THE CENSUS

Southland Times, Issue 16785, 13 July 1911, Page 5

THE CENSUS

NORTH AND SOUTH. The following particulars are taken from a Census booklet just issued by. the Government statistician: — The opening up of the North Islamj has caused a correspondingly rapid advance of population of late years, compared with the more fully developed South Island. Relative increases durf ing a series of counts are quoted:— Census. North Island. South Island. XSB6 .. 57,435 31,243 1891 .. 30,973 17,119 1896 .. 59,175 17,525 1901 .. 49,940 19,425 1906 .. 86,161 29,681 1911 .. 86,997 32,780 During this series of years New Zea* land’s population has not always Increased at the same ratio. It showed an advance of 8.32 per cent, for the fiva years ended 1891 and 12.24 per cent, during the next period, but dropped to 9.85 per cent, on the showing of tha 1901 census. In 1906 the numerical increase of 116,859 gave a percentage of 15.12. This year’s enumeration shows a record total Increase of 119,829, TOWN POPULATION. A steady drift to the towns shown in all previous returns Is again indicated, the balance of population having since 1906 definitely turned the scale in favour of the towns. The country population is returned at 496,742 and that of the boroughs at 505,598. 'The growth of urban population is best il« lustrated by percentage with the country population, thus:— Census. Counties. Boroughs, 1881 .. 59.45 ■ 39.79 1886 .. 56,53 42.46 1891 .. 56.18 ' 43.14 1896 .. 55.69 '43.68 1901 .. 54.04 45.32 1906 .. 51.63 47.77 1911 .. 49.29 50.14