AUSTRALASIA: VICTORIA. 445 



Imports for the last five years for which statistics are available 

 were: 



1893 $541,836 



1894 570,632 



1895 537,938 



1896 571,848 



1897 622, 815 



MAIL, CABLE, AND BANKING FACILITIES. 



Mails are brought fortnightly, occupying thirty days in transit. 

 The cable service is good. Banking facilities are satisfactory. 



FRANK DILLINGHAM, 

 AUCKLAND, February n, i&pp. Consul. 



VICTORIA. 



PRODUCTION. 



The trade in paper in the colony of Victoria is practically in the 

 hands of a few firms, and much difficulty has been experienced in 

 eliciting information on the subject. 



There are three paper mills in the colony in active operation, 

 namely: 



The Barwon Company, Geelong. 



The Broadford Company / Broadford. 



The Australian Paper Mills Company, Melbourne. 



The output of these mills is moderate; particulars as to the 

 quantities, values, etc., of the various lines produced could not be 

 obtained, extreme reticence being shown when information was re- 

 quested. The methods of manufacture are not up to date, and no 

 exports are made. There are no pulp mills in the colony. 



The total number of printers in Victoria may be estimated at be- 

 tween 500 and 600, and the publishers at from 350 to 400, most of 

 whom publish newspapers. It is impossible to give the number 

 of users of other classes of paper. 



The bulk of the paper consumed in the colony is imported from 

 the United States; Scotland, England, Germany, Belgium, Austria, 

 and Norway follow in the order given. 



