46 Sedimentary Formations 
But putting aside all commercial considerations, and returning 
to the question of epochs, we find the Reporter on the Cape 
Paterson Coal-fields appealing to China for proof that Coal with 
Gflossopteris and other associated plants in New South Wales 
cannot be Palaeozoic, and in direct contradiction to the opinion 
of the Paleontologist of Victoria, as stated in the reply, No. 759, 
(quoted in p. 43 ) r that Mesozoic Coal is not bo compared with 
Paheozoic, treating somewhat neglectfully the value assigned to 
the Cape Paterson Coal by tho Board. 
In the Report on the Coal-fields of Western Port, 1S72, there 
are q uotations from a letter of Dr. Newberry to Professor R. 
Pumpelly, the original of which is given in the Appendix to his 
Geological Researches in Chiua, Mongolia, and Japan (“ Smith - 
sonian Contributions to Knowledge vol. XV'., Washington, 1867, 
p.119). The letter is dated from Cleveland, Ohio, September 
25th, 1SG1. I think the quotations ought to have been expanded, 
and some words restored to what they are in the letter itself. I 
will, therefore, refer to that document more fully than I did in 
the last Edition in which 1 quoted from the report of the Vic¬ 
torian commentator. 
Mining Commission and with the authority of the Mining Commission? 
(A.) 1 should not consider myself competent to do so j that is all I can say 
about it. 
591. (Q.) With regard to tho particular report from which that is extracted, 
did you ever see the report from which that is an extract? (A.) I never 
saw it when it was finished. 
592. (Q.) I allude to that letter ? (A.) I never saw that letter. 
638. (Q.) Professor M'Coy in reply to a question states in his 
examination on the 18th August, with regard to the Capo Paterson Coal¬ 
fields : — “ That a shaft should he sunk, &c., Ac.” Are you prepared to 
state the cost ? * # * # * * * besides, there you have the abso¬ 
lute certainty that there are good beds of Coal ? (A.) You see that. Pro¬ 
fessor M‘Coy gives evidence about. Capo Paterson, but the fact is he has 
never seen the place. LTc has never been out of Port Phillip Bay in that 
direction. The only evidence he gives is from what I described to him 
about a place. He has never seen the place, Bo that, a person cannot, gene¬ 
rally give evidence about a place he has never seen. I have walked tho 
coast from the Bass River to Anderson’s Inlet, past Capo Paterson, a 
distance of about 40 or 50 miles. 
Frederick M’Coy, Esq., F.G.8., examined, 18th August, 1857 : — 
461. (Q.) By the Chairman .— You ment ion tho Capo Paterson Coal-fields. 
Have you any information respecting them? (A.) Only a report in 
former years, and specimens from those beds. 
462. (Q.) Have you examined them ? (A.) No, I have not. The speci¬ 
mens show them to be identical with tho beds of Van Diemen’s Land and 
Sydney. 
471. (Q.) The Committee would be glad if you will state from the evidence 
that presents itself, whether you consider that Cape Paterson Coal-field is 
most likely to be a large and useful bed for commercial purposes ? (A.) Oh! 
certainly. 
