H.—lB.

2

Full details regarding the sex, age, and distribution throughout the colony of pensioners on the roll will be found in the appendix of this report, the following items of interest being taken therefrom : — 10,398 out of the 12,582 on the roll, or 82 per cent, of the whole, are in receipt of the full pension of £26. Forty-four per cent, of the pensioners who were admitted in the first year of the Act are still on the books. Of the four chief centres of population, Christchurch has the highest number of pensioners—namely, 1,440, as against 1,210 in Auckland, 1,111 in Dunedin, and 596 in Wellington. The smallness of the pension-roll in Wellington is accounted for by the fact that the population at the pension age in this centre is a comparatively small one, the last available census figures showing the people sixty-five years of age and over in each of the chief centres to be as follows : — 1. Cbristehurch ... ... ... ... ... 3,408 2. Auckland ... ... ... ... ... 3,002 3. Dunedin ... ... ... ... ... 2,901 4. Wellington ... ... ... ... ... 1,771 The male pensioners exceed the female by 1,930, although in Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin the females are in the ascendant. The age which claims the highest number of pensioners is 72, 1,168 Europeans being at that age. Age 73 follows next with 1,112. "There are seventy-six European pensioners of the age of 90 and over, of which number seven are 96 and over, while three are centenarians. The following particulars relate to those who are 96 and over, and were still alive on the Ist July : — No. Distriot. Age. Sex. Address. Born. Conjugal Conditions. 740 Wellington* 96 Male Te Aro 10th February, 1810 Widower. 797 Dunedin 97 Female Outram 14th August, 1808 Widow. 1866 Auckland* 97 Male Onehunga 1809 Widower. 18 Haveloek 102 „ Kenepuru 15th February, 1804 Unmarried. 343 Ashburton* 103 „ Ashburton 24th June, 1803 Widower. 149 Masterton 105 „ Waikanae 1801 The following statement shows the number of pensions on the roll at the end of each month of the year just ended : — Number of pensions at 31st March, 1905 .. .. .. 11,770 Add new grants during April, 1905 .. .. 91 Deduct deaths during April .. .. .. 34 57 increase. Number of pensions at 30th April, 1905 .. .. .. ' 11,827 Add new grants during May .. .. .. 135 Deduct deaths during May .. .. 79 „ cancellations during May .. .. 34 - 113 - 22 increase. Number of pensions at 31st May, 1905 .. .. .. 11,849 Add new grants during June .. .. .. 120 Deduct deaths during June .. ■ .. .. 101 ~ cancellations during June .. .. 38 ' • 139 19 decrease. Number of pensions at 30th June, 1905 .. .. .. 11,830 Add new grants during July .. .. .. 116 Deduct deaths during July .. .. .. 108 ~ cancellations during July .. .. 22 130 14 decrease. Number of pensions at 31st July, 1905 .. .. .. 11,816 Add new grants during August .. .. .. 155 Deduct deaths during August .. .. .. 121 ~ cancellations during August .. .. 20 141 14 increase. • These pensioners draw their own pensions in person.