The Lyttelton Times. MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1869.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2591, 26 April 1869, Page 2

The Lyttelton Times. MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1869.

At the conclusion of a former article on the annual volume of New Zealand statistics, we intimated our intention of resuming the subject. The fitting and well conducted festivities of the East few days have not, it is to be oped, altogether unfitted the public for the consideration of the less inviting but still necessary matters relating to that work-a-day life which, with becoming zest, they bad temporarily cast off. A quaint old writer tells us that recreation is intended for the mind as whetting is for the scythe —to sharpen the edge, which otherwise would grow dull and blunt. He that spends his whole time in recreation is ever whetting never mowing. His grass may grow and his steed starve. On the other hand, he that always toils is ever mowing never whetting. We may as well have no scythe as no edge. Work can only go forward well when the scythe is so seasonably and moderately whetted that it may cut, and so cut that it may have the help of sharpening. And this view is confirmed by an eminent English statesman, who says that men who give themselves entirely to business, who despise what they call trifles, may be very able in their general conception of the great outlines of a plan, but they feel a want of that knowledge which is only to be gained by mixing with all classes in the world when they come to those lesser points upon which its successful execution depends. Of this there can, we think be no doubt. Besides, everything which tends to give men light, elastic spirits can hardly be other than good. We have all, let us hope, enjoyed our holiday—the scythe is whetted, and there is useful work to be done.

We have already noticed the number and distribution of the population, and have given some attention to their social condition. But the latter branch of the subject is by no means exhausted, and the Begistrar-general has, fortunately, given us the materials for further information. In dealing with the occupations of the people, he tells us that there are certain difficulties which impede any attempt to tabulate this branch of the census information, without incurring the risk of showing conclusions that would almost certainly be misleading in effect. These difficulties hindrances would be the more correct term —are enumerated. First on the list is one which is more or less common to all new countries—the great number of cases in which settlers follow more than one occupation. With, perhaps, a pardonable desire to inculcate the true dignity of labour, the Begistrargeneral is somewhat severe when he refers to those instances in which people entered |on the schedules the professions or callings to which they were brought up, or with which they would prefer to be identified, rather than those in which they are most habitually engaged, or from which they principally derive maintenance. These instances, he tells us, are probably frequent, but it by no means follows, as the Begistrar-general seems to think, that people connect themselves, on paper, with a certain occupation because they consider it of superior “respectability ” to that in which they are actually engaged. Dr Bennett complains, also, of vagueness in the discriptions ? given, and of other matters which are no doubt troublesome ; but we think it is very evident that he has himself been guilty of this very fault of vagueness in some of his tabulated statements. Take, for instance, the first heading in the table showing the occupations of the people. Could anything be more vague and unsatisfactory than to say that so many persons are engaged in “ trade, commerce, and manufactures.” We naturally ask how many follow trade, how many manufactures, and how many commerce. But Dr Bennett’s table does not inform us. He lumps them all together, and we have no means of arriving at a definite conclusion. So in other instances. Those engaged in pastoral and agricultural pursuits are put in one general total, and more than eight per cent of the population are described as miscellaneous.

It appears, from the table of occupations to which we have been alluding, that 4.43 per cent of the population are engaged in trade, commerce, and manufactures, to adopt the Registrar-Gene-ral's description; 7.02 in agricultural and pastoral pursuits; 7.04 are mechanics, artificers, and skilled workers; 7.28 are miners; 0.36 are described as professionals ; 0.64 are teachers, surveyors, &c. ; 7.34 are labourers ; 3.60 domestic and general servants. Of the remainder, amounting to 62.29 per cent of the whole population, Dr Bennett can say nothing. Itisa very noticeable fact that the increase in the class described as labourers is much lower than in any other. In 1864 the number of labourers was 12,639 ; in 1567 it was only 13.025. Those who are set down as belonging to the agricultural and pastoral class appear to have increased considerably. In 1864, they numbered 12,089; in 1867 they are returned at 18,863, showing an increase of 6774 in the short period of three years It is only reasonable to suppose that, this increase has taken place mainly, if not altogether, in the agricultural class ; and it shows, more clearly than any arguments, the growing importance of those who gain their livelihood from the cultivation rather than the occupation of the soil. It is impossible, from Dr Bennett’s table, to make out even an approximate estimate of the proportion which labour bears to capital. This is greatly to be regretted, and we trust the Registrar-general will permit us to impress upon him the necessity of endeavouring in future returns to satisfy so natural and so important a question. The tables relating to religion and education, and the supplementary information given by Dr Bennett, possess considerable interest. The cen-

teßimal calculations show that the Church of England, in December 1867, included 42.53 per cent, of the population; the Presbyterian Churches, 25.12; the Roman Catholic Church, 13.91; the Wesleyan Methodist Church, 7.62; the Congregational Independent, 1.94 ; the Baptists, 1,99; the Primitive Methodists, 0.61; the Lutherans, 1.09; the Hebrews, 0.57: and the Society of Friends, 0.07. With respect to education, the tables show that among the population of the colony, of both sexes and all ages, there were 45,411 unable to read or write; 15,396 who could read only ; and 151,431 who could both read and write. To these must be added 6430 respecting whose state of education the schedules returned to the Registrargeneral contained no information. The centesimal proportion of both sexes and all ages unable to read was 21.40; who can read only, 7.25; who can read and write, 71.35. In 1864, the proportion able to read and write was 72.70, so that, at first sight, there would seem to be a retrogression in 1867; but before adopting that discouraging conclusion, as Dr Bennett very aptly calls it, it is to be noted that in 1867 there were 6430 persons about whose education no return was made, while iu 1864 the number similarly not described was only 2862. The nearest approach to what may be considered the “ school-going period,” says Dr Bennett, is shown by the numbers between the ages of five and fifteen. Within those ages, the population amounted to 41,793, and the numbers returned as attending day schools 19,952, being a proportion of 47.74 per cent on that total, against 50.28 per cent in 1864. Taking the aggregate population of all ages under fifteen, which amounted in 1867 to 79,185 persons, the proportion attending day schools was 25.20 per cent, against 27.36 per cent in 1864. The number receiving education at home is not, as may be supposed, exhibited in the returns; but, as the Registrargeneral very properly remarks, the existence, extent, and value of home education should never be lost sight of, or treated as unimportant, in any comprehensive estimate of the means in operation for the intellectual and moral training of the youth of the colony.