1289
1 9 1 2.
VICTORIA.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOREST&
FOR THE
YEAR E:NDED 30rrH JUNE, 1912.
PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIA~IENT PrRSUANT TO ACT No. 2095, SEcTioN 12.
!l:!! ~uthorl~ : ALBERT J, MULLETT, ACTING GOVERNMENT PRINTER, MELBOURNE.
No. 43.-fls.]-12927. •
APl'R0XIMA1iE C08T m• HEPOl{T. £ s. d. Preparation-Not g·iven. Prmting (1,150 copieli) 28 0 REPORT OF TIIE STATE l10RESTS DEPART~IENT OF VICTORIA~ 1911-1;2.
To the Honorable Peter McBride, 1lfinister of Forests. SIR, In accordance with the requirements of Section 12 of the Forests Act 1907, No. 2095, I have the honour to submit the following Report for the twelve months ended 30th June, 1912, including a report by the Conservator of Forests of the work carried out by him and the Inspectors under the Act.
I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant,
W. DICKSON, Secretary for Forests. Melbourne, 1st September, 1912.
LEGISLATION. As stated in last year's Report, the passing of the amending Forests Act 1910 has greatly strengthened the hands of the Department. The work of administration points to the necessity for still further powers, and these may be asked for in the near future. At present, applicants for forest produce on certain areas have to deal with two Departments, a state of things which is cumbersome and unnecessary. This and other matters can be remedied by legislation.
EXCISIONS FROM STATE FORESTS. A complete list of areas actually excised, and of those in a transition state between State l!'orest and ordinary Crown lands will be found hereunder. The work of examining and reporting on every scheduled forest by officers of the Lands and Forests Departments, in conjunction, has been long and arduous, but a period will be put to these labours on 31st December of this year, for on that day the power of excision given by Section 18 of the Principal Act ceases. Any further deductions from the already too small areas of reserved forest on and after the lst January, 1913, can only be made by Act of Parliament. Excisions extending over rnany years have reduced the total area of reserved forests in this State to something like 4,000,000 acres. If it were not that there are large areas of timber country reserved for water supply, and even larger areas of ordinary Crown lands and lands under leasehold and licence, containing forest cover, the position might easily become acute; and as these latter lands become denuded of their timber it possibly will be. It would be politic in municipalities if they encouraged forests within their boundaries. In many instances, hundreds of the ratepayers earn their living in the local forests, and without the forest workers, many thriving towns would be considerably diminished in importance. The application of the Width of Tyres Act would minimize any damage to the roads. AZ 4
The Department views with satisfaotion the uea.r approach of the time when the boundaries of the reserved forests may be reasonably regardf'd as tixf'd and permanent. The following list will show how we compare with other countries in the matter of reserved forests :- ~c"lJ Name. Percenta.gP of It orest, tu ·rotal Area. Victoria 7 Italy 14'5 France 17 Hungary 23 Norway 24'5 United States of America 25 Germany 26 Japan · 30 Austria 32 Russia (European) 33 FINANCE, ETC. A detailed balance-sheet for the year under review will be found at the end of the report. The totals of revenue and expenditure since the commencement of the Act are summarized hereunder.
Period. Expenditure. Surplus. Helidi.
£ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 1908* 12,211 7 0 9,882 2 9 2,329 4 :3 1908-9 40,647 15 9 27,065 17 5 13,581 18 '1 1909-10 41,929 14 2 38,101 12 2 3,828 2 0 1910-11 .. 41,367 2 7 40,517 4 5 849 18 2 1911-12 .. 49,287 14 4 54,096 14 1 4,808 19 9
.., As Fore.>;t Llct 19H7 came into force on l:o:t .Tanu:uy, only, viz., 1.1.190~ to It will be noticed that for the first time in the life of the Department the operations for the year have resulted in a debit balance. The deficit of £4,808 l9s. 9d. is a comparatively large sum, but is more than accounted for by an exceptional purchase of forest land at Woohlpooer, consisting of 4,998 acres, the cost to the Department being £9,369 Is. IOd. Sma1l parcels of land are purchased year by year for forest purposes, but nothing approaching so large a transaction has taken place in any previous period. It will be seen, therefore, that, but, for this exceptionally large deal, a surplus of £4,727 would be shown. The area, which was acquired on the recommendation of the Com;ervator of Forests, is a very fine tract of redgum country, situated some 16 miles from Cavendish, and having a frontage of some miles to the 3-chain road from Horsham to Hamilton. The property in its present state is estimated to supply nearly 2,000,000 feet of sawn redgum timber, and many thousands of sleepers. It is let at a gmzing rental that practically pays interest on the purchase money, and the transaction may be regarded as a very good investment for the Department. It will be noted that, though there was a slight set back in revenue for the year 1910-ll as compared with the preceding one, the figures for this year show the very substantial advance of nearly £8,000. Financially, the year may be regarded as having been a very sound one. For purposes of comparison, last year's balance-sheet is also shown hereafter.
