890 



AUSTRALASIA. 



limited number of wealthy capitalists, so that of a hundred settlers not more than 

 six are landowners. 



The gold-mines which more than aught else have contributed to the rapid 

 development of the population, still form a chief resource of the country. Victoria 

 especially possesses auriferous deposits of immense value, and to them was indebted 

 for its temporary ascendency over New South Wales. But here, as elsewhere. 



Fig. 166.— Gold Mines of South-East Australia. 

 Kcale 1 : 7,500,000. 



Easb oF Greenwich 144 



120 Miles. 



mining operations became continually less remunerative according as the precious 

 metals diminished in relative value. Since the discovery of the gold-fields in 1851 

 down to the year 1887, the total quantity of gold recovered by the miners reached 

 the enormous sum of £320,000,000, or more than £8,000,000 a year. The tin- 

 mines, which occur chiefly in Queensland, and the highly productive copper-mines 

 of South Australia also contribute to feed the export trade of the colonies, while 



