10 



viewed in their relation to arts, or as mercantile export com- 

 modities. It is a matter far too large to dwell on it, even 

 cursorily, on this occasion. Were I to enumerate all the uses 

 already practically known of our native trees, I would have 

 to compile a goodly volume, even were I silent on the still far 

 ampler subject of the introduction of the thousands of differ- 

 ent foreign trees, which I should like to see here for the use of 

 future artisans and of those who are to benefit by their 

 services. A work bearing on the nature of the forest trees of 

 India, by Dr. Balfour, was kindly placed in my hands by 

 Col. Sankey, whose stay among us we at present (22nd June, 

 1871) enjoy for advice on our waterworks. Major Beddome, 

 of Madras, issues a kindred illustrated work. 



I may, however, be allowed to point to the enormous con- 

 sumption of indigenous wood in some localities, as this 

 expenditure is utterly out of all proportion to the existing 

 supply, or its present natural renovation. This question pre- 

 sents itself all the more gravely as no rich coal-seams are as 

 yet discovered, by which the fuel-supply could be augmented 

 from short distances, at a moderate price. We have also to 

 be cognisant, that we cannot think of coal-fields as inex- 

 haustible, even in the richest coal countries; and although it 

 is to be hoped, that the day is very distant, when the cheap 

 results of colliery work will be marred by the much-increasing 

 depth of the coal mines, or their partial exhaustion, yet we 

 cannot altogether discard the idea that, so far as coals are con- 

 cerned, we are working on a capital, however large it may be, 

 without ever adding to it. In Victoria, we can neither aug- 

 ment the supply of burning material by peat, such as is so 

 extensively utilised for fuel in the countries of the north, 

 except we bring a very similar and equally useful peat from 

 the distant and rugged heights of our Alpine mountains. 



Although science has promised us prophetically other sources 

 for applied heat and, I may add, motive power in gases 

 not yet within our technic reach or of universal application, 

 we have, nevertheless, to deal with the stern realities of the 

 day until new scientific achievements in this direction shall 

 have been accomplished. At best, and looking ever so hope- 

 fully forward to the successes of the future, we cannot substi- 

 tute in an endless array of purposes air or coal for the ever- 

 wanted living wood, even if all that concerns climate and 

 health could be left out of our contemplation. As an instance, 

 then, of our present consumption, or almost immediate require- 

 ments of wood, I would like to quote one or two examples. 



