CENSUS OF 1871,

CONSISTING OF

REPORT, SUMMARY TABLES, AND APPENDIX,

AND

DETAILED TABLES, VIZ:—

PART 1.—AGES.

PART 2.—RELIGION

PART 3.—NATIONALITY.

PART 4.—EDUCATION.

PART 5.—SOCIAL CONDITION.

PART 6.—OCCUPATIONS.

SYDNEY : THOMAS RICHARDS, GOVERNMENT PRINTER.

1873.

REPORT.

THE REGISTRAR GENERAL

TO

THE HONORABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

Transmitting certain additional Returns relating to the Census of 1871, and reporting upon the results obtained.

Sydney, 1 April, 1873.

SIR,

1

I do myself the honor to forward to you the following explanatory remarks upon the statistical results of the Census of 1871.

2

The Census of New South Wales, of 1871, was taken under powers given by Act of Parliament, 33 Victoria, No. 12 (Appendix A), which provided for obtaining the necessary information referring to the population, and also certain Agricultural and Pastoral Statistics ; to these, however, no reference will be made in this Report, as they have been dealt with separately in the Statistical Register for the year 1871. [Preliminary remarks.]

The rule followed in 1861, of fixing a date upon which the Census of the whole of the British Empire might be taken simultaneously, having been adhered to on this occasion, the 2nd April was the day named by the Home Government, and adopted, with two exceptions, by the Australian Colonies, the night between Sunday and Monday being selected as a time when people are generally to be found at home.

The difference in the density of population of Great Britain and New South Wales, and the large area of ground which had to be traversed here to obtain comparatively scanty information, precluded the possibility of following the example of the Registrar General for England in having the whole of the Schedules distributed and collected on the one day. It became necessary, therefore, to divide the Colony in such a manner as would enable the work to be completed in the shortest possible period, in accordance with the 6th clause of the Act, which stated that the Schedules should be delivered at every dwelling throughout the Colony in the Course of the week ending on Saturday, the 1st day of April, and collected on the Monday following or as shortly after that day as possible.

3

The Colony was divided into ninety-one districts, corresponding with the Registration Districts already established, the boundaries of some of which were altered for the convenience of the work, so as to give to each district—with the exception of a few—a maximum population of 10,000, this being considered as much as one person could superintend. [Preparatory work.]

4

To every one of these districts an Enumerator was appointed to supervise the work, to whom instructions were issued, and who was held responsible for the proper performance of the duties entrusted to those under him,—the City of Sydney forming a separate Census District, over which I was appointed Enumerator. [Appointment of Enumerators.]

The Enumerators were mostly Clerks of Petty Sessions or District Registrars, in some cases gentlemen unconnected with the Government Service, who were appointed on the recommendation of the local Bench of Magistrates.

5

Maps of the various districts having been prepared, showing as clearly as possible the natural boundaries, such as mountains, rivers, creeks, &c., and the divisions required,—these, with a description of the proclaimed boundaries, were forwarded to the Enumerators, who were instructed to state, after careful consideration, how many collectors they thought it would be necessary for them to employ, specifying what portion of their district they proposed to allot to each collector. [Appointment of collectors.]

Ultimately 629 collectors were appointed for the whole Colony, including 46 for Sydney. Of this number, 504 were employed on horseback, 99 on foot, 16 partly on horseback and partly on foot, and 10 in boats, for the collection of the information relating to those who were at the time on board ships, boats, barges, &c., in any of the ports, harbours, or other waters of the Colony.

6

At the previous Census the information obtained about the Chinese population was limited almost entirely to their gross number. In order to arrive at better results on this occasion, a larger number of interpreters were appointed to accompany the collectors who had to visit localities where Chinese were congregated. Thus, while in 1861, when the Chinese element numbered nearly 13,000, only 5 interpreters were engaged; in 1871, when their number had decreased to 7,220, 21 interpreters assisted in gathering the information. The result has been very satisfactory, as will be seen by the large decrease of numbers in the column devoted to " Unspecified " throughout the compiled tables, if compared with the Census Returns of 1861. [Chinese interpreters.]

7

It was anticipated that in the outlying districts, where the population is so scattered, some difficulty would be experienced in arriving at a correct estimate of the number of those away from home or without fixed abode on the night of the 2nd April. In order to meet the difficulty as far as possible, the Enumerators were authorized to appoint additional collectors, whose duties would be to obtain information from travelers on the roads, or in the bush, whenever practicable. The number of additional schedules thus filled in was not without importance. [Travellers on the road, &c.]

8

The allowance to be paid to Enumerators was fixed at from £15 to £25 ; but taking into account the additional duties devolving upon them through their having to supervise and summarize the Agricultural and Live Stock Returns, only three of them received the minimum rate, the others being allowed £20 or £25, according to the importance of the district. [Allowance to Enumerators and collectors.]

The collectors were paid at the rate of 10s. per diem on foot, 15s. and 20s. on horseback or in boats. Where Government officials were employed as collectors, these rates were in some cases reduced by the amount of their daily allowance. The Chinese interpreters were remunerated on the same scale as the collectors.

9

All instructions to the collectors were issued by the Enumerators, who also supplied them with a written description and a tracing of the district through which they had to travel. [Instructions issued.]

To the Benches of Magistrates and to other authorities throughout the Colony, a circular was forwarded, soliciting their advice and assistance if needed to those employed in the work, and the Inspector General of Police instructed the officers in his department to afford every assistance in their power. It may be here stated that the importance of the undertaking seemed to be fully appreciated by all classes of the people, and that, except in a few trifling cases, the greatest anxiety was shown by all to give full and correct particulars, the collectors being everywhere received with kindness and hospitality, more especially in the scattered Pastoral Districts, where they sometimes had to travel between 40 and 50 miles a day.

10

There were two forms used for the purpose of obtaining the information required—the Householder's return (Appendix B) and the Ship return (Appendix C), the latter differing but slightly from the former, and intended for occupiers of ships, barges, &c. [Forms used for distribution.]

About 185,000 of these schedules were sent to the Enumerators, in accordance with their estimate of the number required, nearly 100,000 of which were actually filled in and returned to this office.

11

The information sought to be obtained from every head of a family consisted in the name and surname of the members of his household, their relation to him, their sex, age, social condition, rank, profession or occupation, the religion they followed, their degree of primary education, and also a description of the dwelling. [Information required.]

The word " Household " or dwelling was taken to include all buildings, tenements, or other erections, of which the whole or any part was used for the purpose of human habitation ; each of these, without reference to the number of inmates, being returned as one household ; and the term " Householder " was taken to mean the head of the family, or if absent, hislocum linens, wife, son, &c. In the case of pastoral or other large establishments, theOccupier, whether proprietor, lessee, or superintendent, was considered as the Householder, and required to fill in the schedule accordingly. The number of schedules collected, however, did not represent the actual number of families residing in the Colony, there being a great many separate returns for miners, &c. sole occupants of huts or tents, whose families, residing in other parts of the Colony, were also separately returned.

12

The schedules having been collected and delivered to the Enumerators, and verified and carefully endorsed by them, were returned to this office as soon as possible after the 2nd of April, accompanied by a summary of the population of the district, according to a form provided for the purpose ; and from this a preliminary return was prepared and submitted to Parliament with the least possible delay. Owing, however, to the difficulty of obtaining the returns from the outlying districts, in consequence of floods which at the time prevailed in different parts of the country, it was not until the end of May that all the papers were received. [Schedules returned to this office.]

13

In the meantime advertisements were inserted in the principal newspapers, requesting those persons at whose houses schedules had been delivered but not collected, to forward them to this office, and those who might have been entirely passed over by the collectors, to advise me of the fact. Through this medium a few additional returns were received, and some omissions supplied ; but the complaints of neglect which were inquired into were generally found to be groundless. [Steps taken to collect additional information.]

14

The careful manner in which the duties were performed, in the first instance, by those employed in the collection, and subsequently by the staff engaged in tabulating and compiling the returns, justify me in testifying to their general correctness. The numbers of the people, allowance being made for a few travelers or bushmen who may have escaped notice, form an exact return of our population, and all the details of figures which this volume embraces may, I think, be relied upon as correct. [Correctness of the returns.]

15

After receipt of the returns at the head office, they were handed over to the tabulators, to whom was entrusted the work of extracting from the schedules, and of condensing into forms prepared for the purpose, the particulars contained under the several headings. Their labours lasted from the 15th June to the 15th November, their remuneration being at the rate of 6s. per hundred entries made, and 4s. per hundred revised. [Tabulation and compilation.]

It was not until the middle of November that the compilation proper was commenced.

16

The divisions of the Colony under which the information is grouped are the following :— [Divisions of the Colony.]

1. 1st.—The Registry or Census Districts.

2. 2nd.—The Police Districts.

3. 3rd.—The Electoral Districts.

4. 4th.—The Counties and Pastoral Districts.

5. 5th.—The Towns and Villages.

6. 6th.—The Municipalities.

Of these, the three principal groups are the Registry Districts, the Electoral Districts, and the Counties and Pastoral Districts, for each of which, at the risk of repetition, the most minute details are given.

The Police Districts, the boundaries of which coincide with those of the Registry Districts, are represented by summaries only.

The Towns and Villages comprise a list of townships containing a population of one hundred persons or over, whether their boundaries have been officially defined or not.

17

The information extracted from the Schedules is divided into six Parts, namely :— [Division of the compiled tables.]

1. Ages.

2. Nationality.

3. Religion.

4. Education.

5. Social condition.

6. Occupations.

For every one of these each of the divisions of the Colony above enumerated forms a separate series. As already stated, this classification has necessarily occasioned many repetitions ; but to those who may have to consult the tables it will obviate the inconvenience of reference from one part to the other.

Each series of the several Parts is preceded by a summary ; and immediately following this Report will be found special centesimal and proportional tables, forming an interesting epitome of the facts elicited. The comparison of the results has not been carried back farther than the year 1861, when the first Census was taken after the separation of the Northern Districts (1859) ; and it was not without difficulty that even this comparison could be drawn, on account of the alterations since made in the boundaries of some of the districts.

18

The Census of 1861 was taken on the 7th of April, that of 1871 on the 2nd of April, so that a few days are wanted between the two dates to complete the decade. The difference is so unimportant that it was not thought necessary to increase the difficulties of the work by taking the broken period into account, and the computations have been made on the basis of a full decennial period having elapsed between the preceding Census and the present one. [Period 1861-1871.]

19

The total cost of the Census of 1871 was £17,183 12s. 8d., divided as follows:— [Cost of the Census.]

Representing an expenditure of about 8¼d. per head of population. The actual cost of collection was £10,710 5s., or a trifle over 5d. per head. In 1861 it was £10,087 18s. 6d., or nearly 7d. per head.

POPULATION.

PROGRESS OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

20

Foremost among the elements of national and social wealth, upon which depends the progress of a civilized Country, stands the power of population, shown by the increase or decrease of the numbers of the people. Before proceeding with a general analysis of the results of the Census, I will endeavour to point out, without going beyond the province of this Report, how the progress of the Colony has been affected in that respect during the last decennial period. [Power of population.]

There are two causes from which arises the increase in the population. The excess of births over deaths, or natural increase, and the increase caused by the excess of migration flowing into, over that flowing out of, the Country.

The natural increase is in a great measure influenced by the increase or decrease in the migratory movement ; and it would be a matter of great difficulty, with the statistics at present at our command, to arrive at the exact proportion in which each cause contributes towards the general increase of the population. To indicate clearly the change in one element, it would be necessary to suppose the other to be constant, and the results that such an assumption would enable us to attain at the present time would be of no value, and will only become possible when the great disproportion of the numbers of the people to the extent of territory occupied by them disappears, and with it the wide fluctuations now taking place from year to year in the relative proportion of one cause of increase to the other.

21

The total addition to the population of New South Wales on the 2nd of April, 1871, was, for the ten preceding years, 153,121 persons, giving a yearly rate of increase of 4.36 per cent. The increase in the previous period, from 1856 to 1861, notwithstanding the separation of the Northern Districts, which took place in 1859, was at the annual rate of 6.36 per cent. Therefore, although the addition of 43.64 per cent. to our population in the decade must be a welcome fact, it should be noted not only that the rate of increase has not been maintained during the last few years, but that there has been a very noticeable retrograde movement in the progress of our population. [Progress of the population between years 1861 and 1871.]

