As to the sanitary state of the native population, I regret to state,
not only from the information of several gentlemen with whom during
my mission I had an opportunity of conversing, but also from personal
observation and inquiry, that they are by no means in that healthy
state which one would be led to expect when compared with the advance
they have made in other respects. In the former it would appear that
they are retrograding, and this decline is especially visible in
and near the European towns, and easily attributable to causes, the
prevalence of which is more or less detrimental to any body of persons,
but felt in a greater degree in a mixed community of Europeans and
natives. In illustration of this, I may mention the comparatively few
births, while from the census it will be seen that a greater equality
of the sexes prevails than was generally believed to be the case
throughout the entire districts; and perhaps, therefore, the most
favourable conclusion to form is, that the native population is not
increasing, or, in other words, that, taking the deaths and births
into account, it is likely to remain stationary for some time to come,
unless swept off by some unusual and fatal disease.
H. TACY KEMP,
Native Secretary.
Wellington,
15 June 1850.