ABORIGINAL AND EUROPEAN POPULATION OF NEW ZEALAND.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 171, 14 June 1845, Page 58

ABORIGINAL AND EUROPEAN POPULATION OF NEW ZEALAND.

In the Wellington Independent of the 31st ultimo, we find the population returns, both Native and European, made up to the end of last year, as laid before the Legislative Council during the late sittings. The Independent argues, at some length, on the necessity of making Wellington the capital. Without quoting our contemporary's remarks on this subject, we shall content ourselves with giving the staiistical portion of the article : — We obtain the following facts respecting the

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British population in New Zealand, from a Rsturn laid before the Council on the 22d of March, 1845:—

We will throw this return into another form, with a view to showing the relative amount of population at the north and in this locality at the close of 1844: — ,

m 3,467. We are unable to speak to the accuracy of this return; but it is safe to assume that as it was made up at Auckland, the European population of the north is not more numerous than is stated; by which it appears, then, that at the end of the year 1844, there were 3,467 people dependent upon Auckland, and 8,481 upon Port Nicholson. At the present moment, the contrast is even much more striking. From the northern population we may deduct 534, for the abandonment of the Bay of Islands. We should think 100 may be deducted from Hokianga; and we are assured that at the present moment there are not more than 1,500 people at Auckland. After making these deductions, which together amount to 1,888, the remaining white population dependent upon Auckland number 1,579, which contrasts remarkably with otir population of 8,481. * • ♦ |» In confirmation of the density of the native population in the north, we turn to a statement of the native population of New Zealand, furnished to the Council on the 3d of last April. This return states the names of the tribes, localities where they principally dwell, names of the principal chiefs, supposed number in each tribe, and religion. It is a very imperfect document, for there is no effort made to exhibit the relative proportions of the sexes, or of adults and children; but it will answer our purpose for the present occasion. From it we gather that the total native population is estimated at 109,550; of this number 84,400 depend upon Auckland: and are otherwise far too distant to molest the settlements in Cook's Straits, and to the south: and 25,150 depend upon the settlements from Taranaki to Palliser, less 4,700 residing at Cloudy Bay, Banks* Peninsula, and at other parts to the south. '

* This is an error. The population of Nelson at the close of 1844 was, according to the return made by the Government Representative of the settlement, 3,036.— Ed.

Population of Auckland . . . 2,522 „ Wellington . . 3,808 „ Nelson . . . 2,942 „ New Plymouth . 1,091 „ Bay of Islands . 669 „ Hokianga . . 236 „ Petre .... — i> Akaroa . . . 221 2,754 4,048 2,915* 1,155 534 179 197 166 11,489 11,94

Wellington Nelson . . . New Plymouth Petre ... Akaroa . . . . 4,048 . 2,915* . 1,155 . 197 . 166 Auckland . . Bay of Islands Hokianga . . 8,481[ . 2,754 : . 534 I . 179 3,467.