1093 



WALES, NEW SOUTH. 



WALES, NEW SOUTH. 



1051 



trees of great magnitude. The highest hills lie on the north side of 

 the river, where some rise from 700 to 800 feet. The farthest sources 

 of the Brisbane are in the Coast Range, which here offers an easy 

 passage to the interior by a gap which occurs south of 28 S. lat, north 

 of Mount Mitchell, which is 4120 feet above the sea. 



All the rivers draining the interior of New South Wales, as far as 

 it is known, appear to belong to the river basin of the Murray. The 

 rivers composing this extensive system consist of numerous streams 

 that flow westward from the high lands running north and south 

 through New South Wales. The Murray itself we have noticed as 

 dividing the colony from Victoria, and it enters South Australia at 

 Table-Land Cliffs, and after flowing in a westerly direction about 

 90 miles in a direct line, it turns to the south and enters the sea 

 at Encounter Bay. [SOUTH AUSTRALIA.] The Murrumbidgee, after 

 it has itself received the Lachlan, falls into the Murray in 143 E. 

 long. The Dai-Hug, by its upper branches, drains the country extend- 

 ing from 32 to 28 S. lat. Its most northern branch, the Condamine, 

 rises on the Darling Downs, in 23 S. lat, runs northward as far as 

 26 S. lat, 151 4' E. long., then turns westward to 149 E. long., and 

 then south-westward till it joins the Darling on its left bank. From 

 the couth it receives the Bogan, a considerable stream, rising in the 

 Harvey liange ; and it is probable that the Macquarie, at least during 

 the rainy season, disembogues into it part of its water from the marsh 

 in which it is lost 



Geoioyy. Mineralogy, Ac. The general account of the geology of the 

 island has been given under AUSTRALIA, in vol. L, cols. 695-699. Sir R. 

 I. Murchifon bad asserted that gold must exist in the country in certain 

 formations ; and the same theory had been promulgated in the colony 

 by the Rev. W. B. Clarke, on the ground that the strata of the 

 Australian mountains running north and south through Victoria and 

 New South Wales, were of the same formation as those of the Sierra 

 Nevada in California, and the Ural Mountains in Russia, namely, 

 granite mixed with quartz and schistose slate; but it was not till 

 1849 that the actual existence of gold was discovered. In 1851 further 

 discoveries were made, Mr. Hargraves disclosed the places where be 

 had found gold, and when the government officer was sent to examine 

 the places, he found persons already working them. On May 22nd 

 instructions were given by the governor to grant licences to diggers at 

 the rate of 30*. per month. The first discoverer* obtained the gold 

 by washing the detritus from the beds of the creeks, and the earth 

 from the shores ; but it was soon found that the richest deposits were 

 in the quartz, and means were found to crush the rock and obtain the 

 gold. On August 5th the governor issued a notice that the licences 

 would only apply to the gold-washer*, and that on gold obtained by 

 crushing, a royalty must be paid of from 5 to 10 per cent Policemen 

 were appointed to the various stations, and escort* furnished for 

 bringing the gold from the diggings to the ports of Sydney or Mel- 

 bourne. In a short time the towns and village* were deserted, all the 

 usual avocations abandoned, the ships in harbour left unmanned, and 

 every one capable of labour repaired to the diggings. An immigration 

 ensued almost without a parallel. In the quarter ending the 30th of 

 September, 1854, the total quantity of gold brought down to Sydney 

 was 28,053 ounces, and the quantity of gold exported 49,893 ounces, 

 valued at 162.15& ; 10,712 lOt-licence* were granted on Crown lands 

 to mine and dig, 704 on Crown lands to erect buildings for trading 

 purpose*, and 12,157 fo.-licence* on private lands to mine and dig, 

 making a grand total of 12,157 licences, for which 58931. was received. 

 Eight lease* were granted to work auriferous quartz veins. The total 

 quantity of gold exported up to the 30th of June, 1854. was 150,429 

 ounce*, valued at 48o,89& ; making a gross total of 1,661,355 ounces 

 of gold exported in 1851, 1852, 1853, and the half of 1854, the value 

 whereof w.is 5,399,350i. The estimated net quantity of gold exported 

 from New South Wales and Victoria, from the 29th of May, 1851, to 

 the 30th of June, 1854, was 7,818,482 ounces, valued at 25,580,232*. ; 

 and up to the 30th of September, 7,886,509 ounces, valued at 

 27,975,4m 



Respecting other metals we have little to add to what is said under 

 AUSTRALIA. 



Iron-ore is known to exist in several places, especially on the west 

 of the Blue Mountains. Several extensive coal-measures have been 

 found, two of which are worked. Those found near the mouth of the 

 Hunter River, near Newcastle, are extensively worked, and their 

 produce is shipped to Sydney. The coal-beds near Western Port are 

 also very large, and have been worked for several years. Limestone 

 is abundant in some places, and some kinds of marble are worked on 

 the banks of the Wollondilly. 



An account of the botany of New South Wales is given under 

 AUSTRALIA, vol. i., col. 701-3. Many of the tree* are used for domestic 

 purposes, and some of them are exported as timber. The most valu- 

 able is the cedar (Melia aiediraek), which is found especially at 

 Illawarra, and on the banks of the Hunter, Hastings, and Clarence 

 riven. Several of the gum-trees, as they are called (Bucalyptut), are 

 valuable. Timber is farther obtained from a kind of pine belonging 

 to the genus CaUitri*. Most of the eucalypti yield a kind of guiu, 

 and therefore they have obtained the name of gum-tree*. A summary 

 account of the zoology of Now South Wales is given under AUSTRALIA, 

 vol. L, col. 703-9. 

