Increase of Population.—The population of the colony (exclusive of Maoris) on the 3rd April, 1881, numbered 489,933, an increase since March, 1878, of 75,521 persons, or 18.22 per cent. The rates of increase during the intervals between the last four Censuses were as follow :—

Table V., p.2.

The increase for the ten years, February, 1871, to 3rd April, 1881, was equal to 91.09 per cent, of the population in 1871.

Of the increase, 75,521, between the 3rd March, 1878, and the 3rd April, 1881, the increase by excess of births over deaths amounted to 40,773, or at the rate of 9.84 per cent, for the period. The balance, 34,748, consists of the excess of immigration over emigration during the same period.

The rates of increase from all causes varied considerably in different parts of the colony.

Tables VII. VIII., pp. 4, 5.

The actual and rateable increase or decrease in each provincial district was as follows:—

Proportion of the Sexes.—The males in 1881 numbered 209,605, the females 220,328. The Chinese are included in these numbers. Excluding the Chinese the numbers would be 264,610 males and 220,319 females, an excess of males of 41,291. In 1878 the excess of males (exclusive of Chinese) over females was 43,169. Including Chinese there were, on the 3rd April, 1881, 100 males to every 81.72 females, the proportions in 1878 having been 100 males to 79.40 females.

The following were the proportions of the sexes in the various provincial districts in the years 1878 and 1881:—

Table X., p.6.

The proportion of females to males was thus less in the Districts of Auckland and Taranaki in 1881 than in 1878—due not to a reduction in the number of females, but to a larger increase in the male than in the female population. In each of the other districts of the colony the proportion of females to males was greater in 1881 than in 1878. In Westland this increase in the proportion, amounting to 5.32 females per 100 males, is attributable not to an increase of females, for the actual number decreased from 6,355 to 5,935, but to a larger decrease of males than females, the males having numbered 10,577 in 1878, and 9,075 in 1881.

Table V., p.2.

In Nelson, Westland, and Otago the numbers of Chinese are sufficiently large to materially disturb these proportions. If, therefore, the Chinese are excluded from the calculations, the proportion of females to 100 males in 1878 and 1881 respectively would appear thus:—

Density of Population.—The estimated number of the population was on an average 4.693 persons per square mile; but, as 187,439 persons dwelt in defined boroughs or towns having a population in excess of 1,000 persons, the total population residing outside such boroughs or towns gave an average of 2.89 persons to the square mile.

Table XI, p. 6.

The above number of 187,439 may therefore be defined as the urban population, and the rest of the population, or 302,494, being all those who do not reside in defined towns of over 1,000 inhabitants, as suburban. It cannot be doubted that some of the population residing in townships of less than 1,000, or in the suburbs of the larger towns, can hardly be classed as a rural population ; but, on account of the difficulty experienced in distinguishing between the urban and rural population in the smaller towns and in undefined suburbs, the limit of 1,000 of population has been taken.

The Commissioners for the Imperial Census have made a population of 3,000 a limit, and included the population of towns not having that number among the suburban population.

The average number of persons to an inhabited dwelling throughout the colony was 5.12 in 1881, against 5.02 in 1878, 4.88 in 1874, and 4.48 in 1871. While the total population of the boroughs in existence in 1878 has increased 19.59 per cent, the inhabited houses have only increased 17.10 per cent. Of the whole population of the colony (exclusive of Maoris and Chinese) the number who—

Table XIII., p. 7.

Table III., p. 1.

Dwellings: Number and Character.—The number of inhabited dwellings in 1881 was 95,750, against 82,588 in 1878, an increase of 13,162.

The following table will show the increase since 1878 in the various dwellings, classified according to the number of rooms they contain:—

Table XV., p.10.

The largest increase was in houses having three and four rooms. The increase amounted to 42.61 per cent, of the total increase of the inhabited houses of which the number of rooms was specified; and the dwellings in that class amounted to 36.6 per cent, of the total inhabited dwellings, against 35 per cent, in 1878. Dwellings having five and six rooms amounted to 20.2 per cent, of the total dwellings in 1881, against 18.4 in 1878; and superior dwellings, having more than six rooms, were 16 per cent, of the whole number, against 14.9 in 1878.

The inhabited houses of brick, stone, or concrete amounted to 3,752, or 3.91 per cent, of the total dwellings, against 3,001, or 3.63 per cent., in 1878.

In Otago the dwellings of this character comprise 8.57 per cent, of the total dwellings, in Canterbury 4.39 per cent., and in the Auckland Provincial District 2.38 per cent. In the other districts the percentage was very small.

The number of inhabited tents and dwellings with canvas roofs was slightly less than in 1878, viz., 2,917 in 1881, and 2,931 in 1878. The percentage to the total dwellings was 304 in 1881, against 3.55 in 1878.

Uninhabited Dwellinghouses.—The number of uninhabited dwellinghouses was 6,737 in 1881, against 5,292 in 1878. The increase in the uninhabited dwellings was not due to the undue increase in the number of houses built, as there were only 20.92 inhabited and uninhabited dwellings and houses to the 100 of population in 1881, against 21.20 in 1878. It is thus evident that in numerous instances a larger number of persons lived in one house in 1881 than in 1878, due probably to the depression in trade then existing, more houses being thus left empty. This is also borne out by the fact that there were on an average 5.12 persons to the inhabited dwelling in 1881, against 5.02 in 1878.

Table XV., p. 10.

Dwellinghouses building.—It is noticeable that while there was actual numerical increase in the uninhabited dwellings in 1881 as compared with 1878, yet the number of dwelling-houses in course of erection should be 848 in 1881, or 71 per cent, more than they were (497) in 1878. The examination of the number of houses being built and those uninhabited in 1878 and 1881 respectively in each provincial district show varying evidences of progress during the interval. Thus, while in the Wellington District the houses building fell in number from 118 in 1878 to 67 in 1881, the number of uninhabited houses increased from 536 in 1878 to 1,069 in 1881; in Auckland, on the contrary, the number of houses building was nearly five times as great in 1881 as in 1878, yet the number of uninhabited houses remained stationary.

Table XV., p. 10.

Boroughs and Towns.—The number of boroughs and towns amounted in 1881 to 169. Of these—

Table XIV., p.7.

The principal towns or boroughs were—

The real relative importance of these boroughs as centres of population cannot be well compared unless the immediate suburban population be also taken into account. The suburbs of some of them constitute practically extensions of the central borough, although in some cases defined as separate boroughs.

The population of Auckland and the suburbs amounts to 30,952, as follows :—

The suburbs of Christchurch consist of the adjoining Borough of Sydenham and that portion of the Electoral District of Christchurch not included in boroughs. The total population in 1881 amounted to 30,715:—

The suburbs of Dunedin have been constituted as several distinct boroughs forming a group round the centre, Dunedin. The aggregate population amounted in 1881 to 42,794, distributed as follows:—

Of the 189,933 persons enumerated on the 3rd April, 1881, the ages of 488,601 were specified ; of these, 17,954, or 3.67 per cent., were under one year of age ; of these, 9,209 were males and 8,745 were females. The total number under 5 years amounted to 82,289, or 16.84 per cent; of these, 41,636 were males and 40,653 females. Thus, while there were 105.3 males to every 100 females under 1 year of age, the total numbers under 5 years of age averaged 102.4 males to 100 females. The numbers at the ages 5–15 were, males 63,180, females 62,357, a total of 125,537, or 25.69 per cent, of the whole population. 50,948 persons, viz., 25,225 males and 25,723 females, were between the ages of 15 and 21; 141,769 persons, of whom 82,349 were males and 59,420 were females, were between 21 and 40 years of age. Males predominated in number at all ages except at the period from 15 to 21, the number of females at those ages being slightly in excess of the number of males.

