1914.
VICTORIA.
-···---····--------
LAND
THE
ACTS.
··--···----
Ji'OR
THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE, 1914,
WITH APPENDICES.
PltESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF PAHLIAMENT BY HIS gXCELLENCY'S COMMAND.
til.! l!lutborilll:
ALI:IBUT J.
No. 38.:-[ls.]-l-!3o9.
HULLRT'l', GOVERNMENT PRINTER, MKLilOURNit.
APPHOXUIATK COST OF Rio;PORT.
£ .....
Preparation-Not ~vcn
Printing (550 ropies)
]() 0
r
0
To His E::rcellency the Honorable Sir Artltu1· Lyulph Stanley, K. C. M. G.,
Governor ot tht' State nf Victoria and its Dependencies, <-ye., o/c., o/c.
Department of Lands a.nd Survey,
Melbourne, 17th October, 1914.
YouR
ExcELLENCY,
I have the honom· to submit the annexed Report by the Secretary for
Lands of proceedings under the Land Acts during the financial year ended 30th
June, 1914.
The Report has reference to the undermentioned suhjects, which are dealt
with in the order indicated : I.-Settlement.
H.-Sales by auction.
IlL-Pastoral occupation.
IV.-Mallee.
V.-Miscellaneous.
Appendix A gives a detailed report by the Surveyor-General on the
Professional Division of the Department.
Appendices B, C, and D furnish information regarding various works under
the Control and Management of the Department of Lands and Survey.
I have the honour to be,
Your Excellency's most obedient Servant,
· H. S. W. LA WSON,
Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey,
and President of the Bosud of Land and \Vorks.
A !
4
1 a t/11~ Honorrible .flm·1y Suthedand Wightman Lawson, Commissioner qf C1·own
Lands and Surve,y.
Department of Lands and Survey,
Melbourne, 17th October, 1914.
I have the honour to submit the following Heport of proceedings under
the Land Acts during the financial year ended 30th June, 1914, with added Reports
on the work of Vermin Destruction of the Botanic Gardens, and of developing the
Buchan Caves : -
I.-SETTLEMENT.
The general methods of alienation of Crown lands in Victoria, from the first
sales to the 30th June, 1914, are shown in the following Table (A):A.
TABLE
JW SELECTION.
BY AUCTION.
Subur-
Couutry
Town
Lands.
Lands~
bnn
Lamts.
Totals
Selection unfl
by
Auction,
Lease~-
&c.
--- - Acres.
1,273
Acres.
No.
--
Acres.
...
...
...
410,600
...
...
456,705
1,363,243
...
59,992
186/l ...
6:!9,761
6,709 34,137
68(),607
5,900
...
1,499,910
·No.
"
1884-1890
..
1891-1901
453[
l20,17i 31,198
..
...
D uring year1899
...
...
...
j
I
!{,924
...
...
,
...
__
...
I
860
..
...
...
...
...
...
...
1911:l
1904
1"905
190fi
l90i
...
1908
...
...
...
...
1909
...
l\110
1.1.11 to .m.6.12"
1912-13
1913-14 ...
...
Tot~ls
...
...
...
......
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
4,9i7
4,080
3,297
4,936
3,164
3,267
2,060
2, 7i6
2,805
2,72\1
2,469
2,002
1,173
790
1,668
2,126
2,259
1,957
1,924
2,129
1,946
1,369
1,630
2,062
I, 789
2,147
1,279
1,400
----- - _43,868 :.!6,5 5
...
I
. ..
...
6f)i
... I
70,413
11,376
...
...
...
...
753,344
3,493,284
11,603/ '181,885
I
ll,678,719
...
...
Section 49.
118
61 232
..
401
•••
77,302
1,202
,.,
,
,Sections 22 and lot!. I
.••
561,516
632
632
937,063 ·22,445,092
---4,213
.. .
...
...
...
...
1,879,940
land Acll898-1901-191L
1,24\l
557
675
:747
727
946
;901
824
:734
1749
I, 189
759
662
...
809,462
...
4,213
6,645
6,206
5,556
6,893
5,078
5,396
4,006
4,145
4,435
4,791
4;258
4,149
2,452
2,190
......
:1,944,237
Section I 0.
...
Sections 42, 471 and 8.
...
Acre&
...
...
...
6,fiil,807
...
14,2l0,575
... l625,647
i-- -·-1-!·
...
Area.
Acres.
- - - - · - 1 - · - - - -:1-~341·
l.aTUI Acii898-190L
3,353
76,100
Sec-tion 42.
4 1 284 I 399 1985
155,299
An~ a.
Section 49.
986,175 17,229 :!2,693 I ,036,097 65,511 110,460,737
1878 ...
i
...
3,078 559,423
Section 11.
l'ota1s
190~
Acres.
398,862
3,944,237
General
Total •
. 42nd Section, ,
Act 186~, &c. ·
Se et! on 19.
.
1900
·1901
Area.
4,979
392,610
...
Area.
422,610' 2,800 31,295
1869 ...
"
Acres.
No.
1862 ...
l.ttndAc"t1860 ...
...
...
---,--~---
,_
...
...
U oder Imperial Acts ...
"
Acres.
Certificate
Selection.
79,3;6
152,262
70,211
83.283
59,590
54,257
56,172
55,079
54,620
48,047
38,601
51,553
30,956
21,818
----855,825
Sections 59, 54,
ond 8.
5 2
96,i8(i
297,518
166,830
122,351
139,1 Hl
98,705
61,299
67' 9~3
95,136
217
143
108
123
168
123
~7,748
143
96,621
189
i
209
97' 113
49,992lll7
54,343
127
28,879
50,257
17,332
33,165
25,262
"25,412
20,128
34,328
27,9114
33,023
35,692
41,393
21,056
18,279
6,710 1,541,48:1 2,295
412,200
1,323
744
679
586
417
300
263
355
372
341
373
225
200
-~--
Auction
Selection
Sections 49, 50, 59,
54 and 13.
Non~ residence.
198
319
Ill
211,686
506,243
259,929
245,6(12
229,049
183,770
141,605
161,475
182,185
183,R09
175,172
194,208
104,451)
96,630
-2,879,922
--
~-··---·-
6,742,220 acres
*18,582,794
Tot.al
"
---25,325,014 acres.
-----
~oTE.-1-. .orfeitures have been rteducted irom the area sclectc<t
• Exclusive ot ·aelectlon In lllalleo Country and lllallee Border.
, SECTION
20,
LAND
AcT 1869.
This section, the rights of which are preserved by section 2 of the Land Act
1!101, bestowed on licensees under Part II. of The Land Act 1869 the right to
aequire, on expiradon of the term of their licences, the fee-simple of their selections,
either by paying the balance of purchase money in one sum, or by deferred payment!'<
under lease.
The following Table shows the transactions during the financial year ended
30th June, 1914:TABU:
B.
---------------··--·--,------------------Purchaset\
Aren.
Completed.
Purchn.sed.
Area 1.-eu.sed
Amouut
and
nfterwurds
Paid by Lessee;,
as Balance of
l'urchase money.
t~urchascd.
£
•.
d.
182 12
19
6
NOTE.-The t.ransa.ctions of a like nature under section 11, Land Act 1878, are included in this Table.
'SEcTION 31, LAND AcT 1869.
This section, the rights of which are preserved by section 2 of the Lan,d Act.
UJOI, conferred on holders of lif•ences, obtained under the repealed Acts of 186.2 and
l865, to occupy lands for other than pastoral purposes, the right to acquire the feesimple of the lands so held, credit being given in the purchase for all moneys paid by
them as rent and snrvev fees.
,;
In cases in which purchase has not been allowed on account of the auriferous
character of the land, or of portions thereof being required or likely to be required
for railways or other public purposes, such of the licensees whose payments represent
an amount equivalent to the estimated value per acre of the land have continued in
occupation at a nominal rental of One shilling per annum pending removal of
objections or decision as to public requirements.
Table C shows the transactions during the financial year ended 30th June'
1914:TABLE
Purchases
Completed.
c.
Un.la.nces of
Purchase llloney
Heceived.
Area
Purchnsed.
£
acres.
s.
Survey Fees
Allowed.
£
d.
s.
d.
5 17 0
14 12 6
123
--·-···-' ---~~···-------'--- - ---····~· ~- -- ---~-------~.
8
----~--·~7-~-···~---
SEcTION 44, LAND AcT 1890.
This section, the rights of which are preserved by section 2 of the
Land Act 191tl, enables licensees under Division 3, Pnrt L, ·of the Land Act
1890 to acquire, on expiration of the term of their licences, the fee-simple of their
licensed holdings either by paying___the balance of purchase money in one sum or hy
deferred payn1ents under lease. The following Table shows the transactions during
the financial year ended 30th June, 1914:TABLE
Purchru;cs
Completed.
1
Area
Purchased.
D.
I Arcn.andLeased
afterwards
1
~mount
Ptlhl by Lessees
ll.B Balance of
---~___::::"~ Purcha.~e Money.
- - - - - 1- - ,
A(~rcs.
21,982
'
£
Acres.
21,982
1,449
8.
d..
3
0
----------------------------------.
~---···---··
NOTE.-This Tahle includes particulars of o.like natut'e under section 50, Dand Act 1800.
THE
LAND ACT 1901.
Division 1, Part I.
Section 18 of this Act confers on licensees under section 49 of The La11d Act
1869 the· exclusive right of purchasing their holdings at a price to be determined
E1e;·en applications, representing 150
by the Board of Land and Works.
acres, wexe approved during· the financifll year ended 30th June, 1914, and the sum
of £66 1s. 6d. was received.
