Mines and Mineral Statistics. 
119 
England, including over a ton ■weight of solid lumps of tin ore, 
partly Avaterworn, from Eeardy Falls. The Glen stream tin is 
obtained in some quantity in the southern parts of the Colony, 
near Albury, on the Murray Jtiver, and at Tumut. A fine sample 
of ToatVs-ei/e tin from Grenfell is also shown. So that the pre- 
sent collection of tin ores noAV exhibited by the Department of 
Mines will afibrd evidence, not only of the excellent quality of 
the ores, but also of their extensive distribtilion in the highlands 
of New England. 
Mr. J. Buchanan, AVardonofthe Northern Mining District, 
states, in his annual report for 187T, that “the tin fhdds, especially 
at A^egetable Creek and Go]je’s Creek, continue to yield steady 
returns, and the industry after much fluctuation, ma}' be said to 
be thoroughly established. Townships at both of these places are 
in the most flourishing condition, and there seems every prospect 
of many years elapsing before the ground actually in process 
of Avorking Avill be exliaustcd. 1 estimate tlie population on 
the tin fields at 2,000 men. The existence of valuable reefs Avas 
satisfactorily proved some years ago, but as yet nothing has been 
done towards their dovcio])mcnt. I contemj)late, hoAvever, 
increased actmty in the working of the tin mines during the 
ensuing year, and I may state that, from personal inspection and 
experience, I am convinced that a Avide field is open to the 
labouring classes upon them.” 
Pleistocene. 
The Pleistocene deposits chiefly embrace those alluvial flatsAvhich 
are found more or less extensively along the course of almost cA'ery 
river and creek. They occur often at considcvalde elevations 
above the present running stream, forming terracc-like plateaux 
on the sides of the valleys. These terrace-drifts indicate the 
depth to which the vallevs had been eroded at the time they were 
, deposited ; they are, as it Avere, the remaining flood-marks of the 
streams Avhich, during a lengthened period, gradually excavated 
the existing A’alleys — streams Avhich swept aAvay the disintegrated 
earth, and redeposited it over distant lowlands, llie origin of 
those extensive loamy plains of the Eiverina and the AVestem 
Districts may be attributed to the enormous atmospheric denuda- 
tion, which chiefly produced the rugged features of the mountain 
ranges. 
During this period lived several species of gigantic marsupials; 
amongst others have been described the extinct genera Diproto- 
don and Nototherium ; the Sarcoj)hilus ursinus, or Tasmanian 
Devil, some gigantic Kangaroos, together with the Dinornis or 
Moa. The bones of many living species of animals are also 
entombed in the accumulations of this age, to Avhich belong the 
deposits in the Limestone Caves of AVellington, &c. 
