and “sixties.” The wonder is that extinction was still being argued about in 1907. In the following table the figures for the earlier years are estimates. The lowest ebb appears to have been reached in 1871, with another serious drop in 1896. Table 1.—Population. Authority. Year. Population. Increase or Decrease. Captain Cook 1769–74 100,000 (400,000) Nicholas 1814 150,000 Rev. W. Williams (estimate) 1835 200,000 (120,000) Estimate 1840 114,000 Governor Grey 1849 120,000 Mr. McLean 1853 60,000 Judge Fenton 1858 55,970 Estimate 1867 38,540 Estimate 1871 37,520 Colonial Government 1874 45,470 Colonial Government 1891 41,993 Colonial Government 1896 39,854 Colonial Government 1901 43,101 Colonial Government (proper census) 1906 47,731 In. 4,630 Colonial Government (proper census) 1911 49,844 In. 2,113 Colonial Government (proper census) 1916 49,776 Dec. 68 Colonial Government (proper census) 1921 52,751 In. 2,975 Sir Walter Buller, when he made his prognosis in 1884, estimated the population at the low figure of 30,000. Twenty-five years later what should have been a remnant had reached the healthy figures of over 48,000. Archdeacon Walsh held that no reliance could be placed in the figures until the census of 1906. Here proper house-to-house visits were made by properly qualified enumerators, and the assistance of intelligent and trustworthy Maori with local knowledge was obtained. He considered that previous rises in population were due to inaccuracy of returns. He was so sure, of the accuracy of the 1906 census that he further stated, in 1907, “Finality has now been reached, and the next census will show that the Maori population, instead of increasing, has been diminishing all the time, and that if the present rate of declension continues it must soon reach the vanishing-point.” The next census, in 1911, taken by the same system which gained the Archdeacon's confidence, showed an increase of 2,113. The census of 1916 showed a falling-off of 68; but when it is remembered that hundreds of Maori troops were out on war service it will be seen that the decrease was not real. The next census, in 1921, showed an increase of 2,975. This increase ia the more meritorious when it is remembered that, during the period it covered, the influenza epidemic of 1918 carried off over 1,000 victims. Thus, since Archdeacon Walsh said sixteen years ago that finality had been reached, there has been an actual increase of 5,020; and his vanishing-point has, we hope, been deferred for ever as far as extinction is concerned.