CENSUS OF 1871, TAKEN ON THE 1ST DAY OF SEPTEMBER,

BEING THE FOURTH TAKEN IN THE COLONY.

PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT BY COMMAND.

BY AUTHORITY:

JAMES C. BEAL, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, WILLIAM STREET, BRISBANE.

INDEX TO TABLES.

PART I.—POPULATION AND HOUSES.

TABLE I.—Numbers of the People—Total and by Sexes

TABLE II.—Houses and Population in 1861 and 1871

TABLE III.—Houses and Population in each of the Census Enumerations of 1861, 1864, 1868, and 1871

TABLE IV.—Increase of Inhabited Houses and of Population in corresponding intervals

TABLE V.—Population in 1861, 1864, 1868, and 1871, by Census Districts

PART II.—TERRITORIAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE PEOPLE.

TABLE VI.—Area in square miles ; Houses, and Population

TABLE VII.—Area in statute acres ; Houses and Population in each of the Census Districts, together with comparison of Population in Census Returns for 1861, 1864, 1868, and 1871 ; and Houses and Population in each Municipality, Town, Station, Farm, Gold Field, and Copper-mining District as well as the Shipping in the various Census Districts

TABLE VIII.—Sex and Age of the People enumerated in each Census Sub-District

TABLE IX.—Definitions of Census Districts, and of Collectors' Districts into which they were subdivided

TABLE X.—Population by Age in Electorates, and by Census Districts, contrasting the two

TABLE XI.—Details of Population in Municipalities by Wards (where any exist)

TABLE XII.—Numbers of Chinese, Polynesians, Prisoners, Lunatics, and Inmates of Charitable Institutions in Electorates, and by Census Districts

TABLE XIII.—Population of Towns

TABLE XIV.—Population in Pastoral Districts

TABLE XV.—Number of Persons on board the Shipping, enumerated on 1st September, 1871

TABLE XVI.—Population connected with Gold-digging

PART III.—AGES OF THE PEOPLE.

TABLE XVII.—Ages of the People—by years—quinquennially, and decennially

TABLE XVIII.—Comparative Return of Ages of the Population, in the years 1861 and 1871, arranged in three periods of Age

TABLE XIX.—Comparison of Proportion of Ages, in the years 1861 and 1871, by Census Returns, arranged in three periods of Age

PART IV.—SEPARATE AND CONJUGAL CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE.

TABLE XX.—Separate and Conjugal Condition of the People, on 1st September, 1871

TABLE XXI.—Comparative Table of the Conditions of the People above 15 years of Age, as ascertained by the Census Returns of 1868 and 1871

PART V.—INCREASE OF THE PEOPLE.

TABLE XXII.—Increase or Decrease of Population enumerated in Census Districts—1861, 1864, 1868, and 1871

TABLE XXIII.—Centesimal Rate of Increase or Decrease of the Population in Census Districts, firstly, Absolute, and secondly, Proportional, for Census intervals 1861-1864, 1864-1868, 1868-1871

TABLE XXIV.—Increase or Decrease in each Electoral District since Census of 1868

PART VI.—OCCUPATIONS OF THE PEOPLE.

TABLE XXV.—Occupations of the People, generally

TABLE XXVI.—Children under 15 years of Age earning, or partially earning, their own living

TABLE XXVII.—Occupations, showing Orders and Sub-orders, with Index alphabetically arranged

TABLE XXVIII.—Comparative Table of Occupations, centesimally arranged

PART VII.—BIRTHPLACES OF THE PEOPLE.

TABLE XXIX.—Birthplaces of the Population

TABLE XXX.—Table comparing Nationalities of Population in Census Returns for 1868 and 1871

PART VIII.—AILMENTS OF THE PEOPLE.

TABLE XXXI.—Persons suffering from Sickness and Accident, on 1st September, 1871

TABLE XXXII.—Blind, Deaf, and Dumb, and other bodily afflicted Persons

PART IX.—EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE.

TABLE XXXIII.—State of Education of the People, generally

TABLE XXXIV.—Education of the People, centesimally arranged

PART X.—RELIGION OF THE PEOPLE.

TABLE XXXV.—Religion of the People, by Denominations

PART XI.—PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.

TABLE XXXVI.—Number of Persons in Hospitals, Lunatic Asylums, Prisons, Orphan Asylums, and Immigration Barracks, on 1st September, 1871, discriminating between Officers and Inmates

PART XII.—APPENDIX.

TABLE XXXVII.—Index to Names of Places separately returned in Population Tables

TABLE XXXVIII.—Synopsis of the whole Census

1871., QUEENSLAND., FOURTH CENSUS OF THE COLONY, TAKEN ON THE 1st SEPTEMBER, 1871.

REGISTRAR-GENERAL'S REPORT.

TO THE HONORABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

Registrar-General’s Office,

10th April, 1872.

SIR,

I have the honor to transmit to you herewith, in compliance with the provisions of the eleventh clause of “The Census Act of1871,” appended tables comprising the results of the Census of the population of the Colony, taken on the 1st September, 1871, and beg to submit the following remarks thereon.

The Bill for the purpose, as originally introduced into Parliament, was a copy of previous Acts, but was altered in Committee, by amendments, which apparently slight, have very materially added both to the labor and expense of this Census as compared with previous ones.

On former occasions, although the Governor was required to define the Enumerators' Districts into which the Colony was to be divided for collection purposes, the well known boundaries of established Police Districts and Municipalities were adopted for such purpose ; but this time the Act required that the boundaries of pastoral districts and parishes should be followed as far as practicable in defining the Districts and Sub-Districts.

This alteration involved, in the first place, the definition of an entirely new division of the Colony into Districts, and the proclamation of the boundaries of such Districts.

It further involved, as a matter of course, an entirely new arrangement of the Sub-Districts.

Parish boundaries could not to any great extent be followed, inasmuch as in most cases they are not definitely fixed, but shift as the process of alienating Crown lands proceeds ; and even when fixed, are merely surveyors' lines laid out for land sale purposes, and not based on the natural features of the country to any important extent.

Another important alteration in the Bill was the requiring that, in the Census returns, should be shown the population in each Enumerator's District and Collector's Sub-District, subdivided according to age and sex.

The immediately following observations are directed to

PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS.

As soon as theCensus Actwas passed, steps were taken to map out the Colony into districts, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, and to appoint enumerators for such districts.

This mapping out was effected with the assistance of the Surveyor-General, whose general geographical knowledge of the Colony was invaluable ; and the resulting plan was submitted to, and approved by, the Governor in Council.

Enumerators were selected for the several districts, having in view, as far as possible, their probable local knowledge ; and their names were submitted to the Government for approval.

The final result, as approved, was notified in theGazetteas of date 22nd June, No. 63, page 909, of the year 1871.

The several enumerators were then communicated with, and requested to forward suggestions for the subdivision of their respective districts into Collectors' Sub-Districts.

In table No. IX. will be found detailed definitions of the several Enumerators' Districts into which the Colony was divided, and the Sub-Districts into which they were subdivided.

At the end of the Report will be found a copy of the Act and a set of maps on which the district boundaries are marked in thick black lines, and which give a far clearer idea of the districts than the definitions above alluded to. It will be observed that each district is marked with its number, and that the round totals for each district are given in the margin of each map.

