Agriculture is thus increasing in importance, though the predominating interest is still pastoral. In 1875-76, there were 36,984 freeholders and leaseholders occupying 13, 52,5,497 acres of land, of which 451,139 acres were under cultivation, 7,771,068 acres inclosed but not cultivated, and the remainder (5,303,290 acres) not inclosed. The largest crops were—wheat (133,610.acres)- and maize (117,582 acres). The other crops included oats, barley, rye, potatoes, millet, etc. Considerable attention has been bestowed on the cultivation of the vine and the manufacture of wine. The produce in 1775-76 was 831,749 galls. of wine and 2,748 galls. brandy, besides 768 tons of grapes.
The great produce of the colony is wool, the exports in 1875 amounting to 87,534,286 pounds, valued at £5,651,643. Sheep-farming requires a large capital, together with skill and experience; and the sheep-farmers or squatters form the territorial aris tocracy of the colony. All the best pasture land has long been taken up and rented (for periods of 10 to 15 years) from the crown under certain conditions. Stations, or the right of grazing, with the stock on them, are continually advertised for sale; the price of a station is according to the number of cattle or sheep on it. The question of the rent that the "squatters" should pay (which used to be about £10), and of the tenure by which the pasture-lands should be held, was long a source of agitation and bitterness in the colony. They now pay about a farthing a year for each sheep the run can support. According to the present regulations. amide lands are disposed of by two distinct sys tems of sale—one, to the highest bidder at auction in unlimited quantities; the other, at a fixed price in limited quantities. By this last, known in the colony as "free selection before survey," the intending cultivator can first select for himself, and then secure in fee-simple a quantity not less than 40, and not more than 320 acres, at the rate of 20s. per acre, on condition of residing on his farm, improving a portion of it, and not sub letting it.
The coal fields of New South Wales are extensive, and the seams of great thickness. In 1875, 1,253,475 tons, valued at £765,133, were raised. Iron, lead, copper, and oil shale are abundant. Gold was discovered here in May, 1851, and iu that year gold was exported to the amount of £468.336. This amount was increased to £2,660,946 in 1852, but subsequently, owing to the discovery of the richer diggings of Victoria, gold-mining in this colony began to languish. Since 1857, however, the annual amounts found and exported have been steadily increasing; that for 1869 being 234,382 oz., valued at £885, 749; and in 1875 the value exported was £2,094,505, nearly all coin. In 1875 there were in the sheep, 2,856,699 cattle; and 346,691 horses. In 1871 the revenue was £4,709,010; the expenditure £4,179,840; in 1875 the revenue amounted to £4,126,303, and the expenditure to £3,345,632. The exports in 1875 amounted to £13,
671,530. comprising barley, oats, potatoes, live stock, preserved meat, leather, wool, tallow, coal, gold-dust, and sovereigns; the imports, consisting largely of articles for food and clothing, etc., were £13,490,200. The Sydney branch of the royal mint was instituted in 1853, and issues large quantities of gold in sovereigns and half•sovereigns. There were in 1876 about 509 m. of already open in the colony, while about 200 m. additional were in course of construction. There is telegraphic communication between all the important places in the colony, and also with other colonies; length of wire in 1876, 8,012 miles. New South Wales is self-governed, with a governor appointed by the queen, a responsible ministry, a legislative council nominated by the crown, and it house of assembly elected by permanent residents. As regards religion, all sects are on a footing of equality. On Jan. 1, 1876, there were 1089 regular places of worship, affording accommodation to 57,000 Episcopalians, 50,000 Roman Catholics, 24,000 Pres byterians, 44,000 Methodists, etc. The number of schools under the council of educa tion in 1875 was 1042; besides these there are 544 private schools. There were, in all, 123,000 scholars. For the higher education, see SYDNEY. The capital is Sydney, with a pop. of 154,494; and the other chief towns are Parrunatta, Bathurst (q.v.), Goulburn, Maitland, Newcastle, Grafton, and Armidale, with populations ranging from 3,000 to 17,000.
• New South Wales took its origin in a penal establishment, formed by the British government in 1788 at Port Jackson, near Botany bay (lat. 34°). The prisoners, after their period of servitude, or on being pardoned, became settlers, and obtained grants of land; and these "emancipists" and their descendants, together with free emigrants. constitute the present inhabitants. Transportation to New South Wales ceased in 1840, and up to that date the total number of convicts sent thither amounted to 60,700, of whom only 8,700 were women. They were assigned as bond-servants to the free set tlers, who were obliged to furnish them with a fixed allowance of clothing and food. In 1833 there were 23,000 free males and 13,500 free females, to 22,000 male and 2,700 female convicts; and of the free population, above 16,000 were emancipists. The fol sowing table shows the recent rate of increase in the population: Males. Females. Total.
1830 154.575 110,928 265.503 1861 202,099 156,179 358,278 1871 275,551 228,430 503,S81 The increase of population in Sydney within the past ten or twenty years has been over 33.5 per cent; and in the suburban districts it has been about 60 per cent.