4344,9721,9141,1941,0443,047
Village settlement—
    Cash304221098140203
    Occupation with right of purchase22 1   41 3
    Lease in perpetuity2,1151,7621,0824566195142081,9361,0122,302
    Renewable lease .. .. .. .. .. .. ..108         
Village-homestead special settlement134313764691,512272111287173 
Special-settlement associations (lease in perpetuity)6072  5,761729223 4 
Special-settlement improved farms4,8237,3931,9361,6184,03219,4361,4595475,622410
Small grazing-runs and grazing-farms77,632155,10986,076112,947113,925144,78667,27168,587114,854226,757
                        Totals394,324462,530559,774390,406425,824534,679402,413399,342512,853617,934
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, 1908
1898-991899-19001900-11901-21902-31903-41904-51905-61906-71907-8

NOTE.—The forfeitures and surrenders for the years dealt with in the table were—for the year 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; in 1904-5, 180 holdings; 1905-6, 154 holdings; 1906-7, 324 holdings; and in 1907-8, 269 holdings. See note to previous table as to the origin of these failures.

 NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
For cash ..534491363489374435371229447404
Deferred payments1  1      
Perpetual lease and small areas1231   1  
Occupation with right of purchase458395673447403402330388412354
Lease in perpetuity675647489501573894751706597427
Renewable lease .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..168         
Agricultural lease2311323  3
Occupation lease under “The Mining Districts Land Occupation Act, 1894”31645371529740302673
Village settlement—
    Cash ..21635211910239153
    Occupation with right of purchase33 1 112 3
    Lease in perpetuity106809633402114553272
Village-settlement renewable lease .. .. .. .. .. .. ..15         
Village-homestead special settlement126730342384917 
Special-settlement associations51  2942 1 
Improved-farm special settlement644113 30106143463
Small grazing-runs and grazing-farms40643536455845345164
                        Totals ..1,9531,8031,7691,6321,6022,0531,5811,5361,6441,589
III.—LANDS TAKEN UP UNDER SETTLEMENT CONDITIONS DURING TEN YEARS ENDED 31ST MARCH, 1908 (EXCLUSIVE OF PASTORAL RUNS, MISCELLANEOUS LEASES AND LICENSES, ENDOWMENTS, AND THERMAL SPRINGS DISTRICT LEASES)
Land District1898-991899-19001900-11901-21902-31903-41904-51905-61906-71907-8
 AcresAcresAcresAcresAcresAcresAcresAcresAcresAcres
Auckland90,16078,677201,35599,824153,559134,375120,351102,809166,315124,139
Hawke's Bay36,22236,45190,62571,90238,50599,15340,94955,21519,68630,038
Taranaki18,86754,96071,00023,94239,35369,23663,00535,50590,45345,431
Wellington63,74641,38848,53014,30013,26825,43253,13543,06364,58274,646
Nelson18,67310,21118,91829,38311,23716,98110,34022,17225,00945,203
Marlborough51,97374,31133,06364,62456,68133,33220,79554,03110,7115,244
Canterbury52,83934,21820,74411,57545,40178,3634,48713,41822,20817,560
Westland35279270927,2144,1124,09820,20215,81314,63312,305
Otago40,59968,43649,90123,46250,17651,78338,48729,98882,175250,847
Southland20,89363,08624,92924,18013,53221,92630,66227,32617,08112,521
                        Total394,324462,530559,774390,406425,824534,679402,413399,340512,853617,934
IV.—HOLDINGS TAKEN UP UNDER SETTLEMENT CONDITIONS DURING TEN YEARS ENDED 31ST MARCH, 1908 (EXCLUSIVE OF PASTORAL RUNS, MISCELLANEOUS LEASES AND LICENSES, ENDOWMENTS, AND THERMAL SPRINGS DISTRICT LEASES), CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO SIZE
Size1898-991899-19001900-11901-21902-31903-41904-51905-61906-71907-8

* See notes as to forfeitures and surrenders on previous tables I and II.

 NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Under 1 acre293345158195182363246221262290
1 to 50 acres571501466553466467397383400404
51 to 250 acres633492522471496624450444432382
251 to 500 acres277262333244237322280256222227
501 to 1,000 acres128116181110157190131158201157
1,001 acres and upwards51871095964877774127129
                        Totals1,9531,8031,7691,6321,6022,0531,5811,5361,6441,589

Chapter 51. SECTION XIX.—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 Board of Land Purchase Commissioners on transactions for the year ended the 31st March, 1908, states:—

During the year 129 estates (1,033,300 acres) were offered to the Government, forty-eight properties were inspected on the ground (353,000 acres), and the Board of Land Purchase Commissioners recommended the Government to purchase thirty-five, of an area of 294,521 acres.

Including estates agreed to be purchased the previous year, but not paid for till this year, the transactions completed amount to sixteen estates, of 126,867 acres, for which £565,727 17s. 11d. was paid, and £47,967 6s. 1d. was expended on roads, workers' dwellings, and other contingencies.

There were also seven estates, containing 74,043 acres, purchased for £334,597, which are to be paid for and opened for selection in the year 1908-9.

Rents, interest, and other revenue received during the year amount to £249,273 6s. 9d. The interest paid for the money obtained to make the purchases is £209,060 19s. 9d., giving a balance for the year of £40,212 7s. The credit balance in the account is now £317,400 (including £6,335 8s. recovered from the sale of reserves, &c.); and of this, £104,630 has been paid to the Public Trustee as a sinking fund.

The total area of land acquired and paid for to the 31st March, 1908, is 1,122,135 acres, for which £4,807,369 was paid; and £409,885 has been spent on roads and in preparation for settlement.

The capital value of the estates acquired is thus £5,217,254.

The area of land selected this year is 114,150 acres, by 420 tenants, and of this 92,985 acres were opened for selection for the first time during the year. The total area leased to the 31st March, 1908, to 4,292 tenants, is 979,094 acres. Of this, 679,410 acres are held under leases in perpetuity, 67,107 acres under renewable lease, and 232,577 under small-grazing-run leases and miscellaneous tenures.

The area opened and unlet at the 31st March is 115,184 acres, estimated to be worth a rental of £6,609, and there were 37,041 acres purchased and paid for but not ready for occupation.

Of the area selected, 308,507 acres are now in new grass, 68,975 in white crops, 48,621 in green crops, and 552,977 in native grass, bush, orchards, &c. The total number of sheep depastured is 854,472, cattle 58,167, horses 12,456, and pigs 8,160.

The number of tenants of workers' dwellings is now eighty-four, and the united holding amount to 14 acres and 17 perches, which gives an average for each house of 27 perches. The assessed rent is £2,250 9s. 4d. per annum, about £27 a year each. Only one property (of 3 ¾ acres, in Canterbury) was purchased for workers' dwellings during the year. There are at present 756 acres of land acquired for this purpose still available for the erection of houses. Of this, 532 acres are in Wellington, 213 acres in Auckland, 3 acres in Canterbury, and 8 acres in Otago. The formation of streets and the erection of twelve new buildings cost £2,487 1s. 8d. The house-rents received come to £2,228 14s.

Negotiations are in progress for the purchase of other estates in Auckland Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Nelson, Westland, Canterbury, and Otago.

A summary of the transactions is as follows:—

NoAcresPrimeCost
   £      
Estates purchased at 31st March, 1907160995,2674,241,641
Estates purchased during 1907-816126,867565,728
 1821,122,134£4,807,369
Acquired at 31st March, 1908, but not paid for nor prepared for selection774,043£334,597

The Land for Settlements Account at the 31st March stands as under:—

    Dr.£      
Loans current5,490,547
Rents, &c., received1,433,552
 £6,930,099
    Cr.£      
Purchase-money4,807,369
Incidental expenses409,885
Interest1,116,152
Sinking fund104,630
Balance492,063
 £6,930,099
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, 1907, TO 31ST MARCH, 1908
Land DistrictEstates offeredRecommended for PurchaseNot recommended for PurchaseUnder consideration by the Board on 31st March, 1908Withdrawn from Negotiations
NoAreaNoAreaNoAreaNoAreaNoArea
  A.      RP A.      RP A.      RP A.      RP A.      RP
Auckland35252,59213311103,73201815123,718339717,41611627,72500
Hawke's Bay1290,44703024,30603037,67300671,2040017,26400
Taranaki561,84800  457,75400  14,09400    
Wellington33344,936339540,9960021174,4020276115,338312114,20000
Marlborough380,30000  11,30000279,00000      
Nelson24,3700024,37000            
Canterbury1868,530019547,664331119,044028211,82100    
Otago2091,504329956,68100630,3571231,3920023,074227
Southland138,77100138,77100            
          Totals1291,033,30023035296,52103961404,24921626296,172028736,357227
SUMMARY OF ESTATES ACQUIRED UP TO THE 31ST MARCH, 1908, AND AMOUNTS OF PURCHASE-MONEY
Name of Land DistrictNo. of Estates acquired before 31st March, 1907Areas acquired before 31st March, 1907No. of Estates acquired from 1st April, 1907, to 31st March, 1908Area acquired from 1st April, 1907, to 31st March, 1908Total Numbers of Estates to 31st March, 1908Total Area to 31st March, 1908Purchase-moneyIncidental Expenses, Roads, Preliminaries, &c
  A.      RP A.      RP A.      RP£      £      
Auckland22252,010334525,0993227277,110236449,05373,430
Hawke's Bay17131,772218532,66122622164,434141,034,95664,034
Taranaki44,60908  44,6090879,3635,973  
Wellington2555,637317 81172555,646034434,31953,092
Marlborough9113,749221  9113,749221364,94644,087  
Nelson16,23531016,23531016,247576    
Westland25,124326  25,1243268,3432,787  
Canterbury58261,99839133959262,0022181,429,93769,915
Otago ...23116,200132462,8470527179,048137798,63777,725
Southland654,162337 1100654,173337191,56818,266
          Totals166995,2671216126,8671291821,122,1342314,807,369409,885

The estates, &c., acquired in each district under the Land for Settlements Acts to the 31st March, 1908; are next shown:—

Name of EstateArea acquired and handed over by Board
Auckland—A.    RP
    Opouriao ...7,419231
    Okauia5,92000
    Rangiatea4,00400
    Karapiro ...2,335024
    Fencourt ...7,10535
    Whitehall ...8,95900
    Selwyn ...159,30200
    Cradock Hamlet ...3309
    Hetana Hamlet ...451134
    Kitchener Hamlet26335
    Methuen Hamlet77314
    Plumer Hamlet7400
    Waari Hamlet ...427232
    Bickerstaffe ...12,480019
    Matamata ...42,73832
    Mangapouri ...2,572113
    Mangawhero ...5,00100
    Teasdale ...169331
    Waimana ...4,36526
    Rewi1,71710
 265,181215
Hawke's Bay—   
    Raureka ...42720
    Elsthorpe9,74000
    Waimarie ...430210
    Pouparae ...33734
    Tomoana111338
    Mahora ...1,13330
    Willows ...775136
    Hatuma ...26,522320
    Manga-a-toro ...19,581312
    Kumeroa ...3,774238
    Forest Gate ...8,822013
    Argyll33,705130
    Wigan10,072137
    Lindsay ...13,57400
    Mangatahi ...12,391137
    Te Mata ...82310
    Pourerere ...2,214128
    Raumati ...4,11630
    Kanakanae ...5,29600
    Te Arai ...10,773319
 163,885312
Taranaki—   
    Tokaora ...1,50528
    Spotswood ...310323
    Clandon ...881013
    Huinga1,880113
 4,577317
Wellington—   
    Paparangi ...322332
    Ohakea ...1,745130
    Te Matua ...702019
    Aorangi ...1,78500
    Langdale ...9,40500
    Mangawhata ...1,240236
    Epuni Hamlet ...100314
    Maungaraki ...472120
    Linton551136
    Longbush ...3,021326
    Tablelands ...5,496330
    Normandale ...1,62309
    Tawaha ...2,328231
    Hikawera ...2,615233
    Mahupuku ...7,064225
    Dyer16,65700
 55,133321
Nelson—   
    Wangapeka ...6,263124
Marlborough—   
    Blind River ...5,50700
    Omaka3,89800
    Puhipuhi ...32000
    Starborough ...35,90600
    Richmond Brook5,85400
    Waipapa3,75520
    North Bank ...12,89500
    Rainford ...246021
    Flaxbourne ...46,59800
 114,979221
Westland—   
    Poerua3,23016
    Kokatahi ...1,894220
 5,124326
Canterbury—   
    Pareora ...620213
    Studholme Junction10907
    Kapua ...574122
    Rosebrook ...60018
    Otaio373314
    Patoa4,535314
    The Peaks ...2,81109
    Roimata ...48327
    Kereta105229
    Braco ...2724
    Epworth ...2103
    Ashley Gorge ...1,16536
    Omihi Valley ...2000
    Orakipaoa ...384031
    Highbank ...9,12138
    Otarakaro ...3939
    Wharenui ...73110
    Rakitairi ...3,526126
    Waiapi ...1,124236
    Horsley Down ...3,982335
    Albury ...19,539124
    R.S. 1682 ...2000
    R.S. 2682 (part) ...624
    R.S. 36469 ...15432
    R.S. 36231 ...98330
    R.S. 36056 and 3605758016
    R.S. 36228 ...100323
    R.S. 36278 ...61820
    R.S. 30791 (part) ...10000
    R.S. 36226 (part) ...46126
    Marawiti ...2,028233
    Hekeao ...2,254211
    Pawaho52018
    Waikakahi ...48,262234
    Tamai41028
    Takitu9,713037
    Pareora No. 2 ...8,132031
       
    Rautawiri ...11307
    Papaka1,561225
    Punaroa ...7,02935
    Lyndon ...4,243328
    Kohika3,864110
    Tarawahi ...3130
    Raincliff ...74520
    Puhuka3927
    Kaimahi ...10021
    Kapuatohe ...49337
    Rapuwai ...2,247211
    Lyndon No. 2 ...15,88700
    Maytown ...391332
    Eccleston ...1,24615
    Mead5,914317
    Chamberlain ...10,50019
    Annan32,858233
    Rosewill ...38,683215
    Morice ...2,261027
    Kinloch ...13,04202
    Mills882230
    Walker ...3315
 262,195124
Otago—   
    Pomahaka Downs7,47822
    Teanaraki ...351039
    Tahawai ...70135
    Maerewhenua ...11,163331
    Puketapu ...50906
    Ardgowan4,267328
    Makareao2,38304
    Makareao Extension2,589212
    Momona ...224116
    Tokarahi ...11,259236
    Janefield ...14702
    Elderslie ...11,61824
    Barnego ...7,07821
    Earnscleugh ...1,26935
    Windsor Park No. 13,821216
    Windsor Park No. 22,179217
    Duncan ...63323
    St. Helen's ...547320
    Greenfield ...22,071130
    Steward ...21,93527
    Plunket ...6,13600
    Totara3,161022
    Kurow962212
    Airedale ...2,793314
    Otekaike ...50,5282 
    Taumata ...3,699322
 178,883024
Southland—   
    Merrivale ...9,99800
    Otahu6,153036
    Beaumont ...4,48404
    Ringway ...2,25328
    Glenham ...11,484210
    Edendale ...19,809311
 54,183029
SUMMARY  
Auckland265,181215
Hawke's Bay ...163,885312
Taranaki ...4,577317
Wellington ...55,133321
Nelson6,263124
Marlborough ...114,979221
Westland ...5,124326
Canterbury ...262,195124
Otago178,883024
Southland ...54,183029
                  Totals ...1,110,408313

Chapter 52. SECTION XX.—GOVERNMENT VALUATION OF LAND.

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 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 land 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 Dominion.

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 un-encumbered 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 orlabour 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 New Zealand, 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, 150,000 holders of land. The total number of land-tax payers is only, roughly, 29,000, 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 based 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 NEW ZEALAND
Year of ValuationTotal Capital ValuesTotal Unimproved Values
 £      £      
187899,566,67962,573,868
1882101,000,000 
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
1906218,422,552137,168,548
1907236,644,536149,682,689
1908253,440,172161,324,763
TABLE SHOWING NUMBERS OF FREEHOLDERS OF LAND, OUTSIDE OF BOROUGHS AND TOWN DISTRICTS, CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO AREA HELD BY THEM
YearHolders of 5 Acres and under 100 AcresHolders of 100 Acres and under 1,000 AcresHolders of 1,000 Acres and under 5,000 AcresHolders of 5,000 Acres and under 10,000 AcresHolders of 10,000 Acres and under 20,000 AcresHolders of 20,000 Acres and under 50,000 AcresHolders of 50,000 Acres and overTotal Numbers 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
190620,90021,2692,417278129621345,068

The total numbers of freeholders, including owners of township lands, were as follows:—

In year 188371,240
In year 188680,527
In year 188984,547
In year 189291,501
In year 1902115,713
In year 1906128,019

N.B.—It should be noted that no leaseholders, Crown 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 revisions have been made, which bring the figures as corrected to represent the values on the 31st March, 1908. Comparative figures are here given for 1891 and 1908 showing the increase, and stating separately the unimproved value and the value of improvements:—

COMPARISON OF CAPITAL VALUES. 1891 AND 1908
 1891. £1908. £Increase, 1891 to 1908. £
 £      £      £      
Unimproved value75,832,465161,324,76385,492,298
Value of improvements46,392,56492,115,40945,722,845
              Totals£122,225,029£253,440,172£131,215,143

In the figures for the North and South Islands the relative degree of increase is exhibited:—

CAPITAL VALUES
 18911908Increase
 £      £      £      
North Island57,441,115149,783,91492,342,799
South Island64,783,914103,656,25838,872,344
              Totals£122,225,029£253,440,172£131,215,143

The increase for the North Island of £92,342,799 represents an advance of 160.75 per cent. on the value of 1891, and that of £38,872,344 for the South Island, 60 per cent. The increase for the whole Dominion as shown is £131,215,143, or 107£35 per cent. The following statement gives the capital value of land and improvements in counties and boroughs* as for 1891 and 1908:—

CAPITAL VALUE OF LAND AND IMPROVEMENTS IN COUNTIES AND BOROUGHS
 18911908
 £      £      
Counties85,818,167162,289,950
Boroughs36,406,86291,150,222
              Totals£122,225,029£253,440,172

The increase in the capital value of land with improvements in counties for the seventeen years is £76,471,783, or 89£12 per cent.; while that for boroughs* is £54,743,360, or 150£36 per cent. But the value of property in boroughs* was added to between 1891 and 1908 by the constitution of twenty-five new boroughs, and the inclusion of twenty-three town districts, 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, boroughs, and town districts which under the provisions of the Town Districts Act do not form part of any county are given in the three tables next following; afterwards the gross capital value, and the capital value of rateable property in counties, town districts and boroughs, 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 V, “Local Governing Bodies,” as to rates struck, &c.:—

The total valuations are given for counties, boroughs and town districts. The particulars for component parts of counties, being road districts and portions of outlying country, will be found in the Statistical Volume for 1907.

* Including in the term “boroughs” those town districts which, under the provisions of the Town Districts Act of 1906, are deemed not to form part of any county.

COUNTIES, 1891 AND 1908.

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, 1908:—
CountyCapital Value, Land and ImprovementsUnimproved Value of Land (included in previous columns)
As in Year 1891As at 31st March, 1908As in Year 1891As at 31st March, 1908

*No valuation made.

(a) Exclusive of Borough of Whangarei and of Hikurangi Town District, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(b) Exclusive of Helensville Town District, and of Borough of Northcote, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(c) Exclusive of Borough of Mount Eden and of Ellerslie Town District, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(d) Exclusive of Huntly Town District, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(f) Exclusive of Frankton Town District, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(g) Exclusive of Awakino County and part of Waitomo County, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(h) Formed part of Kawhia County.

(i) Formed part of Kawhia and Clifton Counties.

(j) Exclusive of Borough of Waihi, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(k) Exclusive of Borough of Te Aroha, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(l) Exclusive of County of Opotiki, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(m) Formed part of County of Whakatane.

(n) Exclusive of Opotiki Town District, which in 1891 formed part of Whakatane County.

 £      £      £      £      
Mangonui196,158307,943152,151184,404
Whangaroa63,82584,78841,37952,285
Bay of Islands365,069515,209247,612333,836
Hokianga422,365659,556365,957528,327
Whangarei523,420907,193(a)316,003490,147(a)
Hobson325,974892,729241,880548,546
Otamatea258,496602,579156,975363,668
Rodney293,235540,768173,313259,426
Waitemata632,012889,253(b)388,568502,814(b)
Eden2,002,6774,174,254(e)991,3802,374,892(c)
Manukau1,385,3302,902,442664,2721,641,350
    Islands (Great and Little Barrier)55,28462,21242,57440,051
    Waiheke, &c71,34399,86040,21156,564
Waikato682,7741,397,435(d)282,655860,180(d)
Raglan357,9411,134,997280,945706,426
Waipa464,0861,088,405(f)197,900615,364(f)
Kawhia354,269166,200(g)350,051120,584(g)
Awakino(h)350,566(h)262,335
Waitomo(i)625,884(i)523,679
Coromandel217,120277,146166,483174,000
Thames253,013479,656168,442317,969
Ohinemuri204,704831,675(j)164,182504,200
Tauranga282,723666,979172,078409,532
Piako689,3841,560,967(k)427,889953,296(k)
Rotorua168,371698,095114,289532,480
Whakatane663,785670,187(l)548,221523,083(l)
Opotiki(m)535,209(n)(m)430,706(n)
East Taupo301,681576,761292,106463,345
West Taupo235,997521,408226,406461,509
    Islands (Mayor and Motiti)*5,700*3,616
Waiapu472,5481,896,161341,0621,319,150
Cook1,885,8565,236,1961,175,7123,534,323
CountyCapital Value, Land and ImprovementsUnimproved Value of Land (included in previous columns)
As in Year 1891As at 31st March, 1908As in Year 1891As at 31st March, 1908

* No valuation made.

† Approximate only.

(o) Exclusive of Clyde Town District, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(p) Exclusive of Taradale Town District and of a portion transferred to Rangitikei County.

(q) Formed part of Waipawa County.

(r) Exclusive of the County of Woodville, Dannevirke Borough, Dannevirke County, Waipawa Borough, Waipukurau County, and Waipukurau Borough, which in 1891 formed parts of Waipawa County.

(s) Formed part of Waipawa County.

(t) Formed part of Waipawa County.

(u) Exclusive of Weber County, which in 1891 formed part of Patangata County.

(v) Formed part of Patangata County.

(w) Exclusive of portion of Borough of Waitara and a portion of the County of Waitomo, which in 1891 formed parts of Clifton County.

(wa) Exclusive of Fitzroy Town District, Borough of Inglewood, portions of Borough of Waitara and Egmont County, which in 1891 formed parts of Taranaki County.

(x) Formed part of the Counties of Taranaki and Hawera.

(y) Exclusive of the Borough of Stratford and of Whangamomona County, which in 1891 formed part of Stratford County.

(z) Formed part of Stratford County.

(a1) Exclusive of the Borough of Eltham, County of Eltham, and a portion of Egmont County, which in 1891 formed parts of Hawera County.

(b1) Formed part of Hawera County.

(c1) Exclusive of Gonville Town District, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(d1) Exclusive of Waimarino County and Borough of Wanganui East, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(e1) Formed part of Wanganui County.

(f1) Exclusive of Hunterville and Bull's Town Districts and Taihape Borough, and including portion transferred from Hawke's Bay County.

(g1) Formed part of Oroua County.

(h1) Exclusive of Counties of Kiwitea, Pohangina, and Kairanga, which in 1891 formed parts of Oroua County.

(i1) Including a portion transferred from Foxton Borough.

(j1) Exclusive of Borough of Levin, which in 1891 formed part of county.

 £      £      £      £      
Wairoa1,101,0722,584,360(o)786,0321,762,202(o)
Hawke's Bay3,673,8895,841,102(p)2,558,5834,539,756(p)
Waipukurau(q)†442,702(q)†343,727
Waipawa2,178,812†2,196,043(r)1,249,695†1,566,199(r)
Woodville(s)1,075,294(s)701,975
Dannevirke(t)†1,924,021(t)†1,297,062
Patangata1,863,9362,781,763(u)1,154,9092,164,057(u)
Weberv368,438(v)208,793
Clifton441,325773,495(w)385,252484,778(w)
Taranaki969,5792,086,740(wa)604,0911,217,157(wa)
Egmont(x)982,833(x)586,444
Stratford560,3451,270,427(y)447,502746,175(y)
Whangamomona(z)39,805(z)166,483
Hawera1,247,43,117,854(a1)807,8872,366,653(a1)
Eltham(b1)1,512,192(b1)1,063,166
Patea823,6752,290,023522,3221,545,209
Waitotara731,6681,265,926(e1)460,842870,430(e1)
Wanganui1,176,1061,788,548(d1)830,5191,223,352(d1)
Waimarino(e1)1,367,755(e1)1,157,526
Rangitikei1,475,4734,076,996(f1)870,0912,832,518(f1)
Kiwitea(g1)1,622,434(g1)1,053,007
Pohangina(g1)867,565(g1)541,202
Kairanga(g1)2,155,730(g1)1,620,111
Oroua2,268,8541,600,293(h1)1,298,4171,140,726(h1)
Manawatu810,1711,714,127(i1)445,4161,277,881(i1)
Horowhenua858,6482,869,488(j1)551,2482,029,788(j1)
    Islands (Kapiti, Mana, and Somes)*17,984*13,378
CountyCapital Value, Land and ImprovementsUnimproved Value of Land (included in previous columns)
As in Year 1891As at 31st March, 1908As in Year 1891As at 31st March, 1908

* No valuation made.

(k1) Exclusive of Borough of Pahiatua, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(l1) Late Wairarapa North County.

(m1) Exclusive of Borough of Eketahuna, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(o1) Exclusive of Featherston County, which in 1891 formed part of Wairarapa South County.

(p1) Formed part of Wairarapa South County.

(q1) Exclusive of Featherston and Martinborough Town Districts, which in 1891 formed part of Wairarapa South County.

(r1) Exclusive of the Boroughs of Miramar and Eastbourne, and of the Town Districts of Johnsonville and Upper Hutt, and of Makara County.

(s1) Formed part of Hutt County.

(t1) Exclusive of County of Takaka, which in 1891 formed part of Collingwood County.

(u1) Formed part of Collingwood County.

(v1) Exclusive of Motueka Borough, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(w1) Exclusive of Linwood, Woolston, and New Brighton Boroughs, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(x1) Formed part of Akaroa County.

(y1) Exclusive of Mount Herbert County, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(z1) Exclusive of Hampstead and Tinwald Town Districts, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(1) Exclusive of Levels County and Temuka and Geraldine Boroughs and Pleasant Point Town District.

(2) Formed part of Geraldine County.

(3) Exclusive of Pleasant Point Town District, which in 1891 formed part of Geraldine County.

 £      £      £      £      
Chatham Islands*95,557*55,838
Pahiatua511,4001,721,734(k1)33,6341,033,798(k1)
Akitio(l1)1,831,209(l1)1,057,393754,936438,159
Castlepoint586,923372,914
Eketahuna(m1)706,739417,948(m1)
Mauriceville439,355252,257
Masterton2,425,8641,554,699
Wairarapa South1,872,0351,514,555(o1)1,104,0641,016,688(o1)
Featherston(p1)2,422,710(q1)(p1)1,759,936(q1)
Hutt1,030,7451,669,803(r1)520,0051,151,249(r1)
Makara(s1)806,825(s1)422,946
Collingwood323,910208,060(t1)223,376125,304(t1)
Takaka(u1)279,353(u1)147,267
Waimea1,196,2261,620,138(v1)740,668984,089(v1)
Sounds171,095589,252124,480367,499
Marlborough1,837,6323,355,4141,344,1202,572,900
Kaikoura350,521962,177209,082716,191
Buller651,129991,464483,407705,173
Inangahua874,948879,484598,963632,773
Grey861,890842,670670,528638,942
Westland1,048,1561,019,747964,461811,574
Cheviot486,765931,659413,852746,726
Amuri921,2211,464,294762,5181,171,843
Ashley3,801,3415,612,6612,861,0834,529,177
Selwyn7,446,75610,593,600(w1)4,897,4197,317,425(w1)
Mount Herbert(x1)320,526(x1)253,093
Akaroa1,169,3791,983,443(y1)775,3161,567,926(y1)
Ashburton3,630,3836,660,487(z1)2,691,4665,430,805(z1)
Geraldine3,257,6962,332,427(l)2,316,1831,900,286(l)
Levels(2)2,199,013(3)(2)1,664,321(3)
Mackenzie736,0211,008,727589,528795,265
CountyCapital Value, Land and ImprovementsUnimproved Value of Land (included in previous columns)
As in Year 1891As at 31st March, 1908As in Year 1891As at 31st March, 1908

(4) Exclusive of Bay Town District, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(5) Exclusive of Otautau Town District, which in 1891 formed part of county.

(6) Exclusive of Borough of Mataura, Wyndham Town District, and a portion of Avenat Borough, which in 1891 formed parts of Southland County.

Waimate2,462,4333,768,8561,968,5873,118,488
Waitaki2,709,3793,294,5202,060,6402,611,076
Maniototo449,650737,559358,342506,585
Waihemo417,887568,287277,792410,197
Waikouaiti602,015833,190309,077496,273
Peninsula414,146474,186(4)193,301288,335(4)
Taieri1,330,7181,739,036931,5541,210,378
Tuapeka938,7011,263,015642,394904,919
Bruce957,4381,263,232600,771921,305
Clutha1,151,0461,604,755772,3521,084,116
Vincent791,595520,715637,287331,748
Lake382,722376,100274,791269,378
Fiord*144,320*137,540
Wallace1,364,0162,249,877(5)943,7771,566,879(5)
Southland3,739,5136,067,343(6)2,446,8304,128,026(6)
Stewart Island85,021165,67779,690134,857
    Islands (Antipodes, &c.)*13,880*13,880
        Quarantine and Goat Islands*3,454*900

BOROUGHS, 1891 AND 1908.

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, 1908
BoroughCapital Value, Land and ImprovementsUnimproved Value of Land (included in previous columns)
As in Year 1891As at 31st March, 1908As in Year 1891As at 31st March, 1908

† Approximate only.

(a) Formed part of Whangarei County.

(b) Formed part of Waitemata County.

(c) Formed part of Eden County.

(d) Formed part of Piako County.

(e) Formed part of Ohinemuri County.

(f) Formed part of Waipawa County.

(g) Formed part of Clifton County.

(h) Formed part of Stratford County.

(i) Formed part of Hawera County.

(j) Formed part of Taranaki County.

(k) Formed part of Wanganui County.

(l) Formed part of Rangitikei County.

(m) Part transferred to Manawatu County.

(n) Formed part of Horowhenua County.

 £      £      £      £      
Whangarei(a)291,124(a)155,165
Birkenhead77,532166,29642,33369,771
Devonport407,333894,232163,468351,218
Parnell366,098717,585138,775306,532
Newmarket182,353297,82782,327127,150
Grey Lynn222,355778,202135,607364,109
Onehunga250,634493,316111,406233,408
Northcote(b)148,994(b)71,974
Mount Eden(c)978,453(c)402,363
Hamilton90,142449,59044,584266,576
Cambridge70,279218,55725,521111,470
Thames227,171269,11376,54791,875
Tauranga63,026105,39925,15344,695
Te Aroha(d)88,167(d)34,789
Waihi(e)370,262(e)149,047
Auckland4,934,28810,000,1762,471,4965,630,662
Gisborne317,9891,001,176148,511571,389
Napier1,275,8531,696,900667,157807,546
Hastings372,458†750,775230,592†453,867
Dannevirke(f)†691,785(f)†385,581
Woodville102,226113,41557,85245,978
Waipawa(f)†214,888(f)†137,195
New Plymouth341,1171,223,251165,621727,265
Waitara(g)139,240(g)55,426
Hawera84,834449,04737,914232,368
Patea43,37864,37812,05522,037
Stratford(h)353,502(h)189,389
Eltham(i)289,340(i)167,072
Inglewood(j)149,046(j)67,434
Wanganui543,4031,359,509290,321856,165
Marton83,915152,77933,73661,423
Wanganui East(k)†278,055(k)†213,478
Taihape(l)155,732(l)91,848
Feilding146,884589,94568,199327,369
Palmerston North489,6182,032,523310,2931,141,229
Foxton85,743165,820(m)39,75579,318(m)
Levin(n)236,913(n)125,886
BoroughCapital Value, Land and ImprovementsUnimproved Value of Land (included in previous columns)
As in Year 1891As at 31st March, 1908As in Year 1891As at 31st March, 1908

† Approximate.

(o) Part transferred to Wellington City.

(p) Formed part of Pahiatua County.

(q) Formed part of Eketahuna County.

(r) Formed part of Hutt County.

(s) Formed part of Waimea County.

(t) Value of railway-station (£80,000) included in 1891, excluded in 1908.

(v) Formed part of Geraldine County

 £      £      £      £      
Onslow144,053460,017(o)78,803296,108(o)
Karori118,728†558,387(o)74,595†412,789(o)
Wellington—    
    City portion5,865,77816,295,1013,440,1829,608,829
    Melrose portion203,5172,382,560129,4291,379,680
    Onslow portion221,228137,119  
    Karori portion†494,168†257,141  
Pahiatua(p)215,124(p)101,223
Eketahuna(q)158,337(q)85,885
Masterton356,8601,145,004159,861572,470
Carterton88,650263,64031,315118,804
Greytown115,649150,02334,09559,039
Lower Hutt244,0751,510,873159,1781,057,245
Petone268,3581,279,965145,221750,704
Miramar(r)850,327(r)689,203
Eastbourne(r)167,215(r)110,936
Richmond84,28599,25443,37554,045
Nelson942,3701,181,426389,397571,780
Picton88,195146,09141,18955,718
Blenheim378,943433,717167,481182,822
Motueka(s)149,417(s)82,018
Westport166,987451,12857,782222,047
Greymouth299,077555,453114,543166,116
Brunner115,89270,55216,16611,561
Kumara33,56534,1406,9455,804
Hokitika102,708209,18518,05480,032
Ross16,96121,9945,2505,489
Rangiora158,017224,35471,16186,261
Kaiapoi134,055117,18547,02334,360
Christchurch—    
    Central Ward3,403,5666,111,0381,820,7703,055,047
    St. Albans Ward524,822†1,563,150284,938†632,195
    Sydenham Ward821,0601,608,031(t)333,876593,135(t)
    Linwood Ward(u)†919,051(u)†306,762
Woolston(u)377,071(u)172,146
New Brighton(u)124,844(u)52,552
Sumner102,145369,05560,246212,465
Lyttelton851,730932,400150,490265,210
Akaroa49,40774,13119,62824,409
Ashburton223,091452,51390,733201,925
Temuka(v)158,505(v)40,171
Geraldine(v)105,629(v)35,176
Timaru442,8301,754,257151,661960,645
BoroughCapital Value, Land and ImprovementsUnimproved Value of Land (included in previous columns)
As in Year 1891As at 31st March, 1908As in Year 1891As at 31st March, 1908

(w) Formed part of Southland County.

(x) Area of borough increased in 1905. Boundary altered.

 £      £      £      £      
Waimate75,399227,62118,75987,798
Oamaru612,571713,050279,113248,704
Hampden13,19526,4095,2299,642
Naseby24,18633,4182,4404,765
Palmerston51,18276,31716,77123,270
Hawksbury45,71682,41519,82339,413
Port Chalmers200,043301,84060,946104,050
West Harbour137,015174,28768,24076,283
North-east Valley276,835509,045130,271209,341
Maori Hill142,890357,54767,348166,660
Roslyn360,962869,772169,610353,016
Mornington284,875507,819125,414183,271
Dunedin—    
    Leith, Bell, High, and South Wards4,193,4226,221,6842,124,4673,026,364
    Caversham Ward466,074695,731217,158264,085
    South Dunedin Ward223,534546,98682,609167,053
St. Kilda118,477437,77176,842165,411
Green Island36,96249,69613,58514,215
Mosgiel122,625198,12453,44178,399
Roxburgh20,12332,8163,1675,102
Lawrence79,066118,01318,58432,038
Tapanui16,15523,3642,5753,760
Milton76,207166,63514,01253,796
Balclutha53,210125,75014,54748,565
Kaitangata54,976100,27921,13331,297
Arrowtown24,58620,9845,0123,325
Queenstown65,15364,19513,52414,564
Cromwell22,16845,1924,65810,726
Alexandra13,57851,6942,9559,898
Gore142,708438,66666,171183,309
Mataura(w)139,383(w)48,487
Winton20,19557,4367,96521,286
Gladstone26,541105,97913,82549,232
Avenal15,26968,659(x)6,68731,159(x)
North Invercargill28,29389,62315,64035,111
East Invercargill42,996111,30418,38542,020
Invercargill959,1401,624,407517,879689,880
South Invercargill79,526195,81842,81374,762
Riverton59,62666,28322,02417,923
Campbelltown97,380221,79349,43089,704

TOWN DISTRICTS, 1891 AND 1908.

TABLE showing the CAPITAL VALUE of LAND, with IMPROVEMENTS (and distinguishing the UNIMPROVED VALUE of LAND), according to the Results of the General Valuation made in 1891, and as at 31st March, 1908, for those Town Districts which, under the Provisions of “The Town Districts Act, 1906,” do not form Part of any County.

Town DistrictCapital Value, Land and ImprovementsUnimproved Value of Land (included in previous columns)
As in Year 1891As at 31st March, 1908As in Year 1891As at 31st March, 1908

(a) Formed part of Hikurangi Road District.

(b) Formed part of Waipa County.

(c) Formed part of Huntly Road District.

(d) Formed part of Mount Wellington Road District.

(e) Formed part of Waipukurau Road District.

(f) Formed part of Henui Road District.

(g) Formed part of Westmere Riding.

(h) Formed part of Rangitikei County.

(i) Formed part of Featherston County.

(j) Formed part of Hutt County.

(k) Formed part of Levels County.

(l) Formed part of Tomahawk Road District.

 £      £      £      £      
Hikurangi(a)38,692(a)18,817
Helensville40,63932,5108,0286,948
Frankton(b)86,275(b)51,245
Huntly(c)102,534(c)63,889
Ellerslie(d)123,257(d)59,018
Opotiki35,65565,01514,39032,080
Clyde45,341115,69922,16472,471
Taradale82,711134,11850,57587,549
Waipukurau(e)199,680(e)138,718
Fitzroy(f)117,513(f)72,045
Gonville(g)241,172(g)168,427
Hunterville(h)74,158(h)33,600
Bull's38,02455,0818,96623,096
Martinborough(i)93,465(i)34,479
Featherston47,18772,82313,64822,051
Upper Hutt(j)198,358(j)146,389
Johnsonville46,313158,93121,51979,309
Hampstead60,563139,70527,78465,835
Tinwald49,42879,48925,19145,217
Pleasant Point(k)40,797(k)19,050
Bay(l)189,353(l)101,808
Otautau14,34068,9196,01529,052
Wyndham22,76354,0217,54417,127

COUNTIES, 1908.

TABLE showing—(1.) CAPITAL VALUE of LAND, with IMPROVEMENTS (and distinguishing the UNIMPROVED VALUE OF LAND), in each COUNTY in NEW ZEALAND. (2.) CAPITAL VALUE OF RATEABLE PROPERTY, with IMPROVEMENTS (and distinguishing the UNIMPROVED VALUE of LAND), in each COUNTY, as at 31st March, 1908.

NOTE.—The rateable value of pastoral lands of the Crown is fixed, under section 2 of “The Rating Act, 1894,” at the annual rental capitalised at 6 per cent., and in some cases is more and in some cases less than the assessed capital value of same. The rateable values which are shown below include, in some cases, Native lands which are liable for half rates only.

[System of rating: C.V. signifies capital value, U.V. unimproved value, and A.V. annual value.]

CountyGross ValuesSystem of RatingRateable Values
Capital Value (Land and Improvements)Unimproved Value of Land (included in previous column)Capital Value (Land and Improvements)Unimproved Value of Land (included in previous column)

* Counties Act not wholly in force.

† Counties Act not in force.

 £      £       £      £      
Mangonui307,943184,404C.V231,162123,130
Whangaroa84,78852,285C.V74,24045,356
Bay of Islands515,209333,836C.V395,135226,508
Hokianga659,556528,327U.V314,345197,908
Whangarei907,193490,147C.V834,417432,885
Hobson892,729548,546U.V813,797484,407
Otamatea602,579363,668C.V564,021333,678
Rodney540,768259,426C.V517,103244,561
Waitemata899,253502,814C.V830,140459,958
Eden4,174,2542,374,892*3,942,5352,289,907
Manukau2,902,4421,641,350*2,799,3101,587,808
Islands—     
    Great and Little Barrier62,21240,05140,80432,856 
    Waiheke, &c.99,86056,56485,08849,405 
Waikato1,397,435860,180C.V1,294,819788,463
Raglan1,134,997706,426U.V1,055,189638,024
Waipa1,088,405615,364C.V1,052,570599,987
Kawhia166,200120,584U.V147,399104,588
Awakino350,566262,335263,110177,922
Waitomo625,884523,679C.V404,205310,479
Coromandel277,146174,000C.V223,381135,266
Thames479,656317,969C.V402,185252,747
Ohinemuri831,675504,200C.V598,780303,284
Tauranga666,979409,532U.V606,486358,611
Piako1,560,967953,296C.V1,409,523814,599
Rotorua698,095532,480358,023230,156
Whakatane670,187523,083C.V465,017333,268
Opotiki535,209430,706C.V335,548236,062
East Taupo576,761463,345382,908271,047
West Taupo521,408461,509189,609142,920
Islands (Mayor and Motiti)5,7003,6165,7003,616 
Waiapu1,896,1611,319,150C.V1,711,3631,148,904
Cook5,236,1963,534,323C.V4,746,3313,067,240
CountyGross ValuesSystem of RatingRateable Values
Capital Value (Land and Improvements)Unimproved Value of Land (included in previous column)Capital Value (Land and Improvements)Unimproved Value of Land (included in previous column)

*Approximate values.

† Counties Act not in force.

‡ Counties Act not wholly in force.

 £      £       £      £      
Wairoa2,584,3601,762,202C.V2,336,6951,520,302
Hawke's Bay5,841,1024,539,756C.V5,776,2384,509,336
Waipukurau*442,702343,727U.V430,604331,999
Waipawa*2,196,0431,566,192U.V2,164,3751,541,188
Woodville1,075,294701,975U.V1,066,180696,111
Dannevirke*1,924,0211,297,062U.V1,834,0211,225,377
Patangata2,781,7632,164,057C.V2,757,9822,147,188
Weber368,438208,793C.V350,955193,777
Clifton773,495484,778C.V688,657403,287
Taranaki2,086,7401,217,157C.V2,037,9171,182,713
Egmont982,833586,444C.V951,611568,587
Stratford1,270,427746,175U.V1,248,978729,375
Whangamomona239,805166,483U.V204,265132,811
Hawera3,117,8542,306,653C.V3,079,4542,343,410
Eltham1,512,1921,063,166C.V1,484,5131,041,892
Patea2,290,0231,545,209C.V2,176,9011,453,511
Waitotara1,265,926870,430C.V1,202,992812,221
Wanganui1,788,5481,223,352C.V1,649,2821,091,686
Waimarino1,367,7551,157,526U.V905,330721,350
Rangitikei4,076,9962,832,518C.V3,947,9182,721,703
Kiwitea1,622,4341,053,007C.V1,574,2471,010,860
Pohangina867,565541,202C.V811,500488,519
Kairanga2,155,7301,620,111U.V2,128,5431,606,772
Oroua1,600,2931,140,726C.V1,590,7681,137,708
Manawatu1,714,1271,277,881C.V1,699,6831,273,343
Horowhenua2,869,4882,029,788C.V2,765,0151,972,107
Islands (Kapiti, Mana, and Some)17,98413,37810,4849,378 
Chatham Islands95,55755,83892,44653,614
Pahiatua1,721,7341,033,798U.V1,691,4011,012,952
Okitio754,936438,159U.V721,440408,358
Castlepoint586,923372,914U.V583,544372,325
Fketahuna706,739417,948U.V692,485407,814
Mauriceville439,355252,257C.V406,889222,382
Masterton2,425,8641,554,699C.V2,391,6851,527,964
Wairarapa South1,514,5551,016,688U.V1,484,200994,951
Featherston2,422,7101,759,936C.V2,346,1231,687,645
Hutt1,669,8031,151,249C.V1,543,0881,045,570
Makara806,825422,946C.V725,407406,194
Collingwood208,060125,304C.V164,04989,111
Takaka279,353147,267U.V230,626103,673
Waimea1,620,138984,089C.V1,488,764880,675
Sounds59,252367,499550,983329,859
Marlborough3,355,4142,572,9003,158,5802,380,840
Kaikoura962,177716,191C.V818,023582,381
CountyGross ValuesSystem of RatingRateable Values
Capital Value (Land and Improvements)Unimproved Value of Land (included in previous column)Capital Value (Land and Improvements)Unimproved Value of Land (included in previous column)

* Counties Act not wholly in force.

† Counties Act not in force

 £      £       £      £      
Buller991,464705,173U.V542,383282,563
Inangahua879,484632,773U.V359,381132,170
Grey842,670638,942C.V390,855200,996
Westland1,019,747811,574C.V393,664201,667
Cheviot931,659746,726U.V918,757742,201
Amuri1,464,2941,171,843C.V1,296,4031,021,382
Ashley5,612,6614,529,177*5,515,6954,480,831
Selwyn10,593,6007,317,425C.V10,016,7697,061,034
Mount Herbert320,526253,093C.V314,553251,881
Akaroa1,983,4431,567,926C.V1,957,7711,553,868
Ashburton6,660,4875,430,805C.V6,600,9025,404,355
Geraldine2,332,4271,900,280C.V2,226,2641,823,739
Levels2,199,0131,664,321C.V2,183,2891,658,362
Mackenzie1,008,727795,265C.V993,805791,137
Waimate3,768,8563,118,488U.V3,740,0303,107,279
Waitaki3,294,5202,611,076C.V3,238,0712,276,574
Maniototo737,559506,585C.V709,649493,330
Waihemo568,287410,197C.V548,504395,199
Waikouaiti833,190496,273C.V721,472483,836
Peninsula474,186288,335*446,468284,066
Taieri1,739,0361,210,378C.V1,703,5741,138,229
Tuapeka1,263,015904,919C.V1,220,288881,780
Bruce1,263,232921,305C.V1,244,733915,509
Clutha1,604,7551,084,116C.V1,515,3591,026,818
Vincent520,715331,748C.V461,974311,387
Lake376,100269,378C.V259,643168,947
Fiord144,320137,540114,014113,234
Wallace2,249,8771,566,879C.V2,051,4861,393,946
Southland6,067,3434,128,026U.V5,812,6483,931,374
Stewart Island165,677134,857C.V30,35514,406
Islands (Antipodes, &c.)13,88013,880686686 
Quarantine and Goat Islands3,454900   

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, 1908
CountyGross ValuesSystem of RatingRateable Values
Capital Value (Land and Improvements)Unimproved Value of Land (included in previous column)Capital Value (Land and Improvements)Unimproved Value of Land (included in previous column)

* Approximate only.

 £      £       £      £      
Whangarei291,124155,165C.V282,209149,135
Birkenhead166,29669,771A.V162,33967,282
Devonport894,232351,218U.V757,802308,633
Parnell717,585306,532A.V676,606290,248
Newmarket297,827127,150A.V290,867123,192
Grey Lynn778,202364,109U.V761,792356,834
Onehunga493,316233,408A.V463,699219,611
Northcote148,99471,974A.V144,18468,934
Mount Eden978,453402,363C.V883,984375,548
Hamilton449,590266,576C.V393,702228,573
Cambridge218,557111,470A.V191,87296,702
Thames269,11391,875A.V236,95385,120
Tauranga105,39944,695A.V95,75940,444
Te Aroha88,16734,789A.V73,44328,550
Waihi370,262149,047A.V354,375144,160
Auckland10,000,1765,630,662A.V8,887,1674,990,763
Gisborne1,001,176571,389A.V963,268556,007
Napier1,696,900807,546A.V1,570,991766,974
Hastings*750,775453,867A.V735,360450,717
Dannevirke*691,785385,581U.V660,140370,051
Woodville113,41545,978U.V98,26341,391
Waipawa*214,888137,195U.V199,962129,514
New Plymouth1,223,251727,265A.V1,096,547650,723
Waitara139,24055,426C.V133,03752,008
Hawera449,047232,368U.V408,519209,010
Patea64,37822,037A.V56,25120,072
Stratford353,502189,389U.V318,527169,982
Eltham289,340167,072C.V274,871159,662
Inglewood149,04667,434C.V134,57859,263
Wanganui1,359,509856,165A.V1,212,451761,474
Marton152,77961,423A.V140,74358,975
Wanganui East278,055213,478C.V277,255213,228
Taihape155,73291,848C.V130,30375,015
Feilding589,945327,369U.V564,350313,882
Palmerston North2,032,5231,141,229U.V1,930,4661,078,183
Foxton165,82079,318U.V146,45768,604
Levin236,913125,886C.V222,478117,501
Onslow460,017296,108U.V419,896280,039
Karori*558,387412,789U.V525,227383,739
Wellington—     
    City portion16,295,1019,608,829U.V14,127,3688,360,898
    Melrose portion2,382,5601,379,680U.V2,350,7651,355,185
    Onslow portion221,228137,119U.V217,759134,694
    Karori portion*494,168257,141U.V420,843231,696
Pahiatua215,124101,223U.V204,09297,875
Eketahuna158,33785,885U.V147,41281,744
Masterton1,145,004572,470U.V1,059,380539,257
Carterton263,640118,804C.V245,317112,916
Greytown150,02359,039A.V141,80456,871
Lower Hutt1,510,8731,057,245U.V1,425,853987,381
Petone1,279,965750,704U.V1,189,920680,728
Miramar850,327689,203U.V776,679631,150
Eastbourne167,215110,936U.V164,889109,390
Richmond99,25454,045C.V94,87152,099
Nelson1181,42671,780A.V1,074,729532,043
Picton146,09155,718U.V128,93847,182
Blenheim433,717182,822U.V395,288172,050
Motueka149,41782,018C.V142,73480,585
Westport451,128222,047U.V371,618178,217
Greymouth555,453166,116U.V492,461144,505
Brunner70,55211,561A.V20,0728,658
Kumara34,1405,804C.V24,2773,769
Hokitika209,18580,032U.V166,29262,001
Ross21,9945,489C.V17,8094,532
Rangiora224,35486,261C.V208,18982,316
Kaiapoi117,18534,360A.V100,18531,675
Christchurch—     
    Central Ward6,111,0383,055,047U.V5,623,6412,914,995
    St. Albans Ward1,563,150632,195U.V*1,538,380623,605
    Sydenham Ward1,608,031593,135U.V1,496,306523,150
    Linwood Ward*919,051306,762U.V*901,968300,399
Woolston377,071172,146U.V360,386166,856
New Brighton124,84452,552U.V121,47051,398
Sumner369,055212,465U.V346,065201,780
Lyttelton932,400265,210A.V799,535177,940
Akaroa74,13124,409C.V68,10822,709
Ashburton452,513201,925A.V411,128177,850
Temuka158,50540,171C.V136,57237,586
Geraldine105,62935,176C.V98,29233,261
Timaru1,754,257960,645A.V1,611,762892,710
Waimate227,62187,798U.V204,48781,162
Oamaru713,050248,704A.V651,010232,750
Hampden26,4099,642C.V22,0971,616
Naseby33,4184,765A.V27,2184,245
CountyGross ValuesSystem of RatingRateable Values
Capital Value (Land and Improvements)Unimproved Value of Land (included in previous column)Capital Value (Land and Improvements)Unimproved Value of Land (included in previous column)
 £      £       £      £      
Palmerston76,31723,270C.V67,89421,574
Hawksbury82,41539,413C.V76,80338,513
Port Chalmers301,840104,050A.V273,97098,180
West Harbour174,28776,283U.V165,94773,013
North-east Valley509,045209,341U.V511,213202,199
Maori Hill357,547166,660U.V294,232138,645
Roslyn869,772353,016A.V851,287347,981
Mornington507,819183,271A.V489,269178,451
Dunedin—     
    Leith, Bell, High, and South Wards6,221,6843,026,364A.V5,606,4142,710,454
    Caversham Ward695,731264,085A.V643,544244,265
    South Dunedin Ward546,986167,053A.V528,646163,713
St. Kilda437,771165,411A.V406,846163,911
Green Island49,69614,215A.V42,76613,020
Mosgiel198,12478,399A.V185,87474,859
Roxburgh32,8165,192A.V28,9164,592
Lawrence118,01332,038A.V103,19329,318
Tapanui23,3643,760A.V20,7893,565
Milton166,63553,796A.V154,47051,331
Balclutha125,75048,565U.V116,60545,410
Kaitangata100,27931,297A.V94,34429,985
Arrowtown20,9843,325A.V15,4142,867
Queenstown64,19514,564A.V54,19813,504
Cromwell45,19210,726A.V39,3058,882
Alexandra51,6949,898A.V46,4368,803
Gore438,666183,309U.V394,304163,224
Mataura139,38348,487A.V132,24844,431
Winton57,43021,286U.V51,39419,100
Gladstone105,97949,232A.V103,46748,407
Avenal68,65931,159U.V68,65931,159
North Invercargill89,62335,111U.V87,52234,306
East Invercargill111,30442,020A.V111,04441,875
Invercargill1,624,407689,880U.V1,363,429551,990
South Invercargill195,81874,762U.V190,59873,045
Riverton66,28317,923A.V57,53816,536
Campbelltown221,79389,704U.V191,99969,011

TOWN DISTRICTS.

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), as at 31st March, 1908, for those Town Districts which, under the provisions of “The Town Districts Act, 1906.” do not form Part of any County
Town DistrictsGross ValuesSystem of RatingRateable Values
Capital Value (Land and Improvements)Unimproved Value of Land (included in previous column)Capital Value (Land and Improvements)Unimproved Value of Land (included in previous column)
Hikurangi38,69218,817C.V36,58418,339
Helensville32,5106,948A.V29,9136,634
Frankton86,27551,245C.V85,30550,460
Huntly102,53463,889C.V106,65465,089
Ellerslie123,25759,018C.V109,89751,238
Opotiki65,01532,080C.V59,50429,937
Clyde115,69972,471U.V106,90270,096
Taradale134,11887,549C.V130738,86,884
Waipukurau199,680138,718U.V187,329133,738
Fitzroy117,51372,045C.V116,90971,845
Gonville241,172168,427C.V220,122158,227
Hunterville74,15833,600C.V67,85730,986
Bull's55,08123,096A.V50,26621,723
Martinborough93,46534,479C.V88,93733,966
Featherston72,82322,051C.V64,86220,974
Upper Hutt198,358146,389C.V191,863141,714
Johnsonville158,93179,309C.V151,39875,781
Hampstead139,70565,835C.V128,68565,035
Tinwald79,48945,217C.V76,51544,612
Pleasant Point40,79719,050C.V37,93218,440
Bay189,353101,808C.V183,998100,143
Otautau68,91929,052C.V63,20827,652
Wyndham54,02117,127A.V49,18416,103

Chapter 53. SECTION XXI.—METEOROLOGY.

TEMPERATURE, RAINFALL, ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE, AND WIND THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND, AS OBSERVED AT FOURTEEN STATIONS, FOR THE YEAR 1907.

THE OBSERVATIONS WERE TAKEN AT 9.30 A.M
Stations and MonthsTemperature in ShadeRainfallMean Height of BarometerPrevailing Wind
HighestLowestWet DaysFall
Auckland (lat. 36° 50' S.; long. 174° 50' 40" E.; alt. 125 ft.)—° Fahr° FahrNoInchesInches 
    January84.050.0127.4530.06NE. SW,
    February78.056.0105.7930.08NE, SW
    March77.054.070.9730.18N.E
    April75.045.0132.9430.08S, NW
    May69.041.0163.9730.00S, SW
    June68.038.0103.6130.18SW
    July61.039.0196.3330.06SW
    August63.040.0256.4429.91SW, NW
    September66.046.0245.4229.85SW, W
    October68.044.0185.0230.09NW, SW
    November74.052.0111.0930.13SW
    December79.053.0115.1530.10NE, SW
Rotorua (lat. 38° 9' S.; long. 176° 15' E.; alt: 925 ft.)—      
    January84.035.01412.17N, SW 
    February83.041.0118.46N 
    March81.040.0184.52NE 
    April77.035.0157.63SE 
    May68.029.0104.41SW 
    June65.023.0112.72S, SW 
    July64.023.0122.54S, SW 
    August60.026.0163.93NE, SW 
    September65.030.0215.14NW, SW 
    October73.035.0178.31NE, SW, NW 
    November81.040.0144.53N, NE 
    December92.046.096.59SW, NE 
Gisborne (lat. 38° 30' S.; long. 178° 3' E.; alt. 20 ft.)—      
    January88.042.0112.1030.051NE, SW
    February86.044.0113.7430.022NE, NW
    March80.046.0112.0130.176NE, NW
    April79.041.0195.4030.055NW, NE
    May71.037.0197.7129.904SW, S, NW
    June70.031.0123.2530.208NW
    July64.032.0168.7929.982NW
    August65.032.0182.6929.882NW
    September73.035.0143.4129.698NW
    October76.040.0131.8829.936NW, SE
    November81.042.091.2430.067SE, NW, NE
    December99.045.07.0730.067NW, SE
Meeanee (lat. 39° 32' 38" S.; long. 170° 53' 20" E.; alt. 14 ft.)—      
    January87.543.5113.1630.100NE
    February80.045.094.2830.039NW
    March82.046.0115.1930.155NE
    April75.039.5157.3630.047SW, NW
    May69.035.0163.7229.907SW
    June67.529.5112.7930.145SW
    July62.029.5144.3629.979SW
    August63.030.2141.6929.875SW
    September74.631.0112.4729.687SW
    October75.435.2111.6129.904NE, NW
    November7.240.070.5330.089SE, NW
    December88.044.561.1030.048NE, NW
New Plymouth (lat. 39° 3' 35" S.; long. 174° 4' 58" E.; alt. 200 ft.)—      
    January83.039.0167.2029.817NE
    February80.052.0185.0229.830NW
    March79.049.01513.7729.920NE
    April75.045.0194.3429.834SE
    May73.032.0196.9629.726SE
    June70.030.0145.1429.919SE
    July69.034.0175.0429.770SE
    August66.034.0257.1629.680NE, SE
    September65.034.0257.5929.560SE, NW
    October71.036.0247.3129.760NW, W
    November76.040.0133.3629.937W
    December82.047.0214.4129.930W
      
Moumahaki (lat. 34° 46' 6" ° S.; long. 174° 42' 36" E.; alt. 270ft.)—      
    January79.944.1134.31N, W 
    February77.947.7123.77N, W 
    March79.249.1147.38N 
    April71.036.0175.70N 
    May65.033.8173.71S, N 
    June63.029.495.15N 
    July58.030.0144.47N, W 
    August60.431.7184.53S, W 
    September63.532.7225.68W 
    October67.233.9195.46W 
    November74.042.173.47W 
    December76.345.2133.51W, N 
Levin (lat. 40° 37' S.; long. 175° 17' E.; alt. 115 ft.)—      
    January82.234.54.1829.67NW 
    February77.539.8124.9929.73N
    March79.038.5126.4529.48N, NW
    April75.234.5143.1229.84NW
    May66.029.6143.7029.89S, SW
    June61.026.5106.2230.25 
    July57.227.4132.6730.06S, NW
    August61.327.0162.1529.94NE
    September61.628.0214.3329.81W, SW
    October64.830.2205.2929.84NW, W
    November70.442.2111.6729.86NW
    December80.843.4123.1529.72NW
Wellington (lat. 41° 16' 25" S.; long. 174° 46' 20" E.; alt. 110 ft.)—      
    January80.246.083.3429.994S, N
    February77.248.893.9429.993NW
    March77.547.6115.4930.123N, NW
    April72.542.4162.7330.026N, S
    May62.538.9206.3929.929S, N
    June58.533.0144.2930.095N
    July59.042.0143.7529.973N, S
    August59.042.6174.1329.864S, N
    September63.037.5143.0129.692N, NW
    October63.038.0152.7929.858N, NW
    November69.043.073.0280.071NW, N, S
    December75.051.051.3830.017N, NW
      
Hokitika (lat. 42° 41' 30" S.; long. 170° 49' E.; alt. 12 ft.)—      
    January82.039.532.1429.995SW
    February76.044.0108.2929.999SW, NW
    March82.043.52129.1130.031NW, SW
    April72.036.51610.6930.004SW, NW
    May72.030.0128.4529.944SW, NW
    June60.029.5102.3030.138SW, E
    July60.029.0166.4429.960E, SW, NW
    August62.030.0104.8229.852E, SW
    September66.032.01010.2029.682SW, E
    October67.037.01615.3029.863SW, NW
    November74.039.01011.9530.061SW, NW
    December76.045.01411.3230.037NW, SW
Christchurch (lat. 43° 32' S.; long. 172° 38' E.; alt. 25 ft.)      
    January83.240.690.9329.963NE, SW
    February81.846.851.0929.949E, NE
    March87.838.6111.8030.024NE
    April78.031.5151.3729.961NE
    May63.630.4161.5029.943SW
    June62.423.780.9230.121SW
    July60.128.0131.7229.959SW, NE
    August63.024.1142.8929.852SW, NE
    September69.929.6144.1229.632SW
    October75.229.7101.6629.761NE, SW
    November82.736.2120.9630.006NE
    December89.942.640.5429.940NE
Hanmer (lat. 42° 31' S.; long. 172° 50' W.; alt. 1,220 ft.)—      
    January88.035.091.9629.97SE
    February85.039.092.7329.95SW
    March81.050.5153.1830.01NW, SW
    April73.529.0152.9229.91NW
    May63.028.0173.0429.89E
    June62.519.0121.9229.99E, NW
    July59.019.0133.3829.83NE
    August61.019.0142.2429.71NE
    September66.531.01812.5529.52NW, SW
    October77.038.0173.5229.72SW, NW
    November78.038.0131.5229.94NW, SW
    December93.038.050.9629.95NW, SW
      
Lincoln College, Canterbury (lat. 43° 32' 16' S.; long. 172° 38' 59" E.; alt. 42 ft.)—°Fahr°FahrNoInchesInches 
    January85.840.071.0429.959SW, NE
    February82.046.860.9529.938NE
    March89.838.5151.8530.015NE
    April79.335.8101.6529.947NE
    May66.332.7171.7329.959SW, NE
    June65.826.890.8030.124SW, NE
    July65.627.5131.7529.955NE
    August63.224.4173.8829.849SW
    September73.331.6122.4029.639SW, NE
    October78.331.091.1529.758NE, SW
    November84.037.760.6230.003NE, SW
    December93.842.840.8429.947NE, SW
Leith Valley, Dunedin (lat. 45° 52' 11" S.; long. 170° 31' 7" E.; alt. 300 ft.)—      
    January80.040.090.8329.881NE, SW
    February83.043.0133.8130.003W
    March80.041.0142.3230.072SW, N
    April74.040.091.0429.997W
    May61.033.0143.0129.989SE
    June57.031.091.7130.174SW
    July57.030.0121.0429.997NE, SW
    August55.032.0125.4529.938NE
    September65.033.0182.7829.718SW
    October75.034.0123.9329.784SW
    November84.038.0132.5530.049SW, W
    December83.042.0113.0130.069W
Chatham Islands (lat. 43° 52' S.; long. 176° 42' W.; alt. 200 ft.)—      
    January74.040.0126.0129.89NW
    February72.041.0124.3529.97NW
    March69.042.0101.9930.06N, NE, SW
    April69.038.0103.8429.92N, SW
    May64.033.0235.6629.54SW, SE
    June58.032.0214.7029.81SW
    July58.031.0225.8229.74SE, SW
    August56.031.0162.4529.71SW, E
    September59.031.0214.3929.40SW
    October62.032.0192.4629.61SW, NW
    November64.031.0111.5429.86NW, SW
    December73.040.0'92.4929.85SW
FOURTEEN STATIONS: COMPARATIVE TABLE: YEAR 1907
StationsTemperature in shadeRainfallMean Height of BarometerPrevailing Wind
Highest, and DateLowest, and DateDays on which Rain fellGreatest Fall, and Date
 °Fahr°FahrNoInchesInches 
Auckland ...84.0, 28 Jan38.0, 22 June1762.32, 14 Feb.SW, NE 
Roterua ...92.0, 17 Dec23.0,1682.69, 14 Jan SW, NE
Gisborne ...99.0, 19 Dec31.0 17 June1602.44, 2 May30.004NW
Meeanee ...38.0, 15 Dec29.5,1362.60, 18 Mar29.998SW, NE
New Plymouth83.0, 9 Jan30.0, 16 & 22 June2263.70, 17 Mar SE, NE
Moumahaki ...79.9, 15 Jan29.4, 16 June1752.76, 17 Mar N, W,
Levin82.2, 12 Jan26.5, 22 June1631.91, 15 Jan NW, N
Wellington ...80.2, 9 Jan33.0, 16 June1502.51, 11 Nov29.970N, S, NW
Hokitika ...82.0, 12 Jan29.0, 28 July1547.61, 9 Mar29.964SW, NW
Christchurch ...89.9, 30 Dec3.7, 16 June1311.59, 1 Sept29.926SW, NE
Hanmer ...93.0, 29 Dec19.0,1572.50, 1 Sept NW, SW
Lincoln ...93.8, 18 Dec2.4, 4 Aug1251.25, 31 Aug29.924NE, SW
Dunedin ...84.0, 6 Nov30.0, 11 July1461.81, 23 Aug29.973SW, W
Chatham Islands74.0, 10 Jan31.0,1862.30, 10 Sept SW

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)JanFebMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugSeptOctNovDecYear
HLHLHLHLHLHLHLHLHLHLHLHLHL
New Zealand-°F°F°F°F°F°F°F°F°F°F°F°F°F°F°F°F°F°F°F°F°F°F°F°F°F°F
    Wellington (140)7845784776447043663862345933623465376941743375447833
Queensland—                          
    Brisbane (130)9264936391618554805076427539784185469150945797619739
New South Wales—                          
    Sydney (155)9259895884597951724867446339704277458848875494579439
Victoria—                          
    Melbourne (91)101489947994586407437643762326834743481409444964510132
South Australia—                          
    Adelaide (140)108491065010048894578406738653674397941864196451014810836
Western Australia—                          
    Perth (47)10750102539852965781407038703773388042834293481005110737
Tasmania—                          
    Hobart (160)9145944593447538713761345933663372357735924086439433
Natal—                          
    Durban (150)9963956194609458895286498848914996509153975798599949
Cape Town—                          
    Royal Observatory (37) ...9454905192498645804276397437763783398644894890529437
Hong Kong—                          
    Observatory (110) ...7347784677498458896891739174917492709066825579499146
Straits Settlements—                          
    Singapore (30)8870907091719173907390729072897289718971897189709170
Mauritius—                          
    Royal Alfred Observatory (179)8469847184708270806277607559755977628062826684688459
Canada—                          
    Toronto (350)47-345-35167122783186448846894782417127561345-189-3
    Montreal (187)45-1442-134406924813287438850865081397027591143-118814
    St. John (N.B.) (116) ...49-746-74746222693381427949774873376026561649-381-7
    Halifax (122)50-146-350106322733283398448844980366929602151384-3
    Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (38)47-643-94756020703177398049794975396630581947180-9
    Winnipeg, Manitoba (764)34-3732-3749-2576882209035874091348630731753-1639-2991-37
    Victoria, British Columbia (10)5114552260306729733876397943764471386435553051237914
    St. John's, Newfoundland (125)48-650-850116115712776338141794278336524621951981-8
Barbados—                          
    Joes River (430)8167816783698470847185728470857085718571847083698567
Bahamas—                          
    Military Hospital ...7763796879678469897288738978897387758677827077678963
Jamaica—                          
    Kingston (60)9163906390629168917092719571937392709369916790639562
Trinidad (130) ...8667876888698870897086718671867089708870877085698967
MEAN MONTHLY and ANNUAL TEMPERATURE and RAINFALL of New Zealand, from Monthly Means of Eighteen Second-class Stations, for the Years 1905 and 1906
JanFebMarAprilMayJuneJulyAugSeptOctNovDecAverages and Totals
North Island—            Annual
    Mean temperature61.462.460.356.353.349.248.849.451.755.257.361.355.6° Fahr
    Rainfall, in points (100=1 in.)25626929432151852456829342740941928445.85 in
    Days with rain11.19.09.713.714.816.017.612.917.214.514.610.7162 days
South Island—             
    Mean temperature57.858.857.251.648.244.443.344.948.152.054.958.451.7° Fahr
    Rainfall, in points (100=1 in.)41737531032340549045025747438437927145.39 in
    Days with rain14.310.411.314.712.213.515.311.015.012.313.010.7154 days

Chapter 54. SUPPLEMENTAL TO PART II.

