CENSUS OF THE COLONY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

TAKEN OF THE

3RD APRIL, 1881.

LAURENCE S ELIOT.

SUPERINTENDENT OF CENSUS.

ALSO

STATISTICAL TABLES RELATING TO THE COLONY

FROM 1872 TO 1881 INCLUSIVE,

PREPARED BY THE PRIVATE SECRETARY.

PERTH:

BY AUTHORITY : RICHARD PETHER, GOVERNMENT PRINTER.

1882.

PREFACE

IN a country in which a limited population is seattered over so large an area as that contained in this Colony, it is a difficult matter to arrange for a Census without incurring considerable expense. With a view to lessening the cost of our Census, it was therefore decided that the Police should distribute and collect the Householder's Schedules, instead of employing Collectors who would have required to be specially remunerated for their services, and that each Resident Magistrate should undertake the general supervision of the enumeration of the people residing in his district. This arrangement was by no means unsatisfactory, and I am glad to say that the Magistrates and Police did the work as well as could be expected ; but under these circumnutates the whole of the abstracting had to be performed in the Census Office. The officers engaged on this work and in the compilation of the Tables were Messers, C. Spencer. W. L. w. Harper, J.F. Whitely, and W. Cousins ; and it is owing to the zeal and ability they displayed in performing the arduous duties entrusted to them that I am able to present so complete and correct a set of summaries.

When the manuscripts were placed in the hands of the government Printer it was found that it would take a considerable time to do the printing in connection therewith concurrently with the routine work of the department, and therefore in March last the General Report was published, to be followed by the Tables when finally completed, but through pressure of work, consequent upon the last Session of the Legislative Council, it has not been possible to issue the census in a complete form till the present time.

This delay has, however, afforded the opportunity of adding some interesting Statistical Tables relating to the Colony from 1872 to 1881, inclusive, which have been prepared by the Private Secretary for the use of H. E. the Governor, and presented by His Excellency to the Legislative Council.

L.S.E.,

Superintendent of Census.

October, 1882.

CONTENTS.

PRELIMINARY REMARKS IN REPORT.

Act of Council under which Census was taken

Information required to be given by Householders

Penalty for refusing to give information

Division of Colony into Districts

Enumeration of Inhabitants residing in Municipalities and Towns

Enumeration of Aborigines

Date on which Census was taken

Date on which rough summary of gross Population was published

Classification of Census Returns

CENSUS APRIL, 1881. GENERAL REPORT

TO THE HONORABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

MY LORD,

Census Office, Perth, 1st December, 1881.

I have the honor to make the following observations on the general results of the Census of 1881 :—

PRELIMINARY REMARKS.

The Census of 1881 was taken on the night of the 3rd April, under the provisions of the 12th Victoria, No. 4, made perpetual by an Act passed by the Legislature in its Session of 1880 (44 Victoria, No. 2). [Census Ordinance, 1848, perpetuated by 44 Vict., No. 2.]

The Householder's Schedule, which was framed for the purpose of carrying out the objects of the Census Ordinance, contained columns for the requisite information respecting the name, relation to the head of the family, sex, age, rank, profession or occupation, state of health, religion, and degree of education of each person ; also as to the description of house inhabited, and the quantity of land cultivated by each householder, who was further required to give full particulars regarding the stock and poultry he possessed, as well as the number and description of farming implements used on his premises. [Householder's Schedule.]

Any persons who failed to supply correct information on these points was liable, under the third clause of the Ordinance, to a penalty not exceeding five pounds, except in the case of his professing to have a conscientious objection to state his religion ; under such circumstances he was freed from the obligations imposed by this clause, by entering the word "object" in the religion column. [Penalty for refusing information.]

At the date of the Census, the Colony was divided into fourteen Resident and Police Magistrate's districts, the boundaries of which were taken and fixed for the Census districts, and each Resident or Police Magistrate was required to perform the duties which, in other places, are generally assigned to enumerators, the mounted and foot police acting under his direction as collectors. In the year 1870 (the date of the last Census) there were only twelve Residencies, viz., Fremantle, Greenough and Irwin, Murray, the North, Perth, Plantagenet, Sussex, Swan, Toodyay, Victoria, Wellington, and York, the boundaries of which have been altered so as to allow for the formation of the new districts of Blackwood and Williams. The areas of the old districts, as reduced, and of the two recently created, are shown in the photo-lithographed map of the Colony attached to this report. Had these changes not been made, the population of the Blackwood and Williams, in all 1,695 souls, would have been distributed among the Murray, Wellington, Sussex, and Plantagenet Districts, but how far each separate Residency has been affected it is impossible to come to a correct conclusion ; and the comparisons made between the results of this Census and that of 1870 are, therefore, somewhat faulty. [Division of Colony into Districts.] [Map of Colony showing boundaries of Districts.]

At the date of the last Census no attempt was made to ascertain the number of inhabitants resident in the principal towns of the Colony. It, however, being desirable to have such information at command, instructions were given to magistrates to enumerate the population within the boundaries of the Municipalities and certain townsites, independently of those persons residing in the outlying portions of their districts ; consequently, the tables not only deal with the population of each district as a whole, but also with that concentrated in each townsite separately. The towns in each district are as follows :— [Municipalities and Towns kept separate from Districts.]

Magistrates received detailed instructions from Your Lordship as well as from myself, as to the manner in which the duties imposed on them in connection with the Census were to be carried out. [Instructions to Magistrates.]

To determine the number of Aborigines in the settled portions of the Colony, householders were required to state on their schedules full particulars as to each aboriginal in their employ. By this means correct data are at hand as to the black population in the service of the white. In addition to this, each Resident or Police Magistrate was desired to obtain, if possible, information as to the number of Aborigines who, in his district, were not depending on the settlers for their subsistence ; but the particulars that have been given on this point do not appear to be sufficiently reliable to be made use of in this report. [Enumeration of Aborigines.]

