STATISTICS OF NEW ZEALAND FOR 1863

Registrar-General's Office,

Auckland, December 20th, 1864.

SIR,

In presenting the Series of Tables comprising the Statistics of New Zealand for 1863, I have to express my regret that in this instance, as in that of the Volume for 1862, the issue has been unavoidably delayed to so late a period of the Year. While this is partly attributable to the time occupied in printing the Tables which were ready, it is principally owing to the difficulty of obtaining all the necessary Returns at a sufficiently early date. Besides the delay which may be, under any circumstances, inevitable, on account of the large number of Returns required, and the fact that these Returns are to be procured from the most distant parts of the Colony, and not only from Officers of the General Government, but also from Officers of the Nine Provincial Government, the main hindrance, I feel bound to state, has been a delay in the transmission of some of the Returns for a much longer time than ought to be required for their preparation. Although the greater number of Returns have generally been promptly forwarded, yet, year after year, some have not been supplied until they were written for a second, or even a third, time; while by an unhappy coincidence, it has not unfrequently occurred that the Returns which were the last to be sent in, were also those which, on examination, it was found necessary to send back for amendment or explanation. I trust, however, it will be practicable to devise means by which this difficulty may for the future be diminished, if not altogether obviated.

I proceed, as on former occasions, to embody in this introductory Report such as summary of the principal information contained in the following Tables as may suffice for those who require no more than a general view of the statistical facts relating to the Colony. The details will be found in the respective Tables indicated by references in the margin.

The Population of the Colony has been estimated on the only plan available in the years in which a Census is not taken, viz., by adding to the numbers as estimated at the close of the previous year the excess of Immigration over Emigration, and the excess of Births over Deaths in 1863. According to thisestimate, the Population of European descent in New Zealand on the 31st December, 1863, (exclusive of the Military and their families) was 164,048, viz., 105,978 Males, and 589,070 Females. The Total includes 1,351 Military Settlers, arrived from the Australian Colonies during the year. These numbers, (which it is to be borne in mind, are no more than such an approximation as could be derived from the available data,) show an increase, as compared with the estimated Population in December, 1862, amounting to 38.236, viz., 26,298 Males, and 11,938 Females. Centesimally, this increase would be 33.39 per cent. On the whole Population.

The subjoined Summary shows the proportions in which this progress was distributed through the several Quarters of the Years:-

Any attempt to estimate the Population of the respective Provinces, except when a Census is taken, is attended with such uncertainty (for reasons which I have repeatedly stated before, and which are again referred to in a note to Table I. of this Volume) that I only make it to gratify the prevalent desire to have some approximation, although it may not be close, to the numbers. This is, however, of less importance now than in other years, for the Triennial Census of the Colony, the results of which will in a short time be known, will furnish the information fully, and on the only authority which is really reliable. The numbers given, (with this qualification as to their value), at the foot of Table I.,

Would show the Provincial distribution of Population in December, 1863, to have been in the following proportions:—Auckland, 20.41 percent; Taranaki, 1.47 per cent; Wellington, 8.70 per cent; Hawke's Bay, 1.60 per cent; Nelson, 6.97 percent.; Marlborough, 1.41 per cent.; Canterbury, 15.45 per cent.; Otago, 38.53 percent.; and Southland,^* 5.46 per cent.

The IMMIGRATION (over seas) to New Zealand in 1863, amounted to 45,730; viz.: Males, 31,395 adults, and 3,121 children; and Females, 8,240 adults, and 2,974 children.

The EMIGRATION (over seas) from the Colony during the year, amounted to 10,610; viz.: Males, 9,392 adults, and 262 children; and Females, 747 adults, and 209 children.

It thus appears that the net excess of Immigration over Emigration, amounted to 35,120 souls; distributed amongst the Provinces in the following proportions:—Otago, 20,311; Auckland, 6,438; Canterbury, 4,730; Southland, 3,242; Nelson, 286; Wellington, 119; Taranaki, 4. At Hawke's Bay, the balance was slightly on the opposite side, there having been an excess of Emigration over Immigration amounting to 10.

The following figures show the Immigration and Emigration of the Year, classified according to the Countries from which the Immigrants arrived, and to which the Emigrants went.

The excess of Immigration over Emigration, viewed in relation to Countries, is thus shown to have been, United Kingdom, 13,921; Australian Colonies, 20,335; Other British Ports, 843; Foreign States, 21.

