MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 September 1938, Page 9

MAORI MEMORIES

POPULACE AND EDUCATION. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) Early statistics, particularly those of the Maori people, were merely guesswork. In 1770 the Maoris were estimated at 100,000. Governor Grey’s 1849 guess was 105,000; Mr McLean in 1853 said 60,000. It was, however, clear that they were rapidly decreasing. The reason generally given for this was disease and the want of hygienic conditions of living. The modern sheep breeder would give an entirely different reason, namely, the predominance of males. Fairly accurate figures compiled in 1858 gave the relative numbers of Maoris as 32,000 males and 24,000 females... a proportion which would exterminate the flocks of the Dominion in less than 10 years. Two males to each 100 ewes give an annual increase of 100 per cent. In statistics given by the Israelites of old only men capable of fighting were enumerated. Women and children were not counted. The genial climate of the North Island held 53,000 Maoris, the South Island 2,300, the Catham Islands and Stewart Islands 7000. In the European population the same climatic conditions induced immigration and births. The relative increase from 1851 to 1858 were:— Auckland, 8,747; Taranaki, 1,120; Wellington, 6,833; Nelson, 4,9858; Canterbury, 5,694; Otago, 5,168. Total increase, 32,547; doubling each 5 years. Of the adult whites 25 in every 100 could not read, 13 could read only, and 62 could read and write. This was then considered a great attainment in education.