NewSouth Wales&c] ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



banks, inundating tlie country to a considerable distance, in winter. The 

 cultivated districts of Buckinghamshire are more productive than the soil of 

 New South Wales, and the grain of the wheat is larger and heavier. Since 

 1811, the progress of improvement at Hobart's Town has been very rapid. 

 The wretched huts, of which it was then composed, have given place to 

 substantial buildings, laid out in regular streets, of a good width, though 

 unpaved. The number of houses is about 700, chiefly brick. The public 

 buildings consist of a Church, a handsome brick structure ; a Court-house, of 

 stone ; Governors residence, Government store, hospital, and gaol. The 

 inns are paltry, and ill adapted to receive strangers. The inhabitants are 

 not at first sight prepossessing in dress and appearance, and the state of 

 society is not spoken of generally in favourable terms, as many of the 

 settlers are men of broken fortunes. The merchants combine the wholesale 

 and retail business, and are mostly seen behind a counter. 



The anchorage in the harbour is safe and convenient: a large and 

 substantial quay is thrown out, for the facility of landing goods, and ships 

 of considerable burthen may lie within hail of it 



Thaue. — The principal articles of export are wheat and potatoes, which 

 constitute the staple agricultural products ; also wool, hides, whale oil, and 

 skins. The latter articles are shipped for Europe. The wheat is exported 

 to New South Wales in considerable quantity, and occasionally to the 

 Mauritius and Rio Janeiro. From 1815 to 1820, the quantity of wheat 

 exported from Hobart's Town to Port Jackson was 60,309 bushels. The 

 wool of Van Dienien , s Land is not equal to that of New South Wales, 

 owing probably to want of equal attention being paid to it; but a society 

 has lately been established there for encouraging its growth and improve- 

 ment 



The accounts of imports, and other commercial details, are blended 

 with those of Sydney, already given. 



Duties. — The duties of Van Diemen's Land are the same as those 

 levied in New South Wales. The following account of the duties received 

 upon goods imported into Hobarfs Town, for a period commencing July, 

 1815, and ending December, 1819, will shew the progressive mcrease of 

 its trade up to that date : — 



Duties received in 181 G.™£2877. I Duties received in 1818^^5305. 

 Ditto in 1817 4S19. | Ditto in 1819 7250. 



These duties are exclusive of those on spirits, wine, and tobacco, im- 

 ported from Sydney, which are received in the latter port. 



Coins, Weights, ano Measures. — These are also similar to those at 



