The wool imports into Great Britain from Natal amounted in 1903, to 399,3567.; hides, 21,226%.; coffee, 2,5157.; bark, 109,8517.; skins and furs, 12,1777. Some of the wool and other articles are from the neighbouring colonies, which also take one-fifth of the merchandise imported into Natal. The chief articles exported from Great Britain to Natal in 1903 were apparel and haberdashery, 1,052,6327.; cottons, 401,6617.; iron, wrought and unwrought, 1,326,8117.; leather, 335, 6667.; machinery, 692,1767.; woollens, 308,8381.; hardware and cutlery, 125,8087.; spirits, 185, 1927.; beer and ale, 35,1117.; carriages, &c., 260, 3347.; furniture, 205,3527. Natal belongs to the South African Customs Union (see under Cape Colony). Shipping and Communications. In 1903 the registered shipping of the colony consisted of 33 vessels of 2,241 tons (nett), 24 of 50 tons and under, each, totalling 444 tons, and 9 totalling 1,797 tons. These do not include government vessels, which are exempt from registration. In 1903, exclusive of transports, 952 vessels of 1,979,218 tons (757 of 1,707,941 tons British) entered, and 961 of 2,005,396 tons (760 of 1,726,576 tons British) cleared. Of the vessels which entered, 184 of 394,750 tons (1901 figures should have been 235,970) were from the United Kingdom direct, and 267 of 597,114 tons were from Cape Colony; of those which cleared, 89 of 190,545 tons cleared for the United Kingdom direct, and 253 of 623,693 tons for Cape Colony. At the end of the year 1903 there were in the Colony 710 miles of railway open, and worked by the Government, the whole, except 50 miles, having been constructed by the Government. The railways have a gauge of 3ft. 6in. The main line from Durban is connected with the lines to Johannesburg (483 miles) and Pretoria (511 miles). The system includes many branch lines which are being extended. Work on the new connection with Cape Colony has been commenced. The main line is at present being improved, and, where found necessary, doubled as expeditiously as possible. The total cost of construction and equipment of the railways up to the end of the year 1903 was 10,572,9627. The revenue for 1903 was 2,561,5517. ; expenditure, 1,791,1087. The net receipts for the year were equal to 71. 68. 1.80d. per cent. upon capital. In the year 1903 there were in the Colony 317 post-offices and agencies. The correspondence received comprised 30,266,756 packets, of which 21,694,244 were letters and post-cards; 8,351,772 were books, samples, and papers, and 220,740 were parcels. The correspondence posted amounted to 27,227,668 packets. The postal routes open had a total length of 3,780 miles, of which 759 miles were by railway, 487 miles by post-cart, and 2,533 miles by carriers. In the year 1903, 133,463 (includes telegraph money orders) money orders for 515,3417. (includes telegraph money orders), were issued, and 60,709 (includes telegraph money orders) money orders for 230,4371. were paid in the Colony. Most of the orders were to or from other colonies or the United Kingdom. The postal revenue for 1903 amounted to 183,3797. (exclusive of about 18,9817; the value of work not paid for); the postal and telegraph expenditure for the year 1903 was 171,5377., and the total revenue for the whole department 273,5287., leaving a balance of 101,9917. In the year 1903 there were in Natal 1,722 miles of telegraph line with 4,677 miles of wire, 864 miles of telephone line with 5863 miles of wire, and 38 miles of private line with 154 miles of wire. The number of telegraph of 32,8207. for public works was authorised, in 1901 a loan of 100,000%. was also authorised for reafforestation purposes, in 1902 a loan of 200,000l. for assistance to planters and one of 208,7477. for purchase of tramways for sugar estates. The municipal debt of Port Louis was 125,000l. sterling and 241,058 rupees. The harbour of Port Louis is defended by Fort Adelaide and Fort George. The troops in the colony at the end of 1902 numbered 2,720. The Colonial contribution to the military expenditure for 1902 was 29,8561. The declared value of the total imports and exports of the colony (exclusive of specie and bullion) was as follows in each of the last five years : The values of imports and exports are declared by importers and exporters, both being exclusive of charges and of exchange. They are given in rupees at the value of 16d. per rupee. The countries where the goods are shipped are taken as the countries of origin, unless the goods themselves or the bills of lading and invoices show a different origin, in which case the country so disclosed is declared in the bill of entry. Duties are in general ad valorem at the rate of 10 per cent., but in many