It may here be noted that, in the arrangement of Enumerators' Districts, the boundaries of pastoral districts were followed, as far as possible ; and it was attempted, with a view to comparison of results with those obtained on previous occasions, to adhere, as nearly as circumstances would admit, to the boundary lines followed on previous occasions.

Similarly in the arrangement of Sub-districts, Municipal boundaries were taken as boundaries of Sub-districts or of groups of Sub-districts.

With a view to ensuring the most complete returns, enumerators were allowed a very wide discretion in the subdivision of their Districts and the selection of men as collectors.

A rate of pay was specified as a general guide, but enumerators had a discretionary latitude allowed them in recommending an increased rate ; a latitude which, from the general drought prevailing, seems to have been necessary in many districts.

Every care was taken to insure a full supply of schedules, and in many districts the number asked for was very much in excess of what appeared to be possibly necessary, but they were supplied on the principle that it was better to issue twice as many forms as necessary than that there should be any lack of supply.

Turning now to the process of

COLLECTION.

It was decided on the score of expense, and the pressure of other duties, not to employ the members of the police force as collectors wherever it could be avoided.

In some respects this is to be regretted, as from their general knowledge of the country and state of discipline, returns obtained by them might be depended upon as faithfully taken, to an extent not to be equally obtained from men only temporarily employed, and who would naturally look to obtain as much net money as possible from the job.

It was necessary to leave the selection of collectors almost entirely to the enumerators, who were, theoretically at least, responsible for the work of those employed.

In the commencement of the correspondence all the enumerators were given the option of collecting returns from their outlying sub-districts, by letter, but only one reported favorably and partially acted on such offer.

As a check against overcharge every collector was required to keep a diary detailing his work day by day, and which diary he had to return with his completed schedules ; but the main responsibility of checking the collectors' charges was necessarily left almost entirely to the enumerators. The character of these diaries varied greatly, some being exceedingly well kept, and others utterly untrustworthy, and some even ridiculous.

There is no doubt that almost throughout the colony at the time when the Census was taken (the 1st September), there was an unusual failure both of grass and water, and, consequently, allowances were made to collectors in several of the thinly inhabited but extensive districts for artificial food.

Taking into consideration the difficulty of organizing the necessary staff at short notice, and the difficulties experienced by the collectors in country districts owing to drought and want of water, the work of collection, as a whole, may be said to have been well done—in some districts exceedingly well.

Shortly after the return of the schedules numerous complaints appeared in the newspapers of errors and omissions that were stated to have occurred. These complaints, as soon as made, were investigated to the utmost. In some cases they were well founded ; but in the majority they turned out to be either unfounded, or based on facts seriously exaggerated. A notice was inserted in theGovernment Gazette, and extensively circulated throughout the Colony by advertisements in the various local newspapers, requesting that any complaints might be sent direct either to this office or to the enumerator of the district where any error might have occurred. The result was, that very few responses were received, and some of the local newspapers courteously forwarded those sent to them to this office, instead of publishing, so that the complaints, whilst receiving the earliest attention, soon came to an end.

EXTRACTION AND COMPILATION.

At the last Census of this Colony in 1868, this work was done by the Registrar-General, with the assistance of his ordinary staff working overtime.

On this occasion a special staff was organized for the purpose. This has enabled the results to be produced within a comparatively short time, with as much accuracy as, and at a cost not much greater, than on previous occasions.

The scheme of the returns now presented certainly varies considerably in form from any previous one of this Colony ; but the object in framing and arranging the tables now presented has been, as far as possible, to simplify them ; to give as much information as possible, and to facilitate reference.

The following dates may be of interest :—

"The Census Act" was assented to on the 1st June, 1871.

The names of enumerators, and scheme of boundaries of districts, and other preliminary arrangements, was submitted to the Government on the 13th June, and approved by the Executive on the 19th.

On the 28th June the sending out instructions to enumerators and collectors was commenced, and carried on as rapidly as possible, so that, with one exception (Somerset), every district was supplied with instructions and papers in sufficient time to make all the necessary arrangements.

With regard to Somerset, the papers were sent off on the 28th June, but owing to failure of communication, did not arrive until the 26th September —a delay that could not reasonably have been anticipated, but not of any great importance, as the entire Somerset return amounted to only eleven persons.

The Census was taken on the night of the 1st September, and schedules began to be returned on the 14th, but it was nearly the middle of October before the whole were returned.

On the 15th November a preliminary statement of the results was laid before Parliament.

The tables will be found arranged into twelve parts, and a general index precedes them. The parts are as follows :—

1. —Population and Houses.

2. —Territorial Distribution.

3. —Ages.

4. —Separate and Conjugal Condition.

5. —Increase.

6. —Occupations.

7. —Birthplaces.

8. —Ailments.

9. —Education.

10. —Religion.

11. —Public Institutions.

12. Appendix.

ANALYSIS OF THE TABLES AND COMMENTS THEREON.—PART I.—POPULATION AND HOUSES.

Table I. gives the gross numbers returned. There can be no doubt that it is within the mark, as it is morally impossible, in enumerating a population so small compared with the area over which it is scattered (in round numbers 120,000 persons over 678,000 square miles), but that some omissions should occur.

Probably the figures actually obtained are within 2½ per cent. of the absolute numbers ; but in examining the results it is not expedient to make any such addition.

That the total approximates pretty closely to correctness is proved by the numbers calculated from the Vital Statistics—a calculation based on previous Census returns ; the Registration of Births and Deaths ; and the Customs reports of arrivals and departures.

Thus, from the Vital Statistics for 1870, it appears that

The aboriginals of the Colony have not been included either in this or in any previous Census. Their wandering habits, their apparent incapacity for civilisation, and the state of vagabondage into which they seem to fall whenever brought permanently into contact with the whites, would render any enumeration of them difficult, and the result not to be relied on to any extent ; and although, for some purposes, it might be desirable to ascertain their numbers, and whether increasing or decreasing, for electoral purposes, one of the most important objects of the Census, they are altogether out of the question.

Tables II. to IV. inclusive deal with the domiciliation of the people.

It is very difficult to convey a correct idea of the variety of buildings comprised under the term “dwelling” in this Colony.

The information given in the schedules is very meager, being generally limited to the material of which the building is composed.

In the towns, especially the larger ones, the houses, though presenting an immense variety both in size and quality, may on the whole be deemed to satisfy all reasonable requirements for permanent habitation ; and amongst the agricultural population the domiciles, as a rule, if rough, are comfortable enough : but in the bush, whether on stations or mining districts, in very many cases the structures that do duty as habitations are often of the rudest materials and construction, provided with furniture and fittings to correspond, and affording but poor protection against weather.

It must, however, be admitted that the climate of this Colony enables people to tolerate without inconvenience very inferior house accommodation ; more particularly persons whose daily occupation is entirely in the open air, and involves frequent change of place and often camping out.

Putting aside, however, the character of the dwellings, it appears that for 120,100 persons there were 26,900 dwellings, or, on an average, nearly 4½ inhabitants to each.

In 1861 the proportion was stated as five per dwelling ; in 1864 it was rather more ; and in 1868 it was about four.

Table V. is a comparison of the gross total results of the four enumerations of the people that have now been taken in this Colony.

It is somewhat confused, owing to the new division of the Colony adopted on this occasion—as before alluded to ; but the total presents a steady and satisfactory increase during the several intervals.

Details of this increase will be found in Part V. of the tables.

PART II.—TERRITORIAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE PEOPLE.