STATISTICAL VIEW OF FIFTY YEARS' PROGRESS IN NEW ZEALAND, 1858-1907.I.—POPULATION
YearPopulation (exclusive of Maoris and for Annexed Pacific Islands) on 31st DecemberBirthsDeathsMarriages
MalesFemalesTotals
NOTE.—Maori population excluded from above was 47,731 in 1906, and that of Cook and other Islands 12,340 persons
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
1905467,366415,096882,46223,6828,0617,200
1906481,651427,075908,72624,2528,3397,592
1907492,649436,835929,48425,09410,0668,192
II.—LAND AND STOCK
YearOccupied and Cultivated Holdings over One Acre in ExtentLand (including Sown Grasses) under CultivationLive-stock
HorsesHorned CattleSheepPings
 NumberAcres    
1858 141,00714,912137,2041,523,32440,734
1859 156,940    
1860      
1861 226,62128,275193,2852,761,38343,270
1862      
1863      
1864 382,65549,409249,7604,937,27361,276
1865      
1866      
1867 676,90965,715312,8358,418,579115,104
186811,932783,435    
186913,476997,477    
187010,2111,140,279    
187114,8741,226,22281,028436,5929,700,629151,460
187215,3041,416,933    
187315,8831,651,712    
187416,0921,943,65399,261494,11311,674,863123,741
187517,2502,377,402    
187618,7502,940,711    
187720,5193,523,277    
187821,0483,982,866137,768578,43013,069,338207,337
187923,1294,506,889    
188024,1474,768,192    
188126,2985,189,104161,736698,63712,985,085200,083
188227,3525,651,255    
188328,5876,072,949    
188429,8146,550,399    
188531,7636,668,920    
188633,3326,845,177187,382853,35816,564,595277,901
188734,7437,284,752    
188835,7477,670,167    
188938,1788,015,426    
189038,0838,462,495    
189141,2248,893,225211,040831,83118,128,186308,812
189242,7689,713,745  18,570,752 
189345,29010,063,051 885,30519,380,369 
189446,67610,128,076 964,03420,230,829 
189552,79010,698,809237,4181,047,90119,826,604239,778
189658,90411,550,075249,8131,138,06719,138,493209,834
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
190569,94214,114,925326,5371,810,93619,130,875249,727
190672,33814,382,787342,6081,851,75020,108,471242,273
190773,36714,884,617352,8321,816,29920,983,772241,128
III.—TRADE.Exports (the Produce of New Zealand)
YearWoolGrainFrozen Meat
QuantityValueQuantityValueQuantityValue
 lb.      £      Bushels.  £      Cwt.    £      
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
1895116,015,1703,662,1312,381,837215,7831,134,0971,262,711
1896129,151,6244,391,8482,941,821346,1971,103,3621,251,993
1897135,835,1174,443,1441,919,887235,4291,407,9211,566,286
1898149,385,8154,645,8041,045,980136,1201,551,7731,698,750
1899147,169,4974,324,6276,985,999721,8171,865,8272,088,856
1900140,706,4864,749,1969,529,8471,034,0141,844,8312,123,881
1901146,820,0793,699,10313,373,5151,285,8111,857,5472,253,262
1902160,419,0233,354,5635,865,562786,5482,138,5572,718,763
1903155,128,3814,041,2745,362,748533,8652,378,6503,197,043
1904144,647,3764,673,8263,775,978392,3461,912,9792,793,599
1905139,912,7375,381,3332,282,853294,5741,690,6842,694,432
1906154,384,5686,765,6551,006,825139,4742,025,5072,877,031
1907171,635,5957,657,278229,59353,2052,354,8083,420,664
YearButterCheesePhormium Fibre
QuantityValueQuantityValueQuantityValue
 Cwt.  £    Cwt.  £    Tons£    
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
1905305,7221,408,55788,562205,17127,877696,467
1906320,2251,560,235131,206341,00227,779776,106
1907328,4411,615,345236,833662,35528,547832,068
YearGoldGum(Kauri)Provisions,Tallow,Timber,&c
QuantityValueQuantityValueValue
 Oz.    £    Tons.  £    £    
185813,53352,4431,81020,03678,419
18597,33628,4272,01020,77681,833
18604,53817,5851,0469,85152,795
1861194,234752,6578569,38848,437
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
1887187,938747,8786,790362,4341,085,468
1888229,608914,3098,482380,9331,274,780
1889197,492785,4907,519329,5901,606,828
1890187,641751,3607,438378,5631,440,731
1891251,1611,007,1728,388437,0561,436,671
1892237,393951,9638,705517,6781,200,525
1893227,502915,9218,317510,7751,113,799
1894221,614887,8658,338404,5671,112,233
1895293,4931,162,1817,425418,7661,269,031
1896263,6941,041,4287,126431,3231,269,680
1897251,647980,2046,641398,0101,389,398
1898280,1751,080,6919,905586,7671,562,834
1899389,5701,513,18011,116607,9191,645,313
1900373,6141,439,60210,159622,2931,784,350
1901455,5581,753,7847,541446,1141,935,567
1902507,8521,951,4267,430450,2232,333,704
1903533,3142,037,8329,357631,1022,288,327
1904520,3231,987,5019,203501,8171,976,471
1905520,4852,093,93610,883561,4442,167,616
1906563,8432,270,9049,154522,4862,587,453
1907508,2102,027,4908,708579,8882,934,845
YearExports(the Produce of New Zealand)ImportsCoal-mines,Output from
Total ValueTotal ValueFrom United States(included in Previous Column)
 £      £      £      Tons
1858433,9491,141,2735,276 
1859521,3081,551,0305,945 
1860549,1331,548,33318,474Prior to 1878, 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
18735,47,9706,464,687143,273 
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
190515,503,53012,828,8571,438,5011,585,756
190617,840,34615,211,4031,405,7811,729,536
190719,783,13817,302,8611,425,5961,831,009
IV.—TRANSPORT
YearShipping
InwardsOutwardsRegistered Vessels belonging to New Zealand
TonnageTonnageGross Tonnage 
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
1897686,899675,333119,713
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
19051,139,4101,141,552170,957
19061,243,6521,238,214180,124
19071,254,2661,225,382197,001
IV.—TRANSPORTcontinued.
YearGovernment Railways. (Figures to 31st March following.)Electric Telegraph
Miles open for TrafficMiles under ConstructionRailway ReceiptsMiles of LineNumber of MessagesCash and Cash Values, including Telephones

* Information not yet furnished.

   £        £      
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   2,015369,08537,203
1872   2,312491,20544,669
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
18982,0901131,469,6656,7362,960,738145,295
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
19052,4072222,349,7048,3555,640,219273,911
19062,4582082,624,6008,9536,396,332307,521
19072,474*2,761,9389,6567,042,923344,251
V.—ACCUMULATION
YearBanks. (Average of Four Quarters.)Savings-Banks (Post Office and private)Post Office Money Orders issued
DepositsAssetsLiabilitiesNumber of DepositorsBalance to credit on 31st DecNumberAmount
 £      £      £       £       £      
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
18777,185,10512,992,1048,152,23035,709964,43090,672334,973
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
190217,231,76718,999,18018,701,063261,9487,876,877367,2071,277,059
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
190520,545,60121,770,52522,144,166316,3769,773,954417,4411,541,712
190622,422,24323,829,93324,143,008341,11411,170,025439,0201,686,232
190723,517,11126,584,23925,334,348364,42212,825,063441,4871,773,591
YearInsurances in force in the Government Life Insurance Department at End of YearOld-age Pensions,31st March of following YearFriendly Societies from which Returns receivedPublic Trust Office
No.of PoliciesSums Assured and BonusesNo.of Pensions in forceAmount representedNo.of Lodges,&coNo.of membersNo.of EstatesAmount represented

* From here figures are for year ended 31st March.

  £       £         £      
1858        
1859        
1860        
1861        
1862        
1863        
1864        
1865        
1866        
1867        
1868        
1869        
18705930,250      
1871454200,611      
18721,689625,421      
18732,634995,986    25717,500
18743,9531,453,496    29328,930
18754,9891,836,859    34742,163
18766,1532,282,129  898,56041259,720
18777,1492,716,907  888,82857567,675
18788,7113,251,220  1109,75962773,940
187910,2233,726,330  13813,16571396,315
188011,6564,171,504  17914,484770117,980
188112,4114,471,182  27218,634836150,750
188215,8925,273,164  27318,700911204,545
188319,9175,992,111  27518,8481,024317,680
188421,0036,224,571  28121,1441,082392,315
188523,2186,552,242  30222,7941,190457,620
188624,7157,053,276  29021,6791,293576,010
188725,4397,136,944  34724,9281,304715,860
188826,1687,362,488  35324,9381,483954,675
188927,2187,600,537  36526,0131,5611,130,960
189028,1027,807,792  35726,3791,6781,240,097
189129,2268,390,803  36427,3721,8251,252,625
189230,3168,580,817  37928,7541,9121,284,745
189331,7098,821,255  37229,7632,0221,450,918
189432,9079,232,543  36929,963**
189533,9689,345,229  37630,9052,0861,562,269
189634,7729,415,693  39231,8252,2361,806,953
189736,1749,857,010  38832,6702,3341,898,163
189837,84810,124,2277,443128,08241035,5012,4131,950,314
189939,36610,341,70211,285193,71843338,2022,4912,110,316
190040,36810,639,97812,405211,96544440,2572,6672,192,594
190141,29110,627,26312,776217,19244541,2362,8982,326,954
190242,40611,024,73412,481211,59546243,4083,0492,467,614
190343,11611,111,80711,926200,91546545,2553,3142,706,785
190444,19411,261,08011,770199,08151547,3023,4703,152,882
190545,13711,725,97712,582313,01850151,1033,6843,577,355
190645,98111,851,49113,257326,08453553,7593,9774,009,992
190746,94511,980,12313,569333,34055256,8174,2764,590,157
VI.—PUBLIC INDEBTEDNESS
YearPublic 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, 1908, an accrued sinking fund amounting to £2,928,936, leaving a net indebtedness of £63,524,961.

† There was in March, 1907, an accrued sinking fund amounting to £1,079,483, leaving a net indebtedness of £10,536,565.

 £      £       
31st December, 1858  31st December, 1858
31st December, 1859  31st December, 1859
31st December, 1860  31st December, 1860
31st December, 1861  31st December, 1861
31st December, 1862836,000 31st December, 1862
31st December, 18631,289,750 31st December, 1863
31st December, 18642,219,450 31st December, 1864
31st December, 18654,368,681 31st December, 1865
31st December, 18665,435,728 31st December, 1866
31st December, 18675,781,193 31st December, 1867
31st December, 18687,182,743 31st December, 1868
31st December, 18697,360,616 31st December, 1869
31st December, 18707,841,891 31st December, 1870
31st December, 18718,900,991 31st December, 1871
31st December, 18729,985,386 31st December, 1872
31st December, 187310,913,936 31st December, 1873
31st December, 187413,366,936 31st December, 1874
31st December, 187517,400,031 31st December, 1875
31st December, 187618,678,111 31st December, 1876
31st December, 187720,691,111 31st December, 1877
31st December, 187822,608,311 31st December, 1878
31st December, 187923,958,311 31st December, 1879
31st March, 188128,185,7113,039,80731st March, 1881
31st March, 188228,479,1113,277,58431st March, 1882
31st March, 188329,445,0113,540,04631st March, 1883
31st March, 188431,071,5823,962,33031st March, 1884
31st March, 188532,195,4224,313,22331st March, 1885
31st March, 188633,880,7224,943,27031st March, 1886
31st March, 188735,741,6535,620,74731st March, 1887
31st March, 188836,758,4375,812,80331st March, 1888
31st March, 188938,375,0505,892,05031st March, 1889
31st March, 189038,667,9505,978,05931st March, 1890
31st March, 189138,830,3506,042,69331st March, 1891
31st March, 189238,713,0686,081,93431st March, 1892
31st March, 189339,257,8406,203,86931st March, 1893
31st March, 189439,826,4156,614,82431st March, 1894
31st March, 189540,386,9646,685,51031st March, 1895
31st March, 189643,050,7806,737,57831st March, 1896
31st March, 189744,366,6186,793,39831st March, 1897
31st March, 189844,963,4246,834,36131st March, 1898
31st March, 189946,938,0066,963,25431st March, 1899
31st March, 190047,874,4527,057,35031st March, 1900
31st March, 190149,591,2457,563,06931st March, 1901
31st March, 190252,966,4477,839,69531st March, 1902
31st March, 190355,899,0198,217,19631st March, 1903
31st March, 190457,522,2158,898,91031st March, 1904
31st March, 190559,912,00010,018,24231st March, 1905
31st March, 190662,191,04010,718,05131st March, 1906
31st March, 190764,179,04011,616,048†31st March, 1907
31st March, 190866,453,897* 31st March, 1908
VII.—EDUCATION
YearScholars at Primary SchoolsScholars at Secondary or High SchoolsScholars at Private SchoolsNew Zealand University Graduates (Direct Degrees)

* In addition to these there were in December, 1907, 4,183 children attending the Native Schools nearly all maintained by the Government, and 853 at Industrial Schools and Orphanages.

NOTE.—Statistics of schools and scholars not being complete for years prior to 1874, no figures are entered.

1858    
1859    
1860    
1861    
1862    
1863    
1864    
1865    
1866    
1867    
1868    
1869    
1870    
1871    
1872    
1873    
187438,215 8,237 
187545,562 7,316 
187651,9646549,357 
187756,2397169,992 
187865,0408689,206 
187975,5561,41710,234 
188082,4011,63111,238 
188183,5601,8199,987 
188287,1791,89910,002 
188392,4762,38411,255 
188497,2382,64212,203 
1885102,4072,65911,989103
1886106,3282,35812,497117
1887110,9192,24213,417145
1888112,6852,12013,893168
1889115,4562,14713,458199
1890117,9122,11713,626230
1891119,5232,20514,142279
1892122,6202,26214,456323
1893124,6902,25114,922366
1894127,3002,45414,627410
1895129,8562,52514,659464
1896131,0372,61413,947501
1897132,1972,70914,447546
1898131,6212,70614,782603
1899131,3152,72315,295641
1900130,7242,79215,555699
1901131,3512,89915,344757
1902132,2623,07215,624814
1903133,5683,72215,609869
1904135,4754,03816,378929
1905137,6234,06016,639992
1906139,3024,27017,1311,083
1907141,071*4,19618,0881,157
THE TOTALISATOR
YearNo. of Totalisator Licenses issued for Meetings held during Financial YearDaysPercentage paid to TreasuryTotal Amount Invested by the Public

N.B.—The years used for purposes of the table are financial years, not the racing years. This accounts for the number of licenses issued in some of the periods being over the legal limit for one year.

   £      £      
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
1904-515629421,571,437,431
1905-615829822,8981,555,638
1906-715930327,6511,837,095
1907-815229229,9961,999,757

PART III.—ARTICLES ON SPECIAL SUBJECTS.

Table of Contents

Chapter 55. SECTION I.

THE LAND SYSTEM OF NEW ZEALAND.

[By WILLIAM C. KENSINGTON, Under-Secretary of Lands.]

THE Crown lands of New Zealand are administered under “The Land Act, 1908,” and “The Land for Settlements Act, 1908,” together with the regulations made thereunder.

The distinguishing features of the present leasehold system involve the principle of State ownership of the soil, with a tenant right to recurrent terms of lease by the occupier. Between 1892 and 1907 a very large proportion of the Crown lands were disposed of on lease for 999 years. The rentals were based on the assessed value of the land at the time of disposal, without increase or recurring valuations, and gave a fixity of tenure practically equal to freehold, and which, like freehold, necessarily carried 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., were secured to the tenant should he from any cause be obliged to forfeit or surrender his lease. This tenure was amended by “The Land Laws Amendment Act, 1907,” which substituted a lease for sixty-six years (in the case of ordinary Crown lands) and thirty-three years (in the case of settlement lands), with a perpetual right of renewal for further successive terms. The former Acts of 1892, 1893, 1895, and 1907 are now consolidated in “The Land Act, 1908.”

When it is taken into consideration that, with few exceptions, the Crown lands are, in their prairie condition, incapable of immediate 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 definitely fixed, 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, except that by “The Land Act, 1908,” preference is given to “landless,” “married,” and “previously unsuccessful” applicants. 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 land, 2,000 acres of second-class land, or 5,000 acres of third-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 may by regulation be made smaller.

In addition to the many advantages offered by the renewable-lease tenure, which is the one most in vogue, the Land Act provides others, to meet the wants of different classes. The general rule is that ordinary Crown 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 renewable lease.

  3. Renewable lease, at a rental of 4 per cent, on the capital value, the lease being for sixty-six years with perpetual right of renewal.

“Settlement” lands are only opened on renewable lease, the term being for thirty-three years instead of sixty-six years.

“The Land Act, 1908,” 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 were formerly held on lease in perpetuity, in a similar way to lands under the same tenure when thrown open for optional selection, but this is now superseded by the renewable-lease tenure. 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. At present a very small proportion of the remaining Crown lands are suitable for selection in this manner.

Under “The Land Act, 1885,” there was a somewhat similar system, but it allowed of the acquisition of the freehold. This was taken advantage of to a considerable extent by selectors under that Act.

The village-settlement system of New Zealand has excited much inquiry. This system provides for the setting apart and offering for optional selection of allotments of one acre in area or under, and for the opening under the renewable-lease tenure (formerly lease in perpetuity) of small farms between 1 and 100 acres in area. These settlements were designed to enable labourers to obtain homes for themselves and families in the immediate vicinity of their work, and gave bushmen, workers on the roads and railways, &c., an excellent chance of securing a holding upon which they could live, and which they could improve in their spare time. There has not been any great extension of this system in recent years.

The improved-farm settlement system was first begun in order to find work for the unemployed. Considerable areas of forest-clad Crown lands were set aside, and small contracts for the clearing, burning, and sowing these with grass were let to the men it was intended to allot them to. 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 renewable lease (formerly lease in perpetuity) at a rental sufficient to cover the cost of clearing, &c., together with a fair rental of the land.

The size of holdings averages about 120 acres.

Full details as to the various tenures now in force, and the conditions to be complied with by selectors of Crown land, are given on page 653 et seq.

SETTLEMENT OF BUSH AND SWAMP LANDS.

Section 127 of the Act provides liberal conditions for the selection and settlement of bush and swamp lands. Its provisions are: Land so opened 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 from 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.

However, section 194 will, to a large extent, supersede section 127. The later clause provides that land not likely to be immediately productive may be opened for selection on renewable lease, and no rent shall be payable thereunder for such period (not exceeding ten years) as the Land Board and Minister of Lands shall determine.

THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACTS.

In the earlier years of the settlement of New Zealand there were opportunities for men of capital and judgment to acquire large estates, and while there were plenty of good Crown lands to select from this was of great advantage 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, which was extended and embodied in “The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900.”

Under the provisions of this Act and the amending Acts, which are now consolidated into the Act of 1908, properties have been acquired, and divided into small farms, and were originally 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). But by section 45 of the Act a renewable lease for thirty-three years is substituted and the rent reduced to 4 ½ per cent. per annum, whilst each lease contains a perpetual right of renewal for further successive terms of thirty-three years on a rent to he determined by revaluation.

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 (at present the Under-Secretary of Lands, the Surveyor-General, and the local Commissioner of Crown Lands), 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 fixed by section 31 of “The Land for Settlements Act, 1908,” as follows: The unimproved value is that given in the valuation roll upon which the owner has been paying rates, plus 10 per cent. of the total value up to £50,000, and 5 per cent. on all amounts above that sum. The improvements are to be specially assessed under “The Valuation of Land Act, 1908,” as at the time when the requisition for the taking of the land is gazetted. To the total amount so ascertained as above is added another 2 per cent. by way of compensation for the compulsory taking.

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 and married people, and applicants who have been unsuccessful at former ballots, whilst all applicants 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.

When land acquired under this Act contains a homestead in the bona fide occupation of a tenant, the occupant may be granted, without competition, a lease of such homestead and land around it, but not exceeding 640 acres in area. Employees on land so acquired who have been employed by the owners for the preceding five years, and have lost their employment in consequence of the acquisition of the estate, may also be granted leases of allotments without competition.

Land could formerly be compulsorily taken under the Act 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, up to an area of not more than 100 acres every year within any such borough, or within the radius named above from the boundary of the borough; but this provision is now superseded by “The Workers' Dwellings Act, 1908.”

Amended regulations giving full directions to applicants under “The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900,” were issued in the Gazette, of 9th January, 1908, and should be in the hands of every one before applying for lands thereunder. These regulations will be ultimately superseded by similar ones under the Act of 1908.

An account of the operations under the Land for Settlements Acts will be found in Part II of this work.

“THE LAND LAWS AMENDMENT ACT, 1907.”

(Now embodied in “The Land Act, 1908,” and “The Land for Settlements Act, 1908.”)

Part I.

This important statute abolishes the lease in perpetuity, and, for ordinary Crown lands, establishes in lieu thereof a lease for sixty-six years, with perpetual right of renewal for another sixty-six years, subject to revaluation at the end of each term, and fixing the new rental for the future terms at what would be a fair market rental for the land at time of valuation, leaving out the value of the improvements made by the lessee; in other words, it conserves to the lessee the whole value of his improvements, and, if he does not elect to take a lease for a second term, then he gets the market-value of his improvements repaid to him by the incoming tenant, as fixed by the arbitrators.

In the case of leases held in purchased estates under the Land for Settlements Act (popularly known as “settlement lands”) the same procedure exists, except that the first lease is for thirty-three years, and the future terms are for thirty-three years, and it is quite possible that after the end of the first term the rent payable may be less than that payable during the first thirty-three years.

To enumerate some of the principal alterations:—

Section 16 applies do renewable leases and leases in perpetuity (both of ordinary Crown lands and settlement lands), by which a lessee can pay off up to 90 per cent. of the capital value of his land in sums of £10 at a time. By this means a settler may gradually reduce the rent he has to pay by saving his earnings in the prosperous seasons, and thus being better able to meet the losses which bad seasons may entail. Another great advantage secured to the lessee by this section is the fact that so soon as he has paid up 33 per cent. of the capital value he is freed from all other covenants of his lease except the payment of rent and residence, and no Land Board or Crown Lands Ranger can interfere with his operations; and, as the Lands for Settlements Fund will benefit by all these payments, which will be used for the purchase of further estates, it is quite evident that without any further borrowing the moneys which might be paid to this fund (if all the present tenants availed themselves of this provision) would be very large indeed. In order that the territorial revenue shall not suffer to any appreciable amount by the payments made to Capital Account, it is to be credited with 4 per cent. on the total amounts so paid off.

Section 18 provides that any holder of a lease in perpetuity of either ordinary Crown lands or under the Land for Settlements Act may exchange his present lease for a renewable lease, and pay a rental of 4 and 4 ½ per cent. respectively; and the lessee has the choice of electing whether this shall be based upon the original capital value at time of selection or the present-day value (excluding the value of the improvements, which belong to the selector). By this liberal provision many of these land-for-settlement tenants who think they are paying too high a rental may obtain immediate relief.

Section 19 also enlarges the scope of the operations under the preceding section, as it extends to the holders of mining district land-occupation leases for twenty-one years the right of exchanging them for renewable sixty-six years' leases, and which will also enable them (when so exchanged) to apply for an increased area. The holders in mining districts of special licenses of areas from 25 acres to 1,000 acres, under specially gazetted regulations, have also been most liberally treated by this section, as they also have the right, under certain conditions, to exchange them for a renewable sixty-six years' lease with all its privileges.

Section 20 is not only an important clause, but grants a generous concession to those who strongly advocate that lease-in-perpetuity holders should have the right to acquire the freehold of their leases, but its provisions only apply to lessees of ordinary Crown lands. It enables lease-in-perpetuity lessees under “The Land Act, 1892,” to purchase the fee-simple of the land comprised within their leases at present-day value, determined by arbitration, but giving to the lessee the value of all his own improvements. Regulations under this section were published in the Gazette of 9th January, 1908.

Section 21 contains a very liberal provision, and is to the effect that if in any land district the Land Board deem any Crown land (from its inferior soil or inaccessibility) as not likely to be immediately productive, they may, with the consent of the Minister, allow the tenants to occupy the land rent-free up to the first ten years of the sixty-six years' lease.

Section 22 has special reference to the case of families anxious to make a home for themselves, or for any individual member, but who are not able to find the necessary capital at once. It gives the Governor power to set apart certain areas in which lands may be selected by persons who for a certain number of years may be represented by a registered substitute, such as a near relation, who shall reside upon it, and make the requisite improvements, subject to special regulations which the Governor shall lay down. It is especially enacted that these regulations shall not come into force until approved by both branches of the Legislature.

Section 27 enables the Crown tenants in every land district to elect one member to the Land Board. This means that the first vacancy occurring upon any Land Board afforded the Crown tenants in that district an immediate opportunity of electing one of the members. Special regulations setting forth the manner of such election were gazetted on the 28th November, 1907.

Section 36 enacts the area of land any person may hold, and prevents the aggregation of large estates. It provides that under no conditions for ordinary settlement (excluding small grazing-runs and pastoral leases) may a man hold a greater area than 5,000 acres of third-class land, or its equivalent; and, as the values of all Crown lands are known (because they have been already classified), then, in such cases where other lands have not been classified, subsection 8 provides for their classification according to their respective unimproved value in order that the aggregation of areas may not be excessive. Section 36 requires to be read also with section 38, where the Land Board is given the power to classify all Crown lands.

Section 37 contains a useful amendment as regards the method of dealing with town and suburban lands. These, in the past, could only be offered by auction for sale for cash, and disposed of to the highest bidder at an upset price for town lands of not less than £20 an acre, but by this clause they may, instead of being sold by auction, be leased for a term not exceeding thirty-three years, or be offered on renewable lease for thirty-three years, with a subsequent term of thirty-three years, at a rental calculated on a basis of 5 per cent. on the value of the land as determined by the Land Board.

Section 47 contains a very liberal provision, in the direction of giving relief to those purchasers of cash lands under section 148 of “The Land Act, 1892,” who failed to make the necessary improvements within seven years from the date of purchase, and therefore could not obtain a Crown grant. This gives them another seven years to do so from the date of the Act coming into force; but, if the required improvements are not effected by end of new term, then absolute forfeiture follows.

Section 55 carries with it considerable relief to the pastoral-run holder from the provisions hitherto prevailing, particularly as regards the value to be paid or allowed him for improvements, and the clause also confers powers of ploughing and cultivation of the run, which did not exist in “The Land Act, 1892.” The runholder is now encouraged to plough and sow in grass up to 3,000 acres, and may clear and burn bush or scrub if he sows the same in grass. In addition to this, he may surface-sow in grass any portion of his run. All these improvements are to be valued by arbitration at the termination of his license, and either paid to him by the incoming tenant, or the Crown if the lease is not renewed. This amount is in addition to a sum (not exceeding three times the average annual rental) previously allowed for fencing and other improvements specified in subsection (1) of section 207 of “The Land Act, 1892.”

Section 58 encourages the leasing of Crown lands for the growing, as well as of cutting, flax (Phormium tenax). It enables areas of 2,000 acres to be leased for fourteen years, with a right of extension for another fourteen years. This provision is made applicable both to ordinary Crown lands and also lands purchased under the provisions of the Land for Settlements Act. Regulations as to the granting of flax leases appeared in the Gazette of 27th February, 1908.

In section 62 a valuable concession is granted which did not appear in “The Land Act, 1892.” It enables the Land Board, with the Minister's consent, to sell small areas of Crown lands under 5 acres to religious bodies, or to owners of dairy-factories, cheese-factories, or creameries, also as sites for fruit-preserving works, without the applicants having to go to public competition, but no land can be so sold at a less price than £1 per acre.

Sections 63 to 69 establish a new set of directions for the guidance of Land Boards when disposing of either ordinary Crown lands or lands acquired under the Land for Settlements Act. They provide that, where there is more than one applicant for a section, the Land Board, at the necessary ballot, shall give preference to those who are landless, the term “landless” meaning that the applicant does not hold such area of land of any kind, which, in the opinion of the Land Board, is sufficient for the maintenance of himself and family. The land Board has power in section 64 to set apart one-third of the allotments to be balloted for, and apportion them amongst “landless” applicants with families in the order of preference given in the section, and section 65 gives preference to former unsuccessful applicants. Section 68 gives the Land Board power to make inquiries as to the suitability of an applicant both for ordinary Crown sections as well as for land-for-settlement sections, and enables the Board to reject any applicant who fails to satisfy its inquiries.

As the question of paper-making from wood pulp is being continuously raised, power is taken in section 72 to set apart rough areas of forest country not containing valuable milling-timber up to a total area of 50,000 acres. No one lease may be granted over more than 30,000 acres, nor shall be for a longer term than twenty-one years. Fifty thousand acres of rough forest areas of suitable timbers in the Westland District were gazetted on the 13th February, 1908, and could be utilised, with considerable expenditure of capital, for the making of paper.

Section 74 is a much-needed clause, as, in addition to the power (which already exists) of subdivision of leasehold holdings, it also gives the tenant power to dedicate public roads and streets for the purposes of such subdivision, subject to the approval of the Land Board and the Minister.

Part II.

This more especially deals with land-for-settlements lands.

In section 76 it reduces the term of lease to thirty-three years, with successive right of renewal to further terms of thirty-three years upon revaluation of rental values at the end of each term, and lowers the rental payable from 5 per cent. to 4 ½ per cent. per annum.

In section 77 the Board is enabled to deal with portions of purchased estates not suitable for close settlement, and open them as pastoral areas, while to enable such pastoral areas to be properly worked it allows detached areas of low-lying lands to be added to each run, although they may not be contiguous.

Section 80 met a long-felt want, and enables justice to be rendered to employees upon a purchased estate who have been employed at least five years upon the estate by the late owner, and are deprived of their employment through its acquisition. By its provisions a renewable lease, without competition, may be granted to such persons at a rental of £4 10s. per cent. upon the capital value.

One of the most important features of the whole Act is that incorporated in section 81. It enables the Crown to take compulsorily an estate upon payment of the unimproved value of the land as given in the valuation roll, to which is added 10 per cent. up to £50,000, and 5 per cent. on all amounts above. It also provides for payment of the value of the improvements to be assessed separately. In addition, a further compensation of 2 per cent. is paid to the owner on the unimproved value plus 10 per cent., together with the value of the improvements; whilst in order that he may not justly complain that his estate is assessed at too low a figure upon the valuation roll of the Valuer-General, he is given the option of requiring that officer, at any time, by notice in writing, to raise the unimproved value, and the Valuer-General shall thereupon increase the said value accordingly. By this new procedure the Crown will know exactly what amount it has to pay for an estate, without the tedious delays and uncertain findings of the Compensation Court.

Part III.

This part deals with the grazing leases issued under the provisions of “The Cheviot Disposition Act, 1893.” By that Act the lessees were treated differently from those under the Land Act of 1892, inasmuch as they had no right of renewal, but section 91 gives such holders the right of renewal for one more term at a rent of 5 per cent. on the capital value. If, however, the land is needed for closer settlement, or other reasons, and the lease is not therefore renewed, the tenant is entitled to the full value of his substantial improvements.

Part IV.

This refers to the limitation of area to be held by private persons, and tends to prevent the aggregation of estates of lands which may hereafter be acquired from the Crown. It distinctly limits such holdings to 5,000 acres, and gives power to inflict penalties for any evasion of the Act.

“NATIONAL ENDOWMENT ACT, 1907.”

(Now embodied in Part VII of “The Land Act, 1908.”)

This Act provides for the setting-apart of 7,000,000 acres of Crown land in New Zealand as a permanent endowment for the purposes of education and old-age pensions. In addition to this, it adds to such endowment any lands which, after the passing of the Act, shall be taken up under renewable lease, or are now or shall be selected under lease as small grazing-runs under the provisions of Part V of “The Land Act, 1908”; but it enacts that so soon as the 7,000,000 acres already mentioned, together with the additional area selected as stated, shall reach a total area of 9,000,000 acres, no more Crown lands shall thereafter become national endowment by virtue of this Act. It also expressly provides that in regard to all the lands so set apart the fee-simple thereof shall not be parted with by way of cash sale, nor shall any such land be disposed of under occupation-with-right-of-purchase tenure.

A separate account (to be known as the National Endowment Account) is created, into which all revenue from the national endowment area shall be paid. From this revenue shall be deducted the cost of administration and all sums which have to be paid to any local or public authority under any existing Act. This enables the continuation of the payment of “thirds” and “fourths” to local bodies, and the payment of interest on loans raised under “The Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1908.”

Of the balance of the revenue 70 per cent. is to be applied for the purpose of education, and 30 per cent. for the purpose of old-age pensions. The moneys payable for educational purposes shall be applied, without any further appropriation than this Act, towards payment of all amounts which, by any Act now in force or hereafter to be passed, are chargeable on the Consolidated Fund for educational purposes, whether higher, secondary, or primary, an whether general or technical. If there is any residue after these payments are made, it shall be devoted towards payment of general authorities for education.

Out of the gross area of national endowment sites may still be set apart for all necessary public purposes, whilst power is also taken in section 11 to enable the Land Board to sell, with the Minister's consent, any portion of national endowment land (not exceeding 5 acres in any one case) as a site for any building to be erected for any educational, religious, charitable, or public purpose, or for any other purpose which, in the opinion of the Land Board and the Minister, renders such a sale expedient in the public interest. The purchase-money of land so sold shall be paid into the National Endowment Account.

Section 12 provides for the raising of any sum not exceeding £50,000 in any one year (in addition to sums which might be borrowed under “The Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1908”) for the construction of roads and bridges through the national endowment lands, to render them suitable for settlement.

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 Ordinance 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.

“The Maori Land Settlement Act, 1905,” amends the above. Whilst placing the power of dealing with their lands in the hands of the Maori owners through special Boards called “Maori Land Boards,” it restores to the Crown the right of purchasing Maori lands in certain districts, provided that the price to be paid be not less than that fixed by the Valuer-General as its value.

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 South 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, 1908, been augmented by further annual appropriations from the public funds and other loan-moneys, covering altogether a total expenditure since 1870 of £2,035,748, with the following results: Area finally acquired in the North Island from Natives, from 1870 to 31st March, 1908, 7,982,327 acres. Area under negotiation in the North Island on 31st March, 1908, 21,080 acres; interests therein finally acquired, 3,249 acres.

The purchase of Native lands was resumed under the provisions of “The Maori Land Settlement Act, 1905.” The expenditure on this account for the year ended 31st March, 1908, was £142,246 2s. 2d., of which £139,671 13s. 2d. was for the purchase of land, whilst the areas acquired were as follows:—

 Area
Auckland121,776 acres
Hawke's Bay13,295 acres
Taranaki127,822 acres
Wellington109 acres
          Total203,002 acres

In addition, the purchase of 55,534 acres in the Auckland District is incomplete.

The following areas were awarded by the Native Land Court in satisfaction of Crown survey liens:—

Land DistrictArea
Auckland11,736 acres
Taranaki5,153 acres
Wellington4,902 acres
          Total21,791 acres

DIGEST OF THE LAND LAWS.

Administration.

The Crown lands are administered, under the authority of “The Land Act, 1908,” by the Hon. the Minister of Lands at Wellington, his executive officer being the Under-Secretary of Lands, who is the permanent head of the Department of Lands and Survey. For convenience New Zealand is divided into ten land districts, each being under the local direction of a Commissioner of Crown Lands and a Land Board. A Land Board consists of five members, of whom the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the district is ex officio chairman, three members nominated by the Governor, and one member elected by the Crown tenants of the district. 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 DistrictTown where Principal Land Office is situated
AucklandAuckland
TaranakiNew Plymouth
Hawke's BayNapier
WellingtonWellington
NelsonNelson
MarlboroughBlenheim
WestlandHokitika
CanterburyChristchurch
OtagoDunedin
SouthlandInvercargill
HEAD OFFICEWellington

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, or leased for ten or thirty-three years at a rent of 5 per cent. on the value of the land:

  2. Suburban lands, the upset price of which may not be less than £2 an acre; these lands are also sold by auction, or leased as aforesaid:

  3. Rural lands, which may be disposed of at not less than £1 per acre for first-class, 10s. an acre for second-class lands, and 2s. 6d. an acre for third-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, 2,000 acres if second-class land, or 5,000 acres if third-land, whether offered by auction or application.

Applicants.

Every applicant must be at the age of seventeen years and upwards, and apply for Crown land solely for his own use and benefit, and not directly or indirectly for the use or benefit of any other person, whilst, including the land he applies for, he is not to be the owner, holder, or occupier under any tenure of more than one year's duration, either severally or jointly or in common with any other person or persons, of any land anywhere in New Zealand exceeding in the whole 5,000 acres of land computed as follows:—

  1. Every acre of first-class land is reckoned as 7 ½ acres;

  2. Every acre of second-class land is reckoned as 2 ½ acres;

  3. Every acre of third-class land is reckoned as 1 acre.

In cases where a ballot is required those applicants who are landless have preference over those who are not, and the decision of the Board as to which of the applicants are landless is final and conclusive. An applicant is deemed landless if he does not hold under any tenure such area of land, whether Crown land or not, as is in the opinion of the Board sufficient for the maintenance of himself and his family. In the case of a husband and wife (except when they are judicially separated), if either of them is not landless, neither of them shall be deemed to be landless.

The Board may also, with the approval of the Minister, on the opening of any land for public selection, set apart not more than one-third of such land as allotments in respect of which preference at any ballot shall be given to applicants who are landless, and who belong to any of the following classes:—

  1. Married men with children:

  2. Widowers with children:

  3. Widows with children:

  4. Married woman with children and judicially separated from their husbands.

And all such applicants shall rank equally with each other.

The Board may, in addition, with the approval of the Minister, on the opening of any land for public selection, set apart certain allotments in respect of which preference at any ballot shall be given to applicants who are landless, and have within the previous two years competed at least twice unsuccessfully at any other land-ballot, whether under “The Land Act, 1908,” or under “The Land for Settlements Act, 1908.”

The decision of the Board as to the rejection or preference of any applicant shall be final and conclusive.

Before taking a ballot or otherwise disposing of applications for land the Board may, in such manner as it thinks fit, inquire into all matters affecting an applicant's suitability or his right of preference, and may reject any applicant who refuses or fails to answer any inquiries as to such matters to the satisfaction of the Board.

Every person who in future is successful in any land-ballot, and subsequently transfers or subleases his land, shall be disqualified for the period of five years after the date of such disposition from taking part in any other land-ballot.

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) renewable lease.

(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 following improvements have been completed, viz.—on first-class lands, up to £1 per acre; and on second-class lands, 10s. per acre

(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 renewable lease.

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.

By “The Land Act, 1908” (section 116), the Commissioner of Crown Lands and Receiver of Land Revenue may, in their discretion, grant to any Crown tenant who is not in arrears with his rent a rebate not exceeding one-tenth of the instalment of rent paid within one month after the day appointed for its payment. This provision reduces the amount of rent payable by a licensee under this tenure to 4 ½ per cent. per annum, if paid promptly.

Residence and improvement of the land are compulsory, as hereinafter described.

(c.) Renewable Lease.

Lands selected on this tenure are leased for sixty-six years, with a perpetual right of renewal for further terms of sixty-six 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.

The same concession as to rebate of rent for prompt payment applies as in the previous tenure—viz., a rebate up to 10 per cent.

Residence and Improvements.

Under the two last-mentioned tenures, the conditions as to residence and improvements are:—

RESIDENCE

  1. Must commence on bush or swamp lands within four years, and in open or partly open land within one year, from the date of selection:

  2. Must be continuous for six years on bush or swamp land, and for seven years on open or partly open land, on lands occupied with a right of purchase:

  3. Must be continuous for a term of ten years on renewable-lease lands.

The Board has power to dispense with residence in certain cases, such as where the selector is residing on adjacent lands, or is a youth or unmarried woman living with parents, and in a few other cases.

RESIDENCE implies the erection of a habitable house to be approved of by the Board.

IMPROVEMENTS which must be made are as follows:—

The holdings 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 the value of £1 for every acre of first-class lands, 10s. for every acre of second-class lands, and 2s. 6d. for every acre of third-class lands.

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.

Transfers and Dealings with Leases.

No lessee or licensee of Crown lands is entitled to transfer his interest therein, or to sublease his land, until he has resided continuously thereon for at least two years, and then only with the consent of the Minister and recommendation of the Land Board. But when by reason of special or unforeseen circumstance such disposition becomes, in the opinion of the Minister and Board, desirable, it may be permitted, although no such residence has taken place. This restriction does not apply to lessees of small grazing-runs or pastoral runs.

A Crown tenant may, however, mortgage his holding without the above consent (in the case of ordinary Crown lands), but must obtain consent during the first five years of his tenancy in the case of settlement lands.

Every transferee or sublessee must make the same declaration as the original selector of the holding.

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 renewable lease.

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 sixty-six 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 sections 162–164 of “The Land Act, 1908.” (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 available on renewable lease 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 Minister of Finance 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 land of any kind whatever, over 1,000 acres in area, exclusive of the small grazing-run applied for, may be a selector under this system; and only one small grazing-run can be held by any one person, except on the recommendation of the Land Board and with the approval of the Minister.

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.

Except on the recommendation of the Land Board, and with the approval of the Minister of Lands, 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, except when it is intended to grass the land; 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.

“The Land Act. 1908” (section 237), provides that, with the consent of the Minister, the Land Board may permit the holder of any pasturage lease or license to do any one or more of the following things:—

  1. To cultivate any portion of his run for the purpose of growing winter feed for the stock depastured on the run;

  2. To plough and sow in grass any portion of his run not exceeding 3,000 acres;

  3. To clear by felling and burning bush or scrub any portion of his run, and sow the same in grass;

  4. To surface-sow in grass any portion of his run.

The holder of any such pasturage lease or license may, with the permission of the Land Board, bring such area of his run under crop as is sufficient for the use and maintenance of himself and family and his employees, subject to conditions to be prescribed by the Board as to cultivation thereof by means of a proper rotation of crops.

The powers so conferred on the lessee or licensee are exercisable only on the condition that he shall, on the termination of such lease or license, leave the whole of the area ploughed or cultivated properly laid down in good permanent grasses and clovers to the satisfaction of the Board.

In case it is determined again to lease any run on expiry of the lease, the new lease must be offered by auction twelve months before the end of the term, and if, on leasing, it shall be purchased by some one other than the previous lessee, valuation for improvements, to be made by an appraiser, shall be paid by the incoming tenant, but to a value not greater than three times the annual rent — excepting in the case of a rabbit-proof fence, which is to be valued separately, together with the value of the improvements authorised as above.

In the event of the then lessee or licensee not having become the purchaser, the Board shall, at least three months before the expiry

of any such lease or license, proceed to have valued by arbitration all improvements consisting of necessary buildings, plantations, fences (other than rabbit-proof fences), and ditches for draining made on the lands the lease or license of which has been sold at auction as last aforesaid. Such valuation shall be based on the worth of the said improvements to the incoming tenant, or, in the case of a subdivision of the run, to the incoming tenants of the divided portions thereof.

The outgoing tenant may, however, where the run is not again offered for lease or license, remove fences, buildings, &c. Runs may also be divided with the approval of the Board.

Bush and Swamp Crown Lands.

Section 127 of “The Land Act, 1908,” provides that any lands brought under its provisions shall be exempt from rents and rates after the payment of the first half-year's rent for periods of four years in the case of “heavy-bush land,” three years in case of “light-bush land” or “swamp land,” and two years in the case of “scrub land.”

Section 194 of “The Land Act, 1908,” provides that, in order to facilitate the settlement of land which in the opinion of the Board is not likely to be immediately productive or profitable, any such land may, with the consent of the Minister, be opened for selection by way of renewable lease, which shall contain a provision that no rent shall be payable thereunder during such period as the Board, with the consent of the Minister, shall determine, not exceeding ten years after the commencement of the first term of sixty-six years.

Wood-pulp Industry.

In order to aid in the establishment of the wood-pulp industry for paper-making, the Governor was authorised to set apart land not suitable for close settlement or for leasing under the small-grazing-run system, of a total area not exceeding 50,000 acres, and this land may be disposed of by way lease, in such areas and on such terms and conditions as ha fixed by special regulations; but no person shall be granted a lease over a greater area than 30,000 acres of such land, and no lease shall be for a longer term than twenty-one years or shall include any right of renewal. The full area of 50,000 acres was set apart by notice in the New Zealand Gazette, of the 13th February, 1908.

The right to utilise the water-power of any stream on the land so disposed of, and the right to cut, fell, remove, or in any way utilise any timber growing thereon, are provided for in the regulations.

Any land so set apart, if situated within the boundaries of a mining district under “The Mining Act, 1908,” shall remain subject to the provisions of that Act.

Flax Leases.

The Land Board may, with the approval of the Minister, lease by auction, for growing, cutting, or removing flax, any area not exceeding 2,000 acres, for a term not exceeding fourteen years, at such upset yearly rental as may be determined by the Board.

On the expiration of this lease a renewal may be granted to the former lessee, without auction, for a further term not exceeding fourteen years, at a rental to be determined by the Board not sooner than twelve months nor later than six months before the expiration of the first term.

These provisions apply both to land under “The Land Act, 1908,” and to land under “The Land for Settlements Act, 1908.”

Regulations giving full particulars of these leases were published in the New Zealand Gazette, of the 27th February, 1908.

ADVANCES TO SETTLERS.

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 or on license for residence sites 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.

  13. Land held under lease from a Maori Land Board under “The Maori Land Settlement Act, 1905.” Provided the Board or other person in whom the land is vested joins in the mortgage for the purpose of securing the due payment of the instalments.

  14. Crown land held on renewable lease under Parts I and II of “The Land Laws Amendment Act, 1907.”

  15. Crown lands held on lease for agricultural purposes under “The Mining Districts Land Occupation Act, 1894.”

  16. Crown lands held on license for residence sites under “The Mining Act. 1905.”

With regard to leasehold lands, 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, and not for all improvements.

Loans can be granted only on the instalment system (fully described hereafter);

  1. On all freeholds up to three-fifths of the value of the security: Provided that in the case of first-class agricultural freeholds loans may be made up to two-thirds of the value.

  2. On leaseholds up to three-fifths of the value of the lessee's interest in the lease.

The granting of advances and the determining of what shall be considered first-class agricultural land rests solely with the General Board of the office.

Where an advance is required for the purpose of erecting a building, the amount of the loan granted by the Board may either be paid over in one sum when the building or other improvements are completed, or, if the applicant desires it, be advanced in progress payments from time to time as the building or other improvements proceed. An inspection and report shall be made by an officer of the Valuation Department prior to payment of any progress payment

on account of the loan, and for each such inspection a fee of 10s. 6d. shall be paid by the applicant.

No loan of less than £25 or more than £3,000 can be granted. 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 £3,000.

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.

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, 14), 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, may be obtained from any Postmaster in the Dominion.

All applications must be accompanied by a valuation fee according to the following scale:—

Scale of Advances to Settlers Valuation Fees.
 £sd
On an application for a loan not exceeding £1000106
Exceeding £100 but not exceeding £250110
Exceeding £250 but not exceeding £5001116
Exceeding £500 but not exceeding £3,000220

Mortgages 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 in respect of instalments or other payments under the mortgage remain outstanding. The instalment due dates shall be 14th February and 14th August in each year.

Every half-yearly instalment, except the first and 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 InstalmentApportioned thus:½ per Cent. Rebate of InterestBalance of Principal owing
On Account of Interest at 5 per CentOn Account of Principal
 £sd£sd£sd£sd£sd
1st3002100010005099100
2nd300299010305098199
3rd300296010604119893
4th3002930109041197186
5th300290011004119776
6th3002880114041096162
7th300285011704109647
8th30028101111041095128
9th300271001220499506
10th30027601260499480
11th3002720121004993152
12th300261101310489321
13th30026701350489288
14th3002630139047911411
15th300251001420479109
16th30025601460479063
17th3002520141004689115
18th300249015304688162
19th30024501570458807
20th30024001600458747
21st30023201650448682
22nd3002320161004485114
23rd300229017304384141
24th300224017804383165
25th3002111018104282184
26th3002160186042811910
27th300210019004181010
28th30020601960418014
29th3002001000407914
30th3001196106031178010
31st30011901100311761910
32nd3001186116031075184
33rd3001180120031074164
34th300117512703973139
35th3001161013203872107
36th300116313903771610
37th30011581440377026
38th3001151141103668177
39th300114515703567120
40th3001131016203566510
41st3001132161003464190
42nd300112617603363116
43rd30011191830326233
44th3001111181103160144
45th30011041980305948
46th3001971105021157143
47th3001810111202115631
48th30018111111021054112
49th300173112902952185
50th300166113602851411
51st300158114402749107
52nd300149115302647154
53rd3001311116102545193
54th30013011700244423
55th300121117110224244
56th30011118110214055
57th300102119100203857
58th3000192201001113649
59th30001812111011034210
60th30001712211018311911
61st3000160240017291511
62nd30001411251016271010
63rd30001392630142547
64th300012727501322172
65th30001152870122087
66th30001032990100171810
67th3000902110001115710
68th300078212400912156
69th300065213700810111
70th30005121411006770
71st30003821640044108
72nd30002421780031130
73rd1131000101130001 

The mortgagor may pay to the Superintendent at any time 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.

Readjustment of Loans.

At any time, 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.

Mortgages under “The Land Transfer Act, 1885,” and to secure further advances on land free from encumbrances, will be prepared and completed for a nominal fee of 5s., including disbursements.

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, 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 New Zealand who have financial dealings with the Advances to Settlers Office. Loans may also be repaid in part or in full through the Post Office, and advances also are made 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.

The balance-sheet and statement of operations will be found in Part II, on page 558.

ADVANCES TO WORKERS.

THE Government Advances to Workers Act was introduced and passed in the session of 1906. It is a measure calculated to confer a great benefit upon a large number of deserving workers throughout the Dominion, to encourage thrift, and to bring within the reach of all the opportunity of becoming their own landlords by acquiring homes for themselves on very easy terms, and at the same time will prove an important factor in the solution of the difficult rent problem.

The business of the office is the advancing of money to workers desirous of providing themselves with homes on first mortgages on property held under any of the classes of tenure upon which advances to settlers are made (specified in the preceding article), free from all encumbrances, liens, and interests, other than leasehold interests.

  1. A worker is defined as a person of either sex engaged (whether as an employee or on his own account) in manual or clerical work, who at the time of making application for a loan is not in receipt of an income of more than £200 per annum, and is not the owner of any land other than the section on which it is proposed to build.

  2. A loan may be granted upon land to pay for a dwelling already erected and for the discharging of an existing encumbrance; or upon vacant land only for the purpose of erecting a dwelling. Not more than £350 shall be granted to any one borrower; and an advance shall not be made exceeding three-fourths of the total value of the security in the case of freehold land, or three-fourths of the lessee's interest in the case of leasehold land. In no case shall an advance be granted which shall exceed the value of the dwellinghouse (existing or proposed to be erected), or to any applicants who do not take up their permanent residence on the security. A valuation fee of 7s. 6d. must accompany each application.

  3. The amount of the loan granted by the Board may either be paid over in one sum when the building is completed, or, if the applicant desires it, may be advanced in progress payments as the erection of the building proceeds. An inspection and report shall be made by an officer of the Valuation Department prior to any progress payment on account of the loan, and for each such inspection a fee of 7s. 6d. shall be paid by the applicant.

  4. Loans shall be granted only on the instalment system, and shall be repaid or readjusted as in the case of a loan under “The Government Advances to Settlers Act, 1906.” Interest is charged at the rate of 5 per cent., reducible to 4 ½ per cent., provided payment is made not later than 14 days after due date, and no arrears or other payment under the mortgage remain outstanding.

  5. Mortgages are prepared and completed free of charge to borrowers.

Repayment of loans is provided for by seventy-three half-yearly instalments of principal and interest, being equal to only 2s. 1d. per £100 per week. In addition to this the repayments may be made in sums of £5 and upward, or the whole of the balance of principal may be repaid at any time without notice, interest being calculated up to the date of repayment only.

A worker who has saved, say, £50 can obtain a loan of £150 to acquire a property or build a house valued at £200 by the Government Valuer, so that it 9s. 6d. per week is paid into the Post-Office Savings-Bank £100 may be provided in a year, and this may be added to year by year until the limited amount of the advance, £350, is reached.

The terms are made very easy, the repayments of principal and interest being equal to only 2s. 1d. per week for each hundred pounds; consequently, for

6s. 3d. per week a substantial cottage-home valued at £400, with a mortgage of £300, may be provided, and this includes the gradual repayment of the loan, which may be further accelerated by additional small payments at any time as opportunity arises in order to clear off the mortgage as soon as possible, which it is desired to encourage.

No commission or charge or procuration fee for the promotion of an advance—that is, for the successful result of the application for the loan—may be paid or levied.

Any person desiring an advance should make a written application on the form provided for the purpose, a copy of which can be obtained from any Postmaster in the Dominion. The Postmaster will also supply an envelope in which the application may be forwarded free of postage, and will afford to the applicant any explanation which may be required respecting the filling-in of the form. Application for a loan may also be made to representatives of the Valuation of Land Department who, together with Postmasters, alone act as agents for the office. The Department has no other authorised agents. No professional assistance is necessary, and no charge is authorised for the filling-in of the application form.

The balance-sheet and statement of operations will be found on page 559 of Part II.

THE LAND AND INCOME TAX ASSESSMENT.

GENERAL.

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.

The land-tax, which is a capital tax, therefore takes the place of income-tax on all income derived from land, so that there is not a general income-tax on all incomes in New Zealand, the object in view being to break down land-monopoly or the aggregation of large estates, and to compel owners of land to put it to the best use. Income-tax on the income derived from land would not have this effect, but the land-tax and graduated land-tax undoubtedly effectuate this; the land-tax, instead of income-tax, prevents land being held unproductive, and the graduated tax prevents the aggregation of large estates.

There is also a graduated income-tax which is on the principle of taxation according to the ability to pay, this being the object in view throughout.

Process of Assessment.

All persons, firms, and companies deriving income in or from the Dominion are required to furnish full and complete returns. The forms on which returns are required to be made are posted direct to taxpayers, and they may also be obtained at any money-order 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 June; they should contain particulars of all income liable to taxation actually earned during the year ending on the 31st March immediately preceding.

Returns of land and mortgages are made annually, and must be posted to reach the Commissioner's office in Wellington not later than the 1st May. The returns should contain particulars of all land and mortgages as owned at noon on the 31st March immediately preceding. 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 by law.

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 by law.

INCOME-TAX.

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 educational institutions;

Savings-banks;

Commissioners of General Government and local body sinking funds;

Religious societies, so far as the funds are devoted to the support of aged or infirm ministers or their families only;

Imperial pensioners, so far only as the amount of the pension is drawn from the Crown and charged with income-tax in Great Britain or some British possession;

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;

The owner of land in respect of the rent thereof, or the profits derived from the direct use or cultivation thereof;

A mortgagee of land.

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 inspecting officers appointed to verify returns at the taxpayer's place of business. 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 due to this careful and systematic inspection. It not only results in the large collections of shortages, but the liability to inspection and investigation deters dishonest taxpayers from making incorrect returns, while it at the same time helps honest taxpayers requiring assistance and information to comply with the law. The form of the return for traders and manufacturers is that of a simple trading account and profit and loss account, easily understood by persons in business. A great improvement in the records and book-keeping of the majority of taxpayers has been noticed since the inception of the income-tax, and it is believed that the tax itself (including its method of administration) has been the principal cause.

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 are 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. This exception was made 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 mortgagees are not charged the mortgage-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 Dominion, whether carried on outside New Zealand or not, but does not include income from business originating outside New Zealand.

Persons, land syndicates, or companies dealing in land are assessable on the gains or profits from such dealing, but not on the income from the land, such as rents, or interest, or the produce. The same principle applies to dealing in shares.

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).

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, and only those which have been actually ascertained. No estimates or averages, or provisions or reserves against losses are allowed. The rules as to these are to be found in (more particularly) section 87 of “The Land and Income Assessment Act, 1908.”

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 be 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 enabling uniform assessments to be made; otherwise there would be numerous inconsistencies.

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 Act provides for an allowance for depreciation of plant and machinery over and above the expenditure on repairs and renewals. The allowance is by law fixed at what may be considered just by the Commissioner.

Obsolete machinery is also allowed for when the machinery has been actually discarded, and the loss definitely ascertained; the amount allowed is the actual loss on the machinery discarded, less any depreciation already allowed, 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 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.

Under the Act of 1907 an important alteration was made in the taxation of timber, minerals, and flax. The whole of the income derived from these sources is now assessable for income-tax, the owner in such property being exempt from the payment of land-tax, either ordinary or graduated, except on the surface-value of the land. It has been found difficult to arrive at a fair valuation of such property, especially minerals which are underground; but no difficulty is experienced in arriving at the actual annual income derived, and the new system will be found fairer alike to the taxpayer and to the Crown.

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.

Principle of Graduation for Income-tax.

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—so that there is an entire exemption of improvements on land from taxation both from income-tax and land-tax. Since this was initiated it is estimated that over £50,000,000 has been expended on improvements, which consists entirely of labour and materials. The effect of this on trade and labour in conducing to the prosperity of the Dominion can scarcely be appreciated.

Mortgages are deductible by the mortgagor, and the mortgagee is charged with the amount so deducted, so that for ordinary land-tax the mortgagor and mortgagee are treated as joint owners of the land.

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.

Owing to the deductions and exemptions allowable the number of land-tax payers is only 28,991, as compared with the number of land-owners estimated at 150,000 freeholders and 24,179 Crown tenants.

The valuations for land-tax are made by the Government Valuation of Land Department, which employs a permanent staff of expert valuers, and supplies the assessment rolls used by the Land and Income Tax 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 income-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.

General Exemptions from Land-tax.

All land* owned

By the Crown;

By local authorities;

By friendly societies;

By building societies;

By public, charitable, or public educational institutions not carried on for pecuniary profit;

By savings-banks;

By Commissioners of Public Sinking Funds;

By religious societies so far as the proceeds are devoted to the support of aged or infirm clergy or their widows or children.

All Native land not leased to nor occupied by any person other than the Native owners.

* The term “land” under the Act includes mortgages of land.

The value of timber, minerals, and flax (the owners are now charged for income-tax on these).

The sites of:—

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 herein-before 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.

The mortgages* of banking companies, and loan building and investment companies whose head offices are in New Zealand. In both these cases the interest from mortgages is included in the income assessed for income-tax.

GRADUATED LAND-TAX.

Rates of Graduated Land-tax.
Where the Total Unimproved Value of all the Land of any Tax-payer is not less thanAnd is less thanThe Rate of Graduated Land-tax on such Total Unimproved Value is

* “Mortgages” include any unpaid purchase-money of land sold under an agreement of sale.

£    £     
5,0007,000One-sixteenth of a penny in the pound sterling
7,0009,000Two-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling
9,00011,000Three-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling
11,00013,000Four-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling
13,00015,000Five-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling
15,00017,500Six-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling
17,50020,000Seven-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling
20,00022,500Eight-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling
22,50025,000Nine-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling
25,00027,500Ten-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling
27,50030,000Eleven-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling
30,00035,000Twelve-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling
35,00040,000Thirteen-sixteenths of a penny in the pound sterling

At the value of £40,000 the rate is 8s. per cent., and for every additional £1,000 of unimproved value the rate is increased by one-fifth of a shilling, the increased rate in each graduation being chargeable on the total unimproved value of land owned. The rate reaches its maximum at £200,000, all estates of that value and over paying at the rate of £2 per cent. on the total unimproved value.

For and after the year ending the 31st March, 1910, the new progressive graduated scale over £40,000 is to be increased by 25 per cent. in the case of all land other than “business premises,” which is defined as being “any piece of land included within the area of a building used for business purposes, together with such additional land as immediately adjoins the said building, and is used and occupied in connection therewith, and does not exceed in extent the area of the building itself.” A building is deemed to be used for business purposes “if it is exclusively or principally used, whether by the owner or by any occupier or occupiers, for the purposes of any business, trade, or industry.”

The graduated land-tax is increased by 50 per cent. in the case of absentees, and it is made clear that the absentee tax does not apply to companies, but does apply to shareholders in companies. A person is deemed to be an absentee “unless he has been personally present in New Zealand for at least one-half of the period of four years immediately preceding the year in and for which he is assessed for graduated land-tax: Provided that no person who has acquired all his land in New Zealand within the said period of four years shall be deemed to be an absentee if he has been personally present in New Zealand for at least one-half of the period which has elapsed between the time when he first acquired any of that land and the commencement of the year in and for which he is assessed for graduated land-tax.”

If an absentee taxpayer is liable to be assessed for graduated land-tax jointly with another taxpayer who is not an absentee, they shall be assessed and liable jointly as if neither was an absentee, and the absentee taxpayer shall also be separately assessed and liable for absentee land-tax on his share of the property.

There are a number of clauses for preventing the evasion of the graduated land-tax, which may be shortly summarised as follows:—

  1. Life tenants are liable as if owners of fee-simple.

  2. Lessees are liable as if owners (except lessees of Crown, Native, or exempt land, and where lease has been in existence for more than five years prior to the passing of the Act).

  3. Shareholders are liable as if owners of the company's land in proportion to their interest in the paid-up capital.

  4. Two companies having practically the same shareholders are deemed one.

  5. Joint owners are assessable jointly as if the whole land was owned by a single person, and, in addition, the joint owners are liable for their interests in the joint estate taken in conjunction with any lands owned by them in severalty. The individual assessment is, however, entitled to a credit of the amount of tax paid in the joint assessments, so that graduated tax is not paid twice on the same land.

