41 
Basin Creek (Slocombe’s) Caves. 
I was not able to visit these caves, but have been informed by Mr. A. 
M. Howitt that they are situated on allotment 69, Parish of Buchan, near 
the source of Blue Bullock Creek, a tributary of the Snowy River. 
The land is held under section 32, Land Act 1890, by T. B. Slocombe, 
who takes a most refreshing and praiseworthy interest in the preservation 
of the caves, and allows no one to view them unless in his company. The 
caves are reported by Mr. W. H. Ferguson as being more beautiful than 
any of the other known ones in the district, and they have not suffered 
spoliation. 
I recommend that a suitable area be reserved as a Cave Reserve, but 
suggest that every consideration be shown to Mr. Slocombe with regard to 
the excision of such land from his lease.* 
[.Report sent in 20th July, igoo.~\ 
The Pyramids, Mining Reserve, Murrindal River. 
This name has been given by the local residents to thick pillars of 
limestone on the summit of the cliffs on the northern portion of the Mining 
Reserve, lying between allotment 2 (now 23 of B), Parish of Buchan, and 
the Murrindal River. 
The cliffs are 300 or 400 feet above the river, and the rocks consist of 
Middle Devonian limestones, lying on Lower Devonian tuffs and quartz- 
porphyries. On the summit the limestones have weathered away by cir- 
cumdenudation, leaving several blocks (buttes) of varying sizes. The 
largest are some 40 feet in height. In addition to these isolated remnants 
of beds, there is a large chasm—a sink—20 to 30 yards wide, with steep 
cliffs on each' side running up to some 60 feet, the whole forming a most 
picturesque scene. From the summit splendid views can be obtained, 
looking up and down the valley of the Murrindal. At the foot of the 
cliff on the northern* side, the River Murrindal enters a cave bodily, and 
disappears for several hundred yards before emerging and again occupying 
its channel lower down. During the winter and spring more water than 
can get into the cave through the opening comes down the river, and then 
the surplus water flows down the channel round the bend. 
In the southern portion of the Mining Reserve a cave occurs in the 
cliff some distance above the level of the river. Adjacent to it are the 
old workings of the Murrindal silver-lead mine, which is not now being 
worked. 
The cave has several interesting chambers, but is poor in stalactital 
adornment. The area adjoining the reserve on the west is simply per¬ 
forated by sinks, but it is purchased land, and is therefore beyond the 
limits of this recommendation. The Mining Reserve, however, especially 
the portion around the Pyramids, where several kinds of trees found no¬ 
where else in the neighbourhood are growing, is of the greatest interest and 
beauty, and would become a most popular pleasure resort if the district 
were properly opened up to tourists. This locality offers much induce¬ 
ment to cave exploration. 
I recommend strongly that the area be reserved for caves, and strict 
supervision exercised to prevent spoliation of any of its natural beauties, f 
[Report sent in 20U1 July 1 igooA\ 
* The Department of Crown Lands and Survey has temporarily reserved 10 acres.—See Government 
Gazette of 17th May, 1901, p. 1622.—E. J. D., 1.10.06. 
t The Department of Crown Lands and Survey has temporarily reserved 86 acres, the Mining 1 Reserve. 
See Government Gazette of 7th December, 1900, p. 4507.—E. J. D., 1.10.06. 
