—— ee 
ee a or 
By W. Heward Bell, #.G.8. 85 
or future. The most important point I wish to bring under your 
notice is the question as to whetber or not coal is to be found in 
the neighbourhood of Westbury. Of the existence of the older, 
or Paleozoic, rocks under our feet there can be no doubt, but as to: 
the existence of coal that is another matter. The central axis of 
the Mendips, shows an inclination to trend round to the north 
through Frome; and if the high dips west of Frome continue 
there is a probability that the millstone grits and lower coal 
measures may roll in under Westbury, but, as I have before ex- 
plained, a doubt as to their position must remain, which can only be 
settled by actual boring or trial. Such a trial bore was made some 
time ago at Witham Hole, four miles south of Frome, which passed 
through the Oxford Clay, cornbrash, and forest marble, to the depth 
of 600ft., when it was stopped; had they bored twice that depth, 
or even to 1000ft., the coal measures might have been reached. Nor 
is this the only trial that has been made in the past ; a boring was 
commenced at Trowbridge, but abandoned on account of water ; 
another attempt, as far back as 1815, was made to sink to the lower 
rocks at Melksham, but this was also defeated by water at a depth of 
some 351ft. or thereabouts, after the cornbrash, or Kelloway Rocks, 
had been reached. But when the near exhaustion of our present 
coal-fields becomes imminent, more effectual trials no doubt will be 
made to find workable coal seams below the newer rocks. 
In conclusion may I add that, apart from the economic side of 
the question, the study of geology is worth following for its own 
sake, giving a new interest to those who live in the country and 
care to observe the things around them, 
It is anything but a dry subject, although 1 fear that my 
discourse may itself have been rather of that nature. 
