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POPULATION.

The following is the estimate of the number of the population of the Colony for the 30th June:- British and Foreign Community.

12,709.

Chinese.

226,710.

Total.

239,419.

It is based on the preliminary returns of a census which was taken on the night of the 20th January, 1897. An estimate based on the increase of the population since the year 1857 is evidently not to be depended upon. One based on the number of animals slaughtered for food during the year, due regard being paid to the price might lead to a closer approximation to the truth. According to this method the population at the end of last year was estimated at 236,000.

MARRIAGES.

(Ordinance No. 14 of 1875.)

The number of marriages solemnized during the year was 71 as compared with 90 in 1895. Of these one was celebrated twice, so the actual number of marriages was 70. The number of marriages between Chinese in Victoria on the occasion of which permits to fire crackers were issued was 207 as. against 194 in 1895.

BIRTHS AND DEATHS.

(Ordinance No. 16 of 1896.)

This Ordinance came into force on the 16th November, 1896. It is a great improvement on the original Ordinance No. 7 of 1872. In addition to the notification of deaths being rendered com- pulsory, the most important regulation is the prohibition of the removal, without a permit, of the dead bodies, if the cause of death has not been registered.

Table IV A contains the number of births and deaths registered during the year. The death rate at different ages and the causes of death will be found in Tables IV B and IV C. The births among the British and Foreign Community were 255 compared with 232 in 1895, and the number of births registered as having occurred among the Chinese Community was 978 as compared with 1,195 There were probably at least 537 unregistered births.

There were four prosecutions for neglect to report births within the specified time.

The number of deaths in the British and Foreign Community was 253 as compared with 191 in 1895; among the Chinese 5,607 as compared with 5,209 in 1895. Of these 1,078 died from the plague. 217 of the deaths among the British and Foreign Community and 3,681 among the Chinese were certified to by a registered medical practitioner or were the subject of a Coroner's Inquest.

The following table shows the number of deaths and the death rate per 1,000 during the past six years:-

Estimated Population.

1891

1892

1893

1894

1895

1896

British and Foreign,........... 10,494

10,590

10,686

10,782

10,828

12,709

Chinese,

Total,

.214,320 221,072

.224,814 231,662 238,724

228,038

235,224

237,670

226,710

246,006

248,498

239,419

5,374

Deaths.

4,906

5,422

7,407

5,400

5,860

Death-rate per 1,000.

British and Foreign,....

18.20

17.37

17.97

23.28

17.64

19.91

Chinese,.....

24.18

21.30

22.93

30.42

21.92

24.75

Total,....

23.90

21.18

22.71

30.11

21.73

24.48

BURIALS.

Of the 5,607 Chinese who died during the year 4,428 were buried in the Colony, the bodies of 149 were sent out of the Colony and 57 coffins were reported as being in the Tung Wa Hospital Mortuary awaiting interment or removal. 794 interments were made in the village cemeteries. The bodies of the remaining 179 were presumably removed from the Colony. Under the new Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance a permit must be obtained before a body can be sent out of the Colony.