214 



APPENDIX. 



ment of their office, to confine their enquiries to the vital and indus- 

 trial statistics of the Island, leaving other subjects of research for a 

 later period, and for other Committees. 



In the month of February 1847, a letter was sent to the Honor- 

 able the Colonial Secretary, stating the object of the Committee's 

 appointment, and requesting such assistance as the Government might 

 be able to render us from the public Records in its possession, and 

 at the same time the attention of the Government was especially 

 directed towards the Population Returns of past years. In reply 

 to this communication, the Colonial Secretary assured your Commit- 

 tee of the sense entertained by His Excellency the Governor 

 of the importance of the enquiries contemplated, and of his 

 desire to afford them every facility in his power. The statistical 

 data however, to be found in the Records of Government, were said 

 to be very meagre, whilst the Population Returns, the latest of which 

 were for 1843, it was feared, had not been collected with the fidelity 

 and industry which was necessary to give them value. 



Your Committee was, in conclusion, requested to furnish such 

 points of enquiry as they deemed of consequence, and these were 

 promised to be furnished, as far as practicable, from the Records. 



In compliance with this request, your Committee furnished a list 

 of enquiries touching the Manufactures, Agricultures, Fisheries and 

 Population of the Island, and although no reply has hitherto been 

 received to this last communication, your Committee cannot but feel 

 that some benefit has arisen from the correspondence. 



The local Government having had its attention drawn to the scanty 

 supply of facts connected with the progress and condition of the Colony, 

 have seen the necessity which exists for obtaining more valuable data, 

 and to this we may no doubt trace the Governor's Minute of 3rd 

 December last, calling upon the Agents of Government in the several 

 Provinces for quarterly reports on the condition of their districts. These 

 returns, we anticipate, will lead to important results in connection with 

 our inquiries. 



The next step which your Committee took was to address 

 Government on the subject of the Annual Returns of the Imports and 



