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 350 THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — AUSTRALIAN TERRITORIES

Books of Reference.

Annual Reports by the Government Kesideut on the Northern Territory, down to 1911.

Memorandum on the Northern Territory prepared under the direction of the Minister for External Affairs. July, 1009.

Official Year Book of the Commonwealth of Australia. Annual. Melbourne.

Report of Preliminary Scientific Expedition to the Northern Territory. Bulletin, No. 1. All Introduction to the Study of Certain Native Tribes. Bulletin, No. 2. Report of the Caledon Bay Prospecting Party. Bulletin, No. 3. (Department of External Affairs, Melbourne, 1912).

TERRITORIES OF THE AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH. TERRITORY OF PAPUA (BRITISH NEW GUINEA).

This possession is the south-eastern part of the island of New Guinea with the islands of the D'Entrecasteaux and Louisiade groups, and all islands between 8° and 12° S. latitude, and 141° and 155° E. longitude. It is bounded on the west by the Dutch and on the north by the German possessions. Area, 90,540 square miles, of which about 87,786 are on the mainland of New Guinea, and 2,754 on the islands above mentioned. On June 30, 1911, the population was as follows : — European, 1,032 ; coloured, (other than Papuan), 280 ; Papuans (estimated), 270,745.

The government of British New Guinea is founded on the British New Guinea Act of November, 1887, aud on Letters Patent issued June 8, 1888, The cost of the administration to the extent of 15,000Z. a year was formerly contributed in equal proportions by New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. The Federal Government took over the control in 1901 ; the political transfer was completed by the Papua Act of the Federa IParliament in November, 1905, and on September 1, 1906, a proclamation was issued by the Governor-General of Australia declaring that British New Guinea is to be known henceforth as the Territory of Papua. There is an executive council composed of official members, and a legislative council composed of the executive councillors and three non-official members nominated by the Governor- General of Australia.

Licub.-Governor and Chief ,hidicial Officer — Hon. J. H, P. Murray. Government Secretary. — Hon. Alexander Malcolm Campbell,

Tribes have in large areas settled down to peaceful habits. Four mission- ary bodies are at work ; many thousands of natives are being taught by these bodies. Three hundred thousand acres of land have been leased, principally by planters, and plantation work has commenced with energy, the principal cultures being coconuts, rubber, sisal hemp, coffee and Murva fibre. Cotton, vanilla, kapoc, cocoa, tapioca, cinnamon, tea and tobacco are also being cultivated. Suitable areas may be obtained from the Crown. By the Papua Act 1905, freehold alienation is prohibited, but leases may be obtained at low rentals for long terms. On hundreds of square miles indi- genous sago is growing and there are at least 250,000 acres covered with native-owned coconut trees. The forests contain valuable timbers, in most ca^es easily accessible by river ; the cocoanut and sago palm are plentiful, sandal-wood, ebony, gums, rattans, and other forest products are found.

Inhere are four ports of entry — Port Moresby, Samarai, Daru, and Bonagai (Woodlark Island).

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