Table No. VI. contains returns of the total area in square miles, houses and population in the Colony as a whole, and in each enumerator's district.

Table VII. is an extension of table VI., giving the area in statute acres, the houses and population, also comparing results as far as possible with those obtained on previous enumerations, and stating the increase absolute and centesimal in each interval. This table also details the houses and population in each district by reference to the various stations and places arranged alphabetically, and in the case of the larger towns by streets.

Table VIII. comprises the returns specially required by the concluding portion of the 11th section of "The Census Act of1871," namely, " the population in each enumerator's district and collector's sub-districts subdivided according to age and sex."

The ages are detailed by minors and adults, then by successive years up to 5, then by periods of 5 years up to 60, including specially the numbers between 20 and 21, then by intervals of 10 years up to 100, over which age there is not one returned. (This arrangement has been generally adopted in such of the other appended tables as relate to age.) The number unspecified appears large, but in some cases, especially in those of Chinamen and Polynesians, it is impossible to ascertain the age, and in others where ages have been omitted, the individuals were not afterwards to be found.

In Table IX. will be found the boundaries of the several enumerators' districts, and as far as possible the sub-districts.

This table, taken in conjunction with the maps appended, gives a very good and clear idea of the distribution of the people over the Colony.

The scale of the maps, and the greater part of their contents, are identical with those of the general map of the Colony already published from the Lithographic Printing Office ; but the scale is too small to allow of the sub-districts in the most important districts being delineated with any advantage, and the maps have therefore been prepared so as to mark the districts only.

With very little trouble, a general map of the whole Colony can be constructed from the series now presented.

The subjoined table is intended to explain the alterations in districts, detailing on the one hand the present Census districts, and the parts of the former districts of which they are composed, and, conversely, the former districts, and where they have now been moved to, but can only be an approximation.

As already referred to in observations on table V., these alterations have rendered the comparison of the present with past returns a matter of great difficulty and labor, but the calculations have been made as carefully as possible.

Referring again to table VIII., it will be observed that the people are distributed principally within a comparatively short distance from the coast.

The following table gives the proportions of minors and adults, males and females, in each district of the Colony, and the results are curious.

The proportion of the sexes in the Colony, as a whole, is very nearly three males to two females, but the proportion under twenty-one years of age is much more equal, viz., in round numbers, 24 to 22½

In the districts of Brisbane and Ipswich the proportion of females appears actually to exceed that of males.

In other districts containing centres of population, such as Drayton and Toowoomba, Rockhampton, Dalby, Maryborough, and the country districts of West and East Moreton, the disparity is not great ; but in the outlying districts the majority of males is very high, and in some excessively so.

In so young a colony as Queensland the general disproportion of the sexes is not to be wondered at, but the apparent disproportion between the various districts is noteworthy, and requires explanation.

The following causes may partially afford this :—

1. The natural tendency of new arrivals to remain in the towns, where they can secure—or think they can—a living more in accordance with what they have been accustomed to at home than by striking out into the wild interior.

2. That in the rough life of stations but few women are generally required or desired ; and amongst the wandering adventurers in search of gold and other minerals women are almost out of place.

3. At the period of shearing large numbers of men, resident at other times in the towns, are scattered over the country, either traveling towards or congregated on stations, leaving their families at home ; and it so happens that this cause was active at the time the Census of 1871 was taken. Its effect is two-fold—on the one hand raising the apparent proportion of females in the towns, and on the other increasing that of the males in the pastoral districts.

It is also worthy of notice how much nearer, in the great majority of the districts, is the proportion of sexes in the case of minors than in that of adults.

Table X. gives the population in the present Electorates, referring to the Census Districts of which they are composed. It gives, firstly, the gross numbers ; then the numbers of males and females respectively ; and then the males, discriminating between minors and adults.

Table XI. supplies the population in Municipalities, detailed into wards wherever such existed, and in the case of males, subdivided into minors and adults. It will be useful chiefly for municipal purposes.

Table XII. details by Electoral Districts and Census Districts the Chinese, (with whom Japanese, if any, are included), Polynesians, prisoners, lunatics, and inmates of charitable institutions, all of whom would be deducted from the gross population in any electoral scheme.

Table XIII. gives the population of the towns, so called, whether municipalities or not ; but in many cases the numbers do not warrant such places being considered more than villages, and in some places not even that. They are simply points selected as centres of anticipated population, which may come or may not. Burketown is an example, as a place of which great expectations were entertained, in which comparatively large numbers died, and which seems likely shortly to become extinct. The foot note to this table deserves attention.

It must be borne in mind that the boundaries of municipalities, as also of towns non-municipal, include, in almost all cases, a large area in which the dwellings are very sparsely distributed, and it is impossible to draw the line distinctly confining the town population. Gympie, for instance, is a centre of population of no mean importance, not a municipality, though perhaps worthy of being one,—but where the mining population is so mixed up with the other as to render any distinction very difficult.

Table XIV. gives the population in the pastoral districts. It will be seen at a glance that the disproportion of the sexes in this return is high—over three males to one females ; but the observations already made on this subject, may be re-read in explanation or modification of this apparent result.

Table XV. exhibits the numbers on shipboard on the night of the Census. The totals are insignificant, and the disproportion between the sexes, as might be expected, excessive, little more than eight per cent. being females. It is probable that there were a good number of vessels about Torres Straits, employed in the pearl shell and beche-de-mer fisheries ; but as they generally hail from ports out of this Colony, their crews could not legitimately be included in our population ; and it would have been a matter of considerable difficulty in any event to obtain returns.

Table XVI. is devoted to the gold digging population, and is not an unimportant one.

Over ten per cent. of our gross population was employed on, or supported by, gold digging. Of this number a little over twenty-six per cent. were females.

From the extremely unsettled habits and restless movements of prospecting gold miners, it is probable that the numbers returned are less accurate than those of any other class of the population ; but it is certainly gratifying to notice as well, the large number actually returned, as also the number of districts, and the large extent of country over which they were at work.

The foot notes to this table also deserve attention.

PART III.

The tables in this Part are especially directed to the ages of the people.

Table XVII. gives the numbers in gross, and of each sex, detailed by Census Districts, classified as to age ; first distinguishing between minors and adults, then by successive years up to 5, then by periods of 5 years up to 60 (with a special table of 20 and under 21), and from 60 to 100 by steps of ten years.

A foot-note gives the numbers, by years, of persons of 80 and upwards.

Table XVIII. gives a comparison, as to ages, between the returns of the Census of 1861 and 1871.

This, and other similar comparative tables, will be useful for more general comparison, as the Census of the United Kingdom has been taken in similar years, and is intended to be taken decennially ; whilst the Imperial Government have intimated a desire that throughout the British Empire a uniformity of period should, as nearly as possible, be observed in enumerating the people.

This table is divided into three parts, comparing the ages by periods of 20, of 10, and of 5 years respectively.

It may be noted that whilst, as already observed, the proportion of the sexes throughout the Colony is very nearly 6 males to 4 females, or 3 to 2, the males under 20, in number 6,463, only exceed the females by 26 ; over 20, the males are to the females very nearly in the proportion of 23 to 11.

Up to 5, the females actually preponderate ; from that age to 15, the males preponderate, at first very slightly ; from 15 to 20, the disproportion increases suddenly, there being, in round numbers, 10 males to 6 females. As the age increases, so does the ratio which, from 25 to 30, is more than 2 to 1 ; and from 45 to 50, as nearly as possible 3 to 1 ; above that age it still increases, but the total numbers are too low for the comparison to be of much value.

