68 SECTIONAL ADDRESSES, 



economic value. These may consist of deposits of fuels and ores qi tlie 

 metals indispensable for the industrial uses of man under twentieth 

 century conditions of life ; or they may be of such minerals as are used by 

 mankind for personal adornment and gratification. They may consist of 

 materials that are essential for the construction and maintenance of rail- 

 ways, roads, bridges, and buildings ; or they may comprise the occurrence 

 of valuable supplies of water for domestic and stock purposes. They may 

 embrace all these categories, and be really valuable in every material 

 sense. 



On the other hand, the colony may be a small one, known to have its 

 limitations as regards the possession of geological features unlikely, on 

 investigation, to prove the presence of mineral deposits of economic import- 

 ance, or to possess inorganic materials and supplies of direct or indirect 

 value to a country. Such a country does not require a Geological Survey. 

 It is, however, worthy of a careful geological investigation and report, 

 which could be made in a comparatively short time, and which might 

 possibly prove that the pessimistic surmise of its resources was wrong. 

 There are, however, many colonies with vast areas of unknown resources, 

 and it is to them specially that the substance of this address applies. 



The Colonies and Protectorates of the British Empire are almost 

 without exception in the tropics. Many of them are wholly or partly in 

 zones which are blessed with an abundant rainfall, and covered with dense 

 forests or low vegetation. Some comprise areas of low rainfall, and, in 

 consequence, have seasonally arid conditions, and little vegetation. 



A geological survey of the former is necessarily slow, for the dense 

 vegetation and depth of soil efiectually obscure the nature of the under- 

 lying rocks and what they contain. In such country much time, labour, 

 and expense are necessary to examine carefully the watercourses, by 

 cutting and clearing lines along them and through the dense bush between 

 them. Nevertheless, it should be remembered that such country may have 

 valuable mineral deposits lying hidden within a few yards of any line of 

 traverse through the forest, and merely awaiting discovery. In areas of 

 low rainfall and scanty vegetation, however, the examination of the country 

 is rendered much easier and can be done much more quickly and thoroughly. 



The numerous interests that need to be considered in connection with 

 the development of any country, more or less uncivilised, involve the 

 establishment of various public departments. Those dealing directly 

 with the natural wealth of the country are principally Geological Survey, 

 Mining, Agriculture, Veterinary, Water-Supply and Public Works, and 

 to a less degree Lands Survey, Forestry, and Public Health. Obviously 

 the most important department, so far as relates to the investigation of 

 rocks, minerals, fuels, and water-supply, is that of Geological Survey, and 

 on its activities a few remarks may be made. 



The interpretation of the geology of a country involves a knowledge 

 of the kinds of rocks occurring in it, their division mainly into Sedimentary, 

 Metamorphic, and Igneous ; the relation of these to one another, both 

 structurally and chronologically ; the separation of these main groups 

 into their various divisions, and the nature of the rocks in these divisions, 

 with a view to assistance towards a knowledge of what may be of economic 

 value among them. 