THE POLLUTION OF STREAMS WITH SAWDUST. A NEW FUEL. The difficulty of finding a cheap and innocuou::; means of disposing of vast quantities of sawdust has always been with the hardwood sawmiller. Piling it in heaps and burning it is a slow and eostly process. It is alsu a very dangerous one, more than one life having been lost in connexion with it. The fire eats the heart slowly out of the pile, and shows no sign of its existence on the surface. Only lately, a lad, 1293
5 walking over the top of an apparently innocent heap, fell through and was instantly roasted to death. The flushing of the dust by water power into the smaller creeks and streams naturally polluted the water, and was the subject of just complaint by the Chief Inspector of Fisheries and Game, Major Semmens. This flushing by water assumed such dimensions and caused pollution to such an extent that the Conservator had the following special condition inserted in every sawmill site licence :--
Special Condition. " 7. The removal or carriage of mill sawdust by water is prohibited. The sawdust must be removed by vehicles, trucks, or barrows, and deposited so as not to pollute any stream, spring, or pool of fresh water." In most cases, the dust was not actually flushed into the stream, but the WHter used in the flushing found its way there, and pollution resulted. Naturally, the millers do not like the trouble and expense of removing the dust by barrow-the usual practice- into pits. ln this connexion, it seems well to invite the special attention of sawmillers to an article iri the Age of llth May, 1912, entitled" A New Fuel-Power for Nothing." In this article it is shown how one of the largest manufacturers of packing cases in England "gets all the power he wants on the premises for nothing" by using the sawdust resulting from his operations. The proprietor is reported to have stated " The entire power used in these works, which have an annual turnover of tens of thou sands of pounds sterling, is derived from one thing, and one thing only-the carbon from common wet sa·wdust~-if air be excepted." A patent gas plant is required for using this fuel, and the Home cost of one capable of developing 100 h.p. is £300, and is Rtated to easily repay the initial expenditure during the first year of use. Besides sawdust, the plant can be worked with bark, coir, Indian corn cobs, dried grass, husks, leaves, Manila waste, spent tanning bark, straw, sugar-cane refuse, wood, chips, &c. "Most probably the sawdust referred to in the article is from soft woods, and it is poRsible that that from our hard woods would not prove suitable, but if a small parcel were !'ent Home to any of the firms mentioned in the artiele the matter could be pnt beyond dou ht. It is po::;sible also that our hardwood mills make more dust than, in conjunction with the e,treat quantity of their other waste, they could consume. If these plants were to become common, it would open up a market for a by-product which is now~ a difficulty and an expense. The invention is a1so worthy of the attention of our metropolitan softwood millers. While on the subject of a new fuel, it may be interesting to note that Mr. J. C· Palmer, of the Alma Distillery, Tomahawk Creek, is producing a fine sample of steel-grey coke from the common "nigger head" grass tree, which cumbers the land to a great extent in many parts of the State, and grows on dark sandy soils that produce good crops of potatoes, and, according to Mr. Palmer, make splendid dairying land when cleared of this erstwhile pest. Mr. Palmer thinks he has solved a difficult problem in getting rid of this description of grass in a profitable way. He is at present leasing private lands, but is in communication with. the Department with a view to widen the scope of his operations by obtaining a licence for forest areas. A sample of the coke was referred to Mr. P. G. \V. Bayly, of the Geological Survey Laboratory of the .Mines Department, for analysis. Mr. Bayly reports as follows:- "Sample consisted of still residue, showing original structure of the grass tree. On preparat~on of the sample for analysis, the crushed material forms a very fine powder which would be suitable for mould facings. This Inate:rial should be of value for use in suction gas plant. The ash is high." Analysis. Ash 7 . 50 per cent. Calorific value ll677 B.T.U. 6
TIMBER SEASONING WORKS. A series of views of the Department's Timber Seasoning "'Works at Newport is shown at the end of the Report. These works form part of the general scheme of forestry of the Conservator of Forests. They were put into active operation last year, and are being run under the management uf Mr . .John House, the patentee of the "House" process, which is the one being used at the works. It is a seasoning process pure and simple, no chemicals being used. The way of dealing with the timber has been thoroughly thought out so as to minimize handling and consequent expense. From the green timber to the seasoned article takes from two to three weeks, and so successful has been the undertaking that already the finished prcduct is in brisk demand. An interesting article, explaining the "House" seasoning process in detail, is published in Cazaly's Contract Reporter for May 7th of this year. The pictures are briefly described hereunder, but a visit to the works and sample room-within three minutes' walk of the Newport Railway Station---should prove interesting to architects, builders, furniture makers, and others who are concerned with Victorian seasoned high-grade timbers. GENERAL VIEw OF "\VoRKs. In this view, on the left, is a truek of blackbutt from the Rubicon Forest, piled ready for entering the kiln at the loading end. On the extreme right is a truck of the same class of timber, seasoned. Another is following on the tmverser car for the planing mill, and thence to the storage shed. SEASONING KILN. The kiln shows a truck containing 4,500 Fmperficial feet of yellow stringybark from the Mullungdung Forest, South Gippsland. The truck is leaving the kiln at the discharging end. The boards received green at the works measured in section 4f' by ll6". They were seasoned in sixteen days and ready for converting into flooring boards. Quite recently-and obviously since this picture was taken-two extra kilns have been erected. It is the intention to instal machinery for the conversion of blackwood logs into cabinet woods, and possibly veneers, as the Department has a large quantity of these logs in stock, some of which contain timber of fine grain and figure. J_,oc YARD. This view shows the unloading of blackwood logs from the Otway Forest.
PLANING MILL AND STORAGE SHED. On the left, the picture shows a truck which is being unloaded. Near this truck-which is in a direct line with the rails connecting with the track from the seasoning kiln-is the planing machine. As the timber is dressed, it passes through to the platform, and is loaded into the railway trnr ks, or nt hr:r vrhicles, for cli:".tributioTJ.
1\L'\NAGER's RESIDENCE. A neat and comfortable residencr for the accommodation of the Manager. Detached from this is a convenient office and sample room. The walls of the office are panelled with native seasoned hardwoods, dressed and varnished, the floori:r:g boards being of the same material. FOREST IriREK. This iB always a grave and frequently a very disconcerting suhjeet for a Forest Department, it being so simp1e to light a forest fire, and so difficult to put it out. As mentioned in last year's Report, the wet summer of 1911 minimizHl the production of these fire~:, and the year under review has been comparatively free from disastrous ones, with the one exception of the severe fire in the Grnmpians. The facts of this huge conflagration were fully reported in the prrss, with many details and advantages. Among other things, the statement was freely circulated that hundrt>ds of sheep were roasted. A full investigation by the local officer failed to find thn,t there was any truth in this statement. The Conservator had the matt0r placed in the hands of the police, and an experienced detective made a thorough inquiry. However, he failed to find sufficient evidence to justify the placing of any person upon his trial with any reasonable hope of securing a conviction. The Department has for years been aware that many of the worst fires were aets of incendiarism. 1
A decade ago, the forester in charge of one of the principal forests put out 23 fires in one season. all within a hundred yards or so of the house of a resident within the forest; and as, a general statement,< and not applying these remarks to any particlllar fire, it may be stated that so long as it is greatly to the advantage of the pockets of people to l1ave forest fires, and so long as they may be lit with little or ~o chance of detection, so long will incendiary fires occur. It is perhaps well to let It be generally known that under the Forests A~t the full penalty for fire-raising in reserved forests is a fine of £50 an(l imprisonment for twelve months. By appointing fire guards during the summer months, and making rigid inquiry into every obscure forest fire, the Department has greatly lessened the evil, and brought some of the offenders to justice. The evil is so grave, and the loss to the country so enormous in money and other values, that possibly there should be a public inquest, or magisterial inguiry, into every serious forest fire. In a great number of cases now, the Department Is not renewing grazing licences for large forest areas, but~as it is necessary to have the grass eaten down, and advisable to obtain grazing revenue-takes in stock at agistment. As some indication that the forest authorities are not alone in their contention that many illusive fires are lit by interested persons, it may be mentioned that at a meeting of the Dunkeld Apiarists' Association, held in February of this year, the following resolution was passed :- "That this Association is of opinion that the granting of grazing licences in State forests is a direct incentive to the grazing lessee to burn the scrub and undergrowth, as the grazing capacity is thereby increased, and. in view of the recent fires in the Murra Murra State Forest, which caused such devastation among the apiarists, this meeting suggests th11,t stringent inquiry be made by the Forest Department before existing leases be renewed or new leases grant-ed."
