VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. The mineral wealth of this British colony is not yet much known. So far as it has been investigated, it includes copper, iron, lead, zinc, manganese, coal, slate, salt, and sandstone. Little has yet been done in mining operations. All grains cultivated in England succeed well. Wheat is of excellent quality, weighing gene rally from 62 to 64 pounds the bushel : con siderable quantities are exported. Barley and oats will only thrive in a good soil. The vegetables and fruits of Europe are cultivated by the colonists in great abundance. The spermaceti whale is very abundant in Bass's Strait, and many of them are annually taken, but more by the inhabitants of Australia than by those of Van Diemen's Land. Black whales abound in all the seas round the island, and a very lucrative fishery is carried on along the southern coast. Whale-bone and train oil are important articles of export. The most useful tree in the colony is the Stringy Bark free, which is used for building and fencing ; and the Blue ,Gum Tree, of which most of he boats in the colony are built. The smaller ;nes are used for masts for small vessels. The efforts of the local government are 'rapidly extending improvements over the stand. No fewer than 21 bridges were built ay the government between 1842 and 1847. En 1847, 5538 emigrants arrived in the colony 'rom Great Britain, and 4787 departed. from t (chiefly to Port Philip and South Australia). tmong the greatest works now constructing s a bridge over the Derwent, on the high .oad from Hobart Town to Launceston ; it is :1 wood, and will have twenty bays or arches 1* 32 feet span each. The manufacturing
stablishments of Van Diemen's Land in 1847 included 46 breweries, 15 candle factories, 4 dye-works, 17 engineering and foundry works, 80 mills, 8 potteries, 10 printing-offices, 10 ship-yards, and 44 tan-works. The vessels which entered the colony in 1847 were 617 (burthen, 811,940 tons). The vessels built in the colony in that year were 12 (burthen, 1361 tons). The vessels belonging to Hobart Town were 140 (burthen, 11,521 tons) ; and those to Launceston 44 (burthen, 3373 tons). The value of the fisheries in that year was estimated at 70,000/. The live stock corn prised 16,212 horses, 82,194 cattle, 1,833,860 sheep, and 2964 pigs. The staple article of produce is wool. A considerable trade is carried on with South Australia and Port Philip, in sheep. Van Diemen's Land pro duces not only a sufficient supply of grain for domestic consumption, but has contributed for several years to supply the deficiency in New South Wales.
The total exports for 1847 were valued at 600,867/. ; the four chief items were—wool, 247,2401. ; wheat, 85,683/. ; flour, 40,5951.; and oil, 63,165/. The imports in the same year were valued at 724,5931. ; the five chief items were—woollens, 108,175/. ; cottons, 35,6791.; apparel and haberdashery, 48,388/. ; hardware, 41,030/. ; and sugar, 51,615/. • The British produce and manufactures imported in 1849, were valued at 315,021/.