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in the Clarence River district and in the eucalyptus forests on the Murray, led 
the Government, in 1871, to establish throughout the country a certain number 
of Forest Reserves in which permission to cut timber should be granted upon pay- 
ment of a fixed fee. It soon became apparent that stringent regulations alone 
could put a stop to the reckless operations of the licensed timber-getters ; but it 
was not until September, 1878, that such regulations were issued. These 
appeared not a day too soon, as the best species of cedar, which abounded in the 
Clarence River districts, had been exploited to such a wasteful extent that the 
supply of this magnificent timber threatened to give out. Cutting down indis- 
criminately trees of all sizes, and clearing the lower lands of their best timber, 
the cedar-cutters, after disposing of all that could be cheaply transported, or 
easily floated down the rivers in time of flood, left a considerable surplus of felled 
timber to lie and rot on the ground. Then they travelled farther north, to carry 
on the same depredations along the rivers of the neighbouring colony of Queens- 
land. The same system had been pursued in the gum forests of the Murray. 
Considerable quantities of excellent timber were destroyed in the forest reserves 
of that part of the colony, to the detriment of the district, which was deprived of 
its natural wealth, and to the injury of the colony at large, which suffered the 
loss of much of its best timber without receiving an equivalent in revenue.” 
The Acting Agent-General also states that the question of 
introducing a measure for the protection of the fauna (including 
kangaroos, emus and opossums) is under consideration. 
In Queensland, Native Birds Protection Acts were passed in 
1877 and 1884. 
The Acting Agent-General for Victoria replies that there 
has been no legislation dealing with the flora of that colony. 
By the Game Acts of 1890 and 1896, the platypus, lyre birds, 
bee-eaters and other birds are protected all the year round, and 
many other scheduled species from August 1 to December 20, 
the Governor having power to modify the schedule. Swivel or 
punt guns are prohibited, and the game unlawfully killed is 
forfeit. Half the penalty goes to the prosecutor ; but the 
Aborigines are exempted from the Acts. 
The Agent-General for Western Australia replies that some 
of the indigenous birds of the North-west District are protected 
by heavy penalties during their breeding season, and that the 
Governor is empowered to declare reserves within which specified 
plants or animals may be protected. 
The Agent-General for South Australia replies that there 
are 'in that colony very stringent laws for the preservation of the 
indigenous fauna. 
The Agent-General for Tasmania replies that laws have been 
in existence for many years in that colony protecting the 
indigenous fauna. These laws not merely regulate the close 
seasons for native game such as kangaroo, wild ducks, quail, 
bronzed winged pigeon, &c., but they also absolutely prohibit 
the killing or destroying the eggs of numerous varieties of 
songsters and other birds, including kingfishers, skylarks, swal- 
lows, moreporks, owls, cuckoos, &c., sixty to seventy species 
in all. There does not appear to be any legislation protective 
of the flora, which the Agent-General regrets, though pointing 
out the difficulty of enforcing such laws in a new country. He 
adds that the trend of public opinion is decidedly in favour of 
protective legislation. 
