ANDREWS, Earnest Clayton
Earnest Clayton Andrews .. the "comparatively young man" who became NSW Government Geologist.
Earnest Clayton Andrews (1870-1948) (Repository: National Library). His official duties involved mineral resources and he began geological survey work to document such important mining fields of Forbes-Parkes, Cobar, Canbelego, etc. in 1909-1912, later going on to do extensive similar work at Broken Hill. His first such works on the Cobar and Canbelego mineral fields appeared as "Report on the Cobar Copper and Gold Field, Part I" in 1913 concerning mines around Cobar, followed by "Part II" of this phase of his work, on the Canbelego, Budgery and Budgerygar Mines, which appeared in 1915. These two mineral field monographs were quite fine and thorough work, and no doubt influenced his being awarded the David Syme prize in 1915 after the second part of it was published (at the time Canbelego was a famous gold mining place, though now almost disappeared as a town), and subsequently the post of Government Geologist when Mr Carne retired from that position in the NSW Geological Survey. Raised (and buried) Wesleyan, Andrews learned much of the Bible by heart, and he was widely travelled. He was initially a school teacher before becoming a member of the Geological Survey in 1899. Andrews later became the Government Geologist and did major work on Broken Hill. He also published on botany and developed and pursued an abiding interest in physical geography. The Sydney Morning Herald on 31 August 1915, page 9, reported the release of Andrew's mineral resources compilation for around Canbelego: "A RICH MINE. The report of the Canbelego goldfield by Mr. E. C. Andrews has Just been Issued by the Minister for Mines. The mines considered in the report lie from 25 to 50 miles east of Cobar, and they comprise the Mount Boppy, Ltd., the Mount Boppy South, the Mount Boppy North, the Mount Boppy Copper, the Canbelego Copper, the Budgery, the Bonnie Dundee, the Budgerygar, tho Budgerygar North, and other mines. Of these the most important is the Mount Boppy gold mine, under tho general managemont of Mr. James Negus. In 1900 the mine was purchased by the Anglo-Australasian Exploration Company. Between the years 1901 and December, 1914, the value of the gold contents extracted was £1,406,020, thus placing it in the first rank among gold mines in New South Wales. Mr. Jaquet, Chief Inspector of Mines, in 1905 classed tho Mount Boppy gold deposit as an inverted saddle. It is possible that other lodes similar to Mount Boppy may exist in parallel troughs as yet undiscovered".
The Sydney Morning Herald on 31 December 1919, page 8, carried the above article on Andrews' appointment as the new Government Geologist. On the same page of this paper is another article about others who were retiring at the Mines Department ("At the office of the Under-Secretary for Mines yesterday many officers of that department met to say farewell to three departmental beads"), including Mr Carne who E.C. Andrews was replacing: The piece concerning Andrews note: "The Government has appointed Mr. Ernest Clayton Andrews to succeed Mr. Carne, who Is retiring, as Government Geologist in March next. Mr. Andrews, who is a comparatively young man, is now senior geological surveyor. He joined the Mines Department In 1899. In 1898, on the nomination of Professor David, ho took charge of an expedition, financed by the celebrated Alexander Agassiz, of Harvard University, which visited tho Fiji Islands to try to determine the origin of coral reefs. Mr. Andrews afterwards became geological surveyor, and assisted to produce some of the departmental reports on mineral resources. In 1915 Mr. Andrews won the David Syme prize for general work associated with the geography of Australia together with an account of the mining geology of Cobar and Canbelego".
Andrews, Ernest Clayton (1870 - 1948)
ANDREWS, ERNEST CLAYTON (1870-1948), geologist, was born on 18 October 1870 at Balmain, Sydney, second child of Fearleigh Leonard Montague, artist, and his wife Alice Maud, née Smith. At 3 he and his sister were unofficially adopted by John Andrews and his wife Mary Ann, née Bennett. He spent his boyhood in the St George district of Sydney, where his dour and puritanical stepfather kept a Wesleyan denominational school in which Andrews at 7 was set to teach younger pupils. The precocious and sensitive boy's upbringing was strict and practical. Largely self-taught, he spent only six months at a public primary school. Enforced reading of the Bible and secret perusal of English and classical authors were early and enduring influences: he learned much of the Bible and T. B. Macaulay's poetry by heart. At 16 he became a pupil-teacher at Hurstville, qualified to enter the Teachers' College, Sydney, and graduated from the University of Sydney (B.A., 1894) with second-class honours in mathematics. He then taught for four years at Bathurst, where he developed an interest in natural history.
