PROCEEDINGS, OCTOBEE. Iv 



now available I think we do well to be sanguine. I do not wish to be 

 understood as giving my definite opinion that no salmon have ever been 

 caught in Tasmania, for I do not hold that opinion ; but undoubtedly 

 the most ardent believer in the presence of salmon in our waters will 

 admit that they do not flourish like the trout. Now, what we want to 

 do is, by the aid of this magnificent ofi'er of Dr. Agnew's, to set at rest 

 all controversy on the subject, and to secure, as I am sanguine enough to 

 hope, unless there is some insuperable climatic reason that we shall, 

 before long, have the real salmo solar in Tasmanian waters. The most 

 serious climatic consideration, no doubt, is the temperature of the sea 

 surrounding Tasmania, but there is a great difference in the temperature 

 of the sea in the north of Scotland and the south of England and south- 

 west of Ireland, where the gulf stream infringes, and it might be well 

 that some at least of the ova should be taken from these southern rivers. 

 This, however, is more a matter for the committee than for the present 

 meeting. They will be glad to receive any suggestions. In conclusion, 

 gentlemen, on an occasion like this, with our minds full of Dr. Agnew's 

 splendid liberality, we must not forget, and he would be the last, I am 

 sure, to wish that we should forget or ignore the noble efforts which have 

 already been made to introduce salmon into Tasmania. I regard this, 

 and I am sure Dr. Agnew regards it, simply as one more effort under 

 the most favourable conditions in the same direction. An effort which 

 we all trust will be crowned with success, and, if it is crowned with 

 success, such success will be largely due to the experience which has 

 feeen gained from the previous efforts of Mr. Youl and other gentlemen, 

 notably the late Salmon Commission, who have worked so hard for the 

 colony in this matter." (Hear, hear.) 



His Excellency then retired, and Sir Lambert Dobson took the chair. 



The Chairman said he did not know whether any member would like 

 to speak on the subject. No doubt they were all gra tified with this 

 liberality of Dr. Agnew, whose name was synonymous with liberality, 

 and it was therefore like painting the rose to express any praise of it. 

 (Hear, hear.) 



DIAMOND DIGGING IN AFRICA. 



Mr. James Andrew read a paper on " Diamond Digging in South 

 Africa." He apologised for selecting a subject which did not possess a very 

 scientific interest, though he thought it might prove of interest, as he 

 found very little was known connected with it in this part of the world, 

 and it was possible that diamond digging might become an industry in 

 Australia as it had already been found iu New South Wales. After 

 giving an outline of the history of the discovery of diamonds at 

 Griqualand, Mr. Andrew gave a very lucid description of the method of 

 working, and some interesting particulars regarding the mines and the 

 stones found. 



The Chairman said the subject was not altogether new to him, as he 

 had seen at South Kensington a large working model of the mines and 

 the process of working. Even more interesting was an exhibition of 

 the process of cutting the diamonds. Knowing how hard they were it 

 was wonderful to see how simple the process was. There was a table 

 with a number of rapidly revolving discs, over each of which an iron arm, 

 about ISin. long, was arranged, and at the end of these arms there was 

 a truncated cone on the end of which the diamond being operated upon 

 was soldered. A workman by shifting the position of the arm, cut the 

 facets with the nicest accuracy. What seemed a most difficult process 

 was a very simple one indeed ; but as a labour-saving process it was 

 simply wonderful, and proved an interesting sight, around which a great 



