Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/548

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THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — NATAL

first recommended to the Assembly by message of the Governor can be passed in the session in which it is proposed. No person can be a member of the Assembly who is not a duly qualified and registered elector. Members receive an allowance of 11. a. day during the session.

Electors are qualified by the possession of immovable property of the value of 50Z,, by payment of rent for such property of the annual value of 101. , or (having resided three years in the colony) by having an income of 961. per annum, inclusive of allowances. Electors (1896), 9,208.

The executive authority resides in a body of not more than six ministers, each of whom must be, or must within four months become, a member of one of the legislative bodies. Each may sit or speak in either house, but may vote only in that of which he is a member.

Governor of Natal. — The Hon. Sir Walter Francis Hely-Hutchinsou, G.C.M.G. ; Private Secretary to Sir H. Robinson in Fiji, 1874; Private Secretary for New South Wales affairs, 1875 ; Colonial Secretary of Barbados, 1877 ; Secretary to the Government of Malta, 1883 ; Lieut. -Governor, 1884 ; Governor of Windward Islands, 1889. Appointed to Natal, 1893.

The Governor has a salary of 5,000Z. per annum.

The Ministry, as constituted October 4, 1897, is as follows : — ■

Premier and Colonial Secretary. — Sir Henry Binns, K.C.M.G.

Attorney -General and Minister of Education. — Mr. Bale, Q.C.

Minister of Public Works. — Lt.-Col. Hime, C.M.G.

Minister of Native Affairs. — Mr. Hulett.

Treasurer. — Mr. Arbuckle.

Minister of Agriculture. — Mr. Johnstone.

Area and Population.

The colony (including the Province of Zululand) has an estimated area of about 35,000 square miles, with a seaboard of about 400 miles. But the extent of some of the districts is all but unknown. The colony is divided into 38 Magisterial Districts.

The European population has more than doubled since 1879. The returns of the total population (1879, 1891 and 1898) were : —

—

1879

1891

1898.

Europeans.

Indians

Kaffirs

Grand total

22,654

16,999

319,934

46,788

41,142

455,983

61,000

53,370

714,635

361,587

543,913

829,005

Population of the borough of Durban, July 31, 1891, 25,512 (1898, 39,245) ; and of Pietermaritzburg, July 31, 1891, 17,500 (1898, 24,595).

In December, 1897, Zululand, including British Amatongaland, was incorporated with the colony of Natal. It has an area of about 14,238 square miles with a population in 1897 of about 196,511 natives and 1,131 whites. Agriculture is carried on by the natives. Gold, silver, lead, copper, tin, iron, asbestos, and coal are found. Several gold mining companies have been at work, but the result has not been encouraging. There is a main road through the territory with branch roads ; also about 87 miles of telegraph line, and 110 miles of telephone. The ])rovince of Zululand is divided into twelve Magisterial Districts. Zululand may send one Member to the legisla- tive Council, and two Members to the Legislative Assembly of the Colony.