210 
Geology of Sydney. 
which the ferns and other plants grew ; and those 
plants themselves, now compacted into the rock 
we call coal, were green with life and toying with 
the winds. The simple truth is like a fairy tale, the 
transformation like that in a pantomime ; yet, it is a 
literal fact, while the time that has elapsed during its 
working out leaves far behind the wildest dreams of 
the romancer or the poet.” 1 
Coal Under Sydney. 
Recent events point to coal and coal supply as 
the real arbiter of the fate of nations. It is not with- 
out interest to us, therefore, that the diamond drill 
bores put down on the north shore of the harbour 
proved the extension of the Newcastle coal seams 
under this city at a depth of about three thousand 
feet. The completion of these bores by the Govern- 
ment was, from a scientific standpoint, of great value. 
Economically considered, the results are not so satis- 
factory. Even if this coal should not, as is most pro- 
bable, be available in our day, yet its existence adds 
immensely to our resources, and remains a great national 
asset for future generations. The generally accepted 
view of geologists was, for years past, that coal did 
exist below Sydney. The bores referred to, put down 
under the direction of Mr. Pittman, Government Geolo- 
gist, and Mr. Slee, the Chief Inspector of Mines, took 
the matter from the region of opinion. A vast coal- 
bearing series under Sydney is now a proven fact. 
i Jukes. “ A School Manual of Geology.” 