At the university he had fallen under the spell of (Sir) Edgeworth David and in 1898 presented his first geological paper, on an area near Bathurst, to the Sydney meeting of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science. Chosen by David, he spent June to December in Fiji and Tonga collecting coral reef material and data for Professor Agassiz of the Harvard University Museum of Comparative Zoology. This experience opened up vistas of further geological research. He attended university classes in geology and chemistry and in July 1899 joined the Geological Survey Branch of the New South Wales Department of Mines and Agriculture at a salary of £300. In 1901 with Charles Hedley he examined the Queensland coast and Barrier Reef; in 1902-03 and again in 1904 he visited New Zealand and attracted overseas interest by indicating the importance of glacial corrasion. He published a somewhat exacting school textbook, An Introduction to the Physical Geography of New South Wales, in Sydney in 1905.
In 1908, invited by the eminent geologist G. K. Gilbert, Andrews went to the United States of America, where he examined the Californian Sierras and made the first ascent of Mt Darwin. He also visited Canada, England and Europe and met such other noted geologists and physiographers as A. Penck, T. C. Chamberlain and Professor W. M. Davis of Harvard University. On 30 October 1909 at Mosman, Sydney, Andrews married Florence Anne Winn Byron (d.1923).
He made detailed examinations of the Forbes-Parkes, Cobar, Canbelego and other mining fields in 1909-12, and wrote three important papers on the theory of erosion, including 'Corrasion by gravity streams', read in draft by Davis. Taught field botany by his friends R. H. Cambage, J. H. Maiden and Hedley, he published notable papers in 1913-16 on the development and distribution of the orders Myrtaceae and Leguminosae and on the 'Geological history of the Australian flowering plants'. He stressed the geological importance of plant distribution and used his knowledge of flora to map boundaries of rock types in heavily timbered country. In 1914 he made confidential valuations of mines, including Great Cobar and Mt Lyell, for Commonwealth tax purposes; in 1917 with Davis he examined the coral reefs of New Caledonia and the New Hebrides and began work on the Broken Hill lode. On 1 March 1920 he was appointed government geologist of New South Wales at £750 a year. His term of office was marked by revision and extension of certain coalfield surveys, investigations of artesian water resources, and publication of his epic Broken Hill District (1922) and Mineral Industry of New South Wales (1928).
Andrews was also active in the administration of Australian science. He was a councillor of the Royal Society of New South Wales (president 1921), and the Linnean Society of New South Wales (president 1937); honorary general secretary (1922-26), acting president (1928-30) and president (1930-32) of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science (A.N.Z.A.A.S.); Australian delegate to the second Empire Mining and Metallurgical Congress (1927); chairman of the Australian branch of the International Oceanographic Committee of the Pacific; president of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (1929); a foundation and executive committee-member (1922-42) of the Australian National Research Council; and a trustee of the Australian Museum for twenty-four years. He led the Australian delegation to the Pacific Science Congress in 1929, 1933 and 1939.
Desiring to prepare 'some helpful note on the powers that exist in man for his own advancement and happiness' and a concise scientific statement on the origins of mountains, Andrews retired in 1930. His last publications included two small books embodying his personal philosophy, The Increasing Purpose (1939) and The Eternal Goodness (1948) and several papers; an unpublished manuscript 'The plan of the earth' was sent to the Geological Society of America in 1944. He received many honours and distinctions including the David Syme prize and medal of the University of Melbourne for scientific research (1915); the (W. B.) Clarke medal of the Royal Society of New South Wales (1928); the Lyell medal of the Geological Society, London (1931), and the Mueller medal of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (1946). Andrews was an honorary member of the Washington Academy of Sciences, honorary fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand and of the Geological societies of London and America. He was Australian associate-editor of Economic Geology and a corresponding member of the American Museum of Natural History. In 1927 he gave the Silliman lectures at Yale University and in 1942 the Clarke Memorial Lecture to the Royal Society of New South Wales.
Andrews had a sound grasp of a wide variety of geological subjects and showed keen powers of observation and marked originality of treatment. He made basic contributions to geomorphology, especially to the Tertiary history of the New England plateau, and may be regarded as the founder in Australia, of structural economic geology as applied to ore bodies. He followed in the best traditions of David, Gilbert, Davis and the early explorer-geologists in what he called 'the heroic period' of Australian geology.
