NARRATIVE OF THE SECOND AND THIRD EXPEDITIONS. 55 



the magnetic survey of the atoll made by Captain A. Mostyn Field, li.N., indicated 

 the probable presence of magnetic rock at no great depth, in an area of the lagoon 

 abont 2 miles west of the obelisk in the main village. It was therefore decided to 

 attempt to put a bore down near this spot in the bed of the lagoon. As far as we 

 are aware no work of this kind has ever been attempted before. Fortunately, how- 

 ever, the Works Department of New South Wales had for some time previously been 

 perfecting appliances for boring rapidly under a considerable depth of water by means 

 of a water-jet forced through the boring pipes under considerable pressure. The 

 Expedition was fortunate, through the kind consent of the Hon. J. H. 5rouNG, Minister 

 for Works, and the Engineer-in-chief, Mr. Cecil Darlby, in securing for this important 

 work the services of Mr. G. H. Halligan, F.G.S., the Hydrographer to the New 

 South Wales Government, who for many years previously had superintended bores put 

 down by the above method in the harbours all along the coast of New South Wales. 



The Admiralty authorised Admiral Pearson to detail for the work one of the 

 ships of the squadron under his command. H.M.S. " Porpoise," Captain F. C. D. 

 Sturdee, was selected, and the borino- frear was at once forwarded to Suva to be 

 picked up there later by that vessel.* In the case of the diamond-drill expedition 

 under Mr. A. E. Finckh, the drill was placed in charge of Foi'eman Symons, and 

 during the later part of the boring was in charge of Foreman Burns ; 

 the other two members being F. Dent and W. Dent. Mr. W. H. J. Slee, F.G.S., 

 the Superintendent of Diamond Drills, on the occasion of this Expedition, as on that 

 of the two others, worked with us throughout most actively and cordially, and 

 profiting by the experience gained in the previous borings, was able to send a boring 

 plant which in some respects was even more efficient than the one supplied for the 

 expedition of the previous year. One notable improvement Avas in the construction 

 of the under-reamers, which are now each provided with four " dogs" instead of two, 

 thus securing for them a steadier rotary movement when under-reaming. It is not 

 too nmch to say that a large share of the success of this as of the precedino- 

 expedition was due to the personal pride which Mr. Slee took in introducing any 

 improvements into the boring machinery, so that the work done might be a credit to 

 the Government, as indeed it proved to be. Much praise is also due to the officer in 

 charge of the drill stores, Mr. J. S. Leigh, who spared no pains in the preparation of 

 the drilling plant. 



The Expedition under Mr. Finckh left Sydney in the s.s. " Ovalau " on June 1st, 

 1898, reaching Apia via Suva before the middle of the month. H.B.M. Consul 

 E. G. B. Maxe rendered it useful service in arranging for the transhipment of the 



* On the occasion of this expedition a supply of coal amounting in all to over 30 tons was presented to 

 us by the Newcastle Collieries Wallsend, Co-operative, Lambton and Burwood. Through Mr. A. Gee, 

 manager of the Sydney ]\Ieat-Preser^•ing Company, we received a present of four cases of tinned meats, 

 and through Mr. G. M. Merivaf-E, of Gibes, Bright and Co., who in many other ways assisted our 

 expedition, we were presented with four bags of sugar. 