In due course, the decennial Census of this Colony should have been taken on the 31st March, 1880, but the enumeration of the population was deferred till the night of the 3rd April last, in order that it might be taken simultaneously with that of the United Kingdom and the other Australian Colonies. [Date of Census.]

In consequence of the inhabitants being scattered over such a large territory, the police experienced great difficulty in collecting the schedules in anything like a reasonable time, and especially so as the duties connected with theirsurveillanceof the people could not be overlooked. For this reason, the preliminary examination of the schedules, for the purpose of publishing a rough statement of the gross population, was not commenced till the 18th May, and, owing to the absence of the schedules from certain districts, it was impossible to place the information before the public prior to the 13th June. In the return published in theGazetteof the 14th June, the population was roughly stated as 29,612, and the final abstracting of the Census papers discloses a combined total of 29,708. Since the preliminary report was published, additional schedules have been received from Plantagenet District, containing the names of 90 persons ; consequently there is, in reality, only a difference of 5 between the total population now dealt with and that given in the return before referred to ; and I cannot but observe that such careful abstracting reflects great credit on the officers who were employed for the purpose. [Publication of rough summary of results.]

The information given by householders in answer to the inquiries made in the schedules has been classified under 12 separate heads or parts, as follows :— [Twelve Parts of Census returns.]

PART I.—Population and Dwellings.

PART II.—Ages of the People.

PART III.—Conjugal Condition of the People.

PART IV.—Education of the People.

PART V.—Religions of the People.

PART VI.—Occupations of the People.

PART VII.—Nationalities of the People.

PART VIII.—Year of entering the Colony.

PART IX.—Sick and infirm, and Condition of the People.

PART X.—Agriculture.

PART XI.—Live Stock.

PART XII.—Mines, Quarries, Manufactories, Mills, and Machinery.

—and I shall now endeavor to make a few observations on each partseriatim.

PART I.—POPULATION AND DWELLINGS.

It will be seen from this return that on the night of the 3rd April there were, exclusive of aborigines, 29,708 persons in Western Australia, consisting of 17,062 males and 12,646 females. On the 31st March, 1870, there were in the Colony 15,375 males and 9,410 females. The addition to our population is, therefore, 4,923 persons ; or, during the period of 11 years which transpired between the dates of the Census of 1870 and 1881, the increase has been 19.86 per cent.,—a little more than 1.8 per cent. per annum. Between the Census of 1859 and that of 1870, there was an increase of 9,948 persons, or 67.04 per cent., being at the rate of 6.54 per cent. per annum for the 10 years and 3 months. It does not appear to me to be desirable on this occasion to reiterate the cause of the greater increase in our population in the decade prior to the 1870 Census ; but, as such a retrograde step may be commented on with a view of throwing doubt on the results of this Census, I shall make a comparison between the figures given in these tables and the estimated population stated in the Blue Book, which is based on the results of the previous Census. [Table 1. Increase of population.] [Estimated compared with actual population.]

The former of these tables discloses that the natural increase from 1st April, 1870, to 3rd April, 1881, was 1,954 males and 3,168 females ; but the latter shows anything but a satisfactory stage of things ; for, although an addition of eight females has accrued by immigration, the departures of males have exceeded the arrivals by 678. Our estimated population on 3rd April was, therefore, as follows:—

The actual population on 3rd April, as shown by the householders' schedules, was 17,062 males and 12,646 females, being 471 persons in excess of the estimated, viz., 411 males and 60 females ; and I think I may say, without fear of contradiction, that there are very few places in which the estimate has been so fully established by the results of the Census.

In consequence of the alterations in the boundaries of certain districts before mentioned, the increase therein, as shown in the tables, is not so great as it would otherwise have been ; and it is no doubt owing to this fact that there is, since the 1870 Census, a decrease in the number of persons in the Plantagenet and Wellington districts. The following figures show the actual and rateable increase of persons in each district :— [Table VII. Increase or decrease of population in each District.]

The increase of the sexes since March 1870 is as follows : —Males 1,687, females 3,236 the former having in the 11 years increased 10.97 per cent., or only at the rate of 0.99 per cent. per annum, whilst the latter have increased at the rate of 3.12 per cent. per annum, or 34.38 per cent. between the dates of the two Censuses. From these figures it is evident our female population is progressing at a far greater rate than our male. [Table II. Rate of increase of sexes.]

The number of females to 100 males at the date of the Census was 74.12 ; in March 1870 it was 61.20. A slight improvement has, consequently, been made in this respect ; but even now the disproportion between the sexes is greater than that of [Inequality of the sexes.]

Victoria or New South Wales in 1871 ; for in the first mentioned there were 82.40 females to 100 males, and in the second 82.89. It is also greater than in New Zealand in 1878, where there were 79.40 females to every 100 males. The proportion of the sexes in the various districts of the Colony, at the respective Censuses of 1870 and 1881, was as follows :—

In centres of population the numbers of the sexes, as a rule, are more nearly equalized than in rural parts, and the following figures show that such is the case in this Colony. At the date of the Census, the number of persons residing in municipalities and towns [VideTable IV.] was 14, 159, consisting of 7,480 males and 6,679 females, in the proportion of 89.29 females to 100 males. In the outlying districts there were 15,549 persons, viz., 9,582 males and 5,967 females, for every 100 of which males there were 62.27 females. [Comparison as to sex of persons in towns and rural parts.]

