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In the course of its work the Department has by means 
of reconnaissance surveys prepared several maps of fairly large 
areas for the purpose of meeting the demand for geological 
information of outside and lesser known mining districts, and i 
directing prospecting into legitimate channels. 
Surveys of this kind designed to serve a special purpose I 
pretend of course to nothing more than broad generalised held 
work of a nature sufficient to furnish a sketch of the main geo- 
logical outlines, the details of and scientific problems connected 
with which having, of course, to be deferred to an often remote 
future. The demands for such a class of geological investigation 
have increased somewhat more rapidly than can at present be 
met. 
In relation to the pastoral and agricultural industry, the main 
importance centres upon the question of subterranean water j 
supply, which is, without doubt, one of Western Australia’s 
most valuable assets. If, of course, underground water supplies I 
are to be intelligently sought for and utilised, it is quite clear . 
that the first step must be the determination of their extent and 
character. In addition, the question of the permanence of present 
supplies and the extent to which such may be increased are, of ' 
course, of vital importance to the community. 
Western Australia possesses a large tract of country in which 
artesian water has been found. It occurs in the following of those T 
divisions into which the State is divided for administrative pur- j 
poses, viz. , the Eucla, South-Western, Western, and Kimberley I 
Divisions. The area occupied by the artesian water-carrying 
beds have been defined with as near an approach to accuracy as 
the present condition of our knowledge admits, upon geological 
maps, which have been prepared after a more or less careful 
investigation of the structural geology of large tracts of country. 
Boring operations have demonstrated the accuracy of the geologi- 
cal deductions, and land that hitherto could not be made effective 
use of has been taken up and stocked, thus increasing the wool 
clip and the stock-carrying capacity of Western Australia. 
Up to the present time observations in the agricultural 
districts have been confined to the mapping of the rock formations, 
which constitute the true subsoil, but as yet no attempt has ever 
been made to represent in detail the distribution of the super- 
ficial deposits upon which it is the function of the agriculturist to 
operate, and which constitute a great national asset. 
The only fairly detailed geological map of an extensive area 
included within that portion of the State which embraces a larg 
extent of agricultural country is the one which extends from 
Northampton to Arrino. This map which was really prepared 
for the purpose of assisting in defining the limits of the Irwin 
River Coal Measures, by means of boring operations, shows 
inter alia the distribution of the various crystalline and super- 
