588 Miscellaneous. 



the world. 913,246 tons of coal, and 6,276 tons of oil-coal and shale 

 were raised during the year, while 2,012 persons were employed in 

 the labour. There are 21 collieries in active operation, and three 

 Kerosene Shale mines. 



Mining Notes from Australia. — Victoria.— 'Re^ovi^ from Sand- 

 hurst are very satisfactory ; this gold-field is regarded as second in 

 importance only to Ballarat. Its yield per month seems to vary from 

 17,000 to 21,000 ounces of gold, equal in value to from £68,000 to 

 £84,000. The Berlin district has latterly surpassed any field for the 

 heavy character of its gold, and has earned for itseK the name of 

 the "Nuggety Diggings." One nugget, weighing 931bs. 6oz., is 

 reported to have been found in this field. The number of reefs in the 

 colony, actually proved to be auriferous, is stated to be 2,911 ; and 

 62,206 miners are employed.on the various fields. 



New South Wales. — Near Mudgee, gold has recently been found in 

 abundance, including some very fine nuggets, consequently a new 

 rush has been made to this locality. A good many diamonds are 

 also found at Mudgee, 994 were sent ofi" by one mail last May. 



South Australia. — A new silver-lead mine has been opened at 

 Angaston. A rich vein of copper ore, yielding 76 per cent, of the 

 metal, is reported to have been found at the Sliding Eock mine. 



Queensland. — The whole country, from the Gilbert down to the 

 head of the Gulf of Carpentaria, is being prospected, and gold is re- 

 ported as being discovered in all directions. Copper and silver have 

 likewise been proved in places. — -5'. W. Silver and Co.'s Circular. 



Note on Palcega Carteri (H. Woodw.). — Eeferring to ''Contribu- 

 tions to British Fossil Crustacea," November Number, p. 495, Mr. J. 

 Saunders, of Luton, writes to inform us that neither of his specimens 

 of Palcega Carteri (see PL XXIT., Fig. 5 and 6) are actually from 

 the " Chalk-rock," as stated by us, but from an overlying bed adja- 

 cent to the Marl. There is, at least, one other bed between this and 

 the " Chalk-rock," and Mr. Saunders suggests that this correction in 

 geological position will probably bring his specimens from Luton 

 nearer to the same horizon from which the Cambridge and Dover 

 examples were obtained. — H. Woodward, 



Serious Indisposition of Sir Kodeeick Murchison, Bart.— We 

 deeply regret to learn, just as we are going to press, that our valued 

 friend and noble chieftain. Sir Koderick I. Murchison, Bart,, the 

 Director- General of the Geological Survey, has been stricken down 

 by serious illness. Even at his ripe age, it is not too much to say 

 that he is one of the leading men of the day whom we cannot afibrd 

 to spare. Two great Societies — the Eoyal Geographical and the 

 Geological — look to him as to one of their veteran leaders, whose 

 place cannot readily be filled. To the Geological Survey, also, his 

 loss would tell most heavily. We trust so valuable a life may yet 

 be spared to us, if only for a brief season. 