In countries where the population is dense, it is a matter of great importance to determine the proportion of persons to each square mile. In this Colony, however, the territory is so extended, and the population of so limited a number, that it seems almost futile to make any remarks on this head. I nevertheless deem it desirable to do so for future reference, and, having been directed by the hon. the Surveyor General to the Blue Book for 1880 for the area of the Colony, I find, on examining the returns at page 76, that, up to the end of the year, the land granted and sold was 2,651 square miles, which, if added to the 1,057,434 square miles remaining unalienated at that time, would make our territory contain 1,060,085 square miles. To this vast area is to be compared a population of 29,708, which gives a result of 0.02 to the square mile. Another question arises when considering this subject, and that is, what relation do the people bear to the country they occupy ? And taking the figures in connection with the land which came under the observation of the Surveyor General during the year 1880, that is, the acreage granted and sold in addition to that occupied under lease or license, I find that the proportion is 0.40 to the square mile. From these figures it will be seen that to every 100 square miles of the whole Colony there are only two (or nearly three) persons ; and that there are just 40 persons to every 100 square miles of land under settlement. This, of course, is a cause for regret to persons residing in the Colony, as a country can hardly be looked upon as in a prosperous condition unless it is supporting a large community ; but to capitalists beyond our shores it is a matter well worthy of consideration, for our land regulations being of a most liberal nature, this extensive, unoccupied territory, which is well adapted to agricultural as well as pastoral pursuits, is open to selection at a nominal price, and needs only to be utilized in these respects to be highly remunerative. It also contains various descriptions of minerals, such as lead, copper, etc., and gives indication of being a gold-producing country ; so that there cannot be a better field for immigrants, whether they be [Persons to the square mile.]

possessed of means, or be of the laboring classes, who, in the United Kingdom and other over-populated countries, find it so difficult to obtain a livelihood.

The total number of dwellings which lodged the population of the Colony on the night of the 3rd April last was 5,271. the average number of persons, therefore, to each house, was 5.64 ; in March, 1370, it was 6.6, the number of houses being 3,500. There has, consequently, been an increase of 3.62 dwellings to every 100 persons, and a decrease of the density of habitation to the extent of 0.96 to each dwelling. The character of the buildings was as follows :—2,129 built of brick, 1,607 of stone, 1,458 of wood, 12 of galvanized iron, and 65 of other material. The following table gives the percentage in each district of each class of habitation :— [Houses.]

Tables V. and VI. give full particulars as to the descriptions of the houses ; and the increase since March, 1870, in the various dwellings, classified according to the number of rooms they contain, is shown below :—

From these figures it will be seen that a marked improvement has been made in the size and capacity of the houses, the largest descriptions have increased in the greatest proportion, for whilst the dwellings of less than four rooms have, since 1870, increased 28.35 per cent., those containing six rooms and upwards have increased 102.02 per cent., and the four and five-roomed houses 71.55 per cent.

On the 3rd April last, the number of towns in the Colony containing a population of upwards of 500 persons, was as follows :—

The City of Perth contained 16.97 per cent., and the municipality of Fremantle 12.25 per cent., of the whole population ; nearly one-third of the entire population of the Colony resided in these two places.

PART II.—AGES OF THE PEOPLE.

Of the population of the Colony on the night of the 3rd April last, the number of persons who recorded their ages in the Census schedules was 29,603 : 16,962 males and 12,641 females. The relative proportion of males whose ages were stated to the whole population was therefore 57.09 per cent., and of females 42.55 per cent. the unspecified as to age were 100 males and 5 females ; the former in the proportion of 0.33 per cent. to the whole population, and the latter 0.01 per cent. the actual number of males who failed to give their ages was in the proportion of 1.17 to every 200 males living, whilst to every 4,000 females there were only 1.57 whose ages were unspecified. [Number whose age was recorded.]

The number of persons at each year of age is given in Table II. ; but detailed tables, showing the ages of persons residing in the districts of the Colony, as also in the towns therein, have been framed, with the view of showing the numbers at each year of age to 14 inclusive, and then in quinquennial periods (excepting the twenty-first year, which is shown separately) to 79 inclusive ; above which all persons are classified under one head of "80 and upwards." [Number at each year of age.]

The number of children under 5 years of age was 4,141, consisting of 2,070 males and 2,071 females. The number at the ages 5 and under 10 amounted to 3,725, of whom 1,878 were males and 1,847 females ; 10 and under 15, 3,546, consisting of 1,802 males and 1,744 females ; and between the ages of 15 and 21, there were 1,794 males and 1,832 females, in all 3,626 persons. On the 31st March, 1870, and the 3rd April last, the proportion of females to 100 males under 5 years, at 5 and under 10, 10 and under 15, and at 15 and under 21 years of age, was as follows :— [Minors.]

The persons under 21 were 15,038 or 50.61 per cent. of the whole population. At the Census of 1870 the proportion was 45.27 per cent. The population on the 3rd April last under 21 consisted of 7,544 males and 7,494 females ; the former were in the proportion of 44.21 per cent. to the total males, and the latter 59.26 per cent. of the whole female population. The equality of the sexes under 21 years of age is very striking, and the following figures, showing the numerical difference in each group, more clearly prove such to be the case :—

It is evident, therefore, that the inequality of the sexes, to which I have before drawn attention, exists in the adult population. For instance : at the age of 21 and under 25, there were 1,097 males and 937 females ; at 25 and under 30, 1,102 males and 849 females ; at 30 and under 35, 830 males and 685 females ; 35 and under 40, 1,036 males and 648 females ; 40 and under 45, 1.156 males and 616 females ; 45 and under 50, 1,232 males and 494 females ; 50 and under 55, 1,114 males and 323 [Adults.]

females ; 55 and under 60, 698 males and 216 females ; 60 and under 65, 595 males and 187 females ; 65 and under 70, 262 males and 94 females ; 70 and under 75, 182 males and 59 females ; 75 and under 80, 75 males and 25 females ; and at So and upwards, 40 males and 14 females. The proportion of males and females respectively at the above ages to the whole population of each sex in each group to the total of each sex in the Colony, and of the number of females to 100 males, is given in the following table :—

On the 3rd April last our total adult population was (including the unspecified as to age) 14,670 persons, or 49.38 per cent. of the whole population, whilst in 1870 it amounted to 13,563 or 54.72 per cent. of the total population.

