1-22 



east of Mount Victoria or even to the south and south-east 

 as on the coastal fall of Victoria. Similarly, during the 

 recent subsidence of Eastern Australia the southern and 

 northern portions of the continent were perhaps drowned 

 in a greater degree than the Sydney area, nevertheless a 

 magnificent and similar system of harbours has been formed 

 along the eastern continent by that movement. Other 

 points, such as the variable movements in Miocene and 

 Pliocene time will be discussed in the body of the report. 



Scope of report. — The intention, in this report, is to 

 supply a fairly detailed account of the history of Eastern 

 Australia during and after, the "Newer Volcanic Period" 

 of the Victorian geologists. Such period is here considered 

 as belonging to the Pliocene, both on physiographic and 

 palseontological grounds, although the fossil evidence of 

 such age is considered as unsatisfactory by such eminent 

 authorities as Hall, Chapman, Pritchard, Maiden and Deane. 

 The Eocene and Miocene history is dealt with but briefly, 

 its fuller treatment being reserved for Part II of this series. 

 The significance of the altitude of the "Deep Leads" of 

 the "Newer Volcanic" Period is considered, as is also that 

 of the denudation of the "Newer Volcanics" themselves; 

 of the fossil contents of the "Leads" underlying the "Newer 

 Volcanics"; of the variation in plateau, coastal, and shore 

 topography ; and of the unlike floras of the present time 

 and that of the "Leads." 



Position of Gcouvuphu mni P////s/cu/ (leulotm in Science. 

 Geology and Geography are not branches of pure science 

 like chemistry, physics or biology, but are what may be 

 called eclectic branches of science. An intimate know- 

 ledge of at least one branch of pure science is necessary 

 for their understanding, coupled with keen powers of obser- 

 vation, so as to put a check upon the unscientific use of 

 the imagination. He who would understand the principles 



