AUSTRALASIA: NEW SOUTH WALES. 443 



NEWCASTLE. 



POPULATION. 



The present population of Newcastle, including suburbs, is about 

 70,000. It is impossible to estimate the percentage of illiterates, 

 but it can not be large. The people belong to the Anglo-Saxon 

 race, and are consequently fitted to produce paper or any other 

 commodity. 



CONSUMPTION. 



The uses of paper are for newspapers, job printing, wrapping 

 paper, and covering walls; the only peculiar paper used is for pack- 

 ing butter. Paper costs from 3 to 4 cents per pound, the terms being 

 cash or thirty days' time. 



As a fair sample of the amount consumed, the Newcastle Morning 

 Herald uses from 15 to 20 tons annually, while one "of the largest 

 business houses uses about 12 tons for the same period. The paper 

 brokers all reside in Sydney. They are Spicer & Sons, Edward 

 Dunlop & Co., and Cairn & Son. 



There is but one paper mill in this district, a small concern located 

 at Liverpool, New South Wales. 



The consumption of paper is increasing every year. 



America furnishes most of the paper; next come Germany and 

 England. 



PRODUCTION. 



There is little or no undeveloped water power that is liable to be 

 utilized in the manufacture of paper. 



Coal is used as fuel and costs about $2 per ton; it is of good 

 quality. Rivers and railways for transportation are near at hand. 



No natural products are utilized in the manufacture of paper, 

 rags only being employed. 



No paper-making machinery is made. The cost of skilled labor 

 averages 25 cents per hour. 



IMPORTS AND AMERICAN TRADE. 



There are imported all the various kinds of paper, including 

 news, jobbing, tea, wrapping, etc. There is no duty on paper. 



Regarding the best methods of increasing the introduction of 

 paper, I would suggest that live men be placed in Sydney, and, using 

 that as a business center, that they thoroughly "work" the district. 

 Such men, knowing all the details of the work, will be able to prove 