Table XIX. is a comparison of ages calculated centesimally, and arranged similarly to XVIII., the centesimal ratios, however, varying considerably from the numerical totals—thus, up to twenty years, there are only 35.66 per cent. of the males, or a little more than a third, whilst there are more than half of the total number of females ; from twenty to forty the proportions are almost reversed, there being 45 per cent. of the males, and only 35.61 females.

The quinquennial division of this table is perhaps the most instructive ; but from the whole may be gathered the fact that the number both of males and females, in the most vigorous periods of life, is very large. The causes are pretty obvious. Whilst both the birth-rate and the death-rate of the Colony vary but little from the general average of the world, and whilst the proportion between the sexes in the births also agrees with the ascertained general proportion, our total numbers in ten years have nearly quadrupled—the increase of the females being the largest.

It naturally follows that the increase is chiefly owing to immigration.

It is true that occasionally people in authority take advantage of emigration to relieve themselves from the burden of paupers and lunatics ; but, as a general rule, our immigrants have not been of this class.

PART IV.

Is devoted to the Separate and Conjugal state of the people.

Table XX. gives the absolute numbers of males and females respectively in each Census District, distinguishing single, married, and widowed respectively ;

and, as to ages—firstly, minors and adults ; then, those under 10 years of age ; from thence, by periods of five years, up to 60 ; and from 60 by periods of ten years.

Throughout the Colony, of those under 10—constituting nearly thirty per cent. of the gross population, and being pretty evenly divided as to sexes—there are, of course, not any married.

From 10 to 15, only one—and that a female—appears as married.

From 15 to 30, the number of females married exceeds those of males—in the earlier ages enormously so ; and, as the ages advance, the differential ratio gradually decreases.

This proves that the tendency to early marriages is far greater amongst the females than the males.

From 30 upwards the disproportion is on the other side.

But, in considering these as well as other results, the absolute disproportion of numbers between the sexes in the Colony must not be lost sight of.

Of the entire population, slightly more than half are unmarried, and the disproportion of the sexes is not great ; but from 21 upwards there are more than eight males to each female.

Of the widowed, the numbers are not very large altogether—little more than two per cent. of the total population ; and if all the widowers were to pair off with an equal number of widows, only forty-eight of the latter would be left.

Any attempt to classify the unspecified would be mere guesswork. Their numbers are, however, not large—and indeed, as to females, insignificant.

It is hardly worth while to carry out comparisons similar to the above through the various districts, for the results would probably be longer than the tables themselves.

Table XXI. contains a comparison, without reference to districts, of the returns of the Census of 1868 and the present one, as to all persons over 15 years of age.

These figures represent the centesimal proportion of each age to 100 persons of the unmarried, married, and widowed classes respectively.

The total differences are not very large, and consist of a decrease in all classes up to 30, the largest decrease being in the period 25 to 30.

It would be very difficult to assert with any certainty the causes of difference.

PART V.

This exhibits the progressive general increase, and in some districts decrease of the people.

Table XXII. gives the differences in numbers, and by sexes in the whole Colony and in each Census District, comparing, as far as possible, the three periods from 1861 to 1864, 1864 to 1868, and 1868 to 1871 respectively, those being the four years in which the census of the colony has been taken.

As to the whole Colony, the largest total increase occurred from 1864 to 1868, and the least from 1868 to 1871 ; but as the interval from 1864 to 1868 was, in round numbers, four years, and the other two about three years each, the average annual increase was greatest in the first period, the three periods giving an average annual increase respectively of 10,469, 9,608, and 6,734 ; but in each period the disproportion of females to males decreased, the average annual numbers being 6,434 males to 4,034 females in the first period, 5,831 to 3,777 in the second, and 3,673 to 3,060 in the third.

This probably arises from the additions to the population in the later years, being more due to increase of births over deaths than to immigration over emigration.

The comparison between Census Districts is not as satisfactory as might be wished, owing to the alteration of district boundaries already alluded to.

The numbers may be examined in detail, but are sufficiently clearly arranged in the table to call for little, if any, further comment, particularly as the other tables of this part give the information in a more practically useful form.

Table XXIII. is a centesimal comparison between the same three intervals, giving the ratio of numbers in each district ; firstly as to itself, and secondly to the entire Colony.

Table XXIV. is, regarding the object for which the present Census was principally taken, perhaps the most important of Part V., as it gives the increases and decreases since the Census of 1868, numerical and centesimal, in the present Electoral Districts, and in the districts not electorally represented.

The total numbers, males, females, and totals, by the present Census are first given (distinguishing as to males between minors and adults) ; then the gross totals of 1868 ; then, firstly, the absolute, and secondly, the centesimal increase or decrease.

The most important absolute increases are as regards the electoral districts in East and West Moreton, and Drayton and Toowoomba, attributable to agricultural settlement ; Western Downs, from pastoral settlement ; Kennedy, from mining population, sugar plantations, and their consequences ; and Maryborough, chiefly from farming on both a large and small scale.

Wide Bay, including Gympie, the earliest practical centre of our gold mining, presents a decrease, though a very slight one, probably caused by the alluvial workings having to a great extent become exhausted, and replaced by the more tedious yet more permanent operations on reefs.

As to unrepresented country, the increase in the Burke and Gilbert Districts is encouraging, arising, no doubt, from gold mining and prospecting.

Cook is hardly worth noticing, being at present confined to the small settlement at Somerset.

PART VI.—OCCUPATIONS OF THE PEOPLE.

Table No. XXV. details the occupations by Census Districts. Occupations have been arranged under twelve orders or heads, particulars of which are detailed in Table No. XXVII. The first order, divided into six sub-orders, comprehends persons directly employed in or by the Government, and in which, naturally, males preponderate. The total number is 2,069, of which 155, or about 7.5 per cent., are females. Of the 1,914 males, 432 are classed as principal officers, clerks, &c. ; 445 as messengers, laborers, &c. ;-and 421 as police, aboriginals of the native police not being reckoned. Employed in the Railway, Post, and Telegraph offices were 615. This order cannot be looked upon entirely as a direct burden on the general revenue, inasmuch as many of the public departments, such as the Customs, the Survey Office, and the whole of sub-order six, assist the revenue by fees and duties collected. The gross total, 2,069, is about 1.7 per cent. of the entire population.

The second order comprises the learned professions, in all, 1323. This is divided into four orders, of which the first three, Law, Medicine, and Divinity, are tolerably well defined ; but the fourth, Literature, is vague, comprehending a great variety of occupations. In Law the recognized practitioners are confined to the male sex. In the definition of this order, at page 160, by some oversight, their Honors the Judges are omitted. It might possibly have been more correct to include them amongst principal officers, but they have always, as now, been reckoned with the profession. In Medicine, midwives and nurses are included ; and in Divinity, female members of religious orders, whose duties are mainly charitable and partly scholastic, render it rather doubtful where they should be properly classed. The Law presents the smallest numbers, Divinity next, then Medicine, and then Literature.

The third order, " domestic duties," is an important one, including almost entirely women and children dependent upon heads of families for support. The total number, 60,947, constitute a little over fifty per cent. of the population. The number of wives causes the females to largely preponderate in this order, but in the children the disparity of numbers as to sexes is very small.

