5

8.—23

New Zealand, Statistical View of: 1887 and 1897.

No. 9. The Agent-General to the Colonial Treasurer. (No. 329.) Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sir,— 16th February, 1899. I beg to transmit herewith three copies of deed-poll (dated 2nd January, 1899) creating £500,000 New Zealand Consolidated Stock under the provisions of the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Acts; also three copies of the declaration (dated 3rd January, 1899) for the Inland Revenue Commissioners. I also attach copy of letter which the Loan and Stock Agents addressed to the Bank of England with respect to the above. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, Wellington. W. P. Reeves.

Enclosure 1 in No. 9. Gentlemen,— 13, Victoria Street, S.W., Ist February, 1899. Referring to our letter of the Bth June last, we have the honour to inform you that we have been authorised to create a further amount of £500,000 New Zealand Inscribed Stock for the purpose of providing, either by issue or by conversion of debentures, £500,000 authorised to be raised under an Act passed by the Legislative Assembly of New Zealand, and intituled " The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Acts Amendment Act, 1898 "; and we have now to acquaint you that by a deed-poll dated the 2nd January, 1899, under our hands and seals (a printed copy of which we send herewith), and which has been duly enrolled, we have set forth the terms and conditions upon which the stock has been created and can be issued. We have made the declaration required by " The Colonial Stock Act, 1877," and have lodged the same with the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, so as to bring the stock under the provisions of the Colonial Stock Act, and we send herewith a printed copy of such declaration. ■You are therefore duly enabled to carry out any arrangements which may be made with you by us on behalf of the New Zealand Government for the inscription of the stock. We have accordingly to request you to pay to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue the composition for stamp duty so as to enable the stock, after inscription, to be transferred free of duty, as in the previous issues of New Zealand Consolidated Stock. We also authorise you to issue to the holders of the stock who may desire the same, from time to time, stock-certifidfetes to bearer, in pursuance of the provisions of " The Colonial Stook Act, 1877." We also

1887. 1897. increase per Gent. Population, 31st December (exclusive of Maoris) .. Persons Total imports (excluding specie) .. .. .. £ Total exports (excluding specie) .. .. .. £ Total exports, the produce of the oolony .. .. £ Total export of wool .. .. .. .. lb. Value .. .. .. .. .. .. £ Total export of frozen meats .. .. .. cwt. Value .. .. .. .. .. .. £ Total export of tallow .. .. .. .. owt. Value .. .. .. .. .. .. £ Total export of butter .. .. .. .. cwt. Value .. .. .. .. .. .. £ Total export of oheese .. .. .. .. cwt. Value .. .. .. .. .. .. £ Mining— Output of coal .. .. .. .. .. Tons Value .. .. .. .. .. £ Output of gold .. .. .. .. .. oz. Value .. .. .. .. .. £ Occupied lands— Holdings .. .. .. .. .. No. 603,361 6,064,281 6,680,772 6,551,081 88,824,382 3,321,074 402,107 455,870 154,720 147,233 17,018 54,921 23,913 54,562 729,056 7,994,201 9,741,222 9,596,267 135,835,117 4,443,144 1,407,921 1,566,286 310,200 259,964 99,022 402,605 77,683 150,517 20-83 31-82 45 81 46-48 52-92 33-79 250-14 £43-58 100-49 76 57 481-75 63306 224-86 175-86 558,620 279,310 187,938 747,878 840,713 420,356 251,645 980,204 50-50 50 50 33-90 3106 36,485 Census 1886. 27,848,690 Census 1886. 7,309,689 Year 1888. 58,904 Year 1896. 33,312,212 Year 1896. 11,483,127 Year 1898. 61-45 Holdings, extent of (including Crown pastoral leases) Acres 19-62 Land in cultivation (including sown grasses).. .. Acres 5709 Live-stock— Sheep .. .. .. .. .. .. No. 16,564,595 Census 1886. 853,358 Census 1886. 187,382 Census 1886. 19,687,954 April, 1897. 1,209,165 November, 1897. 252,834 November, 1897. 1886 Cattle .. .. .. .. .. ... No. 41-69 Horses .. .. .. .. .. .. No. 34-93 Government Railways— Miles open .. .. .. .. .. No. 1,753 March, 1888. 994,843 March, 1888. 2,055 March, 1898. 1,376,008 March, 1898. 17-23 Receipts .. .. .. .. .. £ 38-31 Government Electrio TelegraphMiles of line .. .. .. .. .. No. 4,790 December, 1888. 1888. 131,345,925 216 6,484 March, 1898. 1897. 183,781,780 252 35-37 Private Wealth (all kinds) — Estimated amount .. .. .. .. £ Estimated amount per head of population 39-92