115 



'AH building stones, limestones for tbe manufacture of quick- 

 lime, sand, clays for bricks and earthen pipes, as well as for 

 potters' use ; also to the various soils and subsoils, and their 

 adaptability to the growth of different kinds of crops and 

 forest trees. 



It may be argued against a geological survey that we have 

 had several already ; but these have been more noticeable for 

 negative results than for any positive information, A survey 

 to be thorough would involve a work of several years, while 

 those which have b^en made only occupied a few months in 

 the aggregate. 



In 1856 a search for gold under the direction of Mr. Babbage 

 resulted in nothing more than a further geographical explora- 

 tion of the colony. 



In 1859, Mr. Selwyn, then director of the geological survey 

 of Victoria, was invited by the South Australian Grovernment 

 to visit the colony for the purpose of examining into and 

 reporting on the geological evidence of the probable extent 

 and character of its gold-bearing rocks, also upon any indica- 

 tions of workable coalfields, and the applicability of the artesian 

 principle for securing a permanent supply of water in the 

 northern districts, and generally upon the geological structure 

 ef the province. The explorations of this accomplished geolo- 

 gist extended in time from May 3 to June 24, and covered a 

 very large tract of country. He was able to furnish little 

 more than a mere catalogue of rocks, and a sketch map of the 

 geology of the country extending from Cape Jervis to the 

 latitude of Beltana, which nevertheless will furnish a founda- 

 tion for future detailed surveys. 



In 1861, Mr. E. H. Hargraves examined the country for the 

 purpose of the discovery of a workable goldfield, but his report 

 is devoid of scientific value, if we except those portions which 

 have been borrowed from Mr. Selwyn' s, whose track he pretty 

 closely followed. 



In 1866, the Eev. J. E. Tenison "Woods reported on the 

 geology and the mineralogy of the south-eastern district of 

 South Australia. This repdlt is in part an epitome of his work 

 entitled "G-eological Observations in South Australia, 1861," 

 and describes the geological and physical features of an 

 extremely interesting district. Erom the fact that no older 

 rocks than Tertiary are known to occur in the district it can 

 have no interest to the metalliferous miner. Mr. "Woods has, 

 however, shown the existence of various rock materials of con- 

 siderable industrial value, and how by an attentive study of 

 the geological features the drainage of the district may be 

 accomplished at a very moderate cost. The sketch map of 

 the geological features is the most detailed of the kind that 