  6. Persons owning land in severalty but occupying it jointly are liable for graduated tax at the same rate as would be payable if they owned the lands jointly, in the proportions which the unimproved values of the lands so severally owned bear to one another; and if the said lands are occupied, worked, or managed by any one of such persons on behalf of all of them or on a joint account, or if they are worked or managed by any other person as trustee or otherwise on behalf of the owners, then joint occupancy shall have been established.

  7. Buyer in possession is liable, although conveyance has not been executed.

  8. Seller remains liable until 15 per cent. of the purchase-money is paid or the Commissioner of Taxes is satisfied that the subdivision actually creates closer settlement, except in case of agreement of sale made five years before the passing of the Act, or made by a seller not the owner of more than £40,000 land unimproved value.

  9. No disposition is to be effective so long as possession is retained.

  10. Equitable owners are liable as if legal owners.

  11. A trustee is liable as if beneficially entitled, excepting that when he is the owner of different lands in trust for different beneficial owners the graduated tax shall be separately calculated and assessed in respect of each trust, unless by reason of joint occupancy or for any other reason he is liable to be jointly assessed.

  12. No deduction is allowable on account of mortgage-money or unpaid purchase-money.

  13. Mortgagees are not liable, but mortgagees-in-possession are liable like lessees.

Church properties are exempted from graduated land-tax.

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. in the pound to £2 per cent
      Mortgages (on the capital value)¾d. in the pound

Total Yd of Tax.

The income-tax for the year ending the 31st March, 1908, amounts to £304,905. In considering this result, the many exempted sources of income already enumerated must be borne in mind. The land-tax, which takes the place of income-tax on income derived from the use or produce of land, yielded £537,846.

The net assessed income, after allowing all exemptions, is £7,260,713. The net assessed taxable value of land and mortgages, after allowing all exemptions, is £95,558,316.

The number of income-tax payers is 10,420. The number of land-tax payers is 28,991.

The yields of tax for the last eleven years were as follows:—

 Land-taxIncome-tax
 £      £      
1897–98267,286115,210
1898–99298,052115,480
1899–1900293,627128,721
1900–1294,583173,808
1901–2312,835179,397
1902–3296,062200,683
1903–4334,990221,368
1904–5352,854253,952
1905–6385,755261,815
1906–7447,342277,866
1907–8537,846304,905

The numbers of taxpayers for the same period were:—

 Land-taxIncome-tax
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
1904–523,8958,934
1905–624,2468,993
1906–727,6599,540
1907–828,99110,420

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 for 1907–8, including cost of assessment and administration, was 2.12 per cent., and for land-tax, graduated land-tax, and mortgage-tax, including the cost of valuation of land, was 4.02 per cent. The cost of collection for both taxes was 3.33 per cent.

GOVERNMENT VALUATION OF LAND ACT.

[A COMPLETE exposition of the system in force, with tables, forms the subject of Section XX of Part II. See page 594, ante.]

RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE OF LAND.

[Statutes consolidated under Act of 1908.]

“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 ¾d. 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 V, “Local Governing Bodies,” of the local bodies that have, up to 31st March, 1908, submitted the question of the adoption of the Act to the ratepayers, and the result of the polling in each case.

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 Minister of Finance, 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 Minister, 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 New Zealand.

In the event of such capital not being found sufficient, the Minister, 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 Minister 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 Minister 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.

On the 4th January, 1905, the State Fire Insurance Office opened for public business, and at the end of that year the public support accorded resulted in insurances therein to the extent of £3,000,000.

The State Fire Insurance Office commenced business with premiums 10 per cent. less than those accepted by the private insurance companies, and a little later the latter reduced to the same level all rates, except on dwellings, and similarly rated risks, which were lowered by 33 1/3 per cent. The State Fire Insurance Office thereupon reduced dwellings, and similarly rated risks, by 33 1/3 per cent. The private insurance companies also decided (1) to decline reinsurances from or to give reinsurances to the State Fire Insurance Office, and (2) to decline to accept any risk on which the State Fire Insurance Office held a line; and this attitude was maintained by the private insurance companies until early in 1906, when theywere practically obliged to mutually agree (1) to continue to decline reinsurances from or to give reinsurances to the State Fire Insurance Office, but (2) to allow each other to accept risks on which the State Fire Insurance Office held a line, and also to abandon their objection to the State Fire Insurance Office accepting risks on which they themselves had lines.

The State Fire Insurance Office has evidently found favour with the public, and, seeing it has been successful, it fully justifies the object of its inauguration—namely, that the Government Office should regulate the rates of fire-insurance premiums on the basis of fair prices, which on an average would leave a reasonable and legitimate trade profit on the business of fire insurance for all concerned.

The following is an extract from the report of the General Manager for the year ended 31st December, 1907:—

The year 1907 is the third financial year of the State Fire Insurance Office. The net income for the three years since the inauguration of the Department is as follows: 1905, £13,127 11s. 9d.; 1906, £20,962 8s.; 1907, £23,194 13s. It is therefore pleasant to be able to show that the insuring public has given the State Fire Insurance Office an increasing support each year.

The rates of premium during the whole of 1907 were the same as those which prevailed at the end of 1906.

That the rates of premium for fire insurance in New Zealand are too low is shown by the fact that the results attained by the State Fire Insurance Office on its operations during the past three years show a profit result of only £1,566 17s. 5d., after writing off £1,902 15s., and reserving £7,731 11s. for unearned premiums. The insuring public, however, have reaped the benefit of the reduced rates, seeing same approximately amount to £450,000 for the past three years.

The Revenue Account and Balance Sheet show that after writing off £634 5s., being the third quarter of the preliminary expenses, and reserving an additional £744 1s. 8d. for unearned premiums, the Profit and Loss Account shows a credit balance of £867 7s. 1d., which I consider a very satisfactory result, seeing that same has been attained free of cost to the public, in the face of strong and active competitive opposition, and at rates which have during the whole period been the lowest in the world for similar risks.

The Liabilities and Assets at the end of the year 1907, were:—

Liabilities.
 £    sd£    sd
Capital authorised by “The State Fire Insurance Act, 1903” ...100,00000   
Less not raised98,00000   
    2,00000
Reserve for unearned premiums7,731110
Fire Insurance funds, as per Revenue Account ...1,566175
Premiums and other deposits101187
Outstanding fire losses ...1,08000
Other sums owing by the office—£sd   
  Interest on capital4868   
  Reinsurance premiums due ...2,41975   
  Contributions to Fire Boards under “The Fire Brigades' Act, 1907”137510   
    2,6041911
    £15,085611
Assets.
Investments—£sd£sd
  Government 4 per cent Debentures10,00000   
Agents' balances—      
  Head Office ...4221   
  Christchurch48111   
  Dunedin ...250    
    —10,2151311
Outstanding premiums ...7611611
Interest accrued but not due671811
Cash in bank in transit2,313411
Cash46639
Preliminary expenses ...63453
Office furniture62633
    £15,085611

OLD-AGE PENSIONS IN NEW ZEALAND.

[Statutes consolidated under Act of 1908.]

ON the 8th July, 1896, a Bill providing for the payment of old-age pensions was introduced by the late Right Honourable R. J. Seddon into the Lower House, but lapsed in Committee on the 16th September.

Later in the same year, on the 14th October, a Registration of People's Claims Bill was introduced, the object being to ascertain the probable cost of establishing an Old-age Pension Fund.

This Bill passed through all its stages in both Houses, and received the Governor's assent on the 17th October.

In 1897 an Old-age Pensions Bill was again introduced, and passed all its stages in the Lower House, but was thrown out at the second reading in the Upper House.

Still again, in 1898, an Old-age Pensions Bill was introduced, and this year succeeded in passing both Houses, receiving the Governor's assent on the 1st November, 1898. Under this Act the Registration of People's Claims Act of 1896 was repealed.

The Act thus passed provided for the payment out of the Consolidated Fund of a pension of £18 per annum, or 6s. 11d. per week, without contribution by the beneficiaries.

An amending Act, however, passed on the 29th July, 1905, and taking effect on the 1st September, increased the full pension to £26 per annum, or 10s. a week.

The Act is administered by a Registrar located at Wellington, who is responsible to the Minister of Finance. For the purposes of administration the Dominion is divided into seventy-five districts, each in charge of a Deputy Registrar. In the chief centres of population the Deputy Registrar is the paid officer of the Old-age Pensions Department, but otherwise the duties of this office are undertaken by Clerks of Stipendiary Magistrates' Courts. All claims are investigated by Stipendiary Magistrates, who alone have the power to grant or refuse pensions.

The Act applies to all residents of New Zealand who fulfil the necessary conditions, except—

  1. Maoris who receive votes other than pensions out of the grant appropriated by “The Civil List Act, 1863.”

  2. Aliens.

  3. Naturalised subjects who have not been naturalised one year.

  4. Chinese or other Asiatics, whether naturalised or not.

The qualifications of an applicant are briefly as follows:—

  1. He must have reached the age of sixty-five.

  2. He must have resided continuously in New Zealand for twenty-five years.

    NOTE.—Continuous residence is not interrupted by occasional absences not exceeding two years. By the amending Act of 1900 four years' absence is allowed where the applicant was not absent during

    the twelve months preceding the day on which the original Act was passed, and where total actual residence is not less than twenty-five years. In the case of a seaman continuous residence is not interrupted by absence on board a ship registered in New Zealand, provided he establishes the fact that his home is in the Dominion.

  3. He must not during the past twelve years have been imprisoned for four months or on four occasions for an offence punishable by twelve months' imprisonment.

  4. He must not during the past twenty-five years have been imprisoned for five years for any offence.

  5. He must not at any time have deserted his wife and children.

    NOTE.—An amending Act in 1902 substituted for the words “at any time” the words “during the past twelve years.”

  6. He must have lived a sober and reputable life during the past five years.

  7. His yearly income must not reach £52.

    NOTE.—The amending Act of 1905 increased this amount to £60.

  8. The net value of his accumulated property must not be £270 or over.

    NOTE.—The amending Act of 1905 reduced this amount to £260.

  9. He must not have deprived himself of property or income to qualify for a pension.

Each applicant must apply in person to the Deputy Registrar of the district in which he resides, and fill in a form. The Deputy Registrar proceeds at once to verify the applicant's statements by a set of inquiry forms, which are sent out as follows:—

Form B, to the various banks.

Form C, to the Valuation and Tax Departments.

Form D, to the Post-Office Savings-Bank.

Form E, to the Police Department.

Form F, to the Registrar of Deeds.

Form G, to the employers.

Form H, to a person of good character who has known the applicant for a long time.

Form I, to the insurance companies.

Form K, to the Registrar, for proof of age and residence.

Form L, to the mortgagee, where a mortgage exists.

The results of these inquiries are transmitted, with the form of application, to the Stipendiary Magistrate presiding at the nearest Court, and a date is fixed for the personal examination of the pensioner.

The Deputy Registrar is the only person outside the Magistrate who is authorised to appear at the investigation of a claim and to question an applicant.

NOTE.—Under the original Act these investigations were held in open Court, but the Act of 1905 gives the Magistrate power, if he so chooses, to hear all cases in camera.

The Magistrate intimates his decision to the Registrar, who, if the pension is allowed, issues a pension-certificate for the amount granted, without which no payment can be received.

Each pension is granted for twelve months, and a fresh application requires to be made each year for renewal.

Payment of the pension is made by twelve monthly instalments through the Post Office, sufficient money being remitted by way of imprest each month to meet the instalments falling due in that month. The particulars necessary for payment are furnished to the Post Office each year by schedules containing all pensions then current, supplementary schedules being forwarded each month of the new pensions granted in that month. Lists of pensions payable at each paying office are supplied to that office, and are open for inspection on payment of 1s.

Instalments are payable on the 1st of the month, but may be collected up to the first day of the month following, after which date the special authority of the Minister of Finance is required before payment can be made.

The full pension under the old Act was reducible by—

  1. £1 for every complete £1 of income over £34.

  2. £1 for every complete £15 of net accumulated property.

Under the Act of 1905 the deduction on account of property was altered from £1 in £15 to £1 in £10.

Income is money or profits derived by any means from any source, and includes the cost of board and lodging up to £26, but not sick-allowance or funeral benefits paid by a friendly society.

Net accumulated property is the capital value of all real and personal property owned by an applicant, less the amount of any mortgage existing on the property, and less the sum of £50.

Under the Act of 1905 a deduction of £150 instead of £50 is allowed where any part of the property of an applicant consists of property on which he permanently resides and which produces no income.

There have been various changes in the provisions dealing with the division of income and property where the claimant is married.

Under the original Act the income of a married claimant was deemed to be not less than half of the total incomes of husband and wife, but there was no limit placed on the amount of property which the husband or wife of an applicant could own.

The Act of 1900 altered this by limiting the amount of income of a married couple, including pension, to £78, and providing for the charging of half a husband's property against his wife, and vice versa. A further amendment has now been effected by the Act of 1905, which increased the £78 limit of income for husband and wife (including pension) to £90, and provides for the equal distribution between husband and wife of all property owned by either or both of them.

To ascertain whether a pensioner is entitled to a renewal of his pension, he is required each year, shortly before the expiry of the certificate held by him, to furnish the Deputy Registrar with a statement of his income during the past year, and also of his property. On receipt of this statement the Deputy Registrar proceeds to verify the contents by the inquiry forms, and then submits it to the Magistrate, who investigates it in the same manner as is done in an original claim, the pensioner being required to attend in person if able to do so. The decision of the Magistrate is notified to the Registrar, who issues a fresh pension-certificate for the amount for which the pension is renewed, and authorises the Post Office to pay for another twelve months. The expired certificate is retained by the Post Office on payment of the final instalment, and forwarded to the Pensions Department, where it is filed.

If a person is physically unfit to draw his pension in person, he may appoint an agent, who requires an authority signed by a Stipendiary Magistrate before he can collect an instalment. This authority is renewed each year as the pension is renewed.

Pensions granted to persons maintained in charitable institutions are paid to the governing bodies of the institutions on production of an authority, likewise signed by a Stipendiary Magistrate. A fresh authority is required each month in these cases.

No payment is made of an instalment which falls due while a pensioner is in gaol, in an asylum, or out of the Dominion.

On the death of a pensioner the portion of the instalment accruing to date of death, together with any unpaid instalment then payable, may be paid if applied to defray funeral expenses.

If the Registrar has reason to believe that any pension has been improperly obtained, he may suspend payment and cause an inquiry to be held before a Magistrate, who has full power to act.

If during the currency of a pension-certificate a pensioner becomes possessed of property or income in excess of the amount allowed by law, the Registrar may apply to the Magistrate to have the pension cancelled or varied.

A Magistrate has power on his own initiative to review any previous decision, and to cancel or amend any pension-certificate.

If a pensioner is convicted of drunkenness or any other offence the convicting Court has power to forfeit one or more instalments, to cancel the pension outright, or to order payment to be made to an agent.

Any person who by a wilfully false statement obtains or attempts to obtain a pension to which he is not entitled is liable to six months' imprisonment, as also is any person who aids or abets such person.

Where it has been found that a pensioner has been overpaid, and the Magistrate is of opinion that such overpayment 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 to the amount of pension granted, double the amount of pension so overpaid may be recovered from the estate so found to be in excess.

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 lifetime, but he 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 both pensioner and 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 of 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 a view of obtaining a retransfer of the property.

Two registers are kept in the office of each Deputy Registrar—namely, a Pension-claim Register and an Old-age Pension Register.

The Pension - claim Register contains a record of each claim filed, and how it is dealt with. This register is open for inspection on payment of the sum of 1s.

The Old-age Pensions Register contains a record of each pension granted in the district, as also of each pension transferred from any other district. All changes made from time to time in regard to any pension are entered up in this register.

Each Deputy Registrar is required to supply the following monthly returns:—

  1. A return of new pensions granted by the Magistrate—to include transfers from other districts.

  2. A return of new claims rejected or adjourned by the Magistrate.

  3. A return of renewal certificates granted by the Magistrate.

  4. A return of applications to inspect the Pension-claim Register.

The numbers at the end of each financial year since the Act came into operation, together with the gross payments made in each year, are as follow:—

  £    
At 31st March, 1899 (at £18)7,4433,124
At 31st March, 1900 (at £18)11,285157,342
At 31st March, 1901 (at £18)12,405197,292
At 31st March, 1902 (at £18)12,776207,468
At 31st March, 1903 (at £18)12,481210,140
At 31st March, 1904 (at £18)11,926203,164
At 31st March, 1905 (at £18)11,770195,475
At 31st March, 1906 (5 months at £18, 7 months at £26)12,582254,367
At 31st March, 1907 (at £26)13,257314,184
At 31st March, 1908 (at £26)13,569325,199
          Gross total £2,067,755
NUMBER and ANNUAL VALUE of PENSIONS granted to Europeans and Maoris in Force on the 31st March, 1908
DistrictNumberAnnual Value
EuropeansMaoris
   £      
Auckland1,3511133,416
Coromandel93353,219
Dargaville83192,512
Hamilton252337,004
Helensville5311,374
Kaitaia15531,720
Mangonui1216718
Maungaturoto39 937
Otahuhu11132,791
Raglan1422899
Rawene20591,897
Rotorua19431,561
Russell60803,434
Taupo49338
Warkworth7671,853
Whangarei14363,756
Whangaroa1525964
Thames25466,648
Opotiki1420859
Paeroa72112,068
Tauranga29311,474
Te Aroha4811,236
Whakatane628873
Gisborne68181,979
Port Awanui611344
Napier269 6,667
Dannevirke14013,302
Waipawa5711,366
Wairoa1419679
New Plymouth204135,179
Stratford341856
Wanganui19424,989
Hawera7531,915
Marton8422,104
Patea33808 
Wellington645515,972
Carterton8412,052
Feilding9822,409
Masterton11012,711
Otaki5771,553
Pahiatua47 1,041
Palmerston N19024,596
Nelson209 5,078
Motueka73 1,821
Blenheim142 3,530
Havelock6 156
Christchurch1,565238,568
Akaroa3831,058
Amberley13 321
Ashbuton237 5,906
Culverden8 204
Kaiapoi32248,118
Kaikoura152413
Timaru190 4,666
Fairlie13 316
Temuka15563,834
Waimate12312,957
Greymouth444 11,307
Reefton130 3,319
Hokitika513112,987
Westport26016,633
Oamaru29227,266
Dunedin1,311130,893
Balclutha13713,411
Clyde121 3,103
Lawrence200 5,040
Milton135 3,296
Naseby112 2,768
Palmerston S57 1,420
Waikouaiti5641,401
Invercargill471411,712
Gore151 3,816
Queenstown95 2,428
Riverton124143,415
Chatham Islands23106
        Totals12,912657£333,340

The accompanying table shows the number of pensions at each rate at the end of the year just closed:—

Number of PensionsRateLiability
 £  £      
10,77426280,124
351258,775
368248,832
274236,302
205224,510
223214,683
168203,360
151192,869
186183,348
107171,819
85161,360
121151,815
81141,134
7013910
6712804
5711627
6210620
519459
488384
287196
306180
245120
12448
14342
7214
515
Totals 13,569 £333,340

RECIPROCAL TRADE.

Sections 2 to 11 of “The Preferential and Reciprocal Trade Act, 1903,” dealing with preferential trade have been repealed by “The Tariff Act, 1907.” The following provisions of the former measure are still in force:—

Where any country, being part of the British Dominions, reduces or abolishes, or proposes to do so, the duty on any product or manufacture of New Zealand, the Governor is authorised to enter into an agreement to reduce or abolish the duty on any articles the produce or manufacture of such country to an extent that the estimated revenue so remitted shall equal as nearly as possible the remission by that country. Such agreements, however, require ratification by Parliament.

Similarly, where any country not being part of the British Dominions, reduces or abolishes, or proposes to do so, the duty on any product or manufacture of New Zealand, the Governor is authorised, subject to or by virtue of a treaty with His Majesty, to negotiate for an agreement to reduce or abolish the duty on any articles the produce or manufacture of such country to an extent that the estimated revenue so remitted in New Zealand shall equal as nearly as possible what is remitted by that country, subject to Parliamentary ratification.

Chapter 56. SECTION II.

AGRICULTURE IN NEW ZEALAND.

[By M. MURPHY, F.L.S.]

IT is generally admitted that there is no part of the British dominions where agriculture, in its widest sense, can be carried on with so much certainty and with such good results as in New Zealand. The range of latitude, extending as it does from 34° to 47° south, secures a diversity of climate suitable for all the products of subtropical and temperate zones, while an insular position is a protection 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, 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 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.

SOUTH ISLAND.

If the North Island has a splendid inheritance in her forests, the South 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 Dominion.

The central portion of the South 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 South 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.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

The following résumê of the statistics, as published in the Gazette for the past season, is sufficient to indicate the trend of the agricultural and pastoral industries; fuller particulars will be found in the statistical portion of this book. It will be seen that there has been a decrease in the acreage sown in wheat amounting to 18,201 acres, while there has been an increase of 13,961 acres of oats for threshing, of 34,288 acres of oats for green feed, and 2,872 acres of barley for threshing; the area under turnips, mangolds, and rape exceeds that of the previous year by 63,879 acres. The increase of land laid down in grass is shown to be 407,222 acres.

The stock statistics show that horses have increased by 10,198 head, cattle have decreased by 35,451, and pigs decreased by 1,145.

The sheep returns, made up to 30th April, 1907, show that the total number of sheep in New Zealand was 20,983,772, an increase of 875,301 on the number for the previous year.

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 large areas of root and forage crops, and so bringing about a greatly improved style of farming when compared with the previous system of universal corn-growing and boiling-down.

The season of 1907–8, has on the whole proved to be much better than was anticipated. The summer was one of the finest experienced for years, so far as evenness of temperature, amount of sunshine, and almost total absence of north-west winds is concerned. The want, however, of the usual rainfall in the South Island had a detrimental effect upon the growth of grass, root, and forage crops. Owing to the shortness of grass, considerable areas of wheat and oats had to be fed off. The turnip and rape crops, particularly in Canterbury, suffered more from the attacks of aphides, and the caterpillar of the diamond-back turnip or cabbage moth (Plutella cruciferarum), and “black rot” than from the meagre rainfall, and no doubt the infestation was accelerated by the drought. The partial destruction of these crops is a more serious matter than that of the cereals. Welcome showers in the early autumn saved the position, inducing as they did a fairly good supply of winter feed. The development of the dairy industry and the advent of an efficient milking-machine will cause the demand for dairy farms to continue as brisk as ever. Dairy farms, especially in the North Island, have advanced enormously in value during the last decade. It would, however, be unreasonable to expect this rise to continue, either for dairying or for agricultural lands, in the face of the strides being made in these industries in other parts of the world and the consequent increased competition. 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 37,564,288 acres, of which 942,138 acres were under cereals and pulse (including 304,607 acres for ensilage, chaff, and feeding down), 767,454 acres under green crops, in sown grasses on ploughed land 4,958,233 acres, on land not ploughed 8,167,520 acres, in native grass, tussock, &c., 22,564,900 acres, in fallow 49,272 acres, plantations, orchards and gardens 114,150 acres, and vineyards 621 acres.

WHEAT.

The Canterbury Plains, the great wheat-growing district of the South 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 and forage plants, the growing of which has been carried on extensively since the earliest settlement of New Zealand. The total area under wheat harvested for the season 1907–8 was 193,031 acres (exclusive of areas grown for chaffing and fed off), of which 138,597 acres were grown in Canterbury, the average yield throughout the Dominion being 28.84 bushels per acre; total yield, 5,567,139 bushels. It will be seen by comparing the areas under wheat for the years 1906–7 and 1907–8 that there has been a falling off of 13,154 acres for the latter year. It must not, however, be assumed that this shortage has arisen from any decadence in the areas under cultivation. The explanation is to be found in the increased areas under grass and green crops, showing that the increasing prosperity of the trade in frozen meat, wool, and dairy-produce is responsible for the fact that the farmers of the Dominion now barely grow enough of wheat for our local consumption. The land in Canterbury 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 1/4 to 1 ½ and 2 bushels of seed per acre are usually sown, the quantity increasing as the season advances.

The following extracts from an article by Mr. W. Lowrie, Director of Canterbury Agricultural College, should be of interest to farmers:—

Wheat, as the bread corn of civilisation, will always hold a place of high importance among the world's farm crops, though, as the result of the opening up of new countries where, as far as conditions allow, it has been made the pioneer's main crop—often his only crop—the position of wheat in highly farmed countries has become less prominent.

During the last few years New Zealand has produced of wheat just about sufficient for local consumption, as the prices ruling for mutton, wool, and dairy-produce, have turned the farmers energy in favour of stock and forage crops, and that the more readily, as the hurry at harvest time, long hours necessitated, the difficulty and worry in securing labour sufficient and suitable, work together to make a farmer pass wheat unless compensated by considerably better returns.

PREPARATORY CULTIVATION.

Wheat can be taken almost anywhere in a rotation, though, of course, the success of the crop is modified by the crop preceding it, and the cultivation necessary in preparation, for the seed varies widely according to its position on a rotation. It likes a firm, compact seed bed; in fact, a seed bed with a good tilth, but well consolidated, is almost a fundamental condition of success. Accordingly, the cultivation of ploughing immediately preceding the crop should be shallow, say, 3 in. to 4 in. deep, though if the land has been ploughed deeply 6 in. or 7 in. for the preceding crop, such as rape, so much the better for the wheat to follow it. In Autumn the seed bed should not be made too fine; so long as there is a fair tilth to receive the seed the presence of a fair amount of small clods is an advantage, as by crumbling through the action of frost they prevent the surface setting too hard in the spring, and they offer a certain amount of shelter in the winter. The very heaviest yields of wheat are obtained after a summer bare fallow, as might be anticipated from the effect of the repeated workings given to the land in encouraging nitrification, in mellowing the soil, in retaining moisture, and in thoroughly cleaning the land of weeds. But the practice is too expensive in these days of forage and fallow crops, where the rainfall is adequate, and is only likely to be resorted to when necessary to clean land very foul, or infested with noxious weeds.

After peas, beans, or other nitrogen restoring crop, wheat is ever found to thrive well. After peas it will often suffice to give the land a double cut with the disc harrows set with deep cut. Pea stubble is generally loose, or relatively free, and ploughing is therefore unnecessary, and only to be adopted on land too stiff for the disc harrows to work. This discing should be done as soon after harvest as practicable, that the seeds of weeds may be germinated to be cleaned with the scarifier preliminary to sowing. The effect of following a leguminous crop on the character and quality of the grain is very marked as well as on the yield.

After potatoes, wheat almost invariably does well, as the working of the land which potatoes necessitate leaves it in excellent condition, and there is further available a considerable residue of the manure applied. In this case, as after peas, ploughing, even shallow has no advantage over the disc harrow in preparing a seed bed, and generally when the tops have been raked off the spring-tooth cultivator gives quite sufficient seed bed. After rape is another favourite position for wheat, as the land is enriched by the residue of the manure applied to the rape, and the dung of the sheep consuming the crop. The large number of subordinate roots and the depth to which they penetrate have also an effect on the soil and subsoil beneficial to the succeeding wheat.

After clover, lucerne, or lea, more care and good judgment is necessary in preparing for wheat than in any other position. To lift the land in the end of May or beginning of June, disc harrow, and sow right away, invariably results in a return far below the possible. Such land is never consolidated sufficiently, and the turf is not killed. Compared with this practice it will pay handsomely to have the field skim-ploughed in early autumn, let it lie for a while, then harrow and cross plough about 5 in. deep, and it seed time harrow well to give increased consolidation. For best results after lea it is imperative that the seeding be done on a stale furrow, and the land is all the better for having a heavy roller over it. When the lea is lifted immediately before sowing, the wheat gets comparatively little advantage from the humus except, perhaps, in the conservation of moisture, as the nitrifying ferments are practically dormant by the time the land is ploughed, and do not regain activity until early summer, when the wheat is well forward. The greater part of the material constituting cereals, be it remembered, is assimilated between the periods of tillering and the close of the blooming, and therefore if, by lifting the lea earlier in the autumn, more nitrogen is available in the spring, one of the reasons accounting for the fact that the crop on land so treated, more than pays by extra yield for the sacrifice of feed is evident. Indeed, it often happens that on land lifted from lea in early winter the second successive wheat-crop is better than the first, as the intervening summer has allowed of the nitrification of most of the organic matter constituting the turf.

MANURING.

Wheat is proverbial for making the best use of the inherent fertility of the land in the absence of manure directly applied. It is this characteristic that led to the practice in Britain of manuring wheat indirectly through the preceding crops—roots, potatoes, pulse or forage crops, heavy dressings of dung, artificial manures, or dung and artificials in various proportions are applied to these crops with the aim of getting correspondingly heavy returns from them, and leaving a considerable residuum well incorporated with the soil for the succeeding wheat crop to utilise. In the case of dung, the seeds of weeds have germinated, and have been destroyed, and the organic matter has had time for further decomposition and blending with the soil before the seed is sown, with the result that the wheat benefits from the residue of the dung more than if a corresponding amount had been applied with the seed. On our good wheat lands, however, the conditions are very different. Farmyard manure in quantity is not available, and in our warmer climate is less useful for wheat, even if it were available. The land is not underdrained, or if underdrained at all, the drains are much less frequent, and consequently the leaching of nitrates is less, and the need for nitrogenous manures less. The growth of herbage on the pastures is much denser and more luxuriant, and there is a correspondingly greater proportion of organic matter, when the land is lifted after a given time in pasture. The activity of the nitrifying ferments is increased by the higher temperature we experience, and is continued through most months of the year. Consequently with more humus, nitrification more rapid and more prolonged, and withal, less leaching of nitrates taking place, it is to be anticipated that nitrogen is less in demand for wheat, and every-day experience on this farm confirms the expectation. On lighter lands, or lands with an open subsoil, the position is different, and if wheat be attempted on such it will probably be found that the application of a nitrogenous manure, as part of the dressing, is desirable, but lighter lands can be used to better purpose under other crops. On good wheat land exuberance of vegetation often injuriously affects the yield of grain by favouring rust, by increasing the risk of lodging, and by bringing about a condition of the crop more liable to blight. This last consequence is important, for bursts of hot weather, which occasionally occur at the time when the grain is filling, compromise the yield most seriously in crops the most luxuriant. The movement of elaborated material from the leaves and stems to the ears is suddenly arrested, the crop yellows off too quickly, and a more or less shrivelled sample of grain results. Therefore, as the effect of nitrogenous manure is to increase vegetative luxuriance, and to produce a soft plethoric plant which succumbs more readily to sudden heat waves, or pinches of drought, it should be applied with caution under our conditions.

Phosphatic manures are believed to be of much more importance in the production of wheat in Canterbury than nitrogenous manures. Indeed, there seems good reason for the hypothesis that, if wheat be not grown too frequently, and a judicious rotation of forage crops, roots, leguminous crops and temporary pastures in which clovers are prominent, be adopted, it will be found that if the requirements of the soil in the matter of phosphates be met liberally, nature will go far to maintain the nitrates, except for such crops as mangels, kale, and rape, for which dried blood or other nitrogenous manure is indispensable, or at least an advantage. But phosphatic manures are beneficial beyond question, and their application is particularly to be recommended. In the case of land that has been badly farmed—submitted to exhaustive cropping without any effort to maintain fertility—they are indispensable to good yields. Dressings of phosphates, however, will be found almost invariably to produce a profitable response in the crop when applied with the seed, in the autumn or in the spring, for their influence is manifold. For example, rapid root growth is encouraged; tillering is promoted; maturity is hastened; spells of drought which often prevail in the spring are better withstood; and the quality of the sample is improved, the grain being better filled, and of a bettor colour. The fact that the transpiration of water necessary for the production of a certain weight of dry matter in cereals is less when aline manures have been applied, is of capital importance, and explains why phosphates, if other saline matters necessary be present in sufficiency, help the plant to resist periods of drought. Of the phosphates on the market superphosphate may be taken as the most generally useful. On land with a high percentage of organic matter, or soils somewhat sour, basis slag would be probably most useful, but, like nitrate of soda, it has not been put on the market so far at a price to justify its use. The superphosphate, as a rule, does not run altogether satisfactorily through the drill, and accordingly it is generally advisable to mix with it thoroughly a little of the freezing companies' manure, say, one in six, or to mix it with wood ashes, shortly before application in such quantities as will suffice to make the mixtures run well. When a rotation of crops is practised, it will be found that a dressing of 1 ½ cwt. to 2 cwt. per acre of superphosphate with the mixed material added proportionally, when such mixing has been required, will produce heavy crops, and, on the average, be sufficient. When wheat is grown after wheat superphosphate straight will scarcely suffice, or even when wheat is grown after oats. In that case it will be found advisable to mix superphosphate and kale manure from half and half to two of superphosphate to one of kale manure according to the degree of exhaustion of the field or the frequency with which it has been cropped. On lighter lands generally a mixture of dried blood and superphosphate one to two, or of kale manure and superphosphate half and half, will give better results than superphosphate alone, but on all wheat-growing land proper superphosphate alone will suffice, if it be dry enough to run through the drill freely. Further, it will be found that the influence of such direct manuring of wheat will tell favourably on the land when under grass or other crops.

QUANTITY OF SEED PER ACRE.

The quantity of seed to sow varies of course with the climatic conditions, the nature of the soil, the time of sowing, the size of the grain, and the habit of growth of the variety to be sown, and extends from one bushel per acre to two bushels. In a dry climate one bushel per acre is ample, but on good wheat lards in Canterbury from one and a quarter bushels to one and three-quarter bushels per acre should be sown. Lighter lands are sown more thinly than good strong soils, and the earlier the date of sowing the lighter should the seeding be in both cases. Wheats also that tiller freely may be sown more thinly than wheats which run quickly with fewer stems, such as the spring wheats. The careful selection and preparation of seed wheat is ever well repaid. For example, it should be graded, and the lighter or shrivelled grains taken out. Careful experiments conducted in France by Desprez proved that the gain in yield resulting from grading the wheat with the “Trieur” varied from 22 to 28 per cent. in favour of the large plump grains as compared with the yield of the smaller or shrivelled grains sown under similar conditions.

CULTIVATION.

Harrowing wheat in the spring is almost invariably an advantage to the crop, and on heavy lands it can scarcely be overdone. On thick crops it is an important, almost necessary, operation for the very best results. The horse-hoeing of wheat is now almost generally abandoned in favour of good harrowing, which is almost as efficient, and is much cheaper. Rolling has not so much to recommend it as harrowing, though in light lands it is useful. On heavy land, however, there is no manifest advantage to repay the cost of rolling in the spring, unless where the young wheat has been badly thrown out by severe frosts. Feeding down early crops with sheep is often beneficial to them, but occasionally it is injurious. When a dry season supervenes, on a crop fed down somewhat late, the yield will be diminished, and, as a rule, it is well to feed down only the early crops which, in a favourable season, might lodge before harvest.

TIME OF CUTTING.

For flour, wheat is better for being cut before it is dead ripe; for seed, it is to be preferred when it has been allowed to ripen completely. The rule then is to cut wheat when the grain is in the dough state for milling—when it ceases to show a milky fluid in section, and has a consistency similar to dough or cheese. However, as the grain fills from the outside inwards it is possible to cut too early, with the result that the inner starch cells of the grain are not fully developed, and the sample weighs less per bushel, but in view of the risk of shaking, and on the knowledge that in this climate the grain continues to fill in the stook, it is well to cut just as the milky stage of ripening is being completed.

VARIETIES.

New Zealand wheat in Mark Lane ranks much as English-grown wheat in quality. It works soft and weak as a rule; does not yield with the miller so much flour as Australian; and in purity of colour comes lower. In bread-making capacity, or strength of flour, it is classed as low to fair, while Australian ranks as fair, and famous qualities such as Manitoban No. 1 are described as good to full, and No. 1 Hard Dulluth and No. 1 Northern Spring (United States) as full. The quality in the matter of strength of flour is, unfortunately not to be controlled to any great extent by the skill of the farmer in selecting varieties, or in breeding strains to yield strong flour: the chief determining factor is undoubtedly the climate, in the question of strength, and it is found that in countries where the ripening process is most rapid, through high summer temperature, long daylight, and clear dry weather, that wheats yielding the strongest flour are grown. If some of the wheats yielding strongest flour were introduced here, such, for example, as the Fife types, it would be found that in a few seasons the character of the grain in this characteristic would degenerate, though, at the same time, the matter well deserves the attention of farmers, as intelligent effort no doubt would result in improvement. There is also, of course, the practical and financial aspect of the question to be considered. Wheats of the strong type grown in the States and Canada never, in the writer's experience at least, equal in yield the best soft white wheats that are now grown in New Zealand, and it may pay to grow the heavier yielder for a lower price per bushel. For example, 50 bushels per acre at 3s. 4d. (£8 6s. 8d.) will pay a farmer better than 45 bushels at 3s. 7d. (£8 1s. 3d.). A characteristic indispensable to varieties to be grown here, and always to have first consideration, is resistance to shelling out or threshing by wind, and in this particular many of the strong flour wheats are weak. The best soft white wheats of Europe yield most profitable returns here, but, of course, it does not follow that improvements in the matter of strength cannot be gained by careful selection or by cross-breeding.

OATS.

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 1907–8 was 386,885 acres. The areas under the headings “For Chaffing,” “Ensilage,” and “Feeding Down” were 294,638 acres.

The yield of oats in Otago and Southland varies from 40 to 80 bushels per acre, the cost of production being about the same as wheat—viz., £2 per acre when grown from grass-land, and £1 10s. from stubble.

BARLEY.

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. 36,177 acres were grown in the Dominion this year for threshing.

The growing of this cereal for malting purposes requires more attention than it has yet received in New Zealand 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 1907–8 was 27,035 acres, a decrease of 4,254 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; recent experiments in Canterbury have amply demonstrated that the application of a much larger quantity of manure per acre is a remunerative investment. 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 not a favourable one for this esculent, owing to the small rainfall during the growing season. The crops were, however, a good medium average. The disease which threatened to destroy the crop in 1906 happily was generally conspicuous by its absence in the present year's crop, but it was present in a slight degree in many of the Canterbury potato-fields. The fine, warm, dry season experienced had much to do with our immunity from the disease. The larva of the potato moth, “Lita Solanella,” causes considerable loss in some districts, but fortunately so far it is very local in its attack. The practice of spraying for fungoid infestations should be encouraged, as it is well known that no fungoid growth can exist when treated with a solution of sulphate of copper.

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. Professional growers have been sending out new varieties in quick succession with high-sounding names, claiming for each superior qualities from anything previously grown, offering them at fabulous prices, which were readily obtained. These were to revolutionise potato-growing. Such varieties as “Northern Star,” “King Edward,” “Eldorado” (and a host of others might be mentioned which were put on the market) have given way to other novelties. A farmer in South Canterbury published the result of a trial of 140 named varieties, amongst which “Princess Victoria” was assigned the first position as a large cropper, good flavour, and comparatively early maturity. It must be remembered that frequently the most promising new varieties are the first to “run out.” If, however, this should lead to the permanent establishment of even one variety better than anything previously in cultivation, the money and time which has been expended will have been well spent. This result seems to be probable.

Turnips:* The turnip-crop of this season has been a comparative failure. The ravages of the caterpillar of the diamond-back moth in Canterbury and several other districts have been so prevalent as to render the turnip-crop comparatively worthless. This pest is believed to be indigenous to New Zealand. It is always present in our turnip-crop in a greater or lesser degree. Fortunately, however, it is not always so destructive as has been the case in 1907 and 1908. The late Miss Ormerod, in her “Injurious Insects,” refers to an infestation which ravaged the turnip-crops of Great Britain and Ireland in 1851. All cruciferous plants are subject to its attack. It is exceedingly difficult to successfully deal with the pest, but severe attacks are not frequent; were they so, turnips and rape would go out of cultivation, the loss resulting from which would be difficult to estimate, as the success or otherwise of the export trade in mutton and lamb is largely dependant on these crops. In the southern portion of the South Island the crop was fairly good, not suffering to the same extent from the pest referred to. The area under this crop for the season 1907–8 was 549,209 acres, an increase of 34,868 acres as compared with the previous year.

*Valuable information on the growing of this crop will be found under this heading in the Year-book for 1901, page 478.

Rape is largely grown as sheep-feed, and may be sown either in early spring or immediately after harvest, the stubble being skim-ploughed or broken up with the spring-tined cultivator. This crop is invaluable in the early spring, and may be fed off in time for oats or barley. Dairy cattle, however, should not be fed on rape, as doing so destroys the flavour of the milk. This fodder plant is more valuable for fattening lambs than the turnip; there were 163,704 acres under this crop, being an increase of 26,340 acres.

Kale: Mr. Lowrie, the director of the Lincoln Agricultural College, has demonstrated the great value of kale as a supplementary forage-crop. There are several varieties of kale which have been, cultivated for a lengthened period in Europe. For some reason its culture has hitherto been much neglected in New Zealand. Mr. Lowrie has, however, succeeded in bringing its value before the farming community, with the result that it may be said to be fairly established. It is not intended that it should take the place of rape. As a forage-crop, however, the kales compare very favourably with the varieties of rape. It will stand drought better than rape; it is less liable to blight; it is healthier for stock. Mr. Lowrie remarks: “I have never known kale to injure stock, either sheep or cattle, and I have frequently had to take lambs off rape, when they have begun to die from irritation in the intestines, and put them on kale to recover.” The value, however, of the food from a fattening point of view is scarcely so high as rape. Young stock will fatten on rape quicker, but wethers and two-tooth sheep and over seem to do as well on kale as they will do on rape, and the percentage of deaths will always be lower. A good block of kale should always be grown, for reasons above stated. It has another advantage—viz., it can with impunity be fed to dairy cows with little fear of tainting the milk, as is the case with rape.

The cultivation of kale consists in sowing the seed in drills, 21 in, apart, with 1 lb. of seed per acre. Sown in September, the crop will be ready for grazing in February, and can be grazed right through the autumn. Stock should be taken out about the end of May and the crop left until the spring, when in the month of September it will yield an enormous amount of forage; but care must be taken not to feed it too closely at any time. The plant is a gross feeder, and must be treated generously if sown in indifferent soil. From 2 cwt. to 3 cwt. per acre of manure should be drilled in with the seed. The variety known as “Thousand-headed kale” is the most generally useful.

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 and thinned; 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; 9,242 acres were grown last season.

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. The area under carrots in the Dominion for 1907–8 was 1,974 acres, as against 1,880 acres in the previous year.

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. Some 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 set up a sub-committee to collect information on the subject. As the result of the inquiries made, Messrs. Sladen, Ripple Court, Dover, England, and A. H. Ham, Oxford, England—well-known scientists—were asked to co-operate in collecting the most suitable species. A small consignment (the season being too far advanced) was shipped by the s.s. “Paparoa,” which arrived in Lyttelton on the 24th February, 1906. Out of fifteen sent ten arrived alive—viz., four Bombus lapidarius (the red-tailed bee), and six Bombus hortorum. These were released in clover-paddocks at and near the Lincoln Agricultural College. Another consignment of 165 red-tailed queens arrived at Lyttelton per steamer “Paparoa” in December, 1906, of which 94 were found to be dead, the balance (71) soon revived when exposed to the warm sun, and took flight. The third consignment of these insects arrived per s.s. “Ruapehu” in December, 1906. The shipment consisted of 145 queens, of which 62 were found to be alive; these were liberated at Mr. H. E. Peryman's farm at Tai Tapu, in the midst of luxuriant clover paddocks.

Humble-bees were first successfully introduced into Canterbury in 1885. The variety was Bombus terrestris; and they were found to spread over an area of a hundred miles in less than twelve months.

The red-tailed bee is easily distinguished from any other species; the posterior is closely covered with red hairs, hence its name. It is highly probable that this bee, Bombus lapidarius, has at last been established. If so, it will soon spread throughout the length and breadth of the land, and if all that is claimed for this species be correct, red-clover must become a more certain cropper than in the past. For this the Committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association will deserve the gratitude of the farming community. The importations cost the Association £100. The Entomologist of the Dominion of Canada has promised to send a shipment of bees as soon as practicable, and it is probable that some may also be procured from California.

White and alsike clover are now grown in considerable quantities. White clover yields enormously: as much as 300 lb. of white and 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 also raised in the North Island and in many other parts of the Dominion 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 (Perennial and Italian) for seed is also an important industry. The seed is usually gathered by stripping, when the crops are heavy they are cut and tied as corn, and afterwards threshed by machinery. The yield varies from 20 to 50 bushels per acre, weighing from 25 lb. to 32 lb. per bushel, 20 lb being the standard weight. A common practice is to graze the land till midsummer; to take the stock off for a few weeks, and then to run the stripper over the ground. By this primitive method 10 bushels per acre of perennial ryegrass is sometimes secured, 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. They are for the most part valuable for sheep pastures. Mr. Kirk, the Government Biologist, has under observation at some of the Government stations large collections of grasses (native and foreign), and it is expected that some results will be obtained which may prove of considerable value to the pastoral interests.

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 New Zealand 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 being made to secure a share of this trade by producing peas suitable for splitting for human food. The business should prove a most remunerative one. Thirty bushels of peas per acre is considered a fair crop, while 60 to 70 bushels of beans are often secured. As showing the extraordinary fertility of some of the lands, 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.

Linseed (European Flax): The cultivation of this useful plant is not increasing; in 1908 there were 508 acres, as against 1,094 acres grown in 1907. This crop requires a very large amount of labour when grown for fibre purposes; its cultivation therefore is confined to small areas for the manufacture of oil and oilcake, and for cattle food. The straw which might with advantage be turned to account is neglected.

New Zealand Flax (Phormium Tenax): This useful plant occupies a large area of the swamp lands of the Dominion. The manufacture of fibre from the leaves has in the past been a profitable business, employing a large number of persons. The value of the fibre would be greatly enhanced if some effective means could be found for freeing the fibre from resinous substances. Dr. Cockayne is now engaged on this work. Exhaustive experiments are to be carried out on the Government Experimental Stations to this end. It is more than probable that this plant will be largely grown on lands capable of being irrigated.

Lucerne: This permanent fodder-plant thrives admirably in most parts of New Zealand, provided the land is not waterlogged; 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.

SPRING FEED.

The following extracts are from a paper by Mr. W. Lowrie, Director, Agricultural College, Lincoln:—

Two of the essentials towards a successful and profitable catch crop for spring forage are early sowing and liberal manuring. The plant gets going while the soil is warmer, and, encouraged by manure, it roots more freely, and grows more vigorously throughout, but especially in the colder weather. This is no doubt partially accounted for by the fact that at, say, six inches deep, the mean temperature of the soil is higher than at one inch deep during the colder half of the year. The cost of the manure (9s. or 10s.) per acre bulks largely against the total value of the forage, but the outlay is well justified, as every week earlier in the spring the crop can be fed, the higher is its value. The cost of the manure, however, is really to be debited only in small part to the catch crop, as the processes of nitrification proceed slowly during the winter months, and the phosphates not assimilated are not leached from the soil. The residual value of the manure passed forward to the succeeding main crop is considerable; and further, as the crop is fed down generally on the land, the increased weight so fed correspondingly benefits the land. Of manures which might be used, a top dressing of nitrate of soda when the crop has started, to force the vegetable growth, and superphosphate or basic slag with the seed, would be the desirable treatment, but the price of nitrate of soda is practically prohibitive, and until the demand for it grows to such an extent to justify the importing of it direct from the Pacific coast of South America, it is out of the question. It may be that ere long some of our rivets will be harnessed, and a cheaper supply of nitrates for farmers made available, but in the meantime it is needless to talk nitrate of soda. The manures to be recommended as things are, are superphosphate, basic slag, and the mixtures supplied by the freezing companies, and, say, 1 1/4 cwt. per acre of either superphosphate or basic slag, and ¾ cwt. of kale manure, carefully mixed, as a suitable dressing on the average. The mixing is desirable, as the freezing companies' manure with superphosphate makes the mixture run freely in the drill, and saves annoyance and delay through coulters blocking.

Of varieties of seed suitable for catch crops, the range from which one may select is wide, and a variety is an advantage. The following may be mentioned:—

  1. Italian rye grass.

  2. Sutton's giant rye corn.

  3. Cape barley.

  4. Cape barley and vetches.

  5. Dun oats.

  6. White oats and vetches.

  7. Garton oats and mustard.

Of these crops, Italian rye grass on this farm proves invariably the most valuable. Its grazing capacity is much greater than any other crop or mixture that I have tried, really more than double that of any other. Indeed, it will carry nearly as many stock as barley or oats for the time that these are being fed, and will continue to carry them right through till Christmas, when the oats or barley have long been fed out. For good land there is nothing yet introduced to equal Italian rye for spring feed, and one cannot recommend it too strongly. On the College farm we have nearly seventy acres of it sown so far, and about thirty acres still to sow. But it must, for best results, be sown early—in the end of February or in March—and sown thickly. When sown up to two bushels or over per acre it seems to shelter itself, and, without question, grows better through the winter.

Dun Oats: Next to Italian rye this is probably the most desirable crop to sow for spring feed. Stock eat it readily, and it stands more grazing than most other varieties of oats. These oats must be sown early, and have a good dressing of manure under them for best results, and in a good season, when growing rankly, there is danger of their going down at harvest. The risk can be lessened or avoided by feeding so much the later, though should dry weather supervene, the yield, of course, will suffer by late feeding. Dun oats are to be preferred when they can be got in early, and the land is in condition to germinate them right away. It is an advantage that this crop can be fed in the spring, and yet be more than a catch crop, in that after prolonged feeding it will return a useful weight of finest quality oatsheaf for chaff, or can be threshed.

Giant Ryes: For poorer soils Giant rye corn is well worth a trial. It is worth two of ordinary rye corn for the purpose of spring feed, as it comes earlier—very nearly as quick as Cape barley—and yields much more feed. Rye must be kept fed down as long as it is wanted for grazing, as stock pass it when it gets beyond the shot blade. On the light turnip lands and colder shallower soils, this variety of rye will be found to yield a useful amount of feeding, and to justify the trial of it.

Cape Barley offers, perhaps, the earliest spring feed, and while it lasts is much relished by stock, and is a healthy, useful feed, but it will not carry the quantity of stock that Dun oats or Giant rye will carry, and, like white oats, is not satisfactory to leave for grain after being hard fed. It generally succumbs to the dry weather of spring after such feeding, and is not worth saving. If fed lightly it will, however, yield a heavy harvest of grain, but when sown early enough to be of value for feed in the spring, if fed lightly, it comes into ear ahead altogether of other crops, and draws birds from all points of the compass, to the extent that it cannot be allowed to stand to ripen, as the birds will take the lot. A small area of Cape barley is useful for first feeding, or for soiling for cattle in the spring—indeed, for dairy cattle; from this point of view it is probably the most useful of the cereals, and when sown at 3 bushels per acre, with 2 cwt. of manure under it, it will yield a most valuable cutting for cows to keep the early calvers going until grass is a good bite. But it is more useful to the dairy-farmer than the sheep-farmer.

Oats and Vetches: This mixture is more useful for dairying than sheep husbandry, as by feeding down the full value of the vetches is not obtained. It is a most valuable forage, and at the same time has a marked improving influence on the soil. The high price of the seed, and the wholesome dread of wild tares in the wheat, have accounted for its neglect, but now, with the cheap pea harvester attachment, which can be fixed on the ordinary grass-mower, there is no reason why a small area of vetches for seed should not be sown on most farms as they can be harvested as easily as peas, and with sheep so general on every farm now there is not the same danger of fouling the land that held in the past, when cereal-growing was more extensive, and sheep a less important adjunct. On every dairy farm a block of this mixture should be sown for cutting green and feeding, or for converting into hay for chaffing and steaming, and for the sheep-farmer the grazing of oats and vetches will be found very fattening and forcing. Vetches might be sown with rape for summer forage with admirable results. The most useful vetch to sow is probably the large or Gore vetch.

Oats and Mustard: For the mixture an early oat is, of course, to be preferred, such as the Garton oat. The mixture sown last year was a full seeding of oats, drilled with 2 cwt. of superphosphates, and broad-casted over this 4 lb. or 5 lb. of white mustard. The feed proved very healthy, and came in the spring and early summer in great good stead, as things eventuated. It carried ten ewe hoggets to the acre till some weeks after shearing. The mixture is to be preferred to mustard alone, and when sown early it will be found well worth recommendation. Dry sheep will keep the mustard from seeding without being pinched on it, and it will help to shift worms, from which, on heavy land, hoggets are apt to suffer. If fed hard down and ploughed up for turnips, this mixture will be found to injure the following crop less than almost any other catch crop, as it comes so early at to allow of the land being worked before the winter's moisture has been lost. As a catch crop proper, this mixture deserves a prominent place.

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 New Zealand, 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, 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 in the Old Country; so that, after all, the difference in the cost of working a farm in New Zealand is not so great as might appear at first sight.

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. Trials of agricultural motors have been held in Scotland. Ploughing, harrowing, reaping and binding, and manure - spreaders are 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 found their way to Australia and New Zealand. It is probable that this power will ultimately take the place of horses for ploughing and other farm work on the level plain lands, doing it at a greatly reduced cost per acre. Ploughing with electric traction has been tried in California, it is reputed, with considerable success. 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 carting, stacking, and thatching; but this method, although very general, is not recommended except in hot 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 Dominion. 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 New Zealand 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 Dominion for 1907–8 was 1,816,299, being a decrease of 35,451 as compared with the previous year.

Horses: The number of horses in the Dominion for 1907–8 was 353,257, an increase of 10,198 over the previous year.

Sheep: The returns made up to the 30th April, 1907, show 20,983,772, an increase of 875,301 over the year ending 30th April, 1906. This is most encouraging. 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 Dominion. The export of frozen lambs for the year 1907 amounted to 2,840,877, and the export of frozen sheep for the same period was 1,944,392—a total of 4,785,269; besides which there were 34,973 cwt. of frozen mutton joints exported.

On the 30th April, 1907, the distribution of the flocks of the Dominion was as follows: In the North Island, 10,854,018; and in the South Island, 10,129,754.

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, 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 South 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, Dorset Horns, Oxford Downs, and Roscommons.

Shearing commences in September, and is continued till January. The usual price per hundred is from 17s. 6d. to 20s. Shearing-machines are now largely used in nearly all the larger sheds.

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 staple of New Zealand wool, especially the longwool and cross-bred, is remarkable for its freedom from breaks and other imperfections incidental to countries subject to long droughts and periodical 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 nearly reached its limit. When the frozen-meat trade was first seriously considered, an assertion to the effect that 1,000,000 sheep per annum could be found for freezing without impairing the breeding-flocks was treated as highly chimerical by sheep-breeders of long experience. The export of sheep and lambs for the year 1907, was four millions and three-quarters, and there are now twenty two freezing-works in operation in New Zealand. But 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 become 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. This system is carefully carried out, and has been found to be beneficial to the trade.

“The New Zealand Flock-book,” first published in 1895, is now thoroughly established, and is of great value to the owners of pure pedigree flocks. There are now about six hundred registered flocks throughout the Dominion. Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania also have Flock-books. This is a step in the right direction, as flock-masters in South America and elsewhere 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.

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, Canterbury 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.

The light-horse stock has risen into note through the production of animals which have rendered themselves famous on the 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.

New Zealand 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—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 has prohibited vessels carrying live-stock from infected countries touching at any of the ports of New Zealand except under certain conditions.

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 541,363 cows kept exclusively for dairy purposes. 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 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. Much has still to be done in the way of improving dairy stock. 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 ½d. per pound, will be worth about as much as the butter.

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

This industry continues to flourish throughout New Zealand. The Government spends large sums of money in teaching the art of butter and cheese making, the proper method of grading, packing, and shipping. With a view to encourage 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, and brand each packet with its proper quality. Factory-owners fully recognise that it is folly to pay freight on any but the best quality; and this remark applies to grain and meat as well. New Zealand has to compete against Canada, the United States, Denmark, Australia, the Argentine, and Siberia. 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. The practice of grazing milking-cattle on “breaks” of turnips is discouraged, but if this feed must be used, the roots should be carded on to clean grass land, and fed immediately after milking with plenty of clean sweet hay and straw intervening. Ensilage is strongly recommended as a substitute for turnips, and is used by many dairy-farmers in the North Island. 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. 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. 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 has its admirers amongst pig-breeders, as it answers admirably for crossing with black pigs. It produces a good bacon pig, making more lean meat and longer sides than the pure Berkshires, but takes a much longer time in coming to maturity, which renders the breed less sought after than it otherwise might be. 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 Agricultural Department is doing much to foster this industry. The Government Poultry Depots are kept busily employed. The egg-laying competitions carried out at Lincoln Agricultural College and elsewhere will certainly give an impetus to fowl-raising. There is, however, one point which must be impressed upon those contemplating fowl-farming, which is that they must be prepared to devote strict attention to the work, which is not heavy, but continuous, from daylight till dark. It is eminently suited for young people. Where large numbers of fowls are kept, the most scrupulous care must be observed in the matter of cleanliness, and a continuous supply of pure water must at all times be available. The want of these attributes has been the cause of many of the failures to make poultry-farming pay.

THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

From the North Cape to the Bluff Hill, in the extreme south of the South Island, the climate and soil are, for the most part, well 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, grow in favourable localities. The olive thrives in certain districts of the North Island, bearing satisfactory crops, and the manufacture of oil should 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 become a large fruit-producing district, being free from violent and scorching north-west winds, so soon as that district is connected by rail with the sea-ports.

The manufacture of cider has assumed considerable dimensions, opening up a market for suitable surplus fruit. The New-Zealand-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 countries must command the markets of the world. Happily for New Zealand, her climate and pastures are such that she can not only produce mutton equal to the finest English or Scotch, but can produce more per acre than 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 now 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 long 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 many of the settlers, which is an earnest of the stability of the settlements.

Chapter 57. SECTION III.

THE MINERAL WATERS OF NEW ZEALAND.

ARTHUR S. WOHLMANN, M.D., Lond., Government Balneologist.]

NEW ZEALAND is a country peculiarly rich in mineral waters, and, as might be expected in a land in which volcanic agencies are still active, more particularly rich in thermal waters distinguished by a very high temperature rather than by a high percentage of dissolved salts, though the latter class of water is by no means absent. The vast majority of thermal springs are found in the North Island, and arise over a very large area.

Of these springs, a large proportion have never yet been analysed, many are known only to a few individuals, and doubtless many yet remain to be discovered, or, if known at all, are only known to the local Maori population. A sufficient number, however, have now been examined to enable a very fair classification of the whole to be attempted, and, as will be seen by the subjoined tables, with the exception of the sulphated waters, there are few of the more important types of mineral water that are not represented among the springs of this country.

The different classes of mineral water have a rough general plan of geographical distribution, so that the probable nature of a spring may to a certain extent be inferred by its position on the map, though this is a rule with many exceptions, and the point must not be pressed too far. Thus in the central pumice plateau, from the south of Taupo to Rotorua and thence on to the Bay of Plenty, the vast majority of the springs are very hot, sulphuretted, siliceous, and weakly mineralised; while along the east coast, from the East Cape to Cape Palliser, muriated waters of high specific gravity, and containing iodides, predominate.

The following classified list of waters is based almost entirely on the analyses recorded in the reports of the Dominion Museum and Laboratory, published by the Mines Department, between the years 1874 and 1906, and of these a large proportion of the more important have recently been made by Dr. Maclaurin. On account of the space which would be required to give the full detailed analysis of each specimen, only the essential and characteristic ingredients are given here, together with the total grains per gallon of solid constituents. In all cases, however, in which the analyses have been taken from the above reports, the year is also given to facilitate reference should fuller details be required.

For further information on this subject the reader is referred to the paper by Mr. W. Skey in the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute, 1877, to several published pamphlets by Mr. J. A. Pond, and to the article by the late Sir James Hector in the Official Year-book, 1893. The names Skey, Pond, and Hector at the head of an analysis have reference solely to the above-mentioned papers.

Owing to the large number of their contained ingredients, a scientific classification of mineral waters is a very difficult matter, and all the methods of classification usually adopted are open to criticism. Under Dr. Peale's system a fair amount of accuracy is arrived at, but only at the price of a cumbersome and uncouth string of adjectives; while in the simpler system which is usually adopted by English writers, and which I have for convenience followed here, a water may often with equal justice be classified under two or more headings, owing to its containing several ingredients of practically equal importance, and in such cases a compromise has to be adopted.

For purposes of comparison a well-known example of a European mineral water is given with each class except, of course, in those rare instances in which a New Zealand water has no corresponding European prototype.

SIMPLE THERMAL WATERS.

These waters are very weakly mineralised, and owe their therapeutic value chiefly to the hot water, used in the form of baths. That some of the most famous spas in the world are supplied only with such waters suffices to show the efficacy of hot water when skilfully employed, and it is noteworthy that it is in such spas that the douche treatment is frequently brought to a pitch of great perfection. There remains, of course, the still-disputed point as to whether these waters may not owe their efficacy to some factors not indicated by the chemical analysis; and recent developments in science have so far modified our conceptions of the nature of matter and of energy that a dogmatic expression of opinion is less likely to be advanced now than was the case some years ago.

* Here, and throughout this paper the figures are given in grains per gallon
EUROPE
Gastein.
Total solids21.0*
Temperature121°Fahr
* Here, and throughout this paper the figures are given in grains per gallon
NEW ZEALAND
Waingaro (1904)
Sodium-chloride6.43
Silica7.80
Total solids22.66
Temperature130°Fahr
Matamata (1904)
Sodium-bicarbonate28.10
Total solids46.66
Temperature106° Fahr
Maruia (1903)
Total solids36.5
Temperature140° Fahr
Mount Egmont (1883)
Calcium-carbonate6.72
Total solids26.23
Hurunui (1885)
(Complete analysis not available.)
Franz Josef (1901)
Total solids56.21
(Principally sodium chloride and carbonate.) 
Lake Sumner. (Skey.)
Total solids18.56
Temperature93° Fahr
Miranda, Thames. (J. A. Pond.)
Sodium-chloride15.17
Total solids31.27
Temperature134° Fahr
Katikati (1904). (Vide also “Muriated Waters.”)
Sodium-chloride119.54
Total solids137.26
Okoroire.
Sodium-chloride17.18
Silica and silicates9.70
Total solids42.34
Temperature113° Fahr
Haupiri (1901)
Sodium-silicate7.3
Total solids19.3

MURIATED WATERS.

The principal ingredient of these waters is common salt. In this country they are, in the majority of instances, very hot, and are used both for baths and for drinking purposes. In the former case they exert a stimulating effect on the nerve-endings in the skin; while, taken internally, they stimulate the mucous membrane of the gastro-intestinal tract, and have a diuretic, and sometimes a laxative, effect.

No use has been hitherto made in New Zealand of the concentrated mutterlauges so much used on the Continent of Europe, though indeed some of the waters are so strong naturally as to need little concentration to rival these “mother-liquors” in strength.

Taken as a whole, they constitute an important and numerous group, and are distinguished by their geographical distribution and by certain chemical peculiarities. Thus the great majority arise near the coast, especially the east coast of the North Island. A great number of the waters, too, contain very considerable quantities of calcium-chloride and of sodium-iodide, so that the muriated waters fall naturally into three main groups—those containing a great preponderance of sodium-chloride, those in which calcium-chloride is present in so great a quantity as to rival or even surpass the sodium-chloride in importance, and those in which sodium-iodide is present in noticeable quantities. The great majority of the second class, however, belong also to the third.

CLASS I.—SODIC MURIATED WATERS. EUROPE
Wiesbaden
Sodium-chloride420
Temperature100° to 156° Fahr
NEW ZEALAND
Helensville (1889, 1903). (Vide also “Iodide Waters.”)
Sodium-chloride114.46
Total solids134.68
Temperature115° to 146° Fahr
Hokianga (1878). (Pond.)
Sodium-chloride2797.4
Total solids2937.5
Hokianga, Rotokakahi (1905)
Sodium-chloride1350.0
Total solids1543.0
Patangata (1902). (Vide also “Chalybeate” and “Iodide Waters.”)
Sodium-chloride152.2
Total solids176.4
Waimate (1883). (Vide also “Iodide Waters.”)
Total solids586.63 to 834.32
Papaite, Wanganui (1886)
Sodium-chloride313.41
Total solids348.54
Pipiriki, Wanganui (1888)
Spring on left bank—Sodium-chloride121.88
Total solids130.61
Spring on right bank—Sodium-chloride231.64
Total solids244.03
Mokau, Motukarama (1888). (Vide also “Iodide Waters.”)
Total solids844.0
(Incomplete analysis.)
Kotuku, Greymouth (1904). (Vide also “Chalybeate Waters.”)
Sodium-chloride162.20
Total solids201.25
Katikati (1904)
Sodium-chloride119.54
Total solids137.26
Whangape, Waikato. (Skey.)
Total solids47.04
McLean's, Napier. (Skey.)
Total solids444.7
Mahurangi, Auckland. (Skey.)
Total solids141.0

CLASS II.—CALCIC-SODIC MURIATED WATERS.

The nearest European prototype to such a class of waters is Kreuznach.

Calcium-chloride140.0
Sodium-chloride700.0

When this and similar waters are evaporated to a mutterlauge, as is so frequently done, thereby precipitating some of the sodium-chloride, and leaving a concentrated solution of the chlorides of magnesium and calcium with some iodides, a striking resemblance is found to certain of the New Zealand waters.

