REPORT ON THE STATISTICS OF NEW ZEALAND, 1889.

THE first authentic account of the discovery of New Zealand is that given by Abel Jansen Tasman, a Dutch navigator. He sailed from Batavia on the 11th August, 1612, in the yacht “ Heemskirk,” accompanied by the “Zeehaen” (or “Sea-hen”) fly-boat. After having visited Mauritius and discovered Tasmania, named by him “ Van Diemen's Land,” in honour of Anthony van Diemen, the Governor of the Dutch possessions in the East Indies, he sailed in an easterly direction, and on the 13th December of that year sighted the west coast of the Middle Island of New Zealand, described by him as “ a high mountainous country, which is at present marked in the charts as New Zealand.”

It has been assumed as probable that the first European who visited New Zealand was Juan Fernandez, who, having started from one of the ports of the west coast of South America in 1576, after sailing for about a month in a south-westerly direction, reached a land described by him as fertile and pleasant, and inhabited by a race of white people, well made, and dressed in a species of woven cloth. But people of brown complexions were often described as white by the Spaniards; and, although there is no direct evidence that the land so discovered was New Zealand, yet no other seems to answer his description. It appears, however, certain that the country was visited before the date of Tasman's arrival in 1642, as the land he came to was shown in the Dutch chart used by him, and was named thereon “ Zeland Nova,” William Bleau, a Dutchman, who died in 1638, having published an atlas in which indistinctly a line of coast is shown with the name against it, “ Zelandia Nova.”

Tasman, under the belief that the land he saw formed part of a great Polar continent, and was part of that country (subsequently found to be an island) discovered some years before by Schouten and Le Maire, to which the name of Staaten Land had been given, gave the same name of Staaten Land to New Zealand. Within about three months after this date Schouten's “ Staaten Land “ was found to be merely an inconsiderable island. Upon this discovery being announced, the country which Tasman had called by the same name received instead that of “New Zealand”—an evident restoration of the name previously given — by which name it has ever since been known. Tasman sailed along the coast to a bay, where he anchored. To this he gave the name of Murderers (now Massacre) Bay, on account of an unprovoked attack on a boat's crew by the Natives, and the massacre of four white men. Then he sailed along the west coast of the North Island, and gave the name of Cape Maria van Diemen to the north-western extremity thereof. After sighting the Islands of the Three Kings he finally departed, not having set foot on the country.

There is no record of any visit to New Zealand after Tasman's departure until that of Captain Cook, who, after leaving the Society Islands, sailed in a southerly direction in search of a southern continent then believed to exist. He sighted land on the 6th October, 1769, and on the 8th of that month east anchor in Poverty Bay. After having circumnavigated the North Island and the Middle and Stewart Islands—the latter having been considered as part of the Middle Island—he sailed from Cape Farewell on the 31st March, 1770, for Australia. He again visited New Zealand in 1773, in 1774, and in 1777.

M. de Surville, a French officer in command of the vessel “ Saint Jean Baptiste,” being on a voyage of discovery, sighted the north-east coast of New Zealand on the 12th December, 1769, and remained for a short time. Another visit was shortly after paid by a French officer, a M. Marion du Fresne, Who arrived on the west coast of New Zealand on the 24th March, 1772, but was treacherously murdered by the Natives on the 12th June following.

In 1793 the “ Dædalus,” under the command of Lieutenant Hanson, was sent by the Government of New South Wales to New Zealand, and two chiefs were taken thence to Norfolk Island. There was after this an occasional intercourse between the Islands of New Zealand and the English settlements in New South Wales

In 1814 the first missionaries arrived in New Zealand— Messrs. Hall and Kendall—who had been sent as forerunners to Mr. Marsden. After a short stay they returned to New South Wales, and on the 19th November of that year again embarked, in company with Mr. Marsden, who preached his first sermon in New Zealand on Christmas Day, 1814, and returned to Sydney on the 23rd March, 1815. It was not until 1821 that the work of evangelisation was put on a somewhat permanent basis; but the first station, established by Mr. Leigh, a Wesleyan missionary, and his wife, at the valley of the Kaeo-Wangaroa, was not taken possession of until the 10th June, 1823.

The first attempt at colonisation was made in 1825 by a company formed in London. An expedition was sent out under the command of Captain Herd, who bought two islands in the Hauraki Gulf and a strip of land at Hokianga. The attempt, however, was a failure, owing to the savage character of the inhabitants. In consequence of frequent visits of numerous whaling-vessels to the Bay of Islands, a settlement grew up at Kororareka—now called Russell—and in 1833 Mr. Busby was appointed British Resident there. A number of Europeans—generally men of low character—gradually settled in different parts of the country, and married Native women.

In 1838 a colonisation company, known as the New Zealand Company, was formed to establish settlement on systematic principles. A preliminary expedition, under the command of Colonel William Wakefield, was despatched from England on the 12th May, 1839, and arrived in New Zealand in the following August. Having purchased the land from the Natives, Colonel Wakefield selected the shore of Port Nicholson, in Cook Strait, as the site of the first settlement. On the 22nd January, 1840, the first body of immigrants arrived, and founded the Town of Wellington. About the same time—namely, on the 29th January, 1840—Captain Hobson, R.N., arrived at the Bay of Islands, empowered, with the consent of the Natives, to proclaim the sovereignty of the Queen over the Islands of New Zealand, and to assume the government thereof. A treaty called “ The Treaty of Waitangi,” to which in less than six months five hundred and twelve names were affixed, was entered into, by which all rights and powers of sovereignty were ceded to the Queen, all territorial rights being secured to the chiefs and their tribes. New Zealand was then constituted a dependency of the Colony of New South Wales, but on the 3rd May, 1841, it was proclaimed a separate colony. The seat of Government had been previously established at Auckland, round which a settlement was formed.

The New Zealand Company, having decided to form another settlement, to which the name of “ Nelson “ was to be given, despatched a preliminary expedition from England in April, 1841, for the purpose of selecting a site, which resulted in the establishment of the settlement at the head of Blind Bay. About the same time a settlement was commenced at New Plymouth, by the arrival, on the 31st March, 1841, of a body of immigrants despatched by the New Plymouth Company, a colonisation company that had been formed in England, and had purchased 50,000 acres of land from the New Zealand Company.

The next important event in the progress of colonisation was the arrival at Port Chalmers, in March, 1848, of two ship containing immigrants, despatched by the Otago Association for the foundation of a settlement in that part of the colony by persons who belonged to or were in sympathy with the Free Church of Scotland.

In 1849 the “ Canterbury Association for founding a Settlement in New Zealand” was incorporated. On the 16th December, 1850, the first emigrant ship despatched by the association arrived at Port Cooper, and the settlement of the adjoining country was commenced in a systematic manner, the intention having been to establish a settlement complete in itself, and composed entirely of members of the United Church of England and Ireland.

The government of the colony was at first vested in the Governor, who was responsible only to the Imperial Government; but in 1852 an Act was passed by the Imperial Legislature which granted representative institutions to the colony. The colony was thereby divided into six provinces, each to be presided over by an elective Superintendent, and to have an elective Provincial Council, empowered to legislate, except on certain specified subjects. The Act also provided for the constitution of a General Assembly for the whole colony, consisting of a Legislative Council, the members of which were to be nominated by the Governor, and an elective House of Representatives. The first session of the General Assembly was opened on the 27th May, 1854, but Responsible Government had not then been granted, the members of the Executive not being responsible to Parliament. The first Ministers under a system of Responsible Government were appointed on the 18th April, 1856.

The Provincial Governments remained as integral parts of the Constitution of the colony until the 1st November, 1876, when they were abolished by an Act of the General Assembly, that body having been vested with the power of altering the Constitution Act. On the same day an Act of the General Assembly which subdivided the colony (exclusive of the areas included within municipalities) into counties, and established a system of local county government, came into operation.

The Proclamation of Captain Hobson on the 30th January, 1840, gave as the boundaries of the colony the following degrees of latitude and longitude:—

These limits excluded small portions of the extreme north of the North Island and of the extreme south of Stewart Island.

In April, 1842, by Royal Letters Patent, and again by the Imperial Act 26 and 27 Vict., c. 23, 1863, the boundaries of the colony were altered so as to extend from 33° to 53° of south latitude, and from 162° of east longitude to 173° of west longitude. By Proclamation bearing date the 21st July, 1887, the Kermadec Islands, lying between the 29th and 32nd degrees of south latitude and the 177th and 180th degrees of west longitude, were declared to be annexed to and to become part of the Colony of New Zealand.

The following now constitute the Colony of New Zealand:—

1. The Island commonly known as the North Island, with its adjacent islets, having an aggregate area of 44,468 square miles, or 28,459,580 acres.

2. The Island known as the Middle Island, with adjacent islets, having an aggregate area of 58,525 square miles, or 37,456,080 acres.

3. The South or Stewart Island, and adjacent islands, having an area of 665 square miles, or 425,390 acres.

4. The Chatham Islands, situate 536 miles eastward of Lyttelton, in the Middle Island, with an area of 375 square miles, or 239,920 acres.

