MARRIAGES IN NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4134, 20 June 1874, Page 3

MARRIAGES IN NEW ZEALAND.

[from a correspondent.] Subjoined is a statement of the marriages performed in the Colony in the year 1873. It was taken by the Registrar-General “ from the lists of Registrars’ certificates issued in 1873,” and was read at the late session of the General Synod. It is worthy of consideration, and will no doubt provoke some discussion. The total population of the Colony in 1871 was 256,393, of these 102,389 belonged to the Church of England ; i.e., the Church populalatiou was, in round numbers, two-fifths of the whole. The details of the recent census (1874) have not yet been published; but it may safely be affirmed that, though larger than those in 1871, the proportions will be the same—for we may asstime that the Church population of the Colony is still two-fifths of the whole. But how stand the marriages in connection with the Church of England ? Instead of being two-fifths, or 910, they ai’e only 626. Thus it would seem that marriages are rapidly passing out of the hands of the Church. Formerly the “Church” —that is, the Churches of England and Rome, —had the celebration of marriages almost entirely between them. Things have now changed. Out of 2276 marriages in 1873 those two Churches performed only 625 and 299 respectively—not half of the whole. If the reason of this change is asked, it may be found in the fact that the people now greatly prefer marriages in private residences. In 1873, out of 2276 marriages 1082 were performed in private houses. This proportion is likely to be largely increased in coming years ; because it is in the direction that suits the wishes of the colonist. He, in many cases, dislikes the expense and display of going to the church, and believes that the ceremony can be performed with as much propriety and reverence in the bosom of a family as in the church. The return alluded to is as follows : Marriages Celebrated in 1873 : Church of England ... 625 Church of Scotland ... ... ... 5 Roman Catholic Church ... ... 299 Free Church of Scotland ... ... 448 Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland ... ... ... ... 300 Wesleyan Methodist Society ... ... 212 Congregational Independents ... ... 47 Baptists... ... ... ... ... 44 Primitive Methodists ... ... ... 40 Lutheran Church ... ...' ... 8 Hebrew Congregations ... ... ... 5 United Methodist Free Church ... 23 Christian Brethren ... ... ... 5 Church of Christ ... ... ... 4 2065 By lay Registrars ... ... ... 211 2276 Marriages Solemnized in Buildings other than Places oh* Worship in 1873. In private residences ... ... ... 1082 In Registrars’offices ... ... ... 211 In schoolhouses and public buildings ... 19 Total 1312