198 MANCHESTER MEETING OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION.
channels to the General Committee last year, and by them it was
referred to the Council, who report this year that they have carefully
considered the matter, and have decided to approach the proprietor
"with the expression of a hope that he will direct such steps to be
taken as shall effectually prevent further damage."
A committee was appointed last year to report upon the condition
of the provincial museums of the United Kingdom, and a first
report was presented this year at Manchester. I am not aware
whether the Committee has yet dealt with our county, but it might
certainly be desirable for them to take our local museums at Col-
chester, Chelmsford, and Saffron Walden into consideration, if they
have not already done so. The Secretary is Mr. F. T. Mott,
Birstall Hill, Leicester, who will supply the necessary schedules on
application.
The subject of earth-tremors was brought before the Conference
by Prof. G. A. Lebour, who had suggested last year that investigations
in this direction might well be undertaken by local societies. Obser-
vations in various parts of the world, and especially those of Prof
George Darwin in this country, have proved beyond doubt that the
solid crust of our earth is subject to constant tremors, even in localities
far removed from the disturbances produced by railway or other
traffic, and where every precaution is taken to isolate the instruments
from such perturbing causes. The systematic observation of these
micro-seismic movements may therefore lead to results of importance
—first as regards the connection of such movements with changes
of season, temperature, atmospheric pressure, etc., and secondly,
with respect to their possible connection with mine explosions. The
North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers
which Prof. Lebour represented, has been carrying on observations
of this kind at Marsden, Durham, during the past year, and it is now
proposed to extend the observations over as wide a field as possible
by inviting the co-operation of local societies, in order to have a
large number of instruments spread over the country. As a pre-
liminary step, a Committee of the British Association has been
formed, this Committee being composed of members appointed by
Sections A, C, and G, and having Prof. Lebour for Secretary. The
instrument (seismoscope) for simply recording the existence of
earth-tremors can be had for about £2, and a more elaborate seismo-
graph for £14 or £15, so that the question of cost need not be a serious
one. I hope that our Club will take part in these observations. I am