Turning to the annual Registration Returns, we find the addition to the population represented by the excess of births over deaths, from 1856 to 1861, to have been 36,818 persons, or at an annual rate of 2.76 per cent., leaving the balance of increase, 47,853 or 3.60 per cent., annually, to be accounted for by immigration. From 1861 to 1871 the excess of births over deaths was 104,204, representing a natural increase at the annual rate of 2.97 per cent., leaving 48,917 or 1.39 per cent. as the contribution of immigration towards the general increase of the population.

Thus, while the natural increase from 1861 to 1871 was slightly in excess of that from 1856 to 1861 (2.97 against 2.76), the perceptible falling off in the number of arrivals

The temporary cessation of assisted immigration, although one of the chief causes of the falling off just pointed out, is not alone sufficient to account for it. There is over the Borders of this and the neighbouring Colonies a constant movement of population, of which no record is kept, and by which each one has benefited lately, chiefly in proportion to the importance of the mineral discoveries made. During the last few years of the period that we are now dealing with,

the result of this movement for New South Wales has undoubtedly been an important exodus of her population, to Victoria more particularly. But it should not be forgotten that the great impetus given to this Colony by the improvement in the agricultural prospects, as well as by the rich discoveries of minerals, dates from after the time when the Census of 1871 was taken ; and there is every reason to hope, should the present prosperous state of the Country continue, that the next Census will show very different results.

NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION.

22

The total population of New South Wales on the 2nd April, 1871, exclusive of roving aborigines, was 503,981 persons, consisting of 275,551 males and 228,430 females. The numbers on the 7th April, 1861, were 350,860 persons, consisting of 198,488 males and 152,372 females. [Population of New South Wales.]

The addition to our population in the period which has expired since the Census of 1861 is therefore 153,121 persons, or 43.64 per cent. ; the males having increased by 77,063, or 38.82 per cent., and the females by 76,058, or 49.91 per cent.

23

The inequality of sexes, so prominently apparent on former occasions when a Census was taken, is fast disappearing as the population becomes more settled. In 1861 the males had increased at an annual rate of 6.95 per cent., and the females at an annual rate of 5.58 per cent. ; in 1871 the males had progressed at the rate of 3.88 per cent., only, against 4.99 per cent., for the females. [Inequality of sexes.]

Thus, while in 1861 there were, for every 10,000 persons 5,657 males and 4,343 females, or a proportion of 7,676 females to every 10,000 males, in 1871 there were 5,467 males and 4,533 females for every 10,000 persons, or a proportion of 8,289 females to every 10,000 males.

24

The density of population, or the relation that the numbers of the people bear to the area of the country occupied by them, will be found a question of some interest, as exemplifying, in so far at least as the actual extent of territory is concerned, the capabilities of the Country to support those who have made it their home. [Density of population.]

The total area of the Colony is computed at 323,437 square miles, or 207,000,000 acres. Taking, however, the Surveyor General's return of land coming under his observation, we have in 1871 an area of 305,988 square miles, against 271,635 square miles in 1861. The difference, 34,353 square miles, representing the extent of fresh country opened, in the intervening period, in some of the Pastoral Districts.

Taking then into account the extent of opened country only, we find that the centesimal proportion of the population to the area of the Colony, at the Censuses of 1856,

Placing a person on each square yard, 3,097,600 persons might stand on a square mile, so that the whole of the population of New South Wales, if thus mustered together, would not occupy much more than 104 acres, or about one-sixth of a square mile, and the area of the Colony is 305,988 square miles!

The density of the population of England in 1861 was 344 persons to a square mile, giving a proportion of 1.86 acres to each person. In New South Wales there are over 388 acres to every inhabitant.

25

A glance at Summary table No. 2, will show how unequally the population is distributed over the Colony. [Distribution of the population.]

Taking first the Settled Counties, which comprise most of the agricultural and mining population, we find that, with an area of 40,117 square miles and a population of 376,170 persons, they contain 9.37 persons to a square mile, against 5.48 in 1856 and 7.05 in 1861.

The most populous County is of course the County Cumberland, which includes the City of Sydney. The area of this County is 1,586 square miles, with a population numbering 167,153. Here the progress is very marked ; for the density, which was 68.71 in 1856 and 78.61 in 1861, had increased in 1871 to 105.39 persons to a square mile. The County Northumberland comes next in importance, with an area of 2,342 square miles, occupied by 41,082 persons, or 17.54 persons to a square mile, against 9.88 and 13.35 in 1856 and 1861. In the County Camden the thickness of population is increasing but slowly, from 10.39 in 1861, to 10.55 in 1871.

Turning to the outlying or Pastoral Districts, we find the comparison between the two periods 1861 and 1871 more difficult. In some of them, such as the Darling, the Murrumbidgee, &c., the area has been greatly decreased by the addition of portions of the territory to that of the Settled Counties ; while the boundaries of others, such as the Albert, the Lachlan, the Warrego, &c., have been extended by the opening of fresh country in the distant parts of the Colony.

The total area of these districts in 1871 was 265,871 square miles, and the population 127,811 persons. The density was 0.48 persons to a square mile, against 0.13 and 0.29 in 1856 and 1861.

26

The distinction of the population of the towns and villages from that dispersed over the country and engaged in rural pursuits, was not effected without trouble. In many cases the official boundaries of the towns were not clearly known ; in others the township proper was found to be almost deserted, the people having found it more convenient to settle in the neighbourhood. Some, which at one time had shown signs of wealth and progress, had been all but abandoned by the inhabitants, and nothing but a few huts remained to remind one that a town had ever been planned there. These great fluctuations of population are a remarkable feature in the growth of the Colonies ; they are of course most frequent in the mining districts, where they are caused by the rush of the people to every newly discovered Gold Field. Wherever such rushes take place, townships arise with wonderful rapidity, generally to disappear as rapidly, as soon as the report of some rich find in another part of the country causes the abandonment of the Gold Field by the majority of those interested in it. [Urban and rural population.]

27

The rule followed in the classification of the towns and villages and of the rural parts, was to take the Government boundaries whenever practicable, enumerating the suburban population separately. But towns or villages, although without any officially defined boundaries, were nevertheless to be considered as being part of the urban population of the Colony ; and the number of inhabitants within their approximate limits, these having been carefully determined, was to be returned as the population of the town or village. [Towns and villages.]

In arriving at the numbers of the urban population of the Colony, towns and villages containing less than 100 inhabitants have been disregarded, most of them being composed—only in not quite such a scattered state—of a population following the same rural pursuits as in the surrounding country districts. Therefore, the fifth series of the tables, which is devoted to " Towns and Villages," gives information only about towns or villages containing 100 inhabitants or over. Separate mention is made, however, in other parts of the work, of many localities with a population of less than 100 persons, and all particulars relating to their statistics are given ; for although not now classed as towns or villages, they will probably rise in importance, when the information here given will be found useful in tracing their growth.

28

The whole of the Suburbs of Sydney comprised in the Metropolitan Police District are included in the urban population. In 1861 the same course was not followed ; a large portion of the suburban districts was added to the rural population, and this mode of dividing materially affected the returns. In order to allow of a comparison being drawn between the two periods, it has been necessary to make out fresh computations for 1861 on the same basis as the one adopted on the present occasion. [Suburban population.]

Of the total population of New South Wales in 1871, there were 234,162 persons in towns or villages, 267,417 in the rural parts, and 2,402 on board the ships, boats, barges, &c., in the ports, harbours, or other waters of the Colony. Thus, out of every 10,000 of the population, 4,646 persons lived in towns, and 5,306 in the country. In 1861, for every 10,000 persons, there were living in towns (including all the suburbs of Sydney) 4,549, and in the country 5,396, the proportion of urban and rural population being pretty nearly the same for the two periods, with a slight difference in favour of the towns in 1871.

Comparing the sexes, we find the disproportion naturally greater in the rural parts, although it is gradually becoming less apparent. Thus, in 1861, 80,449 or 40.53 per cent., of the male population were in the towns, and 116,197 or 58.54 per cent., in the country, against 79,181 or 51.96 per cent. of the female population in the towns, and 73,123 or 47.99 per cent. in the country. In 1871, the numbers are, for the males, 117,513 or 42.64 per cent. in the towns, 155,680 or 56.50 per cent. in the country, and for the females 116,649 or 51.06 per cent. in the towns, and 111,737 or 48.92 per cent. in the country ; or, leaving out the decimals, the following table will show more clearly the contrast between the two periods :—

Of the 234,162 persons composing the urban population in 1871, 134,736, or 26.73 per cent. of the total population of the Colony, formed the population of Sydney and the Suburbs. 99,426, or 19.73 of the total population of the Colony, were in the country towns and villages.

Leaving out the metropolis, there were enumerated in 1871 166 towns and villages containing 100 inhabitants or more, with an aggregate population of 99,426 persons. In 1861 there were 105 towns and villages so enumerated, with a population of 65,944 persons, giving an increase for the decennial period of 61 towns and villages, with an additional urban population of 33,482 persons. Thus, for every 10,000 of the population, there were in the country towns and villages 1,973 persons in 1871, against 1,879 in 1861. Towards the total increase of the population in the decennial period, they contributed at the rate of 2,187 in every 10,000.

Taking the sexes separately, we have in 1871, for every 10,000 of the male population, 1,895 in country towns and villages, against 1,764 in 1861 ; and for every 10,000 of the female population, 2,066 in 1871, against 2,029 in 1861. The contribution towards the general increase of population in the decennial period being for the males 2,232 in every 10,000, and for the females 2,140 in every 10,000.

The progress towards the equalization of sexes since the year 1861 will be still better illustrated by the following table :—

In 1861, there were for every 10,000 males 9,842 females in the urban and 6,293 in the rural parts. In 1871 the numbers had increased to 9,926 for the towns, &c., and 7,176 for the country.

29

Table No. 12 shows the progress of our principal towns, viz., those containing a population of over 1,000 persons. The most important after Sydney is Newcastle, with 7,581 inhabitants ; then Parramatta, with 6,103 ; West Maitland, 5,079 ; Bathurst, 5,030 ; Goulburn, 4,453 ; Grafton, 2,250. Of these, Newcastle has made by far the most rapid strides since 1861, her population having increased at the rate of 10.37 per cent. annually. On the other hand, Parramatta increased at the rate of 0.94 per cent. per annum only ; and if we were to leave out the Asylums, Orphan Schools, &c., which go far towards swelling her population, and the number of whose inmates increases in proportion to the total increase of the Colony, we should have an actual decrease in her numbers during the last ten years.

The largest increase of urban population will be found to have taken place in the towns of Wagga Wagga, Orange, Muswellbrook, and Tamworth, which progressed at the annual rates of 19.63 per cent., 15.06 per cent., 13.12 per cent., and 13.10 per cent. respectively ; while the numbers for East Maitland, West Maitland, and Windsor, show a very material falling off ; the decrease being at the rates of 0.87 per cent., 1.08 per cent., and 0.88 per cent. annually. This retrograde movement is explained by the impoverished state of the surrounding districts, caused chiefly by the floods to which they are exposed.

30

The town of Sydney, within the corporate boundaries, contained in 1871 a population of 74,423 persons, consisting of 36,149 males and 38,274 females. In 1861 the total population was 56,394, consisting of 27,285 males and 29,109 females ; the numerical increase in the intervening period being 8,864 males and 9,165 females, or 18,029 persons. The rate of increase was very nearly the same for both sexes, 3.25 per cent. annually for the males, 3.15 per cent. for the females, or an average of 3.20 per cent. for the total population. [Sydney.]

This is a marked improvement on the returns for 1861, when the rush to the Victorian mines between the years 1856-1861 had caused such a drain on our Metropolitan population that the annual rate of increase during the preceding quinquennial period was only 0.7 per cent. for the males, 1.5 per cent. for the females, and 1.2 per cent. for the total population.

