382 Correspondence — Mr. R. Brough Smyth. 



Department of Mines who would examine the minerals and ores 

 collected by the field geologist without much extra expense. 



"With reference to your suggestion — that we should rather work 

 steadily on than map out in detail more or less isolated areas — I may 

 remind you that in our Colony there is a wide band of Palseozoic 

 rocks stretching from west to east ; that both on the north and on 

 the south that band is bordered by Tertiaries ; and that the wide 

 expanse of basaltic and volcanic rocks, which lies between the river 

 Plenty and the river Glenelg, is scarcely in any part broken by the 

 protrusion of any large masses of granite or sedimentary rocks 

 except on the margins, and that a broad line carried across any one 

 formation would serve for a connexion, as well as if the boundaries 

 of that formation were carefully laid down. 



In other words, I conceive it is not necessary to delineate exactly 

 and completely the boundaries of a large mass of granite which may 

 lie between two gold-fields in order to connect these fields. I would 

 survey a sufficient extent of the boundary, and I would leave the rest 

 for future explorations. 



Undoubtedly the plan advocated by you is preferable, and I would 

 gladly adopt it if there were a large staff to make it practicable, and 

 if the delays which it would necessitate would not prejudice the 

 interests of the miners. But when it is considered that at this 

 moment the prosperity of one great gold-field, Ballarat, is checked, 

 and the enterprize of the miners paralyzed by the want of knowledge 

 of the connexion and course of the deep auriferous leads; that a 

 wide area in the vicinity of our richest reefing district, Sandhurst, 

 cannot be prospected by the miner with any hope of advantage, 

 because he has no map to guide him ; and that in North Gipps Land 

 there are two hundred square miles of country covered by basalts 

 and lavas with intercalated beds of auriferous gravel, respecting 

 which little or nothing is known ; I may be pardoned for recommend- 

 ing a method of sui'vey which, as regards the results, shall be of an 

 immediate benefit to the miner. 



My scheme embraces also the regular publication of drawings and 

 descriptions of the fossil flora and fauna of the Colony. The first 

 plate and description, which I send herewith, prepared by Dr.. von 

 Mueller. C.M.G!-., our Government Botanist, will satisfy you that 

 much credit will redound to the Colony if the work be continued as 

 it has been begun. 



Though the Geological Survey was continued under Mr. Selwyn's 

 direction for about fourteen years, I think you will find, if you 

 examine his reports, that there has not been published in this Colony 

 one plate or description illustrative of the fossil fauna of our Silurian 

 rocks, rich as they are in organic remains and with many forms 

 quite new to science. 



The assistance which I stated would be given by gentlemen in the 

 country had reference to such observations as would be made by 

 Mr. Thomas Couchman, the Chief Mining Surveyor of the Colony ; 

 Mr. A. W. Howitt, the Explorer ; Mr. John Lynch, Mining Surveyor 

 at Smythesdale; and Mr. Eeginald Murray, Mining Surveyor at 



