126 EEPOET— 1891. 



;are becoming expert in recognising the ore — that a very large 

 area in the north-eastern district of Victoria will be proved 

 •stanniferous, and will become the Cornwall of Australia as re- 

 gards tin-mining. The lodes are, properly speaking, dykes of 

 coarse and fine griesen, pegmatite, graphic granite, and allied 

 forms of rock traversing micaceous and nodular schists ; they 

 are in places exceedingly rich in tin-ore, masses of which have 

 been found over oOlb. in weight. Crystals are rare, the ore 

 occurring in large and small irregularly-shaped pieces plenti- 

 fully disseminated through the stone. There are those who, 

 from experience in other parts of Australia, predict that these 

 lodes or dykes will become poor as followed down to depths ; 

 but with every wish to avoid undue optimism I cannot share 

 in this view. 



Considering that outcrops rich in tin-ore have been found 

 at elevations over 1,000ft. apart, and those exposed in creek- 

 beds or low down on spurs are no poorer than those on 

 the ranges, it does not seem likely that any serious deteriora- 

 tion will be found to occur, though, as a matter of course, it 

 may be expected that the ore-bearing stone will lie in " shoots," 

 separated by poor or barren intervals both longitudinally and 

 downwards. 



As active mining operations and the erection of crushing- 

 and dressing-plants are in full progress, a very few months 

 will probably enable it to be determined whether tin-mining 

 in Victoria is likely to become as important as present indica- 

 tions foretell. 



Any mention of coal-mining may excite a smile amongst 

 those who know how small, how few, and how dislocated are 

 the Victorian coal-seams compared with those of other Austra- 

 lian colonies. Nevertheless what coal there is possesses good 

 qualities, and is remuneratively workable with proper economy 

 and appliances, and the industry is advancing — perhaps spas- 

 modically, but still with a nearer approach to success at 

 each effort. A dividend — the first, and due certainly to the 

 high prices during the recent strike — has lately been paid from 

 the proceeds of a Victorian coal-mine, and I venture to predict 

 that the colony will yet in a considerable measure supply 

 home requirements independently of fictitious prices. 



The brown coal or lignite which occurs in beds of such 

 enormous thickness, unequalled perhaps in the world, has not 

 proved a satisfactory fuel in its raw state, but can with proper 

 appliances be manufactured at a cheap rate into briquettes 

 not much inferior to coal as fuel. It may be expected that 

 this industry will before long assume great proportions, and 

 that the valuable clays which are associated with the lignites 

 will in the presence of so cheap and plentiful a fuel be largely 

 utilised. 