cases they are specific. In either case there is an additional duty of 4 per cent. on the amount leviable. Imports from United Kingdom, 5,617,021 rupees; exports to United Kingdom, 4,348,861 rupees. The exports from the colony comprise, as staple article, unrefined sugar, 32,543,202 rupees in 1903; rum, 9,995 rupees; vanilla, 88,191 rupees; loe fibre, 530,032 rupees; oil, coco-nut, 109,594 rupees; molasses, 287,180 rupees. A large portion of the trade is with the British colonies of South Africa, Australia, and India. The commercial intercourse of Mauritius with the United Kingdom is shown in the subjoined table, according to the Board of Trade Returns, for each of the last five years : The chief articles of import from Mauritius into the United Kingdom in 1903 were unrefined sugar, 109,3967.; drugs, 38,9167.; hemp, 32,6681. The British exports to Mauritius in 1903 consisted principally of cotton goods, 66,7367.; coal, 29,7097.; 'machinery, 63,9457.; iron, 42,154l.; manure, 56,4247.; soap, 20,2091. Shipping and Communications. The registered shipping in 1903 consisted of 57 sailing vessels of 5,458 tons (net), and 3 steamers of 99 tons; total, 60 vessels of 5,557 tons. The number of vessels entered in 1903 was 252 of 391,537 tons (184 of 277,283 tons British), and cleared 253 of 388,242 tons (185 of 273,961 tons British). The colony has two lines of railways with two branches, of a total length of 105 miles, the revenue from which in 1902-03 was 2,377,495 rupees, and expenditure, not including charge on debt, 1,883,484 rupees. The system of telegraphs contains 225 miles of line; there is a telegraph cable from Zanzibar to the Seychelles and thence to Mauritius. A telegraph cable from Australia to Natal through Mauritius and Rodrigues has been laid. In 1903 the Post Office dealt with 2,226,512 letters, 148,890 post-cards, 2,064,539 newspapers, 13,689 parcels, and 69,097 telegrams. There are telephones belonging to a private company. Money, Weights, and Measures. On June 30, 1903, the Government Savings Bank held deposits amounting to 2,723,594 rupees from 25,668 depositors. The standard coin of Mauritius is the Indian rupee, with its subdivisions. All accounts are kept in rupees. The metric system is in force. Dependencies. RODRIGUES (under a Magistrate).-18 miles long, 7 broad. Population (census 1901) 3,162 (1,685 males, 1,477 females); revenue, 1903, 12,123 rupees; expenditure, 33,580 rupees; imports (1903), 257,346 rupees; exports, 176,675 rupees. Two Government schools had (1902) 204 pupils. Other dependencies are the St. Brandon or Cargados Islands, between 16° 50' and 16° 20′ S. lat., and 56° 26′ and 59° 41' E. long., mostly sandbanks; the Chagos Islands, and the Trois Frères, or Eagle Islands. Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos group, in 7° S. lat., 72°-73° E. long., is 12 miles long, 6 miles wide, with 526 inhabitants (census 1901), a large proportion negro labourers from Mauritius. 1,441,072 litres of cocoa-nut oil was exported in 1903 from the Lesser Dependencies. Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning Mauritius. Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom with Foreign Countries and British Possessions London. Colonial Office List. Annual. London. Reports on Mauritius, and on Rodrigues, in Colonial Reports. Annual. London. Statistical Abstract for the several colonial and other possessions of the United Kingdom. Annual. London. Mauritius Blue Book. Annual. Anderson (J. F.), The Sugar Industry of Mauritius. London, 1899. Chalmers (R.), A History of Currency in the British Colonies. London, 1893. Epinay (Adrien d'), Renseignements pour servir à l'histoire de l'Ile de France jusqu'à l'année 1810 inclusivement. Mauritius, 1890. Flemyng (M.), Mauritius, or the Isle of France. 8. London, 1862. Keller (C.), Madagascar, Mauritius, and other East African Islands. London, 1900. Martin (R. Montgomery), The British Possessions in Africa. Vol. iv. History of the British Colonies. 8. London, 1834. The Mauritius Almanac. Mauritius. The Mauritius Civil List. Mauritius. Rae (W. C.), Handbook on the Constitution, Practice, and Proceedings of the Council of Government. Mauritius, 1901. Unienville (Le Baron d'), Statistique de l'Ile Maurice et ses Dépendances. Mauritius, 1886. NATAL. Constitution and Government. The colony of Natal, formerly an integral part of the Cape of Good Hope settlement, was erected in 1856 into a separate colony under the British Crown, represented first by a LieutenantGovernor, and since 1882 by a Governor. A charter of constitution was granted in 1856, and modified in 1875 and 1879; the charter now in force was granted in 1893. The Province of Zululand was annexed