254 COAL UNDER SOUTH-EASTERN ENGLAND.
(Mr. G. F. Mansell), and the consulting geologists (Mr. W. Whitaker,
F.R.S., and Mr. T. V. Holmes, F.G.S.).
Mr. Whitaker stated that his examination of the core led him to
the opinion that it was not advisable to continue the bore to any
greater depth, as they were at present, he believed, in the pre-
Carboniferous rock. He had minutely and microscopically examined
the core, but could not detect any appearance of fossils. He had
also had the valuable assistance of his friend, Mr. W. W. Watts, in
an examination of the specimens, with whom he agreed that the
cores of ancient rock below the Gault in this boring corresponded
in general texture, appearance and structure with the flaggy rock
obtained at Stutton, but they differed in the general lighter colour
which prevailed even after the upper crust of these rocks had been
penetrated. In spite of this slight difference, he believed the rocks
must belong to about the same series as those of Stutton.
Mr. Holmes entirely agreed with the views expressed by Mr.
Whitaker and Mr. Watts, and felt that it would be of little use con-
tinuing the boring at Weeley.
The following are the details of the boring at Weeley, as furnished
to us by Mr. T. V. Holmes :
SECTION AT WEELEY, ESSEX.
It will be seen that at Weeley the beds above the Chalk are
thicker, the Chalk thinner, and the Gault thicker than at Stutton
(compare details of Stutton boring at p. 214).
In accordance with the opinion of the geologists, it was there-
fore decided to discontinue the boring at Weeley, and a conversation
followed as to the site of the next bore, a wide area in Suffolk, Essex,
and Norfolk being given the geologists to form an opinion upon and
report to a future meeting, It was understood the experiments
would be made to ascertain the trend of the dip ; at Stutton it was