12 Observations on Tasmanian Statistics. 



the very nature of things, cease altogether within a com- 

 paratively short time. 



Table 2 shows the number and distribution of the con- 

 victs in the colony, and spreads over a period of ten years. 

 In 1844, the total number which arrived in the colony 

 amounted to 4966 ; in 1850 it was 2910 ; and in 1853, when 

 transportation had finally ceased, 1480. In 1851, the total 

 of both sexes was 20,069 ; in 1852 it was 19,105 ; and in 

 1853 it had gradually declined to 16,745, with the pros- 

 pect, as before remarked, of a rapid diminution annually in 

 the numbers of this class until its total extinction. The 

 proportion of males to females is, upon the average, as 

 3 to 1. The total number of convicts is divided into 

 those who maintain themselves, averaging 77 per cent., and 

 those who are maintained by the Government, 23 per cent. 

 With regard to the former of these two divisions, considering 

 them in the light of quasi free, mingling as they do in the 

 general community, no further notice need be taken of them 

 here; and as to the latter division, or those maintained by the 

 Government, 24 per cent, are under probation, 62 per cent. 

 under sentence, 13 per cent, in hospitaler invalids; and 

 the number of males to females coincides with the general 

 proportion of 3 to 1.* 



Tables 3, 4, and 5 show the total number of births, 

 deaths, and marriages in the colony which bave been registered 



* By a Council paper it appears that on the 1st of August, 1854, there 

 were 13,456 convicts of all classes of both sexes; of whom 10,174, or 75-6 

 per cent, were earning their own livelihood, and 3282, or 24-3 per cent, were 

 maintained by Government. Of the whole number it was estimated that 

 10,000 would be released from their convict condition by the 1st of April, 

 1856 ; and that on that date 3500 would remain, of whom it is probable 

 that one-half would be maintaining themselves.— The expenditure for this 

 service for 1854-5 was estimated at £205,385 ; and for the year ending 

 31st March, 1856, at £132,553,— making a diminution of £72,832 in the 

 expenditure for that year. 



