100 J. W. BOULTBEE. 



also. The survey of the catchment area in Queensland, and the 

 definition of the bibulous Blythesdale braystones, have done much 

 to encourage the work and remove the impressions that existed 

 as to a speedy diminution of the supply. 



It was found that the basal or intake beds of the artesian system 

 outcropping at various points had an area of about 1,000 miles 

 long by forty miles wide, instead of two hundred miles long by 

 one-eighth of a mile wide as previously supposed, and the opinion 

 was expressed that the diminution, or rather cessation, of the flow 

 could only result from such a drought as would mean the destruc- 

 tion of the land fauna of this part of Australia, including the 

 genus homo. Taking up the survey on our border, where Mr. 

 Jack, the Queensland Government Geologist, left it, our own 

 Government Geologist, Mr. Pittman, has by his investigation 

 and by the discovery of fossils from the Coonamble, Moree and 

 other bores, demonstrated the existence of large supplies of artesian 

 water in formations other than Cretaceous. He has by the direct 

 evidence obtained, established a fact which had hitherto been a 

 matter of conjectural opinion expressed upon imperfect evidence, 

 namely that artesian water occurred in large volume in the Trias- 

 Jura formations, and he adds that he would "even go so far as to 

 suggest that the porous strata of the Trias-Jura formation may 

 constitute the chief storage beds of the artesian water supply of 

 Australia." This discovery practically adds an area of 22,000 

 square miles to the basin as hitherto recognised, and is perhaps 

 the most important development yet experienced. In the actual 

 work of boring the following figures give some idea of the steady 

 progress made upon the Government works. Two of the bores, 

 one completed and the other in progress, have been bores of 

 exceptional difficulty and depth, that at Dolgelly, Moree District, 

 being 4,086 feet, the supply being over a million gallons per diem. 

 Upon reaching a depth of 2,600 feet, by the carelessness of a 

 workman the casing was allowed to slip in the clamps, the fall 

 telescoped the casing, and damaged both it and the hole, and it 

 was only after nine months fishing that the damaged casing was 



