INTERESTING STATISTICS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 363, 27 April 1889, Page 8

INTERESTING STATISTICS.

A variety of interesting facts and figures have appealed in print, founded upon official data, illustrating the vast and rapid growth of enterprise and prosperity in the gieotest of England's dependencies, and suggesting: the conclusion that it yet has a grand futuie to realise. Going back to tl c 3'enr 1842, it is seen that the area of British Indta was then 626,000 square milop. In 1844 it increased to 675,000 ;in 1847 to 694,000 ; and in 1848 to 699,000. Nearly every year more or less was added, until in 1856 it i cached the total of 856,000. For a period of ten years no f Hither change took place, until in 1865 the aiea developed to 860,000. In 1882 this rose to 868.256, and in 1886 to 947,887 square miles. Thus British India in 1886 was half as large again as it was in 1842, and this extraoidinary growth is fnrlher indicated by the lemark that bince 1842 an area equal to lhat of France, Italy, and Belgium, has been added to British India — that is, to Biitish territory in India, excluding the native States. In further summary of such striking facts, it is noted that in 1842 British India had an area equal to that of France, Spam, and the German Empire of to-day ; by 1852 sin area sis large as Italy and Portugal together was added to this ; by 1862 a fuither area as large as Hungary was added ; by 1882 this was inct eased b}' the area of Holland ; and by 1886 an area equivalent to that of the whole German Empire, excluding the kingdom of Prussia, was added to thin. The area of the nsitive states under Britif-h protection (which are not included) is roughly equivalent to the combined areas of the Austro-llungarian Empire, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. The largeness of s.nch figures naturally cause surpiise, and the pages, of hibtoiy would have diligently to be sought for a parallel to a rate of progress at once so steady and so magnificent in its meaning. Step by step with the increase of the British dominionsin India hei tiade has advanced, and the conntiy has been opened up to commerce by the multiplying channels of communication. While in 1884 but 10/784-J miles of lailwsiy were open, there are now under constant traffic 14,383 miles, and every year adds to \he tale. The total pabsenger traffic has increased year by year from 58.875,918 in 1882, to 95,411/779 in 1887;/ : and that of goods from 14,833,243 tons in the foimer year, to 20,195,677. Greater still has been the progress of the telegraphs, for the 17,600 miles of line, 42,011 miles of wire, 249 offices, and 1,371,909 messages of 1878, have swollen in 1887 to the tots of 30,034 miles of line, and 86,891 of wire, 699 offices, and 2,534,685 messages. In all this there is evidence of unexampled prospeiity, lesting upon a suie basis of indu.stiy. The impojtance of India is growing- ut a rate* that at no distant period of time uilipiofoundly be felt thioughout Europe.