161 



surface, with a tendency to glide downwards in undefinable masses, 

 making the land quite unfit for building purposes. 



From the corner in the cliff on Encombe grounds, described 

 above, to the opening of Horn Street Vale, springs of water issue 

 from tlu; base of the ridge along the strike of the Folkestone bed, 

 and find their way to the shore through the irregular sloping under- 

 clitf of the Sand gate bed. 



Influence of the IUinfall. 



As part of the general consideration of the physical conditions 

 of the soil, and in connection with the natural drainage of water 

 through it by •'springs," the antecedent rainfall should be stated 

 as being, probably, au initial agent, giving an additional weight 

 and impulse to the important action of water in the matter. I have 

 met with no local information on this point, but I will state my 

 own observations at Canterbury, 15 miles N. W. of Sandgate, which 

 may be taken as fairly approximating a local record. During 

 the last quarter of the year 1892, 10-79 inches were noted, being 

 more than a third of tlie whole amount for the j-ear. During 

 January and February, 1893, a considerable amount was registered. 

 February ultimately proved to be the wettest month of the year, 

 4'82 inches being indicated for that month. The total for the two 

 months, including the two first days of iJarch, gave 7' 17 inches; 

 of this amount 4'08 inches fell continuously twelve days preceding 

 the occurrence, -which took place about thirty-six hours afterwards. 

 It may here be better noted that it was reported, on good authority, 

 that the lawn in the upper part of the Encombe grounds had been 

 quite dry during the previous winter ; whereas in former winters 

 it had been sopping wet ; this suggests that either the subsoil 

 water had made freer channels or produced new ones. 



SOJIE OF THE EFFECTS PRODUCED. 



On the 4th of March, at 8 p.m , the first movement took place, 

 and many buildings were seriously affected, giving rise to the 

 greatest alarm and fear of further mischief, and a desire for imme- 

 diate safety ; the night being spent in giving aid and shelter to the 

 suffering inhabitants. A second movement took place at 5 a.m. on 

 the 5th, when the tide had receded, adding extended mischief to 

 structures and roads. A distinct upheaval of the sea-bed, forming 

 a ridge about four or five feet high, not far from low-water mark, 

 was reported as having occurred during a single tide. These 

 appear to have been the chief movements ; other lesser ones were 

 spoken of, but it is questionable whether they should not rather be 

 assigned to results by gravitation and settlement following the 

 more pronounced primary ones. 



As the most marked features of the disturbance were observed 



