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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4130, 16 June 1874, Page 2

An interesting incident of recent occurrence is the launching a steamer into the waters of the famous Lake Taupo. The experiment of placing steam vessels on the magnificent lakes of the South Island was first made subsequent to the great Duustan rush, when one of the small iron steamers plying in Port Otago was conveyed hy dray to the shores of the lake, where she continued to trade for several years, conveying miners and their stores to the remote localities where gold was sought for and obtained. Since then several other steamers have been built on the shores of the same lake, and steam communication on that magnificent sheet of water has done much to promote the settlement of the district, and to contribute to the convenience and pleasure of hundreds attracted thither hy its picturesque surroundings. The placing of a steamer on Lake Taupo is necessarily more of an experiment than was the introduction of steamers on Lake Wakatip, the prospect of the traffic proving profitable being as yet but slight; but the fact is a gratifying illustration of the peaceful state of that part of the country, and the presence of such a vessel on the waters of the Lake will doubtless in a very short time develop a local trade, and prove especially convenient to the increasing number of visitors who are now being attracted to the interior in search of health and the picturesque. The building of the steamer, christened the Victoria, has occupied some six months, and seems to have been a faithful piece of work, the material used in her construction being some of the best timber available in the Waikato district. Her launch was the occasion of some demonstration, and worthily so, for the enterprise is one which is creditable to her owners, and is an incident in the progress of civilisation in the North Island which deserves to be prominently recorded.

In all the Provinces of tho Colony but two tho number of inhabited houses has increased considerably in the interval between tho census of 1871 and 1874. The two exceptions are Nelson and Westland, the falling-off in the number of domiciles in those Provinces being no doubt due to the departure of tho mining population to other fields within and beyond the Colony. In Nelson there were 5819 houses inhabited in 1871; now there arc 5703. In Westland there were 5457 in 1871, whereas there arc now only 4G42. The numerical increase in the other Provinces has been as follows:—From 13,067 to 14,104 in Auckland, from 987 to 1158 in Taranaki, from 4779 to 5328 in Wellington, from 1215 to 1017 in Hawke’s Bay, from 1012 to 1225 in Marlborough, from 8747 to 10,518 in Canterbury, ami from 15,403 to 10,975 in Otago. The total increase was from 57,140 to 01,270.

By the complete census returns, wo learn that the total number of Chinese in the Colony is 4,790, as compared with 2,010 in 1871. The present population is thus distributed :—ln Auckland 0, in Wellington 3, in Nelson 320, in Westland 898, in Canterbury 11, and in Otago 3,558. There is only 1 Chinese woman in the Colony ; in 1871 there wore 3.

The half-caste population of tho Colony seems to have slightly increased since 1871. Then the number was 1,455, now it is 1845. Of those 944 are males, and 901 females. They are thus distributed :—ln Auckland 858, in Taranaki 39, in Wellington 82, in Hawke’s Bay 147, in Marlborough 89, iu Nelson 23, in Westland 4, iu Canterbury 40, and in Otago 552.

The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce must be credited with meeting more frequently than do most bodies of similar name and pretensions throughout the Colony, and with taking a lively interest in matters affecting the commercial community. Latterly they have been moving in regard to tho licensing and insolvency laws, and by tho report of the proceedings at their last monthly mooting wo loara some particulars indicative of the probable course of legislation during the ensuing session of Parliament. At that meeting the chairman, Mr. Dymock, stated that the sub-com-mittee appoiuted to take action in the matter of tho Insolvency Bill had sent circulars to all the Canterbury members of the Assembly, calling their attention to the necessity of the Insolvency Bill beiug amended, and to the report of the Chamber, containing suggestions as to tho alterations it was advisable to make. Circulars had also boon addressed to all other Chambers of Commerce in tho Colony, inviting their co-oporation iu the matter. There had scarcely been sufficient time for replies to be received, either from the members of tho Assembly or tho other Chambers of Commerce, and tbo only one to hand was from Mr. AV. Beeves, who said he would give due weight to the recommendations of the Chamber, but

would not pledge himself to support them. With respect to the Licensing Act, he might inform the Chamber that he had forwarded a copy of the resolution passed at the last meeting of the Chamber to the Premier, who had replied to the effect that in the new Licensing Bill greater facilities would be given for persons obtaining wholesale licenses. Mr Murray - Aynsley asked if a copy of the recommendations of the Chamber, in the matter of the Insolvency Bill, had been sent to the Canterbury members of the Assembly. The chairman replied in the negative, and said that copies had been sent to the other Chambers of Commerce. Whereupon Mr. Murray-Aynsley moved that copies of the recommendations should be sent to the Provincial members, and that course was agreed to.