13

H.—3l

8'33 in 1909. It is shown by the table following that there has been considerable increase in the marriage-rate, which has been above the standard during each of the last fifteen years : —

Marriages, Number and Rate.

The marriage rate, measured b\ the tota] population, does not show the true position when, as in the case of New Zealand, the age-constitution of the people fluctuates considerably. A more satisfactory standard is found in the number of persons of marriageable age, defined as meaning tin- unmarried and widowed of males aged 20 years and upwards ami of females aged 1 ■"> years and upwards. The rates are given for four census years : —

The total number of marriages solemnized does not include marriages where both parties are of the aboriginal Native race, such persons being exempted from the necessity of complying with the provisions of the Marriage Act. although at liberty to take advantage thereof. One hundred and sixty-nine marriages in which both parties were Maoris were contracted in 1910 in terms of the Act: 25 by Registrars, 78 by clergymen of the Church of England, 4 by a Presbyterian minister, 34 by Roman Catholic ministers, 10 by ministers of the Church of the Latter-day Saints, 16 by Methodist ministers, and 2 by Salvation Army. Ages of Persons Married. Of the persons married in 1910, 161 bridegrooms and 1,293 brides were under 21 years of age. Of the bridegrooms, two were between 17 and 18. and five between 18 and 19. Of the brides, seven were between 15 and 16. and thirty-four were between 16 and 17 years of age. The porportion of men married is greatest at the aires of 25 to 30. and of women at from 21 to 25 years. Deaths. The deaths in 1910 numbered 9,639, a rate of 9'71 in every 1,000 persons living, as against 9-22 in 1909. This is below the average of the previous ten years. 9'90 per 1,000.

Marriage-rate. Marriage-rate. Year. I Total Number of Marriages registered. Per 1 000 Compared 1 er 1 000 wi( . h Ratc m 0 ".. 1882-86 Population. faken ag 1(X) I Total Number Year. of Marriages p . . M||| Compared registered. »' with Rate in D , ,. 1882-86 Population. taken m m 882-86 1887 1888 1889 189(1 1891 IS92 1893 189 1 1895 1896 1897 3.663 3,563 3,617 3,632 ."..797 3.805 1,002 4,115 4.178 4.110 4,843 1.928 6-68 100 5-97 89 5-97 89 5-93 89 6-12 92 6-04 90 6-23 93 6-22 93 6-15 92 5-91 89 6-85 103 6-83 Ki2 1898 5,091 6-91 103 1899 5,461 7-28 109 1900 5,860 7-67 115 1901 6,095 7-83 117 1902 6,394 8-01 120 1903 6.748 8-23 123 1901 6,983 8-26 124 1905 7,200 8-28 124 1906 7,592 8-48 127 1907 8,192 8-91 133 1908 8,339 8-82 132 1909 8,094 8-33 125 I91U 8*236 ,8*3(i 124 ; j I

Year of Census. Proportion of Unmarried „ , ,. , „™. . ., per 1,000 of Total. Proportion ot Marriages per 1,000 of the ., i F n I Marriageable Marriageable Marriageable Total Men. Women. Persons. Population. 1891 .. 1896 .. 1901 .. 1906 .. 246-2 264-2 278-3 295-8 267-8 308-3 330-6 326-9 46-22 49-11 53-56 54-09 48-10 47-09 49-96 55-15 47-14 48-08 51-69 54-62 6-04 6-85 7-83 8-48