LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT N.Z

Cue (NZERS), Issue 8, 30 September 1944, Page 22

LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT N.Z

A statistical liecord

Fourteen major hydro-electric plants are State operated in ,NZ. ♦ * ♦ .Nearly 70 aerodromes are operative, with about 20 emergency landing-grounds. ♦ * » Strength of ,NZ police force is 1600, including 1030 constables and 63 detectives. * * ♦ Smallest county is Fiord with 20» inhabitants living in an area of over 3000 square miles. ♦.* * ■ In 27 years from 1914 the value of exported merchandise totalled L 1 .302 ,034,759. UK took 81.8%— L 1,065,533,521. ) 'i » * « k ' ••• • • •• > Canned crayfish shipped overseas yields over L4OOO annually. Oysters produce up to L 15,000,. toheroas about L6OOO, whitebait around L 12,000. ♦♦ • ♦ In the past 20 years there have been over 5300 earthquakes recorded 69 of them destructive and 49 of a semi-destructive type. * ♦ . • » There are 11 multiple births per 1000 births annually with an average of 397 twins and three cases of triplets, v

There are 21 ports, of entry for Customs purposes. **i . ♦ The South Island contains proportionately more rural population than the North. * * ♦ Kauri gum exports between 1853 and 1941 yielded nearly L24,000,000—about L 270,000 annually. r♦* ' * Territorially, Eden is the smallest county. In an area of 14 square miles live 12,100 people. * * * An average of L 225,000 is invested yearly in Art Unions, or nearly 2/10 per head of population. • ♦ ♦ ♦ Deaths due to earthquakes over 93 years up to 1941 totalled 284 — all but 29 of them occurring in the Napier calamity of February 3, ’ 1931. \ • ♦ ♦ Hottest day ever recorded in NZ was 99 deg. experienced in Timaru. The other extreme is credited to Hanmer Springs with 8.2 deg. ♦ ♦ » Life assurance in ,NZ averages LlO4 per head of population. Canada is highest in the Empire with Lllß. Then follows S. Africa LllO, Australia L 72, Germany LlB.