Slightly built, with a sensitive and gentle expression, Andrews was beloved for his modesty, self-effacement and guilelessness. He never lost his youthful and schoolmasterly habits: in his papers, often prolix, he used apt classical allusions, once felicitously likening the geologist to 'Antaeus of old, who must draw strength from continual contact with the Earth'; in speech he was wont to be a little didactic. In lectures and talks he made frequent use of simple explanation and homely analogy. His memory, mental energy and powers of concentration were remarkable. He had indifferent health for much of his life and kept to a rigid and frugal diet, yet his physical energy was exceptional; most of his field-work whether in the snow country or the desert was done on foot. Music was one of his great loves.
Andrews died of arteriosclerosis on 1 July 1948 at his residence at Bondi and was cremated with Methodist rites. Childless, he was survived by his second wife Mabel Agnes, née Smith, whom he had married on 16 July 1929. His estate was valued for probate at £3638.
( http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070070b.htm by G. P. Walsh )
Regarding Andrews' work for the government, a search in the DIGS database search engine ( http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/minerals/geological/online-services/digs ) for 'Andrews' in the author box finds much of his work. A selection below demonstrates the wide range of his writings and travels. It can be seen that he wrote mostly on metalliferous deposits and mining. But he also covered other things such as physiography - and even a four page article on "Classification of plants" that shows he was a student or fan of the plant kingdom as well as the mineral kingdom that consumed most of this attention:
:
- MF37001
| Report Title | Coal at Pine Brush, Clarence Basin (CR08/1) |
| Report Description | Coal Microfiche 1908 |
| Report Year | 1908 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews E C |
| Collation | 1 fiche 3pp |
- Industry
| Report Title | The Mineral Industry of New South Wales 1928 |
| Report Description | Departmental publication 1928 |
| Report Year | 1928 |
| Authors/Company Name | Geological Survey of New South Wales - New South
Wales Department of Mines Andrews E C, Mance F S (Ed), Kenny E J, Harper L F, Raggatt H G, Morrison M, Jones L J |
| Collation | DIGS: 390 pp; 1 fig; 31 plate; with document listing as index items contents pages has: 425pp; 27 fig; 40 plate |
- Heritage Map
| Report Title | Geological Map of the Sydney district |
| Report Description | Geological Map of the Sydney district |
| Report Year | 1925 |
| Authors/Company Name | Department of Mines Andrews E C |
| Collation | 1 map |
- Heritage Map
| Report Title | Geological section across the Barrier Range, Broken Hill district |
| Report Description | Geological section across the Barrier Range, Broken Hill |
| Report Year | 1922 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews E C |
| Collation | 1 plan |
- Heritage Map
| Report Title | The Broken Hill main lode cross sections, 2 sheets (see H0052) |
| Report Description | The Broken Hill main lode cross sections |
| Report Year | 1922 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews E C |
| Collation | 2 maps |
- Heritage Map
| Report Title | Sketch of Geological Map of the Sisters Lode, 17 miles NE of Broken Hill |
| Report Description | Sketch of Geological Map of the Sisters Lode |
| Report Year | 1922 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews E C Willan T L Geological Survey of New South Wales |
| Collation | 1 map |
- Heritage Map
| Report Title | Geological map of the Pinnacles |
| Report Description | Geological map of the Pinnacles |
| Report Year | 1920 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews E C Holder E M Kenny E J Rain W A |
| Collation | 1 map |
- Heritage Map
| Report Title | Geological map of the country in the vicinity of the De Bavay Fault, Broken Hill |
| Report Description | Geological map of area in the vicinity of De Bavay Fault |
| Report Year | 1922 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews E C |
| Collation | 1 map |
- Heritage Map
| Report Title | Geological map of the Broken Hill Lode and the country in the vicinity, 2 sheets |
| Report Description | Geological map of the Broken Hill Lode |
| Report Year | 1922 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews E C |
| Collation | 2 maps |
- Heritage Map
| Report Title | Geological map of Broken Hill and immediate neighbourhood, 3 sheets |
| Report Description | Geological map of Broken Hill and immediate neighbourhood |
| Report Year | 1921 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews E C |
| Collation | 3 maps |
- Heritage Map
| Report Title | Geological map showing northerly termination of the Broken Hill Basin at Poole Hills |
| Report Description | Geological map showing termination of the Broken Hill Basin |
| Report Year | 1922 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews E C |
| Collation | 1 map |
- Heritage Map
| Report Title | Geological map of portion of Broken Hill district containing silver lead zinc deposits |
| Report Description | Geological map of portion of Broken Hill district 1922 |
| Report Year | 1922 |
| Authors/Company Name | Government geologist EC Andrews EJ Kenny EM Holder TL Willan WA Rain JL Somerville |
| Collation | 1 A1 Map |
- GS1948/004
