E.—7

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1890. June 24. Specimens of a heavy reddish brown mineral from the Taieri district, sent by Mr. Cockrell, were supposed to be scheelite, but proved to be rhodonite. June 25. Letter to Mr. W. Smith, Ashburton, about the possible occurrence of moa bones in an old buried swamp. Oct. 10. Sample of ferruginous clay, sent by editor of Witness, was supposed to contain gold, but proved to contain none. Nov. 15. A metallic mineral, forwarded by editor of Witness, found in a reef formation at Nevis, proved to be iron pyrites. Donations to our Mining Museum. Mr. J. M. Maclaren, Director, Coromandel School of Mines : A fine specimen of native arsenic, impregnated in parts with fine specks of native gold ; also two specks of crystallized gold in ealcite. Mr. D. P. Allen : A small collection of rock specimens from Preservation Inlet, including granite, diorite, limestone, mica schist, &c.; also several specimens of auriferous quartz, rich in zinc-blende from the Morning Star Beef. Mr. F. B. Stephens : A number of good specimens from the Nelson District, illustrating the modes of occurrence of asbestus (chrysolite) in massive serpentine; also two specimens of magnetite from same locality. Mr. A. Hamilton : A fine specimen of chlorite rock, inclosing large crystals of tourmaline, from the Nelson District. Mr. A. Sligo : Large collection of massive pieces of copper, lead, and tin ores, from mines on the West Coast of Tasmania; presented after being shown in the Auckland Industrial Exhibition. Mr. J. Logan : Several specimens of talcose schist impregnated with sylvanite (telluride of gold), from Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Mr. W. Goodlet : A specimen of quartz showing included specks and patches of molybdenite, from the neighbourhood of Greymouth. Mr. W. H. Macadam : Large specimen of auriferous pyrite, from New South Wales. Mr. B. H. Walcott : A specimen of spherulitic pitchstone, from Gippsland, Victoria. Mr. W. A. MacLeod : Sixteen specimens of rare rocks, including trachyte, hauyue-trachyte, syenite, &c, recently identified at Port Cygnet, Southern Tasmania. Dr. Black : A fine specimen of cinnabar, from a vein recently discovered in the Waitahuna district. Mr. W. Begg : A piece of fossil resin, inclosed in argillaceous shale, found at a depth of 20 ft., in a quarry at Whangarei, North Island. Mr. G. B. Neale : Two specimens of rich copper ore, consisting of cuprite with native copper, from a new discovery at Murrin Murrin, Western Australia. All the specimens enumerated have been labelled and arranged, partly on shelves, partly in the glass wall-cases, which latter are now gradually becoming rather crowded. I have, &c, The Chancellor, University of Otago. Geoege H. F. Uleich, Director, School of Mines. Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (1,526 copies), £i lis.

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