NEW ZEALAND CENSUS FOR 1862.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 156, 8 January 1864, Page 1 (Supplement)

NEW ZEALAND CENSUS FOR 1862.

[From the IDaily Southern Crow, Dec. 13], Amongst the papers presented to the General Assembly during the Session, none possesses so much general interest as the statistical tables for 1862, in anticipation of the annual volume of statistics for New Zealand for that year. We have had occasion in former years, to express a favorable opinion of those statistics, and we have again the pleasing duty of prefacing our remarks on (ho statistical tables, by expressing our thanks to Dr. Bennett for enabling us and the public to form a just estimate of the progress the colony has made during the year 1862. Thu European population of the colony on the 31st December, 1862, was 125,812, exclusive of the military and (heir families. Of these 79,680 were males, and 16,132 temalcs. The net increase of population over the preceding year, was 23,791 ‘ 15,618 males, and 8,173 females. This shows a centesimal increase on the whole population of 23-31, and on the sexes of 2 037 males, and 21-53 females. The total gross increase by immigration was 34,290 souls, of whom 27,005* were males, and 7,285 females. The total gross increase by births was 3,958, of whom 2,030 were males, anil 1,928 were females. From this increase, however, we must deduct the numbers who died and left the colony. The deaths for the year were 1,158, being 722 males and 430 females; and emigration took away 13,299, of whom no fewer than 12,695 were males, the female emigrants numbering only 604 souls. The statistics, as wo have said, show the colonist population at the close of 1802, to have been 125,812 ; but if the military, with their wives and families, be added, the gross European population numbered 133,114 souls, against 102,021 souls in 1861. Referring to tlie population of the provinces separately, we find the following to be the enumeration :

Total Europoai population... u(!,910 ... 20,012... 82,952 Tho Eurojiean population in the Middle Island was, therefore, within about ten thousand souls of being double that of the North Island at tho close of 1862. Since then, tho great increase of immigrants to this province will have done something towards lessening tho disproportion noted above, but we hardly expect to find much relative difference in these figures next year. The causes which led to tho increase of population in the southern provinces of the Middle island are too well known now to require comment, and we hope that in all time coining tho gold exports of Otago will continue unimpaired. The only province in tho North Island which makes anything like a return of immigration is Auckland, which had a total of 4,ObG immigrants landed on our shores, and 759 souls left during the year. The imniigranta to Wellington for tho year numbered 200'souls, and no fewer than 201 left the province, showing

an increase by immigration to the leading Cook’s Straits province of fly souls. The immigrants to Hawke s Bay numbered 15, aud the emigrants 13. giving a balance of 3 souls to the population. The province of Taranaki showed a balance against immigration of 2 souls, which would make the total increase in population of the three North Island provinces (exclusive of Auckland), bv immigration, only one hundred souls. Manifestly there must be something radically wrong, in the administration of these provinces, when such results are apparent in the very heart of a colony, whose two extremes of north and south are so progressive and prosperous. Taranaki is exceptionally situated, and allowance must bo made for her, but no allowance can be made for Wellington and Hawke’s Bay, whose provincial rulers have squandered the public estate, with the administration of which they were entrusted, and did nothing towards settling the fertile districts which abound in their provinces. A day of reckoning ought to come, when these men will be held am swerable for their culpable and gross negject of duty. In the Middle Island provinces, Nelson shows an excess of immigration over emigration of 271 souls; but Marlborough, the model province, and the chief town in which competes for the honor of being the capital of the colony, is a blank. No one appears to have come—none to have loft. Everything is stagnant in Marlborough, whose entire population is not greater than The suburbs of Auckland. In Canterbury the case is different. The excess of immigration over emigration on the year 1862 was 2,768; in Otago the excess was 11,058 ; and in Southland 517 souls, iurning to the tables referring to trade and commerce, w - e find that the estimated value of imports for 1862 over the imports for 1861, shows an increase of 85'50 per cent, on the year. The figures are ; Imports, IS6I £2,-i.'»,9U The increase in the estimated value of exports over the previous year was nearly as great, being 7G Sl. The amounts are : Exports, ISill £1,370.217, ISU2 2,-122,73t. The Registrar-General remarks on the return of exports; —“The latter increase, however, was. as may bo supposed, occasioned to a largo exby the productiveness of the Otago gold-fields, the centesimal increase on the exports from that province in 1862, as compared with 1861, being 107T1.” We have not space to discuss these returns in detail. The figures quoted by us, however, are highly satisfactory, and show the great strides the colony of New Zealard has taken towards the development of its latent resources. The staple exports are gold, wool, oil, kauri gum, timber, grain, and potatoes. Of gold we find that 410,5620z5., worth £1,591,389, was exported from the colony during the year 1862, of which Auckland exported 1,296 ozs., worth £ 1,319. The total value of the gold exported from the colony from Ist April, 1857, to the close of last year, was £2,!82, 160. The grain export amounted to £1,821; ami the kauri gum, enfirely from Auckland, was 'alued at £11,107. The value otoil exported was £;),Un5 ; ol potatoes, £9,527 worth were exported in lot.. ; ol timber £16,212 worth were exported, ami of wool, no less than 9,539,2G51b5. worth £675,526. The registered tonnage of New Zealand ports was 287 vessels of 10,825 tons, employing a total of 1)31 men and boys. Of these 206 vessels, with a tonnage of 6,863 tons, belong to Auckland, and employ 60S men and boys to work them, 2 vessels of 129 tons, belong to Wellinglon, employing ol men and boys ; 28 vessels belonging to Lyttelton, and 30 to Dunedin. The table showing the comparative revenue for (lie various years, from 1853 to 1862 inclusive, is interesting. IV e will place these two years in contrast, thus : IS >3. 18(>2. Total revenue £149,920 £l,tali,oo9 The Kegistrar-Gcneral remarks on the increase of revenue : “The remarkable increase during 1862 (over 1861) ccntosimally calculated, shows 5682 on ordinary revenue; 7-L7oon territorial revenue ; and 66'07 on the total revenue, in this single year.” 'There arc several new and valuable tables prepared, and for the first time published in these returns, which cannot fail to enhance their value. Wo cannot conclude without congratulating the country generally on its prosperity. This prosperity, as we have indicated, is not general, but that this is so is owing entirely to local causes, which an altered administration of Provincial income would remedy.

Northern Island. Auckland Males. Ecmales. Total. 15,155 . .. 12,l;-o ... 27,011 Taranaki l)S5 ... .. 6,109 ... 900 ... 2,211 13,013 2.008 Wellington Ilawke’s Bay .. Total European population... 25,131 . ... 21,133 ... ■16,10(5 Middle Island. Nelson (1,1-16 . .. 4,9-15 ... 11,001 Marlborough .. 1.537 . 819 ... 2,38(1 Canterbury, 11,(151 . .. 8,781 ... 20,132 Otago 35,110 . ... 10,1110 ... 45,588 Southland 2,187 . ., 1,208 ... 3,155