Summary of Statistics of Wellington Settlement for year 1846.

Extract from Grimstone's “Southern Settlements,” p. 84:—

Area—327 square miles. Population—2134 males, 1843 females; total 3977. Population to the square mile—12.16. Agriculture and live stock, etc., 1523 acres under crop; 265 horses; 3483 horned cattle; 19,461 sheep. There were 501 persons employed in agriculture. The cost of clearing and cropping per acre is set down as £5 to £10. Trade and commerce—Value of imports, £59,415; value of exports, £31,281; number of ships, 47; inwards direct, 8362 tons; number of ships, 44; outward direct, 7326 tons; coastwise inwards, 5948 tons; coastwise outwards, 6847 tons. Revenue—£7628. Expenditure—£22,713 (this includes Whanganui, then called “Petre.” Churches and chapels, 7; schools, 16; scholars, 525. Crime—11 acquitted, 19 convictions.

Houses and shops, etc. The number of houses in the town and detached villages, according to the “N.Z. Journal,” 17th Feb., 1844, were:—386 European, 491 native (24 warehouses and shops not included in the above), 8 forges and workshops, 3 wind, water and steam mills, 10 public buildings, estimated cost of habitations was £76,699. Other buildings, £23,335. There were 852 householders (the difference between the number of householders and of houses was caused by the empty houses). The number of proprietors of buildings was 63.

The public buildings were:—1 church (used as a court house). 2 chapels. 1 exchange, 1 Custom House, 1 club room, 1 gaol, 1 theatre, 1 immigration depot, 1 post office, 1 new church building, 1 Scotch Church building.