NEW ZEALAND
Kawhia (1903). (Vide also “Iodide Waters.”)
Calcium-chloride585.51
Sodium-chloride424.55
Total solids1040.76
Mataroa (1903). (Vide also “Iodide Waters.”)
Calcium-chloride128.21
Sodium-chloride1625.25
Magnesium-chloride85.70
Total solids1843.43
Okain's Bay (1904). (Vide also “Chalybeate Waters.”)

This is an artificial spring of cold water obtained from a bore sunk into the recent soil of a rapidly silting-up bay, and is remarkable for the unusually large amount of iron in solution.

Calcium-chloride468.5
Sodium-chloride295.5
Magnesium-chloride264.8
Ferrous bicarbonate26.7
Total solids1128.9
Totoro, Mokau River (1905). (Vide also “Iodide Waters.”)
Calcium-chloride681.0
Sodium-chloride784.0
Total solids1496.0
Morere (1903, 1905). (Vide also “Iodide Waters.”)
Calcium-chloride594.78
Sodium-chloride1249.67
Total solids1899.60
Temperature120° Fahr
Te Puia (1906). (Vide also “Iodide Waters.”)
Calcium-chloride153.40
Sodium-chloride807.75
Total solids978.69
Temperature150° Fahr
Kopuowhara, Mahia (1885). (Vide also “Iodide Waters.”)
Calcium-chloride177.82
Sodium-chloride1027.66
Total solids1241.65
Great Barrier Island (1904)
Calcium-chloride103.75
Sodium-chloride791.50
Total solids985.23
Temperature180° Fahr
Pahaua, Wellington Skey; also 1878). (Vide also “Iodide Waters.”)
Calcium-chloride120.88
Sodium-chloride1303.32
Total solids1474.09
Kotuku, Greymouth (borehole), (1904)
Calcium chloride, sulphate, and bicarbonate458.8
Sodium-chloride5134.0
Total solids5936.8
Wallingford, Wellington (Skey). (Vide also “Iodide Waters.”)
Total solids826.0

CLASS III.—IODIDE MURIATED WATERS.

Iodine is found in these waters combined usually with sodium or magnesium; in addition there is generally present a certain and varying amount of free iodine. The amount of iodide present is seldom more than about 2.5 grains per gallon, but even this small quantity exceeds the amount present in most similar European waters, one of the richest of which, Heilbrun (Bavaria), is given here for comparison.

The therapeutic value of such minute quantities of iodide has been much questioned, though Neisser has, on the other hand, pointed out the potent effect on human metabolism of minute quantities of iodine in thyroid extract. There remains the possibility, however, that the essentially active factor in these waters is not the iodide but the free nascent iodine, which is almost always present. The pungent smell of this mineral may generally be detected for some distance round the source of an iodide spring, and where the thermal water is broken up by a fall into a spray or douche, under which circumstances free iodine seems to be liberated, the odour is unmistakably strong. It is conceivable that, quite apart from the iodine that is taken into the system when the water is drunk, quite an appreciable amount, and that in a highly active condition, may be inhaled with the water vapour and spray by the bather.

EUROPEAN
Heilbrun (Bavaria)
Sodium-chloride343.0
Sodium-bicarbonate63.0
Sodium-bromide3.5
Sodium-iodide2.1
NEW ZEALAND
Morere, (1903, 1905)
Sodium-iodide2.7
Total solids1858.07
(Also sufficient free iodine to tinge the water light-brown.)
Kawhia (1903)
Sodium-iodide0.47
BromidesTrace
Total solids1040.76
Mataroa (1905)
Sodium-iodide1.41
Total solids1879.60
Pahaua (1878; also Skey)
Magnesium-iodide0.582
Magnesium-bromideTraces
Iodine (free)1.595
Total solids1424.096
Kopuowhara, Mahia (1885)
Magnesium-iodide2.98
Total solids1241.65
Whareama, Masterton (1889)
Iodides0.81
Total solids316.36
Kaiti, Gisborne (1902)
Sodium-iodide4.0
Total solids758.3
(This spring is now practically dried up.)
Totoro (1905)
Iodine not estimated 
Total solids1496.0
Patangata (1902)
Potassium-iodide0.5
Total solids177.0
Waimate (1883)
Iodine (free and combined)1.98
Total solids586.63
Helensville (1903)
Sodium-iodide0.03
Total solids134.68
Te Puia (1906)
Sodium-iodide1.41
Total solids978.69
Tarawera, Taupo District. (Skey.)
Iodine0.714
Total solids99.95
Parke's Spring, Taupo District. (Skey.)
Iodine1.01
Total solids200.73
Otumuheka, Taupo District. (Skey.)
Iodine not estimated 
Total solids13.88
Ruahine, Taupo District. (Skey.)
Iodine not estimated 
Total solids152.31
Orakeikorako, Taupo District. (Skey.)
Iodine not estimated 
Total solids84.86
Orakeikorako (Alum Cave). (Skey.)
Iodine not estimated 
Total solids56.47
McMurray's, Taupo District. (Skey.)
Iodine not estimated 
Total solids33.12
Te Hukahuka, Taupo District. (Skey.)
Iodine not estimated 
Total solids13.81
Burton's, Taipo District. (Skey.)(Analysis incomplete.)
Wallingford, Wellington. (Skey.)
Iodides and bromides not estimated 
Total solids826.0
McLean's, Napier. (Skey.)
Iodides and bromides not estimated 
Total solids444.7
Sulphur Wells, Masterton (1906)
Sodium-iodide1.5
Total solids728.2
(Cold spring.) 
Mangapakeha (1906)
Iodides“Considerable amount.”
Total solids374.0

SIMPLE ALKALINE WATERS.

The principal ingredient in these waters is sodium-bicarbonate, and if sodium-chloride is present, it is so only in a trifling amount. There is also generally present a considerable amount of carbonic-acid gas. Such waters are not common in this country, the only characteristic one, so far as I am aware, being Puriri.

Taken internally they act as antacids and diuretics, and promote the biliary secretion. They are useful in certain forms of gout, but are more suitable for robust than for debilitated subjects.

There are no waters of this class used as baths in New Zealand.

EUROPE
Vichy
Sodium-bicarbonate350.0
Temperature89° to 108° Fahr
NEW ZEALAND
Puriri. (Vide also “Table-waters.”)
Sodium-bicarbonate452.39
Total solids537.11
Temperature60° Fahr

MURIATED ALKALINE WATERS.

In these waters considerable quantities of sodium-chloride are present with the bicarbonate, and, while they are useful in the same class of cases as the last, they are generally believed to be less “lowering.”

EUROPEAN
Ems.
Sodium-chloride70.0
Sodium-bicarbonate140.0
Temperature80° to 120° Fahr
NEW ZEALAND
Te Aroha. (1903, 1904, 1905.)
Sodium-chloride59.5
Sodium-bicarbonate657.4
Total solids784.3
Temperature135° Fahr
Waiwera. (Skey; also 1904.)
Sodium-chloride116.7
Sodium-bicarbonate87.5
Total solids219.5
Temperature105° Fahr
Ohaeawai. (1904.)
Sodium-chloride65.10
Sodium-bicarbonate134.50
Total solids255.66
Temperature180° Fahr

(This water is strongly sulphuretted, and might with equal justice be placed among the sulphur waters.)

MURIATED SULPHATED WATERS.

As already mentioned, the sulphated waters are scarcely represented in New Zealand, the only example, so far as I am aware, being the somewhat anomalous Okain's Bay water, already classed under the calcic muriated and chalybeate waters.

This water, while containing an overwhelming proportion of chlorides, contains also a moderate amount of magnesium-sulphate, any action of which, however, would be subordinate to that of the other ingredients.

EUROPE
Brides, Salins.
Sodium-chloride126.0
Sodium-sulphate84.0
Magnesium-sulphate35.0
Temperature96° Fahr
NEW ZEALAND
Okain's Bay (1904)
Sodium, magnesium, and calcium chlorides1028.8
Magnesium-sulphate78.0
Total solids1128.9
(Cold spring.)

THE CALCAREOUS OR EARTHY WATERS.

New Zealand is poor in springs of this class, calcium, when present in any quantity, being generally in the form of the chloride.

EUROPE
Contrexéville.
Calcium-sulphate105.0
Calcium-bicarbonate28.0
NEW ZEALAND
Wairongoa. (Vide also “Table-waters.”)
Calcium-bicarbonate67.86
Magnesium-bicarbonate35.89
Total solids165.75
Kamo. (Vide also “Table-waters.”)
Calcium-bicarbonate57.68
Magnesium-bicarbonate17.05
Sodium-bicarbonate38.64
Total solids164.36
Copland River, Westland (1906)
Calcium-bicarbonate27.0
Sodium-bicarbonate76.6
Total solids142.3
Fox River, Westland (1906)
Calcium-bicarbonate10.5
Sodium-bicarbonate44.4
Total solids79.5

CHALYBEATE WATERS.

Therapeutically the most important of these waters are those containing the bicarbonate of iron and free carbonic-acid gas. Many of the chalybeate springs of New Zealand contain large, and sometimes enormous, quantities of the sulphate, and, while these are noted here, they are, except as baths, of little practical use so far as the iron-salt is concerned. The ferrous bicarbonate, on the other hand, is easily assimilated, especially when associated with carbonic-acid gas; while it is to the presence of this gas that baths of such waters owe their stimulating properties.

EUROPE
Schwalbach.
Ferrous bicarbonate5.6
TemperatureCold
NEW ZEALAND
Waitangi, Rotoehu (1903, 1904)
Ferrous bicarbonate0.5
Total solids58.73
Temperature120° Fahr
(Free effervescence of carbonic acid.)
Kamo.
Oxide of iron (present in the spring as bicarbonate)0.28
Total solids164.30
Kotuku, Greymouth (1904)
Ferrous bicarbonate4.10
Total solids201.25
Okain's Bay (1904). (Vide also “Muriated Waters.”)
Ferrous bicarbonate26.7
Total solids1128.9
Patangata (1902)
Ferrous bicarbonate0.6
Total solids176.4
Aorangi. (Skey.)
Ferrous bicarbonate0.94
Total solids13.75
Paeroa (1905). (Vide also “Table-waters.”)
Ferrous bicarbonate1.6
Total solids167.8
Free carbonic acid26.0
Temperature80° Fahr
Waiwera. (Vide also “Muriated Alkaline Waters.”)
Ferrous bicarbonate0.686
Total solids219.558
Taupo Waters.
Iron Spring, Terraces (1905)
Ferrous bicarbonate0.28
Total solids63.04
Carbonic acid16.9
Temperature120° Fahr
Mangapakeha (1906). (Vide also “Iodide Waters.”)
Ferrous bicarbonate4.0
Total solids374.0
Soda-water Spring, Terraces (1905)
Ferrous bicarbonate0.84
Total solids64.19
Carbonic acid47.70
TemperatureCold
Arsenic Spring,” the Spa (1905)
Ferrous bicarbonate0.56
Total solids52.52
(This spring contains no arsenic.) Wairakei Waters.
Devil's Eye-glass (1905)
Ferrous bicarbonate1.20
Total solids117.25
The Boilers (1905)
Ferrous bicarbonate1.12
Total solids100.77
(These last two waters are scarcely potable.)

Waiotapu.

Chalybeate waters exist here, but so far no potable specimens have been analysed.

RotomahanaIodine Spring“ (1904). (Contains no iodine.)
Ferrous bicarbonate0.62
Total solids157.79
Temperature212° Fahr
Motu, Gisborne (1904)
Ferrous sulphate44.68
Total solids379.31
White Island. (Skey.) (Vide also “Acid Waters.”)
Ferrous sulphate1059.0
Total solids13638.0
Temperature212° Fahr
Whale Island. (Pond.)
Ferrous sulphate9.38
Total solids250.30
Temperature198° Fahr
Abbotsford, Otago (1882). (Analysis incomplete.)
Ferrous sulphate .. 
Total solids304.0
Akitio, Wellington. (Skey.)
Iron and alumina0.93
Total solids37.65
Onetapu. (Skey.)
Ferrous chloride not estimated 
Total solids456.0
Bay of Islands. (Skey.)
Iron-oxide2.23
Total solids134.62
 
Amberley, Canterbury. (Hector.)
Total solids93.6
(Cold spring.)

Rotorua Waters.

The majority of these contain iron, but, as this is not an important and essential feature of these waters, two only are given as types of the rest.

Rachel Spring. (Hector.)
Iron and alumina oxides2.41
Total solids131.34
Postmaster Spring (1906)
Ferrous sulphate0.52
Total solids86.81

SULPHUR WATERS.

This is a very important but somewhat ill-defined group, characterized by the presence of sulphides in sufficient quantity to give a very noticeable odour to the water. In Europe, as a general rule, these waters are only feebly mineralised, the other ingredients of the water being comparatively unimportant. In New Zealand, while this rule holds good for the majority of the sulphur waters, yet there is a very important class, of which the acid waters of Rotorua may be taken as a type, in which, while the sulphides are very much in evidence, other ingredients have a considerable and sometimes a very much greater importance.

As compared with the other mineral waters of New Zealand, there is an overwhelming preponderance of sulphur waters, both in the number of springs and in the amount of outflow. All are hot and all are siliceous.

The great bulk of these springs arise in the volcanic region stretching from the central volcanoes of the North Island northward to the Bay of Plenty, and, indeed, right out to sea to White Island.

The vast majority of these waters have not yet been analysed, but from the great number of specimens that have already been examined a very fair estimate may be made of the whole.

It is usual to draw a distinction between those sulphur waters containing marked quantities of sodium-sulphide, and those containing only sulphuretted hydrogen, and special therapeutic effects have been attributed to the former class. While admitting the distinction, it must be borne in mind that frequently the second represents only a phase of the first, and that, owing to the very rapid decomposition of sodium-sulphide on exposure to air, analysis, unless performed at the spring, is apt to show only sulphuretted hydrogen, sulphur, and sodium-carbonate.

The sulphur waters may be divided into two main classes, the alkaline or neutral, and the acid.

CLASS I.—THE ALKALINE SULPHUR WATERS.

For the most part the specific gravity of these waters is not high, the largest ingredient being usually chloride of sodium, and the alkalinity not strong.

For all practical purposes their most marked characteristic is the amount of silicate they contain, and it is this ingredient which gives to the alkaline waters of the Rotorua district their peculiarly bland and satiny feel, and which makes them so valuable for bath purposes. A similar condition causes the “unctuous” sensation of the sources savonneuses at Plombières.

Of the therapeutic action of the silicates little is known: taken internally, it has been asserted that they exercise a solvent action on the urates in gout, and, used externally, an antiseptic action on the skin (Felix); but however this may be, it is quite certain that in strong solution they constitute most bland and sedative baths.

As the highly siliceous waters shade off imperceptibly into the less siliceous, it has not seemed convenient to make them a separate class, and they are therefore all included here under the term “sulphur waters.”

EUROPE
Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle)
Sodium-chloride182.0
Sodium-carbonate42.0
Sodium and hydrogen sulphides 
Temperature113° to 133° Fahr
NEW ZEALAND
Rachel Spring, Rotorua. (Hector)
Sodium-chloride69.43
Silicates of sodium, calcium, and magnesium36.35
Silica ..18.21
Total solids31.34
Carbonic acid and sulphuretted hydrogen 
Temperature194° Fahr

Under this heading come, with the exception of certain muddy geysers of the type of Waimangu, practically the whole of the springs in the “Thermal District” which exhibit, or tend to exhibit, geyser action. Thus would be included many springs at Tokaanu, the Taupo geysers, the springs of the Geyser Valley at Wairakei, and the Whakarewarewa and Ohinemutu geysers. A certain number of these are given as types of the rest.

Many of these waters contain so very little sulphide that they might with equal justice be classed under the heading of “Simple Thermal Waters,” or of “Muriated Waters,” but for convenience they are placed all together here.

* The surface temperature of these springs, which exhibit more or less geyser action, is the boiling-point. Their temperature apparently increases directly as the distance below the surface at which it is taken.

Oil Bath,* Rotorua District. (Skey.)
Silica and silicates29.0
Sodium-chloride66.34
Total solids104.54
Spout Bath,* Rotorua District. (Skey.)
Sodium-silicates16.32
Sodium-chloride53.61
Total solids87.78
Kuirau, Rotorua District. (Skey.)
Silicates22.0
Sodium-chloride45.70
Total solids79.85

* The surface temperature of these springs, which exhibit more or less geyser action, is the boiling-point. Their temperature apparently increases directly as the distance below the surface at which it is taken.

Te Koutou, Rotorua District. (Skey.)
Sodium-silicate32.12
Total solids72.78
Waihunuhunukuri (Lake House), Rotorua District. (Hector.)
Total solids58.4
Waikite,* Rotorua District (1904)
Sodium-chloride38.75
Sodium-bicarbonate20.03
Silica24.36
Total solids90.28
Matuatonga,* Rotorua District. (Hector.)
Sodium-chloride66.44
Sodium-silicate29.27
Total solids113.27
Hanmer, South Island
Sodium-chloride62.09
Total solids77.38
Gases—Sulphuretted hydrogen and methane 
Temperature118° Fahr
Crow's Nest Geyser,* Taupo District. (Hector.)
Total solids153.6
Witches' Cauldron,* Taupo District. (Hector.)
Total solids166.4
Waiariki, Taupo District. (Hector.)
Total solids86.4
Top Spring, Terraces, Taupo District (1905)
Sodium-chloride43.66
Total105.80
Temperature184° Fahr
South Bay Spring, Terraces, Taupo District (1905)
Sodium-chloride56.10
Total107.72
Temperature180° Fahr
A.C. Bath, Spa, Taupo District (1905)
Total46.43
Temperature102° Fahr
Old Sulphur Spring, Spa, Taupo District
Total63.79
Temperature135° Fahr
Champagne Pool,* Wairakei (1905)
Sodium-chloride195.20
Total242.68
Red Coral Geyser,* Wairakei (1905)
Sodium-chloride39.35
Total100.77
Omupokapoka, Onepu (1904)
Total constituents116.82
Temperature180° Fahr
Manupirua, Rotoiti (1904)
Total solids44.91
Temperature105° Fahr

CLASS II.—ACID SULPHUR WATERS.

With the exception that they are much more siliceous, the alkaline sulphur waters bear a fairly close resemblance to numerous sulphur waters in Europe; but for a type of the acid sulphur waters we have to look to America, there being no waters of this nature used at the European spas. The nearest European approach to the acid baths of New Zealand is to be found in the “peat baths” of Austria, which contain free sulphuric and formic acids and sulphate of iron.

The action on the peripheral circulation of the strongly acid baths of Rotorua is most marked. The skin becomes intensely injected, there is a corresponding unloading of the deep veins, and the general circulation is improved. At the same time the nerve-endings in the skin are stimulated; so that, provided the immersion is not too prolonged, the sensation of the bather is one of general exhilaration. The use of such baths in chronic deep-seated congestions, and in pain and stiffness of muscular and fibrous structures, is obvious. The large quantities of alum usually present with the acids, and the free gases in the water also help to stimulate the skin. These waters are not used for drinking purposes.

Rotorua Acid Waters.
 Postmaster Bath Spring (1906)Priest Bath Spring (1906)Sulphur Point Effervescing Spring (1906)Spring supplying New Baths
Sodium-sulphate14.2510.8518.1019.94
Aluminium-sulphate15.609.608.1012.38
Silica15.1012.1020.2022.82
Sulphuric acid (free)22.293.774.4616.80
Carbonic acid (free)28.8440.002.524.31
Sulphuretted hydrogen13.095.000.191.80
Total28.7497.4981.95102.58
Temperature110° Fahr105° Fahr160° Fahr150° Fahr

There are innumerable springs in the central Rotorua group, along the foreshore of Lake Rotorua, which conform to the type of the “Priest” and “Postmaster” Springs. Of these the first two on the following list may serve as examples:—

Waikupapapa.
Hydrochloric acid (free)7.49
Sulphuric acid (free)4.29
Total solids56.45
Ngaruapuia.
Hydrochloric acid (free)6.76
Sulphuric acid (free)3.11
Total solids59.50

White Island and Whale Island, in the Bay of Plenty, contain springs of remarkable acidity, which are not used as baths.

White Island. (Skey.)
Hydrochloric acid9547.0
Total solids13638.0
Temperature212° Fahr
 
Whale Island. (Pond
Sulphuric acid138.32
Total solids250.30
Temperature198° Fahr
TAUPO
Rotokawa (Black Water). (Hector.)
Hydrochloric acid(Free)
Total142.4
Temperature192° Fahr
Rotokawa (Yellow Water). (Hector.)
Hydrochloric acid(Free)
Total176.0
Temperature152° Fahr

WAIRAKEI.

Practically all springs of the Kiriohinekei Valley are more or less acid: two are given as types.

Devil's Eye-glass (1905). (Vide also “Chalybeate Waters.”)
Sulphuric acid (free)2.80
Carbonic acid (free)7.10
Total solids117.25
The Boilers (1905). (Vide also “Chalybeate Waters.”)
Sulphuric acid (free)4.50
Carbonic Acid (free)7.50
Total solids100.77

WAIOTAPU.

Strongly acid waters also exist here, but have not yet been fully analysed. For the most part they appear to be aluminous and chalybeate.

Abbotsford, Otago (1882)
Sulphuric acid (free, and combined with iron)191.87
Total solids304.01

CLASS III.—MUDDY WATERS.

There remains a subclass of the sulphur waters which consists of mineral water containing large quantities of highly siliceous mud in suspension. The importance of these waters lies in the fact that they are greatly utilised for mud baths.

Some of them contain free mineral acids, others are neutral, or only give an acid reaction from the amount of free carbonic-acid gas they contain. Typical examples of the former are the “Coffeepot” and the “Cameron” Springs, and of the latter, the “Sulphur Point Mud Spring,” all of Rotorua.

Coffee-pot.
Sodium-sulphate23.71
Hydrochloric acid (free)7.66
Sulphuric acid (free)7.60
Total60.19
Cameron.
Sodium-sulphate44.54
Hydrochloric acid (free)6.92
Total80.5
 
Sulphur Point (1906)
Sodium-chloride80.85
Sodium-silicate26.30
Carbonic acid (free)14.90
Total141.72

Below is given an analysis (1906) of the muddy deposit around this spring, from which, and from similar material, the mud baths of Rotorua principally are made. It consists mainly of silica, and is noticeable in containing both gold and silver. On account of its interest, I have given Dr. Maclaurin's analysis in full.

Silica69.30
Alumina4.52
Iron-oxides2.00
Titanium-oxide0.58
Lime1.00
Magnesia0.10
Soda and potash1.30
Sulphur (combined)1.40
Sulphur (free)6.09
Organic matter10.01
Water3.70

“Microscopic examination of the deposit* showed that it consisted mainly of quartz and amorphous silica, with a little felspar. The mud also contains 5 grains of gold and 6 dwt. 1 grain of silver per ton.”

ARSENICAL WATERS.

There are no complete analyses yet available of arsenical waters in New Zealand, though arsenic is known to exist in minute quantities in some of the Taupo springs, and in one or two it is said to be so abundant as to poison horses which drink the waters. The so-called “Arsenic Spring” at the Spa contains no arsenic.

EUROPE.
La Bourboule.
Sodium-arseniate1.96
Total solids448.00

NEW ZEALAND.

Burton's, Taipo. (Hector.) “Traces of arsenic.”

MERCURIAL WATERS.

Certain of the muriated alkaline springs are turbid with mud containing varying amounts of mercury derived from the soil around, which is rich in this mineral.

While such can perhaps hardly be strictly classed as “mineral waters,” the natural mixture of mineral water with mercurialised mud is obviously important from a therapeutic point of view, and is classed here for convenience.

Ohaeawai (1904). (Vide “Muriated Alkaline Waters.”)

Amount of mercury variable.

Temperature, 180° Fahr.

* “Suspended in the water.”

† Minute globules of mercury are easily discernible to the naked eye in the deposits alongside the springs.

TABLE-WATERS.

This is another ill-defined group of waters, usually characterized by feeble mineralisation, and by containing a large quantity of free carbonic-acid gas.

It is obvious that such a water may be classed under one or other of the previous headings according to the preponderating ingredients it may contain, and, as a matter of fact, most of the mineral waters used as table-waters in New Zealand are really so strongly mineralised as to justify the title of “medicinal,” and almost all contain rather more iron than is consistent with an ideal table-water.

EUROPE
Selters (Seltzer water)
Amuriated alkaline water containing— 
    Sodium-chloride140.0
NEW ZEALAND
Wairongoa (South Island). (Vide also “Earthy Waters.”)
Calcium-bicarbonate67.86
Magnesium-bicarbonate35.89
Sodium-chloride22.73
Sodium-bicarbonate20.91
Sodium-sulphate14.70
Total solids165.75

Together with a large excess of carbonic-acid gas, which is bottled with the water.

Puriri. (Vide also “Alkaline Waters.”)

This is a cold alkaline spring, temperature 60° Fahr., which is very freely used as a table-water, but which is so strongly mineralised that it should really be classed under the head of “Alkaline Waters.”

Te Aroha. (Vide also “Muriated Alkaline Waters.”)

The thermal waters of Te Aroha, cooled and artificially aerated, are also sometimes used as table-waters, but are so strongly mineralised as to really constitute medicinal waters.

There are also at Te Aroha several cold springs, feebly mineralised, pleasant to the taste, but somewhat deficient in natural carbonic-acid gas.

Cold “Magnesia” Spring (1902)
Calcium-bicarbonate41.5
Magnesium-bicarbonate23.4
Total solids83.6

Kamo. (Vide also “Chalybeate Waters.”)

These waters are tepid to warm, strongly effervescent with carbonic-acid gas, and pleasant to the taste.

Calcium-bicarbonate57.68
Sodium-bicarbonate38.64
Sodium-chloride38.01
Total solids164.38

Paeroa (1905). (Vide also “Chalybeate Waters.”)

Tepid spring, temperature 80° Fahr., fair effervescence of CO2, pleasant sweetish taste.

Magnesium-bicarbonate73.0
Sodium-bicarbonate39.4
Calcium-bicarbonate35.5
Total solids167.8
Free carbonic acid26.0

GASES IN MINERAL WATERS.

Carbonic acid is present in a very large number of waters, but is especially noticeable in those of Kamo, where it is the chief therapeutic agent in the baths.

Methane (marsh-gas) is exceedingly abundant in the iodine waters of the east coast, notably at Te Puia and Morere, where it is used for illuminating purposes, as also at Hanmer in the South Island.

Nitrogen in small quantities accompanies the sulphuretted hydrogen in many waters.

Sulphuretted hydrogen is present in large quantities in the “sulphur waters,” and in minute quantities in the majority of the springs.

Sulphurous acid is abundantly evolved through the soil forming the bed of many of the acid sulphur springs, and, coming in contact with sulphuretted hydrogen, is at once decomposed, with the formation of water and sulphur.

SPAS.

The vast majority of the springs in the above list are practically unequipped and almost unused.

In the central volcanic district, notably at Taupo and Wairakei, there are baths in connection with the hotels. These baths, however, are more or less primitive, and are suitable rather for the tourist than the invalid.

There are baths and hotel-accommodation also at Kamo, Waiwera, and Okoroire, and, in more primitive fashion, at Morere, Te Puia, Helensville, and Waingaro.

Hanmer in the South Island, and Te Aroha and Rotorua in the North, are spas under Government management. Of these Rotorua is the largest and best-equipped.

CLOTHING OF THE ANCIENT MAORI.

(By ELSDON BEST.)

In connection with this subject there are, as is usual in matters Maori, two very different phases of the question to discuss—viz., the ritual and the practical. For here, as elsewhere in Maori life, superstition, myth, and conservatism were leading features.

The art of weaving is said, in Maori myth, to have originated with certain mythical and god-like ancestors who dwelt in the remote past, when man was young upon the earth. When a young woman was taught to weave the various fibres into capes, cloaks, aprons, and kilts, there was a certain amount of ritual pertaining to the teaching, or initiation, as we shall see anon.

In the first place, however, we may remark that articles of Maori clothing were extremely simple in form, and were not made to fit the body and limbs, but were, in nearly all cases, square or oblong garments designed merely to be wrapped round the body. No covering whatever was worn on the head to serve as a hat or bonnet, though sometimes fillets or chaplets were worn as ornaments, or when mourning for the dead. Nor was any kind of foot-covering commonly worn, though rude sandals were sometimes used by persons when traversing snow-clad ranges.

Maori garments were of two kinds. First, a cape or cloak placed on the shoulders, and fastened across the breast by means of strings or bone pins. Secondly, a kilt, or apron, fastened round the waist.

The upper garments were either capes, of medium length, usually of coarse material, and intended for the protection of the body from rain and cold, or longer garments worn as a sort of cloak, and reaching nearly to the ground. These latter were generally of finer material, more ornamental, and used only on certain occasions, being too cumbrous to be worn when working or travelling were toward.

The kilts, or waist cloths, were also of two kinds. One of these was wrapped round the loins and reached to the knees, the other was more like an apron, a square or triangular piece of material of woven fibres, which hung down from the waist, but did not pass round the body, hence two of such aprons were often worn by girls and women, one in front and one behind. Belts were often worn with these primitive garments.

When the Polynesian vikings first arrived in this land they probably wore clothing made from the bark of the aute shrub, and that shrub was introduced and cultivated here until recent times. But such material was not suited for this southern clime, hence it fell into disuse as material for garments, and use was made of the strong fibres of flax (Phormium tenax) and varieties of Cordyline for this purpose. The aute came to be used merely for making fillets and other minor purposes, such as the covering of flying-kites. In the course of time the Maori become an adept at the preparation and weaving of the stronger and more durable fibres of the harakeke (N.Z. flax), the toi (Cordyline indivisa), and the kiekie (Freycinetia banksii).

The school of learning in which the art of weaving was taught was termed the whare pora by the Tuhoe and adjacent tribes. When a young woman was desirous of learning the art of weaving it was necessary for her to obtain the services of an elder who was acquainted with the rites and customs pertaining to the art. It was not sufficient that he should know how to teach the actual weaving. Some men were very proficient in the art of weaving, more especially in the working of ornamental figures of a geometric type in the fabric.

No loom was used by the Maori weaver, nothing of that nature was employed, save two, or sometimes four, rods, inserted perpendicularly in the earth. The process was as follows: The weaver is seated on the ground. Immediately before her are two upright rods. Taking a small, twisted thread, or string, of fibre, she ties it to the two rods horizontally, and stretching it taut. To this line are attached one end of the numerous warp threads, termed io. Each of these is composed of a few fibres, loosely twisted by a rolling process performed on the bare leg of the weaver. These threads hang loosely down, and are lengthened as the work proceeds. The cross threads, or woof threads, termed aho, are woven in from left to right. Each woof thread is composed of four small rolled threads, which are kept separate. Two of these are passed on each side of the pendant warp threads over and under each io until the desired width for the fabric is attained. This process can scarcely be termed weaving, but is a kind of plaiting. If the woof threads, however, are not spaced too wide, the effect is neat and pleasing, when fine soft fibre is used in the warp.

The pupil is seated before the two upright rods, the first thread is stretched, the warp threads are attached thereto. A pattern piece of weaving is placed before the weaver, who takes in her hand some prepared woof threads, and is ready to commence. Ere she begins her task, the teacher repeats a charm, or invocation, which is believed to have the effect of driving the lesson home and causing the pupil to grasp the art of weaving intricate patterns in a single lesson. Four different charms are repeated by the teacher, or wise man, at different stages of the lesson. As the reciting of the first one ends, the pupil leans forward and bites the upper part of the rod at her right hand, which has some special tapu pertaining to it, as it represents the tutelary deity of weaving and carving. The pupil then weaves the first woof thread across the frame, and so comes under the influence of the priestly invocations. She has entered the whare pora, or house of weaving. After the lesson is over, the officiating elder takes the tapu off the pupil and off the ceremony of initiation. While engaged in the above ceremonies the pupil would not be allowed to partake of food nor to communicate with her friends, not until the tapu is lifted from the proceedings and the performers.

In making the finer kinds of garments, the fibre used for the warp threads is beaten with a stone mallet in order to soften it, but the woof threads are not so treated. Such fine cloaks are made to fit the shoulders by means of short woof threads inserted in the middle, as a gusset, but which do not extend to the edges of the garment. These short threads are termed tihoi.

The fine ornamented cloaks, capes, and kilts, or aprons, made of fine flax fibre, are termed kakahu, the same being a generic term for such, but each kind has its own distinctive name. They are sometimes a plain white, with white thrums. Others have ornamental borders of white, black, and brownish-red. Some have black thrums, while others are left plain, save the coloured borders.

The common rough capes of coarse flax-fibre are known as mai or pora. Some of these have the outside closely covered with short strips of undressed flax leaf, about half an inch in width, which makes the garment impervious to wet. Rough capes of fibre of the kiekie, a climbing plant, are termed pake.

The coloured borders were, as a rule, woven on to the edges of the garment after the latter was otherwise completed. In weaving these ornamental borders, about ten threads are manipulated by the weaver Eight of these are single, loosely twisted threads (miro), while two are double threads (karure), formed by twisting two single threads together.

Another class of cloak consisted of a plainly woven fabric, which was then covered on the outside with feathers or skins. Some of the feather cloaks are very handsome, each feather being secured separately to the body of the garment. Some were covered with skins of the kakapo, or night parrot, care being taken not to disarrange the feathers. Others were covered with the skins, or strips of the skin, or tails of the old native dog, now extinct. In making the feather cloaks, each feather is secured to the kaupapa, or body of the garment, by means of the woof threads, as the work proceeds, the lower end of each feather being bent and so fastened. The process is a tedious and lengthy one. Patterns of divers geometric forms are often worked in by means of feathers of different colours.

Coarse mats of a very thick, closely woven texture were used as a protection against spear thrusts. They were soaked in water, in order to cause the fibre to swell, before being donned for the fray.

The fibre of the flax was obtained by means of a scraping or stripping process, the implement used in former times being a shell. Leaves of the kiekie were subjected to a retting process, while the fine leaves of the toi (Cordyline indivisa) were beaten with a club, in order that the fibres might be freed from the para, or refuse matter. This latter is a coarse, durable fibre, resembling cocoa-nut fibre in appearance.

Some of the kilts and aprons worn by women of rank were carefully made from the finest flax fibre, and ornamented in various ways. Some had borders of coloured patterns, and the central part covered with thrums, usually dyed black. Others, again, had the tails of dogs fastened on them, the hair being long and white, and much prized by the neolithic Maori. Yet others, worn by girls, were made of such materials as the epidermis of the kutakuta, a water plant, which becomes of a yellow colour when dried.

The generic term for belts is tatua. They were usually made by plaiting strips of unscutched flax leaf into a band about six or seven inches in width. This band was then folded and the edges thereof fastened together with twine. Such hollow belts were used as pockets for carrying small articles. Women's belts were often composed of many plaited strands, fastened together merely at the ends. They were termed tu, and were made of fibres, dyed in black and reddish-brown, or of fragrant or bright-coloured culms of certain grasses. Many of the plaited band belts were ornamented by means of simple patterns in black and white. The bright-coloured leaves of the pingao, a sea-coast plant, and white strips of kiekie leaf, were used in belt-making.

The Maori made use of two dyes, one black and the other reddish-brown. The black dye is still used for both dressed fibres and for strips of undressed flax, as used in the making of baskets, belts, and floor-mats. The red dye of yore is but seldom used now, as the Natives have taken to using European dyes. In dyeing fibre black, it was put through two processes. It is first soaked in water in which certain dye barks have been steeped. The bark of the hinau, tawai or tawhero trees was used for this purpose, the first-named is, apparently, preferred. The bark is crushed by means of beating it with a hard wood mallet, and is then placed in a wooden trough, alternate layers of bark and fibre are so laid in the trough. Water is then poured in until the lot is covered. It is left in the trough for a day, and when the fibre is taken out it is of a brownish hue and sticky to the touch. This process is said to provide the mordant for the black dye, which is found in a certain black mud. This mud is found in low-lying parts of the forest, usually at a place where kahikatea, or white pine trees, are numerous. In this mud is seen a certain reddish exudation, probably pertaining to iron in some form. The fibre is buried in such mud for twenty-four hours, and when taken out is found to be a deep black.

The red or reddish-brown dye is obtained from the bark of another tree, the toatoa or tanekaha (Phyllocladus trichomanoides). This bark is crushed and boiled in water for some time; stone-boiling was formerly resorted to. After some time the water becomes quite discoloured with the reddish dye from the bark. The fibre is now placed in the vessel and boiled for some time, then taken out and rolled in a bed of hot, white wood ashes. This sets the dye and prevents it from fading; evidently these ashes act as a mordant. The fibre is then reboiled in the dye for about ten minutes, then taken out and dried, when it is ready for use.

The sandals occasionally, but not usually, worn by the Maori in former times, were made of flax and other fibrous materials. Plaited anklets were sometimes worn, as also feather ear and nose ornaments, neck pendants of polished stone, or of feathers, &c. Scented sachets were often worn as neck pendants by women, as also fillets and necklets.

The Maori slept on mats of plaited flax or kiekie leaves, and covered merely with a cloak of flax-fibre, or without any covering, for their earth covered semi-subterranean huts were exceedingly warm.

There were many superstitions pertaining to the art of weaving. For instance, it is most unlucky to work at weaving a fine garment in the open air. Such work must always be done under cover. It is also unlucky for a weaver to throw any refuse fibre into a fire, for by any such an act will she lose all her knowledge of the art of weaving. Nor may a weaver work after sundown, nor yet leave a woof thread uncompleted—i.e., not carried out to the margin— when she quits work. If a stranger approaches a weaver while at work, she must take down the right-hand rod and lay it down, or lean it against something handy. Should a woof thread become knotted while the work is in progress, that is a sign that visitors are approaching the place, an occurrence which is also notified when one of the rods becomes accidentally displaced.

Such are the leading features in the art of the whare pora of yore, the house of weaving as it existed in Maoriland in pre-European days.

MAORI SONGS.

(BY ELSDON BEST.)

It is well known that singing entered largely into the social life of the Maori in past times, as, indeed, it does now. Some writers have ventured the hypothesis that primitive human tongues were sung or chanted. If such languages were of a monosyllabic nature, which seems not improbable, there may be something in the theory. At any rate the more primitive people break readily into song, and rely upon it to express their emotions, thoughts, and intentions. By song in this sense is meant not the modern rhymed productions of our known poets, but the primal form of blank verse that has obtained, at some time, among all races.

Although Maori songs are often spoken of by writers with marked appreciation in regard to their beauty of thought, feeling, and expression, yet praise is seldom bestowed on native singing, which is invariably described as monotonous and tuneless. But this is a mistake. Every song has its proper tune, and a Maori will often decline to sing because he is not acquainted with the air.

The Maori chants or intones his songs, rendering the delivery musical by means of a melodious utterance, between air and recitatives. Maori singing has been likened to the Gregorian chant. The melody is produced by slight modulation of the voice, by lengthened vowel sounds, and by the fall of the voice at the end of a line or stanza. This peculiar falling of the voice is termed hianga, and consists of long drawn out vowel sounds, sometimes preceded by a consonant, as na—i—i—i, or as an aspirate as ha—a; but the most common forms are e—e—e and e—e—i.

In his excellent note on the Native songs of New Zealand, published as an appendix to Sir G. Grey's “Polynesian Mythology,” Mr. J. A. Davies states that “neither metre nor rhythm of any marked character was discernible in them,” and adds that “even in the divisions of the lines or verses, the singer seemed to stop indifferently now at one, now at another word.” It is true that a Native when singing stops anywhere in order to take breath. But a great proportion of such singing is performed either by a company of persons, in which case a singer stops at random and again takes up the song at the point to which it has been carried, or in the manner of part-songs, as in Rarakia (invocations, &c., of a sacerdotal nature), and certain ceremonial songs, where the priests or other performers take it in turns to chant. In this case a performer goes or until out of breath and then stops, but another at once takes up the chant at the next word and carries it on. Two or more priests can in this way render a very long ritual chant without any perceptible break in its continuity. But it must not be supposed that the stop is necessarily the ending of a line or verse. When a singer so stops he never introduces the hianga, or fall of the voice, unless it is appropriate. If not a part or company song, he will continue at the next word in the same tone. The hianga is never misplaced.

The Maori has an excellent ear for the slightest modulations of the voice, and is a marvellous time-keeper. The latter trait is inherent. He will detect slight inflections of the voice that are not discernible to others. Vowel sounds confusing to many are perfectly clear to him. Thus it would appear that the Maori employs a form of enharmonic modulation, using quarter tones in his natural or vocal music. Presumably this is the cause of the monotony complained of.

The tunes or airs of Maori songs never lend themselves to lightness, joy, or humour. They may be sad or solemn, expressive of affection or anger, sarcasm, regret or desire, but never of merriment or humour. The nearest approach to humour may be found in the ngeri and haka, but the former express derision, contempt, anger, &c., while the latter, though often of a catchy nature, can scarcely be termed humorous or merry.

As is usual in Maori diction, great use is made of figurative language in song. Both songs and speeches teem with proverbial and metaphorical expressions. Above all the Maori has regard to euphony in his chants. Words are often altered to render the line euphonious. This is very confusing to Europeans who endeavour to cull the meaning of such songs. Thus, the word kua is sometimes lengthened to koua, while ahei is abbreviated to 'hei. These changes are made in order to render the lines euphonious to the Maori ear. Another noteworthy point is that Maori songs, in many cases, do not explain themselves. So many allusions are made to extraneous matters of which no explanation whatever appears in the song. Hence it is necessary to ask many questions in order to understand the poem. Copious notes concerning ancient history, proverbs, &c., are sometimes obtained from one song simply by asking such questions.

The expression huatau appears to imply the antithesis of euphony. A song sung when carrying food to guests begins:—

He kumara kai hamuhamu

Ko te ehu o te kupu nei na,

Here ehu stands for ahua (an arbitrary substitution—ehu is not a synonym for ahua). If ahua were used it would destroy the euphony—”Kua huatau, kua kore e pai te waiata.

The word in most common use to denote a song is waiata, but there are many other terms used in a semi-generic sense—that is, which include all songs of a certain class. Hereunder is given some of these class terms:—

Tangi.—The word tangi means to weep or lament. All laments and dirges come under this term, not only laments for the dead, but also any song that deplores affliction or trouble. A person will sometimes compose a tangi for himself, on account of his being afflicted by illness or disease or because his wife has run away from him. A tangi for the dead usually expresses grief and affection. Hence some of them are often termed waiata aroha—songs of affection and pity—more especially those composed for children. Perhaps some of the laments for children contain the most beautiful expressions of affection, while some of the old laments for the dead and lullabies sung to children contain much interesting matter culled from the ancient history and mythology of the race. It is a Maori custom for long-parted friends to weep profusely when they meet. Tangi whakakurepe, or tangi tikapa, is a method of wailing for the dead wherein much gesture is employed, quivering of hands, writhing contortions of the body, and much wordless wailing. The tangi taukuri seems to be expressive of self-pity, while the tangi tawhiti pertains to witchcraft.

Apakura.— A dirge, so named from a famous personage of legendary history who composed a noted dirge. These songs are often very ancient, containing many archaic expressions and obsolete words.

Oriori.—A lullaby sung to quieten a crying or fretful child, the singer usually walking about carrying the child in his arms.

Whakatakiri.—A song sung when playing with a child.

A whakatakiri composed by Harema begins—

The singing of the piopio bird is heard—

I—a, i—a—u, I—a, i—a, e—ia.

Apparently this is an imitation of the bird's song.

Waiata whaiaipo.—Love songs.

Tutara.—A vilifying song, usually composed by a man whose wife has left him, in order to put her to shame.

Hahani.—A song composed to cover a person with confusion or put him to shame for some slight received.

Tumoto, Kaioraora.—Intensely incisive and vilifying songs, expressing deadly hatred, a desire to slay, cook, and eat the persons named therein, to drink their brains, &c., often composed by those who have been defeated in battle, or by a widow whose husband has been slain by an enemy. The tumoto is said to be less virulent and incisive than the kaioraora.

Haka.—These songs are for the most part composed to accompany the spectacular exhibitions of posture dances. They are usually delivered with much emphasis, and frequently have a chorus, a line being sung by the fugleman, after which the company, possibly consisting of some hundreds, joins in the chorus, making vigorous contortions of limbs and features. Derisive songs are often termed haka. Hence the term overlaps the ngeri.

Ngeri.—This term is applied by the Tuhoe tribe to derisive songs, but is apparently also applied by some tribes to various other classes, as working and food-carrying songs, &c. The haka, ngeri, kaioraora, puha, hautu, and peruperu are all songs rendered with much energy, many of them in the short jerky metre so favoured by the Maori. The delivery of these differs widely from the monotonous chanting of the tangi and some other forms of waiata.

Puha.—This term is applied to chants of the peruperu class.

Peruperu.—War songs are so termed—that is, songs chanted during the performance of a war dance (tutu waewae or turanga-a-tohu).

The following is a specimen of the peruperu:

Kia kutia

Au! Au!

Kia wherahia

Au! Au!

Kia rere atu te Kawana ki tawhiti

Titiro mai ai

A—e, a—e, ha!

Tau.—Several forms of song come under this heading. The tau marac are songs of a somewhat ceremonial nature, sung while making a formal speech to the assembled people on the marac or plaza. The tau waka is a work song chanted to give the time when hauling a canoe or other heavy body. Simultaneous effort is thus obtained from the workmen. A line or two, or perhaps a single word, is sung by the energetic prancing fugleman. The haulers then shout the chorus, at the same time putting their whole strength into the pull. A heavy log 70 ft. in length has been so hauled for three miles in half a day. Here are a few lines from one of these songs:—

Haramai te maro.

Kauaia!

Kia hurua.

Kauaia!

Kia awhea.

Kauaia!

Ki te Kopu,

Kauaia.!

The italicised words are the chorus.

To Waka.—Same as tau waka above.

Hautu.—A song chanted to give the time to paddlers in a canoe.

Tewha.—A song sung by those engaged in planting the kumara, or sweet potato. This seems to be the same as the ko kumara and whakatapa-tapa kumara.

Whakatea.—A song of upbraiding sung to defeated members of a war party on their return home, with much gesture and many expressions of contempt, after the tangi is over. During the song the performers pukana or tahui.e., show the whites of their eyes, and go through other facial contortions. Hence the term whakatea, to make white.

Mana wera.—Literally the “seared heart”—similar songs to the whakatea—often sung by relatives of those slain in war on the return of the survivors. The performers array themselves in very old, dirty, and ragged garments.

Whakaaraara pa.—Songs sung during the hours of darkness by watchmen occupying' the elevated platforms within a fort. They are usually short, if not sweet, as:—

Be watchful!

O be wakeful!

Be watchful this defence!

Be watchful that defence!

The enemy shall be caught

Outside the fortress walls

Fighting and struggling.

Be watchful!

Tiwha.—Any song sung to express some desire or request of the singer. Armed assistance in war was often so asked for, the request not being put into plain words. Also called koha, ngakau, kara, &c.

Matakite.—Sometimes simply mata or kite. Prophetic or oracular songs. When a god or other oracle was consulted by the human medium, the supposed oracular utterances of the deity were usually given to the public in the form of a song. Dreams and visions or hallucinations were often viewed as being warnings from the gods, and were given in a similar manner to the people.

The Atahu, or iri, is a peculiar form of love song that has a certain amount of ritual pertaining to it. By means of the atahu a woman can be made to fall in love with a man though she may never even have seen him. It is most useful. (By all means acquire an atahu.)

Songs of another very numerous class are those chanted while games are being played. Some of these are termed rangi. Rangi is a word meaning the time of a song, and those effusions termed “rangi” seem to be time songs, as rangi poi, a song sung to time the actions of the poi game. The rangi pakuru are sung to the tapping of the pakuru instrument, the oriori karetao to the absurd movements of the jumping-jack, while others are sung while playing hide-and-seek, cat's-cradle, spinning tops, see-saw, the flute, &c., &c. Other songs are those taught to tame tui birds, those given in fables as being sung by birds, insects, &c., and yet others acquired from strange forest beings, elves or ogres.

Another class is that which might be termed sacerdotal. These are called karakia, the name being a generic term for all the myriad invocations, charms, spells, &c., used by the old-time Maori. There are records of some hundreds of these cryptic effusions, many of which are now untranslatable owing to their containing so many obsolete terms and archaic sacerdotal expressions known only to the priests of old. These karakia were used on every occasion in Maori life. There were scores of them pertaining to birth, death, sickness, marriage, divorce, burial, and almost every other subject. When ill the Maori relied on absurd charms and rites to effect a cure. All these were in the form of blank verse, and were intoned by the priests. Spells of magic were termed karakia makutu, those to ward off or nullify such spells were the momona, ripa, matapuru, &c. Others were to cure a person of wounds, to stop choking, to put a person to sleep, to ensure success in war, in fishing, and in hunting, to take tapu off persons or houses or land or food, to render tapu, to make weapons effective or to destroy their effectiveness, to make a person brave or to turn his heart to water, to cause fish or birds to be numerous or to make them scarce, to cause a woman to love the performer or to make her demented for not loving him. But it is useless to continue or to give the names of all these hundreds of melodious charms.

Some persons of former times were noted as composers, and produced a great many songs. Such were Piki and Mihi-ki-te-kapua, of the Tuhoe tribe, the former a man, the latter a woman.

In a very old lament for a dead child, containing some 120 lines, the father sitting at his door and looking upon the playground of his lost child, said: “Alas! O little one, I think of your gambols on the plaza, and your running laughing to the door. These thoughts remain to gnaw at my heart as does the demon death, now that you have entered the gates of the world of darkness. O child! arise once more and speak to me,” &c., &c.

In another lament for a child, the mother implored her offspring to turn back from the gates of the under-world, that she might weep over him once more: “The mists are floating above Puke-hinau, where passed my beloved child. Turn back, O son! that tears may from my eyes be poured forth.”

In Ruru's lament for his child he sang: “O Hiku, sleeping there cease thy slumbers. Bestir thyself and rise, ere sinks the westering sun,” &c. When a company of travellers had rested by the wayside, the Chief would say: “Kori-kori taua, ka taka tauira”—let us move on, the sun is sinking. This was an old-time expression.

When Pukaha, of Tuhoe, lost her husband, Wi Tapeka, of Te Wairoa, she bewailed her loss in these words: “Now lone am I as, sitting here, I vainly strive my scattered thoughts to gather. O friends! What can be done to lessen the pain that racks me. Bear me to the water-side and there sever my love for him to whom I clung, as clings the creeper to the forest tree, when I was but a girl, and he was but a lad. But now all lone am I, and restless is my sleep, as that of mateless bird,” &c.

Natural objects, stars, clouds, birds, trees, &c., are often introduced into songs. For instance, in the above, the widow likened herself to a mateless bird, lone and chill in her resting-place. She said: “Me kawe ki te wai wehe ai te aroha ki te makau.” Why should she be taken to the water in order that her love for her dead husband should he ended, and how was it accomplished? This was an ancient rite, termed miri aroho, performed at the sacred spring or pool of the hamlet, over a divorced couple, or over a person who desired that his or her love for a member of the opposite sex be put an end to.

Maori songs are not easily translated, and many notes are necessary to explain the meaning not only of the principal theme, but also of the various proverbs, aphorisms, allusions to old-time myths or history, &c., so often noted in them. It will often be found that a composer coins new words to express some thought, action, emotion, &c.

Take the line, “Ka whekawhekau te roa o te ara ka takoto mai.

Here the composer expresses his feelings that he will not be able to traverse the long road before him. But he declines to state it plainly. With dire malice he casts about for a new word, and finds the germ thereof in whekau, the rock owl, which cannot move about in daylight. So he invents the word whekawhekau, a somewhat involved form, to express his feeling. He will not use the simpler form whekaukau. Someone might understand it.

Several lullabies were composed for the purpose of being sung to the result of a kind of sooterkin—that is, to the things (a stone, or piece of wood, or potatoe) sometimes nursed and sung to by childless women, who evidently endeavoured to satisfy the cravings of mother love.

Chiefs and persons of good birth are often alluded to in songs as totara trees, the most highly prized of timbers, and children as greenstone ornaments, these being the prized jewels of the Maori.

Songs of considerable length are often divided into whiti or verses. Sometimes a whiti contains but one line, in which case it is followed by a chorus. It may, however, consist of any number up to twenty or thirty.

Many other forms of song formerly in vogue must be passed over. In days gone by there were numerous hoa, kaha, whai, taumaha, whakau, manawa, &c., &c., of which but little is known in these days of the pakeha.

In conclusion, a list is given of the subjects of a number of songs taken at random:—

  1. A lament by an old woman for herself, her children having married and left her lonely.

  2. A song by a person accused of theft.

  3. A lament for a dead child.

  4. By a woman accused of loose conduct.

  5. By a woman accused of inhospitality.

  6. By a husband vilifying his wife who has deserted him.

  7. A lament for a dead husband.

  8. A woman's lullaby to a potatoe child. (See oriori and p. 745.)

  9. By a man cursing a person for stealing his pig.

  10. A song to bind a peace-making.

  11. By a man because his wife had laughed at him.

  12. By a person attacked by leprosy.

  13. A love song.

  14. By the mist goddess, when she deserted her earth-born child.

  15. By a woman because someone had slapped her.

  16. By a man to his children deserted by their mother.

  17. A prophetic vision regarding the issue of a fight.

PART IV.—DESCRIPTION OF LAND DISTRICTS.

Table of Contents

Chapter 58. THE AUCKLAND LAND DISTRICT.

JOHN STRAUCHON, Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor.

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 side of the land district is occupied by a very broken, forest-clad country, known as the Urewera country, the average height of which is about 2,500 ft. 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 South 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 frequented by 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 950,000 acres north of Auckland, and 2,720,000 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, 1,400 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 of settlers. Negotiations are proceeding for the acquisition of further extensive areas in Thames. Ohinemuri, Waitomo, Awakino, Kawhia, and West Taupo Counties. 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. At Te Kuiti extensive kilns have been erected for the supply of large quantities of burnt lime for agricultural purposes. The industry is in a most flourishing condition, being well supported by farmers in the surrounding districts. The County of Coromandel, with portions of Thames and Ohinemuri Counties, is chiefly devoted to the mining industry. The soil is nearly all clay, the land very broken, but suitable for pastoral purposes if cleared of the dense forest that now covers it. The western portion, however, of the Thames and Ohinemuri Counties contain large areas of alluvial and swamp lands, now in the hands of the Crown, but, through want of drainage, not yet available for settlement.

In the County of Tauranga, the clay lands extend from Te Aroha Mountain to Katikati entrance, changing, near Tauranga, to sandstone and black pumice soil of rich character, which improves towards Te Puke and Maketu, where the land is all good, and more or less volcanic. In Whakatane and Opotiki Counties there are very extensive swamps, of which large portions are drainable, and back from the coast seven miles or so are large areas of Crown lands, broken and forest-covered, opened ready for settlement. The soil is chiefly clay or light loam, with alluvial flats in the valleys, and all well watered. This kind of country extends to the boundary of the land district. The coastal lands are nearly all alluvial flats in a high state of cultivation, and the settlers mostly well-to-do.

Roads giving access to back-block settlements in various parts of the district are being vigorously constructed and many old road lines abandoned in favour of new deviations, which provide an easier and better grade.

Review of Soils: Uses and Returns.

Briefly to set forth the capabilities of the Crown lands in the district, it will suffice to say that north of the Bay of Islands and Hokianga the land is suitable chiefly for two classes of persons—the gum-digger, and the fruit-grower or small farmer. The former has the range over large areas of Crown lands upon paying a small fee, and his earnings average from 5s. to 10s. a day. As for the latter, in and around Hokianga, with its 250 miles of water-frontage, almost anything can be grown. 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, without indicating any perceptible deterioration in the soil. 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. Large areas remain to be opened in the future, and when the swamp lands are systematically drained the climatic conditions are such that no more productive soil will be found to exist in the Dominion either for agricultural or flax-growing purposes.

Rainfall.

The rainfall during the year averages about 39 in., the greater portion of which as a rule, falls between the 1st of May and 1st of November, or during the winter and spring months. Owing to the constant changes of wind, caused by the configuration of the coast-line, the shortness of the distance between the two coasts, and the influence, greater or less, of the trade-winds, it is quite common for one neighbourhood to have double the rainfall of another, even though the two be only twenty miles apart. Droughts of more than a couple of months are practically unknown, and grass is always abundant.

Winds.

One of the chief means whereby the great healthiness of the climate is maintained is the constant presence of fine breezes, blowing both summer and winter, the prevailing winds being north-east and south-west, and very seldom passing into really heavy gales. In the middle of summer, the sea-breeze during the day and the land-breeze at night are almost unvarying.

Chief Centres and Surrounding Districts.

The City of Auckland lies on the southern shore of the Waitemata Harbour, one of the finest havens in the Dominion, 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, inasmuch 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. The latest estimate gives the population of the city and suburbs as 89,577. The city is well supplied with gas and water, and amongst public buildings may be noticed Government House, the 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 Dominion. There are admirable recreation-grounds, including the Government Domain of about 180 acres, as well as the Botanic Garden, the Albert Park in the centre of the city, and Victoria Park at the west end bordering upon the harbour. 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, varnish works; printing-offices, &c. The oversea trade of Auckland is large and rapidly increasing. During the year 1907 the imports into the port of Auckland were valued at £4,533,999, and the exports at £3,472,405.

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 and Settlers' 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. It is a thriving township, with post and telegraph office, public halls, hotels, &c. It is also the site of important hydraulic-lime and cement works. A good deal of agricultural and pastoral farming is carried on in its neighbourhood.

On the West Coast an important centre is Helensville, on the Kaipara Harbour, distant thirty-eight miles from Auckland, with which it is connected by rail. Besides possessing fine mineral and hot springs, opened in June, 1907, it has for public purposes conveniences required by travellers such as 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.

In the north of Auckland, railway communication has been established between Tauhoa and Wayby. The section between Wayby and Wellsford is now under construction, and the line will eventually be carried on to Maungatapere, about eight miles to the west of Whangarei.

Dargaville, on the Wairoa River, is a town of about 700 inhabitants, with 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 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 2,120, and is the centre of an agricultural and pastoral country. In the neighbourhood is also a large coal-bearing and gum-and-timber-producing district, while the export of oranges and lemons, which thrive magnificently on the rich volcanic soil, is on the increase. From here, all lands within a radius of thirty to forty miles may be visited by horse, 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 at present constructed for eight miles in a southerly direction from Kawakawa. Railway-formation is being pushed on, and there is now only a distance of nine miles to be taken in hand. The completion of this and the other sections now in hand will connect Kawakawa by rail with Whangarei. A bridge has been built over the Whangarei River, and it is intended to continue the railway from Opau Wharf to deep water at Grahamtown, three miles distant.

Kawakawa, at the head of the tidal portion of the river of the same name, is connected by a short railway-line with Opua, the calling-place of steamers from Auckland. Kawakawa possesses good inns. From it coaches run weekly to Hokianga and Hukerenui. It is the centre of a coal and gum industry, and a port of lading for those products. The old town of Russell (formerly called Kororareka) is situated further down the bay, and has a good hotel, besides having a post and telegraph office. To Whangaroa, Mangonui, Awanui, Hohoura, and Parengarenga the Northern Company's steamers run every week. Whangaroa is famed for its exquisite scenery, and is the centre of a large timber and gum export trade. Mangonui is the starting-point and centre from which to visit, by carriage or horse, all the Crown lands in the Mangonui County.

South of Auckland, along the Waikato Railway, there are numerous townships of more or less importance, but no starting-point for Crown lands until Mercer is reached at a distance of forty-three miles. It is situated at the borders of what is known as the Waikato Country, upon the Waikato River, which is tidal up to this point, and the township has a post and telegraph office and other conveniences. At sixty-five miles from Auckland by rail is Huntly, also on the Waikato River, a flourishing township, with a large output of valuable coal. It has also pottery, brick, and tile works. On the opposite side of the Waikato River large areas of Crown lands are being brought into use, and are carrying numbers of sheep and cattle. The next town is Ngaruawahia, or Newcastle, seventy-four miles from Auckland, situated at the junction of the Waikato and Waipa Rivers, with hotels, bank, post and telegraph office. It is a centre from which portions of Crown lands in Raglan County are reached, and also from it river-steamers run north and south to the various settlements. Ngaruawahia has a flourishing creamery, a brewery, and a cooperage. At eighty-five miles from Auckland the train reaches Frankton Junction, where lines branch off to Hamilton, Cambridge, Te Aroha, Paeroa, Thames, and Rotorua, the main line going through Te Awamutu, 100 miles from Auckland. The railway from Te Awamutu to Marton Junction on the Wellington-New Plymouth line is what is commonly referred to as the North Island Main Trunk Railway, and is designed to connect the Cities of Auckland and Wellington, which are 426 miles apart, by the railway route. Its construction was begun in 1880, but was hindered for some time on account of difficulties experienced in obtaining the consent of the Maori landowners to the survey and location of the portion of the line which traverses what is known as the King-country, for many years closed to settlement and to white travellers. The Natives having finally been won over to a more friendly attitude, construction-works were resumed in earnest in 1885, and progressed at both ends with more or less expedition until in August of the present year the rails were linked up close to the small viaduct over the Manganui-o-te-ao stream, almost midway between Auckland and Wellington. On account of the mountainous and rugged nature of most of the country traversed the construction of the line has been a laborious and somewhat costly undertaking, presenting numerous engineering difficulties and necessitating much resource and endurance on the part of the officers responsible for the practical work. The line traverses some magnificent country, rich in mountain, river, and gorge scenery, and giving much promise as a field for settlement and industry in the future. There are many creditable engineering achievements on the line, notably, the Makohine, Makotote, and Hapua-whenua viaducts, all built of steel, and of great height and bold design; the peculiar spiral at Raurimu, where the line doubles back on itself to negotiate a sharp rise from the Whakapapa Valley to the Waimarino plateau, numerous tunnels from a few yards up to 63 chains in length, and large and small bridges crossing the many streams and rivers traversed in the well-watered districts served by the line. The line has been substantially built right through, and the total cost of the 210 miles from Marton to Te Awamutu has reached the neighbourhood of £3,000,000.

Te Awamutu is a thriving town, and is especially English-looking with its nicely cultivated fields and well-kept hedges. Taumarunui is the point where the Wanganui River traffic connects with the northern railway-system, and is becoming in consequence of this a regular tourist resort. 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 2,300 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 1,300, and is the headquarters of the Farmers' Club. It is a busy, thriving township, surrounded by good farming country. At Maungakoua, seven or eight miles from Cambridge, the Government has established an institution for consumptives, known as Te Waikato Sanatorium. The site is in the ranges, at an elevation of about 1,000 ft., and the climate is well suited to the treatment of pulmonary complaints. Between Hamilton and Cambridge, and in the country round, there are numerous creameries, cheese and butter factories. Wine and cider making are also successfully pursued, and there are several apiaries, from which large quantities of honey are produced.

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. The population is about 1,060. Another thirteen miles brings the traveller to Paeroa, a centre of mining industry—whence a branch line 12 ½ miles long connects with Waihi (population, 5,700), 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 3,750 persons. There is daily rail and steam communication with Auckland, the railway also connecting it with Paeroa, Te Aroha, Waihi, Rotorua, &c. 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 Waihi, and from Rotorua; it has also constant communication by steamer with Auckland, and with Matata, Whakatane, and Opotiki. From the fact of the harbour being the only one on the east coast between Coromandel Peninsula and Gisborne capable of receiving large vessels, the town is bound to be of importance in the future. Tauranga is also to be connected by railway with Waihi. The construction of the line was commenced on the 10th January, 1908, and at present survey parties are employed in establishing the most suitable route.

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 for part of the distance (Gisborne to Puha, twenty miles) by 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 article, Thermal Springs District.)

The Township of Te Kuiti, on account of its position on the line of the Main Trunk Railway, has made rapid progress within the past two or three years. Besides possessing a dairy factory, first-class stores, a newspaper (the King Country Chronicle), and a library, all trades are represented. The Railway Department has taken into consideration the growing importance of the township, and are erecting larger and more commodious engine-barns. New Government buildings, including a Courthouse, have recently been erected. The Roads Department have erected a large number of bridges and constructed many miles of roads and tracks throughout the district. Settlers and townspeople, recognising that progress cannot come without effort, have combined to make Te Kuiti an important inland centre.

The Rohe Potae (King-country) generally is destined within the next few years to become a closely settled and prosperous locality. It is capable of great development, and what were formerly extensive bush areas are rapidly undergoing conversion into productive and remunerative farms.

At Te Rau-a-moa a dairy factory has for several years been established with success, and the settlers are much encouraged by the excellent results achieved, aided by the Government efforts to eradicate the noxious ragwort by stocking the affected area with sheep.

Oparau, on the Kawhia waters, has a timber-mill, and another is proposed to be erected shortly at Marakopa, where the flax industry is flourishing.

A tender trades between Marakopa, Aotea, and Kawhia collecting produce and distributing goods for the Northern Steamship Company's regular west coast steamer. At Oparau, Hauturu, and Kinohaku small settlements have sprung up, each being landing-places for the settlers' goods. The Government have constructed a wharf at Kawhia, and although the town is approached by a bar harbour still the latter is a good one.

Native lands for the most part are washed by the Aotea waters in this locality, but the Crown land at the northern end of the Moerangi Block is settled, and has a promising future. This part of the Kawhia County is much better served from To Mata and Raglan.

