1898] NOTES AND COMMENTS 363 



bore was then started 90 feet nearer the centre of the lagoon, in the 

 same depth of water. The time allotted did not permit the bore to 

 reach a greater depth than 1 1 .*! feet, and the material was similar to 

 that in the other bore. 



The deepening of the old bore, discontinued last year at a depth 

 of 698 feet, on the main island of Funafuti, at first proceeded 

 slowly, having been delayed by a temporary failure of water. The 

 party were landed by the London Missionary Society's steamer, " John 

 Williams," on June 20th last. As was anticipated, little difficulty 

 was experienced in re -driving the lining pipes into the old bore, and 

 washing out the sand and rubble which had choked the bore-hole. 

 Pipes were laid from the site of the old bore to some small water- 

 holes from which a supply of fresh water was obtained for the 

 boiler. By July 25th, the re-lining and cleaning of the old bore 

 having been successfully accomplished, boring was resumed, and 

 when the "Porpoise" finally left on September 6, a depth of 987 

 feet had been reached. The bore last year terminated in soft 

 dolomite limestone at 698 feet, but below this is a hard rock, so 

 hard that the portion of the bore-hole which penetrates it no longer 

 needs to be lined with iron pipes, a condition which facilitates the 

 work of boring. 



Mr A. E. Finckh reports that this hard rock is largely composed 

 of corals and shells. At a depth of 840 feet on the ocean face of 

 the reef there is a strongly marked shelf, as shown by the soundings 

 of Captain A. Mostyn Field of H.M.S. " Penguin," and it is con- 

 sidered that this shelf, at the 140 fathoms level, marks the down- 

 ward limit of the coral formation. The fact that coral rock occurs 

 far below this depth strongly suggests that subsidence must have 

 taken place. 



Mr Finckh has conducted successful experiments on the rate of 

 growth of the various reef-forming animals and plants. In con- 

 junction with Mr Halligan he has accomplished some satisfactory 

 exploration of the deep-sea reefs. They have also levelled accu- 

 rately several lines of section across the atoll, and fixed large and 

 permanent datum-marks for the benefit of future observers. These 

 will show whether the atoll is undergoing elevation or subsidence, 

 and whether it is growing seawards or not. The boring was to con- 

 tinue aud Mr Finckh was to go on with his observations until the 

 middle of November. The diamonds, however, had almost run out. 



We are indebted for this information to our correspondent, Mr 

 C. Hedley. The results, so far as one can judge, are compatible with 

 Darwin's theory ; but we must wait until the cores, already brought 

 to Sydney by Mr Halligan and Foreman Symons have been subjected 

 to thorough microscopic and chemical examination. Until this has 

 been done no opinion can be offered as to the conclusions, but we 



