legislative authority vests in both Houses, while the executive is vested in a Governor appointed by the Crown.

Governor.-Sir Robert G. C. Hamilton, K.C.B. Appointed January 1887.

The Governor is, by virtue of his office, commander-in-chief of the troops in the colony; he has a salary of 5,000l. per annum. He is aided in the exercise of the executive by a cabinet of responsible ministers, consisting of four members, as follows:

Premier and Chief Secretary.-Hon. Philip Oakley Fysh.
Treasurer.- Hon. Bolton Stafford Bird.

Attorney-General.-Hon. Andrew Inglis Clark.

Minister of Lands and Works.-Hon. Alfred Pillinger.
Each of the ministers has a salary of 9007. per annum.

The position of

Premier has a salary of 2007. per annum attached in addition. The ministers must have a seat in either of the two Houses.

Area and Population.

The first penal settlement was formed in Tasmania in 1804; and till 1813 it was merely a place of transportation from Great Britain and from New South Wales, of which colony it was a dependency until 1825. Transportation ceased in 1853.

The area of the colony is estimated at 26,215 square miles, or about 16,778,000 acres, of which 15,571,500 acres form the area of Tasmania Proper, the rest constituting that of a number of small islands, in two main groups, the north-east and northwest. The colony is divided into eighteen counties. The population has increased as follows:

At the census of 1881 there were 61,162 males and 54,543 females. On the basis of the estimated population on December 31, 1889, the average density is 5.78 persons to a square mile. Of the total population in 1881, 79,991 were natives of Tasmania, 28,243 natives of the United Kingdom, 3,987 natives of other Australasian colonies, 844 Chinese, 782 German. In 1881 there were 17,744 males and 17,134 females married, 40,364 males and 34,429 females unmarried, 2,378 males and 2,974 females widowed, 5 males and 6 females divorced, and 71 males unspecified. The aborigines of Tasmania are entirely extinct.

Of the population in 1881, 2,320 were returned as professional, 68,962 domestic (including wives, children, and dependents), 3,884 commercial, 19,408 agricultural, 14,484 industrial.

The births, deaths, and marriages for six years have been as follows:

Of the total births in 1889, 191, or 4:01 per cent., were illegitimate. The number of immigrants and of emigrants was as follows in each of the six years from 1884 to 1889:

The direct movement of population is mainly between the Australian colonies (chiefly Victoria) and Tasmania.

The population of the capital, Hobart, was 21,118 in 1881, and of Launceston 12,752.

Religion.

The Government contributes 1,2867. annually for various religious purposes. On January 1, 1889, it is estimated that there belonged to the Church of England 80,906 of the population: Roman Catholics 32,689, Wesleyan Methodists 10,952, Presbyterians 13,815, Independents 5,999, Jews 348, Baptists 1,424, Friends 121, other sects 4,226.

Instruction.

There are 16 superior schools or colleges in the colony, with (1890) an average attendance of 1,297; 229 public elementary schools, with 17,948 scholars on roll; and 88 private schools, with 3,542 scholars. Education is compulsory. There were also 596 children attending ragged schools. Two technical schools were started in 1888 at Hobart and Launceston. The higher education is under a university, who hold examinations and grant degrees, being at present merely an examining body. Elementary education is under the control of a director working under a ministerial head. There are several valuable scholarships from the lower to the higher schools. At the census of 1881 the number of persons returned as unable to read and write was 31,080, or 27 per cent. of the population.

The total cost to Government of education in 1889-90 was 40,8087. There are 37 public libraries and mechanics' institutes, with 54,206 volumes. There are 4 daily, 5 weekly, and 9 monthly journals.

Justice and Crime.

There is a Supreme Court, courts of petty, general, and quarter sessions, the latter presided over by a stipendiary magistrate, assisted by justices of the peace. The total number of prisoners that came before all the criminal courts in 1889 was 6,224 males and 904 females; of these, 4,370 males

and 752 females were summarily convicted, mostly for fraud; and 94 males and 11 females committed for trial. Before the Supreme Courts and sessions courts 42 persons were convicted. The total police force is 311. There were 2 gaols, with 157 male and 32 female inmates, at end of 1889.

Pauperism.

Besides hospitals and benevolent institutions, there are two establishments for paupers, with 541 male and 193 female inmates at the end of the year 1889, the daily average number of persons maintained during the year being 604 males and 202 females. The total expenditure during the year was 11,5537., mainly contributed by the colonial Government. During the year outdoor relief was administered to 1,141 people.

Revenue and Expenditure.

