114 AUSTRALIA AND THE AUSTRALIANS. 



once her colonial debt. She would not, however, con- 

 sider that a profitable transaction. 



GROWTH OF RAILWAYS. 



1873. 1885. 



Victoria 458 1676 



New South Wales 397 1777 



Queensland 218 1434 



South Australia 202 1063 



West Australia 30 184 



Tasmania 45 257 



New Zealand . 145 1654 



1,495 8,045 



New lines are being built. There are, at the time of 

 this writing, not less than 10,000 miles in operation. 



The telegraph system has grown in proportion to 

 the growth of the railway system. 



CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL. 



If we turn to the cultivation of the land, and cereals 

 and animal production, we find quite as rapid an 

 increase. 



The total number of acres under cultivation in all 

 the colonies in 1873 was 3,306,923, while in 1885 we 

 find the number of cultivated acres is 8,028,551, an 

 increase of nearly five millions in twelve years. 



