Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 20.djvu/192

Rh 174 QUEENSLAND furniture, dyeing, shipbuilding, coachbuilding, hoops and staves, turnery, gunstocks, veneering, &c. Among the Eucalypti are those known as Moreton Bay ash, mahogany, yellow box, blackbutt, ironbark, turpentine, bloodwood, messmate, with the blue, red, grey, forest, swamp, scented, and spotted gum trees. The iromvood, brigalow, and myall are of the Acacia genera. Among the Casu- arinss are the he, she, swamp, forest, and river oaks. Names are found oddly given by colonists. Their red cedar is the Cedrela Goona ; white cedar, the Mclia composita ; pencil cedar, the Dysoxy- lon Muelleri ; white wood, the Alstonia ; light yellow wood, the FHndersia orleyana ; dark yellow wood, the Jihus ; beech, the Gmelina Leichhardtii ; coachwood, the Ceratopctalum ; ebony, the Malba ; musk, the Marlea ; Leichhardt's tree, the Sarcoccphalus cordatus ; mahogany, the Tristania ; tulip, the Stenocarpus sinuatus ; honeysuckle, the Banksia ; pea-tree, the Melaleuca ; bottlebrush, the Callistemon lanceolalus ; beefwood, the Banksia ; satinwood, the Xanthoxylum brachyacanthum ; coral tree, the JErythrina ; apple, the Angophora subvelutina ; teak, the Dissilaria balo- ghioides ; feverbark, the Alstonia constricta ; sandalwood, the Eremophila Mitclwlli ; lignum vita, the Vitex ; silky oak, the Grevillea robusta. Among the so-called native fruits, the plum and apple are the Oivenia ; orange and lime are the Citrus ; cum- quatis is the Atalantia ; cherry, the Exocarpus ; pomegranate, the Capparis nobilis ; olive, the Olea ; chestnut, the Cantharospermum australe ; pear, the Xylomelumpyriforme; quandong, iheFusanus; nut, the Macadamia ternifolia; tamarind, the Diploglottis Cunning- hamii. The nonda, a native fruit, grows up to 60 feet. The nut of the bunya bunya, so prized by the blacks, is reserved over a district 30 miles by 12. Other trees are also protected by Govern- ment. The native grasses are nearly a hundred in number. The desert drought-resisting Mitchell grass is Dantlionia pectinata ; the weeping Polly is Poa csespitosa ; the dogtooth, Chloris divaricata ; the blue star, Chloris ventricosa ; the barcoo or Landesborough, Anthistiria membranacea ; the kangaroo, Anthistiria australis ; another kangaroo, Andropogon refractus ; the rat-tail, Andropogon nervosus ; the oat, Anthistiria venacea ; another perennial oat, Microlsena stipoides ; the umbrella, Aristida cramosa and Panicum virgatum. The native carrot is Daucus brachiatus ; the native plantain, Plantago varia ; the sorghum or rice, Aryza saliva ; and the bamboo, Stipa ramosissima. The salt-bush (Atriplex, Rhago- dia, Chenopodium, &c.) is found useful in the absence of grasses. The danthonia and sporobolus strike deep roots. The Burdekin cane is relished by stock. The seeds of Panicum l&vinode are used as food by the natives. Among plants poisonous to animals are the poison pea, fuchsia, scab-lily, indigo, thorn-apple, box, mistletoe, and nutgrass. Many English and foreign varieties of fodder are being now introduced. Useful fibres are of a number of kinds. Ferns are plentiful on the eastern side. Climbing ferns abound. Grammitis ampla has leaves a yard long. A Rockingham Bay fern, one foot high, has the habit of a tree fern. The epiphytes, growing on trees, are often very beautiful in tropical scrubs. Elk's horn, Platycerium alcicorne, as well as the large stag's horn, are in much esteem. Forest ferns are similar to those in neighbouring colonies, excepting some tufted Lindsxa. The Australian bracken is peculiar to the southern hemisphere. Rock ferns are very grace- ful. The North Queensland Asplenium laserpitiifolium is greatly admired. A tropical Aspidium, with leaves 6 feet long, throws out runners. The Grammitis Muelleri, with scaly hairs, is peculiar to North Queensland. Swamp ferns are mostly seen to the north- east. Tree ferns attain magnificent proportions, rising 20 and 30 feet. Fauna. The Queensland fauna is much like that described under NEW SOUTH WALES. But forms are now living there whose allies are elsewhere recognized as Tertiary Fossils. The marsupials consti- tute a prominent family. The platypus or water mole is duck-billed and web-footed. The dingo is a howling, nocturnal dog. Queens- land birds are very beautiful. One is something like the New Guinea bird of paradise. Other species of the feathered order are kindred to some in the Asiatic islands. Bower birds have a satin plumage, and indulge in play-bowers, adorned with shells and stones. The regent bird and rifle bird are peculiarly attractive in colours. Mound builders lay their eggs in sand heaps. The wild turkey and other game may be easily obtained. North Queensland has a fine cassowary. Reptiles consist of alligators, lizards, and snakes ; few of the last, particularly of larger species, are hurtful to man. Fisheries. The sperm whale has become rare of late in North Australian seas. Deep-sea fishing is unknown in Queensland. About the coasts are the usual edible Australian forms, as whiting, rock cod, bream, flathead, schnapper, guardfish, &c. Sharks and alligators are there. The shell-grinder, Cestracion, is similar to a shark found as fossil in Europe. Sword fish grow to a great size. Some Queensland fish resemble varieties in Indian seas. The Chinese are the best fishermen in Australian waters. The huge dugong, or sea cow, feeding on bay grasses, has a delicate flesh, of the flavour of veal, and furnishes an oil with the qualities of cod- liver oil. The