In all the other colonies it is usual, when reviewing the ages of the people, to ascertain the number of persons at what is called the " supporting periods of life," viz., from 15 to 65 years of age, all persons under 15 and at the age of 65 and upwards being considered as dependent on the others for their subsistance ; therefore, before concluding this part of the report, the following table is given in order to compare the results of the last Census in this respect with those of other places. It would also have been satisfactory to have been able to make a comparison with our position at the date of the 1870 Census ; but the division of the ages of the people at that time does not admit of this being done. The proportion of the population at the "supporting" and "dependent" periods to every 1,000 of the population of the Colony at the date of the last Census is shown in the following table, which also exhibits the relative strength of the classes in the other Australian Colonies in 1871 :— [Population at supporting ages.]

As was the case in the colonies mentioned, the 105 persons whose age at last Census was unspecified have been added, in the above return, to the "Supporting Class," as the information given in the schedules leads me to believe they were all adults below the age of 65. Our old people number more in proportion to the thousand than in any of the other colonies, but, with regard to the "supporting" class, we rank next to Queensland, which holds the best position in this respect. In view of these facts and figures, notwithstanding that it may be said that a divergence has been made from the subject of this report, I cannot refrain from attempting to show what proportion of the revenue and expenditure is under these circumstances borne by the persons of the "supporting" class. In 1880 the revenue amounted to £180,049, and, consequently, the "supporting" class (in all 17,545 persons) contributed during the year at the rate of pound ; 10 each. The actual taxation in the shape of customs duty, amounting to £95,510 for the same period, would be £5 each. The expenditure was £204,307, or at the rate of £11 each. If the argument be correct, that the persons between 15 and 65 supported all others above and under those ages, it would be also interesting to know how they stand with regard to the imports and exports. In 1880 the imports amounted to £353,669, and the exports to £499,183, or the former at the rate of £20, and the latter £28 per head of the total "supporting" population.

PART III.—CONJUGAL CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE.

On the 3rd April last, out of the total population of 29,708, the unmarried persons amounted to 20,410 or 68.70 per cent., the married were 8,251 or 27.77 per cent., and the widowed numbered 1,047 or 3.52 per cent. At the Census of 1870 there were 24,785 persons, of whom 1,470 being prisoners were not dealt with in the return of the "Social Condition" of the people at that time. Deducting that number then from the grand total, we have 23,315 persons, of whom 16,282 or 69.83 per cent. were unmarried ; 6,701 or 28.74 per cent. were married, and 332 or 1.42 per cent. were widowed. [Comparisons between 1870 & 1881.]

The male population at the date of last Census was 17,062, consisting of 12,248 or 71.78 per cent. who were unmarried, 4,275 or 25.05 per cent. who were married, and 539 or 3.16 per cent. who were widowed. Of the total female population of 12,646, 8,162 or 64.54 per cent. were unmarried, 3,976 or 31.44 per cent. were married, and 508 or 4.01 per cent. were widowed. [Conjugal condition of the sexes.]

It is usual, when endeavoring to ascertain the proportion of bachelors to spinsters, to deduct from the number of persons shown as unmarried all those of youthful element, which in the case of the males includes the persons under 20, and in regard to females those under 15 years of age. Accordingly we take from the unmarried males shown above, 7,255, for those under 20, which leaves us 4,993 as the number of bachelors in the Colony at the date of last Census. From the unmarried females we eliminate 5,661 for those under 15 years of age, and we have left 2,501 for the number of our spinsters. From these figures it will be seen that the number of our bachelors of 20 years of age and upwards exceeded the number of spinsters of 15 and upwards by 2,492,—a result which is by no means satisfactory, for under these circumstances we have as nearly as possible 200 bachelors to every 100 spinsters. [Bachelors and Spinsters.]

In 1870 the husbands exceeded the wives by 207, and at last Census the excess recorded was 299. Taking into consideration the increase consequent upon the larger [Husbands and Wives.]

population, there was about the same proportion of husbands whose wives were not in the Colony at the dates of the two Censuses. This evidently is not the result of immigration, for our male population has suffered in that respect, as is shown in my remarks on that part of the report headed "Population and Dwellings." There are causes in our social element which might account for this fact, but to them I have no wish to refer.

There was only one girl under 15 returned as being married at the date of the last Census. In 1870 there was neither a male nor a female under that age who had entered the bonds of matrimony. [Conjugal condition under 15.]

On the 3rd April last there were five males and 130 females at 15 but under 20 years of age who were stated as being married, but what was the number married at those ages in 1870 is not disclosed in the returns : at neither Censuses were any persons returned as widowers or widows at these ages. [Conjugal condition 15 to 20.]

In 1870 the excess of widows over widowers was 22, but in April last the position was reversed, as the widowers exceeded the widows by 31. The following table shows the respective numbers at the under mentioned age-periods, and the proportion of widows to each 100 widowers :— [Widowers and Widows.]

PART IV.—EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE.

Great care was taken to obtain correct information on this subject, and the result is by no means unsatisfactory ; for out of the whole population of 29,708 on the night of the 3rd April, only 222 persons, or 0.75 per cent., failed to record their degree of education. Those who specified the measure of their education were 29,486, their percentage to the whole population being 99.25. Of this number, 19,537, or 66.26 per cent., could read and write ; 2,412, or 8.18 per cent., could only read, and the remainder 7,537, or 25.56 per cent., could neither read nor write. Of the total male population, 11,516, or 67.49 per cent., were able to read and write, 1,249 or 7.32 per cent. were able to read only, 4,125 or 24.17 per cent. were unable to read or write, and 172 or 1.01 per cent. did not answer the inquiries on the Census schedules. Of the specified females at all ages those who could read and write, read only, and neither read nor write, were respectively 8,021, 1,163, and 3,412, being at the rate of 63.42 per cent., 9.19 per cent., and 26.98 per cent. The females who unspecified their education were 50 or 0.39 to each hundred of the whole female population. [Number who recorded degree of education.]

