Copper is predominant. Beginning in 1S96, the eopper-mining developed rapidly, until in 1000 the value of the blister copper mined was £907,283 and copper ore £63.5S9. The production of gold more than doubled between 1891 and 1900, being valued at £316,220 in the latter year. The yield of silver ore in 1900 was valued at £279,372, which was much in excess of the average annual yield. The value of tin mined for the same year was £269,S33, and of coal £44.227. The tin pro duction exceeds that of any other Australian State. The lode mines of Mount Bischoff have become famous, but elsewhere the tin is got from alluvial deposits.
The total area under cultivation in 1901 was 560,151 acres. The cereal crops included: wheat, 51,825 acres; oats. 45,073 acres; corn, 9839 acres; and barley, 4502 acres. There were also 23,068 acres of potatoes, 306,181 acres of green fodder, and 61,541 acres of hay. There was an average yield of 18.9 bushels of cereals per acre for the decade ending with 1901. The island is ex ceptionally well suited to temperate zone fruits, and in 1901 there were 7888 acres in apples alone. The State is well adapted to stock-raising, but the industry has not shown much progress for several years. In 1901 the number of sheep was 1,683,556, cattle 165,516, and horses 31.607.
At the beginning of 1901 there were 546 miles of railroad in operation. Of these 108 miles were private lines, and the remainder were in the hands of the Government. The imports in 1901 amounted to £1,969,199 and the exports to £2,945.757. The bulk of the trade is with Vic toria, Great Britain, and New South Wales. Copper is the most important export, other ex ports being sibrer ore, tin, wool, fruit, and potatoes. In 1900 the tonnage of vessels enter ing Tasmanian ports aggregated 615.963. Ho bart and Launceston are the leading ports. Strahan has a large export trade.
There is a Governor appointed by the British Crown, who is assisted by a Cabinet of six re sponsible members. The Legislature (Parlia
ment) consists of a Legislative Council of 18 elected members and a House of Assembly of 38 elected members. The seat of government is at The total receipts from taxation in 1900-01 were £644.510, of which £466,218 were collected from customs duties and the remainder by ex cise taxes, land taxes, income taxes, etc. The land revenue for the same year was £67,498; the revenue from reproductive public works, 46S; from other sources, 143,504; making a grand total revenue of £1,054,980. The interest on public debts, £320,151, was the largest item of expenditure. The debt of the State was £8, 511,005, of which £7,4S0,250 was borrowed in London.
The population increased from 24,279 in 1S30 to 145.290 in 1890, and to 182.509 in 1899, and then decreased to 174,233 in 1901. In the latter year there were S9,624 males and 82,851 females. Almost the whole of the population belongs to the British race. In 1900 the emigration was in excess of the immigration. In 1901 the popu lation of Hobart was 31,317; Launceston, 21, 046.
In 1901 the members of the Church of England numbered 83,812; Catholics, 30,314; Wesleyans, 24.061; Presbyterians, 11,523; besides these there were a number of minor sects. School at tendance is compulsory between the ages of 7 and 13. Small fees are charged. Children who reside far from school are carried free over the State railroads. Religious instruction may be given only after school hours. In 1901 there were 319 primary day schools, with 18,693 in average enrollment, and 14,007 in average at tendance. The State extends no aid for secondary education, but there are two State teehnieal schools and a school of mines. The University of Tasmania has its headquarters at Hobart, but gives lectures also at Launceston.