6
Division 3, Part 1.-Agriculturat and Gmzing Lands.
Under this Division provision is made for the occupation of Crowu lands for
tl1e combined purposes of agriculture and grazing, and section 3.5 of the Land Act
190 l provides for the issue of grazing area leases for a term of years expiring not
later than the 29th Dl:)cember, 1920.
Table E shows the transactions during the financial year ended 30th June,
1914 : 'l'AULE
Number of
Apj)Jieatlons Approved.
E.
Area Leased.
Annual Rental.
----.
---·~. -~---·----·~---
£
s. d.
49 19 10
Acres.
11,182
27
Sections 47 and 50 provide for the issue of licences of agricultural aHotments,
and section 54 allows the issue of licences of grazing allotments.
Table F shows the transactions tmder these sections during· the fiuaneial
year ended .30th June, 1914 : TAI:ILE
F.
Number of
Applications
Approved.
:;ccuon.
Area Licensed.
Annual Rental.
I'
(
:
£
Acres.
47. (Residence) Land Act
50. (Non-residence)
"
54. (Residence)
54. (Non-residence) "
1901
1901
1901
1901
"
443
65
139
31
...
...
Total
...
...
...
...
s. d.
749 7 10
147 15 0
758 12 10
275 14 4
16,288
3,303
39,962
10,996
70,549
1,931 lO
0
Non.-Tlns Table mcluoes selcctwns of enhanced value.
The transactionsunder sections 49, 51, aud 56 of the Land Act 1901 during
the financial vear ended 30th June, 1914, are set forth in Table G.
Grn.nts \
Leases
Gazetted ·us Hazettetl as
Approved.
Approved.
Purchases
Completed.
At•en,
Area
Purchased.
Leased.
-~--
---
965
836
67, ]49
Aren Lcuseo
Amount
nnd
Paid by Lessees
as Balance of
Purchase )loney.
alterwnrds
Purchas~·d.
Acre~.
521
1
Acres.
I
160,584
\-~----'--
1-----1----Acres.
£
8.
d.
fi2,563
6, 77 5
5
4
I
Under section 70 of the Land Act 1901 a. lessee of an agricultural or grazing
allotment can give an "order" for the1 delivery of the Crown grant to any person
who has made an advance of money on the security of a lease, the mortgage being
transferred from the lease to the Crown grant. Nine Ot·ders, representing in all
nn area of 918 acres~ were registered during the financial year ended 30th June,
1914.
.
Sections 71 and 72 of the Land Act 1901 as atnended bv section 70 of the
Land Act 1911 empower licensees of agricultural or grazing allot1~ents and Jessees of
seler.tion-purchase allotments to register liens in the Crown Lands Office upon the
security and to the value of, the permanent improvements effected on their holdings.
Fifty-six liens, comprising an area of 23,577 acres, were registered dming the
financial yeat· ended 3Uth .Tune, 1914, t•epresenting, as advanced on this kin!l of
·security, £11,228 17s. 4d.
Division 4, Part I.-Auriferous Lands.
This Division provides for the occupation of Crown lands classed "Auriferous.,
Under section 103, licences for the purpose of residence or cultivation may be issued
for lands not included within any city or town, and not exceeding 20 acres in extent.
In the Land Act 1904 provision is made whereby licensees under section 1u;3
of the Land A.ct 1901 can apply to surrender their licences with a view to obtain
agricultural or grazing allotment licences in lieu thereof.
The transactions during the financial year ended 30th June, 1914, under
section 103, are shown in Table I-1 :TA!lU:
H.
Section 103.
:Number
of A pp!! cations
Approved.
Annual Rental.
Area Licensed.
i
£
Acres.
14;)
\V OHKED-OUT
8.
115 10
2,186
d.
0
AURIFEROUS LANDS.
By the 106th section of the Land Act 1901 it is provided that whenever it
appears to be no longer profitable to mine for gold within 50 feet of the surface of
any unalienated lands of the Crown, such lands may, after inquiry by a warden, be
declared to be "worked-out auriferous lands," and licensed in allotments not exceeding
five ( 5) acres in extent. Every licensee who shall have complied with the conditions
of his licence will, at the expiration of seven (7) years, be entitled to the fee-simple
of the land at a price·to be fixed by the Board of Land and Works, and the amount
paid as annual licence-fees will be deducted from the purchase. money payable.
During the financinl year ended 30th June, 1914, one application under
this section was approved for an area of 5 acres, at an :mnual rentnl of l Os.
PROGRESS OF SELECTION.
Table I. shows the progress of seledion under section 65 of The Land Act
1890, sections 29, '42, and 59 of the Land Act 1898 and corresponding sections of
the Land Act 1901, and sections 8 and 13 ofthe Land Act 1911. Similar particulars
under sections 3::&, 42, 49, and 65 of the Land Arts 1884-t8 90, from the
year 1886 to the year 1898 inclusive, ·will be found in the departmental Heport for
1908:-
Year.
.
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
L 1.11 to :10.6. H
1912-13
1918-14
Under Section 29, f,a·ud Act Undel' Sections 42, 47, f.t4l and
59, [,and Act. 1898-1\lOI and
1808. a.nd Se~tion 3il,
section 8. Land .Act 1911.
· La1ld· .Act 1901.
-
~-~·~--···~-
-~-·-~-
1
Ap lication :
Approved•.
Applications
Approved.
Acreage.
-
41
1,558
3,663
I, 173
905
524
372
219
9b
178
101
84
89
5t3
27
13,591
701,504
1;642,054
507,403
574,482
290,043
1i9,41:!8
95,647
23,323
85,362
47,791
36,089
:~0,21~
21,376
11 '182
Aereage.
Under Sections 411, 50, 54, and
59, [,and Acts 1898-1901 and
section 13, La11d .Act 191 I.
··-~···
Applications
Approved.
1,550
1,527
2,006
1,211
1,080
66,998
196,127
466,084
281,569
251,441
226,925
189,442
149,8!-13
151,865
184.942
214,999
210,331
22!-l,-598
!21,052
109,972
Acreage.
In
~,r~.HV>"'' '
---
·-------~-
616
1,349
2,654
1,459
1,544
!,455
1,325
1,439
1,321
I ,402
Under Sections 65 <tnd 103.
Non~Residence.
H
202
319
118
21i
156
123
140
197
131
186
213
235
130
143
Acreage.
!
92-t
29,042
50,257
18,11.5
33,165
26,667
27,977
::!3,220
39,367
28,941
42,180
38,363
44,321
116
178
400
245
492
689
437
477
517
407
318
304
1)49
2~,387°
263
21,768
145
NoT&.-This Table includes $elections under section 17, Land Act 1891.
1,987
2,946
7,085
4,584
i ,420
12,587
6,952
8,623
9,290
7,145
.5,478
4,864
9,497
4,336
2,186
8
LICENc~s AND I.EASES SuRRENDERED, REVOKED, OR DEcLARED ExPIRED.
..,.
The following Table shows the number of licences and leases, (together with
areas) under the sections specified, which were surrendered, revoked, or declared
expired during the financial year ended 30th June, 1914 :TABLE
J.
No.
Extent.
Acrea.
Licences-Section 42, l.and Acts 1890-1898, and Section
47, Land Act 1901
109
13,164
Section 49, Land Acts 1890-1898, and Section
.50, Land Act 1 Y01
.
9
1,759
Section 59, Land Act 1898, and Section 54,
Land Act 1901 (Residence)
92
17,426
Section 59, Land Act 1~98, and Section 54,
Land Act 1901 (Non-residence)...
6
1,412
Section 65, Land Act 1890, and Section 103,
Land Act 1901
•527
9,458
2
10
10
45
Section lOt>, Land Act 1901
Leases-Section 20, Land Acts 18(59-1878
Section 44, Land Act 1890
68
Section 44, Land Act 1890-1898, and Section
49, Land Act 1901
551
4
Section 51, [.and Act 1901
318
Seution n1, Land Act 1891-l, and Section f)6, Land
Act 1901 (Residence) ...
Section 85, Land Act 1890, and
Land Act 190 l
Section 29, Land Act -1898, and
Land Act 1901
Sectio~
5
832
2
81
282
127,864
8
1,838
131,
Secl.ion 3.5,
S~ction 8, Land Act 1911
• Includes licences surrendered to enable holders to obtain eoneessi?ns allowed by Land Acta.
Land .Act 1901. Pa1·t 3.
VILLAGE COMMUNITY LANDS.
The number of settlers who have completed their term of permissive occupancy
and obtained their leases is 7, making a total of 2,542 leases issued since the
commencement of the Settlement on Lands Act 1893.
During the year 12 transfers of Village Settlement leases have been registered
making a total· of b56 sanctioned to date. In every case the transferee has been
a person eligible to become a Villag-e Settler.
During the year 81 settlers haye acquired Crown Grants of their holdings.
Monetary aid to the extent of £1,215 lls. 7d. was repaid during the veat·;
the totaLamount received. to 30th J·une, Hl 14, being £41,516 ls. 3d.
