This subject is a very extensive one, whether we view it as compared with the primitive methods of ancient times, or only take into consideration the advances made in late years and the scientific methods of to-day.My object in this brief summary will be not so much to enter into details, or to take notice of more than a very small proportion of the many new inventions that are brought out day by day, but mainly to draw attention to some of the appliances that are best known in Australia, with some notes of my own observations.I do not presume to educate practical mill managers- many with world-wide experience in gold milling ; but I do hope for their friendly criticism and their notes of actual practice. This, in my opinion, will tend to serve one of the main objects of this institute, and thus lead to practical good, and after all, the living voice testimony in a matter of this kind is by far the most effective.In Australia during the past 4o years, over 1300 patents have been granted in connection with mines, minerals and mining appliances ; fully the half of this number have been granted during the past five years ; and now scarcely a week passes without producing the subject of some improved patent in connection with this fascinating industry. And if we could place reliance on the many glowing reports, we get from time to time of new and improved quartz crushers, perfect concentrators and amalgamators and other means of saving even the finest of fine gold from the most refractory auriferous ores, surely we should have reached the acme of perfection