Feb. 4.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 371

Population of the Dominion.

RETURN of the Estimated Population (exclusive and inclusive of Maoris) of the Dominion of New Zealand on the 31st December, 1908.

Excluding 776 Natives of South Sea Islands at labour abroad.

CHINESE.—Chinese are included in the population given above. The number in New Zealand on 31st December, 1908, was estimated to be 2,998, of whom 61 were females.

REMARKS.—Excluding Maoris, the population increased by 31,158, or at the rate of 3·36 per cent., during the year. To this increase, excess of births over deaths contributed 16,897, and excess of arrivals over departures 14,261.

The birth-rate for the Dominion in 1908 was 27·45 per 1,000 of mean population, and the death-rate 9·57, as against 27·30 and 10·95 respectively in 1907, the latter having been exceptionally high.

The deaths in 1908 (9,043) were less than the number registered in 1907 (10,066) by 1,023, and the rate per 1,000 fell from 10·95 to 9·57.

The number of marriages (excluding those contracted between Maoris) solemnised in 1908 is estimated at 8,220, giving a rate of 8·70 per 1,000 of the mean population, against 8,192 and 8·91, the actual number and rate in 1907.

The fluctuations of the birth, death, and marriage rates for the last ten years are as under :—

*Subject to revision.

E. J. von DADELSZEN,
Registrar-General.

Registrar-General’s Office,
Wellington, 1st February, 1909.

Officiating Ministers for 1909.—Notice No. 4.

Registrar-General’s Office,
Wellington, 3rd February, 1909.

PURSUANT to the provisions of an Act of the General Assembly of New Zealand passed in the eighth year of the reign of His Majesty King Edward VII, and intituled “The Marriage Act, 1908,” the following name of an Officiating Minister within the meaning of the said Act is published for general information:—

Hebrew Congregations.

The Reverend Adolph Treitel Chodowski.

E. J. von DADELSZEN,
Registrar-General.

Civil Service Junior Examination, 1908-9.

Education Department,
Wellington, 29th January, 1909.

THE list of candidates that passed the Civil Service Junior Examination of December, 1908, published in the Gazette of the 28th January, 1909, is hereby amended by inserting the name of Regnault, Leonard Francis, Chatham Islands, as No. 746 (equal) in the order of merit, after the name of Milne, Alexander Charles Harry, Hawera.

G. HOGBEN,
Inspector-General of Schools.

Surveyors licensed.

The Surveyors’ Board,
Government Buildings,
Wellington, 28th January, 1909.

IT is hereby notified for general information that licenses under “The Surveyors’ Institute and Board of Examiners Act, 1908,” have been issued to the following surveyors by the Surveyors’ Board :—

C. E. ADAMS,
Secretary, Surveyors’ Board.

Notice by the Public Trustee under “The Public Trust Office Act, 1908,” Part II, Unclaimed Lands.

To the owner or owners of a parcel of land, containing 300 acres, more or less, being the south-western part of Allotment 87, Allotment 88, and the north-eastern part of Allotment 89, in the Parish of Aotea, in the Provincial District of Auckland. The land was Crown-granted to Thomas March, described as of Newton, brickmaker, who cannot now be traced.

WHEREAS the Public Trustee has instituted inquiries, and has not thereby ascertained who the owner or owners of the above-described land is or are, and believes that such owner is, or owners are, not in the Dominion :

Now, this notice calls upon such owner or owners, within six months of the date of the publication of this notice in this Gazette, to establish to the satisfaction of the Public Trustee his or their title to the land specified in this notice; and, if such owner does or owners do not, within the time limited, so establish his or their title, the Public Trustee will exercise the powers and authorities granted to him in and by “The Public Trust Office Act, 1908.”

Dated this 1st day of February, 1909.

J. W. POYNTON,
Public Trustee.