.~
9
The total amount advanced since the inception of the Settlement
1893 is £67,379 Ss. 4d., as set forth hereunder:£
•
Total amount of monetary aid advanced for the
8,873
year ended 30th June, 1894
Total amount of monetary aid advanced for the
27,189
year ended 30th June, 1895
Total amount of monetary aid a.dvanced for the
21,409
year ended 30th June, 1896
Total amount of monetary aid advanced for the
6,527
year ended 30th June, 1897
Total amount of monetarv aid advanced for the
2,227
year ended 30th June, ·l898
Total amount of monetarv aid advanced for the
830
year ended 30th June, "1899
Total amount of monetary aid advanced for the
77
year ended 30th .June, 1900
Total amount of monetary aid advanced for the
109
year ended 30th June, 1901
Total amount of rnonetarv aid advanced fiw the
131
year ended 30th June, "Hl02
Total amount of monetary aid advanced for the
3
year ended 30th June, 1903
on Lands 4ot
s. d .
0
0
12
6
7
6
]7
4
13
6
11
0
16
6
10
0
0
t)
0
0
8
4
------£67,379
On reference to Appendix A, it will be seen that 836 settlers are actually
residing, and that 9l1 are improving but non-resident, making a total of 935 in
occupation. The number of souls, including wives and children, is 3,887.
IL-SALES OF CROWN LANDS BY AUCTION.
The principle of deferred payments jntroduced in Part V. of The Laud Act
1884, has been continued and extended by the provisions of Division 5, Part I., of
the Land Act 1901, one-eighth of the price bid being paid at the time of sale, and the
remaining seven-eighths spread over a periud not exceeding twenty years, payable
half-yearly, in instalments of equal amounts, bearing interest at the rate of £4 per
centum per annum.
During the financial year ended 30th June, 1914, 2,190 acres were sold for
£48,809. Interest to the amount of £3,423 3s. 6d. was paid with the purchase
money or instalments as they fell due.
The area of country lands sold at auction during the financial year ended
30th June, 1914, was 790 act·es, of which about 244 acres ·were improved, and
546 acres unimproved.
In consequence of several purchasers having failed to pa.y the instalments
of their purchase money as they became due, as required by the conditions
of sale, steps were taken during the financial year ended 30th June, 1914, to
forfeit to the Crown the amounts already paid and declare the sales void. As a result
of this action, which was not taken until after repeated and fruitless notices to the
purchasers, an area of 275a. 2r. 2p. reverted to the Crown, and the instalments of
purchase money and sm·vey fees already paid thereon, amounting to £1,678 15s. Od.,
were forfeited.
10
.
Table K shows the proceeds of sales by auction of country lands during each
}rear from 1901. Similar particulars for each year from the commencement of the
Land Act 1869 to the year 1891 inclusive will be found in the departmental Report
for that year, and for the several subsequent years to 1900 inclusive in the
departmental Heport for 1\103 : TABLE
Year.
K.
Area Sold.
Amount
Average per Acre.
R~alized.
-·
190 1-~ months endillg 3 Oth JuneUnimproved land
...
Improved
,.
...
6 months ending 3 1st DecemberUnimproved land
...
...
Improved
,
1902-6 months ending 3Oth JuneUnimproved land
Improved
,
6 months ending'3 1st DecemberUnimproved land
Improved
,
I 90:1-6 months ending 3Oth ,JuneUnimproved land
...
Improved
,,
...
6 months'ending 3 1st DecemberUnimproved land
Improved
,
...
1904-6 months ending 3 Oth JuneUnimproved lan d
...
..
...
...
Improved
,
,,
6 months ending 3 1st [)ecemberUnimproved !and
...
Improved
,
1\lll.'i-6 months ending 3 Oth June...
Unimproved land
...
. ..
Improved
,
6 mouths ending 3 1st Decemher...
Unimproved !an d
...
...
...
Improved
,
1901\-6 months ending 3 Oth June..
Unimproved htn<l
...
...
...
Improved
,
6 months ending 3 1st Decem her...
Unimproved lan d
...
...
Improved
,
Oth
June
.c.
190 7 6 months ending 3
...
Unimproved hmrl
...
Improved
,
1st
December6 months ending 3
...
.
U uimproved !an d
Improved
,
..
1908-6 months~nding 3Oth Jnne...
d
...
Unimproved tan
...
. ..
Improved
,
.6 months ending" 3 1st Decemher...
...
Unirnpro•·etl fan d
...
...
Improved
,,
l ~09-6 months ending 3Oth .Juue-·
...
...
Unimproved !an d
Improved
,
6 months ending 3 1st December...
. ..
Unimproved !anrl
Improved
,
1910-6 months ending 3 Oth .lnne...
...
Unimproved la!Id
...
...
Improved
,
6 months ending 31st Deccmb<·t·Unimproved lan rl
...
..
Improved
,
1911-6 months ending 3Oth June...
Unimproved lan d
...
Improved
,
6 months endmg 3 1st December...
...
Unimproved !an d
Improved
,
l!ll:!-6 months ending 3Oth Junf•- ..
..
Unimprovrd hm rl
...
Improved
,
6 months ending 3 1st Decembm:...
Unimproved hm d
...
Improved
,
191 ~~--ll months ending 30th :June...
...
Unimprovecl h\1Hl
..
. ..
Improved
,•
6 months ending 3 1st December...
Unimproved htn d
...
...
Improved
,
1914-6 months ending :1 Oth June-...
...
Unimproved lan d
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
......
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
..
...
...
...
...
..
.. .
...
...
...
...
376
1,232
I 11
0 Si
1,465 16
-1,471 13
661
1,809
1 31
0 27
2,035
6, 16i
...
760
1,415
0 15
3 I
1,843
4,825
...
~83
:3 24
837
0
...
..
...
..
...
...
...
...
...
...
. ..
...
...
.. .
.. .
..
...
...
...
...
...
d.
9
8
3 18
3 12
0
6
8 0
0 10
3
I
i
6
9
8
0
2
3
8
B
6
8
980 5
3,415 14
9
0
3
4
9
0
9
I
7
1,160
2,949
:l 9
3 20
4,160 0
H>,572 18
0
5
3 11
6 6
0
4:31
393
3 2
3 li
1,058 19
1,710 13
4
2
9
4
i79
0 I
1 14
1,558 9
3,081 16
9
0
2
639 18
940 15
9
3
2 10
I 5
J.j.
3
I
~
9 0
6 10
0 u
3 Jl
235
I 35
73i
0
0
...
878
599
2
0
u
5,242 16
1,508 13
9
i
5 19
2 10
816
9~2
3 14
2 37
3,569 1:!
2,194 9
0
6
:!
7
5
4
1
869
578
0 33
~ :!1
1,816 16
1,415 15
8
2
2
~
0
9
0
0
401
211
1 9
0 26
3,303
i18
2 7
4 10
8
3
8
1 39
3,5H
2 38
10,21~
...
...
. ..
...
..
...
...
...
1,198
895
...
...
469
212
...
.. .
8.
...
...
...
...
£
1,402
...
...
d.
...
...
...
...
...
s.
R. P.
...
...
£
A,
. ..
2
(l
8
1
18
4
9
28
1,666 10
763 18
6
3,i28 7
18,164 19
3
2
4
4
2
6
5
4
8
0
8
2
0
3 11
3 12
0
0
I
11
2
2 19
11
I
3
.. .
734
1,138
0 39
...
472
0 2i
460
I 25
1,833 3
I ,861 H
2
3
647
483
I 18
3 25
2,462
!l
4,963
0
6
7
...
...
1,24!\
352
3 18
0 8
4,782
860
4. 0
5 6
...
. ..
. ..
695
1,116
1 24
2 16
3,926 11
6,692 0
5
7
...
..
318
338
2 12
0 35
1,172 7
3,520 15
2
5
3 13
10 s
2
...
. ..
..
...
...
.. .
...
...
·•·
...
...
..
I
l 32
5
15 19
2
3 17 8
4 0 10
3 16
10
5
I
I
3 16 9
2 8 10
5 12 11
5 19 10
i
...
...
.. .
...
408
2
2
\1
...
215
2 21:!
1,843 16
4
3 3
8 ll
l:i
!i
...
...
...
1 ,4·l7 13 11
475 15 6
4 0
4 2
n
. ..
1,567 2
l, 178 17
6
2 14
5
I
3 11 'IH
732 14
8
3 13
235
8
2
3
806
9,039
8
7
2
I
4<l4 16
490 18
9
5
1,188 I
459 1:'>
6
...
...
..
...
...
...
...
,
.
..
...
.. .
...
9
:J56
...
3 23
115
I
...
. ..
576
328
2 27
.. .
199
...
72
3 4
3 lh
...
7
I 32
233
2 15
. ..
666
3
6
. ..
11i9
I
2
1~6
I 35
...
...
...
376
I 29
lli
:l 36
1,294
~
7
4
3
5
3 9
13 11
2
0
2 12 8
3 17 11
3
I
~
3
2
17 11'
11
Table L shows the alienation by auction, duriug the fi;tancial year ended
30th June, 1914, of town and country lands, and the amounts derived therefrom : -
Country Lands.
Town Lands.
A..
1,400
R,
,,
Average
pei'
Amount.
Area •.
P,
23
£
46,225
s. d.
9 7
£ s. d.
i
33
0
I
:
3
I
Average
per
Acre.
Amount.
Areu..
A ere~
:
A.
7ti9
R.
i
s. d.
£
P.
3 22
2,583 12
£ s. d.
3 5 5
5
I
III.-PASTORAL OCCUPATION.
The sum of £18,856 19s. 3d. was received during the financial year ended
30th .June, 19t4, for licences under section 187 of the La~nd Act l!:JOL
IV.-MALLEE.
The Land Act 1901, Part IL (as amended by the Land Acts 1904 and 1911),
deals with about 11,354,571 acres oflaud, e,xclusive of Mildura (62,222 acres), in the
north-western district of the State. In addition to the area of l 1,354,571 acres.
