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.
