Professor Slack's Lectures.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5253, 18 November 1885, Page 2

Professor Slack's Lectures.

As announced in our last issue, Professor Black, with Mr Montgomery and two assistants, armed from Auckland yesterday after* noon for the purpose of giving practical instruction to miners and others regarding the testing of minerals in this and tbe surround* ing districts. The lectures will be delivered in the Academy of Music, and to-day the Professor and his assistants were busily engaged in laying out upon two tables erected at the back of the stage the apparatus and appliances required in connection therewith. The appliances for retorting and as3ajing are nust complete, being such as to enable the principle and mode of both to bo clearly and practically demonstrated. The appliances are tco numerous to particularise, but we might mention a few of the most important, viz.: the assay balance, crucibles of every description, burettes for volumetric analysis, agate mortars, &c. Then there is a haDdy little instrument which has been designated the diamond crusher, used for reducing even the hardest pieces of reck. The apparatus connected with the blow-pips is arranged upon a separate form, together with the various salts and re-agents used in tasting, by the aid of which a very clo«e estimate of the value of gold or silver bearing stone can be ascertained. Classes for instruction in tbe various branches of mining will be formed at the conclusion of to-night's lecture, which we hope to Bee well patronised. No charge for admission will be made for the lecture this evening, while for those following the charge for tbe course will be merely aominal, so that we hope to see the Academy of Music crowded with all who take an interest in mining.