155,20'7 acres have been laid off as roads, &c., through the Mallee to f~teilitate travelling in this portion of the State, and 397,881 acres have been retained as reserves.
The transactions for the period from 1st Jul.y, l!'H3, to 30th June, 1914, are as
under:No.
Agricultural leases
...
Perpetnalleases ...
. ..
Selection Purchase leases '"
.
·
d
.
,,
{ Agricultural allotments ...
L ICences
1ssue or .tpproveu
...
G ar den, Store, ,-i
•
&c.
urazing,
Licences and perpet.ual leases cancelled for non-payment of rent, &c....
Leases transferred
JAgricult.ural allotments
I Perpetual leases ••.
Number of Local Land Boards hei,J
,,
cases dealt with ...
Leases issued or approved
.. .
Acres.
306
6
f
26o
91
229
41
315
8
34
:!,615
On 1st July, 1914, the areas available or held under lease and licence
were as follow:No.
Available under section 187, !.and Art 1901
Available as agricultural allotments ...
Areas J1eld under section 187, Land Act 1901
Agricultural leases
...
Allotments occupie(luude1· ...
Perpetual leases
...
Agricultural Licences ...
Selection purchase leases
.
1
197
.5,371
467
I
1,90!-1
719
I
Area in
Acr~.
908,830
159,283
4,851,246
3,267,514
426,156
1,232,971
494,259
12
The revenue derived was t'ts follows:£
637
1,tH5
58,644
1,296
7,955
1,asa
301
948
Rents on perpetual leases
Rents on conditional purchase le:>ses
Rents on agricultural allotments
Rents on selection purchase leases ...
Rents under section·187, Land Act 1901
Valuation of improvements and cost of resumption
Interest on impl'ovements and cost oE resumption
Penalties and Fines
FeesApplication
Licence
;£
s.
675 0
110
350
Lease
Mortgage
Transfer
35
20
0
0
0
0
d.
0
0
0
0
0
1,190
Total
s. d.
G 7
M 5
0 9
19 4
14 3
18 5
11 5
19 6
0
0
£76,873 12
8
~---·--
Section 222, Land Act 190 l, enables any licensee, at the expiration of licence,
or on obtaining a lease, to demand and obtain a Crown grant at any time upon payment of the difference between the amount of ~·ent actually paid. and the balance due
according to <;lassification of land. The following Tahle shows the transactions durin;r
the period 1st July, l!H3, to 30th June, 1914:.
:-:~
Purchases
Completed.
Area. .Purchased.
Acres.
106
48,009
Balance of Pmchase
.Mouey" l}aid.
£
8.
14,.518 lO
d.
2
111tt1'1'alj Settlements Act 1 ~07.
Two irrigation areas have been established in the Mallee under the Mnr1·ay
Settlerne1lts Act 1907, oue at Merbein (White Cliffs), and the other at Nyah.
·~he land in both is of first·class quality.
The. Merbein Settlement has proved
one of the most successful irrigation areas developed by this State. Considering tile
age of the settlement, the progress made and the development of the holdings under
vines and citrous trees afford· occasion for great satisfaction. At Nyah also satisfactory progress is now being made, and its success seems assured, though from
various causes the development has been somewhat retarded. During the year an
area of 143 acres was re-purchased from original holders, and together with a further
area of 507 acres which had been surrendered was subdivided into fortv allotments.
Fourteen of these allotments are still available for :tpplication.
· The total number of leases held on the two settlements under the Murray
Settlements Act is 431, with an aggregate are.:t of 14,312 acres.
o/
V.- MISCELLANEOUS.
SEcTION 130, LANn AcT 190 1.
U uder section 130 of the Lond Act 1901, twenty-three Conditional Purchase
Leases were issued for 659 a.eres of swamp or reclai,med land at an annual rental of
£172 5s. lOd.
SEcTION 146, LAND AcT l!JOL
Under this section provision is made whereby a licensee under seetion 145 of
the Land Act 1901 of a site for a butter factory or creamery, or a site for a residence,
garden, inn, store, smithy, or similar building not witl]in the boundaries
any city
may apply fo•· the exclusive 1·ight to purchase such site after having been in possession
thereof for a period of five years and erected buildings or matle other improvements
thereon, credit being given for the amount of rent paid during the period of possession.
During the financial year ended 30th June, Ull4, 123 :1pplications under this
section were granted for an area of 3(16 acres.
SECTION 147, LAND AcT 1901 (as amended by Section I 6, Land At:t 1904, and
Section 9, Land Act 1905).
of
BFJE FAHMS.
DurinG'
the financial vear ended 30th June, l!H4, twelve :tpplications were
0
granted for an area of 1& acres.
o.l
13
SECTION 14, LAND AcT 1905.-BEE RANGE AREAS.
During the financial year ended 30th June, 1914, thirteen applications were
granted in respect of an area of U ,104 acres.
0
SECTION 154, LAND AcT 190 I.-COMMONS.
Commons were diminished by proclamation to the extent of 3,050 acres, and
one common which was found to be no longer required was formally abolished.
SECTION 164, LAND AcT 1901.-PENALTIEs.
The amount of penalties, at the rate of Five shillings per acre, received during
the financial year ended 30th June, 1914, for non-improvement by lessees under the
Land Acts of 1862 and 1865, and interest on rents in arrear, was £1,219 l9s. 2d.
SECTION 184, LAND AcT 190J.
In this section provision is made for the alienation of portions of land not
exceeding 20 ~teres in extent at a price determined by appraisement. During the
financial year ended 30th June, 1H14, 796 acres were ordered to be sold in this
manner, the total purchase money being £2,77~ l5s. 4d.
SECTION 193, LAND AcT 190 I.-PuBLIC HEARINGS.
During the financial year ended 30th June, 1914, 447 sittings of Local Land
Boards were held, ttt which applications for land n.nd other business, comprising in all
6,532 subjects (including applications for mallee lands), were dealt with.
Thirty-six cases were publicly heard by the Minister during the financial
year ended 30th .I une, 1914.
SECTIONS 344, 345, AND 346, LAND Ac·r 1901.
Any holder of a Conditional Purchase Lease under sections 344, 345, and 346
of the Land Act 1901 can acquire the fee-simple of the land after the expiration of
six years from the issue of the lease, provided all the covenants and conditions thereof
are complied with. Table M shows the transactions during the financial year ended
30th June, 1914 :TABU~
Purchases
Completed.
M.
Balance of Purchase
Area Purchased.
A·
613
30
H.
Money Paid.
£
P,
0 0
s. d.
904 17 10
THE LAND AcT 1911.-DIVIHION 1.-PART 1.
Under this Division provision is made for the issue of Selection Purchase
Leases (residential and non-residential) of selection purchase allotments.
'rable N shows the transactions undm· sections 8 and 13 during the financial
year ended 30th June, 1n4 :TABLE
N.
Nmn~eX;~roved.
Land Act 1911.
Area Leased.
acres.
Section 8 (Residential)
13 (Non·residential)
"
...
498
47
...
Total
I
5:\,722
7,469
·---
545
61,191
Annual Rental.
£
s. d.
,698 15
234 1
6
2
------
1,932 16 8
14
CROWN GRANTS AND LEASES.
Two thousand four hundred and eighty-six Crown grants and :>,062 leaseJS
were prepared and passed from the head office during the financial year ended 30th
,June, 1914.
0
FEES AND CERTIFICATES.
The sum of £12,349 17s. 4d. was received during the financial year ended
30th June, l9L4, for certificates and transfet·s under the Land Acts, and for
miscellaneous fees, including those payable for grants, leases, and su:r:vey charges.
REVENUE.
Table 0 shows in detail the revenue contributed by the Department to the
Treasury during the financial year ended 30th June, 1914 : TAilLE
o.
Temporary Occttpation.
£
Rents Ull(iei' section 29, Land Act 1898, section 35, Land Act 1 nol, }'
and section 187, Land Act 190l
...
...
. ..
Rents under section 47, Land Act 1869, Divisions 6 and l;, of Part~
igoi;a~~.Acts l890-l901, ~ermits -~~nder se~.t.ion 3i8,.. Land -~~~
29,1 fJ7
0
0
31,430 13
4
Pe1·petnal Leases, section 80, Land Act 1898, and section 63, Land
Act 1901, and Auriferous Licences
...
~..
.. ..
Alienated in Fee simple by ~4uction and Deferred Payments, also
Rents received towards Alienation.
A.
n. P.
By auction-Town land
•••
...
... 1,400 0 23}
,
Country land
...
...
...
789 3 22
Sundry payments on account of purcuase in fee simple
...
.. .
Rents under sections 42 and 49, ]~and Acts 1890-1898, section
59, Land Act 1898, sections 47, 50, 54, and 106, Land
Act 1901
...
...
...
...
Rents and balances of purchase money under section 20, Land
Act 1869, section 11, Land Act 1878, sectiou 44, Land Acts
1890-l 898, section 61, !Jand Act l898, sections 49 and .'56,
Land Act 1901, and sections" and 13, Land Act 1911...
...
H.ents and balances of parcuase money under sections 5-10 and
20-24, Settlement on Lands Act 1893, and sections 318-322,
332-33.5, 344, 345, and 346, /,and Act 1901
...
...
Penaltieilnndei' section 164, Land Act 1901, aiHl
Fees for gl"lmts, leases, licences, surveys, &c.
Sale of plans and sundries
...
...
intere~t.
...
.. .
