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ince of New Brunswick was of the greatest value and greatly simplified- 

 the difiicult task they had undertaken. 



In connection, also, with the work in ISTova Scotia, we must not 

 omit to mention the names of others who have done great and lasting 

 work in that field. Brown, on the structure of the Cape Breton coal 

 fields. Hind, Howe, Honeyman, and others, of the latter of whom 

 it may be said that pi-obably no man was held in greater esteem by the 

 people of his province. His work in the easteni area, on the Arisaig 

 section, has long since established his i-eputation as a skilful worker in 

 this field. 



In speaking of the work of these pioneers of the science in our 

 sister provinces, there should be no attempt to throw discredit upon 

 their labors or conclusions, even though it be found that the residts of 

 the most recent investigations in this field do not in all respects coincide 

 with theirs. It is but fair to infer that, with increased study and more 

 detailed methods of examination, many new facts will be brought to 

 light, which will often of necessity involve changes in the interpretation 

 of structure. This has always been the case, and always will be, so long 

 as the study of geology is carried on, and the principle is as true to-day, 

 as applied to geological work, as it was twenty or thirty years ago. 



Passing now to New Brunswick, we find there some names which, 

 as having taken a prominent place in the early study of the science, are 

 well worthy of mention. Among these we again find the name of 

 Gesner prominent, and he may be well styled the father of New Bruns- 

 wick geology. Following him, we have Dr. John Hobb, a former pro- 

 fessor in the University of Frederic ton, who, in 1849, published valuable 

 notes, and a map of the province, while reference to certain interesting 

 points of structure was made in the first edition of the " Acadian 

 Geology," in 1855. During the early years of its study, from 1840 to 

 1860, sufficient was not known concerning the areas of crystalline rocks 

 in the southern part of the province to determine their true age or posi- 

 tion. The fossiliferous Cambrian slates about St. John had not then 

 been studied with any attempt at detail, only a few imperfect remains 

 having been obtained, which were not determinable, while, from the 

 comparatively isolated condition of the country, opportunities of 

 comparison with the established Huronian and Laurentian rocks of 



