MONDAY, MAY 22, 1865.

Evening Post, Issue 88, 22 May 1865, Page 2

MONDAY, MAY 22, 1865.

An effort is to be made to telegraph the news by the current European mail from Invercargill to Christchurch. Although it is doubtful whether the message will get fuither than Duned n, yet the fact of the attempt being intended to be made, is proof that Mr. Sheath has not been idle, and tl a under his able direction the telegraph has been making its way through the Middle Island with unlioked for rapidity. The line from Invercargill to Dunedin was in perfect working order a few days ago ; but in consequence of a post or two having been blown down, and the ¦wire becoming here and there twisted, the line from Dunedin to Christchurch was not expected to be ready for working until to-day. A large part of the wire goes through an uninhabited country, and frequent stoppage of communication must be for sometime looked for, but .means vril

soon he necessarily t-ikcn for supervision, and the " course of telegraph " between Christchurch and Tnvercargill may, ere very iShg, be depended on as not occupying more than a few minutes. The telegraph does not, however, stop at Christchurch. It would be incorrect to say that it is "gradually creeping" on to r C 'ok's Strait, because such a description of its progress would be unjust to the [activity which is being displayed. It is approaching," and if the Post-master-General does not bestir himself the work will be stopping on the other side for want of the cable. In about two or three months Picton will be joined to Christchurch, and the whole length of the Middle Island will be thus spanned. When is the telegraph to be extended to Wellington P We believe it has not yet been ordered. Indeed, the very first step has still to be taken, for the route across the strait has not been surveyed, nor have any ins ructions been given to do so. The success of the submarine portion of the line that is to unite Picton with Wellington depends in a very great measure upon the result of this survey ; and until the survey has been executed the cable cannot be ordered. The shortest route is from the Tory channel entrance of Queen Charlotte's Sound to Cape Tera Witti, but the bottom is understand to be so rocky, and the neighbourhood subject to such strong currents and eddies, as to be most unfitted for the purpose of the telegraph. From Rununder Point to Wellington Heads was suggested by Mr Reader Wood, but shipmasters report that Cape Campbell would be a better starting point, because there is a bank from thence towards Wellington exactly suited for embedding and protecting the cable. The best route is a matter for practical men to decide, and before the Assembly meets we trust the Postmaster- General will have obtained a report from the Marine Board or some other competent body, on which the Assembly may vote the necessary funds^ as they have partially done in previous sessions.

The New Zealand Gazette of the 18th instant contains the census returns taken in December, 1864, in which will be found much very valuable information. The returns,although consisting of eleven elaborately compiled tables, give only a portion of the results contempt itcd by the RegistrarGeneral, and will be speedily followed by others. The European population of New Zealand, exclusive of the military and their families, amounts to 171,931 souls, being an increase of 72.960 on the population of 1861.

Provinces. Males. Femnles. Totals. Auckland 25,686 16,446 42,132 Taranaki 2,872 1,502 4,374 Wellington ... 8,342 6,645 14,987 Hawke'sßay ... 2,461 1,309 3,770 Nelson 6,706 5,204 11,910 Marlborough ... 4,032 1,487 5,519 Onterbury ... 18,929 13,318 32,247 Otago 32,645 16,262 48,907 Southland 4,806 3,279 8,085 General totals (exulusive of the military and their families,, ... 106,479 65,452 171,931

The following is a summary of the population of New Zealand, of European descent, as ascertained by the Census of 1864 :—: —