DEFENCE — l»ROt>lTCTlON AND INDUSTRY
B16
school buildings, and 1,800,970/, for other public works. The uoniiual rate of interest on the public debt varies from 3:} to 4^ per cent., and averages 3*88 per cent.
The net local ordinary revenue and expenditure (Municipalities, Harbour Trust, Metropolitan Board of Works, and Fire Brigade Boards) for 1896 were respectively 1,485,455/. and 1,507,991/. The net local debt (exclusive of amounts borrowed first by Government) amounted to about 8,761,499/.
The estimated total value of the rateable proi)erty of the colony in 1896 amounted to about 168,427,700/., and the annual value was 10,393,000/.
Defence.
The land forces of Victoria at the end of 1897 comprised an establishment of 4,969 men of all arms, of whom 379 were permanent, and 2,940 formed the militia, the remainder being volunteers. The naval force consists of a permanent force of 158, and the Naval Brigade, of 152 officers and men.
The Naval flotilla of the colony consists of the coast-defence ironclad Cerberus, and two tirst-class and three second-class torpedo boats. Victoria is a considerable contributor to the support of the Australian auxiliary ships. (See post under "Australian Defence.")
Production and Industry. I. Agriculture.
Of the total area of Victoria about 23,090,664 acres are either alienated or in process of alienation. Of the remainder about 8,300,000 acres are at present suitable for agriculture ; 15,700,000 acres for pastoral purposes ; State forests, timber and water reserves, over 4,800,000 acres ; auriferous land, 1,051,246 acres ; and roads, 1,524,248.
The total number of cultivated holdings in 1897-98 was 34,990.
The following table shows the areas under the principal crops and the produce of each for five years : —
Total
Tears
Area Cul- tivated
Wheat
Oata
Barley
Potatoes
Hay
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
Acres
Acres
Bushels
Acres
Bushels
Acres
Bushels
Acres
Tons
Acres
Tons
1894
3,019
1,469
16,256
.219
4,951
49
1,034
41
145
412
603
1895
2,980
1,374
11,446
266
5,033
97
1,596
56
197
493
622
1896
2,885
1,413
6,669
256
2,880
78
716
44
117
464
391
1897
3,008
1,581
7,091
419
6.817
62
8l6
44
146
417
449
1898
3,260
1,657
10,580
294
4,809
37
758
44
67
580
660
The produce per acre
of the principal crops has been
- —
Year
Wheat
Oats
Barley
Potatoes
1 Hay
Malting
Other
Bushels
Bushels
Bushels
Bushels
Tons
Tons
1894
10-38
22-62
20-08
24-84
3-54
1-22
1895
8-33
21-14
15-65
21-82
3-49
1-26
1896
401
11-28
8-76
13-70
2-67
•84
1897
4-49
16-25
1201
19-45
3-37
1-08
1898 .
6-38
16-35
1
19-24
23 09
1-52
1-14
1
