Vol. 68.] ANNIVEKSAKY ADDRESS OF THE PEESIDENT. XCV 



has there been any means or opportunity of carrying out experi- 

 mental exploration of the earth's crust for the purpose of pure 

 discovery, whether in its scientific or in its economic application. 



Now that the area of coal-mining has advanced beyond the 

 visible outcrops of Palaeozoic rocks into areas where those outcrops 

 are hidden from sight under Neozoic formations, history is about 

 to repeat itself, and it seems to me that this is the time to 

 take to heart the lessons of the past. We follow this plan in other 

 matters of everyday life, in history and politics, in economics, in 

 war, in trade, even in agriculture and education ; surely the same 

 course must be followed in relation to the mineral structure of the 

 earth and to the development of our mineral wealth. 



The most valuable of our resources are contained in the Palaeozoic 

 rocks. These are, however, only exposed over less than half the 

 area of our country. More than the other half of the Palaeozoic 

 outcrop is buried under a variable thickness of newer rocks. The 

 borings already carried out have in no case at present proved a 

 cover of thickness greater than the depth of profitable coal-mining, 

 although probably some of them, if continued, would have passed 

 through more than 4000 feet before reaching Palaeozoic rocks. On 

 the other hand, the cover in many places has proved to be sur- 

 prisingly thin. Explorations to ascertain the possible concealed 

 coal-resources under the buried area are certain to be undertaken. 

 They are sure to cost large sums of money ; and yet, if carried on 

 without a very definite plan, much of the money will be employed 

 to less than maximum advantage, even if it is not actually thrown 

 away. 



(3) A Hypogean Survey. 



Cannot some means be devised by which this expenditure shall 

 be systematically laid out in the most profitable fashion ? Cannot 

 some way be found, some plan drawn up, by which spasmodic, 

 uncertain, often ill-advised exploration, may be replaced by a 

 well-considered scheme which shall ensure that the concealed area 

 shall be regularly and deliberately explored ? There is a clean sheet 

 upon which to work, and a fair possibility of avoiding the worst 

 errors of the past. Is it not possible to plan out the exploration of 

 these fields under the conditions which we admit would have been 

 ideal in the case of the exposed fields had the opportunity been 

 afforded ? Cannot we have a systematic geological survey of the 

 area now concealed beneath the newer rocks ? 



Sir Roderick Murchison, before the first Commission, advocated 



