Numb. 28.

259

[Coat of Arms Image Placeholder]

THE
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
Published by Authority.

WELLINGTON, MONDAY, MAY 31, 1869.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Wellington, 25th May, 1869.

THE following Report by the Registrar-General, and the accompanying Tables relative to the Agri-
cultural Statistics of New Zealand in February, 1869, are published for general information.
E. W. STAFFORD.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF NEW ZEALAND,
FEBRUARY, 1869.

Registrar-General's Office, Wellington, 20th May, 1869.

SIR, —I have the honour to forward Tables showing the completed Results of the Collection of Agricultural
Statistics for New Zealand, in the month of February last. The separate Returns for the several Provinces
(and for the County of Westland) have already appeared in the New Zealand Gazette; as, —with a view of
avoiding any delay in the publication of information the value of which depends greatly upon its being made
known at the earliest possible date, —immediately on my receipt of any Return, I transmitted it for
the Gazette. But it is obviously desirable that the information thus issued in detached portions should
now be brought together, and presented so as to comprehend the whole Colony. I have accordingly pre-
pared the accompanying Tables, —the First of which is a General Summary of the Results of the Collection
in each Province (and in the County of Westland); while the Second shows those Results for each of the
Electoral Districts returning Members to the General Assembly, —care being taken, of course, that in the
cases of Electoral Districts running into more than one Province the particulars relating to the several
portions were taken out of the Returns for the Provinces, and added together, so as to show fully and
correctly the results for the Districts respectively. I have added to each of the Tables a column showing
the Population in every instance, according to the latest enumeration; viz., that of the Census of New
Zealand, taken in December, 1867. Although it is certain that since that date there have been considerable
changes in the Numbers of the People in different parts of the Colony, (especially in the Province of
Auckland, to which the development of the Thames Gold Fields has attracted a great increase to the
Population), yet I have thought it desirable to give the Numbers then ascertained, as being the nearest
approximation which it is possible to supply.

"The Census Acts Amendment Act, 1867," besides greatly enlarging the number of subjects relating
to Agricultural and Industrial Statistics on which information was required by "The Census Act, 1858,"
further provided that, in addition to the General Triennial Census, an Annual Account of Land in Cultiva-
tion and of Agricultural Produce should be taken, fixing the month of February for the purpose in the
year 1869. It was under this authority that the particulars in the following Tables were obtained. The
collection, and the prompt publication of the information, have, I believe, on the whole been considered
satisfactory and valuable; but there are two or three points which I think should be borne in mind in
judging of the "Account," either in itself or in view of the benefit which may be anticipated from similar
Accounts in future years: —

(1.) This being the first time of taking an Account corresponding to this in all respects, the
machinery and regulations for effecting the object were new, and, to some extent, experi-
mental. This hindrance, —unavoidable in any new undertaking, —will, of course, be gradually
removed by experience of the working of the arrangements.

(2.) The amount voted by the General Assembly for the purpose was generally regarded as
insufficient. I have no doubt that some of those who exerted themselves zealously in the
matter were actuated more by public spirit, and a desire that so useful a work should at least
be initiated successfully, than by any consideration of the remuneration which it was possible
to offer to them. The sum available did not admit of the employment to the extent that was
desirable of Collectors to visit the Holdings and ascertain the requisite particulars by per-
sonal inquiry, so that no small part of the information was obtained through the Post Office,
by application to individuals known to be Holders or Occupiers of Land; —a mode which
although in many cases not only sufficient for the purpose but even the best that could be