THE GROWTH OF NEW ZEALAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 607, 17 November 1881, Page 2

THE GROWTH OF NEW ZEALAND.

Bayond all doubt Now Zealand is the most promising of the British South Sea Colonies. The crop reports brought by the last steamer are astounding. Not even California or Oregon ever equalled 80 bushels of wheat or oats to the acre, which is given as a “common yield’ - ' -fit-* Southland, with here and there, in favored 'localities, 117 bushels. The New Zealand census returns show an increase, of 90 per cent over the returns of 1871. That year the total population of the three islands forming the colony was 256,250. An increase of 90 per cent gives 486,625 for the present yea-. This d - ea not include the Maoris, or native race. A census by the colonial authorities, taken.two years ago, made the population (exclusive of Maoris), 414,412. The in-. i it two -ears has bfe.c*,

72,213, or a fraction over Si per cent a year. Not more than five or six States in the American Union has as great an jncreaae from 1870 to 1880, California e increase was more than 30 per Cent below it. In 1879 there were four towns in New Zeuhm with populations over 13,000 ; Dunedin, 22,525; WTlmgton. 18,953; Auckland, 13,758 ; Christchurch, 13 4^5

■ The increase in these towns since \ .then gives Dunedin a present population v above that of any other city on the Pacificcoast of the United Slates, but San Francisco and Oakland, and raises the rest to a rank equal to Sacramento and Portland The soil, climate and commercial advantages of New Zealand are fir-t class. Her area is 105,000 square miles, against 120.879 for England, Scot-

laud, Ireland and Wales ; and there is a larger per cent of good arable land in New Zealand than in England and Scotland, It is easy to imagine from these facts and figures what a future ia in store for that country. Without over-peopling it has a capacity for 20,000,000 souls. But the one great drawback on the energies of New Zealand, as well as all the other British Smith Sea colonies, is the burden of public debt. With less than half a million people, and not quite 35,000,000d01s of exports, the debt of New Zealand is 118,C00,000dols, and her total revenue about 20,000,000d015. Th;s is an enormous burden for less than hslf-a-million inhabitants to bear ; and that they do bear it and yet prosper speaks well for the natural capabilities of the country.—San Francisco Chronicle.