Under the provisions of the Elementary Education Act now in force in the Colony all children who have attained the age of 14 years are exempt from compulsory attendance at school, and, as admission to our Elementary Schools is available to every child of not less than four years of age, it will be intersecting to know the degree of education possessed by children between these ages. Which was as follows :—Out of a total of 7,403, 3,774 or 50.98 per cent. could read and write ; 1,209 or 16.33 per cent. were able to read ; 2,363 or 31.92 per cent. could neither read nor write ; and 0.57 or 0.77 per cent. were unspecified. The males at 4 and under 14 years were 3,746 : of these 1,873 or 50.00 per cent. could read and write ; 613 or 16.36 per cent. could read only ; 1,229 or 32.81 per cent. could neither read nor write ; and 31 or 0.83 per cent. were unspecified. The total number of females at the same periods of age was 3,657, 1,901 could read and write ; 596 could read only ; 1,134 could not read or write ; and 26 were unspecified, or at the rate of 51.98, 16.29, 31.01, and 0.71 per cent. respectively. [Education of children 4 and under 14 years of age.]

In towns there are of course greater facilities for education than in the country, and it is evident that these advantages are availed of by parents in this Colony, for the children residing within the limits of the various municipalities and towns were, in April last, more advanced than those living without, as will be seen from the figures below, showing the numbers and proportions at the ages of 4 to 14 who could read and write :— [Education of children in Towns and in the Country.]

The following table shows the number and percentage of children between 4 and 14 years of age unable to read or write. In comparing the results it will be seen that the smallest proportion is in the Greenough and Irwin Districts, and the largest in the Williams :—

In the other colonies the school-going age is from 5 to 15. I have therefore endeavored to prepare the tables in connection with this important subject in such a manner that comparisons may be made, when required, with the results of their Censuses. [School-going age in the other colonies.]

At the age of 15 and upwards the population numbered (together with those persons unspecified as to age) 18,296. Of these there were 15,159 or 82.85 per cent. who could read and write, 1,163 or 6.35 per cent. who could read only, 1,817 or 9.93 [Education of persons of 15 and upwards.]

per cent. who could neither read nor write, and 157 or 0.85 per cent. who failed to record their education. Dealing with males and females separately, it appears that of the former, who numbered altogether 11,312, 9,345 or a percentage of 82.61 could read and write, 609, a percentage of 5.38, could read only, 1,222 or 10.80 per cent. were unable to read or write, and 136 or 1.20 per cent. were unspecified. Of the latter, amounting to 6,984, the number who could read and write, read only, and neither read nor write, and those who were unspecified as to the degree of education they had received, were respectively 5,814, 554, 595, and 21, the corresponding percentages being 83.25, 7.93, 8.52, and 0.30 of the female population at those ages.

In tabulating the Census of 1870 the education of the people was stated as to persons of 5 years of age and upwards. It is of course desirable to make comparisons between the results of this Census and those obtained in 1870 ; but inasmuch as there was a slight discrepancy in the educational return compiled in that year when compared with the return showing the ages of the people, I find it somewhat difficult to do so ; and I make these remarks so as to account for the difference between the figures now given and those already printed. [Education of the people in 1870 compared with 1881.]

From the above figures it is evident that a very marked improvement has been made since 1870 in regard to education, for notwithstanding that the population at five and upwards has increased at the rate of 29.20 per cent. the totally uneducated were, in April last, 13.65 per cent. less than they were in 1870, and those who could only read 5.63 per cent., whilst the persons who could read and write have increased 46.90 per cent. during the same period.

In the year 1871 a complete change took place in our system of education. Prior to that date only such schools as were under the management of the then General Board of Education received state-aid, in the shape of fixed salaries for the teachers, or money grants in addition to school fees. On the 17th August, 1871, the 35th Victoria, No. 14, became law, and, as set forth in the title, the object of the Act was "to encourage voluntary efforts in support of schools." What the result has been may be gathered from the following figures. At the end of 1869 the number of scholars on the rolls of Government Schools was 2,188. This number can hardly be taken as representing the total number of children receiving education at that time, as there must have been private schools where instruction of a higher class was being given ; but there is no official record of other than attenders at Government Schools, and, consequently, any comparisons that may be made will be faulty. On the 3rd April last there were 6,327 persons receiving education, of whom 2,777 or 43.89 per cent. were attending Government Schools, 1,323 or 20.91 per cent. Assisted Schools, 748 or 11.82 per cent. Private Schools, and 1,479 or 23.38 per cent. were being educated at home. If the attendance at school in 1870 was, as before stated, 2,188, the increase has been 189.17 per cent. ; but if , as I believe, there were many young people receiving education elsewhere at that time, the only correct comparison that can be made is [School attendance.]

by showing the increase on every hundred attending Government Schools, which would be 26.92. Several tables have been prepared showing the number of persons actually attending school on the 3rd April last. From these tables can be seen at a glance the number of persons at each year from four to 18, inclusive, who were receiving or not receiving education, but in my remarks on the degree of education possessed by the people I more particularly dweit upon the standard of those persons at four and under 14 years of age, and I therefore subjoin a table for the purpose of comparing the results obtained under that head with the actual attendance of scholars at those ages :—

I find that under the provisions of the Education Act the grants from public funds are only allowed on children of four years of age, and under 16, and consequently I have compiled the following table having reference to the number of actual attenders at those ages in each district, which will not, it is hoped, prove uninteresting :—

PART V.—RELIGIONS OF THE PEOPLE.