Table I., p.61.

The proportions of the sexes at each age-period under 21 at the Censuses of 1878 and 1881 are given herewith: —

The total population under 21, including 130 persons, evidently children, whose ages were not given, amounted to 258,774 persons, or 52.82 of the whole population, against a similar percentage of 51.94 in 1878, and 50.29 in 1874. The males under 21, including 72 male children of unspecified ages, amounted to 130,113, or 48.26 of the males living, against a similar percentage in 1878 of 46.91. The females under 21, including 58 children of unspecified ages, amounted to 128,791, or 58.45 per cent, of the females living, against a similar percentage of 58.27 in 1878. At the ages 21–40 there were 82,349 males to 59,420 females; at 40–55 years of age there were 43,624 males to 23,380 females; at the ages 55–05 there were 8,664 males to 5,495 females; at the higher ages, 3,957 males to 2,938 females.

The ages of 898 males and 304 females, who were evidently adults, were not given. The male population between 21 and 40 years of age increased from 75,759 in 1878 to 82,349 in 1881, or a numerical increase of 6,590 ; but in 1881 the males at these ages comprised 30.65 per cent, of the total males of specified ages, against 32.99 per cent, in 1878, or a decrease in the proportions at those ages of 2.31 per cent., while there was an increase in the proportions of males under 21 and over 40 years of age.

The females at the ages 21–40 were also proportionately more numerous in 1878 than in 1881. In the former year hey comprised 28.07 per cent, of the female population, in 1881 only 27.01 per cent. The females at the ages 21–40 numbered 59,420, the males 82,349 ; thus, at the ages 21–40, to every 100 males there were only 72.15 females. In 1878 the proportion was 100 males to 67.80 females.

Population at Supporting Ages.—e proportion of the population at the supporting ages, Viz., from 15–05, is gradually diminishing. The numerical increase of this part of the population since the Census of 1878 was 40,973; but this increase, although numerically greater, is proportionately less than the respective increases at the younger and older age-periods. The number of the population at the ages 15—65 has been abnormally high, owing to the large immigration of persons within that age-period.

Table I., p.61.

The following were the numbers per 10,000 of the population at each of the Census years 1874, 1878, and 1881 —

The following table shows the numbers at each of the three age-periods at the Census of 1878 and 1881, and the numerical and centesimal increase. The adults of unspecified ages have all been included as between 15 and 65; the numbers therefore will not exactly agree with the numbers given for the specified ages in the tables given in Part II. of the volume:—

The Chinese numbered 5,004, of whom 9 were females. The ages of 4,920 of the males and of all the females were given. Of these, 12 males and 4 females were under 15 years of age, and 7 males were given as over 15 years of age.

Of the 264,106 males (exclusive of Maoris and Chinese) in the colony on the 3rd April, 1881, whose conditions were specified, 185,911, or 70.39 per cent., were unmarried. Of these, 125,818 were under 20 years of age, and 60,123 were over 20. The proportion of unmarried males (70.39) is somewhat greater than in 1878 (70.09), but this is owing to the larger proportion of mules under 20 to the total of males in 1881 than in 1878. In 1878 the males under 20 amounted to 46.25 per cent, of the males of specified ages, but in 1881 they amounted to 17.56 per cent. Of the 220,281 females whose ages were specified, 140,181, or 63.64 per cent., were unmarried; of these, 103,058 were under 15 years of age, and 37,126 were over 15. There were thus 00,123 bachelors over 20 years of age to 37,126 spinsters over 15 years of age, or 102 bachelors to 100 spinsters. In 1878 the proportion was 191 bachelors to 100 spinsters. Out of the 37,126 spinsters, 20,309 were from 15 to 20 years of age, 10,170 from 20 to 25 years of age, and 6,617 over 25 years of age.

Tables I. to IV., pp. 89–90.

In 1881 the husbands numbered 73,261 and the wives 72,804 ; the excess of husbands over wives being 157. In 1878 the number of husbands in excess of wives was 515.

The widows numbered 7,296, and the widowers 4,964 ; there having been 2,332 more widows than widowers. Widows were more numerous at every age-period, but the inequality in numbers was greatest at the younger age-periods. There was a progressive diminution in the proportional excess of widows from the ages 20–25 to the ages 45–50, when the numbers were most nearly equalized—viz., in the proportion of 117 widows to 100 widowers. After that age-period the excess of widows progressively increased to the age of 70 years, after which it again diminished. The proportion of widows to widowers was greater in 1881 than in 1878. The following were the proportions at the periods stated :—

In the twelve months ending the 30th September, 1881, there were 18,308 legitimate births. The number of married women on the 3rd April, 1881, who were not over 45 years of age, amounted to 57,467. This may, therefore, be taken as the mean number for the whole of the twelve months specified. The legitimate births thus were on an average 1 per annum to every 3.14 married woman, or, in other words, there is on an average 1 birth to every married woman every 3.14 years. The rate in England, based upon the Census numbers of 1871, was given as 1 birth for every 3.48 years. The married women between the ages of 15 and 45 are, on the average, younger than married women in the same age-period in England, although not so young as in former Census years, as shown by the following table: —

PROPORTION TO THE 100 MARRIED WOMEN AT THE AGES 15 TO 45.

Conjugal Condition of the Chinese.—70 Chinese males were returned as having wives in the colony, as the instructions in the household schedules were that Chinese were to be set down as unmarried, unless they had wives in the colony. As there were only 3 Chinese married females in the colony, it would appear that 67 Chinese are married to females other than those of their own nationality. The number of Chinese similarly returned as married in 1878 was 71, so that no progress has been apparently made in the interval towards the settlement of Chinese as part of the permanent population of the colony.

Information was required to be given on the Census schedule as to whether the person named therein could both read and write, could read only, or was not able to read. No information on tins subject was obtainable in respect of 2,225 persons out of a total of 484,929 persons, exclusive of Chinese.

Table III., p. 137.

The Chinese have not been included in the tables relating to education. The instruction in the Census schedules was that only those Chinese who could read or write English were to be returned as being able to read or write. Of the 5,004 Chinese in the colony at the time of the Census, 102 males and 2 females were returned, in accordance with those instructions, as being able to read and write, and 11 males and 1 female as being able to read only.

Of the whole population (exclusive of Chinese and Maoris) 23.05 per cent, could not read. This high percentage is caused by the number of children under 5 years of age, for the percentage of those above 5 years of age who cannot read was only 7.52. Of the children between 5 and 10 years of age, 20,818, or 30.83 per cent, of the total number at those ages, could not read; from 10 to 25 the proportions unable to read were lowest, viz., 10–15 years, T72 per cent.; 15–20 years, 1.31 per cent.; and 20–25 years, 1.78 percent. The percentage of those who could not read of those living at each quinquennial age-period increased regularly, until at the ages 60–65 it amounted to 6.22 per cent.

