Statistics of Van Diemen’s Land. 19 
0°3 per cent. in the letters and newspapers despatched from 
the General Post-office, and a larger decrease of 5°4 per cent. 
in the number of letters received there. The two-penny 
Post also shows a considerable reduction in its amount of | 
business, as much, indeed, as 13°2 per cent. upon the year.* 
The gross revenue of the Post-office for 1849 was 
£6929 1s. 9d., and its expenditure £5945 9s. 04d., yielding 
a surplus of income of nearly £1000. ‘There were de- 
spatched from Van Diemen’s Land within the same period 
1335 ship mails, containing 49,034 letters, and 51,062 news- 
papers; and there were received into the Colony 604 mails, 
containing 51,045 letters, and 94,982 newspapers. 
Table 35 states the number of Stage-coaches employed in 
1849 upon the main and cross roads of the Colony to be 14 
in all,—9 of which start from Hobart Town, and 5 from 
Launceston. Of the former, 2 run to Launceston, 1 to 
Oatlands, 2 to New Norfolk, 2 to Richmond, 1 to Green 
Ponds, and 1 to Brown’s River; and of the latter, 2 run to 
Hobart Town, 2 to Perth and Longford, and 1 to Evandale. 
This is exclusive of the minor accommodation of chaise- 
carts, &c. In the progress of a country, it is always inter- 
esting to trace the gradual increase to facilities of commu- 
nication. 
Tables 36 and 37 relate to the sale and leasing of Crown 
Lands during 1849, and exhibit a considerable declension, 
as compared with 1848, under the first of these two heads. 
There were 80 Country Lots sold; in quantity 826a. Or. 5p., 
and producing, at the average price of £1 Os. 83d. per acre, 
£855 16s. 1d.; and the number of Town and Suburban 
Allotments sold was 70, yielding, upon the average of 
* This decrease in correspondence may arise from extended personal inter- 
course consequent upon the greater facilities in travelling enjoyed by all 
ranks of the community. 
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