Te Mata is situated at the eastern foot of Karioi, and has made considerable progress during recent years. The town possesses a school, post and telegraph office, telephone bureau, a fine hall, and a very successful co-operative dairy factory. In the Kauroa Valley close by there is another dairy factory.

The port of Raglan has several wharves and goods-sheds, and besides being served by weekly steamers there is a tri-weekly coach service with Hamilton, and also a similar bi-weekly communication with Ngaruawahia, via Waingaro Hot Springs. Te Akau Block, which has recently been acquired by the Crown from the Native owners, consists of some 13,000 acres, and adjoins the Whaingaroa Harbour. Raglan contains quite a fine fleet of motor-launches, has two churches, public hall, courthouse, library, two first-class hotels, a timber-mill, several flax-mills, and a newspaper (the Raglan County Chronicle). The northern portion of the county, which is almost wholly settled, bears the reputation of being the second best sheep-carrying country in the Auckland Land District.

At Onewhero, Pukikawa, Churchill, Harapepe, and Karamu there are dairy factories and creameries. Good hotel accommodation is obtainable at Waingaro Hot Springs, where bath-buildings have been erected. The coal deposits in the Raglan County are very valuable, most of them being worked in the neighbourhood of Huntly, on the Waikato 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. The great demand for this timber still continues, whilst 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, 1907, 63,015,330 superficial feet of hewn or sawn timber, valued at £276,401, were shipped for export at Auckland and Kaipara.

Census returns compiled in 1906 furnish the information that there were in the Auckland Provincial District 83 sawmills and sash and door factories employing about 3,618 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 quantity of timber sawn in 1905 was 163,592,619 ft., and the value of all the products of the mills was £1,078,233. 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 1907 large consignments, totalling 8,708 tons and valued at £579,888, 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 New Zealand, 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.

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.

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.

The method of obtaining gum by “tapping” the trees has been found to seriously interfere with their development and stability, and it is now considered an illegal act to obtain kauri-gum by this means from trees on Crown lands.

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.

In many parts of this district magnificent crops of flax are obtained, and so suitable is much of the swamp land for the cultivation of this valuable product that the flax-milling industry is now in a flourishing condition, and its position as one of the most important of our industries firmly established.

There are at present seventy-five flax-mills in operation. These employ a large number of people, whilst in the City of Auckland a considerable number are engaged in making rope, twine, and cordage. The manufactured articles are of a quality which bear favourable comparison with those imported from other countries. The quantity of flax exported during the year ended 31st December, 1907, was 8,352 tons, valued at £248,159 (excluding tow valued at £11,206).

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 the cyanide process and battery amalgamation.

During the year ended the 31st December, 1907, the quantity of gold shipped from Auckland was 297,796 oz., valued at £1,187,056, besides which 1,562,603 oz. of silver, valued at £169,484, were exported.

The famous Waihi, Waiotahi, and other mines continue to yield increasing returns of gold, and find employment for a large number of hands. As the auriferous-quartz reefs are very extensive in character, it is reasonable to predict that immense quantities of ore will be treated for many years to come with equally satisfactory results. The Town of Waihi contains a population of about 5,700, and may be reached by either steamer to the Thames, thence by rail via Paeroa, or rail the whole distance from Auckland. The time occupied in visiting Waihi and returning to Auckland is two days.

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.

Considerable interest continues to be taken in the School of Mines at the Thames, where the instruction imparted is keenly appreciated. During 1906 the examinations in electrical and mining engineering subjects resulted in 100 per cent. of the students receiving first-class passes in the senior and junior grades, whilst in two instances gold medals were awarded.

Copper.

During the year applications have been granted for the right to mine for copper, principally in the Kaeo district, and the development of this industry is looked forward to with considerable interest.

Granite.

For some years past the want has been felt in Auckland of a suitable stone for the erection of buildings worthy of the size and prosperity of the city; and notwithstanding the fact that many of the local volcanic stones are excellent for certain purposes, most of the stone used in the construction of the larger buildings has been either blue stone imported from Victoria or the granite from Scotland.

A very large and valuable deposit of what is by many designated a true granite has been found on the Coromandel Peninsula some 20 miles from Cabbage Bay.

Samples have been submitted to numerous experts both in New Zealand and elsewhere, who have pronounced the stone as equal in appearance, toughness, and durability to any of the imported granites.

Being free from flaws, of a fine grey colour, it presents, when polished, a handsome surface.

The stone is obtainable in any lengths, and can be landed in Auckland at a price to compete with ordinary blue stone. The quarries are situated on the seashore close to deep water, and extend over an area of 80 acres.

A company (the New Zealand Quarries, Limited) has been formed locally to develop the deposit, and the material is already being successfully introduced into several fine buildings at present in course of construction. As architects are now specifying Coromandel granite to take the place of the imported stone, and the supply of the former being practically unlimited, there is little doubt that the industry will in the very near future provide employment for a large number of people. Extensive machinery has been ordered from Scotland to work the deposit to the best advantage.

At Putaruru, on the Rotorua line, an excellent building-stone has also been discovered, and is likely to be shortly developed.

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 of which is consumed locally.

The City and Suburbs of Auckland are principally lighted by coal-gas, and about 36,000 tons is utilised annually for its manufacture. This is brought from Westport, in the South Island, where a specially suitable coal is obtainable in large quantities.

The value of 19,478 tons of coal exported from Auckland during 1907 was £20,792.

Wool.

This industry does not reach a maximum of importance in this district as compared with other parts of the Dominion, 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. As the forest lands become denuded larger areas will be available for sheep-grazing. This will no doubt result in the wool industry being found within a few years in the front rank of importance.

The quantity of wool shipped from the Auckland District during 1907 was 6,026,871 Lb., valued at £259,078.

Dairying.

Some idea of the prosperous condition of this industry may be arrived at from the fact that no less than 75,684 cwt. of butter, valued at £375,232, and 4,854 cwt. of cheese, valued at £12,970, were shipped from the Port of Auckland to the United Kingdom and elsewhere abroad during the year 1907. 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.

Sea Fisheries.

At present about 450 boats of various sizes are engaged in the fishing industry, employment being thus found for about nine hundred and thirty people. There is great abundance and variety of edible fish, and a steady supply for the market is maintained, consisting principally of schnapper, 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.

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. The State now controls the supply of oysters, with the result that only full-grown oysters are picked and placed on the market, and the previous destruction of young beds has ceased.

Trout and Trout-fishing.

The food-supply from this source has grown to great magnitude in the Auckland District, and the splendid sport to be obtained with fly and minnow is attracting visitors from all parts of the world. The area within which good fishing is to be had extends over hundreds of square miles of country.

Undernoted are the chief rivers, streams, and lakes famous for the numbers, size, and weight of their fish:—

  1. All the tributaries of the Upper Thames or Waihou stretching from Lichfield to Tirau and Okoroiri to Matamata. This was the district first stocked by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society with rainbow trout (Salmo irideus) about the year 1885, and it is still a favourite locality for anglers.

  2. The upper portion of the Waipa River and its tributaries, including such well-known streams as the Puniu, Waitomo, Mangapu, &c.

  3. The tributaries of the Upper Wanganui, especially the Ongarue.

  4. The whole course of the Waikato River is fairly well stocked, and it is probable that Lakes Whangape and Waikare, in the Lower Waikato District, will afford specially good fishing in the immediate future.

  5. Nearer to Auckland is the Southern Wairoa, Maungatawhiri, and Maungatangi—all well stocked; also Lake Takapuna, from which rainbow trout of considerable size can be taken. The latter lake is within a distance of eight miles from the City of Auckland.

  6. Rotorua and the Thermal District embraces a large number of streams, all well stocked, including those in the neighbourhood of Okoroiri, Atiamuri, and Galatea, also Lakes Rotorua, Rotoiti, Tarawera, Taupo, &c. The last four-named lakes are famous both for the numbers and size of their fish—rainbow trout weighing, each, upwards of twenty pounds have been taken by anglers in those lakes. It may here be added that the rainbow trout (Salmo irideus) are gradually, but surely, supplanting the brown trout (Salmo fario) and other varieties. The administration of trout culture and fishing in the streams, rivers, and lakes of the Rotorua District has lately been handed over to the Tourist Department, and the period of fishing has been extended from April to the 31st May.

Fruit Canning and Preserving.

The soil and climate of Auckland are particularly adapted to fruit-growing and during the season the supply is so abundant that in many instances it barely pays the producer to send it to the local market. The increased interest in the business of canning is mainly due to this fact, and already the prospects of the industry are good, as canned fruits may now be obtained equal in quality to those imported from California and elsewhere. Fruit-growers are 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 now eight factories in this district, and employment is found for about one hundred hands. A number of fruit-growers are also canning fruits in a small way in various parts of Auckland with more or less success.

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.

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 Dominion, but a proportion is shipped to the New Zealand dependencies and elsewhere. The total annual output of the refinery is about 41,000 tons.

Amongst the more recently established industries are the paper-mills at Riverhead, on the upper reaches of the Waitemata. These mills employ some thirty-four hands, whilst the quality of the paper manufactured is entirely satisfactory.

The brick and pottery business affords occupation for about 400 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 Dominion (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 30,000 to 40,000 tons. These works employ about a hundred and sixty hands. The quality of the cement is such that it is largely used in many important public works. Some 20,000 tons are required in connection with the extensive harbour-works now in progress in Auckland, where reinforced concrete is taking the place of wooden piles in wharf-construction, &c. Many thousand tons have also been used by the Napier and New Plymouth Harbour Boards, with the most satisfactory results, in the erection of breakwaters.

The Auckland cement is now being extensively employed in the large dry docks under construction at Wellington, also for Arthur's Pass Tunnel.

The fame of the local product has already been established in the adjoining States, and in New South Wales the large reservoir on Pott's Hill, used for the Sydney water-supply, is built of the material referred to, which for strength and quality is considered to be second to none in the world.

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 industries in existence in this district, excluding mines and quarries, as ascertained from the last census returns (1906) number 885.

The Electric Tramway Company employ some 480 hands, and maintain a huge plant. In 1904 the power was increased from 1,500 to 2,500 horse power. The largely increased traffic has necessitated the construction of additional cars. Those built locally have proved in every way satisfactory, and the total number now in use is 87. There are 19.19 route miles of track open for traffic. 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 Dominion.

The exports of domestic produce from this port during 1907 were valued at £3,364,614, an increase of £284,010 on the value of shipments for the previous year.

Chapter 59. THE TARANAKI LAND DISTRICT.

F. SIMPSON, Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands.

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 Dominion, 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 be 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, except Sunday and Monday, and excursions are 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 eighty-four 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 New Zealand. 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 Manganui-a-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.

An area of 72,565 acres, measuring six miles on every side from the summit of Mount Egmont, was originally set apart as a forest reserve. To this has now been added 1,040 acres on the lower slopes of Pouakai Range, with an additional 5,500 acres on the Patua Range, making a total of about 79,000 acres, which has now by Act of Parliament been set apart as the “Egmont National Park,” the internal affairs of which are administered by a partly elected and partly nominated Board of ten members. At about three miles within the reserve the forest begins to get stunted; and at four and a half miles it gives place to low wiry scrub, which ceases at five miles, or an elevation of about 4,000 ft. At 5,000 ft. the moss ends; beyond this point to the summit the mountain is composed of loose scoria and lava.

A comfortable house, known as the Egmont Mountain-house, has been built at an elevation of 3,200 ft. on the northern face of the mountain, at a distance of twenty miles from New Plymouth by the Junction and Egmont Roads, and tourists can be driven the whole of the way. 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 1s. 6d. each, or they may provide and cook their own food. Beds are also provided. Horse feeds, 1s. 6d. each; paddocking, 6d. daily, or 2s. 6d. a week. A small charge for use of house is made to visitors of 1s. per night or 5s. per week throughout the visit. In addition to the mountain-house, the Board has erected a cottage of three rooms, comprising two bedrooms (fitted with four bunks each), and one living-room in between. This cottage is intended for renting by the week to family parties, only one such party occupying it at a time, the minimum charge per week being two pounds sterling for a party of four adults; over that number and up to eight (the limit allowed), 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 the 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 South 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. The Pembroke Road Mountain-house has now been removed to a lower and less exposed situation.

A favourite route 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. Two comfortable cottages have 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 the 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 houses. A weekly coach-service has been instituted both at Hawera and Eltham, while Stratford, as a base, is equally desirable to start from; the whole distance can be driven over. About 3 000 persons visited the mountain by this route during the season.

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. The number of visitors was about 100.

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 101 dairy factories and 79 skimming-stations scattered over the district. Of these factories, 78 produce butter only, while 23 produce cheese only. There are also in this district 6 registered packing-houses for milled butter, 247 registered private dairies for butter-making, 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 1907 the output from the works was—Butter, 205,491 boxes, weighing 5,128 tons 7 cwt., net; cheese, 22,233 packages, net weight 1,488 tons 16 cwt. 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 23,729 horses, 266,891 cattle, 615,305 sheep, and 48,282 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 1907–8 was 11,216 acres, as follows: Wheat, 394 acres; oats, 9,331 acres; barley, 1,062 acres; rye, 87 acres; maize, 288 acres; peas, 22 acres; beans, 31 acres; vetches, 1 acre.

Sown grasses and clovers for feeding down and seed, 1,183,958 acres, as follows: Grasses and clovers on ploughed land, 172,781 acres; surface sown grasses, 735,051 acres; tussock, native grass, and unimproved land, 264,936 acres; hay, 10,109 acres; ensilage, 916 acres; for seed, rye-grass, 44 acres, cocksfoot, 121 acres; potatoes, 672 acres; turnips, 15,161 acres; mangolds, 1,202 acres; rape, 3,282 acres; carrots, 672 acres; beet, 10 acres; other crops, 323 acres. Plantations, 1,038 acres; fallow, 656 acres. Private gardens, 672 acres; market gardens, 92 acres; orchards, 716 acres.

The average yield of different grain-crops in bushels per acre for season of 1907–8 was: Wheat, 34; oats, 35; barley, 47; rye, 29.

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.

Petroleum-boring.

After numerous attempts and a considerable expenditure of capital, it appears as if those fostering this industry are now to receive their reward. Although petroleum has previously been obtained, it has always been in conjunction with water. It would seem as if this difficulty had now been overcome, and with “oil struck” and a good pressure obtainable, indications are very promising, and it is to be hoped that the industry has come to stay.

Kaolin.

Deposits of kaolin are now being worked close to New Plymouth, and the quality is reported as excellent.

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, 1907:—

 JanFebMarAprilMayJuneJulyAugSeptOctNovDec
Mean temperature 66.266.665.964.661.455.4251.851.651.752.8554.860.865.2
Extreme maximum temperature838079757370686665717682
Extreme minimum temperature395249453230343434364047
Number of days on which rain fell161815191914172525241321
Total rainfall per month in inches and decimals7.2005.01513.7654.346.965.145.047.167.5857.3053.3554.41
Mean barometric reading for the month29.81729.8329.9229.83429.72629.91929.7729.6829.5629.7629.93729.93

The mean barometric reading was 29.807 in. for the year. Total rainfall, 77.275 in. on 226 days. The rainfall varies considerably, as, for instance, at Norfolk Road, three miles south of Inglewood, the rainfall for the year 1907 was 118.94 in. on 209 days, the maximum daily fall being 4.09 in. on January 14th. The average rainfall at New Plymouth during the past thirteen years was 65.051 in., and at Norfolk Road for same period 103.092 in.

Chief Towns.

The principal town of the district New Plymouth, founded in 1841 (population 5,300), is 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 Moturoa, 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 2,289 ft. Under the lee of this there is wharf-accommodation provided for the coastal trade. Steamers of 1,000 tons can be berthed here in almost all weathers. The wharf is connected with New Plymouth by both rail and road. The breakwater was built at a cost of £200,000, borrowed under security of one-fourth of the land revenue of the Provincial District of Taranaki, and the right to levy a rate over certain lands. The present rate levied is 1/4d. in the pound on the capital value. The principal over-sea exports from the breakwater (exclusive of all coastal trade) were: Butter, value £501,584; cheese, value £82,063; fungus, value £1,726: total value, £801,787. Imports (oversea): value, £118,230: Customs duties for the year, £38,907 16s. 3d. The wharfages and dues for the past year totalled £13,613, made up as follows: Wharfage, £6,061; berthage, £6,338; warps, £759; water, &c., £48; port charges, £407. Five hundred and fifty-three vessels entered and left the port during the past year, their aggregate tonnage being 281,528. Imports were 57,246 tons, and exports 15,010 tons, totalling 72,256 tons.

The old wharf has been widened for a distance of 180 ft. During the past year the dredge removed 111,900 cubic yards of sand from the harbour, at a cost of 3.09d. per cubic yard.

Manufactures in New Plymouth are represented by two sash and door, a boot, butter-keg, and three coach factories, a brewery, cordial factories, tannery, fell-mongery, bone-mill, and iron-foundry, with freezing-works in the suburbs. The town has a septic-tank drainage and water, electric light, 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 supplied by private companies. 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. Hawera possesses an excellent water and drainage scheme, the water being obtained from the Kapuni River, eleven miles from the town, and the sewerage being carried by gravitation direct into the ocean. Municipal undertakings owned and controlled by the borough are the public abattoirs, fresh-water swimming baths, and fire-brigade station, and the town also possesses an excellent free reading-room and circulating library.

The Town of Patea is situated on the coast, at the extreme southern end of the district, and has a population of 900. There is a splendid grazing district inland, with a large area of land yet to be opened up. There is a dairy factory, which has two branch creameries in the country. A refrigerating company for dairy and other produce has also been established, and is proving a great success. Exports for 1907 were: Wool, 5,517 bales; fungus, 373 bags; tallow, 820 casks; pelts, 132 casks; loose hides, 5,085; butter, 81,494 boxes; meat, 11,886 cases; sheep, 729; sundries, 478 packages; cheese, 65,466 cases; empties, 1,397; cattle, 314; carcases of frozen mutton, 5,663; quarters of beef, 4,384. Imports: ordinary, 9,596 tons; coals, 2,884 tons. Wharfages amounted to £1,901; dumping dues, £346; tonnage dues, £584; port dues, £83; water, &c., £12; rents, £360. 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 Westport, Greymouth, Lyttelton, Wellington, and other ports. The Board is now engaged in erecting a west breakwater, of concrete, which has been carried out to a distance of 700 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 2,200, and is growing fast. The height above sea-level is 1,000 ft., and the climate is bracing though somewhat moist. Stratford possesses an excellent high-pressure water-supply, the water being obtained from the Patea River, some three miles above the town by means of filtration tunnels carried under the river bed. A complete septic-tank system of drainage has also been instituted. There is a good Public Library and Reading-room, and a Municipal Town Hall capable of seating 800 persons. 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 right through. There are twenty 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 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 Huiroa, a distance of sixteen miles. A short branch is also in course of construction from Waipuku to Mangonui, on the slopes of Mount Egmont, the first section of which is completed. 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.

Waitara, formerly known as Raleigh, a seaport town of about 960 inhabitants, proclaimed a borough on the 6th September, 1904, 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 Messrs. Borthwick and Sons, 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 principal direct shipments Home during the year: 5,631 tons of frozen meat, 4,458 bales of wool, 34 bales of leather, 1,549 casks of tallow, 247 casks of pelts, 455 casks of oleo, 21 bales of horns, 32 casks of runners, 6 bales of hair, 132 boxes of butter, 24 cases of beef extract, and 6 ½ tons of general cargo. The number of direct steamers loading in the Roadstead was 16 of a net tonnage of 70,839. All produce is conveyed on board the New Zealand Shipping Company's ocean-going steamers (which anchor in Waitara roadstead) in specially constructed and insulated bags. The principal exports from the port coastwise for the year 1907 were: Grain, 41 ½ tons; wool, 16 bales; grass-seed, 47 ½ tons; manure, 184 tons; tallow, 20 casks; timber, 71,807 feet; flax, 552 bales; tow, 182 bales; chaff, 812 sacks; hides, 96; cattle, 39; sheep, 1,625; horses, 11; pigs, 104; butter, 34 boxes; fungus, 11 bales; flour 32 1/4 tons; general cargo, 800 tons. Imports, coastwise, for the same period were: Grain, 41 ½ tons; manure, 222 ½ tons; lime, 26 1/4 tons; timber, 164,556 feet; coal, 5,111 tons; wool, 379 bales; skins, 50 bundles; fungus, 22 bales; flour, 118 tons; hides, 184; horses, 4; sheep, 959; pigs, 69; butter, 156 boxes; cement, 183 ¾ tons; flax, 448 bales; tow, 168 bales; general cargo, 3,448 ½ tons.

Inglewood, situated on the railway-line, sixteen miles south-east of New Plymouth, is a flourishing little town, constituted a borough on the 10th March, 1903, with a population of 1,160 inhabitants, rapidly coming to the front. The town is well equipped with livery stables, coffee palace, and hotels, and is lighted by electricity supplied by a private company, the Corporation having the right to take over the works when they choose. The town is well endowed, and possesses a Public Library and Reading-room, band, fire-brigade, gymnasium, and various kindred institutions for the recreation and convenience of the inhabitants. The bacon-factory during the year put through 4,514 pigs, costing £10,608 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.

Eltham, population about 1,500, is situated on the railway-line between Stratford and Hawera, being six miles and a half from the former, and twelve miles from the latter town. It was constituted a borough on 12th October, 1901. A first-class high-pressure gravitation water-supply has been provided, whereby provision for a population of 10,000 is made. A septic-tank system of drainage has also been provided. In the matter of fire prevention a first-class station has been erected and equipped with the most up-to-date plant, while the services of a strong volunteer brigade have been accepted, and a fire-police duly enrolled. During the year 1907 the Eltham Bacon-factory bought 2,252 pigs, at a cost of £4,224 15s. 4d. Of this number 368 were killed at Waitara as porkers.

Opunake, a seaport town of 400 inhabitants, was visited during the year by 48 vessels, the imports and exports totalling 1,164 tons. The exports were only 5.24 per cent. of the total of imports, which suffices to demonstrate that the want of proper shipping facilities is a serious drawback to the district. It is estimated that with suitable protective works the trade of the port would be considerably increased. With the exception of some wool, all the produce of the district is sent away by road, and not more than 25 per cent. of the imports of the immediate district are landed at the port by reason of the uncertainty of the discharge of cargo. The townspeople are now taking steps to place the port in a better position.

The only other townships that need be mentioned are Manaia, population about 450; and Normanby, population about 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 Huiroa, sixteen 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 Moka. 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, Norman by, 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 right through to Ohura. A coach runs in summer-time every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (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.

On account of the great demand there is at the present time no land open for selection under ordinary conditions.

In the Spotswood Settlement, near New Plymouth, there are 37 allotments for renewable lease, in areas from half an acre to 67 acres.

About 1,700 acres of forfeited holdings will be re-offered during the year.

Lands being prepared for Settlement.

In the Totoro Survey District, on the south bank of Mokau River, about 7,000 acres of fair grazing-land.

In the Mahoe and Pouatu Survey Districts, between the Tangarakau and Heao Rivers, and lying east of Whangamomona Township, about 4,500 acres of hilly forest country.

In the Piopiotea West Survey District, close to the Taumarunui Railway-station, about 5,500 acres of hilly forest country.

In Otamati and Tangitu Blocks, portions of the Rangitoto-Tuhua Block, near the Main Trunk Railway, about 5,000 acres of hilly forest country.

In Whakaihuwaka and Taumatamahoe Blocks, lying between the settled country east of Strathmore and the Wanganui River, about 6,000 acres, also hilly forest country.

All these lands, when cleared of forest, will be found suitable for mixed farming, principally sheep and young cattle.

The total area of Crown Lands for future disposal is about 230,000 acres.

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 60. THE HAWKE'S BAY LAND DISTRICT.

H. TRENT, Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands.

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, Waipukurau, Dannevirke, 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 Kuripapango, 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 weekly, 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.

Napier—Taupo Road.—The road from Napier to Taupo is a fairly good one, though the many hills between Napier and Upper Mohaka, the Mohaka River, and the pumice soil between the river and Taupo render it trying for a cyclist. It is a good coach-road, however, and buggies can be easily driven over it at all seasons of the year.

Napier to Pohui, twenty-six miles, by a good road, though very steep in parts owing to the many hills which have to be surmounted.

Pohui to Tarawera, nineteen miles. Here again the road is extremely hilly for the first six miles to the Mohaka River, though it is fairly level between that river and Tarawera.

Tarawera to Rangitaiki, twenty miles, over a road which is good after rain, but, owing to the pumiceous nature of the soil, very loose and dusty in dry weather.

Rangitaiki to Taupo, twenty-five miles, over a pumice road, level throughout.

Starting from Napier by the Port Ahuriri Bridge, over the entrance to the Inner Harbour, the road proceeds for some miles along the shingle bank between the Outer and Inner Harbours, and reaches the pretty village of Petane, seven miles away. After the Petane Hill is surmounted the route is along the Petane Valley—a charming spot, and past the village of Eskdale, situated on the banks of the Esk River. From hereto Pohui, where a halt is made to change horses and have lunch, the road winds among hills and some fine pastoral country. Leaving Pohui with fresh horses, a very steep hill remains to be climbed—the Titi-o-kura—before the Mohaka River is reached at Upper Mohaka. Some grand views can be obtained from the summit of the hills between Pohui and Mohaka River, and the beautiful valleys and high ranges traversed en route are very picturesque. Tarawera is reached about 6 o'clock, where a stay is made for the night. There is a well-known mineral spring here, and the bush around the township makes it a very attractive place.

Leaving Tarawera early the next morning, the tourist is taken past several objects of interest connected with the early days of the road while it was under construction by the Armed Constabulary. The double waterfall is also passed on the road, and a halt should be made to view it at leisure. Level, rolling plains continue from here right up to Taupo, and there is nothing particular to see before Rangitaiki River is reached and a halt made for lunch. From there to Taupo, through the Kaingaroa Plains, the road is not interesting, the only objects of interest being the mobs of wild horses frequently met with. Twelve miles from Taupo are the graves of the troopers who were killed at Opepe by the Maoris in 1869. On nearing Taupo the scenery improves; and the first view of the lake, with the mountains of Tongariro (6,458 ft.), Runpehu (8,873 ft.), and Ngauruhoe (7,515 ft.) in the background, and Tauhara (3,603 ft.) in the foreground, with the numerous clouds of steam ascending from the hot springs in the neighbourhood, make a grand picture. The coach arrives at Taupo about 4 o'clock, where there is a choice of three good hotels. There are hotels at Pohui, Tarawera, Rangitaiki, and Taupo. Good trout-fishing can be obtained in the neighbourhood of the hotels mentioned.

The Napier–Wairoa road is a fairly good coach-road, with the exception of that portion between Petane and Tangoio, and known as the Tangoio wash-out. There is a weekly mail-coach service between the two towns.

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. There is also a road from Wairoa to Gisborne via Nuhaka Hot Springs 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 Puha, a distance of twenty 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 Tolaga 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 2,729,785 acres has been improved and sown in English grasses, clover, &c. In 1907 there were 4,906,190 sheep in the district, and the numbers of other stock were as follows: Horses, 39,548; cattle, 292,109; and swine, 16,515. The number of bales of wool exported from Hawke's Bay for the year ended 30th June, 1907, was 68,544, a considerable increase over previous year.

Freezing-works are established at Tomoana, Port Ahuriri, Gisborne, and Pakipaki, and the export of frozen meat for the year ended 30th June, 1907, was as follows: Beef, 2,949 tons; 324,182 carcases of mutton; 188,346 carcases of lamb; preserved meats, tongues, kidneys, and casings, 283 tons.

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. 3,463,942 ft. of timber were exported during the year, and 59,963 posts and strainers. 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.

At present more than forty boats of all sizes are engaged in the trawling and fishing industry, giving employment to several hundred people. Fish are largely exported to Wellington, Wanganui, and Palmerston North.

Flax-milling.

It may be stated that every available strip of flax in this district has been taken up; several flax-mills are now in full working-order. The output of fibre for the year was 3,417 tons.

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 sheepfarming. It is chiefly confined to the Heretaunga Plains and the flat lands near Gisborne. The soil is favourable to root-crops; potatoes range from 6 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. 41,797 acres were in root and green crops and 30,665 acres in corn and pulse crops.

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. The area in orchard was 2,320 acres and in vineyard about 150 acres.

Dairying.

Settlers are now turning their attention to dairying, and factories have been established in the bush districts at Norsewood, Ormondville, Maharahara, Tamaki, 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 Dominion. 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.

Copper.

For son e years past development work has been going on at the copper-mine situate at Maharahara, near Woodville, and the result is looked forward to with considerable interest.

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 10,100. 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 1907, the imports amounted in value to £372,027, and the exports to £1,540,474.

Gisborne, the trade-centre and port of what is known as the Poverty Bay District, is a prosperous town of nearly 6,000 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 1,709,361 sheep in Cook and Waiapu Counties.

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 4,900 inhabitants, Waipawa, Waipukurau, Dannevirke (population about 3,600), and finally Woodville (population about 1,140), 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 1,502 in the district under the various systems of tenure, amounts to 844,363 acres, and there remains about 229,392 acres not yet dealt with in any manner.

About one quarter of this area is fit for agriculture and is suitable for subdivision into small areas, and the balance is only fit for grazing purposes, being mostly 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 two.

About 1,299 acres are now open for selection.

The following is a short description of some of the areas to be dealt with in the future:—

Waiapu County.—17,665 acres,

Which are situated in the following survey districts:—

Mata.—305 acres, undulating pastoral open country, partly in grass and in mixed bush.

Waiapu.—821 acres; soil generally very good; covered with native grasses and light bush.

Tutamoe.—7,750 acres; rough and broken land, rising to an altitude of about 3,000 ft. above sea-level. The soil is fair to good in the valleys and poor on the ridges; all covered with bush.

Tokomaru.—186 acres; open fern land, partly grassed.

Matakaoa.—146 acres; hilly country, covered with mixed bush; soil fairly good.

Hikurangi.—8,457 acres; high, rough, bush-clad country, ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 ft. above sea-level; chiefly birch-clad with tawa and mixed bush in the gullies; formation sandstone and slate. 6,000 acres will be thrown open for selection under small grazing-runs during the current year.

Cook County.—108,063 acres.

Waimata Survey District.—1,134 acres; principally hilly country; about 300 acres in grass; balance is covered with light bush; good dark soil on clay and papa subsoil. This land will be thrown open for selection under the optional system.

Uawa Survey District.—5,000 acres will be subdivided into small areas and offered for lease under the optional system.

Hangaroa Survey District.—608 acres; hilly land of fair quality, covered with fern and scrub.

Koranga and Ngatapa Survey Districts.—67,321 acres; all heavy bush country, chiefly good mixed bush with red birch on the ridges; situated about 70 miles from Gisborne and about 40 miles from Opotiki.

Waingaromia Survey District.—18,496 acres; all hilly bush country; good to fair soil on papa formation; 7,712 acres of which are now held under small grazing-runs, but will expire during the year. It is proposed to subdivide the same into small areas, and to re-offer for lease under the optional system.

Tutamoe Survey District.—2,241 acres; rough and broken land rising to an altitude of about 3,000 ft. above sea-level; the soil is fair to good in the valleys and poor on the ridges; all covered with bush.

Motu Survey District.—12,777 acres; very broken red-birch country; soil light, mixed with pumice; height from 1,000 to 3,000 ft. above sea-level. The greater portion of this land will be thrown open for selection within the year.

Opoiti Survey District.—486 acres; part open land covered with fern and scrub; balance consists of hilly country covered with bush.

Wairoa County.—27,780 acres.

Tuahu Survey District.—17,623 acres; fronting on the Ruakituri River; ranging from good tawa bush with easy faces to rough high birch ranges; subdivided into sections ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 acres, and will be thrown open for selection during the year; distant 38 miles from the port of Wairoa—27 miles by coach-road and 11 miles by formed pack-track.

Waikaremoana Survey District.—6,000 acres; rough and broken land. Nuhaka Survey District, 2,263 acres; and Taramarama Survey District, 1,894 acres: the last two areas are now held under small grazing-runs, and will expire during the year; and it is proposed to subdivide the same into small areas, and to offer for selection during the year under the optional system.

Hawke's Bay County.—45,385 acres.

Patoka Survey District.—4,028 acres; chiefly forest country, with light soil, part river bed.

Waimarama, Te Mata, Oero, and Kidnapper Survey Districts.—10,027 acres; being parts of the Pukekura East, Okaihau, Waipuka, and Waimarama Blocks, are now under survey, and will be thrown open for selection during the year under the optional system.

Kuripapanga, Kaweka, and Pohui Survey District.—30,500 acres; high broken pastoral country; open country with scrub and black-birch in gullies; altitude, 2,000 ft. to 4,000 ft. above sea-level.

Matapiro Survey District.—Aorangi Block, 830 acres. The quality of the land is good; the subsoil is clay or gravel on a papa formation. This area will be open for selection during the year.

Dannevirke County.—22,099 acres.

Norsewood Survey District.—Piripiri Block, 10,225 acres; bush country, mostly covered with bush; a good proportion undulating land; all well watered; portion of this area will probably be open for selection at an early date.

Norsewood and Tahoraite Survey Districts.—11,874 acres; being part of Tamaki Block; bush country; all covered with heavy forest; portion is good, flat agricultural land, is now under lease, and cannot be dealt with for some time.

Waipawa County.—8,400 acres.

Wakarara and Makaretu Survey Districts.—8,400 acres, mostly covered with bush and scrub, high broken country, fair soil and healthy sheep country. Altitude varies from about 1,000 ft. to 3,500 ft. above sea-level. This block is capable of subdivision into sections of from 400 to 600 acres.

Native Lands.

Of the Native land 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, Tarawera, and Morere, thermal baths have been constructed and their medicinal properties are highly spoken of. All these places are now accessible by coach, and the number of visitors, especially in the summer-time, is considerable.

Chapter 61. THE WELLINGTON LAND DISTRICT.

JAMES MACKENZIE, Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands.

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 the Puketoi, Taipo, Maungaraki, and Haurangi Ranges. Lying on the northern border of the district are the Kaimanawa Ranges, for the most part open and grass-covered, rising to a mean height of about 4,500 ft. Westward from the latter mountains, and divided from them by a deep, broad valley, in which flow the Waikato and Wangaehu Rivers, is the volcanic chain of mountains containing Ruapehu, 9,008 ft., and Ngauruhoe, an active volcano, 7,515 ft. high. The long sweeping curve of Cook Strait, forming the south-western limit of the district, is bordered, from the Patea River to within thirty miles of Wellington, by a comparatively level and undulating country, now nearly all under cultivation, having an average width of about fifteen miles. This is one of the finest parts of the Dominion, 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, had a good deal of forest on it.

Inland of this coastal plain, at varying distances from the sea, the country gradually rises to a mean height of about 1,500 ft. to 1,800 ft., and becomes a good deal broken in character. It was originally forest-clad almost throughout. It is much cut up by rivers and streams flowing from the interior to the sea, of which the principal, commencing from the north, are these: the Waitotara, the Wanganui, the Wangaehu, the Rangitikei, the Oroua, the Pohangina, and the Manawatu, which last, after leaving the gorge in the Ruahine Ranges, runs through level land to its mouth in Cook Strait. This broken country, being everywhere composed of papa, or marly formation, which takes grass excellently, promises in the near future to be a large sheep-carrying district.

At about fifteen miles south of the volcanic peaks of Ruapehu Mountain the papa country terminates in a fairly well-marked escarpment, giving place to a more level and undulating country formed of volcanic matter, the greater portion of which is forest-clad, though on the south-east, east, and west sides of that mountain there are open grassy plains, of no great fertility, but yet suited to pastoral pursuits.

To the eastward of the main range formed by the Rimutaka and Tararua Ranges is the great depression known at its southern end as the Wairarapa Plain, which gradually rises northwards from the lake of that name into 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 Paekakariki (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 Dominion. 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 Kaimanawa and 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 kes 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-four 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 three times a week with the convenience of a house-boat at Ohura, where the night is passed on the upward trip.

Forests.

The Wellington District is essentially a forest country, for cut of the 6,810,958 acres contained within its borders about 3,000,000 acres are still under bush. By far the largest forest is the Waimarino, having an area of at least three-quarter million acres, a portion of it being nearly level land, containing magnificent timber, principally rimu, matai, totara, maire, 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. A very efficiently equipped Government sawmill has been working at Kakahi for some time, and supplying all the totara required by the Public Works Department for the construction of the railway in the vicinity, and a sawmill at Piriaka is cutting bush on a Native reserve.

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 Awarua Block, extending on both sides of the Rangitikei River and to the summit of the dividing range, is covered with heavy bush on the lower slopes. The portion which has been sold by the Government for settlement purposes is being cleared by the settlers; but there is a large amount of very valuable milling-timber still standing in the neighbourhood of Taihape, where several sawmills are busily engaged. The timber on the east side of the Rangitikei River, reserved for milling by the Crown, is untouched.

The forest land on the west coast extends from Pukerua to the Manawatu Gorge, on the west side of the Tararua Rang, 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. The former contains some valuable milling-timber, principally matai and maire, and the latter consists for the most part of beech-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 sometime 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 soul practice is to put sheep on to the new lands soon after the grass has obtain 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 about 55°, whilst the mean rainfall is about 50 in. per annum; and for the year ending 31st March, 1907, the mean temperature was 55.2°, the mean maximum temperature was 60.5°, and the mean minimum was 49.9°. The total rainfall was 38.95 in. on 142 days, while for the corresponding previous twelve months the rainfall was 58.14 in. on 182 days. 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 Dominion; 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 Dominion—Wellington—is situated in the south-west angle of Port Nicholson, on Lambton Harbour. It was founded in 1840 by the New Zealand Company. The city occupies the flat skirting the original shore-line, long since obliterated by the reclamation of the foreshore, which is now mostly covered with fine buildings. The estimated population of the city on 1st January, 1908, was 67,012, including Melrose, Wadestown, and portion of Karori, which now form part of Wellington. Including suburbs, the population was 70,947. The harbour is land-locked, contains an area of about 20,000 acres, and varies in depth from 6 to 14 fathoms, with good anchorage, the bottom being silty clay and sand. The width of entrance at narrowest part is 3,600 ft., with a depth of 7 to 8 fathoms; the current never exceeds 2 knots; the rise and fall of tide varies from 3 ft. to 4 ft. There is no bar at the entrance to the harbour, and vessels can enter inwards or outwards in all weather and at all states of the tide. There is a fixed white light at Pencarrow Head, on east side of entrance, at a height of 322 ft., visible for twenty-five miles. There has also been erected at foot of Pencarrow, 35 ft. above the water, a lighted beacon, which defines the entrance to the harbour in thick weather when the high light may be obscured by fog. The fixed light on Somes Island, within the harbour and six miles from Pencarrow, is 95 ft. above sea-level, and is visible for sixteen miles. It has a white sector fixing the entrance-passage. The outer signal-station on Beacon Hill, near the Heads, on the west side of the entrance, signals all vessels as soon as distinguished, and these are repeated at the inner signal-station on Mount Victoria for the information of the townspeople.

The Beacon Hill Station is connected to the city public telephone exchange. The total wharf-accommodation for berthing vessels amounts to 10,615 ft., with depths of water ranging from 16 ft. to 32 ft. The Harbour Board has a complete and elaborate system of hydraulic plant, comprising some forty-four cranes (fixed and movable) with variable rakes up to 32 ft. and 50 ft., and lifts of from 2 to 35 tons. There are also movable winches and sundry smaller hydraulic plant in the sheds and stores. Storage-sheds are available for cargo discharging from or loading at any berth, and have an area of 228,981 square feet of floor-space, with a cubic capacity of 3,824,110 ft. There is also a patent slip, owned by a private company, that can take vessels up to 2,000 tons, not exceeding in length 300 ft., or greater draught than 16 ft. at forward end when going on to slip. The ways are laid to a gradient of 1 in 23, and are 1,070 ft. in length at high water, with a depth of 32 ft. at outer end. This slip is situated at Evans Bay, some two miles and a half from the wharves. There are also several foundries and sawmills available to carry out any repairs required. For the year ending 30th September, 1907, 3,398 vessels, of a registered tonnage of 2,709,124, entered the port. The tonnage of goods passing over the wharves during the same twelve months, inwards and transhipments, amounted to 432,932 tons of general goods; and 135,081 tons were also shipped outwards, as well as 217,516 bales of wool, hemp, and tow. Coal amounted to 145,575 tons. Timber: Inward, 22,402,866 superficial feet; outwards, 2,306,417 superficial feet. The value of imports for same period amounted to £5,162,420, and the exports to £3,858,318. The Harbour Board has a large dredge capable of dredging down to 42 ft. at low water, and it is arranged so as to deliver the material at sea or to pump it ashore for reclamation purposes. The Board has let a contract for the construction of a graving-dock 650 ft. in length, with a depth of 28 ft. on the sill, and a width at entrance of 84 ft. It has also large schemes of reclamation in hand, partly with a view to obtaining revenue by letting and partly in connection with schemes of wharf-accommodation, and to give road and railway approaches to the new wharves. The Board's revenue on working account last year was £152,376, and its working expenditure amounted to £120,047, in addition to which £29,259 was written off for depreciation on structures. The total cost on capital expenditure since the Board's inception in 1881 has been £918,704, and its loan indebtedness at the 30th September last £542,000, and it has an estimated balance of assets over liabilities of £319,398.

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 General Post Office, Government Life Insurance Offices, Government Printing Office, Government Railway Offices, Customhouse, Public Library, with a flourishing branch at Newtown, attached to which is the commencement of a natural history museum, 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 gas and electricity. The privately owned plant for the production and distribution of the latter has been taken over by the Corporation. The principal streets are paved with wooden blocks. An excellent supply of water is obtained from the Wainui-o-mata River, on the other side of the harbour, and from the Kaiwarrawarra Stream, to the westward. The drainage is very complete in the principal part of the city, and it is now being extended to the outlying portions. A system of electric trams for the city has been installed, and extended to Brooklyn, Island Bay, Karori, Kilbirnie, Miramar, and Seatoun. The principal industries are represented by iron and brass foundries, sawmills, soap and candle works, boot-factories, aerated-water and 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. The railway-line to the Hutt Valley is now being straightened and duplicated to afford greater facilities of transit which are necessary in consequence of the rapid development of population. The following are the principal suburbs:—

Karori, which lies immediately to the west of Wellington, at an elevation of about 600 ft., is one of the principal suburbs of the city, with which it is connected by an electric-tram service. The public cemetery is the chief burial ground for the City of Wellington. There are two churches, a Public Library, and several shops. The reservoir in the borough is one of the sources of the city water-supply.

Khandallah, on the Wellington–Manawatu Railway, and distant about four miles from Wellington, is another rising suburb. It is lit by electricity, and contains two churches, a Post-office, a Public School, a Public Hall and a Telephone Bureau. The local authorities have lately acquired the water-shed-area near by to provide the town in the future with a plentiful water-supply. The town is very fortunate in having a beautiful Public Domain, under the control of the Onslow Borough Council.

Crofton, on the Wellington-Manawatu Railway, and immediately adjoining Wellington, is one of the most progressive suburbs of the city. Besides two churches and a Public School, Crofton contains numerous elegant private residences. The streets are lit by electricity, and the adjoining country affords a splendid scope for future development.

Kaiwarrawarra, one mile from Wellington, on the Wellington–Napier Railway, is one of the industrial suburbs of the city. There are soap-works, a candle-factory and a fllmongery. The town also contains an hotel, a Post-office, and two stores. It is lit by electricity, and obtains its water-supply from the city mains.

Miramar, an outlying suburb, is connected with the city by electric-tram and ferry-boat service, and contains extensive recreation-grounds, where every week a large section of the inhabitants of the city indulge in football and hockey, polo and golf.

Eastbourne, on the east side of the harbour, is a pleasant residential suburb of Wellington, with which it is connected by ferry-boat service. It is the chief sea-side resort for the people of Wellington, and the best picnic site in the district.

Johnsonville, seven miles from Wellington by the Wellington and Manawatu Railway, is a town district with a population of about 900 persons. There are four churches, a Post-office, a public school, hotel, and Police-station.

Petone is situated along the northern shore of Port Nicholson, seven miles from Wellington by the railway. It has a population of about 6,400, and contains twenty factories, including the Government Railway Workshops, a woollen-factory, the Gear Company's Meat Preserving and Freezing Works (one of the most modern and comprehensive establishments for this industry in the Southern Hemisphere), two sawmills, and a printing-office (which issues a tri-weekly newspaper), &c. The water-supply is by gravitation from a reservoir about two miles and a half distant on the Korokoro Hills. The system of drainage is by gravitation and night cartage, and refuse is collected and buried. There are two State Schools, a District High School, and a private school, also Municipal Offices and four hotels. The borough owns the gasworks, and supplies gas to the adjacent Borough of Lower Hutt, in addition to the local consumption. The recreation-grounds are extensive, with grandstand and band rotunda.

The Lower Hutt, almost immediately adjoining, has a population of about 3,800. The water-supply is artesian at present, but a loan has been authorised for a pumping and gravitation scheme, and the work is in progress, also another loan for a pumping and gravitation scheme of sewage-drainage. There are four hotels, three manufactories, two sawmills, a State School, a District High School, a Roman Catholic School, and several private schools. The public buildings are a Railway-station, Police-station, Municipal Offices, Library and Free Reading-room, and a Post-office with clock and chiming bells. Two recreation-grounds lie within the borough, and the public are admitted to Bellevue and Mason's gardens on payment of a small entrance fee. 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 in the Wairarapa Valley, forty-six miles by rail from Wellington, is a small township, with butter and cheese factories in the neighbourhood. The population is about 700, with three churches, two hotels, a State School, Town Hall, Courthouse, Town Board Office and Literary Institute. A gravitation water-supply has been installed. There is a public domain and special grounds for various sports. 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, with which it is connected by a branch line, and near the middle of the Wairarapa Valley, fifty-four miles from Wellington by rail. The population is about 1,200, with three hotels, two manufactories, a State and High School, also a Public Library and Reading-room, Post-office, Railway-station, and Municipal Council Chambers. Water is brought in from the Waiohine River, and there is no drainage system. The refuse, &c., is removed by contract. There is also a 10-acre recreation reserve.

Martinborough lies near the eastern side of the Wairarapa Plain, and is some eleven miles and a half from Featherston, the nearest railway-station on the Wellington-Napier railway-line, and is a flourishing little town of some 650 inhabitants, with every prospect of increasing its population within the next few years, having a good and extensive back country, capable of carrying a large number of people. There are two good-sized hotels and a good boardinghouse, two manufactories, a State School, Post and Telegraph Office, Courthouse, Town Hall, and County Council Offices.

Carterton, the centre of a large dairying district, has a population of about 1,400 persons. There are four co-operative cheese-factories and three proprietory factories in the immediate vicinity, the total output of cheese being about 1,000 tons per annum. A high-pressure water-service is provided, with open water-races for the suburban lands, and the Council has installed a coalgas plant at a cost of £5,000. Drainage is by the septic-tank system in a special area, and the rubbish is carted to a depot. There are three hotels, four schools (including one high, one primary, and two private ones), a hall, a library with free reading-room, &c., also a brick and tile factory on the boundary of the borough, and a tannery and two sawmills in the neighbourhood. The recreation-grounds cover about 16 acres.

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 5,400. There are six hotels, numerous manufactories, two State Schools, including a District High School, Roman Catholic Convent, two private schools, and a Technical School; the public buildings being a Town Hall, Public Library and Reading-room, Post-office, Courthouse, also Municipal and County Council Offices, Railway-station, &c.; also a public park of about 30 acres, with sports ground and grandstand, &c.; also a school recreation-ground of 3 acres, and large fish-hatcheries. The water-supply is by gravitation, the system of drainage being by septic tank with sewage farm annexed. Rubbish is carted to a depot, and there are also some small private destructor. The town is lit with gas. An important coach-road leads from here through a fine pastoral district to Ti 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. The population is about 830, with four hotels, thirteen manufactories, a State School, three churches, Post-office, Courthouse, Railway-station, Town Hall, and a recreation-ground. There is no water-supply, but a sewage system of drainage is partly installed; rubbish and refuse are buried.

Pahiatua, a township eighteen miles beyond Eketahuna, has a population of about 1,360. The number of hotels is four, manufactories thirty-six, with District High and Public Schools, and also a Convent School. The public buildings are: Courthouse, Post-office, Public Library, Drill-shed, &c. There is a 10-acre recreation reserve, a gravitation water-supply, and the drainage system is by gravitation through pipes into a septic tank. 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 Pauataha-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 Punga o Matahourua”—the anchor of “Matahourua,” one of the canoes bringing the original Maori inhabitants to the Island. Paekakariki, 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.

Otaki is forty-seven miles from Wellington by rail and road. There are six hotels, five manufactories, and one sawmill; a State School, a Roman Catholic and a Maori School; also Railway-station, Post-office, Hospital, and several other public buildings; but the township has neither a water-supply nor a drainage system, the refuse being removed by contract and buried. The rainfall was 50.70 in., and fell on 166 days. There are 331 homesteads in the Otaki Road District, and the population, including that of Otaki and of Manakau townships, is about 1,600 persons.

Levin, proclaimed a borough in 1906, has a population of 1,300 persons. The water-supply is by gravitation. Drainage is by a system of open drains. Rubbish is carted to a rubbish and nightsoil depot. There are two hotels, two manufactories, and two sawmills, a public school, including a District High School, Post-office, Courthouse, Municipal Buildings, also two recreation-grounds.

At Manakau 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 borough at the mouth of the Manawatu River, a small shippingport, contains about 1,450 inhabitants, four hotels, seven flax-mills, a State School, a Public Library, and a public park. There is no water-supply and no drainage system, the nightsoil and other refuse being removed by cart to a depot outside the borough. It is connected with Palmerston North by a branch railway, and is the outlet for a large area of good agricultural land, with considerable flax-milling industry. The Foxton Wharf is 512 ft. long, and the railway runs down it. The harbour light is white, and visible for six miles seaward in ordinary weather. The depth of water on the bar at high water, spring tides, is about 11 ft., and at high water, neap tides, about 8 ft. From the mouth of the river to the —some six miles—the water on the flats is about the same depth. Vessels can lie afloat at the wharves at all times, but they can only work the port with a flowing tide and in favourable weather. Messrs. Levin and Co. have a river service consisting of five steam-launches and a number of punts, which are employed in supplying the numerous flax-mills on the river with raw material, and also in bringing down fibre to Foxton for shipment. A rope and twine manufactory has been recently started. The Manawatu Heads are distant by road some three miles, and are a favourite summer resort of the residents of Palmerston North and other parts of the Manawatu district. There are about a dozen houses at the Heads. Direct railway-communication between Marton and this port would enable the wool and timber from the Rangitikei and other up-country districts to reach the seaboard for shipment with the shortest possible land carriage.

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. The population is about 11,300. The town is lit with gas, and has a gravitation water-supply and septic-tank system of drainage. The refuse is burnt on the river-bank. There are fifteen hotels and seventy-nine manufactories of all sorts, and three State Schools, a High School, four private schools, and a Catholic School and Convent. The public buildings are: Courthouse, Post-office, Opera House, Library, Municipal Buildings, Hospital, and Railway-station. There are recreation-grounds, a Public Domain, and Agricultural and Pastoral Show-grounds. The rainfall last year amounted to 47.33 in., and fell on 185 days. 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 is ninety-nine miles from Wellington by rail. The population is about 2,975, and there are four hotels, two State Schools, with Post-office, Courthouse, railway-station, recreation-grounds, &c. There is a gravitation watersupply. The drainage system is by gravitation into a septic tank, and the rubbish is removed to the borough depot. The rainfall last year was 33.03 in., and fell on 145 days. Feilding is 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. Several dairy factories have been established in the neighbourhood.

Marton, 116 miles from Wellington by rail, is one of the earliest of the west coast settlements, and is the centre of an agricultural country. The population is about 1,275. There are three hotels and four manufactories, five schools (a Boys' College, a State School, two private girls' schools, and a Technical School). The public buildings are fourteen in number, and comprise among others Municipal Offices, Opera House, Public Library and Reading-room, Post-office, Courthouse, &c. There is also a public park of some 10 acres in the centre of the borough. The town is supplied with water by gravitation from a reservoir one mile and a half away, the pressure being equal to 45 lb. to the square inch. The Township of Bull's, on the north side of the Rangitikei River, lies between Marton and the coast. From Marton Junction the North Island Main Trunk Railway extends up the Rangitikei Valley, passing through the townships of Hunterville, Mangaweka, Taihape, Waiouru, and Ohakune, on to the boundary of the Province at Taumarunui. Near Mangaweka are the Makohine and Mangaweka viaducts, two imposing structures of steel, the former being 250 ft. high, and one of the most difficult items of construction on the line. A road runs from urangarere through Moawhango to Napier, and some tourist traffic still passes over the old coach-road from Tokaanu, through Waiouru Ohakune, and Raetihi to Pipiriki.

Hunterville, situated in the centre of a grazing district, has a population of about 650. There are two hotels, a State School, Post-office, Courthouse, Railway-station, &c. No water-supply or drainage system, the refuse being removed by cart. There is a public domain. The rainfall was 46.425 in., and fell on 178 days.

Taihape, situated on the North Island Main Trunk Railway, has a population of about 1,300 persons. There are two hotels, a school, a Post-office, and Courthouse, also two manufactories, and during the year 1907 two shops and fifteen houses were erected in the borough. Water-supply by gravitation for drainage only, and rubbish is removed to a depot. There are 50 acres of recreation reserves. The rainfall was 42£426 in. on 226 days. The progress of the railway has brought the sawmilling industry into the southern part of the extensive Waimarino forest, and about a dozen mills are now at work in the neighbourhood of the old settlement of Ohakune, which is rapidly becoming an important distributing centre. Ohakune has a Post and Telegraph Office, School, several boardinghouses, and a creamery. The streams in the neighbourhood are well stocked with trout.

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 120 miles. It is the centre of an excellent farming district. The population is about 8,500. The town is lit with gas, and has a gravitation water-supply, also a gravitation drainage scheme discharging into the Wanganui River. An electric-tramway system is now under construction. Refuse is collected, buried, or burned. There are twelve hotels, twelve manufactories of various sorts, and two sawmills. There are two Colleges—one for boys and one for girls—four State Schools and five Catholic Schools, a Post-office, Public Library, Museum, Land Office, &c., Courthouse, Observatory, Opera House, Hospital, Gaol, Railway-station, and four recreation-grounds. The rainfall last year was 41.39 in., on 190 days. The Railway Wharf, the principal one, is some 900 ft. long, and can accommodate six coasting vessels. The Cattle Wharf is 40 ft. long. Hatrick and Co.'s Wharf and the Aramoho Wharf are each 40 ft. long. The Heads Wharf at Castlecliff is 360 ft. long. The port light on North Head, Castlecliff, is one of the sixth order, and in clear weather is visible for thirteen miles. The depth of water on the bar varies from 10 ft. to 13 ft. at high water, and 3 ½ ft. to 6 ½ ft. at low water. There is 12 ft. of water at the wharves at high water, spring tides. Coasting-vessels can only cross the bar at or near high water, but it is rarely that they are unable to cross inwards at that time, although with a strong south-west gale blowing they are unable to cross outward. 590 vessels, with a registered tonnage of 132,067 tons, used the harbour during the year ending 31st December, 1907. The value of imports for that period amounted to £221,987, and the exports to £468,307. 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. Not far from it are some extensive railway workshops. 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.

Raetihi, with a population of 285 persons, has no hotels, being within the King-country; but there are three good boarding-houses, a State School, Post-office, Police Office, Waimarino County Council's Office, dairy factory, two manufactories, and a sawmill. During last year two shops and three dwellinghouses were erected. There is also a recreation-ground of some 11 acres in extent. The water-supply is by pumping and wells, but there is no drainage system beyond a few open drains, &c. Refuse is carted away. The rainfall during last year was about 75 in.

Crown Lands available for Future Settlement.

Town Land.—Sections in Piriaka, Ohakune, Mowhanau, Ninia, Horopito, Owhango, Kakahi, Rangataua, Mataroa, and Pongaroa Townships will probably be open for sale at Wanganui, Raetihi, Taihape, Pongaroa, Pahiatua, and Wellington on dates due notice of which will be given in the local papers.

Small blocks have been purchased in the Hutt, Petone, and Johnsonville districts under the Land for Settlements Act and the Workers' Dwellings Act, including the Wilford, Hall-Jones, Waddington, Melling, Hawtrey, Heretaunga, Holworthy, and Pitt Settlements

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 balloted for amongst applicants in the district who are known to be of good character and likely to make good settlers.

Land open and available for Ordinary Selection.

Tokaanu Township.—Leases of ninety-six 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-three 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 nine 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, Manunui, and Mataroa.

Normandale Settlement.—About eight lots, ranging from 4 to 70 acres, are open for application on renewable lease in this settlement, which is situated near Lower Hutt.

A run of 1,710 acres in Block XVI, Moumahaki Survey District, is open for application on small-grazing-run system for periods of twenty-one years..

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 Tokaanu and Hokio, are open for leasing under “The Native Townships Act, 1895.”

The Turangarere Native Township, comprising 64 lots, has been offered by public auction under “The Native and Maori Land Laws Amendment Act, 1902.” A few quarter-acre sections still remain open for sale.

Tenders have been invited for the lease of five lots in Tuakira Block, comprising 10,689 acres.

Particulars as to the lands vested in the Aotea Maori Land Board which are now being prepared for lease, including the Whaharangi Block, may be obtained on application to the Secretary of that Board, Wanganui.

The blocks under lease to Europeans contain about 374,700 acres, the principal being Cwhaoko, Mangohane, Ruanui, and Oroumatua. 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, Ahuahu, Rangiwaea, and Puketotara Blocks, in the central district; Raetihi in the Waimarino district; Tauakira, Ohotu, Whaharangi, and Morikau, on the Wanganui River; Maraetaua 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 1907–8 being 2,745,095 acres, as compared with 108,108 acres under crop, garden, or orchard. Of the area in crop, 4,064 acres were in wheat, 39,513 in oats, and 53,114 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 1907–8: Wheat, 23.97 bushels; oats, 30.1 bushels; barley, 42.9 bushels.

The area in sown grass now exceeds that in any other district in the Dominion, though the area under crop is very small as compared with either the Otago or Canterbury Districts. In April, 1907, there were 4,526,247 sheep; and in October, 1907, the cattle numbered 389,791, horses 56,930, and pigs 49,396. The total area in gardens is given as 2,381 acres; in orchards, 3,377 acres; and in plantations, 5,598 acres.

Dairy Industry.

Both soil and climate are well adapted for the production of butter and cheese, and the number of creameries and butter factories is increasing very considerably each year, and the export constantly augmenting.

Thirty-five butter and twenty-seven cheese factories were returned in March 1907, as at work in the Wellington Provincial District.

Phormium Tenax.

The principal flax-mills working are at Featherston and Martinborough, in the Wairarapa, and at Waikanae, Tokomaru, Linton, Oroua Bridge, Bull's, and Foxton, in the Manawatu. This industry has increased greatly of late years, though the price is now depressed, the export from Wellington for the year ending 31st March, 1908, being 10,613 tons of dressed flax, valued at £376,083. The tow produced in the course of manufacture, which was formerly destroyed, is now found to have a market value of from £6 to £12 per ton, and is exported.

Timber Industry.

Sawmills are to be found in different parts of the district where the means to convey the timber from the forests are sufficient and not too costly, the timber cut being principally totara, red-pine (rimu), and white-pine (kahikatea); the first two are largely used in house-construction, bridge-building, and other works, and the last for butter-boxes and export to Australia, for similar use there. Others of the native woods are very beautiful, but are utilised only to a small extent.

The principal mills are at Pahiatua, Eketahuna, &c., in the Forty-mile Bush and Wairarapa districts; at Otaki, Waikanae, Shannon, and Levin, in the Manawatu district; and at Taihape, Raetihi, and Taumarunui, in the interior country. There are also mills and factories in Wellington and other towns for dressing, &c., the rough material. In the whole district there were at the census of 1906, 98 mills and sash and door factories engaged in this industry, employing 1,611 persons.

Miscellaneous Industries.

The number of the other principal industries in this provincial district for the year 1905 were as follows: Meat freezing and preserving works, 5; ham and bacon curing establishments, 4; fish-curing works, 2; grain-mills, 11; confectionery works, including biscuit manufactories, 13; breweries, 13; aerated-water factories, 22; condiment-factories, 9; soap and candle works, 4; cooperages, 6; gasworks, 9; brick, tile, and pottery works, 29; tinware factories, 9; iron and brass foundries, 11; printing-offices, 54; basket and perambulator factories, 7; coachbuilding and painting works, 41; cycle-factories, 19; saddlery and harness factories, 24; tanning, fellmongering, &c., establishments, 16; sail and oilskin factories, 7; furniture and cabinetmaking, 40; tailoring establishments, 69; dressmaking and millinery, 69; shirt-making, 6; boot and shoe factories, 18. On this occasion, the census figures are given showing principal factories only—not the figures put forward by the Labour Department.

Chapter 62. THE MARLBOROUGH LAND DISTRICT.

C. W. ADAMS, late Chief Surveyor.

Boundaries.

The Marlborough Land District, occupying the north-east corner of the South Island, and containing about 2,792,500 acres of land, is bounded generally on the north and east by Cook Strait and the east coast as far as the Conway River; thence by that river to its junction with the Towy River; from this point, by straight lines, rivers, and the summits of watersheds, to the western side of Tennyson Inlet, Pelorus Sound. From the Conway to the Acheron River it abuts on to the Canterbury Land District, and from that river to Pelorus Sound it is bounded by the Land District of Nelson.

The widest part of the district is from Cape Campbell to Tophouse, a distance of about sixty-seven miles, and the extreme length from Cape Jackson to the Conway is 120 miles.

Physical Features.

The district throughout is generally mountainous, but none even of the highest peaks are covered with perpetual snow, although Tapuaenuku, the highest of the Inland Kaikouras, attains an altitude of 9,462 ft. Of the Seaward Kaikouras, or Looker-on Mountains, the highest points are Kaitarau and Whakari, which are 8,700 ft. and 8,500 ft. respectively. There are several lesser peaks, from 4,000 ft. upwards.

The view from Kahautara Bluff, south of Kaikoura Settlement, looking northwards, when the Looker-on Mountains are snow-capped, is said to be one of the finest in New Zealand.

Geologically, the district may be briefly described as follows: North of the Wairau River the rocks belong chiefly to the Upper and Lower Devonian series, with a belt of Silurian between them, embracing the country along the west of Queen Charlotte Sound to Cook Strait. Within these series auriferous deposits are found, and at present worked at Mahakipawa, Wakamarina, and Wairau Valley. In Endeavour Inlet an antimony-mine was worked for some time; but operations were discontinued and the machinery removed. This claim and several others have been again taken up and are now being worked. 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, Awat, 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 30 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 14,000, 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 250,000,000 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, there being 18,750 head in the district.

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 961,337, distributed as follows amongst the counties into which the land district is divided: Marlborough County, 560,646; Sounds County, 199,749; Kaikoura County, 200,942. 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 shipped via Picton was 13,430 bales by direct boat. A large proportion of the wool from this district is shipped from Wellington and Lyttelton.

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.

Fourteen 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 10,500,000 ft., employing about two hundred and fifty hands. The principal ones are Messrs. Brownlee and Co.'s, in the Pelorus and Rai Valleys, their tramway being some twenty-two miles long, the output last year being about 4,000,000 ft. Messrs. Brownlee and Co. have one hundred and twenty men employed, and keep two vessels running between Havelock and Lyttelton.

During the year the phormium industry employed eleven mills, and the quantity of fibre shipped was 5,000 bales and 1,700 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, and a first-class cheese-factory at Tuamarina. Last season 63 ½ tons were turned out. There are also cheese-factories at Kaikoura and Havelock. Kaikoura produced 152 ½ tons last season, and Havelock 68 tons.

Climate.

Marlborough possesses an excellent climate, and at Blenheim it is fine weather nearly all the year round. There is almost a total absence of the boisterous winds that so frequently visit Wellington.

The original distribution of the open and forest lands was entirely due to climatic causes. At Cape Campbell, one of the barest places in the district, the annual rainfall is only about 24 in. or 25 in.; in the Pelorus Valley, the centre of the forest country, it is over 65 in. This difference between the climates of the north-western and south-eastern portions of the district explains why the artificial pastureland, when compared with the natural pasture, supports such a large amount of stock. Winter and spring are the wettest seasons, hence the dry climate is not unfavourable for agriculture. Wherever the soil is suitable, crops sown in winter and harvested in early summer can be successfully grown. Everywhere near the coast the range of temperature, considering the latitude, is very small. The thermometer seldom falls below 30 deg., or rises above 78 deg. Along the shores of the Sounds the mildness of the winter, owing to the curious distribution of land and water, allows lemons, oranges, passion-fruit, figs, and other sub-tropical fruits to be grown in favourable situations. On the lower hills and terraces of the forest country the chestnut (Castanea vulgaris) grows rapidly, and commences to bear fruit in five or six years. 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 about 3,350.

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, 1908, mutton, 18,235 carcases, and lambs, 64,969 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 Dominion. 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 1,000 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 Road to Nelson, distant seventy-eight miles, is a good metalled road nearly the whole way. It runs up the Wairau Valley from Blenheim for about six miles, crosses the Wairau River into the Kaituna Valley, which it follows as far as Havelock—about twenty-eight miles. It then runs up the Pelorus and Rai Valleys, and ascends by easy gradients to the Brown Saddle, where it crosses the boundary into Nelson. An excellent coach service—probably the best in the Dominion—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 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 is 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 is 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 225,000 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, Wakamarina and Clarence Valleys, and in the Sounds, and will doubtless be readily taken up when thrown open for selection.