to Natal on December 30, 1897, and the Transvaal districts of Vryheid, Utrecht and part of Wakkerstroom, in January, 1903. By the Constitution Act (Law No. 14, 1893), which came into force July 20, 1893, the legislative authority resides in the King, a Legislative Council, and a Legislative Assembly. His Majesty is represented by the Governor, whose assent (revocable within two years, in manner prescribed) is required to all bills before they become law. The Governor appoints the ministers, and, with their advice, the members of the Legislative Council. He issues writs for general election of members of the Legislative Assembly, fixes the place and time of the sessions of the legislative bodies, and may prorogue or dissolve the Assembly. He may also, by message, transmit the draft of any bill to be introduced in either house. The Legislative Council consists of twelve members (including one for Zululand), each of whom must be at least thirty years of age, must have resided ten years in the colony, and must be the registered proprietor of immovable property of the net value of 5001. Members hold their seats for ten years. The President is appointed by the Governor. The Legislative Assembly consists of forty-three members (including two for Zululand and two each for the districts of Vryheid and Utrecht) chosen by the electors. Each Legislative Assembly continues for four years, unless sooner dissolved. It meets annually or oftener, appoints its Speaker, and adopts (with the approval of the Governor) its own standing rules and orders. Money bills must originate in the Assembly, and the Legislative Council may accept or reject but not alter them. No money bill, however, for any purpose not 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 17. a day during the session. Electors are qualified by the possession of immovable property of the value of 50l., by payment of rent for such property of the annual value of 107., or (having resided three years in the colony) by having an income of 961. per annum, inclusive of allowances. Electors (1903), 18,774. The executive authority is vested 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.-Col. Sir Henry Edward McCallum, R. E., A.D.C., K.C.M.G. The Governor has a salary of 5,000l. per annum. The Ministry, as at present constituted, is as follows: Premier and Treasurer.-Hon. Sir G. M. Sutton, K. C. M. G., M.L.C. Colonial Secretary.-Hon. J. G. Maydon, M.L.A. Minister of Justice and Minister of Education.-Hon. Thomas Watt, M.L.A. Secretary for Native Affairs and Minister of Lands and Works.-Hon. G. Leuchars, M.L.A. Minister of Agriculture.-Hon. W. F. Clayton, M. L.A. The Premier has receive 1,000l. a year. salary of 1,5007.; the other members of the ministry Agent-General in London.-Hon. Sir W. Arbuckle, K. C.M.G. Area and Population. The colony (including the Province of Zululand, 10,461 square miles, and the Vryheid and Utrecht districts, 6,970 square miles) has an estimated area of 35,306 square miles, with a seaboard of about 360 miles. The colony is divided into 42 Magisterial Divisions. The European population has nearly trebled since 1879. of the total population in 1879, 1891, 1901 and 1903 were :— The returns The figures for 1901 and 1903 include the province of Zululand; those for 1903 include the districts of Vryheid, Utrecht and Paulpietersburg. The military and aliens are not included, nor are refugees from the Transvaal and Orange River Colony. The districts of Vryheid, Utrecht, and Paulpietersburg, with a population of about 10,250 whites and 70,000 natives were transferred from the Transvaal to Natal in January, 1903. Population of the borough of Durban (estimated) December 31, 1903, 79,000; 34,000 Europeans; 30,000 natives; 15,000 Asiatics; and of Pietermaritzburg, October, 1902, 19,521 Europeans; 10,478 natives; 4,677 Asiatics; total, 34,676. Instruction. There are 2 Government high schools, 30 Government primary schools, 2 Government art schools, 5 Government Indian schools, 2 Government schools for coloured children, 61 Government-aided schools, and 154 Government-aided farmhouse schools for European children. Also there are 18 Indian schools, 161 native schools, and 5 coloured sehools, all of which receive Government aid; and a considerable number of private schools in the colony. Six of the aided schools are secondary schools for girls, and one is a home for deaf and dumb children. The aggre gate number of European pupils in regular attendance at the Government and inspected schools was 10,743 for 1903; the average daily attendance 80 per cent. of the number on the registers. At the high schools there is an average daily attendance of 310 pupils. About 3,300 children |