H.—3l

18

Marriages. The marriages for 1913 show a decrease on the number for the previous year. The number was 8,813, or 336 less than in 1912. The rate per 1,000 of the population was 8-25, as against 8-81 in 1912. It is shown by the table following that there has been considerable increase n the marriage-rate, which has been above the standard during each of the last eighteen years :—

Marriages, Number and Rate.

The marriage-rate, measured by the total population, does not show the true position when, as in the case of New Zealand, the age-constitution of the people fluctuates considerably. A more satisfactory standard is found in the number of persons of marriageable age, defined as meaning the unmarried and widowed of males aged 20 years and upwards and of females aged 15 years and upwards. The rates are given for six census years : —

The total number of marriages solemnized does not include marriages where both parties are of the aboriginal Native race, such persons being exempted from the necessity of complying with the provisions of the Marriage Act. although at liberty to take advantage thereof. Thirty-four marriages in which both parties were Maoris were contracted in 1913 in terms of the Act. Ages of Persons Married. Of the persons married in 1918, 159 bridegrooms and 1,394 brides were under 21 years of age Of the bridegrooms, two were between 1(1 and 17. and one between 17 and 18, and eleven bet w 18 and 19. Of the brides, seven were between 15 and 16, and forty between 16 and 17 years of age. The proportion of men married is greatest at the ages of 25 to 30. and of women at from 21 to -25 years. Deaths. The deaths in 1913 numbered 10.119. a rate of 9-47 in every 1.000 persons living, as against 8-87 m 1912.

Marriage-rate. Marriage-rate. Year. Total Number of Marriages . Compared registered. rwi.uuu w ithRatein D , .. 1882-80 Population. tekcnas|00 Year. Total Number of Marriages registered. Perl. ('"Wpar,.,! with Rate in Population. JSZXn 1882-86 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 3.663 6-68 100 3,563 5-97 89 3,617 5-97 89 3.032 5*93 89 3,797 6-12 92 3.805 6-04 i>0 4,002 6-23 93 4,115 6-22 93 4,178 6-15 92 4,110 5-94 89 4,843 6-85 103 4,928 6-83 102 5,091 6-91 103 5,461 7-28 109 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 5,860 6,095 6.934 6,748 (5.983 7.200 7,592 8,192 8,339 8,094 8,236 8,825 9.149 8.8I-". 7-67 115 7-83 117 8-01 120 8-23 123 8-26 121 8-28 124 8-48 127 8-91 133 8-82 132 8-33 125 8-30 124 8-70 130 8-81 132 8-25 124

Year of Census, Proportion of Unmarried per 1 ,000 of Total. Mali's. Females. Proportion of Marriages per 1.000 of the Marriageable Marriageable Marriageable Total Men. Women. Persons. Population. :886 [891 896 1901 .906 911 •2350 238-2 258-8 275-5 291-3 286-5. 238-2 47-32 268-5 47-78 308-9 5014 331-8 5411 328-2 54-36 314-9 57-60 54-56 47-97 47-00 49-78 54-93 58-38 25-36 23-94 24-26 25-93 27-72 28-99 5-99 6-04 6-85 7-83 8-48 8-70