Geology 



would appear that much of our exploration must be done 

 on foot. Under these circumstances it was advisable to 

 return to Lyell, especially as we were anxious to know 

 how our borings were progressing. 



On arrival at Lyell we found that considerable 

 outcry had been raised in the local Parliament against 

 the expenditure of public moneys on our so-called wild- 

 cat schemes of obtaining coal from beneath the red rocks 

 to the south, chiefly by the opponents of the party in 

 power for purely political motives, but also by a section 

 of the Government who were very anxious to promote 

 certain expensive schemes for the utilization of water- 

 power through the medium of electricity, and to which 

 cheap fuel would be fatal. 



We were particularly anxious, for purely scientific 

 reasons, that the bore-holes should be carried on, and 

 were somewhat doubtful how our announcement of the 

 discovery of the Hermitage Coal-Field would affect the 

 question. 



The Premier expressed himself highly pleased with 

 this discovery, and assured us that, contrary to our ex- 

 pectations, it would remove all shadow of opposition to 

 the financing of our boring operations. 



It appears that on our arrival we were looked upon 

 as people who had had a scientific university training, 

 and were consequently, in the sight of " practical men," 

 mere visionaries who might know something of fossil 

 shells and such-like "curiosities," but who, when it came 

 to the test of utility, were generally found wanting. Yet 

 our chance discovery of the Hermitage seams, for which 

 the credit was really due to our eccentric friend the 

 Hermit, raised us to the height of popularity and, as we 



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