GENERAL REPORT ON THE CENSUS OF VICTORIA, 1891.

CONTAINING ALSO

REFERENCES TO THE RESULTS OF CENSUS TAKEN AT THE SAME DATE IN

THE OTHER AUSTRALASIAN COLONIES,

WITH

SUMMARY TABLES, DIAGRAMS, AND MAPS.

BY

HENRY HEYLYN HAYTER, C.M.G.,

GOVERNMENT STATIST OF VICTORIA.

OFFICER OF THE FRENCH ORDER OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION,

CHEVALIER OF THE ITALIAN ORDER OF THE CROWN,

ETC., ETC., ETC.

BY AUTHORITY:

ROBT. S. BRAIN, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, MELBOURNE.

MXCCCXCIII.

CONTENTS.

Map of Victoria, showing populations of Municipalities and divisions thereof.

Map of Victoria, showing populations of Electoral Provinces divisions thereof.

Map of Victoria, showing populations of Electoral Districts divisions thereof.

Map of Victoria, showing Density of the Population.

Table of Diagrams

GENERAL REPORT—

Index to the Report

Introductory Remarks

Previous Enumerations

Arrangements for taking the Census

Census Office Staff

Compilation of the Census

Numbers of the People

Distribution of the People

Increase of Population

Proportions of the Sexes

Parliamentary Representation of the People

Density of the Population

Housing of the People

Birthplaces of the People

Religions of the People

Ages of the People

Education of the People

Conjugal Condition of the People

Sickness and Infirmity

Live Stock

Land

Occupations of the People

Summary of Results

Statistics, 1881 and 1891

Cost of Census

Conclusion

Diagrams

Description of Method of Tabulating by Cards

SUMMARY TABLES—

Inhabitants and Houses

Birthplaces

Religions

Ages

Education

Conjugal Condition

Sickness and Infirmity

Occupations

Appendix A.—Census Act 1891

Appendix B.—Instructions to Enumerators

Appendix C.—Instructions to Sub-enumerators

Appendix D.—Sub-enumerator's Book

Appendix E.—Regulations for conduct of the Census Office

Errata.

TABLE OF DIAGRAMS.

Census Schedule

Tabulation Card

Tabulation Forms

Populations of Australasian Colonies

Natives of various Countries living in Victoria

Religious Denominations in Victoria

Males and Females at Seven Periods of Life

Health and Infirmity in Victoria

Public Estate of Victoria

Alienated and Unalienated Land in Each Australasian Colony

Occupations in Victoria

Population of Victoria, 1836-1891

Ages of the People

Education of the People

Conjugal Condition of the People

GENERAL REPORT.

INDEX TO THE REPORT.

CENSUS OF VICTORIA, 1891., GENERAL REPORT.

To the Honorable the Chief Secretary.

Office of the Government Statist,

Melbourne, 27th January, 1893.

SIR,

The Census returns having been compiled and printed, I do myself the honour to submit the following Report thereon :—

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

1.

The Census of Victoria 1891, as well as that of all the other Australasian Colonies, was taken as referring to midnight on Sunday, the 5th April of that year, which time coincided with that appointed for enumerating the population of the United Kingdom and most of the outlying portions of Her Majesty's Dominions. [Introductory remarks.]

2.

The subject of the Census of the British Empire was considered incidentally at the Colonial Conference held in London, in April, 1887, under the presidency of the Right Honorable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Sir Henry Holland (now Lord Knutsford). It was then stated that in the month of July, 1886, the Registrar-General of Ireland had called attention to the want of information on the subject of Census statistics, and had made proposals for a simultaneous Census of the Empire under the direction of representatives of the United Kingdom, India, and the Colonies ; also that the Royal Colonial Institute and the Imperial Federation League had made representations to the Colonial Office upon the same subject. It was further mentioned that the Registrar-General of England had reported generally against these proposals, and had expressed himself "distinctly of opinion that it is best to leave each individual part of the Empire the choice of subjects of inquiry that should be included in its Census, and the form in which the information, when collected, can best be tabulated, so as to meet its own special conditions and requirements." [Colonial Conference in London.]

3.

The matter was discussed by the members of the Conference referred to, an officer of the General Register Office, London, being in attendance to give information thereon. No decision was arrived at, but the general feeling appeared to be that the Census of the whole British Empire should be taken at a given date, and that

uniformity of treatment should be secured where possible, which could be best obtained by the transmission of suggestions from the Imperial Government to the Colonial Governments two years before the date at which such Census should be taken.

4.

In pursuance of the outcome of this discussion, Lord Knutsford communicated with the Registrar-General of England, and requested that consideration might be given to the expediency of issuing proposals upon the subject, with the view of their being transmitted to the colonies at an early date. [Suggestions by Registrar-General of England.]

5.

To this communication the Registrar-General replied to the effect that no Census Act having been passed up to that time (January, 1889), he was unable to state positively what the subjects of inquiry would be, but, supposing them to be identical with those in 1881, he recommended the adoption of the same inquiries and the same forms as were then used in the taking and compilation of the English Census. He also made some suggestions as to what the age divisions should be, so as to harmonize with the divisions it was proposed to adopt in England.

6.

A copy of the Registrar-General's letter was forwarded to the Governors of the respective colonies, under cover of a circular dispatch, dated 28th February, 1889, in which Lord Knutsford commenced for consideration the points enumerated by the Registrar-General, and desired to be informed if they met with the concurrence of the Colonial Governments. The correspondence having been referred to me for report, I pointed out that the heads of inquiry indicated had been embodied in the schedule used at the last four Censuses of this colony, and, in addition, inquiries had been made here as to the amount of primary instruction possessed by, and religious belief of, each inhabitant of the colony ; also the number of rooms in, and the materials of, the house in which each family dwelt ; and further that, in tabulating the returns, the English system had been followed as closely as local circumstances would permit, somewhat less detail being given here than there under the head of occupations, but considerably more under several of the other heads ; also that prior to the compilation of the Census returns it was proposed to thoroughly revise the tabulation forms, with the view of making the classification agree, if possible, still more closely with that of England and Wales.

7.

A paper on the subject of the then ensuing Census was read on the 8th January, 1890, by the present writer, before Section F of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, which was, at the time, assembled in Melbourne. In this paper the author laid stress upon the desirability of giving an Imperial character to the returns by compiling them, as nearly as possible, upon the English model, such divergencies only being allowed as might be necessary to suit local circumstances. He also strongly urged that, before the time came for taking the Census, the heads of the statistical departments of the different colonies should meet in conference, with the view of an agreement being arrived at for a uniform system of compilation throughout the group. [Conference of Australasian Colonies on subject of Census.]

8.

The idea of a Census Conference at once met with the approval of the members of the section, and the matter was soon afterwards brought to the notice of

the Government of Tasmania by Mr. R. M. Johnston, the Government Statistician of that colony, who had been President of Section F, as well as by the present writer, the result being that, after some correspondence between the Governments of the different colonies, it was at length decided that such a conference should be held at Hobart in the month of March, 1890.

9.

The Conference was accordingly held, the colonies represented being Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. Queensland, Western Australia, and Fiji did not send representatives, but expressed themselves generally as willing to fall in with the arrangements recommended by the Conference so far as circumstances might allow.

10.

The present writer was unanimously elected President of the Conference. The first meeting was held on the 3rd March, 1890, and the sittings were continued daily until the 18th of the same month, the result being that the principles on which the householder's schedule should be framed were agreed upon, and a model schedule based thereon was drawn up and adopted ; forms for classifying the Census returns under the several heads of inquiry—keeping in view Lord Knutsford's dispatch of the 28th February, 1889, and the letter of the Registrar-General of England attached thereto—were also decided upon ; and many minor points calculated to promote uniformity in the tabular statements published in the different colonies were discussed and settled.

11.

A Bill for taking a Census of the population and live stock of Victoria was introduced by the Government, and became law on the 15th September, 1890, under the title of theCensus Act1891.

12.

On former occasions in Victoria, the householder's schedule was attached to, and formed portion of, the Census Act, but the undesirability of this having been pointed out by the Government Statist in his report upon the Census of 1881 ;

13.

The subjects of inquiry prescribed under the Census Act, and eventually arranged in the householder's schedule according to the pattern agreed upon at the

Census Conference, were identical with those adopted at former Censuses in this colony. They are specified in the third section of the Act, and are as follow

1. Sex.

2. Age.

3. Profession or occupation.

4. Birthplace.

5. Religion.

6. Education.

7. Sickness and infirmity (embracing all persons unable to follow their usual occupation on account of illness or accident, or who were deaf and dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, epileptic, paralytic, leprous, or who had lost a limb or the sight of an eye).

8. Materials and number of rooms in dwelling.

9. Number of each description of live stock.

14.

It being thought desirable, "for the purpose of giving better effect to the laws relating to education," that the machinery of the Census should be made use of for the purpose of ascertaining what children were and were not being educated, a form of educational schedule was attached to the Census Act, in which provision was made for obtaining information as to the name, sex, and place of residence of every child under fifteen years of age, also whether it was receiving education, and, if so, at what place. As this was done merely for the information of the Education Department, the schedules, when collected, were at once passed on to that Department, to be dealt with as the Minister of Public Instruction might think fit.

PREVIOUS ENUMERATIONS.

15.

The first permanent settlement of Victoria (then the Port Phillip district of New South Wales) was by John Batman, who arrived on the 29th May, 1835, and was shortly after followed by John Pascoc Fawkner.

20, 184 males and 12,695 females, and again on the 2nd March, 1851, resulting in a total of 77,345, viz., 46,202 males and 31,143 females. The district was now separated from New South Wales and erected into an independent colony, and the first goldfields had been discovered. Chiefly in consequence of the latter event a large accession of population took place, and it was determined not to wait until the next quinquennial period, but to enumerate the population on the 26th April, 1854. This was accordingly done, the population returned being 236,798, viz., 155,887 males and 80,911 females. The fame of the Victorian gold-fields continuing to cause an influx of population, another Census was taken after an interval of three years, viz., on the 29th March, 1857, the total number returned being 410,766, viz., 264,334 males and 146,432 females. Since then the population has been enumerated decennially on the same day as that on which the Census of the United Kingdom has been taken, viz., on the 7th April, 1861, population 540,322, viz., 328,651 males and 211,671 females ; 2nd April, 1871, population 731,528, viz., 401,050 males and 330,478 females ; 3rd April, 1881, population 862,346, viz., 452,083 males and 410,263 females ; and 5th April, 1891 (the Census which forms the subject of this Report), population 1,140,405, viz., 598,414 males and 541,991 females.

16.

In 1881 and 1891 all the colonies of the Australasian group enumerated their population on the same day. In 1861 and 1871 the Census was only simultaneous in the case of Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia. In the last-named year Queensland did not take her Census until the 1st September, or five months later than the three colonies mentioned ; whilst Western Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand had already taken their Censuses, the first on the 31st March, 1870, the second on the 7th February, 1870, and the third on the 27th February, 1871.

17.

It may be remarked that all the Australasian Colonies now take their Census decennially, on the same day as the Census is taken in the United Kingdom ; but Queensland and New Zealand also take an intermediate Census, thereby securing a quinquennial enumeration of their respective populations.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING THE CENSUS.

18.

TheCensus Act1891 provided for the appointment by the Governor in Council of two classes of officers for the purpose of taking the Census, viz., enumerators who should have charge of districts the limits of which the Governor in Council should define, and sub-enumerators who should perform the work of house to house collection in subdivisions of the enumerators' districts (sub-districts). Practically the formation of the enumerators' districts and the selection of the enumerators rested with the Government Statist, whilst the formation of the sub-districts and the selection of the sub-enumerators rested with the enumerators. [Arrangements for taking the Census.]

19.

The existing subdivisions of the colony of Victoria are numerous. Amongst these there are counties, electoral districts, electoral provinces, municipalities, police, mining, and deputy registrars' districts, parishes and bailiwicks, as well as various other divisions. In forming these divisions, which has been done at different times, but little attempt appears to have been made to assimilate the boundaries of the various classes of districts or to fit them in with each other ; but as it was necessary to find the Census population of each of the individual districts contained in these classes it became a matter of importance to decide which class should be taken as the [Formation of Census districts]

basis of the enumerators' districts, so that after the schedules were received by the Government Statist the difficulty of combining and arranging them in order to effect that object might be reduced as much as possible. After much consideration I determined upon taking the electoral districts for such basis. These had the advantage of frequently coinciding as regards some of their boundaries with the electoral provinces and municipal districts ; they were, moreover, generally of a suitable size to intrust to the charge of individual enumerators, and as most persons know in what district they vote at parliamentary elections, their boundaries were well recognized and easily discoverable upon the ground.

20.

There are 84 electoral districts. Of these, 79 were assigned to single enumerators ; but, in consequence of the large population, extent, or scattered nature of the other five electorates, I deemed it prudent to subdivide them, viz.,:—Castlemaine, East Bourke Boroughs, Gippsland East, and Villiers and Heytesbury each into two and Donald and Swan Hill into three enumerators' districts. The total number of Census districts was thus 90.

21.

The enumerators were not required to take account of the population living in ships (except those engaged in inland navigation) or in the islands on the coast (except those situated in Westernport Bay) or in light-houses. The inhabitants of ships lying in the Port of Melbourne were enumerated under the direction of the Harbor-master to the Melbourne Harbor Trust, whilst those of ships lying in other ports and places, and of islands and light-houses were enumerated by officers of the Customs Department. A special schedule was provided for the purpose of enumerating the persons in ships.

22.

As soon as it became known that the districts were decided upon, and that enumerators would be required, many applications were received from persons desirous of filling the office. These were carefully considered by the Government Statist before making his recommendation to the Minister. When no applicant appeared to be suitable, or if doubt existed as to which one was most suitable, the member for the district was consulted. No one was recommended for appointment who was not a resident of the district for which he applied. [Appointment of enumerators.]

23.

The enumerators were appointed early in January of the Census year, and thus had three months in which to make their preparations. As soon as the appointments were made, each enumerator was supplied with printed instructions respecting the nature of his duties, and was, moreover, furnished with two maps of his district whereon to mark his proposed plan of subdivision, also with two sets of forms having spaces on which to enter the boundaries and size of each sub-district, the number of dwellings it contained, the length of time proposed to be allowed for delivering and collecting the schedules, the names of the persons recommended for appointment as sub-enumerators, and whether it was proposed they should act on foot or on horse-back. The enumerator was instructed that after he had marked the maps and entered the required particulars on the forms, he should keep one set for his own guidance and return the other to the Government Statist in order that judgment might be formed as to the propriety of his arrangements.

24.

