BIRTHS AND DEATHS.

Victoria has the least ratio of dependent females, the greatest proportion of those of reproductive ages, and the highest relative number of females over the reproductive age. The rates for the other provinces are remarkably even, New South Wales and Western Australia having almost an identical proportion of reproductive females, while South Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand are nearly equal at a slightly lower rate.

BIRTHS AND DEATHS.

The number of births in each Colony and in the whole of Australasia, in quinquennial periods from 1861 to 1890, and in the two years 1891 and 1892, was as follows:

The birth-rate of each Colony for the last eleven years was as follows:

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AUSTRALASIAN DEATH RATES.

The number of deaths in each Colony and in the whole of Australasia, in quinquennial periods from 1861 to 1890, and in the two years 1891 and 1892, is shown in the following table :

The death-rate of each Colony for the last eleven years is given in the following table; but the statement, viewed in the light of a comparison between the Colonies, is not in every case just, as no account is taken of the ages of the people :

Death-rate of

Colonies com

nations.

Compared with European countries the Colonies occupy a very

pared with other favourable position in respect to both birth and death rates. The Australasian birth-rate is high, and in European countries where

SALUBRITY OF THE CLIMATE.

it is higher it will be seen, on reference to the subjoined table, that the death-rate is so considerably in excess that the difference between the two, representing the gain to each country by natural increase, is largely in favour of Australasia. The following are the average rates per 1,000 inhabitants for the ten years ending 1890 for European countries, and for the ten years 1882-1893 for the Australasian Colonies :

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climate.

No better testimony to the salubrity of the climate of Australasia Salubrity of the could be obtained than is afforded by these figures. There are, of course, various circumstances, other than climatic, which would tend to make the mortality lighter in these than older-settled countries; but when all possible allowances are made for such circumstances, a comparison between these Colonies and the countries of Europe is still significantly favourable to Australasia.

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AUSTRALASIAN MARRIAGE RATES.

MARRIAGES.

The number of marriages in each Colony, and in the whole of Australasia, in quinquennial periods from 1861 to 1890, and in the two years 1891 and 1892, was as follows :—

The marriage-rate of each Colony for the last eleven years is shown in the following table :

During the last two years the marriage-rate has decreased to a considerable extent in all the Colonies, with the exception of Western Australia; but even in that Colony it was much lower in 1892 than in 1891. This is another proof of the truth of the often-repeated statement that times of commercial depression always exert an adverse influence on the marriage-rate.