Among the mountains east of Gulf of Saint Vincent, primitive limestone, often in the form of a beautiful white marble, is very abundant. There are indications of a large variety of min erals throughout the state, but copper is the only one that has been met with in large quan tities. The total mineral production to the end of 1907 was valued at £913,863, of which f714,525 represented copper and £36,602 repre sented gold. In 1913 the total mineral produc tion was f584,458. In the Northern Territory gold has also been found over a considerable tract of country, and good progress has been made in mining while other minerals are known to exist. Almost the only stream within the state proper, which deserves the name of river, is the Murray, which enters the colony on the east in latitude 34°, and flows first circuitously west and then south, into the extensive lagoon called Lake Alexandrina, communicating with the sea by a narrow opening. During the rainy season it is navigable by steamers through its whole course within the state, and for 1,500 miles in New South Wales. In the Northern Territory the Roper River is a fine large stream, navigable for sea-going vessels for 100 miles from its mouth in the Gulf of Carpen taria; the Victoria is also navigable. The climate of South Australia proper greatly re sembles that of Sicily and Naples. During nine months of the year it is agreeable, the dis agreeable portion of the year being the three summer months of December, January and February, when the natural heat of the season is greatly increased by hot winds from the interior. What is called winter would be con sidered in England merely a wet autumn. There are no epidemic diseases. Scrofulous and tubercular diseases are rare, but diseases of the eyes are common in summer, being either occasioned by the impalpable dust floating in the atmosphere, or by exposure to the night air after the glare of the sun.
South Australia produces nearly all the fruits and vegetables that are cultivated in Europe as well as others but in temperate regions is chiefly distinguished as a wheat and grape-growing country. Besides supplying its own wants, it sends large quantities of wheat to the neighboring states and to Europe, where wheat is held in high estimation. The area under wheat is about 2,190,782 acres. The quantity produced varies greatly with the season, but the average production is six bushels per acre. The area under vineyards is gradually extending, and now approaches 25,000 acres. In 1912 the total area under cultivation was about 3,000,000 acres, of which 107,881 acres were in oats; 40,643 acres in barley; 23,214 acres in fruits; 521,182 acres in hay and 7,412 acres in potatoes. Brandy is pro duced as well as wine. Hop-growing is attract ing some attention, and the olive is also culti vated. The chief exports are wool, wheat, flour, copper and copper or; skins, etc. The trade of a large part of New South Wales passes through South Australia. The revenue in 1912 was £4,450,739, the expenditures being the same. The length of railways in 1912 was 2,168 miles. There is a complete system of telegraphs, besides the great line from Adelaide across the continent to Port Darwin, a distance of 2,000 miles, which is almost completed. The public debt of the state is £31,118,574 and has been mostly incurred for reproductive public works. In 1912 there were 768 schools, 1,473 teachers and 58,273 pupils. The total population in 1914 was 438,173, not including aborigines. See AusTaama — POLITICAL Hisroitv; Aus TRALIAN FEDERATION.