RAPIDLY-GROWING TOWNS

Opotiki News, Volume X, Issue 1041, 28 October 1947, Page 3

RAPIDLY-GROWING TOWNS

HAMILTON’S 1000 A-YEAR INTERESTING FIGURES - The latest statistics of population in New Zealand so far as the chief and secondary towns are concerned gives Gisborne a population of 18,000. "At one time Gisborne and .Hamilton 'were approximately level but the Waikato centre has now far outstripped Gisborne in growth and the day is not far distant when Hamilton will be New Zealand’s fifth city. Gisborne's growth is at the rate of 400 a- year. The annual growth o’f other towns is: Hamilton 1000, Palmerston North 800, . Hastings 700, Invercargill 700, Napier 600, New Plymouth 600, Nelson 500, Wanganui and Timaru 400. New Plymouth with a population of 22,000, has reached city status.

The three most rapidly growing towns in the North Island are Hamilton, New Plymouth and Hastings. In the last 35 years the populations of Hastings and New Plymouth have increased 21 times, but Hamilton has outstripped both with a 4i times'increase in that period. Auckland is easily the biggest cityin New Zealand and will soon have a population of 300,000. Some population figures are: Auckland 28 J, 900 Wellington 183, too Christchurch 159,100 Dunedin 87,700 Invercargill 29,300 Palmerston North 29,300 Hamilton 28,400 Wanganui 27,600 New Plymouth 22,000 Hastings 21,900 Napier 21,600 Timaru 2u,ouu Gisborne 18,000 Nelson 17,600