STATISTICS OF NEW ZEALAND.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 579, 2 October 1869, Page 4

STATISTICS OF NEW ZEALAND.

We have received from the office of the Registrar-General, WellingtQU ? a series of statistical tables, published in anticipation of the annual volume of statistics of New Zealand for the y^ar 18,6,8, from which we make the followinginteresting extracts : — The population of the o<]}qny at iJie end of the year 1868 has necessarily been calculated 6i} the basis of the last census, which was taken for the night of the nineteenth of December, 1867. The estimate has been arrived at in the usual way, by adding to the numbers then ascertained thtiL excess of births over deaths, and of immigration over emigration. According to the census enumeration, the population of New Zealand (exclusive of the military and their families, and of the aboriginal natives) was 218,668— viz., 131,929 male?, and 86,739 females. The increase for the twelve days between the census and the close of tlie year is estimated at 3,64-rvi^.," 156 males, and 208. females ; making the estimated population on the 31st of December, 1867, amount to 219.,032 persons, viz., 132;085 males, and 86,947 females. During the year 1868, the excess of births over deaths — the birtli3 and deaths connected with the military being deducted -r-was 6,726, and the excess of immigration'over emigration 86)0, making a total addition of 7,587 persons. Thus, the total estimated population on the 31sfc of December, 1868, was 226,618, viz., 134,621 males, and 91,997 females. The increase in 3868 was centesimally I*9l per cent, on males; 5 "80 per cent,, on females; and 3 "46 per cent, on the whole population. It is only for the years in which the Triennial census is taken that any reliable information can be given as to the distribution of the population in the several Provinces or other divisions of the Colony. The migration from one part of New Zealand to another, even by water communication, cannot be ascertained with any approximation to accuracy, and there are no means whatever of ascertaining the amount of overland migration. Instead, therefore, of attempting an estimate which would be in a great measure conjectural, and consequently of little value, if not absolutely misleading, I have appended to the estimate of population for the Colony in December, 1868, the numbers in the several Provinces (and the County of Westland (as shown by the census enumeration of December, 1867. According to thesis figures, the Northern Island (comprising the Provinces of Auckland, Taranaki, Wellington, and Hawke's Bay) then contained 79,913 persons, or 36*58 per cent. ; and the Middle Island (comprising the Provinces of Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, and tine County of Westland) 138,571, or 63*42 per cent, of the whole population of the Colony. It is probable, or, indeed, certain, that a census now would show a difference in these proportions from various causes, of which the large accession of numbers to the Province of Auckland consequent on the development of the Thames Gold Fields is the principal ; but the figures must remain for the present as the latest actually ascertained. There can be no doubt that the actual numbers exceeded the totals given fot the Colony, as besides individual omissions through the negligence of sttbenumerators or from other causes, there are almost insuperable difficulties in obtaining a correct enumeration of the gold digging population. Had such an enumeration been practicable, the total would almost certainly have beenma ly hundreds, or even several thousands, more. The immigration (over seas) to New Zealand in 1868 amounted to 8723 persons, of whom 6045 were males, and 2678 females. Of the males, 5425 were adults, and 620 children : of the females, 2211 were adults, and 467 children. The emigration (over seas) from the Colony amounted to 7863 persons, of whom 6647 were males, and 1216 females. Of the males, 6233 were adults, and 414 children ; of the females, 925 were adults, and 291 children. The net excess of immigration over emigration in 1868 was 860, being 3999 less than the- net excess in 1867, and as will be seen on reference to the comparative table of immigration and emigration, No. 111., less than in any of the preceding years since 1853 included in that table, and greatly less than the average for the fifteen years — 1853 to . 1867 inclusive — which amounted to 9274. Taking the divisions of the Colony separately, ihe excesses of immigration over emigration were — in the Province of Auckland, 287 ; in the Province of Wellington, 348 ; iv the Pro\ince of Hawke's Bay, 22 ; in the Province of Nelson, 162 ; in the Province of Marlborough, 1 ; in the Province of Canterbury, 716 ; in the Province of Otago, 1432 ; and in the Province of Southland, ]71. On the other hand, the excesses of emigration over immigration were — in the Province of Taranaki, 5 ; and in the County of Westland, 2274. The total number of births registered in New Zealand during the year 1868 was 9391— viz., 4766 males and 4625 females. The total in 1867 was 8918— viz., 4595 males and 4323 females. The increase in 1868 was. therefore, 473 — viz., 171 males and 302 females. The increase , in 1867, as compared with 1866, was 452 — viz., 311 males and 141 females. Taking the two years together, the apparent disproportion between the numbers of the sexes which either year- separately might suggest seems to be adjusted, the total increase of 925 in 1867 and 1868 being made up of 482 males and 443 females. It will be remembered that the figures show, riot the births which have actually, occurred, but the births which have been registered within the periods specified. The total number of deaths registered in 1868 was 2662— viz., 1631 males and 1031 females. The total in 1867 was 2702 —viz. , 1621 males and 1081 females. There appears, therefore, an increase in 1868 of 10 males, but a decrease of 50 females, making a net decrease of 40 in the total number of deaths in 1868 as compared with 1867. Of "the "deaths in 1868,890 (viz., 488 males and 411 females) were under one year of age ; 186 (viz., 105 males and 81 -; females) one and under two years ; — arid 'l72 -(viz., 90 males and 82 females) two and under five years ; — making a total' of 1257 (viz., 683 males and 574 females), , or 47*22 per cent., of the whole , under five., years. The general total of deaths includes 353 (viz., 141 males and 12 females), or 5*74 per cent, of the whole, from drowning,, and 169 (viz., 139 males and 30 females), or 6*34 per cent, of the whole, from various other external causes; making a total of 322 (viz., 280 males and 42 females)