As the Government of this Colony still contributes to the support of religion by means of an ecclesiastical grant, which is, I believe, divided amongst the denominations that have an established ministry in the Colony, it was, of course, necessary, in order to ascertain the correct capitation grant to be hereafter given from public funds, to obtain reliable information on this subject. Particular instructions were therefore given to Magistrates to see that householders filled in properly the religion column in the schedules, and the result was that, irrespective of those who objected to state their religion, only 205 or 0.69 per cent. of the whole population failed to record the sect to which they belonged. [Number unspecified to religion.]

The members of the Church of England numbered 16,265 or 54.74 per cent. of the total population ; the Roman Catholics amounted to 8,413 or 28.32 per cent ; the Wesleyans 2,084 or 7.01 per cent. ; the Congregationalists or Independents 1,262 or 4.25 per cent. ; the Presbyterians 1,004 or 3.38 per cent ; and those persons tabulated under the head of "Other Religions" 329 or 1.11 per cent. [Numbers of each denomination.]

The persons who had a conscientious objection to state their religion amounted to 148 or 0.49 per cent. of the whole population, and consisted of 120 males and 28 females. [" Object."]

The following table exhibits the relative strength of each of the undermentioned denominations in 1870 and 1881, and the rate of increase for the 11 years between the dates of the two Censuses :— [Comparisons between 1870 and 1881.]

From the above figures it will be seen that the members of the Church of England and Roman Catholics have failed to maintain the position they occupied in 1870, notwithstanding that the former have increased 11.24 per cent. in the 11 years, and the latter 18.19 per cent. In other words ; they have not increased sufficiently in numbers to give them now, when allowing for the increment on the total population, the same proportion to the hundred which they had in 1870. In proof of this statement, I subjoin the following table, the first column of which shows the numbers each communion would have had this year supposing its percentage had been similar to that in 1870 ; the second column shows their actual numbers, and the two last columns represent the number of persons they have gained or lost relatively :—

In April last the males in each denomination exceeded the females, the proportion of the latter to 100 of the former being as follows :— [Proportion of sexes.]

PART VI.—OCCUPATIONS OF THE PEOPLE.

The classification of the occupations of the people was arranged according to that adopted in South Australia in 1876, and resembles, in its general principles, the systems which regulated this portion of the Census of Victoria in 1871, and the New Zealand Census of 1878. Very minute instructions were given on the back of the householders' schedules as to the manner in which the column to contain the information on this subject was to be filled in. It is of course well known that in colonial life the generality of persons have a variety of occupations or pursuits, and therefore it was that persons were particularly required to state the employments in which they were engaged of greatest importance to themselves, so that these might be entered as the occupations by which they were chiefly earning their livelihood. Under these circumstances, each individual has been returned under one head only, and the tables, therefore, fairly represent the employments of the people on the 3rd April last. [Classification adopted.]

The occupations were divided into six distinct classes or heads, which were comprised of 19 sub-classes containing the specified pursuit, trade, or employment, connected therewith ; and in my remarks thereon I shall merely draw attention to the nature of each class : I shall also, where possible, make comparisons between this and the Census of 1870. [Number of classes.]

CLASS I.—PROFESSIONAL.—

In this division are included all persons connected with the Government of the Colony (except those stated as being actually employed on the railways), all persons of the learned professions, and such as are engaged in literature, fine arts, and sciences. The total number in this class was 965, consisting of 718 males and 247 females, and was distributed under the following sub-divisions :—

Sub-Class 1.—

General and Local Government:—

In 1870 the male Civil Servants were 434, (these figures included police, warders, etc.), as against 441 returned on the 3rd April last.

Sub-Class 2.—Learned Professions.—

The number of persons (exclusive of those in the Government service) who followed professions was 190—the most important of which were—

Clergymen, Ministers 44 as against 81 in 1870.

Church Officers 62 as against 81 in 1870.

Lawyers, etc. 11 as against 10 in 1870.

Law Clerks, etc. 14 as against 10 in 1870.

There were also 7 physicians, 3 dentists, and 11 chemists and their assistants.

Sub-Class 3.—Literature, Fine Arts, and Sciences.—

This sub-division comprised 292 persons, as follows :—

In 1870 the male teachers numbered 105, as against 83 this year. There was, however, a considerable number of females returned as teachers in April last ; but whether the proportion was greater than in 1870 I am unable to say, as the occupations of females were not classified then.

CLASS II.—DOMESTIC.—

This class comprises all persons engaged in domestic duties or offices, such as wives, widows, sons, daughters, visitors, and relatives who have not been described as following any specific occupation, and children returned asbond fideattenders at school ; it also includes all persons, such as hotel keepers, publicans, and domestic servants, who perform personal offices for man. The total number recorded under this head was 17,790, consisting of 5,943 males and 11,847 females.

Sub-Class 1.—

Domestic :—

All children who were returned by parents as receiving instruction either at home or at public or private schools are included in the above figures, notwithstanding that after school hours they may have assisted in domestic or other duties, and, consequently, the tables in connection with the Occupation and Education Returns will correspond as regards the number of children shown as attending school.

Sub-Class 2.—Personal Offices—

consists of the following :—

The domestic servants in 1870 amounted to 1,055, or 98 males more than the number returned this year, and 56 females less.

