For the period ending 31st December, 1848, the public revenue, exclusive of land sales, was £909 10s 7d, the expenditure being £659 4s 9d; and according to the census taken on the 31st March, 1849, twelve months from the first arrivals, the population of Dunedin consisted of 240 males and 204 females, a total of 444; the births having been 25, the deaths 9, marriages 8. The buildings erected were 46 in clay, battens, fern-tree, and poles, 41 in wood, 5 of grass and poles, 5 of poles and logs, 2 of bricks, and none in stone; the total being 99, and the estimated cost of the whole £6102. The householders numbered 102, there being several joint-holders. Facilities for commerce were limited to a wooden jetty abutting on a stone pier at Jetty-street, equipped with a crane equal to three tons weight; and Princes-street for a distance of about 400 yards from the foot of High-street was metalled, so as to connect with the jetty. There was also a metalled footpath, 110 yards long, leading from Princes-street to the church and school.
There were also at this date two hotels for the accommodation of travellers, a branch of the Hand and Heart Lodge of Oddfellows, a Building Society, and Cricket Club. The first anniversary was celebrated by a regatta, horse races and rural sports; whilst the more staid and sedate commemorated the event by services in the church both fore and afternoon.
A quotation from a writer of the period will be appropriate.
"As pioneers and founders of a new colony, the world has a right to demand the benefit of our first year's experience; more particularly those intending to be settlers who are anxiously waiting for disinterested information from parties already settled.… The principal part of the houses at present are built between two small hills in Princes-street, which runs in a continuous line from north to south of the town. The unevenness of the ground, although it may render it more picturesque, unfits it in some respects for business purposes, and no doubt as the number of inhabitants increases, the main body of the town will lie towards Pelichet Bay and North East Valley, on what at this time presents the appearance of a swamp; but a few good drains would carry off all surface water and leave fine level sites for building purposes. The small hills at the back will form delightful spots for crescents and villa residences,
