POPULATION ON THE PLAINS.

Patea Mail, 25 May 1882, Page 3

POPULATION ON THE PLAINS.

The Hon. Mr Bryce telegraphed to Captain Wilson asking for an estimate of the European population between Waingongoro and| Stoney River. It is difficult to assess (he population without taking a census, but seeing there are about 60 householders within the boundaries of the Mauaia Town District, the population there cannot be less than about 250, as throughout New Zealand there are on an average fully four persons to each house. Then there are 128 settlers living on deferred payment land. Excluding: about 28 of these who reside within Manaia Town District, they would represent about 400 men, women, and children. The settlers living; on; cash land, and their wives and families and laborers, seeing that they occupy more than double the area taken up by deferred payment selectors, probably number at least 200. Then; there are all the bush settlers at the back of the Wairaate Plains, whose number no one seems to know with any degree of accuracy, but sawmillers and their men, splitters and bushmen, and probably 100 resident, settlers, scattered over an area o f 40,000 acres,there cannot be fewer than frorti 100 to 200,‘ and may be more. Opunaki and the surrounding district has at least as many as Manaia, say; 250. Taking these figures as a fair and : moderate estimate, a reply to Mr Bryce; would give; from 1300 to ifiOO as the European population between Waingongoro and Opunaki, exclusive of the Rahotu and Parih'aka settlers.-— Star. *