PRODUCTION AND INDUSTRY

329

A large proportion of the area is leased in squatting runs for pastoral purposes, amounting to 222,158,880 acres in 1911 ; the number of runs was 1,697, besides 42,130,631 acres in grazing farms and homesteads, and 43,478,880 acres under occupation licence. The livestock in 1911 numbered 618,954 horses, 5,073,201 cattle, 20,740,981 sheep, and 173,902 pigs. The total area under cultivation in 1911 was 779,800 acres, and of this 526,388 acres were under crop, besides which 166,175 acres are laid down with permanent artificial pasture. The wool exports (representing nearly the whole of the clip) amounted in 1907 to 20,613.655 lbs. clean, and 60,968,961 lbs. greasy; in 1908, to 23,528,679 lbs. clean, and 66,956,875 lbs. greasy; 1908, production as 'greasy,' 110,545,577 lbs.; 1909, exports, home production, 24,172,020 lbs. clean, 76,674,835 lbs. greasy; 1909, production expressed as greasy, 129,668,298 lbs. ; 1910, production Expressed as greasy, 139,250,802 lbs. ; 1911 production expressed as greasy, 142,382,269 lbs.

A considerable area consists of natural forest, eucalypti, pine and cedar being the timbers mostly in demand, although a considerable quantity of more ornamental woods are utilised by cabinet makers. In 1907, 91,752,076 superficial feet were cut in the various sawmills; in 1908, 100,759,016 superficial feet; 1909, soft woods, 70,137,903 superficial feet; cedar, 1,142,287 superficial feet; hardwood, 37,111,069 superficial feet; 1910, soft woods, 70,582,582 .superficial feet; cedar, 625,212 superficial feet; hard woods, 44,453,240 superficial feet ; hardwood railway sleepers (sawn) 25,435; 1911, soft woods, 83,954,514 superficial feet; cedar, 685,027 superficial feet ; hard woods, 54,255,941 superficial feet ; hardwood railway sleepers (sawn) 82,947 ; the quantity actually citt for all purposes is nearly double these quantities.

The crops, &c., in two years were as follows : —

Acres

Yield

1910

1911

1910

1911

Maize ....

180,862

153,196

4,460,306

3,637,562 bushels

Wheat ....

106,718

42,962

1,022,373

285,109

Barley ....

5,578

1,634

83,621

15,369 „

Oats ....

2,. 537

1,216

50,469

11,160 „

Potatoes

8,-326

7,688

15,632

13,087 tons

Sweet Potatoes

3,661

3,312

20,244

17,040 „

Hay . .

98,558

61,299

151,252

94,553 ,,

Sugar cane crvished

94,641

95,766

1,840,447

1,534,451 tons of canes

Wine ....

—

—

74,.306

57,358 gallons

Bananas.

5,198

6,456

1,121,075

1,151,516 bunches

Pineapples .

2,170

2,414

823,183

769,926 dozens

Oranges ....

3,401

3,447

435,782

474,025 bushels

Tobacco

655

592

849,146

476,532 lbs. cured leaf

Coffee ....

200

198

151,050

80,871 lbs.

Arrowroot .

366

369

4,275

3,212 tons of tubers

Pumpkins and melons .

4,160

5,421

15,402

16,555 tons

Cotton, nnginned .

460

605

151,438

186,894 lbs.

Sugar, made .

—

—

210,756

173,296 tons

Spirits distilled from

molasses (Potable) .

—

—

300,007

405,971 gallons

Ditto. (Meth.)

—

~

208,690

291,879

There are several coal mines in the State, the produce of which amounted to 891,568 tons in 1911, valued at 323,998^. Gold-fields were discovered in. 1858 ; the production for the year 1911 amounted to 386,164 ounces fine,

of the value of 1,640,323Z. ; and from the commencement of gold mining to