Hill. — The Maoris To-day and To-morrow. Ill 



for the whole district from Cape Buna way to the Hutt, and 

 including the Bangitikei, only amounts to 10,005, or to just 

 one-third of what it was in 1842.' These results suffice to 

 show that the native population has markedly diminished 

 since New Zealand became a British colony ; and the diminu- 

 tion, such as is shown to have taken place in the most 

 populous part of the Island, approximates closely to the 

 average " falling- off" between Mr. Hamlin's estimate of 

 120,000 in 1842 and 43,101 in 1901. 



But the reports of the census enumerators who were 

 responsible for the native returns last year are in some 

 respects reassuring. Judged alone by a comparison between 

 the results of 1896 and 1901 the increase is certainly more 

 than 8 per cent., whilst during the same period the increase 

 of the colonists was 9 86 per cent. It is necessary to be 

 careful, however, in accepting the facts of the native in- 

 crease, although most capable men were appointed to 

 collect the information. But it is for this very reason 

 that extra caution is required. Thus, Mr. Gilbert Mair, 

 chief enumerator for the Waikato and nine other coun- 

 ties, states, " The total population of the ten counties 

 is shown to be 7,731, including 358 half-castes, whilst the 

 number for the same counties in 1896 was only 6,661, 

 an apparent increase of 1,070; but I very much doubt if 

 there has been a real augmentation of numbers, and I attri- 

 bute the increase more to the fact that my sub-enumerator 

 visited every settlement and dwelling-place, which I am as- 

 sured by the natives themselves was never before attempted." 

 This statement exactly explains the position as to why such 

 a marked apparent increase in population has taken place. 

 The natives are now far more amenable to European regula- 

 tions than they were a few years ago, and most of them do 

 not object to give information which in previous years they 

 were afraid to give, thinking that some bad result would be 

 sure to follow. Thus, the enumerator for Taranaki and Patea 

 points out that objections were raised by the native adher- 

 ents of Tohu and Te Whiti, and " observations of querulous 

 irritability were frequently made." Some wished to know 

 whether the Government wanted to ascertain their numbers 

 with a view to sending them against the Boers or otherwise 

 deporting them. Many said, " Go thou to Tohu ; if he signs 

 we will sign." Inquiries as to the number of stock provoked 

 bitter resentment. Here we have examples of the difficulties 

 experienced by sub-enumerators when taking the census ; and 

 no doubt the difficulties were much greater in former years, 

 hence it may be that the seeming increase in the native 

 population is merely the outcome of more efficient means 

 being employed by the sub-enumerators. 

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