Land Transfer.

The Statute known as the Real Property Act of South Australia affords a process by which the transfer of landed property may be accomplished in as easy and cheap a manner as any ordinary commercial transaction. There can be no question that the operation of the measure has been highly advantageous to the community. The total value of the lands brought under the operation of this law to the end of 1888 amounts to 13,314,0047. sterling.

Loans for Public Works.

Legislative sanction has been accorded from time to time for the raising of money by way of loan, for the prosecution of reproductive public works-such as railways, tramways, waterworks telegraphs, harbour improvements, and other public purposes. The amount of the Public Debt outstanding on 31st December, 1888, was 19,147,7007., Against this liability, a sum of 2,200,8671. remains due to Government, for 1,936,282 acres of land sold under the credit system.

Currency and Banking.

The legal tender and usual currency is exclusively British sterling. The local banks issue notes to the extent of about 431,4487., and had on 31st December, 1888, 6,156,9031. deposits.

Ten banking institutions carry on business within the Province, all of which have establishments in the principal seaports and inland townships -numbering altogether 146 branches and agencies. Their names are: the Bank of South Australia, Bank of Australasia, Union Bank of Australia, National Bank of Australasia, English, Scottish and Australian Chartered Bank, Bank of Adelaide, Bank of New South Wales, Commercial Bank of Australia, Bank of New Zealand, and Federal Bank of Australia. The total average liabilities of the ten banks amount to (30th December, 1888) 6,651,2627., and the total average assets to 10,757,6631.

The Savings Bank is managed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Governor, and has 121 agencies. The total number of depositors 30th June, 1889, was 64,320. The total deposits amounted to 1,896,2471. One in six of the population is a depositor in savings banks.

Industry.*

It may be roughly estimated that not more than 250,000 square miles of the area of the Colony, excluding the Northern Territory, are at present put to profitable use. Agricultural settlement

has not extended 300 miles from the coast; and pastoral occupation may be said to have reached 1,000 miles. Squatters have lately taken up large areas of land discovered by recent explorations (lying chiefly on the route of the overland telegraph), which are considered capable of carrying stock. Thirty-seven counties have been proclaimed to 31st December, 1888, embracing 61,408 square miles, or 39,301,120 acres. Of this large area only 9,137,971 acres have been alienated from the Crown -amounting, nevertheless, to upwards of 120 acres for each male adult in the Colony. About one in every five acres of the alienated land is under tillage; the remainder is used for pastoral purposes only. All land is surveyed by the Government prior to sale, and is divided into farms of extent

*No agricultural or live stock statistics have been aken since 1884-5.

varying from 80 to 1,000 acres-the necessary reserves being made public for railways, highways, watering stock, &c. At present there is as much as 1,994,588 acres of land surveyed and open for immediate leasing.

About two-thirds of the total area of land cultivated is cropped with wheat, of which 1,605,000 acres were reaped in 1888. The area of wheat grown has increased more than 100 per cent. during the last 10 years.

Vine culture is an important and progressive industry. There are 4,500 acres of land devoted to this purpose. The slopes of the hills produce wines of a full-bodied character similar to those of Spain and Portugal, whilst those made in the more elevated districts resemble the lighter wines of the Rhine. Whilst the local demand is fully supplied at very cheap rates, a considerable export trade in wines of a higher character is carried The wines of South Australia have always been awarded prizes at the several Great International Exhibitions.

on.

Considerable attention has also been paid to the drying of raisins and currants.

Almond trees are of rapid growth, and large quantities of a superior description of soft-shell almond are gathered yearly for home consumption and for shipment.

The Colony possesses all the conditions requisite for the successful and profitable culture of the olive. Olive oil of the most delicate character has been expressed, and gained awards at the various Exhibitions. Its purity and general superiority over the imported article of commerce has acquired for it a high position in the local market.

In 1851 the total area of land leased from the Crown for pastoral purposes was 15,000 square miles. In 1888 there were no less than 176,548* square miles in pastoral occupation. During the same period the number of horses has increased from 6,500 to 170,000; of horned cattle from 75,000 to 430,000; and of sheep from 1,000,000 to over 7,150,000, whilst the exports of wool have increased from 4,000 to 147,450 bales.

A few years ago, flour mills and tanneries were almost the only representatives of local manufactures; whilst these have largely increased in number and efficiency, many important additions have been made to the list, and there are now many steam flour mills, saw mills, foundries, agricultural implement works, breweries, &c. Several marble and slate quarries of excellent quality, and over 100 building stone quarries have been opened,and recently an extensive quarry of marble has been opened at Kapunda.

