Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, APEIL 2, 1891. The Census.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 2 April 1891, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, APEIL 2, 1891. The Census.

Close upon three thousand four hundred years ago, the command was given to Moses to " Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls." This is the earliest recorded census. Many persons used to look upon such numbering as something uncanny, and feared that the pestilence that smote the Israelites for numbering the tribes five hundred years after their first census, would infallibly be meted to those who did so. However, the Greeks and Romans took regular records of the growth of their people, and it sounds peculiar to learn that the first census was taken in Great Britain only in 1801. Previous to this, however, a member of Parliament secured the passing of a bill for " taking and registering an annual account of the total number of people, and of the total number of marriages, births and deaths ; and also of the total number of the poor

receiving alms in every parish, and extra parochial place in Great Britain." The proposal met with a deal of opposition, r>nd it was feared that it was oininons of " some public misfortune or an c pidomical distemper I" As we have said, though the proposal was carried, the second census was put off to 1801. On Sunday next the Government of Great Britain and the Government of this colony have decided to have the next census taken, and every householder on that evening will have to record the name, age, sex, and the pedigree of every inmate under his roof. In such matters much care and attention should be given, as upon these returns a number of important results are made up. We notice that the Government have added an agricultural census to these papers, and we expect these will cause a little annoyance, as an agricultural return is frequently made by the police, and as it is looked upon as high treason to hold land, we think the information might have been obtained in another fashion. Considering the number of cases in which people may be interested in land, and the deliberate statements they have to make in applying for "deferred" or "leasehold " land, some caution will be needed before they tumble into the trap prepared. Let due deliberation be given as to whom the land described, belongs to, whether the householder, his wife, or " bairnea three," as otherwise, when a comparison is prepared between the various returns already made, there may be , a day of "desolation and mourning."