The proportion of sexes in the City of Sydney is pretty evenly maintained from year to year, although it is of course to some extent affected by the gradual disappearance of the disproportion of their relative numbers in the rural districts. Thus, while in 1861 there were in the town for every 10,000 persons 4,866 males and 5,134 females, or a proportion of 10,551 females to every 10,000 males, in 1871 we have for every 10,000 persons 4,961 males and 5,039 females, or a proportion of 10,156 females to every 10,000 males.

The following table, showing the progress of the town since the year 1828, will be found interesting :—

Between the years 1836 and 1861, the intervening periods are all quinquennial. 1861-1871 is the only decennial period.

The population of the Metropolis, however, does not consist only of those living in the town of Sydney proper. It includes also the numbers of those residing in the Suburbs, who, though not within the City boundaries, must be practically looked upon as forming part of her population.

31

These Suburbs, with the City of Sydney, compose the Metropolitan Police District. Their aggregate population is 60,324 persons, of which 29,148 are males and 31,176 females. They are divided in to eight Districts (Registry), as follows :— [Suburbs.]

The population of the Suburbs has very largely increased since 1861, when it was in the aggregate 36,846 only, consisting of 17,768 males and 19,078 females. The addition in the decennial period was therefore 63.72 per cent., or 64.05 per cent. to the males, and 63.42 per cent. to the females. The annual rate of increase—6.37 per cent.—is nearly double that of the town. And this is only natural. The limits of the City are now far too narrow to give abodes to all to whom she affords a living, so that the proportion of those who reside out of town is necessarily increasing yearly ; and the rate of increase will be found to become greater as that of the town itself becomes more settled.

The highest suburban rate of increase is in the Redfern and Botany District, 88.34 per cent., in the ten years, the numbers having increased from 6,701 in 1861 to 12,621 in 1871. In the Concord, St. George, and St. Leonards Districts, which are farther from the City, the rates of increase are the lowest, being 49.40 per cent., 49.42 per cent., and 48.45 per cent., respectively, for the decennial period.

32

Taking the town and suburbs together, the population of Sydney in 1871 was 134,736 persons, consisting of 65,286 males and 69,450 females. In 1861 the numbers were 93,686 persons, consisting of 45,425 males and 48,261 females, and the numerical increase in the decennial period was for the males 19,861, for the females 21,189, or 41,050 for both sexes, being an addition of 43.72 per cent. for the males, 43.90 per cent. for the females, or 43.82 per cent. together. [Town of Sydney and suburbs.]

33

Most of the population composing the Metropolitan District has already been incorporated under the Municipalities Act. The town itself constitutes the Municipal City of Sydney, and in the suburbs there were in 1871 no less than nineteen Municipalities, containing together 49,962 persons, out of a total population of 60,324. [Municipalities.]

There were altogether in New South Wales, at the Census of 1871, forty-nine Municipalities, with a population of 192,181 ; while in 1861 there were only twenty-four Municipalities, with a population of 102,476 ; the increase in the decennial period being represented by twenty-five Municipalities and 89,705 persons.

In 1861, for every 10,000 of the population, there were 2,921 persons within municipal boundaries, and 7,079 in unincorporated localities. In 1871 the Municipalities contained 3,813 persons in every 10,000, against 6,187 in other parts. Again, taking the total increase of population in the decade, we find that for every 10,000 of the increase, 5,858 was contributed by the Municipalities, and 4,142 by the unincorporated parts of the Colony.

34

The Municipality of Sydney being identical with the town, requires no special reference here. It will be sufficient to indicate in the following table the population of the several Wards, and their progress since 1861. [Municipality of Sydney.]

The above return shows how unevenly the population of the different parts of the city has progressed since 1861. The tendency of the city to spread out towards the east is illustrated by the large addition to the numbers of the people in Macquarie and Cook Wards, where the increase in the decade was 76.05 and 77.72 per cent.; while in Bourke and Brisbane Wards, representing the older and more thickly populated parts of the town, the increase was comparatively very small, 2.02 and 15.31 per cent., respectively.

35

The distribution of the people in this Country cannot be better shown than by a comparison between what were formerly the Settled Counties and the Pastoral Districts. The twenty Counties, forming previously to 1861 the more settled portion of the Colony, and composed chiefly, as already stated, of the agricultural and mining districts, have since received the accession of portions of five Counties, viz. : Buccleugh, Cowley, Gorden, Harden, and Lincoln. Including these, there were in 1871, for what may be termed the first class districts, a population numbering 376,583, or 74.72 per cent. of the [Counties and Pastoral Districts.]

total population of the Colony, and 127,398 persons, or 25.28 per cent., for the Pastoral Districts. In 1861 the numbers were, for the twenty Counties, 283,375,

Taking the sexes separately, we find that in 1861, of the total male population, 151,595 or 76.37 per cent. were in the Counties, and 46,893 or 23.63 per cent. in the Pastoral Districts. In 1871 there were 198,814 or 72.15 per cent. of the male population in the Counties, and 76,737 or 27.85 per cent. in the Pastoral Districts. Of the total female population, there were in 1861 129,870 or 85.23 per cent. in the Counties, and 22,502 or 14.77 per cent. in the Pastoral Districts ; and in 1871, 177,769 or 77.82 per cent. in the Counties, and 50,661 or 22.18 per cent. in the Pastoral Districts.

The rate of increase in the decennial period was, in the Counties, pretty equal for both sexes, 31.15 per cent. for the males and 36.88 per cent. for the females ; but in the Pastoral Districts the rate for the males was 70.33 per cent., and for the females over 125.82 per cent. This large excess in the increase of the female population bears out what has already been said about the steady progress in the equalization of the sexes in the less settled districts.

This is again illustrated in table No. 8, which gives the proportion of the sexes in the Counties and in the Pastoral Districts, at the two periods of 1861 and 1871. In 1861 there were in the Counties, for every 10,000 persons, 5,386 males and 4,614 females, and in 1871, 5,279 males and 4,721 females, or 8,941 females for every 10,000 males in 1871, against 8,566 in 1861. In the Pastoral Districts the numbers were, for every 10,000 persons in 1861, 6,675 males and 3,325 females, and in 1871, 6,023 males and 3,977 females. So that in 1871 there were in the Pastoral Districts 6,602 females to every 10,000 males, against 4,979 only in 1861.

The progress of some of the Counties since 1861 has been very marked. County Phillip, the centre of the Western mining districts, increased in the decennial period by 282.26 per cent. of its population, the addition to the males being 341.49 per cent., and to the females 199.27 per cent. In County Georgiana the increase was 127.92 per cent. ; 107.38 per cent. for the males and 167.34 per cent. for the females. On the other hand, County Camden, whose population has been greatly thinned lately by the exodus of small settlers, attracted to other parts by the greater advantages offered by free selection, shows an actual decrease of the male population of 3.35 per cent. for the period, and the total rate of increase for both sexes was only 1.50 per cent. In the County Cumberland the increase was almost at the same rate as in the City of Sydney, 34.07 per cent. for the period, and the proportion of sexes in 1871 was 10.068 females to every 10,000 males, against 10,223 in 1861.

The comparison between the two periods is more difficult for the Pastoral Districts, on account of the difference of area of some of them in 1861 and in 1871. In the Warrego District the population increased from 219 in 1861 to 2,650 in 1871, or at the rate of 1,110.04 per cent. for the decade. In the Albert, the increase was at the rate of 322.27 per cent. for the decade, and in the Macleay at the rate of 279.77 per cent. But the Warrego and the Albert had in the same period received a very large addition to their area, while the Darling, although reduced by nearly half the extent of its territory, had nevertheless increased by 102.29 per cent. of its population in the ten years.

DOMICILIATION.

36

Taking next the manner in which the people of this Country are lodged, we find that the 503,981 persons forming the population of New South Wales in 1871 inhabited 93,690 dwellings of all descriptions, 28,497 of which were built of brick or stone, 50,800 of weatherboard, 11,973 of inferior material, and 2,420 of which were tents, drays, &c. In addition to these, there were 4,917 empty stores, uninhabited houses, or buildings in the course of construction. In 1861 the total number of inhabited or uninhabited buildings was 64,571, of which 18,639 were brick or stone houses, 38,773 weatherboard or inferior, and 7,159 tents, drays, &c. The large diminution in the number of the latter is accounted for by the decrease of the Chinese population. [Lodgment of the people.]

37

There were in 1861, 184 dwellings to every 1,000 inhabitants, or a proportion of 5.43 persons to each dwelling. In 1871 there were 196 dwellings to every 1,000 persons, or a proportion of 5.11 persons to each dwelling. The progress is shown by an increase in the period of twelve dwellings to every 1,000 persons, and by a corresponding decrease in the density of habitation of 0.32 persons to each dwelling. [Density of habitation.]

The density of habitation of the principal towns, in 1871, did not differ very materially. In Sydney, it was 5.39 persons to each inhabited dwelling ; in the suburbs, 5.45. In Newcastle it was 5.64. Liverpool and Parramatta, with their Asylums and other public institutions, show a density of 9.83 and 6.95 respectively.

The following table, giving the progress of the City of Sydney in respect to the lodgment of the people, will conclude this part of the Report :—

AGES.

38

In the detailed tables having reference to the ages of the people, the units of population will be found tabulated for each year of age up to 21, after which they are grouped in periods of five years up to 80, the last three columns being devoted to persons between 80 and 100 years of age, to centenarians, and to those whose ages were not specified. In the special summary tables the grouping of persons under 20 has been condensed into quinquennial periods. [Mode of grouping.]

39

Following the plan adopted in 1861, we will first divide the population into three distinct groups of age, classing as children all those under 15 years,—as adults, representing the effective strength of the community, those between 15 and 65 years of age,—and as non-effective adults, those over the age of 65. [Effective and non-effective portion of the population.]

Of the 503,981 persons forming the population in 1871, 210,183, or 41.71 per cent., were children under 15,

In 1861, 133,221, or 37.97 per cent. of the population, were children under 15, 212,843, or 60.72 per cent., were adults between 15 and 65 years of age, and 4,796, or 1.31 per cent., were over 65.

The increase in the decennial period was, therefore, 76,962, or 57.77 per cent. of their numbers, for children under 15 years of age, 70,244 or 33.00 per cent., for adults between 15 and 65, and 5,915, or 123.33 per cent., for persons over 65.

Assuming the numbers of those under 15 and over 65 years of age to represent the section of the population depending upon others for support, and taking the remainder as the class embracing the self-supporting and those who support others,—we have in 1871, for every 10,000 of the population, 5,620 effective to 4,380 non-effective persons, against 6,070 effective to 3,930 non-effective in 1861.

In England, where the self-supporting classes are taken to be between the ages of 20 and 60, their proportion to the numbers depending upon others for support remains pretty constant. In 1851 there were, for every 10,000 of the population, 5,230 persons depending upon the remaining 4,770 for maintenance. In 1861 the numbers were 5,240 and 4,760 respectively.

The proportionately large decrease in the numbers of our effective population should, it need hardly be pointed out, not be taken as showing a diminution of our producing power, but simply as instancing the tendency of this Country—yearly increasing with its growth—of approaching in this respect the standard of Great Britain.

It does not follow, because the proportion of those relying upon others for support has so largely increased since 1861, that there should be, therefore, a decrease in the number of those capable of supporting them. The inference to be drawn is merely that, as the Colony grows older and the sexes become more equal, causing a corresponding increase in the number of marriages, so each adult has the care of more who are dependent on him for support ; and the same person upon whomtwoothers depended in 1861, would in 1871 have to support nearlyfourpersons.

40

Looking next at each sex separately, we have in 1871, out of a total male population of 275,551, 106,615, or 38.69 per cent. of the whole number, under 15 years of age ; 161,654, or 58.67 per cent., between the ages of 15 and 65 ; and 7,282, or 2.62 per cent., over 65 years of age. In 1861 the percentage of the male population was, for children under 15, 33.78, for those between the ages of 15 and 65, 64.55, and for those over 65 years of age, 1.67. [Males and females.]