The instruction to the enumerators with reference to laying out their districts was to the effect that in all cities, towns, and boroughs, and where possible also in shires, the country should be so divided that the work of enumeration might [Subdivision of Census districts.]

be completed in three days, viz., one day for delivering and two days for collecting the schedules, but that whilst in scattered country districts more time might be allowed, an endeavour should be made to complete the collection by the Saturday following the Sunday of the Census. To effect these objects it was pointed out that in apportioning the work, it would be necessary to consider the distance to be traversed by the sub-enumerator in going from dwelling to dwelling, and so to form the sub-districts as to embrace more dwellings when these were situated near together, and fewer when they were apart. The following scale, which was that used at the Census of 1881 and found to answer well on that occasion, was recommended for adoption:—

25.

Some of the enumerators divided their districts according to this scale in the first instance, and in other respects made their arrangements in so satisfactory a manner that their scheme could be at once approved of, but this was exceptional. The tendency of the majority was to make the sub-districts too large, and although the instruction was definite to so subdivide that not more than 200 houses should be assigned to any sub-enumerator, and as many as that only in a closely-built town, some of the enumerators, even in scattered country districts, where the houses were half a mile or more apart, allotted as many as 300 and even 400 houses to a sub-enumerator. Of course, in these cases the papers were returned for amendment, and this, in some instances, had to be done several times before approval could be accorded. It may be remarked that a disposition to make the sub-districts unduly large has been observed at every Census, and this has been a cause of constant contention and much correspondence between the Government Statist and the enumerators. Probably the chief cause of this tendency is that the enumerators desire to save themselves the trouble that a more minute subdivision of their district would entail, but also, in some instances, with the object of giving the sub-enumerators as many days' work and, consequently, as much pay as possible. As the sub-enumerators are frequently selected from amongst the relatives, neighbours, and acquaintances of the enumerator, that is, perhaps, not unnatural ; but it is, nevertheless, a practice which it is necessary that the department with which the management of the Census rests should watch closely and keep in check.

26.

For the guidance of the sub-enumerators, each one was supplied, on appointment, with printed instructions, in which the nature of his duties were fully detailed. Moreover, in country districts, as well as in town districts when deemed necessary, the sub-enumerators were supplied with maps showing the boundaries of their sub-districts, also those of any places situated therein it was desired should be shown separately. [Maps and instructions.]

27.

It had been the practice at previous Censuses to inform each sub-enumerator on his engagement of the number of days he would be allowed for completing his work, in determining which the nature and extent of his district were carefully weighed and taken into account. As, however, it was considered that it might not always be possible to judge beforehand of the exact time the work of a sub-district ought to occupy, he was further told that should the time allotted prove insufficient the enumerator's recommendation for additional payment would be considered. This arrangement was found to work badly, its effect being that on each occasion a majority of the sub-enumerators professed themselves unable to finish in the allotted time and claimed more pay, the consequence being that much correspondence ensued, and much time was wasted before all the claims could be satisfactorily settled. To avoid similar trouble at the Census under notice, I caused forms of agreement to be printed in duplicate, one copy to be retained by the enumerator and the other by the sub-enumerator, in which the number of days allowed were entered, also the rate of payment per day, and whether the work was to be done on foot or on horseback. These documents were signed by the enumerator and sub-enumerator, the latter being distinctly told that so far as payment was concerned he would be bound by the time set down, whether he could do the work within that time or not. This gave the enumerators rather more trouble in engaging the men, but it resulted in great saving of time and work to the department. In cases where, after the Census had been taken, it was found that the amount of work in a sub-district had been much underrated by the enumerator, or unexpected difficulties had arisen, some concession was necessarily made, but these cases being few in number, it was found possible to pay a large proportion of the sub-enumerators within a fortnight, and nearly all within a month, of the taking of the Census. On former occasions, for the reasons stated, four or five months were occupied in making an equal amount of progress. [Agreements with sub-enumerators.]

28.

The enumerators were paid by a single sum according to the amount of work in their districts. These payments were fixed by the Government Statist, subject to the approval of the Minister. For town districts they generally ranged from £20 to £25, and for country districts from £25 to £70. After the Census had been taken it was found that in some cases the payment had been fixed too low, and it was therefore raised. The total amount ultimately paid to the 90 enumerators was £2,713, or an average of £30 2s. 11d. to each. The largest payment to any enumerator was £70, and the smallest £20. [Payments to enumerators.]

29.

The number of sub-enumerators employed was 2,330, of whom 976 acted on foot, 1,310 on horseback, and 44 partly on foot and partly on horseback, and besides there were 45 interpreters to the Chinese, who were treated in all respect as sub-enumerators ; there were thus 2,375 persons engaged in the actual work of house to house collection. The total number of days these officers worked was 12,818, of which 9,188 were paid for at the horseback and 3,721 at the foot rate. The longest time any sub-enumerator worked was 20 days, and the shortest time was one day. [Number of sub-enumerators.]

30.

The rate of payment to sub-enumerators was 10s. per diem to those who acted on foot, and £1 to those who acted on horseback, finding their own horses ; and besides, each sub-enumerator was allowed half a day at the foot rate for making up his returns. The total amount paid was £11,631, or an average of £4 17s. 11d. to each sub-enumerator employed. The largest amount earned by any one persons was £20 5s., and the smallest was 10s. [Rates of payment to sub-enumerators.]

31.

Four of the sub-enumerators, viz., three in Brunswick and one in St. Kilda, were women. All the remainder were men. This being the first time female sub-enumerators had been employed in Victoria, it was deemed prudent to try the experiment only upon a small scale. As far as it went, however, it was successful, and no fault could be found with the way the work was done. It may be remarked that at the recent Census of England and Wales, also for the first time, a few female sub-enumerators were employed. [Female sub-enumerators.]

32.

Before the Census was taken, each enumerator was required to send in an estimate of the number of dwellings in his district, and this was some sort of guide as to the number of householders' and educational schedules required. These were forwarded to him with an addition of 10 per cent., or more in remote districts, to allow for contingencies. In most cases, however, requisitions were made for a further supply, and it was found necessary, as at every previous Census-taking, to cause a much larger number to be printed than was actually used. It will be readily understood that each sub-enumerator must be supplied with an extra number in case he might fall short owing to miscalculations as to his requirements on the part of the enumerator or some other cause ; then each enumerator must keep a supply in stock in case any sub-enumerator should fall short at the last moment notwithstanding this precaution, and a reserve must also be kept at the central office to supply any sudden demand. For these reasons, whilst the number of householders' and shipping schedules used numbered about 250,000, and the educational schedules used numbered a few thousand less, as many as 320,000 of either kind were received from the Government Printer, and nearly the whole of these were sent out to the enumerators. It will thus be seen that it was found necessary to print 28 per cent. more forms than the actual requirement, but this excess, large as it appears, was not so great as that at the Census of 1881, when the schedules printed exceeded by 43 per cent. the number which were used. [Number of schedules.]

33.

The cost of taking the Census on the last five occasions, so far as the payments to the enumerators and sub-enumerators were concerned, was as follows. In addition to the amounts named, considerable sums were expensed on each occasion on clerical labour, office buildings, fittings and furniture, stationery, printing, advertising, railway fares, and other charges :— [Cost of enumeration.]

34.

The population enumerated in 1857 was 410,766 ; that in 1861 was 540,322 ; that in 1871 was 731,528 ; that in 1881 was 862,346 ; and that in 1891 was 1,140,405. The rate per head for the actual collection was thus—at the first period nearly ninepence (8.91d.) ; at the second less than sixpence three farthings (6.62d.) ;

at the third about threepence three farthings (3.76d.) ; at the fourth less than threepence halfpenny (3.46d.) ; and at the fifth about threepence (3.02d.). It will be observed that although the population enumerated in 1891 was more than twice as large as that in 1861 or 1857, the total amount paid was less than at either of those periods.

35.

Some of the enumerators, after receiving their instructions, felt themselves unable to perform the duties of the office satisfactorily and resigned, and one enumerator who was found to be incompetent was removed. All who eventually acted were not equally efficient, but taken as a whole they were a superior class of men. Many changes took place in the ranks of the sub-enumerators, who were, also for the most part, above the average in point of intelligence and good conduct, but there were some exceptions, and a few instances occurred of their abandoning their work without giving notice to the enumerator, after they had commenced to deliver their schedules. As, however, the enumerators were on the alert, this was soon discovered, and fresh men were promptly appointed, so that the work of the Census did not suffer in consequence. [Resignations and removals of officers.]

36.

With the view of preparing the public mind for the approach of the Census, 15,000 printed notices of that event were issued under the signature of the Chief Secretary, and were posted by the police one week before the Census day at all police stations, railway stations, post-offices, and other prominent positions throughout the colony, and a copy of the same notice was thrice inserted in theGovernment Gazetteand all newspapers. It was also translated into the Chinese language by Mr. C. P. Hodges, the well-known interpreter, and several thousand copies were posted in the Chinese quarters of the towns and gold-fields, a number being also distributed amongst the leading Chinese. Moreover, each sub-enumerator working amongst the Chinese carried a copy with him, in order to convince the people of that race that he had official warrant for asking the questions he did. [Notices and advertisements of Census.]

37.

Following up the notice referred to, an advertisement was inserted in all the newspapers at short intervals extending over several weeks after the Census day, requesting that any cases of neglect on the part of sub-enumerators should be reported to the Government Statist, and at the same time reminding householders that communications addressed to that officer, either by post or wire, need not be prepaid. This elicited a number of complaints, which were at once referred to the enumerators for investigation. Many were found to be premature and others groundless. In some cases, however, it was ascertained that schedules had not been delivered, or had not been recovered ; and these omissions, which generally arose from some doubt as to the boundaries of sub-districts, were at once rectified. The advertisements were continued until no more replies were received, and as people generally appeared to take interest in the corrections of the Census, and evinced a desire to assist the department as much as possible in the matter of discovering omissions, it may be assumed with much confidence that, if any households were eventually overlooked, their number was so small as not to be worth mentioning.

38.

A few instances occurred of persons escaping enumeration in consequence of their having changed their residences between the time of the schedules being deposited and the time they should have been collected ; and when this was proved to be the case a small allowance was made therefore, the numbers added being placed under the head of " Migratory Population." The whole amounted to only 1,209, viz., [Migratory population.]

630 males and 579 females. In no other case was any addition made to the number of those whose names were recorded in the householders' schedules.

39.

The arrangements made for securing a speedy return of the principal results of the Census were similar to those which had been successfully adopted in 1881. Each sub-enumerator was instructed to make up and give in to his enumerator on the day following that on which he received the last of his returns, a statement of the number of persons in his sub-district, distinguishing Chinese and Aborigines, and the number of houses, whether inhabited, uninhabited, or in course of erection. From these statements the enumerator then made out a summary on a form supplied for that purpose, the total results relating to his district being shown on one line. Every exertion was used to get these summaries from the enumerators as speedily as possible, and when all were received, a table showing the unchecked totals of the population of each district, and of the colony as a whole, was at once prepared. This was furnished to the newspapers on the 4th May and was published on the following day. After the figures had been partially checked, ten tables were made out from the same summaries, giving copious details of the European, Chinese, and Aboriginal population in the counties, electoral provinces, electoral districts, and municipalities, as well as comparisons with former Censuses. These were sent to the Government Printer on the 19th May, and when printed were widely distributed. The tabulation of the Census returns, schedule by schedule, was at once commenced, and a series of tables embodying the finally corrected figures were published on the 8th October. [Early publication of results.]

CENSUS OFFICE STAFF.

40.

Fully twelve months before the period arrived for taking the Census, applications were received from persons desirous of being appointed to take part in its compilation, and a stream of such applications continued to flow in until some time after the enumeration had been made, the total number of applicants amounting to nearly 800. The right to make the selection from this army of candidates rested with the Public Service Board, but, in view of the difficulty it was supposed would be experienced in choosing the most suitable persons, the Government Statist was asked to submit the names of those he desired should be appointed. It was not until the lists had been carefully and anxiously scrutinized by that officer, and much outside pressure had been resisted, that the names were finally selected. As a result of the choice of his own subordinates being left to the Government Statist, the men appointed upon his recommendation were, upon the whole, of a superior class. There were a few exceptions, as there must always be whatever principle of selection is adopted, but the services of those officers who were found to be objectionable were not retained for a long period. [Census Office staff.]

41.

Whilst the compilation was in progress, the largest number of extra clerks attached to the Census Office at any one time was 65, but the employment of so many only lasted for about five months.

COMPILATION OF THE CENSUS.

42.

At the Census Conference to which allusion has been made,

proceedings to the effect that the returns should be compiled as far as possible upon a uniform principle, and certain resolutions were agreed to for the purpose of insuring that this principle should be observed. The forms decided upon were mainly based upon those used in Victoria in connexion with the Census of 1881, almost the only exception being those relating to the Occupations of the People, in which considerable changes were made. These will be referred to later on, when the Census inquiry respecting occupations is being dealt with.

43.

But whilst the form in which the results should appear was duly settled, the manner in which those results might be arrived at was left optional. It was generally understood, however, that in each of the colonies the card system of tabulation would be followed, which, although it had previously been used in this office for compiling returns of marriages and deaths, the criminal statistics, and the valuations of Friendly Societies, had never, it is believed, been used in any country as a means of compiling a Census until that practice was initiated by the present writer in connexion with the Census of 1881.

44.

Before commencing the tabulation, a number was assigned to each Census district ; the schedules were then arranged in order, those relating to each place it was desired to distinguish being kept separate from the others by means of sheets of thick paper labeled with the Census district number, and with a second number, indicating the name of the county, electoral province, district, and division ; city, town, borough, or shire ; ward or riding ; township, village, or gold-working. When the arrangement of the schedules was completed, these were paged with a numbering machine, a number commencing afresh with No. 1 being assigned to each place, and then the first tabulation, " Inhabitants and Houses," was commenced. For this tabulation the information was extracted from the schedules upon sheets having columns ruled for the purpose, but all succeeding tabulations were effected by means of cards.

45.