The ARRIVALS and DEPARTURES between the several Ports of New Zealand, are shown, so far as is practicable, in a separate Table, which is a correct compilation from the Returns furnished by the Emigration Officers. But the most that can be claimed for these numbers is an approximation to correctness. It will be seen that (for reasons suggested in a note to the Table) the general Total of recorded Arrivals in 1863, as in previous years, considerably exceeded the general Total of recorded Departures.

The total number of BIRTHS registered in New Zealand in 1863 was 5,115; viz., 2,641 Males, and 2,474 Females; being an increase of 1,051 (viz, 551 Males, and 500 Females) over the number in 1862.

The DEATHS registered in 1863 amounted to 1,983, (viz., 1,218 Males, and 765 Females,) being 445 Males, and 307 Females, more than in the preceding year. Of these 576 (315 Males and 261 Females) were under one year of age :—167 (83 Males and 84 Females) between one and two years :—and 168 (89 Males and 79 Females) between two and five; making a Total of 911, (487 Males and 424 Females,) or 45.94 per cent, of the whole, under five years. In the General Total of Deaths were included two hundred and forty-one, (viz., 215 Males and 26 Females,) which were occasioned, not by disease, but by drowning, and other external causes.

TABLE IV.

The excess of Births over Deaths in 1863 was 3,132, viz., 1,423 Males, and 1,709 Females. The total excess of registered Births over registered Deaths in the Colony during the nine years included in these Tables was 17,822, viz., 8,469 Males, and 9,353 Females.

^* The numbers for SOUTHLAND, it is to be remarked, are reliable, being ascertained by a Census taken by the Provincial Government in December, 1863. An Abstract of the principal results of this Census (compiled from Returns published in the Gazette of the Province) will be found in Appendix A and Appendix B, of this Volume.

TABLE VI., VII.

The MARRIAGES solemnized in New Zealand in 1863 amounted to 1,485, being an increase of 394 as compared with 1862. The numbers of Marriages in the respective Provinces during each year since "The Marriage Act, 1854," came into operation, and the numbers solemnized in each year by Officiating Ministers of the several Religious Bodies, and by District Registrars, will be found in the Tables.

As in preceding years, the Tables relating to Trade and Interchange as well as the Revenue Tables) have been prepared in the office of the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer and Commissioner of Customs, under the supervision of Mr. R. F. PORTER. The new Tables introduced in the Volume for 1862 are continued in the present Volume.

SHIPPING (TABLES VIII., IX.)

Seven Tables are devoted to Shipping. The first two show the Numbers, Tonnage, and Crews of Vessels Entered Inwards and Cleared Outwards at the several Points of New Zealand during the year,—exhibiting a total Inwards of 1,154 Vessels, of 419,93.3 Tonnage; and a Total Outwards of 1,094 Vessels, of 394,665 Tonnage; being an increase as compared with 1862 of 341 Vessels, with 118,570 Tonnage Inwards; and 311 Vessels, with 106,018 Tonnage-Outwards.

TABLE X., XI.

TABLE XII XIII.

The next two Tables show the particulars of Vessels, Tonnage, and Crews classified according to the "Countries whence Arrived," and "Countries for which Cleared;" and the following two show the Nationality of the Vessels, Inwards and Outwards. From the former it appears that of the total of the Vessels-entered Inwards, 116, of 93,701 Tonnage, arrived from the United Kingdom; 936 Vessels, of 296,760 Tonnage, from the Australian Colonies and other British Possessions; and 102 Vessels, of 29,474 Tonnage, from Foreign Countries (including the Southern Whale Fishery). From the latter it appears that, of this total, 245 Vessels, with 171,947 Tonnage, were British; 742, with 173,863 Tonnage, were Colonial; 110, with 51,447 Tonnage, were American;12, with 5,084 Tonnage, were French; 14, with 7,360 Tonnage, were Dutch; 13, with 4,215 Tonnage, were German; 7, with 2,620 Tonnage, were Swedish; 5, with 1,138 Tonnage, were Chilean,—the remainder being made up of one Vessel each of Hanoverian, Danish, Norwegian, Prussian, Russian, and Peruvian Nationalities.

REGISTERED VESSELS. TABLES XXIX., XXX.

