THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 17 



The Minister, however, gave no definite reply, and nothing further 

 was done in the matter. 



Recently, however, several large tracts of land have been 

 recommended for reservation as State forests ; and it was 

 determined by the Club to make another effort for the reservation 

 of Wilson's Promontory. Accordingly, on Wednesday, 7th May, 

 a deputation, consisting of Mr. C. A. Topp, M.A., F.L.S., Mr. 

 J. B. Gregory, LL.M., Mr. A. H. S. Lucas, M.A., and Mr. F. G. A. 

 Barnard, introduced by Mr. A. C. Groom, M.L.A., and Dr. L. L. 

 Smith, M.L.A., waited upon the Hon. J. L. Dow, Minister of 

 Lands, and asked that the greater portion of Wilson's Promontory, 

 from Corner Inlet southwards, containing some 50,000 acres, 

 might be permanently reserved from sale and vested in trustees 

 for a national park, for the conservation of the fauna and flora of 

 Victoria. The deputation also urged that the islands surrounding 

 the Promontory should be likewise vested in trustees, so that the 

 seagulls and other birds, as well as seals, which made those 

 islands their temporary homes, should be unmolested. It was 

 explained that the land at the Promontory was of very little 

 value for grazing or agricultural purposes, and that, owing to the 

 poor character of the soil, it was unsuited for the cultivation of 

 trees ; while the islands referred to were for the most part barren 

 rocks. Dr. Smith pointed out that the islands would, if reserved 

 in the manner sought, be of service to the Melbourne Aquarium, 

 as fish and seals could be obtained from there. The deputation 

 also asked to have vested in trustees Shallow Inlet, an arm of 

 Waratah Bay, near the neck of Wilson's Promontory. 



Mr. Dow said that the Government was thoroughly in accord 

 with the objects which the deputation had in view, and would be 

 glad to assist the Field Naturalists' Club in accomplishing what 

 it desired. A portion in the north of the Promontory, at Mount 

 Singapore, near Corner Inlet, would be cut off for marine 

 residence sites, and the remainder would be permanently reserved 

 for State forest purposes. The Government preferred to adopt 

 this course rather than vest such a large extent of country in 

 trustees, as it had been found that, after a time, few of the 

 trustees appointed to such positions by the Government properly 

 carried out the duties appertaining to their trust. What the 

 deputation desired could be as readily and effectually accom- 

 plished in the manner he suggested as by vesting the land in 

 trustees. Suitable regulations would be prepared by the Lands 

 Department and submitted to the Club for its approval ; and to 

 allay any fears which outsiders might entertain, he added that 

 the reservation of the land would not interfere in any way with 

 the fishing industry at Waterloo Bay, Refuge Cove, or Corner 

 Inlet. The deputation then withdrew, being very pleased at the 

 success of their mission. 



