Mines and Mineral Statislics, 
169 
coal in Victoria, and lie asserted over anil over again, that no 
Paheozoic coal existed in Australia. The following answers 
speak to that point — 
722 “ (Answer). The members of the Mining Commission have an impres- 
sion that, as tlic coal deposits to be expected there [Cape Paterson] 
“ geologically arc not the same as those of llie great coal iields of I'higland, 
but are of similar clumicter -with the coal deposits of 'Sow South Wales and 
Tasmania, therefore d-y /*c oj* vouimerrial valuer and 
as scicntitic men they would not on their own respousibilily, ivconimeiid the 
expenditure of public money there.” 
727. “ (Q,.) Considering that the information (? formation) of the Capo 
Paterson Coal Fiehls is similar to those of New South AV’ales and Tasmania, 
you are of opinion, tlml us an economic qv.e-slion yon woiiUl advise no 
further prosecution of any surreys in that loeality 1' (A.) Tliat is my opinion.” 
744. “ (Q.) You would not advise tlio prosecution of any further inquiries 
for the discovci'y of coal? (A.) No rceommeudatiou to that eil'oet would 
emanate from myself or the Commission.” 
747. “Such coal tieldsjh^”. those of Pahrozoie age do not exist in this country’^ 
{I e. in Australia). “ That is a point whicli I wisli clearly to show, and I think 
it is one which has never been clearly shown to this committeo before.” 
758. “ I know you arc not to expect the old Palicoioic coal fields in this 
part of the world’” 
759. “(Q.) Do you contend that the IMesozoie coal Holds are not suitahlo 
for the different purposes of comraorce ?” (A.) “ 'J’liey arc not so suitable as 
the Pahnozoic, they arc not so extensive, the beds are nut so thick or workable,, 
nor is the (■(imlity so good over any workable area.” 
/67. “(Q-) If a coal Held at Cape Paterson was discovered equally good 
with the Sydney coal Hchls, would you consider it worth working ?” (A.) 
“ My individual opinion is that it f'ould not he umrtli a'or/v;u/.” 
771. (Of Cape Paterson) “ (A.) Of course tlic Memhers of the Alining Com- 
mission do not wisli to attach any scientitic weight to their evidimce in a 
commercial point of view, they me^’ety chon.^e to say, that a? men of science^ 
no reconuneudatiori would emanate from them to uuderlake extensive works 
there, the utmost you could expect would be aiieli a coal Led you 
have at S?i/dney” Once more ; {By Capfftln ClarL-e.) (Q ) The Virginian 
coalfields of the character you describe as being similar to those liere, are 
worked at 775 feet depth ? ” “ (A.) Y cs -j but the beds there are not to he 
compared to the pafceozoic coal hecUy 
!No doubt the Professor was right in the last answer. But 
Professor Newberry is quoted, in the Iteport of 1872, as stating 
that — “Largo portions of the coal basins of China, including 
beds both of anthracite and bitunjinoiivS coal, arc usually excluded 
from the Carboniferous fo7*mation. »So large is this coal-bearing 
area, indeed, that when joined to the Triassic, Cretaceous and 
Tertiary rocks of North America, they quite overshadow the Car- 
bouiferous coals of Europe and the Alississippi Valley, and 
suggest the question whether the name given to the formation, 
which includes the most important European strata, has not been 
somewhat hastily chosen.” (p. 8.) 
Now, reconciling these quotations if we can, what is to be done 
with <aaother passage in p. 0 of the Eoport '? In it the reporter, 
having arranged the order of our New 8oul]i Wales beds after 