The ordinary cards used were of two colours, white and blue, one of the former being devoted to each male, and one of the latter to each female, of the population. There were, consequently, 598,414 white cards, and 541,991 blue cards, or 1,140,405 in all. The size of the cards was about 3 inches by 2¼ inches. Words and letters were printed upon them indicating as briefly as possible the places at which were to be entered the particulars returned on the Census schedule respecting the individual to whom the card referred, the schedule and the place to which it related being also indicated by numbers. In addition to these cards, green ones were also provided for the purpose of making duplicates of those on which information was entered which it was required to deal with specially. These comprised cards relating to French, Belgian, Italian, or Austro-Hungarian subjects, full particulars respecting whom—except names, which were withheld in view of the confidential character of the returns—had been promised to their respective Governments ; also those containing entries of native countries, or religious denominations, for which columns were not provided in the tabulation sheet ; of persons over 85 years of age ; of divorced persons ; of University graduates ; or of persons suffering from any illness or infirmity. The duplicate cards being all of one colour (green), a corner was cut off from those used for females, so that the sexes might be the more readily distinguished. The total number of duplicate cards used was about 30,000. [Card system of tabulation.]

46.

The following is a fac-simile of the card used in tabulating the Census of 1891 :—

NOTE.—The abbreviations in the second line imply unmarried, married, widowed, and divorced ; the letters S and T at the end of the line " Religion" are to indicate whether the person was a Sunday School scholar or teacher ; the letters in the following line mean read and write, read only, and cannot read ; the letters M. and D. after " Occupation" are to show whether the person was a manufacturer or a dealer ; the letters in the last line but one indicate whether he was an employer of labour, on his own account without employing labour, a wage-earner, or was unemployed.

47.

For the custody and arrangement of the cards boxes were provided, made of straw board, each box holding 500 cards. These boxes were all properly marked and labeled, and, when not in use, were placed in pigeon-holes and consigned to the charge of a trustworthy officer, so that any boxes wanted might be readily obtainable.

48.

After the entries had been made upon the cards, and their correctness verified by examination, the next proceeding was to reduce the results to a tabular form. This was done by sorting the cards of each place into heaps, according to whatever head of inquiry it was desired to work out. Thus, in the case of the religions, say in Alberton Shire, County of Buln Buln, the cards of the members of the Church of England were sorted out, also those of the Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists, Independents, Baptists, &c. ; after which it was only necessary to count the cards in each heap, and to enter the numbers so obtained in the columns of specially-prepared tabulation sheets.

49.

The more detailed returns of occupations were, in the first instance, tabulated on sheets on which all known occupations had been printed, with columns placed [Tabulation of occupations.]

opposite to them for numbers, ages, &c., figures indicating the order, sub-order, and line in which each occupation should be placed being also printed against it. The cards relating to the various occupations having been sorted and counted in the same way as has been explained in connexion with the other heads of inquiry, the numbers were entered in the proper columns. The sheets were then cut across between the lines, which had been left sufficiently wide apart for that purpose, and the slips so obtained—having the name of one occupation on each—were pasted on blank sheets of paper according to the order, sub-order, and line, after which the numbers were added, and the totals were carried into specially-ruled sheets prepared for the printer.

50.

Before commencing any of the tabulations, the cards relating to the Chinese and Aborigines were placed apart, it having been agreed at the Census Conference that the returns of persons of these races—differing so much as they do from the remainder of the population in almost every respect—should be dealt with separately. All particulars relating to these peoples were, however, ascertained and tabulated in the same way as those relating to persons of European birth or origin. [Tabulation of Chinese and Aborigines.]

51.

When the principal tables had been compiled, much still remained to be done. The green duplicate cards had to be dealt with for the purpose of making use of the information noted thereon. Special particulars were extracted respecting the Chinese and Aborigines ; inmates of hospitals, asylums, and gaols ; employers, employed, and unemployed, and a variety of other matters ; there were, moreover, numerous computations to be made showing averages, percentages, and comparisons with former Censuses of Victoria as well as with those of other countries. Upon the intelligent treatment of these and other minor matters much of the usefulness of a Census depends, and much valuable material would be lost were they not attended to. A Census being an expensive and infrequent operation, it is important that as much as possible should be made of the facts brought to light by its means, and that none should escape observation by reason of indolence on the part of the compiler or false economy on the part of the Government. [Special compilations.]

52.

In tabulating the returns of a Census, much assistance may be derived from mechanical appliances. An exceedingly ingenious contrivance is used in the Census Office of the United States for performing all the operations connected with the tabulation by means of an " electrical tabulating machine" patented by Herman Hollerith, of Washington. The methods are stated to " consist essentially in first recording the data relating to each person by punching holes in sheets or strips of electrically non-conducting material (paper), and then counting or tallying these data, either separately or in combination, by means of mechanical counters operated by electro-magnets, the circuits through which are controlled by the perforated cards or strips." One of these machines was imported to Victoria by a Melbourne firm, and was carefully inspected by myself and other officers of this Department, the decision arrived at being that however suitable the system might be for dealing with a large population like that of the United States, it would be too costly, complicated, and cumbrous for use in connexion with so small a population as that of Victoria. It was felt, however, that much time would be saved if some contrivance could be devised for counting the cards more effectively and quickly than could be done by hand. To accomplish this, three machines based upon the principle of Waterlow's well-known [Mechanical appliances.]

Railway ticket-counting machines were constructed by Messrs. Reid and Wheat, of Little Collins-street, Melbourne. These machines, though of considerable assistance, did not operate so smoothly as they would have done if all the cards had been of exactly the same size, which is necessary to insure their perfect working. Moreover, excellent numbering machines of colonial manufacture were used for paging the schedules, whilst Tate's Patent Arithmometer and Fuller's Spiral Slide Rule were found invaluable for making computations, the former proving much superior in point of durability to the French calculating machine (L' Arithmometre) made by Thomas, of Colmar, which was used at the Census of 1881, but which, in consequence of the softness of the metal used in its construction, was frequently out of order.

53.

Whilst the tabulation was in progress, every care was taken to preserve the secrecy of the Census schedules in compliance with the Act, and strict injunctions were issued to the clerks in the Census Office not to reveal any portion of their contents, or even to make them a subject of conversation amongst themselves. Applications were several times made by the police and others to search the schedules for names, but these were invariably refused. To avoid a recurrence of such requests, as soon as the tabulation had been completed I applied to the Government for permission to destroy the documents, and this having been at once granted, the schedules were sent to a paper-mill and reduced to pulp in the presence of an officer who was instructed to keep the documents under observation until the process of destruction was complete. [Secrecy of Census schedules preserved.]

NUMBERS OF THE PEOPLE.

54.

The population of Victoria enumerated on the 5th April, 1891, was as follows :— [Numbers of the people. Table I. et. seq.]

55.

According to the registrations, the excess of births over deaths between the Censuses of 1881 and 1891 was 161,699, viz., 73,406 of males and 88,293 of females. The colony not only retained a number equivalent to the whole of this natural increase, but gained in addition 116,360 persons, viz., 72,925 males and 43,435 females, by immigration. In the previous intercensal period, 1871 to 1881, the excess of registered births over registered deaths was, of males 66,923 and of females 78,980 ; but the colony lost by emigration a number of males equivalent to all those who arrived and 15,890 more, and a number of females equivalent to all who arrived except 805, so that, had there been no births, the net loss of population in those ten years would have been 15,085.

56.

Between the Censuses of 1881 and 1891 the excess of recorded arrivals by sea over recorded departures by sea was 183,347, viz., 126,817 of males, and 56,530 of females. If these numbers, and those just quoted showing the excess of births over deaths, had been correct, and the arrivals and departures overland had balanced each other, the Census would have shown a population of 1,207,392, viz., 652,306 males and 555,086 females, or 66,987, viz., 53,892 males and 13,095 females, more [Actual, apparent, and estimated population.]

than it actually did. The totals may to a certain extent have been affected by overland migration, of which no account is kept, but there is no doubt that the main disturbance has arisen from the circumstance that a large number of the departures by sea are unrecorded. The defective nature of the emigration returns being known, an allowance was made for it each quarter in the estimates of population published at those periods by the Government Statist, the whole allowance during the ten years 1881-91 being 52,131, viz., 41,333 males, and 10,798 females ; this reduction, however, turned out to be insufficient, as the estimate brought on to the Census day exceeded the population then enumerated by 14,856, viz., 12,559 males and 2,297 females. The following table shows the actual, apparent, and estimated population at the date of the Census of 1891, and the numbers by which the apparent and estimated exceeded the actual population :—

57.

During the period intervening between the last two Censuses, the recorded departures from the colony numbered 602, 189, viz., 411,792 males and 190,397 females. Adding the unrecorded departures as derived from the last column but one of the last table to these numbers, and calculating the proportion of such departures to the whole, it is found that nearly 10 per cent. of those who left the colony in the ten years ended with the Census day 1891, viz., 11½ per cent. of the males, and 6[formula]per cent. of the females, passed out by sea or over the borders without their departure being officially recognized. In the ten years 1871-81 these proportions were as follow :—Both sexes 17 per cent. ; males, 19 per cent.; females 11 per cent. [Proportion of unrecorded emigrants.]

58.

At the Census of 1881 the actual was found to be less than the apparent population by 67, 437, or 55,204 males and 12,233 females. These numbers are greater as regards the total by 450, and as regards the males by 2,070, but less as regards the females by 1,620, than the difference found to exist at the recent Census. [Actual and apparent population, 1881.]

59.

The disturbance of the population estimates by defective records of emigration is not confined to Victoria, the recent Census having revealed the fact that no fewer than 218,278 persons, viz., 169,014 males and 49,264 females, left the various colonies on the continent of Australia during the previous ten years without their departure having been noticed. This is made plain by the following table, which shows for each of the continental colonies the difference between the apparent population—or that made up by the addition of the excess of births over deaths. [Disturbance of Australian population estimates by defective records.]

and of arrivals over departures recorded during the intercensal period to the population enumerated in 1881—and the actual population, or that enumerated in 1891 :—

60.

According to the figures, much the largest deficiency occurred in New South Wales, but only as regards the males. This is probably due to a large number having crossed the border to Queensland, where the deficiency of males as compared with that of females is less than in the other colonies. The small surplus of males in Western Australia is, perhaps, to be accounted for by men having come over the frontier of that colony from the Northern Territory of South Australia in numbers sufficiently great to more than counteract the loss sustained by unrecorded emigration by sea.

61.

It will be observed that the deficiency of males is more than three times that of females. This is probably accounted for by the circumstance that when taking a sea voyage the passages of the latter are more frequently taken beforehand than those of the former ; it being an ascertained fact that the unrecorded persons are, for the most part, those who fail to take this precaution.

62.

In the insular colonies of Australasia the Census returns indicate a loss by unrecorded emigration similar to that occurring in the continental colonies. Thus the population enumerated at the Census of 1891 was less than the apparent population by 10,338, viz., 6,967 males and 3,371 females, in Tasmania ; and by 15,265, viz., 10,918 males and 4,347 females, in New Zealand. [Disturbance of population estimates in insular colonies.]

63.

It should be pointed out that the number by which the apparent exceeds the actual population does not represent all who leave the respective colonies unobserved, as, whilst practically all the deaths are registered, a number of the births [Disturbance by unregistered births.]

escape registration, the population estimates being thereby disturbed in an opposite direction to that due to unrecorded departures, therefore the number of the latter must really be always greater than that shown by the figures.

64.

The following is a statement of the number of persons enumerated at the Census of 1891 in all the Australasian Colonies, the sexes being distinguished :— [Population of Australasian Colonies.]

65.

The following diagram has been constructed for the purpose of showing the relative proportions of the populations of the respective Australasian Colonies, males and females being distinguished :— [Diagram.]

NOTE.—The square represents the total population of Australasia (3,901,932).

66.

The Census of 1891 showed Victoria to be still the most populous colony in the Australasian group. The male population of New South Wales exceeded that of Victoria, but the effect of this upon the numbers of the total population was neutralized by the large excess of females in this colony. The official estimates published prior to the Census indicated that New South Wales had a larger population than Victoria, but the simultaneous enumeration of the two colonies has shown the reverse to be the case, the total excess in favour of Victoria being 8,171, viz., 22,319 females, less 14,148 males.

67.

If the Chinese and Aborigines be deducted, the excess of the population of Victoria over that of New South Wales will be even more marked, although males will be found still to preponderate in the latter colony. Persons of those two races numbered only 9,942 in Victoria, but as many as 22,436 in New South Wales. Omitting the Chinese and Aborigines, the following are the numbers in the two colonies :—

68.

Chinese first began to arrive in Victoria in 1853 ; and at the Census of 1854, 2,000 were enumerated. In 1855 an Act was passed limiting the number of Chinese males a ship might bring to Victoria to one to every 10 tons, and making it compulsory that the sum of £10 should be paid in respect to each of such immigrants. But, notwithstanding the stringent provisions of this statute, which, however, were largely evaded by Chinese being landed in the adjacent colonies and coming overland to Victoria, the Chinese had in 1857, when the next Census was taken, increased to 25,424 ; and at the end of 1859 it was estimated that they numbered no less than 42,000. Soon after this an exodus of Chinese took place, chiefly to New South Wales, it being estimated that, besides those who departed by sea, as many as 11,000 went over the frontier to work at the Lambing Flat diggings in that colony. In consequence of this the Census of 1861 showed the number of Chinese remaining in Victoria to be only 24,732, or 692 less than in 1857. In 1865 the Act which imposed restrictions on Chinese immigration was repealed ; but, notwithstanding this, the number of Chinese in the colony had decreased by the time the Census of 1871 was taken to 17,935, or by 6,797 as compared with 1861 ; which number at the Census of 1881 had been still further reduced to 12,128, or by 5,807 more. Since that Census two Acts imposing restrictions on Chinese immigration have been passed, the first being TheChinese Act1881, 45 Vic., No. 723 (1st April, 1882), which limited the number of Chinese immigrants a ship might bring to Victoria to one to every 100 tons, and imposed on each of such immigrants a tax of £10, to be paid before the left the vessel. These provisions were repealed byThe Chinese Immigration Restriction [Chinese in Victoria.]

Act 1888, 52 Vict. No. 1005

69.

The Chinese living in Victoria at the date of the Census of 1891 numbered 9,377, of whom only 605 were females. All were not pure Mongolians, 417, or nearly 5 per cent. of the males, and as many as 471, or 78 per cent. of the females, being half-castes.

70.

The following is a statement of the number of Chinese according to the Census returns of each of the Australasian Colonies :— [Chinese in Australasian Colonies.]

71.

In all the colonies some of the persons born in China were not of the Chinese race, whilst, on the other hand, some members of the Chinese race were born

elsewhere than in China. It is believed that the numbers in the table are exclusive of the former, but inclusive of the latter, in the case of all the colonies except South Australia, in which colony all those set down in the Census schedules as born in China, but no others, have been taken to be Chinese.

72.