The gasworks of the Colony are eight in number, of which one is for the supply of the City of Adelaide and suburbs, one is at Port Adelaide, and the remaining six are in the principal country

towns.

301 vessels of 34,645 tons were in 1888 registered at Port Adelaide.

Out of 4,670,7731. worth of staple produce exported, the value of breadstuffs amounted to 2,197,7351.; while wool represented 1,353,632i., and copper 252,6271.

412,1637.; 1866, 990,1637.; in 1886, 1,955,2077.; The total value of wool shipped in 1856 was and in 1888, 1,610,456/.

coals, hardware, and machinery. 85 per cent. of The chief imports are textiles, sugar, alcohol, tea,

* Exclusive of Northern Territory.

The trade and shipping of Port Darwin were as follows:

Town Australasia

Letters. Newspapers.

per oz. 1d.

Free

Europe, United States China, Borneo, Japan

12233

There is a permanent staff of 46, and volunteer forces numbering 2,735 officers and men. The naval force consists of H.M.S "Protector," 11 guns, with an establishment of 170 officers and men. Batteries have been erected at Glanville and Largs Bay, to protect the harbour of Adelaide.

Total.

99,909

2,841

110,064

Acetic acid, not over 33 per cent. acidity, per

lb. or pint (and 1d. for each 10 per cent. extra)

03

50

10

50

Means of Communication.

The

There are 4,250 miles of road defined in the settled districts. The greater portion of the cost of which has been defrayed from the General Revenue-no special toll or rate having been levied. aggregate number of miles macadamised is 2,012. In addition to the main lines, perhaps as many more miles of district or by-roads have been constructed and kept in repair by local municipalities out of rates and grants in aid.

The railways are all constructed and worked by the Government. The mileage opened for traffic in the Colony is 1,500, and the mileage of new lines in course of construction is 324. Up to December 31st, 1888, the total cost of the railways reached 9,666,2231. The receipts in 1888 were 948,3821., and the expenditure 453,3851. There is now direct railway communication between Adelaide and Brisbane.

The geographical position of South Australia necessitated early and earnest attention being devoted to the extension of the South Austra lian telegraphs, so as to afford communication with Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Port Darwin, and Perth. To accomplish this South Australia, at her own risk, erected a line of telegraph some 2,200 miles in length, at a cost of over 400,000., across a continent which had only been traversed by an exploring party. At present the railway reaches Angle Pole, 690 miles north of Adelaide, and Pine Creek, 146 miles south of Palmerston, the intervening gap being 1,000

miles.

At the close of the year 1888 there were 210 stations, and 5,509 miles of line open throughout the Colony, and there are several lines now in course of construction. There are 73 miles of telephone line open, and 1,672 miles of telephone wire open.

Internal water communication is afforded by the Murray River, on which steamers run for 2,000 miles. There is regular and frequent communica

No other tonnage.

Ale, porter, spruce, or other beer, cider and perry, limejuice rated, and limejuice cordials, not spirituous, per gallon Animals living, viz.: Horses, mares, gelding colts and fillies over the age of six months, except in saddle or harness, each Animals living, viz.: Horned cattle, cows. oxen, heifers, bulls, steers, calves over six months old, except working bullocks in teams, each.

Animals living, viz.: Sheep, each. Fish, 'dried and salted (except in pickle or Pigs, each brine), milk (preserved) and compounds thereof, paraffin and mineral wax, stearine, per lb.

Bacon, butterine, cheese, coffee (roast or Beeswax, candied fruits, tea, chocolate, ground), fancy soap, ham, per lb. cocoa, manufactured, confectionery, fruit, dried (except dates, currants, raisins), gunpowder (sporting), honey, jams, jellies, mustard, nuts, except coco-nuts, pork, in pickle, preserves, coffee (raw), per lb. Barley, per bushel

5 0

06

20

0 1

04

0 3 10

Butter, biscuits, blue, candles, currants, dates, fish (preserved, except sardines), fruit (preserved), glue, macaroni, meat (preserved), pepper, curled hair, raisins, soap (extract of), soap and washing powders, starch, spices, soup (preserved), twines and cord, except sewing or seaming twines, vegetables (preserved), vermicelli, per lb. 0 2 Soap, other than fancy, per lb. Boots and shoes (except indiarubber)

01

Men's, No. 6 and upwards, per dozen pairs 33 0 Youths', Nos. 2 to 5

Boys', Nos. 7 to 1

Women's, No. 3 and upwards, except last

ing and stuff boots.