The fourth order, personal offices, relates to persons, male and female, ministering to the personal wants of the people ; and it is difficult to define the exact meaning of the term, but it will be better understood by reference to page 161 of the tables.

The numbers of this order aggregate 6,106, or a little over five per cent. of the population. Of this 6,106, nearly one-third are males and two-thirds females.

The fifth order refers to the commercial class. The definition of this order will also be found at page 161. It does not include ordinary store or shopkeepers, whose particular line of business is defined, and who are mostly classified under order nine.

The total number of the commercial order is 2,106, of whom a little over twelve per cent. are females.

The next two orders, numbers six and seven, comprehend two of the most important classes of occupation as producing industries, viz., pastoral and agricultural, and are detailed into employers and employed, although the distinction is sometimes very difficult to decide upon.

With regard to pastoral, the total numbers returned amount to 11,360, of whom only 332 are females.

The gross totals are 1,911 employers to 9,449 employed, or nearly one to five. Of the employers, 260, or 13.6 per cent., were females, whilst of the employed there were only 72, or 0.76 per cent.

This disproportion between the sexes amongst the employed is partly owing, no doubt, to causes referred to already in remarks on Table XIV., but it must also be borne in mind that women and children returned under domestic duties are not included under either employers or employed.

The following table gives the order of the districts, according to the numbers, returned for them respectively, of pastoral employers and employed :—

With regard to those directly engaged in agricultural pursuits, the numbers, whether absolute in districts or proportional as to sexes, present very different results from the pastoral returns.

The total number of employers and employed was 13,732, of whom 2,066, or a little over 15 per cent., were females. There were 8,910 employers to 4,822 employed, or in the proportion of 1.85 to 1. Of the employers, 1,942, or nearly 21.8 per cent., were females ; whilst of the employed, only 124, or nearly 2.6 per cent., were females.

The term employers here is, perhaps, misapplied, as the figures prove that a large number of those designated did not employ any labor other than their own and that of their families.

It is also evident that the employed agricultural laborers are generally single men, but in their ranks would be included a considerable number of Polynesians.

The following table gives the order of districts according to numbers of agricultural employers and employed :—

Order 8, Carriers.—This order is also defined on page 161 [a considerable number of those who might have been otherwise included have already been reckoned as Government employes].

The total number returned is 2,834, of whom, as might be expected, a very small number only are females.

Order 9 is also a very important one, comprising the bulk of the industrial population other than the pastoral and agricultural classes.

This order is divided into five sub-orders (as detailed at page 162), according to the various class of substances operated on.

The 5th or mineral sub-order is again subdivided into five classes, according to the metal or substance worked.

The total number of this order amounts to 15,430, or nearly 12½ per cent. of

the total population ; and of these only 1,147, or nearly 8 per cent., are females—indeed in only one order, the workers and dealers in textile fabrics, are the numbers of females of any importance.

The 5th sub-order, mineral, is one the importance of which, already great, promises to increase rapidly, and to an extent that can only be guessed at.

First in importance (at least for the present), is gold, the workers for which are divided into the two branches of alluvial and quartz miners.

The total number of the two amounts to 6,139, or a little over 5 per cent. of the population, and almost exclusively males.

These are so scattered over the colony that, out of the 42 Census districts, the returns of 35 include gold seekers, although in several of the districts the number is so small that probably no work was actually being done.

The following table details in order, according to numbers returned, the districts in which gold mining of any sort may be said to be in practical operation ; and the table below it is something similar, but contrasting the order, taking the alluvial and quartz numbers separately.

The third class of the mineral sub-order is copper. The number under this head is 369, all males, engaged in production. This number is not a very large one, but there are strong indications that copper mining is but in its infancy in this colony, whilst there is a very extensive and valuable field for its operations. Considering what copper mining has done for South Australia, it is but reasonable to look for an immense development of it in this colony, if the lodes supposed to exist at all answer to the indications that have been found. Up to the date of the Census, there was not practically any other metal being mined for in the colony.

The fourth class of this sub-order is devoted to coal mining, the numbers employed in which are small—only 122—and almost confined to the Ipswich and West Moreton districts. Considering the large extent of country under which coal is known to exist, it is surprising that this industry is not more flourishing. The cost of carriage is probably the greatest drawback.

The following comparative table shews the fluctuations of the mining industry from the commencement of the Colony :—

The fifth class is a general one, and more directed to workers and dealers in, than to getters of, minerals. They are more particularly defined at page 162. The gross numbers are 964, of whom only six are women.

The tenth order is devoted to laborers whose particular work is not defined. These number 2,371, not quite two per cent. of the population, and are almost exclusively males.

The eleventh order of this part is composed of those who are a direct useless burden on the public. They consist of pensioners, paupers, lunatics, and prisoners.

The aggregate number comes to 1,830, or 1.52 of the population ; and of these 1,830, there were 347, or over eighteen per cent., females.

The proportion of the sexes, as to both paupers and lunatics, are nearly two males to one female ; but, in the case of prisoners, there are only about six per cent. females.

The twelfth order, unspecified, speaks for itself.

Table No. XXVI. gives the numbers of children under fifteen years of age earning, or contributing to earn, their own living.

The total number is 3,313, of whom the males are more than double the females.

It is, however, almost certain, that a large number of girls, not earning wages, assist materially in domestic duties, though returned merely as children at home.

Nearly the whole of the children reckoned in this table would be between ten and fifteen, the total numbers of whom, by reference to Table XVII., amount to 14,601, the sexes being pretty evenly balanced.

Table No. XXVII., as already observed, explains in detail the classification adopted in table No. XXV. It is very difficult in some cases to decide to what class particular employments belong. The arrangement has, to a great extent, been modeled on the Victorian system, which is, however, rather too diffuse to be rigidly copied. This table is divided into two parts, the first being the scheme of classification, and the second an alphabetical index by which can be found the order and sub-order under which any employment is reckoned.

Table XXVIII. is a comparative table of the occupations, without reference to districts, calculated centesimally as to males and females separately, and also as to the aggregate population. An attempt has been made to distinguish between bread-eaters and bread-winners, but it is questionable whether those who are not engaged in producing or in increasing the value of produce should not be also distinguished, although it would be a matter of considerable difficulty. As the table stands, it appears that the proportion of bread-eaters in the entire population slightly exceeds the bread-winners ; but of the males, the bread-winners are more than double the bread-eaters ; whilst the female eaters are more than four and a-half times as numerous as the winners.

PART VII.—BIRTHPLACES OF THE PEOPLE.

Table XXIX. gives the numbers born in each of the countries therein specified ; first, as to the entire colony, and secondly as to each Census district, distinguishing in each case males from females, and exhibiting the gross numbers, and the numbers of minors and adults as to the whole Colony and each district respectively.

A large proportion of the population of this Colony are Australian born, and out of these the large majority are Queenslanders.

Of the entire number, 120,104, there were 47,343, or 39.4 per cent., Australian born, of whom 36,412, or 30.3 per cent. of the whole, born in Queensland.

Of 71,767 males, 24,721, or 31.43 per cent., were Australians ; and 18,501, or 25.77 per cent., Queenslanders.

Of 48,337 females, 22,622, or 46.8 per cent., were Australian born ; and 17,911, or 37 were cent., were Queenslanders.

In these calculations New Zealand and Tasmania have been included as Australian.

