23 : J. H. MAIDEN. 
was also submitted to the Society of Chemical Industry, and read 
before the Yorkshire Section of that Society, on the Dyeing — 
Properties of Aromadendrin and of Eucalyptus kinos ; by subse- 
quent investigation aromadendrin has been found to be a true 
mordant dyestuff like quercetin or maclurin, thus differentiating 
it from catechin, which is not a true colouring matter. The 
chemistry of our Eucalyptus trees has thus been considerably 
advanced during the year. The investigation of the sap of 
Grevillea robusta has probably determined the origin of the deposit 
of succinate of aluminium (as far as the acid is concerned), pre- 
viously described from this tree before the Society. The investi- 
gation of a manna on grass from Northern Queensland, containing 
a large quantity of mannite, was undertaken ; this is the first 
record of material of this character thus occurring, and the results 
have been presented to this Society. 
The recent establishment of the Government Metallurgical 
Works at Clyde, near Parramatta, is of considerable practical and 
_ Scientific importance. The works are under the direction of Mr. 
James Taylor, the Government Metallurgist. They are regularly 
working, and a steady stream of ores from all parts of the colony 
is being received. As the works are for experimental purposes as 
_ well as educational, Mr. Taylor does not expect to reach finality 
in regard to them, At present he is not yet running the cyanide 
and chlorination processes, but the necessary plant is being erected 
and it will be shortly in operation. 
Mr. J. C. H. Mingaye, Analyst and Assayer, is also at work 
in his new laboratory at Clyde, and has made a large number of 
assays and analyses of New South Wales minerals during the past 
year, in addition to some original research. 
5. Astronomy AnD MrrroroLocy.—The past year has not been 
a favourable one for astronomical work at the Sydney Observatory 
owing to the dry weather, which always brings a hazy sky, un- 
favourable to telescope work. The regular observations have been 
kept up with the transit instrument and the large equatorial; the 
latter is now devoted to a re-examination of double stars discovered 
. 
