32 



a long time in obtaining a suitable coating for lead to protect 

 the water from its action, and had not quite succeeded ; but 

 he had given his results to a friend, who had gone further, 

 and, having obtained great success, patented the process. 

 However, he was told that no one would buy lead pipes of 

 the kind, as they cost half a crown per cwt. more than the 

 ordinary ones. People complain of evils which they refuse 

 to escape from. It is, however, better to avoid lead than to 

 avoid pure water because of its action on lead. 



A Paper was read by Mr. Edward Hull, F.G.S., on 



the nature and objects of Geological Surveys, with special 

 reference to the progress of the geological survey of Lanca- 

 shire and Cheshire. 



After describing the various sources, both natural and 

 artificial, on which the geological surveyor depends for his 

 conclusions, and according to which he is enabled to trace the 

 boundaries of the formations, the author went on to observe 

 that, so generally is the value of such surveys recognised, 

 that the governments of nearly all the most civilised nations 

 had undertaken their support. Amongst others, France, 

 Belgium, Germany, Russia, the States of North America, 

 the British Colonies, as Canada, New Columbia, India, 

 Australia, and New Zealand. 



The Author then explained some details regarding the maps 

 of Lancashire so far as they had been completed by the Geo- 

 logical Survey of Great Britain. Specimens of these maps, 

 both of the one-inch and six-inch scales, were exhibited to 

 the Society in the course of the evening. 



