AUSTRALIAN STATISTICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 972, 5 September 1889, Page 17

AUSTRALIAN STATISTICS.

The Government Statist, Mr H. H. Hayter, has issued a preliminary return containing some interesting statistics for the year 1888 of the cereals grown in the different colonies, the live stock held, population, revenue, imports and expoits, and other statistical information. The total population of the seven colonies is 3,6:8,046— that of Victoria being the largest, 1,090,869; New South Wales coming next with 1,085,740. The total number o£ births was 122,982 ; deaths, 48,400 ; and marriages, 27,000. The births in New South Wales were 38,525, against 34,503 in Victoria, and marriages 7844, compared with 8946 in Victoria. In Victoria there are 1960 schools, and 238,500 scholars enrolled; revenue, £7,607,598, of which £3,071,003 was raised by taxation. The public expenditure amounted to £7,287,151 ; public debt, £34,627,382; value of imports, £23,972,134; and exports, £13,853,763. In New South Wale?, there were 2271 State schools, 212,000 scholars; public revenue, £8,886,360; of which £2,681,883 was raised by taxatioji ; public expenditure, £8,778,851 ; public debt, £44,100,149 ; value of imports, £20/85,557; exports, £20,857,715. The shipping of the seven colonies represents 14,689,766 tons and 18,611 vessels. There - axe 10,286 miles of railway open and 1846 in course of construction. The total area of land under cultivation was 8,600,015 acres.

The following Üble shows the average produce per acre of —