77 



forming the top of Caroona Hill, and are consequently at an. 

 elevation above sea-level of from ten to twelve hundred feet. 

 The polishing is not confined to any particular constituent of 

 the conglomerate, but passes indifferently and uniformly 

 through matrix and pebble, leaving a smooth and glistening 

 surface. The exposed faces of many of the embedded pebbles, 

 have evidently been ground flat, whilst the portions fixed in the 

 silicious cement have retained their original water-worn rounded 

 form. 



"Where flaws or joints occur in this polished conglomerate- 

 they do not correspond with the direction of the smooth sur- 

 faces, but are generally at a considerable angle to them. 

 Lying as these surfaces do, exposed to the fierce alternations 

 of heat and cold, and scarcely at all protected by any debris, 

 it is a matter of surprise that they do not present a more- 

 weathered aspect. Many of the surfaces have a somewhat con- 

 vex face, and are square yards in extent, and can be easily 

 traced for upwards of two miles. The long diameter of the 

 patches is invariably in the direction of the range — that is 

 north and south. ]N"o striae or scratches were discovered by 

 me, but this might be due to the hardness of the material. 



Water Stopply. — This in the neighbourhood of Caroona Hill 

 seems to be of a purely local nature, and much influenced by 

 passing rains. The wells containing potable water are strictly 

 limited to the western side of this range. This may be 

 accounted for on the supposition that the conglomerate forms 

 an impervious barrier to the water falling on the western por- 

 tion of the range, which consequently finds its way into the 

 wells sunk at the foot of the hills. The fair quality of the 

 water may be explained by its not having percolated through the 

 gypsiferous soil, but having come direct from the rock. On the 

 eastern side of Caroona Hill Range there is an entire absence 

 of any water at all in the wells, the result in all probability of 

 the absence of any retaining barrier to present it from becoming 

 absorbed by the dry alluvium of the eastern plain. The 

 geological structure of Caroona Hill Eange being unique in 

 this part of the country, it has been found that the occurrence 

 of subterranean supplies of good water are strictly limited to 

 its western side. With respect to the other hill-ranges, the 

 rain flows at once into the plains and never passes from the 

 condition of storm-water to the more equably distributing 

 character of a spring. 



From a utilitarian stand-point the future out-look of this 

 locality is unpromising, unless, indeed, some rich mineral 

 deposits are found. The Grovernment G-eologist thinks this is- 

 not at all improbable. 



