NATIVE POPULATION.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 54, 18 October 1845, Page 3

NATIVE POPULATION.

The following is extracted from the Netf} Zealander. We have compared it wi h the Return printed in the Minutes of Council* from which it was copied, and corrected a few errors and omissions. By persons well Informed on the subject it is stated that the whole population of the Middle Island does not exceed 1500, and we are satisfied that the number in Cook's Straits is greatly over estimated in this return ; but it would he too much to expect accuracy in the Chief Protector in anything that related to the Southern Settlements. During the last Session of the Legislative Council there was laid before that body a " Return of the Native Population of New Zealand," and it may not be uninteresting to consider it, in reference to the vaiious settlements, and investigate how the several tribes are divided and situated. The aggregate number, by this return of the Chief Protector, is 109)550, of which about 4i), 000 are, in their.religion, proselytes of the Church missionaries; about 16,000 under the Wesley ans; above 5,000 are Roman Catholics; and the remainder are termed Pagans. We have divided the Return into seven districts — giving the principal locality or abiding place of each tribe, with the name of the head chiefs.

Consideration of this Return plainly indicates, how completely surrounded the district of Auckland is by the Native population. On the East coast, there are 30,000 ; between that and the West coast, there are 10,500 ; and between the river Mokau and Manukao, there are 18,400 —exclusive of the Nga to Watua and Houraki tribes, amounting to 6000 more; making altogether nearly 70,000 Natives within three hundred mjles of Auckland, of which 50,000 are within

three days march of Auckland. This most im J portant fact should awaken the vigilance, as well as stimulate firmness and decision in the present crisis.

NORTH OF THE WAITEMATA.

Residence. Tribe. Chief. Population. Kditaia. Te Rarawa. Nope r a. 4,000 Bay of Islands. Ngapuhi. pomare. } 12 ' 000 16,000 WAITEMATA AND COROMANDEL HARBOUR. Auckland. Ngatiwatua. Kauwau. 2,000 Houraki. Ngatimaru. Taraia. 4,000 6,000 EAST COAST. Tauranga. Ngatia-vra. Tupaea. 2,000 sas"-} •• «*■»• B '°°° East Cape. Npateporu. Tekaui. 10,000 Turanga. Ngatikahunv. TeHapuku. 10,000 30,000 WEST COAST AND WAIKATO. Waikato. Waikato. TeWerowero. 18,400 Taranaki. Taianaki. „ 2,000 20,400 INTERIOR. Rotoru*. K^ativrakane. TohiTongoroa. 9,000 Taupo. taupo. Heuheu. 1,500 10,500 NORTHERN SHORE OF COOK'S STRAITS. Ahuriri. Ngatikahupunu. 5,000 Srt k Nichl} N S a tiawa. Reritawangawanga. 3,950 "Waimate. Ngatiruanui. 3,000 Otaki. Ngateraukawa. Te Rauparah*. 5,000 "WaDgacui. Wanganui. Turoa. 5,000 21,950 MIDDLE ISLAND. Cloudy Bay. STgatifoa. Te Rauparaba. 1,000 Pelorusßiv. Rangitanc. 100 Banks' Pen. Ngaitahu. Taiaroa. 3,000 Otakou. 600 4,700