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The Past and Present Of New Zealand With Its Prospects for the Future
Census of New Zealand, 1864
Census of New Zealand, 1864.
In the Census of 1864, there are several interesting particulars to be noticed.
The progress of Wellington then was less than that of any other province. In 1861, its population was rather more than 12,500, and in 1864 it was rather less than 15,000; of this little increase the country districts must claim nearly all. But if Wellington be so far behind the other provinces in the increase of its population, it seems to stand proportionally better than even Auckland in real progression, that is, in the cultivation of the soil; Auckland, with its population of 42,000, has 129,000 acres fenced, whilst Wellington, with only 15,000, has still managed to cultivate 127,000 acres, which is nearly three times as much in proportion to that of page 302 Auckland, a convincing proof that the actual progress of Auckland has been very trifling, and that its great increase of population was in part only temporary,—that the war brought it and peace might take it away, as it seems to have so little hold on the soil.
Of the 127,000 acres belonging to Wellington, we find them divided as follows:—Wanganui, 36,785; Rangitikei, 18,926; Pororua, 16,113; Hutt, 10,498; Wairarapa, 12,185; Town of Wellington, 908. From this it is evident that Wanganui and Rangitikei have greatly increased, and, in fact, chiefly form the province.
Another thing to be noticed is, that by far the greatest increase in population has been with the new provinces. Marlborough has more than doubled its inhabitants, and Southland more than quadrupled its; in fact, Southland, in spite of its financial difficulties, has still made the greatest progress of all the provinces, a convincing proof that were these nine provinces to be broken up into municipalities or counties, the general progression would be immediately increased.