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diflferent grain, which more nearly resembled that of blue gum. It was a 

 close, heavy timber, remarkably clear and free from knots, which, inde- 

 pendent of the colour, distinguished it from blue gum, that otherwise it 

 most resembled, Mr, Grant had not observed the tree growing, or noticed 

 its wood in any large quantity, in the Midland districts, and, therefore, 

 as it was common about the high lands, he thought it probably preferred 

 a more humid atmosphere than obtained in the interior of the country 

 along the course of the railway. There was also another apparent variety 

 which he had heard called " celery-topped" gum, but which was probably a 

 slightly modified form of the gum-topped stringy bark, since it frequented 

 the same habitats. 



The Secretary read a paper by Charles E. Barnard, M.D., etc., etc. 

 "On Auriferous Country and Guld-bearing Rocks." 



Mr. Stephens said that the paper which had just been read indicated 

 much thoughtful study on the part of the author, who evidently took a 

 lively interest in his subject. He did not quite understand whether the 

 author intended to mean that the views which he expressed as to the 

 surface indications of the presence of gold were to be taken as universally 

 applicable ; but it would be improper to attempt to discuss in detail 

 a paper covering such a wide range after only hearing it once read, and 

 he would only venture to criticise one point which was too important to 

 be passed without notice. The relations of intrusive rocks, especially 

 those of granitoid character, to the primary strata had furnished matter 

 for innumerable pamphlets and papers ; but it might be sufficient to say 

 that although the granite was often found as a disturbing element in 

 Silurian districts, it was clearly proved to have formed no part of the 

 agencies which had produced those remarkable flexures and contortions 

 which are special characteristics of the primary rocks all over the world, 

 and which were attributable to forces operating on a much wider scale. 

 This question, however, would in itself furnish matter for a lengthy paper. 



Mr. Johnston complimented Dr. Barnard on the very interesting sketch 

 he had given of the wonderful results produced by the discovery of gold 

 in Australia, ', and upon the very faithful picture he had given of the 

 principal features of gold-bearing rocks and drifts. Only in regard to 

 some of the minor points, touched upon incidentally, could he desire to 

 offer any additional comment in the way of qualification. With respect 

 to the effect produced by intrusive rocks, Mr, Johnston inclined to the 

 view taken by Mr, Stephens, viz., that only to a trifling extent could the 

 disturbed condition of the auriferous rocks be attributed to the immediate 

 influence of the intruded rocks, Mr. Johnston stated that Mr. Mallet's 

 theory was best in accord with facts. Mr. Mallet attributes the crushing 

 and crumpling of the surface rocks principally to the secular cooling of 

 the earth, together with gravitation. The cooling of the earth, at a 

 greater rate near the surface, must have caused at first violent contraction, 

 and consequently violent rifts, crumplings, and local heat. To the latter 

 may be attributed the chief immediate cause of the principal masses of 

 molten eruptive rocks. With respect to the association of certain vegetable 

 remains with our gold drifts in Australia and Tasmania, Mr. Johnston 

 agreed with Dr. Barnard that the knowledge of such association might be 

 useful to the miner as a guide in his search for free gold. Still it should 

 be borne in mind that the vegetation only pointed to the age during which 

 the principal formations were deposited. It might happen, as in the case of 

 the Derwent leaf beds, described by him (Mr. Johnston) on a former occa- 

 sion, that same vegetation might be associated with a matrix derived from 

 non-auriferous rocks of Upper Palocozoic age. These were incidental 

 matters, however, which did not affect the great value of Dr. Barnard's paper. 



The usual vote of thanks having (on the motion of Mr. Johnston, 

 seconded by Dr, Perkins) been accorded to the authors of the papers read, 

 and to the donors of presentations, the meeting closed. 



