Statistics of Van Diemen's Land. 



121 



of 28 per cent, in the quantity of Crown Land taken up 

 under licences of occupation ; and the aggregate rental 

 thence derived has heen augmented nearly 23 per cent. 



The great extent to which the Crown Lands, formerly 

 lying waste and unproductive, are now leased for the depas- 

 turing of flocks, notwithstanding the temporary depression 

 from the low price of wool, attests the productiveness of the 

 labour and capital therein employed ; and the wise and 

 successful policy of the measure will be at once evident from 

 the following comparative statement :— 



Years. 



No. of Lessees. 



Acres let. 



Rent received. 



1842 

 1843 



1847 

 1848 



41 



79 



490 



538 



39,019 



78,714 



1,062,989 



1,363,427 



£, s. d. 



658 14 



991 8 



14,279 



17,511 11 3 



It is understood that applications have been since received 

 at the Survey Office for the occupation of nearly a million 

 of acres in the " new country," — thus still further develop- 

 ing the resources of the Colony. By the table quoted, it 

 also appears that Van Diemen's Land is estimated to con- 

 tain 142" millions of acres, of which only about one-fifth has 

 been granted or sold to settlers ; and of this quantity, again, 

 only 171,540 acres, or less than l-20th, are in cultivation. 



Table 42 records the sales made of Crown Land during 

 the year. There were 51 Country Allotments sold, in area 

 1544a. 3r. 36/;., and producing, at the average of 245. 2>^d. 

 per acre, £1877 3.9. Qd.; and the number of Town and 

 Suburban Allotments sold was 133, in quantity 629a. Ir. 

 16f/?., yielding, upon the average of £5 4.s. Ihd. per acre, 

 the sum of £3276 14^. Qd. 



Table 43 details the number of acres in crop, and the 

 nature of each crop, for the several districts of the Island, 



