570 Notices of Memoirs — R. L. Jack — Artesian Water. 



hours at high-water of springs, that is, by 260 tides in a year, 

 the average quantity of alluvial matter for each tide being 3,728 

 cubic yards. 



The drift of the tidal current towards the Humber lasts 3^ hours, 

 and runs at a velocity of 2^ miles an hour; the greatest distance 

 a particle of solid matter put in suspension at the point of mean 

 distance, 20 miles from the Humber, could be carried southward 

 is 8f miles ; when this distance is reached the tide would turn and 

 the particle would be carried northward for 16 miles, or 28 miles 

 away from the Humber. 



It is, however, quite improbable that a particle of matter placed 

 in suspension at the foot of the cliffs could ever reach the main 

 current going to the Humber. Owing to the Yorkshire coast being 

 in an embayment the main tidal current does not approach nearer 

 the coast than the 6-fathom line, or a mile away from the coast. 

 The current of the flowing tide sets into the embayment towards 

 the coast. Even if a particle from the cliffs could overcome this 

 shoreward set and traverse the water contained in this mile of water 

 in an opposite direction, so as to be brought into the main southerly- 

 going current, the quantity of solid matter brought into suspension 

 would only be sufficient to supply one grain to 14,000 cubic feet 

 of water. 



It is evident from the above facts that it is not possible for the 

 detritus from the Yorkshire coast to reach, much more to be carried 

 up, the Humber. 



VIII. — The Artesian Watek in the State of Queensland, 

 Australia. By E. Logan Jack, LL.D., F.G.S.^ 



THE western interior of Queensland is a vast area of magnificent 

 pastoral country, but is not endowed with a sufficient rainfall. 

 In 1881 the author had reason to suspect that the Cretaceous rocks of 

 the Western Downs afforded conditions favourable for the discovery 

 of artesian water. Subsequentl}', in 1885, the author (then Govern- 

 ment Geologist) and Mr. J. B, Henderson, hydraulic engineer, made 

 a study of the area, and an experimental bore was put down which 

 proved a success. 



From Mr. Henderson's annual report for 1899-1900 it appears 

 that up to June, 1900, 185 miles of boring had been made in search 

 of artesian water in the district, and a large proportion of the bores 

 have been successful ; and though the artesian water does not fully 

 compensate for the lack of rain, still the bores have already produced 

 an important change in the conditions of life in the interior. 



The greater part of the western interior of Queensland is composed 

 of soft strata of Lower Cretaceous age, consisting of clay-shales, 

 limestones, and sandstones. These strata are so disposed that the 

 lower members of the series crop out on the western flanks of the 

 coast range, where not only is the elevation of the surface greater 

 than in the downs to the west, but the rainfall is also comparatively 

 abundant. 



^ Eead before the British Association, Section C (Geology), Glasgow, Sept., 1901. 