The next largest contributors to our population are the British Islands, England and Wales heading the list with 26,296, or 21.89 per cent. of the total, divided into 16,851, or 23.48 of the males, and 9,445 or nearly 19.54 females.

From Ireland came in all 20,972, or 17.46 per cent. ; of males 11,540, or 16 per cent., and of females 9,432, or 19.51 per cent.

Scotland contributed 8,564, or 7.13 of the total ; 5,333, or 7.43 per cent. of the males, and 3,231, or 6.68 per cent. females.

Germany comes next on the list with 8,317, or 6.92 per cent., of whom the males numbered 5,401, or 7.52 per cent., and the females 2,916, or about 6 per cent.

The next largest numbers are Chinese, 3,305, or 2.75 per cent., but amongst whom was only one woman. It must be borne in mind, however, that in not a few cases Chinamen are married to European wives, it is popularly supposed chiefly Irish, but really the English predominate.

The Polynesians come next, with a total of 2,336, or 1.94 per cent., and including only 81 women. In some few cases persons have been reckoned as Polynesians on account of birthplace, though born of white parents.

Neither Chinese nor Polynesians can, as a general rule, be looked upon as permanent settlers in the Colony.

The nation next in numbers is the little kingdom of Denmark, with a total of 554, and then British America represented by 488 ; but these, and the others that follow, represent so small a proportion of the population as to render it unnecessary to go into further details, which those specially interested can gather from the table itself.

It is unnecessary in this report to trace the nationalities through the various districts as detailed in the table.

The unspecified only number in all 192, an inconsiderable portion of the total population.

Table XXX. is a comparative one, irrespective of districts, but simply giving the numbers of the various nationalities in 1868 and 1871, and the several increases or decreases respectively.

The only decreases are in the cases of the United States of North America, India, and unspecified.

PART VIII.—SICKNESS, ACCIDENTS, ETC.

This part is devoted to those who, at the date of the Census, were disabled by sickness or accident, or the victims of permanent physical affliction.

Table XXXI. is confined to sickness or the effects of accident.

The numbers are comparatively small. In the whole 467, or 3.87 in 1,000 of the population, and of which 336, or nearly seventy-two per cent., were males.

Of course this does not represent the entire illness of the people, but only the more serious portions of it.

Table XXXII. gives the numbers of those returned as totally or partially blind, deaf and dumb, or otherwise helpless from bodily afflictions ; age in each case being specified.

These numbers returned are so small and confined to so few districts, that a suspicion arises as to their correctness.

It seems incredible that in a country where diseases of the eyes are so common as in this Colony, there should be so few cases of sore eyes reported, and it is very

strange that the only cases of paralysis should be at the early age of seventeen and fifteen. The inmates of Hospitals and Asylums are not included in either of these tables.

PART IX.,—EDUCATION.

Table XXXIII. exhibits the state of education of the people, so far as the information afforded by the returns allows of.

It is almost entirely confined, as on previous occasions, to the points of reading and writing.

This table is arranged by ages, on the same system as other tables already referred to, and by Census districts, and is divided into four grades—those who can both read and write, read only, cannot do either, and the unspecified.

It may be remarked that, amongst both Germans and Chinese, a very large proportion can read and write their own language, although comparatively ignorant of English ; and all such have been included in the first class.

This table is mostly of interest for local purposes, but for general statistical information the next table, to be presently referred to, is more useful.

The foot-note at the end of the table gives all the information that has been obtained as to the higher classes of education.

Of course all those returned in the occupation tables under professional heads must be deemed to have received an education considerably beyond mere reading and writing. Some of these indeed specify their University standing, but many do not.

Table XXXIV. is a centesimal one, arranged by ages, sexes, and Census districts.

Up to 5 years of age it is not to be expected that a large proportion can read, and fewer still would be expected to write.

In the whole Colony, from 5 to 10, very nearly one-third of both sexes are able to read and write, and a similar proportion to read only.

From 10 to 15 the proportion who can read and write advances very largely, but those who cannot read is far too high to be satisfactory—over 9½ per cent. males, and 6½ per cent. females.

It is to be hoped that when the next Census of the Colony is taken, the efforts of the Board of Education, having already done so much, will have resulted in producing a better state of things.

By the time children in this Colony arrive at the age of 15, if not sooner, their scholastic education may be deemed, with very few exceptions, at an end.

By reference to the tables in part III., it will be found that of the entire population, 45,990, or nearly 38.3 per cent., were under 15, and for the scholastic state of education of the remainder, this Colony is only to a very limited extent responsible.

It is curious to trace through the districts the various degrees of education, but it is hardly worth while doing so in this report, as the most violent differences occur where the smallest numbers of people are found, and consequently the average results of these districts are least to be depended upon as guides to general results.

PART X.—RELIGION OF THE PEOPLE.

The returns under this head form the subject of only one table, No. XXXV., in which the numbers are given as to the whole Colony, and by Census districts, under the headings of the principal denominations, leaving a considerable margin of unspecified for the various vagaries of religious belief.

It is to be regretted that returns respecting religion should be required in a country where the State has severed its connection with religion, and tolerates alike all creeds that do not interfere with the State or each others' liberty. But it is the more to be regretted, because of all the questions put by the Census collectors, and frequently, though ignorantly, deemed impertinent, none seem to have given nearly so much offence as those relating to religion.

In many cases they were resented as unnecessarily inquisitive, and even directly insulting, and the result is that the answers evidence a sense of injury and irritation very undesirable. In other cases the answers given are intended to be ridiculous, and render the return simply useless. It moreover happens that any collector who has strong views in favor of any particular sect, is strongly tempted to claim all unspecified, and complete his schedules accordingly. There is very good reason to believe that this has been done to a considerable extent, causing great annoyance, and not likely to be detected, still less to be proved.

For statistical purposes the returns are of little value, although in some instances ministers of religion have sought to utilize them by getting an account of their flocks.

Any such attempt has been checked, as the schedules are collected on the faith of being confidential.

PART XI.—PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.

This part contains only one table, No. XXXVI., giving the inmates, whether as officers or otherwise, returned from various institutions supported at public, charitable, or Government expense.

The numbers have already been referred to in various parts of this Report.

PART XII.

The chief portion of this part is a table, No. XXXVII., which, it is hoped, will be useful for reference.

It amounts almost to a Gazetteer of the Colony, consisting of a list of the name and description of every place in the colony from which schedules were collected, the number returned from each place, and the Census district to which it belongs.

The repetition of identical names in different localities is certainly unsatisfactory, and tends to confusion.

It evinces a great want of originality in the inventors of names, and a want of proper appreciation of native names, which, however difficult to pronounce, are in many cases highly euphonious.

The remainder of the part consists of a table giving at a glance a compendious view of the whole Census.

This sheet comprises all the main results, any of which can, with a little trouble, be found in it.

For the expenses of the Census £5,000 was voted by Parliament.

£4,790 has been expended, and the few outstanding accounts still unpaid will not exceed £55 more.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

HENRY SCOTT,

Registrar-General.

VICTORIAE REGINAE.

No. 23. An Act for taking an Account of the Population in 1871. [ASSENTED TO 1ST JUNE, 1871.]

Preamble.

WHEREAS it is expedient that an account of the population of Queensland be taken on the first day of September in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one. Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly of Queensland in Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same as follows—

Interpretation.

1.

For the purposes of this Act the word "dwelling" shall mean any house building booth tent hut or other erection in or under which any person usually sleeps and every ship or other vessel in any port or harbor of the colony.