Of the total female population, numbering 228,430 in 1871, 103,568, or 45.34 per cent., were under 15 ; 121,433, or 53.16 per cent., were between the ages of 15 and 65 ; and 3,429, or 1.50 per cent., were over 65 years of age. In 1861, the percentage was 43.43 for children under 15, 55.60 for those between 15 and 65, and 0.97 for those over 65 years of age.

41

Taking the proportion of one sex to the other, we find that in 1871, for every 10,000 of the active class, 5,710 were males and 4,290 females, and for every 10,000 of the remainder of the population, 5,156 were males and 4,844 females ; whilst in 1861, for every 10,000 of the active class, there were 6,019 males and 3,981 females, or nearly twice the number of males ; and for every 10,000 of the remainder, there were 5,099 males and 4,901 females. [Proportion of sexes.]

Thus, while the proportion of sexes of the children and aged does not materially differ at the two periods, the maintaining class, which in 1861 numbered nearly two males to every female, in 1871 only numbered five males to every four females. This illustrates very clearly the theory that the disproportion of sexes on the one hand, and the difference in the numbers of the effective and non-effective classes on the other, disappear on a par.

42

A noticeable increase will be found to have taken place since 1861 in the numbers of those over 65 years of age. [Persons aged 65 and more.]

Between the ages of sixty-five and seventy there were 4,850 persons in 1871, against 2,189 in 1861, an addition to the numbers of 2,661 or 121.56 per cent. in the decade. Between the ages of seventy and seventy-five, there were 3,609 persons in 1871, against 1,466 in 1861, giving a numerical increase of 2,143 or 146.18 per cent. in the period. Between seventy-five and eighty, 1,275 persons were returned in 1871, against 614 in 1861, the increase of 661 being at the rate of 107.65 per cent. ; and over eighty, there were 977 persons in 1871, against 527 in 1861, giving an increase of 250, or 85.39 per cent.

43

With regard to persons of a reputed age of 100 years and more, the information given requires careful scrutiny. We have little documentary evidence in this Country of the truth of the statements made by supposed centenarians, whose loss of memory often leads them to exaggerate their age. I can only give their numbers such as they were extracted from the schedules, without expressing any opinion about the correctness of the returns. Eighteen persons were put down as centenarians in 1871, which is a proportion of about 3½ to every 100,000 of the population. In England, in 1861, there was one centenarian returned to every 100,000 persons. [Centenarians.]

44

I annex the following return to show, at different periods of age, the inequality of the sexes, and at the same time to indicate at what ages the disappearance of this disproportion is most observable. [Inequality of sexes at different periods of age.]

It will be seen by the above return that up to the age of 15 the sexes were pretty equally divided, both in 1861 and 1871 ; there being under that age 9,869 females to every 10,000 males in 1861, and 9,714 in 1871. Between the ages of 15 and 20 the female element predominates. Again, at the age of 20-21 (which was not enumerated separately in 1861) there were 10,402 returned to every 10,000 males, in 1871. Above that year the preponderance goes on decreasing with age, but with a marked improvement in 1871.

45

Although the three periodsunder15, 15and under65,and65and upwards, were adopted, for the sake of comparing the results of this Census with those of the preceding one, a better way of grouping the population in this Country would perhaps be into the following four series of ages :—Infants under 5 ; children, between 5 and 15 ; adults, between 15 and 60 (which it is thought would correspond here with the period 15-65 in England), and adults aged 60 and upwards. [Betterway of grouping the population.]

Under this mode of grouping, tables 20 and 21 will give a comparison between the urban and rural parts of the Colony in 1871, as regards the percentage of the population, and the proportion of sexes at each of the four periods of age. They will serve as a basis for future comparison. [Ages in the urban and rural parts.]

46

A useful return (table 22) has been made out in connection with this part of the Census, giving for each Electorate the number of adult males of the age of 21 and upwards ; and, deducting from these the Chinese and Aboriginal element and the Foreigners who were not returned as naturalized, the estimated number of electors,—From this we elicit that there were in 1871, in the fifty-seven Electorates, 141,147 adult males aged 21 and over, giving an estimated number of electors of 130,919, or a proportion of 2,610 electors in every 10,000 persons. The total number of Members of the Legislative [Electorates.—Males aged 21 and more.]

Assembly being 69, the average is 1,897 electors to a Member. To arrive at the exact number of males aged 21 and upwards in the Colony, we must add the shipping, which is not included in the Electorates. We thus get a total of 143,730 adult males of 21 years of age or over, representing 28.52 per cent. of the population.

SOCIAL OR CONJUGAL CONDITION.

47

The next point to be considered is the social condition of the people ; and, without following the order in which the detailed tables are printed, I will now proceed with the analysis of the statistical information contained under that head.

It should be mentioned, however, that as, through an oversight in the compilation, the corresponding tables for 1861 were not classified by ages, no comparison can be drawn between the two periods, except as regards the general results. [Difficulty of comparing the two periods, 1861 and 1871.]

48

This is the first occasion on which, in inquiring into the social state of the community, the Chinese element has not been left out. It must be admitted that the time has arrived when the Chinese should be regarded as forming part of our settled population ; for although the nomadic habits of many of them still remain unchanged, the number of those who are settling in our midst, as merchants, tradesmen, artificers, or agriculturists, is increasing yearly, and the number of marriages registered between them and European women is becoming more and more important. [Chinese population included in the returns.]

Of course, by including them, the percentage of the married will be to a considerable extent weakened ; but this does not appear a sufficient reason to justify in leaving them out of the returns, more especially as the information obtained about them was, with the assistance of the interpreters, very complete.

The figures that are given hereafter must therefore be taken to refer to the whole of our specified population.

49

Comparing, first, the general results of this Census with those of the preceding one. [General results of this Census, compared with those of the preceding one.]

We find that, in 1871, of the total population of 503,981, there were

In 1861 there were 231,152 persons, or 65.88 per cent. of the population unmarried, 109,188 or 31.12 per cent. married, and 10,520 or 3.00 per cent. widowed.

The unmarried therefore increased in the period by 105,618 or 45.69 per cent. of their numbers, the married by 41,504 or 38.01 per cent., and the widowed by 5,999 or 57.02 per cent.

The proportion of the unmarried to the total population increased in the period by 0.94 per cent., that of the married, on the contrary, decreased by 1.22 per cent., and that of the widowed increased by 0.28 per cent.

50

This increase in the proportion of the unmarried is not to be attributed to a proportionate decrease in the number of marriages. The percentage of increase of our adult population has already been shown to have been smaller between the years 1861-1871 than in the preceding period, while that of the children was correspondingly larger. And if we deduct from the number of unmarried the youthful element, we shall find that the proportion of the unmarried, that is, of the bachelors and spinsters, has decreased since 1861. [Increase in the proportion of the unmarried to the total population.]

Leaving out, therefore, for the males all under 20 years of age, and for the females all under 15, we are left with a total unmarried [Decrease in the proportion of the unmarried, taking the adult population only.]

population numbering 74,136 in 1861 and 104,486 in 1871, and with a percentage of the total population of 21.13 in 1861 and 20.73 in 1871, or a decrease of 0.40 per cent. in the period.

51

Of the 150,692 persons returned as married in 1871, 75,810 were males and 74,882 females, so that there were 928 husbands whose wives were not in New South Wales when the Census was taken. [Married—Proportion of sexes.]

In 1861 there were 55,679 husbands and 53,509 wives, the excess of husbands being 2,170, so that a large number of wives whose husbands had probably preceded them in this Country to prepare a home for them and their families, had joined them since 1861, coming from the neighbouring Colonies or from Europe.

In England, on the contrary, the number of wives predominates. In 1861, for instance, there were nearly 70,000 husbands, or about 2 per cent. of their total number, absent from the Country, most of whom were seamen.

52

The addition to our married population in the period 1861-1871, was 20,131 or 34.36 per cent. to the males, and 21,373 or 39.94 per cent. to the females. [Increase of the married.]

53

Of the 16,519 widowed persons in 1871, 6,730 were males and 9,789 females. In 1861 there were 4,781 males and 5,739 females ; the females exceeding the males by 958 in 1861, and by 3,059 in 1871. [Widowed—Proportion of sexes.]

The increase in the ten years was 1,949 or 40.98 per cent. to the number of widowers, and 4,050 or 70.57 per cent. to the number of widows.

Here then, as well as in England, the chances of remarrying are far greater for widowers than for widows.

54

The proportion of the married to the widowed was, in 1861, 1,160 husbands to 100 widowers, 930 wives to 100 widows ; and in 1871, 1,270 husbands to 100 widowers, and 760 wives to 100 widows. In England the proportion is aboutfive wivestoonewidow. [Proportion of the married to the widowed.]

I regret that the incompleteness of the returns for 1861 will not allow me to extend this inquiry to the progress of themarried,widowed, andunmarried, in the last decade, at different periods of age, which would be necessary to render the information complete.

55

The following table summarizes the proportion of sexes of the three social classes in 1861 and 1871:— [Summary of the proportion of sexes of the unmarried, married, and widowed, in 1861 and 1871.]

So that there were in 1861, of the unmarried, 6,747 females to every 10,000 males ; of the married, 9,610 females to every 10,000 males ; and of the widowed, 12,004 females to every 10,000 males ; while in 1871 the unmarried were in the proportion of 7,448 females to every 10,000 males ; the married, in the proportion of 9,878 females to every 10,000 males ; and the widowed, in the proportion of 14,545 females to every 10,000 males.

56

Passing now to the returns for 1871, and taking first theunmarried,—we find that of their total number, 210,182 are under 15, and 125,569 were aged 15 and upwards. [Returns for 1871.—Unmarried.]

Of the 210,182 persons under 15 years of age, 106,615 or 50.73 per cent. are males, and 103,567 or 49.27 per cent. females. Of the 125,569 persons aged 15 and upwards, 85,614 or 68.18 per cent. are males, and 39,955 or 31.82 per cent. females. Under the age of 15 there are 9,714 unmarried females to every 10,000 unmarried males ; above that age, 4,690 unmarried females to every 10,000 unmarried males. [Proportion of sexes.]

57

Deducting the males under 20 years of age and the females under 15, we have in the Colony 64,620 bachelors and 39,955 spinsters, or a proportion of 6,183 spinsters to every 10,000 bachelors. [Bachelors and spinsters.]

The proportion of unmarried females to unmarried males decreases with age. Thus the proportion is—

1. Under 15 years of age, 971 spinsters to every 1,000 bachelors.

2. Between 15 and 20 years of age, 955 spinsters to every 1,000 bachelors.

3. Between 20 and 21 years of age, 751 spinsters to every 1,000 bachelors.

4. Between 21 and 25 years of age, 591 spinsters to every 1,000 bachelors.

5. Between 25 and 30 years of age, 343 spinsters to every 1,000 bachelors.

6. Between 30 and 35 years of age, 167 spinsters to every 1,000 bachelors.

7. Between 35 and 40 years of age, 122 spinsters to every 1,000 bachelors.

8. Between 40 and 50 years of age, 97 spinsters to every 1,000 bachelors.

9. Between 50 and 60 years of age, 80 spinsters to every 1,000 bachelors.

10. Between 60 and 70 years of age, 76 spinsters to every 1,000 bachelors.

11. Between 70 and 80 years of age, 72 spinsters to every 1,000 bachelors.

12. At 80 years and upwards 119 spinsters to every 1,000 bachelors.

58

Of the total number ofmarried, 150,691 persons are aged 15 and more, 1 only is under 15. There were 75,810 males and 74,881 females at the age of 15 and upwards. The 1 under 15 is a female. Between the ages of 15 and 20, there are 71 married males and 1,479 married females. At the age of 20-21 there are 145 married males and 1,289 married females. Above that age, the proportion of married females to married males goes on decreasing, as the following will show:— [Husbands and wives.]

