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issued for the sale of various articles on the ground. The revenue from the rent of shops, &c. was $2,008.13 compared with $2,189.81 in 1894. The expenditure was $1,888.66, including $1,000 in repayment of the Government loan. A sum of $250.93 was expended in repairing damage caused by typhoons.

CHARITABLE FUNDS.

Table IX gives a statement of account of the Market Charitable Fund. Two pensioners are at present supported out of it, viz.:-

PANG WA a man whose hands were blown off by an explosion of dynamite, and Kwong Ho, a widow, left destitute by the death of her husband and with a large family.

Table X gives a statement of account of the Passage Money Fund.

THE COOLIE STRIKE.

The chief event of the year among the Chinese community was the strike of the coolies on account of the steps taken to prevent overcrowding by enforcing the registration of common lodging- houses. It is doubtful who were the instigators of the strike. One of its peculiar features was that no grievance was alleged by those on strike who, without advancing any reason, simply refused to register. Fortunately the Government maintained a firm attitude and refused to yield to pressure from certain quarters which should never have been brought to hear on it. The public supported the action of the Government, and, when it was seen that no concession would be made, the strike soon collapsed. To this end the aid so readily rendered by the Military in discharging cargoes from vessels in the harbour greatly contributed, and the collapse was also expedited by the care taken by this department to explain orally and by printed notices the object of the new regulations. These explan- ations prevented misrepresentation by which the ignorant masses are so often misled into resisting any new departure.

The number of common lodging-houses registered on the 31st December last was 457, the number in Victoria being 443, licensed to accommodate 6,849 coolies. In 1891 the number of coolie-houses in Victoria was 404, and the number of coolies occupying them 9,474. Some temporary inconvenience has been caused by the reduction of the number of inmates, necessitated by the bye-laws, but it has been lessened by carrying out the licensing gradually.

STAFF.

The posts of Colonial Secretary and Registrar General were amalgamated on the 24th March, the salary of the amalgamated posts being fixed at $810 a month, the salary formerly paid to the Colonial Secretary. By this arrangement a saving has been effected of $567 a month, being the salary form- erly drawn by the Registrar General. Mr. FUNG CHAN, who had been in the Government Service since 1869, first in the Post Office in Japan and since 1880 in this Office, retired on pension at the end of March, and on the 10th of April Mr. Lo MAN-KAM was appointed on six months' probation to fill the post of Registration Clerk. His appointment has since been confirmed. Mr. T. IV. QUINCEY

W. was appointed second Chinese clerk and interpreter in April in place of Mr. Lo MAN-YUK who joined the Government Service in the Straits Settlements. Mr. QUINCEY had performed the duties of the post since the 3rd October, 1894. In accordance with the recommendations of the Retrenchment Committee approved by the Secretary of State the salary of Mr. WONG WING-CHIC, Chinese clerk and shroff, was raised from $360 to $540 a year, and that of Mr. WoNG KI-CHO, Chinese Writer, from $240 to $360.

In conclusion, I wish to avail myself of this opportunity to place on record my appreciation of the great aid rendered to me in discharging the duties of this department by Mr. BREWIN, the Acting Assistant Registrar General.

I have the honour to be,

His Excellency

THE GOVERNOR.

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary and Registrar General,