The principal fruit-culture of the State is that of the orange. There were in March, 1904, 13,418 acres under citrus fruit, with an estimated production of 7,841,544 dozen. On December 31, 1903, the State had 28,656,501 sheep, 1,880,578 horned cattle, 458,014 horses, 221,592 pigs. The production of wool as in the grease during 1902 was 221,565,900 lbs., and in 1903 it was 227,004,320 lbs. There were 124,751 persons engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits during the year 1903-4. In 1887 a Forest Conservation Department was created and attached to one of the principal State departments. The timber reserves, in which State forests are included, cover an area of 7,271,102 acres. The revenue from royalties, licences, &c., amounted in 1901 to 19,8137.; in 1902 to 31,8717.; and in 1903 to 36,2647. II. MINES AND MINERALS. Gold is found in all parts of New South Wales. The following table shows the quantity and value of the gold won in New South Wales since its discovery in 1851 : The Most of the gold won in the State is received at the Mint for coinage. value of silver and silver-lead and ore obtained to the end of 1903 was 35,283,1597. In 1903, 1,099,373 ounces of silver were raised, valued at 113,7557., and 349,064 tons of silver-lead ore and metal, altogether valued at 1,387,6487. The value of copper raised in 1903 was 446,2867. The estimated value of copper raised from its discovery in 1858 until the end of 1903 amounted to 6,611,1657. The total value of the output of tin since the mines were opened in 1872 has been 6,817,1227. In 1903 there were 99 coal mines, employing 13,917 men; the quantity of coal raised in 1903 was 6,354,846 tons, valued at 2,319,6601. The estimated value of coal raised to the close of 1903 amounted to 44,021,1037. There are 31 smelting furnaces giving employment to 2,873 hands, principally for the smelting of silver, tin, and copper ores. It is estimated that there were 40,432 persons employed in mining and smelting during 1903. III. MANUFACTURES. The following classification of manufactories, number of hands employed, and value of lands and buildings, machinery, implements and other plant invested is compiled from the returns of 1903, as far as the number of establishments and hands employed, and the value of machinery, implements and other plant invested are concerned, and from the Census returns of 1901 for the value of lands and buildings. 1 Exclusive of small establishments employing less than 4 hands. Milliners, dressmakers and tailors formerly enumerated, as well as home workers regularly employed in connection with factories, are included in the total. Commerce, Shipping, Railways. The external commerce of New South Wales, exclusive of inter-State trade, is included in the Statement of the Commerce of the Commonwealth. The total commerce of the State, including inter-State trade, for 5 years is given in the following table: The total revenue from import duties in 1903 amounted to 2,761,757%., or 10-32 per cent. of the total value of the imports. The chief exports are gold coin, wool, coal, meat (frozen and preserved), and hides and skins. The shipping on the registers of the State at the close of 1903 consisted of 527 sailing vessels of 55,386 tons, and 540 steamers of 67,469 tons; total 1,067 vessels of 122,855 tons: while the shipping registered during the year consisted of 28 sailing vessels of 1,742 tons, and 42 steamers of 6,424 tons; total 70 vessels of 8,166 tons. The number and tonnage of British and foreign vessels entered and cleared, with cargoes and in ballast, during three years were :— Of the total cleared in 1903, 1,409 of 2,585,445 tons were from Sydney, and 1,143 of 1,639,165 tons were from Newcastle. In 1903 there were 11,777 miles of roads metalled, gravelled, ballasted, or corduroyed; 7,914 formed; 18,592 cleared or drained; and 15,513 of bush roads. The total mileage of roads was 53,796, including 7,587 miles of roads in municipalities. The following are particulars of the Government railways in the State on June 30, 1904-Lines open for traffic, 3,280 miles. The total amount of money expended on railway construction and equipment to June 30, 1904, was 42,288,5177. The gross earnings for 1903-1904 amounted to 3,436,4137., working expenses 2,258,9407., and percentage of working expenses to the gross earnings, 65 74. There