...
..
...
.. .
Toto! Revenue
...
...
...
...
£
s. d.
s. d.
I
0
40,679 18
0
15,400
H
,·)
a
10
1,219 19
12,349 17
6,020 l
2
4
6
96,817
...
60,587 13
4
152,897 10
3
19,ii89 18
0
1
7
233,0i5
*This item in eludes interest .£3 1 423 Hs. 6d., and instn.lments on account of some sales.
SUMMARY.
The followirig table gives a summary of the number of hohlings and the :lreas
taken up under the principal sections :·
.
~umber
'Area.
ol
Holdings.
(Acres.)
New Selection-(Not"including Mallee Land)
,
,
Anriferous land-Section 103
Under Conditional Purchase lease ·
614
145
23
8l,i:182
2,186
659
New Selection-l\iallee Land
Selections out of Grazing Area Leaseholds
Holdings under Anriferons Section converted
tenure
3fi4
175
22i,832
;')3,276
461
8,264
"
"
to Selection
15
The extension of Mallee settlement is controlled, to a very great extent, by
railwav and water supply provision. Both these works were actively carried on, and
the subdivision and settlement proceeded concurrently therewith. Subdiyisions of
township sites at the railway stations were also made, and sales of allotments were
conducted, thus permitting the establishment of store and other requirements at an
early stage of the settlements, and p1·oviding also for State school sites
In other parts of the State, the demand, under the existing law, is limited, and
these Crown lands do not attract applicants. Tile reclaimed laud near Portland has
been fairly applied for, and good returns have heen obtained by some of the settlers
from root crops.
·
The operations of the Country Roads Board, in opening up main roads,
should be an important factor in encouraging settlement on Crowu lands ; and, by
limited holdings, thus securing more effective control of the rabbit pest, much of this
land should be occupied and developed.
During the year, a number of small Acts of Parliament affecting the Department werf\ passed.
The W onthaggi Land Act gave special facilities for the conve1·sion of existing
licences and leases, and permitting the acquisition of freehold right;;;. Action, in a
large number of cases, was taken accordingly.
The following Acts dealt with portions of land to permit of their being used
for various purposes:Ballarat Land Act,
Cressy Land Act,
Dunolly Laud Act,
Geelong Land Act,
Mildura Crown Grants Act,
South Melbourne Lm1ds Act,
Willaura Land Act,
and the Wire Netting Aet made further provision for wire-netting advances.
In connexion with the operations under the Closer Settlement Acts, very
much of the detail work was undertaken by the general staff of the Department,
including the preparation of leases, the collection of rent and other payments,
advances to settlers, insurances on improvments, &c.
As a result of the dry conditions prevailing over a large extent of the Mallee
country, and the resultant failure of crops, it became necessary to render assistance
to a considerable number of settlers by means of loans for seed wheat and fodder.
Loans, secured by liens on the licences and on the crops, were granted, the total sum
advanced being £6, l5G lls. 7d. Advances made in earlier years under similar
conditions proved a great boon to deserviug ~ettlers, and the repayments have been
very satisfactory, fiS evidenced by the following figures:Year.
Amount Adv,.nced.
Amount; Repaid.
--.-·----1903
1908
1912
£
93,127
8,030
907
91,823
7,877
716
Vermin Destruction work is an important duty of the Department. Th .,
expenditure from vote for the year was £:l8,886 Ss. 7d.; and, in addition, the work
undertaken on private properties, under the powers conferred by the A et, and the
cost of which was made a charge on the owners, represented a sum of £15,R20 14s. 6d.
Appendix C furnishes a repo1·t hy the Chief Inspector under the Vermin Destruction
Act.
A v~te ?f £1,250 for t~~ planting ?f Marram gr~ss, to arre~t the irruption of
sand, was d1stnbnted to Mumc1pal Counctls whose territory abuts on the coast line
and to local committees.
'
16
The vote for I•arks and Gardens, amounting to £5,000, and granted for the
pmpose of assisting Councils and Committees of Management in the improvement of
the numerous public reserves distributed throughout the State, was dealt with by the
Department.
For the National Park, at Wilson's Promontory, a grant of £500 was ri1ade.
The votes to Metropolitan and Suburban Parks and Gardens amounted to
£4,167.
The control and management of the Botanic Gardens was carried on as usual,
and the total outlay thereon was £!:1,570. These gardens are a distinctive feature
· of the metropolis, and call forth expressions of appreciation and admiration from
visitors from all parts of the world. A full report by the Curator is given in
Appendix D.
BUCHAN CAVES.
The work of de\·eloping the Buchan Caves was continued 'during the year.
On account ofthe risk attending the use of explosives, this work was necessarily
difficult and slow, but the opening up of the hidden chambers of great beauty and
variety was very satisfactory. The growing popularity of the caves was decidedly
evidenced by the record number of visitors admitted, p:trticularly during Christmas
and Ea.ster holiday sea:;ons
A new cave, named the '·Royal," was opened in
N ovem her, and proved a great attraction. SQme of its cham hers are superior to
anything previously discovered, and the combination now open for the inspection of
tourists, as well as the attractions of the distL·ict from a scenic point of view, must
render Buchan one of Victoria's most favored resorts.
In closing my report,-{ have tn n.1ake special mention of the retirement fmm
the Public ~ervice uf Victoria of Mr . .John \lacgibbon, Secretary for Lands, on 31st
March, 1914. Mr. Macgibbon's service in the Department.covered a period of nearly
48 years, his official care~r being marked by a zealous, capable and much-appreciated
devotion to duty.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
.J. M. REED,
Secretary for Lands.
17
APPENDIX A.
:::=
;g
0
0
Name of Settlement.
-g;g
.....
0,_
.,
.c
"5
z
a·oo
.,
05
rc<w
Zi:
"'"'
"<
0,
0
.,_
-m
:;·t;.
~g
.:;:
-----
Acres.
Arapiles
Bairnsdale (Eagle Point,)
Bairnsdale (Raymond Islam!),
Ba!narring
,
Barmah
Beenak
Blackwood aud Trentham
Bullarto (LyonvilJe)
Bullarto (Section B)
Bumberrah,(Swan Hcacn) .. ;
Bunbartha
;t
Bundaloug
Colbinabhin
Coleraine
Coli ban
Condah Swamp
Coo ma
Coongnlmerang
Coongulmerang and W uk W uk
Corop
Darlimurla
Darnum (Mizpan)
Dimboola and Wail
Dronin (Township)
Drouin West
Echuca North
Egerton
French ll:!land
Fumina
Ga.noo Ganoo
Gracedale
Kamarooka
Kaniva
Katamatite
Kia!la ..
KiP..ta (Salisbury)
King lake
Kooneomoo
Koo-wee-rup
Kornmburra
Kommburra (Strezlecki)
Linton ...
Macedon and VVoodend
Mardan
1\farungi
Meeniyan
Miepoll
Mirboo North
Mirboo SouLh
Moe (Childers)
Moe Swamp
M on bulk
Mooroolbark
Muckatah
MunalJit West
Keerim and Jiudivick
N eerim North
Neerim Ea'st
Newham
Rosedule
Sale
Sarsfield
Scores by
Shepparton
Tarrawarra
Tarwiu
14359.
6
2.'i
6
27
4
8
4
15
12
lH
i
~
3
43
11
12
22
16
14
30
:13
24
81
12
52
15
24
.14
4
2
,-
''
30
,60
a()<
21
98
11ll
51
2
-±2
30
17
14
2
Hl
9
2
20
18
I
< 36
1
35
461
31
12
16
22
23
140
849
35
1
13
l::!
23
16
487
20
8
12
16
4
3
14
58
8
ll
6
20
3
.,.,
4
8
I!
92
6
2
4
-1
11
4
13
16
1
71)
2
20
5
3
72
24
31
18
22
24
18
6
10
ill
61
100
480
288
6
H
11
15
3
8
8
11
4!J
25
39
65
45
25
50
555
144
H
8
13
10
12
2
~7
26
42
32
38
1-r
6:~
521
58
l1
9
2
38
15415
4
10
10
8
2
15
2
2
2
51
770
50
13
28
16
4
24
2
2
9
6
23
12
7
7
7
30
41
36
17
5
10
14
4
i
13
2
2
8
26
2
57
10
33
3f.l
24
6
47
6
4
8
70
fiO
20
2
31
47
200
205
103
[J5
2
9
I
3
21
1.)4
1::!
549
7ti
18
42
74
.'57
26
18
2::1
15
27
32
4.5
40
19
39
4
17
11
12
22
30
24
15
27
40
[•>"'
•v
1,078 :1,000
4
5
4
!:1
79
lO
5
B
"
·a~
pf
0
".
Zf
""
.g:c
~"'
1
"'
B
~~
.c
51
9
I
lHJ
147
58
40
130
45
fiO
lOO
12
46
9i'i
3
16
£
15
240
450
80
560
220
130
268
516
30
140
182
60
. 425
181
9,793
420
90
60
260
45
10
1,509
183
420
s.
d.
