Tables I., V.,

Numbers and Increase of Population.—The number of persons (exclusive of Maoris) returned in the census schedules as being in the colony on the night of pp. 1,2 the 28th March, 1886, amounted to 578,482. This was an increase of 88,549, or, at the rate of 18.07 per cent., upon the number at the previous census of 1881.

The number of the population enumerated was less than the estimated number by more than seven thousand persons, the estimated numbers being arrived at by adding the excess of births over deaths, and of immigration over emigration to the enumerated population in 1881. The deficiency is deemed to be attributable to imperfections in the returns of persons who left the colony, a larger number having left for the Australian Colonies than appeared in the returns forwarded by the Emigration Officers. Measures have been taken by which it is expected the errors in the returns will in future be corrected.

Table V., p.2.

The rate of increase was considerably less than during either of the intervals between the previous census periods since 1871. Between the 27th February, 1871, and the 1st March, 1874, an interval of three years, the rate of increase was 16.82 per cent.; between the 1st March, 1874, and the 3rd March, 1878, an interval of four years, the rate was 38.86 per cent.; between the 3rd March, 1878, and the 3rd April, 1881, an interval of three years and one month, the increase was 18.22 per cent.; but in the five years' interval preceding the census of 1886 the increase was only at the rate of 18.07 per cent.

Of the increase, 88,549, between the census of 1881 and that of 1886, 67,205 consisted of the natural increase by excess of births over deaths, being at the rate of 13.72 per cent, on the population in 1881. The balance, 21,344, being at the rate of 4.35 per cent., consisted of the excess of immigration over emigration. The rate of natural increase has been diminishing year by year during the last five years, as will be evident from an examination of the birth-and death-rates, the decrease in the former being much greater than in the latter:-

Table VI., VII., VIII., pp. 3,4,5,

The rate of increase in the population varied greatly in different parts of the colony. The following were the actual and rateable increases or decreases in each of the provincial districts according to the returns of the censuses of 1881 and 1886:-

Speculations are often made as to what the population of a colony may be at a certain somewhat distant time in the future, but no estimates showing the result can be considered at all reliable; and, of course, the more remote the period for which the estimate is made, the more uncertain would the result be, for the data on which it would be founded vary from year to year. It requires a comparatively lengthened period in the history of a colony for the population to be so constituted as to ages and surrounding conditions that any birth-or death-rates may be considered to have assumed somewhat of a normal character, and that might be approximately reliable for future calculations. In the very early days of a colony the population largely consists of persons who, from an insurance point of view, would be regarded as select lives; the death-rates for this reason, as well as from the small proportion of aged persons and the healthy surroundings of the population as a whole, are then low. The death-rate in New Zealand in 1885 is an evidence of this. The rate was l0.61 per 1,000 of the population. This was less by 6.1 per 1,000 than the average of the death-rates in the healthy English districts, the rates therein varying from 15 to 17, and the average being 16.7 per 1,000 living. As the population of New Zealand assumes more of a normal character as to ages, the conditions affecting life will probably not be so much superior to those in the above-mentioned districts as to maintain a rate of mortality much below that which obtains therein. This is also apparent from a consideration of the rates in the older Australian colonies, which approximate closely to the death-rates in the best of the districts referred to, and on an average of years even exceed the lowest rate in any of them. The low rate in New Zealand may therefore be largely attributed to causes which are temporary in their effects. The consequent uncertainty of the death-rates in the future, and of the amount of immigration that may annually take place, as well as the differences in the birth-rates, cause any calculations of increases of population, extending over lengthened periods, to be quite untrustworthy.

Table IV. P.2.

Proportion of the Sexes.—The number of males enumerated at the census was 312,221, of whom 4,527 were Chinese, and the number of females was 266,261, of whom only 15 were Chinese. The proportions between the sexes were thus 100 males to 85.28 females, the proportion in 1881 having been 100 males to 81.72 females, and in 1878 100 males to 79.40 females.

Table IX., p.6.

The proportions varied greatly in the different parts of the colony. The following were the proportions of females to every 100 males in each of the provincial districts in 1881 and 1886, and the centesimal increase of males and females during the intervening period:-

If the growth of the population were dependent solely on the natural increase it would be found that the percentage of increase of males would every year be less than that of females, and therefore the proportion of females to males be annually on the increase, until a similar condition would in time be reached to that which obtains in nearly all old countries, viz., that the number of females would be in excess of the number of males. Consequently any reversal of that progress in any locality-any diminution in the proportion of females-would be an indication of either an excess of male immigration therein or a migration of females therefrom. On the other hand, any excessive increase in the proportion of females would indicate a loss of a portion of the male population, for an excess of female immigration may be put on one side as improbable.

The unduly high proportions of females in 1886 as compared with 1881 in Taranaki, Westland, Canterbury, and Otago Provincial Districts, indicate, therefore, a loss of male population. This is borne out by the comparatively small centesimal increases of males compared with those of the females. And the lessened proportions of females to males in Wellington and Hawke's Bay Provincial Districts indicate a proportionately larger influx of males than of females into these districts, a gain of male population partly at the expense of southern districts and of Taranaki.

The disproportion between the sexes is greatest at the ages between 25 and 60. The proportion of females to every 100 males under 21 years of age is 99.20; although at the ages 15 to 20 the females were considerably in excess of the males. At all ages above 21 the males were in excess of the females, the disproportion being greatest at the ages 50 to 6O, viz.,56 females to every 100 males: this being the result of a large excess of adult male population when the diggings were first) worked, and of the subsequent greater male immigration.

Table XIV., p.8.

Population, Urban and Rural.-Of the population at the time of the census 327,328 lived in the counties or rural districts, in which are included all towns that are not constituted as boroughs; 245,612, or 42.5 per cent., lived in boroughs, 816 lived in the adjacent islands or in the Chatham Islands; and 4,726 were on board ship. In the latter are included the crews of all sea-going vessels in port at the time, except the crews of three German warships then in Auckland Harbour.

Table XVII., p. 18

The number of boroughs in 1886 was 74. Of these,-

Table XVIII., p. 20, see note.

The increase in Auckland is partly due to the extension since 1881 of the borough boundaries so as to include some populous parts of the suburbs. The alteration of these boundaries added a population of over 9,400 persons to the borough, consequently the comparison between the two years should be-1881, 26,083; 1886, 33,161, in order to properly compare the growth of Auckland with that of the other boroughs.

After allowing for that addition, the increase of Auckland has been greatest, having been at the rate of 27 per cent. Wellington followed next, with an increase at the rate of 26 per cent., while Christchurch was almost stationary, and Dunedin retrograded.

The decrease in Dunedin must not be considered as indicative of a general reduction of population in the locality, for its importance as a centre of population cannot well be considered without taking account of the suburban boroughs which practically form extensions of Dunedin, although under different names and having separate local administrations. The population of Auckland and suburbs amounted to 57,048 in 1886, against an aggregate borough and suburban population of 30,952 in 1881. The growth of population has caused a larger area to be included in the suburbs in 1886 than was included in 1881.

The population of the following boroughs and road districts has been given as suburban to Auckland in 1886:-

The suburbs of Wellington may be deemed to include-

The suburbs of Christchurch comprise the following:-

The following boroughs have been considered to be the suburbs of Dunedin:-

Of the 65 boroughs in existence in 1881, 46 showed an increase of population in 1886, and 19 a decrease.

The following were the boroughs in which there was an increase-of population between 1881. and 1886:-

The following are the boroughs in which there was a decrease of population between 1881 and 1886:-

Table XVI., p.11.

In addition to the 74 boroughs there were in 1886 53 town districts, having an-aggregate population of 31,676 persons. Of. these, 29 had each a population between 200 and 500; 19 a population between 500 and 1,000; 4 a population between 1,000 and 2,000; and 1 a population over 4,000.

There were likewise 197 places returned under the designation of town, these,-

A list of these places, with the populations, is given herewith:-

Most of these towns and town districts might be more properly described as villages, the population being classed rather as rural than urban. The majority, however-if not all-of the towns and many of the town districts have been laid off for future occupation by a more truly town population, and doubtless, with the growth of population, many will increase considerably in importance, although the tendency of railway communication is rather to increase the population of the larger centres, but to decrease the commercial and business importance of smaller towns, and thus retard their growth.

Even the population of all the boroughs cannot fairly be classed as urban, for in many cases the size of the borough is very great compared with the population, a large number of the inhabitants being engaged in rural or mining pursuits. The following list contains some illustrations in which the area is disproportionately large for the population compared with the smaller areas and larger populations of other more populous boroughs also mentioned:-

Table X., p.6

Density of Population.-The number of the population gave, on an average, 5,561 persons to the square mile; but, as the population in boroughs amounted to 245,612, and that on board ships to 4,726, the population outside of boroughs only amounted on the average to 3.16 per square mile on the area of the colony exclusive of boroughs.

An average in the extra municipal or rural districts of 3.16 per square mile cannot, however, be compared with a similar average in an old settled country, where the population is more or less spread over the face of the whole land. The settlement in New Zealand is chiefly on a fringe of coast land, very large areas, either from their mountainous or wooded character, or from reasons connected with their ownership by the aboriginal natives, having but little or not any population, or only being sparsely occupied by Maoris.

Table XIV., p.8.

Habitations.—There were 108,467 inhabited houses in the colony at the date of the census; in addition there were 3,504 tents and dwellings with canvas roofs. Including the latter among the dwellings the average number of persons to each dwelling was 5.17.

Table XII., p.7.

The proportion has steadily increased for many years:-

It is evident that the increase of population has been throughout in a greater proportion than the increase in the number of dwellings; but there has been a steady improvement in the average character of the dwelling. This is apparent from the following table:-

"With a decrease in the last period of 2,648 in the houses of two rooms there was an increase of 13,573 in the houses having five and more rooms. The largest proportionate increase since 1881 has been in houses having five and six rooms, namely, 40.75 per cent. The increase in houses having more than six rooms was at the rate of 37.10 per cent., but the increase on houses having only three and four rooms was only 14.33 per cent., while the decrease on houses of two rooms was at the rate of 17.94 per cent. Thus, although the proportion of persons to each house was somewhat greater than in 1881, the houses were, on an average, of a larger class.

