for the year 1864. lxvii 



At our August Meeting, Professor Neumayer read a paper, 

 " On Observations made near Melbourne for Determining 

 the Length of the Pendulum," and he subsequently demon- 

 strated at his residence to the members of this Society the 

 very ingenious mechanical arrangements he had made for 

 the purpose. 



On the same evening a Farewell Address was presented 

 to Sir Henry Barkly, and his reply received. 



At our next Meeting, in September, Mr. Archer read a 

 paper, " On an Improved Revolving Disc-holder for the 

 Microscope, and a New Mode of Mounting Opaque Objects, 

 so as to get Lateral Views of projecting parts ; also on an 

 Improved Method of Mounting Pollen." 



On the same evening, a paper by Mr. Osborne was 

 read, "On the Qualities of Yictorian Essential Oils," 

 accompanied by a paper drawn up on the subject by 

 Dr. Gladstone. 



The September Meeting was a special one, for alteration 

 of the Rules ; but at the Meeting in November, the Rev. 

 Dr. Bleasdale read a paper, " On the Precious Stones of the 

 Colony," illustrated by a beautiful collection of gems. 

 Neither Mr. Selwyn, the Director of the Geological Survey, 

 nor Mr. Brough Smith, the Secretary for Mines, nor myself, 

 have ever had any direct evidence of the occurrence of 

 diamonds in Victoria, although rumours have been published 

 many years ago of their occurrence. Dr. Bleasdale, on this 

 occasion, referred to information he had had relative to the 

 occurrence of diamonds in the Ovens District ; and he 

 exhibited two, one of three carats from Beechworth, and 

 one small one from Collingwood, found on a garden walk, in 

 gravel probably brought from the neighbouring Johnston- 

 street Bridge. None of those examples had, however, 

 occurred to Dr. Bleasdale himself. 



On the same evening, a paper was read from Mr. F. C. 



E 2 



