36 Anniversary Address. 



colonial industry, that the matters thus brought together may be 

 an assistance to persons anxious to investigate the curious circum- 

 stances connected with the most mysterious of our minerals. 



It seems to me, however, that whatever may be richness of 

 some of these distant countries which have been spoken of, there 

 can be no reason to doubt that the gifts of the Creator to this 

 country, in which we are sojourners, are abundant, and are equal 

 in many i-espects, if not superior in some, to those which His 

 providence has showered so liberally on the lands of the stranger- 

 May we be induced to make a good use of them ! 



COAL IN INDIA. 



The references that have been made in the preceding part of 

 this Address to the Carboniferous rocks of India naturally 

 induce a desire to say a few words respecting their recent 

 development. 



A new Coal-field, intermediate between the Diamond districts, 

 and of the age of the Upper Damoodah, has within the last year 

 been determined in Central India, after long examination and 

 strong convictions of its existence on the part of Mr, Medlicott. 

 It lies south of Nagpore and north of Hydrabad. It will be of 

 great use to India, and may, perhaps, have an indirect influence 

 on the present import of Australian coal. An area equal to two 

 square miles south of the river Wurdah is said to contain a 

 thickness of 14 feet of coal, not deeper than 100 yards below the 

 surface, and easy tif access ; whilst to the north of "Wurdah there 

 is even a greater distribution of the mineral. 



What renders this discovery interesting to ourselves is, that it 

 is unquestionably of similar age to our Newcastle coal ; and that 

 it is capable of supplying for at least thirty years a quantity equal 

 to what India now yearly supplies from her other coal-fields, 

 which is 600,000 tons, the exact amount exported from Newcastle 

 in the year 1867. And yet it is said this very sum is only equal 

 to the produce of a single English colliery. 



POSSILS IN LOHD HOWe's ISLAND. 



During the past year an expedition (quasi scientific) was sent 

 out to Lord Howe's Island. HaA^ng had an opportunity of 

 examining the rocks collected, I have been enabled to see that 



