Value of gold, silver, and bronze coin issued at the Royal Branch Mint, Sydney, during the last five years : Assets of banks trading in New South Wales, average of each year from 1884 to 1888: - 1884 1,644,469 60,443 1885 1,714,095 55,300 1886 583,020 868,543 1,366,202 7,453,914 17,738,445 8,819,979 18,387,705 1,621,090 60,827 8,355,255 18,974,984 1887 1,526,096 64,146 1,208,727 8,870,037 20,162,493 29,032,530 31,831,499 1888 1,591,500 84,111 539,901 10,436,559 20,382,990 30,819,549 33,035,061 25,192,359 27,480,291 27,207,684 29,845,622 27,330,239 30,378,358 Of the Savings Bank of New South Wales, established in 1832, the Governor is president, and by him the trustees are appointed. Besides the head office in Sydney there are seventeen branches in the country districts. There are besides post-office savings-banks. Statistics are given below of both branches of savings-banks : Agent-General in London.-Hon. Sir Saul Samuel, K.C.M.G., C.B.; Secretary, Samuel Yardley. Under the supervision of the Governor of New South Wales are NORFOLK ISLAND, 29° S. latitude, 168° E. longitude, area 10 square miles, population 140; PITCAIRN ISLAND, 25° S., 130° W., area 3 square miles, population 120; and LORD HOWE ISLAND, 31° 30′ S., 159° E., population 50. Books of Reference. 1. OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS. Annual Statistics of New South Wales. By T. A. Coghlan, A.M.Inst.C.E., Government Statistician. Sydney, 1889. Census of New South Wales, taken April 3, 1881. Fol. Sydney, 1882. Financial Statement of New South Wales for 1888-89. Fol. Sydney, 1889. Handbook of New South Wales Statistics. Published annually by T. A. Coghlan, AMInst.C.E., Government Statistician. New South Wales in 1881. Published by authority. Sydney, 1882. New South Wales Blue Book for the Year 1888. Fol. Sydney, 1889. New South Wales; its Progress and Resources, prepared for the Amsterdam Exhibition. Sydney, 1883. New South Wales Government Gazette, January 2, 1890. Railways of New South Wales. Report of their Construction and Working from 1878 to 1881. Fol. Sydney, 1881. Report on the Vital Statistics of Sydney and Suburbs. Coghlan, A.M.Inst.C.E., Government Statistician. Published annually by T. A. Statistical Register of New South Wales for the Year 1888. Fol. Sydney, 1889. The Wealth and Progress of New South Wales. Published annually by T. A. Coghlan, A.M.Inst.C.E., Government Statistician. Sydney, 1888. 2. NON-OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS. Lang (John Dunmore, D.D.), Historical and Statistical Account of New South Wales. 4th edit. 2 vols. 8. London, 1874. Lucas (Hon. John), Mines and Mineral Statistics of New South Wales. 8. Sydney, 1880. Lyne (Charles), The Industries of New South Wales. Sydney, 1882. Reid (G. H.), An Essay on New South Wales. 8. Sydney, 1877. Woods (Rev. J. E. Tenison), Fish and Fisheries of New South Wales. 8. Sydney, 1882. NEW GUINEA. This possession is the south-eastern part of the island of that name. Area of British New Guinea, 90,000 square miles; population, 135,000; white population, mostly officials and missionaries, about 50. The colony of New Guinea includes the islands of the D'Entrecasteaux and Louisiade Archipelagoes, and all islands between 8° and 12° S. latitude, and 141° and 155° E. longitude. By the New Guinea Act of November 1887, the administration of New Guinea is placed on a new basis, a sum not exceeding 15,000l. per annum for ten years being secured for administration. New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland each contribute equally towards this payment; the colony of Queensland being primarily responsible for the whole amount. On September 4, 1888, the sovereignty of the Queen was proclaimed over British New Guinea, the government being placed under an administrator, Sir William Macgregor, K.C.M.G., formerly Acting Colonial Secretary and Administrator of Fiji (salary 1,5007.). There is a missionary settlement, with stores, hotel, and other conveniences at Port Moresby, but little has yet been done to develop the resources of the island. Population of Port Moresby, about 1,500. The territory is divided into a western, central, and eastern division, each in charge of a Deputy Commissioner. Revenue in 1888, 9,7007.; expenditure 7,0221. ; customs receipts about 3,000l. Valuable timber abounds, the coco and sago palm are plentiful, with figs, spices, and other natural products, and it is stated that much of the country is suitable for sugar and other tropical cultures; in the high grounds in the interior suitable localities may be found for European settlement, and for cultivation of various products. Gold is found in the Louisiade Islands, and 400 miners were at work in 1889; 4,839 ounces, valued at 18,2007., having been sent to Cooktown up to the end of September. In the fourteen years 1875-88, 360 vessels of 21,434 tons have entered New Guinea ports from Queensland, and 373 of 20,592 tons cleared. In 1888, entered 39 of 1,540 tons, cleared 18 of 1,214 tons. The exports are bêche-de-mer, copra, birdskins, gum, pearl-shells, and rattans, &c. Imports from Queensland (1875-88), 49,5897.; exports to Queensland, 30,3377. In 1888 the exports were gold, 14,3877.; pearl-shells, 3,960l.; bêche-de-mer, 2,8951.; copra, &c, 1,500l.: total, 22,7421. There is good water communication to some parts of the interior. Books of Reference. Annual Report of Administrator. British New Guinea (Queensland) Act of 1887. Brisbane, 1888. New Guinea, Further Correspondence respecting. London, 1883 and 1890. Chalmers (J.), and Gill (W. Wyatt), Work and Adventure in New Zealand. London, 1885. Stone (0. C.), A Few Months in New Guinea. London, 1880. Romilly (H. H.), The Western Pacific and New Guinea. London, 1886. Romilly (H. H.), From my Verandah in New Guinea. London, 1889. NEW ZEALAND. Government and Constitution. The present form of government for New Zealand was established by statute 15 & 16 Vict., cap. 72, passed in 1852. By this Act the colony was divided into six provinces, afterwards increased to nine, each governed by a Superintendent and Provincial Council, elected by the inhabitants according to a franchise practically amounting to household suffrage. By a subsequent Act of the Colonial Legislature, 39 Vict. No. xxi., passed in 1875, the provincial system of government was abolished, and the powers previously exercised by superintendents and provincial officers were ordered to be exercised by the Governor or by local boards. By the terms of this and other amending statutes, the legislative power is vested in the Governor and a "General Assembly 'consisting of two Chambers--the first called the Legislative Council, and the second the House of Representatives. The Governor has the power of assenting to or withholding consent from bills, or can reserve them for Her Majesty's pleasure. He summons, prorogues, and dissolves the Parliament. He can send drafts of bills to either House for consideration, but in case of appropriations of public money must first recommend the House of Representatives to make provision accordingly before any appropriations can become law. He can return bills for amendment to either House. The Legislative Council consists of forty-five members, nominated by the Crown for life. By an Act passed in 1887, the number of members to be elected to the House of Representatives was reduced to seventy-four, including four Maoris, elected by the people for three years. The qualifications of electors are as follows :-(a) Residence in the colony and electoral district for six months immediately preceding registration, in case of European males 21 years of age and upwards; (b) possessors of a freehold estate of the value of 251.; (c) every male Maori 21 years of age or over, whose name is on a ratepayers' roll, or who has a freehold estate of the value of 251. At the general election in 1887 there were 175,410 electors on the rolls for the electoral districts, which return 91 European members to the House of Representatives; and at the election of the four Maori members for the districts under the Maori Representation Act, 8,822 votes of natives were recorded. The proportion of representation to population was in 1888 one European member in the House of Representatives to every 6,675 persons, and one Maori member to every 10,492 natives. Governor.-The Right Honourable the Earl of Onslow, G.C.M.G.; Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Colonies, 1887; Vice-President of the Colonial Conference, 1887; Secretary of the Board of Trade, 1888; appointed Governor of New Zealand, November 1888. The Governor, who is by virtue of his office Commander-inChief of the forces, has a salary of 5,000l., which is to cover all expenses of his establishment and for travelling. The proportion of electors to population in the year 1887 was one to every 3-4 persons. The general administration rests with a responsible Ministry consisting of about seven members. The following is a list of the present Ministry: Premier, Colonial Treasurer, Postmaster-General, Minister of Marine, Commissioner of Stamps, and Commissioner of Trade and Customs.-Hon. Sir H. A. Atkinson, K.C.M.G. Attorney-General.-Hon. Sir Frederick Whitaker, K.C.M.G. Minister of Native Affairs, Postmaster-General, and Telegraph Commissioner.-Hon. E. Mitchelson. Colonial Secretary, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Defence.—Hon. W. R. Russell. Minister of Lands, Agriculture, and Immigration. Minister for Public Works and Mines.-Hon. T. Fergus. Hon. G. F. R The control of native affairs, and the entire responsibility of dealing with questions of native government, were transferred in 1863 from the Imperial to the Colonial Government. In 1864 the seat of the general Government was removed from Auckland to Wellington on account of the central position of the latter city. LOCAL GOVERNMENT. New Zealand is divided into counties and boroughs for purposes of local government. The counties are subdivided into ridings. County councils are empowered to constitute road districts on petition being made. Besides the road districts, which are very numerous, there are town districts and river and harbour boards. The ratepayers in the road districts of a county are qualified as electors for the purposes of the county council, and the members of each road board are elected by the ratepayers of the district. Area and Population. There are two principal islands, known as the North and Middle Islands, besides the South or Stewart's Island, and small outlying islands. The group is nearly 1,000 miles long, and 200 miles across at the broadest part. Its coast line extends over 3,000 miles. New Zealand is situated 1,200 miles to the east of the Australian continent. It was first visited by Tasman in 1642, afterwards by Captain Cook in 1769. The area of New Zealand is estimated at 104,471 square miles. The North Island is estimated to embrace an area of 44,467 square miles, the Middle Island 58,525, while Stewart's Island has an area of 665 square miles. New Zealand was officially established as a colony in 1840. The total acreage of the colony is 66,861,440, and up to the end of 1888, 19,244,344 acres had been allenated from the Crown. The following table gives the population of New Zealand, exclusive of aborigines, at various dates, according to census returns : The population of each provincial district and its area, with the population per square mile, is shown in the succeeding table as at last census (1885): |