Chapter 63. THE NELSON LAND DISTRICT.

F. W. FLANAGAN Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Boundaries of Land District.

The Nelson Land District, comprising an area of 7,322 square miles, is situated at the north-western corner of the South Island, extending from latitude 40° 30' south to about latitude 42° 30' south. It is bounded towards the west and north by the sea from Perpendicular Point, on the west coast to Pelorus Sound (a distance of about 520 miles); towards the south-east by the range leading over Elliot Peak and the Rai Saddle to the Pelorus River, thence by that river to its source in Slaty Peak, and by the western watershed of the Wairau River, the St. Arnaud Range, and the Spenser Mountains to the northern watershed of the Grey River; towards the south by the watershed between the Grey River and the Inangahua River, and the watershed between the Inangahua River and the Mawhera-iti River to Mount Faraday, and thence by the Paparoa Range to Mount Pecksniff (4,250 ft.), and by the Pororari River to the sea.

Introductory.

Glancing for a moment at the topographical map of the Nelson District, the impression left on one is that the country consists entirely of masses of rugged mountains, rocky peaks, and narrow gorges through which rivers and torrents flow. Such an impression would, however, be a false one so far as the real character of the country is concerned, for, although mountain-ranges predominate, there are nevertheless scores of excellent plains and valleys between the ranges and along the rivers throughout the district which will at no distant date be brought into cultivation. The backblocks of Nelson, comparatively remote from the city, have until recently been a terra incognita. Naturally enough in the earlier stages of settlement in such territory only the easily accessible lands are sought after. However, as population increases the country becomes better explored and will gradually come into prominence, when many mistaken ideas respecting it will be dispelled.

Physical Features.

Undoubtedly the most distinctive feature of Nelson is the mountain-system. The mountains are well defined. First in importance is the eastern mountain-chain, which commences near Queen Charlotte Sound and runs south-westerly more or less continuously until it is broken through by the pass which leads to the Valley of the Wairau, a few miles to the north of Lake Rotoiti, where it recommences and is known as the St. Arnaud Range and further on as the Spenser Mountains, in the peaks of which an altitude of nearly 8,000 ft. is attained, thus traversing the whole length of the land district and forming the main watershed between the east and west coasts. From this eastern chain flow some of the principal feeders of the Buller River. Next in importance to the eastern chain is what may be called the western mountain-chain, which rises at Separation Point in Golden Bay and runs south-west generally parallel to the eastern chain for the entire length of the district elevations reaching 3,750 ft., 4,355 ft., and 5,800 ft., and known at its approach to the Buller River as the Lyell Range, and south of the Buller River as the Brunner Range and the Victoria Range respectively. This chain is broken by the Buller River. On the western side of this western chain are the sources of the Karamea River, the Mokihinui River, and of the many tributaries of the Inangahua River. Branching off from the eastern mountain-chain before described at Mount St. Arnaud (5,621 ft.) is a lateral mountain-chain running north-west to Mount Owen (6,165 ft.), and thence to the head-waters of the Wangapeka River, where it meets the western chain. The subsidiary chain forms the watershed of the Wangapeka and Motueka Rivers, which flow northerly towards Tasman Bay, and also the watershed of the Matiri, Owen, and Hope Rivers, which are tributaries of the Buller River. From Mount Arthur (5,800 ft.), on the western mountain-chain, a lateral mountain-range runs north-west to the west coast, the principal peaks of the last-mentioned range being Mount Peel (6,000 ft.), Mount Cobb (5,560 ft.), and Mount Domett (5,300 ft.). In this range is the source of the Aorere River and of the Takaka River, both of which discharge their waters into Golden Bay. In addition to the mountain-chains mentioned, there are several subsidiary chains running parallel to the eastern and western chains and to the lateral chains, besides isolated mountain-masses, rocky peaks, and hills connecting with the principal mountain-system by means of low ranges and passes.

Rivers.

The Buller River is not only the most important river in the Nelson District, but, relatively speaking, in New Zealand. It runs its varied course for over a hundred miles from Lake Rotoiti—which is practically its source—flowing generally in a westerly direction through gorges, valleys, rocky defiles, and alluvial deposits right across the land district to where it flows into the sea at the Town of Westport. The Buller River constitutes an extensive watershed of about 4,500 square miles. Its principal tributaries are rivers which carry large volumes of water. Taking them in their order, from the source towards the mouth of the Buller River, there are the Gowan, Owen, Mangles, Matakitaki, Matiri, Maruia, and Inangahua. The fall of the Buller River, from its source to the Mangles—a distance of thirty-three miles—is 1,468 ft., or 44 ft. to the mile. Nearly all the tributaries of the Buller River named are goldfields independent of each other.

The Inangahua River, although, strictly speaking, a tributary of the Buller, yet fairly comes within the category of a river. It has its source in the Victoria Range, from whence flow many tributary streams; it is also fed by streams having their source in the Brunner Range.

Other rivers worthy of mention are the Karamea, which rises in the westerly mountain-chain near Mount Arthur, and the Motueka and Takaka Rivers, which flow into Tasman and Golden Bays respectively. It may be remarked that none of the rivers in the Nelson District are deep enough for navigation. Another feature worthy of notice is that all the large rivers discharge their waters on the west coast.

Lakes.

The lakes in the Nelson District are alpine in character and comparatively small. They are, however, exceedingly beautiful, their environment—picturesquely wooded ranges and snow-capped mountains and valleys—being unsurpassed.

The principal lakes are Rotoroa, situated about seventy miles from Nelson, and Rotoiti, situated about fifty-seven miles from Nelson, access to both lakes being via Tophouse. There is also the Matiri Lake, situated west of Mount Owen, the Diamond Lakes, situated in Cobb Valley, near the source of the Takaka River, and Lake Daniels, situated near the head-waters of the Maruia River.

Plains and Valleys.

The Waimea Plain, extending from Nelson City to the Village of Wakefield, seventeen miles, and containing about 28,000 acres, is the oldest-settled locality in Nelson—probably in New Zealand. This plain is occupied in small holdings by farmers and orchardists, and until recently it was supposed to be the only land in Nelson suitable for agricultural farming. The result, however, of explorations through south-west Nelson has proved that there are many plains of moderate area, and also valleys, throughout the district which possess a fertile soil which will at no distant date be utilised for agricultural purposes. Amongst the plains worthy of note are the Maruia Plains, containing 33,000 acres, and now in the process of being settled, the Matakitaki, Tiraumea, Tutaki, Central Buller, Inangahua, Karamea, Heaphy, Oparara, Matiri, Wangapeka, Tadmor, Sherry, Ikamataua, Mawhera-iti, and numerous rich flats, besides an extensive area of open pakihi land.

Forest.

Nelson is almost entirely a forest country. Out of 3,060,000 acres of Crown lands, about two millions and a half acres are still under forest and scrub. The forest contains a large variety of timber: there are rimu (red-pine), kahikatea (white-pine), totara, matai (black-pine), blaok-birch, brown-birch, red-birch, silver-birch, kohekohe (New Zealand cedar), titoki (New Zealand ash), mapou (red matipo), yellow-pine, tawa, kawakawa, (tall pepper-tree), rewarewa (New Zealand honeysuckle), horopito (pepper-tree), makomako (wineberry), manuka (tea-tree), horoeka (lancewood), puka (broadleaf), kowhai, and kamahi; and undergrowth of tutu, koromika (veronica), fuchsia, and hoho (five-fingers). Birch predominates. Rimu is becoming scarce and valuable. It is estimated that the amount of timber fit for milling does not exceed 5,592,250,000 superficial feet.

Classification of Crown Lands.

The Nelson Land District contains about 4,680,000 acres. Up to the 31st March, 1908, there had been sold or otherwise disposed of an area of 1,625,400 acres, leaving an area of 3,060,600 acres, which may be classified as follows: Lands suitable for mixed farming, 417,600 acres; lands suitable for pastoral purposes, 1,099,000 acres; lands suitable for reservation for forest, climatic, and scenic purposes, 884,000 acres; and barren mountain-tops, 660,000 acres.

The area suitable for mixed farming may be described generally as light to heavily timbered country, with tracts of open terrace lands (pakihi), the latter being stony and mossy in places. The timber consists of black-birch, brown-birch, red-birch, red-pine, white-pine, mountain totara, and kowhai, with undergrowth of broadleaf, fuchsia, pepperwood, wineberry, lancewood, lacebark, and black scrub. The soil on the river-flats is exceedingly rich, and on the slopes and up to a good elevation there is a great deal of limestone, marls, sandstone, and conglomerate. That the open terrace land before referred to may be improved by drainage and cultivation is evidenced by the results obtained in the Inangahua County, but considerable capital and patience are required to make it reproductive. The area suitable for pastoral purposes naturally comprises the hilly country which is wooded similarly to the flat and low-lying country just described, but the birch forest predominates and the undergrowth is not so dense. The formation is limestone, serpentine, granite, and conglomerate. Where the forest has been cleared and grassed, at a cost of about £3 per acre, the results from this country have been excellent. It carries about two sheep to 3 acres.

The area suitable for reservation for forest, climatic, and scenic purposes is an estate of great value, for although it possesses no value as land suitable for any kind of settlement, yet it is a picturesque showground for tourists.

The barren mountain-tops, although reaching to a high elevation, have a value for grazing purposes in many localities during a portion of the summer season; in fact, there is a considerable area for that purpose held under lease at the present time.

It is not too much to say that included in the lands thus briefly described there is land suitable to every kind of culture—stock-producing, dairying, fruitgrowing, pig-breeding, &c. The general average quality of the lands, combined with a mild climate, justifies the opinion that there is a favourable field in Nelson Land District for the industrious settler. He can acquire cheap land on liberal terms, with exemption from rent and rates for periods from two to four years, in localities where there are the requisite natural conditions for his special pursuits. These facts have been long overlooked by residents of other districts of New Zealand, and cannot now be made too widely known.

Crown Lands open for Selection on Renewable Lease.

The following blocks for unsurveyed Crown lands are open for selection on renewable lease:—

Heaphy Block (National Endowment).—13,030 acres, at rentals ranging from 3.1d. to 5.7d. per acre per annum. Situated on the west coast, Nelson, between the Heaphy and Kohaihai Rivers. Soil is good along the coast and for about a mile back from the Heaphy River. Good limestone outcrops at the Kohaihai Bluff and near the Heaphy River. Whole block forest-clad.

Oparara Block (National Endowment).—17,171 acres, at rentals ranging from 3.7d. to 5.8d. per acre per annum. Situated on Kohaihai, Oparara, and Karamea Rivers, and surrounding the Karamea Settlement, where dairying is being carried on with success. Well watered. Covered with forest of black, brown, and silver birch, totara, rimu, yellow and silver pine, kamahi, and rata; birch predominates. Formation generally granite with some limetone outcrops. Soil very good towards the coast. There is regular steamer communication from Westport, distance about forty miles.

Kongahu Block (National Endowment).—9,952 acres, at rentals ranging from 4.6d. to 6.9d. per acre per annum. Situated to the south of the Little Wanganui River, and lying between the inland road from Mokihinui to Karamea and the sea-coast. Access may be obtained by steamer trading from Westport to Little Wanganui, about thirty-five miles. Good grazing country when cleared. Formation of western portion is chiefly limestone, while that of the eastern portion is papa. The whole is forest-clad.

Otumahana Block (National Endowment).—15,265 acres, at rentals ranging from 3.8d. to 4.08d. per acre per annum. Situated to the southward of the Oparara Block, and adjoining the Kongahu Block to the eastward, and includes the valleys of Little Wanganui River, and Captain's, Blue Duck, Harvey, and Granite Creeks—tributaries of the Little Wanganui River. Access by Karamea-Seddonville Road, the northern portion of the block being four miles and a half from Karamea Township. The whole block is covered with forest, consisting of birches, kamahi, rimu, and miro, with patches of white-pine towards the northern end, and heavy undergrowth. Land undulating and good rich flats along most of the rivers and creeks. Formation sandstone and granite, gravel on papa. Good dairying and grazing country when felled and grassed.

Owen and Owen East Blocks (National Endowment).—3,062 acres, at a rental of 2.8d. per acre per annum. Situated within the basin of the Owen River and its tributaries. Distant about thirty miles from Tadmor Railway-station. Soil good on river flats, fair on spurs and slopes. Formation sandstone, granite, and limestone. Very good grazing country when stripped of timber and grassed.

Waitapu Survey District (National Endowment).—2,800 acres, rental 3.6d. per acre per annum. Hilly bush country. Formation limestone and slate. Can be converted into healthy grazing country.

Tadmor Survey District (National Endowment).—8,282 acres, rental 3.3d. per acre per annum. Low hills and gullies: heavy bush. Formation sandstone gravels. Access by main coach-road to Reeton and unformed roads up Sherry and Tadmor Rivers. Distant four miles from Manu.

Kaiteriteri Survey District (National Endowment).—3,536 acres, rental 2.8d. per acre per annum. Rough hills; granite formation. Covered with birch bush. Access by road up the Riwaka Valley.

Takaka Survey District (National Endowment).—17,000 acres, rental 3.36d. per acre per annum. Access by proposed branch road up the Anatoki and Waingaro Rivers, Stony Creek and other gullies. Rough mountain slopes covered with bush, chiefly birch.

Takaka Survey District (National Endowment).—10,000 acres, rental 3.6d. per acre per annum. Access by tracks proposed from Rameka Creek through Canaan to the Stock-yards, Riwaka Range. Broken mountain slopes covered with birch bush.

Mount Arthur Survey District (National Endowment).—14,300 acres, at rental of 2.8d. per acre per annum. Fair soil, covered with forest, principally birch. Situated on eastern side of Mount Arthur Range. Access by roads up the Rivers Pearse and Graham.

Takaka and Flora Districts (National Endowment).—15,500 acres, at rentals ranging from 3.3d. to 3.6d. per acre per annum. The country along the slopes is suitable for sheep. Well watered, and easy of access from the Motueka side of the range. There is very little undergrowth, the principal timber being stunted redbirch. The belt between the Takaka River and the dividing range between the Takaka and Cobb Rivers is inferior light bush land. The northern portion of the block is accessible from Upper Takaka, and is distant twenty-four miles from the villages of Waitapu and Motueka respectively. The southern end of the block is approached by way of the Graham River Track from Motueka Village, from which it is distant about twenty-two miles.

Totaranui Survey District (National Endowment).—15,389 acres, at rentals ranging from 2.8d. to 3.12d. per acre per annum. Consisting chiefly of rough hills and gullies; covered with bush, chiefly birch and cedar, with some rimu Granite formation. Well watered. Access by unformed roads from Awaroa, Totaranui, and Wainui Inlets.

Kaiteriteri and Totaranui Districts (National Endowment).—9,750 acres, at rental of 2.8d. per acre per annum. Rough mountain slopes thickly timbered, chiefly birch, with some rimu and rata. Access by proposed tracks up the Otuwhero and Marahau Rivers.

Motueka Survey District (National Endowment).—2,290 acres, at rental of 2.8d. per acre per annum. Covered with bush, principally birch. Fair soil. Access by road up Pokororo Stream.

Motueka Survey District (National Endowment).—3,850 acres, at rental of 3.36d. per acre per annum. Rough mountain-slopes, covered with birch bush. Access by Brooklyn track over ranges into Riwaka Valley.

Motueka Survey District (National Endowment).—600 acres, rental of 2.8d. per acre per annum. Low hills; principally fern land. Access by Mount Campbell track and track up Rocky River.

Wangapeka Survey District (National Endowment).—8,700 acres, at rental of 2.8d. per acre per annum. Steep mountain sides; rather cold in winter. Covered with mixed bush, comprising birch, rimu, and some totara. Access by road up Wangapeka and Clarke Rivers.

Wangapeka District (National Endowment).—3,500 acres, at rental of 2.8d. per acre per annum. Rough hills, covered with bush, principally birch. Situated on the Baton River. Access by branch track from Baton River Road and by track up Ellis Creek.

Mokihinui Block (Westport Harbour Board Endowment).—2,644 acres, at rentals ranging from 3.1d. to 4.8d. per acre per annum. Situated to the north of Mokihinui River, about twenty-seven miles from Westport, and is covered with forest of birch, rimu, rata, and kahikatea, with dense undergrowth. Fair to good land. Formation, granite, sandstone, papa, and limestone.

Mid-Maruia Block.—5,625 acres, at rentals ranging from 3.8d. to 5.7d. per acre per annum.

Rappahannock Block.—2,252 acres, at rentals ranging from 3.8d. to 4d. per acre per annum.

Warwick Block.—324 acres, at a rental of 3.8d. per acre per annum.

The Mid-Maruia, Rappahannock, and Warwick Blocks are situated from about eighteen to twenty-six miles from the Town of Murchison, on the main road leading from Murchison to Maruia Plain, and lie between the Maruia North Block and the Maruia Block. The country consists of flats, undulating terraces, spurs, and hills. Well watered. The soil is excellent on the river flats, and varies from very good to fair on the slopes, and is rather poor on the high country. The formation is sandstone, conglomerate, limestone, and granite. Nearly all forest-clad—red and brown birch predominating, with a few white, black, and red pines, and occasional totaras. Dense undergrowth of broadleaf, five-fingers, pepper-tree, and fuchsia, &c. The land is capable of being utilised successfully as a healthy sheep and cattle grazing country.

Maruia North Block.—1,072 acres, at rental of 3.6d. per acre per annum. The land is, except about 120 acres of fern and scrub, timber-clad country of black and brown birch, black and white pine, miro, rata, and totara, with underscrub of broadleaf, pepper-tree, five-finger, maple, and fuchsia. Formation limestone, granite, and sandstone. Well watered. Has a northern aspect, and carries good grass when cleared. Well adapted for fruit-growing and pastoral purposes. Distant about eight miles from the Town of Murchison, along a dray-road.

Pastoral Lands under Special Regulations.

Glenroy Block.—8,414 acres, at rentals ranging from 3d. to 7.2d. per acre per annum. Tenure, twenty-one years lease, under the regulations for the occupation of pastoral lands in mining districts. There is right of renewal for periods of twenty-one years, and valuation for improvements. Situated about eighteen miles from the Town of Murchison on the main road (metalled) Murchison to Horse Terrace. Forest-clad hills; conglomerate rock formation, excellent river flats, soil in flats being from 18 in. to 4 ft. deep. Soil fair in gullies and on the slopes. Timber chiefly brown and red birch and underscrub, which provides cattle-feed in winter. This block can be converted into really good sheep-country. The areas have been schemed out to allow each farm a portion of the river flats.

Lands proposed to be opened during the Year 1908–9.

It is proposed to offer for selection an area of 63,464 acres of unsurveyed Crown lands, and an area of 18,063 acres of land under “The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900”—a total area of 81,527 acres. Of this total an area of 43,731 acres is national-endowment land. These lands are principally second-class land, forest-clad, and of fair average quality, suitable for pastoral purposes when cleared and grassed. The numerous inquiries which have been received respecting these lands from a good type of settler is satisfactory evidence that there is a demand in this district for cheap payable country.

The following are the names, areas, localities, and brief descriptions of the blocks to be opened for selection:—

Braeburn Settlement (subject to the provisions of the Land for Settlements Act).—Containing 18,063 acres. Situated in Inangahua County, in the valleys of the Mangles, Tutaki, and Tiraumea Rivers, about eleven miles from the Town of Murchison. Mixed agricultural and pastoral land of good quality. Formation chiefly calcareous shales and sandstones resting on blue marl. Between 2,000 and 3,000 acres open land in English grasses, the balance forest.

Mangles-Blackwater Block (Ordinary Crown Lands).—Containing 8,458 acres forest land, lying to the west of and adjoining the Braeburn Settlement. Chiefly pastoral country, suitable for subdivision into areas averaging 650 acres. Flat land on each farm sufficient for growing crops for winter feed. General formation, sandstone and shales.

Nuggety Block.—Containing about 6,000 acres, adjoining Braeburn Settlement on the west, and extending to the head waters of the Mangles River and the basin of Nuggety Creek. Forest land of good average quality, suitable when felled and grassed for sheep-grazing. Formation calcareous shale. This block will be subdivided into areas averaging 1,000 acres.

Inangahua Junction Block (National Endowment Land).—This block contains 4,220 acres of chiefly hilly forest land with limestone outcrops, provisionally subdivided into seven farms. These farms can be profitably worked, when felled and grassed, as grazing-areas. The block is situated in Inangahua County, on the western bank of the Inangahua River, extending from the confluence of that river with the Buller River in a south-westerly direction, and including the valley of Hard Creek. Distance to Westport and Reefton, twenty-seven and sixteen miles respectively.

Matakitaki Block—(National Endowment Land.)—This block is situated in Inangahua County between the Maruia North Block and the Matakitaki River. It contains about 6,500 acres of forest country eminently suitable for sheep-grazing when cleared. Distance, two miles from the Town of Murchison.

Extension Maruia North Block (National Endowment Land).—This block lies between the Maruia North Block and the Buller River. It contains about 1,800 acres of hilly country; forest-clad. Will make good pastoral farms. Partly limestone formation. Distance from Murchison, three miles.

Wangamoa Block (National Endowment Land).—This block contains 12,580 acres of hilly country, mostly forest clad, portions of which have been swept by fire. When cleared and sown in grass, this land will make excellent pasture for sheep, thus enabling the small farmers in the Wangamoa Valley to extend their holdings. This block is situated in Waimea County, twenty miles from the City of Nelson by the Main Road—Nelson to Blenheim.

Dart Block (National Endowment Land).—This block contains 7,931 acres of chiefly forest-clad country, capable of being worked into good pastoral farms. The land is of fair quality; formation, decomposed granite. Situated in the Waimea County, the valley of the Dart River (a branch of the Wangapeka River), where there are flats suitable for homestead-sites. Distance from City of Nelson, thirty-one miles by rail, thence by road eleven miles.

Extension of Lee River Block (National Endowment Land).—This block contains about 5,500 acres, and is practically an extension of the Lee River Block already disposed of. The land is rough and hilly, forest-clad, but suitable for sheep-grazing when stripped. It has a special value, in that it is situated in Waimea County, only thirty miles from the City of Nelson.

Extension of Wairoa Forks Block (National Endowment Land).—This block adjoins the Lee River Block hereinbefore described, and has the same characteristics. It contains about 7,000 acres.

Upper Aorere Block.—Area 3,475 acres. Situated in Collingwood County, in the basin of Brown's River, and the tributaries of the Aorere River, and extends along the bridle-track Aorere to Heaphy River; forest-clad; principally hilly. Will make good pastoral land. Distance from Collingwood, eighteen miles and a half.

Industries.

Agricultural.—Agricultural farming is carried on only to a very limited extent in Nelson. It is practically confined to the Waimea Plain and the Motueka, Riwaka, and Takaka Districts. Barley, wheat, oats, maize, and rye are successfully grown in these localities. Hop-culture has been developed to a very considerable extent.

Pastoral.—Up to a very recent period the pastoral industry was wholly confined to the old-established settlements of Nelson in the districts of Tasman and Golden Bays respectively. It is, however, now extending over the Hope, Central Buller, and Karamea districts on the West Coast. Owing to the liberal land laws a large area of timber country has been taken up recently in the localities mentioned, and has been cleared, grassed, and stocked with sheep—which are more profitable than cattle on small holdings—with very promising results. The country in south-west Nelson is exceedingly healthy sheep-country, the land takes the grass well, a considerable area of it being limestone land. The climate is mild, and the access roads in good order. A ready market for stock is found on the West Coast as far south as Greymouth. Up to the present the supply of live-stock has not been equal to the demand. Good prices are being given for cattle and sheep. The number of sheep in the Nelson District, according to the latest returns, was 322,627; number of cattle, 31,677; and number of horses, 8,682.

Mining.—Gold was first discovered in Nelson in 1857, the oldest goldfield being Collingwood, and in this district may be found gold, silver, copper, chrome, antimony, hæmatite, and manganese. There are enormous iron-ore deposits at Parapara, near Collingwood. A mineral lease containing the iron-ore deposits at Parapara has been granted to a syndicate, but operations have not yet been commenced.

For some time past development-work has been going on at the Maoriland copper-mine situate in Aniseed Valley, near Nelson City. The Maoriland Copper Company, who hold the lease of the property, are working the areas formerly owned by the Champion Company.

Hydraulic and alluvial mining is carried on over a considerable area in south-west Nelson. The working of alluvial flats by dredging has not, however, proved a success. It is gratifying to know this, for large areas of rich alluvial river-flats, a source of wealth for all time as cultivable lands would have been sluiced away.

Quartz: The principal quartz reefs of Nelson District are at Reefton and its vicinity, and they still maintain their gold-producing reputation. Gold to the value of nearly £155,000 was obtained last year. Reefing is carried on at Lyell, Boatman's, and many localities near Reefton. The discovery of promising reefs at Upper Blackwater has had the effect of stimulating mining operations generally in southern Nelson. It may be stated that Nelson and Westland Districts have been large and constant contributors to the gold-export of New Zealand.

Coal-mining: The most important coalfields in New Zealand are situated in south Nelson, not many miles from the Town of Westport. A very marked increase in the output of coal took place during last year, and the industry is still developing rapidly. An idea of the importance of the coal industry in this district may be estimated from the fact that during the year 1907 1,154 steam and seventeen sailing vessels arrived at Westport, aggregating 600,011 tons register. The total tonnage in and out was 1,202,983 tons. A total of 649,212 tons of coal were produced from Westport mines during last year. The Westport-Stockton Coal Company has started operations on their property near Millerton, adjoining the Westport Coal Company's property, and in a few months the export of coal from Westport will be very considerably augmented thereby. There are also coal-mines at Puponga, near Cape Farewell, and at Pakawau, near Collingwood. The number of men employed in the coal industry in Nelson is 1,240.

Timber Industry.—There are eighty sawmills in the Nelson Land District, twenty-four of that number being erected and cutting on Crown lands, forty-eight on freehold lands, and eight on a large reserve, the property of the Westport Harbour Board. The cutting-capacity per annum of these sawmills is 69,700,000 superficial feet. Sixty-six sawmills are working by steam, with 765-horse power, and fourteen of the mills are working by water with 145-horse power; the total horse-power of the mills being 910. Rimu is the principal timber milled. The number of persons employed in connection with the saw-milling industry is 493. Of the eighty sawmills in this district, fifteen are situated between Motueka and Cape Farewell, twenty-seven scattered between the City of Nelson and the Tadmor Saddle, twenty-three situated in Buller County, and fifteen situated in Inangahua County. Generally speaking, the milling operations in northern Nelson are on the decline. It is in the western portion of the district—Buller County—that sawmilling has assumed any important proportions. There has been considerable activity in the timber industry in the county named, and the probabilities are that it will increase very materially during the coming year.

Dairying.—From results achieved so far in the promotion of the dairy industry, it is safe to anticipate the extension of dairying in Nelson. It is carried on with much success at Karamea—a settlement on the west coast—and an up-to-date factory has been established there, which is supplied by 500 cows; another factory is in operation at Takaka, where the milk of 400 cows is supplied. There are also factories at Cronadon in Inangahua Valley, and at Richmond and Wakapuaka, suburbs of Nelson City.

Fruit.—A great deal of fruit is grown on the Waimea Plain, near Nelson City, but the future home of the industry will probably be Motueka. Fruit of all descriptions is successfully grown at Motueka and the surrounding district, and the export is likely to assume very large dimensions in the near future. There are many other localities near Nelson where fruit can be successfully grown. The fact that other localities have not been fruit-producing does not mean that fruit cannot be equally well grown there. Fruit-growing will eventually follow on closer settlement. As a matter of fact, the climate of Nelson is such that it is not too much to say that there is scarcely a locality in the whole district where particular kinds of fruit will not grow to perfection.

Other Industries established in Nelson are ham and bacon curing; cheese-factories; grain-mills; biscuit-factory; fruit-preserving; confectionery; breweries; wine-making; aerated-water factory; coffee and spice works; sauce, pickle, and vinegar factory; soap and candle works; lime and cement works; tinware factory; iron and brass foundries; engineering-works; printing and bookbinding works; coachbuilding-works; cycle-factories; saddlery and harness factories; tanning and wool-scouring; furniture-works; hæmatite-paint works; tailoring, dressmaking, and millinery establishments; boot and shoe factories; and eleven flax-mills.

Roads and Railways.

There are 97 miles of railway in Nelson District. The principal line runs from Nelson City to Tadmor, a distance of 42 miles. This railway is portion of the railway scheme which will eventually connect Nelson City with the West Coast and Canterbury. An extension of the line from Tadmor to Kiwi—5-miles—is almost completed. A railway runs from Westport to Mokihinui—32 miles—and is an essential accessory to the development of the immense coal-deposits in the Westport district. The Westport Harbour Board own a railway which connects Westport with Cape Foulwind—a distance of 7 miles. The main and district roads throughout Nelson are well maintained right through the year. The climate on the one hand, and the abundance of metal on the other, contribute towards cheapness of construction and maintenance of the roads, There are good metalled roads to the backblocks: bridle-tracks are constructed in the first instance through the newly-settled country, and afterwards widened into dray-roads in many instances.

The main coach-roads are—Nelson to Inangahua Junction, 116 miles; Inangahua Junction to Westport, 27 miles; Inangahua Junction to Reefton, 21 miles; Nelson to Blenheim, 78 miles; Nelson to Motueka, 32 miles.

In addition to the roads named, there are several which are safe driving-highways—amongst these being that from Foxhill to Tophouse, 28 miles; Tophouse to Lake Rotoiti, 5 miles; Nelson to Cable Bay, 15 miles.

Harbours.

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. Certain harbour-improvements which have now been effected—the cutting of a new entrance through the boulder-bank—give a depth of 15 ft. at L.W.O.S.T., and 27 ft. at high water. The Union Steamship Company's coastal steamers trade from Nelson, Greymouth, Westport, Onehunga, Picton, and Wellington. A local fleet of steamers ply between Motueka, Collingwood, Waitapu, and Puponga. There are small harbours in Tasman Bay and Blind Bay, and on the West Coast at Karamea River, Heaphy River, and Little Wanganui River, easily worked by steamers of light draught. There is a regular steamer-service between Westport and Karamea.

Towns.

Nelson.—The City of Nelson is beautifully situated at the head of Blind Bay. Its chief attractions are its remarkably fine climate and surroundings; it is largely used as a health resort. It has an excellent water-supply, gasworks, and abattoirs, the property of the municipality. The streets are clean and well kept, and are lighted with gas. There are three recreation-grounds, public gardens, and public swimming-baths. Nelson possesses special attractions as a residential city, and has a Boys' College, a Girls' College, School of Music, and a Technical School. The harbour of Nelson is under the control of a Harbour Board, and extensive works are now in progress, including a new entrance through the Boulder Bank, which will admit of ocean-going steamers coming up to the wharf with safety. There is regular communication by steamer between Nelson and the City of Wellington—the direct trip from port to port being done in seven hours. Local steamers ply between Nelson and the many small harbours in Tasman and Golden Bays. The population of Nelson City is 8,300.

Westport is situated at the mouth of the Buller River, and possesses the finest harbour on the west coast of the South Island. It is the second largest town in Nelson Land District—population, about 3,750. The chief export is coal, obtained from the Westport Coal Company's mines at Denniston and Millerton and the State coal-mine at Seddonville, all of which places are connected with the port by railway. The municipality owns the abattoirs, gas and water works, and an up-to-date public reading-room and library. In the centre of the town is Victoria Square; on the beach is a reserve of 12 acres, which will probably be enlarged to 50 acres. In the southern part of the town is a domain containing about 14 acres, and on the railway-line, about a mile and a half from the town, is another recreation-ground of 90 acres. Considerable improvements have been made in the Harbour of Westport by the Harbour Board. The water on the bar is 21 ft. 9 in. and in the river 24 ft. 6 in.

Reefton.—The next town of importance is Reefton—a distance of 136 miles from Nelson by railway and coach—with a population of about 1,679. Reefton may also be reached from Westport by coach via Inangahua Junction, 27 miles; and then by coach for the remainder of the distance, 21 miles. Reefton was the first town in New Zealand to be lit by electricity. It is almost essentially a goldfields township, but there are large areas of alluvial land lying between Reefton and Inangahua Junction, which will gradually be brought under cultivation and form the nucleus of an agricultural population.

Motueka.—The Borough of Motueka—population, about 1,200—is situated at the head of Blind Bay, on a beautiful plain, with considerable back-country. As a fruit-producing district Motueka is rapidly coming to the front. It enjoys a genial climate, somewhat similar to the City of Nelson. There is daily communication by steamer and coach with Nelson, and a weekly direct steamer-service to the City of Wellington.

Richmond.—The Borough of Richmond—population, about 651—is situated in a highly cultivated part of the Waimea Plain famed for its fruit and flowers. It possesses an excellent climate.

Murchison.—Until very recently Murchison could hardly be described as a mlet. Now, however, it has risen to the status of a small township, with a population of about 160 people. It has a church, school, two hotels, and nice residences. It is 84 miles from the City of Nelson, and is reached by railway and coach—by railway, Nelson to Kohatu (31 miles); and by the mail-coach, Nelson to Westport, from Kohatu (53 miles). It is situated in the centre of a district which is rapidly coming to the front as a grazing district.

Other townships and hamlets on the railway-line south-west from the City of Nelson are Stoke Village (population 603), Hope Village (population 356), Spring Grove (population 264), and Wakefield (population 544).

Climate and Rainfall.

The climate and rainfall of Nelson, generally speaking, are excellent. In the winter frosts occur between June and August. The falls of snow are comparatively light, except on the higher ranges. The average rainfall of Nelson for thirty years is 59 in. The average temperature of the year based on eleven years of observation is 54.86° Fahr.: the average for winter is 46.58° Fahr., the average for spring is 54.56° Fahr., the average for summer is 62.78° Fahr., and the average for autumn is 55.76° Fahr. The difference between the warmest and coldest months is 17.10° Fahr.

Sport.

Nelson, from its configuration and its good climate, offers as many attractions to the sportsman as any other district in New Zealand. Deerstalking is to be had within a few miles from Nelson, both red and fallow deer being in very large numbers. Some Virginian deer have been recently imported. Stags in the early part of the season are usually in fine condition, full-grown beasts scaling from 300 lb. to 400 lb. Quail-shooting, owing to the destruction of the birds by stoats and weasels, is not so good as it was in former years. Quail are, however, comparatively numerous in the settled districts about Nelson and in the newly sown bush clearings in the backblocks. Pheasants are not numerous. Trout-fishing is a favourite sport of Nelson residents. The rivers flowing into Tasman and Golden Bays have been stocked with trout, and many of the rivers on the West Coast are proving admirable fishing-rivers.

Chapter 64. THE WESTLAND LAND DISTRICT.

G. J. ROBERTS, Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands.

The Westland District occupies the central portion of the western watershed of the South Island, joining Canterbury on the east; its north and south boundaries with Nelson and Otago being the Pororai, 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 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 Westland. They have adopted European habits, reside in comfortable houses, are well-educated, orderly citizens, partly living on 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 work 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 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 dimunitive 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 mmentoes 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 sea board country. They are shallow shingly streams in winter, but swift and deep in summer. In the northern district all the larger rivers are bridged; and southward, ferries are placed on all the main streams, which from the melting of the snow are practically unfordable from September to January. Under the heading of “Harbours 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, but 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, 55° in winter, 48.5°. The average number of days on which there was no rainfall is 200. 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 well 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, 1908.

There are fifty-six 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. 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 even and moist temperature encourages the almost uninterrupted growth of grass and clover, which are very luxuriant, and favour stock-raising. Oats are also grown abundantly for local consumption, and for the most part are cut into chaff. Year by year the imports of potatoes, fruits, butter, and fat stock are decreasing owing to increased local production

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 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 Land Laws 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, 1908:—

Crown Lands available for immediate Settlement.
 Acres 
Surveyed rural lands10,870in 51 sections
Unsurveyed37,680 
Pastoral lands747,800in 50 runs
Town and village lands67in 267 sections
 796,422 
Lands proposed to be opened for Selection.
1,700acres, Kopara
8,250acres, Haupiri
10,000acres on Arnold River, in Brunner Survey District. Mostly heavily timbered terraced country, in strips and patches
3,500acres in Blocks VII and XI, Waimea Survey District. All bush-covered, level lands; milling-timber cut out; inferior, sour soil. Access by Kumara to Paroa Road and railway
700acres behind Taramakau Settlement. Strip of densely bushed terraces and hill-slopes; inferior soil
3,500acres at Mahitahi River. Flat land with patches of heavy timber, and open pakihis in places; inferior soil
1,700acres on the south bank of the Waitaha River. Heavy mixed bush, with patches of scrub and fern; fair soil
1,320acres on left bank of Karangarua River, Karangarua Survey District. Mixed bush land; fairly flat
600acres on right bank of Moeraki River, two miles above Lake Moeraki, Abbey Rocks Survey District. Land fairly flat; mixed bush
2,800acres on both banks of the Poerua River, Wataroa Survey District and Poerua Survey District. River-flats and hill-slopes; mixed bush
775acres on right bank of Clearwater River
630acres on right bank of Turnbull River
1,300acres on left bank of Okuru River
118acres on left bank of Turnbull River
740acres at Evans Creek
450acres on south side of Taramakau Settlement
1,130acres between Fox and Cook Rivers
6,247acres at Punakaiki and Pororari Rivers
1,300acres on Aaura-Amuri Road
1,190acres, Hast River
5,000acres, Waiho
52,950acres

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 renewable lease, 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, constitute 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 inland ranges and all over the lower hills and plateaux. The approximate area of forest is over 2,250,000 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 1907. 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 five smaller ones) are located north of the 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 Westland:—

Number of MillsNumber of HandsHorse-powerCutting-capacity. Super. ftOutput for the Year
     Super. ft
521,000960116,450,000White-pine Silver-pine Red-pine, &c51,357,586

It is estimated that quite 1,250 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 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 Dominion. A subsidised steamer runs between Hokitika, Okarito, and the southern ports as far as Jackson's Bay, plying every two 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.—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 lie scattered far back on the terraces and amongst the hollows of the surrounding forest, of whom the passing traveller is unaware.

The line is being extended southward to Ross, and is already open for traffic to Ruatapu, a distance of seven miles. Complete communication with Ross will shortly be established.

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. An extension, three miles long, is in course of construction.

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 within the Westland District. A great tonnage of coal from the Brunner 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 annel at Arthur's Pass through the main range between the Otira and Bealey valleys, now under construction. The extension of the Greymouth-Hokitika line to Ross (16 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; also the railway, nearly completed, of three miles which taps the Paparoa coal-beds.

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 impassable, leads up the Ahaura Valley via the Amuri Pass into North Canterbury, and the other, in fair 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 the West Coast 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 the Okura.

TOWNS.

Greymouth.

Greymouth is situated on the south bank of the Grey River. It was proclaimed a borough in 1868, having an area of 2,000 acres, of which about 500-acres is a Native reserve, and the remaining portion freehold. The tenure in the Native reserve is leasehold in perpetuity, with revaluations every twenty-one years, somewhat after the manner of the Glasgow leases.

Blaketown, within the borough area, is situated on Municipal Reserve No. 51, having a frontage to Tasman Sea of about a mile. About 30 acres of this reserve has been subdivided into quarter-acre sections and let for twenty-one years at £1 per annum each, with renewal of lease for further periods of twenty-one years at a revaluation of rental. Of this area a considerable number of sections have been taken up by workmen, who have erected substantial cottage-homes thereon. The municipal authorities, by this method of leasing the land, are encouraging workmen to provide homes for themselves.

The rising Township of Cobden, which is built on the north bank of the Grey River, immediately abreast of Greymouth—to which it is linked by a fine cylinder bridge—may be considered a suburb of the borough. It contains a population of about six hundred, and is principally occupied by the residences of Greymouth merchants and tradesmen.

Greymouth is the principal import and export town of Westland, and is a flourishing mining centre, having a present population of about 4,900. The unimproved value of rateable property on 31st March, 1907, was £144,371, capital value, £472,046, and municipal revenue £16,500 per year. The borough is connected by rail with Hokitika, Kumara, Grey Valley, Reefton, Moana, Otira, and the State coal-mine at Runanga, and on three days in each week Christchurch can be reached in one day, via Otira, by coach and rail.

At the beginning of the century the Borough Council adopted a progressive policy, and borrowed money for drainage and water-supply works, which are now completed. The drainage is effected by the earthenware-pipe system, with cement joints and trapped house-services. Se eight miles of sewers have been laid, to which 600 houses are connected.

The water-supply is taken from the Grey River. The filter is formed in a shingle-bed of the river, and the filtered water is then pumped up 286 ft. into a service reservoir which contains 800,000 gallons, and thence it is distributed through ten miles of mains all over the town. The pumps are driven by two 42 h.p. gas-engines fed from the Corporation gasworks.

The Council purchased the gasworks from the old company, and run them as a municipal concern. When purchased in 1900 the yield of gas was 7,700,000 ft., now it is 20,000,000 ft., and the revenue from gas and water is sufficient to pay the whole of the interest and sinking fund on the loans, and, as a consequence, the security rates have never been collected.

The town possesses some very fine buildings, notably the new Town Hall, Municipal Buildings, and Library. The Town Hall is fitted as a bijou theatre, with a sitting-capacity of 800. The Library and Reading-rooms are very commodious and handsome, and were rendered possible by the gift of £2,500 towards them from Mr. Carnegie. The Library is supported by a library rate of 1d. in the pound.

The new Post-office, now complete, is a splendid building, and the tower contains a four-face chiming clock of 6 ft. diameter.

The Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches deserve special mention; the latter is a brick-and-compo building, with a very fine spire. Other fine buildings are the Grey River Hospital, Grey District High School, Convent School, Gieseking's and McDonnell's buildings, and many other substantial edifices. Tainui Street and Mawhera Quay—which faces the port—have been almost wholly rebuilt during the last few years, and present a fine appearance, whilst the number of comfortable up-to-date residences recently built give a most pleasing aspect to this prosperous town.

A monument, in a central position, containing four drinking-fountains, modelled and cast by McFarlane, of Glasgow, commemorates the Duke of York's visit, the King's Coronation, Trooper Martin (killed in the Boer War), and Peace Day (Boer War).

The town has a telephone exchange, which is in general use.

There are sixteen miles of streets in the borough, which are formed and gravelled, and the Council have commenced to finish the principal streets with tar-macadam. The streets are well lighted with gas.

One of the Government Railway Workshops is located here, with a number of local industries.

A description of the Port of Greymouth will be found under ports.

Hokitika.—This town is situated at the north mouth of the Hokitika River, bordering the sea-beach. It contains a population of about 2,250, 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, public library and 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. The town has improved very much lately, new buildings having been erected (notably a Free Library, the gift of Mr. Carnegie). A contract has been let for a splendid water-supply from Lake Kanieri (fourteen miles), and improved sewerage and street-access will also be undertaken.

Brunner—Situated on the banks of the Grey River, seven miles above Greymouth, includes the villages of Dobson, Taylorville, and Wallsend, and contains 1,133 people. This town is wholly dependent on the adjacent coalmines 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 Dominion. 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 1,256 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. 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, hospital, library, and school of mines.

Ross.—Population, about 600. A 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 800. 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, established in connection with the State coal-mines near Greymouth, which are connected by rail with that town, has now a population of about 600.

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 22 ft. at high water and of 13 ft. at low water. Vessels of 1,500 tons can come alongside the wharf. There is a berthage accommodation of 2,770 ft., with a minimum depth of 12 ft. to 16 ft. at low water. Steps are also being taken to construct a tidal dock and walls in Kororo lagoon. The principal exports are gold, coal, coke, and timber. The number of vessels that entered the port during the year 1907 was: 743 steamers, tonnage 334,613; 37 sailing-vessels, tonnage 8,404; being a total tonnage of 343,017 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 five, with capacities of from 1 ½ tons to 12 tons, so that every encouragement is given to quick despatch. 340,047 tons of coal, 2,253 tons of coke, 1,318 tons of bricks, 3,337 bales of flax, 42,012,840 superficial feet of sawn timber, and 93,516 sleepers were shipped, and 53,763 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. Additional harbour works will be shortly taken in hand.

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 has been removed.

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 out about one mile and a half in a north-easterly direction from the southern and 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, Waiatoto, 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 river-beds, 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 land slides.

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-bearing sands which lie along the sea-beaches for a distance of a hundred and forty miles, but so far without 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 34,508 oz., valued at £138,668.

Specimens of all the known economic minerals have been discovered in various localities. These were displayed at the New Zealand International Exhibition and commanded considerable attention. The Paparoa Range, north of Greymouth, contains many varieties, and will eventually hold a large mining population.

Copper also occurs in the Taipo, Arahura, Toaroha, Whitcombe, Wanganui, and Jackson Valleys, the finest lodes discovered being on the western faces of the Matakitaki Range, near the Haast River, with good seams and beds of coal and limestone adjacent.

Petroleum has been found in the Arnold Valley, and borings are now being made to test and develop what is hoped may be a good oil-bearing basin.

First-class slate, suitable for any purpose, exists in the Upper Wanganni 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 ow 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. The Paparoa Coal Company, near Blackball, are now building a branch railway, erecting the various buildings, workmen's dwellings, and machinery for the commercial development of their fine property, and expect to place their coal on the market at an early date. It would appear that the greater portion of the seaward country hereabouts contains very extensive coal fields—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 large coal mines now at work—viz., the Brunner, Blackball, and State coal-mines—are al 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 378,926 ton were raised and railed to various towns, but principally into Greymouth, whence it was shipped to places in and beyond New Zealand.

Chapter 65. THE CANTERBURY LAND DISTRICT.

ERIC C. GOLD SMITH, Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Boundaries—Physical Features.

The Land District of Canterbury comprises the central portion of the South Island, and lies between the Conway River, Barefell Pass, and Mt. Franklin on the northward; the Spenser Mountains, Travers Peak, Mt. Barron, the Amuri, Hope, and Hurunui Passes, the summit of the Southern Alps, and the western watershed of the River Hopkins and Lake Ohau on the westward; the Rivers Ohau and Waitaki on the southward; and the South Pacific Ocean on the eastward. It lies between south latitudes 42° 5' and 44° 55', and east longitudes 169° 45' and 173° 30'. The length of the district north-east and south-west is about 220 miles; the breadth W.N.W. and E.S.E., from the summit of the Alps to the sea, averages seventy miles.

The sea-board has a length of about 300 miles, consisting generally of low-lying beaches, broken by the projection eastward of Banks Peninsula, which contains the only large natural harbours. That portion of the district which fronts the ocean between the Ashley and Opihi Rivers is flat land, about 2,500,000 acres in extent; north and south of those limits the plain is interspersed with undulating and hilly country. This great plain stretches westwards, rising and merging into downs and hills, which again extend westward and merge into the Southern Alps and the offshoots therefrom. Banks Peninsula, which has an area of about 250,000 acres, is wholly composed of ridges and hills, deeply intersected by basins and gullies, the result of volcanic action.

The Southern Alps, which form the backbone of the island, are a continuous chain of mountains, with a succession of magnificent peaks, attaining their culminating point in Mount Cook, or Aorangi, 12,349 ft. above sea-level; there are, besides, numerous peaks ranging in altitude between 7,000 ft. and 10,000 ft. Offshoots, extending to great distances eastward and south-eastward from the main range, attain elevations of 6,000 ft. to 9,000 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 South Island, Lake Sumner being connected with the Hurunui, Lakes Coleridge and Heron with the Rakaia, and the Mackenzie Country lakes—Tekapo, Pukaki, and Ohau—with the Waitaki. Another important lake is that known as Lake Ellesmere, west of Banks Peninsula; it is separated from the ocean by a narrow shingle-spit only 5 chains across at one point, through which, at certain seasons, the flood waters force a channel to the sea. Lake Tennyson is situated on the eastern flank of the Spenser Mountains, 3,614 ft. above sea-level.

Climate.

The climate of Canterbury is well suited to Europeans. It resembles that of Great Britain, but on the plains is far more equable, the mean daily range of temperature being 17.10° Fahr. Observations taken at Lincoln (fourteen miles from Christchurch) for a period of twenty-one years, ending December, 1903, give the following results: Barometer, reduced to 32° Fahr. and sea-level, 29.968 in.; mean maximum daily temperature, 61.8°; mean minimum daily temperature, 43.1°; mean average temperature, 52.4°. The extremes of temperature were 98.4° and 19.9° Fahr. The rainfall for the same period averaged 24.674 in. per annum, the extremes being 35.287 in. in 1886 and 14.48 in. in 1897. The average annual number of days on which rain fell was 123, the extremes being 154 in 1902 and 98 in 1891. Snowfalls are very light on the plains, but in the high uplands the climate is much colder and more severe. The changes of weather and temperature are sudden, calms and gales rain and sunshine, heat and cold alternating. The prevailing winds are north-east, south-west, and north-west—the last a hot wind. The climate, as a whole, is splendidly healthy, bracing, and most enjoyable.

Foundation and Settlement.

The district was occupied, in the first instance, by settlers sent out by the Canterbury Association, which was formed in 1848, and incorporated by Royal Charter in 1849, under the auspices of prominent men in England, including the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Lyttelton. The step was not taken until after due inquiry as to the most suitable part in which to establish a settlement. Captain (afterwards Sir George) Grey, at that time Governor, recommended the Wairarapa, but it was finally decided to take over from the New Zealand Company a tract of the Canterbury Plains, in the neighbourhood of Port Cooper. Captain Thomas, the agent of the association, who had advised the selection, superintended the surveys and the preparations for receiving intending settlers. The original intention of the founders was that the settlement should be independent and complete in itself, and should embrace only such persons as were members of the Church of England and were approved of by the association. This was frustrated by the influx of numbers of persons of all classes and beliefs. The first body of emigrants arrived at Port Cooper on the 16th December, 1850, and the settlement remained under the control of the association, as directed by a committee of management in England, and under the active personal supervision of Mr. John Robert Godley, until 1853, when the whole of Canterbury became a province of New Zealand by the provisions of “The Constitution Act, 1852.”

Thenceforward the control of the settlement was vested in the Superintendent and the Provincial Council. The first Superintendent was Mr. James Edward FitzGerald, who held office till 1857; he was followed in succession by Mr. William Sefton Moorhouse, 1857–1863; Mr. Samuel Bealey, 1863–1866; Mr. Moorhouse again till 1868; and Mr. William Rolleston till the abolition of the provinces in 1876, when the district came directly under the control of the General Government.

Internal Communication.

In no part of New Zealand are the means of communication better than in Canterbury. The natural facilities of the country have been abundantly supplemented by railways and roads. 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 Domett in the Cheviot Estate (about thirty-two miles) open for traffic. 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. The Springfield branch is being extended into and through the main range in order to connect within the West Coast system.

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 486 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 the late 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 516,000 acres. Forest lands are found in Banks 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 lands of small value), 2,350,801 acres: total, 9,604,045 acres.

The disposition of lands on the 31st March, 19 8, was as follows:—

 No. of HoldersArea 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—262,195 acres) 3,846 41
2. Lands held on deferred payments118,979
3. Lands held on perpetual lease361,642
4. Lands held as leaseholds in perpetuity ...1,592289,180
5. Lands held in occupation with right of purchase334,611
6. Lands held as village-homestead special settlements40912,466
7. Lands held as small grazing-runs and grazing-farms148260,742
8. Lands held on renewable lease1462
9. Pastoral licenses1393,431,847
10. Special-settlement associations414,651
11. Reserves and Crown lands held under temporary occupation licenses (area, 98,250 acres, included in 12 and 17)771 
12. Area of land reserved and granted under various Acts (exclusive of Midland Railway land included in 1) 976,772
13. Land purchased and disposed of under Land for Settlements Acts (included in 4, 7, 10, and 11; 1,236 holders, 259,945 acres)  
14. Workers' dwellings133
15. Crown lands open for selection 86
16. Crown lands being prepared for selection ... 45,515
17. Barren lands, and lands for future disposal ... 720,678
Total3,1949,604,045

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: 15, 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, Tenuka, 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 1907–8 the area under crop for threshing was 138,597 acres, being nearly three-fourths of the total wheat-area. The total yield was 3,911,445 bushels, being an average of 28.2 bushels per acre.

Oats also are very successfully grown, the figures for the same period being 169,018 acres, or over three-sevenths of the total area of this crop. The total yield was 5,713,594 bushels, being an average of 33.8 bushels per acre.

Barley of superior quality is also produced, the figures being 11,753 acres, equal to nearly one-third of the total area of barley-crop. The total yield was 461,022 bushels, being an average of 39 bushels per acre.

Grass-seeds are abundantly grown, cocksfoot mainly on the splendid Banks Peninsula country, and ryegrass throughout the land district.

Potatoes, which yield crops of excellent quality, were grown in 1907–8 on 8,735 acres; turnips and rape were grown on 273,880 acres, and the combined area of other crops grown, including rye, peas, beans, mangolds, beet, carrots, and onions, was 18,179 acres. The area of wheat, oats, and barley for fodder was 99,339 acres. The area ploughed and laid down in English grasses was 1,630,090 acres. Surface-sown lands comprised 669,148 acres. The total area under crop was 722,139 acres, and the area broken up but not in crop, 8,757 acres. Plantations, exclusive of private gardens, occupied an area of 28,240 acres. The aggregate area of private and market gardens, orchards, and vineyards over quarter of an acre in extent was 8,605 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:—

CountyArea wateredMiles of RacesTotal CostCost per Acre wateredAmount of Water distributed every Twenty-four HoursAnnual Charge for Use of Water
 Acres £      s.    dGal.       
Amuri24,162544,8003 11 2/3 Races are maintained by an annual charge in proportion to area watered
Ashley122,00050025,0004 127,000,000From ¾d. to 6d. per acre, in addition to special rates for interest on loans
Selwyn326,8881,13279,3074 1090,940,9608s. 4d. to £1 6s. 6d. per 100 acres
Ashburton586,0001,58443,7801 5 ¾86,000,000£1 13s. 4d. per mile of race
Geraldine71,2122609,0102 6½29,520,000About 7d. per acre, including a rate for payment of principal and interest on loans, and a rate for maintenance
Levels19,000715,5005 9 ½6,480,0002d. per acre, and an interest-rate of 1/4d. in the pound on capital value
Mackenzie9,400351,9354 1 ½7,516,8002 1 1/16 C. per acre on part of district and 5/8d. in the pound on capital value in remainder of district
Waimate23,3981256,0215 26,700,000Races are maintained by an annual charge on the value of lands watered

The sheep in the District of Canterbury, in April, 1907, numbered 4,946,398. In October, 1907, there were 64,528 horses, mules, and asses, 119,180 cattle, and 33,428 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 South 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 is supplied by this district, with Marlborough, and commands the highest price in the London markets. The frozen meat exported from Canterbury during the year ended 31st March, 1908, was valued at £1,166,323, besides which large quantities of preserved meats, tallow, manure, neatsfoot oil. oleo, &c., were produced.

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 110,000 carcases, and a daily capacity of 5,500 carcases; the Fairfield Works (near Ashburton), with storage for 90,000 carcases, and a daily capacity of 4,000 carcases; and the Pareora Works (near Timaru), which have storage for 110,000 carcases, and can deal with 4,500 in a day. The works have engines representing 1,050-horse power, and employ 846 men when in full work. The Islington and Timaru works, which are owned by the Christchurch Meat Company, employ in all about 700 men, and have engines representing 1,450-horse power. The former can put through 6,000 carcases per diem, and have storage for 120,000 carcases. The latter can deal with 5,000 carcases in a day, and have storage for 100,000 carcases. At Hornby there has been established by Messrs. Nelson Brothers (Limited) a well-equipped factory for freezing only, with engines of 300-horse power, and a capacity of dealing with 1,000 sheep per diem. The factory has storage-room for 50,000 sheep, but is not now in operation.

Wool.

During the year ended 31st March, 1908, there were shipped at Lyttelton and Timaru 29,267,573 lb. wool, valued at £1,305,892; and to this must be added the amount 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 1,176,000 lb. of wool and 5,000 pounds' worth of other New Zealand 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 1907 was 15, and of creameries 42; the output of butter and cheese amounted to 4,596,160 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 1906 was eighteen, employing 266 hands, the horse-power being 393. The output 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 £29,912.

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 1907, the output from 11 collieries, employing about 85 hands, was 23,679 tons, bringing the total amount raised from 26 collieries up to the 31st December, 1907, to 554,103 tons. The seams worked vary from 16 ft. to 2 ft. 3 in., the average width being 8 ft. At Acheron, near Lake Coleridge, a true anthracite is found, the other pits in the district being of brown coal or lignite.

Building-stones.

The building-stones of Canterbury comprise some excellent varieties. The Halswell quarries produce an exceedingly hard and close-grained stone of a dull leaden-grey colour. Granular trachytes are obtained from Governor's Bay, Lyttelton; porphyrites at Malvern Hills; good limestone at Malvern Hills, Waikari, Mount Somers, and various other places; bluestone rock is found at Timaru suitable for millstones. There is abundance of limestone in North Canterbury, Mount Somers, Castle Hill, and various other parts, which is well adapted for making lime.

Fisheries.

Deep-sea fishing is carried on from Lyttelton and Akaroa, the kinds of fish chiefly caught being groper (hapuku), ling, conger-eels, moki, butterfish, barracouta, soles, whiting, red-cod, herrings, and garfish. From Lake Ellesmere and the river estuaries excellent flounders are obtained.

Trout thrive amazingly in the rivers and fresh-water lakes, affording excellent sport.

Manufactories.

Excluding mines and quarries, the total number of manufactories in Canterbury at the date of the census in 1906 was 695, employing 7,516 males and 2,403 females.

Included in the above were 37 printing, 9 agricultural-implement, 26 coach building and painting, 27 fellmongering, tanning, currying, and wool-scouring establishments, 7 sail and oilskin factories, 15 boot and shoe factories, 2 rope and twine works, 8 flax-mills, 6 boiling-down, meat-preserving, and freezing works, bacon-curing works, 16 cheese and butter factories, 22 grain-mills, 33 chaff-cutting and grass-seed-dressing works, 13 breweries, 8 malt-houses, 28 aerated waters and cordial works, 4 sauce and pickle making factories, 4 soap and candle works, 18 sawmills and sash and door factories, 4 gasworks, 22 brick, tile, and pottery manufactories, 13 iron and brass foundries, 41 cycle-works, 27 furniture-factories, and 6 engineering-works.

The census returns also showed that in 1905 the value of land, machinery, and buildings used for factory purposes was £2,200,902, and the total value of manufactures £5,088,329.

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 warranted their erection.

The number of children attending the public primary schools in Canterbury on 31st March, 1908, was 24,876. Average daily attendance, 21,616. Number of teachers—males, 248; females, 421: total, 669. Number of schools, 279.

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, and is presided over by a Board of Governors. The teaching staff comprises fifteen professors and lecturers, and the number of students attending lectures is 342. 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.

Technical education is provided for by the schools of engineering and art in connection with Canterbury College, a technical and continuation school under the control of a local Board of Management subsidised by the Government and local bodies, and a school of domestic instruction, also controlled by a local Board of Management.

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, and two good commercial training schools.

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 some 23,000 books, and a reference library of about 16,000 volumes. One hundred and thirty-six magazines and newspapers are provided. The number of subscribers is 2,000, and the average daily attendance over 1,000. There is also a spacious free reading-room, 60 ft. by 36 ft., which is supplied with 148 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 Mental Hospital; 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, Sydenham; 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 53,826. Including the adjacent Boroughs of Woolston, New Brighton, and Sumner, and other suburban areas, the total population now amounts to about 73,462. Tramways connect the centre of the city with the outlying areas of Addington, Sydenham, the Port Hills, Opawa, Papanui, and Fendalton, 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, iron and brass foundries, agricultural-implement works, fellmongering, tanning, and woolscouring works, flour-mills, breweries, meat preserving and freezing, biscuit, planing and moulding, bicycle, brick and pottery, soap and candle, and other works.

There are large and well-equipped agricultural and pastoral show-grounds at Addington, where a fine and successful show is held every year.

Recreation and amusement are provided for by His Majesty's Theatre, Theatre Royal, Opera House, and various public halls, the famous Riccarton racecourse, the numerous cricket and football grounds, &c., while boating men have the River Avon and the Heathcote estuary.

Christchurch is connected with the outside world by Port Lyttelton, seven miles distant. The railway-tunnel of 1 5/8 miles in length, through the Port Hills, is on this line. Christchurch is not only the centre of the splendid Canterbury Plains, but is also one of the chief railway centres. 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. g, width on top and bottom 82 ft. and 46 ft. respectively, the entrance being 62 ft. wide, well equipped with machinery and all requisites for repairs. Ships drawing up to 25 ft. can berth alongside the spacious wharves and sheds. The railway, electric-light, machinery, and appliances are available throughout, which renders loading and unloading practicable both by day and by night. As an indication of the volume of trade dealt with at the port, it may be noted that for the year ended 31st March, 1908, the imports were valued at £2,780,992 and the exports at £2,337,269. 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 in 1906 was 3,941 persons.

Timaru, the third town in importance, is situated on the coast and railway-line between Christchurch (100 miles) and Dunedin (131 miles). 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 31st March, 1908, the value of goods imported here was £307,760 and of produce exported £899,495. 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 7,935 persons.

Of other towns in Canterbury the following deserve mention: Rangiora, population about 1,800 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 about 1,804, 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 about 2,850, 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 about 1,020, 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 1,675 persons.

Waimate, population about 1,800, 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 557, 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 South 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 66. THE OTAGO LAND DISTRICT

DAVID BARRON, Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor.

Boundaries and Area.

The Otago Land District lies between the 44th and 47th parallels of south latitude, and extends from 167° 20' to 171° 10' of east longitude. It is bounded on the north by the Canterbury Land District; on the south-east and south by the ocean; on the west and south by the Waikawa, Mokoreta, Slopedown, Waikaka, Chatton, Wendon, Waikaia, Gap, Rockyside, and Kingston Survey Districts, the western and southern shores of Lake Wakatipu, 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.

A tourist track has been opened from the head of To 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 November to the 30th April. There are six huts on the track, supplied with blankets, provisions, &c., and a man in charge of each hut. The track runs through the Clinton Valley, passes the Sutherland Falls and Lake Ada, and opens out some of the finest scenery in the Dominion. 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. During the season there is a fortnightly mail between Invercargill and Milford.

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 South Island, lies partly in the Otago and partly in the Southland District. The dimensions of these lakes are as follows:—

LakesLength in MilesGeneral Breadth in MilesArea in Square MilesHeight above Sea-level in Feet
Te Anau, in Southland421 to 6132694
Manapouri, in Southland14456597
Wakatipu, in Otago501 to 3 ½1121,016
Wanaka ...291 to 375920
Hawea ...193481,062
Ohau ...111 to 3231,720
Pukaki ...112 ½ to 5311,588
Tekapo ...151 to 3 ½32 ½2,321

These lakes are situated in mountainous country; they are of glacial origin, and all very deep.

The steamer service on Lake Wakatipu is 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 (Greytown).

A small privately-owned steamer runs from Henley to the mouth of the Taieri River. 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 six miles.

Plains.

There are some considerable areas of tolerably level land in the interior, the largest being the Maniototo Plains, the Idaburn, Manuherikia, and Upper Clutha Valleys. Their dimensions are approximately as follows: Maniototo Plains, length twenty-four miles, average breadth, ten miles; Idaburn Valley, twenty-five miles by four miles; Manuherikia Valley, thirty-five miles by four miles; Upper Clutha Valley, thirty-three miles by five miles.

The Taieri Plain, nearer the coast, is about the same size as the Idaburn Valley, and is very fertile. Other plains are the Waitaki in the north, the Tokomairiro, the Strath-Taieri, the Tapanui, and the fertile Inch-Clutha, lying between the two branches of the Clutha River, and consisting entirely of alluvial deposit. There is also a good deal of low country, chiefly rolling downs, on the south-west side of the Clutha near the sea.

Forests.

The forest land lies mostly along the sea-coast, the largest area of bush being Tautuku Forest, about forty miles in length and fifteen miles in breadth. The western part of this forest is in the Southland District. The other principal forest areas are in the following localities, viz.: west 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. A very good bluestone is also to be found on the Horseshoe Bush Estate, about thirty miles south from Dunedin and one mile from Clarendon Station. 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 land at the Peninsula, but the inaccessibility to the stone would make it difficult to quarry. A dense dark granite of first-class quality 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. The same quality of stone is also obtainable at the Ocean. Beach, near the Bluff. 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 ten years from 1st September, 1907. 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, Shag Point, and Nightcaps is the best in quality. First-class brown coals are worked in several parts of Otago, the principal seats of the industry being Green Island, Milton, Alexandra, and Bannock-burn, as well as other parts of Central Otago.

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, aud are worked on a sufficient scale to supply local requirements.

The output of coal and lignite in Otago and Southland for year ending 31st December, 1907, was 438,331 tons.

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 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 38 in., distributed over 180 days in the year.

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 has brought portion of the valley into direct communication with a market.

Crops.