5. The Auckland Islands, about 200 miles south of Stewart Island, extending about 30 miles from north to south, and nearly 15 from east to west; the area being 210,650 acres.

6. The Campbell Islands, in latitude 52° 33’ south, and longitude 169° 8’ west, about 30 miles in circumference, with an area of 45,440 acres.

7. The Antipodes Islands, about 458 miles in a southeasterly direction from Port Chalmers, in the Middle Island. These are detached rocky islands, and extend over a distance of between 4 and 5 miles from north to south. Area, 12,960 acres.

8. The Bounty Islands, a small group of islets, thirteen in number, lying north of the Antipodes Islands, and about 415 miles in nearly an east-south-easterly direction from Port Chalmers. Area, 3,300 acres.

9. The Kermadec Islands, a group of which the largest is called Sunday or Raoul Island, lie about 614 miles to the north-east of Russell, in the Bay of Islands. Sunday Island is about 20 miles in circuit. The next in size is Macauley Island, about 3 miles in circumference. Area of the group, 8,144 acres.

The total area of the colony is thus about 104,471 square miles, of which the aggregate area of the outlying groups of islands that are practically useless for settlement amounts to about 438 square miles.

The areas of the various Australian Colonies as given by different authorities differ considerably. Mr. Hayter, in his “ Victorian Year-book,” gives the total area of the Australian Continent at 2,944,628 square miles, according to a computation made by the late Surveyor-General of Victoria, Mr. J. A. Skene, from a map of continental Australia compiled and engraved under his direction; but in the case of each colony except Victoria the area computed by Mr. Skene differs from that given in the official records of that colony, the difference in the case of “Western Australia amounting to over 84,000 square miles. The following areas are therefore taken from the official records of each colony:—

The size of these colonies may be better realised by the Australia and comparison of their areas with those of European countries. The areas of the following countries—Austria-Hungary, Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, Portugal, Spain, Italy (including Sardinia and Sicily), Switzerland, Greece, Roumania, Bulgaria, Servia, Eastern Roumelia, and Turkey in Europe—amounting on the whole to less than 1,600,000 square miles, are little more than half the area of the Australian Continent. If the area of Russia in Europe be added to those of the other countries the total area would be about one-seventh larger than the Australian Continent, and about one-twelfth larger than that of the Australasian Colonies, including New Zealand. The area of the Colony of New Zealand is a little more than one-seventh less than the area of the United Kingdom and Ireland, that of the Middle Island of New Zealand being a little larger than the combined areas of England and Wales.

The Colony of New Zealand chiefly consists of the three Islands, the North, the Middle, and Stewart Islands, extending over nearly thirteen degrees of latitude, and having a coast-line amounting to 4,330 miles in length—namely, North Island, 2,200 miles; Middle Island, 2,000 miles; and Stewart Island, 130 miles. The North Island extends over a little more than seven degrees of latitude—a distance in a direct line from north to south of 430 geographical or 498 statute miles; but, as the northern portion of the colony, which extends over more than three I degrees of latitude, takes a north-westerly direction, the distance in a straight line from the North Cape to Cape Palliser, the extreme northerly and southerly points of the Island, is about 515 statute miles.

This Island is as a whole hilly, and even in parts mountainous in character, but there are large areas of plain or comparatively level country, available, either now or in the future, when cleared of forest, for agricultural purposes. Of these the principal are the plains in Hawke's Bay on the East Coast, the Wairarapa Plain in the Wellington District, and a strip of country along the West Coast extending from a point about 30 miles from the City of Wellington to a little north of New Plymouth, which is about 250 miles distant from Wellington. The largest in the North Island, Kaingaroa, extends from the shore of Lake Taupo in a north-north-easterly direction to the sea-coast in the Bay of Plenty; but a large portion is covered with pumice-sand, and is at present only suitable for wild horses, of which a considerable number live and breed there. There are several smaller plains and numerous valleys suitable for agriculture. The level or undulating country in this Island suitable for or capable of being made fit for agriculture has been estimated roughly at 13,000,000 acres. This includes lands now covered with standing forest, and swamps that are capable of drainage; but there is a not insignificant quantity of this land that, from the nature of the soil—being pure or nearly pure clay—or from being covered with pumice, cannot be expected to be profitably worked.

The larger portion of this Island was originally covered with forest. Although the area of forest-covered land is still very great, yet year by year the amount is being reduced, chiefly to meet the requirements of settlement, the trees being cut down and burnt, and grass-seed being than sown on the ashes to create pasture-land. Hilly as the country is, yet from the nature of the climate it is especially suited for the growth of English grasses, and wherever there is any soil, however steep the land may be, grasses will flourish. Very little of the land is consequently incapable of supplying food for cattle and sheep when treated as above or otherwise laid down to grass. The area of land in the North Island deemed purely pastoral or capable of being made so, being too steep for agricultural purposes, is estimated at 14,200,000 acres. In the centre of the Island is a lake, about twenty miles across either way from the extreme points, called Taupo. A large area adjacent to the lake is at present worthless pumice-country. The Waikato River, the largest in the North Island, rising to the south of the lake, flows through it and out of its north-eastern point, and trends thence in a north-westerly direction until it flows into the ocean a little distance south of the Manukau Harbour. This river is navigable for small steamers for about 100 miles from its mouth. The Maori King-country, occupied by Natives who for several years isolated themselves from the Europeans, lies to the west of Lake Taupo, and is bounded on the west by the sea.

The River Thames, having its sources north of Lake Taupo, flows northward into the Firth of Thames. It is navigable only for small steamers about 50 miles. The other navigable rivers in this Island are the Wanganui and Manawatu, which flow in a south-westerly direction into Cook Strait.

The mountains in the North Island are estimated to occupy about one-tenth of the surface, and do not exceed from 1,500ft. to 4,000ft. in height, with the exception of a few isolated volcanic mountains that are more lofty, one of which, Tongariro (6,500ft.), is still occasionally active. Ruapehu (9,100ft.) and Mount Egmont (8,300ft.) are extinct volcanoes that reach above the limit of perpetual snow. The latter is situated close to New Plymouth, and is surrounded by one of the most extensive and fertile districts in the colony. The two former are situated south of Lake Taupo and towards the centre of the Island. It is estimated that the area of mountain-tops and barren country at too high an altitude for sheep, and therefore worthless for pastoral purposes, amounts in the North Island to 300,000 acres.

The Hot Springs District is situated about 40 miles in a north-north-east direction from Lake Taupo. By the destruction of the famed Pink and White Terraces and of Lake Rotomahana on the occasion of the eruption of Mount Tarawera on the 10th June, 1886, the district has been deprived of attractions unique in character and of unrivalled beauty; but the natural features of the country —the lakes, geysers, and hot springs (the number of which is very great), some of which possess remarkable curative properties for certain complaints—still afford considerable attraction for tourists and invalids.

Notwithstanding the length of coast-line, good harbours in this Island are not numerous. Those on the west coast north of New Plymouth are bar-harbours not suitable for large vessels. The principal harbours are the Waitemata Harbour, on which Auckland is situated—this is rather a deep estuary than a harbour—several excellent harbours in the northern peninsula and Port Nicholson, on the borders of which Wellington is situated. This is a land-locked harbour about 6 miles across, having a comparatively narrow but deep entrance from the ocean. The water is deep nearly throughout.

Cook Strait separates the North and Middle Islands. It is about 16 miles across at its narrowest part, but in the widest about 90. The strait is invaluable for the purpose of traffic between different parts of the colony, and is constantly traversed by vessels of the magnificent line of coastal steamers that trades in the New Zealand waters.

The extreme length of the Middle Island, from Point Jackson, in Cook Strait, to Puysegur Point, at the extreme south-west, is about 525 statute miles; the greatest distance across at any point in Otago (the southern) District being about 180 miles.

The Middle Island is intersected along almost its entire length by a mountainous range known as the Southern Alps. Some of the summits reach a height of from 10,000ft. to 12,000ft., Mount Cook, the highest peak, attaining an altitude of 12,349ft. There are extensive glaciers on both sides of the range, those on the west being of great beauty, as, from the greater abruptness of the mountain-sides, they descend to within about 700ft. of the sea-level and into the midst of the evergreen New Zealand forest-vegetation.

Numerous sounds or fiords penetrate the mountains abutting on the south-western coast from the sea. The are long, narrow, some of them having very great depth water, and are surrounded by snow-capped mountains rising precipitously to 5,000ft. and 10,000ft. above the sea. The scenery is sublime.

The general surface of the northern portion of this Island, comprising the Provincial Districts of Nelson and Marlborough, is mountainous, but the greater part is suitable for grazing purposes. There are some fine valley and small plains suitable for agriculture, of which the Wairau Valley or Plain is the largest. Deep sounds extending for many miles, break the coast-line abutting a Cook Strait. The City of Nelson is situated at the head of Blind Bay, which has a depth inwards from Cook Strain of about 40 statute miles.

