144? Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 



neighbourhood would probably yield evidence of other 

 horizons. He thought they were under a heavy obligation 

 to Mr. Dennant for having given attention to this district, 

 and he had certainly added, in a material way, to their 

 knowledge of the geology of Victoria. 



The President said that one question suggested by the 

 debate, was the question whether something might not be 

 done in the way of urging the Government to re-commence 

 the geological survey of the Colony on some complete 

 system. In the old days there was a definite geological 

 department, with Mr. Selwyn at the head, and a number of 

 beautifully-finished geological maps had been brought out, 

 covering ]jarts of the Colony. They had from time to time, 

 at rather irregular intervals, received occasional maps of 

 isolated districts, but there did not seem to be anything like 

 a uniform and comprehensive survey of the country in pro- 

 gress. Could not something be done in the Avay of agitating 

 for such a survey ? It was considered part of the duty of 

 the Governments of most civilized countries to conduct such 

 investigations, and in this country, where mining formed 

 such an important factor in our progress, and contributed so 

 largely to our revenues, one would have thought that geolog- 

 ical surveying would be regarded as of sufficient importance 

 to warrant a reasonable yearly expenditure. The geological 

 survey under Mr. Selwj^n had been given up at a time when 

 the country was very much poorer than at present, and its 

 revenues very much smaller, and in those days probably 

 there had been economical reasons for the step taken ; but 

 now, when there was double the population, and double or 

 triple the revenue that existed at the time of Mr. Selwyn's 

 departure for Canada, it surely would not be a very large 

 thing to ask that something should be done in the way of 

 steadily and continuously following up the geological survey 

 of the country on lines similar to those laid down by Mr. 

 Selwyn. 



Mr. Griffiths thought the suggestion a very excellent 

 one, and if it were within the functions of the Society to 

 move in the matter, steps should be taken to memorialise 

 the Government. Very excellent work was being carried on 

 by Mr. Reginald Murray and his assistants, but under 

 existing circumstances, that gentleman could not possibly do 

 any large amount of work ; and he was quite sure that if the 

 staff were re-organised and set to work, the benefits derived 



