640 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION F. 



of those colonies exceeded the actual increase by only 

 47,633. 



It may be remarked that the disturbance to the population 

 estimates through a considerable number of the departures 

 not being recorded, whilst a close record is kept of the 

 arrivals, is not peculiar to the Australian Continent, but 

 applies equall}" to the insular colonies of Australasia, — the 

 apparent increase of population between 1881 and 1891 

 having been greater than the actual increase by 15,092 in the 

 case of New Zealand, and by 10,338 in the case of Tasmania. 

 It should, moreover, be pointed out that the number of 

 unrecorded departures is, as a matter of fact, always greater 

 than the figures show, inasmuch as, whilst a practically 

 complete registration of the deaths takes place as already 

 stated, a considerable number of births in all the colonies 

 escape the vigilance of the registering officers, and remain 

 unrecorded. If this were not the case, the numbers showing 

 the apparent increase of population would be obviously 

 greater than those indicated. The births registered during 

 the last intercensal period in the four continental colonies 

 under notice numbered 891,388. Allowing 5 per cent, on 

 this number for births not registered, or 44,569 — which 

 allowance is believed rather to understate than to exaggerate 

 the truth — the total excess of the apparent over the actual 

 population of those colonies would be increased from the 

 number already quoted (220,757) to a probable one of 

 265,326, or an average of 26,500 per annum. 



How is this disturbance to be avoided in the future ? I 

 have tried to remedy it so far as Victoria is concerned by 

 correcting the outward passenger lists with the inward lists 

 received from the other colonies of the group ; and this 

 answered fairly well whilst the steamers of the Peninsular 

 and Oriental Company did not go further than Melbourne, 

 and the Oriental, Messageries, and Austrian Lloyds' steamers 

 were not running ; but since so many lines of British and 

 Foreign steamers visit Melbourne, calhng at Western and 

 South Australia before they arrive, and going on to New 

 South Wales, and perha]3S Queensland after they leave, the 

 passengers from and to the various ports and places are so 

 much mixed up in the lists that these afford no assistance 

 whatever. If greater care were taken in recording the port 

 at which the passengers embarked and that at which they 

 signified their intention of disembarking, an interchange 

 of lists might answer the purpose ; but concert between the 



