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navvies, many miles of lines, and a vast number of appliances 

 and implements. A good view of the new course constructed for 

 the Eibble, and its relation to the present river was obtained, and 

 it was pointed out how already, by the construction of a wall 2|- 

 miles in length, many hundreds of acres of land, formerly covered 

 at high tide, had been reclaimed. Much of this was the property of 

 Squire Eawstorne, of Penwortham. Numerous stacks contained 

 the produce of the laud from the first year's yield. The mention 

 of Penwortham will call to mind the fact that the priory and 

 church of that interesting village were made the objects of a 

 visit three years ago by the Literary and Scientific Club. Castle 

 HUl, in Koman times a camp of observation commanding the 

 pass of the Eibble, was conspicuous, and it was no wonder that 

 the fine situation and charming scenery of Penwortham should 

 have marked it out as it was in olden time as " a Eoyal Manor." 

 One matter which arrested attention was the remains of hundreds 

 of trees, which the excavations had disclosed. Projecting from 

 the cuttings were the trunks of trees of all sizes, some of them 

 measuring as much as a yard in diameter. A curious fact in 

 connection with this submerged forest was that all the trees were 

 said to lie in the same direction, namely, north and south. The 

 blackened timber soon fell to pieces after exposure to the air. 

 The presence of these remains had given mnch trouble to the 

 contractors in their task of excavation. On alighting at the 

 limit of the docks, the company were divided into four detach- 

 ments, and under the guidance of the Mayor, members of the 

 Eibble Committee, the engineer, and others, the inspection on 

 foot was undertaken. On entering the tidal basin and passing 

 through the site of the dock gates, the massive masonry and 

 finished concrete walls were presented to view. 



Perambulations along the bed of the works had often to be 

 made by means of the sleepers on which the rails were laid, in 

 consequence of the large quantity of water which found its way 

 into the cuttings, chiefly from the adjoining river. The pumps, 

 which were constantly working, were capable of raising seven 

 millions of gallons per day. The new river bed came in for 

 observation, and its proposed point of juncture with the present 

 river was indicated. The old river would be used partly as a 

 timber pond after the diversion of the stream. Next were noticed 

 the two gigantic locks, with the places to be occupied by the 

 three pairs of gates, the object of the adjoining locks being for 

 the purpose of saving water. Exceptional solidity has been given 

 to the sides of the gates, Welsh granite from Swansea being 

 used at these points. The sill has been formed of adequate 

 strength capable of resisting the tremendous force of water which 

 wUl come against it. The geologist found an ample field for his 

 investigations, the sections affording admirable means of studying 