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 ()
()
0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
1,368 0 0
290 0 0
301 0 0
640 0 0
420 0 0
9-l4 0 0
l ,OtiO 0 0
335 0 0
325 0 0
264 0 0
35 0 0
3,05(1 0 0
8,400 0 0
1,385 0 0
29l'l 0 0
175 0 0
1:19 0 0
630 0 0
1.'50 () 0
·177 0 0
246 0 0
:,o 0 0
20 0 0
400 0 0
3,000 0 0
600 0 0
460 0 0
169 0 0
952 0 ()
210 0 0
300 0 0
500 0 0
229 0 0
200 (J 0
300 0 0
50 0 0
340 0 0
700 0 0
15 0 0
140 0 0
£
656
950
1,400
1,200
500
1,800
2,000
1,930
950
350
420
398
305
1,154
2,070
10,066
850
380
800
860
270
815
4,17&
1,653
1,800
2,995
1,720
1,31 1
1,270
2,520
2,645
1,730
940
720
543
170
5,700
30,000
5,469
919
2,000
1,600
1,265
198
2,914
il29
250
290
l, 172
3,500
6,400
3,677
670
1,720
1,028
860
900
827
1,600
2,000
550
2,627
3,900
268
476
s.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
d.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
()
0
()
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
()
0
0 0
0
\)
0 0
0 0
u 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0
0
0
0
I)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
0 0
<
224
85
791
103
162
176
329
401
310
17
90
146
84
HW
164
897
26
150
27
52
J6
190
637
201
321
366
948
650
214
91
274
1,338
238
2H9
152
42
40
1,250
4,200
455
78
434
401
57
53
478
26
120
140
75
211
445
1.'54
203
172
433
102
700
193
346
160
18
61
358
19
200
.l8
APPKNDlX·
A--;continued.
.....::;
"'"C
.::>·-
Name of SetLlement
,sm.
'""
'E
]Z
28
79
60
s. d.
0
0
0
0
0
0
()
{)
0
0
0
9"
_i)
3
7
210
40
35
210
36
230
1,600
300
900
2
16
os
________
____e..
£
6
6
"C
·a
"'"'
8~
I
.. <
Eo;,...
1,065
3oq
620
60
160
8
""
::e
ll::..
<
Acres.
Tatong (Kilfeera Swamp) ... '
Tonimbuk East .••
..
Toolamba
Tyntynder (Mallae)
Wallan W allatJ
Wanalta
Warbnrron
Yalca ...
Yarragon
-"'"'=·
"'f
~~
.
0~
,_
!
~
;;.
8
ze
·I
.::"'
'§
:E"
0~
0
0
()
u 0
,
£
s. d.
1,231
2,000
8!W
730
1,500
57
8,750
500
1,600
0 0
0 0
0 .o
0 0
0 0
() 0
0 0
0 0
0. 0
<c
1!40
284
69
965
273
20
3;)0
21:!
;l47
-- - - - Totals
154,513
! .••
0
0
24,52~
19.
APPENDIX B.
Department of Lands and Survey,
Melbourne, 28th September, 1914.
The Honorable
The Commissjoner of Crown Lands and Survey.
SIR,
I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report on the survey opemtions of the Department
.for the year ending 30th June, 1914.
Settlement has progressed steadily throughout the year, the chief location of the work having
heen, as in late years, in the Malice country in which, owing to the further extension of water provision
by means of scooped tanks and the continuation of channels, considerable areas have been rendered
available for occupation.
U ufortunately the light rainfall of the year under review has again militated against that success
whic'1 mil!ht reasonably he considered as the due of the pioneer settlers of the North-west. This remark
applies principally to agricultural operations, as the extension of the channel systems with the scooping
of tanks in suitable localities h11.s given :t stock and domestic supply over a lat·ge area, and has contributed
a degree of comfort to the settlers which was quite l,lnknown to the selector of earlier years.
Well-deserved credit must be given to the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission aud its
officers for the progress made during the year. The Lake Lonsuale system of channels has now been carried
to a point nbout 200 miles from the source of supply, aud has reached well to the north of Lake Tyrrell.
This will probably be the northern limit of supply from this source. Long Lake and Nyan systems have
have also been extended, and now water a large exteut of country reaching westerly to Manangatang
township and railway station.
The system of providing for water storage by the sinking of suitable catchments has a~so been
cm1tinned with .a good measure of success, which would have been still greater had norma! rains fallen.
This system provides for the rapid watering of country which has not yet been reached by channels, and
h11.s been a considerable factor in establishing new settlement in certain parts of the .M:allee country.
The.following extensionR of Malice railway lines were completed Juring the year:Chillingollah to .M:anangatang.
oea Lake to Pier Millan.
Rainbow to Nypo.
The line from Swan Hill to Piangil is under construction, and is expected to be compl<>ted by next
harvest. The extensions northerly from Pier Millan and Manangatang are receiviug the attention of the
Railways Standing Committee, and will both give communicatio1~ to considerable areas of land suitable
for occupation. The featuring of this country to obtain the information necessary for its subdivision is
being proceeded with.
,.
The survey of new townships has been continued at local centres on the several linee, and
subdivisions have been made at Yaapeet, Nyah, Yatpool, Carwarp, Manangatang, Chinkapook, aud
Cocamba.
~ otwithstanding the unsatisfactory rainfall of the past year, the demand for .M:allee laud is we!
sustained, and 296 :t!lotmeuts with a total of about 219,000 acres have been surveyed. This land lies
within areas capable of being watered, and is also within practical carting distance of railway stations
the essentials of railway commuuicatiou and water supply being necessarily controlling factors in th~
progress of subdivision.
The selection of land other than Mallee has proceeded steadily in most parts of the State, 96 000
acres being dealt with in 1,321 allotments. This comprised grazing area leases, selections from le~ses
new selections, auriferous areas, and garden licence blocks. The auriferous htnds being situated around
old mining centres, in which the mining industry has of late years been a declining one, have afforded t.he
opportunity for obtaining homestead blocks under Section 103 suitable for orchard and other purposes
generally within easy distance of railway facilities. One huudred and forty-five blocks were taken u~
under this section during the year.
Further areas excised from State forests under the provision of the Forests Act of 1907 have been
made available and settled. These lands were situated in the parishes of Bylands, Clonbinane Whitfield
Toombullup and Bungil, and, being in most cases easily accessible, met with a ready demand. '
'
A further instalment o~ the Portland H~a.th. lan~ls was subdivide~ ~nd settled; . The development
of this country has been so satisfactory that actwn IS bemg taken to subd1v1da an additiOnal area; a survey
party being engaged on the work at present.
Enquiry for settlement land in Eastern Gippslaud has been again very limited, remoteness from
railway facilitie;;, and the difficulty of dealing with the rabbit pei!t, being factors tending to the retardation
of settlement in ·this pori ion of the State.
14359.
c
20
CLOSER SETTLEMENT SURVEYS.
The following irrigation areas have been subdivided during the year:Allo~ments.
Wharparilla (MeC~misky's)
Dingee
'
Kyabram
Murrabit (Watson's)
Murmbit and Benjeroop (Steer's and Bennett)
Tyntynder (Burton's)
Swan Hill
:
~yabram and'Girgarre (McDonald's)
: J\1i~<;ellaneous, ....
Total
Acres.
\10
!!'i2
19
456
37
12
1,734
1,050
2f)
1,486
24
1,200
19
97
8
856
2,7.58.
261
10,646
954
DrrPART~H:NTAL CHANGEs, PRoMoTION's, TRANSFERs, &c.
Consequent on my promotion to-the position of Surveyor General; the following changes have been
·
Mr. G. S. Pinniger, District Surveyor at Bairnsdale, was tran11ferrcd to Bendigo; Mr. F. Mott,
Distric~Sur.Veyor at Beualla, ,was promoted to Bairnsuale; and l\1r. R. ,J. Gray, Staff Surveyor in the
Me,lbourne district, was pf;omqted t? the ,positio~ of D,istrict Surveyor at Benalla; Mr. Moore succeeding
Mr. Gray in nfelbonrne; and Mr. Moore's position in the country being filled by.the promotion of Mr. W.
J. Grover, Licensed Surveyor,'whohad.been engaged iu the Head Office as examining draftsman.
m~e:-
'
!,
•
DisTRICT SuRVEYORs.
The District S'rtrveyors have been .fnlly employed dnring the year ·in supervising the work of the
Contract Surveyors in their respective districts, and in reporting upon aud classifying land to be matle
av,ailable for selection.· They ,also inspected and furnished repor.ts upo~t the grazing area leaseholds in
the several districts;
·
S1'AFJ.' SuRVEYORs.
:; :·- ,'fh~ departfi!eutal staff tms. been engage<l on
the work .of township and. selection subdivision, road
deviations in Gippsland, and road anti feature surveys in back country in advance of settlement. Three
have been employed in the :\1allee con~try in featuring land and locating roads and reserves prior to subdivision. Two have been employed in Gip.psland, chiefly on road surveys, and two have worked from
head office on road, subd~vision, and general set.tlem,·tit work.
· The aeath of Mr. P'al'cy Harvie d:uriug the year removed a painsk'\king and conscientious officer
who had carried out a good dea] of very m.eful work. ·
PuPIL DRA.Ii'TSMEN AND SuRVEYORS.
During the .year three · of the 'pupils completed their course of training, a.nd two passed the
examinations for certificates as Qualified Surveyors., Five pupils are obtaining field experience' unaer
Staff Snrveyors.
.
The death of Mr. Robbius, a promising pupil, is recorded with regret .
. CoNTRACT SuRVEYS.
The greater part of the settlement surveys of the State is, as formerly, carried out by surveyors
who hold assigned districts. Twenty-seven surveyors. have .been so employed during the year.
:
The death of Mr. A. W.,Craven, Chairman of Committees in the Legislative Assembly, Temoved
one of the best known of the Contract Surveyors of former· years.
Mr. Craven was associated with much of the pioneer. survey work of the Upper Murray country
until his entry into Parliamentary life, and his comparatively early death is a distinct loss to the
profession.
