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General Statistics.
The estimated population is 112,000, the number of males being 60,000, and females, 53,022. Vital statistics:—Births registered in 1879, 3564; deaths, 1688; marriages, 801. The lowest upset price of agricultural land belonging to the Crown, which is more or less timbered, is £1 per acre; and the lowest upset price of pastoral lands, 5s. per acre. Agricultural land, to the extent of 320 acres, may be selected for purchase at £1 an acre, the time for payment extending over 14 years. The board of immigration issue bounty tickets in the colony for the introduction of emigrants from the United Kingdom on the following terms:—Family ticket for a man, his wife, and children under 12 years of age, £15; ticket for single female, £5; and for single man, £10. The London agents are also empowered to issue warrants for land in the colony; and the immigration board are empowered to grant land certificates to any immigrants from Europe and India who have come out at their own cost, entitling them to select 30 acres of land for themselves, 20 for their wives, and 10 for each child.
The value of the imports during 1879 was £1,267,475, and of exports £1,301,097.
There are 167 miles of railway opened. The main roads are maintained by Government, the branch roads being under the control of road trustees, locally elected. There are 731 miles of telegraph lines, not including 133 miles belonging to the Tasmanian Main Line Railway Company. The post-offices or receiving houses number about 200, the most important of which are also money-order offices. An electric cable connects Tasmania with Australia and New Zealand, and also, rid Port Darwin, with India and England. There is also rapid and regular steam communication between Tasmania and the neighbouring colonies.
Postal.
Letters posted in 1879 |
1,963,798 |
Letters received in 1879 |
1,844,772 |
Newspapers posted in 1879 |
1,609,494 |
Newspapers received in 1879 |
1,313,189 |
Banks.
Deposits |
£1,983,594 |
Savings banks |
298,202 |
Commerce.
Tonnage of vessels inward |
189,087 |
Tonnage of vessels outward |
192,808 |
Tonnage of vessels belonging to Tasinanian ports |
18,820 |
Principal Exports of Colonial Produce for the Year 1879.
Article. |
Quantity. |
Value. |
Bark |
5,813 tons |
£30,800 |
Butter and cheese |
127½ cwt. |
595 |
Fruit—Green |
142,252 bushels |
151,802 |
Fruit—Jam |
3,915,881 lb. |
151,802 |
Grain—Wheat |
15,090 bushels |
4,242 |
Grain—Oats |
109,086 bushels |
15,726 |
Grain—Barley |
8,412 bushels |
2,428 |
Hides—Skins |
1,022,892 |
12,811 |
Hides—Leather |
2,183 packages |
12,811 |
Hops |
558,622 lb. |
26,572 |
Live stock—Horses |
137 |
7,180 |
Live stock—Cattle |
5 |
225 |
Live stock—Sheep |
938 |
31,324 |
Oatmeal |
209 tons |
7,347 |
Oil (sperm) |
245 tuns |
13,810 |
Timber |
|
59,713 |
Vegetables |
9,475 tons* |
39,474 |
Potatoes |
9,475 tons* |
39,474 |
Wool |
7,385,002 lb. |
407,227 |
Gold |
38,895 oz. |
145,723 |
Tin—Ingots |
4,316 tons |
300,203 |
Tin—Ore |
247 tons |
300,203 |