| Report Title | Ernest Clayton Andrews, 1870 - 1948. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, May 1948 |
| Report Year | 1948 |
| Authors/Company Name | Geological Survey of NSW Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 4 pp |
- GS1931/023
| Report Title | Prospecting in NSW. Information and suggestions. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, May 1931 |
| Report Year | 1931 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C |
| Collation | 4 pp, 2 appx |
- GS1928/012
| Report Title | The decline of mining in Australia |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, May 1928 |
| Report Year | 1928 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C |
| Collation | 6 pp |
- GS1928/010
| Report Title | Pyrite and superphosphate. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, May 1928 |
| Report Year | 1928 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 6 pp |
- GS1928/009
| Report Title | Clarence River district development. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, May 1928 |
| Report Year | 1928 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 9 pp |
- GS1927/010
| Report Title | Broken Hill silver-lead-zinc field, NSW as a site for the testing of geophysical methods and for prospecting by these methods. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, January 1927 |
| Report Year | 1927 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 7 pp |
- GS1926/022
| Report Title | Hornsby Road Metal Limited. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, February 1926 |
| Report Year | 1926 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 1 pp, 1 appx |
- GS1925/032
| Report Title | Miscellaneous reports, 1922 - 1925, Nattai and Wollondilly Rivers. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, June 1925 |
| Report Year | 1925 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. Harper, L.F. |
| Collation | 29 pp, 50 plans |
- GS1925/016
| Report Title | Lecture on New England. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, 1925 lecture |
| Report Year | 1925 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 5 pp, 1 pls |
- GS1924/033
| Report Title | Application for aid to erect treatment plant on Golden Crown Leases, Yalwal. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, February 1924 |
| Report Year | 1924 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 2 pp, 1 plan |
- GS1924/018
| Report Title | Broken Hill - a romance of mining endeavour. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, 8th December 1924 |
| Report Year | 1924 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 4 pp |
- GS1924/008
| Report Title | Report on gold at Angledool. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, February 1924 |
| Report Year | 1924 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 2 pp |
- GS1923/018
| Report Title | Cobar (1910-1923). |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, 1910-1923 |
| Report Year | 1923 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 325 pp, 35 appx, 4 plans |
- GS1922/031
| Report Title | Burrinjuck dam and main canal enlargement. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, July 1922 |
| Report Year | 1922 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 7 pp |
- GS1922/012
| Report Title | Report of committee on sedimentation. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, April 1921 |
| Report Year | 1922 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 39 pp; 28 appx |
- GS1922/011
| Report Title | Gemstones - rough notes for mineral industry statistics. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, 1922 |
| Report Year | 1922 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 36 pp; 13 appx; 3 plans |
- GS1921/028
| Report Title | The mining industry in Australia. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, May 1921 |
| Report Year | 1921 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 5 pp |
- GS1918/017
| Report Title | Costs of producing copper at various mines in NSW in 1918 and an estimate for 1919. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, 1918-1919 copper |
| Report Year | 1918 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. Carne, J.E. |
| Collation | 11 pp, 15 appx |
- GS1918/016
| Report Title | Report on the Electrolytic Smelting and Refining Co |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, 27th June 1918 |
| Report Year | 1918 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. Electrolytic Smelting and Refining Co |
| Collation | 5 pp, 19 appx, 4 tbls |
- GS1918/009
| Report Title | Report on Mr G.H. Blakemore's application for aid from the state government to establish smelting works at Kandos. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, June 1918 |
| Report Year | 1918 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. Carne, J.E. |
| Collation | 4 pp, 44 appx |
- .GS1917/011
| Report Title | Notes on the condition of the mineral industry in New South Wales. |
| Report Description | Departmental research report Feb., 1917 |
| Report Year | 1917 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 8 pp |
- GS1917/010
| Report Title | Tottenham Mines - General (1917 - 1946). |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report 1917 |
| Report Year | 1917 |
| Authors/Company Name | Carne, J.E. Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 19 pp; 86 appx; 10 pln |
