Proceedings. A481 
the gold-dust to which we are accustomed ; it is also harder, and has a 
chink (when pieces are rattled together), different from the heavy sound 
of the genuine native metal; it is also decidedly harder, and in specific 
gravity it differs in the proportion of about 15° to 19°, which, assuming 
the alloy to be zinc, would indicate a deterioration to the extent of about 80 
grains in the ounce ; and which at £4 2s., the price in London, would make 
a difference of 13s, 8d. per ounce on the price realized, independently of a 
troublesome process of parting being involved. ‘The usual tests for copper 
are, of course, useless as applied to this alloy ; but when hammered out 
into thin leaves, and digested for twenty-four hours in sulphuric acid, it 
yields white flocculi of oxide of zinc when tested with ammonia. 
The most striking and obvious characteristic of this spurious ore are 
its prevailing globular forms, and its whiteness and hardness, as compared 
with genuine gold-dust, with which all are now so familiar, 
Andrew Clarke, Esq., Private Secretary, read a letter addressed to His 
Excellency, the President of this Institution, by the Secretary of the 
recently-instituted “ Agri-Horticultural Society of the Punjab,” requesting 
the establishment of communications and an interchange of seeds, &c., 
with the Royal Society of Van Diemen’s Land. 
Mr. Clarke also read a note from Mr. Courtenay, of Port Arthur, giving 
an account of a sudden rise of tide there to the height of 4 feet, where it 
remained about 5 minutes, and then as suddenly retired, about 20 minutes 
before 12 o’clock on Friday, 31st December last, thermometer being 71 
degrees and barometer 29°352 inches. Mr. Clarke thought the phenome- 
non might be connected with submarine disturbance, perhaps with a recur- 
rence of earthquake at New Zealand. 
Mr, Milligan stated that about five minutes before eight o’clock on the 
evening of Sunday, 19th December last, he perceived five or six distinct 
shocks like those of earthquake, at Oyster Cove, D’Entrecasteaux’s 
Channel, Each shock consisted of several oscillations, and they were 
repeated at intervals of one to two minutes. The oscillatory motion was 
east and west, and there were some peals of low muttering thunder, with 
a few dark cumuli close on the eastern horizon, and one or two faintly-seen 
flashes of lightning there. The vibratory motion was distinctly remarked 
by four persons at the same instant. 
Conversations ensued on the- various topics and objects before the 
meeting, in which most of the members joined. 
The strangers present were Mr. Justice Barry, from Melbourne, and 
Professor Peet, of Grant’s College, Bombay. 
The thanks of the Society were voted unanimously for the various 
donations and communications, and the meeting broke up about the usual 
hour, 
SA 
