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Considerable areas of land have been proclaimed reserves in the vicinity of the principal limestone caves, as well as at smallei caves, These caves are all under the control of the Intelligence Department, and are in charge of permanent employees- —caretakers and guides—who are all special constables. Stringent regulations are in force for the preservation of the natural formations, 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 exceptional cases, where they are particularly attractive, that any resumptions are made. It has been the aim of the Government to devote the most attention to the three principal series of caves —viz., Jenolan, Yarrangobilly, and Wombeyan—and large sums of money have been spent on their development and improvement. They are considered national assets, and will in time be a source of large direct revenue, as well as affording an indirect return through the railways, &c. The other caves are mainly of local interest, and will probably be taken over by the respective Shire Councils. (Report by Robert McDonald, Acting Under-Secretary, Department of Lands, Sydney.) Queensland. —Considerable areas of land of scenic value have been reserved in various parts of the State, and several of these have also beeji proclaimed national parks under the provisions of "The State Forests and National Parks Act, 1906." Other areas at present only reserved will doubtless from time to time be similarly proclaimed, and thus secured against alienation except with the approval of Parliament. Nothing has yet been done to develop the natural advantages of these areas, and no areas have been acquired by purchase. (Report by W. J. Scott, Under-Secretary, Department of Public Lands, Queensland.) South Australia. —The only efforts which have been made in this State to preserve the natural scenery are the creation of the National Park at Belair and the reservation of the Waterfall Gully aiea near Burnside. Negotiations are, however, in progress for dedicating portion of the western end of Kangaroo Island as a "Fauna and Mora " reserve. (Report by Walter Gill, Conservator of Forests.) Tasmania. —Scenery-preservation in Tasmania has not yet passed beyond the initiatory stages. Where waterfalls, limestone caves, lakes, and other natural features of a beautiful order exist, the Crown land surrounding them has been withdrawn from selection, tracks cut, and aocommodationbouses built. Notably is this the case at bake St. Clair. Bartz Mountains, ami Interlaken. Where there is a sufficient local population the resorts are placed under the control and management of the Municipal Council or other body of a local character. This is the case with the Queen's Domain, Hobart, where some 600 acres of park-like land is being beautified by tree-planting. The Corporation of Hobart voted a sum which is annually spent in this direction, and a local committee arrange with the Government as to how the money can be mosi usefully expended. The Lauhceston Corporation continues to improve the beauty-spots in and around the city. The Tasmanian Government has in one or two instances repurchased land where limestone caves have been found to exist. (Report by E. A. Counsel, Secretary for Lands, Tasmania I Victoria. —Special attention is now being given to the protection of places of scenic importance and to the development of tourists' resorts. By a wise decision in 1881 the permanent reservations of all the unappropriated land along all the rivers and important creeks in the State to the extent of from one to three chains in width were made, and, in addition, large numbers of reservations of specific areas as parks, water reserves, reserves for public purposes have been effected. These include numerous lakes, water storages, waterfalls, hill crests, high mountain peaks, rugged areas of special interest, cave oountry, mineral springs, &c. To a limited extent land purchases have been made where by alienation in early years some places of peculiar interest were disposed of. Many of the reserves are under the joint control of the Board of Land and Works, and Municipal Councils; others are under municipal control alone, while in numerous cases local committees of management appointed by the Board of Land and Works have charge of the reserves. For special areas, such as Buchan Caves, the Department of Lands and Survey exercises the control and directs all improvement works. Parliamentary votes (this year of £12,590) are dealt with by the Minister of Lands, limited sums being given to the local councils (under the Local Government Act) for improvement works, while the large works are carried out by the Public Works Department. For the development of Mount Buffalo, one of the finest features in Australia, a sum of £5,000 is being expended this year on road construction. It is intended to erect an accommodation house and provide attractions during the snow periods. (Report by J. M. Reed, 1.5.0., Surveyor-General, Victoria.) Western Australia. —An Act entitled the " Permanent Reserves Act " was passed in December, 1889, to enable reservations made of suitable lands for parks, beauty-spots, <fee, to be permanently reserved. Cnder this Act considerable attention has been paid to protection of beautyspots, and lands for national parks, recreation, caves, fauna and flora protection, water-conserva-tion (including catchment-areas), waterfalls, lakes, State forests, &c, have been set apart and reserved, whilst in several instances private lands have been purchased for one or other of these purposes. All these are gazetted as Class A reserves under the above Act, and cannot be altered otherwise than by Act of Parliament. (Report by R. Cecil Clifton, Under-Secretary for Lands, Western Australia.) Many national parks (corresponding to New Zealand scenic reserves and national parks) have been so set aside, among them being the " King's Park," of about a thousand acres, and other parks in the immediate vicinity of Perth, whilst a " National Park." of about 4,000 acres, situated a few miles beyond the junction of the Eastern and Midland Railways, about twenty-five miles east of Perth, has also been reserved, with many other smaller areas, for recreation and similar purposes.