from such causes, being 1209 per cent, of the deaths during the year. The excess of bii'ths over deaths in 1868 was 0720,- viz., 3135 males, and 3594 females. The total excess of registered births Qver registered deaths in the fourteen years included in these tables, was 45,006,— viz., 21,056 males, and 23,950 females. The total number of marriages in New Zealand in 1868 was 2085, being 35, mpre than 1867. Of these J. 929 were by ministers of religion, and. 156 by registrars. The respective numbers solemnised by ministers of the several religions bodies were as follow : — United Church of England and Ireland, 518 ; Church df Scotland, Free Church of Scptland, Presbyterian Church of Qtago and Southland, and Presbyterian congregations, 737 ; Roman Catholic Church, 332 ; "VYesleyan Methodists, 205 ; Congregational Indpr pendants, 49 ; Baptists, 44 ; Primitive Methodists, 33 ; Lutheran Church, 1 ; Hebrew Congregations, 3 ; and United Methodist Free Churches, 9. Six tables are occupied by information relating to shipping. The first two show the numbers, tonnage, and crews of vessels entered inwards and cleared putwards at the several ports of New Zealand during the year 1868. The tqtal inwards was 851 vessels, of 277,105 tonnage, being a decrease, as compared with 1867, of 93 in the immber of vessels, and of 32,463 in the tonnage. The total outwards was 873 vessels, of 287,710 tonnage, being a decrease, as compared with 1867 of 77 in the number of vessels, and of 20,459 in the tonnage. The next two tables show vessels, tonnage, and crews, classified according to " countries whence arrived," and " countries for which cleared," and the two following tables show the *' nationality" of the vessels, inwards and outwards. The registered vessels belonging to ports in New Zealand may be conveniently noticed here. According to the table, there were in December, 1867, 365 vessels, of 23,219 tonnage. During the year 1868, 52 vessels, of 3993 tonnage were struck off the books, and 59 vessels, of 5313 tonnage, were added. The general total in December, 1868, accordingly was, 372 vessels, of 24,539 tonnage, being a net increase for the year of 7 in the number of vessels, and 1320 in the tonnage. Of the total, 171 vessels, of 9453 tonnage, belonging to the Port of Auckland ; 23, of 1866 tonnage, to the port of Wellington ; 6, of 318 tonnage, to the port of Napier •, 24, of 1144 tonnage, to the port of Nelson ; 67, of 4475 tonnage, to the port of Lyttelton ; 71, of 7003 tonnage to the port of Dunedm ; and 10, of 280 tonnage, to the port of InvercargilL The total value of the imports of the Colony in 1861 was L 4,985,748, against L 5,344,607, 344, 607 in 1867, being a decrease of L 358,859, or 7.19 per cent. The total value of the exports from New Zealand in 1868 was L 4,429,198, against L 4,644,678, 644, 678 in 1867, beiny: a decrease in 1868 of L 2 15,480, or 4*86 per cent. Excluding" the value of imported goods reexported from the colony, the total value of exports of New Zealand produce and manufactures in 1868 amounted to L 4,268,762, against L 4,479,464 in 1867, being a decrease of L 210.702, or 470 per cent. The two most important exports of theC.)l(iny — gold and wool — demand more particular notice here. The total value of gold exported from New Zealand in 1868 amounted to L 2,504,326, produced by the several gold fields in the following proportions : — Auckland, L 168 ,874 ; Nelson (including Westland North), L 833,180; Mavlborough, L 1616; County of Westland, L 814,060 ; Otago, L 652,356 ; and Southland, L 34,240. The total value of gold exported in 1867 was L 2,700,275., 700, 275. There appears, therefore, a net decrease in 1868 amounting to L 195,949. The falling off in amount occurred in Nelson, Marlborough, Westland (South), and Southland ; while in Auckland and Otago there was an increase. The total value of gold exported from New Zealand up to the 31st December, 1863, amounted to L 17,044,899. The total quantity of wool exported in 1868 was 28,875,163 lbs., against 27,152,966 lbs. in 1867, being an increase of 1,722,197 lbs. But the total value stated for 1868 was LI, 51 6, 548, against L 1,580,608 in 1867, showing a decrease of L 64,060, or 4*05 per cent. The Customs revenue in 1868 amounted to L 788,829, against L 843,927 (the corrected amount) in 1867, being a decrease of L 55,168, or 653 per cent. The total Ordinary revenue in 1868 amounted to L 1,195,512, against L 1,225,584 in 1867, being a decrease of L 30,072, or 2*45 per cent. The total Territorial revenue in 1868 amounted to L 425,323, against L 561,730 in 1867, being a decrease of L 136,407, or 24*28 per cent. The general total of the revenue (both ordinary and territorial) amounted in 1868 to L 1,620,835, against L 1,787,314, 787, 314 in 1867, being a decrease of L 166,479, or 9*31 per cent.