416 



Essays. 



the Bay of Islands, and also strangers) the population of the same district 

 is under 2,000, or less than two-thirds of what they were seventeen years 

 ago. Children are every year becoming fewer. Marriages are rarely fruitful. 

 The seven principal chiefs of Ahuriri (including Te Moananui, lately 

 deceased) are all without children, with the exception of Te Hapuku ; and 

 of four of his sons married, three are still childless. Mr. Penton, from an 

 accurate census* of a portion of certain tribes in the Waikato district, has 

 clearly shown that the decrease among them in fourteen years (1844-1858) 

 was at the rate of nineteen per cent. Another table,* also compiled by Mr. 

 Fenton, showing the numbers of the natives of the Colony of New Zealand 

 in 1858, gives the following : — 





Males. 



Females. 



Total. 



North Island 



... 29,984 



22,993 



52,977 



South Island 



1,326 



957 



2,283 



Stewart Island and Euapuke . . . 



110 



90 



200t 



Chatham Islands 



247 



263 



510 



31,667 24,303 55,970 

 Unfortunately at the present time there is no means of accurately show- 

 ing the difference on the whole of New Zealand ; still this may be done for 

 certain isolated districts : — 



Males. Females. Total. 

 The Province of Nelson (including Marlborough) had in 



1,120 



1855 ... 

 The same in 1864 ... 



Decrease 

 The Provinces o£ Otago and Southland (including Euapiiki 



and Stewart Island) had in 1852 , . . 

 Ditto in 1864 



Decrease 

 The Chatham Islands in 1859 

 Ditto in 1861 



Decrease 

 " Middle Whanganui," 1859 

 " Central Whanganui," 1864 



Decrease 

 Eotorua, the Lakes, and Maketu, 1859 

 Ditto, 1864 



Decrease 



692 



428 



980 



140 



383 



327 



709 



217 



179 



396 



— 



— 



313 



247 



263 



510 



— 



-- 



413t 



— 



— 



97 



— 



— 



2,210 



— 



— 



1,417§ 



— 



— 



793 



1,210 



1,050 



2,260 



1,023 



742 



1,765 § 



495 



* Blue Boole, N.Z., 1859. 



t Estimated. 



X Government Gazette, January 14, 1862. Mr. W. Seed also gives, " Maoris, 413, of 

 whom 24 are children; Morioris, 160 ; half-castes, 17." 



§ Kindly furnished by Hon. Mr. Mantell, Native Minister. The Eotorua return 

 officially said to be " incomplete." 



