Sugar first appears as a Queensland export in 1870, the quantity being, however, only 26 cwt. By 1879 the quantity had reached 206,269 cwt., the quarter-century closing in 1884 with 368,626 cwt., valued at L454,759. But these figures do not represent the quantity of sugar manufactured, the total in 1884 being given at 33,361 tons, the export being 18,431 tons. In 1885 the export, as compared with the previous year, increased by 581/2 per cent. in value. In 1888 the value declined to L384,375, or by more than one-half as compared with 1886. Thence for many years there was a fluctuating export, a drop to L681,038 in 1897 being followed by a jump to L1,329,876 in 1898. Two years later there was a heavy fall to L669,389 worth; then two years' progression followed by a fall to L646,875 in 1903. In 1904, owing to the Commonwealth bounty and good seasons, there was a recovery to L1,257,815, followed by substantial progression each following year, till 1907, when the record export of L1,779,624 was made. In 1908, owing to abnormal frosts, there was a decline to L1,482,320. The quantity of sugar made of course showed corresponding fluctuations. In 1896 the 100,000-ton limit of manufacture was for the first time passed. It was followed by a slight drop in the following year, but in 1898 the record to that date in manufacture, as well as in export, was made, the product of the mills reaching the high figure of 163,734 tons. After that year there was a fluctuating decline in manufacture to the minimum of 76,626 tons in 1902, the great drought year; but there was an improvement in 1903, and in 1905 152,722 tons were manufactured, the two following years being very close together with a mean production of 186,342 tons. In 1908 the sugar manufactured was 151,098 tons, a decrease, through frost, of 37,209 tons for the year. In glancing through the figures not only will the effects of good and bad seasons be recognised, but also of the suspension of kanaka labour importation in 1888, its revival in 1890, and the payment of the Commonwealth bounty during the last five years. MINERAL PRODUCTION.