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1892. NEW ZEALAND.

REPORT OF REPRESENTATION COMMISSION.

Presented to both Houses in 'pursuance of Section 5 of " The Representation Act, 1887."

To His Excellency the Eight Honourable William Hillier, Earl of Onslow, of Onslow in the County of Salop; Viscount Cranley, of Cranley in the County of Surrey ; Baron Onslow, of Onslow in the County of Salop, and of West Clandon in the County of Surrey; Baron Cranley, of Imbercourt; Baronet; Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George ; Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same. May it please Your Excellency,— We the undersigned, appointed by a Commission bearing date the Bth day of June, 1887, issued under the hand of the Governor, and sealed with the seal of the colony, for the purpose of " The Beprcsentation Act, 1887," having received from the Begistrar-General a report of the results of the periodical Census of the colony, taken on the sth day of April, 1891, have, in accordance with clause 3 of the above-named Act, redivided the colony into electoral districts for the apportionment of the representation of the people of New Zealand in the House of Bepresentatives, and respectfully submit for your Excellency's consideration the following report of our proceedings : — The report of the Begistrar-General contained a statement showing the population, of each present electoral district, and printed tables showing the population of the several boroughs, town districts, counties, and ridings, and was received by the Commission on the 25th day of September, 1891. The total population of the colony was 626,658, of which 228,127 were comprised in thirtyfive boroughs and one town district, each containing a population of over 2,000. Excluding the residents of the Chatham and the Kermadec Islands—numbering 290 persons—there remained 398,241 as country population, to which 28 per cent, having been added, the total nominal population for the purposes of the Bepresentation Acts became 738,165. Dividing this number by 70, we obtained 10,545 as " the quota," which represents, in country districts, an actual population of 8,240. The maximum number therefore to be included in any electoral district is 11,295 nominal, or 8,825 actual population. The minimum numbers are 9,795 and 7,653 respectively. 'In a city district the quota is 31,635, with a margin of 100 over or under that number. The census showed that the increase of population since the year 1886 had been greater in the North than in the South Island. The nominal population of the former was found to be 330,052, and that of the latter 407,823, entitling the first to 31 members, and the other to 39. This is taking one member from the South to add to the North Island. The descriptions of the proposed boundaries were published in the Government Gazette of the 14th October, and plans showing the several districts were circulated throughout the colony, and notice was given that objections to the new electorates would be received up to the 16th November inclusive. The Commission reassembled on that day, and found that thirty-seven communications had been sent in from different parts of the colony. About one-third of these were merely proposals for changes in the names of the electorates, which were in many cases agreed to, the remainder contained suggestions for certain alterations of boundaries, some of which were adopted ; but several, when considered in relation to the adjoining districts, proved either to be impracticable, or would have been objectionable to other and larger bodies of electors. Authenticated maps and descriptions of the boundaries of the electoral districts, together with a schedule showing the objections that have been raised to the preliminary divisions proposed by the Commission, accompany this report. Given under our hands and seals this 18th day of November, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one. T. M. Haultain, Chairman. John Hislop. E. Dobson. S. Percy Smith. Chas. M, Ceombie.

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