The numbers of Registered Vessels belonging to Ports in New Zealand (although the Tables relating to them occupy another place in the arrangement of the Volume) may conveniently be referred to here. The total number in December, 1863, was 343 Vessels, of 15,189 Tonnage, against 287 Vessels, of 10,825 Tonnage, in 1862. Of the total, 229 Vessels, of 9,132 Tonnage, belonged to the Port of Auckland.

IMPORTS

The progressive increase in the IMPORTS of the Colony shown in former Statistics was fully sustained in 1863, the Total Value of Imports in that year having amounted to £7,024,624,—being an increase of £2,398,592, or 51.84 per cent, on the Imports of 1862 (which showed an increase on 1861 of .£2,132,271, or 85.50 per cent.) Taking the Imports of the Provinces separately, the centesimal increase in 1863 was—Auckland, 17.39; Taranaki, 16.73; Wellington, 12.43; Hawke's Bay, 52.32; Nelson, 14.63; Marlborough, 87.51; Canterbury, 25.89; Otago, 64.85; and Southland, 223.55.

EXPORTS

The total value of EXPORTS from New Zealand in 1863 amounted to £3,485,405, against £2,422,734 in 1862, being an increase of 43.86 per cent., (the value of Exports in 1862 having been itself 76.81 per cent, in advance of the amount in 1861). The total is, of course, in great part made up of the two main articles of Export— Gold and Wool. The value of gold exported in 1863 was £2,431,723, against £1,591,389 in 1862, being an increase of 52.80 per cent. The value of Wool exported in 1863 was £830,495, against £674,226, in 1862, being an increase of 23.17 per cent.

GOLD—WOOL

DETAILS OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. Tables XVIII., XIX.

Details of the Imports and Exports at the several Ports of the Colony are DETAILS or given in Tables XVIII. and XIX.; and the nine following Tables (XX. to Tables (XX. to XXVIII.) contain Comparative Summaries, showing, in a compendious form' the totals of the principal Articles of Export, not only for the immediately preceding year (1862), but also for each previous year since 1853. Separate Tables are appropriated to Gold, Grain, Kauri Gum, Oil, Potatoes, Timber, and Wool respectively, distinguishing the Exports from the several Provinces. The information, in a still more condensed form, is given in Tables XVI. and Tables XVII., which show the Total Value of he Imports and the Exports for the successive years from 1853 to 1863 inclusive. The range of advance within that period will be seen to have been as follows:—

COMPARATIVE SUMMARIES (1853—1863) Table XX-XXVIII.

Tables relating to REVENUE are prepared in the same form as those of 1862, which included a considerable variety of information not embodied in the previous Volumes of Statistics.

Table XXXVII

The CUSTOMS REVENUE in 1863 amounted to £592,050, against £399,436 in 1862, being an increase of 48.22 per cent. This advance is the more remarkable as the Customs Revenue of 1862 showed an increase of 53.12 per cent, as compared with 1861.

Table XXXI

The Total Ordinary Revenue in 1863 amounted to ,£742,504, against £508,332 in 1862, being an increase of 46.06 per cent. In this increase all the Provinces of the Colony more or less largely participated. The Territorial Revenue in 1863 shows a decrease on the previous year, being £524,404, against £606,830 in 1862.

The TOTAL of the REVENUE, both Ordinary and Territorial, in 1863 amounted to £1,266,908, against £1,115,162 in 1862, being an increase of 13.60 per cent. The following Table presents a comparative view of the Revenue, Ordinary and Territorial, of the several Provinces in 1862 and 1863, marking the centesimal Increase or Decrease for each in the latter year :—

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE. (Table XXXII., XXXIII., XXXIV.)

Three Tables show the INCOME and EXPENDITURE of the Colony in the year 1863. The first of these exhibits, on opposite pages, the Income and Expenditure in their different branches, as relating to the Colonial Treasury, and the Provincial Treasuries (taken collectively). The two succeeding Tables exhibit in detail the Income and Expenditure of the several Provinces (taken separately)

Table XXXV.

The Receipts and Disbursements of the Receivers of Land Revenue in the several Provinces are shown in detail in the next Table.

FUNDED DEBT. (Table XXXVI.)

