Existing sources of water supply are described. Proposals for improving the supply of town water are considered. Further investigations are recommended with respect to tapping the southern lobe of the local basin, surface conservation, underground water resources, and the selection of a possible dam site.

The possibility of diverting the Upper Snowy River to provide water for irrigation has been a subject of discussion since 1884. The Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Authority was constituted in 1949. As the body responsible for the detailed investigation of the geology of the area it was thought desirable to publish the geological work which has been done in the Snowy Mountains region. With the authority of the Under-Secretary of the Department of Mines, New South Wales, the reports by members of the Geological Survey of New South Wales are included together with reports by geologists of the Commonwealth Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics. Reports included in this publications are: "Geology - Jindabyne to Murrumbidgee River", "Reconnaissance Survey of Dam Site at Geehi, Swampy Plain River, N.S.W", "Geological Reconnaissance of the Proposed Hydro-Electric Works in the Kosciusko Area", "Geological Reconnaissance - Eucumbene River to Tumut River", and "Geological Reconnaissance - Murrumbidgee - Tumut Area".

This report covers the work carried out by the author who was the geophysicist in charge of seismic and magnetic work conducted on Macquarie Island during 1951-52. It deals mainly with the preparation of and repairs to huts, the continuation of the seismic recording programme and the installation of a magnetic recorder. Although scientific achievement was not outstanding, the way has been prepared for a successful observing programme in the future.

In response to the proposal for a new administrative building to be erected, 1/4 mile east of Parliament House, nine test pits were put down by the Department of the Interior for the purpose of examining the sub-surface conditions. Four of the pits were used for engineering tests of the bearing power of the rock foundations. The geology of the site is discussed in this report.

Following a request from the Department of Works and Housing, the Bureau of Mineral Resources carried out a geological investigation of a possible dam site in the valley of Pierce's Creek, a tributary of the Cotter River. The general geology of the area, and aspects of engineering geology, are discussed in this report. A geological plan of the site is included.

The Commonwealth Flax Production Committee conducts a flax mill at Ballarat. The flax is first treated with water and 25,000 gallons per day are used in the process. After the treatment, the water is allowed to run to waste, and is at present being conducted through an earthen drain to natural drainage channels. This disposal of effluent water is not approved by the Ballarat Council, and other means of disposal have to be found. The objective of the present investigation was to determine if another borehole could be suitably sited to dispose of the effluent. The geology of the area, possibilities of disposal, and recommendations are discussed in this report. Two accompanying plates are included.

In August, 1947 the Bureau was requested by the Clifton Brick and Tile Company to carry out vibration tests on that Company's brick pit at Preston, Victoria. Tests were carried out at the brick pit on December 17th, 1947 and February 2nd, 1948 by officers of the Bureau. Six charges of explosives were detonated at different points in the brick pit and the amplitude of the ground movement was recorded. Additional records were made of ground movement due to other causes, such as vehicular traffic on a public road-way adjacent to the brick pit. It is the purpose of this report to summarise the results of the tests by tabulating the vertical ground movement recorded and to compare one with another, the amplitude due to different causes.

This geological report on the Jervis Bay firebrick clay deposit and the Jervis Bay aerodrome is comprised in three distinct sections. The first discusses the situation and production history of the area, and describes the geological surveys completed to date. The second describes the geology and topography of the aerodrome. The final section describes the investigation of the firebrick clay and the results of this investigation, with reference to the aerodrome and the proposal for a new runway. Accompanying plans of the clay deposit and the aerodrome are included.

For nearly nine months of the year the river proper is confined to a narrow channel two to three hundred feet wide. During the remainder of the year, however, the river is subject to periodical floodings resulting from heavy tropical rain on its water-shed and for periods of a week of more at a time the low level bridge is covered by flood water. The dislocation of rail traffic which results from these periodical floodings has been a matter of serious concern to the Queensland authorities for many years and a decision was made to construct a high level rail and road bridge to replace the existing structure. Construction was commenced, but before it proceeded far, it was considered desirable that the depth of the bedrock, previously examined, should be established without doubt. In view of the uncertainty of the depth to be drilled and the very considerable difficulty in drilling through alternating layers of drift sand and boulder wash, a request was made by the Co-ordinator General of Public works for Queensland for a geophysical investigation of the site. A survey was carried out by the geophysical section of the Commonwealth Bureau of Mineral Resources during August and September, 1947. The investigation of the results is far from complete but the seismic method gave such concise results that this preliminary statement is justified. Geology, geophysical methods, results, interpretation, and testing are discussed in this report.

An investigation into the possibility of providing additional water supplies to the township of Tennant Creek was carried out by the Department of Works and Housing. A request was made to the Bureau in March, 1947, to carry out a geological examination of possible dam sites in the Tennant Creek area. A preliminary inspection of two possible sites was made on 5th June, and a detailed plane table survey of both sites was carried out on 6th and 7th July, 1947. The location, access, topography, general geology, engineering geology, and recommendations for future investigation and work are discussed in this report.