176 TRAKSACTIONS OP SECTION C. 



It would be a good plan for the Survey to appoint a local geologist, an 

 amateur or member of the staff of a university or college, in every area of 

 twenty or thirty square miles ' to act as their representative and as a centre 

 of local geological interest. He would be expected to give his assistance to other 

 local workers who etood in need of it. He would receive little official remunera- 

 tion, but inquirers in the neighbourhood would be referred to him, and where 

 commercial interests were involved he would, subject to the sanction of the 

 Central Office, be entitled to charge substantial fees for his advice. He would 

 report to the Survey any event of geological importance in the area of which 

 he was in charge — whether it was the discovery of a new fossiliferous locality, 

 the opening of a new quarry, 2 the sinking of a well, or the commencement of 

 boring operations. Many of these matters would be adequately dealt with by 

 local workers, but in other cases it might be desirable for the Survey to send 

 down one of their officers to make a detailed investigation. 



One of the most important duties of the Survey, or its local representative, 

 would be to see that the records of well-sinkings and borings are properly kept, 

 and that where cores are obtained the depth from which each was raised is 

 accurately recorded. At the present time the officers of the Survey make every 

 effort to see that this is done, but they have no legal power to compel those 

 engaged in such operations to give the particulars required. Equally important 

 is a faithful record of the geological information obtained in prospecting or 

 mining operations. This is especially necessary where a mine is abandoned.' 

 If care is not then taken to see that all the information available is accurately 

 recorded, it may never be possible later to remedy the failure to do so. 



Probably these objects would be much facilitated if engineers in charge of 

 boring or mining operations had sufficient knowledge of geology and interest in 

 its advancement to make them anxious to see that no opportunity was lost of 

 observing and recording geological data. This would be in most cases ensured 

 if every mining student were required to carry out geological research as part of 

 his professional training. It is now recognised that no education in science can 

 be considered to he up to University standard if it is limited to a passive recep- 

 tion of facts and theories without any attempt to extend, in however humble 

 a way, the boundaries of knowledge. In the case of geology such research will 

 naturally in most cases take the form of observations in the field. The important 

 point is that the work must be original, on new lines, or in greater detail than 

 before, and not a mere confirmation of published results. It is only by the 

 consciousness that he is accomplishing something which has not been done before 

 that the student can experience the keen pleasure of the conquest of the unknown 

 and acquire the love of research for its own sake. 



At present it is disheartening to realise how few of those who have received 

 scientific instruction understand the obligations under which they lie of them- 

 selves contributing to the growth of knowledge. If they have once had the 

 privilege of achieving individual creative work they will henceforward desire 

 to take advantage of every opportunity of continuing it. 



There is one respect in which geological workers suffer a heavy pecuniary 

 handicap — the cost of railway fares. This affects both the staff and students of 

 colleges, as well as local workers who are extending their radius of work — an 

 inevitable necessity in the investigation of many problems. It also seriously 

 interferes with the activity of local Natural History Societies and Field Clubs, 

 the Geological Societies and Associations of the great provincial towns, and, 



' I am afraid that in many parts of the country there are so few amateur 

 geologists that this area would have to be increased, at any rate at first. 



2 It is very desirable that arrangements should be made for the co-operation 

 of the Geological Survey or their local representatives with the Inspectors of 

 Quarries appointed by the Home Office, and that the annual official list of 

 quarries should describe the rocks which are worked, not only by their ordinary 

 economic designations, but also by their recognised geological descriptions. 



3 Those engaged in mining are already required to furnivsh mining plans to 

 the Mining Record Office, but there is no obligation to give any geological 

 information that may have been obtained. This office was formerly attached 

 to the Geological Survey, but was transferred some years ago to the Home Office. 