- GS1917/008
| Report Title | Mineral industry of NSW. War time profits tax. |
| Report Description | Departmental research report 1917 |
| Report Year | 1917 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. Carne, J.E. |
| Collation | 5 pp; 8 appx |
- GS1917/005 (R00018671)
| Report Title | Physiography of Australia (for Angus and Robertsons Encyclopedia of Australia). |
| Report Description | Departmental research report April, 1917 |
| Report Year | 1917 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 65 pp; 1 pln |
- GS1916/013
| Report Title | Notes on zinc. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, 1916 |
| Report Year | 1916 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 7 pp. |
- GS1916/006
| Report Title | Report on the condition of the mineral industry in New South Wales, especially in connection with tin, antimony, molybdenite, wolfram, bismuth, zinc, manganese and chromium. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, 14th November 1916 |
| Report Year | 1916 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 12 pp, 11 appx |
- GS1916/005
| Report Title | (A) Report for the Minister on the smelting industry of NSW. (B) Inquiry into conditions relating to the purchase of ore by smelting companies. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, September 1916 |
| Report Year | 1916 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 10 pp, 2 appx |
- GS1916/002
| Report Title | Additional information concerning Leadville ore bodies for purposes of superphosphate making. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, 1916, superphosphate |
| Report Year | 1916 |
| Authors/Company Name | Carne, J.E. Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 2 pp, 1 tbl |
- GS1915/006
| Report Title | Answers to questions asked by Railway Commissioners concerning Cobar and Nymagee mining districts. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, August 1915 |
| Report Year | 1915 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 13 pp, 3 appx |
- GS1915/001
| Report Title | Report of Fluorspar works in Yass River area |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, 1913-1918 Woolgarlo |
| Report Year | 1915 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C Carne, J.E |
| Collation | 20 pp; 12 appx; 1 plan |
- GS1908/003
| Report Title | Notes on some rocks from Wilsons Downfall, Bolivia and Tabletop Mountain. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, 1908 |
| Report Year | 1908 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 11 pp, 1 plate (missing 5 pls) |
- GS1906/004
| Report Title | The \"Kicking\" rock of the Hillgrove Gold Field. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, 1906 |
| Report Year | 1906 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 7 pp |
- GS0000/008
| Report Title | Classification of plants. |
| Report Description | Departmental Geological survey report, plants-vegetation |
| Report Year | 0000 |
| Authors/Company Name | Andrews, E.C. |
| Collation | 4 pp. |
CURRAN, John Milne (Michael) (1859 - 1928)
CURRAN, JOHN (MICHAEL) MILNE (1859-1928), priest and geologist, was born in Clonmel, Ireland.
He was living at Callan when he responded to an appeal to migrate to New South Wales and form part of the nucleus of a seminary at Bathurst, dedicated to St Charles Borromeo, for training Irish and Australian priests of the diocesan clergy.
While studying there from 1875 until his ordination in 1881, he came under the influence of Rev. Julian Tenison-Woods who during his active pastoral life became an outstanding geologist.
Following the example of Tenison-Woods, Curran studied privately with similar success in scientific fields.
In 1881 Curran was posted to Dubbo and appointed inspector of schools for the Bathurst diocese. He also continued his geological studies and surveys, which bore their first fruits in 1884 when his paper, 'On Fossil plants from Dubbo', was published in Sydney in the Proceedings of the Linnean Society. Next year the society printed his papers on the geology of Dubbo and on inland water supply.
In 1885 Curran had the good fortune to be given charge of the mining district of Cobar, whence his report, 'A Leucite-basalt from Central New South Wales', was contributed to the society's Proceedings in 1887. After his return to Dubbo his paper on carboniferous and Silurian fossils was published by the society in 1888.
In 1891 the Linnean Society printed his 'Geology and Petrology of Bathurst', and his 'Contribution to the microscopic structure of some Australian rocks' appeared in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, winning him a medal, a prize of £25 and a travelling lectureship in the Department of Public Instruction.
His next studies were on the structure of a basalt found at Bondi and a natural mineral spring at Bungonia in 1894, and the Royal Society published his paper on precious stones in New South Wales and the deposits in which they occurred. In 1897 his report, 'On the evidence, so-called, of glacier action on Mount Kosciusko plateau', appeared in the Linnean Society's Proceedings and, with the permission of Bishop Joseph Byrne, he accepted appointment as lecturer in geology and mineralogy at the Sydney Technical College. There he worked on weekdays, exercised his ministry in the Bathurst diocese each weekend, and grasped every opportunity to pursue his field work.