The largest proportion of persons able to read and write of those living at any specified age was of those between 15 and 20 years of age, the proportions having been 97.48 per cent. 97.00 per cent, of the males and 97.93 per cent, of the females living between the ages of 15 and 20 were able to read and write. After 20 years of age the proportion able to read and write decreased with age, although not at an even rate. The proportion of females able to read and write was, at each age under 20 years, higher than the similar proportion of males. After 20 years of age the proportion of males able to read and write was greater than the proportion of females, the difference increasing according to age: thus, at the ages 20–25, the proportions were—of males, 96.76 per cent.; of females, 90.74 per cent.; but at the ages 70–75 the proportions were—of males, 88.61, and of females, 80.51.

Of the male population over 5 years of age, 87.08 per cent, could read and write, and of the female population above 5 years of age, 84.61 per cent.

There is a considerable difference in the proportion of the population between 5 and 15 years of age able to read and write in the various provincial districts, although there is a close approximation in the proportion at all ages over 15.

Table VII., p. 141

The urban population has a larger proportion of persons above the age of 5 years able to read and Write than has the suburban population.

The percentage of the borough population above the age of 5 years able to read and write was 87.94, and of that unable to read, 6.36. The similar percentages of the population outside the boroughs were respectively 84.66 and 8.30, showing a difference of 3.28 per cent, more in the boroughs able to read, and .1.94 per cent. fewer unable to read. The proportion of males able to read and write was in each case greater than that of the females ; but the difference was greater in the suburban than in the urban population. In the latter, 88.80 per cent, of the males and 87.06v per cent of the females over 5 years could read and write, but in the suburban population 80.07 per cent, of the males and only 82.69 per cent, of the females could read and write.

Table VI., p. 140.

Attendance at School.—In 1881, 87,811 children were returned as attending Government schools, against 62,866 in 1878; 13,538 as attending private schools in 1881, against 14,611 in 1878; and 78,891 attending Sunday schools in 1881, against 62,273 in 1878. Thus, while the numbers attending Government schools increased during the three years 39.68 per cent., the numbers attending private schools decreased 7.34 per cent.

Table VIII., p. 142.

The population between 5 and 15 years of age increased between the Census of 1878 and that of 1881 from 105,235 to 125,527, or at the rate of 19.27 per cent.; during the same period the number of children attending both Government and private schools has increased from 77,477 in 1878 to 101,319 in 1881, or at the rate of 30.81 per cent. The proportion of children attending school to the number of children from 5 to 15 years of age is much greater than in 1878. The progress in the education of the children, as evinced by that proportion, is more clearly shown if a comparison be made with the returns of 1874. In 1874 the number of children attending school was equal to 66.78 per cent, of the population between 5 and 15 years; in 1878 to 73.64 per cent.; and in 1881 to 80.76 per cent. The proportion varies in different parts of the colony: thus, while in Marlborough the proportion was only 65.70 per cent., in Westland it was 94.37 per cent, (the children there are, however, comparatively few in number), and in Canterbury, 82.04 per cent. The subjoined table gives these various heads of information for each provincial district:—

Table VIII., p.142.

The birthplaces were given of 489,100 persons, out of a total of 489,933. Of the 833 persons whose birthplaces were unspecified, 442 had British names and 24 had foreign names. The names of 367 were not given.

Allegiance.—The number of British subjects was 471,726, or 96.28 per cent, of the population. All persons born in British possessions, all naturalized British subjects, and persons having British names who were born at sea, or whose birthplaces were not given, have been included in the number of British subjects. The foreign subjects numbered 18,043, or 3.68 per cent, of the population, against 4.48 per cent, in 1878.

Table I., p.189

Number born in New Zealand.—The number of the population born in New Zealand amounted to 223,404, or 45.60 per cent., the percentage in 1878 having been 42.02 ; of these, 112,404 were males and 111,000 were females. In 1878 the number of New Zealand-born persons in the colony was 174,126. The increase between the 3rd March, 1878, and. the 3rd April, 1881, amounted to 49,278 persons, or at the rate of 28.30 per cent, on the New Zealand-born population.

Tables II.,III., pp.190–1.

Numbers born outside the Colony.—The Australian-born population increased from 16,091 in 1878 to 17,277 in 1881. The English-born increased in the three years from 106,493 to 119,224; the Scotch increased from 47,949 to 52,753; the Welsh from 1,702 to 1,963; the Irish from 43,758 to 49,363; the Germans from 4,649 to 4,819; the Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians from 4,600 to 4,734. The population born in America amounted to 3,545. Of these, 1,722 were returned as having been born in British North America, 841 in the United States, 53 in North America (but no State given), and 838 merely in America; 91 were born in various places in Central or South America.

The Chinese-born increased from 4,442 in 1878 to 5,033 in 1881.

Thus, of the total population in the colony, those Born in—

New Zealand amounted to 45.60 per cent.

England amounted to 24.33 per cent.

Scotland amounted to 10.77 per cent.

Ireland amounted to 10.08 per cent.

Wales amounted to 0.40 per cent.

Australia and Tasmania amounted to 3.53 per cent.

Other British Possessions amounted to 0.82 per cent.

Denmark, Sweden, and Norway amounted to 0.97 per cent.

Germany amounted to 0.98 per cent.

China amounted to 1.03 per cent.

Proportions have not been given in respect of the persons born in British America and the United States, as it is uncertain how the persons returned as being horn in “America” or “North America” should be distributed.

The numbers given as having been born in any country include the children of British parents who were born therein.

The number of persons who objected to state their religious belief amounted to 13,978, or 28.530 in every 1,000 persons. No entry was made in the column for religion in the household schedule opposite the names of 1,329 persons. The returns given in respect of 471,626 persons, out of a total population (exclusive of Maoris) of 489,933, have been tabulated.

Table I, p. 217.

The Protestants of all denominations amounted to 393,961; the Roman Catholics and the Greek Church (the latter numbering 55) to 68,984. Of the Protestant denominations, the members of the Church of England (including Protestants not otherwise defined) amounted to 203,333, or 41.50 per cent, of the population; the Presbyterians numbered 113,108, or 23.09 per cent; and the Methodists 16,657, or 9.52 per cent. The proportions of members of some of the principal denominations to the 100 of population at each of the three last Censuses were as follow :—

Table II., p.217.

The Baptists increased from 2.21 per cent, of the population in 1878 to 2.34 per cent, in 1881, and the Congregationalists from 1.34 to 1.37. The proportion of Lutherans decreased from 1.36 to 1.18 per cent. The Hebrews amounted to .31 per cent, in 1881, against .34 in 1878. The number of persons who objected to state their belief was numerically and proportionately larger than in 1878, having increased from 10,564, or 2.55 per cent., in 1878 to 13,978, or 2.85 per cent., in 1881. Of persons belonging to no denomination, those styled Freethinkers increased from 490 in 1878 to 2,422 in 1881.

The occupations given on the household schedules have been classified so as to show, as nearly as possible, the principal occupation of each individual on the Census day. The instruction on the schedule was that “The occupation which each person is following and deriving income from at the time of the Census is the occupation that should be stated.”

Table I. to VI., pp. 243–270.

