MoLLET. — Description of an Artesian Well sunk at Avonside. 411 



him, with other like evidence, to elucidate the formation of the Canterbury 

 plains. This matter has beed treated of by Professor von Haast in his 

 recent work on the geology of this province, and he there points out the 

 value of collecting all possible information to enable maps and sections to 

 be prepared, showing the geological nature of the country. 



I trust that many persons may be found willing to bring forward any 

 communications of a similar kind, as by that means a mass of facts will be 

 collected, which, taken together, will be of immense value. It is important 

 that this should be effected as soon as possible, there being now no means 

 of ascertaining what the pipes (the lower ends of which are invariably closed 

 with an iron plug) are driven through. In former times, as is well known, 

 the wells were bored, and thus afforded a section of the strata passed 

 through ; but the number of such wells is comparatively few, and therefore 

 particulars regarding them (which would otherwise be irretrievably lost 

 sooner or later) should be put on record at once. 



The well to be described is situated about 15 chains south-east from the 

 junction of the New Brighton road and Dudley Creek, and about 2 chains 

 from the road bordering on the creek, and fronting on the property on 

 which it is sunk. It is on lot 32 (at present occupied by Mr. Hebden) of 

 Eural Section 231 (originally in the possession of Mr. T. L. Laine), 



This well was bored for the gentleman (Mr. T. L. Laine) who, at the 

 time, owned the property, and from him I obtained, a few years ago, the 

 particulars (which I noted down) concerning the sinking of it. Not thinking 

 at the time that the information would ever be of any value he had not com- 

 mitted it lo writing, so that he gave it me from memory ; but as he had 

 taken very great interest in the matter, I have not the slightest doubt of 

 the correctness of the measurements. 



Starting from the surface, IJ feet of black soil was first met with, be- 

 neath which was a layer of clay If feet thick, followed by a bed of sand 12 

 feet deep. The next stratum of 15 feet consisted of river-woxni shingle, 

 which reposed on one of bluish sand, considered to be of sea deposit, and 

 was only passed through after hard driving for 60 feet. Peaty soil was next 

 encountered, beneath which was found fragments of wood, cockle shells and 

 clay, all this occupying a depth of 2|- feet. A IJ feet layer of shingle was 

 the last pierced before water was reached. At this point the well was 

 abandoned by the sinkers, who had taken six weeks to attain a depth of 94 

 feet. The lower end was now so much bent that it was hardly possible to 

 clear the pipe ; and the water, the supply of which was very meagre, was 

 not of good quality. 



Two months after the well-sinkers returned, and finding the pipe had 

 sprung back to its normal condition, proceeded to drive it without diflSculty. 

 It now passed through 3 feet of sand, followed by 1 foot of peat, and 2 feet 



