Provincial Census and Statistics




SOUTHLAND

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

GAZETTE.

Published by Authority.

Vol. 1.] TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 1863. [No. 39.]

THE great and evident progress of this,
the youngest of the Provinces of New
Zealand, induced the Provincial Government
to cause a Census to be taken at the close of
the past year, to supplement the Census of
this Province in the General Statistics of New
Zealand for the year 1861, which show re-
sources and a development very inferior to
those of the present time.

The annexed Tables, numbers 1 to 8, con-
tain the results of the Census of this Province
taken on the 26th day of December, 1862.
Tables 9 and 10 show the numerical and cen- tesimal increase of Population and Stock,
together with that in the number of acres of
Improved Land during the year 1862.

It will be seen in Table 9 that the centesi-
mal increase of the whole population
is 90
per cent., but the increase of the population of
the age of 21 and under 40 years was, of
Males 146 per cent, and of Females 98 per
cent; the numbers in the year 1861 being—
Males 497, and Females 258, (as shown by the
returns laid before the General Assembly),
and in the year 1862, Males 1224, and Females
511—thus exhibiting a much larger propor-
tionate increase of those in the prime of life
than that of the whole population.

It is also estimated that there are not less
than 200 settlers belonging to this Province
temporarily employed at the gold-diggings
beyond the border of the Province, and as
carters on the road, who are not included in
the Census; and if this number be added to
the result of the Census, it will be seen that
the population of and belonging to Southland
has more than doubled in the short period of
twelve months.

Table 11 shows the Revenue, Territorial
and Customs, together with the Imports and
Exports since the Province of Southland was
separated from Otago, and as the returns are
for nine months only in the year 1861, a third
has been added to each in calculating the
centesimal increase.

The Territorial Revenue has increased 104
per cent., the increase being in a greater ratio
than that of the population.

The greatest advances have been made in
the Customs’ Revenue and the Imports and
Exports, but it is to be regretted that no
account is taken by the Customs of the Value
and Quantity of the Duty paid and Free
Goods imported Coastwise, because the Re-
turns of the Customs’ Revenue and Imports
show a very deficient account of the value
and quantity of the goods absolutely imported
into the Province, and because if such an
account were kept the Customs’ Revenue
might be more equitably apportioned to the
several Provinces than it is under the present
arrangement. That this Province suffers
materially in this respect is shown by Table
12, wherein it will be seen that during the
year 1862, 235 vessels of 12,758 tons in the
aggregate were entered coastwise. These
vessels bring large quantities of goods to this
Province, the duties on which are paid in



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VUW Te Waharoa PDF Southland Provincial Gazette 1863, No 39





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🏛️ Southland Provincial Census and Statistics for 1862

🏛️ Governance & Central Administration
Census, Population, Stock, Improved Land, Revenue, Customs, Imports, Exports, Southland