At the first colonization of the district now called Victoria, the Aborigines were officially estimated to number about 5,000 ; but according to other, and apparently more reliable, estimates they numbered at that time not less than 15,000. At the Census of 1891, only 565 Aborigines, viz., 325 males and 240 females were enumerated. It is tolerably certain, however, that there are more in the colony than are shown by the figures. In consequence of the nomadic habits of this people, some may have been missed by the sub-enumerators ; and it is, moreover, possible that the latter sometimes failed to comply with the instruction to note the fact of the person being an Aboriginal by marking the letter " A" after the birthplace entry on the Census schedule, and in consequence it might possibly not be recognized that he was one. The Central Board for the Protection of the Aborigines state that they have information of the existence of 731 Aborigines in the colony. [Aborigines in Victoria.]

73.

Of the Aborigines enumerated only 317, viz., 192 males and 125 females, were pure blacks. The remainder, numbering 248, viz., 133 males and 115 females had a cross of European blood in their veins.

74.

The following is a statement of the number of Aborigines enumerated or believed to exist in each Australasian Colony :— [Aborigines in Australasian Colonies.]

75.

In most, if not all the Australasian Colonies, the enumeration of the Aborigines was incomplete. It has been already stated that, in Victoria, whilst only 565 (including half-castes) were enumerated, 731 are believed to be in existence. In Queensland no attempt was made to enumerate or estimate the number of Aborigines, therefore the number returned in 1881, which is believed very much to understate the truth, has been repeated. In South Australia, the Aborigines were not regularly enumerated, the figures given being derived from estimates made by the Census collectors. In Western Australia only civilized Aborigines were enumerated. In the numbers given for that colony, 575, viz., 293 males and 282 females, are half-castes. In Tasmania there are no longer any Aborigines of unmixed race, the last male having died in 1869, and the last female in 1876. There are, however, a few half-castes. With the Maoris of New Zealand, 40 Morioris, viz., 26 males and 14 females, are included. These are the last surviving Aboriginal inhabitants of the Chatham Islands, which is a group lying about 360 miles to the east of New Zealand, in latitude 43° 50′ S., longitude 177° E., and is a dependency of that colony.

76.

The following is a statement of the population of the United Kingdom and its various possessions and dependencies, according to the Census of 1891, so far as the information has reached this colony :— [Population of British Dominions.]

DISTRIBUTION OF THE PEOPLE.

77.

Victoria is divided into (1) thirty-seven counties ; (2) sixty urban municipalities, viz., eleven cities, nine towns, and forty boroughs, and one hundred and thirty-seven country municipalities or shires ; (3) fourteen electoral provinces returning members to the Upper House ; (4) eighty-four electoral districts returning members to the Lower House. These divisions do not fit in with each other, the boundaries crossing in many directions ; the population of each of the different divisions, and of their respective subdivisions, however, have been ascertained from the Census returns, and the numbers are given in the tables which have been laid before Parliament. [Distribution of the people.]

78.

The county with the largest population is Bourke, in which the metropolis is situated. The persons returned therein numbered 517,009, or nearly half (five-elevenths) of the population of the colony. The next most populous county is Grant (69,599), in which Geelong and the greater part of Ballarat East are situated ; then Talbot (59,088), containing Castlemaine, Chewton, Daylesford, Maryborough, and Creswick ; Bendigo (52,756), containing Bendigo City and Eaglehawk ; and Grenville (41,975), containing Ballarat and a small portion of Ballarat East. The counties having the smallest populations are Weeah with only 14, and Millewa with only 172 inhabitants. Both are situated in the mallee portion of the Wimmera district, at the extreme north-west of the colony. Next to these are Croajingolong, Wonnangatta, and Tambo, in Gippsland, with 1,779, 2,068, and 2,262 inhabitants ; then Follett, abutting on the frontier of South Australia, at the south-western part of Victoria, with 2,749 inhabitants. [Counties, Table X.]

79.

In the 60 urban municipalities, 620,240 persons were enumerated, or 55 per cent. of the municipal population of the colony ; in the 137 country municipalities 517,635 persons were enumerated, or 45 per cent. of that population. [Cities, towns, and boroughs, Table XIII.]

80.

Of the urban municipalities, Melbourne is the most populous, with 73,361 inhabitants. The only towns found to contain more than half that number were South Melbourne with 41,724, Prahran with 39,703, and Richmond with 38,797 inhabitants. These are suburbs of Melbourne, as also are Collingwood with 35,070, Fitzroy with 32,453, Brunswick with 21,961, North Melbourne with 20,997, St. Kilda with 19,838, Hawthorn with 19,585, Footscray with 19,149, Williamstown with 15,960, Essendon with 14,411, Port Melbourne, with 13,067, Flemington and Kensington with 9,958, Brighton with 9,858 inhabitants, and several less populous towns. Of the extra-metropolitan towns, the most populous are Bendigo with 26,774, Ballarat with 24,257, Ballarat East with 16,592, Geelong with 11,666, Warrnambool with 6,582, Geelong West with 5,779, Stawell with 5,183, Maryborough with 4,994, and Castlemaine with 4,770 inhabitants.

81.

The populations of the towns just mentioned are those included within their municipal limits, but instances occur of several municipalities lying close to one another, and virtually forming parts of one town, in which case it is customary when naming the population of the principal town of the group, to give that of the whole. Thus Melbourne with its immediate suburbs (Greater Melbourne) contains 9 cities, 6 towns, 4 boroughs, 5 complete shires, and 12 parts of shires, the whole extending in all directions for a distance of ten miles from the Melbourne Post-office. In like manner Greater Ballarat and Greater Geelong each contain three urban municipalities and [Principal towns, with suburbs.]

some outlying portions of shires ; Greater Bendigo contains two urban municipalities and some outlying portions ; and Greater Castlemaine contains two urban municipalities and outlying portions. The following are the populations of the towns named with their suburbs, the populations of Warrnambool and Stawell, which appear to have no suburbs in immediate contiguity with their boundaries, being also given :—

82.

According to the Census of 1891, Greater Melbourne contained 43 per cent. of the population of the colony. The following figures show that this proportion increased much more during the ten years prior to the taking of that Census than it did during the previous twenty years :—

83.

Greater Melbourne extends over a wider area than that under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Board of Works, the population of the latter district being returned at 476,849, or 14,047 less than that of Greater Melbourne. Since the Census was taken, additional territory, containing 830 inhabitants, has been placed under the Board, the population of the district under their control being thereby increased to 477,679.

84.

Besides the existing urban municipalities, there are 16 towns which were at one time boroughs, but have since ceased to have an independent municipal existence, and have become embodied in shires. Some of these still maintain considerable populations, whilst in others—generally in consequence of the exhaustion of goldfields to which they originally owed their existence—the population has dwindled to a mere fraction of what it was formerly. The names of these towns, and their Census populations, are as follow :—Kyneton, 3,371 ; Beechworth, 2,528 ; Walhalla, 1,771 ; Maldon, 1,692 ; South Barwon (including Belmont), 1,589 ; Chiltern, 1,351 ; Kilmore, 1,122 ; Woodend, 1,021 ; Avoca, 787 ; Gisborne, 413 ; Taradale, 322 ; Moonambel, 309 ; Steiglitz, 265 ; Guildford, 236 ; Jamieson, 223 ; Graytown, 104. The total is 17,104, which, added to the population of present cities, towns, and boroughs (620,240), gives a total of 637,344 for the urban population of Victoria. [Former boroughs.]

85.

Including the urban municipalities, the populations of 727 towns, townships, and villages were ascertained from the Census returns. Of these, 2 contained upwards of 40,000 inhabitants ; 4 had between 30,000 and 40,000 ; 4 had between 20,000 and 30,000 ; 8 had between 10,000 and 20,000 ; 11 had between 5,000 and [Towns, townships, villages, Table XX.]

10,000 ; 4 had between 4,000 and 5,000 ; 10 had between 3,000 and 4,000 ; 8 had between 2,000 and 3,000 ; 36 had between 1,000 and 2,000 ; and 69 had between 500 and 1,000.

86.

Melbourne, including its suburbs, is the most populous city in the Southern Hemisphere, the next to it being Buenos Aires, which with its suburbs contains 466,267 inhabitants, or 24,629 less than Melbourne. Next to Buenos Ayres, the most populous city is Rio de Janeiro, said to contain, with its suburbs, 409,000 inhabitants, or 81,896 less than Melbourne, and next to these Sydney, with 387,434 inhabitants, or 103,462 less than Melbourne. The following table shows the Census population of each Australasian capital city, males and females being distinguished, and the suburbs included in every case :— [Population of Australasian capitals.]

86A.

Hobart stands above Wellington, its population being the larger by 226. At the same time it will be noticed that the male population of Wellington exceeds that of Hobart by 14, the difference being more than made up by the female population of Hobart being the larger by 240.

87.

It appears that the metropolitan population forms a larger proportion of the total population in Victoria than in any of the other Australian Colonies ; at the Census of 1881 the first position was occupied by the capital of South Australia, which has since fallen to the second place. The following are the positions in each colony, according to the Census under review :—

88.

Except in the case of New Zealand, the capital city of each colony, with its suburbs, is very much more populous than any other town within its limits ; but in New Zealand, the towns of Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin are more populous than Wellington, the capital. Important extra-metropolitan towns, however, are contained in every one of the colonies. The following list of metropolitan and extra-metropolitan towns, including their immediate suburbs in both cases, is believed to [Populations of principal Australasian towns.]

embrace all which have more than 5,000 inhabitants ; the population of each such town, and the name of the colony in which it is situated are also given, and the towns are arranged in order according to their respective populations :—

89.

Of the 39 towns named, 8, containing 621,788 inhabitants, are in Victoria ; 10, with 520,067 inhabitants, are in New South Wales ; 9, with 212,380 inhabitants,

are in New Zealand ; 7, with 165,096 inhabitants, are in Queensland ; 1, with 133,252 inhabitants, is in South Australia ; 2, with 50,658 inhabitants, are in Tasmania ; and 2, with 14,054 inhabitants, are in Western Australia.

90.

Of the country municipalities or shires in Victoria only 1 had over 9,000 inhabitants, viz., Warrnambool, with 9,199. After Warrnambool the most populous shires were Kyneton, with 8,727 ; Benalla, with 8,652 ; Hampden, with 8,360 ; Malvern, with 8,136

91.

The whole of Victoria, except about a hundredth part, is embraced in municipalities. The unmunicipalized portion contained only 91 inhabitants when the Census was taken ; there were besides 2,439 residents in ships and vessels lying in the harbors and rivers of the colony. The persons not subject to municipal jurisdiction thus numbered 2,530, or only 1 in about 450 of the total population. [Extra-municipal population.]

92.

The Chinese were very widely distributed throughout the colony. Of the total number (9,377) 4,170 were in cities, towns, and boroughs ; 5,169 were in shires ; and 38 were on board ships. Persons of this race were found in every county except Heytesbury and Weeah—the largest numbers being in Bourke (2,656), Talbot (1,109), Bogong (874), and Grant (654) ; in every city, town, and borough, except Port Fairy and Wood's Point—the largest numbers being in Melbourne (1,563), Ballarat East (433), and Bendigo (368) ; and in every shire, except Arapiles, Bannockburn, Barrabool, Belfast, Berwick, Broadmeadows, Cranbourne, Darebin, Doncaster, Ferntree Gully, Gisborne, Keilor, Melton, North Ovens, Nunawading, Oakleigh, Pyalong, Springfield, Woorayl, and Wyndham—the largest numbers being in Beechworth (370), Bright (304), Bairnsdale (224), Rutherglen (211), Grenville (205), and Mount Alexander (192). [Distribution of Chinese.]

93.

Of the Aborigines (numbering 565) only 15 were in cities, towns, and boroughs, the remainder being in shires. The largest numbers, as might have been expected, were in those shires wherein Aboriginal stations are situated, viz., Portland (108), Tambo (89), Healesville (73), Dinboola (59), Avon (58), and Warrnambool (40). [Distribution of Aborigines.]

INCREASE OF POPULATION.

94.

The increase of population between the Censuses of 1881 and 1891 was 278,059, viz., 146,331 males and 131,728 females, as against an increase of 130,818, viz., 51,033 males and 79,785 females between the Censuses of 1871 and 1881, and an increase of 191,206, viz., 72,399 males and 118,807 females between the Censuses of 1861 and 1871. It will be observed that, whilst in the last intercensal period the increase of males was greater than that of females, in the two previous intercensal periods the increase of females was greater then that of males. [Increase of population, Table VI. et seq.]

95.

Between the Censuses of 1881 and 1891 the rate of increase of the total population (32.2 per cent.) was much greater than that between 1871 and 1881 17.9 per cent.), but not so great as that between 1861 and 1871 (35.4 per cent.).

96.

The rate of increase of the male population was considerably greater in the last than in either of the two previous intercensal periods, the percentage being 32.4 between 1881 and 1891, 12.7 between 1871 and 1881, and 22.0 between 1861 and 1871.

97.

The rate of increase of the female population was, as in the case of the male population, greater in the last than in the middle period, but it was less than in the first period, the percentage being 32.1 between 1881 and 1891, 24.1 between 1871 and 1881, and 56.1 between 1861 and 1871.

98.

When the Census of Victoria is taken in the year 1901 the population will be found to number 1,508,000 if it should have continued to increase at the same rate as it did between 1881 and 1891 ; or if at the same rate as between 1861 and 1871 it will number 1,544,000 ; but if only at the same rate as between 1871 and 1881 it will number barely 1,345,000. [Probable population in 1901.]

99.

The increase of the urban population between 1881 and 1891 was much larger than that of the country population, for whilst, during the interval, the population of cities, towns, and boroughs increased by 185,773, or at the rate of 43 per cent., that of shires increased by only 97,574, or at the rate of 23 per cent. [Increase in town and country.]

100.

The population increased in all the counties except the following, in which it diminished by the numbers set against their respective names :—Bendigo, 3,897 ; Gladstone, 1,269 ; Grenville, 2,184 ; Kara Kara, 459 ; Normanby, 6 ; Ripon, 458 ; Talbot, 8,875 ; and Wonnangatta, 773. In Dalhousie the females were fewer by 79 than in 1881, but, as there was an increase of 218 males, there was a net increase of 139 in the total ; in Kara Kara there was a falling-off of 470 males, but, as there was an increase of 11 females, the total falling-off was reduced to 459 ; in Normanby there was a falling-off of 39 females, but, as there was an increase of 33 males, the total falling-off was reduced to 6. [Increase in different counties, Table VIII, and X.]

101.

