Page:Victoria, with a description of its principal cities, Melbourne and Geelong.djvu/64

 for an article so much needed by a vast and increasing population.

Though hitherto the thirst and pursuit of gold have swallowed up all desire to inquire after other minerals, yet, within a mile from Melbourne, there is a large deposit of iron ore, computed to be over two millions of tons, remarkable for its softness and purity; it is also to be found in other places throughout the colony, and is likely to be an object of traffic and use at no distant day. Antimony appears to exist at M'Ivor in considerable quantities. It is chiefly used in the manufacture of type; also as an alloy for hardening tin and lead; as well as for medicinal purposes. Tin is also to be found at the Ovens, but as the gold is found there also, and both procured by the same process, the former is not sought for.

Although this colony possesses many beautiful tracts of country, as in the Grampians, Victoria Ranges, and Buffalo Mountains, in which the scenery and productions are peculiar to it, yet the greater part is similar in character to those of surrounding colonies. This remark applies particularly to the north-western region. The scenery, productions, and soil of this portion of the province are precisely similar to those of the extensive regions of South Australia, and along the Darling. The rich pastures cease, and a country of tertiary limestone, sand-hills, or a meagre clay soil, often saturated with salt, takes their place.

The rainfall in this part of the province (