30G PUOCEEDI^'GS OF SECTION C. 



its use ; it has become proverbial that a coal mining district means a 

 manufacturing town. Their names are too well known in England, 

 America, and these States to need recapitulation. Not only do they 

 clioapen manufactures by supplying an indispensable requisite, but to- 

 some extent form a market for the manufactured articles. The coal 

 mines of New South Wales supplied more than three millions sterling 

 worth of coals last year, New Zealand nearly a million's worth, 

 Queensland nearly a quarter of a million's worth, and West Australia,, 

 Victoria, and Tasmania gave smaller amounts, and it is one of 

 the fortunate circumstances of our position that we can supply the 

 possible demands of the Southern hemisphere Avith all its requirements 

 in the matter of coal. This means its use in the commerce of the 

 country, whether interstate or intercontinental, whether on land or 

 sea, whether for light as gas or to gather and store tlie electric fluid. 

 It is used to cool the mine and to raise the steam, to cook the break- 

 fast, or to drive the leviatlian of the deep. But all the interests are 

 interdependent. 



And while the wandering of the nomadic hatter and the working 

 of the industrious miner have not infrequently become the means of 

 discoveiing metals and minerals of which they were not in search, 

 they have sometimes been I'ewarded beyond their most sanguine 

 expectations by the discoveiy of such in immediate connection with 

 tliose on which they were at work. Valuable gems, precious stones, 

 even diamonds and sapphires, have been foxmd in connection with the 

 gathering of stream tin or otherwise, for we find that diamonds have 

 been found in New South Wales ; for in a single annual report mention 

 is made of diamonds, emeralds, opal, and gems, and of the single item, 

 noble opal, more than worth a million sterling has been obtained. 

 Victoria claims the possession of diamonds, sapphires, &c. ; Queensland^ 

 possesses diamonds, sapphires (the sapphire fields of Anakie are in 

 good i-epute), opal, emerald, the turquoise of Keppel Island, itiby, 

 topaz, agates, and all the minor gem stones ; South Australia lias not 

 been immindful of these ornaments of the feminine form, and useful 

 adjuncts to the stock of the lapidaiy and the craft of the jeweller. 

 West Australia has produced them, so -that all the continental 

 States possess them. New Zealand, too, can lay claim to their posses- 

 sion, and probably is the most likely member of the group to yield 

 them in quantity. Tasmania only goes the length of having a lease 

 ii) force to search for precious stones. Tourmaline, rock crystal, 

 amethysts, jasper, and the like ai-e well kno-wm throughout the States, 

 and doubtless many of these, and other stones more massive, but 

 which take an excellent polish, will in a short time become objects of 

 industrial pursuit and profit. 



Another rare and valuable mineral, the representative of a 

 class, is found both in New South Wales and Queensland, that is, 

 platinum; it is, however, a metal, and found on the sandy shores of 

 our coast, and may yet be foimd in the undisturbed alluvium of the 

 littoral adjoining. 



The minerals of which an accoimt has been obtained, it will be 

 seen, have amounted to £792,360,278. a large sum for the few people 

 who have been in these colonies, and have been engaged in that enter- 

 prise ; and, with the exception of New South Wales and Victoria, it 



