140 • Chronicles of Science. [Jan., 



upon snch terms as will, -without doubt, induce many mine adven- 

 turers at once to close engagements with him. 



General Hanpt's machine for boring is about to be introduced 

 into the lead mines of Swaledale, in Yorkshire ; and Mr. Lowe's 

 machine is in use in several large railway cuttings and tunnels. 



The severe depression which has for the last two years pressed 

 so heavily on copper and tin mines in this country is happily 

 passing awav. The prices of metals have improved, and hence the 

 increased value of the ores. The demands for tin and copper are 

 becoming more active. The imports of these metals have dechned ; 

 hence the improved demand for British minerals. It should not be 

 forgotten, however, that this state of things is not likely to last. 

 South American copper-ores will soon flow into our markets, the 

 countries producing them — Chili and Peru — having recovered 

 from the disturbances which have of late interrupted every 

 industry and impeded commerce. The East Indian tin will be 

 imported in large quantities from Banca and Billaton as soon as 

 the improved prices will yield to the Dutch adventurers a profit. 



Our miners must, therefore, direct their attention towards the 

 apphcation of machinery, so as to economize in every direction — 

 not merely in the subterranean mining, but in all the sm-face 

 operations. 



Necessity — the mother of invention — has already done much 

 in this way; but there is yet ample room for very considerable 

 improvement in the modes of workuig our mines, and in the 

 methods of dressing the ores for the market. 



In connection with this subject we may name— as we do with 

 satisfaction — the increased desire on the part of the Cornish miners 

 to avail themselves of the many advantages offered to them by the 

 Science Classes of the Miners' Association of Cornwall and 

 Devonshire. We learn that four classes are now in operation 

 in the mining districts around Helston, in which sixty working 

 miners are proving themselves apt students of Chemistry, Mine- 

 ralogy, Geology, and Mechanics. One class of nearly thirty is no 

 less actively engaged at liedruth, another in the mining parish of 

 Gwennap, while a seventh has recently been formed in the northern 

 portion of the important mineral district of St. Just. The ad- 

 vantages which must result from these classes will, ere long, be 

 felt in the improvement of mining and in the elevation of the 

 miners. 



A report on the ]\Iincral Statistics of Victoria has been recently 

 published. From this rcjwrt we glean the following particulars : — 

 In 1859 there were 125,764 miners employed on the gold-fields; 

 in 1867 there were only 63,053 so employed. The average earn- 

 ings of the miners per man per annum have increased from 

 7'JZ. 9s. M. in 1860 to 87/. Is. Id. in 1867. The mean of eight 