Table XVII., p.18

Of the four principal boroughs, Wellington had the largest proportion of persons to every inhabited house, and Dunedin the smallest:-

Of the 108,467 inhabited dwellings in 1886, 4,749 were of brick, stone, or concrete, being 4.38 per cent, of the total number. In 1881 the proportion was 3.91 per cent., and in 1878 3.63 per cent.

The following are the proportions of the population, exclusive of Chinese and Maoris, who resided in the class buildings stated at each of the three last census periods:-

Table XIV., p.8.

Uninhabited Dwellings.-The number of uninhabited dwellings in 1886 was 9,146 against 6,737 in 1881, an increase of 2,409. In 1881 the uninhabited houses were more numerous than in 1878 by 1,445. The increase in the number of uninhabited dwellings is not apparently generally caused by an undue excess of building operations, as the proportion of all dwellings, inhabited and uninhabited, to the population was greater in 1878 than in 1881, and in 1881 than in 1886. The explanation is. afforded by the increase in the average number of persons to each house, fewer houses being thus required for the same number of persons, partially, perhaps, in consequence of the improvement in the average size of the houses, and possibly partly in consequence of the necessity imposed on many to congregate together in the same house for financial reasons:-

Table XIV., p.8.

Houses building.-The number of dwellinghouses in course of erection when the census of 1886 was taken amounted to 834, being less by 14 than the number in 1881. Of these houses in 1886, 463, considerably more than one-half, were being built in the Auckland Provincial District.

The following table gives the number of houses building and the number of uninhabited houses in each provincial district at each of the three last census periods:-

Tables I. to VIII., pp. 7377

The ages of 576,191 persons were given on the census schedules. The ages of 2,291 were not stated, but there was sufficient evidence on the schedule to show that 130 were under-age children, and 2,161 were adults. Of the 576,191, 18,355, comprising 9,269 males and 9,086 females, or 3.17 per cent., were under 1 year of age. Although the number is greater, the proportion under 1 year of age is less than in 1881, when it was 3.67 per cent. The total number under 5 years of age was 86,828, or 15.01 per cent., against a percentage in 1881 of 16.84. Of the children under 5 years of age, 43,820 were males and 43,008 were females.

There was a marked decrease in the proportion of male to female children in 1886 compared with the numbers in 1881:–

The number between 5 and 15 years of age was 151,700, or 26.22 per cent, of the population. Of this number 76,589 were males and 75,111 females. There were 34,309 males and 35,272 females between 15 and 21, a total of 69,581 persons, equivalent to 12.03 per cent of the population. Of the total population of the colony, exclusive of Maoris, more than half, viz., 53.26 per cent., were under 21 years of age. The same proportion is not, however, maintained in respect of the sexes taken separately, for while 57.64 per cent of the female population were under 21 years of age, only 49.57 per cent, of the males were under 21 years. Thus, about half of the female population was under 111 years of age, and half of the male population under 21$$ years.

At each year of age under 15, except at the years 1 to 2 and 12 to 13, the males were more numerous than the females; but between the years 15 to 20 the females were more numerous than the males. At 20 to 21 the males were in the minority, but at all ages above 21 the males were the most numerous.

It appears singular that at the age-period 15-20 the females should be considerably in excess of the males, as the persons living between 10 and 15 have to supply, in the next quinquennium, the numbers between 15 and 20; and both in the years 1881 and 1886 the males at the ages 10-15 and 20-25 were more numerous than the females, while at the intervening period, 15-20, the females were most numerous.

The explanation afforded for the higher female proportion at the ages 15.20 in England at the census of 1881 was the absence of those young men from the enumeration who were serving abroad in the army and navy. A similar explanation cannot, however, be given for the female excess in this colony, as there are not any occupations to draw away the young of those ages to somewhere outside the colony. The same alteration in the proportions appears in the census returns of Victoria. Apparently, the explanation is partly the want of accuracy on the part of those filling up the census schedules when giving the ages, and partly the tendency that has been observed for women to date back their ages. The want of accuracy is evident from the examination of the numbers at the three first years of life. The number of children under 1 year of age is given at 18,355; at from 1 to 2 years the number is 15,013; and from 2 to 3, 18,053. As the numbers between 1 and 2 make the numbers between 2 and 3 in the following year, less a certain reduction on account of deaths, it is evident that, with a growing birth-rate, the number of children must always be greater at the earliest year of life, and, if the number is not disturbed immigration, that the numbers should regularly decrease year by year. Consequently, such a decrease as that shown, followed by a considerable increase, would be impossible. The smaller number at one age could not yield a greater at the year following, and the larger number of births in 1884 than in 1883 or 1885 should have caused the number at 1 to 2 years to have been increased rather than so seriously lessened. Similar lower numbers at the age 1 to 2 than at the age 2 to 3 appear in each of the three previous census returns.

The instruction on the household schedule was that if children were under 1 year of age the age column should be filled in by the mark X, but in all other cases the age at the last birthday was to be given. The erroneous numbers seem to have been caused by parents giving their children as at the age of the second and ensuing birthday when approximating thereto, instead of at the previous birthday, and thus swelling the number between 2 and 3 years of age at the expense of the number between 1 and 2. The tendency towards putting on the ages in some instances, and in others of giving younger than the actual ages, has been commented upon in the census reports of other countries: so much so that the English Census Commissioners considered that it would be better to group the ages by decennial periods, and to arrange these so as to have the year which is an exact multiple of ten in the middle. Thus, while the numbers given for the single year or quinquennial periods may not he correct, the numbers if grouped into the decennial periods 5-15, 15-25, 25-35, and so on, might be considered as fairly accurate.

In his report on the census of 1881, Mr. Nowell, the Government Statistician of Tasmania, made the following remarks, which, on account of their appropriateness, are well worthy of reproduction:-

"Many persons either cannot or will not state their exact ages, and put them down roughly at the nearest decennial or quinquennial period. Hence they cluster like a swarm of bees round those periods. Some people, no doubt, really do not know their own ages, but many more fail to return them accurately simply from carelessness or want of conscientiousness. Until we have a higher standard of morality-until men learn to carry their religion into the smallest affairs of common life; to acknowledge that the obligation to be scrupulous in complying with the laws of the land is as great as, if not greater than, to hold orthodox opinions on controverted subjects; and to shrink as much from putting their hands to an untruth on a census schedule as from swearing what they know to be a lie in a Court of justice; until they are educated to observe truth and honour in the smallest as well as in the greatest matters; and until they are brought to see that it is for the interest personally, as well as generally, of every member of a community to make its statistics as perfect as possible-until all this is recognized and carried into practice, such anomalies as these will occur in spite of every effort we may make to prevent them."

The population was, as a whole, more youthful in 1880 than in 1881. In the earlier year the persons under 21 years of age comprised 52.96 of the total population; in 1880 they comprised 53.26; but the increase was proportionately greater in the number between 15 and 21 years of age than in that under 15 years. The following were the numbers on an average to every 10,000 of the population in each year at the ages mentioned:-

The following table gives the number at each age-period in 1881 and 1886, with the numerical and centesimal increase. In the above and the following table the persons of unspecified ages, but under 21 years of age, have been included among those under 15 years of age, and those over 21 in the number between 21 and 65 years of age:-

The increase between 1881. and 1886 in the number of children under 5 years of age was only 5.52 per cent. The number of births during the period did not increase proportionately to the whole population. In 1885 the births were less numerous by 153 than in 1884, and the recent returns for 1886 show a still further decrease during that year.

Tables I.to IV.,pp. 103-105.

The number of persons who objected to state their religious belief amounted to 19889, or 344 per 10,000 of the population. This was a larger proportion than in 1881, when the objectors only amounted to 285 per 10,000. No information as to religious belief or statement of objection was given in the case of 2,869 persons. The enumerated Protestants of all denominations amounted to 79.75 per cent. of the whole population; this, however, may be deemed to be considerably below the real proportion, as the persons who object to state their religious belief arc generally Protestants of various sects, having conscientious scruples against being compelled to give the information. In all probability the greater part, if not the whole, of the objectors should be added to the proportion of Protestants. The proportion of Protestants to the whole population was greater than in 1881, when it was 79.15 per cent., the persons objecting to state having then been only in the proportion of 2.85 per cent. The Roman Catholics and Catholics undefined, including 48 members of the Greek Church, were in the proportion of 13.95 to every 100 of the population, against a proportion of 14.08 in 1881.

The following were the proportions of members of some of the principal denominations at each of the four last censuses:-

Of the leading smaller denominations the Baptists increased from 2.34 per cent, to 2.48, the proportion of Congregational Independents decreased from 1.37 to 1.35 per cent., and that of the Lutherans from 1.18 to 1.02 per cent. Freethinkers increased in number from 2,422 in 1881 to 3,925 in 1886, and the number of persons of no religion, variously returned, increased from 272 in 1881 to 973 in 1886. These last do not include those described as Agnostics, of whom the number was 33 in 1881, and 207 in 1886.

Table I., p. 129.

Allegiance.-No statement as to birthplace was given in the case of 2,029 persons out of a total of 578,482, and 1,324 persons were stated to have been born at sea. In these cases all having British names have been deemed to be British subjects, and those having foreign names, unless stated to have been naturalized, to be foreign subjects. Adding these respectively to the number whose birthplaces were given, it appears that 560,598 persons, or 96.91 per cent, of the total population, were British subjects, and 17,884, or 3.09 per cent., were foreign subjects. The British subjects also include all persons born in British possessions, and all naturalized foreigners.

Tables II., III., IV., pp. 130-132.

Number born in New Zealand.-Of the total population, 800,190, or 51-89 percent., were born in the colony; in 1881 the percentage was 45.60. Of the New-Zealand-born, 150,513 were males and 149,077 were females. The increase in the New-Zealand-born between the 3rd April, 1881, and the 28th March, 1886, was 70,780, a centesimal increase of 34.37 on the then number.

Numbers born outside the Colony.-The persons born in the United Kingdom numbered 233,850, or 40.43 of the population: of these, 125,657 were born in England, 1,981 in Wales, 54,810 in Scotland, and 51,408 in Ireland. The proportion of females to males was greater in the case of the Irish-born than of those born in other parts of the Kingdom. The following were the respective proportions per 100 of the population from each country:-

The Australian-born decreased from 17,277 in 1881 to 17,245 in 1886; the Germans increased from 4,819 to 5,007; the Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians from 4,734 to 4,955. There were 1,656 persons born in British North America against 1,722 in 1881; 683 born in the United States against 841 in 1881; and 1,088 in America or North America (no State being given) in 1886 against 891 in 1881. The Chinese born decreased from 5,033 in 1881 to 4,550 in 1886.

