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New South Wales.* It is estimated that the extent of territory bearing timber of commercial value is 15,000,000 acres, or 7-5 per cent, of the total area of the State. Of this area, 7,155,902 acres are reserved for the preservation and growth of timber, the balance consisting of unreserved Crown lands and private lands. There are about twenty varieties of hardwood timbers of commercial value indigenous to the State. Of these, ironbark stands pre-eminent for strength and durability. Other hardwoods in demand are tallow-wood, red-gum, blackbutt, the mahoganies, spotted gum, grey-gum, blue-gum, turpentine, and others. In soft or brush woods there are many varieties, the best-known being red-cedar, hoop-pine, cypress-pine, rosewood, white-beech, silky oak, red and black bean, native teak, coachwood, and blackwood. The total quantity of commercial timber estimated to be at present standing in the State (excluding timber growing on private lands) amounts to 23,116,000,000 sup. ft., consisting of, — Hardwoods. Sup ft. Ironbark 1,355,000,000 Other hardwoods, for milling .. .. .. .. 8,668,000,000 For other purposes .. .. .. .. .. 11,788,000,000 21,811,000,000 Softwood*. Sup ft. Cedar 5,000,000 Hoop-pine 230,000,000 Other brushwoods .. .. .. .. 150,000,000 Cypress-pine ... .'. .. 920,000,000 1,305,000,000 It was estimated that in 1907 the quantity of timber removed from the forests of the State was about 650,000,000 sup. ft., consisting of 590,000,000 ft. of hardwoods, and 60,000,000 ft. of softwoods. At the present rate of consumption, it is estimated that the quantity of hardwood timber suitable for commercial purposes standing on forest reserves and other Crown lands of the State will not last for more than about thirty-six years, and that our supply of softwoods will be consumed in a little more than twenty years. Owing to the remarkable reafforestative powers of most of our hardwoods, however, it is estimated that in the course of the next ten years there will be sufficiently mature on the forest reserves to be of commercial value 6,776,000,000 sup. ft. of hardwood, or, roughly, at the present rate of consumption, an additional eleven years' supply. With regard to softwoods, we estimate that during the same period 455,000,000 sup. ft. will sufficiently mature to be fit for commercial use, or about eight vears' additional supply at the present rate of consumption. In 1906 the quantity of local timber sawn or hewn was 119,337,000 sup. ft., and 48,235,648 sup. ft. of sawn timber was exported, whilst logs amounting to 1,456,972 sup. ft. were also shipped away. In 1907 the quantity had increased to 360,000,000 sup. ft. Victoria. The timbers of commercial value number twenty, all species of the Eucalyptus family. Blackwood is a very valuable commercial timber; it is an acacia (A. melanoxylon). Pine timber from the State plantations is now being sold at remunerative rates. There are about 12,000,000 acres of woodland in Victoria, of which over 4,600,000 acres are set aside as climatic reserves, and for the production of timber. Of the State forest domain some 3,000,000 acres are situated on the slopes of high mountain-ranges, and their protection is essential for the maintenance of streams and springs ; over 500,000 acres are not at present accessible for practical working ; 500,000 acres are closed for the protection of the young timber ; andftimber-cutting is carried on in the remaining area of 600,000 acres. The number of forest sawmills working in 1907 was 119, and the timber sawn amounted to about 75,900,000 sup. ft. Victoria imports a considerable quantity of timber, including large quantities of American Oregon and Baltic deal. In 1907 the total value of timber imported was £759,433, and the imports from Australian States and New Zealand amounted to £252,797. On the other hand her exports of timber were relatively small, amounting to onlv £64,654, and the value of Victorian timber exported to Australian States and New Zealand was £17,243. Of the timber imported into Victoria in 1907 New Zealand contributed 122,826 pounds' worth. Many Victorian timbers are extremely dense and hard, such as red-gum, blue-gum, white-gum or peppermint, ironbark, &c. Other important species are the grey-box and Bairnsdale grey-box, the yellow-box, stringv-bark, spotted-gum, blackwood, cypress-pine, &c. In 1906, the amount of sawn timber exported was only 145,812 sup. ft., whilst 2,298 sup. ft. of logs was also exported.

* Extracts from the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry on Forestry, New South Wales, 1908. 14—C. 4.