were also, at the close of 1903, 81 miles of private railways, which had a capital expenditure of 553,3891. The railways have a gauge of 4ft. 8 in. Nearly all tramways are the property of the Government. There were, on June 30, 1904, 125 miles open for traffic, the capital cost being 3,471,7597. The gross earnings for 1903-4 were 802,9851.; the working expenses, 673,6257.; and the percentage of working expenses to revenue 83.89. were, besides, 7 miles of privately-owned tramways. For Posts and Telegraphs, see under Commonwealth of Australia. Money and Credit. There The value of gold, silver, and bronze coin issued at the Royal Branch Mint, Sydney, during five years, was :— The assets of the banks (13 in 1904) trading in New South Wales, according to returns relating to operations within the State for the last quarter of each of the five years, were : The liabilities of the banks (exclusive of those to shareholders) were: Of the Savings Bank of New South Wales, established in 1832, the Governor is president, and the management is vested in thirteen trustees. Besides the head office and 3 branches in Sydney and suburbs there are 11 branches in the country districts. There are also post-office savings-banks. Statistics of both are given below : There are also banks in connection with Land, Building, and Investment companies. The amount of deposits in these institutions in December, 1903, was 941,2637. (exclusive of deposits in Benefit, Building, and Investment Societies). NORFOLK ISLAND, 29° S. latitude, 163° E. longitude, area 10 square miles, population 827, administered since November 14, 1896, by a Resident Magistrate and an elective council of 12 members who, with a grand jury, deal with all criminal offences not capital; and LORD HOWE ISLAND, 31° 30' S., 159° E., population 100, are administered by the Government of New South Wales. Y Books of Reference. The Wealth and Progress of New South Wales. By T. A. Coghlan, Statistician of New South Wales. Published annually since 1887. Sydney. A Statistical Account of Australia and New Zealand. Published annually since 1858. Sydney. Historical Records of New South Wales. Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom with Foreign Countries and British Possessions. Annual. London. Chalmers (R.), A History of Currency in the British Colonies. London, 1893. Fergusson (D.), Vicissitudes of Bush Life in Australia and New Zealand. 8. London, 1891 Griffin (G. W.), New South Wales, Her Commerce and Resources. 8 Sydney, 1888. Hutchinson (F.), New South Wales: the Mother Colony of the Australias. Sydney, 1896. Lang (John Dunmore, D.D.), Historical and Statistical Account of New South Wales. 4th edit. 2 vols. 8. London, 1874. Liversidge (A., M.A., F. R.S.), Minerals of New South Wales, &c. London, 1888. Parkes (Sir H.), Fifty Years in the Making of Australian History. 2 vols. 8. London, 1892. -An Emigrant's Home Letters (1838-44). New ed. London, 1897. Roydhouse (T. R.), The Labour Party in New South Wales. 8. London, 1892. VICTORIA. Constitution and Government. The Constitution of Victoria was established by an Act passed by the Legislature of the colony in 1854, to which the assent of the Crown was given, in pursuance of the power granted by the Act of the Imperial Parliament of 18 & 19 Vict. cap. 55. The legislative authority is vested in a Parliament of two Chambers. By an Act of 1903 the upper house consists of only 35 members, elected for six years, and the lower of 68, elected for three years (unless sooner dissolved), including one of the former and three of the latter as special representatives of the State public servants. Members of the Council must be in possession of an estate of the net annual value of 50%. for one year prior to their election; and electors must be in the possession or occupancy of property of the rateable value of 107. per annum if derived from freehold, or of 157. if derived from leasehold or the occupation of rented property. No electoral property qualification is required for graduates of British or Colonial universities, matriculated students of the Melbourne University, ministers of religion of any denomination, certificated schoolmasters, lawyers, medical practitioners, and officers of the army and navy active and retired. One-half of the members of the Legislative Council retire every three years. The members of |