1. Between 20 and 21 years of age there are 8,890 wives to every 1,000 husbands.

2. Between 21 and 25 years of age there are 2,656 wives to every 1,000 husbands.

3. Between 25 and 30 years of age there are 1,443 wives to every 1,000 husbands.

4. Between 30 and 35 years of age there are 1,028 wives to every 1,000 husbands.

5. Between 35 and 40 years of age there are 878 wives to every 1,000 husbands.

6. Between 40 and 50 years of age there are 764 wives to every 1,000 husbands.

7. Between 50 and 60 years of age there are 672 wives to every 1,000 husbands.

8. Between 60 and 70 years of age there are 514 wives to every 1,000 husbands.

9. Between 70 and 80 years of age there are 342 wives to every 1,000 husbands.

10. At 80 years and upwards 362 wives to every 1,000 husbands.

59

None of the population under 15 years of age are *returned as widowed. Between the ages of 15 and 20 there are 12 such ; of these, 11 are females and 1 is a male. Between the ages of 20 and 30 there were 736 widowed, namely, 157 males and 579 females. [Widowers and widows.]

The proportion of widows to widowers decreases with age.

1. Thus, between 20 and 21 the proportion is 7,000 widows to 1,000 widowers.

2. Thus, between 21 and 25 the proportion is 5,217 widows to 1,000 widowers.

3. Thus, between 25 and 30 the proportion is 3,399 widows to 1,000 widowers.

4. Thus, between 30 and 35 the proportion is 2,214 widows to 1,000 widowers.

5. Thus, between 35 and 40 the proportion is 1,950 widows to 1,000 widowers.

6. Thus, between 40 and 50 the proportion is 1,696 widows to 1,000 widowers.

7. Thus, between 50 and 60 the proportion is 1,494 widows to 1,000 widowers.

8. Thus, between 60 and 70 the proportion is 1,145 widows to 1,000 widowers.

9. Thus, between 70 and 80 the proportion is 928 widows to 1,000 widowers.

10. At 80 and upwards 903 widows to 1,000 widowers.

60

The total population of New South Wales in 1871 may therefore be divided as follows:— [Social distribution of the population in 1871.]

I annex the following return, to show the proportional number of unmarried, married and widowed, at different periods of age :—

61

Table number 45 gives, at three different periods of age, the percentage of the unmarried, married, and widowed, in the urban and rural parts of the Colony. In the towns and villages, the percentage of unmarried is 64.15, of married 31.60, and of widowed 4.09. In the country it is 68.74 unmarried, 28.48 married, and 2.57 widowed. [Unmarried, married, and widowed, in the urban and rural parts of the Colony.]

Of the male population, 66.35 per cent. are unmarried, 30.78 per cent. married, and 2.61 per cent. widowed, in the towns or villages ; and 72.29 per cent. unmarried, 25.13 per cent. married, and 2.33 per cent. widowed, in the country.

Of the female population, 61.92 per cent. are unmarried, 32.42 per cent. married, and 5.60 per cent. widowed, in the towns and villages ; and 63.78 per cent. unmarried, 33.15 per cent. married, and 2.91 per cent. widowed, in the rural parts.

NATIONALITY.

62

The population of New South Wales, whose progress mainly depends upon immigration from various parts of the World, is necessarily one of mixed nationality. It is therefore a matter of great importance to trace the growth of its component parts, and to ascertain the relative importance of the native-born, and of the other elements of which its numbers are constituted.

63

The inquiry under the head of Nationality extends into two parts, the one requiring a division of the people into British and Foreign subjects, and the other a distinction of the Countries in which they were born.

64

Taking first the subject of allegiance,—we find that of the 503,981 persons enumerated on the 2nd April 1871, 484,762 were British subjects, viz., 481,857 by birth, and 2,905 by parentage or naturalization, and 17,770 were Foreign subjects. [British and Foreign subjects.]

Of the British subjects, 259,489 were males and 225,273 females. Of the Foreign subjects, 15,025 were males and 2,745 females.

There were, in addition to these, 983 Aborigines forming part of the settled population of whom 709 were males and 274 females, and 466 persons of unspecified nationality, of whom 328 were males and 138 females.

Taking only the people whose nationality was stated, it would appear that 96.28 per cent. of the population were British, and 3.53 per cent. Foreign subjects. Of the males, 94.28 per cent. were British, and 5.46 per cent. Foreign ; of the females, 98.68 per cent. were British, and 1.20 per cent. Foreign.

65

The sexes of the British subjects are comparatively equal,—5,353 males, and 4,647 females in every 10,000 persons, or a proportion of 8,682 females to every 10,000 males ; but there is a great disparity of numbers to be noted in the sexes of Foreign subjects, of whom there were 8,455 males, and 1,545 females in every 10,000 persons, or a proportion of 1,827 females only to every 10,000 males. [Proportion of sexes.]

I am not able to compare the above results with those of the preceding Census, when no corresponding return appears to have been framed, but a contrast between the numbers of different birth-places, at the two epochs, will be sufficient to indicate the progress of the different nationalities in the decennial period.

66

The population of New South Wales may be classed under three principal heads—the

There were in New South Wales, in 1871, 308,673 persons born in the Australian Colonies, of whom 294,244 were natives of this Colony ;

174,167 persons born in Great Britain or in British Possessions ; and 20,675 born in Foreign Countries, or at sea ; forming, with 466 persons of unspecified birth-places, the total population.

67

Taking thespecifiedonly, 61.30 per cent. of the people were Australian-born ; 34.59 per cent. were born in Great Britain or in British Dependencies, and 4.11 per cent. in Foreign Countries or at sea.

In 1861, the percentage of Australian-born was 47.14, of persons born in Great Britain or in British Dependencies, 46.30, and of persons born in Foreign Countries or at sea, 6.56

68

Thus, while in 1861 the Australian-born only slightly outnumbered others of British blood, they now stand to them in the proportion of nearly two to one. [Increase of the Australian-born.]

Taking the total increase of the population in the decade, we find that to every 10,000 of the increase the Australian-born contributed 9,359, and others of British blood only 789, whilst the Foreign element showed a decrease of 148 in every 10,000.

That the proportion in which the natives stand to the total population should augment from year to year is only to be expected, as their numbers, if compared with the other elements of which the population is composed, increase in the same proportion as the natural increase of the population bears to the migratory increase. Even if the rate of immigration had been kept up in the last decade, the proportion of the natives, swelled by the numbers of the children born of immigrants in the decennial period, would still have been greater than in 1861. But it would have been far less than it actually is; and it is therefore doubtful whether, considering the causes to which it is to be attributed, this large preponderance of the native element is a matter for congratulation. That it will decrease again, as soon as the immigration movement is revived, is not to be doubted.

Of the 308,673 Australian-born, 294,244 or 58.44 per cent. of the population, were born in New South Wales, and 14,429 or 2.86 per cent. in other Australian Colonies. In 1861 the numbers were 160,298 or 45.80 per cent. of the population for New South Wales, and 4,694 or 1.34 per cent. for other Australian Colonies.

The increase in the decade was, therefore, 133,946 or 83.56 per cent. for New South Wales, and 8,752 or 186.45 per cent. for the other Colonies.

69

Of the 174,167 persons, in 1871, who were born in Great Britain or in British Possessions, 87,334, or 17.35 per cent. of the total population, were born in England ; 1,870, or 0.37 per cent. of the population, in Wales ; 20,041, or 3.98 per cent. of the population, in Scotland ; and 62,943, or 12.50 per cent. of the population, in Ireland. [Great Britain and British Dependencies.]

In 1861 the numbers were 84,152, or 24.04 per cent. of the population, for England ; 1,378, or 0.39 per cent. of the population, for Wales ; 18,222, or 5.21 per cent. of the population, for Scotland ; and 54,829, or 15.67 per cent. for Ireland.

The addition to the numbers of the English-born in the decennial period was very small, 3,182, or only 3.78 per cent. To the Welsh, 492 persons, or 35.70 per cent. of their numbers, were added ; to the Scotch, 1,819, or 9.98 per cent. of their numbers ; to the Irish, 8,114, or 14.79 per cent.

70

The proportion in which the British-born stood to the total population decreased between the years 1861-1871 by 6.69 per cent. for England, 0.02 per cent. for Wales, 1.23 per cent. for Scotland, and 3.17 per cent. for Ireland. [Proportion of the British to the total population.]

71

Of the 20,675 persons born in Foreign Countries, 1,340 or 0.27 per cent. of the population were from the United States, 891 or 0.18 per cent. of the population from France, and 6,623 or 1.32 per cent. of the population from Germany. [Foreign Countries.]

In 1861 the members were 1,067 or 0.31 per cent. of the population for the States, 690 or 0.20 per cent. for France, and 5,467 or 1.56 per cent. for Germany.

The addition to their numbers in the decade was therefore 273 or 25.58 per cent. for the Americans, 201 or 29.13 per cent. for the French, 1,156 or 21.14 per cent. for the Germans ; and the proportion which each Country stood to our population decreased in the same in period, by 0.04 per cent. for the States, 0.02 per cent. for France, and 0.24 per cent. for Germany.

72

The numbers of the Chinese, which in 1861 were 12,988, or 3.71 per cent. of the population, had fallen in 1871 to 7,220, or 1.43 per cent. They had therefore decreased in the intervening period by 5,768, or 44.41 per cent. [Chinese.]

73

Taking the males and females separately, we see that the proportion of sexes of allBritish-bornwas well kept up in the period 1861-1871, with a slight difference in 1871 in favour of the females. Thus, for every 10,000 persons born in the British Empire, there were 5,345 males and 4,655 females in 1871, against 5,427 males and 4,573 females in 1861, which gives a proportion of 8,425 females to every 10,000 males in 1861, and of 8,708 in 1871. [Proportion of sexes.]

The Australian-born show a great equality of sexes at both periods, the natives of New South Wales numbering 80,106 males and 80,192 females in 1861, and 147,877 males and 146,367 females in 1871. For the whole of the Australian Colonies there were 82,548 males and 82,444 females in 1861, and 155,734 males and 152,939 females in 1871.

The proportion of sexes for the Australian-born was therefore, in 1861, 5,003 males and 4,997 females in every 10,000 persons, or a proportion of 9,987 females to every 10,000 males ; and in 1871, 5,045 males and 4,955 females in every 10,000 persons, or a proportion of 9,820 females to every 10,000 males. And for the natives of New South Wales it was 4,997 males and 5,003 females, or a proportion of 10,011 females to every 10,000 males in 1861, and 5,026 males and 4,974 females, or a proportion of 9,828 females to every 10,000 males in 1871.

The English-born show a decrease in the proportion of females, from 5,829 females to every 10,000 males in 1861, to 5,689 in 1871 ; the Scotch, from 6,556 in 1861, to 6,509 in 1871 ; the Irish, from 9,858 in 1861, to 9,716 in 1871 ; the Welsh, on the contrary, show a slight increase, from 5,109 females to every 10,000 males in 1861, to 5,141 in 1871.

From Foreign Countries, the number of females arriving in this Colony is, in proportion to that of the males, very small. From France and Germany it has considerably decreased since 1861. From the United States it has slightly improved. From the States there were in 1861,

74

Tables 27 and 28 give for the year 1871 the percentage of the total population, and the proportion of sexes of persons of different birth-places, in the urban and in the rural parts of New South Wales. [Urban and rural parts of the Colony.]

75

The proportion of the native-born is larger in the country than in the towns. Thus, 56.76 per cent. of the urban population and 60.36 per cent. of the rural were natives of this Colony. [Proportion of the native-born.]

The centres of population naturally afford a wider field for enterprise and speculation, consequently offering greater attractions to new comers, so that there are in the country a number of localities in which small congregations of people are settled and find the means

of earning a livelihood, but which have not yet succeeded in drawing much of the element supplied by immigration, depending entirely for progress upon the natural increase of their numbers.

76

19.42 per cent. of the urban, and 15.30 per cent. of the rural population, were English-born ; 0.30 per cent. of the urban, and 0.43 per cent. of the rural, Welsh ; 3.76 per cent. of the urban, and 4.09 per cent. of the rural, Scotch ; and 13.27 per cent. of the urban, and 11.87 per cent. of the rural, Irish. [Proportion of persons born in Great Britain and British Dependencies.]

77

3.07 per cent. of the urban population, and 4.86 per cent. of the rural, were returned as born in Foreign Countries, or at sea ; of which the Chinese contribute 0.61 per cent. in the towns, and 2.16 per cent. in the country. [Proportion of persons born in Foreign Countries, or at sea.]

