874 



number of Australian and New Guinea insects and showed a 

 large number of specimens. Mr. P. Runge (Hon. Secretary) 

 also displayed a number of geological specimens from this and 

 other Australian States. These included samples from a 

 mineral oil bore in the South-East, among which were sharks' 

 teeth, black sands, flints, and consolidated shell-grit. Several 

 cut garnets, commonly termed Australian rubies, were shown 

 by Mrs. J. F. Mellor, and their occurrence, composition, and 

 differences from the true Oriental ruby were explained by Mr. 

 Runge. 



On May 18, 1915, the winter series of monthly lectures 

 was inaugurated by Captain White, M.B.O.U., R.A.O.U., 

 who before a large audience lectured upon "From Cape Town 

 to Lomate Land with the Camera." With the aid of about 

 200 views, all taken by Captain White while on a big-game 

 hunting expedition in East and Central Africa, the lecturer 

 described much of interest concerning Cape Town, and then 

 spoke of his journey northwards, when Port Elizabeth, Dur- 

 ban, Delagoa Bay, and the interesting Portuguese town of 

 Lorenzo Marques were visited. Mozambique, depicted by 

 many beautiful slides, was the next port of call, and later the 

 town of Dar-es-saalem, the principal port of the late German 

 East African settlements, was reached. From here the journey 

 to Zanzibar was taken, and a considerable time spent upon the 

 island. Many beautiful views, illustrating the scenery, the 

 fauna and flora, and the natives were shown. Mombassa and 

 Malinda were next visited, and then the Lamu Archipelago. 

 The travellers continued northwards to the village of Mar- 

 tironi, and journeyed overland through jungle and forests 

 inhabited by big game and strange and beautiful birds, many 

 of which were secured. On the return trip Mount Kili-wan- 

 jaro was visited, w^here many different races of people were 

 encountered. Slides of these, as well as the flora and fauna 

 of this part of the country, were shown. 



On June 17, 1915, Mr. A. R,- Riddle lectured before a 

 large audience on "Salt, the Industry, and the State." Of 

 the State's mineral resources, the production of salt had pro- 

 duced wealth to the extent of £346,000 in the last ten years ; 

 thus it ranked next to copper as a source of mineral wealth in 

 South Australia. He stated that until recently the salt 

 lagoons within a few miles of Yorketown had been responsible 

 for nearly all the South Australian supply. At Port Augusta 

 a company had commenced operations with the object of 

 obtaining salt by the evaporation of sea water. With ideal 

 natural evaporating pans, the low rainfall, and the high 

 evaporation, the venture compared favourably with that of the 

 Cheetham Salt Company in Victoria, which produced from 