Very much the largest increase of population between the last two Censuses (209,427)—amounting to over 75 per cent. of the total increase—was in the metropolitan county of Bourke ; the next largest increase (15,739) was in Buln Buln, a county embracing the greater part of South Gippsland ; the next largest (10,112) was in Lowan, an important wheat-growing county, situated between Borung and the South Australian frontier ; and the next (9,951) was in Moira, after Borung the most important of the wheat-growing counties, having long frontages to the Murray, Goulburn, and Ovens rivers. Of the counties in which increase occurred, the smallest was in Millewa (5, viz., from 167 to 172), a county situated in the mallee, at the extreme north-west of the colony ; and the next smallest was in Weeah (10, viz., from 4 to 14), a county also situated in the mallee, immediately to the south of Millewa.

102.

Between the Censuses of 1881 and 1891, the boroughs of Horsham, Northcote, and Oakleigh were created ; the borough of Essendon and the borough of Flemington was divided, so as to form the town of Essendon and the borough of Flemington and Kensington ; and the borough of Walhalla ceased to exist as an independent municipality. Of the remaining cities, towns, and boroughs, 38 contained more, and [Cities, towns, and boroughs in which population Increased, Table XII.]

17 contained fewer inhabitants in 1891 than in 1881. The following are those in which the population increased during the intercensal period :—

103.

An analysis of the table will show that of the 38 cities, towns, and boroughs in which the population increased 15 are situated in the metropolitan area, viz., Melbourne, Brighton, Brunswick, Collingwood, Fitzroy, Footscray, Hawthorn, Kew, North Melbourne (formerly Hotham), Port Melbourne (formerly Sandridge), Prahran, Richmond, South Melbourne (formerly Emerald Hill), St. Kilda, and Williamstown ; Geelong with its suburbs, viz., Geelong West and Newtown and Chilwell, account for 3 more ; 11 are chiefly dependent on gold-mining, viz., Ararat, Ballarat, Ballarat East, Carisbrook, Inglewood, Majorca, Maryborough, Raywood, Rutherglen, Sebastopol and St. Arnaud ; 5 are chiefly dependent on agriculture, viz., Hamilton, Koroit, Malmsbury, Sale, and Wangaratta ; and 4 are sea-ports, viz., Port Fairy (formerly Belfast), Portland, Queenscliff, and Warrnambool.

104.

In the following cities, towns, and boroughs fewer inhabitants were enumerated in 1891 than in 1881 :— [Cities, towns, and boroughs in which population decreased, Table X.]

105.

It will be noticed that with the exception of Echuca, a port on the Murray River, all the cities, towns, and boroughs in which the population decreased were chiefly or entirely dependent upon mining operations.

106.

The increase of population in the first 38 urban municipalities being 166,964, and its decrease in the last 17 being 10,916, it follows that the net increase in the 55 towns named was 156,048.

107.

Of the 16 towns already referred to which were at one time, but now have ceased to be, boroughs, 7 had larger and 9 had smaller populations in 1891 than in 1881. Those in which the population increased were as follow :— [Former boroughs in which the population increased.]

108.

In the following former boroughs the population decreased during the intercensal period :— [Former boroughs in which population decreased.]

109.

The sum of the increases in the first 7 towns being subtracted from the sum of the decreases in the last 9, the result is a net decrease in the 16 towns named of 2,321 inhabitants.

110.

The shires of Arapiles, Borung, Dimboola, Doncaster, Ferntree Gully, Gordon, Healesville, Kara Kara, Lancefield, Lawloit, Mildura, North Yarrawonga, Numurkah, Poowong and Jeetho, Preston, Rodney, Tambo, Upper Yarra, Walhalla, Warragul, and Woorayl were created between 1881 and 1891. The boundaries of other shires were altered, but in 74 shires the boundaries remained unchanged ; in 39 of these the population increased and in 35 it diminished in the intercensal period. [Shires in which population increased. Table XIV.]

The following table shows the populations of the shires showing increase according to the two enumerations, also the numbers by which the second enumeration showed those populations to have increased :—

111.

Of the shires named in the table as showing increased populations, Boroondara, Coburg, Heidelberg, Malvern, Moorabbin, and Nunawading doubtless owe their rise mainly to their proximity to the metropolis ; a few of the other shires, such as Chiltern, Creswick, East Loddon, Korong, and Rutherglen, have contained important

gold-fields, some of which continue to be worked profitably, still, in these, as well as in most of the other shires mentioned, the development of their agricultural resources has probably been the main cause of the increase in their populations.

112.

In the following shires the population fell off in numbers between 1881 and 1891 :— [Shires in which population decreased, Table XIV.]

113.

The falling-off in the population of Ballarat, Beechworth, Bet Bet, Bungaree, Buninyong, Grenville, Huntly, Maldon, Marong, Metcalfe, Mount Alexander, Mount Franklin, McIvor, North Ovens, Ripon, Stawell, Talbot, and some others is no doubt mainly due to the diminished yield of the gold-fields within or adjacent to their borders ; whilst the absorption of small by large holdings, and the fact that land formerly cultivated has since reverted to grazing, is probably the principal reason of the falling-off in Bannockburn, Barrabool, Belfast, Corio, Darebin, Dundas, Gisborne, Keilor, Leigh, Lexton, Minhamite, Newstead, Tullaroop, Wannon, Whittlesea, &c.

114.

The populations of the first 39 shires having increased by 43,012, whilst those of the last 35 fell off by 20,869, it follows that the net increase between 1881 and 1891 in the 74 shires named was 22,143.

115.

All the municipalities or portions of municipalities included in Greater Melbourne—embracing a radius of ten miles from the Melbourne Post Office—contained larger populations in 1891 than in 1881. The increase in Greater Melbourne as a whole was 207,949, or 75 per cent. of the total increase in the colony. The increase of males was 108,954, that of females 98,995, the former being something under and the latter something over 75 per cent. of the increase of the same sexes in the colony. [Increase in Greater Melbourne.]

116.

The shipping in Victorian waters contained 593 more persons, viz., 529 more males and 64 more females in 1891 than in 1881. [Increase in shipping.]

117.

The following table shows the increase and percentage of increase of the population of both sexes in the various Australasian Colonies between the Censuses of 1881 and 1891 :— [Increase in Australasian Colonies.]

118.

It will be observed that in the interval between the last two Censuses the total population increased considerably in all the Australasian Colonies, the largest numerical increase being in New South Wales and the next largest in Victoria. The largest proportionate increase, however, was in Queensland, the next in Western Australia, and the next in New South Wales. The rate of increase in Victoria was lower than in these, but much higher than in Tasmania, New Zealand, or South Australia.

119.

In all the colonies except South Australia and New Zealand thenumericalincrease of males was greater than that of females ; whilst in all except Victoria, Western Australia, and Tasmania, thecentesimalincrease of females was greater than that of males.

120.

The increase of population on the Australian continent, also on that continent with the addition of Tasmania and New Zealand, was as follows during the intervals between each two of the last four Censuses, embracing a period of 30 years in all :—

121.

It will be noticed that both in Australia and Australasia the numerical increase of population became greater at each successive period ; whilst in Australia the centesimal increase was greatest at the first and least at the middle period ; and in Australasia it was also greatest at the first, but least at the last period.

122.

Should the Census of the Australasian Colonies be taken simultaneously in 1901, the population would be found to be as follows under the conditions named :— [Probable population of Australasia in 1901.]

123.

In the following table is shown the population of the metropolis, including suburbs, of each of the Australasian Colonies according to the last two Census enumerations ; also the numerical increase of the population of each city during the intervening decade :— [Increase in Australasian capitals.]

124.

According to the figures, both the numerical and centesimal increase of the Melbourne population during the ten years ended with 1891 were greater than those of any of the other metropolitan cities.

125.

The Chinese in Victoria (including half-castes of both sexes) were fewer by 2,751 in 1881 than in 1891, for whilst the female Chinese were more numerous by 346, the males of that race decreased by 3,097. The half-caste Chinese were much more numerous in 1891 than in 1881, the males having increased by 343 and the females by 376. [Decrease of Chinese.]

126.

The following table shows the increase or decrease of Chinese in each Australasian colony in the ten years ended with 1891 :— [Increase or decrease of Chinese in Australasian Colonies.]

NOTE.—The plus sign (+) signifies increase ; the minus sign (-) signifies decrease.

127.

The figures show that in 1891 male Chinese were fewer upon the Australian continent by 1,815, and in the whole of Australasia by 2,295 than they were in 1881. In New South Wales, Western Australia, and Tasmania their numbers increased by 4,270, whilst they fell off by 6,565 in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and New Zealand. In every one of the colonies more female Chinese were returned in 1891 than in 1881, but they are still few in number and the majority are not of pure Mongolian race, but the offspring of Chinese fathers and European mothers.

128.

The Aborigines enumerated in Victoria were fewer by 215, viz., 135 males and 80 females, in 1891 than in 1881. On both occasions the numbers include half-castes, but in compiling the Census of 1881 the half-castes were not distinguished from the pure blacks, therefore it is not possible to determine how the figures compare with those of 1881. It has been already stated

129.

The following table shows, for each Australasian colony, the increase or decrease of the Aborigines whose numbers were ascertained or estimated in 1891 as compared with the numbers similarly obtained in 1881 :— [Increase or decrease of Aborigines in Australasian Colonies.]

NOTE.—The colony of Queensland is omitted, as the Aborigines were not enumerated neither was any estimate made of their number in 1891.

130.

Omitting Queensland, in which no estimate was made of the number of Aborigines in 1891, the returns, as compared with those of 1881, show larger numbers for all the colonies except Victoria and New Zealand ; but this does not arise from the Aborigines having increased numerically during the intercensal period, but merely from the fact of the enumeration of the Aborigines having been more complete in 1891 than on the previous occasion. In 1881 only the civilized Aborigines were enumerated in New South Wales and South Australia, whereas in 1891 an attempt was made to ascertain their total numbers. In Western Australia no other than the civilized Aborigines were returned at either period, but the returns show a larger number by nearly 4,000 living in civilization at the latter period than at the former. In Tasmania it is probable that as many Aborigines (all half-castes) existed in 1881 as in 1891, but

at the former period they were not shown in the returns as distinct from the general population. In New Zealand there seems to have been an actual diminuation of the Maori population to the extent of rather over 2,000.

PROPORTIONS OF THE SEXES.

131.

In all countries, although a few more boys are born than girls, fewer of the former than the latter survive the period of infancy, the result being that in early life the proportions of the sexes are about equal. Amongst adults, however, in consequence of the expectation of life being less in males than in females the numbers of the latter would always exceed those of the former did no disturbance arise from immigration or emigration. In most old countries this natural preponderance of females is added to by the tendency of men to emigrate being greater than that of women, also by the numbers who go abroad as soldiers and sailors ; but in most new countries the preponderance of females gives place to one of males, through there being an excess of male over female immigrants, whilst there is but little emigration, and, as a rule, but few sailors and no soldiers are absent from the country. [Proportions of the sexes.]

132.

In Victoria, when the Census was taken, the males were found to exceed the females by 56,423, the proportion being 90.57 of the latter to 100 of the former, or 110.41 of the former to 100 of the latter.

133.

Since the Census of 1881 the sexes have slightly diverged from equality in point of numbers, in as much as, whilst the proportion to 100 males in 1891 was 90.57 females as just stated, that in 1881 was 90.75 females. Up to 1881 the returns of each succeeding Census showed that the sexes were approaching more closely towards uniformity, the proportion to 100 males being 82 females in 1871, 64 females in 1861, 55 females in 1857, and 52 females in 1854.

134.

In 1881, females were more numerous than males in the metropolitan county of Bourke, the proportion being 103 to 100, but in 1891 there were only 98 females to 100 males in Bourke, and in every other county the excess was also in favour of males. The closest approach to equality was in Grenville, in which Ballarat City and Sebastopol are situated, with 99 females to 100 males, the next closest being in Bourke, in which, as already stated, the proportion is 98. After these two, the counties in which the sexes were found to be most nearly equal in numbers were Grant, in which Geelong and Ballarat East are situated, with nearly 98 females to 100 males ; Bendigo, in which Bendigo City and Eaglehawk are situated, and Normanby, in which Portland is situated, with 94 ; Dundas, in which Hamilton is situated, with 90 ; and Tanjil, in which Sale and Bairnsdale are situated, also with 90. The counties in which the inequality of the sexes was most marked were Weeah, Karkarooc, Millewa, and Tatchera, situated in the Mallee district, with respectively 17, 50, 62, and 66 females to 100 males ; and Croajingolong, Dargo, and Tambo, situated in the eastern part of Gippsland, with respectively 58, 62, and 66 females to 100 males. [Proportions of sexes in different counties, Table XI.]

135.

In cities, towns, and boroughs, as a whole, males slightly exceeded females, the numbers being 309,913 and 309,668, and the proportions 99.91 of the latter to every 100 of the former. In 21 of these municipalities, however, females [Proportions of sexes in cities, towns, and boroughs, Table XIII.]

were more numerous than males, and in 1, viz., Warrnambool, the sexes were exactly equal, each numbering 3,291. The following are the proportions of the sexes in the 21 urban municipalities referred to :—

136.

Amongst the inhabitants of the 16 towns which were once boroughs but have since been absorbed into shires, the sexes were in the proportions of 98 females to 100 males ; but in five of those towns females outnumbered males, viz., Kilmore, in which the proportion was 112 ; Kyneton, in which it was 109 ; Guildford and Avoca, in each of which it was 108 ; and Woodend, in which it was 102 females to every 100 males. [Proportions of sexes in former boroughs.]

137.

In Greater Melbourne, males outnumbered females by 5,024, the latter being in the proportion of 98 to every 100 of the former ; but in the cities of Collingwood, Prahran, St. Kilda, and Hawthorn, the towns of Essendon and Brighton, the borough of Kew, and the shires of Malvern, Caulfield, and Boroondara, all of which are embraced within the limits of Greater Melbourne, females were more numerous than males. In the city of Melbourne males exceeded females by 5,645, and were in the proportion of 100 to 86. [Proportions of sexes in Grater Melbourne.]

138.

The only shires in which females outnumbered males were the three just mentioned, viz., Malvern, Caulfield, and Boroondara, each with 110 females to 100 males. In the total of the shires, males outnumbered females by 54,049, the proportion of the latter to every 100 of the former being 81. [Proportions of sexes in shires, Table XV.]

139.

The following figures show the relative proportions of the sexes in the various Australasian Colonies :— [Proportions of sexes in Australasian Colonies.]

140.

The figures show males to have been more numerous than females in all the colonies, the nearest approach to equality being in Victoria, and the next in South Australia, whilst the greatest inequality existed in Western Australia, and the next in Queensland.

141.

On the continent of Australia, females were in the proportion of 85.96 to every 100 males, and on that continent, combined with Tasmania and New Zealand, in the proportion of 86.42 to every 100 males.

