page 41

Queensland.

Five and a half times the size of Great Britain and Ireland.—Founded 1859—Capital, Brisbane.

Population, not one-tenth of London, but the herds of cattle and sheep could easily feed two Londons, and the wool clip is one-half that of Great Britain and Ireland At the present time "The great Emigrant Colony."

Walk through the courts of this the youngest of our Australian Colonies, merely to obtain impressions, and you will be convinced (1) That the Colony has unlimited resources for becoming a great sheep colony, a farming colony, a mineral producing colony, and a colony for tropical productions. (2) That the people of Queensland are developing these resources with skill and energy, and that a great future lies before them.

The Tropical Colony.—A highland region, lies to the west of the coast district, and table-lands, called "downs," extend for a considerable distance. Upon the elevated "downs," wheat, oats, barley, and every kind of temperate product can be grown. In the lower districts, all tropical productions flourish.

Notice the Arrowroot—Tapioca—Sago—Rice—the Preserved Pineapple—Guava—Apricot, &c.

Valuable Timber.—See the large Cedar Logs, one 20 ft. 5 in in girth, the other 18 ft. 8 in. Notice the various oils from the Eucalyptus.

Great Mineral Wealth.—Queensland may probably prove the richest mineral colony. The mineral exhibits are 1,407 in number, and include Gold—Silver—Copper—Tin—Mercury—Cobalt—Bismuth—Coal.

Gold has been found in nearly every part of the Colony. See ore from Mount Morgan.

Eminently a land of Copper and Tin. See Tin ore from Heberton, and the block of pure copper weighing 1½ tons.

One of the two Coal Colonies.—Precious Stones—Diamonds—Sapphires—Garnets. See exhibits, and the necklace of diamonds and opals worth £1,000.

The Mount Morgan Gold is found not in quartz, but in ironstone and in siliceous deposit. This deposit was discovered by Morgan, whose horse knocked up what appeared to be a piece of stone. Morgan saw that it page 42 contained gold, and purchased the farm on which the "stone" was found at £1 per acre. It is calculated that £9,000,000 worth of gold will be obtained.

Stream Tin is in fine grains, the size of a pin's head and under, and has been brought out of the granite rocks by the action of running waters Value of Tin obtained, over £4,000,000.

Gems and precious stones are found in the tin streams.

Hungary, the land of opals, has a rival in Queensland.

Pearl Shells. See Trophy; also the 400 large Clam Shells in Conservatory.

Natural History. Notice the Queensland landscape group with bears, flying squirrels, soot owls, cranes, iguanas, puff lizards, the wingless birds, the duck-billed platypus. Notice also the beautiful case of Australian birds and the two dugongs.

The Dugongs are animals somewhat resembling whales, which feed on the seaweed of the Indian seas. Their flesh is excellent, their concealed tusks are good ivory, and their skin good leather.