SECOND PEOGEESS EEPOET, 
To His Excellency the Right Honorable John Henry Thomas Viscount 
Canxerrury, K.C.B ., Governor and Commander-in- Chief in and 
over the Colony of Victoria^ Syc., Sfc., ^-c. 
May it please Your Excellency — 
1. We, the undersigned Commissioners— appointed by letters patent of the 
18th July 1871, to inquire how far it may he practicable to introduce into this 
country branches of industry known to be common and profital)le amono- the farmiu" 
population of Continental Europe ; to specify which of such industries are most 
suitable to our soil, pinnate, and circumstances; to report on the best means for their 
introduction into Victoria, and how far the labor of persons at the disposal of the 
State may he advantageously used for that purpose ; and to further consider and 
lepoit on the best means ol promoting' the culture, extension, and preservation of 
State torests in V letoria, and the introduction of such foreign trees as may he suitable 
for the climate and useful for industrial purposes — have now the honor to submit tliis 
our Second Progress Report. 
Eirst Report we touched liriefly on some of the rural industries 
oi Europe believed to he suitable for this country, more especially the production of 
oli\e oil, sillv, dried fruits, flax, hemp and other fibres, beet-root sugar, as ■well as 
others of less importance from a commercial point of vicAr, and much additional 
intormation on such subjects has been since obtained. The advantao-es likelv to 
proper employment of children, and other persons at the disposal 
ot the State, in the practical introduction of such industries, has also been inquired 
into, with results to be more fully detailed hereafter. Nor has the present state of 
the forests in \ ictoria licen overlooked. Some time has been devoted to aseertainino' 
the wants of different parts of the country in regard to timber, more particularlv those 
including the principal goldfields, and the supply within a convenient distance is'failino- 
so rapidly, that the question as to how this can be maintained is becoming daily more 
momentous. The formation of forest nurseries and test plantations was alluded to in 
our former Report, and further suggestions will he made on this subject. This serious 
diminution of the supply of timber is directing public attention more and more to 
the necessity for stringent regulations in the management of the State forests, and 
lor better means of enforcing these than exist at present. Many valuable suggestions 
for the furtherance of these objects have been gladly received and fullv discussed, 
and the Commissioners, having considered the subject in many of its hearings, hope 
to receive still further information to assist them in preparing a scheme of general 
SeXtfirS^Le^^p^^^^ ^ country and at the Sejme time acceptable to 
“meetings held by the Commission has amounted to forty- 
1 ne, in addition to those held by the several committees appointed from time to 
and the Inisiness has been of a varied character. Several 
witnesses have attended to give evidence on the facilities for introducing new industries 
Lnd suitaluhty of the soil and climate of this country for the olive, the mullicrrv’ 
on the improvement of the forests, ami 
desiV bfo tn P^'oviding against the now reckless waste of timber. It will he 
lablc to examine many more witnesses before the conclusion of our labors and 
the mam evidence of all will be attached to our final Report. ’ 
"" r' ^^eport mention was made of tlie olive trees on the 
aecfaiecl to be in perfect health, although exposed to the full foiW nf 
f tho,l,ay. “This i^ „„t rfalahlel'l?, cln if 
ind, and if, with such an aspect, and absolutely no shelter 
First Rrogress 
Report. 
Meetings. 
Olive trees on 
the Model Farm. 
