646 



EEPORT 1886. 



very teneficial eifect in drawing a large population to this at present most thinly 

 peopled colony, which with an area of more than one million square miles contains 

 but 35,186 whites. 



Kimberley is the extreme northern part of the colony, extending between 

 lat. 13° S. and 19° 30' S., and its area — 134,000 square miles — exceeds that of the 

 British Isles by 18,000 square miles. 



The author described the geology of the district, which is in part composed of 

 low flat ground, while in places it is very mountainous, the Leopold Ranges having 

 an area of probably 20,000 square miles. There are many large rivers. The rocks 

 comprise Archaean granites, gneiss, and schists ; Lower Palasozoic sandstones and 

 limestones. Carboniferous sandstones and limestones. Upper Tertiary beds, and Post 

 Pliocene and Recent deposits. There were extensive outbursts of granite and a 

 great jloetz deposit of Basaltic and other trap rocks, forming a vast plateau, the 

 known area of which is at least 3,000 square miles, and is called the Great Antrim 

 Plateau. These rocks are undoubtedly of Lower Paleeozoic age, and in extent are 

 therefore probably unique. 



The known area of the gold-bearing country (schists, &c., with quartz veins) is 

 not less than 2,000 square miles. Quartz reefs are very numerous, and will no 

 doubt be extensively worked in the future. At present the mining is alluvial. 



A map was exhibited showing the geology of over 20,000 square miles of the 

 district. 



10. Statistics of the Production ayul Value of Coal raised tvithin the 

 British Empire. By Richard Meade. 



The following statistics are taken from official sources, and are in all cases the 

 latest which can be obtained. 



Queensland. 



Production and value of coal in each of the ten years ending 1885 : — • 



Authority. — Blue Books of Queensland for each of the above named years. 



New Zealand. 

 Production and value of coal in each of the following years :- 



Authority. — Blue Books, Perth, for each year. 



