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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 85

General Remarks

General Remarks.

Australia is a large island twenty-six times the size of Great Britain and Ireland, with a population half that of London.

This large continent-island contains the five distinct colonies here named, with the date of their birth:—
New South Wales 1787
South Australia 1836
Victoria 1835
Queensland 1859
Western Australia 1829

Comparison of the Australian Courts with Canadian Courts.—While the Canadian Courts give the impression that the Canadians are more anxious to show what they can do, rather than what their page break Australia, Fiji an New zealand map page 34 Dominion produces, the Australian Courts show more what these colonies produce than what they do. Why?

1. The Australian colonies are more youthful, and young colonies must rely principally on what their country naturally produces.

2. The natural products of Australia are so varied and abundant that the daughter colonies find it now far more profitable to exchange them for the manufactures of the mother country.

N.B. If the mother country act wisely, see page 29, this profitable exchange will continue in the future.

3. The climate of Australia is more favourable for the development of natural products than the climate of Canada. In Australia there is no winter in the English sense of the word. Very few Australians have seen snow. The Canadian winter stops all agricultural work.

The Vegetable Products exhibited range from those of the tropical climate of Queensland to those of the warm temperate climate of South Australia, which resembles the climate of Spain, South France, and Italy.

Notice the position of the great mountain range on the map. Compare it with the mountains of Natal in map of South Africa. Read the notes on Natal, page 53.

The natural Australian vegetation is entirely evergreen, of nearly 6,000 plants, over 5,000 are not found elsewhere. European trees on their first introduction seem puzzled whether or no to shed their leaves, and also when to do so. Some turn evergreen, others apparently discover the Australian winter is the European summer, and alter their habits to suit the change.

The Eucalyptus—the everlasting gum-tree—is represented in every Court. Its gum contains a large proportion of "Kino-tannin." Its bark is useful for tanning and dyeing; the leaves yield a valuable oil; the wood is invaluable; the timber of some species effectively resists the white ant and teredo navalis, and hence is most useful for railway sleepers and harbour works. Its leaves are vertical and do not shelter sheep.

The highest tree in the world (480 feet), nearly two and a half times as high as the Monument in London, was discovered in Australia.

There is a large case of Eucalyptus oils and other products in the Victorian Court.

Note well that the only native fruit is a kind of chestnut, and that the trees, which bear the beautiful fruit you admire, were all introduced by colonists.

The Timber exhibits in each Australian Court show the variety and abundance of timber.

"But the genius of destruction is in the air," and Australians of the next page 35 generation may, in the intensified droughts (which are even now the bane of the climate), lament the lack of forethought in their fathers.

Let us hope that in Australia the old adage will prove true, "The rain follows the plough."

The Animal Products relate principally to sheep, for which the vast natural pastures and the climate (droughts excepted) are very favourable.

The exhibits of Natural Grasses and Fodder Plants should not be lightly passed by. How much depends on these grasses! See the case in the South Australian Court, near the Camels.

Australia on its discovery had neither sheep, cow, pig, nor horse. In 1792 there were in Australia only 23 head of cattle, 11 horses, 105 sheep, 43 pigs. In 1885 there were 9,000,000 cattle, 80,000,000 sheep, 1,500,000 horses, 1,000,000 pigs.

The Spanish proverb says, "Sheep have golden feet, and wherever the print of their footsteps is seen, the land is turned into gold."

The Merino sheep, the horse stock, the fattening cattle, and the dairy cows, all thrive throughout the year, without shelter, upon the open natural pasture lands. The Merino sheep were introduced into Australia from the flock of a Mr. Henty, of West Tarring, Sussex. The climate of Australia closely resembles that of their old home in Spain.

The Industrial Exhibits have reference to the special needs of the colonists, such as clothing, leather, saddlery, furniture, glass ware, earthenware, soap, candles, carriages; also agricultural implements and machinery, such as the "Stripper" and the "Stump jumping plough."

Caution.—Many of these industrial exhibits are evidences not of "staple industries," but of what the colonists can do, if they wish. Will they wish?

The Leather Exhibits, in the shed with the electrical machinery, have a very special importance. Formerly, Australia sent raw hides to England for English labour to tan. She now sends leather.

Education and Fine Arts.—Each Court gives most creditable evidence that the colonists recognize, "Man does not live by bread alone." Paintings—Photographs—Maps—Books—Musical and Scientific Instruments.

The Photographs and Paintings, specially the large wall paintings of localities, are most worthy of attention. Do not be tempted to even glance at the portraits, you have not the time.

What the Courts teach respecting Australia apart from the "work" of the Colonists.—The ethnological groups, the page 36 conservatories, and the cases of birds are both interesting and instructive. Much may be learnt by a few minutes' inspection of each.

The Natives represented belong to the Oceanic negroes, ranking with the Bosjemen of South Africa as the lowest and most degraded of races.

Their numbers are now estimated at 50,000. That they are not beyond education, the educational exhibits of South Australia show.

In every Court there are cases with specimens of aboriginal dress, weapons, tools, &c. The stone implements in these cases, and the method of obtaining fire, shown in the Sea Coast Group, prove that the natives are in the lowest grade of humanity.

Australian Animals.—Of 150 species of mammals, more than 120 are not found elsewhere, and of these 105 are marsupialia, or pouched animals.

The chief marsupials of Australia are the kangaroo, bandicoot, the phalanger or opossum. There are also pouched hyaenas, pouched rats, and pouched bears. The true opossum is a native of America, and is the only marsupial found out of Australia.

"The first mammals created were those now characteristically Australian kinds. The kangaroo represents to-day the marsupial animals that jumped about Europe thousands of years ago."

The birds are remarkable for their plumage. The living and stuffed specimens are numerous. Specially notice the case in the Queensland Court.

In the groups will be seen the platypus, which has the bill and feet of a duck, the body and fur of a mole, and the internal structure of a reptile. This animal lays eggs like a bird, and suckles its young like a mammal.