as
uniform as that for gold. The company's pay-roll at the mine averages
twenty thousand dollars a month, the men receiving from two dollars a
day upwards, none, however, exceeding two dollars and a half as
day-laborers.

This mountain of tin, for that is really what it is, has been tunnelled
through its greatest dimension, showing it to be equally rich in all
parts. It is a busy place, but so well organized in every department
that there is no confusion, each man working intelligently and to the
best advantage. We were told by the superintendent that the shares of
this mine originally cost five dollars each; to-day they are selling for
three hundred dollars per share, and not always to be had at that price.
They are almost wholly owned in this neighborhood, and on them the
owners receive monthly dividends. We were told of other tin mines in
this island, but Mount Bischoff is _the_ tin mine of Tasmania.

A view from the summit of Mount Bischoff across the wild forest and
densely-covered hills is a picture to be long remembered. The query
suggested itself, Is it possible that this immense wild tract of
country, these miles upon miles of seemingly impenetrable forest, will
ever be cleared and dotted with the homes of settlers? Being in the
heart of a rich mineral district, where not tin alone but gold also is
found, doubtless it is destined, in the near future, to have a similar
experience to that which transformed Ballarat and Sandhurst from deserts
into cities.

A trip to the Beaconsfield gold mine, which is situated some thirty
miles from Launceston, will well repay the traveller from other lands.
The town of Beaconsfield ranks next to those of Hobart and Launceston in
importance, and has a rapidly increasing population. It is of quite
recent establishment, and owes its rise solely to the discovery of the
attractive metal within that district.

The Tasmanian mine, so called, is considered one of the most valuable
and prolific on the island, possessing also a very perfect "plant" in
machinery and the usual appliances for quartz mining. Before descending
the main shaft of the mine one must assume suitable clothing, as mud and
water are to be encountered in extraordinary quantities. The great
difficulty to be overcome in working nearly all of these subterranean
mines is the profuse influx of water, often involving the necessity for
a steam-pumping apparatus of immense power, which must be worked night
and day in orde