252 E. 0. Tkkle: 



possibility of the glacial origin of the conglomerate was dis- 

 cussed, but the question was left an open one. La.tier observa- 

 tions suggest that the deposit is most likely due to ordinary 

 aqueous agency, probably a shore line congiomerate. The scope 

 for further e^nquiry, howefs^er, became evident, and opportunities 

 to again visit the area were waited for. These were availed of 

 two years later, when an extensive three weeks' exploration was 

 planned into the heart of the little known region north of Wel- 

 lington, including, on the return, an examination of the serpen- 

 tine area. The somewhat travel-worn condition of the party on 

 arrival at this locality after two weeks' rough travelling, to- 

 gether with depleted stores, somewhat lessened the opportuni- 

 ties relied on for working the serpentine area. A considerable 

 quantity of material, however, was collected for chemical and 

 petrological examination. A fossiliferous limestone was noted, 

 containing an abundant brachiopod, identified by Mr. Chapman 

 as Platystrophia biforala. The limestone was considered as re- 

 presenting the Yeringian division of the Silurian series. Strati- 

 graphical evidence supporting this, however, was not available. 

 More problems were really raised than were solved, so that in the 

 following year a third visit was made. This time hea^y rains 

 and flcoded rivers somewhat inq>eded observations, but as more 

 time was available a good deal of additional information was 

 collected. Fresh limestone outcrops were examined, and at 

 one spot abundant but fragmentary trilobite remains were dis- 

 covered. The relations of tlie jasperoid slates to the more 

 normal graptolite slate was worked out, but the complete 

 stratigraphical succession was rendered somewhat puzzling by 

 the examination by Mr. Chapman of the trilobites from the 

 limestone. 



About the middle of last year (1907), the occurrence of mas- 

 sive corundum was reported from the serpentine area, and Mr. 

 Dunn, Director of the Geological Survey, in company with Pro- 

 fessor Skeats, of the Melbourne University, paid a flying visit 

 to examine the occurrence, the first of its kind known in \ ic- 

 toria. Only a few days were available for geological observa- 

 tions, which were further limited by the roughness of the 

 country. Both gentlemen, however, were impressed with the 

 interest and complexity of the geology. An account of Mr. 

 Dunn's observations appeared in the "Mining Standard," Oct. 



