The Express.
London, England, 1861-04-11 00:00:00

SOCIETY OP 42TE.

At the meeting of this society last evening, Lord
ALPS= CUtitcathl., M.P., in the chair, the paper reed was
"On Tasman* its Products sad Resources," by Dr. Milli-
gan. The anther gave a brief acomat of the discovery of
the colony in 1642, with a slight sketch of its early history.
This was followed by as elaborate description of Eta leading
hied and geologkial features; sad a fell orsocant of
its I progress as an industrial settlemeat. The ques-
tion of the results of tmamportatioa was discussed at aome
length. The author's moral opinion was that though
many of the details of the grand experiment of transporta-
tion as a punishment were but imperfectly carried out, yet
that if the grand result alone were looked at, so am
regarding it with an unprejudiced eye could by posa.
biliT arrive at any other conclusion than this, that a vast,
cost , and momentous experiment in the interest, of hu-
man cost
and Modesties bed terminated in a result more suc-
cessful and satisfactory than the most ardent philanthropist
would have dared to hope for. This led to the question of
the present ante of the labour market in the colony, in re-
ference to which the author gave mach interesting informa-
tion. The population of Tasmania had increased from 1,300
in 1810 to *boat 80,000 is the present year. The emigre.-
Coe, owing to the gold diggings, amounted in 1851 and the
two following years to upwards of 33,000. The improvement
of to breed and mtasgemsut of @keep, and coasequeetly
of wool, was discussed, sad the whale fisheries were also
noticed. The various products of the colony were then
reviewed seriatim. The wheat and other grain were re-
markably fine; the live stock, homes, sheep, cattle, sad
pigs were most valuable ; the exportatioa of these
amounting in 1885 to over 60,00 W. Fruit had of
late years acquired an importance as an article of export,
and the timber trade had assumed large proportions, though
owing to the depression in prices it had recently somewhat
receded. Building stones had now begun to appearamongel
the exports. Cool was found rather abundantly in the
occurring at many different points, and fore.
shadowing with tolerable certainty, the rise and progress
of a career of manufacturing industry in the future of Tea
ramie. Various iron ores with large per oentages of metal,
lead ore, gold, and some gems of great brilliancy aad
bnotf, were amongst its mineral products. The animals,
birds, sod fish were described. Of fresh water fish there was
considerable went, and two attempts had bees made to obtain
a breed of whom for the riven, but without easease.
The colonial government bad, however, voted ZOOK to pay
the expenses of another attempt. The terms cs whia
laud could be purchased by colonists appeared very favour.
able. The author concluded by some general mamba ea
the various public institutions of the colony, ask spoke
highly of the beauties of Hobert Town, which De caned the
queen of cities, bleeped in the possession and eerrasat of
the first situation, the best 'arbour, sad the flied climate
of the world— the capital of fair Tasmania—a land easnein-
ing within her bowels the element, of future madam and
of national supremacy—a lead whose wild moanteins aid
picturesque hills were warm and height with musabias,
whose soft valleys were fair, fertile, and ever gem, under
the Mlfuence of genial 51111110011, and in whose bosom were
noes as manly, noble, and gemerotts-miaded as her daughters
were fair, virtuous, and aceomplithed.