Statistics of Van Diemen’s Land. 449 
as eclipsing their native productions, however intrinsically superior 
they might be. 
Tables 10 and 11 show the operations of the Survey depart¬ 
ment, in the sale of waste lands. Free grants of course there 
have been none; and the sales have been very trifling. It is 
somewhat singular that while the average price per acre of the 
country allotments has increased from 7s. 7|d. in 1844 to 
£1 2s. 2|d. in 1846, the very reverse has been the case with the 
town and suburban lots, which have decreased in a similar ratio 
from £18 7s. lid. to £6 17s. 9d. per acre. A statement of the 
quantity of crown land under lease for depasturing stock would 
have been interesting; it being understood to amount to a large 
quantity, and to produce a considerable revenue.* 
Table 12 exhibits the number of acres in cultivation, with the 
nature of each crop; and table 13 states the average price of 
produce. The results of both are highly cheering; for while the 
first table records a large progressive increase in quantity, the last 
in most instances shows a higher price to have been realised for 
produce in 1846 than in the two antecedent years, thus setting 
at rest the fears as to a market being found to keep pace with 
extended cultivation. 
Table 14 is the census of the number of horses, cattle, and other 
live stock in the colony. With the exception of sheep, which, 
notwithstanding the decimation of their numbers by the butcher, 
show a steady increase, there is much fluctuation observable in 
the several annual totals. The data afforded in the next table 
(No. 15). f° r judging of the consumption of sheep and cattle in 
thecolony, are imperfect; and the return is therefore of little value. 
The average price paid by the Commissariat for fresh meat 
throughout the island appears, by table 16, to have varied from 
2d. and 4-16ths to 2d. and 7-16ths per lb. 
Table 17 is a return of the Licenses granted for the sale of wine, 
beer, and spirits; and the result, however productive to the 
revenue, must occasion serious apprehensions in a moral point of 
* The quantity of land so leased has been since ascertained to amount to 1,210,000 
acres in 1847 . 
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