CAIRNS, a port on Trinity bay on the north-east coast of Queensland stretched along the narrow lowland strip which inter venes between the Atherton plateau (r,000-4,000 ft.) and the sea. The hinterland comprises an important agricultural and sugar growing area, with considerable possibilities for the further de velopment of tropical fruit culture (bananas, pineapples), tropical agriculture generally, dairying, etc. The climate is tropical (mean ann. temps. 82°-68° ; ay. ann. rainfall 90.5 in., falling mainly in Dec.–April), and the seaward portions of the highlands are heavily clad with forests ("brush") yielding useful timber. The rocks of the Atherton highlands—Palaeozoic sediments largely metamorphosed by granitic and later igneous intrusives—are highly mineralized and Cairns is the outlet for numerous fields producing silverlead, copper (Chillagoe, etc.) and tin (Herberton) and other minerals. The output (1925-26) was valued at c. 1300,000. The needs of the mines and their railways lend ad ditional importance to the Mt. Mulligan coal-field. The town has three sugar-mills, saw-mills, a (meat) freezing works, etc., and is the centre of a well-developed tram and railway system both Government and private (mineral and sugar) lines—the many branches of which tap the mining areas and penetrate as far as Forsayth (Etheridge gold-field). The wild and heavily forested hills, the Barron river with gorge and falls, possess great scenic attractions and Cairns is growing in popularity as a tourist centre. Connection by rail (Great North Coast line) exists with all the chief eastern towns and with Brisbane (1,04o m.). The harbour is excellent and is regularly visited by coasting lines (1925-26: 586,000 tons entered). The total trade (1926-27) was valued at 11,227,000, exports consisting mainly of sugar, metals, maize, beef. The population was (1930) 12,004 and is increasing.