The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1886. THE CENSUS RETURNS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1695, 29 April 1886, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1886. THE CENSUS RETURNS.

Through the courtesy of Mr F.. M. Deighton, the Census En- . umerator for the district, we are enabled to lay before our readers some interesting particulars of comparative population statistics for the counties of Manawatu, Oroua, and Horowhenua. Our readers must bear m mind the separation of the original County of Manawatu, of which Oroua now forms the principal portion. The whole population of the County of Manawatu is now 2978, viz., males 1625, females 1353, this includes of course Foxton, of which the population is 744. We now come to the County of Oroua, which includes the Boroughs of Palmerston North and Feilding. Oroua County shows up with a total population of 8353, viz., 4447 males, and 3906 females. The Borough of Palmerston North has a population of 2595, or almost double that of Feilding, which is 1298. Horowhenua County has a total population of 983, being 677 males, and 306 females The population south of the Rangitikei River, being the area included m the Manawatu County m 1881, represents a total of 12,314, being 6749 males, and 5565 females. This shows a very satisfactory increase of 3304 m the period mentioned. The total population of the census district including Counties of Manawatu, Oroua, Horowhenua, and Rangitikei and all Boroughs within their boundaries is, males 9450, females 7621. total 17,071, being an increase since 1881 of 4291. The increase m the various boroughs is as follows: — Palmerston 1227, Feilding 386, and Marton 248. The several town districts remain nearly the same. In the four counties, leaving out the boroughs, the increase is 2430. It will be seen, therefore, that of all the Boroughs on the West Coast, Palmerston North has made the most material progress m the matter of increase of population. -Many, places m New Zealand have shewn no progress, and others again have had to record a fallingoff; but notwithstanding the depression, the population m this Borough has substantially increased. With the opening of the line to Wellington, and various public works m progress, there is no doubt that the next five years will see a very much larger increase. It will be seen that the increase m this Borough for the period named is five times that of Marton, notwithstanding the extensive public works m the immediate vicinity of the latter Borough, and over three times that of Feilding Of the total increase since 1881 m the entire census district (including the Counties of Oroua, Manawatu, Horowhenua, and Rangitikei, and all Boroughs within their boundaries), viz., 4291, the borough of Palmerston North contributes no less than 1227, or a percentage of over 28|. Of the present total population of the County of Oroua, viz, 8353, the Borough of Palmerston North contains nearly one third. The number of people m the Borough is not far short of the entirepopulation of the present county of Manawatu including Foxton, which latter it nearly quadruples. All these comparisons are substantially m favour of Palmerston, and the results are exceedingly satisfactory. They tend to show that y,«arsyvyear the town is becoming a more attractive centre of population, and that m course of time it promises to become the most populous inland town m all New Zealand. It is also very satisfactory to note that the total population of" the whole census district including Manawatu, Oroua, Horowhenua, and Rangitikei represents 17,071, being an. increase since 1881 of 4291. Of this total, the number of inhabitants of the boroughs (including Foxton) is 4,634, leaving the rural population for the four counties standing at 12,437. The total increase m the three boroughs included above is 186 1, so that the increase m the rural population since 1881 1 will be 2,430. This may be considered a satisfactory result, »8 tending to show that tjie^nopulation of the rural districts is^\easing at an ffltiifli tflfil^^^^'ill <lf lilll!

boroughs, and that there is not the same inclination to congregate m the towns, to the neglect of rural occupations, as is complained of m Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and which brings about undesirable consequences m an increased number of unemployed during the winter season, and when public works are not m progress. On the whole, the result of the census returns, as referring to this pnrtion of the North Island, are of a most congratulatory nature, and prove as plainly as official statistics can demonstrate any fact, that the district is progressing steadily, and that while other loss-favoured localties are at a standstill this portion of the West Coast, and the area surround-' ing Palmerston more particularly, is forging ahead at a most satisfactory rate of progress. We feel sure that at the end of the next five years, a much more rapid and substantial rate of progress will' have to be recorded.