MINING AND GEOLOGY IN AUSTRALASIA. 307 



does not appear that they include in that categoiy the output of 

 building stone, lime, cement, slates, flags, or clay, or any such 

 materials, Avhich are as necessaiy for use within the States as are 

 the metalliferous minerals for exportation, and even the latter class 

 may be largely used within the States under present conditions, as 

 iron, mercury, and the like. Coal is not a metalliferous mineral, and is 

 almost entirely used in, or in connection with, the States, but worthily 

 finds a place in the statistics of production. The States have fallen 

 into line in estimating the gold production by the return of fine ounces 

 from the Mint, and they would do well to go further in that direction, 

 and fall into line touching the inclusion of all such minerals as those 

 indicated. We do well to aim at supplying our own wants, to cultivate 

 that spirit of '■' self-dependent power which time defies," it saves the 

 cost of transit and exchange. And taking these unconsidered trifles 

 into account, as is done in Great Britain, the States would be on an 

 evjual footing, and the mineral statistics more cojnplete and correct. 



It may be stated briefly that the increase or benefit or '" pi'o- 

 gress "' achieved during the two septennial periods has been, on the 

 total output, 77 and 32 '6 per cent. The increases in each class have 

 already been given. The increase since your last meeting has been, 

 on gold, 122 per cent., and on other metals and minerals 149 per cent. 

 On the whole production it has been 135 per cent. 



The foregoing remarks deal almost exclusively with the progress 

 of mining, whilst that of geology has not been so particularly 

 specified, nor is the writer aware of any very special discoveiy having 

 been made by the devotees of that science recently, but the regular 

 routine work of iexaminaltion, mapping, and reporting has been 

 diligently and persistently carried on throughout all the States and the 

 Dominion by energetic and competent men, whose hearts are in the 

 work, and who feel that they are adding to the sum of useful human 

 knowledge, laying bare the secrets of Nature, and opening avenues of 

 profitable employment for thousands of their fellow men, who will 

 follow in their wake as prospectors, miners, and others for whom such 

 openings provide emplo}anent. The proper function of the geologist 

 is not to usurp the legitimate duties of his followers or successors; the 

 scientific aspect of the land in which we live is the field of his explora- 

 tion ; he may indicate the nature of the formations which come under 

 his notice, he may suggest the possibility, even the probability, of 

 their containing metalliferous deposits, he may state that this is a 

 carboniferous area, and may contain coal and iron. That is an ancient 

 granite, which may contain tin lodes, or being decomposed by atmos- 

 pheric and other influences, may give rise to a deposit of tin in the 

 plains or the streams below. Another may be metamorphic, gneiss, 

 clay, slate, or any of the various grades, which indicate silver, copper, 

 or other metallic minerals. He paves the way for the prospector and 

 miner, who, having been preceded by the geologist, are not 

 likely to sink lai'ge fortunes in boring and sinking for coal, as has 

 been done in England, where no coal could possibly be pi'csent. The 

 benefits which geological science has conferred on these States and the 

 Dominion in pointing out the probable position of metallic deposits, 

 or in actually discovering them, have been enormous, and in ojm' 

 matter alone it is quite impossible to estimate the benefit which has 



