99
community are unregistered as Chinese undertakers refuse to bury except on receipt of a certificate of registration, and the cemeteries are under Government supervision. In the case of Europeans all responsibility ceases as soon as the clergyman has given notice to the Registrar, and I know of two cases this year where it has been impossible to procure registration. It is very probable that a number of Indian deaths are never registered.
There is no restriction on the removal of dead bodies from the Colony, and in case of a crime having been committed, the removal of the body would in certain cases prevent detection.
As regards registration of births, there is no provision enabling Jews and other non-Christians to add names to children after registration of birth, the addition of baptismal names only being provided. Cases occur where this restriction causes serious annoyance. The fee of 10 cents should be abolished. It is not worth the trouble of collecting. The time for registration of birth should be extended from 30 to 42 days, as frequently the father is absent from the Colony. There is no provision regarding still-births and the burial of the bodies.
MORTALITY DURING LAST SIX YEARS.
Estimated population, deaths and death-rate per 1,000:---
• Estimated Population.
1888.
1889.
1890.
1891.
1892.
1893.
British and Foreign,
10,692
10,832
10,972
10,494
10,590
10,686
Chinese,
..179,530
183,650
187,770
214,320
221,072
228,038
Whole, ....
.190,222
194,482
198,742
224,814
231,662
238,724
Deaths,
6,034
4,597
4,553
5,374
4,906
5,422
Death-rate per 1,000.
British and Foreign,
23.28
17.54
17.13
18.20
17.37
17.97
Chinese, .....
32.22
24.00
23.25
24.18
21.36
22.93
Whole,
31.72
23.64
22.90
23.90
21.18
22.71
CAUSES OF DEATH.
Table V B shows the causes of death. 1,736 of the total 5,422 were certified to by medical certificates or by the Coroner.
VACCINATION ORDINANCE.
Table VI shows that 1,242 vaccination notices were issued during the year and that 1,273 certi- ficates of successful vaccination were received. There were no prosecutions under the Ordinance.
REGISTRATION OF BOOKS.
44 books were registered in 1893 as compared with 29 in 1892. Lists are published in the Gazette, at the end of each quarter.
Table VIII A is a return of→
REGISTRATION OF HOUSEHOLDERS.
(a) the first registration of householders. (b) the re-registration of householders.
(c) the extracts from householders' registers.
(d) the removals of householders.
(e) duplicate householders' certificates issued.
(f) changes in tenancy reported.
Table VIII B shows that the number of Chinese shops opened and closed during the year amounted to 1,128 and 936, an excess of 192 in favour of shops opened. The numbers in 1892 were 1,148 opened and 983 closed.
NIGHT PASSES, &c.
During the year 88 applications for night passes were received and dealt with, while the number of permits issued under Ordinance 13 of 1888 was as follows:-
To erect sheds,
To fire crackers,..
To hold processions,
To perform theatricals,
Total,
..220
22
4
.:..349
The number of sureties referred to this Department for report amounted to 1,058, distributed as follows:
Harbour Department,
Magistracy,
Police Department,
Sanitary Department, Crown Solicitor,
Education Department,..................
..458
.206
.380
6
7
Total,...
.................1,058