2 ' Editorial Notes. 



what is meant by, for example, N.S., Dec. V, Vol. VII. It was our 

 original intention to continue the present system to the end of the 

 Sixth Decade, but on further consideration the bolder course of a 

 clean cut appeared to have much to recommend it, and was finally 

 adopted. 



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The Non-ferrous Mining Committee continues to hold frequent 

 meetings, and has heard a number of witnesses, who discussed 

 points of interest, especially in connexion with Cornish mining. 

 The general opinion seems to be that in most cases considerable 

 fresh capital is essential for development adequate to meet modern 

 conditions. The outcome, however, dej)ends wholly on the future 

 course of the market for metallic tin. At present prices wolfram 

 appears to be entirely unpayable, and it is regrettable to hear that 

 the very promising Hemerdon mine is closed, after installing new 

 plant on a large scale. The directors appear to be of opinion that 

 the minimum remunerative price is about 55s. per unit. At present 

 only one mine is working in the St. Ives district, namely Giew, and 

 that at a loss. It is estimated that to restart the St. Ives Consols 

 group would require an expenditure of £180,000, and it is improbable 

 that so much capital could be raised by private enterprise at this 

 time. Mr. Oliver Wethered expressed the view that the production 

 of the known tinfields of the world could not keep pace with the 

 increasing demand, and was of opinion that high prices for tin would 

 rule for some time to come. With regard to Cornwall, he thought 

 there were possibilities of large production, but considered some 

 immediate help was desirable to stimulate dev-elopment and to 

 assist in the opening up of new ore-bodies, for the existence of which 

 there is geological evidence. 



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It has recently been announced that the Geological Survey of 

 Great Britain has been transferred from the Board of Education to 

 the Department of Industrial and Scientific Research ; thus this 

 institution undergoes another mutation in its variegated career. 

 In this connexion it may be permissible to point out that the 

 development of our mineral resources is now under the control of no 

 less than five Government departments. The Home Office is in 

 charge of mines in this country ; the Mineral Resources Department 

 formed by the Ministry of Munitions has been handed over to the 

 Board of Trade ; the Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau collects 

 information with regard to the Dominions and Colonies ; the 

 Imperial Institute, which has done admirable work on similar lines, 

 is under the Colonial Office, while, as before stated, the Geological 

 Survey is now under the Department of Industrial and Scientific 

 Research. These facts suggest that there must be an immense 

 amount of overlap and want of correlation in the different branches, 

 and that it is high time that all these scattered departments were 



