266 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
the spots where falls of sand are seen below. For a plan of the workings clearly
shows but one simple mode of excavation, made less simple to the visitor by the
falls of sand and the consequent turnings aside, but with no real complexity
such as would result from any intersection of deneholes of any form.
Another point to be noticed is this. Some of the passages, more especially
those not far from the entrance, are 11 or 12ft. high, others are 7ft. or less. It
seems to me almost obvious that the higher passages were worked in t wo stages,
the upper half first and then the lower. Here and there at odd corners are the
remains of an intermediate stage, the floor of the passage when its height was
but six to seven feet. And these ledges between roof and floor have been
sometimes supposed to be "altars." While, as regards the "orientation" of
these supposed altars, we have simply the result—it appears to me—of
excavations made in an easterly direction from the eastern side of a valley.
These excavations were not noticed by Camden, who noted the existence of
the Tilbury deneholes, and who lived about a mile away from the Caves.
THE 262nd ORDINARY MEETING.
Saturday, February 29TH, 1908.
The 5th meeting of the Winter Session was held at the Municipal Technical
Institute, Stratford, at 6 o'clock, Mr. Miller Christy, F.L.S., President, in the
chair.
New Member.—Mr. John Phelp, of Queen's Road, Buckhurst Hill, was
elected a member.
Annual Meeting.—In view of the Annual Meeting, nominations of officers
and new members of Council were made (See Report of Annual Meeting on
May 23rd).
New President.—In nominating, on behalf of the Council, Mr. T. S. Dymond,
F.I.C., F.C.S., as the new President, Mr. Christy said his reason for vacating the
chair was that he considered three years quite long enough for anyone to hold that
position. Mr. Dymond had been unanimously chosen for nomination to the
position of President by the Council, as it was thought that he would admirably
fill the chair. Mr. Dymond held a high position as a scientific man, particularly
in relation to the application of science to agriculture and rural affairs. He was
also an acknowledged authority on Education, and held a high Government
appointment in relation thereto, and his close connection with the Club would
therefore be of considerable value, as their work was in many ways educational.
He had therefore very great pleasure in proposing, on behalf of the Council, that
Mr. Dymond be chosen as President of the Club.
Prof. R. Meldola, F.R.S., seconded the proposal and added a few words in
support of it, He was of opinion that Mr. Dymond's position as a practical
educationist would enable him to render valuable aid to the Club in some lines of
work which were then under consideration, and he very warmly recommended
his election.
Honorary Member.—Prof. Meldola proposed that Sir Archibald Geikie,
F.R.S., he elected an Honorary Member in place of the late Prof. Stewart, and
Mr. W. H. Dalton, F.G.S., seconded the proposal. The election would take
lace at the annual meeting.