HOW QUARTZ REEFS ARE FORMED.

Kumara Times, Issue 2669, 10 April 1885, Page 2

HOW QUARTZ REEFS ARE FORMED.

FIRST OF PROFESSOR'S BLACK'S SERIES OF LECTURES. Professor Black arrived from Greymouth by last evening's tram, and at the Theatre Royal last night delivered the first or introductory lecture to the series he will give in Kumara on geology, with reference more particularly to that part of the science which treats of the formation of quartz reefs and how gold is deposited in them and the ground generally. There was a good attendance, and several ladies were present. A. C. Campbell, Esq., J.P., occupied the chair. Among those present we observed the Rev. R. Hefferuan, the Rev. Fathers Walshe, Browne, Ahem (of Ross), aud O'Donnell (of Ahaura), R. J. Seddon, Esq., M.H.R., and P. Dungan, Esq., M.C.C. The Professor had before him on the stage a long table with a large number of glasses containing for the most part chemicals, metals, and other ingredients, and glass tulies with which he proceeded to illustrate by experiments and analyses the subject of his lecture. Muriatic and carbonic acids, carbon and oxygen, acids and metals in a state of solution, gold, silver, tin, lead, cadmium, antimony and arsenic were experimented with by the professor as if they were so many playthings, and he illustrated very elearly the certain changes which time and the vegetable and miner.il agencies effect in the geological formation and strata of the earth, assisted, of course, in a great measure by atmospheric and elementary causes. _ We regret that our space forbids outgiving an extended notice of the lecture, which, although regarded by many as a very dry subject, was made by Professor Black a highly instructive, interesting and entertaining dissertation; so much so that at the close of his lecture on a general invitation being given to give a series of lessons to enable any person to analyse metallic ores for him or herself, twenty-three gentlemen gave in their names to attend ; these were— The Rev. R Heffernan, Messrs R. J. Seddon, W. Morris, J. Dennett, J. White, A. C. Campbell, J, Ollagan,

F. A. Mouckfcou, J. Gow, J. Wylde, W. C. MacDermott, J. S. Pearn, e! Stennard, H. Hewitt, 0. Bunz, s! Gelleifc, J. Wildridge, J. P. Thomas', J. J. Williams, Alex. Reid, G. Watson and F. A. Olden. ' Any others who wish to join the testing class may do so at the Theatre at seven o'clock this evening. The fee for the testing class is ss, which admits to the whole testing course, extending over a period of five evenings. In this class the students themselves will do the work, analysing ores of all descriptions, under the Professor's guidance. The Professor regards this testing course as the most importaut feature in the ohject of his tour. The subject for the lecture this even, ing will be " How Gold came into the Reefs," and will commence at 9 p.m., after the testing class is over.