Of the total yearly revenue for 1889, 62 per cent. was derived from taxation, chiefly customs; 22 per cent. from railways, postal, telegraph, and other public services; and the remainder principally from the rental and sale of Crown lands. Of the expenditure 35 per cent. is for special public works, 31 per cent. for interest, 10 per cent. for general purposes, and 6 per cent. for religion, science, and education. In 1889 10,3697. was spent in defence. The subjoined statement shows the total general revenue and expenditure during each of the five years from 1885 to 1889 :

1885

1886

1887

1888

1889

£

£

£

£

Revenue

Expenditure.

£ 571,412 568,924 594,976 640,068 678,909 586,598 584,756 668,759 709,486 681,674

Not included in the above receipts and disbursements are certain sums raised and expended for redemption of loans,' under the name of Territorial Revenue.'

The revenue for 1890 is estimated at 736,5167., and expenditure 702,7607.; for 1891, revenue 808,3467., and expenditure 793,2067.

The total imperial expenditure in 1889 was 18,6757., mainly by the War Office.

The public debt of Tasmania amounted, December 31, 1889, to 5,019,0507.; the debt, except 1,000,000l. at 34 per cent., consists principally of 4 per cent. debentures, redeemable from 1876 to 1920, and the whole was raised for the construction of public works. The interest on the amount realised on the last 4 per cent. loan floated was equivalent to 3.63 per cent. at par. The following is an abstract of loans expenditure up to December 31, 1889:Public works: railways, 1,859,9267., or 40.77 per cent.; telegraphs, 97,1607., or 2-13 per cent.; roads, bridges, jetties, &c., 1,345,0487., or 29.48 per cent.; public buildings, 520,0537., or 11:40 per cent.; defences, 111,391, or 2.44 per cent.; other public works, 109,2411., or 2:39 per cent.-total

REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE

279

public works, 4,042,8197., or 88.61 per cent.; other public services, 519,5917., or 11:39 per cent.-total, 4,562,4107., or 100 per cent.; balance of loans, raised chiefly for railways now being constructed, 497,6921.

The total local revenue for 1889 was 174,3427., and expenditure 179,5547.

Defence.

The volunteer defence force of the colony numbers some 2.002 officers and men, and is composed of two rifle regiments, engineers, artillery, cadets corps, and auxiliary force,all under jurisdiction of commandants stationed at Hobart and Launceston. Included in the above is a small permanent force, stationed at Hobart, of 25 men for the purpose of keeping barracks and batteries in order and to form the nucleus of a larger force. There is a staff for the instruction of the other branches of the volunteer system, including the country rifle clubs scattered throughout the island.

There are four batteries on the river Derwent, and one on the Tamar.

Production and Industry.

The total area of the colony is 16,778,000 acres. At the end of 1888 24,337 persons were directly engaged in agriculture. In 1889 there were 488,354 acres under cultivation. Of the total area, 4,647,988 acres have been sold or granted to settlers by the Crown up to the end of 1889; while 630,482 acres have been leased as sheep runs. The total area under crops in 1889-90 was 189,959 acres; under grasses, 190,317 acres; fallow, 26,13]; 10,397 acres were devoted to horticulture. The following table shows the acreage and produce of the chief crops for five years :

Under the head of horticulture 536 acres were sown with hops in 1889, yielding 685,031 lbs. of hops. The yield of apples was 503,013 bushels Fruit culture is of great importance; large quantities of fruit are exported.

There were in the colony 29,778 horses, 150,004 head of cattle, 1,551,429 sheep and lambs, and 58,632 pigs, on March 31, 1890.

The soil of the colony is rich in iron ore, tin, and galena, and there are large beds of coal. The total number of gold-mining leases in force at the end of 1889 was 375; of tin-mining leases, 879; coal, 34; silver, 321. Gold to the amount of 32,332 oz., valued at 119,3037., was raised in 1889. Owing to cessation of alluvial working the total number of persons

employed in gold-mining has decreased from 2,060 in 1879 to 1,128 in 1889. The total value of tin ore produced in 1889 was 317,1447. The total value of the tin exported up to the end of 1889 was 4,711,4247. The total number of men employed in coal-mining in 1889 was 134, output 40,300 tons, valued at 13,550l.

Commerce.

There are heavy customs duties, those levied in 1889 amounting to 309,7627., or over 19 per cent. of the total value of imports. The total imports and exports of Tasmania, including bullion and specie, were as follows in each of the five years 1885 to 1889 :

The exports are chiefly wool, gold, tin, timber, fruit and jam, hops, grain, hides and skins, bark. The following are the values of the more important of these for the five years from 1885 to 1889:

The imports are mainly textiles-473,7977. in 1889; art and mechanical productions, 333,2157.; food and drinks, 372,8871.

Of the total imports those at the port of Launceston in 1889 were valued at 870,570., and Hobart, 740,4651. Exports from Launceston, 1,044,8907.; from Hobart, 414,9677.

The following gives, according to Tasmanian returns, a synopsis of the general direction of trade during the years 1888 and 1889 :