The following were the proportions of the persons of the principal different nationalities:-

The persons returned as having been born in the United States amounted to 0.12 per cent., but probably many of those given as born in America or North America were born in the States, consequently the proportion given may be too low.

Tables I. to V., pp.157-159.

Exclusive of Chinese and Maoris, the number of husbands, according to the census returns, was 84,557, and the number of wives 84,403. The husbands thus exceeded the wives by 94, the excess being attributable to the absence of wives from the colony. 70.01 per. cent, of the male population (exclusive of Chinese and Maoris) were returned as unmarried. The corresponding proportion in 1881 was 70.27. As the males under 21 years of ago amounted to 49.59 per cent, in 1880 against 48.20 per cent, in 1881, it would seem as if the proportion of unmarried males had decreased, while the proportion of young persons had increased; but in 1881 0.17 per cent, of the male population did not state their condition, while in 1880 the percentage was 0.48. What proportion of the unspecified were married cannot be stated; but a considerable number in 1880 consisted of the crews of vessels, the majority of whom may be considered as unmarried.

Of the 266,246 females the number of unmarried amounted to 171,857, or 64.55 per cent, of the total number; of these, 118,182, were under 15 years of age, and 53,675 above that age. The specified unmarried males over 20 years of age numbered 66,014; there were thus 123 bachelors over 20 years of age to every 100 spinsters above 15 years of age. The excess of bachelors over spinsters is thus being steadily reduced. In 1878 the proportion was 191 bachelors to 100 spinsters, in 1881 162 bachelors, and in 1886 123 bachelors, to the 100 spinsters. Of the bachelors over 20 years of age 58,084 were under 50 years of age, and of the spinsters over 15 years of age 52,348 were under 45 years of age. Thus, at those ages at which marriages chiefly occur, the proportion of bachelors to the 100 spinsters is reduced to 112. The number of women at what are generally described as the reproductive ages, viz., 15 to 45 years, was 117,889, of whom 62,704 were wives with living husbands, and 2,784 were widows. Of the rest, 52,348 were unmarried, and the conditions of 53 were not stated. Of the unmarried, 28,670 were between 15 and 20 years of age, and 15,077 between 20 and 25 years of age; but at the age-period 40-45 there were only 700 spinsters.

The number of males (exclusive of Chinese) between 15 and 45 years of age was 135,989, being 18,000 more than the number of females at the same ages. Of the males between 15 and 45 years, 50,498 were husbands having living wives, and 1,535 were widowers. In 1886 the widows numbered 9,764 and the widowers 6,248, there being thus, on an average, 04 widowers to every 100 widows. The widows were most numerous at each age-period, but the disproportion was greatest at the earlier ages. At 20-25 years of age there were 35 widows to every 10 widowers, at 25-30 years 29 widows to 10 widowers, at 30-35 years about 22 widows to 10 widowers. The proportion of widows then decreased until at the ages 50-60 years there were 14 widows to 10 widowers. The proportion of widows then slightly increased.

The proportion of legitimate births to the married women was less in 1886 than in 1881. In the former year the married women averaged 314 to every 100 births, which was equal to an average of one birth to every married woman at childbearing ages in every 3.14 years. In the year ending the 30th September, 1886, there were 19,018 legitimate births. The number of married women at 15-45 at the census was 62,704. This gives an average of 330 wives to each 100 births, or, deducting 180 children so as to treat each birth of twins as one birth, the average was 333 wives to 100 births, or an average of one birth to each wife every 3.33 years. The slightly lessened fertility is accompanied by an increase in the average age of the wives.

The proportions of married women under 20 years of age and from 20 to 35 years are steadily diminishing, while the proportion from 35 to 45 years is steadily increasing, the relative proportions approximating gradually to those that obtain in England.

Table V pp.159

Chinese.—Of the Chinese males 99 were returned as being married and 5 as widowed. The instruction 011 the household schedule was that no Chinese not having wives in the colony were to be returned as married. As there were 6 Chinese married females in the colony, it appears that 93 European females were married to Chinese males.

Tables I. to IV.,pp. 205-208.

The degree of education required by the Census Act to be stated on the pp. 205-208. household schedule is limited to that of being able or not to read and write. This information, limited as it is, was not supplied in the case of 3,792 persons, a considerable proportion of these having been seamen or other persons on board ship.

The Chinese have not been included in the tables relating to education, nor in the calculations of percentages made. The instruction in the household schedule was that only Chinese who could read or write English were to be given as able to read and write. Of the 4,542 Chinese in the colony, 153 males and 5 females were returned as able to read and write (i.e., English), and 18 males and 1 female as being able to read only.

Of the total population (exclusive of Chinese and Maoris), 73.52 per cent, were returned as able to read and write, 4.77 per cent, as able to read only, and 21.05 per cent, as unable to read. The unspecified as to education amounted to 0.66 per cent.

In the fifteen years, 1871-86, the percentage of persons able to read and write has increased from 69.20 to 73.52, but the progress has chiefly been in the education of females, for, while the percentage of males has only increased from 73.10 to 74.76, the increase of percentage of the females has been from 63.75 to 72.09.

Table III., p.207,

If the percentages are taken on the persons above 5 years of age the proportion able to read and write would be raised from 73.52 to 86.02, the proportion able to read only from 4.77 to 5.47, and the proportion unable to read be decreased from 21.05 to 7.14. These last proportions of 5.47 and 7.14 are chiefly composed of those of children between 5 and 10 years of age able to read only (viz., 3.55), or else unable to read (5.21), leaving, of the population over 5 years of age, 1.92 per cent., who were all above 10 years of age, able to read only, and 1.93 per cent, above 10 years of age unable to read.

Of the male population at 5 years of age and upwards, 87.17 per cent., and of the female population, 85.97 per cent., were able to read and write.

This is an increase on the similar percentages in 1881 of only 0.09 on the males, but of 1.36 on the females.

Table IV., p.208,

The proportions of the population between 5 and 15 years of age able to read and write vary considerably in the several provincial districts, those in the Districts of Nelson, Westland, Canterbury, and Otago being the highest; Westland taking first place, but the number there is small.

The following were those proportions for the years 1881 and 1886, and also the proportions, at the two periods, per 100 persons above 15 years of age, able to read and write:-

Tables V. to VII., pp. 209-212

Attendance at School.–The numbers returned as attending school on the Tables V. to VII, 28th March, 1886 were as follow :–

Being a total number attending week-day schools of 63,707 males and 61,885 females. In addition to these, 7,567 children, viz., 3,346 males and 4,221 females, were stated to be receiving tuition at home. Thus, a total of 133,159 were stated to be in receipt of sonic education. Many of these, doubtless, were over 15 years of age, probably as many as 2,500. On that assumption the number of children at the ages 5 to 15 receiving education was 130,659. As the total number in the colony at those ages, excluding the Chinese and including all the unspecified as to age under 21 years, amounted to 151,815, there would have been 21,150 children between 5 and 15 years of age not receiving any education whatever. In terms of "The Education Act, 1877," all children, with certain exemptions, between 7 and 13 years of age, are required to attend school. The number of children at the age-period 7 to 13 in March, 1880, was 91,473, The ages of children have not been extracted from the census schedules in combination with the school attendance for each year of life, but the proportion at the ages 7 to 13 attending schools may lie fairly estimated.

At the end of 1885 the children aged from 7 to 13 years attending the public schools constituted 66.89 per cent, of the total number of pupils.

The numbers attending private schools and receiving tuition at home are small compared with the number attending the public schools, and probably the same proportion may fairly be applied to them.

On that estimate, of the 125,592 children attending the public and private schools, 84,008 would be from 7 to 13 years of age; and of the 7,507 children returned as receiving tuition at home, 5,001 would be between 7 and 13 years of age, thus giving 89,069 children attending school or otherwise receiving tuition, out of a total of 91,473 at the compulsory school age–7 to 13–and leaving only about 2,404, or 2.6 per cent., of the children at these ages whose education was entirely neglected.

Table VI., p.210.

In the 15 years from 1871 to 1886 the number of children attending private schools has decreased from 16,757, equal to 30-59 per cent, of the children from 5 to 15 years of age, to 14,948, equal to a percentage of 9-85 of the children from 5 to 15 years; while the number attending public schools has increased from 14,953 to 110,644, equal respectively to percentages of 27-30 and 72-94 of the numbers living between 5 and 15 years.

The number of children attending Sunday-schools increased from 78,891 in 1881 to 99,884 in 1886, a numerical increase of 20,993. This numerical increase was less than that in the attendance at public schools, or than the similar increase in the number of the population between 5 and 15 years of age; but in proportion to the former numbers the percentage of increase was higher in the numbers attending Sunday-schools than in the numbers attending public schools, or than in the population between 5 and 15 years of age.

Tables I., to VII., pp. 257-300

The tables of occupations include the number of the whole of the population, excepting the Maoris, of all ages. A large number of persons, chiefly consisting of women and children, have not any occupations in the technical sense of the word. The term, therefore, is used in a broad as well as a technical sense, so as to include every one–each man, woman, and child. Consequently, in many cases such terms as wife, widow, son, daughter, relative, &c., have to be used, and in others descriptive terms, showing the present position or the sources of living of the persons enumerated.

The description or occupation must not be considered as in all cases including the full number of persons who might be classified under that term, as in many cases an occupation is vaguely defined as clerk, carter, labourer, miner, etc., but without anything to show what special branch of industry or mining was engaging the services of the person named; also in the case of General Government and Local Government officers the numbers are incomplete for the purpose of representing all the persons that might be so designated, as the General Government officers employed in special services as railways, telegraphs, post offices, lighthouses, etc., are included among the numbers in the class to which those services belong. It is consequently impossible to select any particular occupation, and say that the number of persons given opposite it is the precise number following that occupation or that might be described under that term.

The tabulation of the occupations is one of the most difficult and complex of the operations in the compilation of the Census, for, although series of sheets with elaborate columns and headings were prepared for the purpose–every occupation which was found at the census of 1881 to have a following of five persons having a separate column and heading–still there remained a multitude of other minor occupations and descriptions which had to be dealt with and classified. In consequence of the smallness and simplicity of the industrial operations in the colony the great difficulties experienced in England, on account of the occupations being described by technical and changing terms in use in factories to distinguish the specific employments of the various hands engaged, have not been much felt here; but, doubtless, as the manufacturing interests of the colony increase, difficulties on this account will also arise.