 The climate is noticed generally under AUSTRALIA, voL i., coL 700. 



The rains are not, as between the tropics, limited to certain seasons, 

 jut fall all the year round ; they are, however, most frequent in 

 winter (June to August). The most characteristic peculiarities of the 

 climate of New South Wales are the long droughts which occasion- 

 ally prevail, and which are generally succeeded by excessively long 

 and heavy rains. The winds are as variable as in England. Westerly 

 winds, especially from the north-west, prevail in winter, and easterly 

 winds are more frequent in summer (December to February). lu 

 summer, in the morning, the winds blow, almost every day, from west 

 and south-west, but towards noon they pass to north-east and north. 

 Dews are frequent and heavy. Hailstones are common in December 

 and January, and are of much larger size than in England. Thunder- 

 storms prevail from December to February, and occur also iu No- 

 vember and March. On the Table-Lands and in the Plains of Bathurst, 

 which are more than 2000 feet above the sea-level, the winters are 

 much more severe than in the lower country. As in summer the 

 heat is several degrees less on these elevated countries than at Port 

 Jackson, the grass is not so quickly burned up, and thus the flocks of 

 sheep find here, nearly all the year round, sufficient food for their 

 sustenance. 



Soil, Agriculture, and Agricultural Productions. The soil of so 

 extensive a country must necessarily vary greatly. Many parts are 

 distinguished for their fertility, and it is probable that at least one- 

 fourth part is well adapted for cultivation, and that one-half would 

 afford good pasturage for sheep and cattle. In addition to the various 

 species of grain and artificial European fruits and vegetables, that 

 succeed well in various places, the sugar-cane, the vine, and tobacco 

 are raised. Although the growth of grain has been constantly on the 

 increase, New South Wales has always been an importing country, 

 and the influx of population in consequence of the discovery of the 

 gold-fields must render it for a considerable time still more so. In 



1852 the total number of acres iu crop was 152,057, of which tho 

 respective proportions were wheat, 82,110; maize, 25,017; barley, 

 6725; oats, 2470; rye, 245; millet, 54 ; potatoes, 4079; tobacco, 731 ; 

 wheat, barley, and oats, for hay, 27,598 ; and sown grasses, 3023. 

 The produce was as follows: Wheat, 1,407,465 bushels; maize, 

 717,053 bushels; barley, 133,944 bushels; oats, 49,069 bushels; rye, 

 4891 bushels; millet, 731 bushels; potatoes, 13,644 tons; tobacco, 

 12,530 cwt ; wheat, barley, and oats, for hay, 31,894 tons; and sown 

 grasses, for hay, 4711 tons. 



The colonists have been at some pains to introduce many kinds of 

 fruit-trees and vegetables, and they have in most cases done it with 

 tolerable success. There are oranges, lemons, citrons, nectarines, 

 apriooU, peaches, plums, cherries, figs, quinces, pears, apples, mul- 

 berries, pomegranates, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, bananas, 

 guavas, pineapples, gooseberries, currants; almonds, walnuts, chest- 

 nuts, and filberts. Gooseberries succeed in the colder and more elevated 

 countries, as near Bathurst In the kitchen-gardens are raised melons, 

 water-melons, pumpkin', capsicums, cabbages, turnips, and some other 

 vegetables. 



The first sheep introduced into the colony wero from England, and 

 the wool was of indifferent quality ; but as soon as it became evident 

 that wool might become a source of wealth, and yield an important 

 article of export to the mother country, several landed proprietors 

 were at considerable expense to get merino sheep. The quality of the 

 wool has been much improved. The wool imported into Great Britain 

 from New South Wales in 1853 amounted to 16,674,933 Ibs. ; the 

 tallow received in British ports from the colony was 1 15,933 cwts. ; 

 of sheep skins undressed there were 8496. The breed of cattle is a 

 mixture of the Bengal buffalo variety with humpy shoulders, and 

 various English breeds which have been introduced. They are fine 

 large animals. In some parts, especially on the Plains of Bathurst, 

 the dairies are well attended to, butter being made to a great extent, 

 and also cheese not inferior to the common cheeses of England. 

 Bullocks are mostly used for draught. The horses are remarkably 

 hardy and can undergo great fatigue. Pigs find abundant food in 

 the uncultivated tracts, and are easily fattened with maize. Goats 

 have been introduced, and thrive amazingly in those parts which have 

 a barren soil, and are overgrown with shrubs. The number of un- 

 tanned hides imported into Great Britain from New South Wales in 



1853 was 40,328. 



Poultry is in great abundance : geese, ducks, turkeys, guinea-fowls, 

 and common fowls thrive surprisingly, without any particular care 

 being taken of them. 



Indutlry and Manufacture!. Tho manufacturing industry of the 

 colony has made considerable progress, though the production and 

 export of native commodities form the staple of the occupation of the 

 inhabitants. The most numerous manufacturing establishments are 

 the mills for grinding and dressing corn, turned by wind, water, 

 horses, or steam. There are also manufactories of woollen-cloth, hats, 

 soap and candles, and of articles of furniture ; distilleries, breweries, 

 iron- and brass-foundries, rope-yards, and ship-building yards. As 

 spermaceti-whales and black whales frequent the sea adjacent to the 

 eastern entrance of Bass's Strait and the strait itself, and a great 

 number of seals are found on the islands iu the same part of the sea, 

 the whale and seal fishery became a source of gain to the colonists, 

 and is still carried on, though it has fallen off considerably. 



Commerce, New South Wales, considered as a commercial country, 



