POPULATION AND TRADE STATISTICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 56, 7 March 1900, Page 3

POPULATION AND TRADE STATISTICS.

(By Telegraph.—Own ■ Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, this day

By the kindness of the RegistrarGeneral, Mr Yon Dadelszeu, I have been placed in possession of advanced sheets of the population and vital statistics of New Zealand up to the 31st December last, as compared with those for the previous year. The increase in the population at the end of 1899 (755,505) over that of the preceding year was 13,042 (exclusive of Maoris, 39,554). Arrivals in 1899 were 18,50C,a decrease of 349, and departures 16,619, increase 460. Births totalled 18,835, decrease 120; deaths 7680, increase 436; marriages 5461, increase 370. The birth rate per 1000 of mean population was 25.12, against 25.74 in 1898. The death rate per 1000 of mean population was j.u.24, as compared with 9.84. The marriage rate per 1000 of mean population was 7.28, compared with 6.91 iov 1898. Not only was the birth rate lower in 1899,. but there was an actual decrease in the number of births registered during the year. The marriage rate for 1899^ however, was the highest recorded since 1879. The birth rate has fallen from 30.07 per 1000 of population of all ages in 1889, to 25.12 in 1599. In IS9S the New Zealand rate (25.74) was, with the exception of South Australia (24.98), and Victoria (25.72), lower, than in any of the Australasian colonies; Tasmania (20.24), and New South Wales (27.14), being only slightly higher. Jt must De remembered also that the decline in the birth rate between 1889 and 1898 in New Zealand is less in degree than in any other colony of the Australasian group. On the other hand, the death rate in New Zealand is by far the lowest in the rates obtaining in the Australasian colonies, ranging from 9.84 for this colony to 16.05 for Western Australia.

Prom the same source I am in possession of an advanced leaflet of statistics of trade for the year ending 31st December, 1899 and 1898. Shipping (inwards) amounted to 811,183 tons, an increase of 6 per cent.; and outwards 807,866 tons, an increase of 5.49. Imports (excluding specie) totalled £8,613,656 for 1899, against £8,211,409 for 1898, or 4.90 per cent. Imports (excluding specie) per head of mean population was £11 9/S, against £11 3/1 for 1898. Exports (excluding specie) totalled £11,923,422, against £10,449,838 for 1898.

Exports of New Zealand produce for 1899 totalled £ 11,799,630, against £10,324,988 for 1898. Exports of New Zealand produce per head of mean population was £15 14/8, compared with £14 0/6 for 1898. The export of New Zealand produce over imports was £3,185,980 for 1599, against £2,113,579 for 1898.

The Eegistrar-General points out that the amount paid for interest and sinking fund of the public debt was £1,767,46S for the year ended 31st March, 1899.

The value of New Zealand produce exported thus exceeds the value of goods imported in the same year by a sum of nearly double the charges of the public debt.

The exports'. of wool for 1599 (147,569,7971b5) showed a decrease on the preceding year of 2,116,3181b5, or 1.42 per cent., and in value 6.91.

The Registrar explains that the falling of£ has been partly due to drought and poorer quality of staple, but the decrease is not so large as it appears at first sight, seeing- that in 189S the export was abnormally high.

The following were the increases and decreases for the year 1899, as compared with IS9B: —Sheep skins and pelts, .71; frozen meat, 1899, 1,831,789cwt, valued at £3,088,862, compared with 1,551,773cwt5, valued at £ 1,698,750 in 1898, or an increase of 18.04 in quantity and 22.96 in value.

Tallow showed a decrease of 2.46 in quantity, and 3.15 in value.

The exports of butter for 1899, amouited to 136,085cvvt, valued at £571,799, against 96,801cwt, valued at £.40,369, an increase in quantity of 40.58, and 41.64 in value.

The export of cheese amounted to 69,441cwt, valued at £141,818, against 68,711cwt, valued at £135,776 in 1898. 1.06 in quantity, and 4.45 in value.

The gold entered for ■ duty for exportation was valued ap' £ 1,513,173, against £1,080,691 in the preceding year; and silver £40,535, against £33,107.

Kauri gum exported totalled £607,----919, against £586,767; phormium £184,411, compared with £74,556; Customs revenue received . was £2,042,002, against £1,961,726, or, per head of mean population (excluding Maoris), £2 14/5, against £2 13/3 in 1898. Excise duties received totalled £82,715, compared with £78,842, or, per head of population (exclusive of Maoris), 2/1, against 2/2.