M4i THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — TASMANIA

Governor. — Rt. Hon. W. Ellison Macartney (from March, 1913).

Lieut. -Governor and Chief Jtcstice. — Sir J. S. Dodds, K.C.M.G. (1,500/.).

The Governor is aided in the exercise of the executive by a cabinet of responsible ministers, consisting of four members, as follows (in June, 1912):—

Premier and Attorney -Genei-al. — Hon. A. E. Solomon, M.H.A.

Chief Secretary.— Ylow. G. H. Butler, M.R.C.S., M.L.C.

Minister for Lands, Works and Mines. — Hon. E. Mulcahy, M.H.A

Treasurer.— Hon. H. J. M. Payne, M.H.A.

Minister without Portfolio. — Hon. C. Russen.

Each of the ministers has a salary of 750/. per annum. The Premier has 200Z. a year. The ministers must have a seat in one of the two Houses.

A gent-Generalin London. — Hon. John McCall, M.D.

Secretary. — Herbert W. Ely.

Offices. — 5, Victoria Street, Westminster.

Area and Population.

Area, with Macquarie (170 square miles), 26,215 square miles or about 16,778,000 acres, of which 15,571,500 acres form the area of Tasmania Proper, the rest constituting that of a number of small islands, in two main groups, the north-east and north-west. Tlie colony is divided into eighteen counties.

The population has increased as follows : —

Year. 1861

1871 1881

Population.

89,977 99,328 ; 115,705 \

Increase per Ct.' ■„ t^ i x- perAnium. ^ear. Population.

— 1891 146,667 1-13 1901 172,475 1-38 1911 190,898

Increase per Ct. per Annum.

2-36 1-64 1-07

In 1911 there were 97,336 males and 93,562 females. The average density is 7 '38 persons to a square mile. Of the total population in 1911, 79*2 per cent, were natives of Tasmania, 11*5 per cent, natives of the United Kingdom, and 7 '3 per ceiit. natives of other Australasian colonies. In 1910 the population contained 29,000 males and 28,600 females married. The aborigines of Tasmania are entirely extinct.

Of the population in 1901, 4,997 were returned as professional ; 7,937 domestic: 7,497 commercial; transport and communication, 4,848 ; 18,750 industrial ; 27,899 primary producers ; 1,566 indefinite ; 98,981 dependants.

The births, deaths, and marriages for five years have been as follows :—

— Births.

1907 5,2&1

1908 5,615

1909 5,500

1910 5,586

1911 5,444

Marriages.

Deaths.

Excess of Births

1,410

1,9&8

3,293

1,432

2,129

3,486

1,497

1,842

3,658

1,493

2,122

3,464

1,477

1,931

3,513