Те Ranet Hrroa.—The Passing of the Maori. 371 
of any pretensions to purity of race. 
e have not sufficient data to show completely what has taken place 
with regard to assimilation, but we respectfully submit a few facts for 
consideration, with the hope that they may be amplified later. 
DENSITY oF THE Maori POPULATION. 
By its own natural increase the larger European population (1,218,915, 
as against 52,751 Maori in 1921) is every year rendering the proportion 
of the Maori population less and less in the total population of the country. 
The following table shows that the number of Europeans to one Maori has 
been steadily increasing in spite of the fact that the Maori population 
has also been increasing :— 
Table 4.—Ratio of Maori to European. 
Number.of E n 
е, ta One =” эш 
1891 ; vee E 
1896 3 17-6 
1901 . 17-9 
1906 18-6 
1911 20-2 
1916 =a ee po R9 
1921. = is nc 296 
The proportion of 23-6 Europeans to 1 Maori, or 4-2 Maoris for every 
100 I , is the ratio for the total population of both Islands 
00 Europeans : 
The density of the Maori population in particular districts, however, 
varies considerably. This is clearly shown in the accompanying map. The 
black area of Hokianga, on the west side of the northern area, there are 
more Maoris than Europeans. To the north and north-east of it lie 
Mangonui and Whangaroa, with 71 and 74 respectively to the 100 Europeans. 
To the east lies the Bay of Islands with 64. Though these parts have 
probably always carried a large Maori population owing to the climate 
assisted by lesser European settlement. Though containing the oldest 
European settlements, the area contained so much poor gum-lands 
unsuitable for closer settlement that European settlers went elsewhere. 
The Maoris naturally hold the fertile valleys; and except for timber, 
gum, and trading there was not so much inducement for white occupation. 
With the opening-up of some of the land, and better travelling facilities, 