The fire referred to herein as " Murra Murra " and the severe fire m the Grampians before mentioned, are identical.
As already stated, the Department hopes that by a persistent policy of watchfulness, by refusing to renew licences for lands where numerous fires occur, and by taking legal proceedings wherever sufficient evidence can be secured, to greatly minimize this dangerous and costly evil.
THE ·woRKING OF AN UP-TO-DATE VICTORIAN SAWMILl,.
At the end of the Report will be found a series of pictures illustrating the working of a forest mill. The mill selected is that of the Goodwood Timber and Tramway Limited. For the set of views the Department is indebted to the management of the company per favour of the Secretary, l\fr. E. Jamie8on, whose office is at Port AlbArt.
The mi1l is situated in the Mullungdung State Forest, South Gippsland, ~1bout 21 miles from J>ort Albert, and employs 120 mill hands and 25 sleeper cutters. The eompany has laid a tram at a cost of £9,000, from the forest to the nearest railway station, for the expeditious and economical transport of its produce. The mill is of the most modern type, and is equipped v.'ith a Hoffman travelling bench for breaking down, and five savv-s for cutting the timber into 'Ihe daily output is from ten t.o twelve thousand feet, and the cost of erection was about £2,700. The whole of the driving gea~ is m;d:·rground, and is railed in free horn all d
VIEWS.
No. I.-View of Natural Forest. No. 1a.-Hauling Logs to M ill. Usually, a log-hauling team consists of twelve bullocks. Sometimes they haul the logs a distance of a mile or so direct to the mill, but in most cases to the bush landing, where they are transferred to the tram line, and complete the journey by steam power. The load for a team is about 1,700 feet super., approximately weighing 4 tons 14 cwt. 2 qrs. Each trip occupies about half-a-day.
No. 2.-Loading Logs with Aid of Bullocks. This process of loading is found to be more economical and easier than loading by steam, principally on account of the awkward positions in which many of the logs are lying. No. 3.-Rake of Logs. After the logs are loaded at the bush landing, the locomotive picks them up and takes them to the mill, where they are cut into lengths and sizes. The bush load is usually made up of three or four logs. This is found the quickest and best paying load. No. 4.-Sawmills. After the logs are unloaded at the mill, they are placed in the log yard, whence the mill draws its daily supplies for cutting. When the timber is reduced to lengths and sizes it is placed on skids, from which it is loaded into waggons and taken by steam power to Port Albert. No. 5.·-Sau.m Timber Train. This train usually carries from 40 to 45 tons of sawn timber daily from the mill to Port Albert. No. 6.-Unloading and Loading Timber. When the mill train arrives at Port Albert the timber is checked by the officer in charge, and is then loaded into the Victorian Railways waggons and forwarded to all parts of Victoria. No. 7.-0ffice and Residence. The office, where all the company's business is transacted, is the smaller building on the left of the picture. Both it and the residence are entirely built with timber from the mill.
FOREST POUNDS. Under the prov1s1ons of the Amending Act 1910, forest pounds have been established in forests where trespassing cattle were numerous. Poundkeepers have also been appointed. The result has been highly satisfactory, deliberate grass stealing having been almost entirely stamped out.
WILD CATTLE. These have become numerous and a nuisance in many of the State forests, so much so that it was found advisable to make use of Section 20 of the Forests Act 1910 to get rid of them. An Order in Council has now been made authorizing the sale by auction of all unbranded cattle above the age of hvelve months found depasturing on Enar:.o and Mount Leinster District ReseTve, Mount Phipps Reserve, Cambatong Reserve, Mirimbah Reserve. and Mount Buller Reserve, Victoria State Forest, Upper La Trobe State Forest, and Tambo State Forest. 12D1
9
DURABILITY OF VICTORIAN HARDWOODS. Many instances have come to light showing the extreme durability of these woods under strenuous conditions. Bluegum sleepers were found to be pedectly sound after remaining 50 years in an Otway tramway track. A year or so ago, when re-making a part of Little Flinders-street, the City Council unearthed a road formation of box timber, which was found to be free from decay, crack, or blemish. It had been underground for nearly 60 years. A similar state of things was found in connexion with redgum corduroyiug on the old '' Sandridge " road. Ironbark has long been recognised as one of our finest and most durable woods. An instance of its bsting powers and suitability for whccl-wTights' work has recently come to hand. Thirty-f.lix years ago, two drays were constructed for Mr. Youren, of Mount Greenock, from timber grown in the Talbot District, white ironbark being used for felloe!l, and red ironbark for naves and spokes. The drays were used in the eonstruetion of the railway line from Maryborough to Olunes, and since for general farm and contract work. One of them is sbll in use, and sound in every particular, being able to stand the strain of a 3-ton load. The second cart was broken up, and most of the timber and one of the wheels used in the construction of a new vehicle, whieh the wheelwright is of opinion should last another 40 years. A fence made from yellow stringybark was perfectly sound after having withstocd all weathers for 50 years. TH.E YEAR'S \VORK. The has been an arduous one for all concerned. There were issued during the years 1910-ll and 19ll-12 heences as under 1910-11. 19ll-l2. ·Forest Prodnee 4,990 6,989 Grazing .. 775 734 Sawmill 108 106 1\iiscellaneom< 145 229
6,018 8,058
