Proceedings, dec. xxiii 



financial administration ; but as soon as it lias discharged the first duty 

 delegated to it — that of collecting the sum specified above — it is pledged to 

 co-operate with the Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute, in 

 concerting measures for the prudent, economical and efficient expenditure of 

 the Exploration Fund. That Fund there is every reason to believe will be 

 augmented by a grant from Government ; and the aggregate amount, it is con- 

 fidently hoped, will suffice to prosecute the enterprise to a thoroughly successful . 

 issue. In the mean time I have to solicit, on behalf of the Committee, the 

 exercise of your local influence (either by the formation of sub-committees, 

 or otherwise) in procuring subscriptions to an object which is national in 

 character, and must secure the approbation of every Australian who is 

 anxious to promote the material prosperity of his country, to enlarge the 

 boundaries of knowledge, to clear up the mystery which envelopes the fate 

 of poor Leichardt, and to f acilitate our intercourse with the other hemisphere. 

 The Government have promised to place a sum of money on the estimates for 

 the introduction of twenty or thirty camels, to be employed in traversing the 

 sandy deserts ascertained to exist in the interior, and the time appears to 

 have arrived when we may undertake the work of exploration under the 

 most favorable conditions of success, and may worthily emidate the laudable 

 example which has been set us by the adjoining colonies. 



" To open up a communication with the northern shores of this continent, 

 is an enterprise which should engage the sympathies and command the sup- 

 port of the merchant, the squatter and the miner, no less than those of the 

 man of science ; for such an enterprise promises to abridge the distance 

 which separates us from the old world ; to bring us, at an early date, in 

 telegraphic co mm unication with India and Europe ; to open new avenues of 

 commerce ; to indicate how we may obtain access to vast areas of pastoral 

 land from which we are at present cut off, owing to our ignorance of the 

 intervening country ; and to solve a geographical problem, which is as im- 

 portant as it is interesting. 



"Under these circumstances the Committee confidently appeal to you for 

 assistance hi the way of soliciting contributions hi the district in which you 

 reside, and would feel obliged by your remitting any sums you may receive 

 on this account to the Treasurer of the Exploration Fund — Dr. Wilkie, of 

 this city — or to the account of the Exploration Fund at the Bank of Vic- 

 toria, Melbourne. 



"I am, Sir, 



1 ' Your obedient servant, 



"JOHN MACADAM, M.D., 



"Honorary Secretary." 



The Secretary read a paper, contributed by the Reverend Julian 

 Edmund Woods, of Penola, S. A., and entitled " Remarks on a 

 Tertiary Deposit in South Australia." — [Vide "Transactions."] 

 The paper was illustrated by a chalk drawing of the localities alluded to. 



A discussion ensued, in which several members took part. 



Dr. Becker stated that Captain Cadell had found, about thirty 

 miles inland, and parallel with the coast from the mouth of the 

 Murray, towards Guichen Bay, a distinct line of granitic boulders, 

 in the form of erratic blocks. Dr. Becker looked upon this as indi- 

 cative of an ancient coast line, on which icebergs, coming from the 

 south-west, had deposited, on stranding, their granitic cargo. Dr. 

 Becker further referred to shells found near Moorundee, on the Lower 

 Murray. He explained the conversion of the carbonate of lime of 

 such shells into the glass-like sulphate of lime, by the action of 



