30 Observations on Tasmanian Statistics. 



being 16,990 tons. Turnips show a decrease of about one 

 half; being 3643 acres, and yielding 16,088 tons in 1853. Of 

 carrots, 153 acres and a yield of 943 tons are returned for 

 1853; and of mangel wurzel, 53|- acres of 311 tons. Of 

 tares, 371 acres are returned as in crop, producing 1973 

 bushels and 209 tons of hay. In 1860 there were 39,971 

 acres laid down in English grasses, but the produce is not 

 stated : in 1853 the number of acres was only 19,241, more 

 than one half less, the produce being 11,122 tons and 

 6834 bushels of seed. 



The annual returns of live stock for the last ten years 

 are given in the next table, by which it appears that on 31st 

 December, 1853, Tasmania possessed ] 5,455 horses, 91,803 

 head of cattle, 1,942,550 sheep, 1805 goats, 28,082 pigs, 

 and 12 asses. 



The average cost of provisions at Hobart Town on the 

 31st December of each year is next detailed; and shows a 

 considerable progressive rise in the prices of all the common 

 necessaries of life since the discovery of the gold-fields, 

 reaching in some instances to fully 500 per cent. It will at 

 once be evident that this augmentation of price has been 

 occasioned partly by the greater abundance of money in 

 circulation in these colonies, partly by the increased 

 demands in the markets of the neighbouring colonies to sup- 

 ply the means of subsistence to the crowds of adventurers 

 flocking in and from all quarters to the gold-fields, and partly 

 by the diminished production of our industrial population. 



The average rate of wages' paid to certain classes of 

 mechanics and labourers is tabulated in the next return ; 

 and a glance at the columns of the last two years afford 

 ample corroborative proof, if any were required, of the great 

 disturbance of the labour market. In 1853, the wages 

 of bricklayers, carpenters and masons have fully trebled, — 