The importance of having the occupations of the people of a country properly classified is now receiving more extensive recognition. The tables not only throw light on the development of trade and industries, but are of use in connection with inquiries into many social problems. A classification according to age, taken in connection with the registration of the occupations of deceased persons, would also be advantageous in deciding on the question of occupation in relation to health, and in showing the measure and character of occupation of the juvenile portion of the community. It has not, however, been deemed necessary, in the present state of the colony, to elaborate the tables in this direction, although, no doubt, when the population shall be largely increased, such a classification will be deemed desirable. A step has been made in that direction, by exhibiting separately for this Census the occupations of persons who were under 20 and those over 20 years of age. Notwithstanding the detailed instructions given on the Census schedule, the information as to occupation has been, in very many cases, given in such general terms that it has been found impossible to determine the industries under which the occupations should be classified.

CLASS I. PROFESSIONAL.—This class is divided into 2 orders, viz., 1. Officers of the Government and local bodies, excepting those whose occupations are of a special character and require that they should be brought into other classes, and the Constabulary and Militia Forces; and 2. The learned professions, and persons engaged in literature, art, and science, with their immediate subordinates.

Order I. Government and Defence.—No attempt has been made to specify in this order the total number of persons employed by, the Government; such information can be obtained from other sources. As one object of the classification was to exhibit the number of persons employed in connection with any particular branch of trade, industry, or special service, all officers employed in exceptional services, as law-courts, railways, harbour, pilot and lighthouse services, telegraph services, &c, have been enumerated in the classes to which those occupations appertain. The total number in this order amounted to 2,963 persons ; of these, 457 were engaged on police duties, and 150 in penal establishments, 261 were officers of local governments, and 730 were persons classified under the sub-order “Defence,” in which the Constabulary were included.

Order II. Literature, Art, and Science.—The number of persons in this order amounted to 7,270; the corresponding number in 1878 having been 5,767.

The following were the numbers in certain specific occupations in each of the Census years 1878 and 1881:—

CLASS II. DOMESTIC.—This class includes all wives, mothers, and others engaged in domestic duties (unless returned as having some other definite occupation), children including those attending school, relatives, and also those persons engaged in personal services to man. The total number of this class amounted to 316,514, of whom 106,972 were males and 209,572 were females.

Order III.—Domestic Duties, Children, &c.—The wives and widows not described as having any special occupation amounted to 70,311 ; the children, relatives, and visitors not otherwise described amounted to 120,(507; and children described as receiving tuition at home or attending school, but not having any other occupation specified, amounted to 105,658.

Order IV. Personal Offices.— The number of persons engaged in connection with providing board and lodging amounted to 3,196. Of these, 1,591 were returned as hotel-keepers, of whom 121 were females. Many persons returned as hotelkeepers should, from the actual nature of their operations, be classified in Order X., as dealing in drinks; but, as it is impossible to distinguish between those persons and legitimate hotelkeepers, they are retained in this order. In this order there are 680 males returned as cooks. It seems doubtful whether they should properly belong to this order, as they were chiefly persons acting as camp-cooks, such as to gangs of road-labourers, harvesters, in surveyors' camps, &c. The number of domestic servants, that is, servants living in households or families, as distinguished from servants in inns or eatinghouses, clubhouses, or institutions, amounted to 12,874, of whom 899 were males and 11,975 were females. Of these, 372 males and 6,279 females were under 20 years of age. The servants in inns, &c., clubs, and charitable institutions amounted to 2,745, of whom 1,492 were males and 1,253 were females. The aggregate of these two groups may be taken as representing the total number of the class of servants who were permanently employed in connection with household work, excepting the persons returned as housekeepers, who numbered 534.

CLASS III. COMMERCIAL.—This class comprises all persons engaged in buying or selling goods or lands, and all persons engaged in the conveyance of men, animals, goods, and messages, or in storage of goods. It embraced 21,022 persons, of whom 484 were females.

Order V. Mercantile.—It may be of interest to compare the growth in the numbers of certain members of this class since 1878.

Order VI. Carriers of Goods and Messages.—In this order are included all railway and telegraph officers employed by the Government. The numbers were as follow:—

CLASS IV. AGRICULTURAL.—This class includes not only those engaged in what are generally recognized as agricultural or pastoral pursuits, but also all persons engaged on or about lands, and about living animals and birds; fishermen are also included. The total number of persons in this class amounted to 54,447, of whom 678 were females. It must be understood that this number does not include the total number of persons who are immediately dependent on the prosecution of pursuits in this class, as the wives and families of the persons engaged have been classified in Class II. Domestic, except when a specified occupation of a wife or member of the family has been given, or that the son or daughter of a farmer, if above 15 years, is living at home.

The number of persons engaged about strictly agricultural pursuits was considerably larger than in 1878, while the number engaged about pastoral pursuits showed little difference.

The number of persons classified as farmers and market-gardeners (male and female) increased from 16,181 in 1878 to 19,371 in 1881. There was a slight decrease in the number of farm- servants and labourers.

The persons classified as runholders, graziers, sheep- and cattle-dealers, amounted to 888 in 1881, against 807 in 1878. The station or grazing-farm servants and labourers increased from 3,818 in 1878 to 4,063 in 1881.

In sub-Order 4, “Engaged about Animals,” the rabbit-killers appear as amounting to 709; in 1878 they numbered 273. The fishermen increased from 257 in 1878 to 382 in 1881.

CLASS V. INDUSTRIAL.—The term “industrial class” is generally used to designate that section of the population that subsists by manual labour, as mechanics, artisans, labourers. The term, however, is used here in a far more comprehensive sense, and includes all persons working or dealing in art or mechanical productions, in textile fabrics and fibrous materials, in foods and drinks (with the exception of those that are engaged in board and lodging and inn-keeping, included in the domestic class), in animal and vegetable substances, and in metals and minerals. The total number of persons in this class in 1881 amounted to 64,177, viz., 58,250 males and 5,927 females.

Order VIII. Workers and Dealers in Art and Mechanical Productions.

Of persons working and dealing in bocks there were—

There was a small decrease in number of makers and dealers in musical instruments; the number, however, having been small in each year, viz., 24 in 1878, and 21 in 1881. Lithographers only increased from 53 to 55. Watch- and clock-makers increased in the three years from 265 to 329.

Persons employed in making or dealing in machines and tools amounted to 750, against 585 in 1878. The ship- and boat-builders were 602 in number; the increase having been small since 1878, when the number was 582.

The Building Sub-order included 10,804 persons, or 7 per cent, of the male population over 18 years of age. Of these, 6,272 were carpenters and joiners.

Order IX. Persons Working and Dealing in Textile Fabrics, in Dress, and in Fibrous Materials.—The total number of persons in this class in 1881 amounted to 11,930, or 2.114 per cent, of the population, against 9,931, or 2.409 per cent., in 1878. The number of persons returned as engaged in woollen manufactures increased from 130 in 1878 to 297 in 1881. This number, however, is less than the actual number engaged in that industry, owing to the want of definiteness in the returns in the Census schedules, for the special returns of industries give the number occupied in woollen manufactories as 417. Similar remarks apply to many industries. The wanting numbers are included in the indefinite class. The milliners and dressmakers amounted to 3,658 females, of whom 1,592 were under 20 years of age. Of the 11,930 persons in this order, 5,541 were females; of these, 2,334 were under 20 years of age.

