acres of 1889) of over a million acres in nine years; while nearly 1 00,000 people are engaged in farm work, and over 30,000 in pastoral pursuits. The last wheat harvest in New South Wales yielded ten and a half million bushels, averaging ten and a half bushels to the acre; and before the expiry of many years the colony will be a large exporter of wheat. Along the rich flats of the northern rivers maize is largely grown, about 2 1 2,000 acres of the best land of the colony being devoted to it. Although the wines of New South Wales had a reputation many years ago, they have failed to keep progress with those of Victoria. In New South Wales a larger area of land is given up to oranges than to vines, and the orange groves of the Parramatta are, in the season, one of the interesting sights to a visitor. About 40,000 acres are under orchards; but here, too, recent developments in New South Wales have not at all equalled those of Victoria and South Australia. Sugar growing is one of the great industries of Northern New South Wales, where there are over 30,000 acres under cane, beet being at present only an experimental crop. The sugar growers have of late figured largely in the politics of New South Wales, and have even had their influence upon Federation. It was necessary to their existence that a duty should be placed upon imported sugar; but when, in furtherance of his Free-trade policy, Mr Reid, the Premier, swept away duties to the extent of £1,000,000, the sugar growers of Richmond, Tweed, and Clarence Rivers seemed likely to suffer, in common with other producers. Mr Reid, however, yielding to judiciously applied pressure, decided to retain the duty at £3 per ton; and he received his reward. For when, some time subsequently, his position was endangered by a vote of censure moved by the Federal party under Mr Barton, the sugar members.