New improvement worh; hav~ been undertaken Bow-Wornmg S·crri.;e :B'on•Rt Tottington ReservL' f~rcnch Island Tunstall State Forest. Ummpians Rtate FumNt \Yonwron State For;·;~t Hea.thcote State J;'ore~t; Woohlpoot'r State: Fon•;J~, J\fourm hool State J<'orP~i Works in hand have been continued at.~· As hens Mount. Beckworth Plantations Ba.rp, 'rarnagulla Di~trici: Mount Colc State Fun•st. Bcnalla. and Kilfeera Rf'sern• Mount Maccdon Plantations Bcndigo District ForeHt Movhu Timber Reserve Broadford State Nursery Mystic Park Reserve Chiltern State Forest N cwport Tim bcr Seasoning Works Clonbinanc State Forest St. Ama.ud District Forest Cobram Reserve Tcrricks State Forest Coonooer \Vest Plantation \Vr.a.nyarra State Forest Ureswick Fores·~ Nursery and Plant,.tiun>-: Wedd~rburn State }forest ('reswiek Forest School; Road Formation 'Wilson's Promontory Pla.ntP.tion Dimboola a 11d Wail Plantations Wombat State Fore~t l•'rankston PlantationR Wontha.ggi North Korrumburra RPservL'S You Plantation ~fount Alexander Phmtations STAF':F. The members of the Office and Field Staffs have done excellent work during the year. Some changes have taken place, and others are impending. Mr. A. Strahan has been promoted to a higher class in the Department of Agriculture, and Mr. District Forester McNamara has accepted a higher position in the Department of Lancl.P. Mr. La Gerche, Inspector of Forests, retired on account of age or 31st January last, 2.nd J.:Ir. Blaekburne, Temporary Inspector, on 30th June, for the ~:ame reason. Mr. District Forester Parry has been nominated for a superior positjon in the Forestry Department of New South \Vales, and Mr. District Forester Williams will retire on account of age very shortly. The Department ean ill afford to C(•neurrently lose the services of so many qualified and experienced officers. LO REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE. A statement of revenue for the year ended 30th June, 1912, is given hereunder, and, for purposes of comparison, the figures for the previous financia 1 year are given also. STATE FORESTS DEPARTMENT. RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30nr JUNE, 191:!. Receipts. Expenditure. £ s. cl. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Rents- St~.laries of Conservator, Saw-mill sites 497 () R head office staff, m- Grazing area.s ~,oi·! 15 G spectors, foresters, ] ....} :J Residence, bnsincss ., and foremen .. 12,567 sites, &c. 110 10 ,) Forage allowances and 9,682 12 5 travelling expenses .. 4,929 1.) lL trees 180 4 3 Incidentals, postage, &c. 593 8 9 Royalties- lR,IlBO 17 11 Saw-mill timber H,573 3 6 Maintenance and im Firewood and char provement of nur coal 8,5M 19 9 Reries, raising of tre
4.9,287 14 4 54,096 14 1
STA'fE FORESTS DEPARTMENT. RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE FOR THI<~ YEAR ENDING 30TH JUNE, 1911. Receipts. Expenditure. £ s. d £ s. d. £ s. ll. £ s. (l. Rents- Salaries of Conservator, Saw-mill sites 441 10 0 head office staff, in Grazing areas ~.00-1 1 ~ 7 Hpectors, foresters, Residence, business and foremen .. 12,245 10 6 sitPs, &c. 52 0 8 Forage allowanees and 8,498 ~~ :1 travelling expenses.. 1,681 19 ·i Fees 172 7 0 lncidrntals,postage, &c. 55R 2 4 Rovalties- 17,485 12 <) Saw-mill timbn 13,052 ~ Maintenance and im· Pire wood and char- provement of nur coal 7,~48 18 5 serieH, raising of trees Hewn timhrr, pilPR, for State plantations, &c. 6,182 2 0 · and fr"e diRtribntion Mining timber 2,435 5 '}. of trees 2,939 i 7 7 )'<'encing timber 1,858 17 1 Pormation, mainten- Wattle bark kino ance and ext 41,367 2 7 40,517 4 5 Surplus-£849 18s. 2d. 11 EXCISIONS FROM STATE FORESTS. Schedules and summary of excisions since the commencement of the Aet, including schedules now awaiting the approval of Parliament-- SCHEDULE 1. I l Orderin Individual 1 Council Diagram. X o. of Cnrre;.~pond<•n(·o. Cuunty. Att No. 2095. Are·~""'"'· I Areasand Total. Acres. 1 F.55053 (Y.5125) Gunbower Kerang Sec. 18a 1,160 ~··--- 1,160 2 F.60421 Borung Boroka Ree. 16' 1 43 4:1 3 F.61633 (P.2114) Kara Kara Thalia 237 4 F.61633 (P.2114) Kara Kam and Coraek and Corm k 270 Borung East 5 F.61633 (P.2114) Kam Kam Rich Avon E. 570 6 F.61633 (P.2114) , Gre Gre .. 220 ------· 1,297 7 F.60428 (J.2255) Grenville L·vnchfield 3 8 F.35904 (680/123) Bendigo K t~~ l Total . . 7,3' 12 SCHEDULF~ 2. Dhtgra.m. Curre<'pnndnice Nnntber.-1. CHUUTy. Parish. Apyrnxim:.•te Art.:a;;~ ------~----·----- A er~·~. ,.t\<_·res. 38 F.63936 Y.7021 lkudigo Sedgwick :!0 ;~\) F.63117 Y.u.nn Kimboltuu 3r:i 40, 43 F.6±0H, P.6017 ", ~1hndurang 289 :3-otl H F.63933 P.59U Buln Bnla Devon 25 45 F.63908 P.48'ii Stradbroke 800 46, 47 F.63908 P.4872 " Carrajuug 4.700 48 F.63994 P.59:32 " :Uborton \Vest 230 " 5,755 49 F.62573 C.40551 Croajingolong Noorinbee 10 10 50 F.63908 1'.5228 Delatite Benalla 13~ 51 F.63908 P.5228-9 , Benalla, Kelfet-m 340 52 F.6:3B08 P.5229 Kelfeera 145 " Olt. 53 F.60511 G.2:.WU6 Evelyn Beenak 1 1 54 F.tl3996 P.5790 Gladstone Tchuterr 440 56 1<'.63996 1~.5790 Kangderaar 30 470 57 F.6460'/ Gmnt 1\ioreep 410 410 58 F.63901) P.433l Kara Kam 'fottington 165 !}\} F.33240 :ws;I38 • Jioole:tr 3 HiS GO 11'.ii3908 P.43:l4 Moira Tallygaroopua 35 ()l F.63908 1'.4328 , Kialla 100 62 F.63908 P.4326 , Kaarimba 630 63 F.63908 P.4325 Shepparton 40 " 805 64- F.638HO 1'.4336 Norman by Gorae 1,190 fiG F.56693 :16491187 Talbot Ha.reonrt 66 F.63937 W.277\l5 67' 68, 69, 70 F.62262 W.31959 Craigie" 71 F.60870 3406;47 72 F.62492 460/47 Strangways, 7~i 1<'.61729 3075;54 Sandon 360 74 F.48108 C.3z.i53 Tambo Nowa Nowa South 3 ---- Total acres 10,134 ----- ~-···--- SCHEDl_;LE 3. --~-·------ Diagram. eorres:pondell{'t} :Ynmher, Cuunty. .4-pproxhnnte Area. .Acr<"'s . 76 F.55500 . . Evelyn :n,76o 14 ScHEDULE 4-continued. Diagram. Correspondence Numbers. (',ounty. Patll!h. ApproxitaMe Arellll. '" !<~ ):iR !t; .,~ "'"•' AcrM. Aor Total Area 19,825 SCHEDULE 5. DIAgram. Correspondence Numbers. County. Pariah. Approximate Areas. Acres. Acres. 159 F.70628 P.2293 . . Benambra .. Tatonga . . .. 576 ~ 576 160 F.61735 P.3283 .. Bendigo . . Huntly .. . . 4 161 F.70680 P.6018 .. .. Sandhurst . . . . 12 " ~- 16 162, 163 F.70531 P.1672 .. Bogong .. Woorragee . . . . 3,050 164, 165 F.70546 P.1670 .. , .. Barambogie . . .. 475 166 F.70529 P.1684 .. . . El Dorado .. .. 820 " -- 4,345 167 F.70761 P.248 .. Dela.tite . . W ondoomarook . . 360 -- 360 168 F.62318 P.6589 .. Gladstone . . Moliagul .. . . 1 169 F.70393 P.346 . . , . . Dunolly .. .. 20 170 F.70766 P.3183 .. ,, . . Borung .. . . 686 171 F.70766 P.3183 .. , . . Wedderburne . . .. 16 - 723 172 F.67530 P.5733 .. Grenville . . Carngham .. . . 14 -- 14 173 F. P.346 .. Talbot .. Bet Bet .. .. 25 -- 25 Total Area .. .. 6,059 15 SCHEDULE 6. Dmgraro. Correspondence Nos. County. Parisll. Approxlm"te Are&~~. ------···------~---~----- Acres. Acres. 