1872.] (517) 
PROGRESS IN’ SCLTENCE. 
MINING. 
Ir was stated in our *‘ Chronicles’’ last quarter, that Archer’s Wood was the 
site selected by the Sub-Wealden Exploration Committee for their experi- 
mental boring. But, as it was found that the geological features of that 
locality would seriously interfere with the work, the operations have neces- 
sarily been transferred to a new site. A beautiful spot in Councillor’s Wood, 
in the parish of Netherfield—the property of J. C. Mappin, Esq., who has 
most liberally given the site—has finally been pitched upon: here the plant 
has been erected, and the boring commenced under the direction of Mr. Bos- 
worth, an experienced boremaster from Leicestershire. The neighbouring 
rocks are the shales and limestones of the Ashburnham beds, or lowest mem- 
bers of the Wealden series. It is proposed that the bore-hole shall be g inches 
in diameter, and shall be carried, if necessary, to a depth of 2000 feet. As 
soon as a sufficient depth is attained, and the rods therefore become heavy 
enough, it may be expected that good cores of rock may be drilled out; and 
these g-inch cylinders will, of course, yield much information to the geologist. 
Soon after the commencement of the boring, a large party from the British 
Association visited the works, but the hole was then only a few inches in 
depth, and the rock was churned up into a kind of mud. Scientific addresses 
on the obje& of the exploration were delivered on the spot by Mr. Prestwich, 
F.R.S., Mr. W. Topley, and Mr. H. Willett, whilst Mr. Bosworth, the engineer, 
explained the mechanical details of boring. It cannot be too widely known 
that this undertaking is a purely scientific experiment, for the purpose, mainly, 
of ascertaining what older rocks occur beneath the Wealden beds in this 
locality. Reasoning from well-known geological data, it is expected that some 
of the secondary formations will be either entirely absent or but feebly repre- 
sented, and that a ridge of paleozoic rocks will ve reached at a moderate 
depth. Those palzozoic rocks, when found, may or may not contain coal; if 
productive coal-measures be struck, so much the better; but. in either case, 
the great object of the boring will be accomplished. There seems, however, 
to be a popular notion afloat, that this is really a trial-sinking for coal in 
Sussex—in fac&, a kind of commercial mining enterprise. No doubt many of 
the subscribers to the Exploration Fund take this view of the undertaking, but 
the geologists, who have set the work afoot, lend little or no support to such 
an inference. It is nevertheless true, that though coal-measures may not be 
found at this spot, the evidence there obtained may lead to a successful search 
for coal elsewhere in the south-east of England. Anyhow, the Netherfield 
boring is a work of great scientific interest, and reflects the highest credit on 
Mr. Willett, the spirited projector of this enterprise. 
Although we may never be able to burn Sussex coal, it seems likely that 
Sutherlandshire coal may soon find its way into the market. Since the days 
of Elizabeth, it has been known that deposits of coal exist in the neighbour- 
hood ot Brora, on the east coast of Sutherlandshire—not the true fuel of the 
palzozoic coal-measures it is true, but a very fair coal of oolitic age. These 
deposits have not beén worked for many years, but the present high price of coal 
has again turned attention to the Brora fuel, and Mr. Jones, of Shropshire, 
has been employed by the Duke of Sutherland to report upon the Sutherland- 
shire coal-field. Acting on this report, the Duke is about to renew workings ; 
an engine is to beimmediately ereGed for pumping water from the old pits, and 
a new experimental shaft is being driven at a place called Strath Steven, on 
the sea-shore, about one mile east of the old works. 
Anyone interested in the development of the minergl resources of Queens- 
land should read the excellent paper by Mr. R. Daintree, published in the 
August number of the “ Journal of the Geological Society ’—a paper which 