The Funded Debt of the General and Provincial Governments on the 31st December, 1863, is shown in a Table which specifies—the Authority under which the Liabilities were respectively incurred; the Amounts authorised to be borrowed; the Amounts of Debentures in Circulation; the Rates of Interest; the Rates of Sinking Funds; when the Debentures are Redeemable; the Unexpended Balances of Amounts raised; the Amounts of Sinking Funds accrued; and what Amounts, and in what manner, invested. It will, of course, be understood in examining this Table that the information contained in it only comes down to the date specified in the heading, viz.—the 31st December, 1863. On that date, the Total Amount authorised to be borrowed by the General and Provincial Governments was £6,294,000. The Total Amount of Debentures in Circulation (that is, of Money actually raised) was £1,289,750. The Total of the Unexpended Balances of Moneys raised was £173,993 19s. 4d. The Total Amount of Sinking Fund accrued was £70,691 11s. 8d., of which £67,030 11s. 8d. had been invested in the various securities described in the Table.

JOINT STOCK COMPANIES.

The Joint Stock Companies incorporated under the Acts of the General Assembly of 1860 and 1862 are enumerated in a Table which shows the Name and various other particulars respecting each Company from the commencement of the operation of the Act of 1860 down to the 31st December, 1863. The aggregate number of Companies established up to that date in the Colony was 33, of which one was incorporated in 1861, 13 in 1862, and 19 in 1863.

LAND SALES (Table XXXIX.—XLI)

The Land Sales in the Colony from the 1st April, 1856, (the earliest date to the information could be carried back with accuracy), are shown in three Tables. The first of these shows in detail the Waste Lands sold, or otherwise disposed of, in the several Provinces during the year 1863. The second contains a Summary of the Totals for each Province during the entire period from April, 1856, to December, 1863. In the third, by a classification relating to time rather than to locality, the Totals for the whole Colony during each year of that period is shown in a similarly compendious Summary.

PRICES OF PROVISIONS. (Table XLII.)

The Average Prices of Provisions and Live Stock in the several Provinces in 1863 are shown in a Table prepared in the same form as in previous years.

POSTAL REVENUE. (Table XLVIII)

A large amount of information relating to the POST OFFICE in 1863 will be found in a series of seven Tables, including the numbers of Letters and Newspapers respectively received at, and despatched from, the several Chief Post Offices in the Colony; and, separately, the numbers of Letters despatched to Places out of the Colony, specifying the Offices from which they were despatched, and the Places of their destination. The Postal Revenue of the several Provinces of New Zealand for the years 1858 to 1863 inclusive, is shown in a comparative Table. It will be seen that the Total, which in 1862 amounted to £22,710, being an Increase of 60.97 per cent, on the preceding year (1861), in 1863 reached the sum of £32,329, being a further advance of 42.35 per cent. on the Revenue of 1862.

MONEY ORDERS (Table XLIX.)

The last volume of Statistics necessarily showed only the commencement of the working of the Money Order System, (which did not come into operation in New Zealand until the 1st August, 1862, and was therefore only shown in that volume for a period of five months). But the present volume contains a Table exhibiting its operation for the complete year 1863. The Total Number of Orders issued in the Colony during that year was 11,586, viz.—4,740 on the United Kingdom, 4,205 on Victoria, 325 on New South Wales, 94 on South Australia, 12 on Queensland, 9 on Western Australia, and 2,201 on Places in New Zealand. The respective Amounts of these Orders were—Orders on the United Kingdom, £21,944 2s. 7d.; on Victoria, £22,089 18s. 1d.; on New South Wales, £1,425 7s. 0d.; on South Australia, £532 6s. 10d.; on Queensland, £47 15s. 0d.; on Western Australia, £50 0s. 6d.; on Places in New Zealand, £9,813 11s. 11d.; making the Total Amount of Orders issued, £55,703 1s. 5d. The Money Orders paid in New Zealand were 3,040, viz.— issued in the United Kingdom, 415; in Victoria, 456; in New South Wales, 72; in South Australia, 27; in Queensland, 3; and in New Zealand, 2,067. The Amounts of these Orders were—Issued in the United Kingdom, £1,824 0s. 8d.; in Victoria, £2,439 11s. 1d.; in New South Wales, £453 14s. 6d.; in South Australia, £163 14s. 9d.; in Queensland, £20 13s. 3d.; in New-Zealand, £9,169 4s. 6d.;—Total, £14,070 18s. 9d.

(Table LX.)

The Legal and Criminal Statistics of the year are shown, as in previous volumes, in a series of Tables including the Supreme Court, such of the District Courts as were in operation in any part of 1863, and the Resident Magistrates' Courts, distinguishing in the latter class the cases, whether civil or criminal, in which Europeans or Maories, or both, were concerned. The last Table of this series shows the numbers of Prisoners committed to gaol in New Zealand during the year, specifying the sexes, the causes of imprisonment, the native countries, the classes, and the degree of education The total number committed was 3,130, viz.—2,701 males, and 429 females.