RELIGION.

78

It is not my intention to dwell at any length upon this part of the returns. [Reasons for not dwelling at any length upon this part of the Census.]

A great many people here, as well as in Great Britain, strongly object to be questioned on the subject of their religious belief. At home, in fact, Parliament has since 1855 refused to sanction the inquiry; and although provision is made in our Census Act for obtaining the information, it was determined to allow the filling up of the column devoted to " Religion " to be optional, the collectors being instructed to be very careful not to press for particulars.

Therefore, notwithstanding that the majority of the people did not hesitate to answer the inquiry, the number of those who refused or omitted to do so amounted to 5,946 persons, or 1.18 per cent. of the population, and the information is necessarily incomplete.

For this reason I did not feel justified in classifying the different returns, such, for instance, as thesocial conditionor theeducationof the people in connection with the religious denominations ; nor did I consider it requisite to enter into the particulars of the numerous subdivisions of some of the religious sects, but have been content with a careful grouping of those whose religion was stated with respect to the denominations predominating in this Colony.

79

The principal sects will be found tabulated under two heads, called, respectively, for convenience,ProtestantsandCatholics. The former embracing, in addition to the Church of England, such sects as acknowledge themselves asProtestants, as well as those who, without further specifying the sect to which they belonged, simply returned themselves asProtestants. The latter comprising the RomanCatholics, and those who return themselves as Catholics, with no other explanation of their religious creed. ["Protestants" and "Catholics."]

I should explain, however, that before adopting this mode of classification, the Enumerators of the different Census Districts were written to on the subject ; and their answers, gathered from the explanations of the collectors employed by them, satisfied me that in most cases when the terms " Protestants " and " Catholics " were used they intended to mean " Church of England " and " Roman Catholics " respectively.

80

Of the 503,981 persons enumerated in 1871, 339,392, or 67.34 per cent. of the population belonged to the different sects professingProtestantism, 147,627 or 29.29 per cent. of the population were returned asCatholics, 2,395 or 0.48 per cent. as Hebrews, 1,166 or 0.23 per cent. as belonging to other persuasions, and 7,455 or 1.48 per cent. as Pagans. In addition to these, 5,946 persons, or 1.18 per cent. of the population; omitted or refused to supply the information. [Division of the population Comparison with 1861.]

In 1861 the Protestants numbered 233,606, or 66.58 per cent. of the population ; the Catholics, 99,193, or 28.27 per cent. ; the

Hebrews, 1,759, or 0.50 per cent. ; other and unspecified persuasions, 3,393, or 0.97 per cent., and the Pagans, 12,909, or 3.68 per cent. of the population.

81

The addition to the numbers in the intervening period was 105,786 or 45.28 per cent. for the Protestants, 48,434 or 48.83 per cent. for the Catholics, 636 or 36.15 per cent. for the Hebrews. [Increase in the decennial period.]

The Pagans, composed chiefly of the Chinese population decreased in the same period by 5,454, or 42.25 per cent. of their numbers.

82

In 1871 those embodied under the head ofProtestantscomprised 229,243 persons, or 45.49 per cent. of the population belonging to the Church of England ; 49,122 persons, or 9.75 per cent. of the population, returned as Presbyterians ; 36,275, or 7.20 per cent., as Wesleyan Methodists ; 3,291, or 0.65 per cent., as other Methodists ; 9,253, or 1.83 per cent., as Congregationalists ; 4,151, or 0.82 per cent., as Baptists ; 849, or 0.17 per cent., as Unitarians. In addition to the above, 4,659 persons, or 0.92 per cent. of the population, belonged to other sects coming under the general head ofProtestants, including Lutherans, who, I regret to say, were not enumerated separately, and 2,549 persons, or 0.51 per cent. of the population, were returned as Protestants, with no other specification. ["Protestants" comparison with 1861.]

In 1861 159,958 persons, or 45.59 per cent. of the population belonged to the Church of England ; 34,692, or 9.89 per cent. of the population, were returned as Presbyterians; the Methodists (with no subdivision) numbering 23,682, or 6.75 per cent. of the population ; the Congregationalists, 5,411, or 1.54 per cent.; and all other Protestants enumerated together, 9,863, or 2.81 per cent. of the population.

83

The most noticeable progress in the decade is shown by the Congregationalists, whose numbers were increased by 3,842, or 71.00 per cent. After them come the Methodists, with an addition in the period of 15,884, or 67.07 per cent. of their numbers. Then the Church of England, with an increase of 69,285, or 43.31 per cent.; and the Presbyterians, 14,430, or 41.59 per cent. [Progress in the decennial period.]

84

Of the 147,627 persons returned in 1871 as " Catholics, " 145,932, or 28.95 per cent. of the population, were Roman Catholics ; 1,695, or 0.34 per cent. gave themselves as " Catholics, " without further explanation. ["Catholics" comparison with 1861.]

The latter were not separately enumerated in 1861. Leaving them out in 1871, we have an addition to the numbers of the Roman Catholics of 46,739 or 47.12 per cent. in the decennial period.

85

Taking the principal religious classifications only, the following table will show at a glance the distribution of the population at this and at the preceding Census. [Distribution of the population in 1861 and 1871.]

86

With the exception of the Congregationalists, all the denominations enumerated show an excess of males over females. [Proportion of sexes.]

For theProtestantsthere is an increase in the proportion of females, during the period 1861-1871, from 7,816 females to every 10,000 males in 1861, to 8,241 females to every 10,000 males in 1871.

TheCatholics, on the contrary, show a decrease in the proportion of females, from 9,413 to every 10,000 males in 1861, to 9,359 in 1871.

TheHebrewsshow an increase from

The proportion of sexes of the different sects enumerated in 1871 was as follows—

1. Church of England 8,075 females to every 10,000 males.

2. Presbyterians 8,233 females to every 10,000 males.

3. Wesleyan Methodists 9,694 females to every 10,000 males.

4. Other Methodists 8,892 females to every 10,000 males.

5. Congregationalists 10,028 females to every 10,000 males.

6. Baptists 9,120 females to every 10,000 males.

7. Unitarians 4,921 females to every 10,000 males.

8. Other Protestants 4,734 females to every 10,000 males.

9. Protestants undescribed 5,881 females to every 10,000 males.

10. Roman Catholics 9,368 females to every 10,000 males.

11. Catholics undescribed 8,585 females to every 10,000 males.

12. Hebrews 7,481 females to every 10,000 males.

13. Other persuasions 7,022 females to every 10,000 males.

14. Unspecified persuasions 5,266 females to every 10,000 males.

15. Pagans 232 females to every 10,000 males.

87

Tables Nos. 32 and 33 relate to the percentage and the proportion of sexes of the urban and the rural population, as regards the different denominations, at the Census of 1871. [Urban and rural parts of the Colony.]

They show that of every 10,000 of the urban population, 6,923 were classed under the head of " Protestants, " 2,794 under the head of " Catholics, " 91 were " Hebrews, " leaving a residue of 192, of whom 48 were " Pagans. " Of every 10,000 of the rural population, 6,558 were " Protestants, " 3,062 " Catholics, " 10 " Hebrews, " leaving a residue of 370, of whom 235 were " Pagans. "

The percentage of theProtestants, as regards the total population, is therefore proportionately larger in the towns than in the country ; that of theCatholics, on the contrary, smaller. TheHebrewsflourish more in the urban than in the rural parts ; and thePagansare greatly in excess in the rural parts, where they are represented by the Chinese on the Gold Fields.

OCCUPATIONS.

88

The compilation of this portion of the returns was attended with unusual difficulties. [Difficulties attending the compilation.]

Notwithstanding the special instructions issued to the Enumerators, and the explanations printed on the Householder's schedule, there are many reasons why the information obtained could not be perfect.

89

In the first place, as it was only possible to returnoneoccupation for each individual, how were those who followtwoand in many cases,severaloccupations, to be dealt with? The same person may be a Member of Parliament, a merchant, a land proprietor, and a grazier ; another an innkeeper and a farmer. Many of the gold-miners are also proprietors or occupiers of land ; and in the seaport towns most of the fishermen occasionally work on land as mechanics, wharf labourers, &c. Then there are others, forming an important part of the working class in this Country, who in the shearing season would be employed as station hands, and might at the time of the year when the Census was taken have been doing " job work " as miners, carriers, labourers on the roads, &c. [Persons following two or more occupations.]

To overcome the difficulty as much as possible, it was determined to enumerate only the principal occupation followed, that is, the one from which each person was chiefly deriving his incomeon the 2nd April ;and the results, if they do not correctly show the importance of the various pursuits of the people, will at least sufficiently illustrate it for all purposes of comparison, by correctly giving the numberschieflydepending upon each branch of industry.

90

The tabulators employed in extracting from the schedules, found some difficulty in correctly subdividing the labour, more especially with regard to the trading and agricultural classes. The distinction between masters and servants was rendered an arduous task by the neglect of a great many to state whether they were employers of labour, and by the failure of others to make any specification that would have enabled the distinction being made, because, although not servants themselves, they nevertheless were not employers. [Subdivision of labour.]

In some cases, such as for instance with innkeepers, publicans, &c., and those employed by them, it was often found impossible to distinguish the employers from the employed, who were therefore classed all under one head, as " employed in the Distribution of Food or Drinks, " &c.

In the classification of labour amongst females the importance of dividing the skilled from the unskilled was kept in view ; and in order not to over-estimate the numbers of those employed in the different classes, all females who were not clearly stated to be assisting in any of the trades, &c., irrespectively of age, and whether employed in house work or not, were classed under the one head of " Domestic Duties. "

91

To render the information as useful as it might be, it would no doubt have been desirable to have extended the inquiry to a return of the number of persons of each sex in each occupation, at different periods of age. But such an undertaking would have required too great an expenditure of time and money, and, with the means at our disposal, it was found necessary to confine the investigation to its present state. Still, considering the improvement in the mode of classification, the extra pains taken to assist the tabulators and to supply omissions or correct evident errors of nomenclature, I am satisfied that the results, such as they are, show a marked progress on former attempts. [Additional work required to complete the information.]

92

The whole of the population has been arranged in thirteen classes, each of which is distinguished by the character of its occupations, and is further divided into sub-classes, embracing the most important branches coming under each order. [Classification of the population.]

Without in all cases referring to the latter, about which sufficient information will be found in the tables prepared, I will briefly summarize the results obtained in each of the principal classes.

Class I, " Learned and Educated Professions, " includes the clergy, the law, the medical body, and other educated professions. It numbers 5,861 persons, 3,951 males and 1,910 females, and comprises 1.16 per cent. of the population. [Learned and educated.]

Class II embraces the whole of the Government Service, and numbers 3,472 persons, namely, 3,307 males and 165 females, or about 0.69 per cent. of the population. [Government Service.]

By including in one group all those coming under the designation of "Government Officers," whether lawyers, surveyors, engineers, skilled workers, or labourers, the numbers of the corresponding classes in which they would otherwise have been enumerated

have been necessarily weakened ; but this classification has the advantage of showing the distribution of the Public Servants throughout the Country.

Class III refers to the whole of the commercial part of the community, and includes 11,538 persons, of whom 10,278 are males and 1,260 females. It embraces 2.29 per cent. of the population. [Commercial.]

Class IV, under the head of "Personal Offices," embodies all those who are directly engaged in the production or distribution of food or drinks. It numbers 7,527 males and 953 females, in all 8,480 persons, or about 1.68 per cent. of the population. [Personal offices.]

Class V is a very numerous one, and includes, in addition to those who are engaged in household duties, persons returned as of independent means, such as annuitants, &c., all infants, and, excluding those employed as apprentices, or in some other capacity in any trade, &c., all children under 15, whether at school or at home. Its subdivisions are important. The first refers to those engaged in domestic duties, children at home, &c., and numbers 49,453 males and 150,070 females, in all 199,523 persons, or 39.59 per cent. of the population ; the second, to "Persons of Independent Means," and comprises 3,081 persons, 1,916 males and 1,165 females, together 0.61 per cent. of the population ; the third, to all children under tuition, either at home or at school, numbering 47,169 males and 45,709 females, or 92,878 persons, that is, 18.43 per cent. of the population. To these scholars under tuition, I shall have occasion to refer in the "Education" part of this Report. [Domestic.]

