BY A. O. GREEX. 51 



Advantages. 



The present year is the one hundredth since Tasmania was 

 first colonised, and on every side there are indications that 

 in the near future Tasmania will become one of the most 

 prosperous States of the Empire. The towns, though small, 

 have most of the conveniences of large European cities, in 

 the way of water supply, well-paved streets, good buildings, 

 telegraphs, telephones, gas, electric light, and electric trams. 

 The country districts are connected w4th the ports by lines 

 of railway, and good macadamised roads ; the countr}' has 

 been opened. The effect of climate and soil on the grow^th 

 of crops and the rearing of cattle and sheep is well known. 

 The method of dealing with fungi and insects inimical to 

 cultivated crops has been put upon the solid basis of experi- 

 ence, and there is every prospect of remunerative employ- 

 ment for a very much larger population than Tasmania has 

 at present. While Victoria was passing through the first 

 excitement of the gold diggings, Tasmania supplied a ver}^ 

 large portion of the food of that colony, and, owing to the 

 facilities of water carriage, can still place produce in Mel- 

 bourne and in other capital cities of Austi-alia at a flower 

 rate for freight than mainland districts that ai-e veiy much 

 nearer to those capitals. 



. The advantages of the climate and soil of Tasmania have 

 been brought into great prominence by the dry seasons that 

 have obtained upon the mainland, culminating in the severe 

 drought of last year, and many mainland farmers are coming 

 to Tasmania to ■ farm, where the land laws are liberal, the 

 horrors of drought, extremes of heat, and devastating floods 

 are unknown, and in many places grass is green all the year 

 round. Also, owing to her position, and available water 

 power, and that factory legislation in Tasmania places less 

 restriction upon trade than other States of the Common- 

 wealth do, it is certain that factories will be set up in 

 Tasmania in preference to other parts of the Australian 