The Table relating to Savings Banks shows the number of those Institutions which were in operation in New Zealand during the year 1863,—particularising the dates of their respective establishment, the numbers of depositors, and the amounts deposited and withdrawn (distinguishing European and Maori Depositors). The total number of persons having deposits in these Banks,—which on the 31st December, 1862, was 1,496,—had increased on the 31st of December, 1863, to 2,371. The total amount to the credit of such depositors in December, 1863, was £44,117 3s. 3d., against £29,768 10s. 5d. at the corresponding date of the previous year.

The difficulties which I described at this stage of the Introductory Report to the last Volume of Statistics, in obtaining such information on the subject of Public Schools as could be tabulated with the requisite clearness and accuracy, have not been overcome with regard to 1863, although considerable efforts were made to accomplish this desirable object. While, in some cases, various particulars could be so presented, in others it would be impracticable to do so. Instead therefore of attempting any general tabular view of the comparative state of the several Provinces in this matter, I shall subjoin here some of the leading points of the information received, hoping that future endeavours to bring out more complete and available Returns from all the Provinces may be attended with better success. The Census Returns for December 1864—the results of which, on this, as on other branches, will be compiled with the least possible delay,—will, I trust, exhibit fully and clearly, to the extent to which they go the .state of Education in the several Provinces and Districts of the Colony.

In the Province of AUCKLAND, the number of Schools in connection with the Board of Education was, in the year ended December, 1863, 47, viz., 4 Boys', 4 Girls', 2 Infant, and 37 Mixed. The number of Teachers (including eight Assistant Female Teachers,) was 55, viz., 35 Male and 20 Female. The aggregate amount of the remuneration paid to these Teachers was £4,742, of which £2,075 was from the Board of Education, and £2,667 from school fees and local sources, making the average remuneration per Teacher £86. The number of Pupils on the School Books and their average attendance in each quarter were as follows :—First quarter, gross number, 1,933; average, 1,292. Second quarter, gross, 2,172; average, 1,393. Third quarter, gross, 2;280; average, 1,255. Fourth quarter, gross, 2,314; average, 1,422. The ages of the Pupils were, under 6 years, 267, viz., 135 Boys and 132 Girls; 6 and under 12, 1,504, viz., 936 Boys and 568 Girls; 12 and under 16, 462, viz., 200 Boys and 262 Girls; and 16 and upwards, 81, viz., 38 Males and 43 Females. With reference to the subjects taught, and the numbers instructed in the several branches, the return is as follows :—Reading, 1,686, (not including children learning the alphabet or only monosyllables); Writing, 1,158, (not including children writing on slates); Arithmetic, 1,156; Geography, 765; Grammar, 628; History, (English), 217; Sewing, 438; Religious Knowledge, 573; Euclid and Algebra, 5; Drawing and Mapping, 69; Music and Singing, 367; Latin, 3; Shorthand, 2; Natural History, 68.

From TARANAKI and WELLINGTON, no Returns for the year have been, received.

In the Province of HAWKE'S BAY, according to the Report of the Inspector, dated January, 1863 (the last furnished), there were three Common Schools in operation. The total number on the School Registers during the previous year was 71; the average attendance, 44.75. The branches of instruction were reading, writing, arithmetic, and geography.

In the Province of NELSON, according to the Official Report for the year ending June 30th, 1863, the number of Public Schools was 33, and the number of Scholars, 1,877. The ages of these Scholars were, (so far as the information on this point had been sent in), under 6 years, 262; 6 to 9,580; 9 to 12,560; and 12 and upwards, 399. Of the branches of Education taught, the numbers receiving instruction, as shown in the Report, were—Reading, (1), 584, (2), 701, (3), 438; Slate, 361; Writing, (1), 305, (2), 545, (3), 261; Drawing, 165; Arithmetic, (1). 716, (2), 293, (3), 158; Geometry, 36; Geography, 842; History, 611; Grammar, 795; Music, 100.