Order X. Persons Working and Dealing in Food and Drinks.—This order does not include all persons dealing in food and drinks, for those persons so dealing who are engaged in personal offices, as boardinghouse-keepers and innkeepers, have been enumerated in the domestic class (Order IV.) This classification must be especially borne in mind in attempting to arrive at the number of persons occupied in either the manufacture or sale of fermented liquors. The persons returned in this class as engaged in connection with the manufacture of stimulants amounts to 494, and 24 persons were returned as wine and spirit merchants. This number does not represent all engaged in that business, as many general merchants sell wines and spirits.

Order XI. Workers and Dealers in Animal and Vegetable Matters. — The persons enumerated in this order numbered 4,872. Of these, 298 were described as being engaged in fellmongering and wool-scouring, 146 tanning, and 98 currying; 1,784 were engaged in saw-mills, and 1,160 were digging gum; 4 only were returned as engaged in paper-making. These numbers are, however, evidently far smaller than they should be, caused, doubtless, by labourers in connection with these occupations not specifying the occupations on which they were respectively engaged, and thus, instead of being classified in the order containing the occupation that afforded them employment, they are enumerated in other orders, as bushmen among the workers on land, or labourers undefined in the indefinite class. A reference to the industrial tables given in this volume will show that the number employed in fellmongering, tanning, wool-scouring, &c., was really 859 instead of 512; the workers in or about saw-mills 4,238 instead of 1,784; also 10 persons in the paper-mill instead of 4. The cause of such imperfection is that many persons do not care to read the instructions on the household schedule, or, if reading them, do not attend to them as required, not realizing the importance of giving with exactness the information in the form required.

Order XII. Persons Working and Dealing in Minerals.—This is an important order, and contains the occupations of 22,710 persons. All miners are included herein, and, among others, dealers in coal, manufacturers of bricks and pottery, road and railway constructors and labourers, and dealers and workers in precious metals. The miners numbered 14,273, of whom 1,087 were returned as being engaged in coal-mining.

CLASS VI. INDEFINITE AND NONPRODUCTIVE.—This class comprises all labourers and other persons whose special branch of labour or employment is not defined so as to permit of their being placed in previous classes.

Order XIII. Labourers and Others (Branch undefined).—14,904 persons returned themselves only as labourers. As the majority of these must have been more or less occupied in connection with some special industry, they would, had their occupations been fully given, have been distributed in the previous classes. In 1878, 11,355 were similarly returned as labourers. 2,918 persons of various occupations, as mechanic, shopman, apprentice, engineer, contractor, &c., have been necessarily classified in this order on account of the want of exactness in completing the information on the schedule. 3,-170 persons appeared as being supported by the community. Of these, 751 belonged to the criminal classes. No information was given in respect of the occupation of 1,813 persons.

Occupations of Females.—It will be of interest to take a general glance at the occupations of females in the colony. The total female population in the colony on the 3rd April, 1881 (exclusive of Maoris) amounted to 220,328. Of these, 220,312 have been enumerated in the tables of occupations. No occupation was specified in respect of 16 females; and the returns did not admit of any classification. Order III. in the domestic class includes 191,538 females as having no specified occupations beyond household duties as wives, widows, children at home, and children attending school. Of the remaining 25,774 females, 398 were returned as wives assisting in their husbands' business, 230 females were assisting their parents on farms, 217 were capitalists or owners of property not having any specific occupation, 860 were supported by the public, and 101 were in confinement or in the criminal class, thus leaving 23,965 females as having defined occupations. Of these, the number in the professional class amounted to 2,530, or, excluding 86 religieuses, to 2,444; the number connected with education, including music-mistresses, having amounted to 2,246.

Table I. to V., pp. 243–69

In the domestic class there were 14,722 females having specified occupations (exclusive of members of families engaged in domestic duties in their own households or assisting their husbands). 13,808 of the above number were designated as cooks, housekeepers, or servants.

The commercial class provided occupations for 139 females (exclusive of 25 female capitalists and 20 wives assisting their husbands). The occupations were chiefly those of sales- and shop-women; 10 were described as clerks, and 22 were stewardesses.

The agricultural class afforded employment to 319, in addition to 33 females described as landowners, and to the females who assisted their husbands or relatives. 239 of the females were farming.

The occupations in the industrial class included those of 5,927 females, of whom 38, returned as houseowners, cannot be deemed as having special occupations. The actual occupations, therefore, amounted to 5,889. The majority of these occupations were those connected with working and dealing in textile fabrics. Of these, 136 were engaged in woollen manufactories, 416 were tailoresses, 3,658 milliners and dressmakers, 215 seamstresses, 298 sewing-machinists, and 177 were engaged in making or dealing in boots and shoes; also 493 were occupied about washing clothes. 36 female occupations were enumerated in the indefinite class. Of these, 30 were shop-women or apprentices, the branch of trade not being specified.

On reference to the tables of combined ages and conditions of the people, it will be observed that there were 117,255 females over 15 years of age; of these, 37,120 were unmarried. The wives and widows numbered 80,094; of these last, 70,739 were engaged as wives or widows in domestic duties, or assisting in their husbands' business.

Table III., p. 90.

If allowance be made for the above 70,739, and for 217 females described as having property and not having any specific occupation, 860 supported by the public, and 104 in the criminal class, it appears that, of the remaining 45,335 wives, widows, and unmarried females over 15 years, about 23,965 had specific occupations, for probably very few of the specified occupations were of females under 15 years of age. Of the residue over 15 not having specified occupations, about 2,000 were attending school, and a large proportion of the rest were doubtless actively employed in household duties.

The instruction given to householders on the Census schedule for filling in the particulars as to sickness and infirmity was as follows: “If unable to follow usual occupation by reason of illness or accident, write ‘sick’ or ‘accident,’ or if afflicted by any of the following infirmities, write ‘deaf-and-dumb,’ ‘blind,’ ‘lunatic,’ ‘idiot,’ or ‘epileptic’ as the case may be.”

Tables I. and II., pp.273–82.

The registers of death exhibit the mortality of the population and the immediate causes of death. Although they may be taken as fair index of the prevalence of certain diseases, yet they do not throw much light on the general health of the population. The Census returns give information as to the number of the population who by reason of sickness or accident are unable to follow their usual occupations, and the number who are suffering from specified infirmities. In the compilation of these returns particulars relating to children under 15 years of age have been ignored, as not only are they less reliable but of comparatively little value, as not affecting the wage-earning power of the community. The total number of persons over 15 returned only as sick amounted to 2,333, and the number given as suffering from specified complaints was 250. The specified complaints appear to be chiefly those of a chronic character, as rheumatism, asthma, consumption (phthisis), gout, cancer, leprosy, &c., although some, as measles, congestion of the lungs, neuralgia, and bronchitis, are apparently of an acute character ; but it is evident that no conclusion can be arrived at from the distinction drawn, as the deaths of persons over 15 from phthisis in 1881 amounted to 433, or almost approximating to double the number of sufferers from specified complaints. It is therefore evident that the term “sick” has been used to include chronic as well as acute cases of disease. The total number of persons over 15 incapacitated from work on account of sickness and disease amounted to 2,583, or 9 per 1,000 of the total population over 15. The proportion of each sex suffering from sickness and disease somewhat differs. It was 96 per 10,000 males and 85 per 10,000 females. 529 males and 48 females over 15 years were suffering from accident.

