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THE BRITISH EMPIllE : — NEW ZEALAND

In April 1896 the population of the North Island was 340,631 ; of the Middle Island, 362,236; of Stewart Island, 252; of Chatham Islands 234, and of Kermadec Islands 7. In 1876, New Zealand, previously divided into ten provinces, was divided into counties and boroughs. The total population including Maoris was on April 12th, 1896, 743,214. This included 3,711 Chinese, of whom only 26 were females.

Of the Maoris, 21,673 were males, and 18,181 females. The total num- ber includes 3,503 half-castes, living as members of Maori tribes, and 229 Maori wives of European husbands. In 1857 the number of Maoris was stated to be 56,049, but this estimate is not considered trustworthy.

Of the total population, excluding Maoris, in 1896, 690,003 persons, or 98-10 per cent., were British-born subjects. Of these, 441,661, or 62-85 per cent., were born in New Zealand, and 215,161, or 30-62 per cent., born in the United Kingdom (116,541 in England, 2,148 in Wales, 50,435 in Scotland, and 46,037 in Ireland).

The foreign subjects numbered 19,080, or 2-71 per cent, of the population.

Excluding the Chinese, 67-05 per cent, of the population were found to be unmarried ; 29 -46 per cent, married ; and 3 -49 widowers or widows.

Of the population, enumerated in April 1896, 391,735 lived in the rural dis- tricts ; 307,294 or 43*68 per cent., lived in boroughs; 950 lived on adja- cent islands, and 3,381 were on board ship.

Of the total population in 1896, 58-25 per cent, were returned as depen- dents ; 15-13 per cent, as agricultural, pastoral, mineral, and other primary producers; 11-66 per cent, industrial; 7-18 per cent, commercial ; 4 '11 per cent, domestic; 2-74 per cent, professional; and 8-93 per cent, indefinite occupation.

At the census of 1896 there were four towns with over 10,000 inhabit- ants in New Zealand— namely, Auckland, 31,424, or with suburbs, 57,616 ; Wellington (the seat of Government), 37,441, or with suburbs, 41,758 ; Christchurch, 16,964, or with suburbs, 51,330 ; and Dunedin, 22,815, or with suburbs, 47,280 inhabitants.

Movement of the Population.

Births, Deaths, and Marriages.

Years

1893 1894 1895 1896 1897

Total Births

18,187 18,528 18,546 18,612 18,737

Illegitimate Births

Deaths

Man-iages

Excess of

Births over

Deaths

673 704 835

834 826

6,767 6,918 6,863 6,432 6,595

4,115 4,178 4,110 4,843 4,928

11,420 11,610 11,683 12,180 12,142 i

The birth Bate for the year 1897 was 25-96 per 1,000 persons living ; the death rate was 9-14 per 1,000 ; and the marriage rate, 6-83.

Immigration and Emigration.

Years

1893 1894 1895 1896 1897

Immigrants

_, . . Excess of luiiuigration Emigrants | ^^^^ Emigration

26,135 25,237 21,862 17,236 18,592

15,723

22,984 20,967 15,764 15,840

10,412

2,253

895

1,472

2,752