33 
Society. In his lectures Mr. West described the leading principles of our science 
followed by a detailed account of rocks, minerals and fossils which were illustrated 
by an extensive series of slides' and specimens. The last two lectures were devoted 
to the Dorset Coast and the Hampshire Basin which were of particular local 
interest. There was an excellent attendance at each meeting, and the lectures* 
primarily intended to be popular in scope and to appeal to those who had not 
previously studied geology, were much appreciated. 
In March, at the invitation of our President (Professor F. Hodson, PH.D., 
f.g.s.) a visit was made by motor coach to the new Geological Department at 
Southampton University. Unfortunately, owing to illness, Professor Hodson was 
unable to welcome the members himself, who were under the guidance of the 
Chairman of the Geology Section. The new department, which is not yet com- 
pleted, was planned by Sir Basil Spence, and one of the most striking features is 
the handsome and spacious Museum arranged as a Court Yard and floored with 
blocks of polished Crinoidal Limestone. Adjacent is a Water Garden paved with 
Portland Limestone and embellished with huge blocks of Shap Granite and other 
familiar rocks producing a very striking scene. These have been generously 
provided by the Esso Petroleum Company of Southampton. Many interesting 
exhibits were on display and during the afternoon Mr. West showed us the 
remarkable Zeiss Electron Microscope, with a magnification of 1 : 40,000, which is 
employed to study rocks and minerals in great detail. Mr. Cosgrave also explained 
to us the X-Ray Diffractometer as well as the X-Ray (X.R.S.) fluorescent Spectro- 
meter which enables chemical analyses of rocks to be readily undertaken. In 
company of Mr. Harris we then visited the extensive Rock Department where 
among other features is a Diamond Saw used to prepare thin film-like sections of 
rocks for examination and study under the microscope. These several illustrations 
of the striking advances being made in our science within the past few years 
proved of great interest to us all. 
In September a day's outing was made by coach to Portland under the 
guidance of Mrs. Sephton and the Chairman of the Section. En route, the party- 
passed alongside the Chesil Beach, one of the most striking and extensive pebble 
beaches in the country, and probably without equal in the whole of Europe. From 
the northern end of the Portland plateau there is a superb view of its entire extent, 
and here the leader described its character and also discussed its probable origin. 
The party then proceeded to Easton, where one of the foremen of the Bath and 
Portland Stone Company showed us round the very extensive quarries from 
which the Portland freestone has been quarried and subsequently employed in 
many of London's most noted churches and public buildings. 
Portland Bill was next visited and here attention was drawn to the succession 
of remarkable cliffs consisting of massive Portland Limestone; and also to the 
Raised Beach which overlies them. This ancient beach yields a very distinctive 
shell fauna and contains many far-travelled pebbles from Cornwall and elsewhere. 
It is a reminder of the days when the sea-level was at a higher level in relation 
to the land-surface; probably in Inter-Glacial times. In the afternoon a visit was 
made to the extensive workshops at Easton, and this proved of considerable 
interest to the party. Here the Fori land freestone arrives in large blocks and is 
hewn, cut and prepared for a variety of purposes. 
The return journey was made by way of PorLisham, Hardy's Monument. 
Maiden Castle, Stinsford and Bere Regis, a brief stay being made to examine 
the huge swallow hole known as Culpeper's Dish on Bryant's Puddle Common. 
This depression which is 40 feet deep and more than 100 yards across is primarily 
the result of sub-surface denudation of the chalk here underlying a thin cover of 
sand and gravel. The leader pointed out there were upwards of some six hundred 
swallow holes of varying sizes in this area, and there is clear evidence that some 
are actually in the process of formation at the present day. 
D. A. Wrav 
During the season we had welcome return visits from Mr. A. E. Mc. R. Pearce. 
a.i.b.p., a.r.p.s., who, this time, took his "Camera Underground" to show the 
wonders of cave photography. Interesting as his talk proved to be, it is doubtful 
whether any members would be inspired to follow his example! Mr. Peter Clesly 