The Provincial District of Canterbury lies to the south of the Marlborough District, and on the eastern side of the Island. Towards the north the land is undulating; then there is a stretch of almost perfectly level country extending in a south-westerly direction for 160 miles, after which, on the south, the country is undulating as far as the borders of the Otago District. On the east a block of hill-country rises abruptly from the plain and extends for some miles seaward. This is Banks Peninsula, containing several good harbours, the principal being Port Cooper, on the north, on which is situated Lyttelton, the chief port of the district; the harbour of Akaroa, considered one of the finest in the colony, is on the southern coast of this peninsula.

The southern district of Otago is on the whole mountainous, but has many fine plains and valleys suitable for agricultural purposes. The mountains, except towards the, west coast, are generally destitute of timber, and are suitable for grazing sheep. There are goldfields of considerable extent in the interior of this district. The interior, lakes are very important features in Otago. The largest, Wakatipu, extends over 54 miles in length, but is not more than 4 miles at its greatest width. These lakes are bounded on the west by broken, mountainous, and chiefly wooded country, extending to the ocean.

The chief harbours in the Otago District are those of Port Chalmers, at the head of which Dunedin is situated, and the Bluff Harbour, at the extreme south.

Generally the District of Westland extends along the west coast of the Middle Island abreast of the Canterbury District. This district is more or less auriferous throughout. The western slopes of the central range of mountains out clothed with forest-trees to the snow-line, but on the eastern timber is scarce, natural grasses covering the ground.

The rivers in the Middle Island are for the most part mountain-torrents, fed by glaciers in the principal mountain-ranges. When the snow melts they become of considerable size, and their beds, when not confined by rocky walls, extend over considerable areas, chiefly covered, when the rivers are not in flood, by enormous deposits of shingle. The largest river in the Island and in the colony is the Clutha. It is 154 miles in length, but is only navigable for boats or small river-steamers for about 30 miles. The Rivers Buller, Grey, and Hokitika, on the West Coast, are navigable for a very short distance from their mouths. They constitute the only ports in the Westland District.

The area of level or undulating land in the Middle Island that may be suitable for agriculture is estimated at about 15,000,000 acres. About 13,600,000 acres are suitable for pastoral purposes, or may become so when cleared of forest and sown with grass-seed. The area of barren land and mountain-tops is estimated at about 8,000,000 acres.

Foveaux Strait separates the Middle from Stewart Island. This last Island has an area of only 425,390 acres. It is mountainous in character, and chiefly covered with forest.

The outlying group of the Chatham Islands, 480 statute Miles east-south-east from Wellington and 536 miles eastward of Lyttelton, consists of two principal Islands and several unimportant islets. The largest Island contains about 222,490 acres, of which a large and irregularly-shaped lake or lagoon absorbs 45,960 acres. About one-quarter of the surface of the land is covered with forest, the rest with open fern and grass. The hills nowhere rise-to a great height. Pitt Island is the next in size. The area is 15,330 acres. The greater portion of both islands is occupied as sheep-runs.

The only island in any way suitable for settlement in the Kermadec Group is Sunday Island, containing 7,800 acres It rises to a height of 1,720ft., and the surface is chiefly covered with wood and scrub. The other islands are men rocks.

The largest of the Auckland Islands, about 27 miles lone by about 15 miles broad, is very mountainous, the highest part being 2,000ft. above the sea. The west coast is bold and precipitous, but the cast coast has several inlets, and: good harbour both at the north and south ends. There in a good deal of scrubby wood on the island. Neither this nor the rest of the outlying islands of the colony are suitable for settlement.

The population of the colony on the 31st December, 1889, was estimated to be as follows:—

Of the above numbers, 1,567 males and 18 females were Chinese.

As it is not incumbent on the members of the Native race to register their births and deaths, no means are afforded for making annual estimates of the number then living; so that for each year between the dates of the various censuses it is necessary to reproduce the number of the Natives ascertained in the previous census year, in default of better information, although for years subsequent to the census that number may not be quite correct. The census of the Natives is not taken with the exactitude of a census of the rest of the population, but, as very full and detailed returns were obtained in 1886 from the various Native officers of the numbers and ages of the Natives on their several districts, the numbers ascertained in that year are deemed to have a considerable approach to accuracy.

The rest of the population is periodically estimated by adding the excess of births over deaths, and the excess of immigration over emigration, to the numbers ascertained at the previous census.

The population of the colony according to the census returns obtained in 1886 was as follows :—

Omitting the births and deaths of Maoris, the natural increase of population by excess of births over deaths between the 28th March, 1886, and the 31st December, 1889, amounted to 49,125.

During the same period the excess of emigration over immigration amounted to 7,330, the number of persons who arrived having amounted to 54,383, and the number who left to 61,713.

The following is the estimate of the population of the North Island, of the Middle and Stewart Islands, and also of the Chatham Islands, on the 31st December, 1889:—

This estimate has been made on the known natural increase, and the distribution of immigration and emigration proportionally according to population, but no account has been, or can be, taken of the movements of the population within the colony; and it is believed that the results of the census to be taken in 1891 will show a considerable departure from the proportions the numbers now given bear to each other.

The population at the end of 1889 was greater than that at the end of 1888 by 12,899, or only 214 more than the natural increase by excess of births over deaths, the increase by excess of arrivals over departures having been greater th only 214.

There is good reason to believe that very few of th births that take place among the population of European descent are not registered. A special Act was passed 1882 to permit of the registration of unregistered births that had occurred in the colony at any time prior to twelve months before the passing of the Act. Only 87 births were registered under that Act. In 1884 a similar Act was passed—only 41 registrations followed. In 1889 another similar Act was passed, and the registrations thereunder have been only 181. The dates of most of these births extend back many years. If, therefore, the numbers are to be taken as at all an approximate index of unregistered births, registration at the present time would appear to be carried out almost as completely as could be expected.

The number of births in excess of the number of deaths in each of the past ten years was as follows:—

Thus, in ten years the natural increase of population, apart from increases by excess of immigration, amounted to 133,553 persons, or at the rate of 28.8 per cent. on the population at the end of 1879. That the rate of natural increase has not been very materially affected in consequence of the arrivals of females into the colony is evident from the numbers given, the excess of births over deaths being even less in the later than in the earlier years. If the colony has to rely for growth upon its natural increase alone, it would take twenty years at the above rate for the number of the population to exceed 1,000,000.

In each year but one of the history of the colony the number of persons who arrived has been apparently greater than the number who left. The known exception was in 1888, when 9,175 more persons left than arrived. There may, however, have been other exceptional years, as according to the census of 1886 the population was less than that estimated by 7,194 persons, that number representing the increased loss by emigration since the census of 1881. It is, however, believed that the practice now adopted of obtaining from the pursers of the intercolonial steamers a statement on their return to the colony of the outward-bound passengers will prevent in future the recurrence of any serious discrepancy between the numbers of the estimated and actual population.

The following figures give the increase by excess of immigration over emigration in the past ten years:—

This net increase represents a gain to the colony of 15,851 males and 13,419 females, or, taking the ages as at the time of arrival, of 13,967 males and 11,890 females over 12 years of age—adults in terms of the Passenger Act, and 3,413 children of both sexes under 12 years of age.

The estimated populations (exclusive of aborigines of Australia) of the Australasian Colonies on the 31st December, 1889, was as follows:—

Excluding the Maori population, the females in the colony were on the 31st December, 1889, in the proportion of 87.00 to every 100 males, against 86.92 in 1888 and 85.90 in 1887. The reason for the small increase in the proportion in 1889 was that 451 more females left the colony than arrived. The increase of the younger members of the population in nearly equal proportions tends to cause a steady yearly increase in the proportion of females to males (unless any abnormal disturbance is caused by excessive emigration), until the numbers of the two sexes are about equal.

There is an excess of males over females in all the Australasian Colonies. The following were the proportions in 1888 and 1889:—

The following table gives the birthplaces of the people according to the census returns of 1886:—

In 1886 more than one-half of the population (51.89) per cent.) were born in the colony. In 1881 the proportion was 45.60 per cent.

The following table gives a summary of the results of the census of 1886 regarding the religions of the people, also the proportion of each denomination at each of the four last censuses:—

The ascertained Protestants in New Zealand in 1886 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 belief are generally Protestants of various denominations, having objections to being compelled to give the information.

The proportion of Roman Catholics is much greater in Australia than in New Zealand. At the census of 1881 it was 27.63 per cent, in New South Wales, 25.47 per cent, in Queensland, 23.60 per cent, in Victoria, and 15.23 per cent, in South Australia.

Information as to the ages of the people is only obtained when a census is taken.

The following shows the number of males and females at each of the age-periods stated, and the proportion of persons at each age-period to the 100 of population at all ages, at the last census:—

Of the proportion of unspecified persons, 0.37 consisted of those evidently over 21 years of age. Thus, of the total population (exclusive of Maoris) 53.26 per cent, were under 21 years of age. Dealing with the sexes separately, 57.64 per cent, of the females were under 21, but only 49.57 per cent, of the males were under 21. 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 most numerous.

