148 
Mines and Mineral Statistics. 
The collectiou of gem stones, from Mr, J. Hurley, of Mary 
Villa, comprises a large variety of both colonial and foreign gems. 
Tt includes many of the most valuable stones, and shows some of 
them both in their cut and uncut state. 
In acknowledging the assistance received from officers of the 
Department of Mines, and others above mentioned, I would 
specially express my indebtedness to the Eev. W. B. Clarke, 
M. A., B.Gr. IS., without whose published works but little would 
be known of the geology of New South Wales. We have, indeed, 
a few descriptive reports by other geologists, referring more par- 
ticularly to certain localities, but the explorations of the Eev. Mr, 
Clarke have extended over not only nearly the >vhole of this pro- 
vince, but also through parts of the neighbouring Colonies ; his 
researches are therefore of the greater scientific value, and should 
form the basis of future detailed geological surveys. 
AVith the exception of the copper ores and some of the tin ores 
the greater part of the collection exhibited was lately obtained 
by the Greological Survey party under my direction. The Silurian 
specimens, however, are from the Museum of the Surveyor 
General, Mr. P. F. Adams, by whom and the Hon. J. S. Farnell, 
late Minister for Lands, the present Geological Survey was 
initiated. Tlie necessity for this survey was long urged in pro- 
moting the interests of the Colony, which, from its almost 
unequalled mineral resources, appears destined to rank amongst 
the foremost mining countries of the world. 
