QUEENSLAND 
PHILOSOPHICAL 
SOCIET Y. 
The usual monthly meeting of this society 
was held, on the 2nd of February, at the 
Municipal Chambers. His honour Chief Justice 
Cockle, president of this society in the chair. 
Mr: Gordon Sandeman, M. L- A:, was 
admitted a member of the society. Mr. F. R. 
Boyce was nominated for election, as a member 
by Mr; Higgles, and seconded by Mr; 
McDonnell; It was decided to hold a meeting 
of the Council, for the purpose of revising 
the rules of the society, after which a general 
meeting of the society will be held. 
Mr. Le Gould then read for the meeting the 
following paper, which he illustrated by the 
exhibition of a large number of geological 
specimens, including copper ore, bituminous 
coal, &c., &c. : — 
Geographical and Geological Oeseeva- 
tions in Northern Queensland. 
About the end of November, 1862, I left 
Brisbane for the purpose of proceeding to the 
Peak Downs, North-western Queensland, under 
instructions to make a survey of mineral lands 
said to exist there. 
It is unnecessary here to dilate on circum- 
stances consequent upon a short sea passage ; 
suffice it to say that I arrived in Rockhampton, 
and proceeded in due course, with party, horses, 
stores, &c., in good order. 
It was not my first visit to the north ; but 
every time I have been struck with the great 
difference which exists between that country, 
geographically, and the country around Bris- 
bane. The country about the southern banks 
of the lower Fitzroy is generally very flat and 
fertile, with several very fine lagoons inter- 
spersed here and there, which seem to be fed 
chiefly by the back water and overflowing of 
the river j some of them, indeed, are more like 
small lakes ; and in which aligators abound. I 
have seen, personally, on one occasion, two of 
these animals, which, judging from observations 
at |a distance, I should estimate -were between 
twenty and thirty feet in length. 
In passing through Yaamba, a village, still 
on the Fitzroy, but on the north side, and 
where the river is fordable, the same character 
of country meets the eye ; everywhere the same 
flat unbroken country, lightly timbered, and 
apparently fertile, yet but for an occasional 
glimpse of the stream, would be extremely 
monotonous to the view. 
By the way, I saw a vast number of abori- 
ginal natives, who had long since taken up their 
permanent abode in the very heart of the 
village of Yaamba. Natives of all ages. From 
the old, gray, time-honoured patriarch, to the 
youngest picanniny, nearly all naked, living in 
ihe rudest and most primitive manner, whose 
great business of life seemed to be lounging, 
begging, and obtaining grog from travellers ; 
too lazy to work, and too indolent to forage out 
their own food, but trust to Providence and the 
generosity of the white settlers. 
Beyond Ganoona the geographical features 
rapidly change : they become stoney and 
broken, and preclude the eye from penetrating 
any material distance, except to the surrounding 
ranges. Canoona is known for its gold 
celebrity ; it was this district to which the 
