The declared value of exports totalled a little more than half a million in 1860; the first quarter-century closed in 1884 with a total of under 43/4 millions. In 1889 the value was slightly under 73/4 millions, and in 1908 it reached over 14 millions. During the last quarter-century the exports have trebled in value, while the imports have increased by only about 48.4 per cent. These figures indicate that the State is rapidly liquidating its external indebtedness on private account, whatever may be the increase in public loan obligations. RAILWAYS. Railways form a very gratifying asset. In 1865 there were only twenty-one miles open for traffic, and they yielded no net revenue. In 1884 there were 1,207 miles open, of which the net earnings were L273,096. In 1898 2,742 miles open had L534,992 of net earnings. In 1901 there were 2,801 miles open, with net earnings of L223,853 only, the cause being the historic drought of the period. Since then there has been a rapid increase in both traffic and profit, the net earnings of 3,498 miles in 1908-9 having been L885,622. These figures afford complete justification for a policy of vigorous construction, for they show that the capital invested in our railways, L25,183,529, earned L3 10s. 4d. per cent. in 1907-8. In 1908-9 the net earnings were L883,610, the return on capital invested being L3 7s. 6d. per cent. With the object of supplying the latest official data, the Government Statistician, Mr. Thornhill Weedon, has compiled the following tables, which practically divide the half-century into four equal periods. It must be borne in mind that, except under the heading "Finance," the statistics are for the calendar year and not for the financial year, which closes on 30th June:-- COMPARATIVE STATISTICS. VITAL STATISTICS. -----------------------+------------------------------------------------- | CALENDAR YEAR. +---------+---------+---------+---------+--------- | 1860. | 1872. | 1884. | 1896. | 1908. -----------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------- Births No. | 1,236 | 5,265 | 10,679 | 14,017 | 14,828 | | | | | Marriages No. | 278 | 1,125 | 2,661 | 2,823 | 4,009 | | | | | Deaths No. | 478 | 1,936 | 6,861 | 5,645 | 5,680 | | | | | Population, State No. | 28,056 | 133,553 | 309,913 | 472,179 | 558,237 | | | | | " Brisbane [a] No. | 6,051 | 15,002 | 23,001 | 110,554 | 137,670 -----------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------