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10.1057/9780230270305 - The Statesman's Year-Book, Edited by John Scott-Keltie 224 TKANSVAAL COLONY. Constitution and Government. Til J: territory comprised within the limits of the Transvaal Colony was colonized by Boers who left Cape Colony in 1836-37. In 1852 the independence of the Transvaal Government was recognised by Great Britain, but, in 1877, in consequence of financial difficulties and troubles with the natives, and in accordance with representations and petitions from the Boers, the territory was annexed by the British Government. In 1880 the Boers took up arms for the restoration of their independence, and, in 1881, a Convention was signed restoring to the inhabitants of the territory their self-government, but with conditions, reservations, and limitations, and suliject to the suzerainty of the Queen. This arrangement was modified by a Convention made in 1884, in which the name of the South African Republic was given to the Transvaal State ; but the control over external affairs, other than engagements with the Orange Free State, was reserved for Her Majesty. These Conventions, however, did not preserve harmony within the Transvaal territory, or with the British Government. The discovery of gold, the influx of "Uitlanders," the vast increase of revenue, the dread of interference with Boer privileges and domination, and the conditions to which the "Uitlanders" were subjected, occasioned a strain which was not relieved by the interference of the British Government. The two Boer States, being well prepared for war, addressed, in October 1899, an offensive Ultimatum to Great Britain, and on the rejection of their demands, they promptly invaded the adjacent British possessions. The result of their precipitate action has been the military occupation of the two countries, and their annexation to the British Crown, the one on September 1, 1900, under the name of the Transvaal Colony, and the other (May 24) as the Orange River Colony. The High Commissioner for South Africa has been appointed Governor of these Colonies ; it is announced that, when civil government is restored, he will be assisted by an Executive Council, and the general aim will be to provide a constitution under which self-government may be granted as soon as circumstances permit. Municipalities, with the usual powers for local administration, will be created at Pretoria, Johannesburg, and other centres, and local laws, customs and conditions will be respected. Governor.— Sir Alfred Milner, G.C.B., G.C.M.G. Area and Population. The area of the Colony is 119,139 square miles, divided into 20 districts, and its white population, according to a very incomplete census of 1896, is 245,397, of whom 137,947 are men and 107,450 women ; the native population in April, 1896, was estimated at 622,500. The State Almanack for 1898 gave the population as follows : wdiites, 245,397 (137,947 males and 107,450 females) ; natives, 748,759 (148,155 men, 183,280 women, and 417,324 children); total population, 1,094,156. The boundaries are defined in the convention of February 27, 1884, modified by subsequent conventions relating to the district of Vrijheid, and the territory of Swaziland. The capital is Pretoria, with a white population of 10,000. The Copyright material from www.palgraveconnect.com - Trial Access - PalgraveConnect - 2014-03-13
10.1057/9780230270305 - The Statesman's Year-Book, Edited by John Scott-Keltie AREA AND POPULATION 225 largest town is Johannesburg,- the mining centre oi Witwatersrand goldlields, with a population within a radius of 3 miles, according to census of July 15, 1896, of 102,078 (79,315 males and 22,763 females). The population consisted of 50,907 whites, 952 Malays, 4,807 coolies and Chinese, 42,533 Kaffirs, and 2,879 of mixed race. One third of the population of the Colony is agricultural. Religion. As no census has been taken the following figures must be considered approximate :— The United Dutch Reformed Church wss the State church, claiming 30,000 (1895) of the population ; other Dutch Churches, 32,760 ; English Church, 30,000 ; Wesleyans, 10,000 ; Catholic, 5,000 ; Presbyterians, 8,000 ; other Christian Churches, 5,000 ; Jews, 10,000. Instruction. According to the report ot the Superintendent of Education for the year 1897, the sum of 140,2862. was spent for the education of 11,552 pupils. In 1896 there were 34 village schools and 395 ward schools, besides a model school with 284, a gymnasium with 61, and a girls' school with 210 pupils at Pretoria. There are many schools in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and other places belonging to the English and other denominations. Finance. The following table shows the ordinary revenue and expenditure for the last 6 years, exclusive of advances made and refunded, and deposits made and withdrawn :— - Revenue . Expenditure 1893 1894 1895 £ £ £ 1,702,684 2,247,728 3,539,955 1,302,054 1,734,728 2,079,095 1896 £ 4,807,513 4,671,393 1897 £ 4,480,218 4,394,066 1898 £ 3,983,560 3,971,473 In 1898 the chief sources of revenue were: import duties, 1,066,9952. ; South African railway, 668,9512. ; prospecting licences, 626,0252. ; explosives, 223,3422. ; stamps, 285,3832. ; posts and telegraphs, 206,3322. The chief branches of expenditure were public works, 891,3322. ; salaries, 1,080,3822. ; war department, 357,2252. ; purchases, 289,2712. Of the Mining Commissions department, Johannesburg, the receipts in 1898 amounted to 849,2262., and expenditure to 85,0052. ; credit balance, 764,2212. The public debt on December 31, 1898, was 2,660,3942., including direct liabilities to the British Crown 136,6442., and Rothschild loan, 2,500,0002. The State lands were valued in 1884 at 400,0002., but may now be valued at some millions, as the goldfields at Barberton are on Government lands. The debt due to Great Britain bore interest at 3J per cent., and was to be extinguished by a sinking fund of 32. 0s. 9(2. per cent, in twenty-five years. Defence. According to an official statement in the British Parliament, February 1, 1900, the War Office estimate of the military strength of the Boer Republics in 1899 was : Men liable for service in the Transvaal, 29,279 ; in the Orange Free State, 22,314—total, 51,593. The number of British Copyright material from www.palgraveconnect.com - Trial Access - PalgraveConnect - 2014-03-13
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