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and such he was convinced was an infallible token that the deposits contained gold. Hood stated that he had submitted several of the specimens to analysis without finding the smallest Others of them m a y contain gold, but those he had indication of gold in their composition. tested did not. A particular specimen was handed round to be looked at, and an old Cornwall miner w h o had casually dropped in closely eyed it. H e was a returned digger from California, and his opinion was waited for with breathless attention. It at length slowly oozed out and was not very re-assuring, for he simply thought that the specimen might contain i per cent, of gold. Certain shiny particles were observable in this and in others ; and the upshot was the prevalence of m u c h doubt and distrust of the whole lot. M r . A. H . Hart suggested that all the specimens be pulverized, and then tested by all the means of analysis known. Dr. Greeves was convinced that a certain portion of gold was present in their formation, and should not feel satisfied to the contrary until they were subjected to an analysis with a solution of muriate of tin, this test being allowed to be the most delicate of any known, and would discover the smallest particles of gold if such were present. In this state of perplexity it was agreed to request Messrs. John W o o d (chemist), L. A . Bearteaux (dentist), W . S. Gibbons (analyst), and John Crate (jeweller), to undertake an examination of the specimens instanter, and report with the least delay, so as to determine the vexed question that evening. This Board of analysis accordingly retired with the specimens to Mr. Hood's laboratory. M r . Martin, said to be an experienced miner, next submitted gold samples alleged to have been found in the same place as Frencham's, and an individual, w h o did not give his name, placed on the table for inspection a specimen of gold ore from a Brazilian mine. In this the gold was plainly discernible, and apparently combined with sulphuret of iron. After an hour's absence the testing Sub-Committee returned, when Mr. Gibbons stated two of the specimens having different aspects had been subjected to nitro-muriatic acid, and also to the proto-chloride of tin, without the slightest particle of gold being perceptible. But to make assurance doubly sure, he proposed to submit the specimens to the analyzation of quicksilver. Mr. H o o d declared that nothing could be more decisive than the process adopted, the specimens having been subjected to one of the most delicate of tests, and if only one grain of gold were contained or even dissolved in a hogshead of the fluid, it could be traced. It was finally resolved that M r . Gibbons' proposal of submitting the substances to mercurial action, should be had recourse to, the result to be communicated through the Mayor to the several newspapers. O n the 19th June some sensation was caused by the receipt of a sample of gold from Mr. R e a Clarke, found at the King Parrot Creek, and the sender applied for the public reward. Mr. Frank Stephen returned on the same day from a second excursion to the Plenty, and brought an armful of specimens. T h e Mayor accordingly convened an emergency meeting of the Gold Committee for 7 p.m. in the T o w n Clerk's office, when there attended the Mayor, Messrs. A. H . and H . J. Hart, J. O'Shanassy, D. Young, R. Heales, T. M . Combie, J. Hood, Webb-Richmond, P. Davis, W . K. Bull, J. W . Bell, G. Nicholson, and J. A. Gumbinner. M r . Stephen exhibited three specimens, one being solid gold, which he stated had been smelted from some of the ore found by him. T h e Clarke specimens were also on view, and a Mr. Morrow, as the agent of thefinder,m a d e formal application for the reward. It was agreed to ask Mr. H o o d to analyse portions of each parcel of specimens. Mr. H o o d accordingly withdrew to do so, and returned in a quarter of an hour with news that Clarke's specimens were pure gold. Mr. Stephen's had been submitted to the test of muriate of tin, and nothing found but iron. H e believed it to be sulphuret of iron. A shout of laughter followed, and Mr. Stephen, w h o was present, looking around indignantly, exclaimed, " That he could not see anything to laugh at," an announcement which brought on an uproarious encore. Mr. Crate declared that the test applied was of the most delicate kind ; what Mr. Stephen had found was not gold, but an indication of the lode. Mr. Stephen disputed the accuracy of the analysis, and proposed that his specimens be put in a crucible and tried there, whereupon Messrs. A. H . Hart, Hood, Crate, Gibbons, and Webb-Richmond were constituted a crucible inquisition, and they ret.red to take action. In three-fourths of an hour they re-entered the room, when H o o d reported that the Stephen specimens had been smelted and nothing found in them but sulphuret of iron. Stephen could hold out no further, and frankly declared that he was satisfied that