142.

In Adelaide, Hobart, and Wellington, females were more numerous than males, but the reverse was the case in the other four capital cities. In Melbourne, the proportion of females to males was lower than in any of the other capital cities, except Sydney, as is shown by the following figures :— [Proportions of sexes in Australasian capitals.]

143.

If half-castes be included, there were in the colony when the Census was taken 8,772 Chinese males, and 605 Chinese females, the proportion being less than 7 (6.9) of the latter to every 100 of the former. Considering only the Chinese of pure race, there were 8,355 males, but no more than 134 females, the proportion being less than 2 (1.6) females to 100 males ; whilst amongst the half-caste Chinese there were no more than 417 males to as many as 471 females, the proportion being as high as 113 (112.95) of the latter to every 100 of the former. [Proportions of sexes amongst Chinese.]

144.

In all the Australasian Colonies Chinese females were few in number as compared with males of that race, the whole number of the former in continental Australia being only 1,329, as against 35,692 males ; the corresponding numbers in continental and insular Australia combined being 1,410 and 41,111. In the respective colonies the proportion of Chinese females to 100 Chinese males were as follow :—Victoria, 6.90 ; New South Wales, 4.43 ; Queensland, 0.55 ; South Australia, 1.81 ; Western Australia, 0.55 ; Tasmania, 0.86 ; New Zealand, 0.41.

145.

Amongst the few Aborigines (including half-castes) remaining in Victoria, females were in the proportion of nearly 74 (73.85) to every 100 males. Amongst the pure Aborigines the proportion was 65 females, and amongst the half-caste Aborigines it was 86 females, to every 100 males. [Proportions of sexes amongst Aborigines.]

146.

So far as is known from the imperfect enumeration which was made of the Aborigines, females of that race were in the proportion on the Australian continent of nearly 77 (76.82), and on that continent combined with New Zealand (there being no pure Aborigines left in Tasmania) of nearly 80 (79.6) per 100 males. The proportion of Aboriginal females in Victoria was 74 ; in New South Wales, 82 ; in Queensland, 92 ; in South Australia, 64 ; in Western Australia, 78 ; and in New Zealand (Maoris), 84 to every 100 Aboriginal males.

PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE.

147.

The boundaries of the electorates for the Legislative Council (Provinces) are identical with those which existed at the Census of 1881, but the number of members of that House was increased during the intercensal period from 42 [Upper House representation, Table XVI.]

to 48. This was done by adding a member to six of the electorates, which have since returned 4 members each, whilst the others still continue to return only 3 members.

148.

The effect of there being a property, professional, or educational qualification for electors of the Upper House is strikingly shown by the fact that whilst the male population of 21 years of age and upwards numbered, according to the Census, 328,017, the number of electors to the Upper House was only 157,394, or less than half that population.

149.

In the provinces as a whole, whilst to a representative the proportion of electors was 3,279, the proportion of males of 21 years old and upwards was 6,865 ; and the proportion of persons of both sexes and all ages was 23,758.

150.

The population being very much larger in some provinces than in others, they are very unequally represented, the province with the largest amount of representation, viz., as few as 15,412 persons to a representative, being the North-Central ; and the one with the smallest amount of representation, viz., as many as 41,200 persons to a representative, being the North Yarra. The following table shows, for each province, the number of representatives, the total population, and the proportion of the latter to the former, the provinces being placed in order according to the amount of representation accorded to each :—

151.

Whilst Victoria sends 48 members to the Upper House, New South Wales, at the time the Census was taken, had 67, Queensland 40, South Australia 24, Western Australia 15, Tasmania 18, and New Zealand (including 2 Maori members), 39.

colonies, it is found that, so far as the Upper Chamber is concerned, Victoria has much the largest number of persons to a representative, and consequently has the smallest amount of representation, and Western Australia has much the, smallest number of persons to a representative, and consequently has the largest amount of representation. This is shown by the following figures :—

152.

The whole number of Upper House members in the Australasian Colonies is 251, and the population of the group being 3,901,932, it follows that the average number of persons to a representative sitting in this House is 15,546, or about midway between the proportions prevailing in South Australia and New South Wales.

153.

In the United Kingdom there are about 540 peers, and the population returned at the Census of 1891 was 37,879,285. There was thus 1 peer to every 70,147 inhabitants of the United Kingdom, or nearly three times as many inhabitants to an Upper House representative as there are in Victoria, and a much larger proportion than in any of the other Australasian Colonies. [Upper House representation in United Kingdom.]

154.

Between the Census of 1881 and 1891, the boundaries of the electorates for the Legislative Assembly were entirely changed ; moreover, the number of electorates was increased from 55 to 84, and the number of representatives from 86 to 95. [Lower House representation, Table XVII.]

155.

Although every male of 21 years of age or upwards, untainted by crime, is qualified to be an elector of this House, and although an adult male is placed on the electoral roll of every district in which he holds real estate, and notwith-standing, moreover, that, in consequence of the state of the rolls, which had not then been "purified." many names remained thereon which ought to have been removed, yet the number of electors fell short of the adult male population by 69,441, or more than a fifth.

156.

At the time the Census was taken the sum of the names on the voters' roll in all the electoral districts was 258,576, or an average of 2,722 to each representative ; at the same time the male population of 21 years and upwards numbered 329,528, or an average of 3,469 to each representative ; and the total population of both sexes and all ages numbered 1,140,405, or an average of 12,004 to each representative.

157.

The range of representation is even greater in the electoral districts than in the provinces. The electorate with the smallest number of persons to a representative, and therefore the most largely represented, was Windermere, the number to a representative being 6,700 ; whilst, on the other hand, the electorates with the largest number of persons to a representative, and therefore having the smallest

amount of representation, were Essendon and Flemington, with 24,369, East Bourke Boroughs with 21,496, and Eastern Suburbs with 21,107. The electoral districts have been arranged according to the order in which their populations are represented, and the result is as follows :—

158.

It may be remarked that in one electorate (Clunes and Allandale) the names of electors on the roll were slightly more numerous than the males over 21 years of age, the numbers being 2,150 and 2,142. In all the other electorates there were more adult males than there were names on the electoral roll.

159.

The number of Lower House representatives in the several Australasian Colonies was as follows at the period of the taking of the Census of 1891:—Victoria 95, New South Wales 141, Queensland 72, South Australia 54, Western Australia 30, Tasmania 36, New Zealand (including 4 Maori members) 74. The respective colonies stand in exactly the same order of representation in this House as they do in the Upper House, Victoria being, numerically speaking, much the least represented, and Western Australia much the most represented colony of the group. The following figures indicate the number of persons to a Lower House representative in each colony :— [Lower House representation in Australasian Colonies.]

160.

In the Australasian Colonies as a whole there are 502 Lower House members, or 1 such member to every 7,773 of their joint populations, a proportion—as in the case of that referring to their Upper House members—coming between that of South Australia and that of New South Wales.

161.

The United Kingdom returns 670 members to the House of Commons, viz., 495 for England, 72 for Scotland, and 103 for Ireland. The proportion of members to the Census population of the United Kingdom was 1 to every 56,536 ; or, for England, 1 member to every 58,887 persons ; for Scotland, 1 member to every 55,912 persons ; and for Ireland, 1 member to every 45,677 persons. These figures indicate a numerically much larger representation for Ireland than for either Scotland or England ; also, in all the divisions of the United Kingdom a very much smaller one than that which exists in the Australasian Colonies.

162.

The following statement of the proportion of Lower House representatives to the populations of various countries has been compiled from official sources, many of the figures having been derived from a return published in 1889 by the Government of Brazil :— [Lower House representation in various countries.]

163.

The figures show that five of the Australasian Colonies, viz., Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia, and New South Wales, enjoy a larger proportion of Parliamentary representation than any other country ; that New Zealand enjoys a larger proportion than any country outside of Australasia except Greece ; and Victoria enjoys a larger proportion than any such country except Greece, Servia, and Uruguay ; also, that the country which enjoys the smallest amount of representation is the United States, and the next is Brazil.

DENSITY OF THE POPULATION.

164.

The relation between the extent of a country or any one of its division to the inhabitants of such country or division may be ascertained in three ways—(1) by calculating thedensityof the population, or the average number of persons to a given area, say a square mile ; (2) by calculating thearealityof the population, or the average number of smaller given areas—say acres—to a persons ; (3) by calculating theproximityof the population, or the average distance between person and person.

165.

The land population of Victoria, i.e., the population exclusive of the residents in ships and vessels, was in the proportion of 12.95 persons to the square [Density, areality, and proximity of population.]

mile in 1891, as against 9.79 persons in 1881 ; the average number of acres to a persons was 49.4 in 1891, as against 65.4 in 1881 ; and the average distance between one persons and another was 23.91 chains or 526 yards in 1891, as against 27.47 chains or 604 yards in 1881.

166.

The following table shows, according to the returns of the Census of 1891, the mean density, the mean areality, and the mean proximity of the population in each county, and in the whole colony :—

167.

From the figures in the total line of the last two columns, it appears that if the colony were to be mapped out in allotments (necessarily of hexagonal form), each allotment containing 49[FORMULA] acres, there would be one such allotment for each man, woman, and child in Victoria ; and should each person stand in the centre of his allotment, he would be 526 yards, or nearly a third of a mile from his nearest neighbour. [Acres to each person and distances apart.]

168.

It will be observed that in the metropolitan county of Bourke there are rather over 300 persons to the square mile, or in other words, that there are two acres to each person, and that if all were placed at equal distances apart, an individual would have to travel rather less than five chains or 109 yards to visit his next neighbour. In the other counties the population is much less dense. In Grant there are nearly 38 persons to the square mile, 17 acres to each person, and the inhabitants are, on the average, something less than 14 chains, or about 307 yards apart ; in Talbot there are 36½ persons to the square mile, nearly 17[FORMULA] acres to each persons, and the inhabitants are, on the average, 14¼ chains, or about 313 yards apart ; and in Bendigo there are 27 persons to the square mile, something less than 23[FORMULA]; acres to each person, and the inhabitants are, on the average, about 16½ chains, or nearly 364 yards apart. These are the counties in which the population is densest ; those in which it is least dense are Weeah, in which there is only one person to every 286 square miles ; Millewa, in which there is one to every 20 square miles ; Croajingolong, in which there is one to 2 square miles ; Karkarooc, in which there is one to about 1¾ square miles ; Wonnangatta, in which there is something under one to a mile, &c. [Density of population in different counties.]

169.

Greater Melbourne, exclusive of water, embraces an area of 163,942 acres ; but within those limits, 5,448 acres are occupied by public reserves, the space available for building being thereby reduced to 158,494 acres. The reserves in Melbourne City cover 1,723 acres, the principal being the Royal, Prince's, Yarra, Flinders, and Fawkner Parks, the Zoological, Botanic, Carlton, Fitzroy, Spring, and Flagstaff Gardens, and the University Grounds ; in Kew Borough, reserves cover 634 acres, the chief being the Studley Park and Asylum Grounds ; in South Melbourne City they cover 482 acres, the chief being that portion of Albert Park whichIllegiblewithin the city boundary ; in Williamstown Town they cover 446 acres, the major portion being occupied by the rifle range ; in Heidelberg Shire the Yarra Bend Asylum Grounds cover 350 acres ; in Flemington and Kensington Borough the race-course occupies 301 out of 307 acres of reserves ; in St. Kilda City, part of the Albert Park and other reserves occupy 250 acres ; in Caulfield Shire the park and race-course occupy 206 acres ; in Richmond City, reserves cover 190 acres, all but 7 acres being embraced in the Richmond Park and Horticultural Gardens ; in Wyndham Shire the Williamstown race-course covers 190 acres ; in Brighton Town the Elsternwick and Beach Parks, with the Recreation Grounds, cover 167 acres ; in Coburg Shire the Penal Establishment Reserve covers 112 acres ; and there are smaller reserves in Fitzroy, Collingwood, Prahran, Hawthorn, and Footscray Cities, North Melbourne and Essendon Towns, Port Melbourne

170.

The following table shows the area with and without reserves, the extent of the reserves, also the Census population and its density in each municipality, and part of municipality forming part of Greater Melbourne. [Density of population in Greater Melbourne.]

171.

From this table it appears that in Greater Melbourne, excluding reserves, there were a fraction over, but inclusive of reserves, just 3 persons to the acre when the Census was taken. The most thickly-peopled municipality was North Melbourne Town with over 37 persons to the acre, then Fitzroy City with 35 persons to the acre if reserves be included, and 37 persons if they be excluded ; and then the cities of Collingwood and Richmond. Melbourne City, with reserves, had 15 persons, and, excluding reserves, 22 persons to the acre. In the borough of Oakleigh, and all the shires except Malvern, Caulfield, and Coburg, there was less than 1 person to the acre.

172.

The following table shows the density of the population of each Australasian colony, the area of each, and the population of each, as enumerated in 1891, being also stated :— [Density of population in Australasian Colonies.]

173.

Victoria has much the smallest area of any colony on the Australian continent, and the smallest area of any colony of the group except Tasmania. On the other hand, it has the densest as well as the largest population of any of the Australasian Colonies. The colony which, after Victoria, has the densest population is New Zealand, but its population is not quite half so dense as that of Victoria. Next to Victoria and New Zealand, Tasmania has the densest population, and next to these New South Wales. The other three colonies have less than one person to the square mile.

174.

In the following table is shown the area embraced in the metropolis (including suburbs) of each of the Australasian Colonies, with the population thereof, and the number of persons to the acre, according to the returns of the Census under notice. [Density of population in Australasian capitals.]

175.

By the figures it would appear that the inhabitants of Sydney dwell in closer contiguity than those of any of the other capital cities of Australasia. In the district subject to the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works, however—which is smaller than Greater Melbourne, and slightly smaller than Greater Sydney—the inhabitants are nearer together than they are in Sydney, the population being 476,849, spread over an area of 83,860 acres, or as many as 5.69 persons to the acre.

HOUSING OF THE PEOPLE.

176.

The number of habitations of all descriptions returned in 1891 was 241,560. Of these, 235,434 were dwelling-houses properly so called ; 264 were stores, offices, or public buildings in which some one abode on the Census night, and 5,862 were huts or tents. In accordance with the practice observed on previous occasions, no account was taken of unoccupied huts or tents, or of stores, offices, or public buildings in which there were no resident caretakers. [Housing of the people, Table II. et. seq.]

177.

Between the Censuses of 1881 and 1891, the habitations of all kinds increased by 61,744, or 34 per cent. ; this proportion is rather larger than that indicating the increase of population during the same interval, which was 32 per cent.

