Beyond the "Andes," or great dividing-range, the country presents features of still greater beauty and fertility. Vast plains-10, 15, or 20 in. across—stretch out their level surface unbroken by a single tree, but covered with luxuriant grass, and often purpled over with fragrant herbage. These great plains are composed of rich black soil. They are well watered with .ft net-work of streams, which trickle down from the gradual slopes of the mountain-range. The soil in this locality is admirably adapted for tillage; and within a certain distance of the mountain-range, the rains fall with great regularity. The laud here is lightly timbered, and is cleared with less labor than on the lower lands, and the soil is proved to be peculiarly adapted for the growth of wheat of the finest quality. The yield per acre hi this locality has sometimes been as much as 50, and even 60 bushels to the acre, of 63 lbs. to the bushel. The average yield may be estimated at 30 bushels per acre. Indian corn and other cereals, as well as all the European fruits, grow luxuri antly, and come to the greatest perfection iu this highly favored locality, which has been called the " Garden of Queensland." This country, w. of the great- dividing-range, stretches away in a series of fine plateaux for a distance of 400 or 500 in. westward, and, with the interruptions of other mountain ranges crossing the main range at right angles, for upward of 1000 m. toward the fer tile plains bordering the shores of the gulf of Carpentaria.
A third distinct portion of Queensland isformed by the country, which falls off in a succession of steep declivities, or more gradually descending terraces, from the table land thus described, toward the lower land, which then intervenes between these ter races and the western boundary-line of the colony and of South Australia. This portion of the territory has been rendered specially interesting from the recent discoveries, which have shown that instead of a vast and sterile desert of burning sands, the interior of Australia is, with exceptional patches of very limited extent, well grassed and watered, and suitable for pastoral, and in many places even for agricultural occupation.
The climate,of Queensland is said closely to resemble that of Madeira (q.v.); the mean annual external shade-temperature taken at Brisbane being very nearly the same as at Funchal in Madeira, though it is a little hotter in the summer, and colder in the winter at Brisbane than at Funchal. Moreton bay, now in Queensland, has for many years been the resort of invalids from all the other British colonies in the southern hemi sphere, and has been called the Montpellier of Australia. The summer season is hot— the thermometer rising sometimes to 100° or even 120° in the shade; but the air is dry, elastic, and healthy, and the sea-breezes temper the heat, and make it perfectly endura ble, even to the outdoor laborer, in the hottest time of the year. However hot the day, the night is almost invariably cool, even in the most northern parts of the colony.
The capital of Queensland, and the seat of the local government, is Brisbane (q.v.); pop. '76, 26,9•3. Its situation is exceedingly beautiful. Ipswich, Rockhampton, Mary
borough, Toowoomba, Gayndah, Dalby, and Bowen are rapidly rising towns. Rock hampton has already attained great importance, and promises ere long to be the metrop olis of Queensland. Although only recently established, its population already exceeds 6,000 souls, and is rapidly increasing. Situated upon the largest navigable river of Queensland, it forms the commercial center and principal outlet of immense tracts of the interior country. A railway has been constructed from Rockhampton to Westwood in the direction of Peak downs, where extensive copper mines, said to vie in richness with those of Barra Barra, have been opened up, and valuable gold deposits are also being worked.
The alienation of crown-lands act, passed during the first session of the colonial par liament, revolutionized the old plan of selling laud at a high upset price at auction, and the disposal of lands in Queensland is now regulated by an act passed by the colonial legislature in 1868. The following are among its provisions: Reserve lands are to be open for selection by conditional purchasers, and to be divided into (1) agricultural, (2) first-class pastoral, (3) second-class pastoral. These different classes of land are to be purchasable at the rate of 15s., 10s., and 5s. an acre respectively, payable in ten equal annual installments, in addition to survey fees. Lands thus selected are to be held on lease till the purchase-money is paid, on condition that the lessee shall inclose the land with a substantial fence, and that he shall reside on the land continuously during the period of the lease. But if within a shorter time the lessee can show that he or his bailiff has resided on the land for two years, and has made certain improvements, a grant in fee may be issued on payment of the balance of the ten years' rent. Again, heads of families, and persons 21 years of age, may select as "homesteads" lots not exceeding 80 acres of agricultural, or 160 acres of pastoral land, on payment of an annual quit-rent of 9d. per acre for the former, and 6d. per acre for the latter, during five years; the grant not to issue till the expiration of that period, and proof of continuous residence and cultivation of one-tenth of the land, er erection round it of a substantial fence. " Unconditional sales" may be made by auction. The acquirement of land by emigrants direct from Europe is facilitated by the grant of land-orders, which may be issued to each approved person who shall have paid the full cost of the passage of himself or other member of his family. The land-order warrant entitles the person, after proving that he has resided in the colony continuously for 12 mouths, to :oceive for himself and each adult member of his family a land-order to the extent of ;C20, and one for half that amount for each child between 1 and 12 years of age. In 1877 flu, number of arrivals in Queensland was 22,596, of whom 1926 were South-sea islanders, and 5,493 were adult immigrants brought out under government auspices. During the same year 10,409 persons left the colony.