GEOGSAPHIC PROGRESS — KELTIE. 509 



lation of half a century ago. All these expeditions, combined with 

 the official surveys, have afforded a fair knowledge of the main 

 features of the interior, which are much more varied than was at 

 one time supposed. At the same time, the numerous rivers shown 

 on the map in central and western Australia lack that permanency 

 which is necessary for successful agricultural operations. But gi'eat 

 schemes are on foot for irrigation and storage, and, as is known, 

 the immense underground supply of water has been tapped, though, 

 as it is not unlimited, its use ought to be carefully regulated. The 

 population during the past half century has trebled, and the ma- 

 terial progress during recent years has been so great that the Im- 

 perial Government felt justified in combining the various colonies 

 into one great commonwealth. Under this new regime there is no 

 doubt that a much more detailed exploration of the continent on 

 scientific lines will be carried out in future, with beneficial results 

 on its development, mineral, agricultural, pastoral, and manufactur- 

 ing. In the annual production and commerce of the Commonwealth 

 gold has ceased to be the most important factor. The agricultural 

 production alone amounts to about 50,000,000 sterling, the pastoral 

 to close on 60,000,000, while dairying products yield 20,000,000 and 

 manufactures 58,000,000. Mining products amount to some 25,- 

 000,000. The total exports are now almost 80,000,000, and of that 

 wool alone is valued at over 26,000,000. 



This will afford some measure of the extent to which Australia 

 has been explored during the past half century. Wlien we remem- 

 ber what man has been able to accomplish in older countries by tree- 

 planting, irrigation, and other judicious methods, there is no need 

 to despair of Australia. At the worst there is plenty of room for 

 the hundred millions which it is estimated — by Australians — will be 

 the population of the continent a century hence. We may be sure 

 there is a great future in store for our southern dominion, with 

 British energy to make the best of geographical conditions. 



Although New Guinea, especially the spacious western section 

 belonging to Holland, remains one of the few regions which affords 

 ample scope to the adventurous pioneer explorer, still, much has 

 been done in recent years to furnish a fuller knowledge of its in- 

 terior, especially since the narrower eastern section was annexed 

 by Great Britain and Germany. Half a century ago it was prac- 

 tically a blank. Into the discoveries that have been made in that 

 magnificent archipelago that fringes southeastern and eastern Asia 

 I can not enter. Much has been done in the Philippine Islands and 

 in Formosa by the United States and Japan, to which res]5ectively 

 these islands now belong. Though many additions have been made 

 to our knowledge by British and Dutch explorers in the other islands 



