6 
President’s Address. 
Young, lie was now engaged officially in making such a 
collection, which ho promises to send to me to enable me to 
determine, as I suspect may be the case, whether the marine 
fossils over the coal beds may be of a newer geological period 
than the Palseozoic strata under the coal beds. The result of 
the examination will, of course, be brought before our 
Society, for which purpose the investigations are being made. 
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 the 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 Victorian 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 Mi'. 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 Beecliworth, 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, 
occured to Dr. Bleasdale himself. 
On the same evening, a paper was read from Mr. F. C. 
Christie, on that most important practical subject, “ The 
Making Storage Reservoirs for Water.” At the same Meeting, 
the Surveyor-General, Mr. Ligar, one of our Vice-Presidents, 
