THE SEVEN COLONIES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1514, 7 March 1901, Page 58

THE SEVEN COLONIES.

Mr T. A. Goghlan, the Statistician of New South Wales, has sent us a copy of his admirable compilation, entitled “The C °l oUies of Australasia, 1899- * bulky volume of nearly eight hundred pages, and may be regarded as an epitome of all the ‘Wear Books of the several States. New Zeals § lven , a iarge space in the book. While the series of articles dealing with the six Australian States covers a space of one hundred and fifty pages, or about twenty-five each, Mr Coghlan devotes seventy-two pages exclusively to telling the story of this country. Then there is not a subject of public moment but what is elaborately .treated, and exhaustive tables of figures are given affecting population, religion and defence. Shipping and commerce, as well as the social condition of the people, their education, food supply and cost of living are dealt with comprehensively and well. Every department of employment, whether in connection with the factory, the farm or the station is extensively discoursed upon, together with most departments of the public service, including private and public finance. The work is altogether an excellent production. In all cases the figures have been revised to accord with the latest information, and as a rule they refer either to the year 1899 or to the year 1900; in some instances, however, owing to the undue delay in publishing the official statistics, Mr Coghlan says he has been compelled to use figures relating to 1898, but the instances whero this was necessary are neither many nor important. Mr Coghlan’s compilation will be in demand by public men, thinkers and writers. , '