222
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

comparison of the Returns of the different
branches of the Census information with each
other, the result of which will probably be
that all the figures which will appear in the
Statistical Volume will not precisely agree
with all those now presented. But such
corrections as may be thus required, -though
not unimportant with reference to the ob-
ject of exact statistical accuracy-are not
likely to involve any alteration affecting any
political, financial, or social question which
may be influenced by the results of the
Census.

Stewart's Island and the Chatham Islands
are not included, the Census Returns not
having been yet received at this office. The
Aggregate European Population of these
Islands, however, would probably little, if at
all, exceed 100 souls.

With a view of showing, in a convenient
form, statistical evidence of the rapid pro-
gress of the Colony, Comparative Tables
are added (Tables VII., VIII.,) showing
the Numerical and Centesimal Increase of
the Population in the three years since the
last Census was taken, and also in the ten
years since the General Census in 1851. The
Numbers for 1851 are from Abstracts of the
Census published in the Government Gazette
of May 31st, 1853. Some qualification with
regard to the comparison of the results of
that Census with those more recently taken
may perhaps be deemed necessary from the
circumstance that it (the Census of 1851) ap-
plied to the "Settlements" of New Zealand,
while in 1858 and 1861 the more recent
divisions into "Provinces" have been adopted.
But although the geographical boundaries
of the latter extend beyond the less defined
limits of the former, yet, in a comparison
restricted to the European Population, the
difference is not so great as materially to
affect the general value of the comparison.

It will be seen that the Population of
European Descent in New Zealand which in
1851 was 26,707 had in 1858 increased to
59,254, being an absolute increase in seven
years amounting to 32,547 persons, or cal-
culated centesimally, of 121.86 per cent.

This striking advance has, however, been
surpassed proportionately by the progress in
the interval of three years between the
Census of December, 1858, and that of
December, 1861. The Numbers enumerated
in December last amounted to 98,915, being
an Absolute Increase on the Population in
1858 amounting to 39,661, or an Increase of
66.93 per cent. in those years. To the
Numbers actually enumerated, however, may
be added 3,000 persons (Gold Diggers) who
were believed, on sufficient authority, to have
been on the roads and in the gullies at the
Otago Gold Fields on the day when the
Census was taken, but who, not having been
individually entered in Schedules, are not
included in the Returns. Thus the Population
in December last may be fairly estimated
at 101,915; being an Increase in three years
(1858-1861) of 42,661 persons, or 71.99
per cent., and in ten years (1851-1861) of
75,208 persons, or 281.60 per cent.

It may be remarked that the Population of
the single Province of Otago thus estimated,
exceeded in 1861, that of the entire Colony
of New Zealand in 1851, by 3456 souls.

It is to be borne in mind that these
Numbers do not include the Military and
their Families, which, on the 16th of De-
cember last, numbered 7,294,-viz., Officers
and Men, 5,836; Male Children, 437; Women
and Female Children, 1021.

The evidences of advance presented by the
comparative figures relating to Stock and
Land Cultivation (Tables IX., X.,) present
similar matter of encouragement. The Ag-
gregate Numbers of Live Stock of all kinds
which had increased in the seven years
(1851-1858) from 299,115 to 1,727,997, still
further increased in the three years (1858-
1861) to 3,036,901, (not including Poultry
enumerated at the last Census.) Taking
Sheep separately, the Total Number in the
Colony which, in 1851 was 233,043, and
in 1858 had increased to 1,523,316, in 1861
amounted to 2,760,163. So, with respect
to Cultivation and Crops, the Aggregate
Quantity of Land under Crop which, in 1851
was 29,140 acres, and in 1858 had increased
to 140,946 acres, in 1861 amounted to
226,478 acres; and the Land Fenced was, in
1861, 409,467 acres, against 235,468 acres
in 1858, and 30,470 acres in 1851.

The distribution of the Population, the
Live Stock, and the Cultivation and Crops
respectively amongst the several Provinces
and Electoral Districts, will be found in
the following Tables;-but the comparative
Tables necessarily relate only to the Pro-
vinces, and in most of these Tables, for the
purposes of comparison, the recently es-
tablished Provinces have been included with
those of which previously they formed part.

I have the honour to be,
Sir,

Your most obedient servant,
JOHN B. BENNETT,
Registrar-General.
The Honorable the Colonial Secretary.