Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/615

 MINE?? ANt> MINERALS

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On December 31, 1897, the colony had 43,952,897 sheep, 2,085,096 horned cattle, 498,034 horses, 207,738 pigs.

There were 120,014 persons engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits during the year 1897-98.

In 1887 a Forest Conservation Department was created and attached to one of the principal State departments. The timber reserves, in which State forests are included, number 1,084, and cover an area of 5,488,808 acres. The following are the general statistics for five years : —

Year

1 Timber cut in Reserves subject to Roj'alty

Revenue from

Royalties, Licences, &c.

Quantity of Timber Sawn

Value of Timber Sawn

Sup. ft.

£

Sup. ft., lin. tliidk

£

1893

10,506,472

9,600

196,114,000

988,870

1894

5,158,759

■ 6,557

173,088,000

750,580

1895

—

6,232

180,000,000

—

1896

—

7,788

169,600,000

—

1897

— '

8,713

175,168,000

II. Mines and Minerals.

Gold is found in all parts of the teiiitory. The total value raised to the close of the year 1897 wa.9 44,488,371?. The following table shoAVS the quantity and value of the gold won in New South Wales since its discovery in 1851 :—

■^eriods

Weight

Value

1851-90

1891-95

1896

1897

1 Total.

Oz.

10,247,098

1,174,446

296,072

292,217

12,009,833

£

38,075,182 4,251,416 1,073,360 1,088,413

44,488,371

Most of the gold won in the colony is received at the Mint for coinage. The value of silver and silver-lead and ore obtained to the end of 1896 was 24,108,285Z. In 1897, 150,005 ounces of silver were raised, valued at 16,711/., and 289,018 tons of silver-lead ore and metal, altogether valued at 1,681,528?. The value of copper raised in 1897 was 283, 174/. The estimated value of copper raised from its cliscovery in 1858 until the end of 1897 amounted to 4,351,343Z. The total value of the output of tin since the mines were opened in 1872 has been 6,246,418/. In 1897 there were 92 coal mines, employing 9,979 men ; the quantity of coal raised in 1897 was 4,383,591 tons, valued at 1,230,041/. The estimated value of coal raised to the close ;of 1897 amounted to 33,049,372/. There are 28 smelting furnaces giving employment to 3,012 hands, principally for the smelting of silver, tin, and copper ores. It is estimated that there were 44,220 persons employed in mining and smelting during 1897.