164 report — 1877. 



England ; the death-rate varies much from year to year, and was high (18 per 

 1000) in 1875, but does uot seem to be on the increase, notwithstanding that the 

 average age of the population is probably increasing. In the years 1854 and 1860 

 the death-rate exceeded 20 per 1000, a rate never since reached. 



Marriages increase very slowly ; the marriage rate decreases, and is now quite 

 moderate, about 6 per 1000. 



Immigration and emigration fluctuate, but of late years there is a slight excess 

 of immigration, at least by sea. The Chinese immigration is not large, but exceeds 

 the emigration, and may be about sufficient to maintain the numbers. Immigration 

 generally is much less active than in New Zealand, Queensland, and New South 

 Wales, but more so than in South Australia. In Tasmania and West Australia 

 emigration is excessive, and Tasmania, especially, is a constant feeder of the 

 Victorian population. 



The population of live stock increases rather beyond the growth of the human 

 population; cattle increase faster than sheep. The colony falls below New South 

 Wales, absolutely, in number of horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs, below Queensland 

 in cattle only ; it equals New Zealand in number of sheep, and exceeds it in other 

 animals ; and it exceeds all the other Australasian colonies in the amount of live 

 stock. The imports of live stock from New South Wales are considerable. 



Relatively to population, however, Victoria is less rich in live stock than any of 

 the other colonies, except Tasmania and South Australia as to cattle. In extent of 

 cidtivated land Victoria stands relatively high, and the cultivated area rapidly 

 increases ; but the increase is almost wholly taken up in green crops. South 

 Australia stands out from its neighbour, and indeed from all Australasia, by its 

 great extent of wheat cidtivation, which constantly increases. 



The quantity of wine made has not increased of late. 



The export of gold has fallen off pretty steadily since 1868; that of wool 

 increases; that of tallow falls off; that of hides and skins is pretty steady. The 

 imports of butter, cheese, flour, and beer and tobacco decrease. In these, as in 

 many other respects, the colony grows more independent and self-supporting. 



The population and ratable value of towns, the numher of manufactories, the 

 amount of deposits in savings'-banks, the number and funds of friendly societies, 

 the number of scholars, all increase out of proportion to the population of the 

 colony ; so does the number of letters and newspapers passing through the post- 

 office ; so does the number of churches and chapels, but not quite so fast. 



Crime decidedly tends to diminish; commitments and convictions are fewer. 

 Of the criminals, an unfairly large proportion arc Irish Catholics, Irish Protestants 

 contributing apparently few. Pagans, i. e. Chinese, yield more than their share of 

 serious crime. 



The general result of all this may be thus briefly stated. With the faffing off, 

 both absolute and relative, of the production of gold, and the diversion of labour to 

 other channels, the colony is gradually settling down into a more stable condition ; 

 and though the production of wealth may not increase, there is greater economy, 

 security, and general prosperity. 



On Agricultural Statistics. By William Botly. 



In the past year there had been a decrease in cattle of 165,598, and in sheep of 

 1 ,239,369, but an increase in pigs of 239,262, with a decrease in horses used in 

 agriculture of 12,441, accounted for partly by the steam-engine superseding the 

 horse, and partly by the decrease of land under the plough. Corn, flax, roots, &c. 

 showed a decrease of 201,010 acres, whilst pasture &c. increased by 279,671 acres, 

 of and to which increase the waste lands contribute 78,661 acres. The import of 

 butter from Denmark, the United States, Belgium, France, and Holland, in 1875, 

 was 1,251,118 cwt., of the estimated value of £7,285,927; imports of meat 

 531,008 cwt., of the declared value of £1,465,552. Imports of wheat and other 

 cereals &c. in 1876 were 77,522,558 cwt., estimated at no less than £51,550,122. 

 Thus one half of our consumption was imported, each person averaging a con- 

 suming power of 114 lbs. of animal food per annum, exclusive of poultry, fish, 



