156 GEOLOGY. 



The oils are of three kinds and from three places. 



1. Erom the Sugar Loaves, in Taranaki Province. Possesses a 

 specific gravity of -960 to -904 at 60° F. ; by reflected light is dirty 

 green and opaque, but exhibits a deep red colour by transmitted light ; 

 is quite licjuid, and does not solidify when reduced to 5° ; the odour is 

 mawkish, but not unpleasant ; boils at 84(.)°, and does not evaporate 

 at the ordinary temperature. It is recommended as a lubricant. 

 2. Oil from Poverty Bay, east coast of Auckland Province. A true 

 paraffin oil, opalescent ; when warmed, translucent ; red by trans- 

 mitted and blackish green by reflected light; its vapour inflames at 

 from 230° to 233° ; sp. gr. varies from -864 to -871 at 60° ; passes 

 into a jelly-like mass at 50°. 3. Oil from Manutahi, on the Waiapu 

 river, East Cape. One of the lightest native oils of New Zealand 

 tested by Mr. Skey ; pale brown, nearly transparent ; flows with great 

 freedom ; has the odour of kerosene ; sp. gr. -8294 at 60°. Burns 

 well in a kerosene-lamp. • E. E., Jun. 



Smyth, H. B. Geological Survey of Victoria; Keport of Progress, 

 Melbourne. Pp. viii, 135 ; 14 plates (maps and sections), and 

 woodcuts. 



Mr. Smyth reports (pp. 1-62) the publication or completion of 

 various geological maps and sections, and the progress made in the 

 compilation of his great geological map, in which, amongst other 

 points, will be shown the three chief metalliferous belts. The coal- 

 seams of Cape Patterson, Cape Otway, and Wannon-River districts 

 have been re-examined ; but none, under present circumstances, are 

 workable. Suggestions for the utilization of the deposits of lignite 

 and various ores of iron existing in the colony are given. A list of 

 the principal fossils is furnished by Prof. M'Coy, to which is added a 

 synopsis of the fossil fruits from the Tertiary auriferous drifts recently 

 described by Baron von Mueller (see j^ost). 



A Eeport on the Geology and Mineral Resources of Ballarat, bi 

 E. A. E. MuKRAY, foHows (pp. 63-88). 



The formations treated of are Granite, Lower Silurian, with 

 auriferous quartz-reefs, Tertiary gold " drifts," and auriferous " leads." 

 The most important portion is the description of the Tertiary drifts 

 and leads and the quartz-reefs traversing the Silurian rocks. The 

 Ballarat gold-drifts occur in four epochs : — the " oldest period," those 

 drifts antecedent to the date at which the " lead-channels were eroded to 

 their present depth ;" the older period, embracing the deep lead-drifts 

 between the various lava-flows; those of the '^recent period," laid 

 down immediately after the most recent lava-flow; and the most 

 recent, or all drifts accumulated since the deposition of those of the 

 recent period, &c. 



The three great channels of exit of the Ballarat leads correspond to 

 the present valleys of the Yarrowee, or Leigh river, on the south, the 

 Burrumbeet on the west, and the Moorabool river on the east. 



Then come Reports on the " Coal Eields :" — The first on the Lou tit- 



