192 



the Western silver fields may probably be classed as Upper 

 Silurian, and the well-known massive crystalline limestones 

 as Lower Silurian, or Cambrian. All the rocks of these 

 separate systems are much bent and folded, with anticlinal 

 axes exposing the older members of the whole series, and 

 tiviuliiiLr generally north and south, but often much contorted 

 on the line of strike. The effect of this is that the several 

 formations crop out at intervals across the whole of the 

 western country, and those which have been successfully 

 worked, and appear to have run out, may be met with again 

 at no very great distance to the east or west. It is this 

 circumstance that poiuts conclusively to the importance of 

 opening routes fit for horse or foot traffic through the heart 

 of the unexplored country. If he is but given access to the 

 scene of operations, the prospector or explorer may be left to 

 do the rest himself. 



Some account may now be given of what has already been 

 attempted in this direction, with suggestions as to the 

 character and object of the work that still remains to be 

 done, and these may be prefaced by a brief notice of the two 

 schemes for reaching Zeehan by an extension of the railway 

 system from Mole Creek in the north and Grlenora in the 

 south. 



The first was to follow the general direction of the Y.D.L. 

 Co.'s old track, but bearing to the south after crossing the 

 Mersey, and continuing on in a south-westerly direction 

 between Barn Bluff and Mount Pelion to its final destination. 

 A trial survey of the greater part of this route was made in 

 1891-2, but not without encountering serious obstacles in the 

 shape of almost Alpine heights, steep grades, and other 

 engineering difficulties, and the survey of the western portion 

 of the line was not completed. A similar tale may be told of 

 the railway survey which was projected for the extension of 

 the Derwent Valley line to the westward Between Grlenora 

 and the Ouse there are no obstacles of any great importance, 

 but between this point and Navarre Plains many formidable 

 difficulties embarrassed the surveyors. The route finally 

 selected would cross the Nive near its junction with the 

 Derwent, and follow the left bank of the latter river to a point 

 not far from the Wentworth Hills, the direction of its con- 

 tinuation being dependent on the route adopted for 

 the rest of the line. The surveyor in charge of the 

 western portion, after a careful examination of the 

 country between Lake St. Clair and Mount Arrowsmith, 

 fiually decided on a line skirting Navarre Plains, and 

 by Lake Dixon and Mount Eufus into the Cuvier Valley. 

 From the Cuvier Valley the survey was continued south of 

 Coal Hill, and by a circuitous route around Gould's Sugar 



