390
floor. The increase in their numbers is naturally very prejudicial to family life among the poorer classes, and has been viewed with great dissatisfaction by the Chinese, but they cannot be persuaded to take the prescribed legal proceedings against brothels, as that would entail an appearance in the witness box, from which they have a great aversion.
The Permanent Committee of the Pó Léung Kuk has met monthly during the year and has continued to work harmoniously and efficiently. The question of the erection of a New Home has been engaging its attention. Plans have been approved, and it is hoped that the new building will be ready for occupation at the end of this year.
EMIGRATION.
The number of women and children permitted to emigrate and at whose examination an officer from this department was present was 11,008 as compared with 6,455 in 1894 and 9,109 in 1893. Details regarding them are given in Table III. Only ten were detained by me under the provisions of Ordinance 11 of 1890. Those who are bright are trained to answer the questions put to them in such a way as to afford no reasonable grounds for detention, and there is no doubt that a large number of the younger women who go as prostitutes do not regard themselves as free-agents and hold themselves, bound in honour to obey their mistresses orders. If the Chinese houses in which the women are lodged before they emigrate were licensed and placed under closer supervision than at present exists, it would be possible to more easily safeguard the interests of female emigrants before leaving this Colony. It must, however, be remembered that most of them emigrate to Singapore where steps are taken to secure their well-being.
POPULATION.
In previous years the death-rate has been calculated for the estimated population on the 31st December, but for this year the population of the Colony has been calculated for the 30th June, and, estimated on the average increase between 1857 and 1891, was as follows:--
British and Foreign Community
(including Army and Navy).
10,828
Chinese.
237,670
Total.
248,498
This estimate, however, can have little pretensions to accuracy owing to the measures taken in consequence of the plague in 1894, the removal of mezzanine floors, the closing of basements and the regulation of common lodging-houses. With a view to more accurate returns, I am of opinion that a census of the population of Victoria, if not of the whole Colony, should be taken at least once every five years. The taking of a census is quite familiar to the Chinese and creates no alarm, whilst the' expense is not great, and one is certainly required if an accurate knowledge of the number of the inhabitants of each district of the city is thought necessary.
I am indebted to the Sanitary Department for the following figures shewing the number of pigs slaughtered for food in the Colony during the years 1891-1895:-
1891,
1892,
1893,
1894, 1895,
..122,942
..126,766
..131,298
..125,725
.129,035
Taking them as a guide the population may be roughly estimated at 236,000, and this is no doubt the nearest approximation that can be made.
MARRIAGES.
(Ordinance No. 14 of 1875.)
The number of marriages solemnized during the year was 90 as compared with 61 in 1894. Two of these, however, were celebrated twice, so that the actual number was 88. The number of permits issued for firing crackers on the occasion of marriages between Chinese in Victoria was 194.
BIRTHS AND DEATHS.
(Ordinance No. 7 of 1872.)
Table IV A contains the number of births and deaths registered during the year. Table IV B the death-rate at different ages, and in Table IV C will be found the causes of death. The number of births among the British and Foreign Community was 232 as compared with 205 in 1894. The number of births registered among the Chinese was 1,195 as compared with 1,250 in 1894 and 1,575 in 1893. A truer approximation to the actual number of births in these three years, obtained by a method explained in the Registrar General's report for 1893, would be 2,126, 1,995, and 2,000 respectively. It is not improbable that the number of women in the Colony has decreased, the intrusion on private life, caused by the domiciliary visits necessitated by the plague, being viewed naturally with the greatest dislike.