The number of persons following the several occupations have been given so as to distinguish between those under and over 20 years of age. This may serve as an index of the kinds of occupations chiefly followed by the colonial youths.

Table IV., p. 261.

CLASS I. PROFESSIONAL.–This class is divided into two orders, namely, Order I., Persons engaged in the General or Local Governments, or the defence or protection of the country; and Order II., Persons engaged in the learned professions, literature, art, and science.

Order I.–Government and Defence.–As has been previously stated, the numbers given as General Government officers must not be considered as the full number of officers employed by the Government, as they do not include those employed in special services that are brought into other classes of occupations.

Order II. Learned, Professions, Literature, Art, and Science.–The ministers of all denominations are given under the general term of clergyman–no distinction being made between the numbers of each denomination. The number of clergy given in the table was 670. The list of officiating ministers registered under the Marriage Act comprised at that time 698 names, but of these 35 were those of Maori clergy; these are not included in the number given in the census tables. The census number is thus 13 more than the number on the list for solemnizing marriages. Of the number of clergy on the registered list 241 belonged to the Church of England; but, as 26 of these were ordained Maori clergymen, the European clergy of that church numbered only 215; the clergy of the different Presbyterian Churches numbered 160; the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church numbered 101; and the clergy of the Wesleyan Methodist Society numbered 106, or, exclusive of 9 Maori ministers, 97. The ministers of other religious denominations numbered 90. The Church of England, or, to be more accurate, the Church of the Province of New Zealand, and the Wesleyan Methodist Church only were those that had ordained. Maori Ministers–26 in the former and 9 in the latter. The clergy of all denominations have increased by 120, or at the rate of 21-58 per cent., since 1881. The barristers and solicitors, described as lawyers, numbered 511 against 362 in 1881–an increase of 149 in number, or at the rate of 41 per cent., in the five years. The law students have decreased since 1881 by 41, or 46 per cent., and law clerks have increased by 157, or 49 per cent. The number of medical practitioners returned at the census was 353, including 9 medical men returned as acting as hospital house-surgeons or as medical superintendents of lunatic asylums. As the number on the medical register of the colony was then 446, it appears that 93, more than one-fifth of the number registered, were absent from the colony, probably several having deceased outside the colony, but no notification having been given of the death in order that the names might be erased from the register.

The number of medical practitioners resident in the colony was 317 in 1881. Thus, in the interval the number has increased by only 36. Medical students increased in number from 10 in 1881 to 27 in 1886, but, as no New Zealand medical qualifications have as yet been registered, the 10 students in 1881 must have taken degrees out of the colony if they have qualified themselves to practise. Including dentists 99, chemists and assistants 450, midwives 59, but excluding hospital attendants and nurses, the number of persons engaged in the administration of medicines, or medical and surgical duties, was 1,035. Excepting the 59 midwives, only 14 of these were females, of whom 7 were in chemists' shops, and 1 was a registered dentist.

The civil engineers, not in the Government service, have increased from 228 in 1881 to 257 in 1886. The mining engineers are not included in these numbers. In 1886 the mining engineers returned as such numbered 43.

The number of persons engaged directly in teaching amounted to 4,307. The following are comprised in the number:–

There has been an increase since 1881 of 243 in the number of schoolmasters and of 449 in the number of schoolmistresses. Of the 539 pupil-teachers, 128 were males and 411 were females, the numbers in 1881 having been 100 males and 231 females. The increase has been caused by the additional number of public schools established by the Government. The teachers in the private schools at the commencement of 1881 numbered 030, viz., 147 males and 483 females, against an aggregate number at the commencement of 188(5 of 045, of whom 115 were males and 530 were females, an increase in the five years of only 15 on both sexes. The number of artists increased from 92 to 133. Of these the number of males increased from 71 to 92, and the number of females was nearly doubled, the increase having been from 21 to 41. Music masters and mistresses numbered 497, an increase of 187 on the number in 1881.

Table IV., p. 262.

CLASS II. DOMESTIC.–This class includes all wives and members of families who have no specified occupation. The system of classification is the same as that adopted in England prior to the census of 1881, and that has also been adopted in the Australian Colonies. When compiling the census of 1881 the Commissioners of the English census reconstituted the class, excluding, among others, all wives, giving as a reason that to include them "would in many cases involve reckoning the same wife twice over, once as wife and again as boarding- house-keeper or the like, when the wife has any specified occupation of her own." It has not been deemed expedient here to follow the leading of the English Commissioners in this matter, the reason given not having weight, as in no case is a wife given simply under that heading if she has an occupation given that would admit of her being otherwise classified. The number of wives in the colony can be ascertained from that part of the census compilation relating to the conjugal condition of the people. The number given in this part only includes those not having specified occupations, and, as their ordinary duties are of a domestic character, this seems the proper place in the table, if, as is of course desirable, every person in the colony should be accounted for therein. Hotelkeepers have also been retained in this class, as the descriptive heading of the order in which they are placed sufficiently distinguishes them from other members of the class, and it seems desirable that a uniformity of statistics should, as far as possible, be established and maintained among the various colonies of the Australasian group. The number of children or young persons given in this class as at school is less than the number given in the part relating to education. The reason for the difference is this: No person is given twice in the table of occupations, and, where a boy or girl had a specific occupation stated in addition to attendance at school, such person was classified under that occupation, instead of being merely included in the number of scholars, although included in the number of scholars in the part relating to the education of the people.

The number of hotelkeepers in 1880 was 1,622. Of these, 1,438 were males and 184 were females. As the-number in 1881 was 1,591, there has been an increase of 31, or at the rate of 1.95 per cent, in the five years, the population having increased at the rate of 18-07 per cent.

The number of household domestic servants was 14,503, of whom 13,471 were females. Of these, 6,750 were under 20 years of age. In addition 1,202 females, of whom 332 were under 20 years of age, were acting as servants in hotels, club-houses, and eating-house's. This number includes 145 females described as barmaids, of whom 28 were under 20 years of age, and 117 over 20. Of these, 127 were in the various boroughs and 18 in the country districts. This number, probably, is far short of the actual number of females performing the duties ascribed to barmaids, as 00 hotelkeepers' wives arc given as assisting in the business, most of whom probably performed similar duties to those of barmaids, and doubtless other wives and daughters included in the domestic class, bat not specifically stated as assisting in the business, gave help to their respective husbands and fathers in the same manner. The 222 females classified as servants of charitable institutions include hospital nurses. The total number of females given as in attendance in this class numbered 16,502, of whom 7,194 were under 20 years of age. The increase on the household female domestic servants since 1881 amounted to 1,496, and the increase on the total number of females classified as in attendance was 2,227.

The number of female household domestic servants under 20 years of age amounted to 22-6 per cent, (or about 2 out of every 9) of the girls between 15 and 20 years of age, and the number of females under 20 years of age given as in attendance was at the rate of 24.12 per cent, of all girls between 15 and 20 years of age.

Table V., p. 263.

CLASS III. COMMERCIAL.–The number of persons returned as merchants was 577. This was less than in 1881, when the number was 618, but still sufficiently large to indicate a great vagueness in the use of the term. It is clearly not limited to large importers and wholesale dealers. This is evident not only from the number, but from the fact that 2 females are given under that description; consequently no accurate definition of the occupation of the number designated as merchants can be given.

The number of bank officers and clerks increased from 760 in 1881 to 1,018 in 1886, evidencing a considerable expansion in banking business in the interval; but during the same period the commercial clerks, bookkeepers, and. accountants only increased in number from 3,428 to 3,587. These commercial clerks do not include clerks employed in shops and trades of various kinds, as where the special business or trade affording the occupation has been given they have been enumerated with others under that specific occupation.

The number of persons classified as being engaged in the conveyance of men, animals, goods, and messages, or in pursuits immediately subsidiary thereto, was 15,539.

The first group consists of those engaged in the working of railways and tramways, consisting of 2,762 persons, viz.,–

The second group consists of the carriers on roads, including coach, omnibus-, cab-, and express-owners, 212; drivers and conductors, 508; and all draymen, express-drivers, and general carters, amounting to 2,939. Others connected with this service, including livery-stable-keepers, toll-gate-keepers, etc., numbered 216, giving an aggregate for this group or sub-order of 3,875.

The carriers on the seas and rivers comprise the next group. The subsidiary occupations included are the harbour, pilot, and lighthouse services, employing 190 persons; also the various classes of persons engaged in the stowage of cargoes or working on wharves. These, with persons of sundry incidental occupations, amounted to 849. The ship-owners and officers and crews of vessels numbered 4,759. There are also 154 watermen and boatmen included in the group, which therefore comprises a total of 5,952 persons. The fourth group consists of persons engaged in or connected with the storage of goods. These amounted to 1,590.

The last group is entitled that of messengers and porters. In this group are included all the employes of the Telegraph Department, numbering 716, all messengers and porters not in Government employ, and all others connected with the transmissions of messages. The total number in this group was 1,360.

The above groups do not respectively give all pursuits incidental to the carriage of persons or goods, as many industries closely interwoven therewith are given in the special group of the industrial class to which those industries belong. Some of the principal are coach and railway-carriage makers, and the occupations subsidiary thereto, saddlers and harness-makers, wheelwrights, ship and boat-builders, riggers, and ship chandlers, sailmakers, &c. It is impossible to exactly define all the various trades and employments which are more or less supported by any particular class of service.

Table IV., p.264

CLASS IV. AGRICULTURAL.–The term agricultural, as applied to this class, is used in a very comprehensive sense, so as to include not only pursuits incidental to agriculture and the tillage of the ground, but also all pursuits incidental to dealings with land and the rearing and maintenance of live stock of all kinds. The class has also been made to include fishermen, as they are employed in catching one kind of living creature, and there is no other class in which they could be suitably placed.

The farmers and market-gardeners (for they have been compiled together) numbered 22,699, an increase on the number in 1881 of 3,328. In 1886 381 of the farmers were females against 239 in 1881. 10,984 sons, daughters, or other relatives of farmers have been given as assisting on farms, an increase of 2,684 on the number in 1881. The farm servants and labourers numbered 13,996 in .1880 against 12,544 in 1881, an increase of 1,452. The total number of persons classified as engaged in agricultural pursuits (but not comprising all in the so- called agricultural class) was 51,545 in 1886; as the similar number in 1881 was 42,722, there has been an increase in the five years of 8,823 persons so engaged.