The proportion of persons at the ages of 15 to 65, called the supporting-ages, steadily diminished until 1881; since then it has increased. The following were the numbers per 10,000 of the population at each of the census years 1871, 1878, 1881, and 1886:—

The increase at the age-period 15 to 65 is attributable to an increased proportion at the ages 15 to 21, for at the higher portion of the period 21 to 65 years the proportion is still diminishing.

The proportion of persons at the supporting-ages (15 to 65 years) per 10,000 of the population is smaller in New Zealand than in any other of the Australasian Colonies, and, with the exception of Queensland, the proportion of aged persons is least in New Zealand. On the other hand, the proportion of children under 15 is much higher than in either of the other colonies.

The following shows the proportion per 10,000 living at each of the several age-periods mentioned in the Australasian Colonies respectively and in England:—

The ages at which males in New Zealand are liable to serve in the Militia are between 17 and 55 years, namely, between 17 and 30 years in the first class, between 30 and 40 years in the second class, and between 40 and 55 years in the third class.

When the census of 1886 was taken, the numbers at these ages were (exclusive of Chinese and Maoris) approximately as follows:—

From this total the adult foreigners who were not naturalised should be deducted. The male foreigners who were not British subjects (deducting Chinese) numbered then 9,177. Doubtless these were chiefly adults. The above number of 155,236 may be fairly reduced by 8,000 for the number of adult foreigners to represent those liable to Militia service. If allowance be made for the departures since then of adult males, and for deaths of males between 17 and 55 years of age, also for the numbers who increased in age to over 17 and to over 55, the number at the Militia ages at the end of 1889 would be about 154,400.

Of the 266,261 females enumerated at the census of 1886, the ages of 265,755 were given. Of these, 117,890, equal to 44.36 per cent., were at the reproductive ages, 15 years to 45 years inclusive. This proportion is, with two exceptions, lower than that which obtains in any of the Australasian Colonies.

The following is the proportion of females in the Australasian Colonies at the ages of 15 years to 45 years in every 100 females at all ages:—

In England and Wales the proportion in 1881 was as high as 49.45 per cent.

In 1886, of the 307,964 males (exclusive of Chinese and Maoris), 215,429, or 70.01 per cent., were stated to be not married, and of the female population 171,857, or 64.55 per cent., were unmarried; 66,014 of the unmarried males were over 20 years of age, and 53,675 of the unmarried females were over 15 years of age. There were thus 12,339 bachelors over 20 years of age in excess of the number of spinsters over 15 years of age. In 1881 there were 22,997 bachelors over 20 years of age in excess of the number of spinsters over 15 years of age.

The ratio of increase in the number of spinsters over 25 years of age between the censuses of 1881 and 1886 was 49 per cent., the increase in the whole population having been only at the rate of 18 per cent, during the same period.

The widows in 1886 numbered 9,764, and the widowers 6,253: at all ages the widows were more numerous than the widowers. The following were the relative proportions of widowers to every 100 widows in 1881 and 1886:—

There is not in New Zealand, as in each of the other Australasian Colonies, one metropolitan centre of population, overshadowing by comparison the other towns of the colony. The configuration of the country made it specially adapted for the establishment of settlements comparatively remote from one another. As a result, several minor centres of population grew up, which became rival provincial capitals. The principal towns or boroughs are those of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.

Auckland Borough, situate in the northern part of the North Island, had at the end of 1889 a population estimated at 33,307 persons. The population of the adjoining boroughs and districts which constitute the suburbs amounted in 1886 to 23,887.

The Borough of Wellington, the seat of Government, situate on the borders of Port Nicholson, at the southern extremity of the North Island, had at the end of 1889 a population estimated at 31,028 persons. The suburbs of Wellington contained in March, 1886, a population amounting to 1,888 persons.

The Borough of Christchurch is situated in the Canter-bury District of the Middle Island. The estimated population in December, 1889, was 17,116. The suburban population, partly consisting of that of the adjoining boroughs of Sydenham and St. Albans, amounted in 1886 to 29,423.

The Borough of Dunedin, the principal town of the former Province of Otago, was estimated at the end o 1889 as having 24,168 persons. The suburbs, consisting of adjoining and surrounding boroughs, contained in 188 a population of 22,275 persons.

The number of persons who arrived in the colony in 1889 was 15,392, an increase of 1,786 on the number in 1888. In the immigration returns all persons above 12 years of age are classified as adults, those under 12 as children. On that basis the number of adults who arrived was 13,616, namely, 9,230 males and 4,386 females. The number of children was 1,776; of these, 928 were males and 848 were females.

Of those who arrived, 3,275 came from the United Kingdom, 5,532 from Victoria, 5,061 from New South Wales and Queensland, 7 from South and Western Australia, 612 from Tasmania, 239 from Fiji, 591 from Hawaii and the South Seas (these include passengers from San Francisco), and 75 from other ports.

There was not any free immigration in 1889, but 91 persons arrived whose passages were partially paid for by the Government, all of whom were nominated by friends in the colony. Of these, 26 were English, 22 Irish, 10 Scotch, and 3 were Germans. The terms of nomination were, that for each adult £10, and for each child between the ages of 1 and 12 years £5, was pd in the colony by friends. The number of nominated immigrants was less by 345 in 1888, and by 1,195 in 1889, than in 1887.

No persons arrived in the colony in 1889 under the regulations for the introduction of small farmers.

The number of Chinese who arrived in the colony in 1889 was only 16, against 308 in 1888.

In 1881 an Act was passed imposing a tax of £10 on Poll-tax on. every Chinese landing in the colony, except in the case of any one of a crew of a vessel who might not remain in the colony. The object of the Act was to restrict the introduction of Chinese. Its effect at first was almost to put a stop to the immigration of such persons. The number of Chinese that arrived in each of the past ten years is stated below:—

As 104 Chinese left and 34 died in the colony in 1889, there was a decrease during the year of 122 in the number of this portion of the population. In 1881, when the census was taken, there were 5,004 Chinese in the colony; at the census of 1886 the number had decreased to 4,542; at the end of 1889, the number of arrivals since 1886 having been somewhat greater than the combined number of departures and deaths, the Chinese numbered 4,585.

The number of persons whose departures from the colony in 1889 were recorded was 15,178, of whom 9,493 were males and 5,685 were females, inclusive of 2,603 children under 12 years of age. Of these, 2,039 went direct to the United Kingdom, 4,748 to Victoria, 7,109 to New South Wales and Queensland, 7 to South and Western Australia, 280 to Tasmania, 126 to Fiji, 651 to Hawaii and the South Seas (including passengers for San Francisco calling at Hawaii), and 218 to other ports.

There was a gain to the population by excess of immigration over emigration of 214. The gain to the working-strength of the colony was, however, greater, for the excess of immigration in the number of males over 12 years of age was 1,026, and of females over 12 years 15; but 827 more children under 12 years of age left than arrived. There was a gain of 1,236 persons on the direct passenger traffic with the United Kingdom, but a loss of 932 on that with Australia and Tasmania.

The information is presented in the following form:—

The following table shows the movements of population between New Zealand and the United Kingdom, the Australian Colonies and Tasmania, and other places in each of the past ten years:—

Australian Colonies and Tasmania,—

In the above period of ten years the gain by net immigration was as follows: Males over 12 years of age, 13,997; females over 12 years, 11,890; male children, 1,884; female children, 1,529; but, while there was a considerable gain in exchange of population with the United Kingdom, there was a serious loss on that with the Australian Colonies.

It will be observed that the arrivals from the Australian Colonies have been more numerous than the departures in only three of the ten years—1882, 1883, and 1884. Nearly 82 per cent, of the excess of emigration of adult males to those colonies occurred in 1888. In that year the expenditure by the General Government out of loan money was reduced to £739,674, from £1,487,850 in the year 1887. The large expenditure out of loans has evidently attracted to the colony a large number of persons whose employment is made dependent on such expenditure, and when that is curtailed they move off to other fields.

The following table shows the immigration—distinguishing between the unassisted and the assisted—and the emigration for the past ten years:—

The returns of the Bod of Trade do not distinguish between the departures for New Zealand and those for Australia. The departures for Australasia as a whole are only given. In 1889 these amounted to 28,834. The number of persons that arrived in New Zealand direct from the United Kingdom in that year amounted to 3,275, or 11.36 per cent, of the entire direct immigration from the United Kingdom for the Australasian Colonies.

This proportion is much less than in 1888, when it was 13.04 per cent. There has not only been a large annual decrease of late years in the number of persons that leave England for the Australasian Colonies, but also progressive decrease in the proportion of such emigrants bound direct for New Zealand.

