POPULATION INCREASES

Press, Volume C, Issue 29513, 13 May 1961, Page 9

POPULATION INCREASES

1961 Census Returns

Richmond borough, Nelson, shows one of the greatest increases in population of the preliminary census figures announced by the Department of Statistics. The borough increased from 2515 in 1956 to 3472 this year. The 38 1 per cent, increase is equalled only by the Upper Hutt borough, which is well on its way to becoming a city. Its 1961 population is 16,888, compared with 12,226 five years ago. In the latest preliminary returns, the department shows Naseby borough as having a population of 155, which is 34 fewer than it had five years ago, and the department says it will probably -be the smallest borough in the Dominion. West Coast census returns show a drop. The Buller county has lost 10.7 per cent, of its population in five years, and now has 4082 inhabitants. The neighbouring county of Inangahua shows a drop of 8.2 per cent. The borough of Brunner, with a population of 1072, shows a 6.3 per cent decrease. The borough of Oamaru has continued to grow, the population, now being 12.391, an increase of 11.75 per cent, on the 1956 figure. Rangiora borough’s population has increased from 3150 to 3472 <12.4 per cent.). The nearby Ashley county, with 665 residents, shows a decrease of 3.9 per cent. Other 1981 census figures, with the percentage increase in parenthesis, are: Waipara county, 2922 (3.9): Kowai county, 2217 (5.6); Ellesmere. 3704 (2.9); Springs county, 2626 (9.5); Mackenzie county. 3309 (5.3). Among the county towns listed are Leeston, with a population of 769 and Fairlie, with 844. Comparable figures for 1956 are not available.