.
..
The following smrimary ·gives the expenditure on surveys (including cost of the work of
Sta:lf-8tirveyors) :...!.·
£ s. d.
i
•
3,114 12 10
Main road surveys· ·
3,117 17 4
Mallee subdivisions ·
1,402 19 6
Feature surveys
1,623 10 7
Snbdivision of land for sale ...
2,062 11 6
Selection surveys ( departu.ieutal)
Balance of fees on selection surveys (to· be repaid in instalments
221 6 6
by applicants)
174 18 0
Check surveys and Qonnexion line;;. ···: ·
170 9 4
. Re-su:veys for sale, selection, &c.
707 11 0
Reserves. and other s.i tes
802 18 5
Miscellaneous surveys
·: .
~.
Trust Fund fees collected from applicant,
I
J •
; ,
•
£13,398 15 0
6,482 10 10
£18,881
1\ 10
Amount collected and deposited in Trust.Fu'nd Account
Payments maue to Authorised Surveyors· -Amount of sur:vey fees refunded to .applicants .....
Amount of survey fees transferred to Revenue
'
'
... £9,5!:}0 18
0
... £12,134 14
401 14
.. '
3,879 10
3
9
6
19
.5
~
0FFI_CE STAFF.
Computing and Adfusl'i~g Braucn.'
In this Branch all Surveyors' Plans are examined, compared with field notes, and eom·putntions
checked.
·
:
The following were dealt with during the period under review:_:
Plans of surveys of township and country subdivisions, ronu surveys, Closer
70~
Settlement surveys, allo.tments for sale, &c.
'
Plans of selection surveys ...
910
Certified plans prepared for leases and grants ...
. .. 3,166
Certificates of adjustment prepared
89
The Staff consisted of OfnC'er in Charge and eight draftsmen.
Drafting Branch.
Township and parish plans compiled, full scnle ...
Township and parish plans revised and posted for new issues
Large record plans and tracings made
Plans of large subdivisional surveys drawn from Surveyor;;' uoles ...
Various tracings, chartings, and special plans
Certificates for Office of Titles
Certificated plans for certificate of Board of Land and Works
Technical de~criptions prepared for proclamations, reservations, &c.
Diagrams on Crown grants and leases
:I!
fl8
HO
107
1,370
383
33
867
5,213
LITH06RAPHIC BRANCB.
Coloured plans of lands made available for application, including Crown lands, Closer Settlement
estates, Irrigation :;ettlements, &c., were printed and, widely circulated throughout the State.
The usual supply of maps and: pla~s for departmental use and for sale to the public was also
printed. These comprised maps of. _the State, Coui;ty sheets, Parish and Township plans. Half-scale
Parish plans are now in great demand, par.ticularly since the passing of the Federal and State Lan(,l Tax
Acts. Tourist plans in large numbers were issued, and these Are much appreciated. by the travel1ing
public.
The aggregate number of plans printed was about 215,000.
ENGRAVER.
The work of the Eugraver consist.etl of the revision and posting of Geodetic_ sheets K, north and
south, G north, J north, L north, and S north.
PHOTOGRAPHIC WORK.
The work in this Branch has again been heavy on account of the amount of plan production undertaken for the Commonwealth, and for various State Departments. .
The photographic transfers prepared numbenill 505, and inciudetl all the various departmental
maps, as well as a variety of drawings for other Departments.
·
The combined staff of Draftsmen, Litho. Draftsmen, ·Engraver, Photographers, Printers, and Plan
Mounter, numbered 42.
'
For t.he Commonwealth and other State Departments work was ei:ecuted- representing a value as
shown below : £ 8. d,
Commonwealth Military maps
.
67 0 0
14 5 0
Chief Secretary's Department-Statistical maps
,
,
,
Electoral maps and technical descriptions
82 10 0
16 5 0
Public Works Department-Copying drawings
21 () 0
State Rivers and Water Supply Commi~sion
9 0 0
Country Roads Board
12 5 0
Sundries
-----
£222
Total
.Amount received as fees on certificates of alljnstmcrn was
Amount received for sale of maps, plans,
~c.
5
()
£:!37
0
£7 46' g
!;
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,
.A. B. L.AKG,
Surveyor-General.
22
APP.ENDIX C.
VERMIN DESTRUCTION AND WIRE-NETTING ACTS .
•
•
The Secretary,
I have the honour to. report as follows as to the above Acts for the financial J&ar 1913-14:RABBIT DESTRUCTION.
The following is the total expenditure for the financial year 1913-14:-
.£
s. d.
15,887 4 2
12.638 17 5
360 7 0
rnspectors'
Votes.
Salaries
...
Wages and Material
...
Fox and Wild Dog Subsidy
l
28,886
Collected from property ownerA and expended
private lands
8
,.,
/
on
15,320 14
Totui
44,207
6
3
There were sixty-seven inspectors and an average of abont 250 men employed ; but the latter
cannot be definitely stated, as the employment of the men was generally intermittent us r:ircumstunccs
required, varying from one day 10 the whole year.
It will be noted that, while the cxpendil.ure
shows an amount of £44,207; the actual vote was £28,886 8s. 7d. The difference of £15,320 lis. 6d.
is that which has been compulsorily expended upon landowners in accordance with the powers of the Act,
and which has to be repaid to the Crown. The amount of £12,63t! is that expended upon lands for
which the Crown is responsible.
Great success attended the operatioi1s, and complaints were remarkably few. This .was owing
chiefly 'to the gt·eat success of the strychnine apple and carrot poisoning, which has practically become the
thing in poisoning. Its wonderful utility at all times and seasons is becoming more genemlly known
every day. Its deadly certainty in winter, even when t,ho best of green feed is available, is beyond caviL
Used P' operly it simply combats the breeding seas.:>n. It stands in strocg contrn~t to the bad system of
leaving the rabbits practically untouche<l in winter an~ spring, which is customary wit.h many landhohlers,
and Jetting the young go till summer timP. and then trying to destroy them when full grown.
During
that interregnum necessarily infinite harm js done.
'l'hroughout the year :),000 ounces of strychnine and
140 tons of apples and carrots were used by this Department; in other words, from 15,000,000 to
18,000,000 baits, and this quantity, large as it is, is far behind the total used by landholders who complied
with the requirements 0f the Act
Very little summoning for failing to comply with the notices was necessary, as it was considered
that the exercise of the power to do the work at th.e expense of the non-complying landholders was
preferable. The money so spent was utilized in destroying the pest, and the moral effect of this action is
also quite as good, if not better, than court proceedings. The number of eases of prosecutions for the year
was only fourteen, covering £36 in fines, as contrasted with the amount of £15,320 spent on properties in
enforcing compliance. This amount is recoverable from the property owners.
FOXES.
The following ):able is interesting as showing the progress of the Fox Subsidy since the
year. 1900:;Year.
Hl00-1
1901-2
1902--3
1903-4
1904-5
1905-tl
1906-7
1907-8
1908-9
1909-10
1910-ll
1911-12
1912-13
1913-14
Foxe;:;.
31,520
48,000
45,500
33,000
26,165
26,478
21,422
25,558
22,315
15, 761!
10,26R
9,507
7,487
6,412
Subsidy,
£
1,970
3,000
2,844
2,050
1,313
1,092
919
1,126
1,029
699
470
385
393
360
~
urnlJcr of Shires paying bonus.
96
l:l8
lOO
IOI
so
66
55
M
51
47
39
38
28
25
At first rrlance it will be thought that the steady (liminution shows the success of the bonus system ; hut
this is 1~ot so. The reasons are as follow :-First: The continual increase in the value of fox skins
which formerly for the b0st skinswas no more than the bonus (2s. 6d.), but has steadily increased till la~~
year it reached l5s. or 16s. each. The. result is that the .fox is most persi_ste.ntl~ ~unted in every
direction.
Hardly any of th.ese goocl skms reaeh the Counc1ls because of thetr mtrmsiC. value.
The
second factor is the steady decrease in the. number of Councils giving the honns, as shown ip•the precetlinrr
table. This is owing partly to the fact that it is considered by many thnt the fox does more good tha~
harm in many districts owing to the unquestionably large numbers of mbbits it destroys (and in which
view I thoroughly concur), and also thnt it is beyond question that the districts of municipalities which do
not pay t.he bonus are certainly no worse off as regards foxes than thoso that do. All this goes to show
tha.t the fox is kept down beca.u11e of the valne of his skin, and requires no municipal impetus to that eud.
23
WILD DoGs ..
The wild dog is now becoming a somewhat negligible quantity.
Only in the Upper Murray and
Northern Gippsland and in the higher Mallee is he in evidence, and in these not to a great extent. Only
148 were paid for last year, and the number has been steadily diminishing.
Unlike its fellow pests, the
rabbit and the fox, it cannot in the same degree withstand the steady advance of settlement.
The
" Dingo" is now a thing of the past.
It has been absorbed in intermixing to such an extent with the
domestic dogs· that have· obeyed the call of the wild that I do not think there is now a pure dingo in
Victoria.
The dog borius ~ystem is; nevertheless, :t valuable one, as the skin being worth so little the
1mimai is never hunted on that account, and the inducement to kill is therefore necessary.
In point of
.fact, ~he present d;ty " wild dog" is far more to be dreaded than the origiual dingo, as the coumge of the
former is added to the cu11ning of the' latter, making a strong combination for ill-doing as the stockman
only too well knows.
THE AcT 'l'O AMEND
THE FENCES AcT.