The whole class numbers 295,482 persons, namely, 98,538 males and 196,944 females, and forms nearly 58.63 per cent. of the population.

Class VI, "Land," embraces all persons engaged in Agricultural or Pastoral pursuits, and numbers 64,929 persons, viz., 62,902 males and 2,027 females, or 12.88 per cent. of the population. ["Land."]

To this class there are six subdivisions : thefirst, comprising Agricultural Farmers and all those working under them, numbers 43,805 persons, namely, 42,469 males and 1,336 females, or 8.69 per cent. of the population.

Thesecondincludes Sheep Farmers, Stockholders, Graziers, &c., and all those assisting them, and numbers 17,835 persons, namely, 17,169 males and 666 females, or about 3.54 per cent. of the population.

Thethirdrelates to Horticulture, and embraces 2,984 persons, viz., 2,962 males and 22 females, or 0.59 per cent. of the population.

Thefourthto Wine-growing, and numbers 246 persons, viz., 244 males and 2 females, or 0.05 per cent. of the population.

Thefifthto Sugar-growing, and comprises 59 persons, 58 males and 1 female, or about 0.01 per cent. of the population.

The further subdivision of the "Pastoral" class, in order to distinguish the sheep-owners and their assistants from those principally interested in cattle, must only be taken as giving an approximate of the respective numbers. There are too many concerned in both branches to allow of a correct division being arrived at.

It should also be noticed that the numbers of those employed on sheep-stations or in vineyards would have been considerably strengthened had the Census been taken in the shearing season or during the vintage time.

Class VII numbering 18,529 persons, all males, or nearly 3.68 per cent. of the population, refers to Mining, and embraces three sub-divisions. The miners in gold number 16,261, or 3.23 per cent. of the population, those working in other metals, copper, tin, &c., 118, or 0.02 per cent. of the population ; and the coal-miners, 2,150, or 3.23 per cent. of the population.

The six sub-classes contained in Class VIII give a correct estimate of the numbers of our skilled workmen, whether masters or servants. They amount in the aggregate to 28,246, namely, 24,011 males and 4,235 females, and form over 5.60 per cent. of the population.

Class IX, "Unskilled labour," embraces 41,762 persons, or about 8.28 per cent. of the population. It includes, for the males, 19,030 labourers working on the roads, &c., and 6,711 domestic servants ; and for the females, 16,021 domestic servants, the labourers representing 3.77 per cent., and the domestic servants 4.51 per cent. of the population.

Class X refers to all "Mariners," and numbers 4,520 males, or about 0.90 per cent. of the population.

Class XI, to those receiving public support gratuitously, such as persons in Asylums, or prisoners in Gaols, and includes 4,273 persons, 3,198 males and 1,075 females, or about 0.85 per cent. of the population.

Class XII takes in sundry occupations which did not properly belong to any of the other classes, such as cabmen, carriers, or draymen, who are not hired servants, actors, street musicians, &c. There are 11,275 persons so classed, 8,638 males and 2,637 females, amounting together to 2.24 per cent. of the population.

Class XIII includes the residue of the population, or about 1.12 per cent. It numbers 5,614 persons, that is, 4,411 males and 1,203 females, and relates to all adults whose occupation was not stated.

93

Taking the sexes separately, the proportion in which each class stands to the total population is, for the males :— [Proportion that each class bears to the total population. Males and females separately.]

And for the females :—

And the relative proportion that the numbers of each sex bear to one another, in each of the thirteen classes, is as follows :—

94

The classification adopted on this occasion differs materially from that under which the Occupations were grouped in 1861 ; hence a considerable difficulty in comparing the results. A special return will be found, however (table No. 46) carefully prepared to show the chief points of comparison, which clearly summarizes the progress of the principal orders of Occupations in the last decennial period. [Comparison with last Census.]

From this return it will be seen that between the years 1861 and 1871, the "Clergy" increased by 178 persons, or 54.43 per cent. of their number. The "Law" by 157, or 36.34 per cent. of their number ; the "Medical Body" by 110, or 21.60 per cent. of their number. Under the head of "Literature, Arts, and Sciences," there is an important increase of 1,539 persons, or 59.56 per cent. To the "Government Service" there is an addition of 1,188 persons, or 52.01 per cent. But in 1861 there were no females returned in the class ; and on the other hand, the numbers included the British Infantry then in the Colony.

"Trade and Commerce" shows an increase of 3,078 persons, or 36.38 per cent., whilst to the numbers of those employed in the production or distribution of food or drinks, only 1,128, or 15.34 per cent. were added. But in this last class there is a great discrepancy between the number of females returned at both periods—5,666 in 1861, and 1,336 in 1871. In explanation of this, it should be stated that in 1861, most of the wives, daughters, &c., of those engaged in producing food or drinks were returned under the same classification as the latter, while in 1871, unless their occupation was clearly specified, they were considered as being engaged in "Domestic Duties." Leaving the females out, we have an increase to the male population so employed of 1,466, or 24.19 per cent. of their numbers.

The same observation may be made with regard to all items coming under the classification of "Land," in which, although the males show for the period a steady rate of increase, the general results—on account of the difference in the grouping of females in 1861 and 1871,—are unsatisfactory.

Thus, in "Agriculture," the increase in the ten years was 10,767, or 34.00 per cent. for the males, but by including both sexes, it is reduced to 6,437, or 17.23 per cent. For the different divisions coming under the designation of "Pastoral," there was an addition to the male population of 3,893, or 29.17 per cent., but taking both sexes together, it is only 3,328, or 22.94 per cent. In "Horticultural," including Wine and Sugar-growing (which were not separately enumerated in 1861), the increase of the Males was 1,326, or over 65.50 per cent., and of both sexes only 1,262, or about 59.40 per cent.

An important decrease will be found to have taken place in the period in the numbers of the Gold Miners, which fell from 20,365 in 1861 to 16,261 in 1871, a diminution of 4,104, or 20.15 per cent.

The greater attraction offered by the Mines in the neighbouring Colonies, which was the cause of the falling off in our mining population, has already been alluded to. As has been before stated, the majority of the miners who left were Chinese.

The number of those engaged in copper or tin mining increased from 38 in 1861 to 118 in 1871. It need hardly be added that these numbers have been greatly swelled since the Census of 1871 was taken.

The progress of our Coal trade is shown by an increase in the numbers of those employed in the mines, of 1,171 or 119.51 per cent. in the period.

To the skilled workers, 5,557 persons, or 24.70 per cent. of their numbers, were added. To the unskilled, exclusive of Domestic Servants, 5,983, or 45.86 per cent.

The number of Domestic Servants increased in the period by 5,062, or 28.65 per cent. ; the males, from 4,481 in 1861, to 6,711 in 1871, an addition of 2,230 or 49.77 per cent. to their numbers, and the females from 13,189 in 1861 to 16,021 in 1871, an addition of 2,832, or 21.47 per cent.

The rate of increase of the female servants in the decennial period was low if compared with the total increase of our population, and consequently the present demand for the class is greatly in excess of the supply.

The numbers of those engaged in housework, of young children, of persons of independent means, and of those whose occupations were not stated, were differently tabulated in 1861 and in 1871. Taken together they correspond. The four classes increased in the decade by 66,538 persons, or 46.96 per cent. of their numbers, namely, 14,059 or 33.69 per cent. for the males, and 52,479 or 52.50 per cent. for the females.

For the scholars under tuition, whether at home or at school, the increase was 46,925, or 102.12 per cent. The rate of increase was very nearly the same for both sexes, 103.05 per cent. for the males, and 101.11 per cent. for the females.

Under the head of "Miscellaneous Occupations" there is an increase of 3,865 persons or 33.10 per cent., if the needlewomen are included at both periods. These, however, will be found classed in the returns for 1871 as "skilled workers."

The class comprising persons receiving public support gratuitously is credited with an increase of 2,260 persons, or 112.27 per cent., namely, 2,064 or 182.01 per cent. for the males, and 196 or 22.29 per cent. for the females ; but I doubt whether the classification under this head was in 1861 the same as ours.

EDUCATION.

95

The last part of the returns, to which I have now to refer, gives some of the most interesting results obtained from the facts elicited at the Census. [Importance of this part of the returns.]

That great care was taken to supply correct information on the point is shown by the fact that it was not necessary to reserve in the Tables a special column for those who omitted to give the particulars required of them. The few instances of omissions were generally in the case of infants, whose state of education it was probably thought useless to specify.

The returns only refer to the degree of primary education of the people. They will be found valuable as a supplement to the statistics issued by the Council of Education.

96

For all ages up to thirty the items are tabulated in quinquennial periods ; above that age and under fifty, in decennial periods. All persons over fifty years of age are grouped together. [Grouping of ages.]

The year twenty-twenty-one is given separately, to allow of a distinction being made between those under and over twenty-one years of age.

97

Taking the total population on the 2nd April, 1871, there were, at that date, 296,741 persons who could read and write, 56,391 who could read only, and 150,849 who could neither read nor write. [Numbers of the population in 1871 who could read and write, read only, or could neither read nor write.]

These numbers, however, include children under five years of age.

98

In order to arrive at a proper estimate of our standard of education, we will take into account only the specified ages over five. We thus have a total of 420,924 persons, of whom 296,024 or 70.33 per cent. can read and write, 54,477 or 12.94 per cent. can read only, and 70,423 or 16.73 per cent. can neither read nor write. [All specified ages over 5.]

Of the specified male population over five years of age, 164,986 or 70.77 per cent. can read and write, 26,414 or 11.33 per cent. can read only, and 41,730 or 17.90 per cent. can neither read nor write.

Of the specified female population over five years of age, 131,038 or 69.78 per cent. can read and write, 28,063 or 14.94 per cent. can read only, and 28,693 or 15.28 per cent. can neither read nor write.

By the above figures it would appear that, although the proportion of the male population who can read and write exceeds by nearly 1 per cent. that of the female population, the percentage of females who can neither read nor write is actually less by 2.62 than that of the males ; the difference being made up in the proportion of both sexes who could read only.

99

But the proportion of the totally uneducated amongst the males, as it is given above, includes the Chinese population and the settled Aborigines, and is thereby greatly enlarged. [Specified ages over 5, excluding Chinese and settled Aborigines.]

Tables 38, 39, and 40 have been prepared to show the distribution of the population, as regards education, inclusively and exclusively of the Chinese and Aborigines.

Disregarding these, we arrive at a total population of all specified ages over 5, of 413,155 persons, of whom 295,996 or 71.64 per cent. can read and write, 54,401, or 13.17 per cent. can read only, and 62,758 or 15.19 per cent. can neither read nor write.

Taking the sexes separately, we have for the males, 164,959 of 78.18 per cent. who can read and write, 26.341 or 11.08 per cent. who can read only, and 34,258 or 15.19 per cent. who can neither read nor write, and for the females, 131,037 or 69.85 per cent. who can read and write, 28,060 or 14.96 per cent. who can read only, and 28,500 or 15.19 per cent. who can neither read nor write.

So that while the percentage of the wholly uneducated is exactly the same for both sexes, the proportion of those of the males who can read and write is larger, and of those who can read only less by 3.28 per cent. than that of the females.

100

At the educable age, that is between 5 and 15 years, the population numbers 128,145 persons, of whom 68,683 or 53.60 per cent. can read and write, 26,860 or 20.96 per cent. can read only, and 32,602 or 25.44 per cent. can neither read nor write. [Educable ages, 5-15.]

Of the males between those ages, 34,009 or 52.39 per cent. can read and write, 13,902 or 21.42 per cent. can read only, and 17,000 or 26.19 per cent. can neither read nor write.

Of the females, 34,674 or 54.84 per cent. can read and write, 12,958 or 20.49 per cent. can read only, and 15,602 or 24.67 per cent. can neither read nor write.