Among his later publications was The Geology of Sydney and the Blue Mountains (Sydney, 1899), a standard work which ran to two editions. He remained on the college staff until 1902 and was then appointed government geologist. At Bathurst in 1899 Bishop Byrne made him editor of the Record, of which he made a great success for six months, but the printery was completely destroyed by fire, together with his collection of specimens. He then returned to Sydney.
His relations with Cardinal Patrick Moran were not cordial and in 1894 he defeated the cardinal's nominee for election to the council of St John's College. When the cardinal took umbrage Curran quickly resigned, being a man of peace. After the death of Bishop Byrne, Moran suggested to Bishop John Dunne that Curran should return to pastoral work in the Bathurst diocese, but received the dubious reply that after so many years of scientific activity he would have difficulty in adapting himself to parish duties.
To the end of his days Curran took an intense interest in mineral and artesian deposits and travelled throughout New South Wales surveying and advising the mining fraternity. He held a theory that the alluvial deposits in the Turon came from a rich reef somewhere in the mountains. He also encouraged investment in mining ventures and so remained poor. He died at 68 on 29 June 1928 in Moore Park Road, Centennial Park, and was buried at Rookwood, where his friends erected a monument.
Among his writings was a valuable monograph on his mentor, Tenison-Woods, in the Centennial Magazine in 1889-90.
[ Source: http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A030476b.htm by C. J. Duffy]
It may be added to the above about Curran's time in Cobar that the Mines Department Annual Report for 1887 contains various mentions of his activities around Cobar. In that year a geological surveyor, Mr. William Anderson, visited Cobar and recorded his gratitude to Curran, noting how he was accompanied and assisted by Rev. J.M. Curran on some of his trips to places in the district.
Re: " He remained on the college staff until 1902 and was then appointed government geologist". This remark, by C. J. Duffy ( http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A030476b.htm ) was attempted to be checked in the DIGS database search engine ( http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/minerals/geological/online-services/digs ). A search there via 'Curran' in author box finds nothing to confirm that he ever worked as a government geologist, however.
Curran's well known book: The Geology of Sydney and the Blue Mountains: A Popular Introduction to the Study of Geology (1898)
Book digitized by Google from the library of the New York Public Library and uploaded to the Internet Archive by user tpb.
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| Identifier-access: | http://www.archive.org/details/geologysydneyan00currgoog |
| Oclc-id: | 20521114 |
| Scandate: | 20060623 |
| Copyright-region: | US |
| Identifier-ark: | ark:/13960/t37083p5f |
| Imagecount: | 415 |
| Source: | http://books.google.com/books?id=3qMAAAAAMAAJ&oe=UTF-8 |
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Best known for his book on Sydney and the Blue Mountains, Curran also published on Bathurst:
-
- A contribution to the geology and petrography of Bathurst, New South Wales / by J Milne Curran.
-
- Sydney: Angus and Robertson, 1891.
-
- 64 pp., 5 p. of plates : ill., map ; 22 cm.
Following the production of his well known book, Curran's biographer, C. J. Duffy, stated that he remained on the college staff until 1902 and was then appointed "government geologist". This has not yet been checked.
Duffy also states that to the end of his days, Curran took an intense interest in mineral and "artesian deposits" (? meaning) - and travelled throughout New South Wales surveying and advising the mining fraternity. He apparently held a theory that he knew where the alluvial deposits in the Turon came (a rich reef somewhere in the mountains). This would be interesting to know more about but Duffy gives no reference about for it.
Curran "encouraged investment in mining ventures", as Duffy states, and adds "so remained poor". Why that would be is not immediately apparent. But according to the following newspaper reports he was rendered bankrupt in 1904, which would certainly help explain his later poverty. He first court experience apparently did not turn him off mining matters, as he was again taken to court on such a matter in 1919.
The Tasmanian Archives has what may be a report by him on a mining tenement in 1910:
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| Item Number: | AE763/1/1302 |
|---|---|
| Description: | John Milne Curran re Lease No. 3774/M - The Mining Act 1905 (File no.1689) |
| Further Description: | |
| Start Date: | 01 Jan 1910 |
| End Date: | 31 Dec 1910 |
| Access: |
Open |
| Location: |
HOB |
"""
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Curran had connections with mining, e.g. the Broula King mine; and with copper mining ? ~~
The Advertiser (Adelaide), Tuesday 13 December 1904, page 5.
