44 
Sedimentary Formations 
no recommendation would emanate from them to undertake extensive works 
there, because the utmost you could expect would be such a Coal-bed as you 
have at Sydney. Once more ; 769 (By Captain Clarice,) (Q.) The Virginian 
Coal-fields of the character you describe as being similar to those here, are 
worked at 775 feet depth ? (A.) Yes; but the beds there arc not to be com - 
'pared to the Palceozoic Coal beds' 1 
The witness here expressed an undoubted fact, but seems to 
have forgotten entirely in November, 1857 the evidence be had 
given before the same Committee on IStli August of same year. 
Void ! By the Chairman : 
474. (Question). The Committee desire that no time may be lost, and also 
to know what aid the Mining Commission can afford them in the prosecution 
of their inquiries—Are you prepared to offer any facilities for that purpose ? 
(A.) I have obtained some specimens from surveyors from the Avon Ranges, 
in the Gippsland district, which is the first evidence that the Pal ceo zoic Coal 
of Europe exists in the Colony. One is a largo specimen of Lopidodendron, 
indicative of this ancient Coal, so that my Own opinion is that the principal 
Coal-deposit to bo expected in the Colony would probably extend from the 
Cape Paterson beds northwards through the Gippsland country, and pro¬ 
bably form a union with the Sydney deposits. The Hunter and Hawkesbury 
deposits of Coal are the finest specimens I have seen of that period. There is 
reason to expect that deposits of both those geological ages will be found 
to exist there, so that, if arrangements were first, made for geological explora¬ 
tions of the Gippsland district, valuable results might follow. 
Strange to say, however, neither the expectation in 1857 of 
Coal of the older epoch, nor the denial of its value in favour of 
that of a “ more recent age” after the explorations of a host of 
skilled surveyors in Victoria, nor the excursive labour of the ex¬ 
perienced Examiner of Coal-fields from New South Wales, has 
yet realised either anticipation in that Colony.* The latest report 
* In 1857 the Report from a lt Select Committee upon Coal-fields ” was 
ordered, on 2nd October, by the Legislative Assembly of Victoria to be 
printed. Now, in the evidence given by the witnesses we find the following 
recorded :— 
Alfred R. C. Selwvn, Esq., further examined :— 
576. (Q.) By the Chairman. — Will you be good enough to read that 
letter (handing the following paper to the witness)? “Extracts from 
Professor M‘Coy’s letter of the 30th September, 1857, to the Honorable tlio 
Chief Secretary. * * * It is desirable to state plainly here the opinion 
of the Mining Commissioners relative to the expense of trials for Coal, which 
is, that the richest deposits to be expected in the accessible parts of Victoria 
would resemble those of Sydney and Tasmania, with this difference, that, 
while the latter are situated most advantageously for the employment of 
water carriage and cheap labour, the localities in which such deposits may bo 
expected to "exist in Victoria are so diflfldvan tageou s ly placed in both these 
respects, that even if similar rich Coal-beds were to be discovered, the public 
would not bo likely to receive any benefit, as the supply could be more 
cheaply brought from the neighbouring colonies.” (A.) 1 concur in all that 
is stated there, except that if numerous thick seams of large extent ai\d good 
quality were proved to exist, they must be worked to advantage. 
577. (Q.) That professes to be an extract from the report from the Mining 
Commission ? (A.) Yes. 
