NEW ZEALAND CENSUS FOR 1862.

Amongst the papers presented to the General Assembly during the Session, none possessses so much general interest as the statistical tables for 1862, in- anticipation of the annual volume of statistic^ for JNew Zealand for that year. We have had occasion, on former years, to express a favourable opinion of these statistics, and we have again the pleasing duty of prefacing our remarks on the statistical tables, by expressing our thanks to t)r. Bennett for enabling us and tlte public to form a just estimate of the progress the colony has made during the year 18b"2. The European population of the colony on -the 31st December, 1862, was 125,812, exclusive of the military and their families. Of these 79,680 were males, and 46,132 females. The net increase of population over the preceding year; was 23,791 — 15,618 males, and 8,173 females. This shown a centesimal increase on tho whole population of 23*31, and on the sexe3 of 2V37 males, and 2l # 53 females. The total gross increuse by immigration was 34,290 souls, of whom 27,005 were males and 1,928 were females. From this increase, however, we must deduct the numbers who died and loft the colony. The deaths for the year wore 1,158, being 722 males and 436 females ; and emigration took away 13,299, of whom no fewor than 12,695 were males, the female emigrants numbering only 604 souls. The statistics, as wo have said, shbw tho colonist population at the close of 1862, to have j been 125,812 ; but if the military, with their wives and families be added, tho gross European population numbered 133,114 souls, against ? 102,021 souls in 1861. liefcrring to the population of the provinces separately, we find tho following to be the onumeration : —

Total European population hi Middle Island 36,940 ... 26,012 ... 52,9j2 The European population in tlie Middle Island was, therefore, within about teu thousand souls of being double that of the North Island at the close ot 1862. Since then, the great increase of immigrants to this province will have done something towards lessening the disproportion noted above, but we hardly expect to find much relative difference in these figures next year. The causes which led to tho increase of population in the southern provinces of the Middle Island are too well known now to require comment, and we hope that in all time coming the gold exports of Otago will contmue unimpaired. The only province in the North Island which makes anything like a return of immigration is Auckland, which had a total of 4,03(j immigrants landed on our shores, and 759 soub left during the year. The immigrants to Wellington tor the year numbered 200 souls, and no fewer than 101 letfc the province, showing an increase by immigration to the leading Cook's Straits province of 99 souls. The immigrants to JJawko's Bay numbered 15, and the emigrants 12, giving a balance of 3 souls to tlie population. The province of Taranaki showed a balance against immigration of 2 souls, which \\ ould make the total increase in population of the three .North Island provinces (exclusive of Auckland), by immigration, only one hundred souls. Manifestly, there must; be something radically wrong in the administration of these provinces, when such results are apparent in the very heart of a colony, whose two extremes of .North and South are so progressive and prosperous. Taranaki is cvceptioualiy situated, and allowance must be made for her, but no allowance cim be made for Wellington and llawke's Bay, whose provincial rulers have squandered tho public estate, with the administration of which tuoy were entrusted, and did nothing towards settling the fertile districts which abound in their provinces. A day of reckoning ought to come, when theso men will be held answerable for their culpable and gross neglect of duty. In the Middle Island provinces^ JN'elson show s an excess of immigration over emigration of 271 souls ; but Msirlborougli, the model province, and the chief town in which competes for the honor of being the capital of the colony, is a blank. No one appoai's to have come; none to have left. Everything I*4 stagnaut in Maryborough, whose entire population is not so great as tho suburbs of Auckland. In Canterbury the case is different. The excess of immigration over emigration on the year 1862 was 2,7138; in Ofcago tho excess was 14.035 ; and in Southland 517 souls. Turning to the tables referring to tvado and com uei\ c, we find that the estimated value of imports for 181)2 over the imports for 1861, shows an increase of 85 - 5O per cent, on tho year. The figures are: Imports, IS6I . . . £2,430,811 1562 . .. 4,626,082 The increase in the estimated value of exports over the previous year was nearly as great, being 76 SI. The amounts are : Exnoifcs, 1861 . £1,370,247 1862 2,4^,7J4 The Eegistrar-Goneral remark? on the return of exports :—": — " The latter increase, however, "was, as may be supposed, occasioned to a "largo extent by the pioduetiveness of the " Otago gold-fields, tho centesimal increase on " the exports from that province in 18(52, as _^eomjjared with 1801, being 107-11." Wo have'not"al)aceto~^««^tlv?se^tu£iis in detail. The figures quoted by us, howe\ er, iv?- 4»4girij r ~— satisfactory, and show the great strides tiio colony of JS T ew Zealand has taken towards tho development of its latent resources. The staple exports are gold, wool, oil, kauri gum, timber, grain, and potatoes. Of gold we find ' that <L 10,562 ounces, worth £1,501,389, was exported from the colony during ihe year 1562, of which Auckland exported 1,296 ounces, worth £'1,319. Tho total value of fie gold exported from the colon}' from Ist April, 18.57, to tlie close of last year, was £2,182,160. Tho grain export amounted to £1,821 ; and the kauri gum, entirely from Auckland, was valued at £11,107. The valuo of oil exported was £9,055 ; of potatoes, £9,527 w orth were exported in 1862 ; of timber £1(5,212 worth was exported ; and of wool, no less than 9,839,203 lbs., worth £67<1,226. The registered tonnage of New Zealand ports was 287 vessels of 10,825 tons, employing a total of 931 men and boys. Of theso 200 vessels, with a tonnage of G. 803 tons, belong to Auckland, and employ Gl)8 men and boys to work them, 2 vossels, of <12!) tons, belong to Wellington, employing ol men and boys; 28 vessels belong toLvttleton, and 30 to Dunedin. The table showing the comparative revenue for the various years, from 1853 to 1862 inclusive, is interesting. We will place these two years in contrast, thus : 1553. 1862. Total revenue £149,820. £1,18.3,000. Tho Registrar General remarks on the increase of ro\ enuc ■ " The remarkable increaso " during 1863 (over 1861) oenlesimally calcula- " ted, shows 5G'B2 ou ordinary revenue; 7i'7O "on territorial revenue ; and 6&07 ou tho " total revenue, in this single year." Tnere are several new and valuable tables prepared, and for the fir3t time published in these returns, which cannot fail to enhance their value. We cannot conclude without congratulating the country generally on its prosperity. This prosperity, as we have indicated, is not general, but that this is so is owing entirely to local causes, which an altered administration of provincial income would remedy. — " Daily Southern Cross," Dec,

Males, Females. Total. Auckland 15,155 .. 12,489 ... 27 644 Twaualii 1,22(5 . 9^6 ... £,'2ll Wellington 7,444.. 6,199 ... 13,643 Hawke'sßay 1,009... 999... 2,608 Total European popiila,tum m Worth l^laud.. 25,434 ... 21,182 46,106 Nelson .. ... 6,146 . . 4,945 ... 11,091 Marlboiough 1,537 ... 849 ... 2,386 Cuuteibuty ll.Uol ... 8,781 ... 20,432 Ouifc'o 35,419 ... 10,109 ... 45,6b8 Southland 2,187 ... 1,208 ... 3,455