The following are the agricultural statistics as at 31st October, 1907:—

Total area in occupation in the Otago Land District, including sown grasses and land in native grass, &c., 7,639,494 acres. Corn-crops sown for threshing, chaffing, and feeding-off, comprising wheat, oats, barley, rye, maize, peas, beans, 185,360 acres; green, root, and other crops, 133,427 acres; grasses sown for seed and hay, 6,599 acres; land ploughed and sown in grass, 837,184 acres; surface-sown grasses, 194,870 acres; plantations, &c., including private gardens, market gardens, orchards, and vineyards, of a quarter of an acre and upwards, 10,056 acres; land ploughed but not planted, 10,728 acres; area in tussock or native grass, 6,267,869 acres.

 AcresEstimated Yield per AcreTotal
Wheat for threshing42,55930.5 bushels1,299,634 bushels
Oats for threshing86,23344.9 bushels3,872,351 bushels
Barley for threshing4,13125.8 bushels106,752 bushels
Stock.Head
Sheep, as at 30th April, 19072,481,452
Horses, as at 31st October, 190740,422
Cattle, as at 31st October, 1907120,609
Swine, as at 31st October, 190714,534

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, 1908, amounted to 4,411,311 skins, valued at £41,126.

Freezing Establishments.

There are three freezing and preserving works in Otago. The establishments are at Oamaru, Burnside, and Port Chalmers. At Oamaru there is a 60-ton Hercules refrigerator, capable of freezing 1,000 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 1,500 sheep per day, and there is storage-room for 60,000 carcases. In addition to the usual export in mutton and lamb, much export business is done at these works in frozen rabbits.

Gold-production.

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 102,980 oz. of gold were exported from Dunedin, having a value of £418,127.

Manufactories and Works.

Under this head the returns to 1st May, 1908, of the various trades and the number of factories within Dunedin and surrounding district are as follows: Aerated-water factories, 10; agricultural-implement works, 5; bakers and pastry-cooks, 57; basket-factories, 6; blacksmiths and coachbuilders, 41; boot-factories, 56; bacon - factories, 12; box - factories, 6; breweries, 7; brick and tile works, 8; brush and broom factories, 2; butchers (manufacturing small goods), 38; butter and cheese factories, 13; cabinetmaking - factories, 56; calico and leather - bag factories, 4; carpentering, 40; cement-factories, 2; chemical-works, 12; cigarette-factories, 3; clothing-factories, 11; coffee and spice factories, 6; coopers, 2; dentists, 20; dressmakers and milliners, 115; engravers, 2; engineers, 45; fell-mongers, 3; fish - curers, 11; flock-makers, 3; flour-millers, 4; seed-cleaning works, 8; gasworks, 3; gunsmiths, 4; hat and cap manufactories, 6; hair-preparing works, 5; hosiery-factories, 4: jam, biscuit, &c., 15; ink-factory, 1; lapidaries, 4; lead-light working, 8; laundries, 46; match-factory, 1; marine stores, 2; manure-factories, 3; mat and rug factories, 2; monumental-works, 4; paint-manufactories, 2; paper-mills, 2; cycle-factories, 21; photographers, 16; piano-manufacturers, 4; plasterers, 4; plumbers, 36; printers, 26; quarries, 6; rabbit-exporters, 7; rope and twine works, 1; saddlers, 17; sail and tent makers, 4; sauce-factories, 4; sawmills, 8; shirt-manufactories, 15: soap and candle works, 5: tailors, 60; tanneries, 3; tea packers, 10; umbrella-factories, 3; venetian-blind factories, 2; watchmakers, 31; typewriter-repairing works, 2; wireworking, 4; woollen-mill, 1; wool-dumping, 2; sawing firewood, 13.

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, 1908, 20,800,513 lb. of wool, valued at £831,889; but this includes Southland wool.

The number of hands employed in the manufactories of the Otago Provincial District was, according to the last census, 9,664 males and 3,210 females; total number of works of the above description, 888.

Chief Towns.

The following are the chief towns of Otago, with their population, including all having 1,000 inhabitants and upwards: Dunedin and suburbs, 59,495; Oamaru, 5,180; Port Chalmers, 2,250; Mosgiel, 1,550; Milton, 1,400; Kaitangata, 1,682; Lawrence, 1,106; Balclutha, 1,200.

City of Dunedin.

Dunedin, the capital city and commercial centre of Otago, is situated at the head of Otago Harbour, and is distant eight 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 Law Courts, Knox Church, St. Joseph's Cathedral, Boys' High School, First Church. Town Hall, Otago University, and Railway-station, The city has been much beautified 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 an electric tram service, which has been extended to the favourite seaside resorts of St. Kilda 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 1908 six large schools in the city proper, with an attendance of 2,870 pupils, and twelve more in the suburbs, with 3,927 pupils.

There is also in Dunedin a training-college for teachers. The students in training number eighty.

The School of Art and Design is in the same building as the Normal School, and has a staff of seven teachers. In 1908 there were 545 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 14; the attendance is 310.

The Otago Girls' High School was opened on the 6th February, 1871, with a roll of 78 pupils. The present attendance is 189, with a teaching staff of 10, exclusive of visiting teachers. Otago holds the proud distinction of then 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 £8 per annum per head.

There are now 278 boys and 183 girls in attendance at the schools under the new Government regulations.

A swimming-bath has been erected at the Boys' High School 75 ft. by 30 ft., 6 ft. deep at one end and 3 ft. 6 in. at the other, covered with iron roof with skylights, and furnished with dressing-rooms. This bath will be available for both schools, and will be a valuable adjunct.

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 thirty professors and lecturers.

The School of Medicine provides the full course for the medical degrees 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, and for the Associate diplomas in mining and metallurgy of the University of Otago.

A School of Dentistry has been established during the year, and is now open. Instruction is given qualifying for the degree in dentistry of the University of New Zealand.

The undergraduates keeping terms, according to the latest available information, are 226 men and 107 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 1,820 subscribers. The building, which was considerably enlarged a few years ago, contains, in addition to the circulating library; 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. A free public library is about to be established. It will be controlled by the City Council. Mr. Andrew Carnegie donated the sum of £10,000 to the object. The building has recently been completed, but is not stocked yet.

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 about 2,250. 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 82.

Leaving Dunedin by the northern railway, winding in and out through the hills which surround the town and port, and skirting the precipitous cliffs of the coast-line, the first station of importance reached after Port Chalmers is Waitati, a favourite seaside resort in Blueskin Bay; distance, seventeen miles. Fifteen miles beyond is Waikouaiti—population, 700—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.

Oamaru (seventy-eight miles) is the second town in Otago, having a population of about 5,180. 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 Awainoko (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 coal-mining, 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 1,550 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), in the middle of the Tokomairiro Plain, 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 about 1,200. Kaitangata, situated lower down the Clutha River, and connected by a branch line four miles long, has extensive coalfields, and a population of about 1,700. 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 about 3,100 inhabitants, with paper-mill, flour-mill, freezing-works, dairy factory, coal-mines, &c.

A branch line is being constructed from a point on the main line near Gore to the Township of Waikaka, twelve miles distant, and will serve a rich agricultural district which has been settled and cultivated for many years.

A branch line from Waipahi follows up and crosses the Pomahaka River and connects Tapanui (13 miles), Kelso (16 miles), Heriot (20 miles), and Edievale (26 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, Chatto Creek, and Alexandra to the present terminus, at 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 Chatto Creek. 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 population of about 1,100. This line is being extended towards Beaumont and Roxburgh. Gold was first discovered in the Lawrence district in 1861, and the mines are still yielding. 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 about 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 nearly 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 675. 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 attracted large numbers of tourists every year. There are two ways of reaching Queenstown—the one by the Clutha Valley and Kawarau Gorge, as above described, and the other by rail to Kingston, at the foot of Lake Wakatipu, and thence by steamer, which runs to suit the trains.

The Tautuku bush, in the south of Otago, has only lately been opened up, but already a large number of settlers are making their homes there. Starting from Balcluth 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, three 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-two miles: and Waipahi to Edievale, twenty-four miles. (3.) The Otago Central, from Wingatui to Clyde, 134 miles.

The following is a list of portions of railways under construction in Otago and Southland:—

Lawrence-Roxburgh Railway, under construction, eight miles from end of station-yard at Lawrence.

Catlin's River Railway, under construction, five miles and three-quarters from end of station-yard at Catlin's River.

Riversdale-Switzers Railway, under construction, ten miles from Riversdale Junction.

Waimahaka-Catlin's Railway, under construction, five miles and a half from end of station-yard at Waimahaka.

Gore–Waikaka Railway, under construction, twelve miles and three-quarters from junction with main line at Waikaka siding.

Orepuki–Waiau Railway, under construction, six miles and a half from end of station-yard at Waihoaka to Te Tua.

Statistical.

The total population of the Otago Land District on the 29th April, 1906, was 127,877.

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, 1908:—

 HoldingsAcres
1. Lands finally alienated, comprising freehold land and vested reserves (net area after deducting land acquired under Land for Settlements Acts, &c.) 2,707,565
2. Lands held on deferred payment, rural ...133,874
3. Lands held on perpetual lease, rural17529,958
4. Lands held under occupation-with-right-of-purchase clause26247,880
5. Lands held on lease in perpetuity, ordinary Crown land, rural815204,967
6. Lands held on renewable lease, ordinary Crown land, rural1119
7. Lands held under agricultural lease on goldfields16521
8. Lands held under Mining Districts Land Occupation Act27010,443
9. Lands held under village settlement, deferred payment2100
10. Lands held under village settlement, perpetual lease14292
11. Lands held under village settlement, lease in perpetuity1111,710
12. Lands held under village settlement, renewable lease430
13. Lands held under village-homestead special settlement, perpetual lease711,053
14. Lands held by special-settlement associations, lease in perpetuity142,765
15. Lands held as small grazing-runs295725,053
16. Lands held under pastoral license, not including bush2214,199,496
17. Lands held under lease or license for miscellaneous purposes, exclusive of gold-mining795141,476
18. Lands acquired and disposed of as lease in perpetuity under Land for Settlements Act, rural574110,067
19. Lands acquired and disposed of as renewable lease under Land for Settlements Act, rural6346,269
20. Lands acquired and disposed of as small grazing-runs under Land for Settlements Acts910,733
21. Lands acquired and disposed of as pastoral homestead cites under Land for Settlements Act2954
22. Lands acquired and disposed of as miscellaneous licenses under Land for Settlements Acts611,941
23. Crown lands open for selection (including Land for Settlements Act), exclusive of pastoral runs ... 308
24. Crown lands being prepared for selection ... 38,40
25. Lands open for application under pastoral license Nil
26. Lands held by aboriginal Natives 16,500
27. Lakes, and Clutha and Taieri Rivers 163,500
23. Balance of Crown lands, including mining reserves, public reserves not vested, bush lands, roads, barren country, &c 416,826
 Total area of district (13,879 square miles),8,882,800

Tenants of land included in 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, and 14 have the right of acquiring the freehold. There is no right of acquiring the freehold for tenants of lands included in 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22.

Chapter 67. THE SOUTHLAND LAND DISTRICT.

E. H. WILMOT, Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Boundaries.

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 Dominion south of the 47° parallel of south latitude are included in it.

Area and Physical Features.

The total area of the district, including Stewart Island, but exclusive of Solander, Ruapuke, and the other small islands enumerated above, is 7,583,892 acres, of which 500,000 are covered with bush. A considerable area in the Fiord County consists of wild 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, Longwood, Hokonui, Waikawa, and on Stewart Island. The timbers of commercial value are totara, rimu, miro, matai, kahikatea, rata, towai, 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 some extent with gravel beds as they run through very extensive plains. Commencing with the eastern side, the Mataura, Oreti (or New River), Aparima (or Jacob's River), and Waiau are the most prominent illustrations of this; but these rivers by no means exhaust the list, as they all have numerous tributaries, which exhibit the same features on a lesser scale.

Speaking generally, the watersheds of these rivers do not attain any great height until followed far inland, and near the great lakes to be presently noticed. From what has been said above, it follows that the extensive plains and valleys referred to are of alluvial formation, in many places of very rich and fertile quality, and capable of raising crops of every known product, subject, of course, to climatic limitations. Generally these plains and valleys rise from the river-levels in a very gradual slope, sometimes into a series of terraces from 10 ft. to 50 ft. in height, and sometimes into undulating hills intersected at frequent intervals by lateral gullies affording natural drainage and an abundant supply of water.

These hills are covered with an indigenous growth, consisting of tussock and other grasses, fern, flax, &c., and even in their native state afford excellent grazing for sheep.

Near the large lakes, such as Wakatipu, Te Anau, Manapouri, 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. But these features are seen more prominently in the almost inaccessible Fiord country before referred to, and also in the West Coast Sounds. The open country of the inter or occasionally presents a number of low 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 part of the district is generally covered with snow.

Southland does not contain so much forest as most of the North Island districts, and this, with its extensive tussock-covered plains before referred to, will account for its early and extensive settlement; nevertheless there are considerable areas of forest in the eastern, southern, and western parts, and on Stewart Island, and a large export trade is done in the different kinds of pine and other timbers used for building, engineering, furniture-making, &c.

From what has been said of the river systems it will be evident that the country is well supplied with water, although none of the rivers can be used for purposes of internal communication; but the plains are traversed by railways for considerable distances from the principal towns, and where the railways end communication is continued by good roads, so that there is probably no part of the Dominion better off for means of transit; and with the Bluff Harbour the Southland District would seem to possess every facility.

Agriculture.

Having already touched on the character of the soil, it only remains to say that the plains, terraces, and lower hills are well adapted for raising wheat, oats, and other cereals, turnips, mangolds, beets, and the various other crops common to temperate climates. Wheat is not so widely grown as it might be, for the reason, probably, that the pastoral branches of farming receive more attention than the agricultural, and wheat is not required for these, whereas oats are largely grown for export and to feed sheep in the form of chaff; turnips also are much cultivated for winter food. Where wheat is grown the yields are very satisfactory, ranging from 40 to 60 bushels per acre, while oats frequently give 70 to 80 bushels.

Linseed is now receiving some attention from farmers, as they find ready sale for it to the manufacturing chemists at remunerative prices, a fair crop yielding over £5 per acre.

There are extensive deposits of limestone throughout the district. At Lime-hills a large plant has been put up which turns out agricultural and building lime in large quantities. This is a great boon to the district, and owing to its free carriage by railway up to distances of 100 miles, farmers are enabled to go in for extensive liming of their holdings.

Owing to the introduction of the drain plough of recent years considerable areas of land are now capable of being brought into a high state of cultivation, which on account of excessive moisture or their swampy nature were formerly only fit for rough pasturage.

Dairy-farming, &c.

Dairy-farming now forms a very important industry in this district, a number of factories having been established. In this connection the Customs Department returns (for year ending 31st March of the present year) for this district, show that 52,074 cwt. of cheese, valued at £149,139, was exported.

Sheep-farming.

By far the most important industries are those connected with the raising and export of mutton and wool. Some years ago sheep-farming was much hindered by the inroads of rabbits; but owing to the repressive measures adopted there has been a marked abatement of the pest. The hill-country, although it does not carry a large proportion of stock to area, is eminently healthy. The average carrying-capacity over the whole district would probably be slightly over two sheep to the acre. Until within the last few years most of the runs were stocked with merinos, but owing 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 1,378,522. This number is distributed over Southland District. A number of large establishments for slaughtering and freezing sheep and tinning meat are at work. Two are situated at the Bluff, and another at Mataura (on the Main Trunk Railway-line). Beef, mutton, and rabbit tinning works have been in operation for some years at Woodlands. The exports from these factories (frozen meats) as returned for 1907 are as follows: Frozen mutton—123,158 carcases, value £80,635; lamb—240,320 carcases, value £130,541; rabbit-carcases—1,812,346, value £37,763; beef—1,371 cwt., value £1,371; rabbit-skins—1,098,035, value £10,710; while the export of wool was 7,959,988 lb., value £324,896.

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, some 17,000 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, and very extensive works have been erected in connection therewith. From various causes, however, they have been closed down for the last few years, but there is now a prospect of their being again brought into operation. 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. These dredges have been working for some years, and the yields of gold, although of an intermittent character, have on the whole been satisfactory; output during 1907, 24,892 oz., valued at £99,329. Payable gold-bearing reefs also 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, forty-one mills have been set up, and in 1907 some 3,787 tons, value £101,459, were graded and exported from the Bluff.

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-eight sawmills are now at work off and on within the timber-areas of Southland, and although the quantity of timber sawn during 1907—viz, 49,513,000 super, feet—has exceeded that produced in former years, there can be no doubt that 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, some 8,200 cwt., of the value of £12,238, having been frozen and exported from the Bluff, as also large numbers of oysters during the open season. Freezing-works have been established at Stewart Island and Preservation Inlet. 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 aspect. There is a good jam-factory at Seaward Bush.

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, the average being now 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 Dominion. 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 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 has built a Town Hall and Municipal Theatre at a cost of £23,800. It presents a very handsome appearance in brick and concrete, while the Theatre has every convenience, together with large seating accommodation and the electric light. 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. Visitors to the town, and especially those who have been absent for some years, cannot fail to be impressed with the prosperity of the place, as evidenced by the rapid growth of the suburbs. In all directions may be seen commodious and substantial villa residences, standing on what a few years ago were bare paddocks. The population, including suburbs, was 12,507 by the census of April, 1906, and is now estimated to have increased to 13,419. 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 which branches into two at Thornbury 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, saw-mills, fellmongeries, a boot factory, three bacon-factories, brick and pottery works, iron-foundries, furniture-factories, and various other industries are in active operation. During the year a woollen-mill, the first in the district, commenced operations, and now manufactures blankets, tweeds, hosiery, rugs, and flannels, principally for local consumption, putting through about 1,000 lb. of wool per week. The works, erected at a cost of £15,000, are lighted throughout by electricity, and are said to possess the most up-to-date machinery in the Dominion. 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. During the year a tramway across the estuary connecting with the suburb of Otatara was completed and opened for traffic. The line is two miles in length, and when the contemplated extension to the Oreti River and sea-beach is finished it will be largely availed of by picnic parties and excursionists.

Campbelltown, situated 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 population is about 1,600. The town presents some good buildings—frozen-meat works, hotels, grain-stores, and shipping offices, all in brick. Perhaps the most conspicuous is the Government Post, Telegraph, and Customs Offices, 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 (seventeen 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 export of wool, grain, frozen mutton, rabbits, fish, cheese, butter, timber, flax, and oysters; and in imports of general merchandise, guano, coal, and hardwood timber. 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 and other vessels having a combined net tonnage of 520,260 tons entered inwards during 1907, 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. The Harbour Board's dredge has been engaged continuously during the year in and about the wharves and approaches, and has materially increased the depths in those vicinities. In order further to increase the port facilities, the Harbour Board during the past year has formulated a scheme of harbour lighting by which steamers can enter the port at any time of the night. A system of Wigham lights has been installed, and steamers now come directly to the wharves at time of arrival, instead of waiting as formerly for daylight and slack water. It is the intention of the Board to renew all old wharves, and also to build further wharfage accommodation in the near future, to cope with the rapidly expanding trade of the port. The Bluff is also 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. The population is about 3,050. The construction of a new line of railway from Gore to Waikaka (12 miles) is approaching completion.

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 (population about 950). 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, and has a population of about 600. 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 (population about 500) 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 Hedgehope, an extensive agricultural locality lying some fifteen miles away in an easterly 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. The Seaward Bush Railway is at present open for traffic to Waimahaka (26 miles from Invercargill), and is being extended towards Tokanui.

Eastward of Fortrose and about midway between that place and Catlin's River is Waikawa, a township with a harbour for coasters, and a large area of surveyed Crown land around, with good timber, available for settlement. Steamers trading with Dunedin and Invercargill call here and at Fortrose at regular intervals. A good export of timber occurs at Waikawa.

Crown Lands for Disposal.

The total area of surveyed lands remaining open for selection as on the 31st March, 1908, was 912 acres, comprising the following lands:—

Town and suburban514 acres
Village-homestead settlements ...398 acres
Rural—ordinaryNil acres
—bush and swampNil acres
Land for settlementsNil acres
Rural—lease in perpetuityNil acres
—bush and swamp (lease in perpetuity), unsurveyedNil acres
                    Total912 acres
Unsurveyed pastoral runsNil acres
                    Gross total912 acres

Owing to the operations of “The Land Laws Amendment Act, 1907,” all land in the Land Guide was withdrawn from sale in order to be reclassified. The town and suburban land was not affected, and the only other lands which were reclassified and opened for application before the 31st March were the village-homestead allotments; the remaining surveyed sections will be open for selection some time during the current year, and it is expected that some 20,000 acres will be opened for selection at an early date.

Chapter 68. NEW ZEALAND'S EXTENDED BOUNDARIES.

NOTES ON THE COOK AND OTHER ISLANDS ANNEXED TO NEW ZEALAND IN 1901.

The Pacific islands annexed to New Zealand 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, Mamhiki, Penrhyn, and Suwarrow. Takutea and Nassau, not mentioned in the resolutions, also lie within the boundary-lines prescribed by the Imperial Order in Council and the New Zealand Proclamation dealing with the annexation. Under “The Cook and other Islands Government Act, 1901,” the Federal Parliament of the Cook Islands and the several Native Councils were continued under the names “Federal Council” and “Island Councils.” The former has power to enact Federal Ordinances for the government of all the islands excepting Niue, while each Island Council can make local Ordinances governing the inhabitants within its jurisdiction. No Ordinance passed in the islands, however, can have the force of law until assented to by the Governor of New Zealand in the name and on behalf of His Majesty; and the Governor has power, by Order in Council, to direct that any of the laws in force in the islands at the commencement of the principal Act shall be repealed or modified. The Governor in Council has power also to apply to the islands any law in force in New Zealand, either in whole or with modifications, excepting the laws relating to alcoholic liquors. “The 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, with certain exceptions, 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 1905, 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 Niue the laws are administered by Native Magistrates, except in cases in which white people are concerned. These are dealt with 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 Niue was placed under a separate administration, and the Federal Council and the High Court of the Cook Islands have now no jurisdiction in that island. Mr. H. G. Cornwall, 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 the island has now been surveyed. With the advent of a larger European population a steady increase in the yield of the staple products of the island may be looked for. In the case of copra it will be some years before the production can be greatly increased, but the 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 1907 having exceeded that of the previous year by 12,000 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 known as the “Whare Manuhiri” has been erected here for the accommodation of visitors, and it is expected that a tourist traffic will now be developed. The Native population of Rarotonga is 2,334, in addition to which there are 107 whites on the island.

Mangaia.

This is one of the largest of the annexed islands, being about thirty miles in circumference, and having an area of some thirty square miles. Given proper landing facilities, it would be in no way behind Rarotonga, except in the lack of that impressive mountain scenery that lends such a charm to the latter island. Mangaia is somewhat peculiar in structure. At a short distance inland from the shore there rises an almost perpendicular wall of dead coral, about 100 ft. high, as if the reef of earlier days had been lifted bodily by some convulsion of nature. This makatea, as it is called, runs right round the island, and is perforated by numerous caves and crevices, which in olden times were used as depositories for the dead, as well as for storage and other purposes. These caves still supply, in the calcareous formations in which they abound, the material from which the Natives manufacture some of their household implements. The top of the makatea averages about a mile in width, and is well adapted to the growth of the citrus family of fruits. The interior face of this coral rampart slopes down gradually into a basin of rich swamp land, containing extensive taro-plantations, and from this the land rises again in a succession of low hills to a central plateau, about 650 ft. high, known as the “Crown of Mangaia.” These taro-swamps still supply most of the food of the Mangaians, although for many years the tribes have lived in the Villages of Oneroa, Tamarua, and Ivirua, on the coast. The interior of the island, which contains some splendid valleys, is well watered by streams which filter through below the base of the makatea into the sea. The population, according to the latest returns, s 1,523, in addition to eight whites. 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 be increased twenty-fold. Mangaia produces the best coffee in the Group at present. Last year there were exported 11,248 cases of bananas, 14,459 cases of oranges, 67 tons of copra, 26,900 lb. coffee, 1,699 cases pines, 2,352 cases kumaras and taros, 15,675 cocoanuts, and 5,300 gallons of limejuice. 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 are being 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. 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 exported last year 68 tons of copra and 10,904 cases of oranges. The island has now been surveyed and subdivided. Tararo Ariki is Resident Agent on Mauke. The Native population of the island is 444, the whites numbering only two.

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 ofcopra, 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 914 Natives, and four whites, 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 settlement at Atiu is some distance inland, on the flat summit of the low central hill to which the island rises.

Ailutaki.

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 three-quarters of a mile from the wharf at Arutanga, 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 Arutanga 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 1,162, 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. In addition there were eighty-two absentees. There are eight white people on the island. The Resident Agent is Mr. J. C. Cameron.

Penrhyn.

Penrhyn is a good specimen of the pure atoll. It is merely a ring of coral, about forty-eight miles in circuit, supporting a number of low islands, from 200 to 300 yards across, and enclosing a lagoon of ninety square miles in area, of which twenty-four square miles are more or less covered with pearl-shell. There are three passages into the lagoon, the principal one having a depth of 18 ft. at low water, and there is sufficient wharf accommodation at Omoka for the small class of vessel that visits the island. The other village at Penrhyn, Te Tautua, is some ten miles distant. The pearl-shell fishing is the main industry of the island, but 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 Cnel 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 be brought into requisition until the limit of time has been reached. That area is then closed, and the same procedure is repeated in another portion of the lagoon. By this means each area is given rest for about a year, and as the shell is said to grow very rapidly at Penrhyn the supply is well maintained. An Ordinance of the Federal Council prohibits the removal of shells of less than 4 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 price at present is low, and the export for 1907 was 23 tons. The lagoons at Penrhyn and Manihiki have been taken over by the Crown, and have been Proclaimed as reserves for public pearl-shell fishing. The total population is 414 Natives and six whites. The Resident Agent is Mr. E. F. Hawk.

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 beats 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 lagoon has been proclaimed a public reserve for pearl-shell fishing. 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 521, two of whom are whites. There were besides twenty-two absentees. 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 produced in 1907 60 tons of copra. In the centre is a pretty little lagoon, bordered by a belt of swamp. The population, according to the last returns, was 208 Natives and two whites. Tou Ariki acts as Resident Agent.

Takutea.

This is the smallest island in the Cook Group, its area being about 300 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 is having 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 82.

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 1,000 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 descendants 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 351 Natives and one white, in addition to fifty absentees.

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 435, besides thirty-two absentees. Nassau is owned by a resident of Apia, Samoa.

Niue.

Niue is the largest of the annexed islands, having an area of a hundred square miles, and a circumference of forty miles by road. It consists entirely of uplifted coral, and is probably the result of a series of upheavals. In general formation it takes the shape of two terraces, the lower being about 90 ft. above sea-level, and the other about 220 ft. At Alofi the fringing reef is broken by a narrow boat-passage, partly natural and partly the result of improvements effected by H.M.S. “Mildura” a few years ago. In addition to the one at Alofi, there are landing-places at Avatele and 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 land was made three 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 have now been constructed in the principal villages. These are roofed over with galvanised corrugated iron, and provide a sufficient catchment-surface to fill them during the rainy season. The people thus have a reliable supply of good drinking-water.

In the past the manufacture of hats from a kind of pandanus by the Natives, who are very expert plaiters, has been of considerable dimensions; owing to the introduction into the markets reached by the Niue article of a cheaper kind of Panama hat, the industry has declined somewhat, but it is hoped that it will increase again. During the year ending the 31st December, 1907, hats to the number of 4,441 dozen were exported from Niue, principally to Auckland, the value represented being £2,952. There was a decrease in the export of copra during the year, owing to the unfavourable weather. The Native population of Niue is 3,801, exclusive of 580 at present absent in other islands or at sea. The Niueans are naturally of a roving disposition, and numbers of the men go to Tonga, Samoa, Malden Island, &c. Many go under engagement as labourers, and return on the expiration of their term. The white population numbers twenty-one persons. The Resident Commissioner is Mr. H. G. Cornwall, who also acts as Postmaster. Collector of Customs, &c.

LAND.

No land is sold by the Natives of the Cook Islands or Niue, but considerable areas have been leased in Rarotonga to European settlers. It is recognised that the prosperity of the islands depends in great measure on the settlement of the spare lands by a good class of white planters, and it is hoped that before long additional areas in Rarotonga, as well as portions of the adjacent islands of Mauke and Atiu, will be open for lease. At present there are difficulties in the way of securing leases from the Natives, but the work of surveying the land and defining the Native titles is proceeding rapidly, and every effort is being made to bring the unused lands into profitable occupation. It is desirable that the intending settler should have a capital equal to at least £10 for each acre he purposes taking up. The cocoanut-palm takes from eight to ten years to reach bearing-point, and during that time the planter must maintain himself by growing bananas or securing some outside employment. When the palms are in full bearing, however, the annual value of the crop may be estimated at not less than £6 per acre, and this may be regarded as a practically assured income for sixty years or more.

EDUCATION.

The educational requirements of the islands are met by missionary effort. The London Missionary Society has established village schools in the various islands, and the Roman Catholic Mission and the Seventh-day Adventists are also maintaining schools, though to a less extent. The London Mission has six schools in Rarotonga, three in Mangaia, four in Aitutaki, one in Aitu. two in Mauke, one in Mitiaro, two in Penrhyn, two in Manihiki, one in Rakahanga, one in Pukapuka, and one in Palmerston. There is also a boarding-school at Tereora, which has between sixty and seventy boarders. The teaching in this institution is more advanced than that in the village schools, and it may be considered in the light of a secondary school for the Islands.

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.

Good work is being done in the village schools of Niue also, of which there are eleven, and one thousand children are there being taught reading, writing, and arithmetic in the vernacular. Nearly all the younger Niueans are able to read and write in their own language.

REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.

Cook and Northern Islands.—For the financial year ending the 31st March, 1908, the revenue of the Cook and other Islands, including the balance from the previous year, was £9,773 6s. 11d., and the expenditure £6,189 14s. 1d. This leaves a credit balance of £3,583 12s. 10d., in addition to which there is an amount of £1,511 3s. 10d. outstanding for Land Titles Court fees. The following is a comparative statement of revenue and expenditure for the past nine years.

YearRevenueExpenditureSurplus

* Figures for 1901–2 are for nine months only.

 £    sd£    sd£  sd
1898–991,8011341,402125399011
1899–19003,1657102,188910976180
1900–14,25217112,95114101,30131
1901–2*4,063962,335731,72823
1902–36,5841344,72516111,858165
1903–47,169084,558392,6101611
1904–58,1851105,093883,09224
1905–610,249345,45510114,793125
1906–79,840746,416663,424010
1907–89,7736116,1891413,5831210

Niue.—The revenue of Niue for the year ending the 31st March, 1908 (including balance from previous year), was £3,653 1s. 2d., and the expenditure £1,910 0s. 4d. The total funds to the credit of the Niue Government on the 31st March, however, amounted to £1,743 0s. 10d.

EXPORTS AND IMPORTS.

Cook and Northern Islands.—The value of exports for the year 1907 was £51,578, while the imports amounted to £50,756. The principal items exported were as follow:—

 £    
Coffee, 45,060 lb944
Copra, 934 tons15,491
Bananas, 75,295 cases, 14,727 bunches12,910
Oranges, 104,201 cases18,235
Pineapples, 5,352 cases1,070
Limejuice, 5,840 gallons438
Pearl-shell, 27 tons1,350

The amount of the imports is made up as follows:—

 £    
From New Zealand39,289
From United Kingdom3,439
From New South Wales630
From Victoria65
From United States4,360
From Germany366
From France90
From Tahiti2,087
From Niue133
From British Columbia92
From Canada57
From Hong Kong26
From Tonga2
From Malden Island120
   £50,756

Niue.—The exports for 1907 amounted to £7,955, and the imports to £8,491. The principal items of export were—

 £    
Copra, 311 tons4,141
Hats, 4,441 dozen2,952
Fungus, 17,293 lb260
Curios11
Kits, 220 dozen34
Yams, 18 tons92
The imports represented— 
From New Zealand6,803
From Australia924
From Tonga239
From Samoa, German158
From Malden Island 
From Cook Islands2
From United Kingdom35
From Germany11
From United States46
From Pago Pago16
   £8,491

Appendix A. APPENDIX.

PRINCIPAL EVENTS.

DATES OF SOME OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND.

Dec. 13, 1642.—Discovery of New Zealand by Abel Jansen Tasman.

Oct. 8, 1769.— Captain Cook 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, ten 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 New Zealand.

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 Cape Egmont.

Oct. 1, 1834.—H.M.S. “Alligator” shelled and took Waimate Pa, near Opunake. First occasion of H.M. troops being employed in New Zealand.

1835.—Declaration of independence of the whole of New Zealand as one nation, with the title of “The United Tribes of New Zealand.”

Nov. and Dec., 1835.—Ngati-Awa Tribes migrated to and conquered the Chatham Islands.

March 28, 1836.—Maketu Pa, Bay of Plenty, fell to Waikato.

May 9, 1836.—Te Tumu Pa, Bay of Plenty, fell to Te Arawa.

Aug. 5, 1836.—Battle at Matai-puku, Rotorua—Waikato beat Te Arawa.

Oct., 1836.—Siege of Toka-a-kuku, Te Kaha, Bay of Plenty.

1838.—The Roman Catholic Bishop Pompallier, with several priests, arrived at Hokianga.

Sept. 1, 1838.—H.M.S. “Pelorus” discovers Pelorus Sound.

April, 1839.—Taking of the French whaler “Jean Bart” at Chatham Islands by Maoris.

May 12, 1839.—Departure of the preliminary expedition of the New Zealand Company from England.

June, 1839.—Issue of Letters Patent authorising the Governor of New South Wales to include within the limits of that colony any territory that might be acquired in sovereignty by Her Majesty in New Zealand.

Sept. 16, 1839.—First body of New Zealand Company's emigrants sailed from Gravesend.

Sept. 20, 1839.—Arrival in Port Nicholson of the preliminary expedition of the New Zealand Company under Colonel Wakefield.

Oct. 16, 1839.—Battle of Te Kuititanga, Otaki.

Jan. 20, 1840.—First steamer arrived in New Zealand.

Jan. 22, 1840.—Arrival of first body of immigrants at Port Nicholson.

Jan. 29, 1840.—Captain Hobson, R.N., arrived at the Bay of Islands. On the following day (Jan. 30) he hoisted the Union flag, and read the commission, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom, which extended the boundaries of the Colony of New South Wales so as to embrace and comprehend the Islands of New Zealand; also his own commission as Lieutenant-Governor over territory that might be acquired in sovereignty.

Feb. 5, 1840.—Treaty of Waitangi signed.

May 21, 1840.—Date of Proclamations of sovereignty over the Islands of New Zealand.

June 17, 1840.—The Queen's sovereignty over the South 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 New Zealand

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. 23, 1843.—Arrival of Captain Fitzroy, R.N., as Governor.

July 8, 1814.—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 New Zealand, 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 New Zealand 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 Governmnet 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 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 New Zealand, 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 New Zealand, 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 New Zealand 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 Rangi-take at Waitara.

Mar. 18, 1860.—Capture of Maori pa at Waitara.

Mar. 28, 1860.—Engagement at Waireka.

June 27, 1860.—Engagement of Puketakauere at Waitara.

Nov. 6, 1860.—Defeat at Mahoetahi, with heavy loss, of a force of Waikato Natives, who had crossed the Waitara River to join Wiremu Kingi.

Dec. 31, 1860.—Capture of the Matarikoriko Pa, and defeat of a large body of Waikato Natives.

Jan. 23, 1861.—The Natives made a determined attack on the redoubt at Huirangi occupied by Imperial troops, and were repulsed with heavy loss.

April 1, 1861.—Establishment of Province of Southland.

May 21, 1861.—A truce agreed to.

May, 1861.—Discovery of gold at Gabriel's Gully, Otago.

July 5, 1861.—Defeat of Mr. Stafford's Ministry, by a majority of one, on a vote of want of confidence.

July 12, 1861.—Appointment of a Ministry under the premiership of Mr. Fox.

July 29, 1861.—Incorporation of the Bank of New Zealand.

Sept. 26, 1861.—Arrival of Sir George Grey, K.C.B., at Auckland, from the Cape Colony, to succeed Governor Gore Browne. Sir George Grey was sworn in as Governor on the 3rd October.

Oct. 2, 1861.—Departure of Governor Gore Browne.

June 28, 1862.—Coromandel proclaimed a goldfield.

June 29, 1862.—Wreck of s.s. “White Swan” on East Coast (with loss of many public records, in transit from Auckland).

July 28, 1862.—Defeat of Mr. Fox's Ministry by the casting-vote of the Speaker, on a proposed resolution in favour of placing the ordinary conduct of Native affairs under the administration of the Responsible Ministers.

Aug. 6, 1862.—Appointment of a Ministry under the leadership of Mr. Alfred Domett.

Feb. 7, 1863.—Wreck of H.M.S. “Orpheus” on Manukau Bar; 181 lives lost.

Feb. 26, 1863.—Definite relinquishment by the Imperial Government of control over administration of Native affairs.

May 4, 1863.—Treacherous assault near Tataraimaka by Natives on a military escort. Murder of Lieutenant Tragett, Dr. Hope, and five soldiers of the 57th Regiment.

June 4, 1863.—Defeat of Natives at Katikara, by a force under Lieut.-General Cameron.

July 17, 1863.—Action at Koheroa, in the Auckland Province. Commencement of the Waikato War.

Oct. 27, 1863.—Resignation of the Domett Ministry, in consequence of difficulties experienced in connection with arrangements for finding a fitting representative of the Government in the Legislative Council.

Oct. 30, 1863.—Appointment of the Ministry formed by Mr. Fox, under the premiership of Mr. F. Whitaker.

Nov., 1863.—Acceptance by the General Assembly of colonial responsibility in Native affairs.

Nov. 20, 1863.—Battle of Rangiriri. Defeat of Natives and unconditional surrender of 183.

Dec. 1, 1863.—The first railway in New Zealand opened for traffic by Mr. Samuel Bealey, Superintendent of Canterbury. The line was from Christchurch to Ferrymead Junction.

Dec. 3, 1863.—The New Zealand Settlements Act passed, giving the Governor power to confiscate the lands of insurgent Natives.

Dec. 8, 1863.—Occupation of Ngaruawahia. The British flag hoisted on the Maori king's flagstaff.

Feb. 11, 1864.—Engagement with Natives on Mangapiko River. Major (then Captain) Heaphy, of the New Zealand Forces, won the Victoria Cross for distinguished bravery on this occasion.

Feb. 22, 1864.—Defeat of Natives at Rangiaohia.

April 2, 1864.—Attack on and capture of pa at Orakau, Waikato.

April 21, 1864.—Engagement near Maketu, Bay of Plenty. Tribes of the Rawhiti defeated by Arawa Natives, under Captain McDonnell.

April 29, 1864.—Assault on Gate Pa, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, and repulse of large British force by the Maoris. The pa was abandoned by the Natives during the following night.

April 30, 1864.—Repulse of attack by rebel Hauhau Natives on redoubt at Sentry Hill. Taranaki.

May 14, 1864.—Battle of Moutoa, an island in the Wanganui River, between friendly and rebel Hauhau Natives. Complete defeat of rebels.

June 21, 1864.—Engagement at Te Ranga, near Tauranga, by Lieut.-Colonel Greer, 68th Regiment. Severe defeat of the Natives.

1864.—Discovery of gold on the west coast of the South 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.

July, 1867.—Opening of Thames Goldfield.

Oct. 10, 1867.—An Act passed to establish an institute for the promotion of science and art.

Oct. 10, 1867.—An Act passed for the division of New Zealand into four Maori electorates, and the admission of four Maori members to the House of Representatives.

Jan., 1863.—Establishment of the County of Westland.

Feb. 5, 1868.—Arrival of Governor Sir George F. Bowen, G.C.M.G.

July 4, 1868.—Seizure by Maori prisoners, under the leadership of Te Kooti, of the schooner “Rifleman,” and their escape from the Chatham Islands.

July 12, 1868.—Night attack by Natives on redoubt at Turuturu Mokai. Sub-Inspector Ross and seven Europeans killed. Natives driven off by the arrival of a force under Major Von Tempsky.

Aug. 8, 1868.—Pursuit by Lieut.-Colonel Whitmore of escaped Chatham Island prisoners, and indecisive engagement in the gorge of the Ruake Ture.

Aug. 21, 1868.—Attack on Ngutu-o-te-Manu by force under Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. Defeat of Natives; four Europeans killed and eight wounded.

Sept. 7, 1868.—Engagement in bush at Ngutu-o-te-Manu. Major Von Tempsky, Captains Buck and Palmer, Lieutenants Hunter and Hastings, and fourteen men killed.

Oct. 19, 1868.—Bishop Selwyn left New Zealand.

Nov. 7, 1868.—Attack on Moturoa. Repulse of Colonial Forces, with severe loss.

Nov. 10, 1868.—Massacre of thirty-two Europeans at Poverty Bay by Te Kooti's band of Natives, who had escaped from the Chatham Islands.

Nov. 24, 1868, Dec. 3, 1868, Dec. 5, 1868.—Engagements between friendly Natives and rebels under Te Kooti, at Patutahi, Poverty Bay district.

Jan. 5, 1869.—Assault on and capture of Ngatapa Pa, Poverty Bay district, after a siege of six days, by the Colonial Forces of Europeans and friendly Natives under Colonel Whitmore and Major Ropata. Dispersion and pursuit of Te Kooti's band. More than 136 rebel Natives were killed.

Feb. 13, 1869.—Treacherous murder of the Rev. John Whitely and seven other Europeans at the White Cliffs, Taranaki.

Feb. 18, 1869.—Attack by rebel Natives on a foraging-party at Karaka Flat; one sergeant and six men killed.

Mar. 3, 1869.—Termination of Panama mail-service.

Mar. 13, 1869.—Attack on and defeat of Titokowaru's force at Otauto.

April 10, 1869.—Native pa at Mohaka taken by Te Kooti, who killed forty friendly Natives and several Europeans in the neighbourhood.

April 12, 1869.—First arrival of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh in Wellington, in H.M.S. “Galatea.”

May 6, 1869.—Surprise and capture of Ahikereru and Oamaru Teangi Pas, Waiwera country. Defeat of Te Kooti.

June 13, 1869.—Surrender to Major Noake and Mr. Booth, R.M., of the chief Tairua, with 122 men, women and children of the Pakakohe Tribe, near Wanganui.

June 24, 1869.—Defeat of Mr. Stafford's Ministry on a want-of-confidence motion.

June 28, 1869.— Appointment of a Ministry under the premiership of Mr. W. Fox.

Sept. 3, 1869.—An Act passed providing Government life insurance and annuities.

Oct., 1869.—Seventy-four prisoners from the bands of Te Kooti and 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 New Zealand.

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 Elinburgh 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 New Zealand in England. He was the first to hold that office, and had previously been Superintendent of the Province of Wellington from the time of the first establishment of provincial representative institutions.

Sept. 1, 1876.—Resignation of Sir J. Vogel's Ministry in view of the appointment of Sir J. Vogel as Agent-General. Formation of a Ministry under the premiership of Major Atkinson.

Sept. 13, 1876.—Resignation of Major Atkinson's Ministry in consequence of doubts being entertained as to the constitutional position thereof. Reconstruction of the Ministry under the premiership of Major Atkinson.

Nov. 1, 1876.—”The Abolition of Provinces Act, 1875,” came into full operation. Complete abolition of provincial institutions. New Zealand 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 Now 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 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.

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 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 basi of the Assessment Act of previous year.

Oct. 11, 1892.— “Land Act, 1892”: Lease in perpetuity without revaluation system introduced; occupation with right of purchase; optional method of selection; small-farms associations.

Oct. 8, 1892.—”Land for Settlements Act, 1892,” authorising purchase of lands from individuals for purposes of subdivision. [Repealed by Act of 1894, See post.]

April 19, 1893.—Cheviot Estate taken over by Government under the Land and Income Assessment Act.

April 27, 1893.—Death of Hon. John Ballance, Premier of New Zealand.

May 1, 1893.—Resignation of the Ministry in consequence of the death of the Hon. John Ballance, and appointment of a new Ministry under the premiership of the Hon. R. J. Seddon.

June 23, 1893.—Death of Sir William Fox, K.C.M.G., four times Premier of New Zealand.

Sept. 2, 1893.—Passing of Bank-note Issue Act, to make bank-notes a first charge on assets and to enable the Government to declare them to be a legal tender, &c.

Sept. 8, 1893.—The Legislative Council of New Zealand passed, by a majority of two, the Bill conferring the franchise on women.

Sept. 14, 1893.—Banks and Bankers Act Amendment Act passed, to permit of increase of capital by issue of new shares.

Sept. 19, 1893.—”The Electoral Act, 1893,” extending franchise to women.

Oct. 2, 1893.—Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act passed: New licenses to be 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, 1894.”

Oct. 18, 1894.—Labour Laws: Passing of “Shops and Shop-assistants Act, 1894,” for limiting hours of business in shops.

Oct. 23, 1894.—Passing of “Banking Act, 1894.”

Oct. 23, 1894.—Dairy Industry Act, to regulate manufacture of butter and cheese, with inspection and grading for export, and provide for purity of milk.

Oct. 28, 1894.—Wreck of s.s. “Wairarapa” at Great Barrier Island; 135 lives lost.

Mar. 29, 1895.—Death of Right Reverend Andrew Burn Suter, D.D., formerly Bishop of Nelson, and Primate of New Zealand.

May 27, 1895.—Government assumed management of the Midland Railway.

Aug. 3, 1895.—Death of C. W. Richmond, Puisne Judge of Wellington.

Aug. 20, 1895.—Trustees 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 procis of first call on reserve liability; also for new capital and Assets Realisation Board, &c.; also to purchase business of any other bank.

Sept. 20, 1895.—Labour Laws: Passing of an Act to regulate attachment of wages.

Sept. 20, 1895.—Labour Laws: Passing of Servants' Registry Office Act.

Sept. 20, 1895.—”Family Homes Protection Act, 1895,” to secure homes or 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 New Zealand 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 A goa 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.ss. “Monowai,” “Gymeric,” “Waimate,” and “Maori.”

June 28, 1900.—”Bubonic Plague Prevention Act, 1900,” passed.

Aug. 8, 1900.—”Immigration Restriction Act, 1899,” assented to by Her Majesty in Council, came into operation.

Oct. 13, 1900.—Public Health Act passed.

Oct. 18, 1900.—The Maori Councils Act passed.

Oct. 20, 1900.—”The Representation Act, 1900,” passed, increasing number of European representatives to seventy-six.

Dec. 29, 1900.—Hon. Sir James Prendergast, Kt., appointed Deputy-Governor.

Jan. 1, 1901.—Universal penny postage adopted by New Zealand.

Jan. 22, 1901.—Queen Victoria died.

Jan. 28, 1901.—Accession of King Edward VII. proclaimed in New Zealand.

Jan. 30, 1901.—Sixth N.Z. Contingent (578 officers and men) sailed for South Africa in s.s. “Cornwall.”

Feb. 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 New Zealand taken for Sunday night.

April 6, 1901.—Seventh N.Z. Contingent (600 officers and men, rough-riders) 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 New Zealand extended to include Cook and other Pacific Islands.

Aug. 6, 1901.—Sir John McKenzie, K.C.M.G., died.

Nov. 7, 1901.—State Coal-mines Act passed.

Feb. 1, 1902.—North Island division of the Eighth N.Z. Contingent sailed rom 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, Mangonui.

April 14, 1902.—North Island division of the Tenth N.Z. Contingent sailed from Auckland for South Africa per s.s. “Drayton Grange.”

April 14, 1902.—Right Hon. R. J. Seddon sailed for London to attend Conference of Colonial Premiers, and to represent New Zealand at His Majesty the King's Coronation.

April 19, 1902.—South Island division of the Tenth Contingent sailed for South Africa per s.s. “Norfolk.”

June 26, 1902.—Death of Most Rev. Bishop William Garden Cowie, Primate of New Zealand.

Aug. 9, 1902.—Celebration in New Zealand on the occasion of the Coronation of His Majesty King Edward VII.

Aug. 1902.—Return of N.Z. troopers from South Africa (Eighth Contingent left Durban 5th July; Ninth, 9th July; Tenth, 15th July).

Nov. 5, 1902.—General Assembly dissolved.

Nov. 9, 1902.—Wreck of s.s. “Elingamite” on Three King's.

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.

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 New Zealand, 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.

Oct. 30, 1905.—Workers' Dwellings Act passed.

Nov. 29, 1905.—General Assembly dissolved.

Dec. 6, 1905.—General election of Members of House of Representatives.

April 29, 1906.—General census of New Zealand.

June 10, 1906.—Death of the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, P.C., Premier of New Zealand.

June 21, 1906.—Resignation of Ministry in consequence of the death of the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, and appointment of a new Ministry under the Premiership of the Hon. W. Hall-Jones.

June 27, 1906.—Opening of Parliament (the sixteenth).

Aug. 6, 1906.—Resignation of Ministry under the Premiership of the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, and appointment of a new Ministry under the Premiership of the Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, K.C.M.G.

Aug. 21, 1906.—Opening of Parliament (second session of the sixteenth).

Oct. 29, 1906.—Government Advances to Workers Act passed to assist workers in providing homes for themselves.

Nov. 1, 1906.—Opening of the New Zealand International Exhibition at Christchurch.

Nov. 18, 1906.—Death of Hon. Albert Pitt, M.L.C., Attorney General, Colonial Secretary, and Minister of Defence.

April 15, 1907.—Opening of Conference of Premiers at London. New Zealand represented by Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, K.C.M.G.

April 15, 1907.—Closing of the New Zealand International Exhibition.

May 9, 1907.—Hon Sir Joseph Ward, K.C.M.G., called to the Privy Council.

May 13, 1907.—Closing of the Conference of Premiers at London.

June 25, 1907.—Death of Sir John Hall, K.C.M.G., formerly Premier of New Zealand.

June 27, 1907.—Opening of third session of sixteenth Parliament.

Sept. 25, 1907.—Passing of “The Tariff Act, 1907.”

Sept. 26, 1907.—Style and designation of the “Colony of New Zealand” changed to “Dominion of New Zealand,” by Royal Proclamation of 10th September, 1907.

Oct. 26, 1907.—Land and Income Assessment Act Amendment passed; graduated land-tax increased.

Nov. 20, 1907.—Land Laws Amendment Act passed; lease in perpetuity abolished and renewable lease with periodical revaluation established.

Dec. 11, 1907.—Parliament Buildings destroyed by fire.

June 29, 1908.—Opening of Parliament (fourth session of the sixteenth).

Aug. 7, 1908.—First through train Wellington to Auckland.

Aug. 9, 1908.—American fleet of battleships visited Auckland.

GENERAL INDEX.

