42 



Society to withhold the paper from publication until I could 

 ascertain if such is the fact. I have pleasure in annexing an 

 extract from a letter since received from Professor EUery, dated 

 September 19, which is conclusive to the contrary :— 



" You will find your magnetical results nearly correct. The 

 magnetic declination has been decreasing since 1865, roughly 

 at the rate of 2min. per annum. In 136G the declination was 

 8de^. 40min. E.; now it is 8deg. 6min. (Signed) Egbt. J. 

 Ellery." 



As the variation at Melbourne was 8deg. 42min. in 1860, and 

 8deg. 40min. in 1866, we may take it as 8deg, 41min. in 1863, 

 or Ideg. 44min. less than the variation at Hobart at that date. 

 If my mean result is correct, the difference now is only 43min. 

 It is, therefore, to be wished that the observations be repeated 

 with a better instrument. 



EEMAEKS ON THE SCAMANDEE GOLDFIELD. 

 By S. H. Wintle, F.L.S. 



[Read lOth Oct., 1881.] 



The Scamander G-oldfield, which was discovered about two 

 years ago, is distant from George's Bay between 15 miles 

 and 16 miles in a westerly direction. The country between 

 the Bay on the N.E. and the Scamander Eiver, where it is 

 crossed by the bridle track to the Black Boy, consists of 

 coarse porphyritic granite for the most part, and comprises 

 the George's Bay tin-mining district in the County of Corn- 

 wall. A well-defined boundary, separating the granite from 

 the older palaeozoic formations, is formed, for a distance of 

 some miles, by the Scamander Eiver. Indeed, so well defined 

 is the line of demarcation that at the north-eastern confines 

 of the Goldfield the granite occupies the fording* place on 

 one side without any sedimentary rock being visible m sitic, 

 while on the opposite side of the river, a distance of not 

 moie than 20 yards, no granite whatever is seen, it being 

 completely covered up by palaeozoic sedimentary rock, con- 

 sisting of hard, cherty, altered sandstone, which in places 

 assumes a slightly gneissose character. This, in turn, in the 

 higher ground, gives place to very laminated, fissile clay 

 schists or slate, so highly inclined as to be almost vertical. 

 The Goldfield is situated at the head of Scamander Eiver, in 

 a valley bounded on three sides by very steep, lofty hills of 

 slate, having a mean angle of about 40deg. As far as is 

 known at the present time, the auriferous area is limited in 



* See sketch plan. 



