The church members and communicants are in number 147, but the total number of attendants is estimated at 1,870.
The cost of church property held by the Wesleyan body in the Colony is estimated as:—
| For churches and chapels … | £8,800 |
| Schoolhall and library … | 2,000 |
| Manses … | 1,200 |
| £12,000 |
The Perth Wesleyan Native Mission was established in 1841 by the Rev. John Smithies; in it native children of both sexes were received, clothed, boarded, and taught to read and write; the girls were well instructed in various household duties; the boys were taught gardening and farming. The institution was placed under the superintendence of Mr. F. F. Armstrong, Native Interpreter, who had about 100 children under his care; of those a large number learned to read and write; all were quick in receiving instruction; their memories were so good as often to surprise their teachers, and they sang sweetly; five hours of each week day were devoted to religious and secular teaching. Children were received at an early age, and when old enough were sent out to service in various parts of Perth, returning each day to school. All admitted were children of aborigines.
A serious mortality prevailed among the children, and the school having been removed to Wanneroo as the more suitable locality, it continued, to the great discouragement of the promoters. The native parents, in consequence, refused to give up any more of their children as they said "to death"; medical men were of
