64 TlMEHRI. 
increase of unoccupied females being no less than 7,083. 
In the Public Service the numbers were 1,653, of whom 
only 73 were females ; this is an increase of 480 persons 
or 20 per cent, on the 1881 figures. The clergy, learned 
professions and teachers, are now 1,470 an increase of 
331. Merchants, shop keepers, and agents, have in- 
creased by 297. Clerks and shop assistants numbered 
2,664, an increase of 996, while landed proprietors are 
3,060 as against 2,195 in 1881. This must mean owners 
of small holdings, for from other sources it is notorious 
that large landed proprietors are diminishing. Mr. 
DALTON says that wood cutters have decreased while the 
gold-seekers and wood-cutters are together 6,646 or nearly 
double the figures given in 1881. Mechanics and artizans 
have increased from 10,086 in 1881 to 14,146 in 1891. 
This seems to me too summary a classification, a greater 
detail as to the precise work is required. Agricultural 
labourers divided as to sexes show a curious condition ; 
the males have decreased in the last ten years from 
67,392 to 64,282 while the females have increased from 
4°>833 to 41,162 or on the whole a decrease of 2,781 
persons so employed. Other labourers variously em- 
ployed increased during the decennium. Boatmen and 
mariners have decreased, while domestic servants, more 
especially the female division, have increased. Under the 
head of scholars there is a record of a diminution to the 
extent of 492 ; this, the Registrar-General explains, as due 
(1) to the less stri6l enforcement of attendance at the 
schools of the two towns, and (2) to the greater poverty 
of the parents. 
As regards the amount of education as revealed by the 
numbers who can read or write, an additional column is 
