THE STATISTICAL REGISTER OF Victoria, FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE COLONY; WITH AN ASTRONOMICAL CALENDAR FOR 1855. Edited by WILLIAM HENRY ARCHER, ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF VICTORIA. Bibliotheek By Authority: JOHN FERRES, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, MELBOURNE. 1854. PR E F A СЕ. THIS little book is a humble attempt to commence a series of Registers, or Books of Reference, that may from time to time faithfully reflect the progress of this extraordinary Colony. The present, however, is to be considered merely an introductory volume. It was my intention to have made the work far more comprehensive, but mechanical difficulties of no ordinary kind, and the pressure of multifarious duties, have stayed its development, and given it somewhat of a fragmentary character. But I trust even its shortcomings may prove of service; inasmuch as they will indicate, in one portion of the book at least, what is wanting to complete the foundation of a broad statistical system, suited to our need, and worthy of the age. With regard to " Vital Statistics," as shewn in the article on the Registrar General's Department, Victoria is in many important respects in advance of other states, yet much requires to be done to render her altogether equal to other countries in the cultivation of a science of inestimable value and daily increasing repute. It is, perhaps, too early to expect her to keep pace with England or Belgium, France or Germany. In those countries are to be found such eminent statists as Farr, Neison, Porter, Quetelet, Dupin, Villermé, Hoffman, Schubert, and Ramon de la Sagra. Some of these, I have good reason to know, are waiting with interest for the time when they may obtain the results of certain social problems now at work in our Colony, and they will be pleased to see even the present mite of information cast into their ever-accumulating treasury of facts by a humble disciple. I have to express my gratitude to all those who have at various times assisted me in my task, by counsel, information, or actual labor. The late Lieutenant Governor, C. J. La Trobe, took a warm interest in the progress of the work, and read over with me several of the proofs; and the spirit evinced by His Excellency communicated itself to most of the Government Departments. To the gentlemen engaged in the Registrar General's Department I am especially indebted. They have, on all occasions, shewn a zeal in the performance of extra labors, as well as in the discharge of their ordinary duties, that can exist in the bosoms of those only who have a heart for their work. A considerable mass of unemployed material, connected with subjects of general interest, has been confided to me by scientific and other intelligent men in various parts of the Colony; but I defer more particular mention until a second volume of the series shall appear. A copious Index is to be found at the end; and reference is recommended to it on every occasion when the reader wishes to learn all that is contained in the work respecting any given subject. Very great pains have been taken to secure the closest possible accuracy throughout the book; yet some errata have been discovered, which are noted on the last page. It is hoped, however, that no error of moment has escaped observation. At all events, criticism is invited, and every practical suggestion for the improvement of any portion will be duly and thankfully acknowledged, come from what quarter it may. The whole compilation has been a labor of love; and whatever tends to increase its worth will be a subject of welcome. WILLIAM HENRY ARCHER. Registrar General's Office, Melbourne, 21st September, 1854. On the Geographical Position of Melbourne. EVER Since the settlement of Port Phillip as a District of the Colony of New South Wales to the present time, when it has become known as the Golden Colony of Victoria, great doubts have been expressed by many nautical men as to the true geographical position of Melbourne, its capital city. During the whole time that the Survey Department was under the management of Mr. Hoddle, the late Surveyor General, the latitude and longitude of Batman's hill were received and computed from, as being latitude 37d. 49m. 23s. south, and longitude 144d. 58m. 15s. east of Greenwich, or 9h. 39m. 53s. in advance of Greenwich mean time. Vessels sailing direct from Europe, and making the Heads of Port Phillip Bay from the westward, have in general found that the above difference of longitude was too great. Most of the commanders of ships who mainly depended on their chronometers, and found a difference, appear to estimate the difference as being from seven to nine miles; but hitherto no precise intimation has been given that Melbourne was to the westward of its received position. On the 6th of December, 1853, C. J. Tyers, Esq., Commissioner of Crown Lands for Gipps' Land, whose qualifications as a land and marine surveyor are of the first order, forwarded to His Excellency C. J. La Trobe, Esq., a memorandum respecting a survey of part of Gipps' Land by Messrs. Nevens and Wilkinson, which he had been requested to superintend, in which he makes the following statement:— "The longitude of Mount Singapore has been assumed 146d. 27m. 30s., being three-quarters of a mile less than is assigned to it by Captain Stokes, R.N., that officer having measured from the meridian of Fort Macquarie, Sydney, which he assumes 151d. 16m., but which, in the determination of the boundary between New South Wales and South Australia, or the 141st meridian, I assumed as 151d. 15m. 15s. Upon this all the longitudes given by me in Gipps' Land, and between Melbourne and the mouth of the Glenelg, depend. The longitude of Fort Macquarie, and thence of Batman's Hill, may be deduced from the following results: Proceedings Ast. Soc., vol. vi., p. 203. Parramatta, 151d. Im. 48′25s. + .. Sir Thos. Brisbane (N. A.), 10h. 4m. 6-25s., or 151d. 1m. 33-75s. +13m. 13·05s. Tyers' distances of sun and moon, and of moon and stars, Port Essington,' Tyers' distances of sun and moon, and of moon and stars, Portland Bay, ... D. M. 8. 151 15 1.3 151 14 46.8 151 13 46-49 151 14 11.10 151 15 10 151 15 14.0 151 14 21 stars, observed at Port Essington; } 151 13 57 151 14 14 151 14 54 151 15 30 151 16 15 Captain King's moon culminating stars, observed at Tahlee; reduced by } Captain King's eclipse of the sun, and of Jupiter's satellites, and occulta "This result may be considered a very close approximation to the truth, and should, I think, set at rest all doubt as to the longitude of Fort Macquarie. |