Girls', Nos. 1-2 (same exceptions) 7 to 10

Carriages, two wheeled, each

21 0

17 0

19 6

Four wheeled Hansom cabs, safety, single; double seated wagons, wagonettes, and four wheeled buggies with tops, each.

15 0 0

20 0 0

4 0

per

1 6

Chicory, including kiln dried (except green root); coffee, and substitutes therefor mixed with chicory or coffee, per lb. Chicory, green root, per ton

Cordage, viz., coir rope, per cwt.

Galvanized and iron, per cwt.
Other, per cwt.

Doors, except iron doors, under 14 in., 58.; under 1 in., 78.; over 1 in., each

Fruit, bottled, oil, salad, pickles, sauces, per dozen quarts, or two dozen pints Fruit, bottled, oil, salad, pickles, sauces, dozen smaller

Oil, olive or salad, per gallon (in bulk) Grain, except wheat overland pulse, &c.. per 100 lbs.

Maize, per 100 lbs.

Fruit, fresh, per bushel

Galvanized iron-corrugated, unmanufactured, per ton

Glucose, per cwt.

.

Hats, boys' and youths' felt and straw, per dozen

Felt, men's, women's, untrimmed

Marble, slate, stone for building, unwrought, per cubic foot

Matches and vestas (except safety matches), for boxes containing 100 matches or under, per gross

Ditto (ditto), for each additional 100 or part thereof, per gross

0

Nails, screws, onions, unmixed paint, per

1

Twenty-five per centum ad valorem.

Air bricks, albums, apparel and slops, n.e.s., archery materials; bags, canvas, basketware, bedsteads, beer engines, bellows and bellows with forges, bells (all kinds), bench screws, bent wood and joinery, birdcages, blacking (including boot gloss, harness dressing, and black lead); blacksmiths' tongs, blocks, pulleys, and sheaves, boot Oand slipper uppers, boots and shoes, n.e.s., bootlaces, leather, boilers, land and marine, bolts and nuts over in. diameter, boring rods and tools, breadcutters (except Bath and Dinas), bridges and bridgework, manufactured, bright wireware, Britannia metal ware, British plate, brooms and brushware, buckets and tubs (all kinds of), buggy hoods, wholly or partly manufactured; cabin hooks, campovens and covers, candle moulds, candlesticks, carpenters' and joiners' benches, carpet bags, portmanteaux, and trunks (all kinds of), carriages, carts, wagons, and all vehicles, n. e. s., castings, n.e.s., cast steel drills, chisels, cold, corkscrews, wire and steel, copying and embossing presses, cork and other ship fenders; drapery and millinery, n.e.s. (except hosiery n.e.s., to be considered as unenumerated), dumb bells, engines and parts (except gas, portable, and traction engines, and pressure gauges), forges and forge backs, feathers, felloes, furniture, furs; gas tongs, garden rollers, glass, silvered; hats, n.e.s., gates, stoves, ranges, and ovens and parts thereof, bonnets and caps, n.e.s., hammers (napping, quartz, 0 6 and spalling), harness and saddlery made up, hoists and lifts, horsepowers and parts, hydraulic presses, icemaking and cooling machines; fron brackets, doors, gates, kibbles, lasts, and galvanized iron manufactures, jewellery, japanned ware, jacks, liftings; kettles and pans (copper and brass), knifeboards, knife cleaners; gasaliers and parts; ladles, iron, lasts, wood, leatherware of every description, n.e.s., leggings; machines, washing, and mangles, manufactures of metals, n.e.s. (except plough and scarifier shares), mandrels, mantelpieces, mats, millbands, leather, mouldings, gold, silverware, oars; organs, pipe; picks and mattocks, picture frames, except for public institutions, perfumery, plate and plated ware, n.e.s., pliers, polishing powders and pastes, plummer blocks and brasses, punching machinery; quarry mauls and picks, refrigerators, saddle and harness trees, sails, new, safes, iron, sieves, staples, sashweights, scrapers, stationery, manufactured, including labels, posting, handbills, and printed bags, not enumerated; shafting, cold rolled, or turned, and couplings, tiles, tinware, tiring plates; troughing; wedges, whips and walking sticks, wheels and axles, wigs, winches, windmills, wickerware;

20

20

4 0 3 4

10

15

3 0 1 0

3 0

6 0

4

6

25 0

40

14 O 24 0 3 0

2 6

2 6