D.— No. 7b

of which total population it may be presumed that all but those of "no occupation stated" were actively engaged in earning incomes. This estimate is supported by an examination of the Census table of ages and sexes, which indicates about 72,000 males as of working ages; whilst the table of occupations shows that 6,419 females were engaged variously in earning incomes. These numbers added together make about 78,400, and a deduction from the above total of 172,158 of the persons of " no occupations" gives 78,800 as persons earning income. Adopting these figures as a guide in the application of the latest Statistics (chiefly for 1865 and some for 1864) and the further information supplied as already stated (which we regret is not always few like periods) we have endeavored to arrive at the income of the people of this Colony. In calculating the income from land by Agriculture and Pasture, we have used the return (Table 23, part 1, of Census) of land under crop ; have estimated the yield and valued it. "We have used the Import and Export returns for 1565; the return of Live Stock for 1864 (Table 26, part 1, Census) and have estimated the consumption of food —flour, butchers' meat, milk and butter—and valued it. The estimate of the produce of land cultivated for wheat, taken together with the Imports, we have checked against the consumption. For Mining we have adopted the valuation of gold at the Customs, as entered for export during I.SGS. No returns of the produce of coal mines can be had. In estimating the profits of Commerce and Trade, we havo charged a per centago on exports, except, gold and specie, the profits, if any, on which are included in the estimate (below) of the profits of Banking Companies who are almost the only exj)orters; on imports, except specie ; and on the internal trade of the Colony in home produce, which consists of the products of Agriculture and Pasture, and Miscellaneous items, exclusively of Wool, which wo have already included in the estimated profits on export. For Banking Companies' profits we have made an estimate on the published quarterly statements. The Miscellaneous Produce exported is extracted from Table No. 19 of the Statistics for 1865. The Interest on Deposits in Banks we have calculated upon the Quarterly returns. The Interest on Mortgages and Liens we have estimated upon the returns furnished to us, but as they are very incomplete it is only an approximation. As no statistics of Manufactures can be had, it has been necessary to make an arbitrary estimate of the profits arising from those, as well as from Professional pursuits. For the incomes of Mechanics, Artificers, and skilled workers we have estimated an amount somewhat in excess of the ordinary rate of wages, in order to, include the profits of the persons in these classes who sell their own produce, and thus combine wages and profits. Mariners, Labourers, Servants, and Miscellaneous we have estimated at wages rates. The estimates thus formed amount to: — . £ Agriculture ... ... ... ... ... 2,100,000 Pasture ... ... ... ... ... 2,670,000 Mining ... ... ... ... ... ... 2,252,000 Trade, Commerce, and Manufacturers ... ... ... 2,324,000 Banking ... ... ... ... ... 250,000 Miscellaneous Exports of Home produce ... ... ... 67,000 Interest on deposits in Banks ... ... ... ... 40,000 Interest on Mortgages and Liens—4 millions at 10 per cent. ... 400,000 Professions ... ... ... ... ... 552,000 Mechanics, Artificers, and skilled workers ... ... ... 2,100,000 Mariners, Labourers, Servants, and Miscellaneous ... ... 3,000,000 £15,755,000 Having no returns of Saw Mills, Breweries, Fisheries, Flour Mills, Coal Mines, Shipping, houses and lands let on rent, interest on private loans and investment societies, we have not made any estimate of the profits accruing therefrom. The above amount may therefore be taken as an under rather than an over estimate. The population is stated in Table No. 1. of Statistics for the year 1865, at 201,712. As the whole of the increase of people during that year was not in the Colony for the full year, the deduction of the odd figures 1,712 may be fairly made. It will then appear that the income per head of the population was about £78 per annum. Estimating the earners of incomes at about 7,000 more than were indicated by the Census of Ist December, 1864—that is at 85,000 —the income for each would average about £185 per annum. Having made these Estimates as far as practicable on the Statistics for 1865, and having adopted the yield of gold in that year, and bearing in mind that as the increase of population by immigration consisted chiefly of persons employed in obtaining that yield, we make no addition to the other producing interests for increase of population, much of which consisted of births. The income of the people of the United Kingdom has been lately estimated at £25 per head. The contrast between these incomes of £25 and £78 does not fairly illustrate the comparative condition of the people, as the purchasing power of £25 in the United Kingdom is much greater than £25 in New Zealand. This difference is to some extent modified, on the one hand or the other, by special circumstances peculiar to each country, and therefore it is not possible to make an accurate estimate of the different values of the income of each population. We will now divide this income according to the occupations shown by the Census: — £ Persons, about 7,600 —Trade and Commerce, and Manufactures ... ... aboiit 305 per annum. „ „ 12,000—Agricultural and Pastoral ... „ 400 „ Carried forward 19,600

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