Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/289

 AREA AND POPULATION — RELIGION

237

Kimberley Diamond Fields, which belonged to the Orange Free State, hut were annexed to the Cape Colony by the British Government.

On account of the Treaty between the Orange Free State and South African Republic, the former State took a prominent part in the South African War (1899-1902), and was annexed to the British Dominions by proclamation of Lord Roberts, on May 28, 1900, as the Orange River Colony. After peace was declared Crown Colony Government was established and continued until 1907, when responsible government was introduced. On May 31, 1910, the Orange River Colony was merged in the Union of South Africa as the Province of the Orange Free State.

The seat of provincial government is at Bloemfontein.

Administrator.— The Hon. Sir C. H. Wcsels, Kt.(salary, 2.000J.)

There are municipalities at Bloemfontein and other centres, 50 in all ; local authorities have, so far as possible, the usual local administrative powers.

Area and Population. — The area of the Province is 50,389 square miles ; it is divided into 24 districts. The population at the last 4 censuses and the European population at the census taken in 1918 were as follows : —

Census

All Races.

White.

Coloured.

Tear.

Total.

Males.

Females.

Males.

Females.

Males. Females.

1880.

1890 . 1904 . 1911 . 1918.

133,518

207,50s

3S7.315 528,174

70,150 108,883

210,095

277.51S

63.30S 99,141

250,656

31,906 40,571

94,4fcS 93,969

29,116 37,145 61,108

$0,701 87,709

38,244 . 34,252 67,791 61,996

128.524 llfi,112

113.030 1

The capital, Bloemfontein, had, in 1911, 14,720 white inhabitants (8,995 males and 5,725 females), and 12,205 natives and other coloured persons (6,212 males and 5,993 females); total, 26,925. The 1918 European population was 15,631.

Vital statistics are shown as follows : —

Births 1

Deaths i

Marriages

Surplus of, births over death si

European

Coloured

1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918

5,386 4,571 4,S82 5,080 4,959 M •

1,511 1,321 1,618 1,4-JS 1,433 S.155

1,476 1,232 1,294 1,562 1,562 1,492

1,148 1,051

1,107 1,264 1,228 1.30*'

3,875 8,250 3,264 3,652 3,526 1,751

1 European.

Religion. — The principal body, according to the census of 1911. is the Dutch Reformed Church with 175,311 adherents ; of Wesleyans there were 88,857 ; Anglican Communion, 42,401 ; Presbvterians, 7,549 ; Con- gregationalists, 8,368 ; Lutherans, 8,727 ; Roman Catholics, 5,696 : Jews, 2,808; no religion (so stated), 173,336, of whom 173,192 were natives and other coloured persons.