Page:Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute - Volume 1 (2nd ed.).djvu/504

468 Helices, amongst which he could distinguish the Helix busbyi and the Helix dunniæ. Mr. Gillies went on to exhibit and to describe shells which he had obtained at the Waitangi Falls and in the northern streams.

Captain Hutton said Mr. Gillies deserved the thanks of the members of the Institute for the valuable services he had rendered to the geology of New Zealand.

3. A paper "On Thames Auriferous Quartz," by Mr. George Ford, Gold-mining Chemist, of Australia, was read by the Secretary.

The paper contained much valuable information as to the character of Thames gold, modes of its extraction, indications for judging of its presence, value, &c. It had been written by Mr. Ford for the owners of the "Bobbie Burns" claim at the Thames, who had submitted for examination a portion of outside casing, not taken from a leader. A request was made to the meeting that the contents of this paper should not be made public for the present, the shareholders themselves having been at considerable expense in obtaining it.

Captain Hutton warned the miners against the use of cyanide of potassium, as the result of it would be to dissolve the gold. He, however, approved of the use of Mr. Crook's sodium amalgam as a corrective.

Captain Goldsmith drew attention to the fact that the separation of the gold was often impeded, and loss occasioned, by clay getting into the stamper box and mixing with the mercury.

The following contributions were laid upon the table:—

Golden pheasant, from the Auckland Acclimatization Society. Fossil Pecten, from Te Pahi, Kaipara—Mr. Kirk. Work on the anatomy of Hatteria punctata, by Albert Günther—from the author. Auriferous quartz, from the "Bobbie Burns" claim—Mr. W. Aitkin. Copy of the Auckland Times, 12th September, 1842, found at an old native burial-place at the Thames—Mr. H. M. Jervis. One rare Murex, one rare Venus—Mr. Traill. Specimen of king penguin, captured at the Bay of Islands—Captain Hutton. One skin of huia, one of Apteryx oweni, from Mr. Buller, Wanganui, in exchange for skins from museum collection; and one skull of fish (unknown), collected at Hokitika, by Mr. Murdoch.

Moved and carried, that the thanks of the meeting be given to the donors.

1. "On some Experiments in Hydraulic Mortar," by James Stewart, Assoc. Inst. C.E. (Transactions, p. 101.)