[ 143 ] 



them welcome; and hoped they would partake of whatever the 

 Hotel afforded, whilst he went on to prepare for their arrival at 

 Netherfield. 



An excellent cold luncheon was spread, and ample justice 

 having been done it, the carriages were re-entered and a start made 

 for the Sub-Wealden Explorations, which wei-e reached about two 

 o'clock. Netherfield is about seven or eight miles from Hastings, 

 Battle being about mid-way between Hastings and the " Borings," 

 as they are called; and the visit to these proved the most 

 intcrestino' part of the day's proceedings. As its name implies, 

 Netherfield itself lies low ; but, after quitting the high-road, the 

 party went down, down, down, through " tangled brake and briar," 

 till the engine-house of " the borings " was reached. 



A core having been brought up early that morning, the works 

 were again in full operation; and, as it was found necessary to 

 lengthen the boring rod whilst there, the whole process was easily 

 understood ; Mr Thornton (the engineer in charge) and Mr. Henry 

 Willett explaining in the most lucid manner how the auger bored 

 its way through the earth and brought to the surface the core 

 which it had cut. 



The work is being performed by the Diamond Boring Com- 

 pany. As a matter of course, the boring is accomplished by the 

 aid of steam, the driving power being a common portable engine. 

 The boring machinery is of a simple but very ingenious character ; 

 in fact, the whole space occupied is only a few feet square. The 

 depth of the bore was 1,267 feet. The auger is an iron cylinder of 

 the diameter of the hole to be bored, held in position by two sub- 

 stantial iron uprights and two cross-beams, through which the 

 auger (fixed to hollow rods) passes ; the rotary motion being given 

 by means of wheels and a driving band, as seen in ordinary 

 machinery. To the end of the auger is sci-ewed what is technically 

 termed a " crown," but which might be more appi'opriately called 

 a "coronet." It consists of a steel ring, of about 4 inches in width 

 and half an inch thick ; on the outer rim of which is set, in slight 

 protuberances, half-a-dozen real i-ough diamonds, a similiar number 

 being fixed in the inner rim; all set in much the same manner as 

 the diamonds used by glaziers. Other diamonds are set in the sides 

 of the crown ; but these act only when those in the rim get 