Accident Insurance, Government ... ... ... ... 534
Accidents in Coal-mines ... ... ... ... ... 505
Acclimatisation. (See Year-book, 1894, p. 431.)
Accumulation, Prices and Wages ... ... ... ... 522
Development of Banking ... ... ... ... ... 522
Acres and Yield in Corn-crops ... ... ... ... 485
Acres of Land under Crop ... ... ... ... ... 486
Addenda et Corrigenda. (Back of Title.)
Administration of Land Laws, &c. ... ... ... ... 653
Advances to Settlers ... ... ... ... 557, 662
Loans for ... ... ... ... ... ... 557
Readjustment of Loans ... ... ... ... ... 666
Table showing how repaid ... ... ... ... 665
Titles eligible ... ... ... ... ... 662
Transactions of Office ... ... ... ... ... 558
Valuation Fees ... ... ... ... ... 664
Advances to Workers ... ... ... ... 559, 668
Agents for the Colonies, Crown ... ... ... ... 31
Ages at Death, Average ... ... ... ... ... 266
Average, of Persons married ... ... ... ... 258
Ages of the People (Census, 1906) ... ... ... ... 179
Agricultural College, Lincoln ... ... ... ... ... 196
Agricultural Statistics ... ... ... ... ... 484
Agriculture and Live-stock ... ... ... ... 473, 484, 691
Acreage under Wheat, Oats, &c., in Provincial Districts ... ... 485
Barley ... ... ... ... ... 493, 699
Cape Barley and Winter Oats ... ... ... ... 705
Cattle ... ... ... ... ... 479, 711
Cereals ... ... ... ... ... 490, 694
Consumption of Wheat ... ... ... ... ... 491
Cost of growing Oats ... ... ... ... ... 699
Cost of working a Farm ... ... ... ... ... 708
Cultivation of Wheat ... ... ... ... ... 695
Cross-breeding of Sheep ... ... ... ... ... 709
Dairy Industry, The ... ... ... ... ... 712
Dairy Stock ... ... ... ... ... 480, 711
Farming Outlook ... ... ... ... ... 693
Fertilisers ... ... ... ... ... ... 708
Fruit Industry, The ... ... ... ... ... 714
Gardens and Orchards ... ... ... ... ... 494
Grass and Clover Seeds ... ... ... ... 494, 702
Hops ... ... ... ... ... ... 494
Horse-breeding ... ... ... ... ... 711
Horses ... ... ... ... ... 482, 711
Kale ... ... ... ... ... ... 701
Lambing Returns, Averages ... ... ... ... 479
Lucerne ... ... ... ... ... ... 705
Mangolds and Carrots ... ... ... ... ... 701
Maize ... ... ... ... ... ... 493
New Zealand Flax ... ... ... ... ... 705
Oats ... ... ... ... ... 492, 698
Pigs ... ... ... ... ... 483, 713
Potatoes ... ... ... ... ... 493, 699
Poultry ... ... ... ... ... ... 714
Rape ... ... ... ... ... 494, 701
Root-crops ... ... ... ... ... ... 699
Sheep ... ... ... ... ... 476, 709
Small Seeds ... ... ... ... ... ... 704
Spring Feed ... ... ... ... ... ... 706
Turnips ... ... ... ... ... 494, 700
Wheat-crop of Australian States ... ... ... ... 490
Wheat-crop of the World ... ... ... ... 491
Wheat, Estimated Suplus of ... ... ... ... 492
Wheat held by Farmers, 1907 ... ... ... ... 492
Wheat, Seed per Acre ... ... ... ... ... 694
Wheat, Yield per Acre ... ... ... ... ... 490
Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Acts, 1896 to 1907 ... ... 560
Alcoholic Liquors, Consumption of, 1898 to 1907 ... ... ... 395
Aliens Naturalised ... ... ... ... ... 252
America, Trade with the United States of ... ... ... 452
Analyses of Mineral Waters ... ... ... ... ... 717
Angora goats ... ... ... ... ... ... 483
Animals. (See Live-stock.)
Antipodes Islands ... ... ... ... ... ... 6
Appeal Court ... ... ... ... ... ... 223
Appendix—
Dates of certain Principal Events in the History of New Zealand ... 853
Area of New Zealand ... ... ... ... ... 8
Of Cook Islands ... ... ... ... ... 7
Of North, South, Stewart, Chatham, and other Islands ... ... 6
Of United Kingdom compared with New Zealand ... ... 8
Area of Australasia ... ... ... ... ... 7
Compared with European Countries ... ... ... ... 8
Area under Cultivation in Counties ... ... ... ... 487
Arrests for Drunkenness ... ... ... ... ... 232
Arrivals and Departures ... ... ... ... ... 157
Chinese ... ... ... ... ... ... 158
Departures, how Numbers ascertained ... ... ... 158
Articles on Special Subjects ... ... ... ... ... 639
Artillery, Naval, Field, and Garrison ... ... ... ... 72
Assembly, General ... ... ... ... ... 34
Associations, Special-Settlement ... ... ... ... 657
Assurance, Industrial Life ... ... ... ... ... 533
Asylums, Benevolent ... ... ... ... ... 297
Orphan ... ... ... ... ... ... 298
Auckland, City of—
Exports ... ... ... ... ... ... 424
General Description ... ... ... ... ... 751
Imports ... ... ... ... ... ... 389
Meteorology ... ... ... ... ... ... 618
Population ... ... ... ... ... ... 167
Value of Property ... ... ... ... 607, 614
Vital Statistics ... ... ... ... 251, 261
Auckland Docks ... ... ... ... ... ... 79
Graving-dock Charges ... ... ... ... ... 79
Auckland Islands ... ... ... ... ... ... 6, 15
Auckland Land District—Introductory, Physical Features, Plains, Lakes, Forests, Soils; Rainfall; General Products and Industries; Chief Towns 747
Auckland Sailors' Home ... ... ... ... ... 297
Australasian Railways ... ... ... ... ... 462
Australian Commonwealth, States of, Area ... ... ... 7
Birth-rates of ... ... ... ... ... 244
Death-rates of ... ... ... ... ... 260
Debt of ... ... ... ... ... ... 582
Friendly Societies in ... ... ... ... ... 531
Live-stock in ... ... ... ... ... ... 476
Marriage-rates of ... ... ... ... ... 253
Mineral Production of ... ... ... ... ... 499
Oat-crop of ... ... ... ... ... ... 493
Population ... ... ... ... ... ... 188
Railways in ... ... ... ... ... ... 462
Savings-banks ... ... ... ... ... 529
Trade ... ... ... ... ... ... 455
Wheat-crop of ... ... ... ... ... 490
Average Quantity of Milk to 1 lb. Butter ... ... ... ... 712
Average Yield of Butter or Cheese ... ... ... ... 712
Bachelors and Spinsters in New Zealand ... ... ... ... 183
Banking, Development in ... ... ... ... ... 522
Banking Legislation, Special. (See Year-book 1902, p. 400.)
“Bank of New Zealand Act, 1903” ... ... ... ... 524
“Bank of New Zealand Act, 1904” ... ... ... ... 525
“Bank-note Issue Act, 1893” ... ... ... ... 524
Bankruptcy ... ... ... ... ... ... 223
Petitions, &c., Ten Years ... ... ... ... 224
Transactions in 1906 ... ... ... ... ... 223
Banks of Issue—
Advances and Discounts ... ... ... ... ... 523
In all Classes of Banks, Average per Head ... ... ... 529
Assets and Liabilities ... ... ... ... ... 522
In all Classes of Banks, Average per Head ... ... ... 529
Coin and Bullion ... ... ... ... ... 522
In all Classes of Banks, Average per Head ... ... ... 529
Deposits ... ... ... ... ... ... 522
In all Classes of Banks, Average per Head ... ... ... 529
Notes in Circulation, &c. ... ... ... ... 522
Banks—
Post-Office Savings ... ... ... ... ... 525
Deposits, Withdrawals, Open Accounts, Amounts to Credit ... 525
Securities held ... ... ... ... ... 526
Deposits, Withdrawals ... ... ... ... 528
Private Savings ... ... ... ... ... 528
Deposits, Withdrawals ... ... ... ... 528
Savings-banks in States of Australian Commonwealth ... ... 529
Barley ... ... ... ... ... ... 493
Beer, Consumption of, per Head ... ... ... ... 395
Beer, Excise Duty on ... ... ... ... ... 136
Benevolent Asylums and Charitable Institutions ... ... ... 297
Birthplaces (Census, 1906) ... ... ... ... ... 181
Birth-rates per 1,000 of Population in Australasia ... ... ... 244
Births ... ... ... ... ... ... 242
Illegitimate ... ... ... ... ... ... 249
Illegitimacy in Australasia ... ... ... ... 249
Legitimation Act ... ... ... ... ... 250
Of Twins ... ... ... ... ... ... 249
Proportion to Population, 1882–1907 ... ... ... 242
Rates in European Countries ... ... ... ... 247
Sex of Children Born ... ... ... ... ... 248
To Marriages, Proportion of ... ... ... ... 243
Boroughs—
Expenditure of ... ... ... ... 303
Auckland, with Suburbs ... ... ... ... 167
Christchurch, with Suburbs ... ... ... ... 168
Dunedin, with Suburbs ... ... ... ... 168
Wellington, with Suburbs ... ... ... ... 167
In Don inion ... ... ... ... ... 164, 316
Auckland, with Suburbs ... ... ... ... 167
Christchurch, with Suburbs ... ... ... ... 168
Dunedin, with Suburbs ... ... ... ... 168
Wellington, with Suburbs ... ... ... ... 167
Indebtedness of ... ... ... ... ... 303
Population of (Census, 1906) ... ... ... ... 164
Rateable Value of Property in ... ... ... 316, 614
Revenue of ... ... ... ... ... ... 303
Value of Land and Improvements in ... ... ... 607
Value of Rateable Property in ... ... ... ... 614
Boundaries and Area of New Zealand ... ... ... ... 5, 8
Bounty Islands ... ... ... ... ... ... 6
Breadstuffs in various Countries, Consumption of ... ... ... 492
Bubonic Plague ... ... ... ... ... ... 280
Building Societies ... ... ... ... ... ... 529
Income, Assets, Liabilities, Reserve Funds ... ... ... 529
Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement ... ... ... 642
Butter and Cheese ... ... ... ... 435, 712
Export to United Kingdom, Nineteen Years ... ... ... 435
Factories ... ... ... ... ... 365, 481
Industry ... ... ... ... ... ... 712
Cadet Corps ... ... ... ... ... ... 74
Campbell Islands ... ... ... ... ... ... 6
Cancer, Deaths from ... ... ... ... ... 286
Decennial Return ... ... ... ... ... 286
Part of Body affected ... ... ... ... ... 287
Proportion of Deaths per 10,000 living, 1886–1907 ... ... 290
Canterbury Agricultural College ... ... ... ... 196
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 ... ... ... ... ... 815
Cape Barley and Winter Oats ... ... ... ... 705
Capital City, Population of ... ... ... ... ... 167
Capitation to Efficient Volunteers and Cadets ... ... ... 75
Cattle ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 479
In Provincial Districts ... ... ... ... ... 480
Causes of Death ... ... ... ... ... ... 274
At Four Centres ... ... ... ... ... 263
Cancer ... ... ... ... ... ... 286
Details of ... ... ... ... ... ... 276
Developmental Diseases ... ... ... ... ... 291
Dietetic Diseases ... ... ... ... ... 281
Local Diseases ... ... ... ... ... 292
Measles ... ... ... ... ... ... 279
Old Age ... ... ... ... ... ... 292
Parasitic Diseases ... ... ... ... ... 281
Phthisis ... ... ... ... ... ... 281
Proportion of Deaths from each ... ... ... ... 275
Typhoid Fever ... ... ... ... ... 279
Violence ... ... ... ... ... ... 293
Cereals ... ... ... ... ... 490, 694
Charitable Institutions, Benevolent Asylums and, &c. ... ... 297
Chatham Islands ... ... ... ... ... 6, 14
Cheese and Butter ... ... ... ... 435, 480, 712
Cheviot Estate (see also Year-book, 1895, p. 264) ... ... ... 585
Childbirth, Deaths of Women in ... ... ... ... 293
Children to a Marriage, Number of ... ... ... ... 243
Children's Courts ... ... ... ... ... ... 238
Chinese—
Immigration and Emigration of ... ... ... ... 158
Number in Dominion ... ... ... ... ... 159
Christchurch, City of—
Exports (Lyttelton) ... ... ... ... ... 424
General Description ... ... ... ... ... 823
Imports ... ... ... ... ... ... 389
Meteorology ... ... ... ... ... ... 621
Population (City and Suburbs) ... ... ... ... 168
Value of Property ... ... ... ... 608, 615
Vital Statistics ... ... ... ... 251, 261
Cities ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 167
Civil Cases ... ... ... ... ... ... 223
Civil Establishment at Seat of Government ... ... ... 39
Classification of Lands, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 653
Climate—
Temperature in New Zealand, Australia, and other British Possessions 618–625
Clips, Average Wool- ... ... ... ... ... 710
Clothing, Imported, Value of ... ... ... ... ... 389
Clothing of the Ancient Maori ... ... ... ... 734
Coal-mining ... ... ... ... ... ... 500
Coal-miners, Average Output and Earnings ... ... ... 502
Coal-mines, Accidents in ... ... ... ... ... 505
Coal Production of the World ... ... ... ... 504
Colleges and University ... ... ... ... ... 209
Colonial Office, The ... ... ... ... ... 31
Colonisation of New Zealand ... ... ... ... ... 3
Communication and Transport ... ... ... ... 458
Conjugal Condition of the People (Census, 1906) ... ... ... 183
Constitution ... ... ... ... ... ... 16
Government ... ... ... ... ... ... 18
Consumption of Beer, Spirits, and Wine ... ... ... ... 395
Consuls, Foreign ... ... ... ... ... ... 28
Convictions ... ... ... ... ... ... 227
For Drunkenness ... ... ... ... ... 232
Summary ... ... ... ... ... ... 227
Convictions of Maoris ... ... ... ... ... 234
Cook and other Pacific Islands annexed ... ... ... ... 842
Cook Strait ... ... ... ... ... ... 11
Co-operative Public Works ... ... ... ... ... 520
Corn-crops, Acreage and Actual Yield of ... ... ... ... 485
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 ... ... ... 304
Railways ... ... ... ... ... ... 460
Working a Farm in New Zealand ... ... ... ... 708
Council, Executive, 1843–56 ... ... ... ... ... 23
Council, Executive, April, 1908 ... ... ... ... 33
Legislative, Roll of Members of the (see also Corrigenda ... ... 35
Successive Speakers of the Legislative ... ... ... 27
Counties, Population of (Census, 1906) ... ... ... ... 163
Land under Cultivation in ... ... ... ... 487
Value of Land and Improvements in ... ... ... ... 603
Value of Rateable Properties in ... ... ... ... 611
Court of Appeal ... ... ... ... ... ... 223
Courts, Bankruptcy ... ... ... ... ... 223
Civil Cases, Supreme and District ... ... ... ... 223
Charges for Offences before ... ... ... ... 227
Committals ... ... ... ... ... 227
Punishment on Summary Convictions (five years) ... ... 230
Divorce and Separation ... ... ... ... ... 224
Charges for Offences before ... ... ... ... 227
Committals ... ... ... ... ... 227
Punishment on Summary Convictions (five years) ... ... 230
Magistrates', Civil Cases ... ... ... ... ... 223
Charges for Offences before ... ... ... ... 227
Committals ... ... ... ... ... 227
Punishment on Summary Convictions (five years) ... ... 230
Sentences, Supreme and District (five years) ... ... ... 230
Supreme and District, Convictions ... ... ... ... 229
Cows, Average Annual Yield of Milk ... ... ... ... 712
Crime, Law and ... ... ... ... ... ... 223
Cross-breeding of Sheep ... ... ... ... ... 709
Crown Agents for the Colonies ... ... ... ... 31
Crown Lands occupied ... ... ... ... ... 585
Mode of acquiring ... ... ... ... ... 655
Crown Lands of New Zealand ... ... ... 584, 639
Crown Tenants ... ... ... ... ... ... 585
Cultivation. (See Agriculture.)
Cultivation of Wheat ... ... ... ... ... 695
Customs Duties, Rates levied ... ... ... ... ... 105
Revenue from ... ... ... ... ... 412
Dairy Industry ... ... ... ... ... ... 712
Produce, Export of ... ... ... ... ... 435
Stock ... ... ... ... ... 480, 711
Dates of Principal Events ... ... ... ... ... 853
Deaf-mutes, Institution for ... ... ... ... ... 221
Death, Average Age at ... ... ... ... ... 266
Causes of ... ... ... ... ... ... 274
Death-rates in various Countries and States, 1897–1907 ... ... 260
Deaths—
From Cancer ... ... ... ... ... 286
From Congenital Defects ... ... ... ... 291
From Nervous Diseases ... ... ... ... ... 292
From Phthisis ... ... ... ... ... 281
From Typhoid Fever ... ... ... ... ... 279
In Four Principal Cities ... ... ... ... ... 261
In Principal Cities of Australasia ... ... ... ... 266
Inquests on ... ... ... ... ... ... 239
Number of, in 1907 ... ... ... ... ... 260
Of Infants ... ... ... ... ... ... 269
Of Infants to every 1,000 Births ... ... ... ... 269
Of Women in Childbirth ... ... ... ... 293
Violent ... ... ... ... ... ... 293
Debt, General Government (see Public Debt) ... ... ... 567
Of Local Bodies ... ... ... ... 306, 308
Deceased Persons' Estates—Duties Payable on ... ... ... 152
Defences, Military and Naval—
Administration; Artillery, New Zealand Royal; Battalion Bands; Bearer Corps, Field Hospital, and Volunteers; Cadet Corps, Volunteers; Capitation; Cycle Corps, Infantry, and Volunteers; Defence Rifle Clubs; Engineers, Volunteers; Enrolment, &c.; Establishment; Expenditure and Maintenance; Field Artillery, Volunteers; Garrison Bands, Volunteers; Instructors; Militia and Volunteer Districts; Mounted Rifles, Volunteers; Naval and Garrison Artillery, Volunteers; Arms; Reserve Corps ... ... ... ... 72
Deferred-payment System, Land taken up on ... ... ... 585
Departures, Arrivals and ... ... ... ... ... 157
Deposits in Banks ... ... ... ... ... ... 522
Depots for Shipwrecked Mariners ... ... ... ... 76
Diamond Drills ... ... ... ... ... ... 507
Digest of the Land Laws ... ... ... ... ... 653
Discovery and Early Settlement ... ... ... ... 2
Discovery of Gold in New Zealand. (See Year-book, 1894, p. 343.)
Diseases, Various, Deaths from ... ... ... ... 276
District Court, Civil Cases ... ... ... ... ... 223
Divorce, Petitions and Decrees, 1897–1906 ... ... ... 225
Divorce and Separation ... ... ... ... ... 224
Grounds for ... ... ... ... ... ... 224
Docks, Graving, and Patent Slips ... ... ... ... 79
Drainage Boards, Revenue, Expenditure, and Loans ... ... 302–304
Dredging, Gold- ... ... ... ... ... ... 497
Drunkenness ... ... ... ... ... ... 232
Persons convicted of ... ... ... ... ... 232
Dunedin, City of—
Exports ... ... ... ... ... ... 424
General Description ... ... ... ... ... 830
Imports ... ... ... ... ... ... 389
Meteorology ... ... ... ... ... ... 622
Population, City and all Suburbs ... ... ... ... 168
Value of Property ... ... ... ... 609, 616
Vital Statistics ... ... ... ... 251, 261
Duties on Estates of Deceased Persons ... ... ... ... 152
Early Settlement, Discovery and ... ... ... ... 2
Ecclesiastical ... ... ... ... ... ... 70
Economic Geology of New Zealand ... ... ... ... 507
Education ... ... ... ... ... ... 189
Free Secondary ... ... ... ... ... 203
District High Schools ... ... ... ... ... 207
Scholarships ... ... ... ... ... ... 215
Private Schools ... ... ... ... ... 212
Public (Government) Schools ... ... ... ... 191
School of Engineering and Technical Science ... ... ... 196
Native Schools ... ... ... ... ... 214
Secondary ... ... ... ... ... ... 203
Technical and Manual ... ... ... ... ... 195
Training of Teachers ... ... ... ... ... 192
University, New Zealand ... ... ... ... 209
Education Boards, Income and Expenditure of ... ... ... 194
Education of the People ... ... ... ... ... 189
Egmont, Mount ... ... ... ... ... ... 10
Election, General, 1905 ... ... ... ... ... 341
Electoral. (See Representation.)
“Electoral Act, 1893,” extends Franchise to Women ... ... 18, 340
“Electoral Act Amendment Act, 1896,” abolishes Property Qualification 18, 340
Electric Telegraph ... ... ... ... ... 466
Emigration. (See Immigration and Emigration.)
Engineering, School of ... ... ... ... ... 196
Estates of Deceased Persons, Duties Payable on ... ... ... 152
Estates offered to Government under Land for Settlements Act during Year 1907–8 ... ... ... ... ... ... 591
European Population ... ... ... ... ... 153
Examinations under Mining Act ... ... ... ... 507
Excise Duty on Beer ... ... ... ... ... 136
Executive Council, 1843–56 ... ... ... ... ... 23
Expectation of Life in New Zealand ... ... ... ... 266
Expenditure, Revenue and—
General Government ... ... ... ... ... 546
Local Bodies ... ... ... ... ... ... 299
Of Public Works Fund by General Government ... ... 553, 556
Exports ... ... ... ... ... ... 421
Butter and Cheese to United Kingdom, for Nineteen Years ... ... 435
Quantity, Twenty-six Years ... ... ... ... 433
Value, Twenty Years ... ... ... ... 429
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand ... ... 424
Coal ... ... ... ... ... ... 500
Quantity, Twenty-six Years ... ... ... ... 433
Value, Twenty Years ... ... ... ... 429
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand ... ... 424
Details of all Exports ... ... ... ... ... 437
Quantity, Twenty-six Years ... ... ... ... 433
Value, Twenty Years ... ... ... ... 429
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand ... ... 424
From different Ports ... ... ... ... ... 424
Quantity, Twenty-six Years ... ... ... ... 433
Value, Twenty Years ... ... ... ... 429
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand ... ... 424
From North and South Islands ... ... ... ... 424
Quantity, Twenty-six Years ... ... ... ... 433
Value, Twenty Years ... ... ... ... 429
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand ... ... 424
From United Kingdom to various Countries and Colonies ... ... 457
Quantity, Twenty-six Years ... ... ... ... 433
Value, Twenty Years ... ... ... ... 429
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand ... ... 424
Frozen Meat ... ... ... ... ... ... 433
Quantity, Twenty-six Years ... ... ... ... 433
Value, Twenty Years ... ... ... ... 429
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand ... ... 424
Gold, Silver, and other Minerals to 31st December, 1907 ... ... 496
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand ... ... 424
Gold, 1907 ... ... ... ... ... ... 434
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand ... ... 424
Grain ... ... ... ... ... ... 434
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand ... ... 424
Home Produce, Value of ... ... ... ... ... 429
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand ... ... 424
Increase and Decrease on Principal Articles ... ... ... 422
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand ... ... 424
Kauri-gum ... ... ... ... ... ... 436
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand ... ... 424
Of Australasia, 1906 ... ... ... ... ... 455
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand ... ... 424
Phormium ... ... ... ... ... ... 436
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand ... ... 424
Quantities of Principal Articles, 1906 and 1907 ... ... ... 427
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand ... ... 424
Rabbit-skins ... ... ... ... ... ... 431
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand ... ... 424
Re-exports, exclusive of Specie ... ... ... ... 424
Of New South Wales compared with New Zealand ... ... 424
Sheep-skins and Pelts ... ... ... ... ... 432
Tallow ... ... ... ... ... ... 432
To different Countries ... ... ... ... ... 421
To Germany ... ... ... ... ... ... 453
To United Kingdom, British Possessions and Foreign Ports ... ... 422
To United States ... ... ... ... ... 452
Value of Principal Articles of New Zealand Produce ... ... 425
Wool, Twenty Years ... ... ... ... ... 430
External Trade of Australasia ... ... ... ... 456
Factories &c. (See Manufactories and Works.)
Factories, Butter and Cheese ... ... ... ... ... 481
Farming, Dairy ... ... ... ... ... ... 712
Farm in New Zealand, Cost of Working a ... ... ... 708
Features of the North Island, Physical ... ... ... ... 8
Of the South Island ... ... ... ... ... 11
Fees payable under Land Transfer Act ... ... ... ... 151
Fifty Years' Progress of New Zealand ... ... ... ... 626
Finance ... ... ... ... ... ... 546
Fire Inquests ... ... ... ... ... ... 240
Fire Insurance, State ... ... ... ... ... 681
Fish Acclimatised. (See Year-book, 1894, p. 431.)
Fish and Fisheries. (See Year-book, 1895, p. 373.)
First Offenders' Probation Act ... ... ... ... 239
Flocks of Sheep, Number and Size of ... ... ... ... 477
Food and Drugs, Sale of ... ... ... ... ... 298
Foreigners Naturalised during last Twenty-five Years, Number of ... 252
Foreign Consuls ... ... ... ... ... ... 28
Foveaux Strait ... ... ... ... ... ... 14
Franchise ... ... ... ... ... 18, 340
Municipal ... ... ... ... ... ... 309
Freezing Establishments. (See Year-book, 1894, p. 314.)
Free Secondary Education ... ... ... ... ... 203
Friendly Societies ... ... ... ... ... 530
Frozen Meat exported ... ... ... ... ... 433
Fruit Culture ... ... ... ... ... ... 714
Drying ... ... ... ... ... ... 715
Industry, The ... ... ... ... ... 714
Fungus, New Zealand, Export of ... ... ... ... 427
Gaming and Lotteries ... ... ... ... ... 240
Gaols, Prisoners in ... ... ... ... ... 235
Gardens, Plantations, and Orchards, Total Acreage in ... ... 486
General Assembly, The ... ... ... ... ... 34
General Election, 1905 ... ... ... ... ... 341
Geology, Economic, of New Zealand ... ... ... ... 507
Germany, Trade with ... ... ... ... ... 453
Glaciers in South Island ... ... ... ... ... 12
Gold, Coal, and other Minerals ... ... ... ... 496
Coal-mining ... ... ... ... ... ... 500
Consumption of ... ... ... ... ... 500
Output of ... ... ... ... ... 500
Total Quantity and Value entered for Exportation, 31st March, 1908 498
Gold exported Year 1907 ... ... ... ... 434
Total Quantity and Value entered for Exportation, 31st March, 1908 498
Gold produced in Australasia ... ... ... ... 499
Gold Production of the World ... ... ... ... 499
Gold-dredging ... ... ... ... ... ... 497
Gold-mining—Hands, Output, &c. ... ... ... ... 498
Remarks on ... ... ... ... ... ... 497
Governing Bodies, Local ... ... ... ... ... 299
Government Advances to Settlers ... ... ... 557, 662
Government Advances to Workers ... ... ... 559, 668
Government Schools ... ... ... ... ... 191
Government, the Seat of ... ... ... ... ... 19
Government Valuation of Land and its Improvements ... ... 594
Governor of New Zealand ... ... ... ... ... 33
Governors, Successive ... ... ... ... ... 20
Grain exported ... ... ... ... ... ... 434
Grown in each Provincial District ... ... ... ... 485
Grass Lands, Acres of ... ... ... ... ... 486
In Australasia, 1906–7 ... ... ... ... ... 495
Grass-seed ... ... ... ... ... ... 702
Sown, per Acre ... ... ... ... ... 495
Graving-docks and Patent Slips ... ... ... ... 79
Grazing-runs, Small ... ... ... ... ... 658
Green Crops, Acreage under, in Provincial Districts ... ... ... 486
Habitual Criminals and Offenders ... ... ... ... 231
“Habitual Drunkards Act, 1906” ... ... ... ... 232
Harbour Boards Revenue, Expenditure, and Loans ... ... 304–308
Harbours. (See Year-book, 1894, pp. 389–408.)
Harbours—Pilotage, Port Charges, &c. ... ... ... ... 83
Hawke's Bay Land District—General Description; Communication; Pastoral Industries; Agricultural Pursuits; Dairying; Timber and other Industries; Climate; Towns; Crown Lands; Native Lands ... ... 768
Hay, Acres in ... ... ... ... ... ... 486
High Commissioner in London ... ... ... ... 31
Holdings, Number of Occupied ... ... ... ... 468
Home Produce exported, Value of ... ... ... ... 425
Honours held ... ... ... ... ... ... 31
Hops, cultivated, imported and exported ... ... ... ... 494
Horse-breeding ... ... ... ... ... ... 711
Horses in New Zealand, Number of ... ... ... ... 482
In Provincial Districts ... ... ... ... ... 482
Hospitals ... ... ... ... ... ... 293
Hot Springs ... ... ... ... ... ... 716
House of Representatives ... ... ... ... ... 17, 36
Speakers of the ... ... ... ... ... 27
Houses, Licensed ... ... ... ... ... ... 336
Illegitimate Births in Australasia ... ... ... ... ... 249
Immigration and Emigration ... ... ... ... ... 157
Of Chinese ... ... ... ... ... ... 158
Imports and Exports ... ... ... ... 383, 421
Each Australian State, 1906 ... ... ... ... 455
Imports—
Clothing, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 389
Germany ... ... ... ... ... 419
South Africa ... ... ... ... ... 420
United Kingdom, British Possessions, and Foreign Ports ... 385
United States ... ... ... ... ... 417
Consumption of, per Head of Population ... ... ... 394
Coal ... ... ... ... ... ... 500
Germany ... ... ... ... ... 419
South Africa ... ... ... ... ... 420
United Kingdom, British Possessions, and Foreign Ports ... 385
United States ... ... ... ... ... 417
Consumption of, per Head of Population ... ... ... 394
Free and Dutiable, Value of ... ... ... ... 393
Germany ... ... ... ... ... 419
South Africa ... ... ... ... ... 420
United Kingdom, British Possessions, and Foreign Ports ... 385
United States ... ... ... ... ... 417
Consumption of, per Head of Population ... ... ... 394
From different Countries, Value of ... ... ... ... 385
Germany ... ... ... ... ... 419
South Africa ... ... ... ... ... 420
United Kingdom, British Possessions, and Foreign Ports ... 385
United States ... ... ... ... ... 417
Consumption of, per Head of Population ... ... ... 394
Inclusive and exclusive of Specie ... ... ... ... 383
Consumption of, per Head of Population ... ... ... 394
Into Australasia ... ... ... ... ... 455
Consumption of, per Head of Population ... ... ... 394
Per Head of Population ... ... ... ... ... 384
Consumption of, per Head of Population ... ... ... 394
Spirits ... ... ... ... ... ... 395
Consumption of, per Head of Population ... ... ... 394
Sugar and Tea ... ... ... ... ... 394
Consumption of, per Head of Population ... ... ... 394
Tobacco, Consumption of ... ... ... ... 396
Per Head of Population, Australasia ... ... ... 456
Improved-farm Settlements ... ... ... ... ... 658
Income Tax, Land and ... ... ... ... 563, 669
Exemptions ... ... ... ... ... 672, 675
Rates of Tax ... ... ... ... ... ... 678
Yield of Tax ... ... ... ... ... ... 679
Indebtedness of Australasia ... ... ... ... ... 582
Of Local Bodies ... ... ... ... 303–308
For Twenty-one Years ... ... ... ... 300
Outside New Zealand ... ... ... ... 307
Index of Mortality for New Zealand ... ... ... ... 260
Industrial Schools ... ... ... ... ... 218
Industrial Life Assurance ... ... ... ... ... 533
Industries. (See Manufactories and Works.)
Infant Life Protection ... ... ... ... ... 274
Infantile Mortality ... ... ... ... ... 269
Influenza, Deaths from ... ... ... ... ... 279
Inquests, Death ... ... ... ... ... ... 239
Fire ... ... ... ... ... ... 240
Insurance, Life ... ... ... ... ... ... 533
Companies in New Zealand ... ... ... ... 533
Insurance, State Fire ... ... ... ... ... 681
Iron, Machinery, &c., imported, Value of ... ... ... ... 390
Ironsand and Iron-ores ... ... ... ... ... 505
Islands outlying, Description of the ... ... ... 14, 842
Joint Stock Companies ... ... ... ... ... 530
Jubilee Institution for the Blind ... ... ... ... 221
Judges, Supreme Court ... ... ... ... ... 22
Kauri-gum (Exported)—
Average Price of ... ... ... ... ... 436
Quantities and Values exported ... ... ... ... 436
Kermadec Islands ... ... ... ... ... ... 6, 14
Labour—
In New Zealand. (See Year-book, 1894, p. 362.)
Prices of Provisions, Live-stock, &c., 1907 ... ... ... 544
Wages, Average Rates of ... ... ... ... 541
Labour Department, Men assisted by ... ... ... ... 521
Labour Legislation—
Acts of Parliament composing ... ... ... ... 514
Remarks on ... ... ... ... ... ... 515
Lakes ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 9–13
Lambing Averages ... ... ... ... ... ... 479
Land—
Acreage of, under Crop ... ... ... ... ... 486
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
And Income Tax ... ... ... ... ... 669
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Crown, open for Selection. (See Land Districts.)
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Fit for Agriculture and Pasture ... ... ... ... 9
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Government Valuation of ... ... ... ... 594
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Grass-sown ... ... ... ... ... ... 486
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Held as Pastoral Runs ... ... ... ... ... 585
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Held as Small Grazing-runs ... ... ... ... 585
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Held under Pastoral and Miscellaneous Leases ... ... ... 585
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Holdings in Provincial Districts ... ... ... ... 470
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Holdings, Sizes of ... ... ... ... ... 469
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Improved-farm Settlements ... ... ... 585, 658
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Occupation of ... ... ... ... ... 468
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
On Perpetual Lease, Lease in Perpetuity, and Occupation with Right of Purchase ... ... ... ... ... 585
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
On renewable lease ... ... ... ... ... 585
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Ownership of ... ... ... ... ... 472
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Rating on Unimproved Value ... ... ... ... 310
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Sold on Deferred Payments ... ... ... ... 585
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Taken up under various Tenures, Ten Years ... ... ... 586
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Taken up in each Land District ... ... ... ... 588
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Tax ... ... ... ... ... 563, 669, 674
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Village Settlements, Land held ... ... ... ... 585
Village Settlements, sold on Deferred Payments, &c. ... ... 585
Land and Improvements, Government Valuation of ... ... ... 594
Land Districts in the Dominion, Description of—Auckland, 747; Canterbury, 815; Hawke's Bay, 768; Marlborough, 787; Nelson, 792; Otago, 825; Southland, 836; Taranaki, 760; Wellington, 774; Westland, 802.
Land for Settlements Acts—
Estates offered to Government during Year ended 31st March, 1908 ... 591
Transactions under ... ... ... ... ... 589
Land Laws, Digest of ... ... ... ... ... 653
Administration ... ... ... ... ... 653
Freehold Tenure ... ... ... ... ... 655
Occupation with Right of Purchase ... ... ... 655
Applicants ... ... ... ... ... ... 654
Freehold Tenure ... ... ... ... ... 655
Occupation with Right of Purchase ... ... ... 655
Bush and Swamp Lands ... ... ... ... ... 661
Freehold Tenure ... ... ... ... ... 655
Occupation with Right of Purchase ... ... ... 655
Classification of Lands, &c. ... ... ... ... 653
Freehold Tenure ... ... ... ... ... 655
Occupation with Right of Purchase ... ... ... 655
Flax Leases ... ... ... ... ... ... 662
Freehold Tenure ... ... ... ... ... 655
Occupation with Right of Purchase ... ... ... 655
Graning-runs, Small ... ... ... ... ... 658
Freehold Tenure ... ... ... ... ... 655
Occupation with Right of Purchase ... ... ... 655
Improved-farm Settlements ... ... ... ... 658
Freehold Tenure ... ... ... ... ... 655
Occupation with Right of Purchase ... ... ... 655
Land Districts and Principal Land Offices ... ... ... 653
Freehold Tenure ... ... ... ... ... 655
Occupation with Right of Purchase ... ... ... 655
Mode of Acquiring Crown Lands ... ... ... ... 655
Freehold Tenure ... ... ... ... ... 655
Occupation with Right of Purchase ... ... ... 655
Optional System of Selection ... ... ... ... 655
Freehold Tenure ... ... ... ... ... 655
Occupation with Right of Purchase ... ... ... 655
Pastoral Runs ... ... ... ... ... 659
Renewable Lease ... ... ... ... ... 656
Residence and Improvements ... ... ... ... 656
Small Grazing-runs ... ... ... ... ... 658
Special-settlement Associations ... ... ... ... 657
Transfers, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 657
Village Settlements ... ... ... ... ... 658
Wood-pulp Industry ... ... ... ... ... 661
Land Settlements Acts, 1896–1907, Aid to Public Works and ... ... 560
Land System of New Zealand ... ... ... ... ... 639
Land-tax ... ... ... ... ... 563, 669
Land Transfer Act, Fees payable under ... ... ... ... 151
Land under Cultivation in Counties ... ... ... ... 487
Land, Valuation of—
In Boroughs ... ... ... ... ... ... 607
In Dominion ... ... ... ... ... ... 601
In Counties ... ... ... ... ... ... 603
In Town Districts ... ... ... ... ... 610
Law and Crime ... ... ... ... ... ... 223
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 ... ... ... ... ... 34
Roll of Members of the (see also Corrigenda) ... ... ... 35
Legitimation Act ... ... ... ... ... ... 250
Letters posted ... ... ... ... ... ... 464
Licenses and Licensed Houses ... ... ... ... 336
Licenses—
Number and Fees paid ... ... ... ... ... 336
Proportion to Population ... ... ... ... 336
Licensing Laws—
Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act ... ... ... ... 337
Annual Fees ... ... ... ... ... ... 337
Revenue from Licenses ... ... ... ... ... 336
Life Insurance, Year 1906 ... ... ... ... ... 533
Lighthouses, Names and Number of, Colour, Order, &c. ... ... 96
Lincoln Agricultural College ... ... ... ... ... 196
List, Official ... ... ... ... ... ... 39
Live-stock—
Average Prices of ... ... ... ... ... 544
Export of ... ... ... ... ... ... 437
In Australasia ... ... ... ... ... 476
In each County ... ... ... ... ... 474
Loan Accounts—
Expenditure, 1907–8 ... ... ... ... ... 553
For Advances to Settlers ... ... ... ... ... 558
Of Local Bodies, Outstanding, at various Rates of Interest ... ... 307
Of Local Bodies, Net Indebtedness ... ... ... ... 306
Local Bodies' Loans Acts ... ... ... ... 308
Local Bodies—
Cost of Management ... ... ... ... ... 304
Expenditure of ... ... ... ... ... 303
Indebtedness: Twenty-one Years ... ... ... ... 300
Number of ... ... ... ... ... ... 299
Outstanding Loans at various Rates of Interest ... ... ... 307
Rates collected in Twenty-one Years ... ... ... ... 300
Revenue and Expenditure of Boroughs, Counties, Drainage Board, Harbour Boards, River Boards, Road Boards, Town Boards ... 303–305
Taxation by ... ... ... ... ... ... 301
Local-option Poll, 1905 ... ... ... ... ... 337
Lotteries, Gaming and ... ... ... ... ... 240
Lucerne ... ... ... ... ... ... 705
Magistrates' Courts, Apprehensions, Convictions, &c. ... ... 227
Mail-services between England and New Zealand, Cost of ... ... 465
Maize, Area under ... ... ... ... ... 493
Manawatu-Wellington Railway ... ... ... ... 462
Mangolds and Carrots ... ... ... ... ... 494
Manual and Technical Instruction ... ... ... ... 195
Manufactories and Works ... ... ... ... ... 345
Average Wages paid, Males and Females ... ... ... 346
Aerated Water and Cordial Factories ... ... ... 369
Agricultural-implement Factories ... ... ... 376
Bacon-curing ... ... ... ... ... 364
Biscuit-factories ... ... ... ... ... 367
Boot and Shoe Factories ... ... ... ... 380
Breweries ... ... ... ... ... 368
Brick, Tile, and Pottery Works ... ... ... ... 374
Butter and Cheese Factories ... ... ... ... 365
Clothing and Waterproof Factories ... ... ... 379
Coach Building and Painting ... ... ... ... 376
Confectionery and Sugar-boiling ... ... ... 368
Cooperages ... ... ... ... ... 371
Cycle-works ... ... ... ... ... 377
Fellmongering, Tanning, Currying, and Wool-scouring ... ... 377
Fish Curing and Preserving ... ... ... ... 365
Fruit-preserving and Jam-making ... ... ... 367
Furniture-factories ... ... ... ... ... 378
Gasworks ... ... ... ... ... 373
Grain-mills ... ... ... ... ... 366
Hosiery-factories ... ... ... ... ... 380
Iron and Brass Foundries, Boiler and Range Making, and Engineering 375
Lime and Cement Works ... ... ... ... 373
Increase in Number of Establishments, Hands employed, Wages paid, Horse-power, Value of Lands, &c., between 1901 and 1906 ... 345
Aerated Water and Cordial Factories ... ... ... 369
Agricultural-implement Factories ... ... ... 376
Bacon-curing ... ... ... ... ... 364
Biscuit-factories ... ... ... ... ... 367
Boot and Shoe Factories ... ... ... ... 380
Breweries ... ... ... ... ... 368
Brick, Tile, and Pottery Works ... ... ... ... 374
Butter and Cheese Factories ... ... ... ... 365
Clothing and Waterproof Factories ... ... ... 379
Coach Building and Painting ... ... ... ... 376
Confectionery and Sugar-boiling ... ... ... 368
Cooperages ... ... ... ... ... 371
Cycle-works ... ... ... ... ... 377
Fellmongering, Tanning, Currying, and Wool-scouring ... ... 377
Fish Curing and Preserving ... ... ... ... 365
Fruit-preserving and Jam-making ... ... ... 367
Furniture-factories ... ... ... ... ... 378
Gasworks ... ... ... ... ... 373
Grain-mills ... ... ... ... ... 366
Hosiery-factories ... ... ... ... ... 380
Iron and Brass Foundries, Boiler and Range Making, and Engineering 375
Lime and Cement Works ... ... ... ... 373
Increase in Total Value of Output ... ... ... ... 346
Aerated Water and Cordial Factories ... ... ... 369
Agricultural-implement Factories ... ... ... 376
Bacon-curing ... ... ... ... ... 364
Biscuit-factories ... ... ... ... ... 367
Boot and Shoe Factories ... ... ... ... 380
Breweries ... ... ... ... ... 368
Brick, Tile, and Pottery Works ... ... ... ... 374
Butter and Cheese Factories ... ... ... ... 365
Clothing and Waterproof Factories ... ... ... 379
Coach Building and Painting ... ... ... ... 376
Confectionery and Sugar-boiling ... ... ... 368
Cooperages ... ... ... ... ... 371
Cycle-works ... ... ... ... ... 377
Fellmongering, Tanning, Currying, and Wool-scouring ... ... 377
Fish Curing and Preserving ... ... ... ... 365
Fruit-preserving and Jam-making ... ... ... 367
Furniture-factories ... ... ... ... ... 378
Gasworks ... ... ... ... ... 373
Grain-mills ... ... ... ... ... 366
Hosiery-factories ... ... ... ... ... 380
Iron and Brass Foundries, Boiler and Range Making, and Engineering 375
Lime and Cement Works ... ... ... ... 373
Industries in Provincial Districts, Number of ... ... ... 348
Aerated Water and Cordial Factories ... ... ... 369
Agricultural-implement Factories ... ... ... 376
Bacon-curing ... ... ... ... ... 364
Biscuit-factories ... ... ... ... ... 367
Boot and Shoe Factories ... ... ... ... 380
Breweries ... ... ... ... ... 368
Brick, Tile, and Pottery Works ... ... ... ... 374
Butter and Cheese Factories ... ... ... ... 365
Clothing and Waterproof Factories ... ... ... 379
Coach Building and Painting ... ... ... ... 376
Confectionery and Sugar-boiling ... ... ... 368
Cooperages ... ... ... ... ... 371
Cycle-works ... ... ... ... ... 377
Fellmongering, Tanning, Currying, and Wool-scouring ... ... 377
Fish Curing and Preserving ... ... ... ... 365
Fruit-preserving and Jam-making ... ... ... 367
Furniture-factories ... ... ... ... ... 378
Gasworks ... ... ... ... ... 373
Grain-mills ... ... ... ... ... 366
Hosiery-factories ... ... ... ... ... 380
Iron and Brass Foundries, Boiler and Range Making, and Engineering 375
Lime and Cement Works ... ... ... ... 373
Principal Industries, Details of ... ... ... ... 352
Aerated Water and Cordial Factories ... ... ... 369
Agricultural-implement Factories ... ... ... 376
Bacon-curing ... ... ... ... ... 364
Biscuit-factories ... ... ... ... ... 367
Boot and Shoe Factories ... ... ... ... 380
Breweries ... ... ... ... ... 368
Brick, Tile, and Pottery Works ... ... ... ... 374
Butter and Cheese Factories ... ... ... ... 365
Clothing and Waterproof Factories ... ... ... 379
Coach Building and Painting ... ... ... ... 376
Confectionery and Sugar-boiling ... ... ... 368
Cooperages ... ... ... ... ... 371
Cycle-works ... ... ... ... ... 377
Fellmongering, Tanning, Currying, and Wool-scouring ... ... 377
Fish Curing and Preserving ... ... ... ... 365
Fruit-preserving and Jam-making ... ... ... 367
Furniture-factories ... ... ... ... ... 378
Gasworks ... ... ... ... ... 373
Grain-mills ... ... ... ... ... 366
Hosiery-factories ... ... ... ... ... 380
Iron and Brass Foundries, Boiler and Range Making, and Engineering 375
Lime and Cement Works ... ... ... ... 373
Principal Increases in Value of Output, Details of ... ... 347
Aerated Water and Cordial Factories ... ... ... 369
Agricultural-implement Factories ... ... ... 376
Bacon-curing ... ... ... ... ... 364
Biscuit-factories ... ... ... ... ... 367
Boot and Shoe Factories ... ... ... ... 380
Breweries ... ... ... ... ... 368
Brick, Tile, and Pottery Works ... ... ... ... 374
Butter and Cheese Factories ... ... ... ... 365
Clothing and Waterproof Factories ... ... ... 379
Coach Building and Painting ... ... ... ... 376
Confectionery and Sugar-boiling ... ... ... 368
Cooperages ... ... ... ... ... 371
Cycle-works ... ... ... ... ... 377
Fellmongering, Tanning, Currying, and Wool-scouring ... ... 377
Fish Curing and Preserving ... ... ... ... 365
Fruit-preserving and Jam-making ... ... ... 367
Furniture-factories ... ... ... ... ... 378
Gasworks ... ... ... ... ... 373
Grain-mills ... ... ... ... ... 366
Hosiery-factories ... ... ... ... ... 380
Iron and Brass Foundries, Boiler and Range Making, and Engineering 375
Lime and Cement Works ... ... ... ... 373
Principal Industries, Number of Hands employed, 1891, 1896, 1901, 1906 362
Aerated Water and Cordial Factories ... ... ... 369
Agricultural-implement Factories ... ... ... 376
Bacon-curing ... ... ... ... ... 364
Biscuit-factories ... ... ... ... ... 367
Boot and Shoe Factories ... ... ... ... 380
Breweries ... ... ... ... ... 368
Brick, Tile, and Pottery Works ... ... ... ... 374
Butter and Cheese Factories ... ... ... ... 365
Clothing and Waterproof Factories ... ... ... 379
Coach Building and Painting ... ... ... ... 376
Confectionery and Sugar-boiling ... ... ... 368
Cooperages ... ... ... ... ... 371
Cycle-works ... ... ... ... ... 377
Fellmongering, Tanning, Currying, and Wool-scouring ... ... 377
Fish Curing and Preserving ... ... ... ... 365
Fruit-preserving and Jam-making ... ... ... 367
Furniture-factories ... ... ... ... ... 378
Gasworks ... ... ... ... ... 373
Grain-mills ... ... ... ... ... 366
Hosiery-factories ... ... ... ... ... 380
Iron and Brass Foundries, Boiler and Range Making, and Engineering 375
Lime and Cement Works ... ... ... ... 373
Principal Industries, Value of Output, 1885, 1895, 1900, 1905 ... 360
Aerated Water and Cordial Factories ... ... ... 369
Agricultural-implement Factories ... ... ... 376
Bacon-curing ... ... ... ... ... 364
Biscuit-factories ... ... ... ... ... 367
Boot and Shoe Factories ... ... ... ... 380
Breweries ... ... ... ... ... 368
Brick, Tile, and Pottery Works ... ... ... ... 374
Butter and Cheese Factories ... ... ... ... 365
Clothing and Waterproof Factories ... ... ... 379
Coach Building and Painting ... ... ... ... 376
Confectionery and Sugar-boiling ... ... ... 368
Cooperages ... ... ... ... ... 371
Cycle-works ... ... ... ... ... 377
Fellmongering, Tanning, Currying, and Wool-scouring ... ... 377
Fish Curing and Preserving ... ... ... ... 365
Fruit-preserving and Jam-making ... ... ... 367
Furniture-factories ... ... ... ... ... 378
Gasworks ... ... ... ... ... 373
Grain-mills ... ... ... ... ... 366
Hosiery-factories ... ... ... ... ... 380
Iron and Brass Foundries, Boiler and Range Making, and Engineering 375
Lime and Cement Works ... ... ... ... 373
Remarks on Summarised Results ... ... ... ... 345
Aerated Water and Cordial Factories ... ... ... 369
Agricultural-implement Factories ... ... ... 376
Bacon-curing ... ... ... ... ... 364
Biscuit-factories ... ... ... ... ... 367
Boot and Shoe Factories ... ... ... ... 380
Breweries ... ... ... ... ... 368
Brick, Tile, and Pottery Works ... ... ... ... 374
Butter and Cheese Factories ... ... ... ... 365
Clothing and Waterproof Factories ... ... ... 379
Coach Building and Painting ... ... ... ... 376
Confectionery and Sugar-boiling ... ... ... 368
Cooperages ... ... ... ... ... 371
Cycle-works ... ... ... ... ... 377
Fellmongering, Tanning, Currying, and Wool-scouring ... ... 377
Fish Curing and Preserving ... ... ... ... 365
Fruit-preserving and Jam-making ... ... ... 367
Furniture-factories ... ... ... ... ... 378
Gasworks ... ... ... ... ... 373
Grain-mills ... ... ... ... ... 366
Hosiery-factories ... ... ... ... ... 380
Iron and Brass Foundries, Boiler and Range Making, and Engineering 375
Lime and Cement Works ... ... ... ... 373
Value of Materials operated upon ... ... ... ... 348
Aerated Water and Cordial Factories ... ... ... 369
Agricultural-implement Factories ... ... ... 376
Bacon-curing ... ... ... ... ... 364
Biscuit-factories ... ... ... ... ... 367
Boot and Shoe Factories ... ... ... ... 380
Breweries ... ... ... ... ... 368
Brick, Tile, and Pottery Works ... ... ... ... 374
Butter and Cheese Factories ... ... ... ... 365
Clothing and Waterproof Factories ... ... ... 379
Coach Building and Painting ... ... ... ... 376
Confectionery and Sugar-boiling ... ... ... 368
Cooperages ... ... ... ... ... 371
Cycle-works ... ... ... ... ... 377
Fellmongering, Tanning, Currying, and Wool-scouring ... ... 377
Fish Curing and Preserving ... ... ... ... 365
Fruit-preserving and Jam-making ... ... ... 367
Furniture-factories ... ... ... ... ... 378
Gasworks ... ... ... ... ... 373
Grain-mills ... ... ... ... ... 366
Hosiery-factories ... ... ... ... ... 380
Iron and Brass Foundries, Boiler and Range Making, and Engineering 375
Lime and Cement Works ... ... ... ... 373
Manufactories and Works—continued.
Value of Materials operated upon—continued.
Meat-freezing and Boiling-down Works ... ... ... 363
Phormium-mills ... ... ... ... ... 381
Printing and Bookbinding ... ... ... ... 375
Rope and Twine Works ... ... ... ... 381
Saddlery and Harness ... ... ... ... 377
Sauce, Pickle, and Vinegar Making ... ... ... 370
Sawmills, and Sash and Door Factories ... ... ... 372
Ship and Boat Building ... ... ... ... 378
Soap and Candle Works ... ... ... ... 371
Tinware-factories ... ... ... ... ... 374
Wine-making ... ... ... ... ... 369
Woollen-mills ... ... ... ... ... 379
Maoris, The—
Charged with Offences ... ... ... ... ... 234
Children attending Schools ... ... ... ... 214
Clothing of the Ancient ... ... ... ... ... 734
Convicted of Offences, 1891–1906 ... ... ... ... 234
Distribution of ... ... ... ... ... 153
Half-castes ... ... ... ... ... ... 161
Population at Last Census ... ... ... ... 161
Representation ... ... ... ... 18, 36, 343
Songs ... ... ... ... ... ... 739
Marlborough Land District—Physical Features: Rivers, Plains, Lakes, Forests, Soils, Grazing; Industries; Climate; Towns; Roads and Railways; Crown Lands ... ... ... ... ... ... 787
Marriage, Births to every ... ... ... ... ... 243
Decrees for Dissolution of ... ... ... ... 225
Decrees for Judicial Separation ... ... ... ... 225
Rates in New Zealand, Australian States, and European Countries ... 253
Marriages ... ... ... ... ... ... 253
Ages at which Marriage may be contracted ... ... ... 258
Ages of Persons Married ... ... ... ... ... 258
Of Aborigines ... ... ... ... ... 254
Percentage of Persons under 21 Years ... ... ... 257
Proportion by each Denomination ... ... ... ... 256
Proportion of each Sex signing Register by Mark ... ... 256
Measles, Deaths from ... ... ... ... ... 279
Meat, Frozen, Total Export of ... ... ... ... 433
Medicine, School of, Otago ... ... ... ... ... 831
Members of House of Representatives, Roll of ... ... ... 37
Legislative Council, Roll of (see also Corrigenda) ... ... 35
Meteorological Observations ... ... ... ... ... 618
Miles of Railway open for Traffic ... ... ... ... 460
Military and Naval Defences ... ... ... ... ... 72
Milk—
Average Yield of Butter from ... ... ... ... 712
Average Yield per Cow ... ... ... ... ... 712
Mineral Production of Australasia ... ... ... ... 499
Minerals, Gold, Coal, and other ... ... ... ... 496
Mineral Waters of New Zealand ... ... ... ... 716
Mines, Schools of ... ... ... ... ... ... 506
Mines, State Coal ... ... ... ... ... ... 503
Ministers, Officiating, under Marriage Act ... ... ... 259
Ministers, Cabinet ... ... ... ... ... 34
Ministries, Successive ... ... ... ... ... 25
Money-orders and Postal-notes ... ... ... ... 465
Mortgages ... ... ... ... ... ... 531
Amounts borrowed at various Rates of Interest ... ... ... 532
Mountains ... ... ... ... ... ... 9, 10
Mount Cook ... ... ... ... ... ... 11
Egmont ... ... ... ... ... ... 10
Ruapehu ... ... ... ... ... ... 10
Tongariro ... ... ... ... ... ... 9
Municipal Franchise ... ... ... ... ... 309
Mutton. (See Frozen Meat.)
Consumption per Head. (See Year-book, 1898, p. 289.)
National Scholarships ... ... ... ... ... 217
Native Lands purchased by Government ... ... ... ... 650
Native Schools ... ... ... ... ... ... 214
Naturalisation ... ... ... ... ... ... 252
Nelson Land District—General Description; Rivers, Lakes, Plains, Forests; Agricultural, Pastoral, Mining; Towns; Railways, Roads, Tracks, &c.; Crown Lands ... ... ... ... ... ... 792
Newspapers ... ... ... ... ... ... 98
Posted ... ... ... ... ... ... 464
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
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 ... ... ... ... 6
Canterbury ... ... ... ... ... 4
Nelson ... ... ... ... ... ... 4
New Plymouth ... ... ... ... ... 4
Otago ... ... ... ... ... ... 4
Discovery and Early Settlement of ... ... ... ... 2
Canterbury ... ... ... ... ... 4
Nelson ... ... ... ... ... ... 4
New Plymouth ... ... ... ... ... 4
Otago ... ... ... ... ... ... 4
Divided into Six Provinces ... ... ... ... 17
Canterbury ... ... ... ... ... 4
Nelson ... ... ... ... ... ... 4
New Plymouth ... ... ... ... ... 4
Otago ... ... ... ... ... ... 4
General Assembly of ... ... ... ... ... 34
Canterbury ... ... ... ... ... 4
Nelson ... ... ... ... ... ... 4
New Plymouth ... ... ... ... ... 4
Otago ... ... ... ... ... ... 4
Governors of, Successive ... ... ... ... ... 20
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 ... ... ... 17
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 ... ... ... 3
Tasman's Visit ... ... ... ... ... 2
Treaty of Waitangi ... ... ... ... ... 4
Niue, Island of ... ... ... ... ... ... 848
Oats ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 492
Oat-crop of Australasia, 1907 ... ... ... ... 493
Occupation of Land ... ... ... ... ... 468
Occupations of the People ... ... ... ... ... 183
Offences—
Charges for, before Magistrates' Courts ... ... ... 227
Convicted before Supreme and District Courts ... ... 234
Summarily convicted ... ... ... ... 234
Convictions for ... ... ... ... ... 227
Convicted before Supreme and District Courts ... ... 234
Summarily convicted ... ... ... ... 234
Maoris charged with ... ... ... ... ... 234
Convicted before Supreme and District Courts ... ... 234
Summarily convicted ... ... ... ... 234
Office, The Colonial ... ... ... ... ... 31
Official List ... ... ... ... ... ... 39
Officiating Ministers ... ... ... ... ... 259
Old-age Pensions ... ... ... ... ... ... 684
Optional System of selecting Land ... ... ... ... 655
Orchards ... ... ... ... ... 494, 714
Orphan Asylums ... ... ... ... ... ... 298
Orphanhood of Children ... ... ... ... ... 268
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 ... ... ... ... 825
Outlying Islands of New Zealand ... ... ... 14, 842
Ownership of Land ... ... ... ... ... 472
Parcels Post ... ... ... ... ... ... 464
Value of Imports by ... ... ... ... ... 465
Parliament, Members of ... ... ... ... ... 37
Parliaments, Successive ... ... ... ... ... 24
Passengers, Railway ... ... ... ... ... 461
Pastoral Leases, Lands held under ... ... ... ... 585
Patent Slips and Graving-docks ... ... ... ... 79
Pensions, Old-age ... ... ... ... ... ... 684
Perpetual-lease System, Land held under the ... ... ... 585
Perpetuity, Leaseholds in ... ... ... ... ... 585
Phormium tenax
Export of ... ... ... ... ... ... 436
Phosphate Rock ... ... ... ... ... ... 506
Phthisis, Death-rates from ... ... ... ... ... 281
Deaths from, 1898 to 1907 ... ... ... ... 281
Physical Features of the North Island ... ... ... ... 8
South Island ... ... ... ... ... ... 11
Pigs ... ... ... ... ... ... 483, 713
In Counties ... ... ... ... ... ... 474
In Provincial Districts ... ... ... ... ... 483
Pilotage, Port Charges, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 83
Plantations, Gardens, and Orchards, Acreage in ... ... ... 494
Population of New Zealand ... ... ... ... ... 153
Arrivals and Departures ... ... ... ... ... 157
From and to United Kingdom ... ... ... ... 157
Of Chinese ... ... ... ... ... 158
Census, 1906 ... ... ... ... ... ... 161
Chinese ... ... ... ... ... ... 161
Cook and other Islands ... ... ... ... ... 154
European ... ... ... ... ... ... 153
Increase in each Quarter, 1907 ... ... ... ... 155
In adjacent Islands ... ... ... ... ... 178
In Principal Cities and Suburbs ... ... ... ... 167
In Provincial Districts (Census, 1906) ... ... ... 163
Maori ... ... ... ... ... ... 161
Of Australasia ... ... ... ... ... 188
Of Boroughs (Census, 1906) ... ... ... ... 163
Of Capital City ... ... ... ... ... 167
Of Counties (Census, 1906) ... ... ... ... 163
Of small Centres (Census, 1906) ... ... ... ... 169
Of Town Districts (Census, 1906) ... ... ... ... 169
Port Charges, Pilotage, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 83
Post-offices ... ... ... ... ... ... 464
Savings-banks ... ... ... ... ... 525
Securities ... ... ... ... ... ... 526
Potatoes ... ... ... ... ... ... 493
Cost of Growing ... ... ... ... ... 699
Cultivation of ... ... ... ... ... ... 699
Yield of ... ... ... ... ... ... 493
Preferential Trade ... ... ... ... ... 415
Premiers of Successive Ministries ... ... ... ... 26
Preserved Meats exported ... ... ... ... ... 434
Prices and Wages ... ... ... ... 541–545
Prices and Wages, Increase in ... ... ... ... 539
Principal Events, Dates of ... ... ... ... ... 853
Prisoners in Gaol ... ... ... ... ... ... 235
Private Hospitals ... ... ... ... ... 295
Private Schools ... ... ... ... ... ... 212
Private Wealth ... ... ... ... ... ... 537
Probation Act, First Offenders treated under ... ... ... 239
Progress of New Zealand, Fifty Years' ... ... ... ... 626
Property-tax repealed ... ... ... ... ... 563
Prospects of Small Farmers ... ... ... ... ... 715
Public Debt ... ... ... ... ... ... 567
Annual Charge ... ... ... ... ... 575
Securities in which invested ... ... ... ... 577
Comparison with Past Years ... ... ... ... 573
Securities in which invested ... ... ... ... 577
Details of Loans ... ... ... ... ... 568
Securities in which invested ... ... ... ... 577
Flotation of Loans ... ... ... ... ... 578
Securities in which invested ... ... ... ... 577
Increase of ... ... ... ... ... ... 574
Securities in which invested ... ... ... ... 577
Net Indebtedness ... ... ... ... ... 572
Securities in which invested ... ... ... ... 577
Of Australasia ... ... ... ... ... 582
Securities in which invested ... ... ... ... 577
Purposes of Money composing Debt ... ... ... ... 578
Securities in which invested ... ... ... ... 577
Rates of Interest on ... ... ... ... ... 575
Securities in which invested ... ... ... ... 577
Sinking Fund accrued, Amount of ... ... ... ... 573
Securities in which invested ... ... ... ... 577
Stock Quotations ... ... ... ... ... 578
Public Libraries subsidised ... ... ... ... ... 222
Public Property, Value of ... ... ... ... ... 537
Public Schools ... ... ... ... ... 191
District High Schools ... ... ... ... ... 207
Industrial Schools ... ... ... ... ... 218
Secondary Schools ... ... ... ... ... 203
Technical Schools ... ... ... ... ... 195
Public Trust Office (see also Year-book, 1898, p. 454) ... ... 536
Number and Value of Estates administered ... ... ... 536
Public Works ... ... ... ... ... 19, 520
Expenditure on ... ... ... ... ... 556
Purchase of Native Lands by Government ... ... ... 650
Quotations, New Zealand Stock ... ... ... ... 578
Railways ... ... ... ... ... ... 460
Australian States, Miles of, in ... ... ... ... 463
Length and Cost ... ... ... ... ... 460
Particulars of Revenue from ... ... ... ... 462
Passengers ... ... ... ... ... 461
Profit on Working ... ... ... ... ... 462
Revenue and Expenditure ... ... ... ... 462
Train-miles ... ... ... ... ... 461
Traffic in Local Products for Eighteen Years ... ... 461
Comparison of Traffic, Revenue, and Expenditure for Eighteen Years ... 462
Length and Cost ... ... ... ... ... 460
Particulars of Revenue from ... ... ... ... 462
Passengers ... ... ... ... ... 461
Profit on Working ... ... ... ... ... 462
Revenue and Expenditure ... ... ... ... 462
Train-miles ... ... ... ... ... 461
Traffic in Local Products for Eighteen Years ... ... 461
Government, Goods and Live-stock carried ... ... ... 461
Length and Cost ... ... ... ... ... 460
Particulars of Revenue from ... ... ... ... 462
Passengers ... ... ... ... ... 461
Profit on Working ... ... ... ... ... 462
Revenue and Expenditure ... ... ... ... 462
Train-miles ... ... ... ... ... 461
Traffic in Local Products for Eighteen Years ... ... 461
In New Zealand, their History and Progress. (See Year-book, 1894, p. 377.)
Wellington–Manawatu Railway ... ... ... ... 462
Rainfall in New Zealand ... ... ... ... ... 618
Rape and Turnips, Acres under ... ... ... ... 494
Rateable Properties in Boroughs ... ... ... ... 316
In Road Districts ... ... ... ... ... 328
Town Districts ... ... ... ... ... 327
Rates collected by Local Bodies, Twenty-one Years ... ... ... 300
Rates of Wages, Average in Provincial Districts in 1907 ... 541–543
Rating on Unimproved Value ... ... ... ... 310, 680
Method of taking Poll ... ... ... ... ... 680
Ratepayers may demand Poll to be taken ... ... ... 680
Result of Polls taken by Local Bodies ... ... ... 310
System Optional ... ... ... ... ... 680
Reciprocal Trade ... ... ... ... ... ... 690
Religions of the People ... ... ... ... ... 182
Repayments of Advances to Settlers ... ... ... ... 665
Representation ... ... ... ... ... ... 341
Electoral Law ... ... ... ... ... 340
Maori ... ... ... ... ... ... 18
General Election of 1905 ... ... ... ... ... 341
Maori ... ... ... ... ... ... 18
Maori Members ... ... ... ... ... 343
Maori ... ... ... ... ... ... 18
Qualifications of Electors, European ... ... ... ... 18
Maori ... ... ... ... ... ... 18
Woman's Franchise ... ... ... ... 18, 340
Residence and Improvements on Crown Lands ... ... ... 656
Revenue and Expenditure—
Government Railways ... ... ... ... ... 462
Land-tax and Income-tax, Revenue from ... ... ... 565
Loan Accounts Expenditure, 1907–8 ... ... ... ... 553
Of Boroughs, Counties, Drainage Boards, Harbour Boards, River Boards, Road Boards, and Town Boards ... ... ... ... 301
Ordinary Revenue ... ... ... ... ... 548
Ordinary Revenue Expenditure ... ... ... ... 550
Territorial Revenue Expenditure ... ... ... ... 551
Territorial Revenue ... ... ... ... ... 548
River Boards, Revenue of ... ... ... ... ... 303
Rivers ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 9, 13
Road Boards, Revenue, Expenditure, &c. ... ... ... ... 303
Roll of Members of the House of Representatives ... ... ... 37
Legislative Council ... ... ... ... ... 35
Roman Catholic Schools ... ... ... ... ... 212
Root-crops ... ... ... ... ... 493, 699
Sailors' Home, Auckland ... ... ... ... ... 297
Sale of Food and Drugs ... ... ... ... ... 298
Savings-Banks, Post-Office ... ... ... ... ... 525
Private ... ... ... ... ... ... 528
In Australian States ... ... ... ... ... 529
Scholarships ... ... ... ... ... ... 215
Schools, Blind ... ... ... ... ... ... 221
Deaf and Dumb ... ... ... ... ... 221
Cost of ... ... ... ... ... ... 220
Inmates, 1905 and 1906 ... ... ... ... 219
Engineering ... ... ... ... ... ... 196
Mines ... ... ... ... ... ... 506
Native ... ... ... ... ... ... 214
Primary Public ... ... ... ... ... 191
Private ... ... ... ... ... ... 212
Roman Catholic ... ... ... ... ... 212
Secondary or Superior ... ... ... ... ... 203
Sunday ... ... ... ... ... ... 222
District High ... ... ... ... ... ... 207
Cost of ... ... ... ... ... ... 220
Inmates, 1905 and 1906 ... ... ... ... 219
Engineering ... ... ... ... ... ... 196
Mines ... ... ... ... ... ... 506
Native ... ... ... ... ... ... 214
Primary Public ... ... ... ... ... 191
Private ... ... ... ... ... ... 212
Roman Catholic ... ... ... ... ... 212
Secondary or Superior ... ... ... ... ... 203
Sunday ... ... ... ... ... ... 222
Industrial ... ... ... ... ... ... 218
Cost of ... ... ... ... ... ... 220
Inmates, 1905 and 1906 ... ... ... ... 219
Engineering ... ... ... ... ... ... 196
Mines ... ... ... ... ... ... 506
Native ... ... ... ... ... ... 214
Primary Public ... ... ... ... ... 191
Private ... ... ... ... ... ... 212
Roman Catholic ... ... ... ... ... 212
Secondary or Superior ... ... ... ... ... 203
Sunday ... ... ... ... ... ... 222
Seeds, Grass and Clover ... ... ... ... ... 702
Settlement, Discovery and Early ... ... ... ... 2
Settlements, Land for ... ... ... ... 589, 642
Acquisition of Land under ... ... ... ... 589
Estates offered to Government during Year 1907–8 ... ... 591
Government Aid to Settlers ... ... ... ... 658
Preference given to Landless People ... ... ... ... 643
Process of Acquisition ... ... ... ... ... 643
Special Provisions for Workmen's Homes ... ... ... 644
Transactions of Board for Year 1907–8 ... ... ... 589
Settlers, Advances to ... ... ... ... 557, 662
Sex of Children Born ... ... ... ... ... 248
Sheep ... ... ... ... ... ... 476, 709
In Australasia, 1906–7 ... ... ... ... ... 476
In New Zealand ... ... ... ... ... 477
In Counties ... ... ... ... ... ... 474
In Provincial Districts, April, 1906 and 1907 ... ... ... 477
Number and Size of Flocks ... ... ... ... 477
Numbers in North and South Islands ... ... ... 477
Sheep-farming ... ... ... ... ... ... 709
Clips, Average Weight of ... ... ... ... 710
Grass-seed sown per Acre ... ... ... ... 495
Lambing Returns ... ... ... ... ... 479
New Zealand Flock-book ... ... ... ... ... 710
Shipping ... ... ... ... ... ... 458
Coastwise, Inwards ... ... ... ... ... 459
Coastwise, Outwards ... ... ... ... ... 459
Inwards and Outwards, Ten Years ... ... ... 458, 459
Registered Vessels ... ... ... ... ... 460
Shipwrecked Mariners, Depots for ... ... ... ... 76
Silver Produced ... ... ... ... ... ... 496
Sinking Fund—
Amounts paid for Interest and ... ... ... ... 575
Securities of ... ... ... ... ... ... 577
Sitting-days of House of Representatives ... ... ... ... 37
Legislative Council ... ... ... ... ... 35
Slips, Patent ... ... ... ... ... ... 79
Small Farmers, Prospects of ... ... ... ... ... 715
Small Grazing-runs ... ... ... ... 585, 658
Soils, Description of. (See Land Districts.)
Songs, Maori ... ... ... ... ... ... 739
Sounds, West Coast ... ... ... ... ... 12
South Africa, Trade with ... ... ... ... ... 455
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 ... ... 836
Sown Grasses, Extent of ... ... ... ... ... 486
In Counties ... ... ... ... ... ... 487
New Zealand, compared with Australia ... ... ... 495
Speakers of the House of Representatives, Successive ... ... ... 27
Legislative Council, Successive ... ... ... ... 27
Special-settlement Associations ... ... ... ... 657
Spinsters and Bachelors in New Zealand ... ... ... ... 183
Spirits, Consumption per Head ... ... ... ... 395
Spring Feed ... ... ... ... ... ... 706
Springs, The Thermal ... ... ... ... ... 716
State Coal-mines ... ... ... ... ... ... 503
State Fire Insurance ... ... ... ... ... 681
State Instruction. (See Schools.)
Statistical Synopsis Fifty Years' Progress ... ... ... 626
Stewart Island ... ... ... ... ... ... 6, 14
Stipendiary Magistrates' Courts, Apprehensions, Convictions, &c. ... 227
Civil Cases ... ... ... ... ... ... 223
Stock in New Zealand, Live- ... ... ... ... 473, 709
In Australasia ... ... ... ... ... 476
Subsidised Public Libraries ... ... ... ... ... 222
Successive Governors ... ... ... ... ... 20
Ministries ... ... ... ... ... ... 25
Premiers ... ... ... ... ... ... 26
Sugar, Consumption of ... ... ... ... ... 394
Supplemental. Fifty Years' Progress of New Zealand ... ... 626
Supreme Court, Civil Cases ... ... ... ... ... 223
Judges, Past and Present ... ... ... ... 22
Tallow exported ... ... ... ... ... ... 432
Taranaki Land District—Physical Features; Soils; Dairying, Grazing, &c.; Mining; Climate; Towns; Roads and Railways; Crown Lands ... 760
Tariff, Customs ... ... ... ... ... ... 105
Taxation by General Government ... ... ... ... 563
Deductions and Exemptions under Land and Income Tax ... 672, 675
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Growth of Amount paid in Income Tax ... ... ... 679
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Income-tax ... ... ... ... ... 564, 670
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Land tax (ordinary) ... ... ... ... 563, 674
Graduated ... ... ... ... 563, 676
Proportion derived from Customs, 1907–8 ... ... ... 565
Yield of Land and Income Tax ... ... ... 565, 679
Taxation by Local Bodies ... ... ... ... 301
Tea, Consumption of ... ... ... ... ... 394
Teachers, Training of ... ... ... ... ... 192
Technical Education ... ... ... ... ... 195
Telegraphs: Messages transmitted, Miles of Line, Receipts ... ... 466
Telephone Exchanges ... ... ... ... ... 466
Temperature and Rainfall ... ... ... ... ... 618
At different Stations of New Zealand ... ... ... 618
Highest and Lowest in Shade, in New Zealand, the Australian States, and other British Possessions ... ... ... ... 624
Tenure of Occupied Lands ... ... ... ... ... 470
Tenures, the Three, under Land Act ... ... ... ... 655
Thermal Springs ... ... ... ... ... ... 716
Timber exported ... ... ... ... ... ... 447
Tobacco, Consumption of ... ... ... ... ... 396
Tongariro Mountain ... ... ... ... ... 9
Totalisator Permits issued ... ... ... ... ... 638
Town Districts, Value of Property in ... ... ... 610, 617
Town Districts. (See Local Bodies.)
Towns, Principal, and Suburbs ... ... ... ... 167
Trade—
Australasia as Market for Great Britain, Importance of ... ... 457
External, of Australasia ... ... ... ... ... 456
Of Australasia, Value of, per Head ... ... ... ... 456
Of Australasia with United Kingdom ... ... ... 457
(See Exports.)
(See Imports.)
(See Shipping.)
Of Cook and other Islands ... ... ... 393, 449
Per Head of Population, Twenty-two Years ... ... ... 451
With Atlantic and Pacific Ports of United States, Ten Years ... 453
With Australia ... ... ... ... ... 452
With Germany ... ... ... ... ... 453
With India ... ... ... ... ... 454
With United Kingdom ... ... ... ... ... 452
With United States ... ... ... ... ... 452
Training of Teachers ... ... ... ... ... 192
Transport and Communication ... ... ... ... 458
Electric Telegraph ... ... ... ... ... 466
Australasian ... ... ... ... ... 462
Cost of ... ... ... ... ... ... 460
Number of Miles travelled ... ... ... ... 461
Revenue and Expenditure for Eighteen Years ... ... 462
Traffic for Eighteen Years ... ... ... ... 461
Traffic in Local Products for Eighteen Years ... ... 461
Shipping ... ... ... ... ... 458
Mail-services ... ... ... ... ... ... 465
Australasian ... ... ... ... ... 462
Cost of ... ... ... ... ... ... 460
Number of Miles travelled ... ... ... ... 461
Revenue and Expenditure for Eighteen Years ... ... 462
Traffic for Eighteen Years ... ... ... ... 461
Traffic in Local Products for Eighteen Years ... ... 461
Shipping ... ... ... ... ... 458
Postal and Electric Telegraph ... ... ... ... 464
Australasian ... ... ... ... ... 462
Cost of ... ... ... ... ... ... 460
Number of Miles travelled ... ... ... ... 461
Revenue and Expenditure for Eighteen Years ... ... 462
Traffic for Eighteen Years ... ... ... ... 461
Traffic in Local Products for Eighteen Years ... ... 461
Shipping ... ... ... ... ... 458
Railways ... ... ... ... ... ... 460
Australasian ... ... ... ... ... 462
Cost of ... ... ... ... ... ... 460
Number of Miles travelled ... ... ... ... 461
Revenue and Expenditure for Eighteen Years ... ... 462
Traffic for Eighteen Years ... ... ... ... 461
Traffic in Local Products for Eighteen Years ... ... 461
Shipping ... ... ... ... ... 458
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) ... ... ... 536
Turnips, Acreage under ... ... ... ... ... 494
Unimproved Value, Rating on ... ... ... ... 310
United States, Trade with ... ... ... ... ... 452
University of New Zealand ... ... ... ... ... 209
Senate ... ... ... ... ... ... 211
Students ... ... ... ... ... ... 211
Undergraduates ... ... ... ... ... 211
Vaccination, Exemption from ... ... ... ... 280
Vaccinations, Successful, Numbers and Proportions ... ... ... 280
Valuation of Land, Government ... ... ... ... 594
Value of Home Produce exported ... ... ... ... 429
Vessels. (See Shipping.)
Village Settlements ... ... ... ... ... ... 658
Vital Statistics ... ... ... ... ... ... 242
Vital Statistics, Australasian Capitals, 1907 ... ... ... 266
Volunteers ... ... ... ... ... ... 72
Wages ... ... ... ... ... ... 538
Wages and Prices, Estimated Rise in ... ... ... ... 539
Wages and Prices in each Provincial District ... ... 541–545
Water-races, Canterbury ... ... ... ... ... 819
Wealth, Private ... ... ... ... ... ... 537
Wellington, City of—
Exports ... ... ... ... ... ... 424
General Description ... ... ... ... ... 778
Imports ... ... ... ... ... ... 389
Meteorology ... ... ... ... ... ... 620
Population (and all Suburbs) ... ... ... ... 167
Value of Property ... ... ... ... 608, 615
Vital Statistics ... ... ... ... 251, 261
Wellington Land District—Physical Features; Plains, Rivers, Lakes, Scenery, Forests, Soil; Climate; Harbours and Ports; Towns; Crown Lands; Industries, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 774
Wellington-Manawatu Railway ... ... ... ... 462
Westland Land District—Physical Features; Mountains, Rivers, Forests, Lakes; Soil; Climate; Lands; Harbours; Towns; Mining and Minerals, &c. ... ... ... ... ... ... 802
Wheat, Amount held from Previous Season ... ... ... 492
Acreage and Actual Yield in Provincial Districts ... ... ... 485
Annual Average, Principal Countries ... ... ... 492
Area under, and Produce, Ten Years ... ... ... ... 490
Annual Average, Principal Countries ... ... ... 492
Consumption of, in New Zealand ... ... ... ... 491
Annual Average, Principal Countries ... ... ... 492
Crops of Australian States ... ... ... ... 490
Crop of the World ... ... ... ... ... 491
Cultivation of ... ... ... ... ... 695
Export in 1907 ... ... ... ... ... 434
Seed sown per Acre ... ... ... ... ... 694
Wine, Consumption of, per Head ... ... ... ... 395
Winter Oats and Cape Barley ... ... ... ... ... 705
Yield per Acre ... ... ... ... ... 705
Women's Franchise ... ... ... ... 18, 340
Wool—
Exported ... ... ... ... ... ... 429
Production of, Twenty Years ... ... ... ... 430
Proportions of Greasy, Scoured, and Washed Wool exported, Ten Years 430
Used at Local Mills ... ... ... ... ... 430
Woollen Manufactures exported, Value of ... ... ... 426
Workers, Advances to ... ... ... ... 559, 668
World's, Coal Production ... ... ... ... ... 504
World's, Gold Production ... ... ... ... ... 499
World's, Wheat-crop ... ... ... ... ... 491