little was accomplished in this branch for 25 years, until 1860, when the government began to increase the facilities for acquiring and cultivating the public lands. In 1861 there were but 180,000 acres under the plow; in 1878, the extent of land under tillage was 1,420,502 acres. Comparing the returns of 1877-78 with those of the previous year, it appears that 2,391 new holdings had been taken, 255,569 acres of land purchased, and 189,397 additional acres brought under tillage. In the latter year t7,376 hands were employed on farms, 5,488 on stations. The dry climate of Southern Australia seems favorable to the quality of wheat; and the Victorian samples at the great exhibition of 1862 ranked among the very best. The wine-produce for 1876 was 755,000 gallons. Vine-culture rapidly extends, and wine-making is now general.
manufacturing industry of the colony is extending, and presum ably in its interest a heavy protective tariff is maintained. In 1878 there were in Vic tone 1763 manufacturing establishments, employing 27,618 hands. A branch of the royal mint was opened in 1872. Meat-preserving is carried on on a large scale; very large paper-mills have lately been built near Geelong.
may now be termed one of the skilled labors of the colony; but it is not by any means, on an average, among the most remunerative. Of the two great branches of mining—viz. (1), the crushing of the auriferous rock for the washing out of the gold, and (2) the washing from the debris or "drifts" which nature has already pounded down—the latter, as a simpler process, was at first the most general, but lately the other has been increasingly followed.
system is more extensive and complete than in any of the other southern colonies. At the end of 1877 there were 931 m. of railway open for traffic, and 32 m. in construction.
public revenue is derived mainly from three different sources—cus toms dues, land sales and rents, and public works. The total revenue of Victoria for the year 1870-71 amounted to £3,261,883. The chief itemswere—customs, £1,318,974; land sales, £367,565; public works (chiefly railway receipts), £643,451. The revenue for the year ending June 30, 1878, was £4,855,666. The income is generally. ample for all expenses. The outstanding public debt amounted in 1878 to above £17.000; being at the rate of £20, Os. 9d. per head of population. About ; of this amount represents the cost of the railway system now completed, and traversing the colony from Port Phillip to the river Murray. The remainder is the cost of water-supply to Melbourne
and other parts of the colony, and of aids to Melbourne and Geelong for town improve ments. This debt exists in the form of debentures, nearly all hearing interest at 6 per cent, and due at various terms up to 1891. These debentures are nearly all, excepting about one million, held in this country. and are well known in the London market, tho chief stock being "the railway loan" of £7,000,000.
Taxation, according to the revenue accounts, amounts to a little over £5 per head. Deducting., however, the revenue from railways and from the sales of land, the amount per head is reduced by one-half, bringing it to about the same as in this country, although more equally distributed, owing to the greater equality of condition among the colonists, and more equal consumption of articles subject to customs dues. The customs revenue derived mainly from strong drinks and tobacco. There are also moderate duties on sugar, tea, and coffee, and various other articles. Municipal and road-district taxation are additional.
Political Institations.—The self-government f.onceded to Victoria and the adjacent colonies gives them a responsible system similar to our own. The governor represents the sovereign, who appoints him; and he governs by ministries, who are of the crown's, that is, of the governor's nomination, but who must possess the confidence of parliament. There are two houses of legislation, both in Victoria being elective—the council or upper house by a high and special qualification ; the assembly by manhood suffrage, without any qualification for members. Elections are by secret ballot. The term of the gov ernorship is usually seven years. The present salary of the office in Victoria is £10,000 a year; and in the expensive times more immediately succeeding the gold discoveries, it was £15,000. Judged by the criterion of salary, the Victorian appointment is the most important of the colonial list, excepting the governor-generalship of Canada (which is of the same value), and the governor-generalship of India. The salary is paid wholly by the colony; but by a recent imperial act, the home government allows moderate pensions to retired governors, according to the term of service—a measure that had been called. for in face of occasional reverses of fortune to the later life of persons who had pre viously represented royal splendor.