Crime.

51. Whilst advancement is shown in so many directions, it is satisfactory to find that crime has steadily decreased. Taking the years 1869, 1874, and 1879, it is found that the persons arrested were in the proportion of 1 to every 28 of the population at the first period, of 1 to every 33 at the second, and only 1 to every 36 at the third. The diminution of serious offences is shown by the decreasing number of commitments for trial at each successive period: these were in the proportion of 1 to every 29 arrests at the first period, of 1 to every 34 arrests at the middle period, and of 1 to every 39 arrests at the third period.