The following figures, being proportions per 10,000 persons over 15 years of age, show the relative prevalence of sickness and accidents for the years 1874, 1878, and 1881 :—

There was a considerably larger proportion of sickness in both sexes in 1881 than in 1878, and a larger proportionate number of cases of accidents.

The proportions of sick (including those having specified complaints) per 10,000 living of the two sexes differed very materially at the different age-periods. Those of the females were generally higher at the younger years and to middle age, after which the proportion of sick among the males was much higher than among the females at each age-period up to 80 years.

The relative proportions will be better shown by the following table :—

Proportions Sick and having Specified Complaints per 10,000 living.

Specified Infirmities.—The persons enumerated under this heading are those that were returned in the schedules as being deaf, deaf-and-dumb, lunatics, idiots, suffering from epilepsy or paralysis, or that were crippled or deformed in any way, or that were suffering from debility or infirmity. These particulars have been tabulated for all ages. The total number returned as suffering from these infirmities was 2,069.

Deaf-and-Dumb.—The number of persons deaf-and-dumb amounted to 111, inclusive of one adult person stated to be dumb, but presumably deaf-and-dumb. 5 were under 5 years of age, 50 between 5 and 15 years, and 17 between 15 and 20; tints a large proportion were at ages when benefit could he obtained by taking advantage of the facilities afforded for educating the deaf-and-dumb. 24 children (13 boys and 11 girls) were in attendance at the Deaf-and-Dumb Institution at Sumner at the end of 1881.

The definite occupations of the deaf-and-dumb amounted to 24. There were 4 deaf-and-dumb persons returned as married women.

Blind.—138 persons were stated to be blind. Of these, 79 were males and 59 females. 23 were under 20 years of age, 25 from 20 to 10, 36 from 40 to 60, and 54 above 60. There were 52 blind persons having distinct occupations.

Lunatics.—The persons stated to be lunatics were inmates of asylums. The number was 1,120. In 1878 the lunatics numbered 861; the increase in the interval has thus been 256, or at the rate of nearly 30 per cent.

Of the lunatics, 736 were males and 381 were females. 39 of the lunatics were under 20 years of age. Among the males the largest number were between the ages of 40 and 45; among females, between the same ages. There was one lunatic person to every 437 of the population, exclusive of Maoris. In 1878 the proportion was 1 to 180.

Idiots.—58 persons were returned as idiots or imbeciles. In 1878 the number was 70.

Epileptic. —112 males and 82 females were returned as suffering from this complaint. Of these, 79 were under 20 years of age.

Paralysis.—101 persons were returned as suffering from paralysis, of whom 55 were under 50 years of age.

Crippled and Deformed. —182 persons were stated to have been thus afflicted. The number includes those who have thus suffered by various accidents. In 1878 the number so returned was 171.

Occupied Lands. —The area of occupied lands, as given in the Census schedules, in holdings of over 1 acre in extent, amounted in April, 1881 (exclusive of the land occupied by Maoris), to 26,845,466 acres—about two-fifths of the whole area of the colony. Of this amount. 10,309,170 acres were the freehold properties of the occupiers, 1,544,455 acres were rented by them from private individuals, 563,124 acres were rented from local bodies, 2,266,164 acres were Native lands or Native reserves rented by the occupiers, and 12,162,553 acres were Crown lands, in occupation of which 11,638,569 acres were rented for pastoral purposes only.

Table I., p.285.

Unoccupied Holdings.—A place was set apart in the schedule to be filled in by a statement of unoccupied holdings. The returns made are considered far from complete, as many proprietors are absent from the colony, and it is believed that many in the colony have not been careful to give full information. The total area given in the returns amounted to 931,435 acres, in 3,187 holdings. Of these, 12 holdings were over 10,000 acres in size.

Table IV., p, 290.

Total Holdings. —The total number of holdings exceeding 1 acre in extent, occupied and unoccupied, amounted to 34,319, with an aggregate area of 27,770,901 acres.

The following were the returns for the two last Censuses :—

Sizes of Occupied Holdings.—The total number of occupied holdings over 1 acre in extent amounted to 30,832; of these, 7,680 were over 1 acre and not exceeding 10 acres in extent, 6,498 over 10 and not exceeding 50 acres, and 4,462 over 50 and not exceeding 100 acres, 9,777 were over 100 and not exceeding 640 acres, and 828 over 610 and not exceeding 1,000 acres, 1,097 were from 1,000 to 5,000 acres, 185 from 5,000 to 10,000 acres, 169 from 10,000 to 20,000 acres, 111 from 20,000 to 50,000 acres, 18 from 50,000 to 100,000 acres, and 7 over 100,000 acres.

Table III., p.289.

Land Fenced.—The area of land given as having been fenced amounted to 16,193,574 acres, against 11,567,565 in 1878. The quantity given is less than the actual amounts returned, as large numbers of chains of fencing were given in some cases without any mention of area, in ethers in conjunction with area; but whether this was additional to the area given or on the same area could not he decided ; and where no area was given the mere statement of lineage was not sufficient to enable a calculation of area to be made. The figures returned as to length of fencing have thus no definite meaning, as neither showing the area nor the total fencing done, and have been omitted.

Table V., p. 291.

Live Stock. —The following numbers of live stock do not include those belonging to Maoris, who own considerable numbers of horses, sheep, cattle, and pigs.

Table V., VI., VII., pp. 291–95.

Horses: The total number in 1881 was 161,736, against 137,768 in 1878.

Cattle of all ages numbered 698,637, against 578,430. Of the cattle, 226,819 were returned as breeding-cows. Between 1878 and 1881 the cattle increased at the rate of 20–78 per cent. In the four years, 1874 to 1878, the increase had been at the rate of 16.87 per cent.

The sheep amounted to 12,985,085 head, against 13,069,338 in 1878, a decrease of 84,253. This decrease is apparently owing to the rapid growth in the number of rabbits, which have, in some localities, made runs valueless, at any rate for a time, for grazing purposes. As, however, more energetic steps have of late been taken to get rid of this rabbit-pest, the future may well be expected to exhibit a growing increase in the number of sheep in the colony. There was a slight falling-off in the number of pigs from 207,337 in 1878 to 200,083 in 1881.

Production of Butter and Cheese. The annual production of butter was returned as 8,453,815 lb., against 7,379,447 lb. in 1878. The quantity of cheese made annually was given at 3,178,694 lb. in 1881, and 2,701,908 lb. in 1878. These figures can only be accepted as very rough estimates, as dairymen and farmers do not generally keep any records of the production of these articles.

Table VIII., p. 295.

Agricultural Machines. Returns were obtained of the number of threshing machines, reaping machines, and steam-ploughs or harrows. The total number of threshing machines was 1,019, of which 493 were worked by steam and 68 by water-power. There were 6,595 reaping machines in use, 29 steam-ploughs, and 13 steam-harrows. The steam threshing machines increased 119 in number since 1878, and the reaping machines 1,766, but the steam-ploughs decreased from 34 to 29, and the steam-harrows from 32 to 13.

Table VIII., p. 295.

