Sessional_Paper_1895 — Page 152

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POPULATION.

The population of the Colony on the 31st December, estimated on the average increase in the population between 1857-91, was as follows:-

British and Foreign (including Army and Návy), 10,782

Chinese.

235,224

MARRIAGES.

(Ordinance No. 14 of 1875.)

Total.

246,006

The total number of marriages in 1894 was 61 as compared with 84 in 1893. Attention has on more than one occasion been called to the present unsatisfactory state of the marriage law in this. Colony, which only allows marriages in cases where one of the parties is a Christian. I am of opinion that the law should be amended so as to recognise marriages in cases in which neither of the parties. is a Christian.

BIRTHS.

(Ordinance No. 7 of 1872.)

In Table IV. will be found a return of the births registered during 1894. Among the British and foreign community the total number of registered births was 205-males 121, females 84-which shows a decrease of 21 as compared with the births in 1893.

The registered number of births among the Chinese was 1,250 as against 1,575 in 1893.

DEATHS.

(Ordinance No. 7 of 1872.)

Table IV. contains the number of deaths registered during the year 1894.

The number of deaths among the British and foreign community numbered 251, or 59 in excess of the previous year. Among the Chinese 7,156, or 1,926 more than in 1893, the large increase being due to the mortality from bubonic plague, which in Victoria claimed 2,508 victims.

The annual rates for births and deaths per 1,000 of the estimated population are 5.91 and 30.11 respectively.

BURIALS.

Of the 6,243 deaths which occurred among the Chinese in Victoria, 6,058 were buried in the Colony, 130 were sent out of the Colony, and 55 were reported as being in the Mortuary awaiting interment or removal.

EXHUMATIONS.

139 permits were granted during the year to exhume dead remains for removal to China or for re-burial in the Colony. In each case a reference was made to the Sanitary Superintendent before a permit was issued.

MORTALITY STATISTICS FOR VICTORIA.

Table V. (4) shows the number of deaths of Chinese under the age of 12 months in Victoria. The decrease in the numbers, compared with those of 1893, is probably due to the population being greatly diminished owing to the plague during some months of the year. The proportion of deaths of male infants under one year of age to 100 females is 63.9. The nuinber of registered births of males to 100 females is 126.46.

The mortality at different ages is given in Table V. (B). No attempt has been made to calculate the rates of mortality, the population having fluctuated so largely. The mortality from the plague was 2,508, and that from other causes 3,462. The total mortality was 5,970 compared with 4,135 in 1893. The first death from the plague was registered on the 11th May, and the last on the 2nd October. Between the ages of 6 and 40 the rate of death from the plague was greater than that from other causes. Above that age the rate was less. The mortality among children, especially among females, between the ages of 6 and 16 was very large.