Centre Valley Hot Springs 



anxious face, we produced a strong canvas bag from 

 a locker, untied the string, and rolled the contents of 

 nuggets on to the table. 



When telling him of the extensive nature of the 

 deposits from which the gold had been obtained and 

 the enormous wealth which they contained, we con- 

 gratulated him on the foresight which he had shown 

 in passing the minerals bill, and thus securing for 

 the country a most valuable asset in the form of 

 royalties or such other charge as might be determined 

 upon. 



We then further told him of our hopes of oil being 

 found in paying quantities in the Jurassic country 

 between the two ranges of mountains. 



The elections were to take place in a week's time, 

 and on the evening following our arrival the Premier 

 was giving a dinner to the members of the Government, 

 and to this we were invited in order that we might 

 give an account of our discoveries. Some of the 

 members were inclined to be sceptical, but the pro- 

 duction of some of the larger nuggets, which were 

 passed from hand to hand, soon removed all doubts. 

 The following morning the Government organs in Lyell, 

 Red River, Smithford, and Port Hutton contained 

 glowing accounts of the work of the Survey, and many 

 sarcastic remarks about the charges of wasting public 

 funds which had been so freely indulged in by the 

 opposition, and further, pointed out the enormous 

 advantage which would accrue to the State owing to 

 the passing of the minerals bill. 



It was even suggested that the National Debt, which, 

 though not large, was nevertheless a considerable burden 



251 