The progress made in the establishment of colonial industries between the Census-periods of 1878 and 1881 was marked and substantial. In 1878 the number of manufactories, works, and defined industries amounted to 1,271, employing 14,177 persons ; the aggregate approximate value of the lands and buildings having amounted to £1,761,094, and of the machinery and plant to £1,289,378. In 1881 the number was 1,643; the number of hands employed, 17,938; the value of land and buildings, £1,993,330; and the value of machinery and plant, £1,61,612,141 ; or an increase in the three years of 372 in the number of works, 3,761 in the number of hands, and £554,399 in the aggregate capital.

Tables I., II., pp. 298–300.

Some special industries are separately tabulated, and information given as to their annual produce.

Grain-mills.—The number of these mills for which returns were received amounted to 131, of which 49 were worked by steam-power and 11 by steam in combination with either wind or water. These mills employed 450 hands, and produced during 1880, 69,251 tons of Hour and 7,143 tons of meal. The increase as compared with the returns in 1878 was 29 in the number of mills, 125 in the number of hands, and 16,187 tons of annual produce of flour and meal. 39 of these mills were in Canterbury and 38 in Otago.

Table V., p. 301.

Breweries. —There were 99 breweries in operation in April. 1881, against 91 in 1878. 526 hands were employed in 1881 and 513 in 1878, but the quantity of beer made during the year 1880 was less than that produced in 1877, the quantities having been 4,874,754 gallons in 1880 and 5,682,170 gallons in 1877, a decrease in the annual produce of 807,416 gallons. To ascertain whether this decrease is caused by a less consumption it would be necessary to take into consideration the quantities imported in 1877 and 1880 respectively. In 1877 the local production of beer was 5,682,170 gallons, and the amount entered for Home consumption and ex warehouse amounted to 397,609 gallons, or a total of 6,079,779 gallons, equivalent to nearly 14.9 gallons per head of the mean population for the year. In 1880 the local production was 4,871,754 gallons, and the amount entered for Home consumption 450,226 gallons; a total of 5,324,980 gallons, equivalent to 11.2 gallons per head of mean population. The total consumption in 1880 would therefore appear to have been less than that in 1877 by 3.7 gallons per head of population.

Table VII., p.301.

Flax-mills. —The number of these mills increased from 31 in 1878 to 10 in 1881. 284 hands were employed in 1881, against 262 in 1878, and the annual produce increased from 1,190 tons to 1,382 tons.

Table IV., p.300.

Boiling-down and Meat-preserving Works. —The number in 1878 was 32, employing 443 hands; in 1881 the number was 40, employing 468 hands. The amount of produce cannot be compared, as no return of the produce was made in 1878.

Table VIII., p. 302.

Fellmongeries, Tanneries, &c. —The various works established for fellmongering, tanning, currying, and wool-scouring amounted to 119, an increase of 19 on the number in 1878. The hands employed in these works in 1881 numbered 859.

Table IX., p. 302.

Collieries. —An important and growing industry is represented under this head. The returns received gave 51 collieries in 1881, employing 992 hands, and with an output for 1880 of 277,918 tons of coal, against 40 collieries, employing 518 hands, in 1878. The output for 1877 was not given. It is, however, to be observed that these numbers do not include the small pits, from which lignite and inferior coal are extracted. The total number of mines known to the Mines Department for the purposes of inspection amounted in 1880 to 101, with an output of 299,923 tons. There thus appears to have been 50 pits or small mines, in addition to the 51 above given, having an aggregate annual output of 22,005 tons.

Table XI., p.303.

Table XIII., p. 303.

Quartz Mines. —According to the returns received, the number of quartz mines decreased from 103 in 1878 to 81 in 1881. The quantity of quartz crushed was only 98,460 tons in 1880, against 181,337 in 1877, and the quantity of gold produced 84,184 oz. in 1880, against 230,664 oz. in 1877. These figures cannot be cheeked by the Customs returns, as the latter include gold the produce of alluvial diggings.

The comparison of certain industries in 1878 and 1881 is herewith given:—

There was a decrease in ship-and boat-building works from 43, employing 322 hands, in 1878, to 25, employing 100 hands, in 1880.

Land and Building Societies.—The results of the returns from these societies for the years 1878 and 1881 can be more clearly shown in a tabulated form :—

Table XIV., p. 304.

There has thus been practically no increase in societies of this class. Although the actual number is slightly greater, the number of shareholders is less by 136, and the number of shares by 30. The contributions are larger, owing to the larger proportion of realized shares, or, in other words, to the fact that the shareholders have themselves become more extensive borrowers from the funds of the societies.

Public Libraries, Mechanics' Institutes, and other Literary and Scientific Institutions.— There were 225 institutions of this sort in 1881, with a membership of 12,868, and having 198,520 volumes; an increase since 1878 of 38 institutions, 776 members, and 25,499 volumes.

Table XV., p.304.

5 of these institutions are free public libraries, having a total number of 22,718 books. They were situated respectively at—

Places of Worship.—The total number of churches and chapels and other buildings used as places of worship amounted to 1,114, of which 834 were churches or chapels, 192 school-houses, and 88 other buildings. These buildings, in the aggregate, had accommodation for 189,155 persons, with an average attendance of 117,812 persons. Accommodation for public worship was thus provided for 15 per cent, of the population over 10 years of age, exclusive of the persons on shipboard and the Chinese.

Tables XVI., XVII., pp.304–5.

An attempt was again made in 1881 to obtain a correct enumeration of the Native population, but although the different officers of the Native Department who had the charge of the enumeration do not think that there are any material errors in the results obtained, yet they agree in stating that the numbers given are not correct, and in many instances only estimates. In some parts no access was permitted to those desirous of obtaining information. In parts the Natives showed a suspicion of the enumeration and a growing disinclination to have their numbers known, and information relating thereto was refused. Difficulty was also experienced, on account of the nomadic habits of portions of the tribes; and in some instances the Natives who were at a distance from their tribes were enumerated in loco, and given again by another officer among the number of their tribe. These causes were, however, in operation in 1878 as well as in 1881, and the results arrived at in 1881 may, on the whole, he considered as approximately correct as those arrived at in 1878—probably, on the whole, more so, as in one or two cases it has been discovered that there were considerable omissions in 1878; and, as the total number in 1881 is greater than that in 1878, while the reports of the Native officers generally point to a perceptible decrease in the population, this increase may be attributable to a better enumeration in 1881.

Tables I., II., pp. 309–13

In 1878 the returns made gave a total of 43,595 as the number of the Maori population; in 1881 the number returned was 44,097; an apparent increase of 502; hut, from the doubts cast upon the correctness of the numbers, this cannot be accepted as decisive evidence that there has been an increase or that there has not been an actual decrease since 1878. As the question of increase or decrease cannot be decided by a mere comparison of the numbers, it may be advantageous to refer to the reports of the Native officers who took the Maori Census for some light on the subject.

The Resident Magistrate at Whangarei stated thus : “The Kaipara, Whangarei, and Mongonui Districts show a slight increase in number; but in the Bay of Islands, no register having been kept, the increase or decrease could not be ascertained. Most probably a slight decrease has taken place in that district. The deaths in all these districts have been principally old people and young children, the former from old age, and the latter from exposure to the weather in winter. On the whole the mortality appears very small in comparison with the population, the cause of "which may be the almost total absence of epidemical disease, from which, save in a few instances of typhoid fever, the Natives appear to be perfectly free.”

