40

H.—23

The entire acreage under crop in February, 1875, was 1,788,800. Of the crops, the principal were ■wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, and sown grass. At the same date the number of holdings was 16,092, the population being 296,018. The average yield of wheat was, in 1875, over 28 bushels per acre. The live stock of the colony consisted, at the census of March Ist, 1874, of 99,859 horses, 494,917 cattle, 11,704,853 sheep, 123,921 pigs, and 1,058,198 head of poultry. Large gold fields were discovered in the spring of 1857. In the year 1874 there were 376,388 ounces of gold, of the declared value of 7,526,655 dols, exported from New Zealand, the average annual yield of the gold fields since 1862 being 588,072 ounces, or value of 11,395,140 dols., while, from April Ist, 1857, to December 31st, 1875, the total quantity of gold exported was 8,025,676 ounces, valued at 151,271,293 dols. gold. The principal produce of the colony is wool, 46,848,735 pounds, valued at 14,173,475 dols., having exported in 1874. The total imports of the colony during the year 1874 were 40,609,060 dols.; total exports 26,256,345 dols. The class of people most required in New Zealand are farmers with a small capital, carpenters (who can earn, according to their skill, from eleven shillings to fifteen shillings per diem), and single women, who always gain good wages, and rarely stop in service for a long time, being greatly in demand in the matrimonial market. All classes of laborers find ready employment at remunerative rates. By an Imperial statute, passed in 1852, the legislative power is vested in the Governor and a Parliament of two chambers ; the first called the Legislative Council, and the second the House of Representatives, and collectively, the General Assembly. The Legislative Council consists at present of 49 members nominated by the Crown for life ; and the House of Representatives of 83 members, elected by the people for five years. Two Maories sit in the Legislative Council, and four in the House of Representatiues. Two of the latter also are members of the Executive Council. The Governor is assisted by an Executive Council, composed of the responsible ministers for the time being, and any others he may appoint. Members of both branches receive pay at the rate of 787 dols., for the session, which generally lasts three months. Every owner of a freehold worth 250d015., or tenant householder in the country at 25 dols., in the town at 50 dols., a year rent, is qualified to vote for members of the House, and is eligible for membership. The seat of Government is at Wellington, a city of about 12,000 inhabitants, and centrally situated. The colony is divided into nine provinces, four in the North, and five in the South Island. Each of these provinces is governed by an elected Superintendent and Provincial Council. In 1875, the General Assembly passed a Bill declaring that provincial governments should cease to exist after the close of their next session. The form of local government which is to take the place of provincial government has not been decided upon. In the year 1874, the total ordinary revenue (including provincial) was 9,367,240 dols., and the territorial revenue, 5,754,500 dols., which, with incidental receipts of 221,320 dols, makes the total general revenue —ordinary, territorial and incidental —amount to 15,343,060 dols. The total ordinary expenditure by general and provincial governments was 14,803,555 dols. Beyond the ordinary expenditure, a sum of 13,629,465 dols., was spent, which is charged to the lean account. The public debt of New Zealand amounted, at the end of 1874, to 66,834,680 dols., and as a loan expenditure is still proceeding, it is estimated that the total debt will shortly amount to about 95,000,000 dols. Against this there is a sinking fund already amounting to 5,000,000 dols., and moreover a large amount has been spent on reproductive works. In 1870, the sum of 20,000,000 dols., was authorized to be borrowed for the purposes of immigration and public works (such as railways, roads, telegraphs, water races, bridges, etc.), besides 5,000,000 dols., for defence and other purposes. Since then, further large loans have been contracted for public works. To assist in the development of these works a vast number of emigrants have been brought into the country, receiving either free passage from England or a grant of land. Railways are now being constructed thoroughout the islands, 260 miles being open for traffic ; 420 miles under construction, of which a good deal is near completion; and 330 miles are authorized to be constructed. Under the stimulus of the public works and immigration policy, no less than 43,965 immigrants had arrived in New Zealand in 1874. On the 31st December, 1874, the colony had 2,732 miles of telegraph lines, and 5284 miles of wires. The number of telegrams during the year was 844,301, of which total 724,552 were private, and the remainder government messages. During the year 1874, the post office received 4,339,165 letters, and despatched 4,719,291. The total number of newspapers received was 3,872,668 and despatched 2,434,024. Money orders to the number of 62,712 and the amount of 1,315,820 dols., were issued during 1874. Grammar and free schools, endowed from the public revenues of the various provinces, several colleges, and two universities, one established in Otago and the other a corporation endowed by the general government, are the principal educational institutions. The shipping entered in 1874 consisted of 836 vessels, with a tonnage of 399,296. Of these, 237 vessels, measuring 201,017 tons, were British; 552, measuring 170,303 tons, colonial; and 67, measuring 27,976 tons, were foreign. Of the foreign vessels entered, 50 were American. Coasters are not included in the above statistics. In 1874 the number of vessels entered coastwise was 14,351, and their tonnage 1,353,085. The number of individual exhibits included in the Catalogue for New Zealand is 1,114.