654 BEPORT — 1889. 



■visited and explored its savannahs and prairie-lands as possessing one of the richest 

 grazing-lands of the world, and its development is only a question of time. In its 

 present condition it offers a very interesting field of research to the explorer. 



Time does not permit us to dwell long on the islands of the Pacific. Recent 

 events concerning Samoa are fresh in your memories ; and while some of these 

 islands have developed commercially, it is when they lie in the great ocean tracks of 

 the world that their real importance is manifested. Take for example the island of 

 St. Vincent, of the Cape Verde group. It is nothing but a barren rock, without 

 any produce whatever ; all its water has to be brought from a neighbouring island ; 

 yet it pays a large revenue to the Portuguese Government simply from coal dues, 

 for it has a good harbour and lies directly in the line between Great Britain and 

 the principal ports of South America ; it has therefore become a most important 

 coaling-station. 



From the isles of the Pacific it is but a step to Australasia, with its six great 

 colonies of Queensland, Victoria, New South "Wales, South Australia, Western 

 Australia, Tasmania, to which may be added New Zealand. Virgin fields untrodden 

 by the foot of white man are still awaiting the explorer to yield up their treasures 

 to the science of applied geography ; and when the marvellous progress that has 

 been made in a few short years by our Australian Colonies is weighed and con- 

 sidered, and as its vast interior is opened by exploration, and its mineral resources 

 are developed, who could venture to predict the future that lies before it ? 



There are now nearly 11,000 miles of railway in operation, and many more 

 miles are in course of construction throughout these various colonies — a sure and 

 certain indication of their energy, wealth, material prosperity, and progress. 

 Geographically speaking, some are not without their troubles. Take Queensland 

 for instance. Her territory runs north and south for nearly 1,500 miles, and lies 

 both in the temperate and tropic zones. The Governments who during past years 

 have administered her affairs have experienced some difficulties whilst endeavouring 

 to reconcile the conflicting interests which arise out of her geographical position. 



Laws relating to labour and capital in a temperate zone are not always in 

 conformity with the industries and requirements of a tropical temperature, in 

 which the white man is obliged to employ labour suitable to the climate. Hence 

 we find a numerous section of the inhabitants of the northern part of this colony 

 agitating in favour of separation. Australia has large coal-measures, and abounds 

 in precious metals as yet hardly developed. 



Attached to Australia are the great and lesser islands forming the Australasian 

 archipelago. The most important of these is New Guinea, and quite recently a 

 successful exploration of its highest mountain range has been accomplished by the 

 present administrator, Mr. Macgregor, who reached an elevation of about 14,000 

 feet. A very interesting paper was read before the Royal Geographical Society 

 by Mr. Paul Thomson concerning the D'Entrecasteaux and Louisiade groups, adja- 

 cent to New Guinea ; and though many of these islands and their inhabitants are 

 quite new to us, still the knowledge we gain from a study of their geographical 

 position may be tm-ned to practical uses by the merchant adventurer. 



Last but not least in this record of geographical progress of the world is the 

 vast continent of Africa, 



As General Strachey, late President of the Royal Geographical Society, in his 

 address of this year, remarks : — 



' The reflection can hardly be avoided that, great as has been the advance of 

 exploration in Africa during the last twenty or thirty years, the interest of geo- 

 graphers will, in the immediate future, be more and more centred in that continent. 

 Excluding the polar regions, there is no considerable portion of the earth's surface. 

 unless it is in Africa, the essential outlines of which have not been delineated.' 



These words are, I think, absolutely true. Whether we consider Afi-ica in regard 

 to the extraordinary explorations and developments since the commencement of the 

 work of David Livingstone; or from the fact that vast areas of its tropical portion 

 still remain untouched as yet by exploration, and are therefore unknown ; or from 

 a contemplation of the teeming millions of its inhabitants, of which the larger 

 portion have never seen a white man ; or from the uncompleted work of the late 