The Native Agent at the Thames reports, “The Census returns now forwarded show an increase of 186 over that furnished by Mr. E. W. Puckey for the year 1878, but it must not be understood from that that the population of this district has increased to such an extent during the last three years, or that the births have outnumbered the deaths in such a proportion during that period.  .  .  .  I can therefore only account for the difference in numbers from the fact that Mr. Puckey had not at that time the material at his command from which to compile a strictly accurate return, and therefore, in several cases, the returns were given as estimated.” It is then stated that the mortality occurred “principally amongst the very young and aged, and not so much among those of middle age, the cause of which I attribute to the fact that drunkenness has not been so prevalent as in past years.”

The Resident Magistrate at Tauranga states that “the Census of the Ngaiterangi Tribe may be taken as correct; that of the others approximately so. The Ngaiterangi Census shows a total of 966, against 973 in 1878, or a decrease of 7. On the other hand there is an improvement shown in the percentage of young people to the whole population, which is 26.4 per cent., as against 22.4 in 1878. It may be observed that the percentage of the persons under 15 to the whole European population is nearly 43 per cent. The number of old people amongst this tribe is remarkable, those apparently over 60 numbering 108, or about 11.2 per cent.; the percentage amongst the European population of persons over 60 to whole number being only 2.42 per cent. The return of the Arawa Tribe (Maketu and Lakes) shows a total of 2,135 persons, as against 2,219 in 1878, a decrease of 84.” Exclusive of some 40 Natives not enumerated m 1878, this decrease is reduced to about 44.

The Resident Magistrate, at Opotiki, after explaining that an apparent increase in the Natives of his district was caused by an omission of a large body of Ureweras in the Census of 1878, observes thus: “The total of the other tribes in this district is 2,019, being a decrease of 21 since 1878. It will be observed on reference to the return that the Urewera is the only tribe where the children are as numerous as the adults ; in most of the other tribes the adults exceed the children. So far as my experience goes, the same is the lamentable fact amongst tribes in other parts of the Island. The Urewera appear to be the exception, and, for the want of a better reason, I can only attribute it to their keeping more aloof from civilization and its temptations than most other tribes.”

The Resident Magistrate at Taupo, in his report, stated, “When the last Census of the Maori population of this district was taken, it included, I think, only those immediately residing round the Lake, leaving out the comparatively populous centres of Tahua, Rotaira, and the country round Ruapehu and Tongariro, as well as the portions north of Uranui. A comparison therefore with the present numbers, to show the increase or decrease, is not possible; but a reference to the returns showing the number of adults (excluding those who are not permanently living in the district) and the proportion of the children will lead at once to the conclusion that a great decrease is taking place. Since my first arrival in the district in 1869 a very noticeable decrease in the population has taken place, principally among the children ; attributable, no doubt, to want of nourishing food, exposure, and neglect, and very probably also to congenital causes.”

The Native Officer at Gisborne considers that the population is at present almost at a standstill, but be states “the undoubted tendency is to decrease; and there is one very remarkable circumstance worthy of note: that in hapus further removed from civilization and European influences the proportion of children is much greater than when brought into contact with such influences.”

The Officer in the Wairoa District thought there had been a slight decrease in the numbers of the whole district.

The Native Agent in the Wairarapa District states that “some kaingas show a larger average of children than heretofore. The numbers since the last Census was taken have not decreased. The old men, with the exception of about ten, have died, leaving a healthy and robust population in existence.”

The Native Officer at Wanganui is of opinion that, owing to the great disparity between adults and children, nearly four to one, the tribes in that district must surely decrease more and more rapidly year by year. He finds that comparatively few children are born, and that of those few a great number die at one and two years of age.

The Resident Magistrate at Marton believes the population in his district to be just as it was three years ago. He states he believes the Maoris in his district “are healthier than they were, they are steadier in their habits, work hard, and are better clothed and fed.” He has noticed “an improvement in their dwellinghouses, and, being brought continually in contact with their European neighbours, they are to a great extent abandoning their Maori habits and customs and assuming those of the pakeha;” and that, “as a rule, those Natives who have to work hard for their money, and. so know its value, are not so ready to spend it for strong drink;” also he thinks that “the fact of the Maori parents being healthier has its good effect on the children who are born to them.”

In the Chatham Islands there appears to be a slight increase in the population. The Maoris are reported as being all in good circumstances, having good substantial European houses, and living in separate dwellings in different parts of the island, instead of together in a pah as formerly.

The opinions may be stated thus : In the district north of Auckland, having a Maori population of 8,617, there was a slight increase in parts. In three other districts, having a total number of 6,549 Maoris, the population had not decreased. In five districts, having a population, actual or estimated, of 12,746 Maoris, there was a decrease.

Although the numbers given cannot be deemed to be an accurate statement of the whole of the Maori population, yet the ages given may fairly represent the proportion of each sex at and over 15 years of age.

These proportions may well he examined to ascertain whether a conclusion can be arrived at from them as to the increase or decrease of the race.

In the North Island, where the bulk of the Maori population resides, out of 41,601 Maoris enumerated, the ages—-so far as whether they were under or over 15 years of age—-of 37,351 were given. Of these 37,351, 12,620 were under 15 years of age, equal to 33.78 per cent, of the total. The males numbered 20,547, of whom 6,884, or 33.49 per cent., were under 15; the females numbered 16,804, of whom 5,738, or 34'15 per cent., were under 15 years of age.

It will be found simpler to compare the results with those of the European portion of the population, if thrown into tabular form.

The percentages on the Maori population are calculated for each year on the total numbers of all tribes in the North Island whose ages were stated. The much smaller proportion of females under 15 to the total population can only be regarded as evidence of the existence of too small a number of young females to lead to any hope of an increase in the total numbers. In a few tribes the proportion of young females is high; thus, in the Ngapuhi, 40.03 per cent, of the females were under 15; in the Rarawa, 41.12 per cent, were under 15; in the Urewera, 46.15 per cent, were under 15 ; but this is not necessarily a sign of increase, as the following figures will show:—

The Ngapuhi Tribe, with a high percentage, shows a decrease, and the Rarawa an increase at the rate of over 22 per cent.—a rate of increase in excess of that of the European portion of the population during the same period. The apparent increase is probably to a large extent, if not wholly, due to omissions in 1878 being accounted for in 1881. Although on the whole there can be no doubt that there has been a decrease in the Maori population during the last three years, and that such decrease will, at any rate for a time, continue, yet it is apparent that there is not of necessity a doom of extinction on the race, as in parts the population is stationary, and in other parts slightly increasing, thus leading to the hope that if similar causes could be brought to operate among the rest of the population the threatened further decrease might be stayed, even if new vigour be not imparted to the survivors. The words of the Resident Magistrate at Marton seem to indicate the causes that will most beneficially affect the race: not the possession of ample means from land revenues, which lead to idleness and dissipation, but habits of industry, which make them know the value of money, and produce the most beneficial results on their habits and health, and, as he states, “the fact of the Maori parents being healthier has its good effect on the children who are born to them.”

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

WM. R. E. BROWN,

REGISTRAR-GENERAL.