THE Evening Star PUBLISHED DAILY AT YOUR FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1881.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3749, 3 January 1881, Page 2

THE Evening Star PUBLISHED DAILY AT YOUR FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1881.

Fbom the official Blue "Book of New Zealand for 1879 we gain a fund of information as to the condition of the colony during that year. The population in 1878 was estimated at 240,627 males and females (exclusive* of Maoris— estimated at 43,595), or a total population of 432,519. In 1879 this number had increased to 463,729 —an addition of 31,210, consisting of excess of births over deaths, and immigration over emigration. The last quarter of the year contributes the largest number of new subjects, the return being 12,015, as against 7,477, •4,677, and 7,040, in the first, second, and third quarters of the year respectively. This large increase on the previous quarters is to be attributed to the large number of immigrants who poured into New Zealand at the close of the year, the excess of immigration over emigration being 8,574. The excess of births over deaths during the year was 12,487, being a decrease of 638 on the similar increase of 1878. This decrease is not, however, aceountcd for through less births having eventuated, but through an increase in the number of deaths. The number of marriages solemnized in New Zealand during 1879 was 3,352. Of these 739 were celebrated in the Church of England, 595 performed by Registrars, 537 in the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, 456 in the Presbyterian" Church of Otago and Southland, and 408 in the Roman Catholic Church, the remainder being celebrated in the sacred edifices of other denominations. The matrimonial knot has not been so extensively embraced during the year 1879, and the total shows a slight decrease of 25 on the/ matrimonial returns of 1878. The num-; ber of marriages has nearly doubled since 1870, .when there were only 1,8#6 marriages celebrated in the various places of vporship. Of the number stated 626 being unable to write, signed the marriage register with marks. Of this number 192 so signed in the Registrar's office, and the [Roman Catholic Church comes next with 144, and Church of England 88. This proves that a large number of* uneducated people patronise the Registrar's office in comparison to those who prefer to have their union legitimised its the Church of God. The proportion bf marriages to every thousand of the population was 762. Three -marriages were celebrated, the respective ages of husband and wife being 70 and* 65, from which Mt would appear that the joys of taatrimony do\ not much depreciate as age progresses. The large majority of marriages solemnised was between the ages of 25 to 30, 1,114 persons having entered the "holy bondp " at that age ; 21 to 25 coming nest in thelist'with 957 joyful swains.v Id: .the Auckland district the number of deaths wa3 1,099, the population being 87,252, the number being made up by the decease of 658 males and 441 females. The number of deaths in the Thames Hospital in 1879 was 6, and the number of cases treated was 151. These consisted 0f125 zymotic, 16 constitutional (4 deaths), local 66 (2 deaths), 5 developmental, 39 violence (accidental). The total number of cases treated in the various hospitals at Auckland, Thames, Cordmandel, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Napier, Wanganui, Wellington, Picton, Nelson, -Westport, Charleston, Reefton, Kumera, Greymouth, riTokitika, Ross, Christchurch, Akaroa, Timaru, Dune din, Oamaru, Dunst&n, Cromwell, Wakatipu, Mount Ida, Lawrence and Invercargill was 5,314> of which 487 ended fatally. The Dunedin hospital has the most cases, the/number being 964 (93 deaths) Christchurch and Auckland coming next with 776 iind 767 respectively (93 and 75 deaths)./ Besides the cases the cause of which /was specified, there were 155 unspecified cases from which 5 deaths resulted. - The hospitals are doing an immense amouiit of good, as will be seen from the number of cases and deaths during.the yoar,-a/id we may congratulate

ourselves on having such a-pumber of valuable medical institutions throughout the colony. j

We observe that some people do nqf^forget the predictions that Mr W. 00^> senr., gives forth in his publication. iThe public could not help observing that the! pavements on New Year's morning from Q-rahamstown to Shortland had been very liberally chalked over with various expressions concerning 1881 and the end of the world, with here and there a fancy portrait of Mr Wood himself. In one placo we noticed the, words "Mr Wood and the profits," instead of prophots 5 H the writer meant that Mr W. makes a good thing out of his publication, wnich is given - ug jatia t0 all who aPPIT for ifc we Tery much doubt if any profit; accrues to the proprietor, we believe there must be a considerable loss on every number issued. The advertisements certainly will not near cover the expenses, and there does not Beem to be many subscriptions to supplement those advertisements, while we have frequently come across the expression that Enoch would appear more frequently if contributions towards its expenses came in more rapidly, but, as is often observed, a prophet gets little honor in his own country. ,g

The following is the State of Sick at the Thames.Goldfield Hospital from Ist to 31st December, _ 1880:—Statistical Nosology — Zymotic Eiesases—remained 2, hdmitted 2, remaining 4; Constitutional— Admitted 1, died 1; Local—remained 8, admitted 5, discharged 5, died 2, remaiiiiug 6 ; Violent — remained 4, admitted 3, discharged 3, remaining 4.—Total, remained 14, admitted 11, discharged 8, died 3, remaining 14. Out Patients, 236. —T. Aitjjkn, Dispenser.

Me Bbyoe'S constituents have lately been moving with a view of noking him for an account of his stewardship. The Wanganui Herald condemns the movement. .*

Thbee were only two cases at the R.M. Court this morning—both of drunk and incapable. The offenders were disposed of in the usual manner.

It is surprising to notice how early in life young people are seized with a desire for marriage. The following epistlo is from a juvenile would-be swain to his inamorata. When found, the writing was crammed on a morsel of ledger ieaf, about the size of an envelope. The writing and spelling are not creditable to the gay Adonis, but were no doubt charming in the eyes of his youthful Tenus :—" Dear h'zzy love, I are comming up in a week or two and you bet we shall hare a jolly go in,you never answered my last letter which I took rather unkind of you but I suppose I must let it all blow overe for" I dearly love you and I hope we will be marrid some day I remain lover you Affectonate —to my dearest love —Dear lizy, you must excuse my shortness of letter and paper."

Yesterday morning the Rev. Father O'Eeilly, officiating in St. brands' Church, requested his flock to pray for the repose of the eoul of Sister Mary Evangelist, who departed this life at the Convent on Saturday morning last. The deceased Sister has been teaching iv the' Convent Schools at the Thames for some years past, and was a great favorite among the young people attending the school.^ Mass was celebrated for the repoee of her soul in St. Francis Church this morning.

The recent high tides flooded the Tarious offices near the Pacific Corner, and the luckless occupiers were to be observed knee-deep in water bailing the water out of their establishments. The drains had bean left open, and hence the flood. The road by the Pacific Corner waß also rendered impassable.

To-day being a holiday, many of the mercantile eßt&JMishments jyere closed.

A numbeb of miners left this morning by the Vivid to resume operations at the Mountain of Love.

The Blanche conveyed excursionists to Goromandeland the Miranda thin morning.

Hopkins' and Clarke's " short instructions to beginners in bee culture" is ready for publication, and will be shortly published. The h New Zealand Bee Manual" will also shortly appear. $

Thjb.., pyrotechnic display given by the Grtthatnstown Fire Brigade on Friday evening was a great succobb. The band was present, anfldiscoursed sweet music, while the rockets other ocmtrivances of Salamander were being projeolefi, much to the d light of the large crowd assembled. The devices formed by means of jets of water illurninateel with colored fire presented a very pretty spectacle, and thfe Brigade are to be complimented on their successful efforts.