The following shows the immigration and emigration for each of the Australasian Colonies during the year 1889. As there is no complete record of those who travel overland from one Australian Colony to another, the numbers given refer to those who arrive and depart by sea, except that those for Queensland and South Australia include arrivals and departures by train across the border. The figures for departures are admittedly imperfect, as many persons leave by sea of whose departure no record is obtained:—

Aliens residing in the colony may, on taking the oath of allegiance to Her Majesty, obtain letters of naturalisation, which entitle them to all the rights and capacities which a natural-born subject of the United Kingdom ca enjoy or transmit in this colony. 42 aliens were naturalised in 1889, of which Germany contributed 13—a larger number than any other country.

The number of aliens of each nationality naturalised during the last ten years is shown hereunder:—

The natives of Germany comprised 34 per cent, of all the aliens naturalised, Swedes and Norwegians 19 per cent., and natives of Denmark 18 per cent. It will be observed that 178, or more than 9 per cent, of those naturalised during the period, were Chinese.

The number of members of the General Assembly at the end of 1889 was 136, of whom 41 were members of the Legislative Council, holding their seats under writs of summons from the Governor, the appointments being for life, unless vacated by resignation or extended absence. Two of the members of the Legislative Council were aboriginal native chiefs. The number of members of the House of Representatives, who are elected for a period of three years, was 95; of these, 91 were representatives of European constituencies, and 4 of Native constituencies; three members of the Maori Districts being aboriginal natives, and one a half-blood between European and Maori.

The proportion of representatives, members of Parliament or Congress, to population, in each of the Australasian. Colonies (exclusive of Maori members and Maori population in New Zealand) and the countries named was as follows:—

After the expiration, in the course of the current year, of the existing Parliament in New Zealand, the number of members, other than those for Maori electorates, will be reduced from their present number. 91. to 70.^*

* The Parliament has been dissolved since this was written, and a new election for the reduced number of members is now impending.

The number of the Maori race at the time of the first foundation of the colony was estimated at about 80,000. Twenty years previously the number had been estimated at 100,000. In 1857 the results of an attempted enumeration of the race gave a total of 56,049 of both sexes. Owing to the objections made by the Natives to stating their numbers, and the difficulties experienced in obtaining information in those parts to which the European was not allowed access, the subsequent attempts at enumeration have not been altogether satisfactory. The latest, and probably most accurate, of these enumerations was made in 1886. This gave the number of the males at 22,810, and of the females at 19,129—a total of 41,969.

It has been previously stated that there are no records of the births and deaths that occur among these people, consequently no estimate can be made of their present numbers; but a consideration of the number living at each age-period in 1886 leads to the conclusion that in all probability the decrease in the numbers of the race as a whole is still progressing, although there is good reason to believe that in some districts the numbers are stationary if not somewhat increasing.

The males under 15 years of age were in 1886 in the proportion of 31.82 to every 100 of the male population, and the similar proportion among the females was 33.59, these being less than the proportions in 1881, and considerably less than those among the increasing European portion of the population—an evidence of a low birth-rate or a high juvenile mortality, leading to racial decrease.

On comparing the proportions living at each quinquennium under 20 and at each decennium above that period with the corresponding proportions in the population of England, and that of the New Zealand Europeans, it is found that at all ages under 20 the proportions among the Maoris are far less than among the other two populations, and at each age above 40 the Maori proportions are larger. It is, of course, a fair inference that the causes of these larger proportions at the higher age-periods are twofold, namely, a low birth-rate and a high death-rate among the younger members of the community.

The smaller proportion of females (83.75) to males (100) also shows a greater mortality among the adult females—thereby diminishing the reproductive power of the people—than among the males, as 42.29 of the females living were under 20 years of age, but only 39.70 per cent, of the males were under 20. The actually smaller proportion at all ages, with a much higher proportion at ages under 20, indicates, as stated, a greater mortality at all ages over 20 among females than males.

Various causes have been given to account for the decrease. Among these may be stated the following: An excessive infantile mortality, owing to improper food, exposure, want of ordinary care and cleanliness, and the constitutions of the parents debilitated by past debauchery; the practice of placing their sick in the hands of the Native doctor (tohunga), instead of applying, until too late, to the medical officer of the district; the sterility induced by the widespread immorality among quite young females before marriage; the partial adoption of European habits and costume, and the continual reversion to the habits and costume of barbarism, with a system rendered more susceptible to outside influences, especially those of a humid and changeable climate, thereby tending to promote the spread of diseases, notably those affecting the lungs; and to a certain extent the continued intertribal marriages, resulting in diminished fruitfulness and enfeebled constitutions.

The manifest decrease in the numbers of the race is much to be regretted, for the Maoris show great aptitude for civilisation. They possess fine characteristics, mental and physical, and rapidly adopt the manners and customs of their civilised neighbours. The Native members of both the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives take a dignified, active, and intelligent part in the debates, especially in those having any reference to the interests of their race.

The Maoris contribute largely to the taxation of the country through the Customs duties, and, having regard to the relations now subsisting between the races, they may be regarded as constituting an important clement of strength in the population of the colony.

The number of births registered in 1889 was 18,457, being in the proportion of 30.07 to every 1,000 of the population. The number of births was less by 445 than in 1888. The birth-rate has decreased year by year in the last 10 years, and there has been in the last 6 years a steady annual decrease in the number of births.

A decrease in the birth-rate in a young country is not to be wondered at, as there is up to a certain point an increasing proportion of the population under 21 years of age. In 1878 52.17 per cent., in 1881 52.96 per cent., and in 1886 53.27 per cent, of the population were under 21 years of age. The decrease in the rate is, however, proportionately much greater than the increase in the number under 21. But an actual decrease in the number of births is different from what might reasonably have been looked for. The decrease cannot be attributed to neglect of registration (the numbers given are those only of registered births), for the result of recent Acts to permit of the registration of births not registered within the time allowed for doing has shown not only a prevalent desire to obtain the benefits of registration, but that the number unregistered is very small, so much so that the registration may at present be deemed to be as complete as could be expected. Other causes must be looked for. Among these may be stated,—

(1.) The smaller proportion of wives under 45 years of age to the total population, and their higher average age.

In 1881 the wives under 45 years of age were in the proportion of 117.30 to every 1,000 of the population; but in 1880 the proportion was only 108.39. As since then there has not been much difference in the annual number of marriages, while the population has been increasing, it may be assumed that the proportion is now less than in 1886.

(2.) Another cause is doubtless the lessened fertility of the married women under 45 years of age; no doubt partially due to their higher average age. The extent of this cause in the decrease in the birth-rate may be somewhat estimated from the following statement, which shows the proportion of births to population and to married women. This information can only be given for census years, as then only can the number and ages of married women be ascertained :—

The effect of this difference in the fertility of the wives may be illustrated thus: If the births had been in the same proportion to the number of wives in 1886 as in 1881, the number of legitimate births would have been 19,976, instead of 19,018; and, adding the illegitimate births, the proportion to the population would have been 35-58 per 1,000 in 1886 instead of 33.15; but this supposititious rate is less by 2.60 per 1,000 than that in 1881. It seems evident that lessened fertility is only one of the causes of the decrease in operation, another being the decrease in the marriage-rate, referred to further on. It seems also evident that the continued and considerable decrease in the numbers indicates intentional restraints upon the birth-rate.

The birth-rate, 30.07, in 1889, is lower than any on record for England and Wales during the past 35 years. It is also lower than the rates in Scotland, but much higher than those in Ireland, which have ranged between 22.9 and 28.1.

The rate in New Zealand in 1889 was the lowest in the Australasian Colonies. The following shows the birth-rate of those several colonies in each of the past six years. It will be observed that, while as compared with 1884, the birth-rate in 1889 was considerably lower in New Zealand, Tasmania, South Australia, and New South Wales, it was higher in Queensland, Western Australia, and Victoria:—

The male births in New Zealand in 1889 numbered 9,514, and the female 8,943. The proportion was thus 106.38 males to 100 females. The proportion of male to female births was highest in Queensland (107.4) of all the Australasian Colonies, and lowest in South Australia (105.0). There are on an average more male to female births in all the Australasian Colonies than in England; but the proportions of male births are greater in many of the European States.

There were 152 cases of twin births (304 children) in 1889. The whole number of births was 18,457: thus 18,305 mothers gave birth to living children. Of these, on an average 1 in 120 gave birth to twins. In 1888 the proportion was 1 in 97, and 1 in 102 in 1887.

The births of 612 children were registered as illegitimate: thus, there were 10 illegitimate to every 292 legitimate births, or 1 in every 30 births was illegitimate, or 3.32 to every 100 children born. The proportion, after having fallen in 1888, increased in 1889 to larger dimensions than any on record.

The following table gives the rates of illegitimacy in each of the Australasian Colonies. It will be observed that the rate in New Zealand has steadily and greatly increased, but is less than that in either of these colonies except South Australia:—

There is a marked increase in the rate of illegitimacy in the Colonies of New Zealand, New South Wales, and South Australia, also in Victoria, since 1884; but in that colony there had been a previous decrease from a rate as high in 1880 as in 1888. The rate in Victoria is as high as that which now obtains in England, and that in New South Wales higher. The rates in the other colonies are lower than that in England, but this last shows a decreasing tendency.