A very considerable amount of good is being effected in the above connexiou in cases where
neighbours differ a~ to putting vermin proof ft')nces on their boundaries.
Irrespective of the number of
certificates i~sued, m:my hunclre<.ls of cases are settled amicably by the inspectors getting the contending
parties to settle their differeuces, and thus obviating the necessity of my issuing certificates and the
consequent legal proeeediugs between the owners.
AN AcT TO PROVIDE l!'OR SuPPLYING OwNmts oF LAND WITH WtRE-NE'l''l'ING FOR
v~;RMrN-PRooF F~;NcEs.
Under the above, the inspectors report upon all cases where the concession as regards netting next
Crowu l:mds is allowed to landholders. They s:tfeguard the Department by reporting whether· the
nettiug is pt·operly erected and iu the place applied for. Very valuable work is thus done in safeguarding
the interests o£ the Crown aud seeing that no abuse of the privilege takes place. Many hundreds of such
cltses are attended to.
F. E. A.LLAN,
Chief Inspector, V.D. Act
2l:lth Septem_ber, 1914.
24
APPENDIX D.
Botanic and Domain Gardens,
Melbourne, 28th September, 1914.
REPORT ON THE BOTANfC AND DOMAIN GARDENS AND TREASURY GARDENS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30TH JUNE, 1914.
The Secretary for I.ands,
Melbourne.
Sm, ·
I have the honour to submit a report on the principal activities at the above gardens from 1st July,
1913, to 30th June, 1914.
.
The staff comprises curator, assistant cumtor and accountant, seedsman and classifier, head
gnrdener, earpenter, assistant carpenter, mechanic, assistant mechanic, painters and writers (2), gardeners,
Grade I. (12), gardeners, grade II. (12), garden labourer,; (l7), junior gardeners (6), carters (4), labourer,
and watchman. One gardener, Grade f., and 2 garden labourers were employed continuously at Treasury
(lardens, awl 2 garden labourers at Studley Park. The wh:Jle of tile staff have rendered efficient service
.and generally deserve comrnendn.tion for their efforts.
The general work of mainten~nce of an area such :v; the Botanic Ga'rdens, with its extensive
lawns, shrnbiJeries, borders, lakes, and large specimen plants and tree~, involvc!i the propagation of plants
in considerable numbers, the cartage of large quantities of soil and manure for lawn and border dres::~ing,
t.he application of sufftcient water, and the :various acts of tillage, mowing, pruning, removal of rubbish,
asphalting paths, weed cutting ant! trimming of aquatic plants, etc., in addition to the seasonal planting,
raising, and general cnlt:nre of various classes of herbaceous and other plants, which are at.tended to in
such n manner ns to produce as good an effect as possible at various seasons of· the year. It may fairly
be claimed that the gurdens, during ihe period covered by this report, were finer in many respects than
at any previous period, and, generally, were quite equal to the best yet obtained.
Excepting a few minorinstances no alterations i.:tve been made in the general plan of the gar~ens.
On account of the increasing number of visitors daily, and particularly on holidays and Sundays, it was
found necessary t.o enlarge the rnflin path from gate A, near Auderson-street bridge, for a considerable
distance. The congestion in the vicinity of the te;~ honse necessitated, too, the alteration of the beds
and groups there, provision being matle by a~lding to t.he lawn space for a much larger number of people
than heretofore. During thi,; operation a(l vantage was taken of the opportunity for altering and
improving several groups and beds in th;;, vicinity and replenishing them with more. attractive plants
than were formerly grown. In the ordinary course of events plants become aged, enfeebled, and obsolete,
and require to be removed or transplanted at times. A system of rotation has been generally introduced
t.hat is proving satisfactory in every way.
New plants are bein~ constantly added to the collection. At tho same time no plant of value has
been discarded or lost. It has IJeen fonnd possible, by reducing the number of spemmens of certain
widely planted species, to add greatly to the list of desirable plants with increttsed value to the general
effect. The greater portion of the new plants added have b()cll received a~ donations, or in exchange for
plants or seeds raised or saved in the gardens. This plan has proved highly satisfactory and economical.
The amount of money set apart fur plants and soetls is very small, aud is mostly spent in the purchase of
graes sce(ls for the lawns, the wear of which is nat.urally great by reason of the number of visitors who
use them. Victorian nmserymen and seedsmen generally have very generously supplied new plants or
s~eds fo the gardens, and, as far as llossible, certain exchanges have been made that probably balance
the account. A ruling that no plants be sold or distributed gratuitously' has b~en observed r-enerally.
Exchanges have beeq made mainly with public bodies, whereby surplus plants have been dist.ributed,
soils, manures, &c., being occasionally received in exchange. It has been part of the policy of the place
to encourage in every possible way the pursuits of horticulture and botany, and at the same time to
respect fully certain vest.ed in~erests.
A large new propagating house has been built during the year. No special appropriation was
made for the purpose, the building, tanks, &c., being erected and made by the staff of mechanics, who·
performed the work in a most satiHfactory manner.
On this staff devolves the maintenance and
improvement of various structures in the gardens, the repair of mowing machines, tools, hoses, &c., and
repair, renewal, additions, &c., to the water supply reticulation.
The Melbourne Botanic Gardens possesses one of the best systems of labelling extaut. This
opinion is often expressed by visitors with capacity and opportunity for judging, ineluding professors of
botany and agricnlt.ure from all parts of the world. At pre.sent all· that is being done is the maintenance
of a system that has been in vogue for many years.
The conservatorv, orchid, and other hot-houses have been kept in good order, the various tender
plants cultivated being in gootl health 1md providing an ttttmctive and educational feature i11 the gardens.
The lar"e conservatory has. been opened to the public every afternoon, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays
includecf, between the hom·s of 2 11nd 4 p.m. Visitors wishing to view the orchid and other houses are
permitted to tlo so 011 applicati_on at the olfice.. l t is twp~tl t.hat an arrange~ent will soon be .possible that
will permit of these hou<>cs bemg genero.lly opene.! to v1~1tors at a stated penod each day, as m the case of
the conservatory. At present the propttgating section is ~;o associatf,d with the other houses that it would
not be possible to generally admit all visitors.
25
The Lily Lake has been made additionally attractive by the introduction of new varieties of water
lilies, most of which were donated by the Director of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Dr. :M. Ho1tze, I.S.O.
These plants are extensively cultivated in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, and many tropical varieties
could be obtained from there, including the ~lorious Vic~oria regia, if a suitable house and tank were
provided. Such a hot-house would cost about £500, and would cenainly be a great feature of. the gardens.
A suitable site and area has been specially reserved, in t.he hope that it may he built in the near fnture.
The sacred lotus (Ne!umbium speciosum), also obtained from Adelaide, has grown splendidly, and in its
8 eason of blooming is probably the most admired and at;,,racth e plant growing in this State.
The Museum and System Pavilion, where plants are grown in pots and arranged in systematic order,
have been opened on two afternoons in each week throughout the year. Those places are much used and
appreciated by tcnchcrs and students of botany. Assochtted with the Museum is the Herbarium where
specimens of all genera and species procurable, most of which were grown in the gardens, are preserved.
Much use has been made of this collection by the scientific and inquiring public, aml thousands of
specimens were compared and named for V!trious institutions and persons. In addition, specimens for
various scientific purposes were regularly eupplied t,o many places, including the Working Men's College
for Art clat~ses, Pharmacy College, many High Schools and other educational centres. Seeds were also
distributed from t.his clivision, over 1,000 packets, mainly Australian genera and species, being sent to
places in different parts of the world, including England, Ireland, France, Germany, Russia, Spain,
Austria, Italy, Japan, United States of America, Brazil, &e., &c. Almost an equal number of packets of
seeds were received in exchange from the same places.
At the Domain, work has been done with the object of making it a well-tended, pleasant park.
The grass has been watered and regularly cut, and the.trees pruned properly. The result has justified the
effor&. The Treasury Gardens have been treated as in former years. The ,Japanese Garden was well
cultivated as a choie& garden area, the remainder being treated as a park, well grassed and shady.
Visitors to the gardens have increased in number year by year, the past year probably showing a
greater number generally than any previous year. As a general rule they have ·been well behaved, and
very little damage or loss has been occasioned. During the season when wnttle blossom was abundant in
the Domain some damage was done, and the intervention of the police was necessary, !Jut, on the whole,
may be said that the public who visited the gardens were appreciative and behaved creditably.
Band performances for charitable purposes were permitted on several occasions without damage.
It is necessary to restrict the number of these performances, and to arrange that they be made at certain
periods only, to insnre the protection of the In.wns, plants, &c.
Horticultural societies were assisted by displays of cut flowers, &c., at the principal exhibitions in
Melbourne, by addresses to members at meetings of the v~trions suburban societies on different phases of
horticulture, and by assisting in judging exhibits of plants, flowers and fruit.
I. personally delivered the addresses mentioned, and generally acted ns judge when free to do so. J
assisted the State Rivers aud Water Commission in this way by acting ns judge of an orchard
competition at Mildura, and elsewhere in tbe norLbern districts, and also acted as judge of pruning for
fruit-grower~. My assista.nce has been frequent!! requested by various public bodies in matters relating
to the plannmg and plantmg of areas under the1r control, and I have tlone what I could to aid them
·
accordingly.
The total expenditure on the gardens during the year amounted to .£9,fi70
I have the honour to be, sir,
Your obedient servant,
J. CRONIN,
Curator.
By Authority :
J.
MuLLETI,
Government Printer, Melbourne