101

In the Part referring to the Occupations of the people, there are 92,878 persons returned as "scholars under tuition," either at school or at home, and who, it may therefore be presumed, are able, if not to read and write, at any rate to read. Of these, 47,169 are males and 45,709 females. We will assume that none of these exceed the age of 15, and deducting from their numbers those of the young children under 5 years who were stated to be either able to read and write, or to read only, namely 1,073 males and 1,088 females, we have at the period of age 5-15, 90,717 children, namely 46,096 males and 44,621 females, who are actually under tuition. [Proportion of children at the educable ages who are receiving tuition either at home or at school.]

This leaves us with a balance of population between 5 and 15 of 37,428, that is 18,815 males and 18,613 females, who are not receiving any education. Most of these are employed in assisting in the culture of the land, &c., or as apprentices in trades. The remainder are at home doing nothing. I am not able to give the exact number of the latter, as the occupations were not classed according to ages ; but it is gratifying to find that 70.79 per cent. of the children at the educable ages are actually receiving instruction. In this respect we bear favourable comparison with England, where in 1861 the percentage of children of between the ages of 5 and 15 who were returned as scholars under tuition was about 58.80.

102

Of the total number of children under five years of age, 295 or 0.36 per cent. were returned as being able to read and write. Of these, 154 are males and 141 females, and 1,866 or 2.28 per cent. are returned as able to read only, namely, 919 males and 947 females ; 97.36 per cent. of the population under five years, that is 97.42 per cent. of the males and 97.30 per cent. of the females, as unable to read or write. [Children under 5.]

103

At the age of fifteen and upwards, the population, still excluding the Chinese and Aborigines, numbers 285,010 persons, of whom 227,313 or 79.76 per cent. can read and write, 27,541 or 9.67 per cent. can read only and 30,156 or 10.57 per cent. can neither read nor write ; and taking the sexes separately, we have for the males 130,950 or 81.52 per cent. who can read and write, 12,439 or 7.74 per cent. who can read only, and 17,258 or 10.74 per cent. who can neither read nor write ; and for the females, 96,363 or 77.49 per cent. who can read and write, 15,102 or 12.14 per cent. who can read only, and 12,898 or 10.37 per cent. who can neither read nor write. [Adults—15 and upwards.]

Summarizing the principal periods of age just alluded to, we find that whilst over the age of fifteen the males are in advance of the females in point of education, under that age the females have the advantage, perhaps because boys are more often called away to the labours of the field or the workshop than are girls to the lighter duties of the household.

The following table will show the proportion that the numbers of the educated and uneducated of either sex bear to one another, at the three periods of age enumerated.

104

Taking together the Chinese and the settled Aborigines, there are of the total number 35 or 0.42 per cent. who can read and write, 99 or 1.21 per cent. who can read only, and 8,069 or 98.37 per cent. who can neither read nor write. [Chinese and settled Aborigines.]

105

I will now compare the results of this Census with those of the preceding one, in order to show the progress of education in New South Wales, in the decade. [Comparison with 1861.]

As no distinction was made for Chinese, &c., in 1861, the results must be taken to include, at both periods, the whole of the population.

It should also be borne in mind, that in the tables for 1861 there were over 6,600 persons returned as of unspecified ages, nearly 6,300 of whom could neither read nor write. In 1871 there were only 213 unspecified, and of these 110 could neither read nor write. Had it been possible to tabulate these numbers at the different periods of age to which they belong, the percentage of increase of the educated in the ten years would have been considerably higher, and that of the uneducated proportionately lower than the figures quoted hereafter show them to be.

106

Leaving out the children under 5, the numbers of those who could read and write increased in the decennial period by 57.25 per cent., that is, 49.51 per cent. for the males and 68.22 per cent. for the females ; the numbers of those who could read only, by 18.49 per cent., or 21.23 per cent. for the males and 16.03 per cent. for the females ; and of those who could neither read nor write, by 30.02 per cent., or 31.16 per cent. for the males and 28.38 per cent. for the females. [All specified, ages, 5 years and upwards.]

The difference in 1871 is, therefore, an addition in every 10,000 of 506 to the numbers who can read and write, namely, 346 for the males and 718 for the females, and a reduction of 301 in every 10,000 from the numbers who can read only, that is, 196 for the males and 450 for the females ; while the numbers who can read only are reduced by 205 in every 10,000, or 150 for the males and 268 for the females.

107

At the period of age 5-10 the improvement in the education of the children is clearly exhibited. Thus, there was between those ages an addition in the decade of 149.42 per cent. to the numbers who could read and write, that is, 146.75 per cent. for the males and 152.15 per cent. for the females, while for those who could read only the increase was but 41.65 per cent., namely 49.54 per cent. for the males and 34.15 per cent. for the females ; and for those who could neither read nor write it was 46.81 per cent., or 47.78 per cent. for the males and 45.81 per cent. for the females. [5 and under 10.]

Between these ages, the proportion at the two periods was, in every 10,000—

And the progress in 1871 is shown by anadditionof 1,115 in every 10,000 to the numbers who can read and write, namely, 1,036 for the males and 1,196 for the females, while for those who can read only there is areductionof 537 in every 10,000, that is, 416 for the males and 658 for the females ; and for those who can neither read nor write is areductionof 578 in every 10,000, or 620 for the males and 538 for the females.

108

Between 10 and 15 years of age the increase of the numbers in the decade was at the rate of 82.86 per cent. for those who could read and write, that is, 83.05 per cent. for the males and 82.68 per cent. for the females, while those who could read only did not increase by more than 12.57 per cent. of their numbers, that is, 18.47 per cent. for the males and 6.67 per cent. for the females, and those who could neither read nor write increased by 22.14 per cent. of their numbers, or 19.39 for the males and 26.03 for the females. [10 and under 15.]

At the same period of age the proportion in every 10,000 was—

And the difference in 1871 is anadditionto the numbers who can read and write of 897 in every 10,000, that is, 896 for the males and 897 for the females, areductionof 562 in every 10,000, from the numbers who can read only, namely 483 for the males and 641 for the females, and areductionof 335 in every 10,000 from the numbers who can neither read nor write, that is, 413 for the males and 256 for the females.

109

Uniting the two periods of age just referred to, we have, between the ages of 5 and 15, the following proportion of the three classes in every 10,000 :— [5 and under 15.]

Which gives, in 1871, anadditionto the numbers who can read and write of 965 in every 10,000 ; that is, 906 for the males and 1,027 for the females ; for those who can read only, areductionof 531 in every 10,000, or 425 for the males and 639 for the females ; and for those who can neither read or write, areductionof 434 in every 10,000, namely, 481 for the males and 388 for the females.

110

At the age of 15 and upwards we find that, while the numbers of those who could read and write increased at a steady rate in the decade, those who could read only, or who could neither read nor write, actually decreased in numbers at most of the periods of age under which they are grouped. [15 and upwards.]

Thus, at the period of age 15-20, there was in the ten years an increase of 36.53 per cent. to the numbers who could read and write, while the numbers of those who could read only decreased by 14.22 per cent., and of those who could neither read nor write, by 4.07 per cent. [15-20.]

At the period of age 20-25 the increase to the numbers who could read and write was 40.87 per cent., while those who could read only decreased by 19.36 per cent., and those who could neither read nor write, by 19.01 per cent. of their numbers. [20-25.]

At the period of age 25-30 there was an increase of 38.74 per cent. to the numbers who could read and write ; a decrease of 16.16 per cent. for those who could read only, and of 4.29 per cent. for those who could neither read nor write. [25-30.]

Between the years 30-40 the results are different. Most of the Chinese in the Colony in 1861 belonged to this period of age, so that the majority of the 6,288 uneducated of unspecified ages should have been tabulated in the group. In 1871 they are classed in their proper place, consequently the results of the comparison between the two years are not to be relied upon, for they show an apparent increase to the numbers of those who could neither read nor write of 57.10 per cent., and of 18.98 per cent. for those who could read only, while those who could read and write only increased by 55.53 per cent. of their numbers. [30-40.]

At the period 40-45 there was an increase of 38.25 per cent. for those who could read and write, a decrease of 1.09 per cent. for those who could read only, and an increase of 17.95 per cent. for those who could not read or write. [40-50.]

At the age of 50 and upwards there is no great improvement in the decade. The numbers of those who could read and write increased by 80.99 per cent., of those who could read only by 66.91 per cent., and of those who could neither read nor write, by 50.01 per cent. [50 and upwards.]

Tables 34, 35, and 36 will more fully illustrate the comparison.

Taking the total population aged 15 and upwards, and including in 1861 and in 1871 the numbers of the unspecified, we arrive at a more correct estimate of the progress attained in the decade. [All ages—15 and upwards.]

We thus have for all persons of 15 years of age or more an addition to the numbers who could read and write of 32.14 per cent. in the decade, while those who could read only increased by 7.63 per cent., and those who could neither read nor write, only by 2.65 per cent. of their numbers.

This give a proportion in every 10,000 of—

So that taking all ages, 15 and upwards, the improvement in 1871 is shown by an addition of 653 in every 10,000 who can read and write, namely, 643 for the males and 668 for the females, by a reduction of 240 in every 10,000 who can read only, that is, 158 for the males and 399 for the females, and by a reduction of 413 in every 10,000 who can neither read nor write, or 485 for the males and 269 for the females.

111

A comparison between the standard of education in the urban and in the rural parts of the Colony is necessary to complete this inquiry. [Education in the urban and in the rural parts.]

The country districts, which, before the passing of the "Public Schools Act," were lamentably deficient in this respect, have since improved at a remarkable rate. It would have been interesting to have traced this progress by a contrast with the results of the Census

of 1861 ; but the division of the urban from the rural parts in that year differed entirely, as I have already explained, from the one adopted on this occasion, precluding the possibility of any reliable comparison being drawn. I am, therefore, compelled to confine this part of the inquiry to an analysis of the state of education in the Towns and in the Country Districts at the Census of 1871.

This may be briefly summarized in the following Return :—

Thus, at the educable ages between 5 and 15 years, the proportion of those who can read and write is in excess of 2,230 in every 10,000, and at the age of 15 and upwards it is in excess of 1,297 in the Urban parts.

112

In the Metropolitan District, that is, including Sydney and Suburbs, the standard of primary education is, on account of the greater facilities offered, much higher than in other parts of the Colony. The following statement will give the proportion of the three classes in the Metropolis :— [Sydney and Suburbs.]

CONCLUSION.

113

Having now reviewed the most important facts brought out at the Census of 1871, it only remains for me to express a hope that the results may prove interesting to the public. I might have carried the inquiry further into the details of the tables, but at the risk of overcrowding the Report with figures, thus rendering the subject unintelligible to those unused to statistics.

Those who may have to refer to the returns will find most of the information condensed in the special tables immediately following.

114

Before I finally conclude, it is my pleasing duty to testify to the ability displayed by Mr. Charles Roberts (late of the Treasury), in the performance of the general duties which have devolved upon him, and in the preparation and compilation of the special tables which I now forward. The largest and most important portions of the work are the results of his labour, and it has been apparent from first to last that he possesses those qualifications which are essential to an undertaking of this nature.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

Your obedient servant,

E. G. WARD,

Registrar General.

SUMMARY TABLES.

NOTE.—In the columns headed "Increase or Decrease," the figures throughout the following tables should be taken to indicate the increase, unless followed by the word "decrease."

The Returns for 1861 are exclusive of shipping (1910) persons. The difference affects the above Return very immaterially.

The total area of the Colony, as given by the Surveyor General, is 305992 square miles.

The area of several of the Counties was incorrectly given in 1856 and 1861, consequently causing errors in the computation. These have been corrected in the above Return.

In 1861 the Shipping was not included in the Registry Districts.

NOTE: —In 1861 the Shipping was not included in the Counties and Pastoral Districts Returns, The difference, however, for comparative purposes, is not important.

NOTE.—In 1861, the Suburbs of Sydney were included partly amongst the Towns and Villages, and partly amongst the Rural population. In the above Return the figures have been corrected.

Numerical.

Persons, 161; Males, 36; Females, 125.

Centesimal.

Persons, 14.34 ; Males, 5.96 ; Females, 24.09.

Centesimal Annual Average.

Persons, 1.43 ; Males, 0.60 ; Females, 2.41.