Census to be taken on the first day of September one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.

2.

An account shall be taken in manner hereinafter directed of the number of persons within the Colony of Queensland on the first day of September in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one and such account shall also contain the several particulars specified in the form of return in the schedule hereto marked A.

Enumerators to be appointed.

3.

For the taking of such account the Governor with the advice of the Executive Council shall by proclamation in the Gazette appoint enumerators and define the districts for which they shall respectively act and determine if it be deemed expedient the number of collectors to be appointed and employed by such enumerators respectively.

Collectors to be employed.

4.

The enumerators shall subject to approval by the Governor with the like advice appoint in like manner the number of collectors to be employed by them respectively and shall assign sub-districts to such collectors and that the boundaries of pastoral districts and parishes shall be followed as far as practicable in defining the districts and sub-districts.

Enumerators and collectors to make declaration. Schedule B.

5.

Every enumerator and collector shall make and subscribe a declaration in the form of the schedule hereto marked B and shall retain the same until delivered or transmitted as hereinafter mentioned.

Registrar-General to issue forms &c.

6.

The Registrar-General or such other person as the Governor-in-Council may appoint shall under the instructions of the Colonial Secretary cause to be prepared and delivered to each enumerator a sufficient number of the forms aforesaid and shall issue to each enumerator and collector proper instructions in accordance with this Act.

Forms to be delivered at every dwelling and filled up and signed.

7.

Every enumerator shall within ten days next preceding the day fixed as aforesaid cause to be left at every dwelling within his district one of such forms. And the occupier or person in charge of every such dwelling shall fill up and supply in such form to the best of his knowledge and belief all the particulars specified therein and shall sign the said form.

Collectors personally to receive the forms and see to their correctness.

8.

Every collector shall on the day next following the day fixed as aforesaid or as soon thereafter as practicable demand and receive the said form at every dwelling within his sub-district and shall satisfy himself by the best means of information in his power that such form is fully truly and correctly filled up or if not so in any particular shall himself by like means make the same complete and correct and in either such case shall then and there countersign the said form with his own name.

Collectors to deliver all forms &c. to enumerators. Schedules B and C.

9.

Every collector shall within seven days after all the forms within his sub-district shall have been completed and received by him deliver them to his enumerator together with declarations made and subscribed by him in the form of the schedules hereto marked B and C. And any enumerator may in the case of any defect or deficiency in any form so delivered require the collector delivering the same to make further inquiries and to correct such defect or supply such deficiency at his own cost.

Enumerators to make collective returns to Registrar-General. Schedules B and D.

10.

Every enumerator shall within fourteen days after receipt from his collectors of all such forms make out therefrom one collective return of all the several particulars therein respectively contained and shall sign and transmit the same to the Registrar-General together with all the said forms and the declarations aforesaid as received from the several collectors and together also with declarations made and subscribed by himself in the forms of the schedules marked B and D.

Completion of census by Registrar-General.

11.

The Registrar-General on receipt of such collective returns and other papers shall examine the same and cause any defect or inaccuracy therein to be supplied or corrected as far as may be possible and shall with all convenient speed prepare and transmit to the Government a full and true census of the population according to the account taken under this Act in such form as they may deem advisable and in such census shall be shown the population in each enumerator's district and collector's sub-districts sub-divided according to age and sex.

Authorities to aid in carrying Act into effect.

12.

All municipal councils justices of the peace clerks of petty sessions gold commissioners commissioners of crown lands and district registrars of births marriages and deaths within the colony shall on every request in writing from the Registrar-General supply him with all information in their power respecting fit persons to be appointed enumerators or collectors as aforesaid and upon any and every other point tending to the effectual carrying out of the provisions of this Act.

Penalty for non-compliance with Act.

13.

Any occupier or person in charge as aforesaid who shall refuse or willfully neglect to fill up to the best of his knowledge or information and belief the form left at his dwelling as aforesaid or if any such occupier or person being unable to read or write shall on the application of the collector refuse to afford him the necessary information for the purpose of enabling such collector to fill up such form on behalf of any such occupier or person or to sign and deliver the same or shall refuse or willfully neglect to answer or untruly answer any inquiry made by a collector or willfully make sign or deliver or cause to be made signed or delivered any false return or statement of any particular in such form or shall obstruct any person in the performance of any duty under this Act shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding twenty pounds.

Penalty for willful default of collector.

14.

Any collector who shall fail to return to his enumerator or any enumerator who shall fail to return to the Registrar-General all the forms which shall have been received by him or shall wilfully sign or deliver any untrue form or alter any form except as aforesaid or shall otherwise wilfully violate any provision of this Act shall for every such offence be liable to a penalty not exceeding fifty pounds.

How declaration to be made and if false to be perjury.

15.

Every declaration under this Act may be made and subscribed before any justice of the peace. And any person making and subscribing a false declaration shall be deemed guilty of perjury.

Penalty for failing to act after accepting office.

16.

Any person accepting the office of enumerator or collector under this Act and afterwards refusing or neglecting to do anything required of him in virtue of such office unless prevented by sickness or other unavoidable cause (in which case the Governor with the advice aforesaid may forthwith appoint another enumerator or the enumerator may appoint another collector to be approved as aforesaid) shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding one hundred pounds.

Recovery of penalties.

17.

All penalties under this Act may be recovered summarily before any two justices of the peace.

Regulations.

18.

The Governor with the advice aforesaid may make regulations for the more effectually carrying out the provisions of this Act in any case for which sufficient provision is not made by this Act and such regulations when published in the Gazette shall have the full force of law.

Short title.

19.

This Act shall be styled and may be cited as " The Census Act for 1871."

The foregoing is a true Return concerning all persons in this Dwelling. Witness my Hand

(Signature of Occupier or Person in Charge, or of a Collector.)

CENSUS OF THE POPULATION OF QUEENSLAND.

1871.

No.—

To the Occupant or Person in Charge.

You are requested to insert the particulars specified in the form of Return respecting all the persons who slept or abode in your Dwelling on the night of the first day of September, 1871.

This paper will be called for on by the appointed officer ; and it will save trouble if, as the Act requires, you have the answers written in the proper columns by that time. It is the Collector's duty to verify the facts and (if you have omitted to comply with the above instructions) to record them at your residence in that day.

This Return is required to shew the actual number of the population ; their distribution over the country in villages, towns, parishes, gold fields, electoral districts, &c., their religious, occupations, birthplaces, and civil conditions.

The Collectors are strictly ordered not to divulge any information given in this paper.

SCHEDULE A.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS.

This Schedule is to be filled up by theOCCUPIER OR PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE DWELLING:—If let or sub-let to different persons or families, in separate stories or apartments, each such story or apartment must be treated as a separateDWELLING, and THE OCCUPIER OR PERSON IN CHARGE OF EACHmust make a separate return upon a separate form.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILLING UP THE COLUMN HEADED "USUAL BUSINESS, OCCUPATION, OR EMPLOYMENT."

ARMY, NAVY, AND CIVIL SERVICE.—Add, after the rank, whether in actual service, or half-pay, or retired ; and in the latter case, if engaged in any occupation, be particular in stating it. Persons in the Civil Service to state, after their title or rank, the Department to which they are attached, and also whether they are engaged in any other and what besides their official occupation.

