SCHOOL OF MINES CONVERSAZIONE.

Evening Star, Issue 11251, 26 May 1900, Page 3

SCHOOL OF MINES CONVERSAZIONE.

There was a large attendance of University students and friends at the School of Mines last evening, when the mining students held their third annual conversazione. During the earlier part of the evening, before the lecture and concert room was opened, there wore really too many people present, and it was with* difficulty‘that the many interesting and instructive objects could be properly inspected. All the rooms in the building were utilised, and in each one something well worth close observation was shown. The quartz-crushing battery was in full swing for a time, but the noise was so great that the visitors were rather glad when it was shut down. The interesting plant, however, was inspected by a great many people, and Mr Street, who was the senior student in charge of this department, was untiring in his efforts to explain the why and wherefore of the different parts of the ungainly looking piece of machinery. In the assaying room the retorts were all in requisition, assays being made of concentrates and tailings, tin, gold and silver from quartz, galena and lead, and others. The assaying process was eagerly watched by little knots of ladies and gentlemen to whom the various details were obligingly explained by the students conducting the tests. In one room three, standard ‘gold extraction plants in miniature were shown. These were the cyanide, capable of dealing with 10 to 20 pounds of ore ; the permanganate, “He Black’s own ” ; and the chlorination. These processes of gold extraction were in commission, and those who chose to inspect them had the salient points of each explained by the students who were looking after them. They were very interesting. In the same room the Spitzbergen process for washing ore and getting rid of the slimes was also exhibited. Mr Lelievre gave a splendid display with an electrical apparatus, whilst Dr lie Lautour, with his' ever-interesting Itoutgcn rays plant, was a centre of attraction to a large crowd all the evening. In addition to making expen-, ments with the X rays, the practical use of the discovery was demonstrated by means of photographs which the doctor had himself taken amt developed. In the lecture, room Mr W. Goodlct delivered an interesting chemistry lecture, in (he course of which he gave a number ot experiments, explosions being ,of frequent occurrence. The lecture was followed by an entertainment of the nigger order. The penormers were exclusively students, whose contributions wore eminently successful, and.- judging by the hearty laughter and applause, those who were fortunate enough in getting into the room had an enjoyable time. The National Anthem brought the entertainment to a close, after which the visitors were entertained at supper. The object of the conversazione. was to obtain funds for providing a students’ liberary in connection with the. School of Mines. At present their stock of literature is confined to a number of mining journals, and it is hoped that last night's hikings will enable them to go in for more journals and some standard books on mining. In addition, however, to thus benefiting themselves by the entertainment, the students provided the public with an opportunity ,-f judging for themselves the standard to which the mining school pupils were trained in the practical work of the institution. We feel that we would he remiss in our duty if we concluded without expressing thanks, on behalf of those present, to the students, Mr Lelievre, Dr De Lautour, and Ihe others who were in charge of the various exhibitions, for their unmfailing courtesy in affording information and explaining tlie ins and outs of the different objects of interest shown.