MINE?? ANt> MINERALS
snT
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.