In the Province of MARLBOROUGH, the number of Schools was 5; the highest number of Pupils on the Books 165, viz., 91 Males and 74 Females; the average daily attendance 128, viz , 74 Males and 54 Females. The ages of the Pupils are stated as, under 6, 49; 6 and under 12, 95; 12 and upwards, 20. With reference to the branches of Education, the numbers were—Reading, 165; Writing, 144; Arithmetic, 144; Grammar, 50; Geography, 47; Music, 17; Other Subjects, 2.

In the Province of CANTERBURY, according to the "Report of the Education Commission, 1863," (which contains the latest information available), the number of Schools receiving Government aid was 37; the total number of children in these Schools was 1,651, viz., 1,046 Males and 605 Females. Of these 290 (viz., 149 Males and 141 Females), were under 6 years; 678 (viz., 430 Males and 248 Females), from 6 to 9 inclusive; 491 (viz., 322 Males and 169 Females), from 9 to 12; and 192 (viz., 145 Males and 47 Females), above 12. The branches of Education, and the total numbers receiving instruction in each, were—Religious Instruction, 1,582 : Reading, 1,564; Writing, 1,291; Arithmetic, 1,123; Geography, 736; Grammar, 632; English History, 476; Algebra, 43; Euclid, 53; Greek, 45; Latin, 108; Vocal Music, 362; Drawing, 138; Needlework, 402; Mechanics, 16; Trigonometry, 5.

The Annual Report of the Education Board of the Province of OTAGO, is made up to the 30th of September, 1863. The number of Schools then in operation was 26. The number of Pupils who attended for longer or shorter periods in the course of the year was 2,390, viz., 1,369 Boys and 1,021 Girls. The average attendance for the year was 1,411; the attendance at the close of the year was 1,641. The ages of the pupils at the close of the year, or when they left school, were—under 4 years, 17; between 4 and 5,104; between 5 and 6,215; between 6 and 7,221; between 7 and 8,244; between 8 and 9,257; between 9 and 10,229; between 10 and 11,244; between 11 and 12,207; between 12 and 13, 194; between 13 and 14,124; over 14, 97; not specified, 240. The branches of Education taught, and the numbers of children learning them, were—Reading, (the Holy Scriptures,) 1,167; Letters and Monosyllables, 440; Easy Narrative, 669; Books of General Information, 1,038. Writing—From copy on Slates, 264; From copy on Paper, 1,290; From dictation on Slates, 582; From dictation on Paper, 126. Arithmetic—Simple Rules, 771; Compound Rules, 369; Proportion, 81; Practice, 98; Fractions, 62; Decimals, 45; Higher Rules, 33; Geography, 843; Grammar, 676; History, 213; Music from Notes, 396; Drawing, 31; Euclid or Algebra, 10; Bookkeeping, 36; French, 8; Latin, 24; Sewing (girls), 202.

The only information furnished from SOUTHLAND with regard to Public Schools is that included in the results of the Census taken by the Provincial Government in December 1863, from which it appears that the number at Schools "supported by Government aid" was 100, viz., 56 Males and 44 Females.

In the Appendix to this Volume, the principal results of the Census of SOUTHLAND, in December 1863, are compendiously shown. On comparison with the results of a Census taken under the same authority in December 1862, there appears to have been in the year 1863, a progress which may be thus centesimally exhibited :—On Males, an increase of 199 per cent.; on Females, 137 per cent.; on the total Population, 176 per cent.; on the number of Houses, 243 per cent.; on the number of Acres fenced, 73 per cent.; of Acres under Crop, 134 per cent; on the number of Horses, 97 per cent.; of Sheep, 29 per cent.

The remaining Tables of the Appendix are occupied by compilations of Meteorological Observations in New Zealand during the year 1863. "With respect to these Tables, DR. KNIGHT, Director of Meteorological Stations in the Colony, (by whom they have been supplied), remarks—" It was hoped that the Returns of Meteorological Observations for the year 1863, would be complete from each Station; but various causes have prevented this desirable result. The only Stations which have rendered Returns for the whole year are Auckland, Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, and Dunedin. The results of these Observations will be found in the Tables. No record of Observations has been received from Napier or Invercargill. At Christchurch, the Observatory was not completely arranged until the 1st December. At Mongonui, complete Observations could not be taken until the 1st November. It is to be regretted that the Anemometer Returns cannot be relied upon in any case, the instruments hitherto in use not being trustworthy."

There is, however, I trust, every reason to anticipate that the Meteorological Returns for 1864 will be found more complete and satisfactory.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

JOHN B. BENNETT,

Registrar-General.