The exports of the colony to Great Britain consist almost entirely of wool and of lead ore. The wool exports were of the value of 146,2027. in 1878, of 221,3897. in 1881, of 186,0157. in 1882, of 192,0367. in 1883, of 242,790l. in 1884, of 233,345l. in 1885, and of 210,4657. in 1886. Of lead ore the exports to Great Britain amounted to 3,3917. in 1884,3,5107. in 1885, and 1,7611. in 1886. The principal imports from Great Britain are apparel and haberdashery, 48,843/. in 1886; cottons, 21,7631.; iron, 87,8227.; machinery, 24,5631.

Recent scientific researches prove the colony to be rich in mineral ore, principally copper, and coal has been found in small quantities. Gold was discovered in the north of the colony in 1886.

In 1886, 289 vessels of 262,158 tons entered, and 261 of 239,461 tons cleared the ports of the colony.

There were 202 miles of railway open for traffic at the end of 1886 and 299 miles under construction.

In 1886 there were 2,405 miles of telegraph line within the colony, with 38 stations; and from Albany the wire extends to South Australia.

In 1886 there passed through the post office 1,847,694 letters, 1,153,892 newspapers, and 146,800 packets.

Australasian Federation.

By the Federal Council Act of Australasia, 1885' (48 & 49 Vict. c. 60), it is premised that 'Whereas it is expedient to constitute a Federal Council of Australasia for the purpose of dealing with such matters of common Australasian interest, in respect to which united action is desirable, as can be dealt with without unduly interfering with the management of the internal affairs of the several Colonies by their respective Legislatures: Be it enacted . . . There shall be in and for Her Majesty's possessions in Australasia a Federal Council constituted as hereinafter provided, and called the Federal Council of Australasia, which shall have the functions, powers, and authority hereinafter defined. . . . A session of the Council shall be held once at least in every two years.

...

'Each Colony shall be represented in the Council by two members, except in the case of Crown Colonies, which shall be represented by one member each. Her Majesty at the request of the Legislatures of the Colonies may, by Order in Council from time to time, increase the number of representatives of each Colony. . . . Saving Her Majesty's prerogative, and subject to the provisions herein contained with respect to the operation of this Act, the Council shall have legislative authority in respect to the several matters following:

(a) The relations of Australasia with the islands of the Pacific: (b) Prevention of the influx of criminals: (c) Fisheries in Australasian waters beyond territorial limits: (d) The service of civil process of the courts of any Colony within Her Majesty's possessions in Australasia out of the jurisdiction of the Colony in which it is issued (e) The enforcement of judgments of courts of law of any Colony beyond the limits of the Colony: (f) The enforcement of criminal process beyond the limits of the colony in which it is issued, and the extradition of offenders (including deserters of wives and children and deserters from the Imperial or Colonial naval or military forces): (g) The custody of offenders on board ships belonging to Her Majesty's Colonial Government beyond territorial limits: () Any matter which at the request of the Legislatures of the Colonies Her Majesty by Order in Council shall think fit to refer to the Council: (i) Such of the following matters as may be referred to the Council by the Legislatures of any two or more Colonies, that is to say-general defences, quarantine, patents of invention and discovery, copyright, bills of exchange and promissory notes, uniformity of weights and measures, recognition in other Colonies of any marriage or divorce duly solemnised or decreed in any Colony, naturalisation of aliens, status of corporations and joint stock companies in other Colonies than that in which they have been constituted; and any other matter of general Australasian interest with respect to which the Legislatures of the several Colonies can legislate within their own limits and as to which it is deemed desirable that there should be a law of general application. Provided that in such cases the Acts of the Council shall extend only to the Colonies by whose Legislatures the matter shall have been so referred to it and such other Colonies as may afterwards adopt the

same.

Every Bill in respect of the matters marked (a) (b) or (c) shall, unless previously approved by Her Majesty through one of Her Principal Secretaries of State, be reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure.

'The Governors of any two or more of the Colonies may, upon an address of the Legislatures of such Colonies, refer for the con

sideration and determination of the Council any questions relating to those Colonies or their relations with one another, and the Council shall thereupon have authority to consider and determine by Act of Council the matters so referred to it.

Every Bill passed by the Council shall be presented for Her Majesty's assent to the Governor of the Colony in which the Council shall be sitting, who shall declare according to his discretion, but subject to the provisions of this Act and to Her Majesty's instructions, either that he assents thereto in Her Majesty's name, or that he withholds such assent, or that he reserves the Bill for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure, or that he will be prepared to assent thereto subject to certain amendments to be specified by him.'

The federal union of the Australasian Colonies has, so far, only been partially accomplished by the appointment of a council, representing the colonies of Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia, and Fiji; the colonies of New South Wales and New Zealand having up to the present time taken no steps to join the Union, and the necessary measure for that purpose having been delayed in its passage through the South Australian Legislature.

The first meeting of the Council took place at Hobart on January 25, 1886, His Excellency the Governor of Tasmania presiding, the members being :

For Victoria. Hon. James Service, Premier of the Colony; Hon. Graham Berry, Chief Secretary of the Colony.

For Queensland.-Hon. S. W. Griffith, Premier; Hon. J. R. Dickson, Treasurer.

For Tasmania.-Adye Douglas, Premier; J. S. Dodds, AttorneyGeneral.

For Fiji. Dr. McGregor, Receiver-General.

For Western Australia.-J. G. Lee Steere, Member of Executive Council.

Measures were considered for extending the jurisdiction of the courts of the different colonies, so that their warrants and judgments will have operation throughout all territories represented by the Federal Council, and other useful work was done, including an agreement to act, in conjunction with the Imperial Government, for the fortification of King George's Sound and Torres Straits. The second meeting was held in January 1888.

Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning

Australasia.

1. OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS.

Agricultural Statistics of the Colony of New Zealand. Fol. Wellington,

1887.

Australasia: Despatch on the subject of a Draft Bill to constitute a Federal Council of Australasia. London, 1884.

Australian Statistics, published annually, with Report, by H. H. Hayter, C.M.G., Government Statist of Victoria. Melbourne, 1887.

British New Guinea (Queensland) Act of 1887. Brisbane, 1887.

Census of New South Wales, taken on the 3rd April, 1881. Fol. Sydney, 1882.

Census of New Zealand, taken on the 28th of March, 1886. Fol. Wellington. 1887.

Census of Victoria, 1881. Fol. Melbourne, 1883.

Census of the Colony of Queensland, taken on the 3rd April, 1881. Fol. Brisbane, 1882.

Census of South Australia, taken on the 3rd April, 1881. Summary tables. Fol. Adelaide, 1881.

Census of the Colony of Western Australia, taken on the 3rd April, 1881. Fol. Perth, 1882.

Census of Tasmania, 1881. Hobart, 1883.

Colonial and Indian Exhibition, 1886. Handbooks to the various Australian Colonies, New Zealand, and Fiji.

Federal Council of Australasia, Session 1886. Official Record of Debates. Hobart, 1886.

Financial Statement for New South Wales for 1887. Fol. Sydney, 1887. Financial Statement for South Australia, 1886-87. Adelaide, 1887. Financial Statement for Victoria. Melbourne, 1887.

Financial Statement of the Treasurer of Tasmania. Hobart, 1887. Handbook for New Zealand. By James Hector, C.M.G., F.R.S., 4th edition. Wellington, 1886.

Hayter (H. H.), Notes on the Colony of Victoria. Melbourne, 1876.
Hayter (H. H.), Victorian Year-Book for 1887. Melbourne, 1887.
Mineral Statistics of Victoria for the year 1886. Fol. Melbourne, 1887.
New Guinea, Further Correspondence respecting. London, 1883.
New South Wales in 1881. Published by Authority. Sydney, 1882.
New South Wales: Blue-book for the year 1886. Fol. Sydney, 1887.

New South Wales; its progress and resources, prepared for the Amsterdam Exhibition. Sydney, 1883.

New Zealand: Financial Statement of the Colonial Treasurer for 1887. Wellington, 1887.

New Zealand: Import, Export and Shipping Returns for 1886. Wellington, 1887.

Official Handbook of New Zealand. London, 1883.

Papers relating to H.M.'s Colonial Possessions. Reports 1885-86. 8. London,

Queensland: Blue-book for the year 1886. Fol. Brisbane, 1887.

Queensland: Report from the Auditor-General on Public Accounts for the year 1886. Fol. Brisbane, 1887.

Queensland: Twenty-fourth Annual Report from the Registrar-General on Vital Statistics. Fol. Brisbane, 1887.

Railways of New South Wales.

Report of their construction and working,

from 1878 to 1881. Fol. Sydney, 1881.

South Australia; its History, Productions, and Natural Resources, by J. P. Stow. Adelaide, 1883.

Statistical Abstract for the several Colonial and other Possessions of the United Kingdom in each year, from 1872 to 1886. No. XXIV. 8. London, 1887. Statistical Notes on the Progress of Victoria, from the foundation of the Colony. 4. Melbourne, 1862-78.

Statistics of the Colony of New Zealand for the year 1886. Compiled from Official Records. Fol. Wellington, 1887.

Statistics of the Colony of Queensland for 1886.

Brisbane, 1887.

Statistical Register of New South Wales for the year 1886. 1887.

Fol. Sydney,

Statistical Register of South Australia for 1886. Fol. Adelaide, 1887. Statistics of the Colony of Tasmania for the year 1886. Fol. Hobart,

1887.

Statistical Register of the Colony of Victoria for the year 1886. Fol. Melbourne, 1887.

Tasmania: Progress of the Colony, 1871-80. Hobart, 1882.
Victoria Defence Reorganisation scheme. Melbourne, 1883.

Western Australia: Blue-book for the year 1886. Fol. Perth, 1887. Trade of Great Britain with Australasia; in Annual Statement of the Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom with Foreign Countries and British Possessions in the year 1886.' Imp. 4. London, 1887.

2. NON-OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS.

Bates (H. W.) and Eden (C. H.), Colonel Warburton's Journey across Australia. 8. London, 1875.

Bell (Sir F. D.), The Public Debt of Australasia. London, 1882.
Blair's Cyclopædia of Australasia. Melbourne, 1881.

Bonwick (James), The Resources of Queensland. London, 1880.

Braim (Th. N.), New Homes. The rise, progress, present position and future prospects of each of the Australian Colonies and New Zealand. 8. London, 1870.

Bramall (H.), The mineral resources of New Zealand. London, 1883.
Calvert and Williams, Fiji and the Fijians. London.

Clarke (Rev. W. B.), On the Progress of Gold Discovery in Australasia, from 1860 to 1871. 8. Sydney, 1871.

Cooper (H. Stonehewer), Coral Sands of the Pacific. 2 vols. London, 1880. Cotton (J. S.) and Payne (E. J.), Colonies and Dependencies in English Citizen Series.' London, 1883.

Cumming (Miss Gordon), At Home in Fiji. London, 1882.

Dilke (Sir Charles Wentworth, Bart., M.P.), Greater Britain: a Record of Travel in English-speaking countries in 1866 and 1867. New edit. 8. London, 1885.