291 



in this State and dedicated to the public as national reserves. 

 These reserves are generally vested in trustees, usually consist- 

 ing of prominent local men, who, with the aid of private sub- 

 scriptions and subsidies received from the Government, carry 

 out all necessary work, such as roads, tracks, and shelter sheds 

 for the benefit of the visiting public. 



The two more important reserves in the vicinity of Sydney 

 are National Park (33,719 acres) and Kuring-gai Chase (35,300 

 acres). Here the trustees, in addition to providing facilities 

 for visitors, have taken steps to preserve the natural flora and 

 fauna committed to their care, making it a penal offence to 

 discharge firearms or to interfere in any way with the birds 

 and animals in the parks. No one is allowed without the 

 permission of the trustees, to remove, cut, or deface trees, shrubs, 

 plants, rocks, fences, or gates, to fish in prohibited waters, ad- 

 vertise or depasture stock. Employes are sworn in as special 

 constables to enforce these laws, and it is found that this pol- 

 icy of preservation has been successful in making the parks the 

 haunts of great varieties of beautiful birds and other fauna. 



The same principle is followed on a smaller scale at reserves 

 of well-known beauty spots, and these trusts have been able to 

 effect marked improvements with the comparatively small funds 

 at their disposal. From time to time a specially constituted 

 Board pays visits of inspection to these reserves, the Govern- 

 ment being largely guided bv the Board in making grants to the 

 various trusts according to their special requirements. 



These trusts make their own rules and regulations, particu- 

 larly emphasizing the fact that the natural flora must not be in- 

 terfered with, and where funds allow it employes acting as 

 special constables enforce this, or, in other instances, the trus- 

 tees acting in an honorary capacity endeavour to preserve 

 the natural beauties. Considerable areas of land have been pro- 

 claimed reserves in the vicinity of the principal limestone caves 

 — Jenolan, Yarrango billy , and Wombeyan, as well as at the 

 smaller caves at Bungonia, Abercrombie, and Wellington. 

 These caves are all under the control of the Intelligence Depart- 

 ment, and are in charge of permanent employes — caretaker and 

 guides — who are all special constables. Stringent regulations 

 are in force for the preservation of the natural formation, as 

 well as of the flora and fauna, and any persons found guilty of 

 vandalism are prosecuted. Where other limestone caves are 

 known to exist reserves have in many instances been proclaimed, 

 and in order to prevent vandalism the openings of the caves 

 have been blocked until such time as the demands of the tourist 

 warrant their being improved and thrown open. Occasionally 

 caves are discovered on alienated land ; but it is only in very ex- 

 ceptional cases, where the caves are particularlv attractive, that 

 any resumptions are made, the entrances being sealed up to pre- 

 vent the destruction of the formations by ruthless vandals. 



It has been the aim of the Government to devote the most 

 att-ention to the three principal series (Jenolan, Yarrangobilly, 

 and Wombeyan), and large sums of money have been spent on 

 the development and improvement of these resorts, especially 

 the first-mentioned. These caves are considered as national 

 assets, and will in time be a source of a large direct revenue, 

 as well as an indirect return through the railways, etc. 

 j2 