CLASS III.—COMMERCIAL.—

The total number of this class was 1,490, of whom 1,427 were males and 63 females. All persons who buy, sell, keep, or lend money, as well as those engaged in the conveyance of men or goods, will be found under this head, which is sub-divided as follows :—

Sub-Class 1.—

Trading :—

Sub-Class 2.—Public Carriers.—

Under this division we have 55 persons connected with the railways of the Colony, and besides these we have a number of other public carriers—the most important of which are :

CLASS IV.—AGRICULTURAL.—

This class embraces all persons who earn their livelihood by cultivating land or by rearing stock depastured thereon. It also includes all persons who assist in these pursuits. The sub-classes containing the 4,763 persons in this division are 4 in number, viz. :—

Sub-Class 1.—

Agricultural Pursuits :—

Sub-Class 2.—

Pastoral Pursuits :—

Sub-Class 3.—

Land (not cultivating or grazing) :—

Sub-Class 4.—

Animals :—

CLASS V.—INDUSTRIAL.—

In this class are included all persons engaged in working or dealing in art and mechanical productions, in which matters of various kinds are employed in combination ; persons working or dealing in textile fabrics, in dress and fibrous materials ; persons working in foods or drinks (except hotelkeepers and others who, as rendering personal services to man, are classified under "domestic"), in animal and vegetable substances, and in mineral and other substances. The total of this class was 2,607, consisting of 2,379 males and 228 females, from which are extracted the following as being the most important in the sub-class to which they belong :—

Sub-Class 1 :—

CLASS VI.—INDEFINITE AND NON-PRODUCTIVE.—

All persons were included in this class whose branch of labor or employment was not defined so as to admit of their being recorded under any of the foregoing classes.

Sub-Class 1.—Laborers (branch undefined).—

In 1870 the number of persons classified as laborers was 767. On the 3rd April last 1,003 were returned, being an increase of 236 or 30.77 per cent. Persons engaged in other indefinite employments, such as mechanics, shopmen, apprentices, &c. (branch not described), amounted to 119.

Sub-Class 2.—Property or Rank.—

Under this sub-division will be found persons of independent means, numbering 36, and house proprietors 49.

Sub-Class 3.—Persons supported by the community.—

The inmates of Charitable Institutions and Hospitals amounted to 220, of whom 189 were males and 31 females. Our criminal class consisted of 275 males and 10 females. The unemployed numbered 96 ; lunatics 97 ; and the number of persons returned as pensioners was 177.

PART VII.—NATIONALITIES OF THE PEOPLE.

Out of the whole population of the Colony on the 3rd April last, only 35 persons, or 0.11 per cent., failed to state their birth places ; of these 29 were males and 6 females. [Birth places recorded.]

The total number of persons born in British possessions was 28,935 or 97.39 per cent. of the whole population. In 1870 the British-born subjects amounted to 24,335, or 98.18 per cent., including 1,470 prisoners, who, although classified in the tables as "unspecified," were no doubt, for the most part, British subjects by birth, but to which portion of Her Majesty's possessions they belonged cannot now be ascertained. There has, consequently, been an increase of 4,600, or 18.90 per cent., between the dates of the two Censuses, being somewhat less than the rate of increase of the whole population. The Foreign subjects numbered, in 1870, 378, or 1.52 per cent. of the whole population ; in April last they were 647, or 2.18 per cent. The increment has therefore been 269, or 71.16 per cent. on the number at the previous Census. [British and Foreign subjects.]

17,773 persons, or 59.82 per cent. of the whole population, were recorded in the schedules as having been born in Western Australia—the males numbering 8,888, and the females 8,885. At the Census of 1870 there were 5,496 males and 5,426 females whose births had taken place in this Colony, being a total of 10,922 persons, or a percentage of 44.07 to the population at that time. The increase is thus shown to have been 6,851, or 62.73 per cent. on the population born in Western Australia. [West Australians.]

The number of persons (exclusive of prisoners) born in England and Wales was, in 1870, 7,268, or 29.32 per cent. of the whole population. In April last it was 6,760, or 22.75 per cent. The decrease in the 11 years was 508, or 6.99 per cent. of the English and Welsh population. The Scotch decreased from 762 to 732, or 3.94 per cent. ; the Irish from 3,569 to 2,975, or 19.96 per cent. ; but the persons born in other British possessions, who, in 1870, numbered 344, and in April last 695, have increased 351, or 102.03 per cent. [Born in England and Wales.] [Born in other British Possessions.]

In April last there were 99.96 females to 100 males of the population born in Western Australia. Of the persons born in England and Wales there were 35.74 females to 100 males ; of the Scotch people 27.30 females to 100 males ; of the Irish 95.83 females to 100 males ; and of those born in other British possessions, to every 100 males there were 64.30 females. Taking the Foreign population as a whole, the males and females were in the proportion of 7.83 of the latter to 100 of the former. [Proportion of sexes.]

The following table shows the number of each sex, and their proportion to each 100 of the persons born in the countries mentioned :—

It is also interesting to know what proportion the sexes of each country bear to the total male and female population of the Colony, and a further return, in which persons born at sea and the "unspecified" are also shown, is given to supply that information :—

PART VIII.—YEAR OF ENTERING THE COLONY.

There are three tables dealing with the dates of arrival in the Colony of persons whose names appeared in the Census papers of April last. Table I. shows the number of persons who entered the Colony at certain specific periods. Table II. Gives the distribution throughout the various districts ; and the third table supplies the information regarding persons residing in municipalities and towns.

Of the persons who arrived in the Colony between 1829 and 1848, the date of the first Census, 1,031 persons were alive and residing in Western Australia on the 3rd April last. This number was 3.47 per cent. of our population in April, and represents 22.30 per cent. of the population of the Colony on the 10th October, 1848. It, however, must not be assumed that the remainder of the 4,622 people enumerated at that time are dead or removed from the Colony, for it is impossible to say what proportion of the persons born in Western Australia prior to 1849, and recorded in the Census of 1848, was returned on the 3rd April last.

The persons who arrived between 1849 and 1853 amounted to 1,825, or 6.14 per cent. of the whole population. Between 1854 and 1859 2,145 persons, or 7.22 per cent., arrived in the Colony ; 2,332 persons, or 7.85 per cent. of the whole population, were stated to have entered the Colony between 1860 and 1864 ; 1,813, or 6.10 per cent., between 1865 and 1870 ; 746, or 2.51 per cent., between 1871 and 1875 ; and 1,702, or 5.73 per cent., were stated to have arrived between 1876 and 1881. The persons born in Western Australia amounted to 17,773, or 59.82 per cent. of the total population ; and those who failed to specify the year of their arrival numbered 341, or 1.15 per cent.

