THE LATE CENSUS.

Marlborough Express, Volume VI, Issue 294, 27 May 1871, Page 6

THE LATE CENSUS.

Sir, — I am sorry to have to contradict the correctness of the compilation of the Census returns inserted in your issue of the 6th inst. in the matter of religion. Having met a number of persons in the Town of Blenheim alone, who have expressed to me their disbelief in religion, my astonishment was great on looking down the classification of the Census, to see only two unbelievers debited or credited as the case may be, to the Province of Marlborough. True enough 146 persons are classed together as objecting to state what religion they belonged to, but that return must be as great a libel as the return of the number of the irreligious. It is bad enough perhaps, swelling up the seeming importance of some denominations by a lot of children who are incapable of judging, without denying to men who do not believe in the supernatural, a proper return of their numbers. I have a right to call for a true return whatever it may show, and I hope that it will be forthcoming.— I am, &c.. Justice.

[We should be glad to comply with the request of “Justice” in analysing the returns, but that it is now impossible to get at them. As showing what a wonderful variety of denomina--1 tions exist in Otago, we have elsewhere given a j statement published in an Otago paper. With respect to the numbers set down to the more j numerous sects in Marlborough, we may add that they were printed as set down by each individualintheseveralhouseholdforms.—Ed. M.E.]