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importance, and all communications which are read here 
will throw light upon the subjects which are so important to 
us in this district. I find we have four papers upon our list 
to-day, three of which relate to the coal-fields in this neigh- 
bourhood. As regards the first paper to be read, that by 
Mr. Henry Ecroyd Smith, of Birkenhead, I hear that 
gentleman has not been able to attend, but the paper will 
be read by Mr. Fairless Barber. The subject is some 
Roman remains found at Aldborough. This, of course, is 
a subject of interest, as showing the way in which the 
Romans carried their civilization and articles of luxury 
with them to the remotest ends of the known world; and 
although the pieces of this pavement, and other Roman 
remains which have been found, are not equal in design and 
execution to some of those which have been found near the 
shores, still they do show the extreme lasting character of 
the masonry and other work which they executed. By means 
of these remains, we, as I said before, learn that they carried 
their civilization to the remotest parts of the world. But 
perhaps the papers which will most interest us to-day are 
those which relate to our coal-fields, and the modes of working 
the coal. You are aware that there has been a geological 
survey carried on to complete the topographical map which 
has been issued by the Government department for that 
purpose. That map will now be completed in course of a 
short time by the geological survey. Mr. Green has been in 
charge of the matter in this district, and I am glad to see 
that he is to read a paper to-day on the Barnsley coal-field. 
I think we may congratulate ourselves during the past year 
upon the new discoveries which have come to light and have 
tended to show that the stores of coal to fall back upon are 
more, rather than less extensive, than might have been antici- 
pated. Of course this is a matter of vital importance to the 
prosperity of the country, and I shall be very happy to hear 
AAA 