The average number of children to a marriage may be ascertained by comparing the number of legitimate births for a series of years with the number of marriages during a series of years of the same number, but commencing with the marriages in the year preceding that for which the first number of births is taken; for although in the earlier years births will be included that are the fruits of marriages solemnised prior to the commencement of the period, yet there will be omitted the number of children that might be born, subsequently to the period, of parents married within that time.

As the records of illegitimate births cannot be accepted as at all reliable prior to 1875, that year has been taken as the starting-point for the calculation.

This gives for the full period an average of 5.29 children born to a family, or 529 in every 100 families. The proportion to a family is decreasing. For the first 7 of the years commencing with 1876 the average number born was 5.44 to a marriage, for the last 7 it was 5.14, a difference of 30 children in 100 families. This decrease is not confined to New Zealand, for in the Victorian Year-book for 1888-89 it is stated that “It seems that in all the colonies” (Australasian) “except Tasmania there is a tendency for the average number of children to a marriage to decrease in numbers.”

The average number of children to a marriage appears to be greater in New Zealand than in either of the other Australasian Colonies. The number given in the Victorian Year-book for each of the colonies named is as follows:—

The following information giving the number of children to a marriage in various European countries is taken from the Victorian Year Book:—

With the exception of Ireland, the largest number of children to a marriage in either of the colonies or countries mentioned is in New Zealand, and it appears to be doubtful whether the number given for Ireland is not too large, as the registration of marriages is not so complete in that country as the registration of births.

The numbers given represent the number of children born to a marriage; but a comparison of the strength of families in the several countries cannot well be instituted without taking into consideration the variations in the mortality of children. These differences are thus shown:—

Consequently the average number of children in each family living to the age of 5 years would be as follows:—

Or for every 100 families there would be the following number of children who had survived the fifth year of age:—

The very leading position held by New Zealand is undoubtedly due to the much lower rate of mortality among infants under 1 year of age.

The above numbers are in startling contrast with certain results shown by M. Jacques Bertillon, in a paper read before the Statistical Society of Paris on the 10th May, 1888, in which the following were given as the average number of children actually surviving in each family in the Department of the Seine at the time the French census of 1886 was taken. In every 1,000 families there were^*—

Or to the 1,000 families about 1,450 children; but some of the families enumerated had been too recently married to have children.

The number of marriages in 1889 was 3,632, being only 15 more than in 1888. The marriage-rate was 5.92 per 1,000 persons living, the lowest on record not only in this colony but in either of the Australasian Colonies. The following table shows the number of marriages to every 1,000 of the population in the several Australasian Colonies during each of the past ten years:—

If the marriage-rate be taken as an index of the prosperity of the people, it appears that the general prosperity has been greater in all the other colonies during the past ten years than in New Zealand. The somewhat improved prices for produce and the large increase in the exports of the colony have not apparently been beneficially felt by the bulk of the population of New Zealand. This is no doubt caused by the whole of the increase being required as a set off against the interest remitted from the colony and, apparently, of capital withdrawn. Queensland seems to have enjoyed the greatest amount of prosperity. In New South Wales, which has been the second most generally prosperous of the colonies, there has been a decreasing rate since 1883. The rate in South Australia has decreased considerably during the decennium, indicating a less prosperous condition in the late than during the early part of the period. The rate for Victoria shows a marked upward tendency during the past two years.

The marriage-rate in 1888 in New Zealand was less than that in England for that year, and greater than that in either Scotland or Ireland; but it was below the rates of most of the European countries.

The greatest number of marriages in 1889 occurred in the autumn quarter ending the 30th June, and the smallest in the September quarter ending the 30th of that month. Marriages have been generally most numerous in the autumn quarter, next in the summer quarter ending the 31st March, next in the spring quarter ending the 31st December, and least numerous in the winter quarter; but, while the proportions in the 100 marriages fluctuate irregularly between the spring and winter quarters, there appears to be a steady order in the proportions between those in the summer and autumn quarters: thus, in each of the six years, 1875 to 1880 inclusive, the marriages were most numerous in the March (or summer) quarter, and in the nine years, 1881 to 1889 inclusive, they were most numerous in the June quarter.

The following shows the number and percentage of marriages in each quarter:—

Of the marriages which occurred in 1889, 3,182 were between bachelors and spinsters, 131 between bachelors and widows, 217 between widowers and spinsters, and 102 between widowers and widows. These include marriages between 7 divorced males classified as bachelors, and 5 divorced females, one of whom was a widow as well as divorced.

The proportion of each class of marriage to all the marriages approximates very closely from year to year, thus:—

The number of marriages given does not include those between persons both of whom are of the aboriginal native race, these people being excluded from the operation of the Marriage Act, although they are at liberty to take advantage thereof; but only 10 marriages in which both parties were Maoris were contracted in 1889 according to the provisions of the Act.

Of the full number of marriages in the past year, 840, or 23.03 per cent., were solemnised by ministers of the Church of England; 972, or 26.75 per cent., by ministers; of the Presbyterian Churches; 548, or 15.08 per cent., by ministers of the Wesleyan and other Methodist Churches; 378, or 10.40 per cent., by ministers of the Roman Catholic Church; 190, or 5.23 per cent., by ministers of other denominations; and 705, or 19.43 per cent., by Registrars.

There was an increase in the numbers and proportions of marriages solemnised by ministers of the Church of England, Presbyterian, and the Wesleyan and Methodist Churches on those in 1888, but a decrease in the numbers and proportions of those solemnised by Ministers of the Roman Catholic Church and by Registrars.

The following shows the proportions of marriages by ministers of the principal denominations in the four years 1886-89, and the proportions of the persons of these denominations to the total population:—

It is apparent that not only do the ministers of the Presbyterian and Wesleyan denominations solemnise all marriages between members of their bodies, but in addition many between members of other bodies: and that a large proportion of the marriages solemnised before Registrars consists of those between professing members of the Church of England. As all marriages between members of the Roman Catholic Church are, by requirement of that Church, solemnised by the ministers thereof, it appears that fewer marriages in proportion to their numbers occur among the members of that Church than among members of other bodies.

Of the men married in 1889, 73, or 20.1 in every 1,000, and of the women 94, or 25.88 in every 1,000, signed the register by marks. The number and proportion of each sex that signed by marks was greater in 1889 than in 1888. The proportion signing by marks was, as in former years, greatest among the members of the Roman Catholic Church, and next greatest amongst those married before Registrars.

The following are the proportions per 100 marriages in each denomination of those who signed by marks in each of the past four years:—

When comparing these proportions it should be born in mind that a large proportion of the marriages Registrars must be, as has been previously stated, nominal members of the Church of England.

Of the persons married, 59 males and 836 females were under 21 years of age; 7 of the males were under 19, 7 the females were under 16, and 25 between 16 and years of age. The following are the proportions of m and women married at each age-period to every marriages during the past three years:—

Registrars of Marriages in New Zealand are prohibited by law from issuing certificates for the marriage d minors without the consent of their parents or law guardians, if there be any in the colony. If a declaration be made in any case that there is no parent or lawful guardian in the colony, then a certificate may be issued after the expiration of fourteen days following the date on which the notice of intended marriage has been given.

The ages at which persons may contract binding marriage are the same as in England, namely, 12 years for females and 14 for males. Marriages may be contracted at earlier ages than those stated, but would be voidable at the discretion of either of the parties upon reaching the age of 12 or 14, as the case may be, and without the necessity of proceedings in Court.

For the period 1874-89 inclusive 12 females under 14 years of age have married. Of these, 1 was only 11 years old. During the same time only 3 males under 17 have married; these had all reached 16 years of age.

The following statement gives the ages at which persons can contract binding marriage in each of the countries named:—

The average age of the males in this colony who married in 1889 was 29.9 years, and of the females 24.6 years. In the case of the men this was higher than the average age 28.3 years) in England in 1888; but the average age of the women was greater in England (26.0 years).

The proportion of males under 21 who marry in England is much greater than in New Zealand; but the proportion of females under 21 who marry is much greater the colony.

In 1888 of every 100 marriages in England 6.3 were of males under 21 and 19.9 of females under 21. In New Zealand the corresponding proportions were 1.6 males a 23 females under 21.

Taking 10 years, 1879-88 for England and 1880-89 f New Zealand, in every 1,000 marriages the numbers under 21 years of age were as follow:—

While in New Zealand the proportion of bridegroom under 21 years of age fluctuates within narrow limits, th proportion of brides under 21 years of age appears to steadily decreasing. This is evident from the following table, giving the proportions for each sex under 21 year of age in every 100 marriages:—

Thus, in 1889 there were 7 fewer brides who were under 21 years of age in every 100 than there were in 1880, but only 1 bridegroom under 21 less in every 20 men married.

