IIG Statistics of Van Diemens Land. 



4 per cent, from Foreign countries ; and of the total exports, 

 62 per cent, are to Great Britain, 47| per cent, to British 

 Colonies, and \ per cent, to Foreign countries. 



The proportion of imports to population averages 

 £8 %s. 4:d. for each soul in the Colony ; and of exports, 

 £Q 19s. dd. for each. 



Our exports to Foreign countries are very trifling, and are 

 exceeded by the imports nearly ten times over : the latter 

 comprise in their list tea, coffee, sugar, wine, and tobacco, — 

 articles recognised as indispensable to the comfort and 

 enjoyment of every class in society. 



The trade with British Colonies is pursued with vigour and 

 activity, and is a valuable branch of our commerce. If, on 

 the one hand, we import from our neighbours cattle, sheep, 

 and salt meat, we send them, on the other, wheat, flour, and 

 timber to three times the amount ; besides interchanging 

 numerous surplus articles most beneficially to all, especially 

 to consumers, by the influence exercised upon prices, which 

 are thus brought to their natural level. 



In the trade with Great Britain there is a remarkable 

 steadiness in many staple imports for which we are 

 necessarily dependent ; but it is gratifying to notice a 

 decline in just those very articles which the Colony is so 

 well able to produce ; ex. gr., boots and shoes — butter and 

 cheese — candles and tallow — casks — hops — soap. Among 

 the exports, copper ore to a small extent forms a fresh item 

 as a re-export ; and there is an increase under hides, skins, 

 and leather : but there is a considerable decline in black oil 

 — whalebone — wool — and wheat. Temporary causes may 

 be assigned in explanation as respects these several staple 

 exports with the exception of the one last named ; but the 

 signal and complete failure of this has been doubtless 

 occasioned by the ports of Great Britain being now thrown 

 open to the markets of the World, and the consequent 



