oM à THE GEELONG NATURALIST. 
THE XMAS CAMP AT AIREY'S INLET. 
The above formed the subject of what proved to be a very 
pleasant evening’s entertainment, arranged and delivered on the 
14th March last, by Mr. J. Hammerton, the popular secretary . 
to the expedition. Mr. H. exhibited about 50 lantern pictures 
_ during the evening, and these greatly added to the entertainment. 
The geographical position being described, an interesting sketch 
was given of some incidents associated with the district, as also 
the Split Point Lighthouse, its erection, cost. and maintenance. 
Mr. Hammerton also read papers contributed by members of the 
party, from which our limited space will only allow us to give 
extracts. 
With regard to the Geology, Mr. W. A. Hargreaves, M.A., 
"says :—The coast line from Queenscliff to Cape Otway affords 
to the geologist a good general idea of the Victorian mesozoic 
and lower tertiary deposits, with here and there splendid 
examples of AJolian or wind-blown rocks and strata, while at 
- other places, especially where creeks come down to the sea, in 
the estuarine deposits, he finds ilustrations of more recent 
tertiary deposits. The trip at the beginning of this year, while 
not extending through such a long distance, nevertheless dis- 
closed all the various formations above mentioned. Coming 
down from Wensleydale in the coach, only a very rough idea of 
the geological formation can be gathered, Part of the road after 
leaving the railway station has the facies or same general — 
. appearance of formation as seen in the Otway ranges, and 
| appears to be mesozoie, but'soon the country changes, and. 
though you are still travelling over undulating country, the 
_ formation bears a different aspect, and suggests one of newer 
age than the mesozoic. On reaching the coast the cliffs afford 
~ decisive proof of age. The fossils being numerous and well 
known as being of Hocene age, though probably older than 
those of Eocene age found in the vicinity of Geelong. The 
strata are horizontal or slightly inclined to the south or south- 
west. They consist of alternate beds of sandstone, shelly lime- 
stone, ferruginous layers and calcareous clay. The sandy beds 
being of a whitish or yellowish brown color, while the ferru- 
.. ginous layers are of dark brown color, and how distinctly the 
. bedding even from a distance. The photographs show better 
than a description the general appearance of the strata. At the 
Inlet, the cliffs along the coast are left higher than the ground 
iust immediately inland and in the valley of the Creek (Airey’s 
Creek) at the mouth, a large basin exists through the lower | 
_ lying part of which the creek itself meanders in a winding and 
— circuitous course, till it reaches the coast where it trickles over 
the beach. Several of the views show this basin distinctly, and 
. show how the ground rises to the cliffs at the coast. The à 
M Aue ies d 
id ia 
TNT eer 
i in SE 
ere 
ae Fe 
EET n PR 
aa 
ES 