174 F.70545 P.1677 . . Benambra .. Tintaldra . . . . 300 175 F.70548 P.1678 .. .. Walwa . . . . 35 " ~~ 335 176 F.70643 P.2335 . . Bendigo .. Miti!tmo . . . . 88 177 F.70661 P.2356 . . . . Wanurp .. . . 80 " --- 168 F.77154 P.1236 Bullarto 26 178 ...... { };,,68715 P.4738 .. }Bourke ' I~ 26 179 F.77277 P.102 . . Buln Buln .. Jindivick .. . . 400 180 F.77299 4037/145 .. , .. Mirboo .. . . 1 1- 401 181 F.77204 P.5887 .. Dalhousie .. Redesdale .. . . 23 182-4 F.70408 P.519 .. . . Warrowitue .. . . 313 " 1- 336 185-7 F.70523 P.1747 .. Gladstono . . Tarnagulla .. . . 932 1- 932 188 F.70691 P.2617 . . Grant . . Moreep .. .. 1,350 189 F.77228 P.5831 . . . . Korweinguboora .. 5 190 F.68104 P.3512 .. " .. Borhoneyghurk .. 94 " 1- 1,449 191 F.70460 P.1229 .. Grenville . . Enfield .. .. 30 1-- 30 192 F.77109 P.5138 . . Kara Kara . . Carapooee West .. 20 193 li'.70283 P.6689 . . .. St. Arnaud . . . . 60 194 F.70323 P.87 .. " . . Dalyenong . . .. 30 195 F.70393 P.378 . . " . . Morrl Morrl .. .. 5 196 F.68397 P.1597 . . ," . . Carapooeo West .. 6 -- 121 197 F.77067 P.3804 . . Norman by . . Glenelg . . .. 160 -- 160 198 1<'.77040 P.4566 .. Ripon .. Langi Logan . . .. 234 199 F.70610 P.2200 .. .. Langi Kal Ka.l .. 694 " --- 928 200 F.70407 P.527 . . Rodney . . Crosbie .. . . 120 201 F.70603 P.6700 . . . . Toolamba . . .. 25 202 F.70393 P.l448 . . " . . '\Vhroo . . .. 20 " --- 165 203 F.77l46 P.4869 . . Tambo . . Manoroo . . .. 2,400 203 F.77l46 P.4869 . . . . Ninnie . . .. 8,600 203 F.77146 P.4869 . . ," . . Tambo . . .. 2,200 203 F.77l46 P.4869 . . . . Bumberrah . . .. 500 203 F.77l46 P.4869 .. " . . Colquhoun North .. 3,800 " 203 F.77l46 P.4869 . . . , . . Nowa Nowa South .. 4,156 203 F.77l46 P.4869 . . , . . Tildesley West .. 1,780 -- 28,436 Total Area .. . . 28,487 ·--- lf) SCHEDULE 7. Dagram. Corres1Jondence ::S: o>?~. County. Approximate Area Parish. in Acres. ------~------~-~····~--··- ~--~---·-----·-- 204: F.77040 P.220o Hogong Eldorado 1,150 205 F.G19Gl P.lG7~~ Gundowrb'g 2,150 20G, 207, 208 (808) P.1891 " Stanlcy 930 209 :8'.72334 32/98 ,," '\rollonaby 210 4,440 210, 212 :F.77039 P.45G7 Ho rung Ararat 38 214 F.77329 P.290 Jung Jung 250 215 F.77333 P.289 Longerenong 30 216 F.77330 P.293 Wail .. 32 " 350 217 F.77391 P.945 Bourko Coimadai 30 30 218 :B'.7040G P.594·-5 : Dalhousic Hcathootn 375 219 1!'.76960 1'.419:) Delatitc Lima .. 145 220 F.77421 P.ll55 Dundas Karahcal 142 222 F.77425 P.l530 Evcly11 Warrandytt: 95 95 22:~ 1!'.77412 P.1W) Follett Drajurk 176 22,1 F.77412 P.ll46 Nangecla 535 225 F.77412 P.ll46 'I'ullich 215 926 226 F.77227 P.Gl50 Gladstone Boort .. 349 227 F.70523 (F.6797G) " Tarnagulla 1! 350! 228 F.77391 P.945 Grant &rembok<• 3 229 F.68104 1~.3512 Lal Lal 35 38 230 11'.77318 P.385 Knr;t K.am •• Jeffcott 1 3_! 1 231 F.70282 P.G8o9 •• Moolerr 81 232, 23:i, 231 F.769G7 P.4208 .. : 'l'ehirree 155 235 F.77022 P.4337 Glenpatriek 20 23G : F.77022 P.4337 Wan:ak 10 i 269! 221 F.770M (C.fl2U21) 1\:lornilJgt Total Area 8,800 ····---- 17 SCHEDULE 8. Avproxi1uate .AJ'ca Corre•pondenee N011. Parish. F. L. J?. County. in Acres. 245 796 P.1839 Granton 215 Anglesey 4,000 246 549 183(-i . . Mohica.n Nl 590 247 542 1850 Narbethong 347 " 340 -- 4,930 248, 249 70627 2290 Talgarno . J20 Benamhra -!7 250-252 70527 1675 Thologoloug 439 22G 253 70526 1680 Burrowyn 99.AB 880 1,153 254 70317 1928 . . Strathfieldsaye 4 U Bendigo 20 255 63889 Y.ll849 Shelbourne • 406 18 38 256 68199 P.3704 Boorhaman 00 Bogong 17 257 75042 1681 Byawatha 101 90 258 70586 1966 .. Ca.rlyle 112 ll2 259 74372 5276 MurmungeP 337B 17 260 77157 5299 337B 10 261 77242 5807 337A ()(} " 30(i 262 1424 3249 Boroka 67 Borung 540 540 263 1425 3247 Bulla.rto 81 Bourkc 12 265 1086 2912 Trentham 456 21 " 33 264 546 0145;54 Ca.rra.jung ws Buln Buln 16 16 265 1086 P.2912 'l'rentha.m 456 Da.lhousie 109 266 70393 531 La.ngworner 273AB 450 267 70405 523 PuckapWlya.l 390 1,200 268 1084 2914 Woodend 508 " 52 " 1,811 269 77107 5110 Loyola 285 Delatite 1,230 1,230 270 543 1846 Beenak 38a Evelyn 200 271 548 1847 Warburton 474A , 290 272 197 (10461) Yuonga 534 , 75 565 273 410 P.1675 BIDlga.l 87 Grant 152 274 1806 J.ll979 Korwcinguboora. 265 , 50 274 1617 J.8717 265 36G 275 806 P.2487 Murgheboluc" 336 , 20 -~·-- 588 276 70705 0183/103 Sca.rsdale 404A Grenville 15 ~ 15 277-279 801 2340 Carapooee West llO Kara Kara 332 279A 77161 Coonooer West .. 141 23 280 1605 3602 Boola. Boloke 56B " 2 281 76961 4202 Glenlogie 203a " 6 282 1417 2656 Redbank 394 , 55 321 1417 2656 W arrenma.ng 481 6 283-285 76968 4287 Yehrip 529 256 " 680 286 73084 0.53224 Terrick Terrick 438 Gunbow<>r 3 West 287,310A 404 P.262 Burra.mine 96 Moira 50 288 63960 5546 Kia.lla. 252 , 90 289, 290 408 6697 Kanya.pella. K2 48 291 540 6695 Kotupna. 266B , 175 292 392 259 Moira. 309 , 49 293 68186 3572 Peechelba. 384 , 83 1-·~- 495 294 72830 2988 A ire Polwarth 350 295 1089 2933 Ola.ngola.h 373 , 220 296 1063 2676 373 47 " " 617 297 401 6705 Coomboona. Rodney 78 298, 299 545 6702 Echuca. North 10 289 408 6697 Ka.nya.pella. , 39 127 llJ921. B 18 ScHEDLUB 8-continued. --- Approximate area in Diagram. Correspondence .'i w. Parish. F.L.l'. County. acres. -·-~·--····- ---~---···-~ -·-~----~--~------~ ·----~ 300 77039 4567 . . Ararat . . Al Ripon . . .. 25 --~ 25 'ml, 308R 76964 4205 . . Amherst . . 4, 90 Talbot . . .. 225 304 74844 5809 Bung Bong 90 .. 20 . . . . " .. 305, :322 77077 4916 . . Campbelltown . . 105 .. .. 15 :306 1087 2916 . . Coli ban . . 1:32 ," .. .. 20 307 1601 3432 . . Holcombe .. 225 . . .. 30 308 1131 6125 . . Maryborough . . 298A " .. .. 16 309, 312 1607 3434 . . Franklin . . Fl " .. .. 133 313 141() 3158 . . Wombat . . 502F " .. .. 5 314, 315, 1603 3538 . . .. 502ABC " .. .. 75 317-320 " " 316 70904 W.29676 . . .. 502B . . .. 53 " " ,__ 592 --.. ~- Total . . .. 13,764 SUMMARY OF SCHEDULES. Schedule 1 7,379 acres. 2 10,134 " " 3 " 37,760 . " 4 19,825 " ", 5 6,059 " 6 28,487 " " 7 8,800 " " 8 " 13,764 " Total 132,208 acres. The area contained in Schedule 3, viz., 37,760 acres, was excised for water supply purposes, and vested in the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works. 