It was fifty years ago on 29th January since Captain Hobson landed in the Bay of Islands, bearing Her Majesty's Commission as Lieu-tenant-Governor of New Zealand. He had taken the necessary oaths of office on the 14th day of January previous as Lieutenant-Governor before Sir George Gipps, the Governor of New South Wales, as New Zealand had been included in the domain of New South Wales on the 15th day of June, 1839, by letters patent under the Great Seal. He was accompanied to New Zealand in H.M.S. Herald by five civilians and five troopers of the Mounted Police force of New South Wales. There were about 4000 British and European residents in the colony when Captain Hobson landed at the Bay of Islands, inclusive of the 204 officers and immigrants of the New Zealand Land Company, who had been sent to Wellington. These 4000 souls were scattered along the seaboard of the islands, from the North Cape to Stewart's Island, though the principal grouping of the people was at Kororareka, Hokianga, and Mangonui, on the North Island, and at Cook Straits, Akaroa, and Purakaunui—a whaling station between Port Chalmers and Waikouaiti—on the Middle Island.

Those who resided in the Middle and Stewart's Islands were almost wholly employed in whaling pursuits.

On the day after the arrival of the Lieutenant Governor at the Bay of Islands he met the principal inhabitants of the chief settlement at the Church of Kororareka, where he obtained some forty of them to sign a declaration as witnesses that he had that day published two commissions, one under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland dated the 15th day of June, 1839, by which the boundaries of the colony of New South Wales were enlarged and extended so as to embrace and comprehend the islands of New Zealand in the South Seas; and the other dated the 30th day of July, 1839, by which Her Majesty, by Her Royal signet and sign manual, did constitute "William Hobson. Esquire, captain in Her Majesty's Royal Navy," to be Lieutenant-Governor "over such parts of the Islands of New Zealand as should be ceded to Her Majesty in sovereignty."

On the Monday following, the 3rd of February, forty-five of the inhabitants of Kororareka presented an address to His Excellency, pledging themselves to aid His Excellency with their best exertions to establish order, law, and security for life and property, "in this improving and important colony.

The address, it may be said in passing, was drafted by the Hon. Dr. Pollen, onwhom his years sit as easily as those on men whose days have been fewer, less actively and usefully spent.

Previous to the establishment of British authority in New Zealand by the arrival of Captain Hobson, a considerable trade with New South Wales, Great Britain, and America prevailed. The British and American statistics have never yet been obtained, and those of New South Wales only partially. The exports consisted chiefly of whaleoil, sealskins, flax, timber, pork, and potatoes; and the imports of ordinary merchandise, firearms, powder, and ball. Thus, from 1823 to 1832, the value of the exports to and from New South Wales was as follows:

In the four years—1836, 1837, 1838, and 1839—the vessels trading to and from New South Wales, were in number and tonnage as follow:—To New South Wales, 166; tonnage, 23,569. From New South Wales. 201; tonnage, 30,369. It must, however, be remembered that the bulk of the export trade of New Zealand, at this time, went to England and the United States.

The expenditure from the mission stations and the whaling vessels frequenting the coast was considerable. There were no harbour nor Customs duties to pay. The sperm and black whales frequenting the shores of the two Islands caused large number of whalers every year in the summer months to congregate in the New Zealand waters. The Maoris sold large tracts of land, for which they obtained both money and goods, and the sale of their lands, coupled with the barter of their produce to the traders and whaling vessels, caused them to enjoy a rude kind of abundance, different from that which they possessed before they were brought into contact with Europeans.

The missionaries had imported sheep as well as cattle into the northern portion of the North Island, while at Mana and Kapiti speculators from New South Wales had formed small sheep and cattle stations. There were of course no roads in the country, and the boat and canoe formed the chief mode of transit from one place to another. The doctor visited the sick, and the priest the dying, when their services were required, by water.

The military and their families are not included in the above figures.

An incomplete return exists for the year 1843, from which it was estimated that the European population in that year was 13,128, but no great reliance can be placed on its accuracy,

The figures relating to the Maori people are those of the Government, but Maori experts outside the Native Office view them with grave suspicion.

The population for 1889 is computed by the Registrar-General to 31st December.

The excess of immigration over emigration has varied largely in different years. Two epochs are, however, well marked, namely, those of the gold discoveries in Otago and Westland; and when the Public works and Immigration policy was developing itself fully, from 1861 to 1866, and from 1874 to 1880, the population was increased largely from the operation of the causes mentioned.

There were not in 1886 any immigrants whose passages were wholly paid for by the Government, and some of those enumerated above were only partially assisted, having been nominated by friends in the colony; but in 1886, several families came out under regulations made for the immigration of farmers and agriculturists possessed of small capitals. The regulations were thus framed.

"The Agent-General will provide passages for a limited number of persons who may he desirous of taking up land in New Zealand at the same rates as are required to be paid by persons nominating their friends in the colony, namely, £10 for each adult, and £5 for each child between the ages of 1 and 12 years.

"Before passages will be provided, however, each head of a family must prove to the satisfaction of the Agent-General that he is possessed of £100 in cash, and that he is also possessed of cash equal to the sum of £50 for each member of his family over 12 years of age.

"Persons desirous of doing so can arrange to come out in the second-class on the above terms, by an additional payment equal to the difference between the cost of steerage and second-class passages."

Forty-one farmers arrived under these regulations in 1886, bringing their families with them, the total number of persons being 192, viz., 60 males and 49 females over 12 years of age, 42 males and 35 females between one and 12 years of age, and six infants. For each nominated immigrant being an adult £10 was paid in the colony by their friends, and £5 for each child between the ages of one and 12 years. In the three years, 1886, 1887, and 1888, for the introduction of farming people and those nominated in the colony the following sums were expended: £4500, £18,832, and £14,168.

The total expenditure by the Government on Immigration from the passing of the Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870, to the 31st December, 1888, has been £2,109,972 11s 9d.

The year 1888 stands marked, in the table of the statistics in the general summary, "Immigration excess over emigration" by a minus sign before the figures 9175 and the letters "Dec." after them, which means that in that year alone since the foundation of the colony, more people left New Zealand by emigration then came into it by the number stated, 9175. The loss by emigration, however, in 1889 was only 904.

It is one of the most curious facts of life in New Zealand that the artisan and the labouring classes should migrate to the Australasian colonies. Life perhaps in exceptional cases may be easier there, but it is far less pleasant; as of all the British colonies in the domain of the Crown New Zealand is without doubt the most pleasant and easiest place to live in. Those who know it best love it best. It is a land not only pleasing to behold, but fruitful beyond most others. It contains large stores of hidden mineral wealth, and those elements of usefulness that conduce so much to the welfare of a people. Its surrounding waters are as pregnant with abundant fish as are the waters of Newfoundland. Those who grow grain in the South reap the heaviest harvests of any reapers in the world. In the North fruits of almost all climates find congenial environments. Sheep and cattle all through the colony grow fat, fearing no drought. Peace has been secured with the native race, and the manifold fruits of industry can be gathered without fear or danger. Many of the appliances of civilisation are spread all over the land, which throughout its length and breadth has been made habitable. Yet the people, unattached to the soil, wander away to other countries.