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that tliere is an error in the ofticial figures, and tliat tlie joopula- 

 tion for the latter years was over estimated. Tliis i-emarkable 

 fall in the ratios has attracted the notice of otliei's. Mr, Hayter, 

 in publishing tlie llgui-es in tlie Victorian Year Book, appended a 

 note suggesting that the area to which the respective figures re- 

 ferred had been altered. This was also the opinion of some 

 gentlemen in Adelaide. Others supposed witli Dr. Jamieson 

 that the population was over estimated. I became Registrar- 

 General in 1885, a few months after Mr. Cleland, my predecessor, 

 had calculated and published the estimated population for that 

 year. At tlie year's end when the ratios were calculated, and 

 this falling off in the rate of mortality became apparent, my 

 first impression w^as that the population for tlie year had been 

 set down at too high a rate. Against this I had the knowledge 

 that Mr. Cleland had been familiar with the vital statistics of 

 South Australia from the early times, that his calculations had 

 stood the test of census returns as well as, and perhaps I should 

 be correct if I said much better than, those of the statisticians of 

 other colonies, and that an error on his part was improbable. 

 This did not prevent an investigation. I soon found that Mr. 

 Hayter's surmise was incorrect, there had been no alteration in 

 the area. Tw^o changes had, however, occurred in the early part 

 of 1885, either of which might affect the estimate. The first 

 change was made in the office. Up to the end of 1881: Mr. 

 Cleland published his returns of local population in accordance 

 with the census of 1881, without taking into account any in- 

 crease or decrease of numbers after the census was taken. This 

 was stated at the head of some of the quarterly returns, but on 

 examining the figures I find the statement was not strictly 

 accurate. That part of the table which referred to Adelaide city 

 was evidently based on an estimated population of the whole 

 area of Adelaide and suburbs, and every one wlio knows any- 

 thing about vital statistics will agree that this was a wise and 

 proper change to introduce. He not only did this, but he calcu- 

 lated the back years, and prepared a uniform table of results so 

 as to furnish a means for comparison. This was a delicate opera- 

 tion, in which an error might easily creep in. It was on these 

 new estimates that the ratios for 1 885 wxre cast, and it was in 

 this year that the lessened mortality commented on by Dr. 

 Jamieson was recorded. Since my appointment to the office of 

 Registrar-General Mr. Cleland has explained to me his mode of 

 calculation, and I can only say that after a prolonged examination 

 of such data as were available I could find no error which w^ould 

 have justified me in putting aside the figures which Mr. Cleland 

 had so carefully prepared. In preparing the estimate for 1886 

 we both agreed that it would not be safe to follow the usual mode 