19 PART II. REPORT Olr CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS. OUTPUT FROM HARDWOOD FORESTS. The output of sawn hardwood from the State forests during the year ending 30th June last was 60,000,000 feet, an increase of 7,000,000 on last year's yield. Of this quantity, the \Varburton, Toolangi, and Yea Division yielded 31,358,000 feet, chiefly mountain ash; the Otway and Heytesbury mills cut 10,010,000 feet ; and the redgum mills of the Murray River reserves cut 4,100,000 feet. Of broad paling (mountain ash), 1,668,000 were cut, an increase of over half-a-million on last year's output. The number of railway sleepers hewn in the forest reserves (245,000) increased considerably, chiefly owing to the large mileage of new railways now under construction; while piles, beams, girders, and other hewn timber amounted to 16,000,000 feet. Owing to a lull in alluvial mining, the consumption of round timber and laths for drives was very small; but there has been an active demand from Bendigo for engine fuel; while the total output of fuel of all kinds shows a substantial increase, amounting to 352,000 tons. The largest consumption is in the Beechworth district for the Ovens and Bucldand River dredges, 91,750 tons being cut there. The second district in order of tonnage is Bendigo, which took 56,940 tons from the local reserves and 32,660 tons from Tarnagulla, or 89,600 tons in all. NURSERIES AND PI,ANTATIONS. At the three nurseries, established at Macedon, Creswick, and Broadford, upwards of two and a quarter million plants, chiefly conifers and eucalypts, were raised during the year. Owing to the prolonged period of dry weather in autumn and early winter, all new work in the plantations was unduly delayed, and the setting-out of the young trees did not begin till the end of June. The unfavorable season has greatly reduced the new acreage of planted areas, but the work has been in active progress since 1st July, and will not be completed till the first week in October. Over 1,000 acres nave been planted at Frankston, French Island, Wilson's Promontory, Mt. Macedon, and Dimboola. The remainder of the large stock of trees have had to be lifted in the nurseries and set out again as transplants for next winter. Full information was given in my report of last year respecting the species of pine, fir, and hardwood trees which are raised at the nurseries for the State plantations. FOREST IMPROVEMENT. Improvement work has been carried on during the year over about 10,000 acres of young natural forest, the areas treated consisting of ironbark and grey box in the Heathcote, Bendigo, Chiltern, Tarnagulla, and St. Arnaud districts; redgum on Woohlpooer Estate near Cavendish; and messmate in Mt. Disappointment reserves, near ·wandong. Breaks and cross-lines have also been made in a number of reserves to aid in the work of fire protection in summer. A rise in wages in t,he timber districts has increased th& cost of the work to some extent, but the net, return from sales of thinnings and waste material has been very fair, even where there has not been an actual profit.. The cost of treating ironbark forest. has ranged from 6s. an acre at Tarnagulla to 12s. 5d. an acre at Chiltern; while in Bendigo district, owing to the vicinity of the mines, three areas have yielded a net profit per acre of 36s. Id., 25s., and l8s. 7d. respectively after payment of all expenses. A large area of ironbark, badly infested with the parasite known as mistletoe, has been improved in the Hea thcote district at a cost of 4s. 4d. an acre. From this class of work there is no direct return, but. the spread of the parasitic gro\\rth is stopped in valuable areas of surrounding foTest. Owing to the lack of settlement in the vicinity, there has been no demand for the redgum thinnings cut out on Woohlpooer Estate, and this makesthecostofimprovement considerably higher where axe work only is concerned. To reduce this as far as possible, the inferior stunted and suppressed sapling growth, which has to be destroyed to give light and root space to the straight and vigorous young trees, is killed with arsenate of soda and left standing. 20 Large areas of overcrowded young redgum in the Mnrray River reserves will, during the next three years, have to be dealt with in a similar way, and on the lower Goulburn, northward of Mooroopna, where straight channels are being made by engineers of the Water Supply Department to reduce the risk of heavy floods in the neighbouring wheat-belt, the young forest along these Eew \Yater-courses has to be thinned and all dead timber and debris removed. In the Warburton, Otway, and Yea districts, large tracts of young seedling forest, the growth of the past twelve years, have now developed to pole and spar size on closed sawmill areas. The treatment of such belts cannot be delayed without injuriously affecting the next crop of timber. As a rule, the natural reproduction from seed in our eucalyptus forests is very good, and this fact in many districts, simplifies the task of maintaining reserves properly and keeping up regular supplies of timber for future use. The growth of the second and third crops of mountain ash, one of our most useful timbers, is remarkable under favorable eonditions. There are seveml belts of this species in the Upper Yarra and Acheron districts, where the young trees, although 12 to 15 years old only, are frcm 9 to 12 inches in diameter, and nearly 50 feet in height. The improvement at the right period of growth of our young natural forests depends entirely on the funds voted by Parliament for the purpose. When the annual grant is liberal, much good work can be done, not only in quickening the growth of the young crops of timber, but in safe-guarding them from destruction or damage b!' fire. AI,IENATION OF FOREST LANDS. Since 1908, over 150,000 acres have been removed from the forest reserves. Much of this land, though bearing useful timber, is of poor quality and fit only for indifferent grazing. Land of this class, alienated in past years, has been offered back to the J'orest Department in several districts at a price slightly over £1 an acre. Probably the process will be repeated with some of the areas now cut out of the reserves. Much valuable timber is about to be lost bv the State in the Beechworth and Chiltern districts, in Central Otway, and in East Gippsland, along the route of the Orbost railway, but no single excision approaches in extent or value of timber the tract--nearly 25,000 acres of poor land, bearing iron-bark and box, in the Heathcote-Rushworth district, which was thrown open by a former administration some six years ago. On the 31st December next, the period of five years fixed by Parliament i'or the removal of lands for settlement from the forest reserves will come to an end, and as the boundaries will then be fairly secure from further encroachment, the \vork of the forest staff can be coneentrated on the improvement and better working of the principal reserves. As regards the comparative value of grazing and timber crops on mountain ash or blackbutt land, of which timber upwards of 100,000 acres have been destroyed in the Otway district alone, the following figures are signifieant :- 1. In Otway the blackwood alone, growing with a crop of mountain ash on a block of 320 acres, was sold last year for £300. 