GLEANINGS FROM STATISTICS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3097, 12 January 1871, Page 3

GLEANINGS FROM STATISTICS.

I No. 1. In the volume of Statistics for 1869, receipt of ■which we lately acknowledged, there aro many interesting and instructive tables to which we shall from time to time draw attention, extracting those particulars that most nearly concern our own province. To-day -we draw attention to the return ' No. 47, headed " Table showing the numbers of newspapers despatched from the colony of New Zealand during the year ended 31st Dec, 1869.' Tbo number of newspapers despatched to places without the colony is as follows : — 1. Canterbury 88,573 2. Otago and Southland 81,310 3. Auckland 51.514 4. Wellington 30,394 In this list it will be seen that, considering her population, Wellington despatches her fair share ; and also that the relation between Canterbury and the United Kingdom seems closer than that of any other part of tho colony. In the next . column, "The number of newspapers despatched to the Australian colonies," the order is altogether changed, and runs thus — 1. Otago and Southland 36,013 2. Auckland 23,288 3. Westland ... ' 17,479 4. Canterbury 32,727 6. Wellington 8,760 Perhapa no other mere collocation of figures could shew more plainly the effect of gold discovery in attracting immigration from tho Australian colonieß, and forming an enduring link between the mining districts and Australia, especially Victoria. Nor could there be a better index to the character and pursuits of tho population of our various districts. The next column shews our connexion with the Southern Pacific, for under the heading of newspapers sent to other places the order runs : — „_ 1. Auckland 2015 2. Otago and Southland 2005 3. Wellington -820 4. Canterbury 438 5. Westland 8 In the totals shewing the numbers despatched altogether without the colouy, Otago leads the way with 119,328 ; next comes Canterbury with 101,738; next Auckland with 76,817; and then ' Wellington with 39,914. When it.is remembered that under the payment to road boards secured according to the estimated population, Wellington is to Otago as sis to 14, the proportion of newspapers despatched by Wellington is just about what might be expected. Turn we now to the number of newspapers despatched to places within the colony; and here our readers will be pleased as well as surprised to learn that the number sent to other provinces in New Zealand is as follows : — 1. Wellington 110,549 2. Otago and Southland 71,271 3. Nelson 59,408 4. Canterbury 55,382 5. Westland 50,621 6. Auckland ... " 45,388 It would thus appear that the province of Wellington in the article of newspapers stands pre-eminent. The circulation of Wellington papers in the other provinces is far above what her estimated population would warrant us to expect. Does ib indicate their superior ability ? The papers published in this province are the , following : — The Wellington Independent, "New Zealand Advertiser," "Eveuing Post," " Wairarapa Mercury," " Wanganut Herald," " Wanganui Chronicle." When it is considered that of those published in the city only the Independent circulates in the country, the inference from these statistics we leave our readers and advertisers to draw for themselves. Two more columns in this table yet remain to be noted. The number of newspapers despatched to places within the province in which they are published ia as followa : — 1. Otago 409,322 2. Wellington ..., 66,603 3. Auckland 44,723 4 Westland 32,115 6. Canterbury ... 32,109 The most notable feature in this column is the extraordinary number of newspapers distributed in the Province of Otago, a number greater than that of all the rest of the colony put together. But here again Wellington, with tliis exception, overtops all other provinces. It would bo invidious to dwell on the number of newspapers despatched by post by other} journals. We leave again the country circulation of the Wellington Independent to be inferred from these figures, which are compiled with extreme care, and published for the information of the Assembly and the colony. , From .Return No. 46, we learn that Wellington receives more newspapers than any other province. May we not therefore say that we are a newspaper reading people ?

Thb Meteor in thb South.— Tho " Timan Herald" of the 4fch eaya that a brilliant metao was observed on Sunday evening last at twenty five minutes past eight o'clock, travelling in south-easterly direction. It was in sight for abou fiveßeoonds, exploding something like a rocke wad disappeari&g.