residents within the original boundaries of Cook County: Waiapu Riding, 109; Tolaga Bay, 187; Waimata, 101; Gisborne, 871; and Te Arai, 273. The Maori population within the area originally occupied by Cook County has more than doubled in less than 40 years, whereas the European population during the same period has increased not much above 25 percent, and was in 1945, much below the 1926 figure. Maori census figures: 1906: Waiapu, 2,611; Cook County, approximately 1,500; total, 4,111. 1926: Matakaoa, 963; Waiapu, 3,292; Uawa, 592; Waikohu, 536; Cook, 940; total, 6,323. 1945: Matakaoa, 1,547; Waiapu, 4,341; Uawa, 754; Waikohu, 1,028: Cook, 1,468; total, 9,138, plus 3 per cent. as an allowance in respect of native residents absent on war activities. Notable people William Knox Chambers (born in South Australia in 1850) was taken by his parents in 1854 to Hawke's Bay, where he was brought up to sheep farming. In 1873 he bought Repongaere. He served on the Ormond, Waikohu and Ngatapa Road Boards, Cook County Council and Gisborne Harbour Board. James Macfarlane (born in North Canterbury in 1853) took up a run in the Amuri district. For nine years he was chairman of Amuri County Council. In 1892 he bought Takapau (10,470 acres). He served on Cook County Council, the Hospital Board, the Farmers' Union and the Poverty Bay A. and P. Association. The Government acquired Takapau in 1903. Charles Gray (born near Huntingdon, England, in 1840) followed the sea early in life. In 1868 he and his new wife Lucy (née Waters) went to Queensland to join his brother Robert, where they engaged in pastoral pursuits. He acquired Waiohika in 1877. His first wife, Lucy, died in Dunedin on 2 December 1879. His public service included the chairmanship both of Cook County Council and Cook Hospital Board. He died at Dunedin on 8 March 1918. His second wife (a daughter of Bishop W. L. Williams) was born at Whakato in 1856 and died in 1942. Thomas Jex-Blake (born at Norwich in 1857) was employed in Poverty Bay by his uncle (J. W. Johnson). For some years he managed Taureka, and then bought properties at Waerenga-o-Kuri and Te Arai. He died in April 1928. Charles Matthews (born in England in 1878) came out to Poverty Bay with his parents, assisted his father to develop Te Ruanui, and then bought properties on his own account. He was a member of