2. In the same district the cutting rights over portions of lOO to 150 acres on the central tableland have been sold for sums varying from £1 to £2 an acre, the right to the freehold being aequired from the Crown for lOs. an acre. 3. After some 30 years of settlement, the freight on tlhe narrow-gauge line from Beech Forest to Colac, which runs through miles of dead ash forest, is composed almost wholly of timber from selections and Crown blocks, the other freight offered being of little value. 4, In \Varburton, a belt of ash, not of exceptional value compared with first class belts in Otway, which covered 12 acres of ground, gave employment to 24 mill employes for nearly 9 months; yielded roughly 1,250,000 feet of timber, gave 3,400 tons of freight to the railway, and gave a gross return, on being sold, of nearly £5,000, or £400 to the acre. 5. In the same district there are many areas where the gross return for timber reaehes about half of this amount, or from £170 to £200 an aere. 6. In both Otway and Neerim districts, frequently 3,000 to 4,000 broad palings, valued at £30 to £40, are obtained by splitters from one prime tree, while larger troos yield from 6,000 to 7,000. 21 7. In Neerim district, near the head of the J.. atrobe River, a blackbutt or ash was felled this year which yielded over 10,000 6-foot palings. The value of these when delivered at Yarra Junction Railway Station would be £115. In view of the specious plea so often put forward that ash reserves should be abolished in order to provide additional areas for grazing, it may well be asked which industry, in broken mountainous country of the kind, gives more steady and remunera tive employment, and which industry employs more men at good wages over a long period of time, apart from the net profit derived from grazing by the owner or lessee on the one hand, and by the mill-owner or timber-cutter on the other from the forest. TDfBER SEASONING. During the year the seasoning of Victorian hardwood, chiefly white ash, has been steadily carried on at the kiln erected at Newport. Roughly 740,000 lineal feet have been successfully treated. The principal material seasoned and dressed has been T. and G. flooring, 4f' x ~~~. :Many inquiries have been received lately for this timber, but at present we are able to supply orders for public buildings only. As a considerable reserve stock has to be maintained to meet sudden demands, it has been found necessary to erect two new kilns, with a capacity of 60,000 super feet for each drying-term of sixteen to eighteen days. The new buildings, with fittings complete, will be ready for work early in December, and we shall then be able to utilize the present kiln, which holds 22,000 feet only, for the treatment of blackwood, woolly-butt, and ash boards, for the cabinet-making trade. The work of seasoning and dressing the timber for market has been carried out with great care by -:\h. J. House, the Superintendent, and as the provision of the larger kilns, with increased storage, will be subject to a very moderate increase in working expenses, _we are satisfied that this undertaking can be carried on at a fair profit. FOREST FIRES. In addition to a number of grazier;;;' fires, lit in unreserved cattle areas of the North-ea;;;tern distrid and Gippsland, fifty-five forest fires werP reported by the staff during the hot season. Many of these were quicldy put out after burning over a few acres, but in the St. Arnaud, Beechworth, Avoca, and Grampians districts, great loss of timber occurred. In the St. Arnaud district, over 1,000 acres of young grey box and iron-bark were badly damaged; in the Grampians, some 7,000 acres of open young redgnm and wattle forest were ;;;wept, part of the timber being killed and the rest badly injured; near Beechworth, over 4,000 aerefl of inferior stringy-bark timber were damaged; and at Bendigo, 1,300 acres of grey-box country were burnt. Roughly, nearly 30,000 acres in all were fire-swept, and but for the activity of the protective staff and the aid of timber-cutters and others in the settled districts, the loss and damage to the State property would have been much greater. Most of these fires were due to criminal carelessness, but inquiry revealed that several were due to the deliberate act of incen diaries. In no case, however, could sufficient evidence be obtained to enable us to prosecute with the hope of obtaining a conviction. Our present law is quite inadequate to cope with the serious offence of setting fire to the forest reserves and Crown lands, and in this respect we are far behind American legislation. While the employment during the summer months of a sufficient staff of vigilant fire-guards will probably reduce the number of fires in the vicinity of settlement, this precautionary measure should, I consider, be accompanied by early legislation giving the Department power to refer all serious cases of damage and loss in the public estate from this cause to a special ·warden, with the full powers of a Coroner to investigate the matter, and making the punishment of an offender in grave cases, on conviction, imprisonment with hard labour, without the option of a fine. The risk of being punished by fine only will never deter the worst class of offenders from fire-raising. CRESvVICK FOREST SCHOOL. In June last, the term fixed for class and practical instruction of the six students who were admitted at Creswick three years ago, expired. Lectures in the several subjects fixed for the eourse were delivered regularly each week at Creswick, and on Saturdays at the School of 1\-Iines, Ballarat. Practical instruction in the field was also given in such subjects as surveying, botany, and geology. The students, after coming up at the end of October for a final examination, will be allotted more responsible work in State plantations and nurseries as a first step to a course of practical work in the supervision of the forest reserves. 