PREFACE.

IN preparing a work of this kind a difficulty is always experienced in making it interesting to persons outside the Colony who are not concerned about the details of local affairs, and at the same time useful to those who are engaged in the active life of the Colony and who require such details. It is believed that the difficulty has been fairly met. Every care has been taken to correct such errors as may have passed through previous editions, and to keep this issue free from them. If, however, any such should be discovered, it would be deemed a favour if their nature and position were pointed

out.

The chapters relating to "Shipping" and "Commerce" were sent to press too early to admit of the figures relating to 1898 being inserted in their proper place. It is satisfactory to be able to record that the progress indicated in the text has been well maintained. The shipping entering and clearing the ports of New South Wales during 1898 showed a tonnage of 6,919,928, as against 6,744,431 in the preceding year. The imports for the year were valued at £24,453,560, compared with £21,744,350 in 1897, showing an increase of £2,709,210, and the exports at £27,648,117, as against £23,751,072, showing an increase of £3,897,045. The total trade was therefore £52,101,677. This exceeds the total of 1897 by £6,606,255, and is also larger than the trade of any other year of the Colony's history.

In order to help settlers to tide over a season of unusual severity, an "Advances to Settlers Act" was passed early in 1899, empowering the Government to grant financial assistance to applicants.

Sydney, 23 May, 1899.

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T.A.C.