A BANKRUPT PRIEST.
THOUSANDS OF POUNDS DEFICIENT.
LOSSES IN MINING INVESTMENTS.
Sydney. December 12.
In the Bankruptcy Court to-day, before the registrar, John Milne Curran, priest in holy orders, was examined. He said that he had never been bankrupt before, nor had he made any composition with his creditors. He had been in difficulties, he thought, about three times. The cause of his bankruptcy was that certain concerns in which he was interested had not turned out so successfully as he expected. He had been interested in various mining investments, and lost several sums from time to time. The extent of his losses in this was totalled between £300 and £400. He could not say what else caused the large amount of his liabilities, which ran into several thousands of pounds.
In reply to Mr. Loxton, the bankrupt said that Mr. P. W. Walsh was a creditor to the extent of about £1,000. He had had several transactions with Mr. Walsh. He did not know then that Mr. Walsh was a co-religionist. He received £1,000 lii cash from Mr. Walsh for property which was at the time worth nothing, and was still worth nothing unless worked. He had not paid back any of this thousand, and this was the sum for which Mr. Walsh was now a creditor in the estate. He told Mr. Walsh what could be made from the mining property in question. He had been assaying material from the mine for a number of years. He agreed to sell the house to Mr. Walsh for £2,600, and the property was mortgaged for £2,800. He borrowed £1,200 from a man named McGee on property which he admitted was only worth £600. He had known McGee for 20 years, but did not know that he was an ignorant, illiterate man. When he borrowed the £1,200 from McGee he took him to a solicitor to protect his interests. He could not recollect whether the solicitor m question had ever acted for him before in any matter. He had spent £1,000 and had nothing in the bank. He had borrowed £2,000 from Mr. Nathan in connection with the mine, and paid nothing back.
THE BANKRUPT PRIEST - http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/5033481 The Advertiser (Adelaide, Friday 16 December 1904, page 6.
THE BANKRUPT PRIEST.
A STRING OF DENIALS.
Sydney, December 15.
The examination of the Rev. John Milne Curran in the Bankruptcy Court was continued to-day. He said he thought a certain mine was his property, and consequently he felt justified in dealing with shares. He meant that with the exception of a one-tenth share he thought he was the proprietor of the property. Topson agreed to do certain supervision work, in return for which he was to get 24 shares. There was no reason why so far as his church was concerned he should keep in the background in connection with certain mining transactions. He had never said anything to that effect to the best of his recollection. He came to leave the Technical College through a disagreement with the authorities. The signature attached to a certain document shown him was not his. He had no recollection of having written what was stated in the document, but he would not swear he did not write it. He was in holy orders, but did not act officially. He had not had charge of a church for 10 years. He did not know Father Kelly, of North Sydney, and never sold him any shares, he received a sum of money from Mr. Hinton for shares in a certain mine. He would swear £700 was not paid into his account from Mr. Hinton in connection with this mine. All he received to the best of his belief was the price of five shares in the Broula King mine. He never got £200 from Mr. Toohey. The hearing was adjourned till Fcbruary 14.
~~~~~
The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 March 1919, page 10.
LAW REPORT
BANCO JURY COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice Pring and Jury.)
DEAL IN COPPER- PRECIPITATES,
N. P. Gregory and Co. v Curran.
The plaintiffs in this action, Catherine Alston Shaw Smith and Janet Elizabeth Finlayson, trading as N. P. Gregory and Co., sued tho Rev. John Milne Curran, geologist and raining expert, claiming £250 compensation for non-performnnce of a contract made with him for the production and delivery to the plaintiffs of copper precipitates equal to two tons of standard copper: The transaction occurred on July 1, last year, when plaintiffs paid £110 for the precipitates, which were to be delivered within 10 weeks, but no delivery was made. Plaintiffs sued the defendant, who did not appear to defend the suit; an Interlocutory Judgment was signed in December, and the jury were now asked to assess tho amount of damages to which plaintiffs were entitled. Mr. Chubb. Instructed by Mr. A. H. Holdship, appeared for the plaintiffs. The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiffs for £234.
SHERWIN, Lawrence
2010 - Gondwanan tectonics and European events in the Silurian of Australasia
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5737284/Sherwin-BSPI-49-1.pdf