22 The admission of the next body of students, which is delayed till provision for dormitories and board at the school can be arranged, will be subject to their passing a competitive examination, and also a strict physical examination. The age for entry will probably be 14 to 15 years. Owing to our limited requirements, from six to eight pupils only can be admitted at intervals of two years, but there is a prospect of several pupils being enrolled from other States. The present students, on the whole, have done excellent work dur;ng their course of training, and during two seasons they have been entrusted with the charge of small gangs of men engaged in tree-planting in various parts of the State. Their steadiness, industry, and strict attention to duty deserve recognition, and, subject to their passing the requisite examination, they merit regular employment in the forest service. INTER-STATE CONFERENCE. In November of last year an Inter-State Conference on Australian forestry was held in Sydney, all the States being represented except Western Australia. In addition to useful discussions on matters of forest work and management in detail, resolutio;ns were passed calling the attention of the State Governments to the following important subjects :- 1. The necessity of laws in all States of the Commonwealth for the conservation, maintenance, and planting of forests, together with the creation of permanent and inalienable reserves, controlled by a permanent authority with adequate powers. 2. The foundation of a well~equipped forest school in the Commonwealth for the thorough training of students in forestry. 3. The necessity of establishing plantations of trees of commercial value on large areas of waste land in the several States. 4. The creation of an Australian association for the advancement of fOTestry, with the object of inducing the general public to take a deeper interest in forests and tree-planting. 5. The necessity of concerted action in the establishment of coniferous plantations and in the maintenance of natural coniferous forests, in view of the approaching shortage in the world's supplies of pine and fir. 6. The inadequacy in all the States of legislation for the protection of forests from the ravages of fire. 7. The preservation under forest law and strict control o~ forests on mountain watersheds, in view of their important influence on stream-flow and water supply. The second Conference will be held at Melbourne and Creswick in November of the present year. It is probable that all the States, as well as the Dominion of New Zealand, will be represented, and the draft business-paper discloses that many important problems in the management of forests and plantations will be brought forward by the delegates for discussion. Endeavour will also be made to devise a scheme for submission to the State Governments to insure some continuity of policy in the permanent reservation and efficient maintenance of all extensive tracts of valuable forest. REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE. The following table shows the revenue andlgeneral expenditure smce July, 1904:- Revenue. Expenditure. £ £ 1904-5 17,320 17,733 1905-6 21,508 21,974 1906-7 24,971 21,167 1907-8 27,372 19,550 1908-9 40,647 27,065 1909-10 41,929 38,101 1910-11 41,367 40,517 1911-12 49,287 54,096 The revenue for the year ended 30th June last (1911-12) exceeded our estimate by £5,187, and was £7,920 higher than the amount received in 1910-11. Of the several heads of revenue, miH-rents, and royalties on sawn timber for building and construction 1311 23 purposes take first place, with £15,072; hewn timber, piles, &c., next, with £10,278; grazing rents third, with £9,075; fuel and charcoal fourth, with £8,505; fencing timber fifth, with £2,443; and...,mining timber sixth, with £2,086; while the balance of £1,830 includes several items, such as wattle-bark, eucalyptus oil, kino, &c. (£1,199), with sales of confiscated timber, fees, and residence licences. Management and supervision of the forests absorbed £18,091, or 36.7 per cent. of the revenue; the upkeep of the State nurseries, the raising of trees for plantations, and gifts of tree plants to settlers and public institutions, cost £2,949, or 6.1 per cent. ; while the expenditure on the forest school at Creswick was £482. These three heads of expenditure amount to £21,522, or £27, 765less than the gross revenue. The remainder of the year's ordinary expenditure has been wholly devoted to new improvement work in the_..young natural forests, and the making of new plantations. The amount spent on this essential work was £23,206, or 47 per cent. of the revenue, thus leaving a credit to revenue after defraying all ordinary expenditure of £4,727. In addition to the above, Parliament approved of a special grant of £9,369 for the purchase in the Western district of a valuable estate of 4,998 acres, bearing young redgum timber in quantity, and a limited supply of mature timber of the same kind estimated at over 2,000,000 super feet. The grazing revenue derived from this land gives a return of 5'3 per cent. on the capital expended in its purchase. H. MACKAY, Conservator of Forests. Melbourne, 30th September, 1912 . • fly Authority : ALBUT J. Muu.rn:, Acting Government Printer, MelDo1ame. TIMBER SEASONING DY THE STATE FOR.ESTS DE PARTJVIENT. A.- GFNF.RAT.. VI F \\' OF THE WORKS AT NF.\Vl'ORT. ll . SF :\ SOi\ l NC KTL N (TWO AD DITIONAL, AND LAYER KIL NS, ARF: NO\\' I N CO URSE OF CONS l'l~UC TI ON) . ------" --·------~ C.-BLACKWOOD L OGYARD. D.-l'L.A:- 1::. -MAl\AGER'S RESIDEN~F.. VTE"rs SHO\'VING THE \VORKING OF AN UP-'1_10-DA'l'E FOREST SA 'V-MILL. No. ].1.-HAt: u'ic l.O(;S TO THE MILL. No. 2. - LOADING LOGS \YITH TfH: AID OF DCLLOCKS. No. 3. -l~AKE OF LOGS. No. 4.-l'ART OF GOOD\YOOD SAW-MILLS. No . c; .- SAWN-TIMBER TRAIN. No. 6-- "liNLOADING AND LOADING TIMDJ':R. N o. 7.- 0J:"FlLE AND MA NAC J~H'S B.ESIDENCE.