POPULATION OF NORTH ISLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7660, 10 June 1886, Page 5

POPULATION OF NORTH ISLAND.

A LARGE INCREASE. The whole of the census returns for the North Island, so far as regards the numbers of the population, are now in the hands of the Registrar-General, and we learn from him, by a telegram received last night, that the population—exclusive of Chinese, Maoris, and shipping population—is 247,404. The population of the North Island us returned at the census of ISBI, <m the same basis, amounted to 193,047. The numerical increase since last census is therefore 54.357, giving a centesimal increase of 2S - 157 per cent. The great stride made by the North Island will perhaps best be shown by noting the fact that in the period from IS7S to ISSL the centesimal increase for the whole colony ■was but 15.2*2. Even then, however, the North was commencing to gain ground on the South Island, the Northern centesimal increase in ISSI as against IS7S being 22*014 per cent. The statistical returns of the RegistrarGeneral are always published so long after the period for which they are supposed to be made up, that it is impossible to arrive at even an approximation of the population of the whole colony until the returns lor the South Island have been to hand, which, it is said, will be tomorrow. It may, however, be taken to be about r>70.000. Assuming that, for the purposes of representation, the same numbers of members are retained, viz., 91, and the seats redistributed on the basis of population, the result would be to give the North 40 seats, as against 51 to be allotted to the South Island, or a gain to the North of eight seats, the numbers at present being 36 and 55 respectively. This is exactly the proportionate gain which we indicated as probable in March last. Judging by the fragmentary returns published up to date, we think we shall not be far wrong in roughly apportioning the population to the provincial districts in the following ratio :— Auckland ISO, 000 Taranaki ~„ .... ... l<),000 Wellington 73,000 Bawke's Bay ... .. ... 2J,000 Our satisfaction in having to record so marked a progress in settlement in the North Island is further enhanced by the confi.lent belief that is of a permanent nature, no mere temporary migration of nomades. If our towns have increased, so also have the rural districts, and we believe that the agricultural returns when to hand, and available for comparison with those of ISSI, will confirm this ■view of our position. *