The population at the end of the first quarter-century having been 309,913, and on 31st December last year (1908) 558,237, the increase for the period was 248,324. But the second quarter-century does not actually close until 31st December next, when the total population should be approximately 570,000 souls. During the half-century, therefore, the number of people in Queensland as compared with the population in 1859 may be taken to have multiplied by twenty-two. In other words, at the time of separation, a year earlier than the official record begins, the total population was scarcely greater than it now is in several of our provincial cities. PUBLIC FINANCE. Public revenue, which began in 1860 with a total of L178,589, reached L2,720,656 in 1884-5, the figures of the natal year being multiplied nearly fifteen times at the close of the quarter-century. The second quarter-century showed continued increase until 1888-9, but the figures of that year were not again reached until 1895-6. They progressed until in 1899-1900, the last year before federation, they reached over 41/2 millions sterling, an amount not again realised till 1908-9. In 1901 the State figures were considerably disturbed by the proclamation of the Commonwealth on 1st January. In 1901-2 there was a large apparent decline of L1,053,145, the Commonwealth having taken over the whole of the postal and telegraph revenue and about one-fourth of the Customs. There was also a considerable loss by the discontinuance of State border duties, as well as by the Commonwealth tariff, which took effect in the second quarter of 1901-2, many revenue duties being either sacrificed or lowered in favour of protectionist imposts which only yielded revenue until they excluded imports. By 1908-9, despite the loss of post-telegraph and Customs revenue, the total receipts at the State Treasury formed the half-century record of L4,766,244. The expenditure on loan account began with the foundation of the colony. At the end of the first quarter-century the public debt amounted to L16,570,850, exclusive of Government Savings Bank and Treasury bills obligations. In the first decade of the second quarter it had almost doubled, standing at the end of 1894 at L30,639,534. By the end of 1900 there had been a further increase of nearly 5 millions, and on 30th June, 1909, it stood at L41,568,827, or at the rate of L74 per head of the estimated population. But the railway net earnings alone of the last two financial years (1907-8 and 1908-9) have provided a mean sum of L884,616 per annum towards the interest charge. LAND STATISTICS. In 1860 there were 108,870 acres of land alienated in Queensland. In 1872 the area exceeded 1 million acres, the first quarter-century closing in 1884 with over 7 million acres. The 10-million-acre limit was passed in 1890, and the 15-million-acre limit in 1908, when the total area alienated was 15,108,439 acres.