CLERGYMEN to state the denomination of which they are ministers, and the place of worship in which they officiate. They are requested not to employ the indefinite term "Clerk." Local or occasional preachers must return their ordinary occupations.

LEGAL PROFESSION.—Barristers to state whether or not in actual practice and if holding any office to give the description. The designation “ Attorney” or “Solicitor” to be confined to those actually upon the Roll of this Colony. Persons employed by Barristers, or in Solicitors' offices, should distinguish whether they are articled, writing, or other clerks. Lawyers admitted elsewhere, but not on the Rolls here, to state the grade and country.

MEDICAL PROFESSION.—Members to state whether they are Physicians, Surgeons, or General Practitioners, and to return themselves aspracticingor notpractising; and if otherwise employed, to state the occupation.

TEACHERS, AUTHORS, PUBLIC WRITERS, AND ARTISTS, to state the particular branch of science, literature, or art, which they cultivate. Engineers to state whether civil-engineer, mechanical engineer, mining engineer, &c, Surveyors to state whether land, mining, or marine surveyor.

PERSONS ENGAGED IN TRADE OR COMMERCE, as Merchants, Storekeepers, Retailers, Brokers, Agents, Auctioneers, Clerks, &c., to state the particular business in which they are engaged, or the staple in which they deal. The ordinary and most commonly understood terms should be employed. Commercial Travellers should not omit the wordCommercial.

The terms FARMER and GARDENER to be applied to all persons actually in occupation of land and tilling, whether proprietors or only tenants, who should be returned “ Farmer or Gardner of —acres, employing—men." The word landowner is too vague. Proprietorship may be expressed by inserting "(Prop.)" after "Farmer." Sons and daughters, brothers, or other relatives helping on farms or stations, may be returned as “ Son assisting,” "Daughter assisting,” as the case may be.

GOLD MINERS should specify whether engaged in puddling, quartz-crushing, sluicing, or alluvial sinking. Persons on the Gold Fields to state distinctly, after their present occupation, their former calling, as "Gold Miner—formerly Physician ;” " Storekeeper—formerly Carpenter.” When a Gold Miner employs others to assist him, he should return himself “Gold Miner—employing—men.” A miner working for another should return himself as a "Gold Miner,” not as a laborer.

ARTISANS AND MECHANICS should always mention whether they are Masters or Journeymen, whether they keep a shop, store, &c., and the number of persons in their employment. The materials on which Mechanics work, and the particular branch of their trade are always to be distinctly expressed ; thus, “ Skip Carpenter,” “House Carpenter,” “Shingler,” “Coachsmith,” “Locksmith,” “Horse-shoer.”

A person engaged in more than one pursuit should state his occupation in the order of their importance to himself.

CARTERS, CARRIERS, LABORERS, SERVANTS, &c., to describe themselves by the name of their usual employment, as “ Drayman on Wharf,” “ Carter to the Diggings,” “ Laborer making Roads,” “ Omnibus Driver,” “ Cabman,” “ Porter,” “ Messenger,” &c.

Persons not following any Profession, Trade, or Calling, and not holding any public office, but possessed of independent means, may designate themselves “ Proprietor of Land,” “ Proprietor of Houses,” “Annuitant,” as the case may be. The word “ Householder,” should not be used in place of “ Proprietor of Houses,” nor the word “ Gentleman, “ or “ Lady,” in place of “ No occupation.” Persons who have ceased to follow one pursuit, and have not commenced another, should enter “ No occupation at present.”

WOMEN.—

The occupations of women not coming under the foregoing instructions, and who are employed in any but domestic duties should be distinctly recorded. But they should not be entered as engaged in the occupation of their Husbands or Fathers, &c., unless they regularly assist them. When only in the capacity of Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister, &c., write “ Domestic Duties.”

CHILDREN.—

If children are regularly pursuing or assisting in any occupation, it should be stated. If daily attending a National, Denominational, or Private School, or receiving tuition under a master or governess, at home, it should be specified by writing against the names “ attending National School,” “attending Denominational School,” “attending Private School,” “Scholar at home,” as the case maybe. When only in the relation of Son, Daughter, or other relative, write “ Domestic Duties,” as in the case of women.

PERSONS IN HOSPITALS, ASYLUMS, GAOLS, &c.—

Care should be taken to describe their position as inmates, in addition to the insertion of their previous occupation ; thus “ Prisoner,” “Patient,” “Gaoler,” “ Nurse,”

The occupation which each person is actually following and deriving income from at the time of the Census should in all cases be stated.

Every answer should be written in full. The use of dots (,,) or ditto (do.) leads to numerous mistakes, and cannot be received by the Collectors.

SCHEDULE B.

I do hereby accept the office of enumerator [or collector] under "The Census Act for1871" for the district [or sub-district] to which I have been appointed. And I do solemnly declare that I will faithfully perform the duties of the said office to the best of my knowledge and ability.

[Signature.]

Made and subscribed before me at this day of 1871.

Justice of the Peace.

SCHEDULE C.

I a collector appointed under "The Census Act for1871" do solemnly declare that the forms numbered from to inclusive contained in the sealed packet to which this declaration is attached are all the forms under the said Act which have been completed and received by me within the sub-district to which I was appointed and that the whole contents of all the said forms are true to the best of my knowledge information and belief.

[Signature.]

Made and subscribed before me at this day of 1871.

Justice of the Peace.

SCHEDULE D.

I an enumerator appointed for the district of under "The Census Act of1871" do solemnly declare that the sealed packet addressed to the Registrar-General to which this declaration is attached contains all the forms and declarations transmitted to me by the [state here the number of collectors for his district] collectors appointed by me and also one collective return made out by me from the said forms and that the said collective return contains the full true and correct results of all the particulars contained in all the said forms.

[Signature,]

Made and subscribed before me at this day of 1871.

Justice of the Peace.

PART I., POPULATION AND HOUSES.

CONTENTS.

TABLE I.—Numbers of the People, Total, and by Sexes

TABLE II.—Houses and Population in 1861 and 1871

TABLE III.—Houses and Population in each of the Census Enumerations of 1861, 1864, 1868, and 1871

TABLE IV.—Increase of Inhabited Houses, and of Population in corresponding Intervals

TABLE V.—Population in 1861, 1864, 1868, and 1871, by Census Districts.

PART II., TERRITORIAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE PEOPLE.

CONTENTS.

TABLE VI..—Area, in Square Miles ; Houses, and Population

TABLE VII.—Area, in Statute Acres ; Houses, and Population, in each of the Census Districts ; together with Comparison of Population in Census Returns for 1861, 1864, 1868, and 1871, and Houses and Population in each Municipality, Town, Station, Farm, Gold Field, and Copper-mining District, as well as the Shipping in the various Census Districts.

TABLE VIII.—Sex and Age of the People enumerated in each Census Sub-District

TABLE IX.—Definitions of Census Districts, and of Collectors' Districts, into which they were subdivided

TABLE X.—Population, by Age, in Electorates and by Census Districts, contrasting the two

TABLE XI.—Details of Population in Municipalities by Wards (where any exist)

TABLE XII.—Numbers of Chinese, Polynesians, Prisoners, Lunatics, and Inmates of Charitable Institutions, in Electorates and by Census Districts

TABLE XIII.—Population of Towns

TABLE XIV.—Population in Pastoral Districts

TABLE XV.—Number of Persons on board the Shipping enumerated on 1st September, 1871

TABLE XVI.—Population connected with Gold-digging