xiv Proceedings, &a, for 1868. 



Ordinary Meeting. 



Thursday, 30th April, 1868. 



The President, R. L. J. Ellery, Esq., in the chair. 



The following contributions to the library were acknowledged : — 

 "Annual Report of the American Secretary of War," 1866. "List 

 of Reported Dangers in the Pacific Ocean." " Annual Report of 

 the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institute," 1866. u Pro- 

 ceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History," 1866. "Con- 

 dition and Doings of the Boston Society of Natural History," 1866. 

 " Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections," Vols. VI. and VII. 

 "Memoirs read before the Boston Society of Natural History," Vol. I., 

 parts 1 and 2. " Oversigt over det Kongelige Danske Videnska- 

 bernes Selskabs." "Abhandlungen der Schleischen Gesellschaft," 

 1865-6. " Jahres Bericht der Schleischen Gesellschaft." "Jahrbuch 

 der Kaiserlich-Koniglichen Geologischen Reichsanstalt," No. 4, 

 Vol. XV. ; Vol.- XVI., Nos. 2 and 3. " Mitthelungen der Kaiserlich- 

 Koniglichen, Geographischen Gesellschaft," Vol. VIII., part 2. 

 " Catalogue Italian Exhibits, Dublin Exhibition," 1865. "Trans- 

 actions Royal Academy Vienna," five parts. 



Mr. J. Cosmo Newbery read a paper " On the formation of Gold 

 Nuggets in Auriferous Drifts." (See part 1, Transactions). 



The President adverted to a paper read before the Society by 

 Mr. Charles Wilkinson and to be found in the published transactions, 

 and eulogising Mr. Newbery's paper, inquired if any analysis of recent 

 volcanic waters had been made, and if gold had been. found therein? 



Mr. Newbery thought not, although gold had been found in sea- 

 water, and referred to some remarks by Dr. Percy on the examination 

 of copper upon the bottoms of ships. 



Mr. Bonwick inquired if gold had been found in Vesuvian 

 minerals'? Mr. Ulrich thought gold existed in meteoric waters. 

 Mr. Newbery said gold in the neighbourhood of reefs was richer in 

 standard than reef gold. 



Mr. Crooke asked if a solution of gold had been found in the 

 waters of this colony ? Mr. Newbery said only by Mr. Daintree ; 

 but that might arise from want of examination. Mr. Crooke said Evan 

 Hopkins had suggested a similar theory, and that the nuggets pro- 

 bably grew larger from attraction. 



Messrs. W. S. Gibbons, Ulrich, Bonwick, and the President, 

 joined in a short discussion, in which the value of the paper was 

 dwelt on, and hope expressed that a further paper from Mr. 

 Newbery would be soon presented to the Society. 



The President drew attention to the adjourned debate on Mr. 

 Postle's paper, stating that since the last meeting circumstances had 

 arisen, rendering all discussion connected with entering upon any 

 testing of the process premature. As to the general question of 

 meat-preserving, he would mention that the use of paraffine had not 



