QUEEN'S METAL 399 QUESNEL about 5,400 feet. The principal rivers are the Brisbane, the Burnett, the Pi- oneer, the Fitzroy, and the Burdekin flowing into the Pacific, and the Fhnders and Mitchell into the Gulf of Carpen- taria. In the N. part the climate is tropical. The rainfall in the interior is scanty and variable; the mean at Bris- bane is about 35 inches. The indige- nous animals and plants are similar to those of the rest of Australia. Croco- diles inhabit some of the N. rivers. Producticyns. — There are many kinds of valuable timber trees, and a rare thing in Australia, a few good indigenous fruits. Sheep farming is the chief in- dustry, but agriculture (including sugar- growing) , cattle rearing, and mining are also important. The soil and climate are well suited for the production of all the ordinary cereals, as well as maize, to- bacco, coffee, sugar, cotton, etc. The chief products are sugar, maize, English and sweet potatoes, arrow root, and semi-tropical fruits. Sugar growing is becoming a very important industry. Gold, tin, lead, and copper are the prin- cipal minerals. In the N. pearl fishing is actively car- ried on. The manufacturers are unim- portant. The principal manufactories, or works that may be classed as such, are sugar mills, steam sawmills, soap works, agricultural implement works, and distilleries. The staple articles of export to the United Kingdom are wool, tallow, and preserved meats. Education and Religion. — Education is free and secular in the public schools, and is under a special department con- trolled by the minister for education. A university was established at Brisbane in 1911. History. — The first settlem.ent of Queensland took place in 1825, when the territory was used as a place of trans- portation for convicts, who continued to be sent there till 1839, In 1842 the coun- try was opened to free settlers. It was originally a part of New South Wales, and was organized as a separate colony in 1859. The government of the colony is vested in a governor, who is the crown's representative, and a Parlia- ment of two houses, the legislative coun- cil and the legislative assembly. The capital of the colony is Brisbane; pop. about 180,000. In January, 1896, a dis- astrous flood caused great loss of life and property in Brisbane and northern Queensland. QUEEN'S METAL, an alloy used for making teapots, obtained by fusing un- der charcoal a mixture of nine parts tin, one part each antimony, lead, and bismuth. QUEEN'S PIGEON, a magnificent ground pigeon inhabiting the islands of the Indian Ocean, named after Queen Victoria. QUEEN'S or KING'S SPEECH, a document prepared by the advisers (i. e., the cabinet) of the sovereign and read by him or her from the throne in the House of Lords, or in his or her absence by the lord chancellor, at the opening and closing of each session of Parliament, in which are set forth the general relations of the empire and the measures the ministers intend to bring forward. QUEENSTOWN, a seaport of Ii'eland; on the S. side of Great Island; in the harbor of Cork, 12 miles S. E. of Cork, and 177 S. W. of Dublin. Its original name was Cove of Cork; the present name commemorates the visit of Queen Victoria in 1849. Pop. about 8,500. QUEEN'S YELLOW, the yellow sub- sulphate of mercury, used as a pigment. QUELPART, an island 60 miles off the S. coast of Korea; about 40 miles long by 17 broad. It is rock-bound and mountainous, the volcanic Mount Auck- land being 6,500 feet high. It has fertile soil and good timber, and is populous. QUERETARO, capital of State of Queretaro (area, 4,493 square miles; pop. about 250,000), Mexico, on the table- land 112 miles N. E. of Mexico City. Its buildings include a magnificent cathedral, State palace, city hall, ornate theater and bull ring. Streets are handsome, with large plazas and gardens. Indus tries include cotton mills, and mining Cattle breeding is carried on throughout the district and State, and in the valleys agriculture is highly developed. Pop. about 35,000. QUERN, a mill, especially a hand mill for grinding corn, used before the inven- tion of water or windmills. QUESNEL, PASQUIER. a French theologian; born in Paris, France, July 14, 1634. After a distinguished course in the Sorbonne, he entered the Congre- gation of the Oratory in 1657. At the age of 28 he was appointed director of the Paris house of his congregation. It was for the use of the young men under his care that he commenced the cele- brated series "Moral Reflexions on the New Testament." In 1675 ho published an edition of the works of Leo the Great, which in the notes was held to maintain Gallicanism, and was accordingly placed on the "Index." Having refused to sub- scribe the formulary condemnatory of
