New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4577, 20 November 1875, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19.

Wb have to thank Mr. H. H. Hayter, Government statist of Victoria, for a copy of the Australasian statistics of 1874. Mr. Hatter remarks in his introductory report to the Chief Secretary, that “ the “ contents of the whole of the tables are “ replete with interest, and will no doubt “ receive that attention which their im- “ portance merits.” From a somewhat cursory examination of them we are able to endorse Mr. Hayter’s estimate of the value of his statistics, although we regret that the New Zealand Government should have failed to transmit information under several important heads, before the statistics were published. The following paragraph in the report bears upon this subject:—“Several of the colonies, with “ due punctuality, returned the forms “ properly filled at the appointed time; “but in the case of others considerable “ delay took place. In more than one “ instance the document was sent in de-. “ ficient in some, important particular,* “ and detention occurred whilst this was “being supplied. It is only within the “last few days that the materials have! “ been so far perfected as to enable me to “ make up the tables for publication, and “ even now the information is not quite “ complete.” A foot-note to this para-' “graph adds:—“Some figures were “ received while this return was passing! “ through the Press and have been entered “ in the tables. The most important state- “ ments still missing are those of revenue, “ expenditure, and public debt of New: “ Zealand.” Now, considering that this was written on the Ist October, 1875, and that it had reference to the statistics of 1874, we hardly think the fact is creditable to the New Zealand Government. Either refuse to supply the information asked for; or else transmit it in sufficient time for classification and publication. Having said this by way of introduction, we shall briefly consider the comparative statistics before us. And first as to population, we have the following results for 1874:

From these figures it will be seen that during the year 1874, the excess of immigration over emigration was as under in the respective colonies : Victoria .. ~ .. .. 3,367 New South Wales 10,477 Queensland 12,931 South Australia 2,230 Western Australia .. .. .. 59 i , New Zealand .. .. .. .. 38,106 .The excess of emigration over immigration in Tasmania : was 1,449: the solitary example of a loss of population by emigration. The case of Yictoria is also remarkable. Although in point of population, revenue, and trade, it stands at the head of. the Australasian group of colonies, its gain by immigration during the past year was insignificant. The natural increase was considerable, however, the excess of births over deaths being 14,578. The total population of the Australasian colonies at the close of the year 1874 was 2,233,100, of whom 1,787,064 were on, the Australian mainland. Let us now see what these communities owed, and the extent of their foreign trade duriny 1874, the public debt of New Zealand beingtaken at £16,596,459, on June 30th, 1875, as per Financial Statement. Thus

We need scarcely state that the public debt of New Zealand, in common with the debt of the Australian colonies has ah upward tendency. , It is rather inclined to increase than diminish, although . Tasmania, whoso population has a decided objection to remain in the country managed somehow to save appearances by reducing its public debt £9OO during 1874. This was a trifle truly, but it displayed at least an honest intention. How far the Treasurer of Tasmania may get in that direction is of course what no one can tell, but £48,348,946 certainly dqes seem a terrible burden for a population of two-and-a-quarter millions to bear. Yet the load has been comfortably carried solar. Contrasting population and debt, New Zealand is by far the most heavily burdened, on the other hand its increase in population and extensive trade are features that must arrest the attention of every,economist. It is impossible, however,'not to recognise the fact that New South Wales mode more solid progress last year than any of its rivals. By

excess of immigration oyer emigration, it added 10,477 to its population, and the number of Government immigrants were ■so insignificant as 'not to he worth mentiorliiig ; the natural increase .was 13,520; together giving'' a : ‘total increase of population of 24,003. ( ; The' natural increase in New^.Zealand in 1874 was 8683, which, added to the excess of immigration over emigration, gave a total increase of 46,577 ; but the vast majority of immigrants were introduced at the public charge. It is one thing to introduce ' population by paying their passages ; it is another, and a totally different thing, to'attract it by the advantages which , the country holds out for settlement. This, as it appears to us, is the main, difference between the immigration returns of this country and New South Wales for the year 1874. , There are many other points of interest in these comparative statistics of Australasia to which we shall probably revert. Meanwhile we have extracted from them enough to show the enormous strides. Australia and New Zealand have madoiih industrial and commercial enterprise. ’lt is less than a’century since" the first settlement was made at Sydney, and now vigorous British communities are planted all over the Australian continent and the adjacent islands, of Tasmania and New Zealand, whose fame is in every land, and whose flag is on every sea. Mr. Hayter, the Government statist of Victoria, has brought these facts prominently forward in his interesting statistics, the receipt of which we acknowledge with pleasure. ’

Population Immigrants Emigrants Victoria .. 808,437 . 30,732. 27,385 New South Wales 584.278 29,758 j 19,279 Queensland .. ICS,517 20.725 7,794 South Australia.., 204,623 6,557 3,271 Western Australia 26,209 . 660 ■ 601 . Tasmania.. .. 104,176 0,265 7,714 New Zealand ..341,860 43,965 6,589

i uua : — Public debt. Imports. Exports. £ . £ ■ £ Victoria 13,990,563 16,053.985 15,441,109 N. South Wales 10,510,371 11,293,739 12,345,003 Queensland 6,253,286 2,062,439 4,106,402 South Australia 2,089,750“ 3,983,290 4,402,885 Western do.. 143,266 110,000 , 864,203 Tasmania 1,476,700 • 1,257,785 925,325 New Zealand .. 16,696,459 8,121,812 6,251,269