856 president's address. 



bearing strata belong to the cretaceous formation. This for- 

 mation occurs in Queensland, and the discovery of it at Dunlop 

 is of great importance, as indicating its extension under the pleis- 

 tocene formation, throughout the low-lying portion of the basin 

 of the Darling, and also the probability of its yielding good water. 

 In this district we have, therefore, two sources of water supply 

 — first, from the pleistocene drifts, and secondly that from the 

 underlying cretaceous beds." 



Subsequently on the 6th November, Mr. "Wilson communicates 

 to Mr. Wilkinson the following important results, obtained by 

 him at No. 2 Kapiti well. " It is deeper than Mount Wilson 

 well, and the spring of water much stronger. It rises to within 

 10 feet of the surface. There is about 50 feet of tough black 

 clay not found in Mount Wilson shaft. These two wells I think 

 clearly prove that a good supply of fresh water can be found 

 underneath the salt water." 



"The second deep well on Dunlop is called No. 2 Kapiti, 20 miles 

 west of Mount Wilson well, and is 572 feet deep, the water rising 

 to within 10 feet of the surface. These two wells are a good 

 test that fresh water lies underneath the salt water at a depth of 

 from 500 to 600 feet, and that it will rise in the shaft to a practi- 

 cable bailing distance, so that it can be made available for stock. 

 Kapiti well was started two and a half years ago, a six feet by 

 three feet shaft with a centre was sunk to a depth of 300 feet ; 

 it was then abandoned for a time, as it was considered too ex- 

 pensive to go on with the shaft. Salt water was struck in this 

 shaft at a depth of 1 6 feet, this water was not fit for stock, and 

 had to be puddled back ; no good puddle clay could be found in 

 the locality, so it had to be carted 30 miles, and after two 

 attempts the puddling was successfully accomplished. Sinking 

 then went on to a depth of 240 feet from the surface through a 

 hard blue clay, similar to the strata gone through at Mount 

 Wilson, containing shells, water-worn pebbles, and petrified 

 wood. At the last-mentioned depth a layer of hard sandstone 