The deaths in 1889 numbered 5,772, being equivalent to a rate of 9.40 in every 1,000 persons living. The rate 9.43, in 1888 was noted as the lowest on record, but that in 1889 was still lower.

The death-rate in New Zealand contrasts very strikingly with those in the other Australasian Colonies and with European countries, and furnishes evidence of the great salubrity of the climate of the colony. The following table gives the death-rates for a series of years in the several countries mentioned:—

The comparison of the above rates appears to place the Australasian Colonies as a whole in the foremost place for salubrity of climate and healthiness of people, New Zealand taking the lead by a wide interval; but a mere death-rate calculated on the whole population—that is, the proportion of all the deaths to every 1,000 of the population living in the middle of the year—although a very fair index of the sanitary condition of the population of the same country if compared from year to year, and also useful for comparing the healthiness of different countries whose respective populations contain a fairly-equal proportionate number of persons living at each age-period of life, cannot be regarded as a fair index of the comparative healthiness of new and old countries, or even of that of new countries one with another, when the relative proportions living at the several age-periods vary considerably.

Of the forms of single death-rate that have been devised to furnish a better index of comparison between all countries, that proposed by Mr. Hayter, the Government Statist of Victoria, and designated by him the “adjusted death-rate,” appears best worthy of adoption. It is thus described:—

“To construct a standard of comparison probably less open to objection than any other, it appears necessary arbitrarily to adopt the relative proportions in regard to age existing in a model population, and upon the basis of the deaths which have actually occurred at various age-periods, to discover what number would have occurred if the proportions living at the same periods in the actual had corresponded with those in the model population. It is essential that the model population thus used should be in a normal condition in regard to age, or, in other words free from such fluctuations and disturbances as are incident to the building-up and growth of the population of a new country. Such a population appears to be that d England and Wales.”^*

* “Victorian Year-book,” 1886-1887, page 286, par. 594.

The following is the mode of procedure: The number living in every 10,000 persons in England and Wales in 1881 at the several quinquennial age-periods to 25, and decennial age-periods 25 to 75, designated the “model population,” is first ascertained. Then the actual death-rate per 1,000 persons living at each of those age-periods in the colony or country under consideration is used as basis to find what the number of deaths would be for the numbers given at each age-period in the model population. The result represents the total number of deaths in the colony per 10,000 persons living in the proportions as to age-periods given in the model population.

The result, however, of only computing the rates on deaths under 75 years of age is that the death-rates so arrived at cannot be compared with the death-rates of other countries in respect of which no information may be readily available as to the proportions of the population living at the several age-periods, and, consequently, as to the death-rates at ages. The disturbance of the comparisons caused by including the deaths of persons over 75 years of age is not so serious as might be supposed. Thus, the general death-rate in England in 1886 was 19.28 per 1,000 living, but the rate on ages up to 75 was only 17.17, a difference of 2.11 per 1,000. The New Zealand adjusted rate at all ages for 1886 was 12.82, but on ages up to 75 it was 11.24, a difference of 1.58 per 1,000, being only 0.53 less than the similar difference in the English rates.

The difference being so small, it appears desirable to compute the adjusted death-rates on all ages, as then the published rates for European countries — in which, as populations are of a normal character, the proportions living at each period will probably approximate closely to those that obtain in England—can be compared with the colonial adjusted death-rates.

There is, however, this disadvantage: that the proportions living at each age-period vary in a colony from year to year, and they can only be correctly ascertained when a census is taken. Calculations as to death-rates at age-periods must therefore be considered to have an annually-increasing measure of error as the last census-date becomes more remote.

The following table illustrates the method adopted:—

This amounted to a rate at all ages of 12.82 per 1,000 of the New Zealand population in 1886, grouped in the proportions at each age-period according to the numbers in the model population; but if the rate be limited to ages under 75 it would be 11.24 per 1,000.

The following table gives the death-rates for 1886 in the Australian Colonies mentioned, adjusted according to the above method, and also the ordinary death-rate for England and Wales, which is the same as the adjusted rate:—

The difference between the adjusted rates for deaths a ages up to 75 years and for deaths at all ages, varied from 1.58 in New Zealand to 2.11 in Tasmania, an extreme variation of only 0.53, which is not so great but that the adjusted rates for all ages may well be used, having regard to the comparisons that can be made between these rates and the ordinary rates in old settled countries.

For the purpose of compiling the above (also the next following table), the proportions living at each age-period have been assumed to be the same in each colony as at the time of the previous census, which was 1886 in New Zealand and Queensland, and 1881 in the other colonies. As, however, these proportions differ somewhat in each colony from year to year—a result of varying rates of increase in the population—it does not appear to be expedient to carry on the calculations for a later period than 5 years from the census-year. Annual adjusted rates for all these colonies cannot therefore be made with accuracy for the purpose of comparison until the proportions living at various ages have assumed somewhat of a normal condition.

In considering the above figures it will be observed that, although New Zealand had an ordinary death-rate in 1886 much smaller than that in Tasmania, yet the adjusted death-rate shows a real rate of mortality in Tasmania for that year less than that in New Zealand, the higher rate in Tasmania being due to the larger proportion of aged persons in that colony. The lower rates of mortality, as shown by the adjusted rates in New Zealand and Tasmania, are due to a much smaller rate of infantile mortality in these two colonies.

The following were the death-rates per 1,000 persons living in New Zealand, the Australian Colonies named, and England, at successive age-periods, for the year 1886:—

The contrast between the proportions of deaths of children under 5 years of age in New Zealand and the other Australasian Colonies and England is very great. The contrast is even greater if the death-rate of children in New Zealand for 1889 be compared with the other rates above given. In 1886 the number of deaths of children under 5 years of age was 2,492, the rate, as above shown, being 28.52 per 1,000 living at that age. In 1889 the number of such deaths was 1,953 (a decrease on 1886 of 539), in the proportion of 21.13 per 1,000 living. This smaller death-rate of children is one of the principal causes of the lower general death-rate. Between the ages of 5 and 25 there is a greater general approximation of rates. At ages 25 to 65 the approximation is greatest between the rates in Tasmania and New Zealand, the rates in the other colonies being considerably higher.

It will be observed that the death-rate, or, in other words, the liability to death, is less between 10 and 15 years of age than at any other quinquennial period of life.

Of the 5,772 persons who died in 1889. 3,356 were males and 2,416 were females, respectively equivalent to 10.22 in every 1,000 of the male and 8.46 in every 1,000 of the female population living. These proportions are similar to those in 1888, when they were of male deaths 10.21, and of female deaths 8.47.

The following table shows the mortality in every 1,000 of each sex living at each age-period mentioned for the past three years. It must, however, be observed that the numbers at each age living are only estimated on the assumption that the proportion at each age was the same as in 1886 when the census was taken; but, as the proportions vary somewhat annually, the degree of inaccuracy in these estimates increases with the greater length of time from the census-year:—

The mortality was in proportion to the numbers living greater among the males at each age-period except at those from 10-15, 15-20, 25-35, and 35-45 years. The difference in favour of the females in infancy and old age is very pronounced.

Of the males who died in 1889, 199 were over the age of 75: of these, 95 were from 75 to 80 years of age, 96 from 80 to 90 years, and 8 over 90 years; 1 reached the age of 98, and 1 that of 99. Of the females, 64 were between 75 and 80 years of age, 70 between 80 and 90 years, and 9 over 90 years: of these, 2 were stated to have reached the great age of 102 years.

The combined ages of all the males who died amounted to 108,261 years, and those of the females amounted to 66,911 years, giving an average age at death of 32.29 years for males and of 27.69 years for females. In 1888 the average age of the males who died was 32.12, and that of the females 27.85 years. These averages were much higher than in 1887, when that for males was 28.78 and for females 23.37 years, the higher averages being due to the smaller numbers and proportions of infantile deaths.

The natural law in operation that causes the births of males to be more numerous than those of females is met by another law involving a greater mortality among male than among female infants. In 1889 the number of male children born was 9,514, the number of deaths of male infants under 1 year of age was 798, being at the rate of 84 in every 1,000 born; the number of females born was 8,943, the number that died under 1 year of age was 658, being in the proportion of over 73 in every 1,000 born.

The following gives the proportion of deaths of male and female infants at the ages stated to the 1,000 births of males and females respectively for the year 1889, and also the numbers and averages for the ten years 1880-89:—

The probability of living during the first year of age is thus much greater in favour of female than of male infants. The results of the past ten years show that in equal numbers born there are—

The rates of infantile mortality, that is, the proportions the deaths of children under 1 year of age bear to the births, are higher in all the rest of the Australasian Colonies than those that obtain in New Zealand. The following table gives the rate in each of the colonies named in each of the 10 years 1880-1889:—

The infantile mortality is as a rule greatest in the large towns, where the population is most dense and the sanitary conditions are less favourable, than in the country districts. The following shows the proportion of infantile deaths to births in each of the four principal boroughs in New Zealand during the past five years:—

The climate of and conditions in Dunedin appear to be much more favourable to infantile life than those of either of the other boroughs.

