12 



latter beds contain dark leathery shales, which emit a strong 

 odour of petroleum. But the Kimmeridge clays are specially 

 characterised by indications of the oil, and their shales have 

 been worked during past years in Dorsetshire, where petroleum 

 has been obtained from them by distillation. The most in- 

 teresting part of the problem is whether free petroleum may be 

 met with at a lower depth. The experience in America is that 

 the gas is first encountered, and the oil comes later on. The gas 

 seeks to rise, and in so doing impregnates the rocks which lie 

 -u u T,^| ^ f^^g ygjjj. ^^ given, and the gas rushes to the 



ing flow indicates the existence ot a large jmu ,iu..,^^.^ 



be discovered by further search. The gas has given tokens of its 

 presence over a rather wide area, and it may possibly be found 

 at greater distances. The depth also has to be borne in mind, 

 and by seeking to find the actual starting-point of the gas we 

 may attain to what would be termed the fountain-head of the 

 gaseous stream. It may be asked — If the gas is good for any- 

 thing, why do not the Brighton Company lay it on for the 

 purpose of lighting up the Heathfield Station ? It is remarkable 

 that the discovery at the Heathfield Hotel was so completely 

 disregarded. " Natural gas" appears to be at a discount in the 

 neighbourhood. In the public interest, and their own, it would 

 now seem to devolve on the Kailway Company to take the matter 

 up, and have it thoroughly investigated. 



It has been mentioned that the Heathfield Railway Station 