The persons in this class engaged in pastoral pursuits numbered 5,996 against 5,541 in 1881, an increase of 455. The number of runholders, graziers, and sheep- or cattle-farmers decreased from 888 to 828; but the number of station servants and labourers increased from 4,063 to 4,577.

The distinction, however, between sheep- and cattle - farmers engaged in pastoral pursuits, and farmers engaged in agricultural pursuits, is not well defined, as a number returned as farmers are chiefly if not wholly engaged in grazing sheep and cattle, and, therefore, although only described as farmers, they should strictly he included in the pastoral class; but, from indefiniteness of description, it has been impossible to select those who should be thus transferred.

The rabbit pest afforded employment to 690 persons engaged in killing these animals, and 47(5 persons were engaged as fishermen in gathering the harvest of the seas. The number of fishermen increased by 94 since 1881.

It will be seen by reference to Part X. of the census volume relating to the industries of the colony that these 476 fishermen were distributed over 286 fisheries, and that they employed 414 boats, of an aggregate of 920 tons, and of the value of £9,331. The nets used by them were 1,048 in number, of the value of £4,621. In addition, 9 boats, of the value of £1,990, were used in oyster-dredging.

Bee-keeping, as an industry, has an increasing number of followers. In 1881 the number of apiarians was 6, in 1886 it was 17. Presumably, this was the chief if not sole occupation of these persons, none other having been given.

Table V., p.265.

CLASS V., INDUSTRIAL.–This class includes all persons working or dealing in art or mechanical productions, in textile fabrics and fibrous materials, in food or drinks (with the exception of those engaged in board and lodging and hotel- keeping, included in the domestic class), in animal and vegetable substances, and in metals and minerals. The total number of persons in this class amounted to 76,427, an increase on the number in the same class in 1881 of 12,250.

The number of persons working and dealing in books and newspapers increased from 2,031 in 1881 to 2,750 in 1886. The following shows the progressive increase in the numbers during the intervals between the last three census periods:–

The number of persons engaged in making or dealing in musical instruments remains almost stationary. In 1878 the number was 24; in 1881, 21; and in 1886, 23. Lithographers and lithographic printers numbered 81 in 1886 against 55 in 1881. The number of wood-carvers was small, but the proportionate increase since 1881 has been considerable, the numbers having increased from 14 to 47. The number of watch and clock makers increased from 329 to 383 during the five years' interval.

There has been a considerable increase in the number of persons making and dealing in machines and tools, the rate of increase having been above 32 per cent. The numbers were 750 in 1881, and 993 in 1880.

The coachmakers and dealers increased in number from 407 to 083, and the railway-carriage-makers, who are Government employees, from 12 to 61. The number of coachbuilding works was 89, consequently the 083 persons above named chiefly consisted of hands employed in the various works. The returns of this special industry gave 002 as the number of hands, but the above larger number may possibly include many proprietors who work with their men in the manufacturing processes.

There was an increase in the number of saddlers and harness-makers from 675 in 1881 to 892 in 1880, and of wheelwrights from 319 to 338.

The number of shipbuilders and shipwrights was 401 at the recent census against 499 in 1881, and that of boatbuilders 130 against 103. The number given in the table of occupations is widely different from that given in the table relating to ship- and boat-building in the part relating to industries. After allowing for the master shipbuilders who might not be included in the hands in the last-named table, still the divergence is so great as to make the numbers irreconcilable. Whether a number of ship-carpenters or shipwrights were unable to obtain employment at their particular trade, and were therefore for the time doing other work, or whether large numbers were employed in boatbuilding at works so small that they have escaped mention, is uncertain. The last supposition is, however, not a probable one.

The number of persons engaged in the building trade, using the term in a comprehensive sense to include architects, painters, plumbers, glaziers, was 11,450 in 1880 against 10,051 in 1881, an increase of 799.

The number of persons working or dealing in textile fabrics increased from 2,020 in 1881 to 3,027 in 1880 : of these, the drapers and their employees increased from 1,404 to 1,988, and persons connected with the manufacture of woollen goods from 297, of whom 136 were females, to 722, including 311 females. As the returns from the various woollen factories gave the number of men and boys employed at 478, and the number of women and girls at 389, a total of 807, it is evident that the above number of 722 is considerably below the actual number engaged in connection with this industry. Many of the persons employed have no doubt used a general term of occupation applicable to several industries, and, in consequence, the exact number for this industry cannot be correctly given.

The persons engaged in working or dealing in food and drinks numbered 9,114 against 7,003 in 1881. Of the number in 1880, 3,900 were engaged in dealing in animal food, 2,878 in vegetable food, and 2,270 in drinks and stimulants. These numbers do not include hotelkeepers and others engaged in board and lodging. The number of brewers and employes was given at 412 in 1881 against 309 in 1880, but in each year these numbers were considerably less than the number of hands stated to be employed in the several breweries.

The result of want of care in fully describing on the household schedule the particular trade in which the person having a stated occupation may be employed is shown by the great discrepancy between the number of persons working and dealing in animal substances furnished by the census household schedules and the number of hands given in the returns obtained from industrial firms. As a result, the indefinite class is largely swelled at the expense of specified occupations, among which the numbers should be, to a great extent, distributed.

Again a similar result is shown in the number of sawyers.. &c.

The number of sawyers, saw-mill owners, workers, and squarers, and persons employed at saw-mills, taken from the household schedules, was 2,063, but the returns from the various saw-mills gave the bands employed at 5,031 without including the owners. In this case also a very large-number of labourers at saw-mills have, for want of fuller description, been enumerated in the Indefinite Class (VI.) as "Labourers, branch undefined."

The kauri-gum digging shows no abatement as a source of employment.

The number of persons dependent on that industry, exclusive of Maoris (many of whom are also gum-diggers), was greater by 137 in 1886 than in 1881. The quantity of kauri gum exported in 1880 was 4,724 tons 13cwt. against an export of 5,8753/4 tons in 1885.

The mining industry gave employment to .12,644 persons in 1880 against 14,273 in 1881. The decrease occurred in the number of persons engaged in gold-mining, viz., from 12,996 in 1881 to 10,892 in 1886. The number of coal- miners and colliers increased from 1,087 to 1,240. The last number, 1,246, is, however, too small, as the colliery returns give the number of hands employed as 1,448.

The workers in metal other than gold or silver numbered 4,876, being an increase of 1,127 on the number in 1881. Of these the tinsmiths numbered 451, iron-founders and workers in foundries 722, and blacksmiths and whitesmiths 2,755.

Table IV., p.271.

CLASS VI. INDEFINITE AND NON-PRODUCTIVE.– In this class are included 13,154 labourers not more accurately defined, and 3,899 persons of other specified occupations, such as mechanic, manufacturer, apprentice, engineer, engine- driver, etc., but which, from the baldness of the description, could not be placed in the respective classes to which they should properly belong. As a consequence the numbers in the other classes are short by the number given for these vaguely-specified occupations, and also by a large proportion of those returned merely as labourers.

Included in this class are 739 persons described as persons of property or rank. They consist of persons having no specific occupation, and living on their private means, on annuities or pensions; and include retired Civil servants, professional men, tradesmen, &c. The annuitants comprised 351 persons.

The last order of this class embraced persons supported by the community, to wit, the dependent class or those supported on charity, and the criminal class.

The number of persons included in this order amounted to 4,202, of which the members of the criminal class numbered 599. These, however, must not be considered to be all the members of the criminal class in the colony, as the numbers given only include prisoners actually in gaol at the time, inmates of refuge, and prostitutes so described. Many other criminals will doubtless be included among some of the many occupations enumerated, or among those whose occupations were not stated.

The number of persons whose occupations were not given amounted to 2,476.

Table IV., pp. 261-271

EMPLOYMENT OF FEMALES.–Of the 266,201 females in the colony, 2-32,343 201-271. were included in the Domestic Class as wives, widows, relatives, children, and scholars. In 40 cases no information was given to enable a classification to be made. The remainder, 33,872, represent those having defined and specified occupations. Of these, 10,502 were engaged in attendance, of whom 15,709 were domestic or hotel and club-house servants, and housekeepers. The servants at hotels include 145 females described as barmaids; the charwomen were 108, and the companions or lady-helps 80. The nurses (not including those in hospitals' and charitable institutions) numbered 580. Teaching gave employment to 2,742 females. 882 females were employed under various occupations in the Commercial Class. 919 were engaged on farms either as farmer, settler, farmer's wife (5 in number), daughter assisting, female servant on farm, or florist. The occupations in the Industrial Class gave employment to 0,548 females. Of these the most numerous were tailoresses, 1,069 ; milliners, dressmakers, shirtmakers, and seamstresses, 5,771; sewing machinists, 534; washerwomen and laundry-keepers, 636; engaged in woollen manufactures, 311; drapers' assistants, &c., 218; and those engaged in boot- and shoe-making, 237.

Table V., p.272.

EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYED.–As it is desirable, for many social questions, to be enabled to distinguish between the number of employers and the employed or wage-earners in any particular industry or employment, special instructions were given on the household schedule that employers were to place the letter E opposite their names, and persons employed the W. In many cases the results show a misapprehension on the part of the employed, the letter E having evidently been used for employed instead of employers only. A table has for the first time been compiled, which purports to distinguish in respect of occupations in the Industrial Class the number of employers from the whole of the number in the class. For ordinary purposes the number given as "employed" or "not described" may be fairly taken as representing those working for wages or salaries.

The grouping has been limited to the occupations in the Industrial Class, as in the other classes the description of the occupations read with the footnotes will generally enable the wage-earners to be fairly separated from the employers for the purpose of ascertaining their respective numbers. In the case of the mining population there was evidently such misapprehension as to the use of the letter that no attempt has been made to give the respective numbers.

Table VIII., p. 301.

ALPHABETICAL ARRANGEMENT OF OCCUPATIONS. – A table showing the alphabetical arrangement of the occupations has been given on pages 301 to 304. This arrangement will facilitate the extraction of the numbers employed in any specific occupation, as similar occupations, classified in the other tables of occupations under different heads according to the character of the industry that afforded the employment, have been brought together in this table.

