AREA AND POPULATION.

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In June, 1868, the greater part of the debt was converted, with the assent of the holders, into a 5 per cent, debenture stock, issued at 97, and secured by the consolidated revenues of the colony, while at the same time there was established a sinking fund, the working of which is to free the colony from all liabilities in the course of thirty-six years. — (Communication of the Governor to the Statesman' s Year-book.)

Area and Population.

The colony of New Zealand, first visited by Captain Cook in 1769, consists of a group of three islands, known as the North, Middle, and South, or Stewards Island. The whole group is nearly 1,000 miles long, and 200 miles broad ; its coast line extends over 1,000 leagues. The area of the country is estimated at 122,000 square miles, or nearly 80,000,000 acres, two-thirds of which are fitted for agriculture and grazing. The North Island contains about 31,000,000, and the Middle Island about 46,000,000 acres, while Stewart's Island, uninhabited as yet, and partly unexplored, contains about 1,000,000 acres.

The population of New Zealand, in 1851, when the first census was taken, numbered 26,707, exclusive of aborigines. In 1858, the number had risen to 59,413 — 33,679 males, and 25,734 females — being an increase, in the seven years, of 122 per cent., and in 1861, the total was 99,022 — 61,063 males, and 37,959 females — or an increase of 40 per cent, in three years* The next triennial census of 1864 showed a population of 172,158 — 106,580 males-, and 65,578 females — representing an increase of nearly 74 per cent, in 3 years; while at the following and last enumeration, made December 19, 1867, the total number of inhabitants was found to be 218,668, being an increase of about 27 per cent, since 1864, or 9 per cent, per annum.

The following table shows the population of European descent, distinguishing the sexes, of each of the 9 provinces of New Zealand, according to the last census, taken December 19, 1867 : —

Provinces

Males

Females

Total

North Island : —

Auckland ....

27,063

21,258

48,321

Taranaki ....

2,528

l r 831

4,359

"Wellington ....

12.401

9,549

21.950

Hawke's Bay ...

3,197

2 r 086

5,283

Middle Island : —

Nelson ....

16,425

7,389

23,814

Marlborough

2,736

1,635

4,371

Canterbury ....

33,083

20,783

53,866

Otago .....

29,773

18,804

48,577

Southland .... Total

4,600

3,343

7,943

131,806

86,678

218,484