The following statement gives the classification of diseases, with the percentage of deaths to the total mortality, and the proportion to the 10,000 of population in each class and order, in the years 1887, 1888, and 1889:—

The deaths in 1889 from specific febrile or zymotic diseases amounted to 736, being at the rate of 120 in every 100,000 persons living, an increase of 38 on the number in 1888, and of 5 in the proportion to population. The increase is attributed to the greater mortality in 1889 from diarrhœal diseases. In 1887 these diseases caused 475 deaths; in 1888, 214; and in 1889, 355. There was, however, a considerable decrease in 1889 in the number of deaths from diphtheria, enteric or typhoid fever, and whooping-cough.

The following are the diseases in this class which caused the greatest mortality in each of the past six years:—

Small-pox is still absent as a cause of death. Owing doubtless to the immunity the colony has had from invasion by that disease, there appears to be an increasing disregard to the necessary precautionary measure of vaccination. If small-pox should unfortunately be introduced, an occurrence, even although the greatest care be exercised, by no means impossible, the present inattention to vaccination may be a cause of much regret.

In 1887 the children under 1 year of age vaccinated numbered 10,293, or 53.79 per cent. of those born; in 1888 the number was 9,659, or 51.10 per cent. of the births; and in 1889, 8,928, or 18.37 per cent. of the births: nor is the diminished number compensated for by vaccinations of older children, for, with 3,123 children from 1 to 14 years of age vaccinated in 1888, there were only 2,985 at the same age-period vaccinated in 1889.

Although the deaths from diphtheria were not so numerous as in 1888, yet they were more than in the years preceding that one. Of these deaths in 1889, 33 occurred in the Otago District and 27 in Canterbury; Wellington took third place, with 13; but Taranaki, with 12, suffered most in proportion to population from this complaint.

The rates of mortality from this disease in every 10,000 persons living in the several provincial districts were in the last three years as follows:—

In the past two years diphtheria has been more prevalent in proportion to population in Taranaki than in either of the other districts.

It has already been stated that there was a considerable increase in the number of deaths from diarrhœal diseases in 1889 upon that in 1888. The mortality from these diseases is largely regulated by the temperature; it is greatest in the summer and early autumn—the months of January to April inclusive. It is very low in the winter and early spring months; the increase is small after that until January.

The following statement shows how the mortality from diarrhœal diseases rises and falls with the temperature. The mean maximum temperature in the months named is given:—

The deaths from typhoid fever, which numbered 158 in 1887, were only 130 in 1888, and 118 in 1889. The following shows the number of these deaths in every 10,000 persons living in each of the provincial districts during the past three years:—

Of the deaths from typhoid fever 25 occurred in the Provincial District of Auckland, of which 4 took place in the Borough of Auckland; of 20 deaths in the Wellington District 10 occurred in the Borough of Wellington; of 40 deaths in the Canterbury District 5 occurred in Christchurch. Only 11 deaths from this cause occurred in Otago, but not one in the borough of Dunedin.

Deaths from enteric or typhoid fever are, proportionately to the population, higher in the Australasian Colonies than in England. The following shows the number of deaths from that disease in every 10,000 persons living:—

The deaths from dietetic diseases include those of 27 males and 12 females from alcoholic intemperance. This was an increase of 5 in the number of deaths of males and 6 in that of females from the same cause in 1888. But these numbers do not include all the deaths caused by abuse of intoxicating drinks, as many deaths are attributed to diseases which are caused or developed by habits of intemperance.

Phthisis causes more deaths than any other disease; consequently the consideration of the climatic influences of any country in either developing, warding off, or retarding the progress of this disease is of great interest. Phthisis caused 499 deaths in 1889, an increase of 23 on the number in 1888. Of those who died, 263 were males and 236 females. The deaths were in the proportion of 8.19 in every 10,000 persons living, or among males 8.01 in every 10,000 living, and among females 8.27 in every 10,000 living of that sex.

The death-rate from phthisis in 1889, though high than in 1888, was below that in either of the Australasian Colonies except Tasmania, and not much more than has the rate that obtains in England, where the rate has for some years past largely and steadily decreased.

The death-rates from phthisis in all these colonies are materially increased by the deaths of persons who have arrived in a diseased condition or constitutionally predisposed thereto. There is, however, no reason to supposed that the rate is more affected by this cause in the other colonies than in New Zealand, consequently the lower rate in this colony may be accepted as an indication of the superiority of its climate for withstanding the development of phthisical tendencies.

The following table gives the ages, with the length of residence in the colony, of those who died from phthisis in 1889:—

Of those who died from phthisis 146, or 29 per cent., were born in the colony. In 1888 the similar number was 145, and the proportion 30 per cent. 39 of the deaths, or 7.82 per cent., were of persons who had not resided three years in the colony, and may probably be considered to have arrived in a diseased condition. Of the 16 whose length of residence was not stated, some may have been only short time in the colony; and of the rest, many, possibly, who have survived a three-years’ residence may yet own their deaths to constitutional weakness affecting them before arrival. There is much, therefore, to make what may be termed the liability to the development of phthisis in New Zealand less than would appear from the rates previously given.

In 1886 the New-Zealand born comprised 51.89 per cent, of the population. It is estimated that in the middle of 1889 the proportion was about 55.5 per cent., that in that nearly 338,000 of the then population were born in the colony. The number of deaths from phthisis amounted to 8.13 per 10,000 of the population, against 7.86 in 1888 Of these deaths in 1889, only 146 were of persons born in the colony, the proportion being 4.32 to every 10,000 of the New-Zealand-born population. The proportion in 1888 was scarcely 4.40. The remaining deaths gave a proportion in 1889 of 12.79 in every 10,000 persons born outside of the colony, and in 1888 a proportion of 12.02.

The following table gives the number and proportion in each sex per 100 deaths from phthisis at each age-period for the ten years 1880 to 1889 inclusive:—

It will be observed that at all ages under 20 years the mortality from this disease was greater among females than males, but after that age many more males than females died, the disproportion increasing in favour of the females with the increase in the ages.

In previous reports reference has been made to the numerical and proportional increase in the deaths from cancer. In 1889 the deaths were not quite so numerous, although the decrease is trifling and the proportion to the increasing population is necessarily less.

In 1887 the deaths from this disease numbered 238, in 1888 263, and in 1889 260. In the previous years there has been a large increase in the death-rates from cancer both in New Zealand and England. The following shows the death-rates from this disease to the 10,000 persons living:—

The apparent increase in the mortality from cancer has been deemed to be in part due to improved diagnosis and more careful definition of the cause of death. The greater apparent proportionate increase in the deaths of males from cancer is considered to support this opinion, as “the cancerous affections of males are in much larger proportion internal or inaccessible than are those of females, and consequently are more difficult of recognition, so that any improvement in medical diagnosis would add more to the male than to the female figures.”

The following statement, showing the more rapid growth in the death-rates from cancer of males than of females in the colony, seems to support the above opinion; but the great increase in the rates for both sexes in the last ten years appears to be hardly sufficiently accounted for by that cause only:—

Diseases of the nervous system caused 632 deaths in 1889, being at the rate of 10.30 in every 10,000 persons living. The mortality from these diseases is greater among males than females. Of the 632 deaths, 369 were of males and 263 of females. The following are the diseases in this group or order which caused the greatest mortality in the past three years:—

Of the deaths from diseases of the nervous system in 1889, 196 were of children under 5 years of age, of which 128 were from convulsions and 38 from inflammation of the brain.

531 persons, of whom 332 were males and 199 were females, died in 1889 from diseases of the circulatory system. This was an increase of 45 on the number in 1888, and of 122 on that in 1887. The mortality from these diseases is much greater among males than among females; in 1889 it amounted to 10.11 in every 10,000 males living, and to 6.97 in every 10,000 females living.

Diseases of the respiratory organs caused 689 deaths in 1889, a decrease of 49 on the number in 1888. The most fatal of these diseases were—croup, which caused 47 deaths of males and 21 of females; bronchitis, 150 of males, 125 of females; and pneumonia, 147 deaths of males, 82 of females.

Diseases of parturition caused 53 deaths; diseases from puerperal fever—pyæmia and septicæmia — caused 25. These two numbers, 78, represent the mortality incidental to child-bearing. This is in the ratio of 1 death of a mother to every 237 children born, or, allowing for twin births, 1 in every 235 child-bearing women died. This is a much less ratio than that in 1888, when 1 in every 169 child-bearing women died. The smaller mortality, from whatsoever cause it arose, meant a saving to the State of 33 child-bearing women and their future children.

The violent deaths numbered 508, equivalent to 8.28 in every 10,000 persons living. The proportion in 1888 was 8.47. Of these deaths in 1889, 417 were of males and 91 of females, being in the proportion of 12.70 in every 10,000 males living, and 3.19 in every 10,000 females living. 10.5 per cent. of male and 4.40 of the female violent deaths were suicidal.

The following gives the number of deaths from external or violent causes in the ten years 1880-89:—