Geology of N'dlo.li cootie. 287 



A few nifles below the proposed weir site the valley com- 

 mences to widen out, and the river flows on throu<rh Benalla, 

 over open alluvial plains, and joins the Goulbum at Shepparton. 

 About six miles below Benalla the Broken Creek leaves the main 

 river and runs in a north-westerly and westerly direction to join 

 tho Murray. 



At Gowanirardi the Broken River Hows between low hills of 

 Silurian sediments, and there is little doubt that this part of 

 its course is of comparatively recent oriu'in, and tliat Broken 

 Creek was formerly the main stream, the p'adual building- up of 

 which led to the formation of a newer and shorter course to the 

 G-oulburn. 



The source of the main stream is in the hills to the north of 

 Mansfield, and it is soon joined in the Parish of Dueran by 

 Bridge Creek and Blue Range Creek, which rise in the Tolmie 

 Highlands, and Thomson's Creek, which rises in the hills to the 

 south. Just at the northern boundary of the Parish of Nillah- 

 cootie the river is joined on the west by Sandy Creek, whose 

 source is in the eastern portion of the Strathbogies. Abovit a 

 milo further north Back Creek, with its tributary. Wild Dog 

 Creek, enter the river from the east. 



To the west of the river valley at Xillahcootie lies the some- 

 what dissected pene-plaiu of the Strathbt^gie. The general level 

 of this area ranges from a thousand to fifteen hundred feet above 

 sea level, but here and there hills like Mt. Separation and Mt. 

 Barrenhet stand well up above the surrounding country. 



On the eastern side the country is more rugged, the ascent 

 from the river being rapid, and in some places precipitous, falls 

 150ft. high being found on both Back Creek and Wild Dog 

 Creek. The highest point in this neighbourhood is Mt. Samaria, 

 Avhich rises to a height of 31.38ft. above sea leved. On the 

 slopes of Mt. Samaria some good grassy flats are niet with, luit 

 south and east from this point the country is extremely rough, 

 very heavily timbered, and rendered almost impassable by the 

 dense gi'owth of wattle and other sciiib. Other prominent hills 

 on the eastern side of the river are Hat Hill and Mt. Wombat. 

 The country above the proposed weir site is fairly open, as the 

 river here flows th^>ugh undulating country composed of Car- 

 boniferous sandstone, and is only separated on the south from the 

 basin of the Goulburn River bv a low ridire of similar rocks. 



