CENSUS RETURNS.

Evening Star, Issue 10223, 27 January 1897, Page 1

CENSUS RETURNS.

The Registrar-General informs us thatlhe returns show that in ever; 100 persons 80.60 could read and write, 2 89 could read only, and 16 51 were unable to read. The proportion per cent, unable to read fell from 23.72 in 1878 to 12 19 in 1886, and further to 16 51 in 1896. . Of persons at the age period 10-15 years in 189698.73W cent were able to read and jfyrita, while! 0.65 per cent could merely read, and only 0 62 per cent, nfece unable to read, The proportion who could not read iicrpased wifch each succeeding quinquennial period! of age, until at SO-55 years it stood at 404 per cent. At 75 80 the proportion was 7 05 per cent, and at 80-85 advanced to 8.07 .per cent Similarly the proportion, of persons who could read only,increased .from 0.65 ai 10-15 yearg tg3.6Gat the period 50 55, and againto 974 at 80 and .upwards. The bettereducation of the people at the earlier £gea Is thus exhibited. 'The .Chinese enumerated at the oensus of April, 1896, numbered $,711, against 4,444 m Is9l, a decrease of , 16.49 per cent Of the number in 1896, 3,685 were males and Qf the males, 88 were returned as married. The number of Chinese under fourteen years was only 14 males and ll rafales. ‘ These numbers do not include Re issue of unions between Chinese males and JSjWopcan females. "The occupations (with 129 assistants), ■ 94 greengrocers and 3$ assistants, 94 shop, or storekeepers and 30 assistants, 59 laborers. 4$ howl servants, 31 vegetable, 27‘g« nera * and 25.-foh' hasrkei]?| $0 laundrvmen apd women,'so h6uselteep?rs r , 27 cooks (hot domestic), 24 term: latwrers, 1$ 19 gropers (with 21 W#nep. rl merchants (with 6 assistanta), 7.drapan ahd 1 assistant. Amougst.various. others* inamall numbers each,, an relumed, flaw clerk, ,2 d«»tM,.l l.lhterpwtor; 4 opium seller. . Throt 'of ste Chinee; ware