oe eee, 
‘4? 
of trying the ground and finally serving the purpose of draining 
the water that percolates through the workings. The “heading,” 
which was driven about 40 feet below what will be the true 
tunnel above, is 7 feet square and rising 1 in 480 feet towards the 
lowest point under that part of the river called the “Shoots,” will 
serve as a natural channel to convey the surplus water towards 
the pumping shaft on shore. Various openings in the brick 
lining, 3 feet thick, indicated that the Coal measures were here 
passed through, and it was no doubt owing to the presence of fire 
clays and Coal shale plainly visible through these man-holes 
that the “heading” has been already bricked so far; the more 
solid and safe beds of the Pennant rock coming in farther on not 
requiring this protection so much whilst the works are in progress, _ 
though ultimately the whole will be cased in brick throughout. 
After passing from beneath the protection of the brick roof, the 
sound of distant water dropping and splashing on all sides 
through the joints of the Pennant proved the necessity of water 
proofs. Distant lights moving about showed where the men 
were at work, and after a walk of some half-a-mile, a larger 
opening over head, balks of timber and centrepieces, pneumatic 
drills, and preparations for “tonite” charges, indicated that the 
“heading ” had gradually risen to the level of the true tunnel and 
the base of the future rails, and that the sides and roof were 
being enlarged and prepared for the future brick arching. 
A point under the “Shoots” being now reached, and a distance 
of about three-quarters of a mile haying been traversed, the 
“heading” becoming somewhat narrower and rendering stooping 
necessary, a return was made to the shaft. Some portions of 
coal vegetation in the Pennant, a bed of rolled pebbles in the 
roof, and strings of hematite iron ore in the sides were examined 
and specimens taken. The large pump was visited, and the 
workings overhead in the air shaft reached by ladders, and with 
_ pardonable pride our intelligent guide and foreman pointed outa 
harmless stream of water, confined now to a two-inch. pipe, 
