The population of Wellington has increased rapidly of late years, but it cannot be said even now that it is very large. Unlike the other chief towns of the Colony, the city boundaries include almost the whole population. In Auckland, for instance, the boroughs of Parnell, Newton, and Newmarket are, for population purposes, excluded from the calculation, though they are as much a part of the city, unofficially speaking, as Thorndon, Te Aro, and Newtown are of Wellington. In fact, the separation effected by the College reserve, the page 216 Basin Reserve, and Mount Cook Barracks and Gaol Reserve, is much more complete than anything that is to be observed between Auckland and any of the surrounding boroughs mentioned above, and yet Wellington very wisely includes the whole of the thickly populated parts. Included, therefore, in that way, Wellington now boasts a population of over 40,000, and it will probably reach 60,000 at census time in 1901. In 1891 it was 31,021; in 1886, 25,945; in 1842, 5000; and in 1840, 1600. During the early part of 1840, upwards of 1200 persons arrived under the auspices of the New Zealand Company; and considering that the total tonnage of the twelve vessels by which they came was only 5390-less than one of the Home steamers which now visit the port—it is plain that Wellington's founders were a brave community. If one of those old ships—the “Tory,” the “Cuba,” the “Oriental,” the “Aurora,” the “Adelaide,” the “Duke of Roxburgh,” the “Glenbervie,” the “Bengal Merchant,” the “Bolton,” the “Coromandel” the “Brougham,” or the “Platina”—could be brought now to Wellington wharf, ready for a trip Home, and seriously placed at the disposal of our leaders of to-day for that purpose, the pluck of the founders of Wellington would be seen to great advantage. Considering all things, it is indeed wonderful that so many came to New Zealand in the early days, and particularly to Wellington. From the standpoint of scenery, the site of Wellington most assuredly has not been improved by settlement. Doubtless it was far prettier when its hills were all bush clad and the huts of the Maoris were the only signs of habitation; but it must have seemed a sorry spot for a colony of white folks to get a living from. No wonder that many of them would gladly have returned had they been able to do so.