Reports & Proceedings — Liverpool Geological Society. 285 



Liverpool Geological Society. 



April 13, 1920.— Mr. W. T. Walker, B.Sc, F.G.S., President, in 



the chair. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. " The Bellevale Borehole." By F. T. Maidwell, F.G.S. 

 The boring was made in 1919 by the Widnes Corporation for water 



at Bellevale, Little Woolton, close to the Liverpool city boundary, 

 and reached a depth of 704 feet below the surface. Full details 

 were given of the strata penetrated, which were almost entirely of 

 Middle and Lower Bunter Sandstones. 



2. " Coastal Changes at the Mouth of the Alt." By C. B. Travis. 

 The encroachments of the sea on the Cheshire and Lancashire 



coasts of the Mersey have attracted considerable attention during 

 the past few months, and particularly on the northern shore of the 

 estuary, where the spectacular feature of the menace of destruction 

 of a number of fine detached residences at Hall Road has created 

 much popular interest. The erosion which has taken place in the 

 latter locality has been the subject of continuous detailed 

 observations by Mr. Travis, who has carried out a series of surveys 

 during the last twelve months dealing with the position of the River 

 Alt on the foreshore, and of the changes of the high water-mark 

 of the tides at various periods since 1893. Contrary to general 

 supposition, the advance southward of the River Alt is no new feature, 

 but brings part of the series of oscillations to which this river between 

 Hightown and Waterloo has been subject over a very long period. 

 By reproductions of old maps and charts, and recent surveys, the 

 striking changes in the j^osition of the outlet channels of the river 

 during the last three centuries were illustrated, and it was shown that 

 no periodicity can as yet be definitely established in relation to these 

 fluctuations. 



Details of the recent erosive effects and calculations of the loss 

 of land suffered along this part of the South Lancashire coast, 

 particularly during the past seven years, were given. The accretion 

 of blown sand which has taken place along other parts of the same 

 coast contemporaneously with the erosion was referred to, and the 

 noteworthy gain of land by natural and artificial means in the 

 neighbourhood of what is now the Altcar Rifle Range, and the 

 formation and development of the salient of accretion known as 

 Formby Point, since the seventeenth century, were described. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



GAULT AND LOWEK GREENSAND NEAR LEIGHTON BUZZARD. 



Sir, — Although it would be easy to reply in detail to 



Mr. Lamplugh's letter on this subject, published in your issue of last 



month, we have no desire to do so. We are sati^sfied that a careful 