178.

Of the total number of habitations, 224,021, or nearly 93 per cent., were in occupation ; 15,846, or rather over 6 per cent., were vacant ; and 1,693, or not quite 1 per cent., were being built. [Dwellings occupied and vacant.]

179.

Of the occupied habitations, 120,841 were in cities, towns, and boroughs, 103,154 in shires, and 26 in places outside local jurisdiction. Since 1881 the total number increased by 53,935 ; the increase in cities, towns, and boroughs being 36,887, and that in shires, 18,075, whilst, in consequence of the extension of municipal government, the number outside local jurisdiction decreased by 1,027. It will be noticed that the increase of town dwellings was twice as great as that of dwellings situated in country districts. [Dwellings in town and country, Tables XIII. and XV.]

180.

Occupied dwellings increased in most of the counties during the intercensal period, the exceptions being Bendigo, Bogong, Gladstone, Grenville, Kara Kara, Millewa, Ripon, Talbot, and Wonnangatta. In all of these, except Bogong and Millewa, the population also declined ; but in Normanby, whilst the population decreased by 6, there was an increase of 70 in the number of inhabited dwellings. [Dwellings in different counties.]

181.

In Greater Melbourne, the number of inhabited dwellings rose from 52,131 in 1881 to 93,617 in 1891, the increase being 41,486, or nearly 80 per cent. The whole increase of such dwellings in the colony was 53,935, more than three-fourths of which increase was in Greater Melbourne. [Dwellings in Greater Melbourne, Table XVIII.]

182.

The unoccupied habitations in 1891 were more numerous by 6,797 than in 1881, and bore a proportion to the whole number of dwellings of 6½ per cent. as against 5 per cent. In 1891, 8,564 of the vacant dwellings were in cities, towns, and boroughs, and 7,282 were in shires ; about half, viz., 8,043 were in Greater Melbourne, the largest numbers being in Richmond 811, Melbourne City 795, Brunswick 657, Prahran 647, South Melbourne 603, Collingwood 488, Hawthorn 397, Fitzroy 393, St. Kilda 389, Caulfield 362, Essendon 297, Coburg 249, Brighton 221, and Northcote 217. It is unlikely that there were as many vacant dwellings in Melbourne City as stated, the probability being that the sub-enumerators, in some instances, set down stores or suites of offices which were untenanted or used only during the day as unoccupied dwellings, although they were distinctly told to make no return of such edifices. [Unoccupied dwellings, Table II.]

183.

Of the houses in course of erection, 1,038 out of 1,693 were in Greater Melbourne, the largest numbers being in Essendon 92, Prahran 70, Hawthorn and Brunswick each 69, South Melbourne 65, Northcote 62, Melbourne City 60, and Malvern 57. In 1881, the whole number of unfinished houses in the colony was 681, or 1,012 less than in 1891. [Unfinished dwellings, Table II.]

184.

The materials of which 6,473 of the habitations were constructed were not specified in the schedules ; the materials of the remainder were stated to be as follows :— [Materials of dwellings Table II.]

185.

The numbers in the two upper lines were, strictly speaking, houses, and formed 95 per cent. of the whole ; the residue (5 per cent.) being huts and tents. In 1881, houses were in the proportion of only 91 per cent., whilst huts and tents were in the proportion of 9 per cent., to the whole number of specified habitations.

186.

As time advances and families become larger, the houses are built to contain increased accommodation. This is demonstrated by the fact that, whilst the average number of rooms to a dwelling was only 2.66 in 1857, it was, 2.96 in 1861, 3.89 in 1871, 4.44 in 1881, and over 5 (5.15) in 1891. [Accommodation in dwellings, Table II.]

187.

In 1891 by far the largest number of houses, amounting to more than two thirds of the whole, contained from 3 to 6 rooms. About an eighth had less than 3 rooms, and about a fifth had over 6 rooms ; 2,899 had more than 15 rooms, and of these 1,226 had at least 20 rooms. The following is a statement of the houses returned at the Census, classified according to the number of rooms they were respectively stated to contain.

188.

In town districts the houses possessed, on the average, more accommodation than those in country districts, as is evidenced by the fact that in cities, towns, and boroughs there were 677,891 rooms in 125,183 houses, or 5.42 rooms to a house ; whilst in shires there were 517,823 rooms in 107,173 houses, or only 4.83 rooms to a house.

189.

The houses, on the average, were more commodious in 1891 than in 1881, for, where as the proportion of 1 and 2 roomed houses to the whole number of houses was as high as 22.30 per cent. in 1881, it was only 12.26 per cent. in 1891. On the other hand, whilst the proportion of houses containing from 3 to 6 rooms to the whole number was only 63.48 per cent. in 1881, it was as high as 67.55 per cent. in 1891 ; and whilst the proportion of houses containing more than 6 rooms to the whole number was as low as 14.22 per cent. in 1881, it was as high as 20.19 per cent. in 1891.

190.

The number of rooms in 1891 exceeded that in 1881 by 430,453. It is customary for professional valuers to roughly estimate the worth of house property at so much per room, the lowest valuation in the case of wooden houses being £50 for each apartment. Brick and stone houses, however, increased between the Censuses by 23,930, and in the case of these the average value per room would probably not be less than £100. Taking a mean of £70 as certainly not too high a valuation for the whole, it would follow that over 30 millions sterling (£30,131,700) had been expended during the ten years, 1881-91, on the erection of dwelling-houses, this being exclusive of the large amounts spent in erecting churches, public buildings, stores, suites of offices, &c. [Value of houses built, 1881 and 1891.]

191.

The total number of rooms in all the dwelling-houses respecting which the information was given was 1,195,792. Estimating the 9,183 houses respecting which the number of rooms was not returned to have contained 36,732 rooms, or an average of 4 rooms to each, the total number of rooms would be 1,232,524, which, at £70 per room, would show the total value of dwelling-houses—irrespective of the land they stand on—to be 86¼ millions sterling (£86,276,680). [Total value of dwelling-houses.]

192.

According to the municipal valuations for 1891, the total value of rateable property in the colony was 203[FORMULA] millions sterling (£203,351,360). This includes both land and houses ; if the true value is represented, and the foregoing estimate for the value of dwelling-houses is also correct, the value of lands and estates, irrespective of the edifices erected thereon, must amount to 117 millions sterling. [Value of lands and estates.]

193.

The density, areality, and proximity of houses in different districts is ascertained in a similar manner to that adopted in order to ascertain the same elements in regard to the population. The following is the result of such a calculation in reference to the houses for each county in Victoria, and for the entire colony. The table relates only to inhabited dwellings, the number of which in each county is given in the first figure column, those unoccupied or in course of erection not being taken into account :— [Density of houses.]

NOTE.—For area of each county, see Table following paragraph 166, ante.

194.

Roughly speaking, each inhabited house represents a family, which being the case, an equal division of the area of the colony would result in each family having an allotment of 251 acres and 16 perches. Supposing the families to live in houses built in the centre of their allotments, any individual wishing to visit the dwelling of one of his nearest neighbours would have to travel 1,184 yards, or about two-thirds of a mile.

195.

In Victoria as a whole, there were, according to the table, over 2½ (2.55) inhabited houses to the square mile. In 1881 there were not quite 2 (1.93) such houses, and in 1871 not quite 1¾ (1.71) such houses to the square mile.

196.

In 1891 inhabited houses in the county of Bourke were in the proportion of 57½ to the square mile, and were very much closer together than in any other county ; but the large majority of these houses were in Greater Melbourne (about 254 square miles) in which inhabited houses averaged 366 to the square mile. If the area and population of Greater Melbourne be excluded, there were, in the remainder of Bourke, 1,465 square miles and no more than 5,327 inhabited dwellings, which numbers furnish an average of only 3.6 dwellings to the square mile, that being not half as much again as the mean density of houses in the colony as a whole.

197.

It may be readily found from the figures in the last column that if a sub-enumerator had to leave schedules at, or a rate collector had to visit, 100 houses of average proximity equal to that of the colony as a whole, and he could go in a direct line from house to house, it would be necessary for him to travel 67 miles and 528 yards, but if equal to the average of Bourke only 14 miles and 308 yards, whilst if the houses were as far apart as the average of Weeah he would have to travel no less than 3,400 miles, or if equal to the average of Croajingolong as much as 305 miles and 100 yards, &c.

198.

At the period of the Census 1,113,405 persons, or nearly 98 per cent. of the population, were living in houses properly so called ; 12,537, or about 1 per cent., were living in slab, bark, or mud huts ; 11,119, or rather less than 1 per cent., were living in tents or dwellings with canvas roofs ; 2,439, or 1 in 468, were living in ships ; and 905, or 1 in 1,260, were camping out. [Proportion of persons living in houses of different materials.]

199.

At no previous Census, since the discovery of gold, were the inhabitants of the colony found to be so well housed as at that under review, for whereas nearly 98 per cent. of the population were living in houses properly so called (i.e., exclusive of huts and tents) in 1891, only 95 per cent. were so living in 1881, less than 93 per cent. in 1871, only 69 per cent. in 1861, and only 63 per cent. in 1857.

200.

Since the mining population do not, as a rule, now live in tents, the tent dwellers in 1891 were mainly those engaged in the construction of railways or other public works, whose practice it is, at or near the scene of their labours, to form encampments, which are moved from time to time as the work progresses ; some of the tent dwellers, moreover, were land selectors occupying tents pending the erection of their more permanent habitations. In the early days of the gold discoveries the diggers, who then formed a considerable proportion of the inhabitants of the colony, almost invariably lived in tents, as many as 136,000 persons out of a total population of 411,000 being found to be so sheltered in 1857. This number had fallen to 123,000 out of a population of 540,000 in 1861, but the greatest fall took place between 1861 and 1871 ; at the latter date only 8,660 persons out of a population of 732,000 being [Tent dwellers.]

found to be living in tents. In 1881 this number had become further reduced to 4,661 out of a population of 862,000, but in 1891 the number had again risen to 11,119 out of a population of 1,140,000, the proportion being nearly twice as high as in 1881, although lower than at any previous Census period.

201.

Taking into account all the houses in the colony, whether tenanted or not, the number of persons to a house was 4.71 in 1891, but if only the occupied houses be considered, the number to each was about 5 (5.08). This average differed from that in 1881 by a small fraction only, the proportion then being 5.06. In 1871 the average number of persons to an occupied dwelling was 4.84 ; in 1861 it was 4.16 ; and in 1857 it was 4.21. [Proportion of persons to a dwelling, Tables XI., XIII., and XV.]

202.

The number of persons to an occupied dwelling varies in different counties. In Millewa there were between 6 and 7 to each, the total population of that county, however, being only 172, and the number of occupied habitations only 25. In Anglesey, Benambra, Bogong, Borung, Bourke, Dundas, Follett, Grant, Gunbower, Hampden, Heytesbury, Lowan, Moira, Normanby, Polwarth, Ripon, Rodney, Tambo, Tanjil, and Villiers there were between 5 and 6 persons to each occupied dwelling ; in Bendigo, Buln Buln, Croajingolong, Dalhousie, Dargo, Delatite, Evelyn, Gladstone, Grenville, Kara Kara, Mornington, Talbot, and Tatchera there were between 4 and 5 to each ; and in Karkarooc, Weeah, and Wonnangatta there were between 3 and 4 to each. [Table XI.]

203.

In towns, the average number of persons to an occupied dwelling is slightly larger than in the country, the proportions to each such dwelling being 5.13 in cities, towns, and boroughs, and 5.02 in shires. In 1881 these proportions respectively were 5.18 and 4.94. [Tables XIII, and XV.]

204.

In Greater Melbourne, the proportion of persons to an occupied dwelling was 5.22 in 1891 ; in 1881, that proportion was 5.40.

205.

The total number of rooms in all the houses in 1891 was 1,232,524,

206.

Only 905 persons were found to be camping out on the Census night, which is a much smaller number than were so found at previous Censuses. In 1881, the number camping out was 1,187 ; in 1871. it was 2,661 ; and in 1861, it was 2,621. [Persons camping out, Tables IV. and V.]

207.

In Greater Melbourne, the persons found to be sleeping, or otherwise passing the night, in the streets or reserves, or on the river banks, numbered 36 in 1891, as against 44 in 1881. Of the number in 1891, 14 were in Melbourne City, 4 in Collingwood, 9 in South Melbourne, 3 in Brunswick, 3 in Brighton, 2 in Essendon, and 1 in Caulfield.

208.

The persons in ships were more numerous in 1891 than at any of the three previous Census periods. In 1857 there were as many as 3,773 persons afloat in the bays, harbors, and rivers of this colony, but then several hulks containing prisoners [Persons in ships, Tables IV, and V.]

were moored in Hobson's Bay. By 1861, the prison hulks having been abolished, the shipping population had fallen to 1,918 ; this had risen to 2,252 in 1871, had again fallen to 1,846 in 1881, and had again risen to 2,439 in 1891.

209.

In 1891 the vessels in Victorian waters numbered 312. Of these, 70 were steamers and 136 were sailing vessels engaged in cargo and passenger traffic, the remainder being war vessels, tugs, dredges, hulks, light-vessels, &c. The burden of the steamers was 36,113 tons, and of the sailing vessels 50,016 tons, or 86,129 tons in all. Of the whole number of vessels, 241 were owned in Victoria, 8 in New South Wales, 2 in South Australia, 4 in Tasmania, 2 in New Zealand, 36 in the United Kingdom, 4 in Norway, 1 in Sweden, 8 in Germany, 1 in Austria, and 5 in the United States ; 223

210.

The following table shows the number of inhabited dwellings returned in each Australasian colony, the average number of such dwellings to the square mile, and the average number of persons to each such dwelling :— [Dwellings in Australasian Colonies.]

211.

It will be observed that, whilst Victoria has over two and a half dwellings to the square mile, every other colony on the Australian continent falls considerably short of, and New Zealand and Tasmania have each only a fraction over, one dwelling to the square mile.

212.

It will further be noticed that in the different colonies the average number of persons to a dwelling ranges from 5 to 5¾, the lowest proportion being in Victoria and the next in New South Wales and Queensland, whilst the highest proportion is in South Australia and the next in New Zealand.

BIRTHPLACES OF THE PEOPLE.

213.

It is only reasonable to suppose that future ethnologists and anthropologists will find interest in tracing the various elements which have contributed to from the character and habits of the Victorian of the age in which they live, and in seeking evidence as to how far these may have been influenced by the national characteristics of the various races from which his ancestors have sprung. [Birthplaces of the people, Table XXI. et seq.]

214.