fishery of the trepang, beche-de-mer, or sea slug employs a considerable number of boats about the coral reefs. Boiled, smoke-dried, and packed in bags, the trepang sells for exportation to China, though its agreeable and most nourishing soup is relished by Australian invalids. At Cooktown and Port Douglas more than 100 per ton may be had for the produce. The pearl fishery is a prosperous and progressive one in or near Torres Straits. A licence is paid, and the traffic is under Government supervision. Thursday Island is the chief seat of this industry. The shells are procured by diving, and fetch from 120 to 200 a ton. Mother- of -pearl and tortoiseshell constitute important exports of the colony, capable of great expansion. Oysters are as fine fla- voured as they are abundant. Turtles are caught to the northward. Commerce. So extensive a coast-line, and so much of that pro- tected by the Barrier Reef, cannot but be favourable to commerce. The Torres Strait mail service has opened up increased opportunities for trade with China, India, Java, &c. Contiguity to New Cale- donia and Jhe Pacific Isles will conduce to mercantile relations. There are several lines of coasting steamers. The great develop- ment of the mining, pastoral, and sugar industries, the rapid growth of railways, an easy tariff, and the settlements of York Peninsula are giving a great impetus to commerce. The exports for 1882 were 3,534,452; of which wool brought 1,329,019; gold 829,655 ; tin 269,904 ; stock 280,466 ; sugar 153,188; tallow 129,549 ; preserved meats 119,343 ; pearls 105,869 ; hides 88,359 ; beche-de-mer 25,032. The imports for that year were 6,318,463. Among these imports some items may be cited: for manufactured cotton, silk, and woollen goods 839,352, un- manufactured 194,489 ; for metal goods and hardware 910,029 ; flour and grain, 453,307; oilman's stores, 376,987; spirits, wines, and beer, 320,925 ; books and stationery, 113,798; tea, 109,286. Few of these articles are yet re-exported. The ex- ports for 1883 advanced to 4,652,880, to which wool contributed 2,277,878, and sugar 538,785. The shipping exceeds 1,500,000 tons. Dock conveniences, ships, and colonial-made steam dredgers exercise the state care. The development of coal mines is aiding both shipping and railway extension. With the establishment of British rule in New Guinea, a serious danger to Queensland interests will be averted, and a happy opportunity offered for the enlarge- ment of its commerce. Manufactures. The colony is too young, its population too scattered, its resources in raw material too extensive, for any great advance at present in the industrial stage. Yet already large foundries are established, in which agricultural instruments, mining machinery, sugar appliances, steam engines, and locomotives are constructed. Tanneries, breweries, sugar-mills, distilleries, tobacco- factories, cotton-gin ning, woollen factories, wine-making, meat- preserving, boot-factories, &c., are being carried on. The sawmills near Maryborough are, perhaps, equal to anything in the southern hemisphere, relays of men working at night by electric light. Roads and Railways. Nearly ninety divisional boards, through- out the colony, raise means by rates for highway improvements, Government supplementing their revenue, as in the case of muni- cipalities, by special grants in aid. Coaches travel inland 700 mile from the capital. At the end of 1884, besides several hundreds of miles of railway in process of construction, the lines opened to traffic were 1201 miles. The western line is from Brisbane, over Darling Downs, through Roma. The south-west will be reached by Cun- namnulla. From Rockhampton westward the railway has gone 350 miles on towards the downs of the Barcoo. The line from Townsville, parallel to the last, after passing Charters Towers, will go on to Hughenden and the Flinders river region. The three great lines will be hereafter connected, and the Cloncurry and gul country united with the western ports. Maryborough is thus con- nected with Gympie and Burrum, Bundaberg with Mount Perry, Brisbane with Warwick, and Brisbane with several suburbs. The heavy loans of the colony are mainly devoted to the construction of railways. Administration. The governor is appointed by the Queen. The executive council has 8 members, the legislative council 33, and the assembly 55. The term of parliament is five years. There were in January 1884 42 electorates, 18 municipalities, 4 boroughs, 85 divisional boards, 49 police districts. Excepting very occasional difficulties with blacks in remote and scrubby districts, order is thoroughly observed. Numerous religious and temperance organizations are of assistance in securing respect for law. Among official departments are those of the colonial secretary, treasurer, auditor-general, public works and mines, public lands, customs, administration of justice, post office, police, immigration, ami medical board. Revenue. Of a revenue of 2,102,095 in 1881-2, 806,719 came from taxation. For the vear ending June 30, 1884, the total was 2,566,358. Of this, thecustoms gave 866,475 ; excise, 34,441 ; land sales, 365,536 ; pastoral rents, 246,103 ; railways, 581,642 ; post and telegraph, 155,996. The expenditure was 2,317,674. In the settled districts, during 1883, 304 runs had an area of 11,162 square miles., at a rental of 21,419. In the unsettled districts 8939 runs had 475,601 square miles, paying 216,638, averaging less than a farthing an acre. Expired and renewed leases realize in-