STATISTICAL TABLES FOR 1868.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 85, 25 September 1869, Page 3

STATISTICAL TABLES FOR 1868.

We have received the usual volume of statistics published in anticipation of the annual report presented to both Houses of Assembly. Although figures cannot be called attractive objects of study, many curious facts may be gleaned from the formidable-looking columns of the work before us. Our population does not appear to have been very largely augmented during 1868, the estimated general total (excluding aborigines) being 227,810, as against 218,668 in 1867. By immigration, 8,729 persons have been added to our community, but against this must be set an emigration of 7,863, leaving a nett increase of only 860. As regards Otagos the figures are tolerably favourable, the immigration being 2919, of whom 1157 were from the United Kingdom and 1696 from the Australian colonies, and the emigration, 1487, of whom 1256 went to other colonies. Westland occupies the most melancholy position", its excess of emigration over immigration amounting to the large number of 2,374 These figures show an alarming decline in the public estimation of this country, as the immigration is smaller than, it has been since 1858, and the emigration greater than in any year since 1863; The balance on the right side was, in 1867, 4,859 ; in 1868 it is only 860, a decrease of 4000. Figures iike these show of how vital an iiripbrtarice are the questions relating to the tenure and purchase of ia'nd which, have for some time agitated the public mind.

The number of births registered during 1868' tb.rougb.out the colony was— males, 4,766 ; females, 4,625 ; total, 9,391. . Of those Otago claimed —boys, 1227; girls, 1170, giving a total of 2,397. , During the same period the total number of deaths throughout the .colony was 2,G62 (being, males, 1,631 ; females, 1,031), leaving an excess of 6,729 in favour of the births. Otago had 604 deaths, being 372 males and 232 females. The number of marriages during the same period was 2,085, being 30 more than in 1867. Otago claimed 464 of these, being an increase of 10 on the preceding year. The export of gold amounted to 637,474 ozs., worth £2,504,326. Nelson claims the first position with 208,295 ozs. ; "Westland conies next with 203,515 ozs. ; while Ofcago makes , a good third with 163,089 ozs. Auckland only exported 53,611 ozs. in 1868, the value being £168,874. Ofcago leads the way in the amount of waste land disposed of, with 109,088 acres, the average rate per acre being, for town sections, £21 7s. to £57 2s. 3d. per acre ; for rural ones, at the rate of 13s. 3d. to £1 Is. lOd. per acre. Otago appears to be also blessed with a larger number of runholders than any other province, tlie extent of land held by these gentlemen being 6,131,000 acres, and the revenue yielded, £52,275 ; Canterbury coming next with 5,618^899 acres in runs, and a revenue thence derived of £34,165. As a good deal of doubt prevails as to the exact amoxmt of revenue derived from the mining population in excess of the amount levied on the rest of the population, it is interesting to learn that in 1868 the gold duty yielded £79,653, and miners' rights and official fees, £50,899. The amounts for Otago were, duty, £20,392 ,• miners' rights, &c, £19,743 ; or, in other words, our mining population paid about £2 a head special taxation.