Tables I., II., pp. 307-309

The prevalence of certain diseases which affect the rate of mortality can be readily ascertained from the records of death and an examination of the causes of death, but there are no data in this colony available for ascertaining the proportion of the population incapacitated from performing the ordinary duties of life, except the information obtained at the time a census is taken. The instruction on the census schedule was to write the words "sick" or "accident" opposite the name of any person unable to follow the usual occupation by reason of illness or accident, and to write the words "deaf-and-dumb," "blind," "lunatic," "idiot," or "epileptic," as the case might be, opposite the name of each person suffering from any of those infirmities.

In compiling the results, the information relating to the last-named specified infirmities has been given for persons of all ages, but in the cases of persons suffering from sickness or accident only the number above 15 years has been given.

The total number of persons returned in 1880 either as sick or as suffering from specified complaint was 3,548, being at the rate of 104-37 per 10,000 living over 15 years of age, against 2,583, or 91-50 per 10,000, living in 1881. The proportion has been always greater among the males than the females.

The following figures give the several proportions per 10,000 persons over 15 years of age suffering from sickness and accident in each of the past four census years :-

The proportions suffering from both sickness and accident were larger among the males in 1880 than in either of the previous census years stated. They were also larger among the females, with the exception of those in the year 1874.

The proportions of sick of the two sexes differed greatly in 1880 at, the various age-periods. At each of the age-periods 15-20, 25-30, and 35-40 the proportion of males sick was less than that of females ; but at all other ages above 15 there was a larger proportion of males than of females sick, the disproportion increasing greatly with advancing years. At the highest ages, 80 years of age and upwards, the number of males returned as sick was in the proportion of 990.47 per 10,000, while the rate among the females was only 692.31 per 10,000.

The relative proportions of those sick and having specified complaints per 10,000 living at each age-period for the last two census years are shown in the following table :–

Specified Infirmities. – The infirmities classified under this heading are deafness, deaf-mutism, lunacy, idiotcy, epilepsy, and paralysis, being crippled or deformed, and debility. The number of persons returned as suffering from these infirmities was 2,918, or 50-44 per 10,000 of the population.

Deaf-and-dumb.–111 persons were stated to be deaf and dumb and 22 to be deaf, but as dumbness is unknown apart from deafness (except in some exceptional cases, such as that of a person suffering from paralysis affecting the tongue, &c.) and as the "dumb "were chiefly young persons, it is evident they were deaf and dumb, and they have been included in the number given as suffering under that infirmity. The total number in 1880 was 133, an increase of 19 on the number in 1881. It is certain, however, that the number in 1881 was too small, as only 5 were then given under 5 years of age as deaf-mutes. In 1880 the survivors of these 5 would comprise the number from 5 to 10 years, but in the last year the number from 5 to 10 years of age was 28. As it is highly improbable that deaf-and-dumb children would be brought to the colony, it would seem as if the number in 1881 was too small by at least 23–doubtless more–if any had died in the interval. This should raise the number in 1881 from 114 to 137, being slightly in excess of the number in 1886.

The number of deaf-mutes between 5 and 15 years of age was 58, and between 15 and 20 years of age 19. Of these, 41 were pupils at the institution for deaf-mutes at Sumner. 20 of the deaf-mutes had specific occupations ; they were as follows: 1 clerk, 1 hawker, 2 farmers, 3 farm-labourers, 2 saddlers, 1 wheelwright, 1 draughtsman, 1 hairdresser, 2 tailors, 2 dressmakers, 4 shoemakers, 1 greengrocer, 1 tanner, 2 sawyers, 2 labourers.

Blind.–The number of persons stated to be blind was 180 against 138 in 1881. The blindness was evidently only to a very small extent, if at all, attributable to old age, as the infirmity obtains at all ages of life and in diminishing numbers at the very advanced ages. 14 children under 10 years of age were blind and 14 persons between 10 and 20 years of age. Of the total number blind 114 were males and 72 were females.

Lunatics.–The number returned was 1,533. As the number in the various asylums at the end of 1885 was 1,524, the number of lunatics maintained privately by friends is very small, evidently chiefly young children, as 13 of the lunatics were under 15 years of age ; but of the number in the asylums only 6 were under 15. The lunatics were in the proportion of 1 to every 377 of the population, exclusive of Maoris ; but the proportion was much greater among the females than the males, for, while 1 in every 322 males was a lunatic, 1 in every 472 females was similarly afflicted. These numbers do not include 89 persons described as "idiots."

Epileptic.—130 males and 91 females, a total of 221 persons, were stated to be suffering from epilepsy, an increase of 27 on the number so returned in 1881. As the information respecting this complaint may not in all cases have been given, it seems very doubtful whether these numbers can be relied upon as representing the full extent to which epilepsy prevails.

Paralysis.-The number of persons stated to be paralyzed was 153, an increase of 49 on the number in 1881 ; 24 of these were under 20 years of age.

Crippled and deformed.-159 persons were thus returned, of whom 58 were under 20 years of age. In 1881 the number was 132, and in 1878 it was 171.

Table I., p. 321.

Occupied. Lands.-The extent of land in occupied holdings (exclusive of the land occupied by Maoris) of over one acre in extent amounted, in March, 1886, to 27,848,690 acres, an increase on the area of similar holdings in 1881 of 1,003,224 acres.

Of the above number in 1886, 11,728,236 acres were the freehold properties of the occupiers ; 1,776,987 acres were rented by the occupiers from private individuals ; 857,753 acres were rented from public bodies; 2,017,588 acres were Maori lands or Native reserves rented ; 090,510 acres were held from the Crown for other than purely pastoral purposes (these include the lands held on deferred payments and other systems of settlements); and 10,771,616 acres were held from the Crown for pastoral purposes only.

There was a decrease since 1881 of 248,576 acres of land rented from the Natives, and a decrease of 866,953 acres of land rented from the Crown for pastoral purposes. There was an increase in the other classes chiefly in the amount of freehold, the property of the occupier, which was greater by 1,419,066 acres.

Note to Table I.

Unoccupied Holdings.— The census returns gave the extent of unoccupied and unused freeholds at 768,281 acres against 931,435 in 1881. Probably in each year the returns did not nearly show the full extent of unoccupied lands held by persons in the colony or by absentee proprietors.

Tables III., IV., V., VI., pp. 324-327

Number and Sizes of Occupied Holdings.—The number of occupied holdings exceeding one acre in extent, but excluding holdings which were Crown pastoral leases, amounted in March, 1886, to 36,485 against 30,832 in 1881, an increase of 5,653. The total area of these 36,485 holdings was 17,077,074 acres.

The following were the number of occupied holdings classified according to size in 1881 and 1886. The increase or decrease in each class since 1881 is also given : -

The numerical increase has been greatest in holdings up to 50 acres, but the proportionate increase was greatest in the number of holdings between 200 and 320 acres. The next greatest proportionate increase was in holdings from 1,000 to 5,000 acres, the holdings from 320 to 640 acres taking third place and those from 1 to 10 acres fourth place as to proportion of increase. There was an increase of 1 in the number of occupied holdings from 10,000 to 20,000 acres.

The holdings of Crown lands under pastoral leases have not been included in the above numbers.

Table I., p. 321.

Land fenced.-The area of land returned as having been fenced amounted to 16,253,797 acres against 16,193,574 in 1881. In addition to this acreage the returns gave a total of 986,860 chains of fencing, but the area enclosed was not stated. Doubtless in many cases these consisted of fences only partly enclosing lands.

The area of land fenced in proportion to the area of the holdings, inclusive of Crown pastoral lands, and the proportions the Crown pastoral lands leased bear to the total area of the holdings, are given herewith for each provincial district:-

The amount of land enclosed by the additional chains of fencing is in no case included in the area given as land fenced. It is impossible to estimate, even vaguely, the areas enclosed by the additional chains of fencing of which a large proportion, however, must consist of subdivisional fences. This is evident from the number given, as the total of the above numbers of chains amounts to 986,265-equal to 12,328 miles-a quantity sufficient to enclose an area of 3,082 miles square, or an area nearly a hundred times as large as this colony.

Tables I., II., and VII., pp. 321-322, 331

Live Stock.-The number of each kind of live stock obtained from the census returns in 1881 and 1886 was as follows :-

The cattle of all kinds increased by 154,721, but the increase in breeding- cows was 52,317.

The above numbers do not include the stock belonging to the Maoris, which, however, exclusive of horses, was ascertained to consist of 112,850 sheep, 42,103 cattle, and 92,091 pigs. These numbers would swell the total stock in 1886 to the following :-

The number of sheep on the 31st May, 1886, according to the returns made to the Sheep Department, was 15,174,263, or less by 1,503,182 than the above number; but in the space of two months a considerable number must have been slaughtered for local use, meat-preserving, boiling-down, and for freezing. Furthermore, the returns being made to the Sheep Department for rating purposes, the tendency would be to give a number less rather than in excess of the real number, while for census purposes extreme care might not always be taken to give exact numbers-round numbers, often a little in advance of the actual numbers, being probably entered on the schedule.

In 1881 the census returns gave the number of sheep as 12,985,085, a decrease of 84,253 on the number returned in 1878, a decrease attributed to the rapid growth in the number of rabbits. It is therefore very satisfactory to show an increase in the number of sheep given in the census schedules of 1886 of over three, and a half millions, or at the average rate of about 756,000 per annum, notwithstanding the continued prevalence of the rabbit-pest, the magnitude of which may be somewhat estimated by the number of rabbit-skins exported. In 1880 the number exported was 7,595,616, and in 1885 9,108,114. The increase in the number of sheep has, therefore, apparently been coincident with an increase instead of a decrease in the number of rabbits.

Tables VIII., and IX., pp. 331-332.

Production of Butter and Cheese.- The statements of the annual quantity of butter made gave a total of 12,170,964lbs. in 1886 against 8,453,815lbs. in 1881, an increase of 3,717,149lbs. in the annual production; but the quantities given in each year must be considered as only estimates, as the majority of small farmers do not keep accounts of the butter made. The production of cheese in 1885 amounted to 4,594,795lbs. against.3,178, 694lbs. in 1880; but, as of the quantity made in 1885, l,039,468lbs. were produced in cheese factories, the quantity produced by the farmers in that year was greater by only 376,633lbs., or 11.8 per cent., than the quantity produced in 1880.