PART IX.—SICK AND INFIRM.

Under this head I may say that all persons whose names appeared on the schedules were required to state whether sickness or infirmity prevented their pursuing their usual avocations, and householders were also called upon to say whether any persons who slept on their premises on the night of the 3rd April last were afflicted with deafness, dumbness, or blindness, or whether they were cripples or lunatics. The result of these inquires was as follows :— 439 persons or 1.48 per cent. of the whole population were returned as sick, 15 persons or 0.05 per cent. as deaf, 7 or 0.02 per cent. as dumb, and 41 or 0.14 per cent. as blind ; the cripples (including the maimed) numbered 75 or 0.25 per cent., and the lunatics 115 or 0.38 per cent. of the population.

The total number recorded either as sick or suffering from specific infirmities was 692. The "sick" consisted of 283 males and 156 females ; the deaf 11 males and 4 females ; the deaf and dumb 7 males, and the blind 34 males and 7 females. Of the cripples 68 were males and 7 females ; and there were 80 male and 35 female lunatics or idiots. The proportion of females to 100 males is shown in the following table :—

Believing that it would prove interesting to know the proportion of the sick and afflicted in each district to the population thereof, I subjoin a table disclosing the information : but it must be borne in mind that in the city of Perth is situated the Colonial Hospital, where cases of a serious nature from all parts of the Colony are treated, and that in the Invalid Depot at Mount Eliza, in the Perth District, there is always a large number of men gathered from various districts, who, through infirmity, are unable to obtain their livelihoods. At Fremantle there is also an invalid Depot as well as the Lunatic Asylum, and I need hardly add that admission to either of these institutions is not confined to the inhabitants of the Port. It will be seen that the rates for these two districts are higher than in any other, but the remarks just made may sufficiently account for this:—

PART X.—AGRICULTURE.

Under the head of "Agriculture" householders were required to furnish full particulars as to the number of acres which, during 1880, had been placed under crop, and it appears that throughout the Colony the total quantity of land under cultivation, including kitchen gardens and vineyards, was 60,821 acres, as against 50,245 in the year previous to the Census of 1870. The increase has therefore been 10,576 acres or 21.47 per cent. [Land under cultivation.]

Of cereals the largest extent of land was devoted to wheat, the acreage having been 29,352 as against 25,963 in 1869. From the tables it will be seen that in some districts there was in 1880 a considerably larger quantity of land cropped with wheat than in 1869, whilst in others there was a decrease. The York and Toodyay Districts show to the greatest advantage in this respect. In the year 1880, 6,659 acres were cropped with barley, being an increase of 2,076 acres since 1869 ; 1,690 acres were planted with oats, and 839 with rye. [Cereals.]

In 1880 the total number of acres cropped with hay was 19,968, as against 14,342 acres in 1869, being an increase of 5,626 acres or 39.22 per cent. [Ray and green crop.]

Kitchen gardens increased to the extent of 192 acres, and vineyards decreased 61 acres. At the vintage of 1869, 29,068 gallons of wine were produced, being 782 gallons more than in 1880. The dried fruits, however, amounted to 45,898 Ibs. last year, thus showing an increase of 2,548 Ibs. on the quantity dried in 1869. [Kitchen gardens and vineyards.]

In the year 1869, there were 570 acres of potatoes, but last year only 436. From this it would appear that one of our staple articles of food is not produced in the Colony. [Potatoes.]

The quantity of land fallowed in 1869 was 4,625 acres, and in 1880 it comprised 6,615 acres. The land stated to have been cleared in 1880 was 65,684 acres, but as the acreage under cultivation appears to have been included by householders under this head, there were only 4,863 acres of new ground prepared for cultivation at the end of the year 1880. [Land fallowed and cleared.]

PART XI.—LIVE STOCK.

The total number of stock in the Colony on the 3rd April last was 1,354,008—consisting of 34,782 horses, 64,603 cattle, 1,221,079 sheep, 26,743 pigs, and 6,801 goats. The following return shows the increase since 1870 on each description of stock :— [Stock in the Colony.]

This is the first occasion on which the number of poultry in the Colony has been ascertained, and, consequently, it is impossible to say whether there has been any great increase since the Census of 1870. On the 3rd April last the number of each description was as follows:—87,750 fowls, 3,138 ducks, 1,689 turkeys, 653 geese, 102 guinea fowls, and 14 pea fowls. [Poultry.]

PART XII.—MINES, QUARRIES, MANUFACTORIES, MINES, AND MACHINERY.

In the district of Victoria there were seven lead mines in operation on the 3rd April last, from which 1,430 tons of ore had been raised the year previous, valued at £10,579. There was also one copper mine open, but only one ton of ore, of the value of £15, had been produced. [Mines.]

Our manufactories have increased to a considerable extent since 1870. The following figures show the number at each Census :— [Manufactories.]

Conspicuous amongst the mills in operation at the date of the Census were those for grinding flour, which numbered 55, consisting of 25 worked by steam, 20 by horses, 9 by water, and 1 by wind. In the preparation of our timber for foreign as well as colonial market, there were on the 3rd April last 19 mills ; of these, 13 were worked by steam, 4 by water, and 2 by horses. The tables also show there were a number of other mills used for a variety of purposes, such as raising water, cutting bark, crushing stone, etc. The number of mills in the Colony at the date of each Census was as follows :— [Mills.]

There was a great number of machines in use at the date of the Census, and the increase in the number returned in 1870 is indicative of the progress made in the method of farming the land, and housing the crops grown thereon. The following table furnishes the number at each Census :— [Agricultural machines.]

I have, &c.,

LAURENCE S. ELIOT,

Superintendent of Census.

The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, &c., &c., &c., Perth.