Statement showing the commerce of Port Louis, &c.—Continued.

Statement showing the navigation at the port of Port Louis for the nine months ending September, 1877.

AUSTRALIA.

Statistics of Australia for the year ending December 31, 1876.*

*Transmitted by the vice-consul-general at Melbourne. Statistics taken from published official reports.

Statistics of Australia for the year ending December 31, 1876-Continued.

Statement showing the imports from the United States at Melbourne during the year 1876.

Statement showing the declared exports from Melbourne to the United States during the years ending September 30, 1876 and 1877.

SYDNEY, October 1, 1877. (Received January 18, 1878.) Report upon the agriculture, trade, and industries of New South Wales for the year 1876.

I have so recently received the published statistics for the year 1876 that there is but little time to report upon them; indeed, the statistics of the land department have not yet been issued. Referring, therefore, to my general report upon the year 1875, I proceed to make such remarks as appear to me pertinent upon the period under consideration.

AGRICULTURE AND LIVE STOCK.

The result of the year's work may be considered favorable, as food crops were considerably in excess of the previous year, and approached nearer to the requirements of the population, thus saving a considerable outlay for the importation of breadstuffs. There will, without doubt, be constant progress in this direction, as railways reach the more fertile lands of the interior. Live stock has not in the aggregate increased, and it is to be feared will not do so during 1877; the losses through drought fully counterbalanced the natural increase, which under favorable circumstances should have been at least 4,000,000 in numbers. Recent rains may check these losses, but they have already been very great, and must unquestionably affect unfavorably the production of both wool and meat. The last stock returns give the numbers as follows: 366,703 horses, 3,131,013 horned cattle, 24,503,388 sheep, and 173,604 pigs-in all 28,174,708.

Statement showing the quantity of land under crop and the produce of the same in New South Wales for the year ending March 31, 1877.

With some few exceptions, there has been a general increase of production. Sugar is less by upward of 500,000 pounds. In tobacco there has been a marked falling off. Vines show but little difference in the aggregate produce. Wheat and maize both show a considerable increase, also oats and potatoes.

EXPORT OF FRESH MEAT TO EUROPE.

In connection with this business, I may remark that great interest has been felt here for several years as to the practicability of sending frozen meat to Europe in a sound condition, and a ship was fitted up for the purpose of making the experiment; the machinery, however, broke down as the meat was about to be put on board. The project, however, has not been abandoned, the ship having been sent forward under competent persons with the machinery (but without the meat) to test its efficacy on the voyage. It will be seen by comparing the quantity of stock with the population that in favorable years very large shipments might be made which could be indefinitely increased. If there was an outlet for the annual increase, prices would be very much in favor of the colonial shipper, but freight would be greatly in favor of the American.

COAL EXPORTS TO THE UNITED STATES.

Shipments of coal, coke, and shale to the United States (almost all to California) were in excess of 1875 by about 6,000 tons. The price of coal at Newcastle (free on board) is $3.40, to which if loaded in Sydney must be added $1.20 for freight. The price of Illawana coal in Sydney, which is said to resemble Cumberland coal, is $3.65. Permission has been obtained from the government to bore for coal under Sydney, where it is confidently believed to exist, and the result of the trial is of great moment to all ship-owners whose vessels come here to obtain freights for the different ports of the world, as success would save all the delay and expense of shifting ports, while the coal would probably be obtained at cheaper rates, and the ships would load in one of the safest harbors of the world.