THE MAORI CENSUS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5497, 8 November 1878, Page 2

THE MAORI CENSUS.

The census of the Maori people has been completed and laid before the House of Representatives. With the reports from the respective officers in native districts who have been charged with the duty of collecting the statistics, the return is.volu.minous, and some time may probably elapse before it can be printed. Under these circumstances a summary of the information contained in the papers may have interest for our readers. The last Maori census was taken in 1874 ; the total number of the people then given, including half-castes, was 46,016 souls. Of these tho males were 25,050, of whom 8117 wore under fifteen years of ago'. The females were 20,960, of whom 7112 were under fifteen years of age. Tho returns for this year, 1878, showed a total native population of 42,819 souls, of whom the , males over fifteen years number 14,558, and tho females 11,802 ; tho males under fifteen years being 6901, and the females 5745. The decrease on tho total of population in four years is 3319, in calculating which the natives of tho Chatham Islands, now for tho first timo brought into' tho census, are excluded. In the schedules it is shown that from frequent migration of tho people, or other causes, the native population in tho Auckland, Waiuku, Lower Waikato, Taranaki, Wanganui, Opotiki, and East Coast districts show, respectively, an increase of population, the total of which is 2134 ; but the other twenty districts show more than a corresponding decrease, and ,the sad result is that in four years the Maori people have diminished in numjbor by 3319 souls. Tho native officers in their reports indicate causes for the reduction in numbers in their districts, especially in those in the North of this island, which are apparent

iii. tho neglect of personal in i hording' together in wretched hovels which have not now oven the comfort of'the old Maori wharo, in bad food, insufficient clothing, and last and worst in the growing habits of . intemperance. Measles, whooping cough,; and typhoid fever find easy victims amongst people thus prepared, and the r mortality from these diseases, more especially amongst the children, is very great:' Here and there, as at Wangarob and at Tauranga, some influential chiefs have joined-the -Good ..Templar movement, apd by their example and influence have effected much good in arresting the evil of drink ; but there are other evils beyond, the,..reach -of cure .which are, .and have long been, steadily doing their work of destruction, ■ ; ' The natives in what may be called tho King Country, from Waikato to Mokau, including Kawhia, Aotea, and Raglan, are returned, upon a careful computation by Major Maib, as being 5131 in number. A . very considerable decrease since 1874, amounting to 1420 souls, is shown ; but it is explained that this latter number may not bo found to be exact, owing to certain changes made in the boundaries of tho district, by which a settlement on the Waipa is excluded. , . „, . , , In the Taranaki Native District, between Mokau and Waitotara, Major Bnow.N' reports the population to be—males over 15 years, 1335 ; females, 1147 ; males under 15 years, 502 ; females, 456 : total, 3440 souls. This is an increase upon the numbers in 1874, but Major Bkown explains that it is only apparent, and due chiefly to an error in the last return. His personal experience convinces him that his district forms no exception to the general rule, and that there also the decrease in numbers is steady. Tho one place in which there has been a natural increase is that indicated by Mr. Alexander Maokay, in the settlement in Queen Charlotte Sound, and that result is attributed, no doubt justly, to the large admixture of European blood amongst tho parents. In the other places in Nelson, Marlborough, and Westlaud the total Maori population is 692, showing a decrease of 296 in four years. This, Air. Maokay says, is in part due to migration ; but the proportion of children to adults is less than one-third, and in most of the settlements “ the deaths “ double tho births, and in one instance “ quadruples them.” In the Canterbury District the numbers are 534, the decrease being 24. The Rev. Mr. Stack complains of the difficulty of getting complete statistical information, as the natives persist in thinking that the numbering of the people is somehow meant to injure them. Mr; Deicihton’s report gives tho population of the Chatham Islands as follows

The Morions of tho Chatham Islands are disappearing at a faster rate than the Maoris themselves. The fact that in a population of 49 there were three male children only, and no female child, disposes of that question. These people, tho Morioris, the original possessors of the Chatham Islands, are said to be of Polynesian origin, like the Maori, but their history is more obscure. Maoris from the Middle Island, flying in terror of Te Rauparaha, invaded their territory, conquered and enslaved them ; in forty years they have dwindled down from 500 to 50.

“ Twenty generations back,” said Dr. Thomson, writing in 1859, “the “ aboriginal settlers were under 1000 “ souls ; in seventeen generations they “multiplied to 100,000, during which “ period cousins married cousins, uncles “ nieces, nephews aunts, and other “blood connected kindred. The re- “ suit is that the whole of the present “ generation are closely intermingled ; “ chiefs living widely apart, and formerly “ hostile, can trace without difficulty “ blood - connections with each other, “ while among the lower orders of the “ people the consequences of such unions “ are' still more apparent.” The persistent violation of a natural law was thus leading up to the extinction of the race long before the stream of European colonisation was directed to these Islands; wo may, have helped to accelerate it, and that consideration does no doubt sustain the sentiment of kindness and forbearance and the desire to help and save them which, in these later years at least, have marked our relations with the Maoris as a people. It may be hoped that there will be no change or need of change in that course with any section of them in the future.

Males. Females. Hoys Girls. Totals. Maoris 20 12 13 .8 — 63 Morioris 2S 18 S 0 — 40 Half castes.. 4 3 6 0 18