DRIFT TO THE TOWNS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1018, 15 July 1911, Page 3

DRIFT TO THE TOWNS.

DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION.

CERTIFIED FIGURES.

The first batch of statistical results in connection with the census taken in April have now been issued by the Government Statistician (Mr M, Fraser) in pamphlet form, and will later be included in the Year Book. The most noticeable feature of the returns is the steady drift towards the towns. At the taking ot the last census the balance was in favour of the country, the relative proportion being 31.63 to 47.77. East April, however, it was found that only 45.29 per cent, of the population was resident in the rural districts, against 50.14 in the towns. Nearly all the figures now given have previously been published as unchecked totals, but the movements of the people are more clearly indicated in the comparisons shown in the pamphlet. The growth of the urban population, lor instance, is thus indicated Census Counties. Boroughs. 1881 291,238 194.981 1886 327,328 245,612 1891 352.097 270,343 1896 39h735 307.294 1901 1906 458,797 424.614 1911 496,742 505,598 PROVINCIAL DISTRICTS. The population of New Zealand is given at 1,008,407 (exclusive of Maoris and the annexed Pacific Islands). The population in the provincial districts is as follows Persons. Males. Fern’s. Auckland 264,520 141,700 122,820 Taranaki 51,569 27,785 23,784 Hawkes Bay 48,546 25,769 22,777 Wellington 199,094 104,946 94.148 Nelson 54,030 29,915 24,115 Westland 10,147 5,762 4,385 Canterbury 173,185 88,391 84,794 Otago— Otago portion 132,402 66,995 65,407 Southland portion 58,728 31,735 26,993 CITIES AND SUBURBS. Persons. Males. Fern’s. Auckland 102,676 51,150 51.526 Wellington 70,729 35.444 35,285 Christchurch 78.442 37,655 40,787 Dunedin 64,237 30.520 33,7 li RELATIVE INCREASES. Relative increases in both islands are as follows; — Census. North I. South I. 1886 57,435 31,243 1891 30,973 17,n9 1896 59,1/6 17,525 1901 49,940 19,425 1906 86,161 29,681 1911 86,997 32,780