Agricultural Machines.-There was an increase in 1886 of 14 in the number of threshing-machines in use in the colony on the number in 1881; but the increase in the working-power of these machines was much greater than the increase in the number, as the machines worked by steam-power were more numerous by 66, while there was a decrease of 7 in those worked by water-power, and of 45 in the number worked by horses. Of the 1,033 threshing-machines in use, 559 were worked by steam-power. There were 7,890 reaping-machines in use in 1886 against 6,595 in 1881, and 31 steam-ploughs and 20 steam-harrows in 1886, against 29 steam-ploughs and 13 steam-harrows in 1881.

Table I., p. 334.

The number of local manufactories and works has largely increased since the census of 1881 was taken. In that year these various industries numbered 1,643, employing 17,938 persons, and having an aggregate value of capital invested in lands, buildings, machinery, and plant amounting to £3,605,471. In 1886 the number of industries was 2,268, the number of hands employed was 25,655, and the value of capital invested £5,697,117. There has thus in the five years' interval been an increase at the rate of 38 per cent, in the number of industries, of 43 per cent, in the number of hands employed, and of 58 per cent, in the value of capital invested. An attempt was made to obtain information as to the value of the materials used during the year, as well as of the produce of the manufactories or works, but with only partial success as to the value of the materials used. The value of the various articles manufactured or produced and of the work done, including repairs, amounted to the large sum of £7,436,649, a sum nearly equal to the value of the annual imports of the colony. But in this amount is included £449,027, value of gold from quartz- and hydraulic-mining, £1,700 rendered by antimony and manganese mines, and £255,326 the value of coal raised.

Important machinery and plant being used in the above works, they are included in the tables. (The Act requires the returns to be made.) But it is important to mention that, deducting the results of mining where machinery is largely used, the amount of £7,436,049, value of manufacture and produce of all kinds, is reduced to £6,730,596.

In making comparisons with tables for other colonies it is necessary to look to items, as it is somewhat a matter of opinion what should be included in the compilation of industrial statistics. There is difficulty in defining what works should be included and what omitted. For example, some of the furniture factories consist of large workshops in the rear of shops, in which several hands are employed making furniture ; but there are numerous cabinetmakers who also employ one or two hands making furniture, and yet whose works could hardly be classed as among the manufactories. There are many industries in a similar condition, so that no hard-and-fast rule could be laid down, otherwise many industries that are in the aggregate of considerable magnitude and are of growing importance would have to be omitted, or the table filled up with the enumeration of what are in reality retail businesses combined with a limited amount of work done on the premises either by way of repairs or as new work. Consequently much discretion has been exercised in the selection of the returns, possibly causing some little roughness in the complete result. Much additional work to that given is no doubt being performed by these minor industries. Some small industries have been given on account of their possessing a special character, or of being the germ of what may grow to be of some importance.

Table II., p. 338.

Of the several provincial districts Otago takes precedence in the number of industrial centres, but second in the value of capital invested. Auckland ranks second in the number of industries, but first in amount of capital.

The following were the number of industries, the number of hands employed, and the amount of capital invested in such industries in each district at the end of 1885, together with the percentage of increase of each, omitting fractions, during the previous five years :-

Of the hands employed 23,161 were males and 2,494 were females. Of the females 1,989 were employed in woollen mills, boot, clothing, hat and cap, and stocking-weaving factories.

The importance of any industry may be gauged either by the number of works in that class, the number of hands employed, the value of the capital invested in land, buildings, and machinery, or the value of the products.

The following were some of the most important industries, having regard to the hands employed and capital invested. They are arranged in the order of magnitude as to number:-

The relative importance of these industries in regard to the average number of hands employed in each of the works in each class, the aggregate value of the products in each class, the average value of the products for each of the works and also per hand employed, and the average capital per work, are shown in the following table :-

Table III., p. 338

Printing Establishments.-The number of these works increased from 106 in 1881 to 135 in 1886, not including the Government Printing Office. The number of hands employed increased from 1,779 to 2,107, and the capital invested in land, buildings, and plant from £229,166 to .£331,723.

Table IV., p.339

Agricultural-implement Manufactories.-These works were less numerous in 1886 than in 1881, the numbers having been 17 in 1886 against 23 in 1881; but the smaller number of works in 1886 employed more hands than the larger number in 1881, the numbers having been 336 and 315 respectively. The value of capital invested in land, buildings, machinery, &c., increased from .£43,854 in 1881 to £50,205 in 1886. The value of manufactures and work done in 1885 amounted to £111,823.

Table V., p. 339.

Coach-building.—This industry made great strides in the intercensal period, the number of works having increased from 49 to 89, and the number of hands employed from 387 to 664. The value of capital invested increased from £36,330 to £106,238 in the same period. The value of manufactures and repairs during 1885 amounted to £128,346. As the value of products was not in any case obtained for the year 1880,no comparison with the value of produce in that year can be made.

Table VI., p. 339.

Ship- and Boat-building.-The progress in this industry has also been great, the number of works having been more than doubled, viz., from 25 to 53, and the number of hands employed having increased from 100 to 172. 31 vessels, exclusive of boats, were built during 1885, of which 2 (1 of steel and 1 of wood) were between 100 and 200 tons burden.

Table VII.,

Woollen Factories.—These works, although few in number, have a special importance on account of the large employment of labour by each, the value of p,340. manufactures in replacement of imports, and the amount of local produce used, this being 1,924,932lbs. of wool by 4 factories in 1885.

The increase has been from 4 factories in 1881 to 6 in 1886, and from 193 males and 224 females to 478 males and 389 females employed. The value of capital invested increased from £98,500 to £203,279. The total value of the manufactures in 1885 was £194,311. This, however, only represents the produce of four factories, as two started in 1886.

Two other factories, one in Auckland and one in "Wellington, were in course of construction in March, 1886. The latter is now (1887) in full work.

Table VIII., p. 340.

Boot and Shoe Factories.—The works of this class have increased from 31 in 1881 to 42 in 1886. The hands employed amounted to 1,299 in the former year and 1,654 in the latter. The manufactures in 188-5 were of the value of £276,725.

Table IX., p. 341.

Clothing Factories.- There were 11 of these works in operation ; but as one was in connection with a woollen-mill the information as to the hands employed and the capital invested only applies to 10. Those 10 employed 1,269 hands, with a capital invested amounting to £37,530, and a total value of manufactures for the 11 of £237,781.

Table XI., p. 341

Cheese and Butter Factories.-These works, so important for the welfare of the farming interests, have been called into existence in the colony since the date of the census of 1881. They numbered 36 in 1886, and employed 110 hands. The produce for 1885 from 33, for 3 were not in operation during that year, amounted to 823 tons of cheese, 274,617lbs. of butter, and 16 tons of bacon, of the aggregate value of £43,094.

Table XII., p. 342.

Flax-mills.-These should rather be called Phormium-mills. Although the number fell from 40 in 1881 to 30 in 1886, and the number of hands employed from 284 to 249, yet the quantity of dressed Phormium produced in 1885 was 1,397 tons, or 14 1/2 tons more than in 1880. The total value of the Plutonium was £20,059. This industry may therefore be deemed as just holding its ground as regards quantity of produce, but lessening in the number of works.

Table XVI., p. 343

Collieries.—The increase in the number of collieries has been 28 since 1881, viz., from 51 in that year to 79 in 1886. The number of hands employed has increased from 992 to 1,448, and the annual output from 277,918 to 481,358 tons. In 35 collieries the coal worked was lignite ; of these, 31 were in Otago.

Table XVII., p. 344

Grain-mills.—The total number of these mills was 121 in 1886, or 10 fewer than in 1881, and as the hands employed in 1886 were 448 against 450 in 1881 the smaller number does not appear to be attributable to the increased size of some of the mills. Of the 121 in 1886, 9 were not in operation at all during 1885. As the imports of flour in 1885 were less by nearly 6,000 centals (l00 lbs. each) than in 1881 the diminution in the number of mills is coincident with a diminished import of flour and a considerable increase to the population, and also with a largely increased export of flour, viz., from 3,220 tons in 1881 to 5,244 tons in 1885. The mills produced 4,974 tons of Hour, and 12,188 tons of meal, more in 1886 than in 1881.

Table XX. p. 345.

Breweries.-The growth of temperance principles has apparently prevented an increase in the number of breweries. In 1881. there were 99 in operation, employing 526 hands ; in 1886 the number was 98, employing 475 hands. The quantity of beer made in 1885 was 4,735,735 gallons, or less by 139,019 gallons than the quantity in 1880. The production in 1880 was equivalent to 9.8 gallons per head of the population, but in 1885 the production was only at the rate of 8.4 gallons per head; nor was this reduction compensated for by larger imports, as the quantity of beer entered for consumption ex warehouse was less by 28,457 gallons in 1885 than in 1880; the quantity in 1885 being at the rate of 0.7 gallon per head of population against 0.9 in 1880. The total consumption of beer in 1885 was thus 1.6 gallon per head less than in 1880.

The consumption of malt amounted to 417,196 bushels ; this was nearly all of local manufacture, as the imports of malt into the colony in 1885 only amounted to 1,890 1/2 bushels, and in 1884 even less, viz., 1,025 bushels.

The returns from the 35 malthouses gave the production in 1885 at 390,300 bushels. The quantities, however, appear to have been largely understated, as in addition to the above consumption (which, after deducting the imports, amounted to 415,305.1/2 bushels) the exports of malt of colonial manufacture amounted to 75,689 bushels ; the total of these two quantities being 100,694 bushels more than was stated to have been produced. As the exports in the previous year amounted to over 51,000 bushels there could hardly have been any large stock in hand to account for this difference. The actual production of malt in the colony must therefore have been nearer 490,000 bushels than 390,000.

Table XXIX>, p. 350

Fisheries.-On account of the growing importance of this industry, special returns have been obtained in respect of all fisheries. The total number was 286; of these, 213 were carried on by single proprietors in their own boats. Although designated as fisheries, the description might more properly have been -number of single persons employed in fishing on their own account. 73 fisheries worked as partnerships may be deemed better to deserve the designation. 414 boats, of an aggregate of 920 tonnage, were employed in this industry. In addition, 9 boats with 21 dredges were used for oyster-dredging in the southern part of the colony.