In pursuing this research valuable assistance will be secured from the returns of the various periodic Censuses, and especially from those obtained in response to the inquiry now under consideration, containing, as they should do, a record of the country of birth of each inhabitant of the colony.

215.

In regard to the birthplace entry, the sub-enumerators were instructed to see that the country where born, not the town, county, &c., was set down in the schedules. This instruction was in some instances disregarded, but as the country was almost always found to be readily traceable from the entry made, little inconvenience resulted from a minor division having been occasionally returned in its stead.

216.

The first and grand division of the population of the colony as regards nationality is into British and foreign subjects by birth.

217.

Prior to the discovery of gold nearly the whole population was of British allegiance. Soon after that event, however, many foreigners having been attracted to Victoria by the fame of the gold-fields, over 5 per cent. of the population in 1854, and nearly 11 per cent. in 1857, were found to be of foreign nationality. The latter was the highest point reached, each Census since that period having shown a lower proportion of foreign and, as a natural consequence, a higher one of British subjects. The following are the proportions of natives of British and of foreign dominions as returned at the last eight Censuses of Victoria :—

218.

The following diagram enables a conception to be formed, perhaps more readily than by columns of figures, of the relative proportions of British and foreign subjects resident in Victoria when the Census of 1891 was taken ; the British subjects being divided into natives of Victoria, of other Australasian Colonies, of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland respectively, and of other British possessions. [Diagram.]

NOTE.—The square represents the total population of Victoria (1,140,405).

219.

Natives of 50 British dominions or dependencies were living in Victoria at the date of the Census. The following are the names of such countries, and the number of males and females returned as born in each :— [British subjects by birth.]

220.

Natives of Victoria, numbering 713,585, and natives of the whole of the Australasian Colonies, numbering 793,304, respectively furnish proportions of nearly 65 per cent. and nearly 72 per cent. to the whole number of British-born subjects resident in this colony. [Natives of Australasia.]

221.

To the whole population of Victoria, natives of the colony bore a proportion of 63 per cent., and natives of the other colonies of the group one of 7 per cent. ; thus the two combined, embracing natives of all the Australasian Colonies resident in Victoria at the date of the Census, furnished a proportion of 70 per cent. [Table XXII.]

222.

The Census of 1881 was the first at which more than half the population of Victoria consisted of natives of the colony ; the proportion was then 58 per cent., whilst according to the returns of the Census under notice it now approaches to two-thirds of the whole, viz., 63 per cent. In 1871 the proportion of Victorian natives in the population was 45 per cent. ; in 1861, 26 per cent. ; in 1857, 17 per cent. ; and in 1854, 13 per cent.

223.

Between the Censuses of 1881 and 1891, male Victorian natives resident in the colony of their birth increased by 107,198, and female Victorian natives there resident increased by 107,188. During the same interval 161,128 male infants and 153,407 female infants were born in Victoria, and there were doubtless some Victorian natives absent from the colony in 1881, but who returned afterwards. From these circumstances it follows that more than 53,930 males and more than 46,219 females of Victorian birth must either have died or left the colony during the intercensal period.

224.

Of natives of other Australasian Colonies living in Victoria in 1891 the most numerous were those of South Australia, then those of New South Wales and New Zealand, followed by those of Tasmania ; natives of Queensland, Western Australia, and Fiji resident in Victoria being comparatively few. Natives of all the other colonies of the group were more numerous in Victoria in 1891 than in 1881, as is shown by the following figures :— [Table XXIV.]

225.

The colonies are arranged in the table according to the respective increases which took place during the intercensal period in the numbers of their natives living in Victoria. It will be observed that if the arrangement had been according.

to the numbers in 1891 the order would have been the same, except that Tasmania would have changed places with, and stood above, New Zealand. It will further be noticed that the number of Tasmanians in Victoria in 1881 was larger than that of natives of any of the other colonies of the group, but in 1891 natives of South Australia and New South Wales resident in Victoria were both more numerous than those of Tasmania.

226.

Amongst Victorian natives the females exceeded the males by 4,133. Amongst natives of four of the other Australasian Colonies living in Victoria females were also the more numerous, viz., those of New South Wales by 318, of Queensland by 197, of Western Australia by 52, and of Tasmania by 1,064. On the other hand, in the case of natives of South Australia and New Zealand, the males outnumbered the females, in the former by 828 and in the latter by 624. This would appear to indicate that the men came to Victoria from those two colonies in order to obtain work, but, not intending to make it their home, in many instances did not bring their families with them.

227.

After natives of the Australasian Colonies, persons born in the United Kingdom formed the most numerous section of the population. These numbered close upon 300,000 (298,881), and amounted to rather more than a fourth of the population. Upwards of half (53 per cent.) were natives of England ; over a fourth (28 per cent.) were natives of Ireland ; about a sixth (17 per cent.) were natives of Scotland, and 2 per cent. were natives of Wales. [Natives of the United Kingdom.]

228.

In 1891, as compared with 1881, there was in Victoria an increase in the number of persons born in each division of the United Kingdom except Ireland. The whole increase was 16,542, made up of an increase of 14,907 English, 2,514 Scotch, and 547 Welsh, less a falling-off of 1,426 in the number of Irish.

229.

In 1891 males were considerably more numerous than females in the case of natives of all the divisions of the United Kingdom except Ireland, amongst natives of which the numbers of the two sexes were nearly equal. At the previous Census, whilst there was also a large excess of males over females in the case of England, Scotland, and Wales, Irish females exceeded Irish males by 4,281.

230.

Of other subjects of Her Majesty resident in Victoria, 131 were natives of European, 1,853 of Asiatic, 1,008 of African, and 1,860 of American British possessions. In the case of those born in Europe there was a falling-off of 5 as compared with 1881, which reduction would not have occurred if Heligoland had not been ceded to a foreign country, which resulted in 8 natives of that island returned in 1891 being necessarily classed as foreigners. In the case of subjects of Her Majesty born in Asia there was an increase of 723 ; in that of those born in Africa an increase of 370 ; and in that of those born in America an increase of 200. [Natives of other British possessions.]

231.

Of those born at sea who have been set down as British subjects the returns showed 5 less in 1891 than in 1881. In the case of persons born at sea it frequently happens that the nationality is not stated, and it is only by the name that an assumption can be made as to wheather they are British or foreign subjects. An assumption upon the same grounds is also necessarily made in the case of persons whose place of birth is altogether unspecified. [British subjects born at sea.]

232.

Natives of 43 independent foreign countries and of 32 of their dependencies or detached portions, or of 75 foreign dominions in all, found places in the [Natives of foreign countries.]

Census returns of 1891. The following is a statement of the names of such dominions and of the number of males and females stated to have been born in each :—

233.

Subjects of foreign powers amounted to about 3 per cent. of the population of Victoria. Amongst these, subjects of Germany were the most numerous, amounting to 31 per cent. of the whole number of foreigners ; whilst subjects of China, who were next in point of numbers, amounted to 24 per cent. ; and subjects of Sweden and Norway, who were next, to over 9 per cent. of that number.

234.

During the intercensal period 1881-91 a net increase of 4,327 occurred in the number of foreign residents in Victoria, the greatest increase being in the case of Germans, the next in that of Swedes and Norwegians, and the next in that of Russians. Natives of all important foreign countries increased in numbers except those of France, who fell off by 27, and those of China, who fell off by 3,332. It may

be pointed out that there were 207 subjects of Turkey in Victoria in 1891, but not one subject of that country in 1881. The number of natives of each foreign country, including its outlying possessions, being in Victoria in 1881 and 1891, together with the increase or decrease of such natives during the intervening decennial period, is shown in following table :—

235.

In the case of natives of foreign countries resident in Victoria, females were in almost every case much less numerous than males. The proportion of the former per 100 of the latter amongst such natives as a whole was 21 ; amongst natives of the United States it was 45 ; of France, 43 ; of Germany, 38 ; of Holland, 30 ; of Russia, 29 ; of Switzerland, 17 ; of Denmark, 14 ; of Italy, 10 ; of Sweden and Norway, 7 ; and of China, even counting natives of European race, only 1[FORMULA] females to every 100 males.

236.

In that portion of Greater Melbourne subject to the jurisdiction of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works, natives of British dominions numbered 462,260, and natives of foreign countries numbered 14,609 ; the proportion to the number of British and of foreign subjects in the colony being in both cases 42 per cent. In the same metropolitan district were congregated 66 per cent. of the Russians resident in Victoria ; 54 per cent. of the French ; 51 per cent. of the natives of the United States ; 48 per cent. of the natives of the British Isles ; 44 per cent. of the Swedes and Norwegians ; 40 per cent. of the Germans ; 39 per cent. of the natives of Australia ; 28 per cent. of the Italians ; and 25 per cent. of the natives of China. [Birthplaces of residents of Melbourne, Table XXV.]

237.

Besides the individuals set down as born in China (Asiatic race), numbering 8,450, there were 927 persons of that race, viz., 124 pure and 803 half-caste Chinese, born elsewhere than in that Empire. Of these 876, viz., 103 of pure and 773 of mixed race, were born in Victoria ; and 17, viz., 2 of pure and 15 of mixed race, in [Birthplaces of the Chinese.]

other Australasian Colonies. The following table contains a statement of the country of birth of all the Chinese living in Victoria in 1891, the sexes and those of pure and of mixed race being distinguished :—

238.

The 565 Aborigines returned at the Census were not all natives of Victoria. They were all, however, entered as born in one or other of the Australian Colonies proper, except 2 females, who were set down as born in Fiji. One Aboriginal female was returned as having been born in Tasmania, but this must be a mistake, as the last of the Tasmanian race of Aborigines died in 1876.

239.

The following table contains a statement of the birthplaces of the people of each Australasian Colony, according to the returns of the Census of 1891 ; also the number of males and females of each birthplace :— [Birthplaces of residents in each Australasian Colony.]

240.

The table shows the natives of the Australasian Colonies resident therein to have numbered 2,643,083, of whom 2,103,202 were born on the Australian continent. The former number furnishes a proportion of 68 per cent. and the latter one of 69 per cent. to the population. In 1881 the proportions were respectively 62 and 63 per cent.

241.

In the following table the figures denoting the total number of natives of each important country living in Australasia in 1891 are collated with similar figures for 1881, the increases since that period being also shown.

242.

It will be observed that China is the only country of which the natives resident in the Australasian Colonies decreased in numbers between the last two Census periods ; also that whilst Chinese were slightly more numerous than Germans in 1881, the latter outnumbered the former by 9,000 in 1891. It will, moreover, be noticed that the increase in the number of Irish during the intercensal period was little more than half the increase in the number of Scotch.

243.

From the Census returns of the different colonies it is ascertained that Victorian natives living in Australasian Colonies other than the colony of their birth numbered 69,021, viz., 38,310 males and 30,711 females. The numbers found to be living in each colony of the group are set down in the following table :— [Victorians in each Australasian Colony.]

244.

The figures afford evidence of the existence of 782,606 Victorians by birth, viz., 393,036 males and 389,570 females. There are doubtless also some

living in the United Kingdom and other countries outside of Australasia, but of these there are no means of estimating the numbers. The increase of known natives of Victoria since 1881 has been 243,501, viz., 123,119 males and 120,382 females.

245.

Victoria, according to the following table, presents greater attractions to natives of other colonies of the group than those colonies, taken as a whole, present to Victorians, inasmuch as, whilst 77,045 natives of extra-Victorian colonies were found to be living in Victoria, only 69,018 natives of Victoria were found to be living in other colonies :— [Victorians in other colonies, and other colonists in Victoria.]

246.

It will be observed that Victoria sends more of her natives to New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia than she receives of their natives, but the reverse is the case as regards South Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. The natives received from the last three over and above those parted with to the first three colonies is in favour of Victoria to the extent of 8,027 persons, as shown in the table.

RELIGIONS OF THE PEOPLE.

247.

No resident of Victoria can persist in refusing to supply an answer to any of the inquiries embodied in the Census Schedule without rendering himself liable to a penalty except in the case of the inquiry as to religion, in respect to which any one not wishing to give the information is at liberty to cause the word " object " to be entered in its stead. [Religions of the people, Table XXVI. et seq.]

248.

That the question should even be asked is considered undesirable by some persons. In England, Scotland, and Wales the opposition to it has been so strong that the Government have never succeeded in getting legal authority to its being put. In Ireland, however, the inquiry is always made when a Census is taken, and is responded to without demur.

249.

It is stated that in Great Britain the opposition to a Census of religions comes mainly from the dissenting bodies, whose adherents fear that a large number of those persons who are indifferent to all religions and never enter a church of chapel would, if such an inquiry were sanctioned, set themselves down as members of that denomination which is held to be the most aristocratic and fashionable, and the apparent strength of the Church of England would be unjustly and improperly added

to thereby. It is maintained, moreover, by some that a man's religious belief, being a matter between himself and a Higher Power, is a secret of the heart which no Government has any right to pry into.

250.

There being no established church in Victoria, no one denomination possesses any legal or recognised superiority over another. Still, there is no doubt that, from the fact of its being considered respectable to have a religion of some kind, many who pay no heed to, and perhaps place no credence in, the dogmas taught by any religious body cause themselves to be entered at the Census as members of one or other of the denominations, and, for this reason, the return is to a certain extent misleading. No determined opposition, however, has ever been made in Victoria to the embodiment of the inquiry in the Census Schedule, subject to the option of refusing to respond to it if desired. This permission has been given at the last four Censuses, but on each of those occasions comparatively few persons availed themselves of the privilege.

251.

The number of those who signified their objection to state their religion in 1891 was 13,608 out of a total population of 1,140,405, or 1 in 84. The proportion of such persons in 1881 was 1 in 100, in 1871 it was 1 in 73, and in 1861 it was 1 in 47. [Objecting to state religion.]

252.

In classifying the religions, the exact entry made in the Census Schedule was copied upon the cards and afterwards placed under the proper head, and in the event of there being no entry of religion in the schedule, the person, if an adult, was set down as unspecified. In regard to children respecting whom no return of religion was made, the recommendation adopted by the Census Conference already alluded to, was followed ; this was to the effect that such children should be tabulated as of the religion of their parents if the father and mother were stated to be of the same religion, or of the religion of one parent if specified ; but that if the parents were of different religions, no assumption should be made as to the religion it was intended to bring the children up to, who should be classed as unspecified. Should, however, a woman of European birth or extraction be married to a Chinaman, the children, if unspecified, should be entered as of the religion of the mother. [Mode of classifying religions.]

253.

The following is a statement of the number of males and females of different religious denominations as returned in the Census Schedules :— [Religious denominations, Table XXIX.]