117 



I have compared it. After a careful consideration of objec- 

 tions such as wc miglit expect one who was arguing on the 

 opposite side to urge, I can come to no other conclusion than 

 that the advantage which our Colony possesses in regard to 

 the rate of mortality, especially that of infants and children, 

 is chiefly due to the remarkable salubrity of its climate ; and 

 if the large amount of labour which has been expended on 

 the construction of these tables has the effect of bringing this 

 fact into greater prominence, I shall feel that it has not been 

 bestowed in vain. 



[A.] 



TABLE SHOWING THE PERCENTAGE IN THE DIF- 

 FERENT AUSTRALIAN COLONIES WHICH THE DEATHS 

 OF INFANTS UNDER ONE YEAR OF AGE BORE TO THE 

 TOTAL NUMBER OF BIRTHS DURING THE YEARS 1869- 

 73 ; ALSO, THE BIRTH-RATE PER 1,000 OF POPULATION. 



Average 

 Name of Colony. 1869. 1870. 1871. 1872. 1873. I for the 



Five Yrs, 



Victoria 



New South Wales 



South Australia 



Queensland 



Tasmania 



11-86 



9-57 



14-24 



11-07 



9-45 