Table XXXI., p. 356

Public Libraries, Mechanics' Institutes, and other Literary and Scientific Institutions.-There were 303 institutions of one or more of the above description -F'35G' in 1886, with a membership of 13,684, and having 292,108 volumes. There has been an increase on the numbers in 1881 of 78 institutions, 816 members, and 93,588 volumes.

The following exhibits the increase or decrease in each provincial district between 1881 and 1886 :-

Table XXXII., p. 356

Places of Worship.—The number of buildings of various kinds used as places of worship was 1,499, having accommodation in the aggregate for 256,153 persons, being an increase of 385 on the number of similar buildings in 1881, and of 66,998 persons for whom there was accommodation.

The increase in the number of buildings used for public worship has been at the rate of 34.56 per cent., and in the amount of accommodation 35.42 per cent.; the increase in the general population during the same period having been at the rate of 18.07 per cent.

APPENDIX.—NATIVE CENSUS.

Table I. to IV. pp. 359-362

The enumeration of the aboriginal native population in 1886 was attempted on a more ambitious scale than on any former occasion. In the previous censuses of 1874, 1878, and 1881 an attempt was made to obtain the bare numbers of each sex of each tribe under and over 15 years of age. It seemed desirable in 1886 to obtain more precise information as to the ages of the several members of the race, and also to obtain supplemental information of the number of each kind of stock kept by them and of the extent of their cultivations. Although much valuable information has been obtained, yet the result on the lines laid down has been only a partial success, as the suspicion entertained by very many of the Maoris as to the motives of the Government for taking the census (especially of the return of cultivations and of stock) is still a powerful factor against a complete enumeration. In taking the census, visits were not in all cases paid to each Maori residence, but much of the information required was obtained from selected members of the race. This practice among Europeans would naturally be regarded with great distrust as to the value of the results; but not so in the case of the Maoris, who, accustomed to transmit their legends and histories orally from one generation to another, and with whom the details of the members of their tribes have more importance than would be the case among civilised races, can be relied upon for the remembrance of details of a kind that would be easily forgotten by people of higher cultivation.

As far as possible the names of the several members of the race were obtained; but for the purpose of future reference the value of the information as a record is much impaired in consequence of the practice of changing the name that obtains among them.

The majority of those officers of the Native Department who superintended the collection of the census in their several districts concur in the opinion that the enumeration was as nearly correct as could be expected; but in the West Taupo County, where the King Natives reside, and also in the Taranaki District, where the followers of Te Which congregate, it was admittedly very imperfect. Anything like a correct statement of the numbers of these two sections of the race will be an impossibility until the fanaticism existing among them has died away and all barriers of isolation have been withdrawn by a better appreciation on their part of the desire of the dominant European race for their real welfare.

Table L., p. 359.

The number of the aboriginal race in 1881, including the residents in the Chatham Islands, was, according to the census returns, 44,097 ; and in 1886, 41,969-a decrease of 2,128.

The number 41,969 is in excess of the number given in the return published by the Native Department; but during the detailed compilation in this office it has been observed that the Chatham Island Natives and the Maori women married to Europeans (given in the European census schedules) were not included, and that a small body of Natives had been omitted by one of the Enumerators.

The decrease above shown of over two thousand since 1881 bears out the remarks of the several census superintending officers that there was on the whole a decrease of the Natives within their districts. In one district it was stated there was an increase of 44 ; and, in another, that the population has been holding its own-a small set-off against the want of increase or the absolute decrease noted in other districts.

The general inattention to sanitary habits has a great and injurious effect upon their numbers. One officer in his report stated thus : " A considerable number of children are born to them ; but, alas, how few pass through the first stages of infancy ! Improper food, exposure, want of ordinary care and cleanliness, constitutions of the parents debilitated by past debauchery, and last, not least, the tohunga, are answerable for this, the most enlightened of them preferring to place their sick in the hands of the native doctor (tohunga) to applying to the medical officer of the district until the patient is reduced to such a state as to be almost past help." Diseases of the lungs and low fever, brought on by exposure and also by the want of sufficient and proper nourishment, are stated to cause the deaths of many.

Kauri-gum-digging is alleged to be a fruitful source of disease, living as the Natives do when at that employment without sufficient shelter or means of drying their wet clothing. There is, on the other hand, a marked decrease in their general drinking habits, this result having been apparently owing to the exertions of influential members of their own race who have realised the serious consequences of indulging in habits of intemperance.

The constitution of the race has been deemed to have been enfeebled and rendered less capable of resisting disease by the practice of intermarriage between members of the same tribe or subtribe. Now that intertribal wars are things of the past, the reasons for maintaining this practice no longer have weight, and the beneficial results of a departure therefrom are strikingly set forth by two of the Native officers. One, Mr. James Booth, of Gisborne, remarked: "It is very noticeable that where there have been intermixtures by marriage of people of distinct tribes the children of such marriages are more numerous and robust in health ; whereas, on the other hand, where people of the same hapu have intermarried, the case is reversed."

Another, Mr. E. S. Maunsell, of Grey town, stated : " There have been more children born within the last two years : this is due largely to marriages with women of distant tribes ; such prove fruitful, and the progeny health'. Such marriages Maoris now recognise as being a means of staying their hitherto decline."

The members of the various hapus and subtribes have been given respectively as members of certain principal tribes, the same list of principal tribes having been adopted that was given in the census volume for 1881. The selection of the designated principal tribes was made by Mr. Henry Tacy Clarke when he held the office of Under-Secretary for Native Affairs; he, from his knowledge of Maori history and traditions, having been deemed a reliable authority on the subject. The number of subtribes and hapus given in 1886 of which the names did not appear in the returns for 1881 necessitated a reference back to the various Native officers for the purpose of allocating the various members according to the several principal tribes from which they were descended, and to which they should belong. This resulted in some differences of opinion as to which were the principal tribes, and also to which of these tribes some hapus properly belonged ; and also great difficulties were experienced in the allocation on account of members of one hapu, and properly descended from one tribe, electing to belong to another to which that hapu does not belong, but with members of which some of their predecessors had intermarried, if they thought the maternal tribe one that conferred the greater honour.

As a result of these differences the numbers given as belonging to the principal tribes in 1886 will not in all cases compare with the numbers in 1881 for the purpose of estimating the increase or decrease of such tribes. Of all the principal tribes the numbers given for the Ngapuhi only, in 1881 and 1886, seem at all comparable. The numbers of this tribe in 1881 were 5,564, in 1886 5,549, showing a decrease of 15.

It is even doubtful if the totals of the numbers of all tribes in the two years -viz., 44,097 and 41,969-bear thorough comparison, excepting as indicating a very decided decrease in the numbers of the race during the five years ; but the measure of decrease cannot be certainly stated to be the apparent decrease, viz., the difference (2,128) between these two numbers.

The fuller information as to ages may be of service in considering the question of the decrease of the race. For the purpose of a comparison with the results of the census in 1881, all those whose ages were given have been thrown into groups of under or over 15.

Of the 41,969 members of the Maori race enumerated, 22,840 were males and 19,129 were females. The proportion, of females was thus 83.75 to every 100 males. This was less than the similar proportion among the European and other portion of the population, which was 85.28 to the 100 males, and in which there is a considerable addition yearly to the population from excess of births over deaths. The difference between the two rates might not be deemed sufficiently great to be of importance unless the different conditions of the two peoples were considered. The excess of males in the European portion has been caused by a large excess in the arrivals of adult males over females; but in the younger portion of that population under 20 years of age the proportion was 100 males to 99 females. The Maori race is not affected by addition to its numbers from an outside source, and the smaller number of females is due to a greater mortality among the females than among the males. As the deaths of the Maoris are not registered it is impossible to state at what period of life this greater mortality chiefly occurs, but it is evident that it also materially affects the proportion living under 20, as of those Maoris whose ages were given the males under 20 were in the proportion of 100 to 87 females. There was thus at this period of life a deficiency of 12 females to every 100 males to bring the proportion equal to that which obtained among the Europeans.

Table III., p. 361

The males under 15 years of age were in the proportion 31.64 to every 100 of the male population, and the similar proportion among the females was 33.56, these proportions being in each case less than the proportions in .1881-an evidence of a low birth-rate or high juvenile mortality, leading to a racial decrease. The following were the proportions for 1881 and 1886, and also those for the Europeans:-

The comparison between the proportions in 1881 and 1886 must of course be accepted with some caution, as the similar proportions for the Maoris in 1878 were lower than in 1881, although there was a decrease in the number of the Natives between 1878 and 1881; but the wide difference between the proportions of the two races evinces a very different degree of progress.

It will he interesting to compare the proportions of males and females living at each period of life with the similar proportions among the European portion of the New Zealand population, and also with those among the population in England. Although full information as to ages has only been given for 18,876 males and 15,420 females out of a total of 22,840 males and 19,129 females of the Maori race, yet probably the relative proportions among those whose ages were given may be accepted as prevailing among the whole of the race. The following is the proportion living at each age-period to the 100 living of the whole population of the sex:-

It will be observed how much larger the proportions are to the total population of the Maoris, both male and female, at age-periods above 40, than of the English or New Zealand Europeans. The high proportion is not limited to the more advanced age-period, as though it were caused by a greater longevity of the race, but at each age-period above 40 the proportions are greater among the Maoris than among the other two peoples mentioned. It is, of course, a fair inference that the causes of these higher proportions are twofold, viz., a low birth-rate and a high death-rate among the younger members of the community. This is borne out by the much smaller proportions of young children. These are not only considerably lower than those among the European portion of the population, but also than those among the population of England.

The proportions to the whole Maori population of those living under 20 years contrast strongly with the similar proportions in the other populations. The following is the proportion living under and over 20 years of age to every 100 of the population of each sex:-

The small proportion of young persons among the Maoris appears alone sufficient to account for a decrease in the number of the race, but the different proportions between the males and females indicate also a great mortality among the Maori adult females.

It has been previously stated that the females at all ages were in the proportion of 83.75 to every 100 males, thus evidencing a greater mortality among females than among males. The very much larger proportion of females than of males living under 20 years to the total of the respective sexes (42-29 per cent, females to 39.70 per cent. males) shows that this higher female proportion is caused by a greater mortality among the adult females than among the males.

It thus appears from a consideration of the numbers,-

These conditions will have to be reversed, before any increase of the race can reasonably be expected.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

WM. R. E. BROWN,

Registrar General.